SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 03/17/19 1136341 Up next for the Ducks: Sunday vs. Florida 1136376 Behind Corey Crawford's career-high 48 saves, the 1136342 Ducks’ Corey Perry regaining scoring touch as season Blackhawks blank the Canadiens 2-0 for their 5th straight winds down wi 1136377 'It's up to him': Blackhawks' Brendan Perlini is one of the Arizona Coyotes NHL's hottest players. But will it last? 1136343 5 things we learned from Arizona Coyotes' loss 1136378 Corey Crawford’s 48-save carries Blackhawks to to fifth straight victory 1136344 The curious case of : How his success 1136379 Opportunity knocks for Dylan Sikura on Blackhawks’ top affects the future of the Coyotes line with Toews, Saad 1136345 Coyotes get a point with OT loss; -scoring stats 1136380 Crawford makes career-high 48 saves as Hawks keep trending positive playoff hopes alive 1136346 Traditionally uneasy Coyotes community: Take cues from 1136381 Crawford makes 48 saves in Blackhawks' 2-0 win vs. the team’s carpe diem approach Canadiens 1136382 Four takeaways: Corey Crawford steals the show in hometown of as Blackhawks win fifth straight 1136347 boosts Bruins in overtime 1136383 Powers: Corey Crawford can be the ultimate equalizer for 1136348 Conor McGregor drops first puck at Bruins game the Blackhawks 1136349 Jayme Parker breaks new ground at TD Garden 1136350 Jake DeBrusk returns, David Pastrnak close for Bruins 1136351 Innovator Jacques Plante did more than stop shots; he 1136384 Hockey was a buried treasure for J.T. Compher family saved faces 1136385 Chambers: Troy Terry impressed Joe Sakic with stick- 1136352 Conroy: Pressing questions surrounding Bruins these handling in a phone booth days 1136353 Bruins notebook: Reinforcements on the way 1136354 Marchand wins it in overtime for Bruins 1136386 Blue Jackets' Nick Foligno out to deal with personal matter 1136355 For Bruins fans, a plethora of (good) 7th Player candidates 1136387 Bruins 2, Blue Jackets 1, OT | Four-game trip opens on 1136356 Bruins pregame notes: B’s seek revenge on Blue Jackets losing note 1136357 Conor McGregor salutes Bruins and fans after ceremonial 1136388 Blue Jackets 3, Hurricanes 0 | Sergei Bobrovsky stops all puck drop 46 shots 1136358 Brad Marchand: "I was hoping to score just to do [the 1136389 Marchand does it again in OT as Bruins beat Blue Jackets McGregor strut]" 2-1 1136359 Talking Points from the Bruins' 2-1 overtime win over Columbus 1136360 Patrice Bergeron hit another historic milestone with this 1136390 Dallas Stars playoff berth is near; enjoy it a little bit Bruins goal 1136361 Highlights from the Bruins' 2-1 OT win over the Blue Jackets 1136391 It'd be 'huge for' Detroit Red Wings if Andreas Athanasiou 1136362 Conor McGregor almost snubbed Zdeno Chara after reaches this mark Bruins game puck drop 1136392 Detroit Red Wings' Jonathan Bernier makes 41 saves in 1136363 David Krejci discusses rotating linemates, playoffs in 2-1 win over NYI interview 1136393 Detroit Red Wings beat , 2-1 1136364 DeBrusk, Pastrnak back at Bruins practice, Krug out with 1136394 This time, Red Wings' Jonathan Bernier gets rewarded concussion after 41-save effort 1136365 David Pastrnak is almost here — and so are the playoffs. 1136395 Rare win lifts Wings' spirits; Andreas Athanasiou scores Will he be fully sharp when they begin? twice 1136396 Red Wings’ Andreas Athanasiou, Dylan Larkin chasing elusive 30-goal mark 1136366 Jeff Skinner snaps scoring drought, but Linus Ullmark 1136397 Andreas Athanasiou, Jonathan Bernier step up for Red struggles in Sabres' seventh straight loss Wings vs. Islanders 1136367 The Wraparound: Hurricanes 4, Sabres 2 1136398 Red Wings’ Justin Abdelkader likely done for season 1136368 Sabres Notebook: A rare, 'frustrating' season for Brandon 1136399 Filip Zadina rejoins Griffins with sights set on ‘long run in Montour playoffs’ 1136369 Sabres at Hurricanes: Five Things to Know 1136400 Athanasiou scores 2, Red Wings beat Islanders 2-1 1136370 Mike Harrington's NHL Power Rankings 1136371 Heading into Buffalo return, life of O'Reilly has gotten Edmonton Oilers much better in St. Louis 1136401 Oilers skin Coyotes in overtime 1136372 Tage Thompson knows what he needs in order to unlock 1136402 Arizona Coyotes Rick Tocchet definitely in coach-of-year his vast potential picture 1136403 Oilers call-up Gambardella no ordinary joe in beard Calgary Flames department 1136373 Playoff atmosphere in the air as Jets down Flames 1136404 Edmonton Oilers Game Day: A must-win in Arizona 1136374 Flames' GameDay at Jets: 5 storylines 1136405 On Draft: A look at the Oilers’ history with the WHL and which prospects could be on deck for this year’s draf Carolina Hurricanes 1136375 Canes bounce back with 4-2 win over Sabres Florida Panthers 1136406 Huberdeau scores late, Panthers edge Kings 4-3 1136447 Henrik Lundqvist peppered in Rangers latest loss 1136407 Late Huberdeau goal in L.A. leads to Panthers' fourth 1136448 David Quinn calls out Rangers’ anemic power play straight win 1136449 Rangers say they didn’t cave, but it was another ugly loss 1136408 Months after a second back surgery threatened his career, 1136450 Chris Kreider can’t snap out of scoring funk Jamie McGinn is thriving with Panthers 1136451 Henrik Lundqvist tries to keep his focus as losses continue to mount 1136452 optimistic about Rangers' rebuild 1136409 Kings let another game slip from grasp, this time 4-3 to 1136453 It’s no time to judge Henrik Lundqvist, but it’s only natural Panthers to wonder what awaits him 1136410 Kings’ Drew Doughty likes seeing young guys get ice time 1136411 Kings fall 4-3 after late goal from Panthers 1136412 Whicker: Young Kings are the rulers of 12-year-old hockey 1136454 GARRIOCH GAME REPORT: Senators toast Leafs for St. 1136413 FINAL – BAKERSFIELD 7, Paddy's Day 1136414 KINGS INK AKIL THOMAS TO THREE-YEAR ELC 1136415 MARCH 16 RAPID REACTION (FEAT. DARREN GRANGER): PANTHERS 4, KINGS 3 1136455 Goaltending, defense let down Flyers at worst time; face 1136416 PREVIEW – ONTARIO @ BAKERSFIELD, 3/16 Penguins on Sunday night 1136417 GAME 71: LOS ANGELES VS FLORIDA 1136456 Fish: Give Scott Gordon another chance even if Flyers 1136418 HONORS AND REFLECTION AS GRANGER WORKS don’t make it HIS 2,000TH NHL GAME 1136457 With 2018-19 fading, at least Flyers are seeing the 2019-20 possibilities with James van Riemsdyk 1136458 NHL playoff picture: Flyers lose significant ground as 1136419 Minnesota and New York meet for non-conference percentages sink matchup 1136459 Flyers prospect WATCH: The graduating class of junior 1136420 Wild's power play showing signs of resurgence after players another goal in win over Rangers 1136460 Carter Hart an illustration of how little leeway Flyers have 1136421 Wild-Rangers game recap left 1136422 Donato scores 2, Wild past Rangers 5-2 1136423 Wild's Marcus Foligno evolving into team leader Pittsburgh Penguins 1136424 Wild-Islanders preview 1136461 Dominik Simon ends long goal drought in Penguins’ loss 1136425 Wild wakes up, stops the bleeding with 5-2 home victory to Blues over New York Rangers 1136462 Matt Murray pulled as Penguins’ winning streak ends with 1136426 Wild looking for another slump-busting win when it hosts loss to Blues Rangers 1136463 Bryan Rust, Kris Letang remain out as Penguins take on 1136427 Wild start final playoff push with convincing 5-2 win over Blues Rangers 1136464 Penguins latest NHL team to get shut down by rookie 1136428 Wild face brutal schedule in race for final Western sensation Jordan Binnington Conference playoff spot 1136465 Penguins' Simon snaps scoring drought with 1136429 Ryan Donato stars in a needed win the Wild will have very second-period goal little time to enjoy 1136466 Dave Molinari’s Penguins Report Card: St. Louis 5, Penguins 1 1136467 Next step crucial after Penguins fall to Blues 1136430 Montreal native Corey Crawford comes home, stops 48 1136468 Penguins honor Evgeni Malkin with pregame ceremony shots to lead Hawks past Canadiens 2-0 1136469 Kris Letang, Bryan Rust will not return to Penguins lineup 1136431 In the Habs' Room: Julien blames ill-timed slump for against Blues playoff plight 1136470 Who sits once the Penguins are fully healthy on defense? 1136432 About last night ... Canadiens lose one they needed 1136471 finds a new career and a new purpose in the broadcast 1136433 2-0 loss to Blackhawks puts Canadiens in playoff jeopardy booth 1136434 Liveblog: Chicago beats Canadiens 2-0 1136435 Canadiens' Jordie Benn loves the feeling of brand-new skates 1136472 Takeaways: Sharks’ embraces distraction 1136436 Canadiens Game Day: Head-scratching coaching moves of playing hockey in an ugly 2-0 loss 1136473 Preds spoils Sharks clinching party at the Tank 1136437 Blackhawks at Canadiens: Five things to watch 1136474 Things to know: Sharks’ Erik Karlsson returns to the ice 1136438 The Canadiens are getting buried under the weight of 1136475 Forsberg's goal leads Predators past Sharks 4-2 expectations they elevated themselves 1136476 Evander Kane's return a bright spot for Sharks in loss to 1136439 Corey Crawford and their own power play drive another Predators nail into the Canadiens’ playoff coffin 1136477 Sharks takeaways: What we learned in 4-2 home loss to pesky Predators New York Islanders 1136478 NHL rumors: Sharks coach Peter DeBoer to sign multiyear 1136440 Islanders, Losing to Red Wings, Fail to Gain in Division contract extension Race 1136479 After tragedy, Evander Kane ready to get back on ice vs. 1136441 Lowly Red Wings halt Islanders momentum behind two Predators goals from Andreas Athanasiou 1136480 Sharks vs. Predators watch guide: Projected lines and 1136442 Why a ‘last-minute decision’ sidelined Casey Cizikas defensive pairs 1136443 Islanders’ Hall of Fame needs to add these new members 1136481 Sharks expecting 'playoff mindset' from Predators in 1136444 The sound Ryan Pulock was still hearing after frustrating Saturday showdown Islanders’ loss 1136482 Sharks' Tomas Hertl's hockey sense driving force in 1136445 Casey Cizikas a late scratch after suffering lower-body career-best season strain in warmups 1136483 After an emotional few days, Evander Kane returns to 1136446 Islanders lament missed scoring chances after loss to Red Sharks’ lineup and gets a boost from home fans Wings St Louis Blues Winnipeg Jets 1136484 Dunn becomes third Blues defensemen with 10 or more 1136513 Jets douse Flames with 2-1 victory goals 1136514 Defence key to dousing red-hot Flames, says Laine 1136485 Preview: Blues at Buffalo Sabres 1136515 WIEBE’S GAME REPORT: Perreault supplies game 1136486 Blues' 'other guys' make victory sweeter winner for Jets 1136487 Perron's return gives Blues a boost in win over Penguins 1136516 Jets look to avoid sweep, Flames have already won first 1136488 Energized Blues rout Penguins 5-1 two meetings 1136489 Perron returns to lineup for Blues on Saturday against 1136517 Connolly Gamble’s bond with his brothers saved his life; Penguins his bond with Adam Lowry changed the way he lives it 1136490 Joe Vitale finds a new career and a new purpose in the broadcast booth SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 Tampa Bay Lightning 1136491 Alex Killorn powers Lightning past Capitals 1136492 Lightning enters Capitals matchup donning “lucky” nicknames and jerseys 1136493 Lightning and Capitals share mutual respect 1136494 Lightning welcomes Distant Thunder fan from Italy 1136495 Usually slick and always quick, the Lightning can be tough, too 1136496 Lightning pregame: Tampa Bay meets Capitals for first time this season 1136497 Horrible week for Maple Leafs ends with embarrassing 6-2 loss to lowly Ottawa Senators 1136498 Frustration mounts as Leafs crash against Senators 1136499 Matthews and Nylander re-energized for Leafs’ stretch run 1136500 Maple Leafs' hellish week continues with loss to Senators 1136501 SIMMONS: Tavares the right choice to be Maple Leafs 1136502 Auston Matthews indebted to Senators coach 1136503 Wheeler: To understand the Leafs’ disastrous week is to understand their season-long cracks below the surface 1136504 Leafs Report Cards — Game 72 at Ottawa 1136518 Canucks sign defenceman Jett Woo to entry-level contract 1136519 Ed Willes: Canucks’ ‘fearless’ blue-liners offer sporadic leadership between injuries 1136505 Golden Knights’ Marc-Andre Fleury excels as he awaits birth of child 1136506 New rules lead to more scoring in NHL 1136507 Alex Tuch, Cody Eakin bring defense to Golden Knights’ third line Washington Capitals 1136508 Killorn scores 3 as Lightning beat Capitals 6-3 1136509 In a showdown that lived up to its hype, Lightning takes down Capitals 1136511 Lightning take down Capitals in first of 3 games in 15 days 1136512 Top 20 Goals of Caps’ Run: Andre Burakovsky’s Statement Game 7 vs Lightning Websites 1136520 Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs cap troublesome week with another poor performance 1136521 Sportsnet.ca / Perplexing decisions hurt Canadiens in loss to Blackhawks 1136522 Sportsnet.ca / Jets fend off tough schedule, begin to reclaim playoff identity 1136523 Sportsnet.ca / Coach's Corner: Senators' DeMelo a bright light on a struggling team 1136524 Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs' Jake Gardiner progressing not as quickly as hoped 1136525 Sportsnet.ca / Peter DeBoer expected to sign contract extension with Sharks 1136526 TSN.CA / Last-place Senators score six in rout of slumping Maple Leafs 1136527 TSN.CA / Crawford: Matthews represents new wave of NHL 1136528 TSN.CA / Five Takeaways: Canucks vs Devils 1136529 USA TODAY / NHL has new look: Arizona and Carolina both in the playoffs 1136341 Anaheim Ducks

Up next for the Ducks: Sunday vs. Florida

By LOS ANGELES TIMES STAFF

Up next for the Ducks: Sunday vs. Florida

When: 6 p.m.

On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 830.

Udpate: The Ducks’ 5-3 victory at Colorado on Friday was their fifth win in their last eight games. The Ducks beat the Panthers 3-2 in Florida on Nov. 28. Florida has won four in a row after beating the Kings 4-3 at Staples Center on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers have won four in a row after beating the Kings 4-3 at Staples Center on Saturday afternoon.

LA Times: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136342 Anaheim Ducks Getzlaf has only been below 30 assists in a season once, when he had 25 as a rookie in 2005-06.

COMING UP EMPTY Ducks’ Corey Perry regaining scoring touch as season winds down Jakob Silfverberg’s career-high seven-game point streak ended Friday, Knee injury and surgery in September set the right wing back, but he is when he didn’t record a goal or an assist against Colorado. He had goals starting to find the back of the net in three consecutive games and five goals and nine points in seven in a row after signing a five-year, $26.25-million contract extension March 2.

By Elliott Teaford Orange County Register: LOADED: 03.17.2019

When he was at his best, when he was piling up goals in great numbers and wreaking havoc upon opposing , Ducks right wing Corey Perry was stationed close to the net. He waited for something to happen and then he pounced. If nothing happened, then he made something happen.

They called him “The Worm” because he wormed his way into the action.

Perry didn’t have the hardest shot, but his legs were always moving and he had a goal-scorer’s touch with the puck on his stick. One season he scored 50 goals and was named the Hart Trophy winner as the NHL’s MVP. Another season he had 43 goals. He scored 30 or more four other times.

Then his production dipped.

Perry scored 19 goals in 2016-17, down from 34 in 2015-16.

He had 17 goals last season.

Then his right knee went ker-plunk during the pregame warmup before an exhibition game Sept. 24 at Honda Center. An exam revealed a torn meniscus and surgery was scheduled. While he was in there, the doctor decided to mend Perry’s damaged MCL, which had troubled him for some time.

Five months was the recovery time.

In reality, it’s been longer.

Perry, 33, sat out for the first 51 games of the season, making his debut Feb. 2. He scored his first goal Feb. 17, the same date he recorded his first assist. He scored another goal two nights later. He didn’t get another one until March 8.

Finally, Friday against the Colorado Avalanche, he looked like his old self again. The puck seemed to follow him around and he scored key goals in key moments, including the tiebreaking strike while the Ducks were on a third-period power play.

Perry scored the Ducks’ first and fourth goals in a 5-3 victory over the Avalanche, his fourth and fifth of the season in his 22nd game. He has three goals and five points in his past five games going into Sunday’s contest against the Florida Panthers at Honda Center.

“Starting your season in February is not easy,” Perry said. “I’m starting to find my legs, and that’s the biggest thing. Guys have been skating for four months, playing games every other day, and I’m trying to catch up. It feels good. It’s definitely nice to contribute and be a part of it.”

It wouldn’t be accurate to say his knee is no longer a concern because it is.

“It feels good,” Perry said. “I don’t feel it on the ice at all. I’m still taking it day by day and still working on it. It’s going to be a work in progress. This summer is going to be crucial for me to get stronger, quicker and all of the above.

“People always thought I had knee pain. I didn’t have pain. The knee was loose. There was no pain. I couldn’t do some things. It’s not due to pain. It was wobbly. It wasn’t strong. We had to fix it and tighten it all up and, hopefully, it holds and we move forward.”

MODEL OF CONSISTENCY

Ryan Getzlaf recorded his 30th and 31st assists of the season in the Ducks’ victory Friday over the Avalanche, marking the 13th consecutive season he’s had 30 or more. No active player in the NHL has had a longer streak of 30 or more than Getzlaf, according to the Ducks’ crack media relations staff. 1136343 Arizona Coyotes 5. Multi-goal gambit

As Matt Layman of Arizona Sports noted during Saturday’s game, the Coyotes have had six different players record multi-goal performances in 5 things we learned from Arizona Coyotes' overtime loss to Edmonton the team’s last 10 games. Galchenyuk did the honors Saturday. Oilers The others are Vinnie Hinostroza (Thursday), Christian Dvorak (March 9), Michael Grabner (March 9), Brad Richardson (Feb. 28) and Derek Richard Morin, March 16, 2019 Stepan (Feb. 26).

Den’s digest

Here are five things we learned from the Coyotes' 3-2 overtime loss to The score: Oilers 3, Coyotes 2. the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday at Gila River Arena: The streak: L1.

1. Alex Galchenyuk could be heating up The record: 36-30-6, 4th in Pacific.

Coyotes winger Alex Galchenyuk had gone seven consecutive games The 82-game pace: 41-34-7, 89 points. without registering a goal or assist, but the former No. 3 overall pick lit the lamp twice in Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss, scoring both Coyotes The position: 2nd wild-card; 2-point lead on Minnesota. goals. The player: Connor McDavid. Saturday marked the debut of the Coyotes’ new second line rolled out by head coach Rick Tocchet. The line featured Galchenyuk on the left wing, The moment: McDavid’s shorthanded goal at 3:38 of the first period. Nick Cousins at center and Conor Garland (fresh off a five-game run as a The number: 480 — Alex Galchenyuk leads all players from the 2012 healthy scratch) on the right wing. draft class with 480 games played.

The unit was fairly productive all night long, and especially during The quote: “We played hard. We’ve had some tough games with Galchenyuk’s second goal of the game. Garland showed good hustle to traveling and stuff, and these guys came out and played really well. I complete a difficult zone entry before getting the puck to Cousins. After thought we did a nice job." — Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet. Cousins put the initial shot on net, Galchenyuk relentlessly attacked the loose puck until it went in. View from the press box: The Coyotes played well enough to win on Saturday. They generated more chances, defended better and controlled Galchenyuk passed Brad Richardson for the team lead in goals with 17. the game when McDavid was off the ice. However, less-than-ideal puck Are you a sports fan? Stay in the know. Subscribe to azcentral.com luck and McDavid’s prowess proved to be the difference. today. Song of the night: “A Media Friendly Turn For The Worst” by Norma 2. Not a worst-case scenario Jean.

Although an overtime loss wasn’t an ideal scenario for the Coyotes on Arizona Republic LOADED: 03.17.2019 Saturday, it was not the worst thing that could have happened to a team that needs every point in a heated playoff race.

Saturday’s game yielded the Coyotes one point, which saw their lead for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference shrink to two points over the Minnesota Wild, who won on Saturday. Failing to make it out of regulation would have left them with just a one-point lead with 10 games to go.

"That's tough," Tocchet said after the game. "We've had four or five games in the last seven nights and traveling. But I thought the guys gave us juice tonight. We're fine. We got a point and we're okay."

Of course, the Coyotes would have liked to pick up all four points on a brief, two-game homestand before embarking on a lengthy road trip, but it certainly could have been worse for Arizona.

3. Road trip gets more important

The Coyotes will head to Florida on Sunday for a pair of games against the Tampa Bay Lightning (Monday) and Florida Panthers (Thursday) before heading up the east coast for a back-to-back with the (March 23) and New York Islanders (March 24).

The trip will comprise 40 percent of the Coyotes’ remaining schedule, and will likely play a major role in whether the team is destined to keep its current playoff position.

"I think, first off, every game is important so you can't take a game off," Galchenyuk said. "We can't think too much about this loss. We got a point, so stay positive. See what we did wrong and move forward."

The Coyotes picked up wins against the Lightning and Panthers at Gila River Arena this season, but suffered losses to both the Devils and Islanders.

4. Connor McDavid is good

This doesn’t really apply to the Coyotes, but it’s impossible to ignore the skills of Oilers captain Connor McDavid.

McDavid picked up two goals and three points to go along with the overtime-winner on Saturday. He scored his first goal shorthanded.

McDavid has 103 points this season and is currently riding a seven-game point streak. 1136344 Arizona Coyotes Entering play Saturday, the Coyotes held a three-point cushion for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

That being said, is there a chance that Raanta could jump back in and The curious case of Darcy Kuemper: How his success affects the future man the Coyotes’ net come playoff time? Or has Kuemper earned the of the Coyotes right to sink or swim?

“We have Darcy, who has been unbelievable for us and has given us a Richard Morin chance every night,” Coyotes goaltending coach Corey Schwab said. “He’s our guy, which means he’s our guy today and we’ll see what tomorrow brings. He’s done a great job at instilling confidence in the whole team. As far as how or when is going to be back, When Coyotes President of Hockey Operations and General Manager nobody really knows. That’s a whole separate issue. John Chayka went out and acquired Darcy Kuemper last season, there was little sense that the addition would move the needle for the Coyotes. “It’s not even something for me to think about until we get there. Up until that point, there’s no question that Darcy has done enough to be the guy At the time, Coyotes No. 1 Antti Raanta was playing for us going forward.” exceptionally well. In six appearances prior to the trade for Kuemper on Feb. 21, 2018, Raanta had posted a 4-0-1 record to go along with a .954 The real answer is probably somewhere in the middle. If the Coyotes do save percentage. make the playoffs and Raanta is healthy, the guess here is that Kuemper will get the nod. But if Kuemper were to falter, the Coyotes could turn to The general premise was that Kuemper was simply an upgrade over Raanta. Scott Wedgewood, who was sent to Los Angeles along with Tobias Rieder in the deal, and provided some depth beneath Raanta. The Still, that’s only the short-term conundrum. subsequent signing of Kuemper to a two-year contract extension after the trade displayed the club’s faith in Kuemper as a serviceable backup. The Coyotes will also have to navigate what their goaltending situation will look like moving forward. They have Raanta signed through the But given Kuemper’s stunning success this season, it’s clear that 2020-21 season and Kuemper signed through next season. And there’s perhaps even the Coyotes have had their expectations exceeded. also Adin Hill and Hunter Miska, both of whom are restricted free agents at the end of this season, down in Tucson and vying to make the jump to A strong case can be made that Kuemper has been the Coyotes’ most NHL backup. valuable player this season, a prediction that would have yielded some strange glances had you made that statement back in October. It’s important to note that Raanta, who served as the club’s No. 1 goalie when both he and Kuemper were healthy, posted statistics last season But in 34 games since Raanta went down with a knee injury on Nov. 27, that rivaled the top goaltenders in the NHL. For as good as Kuemper has Kuemper has posted a 20-11-3 record to go along with a .924 save been of late — and most statistics show he has been a top-10 goalie this percentage and a 2.40 goals allowed average. Over that span, Kuemper year — his numbers still do not compare to Raanta’s 2017-18 season. ranks sixth in wins, fifth in save percentage and seventh in GAA among NHL goaltenders with at least 25 appearances within that time frame. If Raanta had accumulated just a few more starts last season, he likely would have received serious consideration for the , “It’s been fun,” Kuemper said of the increased workload. “Your whole awarded annually to the NHL’s top goaltender, but injuries derailed that career this is what you hope for. You want to be playing every night. It’s possibility. been a lot of fun and being able to go out there and help contribute is a great feeling. It’s been a great ride for the whole team.” But therein lies the issue with Raanta — his health. Since being inducted as the Coyotes’ starting goaltender prior to last season, Raanta has Entering play Saturday, Kuemper had already shattered career-highs in struggled to remain on the ice as he’s dealt with a multitude of ailments. appearances (45) and minutes played (2,663) but he’s also eclipsed personal-bests in more advanced statistics such as goals saved above If the Coyotes were to shop Kuemper in the offseason, there would average (GSAA), which calculates goals prevented based on individual almost certainly be a market there. He’d be an inexpensive ($1.85 million save percentage and relative to the league-average save percentage on AAV), 28-year-old goaltender coming off a career-best season for a similar shots, and goalie point shares (GPS), which measures the contending team. number of points contributed by a goaltender due to his play in net. Would it make sense for the Coyotes to sell high on Kuemper, even Prior to this season, Kuemper had never posted more than 11 GSAA or a considering Raanta’s questionable longevity? Could they trade Raanta GPS rating of more than six. Entering play Saturday, Kuemper had 17.02 and keep Kuemper? Is Hill or Miska ready to step into a backup role? GSAA and a GPS rating of 9.6, marks that ranked sixth and ninth among qualified NHL goaltenders, respectively. Although these might not be questions Chayka has to answer right now, they will be pertinent topics this offseason. But right now, the Coyotes Moreover, Kuemper’s previous high in appearances was 31 set in 2014- view the situation as nothing but a positive as they look to make their first 15 when he was a member of the Minnesota Wild. Kuemper was set to playoff berth since the 2011-12 season. hit 46 appearances this season upon his scheduled start on Saturday at Gila River Arena. “This is somebody we felt wasn’t just a backup but someone that could step in for a long period of time,” Schwab said of Kuemper. “You never “The poor guy,” Tocchet said of Kuemper. “I mean, his whole career he’s know how guys are going to respond. You look at their body of work and basically been a backup goaltender. If he plays a game, he might not what they’ve done in the past and you try to take everything in and say, play for another two weeks. These last two months, he knows it’ll be him ‘Is this a guy who can take the next step?’ eight or nine times out of 10. In those bigger moments he’s staying real calm. When he’s calm in the net, he’s a really good goalie. Like any “Darcy is showing us the answer because he’s playing as good as goalie, when they get antsy they struggle. anybody in the league right now.”

“For me, his demeanor the next day has been great. He can be the first Arizona Republic LOADED: 03.17.2019 star one day and come in tomorrow, puts his pads on and gets out there. I love that about him. I don’t think he’s getting bothered by the noise around him and I think that’s been key. I think goalies need to shut out the noise and just play, and he’s done a great job at doing that.”

Just like the Coyotes have had to manage Kuemper’s increased workload down the stretch, Kuemper’s brilliant play means they will also have to navigate an intriguing goaltending situation from both a short- and long-term standpoint.

According to a source, there is a solid chance Raanta could be healthy enough to return in the playoffs, should the Coyotes make it that far. 1136345 Arizona Coyotes you usually have a good game. You just feel more relaxed. I could tell Alex was relaxed and the other night was Vinnie, and all that stuff. So you just get more relaxed and you start shooting the puck better in Coyotes get a point with OT loss; goal-scoring stats trending positive practice. It’s a mental thing. Hopefully this kickstarts Alex where he gets hot for us.”

The Coyotes have 11 different players who have scored double-digit BY MATT LAYMAN goals this season. By comparison, their opponent Saturday in the Edmonton Oilers have five.

For their 39 games prior to the new year this season, the Coyotes GLENDALE, Ariz. — Two pucks clanging off the goalpost and a big averaged 2.56 goals per game as an offense. In 33 games since then, game by Connor McDavid made the difference Saturday as the Arizona they’ve averaged 2.88, an increase of about 12 percent. In their last 15 Coyotes lost in overtime to the Edmonton Oilers. games, that figure is 3.00. Arizona lost 3-2 in overtime on Saturday, earning just one of two possible “Yeah, timely goals, for sure,” Tocchet said. “We’re playing a fast game. points in the standings as they look for their first playoff appearance We’re getting contributing from a lot of different guys. And that’s the key. since 2012. The Oilers, who have been less than stellar this season, got We can’t rely on one guy. We don’t have that type of team, and we’re the win behind two goals (one of them the game-winner) and an assist by getting each night somebody doing something special for us.” McDavid. Arizona Sports LOADED: 03.17.2019 This, despite the fact that the Coyotes were tied with Edmonton 2-2 when they hit the post twice in quick succession and outshot Edmonton 30-25. Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves.

“We had good looks,” said defenseman Jakob Chychrun, who had six shots on goal. “We had guys that were going and making plays. We just couldn’t capitalize. Then [McDavid and Leon Draisaitl] can take over a game. It’s tough when you think you have momentum and those two guys step on the ice and find a way to get it back sometimes.”

In addition to McDavid’s two goals and an assist, Draisaitl had an assist on a goal by Matt Benning.

“I didn’t think they had a lot of chances,” head coach Rick Tocchet said. “They had a few, but McDavid and Draisaitl, those guys are elite players. They’re dangerous players. I thought the guys did a nice job against them but I mean McDavid, the speed of him, and obviously the one goal at the end — anything can happen 3-on-3.”

One of McDavid’s goals was scored shorthanded, the seventh time the Coyotes have given up a shorthanded goal this year. McDavid was streaking down the ice and flew past Oliver Ekman-Larsson for a breakaway.

Anything @cmcdavid97 seems to do is just out of this world. pic.twitter.com/9knHXtSICT

— NHL (@NHL) March 17, 2019

“We played hard. We’ve had some tough games, travel and stuff,” Tocchet said. “These guys came out and I thought played really well. I thought we did a nice job.”

Both Coyotes goals were scored by Alex Galchenyuk, who now has 17 on the season, leading the team.

The Minnesota Wild won on Saturday, so the Coyotes’ one point in their overtime loss to Edmonton means they now have a two-point cushion to hold onto the second wild card playoff spot.

“I thought the guys gave us juice tonight. We had a couple posts there. So we’re fine. We got a point. We’re OK.”

OFFENSIVE UPTICK

All season long, the Coyotes have been a strong defensive team.

Entering Saturday, the Coyotes’ average of 2.76 goals against per game was the ninth-best mark in the 31-team NHL, and their 85.1 penalty kill percentage was second-best in the league behind only Tampa Bay, who is on pace to win 63 of their 82 games.

But goal-scoring, on the other hand, hasn’t been as successful. Their 2.66 goals per game average is 28th in the league, and their 17.3 percent power play is 20th.

So, two Coyotes goals on Saturday may not sound like a lot, and in fact, 12 NHL teams are averaging more than that many per game. But Galchenyuk had both of those Arizona goals as he became the sixth Coyote in the team’s last 10 games to score multiple goals in a game. He joined Derek Stepan, Brad Richardson, Christian Dvorak, Michael Grabner and Vinnie Hinostroza to do so.

“Sometimes when a guy gets [one] early, it loosens your hands,” Tocchet said. “I know from experience. When you get that goal early in the game, 1136346 Arizona Coyotes The roster is so lacking in superstars (the Coyotes do not have a player among the league’s top 120 in points per game) that while poring over the names, a national radio host recently asked me, “Who are these Traditionally uneasy Coyotes community: Take cues from the team’s guys? I don’t know any of them.” carpe diem approach The penalty-killing unit is the most dynamic unit on the team, a group that elicits anticipation instead of anxiety when it takes the ice. The Coyotes PK features the league’s leading shorthanded goal scorer and points By Craig Morgan Mar 16, 2019 producer (Grabner, five goals, eight points) and the league’s second-best success rate (85.1 percent) and the league’s second-most shorthanded

goals (15). Minutes after the Coyotes defeated the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday to The coach who wondered if he would get another shot after a tough run open a three-point lead in the Western Conference wild-card race, coach in a tough situation in Tampa Bay, and then heard the cries for his head Rick Tocchet was asked about the focus of his team with 11 games less than one season into his Arizona tenure when the Coyotes nearly remaining in the regular season. went 0 for October, is now deservedly in the conversation for the Jack “For me — and I know you guys are sick of hearing it — it’s tomorrow. Adams Award as coach of the year. Our practice. We’ll worry about that,” he said. “We’re not going to be The 29-year-old GM continues to elicit criticism from the NHL’s old guard. talking about what happened. Some of it based on his lack of experience. Some of it based on outdated “Listen, everybody looks at the standings. I’m not saying that, but we’re and narrow-minded thinking. Some of it is based on fair analysis while not going to focus on that. We’re going to worry about (the next day). some of that analysis is woefully biased. Some of the criticism is steeped That’s the way we have to approach it.” in outright jealousy. Some of it is based on those aforementioned trades of Domi and Strome, whose optics don’t look good at present, but do not It’s a wise approach for the Coyotes community, too. No fan base spends negate the moves he made to acquire Darcy Kuemper, Niklas more time fretting about the future, and it is a well-conditioned response Hjalmarsson, Demers, Stepan, Raanta, Vinnie Hinostroza, Jakob given the off-ice escapades of this franchise, but for the next three Chychrun, Jordan Oesterle, Lawson Crouse, Nick Cousins and others. weeks, try to be present. The hockey world still sneers at the Phoenix market, noting its There will be plenty of time to examine the sustainability of this roster challenged attendance figures and the aforementioned arena and with a veteran defensive corps, two aging centers and a prospect pool ownership issues, and yet here the Coyotes are. In the thick of a playoff short on elite talent. race; winners of 10 of their past 13 games after a difficult overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. The crowds are growing. The buzz is There will plenty of time to dissect the trades of Max Domi, Brendan growing. The expectations are growing. Perlini and , the team’s successive first-round draft picks from 2013-15 who were supposed to form the core of the future but are “People start talking and people get excited and start telling you how now are all flourishing, to varying degrees, with other franchises. great you are, and you’ve got to be careful,” Tocchet said. “I’ve lived it, I have had experience with it. You’ve got to be very careful. You can’t lose There will be plenty of time to discuss the ever-shifting ownership that edge. You cannot lose that edge. You can’t lift your foot off of the landscape and the NHL’s patience with the Phoenix market. gas pedal.” There will plenty of time to wonder whether John Chayka will ever have He’s right, but his players insist there is no danger of that happening. Not the spending money required to take this team from playoff contender to now. Not with how much they have overcome. Not with what is at stake. Cup contender. “I really don’t think that we should ever feel like we have any pressure on There will be plenty of time to fret over the ongoing quest for a new arena us. We’ve been the underdogs all year,” Demers said. “It’s great that on the east side of town, or ponder the looming Antti Raanta-Darcy people are coming out but nobody expected us to be here and no one Kuemper debate, or humorously imagine the cap situation when Mike still expects us to make it in. Ribeiro, Mike Smith, Dave Bolland and Marian Hossa come off the books. “We’ve just got to embrace that role and keep playing and not let anything outside distract us.” But here’s a reminder: The Coyotes have not qualified for the playoffs in seven years. They haven’t even been in a playoff race this late in the The fan base should take its cue from this uncommon group. season in five years. This is rare and entertaining stuff. Contributions from all over the lineup have forged a product greater than the sum of its parts, and one that embodies and defies the challenges Besides, what else have you got to do in this major pro sports market? this franchise has always faced. The Suns are a hot mess from top to bottom, the Diamondbacks will likely take a step back this season due to the loss of key pieces, and the The Coyotes are in a playoff race. Against all odds and analysis, and Cardinals are digging out from some disastrous decision-making with a after too long a wait for its ever-patient fan base. That’s all that matters new coaching staff and host of new players. right now, so forget what comes tomorrow and just enjoy the ride. You have earned it just as much as this team. There are some positive sports stories on a smaller scale, whether it’s the Rattlers, Mercury or Rising, but in terms of widespread, even national The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 interest, they can’t hold a candle to the Coyotes. Just check the national outlets and you’ll see how much attention the Coyotes are getting.

They are all the more compelling because of their unconventional and underdog storylines.

Arizona is trending toward 450 man-games lost to injury and the injuries have not been to depth players. The Coyotes have lost their starting goalie (Antti Raanta), a top-four defenseman (Jason Demers), their top four centers (Nick Schmaltz, Derek Stepan, Christian Dvorak, Brad Richardson), their biggest offseason acquisition (Alex Galchenyuk), perhaps the league’s best penalty killer (Michael Grabner) and an emerging young defenseman (Jakob Chychrun) for long stretches.

IF THE ARIZONA COYOTES PULL THIS OFF RICK TOCCHET GETS COACH OF THE YEAR, SURELY. HTTPS://T.CO/HUY093TC1K PIC.TWITTER.COM/BY59TFQRMW

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Brad Marchand boosts Bruins in overtime Boston punched out its defensive struggles on Saturday, putting a season-long three-game losing streak on the mat. The Bruins (43-20-9), who allowed a season-high 15 goals in their previous three, wanted to By Matt Porter defend like a chokehold. The Blue Jackets wouldn’t tap out until the bitter end.

Columbus (40-28-4), which gained a point (84) on Montreal (81) for the Conor McGregor had a great time at his first hockey game. last wild-card spot in the East, whipped the Bruins, 7-4, in Ohio on Tuesday. That was one shy of Boston’s season high in goals allowed. In Brad Marchand made sure of it. losses before (Pittsburgh) and after (Winnipeg), they allowed four each. After the Irish fighting superstar laid an energetic, profane, sometimes- In Saturday’s low-event game — in regulation, the Bruins outshot unintelligible pregame speech on the Bruins in their dressing room, he Columbus, 29-22 — Jaroslav Halak was big when needed. He flashed stuck around and watched Marchand mimic his cocky strut after scoring the glove on Zach Werenski with less than six minutes remaining, and the overtime winner. fended off a turnaround from ex-Bruin Riley Nash with 3:18 to go. The result of Saturday night’s main event: Boston 2, Columbus 1, via He denied Matt Duchene point-blank in OT, with plenty of havoc in front, knockout. and Artemi Panarin after a turnover. Embedded video “He was bang-on,” coach Bruce Cassidy said of Halak, who made 24 Boston Bruins stops. “We’re not talking about this if he doesn’t make a couple big saves. . . . He’s gaining traction again.” ✔ Embedded video @NHLBruins Boston Bruins The man is unstoppable in OT.@Bmarch63 | #NHLBruins ✔ 1,732 @NHLBruins 9:53 PM - Mar 16, 2019  Jaro Halak on his 24-save performance against the Blue Jackets: "It 403 people are talking about this was important for us to come home and win a game...happy with the 2 Twitter Ads info and privacy points."

McGregor, promoting his whiskey brand, flew in from Chicago’s St. 159 Patrick’s Day festivities earlier Saturday, and was said to be attending 11:15 PM - Mar 16, 2019 the Southie parade on Sunday. To start the OT, he was by the Zamboni entrance, up against the glass, shouting and waving two black-and-green 20 people are talking about this hockey sticks as “Shipping Up to Boston” played on the TD Garden Twitter Ads info and privacy speakers. The Bruins were ready to rumble after McGregor ranted and raved in the The most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. room. Said rookie defenseman Connor Clifton: “That is one energetic Enter email address dude.” After McGregor, one of the world’s premier fighting draws, dropped the ceremonial first puck, the Bruins followed his lead. Sign Up Embedded video When Marchand nearly scored in OT, once, and twice again, he threw up his hands and put his hand to his heart. When Marchand one-timed a Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron dish with 1:30 left in OT, McGregor jumped around as if he scored the goal, pounding on those around him and rapping his pair of ✔ sticks excitedly on the glass. @NHLBruins And Marchand’s celebration? He stuck his chest out and let his arms Not your average puck drop.  @TheNotoriousMMA | #NHLBruins swing at his sides, just as McGregor does when it’s time for a fight. 968 “It’s not every day you have an icon like that in the room,” said the Bruins belt-holder. “Just tried to have a little fun with it. . . . It was an honor to 7:31 PM - Mar 16, 2019 meet him. The whole city enjoyed it.” 271 people are talking about this Marchand (1-1—2), who set a career high in points (87), now has more OT winners (11) than anyone in the NHL’s four-year 3-on-3 era. His Twitter Ads info and privacy corner man has set up several of them. They threw the first punch. And the last. “We know where each other are going to be on the ice,” said Bergeron, On the power play, Bergeron — or Patrick Cleary, as former teammate who got the Bruins rolling with a first-period goal. “I knew he was going to Shawn Thornton likes to call him, referring to his Irish heritage — swept open up [for a shot]. . . . You could tell, I think [the visitors] were a little home a backhand from the high slot, scoring his 27th goal of the season tired. That’s what happens in overtime.” 5:51 into the affair. He has 10 more games to reach 30 for the fifth time in Embedded video his 15-year career.

Boston Bruins It was one of the most physical games of the year, the teams tied, 34-34, in hits. A few minutes after the opening goal, Marchand and Columbus’s ✔ Pierre-Luc Dubois had their gloves off, ready to go, but another person involved in the pregame ceremonies — linesman Brian Murphy, honored @NHLBruins for working his 2,000th game — held them back. Marchand was snarling The  connection was on point tonight. #NHLBruins at Dubois from the bench. In the second period, Dubois’s mucking around the Bruins net had Chris Wagner throwing the first-line center up 406 against the glass, Octagon-style.

10:39 PM - Mar 16, 2019 Columbus tied it with 3:08 left in the first on a high-skill play. Duchene scored his third as a Jacket — and 30th of the year — after roasting John Moore on a rush down the wall, and beating Halak short-side by tossing a bean bag upstairs.

“Other than that, we were rock-solid in front of him,” Cassidy said. “Generated some good looks for us. Got a call early, got on the power play, converted on the power play. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to extend it. Wasn’t for a lack of effort. Eventually, we got it done.”

The Bruins extracted a pound of flesh from the Jackets in the second, smashing them against the boards numerous times. In the third, they flubbed an early power-play chance, and while they created trouble in front of Columbus backup Joonas Korpisalo (31 saves), they couldn’t pop another.

Until Marchand and Co. brought the fight in OT, and McGregor was screaming in support of his lads.

“He was fired up, that guy right there,” Cassidy. “He’s still fired up. I’m glad we won. He would have come in and had his way with us.”

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.@Bmarch63 on his Conor McGregor celly: "I was hoping I'd score...it's not every day that you have an icon like that in the room."

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Conor McGregor drops first puck at Bruins game

GLOBE STAFF By Matt Porter

MMA star Conor McGregor, who attended the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day parade earlier Saturday, flew to TD Garden to drop the ceremonial first puck.

Wearing a black suit and waving a green, Irish-themed Bruins warmup jersey with “McGREGOR 12” on the back, the pugnacious Dubliner strutted the carpet and pumped up the crowd. After dropping the puck between Zdeno Chara and Columbus’s Boone Jenner, McGregor started waving his arms again, rather than engaging the two hockey dignitaries in a customary handshake. Chara got his attention with a holler.

Boston Globe LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136349 Boston Bruins

Jayme Parker breaks new ground at TD Garden

GLOBE STAFF By Matt Porter

When the rich tones of public address announcer Jim Martin flow through the audio pipes during pregame ceremonies at TD Garden, the Bruins rarely absorb what he says.

“You hear it,” said netminder , who is focusing deeply when Martin addresses a crowd. “But what do I think about? Nothing. If I don’t think about anything, that’s good.”

On Saturday, their ears might have perked up when they heard a different voice. More importantly, some in the crowd might have been inspired.

The Bruins said they asked Jayme Parker, a longtime Boston-based sportscaster, to take Martin’s place for the game against the Blue Jackets after being inspired by the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone initiative. Parker, who was a fixture on NESN’s Sportsdesk for 21 years and now hosts “Outside the Fame” on the network, formed the Bruins’ first all- female public address team, with in-arena host Michaela Johnson.

Parker, a Central Conn. State and Emerson College grad, has covered a championship run of each major Boston sports team. She has been a freelance news writer for Channels 4, 5 and 7. But she had not been between the penalty boxes, the booth in which Martin has plied his trade for the entirety of TD Garden’s existence (1995-present).

“I think it’s exciting,” Parker said of the idea of inspiring a young broadcast student in the crowd. “Women in sports have come a long way, and I feel it’s so exciting to know there are some little girls out there who might want to get into the business. It might make them think they can do it. I’m happy to break ground here, and hopefully I’m able to do a good job at it and show them you can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

As long as they work hard, practice and prepare. Even though her pipes are well-trained, Parker put in the time.

“I was telling [Bruins head of PR] Matt Chmura I actually practiced the ‘Wooo,’ thinking I might have to do it,” she said. “I didn’t know it was on tape. Jim doesn’t even do it.”

When told of the temporary change, Rask said he enjoyed her work on Sportsdesk, and like several other teammates, wished her luck.

“Women are getting into positions where it’s always been predominantly a man,” winger Brad Marchand said. “It shows movement. Those are opportunities that should have been there a long time ago. Having a daughter (Sawyer, age 1), and really wanting her to be able do anything, whatever she hopes and dreams, you want that opportunity to be there. It’s great to see.”

Boston Globe LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136350 Boston Bruins “He seems to be OK in practice, from what everyone says, shooting, handling the puck. For him it’s timing, getting back into the physical part. He hasn’t been touched in four weeks.”

Jake DeBrusk returns, David Pastrnak close for Bruins Marchand was excited to see two of his favorite people on the ice.

“They’re lively, energetic kids,” he said. “You get those bodies back in, By Matt Porter the personalities that they have, it’s a lot of fun. It’s exciting to see everyone sort of trending toward coming back.”

Krug remains out A near-full house of fans packed Warrior Ice Arena on Saturday morning. If they had sore eyes, they were smiling as soon as the Bruins hit the ice. The news wasn’t as positive surrounding wheeling, dealing rearguard Torey Krug, who was placed into concussion protocol after taking a Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak, each missing from the lineup of late, knock Tuesday in Columbus. Cassidy noted Krug was hit hard by Blue were at a morning skate for the first time since their multi-week absences Jackets winger Nick Foligno in the third period, though he wasn’t sure if began. Only DeBrusk was in uniform against the Columbus Blue Jackets. that hit in particular made him dizzy. Krug’s absence had Charlie McAvoy He was both pleased and refreshed. playing No. 1 power play quarterback . . . Cassidy anticipated defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (right arm) and winger Marcus Johansson “Just living the dream, my friend,” the sunny second-year winger said of (bruised lung) skating in Brighton early next week. Both could join the his condition. “Playing hockey again, so obviously things are good.” Bruins mid-trip. Johansson could slot back in on Krejci’s right side, which DeBrusk, who missed five games with a cracked left foot, was riding with would probably drop Coyle back to No. 3 center. On Saturday, newcomer David Krejci and Charlie Coyle during line rushes. He said it was his third Paul Carey was moved to a line with center Sean Kuraly and right wing day back on skates, after about a week off the ice. Chris Wagner. “[He] had some good looks, managed the puck,” Cassidy said of Carey’s debut in Winnipeg (3 shots in 16:47). “When he didn’t “It feels like a bye week, in a way,” he said. “I’m just trying to start off have time he skated into open ice, made good plays with it.” Carey had where I left off.” 12:02 of ice time Saturday . . . Bergeron’s first-period goal was his 800th career point. He ranks sixth on the Bruins’ all-time list, behind Ray Before departing, DeBrusk was on fire. Though stung on the inside of his Bourque (1,506), John Bucyk (1,339), Phil Esposito (1,012), Rick boot by a wrister from Hurricanes defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk in Middleton (898) and (888) . . . Defenseman Kevan Miller the second period of their March 5 game, DeBrusk kept playing. He (upper body) was feeling better, Cassidy said, but remained off skates . . scored the tying goal late in that period, driving to the net to cash a Krejci . Rookie center Trent Frederic was scratched and assigned to AHL rebound. In overtime, DeBrusk harassed Carolina’s Justin Faulk into a Providence . . . Linesman Brian Murphy, from Dover, N.H., worked his turnover behind the net, then scooted around the net on his bum wheel 2,000th NHL game, becoming the eighth person to do so. Several Bruins and set up Krejci’s OT winner. players, signing a “Murphy 2,000” jersey after the morning skate, He had the hottest pair of hands on the roster, scoring in eight of his last commented on how nice a guy the New Hampshire grad is. A 31-year 10 games (8-7—15). Still hot? veteran, he has worked nine Stanley Cup Finals, including two Game 7s . . . The Bruins celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by wearing Irish-themed “I didn’t really have hands to start with,” he said. “Krech has those. But warm-up jerseys. the legs are there, for sure.” Boston Globe LOADED: 03.17.2019 DeBrusk was dangerous all night against the Blue Jackets but was scoreless in 19:32.

Pastrnak, who entered Saturday as the team’s leading goal scorer (31) despite missing the previous 15 games (left thumb surgery), had his pistons firing at the morning skate. He also took a few shots, but his signature one-timer was kept under wraps. Danton Heinen remains in his place on the right side of Patrice Bergeron, but coach Bruce Cassidy said he had only “very positive news” to share about the All-Star winger, who did not speak to reporters.

He expected Pastrnak to join the Bruins for Monday’s practice. Assuming his surgically repaired digit holds strong, No. 88 could return Tuesday at the Islanders, Thursday at New Jersey, or Saturday at Florida.

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Cassidy believed he would drop Pastrnak on the top line when he returns, given everyone’s comfort with Brad Marchand-Bergeron- Pastrnak as a trio.

“He’s young, so that works in his advantage,” Cassidy said of the 22- year-old, who needs four goals to equal his career high (35) set last season. “The body tends to come around quicker. His legs weren’t affected, so he could stay active. The energy level will be there. Puck skills, when it does affect your hands, that’s what we rely on him for. So that’ll be interesting. 1136351 Boston Bruins As for the Bruins, they started a new era in net in Plante’s wake. The player to be named in the Toronto deal turned out to be the affable Johnston, then 37, who went on to play one year in Toronto and four Innovator Jacques Plante did more than stop shots; he saved faces more with the Blues (with a final stop in Chicago).

The new guy in the Boston net (with Brooks again as backup) was 24- year-old , who ultimately went on to share the job when By Kevin Paul Dupont Cheevers returned from his WHA tour.

Plante, whose brief stay with the Bruins included use of a team car, drove it home to when the ’73 playoffs concluded. When it recorded his 315th win for the Canadiens last week and thus became apparent he was in no rush to bring it back, Sinden ordered PR became Les Glorieux’s franchise leader for W’s, surpassing the standing man Nate Greenberg and his trusty press steward, Frankie Vona, to mark posted by the legendary Jacques Plante. head up to Montreal and drive it back to the Hub of Hockey. Plante put up No. 314 in the spring of 1963 at age 34. Price, 31, was just “I’m pretty sure we stopped first for a smoked-meat sandwich while we a few weeks beyond his 20th birthday when he posted win No. 1 as a were in Montreal,” Vona, who recently died, confided years later. “And I rookie in the fall of ’07. Plante was the fixture in net on the Habs teams think Harry paid for it.” that rattled off a record five consecutive Cup championships (1956-60). Price still awaits his first swig from the big silver mug. Ottawa gives glimpse of future

“Can’t wait to continue,” Price said before leaving the ice after Erik Brannstrom, left, made his NHL debut on Thursday. his history-making 3-1 win over the Red Wings. The Senators held a preview of their franchise reboot Thursday with the Among his reasons to keep on keeping on: the classy tender has seven NHL debuts of defenseman Erik Brannstrom (prize return from Vegas for more years remaining on his contract at an average $10.5 million per Mark Stone) and forward Max Veronneau (free-agent signee out of season. He’s going to see a lot more rubber over the length of those Princeton). Both were rolled out to give the angry, starved fan base a tiny paychecks leading up to his 38th birthday. bit of nourishment while weighing whether to renew season tickets.

Plante’s last NHL save, at age 44, came with the Bruins in their first- The star of the night, though, was goalie Anders Nilsson, who made round loss (five games) to the Rangers in ’73 — a decade after he put up about a dozen stellar stops in his 35-save shutout (2-0) over the Blues. No. 314 with Montreal. Interesting to see what the Sens do with the 6-foot-6-inch Nilsson, on After winning the Cup the previous spring, the Bruins dumped Tom course to be an unrestricted free agent July 1. They have No. 1 Craig Johnson as coach midway through the season and installed Bep Guidolin Anderson, 37, under contract for one more season at $4.75 million. behind the bench. had assumed the No. 1 netminding Nilsson, 28, was acquired from the Canucks midway through the season job that season in the wake of ’s departure to WHA and is on the books at $2.5 million for another 3-4 weeks. Cleveland, and first-year GM was not convinced either or John Adams could be reliable partners in a playoff battle. Nilsson, originally an Islander pick now with his sixth NHL team in eight seasons, has never been a No. 1. But it happens late for some goalies. So with less than a month to go in the regular season, Sinden cut a deal Witness: Tim Thomas, who was 32 when he finally landed steady NHL with the Leafs on March 3, acquiring Plante for a first-round pick and a work with the Bruins and turned 37 the year he finally backed them to the player to be named (more on that below). Cup (2011). No telling if Nilsson has the goods, but he has the size and he has shown flashes of brilliance with the Senators. Plante was all but lights out down the stretch, going 7-1 with a stingy 2.00 goals against mark. But a year after the Bruins clinched the Cup in a final Meanwhile, both Brannstrom and Veronneau, an Ottawa homeboy, round with the Rangers, Jean Ratelle and the Blueshirts made quick looked like promising fits in their first night in Red-and-Black. work of the Bruins, with a hobbled 25-year-old Bobby Orr able to chip in only a 1-1—2 line across the five games. Brannstrom, selected No. 15 overall by Vegas in the ’17 draft, could be the needed punch from the back end, a kid who can lug the puck. Please Johnston went 1-2 vs. the Rangers and Plante was winless (0-2). The hold all comparisons to Erik Karlsson for at least one more week. He faded star didn’t play the following year and then came back for a final logged 17:20 and finished plus-1 in his coming-out party. He’s the stand with the WHA Oilers in 1974-75, the season he turned 46. prototype 2019 puck-mover, small (5-10, 175), but fast and shifty.

Beyond recording an astounding 40 postseason wins across those five The Golden Knights had high hopes for Brannstrom, but found the Cup titles with the sainted Habs, Plante’s other large, lasting thumbprint opportunity to land Stone too enticing (added proof: his new deal in the on the game was as an innovator. He was the first to adopt the use of a desert to pay him $9.5 per annum over the next eight seasons). mask as standard, everyday goalie equipment. For decades, tenders’ Brannstrom, at No. 17, was the fourth high-end blue liner to go in that faces were exposed to all the elements — flying pucks, sticks (butt ends draft, following the likes of Miro Heiskanen (Dallas/3rd), UMass’s Cale and blades), and steel blades. Makar (Colorado/4th). and Cal Foote (Tampa Bay/14th). The Senators on Friday pushed Brannstrom back to AHL Belleville for more playing Not everyone bought into Plante’s idea immediately, including Habs time. coach Toe Blake, who believed the tight-fitting Fiberglass mask, which Plante had worn exclusively in practice, would prohibit him from seeing Veronneau, never drafted, came at a reasonable price: two years at shots and making saves. Goalies in those days also worked in an $925k with only a $325k guarantee. A right-shot forward, he averaged 46 environment that labeled them, shall we say, something less than brave if points over his last two seasons with Princeton. He was blanked in his they wore a mask. NHL debut, but he did land a game-high five shots on net, on a night when his 11 fellow forwards combined for only 11. Finally, on Nov. 1, 1959, during a Canadiens-Rangers game at Madison Square Garden, an Andy Bathgate shot to his face required Plante to Headed into the weekend, the lowly Senators were dead last at No. 31 in have stitches, and leading him to tell Blake that he would not finish the the league standings. Normally, the above-mentioned starved fans could game without the mask. look forward perhaps to landing the No. 1 pick in the April 9 draft lottery. But these aren’t normal times. The Avalanche own that pick, having Blake relented, perhaps in part because the game was not at the Forum, acquired it in the Nov. 2017 deal that moved Matt Duchene to Ottawa. where he could have told even the great Plante to take a seat in favor of That’s the same Duchene who was at the Garden Saturday night with the his backup goalie. Clubs in those days did not travel with an extra visiting Blue Jackets. goaltender. Had he not acquiesced, Blake would have been forced to play with the emergency backup tender that the home team was forced Providence adds defenseman Zech to keep on site. Cooper Zech joined the Providence Bruins lineup last week. Goalies across the league, as well as in the minor and junior levels, quickly adopted the mask. The last of the NHL holdouts was Gump Intriguing addition to the Bruins’ AHL Providence lineup last week: puck- Worsley, the lovable New York Ranger tender. rushing defenseman Cooper Zech, who recently completed a one- season stay at Ferris State atop the Bulldogs’ scorelist (36 games/28 was the Norris winner for the next eight years . . . Off year for Karlsson in points). San Jose? Uh, no. As the weekend approached, the back line wizard had 45 points in 52 games, a scoring clip of .865 points per game. During his Zech, 20, is another small defenseman (5-9, 170) who went undrafted stellar tenure in Ottawa, he clicked at .826 points per game. He will be 29 (think: Torey Krug) and he opted for Division 1 Ferris State last summer on May 31, and eligible for unrestricted free agency only 31 days later. after a strong year at BCHL Wenatchee (58 games/69 points). He also The bet here: he lands in the New York market, be it with the Rangers, was invited to the Capitals development camp last June for his first taste Islanders or perhaps even the Devils . . . The official start date for the of big league life. is April 10. It presents a conflict for the Bruins if they Now Zech is with the WannaBs, and made his pro debut Friday night vs. hold on to the home-ice advantage. The TD Garden calendar has a Lehigh Valley, followed by a Saturday visit to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The “Muse” concert listed for 7:30 that night . . . As of Friday morning, the 16 Bruins also brought in college free agent Karl El-Mir, a forward who just teams in possession of postseason berths all qualified for the playoffs if wrapped up his senior year at UConn. wins were the sole criterion for making the cut. In other words, the whole “loser point” thing is just smoke and mirrors. Better to dump the scam “Growing up, everybody wanted a big 6-2 guy,” Zech said last summer, and rank teams on wins and losses only. Like other adult leagues . . . A interviewed by FloHockey. “Didn’t matter if he could move the puck or happy 42nd birthday (Monday) to Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who not. As you go up a level, they care less and less about size. The higher suited up Saturday night for career game No. 1,476. With 10 games I’ve gone up, the better it’s worked out for me.” remaining, he should pass Rod Brind’Amour (1,484) for No. 24 on the all- time list, but fall short of Wayne Gretzky (1,487) at No. 23. Big Z does not Krug, the best college free agent signing in former GM Peter Chiarelli’s have a deal in place beyond this year. If he can play two more full Boston tenure, was 21 when he made the jump to the pros after three seasons at near full work load, he would be placed comfortably among seasons at Michigan State. Now 27, he has evolved into one of the the top 10 all-time for games played . . . During his days playing for the game’s most consistent offensive producers on the back end the last Blueshirts, Worsley, one of the game’s most lovable and lighthearted three plus seasons. As of Friday, dating to the start of the 2015-16 personalities, was asked which NHL team gave him the most trouble. season, only seven NHL defensemen had accumulated more than Krug’s Worsley: “the Rangers!” 202 points. Boston Globe LOADED: 03.17.2019 Also like Krug, Zech grew up in Michigan (hometown South Lyon). He was 18 when he joined the BCHL Wenatchee Wild, where he piled up the points and was named the league’s top defenseman.

“His vision is uncanny,” Wild coach Bliss Littler said during an interview with the Ferris State website last summer. “We knew he had good skills. But he’s a kid that plays with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. He uses that as motivation. He’s a very driven kid.”

Bruins GM Don Sweeney added, “Our guys really like him and he was looking for an opportunity right away.”

In years past, the Bruins signed Kevan Miller and Connor Clifton to AHL deals that eventually transitioned to NHL deals.

Loose pucks

No decision yet who will be GM of the expansion Seattle franchise. But league-wide rumors have it down to a three-man short list, Mark Hunter, Ron Hextall, and Kelly McCrimmon. Hunter, with a sharp eye for draft talent, resigned as assistant GM in Toronto last spring when Kyle Dubas was named GM. Hextall was canned this season as the Flyers GM. McCrimmon, brother of former Bruins defenseman Brad McCrimmon, joined the expansion Vegas franchise as assistant GM after a dozen years of head coach and GM duties with WHL Brandon . . . BU center Shane Bowers, with the Terriers this weekend in their Hockey East playoff matchup vs. UMass Lowell, also was part of the Duchene swap in 2017. Chosen No. 28 by the Senators in the ’17 draft, he didn’t have a strong sophomore season on Comm. Ave., but he entered the playoffs centering the top line between freshman Joel Farabee (Flyers pick) and junior Parker Curry (undrafted) . . . Bruins short-timer Rick Nash, now retired after his spring fling with the Bruins in 2018, recently moved back to Columbus and soon will begin working in an undefined role with the Blue Jackets front office, headed by GM and former Bruin forward Jarmo Kekalainen. Nash, age 34 and with upward of $100 million in career earnings, called it quits over concerns related to his history of concussions. When the Bruins were in Columbus last week, Nash swung by the dressing room postgame for a visit with coach Bruce Cassidy and crew . . . Vancouver forward Elias Pettersson looks like a lock for the Calder (Rookie of the Year). Entering the weekend, the slick Swede had 58 points, a considerable bump over No. 2 scoring freshman Andreas Johnsson (39), who’ll be a central figure in the Leafs attack if it comes down to a Boston-Toronto first-round matchup. All that said, the rookie with the greatest impact could be goalie Jordan Binnington, whose superlative work turned around the Blues’ season when he was elevated to No. 1 ahead of Jake Allen. Headed into the weekend, Binnington was 16-4-1, 1.81, and .928 . . . Harry Howell, who died last week at age 86, was inducted into the in ’79, one of the game’s greats who never got his name on the Cup as a player. It’s on there, though, for his scouting role with the 1990 championship Oilers “I wish it could have been with the Rangers,” the classy Howell once said, “but a ring is still a ring.” Howell, who played 17 years on the Blueshirts blue line, entered the league in 1952 with two other rooks who also ascended to the HHOF — Andy Bathgate and Gump Worsley. Howell was named the Norris Trophy winner in 1967, followed by a kid name Bobby Orr, who 1136352 Boston Bruins right (with Krejci) because he was amenable to it. He hasn’t played there as much. And we also had our third line pinned down last year. It was (Danton) Heinen, (Riley) Nash and (David) Backes. This year it’s ‘Is Conroy: Pressing questions surrounding Bruins these days Marcus a better fit with Coyle?’ That’s the difference this year from last year, there are probably two spots we’re trying to pin down as opposed to just the one.”

By STEVE CONROY | March 16, 2019 at 11:00 PM The one bit of good timing the B’s have been afforded is that Heinen, seemingly headed for a lost sophomore season, has relocated his game

and could be a decent option on either the Bergeron or Krejci line, which There is nothing like a three-game losing streak to get the local fandom could allow Johansson to drop down to potentially give the B’s a third line hysterical. Thankfully, the Bruins ended that in grand fashion with Brad with a little offensive punch, something they’ve been without most of the Marchand’s overtime game-winner on Saturday over the Columbus Blue season. That would be the best case scenario, and a darn good one at Jackets. that.

But while the B’s got back on the winning track — with Marchand’s But time is running out, and there’s just a little too much uncertainty to celebratory tribute to Conor McGregor’s trademark strut. there are indeed feel totally comfortable with this team right now. some legitimate reasons for concern about this team. Boston Herald LOADED: 03.17.2019 That seems crazy to say about a team that entered Saturday night’s game against Columbus in second place in the Eastern Conference. But the fact is the injury bug has yet again taken a bite out of the B’s at exactly the wrong time. With less than a month to go before the playoffs begin, I cannot tell you what any of the top three lines will look like.

Yes, we know Brad Marchand will skate with Patrice Bergeron, Jake DeBrusk (who was expected to return to action against the Blue Jackets after missing the previous five games with a foot injury) and David Krejci, and the so-called fourth line of Sean Kuraly, Noel Acciari and Chris Wagner will probably be reunited at some point. Beyond that? Well, we shall see.

General manager Don Sweeney acquired two pretty important pieces at the deadline in Marcus Johansson and Charlie Coyle, but Johansson, who looked good as the second line right winger with Krejci, was lost to a lung contusion two shifts into his fourth game on March 5 and has been out since. Coyle, ideally the third line center, has had to bump up to second line right wing in recent games.

Some of the big picture should come into focus soon. David Pastrnak, out since suffering a thumb injury in an off-ice tumble Feb. 10, will practice with the team on Monday and could be back playing on the upcoming four-game road trip. Johansson is expected to start skating early this week, though his return date is more hazy.

In a perfect world, coach Bruce Cassidy would have time to tinker around with a fully healthy lineup and get to know where his new players fit the best. But it doesn’t appear he’ll have that luxury.

“I don’t know if there’ll be much experimenting time,” conceded Cassidy. “I think when they do all get back, we’d like to play with our lineup. I don’t know if we want to go into our first game (of the playoffs) — we’re making the assumption that we get in, we’ve got a nice comfortable lead but we have to make sure we finish the job here — I don’t know if we want to go into Game 1 without some repetition of lines and (defense) pairs. Some of that will be dependent on when these guys come back. Let’s say we have five or six games. We’d like to firm it up fairly quickly. I think that’s the best case for everybody. So the experimenting? There may not be time for it, depending on Marcus. He’s the biggest wild card. He’s had very little time with anybody here. That one, we’ll try to slot him in as best we can.

“Krech and Bergy have both played with (Pastrnak), so I don’t think that’s a huge adjustment, though he’s certainly more comfortable with Bergy and March. So we may not have the luxury of messing around.”

The B’s also went into Saturday’s game missing half their regular defensemen: Kevan Miller (upper body), Torey Krug (concussion) and Matt Grzelcyk (arm). That’s clearly an issue, too, but assuming they’ll all get back in time (Miller and Grzelcyk could start skating this week; Krug is still in the protocol), they’ve been here all year and it’ll be easier to slot them.

But the forward groups are very much an unknown. Cassidy went through this last year when the newly acquired Rick Nash suffered a concussion on March 17 that kept him out of the rest of the regular season. But that situations was a little more straightforward.

“I think with Nash, we never had any doubt where he would play,” Cassidy said. “When we made the trade, he liked to play right wing, that was our opening. The other line was humming, we were slotting him in there (with Krejci). . . . Marcus has played more left wing. We tried him on 1136353 Boston Bruins

Bruins notebook: Reinforcements on the way

By MARISA INGEMI

Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak on the ice for the Bruins morning skate was a most welcome sight.

Without two of their top wingers, the Bruins have lost their last three games. They’ve dealt with injuries all season, but losing those two coupled with Marcus Johansson‘s injury has left them with shuffling, erratic lines over the course of a three-game losing streak.

DeBrusk made his return from a foot injury on Saturday night against Columbus, but there’s still plenty of banged up Bruins on the path back.

Getting back one of its top scorers is still a big boost for a team that has seen secondary scoring decline a bit.

“I thought I could continue to skate and try it out,” DeBrusk said of his injury. “But obviously that wasn’t the case. I was injured. Kind of just taking it day by day, depending on different elements with the injury. I knew I was coming back quicker than expected anyways, but at the same time I didn’t think it would be more than around a week or around this timetable.”

Ahead of the postseason, the Bruins don’t have a ton of time to establish much chemistry, and lines have been juggled around all season. DeBrusk was on a hot streak before he went down — he had eight goals in his last 10 games — so the hope is he can pick up where he left off and add some stability to the top six.

“It kind of feels like a bye week in a way,” DeBrusk said. “It’s obviously harder than a bye week and not the same, but similar time frame. Just trying to start where I left off and go from there.”

KRUG HAS CONCUSSION

Torey Krug missed Thursday’s game in Winnipeg with what was described as an upper-body injury. On Saturday Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said Krug was in concussion protocol.

Krug was injured in the Columbus game on Tuesday night, but Cassidy wasn’t sure if it was the result of a hit in the third period from Nick Foligno.

“In concussion protocol until he gets on the bike and skating,” he said. “He got hit in the third period by Foligno, I think it was. Whether that was the exact moment, I don’t know. When he’s available, I guess he’ll probably have a better answer.”

PASTA PARTY

Pastrnak took another big step by practicing with the team on Saturday morning and he’ll get another look Monday. After that, the B’s top-line winger could be close to a return.

“He’s young, so I think that works to his advantage,” Cassidy said. “The body tends to come around a little quicker. Legs, he’s been skating a lot with (skating coach Kim Brandvold). That’s the other thing is where is the injury…… I suspect the energy level will be there.”

INJURY UPDATES

Along with Krug being out, the B’s have been without defenders Kevan Miller and Matt Grzelcyk. Grzelcyk is dealing with an upper-body injury and will be evaluated early this week.

Miller is still progressing but isn’t close to a return.

Marcus Johansson (lung contusion) will also be evaluated early in the week before getting back into the lineup.

Boston Herald LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136354 Boston Bruins later in the week to end a stretch of seven out of eight games on the road.

Boston Herald LOADED: 03.17.2019 Marchand wins it in overtime for Bruins

B’s topple Blue Jackets

By MARISA INGEMI

It might as well have been two entirely different teams that met on Tuesday and Saturday nights.

The Bruins trailed by four goals in Columbus before nearly mounting a comeback earlier in the week. Saturday’s affair was far tighter. On St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the Bruins needed a little bit of luck in the extra frame to get back in the win column.

Brad Marchand buried the game-winner with 1:30 left in overtime to snap the Bruins’ losing streak and beat the Blue Jackets, 2-1 at the Garden. The goal set a new career high in points (87) for Marchand.

“Back home, we’ve lost three straight, we gave up one chance, it went in the net,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. “Good play by (Matt) Duchene, beat our (defense) one-on-one. He’s a skilled player. Made a nice move. Other than that, we were rock solid, generated some good looks. . . . Those were all checkmarks we hit early on. We weren’t able to extend it, it wasn’t for lack of effort. . . . We got it done.”

Patrice Bergeron scored early off a Marchand assist and Duchene tied it for the Blue Jackets late in the first period. Neither team scored in the final two periods.

The Bruins had lost their last three contests, all on the road. They fell behind in Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Winnipeg, and made comeback bids in each contest.

The B’s coming in were mired in their fourth three-game losing streak of the season and just the second stretch where they didn’t gain points for three straight games. They hadn’t lost four games in a row in any fashion since 2017.

“Getting the (power-play) goal early, that helped,” said Marchand. “I thought we had a good game. We played hard, they’re a good team fighting for their lives. It was a good game for us.”

They made things a little easier on themselves at home against the Blue Jackets than they did a few nights earlier, jumping ahead with the first goal of the game.

Steven Kampfer drew an interference call with 14:36 left in the first, giving the Bruins the initial power play of the game. David Krejci nudged the puck away from the boards, where Marchand touched the puck toward Bergeron. Bergeron moved to his backhand and lifted the puck past Joonas Korpisalo for the 1-0 lead with 14:09 to go in the frame. It was Bergeron’s 800th career point.

Duchene netted his third goal In his 13th game with the Blue Jackets, The former Ottawa Senator charged toward net with 3:08 left in the first, buzzing past John Moore and flipping the puck in the net to tie the game at 1-1.

After a stagnant couple of periods, the teams went to overtime. Jaroslav Halak came up big with some saves, including two on Duchene, to put the Bruins in position to earn the win.

Caught on a bad line change, the Blue Jackets couldn’t catch up with the Bruins fresh legs on the ice. Marchand was denied an initial bid before he narrowly missed on a pass to Bergeron, but he got himself open at the bottom of the right circle.

Marchand was open for the one-timer from Bergeron, which he slammed into the net to avoid a four-game losing streak.

“I knew he was trying to open up on that one and tried to find him,” Bergeron said. “You could tell they were a little bit tired, and that’s what happens in overtime. It’s not easy when your shift gets extended and it’s only 3-on-3 so things open up. We found a way and got the bounce, we’ll take it.”

The Bruins head right back out on the road with games against the Islanders and Devils early in the week. They head to Florida for two more 1136355 Boston Bruins game, which has allowed the B’s to keep Zdeno Chara’s minutes down three minutes below his career average. He still has a little more to give on the offensive side of things, but his nimble stick, feet and mind make For Bruins fans, a plethora of (good) 7th Player candidates him a very good defender. It may not be a coincidence that the B’s gave up 11 goals in the fist two games they played without him Fan vote has been off recently, but plenty of can’t-miss candidates this year 1. Chris Wagner: The Mayor of Walpole has become the favorite in the last couple of weeks as he’s gone a bit of tear here, notching six of his career high 12 goals in the last 14 games going into the weekend. He was brought to Boston to add some edge to the mix, and he’s never been By STEVE CONROY afraid to put his body on the line. He leads the teams in hits (231), which was good enough for sixth in the league. He’s been the offensive presence on the old-fashioned checking line with Noel Acciari and Sean As a youth growing up watching the 1970s Bruins on the old Channel 38, Kuraly. The whole line, in fact, embodies what this award is all about. the Seventh Player Award has always taken up a special place in the heart here. It’s not only long been a part of Bruins’ experience, but it’s an Those are the choices, folks, at least to these eyes. And if none of these award that speaks to a general hockey ethos. But the fans have to get it guys are voted in, then maybe it’s time for NESN, which will give out the right. That doesn’t always happen. Sometimes it’s because there’s a award on March 30, to put its thumb on the scale. dearth of good candidates, sometimes they simply get it wrong. Appreciating Chara That latter has been the case in recent years. Speaking of Chara, who will turn 42 tomorrow, if you’re not appreciating The award is supposed to be given to the player that goes above and what he’s been doing this year at his age then I suggest you go find a beyond expectations. And in the early years of the award, the fans did copy of Wednesday’s Blackhawks-Maple Leafs game. The Hawks get it right. On a team brimming with stars, the likes of Eddie Westfall, jumped out to a 5-0 lead but had to hang on for dear lives to nail down Johnny McKenzie, Dallas Smith and all won the award. But the 5-4 decision. And the pairing of and in the last seven years, five have been first round draft picks (David did their best to give the game away. In final minute, first Keith took a Pastrnak twice, Charlie McAvoy, Dougie Hamilton and Tyler Seguin) and Chicago faceoff win, buried his head and, with plenty of open ice in front Brad Marchand got his second nod in 2015-16 long after he had of him, handed the puck right back to the Toronto point man. Then, after established himself as one of the team’s top players. The only time that it another Hawks’ draw win, Seabrook skated the puck into two Leafs at the was gotten right in that time span was in 2013-14 season when Reilly blue line and gave the puck away again. Luckily for the Hawks — and the Smith, then an unknown piece of the Seguin trade, won the award. Bruins, in their quest for home ice in the first round — they were able to frantically run the clock out. All those players had terrific seasons in those years, of course. But that’s not what it’s about. Keith, 35, and Seabrook, 33, were the defensive cornerstones of the Hawks’ three Stanley Cup teams earlier in the decade and they should As a public service, the Herald now provides you with a comprehensive be celebrated as such, but they’re also proving that it’s not easy being a list of players who should be under consideration. You can vote for defenseman in the NHL past a certain age. And the Hawks are on the anyone you want, as we’ve seen, but this should be an easy year to get it hook for more years of Seabrook at $6.875 million and four more years of right. Here’s a handful of worthy candidates, in descending order of the Keith at just over $5.5 million. preference here: Chara, meanwhile, may have had some minutes shaved off his nightly 5. Jarolsav Halak: If not for Halak, this season may have gone off the workload, but he’s still been an integral part of a defense that has been rails early when Tuukka Rask struggled out of the gate. Halak started the ranked in the top five all year. That should be appreciated. season 8-2, with perhaps his biggest contribution coming when coming on a weekend in November when, with Rask taking the weekend off to Around the league deal with personal issues, he stopped 77-of-79 shots to record wins over Good for Leafs’ GM Kyle Dubas for taking the opportunity to reiterate his the Maple Leafs and Golden Knights in back-to-back games at the club and the league’s stance against homophobia and other forms of Garden. He cooled off for a while after that but has since regained his hate. form, as has Rask. The only drawback to his candidacy is the fact that the B’s are paying this kind of performance, with a $3.25 million salary to But if he truly believed that his star defenseman Morgan Rielly was be the backup. The fact that he turned it into more of a 1B role is a credit wrongly accused of yelling a homophobic slur at referee Brad Meier – as to him. a league investigation concluded – then it’s OK to be angry about that, too… 4. Brandon Carlo: After a rocky sophomore season that had many of us wondering about the direction of his career, the 22-year-old defenseman From the Credit Where It’s Due Department: Tyler Seguin and the Dallas has shown tremendous growth this season, reminding people why they Stars, who have faded so badly down the stretch the last couple of years, were so excited about him after his rookie season. While he’ll never be are going in the opposite direction this season, thanks in part to a an offensive dynamo like a Torey Krug or a McAvoy, Carlo leads the Vezina-caliber year from goalie Ben Bishop (currently dealing with a back end in plus-minus with a plus-12. He is far more poised with the lower body injury). They could have gone the woe-are-we route after big puck in danger areas than he was last year and is even pushing himself deadline acquisition Mats Zuccarello suffered a broken arm in his first out of his mild-mannered comfort zone to mix it up every now and then. game as a star, but they’ve shown some mental toughness. Coming ff a He’s yet to play a playoff game, so we’ll see how he reacts to that big win in Minnesota on Thursday, they were 5-1 in March going into their environment, but his development is back on track. game against Vegas on Friday. Second in the league in goals against, the Stars just might be a tough out in the playoffs. 3. David Krejci: So what’s the team’s highest paid player doing on this list? Because it seems like a high percentage of the fandom has This week’s B’s timeline consistently wanted management to dump him for nothing. But despite the fact that he’s had a revolving door on his right wing all season, and Tuesday at New York Islanders — The B’s return to , his left wing Jake DeBrusk suffered through a long slump, Krejci is where the crowds have been raucous. I was confident Barry Trotz and having a throwback season. He could have his fourth 20-goal season Lou Lamoriello would get the Islanders on the right track, but never and possibly his first 70-point season since his breakout year of 2008-09. thought it would be this quickly. The B’s are not where they are without Krejci having the season he’s Thursday at New Jersey — The B’s have had their issues against this had. hardworking team, splitting the two games at the Garden. Don’t expect a 2. Matt Grzelcyk: When the season began, Grzelcyk was pegged to be gimme. the seventh defenseman after the B’s went out and dropped a five-year Saturday at Florida — Last time the B’s were in Sunrise, they were deal on John Moore ($2.75 million per season). Injuries allowed him to smoked 5-0 on Dec. 4. The Panthers might also be smarting from their stay in the lineup, but by the time the back end got healthy, the collapse at the Garden a week and a half ago. Charlestown native had made himself indispensable. It’s not completely a coincidence that the B’s worst defensive game came in a long time came Boston Herald LOADED: 03.17.2019 in Columbus last week with Grzelcyk. He’s averaging a healthy 19:06 a 1136356 Boston Bruins

Bruins pregame notes: B’s seek revenge on Blue Jackets

By MARISA INGEMI PUBLISHED: March 16, 2019

The Bruins haven’t had any losing streak beyond three games all season. That’s happened three times already, though only one other time where all three were in regulation.

