SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 2/27/2021 1204079 Ducks winger Max Comtois heeded offseason call to raise 1204107 Avalanche backup goalie Hunter Miska earns first career his game NHL victory, 3-2, at Coyotes 1204080 John Gibson or Connor Hellebuyck: Who starts for the 1204108 Avalanche, Broncos DJ on playing an arena in 2021: Just 2022 United States men’s Olympic team? trying to ‘create a little bit of energy’ 1204109 Nazem Kadri records three points and Hunter Miska gets his first career win in 3-2 Avalanche victory in Arizon 1204081 Coyotes stage late rally again, but come up short in loss to 1204110 Avs are the Hunter in Victory in Arizona Avalanche 1204111 Why aren’t fans back at Avs, Nuggets games? The teams 1204082 Coyotes turn to Adin Hill, hero of Wednesday comeback, haven’t asked *KSE responds for start in vs. Avalanche 1204112 Blue Jackets fix defense, but can’t score in loss to 1204083 Bruce Cassidy challenges struggling players to step up, Blackhawks seize opportunities 1204113 is still able to dominate, which the Blue 1204084 Bruins look to move on vs. Rangers after lopsided loss to Jackets have learned the hard way Islanders 1204085 From bad to worse: Bruins knocked down again in New York, this time by Rangers 1204114 Could Lightning spell doom for the Stars’ ? 1204086 Bruins take another beating, lose 6-2 to Rangers 1204115 Facing grueling schedule and the specter of injuries, Stars 1204087 Bruins notebook: Practice time comes at a premium in GM Jim Nill insists on taking things day by day tight schedule 1204116 Stars fact or fiction: Has Miro Heiskanen been figured out? 1204088 Patrice Bergeron passes Bobby Orr on B's all-time points Is this just a bad team? list 1204089 Highlights: Bruins fall apart in third period vs. Islanders, lose 7-2 1204117 'absolutely loves' being a Detroit Red Wing, 1204090 Talking Points: Boston Bruins Suffer Another Humbling NY understands if Yzerman trades him Loss 1204118 Detroit Red Wings seem to have figured out the formula 1204091 Game 18: Boston Bruins @ : Lines, for them to win Preview 1204119 Here's why Bobby Ryan is likely to be traded, but still sees 1204092 Boston Bruins Have Found Their Weakness In Isles Wings in his future 1204093 ‘This doesn’t happen here’: Bruins clobbered for the 1204120 Sam Gagner’s hat trick helps Red Wings top Nashville second straight night 1204121 Red Wings taking day-to-day approach with Evgeny Svechnikov 1204122 How Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton helped launch 1204094 Sabres' Jack Eichel 'day to day;' goalie Linus Ullmark out Mathias Bromé’s NHL path vs. Flyers 1204095 Jeff Skinner says he doesn't want to be traded by Sabres Oilers after benching 1204123 GAME NIGHT: Breaking down the Oilers-Leafs three- game series 1204124 Stars align to see who is best in North between Oilers and 1204096 Hitmen hope to make most of blink-of-an-eye training Maple Leafs camp 1204125 OILERS NOTEBOOK: Wins more important than 1204097 Flames look for middle ground between season highs and to Mike Smith lows 1204126 JONES: moving up in NHL power 1204098 The Flames’ next Andrew Mangiapane? 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His former players explain why. 1204209 Caps get much-needed win vs. Penguins: 5 reasons Washington won 1204210 Alex Ovechkin is game-time decision for Saturday vs. Devils Websites 1204217 / John Gibson or Connor Hellebuyck: Who starts for the 2022 United States men’s Olympic team? 1204218 .ca / Q&A: Brady Tkachuk on surging young Senators, his drive to excel 1204219 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' underwhelming season hitting differently given high expectations 1204220 Sportsnet.ca / Flames' lack of scoring one of many struggles impacting fragile roster 1204221 Sportsnet.ca / Inside Tyler and Cat Toffoli's move to locked-down Montreal 1204222 Sportsnet.ca / Red-hot Oilers type of challenge Maple Leafs have been waiting for 1204223 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers not making a big deal of matchup with first-place Maple Leafs 1204224 Sportsnet.ca / NHL Rookie Notebook: Wild's Kirill Kaprizov leads rookie scoring race 1204225 Sportsnet.ca / Jets prospect Cole Perfetti soaking in on-the-job training in AHL 1204226 Sportsnet.ca / Two questions Maple Leafs' Nylander should consider after polarizing week 1204227 TSN.CA / Leafs wowed 'complete stud' Matthews produced despite nagging injury 1204228 TSN.CA / Maple Leafs head west with injury issues 1204229 USA TODAY / In shorter NHL season, coaches can't escape the hot seat: Here's who needs to step up 1204211 Habs going south in the North 1204212 'I'm obviously not a great fighter': Ehlers 1204213 First Black Jets player faced tough path 1204214 JETS NOTEBOOK: Dubois has team gushing; Ehlers won't back down 1204215 ‘WE KNOW WE’RE GOOD’: Getting down early, doesn't get the Jets down SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1204079 Anaheim Ducks just trying to get into the open space and try to get my shot off quick. I don’t have the hardest shot, but I think I have a pretty decent shot to beat goalies.”

Ducks winger Max Comtois heeded offseason call to raise his game LINDHOLM UPDATE

Defenseman Hampus Lindholm skated with his teammates and By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: February 26, 2021 at 3:28 p.m. | completed every drill Friday, and Eakins said “it bodes well” for his return UPDATED: February 26, 2021 at 3:39 p.m. to the Ducks’ lineup for Saturday’s game against the Golden Knights at Honda Center. Lindholm sat out three games because of a lower-body injury.

When the 2019-20 season was done, the Ducks’ coaches and executives The Ducks were 0-2-1 without him. met with the players individually and made it clear to their youngest ones that simply being on the roster, in the lineup and on the ice for a regular Orange County Register: LOADED: 02.27.2021 shift wouldn’t cut it in 2020-21.

They demanded improvement.

They demanded production.

They demanded results.

Max Comtois, a 22-year-old left wing, apparently got the message.

Loud and clear.

After 20 games, he’s taken significant strides in his budding career, leading the Ducks with eight goals and 13 points while logging a modest average of 14:53 of ice time. He’s on pace to be their only 20-goal scorer during this shortened season, which says as much about his as it does about them.

His goals have come in clusters: Two in the season-opening game against the Vegas Golden Knights, followed by a third two nights later, followed by a nine-game drought, followed by two against the San Jose Sharks, followed by three more in the past eight games.

“A real great step forward for him,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins. “Max took a lot of interest in his fitness level, and that’s not to say he was out of shape because he wasn’t. He made some adjustments to his training. I think a few adjustments to his diet, as well.

“I think he’s found a real good program on both fronts. That’s where it started, his offseason. He’s played well right from the start. He’s a guy the puck follows around and he has a good head for making the right play and he can really shoot it. That’s been one of the bright spots for our group.”

No question, the goal-starved Ducks need all the help they can get.

They are last in the 31-team NHL with an average of 1.95 goals per game, and that was after they scored three goals in each of their past two games, a pair of 4-3 losses to the Arizona Coyotes. Comtois had a goal and an assist in Wednesday’s game and two assists Monday.

“The thing you like about the kid is just because he started well and scored some goals, ‘OK, I’ve arrived, I just settle in now,’” Eakins said. “No, he knows there’s still lots of work to be done so that he can achieve what he views his career is going to look like from a year-to-year basis.

“He’s really competitive, not only with the other teams but with himself, as well.”

The majority of Comtois’ goals have been from close enough range to see the ’s eyes behind his mask. He has found the crack’s in the opposition’s defense, skated into dangerous territory, made himself available for a pass and shot the puck quickly.

Comtois hasn’t exactly reinvented the game, but he has benefited from a union with center Isac Lundestrom and right wing Rickard Rakell. Many times, they have been the Ducks’ most dangerous line, and they would be even more so if Rakell could convert on his many chances.

Rakell has scored one goal on a team-leading 61 shots on net for a 1.6 shooting percentage.

Comtois has eight goals on 34 shots, a 23.5 shooting percentage.

“I try to look for the open space,” Comtois said. “In this league, I’m not a highlight-reel guy. I’m not the type of guy who’s going to dangle every defenseman and try to go one-on-one, so I know where to go on the ice. Recently with Isac and (Rakell), we read off each other pretty well.

“The minute you try to dangle, you try to stickhandle the puck too much, it’s too late. You have a guy on you or the goalie is set. So, for me, it’s 1204080 Anaheim Ducks But the closest thing we have to a predictive stat — and to be clear, there’s still quite a lot of noise-to-signal here — is goals saved above expectation (GSAx). GSAx takes more than just shots and saves into consideration, using factors like one-timers, rebounds and shot location John Gibson or Connor Hellebuyck: Who starts for the 2022 United to estimate shot quality. States men’s Olympic team? When a goalie has a high GSAx, it means he’s stopped a lot of shot quantity and shut down quality scoring chances as well.

By Eric Stephens and Murat Ates Feb 26, 2021 And, according to Evolving Hockey, two of the top three performances in the past three seasons came from Gibson.

In 2017-18, the year Hellebuyck received his first The 2022 Winter Olympic Games are just a year away, and to celebrate, nomination, Gibson’s 33 goals saved above expectation led the league. we’re projecting what the rosters for the major teams might look like in Gibson was almost as good the next season, when he stopped a league- Beijing. best 27 goals above expectation. Team USA men | Team USA women | Team Canada men | Team Last season, though, Gibson took a big step back, posting a negative Canada women | Team Sweden | Team Finland | Team Russia GSAx for the first time (-10). King John had fallen. Perhaps at no previous point in its history has the United States had the And at the same time, Hellebuyck had risen, stopping an NHL-best 20 depth of quality men’s players to choose from for the Olympic team that it goals above expectation in 2019-20 on his way to a Vezina trophy win. will for the 2022 Beijing Games. Those who will ultimately lead that team will have a legitimate claim of being among the NHL’s very best. Connor Hellebuyck’s star has risen over the past two seasons. (Terrence Lee / USA Today) But to compete for the gold medal, to stand atop the podium for the first time since Mike Eruzione and the rest of that legendary rag-tag group This season has seen a similar trend, with Hellebuyck at 2.8 and Gibson pulled off the Miracle on Ice 41 years ago this month, one player will be at -0.6. Still, Gibson’s 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons were so good most critical. compared to the chances that Anaheim gave up that, despite posting a lower save percentage, he leads Hellebuyck on GSAx aggregate over Back in 1980, it was Jim Craig: the man in goal who got it done and had these three-plus seasons. the American flag draped around him in triumph. By the numbers: Top U.S. goalies since 2017-18 When 2022 rolls around, that man will be John Gibson. Connor Hellebuyck Or that man will be Connor Hellebuyck. 202 Take your pick. Put them in the order you want. But unless an unforeseen circumstance takes either out of the mix, the sure bet is one 117 of the two will be the backbone for a team that should be a medal contender. There are other good American goalies, but the odds that any 0.919 of them leap over the Anaheim Ducks’ Gibson or the Winnipeg Jets’ 49.3 Hellebuyck are slim. 29.4 When The Athletic’s Scott Burnside, Craig Custance and Pierre LeBrun picked the U.S. team earlier this month, Burnside and LeBrun went with John Gibson Hellebuyck as the starter and Custance with Gibson. Burnside wrote: “John Gibson, playing behind a rebuilding Ducks team, won’t have the 185 gaudy numbers that other top NHL netminders boast but he is 82 recognized around the hockey world as an elite netminder and he will push Hellebuyck for the starter’s role in Beijing.” Custance added: “The 0.916 debate in goal will be about who starts between Gibson and Hellebuyck.” 27.6 Martin Biron, who played goalie in the NHL for 16 seasons and is currently a television analyst for the Buffalo Sabres, agreed, telling The 49.3 Athletic recently: “You’re pretty much assuming Gibson and Hellebuyck. What does it mean? Recent performance gives the edge to Hellebuyck, Those are the two.” but the error bars are wide. Intuitively, we all know that performance But which is the No. 1? fluctuates, that team performance factors in and that Team USA is likely to allow a very different type of scoring chance than either Anaheim or The question deserves deep dive all of its own. Winnipeg — two of the league’s worst defensive teams.

What the stats say The real answer is that, by the numbers, Team USA can do no wrong in choosing between them. Surely if we asked some experts, though, we’d From an analytical perspective, projecting can be a bit of a find stronger opinions than that. fool’s errand. What the experts say It has been likened to “voodoo” by so many qualified analysts that the idea of using today’s math to predict tomorrow’s gold-medal game seems Before he even got to assessing the two goalies, Biron offered up a akin to witchcraft. Still, it’s worth looking at the numbers we do have. transparent disclaimer. “I have to tell you,” he said, “I’ve never been a huge John Gibson fan.” Using a sample size of the past three seasons and change, it’s clear that Hellebuyck and Gibson are not just among the U.S.’s best goaltenders Say what? but are among the best from any country. Since the beginning of the 2017-18 season, Hellebuyck has the NHL’s fifth-best save percentage “And people have been all over me on and social media every (using 100 games played as an arbitrary minimum, and stats through time I (say) I’m not a huge Gibson fan,” Biron continued. “I know the Tuesday’s games). Gibson is 12th. Team quality and workload often analytics numbers say his saves above average and all of that, those make win totals misleading, but in that category Hellebuyck is second numbers have been spectacular. I’ve never been a Gibson fan because I and Gibson 11th in the NHL in this same time frame. feel he’s a bit stiff in his game. I don’t think he’s very athletic, and he was injury prone as well. For me, that was the big criticism.” But what about predictive analytics? Was he talking about the same John Gibson? The 27-year-old Pittsburgh Goals Saved Above Average (GSAA) is a stat that looks at how many native who has been a part of a William M. Jennings Trophy-winning goals a player gave up compared to the average performance in the NHL tandem, has been a two-time All-Star, has played at a high level in that season. It can be helpful to sort out the noise, as goal totals vary international competition and currently – one could argue single- leaguewide from year to year. handedly, at times – gives the struggling Ducks some amount of the guy that doesn’t have to make the four, five, six huge saves in the relevance in today’s NHL. game but can make everything else?” Biron posed. “The routine saves. The job is not going to be to lose 3-1 and face 45 shots and make a ton Biron does not discount any of that. But he sees a caveat to it. of saves. The job is going to be to try to win 3-1, maybe face 25 shots “When you look at John Gibson, it’s his ability to make not just one, not and make the saves that you have to make. just two, but multiple big saves in games,” he said. “On a team like the “That is a big question mark when I look at Gibson and this Team USA. Anaheim Ducks, which have not been as competitive as maybe the How does he fit? And with what I’ve seen out of him in Anaheim, it is a bit Winnipeg Jets or other teams in the , it has of a puzzle trying to put it together. I don’t think anybody really knows given John Gibson the ability to impress by making big saves. And it what John Gibson behind a very solid team is going to look like.” overshadows, in my opinion, some of the goals that he may have given up or some of the weaknesses that he has in his game, because you’re Fit for the Olympics thinking, ‘He’s on a terrible team, he sees a ton of scoring chances and look at those saves that he’s making.’” There have been other battles for the American net when it comes to the Olympics. In 2010, Ryan Miller was in the midst of a stellar season with Biron acknowledged that he sees more of Hellebuyck in action because the Sabres that would end with a Vezina Trophy. But the U.S. had the Jets are in Canada and his other work with TSN often has him options. Tim Thomas had won the 2009 Vezina Trophy and had led the focusing on the teams north of the border. But he was watched both Boston Bruins to the second round of the Stanley Cup that extensively and sees more similarities between the two than differences. spring. was on the way to a 39-win breakout season with the Los Angeles Kings. “Hellebuyck is a heck of a goaltender,” Biron said. “But my criticism of Hellebuyck is a little bit of the same thing. I feel that he’s stiff. I look at the “We went through the summer camp, and (USA Hockey) kind of told us way goaltending’s being played now. The hip flexibility, the butterfly, even that we had until about the Super Bowl to figure out who was going to be straight-up … the flexibility in being able to do the splits and really spread starting in the net,” Miller said. “They told us they wanted to make sure out. I feel like Hellebuyck is definitely behind in that. But he makes it up, they gave the guys plenty of time to prepare. the way that he plays and the way that he positions himself and the size that he (has) in net. “I remember I got that call at our Super Bowl party. Just getting the heads up that I was going to get the nod.” “We are a long way from the Jonathan Quick and Ryan Miller, who were very fluid. Very athletic. Very agile. And we’ve gone to what is going to be Miller might have become immortal in the annals of American hockey, his now in a lot of people’s opinion, and my opinion, the two front-runners, name synonymous with Craig and Eruzione, had not (who) are very stiff and very boxy-type goaltenders. It’s interesting that gotten the golden goal through him in those Olympics. But the Michigan those two, kind of, come full circle in my criticism because that’s really native was a still star, lifting the U.S. with a performance that earned him how they both play.” MVP honors. It meant something to him to achieve so much for his country. Kevin Weekes, another goalie-turned-analyst, has studied the two over the years and speaks often with coaches and associates who know both “I did feel a big responsibility,” Miller said. “I started getting photo shoots well. And in Gibson and Hellebuyck, he sees goalies who have managed for magazine covers and interviews. Big national publications. … It was to prop up flawed teams. It is something Weekes highly values: the ability definitely a bit of a whirlwind situation.” to still deliver elite netminding without a loaded roster playing in front of As for what competition to be No. 1 brought, Miller said he viewed them. Thomas and Quick as a reassuring safety net, not as threats.

“To me, they’re both top-flight goalies,” he said. “If I couldn’t carry the mail, I felt like there’s guys that can,” he said. “That But there will be a different dynamic in play than working with the Jets or was kind of our feeling as a group. We’re going to get the job done, and the Ducks. Gibson or Hellebuyck will theoretically be playing behind the we’re going to be proud and happy for whoever’s doing it. I was happy to best American hockey has to offer. And Weekes recognizes that get the nod, and I was glad I could roll with it. difference. “We were all set there. But that described every position on that team. “It can change, of course, just because around you, you have different That’s why I think it was a success. … I thought we had a good group. pieces,” said Weekes, who played in 348 NHL games. “And you also We played our role pretty well. Brian Burke got the organization kind of in have different expectations because of those pieces and the magnitude the mode of we expect you guys to win, but he was telling everybody of what you’re playing in. I think in the case of Gibson, he has a track else we were underdogs. Kind of took just a bit of pressure off going into record going back to his days in Kitchener. … If you look at his pedigree Canada, and I thought we performed with a hunger.” … he’s a guy that, every time: The bigger the game, the better he Do we have evidence of that same hunger or national-team spirit from played.” Gibson or Hellebuck? Is one of them the next Ryan Miller or Jim Craig?

Even after being recognized in 2014 as the top goalie in college hockey, If history is any indication, Gibson has the pedigree. While it’s true that Hellebuyck didn’t come into the NHL with the pedigree that Gibson Gibson was — somehow — cut from his high school hockey team, he brought. Recent years, however, have seen the Commerce, Mich., native has been Team USA’s goaltender of the future since he was 16 years eclipse him. Some of it results from the divergent fortunes of the Ducks old. In fact, looking at the history, all the U.S. needs to do to medal is put and Jets. But Hellebuyck, who like Gibson is now 27, has played a big him in net. role in that, rising to the pinnacle of his profession last season when he won the Vezina. Gibson’s track record in international tournaments is spectacular:

It is something Gibson doesn’t have. And Hellebuyck did it while playing • 2010 World Under-17 Championship: gold medal, best goals-against under a white-hot Winnipeg spotlight, which also matters to Weekes. average (1.33), best save percentage (.957)

“A lot of people in the population there are hyper-consumed with hockey, • 2011 World Under-18 Championship: gold medal, best goaltender specifically NHL hockey,” Weekes said. “You have a lot of unofficial, very award unofficial, experts to put it mildly. … So that makes it tough, in terms of • 2013 World Under-20 Championship: gold medal, best goals-against the expectations, the weight of the environment, the way people evaluate average (1.36), best save percentage (.955), best goaltender award, you day-to-day.” MVP award “Throughout it all, Hellebuyck has done an awesome job of excelling • 2013 Men’s World Championship: bronze medal, 1.56 goals-against within that environment. There’s a lot to be said about that.” average, .951 save percentage (at just 19 years old) Some other factors need to be considered here, as well. Who will the You’d call Gibson’s record sterling if it wasn’t so made of gold. head coach be? Who will the defensemen be? What will the style be? Will the United States need a goalie to make spectacular saves, or will it Gibson backed up Jack Campbell in the lone disappointment of Team be better off with one who avoids mistakes? USA’s golden run — its seventh-place finish at the 2012 world juniors — but he has won every single medal game of his international career. “When I consider Olympics and I consider Team USA — which is going to be, in my opinion, a really, really strong team — can John Gibson be “In any of those games for USA Hockey in international competitions to date, he always rises to the occasion,” Weekes said. “From U17 and U18 to world juniors and even up to the world championships.

“Does it change? Of course. Does everything get ratcheted up? Of course. Expectations? The weight of the expectations? The magnitude of the competition and being an international tournament? Of course. All of those things change. No question. But I will say: From Gibson’s point of view, he has a long track record of excelling in that since he was 17 years old. That’s really impressive from that standpoint.”

Going back the same span in Connor Hellebuyck’s portfolio, to 2010, you would have had to track him down in Michigan, where he was playing for the Walled Lake Northern High School Knights. Such is the nature of Hellebuyck’s ascent. He was so far off the goaltending map for so long that his first Team USA appearance was in 2014, when Gibson was already a three-time gold medalist.

That’s not to say Hellebuyck hadn’t excelled.

In 2011, the then-unknown Michigan product turned a training camp invite with the Odessa Jackalopes into NAHL rookie of the year and goaltender of the year honors. He parlayed that performance into a spot on UMass-Lowell’s 2012-13 NCAA championship team and Hockey East goaltender of the year honors that same season.

By 2013-14, Hellebuyck was the NCAA’s top goaltender, receiving the Mike Richter award. (Richter himself is no stranger to Team USA hockey heroics, earning 1996 World Cup of Hockey MVP honors after a spectacular, gold-medal-winning performance against Team Canada.)

But Hellebuyck’s international resume is limited to the 2015 Men’s World Championship, where he won bronze, just as Gibson had in 2013.

That said, he was spectacular in that tournament, posting the top goals- against average (1.37) and save percentage (.948).

And by virtue of winning the bronze medal game, Hellebuyck can claim an undefeated record with an international medal on the line — just like Gibson.

Still, it’s clear that Gibson has been Team USA’s goaltender of choice for a decade. He’s delivered on every opportunity he’s been given.

And the one time Gibson and Hellebuyck played on the same team — North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey — it was Gibson and not Hellebuyck who took over starting duties following an injury to Matt Murray.

Unsurprisingly, Gibson won his one start, a memorable 4-3 win against Team Europe.

So who’s it going to be?

Does Hellebuyck’s Vezina-winning ascension from 2017-18 (runner up) to 2020 (his first win) factor into Team USA’s decision-making?

It should, because he’s the best goaltender in the world right now.

But Gibson has been the best goaltender against the world too many times to be overlooked, has had a longer run of success and seems to be Team USA’s golden ticket.

It’s going to come down to the wire.

They’re both goalies any Olympic team would love as starters. The next 12 months could make or break each one’s shot at the starter’s crease. Heck, so could the opening round of the Olympics themselves. It’s that close.

Who do you think should start for Team USA? Let us know in the comments.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204081 Arizona Coyotes Goal of the Game Burakovsky's goal featured quality passing, off a turnover in the Coyotes'

end. Coyotes stage late rally again, but come up short in loss to Avalanche Three Stars

Third star: Caggiula. His first goal as a Coyote, and a fight that he Jose M. Romero appeared to win. Led Coyotes forwards with three shots on goal.

Second star: Rantanen. Colorado's goals leader this season with eight.

The last time the Arizona Coyotes faced the Colorado Avalanche before First star: Kadri. From four goals in the final two games of the postseason Friday night, the Avalanche scored seven goals in a rout to finish off the series with the Coyotes last season to another big game on Friday. Coyotes in the qualifying round of the playoffs last season in the NHL's 'Toc' Talk bubble. Tocchet was asked if it was possible the Coyotes respect the Avalanche Friday was nothing close to that, but the Avalanche showed what makes too much after what happened in the bubble in Edmonton in the playoffs. them a Stanley Cup Finals contender for 58 minutes before the Coyotes rallied with two late goals in Colorado's 3-2 win. Inside the Arena

Phil Kessel and Drake Caggiula scored for the Coyotes to turn a three- Coyotes Oliver Ekman-Larsson was recognized with an goal lead into one, but a third straight three-goal comeback for the announcement over the public address system in the first period for Coyotes wasn't there this time. passing Keith Yandle for the most assists by a defenseman in Coyotes history, which he did with two assists on Wednesday. "It’s frustrating to see we’ve had the same pattern the last three games," Coyotes defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson said. "We woke up a little bit Linesman Brad Kovachik left the game in the first period after a puck shot too late. We have to play with a little bit more urgency in front of their by Colorado's Pierre-Edouard Bellemare struck the official. Kovachik net." went down, but was able to skate off the ice and down the tunnel. He suffered what was announced as an upper-body injury, but returned to Nazem Kadri had a goal and two assists, Mikko Rantanen scored a goal work in for the second period. and assisted on another, and Andre Burakovsky and Kadri had third- period goals for the Avalanche (10-6-1). Up Next

Adin Hill, in his first start of the season in net for the Coyotes after getting The Coyotes end what will likely end up as their longest homestand of the win in relief of Darcy Kuemper on Wednesday against Anaheim, the season on Saturday night when they face the Avalanche again at stopped 26 shots. But the Avalanche turned a 1-0 lead into a 3-0 game Gila River Arena. It will be the ninth consecutive home game. quickly in the third period, and the Coyotes ran out of time to force more hockey. Arizona Republic LOADED: 02.27.2021

Rantanen scored with two seconds left on Colorado's third power play of the game. He put in a rebound of a shot from Nathan MacKinnon that went to Kadri, who slid the puck to an unmarked Rantanen for the goal 1 minute and 43 seconds into the second period.

The Coyotes couldn't get much going in the offensive zone, and Hill was forced into making save after save. The Avalanche were faster on their skates and on defense, quickly eating up any space the Coyotes had for possession and potential shots.

"They are a talented big team and they’re a better team than us. So for us to compete, you can’t have passengers," Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet said. "We had too many guys that had zeros tonight. Against this team, you can’t have five or six guys with just zeros. We had some guys competing, but we had some guys that didn’t compete.”

MacKinnon, a three-time All-Star, zipped through, around and past the Coyotes several times for scoring chances. Avalanche goalie Hunter Miska, once a Coyotes prospect, faced only 18 shots.

MacKinnon, who assisted on a goal, just missed one late in the game when he hit the goalpost with a shot.

The Coyotes took advantage of the extra attacker with Caggiula's first goal of the season. It came with 52.9 seconds left, to make the score 3-2.

Caggiula said he spoke with his father about his goal-scoring drought, and the advice paid off.

"I’ve had a lot of chances throughout the year. Sometimes you grip your stick a little bit tight when you go that long without scoring a goal," Caggiula said. "It gets a little frustrating. You start missing the net because you’re trying to be too perfect with the puck. I had a nice little chat with my dad and talked about getting to the dirty areas and scoring goals in the paint and finding ways to get rebounds and stuff like that.

"It feels good to get the monkey off my back, and hopefully I can get on a little bit of a roll.”

Kessel scored his eighth of the season 43 seconds earlier, when he backhanded a rebound past Miska.

Kessel, who also had an assist, extended his point streak to a season- long five games. He has 19 points in 19 career games against the Avalanche. 1204082 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes turn to Adin Hill, hero of Wednesday comeback, for start in goal vs. Avalanche

Jose M. Romero

On the heels of back-to-back three-goal comeback victories, the Arizona Coyotes will turn to a hero from the most recent of those as Friday night's starting goalie against the Colorado Avalanche.

It's Adin Hill, who stopped 14 shots in less than a full third period and overtime after coming in to relieve Darcy Kuemper in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout win over the Anaheim Ducks. Hill, playing in his first regular season game in a little over a year, limited the Ducks to one shootout goal as Arizona pulled out another wild win at Gila River Arena.

Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet said Antti Raanta, who is coming off an injury and has played just three games this season, will serve as backup against the Avalanche. Kuemper, Tocchet revealed Friday morning, has a minor lower-body injury and is day to day.

The Coyotes face the Avalanche for the first time since Colorado defeated Arizona four games to one in a Western Conference first round playoff series inside the NHL postseason bubble last August. The Avs won the last two games by scores of 7-1 and 7-1.

Colorado (9-6-1) has played only 16 games because of COVID-19- related postponements. It trails the Coyotes in the West Division standings by two points (21 to 19) but has played three fewer games.

"We know them pretty well. They play with a lot of pace and energy," Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski said. "We've got to be real disciplined."

Goligoski said Hill is a competitor in practice and a well-liked teammate.

"We're as comfortable with him in the net as we are with Darcy or Antti," Goligoski said. "So we're really fortunate to have him, especially right now if guys are banged up or what's going on. Having three goalies of that caliber is huge."

Arizona Republic LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204083 Boston Bruins One change he might have made amid the third-period bleed out, said Cassidy, could have been to call a timeout after Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s shorthanded strike made it 5-2.

Bruce Cassidy challenges struggling players to step up, seize “The problem with a timeout is, if you do need to challenge something … opportunities you don’t have that opportunity later,” he said. “So that’s what you’re always weighing. You hope your veteran players on the ice and they’ll settle things down — it didn’t happen that way. So in hindsight, I should have … I think from then on we kind of lost our way.” By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated February 26, 2021, 7:44 p.m. Busy weekend for Rask

Tuukka Rask, the winner Sunday at Lake Tahoe, was back in net for the Two losses in as many nights, two particularly bad losses, left Bruins Bruins and expected to go against the Blueshirts again in Sunday’s noon coach Bruce Cassidy challenging a wide cross-section of his roster to start at MSG. Of the three injured defensemen, the only one expected to step forward and claim the playing roles he made clear many have asked return soon is Matt Grzelcyk, who skated again with the club Thursday. for during his four years behind the Boston bench. He’s a possibility to play Sunday, with David Quinn, his former coach at In Cassidy’s world, it’s carpe diem now for what he refers to as “the BU, behind the Rangers bench ... Anders Bjork went a third straight middle” portion of the Boston lineup — players such as Anders Bjork, game without landing a shot on net. Don’t be surprised if Cassidy slides a Jake DeBrusk, John Moore, Sean Kuraly, Chris Wagner and others. taxi-squader (Karson Kuhlman?) into his spot Sunday. He logged only 11:52 in ice time and attempted one shot (off net). Cassidy pulled Bjork There’s work to be had, career profiles to be burnished and/or fulfilled, for a shift or two, and double-shifted David Pastrnak as a left wing on the and Cassidy didn’t hold back his feeling that now is the time for some to Jack Studnicka/DeBrusk line … Kuraly lost 7 of his 10 faceoffs, another show the goods. spot where the Bruins miss David Krejci’s expertise … Brad Marchand potted his 300th career goal (to go with 368 assists). Over the last five- He didn’t specifically say “put up or shut up,” but it wasn’t hard to read plus seasons, Marchand has scored 184 times, third in the league behind between the lines, after a reporter in the postgame Zoom session posited only Alex Ovechkin (237) and Patrick Kane (194). David Pastrnak (179) whether the “ask” from the coaching staff is too big for the backliners is fifth on that list. who’ve stepped in to fill in for the injured. Boston Globe LOADED: 02.27.2021 “Well, I don’t think it’s too big,” he said. “They’re NHL players, or they’ve been in the American [Hockey] League. I mean, this is the opportunity they want, right?

“I mean, [Urho Vaakanainen] has been down there, [Jakub] Zboril’s been down there. [Connor Clifton] has been on the sidelines. Johnny Moore has been itching to get in — so, here it is, like, grab it!”

The messaging from the coaching staff, Cassidy noted more than once, also has to be better. Some of the breakdowns might be erased through coaching and instruction. But not all.

“Sometimes they’ve been beat by bigger, stronger men,” Cassidy said. “I talked to Vaak today about [Anders] Lee in front of the net last night [on Long Island] — he’s going to do that to a lot of people. There’s the learning curve that, if you are going to play against guys like that in this league and be a top guy … if, if if and that’s a big if — but if you are drafted as a shutdown guy then you have to understand how to play against those guys.”

Suffering through rookie mistakes, of course, is what comes with playing rookies. Kids arrive with “caveat emptor” attached to their blades.

Some ways to navigate through games, as Cassidy noted, can be to “outscore some of our mistakes” or “out-goaltend some of them.”

“But listen, they are what they are and they are where they are in their career,” he added. “We went into this year with a good feeling on Kevan Miller’s health and unfortunately that took a turn. We miss that. We miss that bite back there — someone to settle things down. And [Jeremy Lauzon] we knew would play hard. He’s a big man that makes it tough in front of the net. We’ve missed those two guys.

“The last two games, a lot of stuff has happened in front of our net. Unfortunately, that’s not the strength of Zboril and Vaakanainen right now, so we’ve got to get them to understand that puck play becomes more valuable. So you are moving it up ice and not having to play in your end a lot.”

Rough night on Island

The shellacking on Long Island was the Bruins’ third straight loss to the Isles, who came into the night as one of the league’s weakest offensive teams (average 2.44 goals per game).

Every team suffers its dips in the course of the season. Rarely have the Bruins dipped so low in their four years with Cassidy behind the bench.

“This game is about breakdowns and turnovers, and being able to capitalize on it and limit them,” mused right winger Craig Smith before Friday’s game. “Moving on … I know the season’s shorts, but you can’t dwell on things. Games comes fast. We’ve got another one to get ready for and we can’t lose two in a row. 1204084 Boston Bruins Taking time off Rangers leading scorer Artemi Panarin (5-13—18) earlier in the week

was granted a leave of absence, following accusations that he had a Bruins look to move on vs. Rangers after lopsided loss to Islanders physical altercation with an 18-year-old woman in Riga, Latvia, in 2011. “This is clearly an intimidation tactic being used against him for being outspoken on recent political events,” the Rangers stated in a release. “Artemi is obviously shaken and concerned and will take some time away By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated February 26, 2021, 12:46 from the team.” … No. 1 draft pick Alexis Lafreniere entered the night p.m. with a meager 2-0—2 line through 17 games with the Rangers. His minus-8 also was the worst among all Blueshirts … Former Harvard defenseman Adam Fox entered as the Blueshirts’ top point-getter (1-7— Their egos minced into more pieces than the goalie paddle Jaro Halak 8) on the blue line, followed by former Bruins prospect Ryan Lindgren (0- cracked over his net Thursday night, the Bruins return to action Friday 5—5). Lindgren was shipped to the Blueshirts in the February ’18 swap night at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers, less than 24 hours for Rick Nash. after suffering their most lopsided loss of the season. Boston Globe LOADED: 02.27.2021 A frustrated Halak smashed his stick to smithereens amid a third-period meltdown on Long Island in which the Islanders scored five unanswered goals en route to a 7-2 shellacking of the Black and Gold.

It was the Bruins’ third loss in four games — their worst stretch of the season — and also their third straight loss to the Islanders, who came into the night as one of the league’s weakest offensive teams, averaging 2.44 goals per game.

Every team suffers its dips in the course of the season. Rarely have the Bruins dipped so low in their four years with Bruce Cassidy behind the bench.

“This game is about breakdowns and turnovers, and being able to capitalize,” ,” mused right winger Craig Smith, who scored one of Boston’s goals. “Moving on, I know the season’s short, but you can’t dwell on things. Games come fast. We’ve got another one to get ready for and we can’t lose two in a row.”

Minor details

Cassidy did not sound like he planned any significant roster changes Friday.

One possible move, he said, was to mix veteran Steve Kampfer into the back-line six-pack. With injuries to the likes of Matt Grzelcyk, Jeremy Lauzon, and Kevan Miller, the Bruins Thursday were without three of the six blue liners who suited up to start the season.

Up front, where the second line is missing injured pivot David Krejci, Cassidy said he might make a minor change or two to the bottom six. One possibility would be to sit Anders Bjork, the third-line left winger, who was the lone Boston forward not to attempt a shot on Long Island. In 17 games thus far, Bjork has landed a meager 10 shots on net.

“Again, I don’t want to be rash,” said Cassidy, asked about possible change. “We’ve got a good hockey club in there. We want to give players an opportunity to atone.”

Timeout would’ve been timely

One change he might have made amid the third-period bleed-out, said Cassidy, could have been to call a timeout after Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s shorthanded strike made it 5-2.

“The problem with a timeout is, if you do need to challenge something, you don’t have that opportunity later,” he said. “So that’s what you’re always weighing. You hope you have veteran players on the ice and they’ll settle things down — it didn’t happen that way. So in hindsight, I should have. I think from then on we kind of lost our way.”

Rask back in net

Tuukka Rask, the winner Sunday at Lake Tahoe, was named by Cassidy Thursday to start at Madison Square Garden Friday and Sunday (noon matinee). After Halak’s tepid showing on the Island (seven goals on 37 shots, and one stick rendered to toothpicks), that’s not likely to change … Of the three injured defensemen, the only one expected to return soon is Grzelcyk, who skated again with the club Thursday. He’s a possibility to play Sunday, with David Quinn, his former coach at Boston University, behind the Blueshirts bench … The Rangers, among the NHL’s bigger disappointments this season, are 3-4-2 for the month entering the night … The Bruins remained atop the East Division with their .706 point percentage, but were locked in a tie for points (24) with the Capitals … Former Bruins captain Zdeno Chara has yet to miss a game (19) for the Capitals, and has logged a 2-4—6 line with an average 19:27 ice time. His plus-8 is second on the club. 1204085 Boston Bruins Fox’s one-time drive from center point. Once more, the Bruins were in arrears by a pair of goals.

Only 12 seconds after the ensuing faceoff, ex-BC Eagle Kreider bumped From bad to worse: Bruins knocked down again in New York, this time by it up to 4-1 with his flat-angle wrister from along the goal line, a 15–foot Rangers attempt meant only to be a centering pass, that angled into the net off of Charlie McAvoy’s skate.

For the ninth time in the last 11 games, the Bruins failed to carry a lead By Kevin Paul Dupont,Updated February 26, 2021, 9:43 p.m. into the third period.

The Rangers began the night on the right foot when Julien Gauthier wristed in the 1-0 lead at 13:16 of the first period. Revoltin’ development redux. Strome, the former Oiler traded to New York for one-time Bruin Ryan One night after their third-period implosion on Long Island ended in an Spooner, lifted it to 2-0 with 2:32 gone in the second — with star prospect embarrassing loss, the Bruins suffered a matching shellacking Friday Alexis Lafreniere picking up his first career assist on the play. night in Manhattan, falling apart late in the second period and limping out of Madison Square Garden with a 6-2 loss to the Rangers. The only Bruins goal of the first two periods came less than two minutes later, at 4:02, on Bergeron’s easy doorstep tap into an empty net. The Blueshirts struck twice in a 12-second span late in the second period Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev overplayed a possible David to move to a 4-1 lead, and then cashed in for two more early in the third Pastrnak shot from the left circle, and actually was out of his crease, en route to handing the Bruins their fourth loss in their last five games. maybe a foot beyond the left post, when Bergeron received Pastrnak’s Minus three of their top six defensemen because of injury — Kevan pass. Miller, Jeremy Lauzon and Matt Grzelcyk — the Bruins were largely Combined with the five-goal meltdown in the third period Thursday, the overmatched on the back end in both games. Bruins entered the third period after having been outscored 9-1 over their “We’re a team that plays fast, and we haven’t exactly done that the last last 60 minutes of work. Total damage in two days: outscored, 13-4. two games,” said veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo. “I think we are just “Did I expect us to be better?” Cassidy said. “Yes, absolutely.” getting outmuscled down low. There’s opportunities for us there to converge, have three guys on the puck and move it out from there, but Boston Globe LOADED: 02.27.2021 …”

The Bruins, noted Carlo, particularly did not efficiently handle the opposition’s forecheck in the two games. Carlo concurred with a reporter’s assessment in a postgame virtual presser that the defensive unit looked markedly disconnected.

“Yeah, absolutely, this doesn’t happen here,” he said. “And it can’t go on any further than this. There’s been times my first couple of years we’ve had one game like that but we’ve always bounced back — so this is definitely unacceptable and we have to look in the mirror, move forward, recognize and learn from the last two days.”

Ryan Strome (1-2—3) led the way for the Rangers, who also received two points apiece from Chris Kreider, Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren. Six Rangers scored against Tuukka Rask, similar to the night before when seven Islanders each struck for a goal against Jaroslav Halak.

Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand (career goal No. 300) scored for the Bruins.

After a Saturday practice that no doubt will have coach Bruce Cassidy holding court with his charges in front of a white board and replay machine, the Bruins will face the Rangers at MSG again in a Sunday noon matinee.

“We’re trying to get through a stretch here with a back end that’s still sorting things out,” Cassidy said. “They’re a very young group. A couple of things have to happen — they have to play better and understand what they can get away with. There’s too many turnovers and too much reckless play.”

Some of the answer, acknowledged Cassidy, has to come via better coaching, better preparing a young group on how to compete.

“Second part is, knowing we have some valuable guys out — the stiffness in front with Lauzon and Miller, and the puck-mover in Gryz — as a team, you have to pick up that [defensive] group,” Cassidy said. “That means an extra save along the way. That means secondary scoring and working hard to get back into your own end as forwards — to limit the damage, win wall battles, so we don’t have to defend a lot. The rest of the group can pick up an area that is diminished due to injury.”

The 12-second meltdown came with just over a minute to go before the second intermission, the Bruins blowing their opportunity to go into the break with only a one-goal deficit.

And then, just like against the Islanders 24 hours earlier, the deluge.

Colin Blackwell provided the 3-1 lead at 18:52, only 10 seconds after Nick Ritchie was whistled off the ice for a ticky-tack tripping call. Parked high in the slot as the puck moved around the box, Blackwell put a tip to 1204086 Boston Bruins And not long after that missed opportunity, the Rangers made it 2-0 at 2:32. The teenage Alexis Lafreniere, the first overall pick in the last draft, made his first NHL assist a beauty, zipping a cross-ice feed to Ryan Strome, who beat Rask from a prime scoring area at the bottom of the Bruins take another beating, lose 6-2 to Rangers right circle.

Finally, that seemed to get the Bruins’ attention and they pushed back. Shortly after Trent Frederic buried a Ranger in the neutral zone, the B’s By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: February 26, 2021 at 9:55 p.m. | got on the board. UPDATED: February 26, 2021 at 11:02 p.m. Charlie McAvoy made a nice self-pass off the boards to penetrate the

offensive zone and dished to Brad Marchand, who tried to set up David The Bruins are suffering from an identity crisis right now. They have Pastrnak for the one-timer. Pastrnak did not have a good angle on the completely forgotten who they’re supposed to be. puck and, with goalie Alexander Georgiev over-committing to the shot, he pushed it to Bergeron for an easy tap-in at 4:02. That tight-checking, highly competitive group that got off to such a good start to the season? That team has been nowhere to be found the last That gave Bergeron his 889th career point, moving him past Bobby Orr two nights, and 24 hours after being run out of Nassau Coliseum by the for fifth place in points in club history. Islanders, the B’s had the same scenario dropped on them by the The B’s appeared poised to climb back in this one, especially after they Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday. got to take a post-whistle roughing penalty on DeBrusk Similar to Thursday’s game in Long Island, the B’s were in this one late in after DeBrusk jammed the net. And on the power play, Charlie Coyle the second period only to give up four straight goals and lose 6-2 to the nearly evened it when he had some space over Georgiev’s glove but hit Rangers. the post.

“This doesn’t happen here. It can’t go on any further like this,” said But then things fell apart again. Brandon Carlo of the back-to-back drubbings. “This is unacceptable.” First, Marchand took a high-sticking penalty off an offensive zone Yes, the B’s are riddled with injuries and some young players are being penalty, and though the Rangers didn’t score on that PP, the Blueshirts forced into and up in the lineup, and they especially miss the big beef of gained some momentum. And when Nick Ritchie took an offensive zone Jeremy Lauzon (broken hand) and Kevan Miller (reaggravation of knee tripping penalty with 1:18 left in the period, the sky fell for the second pain from four surgeries). But this is the hand they’ve been dealt. For the straight night. second night in a row, rookie Urho Vaakanainen got manhandled on a Ten seconds after Ritchie took a seat in the box, Colin Blackwell tipped couple of goals. Both Vaakanainen and fellow rookie Jakub Zboril need an Adam Fox blue-line shot past Rask to give the Rangers their two-goal to focus on using their strong stick skills to get the puck up and out of the lead back. zone so they’re not put in the position of being overpowered, said coach Bruce Cassidy. They weren’t done. Just 12 seconds later, Chris Kreider easily shook off a Vaakanainen check attempt behind the Bruins net, came out on the “We’re trying to get through a stretch with the back end that’s still other side and threw the puck on net, banking it off McAvoy and in. sorting things out and learning,” said Cassidy. “A couple of things have to happen. They have to play better and recognize what they can get away “That’s Vaak. He’s going to have to learn to get stronger,” said Cassidy. with and what they can’t. Just too many turnovers and reckless play. We’ve got to do a better job of coaching them up, no doubt, so that’s on It was shaping up as one of those nights. Again. us. By the same token, once they get on the ice, they have to recognize The Rangers tacked on two more in the first four minutes of the third and how they can help us win games. That’s the one thing we’ve got to the only objective left was to mitigate the embarrassment. Later in the correct. Second, knowing that we have some valuable guys out, the game, Marchand scored his 10th of the season, his 300th career goal. stiffness in front of the net with Lauzon and Miller and the puck mover in But a celebration was not in order. (Matt) Grzelcyk, as a team, you have to pick up that group. That means an extra save along the way. That means secondary scoring and working Boston Herald LOADED: 02.27.2021 hard to get back into your own end to limit the damage, winning your wall battles so that we don’t have to defend a lot.”

Cassidy also challenged his group of young veterans to get them through these challenging days.

“You know (Patrice Bergeron) and their line is going to find their game,” said Cassidy. “But the guys in the middle who have an opportunity and some days maybe go home and say ‘Geez, I wish I got more minutes’ or ‘I wish I had a better chance,’ the (Anders) Bjorks, the (Jake) DeBrusks, the Johnny Moores, the (Connor) Cliftons who have been out of the lineup, guys who’ve been in the league a little bit, (Chris Wagner and Sean Kuraly), who are going to see more minutes because it’s three in four nights and it’s back-to-back, (they need to) put a little onus on themselves to impact the game.”

As the game wore on, Cassidy saw “easy goals. Just too easy.”

Smarting from a brutal third-period showing in their 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the Islanders on Thursday, the Bruins did not exactly come out for the first period breathing fire. In fact, the Rangers took it to them physically (17-8 hit advantage in the first), both with their shoulders and their legs, winning races and battles all over the ice.

And at 13:03, the Blueshirts took a 1-0 lead. Operating on the left wing, Julien Gauthier shrugged off a Carlo check and was able to twirl back into the faceoff circle with time and space to fire a decent shot. With a heavy screen in front, Gauthier’s shot beat a helpless Tuukka Rask to the short side.

An opportunity presented itself right off the second-period puck drop when Kuraly took a stick up high and the B’s went right back on the power play. They applied some decent pressure and nearly evened it when Jack Studnicka’s backhander went off the crossbar. 1204087 Boston Bruins stuff before those two-on-ones. Clearly we need to defend them better. But as a coach, I’m looking at where did it start.”

As for Vaakanainen, who is getting an accelerated look on the top pair Bruins notebook: Practice time comes at a premium in tight schedule with McAvoy because of the injury to Jeremy Lauzon, Cassidy didn’t hesitate to put the rookie right back in the lineup for Friday’s game against the Rangers.

By STEVE CONROY PUBLISHED: February 26, 2021 at 4:08 p.m. | “He’s got to have a little bit of a cornerback mentality in football. You’ve UPDATED: February 26, 2021 at 4:18 p.m. got to put it behind you. There’s another new wide receiver coming tomorrow,” said Cassidy, pointing out that Vaakanainen did some good

things offensively before the tough third. The Bruins right now are learning what many teams have already known “We’re not down on Vaak. We’re just going to work with him. (He needs — the schedule for the 2021 season is brutal. to) understand what he’s going to see each night. And live it. Experience Between now and the end of the regular season on May 8, they have just will be the best teacher for him. And unfortunately (Thursday) night, he two more two-day breaks in between games, and after Friday’s game got schooled a little bit.” against the Rangers, they have six more back-to-backs. On Thursday, Odds and ends coach Bruce Cassidy said the team will be in “playoff mode” until the end of their season. The B’s hope that comes sometime in July. Matt Grzelcyk (lower body) was scheduled to miss his 12th game of the season on Friday, but Cassidy did not rule him out for Sunday’s matinee It will be one hellacious pace that will test the B’s ability to withstand the at Madison Square Garden. war of attrition that is usually only talked about in the postseason. Boston Herald LOADED: 02.27.2021 Another problem posed by the schedule is the practice time that will no doubt be squeezed out. When things are going well, like they have for most of the season for the B’s, that’s not a huge problem. But on Friday morning, things weren’t great. Not only had they lost three of four, that third loss came in an ignominious third-period collapse on Long Island on Thursday.

Playing the second half of a back-to-back and the second of three games in four days, Cassidy scrapped Friday’s morning skate, which would not be unusual in this situation, even in a usual, more spaced out 82-game schedule.

But Thursday’s loss to the Islanders was chock-full of teaching moments, especially for a couple of young players, and Cassidy must find ways to overcome the lack of on-ice tutelage time.

“We hit a rut (Thursday night), to be honest, and it would be nice to get out there today and work on a few things, but I think it would be counter- productive in the long run,” said Cassidy on Friday morning. “I think you just have to use your time wisely, get feedback from the players, whether they’re better served resting during a tough schedule or getting their work done. And then you have to be efficient when you are at practice. But it is a little more difficult, when you’re incorporating new guys, especially in certain special teams situations, situations where chemistry with the puck matters. I think without the puck, you can use video a little bit more. You talk to guys about position. But with the puck, there’s a little bit of those little nuances where you just have to get out and do it. That’s where you miss it. Power play specifically hasn’t been where we expected it to be recently (3-for-18 in their previous seven games going into Friday), so that’s an area where we do need to get some work. But hopefully the guys who have been on the unit have been together long enough to take control and we’ll get a little bit cleaner here.”

Odd-men out

The B’s were victimized on two two-on-ones on Thursday, both resulting in goals, with Islanders star Mathew Barzal orchestrating both tallies from the left wing. Cassidy explained that in such situations, his D-men are generally taught to take away the pass while still baiting the puck carrier.

On the first one, John Moore was too passive and Barzal, with loads of time and space, sniped a far-side shot past Jaroslav Halak. On the second one, Urho Vaakanainen was too aggressive and Barzal was able to flip a pass over to a wide-open for the insurance goal.

But Cassidy was examining the genesis of the odd-man rush as much as the final line of defense.

“Part of that’s a bad pinch, right?” said Cassidy, focusing on the second one in the third when Charlie McAvoy was caught up ice. “We’re pinching on a play. I know we’re down in the third and we’re trying to keep pucks alive, so some of that’s going to happen, if you’re trying to get back in the game with that type of play. I thought that wasn’t a great decision, either, and it’s a domino effect that leads to an odd-man rush because the high forward’s not in position to support the pinch. There’s a lot that goes into it. Obviously the end result is the goal and defending the two-on-one. But I think it goes back to what happened before that to not put ourselves in those positions. That happened a few times. … We need to correct some 1204088 Boston Bruins

Patrice Bergeron passes Bobby Orr on B's all-time points list

BY JUSTIN LEGER

Patrice Bergeron continues to make his mark on Boston Bruins history.

During Friday night's game against the New York Rangers, the B's captain tipped in a one-timer from David Pastrnak to notch the 889th point of his illustrious NHL career. With that goal, Bergeron passes the legendary Bobby Orr for fifth on the Bruins' all-time points list.

Pastrnak's start to 2021 season has been absurdly good

Watch Bergeron accomplish the feat below:

The line of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak (@pastrnak96) and Brad Marchand (@Bmarch63) doing what they do best. pic.twitter.com/dE86zoYtPI— NHL (@NHL) February 27, 2021

There will be many more where that came from for the four-time Selke Trophy winner. At 35 years old, Bergeron is showing no signs of slowing down.

With nine more points, Bergeron will overtake Rick Middleton for fourth on the Bruins' all-time points list. Ray Bourque tops the leaderboard with 1,506 points.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204089 Boston Bruins

Highlights: Bruins fall apart in third period vs. Islanders, lose 7-2

BY JUSTIN LEGER

The third time was not a charm for the Boston Bruins vs. the New York Islanders.

After dropping their first two matchups against the Isles, the B's came up short again Thursday night. They entered the third period tied at two goals apiece, but the Isles pulled away with five goals in the third to earn the 7-2 victory. The loss marked the Bruins' third in their last four games.

Pastrnak's start to 2021 season has been absurdly good

Nick Ritchie and Craig Smith were the goal scorers for the Bruins. Jaroslav Halak was in net for the B's and allowed seven goals on 32 shots.

Here are the highlights from Boston's blowout loss:

FINAL SCORE: Islanders 7, Bruins 2

BOX SCORE

BRUINS RECORD: 11-4-2

HIGHLIGHTS

Nick Ritchie wastes no time putting the B's on the board:

Jean-Gabriel Pageau makes it 5-2 Islanders:

Things we love to see:

UP NEXT:

Friday, Feb. 26 vs. New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204090 Boston Bruins

Talking Points: Boston Bruins Suffer Another Humbling NY Loss

Published 4 hours ago on February 26, 2021By Joe Haggerty

Here are the Talking Points from the Boston Bruins 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.

GOLD STAR: Ryan Strome was one of a number of Rangers with excellent performances on Friday night as he scored one of the early goals after finishing off No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafreniere’s first career NHL assist. He finished with a goal and three points along with a plus-2 rating with 16:12 of ice time with five shots on net, and really took advantage of the B’s disarray on defense right now. Beyond Strome it was a couple of local boys in Colin Blackwell and Chris Kreider doing the damage for the Rangers, as the twosome combined to score two goals in 12 seconds. But in general, the Rangers brought their “A” game even though they’re missing Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba, and the Bruins brought the opposite while also missing a number of significant players to injuries right now.

BLACK EYE: John Moore is a minus-4 the last couple of games as the Boston Bruins are getting blown out, the defensive side of things is in chaos and the back end is clearly playing shorthanded while missing a regular from each one of their pairings. Moore is clearly not alone as Urho Vaakanainen was overpowered around the net at points, and Connor Clifton didn’t have a very good game on the back end either. But it certainly goes beyond the defensemen as the Bruins fourth line got torched for the second game in a row as well as Anders Bjork, Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner all finished with a minus-2 rating after being minus players on Thursday night against the Islanders as well. The Bruins need more out of their middle tier players and they’re not getting it right now as they’re getting kicked around by the New York teams.

TURNING POINT: It was a 2-1 manageable game in the second period for the Bruins after a rough start, but things began to get awry once Nick Ritchie was whistled for a soft tripping penalty in the offensive zone. The Rangers scored a power play goal in the opening seconds of the possession when Colin Blackwell tipped an Adam Fox point shot, and then Chris Kreider scored again 12 seconds later to make it a 4-1 game. Once the Rangers got to that point, it just got worse as they allowed a couple more goals in the third period and really gave up again for the second consecutive game. The Bruins need to figure things out and make sure they don’t cave in competitively once things start to go away from them.

HONORABLE MENTION: Brad Marchand finished with a milestone goal in the third period that really stopped the bleeding, and he set the tone early when he tangled with Adam Fox in the first period on their first shift of the game. Unfortunately, none of the other Bruins players responded and followed Marchand’s late in a sleepy first period. Then it was Marchand in the second period that responded by tangling with Ryan Lindgren when he took a run at Patrice Bergeron front of the benches, and at least temporarily seemed to snap the Bruins out of their funk. Unfortunately for Marchand and Co., however, they couldn’t sustain the emotion and follow his lead for the rest of the game.

BY THE NUMBERS: 300 – the number of career NHL goals for Brad Marchand after his third period strike stopped the bleeding for the Black and Gold. He’s just the seventh player in Boston Bruins history to hit the triple century mark.

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QUOTE TO NOTE: “This doesn’t happen here and it can’t go on any further than this…this is definitely unacceptable.” –Brandon Carlo on the state of the Bruins after a 6-2 loss and getting outscored 11-2 in their last four periods of play.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204091 Boston Bruins nine forwards to pick up even more slack as teams crackdown on and try to wear down ‘The Perfection Line’. The last two games are a good sign they won’t have to always depend on Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak Game 18: Boston Bruins @ New York Rangers: Lines, Preview Rangers Notes

– Former Boston College star and Boxford, MA native Chris Kreider has Published 13 hours ago on February 26, 2021By Jimmy Murphy been lighting it up as of late. The Rangers winger had a hat trick in a 4-3 loss to the Flyers on Wednesday and has four goals in his last two

games. Kreider leads the team with eight lamplighters in 17 games. The Boston Bruins will try to bounce back from their worst loss of the -Former Harvard defenseman Adam Fox, who is quietly emerging as one season and erase the 7-2 debacle to the New York Islanders when they of the best young defensemen in the NHL, has become a workhorse on play the New York Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden. the Rangers blue line. The 23-year-old rearguard is averaging 25:07 TOI For a third time this season, the Bruins (11-4-2, 24 pts, .706 P %) and per game. Rangers (6-8-3, 15 pts, .441 P %) will renew their rivalry at Madison – The Rangers remain without their best player Artemi Panarin, who is on Square Garden as they begin a two-game set tonight that concludes with a leave of absence after allegations in Russia that he assaulted a woman a noon matinee Sunday. in a bar in 2011. Panarin, who is a staunch critic of Russian President “It will be good to just get right back out there and have a chance to Vladimir Putin, vehemently denied the allegations claiming that it was a bounce back,” Boston Bruins winger Craig Smith said after the ‘political hit job’ by Putin loyalists led by former NHLer Andrei Nazarov. embarrassing loss Thursday that saw the Bruins allow five unanswered Panarin is on an indefinite leave of absence. third period goals to the Islanders. The Rangers are also without forward Kaapo Kakko and defenseman There will be a noticeable difference at the world’s most popular arena K’Andre Miller, who are both on the COVID Protocol list, and when the Bruins and Rangers drop the puck tonight (7 PM ET, NESN, defenseman Jacob Trouba who is on injured reserve with a broken MSG, NHLN, TVAS, Sportsnet) as for the first time this season, both thumb. teams will play in front of fans. The state of New York is allowing 10- -The Rangers powerplay has struggled this season and is ranked 26th in percent capacity in all sporting venues now and that means there can be the NHL with a 14.9 percent success rate. a max of 2,087 fans at MSG tonight and Sunday. – The Rangers are ranked 8th in the NHL on the penalty kill with an 88.4 “It’ll be exciting,” Rangers head coach David Quinn said after practice percent success rate. Thursday. “It’s been strange because we’ve actually been getting used to playing in front of nobody, so I don’t care if there’s 15 or 1,500 people in Boston Bruins Lines the building, it’s going to be nice to have people there cheering you on. I know our guys are excited about it. As excited as these people are to get Forwards: in the building, we’re more excited to have them in the building. It’s such Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak a historic venue, but when you put people in it, it just makes it that much more enjoyable.” Nick Ritchie – Charlie Coyle – Craig Smith

The Bruins actually found out Thursday that beginning on March 23, they Anders Bjork – Jack Studnicka – Jake DeBrusk will be able to allow 12 percent capacity for their home games at TD Garden. Trent Frederic – Sean Kuraly – Chris Wagner

The Boston Bruins swept a two-game set with the Rangers on Feb. 10 Defense: (3-2 OTW) and Feb. 12 (1-0). Both teams have struggled since they last Urho Vaakanainen – Charlie McAvoy met with the Bruins going 1-3-0 and the Rangers 2-2-0. Jakub Zboril – Brandon Carlo Tuukka Rask (7-2-1, 2.56 GAA, .901 save percentage) will be back between the pipes for the Boston Bruins and Alex Georgiev (2-2-2, 2.95 John Moore – Connor Clifton GAA, .893 save percentage) gets the nod for the Rangers Goalies: Bruins Notes Tuukka Rask – Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (lower-body) has been skating but Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed Friday morning that Jaro Halak Grzelcyk will not suit up tonight. Grzelcyk hasn’t played since the Bruins’ New York Rangers Lines 3-2 overtime win against the Rangers on Feb. 10 and has now missed 11 games this season. Cassidy was hopeful that the puck-moving rearguard Forwards can return to action on Sunday. Alexis Lafreniere — Mika Zibanejad — Pavel Buchnevich Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (broken hand) is out for four weeks. Defenseman Kevan Miller (maintenance) and center David Krejci (lower- Get BHN+ body) are day-to-day. Forward Ondrej Kase (upper-body) is on injured Chris Kreider — Ryan Strome — Colin Blackwell reserve. Brendan Lemieux — Brett Howden — Julien Gauthier – The Bruins went 0-for-2 on the powerplay in the loss to the Islanders Thursday and are now 15-for-52 on the man advantage this season. Phil Di Giuseppe — Kevin Rooney — Jonny Brodsinski They’re sixth in the NHL with a 28.9 percent success rate. Defense -The Boston Bruins penalty kill continued to be stellar on Thursday killing Ryan Lindgren — Adam Fox off both of the Islanders’ powerplay. The Bruins have now killed off 52 of 59 powerplay attempts against them. Their 88.1 percent success rate is Jack Johnson — Brendan Smith second only to the Colorado Avalanche who are at 88.7 percent. Anthony Bitetto — Libor Hajek – One positive Thursday was that the Bruins continued to get depth scoring. In their 7-3 win over the in the NHL Outdoors Goalies at Lake Tahoe Sunday, ‘The Perfection Line’ was clicking as David Alex Georgiev Pastrnak got his second hat trick of the season but the Bruins also got the depth scoring. Bruins forwards Nick Ritchie, Charlie Coyle, and Tren Igor Shesterkin Frederic all lit the lamp to help bust that game open. On Thursday, the Bruins got goals from Ritchie (again) and Craig Smith. As the schedule Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 02.27.2021 gets crazier and the points mean more, the Bruins will need their bottom 1204092 Boston Bruins net, but Varlamov stopped 34 shots overall, including 14 saves in the first period when the Bruins had some quality chances to build up a lead.

Varlamov is now 3-0-0 with a 1.33 goals against average and a .957 Boston Bruins Have Found Their Weakness In Isles save percentage against the Bruins this year.

Those are positively Holtby-esque numbers for a goaltender against the Boston Bruins. Then there’s the eye-opening third period mastery for the Published 16 hours ago on February 26, 2021By Joe Haggerty Islanders. It’s an area where the Boston Bruins pride themselves on dominant play, and where they have separated from opponents on most

occasions this season. But the well-conditioned and well-coached The Boston Bruins have found their kryptonite for this season and it’s Islanders are a third period hockey club too, and that’s a department most definitely the New York Islanders. where they’ve clearly and consistently outclassed the Black and Gold.

The B’s lost for the third time in three tries against the Islanders at “We’ve been tied in every one of the games going into the third. I thought Nassau Coliseum when they dropped a 7-2 game on Thursday night we did our best work in the first game [a 1-0 loss] where they got a where the roof completely caved in during the game’s final 20 minutes. fortunate deflection, and we had stayed patient. It’s how they play. I’d like When it was all said and done, it was the biggest margin of defeat for the to think when we’re on our game we’re structured and pretty Black and Gold this season. The Bruins have broken many other teams responsible,” said Cassidy. “That’s how we can put teams away. They in the third period this season already, but instead they were the beat us at our own game in terms of not beating yourself. I thought fractured hockey team giving up five unanswered goals in a hockey tonight was a really good example of that. I thought we beat ourselves in game that was actually tied after two periods. the third period…clearly.

Essentially, Bruce Cassidy said the Islanders were beating the Bruins at “Give them credit. They capitalized on their opportunities. But goals 3, 4 their own game when it was all over. That hints at trouble if the trend and 5 are on us for forcing things or not executing. The similarity [in continues and the Bruins come face-to-face with the Islanders in a losses] is that they stick with their game. They have found a way every divisional playoff round a few months down the road. But in this game, time. The Barzal matchup at home, they have a little more of an the straw that broke the camel’s back was a careless Trent Frederic opportunity to get that. But [Sean] Kuraly’s line, we have confidence turnover in front of the Boston net where Anthony Beauvillier stripped him playing good players every night. But tonight, we didn’t check well and scored the go-ahead goal. enough against that group.”

After that the Bruins buckled and broke down allowing three goals to the Once is an outlier and twice is a coincidence, but the B’s losing three Islanders in a span of four minutes. times in regulation (three of Boston’s four regulation losses are to the Isles this season) is a pattern that can’t be denied. “We gave up a third goal where a young kid just got caught a little bit just not moving his feet. Then we pressed and made some mistakes. We The Islanders have outscored the Boston Bruins by an 8-0 margin in the gave their best players some time and space, and they buried us,” said third period of the three losses this season, and that is a stat line that Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy, who was then asked if the B’s can’t be overstated enough. That kind of third period dominance by one had any sense of urgency in the third period. “Well, there wasn’t any. team over the other should seize the attention of every member of the That’s a problem we don’t usually see with our club. We have some Boston Bruins, and be something to be intent on changing the next time young players in the lineup, so we’re going to live with some mistakes. the two teams play each other in two weeks.

“But I think Charlie [McAvoy] pressed a little there in the third. They’re a “It seemed like they were finding pucks and getting pucks through, and good defensive team and they don’t give you much. You have to have their O-zone play was because of turnovers in the neutral zone. I think patience. We made some poor decisions on the fourth and fifth goals that kind of bit us,” said Craig Smith, who finished with a goal and was [allowed] that gave them easy odd-man rushes with their top players.” one of only two Bruins players with a plus rating when it was all over. “We’ve maybe gotten away with it in the past, but they capitalized on The Capitals and the Penguins garner a lot of the attention as Boston’s their chances, had guys at the net for rebounds. That’s what I saw from biggest threats in the East Division based on their star power, and on the bench, but we’ll have to recalibrate a little bit and correct a few things. their traditionally good teams over the last ten years. But the way things are shaping, the Islanders look like the most formidable opponent for the “We need to limit turnovers and sometimes [have a mentality to] live to Bruins within the stacked East Division. fight another day, and just make the right play.”

It becomes much less coincidental when you see the same patterns It seems like every season there are teams that the Bruins dominate within the games. The Bruins are experiencing major difficulty containing completely, and other clubs that consistently have their number. playmaking center Mat Barzal, who scored an easy goal in the second The Capitals have been a team that’s traditionally dominated the Boston period when John Moore gave up too much time and space on an odd- Bruins for a decade, but that wasn’t the case at all when they’ve met up man rush where he turned into the trigger man. for a pair of games earlier this season. Instead, it looks like the Islanders Barzal finished with a goal and two points while taking advantage of the will be the team that flusters, flummoxes and rattles the Bruins based on soft spots in the Bruins defense, and thoroughly torching Boston’s fourth their first three meetings, and that’s something the B’s will need to focus line. And two-way center Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored another on to make sure it’s not a recurring theme for the rest of the year. shorthanded marker that truly served as the backbreaker for the Boston Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 02.27.2021 Bruins at the start of a third period power play with the B’s trailing by a couple of goals.

It was Pageau’s fourth goal in three games against the Bruins this season, including a pair of shorthanded goals and a team-high 14 shots on net in the three games between Boston and the Islanders. The gritty, quick-skating Pageau arrived on the Island at last season’s trade deadline and has really added dimensional depth and special teams’ muscle to an Islanders team that needed more of each.

Now he’s turning into a certified Bruins killer.

Certainly, goaltending is a part of it too. At one end of the rink last night Jaroslav Halak was shredding his goalie stick in frustration after losing to an Islanders team in his first game playing against them since he left the organization three seasons ago.

At the other end, Semyon Varlamov has dominated the Bruins this season. He had some help, of course, early on Thursday night when Jack Studnicka zinged one off the crossbar while shooting at an open 1204093 Boston Bruins Being short on back-end bite and experience should not cave in the Bruins. They are equipped to make reads, retrieve pucks and get them out of dangerous territory. But because the forwards are ceding too much speed in dangerous ice, they’re giving their defensemen too little time to ‘This doesn’t happen here’: Bruins clobbered for the second straight night scan their surroundings.

“It’s about knowing your outlets,” Patrice Bergeron said. “Keep it to one or two so we’re on the same page and we can get out of our zone By Fluto Shinzawa Feb 26, 2021 quickly. If, at times, we’re all trying to do too much and they try to get on their own program, it puts everyone on their heels. You hesitate. That’s when the other team takes advantage.” Jeremy Lauzon, the Bruins’ shutdown man on the No. 1 pairing, is out with a fractured left hand. Matt Grzelcyk, the fleet-footed second-pairing The Bruins have gotten embarrassed two games in a row. They cannot defenseman, has been unavailable for 10 of the past 11 games because afford a third straight rollover Sunday against the Rangers. of a lower-body injury. Dark-alley brawler Kevan Miller couldn’t play “This doesn’t happen here,” Carlo said. “It can’t go on any further than against the Rangers because of a flareup in his right knee. this. There’s been times in my first couple years where we’ve had one These are some of the reasons the Bruins were hammered by the game like that, but we’ve always bounced back. This is definitely Rangers on Friday, 6-2. The night before, with the same defensemen unacceptable. We’ve got to look in the mirror and move forward, but missing, the Islanders blitzed the Bruins, 7-2. recognize and learn from the past two days.”

“We have some valuable guys out,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “The The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 stiffness in front of our net with Lauzon and Miller and the puck-mover in Grizz — one on each pair. As a team, you have to pick up that group. That means an extra save along the way. That means secondary scoring and working hard to get back in your own end as forwards to limit the damage. Winning your wall battles so you don’t have to defend a lot.”

You can understand, then, why Urho Vaakanainen, the No. 9 defenseman on the depth chart, was overwhelmed in the second period. Chris Kreider, the 6-foot-3, 217-pound moose, flicked Vaakanainen off his back with a shrug of his shoulders. Free from his defender, Kreider wheeled around the net and banked in the puck off Charlie McAvoy to give the Rangers a 4-1 lead. This came 12 seconds after Colin Blackwell tipped an Adam Fox power-play blast past Tuukka Rask.

Friday marked Game 10 for the 6-1, 185-pound Vaakanainen. One night earlier, Vaakanainen had similar and expected trouble handling 6-3, 235- pound widebody Anders Lee.

“Lee in front of the net, he’s going to do that to a lot of people,” Cassidy said. “But there’s the learning curve. If you’re going to play against guys like that in this league and be a top guy — and that’s a big if — if you’re drafted as a shutdown guy, you’re going to have to understand how to play against those guys.”

Vaakanainen and fellow first-round Jakub Zboril will get in more trouble if they get into muscle-flexing contests with opposing forwards. Defensively, their strengths are rapid processing, fast feet and active sticks to deter opponents, retrieve pucks and move them the other way.

Those qualities are not easy to apply when pucks and people are arriving furiously below the goal line. There’s no room to hide for any defensemen, especially inexperienced ones, when opponents are forechecking like there’s no tomorrow.

So far, that is the book on the Bruins. It will not change until the Bruins find solutions.

“It’s play behind our D,” Cassidy said of opposing game plans. “Force them to make plays. Force them to defend you. Because obviously, that’s where we’re a little susceptible right now. I don’t think it’s a magic formula. I think teams are doing that to us. We’ve got to coach them up better, and they’ve got to make some better decisions to get through this stretch.”

A green blue line is at risk of further erosion when reinforcements up the ice play like turnstiles instead of roadblocks. Kreider, for example, breezed through an Anders Bjork stick check in the neutral zone in the first period. It didn’t help that Brandon Carlo could not halt Kreider’s entry to the Bruins’ end. By gaining the offensive zone with speed, Kreider allowed Alexis Lafreniere to find Ryan Strome streaking to the far post. Vaakanainen, meanwhile, was too far out of position to lend a hand. Strome had an easy tap-in to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

Unlike Vaakanainen and Zboril, Carlo, the 25-year-old alternate captain, has the size and experience to do better in battles. But in the first, the 6- 5, 212-pound Carlo offered little resistance against Julien Gauthier. When Gauthier whipped the puck on net, John Moore could not dislodge Phillip Di Giuseppe from setting a net-front screen.

“Easy goals. Just too easy,” Cassidy said. 1204094 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres' Jack Eichel 'day to day;' goalie Linus Ullmark out vs. Flyers

Lance Lysowski Feb 26, 2021 Updated 9 hrs ago

Ralph Krueger could be without his star center and starting goaltender when the Buffalo Sabres host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Eichel, the Sabres’ 24-year-old captain, is considered “day to day,” according to Krueger, with a lower-body injury that prevented him from playing Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils. Ullmark, on the other hand, is not expected to be in the lineup Saturday or Sunday against the Flyers.

Ullmark, 27, underwent testing Friday to determine the severity of the lower-body injury that forced him to miss the final two periods of the 4-3 overtime loss to New Jersey. He was evaluated by a trainer on the ice after making a highlight-reel glove save on Devils center Nico Hischier.

Ullmark finished the first period, stopping each of the 15 shots he faced, before he was replaced by . With Ullmark unavailable Friday, the Sabres practiced with three goalies: Hutton, Jonas Johansson and Dustin Tokarski.

Good news finally arrived for the Sabres on Friday in the form of defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen successfully completing another on-ice workout. The 26-year-old has not appeared in a game since Jan. 31, and he spent 14 days on the Covid protocol list. Ristolainen experienced a wide range of symptoms after testing positive for Covid-19, including chest pain and fatigue.

Although Krueger declined to say who will be in his lineup Saturday, Ristolainen is nearing a return and could possibly return this weekend. Winger Tobias Rieder has also been cleared to return.

“What we are happy about is his amazing physical foundation that he had coming into his battle with Covid is helping to expedite his return,” Krueger said of Ristolainen following practice Friday. “Like, you can just see the athlete, the work ethic. All of that just pays off for athletes when they come off of this. So, we’re really pleased with what’s he’s shown yesterday and today, and hopefully we’ll see that again tomorrow morning so we can put him back in the lineup. It’s not a given yet, but it’s a high possibility.”

Eichel experienced discomfort during warmups before puck drop and was replaced in the lineup by winger Tage Thompson. Riley Sheahan was moved to the top line and scored a goal on a backhanded shot at 6:28 into the first period.

However, it appears Curtis Lazar will be in line to skate with Victor Olofsson and Sam Reinhart if Eichel can't go. Lazar, 26, has four goals in 14 games.

It’s been a difficult road for Eichel the past two months. He missed the start of training camp with an upper-body injury and told the media following the two-week Covid-19 pause that he studied footage of himself from last season in pursuit of a solution to his early offensive struggles.

Eichel has gone eight consecutive games without a goal and has two goals with 12 assists in 16 games this season.

Ullmark’s injury, no matter the length of his absence, is a blow to the Sabres. He has totaled a .923 save percentage across his past nine games. Hutton, who stopped 21 of 25 shots against the Devils, will likely be in goal Saturday.

Buffalo News LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204095 Buffalo Sabres Every advanced metric, both offensively and defensively, showed Skinner was consistently creating scoring chances, drawing penalties and helping his linemates shutdown the opposition. For example, Skinner leads all Sabres forwards in on-ice shot quality against in 5-on-5 Jeff Skinner says he doesn't want to be traded by Sabres after benching situations, according to Evolving-Hockey.com.

“I mean, I think in this league there's a lot of ups and downs,” said Skinner. “A lot of times I think the best way to cope with that is such a Lance Lysowski Feb 26, 2021 Updated 9 hrs ago cliche, but take it a day at a time. And for me, this last little while, obviously you want to be out there battling with your teammates. …

The disconnect between Ralph Krueger and Jeff Skinner became “The situation as a whole is something that sort of I think obviously, apparent this week when the $9 million-a-year left wing was scratched in there's a lot of emotions involved. You try and take time to digest that and three consecutive games. stuff like that, because I think in any situation like that, that's the best thing to do.” Krueger, amid his second season as the Buffalo Sabres’ coach, has been coy when asked why the team’s second-highest paid player wasn’t Krueger again declined to reveal what specific areas of Skinner’s game in the lineup. He didn’t soften his stance Friday after Skinner practiced need to improve and mentioned that the former 40-goal scorer will benefit with the Sabres in KeyBank Center ahead of a weekend back-to-back by watching teammates from a different perspective. Skinner, on the against the Philadelphia Flyers. other hand, does not think he can improve by not playing.

“We are an environment of accountability and you need to earn your The situation raised significant questions about the Sabres’ plan for keep here on this group every single game and every practice,” said Skinner and how comfortable Adams would be with the benching of a Krueger. “What I’m telling you doesn’t only apply to Jeff. It applies to high-priced player. every player on our team and if somebody slips there are different ways Skinner has six years remaining on the $72 million contract he signed to deal with it. with the Sabres in June 2019. The contract included a no-movement “In the end, the goal is to find out what the potential of the player is for us clause, which prevents Buffalo from waiving Skinner and he must now and get that player to that potential.” approve any trade. He also has the power to prevent the Sabres from exposing him to Seattle in the expansion draft this summer. , Skinner’s agent, had a lengthy phone conversation with Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams on Wednesday. Meehan, one of Even if Skinner wanted out, a trade would be difficult considering his goal hockey’s most prominent powerbrokers, expressed his and Skinner’s scoring under Krueger. After totaling a career-high 40 goals under former concerns. Skinner was scratched again Thursday night against the New coach Phil Housley in 2018-19, Skinner had only 14 goals in 59 games Jersey Devils last season. He has just three goals in his last 45 games dating back to Dec. 5, 2019. It wasn’t until after practice Friday that Skinner spoke to the media about his frustrations and what appears from the outside to be a contentious However, Skinner led the Sabres in 5-on-5 goals per 60 minutes last relationship with Krueger. While Krueger would not say who will be in the season. He currently leads the team in individual shot quality in 5-on-5 Sabres’ lineup Saturday against the Flyers, Skinner made his intentions situations, while ranking second in penalties drawn and high-danger clear: He has no interest in a trade out of Buffalo. scoring chances. Krueger said he did not know about Meehan expressing concerns to Adams and added that his bosses, specifically “No. I love being a Sabre,” said Skinner, who has zero goals and one owners Terry and Kim Pegula, understand that there will be difficult assist in 14 games this season. “I love the city of Buffalo. I wouldn’t have situations such as the one with Skinner. chosen to stay here if that wasn’t the case. That answer is simple: no.” “Any noise coming from the outside, Kevyn and ownership has been Skinner did not skate with his teammates Thursday morning ahead of the amazing at understanding the space that I need as a head coach to be 4-3 overtime loss to the Devils. Instead, one of the NHL’s most able to work properly to have the energy I need,” Krueger said when accomplished goal scorers across the past decade was told to work out asked about the ramifications of benching a player of Skinner’s status. with the taxi squad, a group that includes defensemen Brandon Davidson “So, my answer to you is I didn’t even know that happened, the and Casey Fitzgerald, and goalie Dustin Tokarski. complaint, until you just told me. But what I do understand is the complexity of this situation for the reasons that you mentioned. I’ve just Krueger chose to have Tage Thompson skate with the Sabres in had nothing but support on the obsession I have in driving in the culture pregame warmups. Thompson had two shots on goal in 7:57 of ice time here in Buffalo that gives us a chance not only short- but long-term to be after he was forced into the lineup when center Jack Eichel sat out with a successful.” lower-body injury. With Eichel questionable to play this weekend, Skinner returned to practice Friday and skated on a forward line with Casey When asked if he is doing everything asked by coaches, Skinner Mittelstadt and Riley Sheahan. deferred to Krueger and said: “For obvious reasons, I can’t read his mind.” Skinner also respectfully declined to say how long or often he has Krueger would only say he wants to hold any player accountable who spoken to Krueger since first being scratched Monday against the New does not adhere to his “principles.” York Islanders. “The goal is not to punish anybody or to cause headlines that you can all Skinner repeated that his focus is simple: helping the Sabres win hockey focus on,” said Krueger. “It’s more the goal of getting the most of the games. His ability to do so, though, is partially controlled by Krueger. Buffalo Sabres and the group that we have. … And it’s about different ways of growing people in different positions and that’s what this is “For me, that’s my number one focus is trying to help the team win," about, is working together with Jeff to make him a better Jeff Skinner for Skinner said, "and that’s what I’m going to continue to do as much as I the game today. … I feel that he’s embraced it and that he’ll come out of can." it a better player.” Buffalo News LOADED: 02.27.2021 The Sabres, now last in the East Division with a 6-8-3 record, could use Skinner’s goal-scoring prowess. Since the start of his rookie season in 2010-11, Skinner ranks seventh in the NHL in even-strength goals (205), trailing only Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Kane, John Tavares, , Brad Marchand and Max Pacioretty.

Yet, only three games following a two-week-long Covid-19 pause, Skinner was scratched in favor of Mittelstadt.

Skinner, a 28-year-old two-time all-star, had spent most of the first 14 games on the Sabres’ fourth line with Sheahan and Curtis Lazar. Skinner is also averaging a career-low 12:04 of even-strength ice time per game. 1204096 Calgary Flames “It’s about how you use the time,” said Hitmen veteran Josh Prokop. “I know based on the players we have with our work ethic and our coaching staff that we’ll be working hard.”

Hitmen hope to make most of blink-of-an-eye training camp That hard on-ice work began with the first moments of camp last Saturday — that after months of relative inaction and weeks of lead-up quarantine.

Todd Saelhof With just 22 players and no cuts expected among the 13 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders, the Hitmen are training with what is Publishing date:Feb 27, 2021 • 5 hours ago essentially their roster to start the 2020-21 WHL campaign.

Again, that’s strange since there can be as many as 80 hopefuls in camp It was quite the extended off-season. in a non-COVID year.

Incredibly long, thanks to COVID restrictions that rocked the hockey “Obviously it’s a different situation — that’s probably the best way to world. describe it,” said Hitmen veteran Riley Fiddler-Schultz. “None of us are used to this. We’re used to having about a month of training camp with Now, the Calgary Hitmen are in the midst of a relatively teeny-tiny pre-season games and everything. But everybody’s in the same boat. training camp. “We’ve just got to make sure we’re making the most of our practice time Very short, to be sure. and video sessions, so we’re physically and mentally ready for that first weekend of games.” So time has been — and still is — an opponent like none other facing them. The upside of all the restrictions in the face of the pandemic, including the fact the Hitmen are isolated from the rest of Calgary all together — “Two weeks will feel like a lifetime to get ready after all this waiting (for a but each to their own rooms — at Grey Eagle Resort, is the bonding that re-start),” said Hitmen veteran Riley Stotts. “With these two weeks we’ll comes along with seeing each other nearly 24/7 and knowing they’re have, we’ll be in a good spot to play after camp.” already a set roster. That’s, of course, the hope. “It’s especially good for young guys,” Fiddler-Schultz said. “It takes a big But whether they’ll be as polished as they’d like to be once camp wraps weight off their shoulders. Like I know myself, when I was 16, I was up next week and they slide into their first games of an abbreviated WHL nervous going into camp and everything. You don’t really know what’s schedule — 24 games beginning for the Hitmen next Friday night on going to happen, and you’re just trying to work as hard as you can and home ice against the incoming (7:30 p.m., focus on the hockey aspect of it. This allows the rookies to kind of have watch.CHL.ca/Sportsnet 960 The Fan) — remains to be seen. fun with the guys and loosen up a little bit and not be so tight and nervous.” The idea of early-season excellence certainly seems to be asking a lot of them with the team lead-up at their temporary home of Seven Chiefs Added Stotts, “Every year we go into a season knowing we have a long Sportsplex just half the length of what is the usual time allotted for a way to go before the end of the season. This year, we’re going to find Hitmen pre-season. some chemistry as quickly as possible with the team and grow some relationships. Hopefully, we’ll grow a bond and be able to play sharp and “I’ve never had a two-week training camp in junior hockey where we turn out to be a good season.” haven’t played exhibition games,” said Hitmen head coach Steve Hamilton. “It’s going to be a unique in a sense that our first hockey game Calgary Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2021 in the standings is going to be our first game as a team. But every team’s going through that.

“I want us to be a solid work in progress where we feel good about how we start games and we’re able to adapt. I think the evolution of the team is going to take shape in the next couple of weeks, where we really get a feel of where we are heading into that first game.”

Bottom line?

It’s about progress and not perfection, even though there were still expectations put on the players during what became an over-extended off-season.

After all, there was plenty of time for them to work on — if nothing else — their off-ice fitness.

“This was an unprecedented off-season for everybody,” Hamilton said. “The one thing we kept reiterating to them through our strength coach is that this was an opportunity to transform themselves. You’re never going to get an 11-month off-season again, knock on wood. If we’re going to have to deal with it just like everyone else, it should’ve been viewed as opportunity.”

Get in shape

Get strong.

Get explosive.

“Those are the things that they could control,” Hamilton continued. “And it was so nice to see guys come back in great shape. The one thing you could find a way to do is workout and make the most of your time. As a whole, it’s two thumbs up to our group for what they did were able to do in that off-season.”

Now comes finding chemistry and brotherhood in what is a unique blink- of-an-eye camp. 1204097 Calgary Flames If the Flames are reacting too emotionally to the ups and downs of the season, it’s not entirely clear why. If they had the answers, they’d have fixed it by now.

Flames look for middle ground between season highs and lows Head coach Geoff Ward believes the very nature of this season, with an abbreviated schedule and an all-Canadian division, can make the stakes of every game feel that much higher. Blocking out the outside noise is imperative. Daniel Austin “Everybody’s talking about how every series is like a playoff series, so I Publishing date:Feb 27, 2021 • 5 hours ago • think that ramps it up,” Ward said. “The expectation of a win or loss, in terms of how the public perceives it or management perceives it or could perceive it, how your team perceives it, how a coaching staff perceives it Flames goalie David Rittich is replaced by Artyom Zagidulin in the … I think all those things may lend, especially to younger players, that second period against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021. the highs may be too high and the lows may be too low.

Wins and losses are going to affect the mood of any hockey player. “It’s something you have to steel yourself against. We’ve talked about it a lot, we only have to worry about our own perspective and not listen to the They’re competitive, so that’s only natural. outside noise. If we play to the standard that we set, then we’re happy.” But right now, the Calgary Flames are looking for some sort of middle Jacob Markstrom snags a shot against the in ground where the highs aren’t too high and the lows aren’t too low. Calgary on Jan. 18, 2021. It’s not just the goal in terms of managing how they react to wins and NO MARKSTROM losses, either. It’s also how the Flames are experiencing the inevitable peaks and valleys within games themselves. The Flames are hoping to get Jacob Markstrom back soon, but it won’t be this weekend. “I think we have a lot of highs and lows instead of staying even keel throughout the game,” said Flames Chris Tanev. “When Ward confirmed that his starting goalie will be out for Saturday we’re going good, we feel like we’re on top of the world, and then when afternoon’s game in Ottawa. He was placed on injured reserve on the other team scores we feel like the world’s ending. Thursday, but it’s retroactive to Feb. 20.

“It’s definitely something we need to work on and be even-keel Under the NHL’s rules, Markstrom is eligible to return to the active roster regardless of what happens. Things are going to happen throughout the after spending seven days on the IR, which rules him out against the game.” Sens on Saturday, although he could return for Monday’s rematch.

Over the past couple of weeks, it’s seemed like there have been “He’s on IR through the weekend so he won’t be available tomorrow,” moments where a goal has seemed to take all the wind completely out of Ward said. “Once we get through that we’re hopeful that he’ll be ready to the Flames’ sails. go.”

Against the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 17, a late second-period Calgary Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2021 Andrew Mangiapane goal drew the Flames to within one. When J.T. Miller scored for the Canucks just 15 seconds later, it seemed to completely deflate the Flames, and Nate Schmidt would make it 4-1 for the Canucks just 37 seconds after that.

It happened again on Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators. The first period was rough for the Flames, but they came out flying in the second and cut their hosts’ lead to 2-1 when Milan Lucic scored.

Minutes later, Connor Brown scored for the Sens and it seemed like the energy drained from the Flames bench. When Erik Brannstrom puck the puck past David Rittich from the neutral zone to make it 4-1 shortly thereafter, it was game over even if there were still 30 minutes of hockey left to play.

“You see teams around the league and they’re able to come back from deficits and for whatever reason this year we haven’t been able to do that,” Lucic said. “We’ve got to find things to build off of no matter what the score is to try to get back in it.

“We can’t allow a goal to suck the life out of us the way that it has recently.”

This has not been an easy season for the Flames. Expectations were high, both externally and from within the locker room, and the team has so far been far too inconsistent for anyone to seriously consider them to be a contender.

Ottawa Senators celebrate a third-period goal against the Flames.

Recent weeks, in particular, have been difficult. They have won only one of their last five games and while they are absolutely still in the playoff hunt in the North Division, they’re currently outside a playoff spot.

Even the one game they did win in that stretch may be instructive.

“I think you look at all good teams and they expect to win every game,” Tanev said. “When they win a game it’s not like they won the Stanley Cup or a big playoff game. We beat Toronto and we did follow-up the next game ad play a pretty good game, but the highs and lows, you beat a really good team in Toronto and you get too high and then you lose and you’re right back at the bottom.

“It’s something we have to learn to deal with as a group and get better at.” 1204098 Calgary Flames advantage of them and you know, that’s just what I did. I always wanted to work hard in practice and then I think it translates to the game.”