In fact, the Bruins haven’t dropped four in a row since November 8-15 of 2017, a stretch that included three road games.

It’s what the Bruins are up against tonight facing the Blue Jackets. Columbus, barely on the outside looking in at a playoff spot, is battling for its postseason life. The Bruins, a bit more secure in their overall standing, are still looking to remain ahead of Toronto.

For all their points-gathering in the 19-game streak, the Leafs are still right behind them. To lose late in the season by this quantity, even with the wide range of injuries, simply isn’t an option.

“They play very fast, very hard,” said Brad Marchand. “They jump into the rush at all times. They play pretty tight and have some very dangerous players. They’re fighting for their lives as well, they’re fighting for a playoff spot. We’re doing the same. It should be a good game.”

The Bruins will get some reinforcement, at least, since the last time they played the Jackets on Tuesday night, with Jake DeBrusk back in the lineup.

“It’s nice to be on the ice with the guys again,” he said. “Playing hockey again. Obviously things are good.”

The Bruins trailed 5-1 against the Blue Jackets before storming back to trail 5-4, ultimately falling short by surrendering a couple of tallies in the third period.

It would have ended up on the long list of improbable Bruins comebacks this season, instead, it was a chapter in the B’s three-game losing streak.

Against that same Blue Jackets club, the Bruins look to get back on track before heading back on the road for four in a row, the last of a seven road games in eight contest stretch.

Game notes

After missing the last five games with a foot injury, DeBrusk will be back in the lineup, skating alongside David Krejci and Charlie Coyle.

For the first time since going out with a thumb injury, David Pastrnak skated with the Bruins. He’ll be evaluated at practice on Monday before determining when he gets back in the lineup.

On the blueline, Matt Grzelcyk and Torey Krug remain out of commission, while Kevan Miller still deals with a longer term injury. Krug is in concussion protocol.

About the Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets (40-28-3) remain narrowly out of a playoff spot. They were struggling to score with their new-look lineup before posting seven goals on the Bruins on Tuesday night in Columbus.

Artemi Panarin leads the team with 75 points, while Cam Atkinson is second with 64 but leads the team with 34 goals.

With a 15 percent on the power play, the Jackets rank at the fifth lowest in the league. Their 84.9 percent on the penalty kill, however, is third in the NHL.

Columbus does not play an overly heavy game; their 6.7 penalty minutes per game are the second fewest in the league, and opponents take the second fewest 7.1 penalty minutes per game.

Boston Herald LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136357 Boston Bruins

Conor McGregor salutes Bruins and fans after ceremonial puck drop

By NBC Sports Boston Report March 17, 2019

Conor McGregor turned the TD Garden on its head Saturday night as he visited the Bruins to do the ceremonial puck drop.

The feeling was mutual, as McGregor took to Twitter to salute the Bruins and the Boston crowd.

Still unbeaten in Boston!

Just like the Bostonians themselves!!

Boston Strong baby ☘️@NHLBruins

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 17, 2019

When I say “Boston!”

You say “Strong”

“BOSTON!”... pic.twitter.com/RdcuJS34Ek

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 17, 2019

Brad Marchand gave McGregor a tribute as well. After scoring the game- winning goal to complete the win over Columbus, he busted out McGregor's famous strut. The UFC legend retweeted the Bruins account's video of the celebration.

One Notorious celly.@Bmarch63 | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/wLSEGq1aKT

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 17, 2019

It turns out Marchand was planning on it all along, as Joe Haggerty details in his postgame story here.

With the win, the Bruins improved to a 43-20-9 record with 95 points, which is still good for second in the Atlantic division.

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Brad Marchand: "I was hoping to score just to do [the McGregor strut]"

By Joe Haggerty March 17, 2019 12:19 AM

BOSTON – There had to be some suspicion it was going to be a wild night when boxer/MMA fighter Conor McGregor showed up for the ceremonial puck drop during Irish Appreciation night with the Boston Bruins.

McGregor was fired up for that while shaking hands with Zdeno Chara and Boone Jenner prior to dropping the puck in Boston’s 2-1 OT win over the Blue Jackets on Saturday night, and was just as fiery giving the Bruins a pregame speech prior to the game.

“[It was] definitely is something that’s pretty impressive of someone of his caliber and what he has accomplished, he could easily sneak out and go home and do other things. So that’s something to come to our locker room before the game and give us a speech [before] puck drop. But [he was] waiting and cheering us on and really paying attention to the hockey game,” said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. “He said it was his first ever and supporting us, and hanging out with us and taking pictures and going to the family room and meeting our family members. It’s pretty impressive.

“These things go a long way and will definitely be something we remember for a long time and obviously very grateful he took time out of his busy schedule and came down and really show, um, maybe a side fans aren’t really used to seeing. That’s very nice of him that he did this and gave us a little emotional boost.”

McGregor was again fired up in overtime as he watched it unfold from the TD Garden’s Zamboni entrance, and saw Brad Marchand score the game-winner with 1:30 in the extra session. Right after Marchand scorched a one-timer past Patrice Bergeron after receiving the pass, McGregor also saw Marchand do the trademark Connor McGregor strut to celebrate the game-winner. It was all in good fun, and it was obviously something that gave the Bruins a little extra bounce as they were snapping a three-game losing streak with the weekend win.

“I was hoping to score just to do [the strut], I knew that before the game. It’s not every day you have an icon like [McGregor] in the room with that presence. I was just having a little fun with it,” said Marchand. “He’s an incredible guy. Very energetic, but he was humble. He was very happy to be here, and he expressed that. He was very engaged with everyone and he was a great person. It was an honor to meet him and it was great to have him here. The whole city enjoyed it, we enjoyed it, and it’s something we will remember.”

It obviously wasn’t all about goodwill and curiosity about hockey for McGregor, who is also selling and marketing his Proper 12 Irish Whiskey, and there was plenty of that on hand for the Bruins players following the feel-good win. But there was something fun about McGregor whooping it up with the crowd during the game, making the rounds around TD Garden with his entourage in tow and interacting with hockey players that clearly got a kick out of his bombastic visit on Saturday night.

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Talking Points from the Bruins' 2-1 overtime win over Columbus

By Joe Haggerty March 16, 2019

Here are the talking points from the Bruins' 2-1 OT win over the Blue Jackets Saturday night.

GOLD STAR: Brad Marchand walks away with it after having a big hand in both goals that the Bruins scored, and finishing things off with an overtime game-winner with just 1:30 left in the extra session. Making it even better was Marchand doing the Conor McGregor strut after he scored as the boxing/MMA fighter was in the Zamboni entrance watching the entire thing go down while at TD Garden for Irish Appreciation Night with the Bruins. Marchand finished with the goal, two points and six shots on net in 21:44 of ice time, and even found the time to go a perfect 2-for- 2 in the face-off circle as well for the Bruins. It is nights like these when it’s pretty easy to see No. 63 as one of the best hockey players in the world.

BLACK EYE: A pretty much nonexistent night for Artemi Panarin as he finished a minus-1 and had just a single shot on net in his 21:03 of ice time. Maybe Panarin was skating around on eggshells wondering if Charlie McAvoy was going to drop the gloves again with him and throw another beating his way, or maybe he was the victim of the Bruins greater attention to defense this time around. Whatever the case Panarin had a couple of shifts where he was noticeable and seemed to flash a little bit, but for the most part he was completely held in check by the Boston defenders. Give the Bruins defense credit for getting back to basics on Saturday night and that meant shutting down the biggest offensive threats for Columbus.

TURNING POINT: The Bruins have victimized themselves with so many slow starts over the last few weeks that it became a clear point of frustration with the entire team. So it was up to them to make the change and reserve the trend and get things going in the right direction right off the hop, and that goes double against a hungry, playoff-caliber team like the Blue Jackets. So the Bruins scored the first goal of the game on the PP less than six minutes into the proceedings to finally secure a lead, and then they outshot the Blue Jackets by a 12-6 margin in the opening period to really control play. Sure they gave up a goal to surrender their lead on a John Moore miscue at the end of the period, but it was a much better jump out of the starting gate for the Bruins.

HONORABLE MENTION: The other half of the OT scoring duo, Patrice Bergeron, had himself an incredible night as well. It was Bergeron that scored the PP goal in the first period to finally get the Bruins off to a better start, and then it was Bergeron again feeding Marchand in overtime for the one-timer game-winning goal. Bergeron finished with a goal, two points and a plus-1 rating in 18:51 of ice time, had eight shot attempts, two takeaways and won 14-of-23 face-off wins while truly dominating the Columbus centers in that category. Not only that, but Bergeron did the job at the defensive end of the ice as well. On many nights the B’s can say their best players were actually their best players, and this was one of those such nights for Bergeron and Marchand.

BY THE NUMBERS: 16 – the home point streaks for both Patrice Bergeron (10 goals, 23 points) and Brad Marchand (11 goals, 30 points) after they connected on the overtime game-winner vs. Columbus.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “He’s fired up, that guy.” –Bruce Cassidy on MMA fighter/boxer Conor McGregor after he took in Saturday night’s Bruins/Blue Jackets game during Irish Appreciation Night.

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Patrice Bergeron hit another historic milestone with this Bruins goal

By Darren Hartwell March 16, 2019

Add another highlight to Patrice Bergeron's future Hockey Hall of Fame reel.

The Boston Bruins forward tallied his 66th point of the season Saturday night, opening the scoring against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a nifty backhand goal.

What a year for No. 37.

1,000 games ✅

800 points ✅#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/2FTaWOIFfK

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 16, 2019

What made this goal so special? It was Bergeron's 800th career point.

Patrice Bergeron's goal was the 800th point of his career.

Congrats, Bergy! #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/aVCog70X3x

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 16, 2019

That puts the 33-year-old in elite NHL company, as he's now one of only 14 active NHL players with at least 800 points. (His former Bruins teammate, , tops the list at 1,469).

Bergeron already passed the 1,000-career-game mark earlier this year and certainly hasn't lost a step; he's just four goals, nine points and six total points away from matching career highs for a season in all three categories.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136361 Boston Bruins FINAL:#NHLBruins- 2#CBJ- 1 pic.twitter.com/azKkHXXI8V

— Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) March 17, 2019

Highlights from the Bruins' 2-1 OT win over the Blue Jackets UP NEXT

TUESDAY: at Islanders, 7 p.m. (NESN)

By Joe Haggerty March 16, 2019 7:32 PM THURSDAY: at Devils, 7 p.m. (NESN)

SATURDAY: at Panthers, 7 p.m. (NESN)

IN BRIEF: Patrice Bergeron tallied his 800th point in a defensive Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.17.2019 showdown with the streaking Blue Jackets. The two teams were held scoreless through two periods, but then Brad Marchand put in the game- winner in overtime.

Patrice Bergeron had a power play strike in the first period for the Bruins to finally, finally get them off to a good start after tons of poor beginnings in the recent past for the Black and Gold. It was a nice play by David Krejci to hold onto the puck under pressure before setting things in motion for the rest of the B’s power play group, but it was the perfect finish by No. 37 that got Boston on the board early in the game. It also allowed the Bruins to play with the lead for the first time in a while and keep from sinking into a hole when a defensive breakdown at the end of the first period evened things up between the two clubs.

John Moore got completely used like a turnstile by Matt Duchene on a goal in the final minutes of the first period the Columbus Blue Jackets. It looked like Moore had position on Duchene against the sideboards, but the speedy Columbus center just spun off him and then put on a top shelf shot against Jaroslav Halak to tie up the game. Those are the kind of breakdowns that the Bruins just can’t afford to have from Moore, who is in the lineup to avoid those kinds of things rather than in there for anything he’s going to bring offensively. Moore has been okay this season, but it’s plays like that which make you wonder why they signed him to a five-year contract.

Give the Bruins credit for most definitely tightening things up in the defensive zone. The mental mistakes were at a minimum, the attention to detail was good and the battle around the net was exceptional. They’ve allowed only 15 shots on net through two periods to the Blue Jackets, and the one John Moore coverage mistake in the defensive zone is the only issue that’s led to a goal against. That’s a far cry from the three games on the road trip where the Bruins were allowing all kinds of quality offensive chances around the net.

Once again the Bruins find a way to win on home ice. Certainly the road proved to be their kryptonite with the three game losing stretch in Pittsburgh, Columbus and Winnipeg, but the Bruins got back to their winning ways by tightening the defense and pushing things to overtime. When they got there it was Brad Marchand scoring the game-winner off a one-timer from a Patrice Bergeron pass, and then he did the Conor McGregor strut with the Irish fighter watching on from the TD Garden Zamboni entrance after taking in the game tonight. Patrice Bergeron picking up his 800th point, Marchand bagging the game-winner and McGregor in the house for Irish Appreciation Night made it one of those evenings to remember.

ḏ HIGHLIGHTS ḏ

BERGERON'S 800TH POINT PUTS B'S UP 1-0

What a year for No. 37.

1,000 games ✅

800 points ✅#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/2FTaWOIFfK

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 16, 2019

DUCHENE TIES IT UP

 GOAL

John Moore gets burned and Matt Duchene ties things up

16:52 Duchene (30)- Savard, Nutivaara#NHLBruins- 1#CBJ- 1 pic.twitter.com/LBRtXI316i

— Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) March 16, 2019

MARCHAND FOR THE WIN

Brad Marchand gets the game winner for the #NHLBruins and cellys like McGregor 1136362 Boston Bruins

Conor McGregor almost snubbed Zdeno Chara after Bruins game puck drop

By Darren Hartwell March 16, 2019

It's Irish Heritage Night at TD Garden on Saturday night. So, the Boston Bruins brought in one of Ireland's biggest stars to celebrate.

UFC superstar Conor McGregor took the ice Saturday night before the Bruins' game against the Columbus Blue Jackets to perform the ceremonial puck drop, drawing huge cheers from a surprised Garden crowd in the process.

— NESN (@NESN) March 16, 2019

Here's a closer look, as "The Notorious" nearly forgot to shake hands with Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara and Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner after the drop.

C'mon, @TheNotoriousMMA — you can't skip the #HockeyHandshakes now.  pic.twitter.com/dfvbnutTQf

— NHL (@NHL) March 16, 2019

You'll forgive McGregor if he was a little out of sorts; the Dublin native was in Chicago just hours earlier leading the city's St. Patrick's Day parade.

View this post on Instagram

Leading the charge for the St. Patrick’s day Parade here in the great city of Chicago! Thank you to my friends Jim and Michelle and the entire plumbers unions, and also the City’s Mayor, Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Thank you so much for the hospitality! What a city! What a parade! What an honour!! I am one proud Irishman today, and everyday, thank you all so much! Slainte ☘️

A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Mar 16, 2019 at 2:33pm PDT

The former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion also is facing some legal trouble after he was arrested Monday in Miami for allegedly smashing a fan's phone.

But those charges didn't seem to bother McGregor, who was his normal charismatic self at the Garden on Saturday.

It's the @NHLBruins #Irish Heritage Night and @TheNotoriousMMA is in the house  #NHLBruins

(B's by a million) pic.twitter.com/ddRkEeo0Tc

— Alex Kraemer (@Alex_Kraemer3) March 16, 2019

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David Krejci discusses rotating linemates, playoffs in interview

By NBC Sports Boston Staff March 16, 2019

David Krejci's performance this season has been consistent. And this has been in spite of a lack of consistency in his linemates.

This season, Krejci has played alongside several different wings this season including Jake DeBrusk, David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, and Marcus Johansson, to name just a few. Numerous injuries have necessitated this constant shuffling, but Krejci hasn't let that phase him.

The long-time Boston Bruins center recently opened up to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski about his constantly rotating linemates in a wide-ranging interview.

For me, nothing really changes much. Obviously with different players, the chemistry's not always there, so you have to simplify your game, which I've had to do recently. But I just have to get ready, play my A- game and try to help my teammates out. When I play well, I make my linemates better.

Krejci certainly has been ready to play this year, as he has notched 62 points and is on pace for the second-highest point total of his career. Once the Bruins get fully healthy and Krejci can build up more chemistry with his linemates, the sky will be the limit for him and his unit.

Krejci also opened up on his thoughts about the NHL's playoff format, which has become a hot-button issue in recent weeks. Krejci had a bit of a different take than many when asked if the format bothered him.

Maybe when they first started this format a few years back, it did. But now we've accepted it. If you want to win the Cup, you have to beat the best teams. So at the end of the day, the format doesn't really matter. Maybe down the road they can change the format again. We'll see. Right now, we have to focus on this, secure home-ice advantage. It looks like Toronto, but who knows? We have a few games left here.

Recently, Krejci's teammate Brad Marchand said he didn't think the format was fair but echoed Krejci's sentiment that it is what it is. Both are focused on the upcoming playoff run and will look to get the Bruins, losers of three straight, back on track against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

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DeBrusk, Pastrnak back at Bruins practice, Krug out with concussion

By Joe Haggerty March 16, 2019 12:47 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass – The Bruins struggled on their three-game road trip while missing a handful of regulars with injuries, but it looks like they’re getting a couple of top-six wingers back soon.

Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak returned to the morning skate practice ice on Saturday at Warrior Ice Arena and DeBrusk (foot) is expected to slot back into the Black and Gold lineup tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets. With DeBrusk back, it’s expected that rookie Trent Frederic will be the healthy scratch after playing in each of the past two regulation losses at Winnipeg and Columbus.

DeBrusk has missed the past 10 days and five games with the injury, but clearly, it could have been worse after his left foot was in a protective boot as recently as last week.

“I’m feeling pretty good. It was great to be on the ice today with the guys and skating today, so obviously, things are good,” said DeBrusk, who had three goals and five points in the five games leading up to the injury. “I originally didn’t know how long [I’d be out], and was kind of taking it day-by-day. I knew I was coming back quicker than expected, but I know it was going to be about a week for the timetable.

“Missing around a week of time is kind of like a bye week in a way. Obviously, it’s harder than a bye week and not really the same, but it is similar timeframes. I’m just trying to start where I left off and go from there.”

Pastrnak, recovering from surgery to repair his broken thumb, skated with a stick in his hand on Saturday morning and wasn’t wearing any kind of non-contact jersey, so it’s clear he’s making steady progress toward a return to the lineup this week.

Pastrnak is out for tonight’s game vs. Columbus, but could be a possibility for next week once he gets through a full practice with the team.

“Jake will go for warm-ups and unless there’s some kind of setback we’re expecting to have him in the lineup,” said Bruce Cassidy. “Monday is the next full practice for the team and he’ll be out there. So that’s very positive news. Assuming he gets through that practice clean, then we need to start thinking about a timeline for a return to games whether that’s Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. That’s a good step.

Clearly, when both return the Bruins will get a lot of their offensive firepower back. Both Marcus Johansson (lung contusion) and Matt Grzelcyk (right arm) are expected to return to skating next week, too. Torey Krug is in the concussion protocol after taking a hit in the third period of the Tuesday night loss to Columbus and was missing from the practice ice Saturday. Likewise, Kevan Miller (upper body) is feeling better, but still isn’t ready to resume skating.

“We anticipate [Grzelcyk and Johansson] both skating with us next week," Cassidy said. "Krug is in the concussion protocol, but [he won’t be practicing] until he gets back on the bike and gets skating. Miller is feeling better, but not ready to go back on the ice.”

Jaroslav Halak will get the start between the pipes as Boston attempts to snap their three-game losing streak.

Here are the projected Bruins line combos and D-pairings vs. the Blue Jackets based on the morning skate:

Marchand-Bergeron-Heinen

DeBrusk-Krejci-Coyle

Nordstrom-Acciari-Backes

Carey-Kuraly-Wagner

Chara-McAvoy

Moore-Carlo

Kampfer-Clifton 1136365 Boston Bruins Pastrnak will play with a splint on his left thumb, which is his top hand as a right-handed shot. It will likely take him a few practices to get used to it, but equipment managers can alter the splint, glove, stick and tape to find David Pastrnak is almost here — and so are the playoffs. Will he be fully the best grip for a player coming back from a hand injury. sharp when they begin? The one true area of adjustment will be the physical aspect of the game, since Pastrnak hasn’t had any body contact in more than a month. Opponents will also target his hand and no doubt attempt some liberties By Joe McDonald during a game.

Pastrnak isn’t the only Bruins player dealing with this type of situation.

The image of David Pastrnak back on the practice ice is a positive sign The Bruins acquired forward Marcus Johansson at the trade deadline, for the Boston Bruins — especially now that the winger is sporting a and he played only four games before suffering a lung contusion during a playoff-type beard. game against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 5. He’s missed the past six games and is scheduled to begin skating sometime this week. While the Bruins’ top point scorer has been missing because of a non- hockey-related injury (broken left thumb), the Bruins have thrived, posting Around this time last season, then-Bruins forward Rick Nash, who was a 12-3-1 record. After Saturday’s 2-1 overtime victory over the Columbus also acquired at the trade deadline, was sidelined with a concussion and Blue Jackets at TD Garden, the Bruins have 10 games remaining in the there were questions whether or not he would be ready for the start of regular season. the playoffs. After missing the final 12 games of the regular season, the veteran forward returned for the playoffs but never regained his full Coach Bruce Cassidy said Pastrnak is scheduled to participate in his first potential. Ultimately, it led to his retirement. full practice Monday and then he’ll join the team on its next road trip, so there’s a possibility he will return to the lineup at some point in the Along with Pastrnak and Johansson, the Bruins are also without Torey upcoming week. Krug (concussion), Kevan Miller (upper body) and Matt Grzelcyk (upper body). The timetable on their respective returns remains in question at The challenge for the dynamic forward will be regaining full form in time this point, but Cassidy hopes to have a full and relatively healthy lineup for the Stanley Cup playoffs, but is there enough time for him to fully before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. recover his touch? “That’s the best case for everybody,” he said. In general, it would take any player who has missed as much time as Pastrnak with a similar injury more than a few games to return to form. The last thing the coach wants to do is experiment with a lineup during the most important time of the season. “You’re not going to be sharp,” said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who has missed his share of games to injury over the past few seasons. In “I don’t know if there will be much experimenting time,” Cassidy said. fact, he missed 19 games this season because of a knee injury and it “When they do all get back, we’d like to play with our lineup. I don’t know took him a decent amount of game time to shake the rust. He was if we want to go into the first game (of the Stanley Cup playoffs) without speaking generally and not specifically referencing Pastrnak’s situation. some level of repetition with lines and pairs.”

Pastrnak has missed 16 games dating to Feb. 12. The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 “If you miss 10 days due to some minor injury, it takes you two or three games to get into it,” Chara said. “If you miss two or three weeks, then it takes you about three or four games to get into it. If you miss four weeks, it takes you about six or seven games to get into it.”

With the exception of Patrice Bergeron, who missed 16 games and then posted a four-point night in his first game back, Chara’s timeline is spot- on. Every player and situation is different, but it’s never easy, especially at this time of the season, to jump back into action and make an immediate impact. From injury to full recovery, these things take time.

“Ideally, it takes eight weeks to be 100 percent,” said one NHL trainer regarding type of injury and surgery Pastrnak experienced.

If that’s the case, that means Pastrnak should be fully tuned up right around the start of the postseason, which could begin with Game 1 of the first round on April 10 or April 11. During his rehab, the 22-year-old forward has been on the ice with the team’s skating and skills coach, Kim Brandvold. Pastrnak has been able to stay active and keep his legs going, which will help him reach game shape quicker once he returns.

“If you’re still conditioning, like biking and training, it won’t take much, especially for an elite player. It’s a 1:1 ratio,” said the NHL trainer. “So, if you miss one week and do absolutely nothing but eat chips and drink beer, you would need one week of conditioning and training as an elite athlete.

“If a player is sidelined with an illness and can’t do anything, especially sweat, it will take that athlete quite a bit longer to get back.”

While every situation is different, the Bruins are confident that Pastrnak will be able to return to form quicker than most given the type of injury and his age (22).

“He’s young, so that works to his advantage because the body tends to come around a little bit quicker,” Cassidy said.

“The energy level will be there. (His) puck skill and will it affect your hands? That’s what we rely on him for, so that’ll be interesting; I don’t have a good answer on that part, but he seems to be OK at practice from what everyone said with shooting and handling the puck.” 1136366 Buffalo Sabres Coach Phil Housley defended Ullmark, noting how important the Sabres' goaltending has been when the team has been successful. While Housley said he was pleased with how his offense generated more Jeff Skinner snaps scoring drought, but Linus Ullmark struggles in chances, he was not entirely satisfied. Sabres' seventh straight loss The Sabres failed to score on their three shots during two power-play opportunities and did not get their second goal until fired a shot from the high slot that beat McElhinney with 1:01 left in the By Lance Lysowski| game.

"It’s tough, but we have to score more than one goal," Housley said when asked of Ullmark's critical self-assessment. "He’s been a bright spot for RALEIGH, N.C. -- Boos reverberated throughout PNC Arena Saturday us the whole season. Would he want to get some of those goals back? night when Jeff Skinner ended the scoring drought that became symbolic I’m sure he would. But that’s just where we’re at as a group. We need to of the Buffalo Sabres' fall from grace. find a way to score more goals, but we are creating." Skinner, facing his former team on his old home ice for a second time The Sabres are tied with Ottawa for the fewest points (33) in the NHL this season, shot the puck between Carolina Hurricanes goalie Curtis since they won their 10th game in a row on Nov. 27. They are in jeopardy McElhinney's leg pads to halt the goalless streak at 199 minutes, 58 of becoming the first team in league history to win 10 games in a row and seconds that spanned nine days. lose 10 games in a row in the same season. Skinner's heroics that avoided a fourth consecutive shut out could not They are also going to be only the second team in NHL history to not expel the familiar problems that have plagued this team since opening make the playoffs in the same season in which they had a 10-game night in October. Leaky goaltending, a costly defensive error and not winning streak. While one goal alleviated some stress, there are still 11 enough offense caused the Sabres to drop a seventh consecutive game, games remaining. as they lost to the Hurricanes, 4-2. "Obviously when you’re getting into a slide like that it sort of becomes the Buffalo (30-32-9) has lost 13 of its last 15 games and has won only one topic that snowballs into something bigger than it is," Skinner said. "For game in March, a month in which it needed to make an unprecedented us, that’s just the way it’s going right now." run in order to not miss the playoffs for an eighth straight year. Buffalo News LOADED: 03.17.2019 "I think there’s a lot to like about the way we played tonight, but it’s tough when you don’t get the result," Jack Eichel, who had six shots on goal in his return from suspension, said.

The Sabres out-shot the Hurricanes, 37-29, including 17-6 in the final 20 minutes, and scored only 2:18 into the game when Skinner snapped his own 13-game goalless drought. His 37th of the season, which matched his previous career high, relieved some of the pressure and angst that has followed the Sabres this week, Skinner admitted.

Failing to score a goal would have made Buffalo the sixth team in NHL history to suffer four straight . It has not been done in the expansion era since the first-year 1967-68 Oakland Seals.

The lead nearly got pushed to two goals when Skinner hit the post, and Alex Nylander redirected Matt Hunwick's pass wide of the net. However, the Sabres failed to have a shot on goal for the final 10:23 of the first period. They had a number of chances in the second and third periods, only to be stopped by McElhinney, who finished with 35 saves.

Linus Ullmark could not do the same for the Sabres.

Jordan Martinook's wrist shot from the right-wing circle leaked past Ullmark and into the crease, where Lucas Wallmark jammed the puck over the goal line to tie the score, 1-1, with 6:08 left in the first period.

Ullmark was not at fault on the second goal, which came only 1:07 into the second period. Rather than staying in front of the net, Eichel chose to skate away from Andrei Svechnikov, who collected a backdoor pass from Teuvo Teravainen and chipped the puck into the back of the net.

"I have to be better there in that situation," Eichel said.

The other two goals were on Ullmark. Even Justin Williams could not believe that his bad-angle shot from near the left-wing boards and below the faceoff dot beat Ullmark for a 3-1 lead with 2:51 left in the second period.

Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour had tight defensive coverage on Jordan Staal in the high slot, only to see Staal spin left and fire a backhanded shot that beat Ullmark for a 4-1 lead with 4:14 remaining in the game.

Since the Sabres' 10-game winning streak, Ullmark and Carter Hutton own the league's second- and fourth-worst goals-against average, respectively, among goalies with at least 24 games played. Ullmark has lost seven of his last eight starts while allowing four or more goals five times.

"I’m trying my best out there, but it isn’t enough," Ullmark lamented. "Not happy with how I’ve been playing lately. The boys are trying their best to create scoring opportunities, and I let the guys down tonight." 1136367 Buffalo Sabres

The Wraparound: Hurricanes 4, Sabres 2

By Lance Lysowski|

RALEIGH, N.C. — With one shot on net Saturday night in PNC Arena, Jeff Skinner cast away the dark cloud that had been hovering over the Buffalo Sabres for nine days.

Skinner's shot between the legs of Carolina Hurricanes goalie Curtis McElhinney in the first period prevented the Sabres from being shut out for a fourth consecutive game.

His goal wasn't enough to end their slide, though. The Sabres' skid reached seven games with a 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes. Buffalo (30-32-9) has lost 13 of its last 15 games and nine in a row to Carolina (39-25-7), which swept the season series.

Lucas Wallmark, Andrei Svechnikov, Justin Williams and Jordan Staal scored goals for the Hurricanes, who have the second-most wins and points in the NHL since Dec. 31. They received 35 saves from McElhinney.

Skinner snapped his own goalless drought at 13 games — the second- longest mark of his career — with his first-period goal to give Buffalo a 1- 0 lead, and Zemgus Girgensons scored with 1:01 left in regulation. Linus Ullmark made 25 saves while making his second start in three games.

Opening salvo: Skinner's 13-game scoring drought ended when the 26- year-old winger collected a puck off the end boards, skated to the front of the net and shot the puck between McElhinney's legs for a 1-0 lead at 2:18 into the first period.

Skinner matched his previous career high for goals in a season with 37, which he previous set with the Hurricanes in 2016-17. He has four goals in three games against his former team this season.

199 minutes, 58 seconds: With the goal, the Sabres snapped a scoring drought of 199 minutes, 58 seconds after they were shut out for three consecutive games. They had not scored since Kyle Okposo's third- period goal in a 5-4 shootout loss in Chicago last Thursday.

Failing to score another goal would have made Buffalo just the sixth team in NHL history to suffer four straight shutouts. It has not been done in the expansion era since the first-year 1967-68 Oakland Seals.

Meltdown: The Hurricanes capitalized on the Sabres' inability to exit their own zone, when Jordan Martinook's wrist shot leaked through Ullmark and Wallmark was there to jam the loose puck over the goal line to tie the score, 1-1, with 6:08 left in the first period.

The Sabres failed to record a shot on goal in the final 10 minutes, 32 seconds of the first period, while the Hurricanes had nine during that span.

All alone: Svechnikov gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead at 1:07 into the second period when Jack Eichel left him alone in front of the net, and Teuvo Teravainen made a backdoor pass through traffic.

Trick shot: Even Williams could not believe he gave the Hurricanes a 3-1 lead at 17:09 into the second period when he took a bad-angle shot inches away from the left-wing boards and below the faceoff dot.

500: Staal recorded his 500th career NHL point with by surprising Ullmark with a spinning backhanded shot for a 4-1 lead with 4:14 left in regulation.

Lineup: Defenseman Zach Bogosian returned to the lineup after missing one game with an upper body injury, while Marco Scandella was unavailable and remains day to day with an upper body injury. Forwards Scott Wilson and Vladimir Sobotka were healthy scratches with Eichel back from a two-game suspension and Girgensons drawing back into the lineup.

Next: The Sabres will host the St. Louis Blues (37-27-7) in KeyBank Center on Sunday at 5 p.m. Buffalo is 5-6-2 on the second game of back- to-backs this season.

Buffalo News LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136368 Buffalo Sabres reads, but he’s a horse. He likes to jump up in the play, he likes to get up in the attack and we’re really encouraged by that."

O'Reilly's return Sabres Notebook: A rare, 'frustrating' season for Brandon Montour Former Sabres center Ryan O'Reilly will return to KeyBank Center on Sunday for the first time since he was traded to the St. Louis Blues in By Lance Lysowski| July. The Blues (37-27-7) are third in the Central Division after a 5-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday that ended a 0-2-1 slump, and defeated the Sabres, 4-1, in St. Louis on Dec. 27.

RALEIGH, N.C. — This has not been the type of season Brandon The Blues got five of six points on their recent road trip, losing Montour is accustomed to. only in overtime at San Jose. Their leading scorer, Vladimir Tarasenko, has been out for five games with an upper body injury. Sabres goalie The 24-year-old defenseman reached the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of Carter Hutton, who played two seasons in St. Louis before signing with his first two NHL seasons, helping the Anaheim Ducks reach the Western Buffalo in free agency, is expected to face his former team. Conference Finals in 2017, only five months after making his debut. Scandella day to day He saw the Ducks fire coach Randy Carlyle in February and General Manager Bob Murray took over as interim coach before Montour was Defenseman Marco Scandella was unavailable to play Saturday against traded to the Buffalo Sabres on the eve of last month's trade deadline. Carolina and remains day to day with an upper body injury but skated inside PNC Arena with the team not holding a morning skate. Entering Saturday night's game in Carolina, Montour's two teams this season had gone a combined 25-35-10 — including 1-6-1 with the Scandella suffered the injury during the loss to Pittsburgh and has Sabres — with him on the roster. He endured a 12-game losing streak in missed six games over the past two months because of injury. He has Anaheim, and the Sabres were amid a three-game scoring drought four goals among 11 points with a minus-11 rating in 56 games this before this one-game road trip. season.

"It’s definitely been frustrating," Montour told The Buffalo News in PNC Buffalo News LOADED: 03.17.2019 Arena on Saturday. "My first couple years in the league we had some success and some good teams with a lot more wins than losses. That experience with having more lows in a season is a little different, but the season is so long. I think it’s one of those things where you’re always going to have ups and downs. It’s just a matter of how well you can take that and kind of recover, worry about that next game or next shift. I think I’ve grown into knowing what I can do to help."

Montour, acquired by Buffalo in exchange for defenseman Brendan Guhle and a first-round draft pick, had two goals with two assists and a minus-1 rating in his first eight games with the Sabres. He has tantalized with his speed, while contributing to an offense that has been one of the NHL's worst since its winning streak ended Nov. 29.

Heading into Buffalo return, life of O'Reilly has gotten much better in St. Louis

Montour didn't expect to be traded. Upon joining the Sabres in Toronto on the day of the trade deadline, he told reporters he intended to show the Ducks they made a mistake by choosing to begin a roster rebuild without him.

The move to Western New York did not come without challenges. Montour had to learn coach Phil Housley's system, including the power play, which has led to breakdowns in his own zone at times.

Injuries have forced Montour to play with different partners in seemingly every game, though he and Rasmus Dahlin were finally united in the Sabres' 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday in KeyBank Center and Saturday's game against the Hurricanes.

"Obviously, I’m not focusing too much on next year, but if I look back at it, I’m getting familiar with the guys and the area and what the staff and management is about," Montour said. "Going into next year, it’s one of those things that’s a positive and it’s something to look forward to where I already know everybody. ...

"They know I’m a part of this team now. I want to be here. I’ve seen strides and see what the strengths are with this team. I’m excited about what’s going to happen here. It’s a matter of building that and kind of getting through this tough time in the season."

Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill did not acquire Montour for only this season, though. Montour is under contract next season at a $3.38 million cap hit and will only be a restricted free agent this summer, making him a possible long-term answer for the Sabres' need of a right- shot defenseman.

The trade allows Montour to become acclimated with teammates, staff and management. While Montour hasn't been a catalyst for immediate change, he has quickly earned Housley's trust.

"He’s adjusted well within our structure and with his speed, the way he attacks the game," Housley said. "He plays to win. He’s doing the right things. Just continue working with him in the defensive zone to get his 1136369 Buffalo Sabres including Sebastian Aho, who has 10 points in eight career games against them.

Since Dec. 1, the Sabres have the second-fewest points and third-fewest Sabres at Hurricanes: Five Things to Know goals.

3. Skinner's return: Skinner is returning to Raleigh for the second time By Lance Lysowski| this season and scored during the Sabres' 4-3 loss here on Jan. 11. He also had two goals during their 6-5 shootout loss to the Hurricanes in KeyBank Center last month.

RALEIGH, N.C. — 197 minutes, 40 seconds. That is where the Buffalo Another revenge game would come at a perfect time .Skinner is amid a Sabres' scoring drought stands entering their game tonight against the 13-game scoring drought -- tied for the second-longest of his career -- Carolina Hurricanes in PNC Arena. and should benefit from being united with Eichel. They have recorded a point on the same goal 31 times this season, making them the most They have been shut out in three consecutive games, failing to score a productive Sabres duo since Pominville and Thomas Vanek combined on goal since the third period of a 5-4 shootout loss in Chicago last 39 goals in the 2011-12 season. Thursday. Jack Eichel will return to the lineup after serving his two-game suspension for a hit to the head of Colorado's Carl Soderberg and has At least one of the two has recorded a point on 99 of the team's 190 been reunited with Jeff Skinner and Sam Reinhart on the top line. goals this season, or 52.1 percent.

However, the Sabres (30-31-9) have won just three of their last 22 road 4. Eichel's return: The 22-year-old captain's return comes at an important games and have lost eight consecutive games to the Hurricanes (38-25- time for the Sabres. He has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 11 7), who occupy the Eastern Conference's first wild-card playoff spot. career games against the Hurricanes, including seven (three goals, four Opening faceoff is 7:08 p.m. assists) in his last four.

"It's been tough," coach Phil Housley said following practice Friday. He has 72 points this season, setting a new career-high mark, also tying "We've had some awfully good looks and it's not going in. It's not like his previous high with 25 goals. Eichel has joined Rick Martin and we're not creating anything. We've mostly out-chanced other teams. Thomas Vanek as the third player in franchise history to record at least Again, it's simplifying our game. We looked at it today. We went over it. ... 20 goals in each of his first four NHL We're going to continue to work on it." Though Eichel was held scoreless in his two games prior to suspension, Jack Eichel returns, hoping to prevent Sabres from making dubious he had six in six games prior to that and is one goal away from setting a offensive history new career high.

Here are Five Things to Know ahead of tonight's game: 5. By the Numbers: Over their last 18 games, the Hurricanes have killed 41 of 45 opponents’ power plays and their penalty kill ranks sixth in the 1. Lineup: In addition to getting Eichel back, Zemgus Girgensons will play NHL entering Saturday's games. ... Aho has recorded career highs in after being a healthy scratch for two games, while Scott Wilson and goals (30), assists (47) and points (77). He is just the sixth player in Vladimir Sobotka are out of the lineup. Defensemen Zach Bogosian franchise history to post 70 points in a season prior to turning 22 years (upper body) is also going to draw back into the lineup, while Marco old, and he is only the second player in the team’s last 25 seasons to Scandella remains day-to-day with an upper body injury he suffered accomplish the feat (Eric Staal, 2005-06). Aho is also the first Hurricanes during the 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. player to register 77 points in a season since Ray Whitney in 2008-09. ... Housley also told reporters Saturday afternoon that Linus Ullmark will The Sabres have allowed five power-play goals over their last three start in goal. games.

In addition to reuniting the formidable top line, Housley made other Buffalo News LOADED: 03.17.2019 changes to the lineup during practice Friday. Alex Nylander was on a line with Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues, while Tage Thompson and Casey Mittelstadt were with Jason Pominville.

There were also changes to the defensive pairings with Bogosian back:

#Sabres in practice today:

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart

Sheary-Rodrigues-Nylander

Thompson-Mittelstadt-Pominville

Girgensons-Larsson-Okposo

Hunwick-Ristolainen

Bogosian-Montour

Dahlin-Nelson

Scandella is missing

Extras: Wilson, Sobotka

— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) March 15, 2019

2. Carolina's run: The Hurricanes' current streak against the Sabres is their longest against any team in the NHL, as they have not lost to Buffalo since March 2016. That includes a pair of wins over the Sabres this season, including 6-5 in a shootout in KeyBank Center last month.

The Hurricanes have gone 23-8-2 (48 points) over their last 33 games, the second-most wins and points by any team in the NHL since Dec. 31. They are tied for fourth in the NHL with 117 goals during that span. Carolina has allowed the fifth-fewest goals all season, while much of its roster has thrived against the Sabres, 1136370 Buffalo Sabres 26. New York Rangers. Four goals, one point in three Western Canada losses. (25)

27. Anaheim Ducks. Surprised Avs night after 6-1 drubbing in Arizona. Mike Harrington's NHL Power Rankings (27)

28. New Jersey Devils. Won in Edmonton and Vancouver after 9-4 By Mike Harrington| disaster in Calgary. (28)

29. Detroit Red Wings. Fell to 0-13-2 against Tampa Bay, league's longest active losing streak vs. an opponent. (29) Through Friday's games. Last week's rankings in parentheses. 30. Los Angeles Kings. Still only four points ahead of Sens for 31st 1. Tampa Bay Lightning. Three meetings with Caps in two weeks started overall. (30) Saturday. East final preview? (1) 31. Ottawa Senators. One way to land in last: Just 9-25-2 on the road. 2. Calgary Flames. First team with consecutive five-point games (31) (Gaudreau 6, Tkachuk 5) since 2009 Ducks. (3) Buffalo News LOADED: 03.17.2019 3. San Jose Sharks. Started March 6-0 before home loss to Panthers. (4)

4. Boston Bruins. Trio of regulation losses after end of 19-game point streak. (2)

5. Washington Capitals. At age 33, Ovechkin headed for first 50-goal season since 2015-16. (5)

6. Toronto Maple Leafs. Allowed 5-plus goals in three straight home games for first time since 2011. (6)

7. New York Islanders. In fight for Metro title, will likely rue two losses to the Flyers this month. (7)

8. Pittsburgh Penguins. 15-0-3 record vs. Sabres, including 9-0-2 on road, is NHL's longest active point streak vs. an opponent. (10)

9. Winnipeg Jets. Massive week looming: Three-game California trip, then host Predators in Central showdown. (8)

10. . Simmonds with just one assist in first seven games since trade. (9)

11. Vegas Golden Knights. Pacioretty stuns Stars with goal 18 seconds into game. (11)

12. Columbus Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky stymies Canes with 46-save shutout. (15)

13. Carolina Hurricanes. Outshot Blue Jackets, 22-2, in second period of shutout loss. (13)

14. Montreal Canadiens. Price passes Plante for franchise record with 315th victory in net. (12)

15. St. Louis Blues. Lots of shots, not many goals in losses vs. Coyotes and Senators. (14)

16. Dallas Stars. Bishop pushes franchise record shutout streak to 230:53. (16)

17. Arizona Coyotes. Matched franchise record with NHL-high 15th shorthanded goal of season. (18)

18. Florida Panthers. Hoffman connects for game-winner in surprising victory in San Jose. (21)

19. Minnesota Wild. Scored just one goal in two losses that opened five- game homestand. (17)

20. Philadelphia Flyers. Just about toast after blowing 5-2 lead in Toronto. (19)

21. Colorado Avalanche. Still can't believe shot counter read 36-9 in third period vs. Sabres. (20)

22. Chicago Blackhawks. DeBrincat closing on becoming franchise's third 21-year-old with 40-plus goals. (24)

23. Edmonton Oilers. McDavid gets to 100 points for third straight season. (23)

24. Buffalo Sabres. Franchise's low moments just keep getting lower. (22)

25. Vancouver Canucks. Motte's two goals in 11 seconds spark win over Rangers. (26) 1136371 Buffalo Sabres And it's entirely different coming back in March when he's now fully embedded with the Blues than, say, having the visit early in the season in October.

Heading into Buffalo return, life of O'Reilly has gotten much better in St. "Absolutely. I'm comfortable and have confidence with this team," he Louis said. "It's nice not being in the same division and playing them a lot. The first time we played Buffalo, it was still weird. I had so many friends out there on the ice." By Mike Harrington| That first meeting came Dec. 27 in Enterprise Center and O'Reilly scored the clinching goal in the Blues' 4-1 win against Buffalo.

HAZELWOOD, Mo. – Ryan O'Reilly is in the middle of a playoff race, just "That goal sure felt nice," he said with a big grin. "And it was a big one for as he hoped he would be in Buffalo but never got to experience with the us too." Sabres. But when he got to St. Louis this season, things started out just as poorly as they ended in the 716. Amazing how things change: Entering that game, the Sabres had 15 more points than St. Louis. Since then, the Blues are 22-11-3 while On Nov. 28, the Blues were tied for last overall in the NHL at 8-12-3 and Buffalo is just 9-20-4. had already fired coach Mike Yeo. The Sabres, meanwhile, were first overall at 17-6-2. Initially, O'Reilly couldn't believe his misfortune. The Blues got their season turned around on the strength of goale Jordan Binnington, who won 13 of his first 15 starts after getting called up "I remember actually talking with my Dad at the start of the year quite a from the AHL and set a franchise record for a rookie with eight straight bit," O'Reilly said after a recent practice in the Blues' suburban facility. "I wins. They were a big part of a franchise-record 11-game winning streak. was frustrated with the expectations we had coming in here, expecting us The final game of that run was a Feb. 19 overtime victory over Toronto, to be a force right from the start and getting reminded it's going to take with O'Reilly getting the game-winning goal. time and to be patient with it. "That was definitely up there for big goals for me," he said. "It felt nice, "It's been nuts, a real roller coaster the whole year. But it's such exciting living up there in the summer, to have that one. It was special. My phone hockey, the hockey we wanted to be involved in. In the beginning of the was blowing up after it." year, it was tough but we kept fighting and working at it." All Ryan O'Reilly wanted for a Christmas was a goal against his former After being traded to St. Louis on July 1, O'Reilly will be playing his return club. game in Buffalo at 5 p.m. Sunday when the Blues make their lone appearance of the season in KeyBank Center. He got it. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/Z6YZWqxZv2

It won't be a long visit. The Blues will be here less than 30 hours, arriving — St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) December 28, 2018 early Saturday evening after a matinee in Pittsburgh, playing the game in Best season of his career Buffalo and then heading to the airport around 9 p.m. Sunday. The Blues enter the weekend 36-27-7 and holding a five-point lead in the "Obviously, it would have been nice to be there a bit longer, see guys, Western Conference wild-card race. Since Jan. 1, they're 21-9-3 and friends in town, have dinner, whatever," O'Reilly said. "But I'm looking their 45 points are just three shy of Tampa Bay for the most in the league forward to it. I think it will be an exciting game and it will be nice to go in 2019. back there." With 12 games left in the season, O'Reilly is a top candidate for the Selke The trade is looming as an albatross over the Sabres as they wrap up Trophy as the league's top defensive forward. their eighth consecutive season out of the playoffs. While O'Reilly became an All-Star for the second time in four years, Buffalo's return has He has 26 goals, two away from the career high he set in 2014 with been hugely disappointing. Colorado, and has already set career bests for assists (41) and points (67). He's also carrying a plus-21 rating, a huge turnaround from last Veteran center Patrik Berglund had two goals in 23 games and then year's minus-23 with the Sabres, and continuing to dominate at faceoffs stunned the organization by quitting on the team and returning home to by winning a league-high 939 draws. He's fifth in faceoff percentage at Sweden, voiding the final four years of his contract. Fellow center 57.2. Vladimir Sobotka has just five goals in 64 games and prospect Tage Thompson (seven goals, minus-17 rating in 60 games) has often looked "I've been able to create a lot more at 5-on-5," he said. "The last few overmatched in the NHL. In addition, the absence of O'Reilly forced years, especially in Buffalo, I started relying too much on the power play rookie Casey Mittelstadt to spend plenty of time as the team's No. 2 to contribute offensively. Now I'm finding more ways to be a little bit more center and he was not ready for the role, especially on the defensive end offensive-minded, read the plays better and create more. That's really of the rink. where the plus-minus is coming from."

The Sabres also acquired a first-round draft pick from St. Louis, which The Blues have seen exactly what the Sabres saw in O'Reilly's time could eventually end up in Anaheim as part of last month's trade to here, especially in his first season. He's the first player on the ice at acquire defenseman Brandon Montour. practice and St. Louis reporters have become conditioned to interview anyone else they want to talk to in the Blues' locker room before O'Reilly, Ryan O'Reilly trying to avoid feeling blue over Blues' tough start because they all know he's going to be the last one off the ice.

What kind of welcome? "He's done a real good job obviously of playing well on the ice and first The Sabres will undoubtedly acknowledge O'Reilly during the first period and foremost, he's been a very consistent player from day one to now," Sunday and it will be interesting to see what the fan reaction will be. No said interim coach Craig Berube. "Not been a lot of dropoff in his game. doubt that O'Reilly was a respected player during his three seasons but Very consistent. popular opinion changed in the wake of his infamous exit interview on "Saying that, that's how he leads by example. People see that and see locker cleanout day last April, when he said he had lost his passion for the work ethic he puts in day in and day out, not only in games but in the game in the wake of a 62-point season. practice. Off the ice. First one at the rink. Last one off the ice. I mean, "I have no idea. I don't know what to really expect," O'Reilly said with a that's leadership." laugh. "I do know it will be nice to have a lot of family coming down from Buffalo News LOADED: 03.17.2019 Toronto and a lot of friends I don't normally get to see. But I don't really know what to expect.

"Being traded before helps a lot. It will be weird to be in that building, but at the end of the day it's two points we need so I have to focus on that. And it's nice having been traded before and knowing a little bit what to expect. I think it was more nerve-racking going into Denver with Buffalo than this will be." 1136372 BuffaloSabres TAGE THOMPSONS STICK HANDLING THROUGH NEUTRAL ZONE PIC.TWITTER.COM/3CKQDAPDK3

— BEN MATHEWSON (@BEN_MATHEWSON) OCTOBER 8, 2018 Tage Thompson knows what he needs in order to unlock his vast potential “We’re trying to find a consistency in his game, and you see it when he’s on his game he’s moving his feet, he’s using his speed and he’s got a terrific shot and he’s getting in on the forecheck,” coach Phil Housley By Joe Yerdon Mar 16, 2019 said. “We’re going to continue to hammer those messages.”

For Thompson, part of that hammering has meant having to sit out occasionally. Ten times this season he’s been a healthy scratch, most BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tage Thompson just wants to be consistent. Every recently in Denver during the Sabres’ 3-0 loss to Colorado on March 9. day, game in and game out, he wants to be a steady player who can be The scratching isn’t personal but rather a sign that there’s still work to be relied upon in the big moments, but the trick is he’s freshly turned 21 and done. in his second pro season. “I think being in and out of the lineup can mess with your head a little bit Consistency doesn’t just happen overnight, and that’s something the and just staying positive throughout that time period,” Thompson said. Buffalo Sabres have realized with their bevy of youthful players. That’s “Obviously, you always want to be helping your team, and sometimes part of the reason Thompson has been developed at the NHL level all you have to take a step back and watch from a different point of view and season. Learning what it takes to be a pro on and off the ice is a full-time reassess how you’ve been playing. It’s tough, like I said, you want to be job. in the lineup all the time helping the team win and being the guy everyone turns to, to carry the weight. But I’m young and I’m a second- Still, while the Sabres have struggled, Thompson wants more, but he has year pro, so there’s going to be learning curves along the way. You can’t to be patient. let that get you down.” “It’s been a learning year. I’m just trying to round out my game, play a full Although Thompson hasn’t played at all in the 200-foot game, just trying to get better at the defensive zone and, this season, the Sabres made sure at the trade deadline that he’d be honestly, just being able to play in any role the team or the coaching staff eligible to play in the AHL playoffs. Some fans want him to be sent to need me in and doing that to the best of my abilities,” Thompson said. “I Rochester if he’s not going to play or get enough ice time in Buffalo, but think from there I’m just trying to help the team win any way you can. now he’ll have the opportunity to help the Americans in the Whether you’re putting up points or not, there are other assets to the playoffs. Even though his mind is set on finishing the season strong with game, so you’ve got to be doing those well because you’re not going to the Sabres, getting a chance to play in playoff games and get a taste of be able to score every night, and when the pucks aren’t going in for you, that rush is all part of helping him grow. you’ve got to be able to contribute in some other way.” “They’re a great team, and they’re doing really well right now,” Thompson Thompson’s former team, the St. Louis Blues, head into Buffalo on said. “I played with a lot of those guys at the beginning of the season in Sunday with Ryan O’Reilly, whom Thompson was traded for in a major main camp and the rookie showcase, so I know a lot of the guys there offseason deal and has been the picture of consistency throughout his from being here in the summer a little bit and training and skating with career. For Thompson, seeing the team that drafted him back in 2016 them. It won’t be like I’m going into an unfamiliar environment there. … I’ll move him so quickly gives him motivation. hopefully be able to help them continue the success down there.” “There’s a chip on your shoulder when you play against your old team,” The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 Thompson said. “You want to have a good game, obviously. It means a lot more to you than probably playing against someone else.”

While O’Reilly is having a career year, Thompson is acclimating himself as an NHL player. He’s already played more games than he did last season but has just three more points. He’ll have, at most, 12 more games in Buffalo to up those totals, but he headed into the weekend on an 18-game goal drought. It’s not for a lack of scoring chances.

“It’s catch-22 because obviously, you want to score, right,” Thompson said. “If you’re getting the chances, you’re doing something right, and if they’re not going in for you, it’s frustrating because you know you’re getting those chances on a nightly basis and they’re not going in for you. That happens sometimes and it’s hard, you’ve just got to stay positive. It’s when you’re not getting those chances, that’s when you should be worried. You know you want the puck to bounce your way a couple times here or there, whatever gets the monkey off your back, you maybe get keyed up and get things rolling.”

The consistency has been harder to find in part because he’s been getting more defensive assignments than he did in St. Louis. According to NaturalStatTrick.com, at 5-on-5, Thompson has had more defensive- zone faceoffs than last season although his offensive-zone starts are at 50 percent, but his CorsiFor, scoring chance and high-danger scoring chance numbers are all down.

We’ve seen the flashes in Thompson’s game that suggest he’ll be a dangerous player in the league. At 6-foot-6, his tremendous reach and ability to take away the puck away from opponents is a rare quality. His puck-handling ability makes you stop and marvel that a player of his size can get into and out of trouble the way he can. His shot gets on goalies fast, he can pick corners if he has the time, and a slap shot from a player his size is immediately dangerous. When a player has tools like that, he’ll be coveted, but when he’s young and still raw, he needs the right tutelage to help him make the leap for good.

TAGE THOMPSON SHOWING OFF THE HANDS PIC.TWITTER.COM/77BBJGLR5A

— BEN MATHEWSON (@BEN_MATHEWSON) DECEMBER 8, 2018 1136373 Calgary Flames The rangy centre started the tic-tac-toe sequence with a pass to Elias Lindholm, who spied Giordano as the trailer, accepted a return feed from captain and finally set up Jankowski for a gimme.

Playoff atmosphere in the air as Jets down Flames Unfortunately, the Flames couldn’t kill off the rest of Mikael Backlund’s double-minor for high-sticking, a sentence that was reduced when Perreault cashed in during a goal-mouth scramble for the would-be Wes Gilbertson game-winner.

The Flames probably deserved to be sitting on a lead after Saturday’s opening period. WINNIPEG — The outcome wasn’t ideal. Instead, they had a ringing in their ears — superstar left-winger Johnny The experience certainly won’t hurt. Gaudreau had pelted the post twice, while Jankowski clanked the cross- The Calgary Flames wound up on the wrong end of a 2-1 score-line bar — and were saddled with a one-goal deficit after the hosts tickled Saturday, one-upped by the Winnipeg Jets in the type of tight-checking, twine with only nine seconds remaining before the break. coulda-gone-either-way affair that you can expect to see a whole bunch Jets centre Mark Scheifele swiped an offensive-zone faceoff from more of when the Stanley Cup playoffs start a few weeks from now. Jankowski, then beelined to the net for a tap-in after a sweet feed from “It’s good. That’s what it is all about — you find out about your team, you blue-liner Ben Chiarot. find out about your guys,” said Flames head coach . “I liked a “Every game is going to be like this — all playoff-type atmospheres, lot of the things that we did here tonight.” playoff-type games,” Jankowski said. “So you have to be really detailed. The Flames had piled up 20 goals during a three-game winning streak, a One mistake could be in the back of your net and that could cost you, ton o’ fun but not the sort of numbers that can be easily replicated during with not a lot of chances going either way. You just have to be so a post-season run. detailed in all the little things, because they matter a lot this time of year.”

Saturday’s showdown, featuring two of the top contenders in the Western The Flames now return home for Tuesday’s battle with the Columbus Conference, was more like spring hockey. Blue Jackets at the Saddledome (7 p.m., Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan). The difference, ultimately, was Mathieu Perreault’s man-advantage marker midway through the second. STONE RETURNS

This current cast of Flames has made a habit of third-period comebacks, There were times, admittedly, defenceman Michael Stone was feeling but a furious push — including 14 shots on net during the final frame — like his waiting game had gone to triple or quadruple overtime. was fruitless on this night. Stone finally returned to the Flames’ lineup against the Jets, his first It happens. action on the big stage since Nov. 11, shortly before doctors discovered a blood clot in his arm. For a team that arrived in Winnipeg in the wee hours of the morning on arguably their most gruelling back-to-back set of the season, for a team After skating all by his lonesome for three-plus months, a necessary pre- forced to juggle their lineup due to the absence of two forwards, for a caution while he was on blood-thinners, he knocked off some of the rust team that was facing another top-end troupe, this should be an easy one during a three-game conditioning stint with the American Hockey to shake off. League’s Stockton Heat.

“It was a tight game. It was tight-checking. The intensity was up. And “At times, it seemed like it was never-ending,” the 28-year-old Stone said that’s what it’s going to be like when we hit Game 83,” said Flames of the recovery process. “But I just kept going about my business and netminder Mike Smith, who was sharp in a 19-save showing — doing whatever I needed to do to be ready when this time did come.” especially impressive since he had been on the ice just once in three With the Flames dressing seven defencemen, Stone logged a team-low days after a bout with illness — but was ultimately outduelled by Connor 6:27 in his hometown of Winnipeg but didn’t look out of place, which is Hellebuyck at the opposite end. about all you can immediately ask from a guy who has been sidelined for “I don’t think we let one get away. I think we played a good hockey game so long. considering the circumstances. I thought we battled hard. After the first, it “I thought he played well,” assessed Flames head coach Bill Peters. “It’s kind of took the wind out of our sails a little bit when you hit three posts, tough with seven, you don’t have the rhythm that you typically do, but I but I thought we stuck with it. thought Stoney was fine.” “It was a real tight-checking game, and it just shows we can play in those AROUND THE BOARDS type of games.” The Flames were down a pair of forwards for Saturday’s showdown at The biggest bummer Saturday was that the Flames could have been Bell MTS Place —centre Sean Monahan stayed home in Calgary due to celebrating a major accomplishment on their return flight to Calgary. illness, while left-winger Sam Bennett did travel with the team but was a With a victory over the Jets, or a bit of help on the out-of-town surprise scratch. The official word is that the 22-year-old Bennett — scoreboard, they had their first opportunity to clinch a playoff berth. ranked second on the team in hits — is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. “We were hoping when we got into Winnipeg, in the morning, it It’s only a matter of time, of course, but that particular party will have to would be better,” Peters said. “And it went the other way. It was worse, wait. so he couldn’t go” . . . With Monahan missing his first spin of the season, depth centre Derek Ryan scored a promotion to work between Johnny “That’s the goal, obviously. Tonight, it was right there for us,” said Flames Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm on the first line, while rookie Andrew captain Mark Giordano. “It’s tough. It’s a tough loss in a hard-fought Mangiapane auditioned on the top power-play unit. Forward call-up Alan game on a back-to-back. I definitely felt like we could have come in and Quine was also plugged in against the Jets, his first big-league got a least a point there, and we didn’t.” appearance since just after Christmas . . . Thanks to Saturday’s second- These losses are tougher to swallow when you’re scratching and clawing period thing-of-beauty, the Flames boosted their league-leading total to for a playoff spot. 17 shorthanded goals, their most productive winter on the penalty-kill since 1997-98 . . . It’s not the first time that Peters has mentioned Mark Thanks to their superb season, the Flames (44-21-7) don’t have to sweat Giordano in the same breath as one of the NHL’s legendary defencemen, Saturday’s result. but this sort of praise from Saturday’s early availability is worth repeating. “The more you’re around him, the best comparison is Nick Lidstrom — as Mark Jankowski scored the lone goal for the out-of-town guests in a person, as a leader, the way that he goes about his business, his Winnipeg, notching his fifth shortie of the season on an odd-man rush in professionalism . . . ” said Peters, an assistant coach in Detroit for the the second. final winter of Lidstrom’s incredible career with the Red Wings. “He gets it. Every day, he is doing something to make sure he’s ready to play when the lights come on.” OFF THE GLASS

Jets captain Blake Wheeler was fired up about Saturday’s triumph. So much so that he let an F-bomb slip in his post-game media scrum. “2-1 at home against the best team in the West is a (bleeping) beautiful win,” Wheeler said . . . Flames fans were treated to a rare double this past week, with Gaudreau exploding for six points on the New Jersey Devils and Matthew Tkachuk following that up with a five-point pile-up in the next outing against the New York Rangers. You don’t see that sort of back-to-back bonanza very often. In fact, it’s been more than a decade since teammates posted five-plus points in consecutive contests, with the Anaheim Ducks’ duo of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry doing the honours in October 2008 . . . The Calgary Hitmen now know their assignment for the first round of the playoffs. Mark Kastelic, Jack McNaughton & Co. will open their spring quest against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136374 Calgary Flames THIS N’ THAT

The Jets’ power-play operates at a league-best 32.1% clip on home ice … The NHL announced that tickets for the 2019 Tim Hortons NHL Flames' GameDay at Jets: 5 storylines Heritage Classic — the Jets and Flames will meet midway for an outdoor game in October at Mosaic Stadium in Regina — go on sale April 25 … After missing three-plus months due to a blood clot, Winnipeg-raised Wes Gilbertson defenceman Michael Stone has been cleared to return to action on Calgary’s blue-line. He’s been scratched for the past two games since a

minor-league conditioning stint. CALGARY FLAMES FLAMES LINEUP GameDay: Rangers at Flames Forwards Winnipeg Jets' Bryan Little (18) checks Calgary Flames' Derek Ryan (10) – Sean Monahan – Elias Lindholm during first period NHL action in Winnipeg on Thursday, December 27, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods ORG XMIT: JGW103THE Matthew Tkachuk – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods Sam Bennett – Mark Jankowski – Austin Czarnik SATURDAY Andrew Mangiapane – Derek Ryan – Garnet Hathaway Calgary Flames (43-20-7*) at Winnipeg Jets (41-25-4) Defence 6 p.m. CT/5 p.m. MT, Bell MTS Place, Sportsnet West TJ Brodie – Mark Giordano * Prior to Friday’s home game against New York Rangers Noah Hanifin – Travis Hamonic THE BIG MATCHUP Oscar Fantenberg – Rasmus Andersson Top line vs. top line Goaltenders It’s tired but it’s true — you really do need your big guns to be at their best in these heavyweight matchups. Winnipeg’s top trio of Mark Mike Smith Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine combined for seven points in David Rittich Thursday’s 4-3 triumph over the Boston Bruins. The Jets’ captain, Wheeler, has been leading the offensive charge with eight markers and JETS LINEUP 13 points in seven skates during the month of March and just hit the 20- goal plateau for the sixth consecutive campaign. Meanwhile, the Flames’ Forwards first line should be feeling fine after a 14-point explosion in Tuesday’s 9-4 Patrik Laine – Mark Scheifele – Blake Wheeler trouncing of the New Jersey Devils. That included a hat-trick and career- best six-point night for Johnny Gaudreau, who must have been sick of Kyle Connor – Kevin Hayes – Nik Ehlers answering questions about his recent scoring woes. His pals, Sean Brendan Tanev – Adam Lowry – Bryan Little Monahan and Elias Lindholm, chipped in four points apiece. Mathieu Perreault – Andrew Copp – Jack Roslovic FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME Defence DIVISION DREAMS Nathan Beaulieu – Jacob Trouba With just three weeks remaining on the regular-season slate, both of these squads are focused on the quest for top spot in their respective Dmitry Kulikov – Tyler Myers divisions. The Jets, who snapped a two-game slide with Thursday’s 4-3 bounce-back against the Boston Bruins, and Nashville Predators are Ben Chiarot – Sami Niku battling for bragging rights in the Central, while the Flames continue to Goaltenders fight with the San Jose Sharks for the lead perch in the Pacific. This could be a potential preview of the Western Conference final, but there Connor Hellebuyck are a lot of obstacles to clear first. Laurent Brossoit BRING THE BROOMS? INJURIES The Flames are shooting to sweep the regular-season series against the Jets. They notched a 6-3 victory at the Saddledome in late November, Flames — RW James Neal (upper body) then returned from the NHL’s festive break with a 4-1 turkey burn-off at Jets — D Dustin Byfuglien (ankle), D Josh Morrissey (upper body), D Joe Bell MTS Place. Flames superstar Johnny Gaudreau has tallied four Morrow (lower body) times — including a Dec. 27 hat-trick — in those meetings, while lesser- lite Mark Jankowski has potted a pair of his own. Patrik Laine has scored SPECIAL TEAMS half of Winnipeg’s four goals against the crew from Calgary. Power play (prior to Friday’s action) SNIPER TO SETUP MAN Flames: 21.8% (52-for-238, 9th) He remains one of the NHL’s most dangerous marksmen, but Laine has proven of late that there is more to his game than just picking corners. Jets: 25.6% (56-for-219, 5th) The 20-year-old hasn’t tickled twine in his past seven outings, but he has Penalty kill (prior to Friday’s action) racked up a half-dozen helpers over that span. Perhaps he is taking tips from Jets captain and assists ace Blake Wheeler, who is currently tied for Flames: 79.7% (T-20th) second in the league with 66 setups so far this season. Laine is up to 19. Jets: 79.1% (T-23rd) STARTING SMITH? Calgary Sun: LOADED: 03.17.2019 It’s usually a no-brainer to rotate goaltenders during a back-to-back set, but the Flames’ puck-stopping plan for Saturday’s showdown likely depends on how Mike Smith is feeling after a bout with illness earlier this week. There was some uncertainty about whether the 36-year-old would dress as David Rittich’s backup for a home date Friday against the New York Rangers. After arriving in the wee hours, the Flames will need their netminder to be sharp, whoever it is. 1136375 Carolina Hurricanes “The first goal goes in and I think you start having some thoughts,” McElhinney said. “Obviously any time you give up eight it’s a very humbling experience at this level, so it was nice to have the guys bounce Canes bounce back with 4-2 win over Sabres back right away.”

The Sabres (30-32-9) had an aggressive forecheck Saturday, forcing the Canes to make plays in their zone. The Canes’ D had to be active, and BY CHIP ALEXANDER Pesce has one of his better games.

The Canes will have an off-day Sunday, then gear up for games against the Pens on Tuesday and then Tampa Bay, the NHL’s best team, on RALEIGH-It took one punch Saturday for Micheal Ferland of the Carolina Thursday. Hurricanes to drop Casey Nelson of the Buffalo Sabres. “It’s never been easy and it’s not going to be easy,” Brind’Amour said. The gloves fell, Ferland threw a right, Nelson went down and Ferland “We’ve got to keep forging ahead.” ended up on top. News Observer LOADED: 03.17.2019 The Canes landed a few of their own in a 4-2 win over the Sabres at PNC Arena, in a game Carolina needed to win, in the first of five straight at home. Lucas Wallmark scored in the first period, then Andrei Svechnikov and Justin Williams in the second.

Capping it off: Jordan Staal’s third-period goal, on a wicked backhander, for his 500th career NHL point. That finished off the fading Sabres.

“It’s a nice round number and you’re always proud of what you’ve accomplished, but my mind is really not on that right now,” Staal said of the milestone. “It’s obviously on what’s going on this year. It’s on finding ways to win games and contributing to those wins.”

With goalie Curtis McElhinney sharp most of the night in net, bouncing back from the 8-1 debacle against Winnipeg, the Canes (39-25-7) moved to 85 points and maintained their wild-card playoff position in the Eastern Conference. They also moved within two points of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who hold third place in the Metropolitan Division but were beaten 5-1 Saturday by the St. Louis Blues.

A night after being stymied by Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, putting 46 shots on goal but leaving with a 3-0 loss, the Canes had a slow start against the Sabres. Making things worse early was seeing Jeff Skinner give the Sabres a 1-0 lead.

Skinner had not scored in 13 games and the former Canes winger had been stuck on 36 goals. But he beat McElhinney by throwing the puck at the net from the goal line extended, the puck hitting off McElhinney’s stick and through his pads.

Skinner nearly made it 2-0 in the first, finding the post with a shot, before the Canes finally found their legs, found their game and Wallmark found the net.

Jordan Martinook took a cross-ice pass from defenseman Brett Pesce and fired a shot from the right circle. The puck trickled through and behind goalie Linus Ullmark, with Wallmark quickly swooping in, diving and knocking it in for his ninth of the season.

“I think it gave us a re-set,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We were on our heels there at the start and they were flying. It just kind of settled us down.”

Svechnikov gave the Canes the lead early in the second period off a Teuvo Teravainen pass, the 18th of the season for the rookie forward. Svechnikov also made his presence felt later in the period, crunching defenseman Rasmus Dahlin along the boards -- the No. 2 pick of the 2018 NHL draft putting a hit on the No. 1 overall pick.

Gerry Broome AP

That was nothing compared to Ferland’s blow. It was all over quickly -- Ferland picked up his sixth fighting major of the season -- but had Canes fans in the crowd of 15,171 roaring.

McElhnney (18-8-2) was tested a few times in the second, forced to make some tough stops against Alexander Nylander and Evan Rodrigues.

Williams’ goal, his 21st, came after some extended zone time and crisp passing by the Canes. Williams ripped a tight-angle shot from the left side, the puck again squeezing past Ullmark at the shortside post.

Staal’s goal made it 4-1 before a late goal by Zemgus Girgensons for the Sabres (30-32-9), who had center Jack Eichel back in the lineup after a two-game suspension.

McElhinney was making his first start since the loss to Winnipeg on March 8, when he was left all but defenseless in that game. 1136376 Chicago Blackhawks hasn't played that much. To play a bunch of games back-to-back-to-back probably helped him. He just seems to get better and better.”

With 11 games remaining and the playoffs within reach, that’s just what Behind Corey Crawford's career-high 48 saves, the Blackhawks blank the Hawks needed. the Canadiens 2-0 for their 5th straight win LOADED: 03.17.2019

Jimmy Greenfield

It was fitting that Corey Crawford had his best game of the season — and perhaps his career — in his native Montreal.

After two concussions and two long roads back, the Blackhawks goaltender finally feels completely at home between the pipes.

Crawford has come close to being at his best since returning 2½ weeks ago from his latest concussion but has fallen a little short each game. Saturday was a different story.

He stopped a career-high 48 shots for his 25th shutout, leading the Hawks a 2-0 victory over the Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

It was the Hawks’ fifth consecutive win and pulled them within four points of the Coyotes for the final Western Conference playoff spot, pending the outcome of their game Saturday night against the Oilers.

“It’s always nice back here in front of family, friends,” Crawford said. “I grew up a big Habs fan when I was younger. It’s always exciting to come back and play in this building.”

The Canadiens went after Crawford time and again, never more than during the third period when they outshot the Hawks 18-5 yet couldn't beat him.

“He was unbelievable,” defenseman Connor Murphy said. “A couple of those saves even in tight they had a rebound right in front of him, and it seemed like he almost tracked it into his glove. It was that good. Some of those seemed impossible, but that's why we're happy to have him."

The Canadiens need points as much as the Hawks. They are 6-10-1 over their last 17 games and two points out of the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot.

“A big push by them in the third,” said. “They're just as desperate as we are for points right now and they show that especially in their own building. Crow just shut the door. He had every answer for them."

Both teams had a few good chances during a scoreless first period. The Canadiens had the only power play of the period and had four shots on goal. In the second, Crawford made several magnificent stops, including a sweeping glove save after he gave up a rebound chance to Artturi Lehkonen.

“I (gave) up a bad rebound,” Crawford said. “It was more just I was covering short side and then once I kind of read he was going far, I just threw my glove and pad up there and it went right in my glove.”

Canadiens goalie Carey Price, who was honored before the game for recently breaking the legendary Jacques Plante’s franchise record for career victories, wasn't tested nearly as much as Crawford. Price gave up a second-period goal to Murphy and a third-period goal to Brendan Perlini, who scored for the eighth time in seven games.

Dylan Strome helped the Hawks to a 1-0 lead with 16 minutes, 56 seconds left in the second when he sent a pass to Murphy in the slot. The defenseman buried a shot past Price for his fourth goal of the season.

The Hawks took a 2-0 lead early in the third when the red-hot Perlini converted off a pass from Alex DeBrincat.

Rookie Dylan Sikura, still in search of his first NHL goal, has been thriving on a line with Brandon Saad and Toews. Shortly after Murphy’s goal, Sikura unleashed a wrist shot that got past Price but banged off the crossbar.

Crawford has started five straight games for the Hawks and has stopped 150 of 157 shots in that stretch, including 115 of 118 over the last four games.

“I just think he needed to shake the rust off,” Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “Long time without playing. Even the last two years he 1136377 Chicago Blackhawks

'It's up to him': Blackhawks' Brendan Perlini is one of the NHL's hottest players. But will it last?

Jimmy Greenfield

A couple of weeks ago, Brendan Perlini was the player in the Nick Schmaltz trade whose name Blackhawks fans had a hard time remembering.

Or even worse, would just as soon like to forget.

Perlini was a consistent healthy scratch during his first three months after arriving from the Coyotes with Dylan Strome, and when Perlini was on the ice, he usually only distinguished himself by giving coach Jeremy Colliton reasons to bench him again.

Now that Perlini is enjoying the best stretch of his career — his third- period goal against the Canadiens on Saturday was his eighth in seven games — the question isn’t how this happened. After all, Perlini was the 12th pick of the 2014 draft and the Hawks were well aware of his skill set.

The question is how to make it last.

“I think it’s up to him,” Colliton said. “We’ve all seen his shot and his skating and his size. What he’s doing is he’s impactful away from the puck. He’s skating, he’s getting himself in position to create turnovers, he’s winning races and he’s very involved. And if that continues, then he will continue to produce.

“If he starts to coast out there and cruise and wait for the puck and rest on defense, then it won’t continue. So it’s up to him. But he’s taken big, big steps here lately, and I hope for our team he plays the same way.”

Looking up: To make the playoffs, the Hawks need to win a lot. And the Coyotes, Wild and Avalanche — each of whom entered play Saturday ahead of the Hawks in the standings — will have to do some losing.

Having to jump over so many teams makes the challenge of reaching the playoffs difficult but provides more games to care about each night. When the Avalanche lost in the final minute Friday night, it helped the Hawks. And Jonathan Toews was paying attention.

“I didn’t watch any of it live,” he said. “Checking the scores, though. There weren’t too many games on in the hotel room. It’s part of the excitement right now. Obviously, we’re still a few points back and need to keep winning, especially against the teams we’re going head to head with for points in the standings.

“But there’s meaningful games every night, even those ones you’re not playing in. So it’s very exciting to watch.”

Koekkoek in, Dahlstrom out: After going with the same lineup for three straight games, Colliton made a change and sat defenseman Carl Dahlstrom in favor of Slater Koekkoek.

Forward John Hayden was a healthy scratch for the fourth straight game.

“First of all, Dahlstrom’s been really good,” Colliton said. “Last game maybe not as good. And it’s long enough for Koekkoek (to sit). We think he’s been really good for us. He also had a bit of a drop-off and now he’s had a few games to sit on it.

“I think he’ll respond. He’s going to give our lineup some energy, hopefully a high level.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136378 Chicago Blackhawks waited for pucks to come into the middle and break it out.. That was great by us to not lose our cool at the end there.”

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 03.17.2019 Corey Crawford’s 48-save shutout carries Blackhawks to fifth straight victory

By Mark Potash

MONTREAL — It was just like old times for the Blackhawks on Saturday night, with a crowd of reporters around Corey Crawford and a teammate playfully mocking all the attention he was getting for another virtuoso performance.

“What a stud. What a stud,” defenseman Brent Seabrook said as he walked out of the Blackhawks’ locker room after Crawford’s magnificent 48-save shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Montreal -Canadiens at Bell Centre.

Crawford chuckled sheepishly and continued his low-key response to another question about just how great he was. Even with five consecutive victories, the Hawks might still be long shots to make the playoffs. But Crawford’s excellence -provided yet another reminder that when he’s healthy and on his game, anything is possible.

“He was unbelievable,” Hawks captain Jonathan Toews said. “How many point-blank chances did we give up? He’s just throwing any limb he can at the puck and coming up with saves. He’s so aware of pucks through traffic. A big push by them in the third — they’re just as desperate as we are for points right now — and … Crow just the door. He had every answer for them.”

Defenseman Connor Murphy and red-hot forward Brendan Perlini scored the goals (Perlini’s eighth in seven games) as the Hawks (32-30-9, 73 points) continued to boost their playoff hopes. They moved to within five points of the Coyotes (78 points) for the second wild-card spot — with Wild (76 points) also ahead of them. The Hawks have a game in hand on both the Coyotes and Wild.

Crawford’s excellence against the Canadiens was no surprise. He’s played with a laser focus against his hometown team throughout his career and particular in Montreal. Crawford is 5-0-2 in his career against the Canadiens at Bell Centre, with a .971 save percentage and 1.14 goals-against average.

“He was excellent. That’s what he can do,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “And obviously in Montreal, he’s pretty comfortable here. He’s had a lot of success here. He had a lot of confidence. He gives the team a lot of confidence that he’s going to come through for us.”

Crawford typically was humble about his performance.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said. “That’s just a big win for us against at team that’s close to being in the playoffs. They need points, too. And we just picked up our game.

“Even [with] the amount of shots, I thought we kept them to the outside for the most part.”

Crawford gave the Hawks -everything they needed. When the Canadiens came out strong after a pregame ceremony to honor goalie Carey Price’s franchise-record 315 victories, Crawford stopped eight shots in the first seven minutes. He got stronger from there.

He was never better than on a point-blank shot from close range by Artturi Lehkonen, when -Crawford made a spectacular glove save.

“I gave up a bad rebound to [Victor Mete],” Crawford said. “It was more just [that] I was covering the short side and then once I kind of read he was going far, I just threw my glove and pad up there and it went right in my glove.”

Both Hawks goals were scored off nifty passing. Strome timed his pass to Murphy for a wrist shot from the slot that beat Price. Perlini’s goal was a classic tic-tac-toe — Slater Koekkoek-to-Alex DeBrincat to Perlini for a snipe that made it 2-0.