Pettersen feels his improved skating will be one of his competitive The Flames’ next Andrew Mangiapane? Emilio Pettersen is off to a solid advantages. AHL start “Where I feel like I’ve created some separation is probably my quickness,” he said. “Skating wasn’t really my strongest asset two years back, but I really worked on it and got better at it. Getting out of corners By Darren Haynes Feb 26, 2021 and beating guys wide, attacking the far post, that’s key for me now.”

That fearlessness to get to the top of the blue paint is something you see from Mangiapane every game. If you’re the Calgary Flames, the only problem with Andrew Mangiapane is you’ve only got one of him. It’s been a strong start for Pettersen, who was one of the Heat’s most noticeable and impactful players in their opening series against the Known for how hard he works every shift, Mangiapane also is evolving Toronto Marlies. into one of the club’s best offensive players. His seven goals are second on the team to Johnny Gaudreau (nine). League-wide in February, only It’s also been an unusual start. Auston Matthews (12) and David Pastrnak (nine) have dented the twine more. He’s been a bright spot in what otherwise has been a pretty dreary While the Flames and Heat are living together this season, they’re like Flames season. roommates working opposite shifts. They never see each other.

Well, good news. Another Mangiapane is on the way. If Calgary is at home, they get the prime late-morning or noon practice slot. Not until the last Flames player has left does the cleaning crew Or, at least it sure looks that way. come in to sanitize everything and prepare the building for the arrival of Stockton’s players and staff. After playing the past two seasons at Denver University, Emilio Pettersen made his pro debut at the Scotiabank Saddledome this week for the “Even though we use separate rooms, there can be no crossover,” said temporarily relocated . The similarities between the 20- Flames assistant GM Brad Pascall, who oversees the club’s minor- year-old Norwegian and the 24-year-old Ontarian are downright eerie. league operations. “The staff have planned it out well and done an effective job, and at the end of the day, we’re abiding by all the Five-foot-10? Check. Health and NHL protocols to a ‘T’ — and they’re strict!” Left winger? Check. The result is that on some days, the Heat do not practice until 5 p.m. Left-shot? Check. “It’s been a bit strange, but I’m getting used to it,” Pettersen said. Speedy? Check. While practicing into the evening isn’t exactly normal, nothing about the Skilled? Check. past year has been normal.

Relentless? Check. Stockton has taken over the Calgary Hitmen dressing room, but not all of the players. To adhere to physical distancing, more space was needed. But wait, there’s more. So they removed all the fitness equipment from the Hitmen training room and converted that into a second dressing room, with the gym moving to Three years after Calgary selected Mangiapane 166th overall in the 2015 the barren Saddledome concourse. NHL draft, Pettersen was chosen just one spot lower at 167th. For season ticket holders in sections 209 and 210, that jaunt down the Heck, even their birthdays are just a day apart — April 3, 2000, for chute to grab a beer now takes you onto a padded floor of well-spaced- Pettersen, and April 4, 1996, for Mangiapane. out dumbbell racks, weight-lifting benches, workout stations and “I feel like everyone’s a different player, so I’ve never really compared stationary bikes. myself to anyone,” Pettersen said this week. “But I think it’s good for me Even when the Flames are at home, Heat players watch the games on to look up to guys like Mangiapane, guys who made their way up through television, like everyone else. the AHL and done well in the AHL, and cracked that code of how to play hard and make the Flames lineup.” Turning the focus to the opening week, don’t let Pettersen’s one assist in three games fool you. He has been good and could easily have a pile of Someone well-positioned to compare the two is Stockton coach Cail points already. He’s one of those guys who is noticeable all the time. MacLean, who was part of the Heat’s coaching staff during Mangiapane’s final two AHL seasons. Third-year player Matthew Phillips, who is wearing an “A” this season, played on the same line as Pettersen in the opener. While the lines have “The tenaciousness of Pettersen matches up with the tenaciousness of been changed, they still play together on Stockton’s top power-play unit. Mangiapane,” MacLean said. “I see things that they do, even in practice settings, where Pettersen is very good at trying to execute at the “Petey’s a great player,” said Phillips, whose April 6, 1998, birthday, maximum pace that he can, and Mangiapane did that. I think that pushes interestingly enough, falls almost exactly in the middle of Pettersen and your ceiling even higher. You’re trying to push yourself in every rep to go Mangiapane’s four-year gap. Phillips was also a No. 166 overall pick. beyond the limit of what you can do under control.” “I’ve gotten to know him pretty well and I think we both think the game It’s clearly paid off for one. Perhaps that will be a harbinger of what’s to fairly similar. He’s highly skilled and he sees the ice really well and he’s a come for the other. threat, not only to shoot it but to make a good pass as well.”

“Now when you watch Mangiapane, he’s excellent at picking pucks and Here is a sampling of the many offensive chances created by Pettersen walking out of the corner under pressure,” MacLean continued. against Toronto. “Pettersen is a guy that has that mentality to work like that, so he’s going to constantly improve because he stretches himself all the time in On Sunday, off a defensive zone faceoff win by Adam Ruzicka, Pettersen practice.” darts to the opposite corner to make himself available for an outlet pass. He then looks up and wires an 80-foot pass onto the tape of a streaking For Mangiapane, it was a collaborative effort, with his willingness to put Phillips, who seconds later springs Ruzicka on a breakaway. But the in the extra work and the accommodation of the Stockton coaches, whom puck won’t settle and his shot bounces wide. he made a point of acknowledging by name — MacLean, Ryan Huska and assistant coach Dominic Pittis. On Wednesday, more of that offensive instinct was on display. Darting through the neutral zone, Pettersen swerves to his right to draw the “After practice, we’d be working on drills in the corner, little turns, Toronto defender toward him while opening up a lane for Martin Pospisil, shooting drills, skating drills, avoiding pressure,” Mangiapane said on whom he hits with a slick bank pass. Pettersen then gets the puck back Thursday from Ottawa, where the Flames were preparing to play the and gets a shot away for a scoring chance. Senators. “You get more practice days down there and you’ve got to take On Thursday in the first period, he takes off with the puck on the “As an organization, we pride ourselves on that,” Pascall said. transition, stops up in the Toronto end for help to arrive and then, “Ultimately, it’s up to the players to dig in, and excel, and buy in, and showing some filthy deception, picks out Justin Kirkland coming late for a they’ve done that. But you look at the work our team — myself and Ray glorious chance, but Kirkland’s shot goes off a stick and then off the Edwards and Ryan Huska and Cail MacLean, our assistant coaches crossbar. down there, and our strength and conditioning guys, that’s the program that we are trying to run in Stockton. Ultimately, it’s all about the Flames, In this period of sustained second-period pressure on Thursday, which and it’s all about pushing people up to the Flames and ultimately have led to Pettersen’s first pro point — a primary helper on ’s the Flames succeed. That’s the be-all and end-all goal of player blast — the better set-up happened seconds earlier, when he threaded a development.” pass into the slot for another dangerous chance for Ruzicka. Based on first impressions, Pettersen looks primed to be a major Late in the third, again it’s Ruzicka as the beneficiary of a slick feed, this contributor for the Heat while giving Flames fans a tantalizing glimpse of time from behind the net. Pettersen draws the defenceman toward him, what’s to come. then sends the puck back into the slot where Ruzicka is left alone, only to again be denied. In Mangiapane’s rookie season, he played in an offensive role on a line with Linden Vey and Matt Frattin, bubble NHL players but prolific AHL It’s certainly been an unusual 10 months since Pettersen signed in April, players. Expect a similar treatment for Pettersen. and not the first pro season he imagined. “The coaches are comfortable with playing these guys to their strengths Asked how many ice times he thinks he had between his last college and playing them in offensive situations, playing them on the power play,” game (March 7) and his first AHL game on Sunday, Pettersen paused. Pascall said. “With that comes accountability. If they’re minus-five over a “Wow, that’s a crazy one.” couple games, we may rethink that and give them a game off. But, going in, we’re gonna use them to their strengths and we feel that they’re ready More than 150, I wondered? for that level.”

“It’s gotta be something like that,” he said. Mangiapane admitted it’s “definitely pretty cool” to have gone from the guy trying to make the NHL to being the NHL guy others are aspiring to When the NCAA season stopped, he flew to New Jersey and spent a be like. couple of months quarantining at his girlfriend’s beach house. “It’s a surreal moment to think that I’ve come that far to have younger “Yeah, not terrible,” Pettersen said with a chuckle. “I had a really good players look up to me or talk about me,” Mangiapane said. “For a lot of time. We just stayed on the beach.” those younger players and for myself, Stockton wasn’t really the place After a month back in Denver, he flew home to Norway for two months, where you want to be, necessarily. Everyone wants to be in the NHL. But where he spent time skating with the pro team. it’s a good league, good management, good coaching staff down there. It’s a step in the right direction for all those young guys and was a step in “We thought about having him play with the pro team there,” Pascall said. the right direction for me.” “We went through the pros and cons. But at that point, it was around September and we’re like, well, I think we’re going to be starting up soon. If Pettersen can keep heading in the right direction, perhaps they will be So just come over here and get used to it and we’ll be ready to roll.” Flames teammates down the road. Maybe even linemates.

Well, maybe not “soon,” as it turned out. After all, two Mangiapanes are better than one.

Pettersen got a place to live with defenceman CJ Lerby, a Flames free The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 agent signing who was coming over to North America from Sweden for the first time.

“They were like Mutt and Jeff, they were here all the time,” Pascall said. “They were living together. Same apartment. So eating every meal together, working out together, driving to the rink together. It was one of those things where for months on end, they were champing at the bit.”

Through the fall, they settled into a routine of spending around 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or so at the rink on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and then taking weekends off.

“That was nice, just to get our feet under us with the ice and skate with a pretty mature group of (Mark) Giordano, (Milan) Lucic, (Chris) Tanev,” Pettersen said. “It was big for me and the other guys that came here, to see how they go about things and where they set the bar.”

Of course, introductions had to come first. Remember, as a college kid, Pettersen never attended a Flames rookie camp or main camp, because he would already have been back in school. And when he came to Calgary in July for development camp, Flames players typically were out of town on vacation.

“The thing that stood out to me was the older guys were the ones who were doing the extra same things in the gym,” Pettersen said. “Whether it’s extra sprints on the treadmill after the workout, extra stretching, holding guys accountable on the ice. It’s not by mistake that they’re at the level they’re at and how they’ve been there for so long. Guys like Tanev and Giordano are guys that I really looked up to this summer and obviously seeing them day in and day out was pretty big for me, just to realize that the work never ends. You can always get better.”

Emilio Pettersen. (Candice Ward / Calgary Flames)

Realistically, Pettersen is still probably a couple of seasons away from the NHL. But that’s not a bad thing. That’s how players properly develop so they are set up for success and can thrive at the next level.

Mangiapane, for example, spent two and a half seasons in Stockton before ultimately leaving behind his 2006 blue Saturn that he shared with Rasmus Andersson and heading to Calgary for good. 1204099 Carolina Hurricanes staff are all out of contract this summer, and it’s up to Brind’Amour to advocate for them.

Meanwhile, Dundon loves Brind’Amour as a coach but has made it clear Where do the Canes stand with Andrei Svechnikov’s contract? How since he bought the team that he thinks NHL coaches and general about Rod Brind’Amour? managers are overpaid in general and he won’t hew to NHL salary standards by default.

“We’re going to get it worked out,” Dundon said. “He’s going to be here. BY LUKE DECOCK We don’t want him to go and he doesn’t want to go. This is the easiest thing of all time. I’ve got to pay him more. That’s life. He earned it.” FEBRUARY 26, 2021 04:27 PM, News Observer LOADED: 02.27.2021

The Carolina Hurricanes took Friday off, a chance to take a breath after a difficult four-game series with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the business of hockey never rests. With the abbreviated season already a third of the way completed, the Hurricanes have a handful of contract issues on the verge of becoming pressing.

Andrei Svechnikov has cooled off after a hot start -- after six goals in the team’s first eight games, he has one empty-net goal in the past 11 -- and so have negotiations on a new contract for the young star, whose entry- level contract expires after the season.

Svechnikov’s agent, Todd Diamond, said that wasn’t a sign of an impasse, but that the fast pace of the shortened season hasn’t left much time for negotiating.

“Things are kind of status quo,” Diamond told The News & Observer. “There’s a time and place to have deeper talks. There’s just so many games right now, it’s not the right environment for it. It may take into the offseason.”

Svechnikov, who turns 21 next month, is still four years away from unrestricted free agency and a year away from arbitration rights, so the team has considerable leverage, but young players of his caliber have been making quick jumps into the salary stratosphere.

While there were initial discussions about an eight-year deal that would have taken him through four years of unrestricted free agency, the current framework under discussion is a shorter-term bridge deal.

“It’s easy, because he’s ours, we’re going to pay him fair and get it done,” Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon told the N&O. “That’s just when not if. We want to get it done. These are fairly easy deals to get done. The market, if you look at the bridge deals that have been done, it’s not that hard.”

Among potential comparables, the New York Islanders’ Mathew Barzal signed a three-year contract worth an average of $7 million per season, while Patrik Laine signed a two-year contract worth an average of $6.75 million per season. Svechnikov’s standard rookie contract currently pays him $925,000 plus performance bonuses. Last year, that was worth an additional $850,000, which counts against this year’s salary cap.

“The team situation dictates those things moreso than we desire,” Diamond said. “More guys are going with the so-called bridge route because the team doesn’t have the cap space to satisfy a long-term number. The Islanders would have loved to sign Barzal for six or seven or eight years but their cap situation did not allow for it. When a team is good and has players around coming off entry-level deals, you kind of have to go that direction.”

The Hurricanes also have to make a decision on defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who can become an unrestricted free agent in July, but that really doesn’t have to happen until the April 12 trade deadline. The 27- year-old is the Hurricanes’ highest-paid defenseman at $5.75 million per season.

And then there’s the sticky case of coach Rod Brind’Amour, who at $600,000 per season is one of the lowest-paid coaches in the league. In the big picture, this is an easy one: Brind’Amour has never expressed any desire to leave and Dundon is on the record saying Brind’Amour has earned a raise.

“I can’t imagine it not working out,” Brind’Amour told the N&O on Friday.

The details get a little trickier. Brind’Amour is under pressure from his peers in the NHL coaching community to get his salary closer to the league average. The 13 coaches with salaries listed on capfriendly.com average more than $3.2 million; the actual average is believed to be less than that. Calgary’s Geoff Ward is the lowest-paid on that list at $900,000. On top of that, the Hurricanes’ assistant coaches and support 1204100 Carolina Hurricanes feel to it. There’s experience and depth and talent. It’s strong up the middle. The Canes have been good five on five, good in overtimes and shootouts. After playoff disappointment the past two years, there should be hunger. Five things we’ve learned about the Carolina Hurricanes The grind of a 56-game regular season squeezed into a tight scheduling window, within the specter of the pandemic, makes it a matter of attrition and a test of conditioning and perseverance to get to the playoffs. The BY CHIP ALEXANDER NHL only made it tougher for the Canes last week by sliding in another FEBRUARY 26, 2021 02:26 PM, Tampa Bay game, meaning four in a row against the 2020 Stanley Cup champion before their two games with the Central Division-leading Florida Panthers. Their strength of schedule is second in the NHL.

Five things we’ve learned about the Carolina Hurricanes, who are 12-6-1 “We just focus on today,” Brind’Amour said Thursday. “We’re big on after their first 19 games, fourth in the Central Division and now on a going 1-0 and focusing on today. It’s what are we going to do today to three-game losing streak: win and be good.”

‘CANES NEED TERAVAINEN, MRAZEK And when they get back to Raleigh, the Canes will find something different about PNC Arena: Some fans will be allowed in the building for A no-brainer, yes? All teams will deal with injuries in this condensed their games. Talk about a pick-me-up. season and a lot have had COVID issues, but forward Teuvo Teravainen and goalie Petr Mrazek have been missed. HURRICANES AT FLORIDA PANTHERS

Teravainen, sidelined indefinitely with a concussion, has been called the When: Saturday, 7 p.m. Canes’ quiet MVP by coach Rod Brind’Amour. He led the team in assists last season, but also in power-play assists and power-play points. Think Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, Fla. the Canes could have used him on the power play Thursday when they TV: FSCR were 0-for-5 in the 3-1 loss to the Lightning. News Observer LOADED: 02.27.2021 Mrazek led the NHL in goals-against average and save percentage in the early going, with a 1-0 of Tampa Bay, before his collision with teammate Max McCormick. He’s coming off thumb surgery, has missed 14 games and will need time to regain his form and timing. He must do it quickly.

DOUGIE OF OLD, WHERE ARE YOU?

Defenseman Dougie Hamilton was playing as well as any defenseman in the league last season when he suffered a broken leg in mid-January. Selected as an NHL All-Star, he was an offensive force and the perfect counterpart on the Canes’ top defensive pairing with a more defensive- oriented Jaccob Slavin.

Hamilton had nine goals in the first 19 games last season. He has one goal in 19 this season, on 57 shots. Brind’Amour, asked Thursday about Hamilton, said it would be difficult for Hamilton to replicate last season but added Hamilton has had a “ton” of chances this year. “Those will start to go in,” the coach said. He also would like to see the 6-6, 229-pound D- man more physically engaged.

GOALTENDING TOO SOFT AT TIMES

With Mrazek out, the Canes have gone with James Reimer and Alex Nedeljkovic in a season, as Brind’Amour put it, where the games keep on coming. Both are capable. Neither is elite.

Goaltending was the chief cause of the Canes’ three-game slide, on both sides. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy is an elite goalie and beat the Canes twice. Curtis McElhinney, who stole a few games as the backup for the Canes two years ago, did it again Thursday for the Lightning.

Both Reimer and Nedeljkovic have allowed a few soft goals. It happens. It also can be the difference in close games. The Canes need Mrazek back and being that feisty, competitive Petr Mrazek again.

“SVECH” MUST BE CONSISTENTLY DYNAMIC

Andrei Svechnikov, now in his third season, has been called a star in the making by nearly everyone who has seen the power forward play. But after scoring six goals in his first eight games, he has one in the past 11, and that was an empty netter.

Svechnikov has six assists and 24 shots in those 11 games, and Brind’Amour says much the same about the 20-year-old as he does about Hamilton: the offensive chances are there, it’s a matter of time. But a couple of goals by Svechnikov might have changed the three-game skid against Tampa Bay -- he hit the post Thursday with an early backhander. Svechnikov can be dynamic but is still seeking more consistency.

THIS IS A SOLID HOCKEY TEAM

There have been times in the past when the Canes entered a season with a few too many holes -- on the lines, on the back end, in net. This year’s team, with a healthy Teravainen and Mrazek, has a good, solid 1204101 Carolina Hurricanes Palat is probably the most usual unusual suspect, right? The Canes had been seriously lacking in the sandpaper department since they let Joel Edmundson go, and Brind’Amour of all people knows you need a little bit of that if you’re going to win a Stanley Cup. Civian vs. Smith: What we learned from the Hurricanes-Lightning series Smith: You’re spot on about Gourde, who was terrific again on Thursday. Watching Gourde’s world-class shot on his go-ahead goal in the third period makes one wonder how he even went through a two-month goal By Sara Civian and Joe Smith Feb 26, 2021 drought last season. Gourde got reinvigorated in the playoffs with a move back to the middle, where he anchored the team’s dynamic third line with Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman. The Lightning played Carolina for the 100th time this week. You mention “sandpaper” and the Lightning don’t win the Cup last year Pretty sure they’re sick of each other by now. without adding guys like Goodrow, Coleman and around the deadline. They also had Pat Maroon and . Cooper said Just wait until they play in a seven-game series in May. Book it. It’s going they went from the “greatest show on ice” to a team that could stand up to happen. to other teams and play a more physical style. Of course, the main Civian: Joe, your grandma content made up for any repetitiveness our reason they won was because their best players were their best players, tweets might have built up over the course of this series — for me at from Hedman and Kucherov to Point and Andrei Vasilevskiy. But they least. I think Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour is officially over it. added another element to their game that they were missing on previous deep runs. That said, this has been a taste of the seemingly inevitable seven-game series. I’m already pouring one out for the Tampa Bay tiki bar excursions What do you think has been missing with the Canes when it comes to that might’ve been — but I’m sure we’ll figure out a virtual solution. advancing in the playoffs? Obviously, we all took notice when they beat the Caps a few years back and took the Bruins to Game 7. Feel they Both teams have lived up to their Stanley Cup contender reputations added enough for this year to get over the hump against a team like throughout the series. What have you thought of the Canes? Tampa Bay?

Smith: I think the Canes might end up being the Lightning’s toughest Civian: Experience and goaltending. You’ll notice the Canes barely made competition in the division. Granted, I haven’t seen the Stars live this any changes before this season, but the younger budding stars like year (thanks to multiple cancellations), and the Panthers are a much- Andrei Svechnikov and Martin Necas are taking their next steps, while improved group, but it seems like Carolina has a lot of the pieces you Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen and Dougie Hamilton are approaching need. That is, when their No. 1 goalie is healthy. their prime. So, with the rest of the things coming together, it’s never They’ve got one of the top coaches (how is Rod Brind’Amour not signed been more important for Petr Mrazek to come back and provide the yet?), a really mobile and deep blue line, and plenty of skill up front. It’s flashes of brilliance we’ve seen from him on a more consistent basis. funny, Lightning color analyst said the other night that the I thought the Hurricanes probably deserved to win this final game and Lightning and Hurricanes are like “mirror Images” in how they play. split the series. That’s why you invest in a goaltender who will steal you a They’re relentless on the forecheck, built on speed and a blue line that game. The Hurricanes goaltending was generally fine and at times helps fuel their offensive attack. excellent throughout the series — especially without Mrazek. But I’m sure What are the biggest challenges you’ve seen Tampa Bay present to the some of you had the feeling that Mrazek could’ve been the difference. Canes? And keep in mind, they’re still missing Nikita Kucherov and The Canes are hoping he’ll be back relatively soon. Anthony Cirelli. At the same time, the Canes simply have to find a way to score more Civian: The Lightning are the Hurricanes if the Hurricanes had one of the than one goal in two games. They came into this series scoring more best (the best, if you ask me) goalies in the league. It really is that simple, goals than anyone not in the North Division, though, so it’s not too and the relentless forecheck on all ends of the ice has been so fun to concerning unless it bleeds into their next few games. watch. I expected that, though. Smith: The Lightning did win three of the four games, but it easily could I’ve realized this series these two teams are similar in how they have been a split. “Let’s be honest, the game wasn’t pretty,” Cooper said. persevere no matter who is in the lineup. Brind’Amour keeps saying how “Our performance was subpar.” Combine that with Vasilevskiy’s shutout important flexibility in that way is going to be this season. This is on Wednesday and it’s easy to see that goaltending is one of the obviously due to roster depth, but also the trusting nature of both deciding factors in these matchups. Brind’Amour and Jon Cooper — they’ve prepared and encouraged their This was the perfect time for this kind of test for Tampa Bay, which had fringe players for this. just come off a “wakeup call” series loss to the Panthers. While the It was fascinating to hear Brind’Amour and Cooper in the same coaches Lightning didn’t play their best the last week, they showed some association panel last year, discussing similar topics and strategies. “gamesmanship,” as Cooper put it, finding ways to grind out games when they’re not clicking. They also learned what things they’ve got to work on, Smith: That’s been a big part of Cooper’s culture, ensuring there are notably the power play and cleaning up some parts of their defensive more than 23 guys ready to step in when need be. There’s always going game. to be injuries. We’ve seen Gemel Smith step in when Mitchell Stephens had knee surgery, and this past week, rookies Alex Barre-Boulet and Considering the Lightning are without two key play-drivers in Kucherov Ross Colton made some impressive debuts. They likely won’t be up here and Cirelli they’ll certainly take being second in the division more than a all year, but that experience is vital. Take last year’s playoffs, when quarter into the season. Cooper entrusted Alex Volkov with a lineup spot for Cup-clinching Game Quick hits 6 against Dallas — it was the winger’s playoff debut. That did wonders for his confidence going into this year. Best Zoom interview on team?

Other than the usual suspects, what Lightning players have caught your Civian: It’s been hard to capture personality but Dougie Hamilton has eye in this series? By the way, you’re going to love Cedric Paquette. He basically kept the same energy. He has kept giving me a hard time, and annoys the hell out of other teams. He also had one of my favorite quotes that’s the kind of back-and-forth I miss the most. a few years back when, after a down season, said “I’m going to try to be Smith: There are some guys that are just as good on Zoom as they are in more of a prick this year.” person, like Stamkos or Maroon. But Mikhail Sergachev is sneaky good Civian: Victor Hedman is obviously what we in the biz would consider a — he’s always thoughtful, doesn’t bullshit, and often has a funny line or “usual suspect,” but it seems like he’s gotten even better than I’ve ever two, like when he said you never know what Vasilevskiy will pull out of seen him play. his “magic hat.”

Is Yanni Gourde a usual suspect? He’s been everywhere this series in a Who is Carolina’s Pat Maroon? Florida man, life of the party, gets guys similar way Paquette has since he joined the Canes. And I’ve been together on road, can stand up and say something in room? impressed with Paquette so far for everything you mentioned. Ondrej Civian: Most underrated/underappreciated player?

Smith: Palat would be that guy with the Lightning, the straw that stirred the drink on their top line during the playoffs (quietly scoring 11 goals). He does all the little things right, the ideal 200-foot player.

Civian: Covering hockey down south means everyone is underrated/underappreciated until the Maple Leafs are putting them in trade rumors, right? So in that sense, Brett Pesce is old news. But ever since he returned from shoulder surgery this season, he’s been the Hurricanes’ most reliable defenseman — even above Jaccob Slavin and Hamilton. If there were an award for best defensive defenseman (which there should be!) he’d be in my top three so far.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204102 Chicago Blackhawks Pritzker said he’s had conversations with Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle about expanding eligibility to people under 65 with conditions such as cancer, diabetes or lung problems, something they’ve resisted due to concerns about the limited supply of United Center parking lot could distribute up to 6,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine doses. vaccine per day; will be open March 10 to eligible Illinois residents “The common view is that we want to get as many people vaccinated as possible as soon as possible,” Pritzker said. “We all have a shared view that we’re not getting enough vaccines today to make that happen.” By DAN PETRELLA, GREGORY PRATT and JENNY WHIDDEN It’s up to local health departments to determine how best to allocate the FEB 26, 2021 AT 5:37 PM doses they receive, though most are following the state guidance on opening up to younger people with health conditions that put them at greater risk from COVID-19, the governor said. A mass vaccination site capable of inoculating 6,000 people per day against the coronavirus is set to open next month in a parking lot at the One of the advantages of the United Center site is that it is well-known United Center, part of a local, state and federal effort to protect more and easily accessible to people throughout the region but also located older Illinoisans and people in the communities hit hardest by the COVID- near West Side communities that have been hard hit by the pandemic, 19 pandemic, officials announced Friday. officials said.

The site is scheduled to open March 10, with vaccinations available to To help bring people to the site, Uber is donating 20,000 free rides to the any Illinois resident who currently qualifies under state guidelines, United Center as part of the program, Lightfoot said. Chicagoans who including those 65 and older, health care workers and other front-line register for the vaccine and indicate they have no or limited workers in essential industries, and as of Thursday, people with certain transportation options can sign up for their shot and a free ride at the preexisting health conditions. Appointments will be made available first to same time, officials said, but details on how weren’t immediately those 65 and older. available.

Many of the details, including how people can sign up for appointments, Closed to fans since early in the pandemic, the United Center has have yet to be announced, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other officials previously operated as a storage facility for the Greater Chicago Food praised the effort as an important step toward ending the pandemic. Depository, hosted drives for personal protective equipment and opened its door for donation events. The arena also was a polling site on Election The announcement comes as COVID-19 case numbers and Day. hospitalizations across Illinois continue to decline and as more than 100,000 vaccine doses were administered statewide for the second After a sluggish start, vaccinations have been picking up in Illinois as straight day. more doses have arrived and the Illinois National Guard has helped open immunization sites around the state, including several in Cook County. “I hope you’re feeling what I’m feeling, and it’s hope,” Pritzker said at a news conference at the Thompson Center in the Loop. “Things are The state administered 102,670 coronavirus vaccine doses Thursday, getting better.” public health officials announced, reporting the second-highest daily count following Wednesday’s record of 130,021. The statewide total Where are you in the vaccine line? We charted out who is eligible and reached 2,543,620. who is not in as much detail as we could find. » The number of Illinois residents who have been fully vaccinated — Illinois and Chicago have been working to boost vaccination rates among receiving both of the required two shots — reached 725,464, or 5.69% of Black and Latino residents in particular as members of those the total population. communities continue to receive doses in smaller numbers than their share of the overall population. Over the past seven days, the state averaged 68,988 vaccines administered daily, a record. The previous record was an average of Those efforts, and vaccinations more broadly, were hampered by low 66,320, recorded the week ending Feb. 14. supply from the federal government. But supplies are increasing and could see another boost in the near future if the Food and Drug As of Friday, 68.7% of doses statewide have gone to white residents, Administration authorizes a single-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson while 8.3% have gone to Latino residents and nearly 7.9% have gone to for emergency use, which could happen soon. Black residents. The percentage of doses going to each group is up slightly from a week ago but still fall short of matching their respective It’s yet to be determined which vaccine will be distributed at the United shares of the population. Latinos make up 17.5% of the state’s Center, Pritzker said, though it could be the Johnson & Johnson version, population, while 14.6% of Illinoisans are Black. which unlike the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna does not require a second shot at a later date. A Tribune analysis last month showed that Black and Hispanic Illinoisans were being vaccinated at half the rate of whites. Whichever vaccine is used, the doses will be supplied by the federal government outside of the allocations already going to the state and the Officials on Friday reported 2,441 new confirmed and probable cases of city of Chicago, which gets its own supply. COVID-19 and 55 additional fatalities. The total number of known infections in Illinois is 1,183,667 and the statewide death toll is 20,460. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will play the leading role in operating the site, with shots administered in tents in Parking Lot E at the Over the past week, the state has averaged 1,824 new known cases per northeast corner of the stadium. The site is scheduled to be open for day, up slightly from the previous week’s average of 1,782 but still well eight weeks under the federal program. below the average of 4,557 new daily cases.

FEMA has opened three other mass vaccination sites capable of The seven-day statewide positivity rate for cases as a share of total tests administering 6,000 doses per day, including at Oakland Coliseum, was 2.5% as of Thursday. Before this week, the case positivity rate State University at Los Angeles and NRG Stadium in Houston. hadn’t been that low since the week ending July 6. It peaked at 12.8% in A fourth is set to open Wednesday at Pennsylvania Convention Center in mid-November. Philadelphia. As of Thursday night, 1,393 people in Illinois were hospitalized with Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who joined Pritzker at Friday’s announcement, said COVID-19, with 336 patients in intensive care units and 174 patients on half the city’s doses are now being given to Black and Latino ventilators. Hospitalizations reached the lowest level since July 31, when Chicagoans, an improvement over the early days when vaccines were 1,347 individuals were recorded. largely going to white people. In a subtle nod to an ongoing dispute With all those numbers trending in the right direction, Pritzker and other between the city and Cook County and state over expanding vaccine officials sounded optimistic about the coming months, tempered with eligibility, Lightfoot said it’s important to prioritize seniors to prevent some caution about the need to get more people vaccinated to prevent deaths. the spread of new strains of the virus that are believed to be more “We need to make this a game-changing moment for our seniors,” contagious. Lightfoot said. “Someday not too long from now, we’ll be at the United Center not for a lifesaving shot but for a game-winning shot,” Pritzker said.

But he was noncommittal about when fans might be let back into the arena and other sports venues.

The Illinois Department of Public Health and other medical experts are in discussions about how and when to reopen stadiums to spectators, Pritzker said.

“We just want to be wary and careful about what we do, but certainly those discussions are continuing,” he said.

Lightfoot also said the city’s COVID-19 numbers have been trending in the right direction and she wants the city to be prepared to open up for a more traditional summer if the good numbers continue

“Whether or not we have a summer that looks more like 2019 as opposed to 2020 is going to be wholly dependent upon where we are in the arc of the virus but obviously we want to make sure that if we keep trending in the direction that we’re trending, we’re prepared to open up the city,” Lightfoot said.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204103 Chicago Blackhawks Youth inexperience. As exciting as the Hawks’ young players are, their future potential is balanced out by their present inexperience.

As the games become more intense, more physical and more important, Are the Blackhawks actually good? Reasons to believe, and reasons to that will be a weakness. In fact, the Hawks already have lamented their doubt lack of “killer instinct” in the first 21 games. Expect more reminders of that to come.

Randomness. Colliton spoke about hockey’s greatest truism Thursday: By Ben Pope Feb 26, 2021, 4:58pm CST “This game can be random.”

Two teams can play a 6-5 thriller then a 2-0 snoozer two days apart. The league’s best team can, and sometimes does, lose to its worst team. The Blackhawks quickly have emerged as one of the NHL’s biggest Dominant performances can turn into losses because of heroic early-season surprises. goaltending or fluky bounces. They’re 11-6-4, firmly holding a Central Division playoff spot, and 9-2-1 in Hockey’s unpredictability can turn a team’s fortune at any time — their last 12 games. Originally projected to be one of the league’s worst especially a team that seems to be defying the odds thus far. teams, the Hawks are 12th in points percentage. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 02.27.2021 Plus, goaltender Kevin Lankinen is leading the Calder Trophy race, coach Jeremy Colliton is near the top of the Jack Adams Award race and Patrick Kane is pushing into the Hart Trophy race.

But the 2021 season is only about one-third finished. Can the Hawks maintain this remarkable success through May 10?

Here are four reasons to believe — and four reasons to doubt.

Reasons to believe

Goaltending. The Hawks’ .916 team save percentage ranks fifth in the NHL. And there are few statistics that teams would prefer a top-five ranking in more than that one.

Lankinen has translated years of impressive results at lower levels seamlessly to the NHL, cementing himself as a possible cornerstone goalie for the Hawks to build around long-term. Backup also has revived his career, finally delivering results equal to his talent. Neither seems likely to drop off in the season’s second half.

Patrick Kane. The Hawks’ best offensive player for a decade has elevated his play, taking Alex DeBrincat (20 points in 17 games) and the Hawks’ power play (second in the NHL at 32.8%) along for the starry ride.

Kane’s 31 points are the second-most he has tallied through 21 games in his career. He’s the league’s leading scorer outside of the Canadian division. Kane also has improved defensively and off the ice.

Youth improvement. The Hawks have been successful despite playing seven or eight rookies every game.

Pius Suter and Philipp Kurashev are in the top six in rookie scoring, and Brandon Hagel’s tenacity has been equally impactful. Defensemen Ian Mitchell, Adam Boqvist and Nicolas Beaudin have played sizable roles in front of fellow rookie Lankinen — although Beaudin was sent to the AHL on Friday.

Jeremy Colliton. The Hawks’ long-underestimated coach deserves credit for the confidence, smart decision-making and tight chemistry he has ingrained in this team.

His player-development expertise and communication-focused leadership have yielded great results.

Reasons to doubt

Possession rate. The Hawks rank 29th in the league in shot-attempt and scoring-chance ratio. Last season, they were just 21st and 23rd, respectively.

Great goaltending, good finishing and solid special teams can help overcome losing the even-strength possession battle, but only to an extent. The Hawks eventually will get burned by all of that extra time spent in their own zone.

Schedule. After back-to-back games against the lowly Red Wings this weekend, the Hawks’ next 11 games are exclusively against the Lightning (five times), Panthers (four times) and Stars (two times). The Lightning beat the Stars in the Stanley Cup Final last year, and the Panthers have been the other big surprise of the season.

The Hawks’ record almost certainly will take a hit during that brutal stretch. 1204104 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks announce roster moves, send Delia to Rockford

BY CHARLIE ROUMELIOTIS

The Blackhawks announced several roster moves on Friday, most notably assigning goaltender Collin Delia to the Rockford IceHogs of the for conditioning purposes.

Delia can spend up to 14 days in Rockford before the Blackhawks are forced to call him back up or place him on waivers in order to keep him there, according to the CBA. He hasn't appeared in a game since Jan. 17 when he stopped 31 of 36 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers.

The Blackhawks also assigned forward Reese Johnson and defensemen Nicolas Beaudin and Wyatt Kalynuk to the IceHogs, who are looking for a spark after a 1-5-1 start to the 2020-21 season.

In a corresponding move, forwards Mikael Hakkarainen and Brad Morrison were elevated to the taxi squad, along with goaltender Matt Tomkins. The Blackhawks are required to carry at least three goaltenders at all times.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204105 Chicago Blackhawks shoulder-checking, habits and the quicker he closes on threats, the more effective he’ll be. Man-on-man isn’t the easiest defensive zone scheme to play, but it develops your awareness. So long term, this is a good thing for him.” Breaking down Blackhawks defenseman Adam Boqvist’s development This is an example from two games ago where Boqvist used his body and stick to defend:

By Scott Powers Feb 26, 2021 Boqvist’s improved strength can be seen in Spotlogiq’s analytics. Last season, he averaged 2.0 puck-battle wins per game and won 28.1

percent of his puck battles. This season, Boqvist is averaging 3.3 and Perhaps no Blackhawks player is critiqued as often these days as winning 43.6 percent. defenseman Adam Boqvist. His name pops up frequently on Twitter and “I think I’m stronger this year,” Boqvist said. “I had a good offseason, in the comments section. When Nicolas Beaudin was reassigned to obviously I had a slower start, but now, after COVID, I think I played Rockford on Friday afternoon, fans were bringing up Boqvist again. pretty good. I’m just going to keep going. I’m feeling more confident out It’s understandable why Boqvist is under a microscope. He’s one of only there my second year, and they picked me so high up, I have to show two top-10 draft picks the Blackhawks have had since 2007. why they picked me.” Expectations are undoubtedly high for Boqvist, the No. 8 pick in 2018, There are numbers to support Boqvist’s improved defense, as well. Last and Kirby Dach, the No. 3 pick in 2019. Dach’s progress was substantial season, he had an on-ice expected goals percentage of 46.45, according at center before he was injured at the world juniors in December. to Natural Stat Trick. He was on the ice for 31.81 scoring chances and Boqvist’s trajectory has been less pronounced. Unless a young 14.28 high-danger chances against per 60 minutes — among the defenseman is putting up points like Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar, his league’s 10 worst players in those categories. This season, he’s been on development can be difficult to gauge. the ice for 21.74 scoring chances and 7.76 high-danger chances. His That’s what I’m going to attempt to do, though. Where exactly is Boqvist expected goals percentage is 53.95. Only Ryan Carpenter has a higher in his development? Should he be in Rockford, as some fans suggest? expected goals percentage on the Blackhawks. Should he be given more NHL ice time? How should his offensive game Colliton does shelter Boqvist, starting him in the offensive zone 69.49 be evaluated? His defensive game? percent of the time, but that’s not enough to explain Boqvist’s improved I went about my research on Boqvist in a handful of ways. First, I asked numbers. He was sheltered last season, too. He really has gotten better both Boqvist and Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton what they thought defensively. about his development. Second, I turned to Sportlogiq and requested its “(He’s) finding a way to put himself in a better position to defend, with his analytics. I also looked at a few other analytics websites. Third, I gap and making contact so he can bounce off a guy, get more space for rewatched Boqvist’s shifts from recent games. And fourth, I had a himself, get a stop in the D-zone,” Colliton said. “Staying fresh, making discussion with Jack Han, one of the most multidimensional hockey sure he’s taking care of his changes, wanting to be the guy with the puck, experts I know, about how the analytics and eye test judge Boqvist. demanding it almost on the offensive blue line and making it happen. It’s Let’s dive in. hard to do when you’re young and still (haven’t played) many games in the league, but as he feels more comfortable, he’ll give us more.” First off: No, Boqvist shouldn’t be in the AHL right now. He should be in the NHL. That’s pretty clear. The following are some varying examples of Boqvist’s defensive work in his last game. On the first one, he’s defending a rush. He drops back, The Blackhawks did accelerate his NHL path too quickly last season, then skates forward and lunges with his stick to break up a shot. when he played 16:13 per game for 41 games (he’s averaged 15:24 in 10 this season). He probably could have used more time with Rockford. On the next one, Columbus is on a short-handed rush. The Blue Jackets From everything I’ve heard, that decision occurred above Stan Bowman’s are down a goal late, so they’re willing to push ahead. Boqvist begins head. The season was slipping away quicker than the organization crossing over to create some speed while skating backward. He’s trying expected, and the message began to be spun about the youth to defend a pass inside and keep the puck carrier outside. He succeeds movement. It’s also partly why the Blackhawks didn’t send Dach to the at it. world juniors in 2019. The next one is another example of Boqvist’s willingness to use his body A lot of what follows will back up the definitive statement of Boqvist being to disconnect an opponent from the puck. an NHL player. If you want to question whether Boqvist will be a star “I feel like I’m moving my feet more now and having an active stick and defenseman and live up to his draft slot, that’s fair. I’ve talked to enough trying to go through hands instead of just going on (the) body,” Boqvist people within the organization who believe Boqvist has the potential to be said. “That’s not me. That’s more like (Nikita) Zadorov, going body on what they hoped for when drafting him, but they also don’t honestly know body. I feel like obviously last year was a learning process for me, and if that’s possible. even this year is going to be. But I think I’m taking the steps in the right What the Blackhawks do like about Boqvist’s development is that he’s way.” improved greatly defensively. When I went to watch Boqvist play with the In this next clip, the Blue Jackets have numbers on the rush. Boqvist London Knights in March 2019, he had a lot of defensive flaws in his handles the situation well. He tries to keep the initial puck carrier to the game. The Blackhawks were worried about whether he’d ever sort those outside and also is aware enough to get himself inside to defend. There’s out. a point around the 14-second mark when he begins skating toward the In two years, he’s come a long way. His awareness in the defensive zone boards to defend but realizes he’s better off getting back to the net and is the most noticeable improvement. He often got lost in his own end in starting again from there. London, which, coupled with his lack of size, made for legitimate Boqvist isn’t perfect. Bigger and stronger opponents can still knock him concern. Since then, Boqvist has gotten a better grasp of positioning — off the puck. He was on the losing end of a collision a few times against and he seems to understand Colliton’s man-and-a-half defensive system, the Hurricanes. He can also get on the wrong side of the puck. On the too. following play, the Blue Jackets have a three-on-two and Boqvist is Boqvist’s defensive awareness is the first step toward being a better determining which player to check, but he still can’t allow this to happen player. The second is the actual defensive work. Because of his size (5- where the middle driver gets past him. foot-11, 179 pounds), there will always be challenges. He has gotten In this example, Boqvist tries to hip check an opponent in the neutral stronger over the past year, and that has helped him. He has to be zone. He misses, and it provides Columbus with numbers. He needs to somewhat physical as a defenseman, and more importantly, he has to take the puck or the opponent in the scenario. skate and use his stick to defend. That’s something Mark Eaton and Brian Campbell first worked with Boqvist to develop, and it was I mentioned Sportlogiq’s analytics. We’ll go over more of those here. The reinforced by the coaching staffs with the IceHogs and Blackhawks. company provided me with numbers on Boqvist from each of his first two seasons: As Han said in our discussion, “His way of defending is always going to be ‘getting in the way’ rather than killing guys. So the better his scanning, Puck battle wins 3.3 I asked Han what he thought. He asked me if I was familiar with the Simpson Paradox. I wasn’t. It’s essentially when a statistic can reveal 2 one thing when standing alone and something different when combined Puck battle win rate with other statistics. Han explained that Boqvist isn’t a textbook example but that his numbers relate. 43.60% “In the Sportlogiq data, most people will probably gravitate toward the 28.10% turnover numbers, which have gotten worse,” Han said. “But if you look at (Micah Blake McCurdy’s) model and raw xG (expected goal) numbers, Zone exits Boqvist looks like he’s getting better. My explanation for this — after 1.9 seeing his most recent game — is that he is attempting more difficult plays this season versus last. Predictably, his success rates are down, 2.5 but the value of those plays are up — (for example) more middle attacks instead of D-to-Ds or board plays. So overall, he is performing better, Zone entries especially offensively.” 1.7 In this clip, Boqvist tries the riskier stretch pass. It doesn’t work out, but 0.7 it’s the type of play the Blackhawks want him making. There is some risk, but the potential reward is great. Defensive zone pass completions It’s strange to say, in light of the reason the Blackhawks drafted Boqvist 16.5 and what he was defensively before, but it is the offensive side of the game where he has to improve in the NHL. The Blackhawks thought he 17.4 was going to be like Hughes or Makar offensively. We saw what he could Defensive zone pass completion rate do with the puck against his prospect peers at development camp. He had his “wow” moments. We haven’t seen enough of those in the NHL. 69.90% Boqvist has five goals, 13 assists 18 points in 51 career NHL games. He 76.10% was starting to put it together late in the regular season last year and had Outlet pass completions a three-game stretch where he had five points. But mostly, the production has been here or there. He has a goal and four assists this season, but 8.1 none of the points provides a whole lot to speak of. He scored on a five- on-three power play and has four secondary assists. The Blackhawks 9.4 need him to be more aggressive. He averages 7.79 shot attempts and Outlet pass completion rate 4.28 shots on goal per 60 minutes in all situations this season. To compare, Hughes averages 13.07 shot attempts and 6.59 shots on goal 63.60% per 60 minutes.

70.50% “I feel like you always have to play good defense so the coaches trust you so they can put you out there,” Boqvist said. “You play good defense, Stretch pass completions you join the rush, that’s what I want to do. I want to be the fourth forward 2.1 to be an option out there. But you want to play good defense to make good offense.” 0.8 Boqvist is a threat when he gets into the offensive zone and involved in Stretch pass completion rate the play. Something good usually comes out of that. He is mindful of his defensive responsibilities and is careful not to put the Blackhawks in a 91.70% tough position. As he gets older and more experienced, he may get a 77.80% better feel for when to take those risks.

Stick checks In this next clip, there isn’t some great chance, but Boqvist gets the puck and goes toward the net. He has a great shot and sees the ice well. 2.5 Something can come out of this.

2 On the next play, Boqvist moves the puck, moves himself, then jumps into the play. A quality chance is created. After the chance, he gets back Blocked passes and defends in the neutral zone. Han mentioned to me how this play was 4 an example of offensive-zone funneling. It’s something Han wrote about in his newsletter. 4 “The better he attacks, the better he defends,” Han told me. “Because Possession time he’s coming back against the flow of play in the offensive zone, (it) kills the rush skating forward.” 1:01 The Blackhawks need more of that. Boqvist has progressed since last 1:10 season. A point that Colliton made was that Boqvist remains one of the Turnover rate youngest defensemen in the NHL. His 21st birthday is not until August. Only Colorado’s Bowen Byram is a younger everyday NHL defenseman 20.60% right now.

14.70% “He’s still a very young player,” Colliton said. “… He’s shown a lot so far. Even-strength TOI/game I really like, even going back to before he went on the COVID list, he had a couple of good games. He’s been solid for us away from the puck, but 11:59 you’re starting to see more of the offensive side on the offensive blue line, getting more comfortable on the power play. We love his mobility 14:02 with that group. His mentality has to be the same as the team: just get We already discussed the puck battles. The next numbers largely have to better every day and don’t take anything for granted. Realize we’re all far do with passing and carrying the puck. His zone exits are slightly down from being the finished product. If he has that approach every day, he’s from last season. His zone entries are up. His defensive zone and outlet going to become a good player in the league.” pass completion rates are also down. His stress pass completion is up. The Blackhawks are giving Boqvist the opportunity to expand his game. So, what to make of it? He is the quarterback of the top power-play unit. Depending on the score, he might sit some shifts, but Colliton is using him regularly in five-on-five play. His power-play ice time will usually give him a solid overall number. He played just 14:38 on Thursday, but that was mostly due to the Blackhawks having just one power play. The Blackhawks would also like Boqvist to improve his fitness level.

The team has to like what Boqvist is saying, too. He isn’t content just being in the NHL.

“I’m far from where I want to be,” Boqvist said. “I want to be the best in the league. I’m just going to keep working every day, and hopefully good things happen.”

Han’s takeaway was positive for Boqvist, too.

“For me, the story here is that Simpson’s Paradox: His turnover rate is high, but I like seeing it high at this stage for the player and the team,” Han said. “It means he’s trying to do stuff.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204106 Chicago Blackhawks and I wish him all the best. He helped me to take the next step in my career back in Sweden.”

That prediction came true rather quickly: as Mora won the Allsvenskan How Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton helped launch Mathias Bromé’s and moved up to the SHL, it propelled Colliton to become head coach of NHL path the AHL Rockford Icehogs. A little more than one season later, he was promoted to coach the Blackhawks, replacing Joel Quenneville.

But while Colliton was first onto the NHL fast track, the coach remembers By Max Bultman Feb 26, 2021 seeing his former leading scorer flash real promise, too.

“He was a top player in the Allsvenskan,” Colliton said. “One of the top scorers in the league. Just work ethic, always around the puck, hunting Mathias Bromé had been “struggling a little bit” in Sweden’s the puck, really good at protecting the puck in the offensive zone, HockeyAllsvenskan when his phone rang around the end of the 2015-16 cutbacks, taking it to the net. And yeah, you saw that there was potential season. there. Obviously he’s developed even further after that, but great kid, and On the other end of the line was Jeremy Colliton — the head coach of works hard, and he’s a guy (who) can help you flip the ice. He’s got great Mora IK, another team in the league. He was calling with a proposition. speed, whether it’s on the forecheck or carrying the puck from D-zone to the offensive zone.” “He just asked me what I was thinking about next year, and if I want to go to Mora and play there,” Bromé recently recalled. It took a while, and another slower transition in the SHL, before that leap to the NHL become possible. Bromé was held without a point in his first At the time, Bromé didn’t know much about Colliton. The coach was just 11 SHL games the next season. Once again, he had to stick with his 31 years old and was finishing up his third season as coach for Mora, game until he finally got rewarded. after being brought on midway through the 2013-14 campaign. The team’s captain in that 2015-16 season had actually been older than But when he did, it happened in a big way, with Bromé registering a hat Colliton. But all Bromé knew was, when he talked to those who had trick in game No. 12. And after his second SHL season in 2018-19, played for Colliton, he had yet to hear a bad word. although Mora finished the year by being relegated back to the Allsvenskan, he started to really think about the NHL. Colliton knew the player quite a bit better. Certainly, he had seen Bromé when he played against Mora, for Asplöven, during that 2015-16 season. He opted to stay in Sweden for one more season, moving to Örebro and But Colliton had even noticed Bromé dating back to when he was a junior hoping to grow more as a player, to make sure he would have a real player in Västerås. The coach saw a “tremendous skater” with both skill opportunity to make the NHL when he did come over to North America. and edge to his game. So, when the chance arose to add Bromé — then That’s exactly what happened. Bromé was an SHL standout last season, nearing his 22nd birthday — Colliton picked up the phone. and then this year made the jump to North America and made the Red “I really got that feeling that he really wanted me to (join) the team and be Wings out of camp. Now, he has become an NHL regular. He went a top guy on that team,” Bromé said. “So when he said he wanted me through his trademark growing pains, going his first 17 games without a there, it felt pretty good.” point despite some high-danger opportunities early on. But he finally broke through last weekend and scored his first goal: a game-winner to Bromé, at the time, hadn’t fully broken through yet as a player. It has beat the Panthers. always taken him a little more time to hit his stride in new leagues. His first year in the Allsvenskan, he had just nine points. He took a step And because of the narrowed divisional schedule this season, his rookie forward in Year 2, with 27 points in 51 games — a solid mark for an year has also allowed him face Colliton — the man whose phone call and under-22 player — but going into that 2016-17 season, there was still early-career guidance helped him start it all — four times already. more in him. Likewise with former Mora assistant coach Tomas Mitell, also now on the Blackhawks’ bench. And Colliton, as it turned out, helped him tap into it — in part by simply helping him to believe in himself and stick with his game when the results After the last time the teams played, Bromé said Colliton texted him after weren’t going his way. the game, and he spoke with Mitell as well. Certainly, it’s much different now, facing off now as opponents and in a whole new phase of their “He gave me that, that I’ve gotta believe in myself and just push forward careers. But a constant has remained. every day and just do your best and everything will come,” Bromé said. “If you don’t create any chances, then we have a problem. But if you “When he texts me now, too, he says ‘keep working and keep doing what create chances, then (the points are) going to come, and ultimately it just you do out there, it’s going to come,’” Bromé said. “It’s the same (thing) loosened up everything for me. He helped me a lot, and I really he said when I played for him too: when you have a little bit of struggle, appreciate it.” just keep pushing every day and try to be a little bit better every day and it’s going to bounce.” He blossomed into a near point-per-game player that first year in Mora, finishing third in league scoring with 49 points in 51 games. Just as Now, the question for Bromé is whether breaking out of his slow start will importantly, he helped the team win promotion to the Swedish Hockey give way to something promising, as it has in the past. As much as League, the highest level in Sweden. To this day, he thinks back fondly Bromé’s history suggests it could, the NHL is also a challenge unlike any on an empty-net goal by Pierre Engvall in the final game of SHL qualifiers other he’s faced so far. to make it 4-1. Bromé says he’s watched a lot of teammate Tyler Bertuzzi, trying to “That’s a great feeling, to be on a team that have (fought) for each other mimic the way he gets to the net so consistently. Sure enough, that’s all the way from May to April, and we went up and nobody believed in where Bromé got his first goal, off a Dylan Larkin rebound. He’s noticed us,” Bromé said. “People were talking about we’re going to miss playoffs how much quicker he needs to think at this level. or anything like that, but we still believed in ourselves. That was a really But that lesson Colliton taught him, about sticking with his game even nice group there.” when the results aren’t going his way, has been the same thing helping Bromé liked that Colliton gave all his players the opportunity to do what him charge ahead now. they were good at, making sure every player could have an impact and a “I think I have played good games here,” he said last week, just before role on the team, regardless of how much they played. And in Bromé’s that first goal finally came. “And it’s just about when it’s going to loosen individual case, that meant a big opportunity to be a leading player. up for me. I believe in myself, and every time I get that chance to play Even in the middle of a big season, the young forward wasn’t yet thinking here, I’m just doing my best. And hopefully I can put some goals in and about the NHL during that 2016-17 run. But he does remember talking help the team to win.” with teammates back then about how their coach could someday be Now, he’s done that. And his next chance to do it again will come destined for the world’s best hockey league. Saturday — with the man who helped him get here standing on the other “We said like, he’s not going to be here so many years,” Bromé recalled. bench. “He’s going to be in (the) NHL. He’s such a great guy and great coach, The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204107 Colorado Avalanche “We’ve been through stretches like this before,” Kadri said earlier in the week. “It’s obviously physically and mentally pretty draining. But I think the coaching staff does a good job of giving us off days and recovery days in order to just get your mind and body right. We’re being smart with Avalanche backup goalie Hunter Miska earns first career NHL victory, 3- the rest days.” 2, at Coyotes Denver Post: LOADED: 02.27.2021

By KYLE FREDRICKSON | PUBLISHED: February 26, 2021 at 9:44 p.m. | UPDATED: February 26, 2021 at 10:22 p.m.

Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog played angry in the desert when he wrapped his arms around Arizona Coyotes forward Conor Garland and slammed him to the ice in one easy motion.

A slumbering Colorado team on Friday night — lacking physicality in consecutive losses — suddenly woke up.

“It looked a little bit like WWE, for me, it was pretty funny,” forward Mikko Rantanen said. “I saw it close. For sure, it got us going. I think Garland punched him or something, so you have to give those right back. That’s exactly what Landy did.”

The Avs defeated the Coyotes, 3-2, as forward Nazem Kadri recorded three points (one goal) and the team played without two key faces in the lineup.

Forward Matt Calvert participated in warmups but was ruled out before the game started with a lower-body injury. Starting goalie Philipp Grubauer, given a rest day, was replaced by backup Hunter Miska for his third start of the season. Miska saved 16-of-18 Arizona shots he faced — for the 25-year-old Minnesota native’s first career NHL victory in net.

“I thought the team played extremely well in front of me,” Miksa said, “and gave me lanes to see the puck.”

The Avalanche (10-6-1) plays the second game of a back-to-back on Saturday night against the Coyotes (9-8-3) in Glendale, Ariz.

On Friday, the first period finished scoreless with the Avs killing one penalty but failing to capitalize on two power-plays. No problem. Colorado held an 11-6 shots-on-goal advantage and became clear the aggressor. Landeskog, with 1:36 left in the first period, tossed Garland like a rag doll. Both players earned roughing penalties and Garland left for the locker room.

Moments later, Colorado came to life on a power-play early in the second period when Mikko Rantanen tapped a Kadri crossing pass into the net. The Coyotes also relied on backup goaltender, Adin Hill, and the Avalanche led 1-0 entering the third period.

Colorado forwards Andre Burakovsky and Kadri both scored in the third period to provide Miska a shutout opportunity with under three minutes to play. But Arizona scored twice — from and Drake Cagguila — to make things tense until the final seconds.

“I thought (Miska) looked really good for the bulk of the game,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “Then he got caught out of the net a couple of times at the end. He looked like he got nervous, ready to get a big win, and just got a little ahead of himself. … He didn’t get a lot of shots, but everything he had, he handled it clean. He looked composed.”

Avs defenseman Jacob MacDonald received a welcomed 28th birthday present Friday with his roster activation from the taxi squad, replacing Conor Timmins. MacDonald skated on the team’s third defensive pairing with Bo Byram. Forward Brandon Saad also returned to the lineup after a one-game absence due to his wife recently giving birth. It was the Saad family’s second child.

Grubauer did not play on Friday, however, he is expected to return in net for Colorado’s upcoming three games in Arizona.

“I think it’s time for Gruby to get some rest,” Bednar said before the game. “He’s been carrying the load for us and he’s been outstanding all year long. … I thought he played really well in the last game against Vegas to give us a chance to win that game. Their goalie just happened to be outstanding that night. We go into the (Wild) game, and nothing against Gruby, but I didn’t think he was as sharp. He kind of fell into the realm of the rest of our team.”

The Avalanche faces a daunting schedule ahead with six games over the next nine days. 1204108 Colorado Avalanche And he’s gotten a name around Denver, and the business, in doing it. That name DJ Triple T didn’t come from the Avalanche or any of his

other high-profile stops, though. Back when he worked for the now- Avalanche, Broncos DJ on playing an arena in 2021: Just trying to defunct Rocky Mountain Rage hockey team in 2006, his boss called him ‘create a little bit of energy’ Turntable Turney, or DJ Triple T for short. The moniker stuck, and he wears it on the back of his No. 24 Avalanche sweater.

Having worked for the team longer than any current player, Turney has By Peter Baugh Feb 26, 2021 been around the arena long enough to know plenty of its employees. While waiting for the game against the Wild to start, he spots Craig

Dzaman, the Nuggets’ director of game presentation, who is helping with DENVER — A little less than an hour before puck drop Wednesday, the ice. Turney waves to his buddy, then searches his computer for Craig Turney pulls a burgundy-and-blue Avalanche sweater over his “Peanut Butter Jelly Time,” a song he knows gets on Dzaman’s nerves. head. He sits at his table, readies his computer and settles in for another He finds it, presses play, and it echos around the fanless arena. Dzaman day at work. For the next three hours, he’ll transform into DJ Triple T, a doesn’t acknowledge Turney from the ice, but the DJ knows he can hear staple at Avalanche games since 2007. his work.

During warmups, he plays 11 songs chosen by the Avalanche players, Turney, who would work from the upper deck in non-COVID-19 times, ranging from Diddy’s “Bad Boy for Life” to “Gecko” by Oliver Heldens and occasionally sees players when he arrives at Ball Arena, but he hasn’t Becky Hill. He has only 16 minutes to work in all of the tracks but interacted with them much. He’s heard from other teams, though. designed a mix before the season that weaves them together smoothly. Penguins players liked the music one game, and the team asked the Avs afterward for the list of songs. Turney’s even created a playlist of the After this, the music for the rest of the game will be up to Turney. warmup songs on Spotify.

When warmups end, he fixes his eyes on the Jumbotron and watches it Cameras once caught Devils defenseman P.K. Subban, formerly with the count down the minute until the players retake the ice. His finger rests on Predators, dancing on the ice before a Nashville-Colorado game. “Great a button on the keyboard in front of him, and, when the time on the video tunes always in warm up at the pepsi center,” Subban tweeted a day board hits zero, he presses it. AC/DC’s “Are You Ready” blasts after the game, referring to Ball Arena’s name at the time. overhead. “Craig’s an unbelievable DJ, for hockey especially,” said Camden Kelly, Most years, it’d be pump-up music for 15,000 or 20,000 people at Ball Turney’s supervisor and the Avs’ director of game presentation. “He Arena. This year, because of COVID-19 restrictions, it’s for a smattering really knows the game, really knows the arena, knows the atmosphere, of team employees, journalists and, of course, the players. But even knows when to push, when the crowd needs to get into it, and knows without fans, he takes the work just as seriously as he has the previous when to play fun stuff. Whatever the occasion calls for, he reads the 13 seasons. room very, very well.”

“First and foremost, we’re trying to play music for the guys on the ice,” Because there aren’t fans in the stands, the Avalanche have played Turney says. “There’s no crowd for them to get any momentum from. So around with different gimmicks during intermissions. Stadium employees we try to probe them and see what we can do to create a little bit of played Minesweeper once, and projectors showed the game on the ice. energy in the building.” Turney capitalized on the moment, playing “You Dropped a Bomb on Me.” He believes if he does his job well, people won’t notice him much, And the players feel it. but he likes to drop in Easter eggs every once in a while. “It gives a little juice,” Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor says. “If you hear them or whatever, then you’re like, ‘Oh, cool, I see what The creative nature of Turney’s job leads to plenty of opportunities for they’re doing there,’” he says. “But if you don’t, it’s not like it sounds out fun. When the Avalanche scored eight goals against the Blues in early of place or anything.” January, he played “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” from “Frozen,” The app he uses, Click Effects, has tabs with different genres of songs, and as the Sharks got chippy toward the end of a 7-3 Avalanche win later all of which he’s set to start at a strong point in the tune. He tries to play a that month, he blasted “Baby Shark.” He got a kick out of the same variety of genres and styles, too. When there are fans, he wants popular kids’ song in 2019 when he played it during the San Jose- everyone to hear something they know, and he makes sure no two Colorado playoff series. games are the same. Turney also DJs for the Denver Broncos and the Colorado Mammoth “You’re getting a different soundtrack every night,” he says. lacrosse team. His path to becoming the city’s most prominent sports DJ opened mostly by chance. In 2000, when Turney was a senior at Rocky Turney uses a separate machine with buttons he can press quickly for in- Mountain High in Fort Collins, he took a marketing class and enjoyed it. game sound effects. He uses that if he needs to quickly play a fight song His dad worked as a police officer at nearby Colorado State, and he when players are tussling, and he has a whole row of buttons for songs helped set Turney up with an internship in the athletic marketing with “Groove” in the title. He plays those when goalie Philipp Grubauer’s department the next semester. big moments show on the Jumbotron. Groove and groovy sound a lot like Grub and Gruby, after all. Turney’s boss wanted his interns to get experience in various roles, so during a Rams men’s basketball game, she assigned Turney to DJ duty. When there are fans, some of Turney’s favorite moments come when he He didn’t want to do it — he liked the role of running in-game contests — plays a song and the crowd keeps singing after it ends. Last season, fans but when he sat down at the computer and mixer board, the music came took to Blink-182’s “All the Small Things,” so Turney began playing it out naturally. whenever the Avalanche led in the third period. He still does it in the empty arena, knowing fans can often hear it on TV coming out of “God just gave me the wisdom to be able to play the right music at the commercial breaks. right time,” Turney says. “After the game, she was just like ‘This is going to be your job.’” “It’s kind of became our song, a staple song,” Turney says. “Even though the fans aren’t in the stadium with us, we know they’re at home singing. It’s become even more. We’ll get them mentioning it on Twitter and stuff.” Turney has now been the DJ for every major Denver team — he backs Turney does not come from a musical background — remember, this all up the Nuggets and used to work for the Rockies — and even got to go started because he enjoyed a high school marketing class — and does to the Rio Olympics, where he played music during the women’s not play any instruments himself. In his free time, he’s been listening to basketball games. Starting in 2017, Notre Dame flew him to South Bend The Killers and Zac Brown Band frequently, as well as Toddler Tunes to DJ its home football games, though not this past season because of with his 2-year-old. He often tunes into the radio, too, calling Shazam his the pandemic. best friend. “It’s, like, the best job in the world,” says Turney, whose DJ table sits in There are always songs he can add to his game-day repertoire. section 120 of Ball Arena. “I get paid to watch pro sports and soundtrack to the action.” The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204109 Colorado Avalanche

Nazem Kadri records three points and Hunter Miska gets his first career win in 3-2 Avalanche victory in Arizona

By Aarif Deen - February 26, 2021

The Avalanche haven’t played in front of their home fans in nearly 12 months. On Friday, they played in front of Avs fans, but in Arizona.

Nazem Kadri scored his team-leading third game-winning goal of the season and added two assists to lead Colorado to a 3-2 victory in front of 2,495 fans at Gila River Arena. The fans in attendance, many of which were wearing Avs jerseys, provided the road team with a spark.

“It was certainly nice to see people back in the building,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “Even walking to the rink this afternoon and in the hotel lobby, I saw some fans with our jerseys on. It adds another layer of excitement. I’m hoping other rinks are going to follow suit and really looking forward to trying to get some fans back in Ball Arena.”

Avs goalie Hunter Miska started the first of a back-to-back and made 16 saves to earn his first career victory against his former team. Miska, 25, had a shutout bid until the final 1:36 of the game, where the Coyotes scored twice to pull within a goal after trailing 3-0.

“It was a little nerve-racking but I had a really good team playing in front of me,” Miska said. “Good thing we came out with two points there.”

Kadri was a minus-5 in a 6-2 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, despite scoring one of the Avalanche’s goals. His bounce-back effort against Arizona was his second three-point night this season.

Bednar mixed-and-matched his lineup because of a late scratch to forward Matt Calvert due to an upper-body injury — leaving the Avs with just 11 forwards. As a result, Kadri got to play with different wingers throughout the evening, including top-line wings Mikko Rantanen and .

“I talked to him a little bit about some of his decisions and just being more firm with the puck,” Bednar said. “He had a really good spark out of the change in lines and he comes back with a big effort for us. I thought he had a really strong game, a really good 200-foot game.”

Colorado entered the third period up 1-0 before goals from winger Andre Burakovsky and Kadri in a 4:56 span opened up a three-goal lead. Burakovsky, who was acquired in 2019, appeared in his 400th career NHL game.

The Avs outshot Arizona 20-10 after 40 minutes but had just one goal from Rantanen to show for it.

The intense affair included a fight as 19-year-old Avalanche rookie Bowen Byram and Coyotes forward Drake Caggiula dropped the gloves in the third period. The Coyotes forward got the better of the scrap.

But both teams were heated throughout the night. This was highlighted by an encounter between Landeskog and Arizona’s Conor Garland late in the first period. The two were paired up after the whistle and Landeskog wrapped his arms around Garland and slammed him to the ice.

“It looked like a little bit like WWE to me,” said Rantanen, who was nearby when it happened. “It was funny.”

28-year-old defenseman Jacob MacDonald was activated to the main roster from the taxi squad and played on his birthday. MacDonald played on the third pair with Byram, which dropped Conor Timmins from the starting lineup. Colorado also welcomed Brandon Saad back into the lineup. Saad was absent Wednesday to be with his wife who went into labor to welcome their second child into the world. milehighsports.com LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204110 Colorado Avalanche Philipp Grubauer will start Saturday’s game against the Coyotes. Kadri had three points in the game, and was clearly the No. 1 star.

Gabe Landeskog might face supplemental discipline for forcing Coyotes Avs are the Hunter in Victory in Arizona player Conor Garland to the ice, which appeared to result in Garland hitting his head and leaving the game. Landeskog was assessed a two- minute penalty. I doubt it will be a suspension, but you never know. Published 3 hours ago on February 26, 2021By Adrian Dater Colorado hockey now LOADED: 02.27.2021

Hunter Miska, we never doubted you.

The Avalanche backup goalie, whose career record was 0-1-1 coming into tonight’s game with the Arizona Coyotes with a saves percentage under .900 and a goals-against average above 3.50 (neither of which is considered good in NHL circles, sources tell me) allowed just two goals against the Arizona Coyotes tonight at Gila River Arena – in front of some fans, which in the Avs’ case, was the first time since March of 2020 they’ve done so.

Avs won, 3-2. By the way, I wrote those first two paragraphs before the Coyotes scored two goals in the final two minutes – and I have witnesses. My original second paragraph praised him for the goose egg shutout.

Avs got goals from Mikko Rantanen, Andre Burakovsky and Nazem Kadri in obtaining the two points, which ties the Coyotes in the Honda West Division standings for points – with the Avs still having three games in hand.

Full credit to Miska. Also, full credit to an Avs defense that limited Arizona to just 10 shots on goal in the first two periods. It was still just a 1-0 game, though, until Burakovsky scored on a wicked wrister on the power play, and Kadri added icing on the cake with a rebound goal in front.

I don’t think Arizona had more than two or three good scoring chances in this game (again, until the final two minutes), but, again, full marks to Miska for getting the win and temporarily allowing Avs fans to stop clutching the pearls over the backup goalie situation.

The Avs caught a break when it was announced early Friday that Coyotes No. 1 goalie Darcy Kuemper wouldn’t be able to play because of a lower-body injury. Yet, Adin Hill played well for Arizona overall. The Coyotes had one last, very good shot on goal with about five seconds left, but Miska made the save.

I think the Avs basically got away with a win tonight, even though they still showed some weaknesses in their game, such as being too soft on the puck in the first 30 minutes or so. They haven’t played all that well in the last three games, but they got away with one tonight against an Arizona team that was awful for the first 58 minutes.

I will say this: the Avs’ defense continues to be very good, no matter who is in goal. Any goalie who has to face an average of only five shots on net in the first two periods will always be given a good chance to win the good old hockey game.

The Avs played their first game in front of any paying customers tonight for the first time since March, 2020 – and many of them had Avs sweaters on. I asked Jared Bednar tonight on the Zoom Postgame Show if he noticed it, and if it made any difference in the game?

Bascially, Bednar said “yes.” He said he noticed more people in Avs sweaters around the team hotel and the arena, and that it always gives a team a bit of a boost when they see that.

He added this:

Jared Bednar thought the Avs' fans in the stands in Arizona tonight gave his team a big boost. "Hopefully, we get some fans back in the stand at Ball Arena"

— Adrian Dater (@adater) February 27, 2021

NOTEBOOK

Matt Calvert missed the game with an upper-body injury. After the game, Bednar said his injury was to the lower body. But then the Avs corrected the situation to say: it is an upper-body injury. Obviously, you worry about more concussion symptoms. Calvert took the pregame warmup, but the Avs announced he was a late scratch after that.

Hunter Miska: "I think we had a louder crowd here (when we scored) than when they scored." 1204111 Colorado Avalanche Impact on hospitalizations: Whether hospitalizations are increasing, stable, or declining.

To move to a less restrictive level (e.g., Level Yellow to Blue), counties Why aren’t fans back at Avs, Nuggets games? The teams haven’t asked need to meet and sustain all three metrics for one week. Counties must *KSE responds engage in a consultation process with CDPHE, which may entail moving to a more restrictive level when they are out of compliance with any of the metrics for more than one week.

Published 8 hours ago on February 26, 2021By Adrian Dater In all three categories, the numbers have gone down in recent weeks. New case number numbers are about a third of what they were at the

start of last month. When news broke yesterday that the Colorado Rockies had received Colorado hockey now LOADED: 02.27.2021 permission from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to host fans starting on opening day – 12,500, or 25-percent of Coors Field capacity – I, like many of you out there, immediately thought: OK, what about the Avs and Denver Nuggets, at Ball Arena? When can we maybe expect some fans to be let in there?

So, I asked the CDPHE today that very question, and here’s an answer I got back from an official there:

“At this time, neither the Colorado Avalanche or the Denver Nuggets have submitted a request to allow fans at their games. As a result, they need to adhere to the specific guidelines for their governing body and specifications in public health orders,” said spokesman Brian Spencer of CDPHE.

Well, then. One of my oldest sayings, and something I tell young journalism aspirants all the time is: You don’t get if you don’t ask. So, I guess nobody from Kroenke Sports has, you know, asked permission from the state governing body that could approve such a request.

Hey, maybe KSE doesn’t want the extra cash or the boost from the fans that they might give to their home teams (that’s a joke). Or, more likely, it’s something that 1. Slipped through the cracks or 2. Maybe they just didn’t know they could apply for such a thing yet. 3. Something more technical that maybe we still don’t know about yet (costs, liability, etc. etc.).

But several other NHL teams are announcing that fans will soon be allowed back in their buildings, including those in New York and Boston, and several teams already are allowing some fans in the building – including tonight’s Avs opponent, the Arizona Coyotes. Denver has better Covid numbers than either of those two cities, by the way. Boston currently has a seven-day average of a little more than 1,700 new Covid cases, while Denver is a little more than 1,000. The average in New York is more than 7,300.

It seems as if CDPHE would certainly consider such a request anyway. After all, they’ve given permission to the Rockies to have fans at games two months from now – a month before the Avs and Nuggets are slated to end their regular seasons.

So, hey, here’s your notice, KSE. They’re waiting for your call.

I’ve reached out to KSE on this, but have yet to hear back either.

*UPDATE: Altitude TV tonight put Matt Bell, vice president of venue booking for Kroenke Sports, on between intermission of the Avs-Coyotes game to answer to this story.

Bell acknowledged that KSE has not applied for a “variance” with the CDPHE to get fans back, but he said it’s because the city and county of Denver remains on “yellow on the Covid dial” and therefore is unable to ask.

“Due to Denver County and the city of Denver still falling in to the level of yellow for the Colorado Covid dial, we are unable to apply for a variance at this time,” Bell told Altitude.

I’ll follow up more with the CDPHE on this. Plenty of restaurants in the city and county of Denver are allowing customers inside their venues, along with plenty of stores that are inside-only.

I did look up what it takes to get off of Yellow to Blue – a less restrictive color on the Denver Covid dial – and this is what is reported on the CDPHE website:

New cases: How much the virus is circulating in a county.

Percent positivity: Whether there is sufficient COVID-19 testing to capture the level of virus transmission. 1204112 Columbus Blue Jackets directly to Robinson in the slot who hit post with Subban leaving the net vacant.

Stenlund had his own opportunity at the end of a power play with 13:45 Blue Jackets fix defense, but can’t score in loss to Blackhawks left in the game, but couldn’t finish a rebound in tight off a rebound from Jenner’s shot.

Subban made all 26 saves. Jacob Myers “We had some chances, didn't score but it's one of those nights,” Werenski said. “It's unfortunate, it's frustrating, but more times than not those guys are scoring.” Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, left, and forward skate toward the team bench while the Chicago Blackhawks Two nights after forcing overtime after multiple deficits by scoring five celebrate Carl Soderberg's empty-net goal that clinched a 2-0 victory goals, the Jackets couldn’t finish. It’s particularly frustrating for them over Columbus on Thursday. when the defensive issues from the night before were largely solved.

Jack Roslovic skated from the penalty box toward the Blue Jackets Sometimes a team plays a fine game but ends up in the losing column. bench as the Chicago Blackhawks high-fived each other after an empty- net goal sealed a 2-0 win over the Jackets on Thursday. “We have to find a way to get goals,” Foligno said. “In a game like today where it's just a grind, you got to find a way to dig a little deeper to get Roslovic raised his stick and swung it down on the baseboard, right that next one. We just didn't come up with it." above the Jet’s Pizza logo. Thwack. Second-period lapse The sound rung throughout Nationwide Arena in the final game before the team allows fans next Tuesday, signaling the end of another Continuing a season-long trend, the second period was a trouble spot for frustrating night in which the Jackets looked like the better team for most the Blue Jackets. They didn't give up a goal — they have a minus-14 of the night. scoring margin in the second this season — but it was nonetheless a letdown that they didn't play confidently after three solid offensive periods "In a game like today where it's just a grind, you got to find a way to dig a dating to Tuesday night's game little deeper to get that next one," forward said. "We just didn't come up with it." The Blackhawks outshot the Jackets 12-3 in the period and had 25 shot attempts to 12 for Columbus. Here are some takeaways: “Second period was a struggle where I thought we just gave it back to Still lighting the lamp them (at the) top of the circles,” Tortorella said. “We just kind of played a 140-foot game with them there, where we just kept turning pucks over On a long pass from defenseman Calvin de Haan in the third period, and didn't get a chance to forecheck.” Blackhawks star Patrick Kane was gifted a puck that sat in the neutral zone after bouncing off two players. Kane picked it up with speed, and And yet, the Jackets prevented odd-man rushes and creates a few there was nothing defenseman or goaltender Joonas chances, the best coming with 4:44 left in the period when Kevin Korpisalo could do. Stenlund’s shot from the right faceoff circle bounced off Subban’s pad directly to Eric Robinson, who hit the post with Subban leaving the net Snap, inside far post, score. Game-winner. vacant. "We don't find a way to score and they do,” coach John Tortorella said. "It seemed like we were chasing it,” Foligno said. “I think we got a little “One shot beats us." too separated as a group and that can be dangerous when you're a line After a four-point night on Tuesday, Kane’s goal gave him 13 points (four that needs to kind of have those five-foot passes to get up the ice and all goals, nine assists) in six games against the Jackets this season. of a sudden you're attacking with some speed over the line. Seemed like we had to dump too many in the second and that's not conducive to how "It's kind of a tough play,” defenseman Zach Werenski said. “(Vladislav those guys want to play and weren't able to get him back.” Gavrikov) makes a great read pinching there, stepping up, puck's in his feet and then Kane comes with so much speed. He's a tough player to Werenski returns stop." In his first game since Feb. 13, Werenski played on the top pair with Korpisalo made 25 saves. Jones. Aside from the second period, both were effective puck-movers and had some good shifts on two power-play chances. Jackets had their chances Werenski had missed six of the past seven games with a lower-body Kane’s goal was a classic example of a world-class player changing a injury. In 25:02 of ice time, there were no indications that he felt bothered game on one play. Well before that goal, however, the Blue Jackets had any longer with his injury. opportunities to put a puck past Blackhawks goalie Malcolm Subban and establish a lead. "I felt a lot better,” Werenski said. “Just my skating felt better, and for me to have success in this league, I have to be a skater. ... I felt like I was The Jackets played a solid first period behind sturdy forechecking and moving pretty well tonight. Still have to be better, still have some plays connective passing out of the defensive zone. Patrik Laine hit a post 1:36 that I need to make, but definitely felt better." into the game. Sustained offensive zone time led to a great pass from Zach Werenski to Seth Jones, who was stopped cold by Subban on the Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2021 right post.

“I thought we played with much better structure in the first period,” Tortorella said. “Our positioning was better and it helped our transition. That's what we have to try to build on.”

Two of their best chances came in the second period, one of which didn’t end in a shot.

Boone Jenner poked the puck free on the left wall at 10:52, which created a 2-on-1 for Cam Atkinson and Roslovic. The pass to Roslovic was a little behind him, so he passed it off to Werenski who was coming down the slot. That pass was off the mark, which led to the Jackets just trying to slam it past Subban through traffic.

Their best chance came with 4:44 left in the second period. Kevin Stenlund’s shot from the right faceoff circle bounced off Subban’s pad 1204113 Columbus Blue Jackets The 23-year-old defenseman missed three games before returning Feb. 13 in Chicago, but quickly left the lineup again because the injury was reaggravated.

Patrick Kane is still able to dominate, which the Blue Jackets have “That was weird,” Werenski said. “I don’t think I came back too early. It learned the hard way started (flaring up) early in the game, so I felt kind of limited as the game went on, which is unfortunate because I practiced the day before that game (in Chicago) and I felt really good on the ice. But obviously it’s different than when you get into a game situation, so I felt limited during Brian Hedger the game.”

Werenski, who returned to practice Wednesday, has one goal and four Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane, here playing against the Blue assists in 13 games. Jackets' Patrik Laine on Tuesday at Nationwide Arena, has 67 points in “I have a higher standard I can get to, and I think the most important 51 games against Columbus, his most against any team. thing is getting healthy,” said Werenski, who set a career-high with 20 He couldn’t help but stare. goals last season. “Once I’m healthy, I can hopefully reach that standard and play the hockey I can play. A lot of that’s with skating, so if I have a Prior to the third game of his NHL career, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach lower-body injury it’s hard to be a skater … but I feel really good right Werenski remembers glancing down the ice Oct. 21, 2016, at Nationwide now.” Arena and feeling a little surreal as Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews skated through warmups with the Chicago Blackhawks. Cannon fodder

“Your eyes are looking down there at what they’re doing and just seeing Defenseman Michael Del Zotto was expected to play Thursday after them on the ice with you is pretty unbelievable,” said Werenski, who grew missing the game Tuesday against Chicago with a lower-body injury. … up a fan of the Detroit Red Wings, a Blackhawks rival. “Obviously, now, I Emil Bemstrom was recalled from the Blue Jackets’ taxi squad Thursday don’t feel that way. It’s been five years. (But) there are still moments and was slated to face the Blackhawks in his first game since Jan. 21 where you kind of have to look back and say, ‘I’m in the best league in against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bemstrom, a prolific goal-scorer in the the world, playing against the best players — guys I grew up watching.’ , played in the Blue Jackets’ first five games And it’s really cool.” without registering a point. … Defenseman Scott Harrington and forward Mikhail Grigorenko were scratched to make room for Del Zotto and Except when it isn’t. Bemstrom.

Kane is five years older now, age 32, but his game hasn’t changed. He’s Quotable still a headache to defend, especially for the Blue Jackets, and there are no signs of aging to be found. If anything, Kane is getting better with age, “There are certain days I don’t think they need to see me – and some which is astounding considering the number of his same-aged peers days I don’t want to see myself. I get sick of hearing myself. I can whose NHL value has plummeted in a league that keeps getting younger imagine what players feel. So, we did not want to get into coaching, I and faster. guess. We wanted them to move the blood, have some fun and realize that you can have fun in a hockey season and in the inconsistencies that “It’s really impressive,” said Werenski, who was slated to return from a we’ve gone through.” lower-body injury Thursday against the Blackhawks. “It seems like the older he gets, he’s just finding ways to still contribute every single night Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2021 and take over games.”

Nobody knows that more than the Blue Jackets.

Kane went into his sixth head-to-head matchup against Columbus this season with points in each of the first five games for a jaw-dropping total of 12 points on three goals and nine assists.

Included in that pile of points was a feed to Alex DeBrincat 35 seconds into overtime for a 3-2 OT victory Feb. 13 in Chicago and a four-point game Tuesday in Columbus with a goal and three assists in the Blackhawks’ 6-5 shootout triumph.

Those four points also pushed his career total against the Blue Jackets to 67 in 51 games (22-45-67), which is the most he’s tallied against any team.

“He’s got a unique gift of making players around him a lot better and always putting them in spots to succeed or create chances offensively,” said Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones, who usually logs high minutes against Kane. “There’s not going to be one defenseman or one (defensive pairing) that’s going to stop a guy like that. It’s got to be a team effort. It’s crazy, because the players around him are more dangerous when he’s got the puck than, really, he is – which is pretty rare.”

How rare?

John Tortorella actually answered a question about Kane on Wednesday in detail and with a good amount of praise – which he almost never does prior to facing opposing players or teams.

“It’s a handful with him,” Tortorella said. “Always has been, for all teams. Not really too interested in talking about him, but I need to show him that respect. I’ve dealt with him a little bit in international tournaments. He’s a … he’s a really good player.”

Zach’s back

Werenski missed three more games because of the injury, which happened late in the Jackets’ 6-3 victory Feb. 2 against the Dallas Stars. 1204114 Dallas Stars

Could Lightning spell doom for the Stars’ season?

By Tim Cowlishaw10:25 AM on Feb 26, 2021 CST — Updated at 3:01 PM on Feb 26, 2021 CST

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story had incorrect schedule information.

It would be as painful as it would be ironic if the Tampa Bay Lightning, having ended Dallas’ season in late September, were to finish off the Stars’ current season Saturday night.

That’s not to say anything would be written in stone if the Stars, who endured a brutal collapse Thursday night at Florida, were to lose to the Stanley Cup champs. But they would limp home as a .500 team after a long, losing week in the Sunshine State, and that would be brutal enough.

What a season this has been already. And not much of it good for one of the last two teams standing in last year’s playoff bubble.

At 6-5-4, you could argue that the Stars find themselves in the bottom heap of the division with Nashville and Detroit only because of COVID- related postponements. Dallas hasn’t played as many games as other teams in its division. But the reality is that there are four very good Central teams at least five games over .500 — Florida and Tampa Bay at the top, followed by Carolina and Chicago — while Dallas needs to beat the best team in hockey to remain above .500.

In other words, there is much work to be done and less time remaining than you might think.

In a normal 82-game season, 41 games is the midpoint. Well after Dallas hosts Tampa Bay Tuesday following a schedule change made by the league this week, Dallas will have just 39 games to go in the league’s heavily reduced slate. So, yeah, the time to get going is now.

The problem is that Thursday’s meltdown — Dallas had a 2-0 lead with seven minutes to play and yet was trailing 3-2 with three minutes to play — came from out of nowhere. Goaltender Anton Khudobin carried the team to victory Wednesday, and two early goals put the team in position to win the series against a Panthers team that just never lets up.

Instead, disaster struck. Coach Rick Bowness called out the veterans after the game (it’s sort of a hockey tradition to say some version of “our best players have to be our best players”), and now those veterans find answers they lacked Thursday.

“I mean they were coming at us pretty good there,’' captain Jamie Benn said. “I guess we could have tightened up our defensive zone.”

So now they try to tighten up against a team that challenges you at both ends. The Lightning beat the Stars in six games in September and have outscored opponents by a league-high 25 goals in just 18 games this season.

Florida is not traditionally a place where hockey dreams are buried. But most teams don’t spend a week there, either. Somehow Saturday night the Stars need to recapture the results from Games 1 and 5 from a Final played just five months ago ... and hope that Games 2, 3, 4 and 6 are not relived in any fashion.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204115 Dallas Stars Oleksiak is paired with Miro Heiskanen, who has proven that he can make any pairing work (Roman Polak was his partner for two years). The Stars could replace Oleksiak with one of their depth defensemen — Joel Hanley, Taylor Fedun, Thomas Harley — though they would lose a fair Facing grueling schedule and the specter of injuries, Stars GM Jim Nill bit of size. insists on taking things day by day The schedule is another complicating factor. The constrained slate may leave the Stars more injured. Add in the quarantine requirements , and teams may look to make a move earlier than usual. By Matthew DeFranks8:00 AM on Feb 26, 2021 CST “Let’s see how we’re playing,” Nill said. “How do we get going? Do

injuries affect us? Are they going to affect our game? I hope not. I like the From now until the end of the season, Stars general manager Jim Nill will response [Wednesday] night even though we’re short-staffed. We’re be monitoring. down a lot of players, injury-wise. I liked how we played [Wednesday] night, we responded well.” He’ll be monitoring the standings, and the Stars’ quest for a playoff spot. He’ll be monitoring the schedule, which is a grueling trek to May 10. He’ll Bishop update: Nill said Bishop remains on track to return in late March be monitoring his team’s play as it chases a Stanley Cup it fell two wins or early April, and has gotten on the ice a couple times, but is not ready shy of last year. Then, of course, he’ll be monitoring the injuries the Stars to rejoin Stars practice yet. Bishop had knee surgery in October to repair will have to deal with along the way. a torn meniscus in his right knee.

“It’s a real unknown season, and we’re just going to monitor it as we go,” “Until they really get on the ice and start really pushing in practice, you’ll Nill said. never know,” Nill said. “They might get on the ice and really start to take off and they might get on the ice and start going, and have some After Thursday night’s 3-2 loss in Florida, the Stars are 6-5-4 with 41 setbacks. It’s hard to put a definite timeframe on it. games remaining. They have lost seven of their last eight and sit outside a playoff position in the Central Division. Anton Khudobin has rounded Looking at February: The Stars endured a six-game losing streak during into form, and coach Rick Bowness finally used the same lineup in February, one that included two overtime losses and one shootout loss. consecutive games. What was encouraging and what was worrisome about that streak for Nill? But things with the Stars circle back to injuries. “It’s not like we were really playing bad hockey,” Nill said. “Some nights, The most pressing one is to forward Roope Hintz. Hintz missed the last we didn’t score. Some nights, maybe the goaltending wasn’t as good. We two games in Florida, and it appears his lower-body injury may affect him didn’t put it all together, I guess. That’s probably the most discouraging through the remainder of the regular season. part is we weren’t joined together.

“I think he’s going to be in and out of the lineup, and I think he’s going to “In saying that, a lot of it’s got to do with having a training camp, not play through it when he can,” Nill said. “It’s going to be something that’s playing games, getting started, not playing again with the pandemic and going to bother him probably through right to the end of the season.” the winter storm. I guess the inconsistency is maybe the most frustrating part, but understandable when you look at the season, also.” Thursday was Hintz’s fifth missed game of the season, and Bowness said he would have missed the Nashville series had it not been wiped out Dallas Morning News LOADED: 02.27.2021 by a winter storm. Does it make sense to allow Hintz time off to fully heal?

“Not right now,” Nill said. “He wants to play through it. It’s something that he can’t injure it anymore.”

The revelation that Hintz may not be at full strength for the rest of the season is huge for the Stars. They are currently without Alexander Radulov, who is expected to return late next week. Nill said is still on track to return in early April.

But Hintz and Seguin are two of the Stars’ top centers. Joe Pavelski can, of course, play center. After that, the offensive threats down the middle in Dallas just aren’t there.

Radek Faksa, Jason Dickinson and Rhett Gardner are more known for their defensive play. Justin Dowling and Tanner Kero have been in and out of the lineup. Ty Dellandrea is in his first NHL season and has primarily played right wing. Joel L’Esperance is an offensive center but hasn’t been able to grab an NHL spot.