And Crawford made it stand up.

“We played really well,” he said. “Even though they were coming with pressure at the end, we didn’t panic. We kept things to the outside and 1136379 Chicago Blackhawks

Opportunity knocks for Dylan Sikura on Blackhawks’ top line with Toews, Saad

By Mark Potash

MONTREAL — Playing on the Blackhawks’ top line with Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad can be a blessing or a curse for an unproven rookie such as Dylan Sikura.

It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for the former sixth-round draft pick — playing with proven scorers who play solid two-way games. But the responsibility of producing in that prime spot against the top-notch defenders that line draws can be overwhelming.

“It definitely becomes a little bit more [pressure],” Sikura said. “I like it better. It suits my game better. It allows me to make more plays and play with the puck and play down in their end.

“But it can be nerve-wracking at times. It’s tough if you don’t make the right pass … you don’t want to be a hindrance or anyone unhappy with your play. But they’ve been awesome. They’re always talking on the bench throughout the game. Every face-off they’re letting me know what to do, where to go. For a young guy, that helps a lot.”

The 23-year-old Sikura, who was recalled from Rockford on Feb. 10, played his fourth consecutive game with Toews and Saad on Saturday night against the Canadiens at Bell Centre.

The Hawks won the first three, including the 5-4 victory against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday when Sikura made his biggest contribution. He beat Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to a puck along the boards behind the net and fed a wide-open Saad for a goal that gave the Hawks a 4-0 lead in the first period. Sikura had a plus-2 rating in 13:53 of ice time. He still had not scored a goal in 29 NHL games, but his contribution on the top line has been positive.

“He’s been pretty good overall,” Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “I thought [the Leafs game] was his best game. He was very active. He skated, did a tone of work, forechecking, was heavy on pucks. I told him, ‘You’ve got to find a minimum level that’s not too far away from that,’ and then he’s going to be a great asset for us.”

Crawford at home

Playing at home is still a big deal for Corey Crawford, who entered Saturday night’s game with a 4-0-2 record, .934 save percentage and 1.32 goals-against average in six games against the Canadiens at Bell Centre.

“Definitely,” Crawford said. “Family and friends. Growing up here. Being a big fan of the -Canadiens when I was younger. It’s always fun coming back here.”

Koekkoek in, Dahlstrom out

Defenseman Slater Koekkoek replaced Carl Dahlstrom with Connor Murphy against the Canadiens. Koekkoek had been a healthy scratch the previous three games.

“Dahlstrom’s been really good — ‘last game [against the Leafs] maybe not as good,” Colliton said. “And it’s long enough [sitting out] for Koekkoek. He’s been really good for us. He also had a bit of a drop-off and now he’s had a few games to sit on it. I think he’ll respond. He’s going to give our lineup some energy — hopefully a high level.”

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136380 Chicago Blackhawks Daily Herald Times LOADED: 03.17.2019

Crawford makes career-high 48 saves as Hawks keep playoff hopes alive

John Dietz

Corey Crawford became just the second Chicago Blackhawks goaltender to record a shutout when facing 48 saves when he blanked Montreal 2-0 on Saturday. It was the Hawks' fifth straight victory as they attempt to make a last-gasp run at the playoffs.

Moments after allowing 4 goals in a win over Buffalo at the United Center on March 7, Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford strolled into the dressing room and fielded a few questions after a somewhat uneven performance.

It was his third appearance after missing more than two months with a concussion, and none of them had gone particularly well.

So while he remained upbeat and positive after the 5-4 shootout victory over the Sabres, I still felt compelled to ask if -- after two long layoffs -- he was feeling rusty and hadn't yet caught up to the speed of the game.

"I don't know," Crawford said. "I'm just trying to play my game and be square and just try and read the play, but not react before a play happens. Like you said, the game's fast, but I'm trying to put myself in position to make a play on everything.

"It is what it is right now and I'm just trying to battle."

Well, don't look now but Crawford is winning that battle and leading the Hawks right back into the thick of the playoff picture.

Crawford's latest standout performance came in a 2-0 victory at Montreal on Saturday in which he made a career-high 48 saves, many of which would have easily evaded a run-of-the-mill goalie.

"Some of those saves seemed impossible," defenseman Connor Murphy told reporters. "That's why we're happy to have him."

Murphy and Brendan Perlini scored for the Hawks, who have won five straight and jumped over Colorado into 10th place in the Western Conference. The Hawks (32-30-9) are 3 points behind ninth-place Minnesota and 5 behind Arizona, which sits in the second wild-card spot.

About a dozen of Crawford's saves left announcers gasping for air, but the most impressive came with 8:02 remaining in the second period when he flat-out robbed Artturi Lehkonen with his glove. The shellshocked Lehkonen appeared to say, "My God" as he watched for a replay to appear on the scoreboard.

"I mean I gave a bad rebound," said Crawford, referring to Victor Mete's shot that squirted right to Lehkonen. "It was more I was covering short side and once I read he was going far (side), I just threw my glove and pad up there, and it went right in my glove."

Crawford put his name in the record books, joining Dave Dryden as the only Hawks goalies to post 48-save shutouts. It's also only the 18th time in NHL history a shutout has been recorded when a goalie faces 48 or more shots since the stat became official in 1955-56.

Crawford got some help, too, as the Hawks blocked 24 shots (4 each by Murphy and Slater Koekkoek) and went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

"That's a big win from us against a team that's close to being in the playoffs," said Crawford, who has a .975 save percentage and 0.82 goals-against average in his last four starts. "They need points too. And we just pick up our game."

Murphy gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead at 3:34 of the second period when he took advantage of some open ice in the offensive zone and zipped a shot past Carey Price off a feed from Dylan Strome.

The Hawks clung to that lead for more than 20 minutes, then extended it to 2-0 on Perlini's eighth goal in seven games. Perlini found a quiet spot about 25 feet in front of Price and one-timed an Alex DeBrincat pass into the net.

The Hawks return home to host Vancouver on Monday and Philadelphia on Thursday, then have back-to-backs against Colorado on Saturday and Sunday. 1136381 Chicago Blackhawks Blackhawks: home vs. Vancouver on Monday night.

Canadiens: at Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

Crawford makes 48 saves in Blackhawks' 2-0 win vs. Canadiens Daily Herald Times LOADED: 03.17.2019

Associated Press

MONTREAL -- Corey Crawford came up big again in his hometown - and damaged the Canadiens' postseason hopes in the process.

Crawford stopped all 48 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season and the surging Chicago Blackhawks won their fifth straight with a 2-0 victory over struggling Montreal on Saturday night.

"That's a big win for us against a team that's close to being in the playoffs," said Crawford, who set a career high for saves in a regular- season game. "They need points, too. We kept them to the outside for the most part. Our penalty kill was solid."

Connor Murphy and Brendan Perlini scored for the Blackhawks.

Crawford improved to 9-2-2 in his career against the Canadiens, including 5-0-2 at Montreal. He has won his last five games at the Bell Centre.

"I grew up a huge Habs fan when I was younger, so it's always exciting to come back and play in this building," said Crawford, who faced 18 shots in the third period alone. "It's nice to get a win coming back here."

Carey Price stopped 22 shots for the Canadiens, who have dropped four of their last five games to fall out of a playoff spot. Price has played in 18 of the last 19 games for Montreal, which outshot Chicago 48-24.

The Canadiens (37-28-7) are three points out of the second wild-card spot with 10 games remaining in the season - five of those are on the road.

Carolina is in the first wild-card spot with 85 points, one point ahead of Columbus. The Canadiens are on the outside looking in with 81 points.

"Our backs are against the wall," captain Shea Weber said. "We have to find a way to win. Everyone is frustrated. We want to win and we're not winning, so it's tough. We have to find a way to score goals."

Crawford needed to be on his game all night. Midway through the second period, the Blackhawks goalie made back-to-back saves on Paul Byron and Andrew Shaw. Two minutes later, he robbed Artturi Lehkonen in close with the glove.

With nine minutes left in the game, Crawford stopped Joel Armia from point-blank range to preserve Chicago's two-goal lead.

Byron came closest to beating the Hawks goaltender when his second- period shot rang off the crossbar.

Crawford has never lost in regulation time in his hometown (5-0-2). He has won his last five at the Bell Centre.

Murphy scored the game's first goal 3:04 into the second period. The defenseman took a pass from Dylan Strome in his skates, kicked the puck onto his stick, and beat Price from the slot high glove-side.

Perlini made it 2-0 at 4:49 of the third period on a nice give-and-go with teammate Alex DeBrincat.

The game featured Montreal's league-worst power play against Chicago's NHL-worst penalty kill. The Hawks came out on top, with the Canadiens going 0 for 4 with the man advantage.

"We were digging and we were getting in front," said fourth-liner Jordan Weal, who had the second-most ice time among Canadiens forwards. "It was one of those nights where we couldn't put one past the goal line. It's frustrating because every game right now is so huge.

"We were generating a lot. We were hitting posts. We were hitting crossbars. We were millimeters away. If we play like that here on out, we have a good chance to win."

NOTES: The Canadiens celebrated Price's franchise record-setting 315th career victory in a pregame ceremony. ... Montreal was coming off a 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday.

UP NEXT 1136382 Chicago Blackhawks

Four takeaways: Corey Crawford steals the show in hometown of Montreal as Blackhawks win fifth straight

By Charlie Roumeliotis March 16, 2019 9:20 PM

Here are four takeaways from the Blackhawks' 2-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Saturday:

1. Hometown kid steals the show

Going into Saturday, Corey Crawford had an 8-2-2 record with a 1.67 goals against average, .949 save percentage and one shutout in 12 starts against the Canadiens. He also was 4-0-2 with a 1.32 goals against average and .964 save percentage in his hometown of Montreal.

Somehow, those numbers improved.

On a night where Carey Price was honored for becoming the Canadiens' all-time winningest goaltender (315), it was the hometown kid that stole the show. Crawford stopped all 48 shots he faced — 20 of which were from high-danger areas — for his second shutout of the season, and tied Dave Dryden for the most saves (48) in a shutout performance in Blackhawks history when he did so on Feb. 15, 1969.

It's the fourth consecutive contest Crawford has given up only one goal or fewer — although he left after two periods in Toronto because of an illness. He's stopped 115 of 118 shots for a save percentage of .975 over that span.

2. Blackhawks silence one of NHL's top lines

The line of Phillip Danault, Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Tatar is one of the most productive in hockey.

When the three of them are on the ice together at 5-on-5 this season, the Canadiens control 62.7 percent of the shot attempts, 62.2 percent of the scoring chances and have a plus-19 goal differential, according to naturalstattrick.com. When they're not on the ice, the Canadiens control 52.3 percent of the shot attempts, 50.8 percent of the scoring chances and have a minus-2 goal differential.

On Saturday, that trio was on the ice for 10:39 of 5-on-5 time and controlled only 42.3 percent of the shot attempts and 36.4 percent of the scoring chances. They largely went up against the Blackhawks' first line of Brandon Saad, Dylan Sikura and Jonathan Toews, who generated 10 scoring chances for and two against. They set the tone.

3. Hot March continues for pair of Blackhawks

After being benched for four straight games, Brendan Perlini has bounced back in an enormous way. He scored a goal for the third straight contest, has eight goals in seven games this month and seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past three games. This wasn't even one of his stronger games, but he found a way to make an impact. And that's what the Blackhawks have been preaching.

Connor Murphy has also had a strong month of March. He scored his second goal in seven games, has a plus-5 rating over that span and has points in three of his last four. His goal against Montreal turned out to be the game winner, which was fitting on a day Chicago celebrated St. Patrick's Day.

4. Dylan Sikura knocking on the door

Sikura played in his 30th career NHL game on Saturday. He's still looking for his first goal. But when coach Jeremy Colliton shows him the tape of this game, he's going to be smiling from ear to ear. And so should Sikura.

The 23-year-old winger easily had his best game in a Blackhawks sweater, recording six shot attempts (four on goal), one takeaway, and was the only player with positive possession metrics for the Blackhawks. He was on the ice for 13 scoring chances for and only five against during 11:33 of 5-on-5 time. Six of those 13 scoring chances came from high- danger areas. He even hit a crossbar.

If Sikura carries over this performance to Monday and beyond, he's bound to break through sooner than later.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136383 Chicago Blackhawks — CRISTIANO SIMONETTA (@CMS_74_) MARCH 17, 2019

Sure, there was some luck involved. But there was also a lot of skill. Crawford has a reputation over the years for making those difficult saves Powers: Corey Crawford can be the ultimate equalizer for the look easier than they are. Lately, that’s been true again. Blackhawks It wasn’t talked about a lot, but Crawford wasn’t exactly looking like the goalie of recent years. When he first came back from last year’s By Scott Powers Mar 16, 2019 discussion to begin the season, he had a stretch when he looked invincible again. But then he regressed.

The Blackhawks were often putting their goaltenders in shooting-gallery MONTREAL — The statistics say Corey Crawford has never been better situations, so some of his woes were explainable. Few goalies can than he was against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. sustain a high level of play when they’re facing quality chance after quality chance. But honestly, that was the case for the past few years, He stopped a career-best 48 shots and did so while facing 48 shots on and Crawford was up to the challenge before. goal. It was just the second time ever that a Blackhawks goaltender made 48-plus saves in a shutout. Dave Dryden also had 48 saves in a Crawford’s multiple head injuries seemed like the other reason he might shutout back in 1969 against the Philadelphia Flyers. not be at his best. The question was whether his inconsistent play was a short-term issue or a long-term one. Was the Crawford we witnessed That’s what the numbers say about Crawford. What does he have to say struggle with an .896 save percentage in November or allow 13 goals in about arguably his greatest game? You’d assume he’d be over the moon his first three games back from the second concussion in February the about the way he played. But, no, that’s not Corey Crawford. He’s more one who was permanent? No one was shouting it, but there were some the “nothing to see here” guy. whispers that the Blackhawks might have to look for their goalie of the After I asked him what stood out in a performance like that, he replied, “I future sooner rather than later. don’t know. What do you mean?” But lately, Crawford has looked his old self again. Over the past four OK, sorry, what stands out to you when you have a personal game like games, he’s put a stop to people whispering about his future and again that? has them exclaiming about his saves. The Blackhawks did a better job of limiting their opponents’ chances in his previous three starts, but you That didn’t help much, either. He’s rarely in the mood to accept individual could tell he was coming around. He made 26 saves on 27 shots in a 2-1 credit. A shrug, a smile, a redirection of credit to the team. win over the Dallas Stars. He followed that up with 24 saves on 25 shots against the Arizona Coyotes. He then made 17 saves on 18 shots in two To him, Saturday’s 2-0 victory was all about the team. It was about the periods of work against the Toronto Maple Leafs before removing himself Blackhawks taking two points in their pursuit of the playoffs and taking because he felt ill. Finally, there was Saturday’s game. two points away from the Canadiens in theirs. Crawford might not be the greatest quote after games, especially when it “I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know what to say. That’s just a big win for comes to himself. Trying to stay focused on a small black moving object us against a team that’s close to being in the playoffs. They need points, for 60 minutes would be draining for anyone. But catch Crawford after a too. And we just picked up our game, I thought. Even though the amount practice on a non-game day, and he’s gold to talk to about everything, of shots, I thought we kept them to the outside for the most part. Clearing including himself. rebounds. Murph (Connor Murphy) had a great one in the second. It would have been an empty net. And our PK was solid. We didn’t give After the Blackhawks practiced Friday in Montreal, he was more than them much on that. I think it’s just nice to get a win coming back here.” happy to entertain an assortment of questions in English and French. He is a Montreal media favorite because he speaks French and is originally As Crawford was surrounded by the media at his stall after the game, his from the area. (By the way, I spoke briefly to Patrick Roy in Quebec City teammates couldn’t resist letting him know how good they thought he on Friday, and he described Crawford as “a great kid.”) had been. Brent Seabrook shouted, “What a stud, what a stud” as he walked past the scrum. Crawford jokingly replied, “Thanks, Seabs.” As Crawford acknowledged Friday that he’s felt a difference in his game Seabrook walked past the group again a minute later, he said, “Still lately. going, what a stud.” Crawford laughed. “Yeah, definitely,” Crawford said. “Reading the plays faster. Definitely feel Luckily, there were others in attendance other than Crawford who were way quicker than before. I don’t know. It’s nice to feel that way. Feel more than happy to lavish praise on him. confident. Then again, it’s not one or two guys, it’s everybody playing hard. I think it started, or not started, but I think in that Dallas game, we “He was unbelievable,” Murphy said. “A couple of those saves even in really showed that everyone was battling and everyone was playing well tight they had a rebound right in front of him and it seemed like he almost and I think playing the right way. That’s just kind of been carrying over.” tracked it into his glove. It was that good. Some of those seemed impossible, but that’s why we’re happy to have him.” Crawford doesn’t ever touch too much on his concussions, but he will allude to how tough it was sitting out. Jonathan Toews used the exact same adjective. “Yeah, some long stretches, obviously,” he said. “Pretty happy to be “He was unbelievable,” Toews said. “How many point-blank chances did playing hockey again. Sucks to sit on the side and just watch from the we give up? He’s just throwing any limb he can at the puck and coming dressing room or watch from home when the team is on the road. But up with saves. He’s so aware of pucks through traffic. A big push by them injuries happen. Whatever, can’t do anything about it. Just got to try and in the third, they’re just as desperate as we are for points right now, and work your way back.” they show that especially in their own building. Crow just (shut) the door. He had every answer for them.” Was he ever worried he wouldn’t rediscover that form?

No one more than the Canadiens’ Artturi Lehkonen will wonder how “No,” he said. “I don’t think … not worried. I don’t know. It’s just trying to Crawford had an answer for his specific shot attempt in the second take it day by day. Trying to just work hard and hopefully start feeling it, period. After Crawford allowed a juicy rebound, Lehkonen came flying hopefully start reading plays the way you can. Just keep going. There’s through the slot and one-timed it onto the net. Crawford threw up his left nothing, really … the more you think about it, I think the worse off you glove and swiped the puck from the air. are. So just go out there and play, play hockey.”

Even with that highlight save, Crawford was focused more on the The Blackhawks line up to congratulate Corey Crawford on his 48-save rebound he gave up than the end result. win. (Jean-Yves Ahern / USA Today)

“I give up a bad rebound to (Victor Mete),” Crawford said. “It was more Crawford also opened up about how frustrating it can be not to be at your just I was covering short side and then once I kind of read he was going best and having to fight through that. far, I just threw my glove and pad up there and it went right in my glove.” “I don’t think it goes for just goalies,” he said. “I think just in general in this COREY CRAWFORD ROBS ARTTURI LEHKONEN … league. If you’re a top scorer and you’re struggling — or not that you’re PIC.TWITTER.COM/MNU1HYGG4G struggling, just not putting it in the net, I mean things could go wrong, too. I think this is a tough league. It’s not always going to go your way. You’ve got to learn to get past things, whatever it is — bad goals, bad game or whatever.

“Even if you thought you played well and you gave up a bunch, find a way to get over it and quickly get back. I don’t know how many times we’ve seen this year that teams have gone on losing streaks and gone on winning streaks. It seems that way, and it’s important to try and turn things around as quickly as possible. You don’t have time to dwell on how bad things are going. You’ve got to try and forget about it and just keeping pushing.”

Crawford has undoubtedly kept pushing. There’s still a hunger there. A lot of people think Crawford should have considered retirement after his latest concussion, that this just isn’t worth it any longer. But he obviously believes differently. He wouldn’t be out there if he didn’t still seek individual and team success.

The Blackhawks aren’t likely about to go on some incredible run to a Stanley Cup this season. They might not even make the playoffs. They still need to win a bunch and need the Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild to lose some more. Time is running out. But Crawford’s recent play should give the Blackhawks some renewed hope for the present and the future. The rest of the team appears to be coming around, but it’s especially encouraging that Crawford has.

And if the Blackhawks do somehow get into the playoffs, don’t think that first-round opponent, whether it’s the Calgary Flames or San Jose Sharks, wouldn’t be a little nervous to face a team like the Blackhawks. They have four lines starting to come together. Their team defense has improved. But most of all, Crawford is an equalizer. Strange things can happen when a top-tier goalie is on the top of his game.

The Canadiens aren’t the Flames or the Sharks, but they were a team that needed to win, were playing in their own building and were doing everything they could to score. The Canadiens’ 24 high-danger chances in all situations were the second most the Blackhawks allowed this season, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

So, yeah, Crawford stole a big game Saturday and probably has it in him steal some more if given the opportunity.

“He was excellent,” Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “That’s what he can do.”

Not that anyone forgot that, but it was important to see it again.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136384 Colorado Avalanche

Hockey was a buried treasure for J.T. Compher family

By MIKE CHAMBERS

Hockey was like a buried treasure for the Compher family of Northbrook, Ill.

If Bob Compher, wife Valerie, young son J.T. and daughters Morgan and Jesse hadn’t moved from one Chicago suburb to another in 2000, hockey wouldn’t have been so hip.

J.T., 23, probably wouldn’t be playing for the Avalanche and Team USA. And Jesse, 19, wouldn’t be tearing up the NCAA at Boston University; nor would she have been named to the U.S. Women’s National Team for next month’s World Championship in Finland.

If the Comphers didn’t make that 4-mile move, Valerie probably wouldn’t have the Twitter handle @hkymom7 (J.T. wore No. 7 while playing at the University of Michigan) and her only son and youngest daughter wouldn’t have been finalists for college hockey’s national players of the year.

The Comphers, with no family history of playing hockey, knew little about the sport when they lived in Deerfield, Ill. But once they moved to nearby Northbrook and J.T. met a pre-school friend with connections, the sport slowly started to consume each member of the family.

“I met a friend — in pre-school, I believe — and he and his family invited me out to learn to skate,” J.T. said. “I did that for a few years and I just started playing hockey regularly after that, first in mini-mites and then squirts when my best friend’s father was a coach. It was nice having hockey parents that weren’t crazy hockey parents. They just worried about if I was having fun and working hard. My dad didn’t know the difference if I was playing well. He could tell if I was scoring, but as long as l was working hard and having fun they were happy.”

J.T. took to the sport quickly. He played at the top levels of his Double-A club team in squirt (ages 10-and-under) and peewee (11-12) before jumping to Triple-A in bantam (13-14) and midget (15-18) for Team Illinois. After his second year in bantam, he was recruited by the U.S. National Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. He joined the elite program after his first year in midgets.

Compher had already committed to play college hockey at Michigan in Ann Arbor when he signed with the nearby USNDP. Both institutions are just a 4-hour drive to Northbrook, so Compher’s family rarely missed home games for five years until J.T. signed with the Avalanche after his junior season at Michigan.

“I have two younger sisters and both tried hockey,” J.T. said. “The youngest (Jesse) wanted to try first and then my middle sister (Morgan), after being at the rink all the time with me, said, ‘I’m not going to watch another sibling play. I’ll just play, also. They played together for a year. Morgan stopped and Jesse — she’s always been one of the better ones and this past year she’s taken some insane steps. I mean, she’s going to play on a team with 15 returning Olympians and there’s only a certain amount of girls her age that made that team. It’s been exciting, getting to see her play. My parents are either here (Denver) or going to Boston. We’re definitely a hockey family now. But I don’t think that’s how they really planned it.”

Jesse, a sophomore forward at BU, leads Hockey East and is third nationally in scoring with 61 points. Her 44 assists are second-most in the country. The Terriers finished 21-8-8, barely missing an invitation to the eight-team NCAA Tournament.

“It’s been exciting, getting to see her play,” J.T. said of Jesse. “My parents are either here (Denver) or going to Boston. We’re definitely a hockey family now. But I don’t think that’s how they really planned it.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136385 Colorado Avalanche

Chambers: Troy Terry impressed Joe Sakic with stick-handling in a phone booth

By MIKE CHAMBERS

During the NHL lockout of 2004-05, 7-year-old Troy Terry shot pucks at Joe Sakic, the Avalanche center and team captain who also played goalie for kids in his driveway.

Fourteen years later, and standing outside of the visiting locker room at the Pepsi Center for the first time Friday, Terry vividly recalled why he became a hockey player, and why he prefers to don No. 19.

“He was kind of my first big role model,” Terry, the Anaheim Ducks rookie forward, said of Sakic, now the Avalanche’s general manager.

Terry’s tale is one of the finest home-grown Colorado hockey stories the state has ever seen. It includes a chapter on how Terry, a product of Highlands Ranch and the University of Denver, learned what a phone booth was.

“(Sakic) told my dad I could stick-handle in a phone booth,” Terry said of the old-time saying. “It took me a while but I learned that it meant I could stick-handle in tight spaces.”

As far back as he can remember, Terry always had this thing for Joe Sakic and the Avalanche.

“The Avalanche were the reason I got into hockey. I was instantly drawn to it,” Terry said. “My parents used to pick up the programs at the game and they’d cover up the names, and I would be able to go through and say who each guy was and where he was from. And then I was lucky enough to play with Joe Sakic’s son, Mitchell, when I was young. It was during the lockout year. Joe really didn’t have a lot to do that year, so he was around a lot. I was shooting on him in the driveway one time. It was just cool to be around him. He’s the reason I’ve worn 19 (most) of my career.”

Terry dons No. 61 with the Ducks, who made their first appearance of the season in Denver on Friday. Terry, 21, had never before played at the Pepsi Center, but he was expected to have “a couple hundred” friends, family and other admirers in the stands — even though DU was beginning its best-of-three league playoff series against North Dakota down the road at Magness Arena.

“My kindergarten teacher, people who I went to elementary school with — people I grew up with who I might not be in contact anymore but have obviously been following me,” Terry said of his guest list. “I see that they’re coming and want to be a part of this. I was kind of shocked at the number when my mom told me. But it’s pretty cool.”

Anaheim played Thursday at Arizona and departed Denver after Friday’s game against the Avs. The Ducks begin a three-game homestand Sunday.

“It’s nice to just get here and play and not have as much build-up,” Terry said of his brief time in Denver. “At the same time, it would be nice to go to one of those DU-North Dakota games, or have some time here. It’s nice from just a hockey standpoint. I didn’t start thinking about this game until (Thursday) night on the plane. It makes it easier from a pressure standpoint.”

Terry would have been a senior at DU, the 2017 national champion, if he hadn’t signed with the Ducks last April. He was among four Pioneers to leave school early for NHL contracts.

“I owe pretty much everything to that school and to that hockey program,” Terry said. “We did some special things there. It’s always somewhere that will be special to my heart.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136386 Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.17.2019

Blue Jackets' Nick Foligno out to deal with personal matter

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch

BOSTON — It’s been a challenging season off the ice for Nick Foligno.

After missing five games while dealing with his young daughter Milana’s heart condition, the Blue Jackets’ captain missed the start of another trip Saturday night at the Boston Bruins while attending to a different personal matter.

“That family, they’ve gone through a lot,” coach John Tortorella said before the game. “We’re just trying to support them the best way we can.”

Foligno, who is expected to rejoin the team soon, also missed the start of a trip Nov. 17 at the Carolina Hurricanes when Milana became sick. He then missed four games from Dec. 31 to Jan. 8 after her surgery in Boston to correct the issue.

Foligno was replaced by Lukas Sedlak, who was a healthy scratch in nine of the previous 11 games. Sedlak took Foligno’s spot at left wing on the third line, skating with Boone Jenner and Riley Nash, who made his first return to Boston after signing with the Blue Jackets as a free agent.

“I’ve got good memories with those guys,” said Nash, who played the past two seasons with the Bruins. “It’s a little bit weird being on the opposite side after a couple years with them, but it still kind of makes you smile when you’re going against guys you just battled with for two seasons.”

Another breather

After making 46 saves in a 3-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday at Nationwide Arena, Sergei Bobrovsky got a full day off in Boston.

Not only did Joonas Korpisalo start against Boston, but Keith Kinkaid handled the backup role — allowing Bobrovsky to rest up for the remainder of the trip in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

“Bob’s played a lot of hockey, had some back-to-backs here, so this is how we’re going,” Tortorella said. “I talked to Bob prior to this. He’s fine physically, fine mentally. He’ll play forever. He’s in a good spot right now.”

Since Jan. 19, Bobrovsky leads all NHL goalies with 1,237 minutes played. Getting Kinkaid from the New Jersey Devils at the trade deadline last month allows Tortorella the luxury of resting Bobrovsky. Kinkaid is 29 and has plenty of NHL experience.

“We’re trying to use it (the best) we can,” Tortorella said.

McQuaid settling in

Tortorella said the three defense pairings he’s been using recently are developing more consistency, including the third pair of Scott Harrington and Adam McQuaid, who played the first nine seasons of his career with the Bruins.

“It’s tough when new guys come in on the trading deadline to try to fit in, and we sputtered a little bit there,” Tortorella said of McQuaid, who initially struggled after joining the Jackets in a deadline deal. “I just think with ‘Quaider’ right now, he’s just playing. He’s not overthinking.”

Fun start

Jenner had quite a night before the puck was even dropped. Jenner, one of the Jackets’ alternate captains, filled in for Foligno during two pregame ceremonies.

The first was to celebrate NHL linesman Brian Murphy’s 2,000th career game — the second American-born official to reach that milestone. The second, as part of the Bruins’ St. Patrick’s Day festivities, was a ceremonial puck dropped by former UFC champion Conor McGregor, who’s from Dublin, Ireland.

McGregor was so pumped up that he initially forgot to shake hands with Bruins captain Zdeno Chara and Jenner. 1136387 Columbus Blue Jackets

Bruins 2, Blue Jackets 1, OT | Four-game trip opens on losing note

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch

BOSTON — It was their second game in two days, fourth in six and the ninth time the Blue Jackets played in the first 16 days of this month.

That’s a lot of hockey at any time, but especially with the regular season winding down in a heated race to secure playoff spots. It showed, too, but the Blue Jackets still found a way to get another point in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday night at TD Garden.

“We came in here, back-to-back, for sure guys are really tired, but it didn’t show up on the ice,” said goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who made 31 saves in a strong performance giving Sergei Bobrovsky a night off. “We went out there, all business, and everyone put in 100 percent — so, it was huge.”

Bobrovsky, who had a 46-save shutout of the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday at Nationwide Arena, watched from the press box while resting up for the remainder of a four-game trip. It might’ve felt like he was viewing a replay, as the Blue Jackets (40-28-4) were outshot 33-25 and lost the possession game.

They lived off a huge game by Korpisalo, who made three big stops in overtime before Brad Marchand finally ended it with 1:30 left.

Patrice Bergeron, who assisted on Marchand’s goal, scored in regulation for the Bruins (43-20-9) — who got 24 saves from goalie Jaroslav Halak to snap a three-game losing streak.

Matt Duchene scored the lone goal for the Blue Jackets, who moved to 84 points and maintained their hold on the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.

“We’ll take that every day of the week,” Duchene said. “If you tell us that we’re going to get three out of four points on a back-to-back, yeah, we’re taking that every day. That was big for us — and to do it the way we did it, to still have the work ethic, energy and stinginess that we did tonight, it’s a testament to what type of team we are.”

The game started like the previous one ended, with the Jackets again struggling to gain possession. With 5:26 left in the first, the Bruins had a 1-0 lead on Bergeron’s power-play goal at 5:51 and held a 10-4 edge in shots — picking up where the Hurricanes left off.

Korpisalo allowed Bergeron’s goal off a backhand shot from the slot but stopped 11 of Boston’s 12 shots in the first to keep the Jackets within a goal. His work paid off late in the period when Duchene tied it 1-1 with 3:08 left on his 30th goal of the season.

After receiving a stretch pass from Markus Nutivaara, who banked the puck off the opposite wall, Duchene scooped it and made a fantastic play to shake off a check by Bruins defenseman John Moore, a former Blue Jacket.

Duchene quickly cut to the net with the puck on his backhand and then popped a wrist shot over Halak’s glove into the short-side corner.

“It’s a big goal for us,” coach John Tortorella said. “I think it settles us down, and then from there, I thought the teams, we traded chances. We have some great chances in overtime. We don’t score.”

In the second, the Bruins held the puck in the Blue Jackets’ end for long stretches but failed to convert on several great scoring chances. It was more of the same in the third but the Jackets weathered it all to earn a big point.

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Blue Jackets 3, Hurricanes 0 | Sergei Bobrovsky stops all 46 shots

Bill Rabinowitz The Columbus Dispatch

Sergei Bobrovsky fully understood the importance of Friday night’s game against Carolina.

The Blue Jackets’ goaltender has had his ups and downs this year, but he knows this is the time to round into the form that has made him one of the NHL’s best. Bobrovsky couldn’t have been any better against the Hurricanes.

He stopped a season-high 46 shots, most of them long after the Blue Jackets’ offense vanished, in a 3-0 win in front of 18,832 at sold-out Nationwide Arena.

Carolina entered the game two points ahead of the Jackets and in the first wild-card spot. That’s a coveted spot because the second wild card will play powerhouse Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs.

After beating the Hurricanes 3-0 on Friday, the teams are now tied with 83 points, though Carolina has played one fewer game.

“It’s a huge game,” Bobrovsky said. “That’s the time to play well. At this time of the season, every point is huge.”

Most of the Blue Jackets’ offense came in the first six minutes of the game. They opened the scoring on a goal by defenseman Adam McQuaid on a pass from Artemi Panarin. With Pierre-Luc Dubois in front of the net, McQuaid snapped a wrist shot that beat goalie Petr Mrazek stick-side.

It was only McQuaid’s third goal of the season and first since joining the team as a trade-deadline acquisition. The assist was the 50th of the season for Panarin.

Less than 3 minutes later, the Blue Jackets made it 2-0. Boone Jenner won a face-off back to David Savard, who beat Mrazek to the far side with a wrist shot.

Soon after that, the Blue Jackets’ offensive spigot turned off.

“I think for some reason we lost our intensity,” coach John Tortorella said. “Against a team that’s desperate as Carolina and as good and quick as they play, it mounts on you.”

But Bobrovsky was impenetrable. He was especially brilliant in the second period, during which the Hurricanes outshot the Blue Jackets 22- 2.

“I felt good,” Bobrovsky said. “I saw lots of pucks. Lots of shots were from outside and that allowed me to get into my game and control the game.”

Not all of the saves were routine. He made several that served as reminders of why he has won the Vezina Trophy twice. The biggest might have come when he made a pad save on Michael Ferland, who got behind the Blue Jackets’ defense for a mini-breakaway.

“He’s been good for a while,” Tortorella said. “There have been some games when a number of goals have gone in, but it’s pretty misleading as far as how Bob is playing. He was seeing shots in traffic, especially in the second period. In the third period, we checked better.”

But the offense largely consisted of flipping pucks into the neutral zone. The Jackets were outshot 46-20.

With less than 3 minutes left and the Hurricanes’ already having pulled Mrazek, Savard took a tripping penalty to make it a 6-on-4. But Josh Anderson won a puck battle and pushed in an empty-netter to end any suspense.

The Blue Jackets now go on the road for the next four games, starting Saturday in Boston and then to western Canada.

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Marchand does it again in OT as Bruins beat Blue Jackets 2-1

AP

BOSTON (AP) — Brad Marchand scored 3:30 into the overtime, lifting the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

The win snapped Boston’s three-game losing streak that came after it earned at least a point in 19 straight games. Patrice Bergeron had a power-play goal for the Bruins and set up the game-winner.

Bergeron spun around and fed Marchand in the right circle, where Marchand one-timed a shot as he went to one knee for his 15th OT goal, most in team history.

Backup goalie Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves for the Bruins. He kept it tied at 1 by making a glove stop on Zach Werenski’s wrist shot from the left circle with 5 minutes to play in the third.

Matt Duchene scored for the Blue Jackets, and Joonas Korpisalo made 31 saves.

In the OT, Marchand had two close chances for Boston after Halak robbed Duchene’s bid from the slot.

This matchup was much different than Tuesday, when the Blue Jackets jumped ahead 5-1 in Columbus before holding off the Bruins for a 7-4 victory.

With MMA fighter Conor McGregor in the building and firing up the crowd before making the ceremonial puck drop, the Bruins and Blue Jackets came out hitting and going end-to-end early before settling into a tight checking game.

Bergeron gave Boston a 1-0 lead with his goal 5:51 into the game, firing a backhander over Korpisalo for his 800th career point.

The Blue Jackets tied it when Duchene broke down the right wing, shifted around defenseman John Moore and lifted a shot over Halak’s shoulder inside the near post at 16:52 of the first period.

Boston had a handful of good chances in a scoreless second. The best came when Marchand had the puck all alone just outside the crease midway into the period, paused and waited for Korpisalo to drop before shooting it over the net.

NOTES: Columbus’ top goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky not only had the night off, he wasn’t in uniform and watched from the press box. … Linesman Brian Murphy worked his 2,000 game and was honored with a pregame ceremony, receiving team-signed jerseys from both clubs. … Bruins F Jake DeBrusk was back after missing the previous five games with a lower-body injury. … Boston TV personality Jayme Parker did the PA as part of NHL and NHLPA’s Hockey is for Everyone initiative. … The game was the nightcap of an NBA/NHL doubleheader. The Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks in the afternoon. … The clubs meet again April 2 in Columbus.

IRISH HERITAGE NIGHT

With pre-St. Patrick’s Day excitement filling bars and restaurants outside TD Garden following the Celtics’ victory and about two hours before faceoff, the Bruins added some things to the festive night.

They also wore green jerseys during their pregame warmup, brought in members of the Boston police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums to play at turnstiles and gave out green hats to the first 5,000 fans.

McGregor got a big cheer when he was interviewed on the Jumbotron and there was a buzz every time he was seen in different parts of the building.

UP NEXT

Blue Jackets: At Calgary on Tuesday, their second of a four-game road trip.

Bruins: Open a four-game trip at the New York Islanders on Tuesday. 1136390 Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars playoff berth is near; enjoy it a little bit

By Josh Lile

As of this writing the Dallas Stars have a 94% chance of making the

The team that had their coach criticize them for living in a culture of mediocrity only a few months ago is right on the cusp of the playoffs.

The front office that traded for soon to be free agent winger Mats Zuccarello only to see him break his arm 30 minutes into his ridiculous debut is on the cusp of the playoffs.

The CEO who called Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn an iteration of "vigorously sexually-infused stallion poo" is on the cusp of being able to take some level of credit for this team making it back to the playoffs.

If you need proof that they are on the cusp of the playoffs I provided a visual aid from Hockey Viz. Believe the picture. It speaks its truth.

You wouldn't actually know it from the way the franchise is discussed. It doesn't actually feel like they're on the cusp either. They sit in the 7th seed in the Western Conference as of this writing, two points behind the St. Louis Blues and two points ahead of the Arizona Coyotes. They're equally as far ahead of the 9th place Minnesota Wild as they are behind the Nashville Predators for second in the Central Division.

In other words, they're going to make the playoffs unless something insane happens over the final eleven games. Minnesota has only 22 points remaining that they can pick up. They're five behind the Stars. Thankfully this math is simple.

Lets look at an insane scenario that won't happen that emphasizes how likely a playoff berth is at this point. If the Stars simply take the rest of their games to overtime and lose they'll get eleven points. One of those games is against Minnesota so the Wild will close the gap to four points between the two teams regardless of whatever else they do in this scenario.

The Wild would then have ten games (20 points) remaining. Those eleven points put the Stars to 90 for the season. Minnesota would need 15 of the remaining 20 just to tie the Stars, and of those 15 points ten would need to come from regulation wins for the Wild to slide past the Stars with the first tie-breaker since they can't win the second tie-breaker, head to head points, because they only play one more time, and Dallas has a three point lead in the season series.

Exhale.

So, if you believe the Minnesota Wild are going to bust out a 75% points percentage you have a good reason to worry about the Stars missing the playoffs. I choose to believe the Wild aren't going to turn into the Tampa Bay Lightning for a month, but what do I know?

Despite every gripe about coaching or strategy, despite every legitimately questionable roster decision or deployment concept, despite the team itself actively trying to guide its image into a negative light - despite all of this the Stars are on the cusp of the playoffs.

Watching the playoffs is a joy. Watching the playoffs while actively "rustling the jimmies" of the fanbase of an opponent for a week to ten days is the closest I'll likely get to experiencing the joy of childbirth. On the ice the Stars still need to pick up points and solidify their standing, but fans should take a deep breath. Enjoy the ride a little bit. Annoying things are bound to happen over the net month, but none of them are likely to matter in the grand scheme of things. The playoffs are coming.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136391 Detroit Red Wings process. His maturity has shown in his consistency. He has been a threat offensively most games. He scored his first goal Saturday when his shot redirected in off Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock, but it was how It'd be 'huge for' Detroit Red Wings if Andreas Athanasiou reaches this Athanasiou earned the scoring chance that impressed. mark “He went through their whole team pretty much in the neutral zone and not a lot of guys can do that and control the puck coming into the zone,” Larkin said. “That’s what center ice men do and he just threw it on net Helene St. James, March 16, 2019 and good things happened. It was more the play that got him there. He’s a dangerous player when he skates like that.”

Larkin and Athanasiou both said prospective 30-goal seasons would It's been a decade since the Detroit Red Wings last had a player reach mean more if the Wings were headed for the playoffs, not the draft 30 goals. lottery. But that path might come sooner if 30-goal scorers once again While it won’t mean much for this season, it’s good for the organization’s populate the lineup. future that two guys might hit the mark over the final 10 games. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 03.17.2019 Andreas Athanasiou reached 26 after delivering his sixth two-goal performance of the season in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena. It took a stellar performance from Jonathan Bernier to secure the victory, but Athanasiou stood out for the way he played at both ends of the ice.

“The way he’s playing right now he should get that marker,” Dylan Larkin said. “He’s dynamic. He’s an explosive scorer. The way he skated, not many people can defend that. He played the right way. Good for him. It’s huge for our team – if he can produce at the center ice position, it’ll be harder for matchups for other teams. We’ll have two guys that can skate well at center.”

Larkin is the other guy who is within reach, at 27 goals. The Wings haven’t had a 30-goal scorer since Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen and Marian Hossa all reached the marker in 2008-09.

“It’s definitely a good milestone,” Athanasiou said. “If I could do that, that would feel good. It’d feel better if it comes with wins.”

It was Athanasiou’s eighth and best game since being moved from wing to center, which is also encouraging. Athanasiou struggled early with the defensive responsibilities of playing center; he was especially egregious March 9 at Tampa Bay, when he failed to cover Nikita Kucherov, leading to a goal.

“I’m getting more and more comfortable with every game,” Athanasiou said. “Every shift and every faceoff I take, you mature as a player and grow into the position a little more.

“When you play center, you have to be a lot more aware in the d-zone, kind of being that third defenseman coming into the play with speed. That’s something that complements my skating game.”

Once past the Feb. 25 trade deadline, the Wings put Athanasiou at center to see if he can carry his own line. It’s a big responsibility. Prior to Saturday’s game, coach Jeff Blashill spent time with Athanasiou going over the game in Tampa Bay. Athanasiou’s response was gratifying.

“He competed real hard,” Blashill said. “He was really, really good defensive in his d-zone. He did the things that if he is going to be a center – and I don’t know long term what’s better – but if he is going to be, he has to play like he did.

“You have to stop in your own zone and compete like crazy. And you have to slow yourself down on breakouts and you have to be underneath the puck. If you don’t do those things, you can’t be a center long term. He did a way better job of that.”

Larkin, 22, aced his audition at the position at the end of the 2016-17 season and has become the team’s top center. Can Athanasiou, 24, thrive as the No. 2 guy? He’s such a dynamic player, combining incredible acceleration with soft hands. He had six shots on net against the Islanders.

Red Wings center Andreas Athanasiou, from left, celebrates his goal with Tyler Bertuzzi and Luke Glendening in the second period of the Wings' 2- 1 win on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Little Caesars Arena.

“I keep bugging him in practice that he needs to slow down to score some goals because he’s going so fast,” Bernier said, smiling. “He gets so many scoring chances. He’s definitely one of the fastest skaters in the league and he’s a great player.”

Maybe the Wings luck out in the April 9 draft lottery and win the right to select center Jack Hughes. At either position – wing, center – Athanasiou has used this season to show he will be a key part of the rebuilding 1136392 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings' Jonathan Bernier makes 41 saves in 2-1 win over NYI

Helene St. James, March 16, 2019

The atmosphere at Little Caesars Arena had buzz, not least for all the children excited to see their faces on the Jumbotron.

Saturday afternoon’s game between the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders had less to sell it. One bench featured a competitive team jockeying for playoff positioning.

The other bench had the Wings.

Depleted as they were, the Wings managed to eke out their second victory in 14 games, topping the Islanders, 2-1. Andreas Athanasiou had both goals.

The victory had much to do with how well Jonathan Bernier played, making 41 saves as the Islanders easily gained access to Detroit’s zone.

"He was our best player," Dylan Larkin said. "Huge for him and huge for our team to win a game like this."

Bernier has had a tough season, earning just his second victory since Dec. 20.

"I feel like the last three or four starts I've been feeling pretty good," he said. "It was nice to finally get the result."

Coach Jeff Blashill said the Wings "gave up way too many chances. We weren't good enough defensively, especially through the middle of the ice. We produced a good number of chances, but in the end, Bernier was excellent and that's why we won."

It was Larkin's first appearance after missing five games with a strained neck. Justin Abdelkader, who’d just scored his first goal in 41 games, is nursing a hairline fracture and may be out for the rest of the season.

Kuffner makes debut

Ryan Kuffner, a free-agent college signing, made his debut starting on a line with Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek. Kuffner also was out on a power play unit with Nielsen, Tyler Bertuzzi, Niklas Kronwall and Michael Rasmussen. Kuffner, 22, just completed his fourth year of hockey at Princeton last weekend, finishing as the school’s all-time leading goal scorer with 75 goals in 132 games. Kuffner didn’t play much Saturday, but he’s only been with the Wings through one practice. Blashill said Kuffner "played fine. It's one of those things where you never judge any player when they come into a situation like this. It's going to a be process. He's not going to play every game but he'll get enough games that he'll get a feel for what he needs to do to be successful and we'll get a little feel for what he is as a player."

Bernier busy

The Wings grabbed a lead on a fluke play when Athanasiou’s shot off a pass from DeKeyser redirected in off Ryan Pulock three minutes into the game. But the Wings largely were quiet after that, going about eight minutes without a shot on net before getting two on Thomas Greiss the last minute of the first period. Bernier had made 20 saves when Athanasiou scored his second goal, stuffing DeKeyser’s shot at 9:57 of the second period. Shots after two periods had the Islanders up, 30-12.

Emergency situation

Brian Lashoff wasn’t originally on Saturday’s lineup roster but that changed after an ailing back forced Trevor Daley from the lineup (he's considered day-to-day). That left the Wings with a defense corps of Lashoff with Madison Bowey, Niklas Kronwall with Luke Witkowski, and DeKeyser with Filip Hronek. The Wings already were without Mike Green (virus) and Jonathan Ericsson (lower body). The Wings are in an emergency situation on defense, so call-ups don’t count against the four regular call-ups teams are limited to after the trade deadline. If the Wings need to call up someone else, they might take a look at Jake Chelios, son of former Wings defenseman and Hall of Famer Chris Chelios.

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Detroit Red Wings beat New York Islanders, 2-1

Marlowe Alter

Detroit Red Wings (58 points) vs. New York Islanders (89 points)

When: 1 p.m. today.

Where: Little Caesars Arena.

TV: Fox Sports Detroit.

Radio: 97.1 FM (Red Wings radio affiliates).

Game notes: The Red Wings haven't been competitive for weeks, losing four in a row and 12 of 13. The Islanders are second in the Metropolitan. ... The Islanders beat the Wings, 3-2, on Dec. 8 at LCA, and 4-3 in a shootout on Dec. 15.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136394 Detroit Red Wings game and moving the puck, and our line generated (some offensive chances).”

Coach Jeff Blashill liked the way Larkin jumped back into game action This time, Red Wings' Jonathan Bernier gets rewarded after 41-save competitively. effort “He competed hard,” Blashill said. “He skated good. I don’t think he was as sharp defensively as he’s taken pride in being, he’ll be sharper Ted Kulfan, March 16, 2019 Tuesday (at New York Rangers). But he competed real hard.”

Daley out

Detroit — Too often this season goaltender Jonathan Bernier has played Blashill was expecting defenseman Trevor Daley to be in the lineup well enough to win — and hasn’t. Saturday but found out after warm-ups Daley couldn’t play because of back issues. The Red Wings would be poor defensively, or a bounce would go against the Wings and Bernier, or Bernier just wasn’t good enough himself. Brian Lashoff, who was called up from Grand Rapids Friday night, jumped into the lineup. Regardless, it’s happened a lot. Blashill is calling Daley day-to-day for the upcoming five-game trip. So, when the Wings defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 Saturday, it was a relief for both the struggling Wings and equally hungry-for-a-victory “I expected him to play (Saturday), he took warm-ups,” Blashill said. Bernier. “He’s had a bad back for a bit. He couldn’t move well enough. With backs you just never know.” Bernier made 41 saves against an Islanders team fighting for home ice in the playoffs. Lashoff played 11:37 on 18 shifts, and was credited with one hit and two blocked shots. “Bernie has played great,” Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin said. “To see him get the win, he was the best player on the ice. It was huge for him Ice chips and huge for our team to win a game like this.” In his NHL debut, forward Ryan Kuffner played 7:08 on 11 shifts. Kuffner Bernier raised his record to 7-17-5, and won for the first time since Feb. 2 replaced Justin Abdelkader (foot), who is day-to-day. (losing eight consecutive decisions). … Bernier’s 41 saves were his third-most of the season. Bernier made 49 Wings players, though, have felt they’ve been to blame for most of saves Nov. 10 against Carolina, and 45 on Dec. 15 against the Islanders. Bernier’s defeats. … With his two goals Saturday, Andreas Athanasiou produced his 14th “I’ve talked about in here after tough losses, or times we’ve come out and multi-point game of the season, passing Larkin for the team lead. haven’t played hard for him and he’s got peppered,” Larkin said. “He’s a Athanasiou also has a team-high six two-goal games. guy who works extremely hard in practice, and does it every day. He’s not the loudest guy, he goes about his business and he’s always Detroit News LOADED: 03.17.2019 prepared to play.

“We’re really happy for him. He’s a great guy and this game is something our whole team can build off.”

Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier talks about his 41-save victory Saturday. The Detroit News

Bernier felt good from the start in this game and got help from his teammates.

“I was able to see pretty much everything, and when I didn’t control the rebound, the defense were in good position overall,” Bernier said. “It was a team effort.

“The last three or four starts, my reads have been good. It was nice to finally get the result.”

But for a second near the end, it appeared the Islanders were about to tie the score when a shot was deflected and popped over Bernier, who had no idea where it was.

“I got lucky,” Bernier said. “It was a point shot, got tipped in front, and I kind of lost track of it.

“I got lucky. But sometimes you have to be. It was nice to get those bounces. That’s probably the first thing that came to my head (after the game). I didn’t get bad bounces or anything like that. I got some good bounces on my side, and it was nice to have.”

Bernier is likely to have several more starts in these final three weeks of the season and wants to finish on a high note.

“I didn’t have the year I wanted,” Bernier said. “But I want to finish strong and prove I can play and make a difference.”

Larkin returns

Forward Dylan Larkin returned to the lineup after missing five games.

Larkin played 21:50 and was credited with two shots, one hit and one giveaway.

“It felt good to be back out there,” Larkin said. “A little rusty, but it’ll come back. It’s been a little time off, so just getting back into it and thinking the 1136395 Detroit Red Wings

Rare win lifts Wings' spirits; Andreas Athanasiou scores twice

Ted Kulfan, March 16, 2019

Detroit — Victories haven’t come the Red Wings’ way often this season, and especially lately.

So after Saturday’s 2-1 win over the New York Islanders, you could sense a tone of relief and, let’s face it, joy coming from the Wings’ locker room.

There just haven’t been many of victories. Or at least, few and far between.

They hadn’t won since March 7 (shootout win over the N.Y. Rangers) and hadn’t won in regulation time since Feb. 14.

The Wings had lost 12 of their last 13 games and fallen to next-to-last in the overall NHL standings. Times have been particularly tough.

So, yes, they enjoyed this one.

“That’s why we play hockey, to win games,” said goaltender Jonathan Bernier, who was a key reason the Wings won, making 41 saves. “When you see all the guys in this room, they’re winners, and every hockey player in this league wants to win.

“When you don’t win, it’s not fun.”

This was fun for a Wings team (25-37-10) that didn’t overwhelm an Islanders (41-23-7) but did all the necessary things to win and received two goals from Andreas Athanasiou for all the offense they needed.

“It’s never easy when you don’t win, the mood in the room and the guys, we’re not playing as confident as we should,” Bernier said. “Tonight we kept it simple, we tried to spend time in their zone and we scored two goals and found a way.”

For Bernier, personally, it was his first victory since Feb. 2, when he shut out Ottawa.

“He was excellent throughout the game,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “We gave up way too many chances. We weren’t good enough defensively, especially through the middle of the ice, we have to be better than that.

“We competed, we worked, produced a good number of chances as well, but in the end, Bernie was excellent and that’s why we won.”

The two goals gave Athanasiou 26, one shy of Dylan Larkin — who returned to the lineup after missing five games with a neck strain — for the team lead.

“He’s a dynamic, explosive scorer, and the way he skated tonight, not many people can defend that,” said Larkin of Athanasiou.

Anders Lee scored for the Islanders.

Athanasiou broke a 1-1 tie with his 26th goal midway in the second period.

Danny DeKeyser, with his second assist, slapped a pass to Athanasiou alone at the left post. Athanasiou calmly tapped the puck past goalie Thomas Greiss at 9:57.

“As he (DeKeyser) got the puck, he kind of looked to the net and saw me sneak around the net and saw me all alone,” Athanasiou said. “We made a little bit of eye contact and he put it right on my tape and there was a lot of empty net.”

Athanasiou received some puck luck in the first period to open the scoring.

Appearing content to shoot the puck into the corner, Athanasiou’s pass deflected off an Islanders skate, then glanced off Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock and just past Greiss, making it 1-0, just 2:59 into the game.

“I guess I’ll take those any day, for sure,” Athanasiou said.

Detroit News LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136396 Detroit Red Wings dynamic player,” Blashill said. “But he’s got to make sure he plays like he did tonight on a consistent basis. I thought as the game went along, he turned too many pucks over. That’s something that he’ll continue to work Red Wings’ Andreas Athanasiou, Dylan Larkin chasing elusive 30-goal on. But it’s just steps at getting better.” mark Michigan Live LOADED: 03.17.2019

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings, in their final 10 games, want to compete hard, see continued growth from young players and win as much as possible, even if it damages their draft lottery odds.

Individual milestones are within reach as well.

It has been 10 years since the Red Wings produced a 30-goal scorer. Two players have a chance to reach that mark – Dylan Larkin has 27 goals and Andreas Athanasiou has 26, after scoring twice in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena.

In the grand scheme, it doesn’t mean much if either gets to 30, but it would put them in a select group. Last season, 32 NHL players reached the 30-goal mark. This season, 31 have scored 30 or more thus far.

It’s more difficult than it was in 2008-09, when four Red Wings reached that plateau – Marian Hossa (40), Johan Franzen (34), Pavel Datsyuk (32) and Henrik Zetterberg (31).

“That’s definitely a milestone,” Athanasiou said. “I think that’s a lot of goals for sure. If I could do that, obviously, it would feel good. I think it’ll feel better if it comes with wins in these last games. That’s all I really look for.”

The Red Wings (25-37-10), behind a 41-save performance from Jonathan Bernier, are 2-9-3 in their past 14.

Athanasiou, who snapped a 1-1 tie at 9:57 of the second period, has six two-goal games this season.

“The way he’s playing right now, he should get that marker (30),” Larkin said. “He’s dynamic, he’s an explosive scorer. The way he skated tonight, not many people can defend that. He played the right way, so good for him and it’s huge for our team. If he can produce at the center- ice position, it’ll be harder matchups for other teams coming in. We’ll have two guys that can skate well at center.”

While Larkin would be happy to see Athanasiou score 30, for himself, he said it’s just a number.

“At this point of the season, where we’re at in the standings, you’d like to score big goals at big moments and help your team win games,” Larkin said after returning from a five-game absence due to a sore neck. “It (30 goals) would be a bittersweet feeling because the team is not where we want to be and individually, if you make a goal for yourself and you hit it, it doesn’t feel as good as it would if we were in a playoff hunt.”

Larkin has taken big strides in his second full season at center. Athanasiou has played there the past nine games and his comfort level is growing.

“When you play center, you have to be a lot more aware in the D-zone, kind of being that third defenseman, coming under the play with speed,” Athanasiou said. “I think it’s just something that complements my skating game. Being able to skate under the puck, going slow and getting it, then carrying the puck up the ice is something I like to do.”

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill wasn’t pleased with Athanasiou’s play at center in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to Tampa Bay and showed him some clips. He responded.

“The thing about playing center, as him and I talked, you have to stop in your own zone and compete like crazy, otherwise you play nothing but D- zone, and you have to slow yourself down on breakouts and you have to be underneath the puck. If you don’t do those two things, you can’t be a center long-term.”

Blashill said it’s too early to know if Athanasiou will remain at center beyond this season.

“If he can be a winning centerman, which means a two-way center, some of the steps that Larks has had to take, and at times I have to remind Larks of the same thing, then we’re a better team because he’s a 1136397 Detroit Red Wings

Andreas Athanasiou, Jonathan Bernier step up for Red Wings vs. Islanders

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings were turnover-prone, outshot by a wide margin and outplayed by a playoff-bound team Saturday afternoon.

But Andreas Athanasiou scored two goals and Jonathan Bernier made 41 saves to lead the Red Wings past the New York Islanders 2-1 at Little Caesars Arena.

The Red Wings (25-37-10, 60 points) won for only the second time in 14 games (2-9-3) and snapped a four-game losing streak. They moved ahead of the Los Angeles Kings (58 points) and are six points ahead of the Ottawa Senators, who are in the NHL’s basement. The team that is last overall has the best odds of winning the draft lottery (18.5 percent).

Athanasiou has six two-goal games this season and 26 goals, one fewer than team leader Dylan Larkin, who returned to the lineup Saturday after missing five games with a sore neck.

Danny DeKeyser assisted on both goals.

Bernier (7-17-5) ended an eight-game winless stretch (0-5-3), recording his first win since Feb. 2 (2-0 at Ottawa).

The Islanders (41-23-7, 89 points) remain two points behind the Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division.

Athanasiou snapped a 1-1 tie at 9:57 of the second period. He took a pass from DeKeyser and from the side of the net, tucked the puck past goaltender Thomas Greiss.

Athanasiou opened the scoring 2:59 into the game, when his pass attempt to Luke Glendening deflected off Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock and past Greiss.

Anders Lee tied it at 10:18, whipping in a shot from the slot four seconds after an Islanders power play expired.

Left wing Ryan Kuffner, signed Tuesday as a free agent from Princeton, made his NHL debut for the Red Wings. He logged 7:08 of ice time and didn’t figure in the scoring.

The Red Wings play their next five on the road, starting Tuesday at the New York Rangers.

Michigan Live LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136398 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings’ Justin Abdelkader likely done for season

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader is out 3-4 weeks with a hairline fracture in his leg, likely ending his season.

Abdelkader was injured when he blocked a shot in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Little Caesars Arena.

It has been a rough season for Abdelkader, who ended a 40-game goal- scoring drought on Thursday but produced only six goals and 13 assists in 71 games, while posting a minus-14 rating.

He had appeared in every game until Saturday.

Michigan Live LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136399 Detroit Red Wings

Filip Zadina rejoins Griffins with sights set on ‘long run in playoffs’

By Peter J. Wallner

GRAND RAPIDS - When Filip Zadina last played with the Grand Rapids Griffins, he was getting on a roll.

He returns Saturday rolling in confidence.

The prized 19-year-old rejoined the AHL team for the stretch run in the wake of a successful nine-game stint with the Detroit Red Wings. He had a goal, two assists and a minus-5 rating in his first experience in the NHL. As much as anything, he looked comfortable.

A lot had to do with his last time with the Griffins when he had points in seven straight games - and nine of 10 - from Jan 26 to Feb. 22. He had five goals and 11 points in the stretch.

"Yeah, 100 percent, I want to keep going the way I played before I left," Zadina said. "Probably extend the point streak or something and help the team to win. That would be perfect."

A day after his last game with the Red Wings on Thursday, Zadina was in Grand Rapids for the morning skate Friday, then watched as the Griffins lost to Rockford, 3-2. He then boarded the team bus for Milwaukee and the start of a six-game, 14-day road trip.

“Just coming back and playing the way I did before I left,” Zadina said when asked about the adjustment. “Probably the same game, same speed as when I left. So, it will probably be a little bit better because I played in Detroit and now, I guess and I hope, easier.”

In 45 games with the Griffins, Zadina has 15 goals and 31 points, fifth on the team.

Coach Ben Simon wants to see Zadina resume the pace he had before he left.

"Again, he has to understand that he just can't come down - he's not a shoo-in, a lock to make the Detroit Red Wings next year," Simon said. "There are a lot of young people who will be pushing for jobs next year. So, he has to come down here and dominate. He's got to make sure he picks up right where he left off."

As for feedback he received from the Detroit brass on his time with the Red Wings, Zadina said it was positive.

“Yeah, they were talking to me. They said I did a good job and I played well but I have to keep going here and help the team to win and help the team to make a long run in the playoffs.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136400 Detroit Red Wings

Athanasiou scores 2, Red Wings beat Islanders 2-1

By LARRY LAGE AP Hockey Writer Mar 16, 2019

DETROIT (AP) — Andreas Athanasiou celebrated his second goal by leaping off the ice to bump chests and hug Tyler Bertuzzi.

"He gets pretty excited when we score, so I thought I'd get excited with him," Athanasiou said after scoring twice to help the Detroit Red Wings beat the New York Islanders 2-1. "He was pretty hype and we got the lead, so it definitely was a good feeling for all of us."

Yes, the Red Wings believes they're still playing for something even though they will be relegated to watching the playoffs for a third straight season.

Detroit had lost 12 of 13 to improve its chances of having the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL draft this summer.

While some fans of the franchise may want a lot of losses down the stretch to have a better shot at selecting American star Jack Hughes, the players simply want to win any chance they get.

"It's why we play hockey," Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier said. "All the guys in this room are winners."

For the first time in more than a month, Bernier won a game after stopping 41 shots.

"If Bernier doesn't have that night, we probably win 4-1," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "But they got a fortunate goal and we probably have 25 scoring chances and couldn't bury them."

New York captain Anders Lee had a tying goal on a shot from the slot midway through the first period and Thomas Greiss had 20 saves.

The Islanders, vying for postseason positioning with Metropolitan Division-leading Washington and Pittsburgh, had won two straight and four of the previous five games.

"I don't see this as a setback," New York defenseman Thomas Hickey said.

On his first of two goals early in the game, Athanasiou got a break. He centered a pass that went off the left leg of Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock and into the net.

There was much more skill on display for his second goal.

Athanasiou put Detroit ahead 2-1 midway through the second period. He tapped the puck past Greiss off Danny DeKeyser's slap pass from the top of the right circle to the left side of the net.

"As he got the puck, he kind of looked to the net and saw me sneak around the net and saw me all alone," Athanasiou said. "We made a little eye contact and then he put it right on my tape."

NOTES

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin played after missing five games with a neck injury...... New York scratched C Casey Cizikas (lower body) and D Johnny Boychuk (upper body) with injuries. ... Athanasiou, who has a career-high 27 goals, scored two goals in a game for the sixth time this season. ... Lee has a team-high 26 goals, including one in three straight games.

UP NEXT

Islanders: play at Minnesota on Sunday.

Red Wings: start five-game road trip Tuesday against New York Rangers.

Macomb Daily LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136401 Edmonton Oilers He’s done far more egregious things than that but he’s got a rep with the zebras. Galchenyuk, who’s played the most games (481) of any player from the 2012 draft, is the Coyotes’ top dog on the power play with eight Oilers skin Coyotes in overtime goals.

RACK ‘EM UP

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal McDavid, after setting up Benning’s goal, now has multiple-point games in seven straight, beginning back on March 2, with 16 total points. That ties Auston Matthews and scoring leader Nikita Kucherov for the season high streak. He’s also got points in 11 games in a row (21 points), but the Plan A: Let Connor do it. NHL doesn’t officially count it because he missed a couple with his Plan B Let Leon do it suspension for the head hit on Nick Leddy.

Plan C Let 1a and 1b do it. TEEING IT UP

And so it was that the Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored Benning has the best one-timer of all Oilers defencemen and he’s shown twice, including the OT winner and set up Matt Benning for the other one it the last three games, scoring on every one of them. In this one, he blew as they squeezed past the wild-card team they’re chasing, the Arizona a 40-footer bar down and in on Kuemper. Coyotes, Saturday night. “For the last half dozen games, this is the best I’ve seen Matt play,” said Leon Draisaitl, meanwhile, was on the ice in the overtime with his usual Hitchcock. sidekick and had a large hand in Benning’s second-period goal to give BEATING THE ANNOUNCER him 90 points. He also won 64 percent of his team-high 28 face-offs and played the most minutes (almost 27) of anybody on either team. After Benning scored, on the very next shift Galchenyuk squeezed one under Koskinen from the blue-paint, just 12 seconds later to tie it at two, They got their points, proved their point and the team got two. Galchenyuk swept it home after a pass hit his leg. “Obviously it would have been nice to get it in regulation but we’ll take it This ’n’ that: Shock rocker Alice Cooper dropped the ceremonial first any way,” said McDavid, knowing a 60-minute loss and they would have puck … Ex-Oilers player Jordan Oesterle and Brad Richardson drilled tumbled 10 points south of Arizona. But now they’re still in sight of the iron from long range in the second period for Coyotes … Lucic only second wild-card, seven back (78-71) with 10 to play. A mountain, not a played two and a half minutes in the second as Draisaitl went up with hill to climb. But they aren’t dead, and a loss to the Coyotes would be McDavid but got five and a half minutes in the third … The Oilers sat Ty have been the death-knell. Rattie to get farmhand Joe Gambardella in on the fourth line, but “We ask a lot of Connor and Leon and they deliver most nights and they Bakersfield’s leading shooter (27 goals) didn’t get a lot of love from delivered tonight…I’m really proud of our effort against a team that Hitchcock, who went with three lines pretty much the whole game. In the doesn’t give up much, especially with their veteran back-end,” said Oilers first period, Gambardella got 44 seconds of work, but that’s 13 more than coach Ken Hitchcock. Josh Currie. They both wound up six minutes, however …. Kyle Brodziak was also scratched for the fourth time in the last five weeks … Arizona’s “Typical Connor game. He wasn’t going to be denied, and Leon was the top centre Derek Stepan (knee) is out for rest of regular season. same. We ask those two guys to do everything (103 points for McDavid) and with Nuge (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) the three guys were terrific killing Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 03.17.2019 penalties and taking face-offs. They took close to 50 face-offs,” he said.

“It was a hard game against a very significant opponent…they’ve really put their foot down on teams the last few games. I said before the road trip we had to win at least two of three to make it significant with such an extended home-stand after this and now we’ve got one,” said Hitchcock, with a Sunday game in Vegas.

McDavid got an Oscar Klefbom pass in his feet, took as step, seemed to stumble but slid it past Kuemper for the winner in OT. “Wish I could do that?” laughed . “He picks up a pass on the outside of his skate and kicks it up…playing soccer before the games, it’s not very impressive but on the ice his footwork is.”

“Big goal by a big-time player. We rely on him to score goals in overtime and he and Leon have done that a lot this year,” said Lucic. Three OT winners apiece

FOOT TO THE FLOOR

McDavid took Alex Chiasson’s pass in the neutral zone and burst around Oliver Ekman-Larsson, one of the game’s best skaters, for his shortie, which was the first shot of the night on Kuemper.

“Short-handed it’s tough because lots of times the D doesn’t expect you’re going to go, especially when Chaser looked like he was going to dump it,” said McDavid.

It was McDavid’s first shorthanded goal of the year and third in his 276 NHL game career. He bailed out Draisaitl, who took an ill-advised cross- check to Josh Archibald’s shoulder after a big collision.

WE’VE SEEN THIS ONE

The Oilers penalty kill, which is 30th in the league, was scored on in the first period for the 10th time in the last dozen games as Galchenyuk ripped a 25-footer over Koskinen’s glove but they got much better as the game wore on.

Zack Kassian was in the box for a cheesy charge on Jason Demers along the boards and voiced his displeasure to the ref after the goal went in. 1136402 Edmonton Oilers “I can have a conversation with Richie (Richardson) for 10 minutes and he gets it. Younger players you have to spend more time with, they ask why are we doing this? And a young guy won’t knock on my door as Arizona Coyotes Rick Tocchet definitely in coach-of-year picture much as Richie who’ll say ‘maybe we should take it easy in practice,’ He’s my buy-in guy. With young guys, you have to spend more time with them,” said Tocchet.

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal Arizona defenceman Jason Demers also has played for an array of coaches. Todd McLellan in San Jose, Lindy Ruff in Dallas, Tocchet now.

“Rick’s very intense but he has the players’ coach side to him,” said GLENDALE, Ariz. — Late in the Arizona Coyotes’ practice Friday, coach Demers. “You can feel how badly he wants to win and he’s still a player Rick Tocchet cleared his throat. at heart. He’s with us and knows what we’re going through. Rick’s played Not to cough but to bark, and with almost 1,000 points and close to 3,000 over 1,000 games and knows what it’s like to grind. His message is work PIMs, players listen up. ethic and it was when he was a player, too.”

“Hey, quit fooling around … let’s do this last drill right and leave practice “Every coach is different, some are more xs and os, some are into the right way,” he said. speeches. It’s a mixed bag, Rick’s probably one of the coaches who likes me, which is nice,” laughed Demers. The injury-riddled Coyotes, who had 10 regulars out at one point this season, have been a howling success the past month to get into a wild- Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 03.17.2019 card spot in the West and Tocchet is the top dog pulling the strings. He’s definitely in the conversation for coach of the year. He probably won’t win it or shouldn’t win it — how about Jon Cooper on a Tampa team that could get 125 points? But Tocchet, New York Islanders Barry Trotz, Bruce Cassidy in Boston and Bill Peters in Calgary are certainly valid Adams trophy candidates.

Tocchet’s Coyotes have taken on a “scratch and claw” mentality with their roster of older D and young forwards, and they’re in the hunt for their first playoff berth in seven years.

Tocchet, who turns 55 next month, loves what he’s doing, so much so he’ll skate with the extras on game days to stay in shape. He loves talking to the kids, appreciates conversations with the older Brad Richardson, and he says his door is always open and it’s not lip-service.

He’s much better in his second kick at the can as a head coach than he was in his first in Tampa when he took over for the fired Barry Melrose in 2008, but then lots of coaches say that. Tom Renney wasn’t ready in Vancouver in the late 1990s but he knew his stuff with the Rangers and Oilers.

“The arrogance of us coaches would say no (they didn’t to fail first), but you have to grow as a coach. Experiencing all the different things, obviously being in Tampa helped me,” said Tocchet.

“I don’t care what coaches say, we don’t know everything. If you think you do, the players will see right through you. It’s OK, to be vulnerable as a head coach. Players inspire you and I think players appreciate that honesty,” said Tocchet.

Richardson the elder statesman here at 34, has played for countless coaches in Colorado, LA, and Vancouver before getting Tocchet.

“Tock’s been good, with all the injuries we’ve had this year and to stay in it (playoff race) is pretty impressive. You need players obviously but the ability to adapt to what’s going on around you, is important. He’s open- minded,” said Richardson

“I’ve played for Joel Quenneville, he’s old school, not much video … five or six clips a day then go out and play. Darryl (Sutter) was the same, he made sure you competed and played hard or he’d kick you in the butt on the bench, classic farm boy from Vancouver,” said Richardson. “I had Willie Desjardins and John Tortorella in Vancouver. Every day was a different journey with Torts. I loved him.”

Tocchet says he’s more of his own man, now.

“I’m way more decisive now than I was the first time as a head coach … I don’t listen to as many people,” said Tocchet, who has also been an assistant in Colorado and Pittsburgh and Tampa after quitting with 1,144 games as a right-winger, and one Cup as a player, then two as an assistant with Penguins on his resume. As a player he was one of best combinations of offence and sandpaper in history and he brings the same fire as a coach.

“In Pittsburgh the four years I was there was a nice coach’s hockey school,” said Tocchet, working with Mike Sullivan and Jacques Martin.“Mike Sullivan, great friend, great coach. To hang around and coach high-level players helps too.”

But dealing with today’s player takes some finesse. 1136403 Edmonton Oilers onto this team. It’s a very competitive team that doesn’t give you any quarter and that’s the way Rick played the game,” said Hitchcock.

Tocchet laughed when asked who he listens to as a coach. Oilers call-up Gambardella no ordinary joe in beard department “My circle is a little smaller,” said Tocchet, who has a clearer picture of what he wants now than in his first coaching gig in Tampa over 10 years Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal ago.

SHUT OUT NOISE

ARIZONA — Bakersfield farmhand call-up Joe Gambardella, who was Arizona’s been saved by the play of long-time No. 2 guy Darcy Kuemper, summoned from Bakersfield Friday and immediately slotted into the who has the ninth best save percentage in the league (.921) in 45 fourth line against Arizona Coyotes, is carrying a beard that’s gusting games. toward Brent Burns territory. “His whole career’s been as a back-up who might not play for two weeks The hair is his calling card, along with a heart that never stops beating. but it’s changed this year. These last two months, he knows he’s going to be in there nine times out of ten,” said Tocchet, who had little choice “No, no. I probably have another five years to catch him,” laughed when Antti Raanta was lost for the season with a bad knee in late Gambardella, who has a contest going with Condors winger Evan Polei November. “His demeanour is great, win or lose and I don’t think the to see who can go the longest without reaching for Mr. Gillette. outside noise has hurt him. All the great goalies can shut that out.”

“I always have a five o’clock shadow and Evan’s starting from scratch but This ’n’ that: Swedish defenceman Joel Persson, who finished fifth in his beard is actually longer than mine right now. Whoever shaves first blueliner points in the Swedish Elite League this season, has a knee has to pay a certain amount. Not that much, but it’s the principle of the injury and his availability to come to Bakersfield after the Vaxjo Lakers’ bet.” season is over is in jeopardy. Vaxjo, who finished seventh in league play, beat 10th-place Orebro 3-2 in overtime in the first game of a best-of-three Gambardella, 25, who was battled throughout his hockey career for play-in round Saturday. If Vaxjo wins, they meet Farjestads in the next acceptance, played his first four NHL games in early January, but got round. Three ex-Oilers — goalie Viktor Fasth and forwards Liam Reddox minimal work with a high of 7:51 in Anaheim and a low of 2:21 against and Roman Horak — are on Vaxjo with Kris Versteeg, who was at Florida. training camp a couple of years ago, also on the roster … Little British- They were intrigued enough to bring him back, however. born winger Liam Kirk, a seventh-round draft pick of Arizona last June, has 25 goals and 46 points in 61 points for Peterborough in the Ontario “I think he could be a fourth-line NHL player,” said Oilers interim general Hockey League in his first North American action … The Oilers haven’t manager Keith Gretzky. “He gets inside, he wants it.” signed Hayden Hawkey, their Providence College goalie who led the nation with seven shutouts and had a 1.93 goals-against average and Plus, of course, he would be what every NHL team is looking for: Cheap .921 save percentage, but that could be coming … Patrick Russell and labour in the bottom six. Kailer Yamamoto are both sitting out in Bakersfield, Yamamoto with a “He’s a competitive offensive player, good on the boards,” said Oiler possible concussion. coach Ken Hitchcock. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 03.17.2019 Gambardella, who has worked industriously on his skating and is much quicker than he was last year, has 27 goals in 48 games, 23 even- strength in Bakersfield. He’s a poster boy for work ethic.

“With everything in life, you’re going to start lower than expected and work your way up, and that’s anything you choose to do in life. In junior, I started on the fourth line and I didn’t know college (scholarships) existed and got one (at University of Massachusetts-Lowell). Played fourth-line to start, got signed by Edmonton, then last year, I was on the third and fourth line in the AHL,” he said.

DOG DAYS

Oilers winger Sam Gagner, who played for the Coyotes in 2014-15, can’t believe the turnover here.

“Seems like every team I go to gets blown up,” kidded Gagner, who only sees one familiar face in Arizona, Oliver Ekman-Larsson. “And from the time I was last in Edmonton, just Nuge (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) remains.

“It’s crazy to think of what’s happened here. I was only here four years ago. But, the year I was in Arizona there was turnover in the season too, when they traded Keith Yandle and Antoine Vermette.”

Gagner was dealt from Arizona to Philadelphia in 2015.

For whom?

“Chris Pronger, ever hear of him?” asked Gagner, whose contract was dumped in the desert. “Hey, I can always say I got traded for a Hall of Famer.”

Arizona, with lots of salary cap room, has been a clearing house for veterans on big contracts.

“Yeah, Pavel Datsyuk,” said Gagner. “And this year, (Marian) Hossa.”

TOCCHET IN TOUCH

Hitchcock likes the job Rick Tocchet’s doing here.

“This doesn’t surprise me a bit that he’s a good coach. He’s a lot like Mark Recchi, a student of the game and his image has been projected 1136404 Edmonton Oilers from Colorado to Los Angeles to Vancouver to Arizona but what the 34- year-old has always brought to the table is a work ethic.

He won a Cup ring with LA in 2012 as a superior penalty-killer and one of Edmonton Oilers Game Day: A must-win in Arizona the NHL’s best checking centres.

He’s winning 54 percent of his draws this year and having a career Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal season with a team-leading 16 goals and he missed 16 games with a busted foot. He had four goals against Vancouver earlier this month.

PROJECTED LINES Edmonton Oilers at Arizona Coyotes: 8 p.m., TV: CBC, Radio: 630 CHED Oilers lineup

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH TONIGHT Forward

1. Arizona’s penalty-kill Milan Lucic • Connor McDavid • Zack Kassian

Not only do they give up virtually nothing, just 30 goals in 71 games, Tobias Rieder • Leon Draisaitl • Alex Chiasson second best in the league, but they’ve scored 15 short-handed goals Jujhar Khaira • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins • Sam Gagner from six different players. Josh Currie • Colby Cave • Ty Rattie Only Tampa is better killing penalties at 85.8 per cent, befitting the top team in the league by a country mile and only Calgary (16) has more Defence pairings shorties. Oscar Klefbom • Adam Larsson Michael Grabner, just returned from an eye injury, has only played 30 games and has five SH goals with his speed. Darnell Nurse • Kris Russell

2. No star power but lots of foot soldiers Andrej Sekera • Matt Benning

The Coyotes have 11 guys in double figures in goals, which means you Goal can’t focus on just one line. Mikko Koskinen • Anthony Stolarz

Oilers coach Ken Hitchcock says if you can get nine guys with 10 or Coyotes lineup more goals you’re in the playoffs, and that’s where the Desert Dogs are right now. Forward

They don’t have one player with more than 16 (Brad Richardson) but Clayton Keller • Christian Dvorak • Richard Panik have 10 forwards with at least 10 and Grabner is close with eight in 30 Vinnie Hinostroza • Brad Richardson • Michael Grabner games. Alex Galchenyuk • Mario Kempe • Christian Fischer 3. Who is this masked man? Lawson Crouse • Nick Cousins • Josh Archibald Darcy Kuemper has saved the Coyotes with Antti Raanta out for the season with knee problems. Defence

The career back-up has a .921 save percentage in 45 games and three Oliver Ekman-Larsson • Nick Hjalmarsson shutouts. Only six goalies who’ve played 40 or more games have a better save percentage. His 45 games is 14 more than he’s ever played in a Jason Demers • Alex Goligoski season (31 in Minnesota). Jakob Chychrun • Jordan Oesterle They got him from Kings for current Oiler Tobias Rieder last season, Goal figuring he would be a 20-25 game guy with Raanta getting the bulk of the work but Kuemper has a 2.48 average. Darcy Kuemper • Calvin Pickard

4. Will he ever score? Special teams — Oilers: PP- 43-205 21 percent (11th). PK-53-213 75 percent (30th); Coyotes: PP 39-226 17.3 percent (21st). PK 30-201, 85.1 The NHL record for going a whole season as a forward without a goal is (second) Craig Adams in Pittsburgh in 2009-10 when he had 83 shots and couldn’t beat a ‘tender in 82 games. Injured —Oilers: Jesse Puljujarvi; Coyotes: Nick Schmaltz, Derek Stepan, Antti Raanta Rieder, who played four years with Coyotes, has suited up for 56 Oiler games and has 77 shots and nary a sniff. He only has 25 shots in 30 Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 03.17.2019 games in 2019, and has points in just seven games all season.