So, might it make sense for the Stars to look for help at center via trade?

“You don’t go on the market and find a Roope Hintz,” Nill said. “To find a Roope Hintz or Tyler Seguin, everybody’s looking for those guys every day. We’ve just got to deal with it.”

Without making a move, the Stars will have to rely on their taxi squad and young players to produce.

The salary cap presents a limiting factor, naturally. Depending on injuries at the time, the Stars might have around $1 million (and that number is very fluid depending on the Stars’ roster at the time) available when Ben Bishop comes off long-term injured reserve. That might not get much on the trade market.

“We’re not going to have a lot of room unless it’s dollar in, dollar out,” Nill said.

In a scenario in which the Stars trade a roster player to acquire help, defenseman Jamie Oleksiak may make the most sense. Oleksiak is in the final year of his contract, which carries a cap hit of $2.137 million. He will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. 1204116 Dallas Stars This is a common theme in recent years, one that previously centered around the ice time of Roope Hintz and Denis Gurianov and now has evolved into a discussion of games played by Dellandrea and Jason Robertson. Stars fact or fiction: Has Miro Heiskanen been figured out? Is this just a bad team? This is not concerning. It’s important to realize that the season is not played in a video game, in which each player is restored to being fresh at the start of every game. There is a long play and a short play involved, and there is a consideration about what is best for the team and what is By Saad Yousuf Feb 26, 2021 best for the player.

Take Robertson, for example. He had an underwhelming first couple of After the Stars had eight games postponed in the first six weeks of the games and was relegated to the taxi squad. After watching a few games season, they finally limped past the one-quarter mark of their 2021 from the press box, he got another opportunity and has looked like a season this week. There are a lot of thoughts and opinions about these completely different player. He had a five-game point streak and then Dallas Stars, and a 15-game sample size is a good chunk within a 56- made a big play on the power play in Wednesday’s win, which didn’t game season. show up on the stat sheet but was key to scoring a goal. Hintz and Gurianov are two of the team’s most exciting offensive weapons and Instead of just giving my own view of the season, I wanted to incorporate Robertson has been able to fit into that line when all three are healthy. what Stars fans were thinking. After all, that’s what it’s all about! I went through old comment sections and crowdsourced on Twitter yesterday to In Dellandrea’s case, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, he’s see what opinions you hold about the 6-5-4 Stars. Now, we’ll go through played well but he also can pick up things from watching games when many of them and examine whether they’re fact or fiction. scratched. Secondly, he’s a smaller player, and opponents have shown that they won’t shy away from reminding him of that and treating him to Fiction: The NHL has figured out Miro Heiskanen an extra dose of physicality from time to time. That can take some time to recover from. Deallandrea also probably wouldn’t have made the NHL Nobody expected that, at this point in the season, fellow Finn Esa Lindell, roster out of training camp, had Dallas had all of its players available. a defensive defenseman, would have two more goals than Miro Every rookie can’t be Heiskanen and hit the ground running in the NHL. Heiskanen, who is arguably the best player on the Stars’ roster. In fact, most won’t, so it’s important to bring them along gradually so that Heiskanen has not scored a goal this season, and that’s not good for a they can grow into their NHL roles and not lose confidence. team that can use every bit of scoring it can get. Fact: Offensive style doesn’t work Heiskanen has eight assists, including some pretty ones like the one that resulted in Ty Dellandrea’s first NHL goal, and some passes that have There were a lot of comments about this, ranging from frustration with been on point but the other player couldn’t finish. So, Heiskanen hasn’t dump-and-chase play to overall puck movement and aggressiveness. I’m been completely dormant offensively but it still doesn’t explain, or even also lumping in scoring, and in particular, five-on-five scoring. excuse, the lack of goals. But it’s what the other teams are doing as much as what Heiskanen isn’t doing, which is shooting the puck. In The frustration is warranted. Let’s start with the five-on-five offense. The Heiskanen’s rookie season, he averaged 4.4 total shots per game. Last Stars are 13th in the NHL in high-danger scoring chances, 17th in Goals season, that average went up to 4.9. Through the first quarter of the For percentage and 12th in Corsi For percentage. But all of those are full- season, Heiskanen is averaging 2.9 total shots per game. That’s a very season numbers, which include the first four games against Nashville significant drop-off and one that needs to be fixed. and Detroit. I know they are NHL teams and the Stars did their job by beating them, but they also ran up the score a couple of times, which can It’s not as if the opposition is necessarily restricting Heiskanen, at least to skew the statistics and paint a different picture. Compare the stats above that extent. Like too many of his teammates this season, Heiskanen to the following, which is the full season minus those first four games. keeps looking for one more pass when it would be better to get the puck The Stars are still 13th in high-danger scoring chances but they fall to to the net. Heiskanen’s defense isn’t in question here; that’s been at the 21st in Goals For percentage and to 20th in Corsi For percentage (all same elite level it’s been throughout his NHL career. It resulted in stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick). arguably the play of the season for the Stars, when he prevented an empty-netter to help set up a game-tying goal. But the offense needs to What do all of those numbers mean? The overarching reaction is that the come along, because the Stars need it and Heiskanen is capable of Stars are middle-of-the-pack, which shouldn’t surprise anybody. It’s being better. interesting that the high-danger scoring chances don’t drop off when you take the Predators and Red Wings inflation games out. That means the Fact: Goaltending has been very good Stars have been creating high-danger chances pretty consistently. However, the Goals For percentage and especially the Corsi For There was a lot of praise for Anton Khudobin and Jake Oettinger, so percentage both drop rather considerably. The Stars have a real problem we’re combining them here. Khudobin is coming off two phenomenal finishing the chances they create. games this week. His 49-save game on Monday was arguably his best of the season, and then he managed to top it with a 43-save shutout on The Stars are a forechecking team and don’t create a ton on the rush. Wednesday. There have been peaks and valleys to Khudobin’s season. When they do, they often fail to convert. I think the concerns about what He opened with a 34-save shutout against Nashville and had a strong kind of style the team plays or how aggressive they are and things like two games after that. Then, there was a four-game slump, which also that all boil down to one thing: They’ve been mediocre creators but have included a disciplinary scratch for being late to practice, before the two been bad at finishing. You could be talking about goals or games. stellar games in Florida this week. Overall, Khudobin has lived up to expectations. Fiction: The Stars are a bad team

Oettinger was supposed to be in the AHL this year but the injury situation This one is tough but I’ll nitpick semantics to come to my conclusion. I forced him into a backup role in a condensed season. He was going to still don’t think the Stars are a bad team, though confidence in that is play some games this season but there was a stretch this month in which waning by the hour. They are definitely playing some very bad hockey he started three of four games. Part of that was due to Khudobin being right now, but you can see the truly bad teams around the league, and unavailable for the disciplinary issue, but head coach Rick Bowness also even in the Central Division, and the Stars haven’t stooped that low. said that Oettinger’s strong play earned him additional time. The offense They’ve lost nine games and empty-netters notwithstanding, eight of failed Oettinger in a couple of 2-1 overtime losses and he lost another them have been by one goal. Two of them have come in overtime and game in a shootout before Thursday’s third-period meltdown gave him two more in a shootout. Their only loss by more than one goal was an his first regulation loss. But with the way he’s looked in the crease and atrocious night on the penalty kill when they lost 4-1 in Carolina because his 2-1-3 record, Oettinger has had as good of a rookie season as the they allowed three power-play goals. Stars could have hoped for. If anyone thinks the Stars are a bad team right now, I won’t offer much Anton Khudobin has a 2.35 goals-against average in nine games. (Aaron resistance. As former Dallas Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells once Doster / USA Today) said, you are what your record says you are. The Stars are 6-5-4. That’s bad, but I don’t think that means they’re quite there yet in terms of being Fiction: Deployment of young players is a concern a bad team. Quick hitters

Fact: Joe Pavelski is a top offensive weapon for the Stars. This is obvious to anybody with a pulse but I include it here to say that this run to start the season isn’t a fluke. This is what Pavelski can do for the Stars, and he’s only getting the opportunity to unleash because the team needs him to due to injuries. His involvement should remain similar as players get healthier.

Fiction: The power play is bad. The first four games have clouded some people’s perception of power-play success. The power play was never going to sustain that 55.6 percent clip but and it also has looked disjointed at times recently. However, it’s important to factor in that the unit is missing some of its main characters in Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov and now Hintz. When they start moving the puck around and the blueliners aren’t afraid to rip it, the Stars’ power play still does a pretty decent job. Statistically, they’re in the middle of the pack at 18.9 percent since the first four games. That’s no stat to throw a parade over but if you watch the games, you can see that the potential is still there and Radulov, who is a crucial piece, has missed most of those games.

Fiction: Dallas is not good defensively. The Stars have had a rough week and, in particular, allowed too many shots to reach Khduobin in his two starts this week against Florida, but keep in mind that the Panthers are a top-five shooting team in the NHL. Overall, the Dallas defense has been spotty at times but they should be fine with the defensive pairings they have and a few good defensive forward lines.

Fiction: The Stars are inconsistent. I think when people say the Stars are not consistent, they mean that the Stars aren’t consistent with their good moments. While that’s true, the Stars haven’t bounced too much between good and bad. They’ve shown consistency; it’s just consistently not good. That’s how six-game winless streaks happen.

Fact: The schedule is going to be one of the Stars’ biggest nemesis this season, with 43 games in 76 days. Enough said.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021

1204117 Detroit Red Wings The Wings have gone through their own ups and downs this season, starting 2-2, losing five guys to the pandemic, enduring an eight-game winless skid. The hope was they wouldn’t be as bad as last season, and while the record doesn’t show it, they have played better defensively and Bobby Ryan 'absolutely loves' being a Detroit Red Wing, understands if with more structure. From what Ryan has seen, the guys who are key to Yzerman trades him the rebuild, a group that is headlined by Dylan Larkin, understands it’s going to take time before the Wings will be buyers at the trade deadline,

not sellers. HELENE ST. JAMES “I would say there’s a very quiet resolve within the guys that know they are going to be here for a while, that they are building something, that the results aren’t immediate,” Ryan said. “They are not getting down every Being traded doesn’t weigh on Bobby Ryan. Helping the Detroit Red day. They come back to work. That starts with Larks. I think he has guys Wings be more competitive does. all pulling on the same rope in the same direction, and that speaks a lot to him. He’s not a rah-rah guy, he just comes in and leads by example, The veteran forward has proven to be a savvy signing by general his work ethic, the way he is around the room, the way he handles manager , adding production and veteran leadership. himself. Guys follow that. Ryan is one of multiple players on expiring contracts who Yzerman could flip at the trade deadline for assets to help the rebuild, but for now, Ryan “They are committed to the process of getting better every day and that is focused on how he can help the current team. they are going to be here for the turnaround. I am excited for them, I really am. It’s just a great group of young guys in that room.” “I think in our last eight or nine games, our brand of hockey has been a lot better,” Ryan said. “We’ve gotten a way from it a few, but that’s a Detroit Free Press LOADED: 02.27.2021 team that’s growing. We are starting to put some things in place that can help us be way more competitive. We are starting to stay the course a little bit better.”

Yzerman signed Ryan, who turns 34 in March, to a one-year, $1 million deal in October. Ryan had four goals his first three games, then went through a stretch where he was creating scoring chances but not getting results. In Thursday's home win over the Nashville Predators, his joy over helping fellow veteran Sam Gagner score his first two goals of the season matched the smile on Gagner’s face.

“I think because we are here a couple hours a day, people don’t realize it weighs on us all the time,” Ryan said. “It’s something we go home and think about and how can we do this and how can we do that. For him being out a few games and having that response, now you hope the confidence for him goes through the roof.”

Ryan’s two assists put him at 11 points after 21 games. He’s certain to garner interest from Stanley Cup contenders as the April 12 deadline approaches; others who could pique interest, to varying degrees, include Gagner, Marc Staal, Luke Glendening, Darren Helm and . There hasn’t been any conversation between Ryan and Yzerman yet, but it’s a scenario in which both sides could benefit.

“When I signed, I knew that was going to be a possibility,” Ryan said. “If I came in and played well, it would be a win-win situation. Possibly for me it’d be an opportunity to go somewhere and be in a playoff race, and for the team to get an asset. I understand the business side of that thing.

“The only conversation I had with Steve way when was we would have a conversation about that as the time came. I’ve heard the whispers. You take it with a grain of salt until Steve or your agent comes you and tells you exactly what’s happening.”

It’s unusual for players to talk about the trade deadline 20-odd games into a season, but that’s the reality of playing during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Ryan put it, “it’s such weird year.” But though he hasn’t been around the Wings for that long — he moved here in November with his wife, Danielle, their daughter, Riley and son, Chase — the family has relished the experience.

“We have loved every single moment of it,” Ryan said. “feel fortunate I’ve gotten to play here, wear the Winged Wheel. I love the group, love the coaching. Everything about it has been an incredible experience, so if there is an opportunity for me to come back in the summer, it will be a conversation that Steve will have with me. And I don’t know what his plans are, but it will be very, very high on my list. I absolutely love it here.”

It’s been a nice change for Ryan after a turbulent last season that included treatment for substance abuse. He handles travel restrictions — players are pretty much supposed to stay in their hotel rooms other than going for walks — by reading. He’s working his way through the Art of Manliness’ 100 books every man should read (he’s already read Plato’s "Republic," "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck and "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy), though he’s taking a break to dive into Leo Tolstoy’s "War and Peace." (“That’s not on that list, but everything I’ve read about it it seems like it’s going to be a great read,” Ryan said.) 1204118 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings seem to have figured out the formula for them to win

HELENE ST. JAMES

The Detroit Red Wings seem to have figured out what it takes for them to win. Now they have to prove they can do it in consecutive games.

They face a weekend series against the Chicago Blackhawks fresh off a confidence-boosting 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday at Little Caesars Arena, winning for the second time in three games. The five goals scored were a season high, and one short of their output over the previous four games. That may not sound all that impressive, but for a team that’s 6-13-3, it’s a step in the right direction.

“We see where we are in the standings, which is frustrating, but a win like this can help the confidence hopefully, and get us moving forward a little bit,” alternate captain Luke Glendening said. “We have to keep the momentum going where we can, but we also have to reset and get our minds right in terms of we have to come and work and compete hard. That’s going to set the tone for the next game.”

Glendening contributed the first goal. Sam Gagner finally had something to show for his hard work, earning a hat trick, and Adam Erne also scored. The power play was no good, going 0-for-3 to extend the drought to 0-for-40 since Jan. 28, but to get such prolific scoring from secondary sources was huge.

“It certainly felt good,” Gagner said. “We’ve been pushing as a group to find something to feel good about it. It’s nice to get a win. Hopefully, we can keep building on it.

“We’ve done a good job at times of playing really solid and not getting results. We found a way to get a win. You just have to keep coming to work and playing the same way. Eventually it does turn. It’s hard some nights, but you have to keep pushing for it.”

Bobby Ryan set up Gagner’s first two goals. Both had been creating changes, and were due for points.

“You look at the first one, he does a great job of hunting the puck down and getting it to me,” Gagner said. “Even on the second, he does a really good job of recognizing I have a lane and leaving it for me. He’s been really good for us. Definitely nice to get rewarded.”

Jonathan Bernier continued his claim to the starting job, making 37 saves. He was especially key at the start, when the Predators surged. But it was a fairly sound game overall for the Wings; they competed, their structure was solid, and they scored. They’d been shutout, 2-0, in two of their previous three games.

“As we’ve talked when we were playing fairly good and losing close games, you need wins to reinforce the belief that you are doing the right thing,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “I think when you constantly put yourself in position to win hockey games, if you never win, it’s hard to stay with it. You need that reinforcement at some point.

“It’s big for confidence, there’s zero doubt about it. Over the stretch of the season, if you take out the stretch where we have five guys with COVID and maybe those couple games when they returned, we’ve played pretty good hockey. We’ve been a fairly hard team to play against. We just have to continue to be a hard team to play against.”

PROSPECT FIZZLING: Wings treatment of Evgeny Svechnikov is unusual. Now, his window is closing

The Wings are 0-3-1 against the Blackhawks, but two of those games have been those close losses Blashill referenced. The Wings have yet to win consecutively 22 games into the season, but they’re showing progress.

“I think our guys have gained an understanding of the formula it takes to win,” Blashill said. “It’s great compete, great work and great structure. If we do those things, we put ourselves in position to win. We are going to have to do it Saturday, and that will be the consistent message.”

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204119 Detroit Red Wings just comes in and leads by example. His work ethic, the way he is around the room and handles himself, guys follow that.

“But that would be the biggest takeaway, the resolve that those guys are Here's why Bobby Ryan is likely to be traded, but still sees Wings in his going to get better. It may not be immediate and right now, but they’re future committed to the process of getting better every day.

“I’m excited for them. It’s just a great group of young guys in that room.”

TED KULFAN Red Wings at Blackhawks

Faceoff: 8 Saturday, United Center, Chicago

Detroit — Whether Bobby Ryan is traded at the deadline, finishes the TV/radio: FSD/97.1 season here, remains a Red Wing or moves on in the summer — all of it Outlook: The Red Wings (6-13-3) and Chicago (11-6-4) begin a two- remains to be seen. game-in-two-nights weekend series. ... The Wings are winless in four But it sure sounds like the veteran forward wouldn’t mind staying a Red games against Chicago (0-3-1). …. Chicago RW Patrick Kane (10 goals, Wing. 21 assists) is playing at an MVP level.

The trade deadline during this shortened, condensed NHL season is April Detroit News LOADED: 02.27.2021 12, and Ryan could be an interesting bargaining chip for general manager Steve Yzerman.

Ryan, who'll be 34 on March 17, signed a one-year contract for $1 million over the summer, knowing a trade could be a distinct possibility. And Ryan still knows that. But, he’s really taken to Detroit.

“We’ve loved it,” Ryan said during Friday’s Zoom chat with the media, ahead of the weekend series against the Chicago Blackhawks. “I say we, as a family. My wife loves it, she’s very happy in the area. The kids like it. I know my daughter likes going to her dance class. Things like that.

“We’re very comfortable here. It feels weird, I’ve played 20 games and it’s such a weird year, but we’ve loved every single moment of it. Whether it’s tomorrow or five weeks from now down the road, I feel fortunate to have gotten to play here and wear the Winged Wheel.

“I love the group of guys, love the coaching staff and everything about it, honestly, everything about it. It’s been an incredible experience.”

If Ryan were to be dealt at the deadline, returning to Detroit as a free agent again next offseason would be a possibility.

“If there’s an opportunity to come back here in the summer, it would be a conversation that Steve will have with me and I don’t know what his plans are, but it’ll be very high on my list,” Ryan said. “I love it here.”

Ryan hasn’t had any conversations with Yzerman about this trade deadline or next season, but a discussion is likely to be forthcoming.

“When I signed I knew that (a potential trade) was going to be a possibility if I come in and played well and it was a going to be a win-win situation, possibly for me to get the opportunity to go somewhere and be in a playoff race and for the team (Wings) to get an asset," he said.

“I understand the business side of that thing. (But) I feel like I’m getting my feet wet as a Red Wing and it’s a little sad, because I’m just getting comfortable with the guys, I have been, but you’re really getting to settle in and have a place in the locker room and it’s just been the nature of the year (condensed schedule). There’s nothing you can do about it unfortunately.”

At this point of his career, the speculation and rumors, the possible teams that could be in the mix to acquire him, all that doesn’t bother Ryan.

“I’ve heard the whispers and things like that and you take it with a grain of salt until Steve or your agent tells you exactly what is happening,” Ryan said. “When I was younger, it would have been something that weighed on me heavily. But having been through it one time, not so much anymore. I can’t control any of that, so I’m just going to play.”

One of the reasons Ryan is interested in staying in the Wings’ organization is the young core of the roster.

Then, there’s the leadership of captain Dylan Larkin.

“I would say there’s a very quiet resolve within the guys who know they’re going to be here that they’re building something,” Ryan said. “They understand results may not be immediate, but they’re not getting down about it, they come back to work and that starts with Larks.

“He’s got guys all pulling on the same rope and same direction and that speaks a lot about him. He’s not a rah-rah guy but he can be at times. He 1204120 Detroit Red Wings

Sam Gagner’s hat trick helps Red Wings top Nashville

Updated Feb 25, 10:06 PM; Posted Feb 25, 10:04 PM

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT – Sam Gagner returned to the lineup Thursday and played like he is determined to stay in the lineup.

Gagner scored three goals, including the game-winner in the third period, and the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Nashville Predators 5-2 at Little Caesars Arena.

It was Gagner’s third career hat trick. He had been scratched the previous two games, after producing two points (both assists) in 13 games this season.

Jonathan Bernier made 37 saves, starting for the third game in a row while gaining separation from in the goaltending competition.

Luke Glendening and Adam Erne also scored for Detroit, which got a pair of assists from both Bobby Ryan and Darren Helm.

It was a season-high goal total for the Red Wings (6-13-3). Nashville fell to 8-11-0.

Gagner snapped a 2-2 tie at 9:58 of the third period, when he spun and fired a shot from the side of the net that went between Pekka Rinne’s pads.

The Predators had been gaining momentum since the start of the period and had tied it on Erik Haula’s goal at 2:55, when he batted in the puck out of the air from the net front.

Erne tallied a key insurance goal with 3:38 remaining before Gagner sealed it with an empty-net goal with 3:04 to play.

The Red Wings hadn’t scored more than two goals in any of the previous five games of this six-game homestand.

The Red Wings killed a pair of penalties in the second period and took a 2-1 lead on Gagner’s first goal in 14 games this season.

He got a fortuitous bounce when he appeared to center the puck from the corner. It deflected off of a Nashville stick, fluttered and found its way between Rinne and the goal post at 8:38.

The teams traded goals in the first period.

Glendening opened the scoring at 4:55 with his second of the season on a good second effort. He backhanded his own rebound into the net and being shoved to the ice.

Helm won a puck battle behind the net with strong forechecking to set up the play.

Mikael Granlund tied it on the power play at 14:15. He knocked in a rebound from the crease on the backhand. It was Nashville’s third power- play goals in two games.

Dylan Larkin rattled two shots off the goal post in the period.

Michigan Live LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204121 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings taking day-to-day approach with Evgeny Svechnikov

Updated Feb 25, 11:41 AM; Posted Feb 25, 11:41 AM

By Ansar Khan

Given the choice between sitting out games while with the NHL club or playing regularly and developing in the AHL, teams generally prefer the latter for their younger players.

But Evgeny Svechnikov continues to practice with the Detroit Red Wings though has not cracked the lineup.

Coach Jeff Blashill indicated Thursday that Svechnikov’s status (NHL roster, taxi squad or Grand Rapids) will continue to be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

“I don’t want to speak past today,” Blashill said. “Right now, he’s on the taxi squad, he was in Grand Rapids to get started. We’ve kind of cycled guys on and off the taxi squad. That gives us the ability to have guys here in case we need them and also to get them games. We’ll see what tomorrow brings, but that’s how we’re dealing with it right now.”

Svechnikov, the club’s top pick in 2015 (19th overall), cleared waivers just before the season. He has appeared in three games for Grand Rapids (one goal, one assist) before being assigned to Detroit’s taxi squad last week.

Based on Wednesday’s practice, it does not appear the 24-year-old right wing will be in the lineup tonight when the Red Wings (5-13-3) face Nashville (8-10-0) at Little Caesars Arena (7:30, Fox Sports Detroit).

“He’s got to continue to be healthy; it’s been a hard thing for him,” Blashill said. “When he gets his opportunity, he’s got to show he’s a guy that can help our NHL team win. If he does that, whether it’s here or down there, then he’ll get more opportunity.”

Svechnikov (6-3, 208) has appeared in 20 games with the Red Wings over parts of three seasons. He missed the entire 2018-19 season due to surgery for a torn ACL.

Blashill said he needs to provide energy and physicality with some scoring touch.

“There’s a number of guys in the league that are like that,” Blashill said. “If he can find a way to bring that energy and physicality, because he is a big man, he can bring the energy. He wants to play hard and provide some scoring touch. When he gets opportunity, he’s got to demand he gets more opportunity.”

No new injuries: Blashill said everyone who played in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Nashville is available tonight, including , who did not practice Wednesday. Defenseman Troy Stecher (lower-body injury) will miss his third game in a row, hasn’t skated and remains day-to-day.

Michigan Live LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204122 Detroit Red Wings and I wish him all the best. He helped me to take the next step in my career back in Sweden.”

That prediction came true rather quickly: as Mora won the Allsvenskan How Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton helped launch Mathias Bromé’s and moved up to the SHL, it propelled Colliton to become head coach of NHL path the AHL Rockford Icehogs. A little more than one season later, he was promoted to coach the Blackhawks, replacing Joel Quenneville.

But while Colliton was first onto the NHL fast track, the coach remembers By Max Bultman Feb 26, 2021 seeing his former leading scorer flash real promise, too.

“He was a top player in the Allsvenskan,” Colliton said. “One of the top scorers in the league. Just work ethic, always around the puck, hunting Mathias Bromé had been “struggling a little bit” in Sweden’s the puck, really good at protecting the puck in the offensive zone, HockeyAllsvenskan when his phone rang around the end of the 2015-16 cutbacks, taking it to the net. And yeah, you saw that there was potential season. there. Obviously he’s developed even further after that, but great kid, and On the other end of the line was Jeremy Colliton — the head coach of works hard, and he’s a guy (who) can help you flip the ice. He’s got great Mora IK, another team in the league. He was calling with a proposition. speed, whether it’s on the forecheck or carrying the puck from D-zone to the offensive zone.” “He just asked me what I was thinking about next year, and if I want to go to Mora and play there,” Bromé recently recalled. It took a while, and another slower transition in the SHL, before that leap to the NHL become possible. Bromé was held without a point in his first At the time, Bromé didn’t know much about Colliton. The coach was just 11 SHL games the next season. Once again, he had to stick with his 31 years old and was finishing up his third season as coach for Mora, game until he finally got rewarded. after being brought on midway through the 2013-14 campaign. The team’s captain in that 2015-16 season had actually been older than But when he did, it happened in a big way, with Bromé registering a hat Colliton. But all Bromé knew was, when he talked to those who had trick in game No. 12. And after his second SHL season in 2018-19, played for Colliton, he had yet to hear a bad word. although Mora finished the year by being relegated back to the Allsvenskan, he started to really think about the NHL. Colliton knew the player quite a bit better. Certainly, he had seen Bromé when he played against Mora, for Asplöven, during that 2015-16 season. He opted to stay in Sweden for one more season, moving to Örebro and But Colliton had even noticed Bromé dating back to when he was a junior hoping to grow more as a player, to make sure he would have a real player in Västerås. The coach saw a “tremendous skater” with both skill opportunity to make the NHL when he did come over to North America. and edge to his game. So, when the chance arose to add Bromé — then That’s exactly what happened. Bromé was an SHL standout last season, nearing his 22nd birthday — Colliton picked up the phone. and then this year made the jump to North America and made the Red “I really got that feeling that he really wanted me to (join) the team and be Wings out of camp. Now, he has become an NHL regular. He went a top guy on that team,” Bromé said. “So when he said he wanted me through his trademark growing pains, going his first 17 games without a there, it felt pretty good.” point despite some high-danger opportunities early on. But he finally broke through last weekend and scored his first goal: a game-winner to Bromé, at the time, hadn’t fully broken through yet as a player. It has beat the Panthers. always taken him a little more time to hit his stride in new leagues. His first year in the Allsvenskan, he had just nine points. He took a step And because of the narrowed divisional schedule this season, his rookie forward in Year 2, with 27 points in 51 games — a solid mark for an year has also allowed him face Colliton — the man whose phone call and under-22 player — but going into that 2016-17 season, there was still early-career guidance helped him start it all — four times already. more in him. Likewise with former Mora assistant coach Tomas Mitell, also now on the Blackhawks’ bench. And Colliton, as it turned out, helped him tap into it — in part by simply helping him to believe in himself and stick with his game when the results After the last time the teams played, Bromé said Colliton texted him after weren’t going his way. the game, and he spoke with Mitell as well. Certainly, it’s much different now, facing off now as opponents and in a whole new phase of their “He gave me that, that I’ve gotta believe in myself and just push forward careers. But a constant has remained. every day and just do your best and everything will come,” Bromé said. “If you don’t create any chances, then we have a problem. But if you “When he texts me now, too, he says ‘keep working and keep doing what create chances, then (the points are) going to come, and ultimately it just you do out there, it’s going to come,’” Bromé said. “It’s the same (thing) loosened up everything for me. He helped me a lot, and I really he said when I played for him too: when you have a little bit of struggle, appreciate it.” just keep pushing every day and try to be a little bit better every day and it’s going to bounce.” He blossomed into a near point-per-game player that first year in Mora, finishing third in league scoring with 49 points in 51 games. Just as Now, the question for Bromé is whether breaking out of his slow start will importantly, he helped the team win promotion to the Swedish Hockey give way to something promising, as it has in the past. As much as League, the highest level in Sweden. To this day, he thinks back fondly Bromé’s history suggests it could, the NHL is also a challenge unlike any on an empty-net goal by Pierre Engvall in the final game of SHL qualifiers other he’s faced so far. to make it 4-1. Bromé says he’s watched a lot of teammate Tyler Bertuzzi, trying to “That’s a great feeling, to be on a team that have (fought) for each other mimic the way he gets to the net so consistently. Sure enough, that’s all the way from May to April, and we went up and nobody believed in where Bromé got his first goal, off a Dylan Larkin rebound. He’s noticed us,” Bromé said. “People were talking about we’re going to miss playoffs how much quicker he needs to think at this level. or anything like that, but we still believed in ourselves. That was a really But that lesson Colliton taught him, about sticking with his game even nice group there.” when the results aren’t going his way, has been the same thing helping Bromé liked that Colliton gave all his players the opportunity to do what him charge ahead now. they were good at, making sure every player could have an impact and a “I think I have played good games here,” he said last week, just before role on the team, regardless of how much they played. And in Bromé’s that first goal finally came. “And it’s just about when it’s going to loosen individual case, that meant a big opportunity to be a leading player. up for me. I believe in myself, and every time I get that chance to play Even in the middle of a big season, the young forward wasn’t yet thinking here, I’m just doing my best. And hopefully I can put some goals in and about the NHL during that 2016-17 run. But he does remember talking help the team to win.” with teammates back then about how their coach could someday be Now, he’s done that. And his next chance to do it again will come destined for the world’s best hockey league. Saturday — with the man who helped him get here standing on the other “We said like, he’s not going to be here so many years,” Bromé recalled. bench. “He’s going to be in (the) NHL. He’s such a great guy and great coach, The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204123 Edmonton Oilers OILERS vs LEAFS Connor McDavid 3-4-7, Even

Leon Draisaitl 4-2-6, +2 GAME NIGHT: Breaking down the Oilers-Leafs three-game series Tyson Barrie 0-3-3, -3

Josh Archibald 2-0-2, Even Derek Van Diest LEAFS VS OILERS Publishing date:Feb 27, 2021 • 2 hours ago William Nylander 2-2-4, Even

John Tavares 1-3-4, Even 15-4-2 Mitch Marner 1-3-4, -1 at Edmonton Oilers 14-8-0 Auston Matthews 3-0-3, -1 Tonight, 5 p.m. MT, CBC, Sportsnet PROJECTED LINES Monday, 8 p.m. MT, Sportsnet OILERS Wednesday, 6 p.m.MT, Sportsnet Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Connor McDavid – Jesse Puljujarvi SEASON SERIES Dominik Kahun – Leon Draisaitl – Kailer Yamamoto Maple Leafs 2-1-1 … 12 GF Tyler Ennis – Jujhar Khaira – Josh Archibald Oilers 2-2-0 … 12 GF Patrick Russell – Gaetan Haas – Alex Chiasson PREVIOUS SCORES Darnell Nurse – Tyson Barrie Jan. 20: Edmonton 3, TORONTO 1 Kris Russell – Adam Larsson Jan. 22: TORONTO 4, Edmonton 2 Caleb Jones – Evan Bouchard Jan. 28: Toronto 4, EDMONTON 3 Mike Smith Jan. 30: EDMONTON 4, Toronto 3 (OT) Mikko Koskinen FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME MAPLE LEAFS 1. Trophy race Joe Thornton – Auston Matthews – Mitchell Marner Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews leads the NHL with 18 goals, while Oilers centre Connor McDavid leads the NHL with 40 points. Both are Zach Hyman – John Tavares – William Nylander considered early candidates as the league’s most valuable player. Matthews has been nursing a sore wrist and is considered day-to-day, Alexander Kerfoot – Pierre Engvall – Ilya Mikheyev but it would be difficult to believe he’ll sit out this match-up against Alexander Barabanov – Travis Boyd – Jason Spezza McDavid. Morgan Rielly – T.J. Brodie 2. Goaltending Jake Muzzin – Justin Holl Mike Smith started the season 6-0-0 for the first time in his career. The stat is somewhat deceiving because Smith was pulled after giving up four Travis Dermott – Zach Bogosian goals on 11 shots in a 6-5 loss to the Winnipeg Jets where Mikko Koskinen end up taking the loss. Frederik Andersen, meanwhile, has 11 Michael Hutchinson wins this season, which is tied for the most in the league, but is currently Jack Campbell nursing a lower-body injury and Michael Hutchinson has started the past two games. SPECIAL TEAMS

3. Supporting cast OILERS: PP – 27.2% (7th), PK – 76.2% (19th)

Leon Draisaitl is the reigning Hart Trophy winner and is having another MAPLE LEAFS: PP – 31.3% (4th), PK – 79.9% (17th) outstanding season, currently sitting second in the NHL scoring race to McDavid with 10 goals and 34 points. The two play on different lines, but INJURIES team up on the power play. Mitchell Marner rides shotgun with Matthews EDM: (unfit to play), Oscar Klefbom (shoulder), Zack on the Maple Leafs’ top line. The two have combined for 27 goals and 61 Kassian (upper body), William Lagesson (upper body), Slater Koekkoek points this season. (collarbone); TOR: Wayne Simmonds (wrist), Frederik Andersen (day-to- 4. Special teams day, lower body), Auston Matthews (day-to-day, wrist) Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2021 The two teams might want to consider staying out of the penalty box as each have a potent power play this season. The Maple Leafs have scored on 31.3 per cent of their opportunities and have 21 power-play goals. The Oilers score on 27.2 per cent of their opportunities and have 22 goals on the power play. Conversely, both teams have middle of the road penalty-killing units, although the Oilers have killed 30 of their past 34 penalties.

5. Fan duel missed

Usually when Toronto comes to Edmonton half of the crowd at Rogers Place is in a Maple Leafs jersey. Without fans in the building, the atmosphere of duelling supporters will be missing, although emotions are likely to still run high with top spot in the North Division on the line. This is the last time the Maple Leafs will be in Edmonton this season.

HEAD-TO-HEAD 1204124 Edmonton Oilers “He’s a special player and a big part of that team … he’s been dangerous, his face-offs have been good and he’s helped out defensively,” said McDavid, who wasn’t going there when asked if there was one-upmanship though. Stars align to see who is best in North between Oilers and Maple Leafs That doesn’t push McDavid, on pace for 106 points in 56 games?

“I would say no. I’m motivated each and every night to be the best I can Jim Matheson • Publishing date:Feb 27, 2021 • 5 hours ago be. There’s obviously guys you watch and compare yourself to and when you see them doing well, you want to make sure you’re doing the same.

But, I’m a pretty motivated guy,” said McDavid. Before teams were playing for the COVID Cup, before they changed all If Matthews has had a bad wrist for weeks, you’d never know it. the divisions, a trip here by Sidney Crosby and the Penguins or Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs against Connor McDavid and the Oilers “He hasn’t allowed things to disrupt him. He missed one game and was a hyped one-off. bounced back and he’s had a tremendous run. Even the last game, he got banged up and while he had to adapt his game (no face-offs), he still Stars coming out at night. Stars who only came to Edmonton once a competed his butt off to the very end,” said Keefe. season. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2021 But now we’re getting Toronto vs Edmonton for three straight games over five days at Rogers Place to see who Canada’s Best Team is, and that’s a bigger story. For sure McDavid, who has 40 points in 22 games and Matthews, who has 18 goals in his 20 games, bothered by a sore wrist, is marquee stuff. Same with Leon Draisaitl and Mitch Marner, second and third in NHL scoring, and the two top plus-minus forwards right now.

But, the race for No. 1 in the True North? That’s what counts.

When the Oilers were 3-6 on Jan. 28, the Leafs were 7-2.

Toronto had 14 points, Edmonton had six.

Now, a month later, the Leafs have 32 and the Oilers have 28. Toronto has 15 wins, Edmonton, on a heater with 11 W’s in the last 13, has 14 wins. So, gentlemen, start your engines.

“For the fans they see it that way, for the coaches? No, not really,” said Oilers assistant Glen Gulutzan. “Our last series against Vancouver was our chance to get some separation and we see this next series as a series for first place and I don’t think it would matter who is in that spot.

“We’re four points behind that and that’s how we’re looking at it.”

Does a three-game series determine who’s the best?

“Yeah, it tells you more, there’s no one-off where anything can happen on any given night, where special teams go one way of the other, where goaltending can be hot, but when you play three it tells you how the teams stack up. Playing Toronto already, they’ve been real close,” said Gulutzan.

“The games against Edmonton have been really difficult for us,” said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe with the Leafs winning two in regulation, the Oilers also two, with one of those in OT.

“Toronto’s got a really good club with weapons there. They’ve got all the ingredients you would want. But we’re a good club, too,” said Gulutzan, with the expected offensive fireworks not totally there with Edmonton winning 3-1 and 4-3 and Toronto 4-2 (empty-net) and 4-3. No 6-5 games.

“Nobody wants to be embarrassed. You’ve got these young guys, who are elite players in our league, against each other and they’re going to play tight. In a three-game series, maybe one game gets away (6-5) but they are dug in to play each other. It’s a bit like playoff hockey, low- scoring,” said Gulutzan.

“Our special teams have helped (32.5 per cent, 15-for-46, on the PP and 82.5 per cent, killing off 33 of 40 power plays on their 11-2 run). Our goalies (Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen) are playing well and everybody’s buying in and starting to believe,” said McDavid, who has 26 points in the 13 games. “When that happens, teams get dangerous.”

McDavid was dazzling in the Oilers 4-3 win here Jan. 30, going end-to- end to score on a power play and getting the OT winner. Matthews, who missed the first meeting in Toronto last month with an upper-body problem and is 50-50 to play Saturday after crashing into the end boards against Calgary Wednesday and making his wrist worse, scored a dazzling goal under the bar in that Jan. 30 game here.

They’re the two leading candidates for the Hart trophy right now with Matthews getting four points in one period last Saturday against Montreal and McDavid following up with three goals and five points against Calgary. 1204125 Edmonton Oilers “Absolutely. I didn’t I mind that at all. It gave me some touches, some reps and I wasn’t thrown right into the fire,” said Bear. Bouchard was the odd-man out as the game wore on, playing 8:17.

OILERS NOTEBOOK: Wins more important than shutouts to Mike Smith SO ABOUT CALEB JONES

Jones had sat for nine straight games on a crowded back-end when the coaches found his penalty-killing work wanting. But he’s had two strong Jim Matheson • Publishing date:Feb 27, 2021 • 7 hours ago • games in a row and got some love from Tippet for his PK effort against Vancouver Thursday.

“He (Jones) was going to block a shot come hell or high water,” said Mike Smith says wins are a bigger deal than shutouts but after his 41st Tippett. “He was good. And we put him in some tough situations. Our career shutout Thursday in Vancouver, the feat matches his Edmonton young players, Bouchard and (William) Lagesson (wrist) before he got Oilers jersey number and also fittingly, puts him No. 41 on the all-time list hurt too have played well. That’s a good sign, we’ve got lots of depth.”. of perfect games. This ‘n that: Expect Jack Campbell to get the start in net for the Leafs. He With an earlier 3-0 win over Montreal, he’s now tied with Marty Turco, his hurt his leg against Calgary in a goalmouth scrum Jan. 24. Frederik former Dallas Stars’ partner, and Brian Elliott, the back-up to Carter Hart Andersen worked on some things with goalie coach Steve Briere before in Philadelphia. practice but isn’t ready to play (lower body). He will be on the road trip, At game’s end Thursday, he scooped up the puck, and got a big hug though… William Nylander doesn’t have a five-on-five goal in his last 10 from Connor McDavid after saving all 32 shots in the 3-0 win. After giving games but he doesn’t average a lot of even-strength minutes (13:53). up three goals in the first nine Canucks shots over the first 15 minutes Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2021 Tuesday night, he stopped 54 straight to go to 6-0 on the season with a .944 save percentage.

Smith said there was no symbolism to the grabbing the puck with his jersey number, but it seemed right.

“The puck just happened to come down to my end and shutouts don’t happen very often,” said Smith, who’ll likely start against Toronto Saturday because he’s on such a heater.

Win’s are a lot higher on Smith’s list than shutouts.

“I could care less, to be honest. I want to win the game and I don’t care how many goals it is. Shutouts are hard to get especially now with the way power plays are, and maybe they’re the cherry on the top, but it’s the team in front of the goalie and our team is eating shots. (Darnell) Nurse blocked three or four. Testament to how the team’s going about this,” he said.

Smith might want to know that only he and have at least three shutouts with five different teams though. Smith had 22 in Arizona, six in Tampa, five in Dallas and Calgary and now has three as an Oiler. Joseph had 14 here, second to Tommy Salo’s 23. He has 51 in his NHL career.

Closest the Canucks came to scoring on Smith was in the second period when he made a stop and the puck trickled behind him, stopping on the line as Smith lay on the ice. Did he know how close it was to going in?

“No clue, no idea where the puck was,” he said. “That’s why I lied there for a minute and had a break. No one was talkin’ to me, so I didn’t want to move and make it more obvious than it needed to be.”

HOCKEY UNDER GLASS

Leafs’ defenceman Jake Muzzin, who broke a bone in his face when Tyler Toffoli’s stick hit him on a shot follow through a week ago against Montreal, will be playing Saturday with a full visor to protect his injury. He admits he was worried when it happened because it was close to his right eye.

“I won’t lie, it’s a little scary to be hit in the eye. I was able to open it (eye) when I left the ice which settled me down,” said Muzzin. Toffoli and Muzzin played in LA together, and texted after the accident.

BACK IN ACTION

The Oilers dressed seven D for the Thursday game, in part to let Bear ease into his first action in almost a month missing 11 games when he took a puck to the face while sitting on the bench against the Maple Leafs Jan. 30.

“Just a dump-in, hit me on the side of the head. I didn’t see it coming but it was a pretty hard shot,” said Bear, who played 14:13 in his return, playing with a series of partners.

Coach Dave Tippett said he didn’t want to take out either Evan Bouchard or Caleb Jones off their play Tuesday against the Canucks to get Bear back in, instead going with just 11 forwards with Patrick Russell scratched. Tippett wanted to monitor Bear’s workload with the seven blue-liners, which was fine with Bear. 1204126 Edmonton Oilers how to become a playoff team, watched his team embrace the two- gamers the way you needed to play to win both ends of a series.

The Oilers split the opener against Vancouver, were swept in a pair by JONES: Edmonton Oilers moving up in NHL power rankings Montreal and split two-game series both home and away against Winnipeg and Toronto. But in their past four doubleheaders, two against Ottawa, one versus Calgary and now one against Vancouver, they’ve managed to take both ends of the college hockey style doubleheaders. Terry Jones But now it’s baseball season. The Oilers have a baseball style three- Publishing date:Feb 26, 2021 • 8 hours ago • 4 game Saturday-Monday-Wednesday series against Toronto, separated by a single game here against the Flames and followed by another three- game series in Rogers Place versus Ottawa. In the hole is a three-game Edmonton Oilers fans can now parade around Ice District chanting trip to Montreal. “We’re No. 11.” “It’s our first time playing three games in a row, so we have to prepare for This week, a dozen nhl.com writers voted to include Edmonton in their that.” said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. ‘Super 16’ power rankings for the first time this season. “It’ll be a little different aspect playing a team three times in a row. We’ve The Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights, played two-game series to now and usually the team that loses the first Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers are 1-2-3-4-5. game comes out flying in the second game.”

The Winnipeg Jets moved up four spots to No. 8. It’ll be interesting to see where Edmonton sits in the nhl.com ‘Super 16’ power rankings should the Oilers win two of three games of each of Edmonton made it up to the dizzying heights of No. 11. those series. The NHL website voters had them 10th, 11th, 13th, 10th, 14th, 12th, You have to wonder what it might take for the Oilers to make it into the 14th, 8th, 12th, 13th, 9th, and 8th. One, Mike Morreale, refused to top five of the league’s power rankings? concede them worthy of a top-16 spot whatsoever. So it’ll be interesting to track that fractured feature in the coming weeks. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.27.2021 The Oilers, with a sweep of a two-game series in Vancouver, have won 11 of their past 13 games, including eight of their past nine and five in a row.

On Thursday, with a 3-0 win over the Canucks, they made it six wins in a row on the road for the first time since 1986-87, the year they won the third of their five Stanley Cups.

Mike Smith is on a self-described “heater” in goal with a 6-0 record and his second shutout in a week. He also supplied the quote of-the-week post-game Thursday.

“We’re learning to win in different ways,” he said. “It’s getting us important points right now. I don’t want that to slide away because of goaltending. It’s a mission I’m on right now.”

There are those, of course, who will remember other recent “heaters” the Oilers have managed to get themselves on, the most recent of which was just prior to the “pause” last March. Despite a lot of talk about the opportunity involved, they went quietly into the August night with only one win to show from their best-of-five Stanley Cup qualifying series against the Chicago Blackhawks.

But this is 11 of 13, eight of nine and five in a row. And though, heading into Friday, they’ve played more games than any other team except Vancouver and Ottawa, the Oilers are third in the NHL overall point standings, four points back of a Toronto team that plays the first of a three-game series against them in Rogers Place on Saturday on .

The Oilers have scored more goals (79) than any other team in the NHL and Connor McDavid (40) and Leon Draisaitl (34) are 1-2 in points production.

This definitely looks and feels different than just about any other ray of light that appeared during the decade of darkness.

But they’re No. 11.

Four of the seven Canadian Division teams will proceed to the playoffs within the division. And with Calgary losing 6-1 in an embarrassing exhibition in Ottawa on Thursday and the Oilers sweeping the Canucks, there’s some serious separation between Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton and the free-falling Flames and Canucks.

With the Oilers, there are fans that want these next three games against the Leafs to be viewed as for first place, although mathematically the winning percentages (Toronto .762, Winnipeg .658 and Edmonton .636) would suggest that would be an illusion.

But it does present something of a fork in the road for the Oilers.

It took a while but Edmonton head coach Dave Tippett, who views the coronavirus pandemic compact schedule as perfect preparation to learn 1204127 Florida Panthers Florida currently hones a top-10 power play unit, ranking eighth in the NHL at a 26.4 percent conversion rate.

Patric Hornqvist Florida Panthers Panthers’ Offense Producing Like Contenders This is because of their fast forwards that can set up on the attack quickly with good moves, clean zone entries, and crisp passing from guys like Huberdeau and Barkov. Furthermore, their defenseman jump in as they February 26, 2021 by Joey Ganzi have players who can rip it from the point or wing such as Ekblad and Radko Gudas,. Finally, their gritty forwards create big chances with

deflections and rebounds with players like Hornqvist. Entering the month of February, the Florida Panthers were on a roll. They What’s Next? were undefeated in regulation for the entire month of January, and it was clear they were hungry for more. The only big difference is that this It’s clear that Florida has the offensive firepower that can lead to the month they were playing teams that were considered to be contenders. playoffs. As previously mentioned, the Panthers are in a prime playoff This included teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars and position and have shown that it can hang with the big boys in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Lightning and the Hurricanes. While this may not necessarily be a vision for postseason success quite just yet, it gives the team and fans a Before those games, Florida suffered an unusual loss to the Detroit Red glimmer of hope. For the first time in a while, Florida is legit, and no one Wings by a score of 4-1, giving them their first regulation loss of the should sleep on this franchise this season. season. As a result, questions arose about the squad’s potential. However, those talks were quickly shut down as they beat Tampa twice Hockey Writers LOADED: 02.27.2021 in three nights, Carolina and Dallas two times in three games. In addition, Florida currently holds the top position in the Central Division. This is in large part due to their successful and lethal offense.

Offensive Stars Continue to Dominate

Ranked ninth in the league in goals per game, this team has found multiple ways to win, from comeback goal scoring to complete domination of their opponents.

This is due to their stars on offense like forward Jonathan Huberdeau. He currently leads the team in points with 23 and in assists with 16. In addition, he notched his first career hat trick on February 4th. Through his last 10 games, he’s tallied 11 points (five goals, eight assists). Through this month, he’s shown he can carry a line and play like an all- star in today’s game.

Jonathan Huberdeau Florida Panthers

Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

However, that does not mean his linemates aren’t contributing. Newly acquired, Patric Hornqvist continues to do what he does best, be a pest in the crease. Due to that style of play, he’s tied in the team lead in goals with eight. Furthermore, he is lethal on the man-advantage, leading his team with five power play goals.

Furthermore, after a slow start, center Alex Wennberg is starting to make some waves in Sunrise. Throughout the month of February, he’s scored five goals and assisted in five more. His goal count is how much he had last season through 57 games with Columbus. If he’s already hit that point in a 56 game season, the sky is the limit for him.

Furthermore, captain Aleksander Barkov continues to show night in and night out why he’s one of the best forwards in today’s NHL. Through his last nine games, he’s piled up nine points (four goals, five assists). Furthermore, he’s tied for the team lead with Hornqvist in goals with eight. In addition, his helping hand in Carter Verhaeghe is making Tampa regret letting him walk in free agency. Through 19 games played, he has seven goals and seven assists. His seven tallies tie him for second on the team in goals with Huberdeau.

Defense Jumps In

The defensive scoring has also given the team a dangerous offensive reputation. For example, Aaron Ekblad has shown his strong offensive ability. The first overall pick in the 2014 draft is currently tied for the league lead in goals by a defenseman with six. In addition, he has 11 points total on the campaign, making him second on the team’s defensemen in points.

Additionally, Keith Yandle shows that he can produce at a high level offensively. He currently leads all defensemen on the team in points with 13 (three goals, 10 assists). Throughout his career, Yandle has shown he can be a power play quarterback, and this season was no different. Currently, he’s tied for the team lead in power play points, with Jonathan Huberdeau at nine points.

Panthers’ Power Play is Lethal

The Panthers’ offensive stars have also shown they can get it done even in big power play situations. Due to their explosiveness on offense, 1204128 Los Angeles Kings longtime center, said he knew Brown had more to contribute beyond strong leadership.

Kings forward Dustin Brown controls the puck against the St. Louis Blues Column: An old veteran and a lot of new faces have the Kings on quite a on Jan. 24. roll “Brownie’s the type of player that’s always hanging around the net, so for the lack of better words he’s about an inch or two away from scoring every night. It’s just sometimes the puck hits you or the puck bounces the By HELENE ELLIOTT other way on you,” Kopitar said. “It doesn’t surprise me at all. He’s been a hard-working guy for all these years. We’ve all seen it firsthand. To me, FEB. 26, 2021 5 AM PT he’s just getting rewarded right now.”

Brown said he lost a few pounds during training camp, which was the The Kings are so hot that they’ve won six straight games, which matches Kings’ first time on the ice since the NHL paused play last March the longest winning streak in the NHL this season, and they’ve earned because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He says he feels good at a lighter points in seven straight games (6-0-1). weight but also is putting his experience to good use in reading the game. They’re so hot that they’ve outscored their opponents 22-7 in those victories and haven’t trailed in any of those games. Goaltenders “You look at some older players that play in the league for a while, they Jonathan Quick and Cal Petersen have each started three games during might slow down a little bit but thinking the game is a huge part at this the streak, with two-time Stanley Cup champion Quick earning two level and you learn, you just get better if you’re paying attention,” he said. shutouts and heir apparent Petersen improving his goals-against average “I think I think the game a lot better than I did when I started. I think each to 2.28 and his save percentage to a dazzling .931. year I’ve tried to get better. I think that’s the key, just trying to get better every year regardless of age. Age is just a number and it will catch up, They’re so hot that Dustin Brown, who’s enjoying a hard-earned revival at but if you put the work in you can continue to excel. There’s a lot of room age 36, got credited for a goal while he wasn’t playing. Brown, who for me to still improve, I think.” played his 1,200th NHL game earlier in the week, benefited Thursday when a review showed that the rebound of a shot he took against St. Jonathan Quick earns his 54th career shutout as the Kings beat Blues Louis on Wednesday went into the net off a Blues defender and wasn’t There’s room for the Kings to improve too. Coach Todd McLellan said deflected by teammate Alex Iafallo. With that goal — his eighth in his last they had been slow with the puck on Wednesday and not as sharp as in nine games — Brown became the top goal scorer in the West division their 3-0 win on Monday, and he noted some lapses in their structures. with 11 through Wednesday’s action and was tied for fifth in the league. But those were the kind of points coaches make when they want to refine “I think everyone is probably surprised outside of the room. I think we a team, not rebuild it. They believe they’re past that stage now. have a good team in there,” Brown said during a video interview earlier “When we started, we didn’t start just to be OK,” McLellan said. “We want this week. “I think we’re kind of building on some of the momentum we to get better every night, and if we can do that, who knows what can had last year, and the confidence. happen?” Cal Petersen helps Kings beat Blues for sixth straight win For the first time in a long time where the Kings are concerned, it’s “To be honest with you, we have some young players coming in and kind pleasant to think about the answer to that question. of learning on the fly and doing a pretty good job of it. So you have a LA Times: LOADED: 02.27.2021 pretty good veteran core group and some other spots are starting to get filled in by some younger players, which is a good thing for us.”

After limping along on past glory for too long after their 2014 Cup championship and missing the playoffs the past two seasons and four of the past six, the reconfigured Kings are on a decidedly upward trajectory. Their winning streak, which they’ll put on the line Friday at Minnesota, has affirmed they’re heading in the right direction, but it hasn’t made them complacent. That’s a healthy way for them to approach this unpredictable 56-game schedule.

“I think it’s more so guys are playing how we expected them to play and doing their jobs. And I think that’s been our main thing,” Petersen said after he stopped 35 shots at St. Louis on Wednesday. “We’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves and taking it game by game. And I think it’s paying off for us.”

Kings goalie Cal Petersen blocks a shot during a game against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center on Feb. 9.

The Kings’ pain isn’t over yet. The compacted schedule likely will test the kids’ consistency and endurance, and the back end of the defense corps could use an upgrade. Olli Maatta was a capable replacement for injured Mikey Anderson on Wednesday but Maatta is too slow to regularly play heavy minutes, and rugged Kurtis MacDermid is best used sparingly.

But the ugliest part of the team’s rebuilding process is over, and at 9-6-3 for 21 points they rank among the top four teams in the West. So far they’ve made a persuasive case that they have the goaltending, defense, special teams play and balance to grab one of four playoff berths in the realigned West division.

“We’re in the thick of things now and that’s where the fun begins, really,” center Anze Kopitar said. “You want to play meaningful games going into March, going into April, and in this case that’s where we want to be. And we want to keep improving on our game and we want to keep climbing.”

From the outside the most unexpected contributions have been the 11 goals and 17 points from Brown, whose scoring declined over the years as his intensely physical game wore him down. But Kopitar, Brown’s 1204129 Los Angeles Kings With defenseman hounding him as he worked behind the Kings net, Kaprizov gained control of the puck near the bottom of the left faceoff circle. His first shot was kicked aside by Quick at the left post, but the puck trickled behind the net, where Kaprizov picked it up. Kings’ six-game winning streak ends in loss to Minnesota Wild Then, as Doughty dragged him to the ice, Kaprizov muscled his way around the other side of the net and tucked the puck inside the right post.

By PATRICK DONNELLY ASSOCIATED PRESS The 23-year-old left wing leads NHL rookies with 16 points.

FEB. 26, 2021 UPDATED 9:24 PM PT “If he isn’t the top rookie in the league, he’s got to be one of the top two or three,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “This is game six or seven

against him already and every night he’s gotten better.” ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild blitzed the Kings with three LA Times: LOADED: 02.27.2021 goals in a span of just over three minutes in the first period and held on to win 3-1 on Friday night for their fifth straight victory.

Kirill Kaprizov, Nick Bjugstad and Joel Eriksson Ek scored for the Wild, who ended the Kings’ six-game winning streak. Minnesota’s last loss was to the Kings in Los Angeles on Feb. 16. That was Minnesota’s first game back after a two-week layoff due to COVID-19 protocols.

Cam Talbot stopped 27 shots for the Wild, holding the Kings scoreless until Jeff Carter’s goal late in the third period in his first action since Feb. 2.

“It’s a long time to be out,” said Bjugstad, who along with Talbot was one of 15 Wild players who were sidelined with the coronavirus. “Coming back from COVID those first few games are tough. And he came out with lots of energy and lots of confidence.”

Highlights from the Kings’ 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Friday.

Of course, it never hurts when your teammates give you a three-goal lead in the first period.

“It kind of calms you down and takes a little pressure off you to make that next save,” Talbot acknowledged. “I was just trying to go out there, stay focused, put pucks where I want to put them, eat pucks when I could — just try to play as calm as possible and tried to make less work for myself in my first game back.”

Jonathan Quick made 27 saves for the Kings, who were done in by the Wild’s three goals in a 3:03 span.

Minnesota struck first on Kaprizov’s fifth of the year, a sprawling wrap- around goal at 12:33.

Bjugstad doubled the Wild’s lead less than two minutes later after Quick misplayed a puck off the backboards. The carom rolled out to Bjugstad alone in the slot, and he buried a backhander for his 100th career goal.

Barely another minute had elapsed when Eriksson Ek slammed home his own rebound for his team-leading seventh of the season and a 3-0 Wild lead.

Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown, center, celebrates his goal agains the Minnesota Wild.

Elliott: An old veteran and a lot of new faces have the Kings on quite a roll

Carter spoiled the shutout when he crashed the net on a 3-on-2 and muscled the puck past Talbot for his fourth of the year.

The Wild were playing their first home game since Jan. 31. After their season resumed, they played five straight games on the road before returning home for a pair of games against the Kings.

The teams square off again in Minnesota on Saturday night. The Kings hope they can build on the improvements they made after their disastrous start on Friday.

“The last two periods (were) better,” Los Angeles center Anze Kopitar said. “Still not up to our standards, but we stopped the bleeding I guess a little bit. Tomorrow’s a new game and we’re going to have to be much better than we were tonight.”

Face first

Kaprizov has been one of the biggest stories of the season for the Wild, whose fans have been watching videos of his flashy play since the team drafted him out of Russia in 2015. His highlight-reel goal that opened the scoring Friday should only add to the fans’ excitement. 1204130 Los Angeles Kings Brodin and Kaprizov each hit the post in the third period, and the Kings killed an early penalty to avoid an even bigger deficit. The Kings earned two power plays but were unable to convert on either.

Wild’s first-period flurry ends Kings’ 6-game win streak Brodin and his partner Matt Dumba showcased their range all night, activating offensively and hustling on the backcheck as well. The Kings’ top pairing was once again a man short, as left defenseman Mikey Anderson missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury. By ANDREW KNOLL |PUBLISHED: February 26, 2021 at 8:22 p.m. | UPDATED: February 26, 2021 at 8:55 p.m. The Kings did get a goal back with 2:51 left. A slick passing sequence off the rush culminated in Carter’s goal, which deflected in off his foot.

They will be back to work tomorrow in Minnesota, closing out their The Kings’ six-game win streak was the longest in the NHL this season, longest scheduled road trip of the season at six games. with the operative word being “was,” as they stumbled against the Minnesota Wild, 3-1, on Friday night at XCel Energy Center. McLellan said he saw some downward trends in the Kings’ last victory in St. Louis and said that while it was common for a team’s play to languish Minnesota unleashed a combination as potent and varied as any Sugar a bit toward the end of a trip, the Kings could not lean on that as an Ray Leonard ever threw. The Wild got three goals from three different excuse. Kopitar concurred. forward lines in a span of 3 minutes, 3 seconds in the first period, propelling them to their fifth consecutive victory. Minnesota’s last loss “The last two periods have been better. Still not up to our standards. We was to the Kings on Feb. 16 at Staples Center. stopped the bleeding a little bit,” Kopitar said. “Tomorrow’s a new game and we’re going to have to be much better than we were tonight.” Forward Jeff Carter scored the Kings’ only goal late in the third period. Jonathan Quick took his turn between the pipes, making 27 saves. Orange County Register: LOADED: 02.27.2021 Rookie winger Kirill Kaprizov, center Joel Eriksson-Ek and forward Nick Bjugstad scored for Minnesota. Cam Talbot made his first start in goal since Feb. 2, and he showed poise in his return with 27 saves.

“There was a lot of stuff that didn’t go the way we wanted it to go, and it’s all on us,” Kings center Anze Kopitar said. “We didn’t make any plays. Our passing was not very good. Just battles for the puck, they won them.”

Kaprizov flashed a bit of magic early in the first period, weaving and bobbing through defenders to open up a tight seam for his pass to for a prime opportunity. Along with center , the Wild’s second line had been dominant in the previous three games, combining for six goals and 19 points.

The Kings then drew a penalty but did little with the power play. They were being out-shot 6-2 midway through the first, but then briefly tilted the ice in their favor. Then they appeared overmatched for the remainder of the frame, in which they were out-shot 16-7.

At the 12:33 mark, Kaprizov summoned his inner Pavel Datsyuk, another undersized Russian player with immense creativity and strength on the puck, turning in a superb individual effort.

Despite the Kings’ top defenseman Drew Doughty being draped over his back like a cape, Kaprizov fended off checks and protected the puck behind the net. He turned a pass off his backhand to the left point for a shot by defenseman Jonas Brodin. Kaprizov collected one rebound, fired and tracked down another. He cupped the puck on the heel of his stick and used the net to create space for a wraparound goal that he swept in despite Doughty hounding him effortfully.

“We didn’t respond well after the first one,” said Kings coach Todd McLellan, whose team hadn’t trailed in during any of its six consecutive wins. “We hadn’t had that feeling of falling behind in a long time.”

With 5:29 left in the first period, an unfavorable bounce cost the Kings as a dump in ricocheted off the lively end boards and then struck the side of the net, where Quick failed to control it. Bjugstad was zooming toward the goalmouth, and he lifted a backhand shot to stretch the Minnesota advantage to two goals.

A mere 65 seconds later, the Wild tallied again. First, they hit the post, then their imposing top line went to work down low. Eriksson-Ek sent a shot from in tight that Quick turned aside, but then winger Jordan Greenway provided additional traffic for a second shot from the slot that Eriksson-Ek buried for a three-score lead.

The second period saw more hold-your-breath moments from Kaprizov both with his shot and his passing savvy.

“If he isn’t the top rookie in the league, he’s got to be one of the top two or three. This is (our) game six against him and every night he’s gotten better,” McLellan said. “Along the boards and in piles, he’s not the biggest man, but he always seems to roll off and come out.”

Talbot was up to the task of stopping some initial shots and very few second-chance opportunities for the Kings. Talbot’s positioning and rebound control were masterful over the course of the game. 1204131 Los Angeles Kings power play is an indicator of that, and ours really let us down tonight I thought. From a momentum perspective and an execution sense of quickness, being in command, we didn’t have that.

FINAL – KINGS 1, WILD 3 – KOPITAR, MCLELLAN On moving Athanasiou up with Vilardi and Carter midway through the game

I thought Athanasiou was one guy who had some legs tonight. Some of BY ZACH DOOLEY our top guys looked a little sluggish, but I thought he had legs and he was around the puck so we bumped him up a bit. Kempe went down with FEBRUARY 26, 20210 the other line, he’s a guy that we’ve got to get going, I think he has one goal in the last 14 games. He’s such an important player for us, so we’ve got to get him back producing, just so he can take some of the pressure The LA Kings were unable to push their winning streak to seven games, off of some of the other guys, as they fell by a 3-1 margin against the Minnesota Wild on Friday evening at Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota scored three goals in a span On making adjustments for tomorrow, and how he expects the team to of just over three minutes midway through the first period to open up a show up tomorrow lead that the Kings could not overturn throughout the remainder of the Well, I guess it’s important how I expect them to show up, but it’s even game. more important how they expect each other to show up. Let’s face it, Los Angeles finally did break through with a goal late in the third period, a we’re not going to hockey school tonight, we’re not doing anything nice passing play finished by Jeff Carter, but could not get any closer. miraculous that’s going to make us a better team in the next 15-16 hours. We know what’s ahead of us and we just have to play a better game. We Though the start to the game wasn’t necessarily a problem, Todd have to execute when we get the opportunities and just play a better McLellan felt that the team came undone after the Wild got the first goal game than we did tonight. We’ll try to help them, video-wise, give them a of the game, which quickly spiraled into two additional Minnesota goals. few pointers if we can but not much is going to change between now and By the time the Kings caught their breath and stopped the bleeding, then. much of the game had already passed and they were staring down a three-goal deficit that was ultimately too much to overcome. On the message for tomorrow, entering the rematch

Outside of that stretch in the opening frame, the Kings did have some We’re going to do what we always do. The players are going to get some chances, but a lack of sharpness was present throughout the evening. In rest, the coaches are going to look at the game. If there’s a way that we net, Jonathan Quick made 27 saves to keep the team in it, and it would as a staff can help them, tactically or systematically to put them in better be difficult to put too much fault at the hands of the goaltender tonight. spots then we’re going to do that. It often falls off at the end of a road trip. It’s not an excuse at all, I’m not buying it one bit and I’m not going to let The Kings will get another crack at the Wild less than 24 hours from now, the players buy it, but our details in St. Louis weren’t real good and it with a back-to-back set. The rematch is scheduled for 7 PM tomorrow carried over into tonight’s game. When do we get them back, how quick evening in St. Paul. do we get them back, to the point when they become real important again. That’s what we’ll be looking for tomorrow. Hear from Petersen and Todd McLellan after tonight’s game. Notes – Anze Kopitar – Forward Jeff Carter collected his seventh point in the season series On what went wrong in the stretch when Minnesota scored three goals against Minnesota with the team’s lone goal tonight. With two goals and There was a lot of stuff that didn’t go the way we wanted it to go, and it’s five assists from six games this season, Carter leads all scorers on both all on us. We didn’t any plays, our passing was not very good and just sides. The veteran forward also has points in six of his last seven games battles for the puck, they won them. They played in our zone the whole in total. time and scored the goals. – With the primary assist on Carter’s goal, forward Andreas Athanasiou On the chance to get a quick rematch against Minnesota now has points in back-to-back games (1-1-2).

The last two periods were better – still not up to our standards – but – With an assist on Carter’s goal, forward Gabriel Vilardi moved into a tie better. We stopped the bleeding a little bit and tomorrow’s a new game. for sixth in the NHL amongst first-year players with nine points (5-4-9) on We’re going to have to be much better than we were tonight. the season

On what the team did to stop the bleeding, and improve throughout the – After allowing just two first-period goals over their last six games, all game victories, the Kings conceded three goals tonight, in a span of 3:03.

Just make better plays. Passing the puck on the tape, making sure we – The Kings six-game winning streak came to a close, tied for the longest don’t lose coverage, playing less in our zone, and obviously not giving up winning streak by any team in the NHL this season. the goals. It’s going to have to be better, it’s going to take a better effort, The Kings are not scheduled to hold a morning skate tomorrow and will and a better job, on our part tomorrow night. return to action tomorrow evening at 7 PM, in a rematch at Xcel Energy On the team generating some offense in the final 40 minutes Center.

Like I said, from Arizona on, we didn’t make enough plays to put LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.27.2021 ourselves in a position where we can sustain possession in the offensive zone and get the second and third chances, spend more time there.

Todd McLellan

On what it was that tilted the ice Minnesota’s way during that three-goal stretch

Well, we didn’t respond after the first one. They earned it, they created an opportunity, they made a good play behind the net and it was in, but life goes on. We haven’t had that feeling of falling behind in a long time, and I didn’t think we responded well. We had a three-minute lapse, misplayed one off the endboards for the second one and the third one was just a mess in our zone. It took us the rest of that period and pretty much all of the second period to stabilize in the game. I just think our game was getting a little sick in St. Louis, I think I mentioned that after playing there, that our puck decisions weren’t very good. We didn’t handle pucks real well when they were on our tape. Often, I think your 1204132 Los Angeles Kings

GAME THREAD – KINGS @ WILD, 2/26

BY ZACH DOOLEY FEBRUARY 26, 20210

Los Angeles Kings 1, Minnesota Wild 3

FINAL

Game Previews: LA Kings Insider – NHL.com – Minnesota Wild

Fox Sports Live Stream

Pre-Game Live Show (Call-In 877-KINGS20)

SOG: LAK – 28 MIN – 30

PP: LAK – 0/3 MIN – 0/3

First Period

1. MIN – Kirill Kaprizov (5) – (Jonas Brodin, Mats Zuccarello) – 12:33

2. MIN – Nick Bjugstad (3) – (Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon) – 14:31

3. MIN – Joel Eriksson Ek (7) – (Jordan Greenway) – 15:36

Second Period

No Scoring

Third Period

4. LAK – Jeff Carter (4) – (Andreas Athanasiou, Gabriel Vilardi) – 17:10

Los Angeles Kings (9-6-3) vs. Minnesota Wild (10-6-0)

Friday, February 26, 2021 – 5:00 p.m. PT

Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul, MN

Referees: #2 Jon McIsaac, #43 Mitch Dunning

Linesmen: #58 Ryan Gibbons, #82 Ryan Galloway

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

LAK Starters: G Jonathan Quick, D Olli Maatta, Drew Doughty, F Alex Iafallo, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown

LAK Scratches: Mikey Anderson, Matt Luff

MIN Starters: G Cam Talbot, D Jonas Brodin, Matt Dumba, F Jordan Greenway, Joel Eriksson Ek, Kevin Fiala

MIN Scratches: Brad Hunt, Marcus Johansson

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204133 Los Angeles Kings the middle. Right now, both goaltenders are hot and that means a goalie who is playing well is on the bench regardless of which way you shake it.

“They’re both playing well, we know that they’re both important,” 2/26 PREVIEW – ANDERSON UPDATE, GOALIES, WINNING STREAK McLellan said. “As much as I think some of our media wanted to stir BATTLE, BJORNFOT & IAFALLO some stuff early with the goalies, we understood that they were both going to be important, they’re both capable of playing and they’re both going to play a lot. When you explain it to them that way, they understand it a lot more clearly than maybe the outside world would like it to be. BY ZACH DOOLEY There’s a lesson for all of us there, clarify what you need to clarify within FEBRUARY 26, 20210 our walls and don’t worry what’s happening outside these walls.”

Considering the back-to-back, we will likely see both goaltenders once over the next two days. WHO: Los Angeles Kings (9-6-3) vs. Minnesota Wild (10-6-0) If Jonathan Quick goes tonight, he is coming off a 28-save shutout of the WHAT: NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME Wild last time out against Minnesota, the second win on the current Los Angeles streak. Over his last three starts, Quick has made 81 saves on WHEN: Friday, February 26 @ 5:00 PM Pacific 83 shots faced, with three victories and two shutouts. Throughout his WHERE: Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul, MN NHL career, Quick is 15-9-7 against Minnesota, with a .900 save percentage and a 2.65 goal against average. HOW TO FOLLOW: Video: Fox Sports West – AUDIO – iHeart Radio If it is in fact Cal Petersen, he takes the net for his second start of the – TWITTER: @DooleyLAK season against the Wild. Petersen’s first outing was a dazzling, 32-save TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The LA Kings have reached the final destination effort here at Xcel Energy Center, in a 2-1 Kings victory. Lifetime against of their season-long, six-game road trip in Minnesota. The Kings and Minnesota, Petersen is 2-0-0 with a .934 save percentage and a 2.00 Wild will faceoff twice in 48 hours, beginning this evening at Xcel Energy goals against average. Following his win in St. Louis, Petersen bolstered Center. his save percentage on the season to .931, which is the sixth-best in the NHL. HEAD-TO-HEAD: Kings forward Jeff Carter has led all scorers with six points (1-5-6) from the first five head-to-head matchups this season WILD VITALS: After the Wild were shutout at STAPLES Center on against the Wild. Forward Anze Kopitar has five assists across those February 16, with a depleted lineup, they have rattled off four straight games, while forward Dustin Brown has three goals. More on Brown’s victories, including three in a row with at least five goals scored. recent goal-scoring prowess here. In total, 18 different Los Angeles Minnesota has been led by the line of Kirill Kaprizov – Victor Rask – Mats players have collected at least one point against Minnesota so far this Zuccarello, who have combined to amass 19 points over the last three season. On the Wild front, Kirill Kaprizov (2-2-4) and Jordan Greenway games since they’ve been placed together. (0-4-4) have led the way with four points apiece, while forward Joel Since the Wild returned to action earlier this month in Los Angeles, Eriksson Ek has three goals from five games played. following two weeks off with the team having multiple players in the KINGS VITALS: After a team travel day yesterday, on which the Kings NHL’s COVID-19 Protocol, goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen has started all did not skate, the team returned to the ice for a full morning skate today five games, with a 4-1-0 record, but we could expect to see goaltender in Minnesota. The entire team was on the ice this morning, including Cam Talbot this evening for the Wild. defenseman Mikey Anderson, who missed Wednesday’s win in St. Louis Talbot is 2-0-0 against the Kings so far this season, as he won both with a lower-body injury. Anderson was deemed day-to-day on Wednesday, and you can consider him a game-time decision for tonight’s games in the season-opening series back in mid-January. Talbot, who game in his home state of Minnesota. holds a 3-2-0 record this season, has not played since February 2 in Colorado. In his NHL career, Alabama-Huntsville’s most famous alum is “The decision that we, and the training staff, have to make is if he goes 9-9-0 against the Kings, with a .910 save percentage and a 2.81 goals in, can he finish the night,” Todd McLellan said this morning. “We’re against average. talking about playing six periods in a 24-hour timeframe, at the backend of an 11-day road trip. You need fresh bodies, and they need to be fresh Per Sarah McLellan of the Star Tribune, the Wild are not expected to physically and mentally. I think the mental part he’ll have, but if he goes make any lineup changes, minus Talbot returning between the pipes. Here’s how Minnesota lined up last time out against Colorado. in and can’t finish, because he takes a big hit, and he’s out three minutes into the game, that not only hurts us for today, but it also affects us Jordan Greenway – Joel Eriksson Ek – Kevin Fiala tomorrow.” Kirill Kaprizov – Victor Rask – Mats Zuccarello Lineup projections with this team seem to get harder and harder – The Kings have won six straight games, with six different lineups. For – Ryan Hartman – Marcus Foligno reference, here’s how the Kings lined up last time out – Nico Sturm – Nick Bonino – Nick Bjugstad Iafallo – Kopitar – Brown Ryan Suter – Jared Spurgeon Kempe – Vilardi – Carter Jonas Brodin – Matt Dumba Grundstrom – Lizotte – Moore Carson Soucy – Ian Cole Athanasiou – Amadio – Wagner Cam Talbot Maatta – Doughty Kaapo Kahkonen Bjornfot – Roy Something’s Got To Give MacDermid – Walker Tonight’s game is a battle between the first and third longest active Quick / Petersen winning streaks in the NHL.

On the current seven-game point streak, Cal Petersen and Jonathan The Kings have won six-straight games, the longest current streak Quick have combined to stop 202 of the 212 shots thrown their way, across the league, tied for the longest streak in the NHL this season with allowing just ten goals in the process. That save percentage amounts to Tampa Bay, who won six straight from 1/30 – 2/9. With a win tonight, the .953, meaning that the coaching staff has a difficult decision to make Kings could post a seven-game winning streak in consecutive seasons each night, because he’s sitting an incredibly hot goalie no matter how for the third time in franchise history, joining 1990-91 – 1991-92 & 2013- you slice it. 14 – 2015-16.

McLellan talked this morning about how it’s never easy to tell one of the Minnesota, on the other hand, trails only Los Angeles and Edmonton two that they aren’t playing, whether they’re hot, cold or somewhere in (five games) with a four-game run of their own. The Wild have scored 20 goals in their four-straight wins, including six goals apiece in each of their last two games played. The last Minnesota four-game winning streak was a part of five consecutive wins from 11/26 – 12/5 during last season.

Just one of the two streaks can continue tonight.

Bjorn To Run

Defenseman Tobias Bjornfot has continued to earn his spot on the Kings blueline.

Bjornfot entered in Game 1 of the team’s current winning streak, on a night when Matt Roy and Sean Walker were both still out of the lineup due to injury. Both players have returned, others are healthy and available to play, but to date, Bjornfot has retained his place amongst the six blueliners in the lineup every night.

To his credit, Bjornfot said this morning that he hasn’t let that really affect his game or his mindset. He’s put his entire emphasis on playing his own game, not letting decisions of others, or outside ramifications, affect his day-to-day preparation.

His head coach has seen a much more confident player in his second NHL go-around, and that has led to improved performance.

“I think he’s come a significant distance,” McLellan said of Bjornfot. “Is he a better skater, passer, shooter, I think all of those things improve with age and time, but [he has] a much better understanding of what it’s like to play in North America full-time. He’s been able to take his learning experience from last year, grow on it, and now come back and give us some real good nights.”

Sometimes, you need to stop and reflect on the fact that he’s still a 19- year-old who still has single-digit NHL games played in his young career. Bjornfot has skated alongside Roy ever since he returned to the lineup, on a pairing with two steady and consistent players.

Roy has had several partners in his time with the Kings but has certainly enjoyed his time playing with Bjornfot.

“Toby is great,” Roy said. “He’s pretty reliable and I think I know where he is on the ice a lot, so it makes making plays a lot easier. He’s stepped in nicely, and it’s been fun to play with him.”

The Upplands Vasby, Sweden native has taken to playing with Roy as well in his time so far, a five-game sample size now. He has felt that both he and Roy are easy to play with, which makes it work well when they play together.

“I think Royzie, he’s steady, he’s easy to play with,” Bjornfot said. “I think I’m easy to play with too, so we’ve come along together pretty well from the start.”

The Ever-Consistent Alex Iafallo

Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown have garnered most of the accolades amongst Kings forwards, and rightfully so, as both players have had tremendous seasons to date. However, you can’t discuss that line without also mentioning the solid season that its third member, forward Alex Iafallo, is having as well.

#19 in black and white is as consistent as they come. Iafallo collected what turned out to be an assist on Wednesday in St. Louis, changed from a goal after the game, and has eight points (3-5-8) over his last seven games played. Iafallo ranks third on the Kings with 13 points (5-8-13) on the season, behind just Kopitar and Brown amongst forwards, and provides a good compliment to those players on the team’s top line.

Few players on the roster bring the night-in, night-out game that Iafallo does. He isn’t the flashiest player in the NHL, but he brings a good combination of skill and work ethic that have proven to be a good fit with the Kopitar – Brown duo.

From a possession standpoint, no player has been on the ice for a higher percentage of shot attempts for than Iafallo, with the Kings controlling just shy of 54% while he’s on the ice. Outside of Matt Luff, who has played in just five games, Iafallo also holds the team’s highest CF% relative to his teammates, a good sign that when he is on the ice, the puck has been the offensive end.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204134 Minnesota Wild Evason said he was cautious of a letdown in the team's first game back in St. Paul, challenging his players to show up ready to play rather than feeling their way into the game.

Wild's streak reaches five games with 3-1 win over Los Angeles Kings And that's exactly what happened.

"We were talking before the game started about coming out with good energy, having a good focus," defenseman Ryan Suter said, "and the By Sarah McLellan FEBRUARY 26, 2021 — 11:28PM first period was the result of that good energy and focus."

Star Tribune LOADED: 02.27.2021 Three goals used to be a boon for the Wild.

Not by today's standards.

The trim total wasn't as splashy as recent tallies, but the 3-1 triumph over the Kings on Friday at Xcel Energy Center was just as effective — extending the team's winning streak to a season-long five games while handing Los Angeles its first loss in seven games.

"It was a great game more towards our identity," goalie Cam Talbot said. "We know we're not going to score six goals every night, but we're comfortable in these 3-1 games as well."

Talbot was almost unbeatable in his first start since Feb. 2 following an absence caused by the NHL's COVID protocols, picking up 27 saves. In front of him, the Wild offense used a three-goal surge on three straight shots in 3 minutes, 3 seconds to put the game out of reach.

First up was — who else? — rookie Kirill Kaprizov with one of the most impressive goals of his young NHL career at 12:33 of the first period.

After his initial shot hit the side of the net, Kaprizov scooped up the rebound, veered around the goal and then wrapped the puck behind Kings goalie Jonathan Quick from his knees, after falling as he was being chased by defender Drew Doughty.

"His separation from people is clearly special," coach Dean Evason said. "Combine that with his attitude, his team-first mentality, it's exciting for us as an organization."

The finish moved Kaprizov's career-high point streak to four games, during which he has two goals and five assists. Overall, his 16 points pace the Wild and all NHL rookies.

With an assist on the goal, Kaprizov's linemate Mats Zuccarello has 10 points during a five-game point streak, which is the longest by a Wild player this season. And their line with center Victor Rask is up to 21 points in the past four games.

"It seems like Zuccarello came into the lineup, he brought his swagger in with it and we all kind of followed," Nick Bjugstad said.

Only 58 seconds after Kaprizov's goal, Bjugstad buried the puck after it bounced out into the slot off the end boards for the 100th goal of his career.

And at 15:36, center Joel Eriksson Ek capped off the barrage with his team-leading seventh goal, a shot he fired past Quick after previously hitting the post. Eriksson Ek is already one goal shy of matching his career high of eight from last season.

Quick finished with 27 saves.

BOXSCORE: Wild 3, Los Angeles 1

Ultimately, nine different Wild players registered a point, and the team has scored 23 times during its winning streak — which Talbot preserved late in the third period when the Kings applied their best pressure. Not until 2:50 remained did Los Angeles wreck his shutout bid, on a redirect by Jeff Carter.

"No one wants to come in and kill a streak like that, especially when you haven't played in a while," Talbot said.

The Wild's run started after the team stumbled 4-0 at Los Angeles on Feb. 16, the Wild's first game back from a COVID-19 shutdown. The lineup was much different back then than it is now, with taxi-squad players and call-ups filling in the holes caused by the players sidelined on the COVID list.

But as the Wild's health improved, so did its results.

The team swept the Ducks before overwhelming the Sharks and Avalanche by 6-2 scores to go 4-1 on a five-game road trip. 1204135 Minnesota Wild previous homestand. Aside from family and friends of players and Wild employees, some season-ticket holders took in the action from the club level. Around 40 fans are also expected for Saturday's game.

Wild notes: Matt Dumba to launch inaugural camp aimed at diversity Injury update during Hockey Day Minnesota Forward Marcus Johansson sat out a fourth straight game with an upper- body injury.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune FEBRUARY 27, 2021 — 12:24AM Goalie Alex Stalock, who's out indefinitely with an upper-body injury, skated with the taxi squad Friday morning. Evason described it as a progression for Stalock. "He's excited about getting some live pucks," Evason said. Matt Dumba fell in love with hockey playing outdoors, and he's giving others the chance to do the same. Star Tribune LOADED: 02.27.2021 The Wild defenseman is launching the inaugural Matt Dumba Hockey Without Limits Camp on Saturday at the Guidant John Rose MN OVAL as part of Hockey Day Minnesota 2021.

Youth players from the Herb Brooks Foundation, the Hendrickson Foundation and New Directions Youth Ministry will take part in the event created by Dumba to bring more diversity and inclusion to the game.

"It's just an awesome opportunity for the kids who don't necessarily get this opportunity to come to a hockey camp like this," Dumba said. "Make some memories [and] make some new friendships."

Dumba started working on the concept in September after he became synonymous with hockey's social justice movement, helping form the Hockey Diversity Alliance to eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey. He went on to win the NHL's King Clancy Trophy for his leadership qualities and contributions to the community.

With the Wild in action Saturday against the Kings at Xcel Energy Center, Dumba won't be able to make an appearance at the camp. But the attendees will see a message from Dumba, and Dumba wants to connect with them afterward. About 40 children from each of the three groups are expected to participate.

"It will be super cool to see just the diversity amongst our group — white, Black, Hispanic kids, inner-city kids," he said.

"That's where you can make the most change for the next generation of young hockey players, young leaders in our game. Having a camp like mine with as much inclusivity and diversity involved in it as there's going to be is something special, something hockey's really never seen before."

Talbot starts

Cam Talbot returned to action Friday for the first time since getting cleared from the NHL's COVID protocols last week.

Even after Talbot rejoined the team on its recent road trip, backup Kaapo Kahkonen continued to get the nod in net. Kahkonen ended up making five consecutive starts and backstopping the Wild to four straight wins.

This was Talbot's first appearance since Feb. 2 at Colorado.

"It's a great thing for a coaching staff when you can have that decision be the tough one," coach Dean Evason said.

Celebration time

The most excited the Wild has been all season, Evason said, was when rookie Nico Sturm scored his first regular-season goal Wednesday in the 6-2 rout at Colorado.

"The most exciting part was seeing how happy all the other guys were for me," said Sturm, whose first goal in the NHL came in the playoffs last season.

Sturm's empty-net goal gave him only two points this season, but he has helped the Wild plenty as a checker and penalty killer.

"To be on the fourth line and play 10-12 minutes, those got to be the 10- 12 hardest minutes that I can play and I actually feel really comfortable doing it," said Sturm, who feels "pretty much back to normal" after having COVID-19 earlier this month. "The coaching staff sees that I'm comfortable in this role as well and I'm actually having a positive impact on the team."

Fans in the building

The Wild welcomed about 40 fans to Xcel Energy Center on Friday after Gov. Tim Walz scaled back crowd restrictions earlier this month, increasing the limit of attendees to 250 from 150 during the team's 1204136 Minnesota Wild Star Tribune LOADED: 02.27.2021

Cam Talbot back in net for Wild's return home against Kings

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune FEBRUARY 26, 2021 — 11:14AM

Cam Talbot will be back in net for the Wild Friday against the Kings at Xcel Energy Center in the team's return home from a successful five- game road trip.

This will be Talbot's first start since clearing the NHL's COVID protocols last week.

Backup Kaapo Kahkonen handled every game on the recent trip, helping the Wild go on a 4-1 run.

Talbot last played Feb.2, a 2-1 loss at Colorado in which he made 29 saves.

"It's his turn to go," coach Dean Evason said.

That'll be the only lineup change for the Wild, as forward Marcus Johansson remains out with an upper-body injury.

The last time the Wild and Kings faced off was the Wild's first game back from a COVID-19 shutdown, a 4-0 loss Feb.16 in Los Angeles.

Not only has the Wild improved since then, getting its roster healthy and scoring 20 goals during its season-long four-game win streak, but the Kings are rolling, too.

They've won six in a row.

"Trip's over," Evason said. "Yeah, we had a good road trip. So what? It's behind us. We talked to the group this morning already about the drop of the puck tonight. For whatever reason, the first game back after a road trip there seems to be a lull. If coaches could figure it out, we'd know why. If players could figure it out, it would never happen.

"We've challenged the guys to get ready when they get here – not after warm-up, not after the first period [but] when that puck's dropped. We've talked, and they're going to talk about being prepared to play as soon as that puck is dropped."

Projected lineup:

Jordan Greenway-Joel Eriksson Ek-Kevin Fiala

Kirill Kaprizov-Victor Rask-Mats Zuccarello

Zach Parise-Ryan Hartman-Marcus Foligno

Nico Sturm-Nick Bonino-Nick Bjugstad

Ryan Suter-Jared Spurgeon

Jonas Brodin-Matt Dumba

Carson Soucy-Ian Cole

Cam Talbot

Key numbers:

3: Goals or more from the Wild in 11 of its 16 games this season.

.920: Save percentage for Talbot through six games.

6: Points for rookie Kirill Kaprizov during a three-game point streak.

3-3: Record for the Wild at home.

4: Points for winger Jordan Greenway against the Kings already this season.

About the Kings:

Not only have the Kings won a season-high six straight games, but they're also on a seven-game point streak. Los Angeles has been winning close games, with its most recent victory a 1-0 decision over St. Louis on Wednesday. But the team has also cruised by its opponents during this run – with 4-0 and 3-0 wins also included on the streak. Most of the Kings' recent success has come on the road. Overall, the Kings are 6-4 away from Staples Center this season. 1204137 Minnesota Wild Payne, who had a long history of being against fighting, told the Star Tribune that if the league wasn't going to protect players, they had to take things into their own hands.

40 years ago, the meek, mild, Minnesota North Stars started the greatest "I don't know how proud of this whole thing we are," he said. "But it got to brawl in NHL history the point where we're fed up with everybody pushing us around all the time.

"Did we have to make this stand? I guess." By Jeff Day FEBRUARY 26, 2021 — 9:39PM If the goal of the fight was to establish a new attitude and image around the team, even just internally, it worked.

Forty years ago today, the Minnesota North Stars started the greatest Gilbert wrote: brawl in NHL history. "Trainer Doc Rose, a sly grin on his face, said, 'That's the first time in the On Feb. 26, 1981, they headed into Boston Garden to face the Bruins in history of our organization that I've seen our team make a total stand — an arena where they were winless in 34 straight games. It took seven where everybody made a stand. That will probably make our team.' " seconds to realize that no matter the outcome, the North Stars were done being run over. Rose was right.