5. Give Benning more ice-time

On a team that’s solidly minus, Matt Benning is plus-14.

He’s formed a nice third pairing with Andrej Sekera and his last three games have been his season’s best. He deserves more than 14:27 a game, and he also should be getting some PP time because he’s got the best one-timer from the point.

There’s been lots of talk that the third-year Oiler was available at the trade deadline and might be in the same boat this summer for a forward but he deserves some love.

On the same D, the usually reliable Adam Larsson is -20.

BIG MATCHUP

Brad Richardson vs. Connor McDavid

McDavid just became one of 19 players to hit 100 points in three straight years and Richardson, 34, is an NHL survivor who’s bounced around 1136405 Edmonton Oilers gone by the No. 9 overall selection, but at least one of the top tier should be available.

Dylan Cozens of the Lethbridge Hurricanes is a rangy centre-wing who On Draft: A look at the Oilers’ history with the WHL and which prospects shoots right and has scored 34 goals as we enter the final games of the could be on deck for this year’s draft regular season. He is an excellent skater and should be the first WHL player chosen this year. He would be the ideal choice for Edmonton based on need, but acquiring him would probably mean trading up inside By Allan Mitchell Mar 16, 2019 the top 10.

Kirby Dach of the Saskatoon Blades is another player Edmonton will covet, but he’s likely long gone, possibly inside the top five overall. Dach Building up to the 2014 NHL draft, there was a buzz around Leon is a creative righty centre with size, plays well without the puck and has Draisaitl. His skill set (big centre, great vision, outstanding passer) good speed. Dach has 25 goals and 73 points, with the gap (according to included a couple of areas that needed work. Draisaitl noted to Guy scouts I’ve spoken to) between he and Cozens razor thin. Flaming of The Pipeline Show at the time: “My defensive game is definitely not my asset, and same with my skating I think, those are the Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants is the consensus top defenceman two biggest things I need to improve.” in this year’s draft. He possesses a complete skill set, terrific speed and a sixth sense offensively. Edmonton’s management has stated through Draisaitl was aware of the Oilers being a possible destination, with both several incarnations they are a ‘best player available’ team (as opposed player and team expected to have all business settled inside the top 10 to drafting for need) and Byram may test the theory. If he’s on the board overall. “I would be excited, I’d be pumped, really like the Oilers they’ve when the Oilers pick, it’s likely he will be the best available. always been one of my favourite teams, it would be huge for me.” The one top flight WHL player who should be available when Edmonton In late August, two months after Edmonton took him, general manager selects in the first round is Peyton Krebs of the Kootenay Ice. The lefty Craig MacTavish talked about Draisaitl as a possible immediate solution, centre-wing is highly creative and plays a fairly complete game, fine telling Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal “in my mind, Leon’s going speed and average (5.11) size. He has 19 goals and 49 assists this to make a very strong case in camp for making our team. I’d be shocked season, giving fans an idea about his playmaking ability. Although less if he doesn’t a strong case.” The Oilers hit a home run with the big man in than ideal for a team like Edmonton who are looking for a shooter, his 2014. Five years later, there’s a good chance the team uses its first- talent level is so high it might be difficult for the Oilers to overlook him. round pick in 2019 on a player from the WHL. Later Rounds The Oilers and the WHL at the draft I’m always fascinated by statistical outliers among first time eligible draft Edmonton’s devotion to the WHL towers over the rest of the league: prospects. A great curio is Brayden Tracey of the Moose Jaw Warriors. Total players drafted by NHL teams 2009-2018: 22,120 He’s a devastating scorer, 36 goals in the 2018-19 campaign. Tracey plays on a line with Tristan Langan and Justin Almeida, who are older Total WHL players drafted by NHL teams 08-17: 330 (14.9 percent) juniors and both have over 100 points this season. Even if he’s being zoomed by his linemates, Tracey (a May 2001) would be worth Total players drafted by Edmonton 2008-17: 77 considering. He’s ranked No. 73 in the Central Scouting midterms, and Total WHL players drafted by Edmonton 08-17: 17 (22.1 percent) will be a player to watch as we head toward draft day.

The NHL number above includes Edmonton; without the Oilers, the Ben McCartney of the Brandon Wheat Kings doesn’t get mentioned league drafts the WHL 14.2 percent. By comparison, the NHL uses the much but his offensive numbers are impressive. He has scored 18 goals OHL 19.39 percent of the time. Both are monster totals, but the Ontario at 5-on-5 in 66 games, that’s a total that should get him noticed. He’s a league is clearly a larger talent pool for the world’s best league. For our July birthday, so barely eligible (September 15 is the deadline date) and conversation, the bottom line is this: The Oilers shop heavily in the WHL, you won’t find much on him. There may be a reason to pass on with last season’s shutout an anomaly. McCartney in this year’s draft, but the math side of the procurement equation is hollering loudly about a player no one is talking about at this WHL Oilers since 2009 time.

2009—Cameron Abney The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 2010—Brandon Davidson (162 NHL games); Curtis Hamilton (one NHL game); Tyler Bunz (one NHL game), Drew Czerwonka

2011—Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (527 NHL games); David Musil (four NHL games); Travis Ewanyk

2012—Mitch Moroz

2013—Jackson Houck, Ben Betker, Greg Chase

2014—Leon Draisaitl (339 NHL games)

2015—Ethan Bear (18 NHL games)

2016—Tyler Benson

2017—Kailer Yamamoto (26 NHL games), Stuart Skinner

Edmonton used three first-round selections (Nuge, Draisaitl, Yamamoto) on WHL prospects and in two of three cases have been rewarded (Yamamoto’s results still to come). The team also cashed on a depth pick (Brandon Davidson was chosen in the sixth round) and have several (Bear, Benson, Skinner) who are tracking well.

The WHL in the 2019 draft

As we saw in 2014, when Draisaitl’s expected landing spot and Edmonton’s turn aligned perfectly, there’s a very good chance we see the Oilers head to the podium opening night with at least one impact prospect from the WHL still on the board.

Edmonton currently stands a good chance of picking later in the top 10. Based on many mid-season rankings, several WHL prospects will be 1136406 Florida Panthers Miami Herald LOADED: 03.17.2019

Huberdeau scores late, Panthers edge Kings 4-3

BY DAN GREENSPAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES-Jonathan Huberdeau pulled an imaginary monkey off the back of Evgenii Dadonov just before the Florida Panthers went out on the ice for warmups, hoping to help his teammate get in the right frame of mind to end a season-high goal drought of nine games.

It worked.

Huberdeau had the go-ahead goal with 1:56 remaining, Dadonov scored twice, and the Florida Panthers beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 on Saturday for their fourth straight win.

Sam Montembeault made 24 saves to win his fourth consecutive start for the Panthers, who are seven points behind Carolina and Columbus for an Eastern Conference wild card with 11 games remaining. The Hurricanes and Blue Jackets both played later Saturday night.

"We're not dead yet, and we can make things interesting," Panthers coach Bob Boughner said. "We just got to keep on winning, and tomorrow is another big day for us."

Mike Hoffman had a power-play goal, and Aleksander Barkov had three assists to extend his streak to five games for the Panthers.

Anze Kopiar and Dustin Brown each had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who have lost 15 of 17. Brendan Leipsic also scored and made 31 saves.

Huberdeau had his shot at the near post sneak in under Quick's skate at 18:04 after Dadonov scored from the slot on a drop pass from Huberdeau with 6:13 left in the third period to tie it at 3-3.

The Kings challenged Huberdeau's 23rd goal of the season for goaltender interference, but the call on the ice was upheld.

Huberdeau got his fifth goal in the past five games, and the assist was his 53rd this season to tie Viktor Kozlov for most in a season by a Panther. But Huberdeau was happier with the role Dadonov played in giving the Panthers a chance to get the winner.

"He's been playing really, really well all the time," Huberdeau said. "Just (the) puck hasn't been finding the way in, and this time he scored two crucial goals for us to win the game."

Dadonov's recent struggles were all the more surprising given how the Panthers have produced on offense during their winning streak, scoring 16 goals in the first three games.

Barkov had been the hottest player for Florida, and he kept up that pace by getting the three assists he needed for 200 in his NHL career. He has two goals and 11 assists in his past five games.

Barkov also became the third Panthers player with at least 80 points in a season and is up to a career-high 81.

Kopitar put the Kings ahead 3-2 at 9:44 after Leipsic tied the game 2-2 1:05 into the third. Jeff Carter got his 700th point with the primary assist on Leipsic's seventh goal, but let loose his frustration after the Kings could not close out the game.

"It's the same story every (expletive) game here. Get a lead, give a lead up," Carter said. "So we can sit here and talk about it, but we've been talking about it for a while now."

NOTES: Montembeault is 4-0-1 in five starts as a rookie. ... Brown scored his 93rd career power-play goal, passing Rob Blake for fifth-most in team history. ... Kopitar got his 20th goal, a mark he has reached in 10 of his 13 seasons with the Kings. He also reached 30 assists for the 13th straight season.

UP NEXT

Panthers: Continue their four-game road trip at Anaheim on Sunday night.

Kings: Host Winnipeg on Monday night. 1136407 Florida Panthers

Late Huberdeau goal in L.A. leads to Panthers' fourth straight win

The Associated Press

Jonathan Huberdeau pulled an imaginary monkey off the back of Evgenii Dadonov just before the Florida Panthers went out on the ice for warmups, hoping to help his teammate get in the right frame of mind to end a season-high goal drought of nine games.

It worked.

Huberdeau had the go-ahead goal with 1:56 remaining, Dadonov scored twice, and the Florida Panthers beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 on Saturday for their fourth straight win.

Sam Montembeault made 24 saves to win his fourth consecutive start for the Panthers, who are seven points behind Carolina and Columbus for an Eastern Conference wild card with 11 games remaining. The Hurricanes and Blue Jackets both played later Saturday night.

"We're not dead yet, and we can make things interesting," Panthers coach Bob Boughner said. "We just got to keep on winning, and tomorrow is another big day for us."

Mike Hoffman had a power-play goal, and Aleksander Barkov had three assists to extend his streak to five games for the Panthers.

Anze Kopiar and Dustin Brown each had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who have lost 15 of 17. Brendan Leipsic also scored and Jonathan Quick made 31 saves.

Huberdeau had his shot at the near post sneak in under Quick's skate at 18:04 after Dadonov scored from the slot on a drop pass from Huberdeau with 6:13 left in the third period to tie it at 3-3.

The Kings challenged Huberdeau's 23rd goal of the season for goaltender interference, but the call on the ice was upheld.

Huberdeau got his fifth goal in the past five games, and the assist was his 53rd this season to tie Viktor Kozlov for most in a season by a Panther. But Huberdeau was happier with the role Dadonov played in giving the Panthers a chance to get the winner.

"He's been playing really, really well all the time," Huberdeau said. "Just [the] puck hasn't been finding the way in, and this time he scored two crucial goals for us to win the game."

Dadonov's recent struggles were all the more surprising given how the Panthers have produced on offense during their winning streak, scoring 16 goals in the first three games.

Barkov had been the hottest player for Florida, and he kept up that pace by getting the three assists he needed for 200 in his NHL career. He as two goals and 11 assists in his past five games.

Barkov also became the third Panthers player with at least 80 points in a season and is up to a career-high 81.

Hoffman — with his 33rd goal this year — set a Panthers mark for the most goals by a first-year Panther, pushing past Ray Whitney.

Kopitar put the Kings ahead 3-2 at 9:44 after Leipsic tied the game 2-2 1:05 into the third. Jeff Carter got his 700th point with the primary assist on Leipsic's seventh goal, but let loose his frustration after the Kings could not close out the game.

"It's the same story every (expletive) game here. Get a lead, give a lead up," Carter said. "So we can sit here and talk about it, but we've been talking about it for a while now."

NOTES: Montembeault is 4-0-1 in five starts as a rookie. ... Brown scored his 93rd career power-play goal, passing Rob Blake for fifth-most in team history. ... Kopitar got his 20th goal, a mark he has reached in 10 of his 13 seasons with the Kings. He also reached 30 assists for the 13th straight season.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136408 Florida Panthers After being forced to take it easy for a few months following surgery in September, McGinn was on the ice in January working his way toward a return to the Panthers. He said once he hopped on the ice for the first Months after a second back surgery threatened his career, Jamie time, he knew he would be back this season. McGinn is thriving with Panthers “I worked my ass off to get back,” McGinn said. “I did all the right things and everything is checked off. I feel good.”

By George Richards Mar 16, 2019 Boughner, for one, seemed pretty surprised by it all.

Just weeks before McGinn put his Florida gear back on for skates around the IceDen in Coral Springs, Boughner seemed as if he was not When Bob Boughner heard Jamie McGinn was going to have back expecting McGinn to return at all. “I haven’t heard a thing,” Boughner surgery for the second time in the past five years, the Panthers coach said when asked for an update on McGinn. figured there was no way McGinn would play again this year. By February, McGinn was back in uniform and playing in games. “We all thought he was out for the season,” Boughner said. “He really worked hard to come back earlier than expected.” Only it was not with Florida.

McGinn worried about bigger things: He was not sure he would ever be After skating for a few weeks with teammate Vincent Trocheck, the able to play again. Panthers put McGinn on waivers. If he and the remainder of his $3.5 million contract was to be picked up, so be it. If not, he would be sent to Boughner said it was no secret McGinn’s career was in jeopardy. the minors with no real timeline for a return back.

“The whole time, I thought I was done,” McGinn said. “Florida was great By all accounts, McGinn took the demotion in stride figuring he would about it, they just wanted me to think of myself. I honestly didn’t think I return soon enough. would be able to come back because I wasn’t happy being in pain 24/7. You just want the pain to go away.” First, he needed to get back into game shape, and he figured the Panthers would send him to Springfield on a rehab stint anyway. McGinn was not only able to get healthy enough to return to the sport he loves so much, but he also has done so at a pretty high level. Secondly, well, the Panthers were paying out his contract whether he was in Florida or in the minors. Spending that kind of money in the AHL On Thursday, playing in his 12th game since returning to the Panthers in did not make a whole lot of sense long-term. February, McGinn scored his fourth goal of the season by jamming home a loose puck in front of San Jose goalie Martin Jones. “What I liked,” Boughner said, “was he went down there, he got into scraps, scored some goals, made big hits. He jumped right into it.” It was the second goal in as many games for McGinn. When Colton Sceviour broke a bone blocking a shot Feb. 9 at The joy on his face was evident on Feb. 23 when he scored first goal Washington and was put on IR, McGinn was brought up. since returning against the Kings at BB&T Center. It came in his 600th NHL game. “I missed this every day,” said McGinn, who had two goals and four points in four AHL games before returning. “When the guys are going into “After I scored that goal, I just sat back and took it all in for the night,” battle and you’re stuck watching it on TV, seeing the ups and downs, all McGinn said recently. “It was pretty special. To not know whether I would you want to do is be a part of it. It is so much fun being back, going on ever get to play again at the highest level … so it was special to me.” the road and being a part of this again.”

Although the Panthers eased McGinn back into the lineup — he was This shot by McGinn was saved by Penguins goaltender Matt Murray, but waived, sent to AHL Springfield and scratched in four of five games the Panthers wing has been enjoying a lot of success in his return. “His before the trade deadline — they are starting to use him more and more. goals all seem to come the same way, coach Bob Boughner said. “He is parked right out in front of the net.” (Charles LeClaire / USA Today). On Thursday, McGinn played more than 12 minutes for the third time in the past five games as he helped the Panthers to their third consecutive McGinn is definitely enjoying himself. He has taken up residence at the victory. open end of the locker room and gets in on just about every conversation going on around him. Boughner says McGinn has really helped rookies Henrik Borgstrom and Jayce Hawryluk play a straight-forward, go-to-the-net style of play. He was able to play against younger brother Brock when Carolina came to town earlier this month (Jamie had two assists) and he also played “I think he has worked hard to come back and now we have a real against former teammates in Arizona and Colorado. identity on that fourth line,” Boughner said Friday night. “His goals all seem to come the same way; he is parked right out in front of the net. He McGinn had a goal in the shootout loss to the Coyotes, the team that plays big and heavy and has done a really good job for us. We didn’t traded him to Florida during training camp in 2017 for Jason Demers. have him early in the season, didn’t have guys like (Riley) Sheahan or (Josh) Brown. The three-year contract he signed with the Coyotes expires this season, but McGinn has made it clear he wants to keep going. At 30, he will likely “Those guys make us bigger and heavier and having them has reflected find a place to play next year whether it is with the Panthers or in the way we have been playing lately.” somewhere else.

It is easy to say now that McGinn’s comeback may not have taken as “I’m trying to prove that I can still play each and every game,” McGinn long as some thought it would, but in the moment, McGinn was not sure said. “Hopefully, I can come back here. I want to show them that I can of his future. still play at a high level and contribute to the success of the Panthers.”

McGinn had his first back surgery while with Colorado in 2014. This On the road summer, he said he was having no problems but then one morning woke up with a peculiar feeling. He knew something was up and had an idea Rookie goalie Sam Montembeault made his first NHL road start Thursday what it was. and the change of scenery didn’t seem to faze him as he helped Florida to its third consecutive win, stopping 26 shots in a 4-2 win at San Jose. “All of a sudden, I had back pain and it was shooting down my leg and it just would not go away,” McGinn said. “I knew I had to do something. Montembeault, who made his NHL debut March 2 against Carolina and Having surgery is always a last resort. You want to try and work through looked shaky at times in a 4-3 overtime loss, has been nothing but solid it and think you can. But once there is leg pain and it is constant, you since. have to get it repaired. Montembeault, 22, has made three consecutive starts, has three straight “What is running through my head is I just want to get healthy. I want to wins and has stopped 70 of 75 shots. be able to lift my kids when I get older. Health is first, hockey is Boughner said Friday that Montembeault would get the start Saturday secondary. I was sleeping two hours a day, was completely stressed out. afternoon against the Kings in Los Angeles. Roberto Luongo has backed I wanted to be happy. It was tough.” up Montembeault the past two games and could start Sunday at Anaheim.

But if Montembeault plays well — and does not see a whole lot of action Saturday — he could be playing the first back-to-back of his young NHL career.

Thursday, San Jose scored both of its goals in the opening period. Montembeault stopped all 20 shots on goal he faced in the final 40 minutes.

“We are going to see how the game goes, see how busy he is,” Boughner said. “We will make a decision after the game (Saturday). I am not ruling out that he could play Sunday as well. The guys are having a lot of fun right now, the past few weeks we have played to our identity. We are at the point, right now, where we know what we need to be to be successful.”

— Mike Hoffman made a triumphant “return” to San Jose as his power play goal in the second period gave Florida a lead it did not surrender.

Hoffman was a member of the Sharks organization for a few hours last June after being traded west from Ottawa. San Jose then flipped him to the Panthers for three draft picks.

Vacationing in Italy at the time, Hoffman said he knew a trade out of Ottawa was coming, but he didn’t expect two deals in the same day.

TOO FUNNY. THANKS FOR THE KEEPSAKE @TEALCITYCREW, KEEP UP THE GOOD NATURED SPORTS TROLLING ! PIC.TWITTER.COM/SYD58CZBCD

— MIKE HOFFMAN (@MHOFFY68) MARCH 15, 2019

With a goal and assist Thursday, Hoffman has now set career highs in goals (32) and points (63). He is four assists away from the 35 he had with Ottawa two seasons ago.

“There were a lot of different emotions,” Hoffman said in September. “It was pretty obvious a trade was coming and that’s part of the business side of it. As a player, you have to deal with what is handed you.”

— Boughner has won three of the four meetings against the Sharks over the past two seasons. Boughner was an assistant coach under Pete DeBoer in San Jose before getting the Florida job in 2017.

“The good thing about playing San Jose, obviously, is I brought a lot over from Pete and how we played there,” said Boughner, whose team outscored the West-leading Sharks 10-4 in two games this season.

“We talked about it before the game: We have two teams which share about 99 percent of the same systems. It’s going to come down to compete and who is more detailed. It is good for us to see a team like that, a team that plays like us and has success on a nightly basis over 82 games. It is good for us to know that is a system we can have success with.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136409 Los Angeles Kings

Kings let another game slip from grasp, this time 4-3 to Panthers

By CURTIS ZUPKE

It was a thousand-yard stare for a game decided by a quarter of an inch.

Jonathan Quick sat at his locker postgame still wearing his leg pads, along with a drained, distant look on his face that illustrated the latest Kings loss.

His anguish was understandable given how it went down against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, when Jonathan Huberdeau’s backhand shot just did slide across the goal line with 1:56 remaining for the difference in a 4-3 Kings loss at Staples Center.

Up-close replays showed white space between the red line and the puck, despite Quick’s presence of mind to reach back and stop it with his left leg. Hard luck, yes, but the Kings can only ask so much of their goaltender.

“There’s probably a lot of those games lately that he’s deserved a better fate,” Jeff Carter said.

The Kings didn’t give Quick much help in curtailing Florida’s attack. The Panthers’ top line of Huberdeau, Evgeny Dadonov and Aleksander Barkov ran rampant with a combined three goals and five assists to send the Kings to their 15th loss in 17 games.

“Skilled players are going to make skilled plays, but it’s the same story every … game here,” Carter said. “We let him hang out to dry again. We can sit here and talk about it, but we’ve been talking about it for a while now.”

The talk before the game was that interim coach Willie Desjardins scratched Ilya Kovalchuk in order to mix up his line and give other players a look in another 11-forward, seven-defensemen lineup.

That setup, albeit with Kovalchuk, produced a win against the Ducks last week, and Desjardins wanted to try it even if it meant benching his 431- goal scorer.

“That’s a hard thing,” Desjardins said. “He’s a good person. He takes lots of pride in what he does. I got a lot of respect for him, so whenever you do anything like that it’s always hard.”

At times it looked like the Kings could have used a finisher like Kovalchuk, but they did get strong games from Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, who scored on a breakaway in the first period and was moved to the half wall on the first power play unit.

It was Carter that drove the middle and put two shots on goal to allow Brendan Leipsic to follow through for the score-tying goal 65 seconds into the third period. Carter recorded his 700th career point on the play.

That was after Quick got the Kings through a second period with 15 saves. He had to help defend four Florida power plays, two of which were the result of penalties for delay of game and too many men.

Kopitar finished Brown’s feed for a 3-2 lead, which clinched his 10th season of at least 20 goals, and the Kings looked like they might get only their second win this season when trailing after two periods.

But Dadonov’s second goal of the game occurred on a rush with more than six minutes remaining, and then he forced a turnover in the Kings’ end that led to Huberdeau’s goal.

“It was close,” Leipsic said. “I know if that was us, we would have probably thought it probably would have went in. I’m sure they thought it went in. [It’s] one of those ones where it’s tough to give up a goal late in the end. It kind of pulls a little steam out of the bench. It’s hard to get right back.”

Thomas signs

The Kings signed Akil Thomas to a three-year entry level contract. Thomas was a second-round draft pick last year and has 99 points in 61 games with the Niagara IceDogs of the .

LA Times: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136410 Los Angeles Kings

Kings’ Drew Doughty likes seeing young guys get ice time

The flip side, however, is it's coming amid a losing season for a last-place team

By Robert Morales

LOS ANGELES — Kings veteran defenseman Drew Doughty on Friday was discussing this forgettable season when the subject of some of the young players on the team was broached.

Defensemen Sean Walker and Matt Roy are in their first seasons, as are forwards Austin Wagner and Carl Grundstrom.

Doughty think it’s cool they’re playing in the big leagues, although it’s unfortunate they are getting their feet wet during a campaign that saw the Kings with a 25-38-8 record after their 4-3 loss to Florida on Saturday afternoon at Staples Center.

“It’s good that they’re getting in games, but to come to a team that’s in last place and, you know, no direction right now … we’re obviously playing for something, but we’re playing for nothing and it’s tough for these guys,” Doughty said.

But again, it’s not all bad.

“So I guess it’s a good opportunity that they’re getting some ice time and getting more playing time than they probably would have if we were in the playoff race, so I think it’s good in that sense,” Doughty said.

Indeed, but it’s not like the youngsters on this team don’t take the losses hard. So says Wagner.

“Obviously, we need to win some games here,” he said. “Nobody in this room is happy to be in last place and nobody’s content with that. Everybody wants to win, so that’s all we’re focusing on right now.”

Interim coach Willie Desjardins views this as a situation with pros and cons. But it seems like, in his mind, the pros outweigh the cons. First, he believes losing can build the emotional constitution of his rookies.

“I think one thing you learn when you lose is you never want to lose again because it’s such a bad feeling,” he said, “so I think there’s some truth out of that.”

Since the Kings are going to miss the playoffs for the third time in five seasons after winning their second Stanley Cup title in 2014, that also means the young guys are getting more of a look right now.

“It helps you now though because they just get more minutes now,” Desjardins said. “And if you’re in a playoff race, you bring a guy in, they just don’t get to play.

“If I was a young guy, I’d want to play. I want to play, that’s what I want to do. I want the chance to show that I can play.”

That’s not to mention that these first-year players are being mentored by strong leaders, Desjardins said.

“The other thing is you’ve got some guys in that room that’s won and our room’s pretty good,” he said. “Like, they take time with the young guys and even if overall it’s not going as good, they still make sure that they’re mentoring the right way. We’ve got a good leadership group.”

Upcoming

The Kings next play host to Winnipeg on Monday. They finish this five- game homestand with games Thursday against San Jose and March 23 against Anaheim.

The Kings will then embark on a three-game road trip with stops March 25 at Calgary, March 26 at Edmonton and March 28 at Vancouver.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136411 Los Angeles Kings Quick made 31 saves, Montembeault made 24.

Huberdeau praised his goalie while talking about his team’s comeback.

Kings fall 4-3 after late goal from Panthers “We stuck with our game plan and even if we were down we stuck with it and tried to get to the third period and, you know, Montembeault was Jonathan Huberdeau barely scores at 18:04 of the third period as Kings great in the net, making some good saves,” he said. “And … we got a big lose for 15th time in 17 games goal at the end and got us the two points.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 03.17.2019 By Robert Morales

LOS ANGELES – Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is a man of few words. He had only a few as he sat dejectedly at his locker following his team’s 4-3 loss to Florida on Saturday afternoon before 18,022 at Staples Center.

“Yeah, he said, when asked if he thought he stopped the game-winning goal by Jonathan Huberdeau at 18:04 of the third period.

Huberdeau’s 23rd of the season just trickled in over the line. It gave the Panthers (32-27-12, 76 points) their fourth consecutive victory and kept them somewhat in the hunt for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. They were nine points out before Saturday, and they now have 10 games to play.

The Kings (25-38-8, 58 points) have lost 15 of their past 17.

Third-period goals by Brendan Leipsic – his seventh – and Anze Kopitar – his 20th – gave the Kings a 3-2 lead midway through the period before Evgenii Dadonov scored his second of the game and 24th of the season to tie the game 3-3 at 13:47.

The deciding goal came just over four minutes later, hanging another in a long line of losses on the Kings.

“Yeah, it’s always tough to lose,” Quick said.

Officials reviewed Huberdeau’s goal, giving it a thumbs up, and then Kings coach Willie Desjardins challenged that there was goalie interference. Florida won that, too.

“Yeah, it was close, for sure,” Desjardins said, when asked if, while the reviews were taking place, he thought Quick had stopped the shot. “We thought there might be some contact with his pad right at the end of the play.

“We felt there was enough there to make a challenge off it, anyway.”

Florida took a 1-0 lead just 4:10 into the game on a power-play goal by Mike Hoffman. He took a pass from Keith Yandle and fired a one-timer past Quick. The other assist went to Henrik Borgstrom. It was No. 33 for Hoffman.

The Kings got that back on a power-play goal of their own when Dustin Brown put one past Sam Montembeault at 7:35 of the first to tie the game 1-1. Brown took a long pass from Drew Doughty and went in alone on Montembeault. The other assist went to Anze Kopitar.

Florida took a 2-1 lead at 4:04 of the second period on Dadonov’s 23rd of the season, assists going to Aleksander Barkov and Mike Matheson.

Early in the second, Kings defenseman Kurtis MacDermid and Panthers defenseman Josh Brown dropped the gloves. It was an obvious win for MacDermid, who put Brown down to the ice at the end.

After the Kings killed the last 59 seconds of a late second-period penalty at the outset of the third, Leipsic tied the game 2-2 for the Kings with a rebound goal at 1:05.

The Panthers challenged that there was goalie interference, but that was shot down and the goal stood.

Jeff Carter and Matt Roy had the assists, and it was point No. 700 in Carter’s career.

The Kings took a 3-2 lead on Kopitar’s 20th of the season off a nice down-the-middle feed from Brown at 9:44 of the period. Alec Martinez had the other assist.

Carter correctly sized up his team’s performance.

“I thought at times we were really good and at times, we weren’t,” he said. 1136412 Los Angeles Kings Cups. I played because my next-door neighbor played. I started with roller hockey, and then they built this facility in 1999. “

Beebe acknowledges that the parents are the hidden MVPs. “Skates cost Whicker: Young Kings are the rulers of 12-year-old hockey $1,000, sticks cost $300,” he said. “Some parents are taking second jobs The Junior Kings won the prestigious Quebec International Pee Wee to make this work. We travel five, six times a year for tournaments.” Tournament last month. Jeff Morris is a screenwriter who became enthralled by the San Jose Sharks. His life is flexible enough to be there for his son Oliver. He’s familiar with the pre-dawn trips to El Segundo, the shivering, interminable By Mark Whicker weekends inside a rink in Detroit or Toronto.

Oliver still finds time to play the guitar and keep his straight ‘A’s’ while growing up on on skates. He started at 3. EL SEGUNDO — The 12-year-old Junior Kings came to the Tournoi International Hockey de Pee Wee de Quebec last month. “I don’t think people realize all the work they put in, the travel they do,” Jeff Morris said. “It’s been such a unique experience. I don’t know how The best part was leaving with the trophy. far he’s going to take this, but It’s all been worth it.” The worst part was leaving. And long after the Junior Kings shelve the sticks and coach their own “The whole city opens up to these kids,” said Brett Beebe, the head kids, Quebec will stay with them. Or have you ever forgotten your first coach, as he sat on a bench overlooking the ice at Toyota Sports Center. kiss?

“They roll out the red carpet. The parents don’t have to go. The families Orange County Register: LOADED: 03.17.2019 play host to two or three kids from each team. The kids learn a little French, they get immersed in a different culture for 12 days.

“Our guys had to be pried away from these families. Some of them were crying. It’s special.”

The tournament is part of Quebec City’s Winter Carnival. Every year, they build a palace out of ice. Every year, there’s an ice canoe race in the St. Lawrence River. Every year, young players cross this international life bridge.

Unlike all the other tournaments, this is a celebration. And if a young man winds up getting his first kiss along the way, well, that’s a tradition, too.

“It’s hockey’s version of the Little League World Series,” Beebe said.

Winners from Williamsport, Pa., come home to massive acclaim. The Junior Kings immediately had to regroup for the California State Championship, which they won, 5-1, over the Junior Ducks.

This was the first Quebec title for the Junior Kings’ highest division, the AAA level, since 2012. And it was their first and final shot. Only the 12- year-olds go to Quebec. Next year, the same kids move up and actually begin body-checking. They’re too deep in the zone to stop now.

“We have three hours a week on the ice, plus video sessions and off-ice training,” Beebe said. “Some of them show up before school for extra skill work twice a week.

“They’re the epitome of motivation. They’re doing homework here at the facility, in between ice sessions. They aren’t watching Kings games for fun. They’re watching to see what the Anze Kopitars are really doing. They’re ‘A’ students. But I’m most proud of the fact that the families in Quebec told us how respectful and well-mannered they were.”

They were good, too. They had to be. They lost the opener to Middlesex, Mass., which put them in the losers’ bracket. They stared at a parade of elimination games. They responded by beating the Philadelphia Junior Flyers, the Whitby (Ontario) Wildcats, Russia SKA-Strelna St. Petersburg, and Team Minnesota.

That set up a final against the Czech Knights, a customary contender.

“It isn’t hard for 12-year-olds to lose focus,” Beebe said. “I can usually tell when I walk into the locker room. I saw those faces that day and it was like being in an NHL locker room. The determination was such that I knew we’d play pretty well.”

They won 4-1 with two goals from Colin Frank, who had gotten the overtime winner against Russia. Oliver Morris and Aidan Park also scored.

No one within youth hockey is surprised when Californians win. Beebe himself was part of that foundation. His California Wave team won a national championship and his U.S. Under-17 team won a Four Nations gold medal. Then he played on a CCHA championship team in Western Michigan and was in the minor leagues for two years.

“I’m in the second generation,” he said. “The first generation picked up the game because the kids liked it. I’m in the Wayne Gretzky generation. Now these teams were inspired by the Kings winning those Stanley 1136413 Los Angeles Kings road games, so you’ve got to find a way to deal with it. That’s a part of the process of becoming a good pro.

On the response he’s looking for, with now 11 games to go, this week at FINAL – BAKERSFIELD 7, ONTARIO practice and on Friday against Bakersfield

They’ll respond positively. They always have, they always will. It’s a good ZACH DOOLEYMARCH 16, 2019 group. We don’t look at it that there’s 1 games left, 68 games left, we just take the next one as it comes. We’ll put this one behind us, put some miles behind us, head back to home base and have a good week of practice. ONTARIO REIGNPOSTGAME NOTESPOSTGAME QUOTES LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 03.17.2019 The Reign concluded a road trip, that began with a promising start, on a sour note, finishing the five-game swing with their largest defeat of the season, a 7-0 margin in Bakersfield against the Division-leading Condors.

The Condors struck early and often in the opening period, and only a SportsCenter worthy stop from Cal Petersen in the game’s first minute prevented five from being six.

The Reign conceded 1:44 into the game, through forward Jakob Stukel, who tallied again just over four minutes later to push the score to 2-0 in favor of the hosts.

Bakersfield struck three additional times in the opening period, with Cooper Marody, Ethan Bear and Tyler Benson each finding the back of the net, the latter two through deflections off of a Reign player or stick. The five goals allowed marked a season-high for the Reign.

Petersen was replaced by Peter Budaj to begin the second period. The veteran netminder has had success in this building this season, with 61 saves on 65 shots in two appearances entering tonight’s action and finished with 16 saves on 18 shots.

After the two teams played nearly the entire second period scoreless, Bakersfield struck 3:21 from the final buzzer, as Bear collected his second goal and fourth point of the evening, widening the gap to six goals.

Bakersfield struck again midway through the third period to extend its lead to seven. David Gust got in on the scoring with his 16th tally of the season, sneaking his shot past Budaj from the left-hand circle.

The Reign conclude their road trip at 2-2-1 and return home, for a rematch with these same Condors on Friday evening in Ontario.

Alex Lintuniemi on what went wrong in tonight’s defeat

A little bit of everything, but I think it starts with the mental [side of the game]. Clearly we weren’t ready to play and that showed in the first period. We’ve got to show that we want to play here and that’s not how we want to play hockey, so we’ve got to be better.

On how the team makes changes in the mental side of the game

I think it’s just up to every single one [of us] to get ready to play a game. You can have coaches yell at you or coaches be nice to you, but if you’re not ready to play, you’re not ready to play. That’s what happened tonight.

On a prideful group that isn’t happy with how things are going, and how to change it

We go home and we get focused on the next two games coming up here. We’ve just got to show up in the last 11 games here and show that we want to win. I know we’re not good in the standings right now but we’ve got to play hockey still. That’s embarrassing what just went down.

On the response he’s looking for from the team when they play Bakersfield again on Friday at home

I’m already….\definitely, we need to respond. That’s our next game and we’ve got to do something. We just lost seven-nothing so we’ve got to show something to them here.

Mike Stothers on what was different between the last time the Reign were here and tonight’s loss

Well, we didn’t have a whole lot of energy or zip today. So, that was kind of a difference.

On whether he would attribute that to the team’s abnormal travel

I’m sure there’s a lot of things that factored into it, travel being one, it was a little bit different. I think it finally caught up to them, but you know what, it’s a part of the game. Teams travel, you play home games, you play 1136414 Los Angeles Kings

KINGS INK AKIL THOMAS TO THREE-YEAR ELC

JON ROSENMARCH 16, 2019

I’ll have a more informative update at the beginning of the week, but the LA Kings have signed OHL-Niagara forward Akil Thomas to a three-year entry-level contract. Thomas, who turned 19 on January 2, was selected in the second round, 51st overall, by Los Angeles in 2018. An excellent skater and playmaker, Thomas has 37 goals and 99 points in 61 games for the Ice Dogs (not those Ice Dogs), who head into the final two games of the regular season against Barrie and North Bay one point up and with a game in hand on third-place Oshawa.

More on Thomas is available in his introductory post, in which he stated that in advance of last year’s draft he “probably met with [the Kings] a little bit more than any other team.” A Toronto native, he also spent part of his youth in Orlando, Florida and has toured the United States in an RV, which carried his family to and from the NHL Draft. Though he has dual citizenship, he has represented Canada internationally and will be a strong candidate for their World Junior team next season after he was added to their summer showcase camp in 2018.

Because Thomas will be 19 at the start of the 2019-20 season and was drafted out of major junior hockey, he is ineligible to begin the season with AHL-Ontario. If he doesn’t make the Kings out of training camp, he’ll be returned to Niagara.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have signed center Akil Thomas to a three-year entry-level contact, Kings Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake announced today.

Thomas, 19, was originally selected by the Kings in the second-round (51st overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. He is currently playing in his third season with the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) where he serves as an team captain. He enters play tonight with 99 points – including 37 goals – in 61 games. In the OHL, he ranks tied for ninth in points, tied for fourth in assists, tied for 13th in goals and tied for fifth in plus-minus (plus-43).

Last season with the IceDogs he registered 81 points in 68 games and in 2006-17 he registered 48 points in 61 contests. He has also played in 14 postseason games during that time.

The Toronto-born Thomas is a 5-11, 177-pounder.

The Kings’ five-game homestand continues on Monday when the club hosts the Winnipeg Jets at 7:30 p.m.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136415 Los Angeles Kings dry again tonight. We can sit here and talk about it, but we’ve been talking about it for a while.

Brendan Leipsic, on giving up too many rushes against: MARCH 16 RAPID REACTION (FEAT. DARREN GRANGER): PANTHERS 4, KINGS 3 Yeah, the emphasis was on taking care of the puck, making them break out 200 feet. I thought we did a good job for the most part of the game, but you give those guys even just an ounce and they’ll capitalize and JON ROSENMARCH 16, 2019 they did a few times tonight.

Leipsic, on the reaction on the bench to Huberdeau’s game-winning goal:

Rapid Reaction, feat. LA Kings Head Equipment Manager Darren It’s close. I know if that was us, we probably would’ve thought that went Granger it, but I’m sure they thought it went in. One of those ones where it’s tough to give up a goal late in the end and it kind of pulls a little steam off the Post-game Quotes bench and it’s hard to get it right back, but we got a good look at and Juice hit the crossbar there and it was a good response, but just a little Willie Desjardins, on whether he believed Jonathan Quick had kept too short in the end. Jonathan Huberdeau’s goal in front of the goal line while watching the replays: Leipsic, on the challenge of losing after gaining a lead in the third period:

Well, it was close, for sure. We thought there might be some contact with Wins have been tough to come by for us lately. It’s tough to give those his pad right at the end of the play. We felt there was enough there to ones up. I thought we showed some resiliency there. Quickie played make a challenge our of it, anyway. outstanding back there. Kept us in the game for the most part, we just came up short. Juice hits the crossbar and just barely hits over the line. Desjardins, on the team’s performance: Game of inches I guess. Yeah, I thought the first five minutes we were on our heels a little bit. We Post-game Notes got a power play goal that got us going, which was huge. We were down going into the third and we were able to battle, get the lead there. It was –With the loss, Los Angeles fell to 20-13-3 all-time against Florida, a disappointing giving up the two late ones. record that includes a home mark of 13-6-0. The Kings were swept in a two-game season series by the Panthers for the first time since 1996-97 Desjardins, on whether it was difficult to inform Ilya Kovalchuk he’d be and only the second time ever. out of the lineup today: –With the loss, Los Angeles finished the season with a record of 9-19-4 That’s a hard thing. He’s a good person, he takes lots of pride in what he against the Eastern Conference and 2-11-3 against the Atlantic Division. does. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. Whenever you do anything like They fell to 12-7-8 in one-goal games, 7-34-6 when their opponent that, it’s always hard. scores first, 11-15-4 when tied after one period, 1-32-2 when trailing after Desjardins, on whether the 11 forward-seven defenseman allows for two periods and 15-22-6 when outshot by their opponent. better evaluation: –Over the last 17 games, the Kings are 2-11-3. They’ve scored 40 goals It has a little bit. It also allows me a little bit to get my centermen a little bit (2.35 GF/GP) and have allowed 67 (3.94 GA/GP). They’ve allowed at more involved in the game, which I like our guys through the middle. We least three goals in 15 of the 17 games. did it in Anaheim, we got a win. It was something that we thought we’d try –Through 71 games, the Kings have 25 wins. The fewest wins they’ve again. had through 71 games: Desjardins, on how the performance of the veteran players today can 11 (1969-70) influence younger players: 18 (1971-72) I think it’s important. It’s a tough time of year, and whenever you see guys like that battling, it always says a lot for the group and for the young 19 (1983-84) guys as well, but those are character guys, and they’re going to come and play hard every night no matter what. It was good to see they got 21 (1995-96) rewarded tonight. 22 (1970-71)

Jeff Carter, on what changed in the game after a good first 20 minutes: 22 (1981-82)

I thought at times we were really good and at times we weren’t. They 22 (1985-86) came out strong in the second. You could tell that they recharged and refocused. They came out and had a really good period. I thought we 23 (2006-07) came out and had a pretty good period to battle back into it. You got a lead with six or seven minutes left, you’ve got to lock it down. It’s 24 (1968-69) something that we’ve been talking about all year. 24 (1993-94)

Carter, on if a “young Jeff Carter” ever imagined getting 700 points in the 25 (2018-19) NHL someday: 25 (1987-88) Probably not. It’s taken me a while, but it’s something I’m proud of. So, hopefully lots more here. 25 (1996-97)

Carter, on any particular moments that stick out from his career: –With his assist on Brendan Leipsic’s goal, Jeff Carter recorded his 700th NHL point (362-338=700). He is the 241st player to reach 700 points in A lot of games. It’s fun. It’s fun coming to the rink everyday. There’s a lot his NHL career. of ups and downs, but you see the guys every morning and it puts a smile on your face. –Anze Kopitar became the first King to reach 20 goals on the season with his third period marker. With his assist on Dustin Brown’s first period Carter, on whether Quick deserved a better fate in today’s game: goal, he registered his 30th assist, giving him 30 assists in every season Yep, there’s probably been a lot of those games lately that he’s deserved of his career. a better fate. –Brown’s goal, the 93rd power play goal of his career, moved him past Carter, on whether the loss could be attributed to giving up too many Rob Blake (92 PPG) into sole possession of fifth place on Los Angeles’ rushes: all-time PPG list. He trails Luc Robitaille (210), Marcel Dionne (172), Dave Taylor (123) and Bernie Nicholls (100). Brown played the 1,106th I mean, skilled players are going to make skilled plays, but it’s the same game of his career, moving him within five games of Dave Taylor’s story every […] game here. Get a lead, give a lead up. We let him out to franchise record of 1,111 games played as a King. –Drew Doughty appeared in his 399th consecutive game. He has not missed a game since the final four games of the 2013-14 regular season.

–Los Angeles attempted 49 shots (27 on goal, 12 blocked, 10 missed). Florida attempted 71 shots (35 on goal, 14 blocked, 22 missed). Jonathan Huberdeau led all skaters with six shots, while Anze Kopitar finished with a team-high four.

–The Kings won 29-of-52 faceoffs (56%). Adrian Kempe won 5-of-10, Anze Kopitar won 11-of-20, Trevor Lewis won 3-of-4, Dustin Brown won 0-of-1, Tyler Toffoli won 1-of-1 and Jeff Carter won 9-of-16.

The Kings are scheduled to practice at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 17 at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136416 Los Angeles Kings

PREVIEW – ONTARIO @ BAKERSFIELD, 3/16

ZACH DOOLEYMARCH 16, 2019

GAME PREVIEWONTARIO REIGN

WHO: Ontario Reign (21-26-7-2) @ Bakersfield Condors (30-22-3-1)

WHAT: AHL REGULAR SEASON GAME

WHEN: Saturday, March 16, @ 7:00 PM

WHERE: Rabobank Arena – Bakersfield, CA

HOW TO FOLLOW: Video: AHLTV – AUDIO: – Fox Sports Radio (Away Feed) – TWITTER: @ontarioreign & @reigninsider

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The road trip concludes this evening for the Ontario Reign, with the final stop in Bakersfield for a divisional matchup against the Condors. Ontario enters tonight’s action with points in three of the first four games on the swing, most recently from a 3-2 overtime defeat in Colorado on Wednesday evening.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Reign and Condors will square off tonight in a series that has mostly featured success from the visiting team thus far. The road team is 5-0-1 in the previous six matchups and Ontario holds a 1-0-1 mark at Rabobank Arena this season. Ontario dropped a narrow 2-1 margin in overtime in their previous trip in February, combined with a 3-2 victory over Bakersfield in November.

SHAKE & BAKERSFIELD: The Condors have picked up right where they left over after they saw their 17-game winning streak come to an end on March 1. Bakersfield has posted a 3-1-1 record in its five games since, opening up an eight-point lead in the Pacific Division in the process of their hot form as of late. Bakersfield is tied for the AHL’s closest team to clinching a playoff berth, with a magic number of 10 entering tonight’s game.

BUU BIRDS: Reign goaltender Peter Budaj has been at his best in Bakersfield this season, as he’s made 61 saves on 65 shots in total over two starts, with Ontario posting a 1-0-1 mark in the two starts. Overall, Budaj is unbeaten in regulation in his last five starts, extended with a 32- save effort on Wednesday in Colorado. Over that five-game span, Budaj is 3-0-2, with a .940 save percentage and a 2.20 goals against average.

YOUNG SHELDON: Ontario forward Sheldon Rempal has collected a point in each of the four games on this road trip, most recently collecting an assist on Wednesday. The first-year forward has amassed a point in nine of his last 12 games in total and has amassed 40 points (15-25-40) in 49 games played on the season. Rempal’s point total is tied for eighth in the AHL amongst rookie skaters, with his 25 assists tied for ninth.

JUST-IN TIME: Reign blueliner Justin Baudry made his professional debut on Wednesday in Colorado and collected an assist and a +1 rating in the overtime defeat. Baudry joined the Reign on Tuesday on an ATO from Bemidji State University, where he captained the Beavers during his senior season. The Manitoba native led Bemidji State in scoring with 31 points (9-22-31) in the 2018-19 season.

BABY GOT ZACK: Ontario forward Zack Mitchell scored the Reign’s first goal on Wednesday in Colorado, as the team overturned a two-goal deficit to force overtime. Mitchell has 15 points (6-9-15) over his last 13 games played, and four points (1-3-4) on the current road trip. The Orangeville, ONT native also leads all Reign skaters with four points (2- 2-4) versus Bakersfield this season.

TIED AT THE TOP: Reign forward Matt Moulson currently leads all Ontario skaters with 55 points this season (25-30-55), placing him tied for the franchise’s single-season scoring record. Moulson is currently even with his brother-in-law, Sean Backman, who collected 55 points during the 2015-16 season. Moulson is also two goals shy of Jonny Brodzinski’s single-season goal record, set during the 2016-17 season.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136417 Los Angeles Kings

GAME 71: LOS ANGELES VS FLORIDA

JESSI MCDONALDMARCH 16, 2019

GAME THREADS

Florida Panthers 4, Los Angeles Kings 3

Third Period, 1:00 remaining

Preview

Box Score

Ice Tracker

Fox Sports Live Stream

SOG: LAK – 27; FLA – 35

PP: LAK – 1/2; FLA – 1/4

First Period

FLA PPG – Mike Hoffman (33) (Keith Yandle, Henrik Borgstrom); 4:10

LAK PPG – Dustin Brown (18) (Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar); 7:35

Second Period

FLA – Evgenii Dadonov (23) (Aleksander Barkov, Mike Matheson); 4:04

Third Period

LAK – Brendan Leipsic (7) (Jeff Carter, Matt Roy); 1:05

LAK – Anze Kopitar (20) (Dustin Brown, Alec Martinez); 9:44

FLA – Evgenii Dadonov (24) (Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov); 13:47

FLA – Jonathan Huberdeau (23) (Aleksander Barkov, Evgenii Dadonov); 18:04

Los Angeles Kings (25-37-8) vs Florida Panthers (31-27-12)

Saturday, March 16, 2019, 1:00 p.m. PT

Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

Referees: #3 Chris Schlenker, #16 Brian Pochmara

Linesmen: #52 Shandor Alphonso, #63 Trent Knorr

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

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

LAK scratches: D Paul LaDue, F Ilya Kovalchuk, F Jonny Brodzinski

FLA starters: G Sam Montembeault, D Mike Matheson, D Aaron Ekblad, LW Jonathan Huberdeau, C Aleksander Barkov, RW Evgenii Dadonov

FLA scratches: G James Reimer, D Ian McCoshen, F Jayce Hawryluk, F Denis Malgin

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136418 Los Angeles Kings and you’re on the road and you’ve got to be able to fix that and get them back out there or figure out a way to get them back out there. Those are the things I love to do. That’s what really got me, like that’s how I really HONORS AND REFLECTION AS GRANGER WORKS HIS 2,000TH started – doing repairs and protecting players outside of what they wear, NHL GAME adding things, stuff like that.

Granger, on the intense focus necessary within a game to identify equipment issues: JON ROSENMARCH 16, 2019 Two of us are normally always out there. Sometimes benches will only allow for one guy, but for the most part, two of us are out there. We’re looking for broken sticks, bad skates. I pay close attention to whoever’s AWARDSKINGS OPERATIONS playing goal to see if anything’s going on there. We’re just trying to stay There are jobs in which you put in hours – and then there are jobs in ahead of it if somebody needs something. Coaches, depending on the which you put in hours. coach, they may need a little more stuff on the bench than other coaches do. But we pay really close attention to the game. I guess it’s that “They’re getting home to their families at three in the morning and they’re attention to detail and making sure guys have what they need, but having waking up with their kids and then they’re the first people here,” Kyle it quickly, too. Clifford said of the Kings’ equipment staff. “They pretty much run the organization.” Granger, on those in the Vancouver organization who influenced him:

So as we celebrate the career of LA Kings Head Equipment Manager Oh, man. Pat O’Neill, who I was an assistant under, he really taught me Darren Granger, who will work his 2,000th NHL game this afternoon, let’s what you needed to do for the job to stay in it for a long time. I think when acknowledge the demanding in-season regimen, loading and unloading I got to Vancouver, the guy I learned under, Craig Heisinger, he taught locker rooms in the middle of the night and at the end of road trips, and me how to get to the NHL, and then Patty taught me how to stay here for his ability to handle such a workload with grace and calmness even a long time. He’s still there. He taught me how to pay attention to the little amidst hockey’s most driven and competitive personalities. things, attention to detail, going the extra mile for anybody that would ask – anybody in the organization. Trevor Linden was a good friend, still is. “He’s just the consummate professional,” Assistant Equipment Manager He did a lot for me when I was really young. He was the captain when I Dana Bryson said. “Everything he does is so organized and so detailed went there. I was only 20 years old when I got there, and he was a friend. and just so good. He made me feel right away that we just kind of clicked He was good to me, had me over for dinner, took me under his wing a right off the hop. Everything that he does – at the rink, away from the rink little bit. I’m still really close with him a little bit, but those early years, I – just makes me want to be like him.” grew up there. My kids were born there, I was married when we lived there. Markus Naslund was really good, too. Loved being around Markus Granger, 47, has been on the front line of hockey history through his first – great guy. But that organization, just like this one, has great people 1,999 games. A gold medalist with the Canadian teams at the 2014 around it, and I’ve always said the reason I love what I do is because of Winter Olympics and the 2016 , he won Stanley all the people that I meet. Cups in 2012 and 2014, worked three World Championships and two Stadium Series games. 21 years old when he joined the Vancouver Kyle Clifford, on Darren Granger’s body of work: Canucks’ equipment staff from the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, his first NHL playoff run came to an end at the Great Western Forum during the 1,000, let alone 2,000 is quite an incredible achievement. You look at meeting between a pair of Smythe Division powers in 1993. Grange as a person, I couldn’t be happier for the guy. Since Day 1 since I’ve been here, he’s been outstanding, very welcoming, very “It’s impressive. He started in 1992,” Bryson said. “I’ve said it before – approachable, probably the most levelheaded individual in the whole take a look at our roster. There’s seven kids that weren’t even born when Kings organization. He’s always even keel and always just working for he started and another four or five that were still in diapers. 2,000 games, everyone else. it sounds like a lot, but when you take it back to 1992, that’s a long time.” Clifford, on how the players will celebrate Granger’s milestone: That’s a long time drying equipment out in dressing rooms across town from where the team has bunked on the road on the second night of a As players, we’re going to do a little something for him. It’s quite an back-to-back. But it’s a great life, and hockey has provided so much. On achievement, and I think it has to be recognized, and there’s no better this milestone day, he’s happy to take a moment to appreciate the life he guy to be recognized for 2,000 games. lives and the support and care he receives from all those important to Clifford, on the equipment staff’s detail and care: him. This is a milestone day for Granger’s family, as well. There’s a lot of things that I don’t think people outside the locker room “It’s a good life, for sure. I enjoy the job, I enjoy the people around it. see. Just as a group, whether it’s Dana or Kinger or Grange, the hours That’s what I love about it, and I love the game,” Granger said. “I think that these guys put in, it’s outstanding. … We wouldn’t be able to do what my family, probably my wife and kids deserve an award as much as we want to do on the ice without them. They’re making sure our bodies anybody. They were away a lot and spend a lot of time at work and at the are taken care of, our equipment is taken care of and everything’s ready rink, so I think about how much time they’ve put into it, too. I’ve worked to go. Grange runs a hell of a ship. Everything’s professional. There’s not with two great organizations – Vancouver and here. Outstanding a day where he doesn’t come in and do his job at a hundred percent. It’s organizations to work for, good people around them.” amazing to have such a good guy behind the bench doing that. Darren Granger, on what he still finds himself learning 2,000 games into LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 03.17.2019 his career:

I work closely with our manufacturers to make sure I’m up to speed on what they’re doing and what they’re coming out with. The nice part is they like my input or our input on what can be made better and what can make the players better at what they do. I think a huge part of our job is staying ahead of the curve and learning new things, and I’ve done a couple things like join – I’m on two committees for the NHL and NHLPA on health and safety and protective equipment subcommittee. I like that. That’s what keeps you ahead of the curve. They’re good things.

Granger, on preparation:

A lot of things will come up during a game. Most are reoccurring. The one fortunate thing about what we do, and especially at this level, is we can be prepared for pretty much everything. I think when I first started in junior, that’s when you really have got to think it through. You’ve got to work on the fly with what you have. You might not have everything you need and you’ve got to be able to figure it out. A player breaks a blade 1136419 Minnesota Wild

Minnesota and New York meet for non-conference matchup

By The Associated Press Associated Press MARCH 17, 2019

BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota takes on New York at Xcel Energy Center in a non-conference matchup.

The Wild are 15-15-6 at home. Minnesota has given up 42 power-play goals, killing 80.5 percent of opponent chances.

The Islanders are 19-12-3 on the road. New York is last in the Eastern Conference shooting 28.7 shots per game. In their last matchup on Feb. 10, New York won 2-1.

TOP PERFORMERS: Zach Parise leads the Wild with 24 goals, adding 32 assists and collecting 56 points. Jason Zucker has totaled seven goals and two assists over the last 10 games for Minnesota.

LAST 10 GAMES: Islanders: 5-5-0, averaging 2.4 goals, 3.7 assists, 2.8 penalties and 6.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game with a .918 save percentage.

Wild: 5-3-2, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.1 assists, 2.5 penalties and 5.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game with a .918 save percentage.

Wild Injuries: Joel Eriksson Ek: out (lower body).

Islanders Injuries: Casey Cizikas: day to day (lower body), : day to day (upper body), Johnny Boychuk: day to day (upper body).

Star Tribune LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136420 Minnesota Wild

Wild's power play showing signs of resurgence after another goal in win over Rangers

By Sarah McLellan MARCH 17, 2019

The usual factors will need to be in place, like a healthy roster, steady goaltending and clutch goal scoring.

But what could also boost the Wild in its final 10-game push for a playoff spot is improved special-teams play, a lift that seems possible after the power play delivered in a 5-2 win over the Rangers Saturday at Xcel Energy Center to snap the team’s three-game losing streak.

“Games are tight, especially the teams we’re playing,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “If we win, they’re going to be tight games and the power play is going to be a necessary thing. We’re going to have to get production from it. If we can win the special-teams battle every night, then all the sudden you can be equal 5-on-5 and you’re going to win the game.”

The penalty killers did their job, snuffing out two looks for New York, and the power play converted on one of its three chances – a one-timer from defenseman Jared Spurgeon in the third period.

It was the second power play goal for the team in two games since it focused on playing with the man advantage at practice Wednesday, a much-needed session according to Boudreau and the players.

“Working on it a little bit and getting some familiarity is important,” center Eric Staal said. “Hopefully that gains some confidence for us. We moved it around pretty well and had some good looks. Obviously, Spurgy had the big goal. We still created some good amount of chances, and that's a good thing.”

A scary scene happened in the second period when winger Jason Zucker went down after New York defenseman Brady Skjei fell on Zucker’s right leg, twisting it awkwardly.

Zucker appeared to be in visible pain on the ice and had to be helped off, gingerly moving to the dressing room without putting any weight on his right leg.

But he returned a short while later and finished the game with an assist, four shots and 14 minutes, 21 seconds of ice time. Zucker was unavailable after the game.

“He was down for a little bit,” Staal said. “You're always a little uneasy and nervous. He's a big part of our team here. We were happy to have him come back.”

Perhaps the most encouraging stat from the Wild’s performance was its 75 shot attempts, 46 of which landed on frame to tie for its second- highest output this season.

“We had energy tonight,” Boudreau said. “We did things we hadn’t done. We went to the net really well.”

It won’t be long before the Wild will try to duplicate an effort like this.

The team is back in action Sunday when its five-game homestand continues against the other team from New York, the Islanders.

Who will start in net is unclear, as Boudreau said he wasn’t sure yet when asked after the game. It’ll resume play only two points back of the Coyotes for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, moving a point closer after its win and an overtime loss for Arizona to the Edmonton Oilers.

“We had a nice win today,” he said. “Now we want to get the guys some rest. We’ve got an afternoon game basically tomorrow.”

OLDER POST

Wild looking for another slump-busting win when it hosts Rangers

Star Tribune LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136421 Minnesota Wild

Wild-Rangers game recap

SARAH MCLELLAN MARCH 17, 2019

GAME RECAP

STAR TRIBUNE’S THREE STARS

1. Ryan Donato, Wild: The winger scored twice.

2. Devan Dubnyk, Wild: The goalie made 26 saves.

3. Jason Zucker, Wild: The winger had an assist and racked up four shots.

BY THE NUMBERS

11 Wild players with at least a point.

18 First-period shots for the Wild.

100 Career points for winger Kevin Fiala after his assist on Jared Spurgeon’s power-play goal.

Star Tribune LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136422 Minnesota Wild Minnesota this season. ... Zibanejad established a new career high with his 28th goal this season. He's also the first Rangers center to score at least 28 goals since Eric Lindros in 2001-02.

Donato scores 2, Wild past Rangers 5-2 UP NEXT

Rangers: Host Detroit on Tuesday night.

By ANDRES YBARRA Associated Press Wild: Host the New York Islanders on Sunday.

Star Tribune LOADED: 03.17.2019 ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild finally played like a team urgently scrapping to remain in the playoff picture. They have 10 games to prove it's not too little too late.

Ryan Donato scored two goals and Devan Dubnyk had 26 saves as the Minnesota Wild beat the New York Rangers 5-2 on Saturday night to stay in the thick of the playoff race.

Eric Staal, Jared Spurgeon and J.T. Brown also scored for the Wild, who snapped a three-game losing streak that dropped them out of the final wild card in the Western Conference. Minnesota entered the day three points behind Phoenix for the last spot. It was the Wild's second win in 11 home games.

"At the end of the day, when it comes game time there's not a lot of words being tossed around," Donato said. "I think it's just a call to action, we've got to make sure we come out and play hard. We didn't do our job against Dallas and we knew we really had to win this one."

The Wild dropped their previous three games by a combined 13-3 score, including a 3-0 loss to San Jose and 4-1 defeat to the Stars. Knowing the Rangers had played the night before in Calgary, the Wild wanted to make an early statement.

"Our start was huge tonight," Minnesota's Luke Kunin said. "We got the first goal, they came back and got one and I thought we did a good job of bouncing back and getting one and getting back into it. Just a good all- around effort tonight."

The Wild won't have to wait long to see if they can carry over the momentum — Minnesota welcomes the New York Islanders on Sunday night.

"Obviously it's desperate times," Staal said. "We need points. We need wins."

Mika Zibanejad scored his first goal in nine games and Pavel Buchnevich added a third-period goal for the Rangers, who lost their third straight. Henrik Lundqvist finished with 41 saves and managed to keep the Rangers within striking distance.

"I loved our effort, I loved the way we worked," Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. "I think guys were hungry and desperate ourselves, we just had a lot of mistakes that fed them. Whether they went in or not, we just kept giving them momentum and not allowing ourselves to gain it ourselves."

Donato's wrister on a breakaway at 4:40 of the first period beat Lundqvist's stick side to put Minnesota up 1-0. Zibanejad tied it 90 seconds later, catching Dubnyk out of position on a shot from behind the goal line that angled off the goaltender and into the net.

Donato was credited with a redirect on Luke Kunin's shot with just under 4 minutes left in the first to reclaim the lead.

Staal made it 3-1 at 4:51 of the second after his attempted pass to Zach Parise hit off the outstretched Neal Pionk's stick and into the net.

The only downside for Minnesota came in the second period, when Jason Zucker had to be helped off the ice after a scary collision behind the New York net with Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei. Zucker went down when Skjei fell on his right leg — he didn't put any weight on the leg as he was helped off the ice, but returned later in the period.

Zucker wasn't made available to reporters after the game.

"I haven't heard anything on not being able to play," coach Bruce Boudreau said.

Spurgeon's power-play goal at 6:04 of the third gave him 13 for the season, the fourth-most single-season goals by a Wild defenseman. Brown added an empty-netter at 17:25.

NOTES: Donato has 11 points in 12 games with the Wild. He also notched his fourth point in two games against the Rangers with 1136423 Minnesota Wild

Wild's Marcus Foligno evolving into team leader

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune MARCH 17, 2019

When his dad, Mike Foligno, coached the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League from 1998 to 2003, Wild winger Marcus Foligno would hang out in the dressing room chewing bubble gum.

“I was pretty much a water boy for that team,” Foligno said.

But he also listened in on his dad’s pregame speeches and heard what the players told each other, realizing the impact those chats had on the team. And now as a pro hockey player himself, Foligno has become a vocal leader for the Wild in his second season with the team.

“It’s something that when you’re talking, it just kind of eases the tension in the dressing room,” Foligno said. “It seems like it kind of eases some players, and it can get some players going.”

As the younger brother to Columbus Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno and the son of a former NHLer and coach, Foligno always has been talkative, but he’s been much more expressive this season after joining the Wild via trade from the Buffalo Sabres in the summer of 2017 and signing a four-year, $11.5 million contract.

He wanted to get to know his new team, and after going through that feeling-out process his profile has grown this season on and off the ice.

The 27-year-old adopted a penalty-killing role, averaging among the most shorthanded minutes per game for Wild forwards alongside center and linemate Eric Fehr, while being a constant in the team’s lineup after getting scratched occasionally last season.

“I would never think of doing that this year,” coach Bruce Boudreau said.

Foligno’s also been a candid evaluator after games, like he was Thursday. After a listless 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars that didn’t embody the urgency expected of a squad like the Wild clamoring for a playoff spot, he brought up the team’s lack of heart, cohesiveness and leadership — a group that, in his words, included him.

“Trying to play for our lives here, and just not sharp and just lackadaisical,” he said Thursday night.

Although Foligno doesn’t wear a letter on his jersey as a captain or alternate and skates on the fourth line, he can still speak up because of how he backs it up on the ice. He’s a physical presence who can supply energy, stick up for teammates and chip in secondary scoring.

“People listen to guys who put out that effort,” Boudreau said.

And providing that boost is exactly what Foligno relishes.

“Just to do the hard work is something I take pride in,” Foligno said, “and I think guys on the team love it, too, when they’re seeing that effort from me and they can jump on board, as well.”

Injury update

Center Joel Eriksson Ek, who missed his second game Saturday against the Rangers because of a lower-body injury, has been feeling better, Boudreau said, but Eriksson Ek hasn’t resumed skating.

“He’s not ready to do that yet,” Boudreau said.

Star Tribune LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136424 Minnesota Wild

Wild-Islanders preview

SARAH MCLELLAN

5 p.m. vs. New York Islanders • FSN, 100.3-FM

Islanders next in back-to-back challenge

Preview: The Wild’s five-game homestand continues with the second half of a back-to-back against the Islanders. New York was also in action Saturday, falling 2-1 to the Red Wings in Detroit. Last month, the Islanders took the first meeting with the Wild 2-1.

Players to WATCH: Islanders F Anders Lee has scored in three straight games. F Mathew Barzal leads the team in points with 56. G Robin Lehner is 2-2-1 in his career vs. the Wild.

Numbers: The Islanders are 19-12-3 on the road. They’re 26-9-5 when scoring first. The Wild is 6-5-2 in the second half of a back-to-back.

Injuries: Wild Fs Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) and Mikko Koivu (torn ACL and meniscus) and D Matt Dumba (torn pectoral) are out. Islanders F Casey Cizikas (lower-body strain) is questionable.

Star Tribune LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136425 Minnesota Wild This mojo carried over to the second, with Staal making it 3-1 only 4:51 into the period when his attempted pass to winger Zach Parise on another 2-on-1 break bounced off defenseman Neal Pionk’s stick and Wild wakes up, stops the bleeding with 5-2 home victory over New York into the net. The tally was Staal’s 20th, the 12th season in which he’s Rangers recorded at least that many goals.

Edginess is a plus, along with two Donato goals. The revitalized power play also capitalized for a second straight game, the first time that’s happened since Feb. 21-22.

Defenseman Jared Spurgeon’s one-timer 6:06 into the third blew past By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune MARCH 17, 2019 Lundqvist, who totaled 41 saves. The unit finished 1-for-3; the Rangers were 0-for-2.

That ended up being a helpful insurance goal, since New York replied at It wasn’t going to take much for the Wild to improve, not when the 8:56 on a five-hole backhander by Pavel Buchnevich. demands were temperamental rather than technical. But the Wild’s push to the finish line was just as steady as its start, a That’s the reality that faced the team after a stale trio of losses that hustle that included an empty-net goal from winger J.T. Brown at 17:25. dropped it out of a playoff spot made it look like the players had shifted into neutral instead of kicking their desperation into overdrive. Afterward, Boudreau mentioned quite a few players were dinged with bumps and bruises. Winger Jason Zucker left the game briefly after They finally found that gear Saturday, cruising to a well-timed 5-2 win defenseman Brady Skjei fell on his right leg, twisting it awkwardly. over the Rangers in front of an announced 18,844 at Xcel Energy Center that stalled their slide and secured their first victory in their third try of a Boudreau said he wasn’t aware of anyone not being healthy enough to crucial five-game homestand. play, and that’s positive news for a team that needs to stay in the driver’s seat. But delivering a high-octane brand of hockey for one game isn’t enough. “It’s really all do or die here,” Kunin said. “They’re all playoff games, and The Wild will have to muster up this energy 10 more times to give itself we have to come with that mind-set ready to go every night.” the best chance to extend its playoff appearance streak to seven years. VideoVideo (00:59): Sarah McLellan recaps the 5-2 win over the Rangers “We have to,” center Eric Staal said. “We need points. It’s going to be a in her Wild wrap-up. competitive race right until the end.” Star Tribune LOADED: 03.17.2019 What should be encouraging to the Wild is it seems to have found a road map that’ll help it close in on the playoff pace the rest of the way.

A fast start, aggressive attack and strong finish were key, all upgrades from a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday that put the team three points behind the Arizona Coyotes for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

The playoff chase: Where are the Wild?

A look at the NHL standings by division, conference and wild card races.

And this urgency was captured in other areas, too: 75 shot attempts, 46 pucks on net (tied for the second-most this season) and a season-high 26 blocked shots.

“It seemed like everyone was on their toes tonight and wanted to anticipate the play,” winger Marcus Foligno said. “It’s fun when you’re involved.”

Just 4 minutes, 40 seconds into the first period, winger Ryan Donato skated into the Rangers zone on a 2-on-1 rush and authoritatively wound up and sent a shot over New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist’s right shoulder.

“He gets it and wants to shoot it,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “He’s an offensive guy.”

That early momentum slipped a bit when the Rangers responded 1:20 later on a fortuitous goal.

Center Mika Zibanejad’s centering attempt from the corner and below the goal line slid into the far end of the net before goalie Devan Dubnyk could regain positioning after leaving the net in an unsuccessful try to play the puck.

Rather than shrinking under the miscue, the Wild fought back — literally, pushing back against the Rangers’ feistiness to look as engaged as it has been since a blemish-free 3-0 win over the NHL-leading Tampa Bay Lightning on March 7.

“We played that kind of grindy game, and it paid off for us,” Foligno said.

At 16:05, Donato converted again — this time a tip on a shot by center Luke Kunin. Donato has 11 points in 12 games with the Wild since joining the team in a trade with the Boston Bruins, and this was his second career multigoal effort.

“We wanted to jump on them as early as possible,” he said.

VideoVideo (00:55): Coach Bruce Boudreau discusses the 5-2 win over the Rangers Saturday. 1136426 Minnesota Wild Wild's power play showing signs of resurgence after another goal in win over Rangers

Star Tribune LOADED: 03.17.2019 Wild looking for another slump-busting win when it hosts Rangers

By Sarah McLellan MARCH 16, 2019

The Wild snapped a five-game skid the last time it played the Rangers, and it’ll be looking to end a similar slide Saturday when it hosts New York at Xcel Energy Center.

“It’s all about the effort,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We’re going to have to work hard to beat this team. They’re a young team growing. They’re just playing. So we have to play hard and play the right way. If we do, hopefully we’ll be successful.”

A 4-1 win over the Rangers Feb.21 on Broadway was the start of the Wild’s recent eight-game point streak, and another run like that would certainly go a long way in helping the Wild climb back into a playoff spot. The team is three points behind the Coyotes for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. Arizona hosts the Edmonton Oilers Saturday.

This is the Wild’s first chance to atone for a listless showing Thursday in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on home ice. That dropped the Wild to 0-2 on its current five-game homestand, which picks up this weekend.

After hosting the Rangers, the Wild will get back in action Sunday against the New York Islanders.

Goalie Devan Dubnyk will start against the Rangers, and Boudreau will decide who will handle Sunday’s game after seeing how Saturday goes.

“It doesn’t matter who we play,” Boudreau said. “We gotta play the right way and harder than we did the other night. If we do that, then we have a shot.”

Projected lineup:

Zach Parise-Eric Staal-Kevin Fiala

Ryan Donato-Luke Kunin-Jason Zucker

Jordan Greenway-Victor Rask-Pontus Aberg

Marcus Foligno-Eric Fehr-J.T. Brown

Ryan Suter-Jared Spurgeon

Jonas Brodin-Greg Pateryn

Nick Seeler-Brad Hunt

Devan Dubnyk

Key numbers:

9: Points for winger Jason Zucker in his last 10 games.

1: Power play goal for the Wild in its last 19 tries.

14: Goals with the man advantage from the defense.

6-4: Record for the Wild vs. the Rangers in the last 10 games at Xcel Energy Center.

99: Career points for winger Kevin Fiala.

About the Rangers:

New York lost its third straight Friday night in Calgary, falling 5-1 to the Flames. That dropped the Rangers to 11-19-5 on the road with one final test to go on their four-game road trip. Still, the team has rallied from a two-goal deficit to at least tie the game five separate times over the last 10. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist has made at least 30 saves in six of his last nine appearances. Center Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers in goals (27), assists (39) and points (66).

OLDER POST

Wild falls further behind playoff pace after disheartening loss to Stars

NEWER POST 1136427 Minnesota Wild

Wild start final playoff push with convincing 5-2 win over Rangers

By Dane Mizutani

While some, like Marcus Foligno, ranted and raved, others, like Ryan Suter, took a more calculated approach to their criticism. Meanwhile, coach Bruce Boudreau chose to zip his lips completely, refusing to rip his players in front of the cameras.

Nevertheless, the overall message remained consistent a couple of days ago in the aftermath of a brutal 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. In so many words, something like that can never happen again, especially if the Wild want to make the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.

With everyone in the locker room on red alert, the Wild responded with a convincing 5-2 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday night at the Xcel Energy Center. Ryan Donato scored a pair of goals, Eric Staal, Jared Spurgeon, and J.T. Brown added a goal apiece, and Devan Dubnyk made 26 saves as the Wild secured a rare win at home.

“It was good for our team to play like that,” Foligno said, noting how the Rangers made it physical from the onset. “They are a team that plays a little agitated, too. They got a lot of guys that compete hard, and they brought us into the game. I just liked the way we didn’t pass up too many shots tonight. We shot. We drove the net. We played that kind of grindy game and it paid off for us.”

For the Wild, it was the latest installment in a Jekyll and Hyde charade. They looked so good in every facet after looking so bad in every facet a couple of nights earlier.

“You always hope (it’s the start of something), I guess,” Boudreau said. “It’s just one game at a time right now. We had a nice win.”

After being blitzed off the ice a couple of days ago, perhaps it wasn’t surprising that the Wild came out with a marked sense of urgency this time around.

That effort was rewarded early in the first period as Donato lit the lamp with blistering wrist shot from the left circle. He scored again later in the frame, deflecting a shot from Luke Kunin into the back of the net.

“It was huge,” Donato said of starting fast. “We wanted to come out (as) aggressive as possible, they had a game last night so we knew they were probably a little bit tired. We wanted to jump on them as early as possible and it worked out for us.”

And the Wild poured it on from there with Staal scoring on a fluky goal in the second period, Spurgeon adding a power-play goal in the third period, and Brown netting an empty-netter to seal the deal.

How do the Wild bottle this up moving forward?

“Just not get cute,” Foligno said. “We can’t change. We have to look at tomorrow’s game (against the New York Islanders) and forget about this. We playing a top team in the (Eastern Conference). That should be enough motivation to want to bring your ‘A’ game.”

ZUCKER AVOIDS INJURY

Besides the victory, the Wild also caught a break, as Jason Zucker avoided what could’ve been a gruesome injury after Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei landed awkwardly on his right leg.

Some feared the worst as Zucker grabbed his right knee and limped to the locker room, though he was back on the ice a few minutes later and continued to play like nothing ever happened.

While Zucker was not available for comment after the game, his teammates were happy to have him back.

“Our doctors are amazing. It was miraculous how he came back like that,” Foligno joked. “You see a guy go down like that and it’s scary. … He is so big in this room, and he’s been playing really well for us. A guy goes down like that we’ve got to think of the next person up to step up. It was nice to see him come back and obviously play another good game.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136428 Minnesota Wild

Wild face brutal schedule in race for final Western Conference playoff spot

By Dane Mizutani

Let’s just say if the Wild make the playoffs at the end of what figures to be a sprint to the finish line, they will have earned their spot. They entered the weekend three points behind the Arizona Coyotes and two points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche in the race for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

In other words, the Wild had some work to do over with 11 games left in the season, including Saturday’s contest against the New York Rangers.

“Obviously these are important games coming,” veteran center Eric Staal said. “We have to look forward to the challenge. It’ll be a good test of us.”

It only figures to get more difficult for the Wild over the next couple of weeks, with nine of the remaining 10 games coming against teams currently in playoff position.

Luckily, the Wild have been in this position before and have found a way to sneak in.

“We have been through it, so we know how to approach it mentally,” goalie Devan Dubnyk said. “You don’t get it done by thinking too much about it or staring at the standings or worrying about one play being something that ruins everything. You just go out there and work and be sharp and trust that we have a group in here that’s going to get it done. We just have to understand that we’re in control of what goes on here.”

That’s the main point coach Bruce Boudreau is trying to hammer home to his team amid the brutal schedule the rest of the way. He used a recent loss to the Dallas Stars as an example for how not to play down the stretch.

“We know how we have to be much better,” Boudreau said. “It’s never easy. That’s the parity of this league. We just have to win our games. If we win our games, everything else will take care of itself.”

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

It’s still unclear whether Boudreau will go with Dubnyk or backup Alex Stalock between the pipes in Sunday’s game against the New York Islanders.

“I think everything is day by day,” Boudreau said. “Let’s see how this game goes, and then we’ll make a decision.”

ERIKSSON EK ON THE MEND

Joel Eriksson Ek is still recovering from a lower-body injury that was expected to keep him out for at least a week. As of now, it doesn’t sound like Eriksson Ek is close to returning.

“He hasn’t skated,” Boudreau said. “He’s not ready to do that yet.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136429 Minnesota Wild For a brief moment in the second period, though, it looked like the two points might come at a steep price.

On his first shift of the middle stanza, winger Jason Zucker finished a Ryan Donato stars in a needed win the Wild will have very little time to check behind the Rangers’ net on Skjei. But as Skjei started to fall to the enjoy ice, his weight landed on Zucker’s right leg, appearing to cause Zucker’s knee and ankle to fold. He laid on the ice as the play carried on, and needed help just to exit the ice. He didn’t put any pressure on his right By Chad Graff leg in what originally appeared a severe injury not unlike Ryan Suter’s a year ago.

“It looked pretty brutal,” Boudreau said. The Wild were less than five minutes into a critically important home game against a struggling New York Rangers team when they got their Chad Graff first big break, a 2-on-1 sparked by a Rangers turnover. ✔ Ryan Donato carried the puck into the offensive zone with Pontus Aberg to his right, ready to receive a pass. Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei @ChadGraff crouched to block the passing lane and even given that, it was a scene That was hard to watch. Looked like Jason Zucker's right ankle just that offered plenty of flashbacks. Countless times in recent Wild seasons, folded under the weight of Brady Skjei. He couldn't put any weight on it players have passed on similar opportunities rather than taking a shot as he left the ice. from the slot, opting to defer on plays that too often resulted in harmless attempts or botched one-timers. 77

But Donato, the 22-year-old who came over in the Charlie Coyle trade, is 9:10 PM - Mar 16, 2019 a veteran of just 12 Wild games, unfamiliar with whatever indiscretions have plagued his new team in the past. 47 people are talking about this

Donato picked a corner above Henrik Lundqvist’s stick side and fired the Twitter Ads info and privacy puck past the fabled goalie for the first of five Wild goals on a night nearly But after seven game minutes, Zucker managed to return to action and everything went right for them. finished the game with four shots on 18 shifts. He wasn’t available for Minnesota Wild comment after the game, but Boudreau initially didn’t think the injury would keep him from Sunday evening’s game. ✔ “A lot of guys got bumps and bruises tonight,” Boudreau said. “We @mnwild blocked 27 shots so I expect everybody to be sore, but I haven’t heard anything on (Zucker) not being able to play.”  @DonatoRyan with his 3rd goal with #mnwild. It was the second time in less than two weeks that it initially looked like 206 Zucker suffered a serious injury before returning to play, something that happened in Nashville, too. 8:21 PM - Mar 16, 2019 “Our doctors are amazing,” said Marcus Foligno, setting up a joke. “It 19 people are talking about this was miraculous how he came back like that. No, when you see a guy go Twitter Ads info and privacy down like that, it’s scary so anytime you grab a knee and you stay down, you think of the worst thing possible.” They also scored a power-play goal, watched Devan Dubnyk make a few sprawling saves (even if one mishap could’ve haunted him), and On this night, not even the Wild’s power play was an issue. The Wild contributions throughout the lineup helped dispatch the Rangers 5-2 to have now scored in both games that followed Wednesday’s power-play cut their deficit in the wild-card race from three points to two after focused practice which was necessitated by a previously 0-for-March Arizona’s overtime loss later Saturday. output.

It was a game sparked by Donato’s shoot-first mentality that has been a But after the man advantage unit scored in their lone attempt Thursday, welcome one on a Wild team that occasionally lacks it. Before Saturday’s the Wild helped ice Saturday’s win thanks to a third-period power-play game, the first of two important home games that start 22 hours apart, goal. Kevin Fiala sent a beautiful pass through traffic to Jared Spurgeon head coach Bruce Boudreau talked to his team about their lack of shot who potted his 13th goal of the season, improving on what has already attempts. Too often, he said, they finished games with around 40 been a career year for goals, to give the Wild a 4-1 lead. attempts. Against the Rangers, they had 75. Minnesota Wild “We talked about shooting the puck and shooting the puck and shooting the puck,” Boudreau said. “I think after a while, it caught on.” ✔

It started with Donato, of course, who skated with Victor Rask and Aberg @mnwild and for at least one game, helped elevate their play. Donato finished Now we know why Spurgeon is always yelling KEVIN!! Saturday with two goals, a game-high six shots, and drew a penalty. His first-period goal served as only the 26th time in 72 games that the Wild cc: @KevinFiala22 | #mnwild have scored first. 155 “He loves to shoot the puck,” Boudreau said. “That’s his thing. He’s not dilly-dallying around. He gets it and wants to shoot it. He’s an offensive 10:22 PM - Mar 16, 2019 guy.” 24 people are talking about this

There’s still plenty of room for Donato to improve as he seeks to Twitter Ads info and privacy establish himself as a player worthy of a top-six forward spot on an NHL roster, much of it centered around his play in his own zone. But games “We are still feeling it out,” Eric Staal said of the power play. “Kevin hasn’t like Saturday provide a boost at a time when the Wild desperately need been here that long and it’s a pretty important role where he’s at on the it. He scored the team’s second goal, too, deflecting a bid from Luke power play. I think working on it a little bit and getting some familiarity is Kunin. important. Hopefully that gains some confidence for us. We moved it around pretty well and had some good looks. Obviously, Spurgeon had “Irish kid from Boston,” Donato said, noting that his second-ever multi- the big goal. We still created some good amount of chances and that’s a goal came on St. Patrick’s Day weekend. “I think for us it was a great good thing.” win. … We’ve just got to continue to ride this wave.” As impressive as Saturday’s win was, Boudreau was quick to note what lies ahead — an evening tilt against an Islanders team that is much better than the Rangers that got to St. Paul in the wee hours of Saturday and one that has now lost 10 of their last 11.

Thanks to the hole the Wild dug for themselves, they can’t afford any slip-up down the stretch, even in the second of a back-to-back, which yields an interesting question of who will protect the Wild’s net Sunday.

Dubnyk is coming off a mostly impressive performance with one of the goals he allowed resulting from a puck he misplayed behind the net. On the other hand, puck drop Sunday is set for 19 hours after Saturday’s game ended, leaving little room for rest.

“We’re playing a really good team tomorrow,” Boudreau said. “I think they’re one or two defensively in the league right now, so it’s going to be a little bit tougher than it was tonight.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136430 Montreal Canadiens The game featured Montreal’s league-worst power play against Chicago’s NHL-worst penalty kill. The Hawks came out on top, with the Canadiens going 0 for 4 with the man advantage.

Montreal native Corey Crawford comes home, stops 48 shots to lead “It’s desperation time,” said Price. “It’s about trying to keep that positive Hawks past Canadiens 2-0 attitude. Negativity isn’t going to help us at all. We have to keep driving.”

Notes: The Canadiens celebrated Price’s franchise record-setting 315th KELSEY PATTERSON career victory in a pre-game ceremony. … Montreal was coming off a tough 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 03.17.2019 Another incredible performance by Corey Crawford in his hometown has seriously hurt Montreal’s playoff chances down the stretch.

Crawford stopped all 48 shots he faced as the surging Chicago Blackhawks blanked the struggling Canadiens 2-0 on Saturday night.

The Montreal-born Crawford earned his second shutout of the season and improved to 9-2-2 all-time versus the Canadiens.

“That’s a big win for us against a team that’s close to being in the playoffs,” said Crawford, whose 48-save outing was a career high in the regular season. “They need points too. We kept them to the outside for the most part. Our penalty kill was solid.”

Crawford has never lost in regulation time in his hometown (5-0-2). He’s won his last five games at the Bell Centre.

“I grew up a huge Habs fan when I was younger so it’s always exciting to come back and play in this building,” said Crawford, who faced 18 shots in the third period alone. “It’s nice to get a win coming back here.”

Montreal’s playoff chances are dwindling in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens (37-28-7) are three points out of the second wild-card spot with 10 games remaining in the season — five of those are on the road.

The Carolina Hurricanes are in the first wild-card spot with 85 points, one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Canadiens, who have dropped four of their past five games, are on the outside looking in with 81 points.

“Our backs are against the wall,” said captain Shea Weber. “We have to find a way to win. Everyone is frustrated. We want to win and we’re not winning, so it’s tough.

“We have to find a way to score goals.”

Saturday’s contest was a battle of goaltenders, with Crawford getting the better of his counterpart Carey Price, who stopped 22-of-24 shots in defeat.

Crawford needed to be on his game, with Montreal generating high- quality scoring chances in close all night long.

The Chicago goalie denied four different Canadiens players in an 18- second span in the first period, stopping a flurry of shots from Andrew Shaw, Paul Byron, Max Domi and then Tomas Tatar.

Midway through the second, Crawford made perhaps his best save of the encounter when he robbed Artturi Lehkonen in close with a windmill glove save.

It was more of the same in the third, with Crawford stopping Joel Armia from point-blank range to preserve Chicago’s two-goal lead with nine minutes left in the game.

Byron came closest to beating the Hawks netminder when his second- period shot rang off the crossbar.

“We were digging and we were getting in front,” said fourth-liner Jordan Weal, who had the second-most ice time among Canadiens forwards. “It was one of those nights where we couldn’t put one past the goal line. It’s frustrating because every game right now is so huge.

“We were generating a lot. We were hitting posts. We were hitting crossbars. We were millimetres away. If we play like that here on out, we have a good chance to win.”

Connor Murphy scored the game’s first goal 3:04 into the second period. The defenceman took a pass from Dylan Strome in his skates, kicked the puck onto his stick, and beat Price from the slot high glove-side.

Brendan Perlini made it 2-0 at 4:49 of the third period on a nice give-and- go with teammate Alex DeBrincat.

The Blackhawks (32-30-9) have won five in a row. 1136431 Montreal Canadiens “KK is a young player who is learning,” Julien said. “He had two or three shifts where he let his guy go and he had a chance to score. We have to win. He’s a young player who will be much better in the future. Tonight, it In the Habs' Room: Julien blames ill-timed slump for playoff plight was a question of making decisions based on the situation and the need to win.” At the beginning of February, the Canadiens came out of the All-Star break in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. After Saturday's loss, Montreal Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 they are ninth and are three points out of the second wild-card spot.

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Corey Crawford was very, very good Saturday night.

The Châteauguay native has a history of playing well against the Canadiens and he boosted his career record against his hometown team to 9-2-2 with a 48-save shutout.

Now that we’ve given Crawford his due, what can we say about the Canadiens as they fall further out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference?

At the beginning of February, the Canadiens came out of the All-Star break in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. After Saturday’s loss, they are ninth and are three points out of the second wild-card spot. They have a 9-10-1 record since the break and have gone 4-7-0 in their last 11 starts.

Coach Claude Julien attributed the Canadiens’ plight to an ill-timed slump.

“There are two things,” Julien said. “You wonder whether for some guys it’s the pressure or whether it’s a slump we’re going through. There are other teams going through the same thing right now, but they’re in a playoff position and they can afford to do that easier than we can. And the timing isn’t good for us to struggle right now. The effort is there, the caring is there. The only thing missing right now is for our game to be at its best and it’s just not there.”

Those other slumping teams don’t include the teams the Canadiens are chasing for a playoff spot and they have opened gaps on Montreal. Pittsburgh, which is third in the Metropolitan Division, and Carolina, which holds the first wild-card spot, are both 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Columbus, which is three points ahead of Montreal in the battle for the second wild-card spot, is 5-4-1. The Canadiens are 4-6-0.

The biggest missing ingredient has been goals.

“We have to find a way to score goals,” said captain Shea Weber. “We had good chances, but (Crawford) made good saves and there were some rebounds (but), we didn’t get them in. He made good saves in tight and we have to put them in.”

Crawford noted he grew up as a Canadiens’ fan and it’s always nice to come back and play in front of family and friends. He said the 48 shots were a bit deceptive because “we kept them to the outside.”

He said he was grateful to have the chance to make some big saves early in the game because it was difficult to warm up after the start was delayed by a presentation marking Carey Price’s team-record 315th win.

Nine of the Canadiens’ shots came on the power play, but Montreal went 0-for-4 and is now 2-for-40 over the last 16 games.

“It’s definitely been an issue that has hurt us this year, but we’ve been working on it,” said Jeff Petry. “In an important stretch like this, everyone needs to find a way to click. There are times we’re getting in the zone and forcing plays. We’re having trouble getting into the zone and, once we are in, we’re moving the puck well, but we’re not scoring. We have to find a way to connect all the pieces. We can’t be good on entries and then be a one-and-done power play. It’s going to need all of the guys on the power play to focus because you know how important it’s going to be down the stretch and the playoffs.”

As the Canadiens tried to pull even, Julien made some strange lineup decisions. There seemed to be far too much ice time for the offensively challenged Artturi Lehkonen, whose shooting percentage is a team-low 5.9 per cent, and newcomer Jordan Weal, who managed only two shots on goal. At the same time, Jesperi Kotkaniemi was on the ice for 7:56, the first time in his career he has logged fewer than 11 minutes. 1136432 Montreal Canadiens tearing it down represents in my opinion the best “chance” to truly build a contender

-Matthew Elliott About last night ... Canadiens lose one they needed Respect Matthew, but I don’t think the Canadiens need a teardown. The golden goalie was Montreal homeboy Corey Crawford, who made 48 saves to hang an embarrassing — and, vis-a-vis the postseason, There are some good young players – and more on the way. Price is an possibly fatal — goose-egg on the home team. excellent goaltender, and will be for a while.

The Canadiens have money to go out and buy a desperately-needed sniper. And a decent power-play coach. MIKE BOONE The roster has overachieved this season. But crunch time has brought the team crashing back to earth.

Well, at least they do ceremonies well. Most fans understand that.

The Canadiens honoured Carey Price for his record 315 career wins. His • • • family was there for the festivities, which included presentation of a gold goaler’s stick. Some Comments from the Liveblog:

Then they dropped the puck. No playoffs for the 3rd time in 4 years? What a waste of Carey Price’s prime years. And the golden goalie was Montreal homeboy Corey Crawford, who made 48 saves to hang an embarrassing — and, vis-a-vis the -NYHABSFAN postseason, possibly fatal — goose-egg on the home team. Yeesh!! When they turn the puck over, they really do!! Always ends up on On the RDS postgame show, former Islanders defenceman Bruno Price’s doorstep. Gervais, who has become a terrific analyst in French and English, said the shot clock was misleading. They used to be small but speedy. Now they’re just small…

“They had 48 shots,” Gervais said, “but how many were quality shots?” -Habsman

Not many. Is Weber the only one who is allowed to shoot on the pp

Chicago had the area in front of Crawford well-defended, Gervais added. -SASKhab And the Canadiens don’t have the kind of attackers who are going to I wish I could be optimistic, but the Habs have been on a downward battle for chances in the slot. spiral for some time now. Unless they dress a mythic figure – Lazarus A forward like Jonathan Drouin thinks the “high-danger area” is perhaps – there will be no reviving the nearly dead … dangerous for him. So Crawford — and other good goaltenders who I really do not enjoy being negative, but if you look at the lines each of have frustrated the Canadiens this season — face shots they can see … the first two have one player (Danault, Lehkonen) who have little goal and stop. scoring talent, and then we follow up with lines three and four in which Contrast that to the two goals against Price, both of which were scored only Drouin is a scorer. Tough to win hockey games with that skill set. by Hawks wide-open in high-percentage areas. -habitual

There were some very perceptive Comments on the Liveblog tonight. Speed teams are overrated. Physical negates speed. Speedy physical Here are some samples: teams however are very difficult to beat. (Remember the glory years of the Habs, they were fast AND played tough). This team is beer league The season has gone better than expected, until the expected happened. hockey, no hitting.

-David Salmon -M.G. i just don’t think you can question the effort when they’re approaching 50 Montreal Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 shots.you can’t question much. you can, however, bemoan the lack of high end talent.you can also look in a mirror and recognize that MTL fans will never stand for a full tear down & multi-year tank like CHI did, like PITT did, like YYZ & YEG always do…

-burnedprof

If this is the, “all hands on deck”, “every game is a playoff game” team, it explains why they are where they are in the standings. They have heart this year, they just lack the skill. and

When the season started, there was no expectation of this team making the playoffs. Don’t know what’s happened to change that. Nothing more was added. Not much to be disappointed by …

-w.p.d

Pushing my frustration aside, I know they are trying. But it is painfully obvious that the team hasn’t got enough talent and their try no longer makes up for it. I am already in wait until next year mode. Or more likely, the year after.

-habitual

I can only speak for myself and my friends, but we would totally stand for a tear down. I think most fans are much better informed nowadays, what with 24hr sports channels, websites like Capfriendly, blogs, etc, so we understand the realities of a soon to be 32 team league with a hard salary cap. And while certainly not a guarantee (see EDM, ARZ, etc) 1136433 Montreal Canadiens

2-0 loss to Blackhawks puts Canadiens in playoff jeopardy

It was Montreal's fifth loss in their last seven games and they lost ground to the teams they're chasing for a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE

The Canadiens’s playoff hopes took another hit Saturday as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Canadiens 2-0 at the Bell Centre.

It was the Canadiens’ fifth loss in their last seven games and they lost ground to the teams they’re chasing for a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. Montreal is stuck on 81 points. Carolina, which holds the first wild-card spot spot, improved to 85 points with a win over Buffalo. The Hurricanes also hold a game in hand over Montreal. Columbus went to 84 points with an overtime loss to Boston.

Carey Price kept the score close for the first two periods, but Brendan Perlini’s goal at 4:49 of the third period gave Chicago a 2-0 lead and effectively ended any hope of a comeback by the offensively challenged Canadiens. Montreal has scored only 12 goals — including two empty- netters — in their seven-game slide.

The Canadiens outshot the Blackhawks 48-24, but they couldn’t beat Châteauguay native Corey Crawford. He improved his record against the Canadiens to 9-2-2 with a pair of shutouts.

The Blackhawks opened the scoring at 3:04 of the second period when defenceman Connor Murphy was allowed to waltz into the slot, where he took a pass from Dylan Strome and found the top corner on Price. The Canadiens had a good chance two minutes earlier when Paul Byron’s shot went off the crossbar.

There was another chance for the Canadiens at the 12-minute mark when Crawford left a rebound on a shot by Victor Mete. Artturi Lehkonen, who has been snake-bit most of the season, had a good chance off the rebound, but Crawford grabbed the puck out of the air.

Neither team scored in the first period and, while the Canadiens outshot the Blackhawks 13-11, it was Price who faced the more difficult shots.

There was some good news on the special teams front. Chicago had two power plays in the second period and they didn’t register a single shot on goal. But, while the Montreal penalty-killers were perfect, the power play was perfectly awful. The Canadiens have the worst power play in the league and there are few signs of improvement. Montreal did have nine shots on goal with the man advantage, but went 0-for-4 on the night. Over the past 17 games, the Canadiens have scored only two power- play goals on 40 opportunities. That’s a success rate of only five per cent.

Prior to the game, the Canadiens recognized Price for passing the late Jacques Plante for the most wins by a Canadiens goaltender. Price was joined on the ice by his wife, Angela, and their two daughters, as well as his parents and his sister. The Plante family was represented by his son, grand-daughter and great grand-daughter. Team president presented Price with a silver stick, while captain Shea Weber gave him a No. 315 jersey signed by his teammates.

Two cast members from Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria performed the national anthems and there was a demonstration of Hula Hoop artistry during the first intermission.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136434 Montreal Canadiens

Liveblog: Chicago beats Canadiens 2-0

MIKE BOONE Updated: March 16, 2019

NOTE: If you’re unable to view the liveblog below, please tap here to view it on our mobile site.

Brendan Perlini’s third-period goal sealed the deal.

Hawks defenceman Connor Murphy opened the scoring, three minutes into the second period.

On the night the Canadiens honoured Carey Price, Montreal homeboy Corey Crawford made 48 saves.

The Hawks had 24 shots on Carey Price.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136435 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens' Jordie Benn loves the feeling of brand-new skates

Defenceman changes skates every two weeks during the regular season and will be wearing new ones Saturday night against Blackhawks.

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Jordie Benn was one of 15 players to take part in the Canadiens’ optional morning skate Saturday in Brossard before playing the Chicago Blackhawks at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., SNE, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio).

What made the veteran defenceman want to take part?

“New skates,” Benn said. “I just put them on and tested them out and ready to go.”

Ready to go Saturday night? Using a new pair of skates in a game after only wearing them once?

“Oh, yeah,” Benn said. “I’m easy with skates. I don’t like when they break down. I’m usually two weeks and I’m out of them.”

A new pair of skates every two weeks? How many pairs does Benn go through during a season?

“What’s the math on every two weeks,” he said with a smile under his bushy beard. “I don’t know.”

Since the regular season lasts 27 weeks, that would mean about 13 pairs of skates for Benn.

“I haven’t changed mine once this year,” defenceman Victor Mete said about his skates. “It kind of hurts my feet a little bit breaking them in, so I just try and stay in the same skates all year.”

What about Benn switching his skates every two weeks?

“That’s nuts,” Mete said.

Rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi said he’ll use two pairs of skates during the season.

“These are my second ones this season,” he said after the morning skate. I usually go with two pairs. After Christmas I change them. That’s pretty sick that (Benn’s) changing all the time.”

Benn uses mostly CCM equipment, but his skates are made by Bauer.

“My heart’s set on Bauer skates,” he said. “I’ve always worn them since I was a kid. I’ve never had problems. I hear all these guys have problems with their skates and taking months and months to break them in. I put them on and I love brand-new skates.”

Benn headed into Saturday night’s game against the Blackhawks with 5- 14-19 totals in 70 games and had a plus-13 rating.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136436 Montreal Canadiens As for Weal logging more than 19 minutes of ice time, Julien said: “He played a lot because he takes faceoffs on the right side and he’s good at taking those draws. When KK’s ice time got diminished, I put him at Canadiens Game Day: Head-scratching coaching moves in an ugly 2-0 centre with those two other forwards.” loss Weal won seven of the 14 faceoffs he took — 50 per cent — had two shots on goal and was minus-1. He also had 3:48 of ice time on the power play. STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE When asked about his team’s lack of execution after outshooting the Blackhawks 48-24, Julien said: “There’s two things. You wonder whether for some guys whether the pressure or whether it’s a slump that we’re That was ugly. going through. There’s other teams going through it right now, but they’re Saturday night’s 2-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks didn’t eliminate the in a playoff position. They can probably afford to go through that easier Canadiens from the playoffs, but it delivered a huge blow to their than we are. The time just isn’t good for us to struggle right now. The chances with only 10 games remaining in the regular season. effort is there, the care, the caring is there, I think. So the only thing missing right now is our game to be at its best and it’s just not there.” While the Canadiens were getting shut out at the Bell Centre, the Carolina Hurricanes were beating the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 and the Il faut rester positif. Columbus Blue Jackets were losing 2-1 in overtime to the Boston Bruins, Gotta stay positive. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/05vXVQHXKb— picking up a loser point. The Canadiens (37-28-7) are now four points Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 17, 2019 behind the Hurricanes (39-25-7), who hold the first wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and three points behind the Blue Jackets (40- Power play is simply brutal 28-4), who hold the second spot. The Hurricanes hold a game in hand on both the Blue Jackets and Canadiens. Speaking of the power play, the Canadiens went 0-for-4 against the Blackhawks and are now 2-for-40 in the last 16 games. The Canadiens’ The sportsclubstats.com website now has the Canadiens’ chances of power play is by far the worst in the NHL at 11.9 per cent. The Nashville making the playoffs listed at 18.8 per cent. The Canadiens are 1-4 in Predators have the second-worst power play at 13.1 per cent. their last five games and 6-10-1 in their last 17. The Canadiens have scored a league-low 26 power-play goals this Ugly. season. The New Jersey Devils, who rank 15th in the NHL on the power play, have scored 40 power-play goals. So if the Canadiens were only Canadiens coach Claude Julien made some head-scratching decisions middle-of-the-pack on the power play, they would have scored 14 more Saturday night, including putting Artturi Lehkonen on a line with Max power-play goals this season. Domi and Andrew Shaw. Domi is the team’s best playmaker and Lehkonen now has one goal in his last 34 games. It doesn’t make sense How many more wins would that have resulted in? I’d say three or four, to me to put a guy who can’t score with your best playmaker, but it which would have the Canadiens sitting in a playoff spot. If the obviously does to Julien. Canadiens miss the playoffs for the second straight year — which is looking very likely — the power play will be the No. 1 reason and “Well, he hit the post tonight, right. And he had another great scoring something will have to be done during the offseason to fix it, whether it’s chance where (Blackhawks goalie Corey) Crawford made an coaching or player personnel. unbelievable glove save,” Julien said after the game when asked about his use of Lehkonen. “It’s definitely been an issue that I think has hurt us this year,” defenceman Jeff Petry said. “But we can’t stop working on it and trying to Of course, Lehkonen failed to score on both chances. There are reasons tweak things to get it going. We have an important stretch here where I why Lehkonen has only one goal in 34 games — he can’t finish. Julien think everything needs to find a way to click and we need to be sharp also had Lehkonen on the ice during the final minute of play after goalie down these final games.” Carey Price was pulled for an extra attacker. What’s the problem with the power play? “Just because he hasn’t scored, I don’t know why we should question whether he should be there because his effort is there,” Julien said about “I don’t know,” Petry said. “I think there’s times where we’re getting in the Lehkonen. “I thought Paulie (Byron) the last couple of games had some zone and then we’re kind of forcing plays or we’re having trouble getting issues. So we just moved guys around and I thought (Lehkonen) did a into the zone and once we are we’re moving the puck well. But we have good job on that line. He gives that line a little bit more of a defensive to find a way to connect all the pieces. We can’t be good on entries and responsibility as well and he was in great position to score a couple of then be a one-and-done power play. Like I said, we need to connect all goals for us tonight.” the pieces and I think that’s on every guy in here that’s on the power play to really focus in because it’s going to be important in this stretch, and The problem is that he didn’t — which shouldn’t really come as a then in the playoffs you know how important the special-team game is.” surprise. Right now, it looks like the special-team game is going to keep the More head-scratchers Canadiens out of the playoffs. Byron was demoted to the fourth line with Nate Thompson and Jordan C'est la troisième fois cette saison que les Canadiens obtiennent 48 tirs Weal, while Jonathan Drouin played with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel au but ou plus. Armia. The line of Tomas Tatar with Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher remained intact. It's the third time this season that the Canadiens amassed 48 shots on goal or more.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/olRdRSWeaT— Canadiens Weal finished the game with 19:04 of ice time. The only forward who Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 17, 2019 played more was Domi with 19:32. Kotkaniemi had a team-low 7:56 of ice time — his lowest total this season — after getting benched for most Drouin’s struggles continue of the third period, playing only two shifts. Drouin was held pointless for the 15th time in the last 16 games. He has Julien said after the game that Kotkaniemi is a young player who is still only four assists during that span, all coming in an 8-1 win over the learning and that he let his man go on two or three shifts which resulted Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 26. in scoring chances for the Blackhawks. I’m not sure how much Kotkaniemi learned by sitting on the bench for all but 40 seconds of the While Drouin has been his own worst enemy for much of the season, third period and you have to wonder if his confidence is starting to shatter he’s not going to break out of his slump playing on a line with Armia, who after also being made a healthy scratch for two games on the recent has zero points in the last seven games and has been playing like the California road trip. Friendly Giant at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, seeming afraid to hit anybody.

It wouldn’t be the first time that has happened to a young Canadiens It’s time to put Drouin back with Domi and see if the Canadiens can player. actually generate some offence after scoring one goal in the last two games. Drouin and Domi played very well together early in the season and if you’re going to keep playing Drouin you might as well give him a Saturday’s game was the second and final meeting between the chance to succeed. Canadiens and Blackhawks this season. The Canadiens beat the Blackhawks 3-2 on Dec. 9 at the United Center. The Blackhawks have Drouin had four shots on goal in 15:13 of ice time against the now won their last five games at the Bell Centre. Blackhawks and was minus-1. Revivez la cérémonie complète d'avant-match honorant la 315e victoire La vie en Crow. de Carey Price avec les Canadiens.

Corey Crawford, a Montreal native, improved to 9-2-2 with a .954 save Check out the full pregame ceremony honoring Carey Price's record percentage in 13 appearances against his hometown club. #crOwMG 315th win with the Canadiens. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/Bf0V17tpt1— pic.twitter.com/df4cIokPcX— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 17, 2019 March 17, 2019 Pre-game ceremony for Price Where is everybody? Price was honoured during a pre-game ceremony Saturday night for When the Canadiens’ locker room was opened to the media after the winning his 315th career game last Tuesday night against the Detroit game there were only two players still there: Lehkonen and Weal. Red Wings to pass Hall of Famer Jacques Plante and move alone into Captain Shea Weber eventually came out to say a few words, along with first place on the Canadiens’ all-time win list for goalies. Price and Petry. That was it. There was no player made available to say “It’s great for Carey and his family,” Domi said. “Stuff like that isn’t why a few words in French for RDS or TVA Sports. you play the game, but it’s obviously pretty cool. To see a guy like that, Pretty sad. as humble as he is, as hard as he works and as good as a teammate as he is, it’s very special and I’m very happy for him. He’s just getting “We got to score goals,” said Weber, always a man of very few words. started … I think he’s got another 350 in him. Best goalie in the world, “We got to find a way to score goals. best goalie in a long time and hopefully at the end of his career you’re going to say he’s the best goalie ever. He’s a great guy, so he deserves “We had good chances,” Weber added. “(Crawford) made some good every bit of credit he’s getting and hopefully we can get him a win saves. We had some rebounds, we didn’t get them in. He made good tonight.” saves in tight. Obviously, we just need to find a way to put them in.” DeBrincat a little big man Weber has looked very slow in recent games and when asked if he is playing injured simply said: “No.” When the Blackhawks traded Shaw to the Canadiens on June 24, 2016, they acquired two second-round picks at that year’s NHL Draft. They Weber will turn 34 this summer and has seven seasons remaining on his used one of them to select 5-foot-7, 165-pound forward Alex DeBrincat, contract. who picked up two assists Saturday night and has 38-33-71 totals this Shaw backs up his words season.

Shaw called out his teammates after Thursday night’s 2-1 loss to the Canadiens defenceman Victor Mete knows DeBrincat well. Islanders in New York, saying: “We haven’t had a game where every guy “I played against him my whole OHL career,” Mete said. “I think we in the room has been going on the same night. That’s the type of team played our first years in the league together. He played on Erie and I was that we are. We need to be a team, playing hard. Everyone … all lines, in London. He’s always been a goal-scorer. He’s always, I think, put up all D, goalie, everyone’s got to be playing their best every night. Lines are 50-goal seasons, starting from his first year in the O. He can definitely taking nights off, players are taking nights off.” shoot the puck.” Shaw basically repeated those words after practice Friday and against During his three seasons in the OHL, DeBrincat scored 51, 51 and 65 the Blackhawks Saturday night he led the Canadiens in shots (seven) goals. and hits (seven) in 17:42 of ice time. “He was playing with good players there, he was with (Connor) McDavid “Everything he said there was honesty and it was the truth,” Jordie Benn and (Dylan) Strome,” Mete said. “I think it just gets a little bit easier when said about Shaw after Saturday’s morning skate in Brossard. “We got to you come to the NHL and now everybody can kind of set you up like that be ready to go. We’re in a dogfight now. It’s the playoffs for us.” as long as you can put the puck in the net — and he can do that.” Said Domi after the morning skate: “You can expect a team that’s going The Blackhawks acquired Strome from Arizona on Nov. 25 after he to come out and play hard and do whatever it takes to win. I think the posted 3-3-6 totals in 20 games. Strome picked up an assist against the only thing that really matters is what happens in this locker room and Canadiens and now has 14-31-45 totals in 48 games with the that’s the players. That’s all we’re focused on is just as a group playing Blackhawks since being reunited with DeBrincat. The Coyotes selected for the guy to the left and the right of us and across from us and that’s all Strome with the No. 3 overall pick at the 2015 NHL Draft. we can control. So we’re going to do that night in, night out, day in, day out, and hopefully that will take care of the rest and that will be enough. The Blackhawks used the second draft pick they acquired from the We’re going to leave it all out there, that’s for sure. Canadiens in exchange for Shaw to select defenceman Chad Krys, who has 7-9-16 totals in 27 games this season with Boston University. “What happened in this locker room will stay in this locker room,” Domi added. “No offence to you guys or anyone else, but you’re not on the What’s next? team. So we want the privilege to know what goes on between these walls here and we’ll keep it that way. We’re a tight-knit group and we The Canadiens will have the day off on Sunday and have a practice want to win and we’ll play as hard as we possibly can every shift for each scheduled for 10:45 a.m. Monday as they prepare to visit the other and that’s how it’s going to continue to be.” Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). Corey Crawford joined as just the second netminder in @NHLBlackhawks franchise history to record multiple road shutouts The Canadiens will then play back-to-back home games against the New against the Canadiens. #NHLStats #CHIvsMTL https://t.co/tJnxtqT0bj York Islanders on Thursday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio) and pic.twitter.com/JAPBKyFHzz— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March the Buffalo Sabres next Saturday (7 p.m., CITY, SNE, TVA Sports, TSN 17, 2019 690 Radio). That will be followed by a rare Sunday night game against the Hurricanes in Carolina (7 p.m., SN, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). Blackhawks on a roll Montreal Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 The Blackhawks (32-30-9) extended their win streak to five games with Saturday night’s victory and it coincides with the return of goaltender Corey Crawford from the injured-reserve list as part of the NHL’s concussion protocol.

The Châteauguay native stopped all 48 shots against the Canadiens for his fifth straight win, during which he has allowed 10 goals. 1136437 Montreal Canadiens

Blackhawks at Canadiens: Five things to watch

"You got to embrace it, you got to enjoy the challenge," Habs' Brendan Gallagher says as playoff race heats up.

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Here are five things to watch when the Canadiens (37-27-7) play the Chicago Blackhawks (31-30-9) Saturday at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., SNE, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio):

The playoff race: On Jan. 30, the sportsclubstats.com website had the Canadiens’ chances of making the playoffs listed at 78.8 per cent. They have gone 9-9-2 since then and their chances fell to 35.9 per cent following Thursday night’s 2-1 loss to the Islanders in New York. “This is a new situation for a lot of guys in here,” Brendan Gallagher said after practice Friday. “You got to embrace it, you got to enjoy the challenge. It’s an opportunity to do some pretty special things. You want guys to embrace it. It’s going to be a pretty big test here the last 11 games. We’ll see.”

Carey Price: The goalie, who stopped 36 of 38 shots against the Islanders, was given the day off from practice Friday, but will start against the Blackhawks. Price has played in 18 of the last 19 games, starting 17 of them. Julien put the rest of his players through a tough practice. “We’ve given some rest and we’ve hoped that it’s given us the energy that we need for games,” Julien said. “As you can see last night, first period wasn’t the case. So we felt that today we needed to work on parts of our game that’s slipping and that was a priority. I think the guys are mentally strong enough to understand the importance of tomorrow and the energy should be there.”

The former Blackhawks: Andrew Shaw and Phillip Danault led the Canadiens’ team stretch together at the end of practice Friday, something only one player normally does. The reason: Shaw and Danault are both former Blackhawks. “It’s always a good challenge and it’s always fun,” Danault said about playing against his former team. “Good games. Even playing at the United (Center) and playing here it’s no different. It’s a big challenge for me and Shawsy.”

Alex DeBrincat: Canadiens GM dealt two second-round picks at the 2016 NHL Draft to Chicago in exchange for Shaw. The Blackhawks used one of those picks to select 5-foot-7, 165-pound forward Alex DeBrincat, who has 38-31-69 totals this season to rank third in team scoring behind (41-58-99) and Jonathan Toews (30-41-71). The Blackhawks used the other second-round pick to select Boston University defenceman Chad Krys.

Dylan Strome: The Blackhawks acquired Strome from the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 25, reuniting him with his best friend DeBrincat, a former roommate and linemate with the OHL’s Erie Otters. After posting 3-3-6 totals in 20 games with the Coyotes this season, Strome has 14- 29-43 totals in 46 games with the Blackhawks. The Coyotes selected Strome with the No. 3 overall pick at the 2015 NHL Draft. The Blackhawks come into Saturday’s game on a four-game winning streak after beating the Maple Leafs 5-4 Wednesday night in Toronto.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136438 Montreal Canadiens Canadiens are on pace to score the second-fewest power play goals in an 82-game season in NHL history – but those 5-on-5 goals are gone now. And a big reason is the Canadiens’ inability to own the neutral zone The Canadiens are getting buried under the weight of expectations they like they did most of the season. elevated themselves “Sometimes we don’t reload in their zone, we have a third man high but he doesn’t read the play right,” Phillip Danault said after practice Friday. “The smart plays we were making at the beginning of the season, we’re By Arpon Basu Mar 16, 2019 making them a bit less often now. At this time of the year, it’s little details that cost you games.”

That reload is the central tenet of the Canadiens’ system, it’s what they Expectation can cast a long shadow, swallowing everything that falls need to get their transition game going and that’s how they score. They under its darkness. got tons of shots against the Blackhawks, but very few of them came in It’s not always fair, but a failure to live up to expectations can define a transition off turnovers they created in the neutral zone. It’s been the team, or an athlete, no matter what they’ve done when looked at with the same story for a while now. clarity found outside the shadow of expectations. The somewhat cruel “That’s important for every team. Every team wants to forecheck, you part is that expectations can shift over the course of a long season, and want to get all three forwards involved in the forecheck and then your D by setting the bar high early on, the Canadiens might have made it get involved eventually if it’s going well. To do that, to get your D impossible for them to reach it now, when the result of every game is involved, you have to have the reload,” Brendan Gallagher said Friday. magnified. “That’s one of the areas of our game that’s slipped. We know we can They have, in many ways, created the conditions for their own failure, if definitely get a better commitment from all our forwards on that.” indeed that’s how this playoff chase turns out, by being so good for so Simply put, as Danault described it, “the will has to be there.” long this season. It would be easy to look at Julien’s curious decisions Saturday as a The Canadiens fell three points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for reason for the loss, decisions like using Lehkonen on one of his primary the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 2-0 loss at home to scoring lines when he has one goal in 34 games, or benching Jesperi the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. Three points in the standings can Kotkaniemi in the third period, or double-shifting Jordan Weal as a result be made up in two games, in theory, but those three points seem like an and giving him the second most ice time among forwards because he incredibly steep mountain to climb for this team at this moment. played a team-high 10 shifts in the third period, or sending Nate The playoffs are so close. And yet the playoffs somehow appear so far Thompson over the boards down two goals with five minutes left in the because of how poorly the Canadiens are playing at the most critical time game. of the season. It can all change with a little winning streak, but does But each of those decisions, as questionable as they were, reflect the anyone think this team can go on one of those right now? Do they even deficiencies present on this roster. For example, the primary alternative think so? It’s hard to say. to Lehkonen playing on a line with Max Domi and Andrew Shaw would “The timing just isn’t good for us to struggle right now,” Claude Julien have been Jonathan Drouin, who has registered a point in one of his last said after the Blackhawks game. “The effort is there, the caring is there, 16 games and been on the ice for 17 goals-against over that same span. so the only thing missing right now is our game to be at its best and it’s Julien had to keep sending Danault out against Jonathan Toews’ line just not there.” Saturday despite the Canadiens getting buried whenever the two were on the ice together to the tune of a 15-7 Blackhawks advantage in shot That might be the most egregious misuse of the word “only” in postgame attempts. Why? Because the alternatives are less appealing. quote history. Julien lacks options because of those roster deficiencies. Deficiencies Where the Canadiens game has left them is where they excelled for most everyone identified prior to the season. Deficiencies the Canadiens have of the season. So many of Montreal’s goals this season have come off admirably overcome this season. turnovers in the neutral zone, turnovers created by the intense back pressure applied by their forwards, back pressure that is close to Until now. At the most important time of year. With their playoff lives nonexistent right now. This is what it looked like at the beginning of the hanging in the balance. season. In order to get their playoff hopes off life support, the Canadiens have to Does that look anything like what the Canadiens are doing now? Getting get back to playing with the same energy and speed that have defined through the neutral zone used to be a minefield for Canadiens their season. opponents. It is more like a lush, peaceful meadow now. “That would be the lamest excuse we could ever find,” Julien said Friday If the forwards provide that back pressure, the defence can step up in the when asked if his team is wearing down because of the system they play. neutral zone and create those turnovers that make the Canadiens “I’m going to tell you right now, every team we play are reloading. It’s offence go. Without those turnovers, we get what we saw Saturday nothing unusual. I think right now it’s more about having the willingness against the Blackhawks, with tons of shots and zone time but not a whole to do it. We’ve given guys lots of rest, there’s no reason to be tired. If lot of quality chances, because the Canadiens normally create those anything, we’re a quick team because we have good skaters, and that’s chances in transition, something that simply isn’t happening. why we’re playing a fast game. It’s not one of those things that we’re pushing the guys to play faster than they can and they’re exhausted. What’s missing from the Canadiens’ game right now? Absolutely not.”

“Goals,” said Artturi Lehkonen, someone who knows that more than Which brings us right back to expectations. anyone right now. The Canadiens, right now, at the worst time possible, have become “Score goals,” Shea Weber said. everything they were expected to be this season. A team that struggles to score. A team that struggles to win. “Obviously, probably, you know, scoring probably helps,” Carey Price said. “That’s all I really got for you. I thought we played really well in After altering those expectations from the very first night of the season, every aspect of the game tonight.” dominating the Toronto Maple Leafs on the road before losing in overtime, proving people wrong at every step and taking pride in it, the The Canadiens have scored 12 goals in their last seven games and won disappointment of how they are playing now is directly related to how two of those games. One of those goals went into an empty net and they themselves changed those expectations. another, believe it or not, came on a power play, making for 10 goals at 5-on-5 in seven games. Something that was once their bread and butter The Canadiens are victims of their own success. Which would make has become their biggest weakness. failure that much more bitter a pill to swallow.

There are several reasons for it, but a big one is the inability to create the The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 same goals they were scoring earlier in the season. It was those 5-on-5 goals that compensated for having a historically bad power play – the 1136439 Montreal Canadiens average power play that ranked 18th overall in the NHL (19 percent). In that scenario, they would have scored 15 to 16 additional goals so far this season, which translates to almost three additional wins.

Corey Crawford and their own power play drive another nail into the In other words, they’d be sitting comfortably in a playoff spot. Canadiens’ playoff coffin What’s worse, the Canadiens have iced not only the worst power play in the league but also one of the worst power plays in league history. Their By Marc Dumont Mar 16, 2019 11.9 percent efficiency ranks 1,047th out of the 1,060 power plays recorded since the league began tabulating efficiency in 1977-78, according to NHL.com.

“We haven’t had a game where every guy in the room has been going It’s one thing for Kirk Muller’s power play units to have a rough stretch. the same night,” was the message sent by Andrew Shaw after the It’s another to put together a historically bad season. Canadiens’ 2-1 loss against the Islanders on Thursday night. Final word To his credit, those words seemed to invigorate his team as they faced the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. The Canadiens had 91 shot Unlike the other games in March, you can’t fault the Canadiens’ effort. attempts, per NaturalStatTrick.com, 71 of which came while teams were They certainly tried their best against the Blackhawks. However, the playing 5-on-5 hockey. And they didn’t stop there. They did a fairly good overall result is that the Canadiens are slipping further away from a job translating quantity into quality by sending 20 high-quality shots at 5- playoff spot with each passing game and also losing confidence with on-5 towards Corey Crawford. each passing period.

But the Chateauguay native has made a habit of playing his best hockey There are still 10 games left to play this season, more than enough time against the Canadiens, and he continued to honour that tradition by for this team to pull one last rabbit out of its hat. But the Canadiens, who shutting them out 2-0. have responded so well to the endless stream of question marks this year, seem to finally be out of answers. It was a disheartening loss for the Canadiens in more ways than one. They played well enough to win but simply weren’t able to beat Crawford The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 when it mattered most. The Canadiens carried the play for the vast majority of the game, and yet, much like we saw ad nauseam in 2017-18, they did not have enough talent on the roster to overcome their luck, or lack thereof.

As the Crow flies

The Canadiens had a plethora of good scoring chances, including four high-danger shots from both Andrew Shaw and Nate Thompson, three from Artturi Lehkonen and two each from Joel Armia and Max Domi.

But Crawford was on top of his game. The only shot that beat him was a Paul Byron post early in the second, but as Tom Barrasso once famously said, “Do you want me to stop the ones that are going wide, too?”

When the Canadiens did hit the net, Crawford was almost always in perfect position to make the save.

Time and again, he shut down prime scoring chances, though it must be noted that despite the number of quality chances the Canadiens had, not many involved pre-shot movement.

Beer league decisions

Jesperi Kotkaniemi may have suffered the brunt of Claude Julien’s frustration — the rookie played less than eight minutes against the Blackhawks — but it was his teammates who were making rookie mistakes.

For the nth time this season, the Canadiens made a poor line change that gave their opponent a prime scoring chance.

You can’t make that type of mistake this late in the season. It’s the kind of thing you want to iron out in the preseason and definitely not while you’re chasing a playoff spot.

The second Blackhawks goal came on the heels of a poor decision by Brett Kulak, one of many on the night from the defenceman, who usually plays a reliable brand of hockey. Though he’s certainly not the only one at fault for the goal. Max Domi provided poor defensive coverage, a recurring issue of his this season that has been largely ignored because of his offensive outburst.

Power pray

This may shock you, but the Canadiens had several opportunities to score on the power play against the worst penalty-killing team in the league and failed to do so.

To be completely fair, they actually generated a few decent scoring chances against the Blackhawks.

To be even fairer, the process is irrelevant at this point. Their power play is bad, and they should feel bad.

If we put our hypothetical caps on for a moment, the situation becomes even more eye-opening. Let’s say the Canadiens had a slightly-below- 1136440 New York Islanders The host Lightning set team records for wins (55) and points (114) in a season, becoming the 12th team in N.H.L. history to earn at least 55 victories in a season.

Islanders, Losing to Red Wings, Fail to Gain in Division Race Alex Ovechkin scored twice for the Capitals, giving him 48 goals.

New York Times LOADED: 03.17.2019 By The Associated Press

Andreas Athanasiou scored twice and Jonathan Bernier stopped 41 shots, giving the host Detroit Red Wings, who had lost 12 of their previous 13 games, a 2-1 win against the Islanders on Saturday.

Anders Lee, the Islanders’ captain, had a tying scored on a shot from the slot midway through the first period, his team-high 26th goal, and Thomas Greiss had 20 saves.

The Islanders, who had won two straight and four of five, remained in second place in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind Washington and two points ahead of Pittsburgh.

On his first goal, at 2 minutes 59 seconds of the first period, Athanasiou got a break. He centered a pass that went off the left leg of Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock and into the net.

There was much more skill on display for his second goal. Athanasiou put Detroit ahead, 2-1, almost halfway through the second period. He tapped the puck past Greiss off Danny DeKeyser’s slap pass from the top of the right circle to the left side of the net.

Athanasiou celebrated his second goal by leaping to bump chests and hug his teammate Tyler Bertuzzi.

“He gets pretty excited when we score, so I thought I’d get excited with him,” Athanasiou said.

It was the first victory for Bernier in more than a month.

“If Bernier doesn’t have that night, we probably win, 4-1,” Islanders Coach Barry Trotz said. “But they got a fortunate goal, and we probably have 25 scoring chances and couldn’t bury them.”

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WILD 5, RANGERS 2 Ryan Donato scored two goals and Devan Dubnyk had 26 saves as host Minnesota beat the Rangers to stay in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.

Mika Zibanejad scored his first goal in nine games and Pavel Buchnevich added a third-period goal for the Rangers, who lost their third straight. Henrik Lundqvist finished with 41 saves.

Zibanejad established a career high with his 28th goal of the season. He is the first Rangers center to score at least 28 since Eric Lindros in 2001- 2.

Eric Staal, Jared Spurgeon and J. T. Brown also scored for the Wild, who snapped a three-game losing streak that dropped them out of the final wild-card spot. Minnesota entered the day three points behind eighth- place Phoenix. It was the Wild’s second win in 11 home games.

Donato’s wrist shot on a breakaway at 4:40 of the first period beat Lundqvist’s stick side to put Minnesota ahead, 1-0. Zibanejad tied it 90 seconds later, catching Dubnyk out of position on a shot from behind the goal line that angled off the goaltender and into the net.

Donato was credited with a redirect on Luke Kunin’s shot with a little less than four minutes left in the first to reclaim the lead.

Staal made it 3-1 at 4:51 of the second period after his pass toward Zach Parise hit off the stick of Rangers defenseman Neal Pionk and into the net.

Spurgeon’s power-play goal at 6:04 of the third gave him 13 for the season, the fourth-most goals by a Wild defenseman. Brown added an empty-netter at 17:25.

The Wild will play at Nassau Coliseum against the Islanders on Sunday.

LIGHTNING 6, CAPITALS 3 Alex Killorn got his first career hat trick, and Tampa Bay beat Washington in the teams’ first meeting since last year’s Eastern Conference finals. 1136441 New York Islanders Red Wings: start five-game road trip Tuesday against New York Rangers.

New York Daily News LOADED: 03.17.2019 Lowly Red Wings halt Islanders momentum behind two goals from Andreas Athanasiou

By LARRY LAGE

DETROIT — Andreas Athanasiou celebrated his second goal by leaping off the ice to bump chests and hug Tyler Bertuzzi.

"He gets pretty excited when we score, so I thought I'd get excited with him," Athanasiou said after scoring twice to help the Detroit Red Wings beat the New York Islanders 2-1. "He was pretty hype and we got the lead, so it definitely was a good feeling for all of us."

Yes, the Red Wings believes they're still playing for something even though they will be relegated to watching the playoffs for a third straight season.

Detroit had lost 12 of 13 to improve its chances of having the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL draft this summer.

While some fans of the franchise may want a lot of losses down the stretch to have a better shot at selecting American star Jack Hughes, the players simply want to win any chance they get.

"It's why we play hockey," Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier said. "All the guys in this room are winners."

For the first time in more than a month, Bernier won a game after stopping 41 shots.

"If Bernier doesn't have that night, we probably win 4-1," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "But they got a fortunate goal and we probably have 25 scoring chances and couldn't bury them."

The Isles can't solve Red Wings netminder Jonathan Bernier in Saturday's 2-1 loss in Detroit.

New York captain Anders Lee had a tying goal on a shot from the slot midway through the first period and Thomas Greiss had 20 saves.

The Islanders, vying for postseason positioning with Metropolitan Division-leading Washington and Pittsburgh, had won two straight and four of the previous five games.

"I don't see this as a setback," New York defenseman Thomas Hickey said.

[More Sports] Thomas Greiss shuts it down in critical Islanders win »

On his first of two goals early in the game, Athanasiou got a break. He centered a pass that went off the left leg of Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock and into the net.

There was much more skill on display for his second goal.

Athanasiou put Detroit ahead 2-1 midway through the second period. He tapped the puck past Greiss off Danny DeKeyser's slap pass from the top of the right circle to the left side of the net.

[More Sports] Islanders spoil special night with awful loss to Flyers »

"As he got the puck, he kind of looked to the net and saw me sneak around the net and saw me all alone," Athanasiou said. "We made a little eye contact and then he put it right on my tape."

NOTES: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin played after missing five games with a neck injury...... New York scratched C Casey Cizikas (lower body) and D Johnny Boychuk (upper body) with injuries. ... Athanasiou, who has a career-high 27 goals, scored two goals in a game for the sixth time this season. ... Lee has a team-high 26 goals, including one in three straight games.

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[More Sports] Barry Trotz milestone Islanders win clouded by goalie misfortune »

Islanders: play at Minnesota on Sunday. 1136442 New York Islanders

Why a ‘last-minute decision’ sidelined Casey Cizikas

By Brett Cyrgalis March 17, 2019

DETROIT — It has been a long, grueling season for Casey Cizikas, and the stomach bug the Islanders’ integral center endured this past week certainly didn’t help.

All of that contributed to a slight lower-body strain that kept him out of Saturday afternoon’s 2-1 loss to the Red Wings.

“I was expecting him to play, that was absolutely a last-minute decision,” said coach Barry Trotz, who added that Cizikas is “possible” for the second leg of this back-to-back on Sunday night at Minnesota.

“We’re at that point in the year where we have to make sure with a player,” Trotz said.

Cizikas, 28, is in the midst of a career year, with 19 goals and 30 points. He played in 63 of the Islanders’ first 70 games, and even played through the stomach bug, leaving for parts of the March 3 game against the Flyers when he had to go back to the locker room.

Trotz gave him a maintenance day in place of Friday’s practice, saying Cizikas “ran his tank low.” But it turned out to be a combination of that and this strain.

“He’s been pretty worn out,” Trotz said. “He lost a lot of weight when he was sick.”

Defenseman Johnny Boychuk was available to play, according to Trotz, but he missed a third straight game after suffering an upper-body injury on a hit from the Flyers’ Jakub Voracek on March 9.

Asked if Boychuk didn’t play for the sake of caution, Trotz said, “No, not at all.” Instead, Trotz cited how much he liked the current group, including Thomas Hickey, who re-entered the lineup in Boychuk’s absence.

“I like our six. I thought our six were good,” Trotz said. “Thomas Hickey, I thought he was real strong today in his game.”

Goalie Robin Lehner backed up Thomas Greiss for the second straight game, and it’s likely Lehner will start against the Wild.

“There is some consideration, yes,” Trotz said. “We’ll assess it and go from there.”

The power play went 0-for-2 and is now 0-for-24 over the past 11 games. Conversely, the penalty kill went 2-for-2 and has not surrendered a goal in the past 10 opportunities, going back seven games.

Coming in for Cizikas was Tom Kuhnhackl, who had been out for two straight and six of the past nine. He joined a line with Josh Bailey and Valtteri Filppula, while Leo Komarov went down to the fourth line with Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck.

New York Post LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136443 New York Islanders Over the past eight drafts beginning with 2013, the Sabres have held the eighth-overall selection three times, second-overall twice and first-overall once and entered Saturday tied with the Rangers in points.

Islanders’ Hall of Fame needs to add these new members This after having been shut out three straight times, winning one of the past nine (1-7-1) — “Points in two!” — and going 9-20-4 since Christmas after entering the holiday hiatus 21-11-5. By Larry Brooks March 16, 2019 That despite coming away with Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin, Sam Reinhart (at two, one pick ahead of Leon Draisaitl’s selection by Edmonton in 2014, the year the Islanders took Michael Dal Colle at five, So I noticed the Islanders’ Hall of Fame banner hanging at the Coliseum three slots ahead of William Nylander going to Toronto), Rasmus the other night, and other than wondering whether the “Jonsson” so Ristolainen, Alex Nylander and Casey Mittelstadt with those top-end honored was two-time Cup winner Tomas from the Dynasty Days or picks. Kenny from the Milbury Era (Answer: Someone should sew on the “K”), I figured the franchise with so little to celebrate the last little while had So by all means rebuilding teams, race to the bottom like the Sabres, on done away with the concept. their way to an eighth straight miss and who have not won a playoff round since 2007. Because, after all, how could an Islanders Hall of Fame exist without , John Tonelli, Pat LaFontaine and Brent Sutter among its Reflecting upon the death of Harry Howell last Sunday, Brad Park said honored members? he had focused on two defensemen while growing up in Ontario and watching “” every Saturday. It should not. “Harry and Tim Horton,” Park said. “And I got to play and be paired with , Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, , Billy Smith, Al each of them.” Arbour, Bill Torrey, , Bob Bourne, K. Jonsson and Pat Flatley are properly recognized. But no one has been inducted since 2012, when Ironically, Horton became a Ranger late in the 1969-70 season after Jonsson and Flatley were welcomed as part of the franchise’s 40th having spent the first 18 years of his career with Toronto only because anniversary celebration. And, I have been told, the intent is to add more Park broke his ankle on Feb. 28 and GM Emile Francis needed a veteran members. replacement for the playoff push. Horton came three days later in exchange for Denis Dupere. Now that the echoes have been reawakened, there is no time like the present for beat cop/police commissioner/justice of the peace/chairman Carey Price of the chamber of commerce/mayor Lou Lamoriello to revive the institution and see to it that the aforementioned four players take their The following year, Eddie Giacomin and Gilles Villemure split the Vezina rightfully recognized respective places in franchise history. awarded to the goalies on the team who allowed the fewest goals while playing behind a defense featuring Park, Horton, Dale Rolfe, Jim Neilson There is room, too, for Zigmund Palffy, Derek King, Stefan Persson and and Rod Seiling. Dave Langevin, and there is room for debate over (not exclusively) Kelly Hrudey, , Billy Harris, Benoit Hogue, Duane Sutter, T. The next year, Horton was off to Pittsburgh, claimed after being left Jonsson and Pierre Turgeon. unprotected in an intra-league draft process.

But the ongoing exclusion of Goring, Tonelli, LaFontaine and B. Sutter By the way, Carey Price, once again extolled as the NHL’s greatest undermines the credibility of the enterprise and makes one question the goalie, entered Saturday with a five-on-five save percentage of .923. accuracy of the banner. It should be addressed as soon as possible. Henrik Lundqvist, who apparently should go away because he is too old, Mark Stone signed for $76 million over eight years in Las Vegas ($9.5M entered Saturday with a five-on-five save percentage of .922. per), and about the very first thing an agent I’d called about an entirely The Rangers’ two regulation victories over the Devils on Feb. 23 and different subject said was, “That’s about $95 million in New York with the March 3 might have been mental health days for a team that otherwise taxes.” was 0-5-5 since Feb. 21 entering Saturday’s game in Minnesota.

Don’t the Rangers know it. But the fact is they also stand as the difference between the Blueshirts’ Mark Stone current 6.5 percent chance at drafting Jack Hughes as seventh-worst in the NHL and the 9.5 percent chance owned by New Jersey. That is not only what New York franchises have to contend with in trying to compete for players with the Golden Knights, Lightning, Panthers, Finally, maybe it’s me, but if I’m the Lightning, I’m not all that wild about Stars and Predators — the five NHL teams operating in no state-tax being compared as an all-time team to the 1995-96 Red Wings, who put states — but, to varying degrees, that is what every other team in the up crazy numbers of victories (62) and points (131), but did not even league confronts. make it to the Cup finals.

And that should be addressed in the upcoming collective bargaining talks New York Post LOADED: 03.17.2019 and corrected in the labor agreement that succeeds the current one.

Yes, it is a complex matter with no readily apparent solution. But both the league and the union pay enough money to enough people with expertise in such things to at least study the issue.

Small-market owners screamed for years about inequities in the system that allowed the wealthier, bigger-market teams to spend more than their low-revenue teams could afford. Now, five teams have an enshrined advantage, and the other 26 — including Canadian revenue-generators — won’t say a peep.

At the very least, the league should consider indexing the cap for Tampa Bay, Florida, Vegas, Dallas and Nashville against the average state/provincial/local taxes for the other 26 clubs then adding a tariff on those five teams.

In other words, if state/provincial/local average to 10 percent for the 26 taxed teams, the cap would be reduced by that amount for the five teams that currently operate on a higher plain even though the league claims to want an even playing surface. 1136444 New York Islanders New York Post LOADED: 03.17.2019

The sound Ryan Pulock was still hearing after frustrating Islanders’ loss

By Brett Cyrgalis March 16, 2019

DETROIT — Ryan Pulock was sitting there, his jersey off, his equipment still on, his wet hair pointing to the ceiling and his vacant eyes staring into the distance. There was no need to be a mind-reader to know the sound was still ringing in his head, that loud clang of the post he hit with just over two minutes left in regulation Saturday.

“Yup,” the Islanders defenseman said when asked the obvious question after his team had outplayed the Red Wings all game but lost, 2-1. If Pulock had ever hit a post that squarely, he couldn’t be sure.

“I don’t know, probably not,” he said. “But [to do it] with a few minutes left in the game, down one, it’s frustrating.”

For all the Islanders (41-23-7) have going for them in this surprising season, scoring goals en masse is not one of them. They created a ton against the Red Wings (25-37-10), who got the best game of the season — if not longer — from backup goalie Jonathan Bernier, who made 41 saves with some that edged into the realm of terrific.

Running into a hot goalie is going to happen, especially as the Islanders consider the postseason while still looking up at the first-place Capitals in the Metropolitan Division. Being able to avoid frustration becomes paramount. And they showed that virtue by continuing to play the right way in this one, just as they did early in the week with stabilizing wins over a pair of postseason hopefuls, the Blue Jackets and the Canadiens.

“Bernier had one of those nights,” coach Barry Trotz said, raising his arms in deference. “If he doesn’t have that night, you’re probably sitting here with a 4-1 win and you’re going, ‘It’s four goals, it’s a good night.’ You have to take it realistically. Were you getting chances? Yes. We just couldn’t bury them today.”

Jonathan Bernier

If a couple more of them would go in — like Devon Toews’ chance in the closing seconds, or any of the game-high eight shots Mat Barzal had as his line with Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle becomes a legitimate top unit — then there wouldn’t be any reason for concern. But this Islanders team is not one that scores a lot, and as games become tighter and chances become more infrequent, that could be their Achilles’ heel.

“All year, we’ve had a tough time getting to four or five and really securing that win,” Barzal said. “Sometimes that has to do with the style we play. We’re not going to give up too many. Sometimes it’s just a teeter-totter a little bit.”

There really wasn’t a lot of room for the Red Wings all game, with the Islanders outshooting them, 42-22, and out-attempting them, 66-40. The two goals for Andreas Athanasiou came with one going in off Pulock’s shin-pad at 2:59 of the first period (insult-to-injury for the emerging top- pair defenseman after his late miss) and the second a backdoor tap-in following a great slap-pass from Danny DeKeyser at 9:57 of the middle frame.

That sandwiched Lee’s third goal in as many games at 10:18 of the first, moments after another failed Islanders power play. Their man-advantage has been goalless in 11 straight games while going 0-for-24.

No, these are not the high-flying Islanders of recent vintage. More importantly for this group, however, they win with far more consistency.

“Sometimes it’s tough to win every single night even though you feel like you did a lot of good things to deserve it,” Pulock said. “Sometimes it just doesn’t happen.”

There is no time for the Islanders to feel sorry for themselves, as this road back-to-back continues at Minnesota on Sunday night. If they play the same way, odds are Pulock won’t be sitting there afterward with such gloom on his face and metal in his ears.

“Obviously, right now, it’s a tough pill to swallow,” Pulock said. “But when you look back on it, you have to realize we did a lot of good things, we played a pretty solid game. We did everything but score.” 1136445 New York Islanders

Casey Cizikas a late scratch after suffering lower-body strain in warmups

By Andrew Gross

DETROIT — After suffering a lower-body strain in warmups, fourth-line center Casey Cizikas was a late scratch from the Islanders’ lineup in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.

Barry Trotz did not rule him out for Sunday’s game in Minnesota. “I was expecting him to play,” Trotz said. “We’re at that point in the year where we have to make sure with our players.”

Trotz answered “yes and no” when asked if Saturday’s absence was related to Cizikas getting a maintenance day off from Friday’s practice.

Cizikas exited in the third period against the Flyers on March 3 because of a stomach flu, and Trotz said he still is feeling some effects.

“He’s been pretty worn out,” Trotz said. “He lost a lot of weight.”

Shooting the puck

Trotz has implored center Mathew Barzal to shoot more several times this season. Barzal did on Saturday, matching a season high with eight shots. “Personally, and as a line, it was probably the best game in 50 games,” he said. “ . . . We should have had four, five goals.”

Under consideration

Robin Lehner backed up Thomas Greiss for the second straight game after returning from a three-game absence with a head injury. He is likely to start Sunday, though Trotz was noncommittal. “There’s some consideration,” he said.

Boychuk available

D Johnny Boychuk again was out after appearing to hurt his left shoulder on a check from the Flyers’ Jakub Voracek last week. Trotz said he was a healthy scratch only because the six defensemen who dressed in Thursday’s 2-1 win over the Canadiens played well . . . D Thomas Hickey logged 16:01 with three blocked shots.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136446 New York Islanders

Islanders lament missed scoring chances after loss to Red Wings

The Islanders (41-23-7) remained two points ahead of third-place Penguins in the Metropolitan Division but missed their chance to tie the first-place Capitals.

By Andrew Gross

DETROIT — Sure, there’s some frustration because every point is so critical in this playoff push.

But mostly, the Islanders’ 2-1 loss to the Red Wings on Saturday afternoon left them shaking their heads after their lopsided advantage in scoring chances went for naught. They outshot the Wings 42-22.

“You can’t even really be upset,” center Mathew Barzal said. “We did everything we could except bury a couple. We were almost just laughing after the game, like, we played so well and we should have been rewarded and we just weren’t today.”

Strong performance aside, it remains to be seen how costly a loss this one might be. The Islanders (89 points) remained two points behind the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals and two points ahead of the third- place Penguins. The Isles, who have 11 games remaining, have a game in hand on each.

The Islanders, who got 20 saves from Thomas Greiss in his fifth straight start and eighth straight appearance, were without fourth-line center Casey Cizikas, a late scratch after suffering a lower-body strain in warmups.

Jonathan Bernier made 41 saves and Andreas Athanasiou scored twice for the Red Wings, who entered on a 1-9-3 slide.

“I think we played a pretty solid game,” said defenseman Ryan Pulock, who hit the post with a wrist shot with 2:15 left in the third period. “We had plenty of opportunities to score. Either we didn’t get that bounce or there was a big save. Points are so crucial right now. When you do play that well and you don’t end up with any, it’s frustrating.”

The Islanders, who will play in Minnesota on Sunday as they seek their first playoff berth since 2016, were coming off strong performances at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum in Monday’s 2-0 win over the Blue Jackets and Thursday’s 2-1 win over the Canadiens. In many ways, Saturday’s game was a continuation of those efforts.

“Sometimes you don’t worry about necessarily the results but the process and the effort and how you’re playing,” coach Barry Trotz said. “If you’re playing well, you’ll get the results.”

The Islanders had several chances to tie the score after Pulock hit the post, even after Cal Clutterbuck was called for high sticking Athanasiou at 18:29. With Greiss pulled for an extra skater, rookie defenseman Devon Toews had a chance near the crease in the waning seconds that didn’t make it to Bernier.

Bernier got his paddle on Valtteri Filppula’s chance at the crease at 13:51 of the third period, making an acrobatic save.

“Bernier had one of those nights,” Trotz said. “The one with the paddle off Filppula, he throws the paddle up and it’s going in the net. We’re probably sitting here, if he doesn’t have that night, it’s a 4-1 win. You’ve got to take it realistically when you get chances. We just couldn’t bury them today.”

Still, it’s the fourth straight game in which the Islanders scored two or fewer goals. And despite eight power-play shots, they were 0-for-2 on the man advantage, leaving them 0-for-24 over 11 games.

Anders Lee tied the score at 1-1 at 10:18 of the first period to extend his goal streak to three games. Athanasiou had opened the scoring with a feed from the right boards that deflected in off Pulock’s left leg at 2:59.

Athanasiou scored the winner at 9:57 of the second period, slipping in the puck at the left post after Tyler Bertuzzi had taken the Red Wings’ first shot of the period just six seconds earlier.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136447 New York Rangers Spurgeon's power-play goal at 6:04 of the third gave him 13 for the season, the fourth-most single-season goals by a Wild defenseman. Brown added an empty-netter at 17:25.

Henrik Lundqvist peppered in Rangers latest loss New York Daily News LOADED: 03.17.2019

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS |MAR 17, 2019 | 12:15 AM

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild finally played like a team urgently scrapping to remain in the playoff picture. They have 10 games to prove it's not too little too late.

Ryan Donato scored two goals and Devan Dubnyk had 26 saves as the Minnesota Wild beat the New York Rangers 5-2 on Saturday night to stay in the thick of the playoff race.

Eric Staal, Jared Spurgeon and J.T. Brown also scored for the Wild, who snapped a three-game losing streak that dropped them out of the final wild card in the Western Conference. Minnesota entered the day three points behind Phoenix for the last spot. It was the Wild's second win in 11 home games.

"At the end of the day, when it comes game time there's not a lot of words being tossed around," Donato said. "I think it's just a call to action, we've got to make sure we come out and play hard. We didn't do our job against Dallas and we knew we really had to win this one."

The Wild dropped their previous three games by a combined 13-3 score, including a 3-0 loss to San Jose and 4-1 defeat to the Stars. Knowing the Rangers had played the night before in Calgary, the Wild wanted to make an early statement.

"Our start was huge tonight," Minnesota's Luke Kunin said. "We got the first goal, they came back and got one and I thought we did a good job of bouncing back and getting one and getting back into it. Just a good all- around effort tonight."

The Wild won't have to wait long to see if they can carry over the momentum — Minnesota welcomes the New York Islanders on Sunday night.

Another loss for the Rangers.

"Obviously it's desperate times," Staal said. "We need points. We need wins."

Mika Zibanejad scored his first goal in nine games and Pavel Buchnevich added a third-period goal for the Rangers, who lost their third straight. Henrik Lundqvist finished with 41 saves and managed to keep the Rangers within striking distance.

"I loved our effort, I loved the way we worked," Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. "I think guys were hungry and desperate ourselves, we just had a lot of mistakes that fed them. Whether they went in or not, we just kept giving them momentum and not allowing ourselves to gain it ourselves."

Donato's wrister on a breakaway at 4:40 of the first period beat Lundqvist's stick side to put Minnesota up 1-0. Zibanejad tied it 90 seconds later, catching Dubnyk out of position on a shot from behind the goal line that angled off the goaltender and into the net.

[More Sports] Rangers woes resume in heartbreaking loss »

Donato was credited with a redirect on Luke Kunin's shot with just under 4 minutes left in the first to reclaim the lead.

Staal made it 3-1 at 4:51 of the second after his attempted pass to Zach Parise hit off the outstretched Neal Pionk's stick and into the net.

The only downside for Minnesota came in the second period, when Jason Zucker had to be helped off the ice after a scary collision behind the New York net with Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei. Zucker went down when Skjei fell on his right leg — he didn't put any weight on the leg as he was helped off the ice, but returned later in the period.

[More Sports] Rangers icon Harry Howell dead at 86 »

Zucker wasn't made available to reporters after the game.

"I haven't heard anything on not being able to play," coach Bruce Boudreau said. 1136448 New York Rangers

David Quinn calls out Rangers’ anemic power play

By Greg Joyce March 17, 2019

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Rangers are doing their best to challenge the meaning of the phrase “power play.”

After two more empty man-advantages — when they got off just one shot on net — in Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Wild, the Rangers sunk to 1-for- their-past-29 on the power play.

“Our power play certainly needs to be addressed,” coach David Quinn said after the Rangers had mustered all of four shots on three power plays in Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Flames. “It’s just too slow, too methodical. We don’t have an attack mentality on the power play, for sure. We don’t have an idea what we’re going to do with it before we get it.”

The latest power outage Saturday came two games after the Rangers went 1-for-4 on the man-advantage against the Canucks, with Pavel Buchnevich snapping the team’s 0-for-24 slump. But that game also included 1:33 of five-on-three, when the Rangers did not fire off a single shot and had Quinn steaming about it postgame.

The Rangers had been converting on 21.6 percent of their power plays before the trade deadline, which would currently make them the 10th- best unit in the league. But since then — with Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello, both mainstays on the power play, traded away — they have hardly been a threat.

“We’ve gotta get way more of an attack mentality to our power play,” Quinn said. “We get a puck and we’re looking to see, OK, what are we going to do with it? Instead of knowing what we’re going to do with it before we get it. It’s something we got to address. Obviously after [Friday night], we have to address a lot of things the way we played.”

After Saturday’s road-trip finale, the Rangers were to fly home to start their final 10 games across 19 days, starting Tuesday against the Red Wings at the Garden.

“The good thing is there’s a lot of games coming up, so you don’t have time to sit and overthink [the losses],” said Henrik Lundqvist, who was expected to start the second half of the back-to-back Saturday after Alexandar Georgiev went Friday. “You just need to move on and focus on the next practice and the next game. There’s no time for anything else.”

Boo Nieves and Connor Brickley were the healthy scratches while defenseman Brendan Smith moved back to left wing and Fredrik Claesson returned to the blue line.

Mika Zibanejad’s first-period goal, from beyond the end line, was his 28th of the year, setting a career-high. He became the first Rangers center to score at least 28 goals in a season since Eric Lindros in 2001-02.

New York Post LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136449 New York Rangers

Rangers say they didn’t cave, but it was another ugly loss

By Greg Joyce March 16, 2019

ST. PAUL, Minn. — It took 18 days post-trade deadline, but the Rangers’ fate finally came through in their play Friday night.

For the first time, coach David Quinn said, he felt his team had “caved a little bit to our situation” in their loss to the Flames.

Less than 24 hours later, the Rangers were back on the ice and Quinn was adamant that their effort and energy would be better in the second half of the back-to-back.

Only, the end result remained the same.

The Rangers finished up their road trip Saturday night by continuing their free fall with a 5-2 loss to the Wild at Xcel Energy Center.

“I think there was no caving in in our game tonight. We worked hard. The effort was there,” defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. “I don’t think we worked quite in the smartest ways and worked in the right ways. We fed them a lot of their chances. But I think the way we competed and battled tonight was something that was obviously a big change from [Friday] night.”

As their six-day, four-game, three-time zone, zero-win trip came to an end, the Rangers (28-31-13) dragged themselves back to New York having lost 10 of their past 11. The Wild (34-30-8) had everything to play for, entering the night three points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, while the Rangers were playing for pride a night after Quinn said they had cheated the game.

Brendan Smith battles for the puck with the Wild's Zach Parise.

But there was still no win to send them home on a high note. The Rangers were chasing from behind as early as 4:40 into the game after the Wild went up 1-0 on a goal that began off a Neal Pionk turnover in the offensive zone. After Mika Zibanejad quickly tied it back up, the Wild went ahead for good with a goal at the end of the first period — set up by two more turnovers from Filip Chytil — and another at the start of the second off a two-on-one pass that hit Pionk’s stick and slid through Henrik Lundqvist’s legs.

“We’re really sloppy right now with the puck in our own end,” Quinn said. “We caused a lot of our own problems with our puck management, some of the things we’re trying to do. Too often we’re getting pucks in our own end and we’re hoping it goes to one of our teammates or it gets to the next zone.”

Pavel Buchnevich scored midway through the third period to cut the deficit to 4-2, but J.T. Brown added a late empty-netter to seal the game.

The Rangers had lost plenty since trading away some of their key pieces at the trade deadline, unofficially waving the white flag on a season that was already falling out of their grasp. But they had remained competitive, with five of seven losses needing overtime or a shootout, until the past three have been more decisive — outscored 14-4.

“If we want to become a good team, we need to understand how important it is to take care of the puck,” said Lundqvist, who was under siege for much of the night against odd-man rushes galore and finished with 41 saves. “But it is obviously challenging right now for everyone to be confident and to make that extra play or make that extra save.”

What had alarmed Quinn the most Friday night was no longer a concern by Saturday, but the careless turnovers and the losses continuing to pile up were.

“That can wear on your human psyche,” Quinn said. “Human nature can kick in. You can’t let human nature kick in, you’ve got to fight it. You’ve got to make sure you’re mentally strong enough to not cave in to frustration and to the situation.”

New York Post LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136450 New York Rangers

Chris Kreider can’t snap out of scoring funk

By Greg Joyce March 16, 2019

CALGARY, Alberta — Chris Kreider took the ice Friday with his wallet in a state similar to his recent offensive production: lighter.

The Rangers winger was fined $5,000 Thursday for a high elbow against Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson in Wednesday’s loss, but Kreider had other issues to worry about. Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome marked his eight straight game without a goal, a drought that has coincided with a team-wide offensive slump and losses in nine of 10 games to pile on.

“As a group, we gotta fall in love with winning and fall in love with the details that allow you to win hockey games, because losing sucks,” Kreider said.

“It’s a weird time, obviously. But it’s a time where guys can get better individually and get better as a group. An [11]-game stretch now where we can work on our game, work on our process and get back to winning hockey. We’ve done it in spurts over the course of the year, and no better time to start stringing together wins than right now, right? What’s happened, happened. All you can do is learn from it.”

Kreider had little interest in talking about Wednesday’s ejection and the ensuing fine.

“No comment,” he said. “It’s a game day. We’re moving on. What happened, happened. Obviously it was unfortunate.”

The plan had been for the Rangers to practice Thursday, but coach David Quinn opted for team bonding instead. They still got on the ice, but traded their sticks and pucks for brooms and stones in an off-day curling competition.

“The Americans weren’t so good,” winger Jimmy Vesey said. “[Assistant coach Lindy Ruff] was good. His team won.”

The coaches beat Team Sweden — Henrik Lundqvist, Mika Zibanejad, Jesper Fast and Freddy Claesson — in the championship.

“Swedes are pretty good at it. It’s usually Sweden-Canada in the [Olympic] finals, I know that,” said Lundqvist, who estimated he last curled when he was 10. “It came down to the last stone in the finals. That was a tough one.”

Brendan Lemieux was back in the lineup after getting ejected with a match penalty Wednesday, but he was not facing supplemental discipline from his collision with the Canucks’ Antoine Roussel.

“The ref I think just maybe saw the aftermath,” Lemieux said. “Once they say they think I got him in the head and he’s injured on the play, they gotta kick me [out]. I completely understand it. It just sucks.”

The Rangers made official their signing of free agent Jake Elmer to an entry-level deal. The 20-year-old winger had 38 goals and 40 assists in 66 games in the Western Hockey League.

New York Post LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136451 New York Rangers better? You can’t worry about what’s going to happen next year. Not now.’’

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.17.2019 Henrik Lundqvist tries to keep his focus as losses continue to mount

By Colin Stephenson

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Henrik Lundqvist has been the voice of reason all season in the Rangers’ locker room, reminding everyone that the current team is young and rebuilding and can’t be expected to challenge for a playoff spot, much less a Stanley Cup, anytime soon.

But it’s getting harder for Lundqvist to maintain that perspective as the 2018-19 season spirals toward an ugly finish.

Saturday night’s 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild closed out a 0-3-1 road trip that dropped the Rangers (28-31-13) to 2-6-5 in their last 13 games.

“The losses have been piling up,’’ Lundqvist said Friday before a 5-1 loss to the Flames. “It’s a test for all of us to stay the course, stay focused on what you can do to help the team. There’s just no other way. You try to just focus on your own game and how you can help the team. That’s all I can say.’’

Before Saturday’s game, coach David Quinn said he expected a better effort from his team than it produced against Calgary. In that game, Quinn said, he could see the team had “caved’’ to the reality that the season will be over in three weeks. After Saturday’s game, Quinn said he thought the Rangers played with “a lot more energy’’ and “did a lot more good things.’’

“But we’re really sloppy right now with the puck in our end,’’ he said. “We cause a lot of our own problems with our puck management, some of the things we’re trying to do. Too often, we’re getting pucks in our own end and we’re hoping it goes to one of our teammates, or it gets to the next zone.’’

Quinn didn’t name names, but rookie Filip Chytil had a dreadful shift late in the first period. With the score tied at 1, he gave up a breakaway to Jason Zucker that Lundqvist saved. Then Chytil turned the puck over twice, with the second leading directly to a shot by Luke Kunin that was tipped in by Ryan Donato for his second goal of the game and a 2-1 lead at 16:05.

“You have to be smart,’’ Lundqvist said, “and I felt like a couple of goals today, we just forced plays that were not really there. And in this league, it costs you.’’

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The Rangers had tied the score at 1-1 at 6:00 of the first period when Mika Zibanejad’s crazy shot from out of the right corner boards went in for his first goal in nine games and his career-high 28th.

Former Ranger Eric Staal’s 20th goal gave the Wild a 3-1 lead. Staal, the older brother of Rangers defenseman Marc Staal, scored when his two- on-one pass deflected off the stick of Rangers defenseman Neal Pionk and in at 4:51 of the second.

Jared Spurgeon’s power-play goal at 6:06 of the third made it 4-1 before Pavel Buchnevich scored on a breakaway to pull the Rangers within 4-2. J.T. Brown’s empty-net goal iced it.

Lundqvist, who is splitting time in goal these days with Alexandar Georgiev, made 41 saves. Given how well Georgiev has played in his extended look, it is fair to wonder what the future holds for Lundqvist, who has been the Rangers’ unquestioned No. 1 goalie since about a month after he arrived from Sweden in 2005 and is under contract for two more seasons.