After the dust settled, the Minneapolis Tribune ran the story of the melee The North Stars would reach the playoffs with a 35-28-17 record. Their on the front page of the Feb. 27 edition and staff writer John Gilbert first round opponent? summed things up thusly: The Bruins. "It happened at 0:07 of the first period. Bobby Smith and Steve Payne, Game 1 was a return to Boston Garden. the two North Stars most determined to play artistic hockey, fought back, against Steve Kasper and Keith Crowder. Gilbert reported that before the game, a "so-called psychic" had written Sonmor to tell him that, "she had envisioned the North Stars winning in "It happened over and over, the Bruins shoved, the North Stars reacted. Boston Garden, but it was with Sonmor — who has a glass eye from an Fights, lots of them. The first period took an hour and 31 minutes. The old hockey injury — wearing an eye patch." game took 3 hours and 22 minutes. The Star Tribune boxscore gives some idea of the massive amount of "And the North Stars, the meek, mild, easily intimidated North Stars, now penalties handed out between the North Stars and Bruins on Feb. 27, lead the NHL in the following categories: most penalties one team, one 1981. game — 42; most penalty-minutes, one team, one game — 211; and, most penalties, one team, one period — 34. The psychic, if she existed, was not found.

"The North Stars share the league record with the Bruins for the game's But the prophesy was fulfilled, minus the eye patch, with a 5-4 win in 81 penalties and the game's 406 penalty-minutes, and for the 80 total overtime. penalties in the first period." 14 years of futility, done. And while the North Stars lost the game 5-1, moving their winless streak at Boston Garden to 0-28-7 over 35 games — covering 14 years — Kevin McHale, the former Gophers star and Hibbing native, was in several coaches and players said that the brawl was about defining the attendance during his rookie season with the Celtics. heart of the team going forward in a league that viewed them as weak. "I'm working in Boston now," McHale told Gilbert, "but I'm a North Stars "Proud?" North Stars head coach Glen Sonmor said after the game. fan all the way. I was clapping and somebody doused me with a beer "You're right I'm proud. We made a stand." from upstairs. I thought, so what? It was worth it.

He added, "We're through taking the cheap shots. We're going to react "I'll be here for the fifth game, next Tuesday," he added. "On second immediately, and as often as necessary." thought, I hope it doesn't take the North Stars until the fifth game to win it." The record for penalty minutes in a game stood until 2004, with Ottawa and Philadelphia combined for 419 minutes in their fight-filled game. Another prophesy fulfilled.

Sonmor nearly got into a fight with Bruins head coach Gerry Cheevers The North Star would sweep the Bruins in three games, outscoring them after the game and told the Star Tribune that if Cheevers wanted to 20-13 with Payne tallying 10 points. discuss things further he could find Sonmor the following week when the Eventually they reached the Stanley Cup Final, one of two in franchise two teams played again, this time in Bloomington. history, before losing to the New York Islanders 4-1.

"Cheevers said something about the heart of one of our guys at the end And to think it all started with a little scrap. of the game. I almost got to him," Sonmor said. "And I'll tell you one thing you can tell Cheevers. If he wants to check the heart of anyone in our Star Tribune LOADED: 02.27.2021 organization, he can come on down before the game to that little room between the two dressing rooms at Met Center next week and we'll discuss it."

After the game, Sonmor was accosted by a fan and got into a fight that cops had to breakup, leading to a photo of Sonmor, in a suit and tie, winding up to punch the assailant.

The on-ice brawl led to 12 game-misconduct penalties for fighting, the boxscore on the scoreboard page in the Star Tribune read like a short story.

Perhaps the most crucial moment in the brawl came when Keith Crowder of the Bruins threw a punch at North Stars defenseman Greg Smith as Smith was walking towards the dressing room at 8:58 in the first period.

The corridor to the dressing room was between the Bruins bench and the Bruins penalty-box. The North Stars bench emptied and a 35-minute delay followed. 1204138 Minnesota Wild Carter not scored late in the third period to finalize the score at 3-1. It was still a good performance from Talbot as he finished with 27 saves to keep the winning streak going.

Kirill Kaprizov sparks Wild as winning streak reaches five games “No one wants to come in and kill a winning streak like that,” Talbot said with a laugh. “My biggest thing tonight was go out there and give us a chance. That was my focus tonight. I was able to make a few saves early, get myself into it, and guys did a great job of locking it down.” By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: February 26, 2021 at 9:32 p.m. | UPDATED: February 26, 2021 at 10:50 p.m. Pioneer Press LOADED: 02.27.2021

Wild coach Dean Evason gathered his team at center ice midway through Friday’s morning skate at Xcel Energy Center. His message was clear on the heels of a successful road trip in which the Wild finished 4-1- 0.

“We had a good road trip. So what?” Evason said. “It’s behind us. We talked to the group this morning about the drop of the puck tonight. For whatever reason, the first game back after a road trip there seems to be a lull.”

That’s something Evason wanted to avoid, especially against the Los Angeles Kings, who entered the night even hotter than the Wild.

If the overall effort in Friday’s dominant 3-1 win was any indication, the Wild heard the message loud and clear. More specifically, rookie Kirill Kaprizov heard the message loud and clear.

As solid as the Wild were as a collective on this particular night, Kaprizov was once again the straw that stirs the drink. He singlehandedly got things rolling with his effort early in the game and that carried the Wild the rest of the way as they stretched their winning streak to five games.

“Sometimes you need a little wake-up call in the morning,” said Nick Bjugstad, who admitted the team lacked energy during morning skate. “I look at that as a good thing that happened this morning. We all took the message from Dean, and I think the legs were there tonight, thankfully. It was a good all-around win.”

It started in the first period as Kaprizov dominated play for about 10 minutes, then broke through with an incredible individual effort to make it 1-0.

He started the sequence by winning a board battle against star defenseman Drew Doughty, then feathered the puck to Jonas Brodin. Though goaltender Jonathan Quick steered away an initial shot from the point, Kaprizov fired the rebound off the side of the net, then collected the loose puck and buried a wraparound goal.

It was another highlight-reel sequence from Kaprizov, the Calder Trophy frontrunner, who leads all NHL rookies with 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists).

Not that Evason was interested in talking much about Kaprizov postgame. He prefers to keep the focus on the team as a whole.

“Honestly, we’ve had different lines and different people every night,” Evason said. “I think on any given night we feel like someone else is going to step up. It’s not like we’re waiting for somebody to generate the offense. The group is generating the offense.”

Nonetheless, the highlight-reel sequence seemed to spark something in the Wild late in the first period, and they skated circles around the Kings for the rest of the way. Not long after Kaprizov scored, Bjugstad stretched the lead to 2-0 after a wonky bounce off the boards, and Joel Eriksson Ek made it 3-0 shortly after that.

It was as dominant as the Wild have looked in a very long time, and the Kings breathed a collective sigh of relief when the buzzer mercifully saved them from the onslaught.

“We thought our offensive game was real good,” Evason said. “We had a lot of sustained time down there and a lot of movement. We liked that clearly we were able to roll the lines, and we got everybody involved in that area.”

That big cushion was important for the Wild with goaltender Cam Talbot making his first start in nearly a month. It also helped that the Wild defended solidly in front of Talbot as the Kings finally started to gain their footing in the second period.

While there was some noticeable rust early on, Talbot found his groove as the game wore on, and he actually would’ve had a shutout had Jeff 1204139 Minnesota Wild

Wild’s Matt Dumba focuses on diversity with inaugural hockey camp

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: February 26, 2021 at 3:49 p.m. | UPDATED: February 26, 2021 at 3:50 p.m.

Wild star Matt Dumba remembers feeling out of place as a kid whenever he stepped onto a hockey rink. Nobody looked like him and some kids made sure he knew that he didn’t look like anybody else.

While the 26-year-old defenseman got very good at being the bigger person, and has gone on to play the sport at the highest level, he doesn’t want other kids to have to go through what he did.

That’s why he has been so vocal about fighting racism in the sport throughout his career. That’s also why he is hosting the inaugural Hockey Without Limits Camp on Saturday at the Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval in Roseville.

The hockey camp is designed to bring more diversity and inclusion to the game and provide more children the opportunity to play the sport. There will be three separate groups this weekend with youth hockey players from The Herb Brooks Foundation, The Hendrickson Foundation and New Directions Youth Ministry.

It’s something Dumba has been thinking about since last summer. The wheels really started to turn about six months ago and Dumba has been in constant communication with Wild media relations director Aaron Sickman as well as Minnesota Hockey throughout the planning process.

“It’s nice that it can come to fruition on a day like tomorrow: Hockey Day Minnesota,” Dumba said. “It’s always a special day here in the state, so I think it’s an awesome opportunity for the kids who don’t necessarily get this opportunity, to come to a hockey camp like this.”

The thing that excites Dumba is that the kids attending come from so many different backgrounds. He knows how important representation is, and kids seeing other kids that look like them has the ability to grow the game at a grassroots level.

“That’s where we can make the most change for the next generation of young hockey players,” Dumba said. “I think having a camp like mine with as much inclusivity and diversity involved in it as there’s going to be tomorrow is something special and something hockey’s really never seen before.”

Unfortunately for Dumba, he won’t be able to attend the actual hockey camp. He will be at morning skate in St. Paul as the Wild prepare for a 7 p.m. game against the Los Angeles Kings at Xcel Energy Center.

“We have a message that they will be able to see from me,” Dumba said. “And I want to connect with them as much as I can afterwards.”

If everything goes according to plan, this will be an annual event. That means Dumba will have more chances to attend in the future.

“I really like that it’s outdoors,” Dumba said. “I know that’s where I first fell in love with the game. I hope these kids get a little bit of that.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204140 Minnesota Wild In 12 periods since being put together last week in Anaheim, the Kaprizov-Rask-Zuccarello line has compiled 21 points and is a big reason for the Wild’s 20 goals in the past four games.

Dean Evason’s bark at morning skate gives Wild some bite in win over “Ever since it seems like Zuccarello came into the lineup, he brought his Kings swagger in with it, and we all kind of followed,” Bjugstad said of the former Rangers playmaker, who has played six games since returning from offseason arm surgery. “It’s a lot more fun when you’re creating offense and everyone’s kind of feeling it. … This is a good Los Angeles By Michael Russo Feb 26, 2021 team, so it’s hard to put up goals against them.”

The Kings entered the game with six consecutive wins, a plus-14 goal Maybe the Wild really were sloppy and heavy-legged. differential and a power play humming at 33.3 percent during that span. But the Wild defended well, had the puck for much of the night and held Or, probably more accurately, perhaps Friday’s stoppage of the Wild’s the Kings to one late goal and three scoreless power plays. pregame skate was an orchestrated, preemptive strike by a savvy coach who could have been presented with an Academy Award after his Bjugstad, the Blaine, Minn., native, took advantage of a nice bounce off allegedly incensed tongue-lashing. the end boards to score his 100th career goal, then the relentless Eriksson Ek, whose line with Jordan Greenway and Kevin Fiala had a Dean Evason has played and coached hockey for a long time, and he fantastic first period and night overall, scored his team-leading seventh still doesn’t understand why teams often return home from a long trip goal 1:05 later. only to lay an egg. The Wild (11-6), who have the second-best points percentage in the So Friday morning, midway through the Wild’s skate, the coach blew his West Division (.647), catapulted to second in the division with 22 points. whistle, ordered each of his players, even the goalies, to center ice and They’re one point behind Vegas, which hosts the Wild on Monday and unleashed a fury about getting their act together and not arriving for their Wednesday. game against the red-hot Los Angeles Kings proverbially late. The three first-period goals were exactly what the doctor ordered for The Wild were coming off a 4-1 trip, but as Evason told reporters after Talbot, who hadn’t played in 3 1/2 weeks, watching as rookie Kaapo Friday’s morning skate, “Trip’s over. Yeah, we had a good road trip. So Kahkonen backstopped the Wild to four consecutive wins after the team’s what? It’s behind us. We talked to the group this morning already about escape from the COVID-19 shutdown. the drop of the puck tonight. For whatever reason, the first game back after a road trip there seems to be a lull. We’ve challenged the guys to On Feb. 9, with the Wild already paused due to 15 players eventually get ready when they get here, not after warmup, not after the first period, contracting the coronavirus, Talbot entered the NHL protocol himself. when that puck’s dropped.” He said he was asymptomatic the entire time, but out of an abundance of Hours later, the Wild played the first period like they were shot out of a caution for his wife and two children, Talbot lived in a hotel for a week cannon. Playing for the first time at Xcel Energy Center since Jan. 31, and abided by NHL protocols of isolation and no exercise. He rejoined partly because of their two-week shutdown because of COVID-19, the the team on the last road trip and worked hard to get back into game Wild scored three first-period goals (and honestly, it could have been shape on and off the ice. He was ready to start in Denver on Wednesday eight had it not been for Jonathan Quick’s fine play and a lot of help from night, but with Kahkonen playing so well, Talbot took a back seat for one his goalposts) and rode that exhilarating, fast-paced opening 20 minutes more game. to a well-earned 3-1 victory and their fifth consecutive win. But on the front end of a back-to-back against the Kings, Evason chose Cam Talbot, who was 2:50 from recording his first shutout with the Wild, to give Talbot the start over Kahkonen, probably in part so he could play made 27 saves in his first action since Feb. 2. He said the Wild got a behind a fresher team than the one that might be on the ice Saturday well-deserved “kick in the butt” from their coach. Added Nick Bjugstad, night in the back half of the back-to-back. who scored the winning goal, “Sometimes you need a little wake-up call Talbot was bound to be rusty, but the Wild’s offensive onslaught took a in the morning. You (come off) a long flight, you get in late and you’re lot of pressure off their No. 1 goalie. The Wild were simply flying, looking playing the next day, sometimes you’re not going to have your legs. So I as fast as they have all season long as their legs motored and passes look at that as a good thing that happened this morning. We all took the were on the tape. The number of high cycles and seeing-eye passes, message from Deaner, and I think the legs were there tonight, along with good puck movement and plentiful scoring chances, was thankfully.” impressive. 2-0 ON A WEIRD BOUNCE AND NICK BJUGSTAD ROOFS IT ON THE Talbot was thankful. BACKHAND! PIC.TWITTER.COM/OQIGV6XC5A “It took me a little bit to get my legs under me,” Talbot said. “But I think — HOCKEY WILDERNESS (@HOCKEYWILDERNES) FEBRUARY 27, that’s going to happen anytime you take 23, 24 days off. … No one wants 2021 to come in and kill a streak like (Kahkonen was on), especially when you Evason was asked after the game if he choreographed Friday morning’s haven’t played in a while. wrath, and his cunning grin was confirmation enough that he indeed did. “I was able to make a few saves early, get myself into it, and guys did a Evason said he and the coaching staff discussed reminding Wild players great job of locking it down. It was a great game more toward our identity. about the long-road-trip blues later that afternoon before the game. But We know we’re not going to score six goals every night, but we’re Evason audibled and decided to do it right then and there in the morning. comfortable in these 3-1 games as well.”

“Why wait until tonight?” he said. Kahkonen is 7-4 with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. Talbot is 4-2 with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .926 The Wild got the message and played a tremendous first period, led by save percentage. rookie leading scorer — let’s call him “Special K” – Kirill Kaprizov and the usual suspects, the Kaprizov-Victor Rask-Mats Zuccarello line. That combined .920 save percentage, to go along with the calmness the Wild have been getting from both goalies, is one of the biggest reasons The scorching-hot trio buzzed all period long, and the Wild scored three for the Wild’s early-season success. goals — by Kaprizov, Bjugstad and Joel Erikkson Ek — in a 3:03 span to take a stranglehold on the game. “I don’t know actually what it’s like to be a goalie, but I do know coming back from COVID those first few games are tough,” Bjugstad said of Kaprizov, targeted all game once more by longtime Kings star Talbot. “And he came out with lots of energy and lots of confidence. So defenseman Drew Doughty, scored on a falling wraparound with Doughty having him and Kaapo in between the nets, it’s fun to play for them.” draped on top of him. It was Kaprizov’s sixth point in six games this season against the Kings, with Zuccarello picking up his 10th point in the Kaprizov now leads the Wild and all NHL rookies with 16 points, and he’s past five games. That’s tied with Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston soaring with confidence. He was deking and dodging defenders all game Matthews for the most points in the NHL since Feb. 18. long, and his work ethic really shone throughout. “If he isn’t the top rookie in the league, he’s going to be one of the top Evason said the Wild will evaluate Stalock daily. He’ll need a lot of time two or three,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “This is Game 6 against on the ice. If he continues to progress, he would likely start in Iowa on a him already, and every night he’s gotten better. I think his line is very conditioning stint. good right now; they complement each other. For me, I just see him along the boards, and he’s not the biggest man, but he always seems to If the Wild are healthy in goal, it’ll be interesting to see what the team roll off and come out. He’s a very slippery player.” decides to do.

The Wild are getting contributions up and down their lineup. In Anaheim, Kahkonen was originally supposed to start the season in Iowa or on the Fiala led the Wild. In recent games, it has been the Rask and Zach taxi squad before Stalock’s issue cropped up. But Kahkonen has been Parise-Ryan Hartman-Marcus Foligno lines. But in the past two games, one of the NHL’s top rookie goaltenders, so the Wild may end up carrying even the fourth line of Nico Sturm-Nick Bonino-Bjugstad has come three goalies on the active roster or perhaps even place Stalock on through with three goals. waivers to assign him to the taxi squad.

“Sturmy’s, he’s a workhorse and he can make plays, and you know he’s • Sturm on scoring his first two NHL regular-season goals Wednesday in gonna grind it down low,” Bjugstad said. “Then you’ve got Bones, who’s Denver: “I told somebody yesterday I think the most exciting part was an experienced centerman, so it’s a good little combination. We’re seeing how happy all the other guys were for me. That was honestly the playing in the offensive zone as a unit. Being hard on those pucks, it’s best part for me.” kind of redundant, but that’s how you create offensive-zone time and • Marcus Johansson (upper body) missed his fourth game in a row. His make it hard on their defensemen and create chances.” status is day-to-day, Evason said.

The Wild got outstanding minutes from their own six defensemen, who • After allowing the Wild to have only 150 people at home games earlier are in the midst of a string of exceptional games. in the season, the state upped that to 250. Most of the tickets went to Remember, when the Wild last played the Kings, Ryan Suter and Matt player guests and employees, but for the first time this season, 40 fans Dumba were the only regular blueliners in the lineup. were allowed to watch the Wild in person.

“Getting that familiarity back with your partner, that makes a big Those fans are season-ticket holders in the Bud Light loge boxes, and difference,” Suter said. “Having your guys in the lineup I think helps. You they will be rotated from game to game. The hope is that the state play a different way when you look across and see a guy you’re familiar government will increase the number of fans allowed to enter Xcel with. Nothing against the guys that filled in — they did great. They played Energy Center later this season. If that happens, the Wild will figure out a hard. But for some of those guys, it’s their first game in over 12 months, way to allow more of their season-ticket holder to attend games. so it’s important to have our guys back.” The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 Dumba’s camp debuts on Hockey Day Minnesota

The Wild close the brief homestand in a rematch against the Kings to close the State of Hockey’s annual rite of passage: Hockey Day Minnesota, which this year boasts 10 hours of live coverage on Fox Sports North mostly from the Guidant John Rose MN OVAL.

The Wild are 11-2-1 on Hockey Day Minnesota, with 18 Minnesota-born NHLers getting to play on Minnesota’s hockey holiday.

Bjugstad and the Kings’ Blake Lizotte are expected to become the 19th and 20th.

One of the coolest things taking place at the OVAL on Saturday morning is Dumba’s inaugural Hockey Without Limits Camp. The camp was created by the Wild defenseman to bring more diversity and inclusion to the game and help provide more children with the opportunity to play the sport.

Youth hockey players from the Herb Brooks Foundation, the Hendrickson Foundation and New Directions Youth Ministry will participate in the camp, which is led by Minnesota Hockey coaches.

“It’s nice that it can come to fruition on a day like (Saturday), Hockey Day Minnesota,” said Dumba, last season’s NHL King Clancy Trophy winner for his vast humanitarian efforts. “It’s always a special day here in the state, so I think it’s just an awesome opportunity for the kids who don’t necessarily get this opportunity to come to a hockey camp like this. Make some memories, make some new friendships.

“I really like that it’s outdoors, it kind of gives you that grassroots feeling. I know that’s where I first fell in love with the game. I hope these kids get a little bit of that.”

Stalock suits up, hits the ice

Goalie Alex Stalock, who won a career-high 20 games last season, took the ice with teammates Friday morning for the first time this season. Stalock was shut down before the season because of an upper-body issue.

He was not allowed to do anything for six weeks but has been working out hard off the ice for the past couple of weeks, and Friday morning he tended goal with the taxi squad.

“It’s a progression,” Evason said. “He’s been skating here and on his own and with (skating and skills instructor) Andy Ness. (Assistant director of player development) Matt Hendricks has been out with him a few times. He’s excited about getting some live pucks and real pucks, so yeah, it’s just a progression.” 1204141 “Going back on the things that we talked about the first night (in a team meeting Wednesday),” Ducharme said. “A review on that. Practice and making sure that we cover that and then when the game starts tomorrow we’re a lot better on those things so that we can move forward and attack Canadiens Notebook: Jake Allen will be in goal for Habs Saturday night something else.

“Our guys want to win,” the coach added. “Last night there’s a lot of things that I liked in the first part of the game. It was not perfect. We can Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Feb 27, 2021 • 4 hours ago be much better than we were, even though it was better in the first part, but then we cracked. So we got to work to be able to sustain the kind of play that we want to have every night. So that’s it.” Claude Julien wouldn’t reveal who his starting goalie would be until the day of a game. When asked what the most disappointing part of the game was for him, Ducharme said: “Disappointment … it was the first time we stepped on Dominique Ducharme is not Claude Julien. the ice talking about those things. So from there we’re moving forward.”

The new Canadiens head coach announced Friday that Jake Allen will Thursday night’s game was the first of 18 in 34 days through the end of start in goal Saturday night in Winnipeg against the Jets (10 p.m., CBC, March, so there won’t be a lot of practice time for Ducharme to SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). implement the changes he wants to put in place.

Ducharme went with Carey Price in goal for his NHL head-coaching When asked how long it will take for him to put in place all the changes debut Thursday night in Winnipeg and the goalie allowed five goals on 29 he wants to make, Ducharme said: “That’s a good question. It depends. I shots in a 6-3 loss to the Jets (the sixth goal was an empty-netter). Price got to balance the guys over-thinking on the ice, not moving, and not now has a 5-4-3 record with a 3.13 goals-against average and a .888 giving enough. So finding the balance there and working through that. So save percentage. Allen has a 4-2-1 record with a 2.14 goals-against it’s tough to put a timeline exactly to say: All right, we’ve covered average and a .932 save percentage. The Canadiens were shut out in everything and we’re going to be full throttle at that time. But one thing I both of Allen’s regulation-time losses. want to make sure of is that when we go to bed tonight we’re going to be a better team than when we got up.” Ducharme said Price would take some time to work with goalie coach Stéphane Waite. High expectations

“We want to be better in front of him,” Ducharme added. “There’s no Canadiens GM made it clear before the start of the question about that.” season that expectations for the team are high this year after his off- season additions. When asked if playing Price more often might be a way to get the goalie out of his slump, Ducharme said: “Everything is about balance. So we’re Are those expectations maybe weighing on the team now? taking everything into consideration. If there’s one thing we have is we’ll be playing a lot of games, so he’s going to be playing a lot.” “I think the expectations are extremely high this year,” Weber said. “Seeing what we kind of accomplished in the (post-season) bubble there. After Saturday, the Canadiens don’t play again until Tuesday, when the I know it wasn’t much, but it was a glimmer of hope and to see what our Ottawa Senators will be at the . team was coming to. And then with the additions we had through the off- season, I think that everyone expects a lot more and with that comes the Ducharme said Josh Anderson, who was injured late in the first period of added pressure you put on yourself.” Thursday night’s game, is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, but is hoping the big right-winger can play Saturday night. “Pressure … we got to be good controlling what we can control,” Ducharme said. “Our focus is on that. We can talk standings all day. We Check the rear-view mirror can talk about how much we want to win the next game. But if we don’t The Canadiens (9-6-4) are in fourth place in the North Division, only two do it the right way, if we don’t take the right path to success, then it won’t points ahead of the Calgary Flames (9-10-2), while holding two games in happen as often as we want. So we want to build that so at one point hand. The top four teams make the playoffs. we’re becoming consistent in the way we play and do things and then our results are going to be consistent on the positive side.” The Flames play the Senators Saturday afternoon in Ottawa (1 p.m., TSN5, SNW, RDS). The high expectations are part of what cost Julien his job.

The Canadiens are winless in their last four games (0-2-2) and are 2-5-2 “It’s always difficult,” Weber said about Julien getting fired. “It’s a situation in their last nine games. Price is 0-2-1 in his last three games while giving that nobody likes to see. It’s a tough business and it is a business. At the up 14 goals and is 1-4-1 in his last six games. end of the day, it comes to results and as players we feel a lot of that falls on us, too. If we’re not getting the job done you look for answers. “I think the first thing is playing better in front of him on the ice,” captain Obviously, guys get traded as well and that is a big part of the business said when asked about Price’s struggles. “But I don’t think as well. It’s hard on guys, and guys get sent down. It’s a tough business we want to make too big of a deal about anything with him. We’ll treat and nobody likes those hard parts of it. It’s happened now, we can’t dwell him just like any other teammate. It’s definitely not something that we’re on it. Definitely feel as players that we would have liked to do more, but dwelling on and we’re not concerned about it. We’re more concerned we’ve got to move forward and get better now.” about the way we’re playing as a team and helping him out in front of him. Special-teams problems

“We’re not singling him out at all,” Weber added. “It’s a team game and Special teams are among the things Ducharme needs to fix to get the we’re losing as a team right now. We’re not doing enough in front of him Canadiens back on track. to help him and make his job easier right now. Our goal is to clean those Through Thursday’s games, the Canadiens ranked 18th on the power things up and we know how good he is and we know what he’s done for play with a 19.3 per cent success rate and ranked 22nd in penalty-killing this franchise and on and on and on. He’s an unbelievable talent, he’s an at 76.3 per cent. unbelievable player, and he’s going to be the difference-maker that we need. We just got to fix the problems in front of him and things will go “The first thing that we need to address on our power play is our mindset, on.” our pace, our intensity,” Ducharme said. “We know every time you go on the power play there’s desperation on the other side. We need to be First full practice desperate on our side also. There’s a structure side and things that we Ducharme held his first full practice as Canadiens head coach Friday need to work on. But the mindset’s got to be better.” afternoon in Winnipeg. When asked about the penalty-killing, Ducharme said: “Better application What was his goal for the practice after only having a morning skate with of duties. Doing our job better. Obviously, on the PK you’re already one the team on Thursday? man short. At times we’ve been really, really good, and at times we struggle. Mostly assignments were missed. We want our guys to be accountable on that. Obviously, there’s always adjustments, but when we The Canadiens have a 3-5-0 record at the Bell Centre this season. do things right our structure is good.” Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2021 Fresh start for Tatar

The coaching change provided a fresh start for Tomas Tatar, who had been a healthy scratch for one game under Julien and was also taken off his regular line with Phillip Danault and .

Ducharme reunited the line for his first game as head coach and Tatar responded by scoring his fifth goal of the season on the power play.

“It’s a fresh start for everyone, even for me who maybe didn’t have the best start,” said Tatar, who has 5-5-10 totals in 18 games. “Some things are changing and I want to help to get the team winning again.

“Obviously, I’m very happy to play with them,” Tatar added about being reunited with Danault and Gallagher. “We had so much success last year. I think our numbers were one of the highest in the NHL. We’re just so used to each other. We, as a line, have to be better. We want to work together and help the team to win more games.”

It was surprising that Julien would make Tatar a healthy scratch for one game and also bench him for the final eight minutes of the third period and the entire overtime of another game during a period when the Canadiens were struggling to score goals. Tatar led the Canadiens in scoring last season with 22-39-61 totals and has had six straight 20-goal seasons.

“It wasn’t pretty, for sure,” Tatar said about sitting out. “During the regular season I’ve never been in that position. But I was still cheering for the guys to do the best result. But when you see it was a tough time to score and you were benched or you weren’t playing, it was tough. But it was a decision I could have a hard time to understand it. But I had to take it and be a pro about it and I was trying to work hard to prove I wanted to help the team and we were better with me in the lineup.”

When asked if the coaching change was a positive for him, Tatar said: “I had two good years with Claude. I can’t thank him enough. He gave me an opportunity to play. This season was a little rough, but it’s coaching. Stuff happens. I’m kind of excited for a new fresh start and for myself, too. I would put it this way: I’m very excited Dom got the opportunity and hopefully we can squeeze the most out of it.”

The lines

Here’s how the forward lines and defence pairings looked at practice Friday:

Tatar – Danault – Gallagher

Drouin – Suzuki – Toffoli

Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Armia

Byron – Evans – Frolik

Perry

Chiarot – Weber

Edmundson – Petry

Kulak – Romanov

Mete

Carey Price and defenceman Shea Weber are the two highest-paid players on the team with the goalie carrying a $10.5-million salary-cap hit and the captain earning $7.857 million.

Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien, centre, talks to players during training-camp practice at the in Brossard on Jan. 6, 2021.

What’s next?

The Canadiens and Jets will play again Saturday night in Winnipeg (10 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio).

Next week, the Canadiens will play three straight games at the Bell Centre. The Ottawa Senators will be the visitors on Tuesday (7 p.m., TSN2, TSN5, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM), followed by two games against the Jets on Thursday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) and Saturday (7 p.m., SNE, SNW, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). 1204142 Montreal Canadiens Whatever problems there might be in the room, it’s part of the captain’s job to fix them.

First we were led to believe Subban was the problem. Then it was Stu Cowan: Canadiens are running out of scapegoats for their problems Pacioretty. Now Julien and associate coach Kirk Muller are gone.

Who’s the next scapegoat if the Canadiens don’t get back on track?

Stu Cowan Publishing date:Feb 27, 2021 • 6 hours ago I think GM Marc Bergevin has now run out of them.

You also have to wonder if Price has now become bigger than the team with his contract that includes a full no-movement clause. Carey Price and defenceman Shea Weber are the two highest-paid players on the team with the goalie carrying a $10.5-million salary-cap hit Ducharme confirmed Friday that Jake Allen will be in goal for the and the captain earning $7.857 million. Canadiens Saturday night when they play the Jets again in Winnipeg (10 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports). Ducharme added that Price will be given a Now that Claude Julien can no longer be used as a scapegoat for the few days to practise and work with goalie coach Stéphane Waite. Canadiens, it’s time to look at two of the team’s big problems now: Carey Price and Shea Weber. “Carey had a good day today and will have another good day tomorrow and we’ll continue to advance,” the coach said. GM Marc Bergevin has built the Canadiens around those two players, who are also supposed to be the team leaders. Two summers ago, Price spoke with Arpon Basu of The Athletic about how much he wants to win a Stanley Cup with the Canadiens and how They haven’t looked like it. he was getting impatient.

Price and Weber are the two highest-paid players on the team with the “Of course, in a selfish way, I wish we’d sell all of our assets and just go goalie carrying a $10.5-million salary-cap hit and the captain earning all out next year,” he said. $7.857 million. Price laughed and then added: “But I totally understand you can’t do that. Price has a 5-4-3 record with a 3.13 goals-against average and a .888 This is a real thing and you need to plan for the future. Obviously, I want save percentage, while Weber has been struggling with defence partner work to be done to give us the best opportunity to win because ultimately Ben Chiarot and is a team-worst minus-2. that’s what I’m here to do. I don’t want to wait. I just don’t.”

Price, 33, has five more seasons after this remaining on his eight-year, Bergevin spent right up to the salary cap this past off-season, bringing in US$84-million contract. Weber, 35, also has five more seasons after this Josh Anderson, Tyler Toffoli, Joel Edmundson and Allen. remaining on his 14-year, US$110-million contract. Now it’s the Canadiens who are waiting on Price. They both have to play better, but how much better can they play moving forward while fighting off Father Time, who is undefeated? Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2021

Bergevin has talked often in the past about Weber’s leadership qualities and how the impact he has on players in the locker room now will remain valuable to the Canadiens’ culture long after the captain eventually hangs up his skates.

“The day he’s not here anymore, I truly believe what the guys are learning from him, it’s going to stay here for a long time,” Bergevin has said. “That’s the value of Shea Weber in my eyes.”

Weber won the Leadership Award for the 2015-16 season, his last with the Nashville Predators before being traded to the Canadiens for P.K. Subban.

Subban was believed to have a bad attitude and was becoming bigger than the team, causing problems in the locker room. Weber was brought in for his leadership skills as much as his playing abilities.

Since the trade, the Canadiens haven’t won a single playoff series, although they did win a qualifying round in the expanded post-season last year, beating the Pittsburgh Penguins, before losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round.

After the Canadiens finished 28th in the overall NHL standings during Weber’s second season with the team, Bergevin said a bad attitude was the biggest problem and he traded away captain Max Pacioretty, giving the “C” to Weber.

Fast-forward to this season and Julien was again talking about the Canadiens needing an attitude adjustment before he was fired. Weber spoke about a “negative energy” surrounding the team and Nick Suzuki talked about players being “up in our own heads” and playing not to lose instead of playing to win.

Julien was fired and then the Canadiens lost 6-3 to the Jets Thursday night in Dominique Ducharme’s debut as head coach. Price allowed five goals on 29 shots, including two bad ones in the third period, while Weber was minus-2 and looked absolutely lost in the defensive zone on the Jets’ second goal.

On Friday, Weber was asked how as captain he can help Ducharme get rid of that negative energy.

“I kind of rephrased myself after I talked about that last time, saying it was probably the wrong word to use,” Weber said. “It was just a frustrating, slumping feeling and I think that we’re working past that as a team.” 1204143 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2021

Former Canadiens GM Irving Grundman dies at 92

Montreal Gazette

Publishing date:Feb 27, 2021 • 5 hours ago

Irving Grundman was elected as a city councillor in St-Laurent in 1968 and went on to hold the position for more than 35 years, at one point being the longest sitting politician in Montreal.

Irving Grundman, longtime Montreal city councillor and former general manager of the Canadiens, died Friday at age 92 after a short illness.

Grundman took over as Canadiens general manager from , who won nine Stanley Cups with the Canadiens from 1964–78. Grundman won the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1979, his first year on the job, and was later replaced by .

Before joining the Canadiens, Grundman worked alongside his father, Morris, in the meat industry and founded the Laurentian Lanes bowling alleys in Montreal, Ottawa and Kingston.

In a statement issued Friday, the Canadiens organization described Grundman as a skilled businessman and knowledgeable executive who “dedicated his life to the city he cherished.”

Grundman was elected as a city councillor in St-Laurent in 1968 and went on to hold the position for more than 35 years, at one point being the longest sitting politician in Montreal.

Throughout his years in public service, he took on a leading role in the development of the St-Laurent Technoparc as executive chairman and was credited with managing to attract several large companies to the city.

He also volunteered for many community organizations, including the Jewish General Hospital.

In a 1998 interview looking back at 30 years of public service, Grundman, then 69, said he took pride in his accomplishments and believed the work kept him young.

“It’s like printer’s ink, it gets in your blood. You’re bitten,” Grundman said at the time. “You want to see things work out. You have to want to serve the people who vote for you.”

“I saw St-Laurent grow from a small town to a powerful municipality, and it was our (council) vision and the fact we were willing to take chances that made it possible,” he later said.

When he announced his intent to run again in the 2001 municipal election, at age 72, he brushed off any concerns over his age or ability to keep doing the job, describing himself as a “fighter by nature.”

“I’m still too young to play golf,” he said at the time. “Chasing one little ball all day is a waste. I’ve got too much else still to do.”

Though he served for more than three decades, Grundman’s political career ended in scandal.

In January 2005, Grundman and fellow St-Laurent city councillor René Dussault were sentenced to 23 months of incarceration to be served in the community for demanding a $75,000 cash bribe for a zoning change.

Grundman pleaded guilty, but avoided a jail term. His lawyer had argued at age 76, Grundman was too old and infirm to do time behind bars. He was also the primary caregiver for his wife, who was battling Alzheimer’s disease.

In an interview with the Montreal Gazette before his sentencing, Grundman apologized to his constituents and insisted he was a fair politician that made a poor choice.

“I must have done some good, serving for all the time I was hanging around,” he said. “I made a stupid mistake … and I’m beating myself up every day for it. But that’s the way it works.”

Grundman and the late Goldie Gail (née Schreiber) were married for 60 years and had three children — Howard, Gary and the late Pamela — and six grandchildren. 1204144 Montreal Canadiens A week later, the Canadiens hired Julien to replace Therrien for a second time. It was a bit of a surprise because the Canadiens were in first place in their division and Bergevin had described Therrien as his “foxhole buddy,” the kind of person you wanted on your side in a fight. Hickey on hockey: Claude Julien's firing begins and ends with players Bergevin said he was hiring Julien because he was the right guy.

Four years later, he wasn’t. Pat Hickey • Publishing date:Feb 27, 2021 • 7 hours ago • Caufield keeps rolling: Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield had two goals and two assists last weekend as the University of Wisconsin notched a win and a tie against Notre Dame. Caufield goes into this weekend’s One of the sad realities in professional sports is that when a coach is doubleheader against Ohio State as the top scorer in NCAA hockey, with hired, it is too often the first step on a path that leads to him being fired. 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points in 24 games. Claude Julien knows this better than most coaches. There is a downside to Caufield’s success for Canadiens fans who would When Julien was relieved of his duties as head coach of the Canadiens like to see him in Montreal sooner rather than later. Wisconsin has on Wednesday, it was the fourth time an NHL team dumped him before a jumped to No. 5 in the polls and is all but guaranteed a spot in the NCAA season was completed. And it was the fourth time he exited with a record tournament. While the dates and sites for the first round are still not above .500. determined, Caufield will be playing college hockey into late March or early April. The Frozen Four is scheduled for April 8-10 in Pittsburgh. I hate seeing coaches fired. I believe that if you hire the right coach — one who is knowledgeable, honest and hard-working — there should no Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2021 reason to fire him short of an indictable offence. I get particularly upset when I hear suggestions that a coach “has lost the room.” This says far more about the character of the players than it does about a coach’s ability.

The Canadiens didn’t go into their current slide because of a failure on the part of the coaching staff; they started losing games because the players on the ice made mistakes. They took bad penalties. They couldn’t do the job on special teams. And the way the No. 1 goaltender is playing, he would be no better than the No. 2 if the team wasn’t paying him US$10.5 million a season.

After giving up five goals Thursday, Carey Price talked about “sticking to the process and figuring things out.” I don’t pretend to know what the process is, but it’s obviously not working and, in a shortened season, there’s little time to figure it out.

Sports are cyclical and there are going to be ups and downs, but more teams should embrace the philosophy of the NFL’s , who have had only three head coaches — Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin — since 1969. Each of those coaches missed the playoffs multiple times and went through seasons with losing records, but the Steelers stuck by their man. In the same period, the Canadiens have made 21 coaching changes.

GM Marc Bergevin is on his third coach and he has been at the helm for less than a decade.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price snags a Winnipeg Jets shot in Winnipeg Feb. 25, 2021.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price snags a Winnipeg Jets shot in Winnipeg Feb. 25, 2021.

Canadiens goaltender Carey Price makes save on shot by the Jets’ Mark Scheifele during first period of Thursday night’s game at Winnipeg’s Bell MTS Place.

The timeline for Julien’s NHL coaching career is interesting.

André Savard gave him his first shot in 2003, when Julien was called up from Hamilton to replace Michel Therrien. Julien had a 19-16-6 record and a .537 winning percentage when Bob Gainey fired him in 2006. Gainey wanted to make room for his good friend , but that didn’t work out so well.

Julien wasn’t out of work long. The following season, he had the New Jersey Devils in first place in their division when Lou Lamoriello fired him with three games remaining in the regular season. Lamoriello said he felt Julien didn’t have the Devils mentally prepared for the playoffs and there were reports that some veterans, including Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur, were unhappy with the coach.

It was on to Boston the next season. Julien won coach-of-the-year honours in 2009, but he and general manager Peter Chiarelli were on thin ice after Cam Neely was named president of the Bruins in 2010 because they weren’t his guys. They received a stay of execution when Boston won the Stanley Cup in 2011. The Bruins missed the playoffs in 2016 and Julien was fired on Feb. 7, 2017, with a winning percentage of .527 in his final season. 1204145 Montreal Canadiens to doing what they’ve been doing for a couple of years, which is looking positively out to lunch. The team blew a pair of two-goals leads and let in five unanswered goals. To quote Julien, that’s unacceptable.

What the Puck: Aura of negative energy envelops fragile Canadiens Julien was a problem, but maybe he wasn’t the problem. When I went to the depanneur Thursday morning to buy the papers, the owner, Fadi, quipped: “They fired the wrong guy.” Quite a few fans are saying the same thing. Brendan Kelly Publishing date:Feb 26, 2021 • 12 hours ago • General manager Marc Bergevin is all-in this year because his job is

indeed on the line. That’s why he spent to the cap for the first time in Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry celebrates a goal by teammate Nate years and that’s why he fired Julien and Kirk Muller after only 18 games. Thompson during third period against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Now the most rock’n’roll of NHL GMs is on his third head coach in nine MTS Place in Winnipeg on Feb. 25, 2021. years and if this roll of the dice fails, will have to act.

Is Carey Price trying to get Dominique Ducharme fired? What I saw Thursday is a team that’s a total mess. After the game, Ducharme said: “We cracked. We cracked mentally. We cracked That, by the way, is a joke. The US$10.5-million goalie certainly played a physically.” He went on to say: “We’re a little fragile right now. It’s role in getting Claude Julien fired. As former Habs netminder José normal.” Théodore said in his Journal de Montréal column this week, when National Hockey League coaches get tossed overboard, it’s often No, it’s not normal. Why are they fragile? Are they snowflakes? Should because the starting goalie is playing like a minor-leaguer. they be adopting the controversial CF Montréal snowflake logo? Weber took a shot at Julien when he spoke this week about the “negative After Thursday’s pathetic performance by Price in a 6-3 loss to the high- energy” around the team, but Man Mountain is the captain. Maybe he’s flying Winnipeg Jets, it’s clear Saint Carey is in one of his all-too-frequent contributing to the negative energy with his atrocious play, as he takes funks, pretty well business as usual for the most overrated player in the one dumb penalty after another and watches helplessly as he lumbers NHL. But Friday, as I listen to everyone screaming for Price’s head, I’d slowly after the fast skaters of the 2021 NHL. like to point out that Price was only one of way too many terrible players on the Canadiens in Winnipeg. What’s also not normal is a GM who thinks it’s a brilliant idea to load up his D with three of those big slowpokes in Weber, Ben Chiarot and Joel He does have to up his game, but the good news is that there’s another Edmundson. Earth to Bergevin: It’s 2021 not 2001. fellow who’s already playing way better than Price. So if the No. 1 dude continues to look like he’s just discovered hockey, then it’s up to It is only one game, but if the new coach is going to work a charm he Ducharme to put on his big-boy pants and give the top job to Jake Allen, needs to adjust quickly, unlike the former coach. You want some ideas? who has thus far played like one of the best goalies in the NHL. Price, Put in Allen over Price, put Danault on the fourth line, bring back Evans, astonishingly, is by far the worst starting goalie in the league. and tell the kids to go out and have fun. And whatever else you say, don’t say it’s normal to be fragile. The real new era should start with ending the Price was brutal against the Jets. The winning goal, by former teammate excuses. Nate Thompson, was laughable. Add the Brady Tkachuk one-handed- wonder goal Sunday and you have Price letting in two of the goofiest Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2021 goals of the season in the space of two days.

But this loss is not on Price. It’s on the head coach and the entire team. Sadly, the new coach on the block decided that he’d start the new era by rewarding the veterans and that was a big failure. He put in Price rather than Allen, which was a mistake. He reunited the “top” line of Tomas Tatar, Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher, which was a mistake. He put Paul Byron at centre on the fourth line and scratched Jake Evans, which was a mistake. But it was Ducharme’s first game. I’ll give him until Saturday before I get mad.

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Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price snags a Winnipeg Jets shot in Winnipeg Feb. 25, 2021.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price snags a Winnipeg Jets shot in Winnipeg Feb. 25, 2021.

In the Habs' Room: Canadiens played a perfect game — till they 'cracked'

Canadiens goaltender Carey Price makes save on shot by the Jets’ Mark Scheifele during first period of Thursday night’s game at Winnipeg’s Bell MTS Place.

Canadiens Game Day: No coach can win the way Carey Price is playing

New Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme, right, has no experience as a bench boss in the NHL, but has already brought a renewed sense of excitement to the team.

Stu Cowan: It's a new start for Canadiens with Dominique Ducharme

Head coach Claude Julien blows a whistle over his mask during Montreal Canadiens practice at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard on Jan. 27, 2021.

What the Puck: Canadiens goalie Price shares blame for Julien's firing

Ultimately, it’s on the players and they deserve a big fat “F” for that effort. They came out with some bounce and found an unlikely hero in Joël Armia, who scored twice in the first period and then Les Boys went back 1204146 Montreal Canadiens The coaches and players are throwing support behind their number one goalie, even if the statistics don’t support his case of being a number one goalie, let alone elite.

About Last Night: Even in defeat, the Canadiens aren't 'worried' about Worst Save Percentage since Feb 25, 2020 (min 10 starts) Carey Price Marcus Hogberg: .862

Carey Price: .885 Julian McKenzie • Publishing date:Feb 26, 2021 • 17 hours ago Tristan Jarry: .887

Matt Murray: .887 Dominique Ducharme was given the keys to the Canadiens this week on Martin Jones: .888 an interim basis. He is now the bench boss of a team that is badly in need of some good fortune and having nothing but during the first month — Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 26, 2021 of the year. If that’s the road they wish to go down, then the Canadiens will need to While there are some more minute details (faceoffs, zone entries) that do everything they can to restore Price’s confidence. need attention as well, there is already one massive dilemma he will need to navigate. His star goaltender isn’t playing like the elite star he It might actually be Ducharme’s most important task aside from making was once heralded as. the playoffs.

Price hasn’t been good enough. He’s had starts where he’s been Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2021 downright unreliable this season. Yours truly thought he might have turned a corner after defeating the Maple Leafs prior to his team’s week- long break, completely downplaying the idea of a goaltending controversy.

Since then, Price is 0-2-1 with a save percentage of .853 and 14 goals allowed. He’s allowed five goals in two of his last three starts.

Just like Claude Julien before him, he hasn’t turned that corner.

“I just think, maybe, I’m overthinking things. That’s all I got for you,” Price said after a 6-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets last night.

It happens. Even to a goalie who makes over ten million dollars per season. But in a shortened season where the Canadiens need to make the playoffs, Price’s margin for error is thinner than usual. The Canadiens might still be among the four best teams in the North Division, but if Price can’t keep his team in games, would it be a surprise to see the Canadiens use Jake Allen more often than not going forward?

The Canadiens are at that point yet.

Ducharme thought Price played “like the team” did Thursday night. In an earlier answer, Ducharme said his squad “cracked mentally and physically” in the second half of the game. But Ducharme did his best to put as much as he could on the team and not on one singular player. And he seemed hopeful that Price could still turn his sub-par season around.

“Like we do with all our players, we’re going to look at every possibility and we want our guys to be playing their best and find solutions for every one of them. From the forwards to the (defence) to the goalies. So we’ll find a solution.

“Carey’s a competitor. I’m not worried.”

You certainly won’t hear Canadiens players put the blame on Price. And it’s fair to say that the players could share some of that blame too.

I think back to a Brendan Gallagher quote from Tuesday night’s loss to the Ottawa Senators where Price made some outstanding saves but also allowed some bad goals against the Senators.

“He made so many big saves. Pucks are going to go in sometimes. He made save, after save, after save. We don’t have a chance if not for Price. There’s no concern there.”

Now, hold that quote up side-by-side with Jonathan Drouin’s own from Thursday night. He was asked if his team’s dip in performance in front of Price had more to do with the team, or if it was because Price wasn’t playing like the Price many people have come to expect.

“I think it’s both,” Drouin said. “It’s true that Carey hasn’t been at this best. But I think we haven’t been either. If you see the goals (he allows), they’re off of tic-tac-toe or backdoor plays. I don’t know many goalies who are going to stop those. He saved us against Ottawa two, three times with his stick, with some spectacular saves.

“But that’s on us too to not give up so many grade-A chances. We could have him just make easier saves and take easier shots where he sees the puck, there are no rebounds, the defencemen are doing their job, forwards come back to the crease to help Carey.” 1204147 Montreal Canadiens was Suzuki, who won seven of 13 draws. Jesperi Kotkaniemi won only one of six.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2021 In the Habs' Room: Canadiens played a perfect game — till they 'cracked'

Pat Hickey • Publishing date:Feb 26, 2021 • 18 hours ago •

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price snags a Winnipeg Jets shot in Winnipeg Feb. 25, 2021.

Dominique Ducharme and his staff have a lot of work to do.

It was unreasonable to think the new head coach could produce a turnaround after one morning skate, but the Canadiens didn’t look much different than they have over the past two weeks leading up to the dismissal of Claude Julien.

The Winnipeg Jets rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Canadiens 6-3 Thursday at Bell MTS Place.

Ducharme said the Canadiens played a perfect game for 30 minutes before they “cracked” — mentally and physically.

Carey Price hasn’t been very good this season, but Ducharme gave him a vote of confidence by starting him. When asked to evaluate Price’s performance — six goals on 31 shots — Ducharme said the $10.5-million man was “like the team, he’s part of the team.” That means he was good at the start and not so good as the game went on and the Jets increased the pressure.

The Canadiens need Price to be a great goaltender but he’s not even good right now. After Thursday’s blitz, he has a 5-4-3 record with a 3.13 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage. In the past, a struggling Price has been able to step away and work with goaltending coach Stéphane Waite but, with the compressed schedule, that’ s a luxury the Canadien can’t afford.

Ducharme said the Canadiens have to get better at both ends of the ice.

“I think we can be much better with the puck breaking out,” Ducharme said. “We have to be making stronger plays. That doesn’t mean throwing the puck away. We have to be stronger in our decisions, making high- percentage plays in our zone.

“Defending the zone, I thought we did a pretty good job early in the game (but) the more it went, the more we were backing in,” added Ducharme. “There were less turnovers in the neutral zone, less counters, not playing as fast. It all comes together.

“We’re a little fragile right now.,” said Ducharme. “It’s normal. We have to find a way to control the things that we have the ability to control. We didn’t do good work in that aspect of the game. We made mistakes that led to scoring chances and goals.”

Jonathan Drouin noted that Winnipeg has some talented players on their top two lines but one of the themes going into this season was the Canadiens’ depth and their ability to roll four lines.

The depth was in play Thursday as started the game on the fourth line and scored two first-period goals.

But the depth took a hit when Josh Anderson left the in the first period with an undisclosed injury.

Ducharme said the injury was a double whammy because Anderson is a talented player and his absence forced the coach to double-shift Armia and on the No. 2 line with Drouin and Nick Suzuki.

Ducharme said he didn’t think the injury was serious but more tests will be needed before he is cleared to play in Saturday’s rematch between the Jets and the Canadiens.

The game provided a boost of confidence for Phil Danault, who was reunited with longtime linemates Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher. Danault was on the ice for nearly 22 minutes and finished the game as a plus-1 although he struggled in the faceoff circle, winning only nine of 22 draws.

Faceoffs continue to be a problem for the entire team. The Canadiens won only 40 per cent of their draw and the only centre over 50 per cent 1204148 Montreal Canadiens played with two of the best players in the game, so he spent a lot of time picking their brains, and he was very effective at what he did.”

Burrows was even more of an agitator than Gallagher, but the Basu and Godin: Canadiens mismanaging expectations, Alex Burrows Canadiens’ new assistant coach was fueled by a similar fire that burns arrives, KK gets mad inside Gallagher. It’s one of the reasons Gallagher is so excited to work with him.

“I got a chance to speak with a lot of players that have had him down By Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin Feb 26, 2021 there (in Laval), and nothing but positive things to say,” Gallagher said. “He loves the game of hockey, he’s very intense, he’s very competitive,

and he’s very excited for this opportunity. So I think, when you talk about Marc Bergevin was clear as to the factors that went into the firing of both Dom (Ducharme) and Burr, I think the excitement level, the emotion, Claude Julien this week. One of them was the urgency of a shortened the passion — if, as players, we’re able to match that level, I think we’ll season. Another was a recurring pattern of slumps that never end, dating be just fine.” back to last season. Rocket captain Xavier Ouellet used that same word — passion — to But the overarching theme is far simpler: Bergevin has high expectations describe Burrows, adding that he has a gift for making players for this team, those expectations weren’t being met, so he had to do comfortable and confident. something. Burrows, however, does not arrive behind the Canadiens’ bench under The notion of managing expectations is often brought up as something the easiest circumstances. He retired as a player only three years ago, the Canadiens must do because of the rabid nature of the Montreal only has two full seasons of coaching experience, and now has the hockey market. It has led to a low bar for success in Montreal, but that is mandate to fix a power play that has spun its wheels for years. also what made Bergevin’s preseason proclamation of his expectations Ouellet, for one, believes Burrows will be up to the challenge. for this team so startling. We had never heard him speak this way before, never seen him raise the bar like this. “He’s played on power plays that were pretty productive in the NHL and when you think about it, it hasn’t been that long, just a few years,” Ouellet It was refreshing. But it also required management. Having high said. “He really comes from the modern game, and I think his experience expectations is a desirable goal, but managing them is not something the helps him in running a power play. He knows how it works, he knows the Canadiens have excelled at so far. recipe to be productive. “Yeah, I think it does,” captain Shea Weber said Friday when asked “We’ve always had a good power play in Laval, and I think he can bring whether those expectations have an impact in the room. “I think the that to Montreal.” expectations are extremely high this year. I think, seeing what we kind of accomplished in the bubble there, I know it wasn’t much, but it was a Get mad already glimmer of hope. And to see what our team was coming to, and then with the additions we had through the offseason, I think that everyone expects Jesperi Kotkaniemi, much like this team, has looked different lately. a lot more and with that comes the added pressure you put on yourself. Except, as opposed to the Canadiens, the version of Kotkaniemi we’ve “Obviously, at this point, it’s leading to the frustration … but I think we’re seen recently is more combative, more aggressive. He is learning to use at a point where I think we’re moving past that. It’s going to take a lot of his physical tools, his large frame, to his advantage with every passing work, obviously, and things are going to have to change quickly and game. He is not doing it quite as effectively as he was in the playoff rapidly as the schedule kind of dictates, but it’s going the right way.” bubble in Toronto, the version of Kotkaniemi that had Bergevin so excited about his progress and how he had gotten things back on track, but he is One might think it would be time for the Canadiens to forget those at least getting closer to being that player. expectations, forget how everyone sees them as one of the top teams in their division, and simply play hockey. Remember that Kotkaniemi arrived in the bubble after hitting a low, being sent to the AHL and then injuring his spleen to end his season just before But the players themselves don’t want that, either. They want to live up to everyone’s season came to a crashing halt. He returned fully recovered those expectations, not abandon them. and having trained hard in the summer with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, at least according to his dad. “In the offseason, our team got a lot stronger,” Tomas Tatar said. “We brought new guys, we had a great start, and that’s what we want to “When he came back here, he started training right away,” Mikael remain. We want to remain that high. When stuff is not going well, we lost Kotkaniemi said last summer. “He wanted to show what he is.” a few games, we look maybe a little confused on the ice, and we just want to have these zones cleared. We want to work together as a team. This season began well enough for Kotkaniemi, with seven points in his first 10 games. But, much like his team, a lot of that was built off Tyler “I think (expectations) should remain high. We want to be good. Like Jo Toffoli torching his former team, the Canucks, and the Canadiens in (Drouin) mentioned earlier, it’s on us, it’s time to work. I think we have a general shooting the lights out. Kotkaniemi’s production began to dry up very strong team, and it’s time to show it.” at that point along with that of many of his teammates, but we’ve seen him getting important shifts late in games recently and he was getting When Brendan Gallagher hears the name Alex Burrows, the night of April more trust from Julien to produce when the Canadiens needed a goal. 26, 2011, is the first thing that comes to mind. “He’s just been a better player,” Julien said Tuesday morning, his last Gallagher was an assistant captain with the in the day as coach of the Canadiens. “He’s skating better, he’s shooting a little WHL at the time, having moved to the Vancouver area several years bit more because he’s skating into those areas. Just his overall game’s earlier. just been better.” So he felt how the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final shook the Why is that? city, and like everyone, the voice of John Shorthouse and his call of the goal that made Burrows a Canucks legend. Perhaps Kotkaniemi found that chip on his shoulder again.

In their third straight meeting and after 19 playoff games against the Finnish hockey Twitter was abuzz Sunday when television cameras Chicago Blackhawks, the Canucks had finally beaten their nemesis in caught a shot of Kotkaniemi’s stick while he was sitting on the bench. Game 7 of the first round. Burrows scored not only the overtime goal but More specifically, the cameras caught the knob of his stick, where there also the other Canucks goal earlier in the game. was a message written in black marker on Kotkaniemi’s tape.

“I do remember him with the Sedins, watching him growing up in As it turns out, “Suutu jo! Vitu kusipää” roughly translated to English Vancouver,” Gallagher said. “He was the big talk of the town when he means “Get mad already, you fucking asshole.” ‘slayed the dragon’ there. The people in Vancouver will remember that goal. What he did for that team as a player, he just competed. He was a When asked via text message to clarify why he would have this written pain to play against, but he was very smart. He understood his role, he on his stick, Kotkaniemi preferred not to comment. He simply replied with a YouTube link and wrote, “That should tell you everything.” Indeed, it does. A few days ago, I prepared a Zoom presentation for my daughter’s class in which I talked to them about journalism, what a journalist does, the That is Icelandic strongman Hafthor Björnsson — perhaps better known difference between a journalist and a columnist, the importance of the as the man who played Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane for five seasons media, stuff like that. on “Game of Thrones” — setting the world deadlift record of 501 kilograms at his gym in Iceland. Off camera, we hear someone yelling at Obviously, part of my presentation touched on my particular brand of Björnsson in Finnish, “Noni kusipää, suutu jo!” — which means roughly journalism and the people I deal with in my job. the same thing as what’s written on Kotkaniemi’s stick, “Let’s go fucker, get mad already!” To my surprise, when I mentioned names like Brendan Gallagher and Carey Price — just to get a reaction out of them, to be honest — there How has Kotkaniemi been getting mad already? He’s done it by doing a was none. Zero. Zilch. I told myself the little Q&A we were supposed to lot of the things that showed up in the bubble, things that produced have after my presentation wouldn’t last too long. Images like this. But one little boy raised his hand. He’s been going to the net and battling. “Did you ever speak to ?” He’s finishing hits. I answered no. I was hired at La Presse a few weeks before Richard’s He’s just generally looking more confident. death.

All it took, seemingly, was a little reminder to get mad and stay mad. “No, but I spoke to Jean Béliveau a number of times,” I said.

Kaiden Guhle leaves for the WHL having left an impression “WHOA!”

We were watching Kaiden Guhle’s professional debut with the Laval The enthusiasm of this group of 8-year-olds was unmistakable and Rocket on Monday night at the Bell Centre, and it became quickly completely spontaneous. apparent that it was going as well as could be expected. They were all 2 when Béliveau passed away. Their parents — those of And that was the crux of the matter. What should have been expected of my generation — were too young to have seen him play. It would have to Guhle in this situation? Or any player in his position, for that matter? come from their grandparents. Despite that, these kids had a full understanding of what Béliveau represented, a larger-than-life Guhle and fellow Canadiens defence prospect Gianni Fairbrother will be personality, a legend they had not yet had time to read about, but they returned to their WHL teams after having made their professional debuts were clearly told about. with Laval. It was a rare opportunity for them as junior-age players to be able to get some games in at the AHL level, and there are several of The reason for this little anecdote is twofold. On the one hand, the them around the league. Canadiens still take up an incredible amount of space in the popular culture of Quebec. There isn’t a company on earth that wouldn’t dream of The Rocket’s opponent that night, the Manitoba Moose, had prized taking up this much place in the collective psyche of a people. But that prospect Cole Perfetti in the lineup. He wasn’t doing a whole lot, but might be because the people don’t see the Canadiens as a company, but again, what are fair expectations for him at this level? Playing in a league rather a hero factory that continues to be built up through stories and of men as a 19-year-old with a target on his back as an NHL first-round legends. Like the good old days. pick? On the other hand, if they care about things like this, the Canadiens This, to us, is what made Guhle stand out in his debut. Playing defence should be somewhat concerned that such a large group of young with Ouellet as his partner, Guhle looked sure of himself. His skating set children got so excited about the heroes of their grandparents. How is it him apart. He laid a couple of hits in the first period. that a player who retired 50 years ago can drum up more excitement In other words, he didn’t look the least bit out of place, which, in and of among a group of 8-year-olds as the players they can watch play on itself, is an accomplishment. television every second night?

But evaluating Guhle in this environment is tricky because really, he Which players will these kids be telling their grandchildren about? doesn’t belong at this level. So, with that being the case, how can he be The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 properly evaluated? Were we making too much of his poise? His mobility? His physical maturity and confidence?

There were some NHL scouts at the game, so we consulted one of them to get his impression and ask how difficult it is to make that evaluation.

“It’s definitely not easy,” the scout said.

For instance, he was there mainly to watch Perfetti, and not a whole lot had happened with him the whole game. He was just kind of there. But is it fair to evaluate him on that game? Or does he deserve some added benefit of the doubt?

“I think I’ll give him another look next game before writing my report,” the scout said.

He did not, however, require more viewings on Guhle.

“He’s been good,” the scout said. “Mobile, great skater, got a couple of hits in early, he has some good tools.

“I think (the Canadiens) have something there.”

Guhle will be heading back to the Prince Albert Raiders shortly, where he will play the upcoming WHL season in a bubble in Regina. He got to play two games with the Rocket and definitely left an impression with coach Joël Bouchard and the Canadiens.

Not to mention an opposing team’s scout.

The hero factory is drying up

We will finish with a little story from Marc Antoine and his daughter’s class at school: 1204149 Nashville Predators "Like any club that's not playing as well as you expect, there's been a lot of things that have gone wrong," Poile said. "There's been some inconsistencies from individual players.

Nashville Predators GM David Poile is worried — but not about his job "Whatever I say, it all adds up to what our record is today."

Or what their record is by the end of this season.

PAUL SKRBINA Poile felt good about that through the first two games of the season, both wins against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Then, coming off a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, things changed in a The man whose job it is to put other people in the right jobs is always hurry. The Predators' weaknesses began to be exposed during a 7-0 loss worried about his own job. to the Stars. They allowed a franchise-tying worst five power-play goals.

No, Nashville Predators general manager David Poile, the only general "If you're looking for a turning point in the wrong direction, that was manager the franchise has ever known, isn't concerned about whether clearly it," Poile said. "We are slowly but surely recovering from that. That he'll keep his. one game, the penalty killing kind of bled into a lot of other parts of our game. Poile has plenty of worries, though. That's part of his job's DNA. A job he has held in Nashville since 1997, plus another 15 years before that with "For a team that seemed to be on the right track ... we became pretty the Washington Capitals. fragile pretty fast. We've been playing catch-up ever since then."

His Predators team this season is closer to last place than first. Is in Poile began having flashbacks to the Winter Classic, which he felt danger of missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Is changed last season for the worse. near the salary cap without the results. So it was time for more change. "I realize like everybody else that there's going to be a time and a place that it would make sense to go in a different direction," Poile told The He fired Peter Laviolette less than a week later, just the second time he'd Tennessean. "Right now, that has not been conveyed to me (by the fired a coach in-season in his career. The next day he hired John Hynes, team's ownership group). whom he said really hasn't had a fair shake at being fairly assessed given the pause last season and the strange schedule this season. "I'm going to, with their support and being on the same page ... try to get back in a very competitive position as soon as possible. That's what I've He ate the mistake that was Kyle Turris' contract, opting to buy him out, a always done. That's what I'll always do." rarity for Poile.

If they rebuild it ... Not a lot of return

That's what is seems like Poile has been doing forever. Poile has watched as Ryan Johansen and his $8 million cap hit have struggled. He had zero goals and four assists (all on the power play) in He turned 71 on Valentine's Day. He has won more than 1,300 games, 11 games going into Thursday. more than any general manager in the history of the sport. But he has never won the biggest one — a Stanley Cup clincher. Another $8 million man, Matt Duchene, had three goals and five assists in 18 games. He's the longest-tenured GM in the league, sixth longest in NHL history. He's a Hall of Famer. Not even four years have passed since the Moving players such as those, with those contracts, could prove difficult, Predators reached the Stanley Cup Final, a notion that the last couple of at least during the season. That means Poile may consider moving other seasons have felt so far away. parts if the "Ws" don't start outnumbering the "Ls" by a significant margin.

"I would like to be able to sit here and say we should be competing for a He may have to listen to offers for players such as Mattias Ekholm or Stanley Cup, but I feel right now our roster has not shown that," Poile or Viktor Arvidsson. said. "There's been lots of rumors about this guy being traded," Poile said. It hasn't for the last couple of years, since what Poile called "the "What is important to understand is mangers are always on the phone pinnacle" of 2017 and 2017-18, when the team won the Presidents' talking all the time about different things. Whether you're the best team in Trophy. the league or the last-place team in the league, you're always trying to do the same thing, and that's improve your team." "It's important for everybody — ourselves, our owners and our fans — to have the right expectations of this team," Poile said. "We've been in a Poile tries to balance the present while considering the future. little bit of a decline — I mean we've been very competitive the last "A manager's job, we're the planners of the organization," Poile said. "For couple of years — but still a bit of a decline." me that's always a timeframe of three to five years. Where we sit right If the roster, the one Poile built, continues to not show progress, does he now is not where we want to be. have a rebuild in him, at his age? Is he willing to adjust his philosophy? "For planning purposes ... I do see some signs we're going to be headed The normally thorough Poile answered that question by repeating one in a better direction, so I wanted to buy as much time as I can." word: "Absolutely." Tennessean LOADED: 02.27.2021 That is if the team's ownership will have him.

"I get it," he said. "If that's the decision, I totally understand. You won't see me be a bitter pill. We've had lots of opportunities and I'm very proud of where we've been with this franchise. But we can be better. I'm just gonna keep working like I do every day to try to make our team better.

"It's very frustrating for all of us. Frustrating is just a state of time, just a place. We're going to get out of that at some point. Hopefully sooner than later."

Holding on to hope

The Predators gave Poile some hope, stringing together a rare winning streak to stay out of last place.

There are flaws, though. Major flaws. The team's penalty kill is near the bottom of the league. The power play remains a problem. Offense has been hard to come by. 1204150 New Jersey Devils When Hischier was on the ice at 5-on-5, the Devils recorded 19 shot attempts compared to just eight for the Sabres. Hischier himself had six shot attempts and four scoring chances at 5-on-5. He skated actively, and despite the penalty kill struggles, Hischier ended several plays when Devils’ Pavel Zacha is starting to put it all together | 4 observations from he was on the ice. OT win over Sabres Prior to the game, Ruff said he expected Hischier would need a few weeks to get fully up to speed while playing against competition that’s in midseason form. Thursday was a positive step in that direction. Updated Feb 26, 2021; Posted Feb 26, 2021 “I felt really good today. The first couple games for me, I tried to move my By Chris Ryan legs, keep it simple,” Hischier said. “I haven’t played games in so long, and I just try to help the team in any way you can. If I’m not on the scoresheet, I’ll try to do it a different way. Just bring something to the After three straight losses, the Devils sorely needed a win to get their team, every night.” season back on track. Pavel Zacha delivered to make it happen. As Hischier gets rolling, it’s going to pay dividends for the Devils’ offense. Zacha’s first career overtime goal capped off his three-point night in a 4-3 While Hischier’s line produced two goals during regulation, it was the top win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. line featuring Jack Hughes that drove the majority of the action.

While Zacha provided the heroics, they were only necessary after the Hughes himself had a team-high 11 shot attempts at 5-on-5, including Devils rallied to take a third-period lead, only to see it disappear during eight shots on goal. Hughes’ line has been the most dangerous for the another rough night for the penalty kill. Devils all season, regardless of his line mates, so if Hischier’s group can also start clicking, it will give the Devils two good options for opponents to Sign up for Devils Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes defend. observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers Ruff’s ultimate goal is to have four effective lines he can throw onto the Here are some takeaways from the Devils’ OT win. ice at any time. Pavel Zacha’s starting to put it all together “I really feel that that’s the roadmap for success when you know one At the start of the 2018-19 season, Pavel Zacha went 12 games without through four doing the right things,” Ruff said. “They’re getting above recording a point. He also had a brief AHL stint in that stretch to begin his people, they get back in solid position in the defensive zone. And you third pro season. don’t have to worry about pulling people off the ice, you don’t have to worry about the matchup of whether the top line is coming.” Two years later, Zacha is off the best start of his career. His third career three-point game extended his point streak to a career-high eight games, Why the Zacha-Hischier-Bratt line works and he leads the team with 12 points through 15 games. Since Zacha broke into the league in 2016, followed by Hischier and The No. 6 overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft hasn’t lived up to the Bratt in 2017, the three became quick friends off the ice. The three even potential of his draft slot early in his career. He’s been an effective, if carpooled to work every day. inconsistent, NHL player for the Devils, but never the game-changing But prior to recent games, the trio never played on the same line. With presence teams hope to find with that type of prospect. Hischier and Zacha normally playing center, it was rarely an option, but It’s easy to forget Zacha is still just 23 years old, and players hitting their Ruff’s choice to feature Zacha more at left wing allowed them to create stride around this point of their career isn’t uncommon. one line.

“I had a lot of talks with the coaches and how to battle in corners, how Bratt missed the first six games of the season after dealing with work visa the wind pucks and how the play for for my line,” Zacha said. “And I think issues and travel quarantine in January, and Hischier returned less than I’m trying to focus on that and just try to find open areas, which (Jesper) a week ago. So Zacha’s tried to help both get up to speed since they’ve Bratt and Nico (Hischier) are finding me there, so it’s just fun to play like been thrown together. that and keep going.” “It’s always hard to come back after such a long time, so they’re really What’s more encouraging about Thursday’s performance is how Zacha good players, they know how to figure it out,” Zacha said. “But we’re got his points. He entered the game with only two 5-on-5 points this always really good in talking to each other as a line and how to motivate season, and both of his assists came at full strength. each other. You have to skate, work hard and it’s going to come. We all know we have a skill and if you work all three together, we create stuff, Zacha’s three points pushed him past Jack Hughes for the team lead this so we just have to keep doing that.” season. His five goals are also one behind Miles Wood for the team lead. The penalty kill is still costing the Devils In past seasons, Zacha was often hesitant to shoot, despite having a highly touted shot. The Sabres scored two more power-play goals on Thursday, marking the third time in four games the Devils allowed multiple power-play scores. “He has an unbelievable shot and obviously is all around a great player,” The lowest-ranked penalty kill in the NHL just can’t manage to get out of Hischier said. “I’m happy for him. He always (has) great chances and its own way. now the puck goes. I keep telling him, with a shot like that, keep shooting. He’s doing it right now and he has one of the best shots in the Making it even more frustrating, both of Thursday’s goals came on similar league, I would say.” plays. They occurred on backdoor tap ins, and both came at the cost of defenseman Ryan Murray. Points aside, the Devils are simply getting more consistent play from Zacha. He hasn’t posted a strong outing before disappearing in the next On the Sabres’ first power-play goal, Murray pursued at the game. Part of that might be head coach Lindy Ruff’s system, but even bottom of the right circle. With Sami Vatanen out in coverage high in the playing in different roles so far this season, Zacha has found a way to left circle, Murray’s move left the front of then net exposed, and Staal hit make an impact. Casey Mittelstadt for an easy finish.

“He’s competing harder. I think the skating has really come along. I think On the second goal, Taylor Hall had the puck high in the left circle. he feels good about his game,” Ruff said. “He realizes there’s some Murray drifted up from the opposite side to take a Sabre in the slot, and areas of his game he wants to improve, he’s working on that part of it. Hall fired a pass between his legs to find Sam Reinhart at the back post And we know we’re a better team when he’s skating and playing. He’s for a game-tying goal. got an unbelievable shot and he showed it again in overtime.” “There was a lot of good stuff, but we made two big errors,” Ruff said. Playing in his fourth game since returning from a broken leg and a bout “And just a structure, an individual error on both goals, where we with COVID-19, Hischier got his first point of the season with a go-ahead competed hard. But we’re winning face-offs, we’re not getting the puck goal early in the third period. Aside from getting on the board, Hischier out of the zone. You might think that’s a small thing. That’s a big thing. looked more like his usual self on Thursday. We had an early exit in the penalty kill tonight. We didn’t get the puck down the ice. So it’s got to improve. When you’re struggling, the small things make a big difference. And at the end, it bit us again.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204151 New York Islanders

Islanders look to bring even more against Penguins over next two games

By Andrew Gross

Updated February 26, 2021 5:01 PM

The Islanders liked their last performances against the Penguins, just not the results.

They have a chance to rectify that this weekend against the Penguins to conclude a four-game homestand at Nassau Coliseum. The teams play both Saturday night and late Sunday afternoon to finish six games between them in February.

The Islanders are 1-2-1 so far, including a 4-1 loss in Pittsburgh on Feb. 18 and a well-played 3-2 defeat there two nights later.

"Other than the loss, I didn’t mind the way we played," coach Barry Trotz said after Friday’s practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow. "We just didn’t get the win."

Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders. Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders.

Host Andrew Gross is joined by Nassau County Executive Laura Curran to talk about fans returning to the Coliseum, followed by play-by-play announcer Chris King to discuss the Islanders.

"These games are big," defenseman Ryan Pulock said. "If you look at the standings, we’ve been kind of fighting for position with them. The past games have been pretty tight. We’ve liked our game in some of those games. But we’ve got to bring our best. We’ve got two games against them and we’ve just got to keep building throughout those two games and try to come up with a couple of wins."

The third-place Islanders (10-6-3) have won the first two games on the homestand — part of a larger stretch of nine of 10 at home — after beating the East Division-leading Bruins, 7-2, on Thursday night. They are two points ahead of the Penguins (10-7-1).

But it’s also likely they will play Saturday’s game without crucial piece , part of their identity-setting line with center Casey Cizikas and Matt Martin. He exited at 15:03 of the first period against the Bruins with an unspecified injury.

Clutterbuck did not practice on Friday as he received treatment. Trotz listed him as day to day.

That’s also the designation for Michael Dal Colle, who remains on injured reserve with a lower-body injury though he again practiced with the team on Friday.

"He is a possibility for the weekend," Trotz said of Dal Colle. "I’m not saying tomorrow."

Having Dal Colle, who is strong along the walls and on the forecheck, available would certainly help if Clutterbuck cannot play.

But replacing Clutterbuck’s energy and grit has proven difficult before. Last season, Clutterbuck missed 30 games after the skate blade of the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron sliced his left hand and the Islanders went 12- 12-6 without him.

"Clutter’s a big piece of that identity line," Jordan Eberle said. "They create a lot of energy. He gets in on forechecks. He gets hit. A lot of times, defensemen are a little slower to make plays because they think he’s coming."

Notes & quotes: Trotz said goalie Cory Schneider is unavailable because of non-hockey related family reasons and he was not listed on the team’s roster on Friday. Jakub Skarek, a third-round pick in 2018 who has played in five of the first six games for the Islanders’ AHL-affiliate in Bridgeport, was placed on the taxi squad as insurance…Trotz has indicated he expects to give both Semyon Varlamov and rookie Ilya Sorokin starts in net this weekend.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204152 New York Islanders Islanders in the vicinity. The Islanders won the puck battle as Cizikas picked it up to the right of Varlamov but then sent his clearing attempt out of play. While the penalty was not Varlamov’s fault, it could have been prevented if Varlamov controlled the rebound. Semyon Varlamov Had to Battle in Islanders Win Over Bruins The Islanders continued to rally on and dominate the offensive zone, as Varlamov only faced eight shots in the final twenty minutes. He would pick up his third win against the Bruins this season (3-0-0) and has a Published 6 hours ago on February 26, 2021By Stefen Rosner 1.33 GAA with a .959 SV% against the best team in the East Division.

“Varly came up with key saves at key times for us tonight,” said Barry What was there not to love about the New York Islanders 7-2 victory over Trotz following the game. And that is precisely how I would describe the the Boston Bruins? Mathew Barzal was dynamic, the defense got performance of Varlamov. It was not pretty by any means, but he got the involved in the offense and the Islanders beat one of the best teams in job done. the National Hockey League for the third time in as many tries this NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 02.27.2021 season.

BOSTON BEATDOWN: Five-Goal Third Period Leads Islanders to Win Over Bruins

Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov started his fourth consecutive hockey game and stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced on Thursday. The two goals that did enter the back of the net were not on him, as the first goal was a tap-in for Nick Ritchie, while the second came off an unfortunate deflection in the slot.

Varlamov also picked up his first point of the season whe he picked up the secondary assist on Barzal’s goal in the second. He stopped 12 of the 13 high-danger chances he faced in the win and was named the third star of the game.

But Varlamov was not as sharp tonight as he had been in games past.

In his last outing, a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres, Semyon Varlamov stopped 34 of 36 shots and was called upon to make many big-time saves. Last night, Varlamov did not seem as strong structurally as he had been and he had to battle until the Islanders could pull away in the third period. I would even go as far as to say that this was his worst performance of the season in regards of rebound control.

As the first period came and went, Varlamov seemed to be slightly delayed in his reaction time, whether it be finding loose pucks or tracking pucks off Boston sticks. The fact that the Bruins were only able to score twice speaks volumes to the help Varlamov got from his teammates in front, as well as Varlamov’s ability to battle through adversity.

After one period of play, Varlamov stopped 14 of 15. His rebound control did not get much better in the second period, as less than a minute into the middle frame, a backhand shot off the stick of David Pastrnak caromed off of Varlamov’s pad and right to the slot. However, defenseman Adam Pelech was in the right spot to clear the puck to the corner as play continued.

A couple of minutes later, Jake DeBrusk found himself on a breakaway following a Barzal turnover. While Noah Dobson was able to disrupt the shot, Varlamov played the scoring chance rather nicely. On breakaways, the goaltender is supposed to be aggressive but then judge the player’s speed and skate backward accordingly. Varlamov did just that as he denied the opportunity.

As seconds remained in the middle frame, Semyon Varlamov could not control a deep shot off the stick of Pastrnak from a few feet inside the blue line. The puck would hit off of his glove and right to Sean Kuraly in front, but he was unable to corral the puck as time expired. A goal there would have put the Islanders in a rather challenging position in the third period against one of the best lockdown teams in all of hockey.

Semyon Varlamov stopped 12 of 13 in the middle frame, as the game went to the third period knotted at two.

The third period would be a relatively easy period for Varlamov, as the Islanders jumped all over former Islander Jaroslav Halak and the Bruins for five unanswered goals.

Four minutes into the final period, with the score still tied, Varlamov denied Charlie Coyle, who made a nice power move towards the goal, as he let a backhand shot go. Backhand shots are the hardest for a goaltender to read, given how it comes off the stick, but Varlamov, whether it looked pretty or not, made the save.

At 12:04 of the third period, with the Islanders now up 4-2, Casey Cizikas would go off for delay-of-game. Seconds prior, Semyon Varlamov would fight off a DeBrusk shot from a bad angle as the puck came right back out in front. Anders Bjork looked to jump on the loose puck, despite three 1204153 New York Islanders “He took me under his wing right away,” Wahlstrom said earlier in the week about Pageau. “He’s an easy guy to talk to and it’s fun learning from him. I’m not afraid to ask him questions and he’s just been a huge help. He’s been getting my confidence up a little bit, which is good. He’s A Year Later, Jean-Gabriel Pageau Proving to be an Invaluable Asset for been unbelievable for me and he’s playing unbelievable right now.” Islanders The proof is certainly in the pudding. Wahlstrom assisted on Pageau’s game-winner on Monday and Wahlstrom scored his second goal of the year on Thursday when Pageau was on the ice. Published 17 hours ago on February 26, 2021By Christian Arnold Islanders star Mathew Barzal described Pageau as a utility knife because

he can do just about everything. A year after joining the Islanders, it’s UNIONDALE, N.Y. — On the week of the one-year anniversary of the become clear just how true that really is. New York Islanders acquiring Jean-Gabriel Pageau and his first game in NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 02.27.2021 blue and orange, the 28-year-old is proving why he was worth the hefty price to bring him to Long Island.

Pageau was one of seven different Islanders to score on Thursday in their 7-2 win over the East Division-leading Boston Bruins. Pageau has made it a bit of a habit this year to haunt Boston whenever they face the Islanders.

In three games, Pageau has four goals against Boston which included the game-winner in their first meeting of the year on Jan. 18. On Thursday, he had a shorthanded goal to put the Islanders up 5-2 at 12:24 of the third period and in the process picked up his second shorthanded goal of the season.

And most importantly for the Islanders in their win over Boston was that Pageau was able to take the place of Cal Clutterbuck after he was injured in the middle of the game.

“Pager can kind of do it all. Play any position and he is that utility piece for us,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “He’s been playing some phenomenal hockey all season. Getting him some extra ice is not going to hurt us at all.”

After Clutterbuck left the game on Thursday, Pageau was double-shifted by Islanders head coach Barry Trotz and put in Clutterbuck’s spot on the fourth line. The transition was seamless and the Islanders energy line didn’t miss a beat with Pageau on the wing.

The versatility Pageau has brought is something that Trotz has taken advantage of this year.

“He is so useful and he had some bite and snarl, and jump tonight,” Trotz said. “I can use him in so many different areas. I can use him in all three forward positions, obviously. It’s a good fit having that luxury of Pager being able to play in multiple lines.”

When the Islanders traded for Pageau they did pay a bit of a king’s ransom for the forward who was in the midst of a career-year. They had to send a first and second-round pick to the Ottawa Senators for Pageau and then promptly signed him to a six-year, $30 million contract extension, which caused some grumbling in Islanders country.

What the Islanders have gotten out of the deal could be worth more than what they had to give up in money and draft picks. Pageau instantaneously embraced his new team, scoring and getting into a fight with Jacob Trouba in his first game with the Islanders.

He became an invaluable piece during the Islanders’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals both on and off the ice. And this he’s picked up where he left off, tied for second on the team in goals with eight and tied for third in points with 12.

“Looking back (at the trade) I’m super excited with the result,” Pageau said before the Islanders decimated Boston. “I feel like it’s been going pretty fast. Just coming then going to the playoffs then going back to Ottawa to spend the shorter summer. And then coming back here for training camp and starting the year. It’s just been rock and roll, but I’m excited and I can’t wait to have more years here.”

Goalscorer, versatile forward, penalty killer and power-play performer are all ways to describe what Pageau has brought to the Islanders. But this season, there is one more quality that can be added to the list.

That would be a mentor.

Pageau has been playing alongside rookie Oliver Wahlstrom as of late and the two have been clicking since Trotz put the youngster into the lineup. Wahlstrom had come into this year as someone who had been known to have a more offensive mindset and he has been able to pick the brain of Pageau since they started playing with one another. 1204154 New York Rangers He has formed a perfect union with Adam Fox, with whom he was a teammate and often a defense pair partner on Team USA’s 2015 U17 team and 2016 U18 team, and on the U20 team in 2017 and 2018 at the World Juniors. Lindgren is as tough to play against as any Rangers Young stars have Rangers still reaping benefits of Rick Nash trade defenseman since Jeff Beukeboom, but his game is more than that.

“My relationship with Ryan goes back to the national program and was very familiar with him as a player and a lot of the intangibles he brought By Larry BrooksFebruary 27, 2021 | 12:24am to the game,” Quinn said. “I thought he had a chance to be an NHL player, but this is a guy that has willed his way to being a good NHL player in a short period of time. We all know that the Rangers have amassed an abundance of young, promising pieces since embarking on the Great Rebuilding leading up to “The thing I give him a lot of credit for is that he has adapted. He has the 2018 trade deadline. It is, however, still impossible to say whether the leaned up, he’s quicker, his hands are better. His skating has improved, team is ahead, behind or on schedule because, let’s fact it, the final so has his conditioning. He’s a great complement to Foxy, but I think he’d picture’s look remains not only unfinished, but also still a bit of a puzzle. be a great complement to anybody.”

But we do know with certainty that the Rangers would not even be close From there, the compliments to Gorton. For there on the ice were to where they are today if not for the haul general manager Jeff Gorton Lindgren, Miller and Strome. Lettermen, by any other names. brought back from Boston in the Feb. 25, 2018, deal for rental property New York Post LOADED: 02.27.2021 Rick Nash that he was able to augment both four and nine months later.

The letter-proscribed rebuilding featured trades of Ryan McDonagh, Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Hayes and J.T, Miller among the marquee players sent off Broadway, but the bounty received for Nash represents the grand prize in this process.

Ryan Lindgren came from the Bruins during his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota after his second-round selection in 2016. A first- round draft choice was included, as were salary-dump Matt Beleskey and an out-of-favor Ryan Spooner. OK, looks good, but perhaps not so special.

But Gorton wheeled the Bruins’ first rounder and the Devils’ second rounder (obtained at the deadline for ) to Ottawa to move up from 26th to 22nd overall in order to select K’Andre Miller. And in November 2018, after a string of desultory performances from Spooner, who never invested in David Quinn’s program, Gorton sent the forward to Edmonton in exchange for Ryan Strome.

Ryan Lindgren, who came to the Rangers as a byproduct of them trading Rick Nash in 2018, plays against the Bruins on Friday night.

So in essence, Lindgren, Miller and Strome, all of whom were key ingredients in Friday’s Garden party of a 6-2 victory over the Bruins in front of approximately 1,800 fans who almost made it sound as if it were June 14, 1994, all over again, in exchange for Nash and his expiring contract.

Pretty, pretty, pretty good.

The Blueshirts were even better than that in this one, playing with smarts, with swagger and with a controlled fury against a Boston team that has lost four of its last five. They didn’t back down, and they didn’t back up. On the contrary, the Rangers stood up and owned the battle areas. They owned the neutral zone. Simple, hard-edged plays straight throughout the lineup enabled talent to thrive.

“No one was backing down tonight,” said Lindgren, who had four hits and a pair of assists on this plus-three night. “They’re a physical team. They like to jaw after the whistle and, you know, do things like that. We weren’t backing down. We were giving it right back.

“And we were smart with our physicality, too. We weren’t taking dumb penalties. It was a great team effort, and we came to play tonight.”

One of those four credited hits among the Rangers’ credited total of 32 (17 in the first period) came with about 40 seconds remaining in the first period, when Lindgren lowered his shoulder and the boom on David Pastrnak, sending the Boston winger to the ice as he attempted to carry up the right boards through the neutral zone. Oops. Sorry. Roadblock in the way. Pastrnak should have checked Waze.

“I mean, you saw him coming down the wall, and I knew he was going to try to get the red [line] and dump it in,” No. 55 said. “So I just tried to finish my hit and the fans loved it. So it felt good.”

Lindgren was regarded as a marginal prospect when Boston GM Don Sweeney sent him to the Rangers. The read on him was “great leadership qualities.” It sounded like a “great personality,” scouting report on a first date. Soon after the deal, Lindgren left school following his sophomore year and joined the AHL Wolf Pack on an amateur tryout. He spent nearly all of 2018-19 in the AHL before busting onto the scene early last season. 1204155 New York Rangers

K’Andre Miller back after stint on Rangers’ COVID-19 list

By Mollie WalkerFebruary 27, 2021 | 12:14am

K’Andre Miller returned to the lineup for Friday’s 6-2 victory over the Bruins after a brief stint on the COVID-19 protocol list forced the rookie defenseman to miss one game.

The Rangers’ defense had looked to be in disarray without Miller in their 4-3 loss to the Flyers on Wednesday, with the bottom four struggling mightily. Considering Jacob Trouba (broken thumb) is out for four to six weeks, losing Miller for a prolonged period of time would have put an enormous amount of pressure on the Adam Fox-Ryan Lindgren tandem, which received an exhausting amount of ice time in his absence Wednesday.

“He gives us such a presence back there, his ability to move pucks, his skating, his ability to defend,” head coach David Quinn said of the 21- year-old Miller, who replaced Anthony Bitetto in the lineup. “We’ve talked about it a lot since the season started, the adjustment he’s made to this level, as easy as he’s made it look and as quickly as he’s made it. It’s really surprising in a lot of ways. We certainly miss him when he’s not in the lineup.”

Skating next to Brendan Smith, Miller blocked four shots and registered one hit with one takeaway in 21:13 of ice time.

Alexis Lafreniere (right)

It’s easy to grow impatient when Alexis Lafreniere, the first-overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, who was miraculously won by the Rangers in a lottery and was singled out as a franchise-altering player, has just two goals through his first 18 games of his career.

But Lafreniere continues to show growth and an insatiable desire to learn different aspects of the game, according Quinn, who has worked with young hockey players nearly his entire career in hockey.

The 19-year-old registered his first NHL assist Friday, sending a stellar cross-ice pass right to Ryan Strome for an open shot on the rush at 2:32 of the second period to put the Rangers up 2-0.

“He’s just always smiling, the game ends and he’s in there hooting and hollering,” Quinn said of Lafreniere. “He’s just getting more confident, more comfortable and you see the skill. I just love the fact that he’s paying attention and wants to learn about the other areas of the game and make him a complete player that he’s going to eventually be. I really like the direction he’s going.”

Now that Lafreniere is getting some time on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich in Artemi Panarin’s absence, he is beginning to learn how to create more opportunities for his teammates and move without the puck.

But the reality is exactly what Quinn has continued to point out: Lafreniere’s NHL career is just 18 games old.

Alexandar Georgiev made 31 saves, including 15 in the second period, to earn his second straight win and his third of the season. He extended his personal point streak to four games (2-0-2 in the four) to match his career high.

New York Post LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204156 New York Rangers The Rangers seemed to feed off the noise and approval as they dialed up the physicality in the opening 20 minutes, out-hitting the Bruins 17-8.