Lundqvist, 37, won’t speak about what he thinks his role might look like next season.

“I want to finish this season before I start thinking about next season,’’ he said. “When the season is over, you’ve got to analyze it. What can I do 1136452 New York Rangers which would give them a shot to pick first overall – or in the top three, anyway – in the NHL draft.

While Maloney does believe the Rangers will need a superstar offensive Dave Maloney optimistic about Rangers' rebuild player (or more than one) in order to be a contender coming out of the current rebuild, he doesn’t endorse the idea of tanking. Rather, he believes if the organization collects enough talent and molds that talent By Colin Stephenson into a good team, it can then go out and acquire the final pieces it needs to get to the promised land.

“I think you look at the Yankees when they won, they built from within, ST. PAUL, Minn. — Besides the training staff, there’s one person who’s and then found fillers,’’ he said. “You create the culture by first of all, worked every Ranger game for the last two seasons: Radio colorman letting your young guys know they’re not entitled to anything in this Dave Maloney. league; they have to earn their spot . . . So that creates the culture, long Maloney, who usually works alongside play-by-play man Kenny Albert on term, that you need to have to begin with.’’ the radio broadcasts, has missed maybe five games since he became But how do you know when the time is right to go get those final pieces? the full-time radio analyst in 2005. The former Rangers defenseman and captain is the only broadcaster that works every game, home and away, “Well, if it was that easy, you’d just draw it up,’’ he said. “It’s a ‘feel’ thing . preseason, regular season and playoff. MSG, which does the television . . Successful franchises, the success starts at the top: Ownership; broadcasts, doesn’t do all 82 regular-season games, and Albert has management; coach, right on down the line. The most stable franchises, broadcasting duties for MSG and elsewhere that cause him to miss the stability of the franchise is probably directly seen in the results of the Rangers games from time to time. franchise, and that’s having the right people making the decisions at the time.’’ Maloney isn’t always working radio, either. Whenever TV play-by-play man Sam Rosen is off doing NFL games, MSG’s between-the-benches Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.17.2019 reporter John Giannone fills in for Rosen and Maloney takes Giannone’s spot. Either way, if the Rangers are playing, Maloney is there.

“I like the fact that I’m there for every game,’’ Maloney said recently. “And I like the fact that I get to do different things.’’

Broadcasting is Maloney’s third career. After 11 seasons playing in the NHL, he retired in 1985 and took a job on Wall Street, working for Bear Stearns. He did that for 10 years, then worked for another financial firm in Greenwich, Conn., for 10 more years, before retiring after 20 years in the financial services industry. Now 62, he doesn’t plan on retiring from broadcasting anytime soon.

“As long as I think the people who are hiring me think I can do a decent enough job, I’ll do it forever,’’ he said.

Being around the team every day, Maloney has a valuable perspective of where the team is in its stated rebuilding stage. And while the current Rangers have been struggling on the ice, Maloney believes the rebuild is progressing well. First-year coach David Quinn has been working hard at molding the young players on the team and teaching them to be responsible and do the things that winning teams do, and general manager Jeff Gorton has been aggressive in moving veteran players in exchange for younger players and draft picks – assets that either will turn into important building blocks for the future or be used in deals to acquire those building blocks.

“I think Jeff Gorton and [assistant GM] have an idea you have to build from within,’’ Maloney said. “You can’t be mercenary, and I think this franchise has been mercenary for a particularly long time, and we have one Cup in 79 years.’’

Speaking of that one Cup, in 1994, Maloney said the way that team was built – by trading away good young players to acquire veteran stars and role players (Tony Amonte for Stephane Matteau and Brian Noonan, who left after the summer of ’94, is one example) may have worked to get that one Cup, but it damaged any chance for the team to have sustained success. They made the playoffs in ’95, ’96 and ’97 – they even signed Wayne Gretzky along the way – but then missed the postseason for the next seven years before finally returning in 2006, led by a spectacular rookie goalie named Henrik Lundqvist.

“You play the price for that one-time splash,’’ Maloney said.

The current plan seems to be building for the long term, Maloney said. But there’s no telling when it will be finished.

“If you think that Filip Chytil needs 200 games before he’s a legitimate NHL player; if you think Brett Howden needs 200 games — or whatever that benchmark is — well, they’re not yet a third of the way into that,’’ he said. “But I do think if they stay the course, there’s a better chance of being really competitive for a longer time. There’s no guarantee to win, but I really think . . . they’re heading in the right direction. They’re doing the things to give themselves a chance.’’

There are many who believe that the way for a team to give itself the best chance to win is by taking steps to try and win the NHL draft lottery, 1136453 New York Rangers beating only the Devils’ JV. In the upside-down standings, the Rangers gained ground on Detroit (too late) and Ottawa (too late) and Edmonton on Saturday.

It’s no time to judge Henrik Lundqvist, but it’s only natural to wonder what The Rangers remain in seventh place — a point behind sixth-place awaits him Vancouver, two behind fifth-place Anaheim, and hold the tiebreaker (ROW) with every team other than the Red Wings, who beat the Mighty Islanders. The Sabres have leaped (free-fallen?) into the upside-down By Rick Carpiniello Mar 16, 2019 race with seven consecutive losses and are tied with the Rangers in points. Remember when Buffalo was supposed to be headed toward

great things during that early-season winning streak? I ran into Chris Kreider last summer and we started to talk about the 3) One reason I mock the statistics the NHL provides: The Rangers season before, and he made a great point. Not a lot should have been officially had three giveaways in the game. Two by Kevin Shattenkirk, made over what happened after that season’s trade deadline. one by Neal Pionk. That’s all. Three. He was right. Dead on. Not much, and not many, should have been 4) Lundqvist had some dangerous moments early. He also nearly saw judged because of what the Rangers’ roster looked like, who was his night ended early when Brady Skjei, having lost his stick in a fracas in playing, who was not, who was gone and, in that case, who was front of the bench, shoved Marcus Foligno from behind and into coaching. Lundqvist. Right off the next draw, Chris Kreider had a break-in and was Except for the coaching part, that applies to this season, perhaps even stopped on the backhander by Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk. In the last more so. These Rangers are a skeleton crew, a lot of kids trying to find minute of the first, Kreider had a steal and a close-range wrister that their way — and few of them, if any, have excelled lately. A lot of Dubnyk gloved. So at least we noticed Kreider a couple of times. veterans are playing in roles much higher than they should be playing, 5) Pionk, along the wall, tried a blind pass to the middle of the ice for Filip especially all six defensemen on a given night. Chytil. It was picked off by Pontus Aberg, who sprung Ryan Donato on a A team going nowhere, as planned and expected, getting virtually no 2-on-1. Skjei took away the pass and Donato snapped a shot short-side positive results, and all that avalanching into a closing stretch that is past Lundqvist, who was off his angle by a considerable margin. 1-0. nothing but forgettable. 6) Dubnyk didn’t look much better early as the reunited Kreider-Mika So it’s probably folly to judge Henrik Lundqvist, too, and I won’t. Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich line put on some pressure and Zibanejad fired a terrible-angle shot from the corner, well below the icing line, and in But the fact is, backup Alexandar Georgiev has outplayed him lately the net off Dubnyk, his first goal in nine games. It was Buchnevich’s while they have pretty much rotated starts — each playing 10 of the past pressure behind the net that prevented Dubnyk from stopping and 20 games, neither starting more than two in a row since Feb. 4. playing Shattenkirk’s dump-in. 1-1.

Lundqvist has never been in such a rotation, at least not since he WELL THAT’S AN INTERESTING  ANGLE! became the Rangers’ No. 1 goalie. He’s always been the alpha, his backup clearly the backup. STAY TUNED FOR MORE #NYR  ON @MSGNETWORKS PIC.TWITTER.COM/6RQCLSYE9T And it’s certainly admirable the way he’s taking his lumps because he wants to be part of the solution, knowing he can’t win consistently with — NEW YORK RANGERS (@NYRANGERS) MARCH 17, 2019 this roster in front of him but hoping to help impart leadership and lessons as his team tries to figure it out during a drastic rebuild. 7) Good Tony, Bad Tony: DeAngelo took one of those “temper” penalties when Zach Parise took a poke at Lundqvist and DeAngelo went a long I just wonder what it’s going to look like going forward, what it will look distance to give Parise a shot from behind. In the ensuing pileup, only like during the last two years of Lundqvist’s contract, when his team gets one penalty was called. And I’m telling you that DeAngelo has a hot-head even younger – when maybe a playoff spot, but certainly not much more rep, and he gets singled out in those situations. Lundqvist stopped Eric than that, can be in the Rangers’ sights. “Third Line Winger as a Ranger” Staal in front during the power play. DeAngelo took another minor late in the second. And I just wonder how much of the job will be his given the way Georgiev has played and given that super-prospect Igor Shersterkin should land on 8) No matter. By the end of the first power play, Minnesota had taken North American soil, with an entry-level contract, by next training camp. over. Chytil made a blind behind-the-back pass from behind the net. It was picked off (but not, apparently, a giveaway), of course, by Jason Lundqvist is 37. Who knows how Lundqvist’s role will look or how he will Zucker and then Chytil didn’t tie up Donato – ignored him, actually – as handle it. he deflected Luke Kunin’s shot past Lundqvist. 2-1. How will he handle more nights like Saturday, when he and the 9) First minute of the second, Zucker hit Skjei, who fell on his right leg overmatched Rangers had zero chance against the not-great but and ankle. Zucker was hurt and down on the ice. The Rangers had the desperate Minnesota Wild, who won 5-2. puck and were in the offensive zone, on the rush, when the whistle blew. Look, Lundqvist made plenty of really good saves, as he almost always Why? No idea. does. But he let in one – I’m not calling it a stinker, but it was a short- 10) Then Jonas Brodin shot the puck over the glass, which is an sider on which he lost his angle, or perhaps he cheated. automatic delay-of-game penalty, but it wasn’t called. Jesper Fast argued He made 40 or more saves once again, for the fifth time this season, the vehemently, but referee Brad Watson refused to even consult with the 33rd time in his career. Eight of those have happened since the 2018 other three officials. Kind of arrogant, no? trade deadline. My God, it’s become a too-familiar theme these past two 11) Donato nearly completed his hat trick off a Rangers turnover, and the years, hasn’t it? He hasn’t had a shutout since Nov. 19, 2017. next shift, off a blocked Jimmy Vesey shot, Eric Staal led a 2-on-1. Pionk The Rangers don’t score enough. And they don’t defend well at all. So snow-angeled and deflected Staal’s pass through Lundqvist. 3-1. their goalies have to be perfect. They’re not. 12) Brendan Smith can draw penalties as a forward or a defenseman. Lundqvist is not. For a long time, he was close to perfect when he didn’t Drew four in Calgary, three of those for power plays. Put the Rangers on need to be. Now, what’s next? their first power play in the second period Saturday. And while the power play in general isn’t very good, now it’s further complicated by that Thoughts growing number and constant failure (now 1-for-30). It just looks like the Rangers have no confidence that they’ll get anything done on the man 1) Happy St. Paddy’s Day. Which always reminds me of some of the advantage. Once again, they didn’t get a single shot. But a lot of passes. great old leprechauns who have played for the Rangers, like John Smith also probably had more scoring chances than any other Ranger, O’Grodnick, Krzysztof O’Liwa, Eddie O’Lczyk, Sandish O’Zolinsh, Ric and that’s not a recipe for success whatsoever. O’Fata, Mikk O’Leinonen, and Reij O’Ruotsalainen, to name a few. 13) Uncontested Goal of the Game (sponsored by reader Anthony D, not 2) Tank-O-Meter: Ten games remain now, as the Rangers closed out a to be confused with DeAngelo.): Mid-third, Brett Howden had to take one four-game trip 0-3-1. They are 1-5-5 (in reality 1-10) in their past 11, of those modern-day ultra-soft slashing penalties, and on the power play, Jared Spurgeon blasted a one-timer past Lundqvist. 4-1.

14) DeAngelo made a cool backhanded pass to spring Buchnevich, who beat Dubnyk between the pads, his fifth in eight games. 4-2.

PAVEL BUCHNEVICH IS A MAN ON  #NYR PIC.TWITTER.COM/W4H6FPU6RN

— MSG NETWORKS (@MSGNETWORKS) MARCH 17, 2019

15) Vlad Namestnikov drew a penalty and again — sing along with me — the Rangers wasted another power play. Didn’t get a shot. Had a lot of passes. Then J.T. Brown scored an empty-netter.

16) Quinn Bin: Boo Nieves and Connor Brickley were in, so Smith moved back to forward. Freddy Claesson got out of the Bin. Plenty of candidates for when the Bin doors re-open for Tuesday’s game against Detroit.

My Three Rangers Stars

1. Pavel Buchnevich.

2. Vlad Namestnikov.

3. Brendan Smith.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136454 Ottawa Senators Nilsson on the blocker side at 12:33. He became only the third Toronto defenceman in franchise history to record 20 goals

Give the Senators credit for making sure they put up a fight against the GARRIOCH GAME REPORT: Senators toast Leafs for St. Paddy's Day Leafs, and by 6:48 of the second the players on the Toronto bench were left shaking their heads. That’s when Gibbons scored his fifth of the season with a backhander by Sparks to give Ottawa the two-goal Bruce Garrioch advantage.

The Senators did a good job taking the crowd out of the game by opening the scoring. Ceci took a perfect pass from Christian Wolanin and SENATORS 6, MAPLE LEAFS 2 beat Sparks high on the glove side at 6:36. Max Veronneau picked up his On St. Patrick’s Day, the Ottawa Senators will be able to raise a toast to first NHL point on the goal. their performance in the Battle of Ontario. Great pass, great shot and a first career point for Max Veronneau. The Senators did what many believed was unthinkable by knocking off pic.twitter.com/8sCjfeE0va the arch-rival Toronto Maple Leafs with a stunning 6-2 victory and spoiled — NHL (@NHL) March 16, 2019 the party for the sea of blue and white sweaters in the crowd of 18,607 Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre . “We all stuck together,” said Paajarvi, who also had a two-goal effort against the Leafs on the road in a 5-4 loss Feb. 6. “We know they’re a Winger Magnus Paajarvi scored twice for the Senators and Zack Smith really good counter team with a lot of firepower, and we don’t necessarily had three helpers while Oscar Lindberg, Anthony Duclair, Brian Gibbons have that much right now. We’ve got to stick together and play together. and Cody Ceci also chipped in as Ottawa scored its second straight victory at home with a strong effort from goalie Anders Nilsson. “We played 60 minutes tonight. That was huge.”

Only John Tavares and Morgan Rielly scored for the Leafs, who didn’t .Pretty Mangus-ificent! #sens @ottawasenators get much help from backup goalie Garrett Sparks. — Forever Sens Fan Heather Ann (@thegreatmama) March 17, 2019 Paajarvi's second of the second. #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/SJeCCaXaAP A FAMILIAR FACE BEHIND BENCH

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 17, 2019 After suiting up for Crawford in Zurich in the Swiss league in 2015-16, Matthews faced off against the Senators for the first time since his former The Senators had one of their best efforts of the season as they moved coach took over the interim duties March 1. their record to 2-1-0 against the Leafs this year. Ottawa played strong defensively, didn’t give the Leafs much in the way of chances and got The 21-year-old Matthews has a lot of respect for Crawford following the timely goals, which hasn’t always been the case this season. year they spent together overseas.

“That was, quite truthfully, our best game of the year if you look at all “It’s kind of a weird situation, but I’m happy for him. His main goal for that things that went in our favour,” said coach Marc Crawford, who credited year I was playing for him (2015-16, 46 points in 36 games) was to get the effort of every aspect of his team. “Everybody kind of rose to the back in the NHL, whether it was as assistant or head coach. Now he’s occasion. kind of running the show there and I wish him all the best, except when they play the Leafs,” Matthews said. “There was lots of energy in the building and I thought the guys really channeled themselves. There haven’t been a lot of nights where we’ve “He helped me out a lot, honestly. He was hard on me in ways where it really been like this, but that was a really a very, very, good game for us. helped me learn. Going against older NHL guys, he kind of just showed If we can bottle that recipe, we can be in a lot of games.” me different things to expect for the next year (Matthews’ Calder Trophy- winning season) and areas over there where the game is different (on There were some anxious moments in the third when the Leafs had a larger ice). two-man advantage for a full two minutes with Mark Borowiecki and Smith in the box. Tavares cut Ottawa’s lead to 4-2 at 5:13 of the third as “Faceoffs, D-zone stuff, skating through the neutral zone … he was really Toronto pressed to get back into the game. good with me, showing me what to expect at the next level. I thought he did a really good job.” Full send. pic.twitter.com/Izhoypibfs Crawford saw loads of potential in the 18-year-old Matthews and isn’t — Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 17, 2019 surprised it has led to production.

Not long after that goal by the Leafs, Duclair put it away with his 14th of “When he was with us in Zurich, the thing that kind of told me as a coach the season at 8:36 of the third and Lindberg’s eighth at 13:41 capped the right away was the older players are always cautious whenever good, night. young players come in and they’ve heard about them,” Crawford said. “And Auston was in that category. “It’s always a lot of Leafs fans when we play them at home,” said Smith. “We can’t complain about a full building and I thought we did a good job “Veterans can often times, not that they’re cynical, but they want to really taking the crowd out of it from the start. We didn’t dip our toe in tonight see it. Very quickly, our guys in Zurich were like, ‘Oh, hey, he’s pretty and we didn’t see how they were going to play. good, I’d like to be on his line.’ From that standpoint, he’s got really good talent and they’ve got a nice group over there.” “We took the play from them and that’s what got us going.” The key with Matthews is you have to respect his speed. In 2008, I witnessed live the 29th place Leafs beat the 1st place Senators 5-0 on the road, so it's hard for me to hate on Ottawa fans reveling in our “He’s one of those top players in the league, and having coached agony. Auston you realize how good he is carrying speed through the neutral zone,” Crawford said. “He’s one of those players that’s been able to — Matt Di Nicolantonio  (@di_nic) March 17, 2019 make those moves and he’s got no fear of carrying that speed through Through 40 minutes, the Senators followed the game plan perfectly and the neutral zone. pulled out to a 4-1 lead by outshooting the Leafs 30-19. “That really is the new wave of the NHL. We’ve got entire generations of Paajarvi’s second of the game with 1:10 left in the second moved the players that have played without the threat of the boom being lowered on Senators into to the driver’s seat heading to the third. Earlier, Paajarvi you as you come through the neutral zone. What’s done is made the restored a two-goal lead when he beat Sparks on the stick side at 13:51 game extremely fast. That and the combination of no red-line has made of the second to give the Senators a 3-1 lead. speed the premium in the NHL.

Not long after the Senators pulled out to a 2-0 lead, the Leafs got on the “Auston has the ability to make moves as he carries that speed as well board. That’s when Rielly scored his 20th of the season by beating as anybody.” NOT THE SAME BATTLE LEVEL With the Senators playing out the string for the second straight year and A guy getting a better opportunity is defenceman Christian Wolanin. He the Leafs headed for the post-season, there’s just something about this will turn 24 on St. Patrick’s Day and did a good job setting up the first rivalry that doesn’t allow it to feel the same. goal. He played 18:21 through 40 minutes and was solid.

They haven’t met in the playoffs since 2004 and, with the Senators 5. The power play needs work rebuilding, it’s going to be awhile before these games are meaningful in the standings. The Senators had three power plays through the first 40 minutes and didn’t have much in the way of chances. Since the trade deadline, all the “It’s always naturally going to be a rivalry, but I think given the position units have changed and it’s an area that needs some work. we’re in right now, I think it tones it down just a touch,” alternate captain Mark Borowiecki said. “I don’t want to undersell it, I think it’s still pretty Ottawa Sun LOADED: 03.17.2019 intense and it feels like no matter where each team is in the standings there’s a chance for either team to win in it.

“That’s the way it’s always been in the past.”

Make no mistake, there are still scores to settle here.

“You’d see it even more if we were both fighting for a playoff spot or playoff points when the games are even more meaningful,” Borowiecki said. “There’s still a lot of natural dislike. I’m sure there’s a lot of guys over here they don’t like and there’s a lot of guys over there that we don’t like.

“It’s fun for the fans and fun for us because it gets you up to the game.”

THE LAST WORDS

Legendary TSN 1200 colour analyst Gord Wilson had one of the best seats in the house Saturday night between the benches for this one. A host on the NewRo broadcasts of Senators’ hockey games in the 1990s, Wilson was one of the first to ever work a game in the location at centre ice. This was the first time he did commentary on the radio with play-by- play voice Dean Brown. The best advice anyone could give Wilson: Keep your head up. … Newly acquired winger Max Veronneau wrote his astronomy exam Friday as he tries to finish his mechanical engineering degree at Princeton University. “It went decently well. I probably should have studied a little bit more, but I did fine,” Veronneau said. “It was good to get it over with because it was on my mind the last week. Now that it’s over, it’s a lot more relaxing.” … Centre Colin White missed his third straight game with a neck injury. He didn’t skate and the Senators are hopeful the rest will help his recovery. “We want it to be 100 per cent before we put him in the lineup,” Crawford said. “He’s practised the last couple of days and usually it’s after practice that he starts to feel the soreness and the strain from it. Our doctors and our medical people we keep him off the ice (for three days) and then we’ll make a further evaluation. He really wants to play, he wants to help us do whatever can to help us win games and continue his progress. At this point, you have to do the right thing. We have to give him time to heal. It hasn’t been responding with a single day off. Now, we’re going to give him a few days off and, hopefully, that will do the trick.” … Returning after missing Thursday’s victory over St. Louis with the flu, Borowiecki was asked how he was feeling: “Better. The hazmat suit isn’t on today. It was a rough 24 hours. We’ll call it the involuntary cleanse there, so I’m fully detoxed now.”

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

1. A pregame tribute to the victims of attack

The Senators and Maple Leafs held a moment of silence before the game in memory of the 50 victims of Friday’s terrorist attack of two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Prior to tonight’s game at @CdnTireCtr, the #Sens held a moment of silence for the victims of the recent tragedy in Christchurch, NZ. pic.twitter.com/Y5jbbz2gUs

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 16, 2019

2. A key moment for the Senators

John Tavares got the Leafs back into the game when he scored his 40th of the season on the power play on a 5-on-3 in the third. That came with Mark Borowiecki and Zack Smith in the box to cut Ottawa’s lead to 4-2.

3. A milestone night for a couple of Senators

Winger Bobby Ryan, who turns 32 on St. Patrick’s Day, suited up for his 800th NHL game Saturday night. Defenceman Dylan DeMelo was playing in his 200th game.

4. Gaining some confidence 1136455 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers are just 9-12-2 against Metropolitan Division opponents; they have a winning record against each of the other three divisions.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.17.2019 Goaltending, defense let down Flyers at worst time; face Penguins on Sunday night

by Sam Carchidi,

PITTSBURGH— For the Flyers, a team that huffed and puffed to admirably get back into playoff contention, what will forever be known as the “Year of Eight Goalies” is not ending well.

Goaltending let them down in their last two games. So did a disorganized defense that seemed in retreat mode.

As a result, the Flyers suffered consecutive losses for just the second time since Jan. 10 and virtually fell out of the playoff race.

The Flyers, who blew a three-goal lead Friday and lost a 7-6 decision in Toronto, lost more ground Saturday while idle, dropping eight points out of a playoff spot with 11 games left — and they need to climb over two teams.

“It’s frustrating, especially having a 5-2 lead and the season basically on the line,” said center Sean Couturier, whose team plays in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, completing a difficult three-games-in-four-nights stretch that, so far, has been a disaster. “It should have been Game Over.”

The Flyers, with goalie Carter Hart looking rusty in his first game in three weeks, dropped a 5-2 decision to Washington on Thursday. On Friday, they allowed five straight goals after building a 5-2 lead in Toronto as struggled mightily in the second half of the game.

“We kind of panicked and sat back a little bit,” Couturier said. “They just came hard at us. ... They shot a lot of pucks from everywhere.”

Elliott was under siege the whole game as his defense and forwards were continually out of position and were outskated by the much-faster Maple Leafs, who fired 51 shots.

It marked just the third time since 2008 the Flyers had allowed that many shots in a game.

Before the loss to the Leafs, interim coach Scott Gordon was in an upbeat mood. He talked about how his team had been ultra-focused during its two-plus months of excellence, and he noted that a win Friday and a Columbus loss would put the Flyers within three points of a wild- card spot.

But Columbus, with former Flyer Sergei Bobrovsky making 46 saves, shut out Carolina, 3-0, and the Flyers wilted in their second game in two nights.

Now they probably need to win 10 of their last 11 games to have a playoff shot.

“We have to battle and hope we can get some help from other teams,” Couturier said. “Keep going and focus one game at a time.”

The next game is against a Penguins team that will be angry from blowing a late 3-1 lead — the Flyers scored two goals with their goalie pulled for an extra attacker — and dropping a 4-3 overtime decision in the Feb. 23 Stadium Series matchup at Lincoln Financial Field.

“When you look back in January and we were last in the league, we found a way to right the ship and give ourselves a chance to even have this conversation,” Gordon said of the team’s playoff aspirations. “That’s an important part of the character of the team. And until it’s final that we’re out of the playoffs, I’m sure our guys will compete the same way.”

Breakaways

James van Riemsdyk has nine goals over his last 10 games. ... Toronto scored seven goals against the Flyers for the first time since 1988. ... The Flyers recalled winger Justin Bailey from the Phantoms, which means Ryan Hartman is probably still ill. ... Two injured players -- defenseman Kris Letang (53 points) and forward Bryan Rust (17 goals) -- could return Sunday for the Penguins, who dropped a 5-1 home decision Saturday afternoon to St. Louis. Goalie Matt Murray was pulled from that game after allowing four goals on 13 shots in 22 minutes, 41 seconds. ... The 1136456 Philadelphia Flyers But for our money, we would go with Gordon. And so would a lot of the Flyers’ players. You wouldn’t need a whistle to get them to come over and give you an endorsement for him, either.

Fish: Give Scott Gordon another chance even if Flyers don’t make it Voracek suspension not justified

The Voracek suspension for somehow trying to protect himself from a By Wayne Fish / www.flyingfishhockey.com forceful collision with New York Islander defenseman Johnny Boychuk last Sunday is well behind us now but the injustice of the two-game ban continues to leave a bad taste.

Interim head coach has done enough to merit returning for the 2019-20 Watch replays of the incident carefully, then read NHL Rule 56.1 season. regarding “Interference.″

It’s a Monday morning practice and the Flyers, like most people in any It states: “A player is allowed the ice he is standing on (body position) line of work, are a little slow getting the old engines started. and is not required to move in order to let a player proceed. A player may ‘block’ the path of an opponent provided he is in front of his opponent Players skate slowly in small circles, juggling pucks on the blades of their (and moving in the same direction, which Voracek was, since he had his sticks, almost waiting for something to happen. back to Boychuk before the contact). A player is always entitled to use And then, suddenly, it does. Interim head coach Scott Gordon, who has his body position to lengthen an opponent’s path to the puck, provided led his team on a remarkable 18-6-2 run since Jan. 12, materializes at his stick is not used.″ the blue line at the Skate Zone. So far, so good. He wants to speak with a certain segment of his players and he doesn’t The rule goes on to say a player cannot “take advantage of his body have to blow a whistle to get their attention. position to deliver an otherwise illegal check.″ They skate over toward him with enthusiasm, seemingly almost eager to Fine. Voracek sensed Boychuk was coming, turned and guarded himself hear what he has to say. by raising his shoulder. This, in our words, is called a strong player-coach bond. It is built on Although Voracek was assessed a major five-minute penalty, he did not trust. For some, it goes all the way back to when they were players on receive a game misconduct penalty, which should have been applied if the Lehigh Valley Phantoms when Gordon coached there. Boychuk was injured (he didn’t finish the game and didn’t play the next Last season he told them to do things a certain way and they listened. game).

Then all they did was go out and make it to the American Hockey According to Rule 56.5: “When a major penalty is imposed under this rule League’s conference finals, something a Phantoms team had not done resulting in an injury of an opponent, a game misconduct shall be since they were the Philadelphia Phantoms, when they won the Calder imposed.″ Cup under John Stevens way back in 2004-05. To summarize: Voracek received the maximum suspension, even though So when Gordon was hired to replace Dave Hakstol back in mid- this was the first one of his career; Boychuk somehow had enough December, the Flyers knew he could coach. strength to point at Voracek in a menacing fashion on the way to the treatment room and finally, where were the officials last season when After that initial 0-6-2 bump in the road – which could be attributed to Boychuk sucker-punched 19-year-old Nolan Patrick? getting to know Gordon’s system – the Flyers went on their current tear. We say if someone is going to take a run at a player, aggressor beware. The point here is that Gordon’s coaching style fits this group of players to Do a pre-emptive strike, just as six-time Stanley Cup champion and Hall a tee. of Famer Mark Messier used to do when someone was about to hammer his face into the glass — turn around, use two hands to put your stick He’s already worked with most of the young players, so they know what under his chin and then the word gets out not to try that garbage he wants and he knows what makes them tick. anymore. Also, Gordon has worked with stars before, like John Tavares on the Burlington County Times LOADED: 03.17.2019 Island a decade ago, so he understands how players such as Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek and Sean Couturier operate.

And Gordon is an ex-goaltender, so if there’s anyone who can successfully juggle the egos of three netminders (Carter Hart, Brian Elliott and Cam Talbot) at the same time, it’s him.

All this said, we believe Gordon deserves the interim tag removed from his title at the end of the season, whether the Flyers complete their comeback or not.

If the Flyers don’t come away with a win on Sunday night at Pittsburgh, their playoff hopes are just about over.

That shouldn’t matter, as least as far as Gordon’s future is concerned.

Now just about everyone has heard the rumors that the Flyers are interested in hiring three-time Stanley Cup champion coach Joel Quenneville, late of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher insists he has not had contact with Quenneville, who was let go earlier this season, mainly because Quenneville technically is still under contract.

The rumor mill (aka, the Twitter world) continues to bounce around the idea that Fletcher and Quenneville have some sort of wink-wink understanding and that he will be behind the Philadelphia bench next season.

No one here is saying that would be a bad choice. 1136457 Philadelphia Flyers

With 2018-19 fading, at least Flyers are seeing the 2019-20 possibilities with James van Riemsdyk

By Jordan Hall March 16, 2019

At this point, the Flyers are in silver-linings territory.

One overwhelming positive the club can take solace in as the postseason hopes fade is the production of James van Riemsdyk, the Flyers' five- year, $35 million man.

The focus is starting to shift to 2019-20, an important season for general manager Chuck Fletcher as he tries to capitalize on the team's core and push it back into the playoffs.

And van Riemsdyk is proving to Fletcher just how big time he can be in that win-now movement.

After putting up a hat trick against his old team in Friday night's crushing 7-6 loss to the Maple Leafs, van Riemsdyk has 18 goals in 28 games since Jan. 10. Only one NHL player has more goals over that span: Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl, who has 19 and is the league's second- leading goal scorer.

Van Riemsdyk has 27 points in those 28 games and is projected to finish with 29 goals, despite missing 16 games from Oct. 9 to Nov. 13 because of a lower-body ailment. He suffered the injury in the first period of the season's second game.

Understandably, it took van Riemsdyk some time to find his rhythm when he got back into the swing of things. Not only was he trying to catch up, but van Riemsdyk has also played on different lines, in different roles and under two head coaches. Prior to this 18-goal run, he had six markers in 25 games following his return on Nov. 15.

If van Riemsdyk doesn't miss 16 games, which also impacted his start, he would be looking at breaking his career high of 36 goals, set last season at 28 years old.

Flyers interim head coach Scott Gordon, who was an assistant with van Riemsdyk's Maple Leafs from 2011 to 2014, had a talk with JVR before the Flyers' 2-1 win on Jan. 10, trying to help jump-start his winger.

Van Riemsdyk then scored in that victory and has been on a tear ever since.

"That's professional sports right there, there should be dialogue between your coaches and player, that's the only way you get growth," van Riemsdyk said Jan. 10. "For me, I'm in a new situation, new team, and I want to try to get my bearings right. There are always some things you can clarify, some things become a little second nature. When you're playing in a certain place for a long time, things become second nature that they may want you to do a little differently here, so there's been good communication and dialogue about some of that stuff.

"I've had a good relationship with Gordo since I played for him in Toronto and some USA hockey stuff, so I appreciate him taking some time to talk me through some things he wanted to see and some different things we're trying to do."

The thought of a healthy van Riemsdyk, with no growing pains, over the course of a full season in 2019-20 should excite the Flyers.

Fletcher will have a fair share of work heading into his first offseason with the Flyers.

But he knows what he has in van Riemsdyk.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136458 Philadelphia Flyers

NHL playoff picture: Flyers lose significant ground as percentages sink

By John Boruk March 16, 2019

Devastating back-to-back losses to the Capitals and Maple Leafs have placed the Flyers in a desperate position over the final three weeks of the regular season. At this point, it would work to the Flyers' advantage if the Blue Jackets overtook the Hurricanes in the standings with two games remaining against Carolina.

At the start of the week, the Flyers trailed the Blue Jackets by three points in the standings. Now the margin is seven back with 11 games remaining for both teams.

Wild-card standings

Carolina 38-25-7 — 83 points, 12 GR, 37 ROW

Columbus 40-28-3 — 83 points, 11 GR, 39 ROW

———

Montreal 37-27-7 — 81 points, 11 GR, 35 ROW

Flyers 34-29-8 — 76 points, 11 GR, 32 ROW

Friday's games

Flyers — L 7-6 at Toronto

CBJ — W 3-0 vs. Carolina

The Flyers blew a three-goal second-period lead to the Maple Leafs despite James van Riemsdyk's hat trick (see story). It was their first regulation loss scoring six or more goals since a 9-8 loss to Winnipeg on October 27, 2011.

In Columbus, Sergei Bobrovsky made 46 saves for his 30th career shutout. It was the most saves in a shoutout in franchise history, topping the mark previously set by Steve Mason.

What are the odds?

Sports Club Stats now lists the Flyers' chances at 1.2 percent, down 6.4 percent following back-to-back regulation losses. It’s the smallest odds since they were 14 points back during the bye week.

The website Money Puck has the Flyers' odds slightly higher, at 1.59 percent.

What lies ahead?

With the Flyers playing in Pittsburgh Sunday, there will be plenty of scoreboard watching on Saturday with all three of the teams they’re chasing in action.

The Blue Jackets travel to Boston in a rematch against a Bruins team they beat, 7-4, on Tuesday.

Carolina hosts a Sabres team that has been shut out in three straight games with a 2-9-2 mark over its last 13 games, while the Canadiens welcome the Blackhawks.

Strength of schedule

According to PlayoffStatus.com, the Flyers now have the seventh- toughest schedule down the stretch with nine of their 11 games against teams with better records.

• Blue Jackets — Eighth

• Hurricanes — 14th

• Canadiens — 15th

Columbus embarks on a four-game road trip starting Saturday, while Carolina opens a five-game homestand. The Canadiens have one of the easiest schedules to navigate with just one back-to-back remaining.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136459 Philadelphia Flyers However, he struggled in some recent games against tight-checking teams.”

Isaac Ratcliffe Flyers prospect WATCH: The graduating class of junior players Isaac Ratcliffe, left wing, Guelph Storm (OHL)

Age: 20 Dave Isaac, March 16, 2019 Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 204 pounds

Acquired: second-round pick in 2017 (35th overall) Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds will finish his junior career with a season of nearly two points per game. This season: 64 games, 50 goals, 31 assists

There’s a sense of finality for some of the Flyers’ prospects that they’ll The skinny: You can’t teach size, which Ratcliffe has, and he also has never have again. really good hands and hockey sense to go with it. There’s so many tools for Ratcliffe, who has the defensive awareness to be responsible in his It’s different than a player who’s pretty sure, almost positive, that he’s own zone and even kill penalties, can put up big scoring numbers and is done enough in the minors to earn a job in the NHL the next season tough to push around. He may be a project, but there’s a lot of upside to because the offseason is unpredictable, and plans can change in an his game. He figures to start his pro career with the Lehigh Valley instant. Phantoms next season.

For 2017 draft picks Morgan Frost, Isaac Ratcliffe, Matthew Strome and Meltzer’s take: “Ratcliffe may tend toward being a streaky scorer. When Maksim Sushko, they all know this is their last season in junior hockey. he is hot, he scores in bunches for about five to eight games at a time. All have made the playoffs in the Ontario Hockey League and all have He has also had some sustained droughts, but that is normal. Even in the signed entry-level contracts that will begin next season. There’s a very OHL, a 50-goal season is impressive.” good chance all of them will at least start next season in the American Hockey League with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms so as the OHL regular Maksim Sushko season comes to a close this weekend, they know this is their crunch time. Maksim Sushko, left wing, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Ratcliffe notched his 50th goal of the season with the Guelph Storm Age: 20 Friday night. He’ll face the Kitchener Rangers in a playoff round starting Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds next weekend. Acquired: fourth-round pick in 2017 (107th overall) “I came in as a 16-year-old scoring five goals and I'm leaving as a 20- year-old scoring 50 in front of these fans,” Ratcliffe told This season: 61 games, 18 goals, 31 assists GuelphToday.com. The skinny: After what looked like a breakout year last season that “They've been so loyal to us over these past four years where we've included a lot of international play both at the World Junior and World struggled a lot and we're starting to bring it around now, so hopefully we Championship levels, the Belarus native struggled to follow it up. “I think I get a big run for the fans in the stands here.” grew up, pretty much,” Sushko said back in last July’s development camp. He noted that he learned something every shift whether he was Frost is among the scoring leaders in the OHL and after so much hype playing against top players in the World Junior Championship or mostly over the last couple seasons, he’ll turn pro whenever the Sault Ste. Marie on the bench during the men’s tournament. How he adjusts to the pro Greyhounds’ season is over. They’ll face the Owen Sound Attack in the game next season will be an interesting case study. first round, where Sushko is the team’s third-leading scorer. As much as Frost has racked up the points over the last four seasons in Sault Ste. Meltzer’s take: “Sushko took a bit of a backward step this season from an Marie, the pro game will present different challenges. offensive standpoint. However, the organization envisions him as a pro is as a role-playing type who primarily plays on the fourth line. He has Same goes for Matthew Strome, who has seen both the elation of shown some versatility during his junior career.” winning it all when the Hamilton Bulldogs were champions last season and the struggles of keeping a championship roster together Matthew Strome where several top players were traded away this season. Hamilton did Matthew Strome, left wing, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) make the playoffs, however, and will play the juggernaut Ottawa 67’s in the first round. Age: 20

With so much interest in the team’s prospect group, the Courier-Post will Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds check in on the promising young players each week. Here’s the latest progress report with insights from Bill Meltzer of HockeyBuzz. Acquired: fourth-round pick in 2017 (106th overall)

* all statistics through Friday, March 15. This season: 68 games, 28 goals, 51 assists

Morgan Frost The skinny: It always has been and likely always will be about skating with Strome. That deficiency in his game is why he wasn’t selected in the Morgan Frost, center, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) first three rounds and the Flyers made it clear that it has to improve dramatically for him to make it as a pro like his older brothers, Ryan and Age: 19 Dylan. With more resources available to him next year in Lehigh Valley, Height/weight: 6-feet, 185 pounds he may be able to take another step forward. He also won’t have the added pressure of captaining a Hamilton team for which he was the first Acquired: first-round pick in 2017 (27th overall) draft pick in franchise history and trying to repeat as Memorial Cup This season: 57 games, 37 goals, 71 assists champions.

The skinny: There’s been a big buzz about Frost since he was drafted. Courier-Post LOADED: 03.17.2019 He’s put up huge numbers in the OHL in his career, but in training camp it was clear he wasn’t ready for the NHL. He went back to Sault Ste. Marie and dominated again, including putting up numbers at World Juniors, but that alone doesn’t say he’s NHL ready. Training camp will tell if he’ll start his pro career in the AHL or the NHL.

Meltzer’s take: “The three-game suspension (for cross-checking the face of Sarnia’s Nick Grima) may have cost Frost the OHL scoring championship. For the most part, he has had an excellent season. 1136460 Philadelphia Flyers

Carter Hart an illustration of how little leeway Flyers have left

Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 1:41 p.m. ET March 15, 2019

PHILADELPHIA — At some point, Carter Hart had to be reintroduced to the NHL after missing three weeks with an ankle injury. The reigning champion Washington Capitals were certainly a tall task.

Monday he served as Brian Elliott’s backup against the Ottawa Senators, a team that’s at the bottom of the NHL standings and averages fewer than three goals per game. Interim coach Scott Gordon opted not to give the rookie that game because Elliott was on a roll and he figured that was the best chance to win the game, which the Flyers did, and that he’d save Hart for the back-to-back Thursday against the Capitals and Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

There was some understandable rust as the rookie allowed four goals in the first two periods of a 5-2 loss. With the Flyers essentially having no room for error in their remaining games, it took Hart a little while to find his footing against the first team in the division.

“After the first 20, 25 minutes I started to feel a little better in net. I started to feel like myself and seeing the puck,” Hart said after the game. “Little better off the release, controlling my rebounds better.

“At the end of the day I just have to make a couple more saves. We came out really hard in the second half of the game, I thought, and really put some pressure on them. (Washington’s Braden) Holtby made a couple good saves, but at the end of the day I have to make a couple more saves to give our team a better chance.”

His first game in three weeks was a tough one because of the strength of the opponent, how quickly they move the puck and the fact that when the Flyers had a defensive mistake, the Capitals made sure they took advantage.

There’s not much defensemen can do to try and help out a goalie aside from not getting in shooting lanes to allow better the goalie to see the puck. With how fast players like Alexander Ovechkin release the puck, good luck doing that. In fact, Washington found passing lanes the Flyers didn’t expect and Hart had to be alert.

“I mean, he plays goalie, we don’t have too many adjustments,” Shayne Gostisbehere said. “We just want him to stop the puck. I think he did pretty good. We left him out to dry on a couple goals. It’s not on him, for sure. It’s on us.”

Brett Connolly had a pair of goals and an assist, his third career three- point game. His linemate, Lars Eller, had another goal when he put home his own rebound after Travis Sanheim failed to clear the puck and Tom Wilson scored when he was left alone in the slot and Hart was anticipating a play at the side of his net.

By no means was Hart the biggest reason for the loss, but his brush-off- the-rust game eat into what little space the Flyers have to miss out on points.

“I don’t think there was anything he could have done on the first two goals, maybe a little bit deep on the third one,” Gordon said. “The fourth one, I couldn’t find any fault. We just had a lost coverage that made it a little bit easier than it should have been.”

Gordon said recently that Hart would play a role as the Flyers finish out the season with three goalies, including pending free agent Cam Talbot, whom the Flyers traded for a month ago. Now they need him to be as stellar as he was in January when he had a .931 save percentage and won rookie of the month honors.

“He looked pretty sharp after getting settled in,” Scott Laughton said. “Not too many rebounds coming off of him. I thought he did a good job for us, gave us a chance, but we made a couple too many mistakes that ended up in the back of our net.”

Courier-Post LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136461 Pittsburgh Penguins be when he gets the approval from our medical staff. But he’s making progress.”

Zach Aston-Reese (lower body) and Chad Ruhwedel (upper body) also Dominik Simon ends long goal drought in Penguins’ loss to Blues remain out.

Honoring Malkin

JONATHAN BOMBULIE The Penguins honored Malkin with a pregame ceremony in recognition of his 1,000th career point. His mother, father, wife, son and Penguins owner Mario Lemieux joined Malkin on the ice. He was presented with a The Pittsburgh Penguins came into March with three forwards lugging gold-plated stick and plaque made from metal from the roof of the Mellon around lengthy goal droughts. Arena.

The third zero has finally been erased. Tribune Review LOADED: 03.17.2019 Dominik Simon scored his first goal in 21 games during the second period of a 5-1 Penguins loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s obviously always good when you score or (create) some chances or do something. It definitely feels good,” Simon said.

On March 1, Patric Hornqvist ended a 17-game drought. Six days later, ended a 16-game scoreless streak.

Simon ended his when Hornqvist and Nick Bjugstad kept a puck alive during a scramble in the slot, and he scored on a turnaround shot between the pads of goalie Jordan Binnington.

The combination of Simon, Hornqvist and Bjugstad was probably the most effective Penguins line Saturday. When they were on the ice at even strength, the Penguins outshot the Blues, 7-1.

“When it’s not going in, you try to put pucks on the net, hoping for the best,” Simon said. “Even if it doesn’t go in, hoping for rebounds or something. Definitely it helps. Just gotta keep shooting and keeping putting it on the net.”

Goaltending turnaround

The first time the Penguins played the Blues this season, they went 4 for 4 on the power play and secured a convincing 6-1 victory Dec. 29.

On Saturday, the Penguins went 0 for 4 with the man advantage.

The difference? Probably goaltending. Binnington was sensational Saturday, making 40 saves. In December, Jake Allen stopped 13 of 17 shots before being pulled.

“He played really well,” Penguins goalie Matt Murray said of Binnington. “He was feeling it (today), for sure.”

Blueger’s audition

While Bryan Rust (lower body) and Kris Letang (upper body) were full participants in practice Friday afternoon, they didn’t make their return Saturday.

When Rust returns, rookie Teddy Blueger’s stay as a top-six winger, skating with Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel on the second line, likely will come to an end.

In three-plus games in the spot so far, Blueger has recorded a pair of assists.

While that’s not headline news, Blueger has, by not looking out of place, bolstered his case for a prominent spot in the lineup next season and beyond.

“I think he’s done pretty well,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a conscientious, two-way player. He can play center. He can play the wing. I think he does a good job helping those guys defensively, and he can make a play. We think he’s done a good job since he’s been there.”

Maatta making progress

With Rust and Letang close to returning, next up on the docket could be defenseman Olli Maatta, who has been out since Feb. 11 with a shoulder injury.

In recent days, Maatta has been skating pretty regularly on his own with skills coach Ty Hennes. Shortly after the injury occurred, the team announced Maatta would be out indefinitely.

“He’s progressing really well,” Sullivan said. “His status hasn’t changed. At some point, we’ll get him involved with the team skate, but it will only 1136462 Pittsburgh Penguins

Matt Murray pulled as Penguins’ winning streak ends with loss to Blues

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Saturday, March 16, 2019

For most of the last few weeks, almost everything was going right for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ top line.

On Saturday afternoon, almost everything went wrong.

Sidney Crosby couldn’t get a handful of brilliant scoring chances past goalie Jordan Binnington, Crosby and linemates Jake Guentzel and Jared McCann were on the ice for the first three St. Louis goals and the Blues cruised to a 5-1 victory at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins, who had won six of their previous seven games, saw a three-game winning streak end.

“It’s tough when you feel like you’re not giving them much and then you give them a couple of real quality ones like that,” Crosby said. “I’m late to get to a guy a couple times, and it ends up in the back of the net. It’s tough. We still had a lot of hockey to be played and just couldn’t climb our way back into it.”

While the third-place Penguins stayed within two points of the second- place New York Islanders, who were upset by Detroit, the loss left the door open for the teams behind them to close the gap in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

“I think our mentality has to be a playoff one,” Crosby said. “Sometimes it doesn’t go your way, and you’ve got to be able to forget about it. Fortunately, we play tomorrow. Our mindset has got to be on that and making sure we find a way to come out of that with two points.”

On the play that led to St. Louis’ first goal, Guentzel covered for a pinching Brian Dumoulin, but he got caught up with Colton Parayko while trying to defend a rush. Former Penguins center Oskar Sundqvist scored from the top of the right circle.

The play that became St. Louis’ second goal started with a Guentzel turnover inside the defensive blue line. Vince Dunn scored on an open shot from the slot.

On the third St. Louis goal, Crosby won an offensive-zone faceoff, but McCann couldn’t corral the puck. Jordan Thomas counterattacked and centered to Patrick Maroon to make it 3-0.

Coming into the game, the Penguins had been outscoring opponents 60- 24 when Crosby and Guentzel were on the ice together at five-on-five this season.

On Saturday, the tables turned.

“That line has been great for us,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “They’re three guys that have played so well for us. We’ve got to do a better job on two of them of making sure that we come back, and we don’t get beat back up the ice and we stop and defend the scoring area, but certainly I’m not going to overthink that. I know that line will respond the right way.”

When Jay Bouwmeester scored 70 seconds after Maroon to make it 4-0, goalie Matt Murray was pulled after stopping 9 of 13 shots.

After the game, Sullivan said the Penguins need to do a better job protecting the slot in front of Murray. The goalie didn’t necessarily see it that way.

“They had a few really good chances, and I wasn’t able to make the saves,” Murray said. “I definitely have to be better. As a team, I think we played a pretty good game for the most part.”

Murray’s goaltending counterpart, Jordan Binnington, had no such problems at the other end. He turned in a spectacular, 40-save performance, including stops on Crosby on a power-play one-timer in the first period and a breakaway in the second.

“We get behind the 8-ball a bit with our start,” Crosby said. “We were chasing the game and unfortunately couldn’t put anything in to get ourselves back in the game.”

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Bryan Rust, Kris Letang remain out as Penguins take on Blues

JONATHAN BOMBULIE

The Pittsburgh Penguins are expecting Bryan Rust and Kris Letang to return from injury in short order, but they won’t be in the lineup Saturday afternoon.

Coach Mike Sullivan said Rust and Letang will remain out as the Penguins play host to the St. Louis Blues.

Letang has been out since Feb. 23 with an upper-body injury. Letang has been out since Feb. 26 with a lower-body injury. Both were full participants in practice Friday afternoon.

In goal, meanwhile, vacation’s over for Matt Murray, who will start against the Blues.

After starting the team’s previous nine games, Murray got the night off as Casey DeSmith led the Penguins to a 5-0 victory in Buffalo on Thursday night.

Murray went 6-1-2 with a .930 save percentage during his run of consecutive starts.

Tribune Review LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136464 Pittsburgh Penguins On the first goal, scored by former Penguins forward Oskar Sundqvist, neither Crosby nor McCann got back quickly enough to pick up Sundqvist, the fourth Blues player to jump into the zone.

Penguins latest NHL team to get shut down by rookie sensation Jordan On the second, Guentzel had a giveaway in the Penguins zone, leading Binnington to Vince Dunn’s first goal.

The third goal came when Pat Maroon tipped home a failed wraparound MATT VENSEL try by Robert Thomas.

“Two of them I thought were avoidable,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “That line has been great for us. They’re three guys who have played so well You wouldn’t know if you turned off the television during the second for us. We’ve got to do a better job on two of them, making sure that we period of Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Blues and checked back come back and we don’t get beat back up the ice and we defend the later to see that the Penguins lost, 5-1, but there’s a decent chance the scoring area. home team would have made it interesting if not for Jordan Binnington. “I’m certainly not going to over-think that because I know that line will Who the heck is Jordan Binnington? That’s a question a lot of folks in respond the right way.” North America have been asking the last couple of months as the rookie goalie has helped the Blues turn around their season. Last bout with Flyers looms

The 25-year-old, who has spent the last few seasons playing in the The Penguins on Sunday host the rival Philadelphia Flyers in their final minors, got called up by St. Louis in early December. He led the NHL meeting of the season. The last time they met was Feb. 23, when they with a 1.77 goals-against average and ranked second with a .931 save blew a late 3-1 lead in the outdoor Stadium Series game. percentage after stopping 40 of 41 shots against the Penguins at PPG Asked if the Penguins were still dwelling on that loss, Crosby said, “I Paints Arena. think we’ve forgotten about it and moved on. I think we understand what One of those saves came against Sidney Crosby, who broke in all alone we need to do. It’s about us and the way we need to play.” on him during the second period. Crosby took aim at the upper right The Penguins are 1-2 against the Flyers this season. In the last two corner of the net but Binnington got his glove on the shot. games, defensemen Kris Letang, Olli Maatta and Brian Dumoulin “I just tried to let a quick shot go,” Crosby said. “If I get it up a little bit suffered injuries. Letang and Maatta have yet to return to the lineup. more, I probably have it. But I thought I got it away pretty quick and might Sullivan briefly changes pairings have surprised him, but he was in good position.” Saturday was the third straight game with the same four forward lines Phil Kessel got another breakaway in the third period, but Binnington and three defensive pairings, a rarity for Sullivan this season, though the denied him, too. Kessel, who likes to snap off a shot when cruising in coach did briefly shake up two defensive pairings. down the right wing, instead deked this time. The righty pulled the puck to his backhand and tried to flip the puck over Binnington’s pad but pulled After the Penguins fell behind, 4-0, during the second period, split up his shot wide. Brian Dumoulin and Zach Trotman. Dumoulin then played with Erik Gudbranson, who has been partnered with Marcus Pettersson since he Binnington made a spectacular right pad save on Patric Hornqvist after was acquired last month. Trotman, meanwhile, skated with Pettersson for the puck ping-ponged in front of his crease to Hornqvist, who was chilling the first time. at the back door. Binnington also slid across to make a pretty save on Joseph Blandisi, the recent Penguins call-up who was his teammate in That didn’t last long, though. Sullivan put his original three pairs back junior hockey. together for the third period.

“I tried to … get it off as quick as I could. But he was a little quicker than Post Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 me,” Blandisi said. “We’re aware he’s been playing good of late. Ever since he’s been up here this year he’s been pretty rock solid for them. He’s always been good. He was a star for our OHL team and he’s a star now.”

Dominik Simon was the only Penguins player to beat Binnington, his first goal in 21 games.

Chances are that the Penguins would not have been able to climb out of their 4-0 second-period deficit had one or two of those glorious chances wound up behind Binnington. But you never know. Crosby certainly felt it would have been a different game had he beat the rookie on that breakaway.

Pittsburgh Penguins' Dominik Simon, left, celebrates his goal in the second period with Patric Hornqvist (72) during a game against the St. Louis Blues in Pittsburgh, Saturday, March 16, 2019.

Dave Molinari

Dave Molinari’s Penguins Report Card: St. Louis 5, Penguins 1

“I’ve seen that he has been playing well. He’s pretty calm in net,” the captain said. “Positionally, it didn’t seem like he was chasing it too much. He seemed under control a lot of the game. Obviously, they had the lead and we were pressing pretty hard there. But he made some solid saves.”

Off night for top line

Not only was the Crosby line, one of the NHL’s hottest entering Saturday, unable to get on the board against Binnington, the trio of Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Jared McCann had an off-night defensively. Those three were all on the ice for the first three goals the Blues scored in Saturday’s loss. 1136465 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins' Simon snaps scoring drought with second-period goal

ARI LEVIN

Ten minutes into the second period of the Penguins' loss Saturday, a loose puck came off the foot of St. Louis left wing Zach Sanford, who then whiffed trying to corral it. That put the puck in front of Penguins center Dominik Simon, who had his back to the goal. Simon quickly turned over his right shoulder and flicked it in for the score.

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That's three points in career three games against the Blues for Dominik Simon (1G-2A).

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For Simon, it was his first goal since Jan. 19. In the 20 games since, entering Saturday, he had just five points, all assists, on 35 shots in over 250 minutes of ice time.

Afterward, though, Simon could only focus on the game’s result, a 5-1 loss.

“It felt good, because it was 4-1, still a game. But it (stinks). (Stinks) that we lost,” Simon said.

Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) looks to get off a backhand shot with St. Louis Blues' Vince Dunn (29) defending during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, March 16, 2019.

Jason Mackey

Next step crucial after Penguins fall to Blues

Simon said that a scoring drought is something that he thinks about as he struggles to put pucks in the net.

“Just got to keep shooting, and keep putting them in the net,” he said.

Consider: The last time Simon scored, Nick Bjugstad was a member of the Florida Panthers, and would be for nearly two more weeks.

“He’s a good player. He does a lot of things that might not show up on the score sheet,” said Bjugstad, Simon’s linemate. “It was good to see him score. He definitely deserved it. … Hopefully, he keeps rolling.”

Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but Simon’s goal is his fourth this season on a Saturday, as many as he has in the rest of the week combined. Is there anything different about his Saturday approach?

“I have no idea, man,” Simon said. “To be honest, I don’t even know what day it is.”

Post Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136466 Pittsburgh Penguins SPECIAL TEAMS

Grade: C-.

Dave Molinari’s Penguins Report Card: St. Louis 5, Penguins 1 The power play, which was 5-for-8 in the previous two games and generated at least one goal in seven of the previous eight, went 0-for-4. The two most costly failure came during the first half of the opening DAVE MOLINARI period, when the Penguins had a chance to counter an Oskar Sundqvist goal that had given St. Louis a 1-0 lead. The Penguins weren’t as bad with the man-advantage as the numbers might suggest, though, as they had good puck movement and pressure on their final three tries. That (After every Penguins home game, the Post-Gazette will assess how bodes well for avoiding a slump like the one they endured recently, when each unit performed and what it means during the playoff push.) the power play was shut out in 12 of 16 games. St. Louis scored on one FORWARDS of its two power plays, getting a rub-it-in goal from defenseman Vince Dunn to close out the scoring at 13:57 of the final period. The Penguins Grade: D. have allowed at least one man-advantage goal in eight of their past 12 games, a trend that could be a serious problem in the playoffs if it It’s not unusual for Sidney Crosby to stand out in a given game, but he persists. did it early against the Blues mostly because he seemed far more interested than many of his teammates. Not that Crosby’s effort was COACHING reflected on the stat sheet, though, since he and his linemates Jared McCann and Jake Guentzel all finished with a team-worst plus-minus Grade: C. rating of minus-3. Sullivan has had the Penguins playing some pretty good, consistent Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby looks to get off a backhand shot with hockey lately, but every club has games when it simply comes out flat St. Louis Blues' Vince Dunn defending during the second period, (and, for the most part, stays that way). History suggested both were a Saturday, March 16, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena. real danger Saturday for the Penguins, who now have given up the first goal in five of their past six afternoon games and are just 1-3-3 in their Jason Mackey past seven at home against St. Louis. Sullivan made a good move replacing Murray when he did, sparing him unnecessary exertion in a Next step crucial after Penguins fall to Blues game that had gotten out of hand and giving him an opportunity to be The forwards were guilty of poor decisions and sloppy execution all over fairly fresh if he gets the start against Philadelphia. the ice, especially when there was any legitimate suspense about Post Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 whether the Penguins would be able to earn at least one point for the 10th time in 11 games. Guentzel had a rare off-game, including a failed clearing attempt that led to the second St. Louis goal.

Phil Kessel, whose scoring touch has returned – he had three goals in the previous five games – had a chance to give the Penguins a sliver of hope early in the third period, but missed the net on a breakaway when he had a chance to make it 4-2. Winger Dominik Simon scored his first goal in 21 games, as he beat Blues rookie goalie Jordan Binnington from the inner edge of the right circle, but that goal served only to end Simon’s drought and spoil Binnington’s shutout bid.

DEFENSEMEN

Grade: D.

The defensemen weren’t any better than the centers and wingers, especially early in the game, when few players on the home team seemed to have their legs. Justin Schultz has been outstanding since returning from a broken leg, but didn’t tie up St. Louis winger Pat Maroon in front of the net on the Blues’ third goal, which aborted momentum the Penguins had generated with a strong start to the second period. The defense accounted for just four of the team’s seven blocked shots, with Brian Dumoulin their only player to record two.

GOALIES

Dominik Simon, left, celebrates his goal in the second period with Patric Hornqvist Saturday at PPG Paints Arena.

Ari Levin

Penguins' Simon snaps scoring drought with second-period goal

Grade: C.

Coach Mike Sullivan used both of his goalies against the Blues; with the way their teammate performed in front of them at times, he probably wishes he could have played them at the same time. Matt Muray, making his tenth start in 11 games, gave up four goals on 13 shots before giving way to Casey DeSmith at 2:41 of the second period.

While Murray’s personal highlights video for 2018-19 isn’t going to include much footage from this game, he hardly is the biggest reason this game got away from the Penguins. By the time DeSmith got into the game, the only real question was how large St. Louis’ margin of victory would be. DeSmith, coming off a shutout in Buffalo Thursday, stopped 12 of 13 shots. It was a solid showing that might tempt Sullivan to start him again when Philadelphia visits Sunday evening, but going back to Murray, on whom the Penguins will count if they make it into the playoffs, is the most likely (and logical) course of action. 1136467 Pittsburgh Penguins On the fourth St. Louis goal, Maroon did the dancing around the net and found defenseman Jay Bouwmeester all alone in front.

“We left guys open in some Grade A areas in front of the net,” Schultz Next step crucial after Penguins fall to Blues said. “We know. We just have to forget about it and move on.”

Dunn added a power-play goal in the third to give the Blues 43 goals by JASON MACKEY defensemen this season, best in the NHL. The Penguins countered with Dominik Simon’s first goal in 21 games, although rookie sensation Jordan Binnington was tremendous in a 40-save effort, denying the Penguins on a few terrific chances. Don’t discard the details of Saturday's 5-1 loss to the St. Lous Blues. Then again, try not to freak out, either. “We couldn’t find a way to execute around the net,” Crosby said.

The Penguins did plenty wrong on an afternoon at PPG Paints Arena That's been a rarity for this team of late. Their past week includes wins where they saw their three-game winning streak end. over the Bruins and Capitals, two of the big boys in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins have also knocked off the Blue Jackets twice Their start was lousy, and they afforded St. Louis — which had lost three recently, part of a 14-game run where they’ve averaged 3.4 goals per straight and scored that many goals while doing it — way too many game. Grade A chances in front of the net. So, take what happened Saturday and think critically about it. Fix some But the takeaway from this one won’t be the loss itself. stuff. But don’t dwell on it. Because the Flyers are here Sunday, and the It’ll be how the Penguins bounce back. Penguins need points. They can’t afford to let this sort of thing snowball.

“I think our mentality has to be a playoff one,” captain Sidney Crosby “It wasn’t our day,” Schultz said. “This time of year, we just have to forget said. “Sometimes it doesn’t go your way. You’ve got to be able to forget about it and move on.” about it.” Around the boards Moving past Saturday’s loss — just their second in regulation since Feb. The Penguins dropped to 6-3-2 this season on the first of back-to-back 23 — will be important for myriad reasons. games. … They've dropped 10 of their past 14 afternoon home games One, the Metropolitan Division outlook. The Penguins (39-24-9) actually against Western Conference clubs. … Crosby’s streak of four remain in a pretty decent spot, their 87 points offering a two-point edge consecutive multi-point games against St. Louis came to an end. on fourth-place Carolina after Saturday’s games. Post Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 Two points ahead in second, the Islanders lost Saturday, while the Capitals — who have a four-point edge for first — fell to the high- powered Lightning in a Saturday showdown.

“It’s all about perspective,” said Matt Murray, who allowed four goals on 13 shots in 22 minutes, 41 seconds before he was pulled. “We have to move by this one."

The previous time they lost was a week ago, in Columbus, in a similar sort of stinker. The Penguins re-racked quickly, came home and snapped the Bruins’ 19-game point streak.

Before that was an overtime defeat in Buffalo on March 1, and the Penguins quickly righted themselves the next night in Montreal, clobbering the Canadiens 5-1.

The same sort of bounce-back will be needed Sunday, especially from the start — which was a problem spot against the Blues.

St. Louis had more urgency during the first five to six minutes and surged ahead 1-0 on a goal by former Penguins prospect Oskar Sundqvist at 4:56 of the first period.

After defenseman Colton Parayko won a battle with Zach Trotman and left the puck for left wing Jaden Schwartz, the Penguins failed to pick up Sundqvist at the top of the circle.

The next goal might’ve been worse, and it continued a trend for the Blues (37-27-7) this season.

Jake Guentzel turned it over. Center Ryan O’Reilly dug the puck out of the corner, and the Penguins allowed defenseman Vince Dunn to creep into the slot and blast a shot past Murray.

“We don’t want to give up the quality chances that we did,” Crosby said.

To do that, coach Mike Sullivan explained, the Penguins need to be more aware in their own zone.

"If we track back into our end zone and there’s a question of control, we have to think defense first," Sullivan said. "We have to protect the scoring area."

The inability to do this continued in the second period, as the Blues put the game out of reach with two goals in 70 seconds.

On the first, right wing Robert Thomas curled around the net and threw a backhander in front. Left wing Pat Maroon, allowed to hang out there, scored while tied up with Justin Schultz. 1136468 Pittsburgh Penguins Injured defenseman Kris Letang, who wasn’t quite ready to play Saturday, also joined them on the black carpet. Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel skated over to present the center with a silver-plated stick and a Penguins honor Evgeni Malkin with pregame ceremony plaque made from pieces of the old Civic Arena, the first NHL arena Malkin called home.

Malkin was touched by the ceremony and said he will cherish his son MATTHEW VENSEL being there to witness it.

“When the crowd started cheering, I feel like he was a little bit scared, like he not understand much,” he said. “But we have video. We have As a tribute video featuring some of his greatest highlights and favorite pictures. It’s crazy. When he’s grown up, we’ll show him.” hockey memories beamed from the Jumbotron at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday, Evgeni Malkin clutched his young son, Nikita, and stood on the Pittsburgh Penguins' Dominik Simon, left, celebrates his goal in the ice next to his wife, parents and Penguins owner Mario Lemieux. second period with Patric Hornqvist (72) during a game against the St. Louis Blues in Pittsburgh, Saturday, March 16, 2019. While Malkin watched that video the Penguins put together to honor him for reaching 1,000 career points on Tuesday, his mind drifted to the day Dave Molinari’s Penguins Report Card: St. Louis 5, Penguins 1 he arrived in Pittsburgh in the summer of 2006. With two assists in Tuesday’s 5-3 win over countryman Alex Ovechkin “It’s amazing. I’ve played here for 13 years,” Malkin said after Saturday’s and the Washington Capitals, Malkin became the 88th player in NHL loss to the St. Louis Blues. “I remember my first day I reported, I go to history and fifth from Russia to record 1,000 career points. Mario’s house and we meet each other and Sidney Crosby was here, too. The whole time, we’re like great friends and we’re together. It’s like a Post Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 big family here.

“Mario stepped on the ice and said, ‘Congrats, Geno.’ It’s nice, not just for me, but my father.”

Pittsburgh Penguins' Patric Hornqvist can't get a shot past St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington with Alex Pietrangelo defending during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, March 16, 2019. The Blues won 5-1.

Matt Vensel

Penguins latest NHL team to get shut down by rookie sensation Jordan Binnington

Why his father in particular? Malkin explained that Vladimir once admired Lemieux from afar.

“He’s told me he watched when Mario played and he always said he was his choice for best player in the world, like he’s better than [Wayne] Gretzky,” he said. “So it was amazing for my family, too.”

The Penguins put together a nice ceremony to celebrate Malkin’s milestone before the game.

Malkin’s parents, Vladimir and Natalia, and his wife, Anna, walked out onto a black carpet, along with Lemieux. Malkin, in full uniform, skated over from the bench and scooped up Nikita. Malkin grew emotional watching the tribute video, with three generations of Malkins in the house.

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1,000 points. What a ride. Congrats Geno.

Take a look back: https://pens.pe/2J9QfiL #Ma1Kin

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Geno and family getting some love:

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Kris Letang, Bryan Rust will not return to Penguins lineup against Blues

MATT VENSEL

Kris Letang and Bryan Rust won’t play Saturday against the St. Louis Blues.

Those two Penguins on Friday practiced without limitations for the first time since suffering their respective injuries. Letang is working his way back from the upper-body injury he suffered in Philadelphia on Feb. 23. Rust suffered a lower-body injury in Columbus three days after that.

After Friday’s practice, coach Mike Sullivan didn’t rule out the possibility of one or both of those players returning to the lineup this weekend. The Penguins host the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. Even if they aren’t yet available for that game, their returns appear to be imminent.

Sullivan provided an update on Olli Maatta before Saturday’s game at PPG Paints Arena. Maatta has been out since Feb. 11 due to a separated shoulder, also suffered against the Flyers. He has skated in individual workouts the last two weeks but has yet to practice with the team.

Pittsburgh Penguins' Patric Hornqvist can't get a shot past St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington with Alex Pietrangelo defending during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, March 16, 2019. The Blues won 5-1.

Matt Vensel

Penguins latest NHL team to get shut down by rookie sensation Jordan Binnington

“He’s progressing really well,” Sullivan said. “At some point we’ll get him involved with the team skate. It will only be when he gets the approval of our medical staff. But he’s making progress.”

Matt Murray will return to the Penguins net against the Blues.

Post Gazette LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136470 Pittsburgh Penguins No matter what configurations are settled on, the Penguins will need to play like they did in the previous nine games, and not how they performed in this one.

Who sits once the Penguins are fully healthy on defense? “Games like this are going to happen,” Schultz said. “It sucks, but it’s going to happen. The good things are that we know exactly what we did wrong. We know what we need to work on. And we play tomorrow again, By Josh Yohe Mar 16, 2019 and that’s great. We’ll be fine. We’re all right. Move on. Learn from it.”

Schultz isn’t wrong, of course. But it will be significantly easier to learn when the leader of the blue line returns. Standing on the red carpet during a ceremony honoring Evgeni Malkin for scoring 1,000 points in his NHL career stood Kris Letang, dressed to the Letang could play as early as Sunday against Philadelphia, though the nines, in a suit and tie. Penguins might opt to keep him out until next week.

It was Letang, so naturally, he looked great. Against the Blues, he was visibly missed. Other than Gudbranson, Letang is likely the Penguins’ most powerful defender. The heavy Blues He would look even better wearing a No. 58 sweater for the Penguins. wore them down early and often, creating plenty of offense. Letang, dealing with a neck injury for the past three weeks, was believed to be a possibility to return to the lineup but instead was again a scratch St. Louis also did a fine job of keeping the Penguins pinned in their as the Penguins dropped a 5-1 decision to an inspired St. Louis Blues territory during the opening 30 minutes, something that hasn’t been an team at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday. issue most of the past two weeks. Letang, the ultimate one-man breakout, was sorely missed. That the Penguins have survived without their best defenseman during the past few weeks would be a profound understatement. They’ve thrived “We miss him for sure,” Pettersson said. “These kinds of games, they’re without Letang, in fact, boasting a 7-2-1 record in the 10 games in which inevitable. But whether we have Kris or not, we can’t let another game Letang has missed even after the deflating performance Saturday. like this happen. Having him back will be huge. Of course, but let’s play better, too.” Against the Blues, though, the Penguins’ blue line largely struggled. Brian Dumoulin was burned by Robert Thomas moments before Patrick Ten postgame observations Maroon’s goal in the second period. Justin Schultz, who was guilty of a bad pinch that led to an odd-man rush in the game’s opening minutes, Penguins center Dominik Simon is checked by Blues defenseman Robert failed to tie up Maroon’s blade. Bortuzzo during the second period of Saturday’s game at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire / USA Today) Marcus Pettersson also lost track of his man on another goal, and Erik Gudbranson was unable to defend the Blues’ presence in the slot. None • I wouldn’t be too rough on the Penguins. Yes, this was a flat of the errors could be described as grotesque — all of the above- performance and, if they want to win the division, this would have been a mentioned defensemen, in fact, have been superb without Letang — but pretty nice game to win. These games do happen, and the Blues were Pettersson noted after the game that Letang’s presence would very much probably pretty embarrassed by a 2-0 shutout loss on the road to the help the blue line’s cause. lowly Senators on Thursday. St. Louis is no joke. The Blues have been one of the NHL’s best teams in the second half of the season and, plain “I think we’ve done a really good job without him,” Pettersson said, before and simple, they outplayed the Penguins on Saturday afternoon. So long pausing. “Well, up until today, I’d say. Obviously, we miss him. He’s one as the Penguins rebound against the Flyers at home Sunday, I wouldn’t of the best defensemen in the . All the minutes be overly concerned. But it was a bad performance, clearly. Jake he plays, all the ways he helps us win, of course, we miss him. We hope Guentzel’s turnover led to a goal. The top line was on the ice for three he’s back soon.” goals against, something that has been a rarity lately, of course. Nothing went right. Letang and Bryan Rust appear to be very close to making their respective returns to the lineup. Also, Olli Maatta is skating and, while not • It’s not like the Penguins didn’t have their opportunities in this game. as close to returning as Letang and Rust, appears to be a safe bet to Sidney Crosby was stopped on a breakaway in the second period. Phil return before the regular season concludes. Kessel was stopped on a breakaway in the third period. The Penguins received two power plays in the first period and had some very good Letang and Rust practiced with the Penguins on Friday and are looks on the second one. They had other good looks in the second considered “day to day.” Rust has been skating especially hard during period on another power play. Also, Patric Hornqvist was robbed on a the past few days and looks ready to play. Letang has been in the “day- quality look with 11:30 remaining in the third. Sometimes, the puck to-day” category for the past couple of weeks, but the Penguins are being doesn’t go in the net. Also, let’s give young Blues goaltender Jordan especially cautious with his return from a neck injury. Binnington some serious credit. Kid looks like the real deal. The Penguins have authored a more simple style with Letang out of the • Speaking of the power play, just a thought here … on one of the power- lineup and, given their 15 points in 10 games without him, this philosophy play opportunities in the second period, Crosby and Malkin stayed out for has been productive. Nonetheless, Letang’s return to the lineup — and to the entire two minutes and the Penguins nearly scored on a couple of the Norris Trophy level in which he has played this season — is occasions. Listen, I’m well aware of the bad habits that unit has been essentially paramount to a lengthy postseason run this spring. guilty of this season, but one thing they rarely do is extend shifts. In the “Obviously we miss him,” Dumoulin said. “Today just wasn’t a good day case of Crosby and Malkin — especially Crosby, who rarely lugs the for any of us, to be honest. Just a rough one and I’m glad we play puck from the Penguins’ zone — would it be that big of a deal to remain tomorrow night, because games like this, it’s just better to forget about it on the ice with the second unit? Perhaps I’m dating myself, but Lemieux and get it out of your system as quickly as you can. But yeah, we miss and Jaromir Jagr routinely played the entire two minutes of power plays Kris a lot. Of course, we do.” and never looked tired. Great players know how to conserve energy. I’d like to see Crosby and Malkin do this from time to time. Mike Sullivan didn’t point out his defensemen as a problem in the loss to the Blues but noted that multiple goals were scored from the slot. • High marks go out to former Penguins center Oskar Sundqvist, who opened the scoring with his 13th goal of the season. “That’s an area where we need to be better,” Sullivan said. He’s turning into a nice NHL player. Joe Vitale, now a broadcaster for the It will be fascinating to see what the Penguins do when their blue line is Blues, told a great story about Sundqvist on Friday evening during “Along finally, completely healthy. Given how well Gudbranson has played, he the Boards,” the radio show hosted by Phil Bourque and me. The will remain on the right side behind Letang and Schultz. Dumoulin and Penguins were practicing in Toronto in late October, and the Blues Jack Johnson will certainly be in the lineup, almost certainly to be paired happened to be there on the same day. Vitale ran into Crosby, and the with Letang and Schultz, respectively. Both of those pairings have been conversation shifted to Sundqvist. Crosby told Vitale that he believed outstanding and likely won’t be altered. Sundqvist was going to develop into an excellent NHL player. Vitale reported this conversation to Sundqvist and, according to Vitale, his So, who plays with Gudbranson? It figures to be a battle between performances immediately skyrocketed. Incidentally, this story didn’t Pettersson and Maatta. surprise me. Crosby, on countless occasions following practices, used to speak of Sundqvist’s outstanding work, once saying, “He’s like a Devil because he’s always on the right side of the puck.”

• At least no one appeared to sustain a serious injury in this game. Malkin was cross-checked in the ribs by Robert Bortuzzo in an incident that should have been penalized but wasn’t. Malkin remained on the ice for quite some time before slowly skating to the bench.

Matt Cullen was tripped up on a fairly dirty play by Tyler Bozak. Casey DeSmith took a shot off the mask and was stunned for a moment. Kessel appeared to be hurt in the second period and barely made it back to the bench. However, none of the players missed any time. So, what was a bad day at the office for the Penguins could have been much worse, we’ll say.

• I didn’t see one goal today that I would consider to have been Matt Murray’s fault. He was yanked after allowing his fourth of the afternoon on a Jay Bouwmeester shot. DeSmith replaced him and played fairly well. But this should in no way derail the momentum that Murray has developed over the past few weeks. The fact of the matter is, his team was rather soundly outplayed by a very good team. It happens. The goaltender doesn’t deserve blame.

• Perhaps I should duck for cover before saying this, but I’ll take my chances. It was a rough game for the Penguins’ blue line, but not for Johnson. He was pretty good once again, breaking up a couple of odd- man rushes and, in general, playing a very reliable game. Johnson is, without question, playing his finest hockey of the season and even a rough afternoon for his teammates didn’t prevent him from playing well once again. Remember when Jim Rutherford publicly praised him last month to three different outlets, including this one? Johnson has been at his best ever since.

• The Penguins have been outscored 3-0 in the first period during their past three outings. A general lack of energy during the opening 20 minutes has been an issue, in my view, all season. It just takes a lot to get this team’s attention, which isn’t really an admirable trait. But then, when they are engaged, they still look like contenders.

• The pregame ceremony commemorating Malkin’s 1,000th career point was great. Malkin was joined by his wife, son, parents and Lemieux as he received a number of gifts. Crosby, Kessel and Letang played a role in the ceremony.

It was handled very nicely, and let’s not ignore what an extraordinary accomplishment this was. Malkin is only 32, has missed portions of numerous seasons with serious injuries and has already produced more than 1,000 points. Let that sink in. This is an all-time great and, while he’s not having a season that will be remembered as one of his better campaigns, it’s still an accomplishment worthy of the lavish praise it received.

• So Saturday was a rough outing for the Penguins, without question. I’m guessing they won’t look as flat come tomorrow. Not only does Sunday represent a chance to firm their grip on a playoff spot, but it’s also a fine opportunity to essentially bury the fading Flyers, who find themselves seven points out of a playoff spot.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136471 Pittsburgh Penguins “Sidney Crosby, (is) one of the best, not just players but just this incredible, humble, person that is compassionate that cares about you as a person as well.” finds a new career and a new purpose in the broadcast booth Vitale, now 33, finished the season on long-term injured reserve then had his contract traded to the Red Wings during the 2016 NHL Draft in a transaction designed to alleviate the Coyotes of some payroll. Officially, By Seth Rorabaugh Mar 16, 2019 he retired as a member of the Red Wings despite having never suited up for that organization.

What followed was lots of downtime and sleepless nights in his Before he found his way back into hockey, Joe Vitale’s other major hometown of St. Louis. passion in life almost took him in an entirely different direction nowhere near a hockey rink. And bread baking.

A kitchen. “Part of my concussion is I became a ‘narcolep,'” Vitale said. “I was up all night. I never slept more than two-hour stretches at a time. So I’d be up “I was always huge into bread baking,” Vitale said. “Ever since I was a at 1 a.m., looking up at the ceiling. I needed something that was going to kid, I always loved doing it with my dad. It was one of those funny things keep me really busy in the middle of the night where I’m not going to that was a hobby, and so I started baking a lot of sourdough bread.” wake up my kids and my wife. For some reason, life really took me to Before we venture too far into Vitale’s culinary interest, let’s start with this. I’m mixing water and flour, and I’m cultivating yeast, and I’m making why he had to leave hockey. it into bread. It was a weird scientific but also this organic, hands-on hobby of mine. It just really took over my life in some ways. A fight. “It helped me from a mental standpoint. You learn to start forgetting In the second year of a lucrative three-year contract worth $3.35 million, about your problems and my headaches and all this other kind of stuff. I Vitale found himself a healthy scratch for the first four games of the 2015- started giving bread away to people who really lifted me up. It gave me a 16 season with the Coyotes. When he finally got into the lineup for the sense of community. It was a sense of therapy for me as much as a team’s fifth contest, he wanted to prove he should stay on the ice. hobby.”