The fans had missed the action, and the Rangers seemingly wanted to Rangers give returning fans a gift: Blowout win over Bruins make up for the lost time.

New York Post LOADED: 02.27.2021

By Mollie WalkerFebruary 26, 2021 | 10:10pm | Updated

On a night when the roaring cheers from their fans reverberated throughout Madison Square Garden for the first time this season, when every hit was echoed by a round of applause and every save received a standing ovation, the Rangers put on a show worthy of the 356-day wait.

With the impassioned reactions from behind the glass and the traditional “Potvin Sucks!” jeers from Up in the Blue Seats (see what I did there?), the Bruins got a harsh reminder of what home-ice advantage feels like as the Rangers rolled over them in a dominant 6-2 win Friday night in front of 1,800 fans.

As the Garden came alive, so did the Rangers.

“It sounded like 20,000 [fans], not 2,000,” Adam Fox said after the win, which improved the Rangers to 7-8-3.

The game was busted wide open when the Rangers potted three goals in the second period. Their highest-scoring performance of the season marked the Rangers’ first win over Boston in three tries this season.

An irrefutable spirit, toughness and tenacity exuded from the Rangers’ play. And with every “Let’s Go Rangers!” chant that boomed, the Blueshirts’ will to win became stronger and stronger. It hasn’t been the start to the season that the team and the fans wanted or expected, but the Rangers welcomed their loyal supporters back by skating Boston out of the Garden.

Chris Kreider celebrates his second goal during the Rangers’ 6-2 blowout win over the Bruins.

“I’m standing there during in the national anthem, I had some goosebumps and some energy that haven’t had in a long time,” said Ryan Strome, whose second goal of the season, early in the second period, made it a 2-0 game. “It’s been a sort of challenging time in the world for everybody, and I think for 2,000 people to have a night out and for us to put on a good performance was a good thing for New York.”

The Bruins stayed competitive following Strome’s tally when their captain, Patrice Bergeron, put them on the board 2 ¹/₂ minutes later. But Boston’s Brad Marchand — who got his own warm welcome at the Garden — was called for high sticking and Colin Blackwell redirected a point shot from Fox on the power play to make it 3-1 at 18:52 for the Rangers’ fourth-straight game with a man-advantage tally.

A no-look wrister from Chris Kreider with less than a minute left in the second wrapped a bow on one of the Rangers’ most commanding periods of the season.

Pavel Buchnevich and Jonny Brodzinski, skating in his second game as a Ranger since his call-up from the taxi squad Wednesday, chipped in a goal apiece in the third to seal the deal.

“[The Bruins] get that one [in the second] to make it 2-1, I thought they were coming,” head coach David Quinn said. “We had some lucky breaks on the penalty kill, we get the huge power play goal, and Kreids gets that goal right away. … I really liked an awful lot about our game tonight.”

Julien Gauthier registered his second NHL goal off a hard wrist shot from the left circle to make it 1-0 and ignite the first Rangers goal song since March 7, 2020, at 13:03 in the first period.

Fans at Madison Square Garden enjoy the Rangers’ win over the Bruins on Friday night.

“You knew there were going to be fans in the building, but I don’t think any of us expected the impact they would make,” Quinn said. “They were incredibly loud and passionate. You hear the number of people that might be in here, think ‘That’ll be nice but won’t have that much of an impact.’ They had an impact tonight. … We certainly look forward to the day we can have this place full the way it normally is.” 1204157 New York Rangers

Rangers seeing progress in Alexis Lafreniere’s game

By Mollie WalkerFebruary 26, 2021 | 4:23pm | Updated

It’s easy to grow impatient when the first-overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft – whom the Rangers miraculously won in a lottery and was tabbed as a franchise-altering player – has just two goals through the first 17 games of his career.

But head coach David Quinn has worked with young hockey players nearly his entire career, and says that Alexis Lafreniere is trending in the right direction.

“I think he’s playing well, I think there’s certainly progress in his game,” Quinn said prior to Friday’s game against the Bruins. “He had some real good shifts against Philly and he’s practicing harder. Obviously, everybody points to the first pick overall and there’s a ton of pressure on these guys, but it’s a hard league at 18 or 19 years old, it really is.

“He’s learning the game, he wants to learn and he’s always coachable, looking for ways to improve and takes coaching well. I just like the direction his game is going in.”

While the 19-year-old’s first NHL goal was an easy tap-in on an impossible-to-miss pass from Colin Backwell in overtime against the Sabres on Jan. 28, his second tally against the Capitals last week showed off some of the highly-anticipated skills he was said to have.

Alexis Lafreniere

Taking a strong pass from Artemi Panarin, Lafreniere showed off his quick hands – and decision making – right in front of the net to finesse the puck past Washington goaltender Vitek Vanecek.

Now that he’s getting time on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich in Artemi Panarin’s absence, Lafreniere is beginning to learn how to create more opportunities for his teammates and move without the puck.

But the reality is exactly what Quinn has continued to point out: Lafreniere’s NHL career is just 17 games old, and patience is required.

Filip Chytil won’t be in the lineup Friday despite practicing with the team for the first time this week.

Quinn didn’t shut the door on the possibility of the 21-year-old center getting back into the lineup against Boston on Sunday, but mentioned Thursday that the coaching staff had to see how he felt after sustaining a hand injury at the end of last month.

Quinn said the team has no plans to recall any player from Hartford Friday, but mentioned their lineup against the Bruins was waiting on “a couple things pending,” meaning either Kaapo Kakko or K’Andre Miller could be coming off the COVID-19 Protocol list.

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Rangers letting distractions break their mental game

By Mollie WalkerFebruary 26, 2021 | 2:53pm | Updated

For as many close games as the Rangers have had during this truncated season, several losses can be attributed to self-inflicted mistakes.

Taking the team’s last loss heading into Friday’s matchup with the Bruins for example, a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Flyers on Wednesday, the Rangers took eight penalties – with five of them coming after the first period. Two were for delay of game in the middle frame, while another was their second too many men on the ice penalty of the night, even though it was called in the final nine seconds of the contest.

If it’s not penalties or foolish mistakes hindering the Rangers, it’s a lack of mental toughness. It’s something that head coach David Quinn says that he’s harped on in the locker room in recent weeks.

While there are many reasons why this young Blueshirts squad hasn’t been as mentally sharp as they should be, Quinn believes it is up to the team to block out all the outside noise of this eventful season and just play their game.

“I think there could be a variety of reasons why we weren’t mentally sharp the other night,” he said Friday afternoon. “There’s been a lot going on but that’s a responsibility of the players and the coaching staff to make sure that stuff doesn’t get in the way of us performing at the level that we perform at. We did a lot of good things the other night, but it looked a little bit like last year, where we did some good things but really shot ourselves in the foot too often.

“That hasn’t happened as much this year, so we just got to get back to playing that sound structured game as we all referred to in Washington and we just haven’t done it consistently enough lately. There’s been too much peaks and valleys over the last week and a half. We’ve had a good one and a bad one, a good one, and a bad one. So we’ve got to find that consistency.”

There’s no question this 2020-21 season has been unlike any other in more ways than one. The coronavirus pandemic is still ravaging the country, and as outbreaks continue to spread from team to team, the league has implemented new protocols a few times through the first six weeks of the season.

The Rangers have been rather lucky, but have had their fair share of players designated to the COVID-19 Protocol list, with Kaapo Kakko and K’Andre Miller the most recent additions.

Then there’s the off-ice distractions that the Rangers, in particular, have been subjected to. From a physical altercation between teammates following a loss that resulted in Tony DeAngelo’s banishment, to star player Artemi Panarin having to take a leave of absence amid a political scandal in his home country of Russia, the disturbances have been in abundance for the Rangers.

But every team is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and has their own forms of diversions to ignore. The Rangers simply need to find a way to dial themselves back in.

“I think it’s a little bit of mentality,” defenseman Adam Fox said Wednesday. “Obviously you take as many penalties as we did [Wednesday] and a good team like [the Flyers] will capitalize on a few chances. We capitalized on some of our power play chances too.

“But in the end, you give them that many grade-A chances – like they had three breakaways in the span of five minutes there in the third – and it’s tough to win games against a team like that when you’re playing that reckless and sloppy.”

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A fan-tastic win by Rangers over Bruins

By Colin Stephenson

Updated February 26, 2021 11:40 PM

It had been 51 weeks since Rangers fans had seen their Blueshirts in person at Madison Square Garden, and when the fans returned to The World’s Most Famous Arena on Friday night, their team put on a show for them.

Playing their second game since their leading scorer and best offensive player, Artemi Panarin, took a leave of absence, the Rangers rewarded the fans with a spirited 6-2 thrashing of the East Division-leading Boston Bruins in the opener of a two-game weekend set. The teams will go at it again Sunday afternoon at the Garden.

Ryan Strome had a goal and two assists, Chris Kreider scored his fourth goal in two games and Phillip Di Giuseppe, Colin Blackwell, Pavel Buchnevich and Jonny Brodzinski also scored against goalie Tuukka Rask to hand the Bruins their second loss in the New York area in two nights. The Islanders had blitzed Boston, 7-2, on Thursday.

The fans hadn’t seen the Rangers (7-8-3) play in person since a 6-4 loss at the Garden last March 7, but Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Feb. 10 that spectators could begin attending sporting events at arenas that seat at least 10,000 this week, with attendance limited to 10% of the venue’s capacity.

So 1,800 fans with negative COVID tests in hand were allowed to attend Friday’s game. They made themselves heard from the very beginning, cheering warmups, booing when the Bruins (11-5-2) were announced as the Rangers’ opponents, cheering hits by the Rangers and, of course, questioning the referees.

"I mean you can’t underestimate how great it was to have the fans back in the building,’’ Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren said. "They provided such a spark for us. And they were loud. You know there’s only [1,800] in there, but it seemed like the building was packed.’’

"You knew there were going to be fans in the building, but I don’t think any of us expected the impact that would make,’’ coach David Quinn said. "They were incredibly loud and passionate. And you hear the number of people that might be in here, and you think, ‘Oh, that’ll be nice, but they’re not gonna have that much of an impact.’ They had an impact tonight.’’

The Rangers got an early start when a wrist shot from far out by Julien Gauthier was tipped by Di Giuseppe and got past Rask (28 saves on 34 shots) at 13:16 of the first period. The Rangers made it 2-0 at 2:32 of the second period on a goal by Strome shortly after killing off a high- sticking penalty to Kevin Rooney.

Boston’s Patrice Bergeron deflected in a pretty pass from David Pastrnak at 4:02, and at that point, it seemed as if the Bruins were back in the game. But the Rangers got two goals 12 seconds apart near the end of the period — a power-play goal by Blackwell at 18:52 and Kreider’s ninth goal of the season at 19:04 — to open a 4-1 lead they took into intermission.

Goals by Buchnevich and Brodzinski early in the third put the game away.

"They get that one to make it 2-1, I thought they were coming,’’ Quinn said. "We had some lucky breaks on the penalty kill, we get the huge power-play goal, and Kreids gets that goal right away. And listen, we’re not ignorant to the fact this team played [Thursday] night. We know what we’re in for on Sunday.

"That being said, I really liked an awful lot about our game tonight. I thought we were ready to play from the drop of the puck. I thought we had all four lines going, our ‘D’ corps played well and our goalie played well. So it was truly a team effort.’’

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K'Andre Miller comes off COVID-19 list and returns to Rangers lineup

By Colin Stephenson

Updated February 26, 2021 11:42 PM

When he did his pregame media briefing Friday, Rangers coach David Quinn couldn’t confirm what his lineup would look like because, the coach said, "We still got a couple things pending here where we’ll know a clearer picture this afternoon what our lineup will look like.’’

The "things pending’’ turned out to be that defenseman K’Andre Miller, who missed Wednesday’s game in Philadelphia because he was placed on the COVID-19 list that day, came off the list and played in the Rangers’ 6-2 win over Boston.

Miller, the 21-year-old rookie who has been a revelation for the Blueshirts, had missed two games with an upper-body injury before returning to action last week in a win over Washington.

Then he turned out to be a last-minute scratch against the Flyers. Players who are put on the COVID-19 list don’t necessarily have the virus. Sometimes they are deemed close contacts of someone who tested positive, or perhaps they are the victim of a false positive or inconclusive test.

That left forward Kaapo Kakko as the only Ranger on the list as of Friday’s faceoff. Kakko, who also missed a game because he was on the list earlier this season, missed his third game since going on the list just before the game in Washington.

Miller had a goal and three assists in 14 games and was tied for the team lead in plus/minus with Kevin Rooney at plus-5. He partnered with Brendan Smith on the second defense pair, played 21:13 and took a holding penalty.

Anthony Bitetto came out of the lineup to make room for Miller. Bitetto had played in nine straight games.

With Bitetto coming out, Jack Johnson remained in, and he partnered with Libor Hajek on the third defense pair.

Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren each had two assists. Fox was a plus-2 and Lindgren a plus-3. Alexandar Georgiev made 31 saves and won his second straight game, improving his record to 3-2-2.

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Rangers show signs of a surge in their power play

By Colin Stephenson

Updated February 26, 2021 4:50 PM

The Buffalo Sabres, who were tied with the Rangers at the bottom of the East Division standings entering play Friday, also were at the top of the league in power play success, having scored on 19 of 55 opportunities (34.6%). But they were an outlier.

With the Sabres being the lone exception, 13 of the top 14 teams in the NHL’s power play rankings held a playoff spot in the league’s 2021 all- division-play format, which will send the top four teams in each division to the playoffs.

That would include the Boston Bruins, against whom the Rangers opened a two-game set Friday at Madison Square Garden, the first two games of the season in which the Garden would have fans in it.

The Bruins, tied for the East Division lead with Washington, were sixth in the league in power play percentage at 28.9 (15-for-52). Washington was third, at 32% (16-for-50).

The Rangers, who entered Friday’s game with a 6-8-3 record, were 26th in the 31-team league in power play success, with a conversion rate of 14.9% (10-for-67). And that was after the Blueshirts went 2-for-5 with the extra man in Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia.

But there have been signs the Rangers’ power play is starting to come to life. The unit entered Friday’s game having scored in three straight games, after having gone five straight without a goal.

And the two-goal showing Wednesday came despite the fact the Rangers were without their No. 1 offensive weapon, Artemi Panarin, on a leave of absence following accusations by a former coach in Russia that he beat an 18-year-old woman in Riga, Latvia, in 2011.

Chris Kreider scored both power play goals Wednesday, and both were assisted by Mika Zibanejad, who had his best game of the season and looked as though he may be ready to emerge from a season-long slump.

"I thought it was the best our power play’s looked all year,’’ Rangers coach David Quinn said Thursday. "We got two power-play goals, [and] we did a lot of good things on the power play. We could have had more. I felt like we [could have gone] 4-for-5, or 5-for-5 on it.’’

Without Panarin, and without Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, Jacob Trouba and K’Andre Miller — and not to mention with defenseman Tony DeAngelo banished from the team for too many on- and off-ice transgressions — Quinn had to get creative with his extra-man units Wednesday. Journeyman forward Colin Blackwell, who has been impressive after signing as a free agent in the offseason, took Panarin’s spot on the first power play unit. Veteran defensemen Anthony Bitetto and Brendan Smith manned the points on the second unit.

But the key to any real sustainable improvement of the power play will need to be continued improvement in the performance of Zibanejad, who had a goal and two assists — literally half of his season total of two goals and four assists — in the two games before Friday.

If that little mini-surge marked the beginning of the return of the real Zibanejad, who scored a career-high 41 goals in 57 games last season, then the Rangers might have a fighting chance of staying afloat until reinforcements arrive in the form of Panarin, Kakko, Chytil, et al.

Of course, the Rangers were also going to have to keep up the good work at the other end of the ice, on the penalty kill. The man-down unit allowed two goals (in eight times shorthanded) Wednesday. It was the third time this season the Rangers had allowed more than one power play goal in a game. On the season, their penalty-killing unit ranked eighth overall in the league, killing 84.4% (54-for-64) of opposing power plays.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204162 New York Rangers recognize the subtle physicality of this game. For 50/50 pucks, if you’re reaching as opposed to thinking, ‘I’m going to get physical’ with the opponent, you’re going to be in trouble. You’re going to find yourself on the wrong side of the puck all night. I thought for sure our mentality and Rangers reward small Garden crowd that ‘sounded like 20,000’ by our intentions in the 50/50 puck battles were, ‘We’re going to get into thumping Bruins people,’ and usually when you do that, you’re on the right side of it and you end up with possession.”

The Rangers, as mentioned, went light on the fancy, too, although there By Rick Carpiniello Feb 26, 2021 was still enough opportunity to show off some skill. And they did at times. Mostly they made life difficult on the Bruins defense and goalie Tuukka Rask, who was badly outplayed by Alexandar Georgiev down at the other You expected this, right? With all the adversity to have clobbered them end. over the helmet, the loss of players for so many different reasons, and at such a difficult juncture in the schedule, you expected the Rangers to win “We weren’t afraid to chip pucks in,” Strome said. “Sometimes with our three of four. Right? team, we get so excited to make plays cross ice. We have guys that can do it … but it’s timely and situational hockey. We’re starting to learn that. And though the loss stunk, and one of the wins was also unsightly, the I think we definitely get into trouble forcing plays to the middle and going Rangers beat Philadelphia, Washington and now Boston — not exactly cross ice and trying to be a little too cute sometimes. But I thought tonight the chopped liver of the East. The 6-2 win Friday over the Bruins, which we kept it simple. We made their D turn and skate backwards and we became lopsided in a 12-second span late in the second period, carries a were able to sustain a little more offense that way. I thought all around a caveat because all of a sudden the B’s have sprung a leak. But man, are pretty good game.” these really the Rangers? Pretty good. Just about one-third through the short season, the There were witnesses, too, 1,800 of them, in the first Garden game with undermanned — but not outmanned — Rangers (7-8-3) played their fans since March. most complete game.

“You knew there were going to be fans in the building,” Rangers coach Thoughts: David Quinn said, “but I don’t think any of us expected the impact that they would make. They were incredibly loud and passionate. You hear 1) Quinn twice mentioned, and rightly so, that he expects a different the number of people who might be in here, you think it’ll be nice but they Boston team in the Sunday afternoon rematch. The Rangers are hoping weren’t going to have much of an impact. They had an impact tonight.” that some of their wounded will be returning. They got K’Andre Miller back from the COVID-19 protocol list, and Filip Chytil (hand, COVID-19 They sure did. list) is very close. The Rangers hope Kaapo Kakko can come off the list soon, too, and even Jacob Trouba (broken hand) could be back earlier “Going out there for warmups and seeing them, and then during the than expected, Quinn hinted. As far as Artemi Panarin, there remains no anthem it sounded like 20,000, not 2,000,” Adam Fox said after another timetable for his leave of absence. But the Rangers, for the first time in five-star performance. “It was awesome to have them there. They gave five games over two seasons, got a win without Panarin in the lineup. us a spark and some energy and it was good to get the win with them here.” 2) On the game’s very first shift, Brad Marchand and Fox got together at center ice. Then again behind the net, where Fox got a headlock on the “Standing there during the national anthem, I had some goose bumps Bruins super-pest. Marchand reacted in typical rat-like fashion, dropping and some energy that I haven’t felt in a long time,” Ryan Strome said his gloves against a non-fighter. And there was no penalty. Just asinine after a one-goal, two-assist night. “I’ve said this before: It’s been a officiating. Tell me, is it the same call if it’s Brendan Lemieux on challenging time in the world for everybody, and for 2,000 people to have Marchand? Or on David Pastrnak? I won’t answer that because it’s a night out and for us to put on a good performance was a good thing for rhetorical. And because you know the answer. New York.” 3) Laf-Track: Early on, Lafrenière crashed the net after Mika Zibanejad So very good. The Rangers finally had a postgame stick salute, and swooped toward the paint, but couldn’t get a good hack at a bouncing many of them handed their sticks to fans as they exited. Rookie Alexis rebound. Later in the first, he stole the puck at center ice, took it hard Lafrenière, who had a terrific game, found a little girl, about half the size down the right wing two-on-one with Buchnevich, and when the Bruins of his stick, to reward. Pavel Buchnevich did the same. Quite a few sticks played the pass, he put a back-hander up over Rask, but off the made their way out the exits. crossbar. The 1,800 chosen ones were rewarded, first, with a heart-and-soul “He’s always smiling. The game ends and he’s in there hootin’ and victory in which the Rangers went toe-to-toe in terms of hits and hollerin’,” Quinn said. “He’s just getting more confident, more nastiness with their former archrival. Last time they played it was dirtier comfortable. You see the skill and the talent he has. He’s a dangerous and more filled with punches. This time the Rangers were just tough to player from an offensive perspective, and I just love the fact that he’s play against in every way. paying attention and wants to learn about the other areas of the game to “Last time we played these guys, it got a little chippy and maybe we got a make him the complete player that he’s going to be eventually. We really little bit away from our game,” Fox said. “I think today we didn’t really let it like the direction his game is going.” rattle us, and kept playing and didn’t really lose our structure too much 4) This was a most physical game for a lot of Rangers and certainly Brett and play too loose with the physicality. They’re a good team and play Howden’s most physical game in a while. And frankly, he needs to do hard and we haven’t backed down against them.” more of that. A lot more. Lindgren, well, he does plenty of that. He had “No one was backing down tonight,” said Ryan Lindgren, who may have three bombs in the first period, two of them in open ice on Pastrnak. On broken his nose (shocker there) in one of the battles. “They’re a physical the second, you could really tell there were fans in the building. team. They like to jaw after the whistle and do things like that. We 5) Julien Gauthier did something more than be tall. First, he delivered a weren’t backing down. We were giving it right back. You know, we were hit. Then he used his speed, and shielded the puck along the wall, turned smart with our physicality, too. We weren’t taking dumb penalties. It was and found the Bruins had given him some space, and got the puck on a great team effort. We came to play tonight.” goal with — another strength of his — a wrister. Phil Di Giuseppe cut Quinn has extolled, cajoled, and practically begged his team to cut down across Rask’s field of vision as Gauthier’s shot snuck inside the near on the fancy and up the involvement, particularly on the forecheck, post. His second career goal — both against Boston. 1-0. around the net, along the walls. That doesn’t mean fighting. It means 6) Six seconds into the second, Jack Johnson high-sticked Sean Kuraly understanding what needs to be done to get and keep the puck. in the mush. Our fine, fine NHL officials sent Kevin Rooney to the box “We weren’t running around looking for a hit,” Quinn said. “This game instead. There are four of them. They couldn’t get it right? The Rangers presents plenty of opportunity to be physical, the opportunity in a small killed it, but not without plenty of Boson chances. Jack Studnicka hit the area to get into people, not fish for pucks, and I think overall it was our crossbar after the penalty expired. most physical approach. Again, it’s not about big hits. One of the things 7) And the Rangers cashed in. Chris Kreider stole the puck and carried it we talk an awful lot about with our players is, most people aren’t going to out of the Bruins offensive zone, through the neutral zone and got it to Lafrenière, who sent it perfectly across the ice for Strome, who buried it. 19) By the way, could this be a great time to get a look at forward Morgan 2-0. The first NHL assist for Lafrenière. Barron with a call-up from Hartford? Yes, indeed. Do the Rangers have the cap maneuverability to make such a move? No, sir. 8) But … Charlie McAvoy went around Brendan Smith at the blue line, got it to Marchand, who pushed it to Pastrnak. Now it was chaos. Fox did My Three Rangers Stars: a snow angel — and Pastrnak let him slide by and found Patrice Bergeron, in behind Colin Blackwell for a nice-and-easy tap-in behind 1. Ryan Strome. Georgiev. 2-1. And, yes, Fox is leaving his feet far too often lately. 2. Ryan Lindgren. Please forgive me for saying a negative thing about him once in a blue moon. 3. Alexandar Georgiev.

9) You’ll recall that Lindgren and Marchand had some run-ins in the past, The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 and that last season Marchand said he didn’t think Lindgren (a former Bruins draft pick) would have a very long career. Well, Lindgren stepped up to hit Bergeron, Marchand came in with two cross checks, and when Lindgren tried to square up with Marchand, Studnicka suckered him with another cross check. A free shot awarded by the officials, apparently. Marchand got two minutes. What did Lindgren get? Blood coming out of both nostrils. The Rangers wasted that power play.

10) Quinn said he knew of Lindgren when he played for the national developmental program and knew of his intangibles and thought he had a chance to be n NHL player. “But this is a guy who has just willed his way into being a good NHL player in a short period of time. The thing I give him a lot of credit for is he’s kind of adapted. He’s kind of leaned-up, he’s quicker, his hands are better. Everyone talked about his toughness, his competitiveness. But his skating has improved, his conditioning has improved and he’s just become a real good player in a short time. He’s a really great complement to Fox, but I think he’d be a great complement to anybody. As you see, we have zero problem putting him out there against anybody.”

11) Sure enough, at the end of another post-whistle scrum, Lemieux pulled down Louie’s kid Jake DeBrusk from behind. Penalty. Of course. Not a good penalty to take. But really, that call, after so much garbage? Or was it the name on the back of the jersey? On the kill, Buchnevich set up Zibanejad for a shorthanded redirection that Rask smothered.

12) When Marchand went to the box again, for nearly removing some of Kreider’s teeth, the Rangers had a much, much better power play. They still try to force passes to the high man in the slot, in this case Blackwell. When Marchand exited the box, Buchnevich — who also has plenty of history with Marchand — sent him limping back to the bench with a leg- on-leg hit.

13) Then came a gigantic turning point. Enormous, with it looking like the Rangers would have to protect a one-goal lead into the third. Brendan Smith drew a penalty on Nick Ritchie, the Rangers ganged up to recover a faceoff and Fox — who had family in the arena — fired from 55 feet. Blackwell, in the slot, deflected it past Rask, a much-needed goal with 1:08 left in the period. 3-1.

14) But they weren’t done. Twelve seconds later, with 56 seconds left in the period, Kreider, who had four goals in the previous two games, bulled through two Bruins, circled the back of the net and tossed a bad-angle pass toward the net. It went in off McAvoy — who also had family in the arena. 4-1.

“You definitely feel a lot more comfortable coming out for the third with a three-goal lead as opposed to a one-goal lead,” Fox said.

15) Early third, Fox did one of his dazzling moves around Marchand, then returned the pass to Buchnevich, who was rewarded with a gimme putt. 5-1.

16) Then it was time for Jonny Brodzinski to get in on the act, driving to the net behind McAvoy to convert Kevin Rooney’s pass. His first as a Ranger. 6-1.

17) Marchand got his 300th NHL goal, on a rebound of a Pastrnak shot. 6-2.

18) Key-note: Miller’s return seemed to solidify the whole D corps. With Fox/Lindgren a given, it’s so important to have another top defenseman on the ice. Miller took a Leetch-like twirl, end to end, in the third.

“He gives us such a presence back there, his ability to move pucks, his skating, his ability to defend,” Quinn said. “I mean, we’ve talked about it a lot since the beginning of the season, the adjustment he’s made to this level, as easy as he’s made it look and as quickly as he’s made it, really is surprising in a lot of ways. We certainly miss him when he’s not in the lineup.” 1204163 NHL The story is full of holes, Nazarov is apparently famous for being a Putin- loving crank and Russia has a long history of doing this sort of thing to its wrong-thinkers, but none of that helps Panarin much.

It’s no longer just fun and games, what with the increasingly blurred lines More important, it’s a strong inducement to the next guy to keep his between sports and politics thoughts on social democracy to himself.

Panarin took a leave from the Rangers. The Rangers lined up behind their player. Cathal Kelly Five years ago, that’s it. The story ends there. Which would probably suit Panarin just fine. The last thing he wants is people talking about something he says never happened. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is shy with expressing an opinion in the same way you are shy with breathing oxygen. You both need to do it in order to live. But in the newly conscious sports world, any political disturbance requires an ideological postmortem. Ibrahimovic is a soccer star so impressed with himself that when once asked what God thought of something, he replied, “You’re talking to him That got people talking about hockey’s most famous Russian, Alex now” Ovechkin.

This week Ibrahimovic laid into LeBron James. Ovechkin is a Putin supporter. It’s not as though he’s got the KGB logo tattooed on his neck, or talks about it all the time, but he hasn’t made a Why James? Well, why not? That’s always been Ibrahimovic’s guiding secret of his admiration. principle. Shouldn’t we be pressing him on that, some pundits asked. (No one “[James] is phenomenal at what he’s doing, but I don’t like when people really has.) Shouldn’t we be getting to the bottom of this whole which- have some kind of status, they go and do politics at the same time,” Russian-stands-where-on-Putin issue? Ibrahimovic said in an interview. “Stay out of it. Just do what you do best because it doesn’t look good.” Well, no. Absolutely not.

I believe the technical term for this type of comment is “missiles away.” Athletes should feel as free as the rest of us to express their opinions and push their causes. It does not follow they will suffer no blowback for As a general rule, you don’t find a lot of this sort of thing in pro sports. It’s it. Anyone who wants to start talking politics at the dinner table should not that athletes don’t bear grudges. They’ll happily maim each other on know they’re starting a fight. Nor does it follow that all athletes are the field of play. opening themselves to interrogation about their political opinions. But they have a hands-off rule when it comes to offering comment on the Strictly for my own part, I’m not super interested in what a guy who life choices and public positions of other members of their tribe. throws a ball for a living thinks about pending legislation. But I This detente is maintained through a policy of banality – everyone loves understand that this is of more importance in America, since the sports everyone else; no one has a public stand on anything. The only thing industry is just about the only public institution that country has not they need agree on is the class division that separates them from the completely lost faith in over the past 40 years. people who pay to see them work. America doesn’t have a widely trusted intellectual, administrative or One of the results of injecting a new political consciousness into political class. It has the guys it knows from the Nike commercials. So it’s professional sports is that that equilibrium becomes more difficult to up to those guys to say something. maintain. In any case, this is not getting easier. It’s going to get a lot harder. It hasn’t been very hard up until now. Is racism bad? Was Sports was an escape, a consequence-free, reality-defying fantasyland off his rocker? Yes and yes. There was no problem forming a consensus open to anyone who wanted to live there. around those ideas. Now that sports is relocating back to the real world, it’s starting to find out But once you inject external politics into any social group, it’s bound to that move is not all cool protest T-shirts and applause from the gallery. get complicated. Eventually, it will get ugly. And then someone will ask Talking politics is a messy business. And it tends to get messier the more Zlatan Ibrahimovic what he thinks about it. you talk about it. This week, we saw this sort of complication ripple through the NHL. Globe And Mail LOADED: 02.27.2021 Hockey has run screaming from the new politics. Not because it takes issue with anything being said, but because it can’t find a safe place from which to address it.

Every time the NHL tries to grapple with racial or social tensions in the United States, it gets it all wrong. Hockey is someone tone deaf trying to join a choir. Hockey would prefer everyone else do the singing while it nods along.

But there’s a whole big world out there just looking to cause trouble for anyone who likes talking power relations between individuals and their governments.

On Monday, New York Ranger Artemi Panarin caught it in the neck. Panarin is major Russian star. He’d started using that profile to (gently) push back against the Vladimir Putin regime from his perch in the United States.

Five years ago, it would be hard to imagine a hockey player doing anything like this. But the times they are a-changin’. Maybe that’s what emboldened Panarin to have an opinion out loud in public.

Unlike North American athletes, Russians actually risk something when they rip their government.

Panarin’s payback was a media hit job instigated by his former coach in the KHL. The coach, Andrei Nazarov, accused a then teenage Panarin of beating up an 18-year-old woman in a bar in Latvia 10 years ago, and then bribing his way out of it. 1204164 NHL Toronto fans have been waiting a long time for a talent like Matthews. The last Maple Leaf to lead the league in goals was Gaye Stewart in 1945-46, and the last Maple Leaf to lead the N.H.L. in scoring was Gordie Drillon in 1937-38. Stars Aligned: McDavid and Matthews Set, and Keep, the Pace “He’s picking goalies apart,” William Nylander, a Maple Leafs wing, said of Matthews. “And he’s doing it consistently.”

By Curtis Rush On Wednesday, Matthews became just the third player in Maple Leafs franchise history to record a point in at least 18 of his first 20 games of a Feb. 26, 2021 season.

“It’s hard to even call them hot streaks anymore because it just seems TORONTO — Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews have seemed to like he’s hot all the time,” Toronto center Alex Kerfoot said in a news answer each other’s accomplishments all season. conference.

McDavid, 24, a center for the Edmonton Oilers, had 37 points in his first While Matthews’s defining skill is his shot, McDavid’s is his speed. Ray 20 games, the most in such a stretch since ’s total almost Ferraro, a former player who is a TSN analyst, regards him as the best 20 years ago. Last week, McDavid scored his 500th career point, tying skater in N.H.L. history. Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby as the eighth-fastest player to “There are just some nights where the puck seems to follow him around,” reach the milestone. Oilers Coach Dave Tippett said in a news conference. Three days later, Matthews, 23, a center for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Of course, McDavid and Matthews don’t work alone. McDavid is on the had his second consecutive game with two goals and two assists. same line as Leon Draisaitl, who was last season’s scoring champion McDavid countered hours later with three goals and his second five-point and M.V.P., and Matthews is supported by linemate Mitch Marner. The game of this season. four players are in the top five in scoring.

McDavid is on pace to surpass 100 points and Matthews could reach 50 Despite the competition between hockey stars, there is a history — from goals, which would be jaw-dropping numbers in an abbreviated, 56-game the 1980s to Matthews and McDavid — of them working together to season. improve their games.

The gaudy offensive production from players in their early 20s is Gretzky showed Lemieux by example what was possible for his career reminiscent of Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, and some have even dropped when the two teamed up to defeat the Soviet Union in the three-game Wayne Gretzky into their comparisons. final of the 1987 Canada Cup. Until then, Lemieux had been seen as a gifted, but lackadaisical player. But his career took off after that. “It’s like Gretzky and Lemieux, in my view,” Craig Button, a former N.H.L. general manager who is now TSN’s director of scouting, said in a “He came back a different guy and more motivated,” the broadcaster telephone interview. “They challenged each other back and forth with Craig Simpson, who was teammates with both players, said in a their brilliance.” telephone interview.

But it’s not quite like Gretzky and Lemieux: their duel was diminished In the 2021 off-season, Matthews and McDavid trained together in because they played in different divisions and countries, with Gretzky in Arizona, where Matthews grew up. Edmonton and Lemieux in Pittsburgh. They also peaked at different Matthews, who is listed at 220 pounds, got leaner and increased his times, as Gretzky made his debut five seasons before Lemieux. They speed and shotmaking. met only 25 times and never in the playoffs, according to Randy Robles of Elias Sports Bureau. Keefe said he has noticed a difference in Matthews’s play.

Not so with Matthews and McDavid. They have already had 10 head-to- “He’s on the puck a lot quicker,” he said in a news conference. “His head meetings in the last five years. And more is to come. Because of stamina seems to be better as well with the way he’s been able to divisional realignment necessitated by pandemic-related travel maintain that speed and pressure on the puck throughout his shift.” restrictions, their teams will play each other nine times this season, including three consecutive games starting on Saturday. The series is The smallest details matter to Matthews and McDavid. tied at two and Toronto and Edmonton occupy the top two spots in the Ron MacLean, host of “Hockey Night in Canada,” recalled how McDavid all-Canadian North Division. and Matthews went about learning how to one-time a slap shot a few The made-in-Canada spectacle is fueling debates about who is more years ago — an art that has been perfected by Ovechkin and Tampa Bay likely to win the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player and is forward Steven Stamkos. being embraced throughout the country. Sportsnet has reported that McDavid had asked Stamkos about the technique. MacLean relayed that Maple Leafs viewership is up 15 percent year over year and the Oilers’ to Matthews, and the Toronto center said that he didn’t have the ability to has increased by 28 percent. one-time a slap shot either. “To have this in Canada like this, with the best goal-scorer and the most Devils defenseman P.K. Subban advised that Matthews use a longer electrifying player in the league going at it nine times, this is special,” stick and different curve on his blade, but Matthews managed to develop Button said, “and there’s a real possibility for Edmonton and Toronto to a one-timer without changing his stick. play in the playoffs.” Matthews has been overshadowed by McDavid, a two-time scoring Similar to Crosby and Ovechkin, who broke into the league in 2005-06, champion and the 2017 M.V.P., but he is closing the gap after scoring a McDavid and Matthews, the No. 1 draft picks in 2015 and 2016, are career-high 47 goals last season. giving fans the luxury of watching them develop at the same time. Concurrent sets of stars have driven debates about who is better (see In the N.H.L.’s scoring race, McDavid is No. 1 and Matthews No. 3. In the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson; Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus; and goals race, Matthews is No. 1 and McDavid No. 2. Björn Borg and John McEnroe). McDavid and Matthews are just the Injuries, of course, are the great unknown, and there is some concern latest. going into the three-game series that their competition may be put on “I think we will be talking about these guys in historical terms by the end hold due to a wrist injury that Matthews aggravated against the Calgary of their careers,” Ferraro said. Flames on Wednesday. New York Times LOADED: 02.27.2021 Matthews, who missed a game earlier this season against Edmonton with an injury, did not practice on Friday and is listed as a game-time decision Saturday. Matthews has been dealing with the injury “virtually all season,” his coach, Sheldon Keefe, said. Even still, Matthews contributed two assists in the 2-1 overtime victory over Calgary. 1204165 Ottawa Senators The Senators expect the task will be more difficult Saturday afternoon in Game 2 of this series against the Flames. Calgary is in deep trouble and there’s no shortage of heat on coach Geoff Ward at the moment. That 6- 1 loss wasn’t pretty but the Flames didn’t get much in the way of SNAPSHOTS: Drake Batherson is rolling with four goals in four games ... goaltending from David Rittich, either. “We know they’re going to be The Senators bid farewell to Chlapik giving everything they’ve got (Saturday),” said defenceman Mike Reilly. “They’re definitely going to bring their ‘A’ game for us and we’re just

going to keep doing the things we’re doing that made us successful.” … Bruce Garrioch Coach D.J. Smith had no real update on the status of goaltender Marcus Hogberg. He hasn’t skated since he looked like he suffered a groin injury Feb 27, 2021 last week in Toronto and there’s no timetable for his return. The initial prognosis was he’d be out a couple of weeks but that certainly doesn’t

look like it’s going to be the case. “He hasn’t skated so he’s not going to The Drake is on a roll. be back in the foreseeable future,” Smith said. “It’s not long-term but it’s long enough that he won’t be in there in the next few games.” Drake Batherson scored his fourth consecutive goal in four straight games in the club’s 6-1 victory over the Calgary Flames Thursday night THE LAST WORDS and he’s been a big contributor during the Ottawa Senators’ three-game Smith had no update on the status of Stepan Friday. He said he’s out winning streak. week-to-week while the club waits for final word on the shoulder injury he The 22-year-old Batherson has made his presence felt with six goals and suffered Tuesday against the Habs. “It doesn’t look promising,” Smith 13 points in 22 games this season and that’s what the Senators need to said. It’s believed Stepan, 30, a unrestricted free agent on July 1, will have success this season. No, Ottawa doesn’t need him to continue at need to have surgery to repair a separation and if that’s the case he’ll be this torrid pace, but it certainly helps that he’s finding the back of the net out six months. The Senators don’t have any intention of bringing him with more consistency. back next season … It doesn’t look like C Logan Brown and D Christian Wolanin will be playing anytime soon. They’re on the taxi squad and “It took time for us to come together as a team and now everybody’s were both among the extra skaters Friday … The Flames had no update firing on all cylinders,” Batherson said Friday. “Everybody is playing great on G Jacob Markstrrom. He’s on injured-reserve and won’t be available from the bottom up. The goalies, defence and forwards, everybody’s to play Saturday. The expectation i Rittich, who was pulled after allowing playing well, and we’re starting to build chemistry with all the lines. four goals on 20 shots Thursday will make the start … The defensive “(Thursday) I think every line had a goal and it’s great to see.” pairing of D Erik Gudbranson and D Erik Brannstrom were plus-3 Thursday and both scored goals for the Senators. Batherson had been playing with Derek Stepan before he got hurt Tuesday but Artem Anisimov stepped in there against the Flames and Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.27.2021 the fit was seamless with rookie winger Tim Stuetzle.

“Both of those guys have been around a long time, they know how to play the game and how to have success,” said Batherson. “It’s pretty easy playing with anyone here. It was great o have him with us.”

A NOSE FOR THE NET

Those who have played with Batherson with the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville can see the confidence he has in his game at the moment.

“He’s been playing really well. I just think he’s finding his groove,” said winger Nick Paul. “It’s a bit of jump from the AHL to the NHL and he’s getting used to that. I think he’s figured it out.

“He’s always had the speed, skill and physicality. He’s playing the right way and now he’s just finding that he’s a goal scorer in the NHL. He’s an unbelievable player. He’s won scoring titles down there and he’s just bringing it now and he’s just getting started. He has a lot of skill and he’s going to keep producing for us.”

SO LONG FILIP

Filip Chlapik.

As expected, forward Filip Chlapik cleared waivers Friday at noon and his contract was terminated.

Nobody is sure what his future holds, but the two sides mutually agreed to terminate his one-year, two-way contract after he approached the organization to see if that possibility existed.

A second-round pick (No. 48 overall) in the 2015 NHL draft, Chlapik suited up for 57 NHL games and finished with five goals and 11 points. He also had 37 goals and 88 points in 148 games with the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville.

He was assigned there after training camp and it was Chlapik’s wish to return to Europe. It’s not known whether he’ll play hockey overseas but he’s free to do so if he wishes and it wouldn’t be a shock if that’s the case.

“After considerable dialogue with Filip and his representation, we have mutually decided to part ways,” said Senators GM Pierre Dorion in a statement. “We’re appreciative of Filip’s efforts with the organization, both in Belleville and in Ottawa, and wish him the best as he moves forward.”

OFF THE GLASS 1204166 Ottawa Senators been keep us in games, giving us extra chances. In the third period (Thursday), he made some unbelievable saves and kept the lead for us.

“A couple could have went in but he was there us making some big The patience has paid off for the Ottawa Senators as they try to extend saves and keeping us with that confident mentality.” streak to four The expectations were low for the Senators and they were picked to finish last by just about every expert that makes predictions. Well, they didn’t listen to the noise and after coach Claude Julien was fired after a Bruce Garrioch 5-4 loss to Ottawa last Tuesday, Montreal GM Marc Bergevin stated he had plenty of respect for the Senators. Feb 27, 2021 “We have our own internal expectations and our expectation is to get

better every day and to be a team that’s going to be dealt with in the It turns out patience is a virtue. future,” Smith said. “It’s important for us to learn what our game is that gives us the best chance to have success and I think we’ve found that. With only three wins in their first 15 games this season, nobody would have blame Ottawa Senators’ general manager Pierre Dorion, coach D.J. “There’s times we stray from that but you can see there’s some great Smith and the rest of the hockey operations staff if they sat down and pieces in place and there’s more (success) to come. Guys are fighting tried to make wholesale changes to the roster. every day to be part of this and from the coaching staff, right down to every play, everyone wants to be a part of the Ottawa Senators being a Instead, they felt the answers to right the ship, for the most part, needed proud franchise and being competitive every night. I think we’re well on to come from within and it turn outs the Senators just needed time to find our way.” their way. Judging by Friday’s skate, it doesn’t appear the club will make any As the Senators prepare to face the Calgary Flames Saturday afternoon changes for Game 2 against the Flames. with a matinee at the Canadian Tire Centre at 1 p.m., Ottawa is trying to win four straight for the first time since March, 2017. That year, the club Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.27.2021 won six straight and went to the East final against the Pittsburgh Penguins before losing in Game 7.

With a 5-2-0 record in their last seven games, the Senators have suddenly put themselves on the radar screen in the difficult all-Canadian division and they’re breathing down the necks of the sixth-place Vancouver Canucks.

The young players are doing their part and the veterans are chipping in as well. Everybody has stepped up to help the Senators make steps in the right direction.

“I thought we could have won more games early that we didn’t,” said Smith following the club’s skate Friday. “But, we’re a better hockey team for it going forward. We realize how we have to play to have success and to stay in the game.

“We know how hard this Canadian division is and you can’t give the other team opportunities and if you do, you lose. This whole process has been a learning one for everyone. All we’re trying to do is get better every day.”

Yes, Dorion did make one trade by sending little-used veterans Cedric Paquette and Alex Galchenyuk to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for winger Ryan Dzingel. Dorion was trying to send a subtle message to the group that he wasn’t willing to sit still and let the losing continue.

Sure, Dzingel had to go into a 14-day quarantine that will be completed Sunday, the players were put on notice the losing wasn’t acceptable. If the group here wasn’t able to find the answers then the organization would have no issue with trying to find players who might be able to help.

The Senators knew this wasn’t going to be easy in this shortened 56- game season, but you can be certain they expected to have more victories 22 games into the season. They’ve got two games in hand on the Canucks, who are three points ahead in the standings and struggling to find consistency.

That’s the area where the Senators have made the biggest turnaround. Coming off a 6-1 victory over the Flames to start this three-game series that will wrap up Monday, the Senators have been playing well at both ends of the ice and they’ve been getting the kind of goaltending they expected from veteran Matt Murray.

With backup Marcus Hogberg out for an extended period, it will be up to Murray to carry the ball. He’s expected to start again Saturday and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him Monday. We’re not sure if Joey Daccord would get the chance to play Tuesday in Montreal but that may be the point where Murray needs a break.

He made 29 saves against the Flames and withstood some pressure in the third when the Senators got a little too fancy in front of him and started to take chances with the game well in hand.

“He’s been making some amazing saves, especially when the time comes for him to step up, and he’ll step up,” said winger Nick Paul. “He’s 1204167 Ottawa Senators His parents, Rick and Sheila, set up their home in Brockville so friends could go to the garage and visit with masks on while Fraser sat in a chair inside. He was where he wanted to be.

Gone far too soon, a courageous Brian Fraser left a lasting legacy during “What was really brave was when he decided he would go out on his own his short time here terms and when he made up his mind that these treatments gave him very little long-term hope,” Carroll said. “The fact he could accept that and say, ‘You know what, I’m going home, I’m going to set up the house so people can come see me as best they can.’ Bruce Garrioch “He wanted to go out watching the Super Bowl and texting his friends. He Feb 27, 2021 figured out a way in the last couple of months to live in the moment and enjoy every moment. He taught us a lot about life and he taught me how to face death. He was going to enjoy every last phone call and visit from It was a poignant moment to pay tribute to Brian Fraser, a young man friends. He was going to live like he was going to live forever and that who touched the hearts of his community and this country, who passed was amazingly courageous.” away late Thursday night after a two-year battle with leukemia. Fraser touched a lot of people through his interactions on social media. Before the Ottawa Senators started their skate Friday at the Canadian The tributes poured in Friday from the likes of Nepean MP Pierre Tire Centre, coach D.J. Smith gathered the staff and the players at centre Polievre, who made a statement in the House of Commons. Mayor Jim ice, spoke a few words, held a moment of silence and then the whole Watson and Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod were among those who sent group raised their sticks to the heavens to pay tribute to the 26-year-old along condolences. Fraser. “They saw this guy who was so likeable,” Harris said. “They were able to Then Smith started his media Zoom call by offering condolences to connect with him and feel like they knew him. He had this way of Fraser’s family and friends. connecting that was a gift.”

“He’s a longtime Ottawa Senators’ fan and someone who has been part Fraser can be certain his memory will live on in our hearts and in this of our group since I got here,” Smith said. “I know our players have been community. in contact with him and I’ve been texting with him throughout the year. No matter what our struggles, he lived every day to watch our team play and “Lightening quick,”“genius,” “savante”—legendary technical producer to root for these guys. Brian Fraser inspired us all with his battle against cancer. Donate blood in his honour. May he Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/fwoR3iYstb “I know there some guys today who were sad to hear the news. He fought hard and the family should be proud.” — pierrepoilievre (@PierrePoilievre) February 26, 2021

The Ottawa Senators raise their sticks for Brian Fraser at the start of Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.27.2021 practice on Feb. 26, 2021.

A technical producer of the “Morning Rush with Bill Carroll” on CFRA, Fraser, a Brockville native and Algonquin College graduate, decided to tell his story to shed light on the importance of blood donation.

“He realized because he was on the radio, and he was on a show that a lot of people were listening to, he realized that he had a small platform that might be able to make a difference,” said Matt Harris, the producer of the Morning Rush and Fraser’s closest friend. “He said, ‘If I could just reach a few people to donate some blood I have to do it.’

“That was his attitude. I told him I thought he was brave. He said, ‘It’s not brave. It would be stupid for me to sit here and pretend this isn’t hard because it’s really hard. I might as well just let people see what I’m dealing with.'”

Fraser got the news he had cancer after attending a friend’s wedding a couple of years ago. He wasn’t feeling well and went to the hospital the next day to get checked out. Those around him were hoping for the best when he got the news and as Carroll noted Friday “we thought he’d be back to work in three months.”

Unfortunately, Fraser wasn’t able to return to his post, but he made his presence felt with regular visits and having fun with Carroll and Harris, who are both staunch fans of the Maple Leafs.

Those will be great memories but they don’t make the loss any easier.

“It’s the age and the potential he had that makes it so hard,” Carroll said. “We’ve all lost people. I’ve lost more than my share, including my Mom and Dad. There’s just something about someone (that young). The last time he was in the studio working he was 24 years old … I just can’t believe he never came back. We’ve kept in touch a lot, especially these last few months.

“Everyone on the show has tried to hold his hand through this. He never got to fall in love, get married, have kids and see his beloved Senators win a Stanley Cup.”

Around Christmas, Fraser had to make a decision no person should have to make by determining he was no longer going to take treatment. The odds weren’t good and he decided he wanted to go to spend his final days seeing family and friends while tweeting continuously about his favourite sports teams. 1204168 Philadelphia Flyers six games in nine nights. We’re not the only team; a lot of teams are doing that. So if I have the possibility to rotate forwards and D, it might [happen]. We’ll figure it out game by game.”

Almost back at full strength, Flyers start 5-game road trip in Buffalo with Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.27.2021 high hopes

Sam Carchidi

For the first time in more than two weeks, the Flyers are almost back at full strength.

Three players who had been on the COVID-19 protocol list — Jake Voracek, Scott Laughton, and Oskar Lindblom — returned to practice Friday and are expected to be in the lineup Saturday afternoon in Buffalo.

In fact, the three will be on the same line, based on Friday’s practice in Voorhees.

“It’s called my COVID line,” coach joked after practice, adding that all three players “felt surprisingly good.”

With six games over nine days, “those guys are going to get themselves back into game shape and timing by playing right now,” Vigneault said.

The Flyers (9-4-3) have a five-game road trip that includes back-to-back afternoon games in Buffalo (6-8-3) and three contests in Pittsburgh (10- 7-1).

Voracek skated Thursday — an off day for most players — and was reunited with his teammates Friday.

“It feels good to be back with the boys, obviously,” said Voracek, who tested positive for the coronavirus but was asymptomatic. ”Being locked in a room or your apartment for 14 days is no fun.”

Vigneault said he liked the way his other three lines played in five-on-five situations in Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Rangers. That’s why he decided to put Lindblom, Laughton, and Voracek together.

“We’re excited to have those guys back,” winger Joel Farabee said. “I thought all those guys looked really good in practice; their legs were moving, and we should be ready for this road trip.”

Farabee said it doesn’t matter how Vigneault assembles his lines because most of the players can play on any unit. He said the newly formed Laughton-Lindblom-Voracek line should fit well because “they’re really good players and have great track records.”

Added Farabee: “AV put a really good system in and it really doesn’t matter who you’re playing with, and on any given night, chemistry is probably going to be there. Guys know where to be, and in our second year with AV, I think we’re really starting to click on the systems.”

Vigneault said “everybody reacts differently” when they get back from a long quarantine, and that “set the tone” when he returned and had three assists to engineer Wednesday’s win over the Rangers. He said he was hoping the three returning forwards “are like G. Full of energy and execution, and the timing and execution will be there. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

With Laughton returning and playing center, that means Nolan Patrick will remain at right wing for at least another game or two.

Patrick could go back to center when right winger Travis Konecny returns. Konecny is the only Flyer remaining on the COVID-19 list, and he might be able to play Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

Besides Lindblom, Laughton and Voracek, defenseman Justin Braun is expected to return to the lineup Saturday after being on the COVID-19 list. Braun was paired with Travis Sanheim in practice. Phil Myers, who is usually Sanheim’s partner, was with Nate Prosser in what appeared to be the “extra” pairing.

Vigneault wouldn’t confirm whether Myers, who struggled in Wednesday’s win, would be a healthy scratch Saturday. He did say that, with the busy upcoming schedule, he would try to rotate players and give some a rest.

“I wanted to see Brauner with Travis,” Vigneault said. “We’re playing six games in nine nights, and I have a feeling that if I can, I will be using more personnel. I don’t recall any time in my coaching career [playing] 1204169 Philadelphia Flyers

New line has caught fire for Flyers; Brian Elliott getting 2nd straight start

Sam Carchidi

The line of Sean Couturier centering James van Riemsdyk and Joel Farabee has been the Flyers’ most productive unit since it was put together three games ago, combining for five goals and 11 points.

Van Riemsdyk and Couturier “are some of the smartest guys I ever played with,” Farabee said after practice Friday in Voorhees. “I think Reemer has to be up there as one of the smartest guys in the league. It’s pretty easy for me to be able to play with them. They find the soft ice so well and I just try to find them and keep our legs moving. I think when we play fast together, we’re pretty tough to stop.”

In the first 16 games, Farabee, who turned 21 on Thursday, has eight goals – as many as he scored in 52 games during his rookie season last year.

Before Scott Laughton was placed on the COVID list, he centered Farabee and van Riemsdyk, and that line had nine goals, 19 points and a plus-17 rating the four games they were together.

Laughton will return to the lineup Saturday in Buffalo but will center Oskar Lindblom and Jake Voracek.

Brian Elliott (2.38 GAA, .922 save percentage), who has a 4-1 record, will make consecutive starts for the first time this season Saturday.

Carter Hart (5-3-3, 3.68, .891) will get the call Sunday afternoon, also in Buffalo.

Nolan Patrick said he felt comfortable moving from center to right wing on Wednesday. He will also be at right wing Saturday, and his linemates will again be Kevin Hayes and Claude Giroux.

“We kind of read off each other, and I can play there whenever they need me to,” Patrick said. “It wasn’t too tough of a transition. They’re both great players and it’s easy to play with them.”

Health-wise, Patrick said he feels good after missing last season with a migraine disorder. He acknowledged it was difficult regaining his form after such a long layoff.

“It took me a while to find my game, and I feel the last couple games I’ve been trending in the right direction, getting more confident and getting closer to the top of my game,” he said.

Alain Vigneault was asked if he regretted exposing defenseman Mark Friedman to other teams and losing him on waivers to the Penguins.

“We knew we were taking a risk, but we wanted the possibility of maybe playing (Nate) Prosser if needed,” Vigneault said. “To do that, we had to make Mark available. He’s a good young player and we wish him nothing but the best. I talked to him after he got picked up and he was excited.”

Wingers Maksim Sushko and Isaac Ratcliffe were sent to the Phantoms. … The Flyers will play a staggering 17 games in March.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204170 Philadelphia Flyers In the near future, when a couple thousand fans are back, it will be almost impossible not to know a goal had been scored. The crowd’s response will tell you and will replace the Twilight Zone feel these games now carry. The Flyers are expected to have fans back soon, and the team can hardly wait | Sam Carchidi “It would be amazing if fans returned,” right winger Jake Voracek said. “That’s exactly what we play for, right? Obviously we got used to playing without fans. I would say the first couple games [with fans back], a lot of us are going to be a little nervous. … but it’s really exciting. I think Sam Carchidi everybody is kind of excited to get back to normal life a little bit.”

Fans are a major part of that normalcy. The whispers coming from those close to the situation say some fans will Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.27.2021 soon be allowed inside the Wells Fargo Center.

That will be joyous news to Flyers and Sixers fans who have been waiting to return for almost a year.

Dear fans: You don’t know how much you have been missed by players, coaches, and those who cover sports for a living. Without you, well, the games have had a hollowness to them.

The city announced Friday that the permitted capacity at the Wells Fargo Center had been increased from 250 to 500 people. That wasn’t a big deal because a typical (fanless) game in the current setup already has about 250 people in the building, including teams, staffers, arena workers, media members, and others.

To bring fans back, the Wells Fargo Center needs more than 500 to be permitted to attend. So fans won’t return until the state and the city of Philadelphia further lift the restrictions.

For the Flyers, that could happen as early as their next home game, March 7 against Washington.

The Flyers, Sixers, Eagles and Phillies are monitoring the situation. Outdoor venues can have 5% of capacity up to 2,500 people. The Phillies, for example, would be allowed 2,150 fans at Citizens Bank Park.

Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said it would be “huge” to have fans back because of the “atmosphere [they create] in the building and the energy they bring.”

Watching the Flyers’ home games in person this season has been akin to being a spectator at a beer-league game.

That has nothing to do with the play of the players on the ice. It has everything to do with an empty, soulless building.

It appears that is soon going to change, even if the building won’t have close to 20,000 fans in it.

Winger Joel Farabee said the team has heard that 10% of the building’s capacity will be able to have fans in March — that has yet to be confirmed by the state or the city — and that “we’re really excited to get the fans back. Obviously, that’s probably one of the best parts about playing in the NHL, the fans. As long as we can do it safely and everyone is taken care of, there’s no reason why we can’t have fans back in the building.”

The Wells Fargo Center has been virtually empty this season, but the arena has tried to generate some excitement by pumping fake noise through the speakers. Good intentions. Not always good execution.

Sometimes, the noise level has been intolerable, set way too high. The Flyers will be firing a shot and, by the “crowd’s” reaction, you’d swear it was a 2-2 game in the final seconds of Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final — and not the second period of a rather pedestrian game in the early part of the regular season.

Buy, hey, at least it brings some personality, some atmosphere, to the games. You see, when the noise level is turned off for a bit and all you hear are the actions of skates, sticks, checks and the puck, it feels as if you are watching your friends or relatives in a pickup game.

It’s so quiet, the writers can hear their keyboard strokes echoing.

While watching the Flyers-Rangers game from my lower-level, press-row table Wednesday, I had my head down for about 30 seconds as I was typing away to beat deadline in the third period. There was no crowd noise — real or fake — and no collective groans.

When I did glance up from my computer, I noticed the Rangers had just scored, probably about 10 seconds earlier, to get within 4-3. 1204171 Philadelphia Flyers Michael Raffl-Connor Bunnaman-Nicolas Aube-Kubel "It's called my COVID line," Vigneault harmlessly joked. "I figured I'd keep

those guys together. ... I liked the way Hayesy's line and Coots' line and The latest standard set by Giroux has Flyers teammates pushing to come Bunny's line played last game. After speaking with both Oskar and Scotty back on the ice at the end of practice, they both want to play.

"I'm hoping that as far as the response from our COVID protocol or COVID players, that they're going to be like G — full of energy and the Jordan Hall execution and the timing and the intensity is going to be there. That's what I'm keeping my fingers crossed about, but everybody reacts

differently. We'll see, we'll take it a game at a time and see how our guys If the idle Flyers players hadn't watched enough, they saw Claude are going and how they're feeling." Giroux's performance Wednesday night and probably slept with their They'll do their best to follow Giroux's lead. gear on. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2021 OK, not quite, but the way in which the captain returned to the Flyers was case in point of the lead-by-example effect many hear about with Giroux.

After recovering from the coronavirus in a 14-day quarantine, Giroux came back to the shorthanded Flyers and put up three assists in the club's 4-3 win over the Rangers. Giroux had not played a game in 16 days. He had one practice Tuesday and took advantage of an optional morning skate Wednesday.

That was all he needed. Giroux was playing.

And making a difference.

He dished the primary assist on the Flyers' game-winning goal, played his second-most minutes of the season (20:54) and won eight of 11 faceoffs.

Alain Vigneault did not intend to play Giroux that many minutes but the 33-year-old gamer forced the head coach's hand.

Two days later, the Flyers had reinforcements off the COVID protocol list and pushing to be in the lineup. Oskar Lindblom, Scott Laughton and Jakub Voracek all practiced Friday and are expected to play Saturday against the Sabres in Buffalo (1 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

"They all saw how G did the other day and they all want to get out there," Vigneault said Friday.

For Lindblom and Laughton, it was their first time skating since Feb. 8. They have not played a game since Feb. 7. They had been on the NHL's COVID protocol list since Feb. 12 before being allowed to come off of it Friday. Just one practice and both want to get back in there.

For Voracek, he was removed from the COVID protocol list Thursday, skated that same day and had his first practice Friday. He also had not skated since Feb. 8. He does not miss many games, so he's itching to go.

"They felt good, surprisingly good," Vigneault said. "Oskar didn't have barely any symptoms, so from that standpoint, I think we were pretty lucky.

"Jakey had no symptoms, was able to skate yesterday, said he felt all right and today he said he felt real good on the ice, had a lot of energy.

"We're starting a sequence here of six games in nine nights, we'll barely practice, maybe once, in that time. Those guys are going to get themselves back into game shape and timing by playing right now. It looks like they'll be all right, Oskar was fine throughout all of this. Unless something happens from now until tomorrow, they should be in the lineup."

Along with defenseman Justin Braun — who hit the ice for the first time Wednesday morning and is also set to return after a bout with COVID-19 — the four players are eager to help as the Flyers begin an important stretch in this shortened, 56-game regular season.

Travis Konecny is the one Flyer who remains on COVID protocol. He went on the list Feb. 14.

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) February 26, 2021

As they return together, Lindblom, Laughton and Voracek will play together.

James van Riemsdyk-Sean Couturier-Joel Farabee

Claude Giroux-Kevin Hayes-Nolan Patrick

Oskar Lindblom-Scott Laughton-Jakub Voracek 1204172 Pittsburgh Penguins

Minor league report: Penguins beat Phantoms

SETH RORABAUGH

Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 10:18 p.m.

Forwards Jan Drozg, Robert Felix and defenseman Jon Lizotte each had a goal and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 4-2 home win against the rival at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Defenseman Will Reilly added a goal for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (3-2-1) while forward Chase Berger recorded two assists. Goaltender Max Lagace made 23 saves on 25 shots in the victory.

Highlights:

The Penguins’ next game is a road contest against the Phantoms on Saturday, 7:05 p.m.

—-

Forward Matt Alfaro had a goal and an assist for the who snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-2 home win against the Utah Grizzlies at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, W.Va.

Goaltender Francois Brassard made 24 saves on 26 shots for Wheeling (6-13-4) while forwards Austin Fyten, Nick Rivera, Cody Sylvester and defenseman Matt Miller each scored goals.

Highlights:

The Nailers’ next game is a home contest against the Grizzlies on Saturday, 7:10 p.m.

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Penguins assign forward Jordy Bellerive to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

SETH RORABAUGH

Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 9:42 p.m.

The Penguins assigned forward Jordy Bellerive to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Bellerive, 21, had been on the Penguins’ taxi squad since Feb. 19.

He has yet to play in an NHL game. In three AHL games this season, he has two goals.

Bellerive is in the second year of a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $733,333.

With Bellerive sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the team transfered forward Josh Currie from the NHL roster to the taxi squad.

Currie, 28, spent one day on the NHL roster after being promoted from the taxi squad on Thursday. He is signed to a one-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $700,000.

A free-agent signing this past offseason, he has yet to play in the NHL this season. As Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s captain, he has appeared in three AHL games this season and has two goals.

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Penguins staying in playoff race by way of success in 1-goal games

CHRIS ADAMSKI

Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 2:11 p.m.

When games with empty-net goals are accounted for, more than 70% of NHL games last season were decided by one goal.

It makes sense, then, that success in one-goal games is imperative for teams that aspire to finish with a strong win-loss record.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are the league’s best team in one-goal games at 8-1-1. They have taken 17 of a possible 20 points in one-goal games. No team has a better ratio, and no team has more wins. Only one team has more points this season in one-goal games.

“The margins between winning and losing are very, very small,” forward Teddy Blueger said, “so it comes down to the details and little bounces and executing, especially late in games. And that’s something we have to keep dialing in going forward.”

The Penguins have the second-worst goal differential in the East Division but have remained in the thick of the playoff chase among those eight teams (tied for fourth place in points heading into Friday’s games) because they have been successful in the closer games.

Most of that is attributable to those contests that are decided after regulation. The Penguins have played in abundance of overtime games and been as successful in them as just about any team in the league.

The Penguins are 6-1 in overtime/shootout games (3-1 in those decided in overtime and unbeaten in three shootouts). Only three teams have a better winning percentage in such games, albeit none of those teams played more than three.

Only one team has played more games that went past regulation. Only two teams have had more shootouts, and only two teams have had more games decided in overtime.

“I think that just kind of shows how close our division is,” defenseman Cody Ceci said. “There’s going be a lot of those one-goal games. So the more points we can grab out of them the better for us. So far it’s gone our way, but we need to keep pushing.”

Only one of the Penguins’ seven division rivals has a winning record in games that go past regulation.

Imagine if instead of the six extra points the Penguins have gotten in those “bonus point” games, they went 3-4 in overtimes/shootouts. That’s three fewer points they would have and, most likely, a couple extra points for Washington and, perhaps, an extra one for the New York Islanders.

It would make the Penguins’ playoff prospects in far more perilous, dropping them several points back of the division leaders.

“You’ve got to expect (lots of close games) with this season being the way it is,” Blueger said, referencing the complete intra-division schedule in 2021. “Everyone is fighting each other for the same playoff spots, and you’re playing the same teams a lot so you know a lot of the games are going to be tough and tight. It’s tough to win.”

The Penguins have won two of three regulation games decided by one goal. They are 2-6 in games decided by two or more goals (1-4 in such games that did not involve empty-netters).

The Penguins have a lone win by more than one goal that didn’t involve an empty-net tally in 2021.

Forward Zach Aston-Reese attributes success in tight games to a defense-first mindset, a necessity when protecting one-goal leads late.

“We’ve harped on it a lot, not giving up too many odd-man rushes against,” Aston-Reese said. “It’s just (about) making smarter plays. I think you see that a lot this year. Guys have bought into that instead of being super high-risk and not forcing something that is not there.”

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Mark Madden: Penguins could use a player like Tom Wilson

MARK MADDEN

Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 10:31 a.m.

The Penguins have a Tom Wilson problem. Specifically, they don’t have him.

They had a reasonably facsimile, Ryan Reaves, for part of the 2017-18 season. Not as good, not as tough, but good enough and tough enough. It remains one of Mike Sullivan’s biggest mistakes as Penguins coach that he didn’t use Reaves much, and one of Jim Rutherford’s worst gaffes as GM that he didn’t make Sullivan play Reaves, but instead traded Reaves.

It was a gratuitous lack of communication between GM and coach. Why get Reaves (especially in a deal that gave St. Louis a first-round pick) if Sullivan won’t play him?

Rutherford gave his coach free rein. In that instance, he shouldn’t have. Reaves could have been useful in the Penguins’ second-round playoff loss to Washington (and Wilson) in ’18. Wilson gave Zach Aston-Reese a broken jaw and concussion with a check to the head in that series.

Wilson is detestable, unless you have him. Every team would take him. The Washington winger isn’t unique, but he’s close.

Wilson is big (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) and dirty. He can hit and fight. He is good enough to play top six, so he can protect your stars. Imagine Wilson on Sidney Crosby’s wing. (Wilson scored the winning goal Thursday, BTW.)

Wilson is often mired in controversy and has been suspended four times since entering the NHL in 2013. He did the former and courted the latter when he hit the Penguins’ Mark Jankowski with a late hit Thursday. It was shoulder to chest, but set-your-clocks-ahead late.

Wilson got a minor. It’s harder to assess him a major and game misconduct because he didn’t target Jankowski’s head. (If that’s Crosby, Wilson gets ejected. Wilson wasting a damaging hit on a fourth-line foe confirms he neglects to think on a lot of levels.)

Wilson delivers shots like that all the time. But 20-25 years ago, that’s just a good hit.

Penguins defenseman Cody Ceci, who has so far outperformed reasonable expectations, got some degree of revenge by decking Wilson with an undeniably clean hit. But Wilson nonetheless got angry, which is typical of his ilk. I hit you, that’s hockey. You hit me, how dare you!

If you live by the sword, be prepared to get stabbed occasionally.

The era of the goon is over in hockey, and that’s good. But each team lacking that presence makes Wilson all the harder to deal with. It’s worse because he is in the Penguins’ division. The Penguins and Capitals have played six times this year. The body count has been manageable.

It’s surprising no one has ever sucker-punched Wilson, or otherwise fouled him gratuitously. You’d get suspended, but no one would hate you or feel sorry for Wilson.

Then again, what if your cheap shot didn’t hurt Wilson? Run to the hills.

The Penguins’ 5-2 loss at Washington on Thursday can be blamed on Kris Letang’s stick manufacturer. Washington’s winning goal and first empty-netter can be traced directly to Letang’s stick disintegrating.

Go to the bench and get a new stick. That hurts you a lot for five seconds. Maybe that makes more sense than being hurt a little until play stops, you clear the puck or something bad happens. On Thursday, something bad happened. Twice.

Tribune Review LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204176 Pittsburgh Penguins develop, Jensen fed the puck back to the slot for Backstrom who re- directed a shot with his forehand past the blocker of goaltender Tristan Jarry for his ninth goal. Jensen netted the lone assist.

Empty Thoughts: Capitals 5, Penguins 2 After a scoreless second period, it became a 2-0 game 3:18 into the third period thanks to a dazzling individual effort by Capitals forward T.J. Oshie. From the left wing of the neutral zone, Capitals forward Lars Eller centered a pass to Oshie. Gaining the offensive zone, Oshie challenged SETH RORABAUGH Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson one-on-one, dragging the puck Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 4:52 a.m. from his forehand to his backhand. Just as he was falling, Oshie pokechecked a backhander that fluttered under Jarry’s right armpit and into the cage for his fifth goal. Assists went to Eller and defenseman John Carlson. Observations from the Penguins’ 5-2 loss to the Capitals: The Capitals seemed poised to put the game out of reach with a power- Tom Wilson was at it again. play chance shortly thereafter but a short-handed goal by Tanev only 62 During the first period, at the 15:27 mark, the long-time Penguins seconds later got the Penguins on the scoreboard. After Capitals forward nemesis dropped Penguins forward Mark Jankowski with a late hit in the Alex Ovechkin slid an errant pass out of the Penguins’ left corner to no neutral zone that shook up Jankowski. one in particular at the left point, Tanev picked up the puck and pushed it up ice into the offensive zone. Gaining the blue line, Tanev crisscrossed After Jankowski had whacked a loose puck away, the Capitals power with Penguins forward Teddy Blueger and attacked the net from the left forward hammered him to the ice well beyond the official definition of a circle. Fending off a stick check from Carlson, Tanev drew goaltender legal, timely hit. Vitek Vanecek out of his crease and slipped a forehand shot through his The NHL allows a window of 0.6 seconds after a player releases a puck five hole. It was Tanev’s fifth goal and it was unassisted. on a shot or pass or whatever before a hit is deemed “late.” There was Things were tied, 2-2, at 7:22 of the third thanks to Penguins forward no time available for how tardy Wilson’s hit was, but it could have been Jake Guentzel getting his seventh goal. Corralling a puck in the Capitals clocked with a calendar. right corner, Guentzel bounced off a check from Capitals defenseman Wilson was given an interference minor as Jankowski retreated to the Brenden Dillon and darted to the net. Taking advantage of a slight pick dressing room and stayed there for the remainder of the period. He came by Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen against Capitals forward Nic back by the start of the second period. Dowd, Guentzel jammed in a forehand shot through Vanecek’s five hole. Assists went to forward Sidney Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang. As is the case anytime Wilson inflicts damage on one of his players, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was asked for his opinion on the hit. And A power-play goal by Wilson at 12:40 of the third restored a lead, 3-2. he gave an answer similar to what he usually gives in regards to Wilson Controlling play in the Penguins’ right circle, Carlson fired a pass to the or any of the other Capitals who have injured Penguins over the years. slot for Wilson. As Letang tried to defend in vain without a stick, Wilson re-directed the puck past Jarry’s glove for his seventh goal. Assists were “It doesn’t matter,” Sullivan said via video conference. “The referees are recorded by Carlson and Ovechkin. going to make the calls. They’re going to call it as they see it. We’re just going to play.” After Letang broke another stick and lost the puck, ex-Penguins forward Carl Hagelin scored an empty net goal at 18:38 of the third. It was his None of this should be surprising. The Penguins, as constructed by second goal of the season and was unassisted. former general manager Jim Rutherford and orchestrated by Sullivan, do not have that element in their lineup or possess much of it throughout the Eller added another empty net goal at 19:08 of the third. It was his third depth chart, going down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. goal of this season. Oshie and Backstrom had assists.

The Penguins know other teams are going to outhit them and win most Statistically speaking physical battles. They accept that and try to out-skate the opposition. It’s • The Capitals controlled shots, 35-28. been that way for more than half a decade. • Penguins forward Bryan Rust and Backstrom each led the game with On the few occasions they have acquired players intended to address five shots. Wilson or others of his ilk physically, it has rarely led to anything, aside from a pretty bad head injury for former Penguins defenseman Jamie • Letang led the game with 23:50 of ice time on 25 shifts. Oleksiak. • Carlson led the Capitals with 22:34 of ice time on 28 shifts. That could potentially change under new management. President of • The only Capitals skater who failed to record a shot was forward Garnet hockey operations Brian Burke has been open about his preference of Hathaway. having players who offer that dimension. At the same time, general manager Ron Hextall largely modernized the Philadelphia Flyers during • The Capitals controlled faceoffs, 35-22 (61%). his tenure with that organization by eliminating what seemed to be a “quota” of having at least one enforcer on the roster. In a lot of ways, • Eller was 12 for 19 (63%). Hextall constructed the Flyers much like the Penguins in having skill up • Crosby was 9 for 20 (45%). and down the lineup. • Tanev and Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson each led the But until any changes come, the Penguins don’t have the personnel to game with four blocked shots. “respond” to Wilson with a fight or some other nonsense along those lines. They aren’t designed to. • None of the Capitals had more one blocked shot.

There isn’t a Rooster Cogburn on the Penguins’ roster that’s going to to Randomly speaking take out Wilson’s Ned Pepper. • As for the legality of Wilson’s hit, a minor penalty seemed like a fitting “The (referees) thought it was a penalty and they made the call,” Tanev punishment. Jankowski was shaken up on the play but he returned. So said. “It’s not in our control. It’s up to the (referees) and their judgment any notion that Wilson might face supplemental discipline seems like a and what they want to do in the situations. We’ve just got to continue to pipe dream. He interfered with a player and got a two-minute minor. play the game and play the game the right way.“ That’s it.

What happened • Ceci extracted some measure of revenge at 2:15 of the second period. As Wilson tried to push a puck up ice in the neutral zone, Ceci got some The Capitals took the game’s first lead at 11:20 of the first period. After a leverage and planted Wilson on the ice with a nice check. failed clearing attempt by Penguins defenseman Cody Ceci from his own left corner, Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom controlled the puck in the • The biggest reason the Penguins lost this game was their power play. left circle and skip-passed the puck to the right circle for defenseman They had four chances and generated all of four shots (as well as no Nick Jensen. Settling the puck and waiting a moment for things to goals). For the most part, they actually did a decent job of keeping the puck in “(Letang) just kind of cycled it down. They like to play man-on-man so I the offensive zone and maintaining possession. But they mostly just just tried to beat my guy. Great play by (Kapanen) to allow that lane for passed it around the perimeter waiting for a shot to open up that never me to get to the front of the net. Just trying to get it to the front of the net arrived. After working extensively on taking more of a shot-first approach and see what happens from there. Not really sure where it went in but I’ll with extra practices they had with some games being postponed a few take it.” weeks ago, they regressed at being aggressive with shooting the puck. • Wilson thought well of his hit: • Matheson got walked for a goal for the second consecutive game. He can do some wonderful things with the puck and with his skating. But “I thought it was a great hit. But I haven’t watched it at all. He batted it out defending one-on-one appears to be a weakness. of the air and I finished him through the body right after. I think that’s a great hockey play.” • Jarry was fine. Perhaps he could have stolen a goal on the sequence Oshie scored on. But none of the goals he allowed were particularly Tribune Review LOADED: 02.27.2021 weak.

• The abundance of special teams probably impacted this but P.O Joseph’s ice time dropped for the third consecutive game as he recorded only 12:51 on 19 shifts. That said, this might have been his best game in at least a week simply because he wasn’t directly responsible for any goals against.

• Rookie forward Drew O’Connor came back into the lineup thanks to the trickle-up effect from Jason Zucker’s injury. He ended up taking a hooking penalty that led to Wilson’s goal. That’s not exactly a great way to stay in the lineup.

• Backstrom has been many things over his wonderful career that should land him in the . But he’s never been a particularly potent goal-scorer. Sure he has a handful of 20-goal seasons and even reached the 30-goal mark once many years ago. But he’s a playmaker. That said, he’s really found some goal-scoring touch this season with nine goals in 19 games. Were this a full 82-game season, he’d be on pace for 38 goals.

Historically speaking

• The last time the Penguins gave up two empty net goals in the same game was a 3-0 home loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 19, 2019. Forwards William Karlson and Mark Stone scored those goals.

Publicly speaking

• Guentzel on the power play:

“I thought we had a lot of zone time. It’s not that (a lack of possession). It’s not the work ethic getting the puck back. It’s just, I think sometimes we’re looking to pass it into the net or making that extra pass instead of just throwing it on net and breaking down coverage and trying to get one that way. We’ve got to get back to work on it and start shooting the puck.”

• Sullivan on the power play:

“We passed up opportunities to shoot the puck. We had a significant amount of zone time. It didn’t translate into as many plays at the net that I think we could have. And usually, when we put more pucks in play, we create off of it. (The Penguins) did a lot of good things on the entries. We had significant zone time. We had opportunities to put the puck at the net a little bit more. We could have generated a little bit more.”

• Guentzel on the power play’s failure to score after the Wilson penalty:

“As a power play, we’ve got to score one there. We’ve just got to stick to our own game. The referees will worry about him. We’ve just got to stick to our game and next time, we’ve got to make sure we score on that one.”

• Sullivan on his forwards failing to give a stick to Letang on the sequence that led to Wilson’s goal:

“We just didn’t do it. We didn’t execute it. Obviously, we’d like to get our defenseman a stick. It’s hard to defend the net-front without a stick. We’ve got to make sure that we get the defenseman the stick. If somebody’s going to play without it, it has to be a forward in the higher ice.”

• Tanev on his goal:

“I saw I had some space carrying the puck up ice. I think Teddy did a great job of pushing the defenseman back and creating some more space for me. I was fortunate to put a puck on net. The end result was a goal. It was a great job by Teddy in creating some space for me. I’m just putting pucks to the net and getting some fortunate bounces.”

• Guentzel on his goal and Kapanen’s importance on the sequence: 1204177 Pittsburgh Penguins That quote stuck out. He knew precisely where the Penguins stood, even the game-in-hand part.

Players know it’s going to be tough to make the playoffs. Even 18 games Eight takeaways from the new eight-team East Division in, they’re keeping a close eye on the standings, too.

4. The Penguins’ record might be better than it seems

Mike DeFabo The Penguins might be looking up at the Capitals and Islanders in the standings. But head-to-head, they’ve been on top more often than not on the scoreboard. They’re 4-2 against the Capitals and 3-1 against the Islanders. Over the past two weeks, Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry rediscovered his game. A shaky penalty kill almost completely flipped the script. And the So why are they fifth in the standings then? Part of it is they have yet to once injury-ravaged blue line might soon have too many lefties. play a single game against the basement dwellers like the Devils and Sabres. Racking up points on the back stretch could help catapult the Those are just some of the things to like about the way the Penguins are Penguins into the playoffs. playing lately to post a 5-2 record over their last seven games. 5. Are the Devils frisky? And yet, even as the Penguins begin to hit their stride in a number of critical areas, they’re still looking up in the standings. Through 18 games, Let’s counter that last point by saying maybe, just maybe, the Devils they’re 10-7-1 for a total of 21 points. That’s good enough for fifth place aren’t the pushover everyone assumed they’d be. out of eight teams, whether you go by raw points or points percentage. With outstanding goaltending from Mackenzie Blackwood (.932 save While the Penguins take a day off before a two-game series on Long percentage, 2.34 goals-against average) and several high-end draft picks Island, let’s take a step back from the club and instead look at the East in front of him, the Devils (.533 points percentage) are the sixth East Division as a whole. With about a third of the season in the books, here Division with a points percentage above .500. are eight things we’ve learned about the eight-team division. 6. Regulation wins are even more valuable 1. It’s a parity-packed gauntlet, with five teams fighting for four playoff spots Because of the structure of the schedule, any point that isn’t earned is going directly to an in-division team. Same with overtime, loser points, When the NHL restructured the divisions, it lumped together four of the which is where the Penguins aren't helping themselves. top seven teams based on points percentage from the 2019-20 season: Bruins, Capitals, Flyers and Penguins. And the one team not in that mix Just four of the Penguins’ 10 wins have come in regulation. The three was the Islanders, who were the best of the bunch in the postseason, loser points the Capitals picked up against the Penguins represent the reaching the Eastern Conference final. exact margin between Washington's 24 points and Pittsburgh's 21.

Sure enough, those five teams have begun to rise to the top. 7. COVID cancellations could become significant

Given the COVID uncertainty, points percentage might end up being the On 93.7 The Fan, new Penguins president of hockey operations Brian way the league decides which teams make the playoffs. As of Friday Burke recently said he doesn’t believe the NHL will reach its goal of a 56- afternoon, the division was led by the Bruins (70.6%), followed by the game season. Already, the schedule is so jam packed. If another club or Flyers (65.6%), Capitals (63.2%), Islanders (60.5%) and Penguins two has an outbreak, where are they going to squeeze in postponed (58.3%). games?

The Flyers were the NHL’s hottest team when the league paused the This could create controversy. What happens if the Islanders, for 2019-20 season. With many of Ron Hextall’s draft picks coming of age, example, get in all eight of their games against bottom-feeding Buffalo they’re a young team on the rise that should be a contender for a while. but the Penguins don’t? In Washington, coach Peter Laviolette is new and so are some of the 8. Get ready for the grind systems he’s implemented. But the same aging core and elite power play is looking to overshadow shaky goaltending. The Islanders are playing to Sixteen games in 28 days in March. Fifteen games in 29 days in April… their identity as a neutral-zone clogging, defensive menace that has And finally five games in eight days in May. Today's off day will be one of allowed the third-fewest goals per game (2.32). the few the Penguins aren't on the ice.

But, any discussion of the East should start in Boston… In March, the longest layoff between games is just two days. The longest layoff, in general, is three days in April. Staying healthy is even more 2. The Bruins are the team to beat critical. A two-week injury could easily cost a player eight games. The Bruins joined a group of mostly Metro teams and immediately Post Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2021 became the favorite in Vegas to win the division. So far, they still look like a good bet.

The Bruins boast an elite top line that features Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. They have the reigning Jack Adams Award-winner behind the bench in Bruce Cassidy. Two solid goalies in Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak are playing behind a team that’s structured defensively. The result has been the six-fewest goals-against per game this year (2.53). And they’re excellent on both sides of the special teams battle, with the second-best penalty kill and the sixth-best power play.

If there is a weakness to the Bruins, it’s their blue line, which lost Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara this offseason. But that could easily be addressed, considering they still have all of their 2021 draft capital, including a first-round pick.

The Penguins are 0-1-1 against the Bruins with six more meetings scheduled.

3. Players are well-aware of how competitive it is

Following last weekend’s game over the Islanders, Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson said the win was big because it pulled the club into fourth place at the time, with a game in hand over the Islanders. 1204178 Pittsburgh Penguins heads know Lefevre and will follow them wherever they go if that’s their brand of choice.”

DeSmith was one of them. He got a call during the offseason asking if he From The Point: The story behind the hottest equipment for 'goalie gear- wanted to try out their L12.1 pads. DeSmith had worn CCM throughout heads' his NHL career, but his goalie peers were saying great things about the new pads. After strapping on a pair, he found them to be “considerably lighter” and “noticeably stiffer.”

Matt Vensel “The decision was pretty easy to make the switch,” said DeSmith, who only had to spend an hour playing around with the color template the

company sent him to iron out the aesthetics. “I’m pretty happy with how Every weekend, Penguins beat reporter Matt Vensel gives you an inside the design came out.” look at the team with observations, analysis, advanced statistics and Trottier said that as of late January, more than 40 goalies on NHL rosters unique features. or taxi squads had made the switch over to True and Lefevre. Tristan When Casey DeSmith isn’t wearing goalie gear, he spends a fair amount Jarry is a Vaughn guy, but Maxime Lagace and Alex D’Orio are rocking of time thinking about it. He is in a group text with other goalies who often True pads right now, too. send each other pictures of custom paint jobs for helmets and sweet That long list includes top-flight NHL goalies, such as John Gibson, “setups.” He follows Instagram accounts such as @tendyswag and Carter Hart and Connor Hellebuyck — and Fleury, whose metallic gold @goaligram that track that stuff. pads are breathtaking. So when that sector of social media lit up this summer when Montreal One notable goalie gear aficionado in the 412 area code absolutely loves Canadiens superstar Carey Price was spotted wearing red, unbranded those. pads at practices inside the playoff bubble, of course he was following along with great curiosity. “Classic Fleury. I have always loved his style,” DeSmith said. “I just like how bold he is with his looks and his colors. The way he plays allows him “Yeah, there was a lot of buzz around those pads,” DeSmith said to do that, I think, because he has a very exciting play style and the recently. colors kind of build into that.” Stephen Trottier, a longtime employee for the goalie equipment POINT SHOTS manufacturer Lefevre, could only chuckle when asked about all the attention they got. • Jason Zucker has not provided the impact the Penguins anticipated when they traded a first-round pick and Calen Addison to acquire him. “People were like, ‘What is this stuff? Where did Lefevre come from?’” he But his injury, which could sideline him for the rest of the regular season, said. “You don’t even realize you’ve been wearing our gear for half of will challenge a team that has a lot invested in its top six. Zach Aston- your life.” Reese got the first chance to skate on Evgeni Malkin’s left wing, but the The Quebec-based company, which currently has 17 employees, has Penguins are better off with him on their third line. Simply put, Jared partnered with big-named companies over the years, including Koho, McCann needs to seize that role and produce like he did in his first year Reebok and CCM. here. If he doesn’t, I’m not sure anyone else on this roster can.

Remember Marc-Andre Fleury’s first pair of bright yellow pads? Of • Mike Matheson is basically the guy at pickup hockey who insists on course, you do. The logos on the pads all said Koho. But inside was playing D then spends much of the night up in the offensive zone. I don’t Lefevre’s handiwork. know if that’s good or bad for the Penguins, but it certainly is entertaining. You don’t see too many defensemen score on a wraparound. Matheson Trottier said Michel Lefebvre founded his company in 1967. He was a nearly did that Thursday. goalie at the time and needed a mask. The ones on the market were too expensive so he made his own. Over time, interest in his masks grew • This tidbit from our friends at Sportlogiq may surprise you: Even though through word of mouth. Eventually, Michel Larocque and other goalies the Penguins as a team have one of the highest goals-against averages started wearing them in the NHL. in the NHL, no team as of Thursday had allowed their opponents to have less offensive zone time at 5-on-5. Cutting down on quick-strike goals In the 1980s, Lefebvre decided one day that he would try to make some must be a point of emphasis. leg pads for his teenage son. Trottier said that Lefebvre bought some leather and an old sewing machine, set it up in the spare room in his • And here’s a stat from Sportlogiq that likely won’t surprise you: The house and started sewing. Penguins are one of the NHL’s worst teams at getting shots on goal through screens. Some guy named Patrick Roy in 1987 was the first NHLer to wear their pads. Since then, a bunch of Vezina and Conn Smythe winners have • Kasperi Kapanen’s OT winner Tuesday was my favorite Penguins goal strapped them on. of the season. Not only did he get a little redemption after he was benched last week, the goal itself was awesome. On a 2-on-1 rush, Lefevre’s contract with CCM expired at the end of 2019 and Lefevre Kapanen did a 180 at the blue line and skated backwards stride for stride opted to seek out a new partner. There has been an ongoing legal battle, with Teddy Blueger while waiting for Blueger’s pretty pass. And then he too. Last year, Lefevre accused CCM of stealing its designs and using fired a one-time rocket. So fun to watch. them to sell CCM pads. • Pierre-Olivier Joseph’s ice time has dwindled, and in some recent Lefevre let its licensing rights with the NHL lapse in the second half of games, Mike Sullivan didn’t play him down the stretch. You have to think last season. That’s why the pads Price and others tried out last summer at this point that the rookie will be the odd man out on the blue line when had no logos. Brian Dumoulin is back.

“I think everybody knew that Lefevre left CCM,” DeSmith said. “That was THREE STARS kind of a big deal because he is one of the top [designers] in the industry, revolutionizing the way goalie pads are put together. A lot of goalies were 3. John Marino: The 23-year-old got off to a rocky start but has been anxious to try his new pad because he was always the one making the really good for about a month now. He had a positive plus-minus rating in innovations on the CCM pads.” eight of his last 11 games prior to Saturday and is logging almost as many minutes as Kris Letang. In September, True Sports and Lefevre announced a new partnership. Nicholas Burton, an assistant professor of sport management at Brock 2. Tristan Jarry: The Penguins are finally getting plus puck-stopping from University and a former goalie himself, said it gives True “immediate Jarry, whose game has turned around in February. Heading into legitimacy” in that space. Saturday, he was 3-1-0 in his previous four starts, posting a .934 save percentage during that stretch. “All in all it’s a partnership that works for both brands in terms of driving awareness and getting the gear to market,” he said. “But goalie gear- 1. Jake Guentzel: The winger is sort of flying under the radar despite being on an absolute tear of late. He scored a big goal in both games against the Capitals this past week while tallying four goals and 10 points over an eight-game span.