Early in the second period of a home game against the Bruins at Gila Vitale went so far as to take some classes on baking bread in San River Arena on Oct. 17, 2015, a scrum developed behind the Coyotes’ Francisco and nearly pursued it as a new vocation. net. Vitale broke off from the group with rugged Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller and they began fighting. He absorbed a few wild right hands “I came home, and I started giving it away to family and friends,” he said. from Miller and then his helmet fell off. A quick right jab to the exposed “People were like, ‘This bread is amazing, can I get more?’ Then left side of Vitale’s face ended the fight. restaurants started calling and saying, ‘We want to sell your bread.’ I was like, ‘Light bulb, I can make some money.’ So I started doing that, and I He never returned. started making some money. I actually opened a little wholesale bakery where I was like making bread out of my house and selling it to these Vitale suffered a concussion as well as a devastating eye injury, which restaurants. still hinders him more than three years later. “Having no idea where this would go, it was just something that was “I’m dealing with an eye injury that prohibits me from doing some daily preoccupying my mind. I was actually really close to starting a couple of activities,” Vitale said. “When I got in that fight, amongst the multiple projects with some local chefs in St. Louis like a bakery sandwich shop. broken bones in my face that I sustained, I’m still dealing with a vision They were very close to making a pretty significant financial investment issue. My eye dropped because the orbital floor fell and I really haven’t into starting this thing.” gotten full peripheral vision my left side yet. That’s what really kept me out of the game. Before that happened, the door to the hockey world opened back up.

“To explain it, my left eye is about a couple of millimeters lower than my “Out of nowhere, I got a call from the Blues,” Vitale said. “Chris Kerber right eye. So when you go left to right really quickly, your eyes always wanted to sit down and have lunch with me. I asked what it was about. want to see in sync and they always need to be in sync. If the left eye is He said, ‘Well, Kelly Chase, after 18 years, is stepping down as the radio seeing something at a different than the right eye, that kind of gets my color analyst. We’re starting to interview people and your name came up head going kind of going a little kooky.” being from St. Louis and recently removed from the league.'”

Despite his considerable injuries, Vitale held out hope that he could “Being that the job hadn’t opened up in 18 years, I just kind of felt resume being an NHLer, even if there were few visible signs of a obligated that a search needed to feel and be as complete as it could complete recovery. be,” said Kerber, the Blues’ play-by-play radio broadcaster, as well as vice president of broadcasting and content development. “Not “Up until I saw a doctor at Washington University in St. Louis and he said necessarily just tap the next guy on the shoulder. … I just wanted to ‘Hey, we may have an issue with your eye,'” Vitale said. “That’s when he make sure I didn’t leave any stones unturned.” explained it. This was about a year and a half (after the injury). Up until that point, I felt that, man, you never know. I could wake up one day and Why was Vitale an option to the Blues? He never played for the just feel better, and I might come back. But when he diagnosed me with organization and didn’t have a particularly distinguised NHL career. the eye injury that I have and it’s going to require surgery and surgery might not even help because of scar tissue and all the complications with “We sat down for about a two-hour lunch,” said Kerber. “He was well it. … When he told me that, something really overwhelmed me saying prepared. He had a resume and all of that. Very well put together. But that this could be it. I had already missed a year and a half, and I’m 31. I what really jumped out at me in that in that initial interview quite frankly think this could be the end of the road.” was more of the questions that he asked. It wasn’t ‘what does the job pay?’ or ‘I can’t wait to get back and travel again.’ It was, ‘what does the A seventh-round pick of the Penguins in 2005, he sought help for his job entail? What kind of work goes into being a good broadcaster? How injury from the Penguins’ first-round pick that year, Sidney Crosby. The do you actually do the job?’” Penguins’ captain missed parts of several seasons due to his own concussion issues. Kerber granted Vitale an audition last summer with the two of them calling a mock broadcast of a period from a game during the 2017-18 “When I got my concussion, I saw the team doctors in Arizona, and I saw season in the broadcast booth of Enterprise Center. another doctor out west,” Vitale said. “Nothing was really clicking. Then it kind of dawned on me, ‘I’ll reach out to Sid.’ He gave me the contact “He sent me a text a day or two before the audition period,” Vitale said. information for the doctors, (Ted) Carrick and (Nathan) Keiser who were “He said, ‘We’re doing the Minnesota Wild game from earlier (last) down in Atlanta. So I went down there for two weeks. Dr. Keiser did season.’ So then I hop online, and I would look at the Minnesota roster, some really great things with my vision and my headaches. He helped and I would look at the Blues roster at the time. Basically how you would me sleep a little bit better. I’d say I was about 80 percent better after prepare for a game now and I prepared for that game as if it was live. We seeing them. went up in the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, went to the very top in the broadcast booth. They had a huge big screen set up with the game in the first period. They actually had the noise and the fans chanting. It was “(Television play-by-play announcer) John Kelly was out on the trip to kind of a cool set-up where you kind of felt like it was a live game. Chris Los Angeles (when there was no local television broadcast),” Kerber just pretty much just ran with the play-by-play, and I just jumped in with said. “Joey asked John to sit in on the broadcast booth, put the headset the color. I had never done anything like this before.” on and take notes and critique how he was doing it. Then a couple of weeks later at the morning skate in Columbus, those two sat down for 40 Among the six people who auditioned for the role, Vitale was the closest minutes and went over the notes that John had for him.” removed from being an active player. The fact that the players on the ice were more or less his peers gave him an advantage over an older player Vitale even sought advice from national voices in other sports. from a different era. “He knew someone that had the connection with Joe Buck,” Kerber said. Former Penguins center Joe Vitale is in his first season as radio color “He went to coffee with Joe Buck after getting the job to say, ‘What do analyst with the Blues. He was recruited by play-by-play broadcaster you like in an analysist that works with you?’ You could see his Chris Kerber (right). (Scott Rovak/St. Louis Blues) commitment level there.”

“In that period, I remember Devan Dubnyk, I played with Devan. I played One aspect of the job which caught Vitale off guard is the arduous with Paul Stastny, I grew up with Paul. So many of these players, I preparation that is required. played with or against and I think was giving some different nuances to the game that maybe other people couldn’t really give because they “I am more tired as a broadcaster than I was as a player,” he said. “You never play against (the current players),” Vitale said. “I made a comment have to constantly have to be on top of what’s going on in the league. about Miiko Koivu’s faceoffs, ‘He’s heavy on the draw. He’s got that The prep work that goes into a game is almost exhausting because you heavy stick. It doesn’t have that very hard flex. If you’re going to beat have to hit every angle. You have to prepare for every single event and him, you’ve got to beat him quick.’ Comments like kind of stood out every single player being spotlighted. So you spend hours prepping for a because of me being so recent to the game.” game and understand every player with the understanding that you’re only probably going to use about eight percent of everything you just “He goes into the locker room and there’s people that he played with,” prepped for.” Kerber said. “We just played the Coyotes (Tuesday). There’s some great relationships there. Now, (older players turned broadcasters) like Darren Learning the finer points of the job is still a work in progress. Vitale is Pang and Joe Michelleti and Jim Fox and all the other really good ones, trying to find the balance between being a broadcaster and being a they have found a way to continue relationships with the players even former player, especially when he speaks with current players. His former though they haven’t played for in 15, 20, 25, 30 years. That’s the great Penguins teammate Pascal Dupuis got into some hot water this season challenge and that’s what separates I think a great broadcaster from a when he suggested on French Canadian television there was a rift just good one. Joey has some of those relationships with current guys between Mike Sullivan and Evgeni Malkin, as well as Phil Kessel, based just naturally since he had just retired. on an informal conversation between the former teammates.

“One of the things that also has played a role here is he is bringing the “When I’m talking to players, I want to talk to them like a player because I perspective of having just come off the ice. So, when you have younger am a player,” Vitale said. “You can’t talk to them like a player all the time listeners that are playing the game and growing up in the game today, because you are interviewing them. I have to be careful because I don’t the game he is describing and how he is looking at it is how the game is want to lose their trust. I don’t want to hear something they’re saying and played and coached today and I think that relates to the listeners along put it out there because they trust me and they confided in me because those lines. It’s been a very positive adjustment and a different point of we’re just talking hockey, we’re just one of the guys. I don’t want to view that without a doubt freshened up the broadcast.” abuse that trust by putting it public something that shouldn’t be public.”

Vitale also offers the viewpoint of being a Blues fan and not so much a “We ended up seeing the Penguins in Toronto earlier in the year,” Kerber Blues player. Having grown up in St. Louis and idolinzing Brett Hull, he said. “Both teams were practicing. You see Joe go over and chat with offers a kinship with an audience that has endured over 50 years of futile Sidney and some of his other teammates. A couple of his old other pursuits of the Stanley Cup. teammates were asking Joe about Oskar Sundqvist. Then they were talking to Joe about what they thought of Oskar Sundqvist. Then here “When I got this job, I was sitting on the porch with my wife,” Vitale said. you have Sundqvist having a terrific season. And it goes in line with what “We were splitting a bottle of wine. We just got the kids to bed. It was some of those Penguins players said this kid could be. The guy that about 6 o’clock in the evening, a nice August evening. I had people brought that insight to the table is Joe and he did that because he had driving by my house. I had no idea who they were, and they were relationships with some of the current guys.” honking and rolling down windows saying, ‘Congrats Joe! Let’s go Blues!’ I got more text and calls and feedback from fans, way more than when I Vitale will be in Pittsburgh Saturday to call a game against his former made my NHL debut or when I scored my first NHL goal.” team. He called the Penguins-Blues game in St. Louis on Dec. 29. He’s been in PPG Paints Arena plenty of times and even sat in the press box Vitale’s path to the NHL out of St. Louis also appealed to Kerber. as an occasional healthy scratch.

“I love the fact that he went from high school hockey here, played all four His first game as a radio broadcaster in Pittsburgh will carry special years of high school hockey here (with Christian Brothers College high significance. school), to college (at Northeastern),” Kerber said. “And took the college route (to the professional ranks). I just felt that, especially for a United “I’m from St. Louis, but I’m truly known around here as a Pittsburgh States market, that’s a relatable path.” Penguin,” he said. “That’s the greatest sum of my NHL career was my years in Pittsburgh. I feel like a Pittsburgh Penguin. Everyone knows me There was another connection at play when Kerber formally told Vitale he in St. Louis as a Pittsburgh Penguin.” had the gig. Having found a rewarding post-hockey existence back in hockey, Vitale “While he was kind of recovering from the injury and the concussion, he realizes there is a unique responsibility to this role, particularly as a started doing some work with his dad’s concrete company here in St. native of St. Louis. Louis,” Kerber said. “So when we offered him the job, I just thought it would be cool if I offered to him up in the broadcast booth of (Enterprise “I was that fan, I still am that fan,” he said. “Now, to think you’re a part of Center). Say, ‘Hey, how would you like this to be your office?’ The that. I remember listening to games, listening Chris Kerber or Dan summer before … the building had gone through three years of McLaughlin or Jack Buck, all these great names across St. Louis with the renovations. One of the first things they did was they put in a new ice Cardinals or the Blues. You recognize the game and you recognize the plant and then obviously had to re-do the floor. It was his dad’s company sports team with the voice of who brought it to you. I approach my job that actually did the concrete pouring. We were literally up there to offer very seriously for that reason because I don’t remember necessarily who him the job and you could see the concrete floor. I said, ‘The pour started Mark McGwire was playing when he broke the (single-season home run) there.’ He said, ‘I know, I worked on it.’ I went, ‘What?!?’ record. But I never forget Joe Buck, his call on the home run.

“He was actually one of the crews working that helped pour the concrete “Those kind of memories, it jolts you where you think that you can be a on the floor that is now Enterprise Center.” part of someone’s memory, you can be a part of history.”

Vitale has approached this job much the same way he did as a fourth-line The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 center who regularly had to battle to stay in the NHL. 1136472 San Jose Sharks The crowd at SAP Center gave Kane a rousing applause when his name was announced as part of the Sharks starting lineup prior to the game. Sharks territory welcomed the power forward back from a bereavement Takeaways: Sharks’ Evander Kane embraces distraction of playing absence as he continues to mourn the loss of his unborn daughter, Eva, hockey who passed away last weekend.

Evander Kane played his first game since Feb. 26 on Saturday. Kane ended up skating for 19:44 in his first taste of game action since Feb. 26, producing three shots while being on the ice for five high-danger scoring chances (Natural Stat Trick).

By Paul Gackle “He did a good job considering what he’s been through,” DeBoer said. “The fact he even got out here today, it was very impressive. The fact he

played 20 minutes and played hard — he gave us everything he had.” SAN JOSE — The party is being put on hold for a couple more days. The 27-year-old forward said it felt good to be back on the ice playing The Nashville Predators spoiled the Sharks chance of clinching a playoff hockey. The game offered him a temporary reprieve from the emotional spot for the 14th time in 15 years on Saturday, handing the home team trauma he’s experiencing. its first set of back-to-back losses at SAP Center this season. In doing so, “Mentally, I felt better as the game went on. I got more into the game,” he they also blocked the Sharks from regaining first place in the Western said. Conference as the Winnipeg Jets knocked off the Calgary Flames earlier in the night. Kane called the applause he received prior to opening faceoff a “nice gesture.” As a result, the Sharks remain one point behind the Flames for first place in the Pacific Division with just 10 games remaining on the schedule. “I definitely really appreciated it,” he said. “It got me going for that first shift there.” “Obviously, we want first place and it’s disappointing when you can’t find a way to win,” goalie Martin Jones said. 3. The Predators draw out Angry Joe.

Here’s what we learned as the Predators picked up a 4-2 win over the Sissons awakened a giant, a Jumbo giant one might say. Sharks: The Predators center got an intimate introduction to “Angry Joe” after he 1. The power play is running cold at an inopportune time. cross-checked Thornton in the kidney area in the middle of the second period. The shot inspired Thornton to whack, smack and bark at Sissons It’s hard to find a lot of fault in the Sharks loss to Nashville on Saturday as they skated from the Predators net up to center ice, drawing matching without opening shop in the nit-picking business. minor penalties. They lost a hard-fought game to a Stanley Cup contender, finishing the Joe Thornton is Hall of Fame everything: including chirping.#SJSharks season with a 2-1 mark against the Predators. The Sharks would likely pic.twitter.com/6sJcS0WCkw take that record going into Game 4 of a Western Conference Final against Nashville, so the loss needs to be taken with a grain of salt. — Brodie Brazil (@BrodieNBCS) March 17, 2019

The Sharks spent the night chasing the game, giving up the opening goal Thornton continued to chirp at Sissons once they got into the penalty just 67 seconds into the first after Timo Meier failed an assignment on a box, revving up his teammates over on the Sharks bench. Predators rush, allowing Craig Smith to sneak in on the weak side and set up Colton Sissons’ goal. After Meier tied it up with his 27th at 4:09 of “If you go back to when he was a lot younger, he was a physical guy. A the second, Viktor Arvidsson regained the Predators lead just 24 skilled guy, but he didn’t take a lot of crap and he still doesn’t,” Kane seconds later. said. “He gets on guys and it’s good to see. He has that old-school mentality and he’s not afraid to stick up for himself.” The Predators eventually won the game on Filip Forsberg’s wraparound goal at 7:02 of the third. And usually when Thornton sticks up for himself, the emotion spills over to the scoresheet where he enacts the best type of revenge. The trend Beyond that, the Sharks only real concern right now is the power play’s continued on Saturday as Thornton scored his 15th of the season by sudden lethargy after ranking among the league’s top five for most of the burying a Brent Burns pass in his second shift after the penalty. season. Beard bros tie it up! #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/ok2af2S4mE The Sharks went 0 for 3 with the extra man on Saturday, which puts them at 1 for 13 over their last seven games, the team’s longest cold — Teal Town USA (@TealTownUSA) March 17, 2019 spell since its 1 for 20 from Oct. 28 to Nov. 11. They produced just one “He’s the heartbeat of the team,” DeBoer said. “He’s into it. He wants to shot in three opportunities on Saturday. win that game and he’s showing everyone in the building how important it One problem is that the Sharks just aren’t drawing a lot of penalties, is to him. That’s good stuff for us. We feed off that.” getting two looks or fewer in five of seven games during the drought. In San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 03.17.2019 addition, opponents are starting to find some success in disrupting their drop-pass entries by sending a checker deep into the neutral zone.

But Joe Pavelski said a major issue is that the power play is just getting a “little too cute,” a common illness that creeps into groups loaded with highly-skilled talent.

“That’s the challenge always when you’re going good on the power play is not to look for that perfect play,” the Sharks captain said. “Just stick with the hard and simple part of the power play, shooting the puck and getting around those nets.”

Head coach Pete DeBoer thinks that injuries and fatigue are also playing a role in the power play’s recent struggles. The Sharks played seven games without Evander Kane and Erik Karlsson, who missed his 18th game with a groin injury. The Sharks also played their sixth game in 10 nights on Saturday, a stretch that included a two-game trip to the central time zone on daylight savings day.

They’ll get a chance to fix the power plays ills on Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights.

2. Kane embraces distraction of playing hockey. 1136473 San Jose Sharks

Preds spoils Sharks clinching party at the Tank

The Predators handed the Sharks their first back-to-back losses at home this season.

By Paul Gackle

SAN JOSE — The party will need to wait for at least two more days.

The Nashville Predators spoiled the Sharks opportunity to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 14th time in 15 years on Saturday, earning a 4-2 win at SAP Center. In doing so, the Predators handed the Sharks their first back-to-back regulation losses at home this season.

The loss also cost the Sharks an opportunity to regain first place in the Western Conference as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Calgary Flames earlier in the night. As a result, the Flames maintain a one-point lead over the Sharks for first place in the Pacific Division. The Sharks are just two points shy of clinching a berth in the Western Conference playoffs.

Filip Forsberg scored the game-winning goal at 7:02 of the third after goalie Martin Jones got caught outside his net on a wraparound play. Forsberg threw the puck into the blue paint and it bounced in off Tim Heed’s stick. Arvidsson clinched the win for the Predators with 1:06 left in regulation, scoring into an empty net.

Colton Sissons opened the scoring just 1:07 into the game, burying a pass from Craig Smith on a 3-on-2 play.

The Sharks went into the second intermission tied 2-2 after scoring a pair of middle frame goals. Timo Meier got the Sharks on the board at 4:09, punching in a pass from Joe Pavelski, who scooped up the rebound of a Joakim Ryan shot. With the secondary assist, Ryan earned his first point since Dec. 27.

Nashville regained the lead just 24 seconds later when a Filip Forsberg shot bounced in off Viktor Arvidsson’s ankle. Joe Thornton tied it up with 2:24 left in the period, one-timing a pass from Brent Burns, who slid the puck into the crease from the outside. With his 61st assist of the season, Burns snapped a four-game scoreless drought,

The Sharks will return to action at SAP Center on Monday, completing a three-game homestand against the Vegas Golden Knights.

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San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136474 San Jose Sharks getting their first look at the Predators, a potential opponent in the Western Conference Final, since they acquired Wayne Simmonds and Mikael Granlund at the trade deadline.

Things to know: Sharks’ Erik Karlsson returns to the ice “They’re deep,” DeBoer said. “They were already a Stanley Cup Erik Karlsson skated before the Sharks morning practice on Saturday. contender prior to (the trades). I don’t think that did anything but strengthen them.”

3. The Sharks reassigned Lukas Radil to the AHL Barracuda on Friday, By Paul Gackle but DeBoer insists that the move isn’t a punishment. The organization just wants to get him some action so he’s sharp in the event that his

number gets called down the stretch or in the playoffs. SAN JOSE — Erik Karlsson is back on the ice, but he isn’t “close” to Radil will suit up for the AHL Barracuda’s game against the Colorado rejoining the Sharks lineup. Eagles at SAP Center Saturday afternoon, getting his first taste of minor Karlsson took his first-big step toward returning from a groin injury that’s league action since Nov. 18. The 28-year-old journeyman had served as sidelined him for 17 games on Saturday, skating for roughly 30 minutes a healthy scratch in 14 of 19 games since the all-star break. He last prior to the Sharks optional morning skate. The two-time Norris Trophy played an NHL game on Feb. 24. winner skated figure eights around the faceoff circles, practiced hard The Sharks also reassigned Dylan Gambrell and Jacob Middleton to the stops and zipped around the rink a few times in a full sprint at farm club for this weekend’s two-game set at the Tank. Solar4America Ice. “Both of those guys, we wanted to get games. It’s been a long time,” “Good sign. Out there, no setbacks. No pain,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer DeBoer said, referring to Radil and Gambrell. “We know we’re going to said. “First step, obviously. We’re not close yet.” need all these guys at different points. Hopefully, we go deep enough Erik Karlsson tests out the groin before #SJSharks am skate and we want to keep them game ready.” pic.twitter.com/6DKvAlpCcg DeBoer said that Radil’s only marching order with the Barracuda is to — Paul Gackle (@GackleReport) March 16, 2019 “play.”

Saturday’s twirl marked the first time that Karlsson has skated since he “Get is timing back, get his game feel back,” the Sharks coach said. “You re-injured his groin in Boston on Feb. 26. He initially missed nine games can practice and mimic that as much as you want, but it’s not the same with a groin injury that first surfaced on Jan. 15 before returning for four thing. It’s confidence, too. You go down there, you’re touching the puck games on Feb. 16. After he re-tweaked the injury in Columbus on Feb. more, you’re getting more shots. You’re doing things that you don’t get to 23, he sat out one game before attempting to play in Boston. do up here as much.”

Last week, Karlsson guaranteed that he’d be healthy enough to rejoin the Radil played a major role in the Sharks midseason turnaround, recording lineup in time for the Stanley Cup playoffs, which kick off on April 10. 10 points in 20 games after he made his NHL debut on Nov. 23. At one Beyond that, the Sharks aren’t setting a timetable for the defenseman’s point, Radil climbed up to the Sharks second line, skating on Logan return. Couture’s left wing for 10 games after the Christmas break, a move that initially enabled Tomas Hertl’s shift from wing to center. But after he The Sharks are 14-4-1 without Karlsson in the lineup this season. recorded four points in his first six games on Couture’s line, Radil’s production fell off a cliff. The Czech forward hasn’t registered a point in 2. Evander Kane will rejoin the lineup for Saturday’s clash with the his last 12 NHL games. Nashville Predators at SAP Center, marking the first time that the Sharks will have a fully-healthy forward group available since Gus Nyquist joined “I was happy with him,” DeBoer said. “He did a real-good job for a couple the team at the trade deadline. months. We got healthy, we got some guys back. It’s just, we’re deep. He’s an NHL player.” In other words, someone is getting bumped from the lineup. The odd- man out appears to be Joonas Donskoi. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 03.17.2019 Though DeBoer declined to offer any insight into Saturday’s lineup, Donskoi bag-skated with the Sharks assistant coaches after the morning practice, an indication that he’ll serve as a healthy scratch against the Predators.

Joonas Donskoi gets some work in with #SJSharks assistant coaches after am skate. Looks like he’s the odd man out for now pic.twitter.com/cC3K0SlLQW

— Paul Gackle (@GackleReport) March 16, 2019

Donskoi’s omission from the lineup isn’t completely surprising. Last week, DeBoer put Donskoi on alert that his spot in the lineup could be in jeopardy if he didn’t pick up his play. The Finnish forward has earned just 4 points in his last 14 games while skating in a top-six role.

“He’s done enough in those droughts to be in the lineup and still be an important part so far,” DeBoer said on March 8. “But you’re in the last 20 games, and if we get healthy, there’s a lot of healthy bodies around here.”

In the aftermath of DeBoer’s warning, Donskoi got benched for the entire third period of Monday’s win over the Minnesota Wild and a significant chunk of the final frame in Thursday’s loss to the Florida Panthers.

DeBoer will need a strong effort from his forwards on Saturday, taking on the Predators in a game with serious playoff implications. The Sharks are entering the game trailing the Calgary Flames by one point for the top seed in the Western Conference. The Flames, meanwhile, will be playing the Winnipeg Jets, who lead the Predators by a single point in the Central Division standings.

As a result, Saturday’s game will play a role in determining first place in both Western Conference divisional races. The Sharks will also be 1136475 San Jose Sharks San Jose had a strong opening shift before Nashville answered on a three-on-two rush that led to Sissons taking a pass from Craig Smith and knocking it into an open net for his second goal in as many games.

Forsberg's goal leads Predators past Sharks 4-2 NOTES: Johansen recorded his 400th career point with an assist on Forsberg's goal. ... Sharks F Evander Kane returned to the lineup after missing seven games with an injury and for personal time after his Josh Dubow, March 16, 2019 daughter, Eva, passed away last weekend during his wife's 26th week of pregnancy. F Joonas Donskoi was scratched for the first time this

season. SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — If the Nashville Predators have any designs UP NEXT: about catching Winnipeg in the Central Division race, they know there's little margin for error down the stretch. Nashville: Host Toronto on Tuesday.

That's why coming out with a road win against one of the top teams in the San Jose: Host Vegas on Monday. league was so important. San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 03.17.2019 Filip Forsberg scored the tiebreaking goal with 12:58 left in the third period and Viktor Arvidsson added his second of the game into an empty net to help the Predators keep pace in the division race with a 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.

"It's not in our division, but it's huge," Arvidsson said. "They played for something too, for clinching, and we needed this one. We really had to win this one to hang on in the race for the Central. I think we played a great game."

Colton Sissons also scored and Juuse Saros made 24 saves to keep the Predators within one point of first-place Winnipeg in the division race. The Jets still have two games in hand.

"I think looking at our situation and where we want to go and where we want to get too you could put that under the biggest win of the season for sure," forward Ryan Johansen said.

Timo Meier and Joe Thornton scored for the Sharks, who failed for the second straight game in their bid to clinch a playoff spot with their first back-to-back home losses in regulation all season. San Jose also remained one point behind Calgary in the Pacific Division.

Martin Jones made 26 saves.

"It was a tough game tonight, it was hard fought," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. "There wasn't a lot of room out there, 2-2 going into the third, they found a way to get a goal and we didn't. That happens, we've got to bounce back."

Forsberg delivered the game-winner after the Predators won a faceoff following an icing call against San Jose. He pulled Jones out of the net and then scored on a wraparound that deflected off defenseman Tim Heed's stick.

Arvidsson then sealed it with the empty-net goal for his 31st of the season in just his 49th game after missing time with a broken thumb.

"It's ridiculous," Johansen said. "It's too bad for him having that injury in the middle of the year because he could be doing something really special that not a lot of players in this league can achieve. ... He just goes out there and works his butt off and gives you everything he has. We're really lucky to have him in our group."

The game between two of the top teams in the Western Conference was chippy at times with neither side willing to back down in what could be a playoff preview.

San Jose's Micheal Haley got into a fight in the first period with Wayne Simmonds to set the tone. Thornton and Sissons were then both sent off for cross-checking midway through the second period and spent much of their time in the box chirping at each other.

Shortly after Thornton came out, he delivered the tying goal during 4-on- 4 play when he got to the front of the net and knocked a pass from Brent Burns past Saros to make it 2-2.

The teams had traded goals earlier in the second, with Joe Pavelski setting up Meier for his 27th goal of the season to make it 1-1 and Arvidsson answering with his 30th just 24 seconds later.

The Sharks entered the day with the second-best goal differential in the first period at plus-23 but fell behind almost from the start against a Predators team that had been outscored by nine goals in the opening 20 minutes. 1136476 San Jose Sharks

Evander Kane's return a bright spot for Sharks in loss to Predators

By Chelena Goldman March 16, 2019

SAN JOSE – There was high energy inside SAP Center on Saturday night when the Sharks took on the Predators in a hard-fought, playoff-like game. But the crowd was at its loudest and most engaged when Evander Kane was the first skater mentioned during starting lineup introductions.

“It was a nice gesture from them,” Kane said after the game. “Definitely really appreciate it. Got me going for that first shift there. It a nice gesture and I appreciate it. We have a great group of fans here.”

Saturday night marked Kane’s first game since February 26, as he missed time because of injury and a family tragedy. But there was no denying that, despite San Jose falling to Nashville 4-2 in their regular season series finale, having Kane back on the ice was a bright spot.

“He did a good job, considering what he’s been through,” Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said after the game. “The fact he even got out here today I think was very impressive.”

Kane admitted he felt a bit rusty when he took the ice to start the game, but was able to pick it up as the contest went on.

“First 10 minutes were – just getting my legs back, getting my wind back,” Kane said. “Then I felt fine, took a regular shift. Felt good in that regard.”

DeBoer agreed.

“The fact that he played 20 minutes and played hard and did what he did," DeBoer said. "He gave us everything he had.”

Kane was reunited on a line with Tomas Hertl, and after getting back into a groove, the duo got back to being one of the most dominant lines on the ice – even though they didn’t get on the scoresheet.

“I thought we created some opportunities but weren’t able to find the back of the net,” Kane said.

That line will have plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net in the near future, though. San Jose concludes its current three-game homestand with a showdown against the Golden Knights on Monday evening. That game is sure to be hard-hitting, and the Sharks have a better chance of winning now that they have Kane back in the lineup.

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Sharks takeaways: What we learned in 4-2 home loss to pesky Predators

By Chelena Goldman March 16, 2019

SAN JOSE -- Peter DeBoer told the media you can never predict what will happen when his Sharks face the Nashville Predators.

That certainly was the case when the teams went head-to-head for their third and final regular-season meeting Saturday night.

A tight-checking contest was tied heading into the third period, then the visiting Predators put two third-period goals on the board to give them a 4-2 win.

Here are three takeaways from the game at SAP Center, as the Sharks (43-21-8; 94 points) failed to clinch a Stanley Cup playoff berth and regain the Pacific Division lead from the Calgary Flames:

Power play needs to power up

San Jose’s special teams have been a bit iffy over the last couple of games. This time, the power play had difficulty getting going.

The Sharks had multiple opportunities through the first 40 minutes to capitalize on the man advantage, but they came up empty-handed.

This is an area San Jose wants to improve upon as the Stanley Cup playoffs draw near. They don’t have a problem drawing penalties and getting their opportunities, but finding the back of the net on the power play more often could go a long way to boost them come playoff time.

On a positive note for the Sharks …

Angry Joe always delivers

Seasoned Sharks fans know Joe Thornton doesn’t get super angry very often. But when he does, he'll likely score a goal.

So, naturally, after engaging in a chirping matchup with Nashville’s Colton Sissons halfway through the second period, No. 19 made a contribution on the scoresheet.

Thornton's goal tied the score at 2 before the second period expired, giving San Jose the opportunity to take the lead in the third (even though the team couldn’t capitalize on it)

Thornton’s edge also appeared to give the whole Sharks lineup even more jump than it already had. It was another example of how the bearded veteran leads this team, whether by scoring a goal or pumping up the energy.

Back-to-back home losses aren't reason to worry

The Sharks take a lot of pride in their home record, so having back-to- back losses isn’t ideal. There’s probably a little extra salt in that wound because they’ve had two opportunities to clinch a playoff berth and haven’t been able to do it.

However, credit the Predators for playing a good game. And given how well the Sharks have rebounded from losses this season, it’s unlikely they’ll be down for long. They’ll just need to pick it up soon -- probably sooner rather than later with them sitting one point behind the Flames in the Pacific and the Vegas Golden Knights coming to town Monday.

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NHL rumors: Sharks coach Peter DeBoer to sign multiyear contract extension

By NBC Sports Bay Area staff March 16, 2019

Peter DeBoer's future appears to be staying behind the San Jose Sharks' bench.

Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos said Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada "it's imminent" that the Sharks coach will sign a multiyear contract extension.

The Athletic's Kevin Kurz reported in December that DeBoer already had signed an extension for "either two or three more seasons." The coach reportedly was entering the final year of a four-year deal he signed in 2015 when he took the San Jose job.

Regardless if the extension is about to be signed or has been signed, DeBoer has proven to be a steady force for the Sharks. He entered Saturday with a 180-106-81 record behind the San Jose bench, and the team has been a perennial contender under DeBoer's watch.

DeBoer, 50, also coached the Florida Panthers (2008-11) and the New Jersey Devils (2011-15) in the NHL, compiling a 397-306-108 overall record in 11 seasons. He took the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012, and did the same with the Sharks in 2016.

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After tragedy, Evander Kane ready to get back on ice vs. Predators

By Chelena Goldman March 16, 2019

SAN JOSE -- After an emotional couple of weeks, Evander Kane is excited to get back in the lineup as the Sharks prepare to host the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.

The winger hasn’t played since Feb. 26 when the Sharks fell 4-1 to the Bruins in Boston, as Kane was sidelined with what the team classified as a mid-body injury.

Earlier this week, Kane issued a statement via social media revealing that during that stretch he and his wife lost their daughter during pregnancy. Kane returned to practice Thursday, but he wasn't in the lineup that night when the Sharks hosted the Florida Panthers.

“It was nice to go through my pregame routine and get ready for tonight,” he told the media Saturday morning. “It’ll be nice to get back in game action.”

Since the Sharks held an optional practice Saturday morning, it isn’t completely clear where Kane will play in the lineup. However, it’s expected he will return to his place on Tomas Hertl’s wing, where he has had success.

It is possible Sharks coach Peter DeBoer could pencil Gustav Nyquist on Hertl’s other wing. While he hasn’t played with Nyquist yet, Kane was complimentary of the Sharks’ newest addition to their lineup.

“He’s a pretty crafty guy, has some good puck poise,” Kane said. “He can skate, isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas, and I think you’ve seen that with a couple of his goals recently. I think that bodes well for our group, and if we can get him going, it’s going to create more depth for us up front.”

Kane has registered 51 points (27 goals, 24 assists) and 149 penalty minutes through 64 games played for Team Teal this season.

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Sharks vs. Predators watch guide: Projected lines and defensive pairs

By Chelena Goldman March 16, 2019

SAN JOSE -- The Sharks are looking to get back in the win column and into first place in the Pacific Division. But to do that, they’ll have to overcome a tough competitor in the Nashville Predators.

Team Teal will have Evander Kane back in the lineup for the first since Feb. 26 against the Boston Bruins. It isn’t entirely clear where he will pencil into the lineup, but it’s likely he will return to skating on Tomas Hertl’s wing.

In injury news, Erik Karlsson took part in Saturday’s optional skate for the first time since leaving that same game against the Bruins last month, although the defenseman isn’t ready to return to game action yet.

The Predators visit San Jose on the tail end of a three-game swing through California, having fallen to the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on Tuesday and defeating the L.A. Kings 3-1 on Thursday. Nashville currently in second place in the Central Division, one point behind the Winnipeg Jets.

The Sharks currently are in second in their division as well, with the Calgary Flames defeating the New York Rangers 5-1 on Friday night and regaining first place in the division standings by one point.

This is the third and final time the Sharks and Predators will face each other this regular season. In 72 total matchups between the franchises, San Jose holds a 36-28-2-6 record.

Sharks projected lines and pairs

Timo Meier – Logan Couture – Joe Pavelski

Evander Kane – Tomas Hertl – Gustav Nyquist

Marcus Sorensen – Joe Thornton – Kevin Labanc

Micheal Haley – Barclay Goodrow – Melker Karlsson

Joakim Ryan – Brent Burns

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Tim Heed

Brenden Dillon – Justin Braun

Martin Jones – projected starter

Aaron Dell

Predators projected lines and pairs

Filip Forsberg – Ryan Johansen – Viktor Arvidsson

Mikael Granlund – Nick Bonino – Wayne Simmonds

Calle Jarnkrok – Colton Sissons – Craig Smith

Brian Boyle – Frederick Gaudreau – Rocco Grimaldi

Roman Josi – Ryan Ellis

Mattias Ekholm – P.K. Subban

Matt Irwin – Yannick Weber

Juuse Saros – projected starter

Pekka Rinne

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Sharks expecting 'playoff mindset' from Predators in Saturday showdown

By Chelena Goldman March 16, 2019

SAN JOSE -- If the last couple of seasons have shown us anything, it's that you never really know what you'll get when the Sharks face the Predators, whether it’s in the regular season or the playoffs.

"You'll remember Game 7 a couple of years ago," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer reminisced with the press Saturday morning as San Jose geared up to host Nashville. "You thought it would be a 2-1 game and it was a blowout. You never know what you're going to get with these two teams."

One thing is for certain, though. Saturday night's game promises to be another playoff-caliber rumble between two Western Conference teams prepping for the postseason.

"I know both teams are in playoff-type mindsets," DeBoer said. "Usually those are tight-checking games."

The Sharks and Preds already have played each other twice this season, with Team Teal winning both games in wild fashion. Those games occurred earlier in the season, however, and some things have changed. For starters, there now are playoff implications at stake.

Nashville is in just as tight of a race for first place in their division as San Jose is in its own. The Predators currently sit in second place in the Central, just one point behind the Winnipeg Jets with two games in hand -- not unlike the Sharks, who again sit one point behind the Calgary Flames in the Pacific.

"They're desperate, they're fighting for their division," Sharks winger Logan Couture said. "These are big points for them as well as us."

There also have been changes to both lineups since the squads last met. Nashville added forwards Wayne Simmonds, Mikael Granlund and Brian Boyle to its offensive arsenal at the trade deadline, just as San Jose traded for winger Gustav Nyquist. As the Sharks added to their already deep roster, the Predators did exactly the same.

"They're deep," DeBoer said. "They were already a Stanley Cup contender prior to that, and I don't think that did anything but strengthen them."

Whichever way the pendulum swings, Saturday night's contest promises to be some must-watch hockey.

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Sharks' Tomas Hertl's hockey sense driving force in career-best season

By Chelena Goldman March 16, 2019 8:00 AM

SAN JOSE – Tomas Hertl has scored some pretty impressive goals during his 2018-2019 campaign.

He danced through the Anaheim Ducks defense on opening night, and capped off a hat-trick with an OT-winner against the Washington Capitals in January. But, his marker against the Montreal Canadiens earlier this month was extra special.

It marked the first time in his career he scored 30 goals in a single season.

That's goal #30 for #48. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/ezTLxgiXVe

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) March 8, 2019

“I’m pretty excited about it because I’ve been more of a passer than a shooter, but lately the goals have been coming,” Hertl said with his signature grin back on March 7, when he reached the milestone in front of the Sharks' home crowd at SAP Center. “Some lucky ones. But sure it’s a good season for me and I’m happy for that.”

While Hertl was already an established member of San Jose's offensive arsenal before this season started, he's taken his game to another level and stayed healthy. The 25-year-old also successfully moved to the center position halfway through the season, where he has evolved into a point-per-game player.

In 66 games, the Czech native has registered a career-high 66 points (31 goals, 32 assists) and a plus-10 rating. NBC Sports California analyst Jamie Baker thinks the career year is a credit to Hertl's hockey IQ.

"He doesn't just make great moves with the stick," the 10-year NHL veteran said in the first entry of his "Baker's Breakdown" video series. "It's identifying the situation on the ice, using his hockey sense."

Baker also pointed out that Hertl has used his smarts to his advantage at even strength, and on the power play. As a result, the 25-year-old is the only Shark this season to score at least 10 goals on the power play and at even strength.

In other words, Hertl is growing into the dominant player the Sharks envisioned when they drafted him in the first round in 2012. With San Jose pushing for the Western Conference's top seed, it couldn't come at a better time.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136483 San Jose Sharks It sure has value from the coach’s perspective. The Sharks recently added another agitator when they claimed Micheal Haley off waivers on Feb. 20, but Haley is likely to be a healthy scratch in the playoffs. Kane, After an emotional few days, Evander Kane returns to Sharks’ lineup and of course, will be in the lineup every night when the postseason begins in gets a boost from home fans about three-and-a-half weeks.

You can be sure he’ll be encouraged to agitate, particularly in a seven- game series in which that facet always seems to become more valuable. By Kevin Kurz Mar 16, 2019 “We use the term all the time that we want our guys to get under the other team’s skin and piss people off,” DeBoer said. “More with their play between the whistles — being on top of people, being inside of people, Evander Kane was one of the Sharks’ starters for their home game winning battles, doing it that way. … I think we take a lot of pride in against the Nashville Predators on Saturday night, and when his name agitating with how hard we play and how heavy we are whistle to was announced and his image displayed on the jumbotron, the ovation whistle.” from the sellout crowd was a little louder and a little longer than usual. There have been a few after-the-whistle moments with Kane, too, such “It was a nice gesture from them. Got me going for that first shift there. as when he sparked a scrum in Pittsburgh on Feb. 21 and later admitted Definitely, really appreciated it,” Kane said after the Sharks’ 4-2 loss, to reporters it was because he was caught glancing at the Penguins’ keeping them one point behind Calgary for first place in the Western whiteboard as their coach drew up a play. Conference. “We’ve got a great group of fans here.” Kane said: “I think the mental side is sometimes a little bit overlooked, Kane has been a popular player in San Jose since virtually his first game especially in today’s game. Back when it was a little more rough and with the team last season when he was acquired just before the trade tough, those enforcers, just having those guys in the lineup, it gives your deadline, and much of Saturday’s home crowd was surely aware of the team a mental edge and maybe the other team, it gets them thinking a forward’s recent personal tragedy. Kane missed the Sharks’ two-game little bit. The mental part of the game can be really important, especially road trip to Minnesota and Winnipeg earlier in the week due to the death in the playoffs, too. I think when you have certain guys that maybe like to of his and his wife’s daughter during pregnancy at 26 weeks. get under the other team’s skin, or do some things that maybe aren’t the “My family and I are heartbroken,” Kane said in a statement released on norm — but are with within the rules — it can be an advantage.” his personal Twitter account Thursday. “Words cannot express how It was well documented after the Sharks acquired Kane that he had excited we were to welcome our baby girl into the world and watch her never competed in a playoff game in his first nine NHL seasons. He said grow.” often late last season that he considers himself a playoff-type player, and On Saturday morning, as he prepared to return to the lineup, Kane then went out and proved it in the first round against the Anaheim Ducks. indicated that a return to hockey normalcy was welcomed. Kane set the tone for the series sweep in Game 1, scoring the first two goals in a 3-0 victory and the Sharks won the next three games relatively “It’s great to get back out with the boys, and spend the day to go through easily, too. my pregame routine and get prepared for tonight,” said Kane, who missed six straight games overall, including four with a mid-body injury. Shoulder and knee injuries caught up to him in the second round against “It will be nice to get back in game action and get competing again.” the Vegas Golden Knights, but DeBoer figures that Kane is going to find that level from the Anaheim series when the 2019 playoffs get underway. Competing, of course, is what Kane does best. It’s that style of play that has seemingly endeared him to the fans, some of whom had signs they “There was no better player in the Anaheim series than him for us. He held up to the glass Saturday during warmups, expressing their has that ability,” DeBoer said. “He was dealing with an injury in the Vegas sympathy for what was surely an emotional few days for him and his series. If he’s healthy, for me, he can definitely be a big-impact guy come family. playoff time.”

Whether it’s scoring goals, throwing hits, dropping the gloves or simply Fortunately for Kane, he’ll have time to get back into the swing of things agitating the opposition, Kane usually finds a way to make himself over the next couple weeks. But even against the Predators, he didn’t noticeable on a nightly basis. He is third on the Sharks with 36 goals show much rust despite seeing his first action since Feb. 26. In 19 since his Sharks debut on Feb. 27, 2018, second with 179 hits, second in minutes and 44 seconds of ice time, Kane finished with three shots on shots with 315, and first in penalty minutes with 174. goal, five shot attempts and three hits. His line with Tomas Hertl and Gustav Nyquist was effective in the first two periods, in particular, and “What’s not to like? He’s come in and he’s been a great teammate,” Pete generated a handful of decent chances despite not getting on the DeBoer said. “Guys in the room love him, he’s the first guy to stand up scoresheet. for other people on the ice in a protection role if he has to. He scores almost every other game, and has done a great job with his role in our “Felt better as it went on,” Kane said. “First 10 minutes were just getting offense. my legs back, getting my wind back. Then I felt fine.”

“And I think he’s been great off the ice. I would hope that he’s become a DeBoer said: “I thought he did a good job, considering what he’s been fan favorite. I think people gravitate towards players like that, a player through. The fact he even got out here today I thought was very that can combine a great skill level with that protection element, that is impressive. The fact he played 20 minutes and played hard and did what willing to do some of that heavy lifting and dirty work. He’s been willing to he did, I thought he gave us everything he had.” do that.” That’s something that Sharks fans have come to expect. On Saturday There are a select few players in the league who bring the type of skill, night at SAP Center, they made sure to give a little bit back themselves. toughness and swagger as Kane does. Guys like Washington’s Tom — Reported from San Jose Wilson and Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk are probably the two most well- known NHL’ers who would be categorized as such. The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 But Kane, who has 27 goals and 51 points in 65 games this season, has to be in that conversation, too. He was arguably the Sharks’ best forward from early December through mid-January when the team turned its season around, and scored 20 goals during one stretch from Dec. 7 to Feb. 21. He still leads the NHL with 149 penalty minutes, to boot.

He doesn’t mind the comparison to Tkachuk and Wilson, either.

“Yeah, those guys both have big, physical elements to their game and like to play that part,” Kane said. “You use that to your advantage, obviously. They both have skill and can score goals. If you have that combination, it’s pretty rare and it’s pretty sought-after. I think it can be valuable when teams have those types of guys.” 1136484 St Louis Blues last Blues rookie goalie to have 40 saves in a game was Jason Bacashihua in March 2007 at Detroit. … Pat Maroon had a goal and an assist, his first two-point game since he had two assists in the second Dunn becomes third Blues defensemen with 10 or more goals game of the season. … Upon the team’s arrival at their hotel in Buffalo, Ryan O’Reilly went over to some fans gathered near the entrance to sign autographs. O’Reilly played for three season in Buffalo before being traded to the Blues. “It will be interesting,” O’Reilly said … Zach Sanford By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch had an assist on the Bouwmeester goal, his first point in a month. … Robby Fabbri was the only healthy scratch. Jordan Kyrou was sent returned to San Antonio when Perron was activated off injured reserve. PITTSBURGH • The Blues defense hit a franchise first Saturday. Vince Dunn’s first of two goals gave him 10 on the season, making him the third St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.17.2019 Blues defenseman this season to hit double figures in goals, something the team had never done before. With Dunn’s two Saturday and one from Jay Bouwmeester, the Blues defense has scored 44 goals this season, the most in the league.

“I think you’re not creating those by yourself,” Dunn said. “The forwards did a great job pressuring them and getting the puck back, and they found us up high. The forwards played really well tonight and the D got their pucks through.”

Alex Pietrangelo has 12 goals and Colton Parayko has 10. Dunn finished the game with 11.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Dunn, who had five goals last season. “We’ve set a record for the franchise, so that’s a big accomplishment for our D corps. Other than that, I think it’s a big win for us to move forward on. We were kind of struggling a couple games before and I think we really found our identity tonight .”

“We use our D a lot from the offensive side of things,” coach Craig Berube said, “whether they’re up in the play on the rush or in the offensive zone, so they’re going to get a lot of looks all the time. We want them to shoot the puck from the back end, and we want them to be up in the rush and the play. That’s going to be part of our offense.”

Dunn got his first goal in the slot off a feed from Ryan O’Reilly on the goal line. His second goal, which sealed the win, came on the power play in the third period. Bouwmeester scored from the slot to make it 4-0 on a pass from Pat Maroon. It was the third goal of the season for Bouwmeester, who, along with the injured Carl Gunnarsson, is next on the team in defensemen in scoring. It’s unlikely either of them will reach 10 goals.

UPPED INTENSITY

The Blues reinforced one of their recurring themes this season: They play better against good teams. After losing to league-worst Ottawa 2-0, they beat Pittsburgh 5-1 on Saturday.

“I think we played with more emotion today,” Dunn said. “Everyone was connected, we used everyone in all three zones, the goalie played great as always. Nothing really special to our game. We’re a pretty simple team most games and when we do that, we’re getting pucks in, finding scoring chances, and getting the puck to the net.”

“We had more desperation and urgency in this game than the Ottawa game, for sure,” Berube said. “I thought we were in better spots to score goals, we went to the net better. We shot the puck from the middle of the ice more tonight. Little things like that.”

One of Berube’s points of emphasis before the game was for the Blues to stay out of the penalty box. In the previous meeting between the teams, the Blues gave up four power-play goals to the Penguins in a 6-1 loss. The Blues took two penalties in the first period, after they had taken a 1-0 lead, but killed them both.

“They’re crucial,” Berube said. “That was a big kill, both of them. Good saves by our goalie.”

“You can tell their power play is so good,” O’Reilly said. “If there’s an open guy, they find a way to seam it, and get it to him, it’s tough, starting with (Jordan Binnington). He made some huge saves and gave us a good chance. Those were huge kills that could have given them a lot of momentum.”

NOTES

Though the NHL doesn’t recognize David Perron’s points streak as being active because he missed a game (or in his case, 24 games), he has a point in his past 14 games, something only seven other Blues have done. Next up are Pierre Turgeon, Adam Oates and Bernie Federko at 15. ... Binnington made a career-high 40 saves. His previous high was 32. The 1136485 St Louis Blues

Preview: Blues at Buffalo Sabres

By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Blues at Sabres

When/Where • 4 p.m. Sunday, KeyBank Arena

TV/Radio • FSM, KMOX (1120 AM)

About the Sabres • With Linus Ullmark in goal Saturday in Carolina, it looks like it’ll be former Blue Carter Hutton in goal against Jake Allen. It won’t be the first time the former Blues teammates have squared off this season. On Dec. 27 in St. Louis, the Blues defeated the Sabres 4-1, with Allen stopping 30 of 31 shots for the Blues and Hutton allowing four goals in 32 shots.

After Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Carolina, Buffalo is 2-11-2 since mid- February. Since their 10-game winning streak in November, only Ottawa has a worse record than the Sabres in the entire NHL.

Among other former Blues on the Sabres, Tage Thompson has seven goals, five assists and is minus-17; Vladimir Sobotka has five goals, seven assists and is minus-16.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136486 St Louis Blues “The Big Rig” drove his way to the front of the net often. He scored off an amazing pass by Thomas. Later, Maroon looked like Thomas, unveiling some deke moves, which led to a wrap-around, which led to a beauty of Blues' 'other guys' make victory sweeter an assist to Bouwmeester (that’s what kind of day it was).

Really, Maroon deserves credit for another assist. You might not have noticed, but on the Blues’ final goal, Maroon shielded the goalie’s eyes. Benjamin Hochman With his stick blade. Very creative in a quick moment.

The Blues didn’t only need a win, they also needed an offensive statement. Biggest win of the year. And, yes, if Brayden Schenn and Ryan O’Reilly had just combined for Got to call it that. five goals, we’d still be talking about the big offensive bounceback. But What we saw out of the Blues on Saturday in Pittsburgh was stupefying, because it was some of the other guys? It makes what happened in even in a vacuum. But then consider their previous game, in Ottawa. Pittsburgh that much more rewarding.

They couldn’t have played worse against perhaps their worst opponent of It was a gritty win. But also an integrity win. the season. OK, but now can we see it again? A setback Sunday at Buffalo would And then Saturday, they couldn’t have played better against one of the also be a step back. better opponents. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.17.2019 St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 1.

Besides the Blues getting the win, Saturday’s game was reassurance of insurance — a reminder that the Blues can count on non-All-Stars to actually contribute offensively. That’s rather important in the postseason (the Blues have to get there, first). And in recent games, the play of Jaden Schwartz and Patrick Maroon and some other fellows had been dispiriting. Even Oskar Sundqvist, the beaming surprise of the season, hadn’t tallied a point in five games, going minus-4. The Blues had been a one-trick pony with that top line, and then when Vladimir Tarasenko went down, even the top line was just any old line.

The Blues arrived in Pittsburgh with three total goals in their three previous games.

But Schwartz was a pest out there. And the best Schwartz is the pest Schwartz.

Funny enough, the star of the day was Vince Dunn (two goals), but it was Schwartz who saved Dunn’s day in the first period. Dunn made a dumb turnover, and Schwartz scurried in to prevent a glorious goal-scoring chance.

In the second period, he blazed toward the boards in the neutral zone and cleverly stuck out his stick just to chip up the puck. The opponent couldn’t get to it in time. Schwartz himself followed the puck into the corner, spun away from a defenseman and was able to get off a pass for a shot. Talk about something-out-of-nothing.

For much of the season, you’d get that “ugh” feeling when No. 17 received the puck — but lately it’s been an inspiring jolt, because Schwartz seems to be back to cooking up creativity.

And Sundqvist, traded away by these very Penguins, returned to Pittsburgh for a breakout game. He started on the line with Schwartz and Alexander Steen and showcased that he can be a viable 200-foot player.

Again, this was against the Penguins, a team 7-1-2 in their past 10, while also at home, taking advantage of the last line change and loud crowd.

Sundqvist also wristed the first goal of the game on a Jaden pass — a play started with the hustle of Colton Parayko. Incidentally, few Blues have turned around their season more than Parayko. In the early months, he made some peculiar mistakes and coughed up a bunch of passes. At Christmas, he was plus-three. Now, he’s plus-14, following another fine performance, this one while he and Jay Bouwmeester were often paired with the Sidney Crosby line.

With David Perron back — they sure needed David Perron back — coach Craig Berube shuffled the lines, moving Perron to the top line and moving the always-moving Robert Thomas to the second line. It created this sort of engine of a line — Thomas, Tyler Bozak and Maroon — that led to big things.

One of the biggest problems the Blues were having was — besides, um, scoring — was controlling the puck in the offensive zone. Yes, they got a bunch of shots at Ottawa. But when they can get the puck in deep and then continue to cycle and move the puck around, it fatigues the defense. We saw much better puck control Saturday, and Thomas was a key part of that. And this led to one of the best performances of the season — not by Thomas, but by Maroon. 1136487 St Louis Blues “It’s tough to make that final move,” he said. “I was pretty nervous before the game, last night, all that stuff. It went well, we played a good game, so it was awesome. … With some of the ones I had, there’s stress in Perron's return gives Blues a boost in win over Penguins there, so many things that play into this. It’s good that it worked out and I played a pretty good game.

“I was too excited to be out there and the tears kind of took the stress By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch 6 hrs ago away from me, and I just played after that. I’ve never had that before. … It’s special to play in the league obviously. Just the excitement in

warmups, you forget what it is.” PITTSBURGH • When Blues forward David Perron went onto the ice for For his game first in two months, there was some question about how pregame warmups Saturday afternoon, he did something he had never quickly Perron would get back up to speed. He felt it happened pretty done on a hockey rink. quickly. He cried. “I wanted to be perfect,” he said. “But there were still a few things. The “Legit,” he said. “Five, 10 seconds, I had a couple tears. Nothing overly first power play, I didn’t practice the power play in two months and then crazy, but I was caught off-guard with joy. … Joy to be back on the ice.” to be thrown in against those guys ... I felt I should have been sharper there, but again, it was first one. The second one was better, I could have After missing two months (57 days to be exact) and 24 games to a moved my feet in certain situations that I could have done more. Those concussion, Perron made his return against the Penguins on Saturday, guys covered for me. Hopefully they’ll keep doing the same thing.” and it went as well as it could have gone, lifting not only his spirits but that of the entire Blues team. The Blues beat the Penguins 5-1 at PPG Berube said he would put Perron in advantageous positions, and he did Paints Arena in a win that seemed to set the Blues back on the right that by putting Perron on the team’s top line. course as they make a run for a playoff spot and whatever happens after “He and O’Reilly had really good chemistry before when he got hurt,” that. Berube said. “Vladi’s not in the lineup now, and we need a guy up there Perron had an assist on the game’s second goal, running his personal that can work with those guys and hang onto the puck in the offensive points streak to 14 games, and his forecheck on the play was just as zone, and he’s got great vision.” important. He had a couple of good scoring chances, but his presence on “He maybe is not the fastest one,” said Oskar Sundqvist, who scored the team’s top line with Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn seemed to 4:56 into the game for the Blues’ first five-on-five goal and first lead in a trickle down through the lineup. Everyone played better. week, “but you can’t take the puck out of him. It’s important to get him “It’s huge,” O’Reilly said. “It obviously gave us a massive spark. Watching back, and I think he played a really good game today. He gets our lineup him come in, myself getting to play with him, the way he creates, his even deeper. I think all lines were clicking today and played really good.” hands, his vision, really complements well anyone’s game. He comes in Just what the Blues were waiting to hear. and makes some great plays and had a strong game for us.” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.17.2019 “He did a real good job of hanging onto that puck in the offensive zone like he does,” coach Craig Berube said. “He kind of set the tone a little bit for us. He’s really good at that.”

A team that had scored three goals in its past three games suddenly scored four in the first 23 minutes Saturday as the Blues showed once again that they can get by without one of their top scorers — Vladimir Tarasenko is out at least one more game — but not two. Whether it was because Perron was back or not, the Blues did the things against Pittsburgh that they didn’t do Thursday against Ottawa, getting around the net for loose pucks and putting shots on goal, rather than somewhere else.

They also got three goals from their defense, including two from Vince Dunn, and 40 saves from Jordan Binnington in an outstanding game for the rookie netminder. Two key penalty kills in the first period by the Blues set the tone for the game.

It was a long road back for Perron, who hadn’t been in a game since Jan. 17 vs. Boston. He’s been there before, having missed 97 games to a concussion from November 2010 to December 2011.

“It’s always harder and harder mentally,” he said. “It just grinds at you, grinds at your family, and it’s really awesome to be back. ... It’s really digging deeper and deeper every time. That one was, same thing. … I’m just going to cross my fingers, knock on wood, that it’s going to go well the rest of the year and we can go on and play in playoffs and have a real good run.”

It was a lot of hard work that led to his return.

“When you’re out, people don’t realize,” he said. “‘He’s just resting.’ I didn’t rest. I did everything but rest. I basically skated for the last five or six weeks, keep ramping up the intensity. With my situation this time, I couldn’t skate full. Without going too much into detail, I skated as hard as I wanted the last three weeks, and it’s tough to know when it’s going to come around. You want to play good when you come back, and you want to get as close as where you want to be to be effective for the team.”

Perron’s presence on this trip, his first time going on the road with the team since playing in Boston on Jan. 17, pointed to his return, but he sat out the Blues’ game at Ottawa on Thursday. Perron said he decided Friday that he was ready to go, and that led to unexpected nerves the night before the game. 1136488 St Louis Blues The Blues killed off another Pittsburgh power play later in the period, making them 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

First Period Energized Blues rout Penguins 5-1 Not only did the Blues stop the potent Pittsburgh power play twice, they scored a pair of goals themselves to take a 2-0 lead after one period By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch Saturday at PPG Paints Arena.

Oskar Sundqvist, acquired from Pittsburgh as part of the Ryan Reaves trade in June 2017, opened the scoring against his former team with his Now that's what you call a response. After a lackluster outing Thursday 13th goal of the season 5 minutes into the game. The shot came from the against Ottawa in an embarrassing 2-0 loss to the NHL's worst team, the edge of the right faceoff circle and went through the legs of two players Blues showed urgency, toughness — and offense — against one of the past Penguins goalie Matt Murray. NHL's best teams. Late in the period, Vince Dunn scored his 10th goal of the season — he Getting a career-high 40 saves from goalie Jordan Binnington and the was left alone in the slot — on a feed from Ryan O'Reilly. David Perron, first two-goal game of Vince Dunn's career, the Blues trounced the back in the lineup for the first time since Jan. 17, got a secondary assist. Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. That meant Perron has a point in 14 consecutive games, albeit after missing 24 games with a concussion. "We had more desperation and urgency in this game for sure than in the Ottawa game," interim coach Craig Berube said. "We just were in better Dunn's goal meant the Blues have three defensemen with at least 10 spots to score goals. We went to the net better. We shot the puck from goals in a season for the first time in franchise history. the middle of the ice. Little things like that." With Jordan Binnington in goal, the Blues killed off penalties to Perron Binnington improved to 17-4-1 this season and has yet to lose in and Tyler Bozak in the first 10 minutes of the period. The Penguins went regulation to an Eastern Conference team. He's 10-0-1 against the East. 4-for-4 on the power play on Dec. 29, when they defeated the Blues 6-1 at Enterprise Center. For Dunn, he now has 11 goals this season, giving the Blues three defensemen with 10 goals or more for the first time in franchise history. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.17.2019 He scored what proved to be the game-winner in the first period, giving St. Louis a 2-0 lead, and ended the scoring at 13:57 of the third period.

"Once we got a couple of goals, we felt good about ourselves again in the scoring department," Berube said. "Because we've been having a tough time scoring, especially 5-on-5."

Pat Maroon added a goal and an assist, and Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko added two assists apiece. Oskar Sundqvist and Jay Bouwmeester had the other goals for St. Louis.

After allowing four power play goals on four Pittsburgh power plays in a 6-1 loss to the Penguins on Dec. 29 in St. Louis, the Blues killed off all four Pittsburgh power plays Saturday. The Penguins entered the game with the NHL's third-best power play (26.3 percent).

The game marked the return of Blues forward David Perron after missing 24 games with a concussion. Perron had an assist on Dunn's first period goal, extending his personal scoring streak to 14 games.

"I thought (Perron) had a real good game," Berube said. "He could've had a couple goals himself. He did a really good job of hanging onto that puck in the offensive zone like he does, and kinda set the tone a little bit for us."

Perron told Blues television analyst Darren Pang on the Fox Sports Midwest postgame show that he was so happy to return to action that he cried during pregame warmups.

The Blues (37-27-7), for 81 points, solidified their hold on third place in the Central Division, two points ahead of Dallas in the playoff race. Pittsburgh fell to 39-24-9.

St. Louis closes out a three-game road trip Sunday in Buffalo.

Second Period

After scoring only three goals combined in their previous three games, the Blues had four goals in the first 23 minutes Saturday, racing to a 4-1 lead over Pittsburgh after two periods at PPG Paints Arena.

Taking a 2-0 lead into the second period, the Blues quickly made it 4-0 on goals by Pat Maroon and Jay Bouwmeester just 70 seconds apart.

Robert Thomas made the play on the Maroon goal, skating behind the Pittsburgh net, then throwing it in front where Maroon tucked it past Penguins goalie Matt Murray for his sixth goal of the season at the 1:31 mark of the second.

That made it 3-0. It became 4-0 at the 2::41 mark when Bouwmeester scored his third goal of the season on a nifty feed from Maroon. That was it for Murray, who was replaced by backup Casey DeSmith in goal.

The Penguins finally got on the board on a Dominik Simon goal midway through the period, on a sequence where the Blues should have cleared the puck. 1136489 St Louis Blues

Perron returns to lineup for Blues on Saturday against Penguins

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch

PITTSBURGH -- David Perron, out since Jan. 17 with a concussion, will return to the Blues lineup on Saturday afternoon for their 1 p.m. game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"It means a lot," coach Craig Berube said. "Before he went out, he was on a roll and producing offensively and doing a real good job all around. He's a top-end player for us."

Perron was on a line with Ryan O'Reilly and Brayden Schenn in warmups. "He's going to play in good situations," Berube said. "He's just got to go in there and get going right away. He's been out a while and I'm sure there's anxiety and things like that, but he'll be fine once he gets a couple shifts in and gets skating and working. He'll feel good."

Perron was averaging 17 minutes per game before the injury. Though he's been skating with the team regularly lately, Berube said they will play it by ear on how much ice time Perron gets.

"How he feels at the time and how he's looking," Berube said.

The Blues need Perron, since they have scored just three goals in the past three games.

"He's really good with the puck, not only on the power play but five on five," Berube said. "He does a great job of keeping it and hanging on to it in the offensive zone and creating a lot for a lot of other people."

Perron has 17 goals and 18 assists for the Blues, putting him third on the team in goals despite missing 24 games and fourth on the team in points. At the time of his injury, he had points in 13 consecutive games.

In keeping with tradition, the Blues sent Jordan Kyrou down to San Antonio.

BLUES LINES

Schenn-O'Reilly-Perron

Maroon-Bozak-Thomas

Schwartz-Sundqvist-Steen

MacEachern-Barbashev-Sanford

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136490 St Louis Blues “Sidney Crosby, (is) one of the best, not just players but just this incredible, humble, person that is compassionate that cares about you as a person as well.”

Joe Vitale finds a new career and a new purpose in the broadcast booth Vitale, now 33, finished the season on long-term injured reserve then had his contract traded to the Red Wings during the 2016 NHL Draft in a transaction designed to alleviate the Coyotes of some payroll. Officially, By Seth Rorabaugh Mar 16, 2019 he retired as a member of the Red Wings despite having never suited up for that organization.

What followed was lots of downtime and sleepless nights in his Before he found his way back into hockey, Joe Vitale’s other major hometown of St. Louis. passion in life almost took him in an entirely different direction nowhere near a hockey rink. And bread baking.

A kitchen. “Part of my concussion is I became a ‘narcolep,'” Vitale said. “I was up all night. I never slept more than two-hour stretches at a time. So I’d be up “I was always huge into bread baking,” Vitale said. “Ever since I was a at 1 a.m., looking up at the ceiling. I needed something that was going to kid, I always loved doing it with my dad. It was one of those funny things keep me really busy in the middle of the night where I’m not going to that was a hobby, and so I started baking a lot of sourdough bread.” wake up my kids and my wife. For some reason, life really took me to Before we venture too far into Vitale’s culinary interest, let’s start with this. I’m mixing water and flour, and I’m cultivating yeast, and I’m making why he had to leave hockey. it into bread. It was a weird scientific but also this organic, hands-on hobby of mine. It just really took over my life in some ways. A fight. “It helped me from a mental standpoint. You learn to start forgetting In the second year of a lucrative three-year contract worth $3.35 million, about your problems and my headaches and all this other kind of stuff. I Vitale found himself a healthy scratch for the first four games of the 2015- started giving bread away to people who really lifted me up. It gave me a 16 season with the Coyotes. When he finally got into the lineup for the sense of community. It was a sense of therapy for me as much as a team’s fifth contest, he wanted to prove he should stay on the ice. hobby.”

Early in the second period of a home game against the Bruins at Gila Vitale went so far as to take some classes on baking bread in San River Arena on Oct. 17, 2015, a scrum developed behind the Coyotes’ Francisco and nearly pursued it as a new vocation. net. Vitale broke off from the group with rugged Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller and they began fighting. He absorbed a few wild right hands “I came home, and I started giving it away to family and friends,” he said. from Miller and then his helmet fell off. A quick right jab to the exposed “People were like, ‘This bread is amazing, can I get more?’ Then left side of Vitale’s face ended the fight. restaurants started calling and saying, ‘We want to sell your bread.’ I was like, ‘Light bulb, I can make some money.’ So I started doing that, and I He never returned. started making some money. I actually opened a little wholesale bakery where I was like making bread out of my house and selling it to these Vitale suffered a concussion as well as a devastating eye injury, which restaurants. still hinders him more than three years later. “Having no idea where this would go, it was just something that was “I’m dealing with an eye injury that prohibits me from doing some daily preoccupying my mind. I was actually really close to starting a couple of activities,” Vitale said. “When I got in that fight, amongst the multiple projects with some local chefs in St. Louis like a bakery sandwich shop. broken bones in my face that I sustained, I’m still dealing with a vision They were very close to making a pretty significant financial investment issue. My eye dropped because the orbital floor fell and I really haven’t into starting this thing.” gotten full peripheral vision my left side yet. That’s what really kept me out of the game. Before that happened, the door to the hockey world opened back up.

“To explain it, my left eye is about a couple of millimeters lower than my “Out of nowhere, I got a call from the Blues,” Vitale said. “Chris Kerber right eye. So when you go left to right really quickly, your eyes always wanted to sit down and have lunch with me. I asked what it was about. want to see in sync and they always need to be in sync. If the left eye is He said, ‘Well, Kelly Chase, after 18 years, is stepping down as the radio seeing something at a different than the right eye, that kind of gets my color analyst. We’re starting to interview people and your name came up head going kind of going a little kooky.” being from St. Louis and recently removed from the league.'”

Despite his considerable injuries, Vitale held out hope that he could “Being that the job hadn’t opened up in 18 years, I just kind of felt resume being an NHLer, even if there were few visible signs of a obligated that a search needed to feel and be as complete as it could complete recovery. be,” said Kerber, the Blues’ play-by-play radio broadcaster, as well as vice president of broadcasting and content development. “Not “Up until I saw a doctor at Washington University in St. Louis and he said necessarily just tap the next guy on the shoulder. … I just wanted to ‘Hey, we may have an issue with your eye,'” Vitale said. “That’s when he make sure I didn’t leave any stones unturned.” explained it. This was about a year and a half (after the injury). Up until that point, I felt that, man, you never know. I could wake up one day and Why was Vitale an option to the Blues? He never played for the just feel better, and I might come back. But when he diagnosed me with organization and didn’t have a particularly distinguised NHL career. the eye injury that I have and it’s going to require surgery and surgery might not even help because of scar tissue and all the complications with “We sat down for about a two-hour lunch,” said Kerber. “He was well it. … When he told me that, something really overwhelmed me saying prepared. He had a resume and all of that. Very well put together. But that this could be it. I had already missed a year and a half, and I’m 31. I what really jumped out at me in that in that initial interview quite frankly think this could be the end of the road.” was more of the questions that he asked. It wasn’t ‘what does the job pay?’ or ‘I can’t wait to get back and travel again.’ It was, ‘what does the A seventh-round pick of the Penguins in 2005, he sought help for his job entail? What kind of work goes into being a good broadcaster? How injury from the Penguins’ first-round pick that year, Sidney Crosby. The do you actually do the job?’” Penguins’ captain missed parts of several seasons due to his own concussion issues. Kerber granted Vitale an audition last summer with the two of them calling a mock broadcast of a period from a game during the 2017-18 “When I got my concussion, I saw the team doctors in Arizona, and I saw season in the broadcast booth of Enterprise Center. another doctor out west,” Vitale said. “Nothing was really clicking. Then it kind of dawned on me, ‘I’ll reach out to Sid.’ He gave me the contact “He sent me a text a day or two before the audition period,” Vitale said. information for the doctors, (Ted) Carrick and (Nathan) Keiser who were “He said, ‘We’re doing the Minnesota Wild game from earlier (last) down in Atlanta. So I went down there for two weeks. Dr. Keiser did season.’ So then I hop online, and I would look at the Minnesota roster, some really great things with my vision and my headaches. He helped and I would look at the Blues roster at the time. Basically how you would me sleep a little bit better. I’d say I was about 80 percent better after prepare for a game now and I prepared for that game as if it was live. We seeing them. went up in the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, went to the very top in the broadcast booth. They had a huge big screen set up with the game in the first period. They actually had the noise and the fans chanting. It was “(Television play-by-play announcer) John Kelly was out on the trip to kind of a cool set-up where you kind of felt like it was a live game. Chris Los Angeles (when there was no local television broadcast),” Kerber just pretty much just ran with the play-by-play, and I just jumped in with said. “Joey asked John to sit in on the broadcast booth, put the headset the color. I had never done anything like this before.” on and take notes and critique how he was doing it. Then a couple of weeks later at the morning skate in Columbus, those two sat down for 40 Among the six people who auditioned for the role, Vitale was the closest minutes and went over the notes that John had for him.” removed from being an active player. The fact that the players on the ice were more or less his peers gave him an advantage over an older player Vitale even sought advice from national voices in other sports. from a different era. “He knew someone that had the connection with Joe Buck,” Kerber said. Former Penguins center Joe Vitale is in his first season as radio color “He went to coffee with Joe Buck after getting the job to say, ‘What do analyst with the Blues. He was recruited by play-by-play broadcaster you like in an analysist that works with you?’ You could see his Chris Kerber (right). (Scott Rovak/St. Louis Blues) commitment level there.”

“In that period, I remember Devan Dubnyk, I played with Devan. I played One aspect of the job which caught Vitale off guard is the arduous with Paul Stastny, I grew up with Paul. So many of these players, I preparation that is required. played with or against and I think was giving some different nuances to the game that maybe other people couldn’t really give because they “I am more tired as a broadcaster than I was as a player,” he said. “You never play against (the current players),” Vitale said. “I made a comment have to constantly have to be on top of what’s going on in the league. about Miiko Koivu’s faceoffs, ‘He’s heavy on the draw. He’s got that The prep work that goes into a game is almost exhausting because you heavy stick. It doesn’t have that very hard flex. If you’re going to beat have to hit every angle. You have to prepare for every single event and him, you’ve got to beat him quick.’ Comments like kind of stood out every single player being spotlighted. So you spend hours prepping for a because of me being so recent to the game.” game and understand every player with the understanding that you’re only probably going to use about eight percent of everything you just “He goes into the locker room and there’s people that he played with,” prepped for.” Kerber said. “We just played the Coyotes (Tuesday). There’s some great relationships there. Now, (older players turned broadcasters) like Darren Learning the finer points of the job is still a work in progress. Vitale is Pang and Joe Michelleti and Jim Fox and all the other really good ones, trying to find the balance between being a broadcaster and being a they have found a way to continue relationships with the players even former player, especially when he speaks with current players. His former though they haven’t played for in 15, 20, 25, 30 years. That’s the great Penguins teammate Pascal Dupuis got into some hot water this season challenge and that’s what separates I think a great broadcaster from a when he suggested on French Canadian television there was a rift just good one. Joey has some of those relationships with current guys between Mike Sullivan and Evgeni Malkin, as well as Phil Kessel, based just naturally since he had just retired. on an informal conversation between the former teammates.

“One of the things that also has played a role here is he is bringing the “When I’m talking to players, I want to talk to them like a player because I perspective of having just come off the ice. So, when you have younger am a player,” Vitale said. “You can’t talk to them like a player all the time listeners that are playing the game and growing up in the game today, because you are interviewing them. I have to be careful because I don’t the game he is describing and how he is looking at it is how the game is want to lose their trust. I don’t want to hear something they’re saying and played and coached today and I think that relates to the listeners along put it out there because they trust me and they confided in me because those lines. It’s been a very positive adjustment and a different point of we’re just talking hockey, we’re just one of the guys. I don’t want to view that without a doubt freshened up the broadcast.” abuse that trust by putting it public something that shouldn’t be public.”

Vitale also offers the viewpoint of being a Blues fan and not so much a “We ended up seeing the Penguins in Toronto earlier in the year,” Kerber Blues player. Having grown up in St. Louis and idolinzing Brett Hull, he said. “Both teams were practicing. You see Joe go over and chat with offers a kinship with an audience that has endured over 50 years of futile Sidney and some of his other teammates. A couple of his old other pursuits of the Stanley Cup. teammates were asking Joe about Oskar Sundqvist. Then they were talking to Joe about what they thought of Oskar Sundqvist. Then here “When I got this job, I was sitting on the porch with my wife,” Vitale said. you have Sundqvist having a terrific season. And it goes in line with what “We were splitting a bottle of wine. We just got the kids to bed. It was some of those Penguins players said this kid could be. The guy that about 6 o’clock in the evening, a nice August evening. I had people brought that insight to the table is Joe and he did that because he had driving by my house. I had no idea who they were, and they were relationships with some of the current guys.” honking and rolling down windows saying, ‘Congrats Joe! Let’s go Blues!’ I got more text and calls and feedback from fans, way more than when I Vitale will be in Pittsburgh Saturday to call a game against his former made my NHL debut or when I scored my first NHL goal.” team. He called the Penguins-Blues game in St. Louis on Dec. 29. He’s been in PPG Paints Arena plenty of times and even sat in the press box Vitale’s path to the NHL out of St. Louis also appealed to Kerber. as an occasional healthy scratch.

“I love the fact that he went from high school hockey here, played all four His first game as a radio broadcaster in Pittsburgh will carry special years of high school hockey here (with Christian Brothers College high significance. school), to college (at Northeastern),” Kerber said. “And took the college route (to the professional ranks). I just felt that, especially for a United “I’m from St. Louis, but I’m truly known around here as a Pittsburgh States market, that’s a relatable path.” Penguin,” he said. “That’s the greatest sum of my NHL career was my years in Pittsburgh. I feel like a Pittsburgh Penguin. Everyone knows me There was another connection at play when Kerber formally told Vitale he in St. Louis as a Pittsburgh Penguin.” had the gig. Having found a rewarding post-hockey existence back in hockey, Vitale “While he was kind of recovering from the injury and the concussion, he realizes there is a unique responsibility to this role, particularly as a started doing some work with his dad’s concrete company here in St. native of St. Louis. Louis,” Kerber said. “So when we offered him the job, I just thought it would be cool if I offered to him up in the broadcast booth of (Enterprise “I was that fan, I still am that fan,” he said. “Now, to think you’re a part of Center). Say, ‘Hey, how would you like this to be your office?’ The that. I remember listening to games, listening Chris Kerber or Dan summer before … the building had gone through three years of McLaughlin or Jack Buck, all these great names across St. Louis with the renovations. One of the first things they did was they put in a new ice Cardinals or the Blues. You recognize the game and you recognize the plant and then obviously had to re-do the floor. It was his dad’s company sports team with the voice of who brought it to you. I approach my job that actually did the concrete pouring. We were literally up there to offer very seriously for that reason because I don’t remember necessarily who him the job and you could see the concrete floor. I said, ‘The pour started Mark McGwire was playing when he broke the (single-season home run) there.’ He said, ‘I know, I worked on it.’ I went, ‘What?!?’ record. But I never forget Joe Buck, his call on the home run.

“He was actually one of the crews working that helped pour the concrete “Those kind of memories, it jolts you where you think that you can be a on the floor that is now Enterprise Center.” part of someone’s memory, you can be a part of history.”

Vitale has approached this job much the same way he did as a fourth-line The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 center who regularly had to battle to stay in the NHL. 1136491 Tampa Bay Lightning “Especially when you look down our lineup, our third and fourth lines need to be physical,” Killorn said. “Especially with a team that tries to, I don’t want to say intimidate you, but they come out and they want their Alex Killorn powers Lightning past Capitals presence to be felt. I think we did a good job of fighting that.”

Lightning beat Capitals in Eastern Conference Finals rematch, as Killorn The Lightning may not talk about its unceremonious exit from the playoffs scores first hat trick and makes presence known physically. last season, but Saturday’s game demonstrated that it hasn’t forgotten about it.

“You have to be able to look other teams in the eye,” Cooper said of the By Diana C. Nearhos physicality. “We did that tonight.”