FINAL BUZZER

The illegal hit Tom Wilson delivered to Mark Jankowski was obviously late and totally unnecessary. I don’t know if that, in a vacuum, warrants a suspension. But it was the latest example of Wilson showing no regard for a fellow player. I’m sure some of you “Slap Shot” lovers were muttering “Eddie Shore” and “old-time hockey” after none of the Penguins dropped the gloves with Wilson. But this is 2021. Fighting rarely happens and the Penguins are built to make rowdy opponents pay on the scoreboard. Their power play needed to do that Thursday.

Post Gazette LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204179 Pittsburgh Penguins “He did a very good job in Philadelphia and basically built the foundation of the team that they have now. Of course, he didn’t build it all, came in and made some good changes and strengthened what was there. But Ron did a really good job there.’’ LeBrun: After only a month off, Jim Rutherford is ready to work in the NHL again After Rutherford stepped down, Morehouse asked one last time.

“David called me the one day and asked me again what I thought and I said ‘My opinion hasn’t changed.’ So I was very happy when he got the Pierre LeBrun job.’’

Feb 26, 2021 Hextall began his media availability the day he was announced as Penguins GM with a shoutout to Rutherford, reminding us of the personal

connection between the families. His dad, Bryan Hextall Jr., was a It was only about a month ago that Jim Rutherford shocked the hockey teammate of Rutherford’s with the Penguins in the 1970s and a young world. Ron Hextall would hang around the dressing room.

His resignation as GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 27 blindsided “He was my idol,’’ Hextall said of Rutherford. “He was really good to me everyone. as a kid. Gave me his mask.’’

His reasons for it remain his own. “I’ve known him since he was 5 or 6 years old,” said Rutherford. “He just sent me a picture a few days ago of him sitting on my knee when he was His desire to work again, however, is stronger than ever. about 6 or 7 years old. It’s a great picture.’’

“I still got the bug,’’ the 72-year-old Hockey Hall of Fame executive told So with the Penguins in good hands, Rutherford will look to turn the The Athletic on Friday. page. His contract with Pittsburgh expires in June. Here’s guessing teams who miss the playoffs in May will start calling for permission to talk “I can tell you that I feel good, I have a lot of energy, I love the game. I’ve to him. watched as many games as I can every night to stay in the loop. I have an emotional connection to the Penguins for obvious reasons, but I still Rutherford made it clear he’s not making any calls himself. have the bug to be with a team and try to contribute and make it better.’’ “I’ve done this long enough and I have a lot of friends in the game and a His batteries have been re-charged. The month since his surprise lot of respect for everybody and I’m not looking to take somebody’s job,” resignation has been a good one. He’s in a good place. he said. “So I’m not going to be making phone calls and saying that I’m looking for a job that somebody already has.’’ “I’m vaccinated now, so I feel more comfortable with that,” Rutherford said. But when the time is right, and if teams reach out, he will listen. The transition to the more senior role of president of hockey pperations with a Having received both his COVID vaccinations is hugely important for club might make sense at this stage of his career. Rutherford who at his age is in the high-risk group. Rutherford and his wife and 12-year-old son had been largely quarantined at home since “I could possibly go into that role, help a franchise and try to improve the last March. structure of it,” said Rutherford. “And also help the general manager. That’s something that I’ve talked about really for the last five years, that I “Now I’m getting my family, especially our son, back into the more normal thought it was something that would be a good role for me at some point routine of life which makes us all feel good where he’s back with his in my career. hockey team and he’s going to be back into school and into classes,” Rutherford said. “So quite a few things have happened over the last “And I’m probably at that point now. I’m not saying if the right general month.’’ manager’s job opened up, that I wouldn’t do that anymore.’’

The quarantine life had taken a toll on everyone at home. And Rutherford There are no geographical limits, he will be open-minded, East or West, went 10 months without seeing his 45-year-old daughter, Andrea, which U.S. or Canada, the right fit is the right fit regardless of where it is. was hard. Or, he may retire. “It’s taken a toll on everybody everywhere,’’ Rutherford said. “But speaking for my family, because of me being high-risk, we really followed He’s at the perfect crossroads in his life: Work again if it makes sense but the guidelines and were basically quarantined the whole time. So it took be at peace either way. a toll without question, but it wasn’t the reason I stepped down.’’ “It’s a place where most people would like to get to in their life. You can Even a month later, however, he’s not interested in revealing why he work if you want, but you don’t have to,” said Rutherford. “I don’t have stepped down, politely declining when asked. any more things to accomplish in the league, but I do think I have a lot to offer to a team in the right situation. Depending what they’re looking for. “I’ve been treated great by the Penguins, I just prefer to leave it at that,” Rutherford said. “I don’t have any regrets. I feel comfortable with what I “So we’ll see if anything comes my way.’’ did and I wish them all the best. I watch all their games and I’m cheering Bank on it. for them. I have a lot invested in this team.’’ The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 He obviously heard from Sidney Crosby after he stepped down.

“It was very nice. A text and a phone call. I have a really good relationship with him,’’ Rutherford said.

And he got a heartfelt message from Evgeni Malkin.

“That one really stood out,’’ Rutherford said. “Geno’s not a big communicator and he’s not outwardly affectionate, but he sent me a very touching email. That one hit home.’’

You win two Stanley Cups together, there are going to be bonds for life.

Rutherford, meanwhile, is happy that Ron Hextall took over for him as Penguins GM. After all, it’s the guy Rutherford touted to Penguins CEO David Morehouse as his replacement. On more than one occasion.

“We’ve talked about this for the last couple of years, not knowing when I would not be with the Penguins, and for the last couple of years, I’ve recommended Ron Hextall,” Rutherford said. 1204180 Pittsburgh Penguins Tanev is among the NHL leaders in hits, but he’s not a dangerous player. “(Our response) was fine. We’re just going to play the game,” Sullivan

said on Thursday night. “Teams are going to try to play physical against Yep, Capitals Show the Penguins are Missing a Tough Answer us. They always do. We’re just going to try to play the game that gives us the best to win.”

If you know one way that your opponent will attack, having an answer February 26, 2021 makes sense.

Dan Kingerski The Penguins have speed. Forwards Tanev, Kasperi Kapanen, Bryan Rust, and Sidney Crosby play the game at full speed. Sometimes faster.

Defensemen P.O. Joseph and Mike Matheson are elite skaters and can We’re just going to play. Play our own game. Play the game that gives us race to spots that other defensemen only dream of. the best chance to win. Those were the Pittsburgh Penguins and head The Penguins have talent, too. coach Mike Sullivan’s answers to questions about the Penguins’ response to the Washington Capitals’ physicality and Tom Wilson’s near When the Penguins last won the Stanley Cup in 2017, they too had assault of Mark Jankowski on Thursday night. several players who could hit back and play (our new favorite saying) “long pants hockey.” Ian Cole. Crosby. Chris Kunitz. Brian Dumoulin Let’s not kid ourselves. Wilson could have pulled up, turned away, or learned to clear the net front. otherwise not trucked Jankowski a full second after the puck was gone. Still, that team was nearly pounded into submission on several But he didn’t. occasions. And, I’m an old-school type. I’ve learned my pucks from the hotbeds in Other teams have closed the speed gap. And the talent gap. Maybe Canada and the toughest minor league city in North America pushing back as hard or harder would help, too. (Johnstown). I’m not expecting much agreement. Penguins fans are notoriously dovish. Sorry, but you know I’m not wrong about that, either. On Thursday night, Tanev, Sam Lafferty, and Cody Ceci had three or more hits. That’s a good start, but the Penguins lack impactful hits, So, the Penguins got a two-minute power play in exchange for Wilson someone who can impose a physical will or someone who can protect nearly putting an unprotected Jankowski in the rafters. Perhaps it’s pure teammates. coincidence (it’s not), and perhaps it had nothing to do with the Wilson hit, but look at the Washington Capitals surge after the hit. Oh, and that person has to be defensively responsible, preferably quick on his skates, and able to chip in between five and 10 goals per season. The Penguins chose not to address the Wilson hit in their postgame chat, other than to dismiss it. There aren’t many of those players, but Washington has the biggest and badest of the bunch. Like the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders, “It doesn’t matter. The referees are going to make the calls. They’re other teams in the East also enjoy a little tilly, too. going to call it as they see it,” Sullivan said. “We’re just going to play.” Fair warning, if the Penguins do find one, the stats may not reflect the Now, just imagine how the Penguins would react, heck, even how you benefit. Just as not finding one won’t specifically show up on the stat would react if this were the Penguins’ on-ice response. sheet either. Pushback and, in some cases, hit-back lies in the unseen Vancouver chirped Wilson all the way to the locker room. Each Canuck feeling and emotion of hockey. was a foot taller at that moment. Maybe, just maybe, the Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Penguins may benefit from a little of that, too. Penguins could use a little height enhancement rather than “just play?” Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 02.27.2021 The Wilson hit may not have negatively affected the Penguins, but there is ample evidence to suggest it positively affected the Washington Capitals.

And that’s an often overlooked point when discussing physicality in hockey. The benefits are different in different situations, but there are benefits.

Tuesday night, the Penguins were outhit 26-5 in the first 40 minutes. Despite playing well, the Penguins trailed in the third period.

Perhaps with a little more rambunctiousness, the Penguins would get into the games faster? The team is tied with the Nashville Predators for the NHL lead with eight wins while trailing or tied after two periods.

The Penguins have been outscored 21-16 in the first period. If not for a recent surge, that stat was 19-11 last weekend.

But those are hard statistics drawn from a subjective situation, so disagreement is expected. Unfortunately, Penguins fans too often leap to the extreme and assume toughness means a fighter.

It doesn’t. Not anymore.

The Penguins appear to have the mental toughness down pat. The team didn’t cower on the bench, and in the third period, the Penguins worked the corners despite an aggressive crunch by the Capitals.

The overall hit count was fairly even, 24-21 in the Capitals’ favor. Zach Aston-Reese, Brandon Tanev, and others made a specific point to finish their checks.

But it’s not enough.

The Penguins need more pushback. They need the energy that comes from hitting their opponents, HARD, and sometimes, FIRST. The Pittsburgh Penguins need that mental boost that comes from hitting back or being able to hit back if or when they want. 1204181 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Not Planning for Fans Until April; Flyers May Allow Fans Soon

February 26, 2021

Dan Kingerski

The Philadelphia Flyers are planning for fans as soon as next week. The city of Philadelphia has its own vaccine plans and making its own rules, and reports poured out of Philly that arena staff is being put on alert. The Pittsburgh Penguins and their fans do not seem to be so lucky.

According to an email from the Pittsburgh Penguins to their season ticket holders, the earliest fans will be able to attend games is in April, though the team did leave a little wiggle room should Harrisburg change the public rules.

Earlier this week, Philadelphia sports pages were abuzz as multiple outlets reported by the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers were preparing to host fans and called arena employees back to work. According to Philadelphia reports, the Flyers fans could be in the Wells Fargo Center as early as March 7.

The city of Philadelphia has its own vaccine plan and has been operating somewhat independently. Late Thursday, the city announced the military would be delivering vaccines within the city.

Based on size, Philadelphia is the only city in Pennsylvania officially classified as a “first-class city” with its own public health department, which gives it the right to set its own rules.

We’ll let Penguins fans debate using the words Philadelphia and “first- class city” in the same sentence.

According to Well-Health, the Wells Fargo Center just completed an $11 million renovation of the HVAC system and other health and safety upgrades, which earned the building a safety rating from the International Well Building Institute.

A Pittsburgh Penguins season ticket holder provided PHN the Penguins’ latest communication. And those who would like to attend games in March seem to be out of luck.

UPDATE: A local government source told PHN the Penguins have contacted Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf but the Penguins “haven’t heard back.” Officially, the Allegheny health department directed PHN to the state office, as well.

From the Penguins email:

There has been no change in the state’s COVID-19 protocols for indoor events. While we are hopeful that this will change in the near future, we have prorated your season package as follows:

Full Season – 7 Game Package (April-May)

Half Season Plan A – 4 Game Package (April-May)

Half Season Plan B – 3 Game Package (April-May)

*The April 20 game was initially scheduled for February 4. As a result, it was previously released from season ticket accounts with credit applied. Money paid towards March games has been moved to account credit or any outstanding balance…

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204182 San Jose Sharks undermanned as well,” Boughner said. “It’s opportunity for other guys, but we’re getting into probably what I would say is the toughest part of our schedule here.”

San Jose Sharks return to practice after COVID result, but big challenge Hertl is third on the Sharks with 11 points and is second among all of the awaits team’s forward’s in average time on ice at just under 20 minutes per game. He plays on the Sharks power play and penalty kill, and takes San Jose Sharks, Bob Boughner try to move forward without Tomas more faceoffs than anyone on the Sharks roster. Hertl, who could miss two weeks or more after positive COVID-19 test Couture leads all forwards in average time on ice at 19:47 per game and is the Sharks’ leader with 10 goals and 16 points. Dylan Gambrell, who missed Monday’s game with a head injury, will likely take Hertl’s spot as CURTIS PASHELKA the second-line center role, and Patrick Marleau has played center for a February 26, 2021 at 5:24 p.m. majority of this season. Boughner said center Sasha Chmelevski, whose last game was Feb. 5, will play center vs. the Blues.

“It’s going to affect us,” said Couture “Other guys are going to be getting It would have been understandable if the San Jose Sharks experienced an opportunity to step up and play more minutes. Through the middle some mixed emotions in their return to work Friday. we’re going to have other guys play extended minutes, special teams, penalty kill, because Tommy does it all for us.” The Sharks practiced for the first time since Tuesday as no other player besides Tomas Hertl landed on the NHL’s COVID-19 list with a positive INJURY UPDATES coronavirus test. Their home game Saturday with the St. Louis Blues remained on track to be played as scheduled. Boughner said defenseman Radim Simek, who has missed the last four games with an upper body injury, was a full participant in practice. They were also thinking of Hertl, with captain saying, “we Boughner said he would see how he and Gambrell felt after Saturday’s all checked in with him and he’s in good spirits, so that’s obviously good morning skate before finalizing any decisions, but indications are both will news. Good news in a bad news situation.” play vs. St. Louis.

But the reality also set in that the Sharks will be without one of their most Surprisingly, Boughner said skated Friday and added the important players in Hertl for roughly the next two weeks, if not more, just defenseman “felt way better than expected.” Boughner said Karlsson, as they embark on one of the most challenging portions of their schedule. who has also missed four straight games, will skate Saturday morning “and we can make some decisions on him as well.” Hertl tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this week and it appears he’ll miss the next six Sharks games or more due to NHL protocols. Boughner said Karlsson, who has a groin injury. went through all of Friday’s practice with battle drills. “You’re safe to say he’s out for 14 days before we see him back in our lineup,” said Sharks coach Bob Boughner, who added that the veteran “He’s worked hard in his rehab and he knows when he’s ready,” forward was asymptomatic and isolating at home. “Big loss, obviously.” Boughner said of Karlsson. “We don’t want to put him into a situation where he would hurt himself. He’s got to be cleared and he’s got to be Hertl first appeared on the NHL’s COVID-19 list Wednesday, just hours close to 100% before we put him back in, and who knows when that after the Sharks abruptly canceled practice for that day. The Sharks also (could be). It could be as close as the next day or two, but I don’t want to did not practice Thursday but did not receive any more positive tests, be too optimistic. clearing the way for them to resume skating at their facility. “He got through a full practice today. We had some battle, we had some “It’s good news for us that we’re in day three now and we haven’t had contact. Now the big thing is to see how he feels (Saturday) when he any more positive cases,” Boughner said. wakes up, but he looked like he was in good spirits, he felt pretty good Boughner said Hertl was unsure as to how he may have contracted the and he was moving well out there.” disease. WAIVER WIRE The Sharks played the Blues in St. Louis last Saturday and returned The Sharks placed forward Stefan Noesen on waivers Friday. Other NHL home right after the game. The Sharks played the Minnesota Wild on teams have 24 hours to claim Noesen. Otherwise, the Sharks will be able Monday and practiced in San Jose on Tuesday. While the Sharks are to assign him to the AHL, where he will have the opportunity to play, San Jose, they are limited to traveling between their homes and their San Boughner said. Noesen, 28, has played in five of the Sharks’ 17 games Jose practice facility or SAP Center. this season. He did not have a point and averaged 9 minutes and 32 Hertl’s case was the team’s first since the regular season began for the seconds of ice time per game. Sharks on Jan. 14, as they went through roughly six weeks without any San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 02.27.2021 other player besides Max Letunov appearing on the list.

“When it happens to one of your guys I think that, it’s a little bit of a wake up call,” said Boughner, who credited the way his team has adhered to league and local protocols. “We’re no different than anybody else in society, and you’ve just got to be very, very careful.”

Hertl’s absence leaves a huge void for the Sharks as they try to get some traction in the West Division playoff race.

After Saturday, the Sharks (7-8-2) host the Colorado Avalanche on Monday and Wednesday, the Vegas Golden Knights on March 5 and 6 and the Blues again on March 8 — all teams with Stanley Cup aspirations. The game the Sharks were supposed to play Thursday with the Golden Knights, but was postponed due to Hertl’s positive test, has not yet been rescheduled by the NHL.

Hertl would miss every one of those games if cannot play again until March 12 when the Sharks play the Anaheim Ducks. That is assuming the Sharks’ schedule does not change between now and then.

This is a tough spot, one that could put the seventh-place Sharks in a hole they can’t escape of they lose a handful of consecutive games.

“Losing Tommy, your third-leading point-getter and playing in all situations, it’s a tough loss and we’re already playing a little bit 1204183 San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks place forward on waivers, get defenseman back off IR

Stefan Noesen placed on waivers by the San Jose Sharks; Radim Simek back on active roster, may play vs. St. Louis Blues; Erik Karlsson practices

CURTIS PASHELKA

February 26, 2021 at 5:06 p.m.

The Sharks placed forward Stefan Noesen on waivers Friday, giving him what they hope is an opportunity to play with the Barracuda this weekend.

Other NHL teams have 24 hours to claim Noesen. Otherwise, the Sharks will be able to assign him to the AHL or place him on their taxi squad, however, coach Bob Boughner said the team wants to give Noesen a chance to play.

Noesen, 28, has only played in five of the Sharks’ 17 games this season, and his last game came Feb. 15 against the Anaheim Ducks when he had 9 minutes and 37 seconds of ice time. He does not have a point this season.

The Barracuda play Saturday and Sunday against the Reign at Sharks Ice.

“(Noesen) hasn’t played in a while, and he has to get playing,” Boughner said. “It’s an option for a guy to get down and play some games and be game ready.”

Noesen was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh by the Sharks on Dec. 19, 2019, and was re-signed to a one-year, $925,000 contract in October.

The Sharks had five defensemen on their active roster Friday after Radim Simek, who had missed the last four games with an upper body injury, was taken off injured reserve. Simek participated in practice Friday and indications are he will play Saturday at SAP Center against the St. Louis Blues.

Erik Karlsson remains on injured reserve with a groin injury but was a participant in Friday’s practice. Boughner said Karlsson felt “way better than expected” and will skate again Saturday morning before the Sharks finalize any decisions on whether he will play vs. the Blues.

“He’s worked hard in his rehab and he knows when he’s ready,” Boughner said of Karlsson. “We don’t want to put him into a situation where he would hurt himself. He’s got to be cleared and he’s got to be close to 100% before we put him back in, and who knows when that (could be). It could be as close as the next day or two, but I don’t want to be too optimistic.

“He got through a full practice today. We had some battle, we had some contact. Now the big thing is to see how he feels (Saturday) when he wakes up, but he looked like he was in good spirits, he felt pretty good and he’s moving well out there.”

The Sharks were back at practice Friday morning after their training facility had been closed the last two days except for player and staff member coronavirus testing.

The Sharks’ game with St. Louis at SAP Center will be their first since Monday when they lost to the Minnesota Wild. The Sharks’ scheduled game with the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday was postponed after Hertl was placed on the league’s COVID list.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204184 San Jose Sharks

Simek activated off IR ahead of Sharks' game against Blues

Katie Woo

The Sharks have been without Radim Simek for nearly two weeks after the defenseman took a nasty hit from Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault in San Jose's official home opener on Feb. 13.

However, it appears San Jose will have Simek back for Saturday's contest against the St. Louis Blues, as the 28-year-old was activated off the Injured Reserve on Thursday.

Simek landed on the IR after Marchessault's cross-check in the second period of the Sharks' 3-1 loss to Vegas. The two were no strangers to the fierce rivalry between the Sharks and the Golden Knights and had already exchanged a few hits prior. However, the blow by Marchessault behind the net ultimately knocked Simek out of the game with an "upper body injury" and onto the IR.

Marchessault's hit didn't sit well with Bob Boughner, but how his team responded bothered the coach even more.

“The initial hit you can argue is a little bit high, but I think it’s the nature of the hit, I think it was retaliatory,” Boughner said (h/t Bay Area News Group's Curtis Pashelka). “I thought that [Simek] was physical on Smith on the first shoulder-to-shoulder puck battle. It looked like Marchessault came in, keying on Simmer and the hit.

“Again, my issue is more the second time around when Simmer was already stung that he came in and added insult to injury, and that’s on us. I mean, it looked to me like someone taking a shot at one of our players and I didn’t like our response. That’s something we are addressing."

Simek should be cleared to play Saturday, and hopefully for the Sharks, the team is cleared as well. San Jose had to postpone Thursday's scheduled contest vs. the Golden Knights after Tomas Hertl was placed in the NHL's COVID-19 protocols.

While no rescheduled date for that matchup has been provided, the Sharks are expected to proceed with Saturday's game against the Blues after no additional team tests yielded any further positive results.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204185 San Jose Sharks “Apparently, his creditors are expected to support Kane, his wife, his daughter, and all of his relatives for Kane’s lavish lifestyle, and theirs as well,” Zions wrote.

Evander Kane creditor blasts Sharks wing in scorched-earth bankruptcy On the Rolex watches, Zions questioned why the transaction was not filing listed on the original petition.

“Does someone who is being truthful really not remember forking over his expensive Rolex watches to pay a gambling debt, just before filing a Daniel Kaplan bankruptcy petition? What strong-arming led Kane to do this remains unclear,” the bank added, referring to the new form Kane filed earlier this Feb 26, 2021 month that divulged the Rolex-for-gambling debt swap.

Kane is hardly alone among professional athletes in declaring San Jose Sharks left wing Evander Kane is a problem gambler whose bankruptcy. High-profile bankruptcies have included Mike Tyson, six-week-old bankruptcy filing is designed to shield his considerable Evander Holyfield, Michael Vick, Vince Young, Warren Sapp, Antoine assets and “stiff” his lenders, one of his top creditors charged in a Walker, Kenny Anderson, Lenny Dykstra; and in the NHL — Jack blistering and explosive motion Friday. Johnson, Darren McCarty and Bryan Trottier.

Kane made waves when he filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy protection last Some athletes can be overwhelmed with newfound wealth, investing in month, declaring $26.8 million in debts with $10.2 million of assets, businesses and funding friends and family. They can quickly plow despite having signed a seven-year, $49 million contract in 2018. That through their earnings (Kane, in his petition, lists his income as minus- filing listed a $1.5 million gambling loss, but according to the motion from $91.131.13 a month). Zions Bancorp, that understated the issue. But for a creditor to charge such a high-profile athlete of duplicity and Less than two months before the bankruptcy filing, Kane sold two Rolex moral lapses in a no-holds-barred legal push stands out. watches for $75,000 to pay gambling debts, the bank wrote, citing Drew Hawkins is the founder of Edyoucore and an athlete financial changes Kane recently made to his bankruptcy petition. And at a consultant who works with Walker, the Boston Celtics’ first-round pick in bankruptcy hearing earlier this month, “Kane said that he originally 1996, and knows of many other bankrupt athletes. He said he had not borrowed between $600,000 to $700,000 from South River Capital, LLC, heard of a creditor going scorched earth on a debtor. to ‘pay casino debt,’” Gerrick M. Warrington, an associate attorney at Frandzel Robins Bloom & Csato, L.C., counsel of record for Zions, wrote “I have never seen that level of detail,” he said, “that level of judgment … in a statement attached to the motion. It goes above and beyond being a creditor. To challenge his wife’s ability of being a mother. What gives them the right?” That motion pulls no punches. It says: “Kane has a serious gambling problem … Kane gambles heavily and makes poor, self-centered The bank also asked for an April hearing to be pushed to March so if the financial decisions. He ought not be allowed to continue handling his court agrees to change the process to chapter 11, then Kane’s April substantial salary and bonuses, or be allowed to continue gambling and Sharks payments would be available to creditors. speculating with his income instead of committing it to his creditors. Creditors likely have no confidence in Kane’s ability to administer his Shortly after Zions filed its papers, the court obliged and set a March 30 estate for their benefit. Zions certainly does not. The story painted in the hearing. Schedules and Statement of Affairs is not a pretty one. Kane has frittered The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 away significant amounts of money, in actual gambling at many different venues and in many different ways.”

The lawyer for Kane, Stephen Finestone, wrote in an email he had not seen the Zions filing, but added, “I am unlikely to have a response other than to tell you that Mr. Kane intends to oppose the request.”

That request is to change Kane’s category of bankruptcy from chapter 7, which is for individuals, to chapter 11, which is for businesses. The change would be significant because, under chapter 11, the $29 million remaining on Kane’s Sharks contract would be available to creditors like Zion, which is owed $4.25 million according to the filing. It would not be under chapter 7, wrote Zions, which argues Kane’s losses are business- related.

Zions, in its motion, also divulged it is considering suing Kane for allegedly misleading the bank in securing the loan.

“Zions believes that there may have been significant irregularities in what Kane provided and what he promised Zions in the making of the original loan,” the bank wrote. “Zions is evaluating whether to file its adversary complaint to have the debt owed to it deemed to be non-dischargeable … Zions is informed that other creditors similarly believe that they are holding materially false pre-petition financial statements. Investigation into Kane’s pre-petition behavior is just now beginning, and it is currently unknown what other irregularities might be discovered, triggering other issues for Kane.”

At times the motion gets deeply personal, the bank calling Kane “venal,” charging him with “stiffing his creditors,” and appearing to question his wife’s parenting skill. Kane, in his bankruptcy petition, listed $12,000 a month in child care expenses.

Zions responded to that: “Kane claims to need $12,000 per month in ‘childcare and children’s educational expenses’ to pay for a 24/7 rotation of day and night nurses for a 6-month old infant, even though his wife does not work outside the home.”

Kane also listed his wife, two uncles, mother, sister, father and grandmother as dependents, which Zions slammed. 1204186 San Jose Sharks how he feels tomorrow. He looked like he was in good spirits. Felt pretty good. And he was moving well out there.”

HAPPY RETURNS Hertl “Doing Very Well”, Karlsson Finishes Full Practice Speaking of happy returns, both Dylan Gambrell and Radim Simek should re-enter the San Jose Sharks line-up tomorrow. Simek was hurt on Feb. 13 versus Vegas and Gambrell was hurt on Feb. 20 at St. Louis; February 26, 2021 both practiced at apparent full tilt today.

Sheng Peng Simek actually had some fascinating comments about the Jonathan Marchessault hits that landed him on the IR. Meanwhile, Gambrell will

slide up into an elevated role, taking Hertl’s spot between Timo Meier Things are trending up for the resumption of the San Jose Sharks’ and Rudolfs Balcers. Gambrell might even see some power play time. schedule this Saturday. “The opportunity’s kind of here,” Gambrell said. “I’m going to take On Wednesday, Sharks’ practice was abruptly canceled because of advantage of it, best I can.” Tomas Hertl’s addition to the NHL’s COVID Protocol. Thursday’s Meanwhile, Simek gave his side of the Marchessault incident: “I think he scheduled tilt versus the Golden Knights was postponed, and we waited was a little mad after I hit Smith. It was a clean hit from me on Smith. with bated breath for more Sharks to be added to the list. “I was hurt on the first [hit by Marchessault]. I didn’t see him. I just saw It was good news for San Jose yesterday though, as no other Sharks the guy in the corner, but I didn’t see Marchessault. I wasn’t ready.” players entered the league’s COVID Protocol. Practice was scheduled for today and Saturday’s game against the Blues remained on the schedule. Fascinating #SJSharks/#VegasBorn quote from Simek about Marchessault: "Marchessault showed us how we should play other The San Jose Sharks hit the ice for a closed practice at Solar4America teams. We have to play strong — I don't want to say hurt — but they Ice at San Jose this morning. should know we're going to play hard & they should be scared." Bob Boughner, Logan Couture, Dylan Gambrell, and Radim Simek — Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 26, 2021 addressed the media this afternoon, and we got updates on how Hertl is doing and injury updates from Gambrell and Simek. Also, we got Also, it looks like Sasha Chmelevski will draw into the line-up tomorrow surprisingly good news about Erik Karlsson’s groin injury. night, per Boughner. This will be Chmelevski’s first game since Feb. 5.

HOW GOES HERTL San Jose Hockey Now LOADED: 02.27.2021 How is Tomas Hertl doing?

“He’s doing very well,” Boughner said. Logan Couture added, “He’s in good spirits.” As far as the San Jose Sharks head coach knows, Hertl is asymptomatic.

Reading between the lines, however, the bad news is that Hertl indeed has COVID-19 — he wasn’t flagged for a false positive. This means, because of Protocol, Hertl will be out at least 14 days. Assuming all goes well, Hertl might be available to return, if my calculations are correct, on Mar. 12 at Anaheim.

Boughner says that Hertl has been careful as can be, so they have no idea at moment where he was exposed.

KARLSSON BACK SOON?

With all eyes on Hertl and the NHL’s COVID Protocol list, we forgot about Erik Karlsson’s groin a little bit.

On Tuesday, Boughner said that Karlsson was unlikely to skate this week:

Erik Karlsson is not likely to skate this week — yesterday, Boughner had hoped he might hit the ice mid-week. Another setback for EK65

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 23, 2021

It looked like another setback for the oft-injured Karlsson. So imagine our surprise when Boughner dropped this nugget:

Boughner says Karlsson got through a full practice today — that's big, considering he couldn't finish practice last week. They'll monitor how he's feeling tomorrow, but are optimistic he can return very soon

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 26, 2021

“He felt better than expected,” Boughner said. “He’ll skate tomorrow morning.”

So when’s the timeline for Karlsson’s return?

“He knows when he’s ready. We don’t want to put him in a situation where he would hurt himself. He’s got to be cleared; he’s got to be close to 100 percent before we put him back in. Who knows when that looks like?” he offered.

There’s a chance, however, that Karlsson could be back very soon.

“It could be as close as the next day or two. But I don’t want to be too optimistic,” Boughner shared. “He got through full practice today. We had some battle. We had some contact. The big thing is we’re going to see 1204187 Seattle Kraken “I say this as a Broncos fan that does not like the Seahawks: Sometimes, it’s sickening to see this many 12s around this place,” Tuott said. “I have no doubt that the Kraken are going to have a similar following. Especially with ROOT Sports. We have ROOT up here and they carry the Mariners Alaska finally has an NHL team: It’s the Seattle Kraken games. The Mariners are on every single night here and you know all those guys growing up. You live and die with the Mariners.”

Attracting the highest number of viewers possible was one of the driving Ryan S. Clark forces in the Kraken’s search for a broadcast partner. That is what made Feb 26, 2021 ROOT Sports an attractive option. ROOT’s footprint extends into Alaska and it will allow the Kraken to be the first NHL team fans can watch throughout an entire season.

Practically everyone who lives in Alaska at some point has boarded one The natural assumption is Alaska’s proximity to Vancouver and the fact it of those three-and-a-half-hour flights to Seattle. Maybe they’re going borders means most residents would be Vancouver down for a business trip, some sort of vacation or to watch a Seahawks Canucks fans. Canucks fans do exist in Alaska, but there are pockets of game at the artist formerly known as CenturyLink Field. Some even joke fans for other teams throughout the state. Better yet? Think of it like this. that going to Seattle is like driving to the next suburb. Living in Alaska is akin to being a fan who lives in Iowa when it comes to watching games. They’re watching the NBC and NBCSN broadcasts The connection between the state of Alaska and Seattle has always been while also taking advantage of NHL Network. And some also have an there. The Seattle Kraken know this and it is why they are making a push NHL Center Ice subscription and watch the nightly game on ESPN Plus. to tap into a hockey-obsessed part of America that has gone overlooked. “I think the biggest challenge in watching games is the time change In August, the University of Alaska Board of Regents voted to cut the unless you are watching something on the West Coast,” former Alaska Seawolves men’s hockey program, among other sports, after the 2020- Aces coach Keith McCambridge said. “Everything on the East Coast is 21 school year to reduce the University of Alaska-Anchorage’s budget. hard to follow. In regards to being in a closer time zone and the But the board offered a chance at reviving those programs should closeness, it is a big thing that there is a team in Seattle and it can be boosters and supporters raise enough money to cover two years of part of the hockey community. It will be a lot easier to follow. To see how operating expenses. people have followed along with the Seahawks and Mariners, it makes This led to the creation of Save Seawolf Hockey, a group trying to raise sense they would do that for the Kraken.” $3 million to save the program. McCambridge, now an assistant with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, Here’s where the Kraken enter the picture. Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke played three seasons for the Aces and coached them for two more was sitting in on a partnership call with Bristol Bay Native Corporation, an seasons. By his description, hockey is the state sport and the climate Alaska Native regional corporation, when the group’s president and CEO makes it a natural fit. The years he was with the Aces meant Sullivan Jason Metrokin mentioned what was happening with the Seawolves. Arena, the venue that once housed the Aces and the Seawolves, was Leiweke said that he and the Kraken would like to help. From there, always filled to capacity. Leiweke got in contact with Kathie Bethard, the president of Save He said fans were knowledgeable and the love for hockey runs so deep Seawolf Hockey, to have the Kraken pledge $200,000, with Leiweke and that in November 2019 there was an Aces alumni game. Former players co-majority owner making personal donations. returned for a two-night exhibition. The original deadline of Feb. 18 passed, with Save Seawolf Hockey “It was sold out for both nights,” McCambridge recalled. “Our average raising $1.8 million. On Thursday, the board unanimously agreed to grant was around 5,500 fans and Sullivan Arena held 6,000. To sell out to Save Seawolf Hockey until Aug. 30 to raise the remaining funds with the watch retired, overweight ex-hockey players play two games is idea that the program will play at the start of the 2022-23 season. On something else.” Friday, the Kraken made an aggressive marketing push by urging fans to donate in an effort to boost the chances of UAA having hockey again. USA Hockey’s 2019-20 seasonal registration report lists Alaska as having 8,540 players. That ranks third in the Pacific region behind “What it means is that we won’t have a 2021-22 season, which was a California and Washington. Alaska has become a youth hockey hotbed little disheartening to begin with,” Bethard said. “But then when we and one that can has sent countless players to collegiate, junior and stepped back and started looking at the reality of everything, we don’t major junior teams. As a whole, the state has sent 17 players to the NHL want to do it halfway. When we launched this program, we wanted to be with the most notable being Matt Carle, Brandon Dubinsky, Scott Gomez the best it could be at that time. This will give (Seawolves coach Matt and Nate Thompson. Curley) more time to recruit. It will give him more time to schedule some games because most people already have their 2021-22 season So how is it that a state this passionate about hockey has experienced so schedule filled with games. It also gives us time to re-negotiate with much heartache? Why did the Aces have to leave town? How did it get to Sullivan Arena to get that contract in place and make it more beneficial to the point that there is a major movement to save a Seawolves program the university than it was previously.” that has existed for more than 40 years?

Understand something about what this particular move means. The Like everything in life, money is the answer. Kraken being an active participant in preserving one of the state’s two collegiate programs declares an intent to invest in a place that has an The Aces said at the time of their departure in 2017 that a down affinity with Seattle and the game as a whole. economy was the primary reason why they were struggling, according to KTUU-TV. In the 2003-04 campaign, the Aces began a run of 11 Eric Tuott jokes that it feels like there are at least 15 flights a day from consecutive playoff appearances highlighted by two titles – the Anchorage to Seattle. And that’s just on Alaska Airlines alone, never ECHL championship – in that run. Their last championship season came mind the other airlines that offer service out of Anchorage, Fairbanks and during the 2013-14 slate and it would be the last time they reached the Juneau. Tuott is a Kraken season ticket holder who is a firefighter in postseason. The Aces missed the playoffs and finished either at or near Anchorage. In fact, he is a former UAA Hockey player who is on a fire the bottom of their division. department team with 15 former Division I hockey players, which includes former NHL forward Joey Crabb. Tuott grew up in Alaska as a Attendance figures, according to hockeydb, fell from averaging 4,367 die-hard Quebec Nordiques fan who followed them to Denver when they during their last championship season to 3,623 fans in their final year became the Colorado Avalanche. before relocating to become the . The team shared at the time that they were down $600,000 in sponsorships while also losing Still, the fact that Seattle will have an NHL team means he finally has a $262,000 in ticket sales all while acknowledging the financial climate at “local” team to call his own. Tuott said the regionalism is evident in that that time would continue to lead to more potential losses. people are Seahawks or Seattle Mariners fans. That there is a strong concentration of alumni from the University of Oregon, Washington and Bethard even addressed how challenging it was fundraising during the Washington State University who live there. The fandom runs so strong pandemic. Alaska ranks sixth nationally in oil production and the oil in Alaska that there are people who have Seahawks season tickets and industry has witnessed more than 100 oil and gas companies declare fly down on weekends for home games. bankruptcy in 2020. Furthermore, a city like Anchorage and the state as a whole heavily relies on tourism. It’s another reason why Bethard described the effort to save the Seawolves as “something exciting in a dark period.”

“There are costs involved,” McCambridge said. “You have a product in Anchorage like the Seawolves and Aces and there are maintenance costs that come with being in a remote location compared to sitting at home watching a Kraken game on TV. It is a different scenario. The Kraken will be well supported.”

CCHA commissioner Don Lucia coached at UAA and Alaska-Fairbanks before moving on to Colorado College and then the University of Minnesota. Lucia, who still has a home in Alaska, said the Kraken’s Alaskan adventure reminds him of something he saw when he was coaching the Gophers.

The Minnesota Wild created “The State of Hockey” mantra that gave everyone in Minnesota ownership. The Wild went all-in on that strategy by doing things such as having traveling caravans in places like Bemidji, Crookston and Mankato to make those living outside the Twin Cities feel included. Plus, fans from those areas saw other unique touches such as every high school hockey sweater from across Minnesota displayed at the Xcel Center, a feature that still exists to this day.

“It is the state’s team and in Minnesota, you have that metro versus outside metro competition going,” Lucia said. “I think they extended the olive branch to the whole state that they want to be your team. It’s not the Twin Cities’s team or just St. Paul. It’s for everyone. They have done a really good job of spreading out to different communities.”

And it just so happened that Leiweke was the president of the Wild during that time.

“It’s a part of our brand and we are thrilled with that,” Leiweke said of Alaska’s place in the Kraken’s landscape. “But if you are going to make it part of your brand, it can’t be a one-way street. If they are a part of who we are and a part of our territory, you’ve gotta be willing to give back and to show up and to be present. How could we not be involved? I think that’s the real question. We had to be involved in some way. It’s not just helping with this campaign, we want to be involved with hockey across the state.”

Leiweke said he is optimistic that the fight to save the Seawolves will be a successful one. But it requires multiple people getting on board and the Kraken are “committed to doing our part,” Leiweke added. Bethard was asked to start a list of sports bars throughout Alaska that the Kraken can highlight on their telecasts and in during games to recognize their fans in the state.

A long-term goal for Leiweke is to someday have the Seawolves play games at Climate Pledge Arena. He took it even further by saying those plans could include playing their in-state rival Nanooks. Or that they could look into doing a Beanpot-style tournament at Climate Pledge Arena similar to how the TD Garden hosts Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern for one of college hockey’s most famed events.

“It is a wonderful connection and Alaska and Seattle have been connected for decades and decades and decades,” Leiweke said. “This is another fantastic connection and we are going to build through hockey relationships with Vancouver, with British Columbia. But we’re going to build even stronger relationships with Alaska.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204188 St Louis Blues practice on Friday, another forward called up from Utica, Dakota Joshua, wasn’t out of quarantine either, but also should be soon. Joshua will go on the taxi squad when he clears.

Blues notebook: Berube hopes to spark squad by separating O'Reilly and St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2021 Perron

Tom Timmermann

Not much has been dependable about this Blues season. It took just two weeks before their schedule announced at the start of the season began getting rearranged.

But there was one thing that always stood strong: The partnership of center Ryan O’Reilly and wing David Perron.

Now even that is gone. With coach Craig Berube looking for something to spark his offense, he separated the two in practice on Friday, with O’Reilly skating with wings Zach Sanford and Jordan Kyrou and Perron joining and Vladimir Tarasenko. With Tarasenko not yet ready to play, Mike Hoffman will likely step into that slot in the meantime.

“Sometimes, you just separate a couple guys,” Berube said, “and it just adds a little spark and maybe I can get two lines that are clicking and producing offensively.”

In the third period of the Blues-Kings game on Wednesday, Berube sent a different line combination out almost every single time. None of them really took hold.

Sanford was bumped down to the third line to start the game but by the third period, was back up on one of the top two. He’ll be there again on Saturday, at least at the start.

“I’m excited to play with those two,” Sanford said. “They’ve been playing some really good hockey and then you know Roozie with his offensive talent and his speed and skill — I played a couple games with him and it’s pretty fun. I think we read off each other pretty well and O’Ry, his game speaks for itself. He’s reliable everywhere, good with the puck, good offensively and defensively. I’ve played quite a few games with him. So I’m pretty familiar with that. I’m excited to get out there with those two and see what we can do.”

On defense, Marco Scandella returned after missing the third period on Wednesday when he took a puck to the face. Berube paired him, for the first time since the start of the season, with Justin Faulk. Torey Krug was paired with Niko Mikkola, which could mean a significant increase in ice time for Mikkola. Berube said he did the arranging so there would be a puck-moving defenseman on each pairing.

Game on

Earlier this week, when the game scheduled for Thursday between San Jose and Vegas was postponed because of a COVID positive test, the Blues-Sharks game on Saturday was in doubt. But since Wednesday, when San Jose’s Tomas Hertl tested positive, there have been no positive tests for the Sharks other than Hertl, so the game will be played. Hertl will miss this game and, in all likelihood, the second game on this trip between the teams on March 8.

“Everybody’s been at their house the past couple of days and sort of isolated,” said San Jose coach Bob Boughner on Friday. “It’s good news for us that we’re in Day 3 now and haven’t had any more positive cases. A lot of teams are going through this throughout the league and for us it was being together for so long on the road and being together in our self- imposed bubble, we did an amazing job at being safe and same thing being back here in Santa Clara County. It was a little bit of a shock but something you knew you were going to deal with at some point in time, just like the rest of society.”

Boughner said that, judging from the timing of the positive test for Hertl, he picked up the virus while the team was in St. Louis for games on Feb. 18 and 20. His positive test came on Feb. 24. He’s expected to be out 14 days. Said Boughner, “From everything I’ve heard, he’s doing fine.”

Not just yet for Walker

While the team announced Thursday that Nathan Walker had come out of quarantine and been added to the full roster, Walker wasn’t on the ice for practice on Friday and Berube said he still wasn’t out of quarantine, though he would be soon. (He is, though, on the main roster.) Also, as of 1204189 St Louis Blues Tarasenko had scored 30 or more goals in five straight seasons when he dislocated his left shoulder in a game with the Kings on Oct. 24, 2019, and required surgery. He was days away from returning to action when the NHL season was paused on March 12. He played in four games Tarasenko's return to Blues' lineup drawing closer when the season resumed in the bubble in Edmonton, but it was quickly apparent that he wasn’t 100 percent. After the second game of the

playoff series with Vancouver, on Aug. 14, he came out of the lineup and Tom Timmermann four days later, he left Edmonton and returned to St. Louis to have surgery.

Tarasenko has played just four games in the past 16 months, so the If the Blues seemed a happier, sunnier group at practice on Friday, two adjustment time of getting back to game speed may be long. It’s days removed from their third loss in a row and fourth in five games, possible, if not likely, that his game won’t get to his usual level before this there was good reason. season, which is almost halfway over, comes to an end.

The return of Vladimir Tarasenko seems imminent. “I can’t give you expectations on that,” Berube said. “Vladi’s a great player, has been a great scorer in this league for a long time. He needs “Especially with where we’re at right now,” said forward Zach Sanford, to just go out and work hard and compete and give us that and his skill “getting a player of his caliber back is good for the spirits and then and things will take over. I think that he still has a great shot. And he’s hopefully helping us get going here and score some goals.” going to use this shot. But you know, he just needs to focus on how hard Tarasenko took part in line rushes and a contact drill for the first time he’s working and how hard he’s competing out there. I hope he comes since his most recent shoulder surgery on Friday morning at Centene back and he gets hot right away and scores goals for us.” Community Ice Center. He’s not quite there yet on returning to action, but St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2021 coach Craig Berube said there was a good chance Tarasenko would play at some point on the six-game trip that begins Saturday in San Jose and finishes there on March 8.

“He is getting close and I wanted him to go with a line and see how he looks,” Berube said. “He’s itching and ready to go. It’s been a while for him and a long road. He’s done a real good job of conditioning and doing what he had to do to be in shape and rehab everything. The credit goes to him and the training staff.

“He needs to be ready himself first and foremost. He’s got to be comfortable with everything. He’s got to get more involved out there and some drills with real body contact and competitiveness. Let’s get there first and then we’ll see.”

Tarasenko skated on a line with David Perron and Brayden Schenn, which also marks the first time this season that Perron has been separated from longtime linemate Ryan O’Reilly. O’Reilly centered Sanford and Jordan Kyrou.

Tarasenko started skating with the team in practice two weeks ago, but with no contact. That began after the morning skate on Wednesday, when he got some contact from the coaching staff.

The now apparently imminent return of Tarasenko could be the jolt of energy the Blues, with a stagnating offense and growing injury list, need, even if Tarasenko doesn’t figure to be at the top of his game for a while. The practice Friday was energetic.

“We’re excited to get bodies back,” defenseman Robert Bortuzzo said, “and a guy like Vladi just adds to that excitement and just the kind of enthusiasm he has to get back. He’s champing at the bit. You could tell he has that kind of fire going, which is awesome to see and I’m sure it’ll just kind of permeate through our squad to have him come back and have that energy. Anytime you can get a world class player back in your lineup, we get excited.”

It’s also the best news the Blues have gotten on the injury front in a while as players have consistently gone out and in many cases not come back.

The challenge that still lays ahead for Tarasenko is getting used to contact. He’s been skating and shooting, but readjusting to the physical nature of the game is the biggest challenge.

“That contact stuff is really important,” Berube said, “because you can skate all you want and your conditioning will be good, but it’s really the battling and the contact and all that stuff that wears on you when you’ve been out this long. The conditioning side of things, that’s hard to do in practice. When you’re in a game that’s totally different. So it’ll be important that we do a lot of that stuff with him before he plays.”

“That’s gonna be something he’s gonna have to work through in practices here and getting ready to go,” said Bortuzzo, one of the players who will likely be making contact with Tarasenko in practice. “He does seem extremely confident in how he feels physically. So I think the last step will just kind of be bumping into guys and, in a game, I’m sure there’s going to be a hit that he might take and he’s going to feel real good and real confident after and that’s all it will take from my experience in the past in coming back from things.” 1204190 St Louis Blues

Preview: Blues at Sharks

Jim Thomas

Blues at Sharks

When, where: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, SAP Center, San Jose

TV, radio: FSM, WXOS (101.1 FM)

About the Sharks: San Jose, 7-8-2 and seventh in the tightly-bunched West Division with 16 points, has played only once since going 1-0-1 last week in St. Louis against the Blues. That game was a 6-2 loss Monday to the Minnesota Wild, matching their most lopsided setback of the season. Brent Burns and Logan Couture scored the only goals for San Jose and goalie Martin Jones was pulled after allowing four goals in 1 ½ periods.

The Sharks’ scheduled game Thursday with Vegas was postponed after Tomas Hertl ended up on the NHL’s COVID list Wednesday. Hertl remains on the list and won’t play Saturday. Defenseman Erik Karlsson remains on injured reserve with a lower-body injury; he was on the ice Friday but isn’t expected to play Saturday. The Sharks have played the Blues dead-even so far this season, winning 5-4 and losing 5-4 in regulation; and losing 3-2 in overtime and winning 2-1 in a shootout.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204191 St Louis Blues have this real high enthusiasm. You can tell there's an excitement to get back around him. What a feeling that must be for him. Looking forward to having him back. He looks great."

Tarasenko steps up his presence in practice as his return to Blues nears Defenseman Marco Scandella, who left the game Wednesday early after taking a puck in the face, was back at practice on Friday and was paired with, also for the first time, Justin Faulk. Torey Krug skated with Niko Mikkola and Vince Dunn was with Bortuzzo. Tom Timmermann Other injured Blues Jaden Schwartz, Colton Parayko and

were not on the ice, and neither was Utica callup Nathan Walker, though Vladimir Tarasenko is that much closer to returning to action. the team announced Thursday that he had cleared quarantine and had been called up to the full squad, Berube said that he was still in The high-scoring Blues forward, coming off two shoulder surgeries, took quarantine, as was another call up, Dakota Joshua, who came up a day part in line rushes and one contact drill in the team’s practice at Centene after Walker. Community Ice Center on Friday prior to the team’s departure for San Jose, the first (and last) stop on a six-game California swing. Lines

“He is getting close and I wanted him to go with a line and see how he Forwards looks,” coach Craig Berube said. Perron-Schenn-Tarasenko Asked if there was a good chance Tarasenko would play on the Sanford-O’Reilly-Kyrou upcoming trip, Berube said, “Yeah, there’s a good chance, I would say. Blais-Sundqvist-Hoffman “He’s itching and ready to go. It’s been a while for him and a long road. He’s done a real good job of conditioning and doing what he had to do to Clifford-de la Rose-MacEachern be in shape and rehab everything. The credit goes to him and the training staff.” Defensemen

Tarasenko skated on a line with David Perron and Brayden Schenn, Scandella-Faulk which also marks the first time this season that Perron has been Dunn-Bortuzzo separated from longtime linemate Ryan O’Reilly. O’Reilly centered Zach Sanford and Jordan Kyrou. Tarasenko took part in contact drills in Krug-Mikkola practice, the first time he has done that since returning from surgery. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.27.2021 Tarasenko had become a regular participant in practices, but had only been skating and shooting. After the morning skate on Wednesday, he did get some contact from the coaching staff.

It had been unclear when Tarasenko might return to game action, and his work on Friday suggests it could be very soon.

“He needs to be ready himself first and foremost,” Berube said. “He’s got to be comfortable with everything. He’s got to get more involved out there and some drills with real body contact and competitiveness. Let’s get there first and then we’ll see.”

Tarasenko last appeared in a game with the Blues on Aug. 14, in the second game of the playoff series with Vancouver in the Edmonton bubble. He played four games in all in the bubble, which were his first since he injured his shoulder in a game with the Kings on Oct. 24, 2019. The operation that followed that injury didn’t fix the problem, and on Aug. 18, four days after his last game, he left the bubble to return to St. Louis and have his shoulder examined and, eventually, surgery. The initial prognosis from the Blues was that he would be re-examined in five months.

"Vladi's been a great player and been a great goalscorer in this league for a long time," Berube said. "He needs to just go out and work hard and compete and give us that and his skill and things will take over. I think he still has a great shot and he's going to use his shot, but he just needs to focus on how hard he's working and how hard he's competing out there. I can't give you expectations. I hope he comes back and he gets hot right away and scores goals for us."

The now apparently imminent return of Tarasenko could be the jolt of energy the Blues, losers of three straight and four of five with a stagnating offense, need, even if Tarasenko doesn’t figure to be at the top of his game for a while. The practice Friday was energetic.

"Any time you can get a world-class player back in your lineup, we get excited," defenseman Robert Bortuzzo said. "He's been a big part of our team, has been for a long time here. World class skill and talent and ability to put the puck in the net. We're an excited group to have him back."

It’s also the best news the Blues have gotten on the injury front in a while as players have consistently gone out and in many cases not come back.

Bortuzzo gave a positive review to how Tarasenko looked.

"Looks good," he said. "I skated with him a little bit when I was coming back and he just seems very confident in his shot and his power looks great. He looks really good, he's skating real good and he just seems to 1204192 St Louis Blues The Blues’ best-laid plans can change in a moment, so keep that in mind. But to be prepared for the possibilities, let’s take a closer look.

The first point to make when explaining how LTIR works is this: Forget When Vladimir Tarasenko returns, how do the Blues fit him under the about the NHL’s $81.5 million salary cap. Yes, it still exists, but the Blues cap? are one of 17 teams in the league in LTIR, according to CapFriendly, and all are playing within different financial parameters.

The Blues, who signed Mike Hoffman to a one-year, $4 million contract Jeremy Rutherford just days before the start of the regular season, did need to be compliant with the $81.5 million cap at that point, and they were. Feb 26, 2021 On Jan. 12, the night before they played their regular-season opener in

Colorado, the Blues turned in a 22-man roster that included 12 forwards, It’s been the No. 1 question since the Blues put Vladimir Tarasenko on seven defensemen, two goalies and one injured player (Tarasenko). long-term injured reserve (LTIR) in January and then went over the They placed Jordan Kyrou, Mackenzie MacEachern, Jacob de la Rose NHL’s $81.5 million salary cap: When he’s ready to return, how will they and Niko Mikkola on the taxi squad, which put the team a whisker under fit his $7.5 million AAV back in? the cap, at $80.9 million.

Well, Tarasenko is getting closer, even to the point of skating on a line Blues opening night roster with Brayden Schenn and David Perron in practice Friday before leaving Ivan Barbashev for the team’s Saturday night game in San Jose. Robert Bortuzzo “I put him on a line today because he is getting close,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “I wanted to go with the line and see how he looks and get Jordan Binnington some reps there. He’s itching and ready to go, too. It’s been a while for him and a long road. He’s done a real good job of conditioning and Vladimir Tarasenko rehab, so the credit goes to him and the training staff on our hockey Sammy Blais team.” Vince Dunn Tarasenko may not play Saturday, but Berube said there’s “a good chance” he’ll play sometime during the six-game trip. Ville Husso

Which means it’s time for the Blues to look at the cap situation and what Tyler Bozak options they have to get compliant. Justin Faulk When it comes to the rules of LTIR, the math can be a maze. There’s offseason LTIR, in-season LTIR, Accruable Cap Space Limit, Kyle Clifford performance bonus relief pools, resets, defaults, etc. Essentially, it’s Carl Gunnarsson viewed by most around the league as a cap system with a set of rules entirely of its own — not relating in any way to the rules that govern the Mike Hoffman league’s regular salary cap. Torey Krug Ben Resnick worked in Minnesota’s front office from 2012 to 2017, ascending to the role of manager of hockey administration. Early in his Ryan O'Reilly time with the Wild, he wanted to learn more about LTIR, so he asked Colton Parayko assistant general manager Shep Harder, the team’s capologist at the time, for a lesson. David Perron

“Shep was the one who would do a lot of the cap stuff,” Resnick said. Marco Scandella “One day he had mentioned we might have to go into LTIR if this guy is hurt long-term, and I said, ‘How does it work?’ It’s like 1 o’clock in the Zach Sanford afternoon, and he said, ‘We don’t have enough time.’ I said, ‘Well, I don’t Brayden Schenn have anything to do.’ He said, ‘No, no. We have to start in the morning.’ Jaden Schwartz “In a way, it’s hyperbole, and in a way it’s not, but LTIR is a mess.” Oskar Sundqvist Indeed, there are many complicated facets, but what the designation does at its core is allow NHL clubs to exceed the current year’s salary Robert Thomas cap by permitting them to assign to LTIR a qualifying injured player (one Alexander Steen, who announced his retirement shortly before the start who is expected to miss at least 10 games and 24 days) and then spend of the season, was also assigned to LTIR, but that was “offseason” LTIR, the equivalent of that player’s cap hit on a replacement. But there’s a which is a whole different animal. It wasn’t until opening day, Jan. 13, catch: When the injured player returns, the team must shed however when the Blues designated Tarasenko as “in-season” LTIR, that they much of that extra cap space it has spent. officially went into the alternate set of cap-compliance rules. So in the case of Tarasenko, when the Blues went “into LTIR” (that is, The easiest way to keep tabs is to just think along the lines of staying became subject to the LTIR cap instead of the regular one) at the start of under Tarasenko’s $7.5 million cap hit. That’s it. Again, the league’s this season, they were able to use the forward’s $7.5 million salary on $81.5 million cap is no longer relevant until the team comes out of LTIR, other players to help fill out the lineup. But when he comes back, they will if it does before the end of the season. need to clear however much of that $7.5 million they spent. Therefore, the only numbers that concern the Blues are the contracts that Confused yet? Let The Athletic and Resnick walk you through the are on the roster today that they didn’t have on the opening-night roster. process, and by the end, you’ll know exactly how Tarasenko’s situation The fact that players were sent back and forth from the parent club and will play out. OK, not really. But that’s because the Blues themselves the taxi squad during the first six weeks of the season has no bearing. aren’t 100 percent certain how it will all play out — for a multitude of There’s no proration. It’s simply the combined cap hit of the players on reasons. the roster when Tarasenko returns that matters. No. 1, it’s still not precisely clear when Tarasenko, who is recovering As of Thursday, those players included Kyrou, MacEachern, de la Rose, from shoulder surgery, will be ready to return to the lineup. No. 2, players Mikkola, Austin Poganski and Nathan Walker. The combined cap hit of such as Colton Parayko and Jaden Schwartz are currently injured and those six players is $4.5 million. could become candidates for LTIR, which could provide more cap relief; and No. 3, as we saw with Carl Gunnarsson’s season-ending knee injury Players added to roster since Jan. 13 last week, you never know when the next injury could occur and create even more cushion. Jacob de la Rose $700,000 There’s also Tyler Bozak (upper body), who rejoined the Blues on the ice for a couple of days last week but then disappeared. He’s missed the Jordan Kyrou past 13 games, and Berube said the veteran center was not ready to $758,333 return.

Mackenzie MacEachern It would not be a surprise if any of those three was placed on LTIR, and it may be the most probable scenario. The club would have more than $900,000 enough cap room to bring Tarasenko back by removing just one contract among Parayko ($5.5 million AAV), Schwartz ($5.35 million) and Bozak Austin Poganski ($5 million). But at this point, it’s difficult to know when they’ll be back or $700,000 whether they’ll need surgery. It’s common for teams to keep that information under wraps. Nathan Walker In Minnesota, Resnick remembers former Wild GM Chuck Fletcher $700,000 keeping the long-term injury information close to the vest.

Niko Mikkola “They were really carefully guarded,” he said. “Our GM wouldn’t necessarily tell us how long a guy was going to be out if he didn’t think it $787,500 was relevant to the discussion. Even people in the office wouldn’t Total necessarily know what we were going to do because it would be tipping the hand on how serious a player’s injury is.” $4,545,833 If the Blues have an injured player who may not be ready to return until So in essence, though it’s a bit more complicated, that’s the figure the the playoffs — when the cap does not apply — putting him on LTIR Blues would have to remove if Tarasenko were returning to the lineup would be the simplest solution. That would avoid the repeat of this Saturday. scenario that would happen if they put a player on LTIR now to free up space for Tarasenko and that player was then ready to come back during How would they do it? the regular season. “Great question,” Resnick said. “Let’s handle this in two parts: If they only According to LTIR rules, a player must be activated when deemed fit to have one player on IR, and they want to get that player off and put no play, but there have been cases around the league of some being one else on, they’re going to leave LTIR and go into the regular system. magically healthy before Game 1 of the first round. The way the roster is going to look is: As soon as they take him off LTIR, the team must be cap-compliant under the normal ($81.5 million) cap for In this case, with the Blues having played only 20 of their 56 games, it the year, and they would have to have a roster that is under the cap right could mean missing half of the regular season and not returning until at away. least mid-May.

“You’re going to do that by taking guys off, whether it’s sending them “Here’s the way I would describe a team’s thought process,” Resnick down (to the taxi squad or the AHL) or waiving them. My guess is they’re said. “If you have a player who you’re genuinely concerned would be out not going to do that because to try and trim $4.5 (million) is going to be through the regular season, you may have not wanted to put him on really, really hard.” LTIR, in case he was ahead of schedule. But needing to get a guy off LTIR, you might change that approach and say, ‘You know what, he’s It makes more sense, Resnick believes, that with Gunnarsson’s season- probably going to be out long term. If we put him on LTIR, we’re able to ending knee injury, the Blues would stay remain in LTIR. The get Tarasenko back, and then if he’s ready to go in the playoffs, great, defenseman has been placed on LTIR, according to CapFriendly, and we can get him back without worrying about the cap. And if he’s not, he’s while that information can’t be confirmed, it’s a safe assumption not.’ considering he’s out for the year. “So I guess part of the decision you’re making is, if the way you’re going So, if Gunnarsson is already on LTIR with a $1.75 million AAV, the Blues to cover that $4.5 million is adding players to LTIR, you’re realizing that don’t need to trim $4.5 million; they would need to trim only $2.75 million. those guys may not be able to come back ahead of schedule without you Also, in adding a forward to the lineup in Tarasenko, they can remove doing another exercise like this.” one from the roster, creating more savings. Those candidates would be The Blues knew they would be forced to make difficult roster decisions Poganski or Walker, whose AAVs are both $700,000. That would bring when Tarasenko returned, and that time is almost here. the total down to about $2 million. “Well, it really boils down to the doctor’s clearance, the trainer’s “If they tell the league, ‘Gunnarsson is not coming back for the year, and clearance, and then it’s up to the player to really decide from a mental we’d like to put him into LTIR,’ all of a sudden you’re going to have his standpoint if he is ready to play,” Berube said. “When a player comes to $1.75 million,” Resnick said. “Then when Tarasenko comes off, he’s me and tells me he’s ready to play and he’s cleared, I put him in. going to push somebody out of the lineup. The $1.75 million-plus the salary of the forward (who comes out) doesn’t quite add up to $4.5 “(But) he needs to be ready himself, first and foremost. He’s got to be million, but the reality is, they may have other guys that they could invoke comfortable with everything. He’s got to get more involved out there in LTIR on. They may have some players they know are out for a while. some drills with real body contact and competitiveness. So let’s get there first and then we’ll see.” “If the Blues are pretty confident they can do this without major roster construction — you know, trading out a multimillion contract — my hunch The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 is that they probably can add another player to LTIR, so they have plenty of space. The unfortunate part is, you and I both aren’t able to find that out.”

Well, there are a lot of options, with Colton Parayko (back) and Jaden Schwartz (lower body) both out since Feb 15. Sources have told The Athletic that Parayko has a bulging disc and that Schwartz, while originally expected to return quickly, is also dealing with a fairly serious injury issue. They’ve missed the past four games, and neither has skated with the club in practice or even been seen around the rink.

BLUES DEFENSEMAN COLTON PARAYKO WAS PLAYING THROUGH BACK INJURY: SOURCES. #STLBLUES HTTPS://T.CO/7B2L6FYLDB

— JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) FEBRUARY 22, 2021 1204193 Tampa Bay Lightning Other division rivals have emerged for the Lightning When the divisions were realigned for this season because of

coronavirus issues, the Lightning and Stars were among the favorites to At last, Lightning’s Stanley Cup rematch with Stars is here win the Central. The Hurricanes were in that group, too. But since then, the Panthers also have emerged as strong competition.

Florida and Carolina have shown that they can match up with Tampa Bay Eduardo A. Encina with their speed and ability to possess the puck. They’ve challenged the Lightning in both areas, which is why those three teams are among the

top four in the division standings, along with Chicago. TAMPA — For all the anticipation created when the NHL this season put The top four in each division make the playoffs. the Lightning and Stars in the same temporary division — resulting in eight regular-season meetings between the teams that met in last Though the Lightning just took three of four games from Carolina, that season’s Stanley Cup final, with the potential for more in the postseason shouldn’t dent the Hurricanes’ contender status. — time has taken some of the excitement out of the rematches. “They’ll be there all year long,” Lightning goaltender Curtis McElhinney The teams have taken winding paths to their first meeting since Tampa said after recording 31 saves in Thursday’s win. “They’ve got a lot of Bay dispatched Dallas in a six-game final in September in Edmonton. great players, and they work extremely hard. I am sure we’ll be seeing them quite a few times down the stretch here and into the playoffs, as The Lightning’s first road trip of the season was supposed to send them well.” to Dallas, but the games were postponed after the start of the Stars’ season was delayed due to a coronavirus outbreak. Tampa Bay was Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 02.27.2021 slated to travel to Dallas again this month, but last week’s winter storm, record-low temperatures and power outages forced that series to be delayed.

As a result, the Stars are the only Central Division team the Lightning have yet to play entering their meeting tonight at Amalie Arena. That means Tampa Bay will see more of Dallas than any other opponent in the strictly interdivisional play down the stretch. In that sense, no team could have more of an impact on Tampa Bay’s path to the postseason.

Five things to know heading into tonight:

The rematch has lost much of its luster

Maybe this will change once the teams start playing each other, but entering their first meeting of the year, the matchup seems more anticlimactic than anything else. That has to do in large part to it taking six weeks into the season to happen.

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“I don’t know if it’s as big a deal, other than the fact that we’re both trying to put ourselves in position to make the playoffs in a really tough division and two points are on the line,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said just before the last series was postponed. “So maybe the first one’s (bigger) just because it’s the two teams. But as this goes on, neither team will care. It’s just about the game.”

The Stars’ biggest challenge isn’t the Lightning

The Stars’ biggest hurdle to getting back to the playoffs is their schedule. Between the coronavirus and the weather, they have had eight games rescheduled, which is forcing them to play their final 43 games in 76 days. That includes 10 sets of back-to-back games.

“Hockey is not meant to be played four (games) in six (days), let alone what we’re going to do,” Stars coach Rick Bowness said Wednesday. “I’ve never seen anything like this. I hope I never see it again. This is going to be incredibly taxing on our players, there’s no question.”

Bowness worries that all those games bunched together will lead to more banged-up players than usual down the stretch.

“There’s going to be more injuries coming up,” Bowness said. “There’s no getting away (from it). When you look at that schedule, I see injuries written all over it.”

The teams are going in opposite directions

The Stars beat the Blue Jackets 6-3 on Feb. 2 to improve to 5-1-1. Since then, they have won just one of their past eight games and are sixth in the division with a 6-5-4 record and 16 points. Of those seven losses in the past eight games, five were by a goal, including three in overtime and one in a shootout. So while the losses have mounted, the Stars have played close, competitive games. Still, they’ve had difficulty scoring, averaging just 2.1 goals over that stretch.

Meanwhile, the Lightning have won three straight, all against the Hurricanes, after dropping three of four games before that. The recent winning stretch includes Thursday’s 3-1 win over Carolina in which Tampa Bay didn’t play well but still gutted out a victory. 1204194 Tampa Bay Lightning “I think that’s the biggest step he’s taken in his years with the Lightning from when he started to now,” Jean said. “When he started, those games where he would get 15 to 20 shots and they would be really separated in terms of time in the game, he would just struggle. He would fight the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy continues to improve with age, experience puck, you know, and then he gets 45 the next night and he’d be lights out.

“So it was about finding a way to keep the focus in the game to still stay Eduardo A. Encina present in the game and on the task at hand and not get too far ahead or wondering in the past or wondering in the future. Vasy embraced those techniques and those ideas, and he became a better goalie, because TAMPA — Andrei Vasilevskiy likes to stay busy. The Lightning now he’s able to manage those games and be really a performer in all goaltender says he’s most comfortable when he’s seeing a lot of pucks sorts of games — a lot of shots or no shots.” headed his way. It allows him to get into a rhythm and make the dynamic, game-changing saves fans have come to expect from him. The result is a player who has earned the complete trust of his teammates. The bigger challenge for Vasilevskiy is when he doesn’t get much work, which has happened to him early in games several times this season. There were times during a recent stretch of three losses in four games Then in the third period, the opponent goes on an offensive surge and (Vasilevskiy was in net for only two of the losses) when the Lightning Vasilevskiy suddenly finds himself under siege. played turnover-prone hockey, resulting in too many odd-man rushes. But Vasilevskiy’s teammates never once lost faith that he would keep Fortunately for the Lightning, that’s when Vasilevskiy has been at his them in those games. best. “The biggest benefit as a player of having a goalie like that is that you As a result, he might be off to the best start of his young but can just worry about your job,” Lightning forward Blake Coleman said. “If accomplished career. He already has a Vezina Trophy and Stanley Cup there’s a two-on-one, you play the pass because you know he’s going to to his credit at the age of 26. But early in his fifth full NHL season, stop that shot pretty much every time. So he gives you the confidence to Vasilevskiy is showing he’s nowhere near the peak of his potential. play the right way in front of him.”

“It helps having the best goalie in the world,” defenseman Victor Hedman Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 02.27.2021 said. “He’s a competitor, and he’s a big reason why we are the team that we are. We have him back there making some saves that shouldn’t be saved, and he makes it look easy, so it obviously helps big time. He’s grown so much since he got into the league. He’s always had the talent, but now he’s just so consistent.”

Entering Thursday’s games, Vasilevskiy ranked second in the NHL in goals-against average (1.87) and save percentage (.935) among goaltenders with at least 10 games. His 11-3-1 record put him on pace to lead the league in wins for the fourth straight season.

“I think the experience factor is extremely important in the position,” Lightning goaltending coach Frantz Jean said. “And now he’s four or five years into his NHL career, and I think the fact that last year he had a really, really solid playoff, won the Stanley Cup, that brought to him I think a lot of confidence into his process and into what he’s doing every day. The end result of his process is a Stanley Cup, so he realized that, he accomplished that. So I think there’s so much more trust in what he’s doing and his approach.”

Vasilevskiy’s coaches said they’ve seen the most improvement in his ability to manage games mentally, especially when he’s not getting action early yet able to stay calm when facing a third-period rush.

“The athletic ability and all those things, you get to see as a kid comes up at 20, 21, 22 years old,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “But it’s how do you process the game as a goaltender? Can you turn the page when things go poorly? And I’ve really watched him grow. And that’s how you become elite.

“Your skill and your athleticism will make you good, might even make you great, but if you want to be elite, you’ve got to be calm between the ears, and that’s what he’s become.”

During Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Carolina — Vasilevskiy’s first shutout of the season and the 22nd of his career — he faced 11 scoring chances in the third period after seeing 12 in the first two periods combined. At one point in the second period, the Hurricanes went nine minutes without a shot.

Two nights earlier in Raleigh, N.C., Vasilevskiy turned away 17 shots in the third period as part of his 32 saves in a 4-2 Lightning win.

“The more experience you have, the much easier it gets,” Vasilevskiy said following Wednesday’s win. “It’s just part of my job to stay focused and calm when they try to make a push in the third. I just tried to play my game and stay calm and focused throughout the game.”

Jean said Vasilevskiy’s experience shows on and off the ice. He now knows when he needs a day off or a shorter skate. He is proactive with the coaches in selecting his maintenance days. And when he sometimes struggled with the pace of games, Jean said Vasilevskiy worked with the team’s mental performance coach, Dr. Ryan Hamilton, to help him stay in the moment. 1204195 Tampa Bay Lightning Civian: Victor Hedman is obviously what we in the biz would consider a “usual suspect,” but it seems like he’s gotten even better than I’ve ever seen him play.

Civian vs. Smith: What we learned from the Hurricanes-Lightning series Is Yanni Gourde a usual suspect? He’s been everywhere this series in a similar way Paquette has since he joined the Canes. And I’ve been impressed with Paquette so far for everything you mentioned. Ondrej Palat is probably the most usual unusual suspect, right? The Canes had Sara Civian and Joe Smith been seriously lacking in the sandpaper department since they let Joel Feb 26, 2021 Edmundson go, and Brind’Amour of all people knows you need a little bit of that if you’re going to win a Stanley Cup.

Smith: You’re spot on about Gourde, who was terrific again on Thursday. The Lightning played Carolina for the 100th time this week. Watching Gourde’s world-class shot on his go-ahead goal in the third period makes one wonder how he even went through a two-month goal Pretty sure they’re sick of each other by now. drought last season. Gourde got reinvigorated in the playoffs with a move Just wait until they play in a seven-game series in May. Book it. It’s going back to the middle, where he anchored the team’s dynamic third line with to happen. Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman.

Civian: Joe, your grandma content made up for any repetitiveness our MIND BLOWN YANNI GOURDE WITH AN ON-THE-FLY KILLER tweets might have built up over the course of this series — for me at SHOT GIVES THE @TBLIGHTNING THE LEAD, 2-1! least. I think Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour is officially over it. WATCH THE ACTION ON FOX SPORTS SUN & FOX SPORTS GO: ROD BRIND’AMOUR WAS ASKED WHAT THE BIGGEST HURDLE HTTPS://T.CO/UT4NPSMOO4#GOBOLTS HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST TWO GAMES PIC.TWITTER.COM/GIRXFPUQQK

“WELL..THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING” — FOX SPORTS BOLTS (@FOXSPORTSBOLTS) FEBRUARY 26, 2021 — SARA CIV (@SARACIVIAN) FEBRUARY 25, 2021 You mention “sandpaper” and the Lightning don’t win the Cup last year That said, this has been a taste of the seemingly inevitable seven-game without adding guys like Goodrow, Coleman and Zach Bogosian around series. I’m already pouring one out for the Tampa Bay tiki bar excursions the deadline. They also had Pat Maroon and Luke Schenn. Cooper said that might’ve been — but I’m sure we’ll figure out a virtual solution. they went from the “greatest show on ice” to a team that could stand up Both teams have lived up to their Stanley Cup contender reputations to other teams and play a more physical style. Of course, the main throughout the series. What have you thought of the Canes? reason they won was because their best players were their best players, from Hedman and Kucherov to Point and Andrei Vasilevskiy. But they Smith: I think the Canes might end up being the Lightning’s toughest added another element to their game that they were missing on previous competition in the division. Granted, I haven’t seen the Stars live this deep runs. year (thanks to multiple cancellations), and the Panthers are a much- improved group, but it seems like Carolina has a lot of the pieces you What do you think has been missing with the Canes when it comes to need. That is, when their No. 1 goalie is healthy. advancing in the playoffs? Obviously, we all took notice when they beat the Caps a few years back and took the Bruins to Game 7. Feel they They’ve got one of the top coaches (how is Rod Brind’Amour not signed added enough for this year to get over the hump against a team like yet?), a really mobile and deep blue line, and plenty of skill up front. It’s Tampa Bay? funny, Lightning color analyst Brian Engblom said the other night that the Lightning and Hurricanes are like “mirror Images” in how they play. Civian: Experience and goaltending. You’ll notice the Canes barely made They’re relentless on the forecheck, built on speed and a blue line that any changes before this season, but the younger budding stars like helps fuel their offensive attack. Andrei Svechnikov and Martin Necas are taking their next steps, while Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen and Dougie Hamilton are approaching What are the biggest challenges you’ve seen Tampa Bay present to the their prime. So, with the rest of the things coming together, it’s never Canes? And keep in mind, they’re still missing Nikita Kucherov and been more important for Petr Mrazek to come back and provide the Anthony Cirelli. flashes of brilliance we’ve seen from him on a more consistent basis.

Civian: The Lightning are the Hurricanes if the Hurricanes had one of the I thought the Hurricanes probably deserved to win this final game and best (the best, if you ask me) goalies in the league. It really is that simple, split the series. That’s why you invest in a goaltender who will steal you a and the relentless forecheck on all ends of the ice has been so fun to game. The Hurricanes goaltending was generally fine and at times watch. I expected that, though. excellent throughout the series — especially without Mrazek. But I’m sure some of you had the feeling that Mrazek could’ve been the difference. I’ve realized this series these two teams are similar in how they The Canes are hoping he’ll be back relatively soon. persevere no matter who is in the lineup. Brind’Amour keeps saying how important flexibility in that way is going to be this season. This is At the same time, the Canes simply have to find a way to score more obviously due to roster depth, but also the trusting nature of both than one goal in two games. They came into this series scoring more Brind’Amour and Jon Cooper — they’ve prepared and encouraged their goals than anyone not in the North Division, though, so it’s not too fringe players for this. concerning unless it bleeds into their next few games.

It was fascinating to hear Brind’Amour and Cooper in the same coaches Smith: The Lightning did win three of the four games, but it easily could association panel last year, discussing similar topics and strategies. have been a split. “Let’s be honest, the game wasn’t pretty,” Cooper said. “Our performance was subpar.” Combine that with Vasilevskiy’s shutout Smith: That’s been a big part of Cooper’s culture, ensuring there are on Wednesday and it’s easy to see that goaltending is one of the more than 23 guys ready to step in when need be. There’s always going deciding factors in these matchups. to be injuries. We’ve seen Gemel Smith step in when Mitchell Stephens had knee surgery, and this past week, rookies Alex Barre-Boulet and This was the perfect time for this kind of test for Tampa Bay, which had Ross Colton made some impressive debuts. They likely won’t be up here just come off a “wakeup call” series loss to the Panthers. While the all year, but that experience is vital. Take last year’s playoffs, when Lightning didn’t play their best the last week, they showed some Cooper entrusted Alex Volkov with a lineup spot for Cup-clinching Game “gamesmanship,” as Cooper put it, finding ways to grind out games when 6 against Dallas — it was the winger’s playoff debut. That did wonders they’re not clicking. They also learned what things they’ve got to work on, for his confidence going into this year. notably the power play and cleaning up some parts of their defensive game. Other than the usual suspects, what Lightning players have caught your eye in this series? By the way, you’re going to love Cedric Paquette. He Considering the Lightning are without two key play-drivers in Kucherov annoys the hell out of other teams. He also had one of my favorite quotes and Cirelli they’ll certainly take being second in the division more than a a few years back when, after a down season, said “I’m going to try to be quarter into the season. more of a prick this year.” Quick hits Should the Canes full attack the Lighting or slow play them? — @stevevaneyk Best Zoom interview on team? Civian: I mean, are we talking in a normal game or when they play 70 Civian: It’s been hard to capture personality but Dougie Hamilton has games against each other in one week? It has to be more of a long con basically kept the same energy. He has kept giving me a hard time, and and adjustment game when it’s a full-blown series, but the spirit needs to that’s the kind of back-and-forth I miss the most. stay the same. A heavier team with elite goaltending like the Bruins, for Smith: There are some guys that are just as good on Zoom as they are in example, might be able to slow play the Lightning. But the Hurricanes person, like Stamkos or Maroon. But Mikhail Sergachev is sneaky good play so similarly to Tampa Bay they can’t act like they’ve got something — he’s always thoughtful, doesn’t bullshit, and often has a funny line or else up their sleeve. That’s why this series was a true measuring stick, two, like when he said you never know what Vasilevskiy will pull out of and why the Canes don’t seem quite there in their current state — but it’s his “magic hat.” close.

Who is Carolina’s Pat Maroon? Florida man, life of the party, gets guys Smith: I don’t think the Canes should, or will, stray from their identity. It’s together on road, can stand up and say something in room? what got them here. Several Lightning players commented on how it always feels like Carolina is “on top of you.” They say there’s no time and Civian: space, that the Hurricanes don’t give them much. That’s the kind of recipe you want if you’re Carolina, forcing the Lightning to chase and MISTA SVECHNIKOV PIC.TWITTER.COM/VXWD7SGJOC make mistakes. Watching these games, I think the word “slow” or “slow- — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) JULY 29, 2020 play” never really came to mind.

Most underrated/underappreciated player? Just ask her if (Paquette) is okay, is he making friends? — @KNBurress

Smith: Palat would be that guy with the Lightning, the straw that stirred Civian: A quote from Brock McGinn after Paquette drove from Ottawa to the drink on their top line during the playoffs (quietly scoring 11 goals). Raleigh with his pup and immediately jumped into the Canes lineup: “For He does all the little things right, the ideal 200-foot player. him to come out and be crashing and banging, that was awesome to see. I think our bench obviously loved it. He’s a player you want on your team Civian: Covering hockey down south means everyone is and not to play against.” underrated/underappreciated until the Maple Leafs are putting them in trade rumors, right? So in that sense, Brett Pesce is old news. But ever Why our power play is soooo bad? — @3TBsports since he returned from shoulder surgery this season, he’s been the Smith: I assume you’re talking about the Lightning. Woof. It’s been a Hurricanes’ most reliable defenseman — even above Jaccob Slavin and while since I’ve seen the power play that disjointed. They struggled to get Hamilton. If there were an award for best defensive defenseman (which the puck into the zone, mustered only a few shots. The Lightning entered there should be!) he’d be in my top three so far. the game ninth in the league at 26.8 percent, so it’s not been a Reader questions weakness. Clearly, they miss Kucherov’s presence, as the power play runs through him. It’s been an adjustment for guys in different roles, like What would be some areas, or players, these teams might be after at the Point, who has moved from the right side to the middle. Coleman is deadline? — @jonb2042 getting a look, as did Barre-Boulet. Power plays can be streaky, and it typically takes a goal or two to get the confidence back. Smith: The Lightning could use some help on the right side of the blue line, and that was before they lost Erik Cernak to a lower-body injury Civian: Well, you might as well be talking about the Hurricanes’ power Thursday night. Cernak left midway through the game after taking a shot play during the last game while you’re at it. Then again, I wouldn’t call it off the top of his foot, with Cooper not having an update after the game. “bad” — I’d call the Lightning penalty kill good, and the Canes had some excellent chances throughout the game. But you generally aren’t going 0- Tampa Bay lost both Kevin Shattenkirk (Ducks) and Zach Bogosian for-5 on the power play and winning, unless you’re the Lightning I guess. (Leafs) in free agency and didn’t really replace them. They’re stacked on the left with Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Sergachev, and have even tried Regardless, Sebastian Aho said postgame that the power play “lost them to put Sergachev on the right with Hedman lately. That might be a the game.” solution to load up their top four of Hedman-Sergachev, McDonagh- Cernak (if healthy). But, for right now, the other right shot defensemen Which weather phenomenon is superior? — @JeffPudlo are Jan Rutta, rookie Cal Foote and Schenn, who just cleared waivers Smith: As someone who had to board up all 13 windows on my St. Pete again. The Lightning don’t have much cap space both at the deadline or house a few years ago preparing for Hurricane Irma, I’ll happily defer to for next season, so there would have to be some creativity (and money that phenomenon. Nothing strikes (no pun intended) fear in Florida going the other way), but I can see them targeting sellers like the residents — or makes everyone horde bottled water, plywood, toilet Predators, Ducks, and Sabres for another final piece (like they did last paper — like those major tropical storms. year in acquiring Coleman and Goodrow). Civian: I love me a good lightning storm, but I fear hurricanes. Take that Civian: It’s a shame Mrazek was playing some of his best hockey before as you will. he went down, and it’s a shame we’ll never know if he was going to continue to do so before the trade deadline. Goaltending is the Who do you both objectively think would win a playoff series? In how Hurricanes’ biggest question mark, and the trade deadline obviously many? — @zaqB27 would’ve been the perfect time to assess if the Mrazek/James Reimer tandem was going to work and adjust accordingly if it wasn’t. I believe the Smith: I think the Lightning win, but it’d be a long series, six or seven. Canes will just trust what they’ve got under the circumstances, but it’s a This is all assuming they have Kucherov back. Tampa Bay has the edge considerable risk. in experience, a few more game-breakers and the best goalie in the world. We know the “best” team doesn’t always win (see: Lightning vs Are the Canes legit? I know they can run and gun with the best of them, Columbus, April 2019), and if there’s anyone that can make life hell on but when teams clamp down defensively like they do in the playoffs, can Tampa Bay, it’s Brind’Amour’s bunch. the Canes respond? Can you win a Cup with Reimer and Mrazek? Seems like they’re a couple pieces away. —@nydaevia Civian: Have to take the Lightning for now, but I’ll say either Lightning in four or Canes in seven. If they can get the Lightning where they want Smith: I think they’re legit. Like Sara said, they are missing that elite No. them, Mrazek plays his best hockey and the bounces go the Canes’ way, 1 goaltender, though Mrazek has played well when healthy. Is he they aren’t letting the Lightning win. Not if they manage to push it to capable of taking a team on a long run? The good part about Carolina is seven games. But if the Lightning assert dominance early on, it’s all over. they don’t need a No. 1 goaltender to put them on his shoulders, as they You saw in this series (and the past few seasons) how they can just take play a structured team game, always seeming like they’re on top of you. over once they get going. The Necas line has given them a nice one-two punch up front too. Smith: Well, this was fun! I’m sure it won’t be the last time we combine Civian: What he said about what I said. forces for a story on these teams. Next time you’re down in Tampa, I’ll buy you a pack of your favorite White Claws Also, there’s no cheating when you play for Brind’Amour. Any fluke would have been exposed by his coaching at this point. Civian: Why am I kind of sad? Smith: Well, damn, that was my high school’s senior song for our “Class of 1999.” Now I feel sad. And old!

When the world gets back to relative “normal” from the pandemic, and we’re all traveling, a group of us The Athletic writers should pull this off.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204196 Toronto Maple Leafs Playing behind one of the top offences in hockey, Anderson has 11 wins, tied for the league lead, and he’d played the most minutes as of Friday. His save percentage, however, was 28th among netminders who have played at least seven games, and that’s behind a defensive shield that’s The Maple Leafs might have to re-sign Frederik Andersen. There’s no giving up the seventh-fewest shots on average per game. That’s a big upgrade in sight team improvement from 19th last season.

In 16 starts, Andersen has only faced more than 30 shots on six occasions. Last season, he faced 30 or more in half his starts. So you Damien Cox can say he’s played a lot this season, but he’s been getting less work Fri., Feb. 26, 2021 and his save percentage is down slightly. His numbers should be better for a $5-million cap hit.

That’s Andersen in a nutshell: big and durable, good enough for a very It’s been a week for the first-place Maple Leafs and their keenest good team to win with, but not among the very best in the game. That’s supporters to again contemplate the future without Freddie Andersen. who he’s been for his entire career.

All in all, it wasn’t too bad. Low-scoring Calgary didn’t exactly fill the Complicating any assessment is the fact all NHL teams are playing a Toronto net with pucks in two games. It was just that the personality of sharply limited number of opponents in a tightly compacted schedule. the Leafs seemed to shift a bit. Andersen might be the most consistent goalie in the North Division except for the Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck. But it’s not clear he’s in the top It’s a funny thing in hockey, how teams that aren’t as certain about the third of all NHL goalies. And this is one weird season to handicap. man between their pipes suddenly stop scoring. You could ask the Montreal Canadiens about that. Could you win a Stanley Cup with Andersen? Maybe if you score enough. Dallas got to the Cup final with Anton Khudobin last summer, a To be fair, Michael Hutchinson hung in there pretty well as Toronto’s No. goalie three years older than Andersen who has played his best hockey 3 man pushed into the spotlight, particularly in a 2-1 come-from-behind since joining the Stars three years ago. victory over Calgary on Wednesday. It was good to see Hutchinson get a win in a Leafs uniform. But no one would suggest he’s a No. 1 goalie. If you’re the Leafs, you’d like Andersen to be significantly better. Or you’d like to get someone significantly better. Jack Campbell? Well, the glimpses have been too few to really know what level he can lift his game to, but at this point you couldn’t argue with The absence of an in-house replacement, however, may force the Leafs much evidence that he would be an upgrade on Andersen, or even a to re-sign him. As of now, they have no definite option. suitable replacement. Joseph Woll may or may not be an NHL goalie. Again, you just don’t know. Toronto Star LOADED: 02.27.2021

It’s not that surprising to see an organization that has developed very few goaltenders over the past 30 years, other than Felix Potvin and James Reimer, in the position of not having a young replacement ready should their starting goalie ride off into the sunset of free agency this summer.

The Leafs aren’t alone. Edmonton and Calgary have had the same problem for some time. Same with Buffalo and Carolina. Vancouver believes it has Thatcher Demko poised to become a No. 1 goalie in the NHL, but isn’t 100 per cent sure yet. Ditto for Minnesota and Kaapo Kahkonen and Dallas with Jake Oettinger. Pittsburgh thought Tristan Jarry was locked and loaded to replace Matt Murray, but it hasn’t quite turned out that way.

Tricky business, goaltending.

Washington thought former first-round pick Ilya Samsonov would be their man this season, but a variety of issues have limited his appearances and surprising 25-year-old draft pick Vitek Vanecek has shouldered the load. So, as it turns out, the Capitals had not one but two solid options inside the organization when Braden Holtby moved on last summer, and one of them has been able to do the job. The Leafs don’t have alternatives like that.

Could they replace the 31-year-old Andersen with a free agent next summer, like they replaced Curtis Joseph with Ed Belfour 19 years ago? Possibly. Of the netminders currently set to be out there this summer, Pekka Rinne, Jordan Binnington and Tuukka Rask could possibly provide an upgrade.

Rinne’s having a bounceback season on a mediocre Preds squad, but he’s 37 (same age Belfour was). Rask is 34. Binnington is only 27, but it’s hard to see the Blues letting him walk. Then again, Vancouver let Jacob Markstrom leave for Calgary as a free agent at age 30.

How free-agent goalies will perform in new cities is difficult to predict. Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky has not come close to giving value for his $10-million (U.S.) cap hit. Holtby ($4.3 million) has been average with the leaky Canucks. Semyon Varlamov, meanwhile, has been very good behind a sturdy defensive team in Long Island since leaving Colorado in the summer of 2019.

So the Leafs, in theory, could upgrade the position. But they might not, and could spend a lot of money trying.

The way this season plays out will have much to do with Andersen’s future in Toronto. Another first-round ouster would be a disaster for the organization. If the Leafs get out-goaltended — again — general manager Kyle Dubas may have little choice but to make a change in net. 1204197 Toronto Maple Leafs it. All the guys go through it. You’ve got to find a way if you want to be the MVP in this league.”

Ultimately, neither player may actually care. Winning games is more Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid are more than MVP favourites, important than individual accomplishments, a truism for top athletes in they’re generational talents any team sport.

“Their goal isn’t to win awards,” Lawton said. “I think it’s important to them to be the best players they can be. I think they’re doing that.” Kevin McGran There are other candidates, of course, including Draisaitl, who was Fri., Feb. 26, 2021 second in points through Thursday’s games, and Mitch Marner, who was fifth. Some executives that talked to Pucks in Depth favour Marner over

either Matthews or McDavid. But Marner and Draisaitl are observed by Usually, a mid-season game in February is just that, a mid-season game many as sidekicks to their superhero linemates, like Evgeni Malkin to in February. Crosby or Nicklas Backstrom to Ovechkin.

But when the Maple Leafs face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night, “They don’t get overlooked inside these walls,” Leafs coach Sheldon so much more will be on the line. Bragging rights, of course. First place in Keefe said. “We know what Mitch brings to our team, and how he makes the North Division after the three-game series. And the two early people around him better. And Draisaitl, you feel his presence. He’s favourites for the Hart Trophy — the Oilers’ Connor McDavid and the significant, obviously. Leafs’ Auston Matthews. This series offers the stars a chance to create “But at the same time, Auston and Connor are world-class players, some separation in the minds of the MVP voters. generational. They deserve the recognition.” Matthews is the league’s leading goal scorer, despite a sore wrist that Around hockey has him officially listed as day to day. The injury kept him out of Friday’s practice. Matthews is one of the best puck possessors in the game, The new order: Women’s hockey pioneer Angela James, international showing Sidney Crosby-like hustle in his own zone to get the puck back. hockey champion Bill Hay and former Oilers defenceman Kevin Lowe His one-timer may have eclipsed Alex Ovechkin’s as the best in the were each given the Order of on Friday. league, and his shot in general may be the most dangerous. “It’s never been work; it’s always been play,” James said of her life in “I played 20 years, and I have no idea how anybody can have a release hockey. Lowe had a better line, invoking his Catholic upbringing in like that,” former Leafs captain Doug Gilmour said. “It is totally amazing. Quebec: “Hockey was the only thing that allowed us to miss Sunday His one-timer is great, but how quick he can shoot the puck … and he mass.” knows where it’s going.” James, who had 54 points in 50 international games from 1990 to 1999, McDavid is the league’s leading points producer, the first to 40 this had some interesting thoughts on the women’s game. It has splintered season. He might be the best skater the league has seen. And he has into the NWHL, which played an abbreviated season in a bubble in Lake developed a big-game mentality that won’t allow another star player — Placid, N.Y., and the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association. particularly Matthews — to get too much of the spotlight. The barnstorming PWHPA’s tour begins Saturday at New York’s Madison Square Garden McDavid had the season’s best goal on an end-to-end rush against Toronto, with all the attention that brings. When Matthews had a four- “It’s a tough go right now,” James said. “If they get support from NHL point night last weekend, McDavid went out and had a five-point night, teams, they can build a schedule based on games each weekend. I think including a natural hat trick. (the PWHPA is) leaning in that direction. It can’t be one-offs. It has to be sustainable throughout the year. Hopefully get a professional league “I’m motivated every night, I want to be the best I can be every single going. That will filter down to the grassroots where there’s something to night,” McDavid said. “There are guys you watch, and compare yourself reach for.” to. And when they’re doing well, you want to make sure you’re doing the same. But I’m a motivated guy.” One-two punch: Have the Maple Leafs ever had a better duo than Matthews and Marner? Darryl Sittler and Lanny McDonald probably fall The comments Leafs teammates say about Matthews are echoed by the to No. 2. Matthews has 31 points and Marner 30 in 21 games. Only one Oilers speaking about McDavid. Things like “he’s an elite player,” or “he’s Toronto team, in 1917-18, had two players at 30 points faster — Reg the total package.” Noble had 40 points and Corb Denneny 30 by the 20th game of a 22- If Matthews embodies the best traits of Crosby and Ovechkin, who are game season. Denneny used to be listed at 29 points, but a review a McDavid’s comparables? Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri? while back found him an assist.

“Connor’s stock has been really solid for a number of years in terms of Joe Thornton, who has won the Art Ross and Hart trophies, understands what he brings,” said NHL analyst Brian Lawton, a former No. 1 pick. the level Matthews and Marner are playing at. “It’s a pretty good feeling,” “The guy that really has stepped up and won over people is Auston, he said. “If I could go back to being 24, 25, I’d do it in a heartbeat. You changing his conditioning. come to the rink with such confidence. The puck just seems to follow you around. You’re always on top of your game. It’s fun to play hockey.” “There are veterans around him saying: ‘Yeah, he’s good offensively, but he’s really good defensively.’ Things we’ve never heard before. He’s How things change: So Pierre-Luc Dubois is on Mark Scheifele’s wing in made huge leaps and bounds. Auston has found another level this year.” Winnipeg. Isn’t that the job Patrik Laine wanted? … Buffalo forward Jeff Skinner is in the second year of an eight-year, $72-million (U.S.) deal and Some years, it feels like the Hart is McDavid’s trophy to lose. At the very his $9-million cap hit (until 2026-27) makes him the second-highest paid least, he is the bar for voters. Have a better year than him, or even come Sabre. He has been a healthy scratch for three games … Time to say it: close, and the award could be yours. He missed seven games last year Carey Price is no longer the world’s best goalie. But the Canadiens and still finished second in the scoring race, but voters went with goaltender has a cap hit of $10.5 million through 2025-26 … There’s a teammate Leon Draisaitl, who was first. He led the league in scoring in Jonathan Bernier revival happening in Detroit. The former Leafs goalie is 2018 and somehow finished fifth in voting, well behind Taylor Hall. 5-3-0 and has a .918 save percentage. That’s better than luminaries like McDavid has only won the award once, beating out Crosby in 2017, but Connor Hellebuyck, Tuukka Rask, Jordan Binnington, Pekka Rinne, he has been in the top five the last four seasons. Jacob Markstrom, Frederik Andersen, and Price. And James Reimer, if you want to go there. Matthews has done what it takes to join the Hart conversation this year. He’s projected by Sportlogiq to lead the league this season with 42 goals, Worth repeating: I like how Flames coach Geoff Ward summed up a based on how his shooting accuracy overperforms his own “expected season that features plenty of injuries and very little practice time amid a goals” analytic. But the wrist injury could get in the way. pandemic. “Sometimes it's not how you play a good hand, it’s how you play a bad hand well.” “It’s not going to be easy, but it’s not impossible,” Lawton said. “It gets a little bit harder when you find out he’s battling an injury. But that’s part of Ducharmed: Early in the season, Montreal GM Marc Bergevin started the year as a lock for executive of the year, and now he may not have a job by the end of it. The fact that Dominique Ducharme carries the interim tag as Canadiens head coach even as Bergevin calls him “my guy” and says the job is Ducharme’s to lose suggests to me that Bergevin is on thin ice. If Ducharme turns the Canadiens around, he saves Bergevin’s job. If not, expect owner Geoff Molson to look in a new direction. I like Ducharme. He’s smart and engaging and preaches offence. From my time dealing with him with the national junior team, I’m rooting for him. That said, I’d love it if Patrick Roy became head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, if only for the chaos it would create.

Bab-talk: Mike Babcock is back coaching, at the University of Saskatchewan. Volunteering. His way of giving back, I suppose, given the Leafs are still paying him. There seems to be a fair bit of hate lingering for him. His interview with Sportsnet’s Christine Simpson was, shall we say, awkward. Among his bigger sins, in my books, is how he treated older players. He really didn’t respect players like , who had given the game so much. And he never quite owned up to his mistreatment of Johan Franzen. The former Wings forward accused Babcock of being a bully who treated people, like arena workers, poorly. Babcock is stubborn. All that said, he has coached probably hundreds of NHL players. So having a handful be bitter toward him is not much of a surprise. Inevitable, really. It is said the Canadiens used to hate for 364 days a year. On the 365th, they collected their Stanley Cup rings. Babcock’s biggest sin in this market appears to be unforgivable: Not playing Matthews with Marner.

Bet on it: Not sure why any of us need to be reminded of this but I got an email this week projecting the cost of attending games when the coronavirus pandemic is over. Small surprise, but attending a Leafs game will cost a fan an average of $160.01 (U.S.) when we’re able to get back. Two teams, Boston ($162.36) and the New York Rangers ($182.43), will cost more. The Leafs are expected to have the most expensive average ticket ($128.69), the Rangers the most expensive beer ($15), the Bruins the most expensive parking ($29), and Vegas the most expensive hot dog ($7). That’s all courtesy of an outfit called TNBets.com. A night at the Raptors, by the way, is much more affordable, coming in at $112.04, in the middle of the NBA pack.

Best and worst: Another betting company, Top10Casinos, sent me a study that suggested the most hated fan base in hockey was that of the Leafs. I knew that already. The same study said Leafs fans are the most docile, the least likely to be upset after a loss. That happens with 50-plus years of disappointment. Red Wings fans are the angriest after a loss, apparently. As for the most hated fans, Boston followed Toronto, then Anaheim. I don’t get that. Hands up if you even know a Ducks fan (of the team, not the movie).

Zamboni goalie: Bodog lists Chris Pratt as the favourite to play David Ayres in the Disney movie that’s going to be made about Ayres’ emergency backup win over the Leafs last season, when both Carolina goalies were injured. Pratt was one the Guardians of the Galaxy, right? Now he can be of the net.

Toronto Star LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204198 Toronto Maple Leafs Despite the elite talent at the top of both rosters — Edmonton leads the NHL with 79 goals, while Toronto is next with 74 — the four previous meetings between the clubs this season haven’t really lived up to the hype, save for McDavid’s end-to-end, highlight-reel goal Jan. 30. Maple Leafs, Oilers set for key three-game series atop North Division “People expect these big offensive nights,” said McDavid, who’s four back of Matthews in the goal race. “Both teams have respect for each other where neither really wants to open it up and let the other offensive Joshua Clipperton guys get going. Fri., Feb. 26, 2021 “You can expect a tight-checking little series.”

Keefe has preached structure and strong play away from the puck as a The Toronto Maple Leafs can see the Edmonton Oilers in their rearview key to Toronto’s long-term success, and he’s noticed Edmonton getting a mirror. similar buy-in the last month.

And that object is just as close as it appears. “They’re playing a real sound team game,” he said. “I see a lot of similarities to how we’ve found consistency.” Toronto continues to lead the North Division standings, but hard-charging Edmonton is now just four points back on the all-Canadian circuit Oilers goalie Mike Smith is 6-0-0 since returning from injury after Mikko heading into a three-game series between the teams in Alberta’s capital Koskinen held the fort early. The 38-year-old has a .944 save percentage beginning Saturday. for a club that has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of its last nine contests. “That’s the nature of the season,” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of the NHL’s pandemic-condensed 56-game schedule. “Edmonton has “I just really want to play well for this group,” Smith said. “We’ve done a played as good or better than anybody in the league the last while. lot of good things this year to put us in a good spot. I don’t want that to They’ve been picking up a lot of points. slide away because of goaltending.

“We feel like we’ve been going pretty well as a team here, and it’s still “It’s a mission I’m on.” real close.” Edmonton defenceman Darnell Nurse said he’s seen a growth in the The Oilers sputtered to a 3-6-0 mark in kicking off the truncated group since its shaky opening. campaign before going an NHL-best 11-2-0 since — a red-hot stretch “As you start to put games together and win different ways, the way that sparked by a 4-3 overtime victory against Toronto at Rogers Place on we have over the course of this stretch, it creates confidence,” he said. Jan. 30. “When you find ways to win games when you’re down by a few, and find As a result, Edmonton (14-8-0) has clawed to within shouting distance of ways to hold on to them when up, win those tight games, it brings Toronto (15-4-2) and could overtake the Leafs with three consecutive confidence in all different types of situations.” regulation victories. The Leafs have two regulation victories over the Oilers this season, while “Everyone’s buying in and starting to really believe,” said Oilers captain Edmonton has one in normal time to go along with that OT triumph. The Connor McDavid, whose 40 points leads the NHL. “When everyone teams play twice more after this three-game set — March 27 and 29 in believes in what we’re doing, that’s when it gets real dangerous.” Toronto.

Edmonton centre Leon Draisaitl sits second in the league with 34 points, The Oilers and Leafs both had disappointing qualifying round exits from while Toronto counterpart Auston Matthews tops the goal race with 18. the NHL’s summer bubble. Matthews is also tied with Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane for Toronto came out firing with a renewed commitment to playing a 200-foot third in scoring with 31 points, while Leafs linemate Mitch Marner one game that complements its explosive offence. It took some time, but back in fifth. Edmonton appears to have followed suit. Matthews didn’t take part in Friday’s practice because of a wrist injury “The one thing is just how motivated everyone is,” McDavid said. he’s been dealing with most of 2021 before Toronto flew west to begin a “Everyone came back with that chip on their shoulder and that bitter taste five-game, eight-day road trip that concludes with two contests against in their mouth, and want to do something special here. the Vancouver Canucks, but Keefe indicated his best player hasn’t been ruled out for Saturday. “Our start didn’t show that, but over the last month we’ve been playing real well.” “He’s day-to-day,” said the coach. “We’re just going to have to see how he continues to progress.” The Leafs will get to see that up close for three straight starting Saturday.

Keefe said the fact Matthews picked up a pair of assists in Wednesday’s This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2021. 2-1 overtime victory against the Calgary Flames, despite not being able to take faceoffs for the second half of the game after aggravating the Toronto Star LOADED: 02.27.2021 injury, speaks to how dialled in he is this season.

“He’s remained resilient and hasn’t allowed little things like that to disrupt him,” Keefe said. “While he had to adapt his game and I had to adapt how we used him a little bit, he still competed his ass right to the very end.”

Leafs backup goalie Jack Campbell hasn’t played since Jan. 24 because of a leg injury, but declared himself ready to go after third-stringer Michael Hutchinson started three of the last four. No. 1 netminder Frederik Andersen (lower body, day-to-day) had an on-ice session before practice and travelled with the team.

Meanwhile, Toronto defencemen Jake Muzzin (facial fracture) and Joe Thornton (lower body) were both full participants Friday and, like Campbell, appear on course to return after missing two games this week.

“We’re going to be have to be ready,” Muzzin, who will be sporting a full cage, said of facing the Oilers. “They’re a team that’s firing right now. They’ve got good goaltending, their defence is doing well, and the stars are playing hard.

“It’s going to be a challenge.” 1204199 Toronto Maple Leafs

Jack Campbell returns, Auston Matthews iffy for Leafs road date with Connor McDavid’s Oilers

Mark Zwolinski

Fri., Feb. 26, 2021

Backup goalie Jack Campbell showed the Maple Leafs what they needed to see to name him the probable starter for Saturday night’s game in Edmonton, the opener of an eight-day road trip.

Star centre Auston Matthews, however, isn’t a lock to face Connor McDavid and the Oilers after missing Friday’s practice with a right wrist injury.

One month ago, the Flames’ land heavily on Campbell in a goalmouth scramble. The netminder finished that game, but has missed 13 since with what’s believed to be a knee injury.

“It’s a tough process, but thankfully we have an amazing staff here, so I didn’t have to do much on my own at all,” Campbell said Friday on a Zoom call, praising the team’s training staff. “They had it all laid out for me ... I feel real confident in my body and ready to perform.”

It was a good news day for the most part on the injury front, with forward Joe Thornton (ribs) and defenceman Jake Muzzin (broken facial bone) and now considered game-time decisions along with Matthews, who aggravated his wrist in a collision early in Wednesday’s win over Calgary.

“He’s a tough customer. We’re lucky to have him on our side,” Campbell said of Matthews, who leads the NHL with 18 goals in 20 games. “Whatever he’s going through, he always puts the team first 100 per cent. It’s incredible what he’s able to do, 100 per cent or not, and I can’t wait to get back to battle with him.”

Starting goalie Frederik Andersen has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, but will make the trip west. The Leafs split those games with Michael Hutchinson in net.

Andersen’s February numbers (6-2-0, 19 goals against, .917 save percentage) were markedly better than January (5-3-0, 24 goals against, .892). Coach Sheldon Keefe said he remains day-to-day, and they won’t have to rush him back with Campbell returning, despite a busy schedule ahead.

Saturday marks the start of a five-game trip through Edmonton and Vancouver. Andersen should play at some point out west, but a healthy, rested Campbell might carry the load for the North Division leaders after a month out.

“Just excited to be back and excited to go on the road with the boys,” Campbell said. “They’ve got a real strong team. They’re feeling it right now (the Oilers have won five straight). A great challenge for us. We want to keep it going.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204200 Toronto Maple Leafs While the defensive plan both teams unveiled worked well in keeping the big guns on both sides in check, the Leafs have watched Edmonton get on a roll, most of their wins coming away from Rogers Place, while McDavid and Draisaitl have now combined for 74 points. Some injured Maple Leafs are expected back versus Oilers This will be Toronto’s first experience with the North’s compacted road schedule and Keefe went with a later afternoon practice on Friday, in part to get used to the time change in coming days. Lance Hornby “It’s going to be a challenge,” Muzzin said of the trip in general. “This Feb 27, 2021 whole season has been different, whether it’s been travel or games in short periods of time.”

One by one, injured Maple Leafs came through the starting gate for VESEY MAY BE ODD MAN OUT practoce on Friday. A full lineup of Maple Leafs could be bad news for Jimmy Vesey. Jake Muzzin with a full visor covering his broken facial bone, Joe If Auston Matthews overcomes his wrist injury and Joe Thornton’s Thornton taking a few long skating strides after missing time with a lower recovery goes as scheduled, the press of forwards above and below body injury, both joining goalie Jack Campbell, who is overcoming a Vesey could see him squeezed out on Saturday in Edmonton. As his similar issue to Jumbo Joe’s and is the projected starter on Saturday in production slipped, the Leafs are getting more out of bottom-six forwards Edmonton. such as Travis Boyd and Alexander Barabanov, leaving Vesey nowhere And while there was no sign of leading scorer Auston Matthews (wrist) or to go if the third line becomes Ilya Mikheyev, Pierre Engvall and either No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen (lower body), there was an air of Nic Petan or Alex Galchenyuk. Free agent Vesey has one assist his past optimism that the Leafs will add those two during a vital Western 15 games. Canadian road trip. Defending their first- place seeding against the “He hasn’t been able to make his mark,” coach Sheldon Keefe said when surging Oilers, three games against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, asked to assess the winger’s season. “There have been positives will require a full lineup. (Vesey’s defensive play and penalty-killing), but at the same time, others The Leafs will still be without winger Wayne Simmonds (broken wrist) for have come into the lineup and made an impact, especially offensively.” the duration of five games in eight nights in Edmonton and two versus Boyd and Barabanov have been active in that regard and now the Leafs Vancouver. But just try keeping Matthews away after he played through have had eight games to assess their Marlies farmhands, who preceded much of his recent run of 18 goals in 20 games with the sore hand he them out west. Though they lost 8-1 on Friday in Calgary to the Flames’ aggravated Wednesday when slamming into the boards. Stockton Heat farm team to end the trip 4-4, coach Greg Moore saw “He’s not ruled out for tomorrow,” head coach Sheldon Keefe insisted as winger Nick Robertson get another assist to give him six and one goal. the Leafs headed for the airport. “We’ll just have to see how he continues “The trip as a whole has been positive and very useful (as an evaluating to progress. He’ll be a game-time decision. tool),” Moore said. “We’re excited to continue Monday (the home opener, “(Continuing to play hurt) just speaks to the fact he’s remained resilient, minus fans, at Coca-Cola Coliseum).” hasn’t allowed little things like that to disrupt him. He’s bounced back Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.27.2021 once already from a (one-game) injury and had a tremendous (16-game points) run after that. He got banged up in the second period last game and even though he had to adapt (not taking faceoffs and passing up shots), he still competed his ass off to the very end.”

Campbell said: “I’m feeling great and ready to go for sure,” and Keefe said he’ll start if there are no complications from a heavy workout on Friday. Michael Hutchinson, with a win and a loss in the absence of both Campbell and Andersen, would back up Saturday. Andersen did, however, make the trip.

“Him making a decision that he wanted to get on the ice and get a feel for things today is a positive step,” said Keefe of Andersen, who took to the ice early before Friday’s practice.

The most unusual sight was Muzzin with full facial protection. The defenceman took a stick in the face against Montreal a week ago and the bruising around his eight eye indicated the break. He looked to be adjusting his new helmet a few times on Friday, but expects to be partnering Justin Holl in what should be some difficult nights against McDavid and Draisaitl.

“(Vision) is not that bad, maybe a little tough to see (action) at your feet,” Muzzin said. “I’ve never worn one before. In junior we had cages, but I’ve never worn a bubble.

“It was a little bit scary, I’m not going to lie. You get hit in the face, you black out a bit and see the blood coming. I was just praying the eye was OK. If the bone gets broke, then it is what it is, but you get hit in the eye, it’s pretty bad.”

With no Matthews at practice, it was hard for the Leafs to work on their biggest concern of late, the first-unit power play, which was 0-for-11 in the past two games against Calgary. Centre John Tavares moved up with Mitch Marner and William Nylander, but Thornton’s return as a net presence, in front and behind the goal line, will be welcome. Put Matthews back in and they should click, agai. Alex Kerfoot, Travis Boyd and Alexander Barabanov worked with the second group.

It’s conceivable that Edmonton could knock Toronto out of first spot in the North Division, though it requires a regulation sweep of the three-game set. Their four meetings thus far have been close, the Leafs winning two and losing two, one in overtime. 1204201 Toronto Maple Leafs Matthews sat out practice on Friday and will be a game-time decision on Saturday.

Given his remarkable run: 18 goals in his past 18 games with 12 assists The Leafs are sitting atop the Canadian division at the moment, but some — we don’t have much reason to believe this will slow down the 23-year- questions are bubbling beneath that gaudy 15-4-2 record. old. That said, an ailing wrist (albeit the top hand) for a shooter can’t be helpful, and it may end up keeping him out a game or two.

Matthews missed one game earlier this season with the hand injury. Jonas Siegel “I think it just speaks to the fact that he’s just remained resilient and Feb 26, 2021 53 hasn’t allowed little things like that to disrupt him,” Keefe said of Matthews playing through injury on Friday. “Even the other night, (he) got

banged up there in the second period and while he had to adapt his Let’s sort out the five most pressing: game and we had to adapt how we used him a little bit, he still competed his ass off right to the very end.” 1. Can the Leafs get John Tavares going? Matthews set up Nylander for the game-tying goal late in regulation Tavares has only one goal in the past 10 games — and that one came at against Calgary, as well as the OT winner. the end of a blowout win over Ottawa. He’s got two goals in his past 15 games. An early season power-play boom has gone the other way of How, if at all, will the injury affect him when he does return? And how will late. that affect the Leafs? Matthews has had a hand in 42 percent of their total offence this season. What’s concerning is that Tavares isn’t generating a ton of great looks. He was robbed by the right pad of David Rittich off a set-up from Auston A Matthews-related sidenote: It’ll be interesting to see how the Oilers Matthews against Calgary on Wednesday, but opportunities like that choose to match up with the Leafs and Matthews over the course of an have been few and far between. upcoming three-game set.

The Leafs captain is averaging 2.7 shots per game, his lowest mark Last time out, on Jan. 30 in Edmonton during a 4-3 OT loss, Oilers coach since his rookie year with the New York Islanders. Now, that number Dave Tippett opted to keep McDavid away (though not entirely) from the requires some context as Tavares is logging the fewest minutes of his Leafs’ best player. Or rather, he opted to get Matthews’ fellow MVP career — just a few ticks under 18 per night. He’s right around nine shots frontrunner playing more often against Tavares, an apparent mismatch per 60 minutes overall, which isn’t far off his career norms. That said, that played out as such. Matthews saw plenty of Leon Draisaitl that night, Tavares is also attempting shots at the lowest rate since that rookie and it was the German who had the upper hand: Expected goals were season. That’s troubling with nearly 40 percent of the season in the approaching 70 percent in almost 14 head-to-head minutes. books. A Matthews-McDavid matchup, given the current Hart Trophy race, is Often, Tavares’ attempts to drive the middle and create looks for himself most intriguing though. Let’s have that! go quickly astray. On his first shift of the second period against the 3. Where will the goals come from (beyond Matthews)? Flames the other night, Tavares entered the zone with speed and promptly turned it over. His 5-on-5 giveaway rate has never been higher, This is the big issue with Tavares and Nylander slumping: The insulation and ranks fifth among NHL forwards with at least 100 minutes this they’re supposed to offer behind Matthews and Marner disappears. season. (Giveaways can be a poorly kept stat, but there’s something there in this case.) Nylander hasn’t scored once 5-on-5 over the last 10 games. Tavares has one goal. A breakout is essential to the Leafs developing some scoring The Leafs need Tavares to produce. They’ve built their team that way, depth. with four players chewing up half the cap. That means those players need to be elite. Tavares is pulling down $11 million on the cap himself, Leafs 5-on-5 scoring -- last 10 games the fifth highest figure in the league. The Leafs need more from him and Auston Matthews Tavares knows it. He’s looking increasingly frustrated as this slump has worn on. 10

Sheldon Keefe has moved Tavares around in hopes of getting him going, 6 including an ill-fated spin on the wing with Matthews and Mitch Marner. Maybe a reignited William Nylander will provide the jump-start Tavares Mitch Marner needs right now on his wing. A line with Nylander and Alex Kerfoot hasn’t 10 caught on to this point. 3 Short of breaking up Matthews and Marner, there aren’t a lot of other great options for Keefe. (Perhaps Nick Robertson sometime in the near Alex Kerfoot future?) If Matthews is unable to play in Edmonton on Saturday (more on that in a second), Tavares is poised to take his spot on the top line 10 alongside Marner and a returning Joe Thornton. 3

Following practice on Friday, Thornton, the No. 1 overall pick in 1997, Ilya Mikheyev looked to be encouraging Tavares, the No. 1 overall pick in 2009. The two chatted after Thornton passed pucks to Tavares around the net. 10

One reason for hope: Tavares is shooting only 5 percent at 5-on-5, which 2 would be — by far — a career low. Perhaps he’s in store for some better Joe Thornton luck.

This may just be a slide that Tavares will inevitably break out of. More 4 worrisome, is the possibility that it’s a sign of decline from a player who 2 entered his 30s in September. Whatever the case, the Leafs need Tavares to find his way. Wayne Simmonds

2. Will Auston Matthews be slowed by injury? 1

Earlier this week, Keefe indicated that Matthews has been playing 1 through injury all season. There was a hand issue that Matthews John Tavares revealed in January which may have been nagging him. More recently, a sore right wrist kept him out of the faceoff circle in Wednesday’s third 10 period and OT against the Flames. 1 He was composed. Pucks weren’t bouncing everywhere. He made the saves he needed to make. Zach Hyman Hutchinson will be pushed to the background now that Campbell is back, 8 and back to the taxi squad when Andersen follows.

1 Not unlike Dermott, a terrific opportunity awaits Campbell, a chance to Pierre Engvall strut his stuff as a temporary starter — the duration of which will depend on Andersen. Remember, it’s Campbell — not Andersen (as of yet) — 8 under contract next season. It’s Campbell, the former 11th overall pick, who still wants to prove he can be a No. 1 in the NHL. 1 Here’s a chance to show it. Travis Boyd Campbell won each of his two starts to begin the season, including on 10 Jan. 24 when he got hurt late but hung in the net anyways to preserve 1 victory against the Flames. It would be a huge for the Leafs, having lost Aaron Dell to waivers, to weather this storm without Andersen. Jason Spezza 5. How will Manny Malholtra reinvent a scuffling power play? 10 Loaded up? Or not? 0 That’s the question assistant coach Malholtra and Keefe seem to be William Nylander continually asking with regard to the power play. In other words, trot out Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, and Rielly together, or divide them 10 up amongst two units. 0 They’ve gone both ways of late, neither working to much effect. The Jimmy Vesey Leafs went a combined 0-for-11 on the power play in two games this week against the Flames. 10 Loaded up or not, the power play struggled to get set up and organized. 0 Wayne Simmonds and Thornton have both been missed, Simmonds Nic Petan especially. The 32-year-old was proving to be a menacing presence around the net, chipping in three power-play goals over his first 12 5 games as a Leaf. He requires a reasonable bit of attention around the 0 net, which, in theory, opens up space for guys like Matthews and Marner. The team hasn’t found a suitable replacement in his absence. They’ve Alexander Barabanov tried Zach Hyman, Mikheyev, Thornton, and even Vesey in the net-front 3 role.

0 Only Thornton has come close to matching Simmonds, and of late, he’s been sidelined. On a positive note: Kerfoot has upped his offence while skating with more confidence in a Leafs uniform than ever before. It appears the Leafs may go back to the loaded approach on Saturday. At Friday’s practice, Thornton joined Tavares, Nylander, Marner, and Rielly Jimmy Vesey, on the other hand, has gone 15 straight games without a on the top unit. Perhaps they’ll split that bunch up though if Matthews is goal. He has only 15 shots in that stretch, and two goals all season. “He able to play. just hasn’t been able to make his mark and really claim his role, or what he’s gonna be able to bring on a consistent basis,” Keefe said. The Leafs are only 6-for-28 on the power play (21 percent) in nine games without Simmonds. Matthews has four of those goals. Travis Boyd has It’s possible that Vesey is even scratched in the near future, perhaps as one, and Nylander the other. Tavares, who started so hot with the man soon as Saturday against the Oilers. Alexander Barabanov looks to be advantage, has no goals and only three shots in that span. on the verge of passing him for a spot in the lineup. Nylander has mustered only two shots himself. Ilya Mikheyev has generated more looks, it seems, killing penalties than 5-on-5. (I’ve kinda liked the energy Mikheyev and Pierre Engvall have The power play helped fuel the Leafs early this season. It was bound to brought together as a third-line combo.) cool off some. It’s up to Malholtra and company to come up with a solution to get it going again. Fourth line contributions have dried up as well. The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 At some point, maybe even now, Matthews (who didn’t score in either game against Calgary this week) will cool off (right?).

The Leafs will need others to pick up the slack.

4. Can Jack Campbell and Michael Hutchinson keep the crease intact without Frederik Andersen?

It’s unclear when exactly Andersen will return from the lower body injury that’s kept him out of the past two games. He sat out practice on Friday and won’t play this weekend, but will join his teammates on the upcoming road trip.

Jack Campbell, meanwhile, is set to return from his own lower body injury with a start on Saturday. He missed 14 games. (The Leafs are also expecting to have Jake Muzzin return following a two-game absence. Muzzin broke a bone in his face. He’ll return wearing a full shield.)

Aside from a tough first goal against the Flames in a loss last week, Michael Hutchinson proved to be just fine in relief. His 21-save performance in Wednesday’s win may have been his steadiest performance as a Leaf. 1204202 Vegas Golden Knights thousand times worse for a sports team to be associated with one, less sponsoring one.

“I never in my wildest imagination believed we would be talking about a Golden Knights blasted for partnership with sports betting tout service team from a major sport sponsoring a tout service. So wrong on so many levels that it’s hard to know where to start.”

No professional sports team should be associated with selling picks… Todd Dewey enough fear already about games being fixed this is flying just a little too close to the sun February 26, 2021 - 9:08 PM — Vincent Chiarelli (@jetyank823) February 24, 2021

A Tout service. SMH ♂ . Not a good look VGK. Be better. The Golden Knights’ new partnership with a sports betting tout service has been universally panned by the sports betting industry and the — Nick McBride (@nickmcb18) February 24, 2021 team’s fans on social media. This will not end well. The NHL organization announced Wednesday that it has entered a multiyear partnership with UpickTrade.com, a site based in Guadalajara, Is it April 1st somewhere on this globe? Mexico, that sells picks and has been designated the Official Sports Pick — JusticeBet (@JusticeBet) February 25, 2021 Service Partner of the Knights. UpickTrade was launched in 2017, and Reyes claims on the front page of “We are thrilled to partner with UpickTrade.com and become the first the site that more than 6,000 clients worldwide “are now making a living professional sports franchise to partner with a sports recommendation off of sports.” The service, which charges $89 a month for its picks, service,” Mike Mungiello, the Knights’ vice president of global claims annual returns on investment ranging from +28.56 percent to partnerships, said in a news release. “We are hopeful our fan base will +687.24 percent. make UpickTrade.com a part of their sports pick betting process.” On Wednesday, the Knights’ logo was featured on the image of a player As an official partner of the Knights, UpickTrade will be featured on the on the site. On Thursday, the logo was removed. But it was back on the team’s web and social media platforms, as well as on the boards around site Friday night. the rink at T-Mobile Arena. UNLV gaming historian David Schwartz said he was surprised by the UpickTrade CEO Carlos Lazo Reyes described the deal as “a historic partnership. moment in the sports betting market.” “It’s definitely a curious choice,” he said. “Those sorts of services have But judging by the overwhelmingly negative reaction to the deal on the traditionally been stigmatized. It’s difficult to see how that would promote Knights’ Twitter page — all 137 replies were critical — the market hopes an image of integrity. that history won’t be repeated. “Let’s say they tell people to bet against the Knights, and the Knights “At first I thought it was a joke. Then I read the Knights’ press release. lose. It’s just not clear how that would work. I don’t understand why the And I still wasn’t sure because it just seemed so outlandish,” said decision was made in the first place.” USBookmaking sportsbook director Robert Walker, former MGM Mirage (now MGM Resorts) sportsbook director. “My first thought was someone Attempts to reach Reyes were unsuccessful. But, according to ESPN, he from the Vegas Knights is going to get canned, and my next thought was said the deal doesn’t preclude the service from selling picks on Knights did the NHL approve of this. All of it is beyond shocking to me. This puts games and that the company won’t receive injury or lineup information an end to the league’s integrity claims.” from the team.

This is a HUGE mistake. For the love of sports integrity, please “It’s a no-win situation,” Golden Nugget sportsbook director Aaron reconsider. Kessler said. “If you believe the tout service is legit, it looks biased and shady. If you realize it’s a bunch of scammers, then they’re partnering — H.L. Mencken (@dmaofkansascity) February 24, 2021 with a bunch of scammers. The optics are terrible. Why are you excited. This has to be the worst announcement of all time. “I can’t imagine what the guy who thought this was a good idea could Have you no understanding of this partnership. Did a North Korea deal possibly be thinking. There’s zero benefit to this deal, and any money fall through they’re getting is going to be outweighed by how unbelievably bad it — Robert Walker (@robertusfsports) February 24, 2021 makes the team look.”

As someone that worked for such a service, I'm trying to imagine the LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.27.2021 marketing pitch meeting.

Also imagining, with dread, the phone calls to the office after VGK loses a game they were picked to win.

Love me some VGK….but this is a bad, BAD, idea.

— Keith Fridrich ��� (@KeithFridrich) February 24, 2021

Phone calls and texts to Knights president Kerry Bubolz seeking comment on the partnership weren’t returned.

“At this time, the organization does not have any additional comments beyond what was included in the press release,” Knights vice president of communications Eric Tosi said in an email.

In 2018, the Knights became the first NHL team to partner with a sportsbook when it entered a mulityear deal with William Hill. All four major American pro sports leagues and several other teams have partnerships with legal, regulated casinos and books.

But tout services have long had an infamous reputation.

“The obvious issue is the unscrupulous nature of the tout business itself,” Walker said. “Some, not all, lie or mislead about their success rates, etc. It is not a business a sportsbook would want to be in bed with. It is a 1204203 Vegas Golden Knights LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.27.2021

Golden Knights enjoy aspects of NHL’s new schedule format

Ben Gotz

February 26, 2021 - 6:30 PM

The Golden Knights are nearly a fourth of the way through their regular season, which means they’ve had time to get adjusted to this year’s schedule quirks.

They have played just six opponents through 16 games because of the NHL’s division-only format. They’ve also taken only seven flights because they’re typically playing teams multiple times in a row.

The Knights played 15 opponents and took 12 flights through their first 16 games last season, as a comparison.

Left wing Alex Tuch, the team’s players association representative, said he doesn’t think much thought has gone into whether the NHL should keep some of these changes. But he and his teammates like aspects of them.

“It definitely limits the travel, which is nice,” said Mark Stone, the team’s alternate PA rep. “Playing back to backs going from Vancouver to Calgary (in previous years), those type of flights are never easy.”

Tuch said he also has enjoyed the reduced travel and thinks it could help prevent injuries. The one downside is the Knights are going to fewer places and seeing fewer teams.

There’s only one team on their schedule they have yet to face: the Minnesota Wild. The Knights will never know how they stack up against the 23 teams in the other three divisions unless they meet in the playoffs.

The upshot is rivalries will grow with the opponents they face in the West Division. Tuch said he’s enjoyed that aspect and that it has raised the level of play.

“I think, especially if you’re playing a team four times in a row, it brings this playoff aspect to the games,” he said. “It’s really exciting to play in. It’s really exciting for the fans to watch, too. It’s really gritty. Guys are laying out. Tensions are flaring. Not many guys are going through the motions.”

Henderson shuffle

Having the Silver Knights nearby is paying off for the Golden Knights.

The NHL club needed extra bodies in practice this week with goaltenders (upper-body injury) and Oscar Dansk (starting for Silver Knights) missing and right wing Reilly Smith recovering after taking a puck to the face in Monday’s game at Colorado. Smith practiced Friday.

Goaltender Logan Thompson and forward Patrick Brown were called up to the taxi squad multiple times to fill the void. Thompson and Brown practiced with the Golden Knights on Wednesday and were active for the Silver Knights’ game against San Diego that night.

“A lot of times if you do have a practice day scheduled, between the guys that need maintenance and guys dealing with minor injuries, it’s hard to run a full practice,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “The fact we can do that, that we have this taxi squad, that Henderson is 20 minutes up the road, is a great value to us.”

McNabb update

DeBoer said defenseman Brayden McNabb, on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury, is close to returning. He needs imaging done to confirm his injury is fully healed, then will start skating with the team again.

McNabb was hurt Jan. 26 against the St. Louis Blues and has missed the past nine games. He is eligible to come off injured reserve after Saturday’s game at the Anaheim Ducks.

McNabb appeared in the first seven games on the first defensive pair with . He missed only five games in his first three seasons with the team. 1204204 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights find mojo on penalty kill

David Schoen

February 26, 2021 - 5:35 PM

William Karlsson appeared to be stumped by a question about the Golden Knights’ recent penalty-killing success, which comes as a bit of a surprise.

It should be an easy subject to talk about.

The Knights have gone six consecutive games without allowing a power- play goal and enter Saturday night’s matchup at Anaheim with 14 straight successful kills.

“It’s working. It’s just that mojo, you know?” Karlsson said. “We know what to do, and we execute it and it seems to be working.”

The Knights (11-4-1, 23 points) didn’t allow a power-play goal on nine chances in the four-game split against Colorado. The last goal the penalty kill allowed was Feb. 9 when Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf scored with one second left on a penalty to Nicolas Roy. Otherwise, it would be 20 straight kills.

Overall, the Knights rank third in penalty-kill percentage at 87.2 and sit fourth in the league in net penalty kill (89.4 percent), which takes into account how many short-handed goals a penalty kill scores.

A key reason for the success is Marc-Andre Fleury, whose .920 save percentage short-handed is eighth among goalies with at least five appearances. That’s a significant improvement from last season when Fleury ranked 56th overall with an .845 save percentage on the penalty kill and the Knights finished 27th in penalty-kill percentage.

Robin Lehner has a .903 save percentage that is 12th among goalies with at least five games played.

The Knights also are playing better in front of their goalies while short- handed. They are first in the league in shots on goal allowed and shot attempts allowed on the penalty kill, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

“We’ve been aggressive,” right wing Mark Stone said. “I think we’re limiting people’s time and space, and we’re doing the dirty work to clear loose pucks whenever the goalie makes that first save.”

It also helps that the Knights are being more disciplined and giving teams fewer power-play opportunities. Entering Friday, they were tied for the second-fewest minor penalties taken and are the third-least penalized team overall.

The Knights average 2.94 times short-handed per game, which is eighth overall after ranking 18th in the league last season at 3.01.

When they have gone to the penalty box, their skating ability has presented problems for opposing power plays. Stone is joined by Chandler Stephenson on one unit, and speedy Alex Tuch also has worked his way into the mix. Karlsson and Reilly Smith continue to be a dangerous pair, too.

“We’re hopping over the bench with confidence we’re going to get the kill,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “It’s been a critical piece for us right back to the bubble. It’s becoming a consistent strength for us.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204205 Vegas Golden Knights 73.8 2nd

73.1 Vegas is the tallest and heaviest NHL team — is that a formula for success? 2020-21

74.1

Jesse Granger 1st

Feb 26, 2021 73.2

2017-18

Playing against the Golden Knights is physically demanding, and that’s 199.5 by design. 18th Imagine yourself in the opposition’s shoes for a moment. You’ve just survived a shift against the physical, grinding fourth line that consists of 200.7 Ryan Reaves (6-foot-2, 225 pounds), William Carrier (6-2, 218 pounds) 2018-19 and Keegan Kolesar (6-2, 217 pounds). They’re three of the biggest forwards in the NHL, and opponents feel every ounce of it when they 200.2 deliver hits. The three may not score much, but that doesn’t make the shifts against them comfortable. 11th

And just when you’ve survived that shift, they hop over the boards to be 199.3 replaced by Mark Stone (6-3, 202 pounds), Alex Tuch (6-4, 220 pounds) 2019-20 and Chandler Stephenson (6-foot, 199 pounds). Your competition just got a lot faster and a lot more skilled, but only slightly smaller. Good luck. 201.3

The Golden Knights currently ice the biggest, tallest, heaviest hockey 9th team in the entire NHL. 199.3 The current 21-man roster weighs a total of 4,351 pounds. That’s equal to a Ford Taurus, and averages out to 207.2 pounds per player. Not only 2020-21 is it the heaviest roster in the league, but Golden Knights players weigh 207.2 more than eight pounds over the league average (198.9 pounds). 1st The graphic is from a piece by The Athletic’s James Mirtle. He’s been examining the height, weight, age and nationality of every player in the 198.9 league for the last three seasons. As you can see, NHL players as a whole have gotten lighter over the This year, Vegas is nearly two pounds clear of the next-heaviest team – past four years, while Vegas has gotten heavier each season. The the Tampa Bay Lightning – and when compared to the lightest teams in Golden Knights transformed from a team that overwhelmed teams with the league, the size differential is even more apparent. The Golden speed. They forechecked with ferocity and feasted on turnovers by Knights have 13 players who weigh 205 pounds or more, and only seven turning them into transition scoring chances. After falling short in the Cup under the 200-pound mark. Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks have final to a much heavier Washington Capitals team, the front office of only four players who weigh 205 or more pounds, and a whopping 18 George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon opted to bring in more size. That under 200 pounds. included a heavy, bruising player like Reaves, who was acquired just ahead of the 2017-18 deadline, but more so the heavier players up the And Vegas doesn’t just tip the scales. Golden Knights players are, on lineup like Stone and Max Pacioretty, who predicate their offensive average, the tallest in the NHL as well. With an average height of 74.1 games much more on power and possession than speed. inches (just over 6-2), Vegas towers over the rest of the league, although the height margins are significantly narrower than those for weight. Four years later, the Golden Knights are an average of 1.2 inches taller and 7.7 pounds heavier. They’ve gone from below the league average in Nic Hague is Vegas’ tallest player at 6-6, but the team has seven players both categories to tops in both. who are 6-4 or taller, and only one who is under 6-foot. As a team, the Golden Knights are nearly an entire inch taller than the NHL average of “We were kind of joking about it today,” Stone said. “We have a very big 73.2 inches. team.”

So how did the Golden Knights become the biggest team in hockey, and How do they use it to their advantage? what does it mean on the ice? “Incredibly well,” defenseman Zach Whitecloud said. “We’re a physical Vegas wasn’t always built this way. In fact, the inaugural Golden Knights team and when we’re being physical, and all five guys on the ice are team that made the Stanley Cup Final was much smaller. Over each of being physical, I think we dominate a lot of the play. If you can be the four years, the Golden Knights have steadily gotten taller and physical in your own end first, that eliminates a lot of plays in your own heavier. end, and kind of stops the flow of their five-man unit. Once you can create a stall, you can get the puck out and get it going north.” 2017-18 Vegas has been physical this season, but the hitting has actually gone 72.9 down from the last couple of years. This season, the Golden Knights average 24.37 hits per 60 minutes, which ranks ninth in the league. 19th That’s down from 26.51 last season (fourth) and 27.44 in 2018-19 73.1 (second).

2018-19 The Golden Knights use their size advantage in ways other than checking the opposition. 73.4 “What helps us out is we’re big, we’re fast, and we’re able to use our size 8th and don’t need four or five guys to win a puck battle,” Stone said. “We 73.2 have guys who can win a puck battle on their own, and you can kind of spread defensive zones, to get them scrambling.” 2019-20 There may not be a single area of the game in which the Golden Knights’ 2017-18 size advantage plays a larger role than puck battles along the boards. Not only does it allow Vegas to win more of those battles, and therefore 73.4 possess the puck more, but their confidence in those situations allows 6th them to play with a different strategy. 205.1 “It’s an important part because when you don’t have a team with that ability, you have to commit multiple people to battles, and that exposes 3rd you in other areas,” head coach Peter DeBoer said. St. Louis Committing fewer players along the boards means having better 2018-19 coverage in the defensive end and more chances to find open players on the offensive side. If Stone can flip a puck into the corner and knows 73.4 Pacioretty can win a 1-on-1 battle for it, he can find open ice in the zone and set up for a chance, as opposed to needing to help win possession. 7th

“I like that element,” DeBoer continued, “and I like the fact that we have 203.8 that element and it hasn’t taken away from the speed of the group.” 6th In an analytics sense, Vegas is one of the NHL’s better possession Tampa Bay teams. The Golden Knights regularly account for the majority of shot attempts, shots on goal and scoring chances on a nightly basis. Their 2019-20 ability to win puck battles leads directly to that. So does their ability to outmuscle players for the puck in open ice. Not all takeaways and 73.1 giveaways are a direct result of that, but many are. The Golden Knights 17th have the best takeaway-to-giveaway ratio in the league at plus-1.87. Vegas averages the second-most takeaways per game at 6.84 while 203.4 turning the puck over only 4.97 times per game (sixth-fewest). 7th “We have a lot of guys who can rumble in the corners, but like you said, we have big guys who can absolutely fly,” Stone said. “I think every line The last three Stanley Cup winners all have been among the seven is pretty different. Obviously, certain lines like to get those grinding heaviest teams in the league, and only one was outside of the top seven shifts.” in height.

Here’s how the Golden Knights’ current forward lines break down in “I don’t think it’s an accident that in Tampa, the guys they added all had terms of average weight: that heaviness to their game, and all of a sudden they’re taking the next step,” DeBoer said. Tuch - Stephenson - Stone To DeBoer’s point, the Lightning were the fourth-shortest team in 2018- 207 19, with an average height of only 72.7 inches. They were also the 23rd- heaviest team in the league with an average weight of 196.9 pounds. Pacioretty - Glass - Smith After losing in the first round of the playoffs, Tampa Bay added muscle to 196.3 its lineup in the offseason by signing Luke Schenn (6-2, 229 pounds), Pat Maroon (6-3, 225 pounds) and Zach Bogosian (6-3, 222 pounds). Then Marchessault - Karlsson - Roy the Lightning doubled down by trading for power forward Barclay Goodrow (6-2, 215 pounds) at the trade deadline. 192 Those moves jumped the Lightning 11 spots in the height rankings, and Carrier - Kolesar - Reaves from the 23rd-heaviest team to the seventh-heaviest. Is that the sole 220 reason they went from an embarrassing first-round exit to a Stanley Cup championship? Of course not, but front offices around the league believe Those reflect the lineup changes DeBoer made last week. For those it played a factor. The Golden Knights certainly do. curious, here are how their more traditional lines looked: “I’ve always been a proponent that you need heavy hockey,” DeBoer Pacioretty - Stephenson - Stone said, “especially come playoff time.”

205.3 The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 Marchessault - Karlsson - Smith

184.3

Tuch - Glass - Kolesar

209.6

Carrier - Nosek - Reaves

216

Vegas’ newly constructed lineup seems to distribute the weight a little more evenly among the lines. It combines a heavy player like Nic Roy with a smaller line featuring William Karlsson and Reilly Smith, and a smaller center like Stephenson with big, power wingers like Stone and Tuch. The traditional lineup has small, quick lines like Karlsson, Smith and Jonathan Marchessault – who weigh an average of only 184.3 pounds – in juxtaposition to one of the heaviest fourth lines in all of hockey.

Vegas was three wins away from lifting the Stanley Cup in year one, and the front office clearly felt the team needed to be stronger to take the next step. But do the numbers show that weight and height matter when trying to win a championship?

Washington 1204206 Vegas Golden Knights The Golden Knights do well with per-capita spending by fans at VGK games at T-Mobile Arena and majority Bill Foley said it was “silly” for the Clark County Health Department to limit attendance capacity at T-Mobile Arena to 15 percent when Gov. Steve Sisolak said in his recent COVID- Tickets For All Seven Golden Knights Home Games In March Still 19 directive that large event gatherings can have 20 percent capacity. Available, But You Better Have Cash In The Bank Sisolak loves the Golden Knights too and is a season ticket holder.

The Knights play Anaheim Saturday in Southern California. February 26, 2021 LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 02.27.2021 Alan Snel Bill Foley, Steve Sisolak

There’s no doubt fans in Las Vegas have an adoring relationship with their hometown-born NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights. But as much as they do tap their bank accounts to dole out hundreds or thousands of dollars to attend Golden Knights games at T-Mobile Arena, they do have their financial limits.

In other words, the Golden Knights are opening the arena for about 2,600 fans a game for seven games in March and the punch line is that there are still tickets for all seven contests if you’re willing to spend the money.

LVSportsBiz.com checked the VGK Ticket Exchange today for per seat ticket availability at 12:45 PM and found tickets in both the lower and upper bowls at these price ranges:

VGK vs Minnesota Wild, March 1: $250-$1,000

VGK vs Wild, March 3: $203-$700+

VGK vs San Jose Sharks, March 15: $355-$1,000

VGK vs Sharks, March 17: $420-$950

VGK vs St. Louis Blues, March 22: $235-$575

VGK vs LA Kings, March 29: $253-$1,200

VGK vs Kings, March 31: $253-1,200

I’m tagging along with a friend for one game but, I’m sorry Knights. I want to stay married and retire at reasonable age. I’m blessed tho getting to head back for one. I’m happy for all the people that are going. It will be so awesome to see the golden family in person again — Golden Knights fan Alyce Wheeler

Fans joked on social media how expensive the Knights tickets are, including this meme on the Vegas Golden Knights and Silver Knights Misfits Fan Club page.

Some VGK backers called other fans, “whiners,” and said NHL games are a business that was not yielding any ticket revenue because of no fans at Golden Knights games due to the novel coronavirus pandemic that has killed 500,000 Americans.

There was no shortage of banter about ticket prices on social media.

Keep in mind hundreds of season ticket holders rolled over their season deals to next season, so the Golden Knights have cash in the bank.

Plus, the Knights are peddling luxury suite deals, too, for March:

Golden Knights superfan Christopher Green said he will be at the arena and offered these comments: “I support the Southern Health District’s focus on conservative safety regarding Covid-19 exposure at sporting events like Vegas Golden Knights games inside the Fortress at T-Mobile Arena. One of the best ways to limit your exposure is to secure an ultra-prestigious suite by contacting the VGK Ticketing & Suites group ( 702-645-4259 ). Personally I’ll be floating around the arena throughout the month of March in different seating selections, but if I had a large group of people that I had been sequestered with the whole time we’ve been on lockdown I would definitely get a suite!”

NHL arenas around the league are reopening for fans after Arizona, Dallas and Florida had the first three NHL venues open for fans. Game- related revenues are crucial for NHL teams because the league does not have big TV broadcast rights deals like the . NHL teams rely on about half of their revenues from game-related income streams like ticket and merchandise sales.

“That’s our job – to entertain people,” VGK coach Pete DeBoer said today. “Just knowing they’re on the other side of the TV screen isn’t the same thing.” 1204207 Vegas Golden Knights We’re a quarter into the season, and DeBoer hasn’t hesitated to shake things up; evidence of jumbling the lines and pairs in Monday’s 3-0 win against the Colorado Avalanche.

Brayden McNabb nearing return for Golden Knights – how should he be McNabb has always been lauded for doing the little things right. Doing deployed? those things, in a reduced role, might benefit all parties.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 02.27.2021

February 26, 2021By

Danny Webster

It’s only a matter of time before the Vegas Golden Knights get defenseman Brayden McNabb back.

The Golden Knights’ top defensive defenseman has been on long-term injured reserve since Feb. 1 (retroactive to Jan. 26) and is nearing the 10-game/24-day cutoff of when he can be activated.

McNabb will need time to get up to game speed, per coach Pete DeBoer, but he’s inching closer to where he can begin practicing.

“I got an update today that he’s getting much closer,” DeBoer said Friday. “I think he’s still got a final X-Ray or image in order to confirm full healing, and then he’ll get reintegrated into the group. Obviously, then, he has to get up to speed for not skating in over a month. I don’t have a specific time, but that’s the information I have.”

Logistically, having McNabb back should be an upgrade. He’s been Vegas’ top stay-at-home stalwart since the inaugural season and, at the very least, you’d like a 6-foot-4, 216-pound human being patrolling your blue line.

The last two seasons, however, have been a struggle for McNabb. His 2.77 goals-against per 60 is the worst mark on the Golden Knights and hardly an uptick from his 2.78 last season. The hope was McNabb would rebound from his rough go in the Stanley Cup Playoff bubble (2.8 GA/60), but it hasn’t been an ideal start.

Compare that to Years 1 (2.17) and 2 (2.59), you wonder if McNabb’s days as a top-pairing guy are over.

If we’re along that line of thinking, the next question: Where do you play McNabb when he gets back?

To be clear, McNabb has value to him. It just might not be when pairing him with Alex Pietrangelo.

Eye-test wise, Pietrangelo has played fine, but not to the apex of a seven-year, $61.6 million contract. Keeping Pietrangelo with Shea Theodore, however, sounds a lot more enticing for both top defensemen.

There’s only a one-game sample size for 27-7, but you keep them together if it gets Pietrangelo going.

Zach Whitecloud has played his way to a deserved promotion. Not only has been stellar defensively at 5-on-5 (1.39 GA/60, 1.68 xGA/60), but he’s worked for his offense; Whitecloud has started 5.8 shifts per 60 in the defensive zone; not that far off from McNabb’s 5.87, and Whitecloud has five points to his credit.

While Whitecloud and Nic Hague have been a solid third pairing, I too would like to see more than a one-game sample size with Alec Martinez.

That leaves Hague with McNabb, and that’s an intriguing pair. You’d have to go back to the 2019 preseason to find film of Hague and McNabb playing together, but they played well together. Albeit, new coaching staff and everything since then, but McNabb on the third pair limits his deficiencies.

Also, good luck trying to shoot at 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-6 defensemen when they’re playing together.

No disrespect to Dylan Coghlan, but the 23-year-old would be the odd man out. There’s still some time for his game to grow and him observing for a bit wouldn’t be the worst idea.

I wouldn’t be too quick to jump the gun on moving on from McNabb just yet. Until this month, McNabb missed only seven games in three seasons. He’s been as reliable as anyone on the Golden Knights and absolutely deserves a chance to show his worth. 1204208 Washington Capitals place, and he would come in there that day and come down with the hammer,” Hedican said. “It was almost like he had his finger on the pulse of our group that year that I couldn’t believe.”

Peter Laviolette gets teams to believe in him fast. His former players Laviolette likes to incorporate themes each year, and sometimes they explain why. come with prizes. This season’s theme was inspired by the Netflix series “Cobra Kai,” which Laviolette said he watched after he was fired by Nashville and spent time away from coaching.

Samantha Pell “To some people that are super-cool, they might be like, ‘Oh, that stuff is corny.’ But if you set your ego aside a little bit and get to the kid inside of Feb. 27, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. UTC you, it’s fun and guys rally around stuff like that,” Boucher said.

Wilson remembered the first time Laviolette talked about giving out Washington Capitals Coach Peter Laviolette knows not every player is a prizes. Players assumed he meant gift cards to a nice restaurant. perfect match for a coach and not every coach is a perfect match for a Instead, they were toys — gag gifts. player. He also knows there is no exact science when it comes to Hartnell remembered one of the mystery prizes was a frying pan coaching, trying to lead a team in the right direction to reach the end goal Laviolette bought on QVC. Another was a figurine that grew grass, — hoisting the Stanley Cup. Wilson said. Laviolette does have a blueprint for success, though. He won a Cup in “It is hard not to like the guy,” Hartnell said. “... At the end of the day, he 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes and took both the Philadelphia Flyers cares for you and he cares about the team, and that is what it is all and the Nashville Predators to the Stanley Cup finals. about.” Laviolette is about a third of the way through his first season in Laviolette has also worked to include family members over the years. Washington and 19th as an NHL coach. And the Capitals (10-5-4) have a Multiple former players, including Buffalo Sabres General Manager long way to go after an up-and-down start, one in which they have been Kevyn Adams, said Laviolette was the first coach who got to know unable to string more than two wins together since the end of January. families off the ice and heavily involved them in team bonding activities. But they also have Laviolette, who always has managed to find success “That was part of his strategy. You get to know someone’s family, you early in his tenures with teams. The 56-year-old from Franklin, Mass., have that much more of a buy-in as people, so I think that is a way he did knows what it takes to win, and for his former players, it starts with the it,” Adams said. “I think he had a good grasp of each player.” demeanor of the coach himself. Daniel Brière, who went to the Cup finals with Laviolette in Philadelphia, “Lavi has a lot of success everywhere he goes for the first few years remembers the coach also involved his own family during his tenure with because everyone is buying into this new system, new attitude and how the Flyers. Laviolette and his wife, Kristen, have three children — Peter, to fight and how to play hard,” said Scott Hartnell, who played for Jack and Elisabeth — but are empty-nesters in Washington. Laviolette on the Flyers and Predators. “Some coaches are too serious, keep their distance, whereas Lavi always wants to know who you are and “[We would] come in for a meeting, and the lines would be on one side, your wife’s name, your kids’ names, and all that stuff goes a long way, in and Elisabeth’s drawing would be on the other side,” Brière said. “I liked my mind.” it because it brings not just the coach’s side, it brings out that he is also a family man and he has a family and a regular life. It made him more Laviolette’s strengths start with his abilities to communicate and motivate. human.” He is described as a blunt coach, someone with a knack for figuring out how to push players and cultivate a family atmosphere. To Colin Wilson, Mike Fisher, who in 2016 was named Nashville’s captain, called who played for him in Nashville, Laviolette is the definition of “tough Laviolette very “intentional, smart and intelligent.” Fisher said he had a lot love.” of good coaches in his career but Laviolette stood out.

“Lavi has got an intensity to him,” said Brian Boucher, who played for Fisher retired in 2017 before returning to the NHL in February 2018. He Laviolette in Philadelphia. “He’s got that scowl, and he’s got a real said he rejoined the Predators mainly because of Laviolette’s influence: presence in the locker room, and when he is speaking he’s got that “It was mostly, well, a lot of it was Lavi. growly voice and the Boston accent. He grabs your attention.” “He is not just a good coach; he is a good person, too, and I loved Said Hartnell: “He is not fumbling over his words. He knows exactly playing for him. And I was surprised they let him go [in Nashville last where he is going and the buttons that need to be pushed in that year], actually,” Fisher said. “I was really surprised, but that is just the dressing room. He does a great job of having everyone on the same game. It happens no matter how good of a coach you are. Yeah, I loved page.” playing for him.”

Laviolette’s ability to gauge the temperature of the room to get everyone Washington Post LOADED: 02.27.2021 on the same page was crucial during his Cup run with Carolina. Laviolette came to the Hurricanes during the 2003-04 season, right before the NHL lockout. Initially, he rubbed players the wrong way.

“He was dealing with thoroughbreds, and he had to learn how to steer them instead of take out his stick and whack them. … The lockout was the best thing that happened to him,” said Bret Hedican, a defenseman on Carolina’s Cup-winning team.

Laviolette’s personality started to show after the lockout as Carolina started to gain confidence. He started the season with team bonding that helped him gain the trust of the Hurricanes’ leaders. He was blunt with players and let them know where they stood. But he also knew how to push them without overstepping.

There were days Carolina players felt as if they needed to be picked up after a disappointing loss or an unlucky stretch. Sure enough, Laviolette would stroll in and provide the much-needed mood booster through chats, speeches and videos.

Laviolette also could do the opposite — get on the team when its play wasn’t up to par or players were acting too confident.

“Sometimes we would be high on our britches, and I would be like, f---, we need to get our a-- handed to us today, and we need to be set in our 1204209 Washington Capitals

Caps get much-needed win vs. Penguins: 5 reasons Washington won

J.J. Regan

The Capitals coughed up a 2-0 lead in the third period, but Tom Wilson saved the day with a critical power-play goal in a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. The win was just Washington's second against Pittsburgh in six games this season.

Here is how the Caps won.

A better start

Washington has really struggled at the start of games recently and had not scored a first-period goal in its last three contests. That ended on Thursday as the Caps made a decent push in the opening frame to exert themselves.

Through the first period, Washington had more shot attempts (21-15) and shots on goal (12-11). There were still too many turnovers and they gave up too many odd-man breaks, but they were not chasing the puck nearly as much. It was a much more even start than their last few games and Tuesday in particular.

Penguins lose Backstrom

We are all waiting for Backstrom to record his next two assists to reach No. 700, but if you are going to give him that much room he might as well just score it himself.

Backstrom picked up a loose puck in the corner then hit Nick Jensen with the pass cross-ice. As Jensen received the puck, Backstrom made his way to the slot. The Penguins got caught puck-watching because no one accounted for Backstrom at all. Jakub Vrana was also at the front of the net and drew Cody Ceci to him, giving Backstrom more room.

Luckily, Jensen saw him and returned the puck to Backstrom who chipped it in for the goal.

The penalty kill

The penalties were a bit one-sided in this one. In such a tight defensive game, Pittsburgh was given several opportunities to take control, but they were turned aside each time by the Caps' penalty kill.

The Penguins had four power-play opportunities, the Caps had two. Washington was perfect on the penalty kill with no goals and only four shots on goal allowed.

Oshie's brilliant goal

I mean, look at this.

The incredible move and then the effort there to dive and poke the puck through Jarry. That's just incredible. That goal gave Washington a 2-0 lead which looked like it was going to be enough. It was not.

A critical power-play goal

Washington's inability to generate any offense on the power play was a big factor in the loss on Tuesday. The Caps did not score on either of their first two opportunities, but they scored when it mattered most.

Oshie's goal seemed to wake-up the Penguins who came roaring back. After being held without a goal for the first 44 minutes, Pittsburgh scored twice in three minutes to tie the game at 2. About three minutes after Jake Guentzel tied the game up, Drew O'Connor was called for hooking Evgeny Kuznetsov. A power-play opportunity in the third period in a tie game against a rival? Yeah, this was an important moment and one the Caps had to take advantage of. They did as Tom Wilson redirected a John Carlson pass into the net for what would prove to be the game- winner.

Carl Hagelin and Lars Eller would add empty-net goals to finish the Penguins off.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204210 Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin is game-time decision for Saturday vs. Devils

Andrew Gillis

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin may miss Saturday’s game against the Devils, the team announced. It’s unknown as to the reason, but he took a maintenance day at practice Friday.

Carl Hagelin also took a maintenance day at Friday’s practice for an undisclosed reason.

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Ovechkin has struggled of late and has just one goal in his last seven games with three assists. He hasn’t scored at even strength since Feb. 7 against the Flyers.

Ovechkin blocked a shot off his foot from Letang in the third period on Tuesday. He played after that, but not in OT.

Had a long talk with the trainer at the end of the morning skate yesterday and played last night.

So seems to be playing through something. https://t.co/s33UivQyd9

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) February 26, 2021

Ovechkin has six goals and 10 assists this year, good for third in both goals and assists.

If Ovechkin is out of the lineup, Daniel Sprong figures most likely to enter the lineup in his place as the lines would likely be shuffled once again. Sprong has played in 10 games this season and has two goals and one assist.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204211 Winnipeg Jets One thing the Jets have been doing consistently lately is falling behind, only to come back to win. They are an NHL best 6-2-0 when trailing after 20 minutes, including the last two wins over Montreal and Vancouver in which they shrugged off 2-0 first period deficits. Habs going south in the North A big part of that is a potent offence which is average 3.63 goals per game, third-best in the NHL behind only Edmonton and Tampa Bay. There are currently 12 players who have hit double-digits in goals this Mike McIntyre season — and Winnipeg is the only team with three of them.

Mark Scheifele has 11, while Ehlers and Kyle Connor have 10. Those Like two ships passing in the night, the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal three, along with captain Blake Wheeler who has six points in his past Canadiens are heading in very different directions these days. two games, are all currently in the Top 25 of NHL scoring.

Things are going swimmingly for Winnipeg, winners of three straight and "I think we always knew we had a lot of skill on this team. A lot of guys four of the last five to surge up the standings. Not so much for the that can put the puck in the net, make plays. I think we always kind of Canadiens, who are sinking fast after a solid start to their season. knew that. Guys are buying in, guys are doing the right things and when you do the right things, you’re going to get rewarded," said Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets' Mathieu Perreault and Pierre-Luc Dubois celebrate who has scored in six straight games and has a career-best 11 game Dubois' goal against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price during point streak. the third period in Winnipeg on Thursday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods Scheifele admitted Friday he’s been watching closely what other players around the league have been doing this season. Seeing players like Winnipeg Jets' Mathieu Perreault and Pierre-Luc Dubois celebrate Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews running wild has served as an Dubois' goal against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price during extra motivator for him. the third period in Winnipeg on Thursday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods "It definitely pushes you to do more. Obviously I’ve been watching a lot of the Canadian Division. I’ve learned a lot for myself from watching those Look around the country and you’ll see similar trends, and plenty of guys play. I know definitely from watching Connor and Auston play, you separation, starting to occur. Toronto and Edmonton, who will meet for pick up little subtleties in the plays they’re making, the little passes three straight starting Saturday night, are both sizzling. Calgary and they’re making, the way Auston is shooting the puck — all those little Vancouver have gone ice-cold. And re-building Ottawa seems destined things," said Scheifele. to finish dead-last, despite a surprising recent run. "Dale (Hawerchuk) always told me it’s a free education. You get to learn But here’s the thing about this unique NHL season, where all 56 games from them, you get to pick up little things they do and try it in practice the are entirely within the division. The teams seemingly sitting pretty right next day. It’s part of that learning. It’s learning from the best players in now in a playoff position aren’t getting too comfortable, just as the teams the world and trying to add that to your game." they’re looking down on shouldn’t be hitting the panic button just yet. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 02.27.2021 "I look at the schedule and figure the season starts at the end of February, early March. That’s when this thing gets going because this next layer of games that we play, our schedule is heavier than other teams who’ve played more games. And if you’ve played three or four games fewer, if that’s the next month, you’ve got a big cost," Jets coach Paul Maurice said Friday following his team’s optional practice at Bell MTS Place.

"There’s a big cost coming up to having played fewer games. So the season starts, basically, now, and I don’t look at any spread any team has as insurmountable."

The top four teams in the division make the playoffs, which will also be contested within the division for the first two rounds starting in mid-May. (One plays four, two plays three, then the two winners meet).

Winnipeg, at 12-6-1, sits seven points behind Toronto (with two games in hand) and three in arrears of Edmonton (with three games in hand). They’re also three ahead of Montreal, who hold down the final playoff spot. Calgary (five ahead, two games in hand), Vancouver (seven ahead, five games in hand) and Ottawa (10 ahead, three games in hand) are all out of the picture, for now.

The Jets could increase their cushion with another clean win over Montreal on Saturday night, coming on the heels of Thursday’s 6-3 comeback victory. The Habs, with just one win in the last seven, will once again try to get new coach Dominique Ducharme his first victory after he replaced Claude Julien earlier this week.

Regardless of the result, nobody around here is putting their feet up or getting comfortable. In fact, objects in the rear-view mirror may be closer than they appear.

"For teams that go through a rough stretch, there’s 100 per cent a chance of getting back. Especially this year, you’re playing against your own division every single game. So it can turn really quick. Also for the teams that are doing well. So you have to keep your foot on the gas the whole season, every single game," said forward Nikolaj Ehlers.

"Definitely, everyone has a chance no matter how many points they’re behind or ahead. It can go both ways, so you want to keep that consistency in your game, you want to give yourself a chance to win every single game." 1204212 Winnipeg Jets "I’m not ruling him out just yet but I don’t have a big push to put him back in unless we’re real confident where he is at," Maurice said of Poolman, who skated Friday in a non-contact jersey.

'I'm obviously not a great fighter': Ehlers And the play of Niku means there’s no rush.

"I liked his game. He’s a puck-mover — that’s what he’s selling and it was on full display," said Maurice. Mike McIntyre Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 02.27.2021

Nikolaj Ehlers admits he may have bitten off a bit more than he could chew. But the flashy Winnipeg Jets forward has no regrets about dropping the gloves with Montreal’s Corey Perry.

"It’s not something I plan on doing. It just happens. The puck was across the ice, he crosschecked me, I crosschecked him back, that’s kind of how it ended up happening," Ehlers explained Friday of the previous night’s unexpected fisticuffs.

Ehlers, at 6-0, 172 pounds and with 137 career penalty minutes, is typically using his hands for good, not evil. He definitely got the worst of the brief, third period brouhaha with the 6-3, 206 pound Perry, who is no stranger to the sin bin with 1,194 career minutes for violating the NHL’s rule book.

"I think it went okay. Obviously he’s a bit bigger, a bit stronger and heavier than me. You always know that something bad could happen, but I try to protect myself, said Ehlers, who has previously chucked knuckles with Ryan Getzlaf and Tyson Barrie.

"I’m obviously not a great fighter, I know that, but I try to stand up for myself. It’s worked out, so it is what it is."

DUBOIS FITTING IN

Don’t look now, but Pierre-Luc Dubois is getting extremely comfortable with his new surroundings.

The 22-year-old has five points over the past two games, all spent playing wing on the top line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. In fact, that trio has a combined 16 points in their brief time together.

Scheifele is already a big fan of Dubois, especially for the work he does along the boards in winning puck battles.

"Yeah, he’s fantastic at that. That’s one thing that I know from watching him, from playing against him. A big part of his game is being able to protect the puck. Knowing how to use his body in those situations. For guys like me and Blake, we thrive off that. We like to get in the O-zone. We like to protect the puck with our body. He’s a guy that we’re all learning from. We’re all learning about his tendencies and the plays he can make," said Scheifele.

Jets coach Paul Maurice doesn’t want to keep Dubois, a natural centre, on the wing permanently, but he’s made a compelling case to stay for now.

"There’s a whole bunch of defensive things where you watch the way a guy reacts before he thinks. The play changes direction, where does he go before he even processes the play. That’s just the instinct part of his game. He’s got a real nice defensive instinct for a skilled guy, for a young guy, you don’t expect," said Maurice.

"So that would be the part that you don’t know until you get him on the ice and watch the game real close. The physical strength there, I mean geez, he’s such a young man and he’s already so powerful. The softness of his hands, you’ve seen the little plays he can make. I think what excites me here is we’ve got a player that wants to be involved in all parts of the game. He’s not here just to put numbers up, he’s here to play the game and become a dominant, at some point, centre."

NIKU’S NIFTY PASSES

Sami Niku made the most of his opportunity on Thursday, stepping back into the lineup for the injured Tucker Poolman and having a better showing than three earlier games this season.

There was a great give-and-go with Kyle Connor that created a scoring chance, and a terrific outlet pass to Ehlers which led to a Connor goal. Niku likely earned another look tonight, with Poolman still considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. 1204213 Winnipeg Jets Loewen's birth parents abandoned him at an orphanage at the age of one, and he'd spend the next two years in care. Along came Stan and Tara Loewen of Arborg who were visiting Jamaica while doing Christian ministry work and happened to see Jermaine's photo in an First Black Jets player faced tough path advertisement. It was love at first sight.

Loewen, along with sister Makeda, 14, and brother Nathaneal, 12, were adopted by the couple and brought to Canada, a move he calls Mike McIntyre "lifesaving."

"I went from one of the warmest places in the world to one of the Much as he'd like to forget it, much as he wished it had never happened coldest," Loewen jokes. or that he'd handled it differently, the memory is burned into Bill Riley's "Our mantra is that inclusion is year–round. We need to begin to brain. normalize all of these faces in our spaces in hockey. This is not a one The first Black player for the Winnipeg Jets — a "cup of coffee" is how he and done. This is an attempt to continue to get people to see black and describes his 14-game stint during the 1979-80 season — was often the brown and female faces as normalized in our sport. That work is going to target of racist taunts as he worked his way up to the big leagues. continue." – Kim Davis

One night in particular stands out, a game in the mid-1970s where his Ah yes, but they have plenty of ice around here, and Loewen had a Dayton Gems were visiting Kalamazoo of the International Hockey natural athletic ability which quickly emerged as he worked his way up League. Riley, a tough but high-scoring forward from Amherst, N.S., was through the amateur ranks in the Interlake, eventually resulting in a four- shocked by the scene that awaited him as he hit the ice. year stint with the Kamloops Blazers of the , in which he was named team captain. "They'd hung a big black ape (stuffed animal) with my sweater on it. They had lynched it, with a hangman's knot around the throat of the gorilla," The Dallas Stars drafted him late in the seventh round, 199th overall, in the now 70-year-old Riley recalls, his voice cracking with emotion. 2018, but didn't ultimately sign him. Vegas then grabbed his rights. To date Loewen has one goal and one assist in 36 AHL games, and three Riley was just the third Black player to make the NHL, following in the goals and one assists in 19 games with Fort Wayne of the ECHL. footsteps of Fredericton's Willie O'Ree, who played 45 games with Boston over two seasons starting in 1957. Mike Marson, of Scarborough, None of it was easy, and Loewen said he bristled at how often he'd be was the second, skating in 196 NHL games between 1974 and 1980 with referred as simply "the Black kid", whether it was during a hockey game Washington and Los Angeles. Marson and Riley were teammates at one or at school. point with the Capitals. "It was more ignorance than anything," he said. "Some people have Like so much of what he endured in that era, Riley believed he had to definitely had it worse. I'm pretty grateful I didn't get it too bad. But it's stay silent if he wanted to stick around. The numbers, he said, were not hard, because you know there are people who are going to say things in his favour. Not in that rink, and certainly not in the sport. just to try to get under your skin."

"They'd hung a big black ape (stuffed animal) with my sweater on it. They Ray Neufeld doesn't think of himself as a trailblazer. But there's no had lynched it, with a hangman's knot around the throat of the gorilla." – question that as the first Black pro hockey player from Manitoba, the Bill Riley on a game in the mid–1970s in Kalamazoo Winkler product broke some barriers.

"I didn't want to be perceived as a problem, because people have a way "When I started there were like just four or five of us playing. Today, of turning things around, saying 'Hey, this guy is gonna cause a problem, there's so many more. They need to be given a safe environment so they stay away from him,'" Riley explained. "I didn't want to say nothing, don't feel disrespected or discriminated against," said Neufeld, who because I didn't want to shut the doors for all the young Black players skated in 595 NHL games including 259 with the Jets from 1985 to 1989. coming up. So I bit the bullet." "It's impressive, and very positive, how many there are now."

It was the much same during repeated visits to Toledo, where five-cent Neufeld, now 61, speaks highly of his time spent playing in his home beer nights meant the crowd, mostly young white males, were going to province, saying he never felt the colour of his skin was an issue. From be extra vocal. And, at times, extra racist. other former Jets such as Eldon "Pokey" Reddick to more recent stars like Evander Kane and Dustin Byfuglien, to current prospect and "They'd get all slopped on the beer, and I'd go in there and knew I was in Manitoba Moose player C.J. Suess, this city has been home to many for a long night. A tough night," said Riley. He rattled off other off-ice BIPOC players over the years. examples as well, including having to get white teammates to rent him places to live because landlords wouldn't have dealt with a person of "There was probably the odd thing said here and there but overall people colour. were really great. It helps, I think, that Manitoba has just about every culture you can imagine. It's kind of unique," he said. "But there's no "Sometimes, now, I get upset at myself for not saying more. Then i turn question some crazy things happened back then (in the sport). There the television on and see guys like Ryan Reaves and Wayne Simmonds were lots of things that happened to people that shouldn't." and all these guys and think, geez, you paid the ultimate price for these guys," said Riley. There was one AHL game in the late 1980s, played in Sherbrooke, where Neufeld and a Black teammate, Graeme Townshend, were Jermaine Loewen has never met Bill Riley. But he'd love to one day subjected to a fan making monkey sounds from the stands. shake the hand of a man who helped pave the way for athletes like him to make a living in the sport. Neufeld said people like O'Ree, Marson and Riley were the pioneers he looked up, and he's glad today's generation has many more to serve as The 23-year-old from Arborg is currently playing for the Henderson Silver inspiration. Knights, the farm club of the Vegas Golden Knights. He is one of 90 current BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) players at either "Nothing happens quickly, and it's hard to know how that will play over the NHL or AHL level. That includes multiple Manitobans including Ryan time. I think over time you'll continue to see an increase in the BIPOC Reaves and Keegan Kolesar of the Golden Knights, and Madison Bowey area of hockey, but to what level I don't know," he said. of the Chicago Blackhawks. Neufeld has continued to work with the NHL on matters of inclusion, "You realize what people who came before you went through," said including some recent virtual panels. Loewen. "It's fantastic to see so many from Manitoba. The more people "Willie and Bill and Mike and what they endured... someone else had who see others who look like them playing, the more people will want to walked that road before we could. You can always learn from history. watch and start playing hockey. I think it's moving in the right direction." You can't change it, but you can learn a lot from it," he said. Loewen certainly didn't see anybody lacing up the skates in Jamaica, "I think sports in general, but certainly hockey, has made some great where he was born in 1998. But an incredible series of events have now strides in that area." led to him becoming the first-ever NHL drafted player from the island country. The 85-year-old O'Ree has become the face of the NHL's recent Black "Our mantra is that inclusion is year-round. We need to begin to History Month campaign — players have worn tribute skates to him over normalize all of these faces in our spaces in hockey. This is not a one the past month, and his No. 22 jersey is set to be retired by the Bruins and done. This is an attempt to continue to get people to see black and next season in a ceremony pushed back until fans can be in the building. brown and female faces as normalized in our sport. That work is going to continue." Riley said he and Marson have yet to hear from the league. Davis singled out a couple Manitobans for personal praise. Loewen, she "We've got stories to tell. We can help. Willie can't cover all that ground said, is a terrific modern-day example for young kids to follow, and his by himself. Willie was the first, and and nobody can ever take that from work as an author will make huge strides in that area. him. But there's a lot of kids out there, a lot of ground to cover. It's frustrating," said Riley, who would like to write a book one day about his "It just makes us even more focused on ensuring that we remove any of experiences in the hockey world. the barriers that exist for kids of colour. It's an inspiration, for him to use his creativity to do the book was great. That kind of storytelling is what Although his time coming up through the minors was difficult and creates empathy in parents and allows them to have the kind of language downright ugly at times, Riley enjoyed his brief time in Winnipeg but they need to talk about these issues to their kids," she said. wishes it could have lasted longer. He scored three times and had two assists in his 14 games with the Jets before being sent to their AHL And then there's the important work of Reaves, who led the way last affiliate in Nova Scotia. He never got back to the NHL, despite being summer in the Edmonton bubble following the killing of Floyd, a Black nearly a point-per-game player in the minors for five more years before man, at the hands of Minnesota police. The image of Reaves standing retiring. front and centre, backed by dozens of other mostly white players, to denounce the latest act of racialized brutality and pause the playoffs for a The Jets had just drafted Jimmy Mann 19th overall, and Riley believes couple days was extremely powerful, general manager John Ferguson wanted to clear out room for a younger player who would play a similar role with the franchise. His final NHL "He has brought such an amazing voice to our thinking about the future resume involves 139 games (he played for Washington before coming to to bringing more diversity and inclusion," said Davis. Winnipeg) with 31 goals, 30 assists and 320 penalty minutes. "For him to get his fellow white players to stand up and use their voices, "There was a lot of politics involved, for sure. I would like to believe it was that's what's going to make a difference in our sport. We know that 95 politically motivated as I know Tommy McVie (then the Jets coach) went per cent of our players are white, so allyship is going to be the way in to bat for me," said Riley, who doesn't believe race played a factor. which we change our sport. I see that happening and it's exciting."

"I knew that I was playing well, I had no problem dropping my gloves in Davis said Manitoba should be proud to have so many BIPOC players in defence of my teammates, and I was very good in both ends of the rink. the pro hockey ranks and points to the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy, That still wasn't enough." run by the True North Youth Foundation, as serving a vital role. One such example is the story of the Nnah family, which immigrated from Africa Riley is happy to see the league moving in the right direction when it eight years ago. Now the three boys — Anointing, Winner and Divine — comes to issues of racial diversity and inclusion, but he's holding his are regular rink rats thanks to the opportunities that were afforded them. applause at this point. "There's just an amazing amount of support happening in the province, "When (the George Floyd killing and protests) started happening last and specifically in Winnipeg," said Davis. "When we start seeing the summer, I kept waiting and waiting, wondering where was the NHL. I saw pipeline have positive trends over time and more kids of colour feeling the NBA, I saw Major League Baseball, I saw the NFL. But the NHL, they like this sport belongs to them, I think we're going to see the kind of were making themselves look like a bunch of rednecks," said Riley. growth we want. We're making improvements, we know we have a lot of "The NHL was the last sport to step up to the plate of the Black Lives work to do, but we're really starting to feel the winds of change blowing in Matter movement. And it took the players in order for that to happen." the right direction."

Loewen said his current hockey environment in the desert is a diverse "This is a movement, not a moment." one. Former NHLer Joel Ward is an assistant coach with the Silver Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 02.27.2021 Knights, while former Manitoba Moose netminder Fred Brathwaite is the goalie coach with the club.

Regardless of where his career ultimately takes him -- playing in the NHL is the ultimate dream, of course -- he's already a winner. And that was cemented a few months ago when he co-authored a children's book called Ari’s Awful Day/Mainer’s Move. It was the brainchild of his agent, Ray Petkau, the product of Steinbach who has a wealth of big-league clients including Jets goaltenders Connor Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit.

Mainer is based on Loewen, a black bear who moves to a new city and joins a hockey team which includes Ari, a lion, who doesn't immediately accept him. The story, which Loewen penned along with co-author and illustrator Thom van Dycke, follows their paths as these polar opposites work towards an eventual friendship. Themes of kindness, acceptance and racial inclusivity are tenderly portrayed.

Loewen is looking forward to doing some readings, both online and eventually in classrooms, to spread the message.

"I think the world needs a lot more of that. Especially with what's happened over the last year, for a number of reasons," said Loewen. "Hopefully the young kids can see that no matter where you come from, or what your race, that if you put in the work you can make it.

Honouring the past. Highlighting and recognizing the current. Amplifying the future. That was the goal of the NHL this year for Black History Month, which officially concludes on Sunday following a full slate of mostly virtual seminars and educational summits. But the work is really just beginning.

"You can't know where you're going if you don't know where you've been," said Kim Davis, Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs. 1204214 Winnipeg Jets With just under six minutes left in the third period on Thursday, Nikolaj Ehlers and Corey Perry engaged in an organic throwing of hands after the two exchanged crosschecks behind the play. It wasn’t Ehlers’ finest performance in a fight, but then again, he was giving up at least three JETS NOTEBOOK: Dubois has team gushing; Ehlers won't back down inches of height and 30 pounds to Perry.

“I think it went OK,” Ehlers, who weighs in at 172 pounds, said on Friday. “Obviously he’s a bit bigger, a bit stronger and heavier than me. You Scott Billeck always know that something bad could happen, but I try to protect Feb 27, 2021 myself. I’m obviously not a great fighter, I know that, but I try to stand up for myself. It’s worked out, so it is what it is.”

Ehlers is no stranger to punching above his weight class. He went toe-to- Pierre-Luc Dubois, self-admittedly, isn’t on top of his game just yet as he toe with 6-foot-3, 228-pound Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf last continues to find his way as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. But that isn’t season. And if he would have had his way, he would have fought Dallas stopping both his new coach and his new teammates from — to borrow a Stars captain Jamie Benn as well in a separate game. word from Paul Maurice — gushing about Winnipeg’s new addition. Like Tom Petty, Ehlers won’t back down. Whether it’s his knack for scoring goals — he has three on four shots with the team — or his ability to shake off a defender, either with finesse Maurice happy with Beaulieu or with force, it’s a sight that’s certainly growing on those who watched This won’t be the most popular section of this notebook, but this is merely him and those who have played alongside him. passing on a piece of information: Maurice likes what Nathan Beaulieu is “Yeah, he’s fantastic at that,” linemate Mark Scheifele said of Dubois’s bringing to his team’s blue line. ability to win puck battles. “That’s one thing that I know from watching And while fans are clamouring for Dylan DeMelo to see more minutes, him, from playing against him. A big part of his game is being able to and potentially a reuniting with Josh Morrissey on the top pairing, that protect the puck. Knowing how to use his body in those situations. For doesn’t appear to be in the cards at the moment. guys like me and Blake (Wheeler), we thrive off that. We like to get in the o-zone. We like to protect the puck with our body. He’s a guy that we’re “I like the pairings the way they are if Tucker Poolman is back and he and all learning from. We’re all learning about his tendencies and the plays he Beau — Beau’s played well — so they’ll just get more minutes that way,” can make.” Maurice said Friday.

It’s funny Scheifele would say that. Speaking of Poolman, he skated during Winnipeg’s optional practice Friday and is a possibility to return Saturday against the Habs. Following Winnipeg’s 6-3 rout of the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night at Bell MTS Place, it was Dubois who was professing his ability to “We will see how he comes back and make a decision then,” Maurice learn from both Scheifele and Wheeler. said. “I’m not ruling him out just yet, but I don’t have a big push to put him back in unless we’re real confident where he is at.” “I thought I was good at it until l saw them,” Dubois said. “You can always get better. I think I’m getting back to it. I think I can move my feet better Winnipeg Sun LOADED 02.27.2021 out of the corners and make plays more, not just winning stick battles but actually get some space out of it. That will just come with more practice and seeing these guys here do it.”

Dubois’s offensive impact has already been on full display with five points in his past two games, including a sublime overtime winner a couple of games back. But it’s the nuances of the 22-year-old’s game that has Maurice signing his praises.

“There’s a whole bunch of defensive things where you watch the way a guy reacts before he thinks,” Maurice said. “The play changes direction, where does he go before he even processes the play. That’s just the instinct part of his game. He’s got a real nice defensive instinct for a skilled guy, for a young guy, you don’t expect.

“The physical strength there, I mean, geez, he’s such a young man and he’s already so powerful. The softness of his hands, you’ve seen the little plays he can make. I think what excites me here is we’ve got a player that wants to be involved in all parts of the game. He’s not here just to put numbers up, he’s here to play the game and become a dominant, at some point, centre.”

For now, he’s attached to Scheifele’s left hip on a line that’s growing quite fond of one another. They’ll likely play together until it doesn’t work anymore, of injury necessitates a change. And that’s just fine for Scheifele.

“The first few games playing with him, it’s been awesome and we just have to continue to grow,” said Scheifele, who’s white-hot at the moment with his own 11-game, career-best point steak. “I think that’s the biggest thing. You have two good games, you can’t just sit back and rest on that. You’ve got to continue to work. You’ve got to continue to learn more about each other and each other’s games. In learning about Dubie, he keeps doing that. He keeps wanting to talk about the game.

“He keeps wanting to talk about certain things. He wants to hold himself accountable if he messes up a play or if he doesn’t get a puck deep or whatever it is. And that’s the way that me and Blake have always been — if you do the right things over and over, you’ll get rewarded.”

Ehlers didn’t plan Perry fisticuffs

But the Dancin’ Dane wasn’t going to turn it down either. 1204215 Winnipeg Jets “So there’s, I don’t know if patience is the word, I hate using that word in the game of hockey, but there’s certainly a calm in some ways to where we’re at,” Maurice said. “I would say we’ve been really good in the first handful of games here in assessing where we’re at in the game.” ‘WE KNOW WE’RE GOOD’: Getting down early, doesn't get the Jets down And while there isn’t that cockiness, per se, there is a bit of swagger knowing your guns are often bigger than the ones pointed in your direction.

Scott Billeck “I mean, I think there’s no panic in this room if we’re down two,” Kyle Connor said. “You saw that the last two games. We’ve got the type of Feb 27, 2021 talent that can score in bunches and when we play the right way it’s fun to watch and fun to be a part of and I think this is one of the best groups we’ve had in a while and it’s pretty exciting on this team. You wouldn’t dare call it cockiness. No, not with some of those defensive lapses. “We know we’re good.”

Paul Maurice would suggest you don’t refer to it as lucky, either. The The Jets seem confident, to a man, that they can get the job done one Winnipeg Jets head coach has a point. His team is far too skilled to be way or another. lucky. “So there’s an underlying offensive confidence that a two-goal deficit isn’t He’d rather you call it composed — a composure with a dose of maturity a death knell for the game,” Maurice said. “We’re going to generate — in times where his team needs it the most. enough in games that we’ll be able to get back into it.”

It’s a recipe that allows a team to overcome. The Jets have overturned Given that the Jets are 6-2-0 when trailing after one period this season, first-period deficits now en route to six of their 12 wins on the season. and 4-4-0 when trailing after two, until something shifts in the wrong direction, there’s little to suggest the Jets can’t turn a deficit into two “I think we’ve been solid in the comebacks,” Maurice said on Thursday points on any given night. night, minutes after his team claimed another win in the North Division. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 02.27.2021 Winnipeg’s best hockey is rarely played in the first period. And in the games where they have produced a solid opening frame — Thursday’s game comes to mind — they’ve often been on the wrong side of the bounces, or as in the case of their 2-0 deficit to the Montreal Canadiens after 20 minutes in Thursday’s 6-3 win, victims of self-inflicted wounds.

It makes the Jets a difficult team to assess.

Their analytics don’t seem to match their record. Sixth in the NHL in terms of points percentage, the Jets are ranked 23rd in shot differential and dead last — 31st — in expected goals (they have scored 40 goals this season at 5-on-5 — which is 8th overall — but have only been expected to score roughly 32.)

They have incredible forward depth, uncertainty on the blue line and two goalies — a Vezina-winning starter and a robust backup — that save more goals than they should (instilling confidence for the guys in front of them as they do it.)

Is it sustainable? A spreadsheet would tell you that, eventually, the Jets are going to regress — that they’d end up scoring at their expected rate instead of their current inflated one. But it’s sometimes hard to believe that’s going to be the case when, despite their pitfalls, they just keep finding ways to win.

Maurice preached discretion, posing a question some may have thought time and again, when asked how one should sum up his club.

“So, if you’re good enough to come back then why didn’t you just start that way and then you’ll win every game?” Maurice said. “I find this division, there’s enough skill on all the teams that you can play a right period like we did in the first period here and be down two. And I also felt like we haven’t had to add a tremendous amount of risk to our game to claw back into these games.”

This seems to be true. Using nothing but the eye-test, it sure does feel like the Jets tighten up their play as each game wears on. Maurice said last week, and again on Thursday, that his team has a good grasp of why it might be trailing in a game, as it has many times already this season.

“I think we stayed actually more true to form in all of these comebacks,” he said. “This is just a function of the NHL we’re in right now. So, the bench is right when we’re down; like they understand what’s happened. We haven’t had a lot of games, maybe, where we’re up early; I don’t think that’s going to change. I think you’re going to get into games and the other team is going to push back.”

Maurice said he isn’t looking for a moment where his team magically clicks — calling it “foolishness.”

So they scratch and claw like every other team in the NHL, absorbing the ebbs and flows of each game — each period — and then relying on the maturity of a growing team kicking in when they need a rallying call. 1204216 Vancouver Canucks That Rathbone can put some sizzle on the puck is why the Canucks drafted him in the first place and were perfectly fine with him playing another year of high school hockey for family reasons.

Tight Canucks tenser as they keep trying to ‘turn the tide’ It was a case of great things come to those who wait. They signed him last summer. He skated and worked out at home, then came west for There’s losing when you’re playing badly and then there’s losing when training camp before Christmas. you’re in the game. Both lead to different types of frustration He showed well in Canucks training camp, then was assigned to the taxi squad so he could get some further practice time with the Canucks’ coaching staff before eventually being reassigned last week to the Utica Patrick Johnston Comets, the Canucks’ primary American Hockey League affiliate. Feb 27, 2021 On Friday Rathbone skated on a pairing with fellow rookie Jett Woo for the Comets in their home game against the . After a series of callups by the St. Louis Blues — who are also affiliated with the If you were sitting in the Sportsbar at during Thursday Comets during this COVID-19 affected season — the Comets are down night’s 3-0 Canucks loss to the visiting Edmonton Oilers, you would have to a baker’s dozen of forwards and just seven defencemen, making spotted a very invested viewer: Team owner . Rathbone’s insertion into the lineup a pretty easy decision.

He may not have been saying much, but you could tell he was tense and Vancouver Province: LOADED: 02.27.2021 frustrated.

You can understand why. This hasn’t been an easy season for his team.

Early in the year, it was like Canucks players had forgotten how to play hockey altogether. Passes weren’t clicking. The players looked like they’d never played defence before.

Now they’re playing better, but the results still aren’t there.

The owner surely isn’t alone in the organization in feeling frustration about the current state of play, which has the Canucks mired in sixth place in the NHL’s all-Canadian Scotia North Division.

Both scenarios will lead to frustration, but they’re of a different kind, head coach said after Thursday’s game.

“From a coach’s standpoint, the frustration level is higher when you’re not playing well. When you’re playing well and not getting results, you tend to bang your head against the wall and you feel for your players a little bit,” he said.

Green played in 970 NHL games himself, so he knows the player’s perspective. Both scenarios are frustrating, he said, though the frustration for each case differs.

“But either way it’s difficult,” he said.

Goalie Thatcher Demko made a number of big saves Thursday to give his team a chance to win, but his teammates couldn’t put a single puck past Oilers goalie Mike Smith.

Asked the same question as Green, Demko took a similar tack to his coach — at least they’re doing things better now, as opposed to the beginning of the year.

“I think right now we can at least say that we’re playing hard and doing a lot of the good things. I thought early in the season there were some things we had to clean up and I thought we’ve done a really job of doing that,” he said. “Obviously, the results just haven’t been there.

“We’ve been in some pretty tight hockey games that just haven’t gone our way, continue to improve and see if we can turn the tide here,” he added.

Asked further about whether losing games by a close score is still harder to bear, Demko called the dilemma “tricky.”

“Obviously that has a different kind of frustration of its own,” he said of losing games again and again by slim margins. “It’s another thing that this team is going to have to battle through.”

Defenceman Jack Rathbone on the ice with coach Travis Green during Canucks training camp at Roger Arena in Vancouver on Jan. 12, 2021.

Rathbone’s a pro

Jack Rathbone hasn’t played a hockey game since March 7, 2020, when he picked up a pair of assists in a 7-1 demolition of St. Lawrence University by his Harvard Crimson.

It was a flashy, though unexpected, finish to his collegiate career. The game before he had a goal and 10 shots on goal. 1204217 Websites that season. It can be helpful to sort out the noise, as goal totals vary leaguewide from year to year.

But the closest thing we have to a predictive stat — and to be clear, The Athletic / John Gibson or Connor Hellebuyck: Who starts for the there’s still quite a lot of noise-to-signal here — is goals saved above 2022 United States men’s Olympic team? expectation (GSAx). GSAx takes more than just shots and saves into consideration, using factors like one-timers, rebounds and shot location to estimate shot quality.

Eric Stephens and Murat Ates When a goalie has a high GSAx, it means he’s stopped a lot of shot quantity and shut down quality scoring chances as well. Feb 26, 2021 And, according to Evolving Hockey, two of the top three performances in

the past three seasons came from Gibson. The 2022 Winter Olympic Games are just a year away, and to celebrate, In 2017-18, the year Hellebuyck received his first Vezina Trophy we’re projecting what the rosters for the major teams might look like in nomination, Gibson’s 33 goals saved above expectation led the league. Beijing. Gibson was almost as good the next season, when he stopped a league- Team USA men | Team USA women | Team Canada men | Team best 27 goals above expectation. Canada women | Team Sweden | Team Finland | Team Russia Last season, though, Gibson took a big step back, posting a negative Perhaps at no previous point in its history has the United States had the GSAx for the first time (-10). King John had fallen. depth of quality men’s players to choose from for the Olympic team that it And at the same time, Hellebuyck had risen, stopping an NHL-best 20 will for the 2022 Beijing Games. Those who will ultimately lead that team goals above expectation in 2019-20 on his way to a Vezina trophy win. will have a legitimate claim of being among the NHL’s very best. Connor Hellebuyck’s star has risen over the past two seasons. (Terrence But to compete for the gold medal, to stand atop the podium for the first Lee / USA Today) time since Mike Eruzione and the rest of that legendary rag-tag group pulled off the Miracle on Ice 41 years ago this month, one player will be This season has seen a similar trend, with Hellebuyck at 2.8 and Gibson most critical. at -0.6. Still, Gibson’s 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons were so good compared to the chances that Anaheim gave up that, despite posting a Back in 1980, it was Jim Craig: the man in goal who got it done and had lower save percentage, he leads Hellebuyck on GSAx aggregate over the American flag draped around him in triumph. these three-plus seasons. When 2022 rolls around, that man will be John Gibson. By the numbers: Top U.S. goalies since 2017-18 Or that man will be Connor Hellebuyck. Connor Hellebuyck Take your pick. Put them in the order you want. But unless an 202 unforeseen circumstance takes either out of the mix, the sure bet is one of the two will be the backbone for a team that should be a medal 117 contender. There are other good American goalies, but the odds that any of them leap over the Anaheim Ducks’ Gibson or the Winnipeg Jets’ 0.919 Hellebuyck are slim. 49.3 When The Athletic’s Scott Burnside, Craig Custance and Pierre LeBrun 29.4 picked the U.S. team earlier this month, Burnside and LeBrun went with Hellebuyck as the starter and Custance with Gibson. Burnside wrote: John Gibson “John Gibson, playing behind a rebuilding Ducks team, won’t have the gaudy numbers that other top NHL netminders boast but he is 185 recognized around the hockey world as an elite netminder and he will 82 push Hellebuyck for the starter’s role in Beijing.” Custance added: “The debate in goal will be about who starts between Gibson and Hellebuyck.” 0.916

Martin Biron, who played goalie in the NHL for 16 seasons and is 27.6 currently a television analyst for the Buffalo Sabres, agreed, telling The Athletic recently: “You’re pretty much assuming Gibson and Hellebuyck. 49.3 Those are the two.” What does it mean? Recent performance gives the edge to Hellebuyck, But which is the No. 1? but the error bars are wide. Intuitively, we all know that performance fluctuates, that team performance factors in and that Team USA is likely The question deserves deep dive all of its own. to allow a very different type of scoring chance than either Anaheim or Winnipeg — two of the league’s worst defensive teams. What the stats say The real answer is that, by the numbers, Team USA can do no wrong in From an analytical perspective, projecting goaltenders can be a bit of a choosing between them. Surely if we asked some experts, though, we’d fool’s errand. find stronger opinions than that.

It has been likened to “voodoo” by so many qualified analysts that the What the experts say idea of using today’s math to predict tomorrow’s gold-medal game seems akin to witchcraft. Still, it’s worth looking at the numbers we do have. Before he even got to assessing the two goalies, Biron offered up a transparent disclaimer. “I have to tell you,” he said, “I’ve never been a Using a sample size of the past three seasons and change, it’s clear that huge John Gibson fan.” Hellebuyck and Gibson are not just among the U.S.’s best goaltenders but are among the best from any country. Since the beginning of the Say what? 2017-18 season, Hellebuyck has the NHL’s fifth-best save percentage (using 100 games played as an arbitrary minimum, and stats through “And people have been all over me on Twitter and social media every Tuesday’s games). Gibson is 12th. Team quality and workload often time I (say) I’m not a huge Gibson fan,” Biron continued. “I know the make win totals misleading, but in that category Hellebuyck is second analytics numbers say his saves above average and all of that, those and Gibson 11th in the NHL in this same time frame. numbers have been spectacular. I’ve never been a Gibson fan because I feel he’s a bit stiff in his game. I don’t think he’s very athletic, and he was But what about predictive analytics? injury prone as well. For me, that was the big criticism.”

Goals Saved Above Average (GSAA) is a stat that looks at how many Was he talking about the same John Gibson? The 27-year-old Pittsburgh goals a player gave up compared to the average performance in the NHL native who has been a part of a William M. Jennings Trophy-winning tandem, has been a two-time All-Star, has played at a high level in the expectations, the weight of the environment, the way people evaluate international competition and currently – one could argue single- you day-to-day.” handedly, at times – gives the struggling Ducks some amount of relevance in today’s NHL. “Throughout it all, Hellebuyck has done an awesome job of excelling within that environment. There’s a lot to be said about that.” Biron does not discount any of that. But he sees a caveat to it. Some other factors need to be considered here, as well. Who will the “When you look at John Gibson, it’s his ability to make not just one, not head coach be? Who will the defensemen be? What will the style be? just two, but multiple big saves in games,” he said. “On a team like the Will the United States need a goalie to make spectacular saves, or will it Anaheim Ducks, which have not been as competitive as maybe the be better off with one who avoids mistakes? Winnipeg Jets or other teams in the National Hockey League, it has given John Gibson the ability to impress by making big saves. And it “When I consider Olympics and I consider Team USA — which is going overshadows, in my opinion, some of the goals that he may have given to be, in my opinion, a really, really strong team — can John Gibson be up or some of the weaknesses that he has in his game, because you’re the guy that doesn’t have to make the four, five, six huge saves in the thinking, ‘He’s on a terrible team, he sees a ton of scoring chances and game but can make everything else?” Biron posed. “The routine saves. look at those saves that he’s making.’” The job is not going to be to lose 3-1 and face 45 shots and make a ton of saves. The job is going to be to try to win 3-1, maybe face 25 shots Biron acknowledged that he sees more of Hellebuyck in action because and make the saves that you have to make. the Jets are in Canada and his other work with TSN often has him focusing on the teams north of the border. But he was watched both “That is a big question mark when I look at Gibson and this Team USA. extensively and sees more similarities between the two than differences. How does he fit? And with what I’ve seen out of him in Anaheim, it is a bit of a puzzle trying to put it together. I don’t think anybody really knows “Hellebuyck is a heck of a goaltender,” Biron said. “But my criticism of what John Gibson behind a very solid team is going to look like.” Hellebuyck is a little bit of the same thing. I feel that he’s stiff. I look at the way goaltending’s being played now. The hip flexibility, the butterfly, even Fit for the Olympics straight-up … the flexibility in being able to do the splits and really spread There have been other battles for the American net when it comes to the out. I feel like Hellebuyck is definitely behind in that. But he makes it up, Olympics. In 2010, Ryan Miller was in the midst of a stellar season with the way that he plays and the way that he positions himself and the size the Sabres that would end with a Vezina Trophy. But the U.S. had that he (has) in net. options. Tim Thomas had won the 2009 Vezina Trophy and had led the “We are a long way from the Jonathan Quick and Ryan Miller, who were Boston Bruins to the second round of the that very fluid. Very athletic. Very agile. And we’ve gone to what is going to be spring. Jonathan Quick was on the way to a 39-win breakout season with now in a lot of people’s opinion, and my opinion, the two front-runners, the Los Angeles Kings. (who) are very stiff and very boxy-type goaltenders. It’s interesting that “We went through the summer camp, and (USA Hockey) kind of told us those two, kind of, come full circle in my criticism because that’s really that we had until about the Super Bowl to figure out who was going to be how they both play.” starting in the net,” Miller said. “They told us they wanted to make sure Kevin Weekes, another goalie-turned-analyst, has studied the two over they gave the guys plenty of time to prepare. the years and speaks often with coaches and associates who know both “I remember I got that call at our Super Bowl party. Just getting the heads well. And in Gibson and Hellebuyck, he sees goalies who have managed up that I was going to get the nod.” to prop up flawed teams. It is something Weekes highly values: the ability to still deliver elite netminding without a loaded roster playing in front of Miller might have become immortal in the annals of American hockey, his them. name synonymous with Craig and Eruzione, had Sidney Crosby not gotten the golden goal through him in those Olympics. But the Michigan “To me, they’re both top-flight goalies,” he said. native was a still star, lifting the U.S. with a performance that earned him But there will be a different dynamic in play than working with the Jets or MVP honors. It meant something to him to achieve so much for his the Ducks. Gibson or Hellebuyck will theoretically be playing behind the country. best American hockey has to offer. And Weekes recognizes that “I did feel a big responsibility,” Miller said. “I started getting photo shoots difference. for magazine covers and interviews. Big national publications. … It was “It can change, of course, just because around you, you have different definitely a bit of a whirlwind situation.” pieces,” said Weekes, who played in 348 NHL games. “And you also As for what competition to be No. 1 brought, Miller said he viewed have different expectations because of those pieces and the magnitude Thomas and Quick as a reassuring safety net, not as threats. of what you’re playing in. I think in the case of Gibson, he has a track record going back to his days in Kitchener. … If you look at his pedigree “If I couldn’t carry the mail, I felt like there’s guys that can,” he said. “That … he’s a guy that, every time: The bigger the game, the better he was kind of our feeling as a group. We’re going to get the job done, and played.” we’re going to be proud and happy for whoever’s doing it. I was happy to get the nod, and I was glad I could roll with it. Even after being recognized in 2014 as the top goalie in college hockey, Hellebuyck didn’t come into the NHL with the pedigree that Gibson “We were all set there. But that described every position on that team. brought. Recent years, however, have seen the Commerce, Mich., native That’s why I think it was a success. … I thought we had a good group. eclipse him. Some of it results from the divergent fortunes of the Ducks We played our role pretty well. Brian Burke got the organization kind of in and Jets. But Hellebuyck, who like Gibson is now 27, has played a big the mode of we expect you guys to win, but he was telling everybody role in that, rising to the pinnacle of his profession last season when he else we were underdogs. Kind of took just a bit of pressure off going into won the Vezina. Canada, and I thought we performed with a hunger.”

VEZINA TROPHY WINNER, CONNOR HELLEBUYCK! Do we have evidence of that same hunger or national-team spirit from Gibson or Hellebuck? Is one of them the next Ryan Miller or Jim Craig? SOUNDS GOOD, DOESN’T IT? If history is any indication, Gibson has the pedigree. While it’s true that CONGRATS TO CONNOR HELLEBUYCK ON WINNING THE VEZINA Gibson was — somehow — cut from his high school hockey team, he TROPHY AT THE 2020 #NHLAWARDS! has been Team USA’s goaltender of the future since he was 16 years PIC.TWITTER.COM/FVJ5XOYE4E old. In fact, looking at the history, all the U.S. needs to do to medal is put — WINNIPEG JETS (@NHLJETS) SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 him in net.

It is something Gibson doesn’t have. And Hellebuyck did it while playing Gibson’s track record in international tournaments is spectacular: under a white-hot Winnipeg spotlight, which also matters to Weekes. • 2010 World Under-17 Championship: gold medal, best goals-against “A lot of people in the population there are hyper-consumed with hockey, average (1.33), best save percentage (.957) specifically NHL hockey,” Weekes said. “You have a lot of unofficial, very • 2011 World Under-18 Championship: gold medal, best goaltender unofficial, experts to put it mildly. … So that makes it tough, in terms of award • 2013 World Under-20 Championship: gold medal, best goals-against average (1.36), best save percentage (.955), best goaltender award, MVP award

• 2013 Men’s World Championship: bronze medal, 1.56 goals-against average, .951 save percentage (at just 19 years old)

You’d call Gibson’s record sterling if it wasn’t so made of gold.

Gibson backed up Jack Campbell in the lone disappointment of Team USA’s golden run — its seventh-place finish at the 2012 world juniors — but he has won every single medal game of his international career.

“In any of those games for USA Hockey in international competitions to date, he always rises to the occasion,” Weekes said. “From U17 and U18 to world juniors and even up to the world championships.

“Does it change? Of course. Does everything get ratcheted up? Of course. Expectations? The weight of the expectations? The magnitude of the competition and being an international tournament? Of course. All of those things change. No question. But I will say: From Gibson’s point of view, he has a long track record of excelling in that since he was 17 years old. That’s really impressive from that standpoint.”

Going back the same span in Connor Hellebuyck’s portfolio, to 2010, you would have had to track him down in Michigan, where he was playing for the Walled Lake Northern High School Knights. Such is the nature of Hellebuyck’s ascent. He was so far off the goaltending map for so long that his first Team USA appearance was in 2014, when Gibson was already a three-time gold medalist.

That’s not to say Hellebuyck hadn’t excelled.

In 2011, the then-unknown Michigan product turned a training camp invite with the Odessa Jackalopes into NAHL rookie of the year and goaltender of the year honors. He parlayed that performance into a spot on UMass-Lowell’s 2012-13 NCAA Hockey East championship team and Hockey East goaltender of the year honors that same season.

By 2013-14, Hellebuyck was the NCAA’s top goaltender, receiving the Mike Richter award. (Richter himself is no stranger to Team USA hockey heroics, earning 1996 World Cup of Hockey MVP honors after a spectacular, gold-medal-winning performance against Team Canada.)

But Hellebuyck’s international resume is limited to the 2015 Men’s World Championship, where he won bronze, just as Gibson had in 2013.

That said, he was spectacular in that tournament, posting the top goals- against average (1.37) and save percentage (.948).

And by virtue of winning the bronze medal game, Hellebuyck can claim an undefeated record with an international medal on the line — just like Gibson.

Still, it’s clear that Gibson has been Team USA’s goaltender of choice for a decade. He’s delivered on every opportunity he’s been given.

And the one time Gibson and Hellebuyck played on the same team — North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey — it was Gibson and not Hellebuyck who took over starting duties following an injury to Matt Murray.

Unsurprisingly, Gibson won his one start, a memorable 4-3 overtime win against Team Europe.

So who’s it going to be?

Does Hellebuyck’s Vezina-winning ascension from 2017-18 (runner up) to 2020 (his first win) factor into Team USA’s decision-making?

It should, because he’s the best goaltender in the world right now.

But Gibson has been the best goaltender against the world too many times to be overlooked, has had a longer run of success and seems to be Team USA’s golden ticket.

It’s going to come down to the wire.

They’re both goalies any Olympic team would love as starters. The next 12 months could make or break each one’s shot at the starter’s crease. Heck, so could the opening round of the Olympics themselves. It’s that close.

Who do you think should start for Team USA? Let us know in the comments.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204218 Websites It was good I actually had the mouthguard in, if I had a ‘fishhook’ (mouthguard dangling) like I usually do, it could have been a lot worse.

SN: I get the feeling you were born to play in tight, nasty games like that. Sportsnet.ca / Q&A: Brady Tkachuk on surging young Senators, his drive BT: Yeah, I think this whole division, with Montreal and Toronto, they’ve to excel been rivals with our team and our organization for a bunch of years now. And this year, playing them eight or nine times, those are games you look forward to. Wayne Scanlan And now with the Canadian division, it’s like a chance to see who is the February 26, 2021, 10:06 PM best team in Canada, so there is a lot of pride going into it. I think it’s been great for the fans, great for the league. You can’t have fans in the

rinks, but for them to watch and rally around their team, it’s been fun. I Brady Tkachuk has been on a tear. feel like each fan base has been really involved and really active.

If these were the Middle Ages, Tkachuk’s efforts over the past fortnight SN: It seemed as though you and your teammates got cheated a bit by would have been called the Holy Crusades. not having fans in the CTC for a game like that

In his past seven games, the 21-year-old leader of the Ottawa Senators BT: We definitely miss having our fans around at the Canadian Tire has scored five goals and seven points, with two fights, one power play Centre. It definitely would have been loud. That’s what’s going to make it goal and one game-winning goal. His effort against the Montreal so special the first time fans can be there. Hopefully soon. It’s going to be Canadiens on Tuesday was a singular work of art and mayhem. something everyone remembers.

Tkachuk scored twice, including the goal to force overtime, pounded Ben SN: Do you carry extra motivation against the Canadiens because they Chiarot mercilessly to avenge Chiarot’s previous stick work on Tkachuk passed on you to draft Jesperi Kotkaniemi third overall in 2018? housemate Tim Stützle, delivered seven hits, four shots and chipped in BT: I wouldn’t say there is any extra motivation. This year, it’s such a with three broken teeth -- compliments of a four-minute high sticking short year, and each game you want to empty the tank and just leave it penalty to Shea Weber that led to an Ottawa power play goal in the all out there. eventual 5-4 shootout victory. There’s so much skill in this division. You want to make an impact. For head coach D.J. Smith, it was a blue-collar-beautiful, grinding effort, led by the King of the Crusade. I wouldn’t say there’s any special motivation against any one team. It’s just fun to get up and get right back at it with some rivalry teams. “Certainly Brady Tkachuk tonight dragged us into that battle,” Smith said. “I don’t know if he’s had a better game since I’ve been here.” SN: All of Canada will be keeping an eye on this five-game set between the Tkachuk brothers and the Senators-Flames. How much do you speak Remaining Time -0:30 with Matthew during the hockey season? And will you be able to visit him Smith praises Tkachuk's big-time performance against Canadiens away from the rink?

Tkachuk backed that up with a workmanlike effort Thursday against BT: We talk a ton. Usually every day. brother Matthew and the Calgary Flames, a 6-1 Ottawa laugher. No need With rules and protocols, we will follow those to a T. Hopefully we will be for a hero’s cape this night, Tkachuk and his mates had this one in hand able to see one another. We will have to see what the protocols are, but from the start to reel off the Senators’ first three-game winning streak of we will see each other on the ice. the year. Though he was held off the scoresheet, Tkachuk was ever- present on his patrols, with six shots and nine hits in 19:52 of ice time. Spending 10 months together during the pandemic, and not being together for the past couple of months, I definitely miss him. And miss Tkachuk leads the NHL in hits with 99 and shots with 95. He leads the seeing the family. Senators in goals (eight), points (15) and heart (is there an analytic measurement for this?) It will be so exciting to see him.

Less than 24 hours after Ottawa’s battle royale against the archrival in SN:(From a Thursday Zoom call) Were you able to get in on the pickup bleu, blanc et rouge -- completing a two-game sweep of the Habs -- games with Matthew and his older friends growing up? Tkachuk spoke to Sportsnet.ca in a one-on-one interview. To his everlasting credit, No. 7 accepted a reporter’s call immediately after BT: Yeah, whenever he had buddies over we played roller hockey in the getting major dental repairs. (The question we didn’t ask -- which is driveway. It never really got cold in St. Louis so we could do it all year worse, root canal or reporter probing?). Once again, Tkachuk answers round. the bell. I was always the young small kid trying to keep up with them and looking Note, this interview has been edited and condensed for length and back I think it helped me a lot. Matthew always brought me along and clarity. All of the questions stem from a single interview, except for one made me feel included. As much as he gave it to me, I think he wanted Zoom Q/A that is noted. me around just to beat up on me. It was good, it was fun and some great memories we both have. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. SN: After a tough start to the season, how much fun has it been winning sportsnet.ca: First of all, how is your mouth doing? games recently, with the younger players producing in key situations? I’m thinking of you and Josh Norris, Tim Stützle, Drake Batherson, Colin Brady Tkachuk: It’s had better days, but it’s all good. It’s the price you White and Erik Brannstrom. pay to play. BT: We’re a young team that has faced a lot of adversity this year and SN: I have to ask, what was your mom’s reaction? we’ve shown a lot of maturity as a group. And we’re learning from those BT: I haven’t spoken to mom yet, the game ended late and I was at the mistakes we made. Now, we’re able to win those tight games we were dentist this morning. I will be excited to see her reaction when I losing earlier. We’ve become such a better team. FaceTime her. These guys are going to be studs in this league, but what makes it even SN: I’m sure you’re aware, your dad, Keith, was on a podcast recently better, they are just incredible guys and care about winning. And each and predicted you or your brother, Matthew, were going to lose some other. teeth if you didn’t start wearing your mouth guards properly? As a group, we’re happy with how we are right now, but we know each BT: We had a good laugh about it. ‘Ah, karma.’ But I actually had the individual can be that much better and keep turning it around. mouthguard in my mouth and they were able to save the teeth, and get Everybody in the fanbase and in the city should be excited because some of the chipped teeth fixed. Some of the teeth got stuck in my there's a ton of great individuals that are coming up to be part of this mouthguard so I was able to save the other half of the teeth. team. SN: Fans want to believe the core of young talent can stay together. Do SN: What sort of things do you work on, individual skills, etc.? you guys talk about that, the potential for this group to grow into a long- term contender? BT: Just little things like skating with the puck a little bit more. A couple of quick strides to get my feet moving and then make the play. I try to work BT: I think we have that belief with one another. Right now we’re playing on that. Instead of making the play standing still. You can always work on well, we all have the same dreams and aspirations, we want to win the stickhandling, on improving your shot. Things around the net. Tipping. Stanley Cup and we believe we can, down the road. Screens. Every day try to focus on something different. You can’t do it without teammates and coaches to guide you through it and help you out. There’s a lot of great pieces in that locker room that can win a Cup. I I’m appreciative to them for helping me out. wouldn’t say that’s a big conversation we always have but I think deep down we always have that belief and confidence we feel we’re going to SN: Have you seen a better young player at skating with the puck than win the Stanley Cup one day. And that’s what we always dream about as Stützle? kids. BT: Yeah, he is an unbelievable skater. 31 Thoughts: The Podcast I joke around with the household, both of them are awesome skaters. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey They might have to show me some of the things they do. They’re both -- world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what Timmy and Josh -- very impressive skaters. they think about it. SN: Is there any one thing are you looking forward to most when the SN: How cool was it that your entire youth household -- you, Stützle and pandemic is over? Norris -- went 1-2-3 in the shootout lineup vs Montreal? BT: That’s a tough question. Of course, we’re thinking of all the people BT: I was laughing about it on the bench. Josh scored for the household affected by this pandemic. I don’t know if there’s a specific thing -- all of win and I'm the only one who didn’t score. us have to do our part till this is over. Probably just excited to see my family. SN: You nearly did, I think you beat Carey Price with that low shot but it just veered wide. He might have got a piece of it. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2021

BT: Yeah, he made a good save, let’s go with that. We were just happy to get the two points.

It was a gutsy win. We dug in in the third period. Top to bottom, a great win.

SN: Tell me about your roomies, Josh and Tim (‘Jimmy,’ as Brady has named him). Who’s the best cook? Is anyone especially tidy or messy?

BT: Josh is the cook. He’s a great cook, actually. He makes all of our dinners while Jimmy and I just like to hang out and watch TV -- and we’ll help out occasionally, but very rarely. I’ll do the dishes.

With Jimmy, he’s probably the messiest one. He’s messy. We clean up after him and just remind him. But it’s all good. We have a good dynamic here, it’s been a lot of fun. We have our roles a little bit around the house. It’s good. We just sit on the couch and watch hockey. Have fun, laugh. Eat dinner and that’s it. We have a good time here.

SN: Does Norris have a go-to dish?

BT: We have steak a lot, so he can whip up a nice steak. We’re pretty plain with our meals. Not making much out of scratch. But he’s our best chef.

SN: Any clashes over musical taste or TV choices?

BT: Josh and I have a similar playlist. And Tim sits in the backseat just hanging out.

We all watch the same thing. Hockey, if there’s a game on. We play a bit of Xbox.

Our musical taste is all over the map. Some country. Hip hop. Rock. Pop. No specific genre.

Remaining Time -2:09

Flames' Matthew Tkachuk says Senators style of play fueled by Brady

SN: Norris told me the other night, he had to wake Tim up from a long winter’s nap around 4:15 p.m. to get him to the Montreal game on time.

BT: Jimmy loooooves his sleep. He’s just a happy-go-lucky dude. Loving life.

And loves his sleep.

SN: You mentioned on a Zoom call recently that you don’t really pay attention to your prodigious hit totals or shots on goal. Do you set any personal goals for yourself?

BT: Not really. To be honest, I just want to be the best player I can be. I think everybody wants to be that. Every single day, put in the work. Keep finding ways to elevate your game and I think that is my motivation -- be better than I was yesterday. If everybody has the same mindset, we get better as a group and I think you can see that is happening. We’ve become much better than we were on day one. 1204219 Websites would be better for everyone if the Canucks win more than four of their next 15 games.

There is frequently opponent-envy in Vancouver, but that envy now Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' underwhelming season hitting differently given includes: How come the Montreal Canadiens get to fire their coach and high expectations we don’t?

The hostility bordering on rage on social media, which isn’t exactly a healing circle at the best of times and was not around much in 2001, is Iain MacIntyre not just because the Canucks are losing again and almost certainly will return to the draft lottery instead of the playoffs. February 26, 2021, 6:52 PM After five decades without a Stanley Cup, the fan base is accustomed to

disappointment. But this is something much more than disappointment. VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks were an exciting team on the It’s one thing to wait while a poor team gets incrementally better -- as rise. long as those overmatched players play their butts off each night. Driven by a wave of rising young stars, the Canucks had finally broken But it’s another to have waited, finally get rewarded, teased that great through the previous season, making the Stanley Cup playoffs for the things are coming, and then get walloped in the face with a frying pan. first time in five years. Great things were expected. Patience and the Especially after a tumultuous off-season that saw key veterans leave in enduring hopefulness of fans was at last rewarded with a team that could free agency partly because management overspent years before on role dazzle. And then the Canucks crashed. players whose impact now is negligible. Sound familiar? The reaction is almost visceral. It feels to many like a betrayal. We’re talking about a Canucks team from 20 years ago, but the plot Losing is always worse when it is least expected. Hell hath no fury in synopsis outlined here is eerily and painfully similar to the maddening sports like a fan base scorned. drama unfolding in empty Rogers Arena this season. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2021 So much expected, so little delivered.

This is not the first time the Canucks have done this.

The Edmonton Oilers have been doing it to their fans more or less annually since Connor McDavid, the last of the team’s four first-overall draft picks, arrived in 2015. But under coach Dave Tippett and general manager Ken Holland, the Oilers finally appear to have it figured out.

They may be counting too heavily on 38-year-old goalie Mike Smith playing like 28-year-old Dominik Hasek, but Edmonton was awfully impressive sweeping two games in Vancouver this week by scores of 4-3 and 3-0. The Canucks’ 0-3-1 homestand left them at 8-14-2, with the weekend to seek counselling before back-to-back games in Winnipeg starting on Monday.

There are a couple of key differences between the 2001-02 Vancouver team and the current Canucks, who after bursting back into the Stanley Cup tournament last summer following four straight years without playoffs, are one of the National Hockey League’s biggest disappointments in 2021.

Twenty years ago, the struggling “young” players in Vancouver had all been in the league a handful of seasons. Markus Naslund was 28 years old, and Brendan Morrison 26. and Mattias Ohlund were 25. Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who were still a few years from developing into impact players, were 21.

Compare that to these Canucks, who are dangerously reliant on Bo Horvat, 25, Brock Boeser, 23, Elias Pettersson, 22, and Quinn Hughes, 21. Rookie winger Nils Hoglander is a top-six fixture at age 20. J.T. Miller, 27, is the only core player with more experience than Horvat.

But the paramount difference is this: the 2001-02 season was 82 games, so when the Canucks bottomed out at Christmas at 14-21-4 and general manager Brian Burke went into the dressing room to blast players and assure them he wasn’t firing coach Marc Crawford, the team still had time to fix itself and make the playoffs. They saved their season.

There probably isn’t time to do that in the 56-game season of 2021.

For what it’s worth, the 20-years-ago Canucks were 10-12-2 after Game 24, but were about to win only four of their next 15 games.

The current Canucks will hit the halfway point of their pandemic- shortened season next Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Pandemic or not, there is unvarnished anger among many fans. The only way this could be better for Canuck owners is if they could sell tickets to recoup a few of the millions they’re going to lose this season. But the only way this could be worse for the team is if there were fans in the building booing them.

It’s unclear what statute of limitations apply to managing owner Francesco Aquilini’s remarkably direct, Feb. 13 Twitter declaration supporting coach Travis Green and general manager , but it 1204220 Websites neutral zone. You’ve got to get the puck behind their defence and build a shift from there. Once we build that mindset and get it in there, we’ll be fine.”

Sportsnet.ca / Flames' lack of scoring one of many struggles impacting Their inability to generate up front has led to endless first period deficits, fragile roster which ultimately leads to the team giving up on nights like Thursday’s 6-1 shellacking in Ottawa where the players essentially admitted afterwards they had run out of gas and hope after going down 4-1.

Eric Francis In past years the Flames were armed with the offence and belief they could come back. February 26, 2021, 5:37 PM Unsurprisingly, the fragility of this group was a big topic after Friday’s

practice. Finally, the Calgary Flames have found some consistency. “I think we have a lot of highs and lows instead of staying even keel Not in a good way, however. throughout the game,” Chris Tanev said.

In each of their last six losses the Flames have scored just one goal. No “When we’re going good we feel like we’re on top of the world, and then more, no less. the other team scores and we feel the world is ending. It’s something we definitely need to work on. It’s a mental thing obviously. We’ve got to talk It’s a steadiness nobody is talking about, as the focus has been on to each other and be positive.” defensive lapses, giveaways, bad starts, work ethic issues and, um, what were we talking about again? And start scoring some goals.

Oh yeah, goals. NOTES: The Flames gave David Rittich the day off on Friday after playing four times in the last six nights. He’ll undoubtedly get his fourth- Buried in a mountain of criticism and finger pointing in Calgary is a straight start on Saturday (11 a.m. MT) as Jacob Markstrom isn’t eligible scoring issue for a team that never envisioned struggling this way. to come off injured reserve until Sunday. Markstrom skated on his own on Friday as he fights to bounce back from an upper body injury. It’s particularly troubling when you’re housed in the NHL’s highest- scoring division. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2021 Canada’s Group of Seven is averaging 6.4 goals a game, a rate the NHL hasn’t seen league-wide since 1993-94.

One goal a game isn’t going to cut it.

The top four teams in the North Division all sit top-seven in the NHL’s scoring ranks, while Calgary sits 17 places lower than Montreal, in 24th at 2.50 goals a game.

The Oilers and Leafs have scored over a goal more per game this year than a Flames club that has struggled recently against the likes of Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa, none of which are known as stellar defensive squads.

The four most significant goal scorers on the Flames roster all need to be better, as the man leading the way of late is Andrew Mangiapane, who has scored the third-most goals in the NHL in the month of February.

It speaks to the team’s depth issues up front – something that was supposed to be this team’s strength.

The third and fourth lines have struggled to find chemistry, and the net.

This is not a four-line hockey club, as the coach regularly trumpets.

This is a three-line team with a handful of extras bouncing in and out of the lineup.

Free agent signings Josh Leivo and Dominik Simon have yet to score a goal or show any signs of fitting in as top-nine regulars.

It puts additional pressure on the top guns like Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm to produce as they did early on.

Of late, everyone has been silent.

The Flames have eight goals in their last six outings, three of which were power play markers.

The constant shuffling of lines hasn’t helped, but that’s a chicken and egg debate.

The coach didn’t discount the possibility of starting Saturday’s game with last year’s familiar top six lineup, putting Lindholm back alongside Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, while Backlund centres Matthew Tkachuk and Mangiapane.

That's how they finished on Thursday.

“In my opinion we’re not having the puck enough,” said captain Mark Giordano, whose club has been outscored significantly by every Canadian team in 5-on-5 this year.

“We’re getting a chance up the rush and then it’s out right away. For the last little bit, we’ve defended quite a bit. There’s really not much left in the 1204221 Websites Then the journey had to be embarked on with the second wave of a pandemic in full rage, presenting an added layer of trepidation.

Packing up and moving to a new city is stressful enough, but traveling Sportsnet.ca / Inside Tyler and Cat Toffoli's move to locked-down across the continent through closed borders ratchets it up a notch. Montreal “It was just a different, eerie feeling seeing the airport not busy. It was Eric Engels sit down with Tyler Toffoli and his wife Cat to discuss how definitely stressful,” said Toffoli. “And then just coming to a new city, they came to the decision to choose Montreal this offseason. being set up in an apartment where we know nothing… I think it was snowing and like slush on the ground, and I was driving—we had a rental, a Chevy Malibu rental, two-wheel drive—and I was like, ‘I don’t remember how to do this.’ It was definitely stressful.” Eric Engels On Dec. 23, stress turned into concern for Toffoli, with a helplessness February 26, 2021, 2:32 PM akin to looking on from the penalty box as your team clings to a one-goal lead late in an important game washing over him.

MONTREAL — Cat Belanger-Toffoli figures her Monterey-born-and-bred “When I was back in L.A., I was skating and testing (for COVID) three personality is at least partially responsible for her downplaying the times a week, so I was negative the whole time,” he said. “Came to anxiety she’s been feeling since arriving in Montreal, 4,600 kilometres Montreal (on the 22nd), tested negative, and then tested again (on the away from the familiar and comforting warmth of California, completely 23rd) and it ended up being positive.” distanced from family, friends and every other person she knows outside You can imagine what ran through Toffoli’s head: First, his health of her husband, Tyler, whose job with the Canadiens keeps him away for potentially being compromised and the possibility he and Cat hours on end and sometimes even for weeks. unknowingly spread the virus to other people on their way to Montreal, She’s mostly alone, confined to a one-bedroom apartment in the heart of and then the hockey implications of starting training camp on time and the red zone of a foreign city that’s been locked down since she emerged getting off to a good start to immediately begin proving he was worth the from her mandatory two-week quarantine in January. She yearns for the contract. Golden State’s sunshine as she sets off for vitamin D-starved walks, “We sat in a puddle of anxiety together,” said Belanger-Toffoli. “Just who, sloshing through dreary winter conditions to Mount Royal, the Atwater what, where, when, why? And it was definitely a little jarring not knowing Market, downtown and Old Montreal before night falls, curfew begins and anybody or anything, just kind of waiting around (to be tested again).” her Groundhog Day existence creeps into her last waking thoughts. When he tested negative again a day later it brought instant relief for But Belanger-Toffoli says the challenge of this life-altering move mid- both of them. “A Christmas present,” as Tyler and Cat referred to it in pandemic hasn’t been all-consuming, that she’s been making the best of unison during our conversation, with concurrent negatives over the next her situation and doing so without complaint. several days further confirming it had been a false-positive on the 23rd. “I have a very California-unfazed attitude towards things,” she told Tyler emerged unscathed, passing all requirements to start training camp Sportsnet last weekend. “And I’m also so conscious of what terrible on time. Then he shot out to the best start of his nine-year NHL career, things everybody has been going through this past year that I don’t even scoring 12 goals in his first 18 games. think of what’s going on with us. Everytime I’m like, ‘Ugh, this is so difficult,’ I immediately think it’s not bad at all compared to the world right It picked up with a hat trick in Vancouver -- the Canadiens’ fourth game now. It’s not fun by any means, but it’s not bad.” of the season -- and Belanger-Toffoli missed it because she couldn’t have people over to install cable while she and Tyler were quarantining in The Toffolis’ good fortune and favourable circumstances don’t diminish December and wasn’t sure how to go about the process without breaking how difficult the adjustment has been to a new life in a new city, team rules afterwards. particularly for Cat. She has since only seen highlights of the other goals Tyler has scored A little human interaction beyond FaceTime and Zoom would offer her despite safely securing a way to watch the games weeks ago. massive relief, if it were possible. Belanger-Toffoli’s a socialite. She's a former D1 softball player at George Washington University who revelled “I realized he was doing so well that I probably shouldn’t watch,” in the camaraderie of team sport from adolescence through early Belanger-Toffoli said. “I’ve just chosen to watch Below Deck and Real adulthood before transferring to USC where she joined the Delta Gamma Housewives when the Canadiens are playing.” sorority. She's a 10-year employee of the Los Angeles Dodgers who, in her people-person functions of marketing and event coordination, built In this selfless endeavour, Belanger-Toffoli might not even realize to what lasting relationships with everyone from Claire in sales to legendary extent she has connected herself to countless Montreal fans who believe broadcaster Vin Scully, actor Eric Stonestreet and comedian George what socks they wear or which sandwich they eat for lunch has an effect Lopez, who spoke at her and Tyler’s 2018 wedding in Hawaii. on the outcome of games.

But the strict rules she’s rigidly abided by in Montreal means she’s spent “I’m a very superstitious person coming from baseball,” she said, “so the past two months limited solely to fragmented time with her husband when Ty scores and I’m not watching, I know I’ll be not watching for a and some one-sided conversations with Dodger, the couple’s four-pound while.” Toy Yorkie. It’s a rule Belanger-Toffoli will break if and when families are permitted to This is supposed to be home for at least four years, with Tyler agreeing be at the Bell Centre at some point this season. to a $17-million pact with the Canadiens back in October. But, as he put The thought of that experience has sustained her in recent weeks. So it when we caught up with the couple last Friday, “I can’t really say it’s have the walks around town, enjoying some of the city’s awe-inspiring like home yet because nothing’s open and we haven’t been able to lookouts and peering through windows of stores she hopes to shop in experience Montreal the way that I know it will be at some point.” when restrictions are lifted. Zoom calls with wives and girlfriends of other At least Tyler’s had the distraction of hockey and all that comes with it. Canadiens players have allowed her to at least become acquainted with some of the others living a similar experience. Not that the 28-year-old didn’t experience his own anxieties in leveraging a 562-game, Stanley Cup-winning career with the Los Angeles Kings— But Belanger-Toffoli is pining for the opportunity to meet everyone in and 17 great games with Vancouver Canucks last year—to secure a person, and she and Tyler are both desperate for the real Canadiens long-term deal in a hockey market he accurately suggests is elevated experience—with close to 22,000 people filling the Bell Centre and pressure-wise from the ones he came from. Even if the Scarborough, providing the unique atmosphere that was sold to them as they mulled Ont., native knew what he might be jumping into and embracing with this over the decision to sign with the team and uproot their lives. Canadiens-obsessed metropolis, the opportunity still had to be properly *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. presented by Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin, well- positioned by agent Pat Brisson, and then carefully weighed and Life in Montreal will also take on new feeling for the Toffolis once they processed by Tyler and Cat. move out of the condo the Canadiens helped set them up in. First they’ll ride out the rest of this season in that space, then they’ll summer in Los Angeles before returning prior to next season to build a real home life in their own place, with their own furniture and a brand new cable subscription.

For now, boredom, restlessness -- and some anxiety -- will reign for Belanger-Toffoli.

“Moving from our home in California to an apartment in a closed-down, foreign city has definitely been a life change,” she said. “From not being able to workout properly (something I love to do daily) to trying to figure out how to order things and stream television—it’s been a bit wild. Put on top of that there’s nothing I’m allowed to do outside of this apartment other than walk around and look at things, and being away from work, and our friends and normal life…

“Even so, saying it’s difficult doesn’t feel right.”

Clearly, her laid-back Californian outlook hasn’t frozen over.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204222 Websites “We’re going to have to be ready. We looked at some stuff today,” added Muzzin. “They’re a team that’s firing right now. They’ve got good goaltending, their defence is doing well and the stars are playing hard.”

Sportsnet.ca / Red-hot Oilers type of challenge Maple Leafs have been He’ll return for Saturday’s game and not a moment too soon. The Leafs waiting for have somewhat managed to contain McDavid in the 5-on-5 minutes against their top shutdown pair of Muzzin and Justin Holl this season, and that duo has had success against Leon Draisaitl as well.

Chris Johnston Muzzin missed a week after breaking a bone below his right eye last Saturday night when Tyler Toffoli’s stick hit him on the follow through of a February 26, 2021, 7:32 PM shot and described it as a harrowing experience.

“Yeah, a little bit scary, I’m not going to lie,” said Muzzin. “When you get The trip west to Edmonton required a quick layover in the trainer’s room. hit in the face, you kind of black out a little bit and then you see the blood coming. So I was just praying that the eye was OK.” That’s where Auston Matthews, Joe Thornton, Jake Muzzin, Frederik Andersen and other key members of the Toronto Maple Leafs had to Thornton also got nicked-up during that visit to Montreal and missed the spend time before heading out on a five-games-in-eight-days roadie subsequent two games. He hopes to return against Edmonton. And Jack featuring a tasty mini-series against the Oilers. Campbell should be ready to start in goal for the first time since injuring his leg on Jan. 24. On the surface it didn’t look like an ideal way to prepare for the scorching-hot team challenging their North Division supremacy, but But even some of the guys who’ve been dressing are doing so at less there’s an argument to be made that the opposite is in fact true. than 100 per cent -- Zach Hyman, notably, didn’t participate in special team’s drills during Friday’s practice after taking a couple of recent shots Fundamentally, this is the kind of opportunity the Leafs have been off the skate boot -- because we’ve simply reached that point in the waiting for. The grind is real right now, both with the injuries and the fact schedule. many of them probably won’t even step outside from the moment they check into the JW Marriott until they’re boarding a bus to the airport late The difference between good and great can be established by teams Wednesday night after playing the Oilers for a third straight time. when they’re tired, banged-up and operating at reduced physical capacity. Everyone has to deal with those stretches at some point during Their reward? the season.

A game in Vancouver the very next night. Toronto is in one at a moment when the Oilers have eaten into their division lead and they’ve got three straight head-to-head meetings on “It’s going to be a challenge,” said Muzzin. “This whole season has been deck. different.” “We feel like we’ve been going pretty well as a team here and it’s still real It’s the kind of stretch a dominant regular season team finds a way to close [in the standings],” said Keefe. “You can’t take any games or any navigate with only limited damage. And the Leafs, who’ve roared out of days off.” the gates with a 15-4-2 start, are setting the internal bar at dominance. If they can take care of their own business, the path ahead should get They’ve spoken with respect in the past about the way a former Atlantic easier. Division foe like the Boston Bruins always seemed to be winning or challenging for the Presidents’ Trophy no matter what kind of absences Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2021 they incurred along the way.

That has not historically been a hallmark of their own group, but there are encouraging signs of growth so far this season. Toronto is fresh off a 1-1 split with the Calgary Flames in games where they had to start No. 3 goaltender Michael Hutchinson while Thornton, Muzzin, Wayne Simmonds and other trusted veterans watched injured from the stands.

Matthews has played most of this season with a nagging wrist issue and wasn’t able to take faceoffs for the final 24 minutes of Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime win over the Flames. Still, he managed to keep his tremendously productive run going by picking up assists on both of William Nylander’s goals.

“While he had to adapt his game and I had to adapt how we used him a little bit, he still competed his ass off right till the very end,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said Friday of Matthews. “In fact, (he) makes a great play to give Willy the space to make the play he made on the overtime- winning goal.

“That’s a good sign for both: The fact that we feel like the injury isn’t something that’s going to slow him down too much here, but also just the fact that he just competes and finds ways to adapt and has done the things that he’s able to.”

The guess here is we’ll see Matthews go head-to-head with Connor McDavid on Saturday even though he didn’t take part in Friday’s practice. A final determination on his availability for the game won’t be made until the hours before puck drop, but he’s found a way to score a league-best 18 goals while managing the situation so far.

There will also be an “all hands on deck” approach with the way the Oilers have been rolling. They’ve picked up 11 wins in 13 games starting with the last meeting between the teams -- a 4-3 overtime victory that ended with McDavid’s goal at Rogers Place on Jan. 30 -- and are now within a whisper of the Leafs, just four points behind in the standings.

“They’re playing great team hockey right now,” said Thornton. 1204223 Websites It’s about Auston Matthews versus McDavid. Mitch Marner against Draisaitl. Morgan Rielly and Darnell Nurse …

It’s about looking at these two arsenals and expecting 5-4 hockey. Then, Sportsnet.ca / Oilers not making a big deal of matchup with first-place as it unfolded in Toronto the first time they met, getting a 2-1 game with Maple Leafs an empty netter at the end.

If these two teams are truly contenders, we are afraid the 5-4 games will grow fewer and further between. February 26, 2021, 6:41 PM “We can’t kill seven power plays a night against Toronto,” said Gulutzan, Staff Writer “because then they get those top players on the ice so much. And they think the same thing. So now the penalties become something that’s in

the back of every player’s mind. EDMONTON — It’s not just a three-game series that could put the “Nobody wants to be embarrassed. You’ve got these young guys who Edmonton Oilers into first place in the North Division. are elite players in our league now, and they’re going to play hard against It’s a three-game series that could put the Edmonton Oilers into first other. So they’re going to play tight. In these three games, maybe one place in the North Division — against the Toronto Maple Leafs. will get away. But you can see it in these guys. They’re dug in to play against each other. It’s a little bit (like) playoff hockey, and that’s why you No, wait. get the low scoring.”

Against the TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS! Barrie knows what the plan is. But he also knows everyone has a plan — and then the game starts. As Hockey Night in Canada rolls in and the eyes of Leafs Nation gaze temporarily toward the Western colonies, the Oilers themselves must be “We’re certainly not looking to give up five,” he said. “But if they do all a-tither, right? happen to get a few, we know that we can score enough to win. Which is a nice feeling.” “I don’t get that feeling, no,” said defenceman Tyson Barrie, who wore the blue Maple Leaf a season ago. There are a lot of nice feelings in Edmonton these days. No matter who is coming to town. “No, not really. Honestly,” assistant coach Glen Gulutzan said. “It’s great that the fans see it as a (first place) series against Toronto. As coaches, Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2021 we saw this last series against Vancouver as a chance to get some separation, and we see this next series against Toronto as a series for first place. I don’t think it would matter who was in that spot, we’re only four points behind.”

“First place is the goal — it doesn’t really affect us who it’s against,” added Barrie. “There might be more buzz in the room if we're against, say, Calgary? Where you have the pre-existing rivalry.

“We’re not unaware that Toronto is the centre of the hockey world, and there will be a lot of focus (on these games). In our room, I don’t think it’s too big of a deal.”

In this three-game series, the Leafs get an Edmonton team that is, clearly, mega-focused on its own game — a game which has left them as the NHL’s hottest team. The Oilers have won 11 of 13; they’ve won eight of nine; they’ve won five in a row.

If you haven’t been watching closely, you may still look at the Edmonton Oilers as a two-superstar outfit where the boat rises and falls with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the NHL’s two leading scorers. In reality, they are a much, much better team than that.

In their past nine games they’ve allowed three or more goals only twice, and one or fewer five times. The team's save percentage has climbed to .909 after a 3-6 start, and its special teams are smokin’ hot.

Against Vancouver, the Oilers nursed a 1-0 second intermission lead to the finish line, something an Oilers team has not been able to do for years.

“I don’t think you can win long-term without that (ability), and it shows a lot of growth,” Barrie said. “We certainly didn’t have that at the beginning of the year. We’ve been able to show a lot of character in some of these wins, and show that we can play with the lead. Play a shut-down style of hockey if we have to, which is certainly important come playoff time.”

Of course, if there were fans in the building, forgetting about the stature of their opponent would be much more difficult. Barrie knows, after a season of travelling the NHL circuit and finding Leaf Nation at every stop.

“One of the really cool things about being a Maple Leaf was how much support they had on the road,” he said. “There always seemed to be Maple Leafs fans (at opposing rinks), and when you’d go out for dinner there always seemed to be fans. It’s an incredibly large fan base.”

Some of whom reside in the national media — oops, our outside voice — a trait that always seeps into an Edmonton-Toronto matchup. But this isn’t about the fans or media. It’s about two of the North’s top three teams — don’t sleep on the Winnipeg Jets — duking it out three times in five days. 1204224 Websites GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: Kaapo Kahkonen, Minnesota Wild (2.37) Lankinen and Washington Capitals goalie Vitek Vanecek have played

more games, but Minnesota Wild netminder Kaapo Kahkonen is on a roll Sportsnet.ca / NHL Rookie Notebook: Wild's Kirill Kaprizov leads rookie and quickly gaining ground in goalie wins (he's 7-4-0 in 11 starts -- just scoring race one win back of Lankinen and Vanecek).

Since Minnesota's return from an extended COVID-19 shutdown, Kahkonen and the Wild have been nearly unstoppable. The rookie Emily Sadler netminder has a four-game win streak going and hasn't let in more than two goals per game in that time, which has him atop the goals against February 26, 2021, 5:21 PM average standings among first-year goalies. After starting the season as a backup behind Cam Talbot, he's certainly making a strong case to be the No. 1... Every week throughout the 2020-21 season, we're highlighting a handful of rookie performances and milestones from around the league. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2021

This week, we're checking the leaderboard to see who's atop the stat sheet in several major categories.

GOALS: Pius Suter, Chicago Blackhawks (6)

The rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks remain one of the biggest surprises of the 2020-21 season, their third-place position in the Central Division standings defying pre-season expectations. Much of the club's success in the first half of the year has been due to a strong -- and surprising -- crop of rookies that includes forwards Pius Suter and Philipp Kurashev, defenceman Ian Mitchell, and sudden star goaltender Kevin Lankinen.

Suter, 24, currently leads all rookies in goals with six. His first three came in the same game for his first career NHL hat trick. He's also one of five rookies to have scored an overtime winner -- perhaps ones of the prettiest we've seen yet this season:

Suter is tied for third in goals and fourth in points among his Blackhawks teammates.

POINTS: Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild (15)

The Minnesota Wild have an absolute star in Kirill Kaprizov. While we already knew that prior to the season -- his KHL resume made him an NHL standout before he even took his first strides in North America -- the 23-year-old winger keeps finding new ways to wow us.

The NHL's assists (11) and points (15) leader among rookies also leads all Minnesota teammates in those categories, too. Kaprizov's playmaking has been on full display with passes like this:

But it's his skating and edgework that truly separates him from the rest and puts him in elite territory:

POWER-PLAY POINTS: Josh Norris, Ottawa Senators (5)

The play of forward Josh Norris has been a bright spot in Ottawa. As the Senators get acquainted with the young group of fresh faces in the lineup, Norris has quickly become known as a power play specialist, leading all rookies in points scored with the man advantage (2G, 5 Pts).

Fellow Senators rookie Tim Stützle also has a pair of power-play markers, recently seeing time on the first PP unit.

AVERAGE ICE TIME: Mikey Anderson, Los Angeles Kings (21:24)

The Los Angeles Kings are on a roll, winning six straight games and hoisting themselves out of the West Division's basement. While it's the veterans who have been propelling this latest push, there are also some rookies doing a little heavy lifting.

Defenceman Mikey Anderson has been excellent this season, and while he's not at Drew-Doughty-ice-time levels just yet (who is?) he's playing veteran minutes. His 21:24 average ice time per night is first among all NHL rookies, second among Kings d-men, and third on the Kings behind Doughty and Anze Kopitar.

SAVE PERCENTAGE: Kevin Lankinen, Chicago Blackhawks (.921)

In addition to having the best win-loss record (8-3-3), Chicago Blackhawks netminder Kevin Lankinen also has the best save percentage (.921) of all rookie goalies this year. Of all the surprising rookie performances this season, the 25-year-old Finn has got to be the most unlikely hero as he grabbed hold of Chicago's starting job and is backstopping the club back into contention. His numbers have him currently ranked as the league's seventh-best goalie overall, while ranking first among all netminders league-wide in... points? Yup -- he's got two assists to his name. 1204225 Websites It’s been on full display through his first six AHL games. “We’ll be talking about his hockey sense every time that we talk about

him,” Vincent said during a telephone conversation from Montreal. “Not Sportsnet.ca / Jets prospect Cole Perfetti soaking in on-the-job training in only with the puck - because he has real good vision, and he can read AHL plays before he gets the puck. He’s really good at having awareness of what is going on around him, so when he gets it, he knows what the next play should be, or should look like. But also defensively. Of course, there are quite a few things we need to work on with him - and everybody - but tKen Wiebe he understands pretty quick where he should be. It doesn’t always mean February 26, 2021, 9:25 AM that he’s winning those battles, where it’s a one-on-one along the boards or it’s a race because physically, he’s so much younger than the players that he’s playing against. But he’s in the right place. And if he’s not, we tell him and the next time if he faces the same scenario, he will be in the WINNIPEG - The significance of the moment was not lost on Cole right place. Perfetti, even if he didn’t grasp the enormity to its full extent in the immediate aftermath. “His ability to understand and then execute at a high speed is pretty fascinating to me. He’s a very bright man and when you talk to him, you To the untrained eye, it looks like a simple inter-change during a four-on- can tell. Playing at the pro level can be intimidating, but it doesn’t seem three power play, yet the subtleties located just below the surface is what like he’s nervous.” makes the sequence involving Perfetti and fellow Winnipeg Jets prospect Ville Heinola so special. Again, it’s important to remember that under normal circumstances, Perfetti wouldn’t even be eligible for full-time AHL duty until the 2022-23 Perfetti rolls off the right-wing boards to the point on the power play, season. while Heinola quickly accelerates to push the penalty killer back ever so slightly. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what That split-second decision freezes the opponent and creates the small they think about it. window of space that allows Perfetti to perfectly place the pass in Heinola’s wheelhouse for a blistering one-timer. By that time (if not sooner), Perfetti is probably going to be knocking on the door of making the Jets. Not only did the marker represent the overtime winner for the Manitoba Moose on Monday night against the , it was also the first Whether or not he sticks around after training camp in 2021 is a debate power-play goal of the campaign for the Jets’ top affiliate. for another day, but what Perfetti is going through these days is certainly going to serve him well on that front. There were the last two Jets first-round picks combining for the highlight- reel tally, taking a bow on centre stage. Perfetti has been thrust into a prominent role, playing on what is a top-six line with Kristian Reichel and C.J. Suess and he’s being used in all Oh, and did we mention that both of the players responsible for the goal situations. are 19 years old? “He’s on our power play, he’s taking D-zone faceoffs at key moments in It didn’t take long for the replay of the game-winning goal to show up on the games,” said Vincent. “Five-on-six, six-on-five, four-on-three. We play social media, where it began to spread like wildfire. him against top lines and against top D-pairings, we play him in all kinds Surely, this was being viewed through the lens of many observers as a of scenarios and we’re winning games. And he’s part of it. He’s sign of things to come. interesting to work with. I really believe that you can be big, you can be fast, you can have all of the tools in the box, but if you don’t have the “When I got to the hotel and saw some things on Twitter and got some brain, (the tools) will only last so long or it will limit your future success. If text messages, it was pretty cool,” Perfetti said from Montreal, where the you have the brain, you can do something. And he certainly has the Moose are getting set for the third of four meetings in this series with the brain.” Rocket. “To be feeding Ville one-timers with the Jets would be pretty special. Maybe a little foreshadowing there, I don’t know.” Perfetti’s ability to process information quickly is something he’s leaning on as he plays against many opponents with far more experience, not to Since the Jets made Perfetti the 10th overall selection in the 2020 NHL mention a physical advantage that comes with age. Draft in October, he’s shown a maturity beyond his years in his dealings with members of the media. “We’ve done a lot of video work over Zoom and when you watch your game you can see what you’re doing, good and bad, and I think I’ve been Not only is he polite, he’s insightful and genuinely enjoys talking about doing a really good job of being in the right position,” said Perfetti, who the game. has a goal and three points in six AHL games. “Some of these guys are In a normal season, Perfetti would have probably snuck into a couple of 30-year-olds that have been in the league for 10 years and they’ve got a exhibition games with the Jets, soaked in the experience of his first NHL lot of weight and height on me, so I’m not going to win that puck battle training camp and made his way back to the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. every time. But I feel like I’ve been making good reads and making good plays. But with the OHL not yet up and running, the opportunity to get some valuable on-the-job training with the Moose arrived and Perfetti is doing “It’s been a challenge going into the corners with some of these big guys, his part to ensure it’s a valuable step in his goal to become an NHLer. but that’s what is helping me. To go up against guys this strong every day, it makes you a better player. It makes you more aware and it He’s not exactly dipping his toe in the water either, it’s more like a full-on definitely makes you use your brain a lot more. It’s really been helping cannonball. me.”

Early in Moose training camp, head coach Pascal Vincent approached Perfetti also got a glimpse of the taxing nature of the schedule as the Perfetti for a quick chat and the subject of what position he felt most Moose played the Toronto Marlies four times over a five-day span last comfortable at was broached. week.

“I told him that I’d played both for my entire life, but I prefer centre,” said By the time Friday’s game arrived, the gas tank was a bit low, but Perfetti Perfetti, who played primarily on the wing for Team Canada at the recent found a way to persevere. world juniors in Edmonton. “I feel like I can make more of an impact on the game, come into the middle of the ice and get more puck touches.” “With four games in five days, that’s hard in any league - even if it’s minor hockey. It’s taxing on the body,” said Perfetti. “All of the guys were feeling Versatility is important, but locking in on one position gave Perfetti a bit of it. I had never had to go through that many games at this pace, but at the a leg up when it came to focusing on his adjustment to the professional same time I felt like I almost had an advantage because people say game. you’ve got the young legs and you recover quicker.”

Hockey intelligence is a characteristic that comes to the forefront in any conversation about Perfetti. Perfetti isn’t sure how long it will be until the OHL comes to a decision on the season, but he’s planning to soak in every bit of this pro experience while it lasts.

“Not a lot of kids are getting this opportunity that normally we wouldn’t get. This is all a bonus for me,” said Perfetti, who turned 19 on Jan. 1. “I’m just trying to soak it in and use this to become not only a better hockey player, but a better person and more of an adult.

*I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time.

“Just being able to learn the pro lifestyle and experience traveling with the team, what the pro game is like and how to take care of your body. All of that stuff is going to help me so much in the long run. It’s kind of hard to explain how beneficial this is for me.”

The early returns are already showing up.

“It’s been a big adjustment,” said Perfetti. “Everything is that much faster and stronger, but it’s been great for my learning and my development so far. I can already tell how much of a better hockey player that I’ve become. It’s just going to keep progressing on that track, hopefully, and just keep going throughout the rest of the year.

“It’s really hard to score in this league, so the points aren’t coming as easily or what I’m used to. But I was kind of expecting that. You’ve really got to work and earn your (scoring) chances and points and stuff like that.”

Still, the highlights have been plentiful through the first six AHL games, including notching his first professional goal in his first game.

After the puck found the back of the net, Perfetti simply raised his stick in the air.

There was no boisterous celebration to accompany it, but that didn’t mean Perfetti wasn’t feeling a sense of jubilation on the inside.

“I love to score,” said Perfetti. “There have been some big moments where I’ve cellied hard a couple of times, but it’s definitely different without fans. It creates a different atmosphere and it just has a different buzz and when you score, it has a different sense of energy and a different reaction that I’ve noticed from everyone in this league so far. (Bobby) Lynch took it to the net and it came out on a platter for me, so I put it into the empty net.

“I do celebrate sometimes when it’s a big moment or a nice goal or whatever, but for the most part, I put my hands up in the air. Nothing too crazy. There are a couple of celebrations of mine out there where I go a little nuts, but for the most part, just calm and collected is how I try and do it.”

As calm as he remained, Perfetti was happy to get that first goal under his belt, so he didn’t get to the point of wondering when it might come.

“There’s a lot of anticipation to score your first goal and you want to do it so bad,” said Perfetti. “You’re waiting for that moment and if you don’t score in the first couple of games, maybe you start gripping your stick a little bit. To get the first one out of the way, nice and early in the first period, was good for my confidence. Kind of take the pressure off, so you just play relaxed and go out and do your thing.”

Much like the connection he made with Heinola, Perfetti making a habit of finding the back of the net and setting up his teammates is something he’s hoping becomes a regular occurrence, both in the present and definitely into the future.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204226 Websites someone gets underneath you a la Mangiapane, well, this is what happens. Weak-side wingers in the D-zone with the puck low no longer prioritize the opposing D.

Sportsnet.ca / Two questions Maple Leafs' Nylander should consider Nylander isn’t deep enough by some inches, and it allows Mangiapane to after polarizing week capitalize on the seam that’s caused as Justin Holl -- who can’t be asked to defend both in front of the net and the puck carrier -- tries to disrupt the play below the goal line.

Justin Bourne So yeah, I’ve got Nylander as one of the two players most responsible for this goal against. He’s not covering anyone up that high and -- as always February 26, 2021, 8:31 AM -- let me bang the drum for defending people not areas of the ice. And there’s clearly an open “people” there, Bill.

We begin this week’s episode of the William Nylander saga by evaluating As I mentioned above though, Keefe doesn’t give up on him, he keeps his play on Wednesday night, which saw him standing inches from using him, and that allows us to get to the whole “microcosm of a career” stopping a Flames’ player who scored what looked to be the game- thing, where he scores, then scores an elite-skill goal to end the game. winning goal… then saw him tie the game before winning it in overtime So about my two questions -- and the crux of the polarizing Nylander for the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was like watching the guy’s whole career debates -- “What do you do when you’re not scoring?” and “Does it boiled down to a 20-minute span, which is almost entirely a compliment matter if you score enough?” given the results. I’ll start with the latter, and the answer to that is pretty close to “no.” Last Nylander led the Leafs in shot attempts and actual shots, scoring year Nylander scored 31 times in 68 games, which is over a 37-goal chances and high danger scoring chances, and -- of course -- goals in pace for a full season. At that pace and higher -- particularly at the “and that game. But two of those shots, chances and goals came with less higher” levels -- most coaches barely care what else you do, though than one minute remaining in regulation, and I’m not convinced that if he they’d never admit that. If you score every other game, you can show up plays for a more hard-line coach than Sheldon Keefe (say, Keefe’s old on video with regularity as the cause of chances against and teams will coach John Tortorella) the opportunity for Wednesday’s redemption still covet you, pay you and play you. They’ll live with that trade-off to narrative is even there. accomplish the hardest thing to do in hockey: get goals. Through 11 games in February Nylander has seen over 17 minutes of ice But if you want to be that borderline exempt player and the puck doesn’t per game -- which I’d consider second-liner ice time and the bare go in for you for a while, you’ll have to excuse the team and the general minimum expectation for a guy we consider part of a “Big Four” – just public for no longer feeling comfortable with giving free passes where no twice, with the other nine games including a smattering of TOIs in the 13- one else gets them. You don’t get to have different rules and not 14 minute range. produce. So, you ramp up the pressure on yourself when you play like His ice time hasn’t exactly screamed "coach's confidence" with some of Nylander and goals dry up for a spell. the issues apparently being battle level and engagement issues (more on What’s frustrating about this arrangement for said teams and fans is it that further down). And, given his proximity to Andrew Mangiapane, the just feels like it doesn’t have to be this way. I do not believe that the Calgary player who put the Flames up 1-0 with 3:27 left on the game things Nylander does that cause frustration -- the nights where he lacks clock, nobody would’ve batted an eye if Nylander were stapled to the engagement, isn’t hard on pucks, and just misses coverages by a bench as the final sand dropped through the hourglass. quarter-step on the offensive side of things -- create goals for him. I truly Keefe knows and trusts the player’s strengths though, so when the team do not, and I’m not even sure he believes they do. If he came back needed a goal he put him right back out there and was rewarded for that farther in the D-zone, he’d be just as able to create offence. If he spent trust. I assure you, that sounds more logical in print -- putting out a goal his energy reserves pursuing loose pucks he may be burnt out sooner scorer when you need a goal -- than in the real-life examples of how some shifts and have to change quicker, but he’d also unearth more these situations usually play out. It’s not uncommon to see a great pucks and create more chances -- and in turn, get more shifts -- doing it. offensive player in the midst of an off-night watching from the bench as This all swings us around to “What do you do when you aren’t scoring?” their team works to find one more. and guys like Ilya Mikheyev and Zach Hyman -- players you decidedly do So let’s start here by looking at the Mangiapane goal given its relevance not want Nylander to be -- come to mind. But let’s just consider them for to the “cons” side of the Nylander ledger, then get into the two questions a sec. in the headline: "What are you doing if you aren’t scoring?" and "Does it How many games does Hyman have to play without a goal before fans even matter if you score enough?" are even aware of it? Is it 10? 15? Does anyone even care? Fans know Was Mangiapane’s Nylander's guy? he has value without the offensive output. They see him disrupt puck retrievals and breakouts, they see him battle at the net front and they see No … but eventually yes. his lines consistently playing in the offensive zone. Mikheyev is arguably the most snake-bitten hockey player in the NHL and the team keeps For starters, Elias Lindholm has the puck low in the Leafs zone, and both handing him good linemates and ice time within two shifts of Nylander’s Pierre Engvall and Travis Dermott have their eyes on him. A two-on-two minutes per night because he has value without the offence. low is shaking out, and that’s half the battle of defending -- identifying numbers, situations. What the staff and fans and -- let's face it -- his teammates would love to get from Nylander, is 10 per cent more of the great stuff they know he’s With Lindholm taking it low below the goal line where Dermott is, a switch capable of doing without the puck. It’s the stuff that isn’t always rewarded seems pretty obvious. Dermott and Engvall should be talking here, which and is therfore hard to keep after, but they’ve seen what he looks like they clearly don’t in the video. Still, though, it’s not a hard read. Engvall when he is dogged in his puck pursuit like the aforementioned Leafs should hand off the puck carrier to Dermott -- who Lindholm is skating wingers. towards -- and just grab Mangiapane. Simple. Take it from his coach, as noted in this article by Luke Fox: Engvall gets caught staring at the puck though, and either doesn’t read the switch or thinks he can disrupt the puck. Either way, it’s a poor “It’s part of Will’s nature, at times, to not be as engaged as you’d like decision. him to be. And he needs a push. Sometimes it comes from me, but sometimes it comes from himself as well. He’s a guy that is hard on Yeah that’s a “nope.” himself,” Keefe explained back in July. Now, in-zone hockey defending is about layers, which protects against Keefe tries to guide Nylander through positive reinforcement, breakdowns by allowing some without a nuclear meltdown. When the showing him clips not of his mistakes, but rather of shifts where he’s puck is below the goal line, you always want your weakside wingers hounding the puck with a strong stick and winning it back along the wall. down below the hash marks in front of their own net. He wants to instill a sense of urgency. Why? If the puck goes up to the points you can skate out at them and get in lanes, block shots, and at worst, a shot comes from a distance. If “At times, he doesn’t even need to see the clips. He knows the situations you’re talking about,” Keefe went on. “I showed him a number of different clips where he was all over the puck and winning pucks back. One very underrated thing about William is the way he can win pucks back in terms of takeaways in the offensive zone; he’s right near the top of the league in that regard.”

Here are some of those glorious Nylander clips Keefe is talking about:

So, he can do it.

The case here isn’t that he doesn’t put up good results when he doesn’t score, because by most shot metrics -- including expected goals -- he’s still among the top players on the Leafs even when the puck isn’t going in for him. The case is that all those people believe he’s so good that the numbers could be better if he gave them just a bit more of what we saw in that video, because we know what it looks like when he’s not hard on pucks and aggressive. Seeing a guy who can be so good just be OK can be maddening. It feels like just “good” should be beneath him.

Nylander remains a great talent who’s a work in progress as a complete player and a lightning rod as a result. That he continues to have enough success to make him a valuable player at the NHL level probably just makes it harder to convince him to play differently -- or even the same, but just harder more regularly. But as he gets older and matures, I suspect he’ll find if not a consistent level of compete, a more consistent one.

In the end, he remains a Rorschach Test with fans seeing totally different Images on the ice and every shift seems to drive that confirmation bias deeper into the ground.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s William Nylander. He’s great, he’s flawed, he’s whatever you already think he is.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204227 Websites out there while not hurting us defensively," Keefe said. "That is a positive for his development."

Joe Thornton returned to Maple Leafs practice on Friday, but he had a TSN.CA / Leafs wowed 'complete stud' Matthews produced despite new centreman in John Tavares, with Auston Matthews listed as day-to- nagging injury day with a hand injury. Mark Masters has more on the new line as the Leafs prepare for the Oilers on Saturday.

--- Mark Masters Like on Tuesday, a good chunk of practice was dedicated to special teams work. The once sizzling Leafs power play went 0-for-11 in two games against the Flames. TSN Toronto Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs, who practiced at the Ford Performance Centre on Friday before travelling to What needs to happen to get the group back on track? Edmonton to face the Oilers Saturday night in the first game of their three-game set. "Just more volume shooting," Thornton said. "Just funnel as many pucks as you can to the net. This power play is so good and so dangerous. Auston Matthews missed Friday's practice due to a nagging injury. Through the first 18 games it's been unbelievable so a little snapshot shouldn't be worrisome." "He's not ruled out for tomorrow," said head coach Sheldon Keefe. "We'll have to see how he continues to progress." Thornton served as the net-front presence on the top unit at practice with Tavares in the bumper, Nylander and Marner on the flanks and Morgan The 23-year-old centre has played through the pain most of the season, Rielly up top. but aggravated the hand/wrist issue in the second period of Wednesday's game against the Calgary Flames. Matthews didn't take faceoffs down Barabanov also got power-play reps on Friday as the net-front presence the stretch and didn't score, but still managed to produce two assists on the second unit, which featured Kerfoot and Jason Spezza on the while logging more than 22 minutes. flanks, Travis Boyd in the middle and T.J. Brodie as the quarterback.

"While he had to adapt his game and I had to adapt how we used him a Leafs 3-in-3: Most concerning injury? Why is PP struggling? little bit, he still competed his ass off right to the very end," Keefe said. The Leafs are dealing with a flurry of injuries right now to key players. The coach pointed out that Matthews made a nice play to create space Which one is the most concerning? TSN reporters Kristen Shilton and for William Nylander before the overtime goal. Mark Masters offer their perspective on that and on what's ailing the suddenly struggling power play. Plus, is William Nylander "It speaks to how he has remained resilient and hasn't allowed little ‘misunderstood' as Zach Hyman suggests? things like that to disrupt him," Keefe said. "With the injury situation, he has missed a game once already and bounced right back and had a --- tremendous run." Jake Muzzin practised with the team for the first time since breaking a Matthews missed the Jan. 22 game against Edmonton, but promptly bone in his face on Saturday in Montreal. It was initially unclear whether scored in seven straight after that. He leads the NHL with 18 goals in 20 Muzzin was hit by the puck or by the stick of Canadiens forward Tyler games. Toffoli.

"He's played through some stuff here all year long and he's been a "We're pretty sure it was the stick," the 32-year-old defenceman said. complete stud," said linemate Joe Thornton. "We'll see what happens "Me and Toff texted after and right away he said it was [his] stick. I tomorrow. I'm really not sure what's going to go down." thought it was the stick too, but then the guys were trying to convince me it was the puck." "He's just a tough customer," said goalie Jack Campbell. "Whatever he's going through, he always gives the team 100 per cent. It’s incredible There was immediate concern for Muzzin, who leads all Leafs blueliners what he's able to do whether he's 100 per cent or not. I can't wait to get in hits and blocked shots. back [and] to battle with him, that's for sure." "A little bit scary, I'm not going to lie," Muzzin recalled. "You get hit in the 'Tough customer' Matthews misses practice, but not ruled out for face and you black out a little bit and then you see the blood coming. I Saturday was just praying the eye was OK ... Shortly after, I was able to open my eye a bit and see so that settled me down and I was able to find my way Sheldon Keefe says Auston Matthews is day-to-day with a hand injury to the bench. So, definitely a little scared for a minute there, but all good after missing Maple Leafs practice on Friday. His teammates are hopeful now." he'll be good to play against the Oilers but explain why it's next man up if he isn't. Muzzin will need to wear a full face shield for the foreseeable future.

--- "It's not that bad, actually," he said. "Maybe some parts in the lower [area] it's tough to see in your feet, but hopefully the puck isn't there If Matthews is unable to play on Saturday in Edmonton, Friday's practice during games. I've never worn one. In junior we had cages and I never offered insight on what Toronto's lineup will look like. Thornton, who had a bubble so it's the first time for me." missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, skated with John Tavares and Mitch Marner. Muzzin, Thornton and Matthews are all listed as game-time decisions.

"I felt great," the 41-year-old said. "I skated a little bit yesterday and Jake Muzzin admits he was pretty scared when he was initially hit in the finally with the guys today so felt real good. I'm just looking forward to face by Tyler Toffoli's stick, but he's thankful he didn't get hit in the eye. playing another game." Now he'll have to adjust to wearing a full shield, nothing he's had experience with in the past. Thornton and Tavares stayed out after the main practice ended to work on some plays together. ---

"He just wants the puck all the time and I think that's a good sign," Out since suffering a leg injury on Jan. 24, Campbell had his own net at Thornton said. "He always wants to distribute and handle the puck and Friday's practice. How's he feeling? he's not afraid of the puck coming to him so I like that. And, off the ice, a real good guy, an easy guy to talk to and when he opens up he's a "I'm feeling great, thanks, and ready to go for sure," he said. "Just excited surprising guy. It's nice." to be back with the guys and happy I get to go on the road with the boys."

The second line featured Nylander, Alexander Kerfoot and Alexander "Soupy does look good to go," Keefe said. "Today's practice was another Barabanov. big one for him to get through. He has had a lot of positive days here consecutively. It is looking good. As long as he gets through tomorrow "Barabanov has had two consecutive games where he has really been well, he'll start." generating offence and chances each shift virtually, it seems, that he is Frederik Andersen didn't take part in practice, but was on the ice beforehand doing a workout with Campbell and goalie coach Steve Briere.

"He is continuing to progress," said Keefe. "Him making the decision that he wanted to get on the ice and get a feel for things today is a positive step. He will be on the trip. He continues to be day to day."

"It was a good session," said Campbell. "I didn't quite look at the clock, but we put some work in and Stevey does a great job of preparing us and making us feel really good and working on some plays we might see."

No doubt some of the prep featured Connor McDavid, who scored a couple goals the last time Toronto played the Oilers.

"He's a heck of a player," said Campbell, who has only made one appearance against the Oilers in his career. "I'm not sure how else to say it. He's dangerous in all situations so definitely got to key in on him and 29 [Leon Draisaitl], but we have great guys on our side, too, so I'm really confident on our team."

The Leafs will play five road games in eight days starting on Saturday.

Jack Campbell says he's ready to go when called upon after missing almost a month of action. The Maple Leafs netminder will join Toronto on their upcoming road trip and is looking forward to getting back between the pipes.

---

Jimmy Vesey was an extra forward at practice and projects to be a healthy scratch for the first time in his Leafs career on Saturday.

"He hasn't been able to make his mark and really claim his role and what he is going to be able to bring on a consistent basis," Keefe said. "In each game he has played, we have found positives in it. At the same time, he is in a situation where we have had other guys who have come into the lineup with a lot less opportunity and have found a way to make an impact in the game positively, especially offensively."

Vesey only has two goals and one assist this season. He hasn't hit the scoresheet in 13 straight games.

"He's in a situation where he's being challenged and pushed for his ice time," Keefe said. "We do think he has been consistent and reliable defensively. He has helped us on the penalty kill. We like him there. We have found value in his game."

---

Lines at Friday's practice:

Thornton - Tavares - Marner

Barabanov - Kerfoot - Nylander

Mikheyev - Engvall - Hyman

Petan - Boyd - Spezza

Sabourin, Galchenyuk, Vesey

Rielly - Brodie

Muzzin - Holl

Dermott - Bogosian

Lehtonen - Marincin

Campbell

Hutchinson

TSN.CA LOADED: 02.27.2021 1204228 Websites Muzzin spent Friday’s practice testing out a new accessory for the first time his career, sporting a full face shield that will be necessary to protect his still-healing face. While there is some debate over how exactly the injury happened, whether it was the follow-through of Canadiens’ forward TSN.CA / Maple Leafs head west with injury issues Tyler Toffoli’s stick that got him or the puck that went flying by as well, Muzzin said the moments after it happened were unpleasant.

“It was a little bit scary, I'm not going to lie,” Muzzin said. “When you get Kristen Shilton hit in the face, you kind of black out a little bit and then you see the blood coming, so I was just praying the eye was okay. If [something gets broken], it is what it is, but when you get hit in the eye it can be pretty While Auston Matthews has been busy pumping in a league-leading 18 bad. Shortly after I was able to open my eye a little bit and see, so that goals through 20 games this season, the Maple Leafs’ star has also been settled me down a little bit but we’re good now.” quietly battling a hand injury that was aggravated again in Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime win over Calgary. Knowing what awaits the Leafs in Edmonton, a return to full strength on the back end couldn’t come at a better time. Matthews still stayed in for Toronto until the very end, and even assisted on both William Nylander's game-tying goal and overtime winner. Since beating Toronto 4-3 in overtime on Jan. 30, the Oilers have collected more points than any team in the NHL, winning 10 of their past “That just speaks to the fact that he's remained resilient and hasn't 12 and five straight going into Saturday night. allowed little things like that [hand problem] to disrupt him,” said head coach Sheldon Keefe on a Zoom call following practice on Friday. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been the catalysts for Edmonton outscoring opponents 49-29 in that stretch, and they now sit “He got banged up there in the second period, and while he had to adapt one-two as the league’s top scorers (40 points for McDavid, 34 for his game and I had to adapt how we used him a little bit, he still Draisaitl). competed his [butt] off right to the very end. That's a good sign for the fact we feel the injury isn't something that's going to slow him down too Meanwhile, Toronto’s own offence has gone cold, producing only one much here.” goal in six regulation periods against Calgary this week while going 0-for- 11 on the power play. The Leafs are still atop the NHL standings though Officially, Matthews is listed as day-to-day and did not participate in at 15-4-2, and getting some key pieces back and healthy could be just Friday’s on-ice session before the Leafs head west for a five-game road what they need for a reset. swing against Edmonton and Vancouver. “A team like Edmonton has played as good or better than anybody in the Keefe said Matthews is not ruled out for their first of three meetings league here the last while,” acknowledged Keefe. “But we feel like we've against the Oilers on Saturday, and will be a game-time decision. been going pretty well as a team here and it's still real close. You can't take any games or any days off and certainly this week that's going to be The 23-year-old previously missed one game for Toronto on Jan. 22 – the case going head-to-head." also against Edmonton – when his hand first became an issue. He returned to pocket 16 goals and 26 points in the 15 games since. TSN.CA LOADED: 02.27.2021 During Wednesday’s tilt against the Flames, Matthews was sent into the boards by defenceman Rasmus Andersson in the second period and had his wrist taped up on the bench before play continued.

The state of his hand kept Matthews from taking many faceoffs for Toronto down the stretch, and he didn’t start in overtime because Keefe said Matthews wasn’t confident taking the defensive-zone draw (the centre did win eight of the 12 faceoffs he took on the night).

Matthews was out for the Leafs’ second overtime shift though, and created space for Nylander to roof the winner over David Rittich.

“He's a tough customer; we’re lucky to have him on our side,” said goaltender Jack Campbell of Matthews. “Whatever he's going through, he always gives the team 100 per cent and it's incredible what he's able to do, whether he's 100 per cent or not so. I can't wait to get back to battle with him, that's for sure.”

If all goes well, Campbell won’t have to wait long. The backup netminder has been sidelined with a lower-body injury suffered in the waning minutes against Calgary on Jan. 24, but barring any setbacks he will take the cage again on Saturday in Edmonton.

That’s good news for Toronto’s goalie depth, which took a massive hit when starter Frederik Andersen joined Campbell on the injured list Monday.

According to Keefe, Andersen is “progressing well” from a lower-body issue and will join the Leafs on their road trip, although there is no timeline on when he might return. Michael Hutchinson had stepped in for Toronto in its two games this week versus the Flames, going 1-1-0 with a .927 save percentage.

“It's [been] a tough process,” Campbell admitted of his road back to full health. “But thankfully we have an amazing staff here and they just had it all laid out for me. I feel really confident in my body and ready to go out and perform whenever called upon.”

Joe Thornton and Jake Muzzin are also expected to be back for Saturday’s game, although Keefe cautions they too will be game-time decisions. Both players were injured during last Saturday’s game in Montreal – lower body for Thornton and a broken facial bone for Muzzin – and missed the Leafs’ two games at home against Calgary, but were able to practise fully on Friday. 1204229 Websites

USA TODAY / In shorter NHL season, coaches can't escape the hot seat: Here's who needs to step up

Mike Brehm, Jimmy Hascup Jace Evans

The Montreal Canadiens began the season with an offensive explosion and a 7-1-2 record.

Since then, their goals dried up and they went into a 2-4-2 slide.

And in a short season, that was enough for general manager Marc Bergevin, who fired coach Claude Julien on Wednesday and replaced him with interim coach Dominique Ducharme. (He lost his debut as the top man behind the bench 6-3 on Thursday.)

"I just saw a pattern where I didn’t want to wait any longer," Bergevin told reporters.

A rough stretch will become magnified during a 56-game season, with less time to get back on track.

With that in mind, are there any other NHL coaches who could be feeling the heat? USA TODAY Sports' experts weigh in:

Calgary Flames' Geoff Ward: It's easy to point to lower-rung teams such as the New York Rangers or Detroit Red Wings, but Ward is facing a different kind of pressure. Calgary added one of the top goalies on the market, Jacob Markstrom, and defenseman Christopher Tanev during the offseason and is operating close to the salary cap, further signaling it fashions itself as a contender. But here we are, 21 games into the season and the Flames are 9-10-2 following a 6-1 loss Thursday to the cellar-dwelling Ottawa Senators, sitting in fifth in the all-Canada (North) division after losing in the first round of the NHL playoffs in 2020. Ward has already called a recent road trip "make-or-break" and Matthew Tkachuk has called it a "huge, huge moment in our season," so it's easy to see Ward's group must raise its play or changes could be made. — Jimmy Hascup

Vancouver Canucks' Travis Green: Owner Francesco Aquilini tweeted about two weeks ago that it would take time for the team to come together in this unique season, he had faith in Green and GM Jim Benning and had no plans to make changes. But the Canucks are losing ugly. In three recent losses, they've blown two 2-0 leads and a 3-0 lead. They were outmatched by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and are in a 2-9-2 slide after they were shut out 3-0 Thursday night by the Edmonton Oilers. Personnel appears to be an issue as Jacob Markstrom, Chris Tanev and Tyler Toffoli left in free agency. The Canucks look nothing like the team that had a promising postseason in the bubble. — Mike Brehm

New York Rangers' David Quinn: Though generally competitive on a night-to-night basis, the Rangers are just 6-8-3 on the season and seem destined for more losing in the immediate future with leading scorer Artemi Panarin out of the lineup. That situation, of course, is not Quinn's fault, but Panarin's absence could reveal the biggest issue of Quinn's tenure: the lack of development of the Rangers' young offensive players. No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafreniere has just two goals and no assists in 17 games while skating 14:33 a night. In a vacuum that's OK – Lafreniere is just 19 years old and not every top pick puts up Auston Matthews-type production right out of the gate. The problem for the Rangers, though, is Lafreniere is not the only young forward who has struggled under Quinn. As it pertains to the current squad, 20-year-old Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick in 2019, has just two goals and one assist in 14 games this season while skating 14:59 a night. The Rangers got great lottery luck to draft these two talented players, but if the youngsters are going to play with the big club this much the team needs to actually develop them. So far, their production on the ice has not provided much evidence that Quinn can take their careers to the next level – a particularly perplexing issue given Quinn came to the NHL from the college game and is ostensibly good working with young players. — Jace Evans

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