Lightning 3-0-3--6

TAMPA — The last time the Lightning saw the Capitals, it got shut out Capitals 1-1-1--3 and pushed around. First Period—1, Tampa Bay, Johnson 26 (Kucherov, Point), 8:35. 2, Neither of those things was an issue Saturday night. Tampa Bay, Killorn 14, 10:33. 3, Washington, Carlson 12 (Kuznetsov), 12:06. 4, Tampa Bay, Killorn 15 (Joseph, Cirelli), 15:56. Penalties— Alex Killorn led the charge on both counts with his first career hat trick Palat, TBL, (high sticking), 17:15 Wilson, WSH, (hooking), 18:41 and team-high six hits as the Lightning won 6-3 in the teams’ first Connolly, WSH, (holding), 18:53 meeting since last year’s Eastern Conference final. Second Period—5, Washington, Ovechkin 47 (Oshie, Carlson), 7:33 (pp). “Take the goals away, he was still one of the top players on the ice,” Penalties—Kucherov, TBL, (interference), 5:59 Kuznetsov, WSH, coach Jon Cooper said. “How physical he was, how he wanted the puck. (slashing), 14:42 McDonagh, TBL, (roughing), 18:49 How (Killorn’s line) played against (Alex) Ovechkin’s line a lot of the night. That’s what we’ve seen out of Killorn in multiple seasons.” Third Period—6, Tampa Bay, Cernak 4 (McDonagh, Palat), 2:45. 7, Washington, Ovechkin 48 (Connolly, Orlov), 12:56. 8, Tampa Bay, Killorn Killorn’s second goal showed both sides of his play. It wasn’t a smooth 16 (Kucherov), 19:13. 9, Tampa Bay, Gourde 19 (Erne, Hedman), 19:58. goal-scorer’s goal. It was a battle he won. Penalties—Niskanen, WSH, (holding), 04:10 Palat, TBL, (tripping), 14:22 He got the puck off a turnover, but Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen Wilson, WSH, (miscouduct), 19:46 Cernak, TBL, (misconduct), 19:46. jostled Killorn to get him off the puck. Killorn gave Jensen a shove, and Shots on Goal—Washington 9-13-11_33. Tampa Bay 16-5-14_35. while he was offbalance, he put a shot on goalie Braden Holtby. Killorn continued to the net and took another whack at the rebound to put the Power-play opportunities—Washington 1 of 4 Tampa Bay 0 of 4. Lightning up 3-1 in the first period. Goalies—Washington, Holtby 27-18-4 (33 shots-29 saves). Tampa Bay, “He was unbelievable tonight,” said Anthony Cirelli, who assisted on that Vasilevskiy 34-8-4 (33-30). goal. “He’s skilled, he’s fast, he’s strong. He works so hard every shift every single night. I have a lot of fun playing with him, and he had a heck A—19,092 (19,092). Referees—Kendrick Nicholson, Kevin Pollock. of a night tonight.” Linesmen—Derek Amell, Greg Devorski.

That goal came after a bit of luck on his first goal. Killorn threw the puck Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.17.2019 on the net as he spun around at the boards. It deflected off Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov’s leg and past Holtby to put the Lightning up 2- 0.

Then in the final minute of the game, Killorn added an empty netter to round out that first hat trick.

“He was getting (ribbed) a little bit because he’s played a few games,” Cooper said. “But in the best way. (His teammates) were pretty excited for him.”

The Lightning collected its 55th win (55-13-4) and 114th point to establish franchise marks, breaking records set last season (54-23-5, 113 points).

Saturday’s game was another example of the Lightning’s scoring depth. It was what the Capitals commented on going into the game and what beat them in the end.

The Lightning scored six goals and none came from players named Stamkos, Kucherov or Point. Tampa Bay didn’t need them this time. Tyler Johnson scored the first goal of the game, with assists from Point and Kucherov. Erik Cernak had a nice goal in the third period to make it 4-2, and Yanni Gourde added another empty-netter in the final seconds.

“They know the depth of scoring is where it’s at,” Capitals coach Todd Reirden said before the game. “Oftentimes, the top lines will cancel each other our and it’s your third- and fourth-line guys that are able to chip in offense and be the real difference makers, and for us last year, that was the case.”

[ Up Next: vs Arizona, 7:30 p.m. Monday | TV/Radio: ESPN+, FOX SPORTS SUN, AM-970 ]

Another difference maker for the Capitals last year was that physical presence. The Lightning is a stronger, more physical team that it was the last time these teams met, and it showed Saturday.

Tampa Bay set the tone in the first period. The Lightning outhit the Capitals 14-9 and outscored them 3-1.

Capitals forward T.J. Oshie said the game was won and lost in that first 20 minutes. 1136492 Tampa Bay Lightning Anton Strålman “Strals”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.17.2019

Lightning enters Capitals matchup donning “lucky” nicknames and jerseys

The locker room was decorated with dark green and gold name plates and special jerseys for St. Patrick’s Day.

By Mari Faiello

TAMPA – The Lightning got into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day a little early as its locker room was decorated with dark green and gold nameplates and green jerseys.

But it wasn’t the typical names that donned each player’s name plate like normal – each one had a lucky nickname. Some were more obscure than others, but still fun nonetheless. feeling lucky tonight! ☘️

A post shared by Tampa Bay Lightning (@tblightning) on Mar 16, 2019 at 10:04am PDT

Mikhail Sergachev’s stall was decorated with the name “Sugar,” the ‘S’ being Superman’s logo. Ryan McDonagh wore his “MacTruck” nickname while Dan Girardi had “G$” above his stall.

Andrei Vasilevskiy went with his typical “Big Cat” nickname while Steven Stamkos’ name plate was decorated with “Hammertime.”

One of the more interesting nicknames in the room was Yanni Gourde’s “Greyhound.”

He wouldn’t elaborate on what the nickname was for or where it necessarily came from, but he said it was something Hedman started after Gourde got called-up his first year.

[ River O'Green: Bob Buckhorn's shamrock leg-acy ]

The Lightning players donned their nicknames on the back of St. Patrick Day-themed jerseys they wore during warm-ups.

The green plaid jerseys were decked out in spirit with shamrocks and gold numbers on the arms of both sleeves. The numbers on the back were outlined in gold with green shamrocks taking up most of the white interior of the number.

The jerseys are being auctioned at tampabaylightning.com/jerseyauction to benefit the Lightning Foundation.

Here’s a complete list of the nicknames:

Ryan Callahan “Tony”

Erik Černák “Drago”

Anthony Cirelli “Rocko”

Braydon Coburn “Coby”

Louis Domingue “Sweet Lou”

Adam Erne “Big Ern”

Tyler Johnson “Johnny”

Mathieu Joseph “Joe”

Victor Hedman “Heddy”

Alex Killorn “Killer”

Nikita Kucherov “Kuuuch”

J.T. Miller “Billy”

Danick Martel “Marty”

Ondřej Palát “Pally”

Cedric Paquette “Frank”

Brayden Point “Pointer”

Jan Rutta “Rutts” 1136493 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning and Capitals share mutual respect

Saturday marks the first time the two teams have met since the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

By Mari Faiello

TAMPA – The mutual respect between the Lightning and the Capitals is unmistakable. But the respect doesn’t distract anyone for the matchup ahead.

If anything, it heightens the emotions going into the contest.

Saturday night marks the first time the two teams will face off this season.

“That’s a team over there that we can try to follow in their footsteps,” Steven Stamkos said after Saturday’s morning skate.

The All-Star center knows the capability of the returning Stanley Cup champions and what kind of challenges the team will pose for a Lightning team that hasn’t faced too many obstacles so far this season.

Stamkos also knows what it’s like to go up against a goal-scorer like Alex Ovechkin.

“I think we all, in this room, kind of marvel at the genius of his goal scoring ability,” Stamkos said. “It’s very impressive.

Stamkos looked back at the 2016-17 season when people were counting Ovechkin out after he only tallied 33 goals on the season.

“People were saying that he was done,” Stamkos said. “He has just been better since then. That’s the amazing part. He’s been in this league for a long time now and to still have that consistency is pretty impressive.”

Ovechkin has scored 46 times this season, the most goals on his team by a 25-goal margin.

But it’s the two best one-timers in the league going head to head that makes the matchup all the more interesting.

The All-Star winger knows Stamkos’ abilities as a team leader, goal- scorer and power play influencer.

“I think when he’s on the power play, he’s dangerous,” Ovechkin said. “You can’t guess. You have to know exactly where he’s going to be out there.”

Stamkos isn’t the only one Ovechkin has his eye on, though. Nikita Kucherov has certainly caught Ovechkin’s attention this season, too.

“It’s great to see him develop as a good player, one of the best players, out there,” Ovechkin said. “I’m happy for him and he’s had a great year. But when we play against each other it’s not going to be friendship, it’s going to be a hard battle.”

Like many of his teammates, Ovechkin plans on using the three-game series as a way to judge his team’s play heading into the post-season.

“We have to set the tone either way,” he said. “We know how to play against them. We had success last year and we’re going to play the same way we played last year against those guys.”

But it’s a different season and a new team the Capitals will be facing in this three-game stand.

“That’s the goal in this room, to win a championship,” Stamkos said. “So, I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136494 Tampa Bay Lightning “It’s an amazing day for sure,” he said.

Coming to you from Turin, Italy...Meet our newest #DistantThunder, Fabio. ⚡️���� pic.twitter.com/HCipkRolEb Lightning welcomes Distant Thunder fan from Italy — x - Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 11, 2019

Contact Mari Faiello at [email protected]. Follow @faiello_mari. By Mari Faiello Mari Faiello - Times Staff Writer

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.17.2019 TAMPA – It didn’t take long for coach Jon Cooper to invite Fabio Sorini into the media scrum after Saturday’s morning skate.

“Come on in,” Cooper said. “You want to introduce yourself?”

Sorini’s answer was quick.

“I am Fabio Sorini,” he said. “I am the Distant Thunder. I love this team and this community, and I love, of course, the players and the coach.”

Laughter immediately broke out, followed by Cooper’s invitation to have Sorini take over the questioning from the room of reporters.

If you want injury updates, the starting goalie, or line combos, you're going to have to ask @theonefabio!#DistantThunder | #WSHvsTBL pic.twitter.com/GEPQkz5fT6

— x - Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 16, 2019

Sorini celebrates his first NHL game in the United State Saturday evening as he’ll watch the Lightning take on the Capitals.

This time, however, he won’t be watching on his NHL TV account from Turin, Italy. He’ll be sitting right in front of the action watching his favorite team take on a rivaled opponent from the Chase Club.

The Distant Thunder, a group that focuses on fans that cheer for Tampa Bay abroad, found Sorini online.

He’s a sports journalist in Italy who manages HockeyWords, a website that focuses on hockey teams throughout the world, including the Italian Hockey League, Austrian Hockey League, European Hockey League and the NHL.

Sorini also started up the Italian facebook fan page for the Lightning and interacts with fans.

The Italian native loves everyone on the team, but he donned the Lightning’s alternate jersey with Victor Hedman’s name on the back when he met some of the players this morning in the locker room.

“If this is a dream, don’t wake me up,” he said as Hedman took a silver Sharpie to Sorini’s back.

[ Up Next: vs. Capitals, Saturday at 7 p.m., Amalie Arena | TV/Radio: Fox Sports Sun, NHLN; AM-970 ]

Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy are some of his other favorite players on the team.

“Our roster is incredible,” Sorini said.

But being a journalist himself brought even more of a special meaning to the experience as he was introduced to some of the Lightning reporters around the room.

“He was as excited to meet Brian Engblom and Caley (Chelios) and Bryan Burns,” chuckled Lightning director of marketing Brittany Austin. “He was just as excited about meeting the journalists.”

It was by chance that Sorini turned on a TV in

Italy to a live broadcast of the Lightning Stanley Cup game back in 2004. He has been a fan ever since “in the good and bad moments.”

Sorini previously saw the Lightning play against the Maple Leafs in Toronto back in 2016, a matchup that ended in Tampa Bay’s favor 7-3. But Saturday is his first time seeing his favorite team play on home ice in- person.

Since his arrival in Tampa on Thursday, Sorini has enjoyed taking in Tampa’s culture. He has spent much of his time in downtown as well as Ybor City, particularly noting the influence of Cuban tradition in the area.

The Florida Aquarium and Busch Gardens are also on his to-do list before he flies back home on Thursday, but nothing has distracted Sorini from his Lightning experience. 1136495 Tampa Bay Lightning Don’t read too much into the result. After all, the Lightning was 2-1 against Washington in the regular season last year. When the stakes are higher, the air in the arena gets a little thinner.

Usually slick and always quick, the Lightning can be tough, too But what was promising for Tampa Bay Saturday is that it did not rely on Tampa Bay takes on hard-hitting Capitals and walks away a 6-3 victor the power play. The Lightning outplayed Washington when the teams against the Stanley Cup champs. were 5-on-5, which was an issue in the playoffs last year.

In some ways, this game was an antidote for all of Tampa Bay’s prosperity. By John Romano The Lightning has been sitting atop the NHL standings since October, and there is always a fear that a team might get too confident. Too complacent. TAMPA – Admit it. All this winning had gotten monotonous. Score, celebrate, repeat. This was another win, but it was also a reminder.

More than 70 games into the regular season, the Lightning needed a The Capitals – or the Penguins, Islanders or Flames – are not going to challenge. A sense of danger. With the playoffs less than a month away, go down easily. Some young Lightning players just got a small bite of this fairy tale season needed a villain. playoff-style hockey.

Well, hello Washington. “You’ve got to be able to look other teams in the eye,’’ Cooper said, “and I thought we did that tonight.’’ So nice of the Capitals to crash on by. You remember the defending NHL champions, right? They were the guys who stood between Tampa Bay Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.17.2019 and the Stanley Cup finals last year. That Lightning team needed only one more victory, and then got outscored a combined 7-0 by Washington in the final two games of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Caps returned to Tampa Bay Saturday night for the first time since the Game 7 beatdown, and reminded us, no matter how many regular- season wins Tampa Bay accumulates, this is not going to be easy. Thrilling and scary. Maybe exhilarating or heartbreaking. But not easy.

This was hockey turned up to 11 on the volume nob. End to end, no respites allowed, nasty hockey. And when it was all finished, the Lightning had won 6-3, with the help of two empty-net goals, and moved within one win of clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Best of all, Tampa Bay beat the big, bad Capitals at their own game. Washington is a team that loves to throw its weight around, and the Lightning players stood their ground and won.

“You look at certain guys in their lineup, and they get paid a lot of money to (intimidate). And they do a good job of it,’’ said forward Alex Killorn, who scored a hat trick. “But we didn’t back down at all, I thought it was great.’’

And it was like that from the very beginning. There was a 3:31-second stretch in the first period that saw the teams combine for three goals.

And in the middle of all that, Washington’s Tom Wilson left Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev in a heap on the ice after slamming him into the boards. For the rest of the night, Tampa Bay took turns – Hey Anthony Cirelli you’re up, now Cedric Paquette, c’mon over Yanni Gourde – whacking Wilson.

“It was different and it was welcomed,’’ said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “You’re playing every game to win, but this one had a little different feel.

“You can look at it as Game 72, but when you’re getting down into April and you need to start amping up your game and (having) physical games against bigger teams, that was one of them. And I thought we showed really well.’’

And the best part?

This was just a tease.

Washington and Tampa Bay will meet two more times in the next two weeks with a possible rematch in the Eastern Conference finals looming in May if all goes according to plan.

For those who wondered if the Lightning might get flat with 10 largely meaningless games remaining in the regular season, you should drop to your knees and give thanks to Alex Ovechkin and Co.

The reappearance of Washington is all the Lightning needed to remind itself how long the journey is between the first week of April and the first week of June.

“It felt like a battle,’’ said Cirelli, who had one assist and three hits. “Obviously they’re a big, strong, fast team but I think we are too.’’ 1136496 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning pregame: Tampa Bay meets Capitals for first time this season

Tampa Bay will play Washington three times in a seven-game stretch.

By Mari Faiello

TAMPA – Heading into the first Lightning-Capitals matchup of the season, Steven Stamkos distinctly remembers the emotions emanating from the team’s seven-game Eastern Conference loss against Washington, a series that saw the Lightning drop a 3-2 lead over the Capitals in Games 6 and 7.

“But it’s in the past now,” Stamkos said. “We can’t do anything about it. We’ve obviously turned the page here in this organization and we’ve had a tremendous year to date. We’re just looking to finish strong and hopefully learn from some of those lessons that we learned in the playoffs.”

The Lightning will face off against the Capitals for the first time this season, one of three Washington matchups in its next seven games. A win against the Capitals and a Boston Bruins regulation loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets could give Tampa Bay the No. 1 spot in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.

Washington comes to Amalie Arena with a 9-1-0 record in its last 10 games, the sole loss coming in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss at Pittsburgh. Although the Caps trail the Lightning by 20 points, they appear to be peaking.

“These guys are playing very well as of late,” Stamkos said. “We’re kind of happy we get the chance to play them three times down the stretch.”

The Capitals are the only team in the league that the Lightning has yet to face so far this season. Stamkos expects them to be competitive, and Washington’s T.J. Oshie agrees.

“It looks like they’re all bought in,” Oshie said of Tampa Bay. “That’s always a tougher task when a full team is playing the right way then when you just go up against a couple of really good guys that are hot, and Tampa seems to have both right now.”

Oshie also thinks tonight’s matchup will be a good test for the Capitals, and he expects both teams to contribute to the playoff-like atmosphere that’s most likely to happen over the next three Capitals-Lightning matchups.

But the atmosphere isn’t distracting Stamkos from the ultimate goal.

“We just want to win,” said Stamkos, who will set the franchise records for goals with his next score. “We want to continue to get our game on track to be consistent come playoff time.”

The lineup

Neither Dan Girardi nor Anton Strålman participated in Saturday’s morning skate. Coach Jon Cooper did not have an update on either of the defensemen.

Andrei Vasilevskiy was the first goaltender off the ice this morning, presuming he will start in goal against Washington’s Braden Holtby.

The presumed scratches tonight remain at Danick Martel, Ryan Callahan, Girardi and Strålman.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136497 Toronto Maple Leafs Following a solid first period, the Senators continued to control much of the play and extended their lead to 4-1 after 40 minutes.

Ottawa made it 2-0 early in the second as Gibbons jumped on a Dylan Horrible week for Maple Leafs ends with embarrassing 6-2 loss to lowly DeMelo rebound and went to his backhand as he fell. Toronto cut it to 2- Ottawa Senators 1 at 12:33 as Rielly put a shot over Nilsson’s right shoulder for his 20th of the season.

LISA WALLACE Less than two minutes later, Paajarvi scored his first of two goals. Rudolfs Balcers found Paajarvi, who buried a wrist shot.

With less than two minutes remaining in the second, Paajarvi scored his he best thing the Toronto Maple Leafs can say about this week is that it’s second of the night as he ripped a wrist shot past Sparks. over. “We capitalized on two turnovers and that’s what we wanted,” said The Leafs lost 6-2 to the last-place Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, Paajarvi of his two goals. “Two nice passes from Balcers and Smith and I concluding a week that saw Toronto lose three of four while giving up 23 tried to pick corners and it worked.” goals. The Senators outshot the Leafs 17-9 in the first and led 1-0 off Ceci’s With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Leafs know they sixth of the season. Christian Wolanin saw Ceci trailing and he wristed a must improve. shot past Sparks from the circle. Ottawa-born rookie Max Veronneau picked up his first NHL point on the play in his second game as a “A little adversity is not a bad thing,” said Toronto defenceman Morgan professional. Rielly, whose team fell four points behind the Boston Bruins for second in the Atlantic Division. “We believe in ourselves, we believe in the group, Globe And Mail LOADED: 03.17.2019 we believe in the structure and right now it’s just not going well for us. It’s important that we look at one another, we discuss what we can do better and get it fixed.”

Magnus Paajarvi led the way with two goals, while Cody Ceci, Brian Gibbons, Anthony Duclair and Oscar Lindberg also scored for Ottawa (25-41-6). Anders Nilsson made 35 saves as the Senators won their second in a row.

“We had four lines that all played good,” said Senators interim head coach Marc Crawford. “Our leaders were really good (Saturday). If you look at the guys that wear ‘A’s on the team, they were all terrific.”

John Tavares also scored for the Leafs (43-24-5), while backup goalie Garret Sparks stopped 38 shots.

Sparks was clearly frustrated and feels some of his teammates need to step up.

“We need more emotion,” Sparks said. “I’m an emotional player. I need more emotion. We need more emotion from everybody. We need people to get angry. We need people to step up and be mad and take it personally.”

Leafs coach Mike Babcock said the team has to simplify things.

“Being a pro is getting ready each and every day and doing your part. So if you’re (Sparks), your job is to stop the puck and if you’re a d-man it’s to move the puck and keep it out so everyone just do your own job and we’ll be fine.”

The Leafs should have felt right at home at the Canadian Tire Centre with a season-high crowd of 18,607 mostly cheering for Toronto in the Battle of Ontario.

The Senators are used to seeing a lot of blue in the stands.

“We talked about it a bit before and we knew there would be a lot of Leafs fans since they’re having a good season and it’s their first time playing here in Ottawa this year,” said Nilsson, who came to the Senators in mid-season. “It was definitely a new experience for me seeing so many away fans from the visiting team in your home barn.”

Trailing 4-1 to start the third, Toronto caught a break when both Zack Smith and Mark Borowiecki took minor penalties, giving the Leafs a two- minute, two-man advantage.

Tavares managed to score to cut the lead in half, but not until there were just 14 seconds remaining on the power play. Ottawa regained its three- goal lead shortly after as Duclair tracked a shot off the back boards and slid it past Sparks. Lindberg capped the scoring.

Tavares’ goal was his 40th of the season, a career high for the 28-year- old, but admitted it was hard to feel good about the accomplishment with the way things are going right now.

“We have high expectations for ourselves and we know the level we’re playing at right now isn’t consistent enough and has to be better,” Tavares said. “All we can do is continue to push forward and stick together and work our way out of it. That’s the only way we’re going to get to where we want to get to.” 1136498 Toronto Maple Leafs Double honour: Sparks’ green St. Pats mask — a mix of Leafs and shamrocks on the front — also honoured the Humboldt Broncos on the back.

Frustration mounts as Leafs crash against Senators Roster notes: The Senators have used 45 players this season. The Leafs have dressed 27 … Ottawa was without Colin White (neck) … Igor Ozhiganov and Nic Petan were healthy scratches for the Leafs … By Kevin McGran Kasperi Kapanen (concussion), Jake Gardiner (back) and Travis Dermott (shoulder) remained out of the Leafs lineup.

Up next: Another back-to-back — Tuesday in Nashville, Wednesday in The Ottawa Senators were playing for pride. The Toronto Maple Leafs Buffalo. were playing for playoff position. Pride won. Toronto Star LOADED: 03.17.2019 The NHL’s worst team handed the Maple Leafs a 6-2 loss on Saturday night as Toronto’s hockey team, again dressed in their St. Pats greens, continue to confound with poor play and slow starts.

Leafs defenceman Martin Marincin gets the worst of this tangle with Bobby Ryan of the Senators in Saturday night’s game in Ottawa.

Morgan Rielly and John Tavares scored milestone goals, but Garret Sparks was deluged with 44 shots as the Senators outhustled the Maple Leafs in the latest Battle of Ontario.

Frustration boiled over in the Leafs dressing room after the game, with Sparks assessing the problem.

“We need more emotion,” said Sparks. “I’m an emotional player. I need more emotion. We need more emotion from everybody. We need people to get angry. We need people to step up and be mad and take it personally.

“I’m not going to disclose any locker-room conversations. We just want to be better as a group.”

Coach Mike Babcock wasn’t sure emotion was the problem.

“I just think that being a professional is getting ready each and every day and doing your part,” said Babcock. “So if you’re (Sparks) your job is to stop the puck, and if you’re a defenceman it’s to move the puck and keep it out, so everyone just do your own job and we’ll be fine.

“You’ve got to dig in, you’ve got to do your part, and when you go through lows you’ve got to work that much harder and compete.”

The Senators have won two of three meetings this season, with one more set for March 30 in Ottawa.

The two points didn’t mean a great deal to the Senators, officially in rebuilding mode and playing a lot of young players – much like the Leafs of the 2015-16 season. The Senators don’t have a first-round pick in the June draft. But to the Leafs, with home ice hanging it the balance, the loss was costly with the Bruins picking up two points in Columbus.

The problem: The Leafs have allowed the first goal in four straight games, and have been outscored 8-1 in the first period in those four. They allowed 23 goals in a week. Saturday’s loss, their third in four games, certainly wasn’t on Sparks. On Ottawa’s second goal, for example, the puck danced in the slot with four Leafs around it. Brian Gibbons still managed a whack at it that deflected off Rielly and past Sparks.

For the Leafs: Rielly scored his 20th goal of the season in the second period. He leads all NHL defencemen in that department, and became the third blue-liner in Leafs history to score 20, joining Ian Turnbull and Al Iafrate … Tavares scored on a two-man advantage in the third. It was his 40th goal, the first time the veteran has hit that mark … The Leafs might have been tired in the second of back-to-back games, and fifth in eight nights. But they got better as the night went on, and pledged not to start slow. “There’s been no panic,” Tavares said before the game. “Just realizing the way we were playing was not going to get the results we need … We believe in our group and our talent that if we do that, the results will come.”

For the Senators: Magnus Pajaarvi had two goals, with singles by Brian Gibbons and Cody Ceci as Ottawa built a 4-1 lead through two periods. Anthony Duclair and Oscar Lindberg scored in the third.

At home on the road: Leaf Nation showed up in force at the Canadian Tire Centre. “It’s exciting. It’s fun,” said Leafs winger Mitch Marner. “Even for us players, you see the home ticket prices. It’s a short (trip) for a lot of fans. It’s the same when we go to Buffalo. It’s a cool rivalry. Both fan bases are in on it. It’s fun playing in those buildings.” 1136499 Toronto Maple Leafs he’s not afraid to go into the corner and come out with the puck. Our line, we’ve come up with some nice plays.”

Hyman, meanwhile, is having a career year with John Tavares and Mitch Matthews and Nylander re-energized for Leafs’ stretch run Marner on what has been considered the Leafs’ top line. If the Johnsson- Matthews-Nylander unit continues to connect, opponents will have a hard time deciding which line to target with its top defenders. By Kevin McGran The third line of Patrick Marleau, Nazem Kadri and Brown has lost a bit of its offensive flair without Nylander, but remains the Leafs’ most trustworthy defensively. Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Like Nylander, Matthews had the distraction of a high-profile contract They had played together from the first game of the Matthews era until negotiation to deal with earlier this season. The all-star centre also the start of this season. missed 14 games with a shoulder injury. Leaf Auston Matthews tries to break loose from Senators defenceman “I just think, injured guy comes back, takes some time, gets skating,” Cody Ceci in Saturday night’s game in Ottawa. Matthews managed nine Babcock said of Matthews. “I don’t know if it had to do with negotiations shots on goal, but didn’t score. or any of those things. I don’t know. We’re all human beings. While Nylander waited out a contract impasse with the Maple Leafs until “I know the players, when they feel great, they play right. When you don’t Dec. 1, Matthews went through right wingers the way the Philadelphia feel good, you don’t play. But you also have to have conditioning now. Flyers go through goalies: Tyler Ennis, Kasperi Kapanen, Connor Brown, The biggest thing with him is skating, and the physical side of his game Trevor Moore. All fine young men with special talents that got them to the on offence is making him way better. And when you’re skating like he is, NHL, but none of them clicked like Nylander did with Matthews — you’re back there for defence and you’re not giving anything up.” Kapanen came closest. Toronto Star LOADED: 03.17.2019 When Nylander returned, though, he proved unable to play with Matthews. Coach Mike Babcock suggested it was for a variety of reasons. So it was off to the third line, and fewer minutes, until Nylander found his game.

The magic was lacking on Saturday night — team-wide — as the Leafs fell 6-2 to the Senators in Ottawa, but Nylander and Matthews have been operating at the top of their game together of late.

Saturday’s loss might have been symbolized by a pass from Matthews that bounced over Nylander’s stick in the slot, a missed scoring chance that turned into Ottawa’s sixth goal when the play immediately went the other way.

Matthews led the Leafs with nine shots, though, and he and Nylander picked up assists on John Tavares’ milestone 40th goal. It might be of little solace after losing to the NHL’s worst team — and losing ground in the battle for home ice in the opening round of the playoffs, after the Bruins won — but Matthews has four goals and two assists in his last four games, while Nylander has five assists since he was reunited with the centre.

“I think we’ve kind of rekindled that chemistry we had the first two years playing together,” said Matthews.

There’s no question Nylander likes playing with him.

“It’s lots of fun,” said Nylander. “He creates space for me and he can score like nobody else in the league.”

If they continue to produce as the top tandem, the Leafs’ chances of chasing down the Boston Bruins for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs look a lot brighter.

“Great teams need their best players to score,” said Leafs goalie . “The best offensive players put the puck in the net, and they’ve been great at it.”

The reunion was prompted by the loss of Kapanen to a concussion, but in reality it was time to make the move anyway. Kapanen was slumping with one goal in 12 games before the injury, and Matthews went six games without a goal before finding the net against the Tampa Bay Lightning last Monday.

“When we talk about chemistry, the biggest part about chemistry is, Willy is competing and working and skating and getting pucks,” said Babcock. “He made an unbelievable play on that one goal (by Matthews against Philadelphia on Friday): on one leg, winning a battle, making a play. That’s what’s happened. When we put him there before — whether it was his conditioning, whether it was his timing … It’s a hard league and he wasn’t ready, and now it looks like he’s ready.”

Their recent success has also come with Andreas Johnsson on the left wing instead of Zach Hyman.

“Johnny has been a real nice addition,” said Matthews. “He works so hard getting under guys and getting in front of the net. For a small guy, 1136500 Toronto Maple Leafs record is 2-4-1, including two regulation losses by just a goal prior to facing the Leafs.

“It’s obviously kind of a weird situation over there, but I’m happy for him,” Maple Leafs' hellish week continues with loss to Senators Matthews said. “His main goal for that year I was playing for him was to get back in the NHL, whether it was as assistant or head coach. Now he’s kind of running the show there and I wish him all the best — except Lance Hornby when they play the Leafs.”

Matthews thrived in the Swiss League, a much different proving ground and lifestyle for a North American teen than junior or college. Crawford OTTAWA — Call it the week from hell for the Maple Leafs’ team defence worked with Matthews’ mother Ema, who moved from Arizona to Zurich and goaltending. for the season, to ensure her son was on the right path preparing for Four games, 23 goals against, the past three games against non-playoff games, while experiencing a new culture. teams. It started Monday against the league-leading Tampa Bay “He helped me out a lot, honestly,” Matthews said. “He was hard on me Lightning and ended with Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the last-place Ottawa in ways where it helped me learn. Going against older NHL guys, he kind Senators, a delight for the latter’s fans, stuck in a sea of blue sweaters at of just showed me different things to expect for the next year and areas the Canadian Tire Centre. over there where the game is different (on larger ice). There was the broken record of Toronto not starting the evening with the “Faceoffs, D-zone stuff, skating through the neutral zone … he was really needed commitment, despite a friendly crowd, outplayed by a team that good with me, showing me what to expect at the next level. I thought he wanted it more. The Leafs looked lost when pressured in their own end at did a really good job.” times, unable to move, either because forwards weren’t in position for outlet passes or coverage in transition wasn’t there. Crawford learned quickly from the old guard on the Lions how fast Matthews was fitting in. In net for the second game of this back-to-back, Garret Sparks at least had a chance to start instead of coming in cold for a shaky Frederik “Not that (veterans) are cynical, but they want to really see him. Very Andersen. But when Morgan Rielly cut Ottawa’s lead to 2-1 and quickly, our guys in Zurich, were like, ‘Oh, hey, he’s pretty good, I’d like to be on his line’.” Toronto needed a save, he gave up two late goals in the second period. He faced 44 shots in the game. SPEED DEMON

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Leafs, who continue on the Crawford never fails to be impressed with Matthews’ acceleration. road for two more games, getting Nashville on Tuesday to start the countdown of the final 10 games of the regular season. “You realize how good he is carrying speed through the neutral zone. He’s one of those players that’s been able to make those moves and he’s The big Ottawa lead, abetted by three minors Toronto had to kill through got no fear through the neutral zone. the first 40 minutes to sap energy, put an added load on the power play when two Sens went off simultaneously. Yet it took almost the full 5-on-3 “That really is the new wave of the NHL. We’ve got entire generations of for John Tavares to score, his 40th. players that have played without the threat of the boom being lowered as you come through the neutral zone. It’s made the game extremely fast. The Sens’ Anthony Duclair added to the carnage anyway with Sparks out That and the combination of no red-line has made speed the premium in of his net on a backboard rebound and then Oscar Lindberg knocked in a the NHL.” breakaway rebound. POWER HOUR The Sens have been badly mauled on the first period shot clock among other problems, but in no time were ahead 9-1 on the Leafs and up one In scoring 16 goals the past four games before Saturday, the Leafs had on the board. power-play goals in back-to-back contests for the first time in a month and three in their past four games. After a couple of nice extended pad saves, Sparks was beaten on a 2- on-1 when the Leafs overloaded in pursuit of a puck at their blueline, “We’re determined to get pucks back,” noted Tavares. “Especially when leaving Cody Ceci open. Moments later, a bad angle swipe by Mikkel you get pucks on net, you get retrieval opportunities or from digging in on Boedker bounced over Sparks and off the post and goal line. But that faceoffs. You’re able to start with possession and not have to go 200 feet respite didn’t last long as Brian Gibbons’ blind backhander eluded a and have to break in and use a lot of energy to set up that way and let couple of Leafs and Sparks to put the Toronto in another hole. your opponent gain momentum.”

Auston Matthews had a couple of cracks at Ottawa keeper Anders OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Nilsson, along with Trevor Moore, before Morgan Rielly finally solved the While Leafs coach Babcock has the security of a long term deal, Swede with his 20th of the year, joining a small cadre of Toronto Crawford’s future is unknown. Still, the latter is making some headway defenceman, including Al Iafrate, to reach that many in a season. with the Sens.

SWISS ARMY “We just did the pre-scout on their last two games and their team played Matthews and Sens coach Marc Crawford are a long way from the halls well,” Babcock said. “I haven’t followed the (off-ice) situation, but Crow’s of the Hallenstadion. been around a long time and he’s a good coach. This should be no different.” Three years ago, both yearned to be in the NHL, Matthews as the projected No. 1 overall pick, Crawford as a head coach, having been The Sens struggles have put a damper on the Battle of Ontario. It has charged with the young prodigy for his lone season in the Swiss League. now been 15 years since the last playoff series — the last-best-seven the Leafs have won to date — and it’s not looking like the Ottawa will be It didn’t take Matthews long to prove himself, becoming the winner of the back in the playoff picture anytime soon. Calder Trophy in 2017 and recording 197 points in 201 games before Saturday. Crawford, a veteran coach of more than 1,200 NHL games, did “It’s always naturally going to be a rivalry, but I think given the position get back, though not the way he intended. we’re in right now I think it tones it down just a touch,” said alternate captain Mark Borowiecki. “I don’t want to under-sell it, I think it’s still After joining Guy Boucher’s staff as an assistant in 2016 when the team pretty intense and it feels like no matter where each team is in the came second in the Atlantic Division, Crawford was among those standings there’s a chance for either to win in it. That’s the way it’s affected by the consequences of ensuing off-ice decisions that have left always been. the Sens in disarray. “You’d see it even more if we were both fighting for a playoff spot or Two weeks ago, with the turmoil resulting in Boucher getting fired, playoff points. There’s still a lot of natural dislike. I’m sure there’s a lot of Crawford was given an unenviable battlefield promotion to get the team guys over here they don’t like and (vice-versa).” through its last difficult days in the regular season. So far, Crawford’s Tavares was not taking the Sens for granted before the game, despite their impossible playoff position. “They’re playing for pride and next season and whatever that entails,” Tavares said. “They’re usually playing looser, the pressure’s a lot different. We just have to prepare ourselves. That has been our focus this week where we’ve obviously had some inconsistency and some ability to fight through some adversity Wednesday and (Friday).”

LOOSE LEAFS

Borowiecki was feeling better Saturday after a nasty bout of the flu. “The hazmat suit isn’t on today,” he smiled. “It was a rough 24 hours. We’ll call it the involuntary cleanse, so I’m fully detoxed now” … Newly-signed Senator Max Veronneau was a little busy on Friday, writing his astronomy exam to finish his mechanical engineering degree at Princeton University. “It went decently well, I probably should have studied a little bit more, but I did fine,” said Veronneau. “It was good to get it over with because it was on my mind the last week. Now it’s a lot more relaxing” … Leafs assistant equipment manager Tom Blatchford gets a little nostalgic around March 17. He was equipment manager for the Belfast Giants in the British League. “Every day was St. Patrick’s Day there,” Blatchford assured.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136501 Toronto Maple Leafs for trying to punch someone and miss the way Ibaka missed, what would have happened had he connected with Marquese Chriss’ jaw? … I have asked The Sun to put me on Load Management so I don’t have to write SIMMONS: Tavares the right choice to be Maple Leafs captain every day or even every Sunday. Just when I feel up to it. I’m awaiting their response … The Raptors without Kawhi Leonard are 13-5. The Lakers without LeBron James are 6-12. Raps are 9-4 in games Kyle Lowry hasn’t played in, which tells you a little something about their Steve Simmons overall depth … In one of the great scoring seasons in NBA history, Bob McAdoo averaged 34.5 points a game for the Buffalo Braves in 1975. James Harden is scoring at 36.1 a season, less than a field goal a game This much has become apparent: John Tavares should be the next more than McAdoo, and is currently running away with the NBA lead in captain of the Maple Leafs. scoring … Pascal Siakam is right: He does deserve a raise. He’s set to make $2.3 million next season. That’s tiny by NBA standards and by his Tavares looks the part, sounds the part, knows how best to play the growing accomplishments. public role and the internal workings that go along with the captaincy. And, to a man, the Leafs players, hold him in high regard. SCENE AND HEARD

Tavares likes to joke about how serious he happens to be, too serious, This is unusual and unlikely. Since the NHL all-star break rookie Andreas he says — Jonathan Toews-like, without the Stanley Cups — but on a Johnsson has scored 10 goals for the Maple Leafs. In the same time, rather young Maple Leafs team, having a leader with a serious side runaway rookie of the year, Elias Pettersson, has scored just four for should be welcomed by the players, management and the coaching staff. Vancouver … My St. Patrick’s Day All-Patrick team: Patrick Roy, Patrick Ewing, Lester Patrick, Pat Benatar, Patrick Kane, Pat Riley, Mike Patrick, Sometimes you don’t have to designate a ‘C’ on a jersey to know who is Pat Boone, Patrick Marleau, Pat Verbeek, Craig Patrick and Uncle in charge. With most teams, it becomes obvious over time. And it is James Patrick … Kerrin Lee-Gartner, who had one of the great Olympic becoming that way with Tavares, who isn’t the Leafs most offensive moments in Canadian history winning the downhill at Meribel in 1992, player or explosive player, but he has a way of carrying himself that steps away on Sunday after years behind the microphone for CBC skiing. indicates he should get the appointment once it is eventually made. Wish her well … Scream all you want about Ron Hainsey being too old Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly will likely wind up as alternates if or and too slow, but the man does his job. With the Leafs beaten up on the when Tavares is named captain. back-end with Jake Gardiner, Travis Dermott and AHL star Calle Rosen out, he’s no worse than Toronto’s third-best defencemen. Hainsey is tied Rielly leads naturally. It comes easily to him. Matthews will have to grow for the NHL lead in plus-minus, which means he doesn’t get scored on all into the role. He’s still learning. that much … Scream instead about Nikita Zaitsev. He’s worth losing your voice over. Rarely does he make a tape-to-tape pass out of his own zone And if three alternates are available, the third one should go to Zach or into the neutral zone. And he’s last in the NHL in shots on goal for any Hyman, the game-in, game-out hardest worker on the Leafs. defenceman playing more than 20 minutes a night … Nabil Karim is the The Leafs have said all along they are in no hurry to name a captain and latest Canadian broadcaster to be heading South. He’s leaving TSN for there’s no reason to be in any hurry. But Tavares has grown into the role ESPN … Caroline Cameron made her Hockey Night In Canada debut in his first Toronto season and appears as the best suited to lead this last Saturday night and was nothing short of terrific …Last U.S. college group going forward. basketball season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Hamilton made a name for himself. This year, Burlington’s Mfiondu Kabengele is doing the same THIS AND THAT at Florida State. The Canadian game just gets deeper and deeper.

Who will be coaching in the NHL next? Alain Vigneault? Joel AND ANOTHER THING Quenneville? Sheldon Keefe? Dallas Eakins? Darryl Sutter? Maybe Eakins in Anaheim. Maybe Keefe in Ottawa. Maybe Vigneault Blue Jays lead the major leagues in high-performance capabilities and somewhere else — maybe in Ontario? There should be lots of interest in the number of nutritionists. So how is it that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. winds him … Barry Trotz should run away with coach of the year honours, but up in training camp 25 pounds more than when he left at the end of last the list of those behind him is growing: Jon Cooper in Tampa; Rick season. Aren’t the Jays supposed to be monitoring their stars? … Looks Tocchet in Arizona; Rod Brind’Amour in Carolina; Bill Peters in Calgary; like Randal Grichuk will lead off for the Jays, which is rather startling. Bruce Cassidy in Boston. All doing impressive work in a deep coaching Grichuk had an on-base percentage of .301 last season and .288 and season … Buffalo will miss the playoffs for the eighth straight year, the .289 the years before that with high strikeout numbers all three years. fourth straight with Jack Eichel on board. Can’t believe Phil Housley will Not exactly your leadoff hitter type … The Mark Shapiro-Ross Atkins duo be back next season to coach the Sabres. Carolina has missed nine are finally putting their team on the field and you can debate what kind of years in a row, but is looking like a playoff team with three weeks to go … team it is. Jays should start with the season with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. at In Mats Sundin’s best Toronto season he scored 94 points. Mitch Marner, second base, Freddy Galvis at shortstop, Brandon Drury at third base, with 85 points heading into Saturday night, should pass Sundin before Teoscar Hernandez or Billy McKinney in left field and Grichuk in right the season ends … Nikita Kucherov’s season doesn’t get enough talk. field. All those players were brought in by Shapiro and Atkins … The He’ll have the highest scoring numbers since Mario Lemieux in 1996 and, prototype spring training story from every camp, every year: How I’m most impressively, is 29 points ahead of linemate Brayden Point and 34 ready to have a great year this year after my lousy year last year. Isn’t points ahead of Steven Stamkos in Tampa Bay … No one has scored 50 that what they all say? …. Why is it the Argos seem to get short-shrift by goals in the NHL the past two seasons, but it looks as though Alexander the Canadian Football Hall of Fame? By my count, Dick Thornton, Jim Ovechkin is on his way to the big number again. Ovechkin was the only Rountree, Leo Cahill, Terry Greer and Chris Schultz should all be in the 50-goal scorer in ’14, ’15 and ’16. He’ll have his eighth 50-goal season, Hall and yet none of them are … What’s worse — settling for less money which equals the number of 50-goal campaigns from all others in his time than you expected or running the ball for the New York Jets? Le’Veon in the NHL … Kyle Dubas has had a big rookie season. The Tavares Bell isn’t one of the great economists of our time … Bautista is back for signing. The William Nylander signing. The deal for Jake Muzzin. But his Wrestlemania — Dave not Jose … What would you expect from Felicity most impressive day as Leafs GM came when he and Rielly took the Huffman? She’s married to Frank Gallagher … Happy birthday to Cito podium to speak publicly about the Leafs’ stance on inclusion in the Gaston (75), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (20); Danny Ainge (60), Jiri Tlusty community. Dubas spoke to everyone that day — and spoke so well and (31), Craig Ramsay (68), Joel Embiid (25), Joe DeLamielleure (68) and impressively … Two things about Matthews’ line: One, he has to get Bobby Ryan (32) … And hey, whatever became of Martin Gerber? better on faceoffs in his own end. Two, his linemates and defensive ANDERSEN’S VEZINA HOPES TAKE A HIT pairings have to get smarter on defensive-zone positioning after losing the draw. About a week ago, Frederik Andersen seemed a likely choice as one of the three nominees for the Vezina Trophy as best goaltender in the NHL. HEAR AND THERE Now, we’re not so sure. The best part of the Serge Ibaka suspension is this: The three games gone has given coach Nick Nurse all kinds of minutes to work with This has probably been Andersen’s worst week as a Leaf. Toronto had starting centre Marc Gasol. The more chemistry Gasol gets with his new three games at home and allowed 17 goals against, Andersen was pulled teammates, the better it will be for the Raptors … If you get three games twice and he probably should have been pulled a third time Friday night against Philadelphia, where he almost put two more pucks by him with his own difficulty trying to make a play.

Tampa’s Andrei Vasiliveskiy is the morning-line favourite to win the Vezina. He has a 33-8 win-loss record and a .929 save percentage for the best team in the NHL. Marc-Andre Fleury in Vegas has a 35-19 record and 2.46 goals against average.

Andersen’s numbers have declined of late, his win-loss is 34-14 with a .918 save percentage and a somewhat bloated 2.75 GAA. Other Vezina candidates include Carey Price in Montreal and the red-hot Ben Bishop in Dallas. The early season favourite, John Gibson, has likely lost out as a nominee based on the kind of year Anaheim has had.

Andersen has starts coming up against Nashville, the Rangers and Florida, not exactly high-scoring teams, so finding his game is significant now.

CHALLENGES NEED A REVIEW

In today’s NHL you can challenge an offside missed on a scoring play, but you can’t challenge when the net is being intentionally pushed away by goaltenders or defencemen.

Maybe it’s time to get rid of one challenge rule and bring in the other.

The original intent of the offside clarification was to make sure linesmen were getting calls right and goals weren’t being scored on plays that are clearly offside. What’s happened in the interim is this: It has now become a minutia call that requires numerous views and takes too much time to get calls partially correct.

In so many cases, the missed offsides, impossible to detect by human vision, end up as called off goals that really should be counted. And the time involved to get a micro-call correct — if that’s what it has been — has hurt the game, slowing it down.

Lately, it seems pushing the net away from the crease, normally intentionally, is happening far too often. The Leafs lost a point, possibly two, when Chicago’s backup goalie pushed the net off late Wednesday night. There is, with this, a certain clarity that needs to be addressed here.

The offside challenge was put in correctly but it took on an aspect of video review that hasn’t helped the game or the calls in any way at all. No one wants to see hockey slowed down — but if you replace one challenge with the other, there will be more scoring and less controversy.

BASEBALL RULE CHANGES HIT-AND-MISS

Baseball is at a crossroads, caught up with a wonky free-agent system, too much shifting, not enough hitting or fielding, lots of home runs and far too many strikeouts. And that’s just the game in play.

But the rule changes announced this week address other aspects of baseball — some for this coming season, some next year.

The best move comes from the alteration of the trade deadline and the shrinking of the September roster. There will not be two trade deadlines as there has been forever. The August waiver deadline is gone, replaced by just the one deadline at the end of July, which is far more appropriate and efficient.

The rule change I don’t like is scheduled to begin for the 2020 season. Under it, a relief pitcher entering the game must stay in for three consecutive batters. In other words, the days of a manager bringing in a left-handed pitcher to face a left-handed batter and then removing him for the next batter is over.

And that puts a lot of baseball’s history behind it.

The day of the situational left-handed will be over. A lot of us grew up on lefty-lefty, righty-righty baseball strategy. I don’t see any reason to change that now.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136502 Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews indebted to Senators coach

Lance Hornby

OTTAWA — Auston Matthews and Marc Crawford are a long way from the halls of the Hallenstadion in Zurich.

Three years ago, both yearned to be in the National Hockey League — Matthews as the projected No. 1 overall pick, Crawford to return as a head coach, having been charged with the young prodigy for his lone season in the Swiss League.

It didn’t take Matthews long to prove himself, winner of the Calder Trophy in 2017 and 197 points in 201 games. Crawford, veteran of more than 1,200 NHL games coached, is back, though not the way he intended. After joining Guy Boucher’s staff as an assistant in 2016 when the team was good enough to be second in the Atlantic Division, he was among those who suffered the consequences of ensuing off-ice decisions that have left the Sens in disarray.

Two weeks ago, with the turmoil resulting in Boucher getting fired, Crawford was given an unenviable battlefield promotion to get the team through its last difficult days in the regular season. So far, Crawford’s record is 2-4-1, including two regulation losses by just a goal and prior to facing the Leafs, a 2-0 shutout of St. Louis.

“It’s obviously kind of a weird situation over there, but I’m happy for him,” Matthews said. “His main goal for that year I was playing for him was to get back in the NHL, whether it was as assistant or head coach. Now he’s kind of running the show there and I wish him all the best — except when they play the Leafs.”

Matthews thrived in the Swiss League, a much different proving ground and lifestyle for a North American teen than junior or college. Crawford worked with Matthews’ mother Ema, who moved from Arizona to Zurich for the season, to ensure he was on the right path preparing for games, while experiencing a new culture.

“He helped me out a lot, honestly,” Matthews said. “He was hard on me in ways where it helped me learn. Going against older NHL guys, he kind of just showed me different things to expect for the next year and areas over there where the game is different (on larger ice).”

“Faceoffs, D-zone stuff, skating through the neutral zone…he was really good with me, showing me what to expect at the next level. I thought he did a really good job.”

Matthews had a memorable four-goal NHL debut in Ottawa and has 15 points in 10 games overall as Saturday’s match approached. The Leafs didn’t skate prior to the game and likely still need to catch their breath from a five-goal comeback to beat Philadelphia 7-6 at home on Friday night. Coach Mike Babcock will update any lineup changes prior to this evening, but since Matthews was reunited with right winger William Nylander following Kasperi Kapanen’s concussion, the duo have nine points in the past three games.

Garret Sparks is expected to be in net, very timely after Frederik Andersen had his third straight poor start. The Leafs are all over the map this month. No sooner did they reach four straight games with five-plus goals at home for the first time since 2000, they’ve now given up five-plus in three straight overall for the first time in more than two years. They’ll be wearing their Toronto St. Patricks green and whites again.

Ottawa will use college free agent winger Max Veronneau again tonight after debuting him against the Blues, but the Sens sent Erik Brannstrom back to Belleville of the AHL, seeking not to expose too many of their good prospects obtained in recent trades until conditions around the team are better. Forward Colin White is out with a neck injury. Anders Nilsson starts in net.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136503 Toronto Maple Leafs “I felt like I had a pretty good first but you have to have three good periods. I have to make a couple saves on the third and fourth ones to keep us in it,” Sparks added.

Wheeler: To understand the Leafs’ disastrous week is to understand their And in there, hidden between the lines, is the reality of this Leafs team season-long cracks below the surface for a long while. And that reality is that Sparks is right. He made a trio of huge saves early in Saturday’s game as the Leafs got out to their umpteenth slow start of the season. By Scott Wheeler Mar 16, 2019 Before you could blink, they were being outshot 6-0. And then when Sparks faltered, the Leafs tried to play catch-up and failed. On many occasions, they haven’t. But it was never a good habit. Four times, Mitch Marner gave the same answer after Saturday night’s 6- 2 loss, a loss that capped off the worst week of the Leafs’ season. There’s a quid pro quo in hockey where a team like the Leafs, with all of their star power and talent, should bail out their goalie when he falters. “We keep saying it, it’s time to stop saying stuff and just put it into work But if Andersen can’t get back to being a Vezina-contender-level goalie, and start doing it,” he said. the Leafs look like a team that too easily falls apart in his absence. “We talk about it a lot, we know what we need to do, it’s time to start “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we doing it,” he said again. created them.” – Albert Einstein “We’ve talked about it a lot, it’s time to start doing it,” he said a third time. There exists a fine line in professional sports between over-confidence “We’ve got to start doing it,” he finished. and self-awareness. Mike Babcock and the Leafs players aren’t going to walk out into a scrum, in a market that boasts the largest contingent of There were musings, scattered in between. Too many turnovers. Too media in the league, and admit defeat. many odd-man rushes. Too careless with the puck. Didn’t get back hard enough. Not happy. Left their goalies out to dry. He said all of those But there are rare moments in sports when an unstoppable force meets things too. an immovable object, emotion takes over, and the facade fades away.

And then he offered what each of the players trotted out before him did. If there were a moment where that was going to happen with these Leafs, it would have been at the end of this week. “We have to get back to what we were doing at the start of the season when we were successful,” he said. “We believe in ourselves.” Instead, they spoke about past success, the beginning of the season, and the need to just recreate whatever they had in those moments. But he didn’t sound convincing. Is their structure in danger right now? After a week like the Leafs’ week, it’s hard to. “No,” Morgan Rielly interjected. Four games. Three against non-playoff teams. Twenty-three goals against. One win (barely). “We believe in ourselves, we believe in the group, we believe in the structure.” But to understand this Leafs week is to understand a season that has shown signs of cracking. Do the Leafs open up too much when they get behind, only for it to create the inverse-than-intended effect? The Leafs are on pace for 104 points (one shy of the record they set last year). They sit fifth in the standings and third in goal differential. “That’s just cause and effect. When you’re trying to battle back in a game, it’s not a good example of what your structure is because you’re And yet, for the majority of the season, they haven’t felt like the sum of doing things out of the ordinary to try to create more offence. There’s no their talent. There are symptoms, in a team many expected to (or hoped doubt in what we have in place. We executed it earlier in the year, we would) leap forward, of steps backward. know what works. That’s not the issue here. I wouldn’t expect any changes moving forward,” Rielly said. The goaltending mirage The problem is that “earlier in the year” is a long time ago. There are two indelible facts to this Leafs season. To a tee, the players insisted it doesn’t matter that the Leafs’ recent The first is that Frederik Andersen and Garret Sparks were bad this collapse is happening at the end of the season, rather than earlier. week. Really bad. Sparks gave up six goals on 44 shots Saturday (a .864 save percentage). Andersen gave up six goals on 29 shots on Friday It’s hard to imagine, with 10 games until the playoffs, that the feeling (.793). While Sparks stopped 24-of-25 on Wednesday (.960), Andersen under the surface — the feeling behind the facade — isn’t concerned stopped just 10-of-14 (.714). They combined to stop just 36-of-42 (.857) about the timing. on Monday. And it’s not that the Leafs are numb to their failure through the last four They both know they were bad, too. games. They see that.

“(This week) has been challenging. Me and Fred have both been trying to “Basically anything that involves getting the puck out of our zone and into make saves for this team and that’s all we ever try to do. We know we’re theirs is an area that we can improve on. It’s important that we get this missing some guys but we also have some pretty good players in the addressed. It’s not good enough and that’s basically the bottom line. We lineup in their place so we’re not going to use that as an excuse,” Sparks have to be better,” Rielly said. said. “It’s been a hell of a week,” Tavares added. “Coming in cold hasn’t been bad but maybe I should stop overthinking these starts and start playing some hockey.” “We’re just disappointed we’re not playing to our capability. All we can do is continue to push forward and stick together. It’s pretty hard to feel Sparks feels it when he doesn’t play well — and when the team doesn’t good about that with the way tonight went. This is our situation. We have play well. to meet the challenge that we have head on. I know we have a hell of a hockey team.” “We need more emotion. I’m an emotional player. We need more emotion from everybody. We need people to get angry. We need people Rielly didn’t want to talk about his first 20-goal season. Tavares didn’t to step up and be mad and take it personally,” he said. want to talk about his first 40-goal season. In the moment, they felt the loss. There’s truth that highlights the second fact, though: Leafs fans don’t have to look back all that far to remember a time when stellar goaltending Maybe, though, it’s that they’re numb to how long it has been since they covered up some warts, and those warts were exposed in four were the team they think they are. consecutive games because, really for the first time since Andersen’s arrival in the organization, he wasn’t there to bail them out. Since Christmas (35 games ago, almost half of their season), the Leafs have now played to a tie for the 17th-best record in the NHL and just a +6 goal differential. Justin Holl as a living, breathing embodiment of the Leafs’ style of play to get outscored 4-1 with Holl on the ice during those three games. and depth problem Opposing teams scored on three (!) of their eight high-danger Corsi For. Holl played in front of an on-ice save percentage of just .750 while also On Saturday afternoon, as Mike Babcock wrapped up his pre-game playing to an on-ice shooting percentage of 4.17 percent, for an media availability, a reporter closed with a routine question. astronomically low PDO of 0.792. In that kind of a sample (a shade over “Are there any lineup changes tonight?” the reporter asked. 38 minutes at 5-on-5, luck quickly determines a coach’s perception of a player). The reporter probably expected a routine answer. Something along the lines of “Ozhiganov’s in for Holl.” It’s not as though Holl has been a turnover machine, either (he had just one giveaway in 66 minutes this season heading into Saturday’s game). “No,” Babcock said, instead. He has also taken just one minor penalty.

And, just like that, for the first time in 72 games, Holl was in the lineup for By all accounts, he has faced the worst on-ice luck on the team. back-to-back games. These days, as the Leafs season winds down to its inevitable conclusion (a first-round matchup with the Bruins), Holl playing That’s hard to take into account when getting outscored 4-1 in three on consecutive nights was headline news. games becomes 8-1 in four games, though.

All season, Babcock hasn’t been able to find it within himself to trust one It’s clear Holl’s teammates have grown fond of him — both in the way of the three right-handed defencemen on his roster. After Holl picked up Holl interacts with them off the ice and in their perception of his play on it. his first assist of the season in Friday’s 7-6 win over the Philadelphia “Holl has been great for our team. He’s coming in with the confidence Flyers, Babcock was left with little to no choice. Holl had paid his dues, that he has last night, it was great to see. He made a lot of great plays. played well in a rare opportunity, and deserved another shot. He’s a player that I think can really get involved to be a great part of this “We gave up six goals but I didn’t notice him, that’s a good thing,” team. Hopefully he just keeps playing well,” Marner said before Babcock said after Friday’s win. Saturday’s game.

In there, though, is the implied way by which Babcock qualifies Holl’s And Marner’s probably right. At his best, Holl has something to offer. But success. The pair exist at the end of two polarities. Holl is a player who, he’s probably not ever going to get there — or be afforded the at his best, gets noticed. The rangy, smooth-skating defenceman who opportunity and the leeway to make it happen. helped propel the Marlies to a Calder Cup by acting as a roving, free- “The outcome tonight was not what I was looking for at all. It’s a tough wheeling defenceman — a style that results in his team’s fair share of look to be minus-4. It’s just one of those deals where there’s a couple of opportunities and, also, mistakes. decisions I wish I had back,” Holl said.

On Saturday, as the Leafs stumbled, that difference in style was exposed “Really the only thing I can do is move forward, continue to try to play — in as pronounced a way as maybe it could be. confidently, and be ready the next time I get a chance.”

Holl made plays … for both teams. Holl doesn’t exist in a vacuum, either. Babcock is peculiar, for better or Given the way his season has played out and the lack of opportunity he worse, about the depth players he uses. He recently mused that he has had, it’s hard to blame him for that. But games such as Saturday’s couldn’t use Nic Petan on defensive zone faceoffs after Petan won 71 also provide insight into why Babcock has used Holl so frequently. percent of his draws and scored in his debut. He never found a role for Josh Leivo or Connor Carrick, even when their performance probably Because to understand Holl’s season is to understand Saturday’s game. warranted it over other types (think Matt Martin or Roman Polak).

Early on, Holl made a lot of simple plays. Notice the quick movement to But Holl’s pitfalls (and the pitfalls of other players who’ve been asked to Martin Marincin below, followed by some heady neutral zone coverage do more in the absence of Jake Gardiner, Travis Dermott, Kasperi and a second entry for a tidy shift: Kapanen and others) also highlight that, Babcock’s pickiness aside, the Leafs’ depth may not be what they thought it was. And I mean simple… “Any way you look at it we’ve had a tough week. You can’t dig the puck As the game progressed, you could see him begin to try to come out of out of your net like we have and have success. Bottom line is we all know his shell though. His D-to-D play became a D-to-D play with a carry to the how to play defence and we’re not doing a good enough job,” Babcock read line for a safe dump play: said. By the midway point of the second period, he was flat-out making plays. “If you’re Sparky your job is to stop the puck; if you’re a defenceman, it’s The below sequence includes a zone-exit pass, Holl using his speed to to move the puck and keep it out. Everyone just do your job.” join the rush, Holl making a beautiful cross-ice pass, and Holl nearly scoring on the rebound — all in the span of a dozen seconds: Some combination of health, Andersen and star power helped the Leafs look like they were doing that job for much of the season. For stretches, Babcock even played him with Rielly as a result. It’s on them to walk closer to self-awareness than over-confidence along But then there were the mistakes, the kind Babcock made clear he whatever line they’re walking. doesn’t want in a third-pairing defenceman. The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 Holl was too eager on the Senators’ third goal when there were other plays available. Ultimately, by the time he’d waited too long, he put Rielly in a tough spot and it cost them in transition:

On their fourth goal, he got caught on a pinch.

On their fifth goal, after turning the puck over, Holl got caught swimming in between players and never really engaged in the sequence in a productive way:

By the time the sixth goal happened, the game had become a parody, from William Nylander’s failed shot attempt in the slot at one end to Holl’s presence at the other:

All of this followed a pretty good stretch for Holl too. After playing to a 43 Corsi For percentage in the two lone games he played in 2018, Holl had bounced back in his three games in 2019 heading into Saturday’s back- to-back.

In those three games, he boasted a 60 percent Shots For percentage (24-16), 57 percent Corsi For percentage (42-32) at 5-on-5, and a Scoring Chances For of 58 percent (22-16). But the Leafs also happened 1136504 Toronto Maple Leafs Matthews was the one generating the shots, but Nylander was a huge part of the reason that line had the puck in the offensive zone so often. Much like Rielly, he was excellent in transition (leading forwards in clean Leafs Report Cards — Game 72 at Ottawa zone entries and exits), which helped the team spend more time on offence and less time on defence. His standout play of the game was going end to end on what should have been a casual breakout, but turned into a highlight-reel scoring opportunity. By Ian Tulloch Mar 16, 2019 IT'S OFFICIAL, WILLIAM NYLANDER HAS GOTTEN HIS MOJO BACK.

#LEAFSFOREVER PIC.TWITTER.COM/HNJ5KQC1JJ After a week off in the woods (working at a March Break camp for kids — MAPLE LEAFS HOTSTOVE (@LEAFSNEWS) MARCH 17, 2019 with special needs), I’m back to write about the Maple Leafs. Unfortunately, it’s a recap for this game. It was a frustrating game, but getting to see Matthews and Nylander on the same line again was definitely fun to watch. How did the team look? Jake Muzzin — Subtle but effective 5-on-5 — 䈏 It can’t be easy playing with a partner who willingly gives up puck It’s a storyline that’s been beaten to death lately (and for good reason) — possession so often (which we’ll talk about soon), but I thought Muzzin the Leafs didn’t “start on time” in this one, and it forced them to chase the did an excellent job tonight of making smart little plays under pressure. game for the rest of the night. Score effects took over in the second half Whether it was a slip pass in the defensive zone to start the breakout or of the game, which made the shot metrics look a lot closer than things a pinch in the offensive zone to maintain possession, he was consistently actually were. It’s been a frustrating week for Leafs fans, but I would making subtle plays to help tilt the ice in his team’s favour. make the argument that this performance is the most concerning when you consider the AHL roster they were going up against. The Fourth Line — Toronto’s most consistent line

… woof. It’s not a great sign when your fourth line is your best line for the majority of the game (especially in the first period), but I loved the way Tyler Ennis Power play — 䈏䈏䈏 and Trevor Moore were getting the puck up the ice and maintaining possession in the offensive zone. The former was rewarded with some I thought the Leafs’ 5-on-3 looked pretty rough (they had trouble setting time on the Nazem Kadri line later in the game, which was well-deserved up in formation and creating cross-ice movement), but they found a way in my opinion. to score after a favourable bounce landed on John Tavares’ stick 1:46 into the two-man advantage. Realistically, you should score when you 䈏䈏 have two full minutes of a 5-on-3 power play, so that’s par for the course. There was also a 5-on-4 power play later in the game, but I’m not sure Mike Babcock — When it comes to not “starting up on time,” I tend to be how heavily we should weight that considering the game was out of hand of the opinion that it falls on a professional athlete to perform (showing up and everyone had stopped caring. for work on time is a job requirement), but when it’s been such a consistent pattern all season, I feel like some of it has to fall on the Penalty kill — 䈏䈏䈏䈏䈏 coaching staff. There were also very few adjustments made in a game in which the team was clearly struggling out of the gate (Babcock waited In a game where nothing was going right for Toronto, their penalty kill until late in the third period to shake up the third line), but at the same actually played great. The Leafs took four penalties, but they managed to time, we have to remember that he does have his hands tied considering kill off all of them without giving up any high-quality chances. I can’t some of the major injuries on the roster. believe we actually found a positive to take out of this game. 䈏 Image from MoneyPuck.com

Player reports Worst player on the ice: Patrick Marleau — I’ve reached the point where I struggle to find things Marleau does well in 2019. If we strip the names 䈏䈏䈏䈏 off the back of the jerseys, I’m not sure if you could make an argument that he’s been one of Toronto’s four best left wingers this season. Best player on the ice: Morgan Rielly — 24:55, 4 shots on net, 1 goal, 7 clean zone entries (team lead), 12 clean zone exits (team lead) I THINK IT'S TIME TO ADMIT THAT EVERY LINE PATRICK MARLEAU HAS PLAYED ON THIS SEASON HAS REALLY STRUGGLED AT I’m glad that we can take one positive out of this game; Morgan Rielly EVEN STRENGTH – IT ISN'T A COINCIDENCE. was fantastic in transition. He led the team in controlled entries and exits, breaking the puck out more often than any other Leaf I’ve recorded in a — IAN TULLOCH (@IANGRAPH) MARCH 17, 2019 single game this season. Considering the fact he did this while playing alongside Ron Hainsey and notching his 20th goal of the season, you’d The Tavares Line — Despite spending most of their minutes against think this would make for an easy five-star grade, but I thought he was Mark Borowiecki, Tavares and company got outshot and out-chanced at pretty leaky defensively in this game. It’s not easy facing tough even strength. Marner was surprisingly a non-factor at even strength (not competition alongside a partner who turns 38 next week, but you’d like to making many plays in transition), Zach Hyman wasn’t winning as many see him come out on top against a team like Ottawa at even strength (the puck battles along the walls, and Tavares wasn’t making much happen in Leafs got out-chanced at 5-on-5 when Rielly was on the ice). the offensive zone other than a goal that landed on his stick at 5-on-3. This has been one of the best lines in the NHL in 2018-19, but tonight Auston Matthews — 18:36, 13 shot attempts (team lead), 9 shots on net was clearly an off night for all three players. (team lead), 6 scoring chances (team lead), +5 shot differential, + 6 scoring chance differential The Bottom Pairing — I was really looking forward to writing a positive review about Justin Holl after the first half of this game … but then the It’s pretty surprising that Matthews didn’t score tonight given that he second half happened. Even though he was moving the puck well early generated nine shots on net. His line dominated the game at even on, he got caught up the ice on a few goals against, turned the wrong strength, but to be fair, a star player like him probably should be when way in the defensive zone on another, and ended the game with a he’s going up against an Oscar Lindberg line and Cody Ceci pairing. With negative-four goal differential. Martin Marincin didn’t have a great night that being said, he was still doing an excellent job of creating his shot in either. the offensive zone, forcing Anders Nilsson to make a few great saves tonight (the player who actually deserves the BPOTI award). Nikita Zaitsev — As a fan of smooth, puck-moving defencemen in the modern game, I find it very frustrating to watch Zaitsev play hockey. 䈏䈏䈏 THIS IS WHAT DRIVES ME CRAZY ABOUT NIKITA ZAITSEV. HE William Nylander — 19:25, 6 clean zone entries (team lead), 5 clean CREATES SPACE FOR HIMSELF, THEN PANICS AS SOON AS zone exits (team lead), +7 shot differential, + 6 scoring chance differential THERE IS A HINT OF PRESSURE. A SIMPLE PASS TO MUZZIN WOULD HAVE WORKED FINE. THIS LEADS TO THE HYMAN PENALTY. O PIC.TWITTER.COM/IYM83QLFSS

— NICK DESOUZA (@NICKDESOUZA_) MARCH 17, 2019

He’s a great skater who has all the tools to be a top-four NHL defenceman, but his decision-making holds him back to the point where I question if he’d be an effective bottom pairing defenceman. If you’re wondering why his shot metrics have been so poor throughout his career (consistently spending more time playing defence than offence), it’s because of plays like these.

Garret Sparks — It’s been a rough week for Frederik Andersen, and unfortunately, Sparks followed suit with a poor performance against the Senators. I could go into more detail about some of the goals against, but I think the less time we spend talking about backup goaltending, the better we’ll all sleep.

Are we sure he actually played tonight?

Connor Brown — Although Brown made a few solid plays on the penalty kill, he was a complete non-factor at even strength, which I would argue has a significantly bigger impact on the outcome of the game.

Nazem Kadri — He didn’t really make an impact tonight, but to be fair, it’s hard to create offence when you’re playing alongside 39-year-old Marleau and Brown.

Ron Hainsey — I didn’t notice Hainsey make one positive play in this game (zero controlled zone exits), which helps explain how his pairing got out-chanced at even strength despite Rielly playing out of his mind in transition.

Andreas Johnsson — Outside of a partial breakaway off of a turnover, this was a pretty quiet night for Johnsson.

Game Score

Most important GIF of the night

Here’s a GIF that pretty much sums up this game for Toronto:

I FEEL YOU KYLE. PIC.TWITTER.COM/0HX2MQHCE9

— FLINTOR (@THEFLINTOR) MARCH 17, 2019

… yup.

Final thoughts from the game

Watching the Leafs so closely can be frustrating as an analyst. I try so hard to figure out why they play the way they do; why they start games so poorly despite having so much talent; why I keep letting Dom talk me into taking these Saturday night games. Unfortunately for you readers, I don’t have any good answers to those questions.

Final grade: D for drink

Happy St Patrick’s Day, everyone.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019

1136505 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ Marc-Andre Fleury excels as he awaits birth of child

By Adam Hill / Las Vegas Review-Journal

If Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is anxious as he awaits the birth of his third child, it’s not showing in his play.

The star goalie has won six straight starts in dominant fashion, allowing five goals and registering a .973 save percentage.

Fleury’s run included a shutout streak of more than 200 minutes, the longest of his storied career, and a first star of the week honor from the NHL.

Still, the 34-year-old isn’t willing to concede it’s the best he’s played this season.

“We’ve had a couple good stretches,” he said Saturday. “I feel good, but I don’t analyze or compare to other games or other times of the year. I just try to win that night and move on. The team has been very good in front of me, and that makes me look better.”

His assessment is accurate. The Knights have won seven of their past eight games entering Sunday’s 7 p.m. game against the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena.

Fleury’s presence is a major factor.

“When you have (Fleury) in net, you don’t have to adapt too much,” forward Alex Tuch said. “He’s going to come out and play really strong games. He’s been playing really well lately, as the stats have shown and as you’ve seen in our success. It starts with him. When he’s on his game, we play more confident, we play better.”

Not that it’s anything new for the Knights. Coach Gerard Gallant almost takes for granted great stretches from his goalkeeper.

“He’s played great from the first game last year,” Gallant said. “Yeah, I think he’s playing great right now, but he’s always been great. We’ve never had a letdown from Fleury.”

Not even as his wife, Veronique, is due to give birth any day.

“It’s always exciting, but I think I know what to expect a little bit more having been through it twice,” Fleury said.

He and his wife even have a plan to make sure he gets enough rest with the playoffs looming. Eleven games remain in the regular season.

“I’ve got enough bedrooms, so I think I can go sleep on my own if I have to,” he said, laughing. “Plus, my mom is already in town, and my wife is always great.

“I think we have maybe a better game plan this time.”

The Knights have one on the ice, too, and are executing it well.

“It’s the whole team,” Fleury said. “It’s the forwards coming back hard and not letting the other team have time to make plays and putting pressure and squeezing them a bit more, cutting off those late passes through the middle and getting sticks on them, and then the defense is getting the puck out of the zone pretty quickly. We don’t get stuck in the zone too much, and they’ve been getting to the rebounds and blocking shots.”

And it always helps to have a safety valve like Fleury at the top of his game.

“He’s incredible,” defenseman Jon Merrill said. “He’s obviously world class. We’re just doing the best we can to help support him out there.”

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New rules lead to more scoring in NHL

By Ben Gotz / Las Vegas Review-Journal

Reaching the top of the standings in this season’s NHL means being able to score.

Rule changes increased offense and let the teams with the most firepower thrive. It’s no shock the NHL’s top three teams in points — the Tampa Bay Lightning, San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames — are three of the top four teams in goals scored.

“Fans like goals, and they like to see that,” Golden Knights forward Reilly Smith said. “The whole game is based around the fans and what we’re able to do for them. I think it’s a good thing.”

The NHL restricted the size of goaltender chest and arm pads this offseason, as well as pant size. That gave skaters more room to shoot at, and they’re taking advantage.

Teams are scoring an average of 3.03 goals per game this season, up from 2.97 in 2017-18. It’s the highest average since 2005-06 (3.08) and the second-highest since 1995-96 (3.14).

Knights forward Mark Stone credits more than just rule changes since this is the fourth straight season the league’s scoring average has increased.

“I think players are just faster,” Stone said. “The top teams all have four lines that can play and score. It kind of adds more of a threat. The way the game is going, it’s just so fast out there. Players are so talented, and a lot of the third, fourth lines are youth, so there’s a lot of skill on the ice at all times.”

Stone is right, because the fast, skilled teams are thriving in the NHL this season. The Lightning, who lead the league in points with 112, have scored the most goals per game (3.80) since the 2009-10 Washington Capitals. The Toronto Maple Leafs (3.62), Sharks (3.61) and Flames (3.57) are not far behind in the standings or leaderboard.

The increase in scoring has led to a decrease in shootouts, as 6.36 percent of games have ended with shootouts this season, down from 7.87 percent in 2017-18.

“That’s nice to see,” Smith said.

Hughes sweepstakes

The NHL announced Wednesday that its draft lottery will be April 9 in Toronto. The odds remain unchanged from last year, meaning the team with the fewest points has an 18.5 percent chance to get the first pick.

That’s currently the Ottawa Senators, but their first-round pick belongs to the Colorado Avalanche because of a three-way trade in November 2017.

Jack Hughes, a 17-year-old left-shot center from Orlando, Florida, is the projected No. 1 pick, according to NHL.com. Hughes plays in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and is five points from breaking Arizona Coyotes center Clayton Keller’s career scoring record there (189 points).

“I’ll be doing my best to make it happen,” Hughes told NHL.com. “I have a few games left, and records are being broken, so it’s cool to know what I’ve accomplished here.”

McDavid shines

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid recorded his 100th point of the season Wednesday with an assist on Alex Chiasson’s first-period goal against the New Jersey Devils.

McDavid, 22, became the fifth player to have three or more 100-point seasons before his 23rd birthday, joining Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Dale Hawerchuk and Sidney Crosby.

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Alex Tuch, Cody Eakin bring defense to Golden Knights’ third line

By Ben Gotz / Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Golden Knights’ third line isn’t carrying much of the scoring load right now.

But it’s not getting the team beat, either, and that’s what coach Gerard Gallant cares about.

Since Alex Tuch was put on the third line with center Cody Eakin, the two haven’t been on the ice for a 5-on-5 goal against, and they’re a combined plus-11.

“(They’re playing) solid hockey,” Gallant said. “I don’t care who scores or how many goals we get. It’s about winning hockey games, and I think our group’s the same way. Come out and play hard, play well, do the right things defensively and we’ll get enough goals to win.”

Tuch moved down to Eakin’s line after the Knights acquired Mark Stone on Feb. 25, putting two of the team’s top three forwards in plus-minus on a line together.

Eakin leads the team at plus-18 this season, and Tuch is plus-12. They’ve predictably formed a solid defensive partnership and contributed to the team’s 7-1 stretch, even though Eakin had three points in that span and Tuch had five.

“It’s been really good,” Tuch said. “He’s in the right spots, and he works really hard. It’s really easy to play with him.”

Reaves shakes off rust

Gallant is happy anytime his fourth line scores. But he was especially proud of Ryan Reaves’ decisive goal in the third period of a 2-1 victory at the Dallas Stars on Friday because the forward spent extra time on the bench during the game.

Penalties by both teams in the second period led to Reaves not getting his first shift until almost nine minutes into the frame.

“I could tell the big man, he was getting tight,” Gallant said. “It’s hard when you don’t get in the flow of the game. It’s good to see him score early in the third period, because he got back in the hockey game and scored a big goal. Anytime those (fourth-line) guys score, it’s huge for our team.”

Tuch, McDavid have history

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, who has 100 points this season, presents a daunting challenge for the Knights on Sunday when the teams meet at T-Mobile Arena. Tuch said that’s nothing new for him, because the two played with and against each other often during youth tournaments, starting with an event when Tuch was 11.

“He was really good, but he was a year younger,” Tuch said. “I wouldn’t say he was crazy until he was probably 14, 15, and then you’re like, ‘OK, this kid is unbelievable.’”

Injury updates

Gallant said forward William Carrier (upper body), who hasn’t played since Feb. 16, won’t play Sunday.

The coach also said he doesn’t know if forward Erik Haula, who had right knee surgery after getting injured Nov. 6, will play again this season.

Carrier and Haula are skating but haven’t practiced with the team.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136508 Washington Capitals help the Hurricanes keep themselves in playoff position entering the final three weeks of the season.

Carolina bounced back from a 3-0 loss a night earlier at Columbus — Killorn scores 3 as Lightning beat Capitals 6-3 one of the teams also in the East’s playoff race — by scoring four straight goals and winning its ninth straight in the series with Buffalo.

By Associated Press Jeff Skinner scored against his former team and Zemgus Girgensons added a late goal to prevent the Sabres from being shut out in four March 17 at 1:44 AM straight games. Buffalo has lost seven in a row and is 0-6-1 in that span.

JETS 2, FLAMES 1

TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Killorn scored three goals for his first career hat WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Mark Scheifele scored his 34th goal of the trick, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Washington Capitals 6-3 season, Mathieu Perreault had the winner and Winnipeg ended Calgary’s Saturday night in the teams’ first meeting since last year’s Eastern three-game winning streak. Conference finals. Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves for the Jets, allowing only Mark Tampa Bay set team records for wins (55) and points (114) in a season, Jankowski’s goal. Mike Smith stopped 19 shots for the Flames. becoming the 12th team in league history to get at least 55 victories in a season. BLACKHAWKS 2, CANADIENS 0

Erik Cernak, Yanni Gourde and Tyler Johnson also scored for the MONTREAL — Corey Crawford stopped 48 shots for his second shutout Lightning, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 30 shots. of the season and surging Chicago won its fifth straight.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice to give him 48 on the season, John Carlson Connor Murphy and Brendan Perlini scored for the Blackhawks. also scored and Braden Holtby finished with 29 saves for Washington. The Montreal-born Crawford earned his second shutout of the season The Capitals remained two points ahead of the New York Islanders atop and improved to 9-2-2 in his career against the Canadiens. The 48 saves the Metropolitan Division. were a career high in the regular season for Crawford.

BRUINS 2, BLUE JACKETS 1 Carey Price stopped 22 shots for the Canadiens, who have dropped four BOSTON — Brad Marchand scored 3:30 into the overtime and Boston of their last five games to fall out of a playoff spot. snapped a three-game losing streak. SENATORS 6, MAPLE LEAFS 2

Patrice Bergeron had a power-play goal for the Bruins and set up the OTTAWA, Ontario — Magnus Paajarvi scored twice to lead last-place game-winner. Boston’s skid came after it earned at least a point in 19 past slumping Toronto. straight games. Cody Ceci, Brian Gibbons, Anthony Duclair and Oscar Lindberg also Bergeron spun around and fed Marchand in the right circle, where scored for the Senators. Anders Nilsson made 35 saves. Marchand one-timed a shot as he went to one knee for his 15th OT goal, most in team history. Morgan Rielly and John Tavares scored for the Maple Leafs, who have lost three of their past four games. Garret Sparks stopped 38 shots. Backup goalie Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves for the Bruins. WILD 5, RANGERS 2 Matt Duchene scored for the Blue Jackets, and Joonas Korpisalo made 31 saves. ST. PAUL, Minn. — Ryan Donato scored two goals and Devan Dubnyk had 26 saves as Minnesota remained in the thick of the playoff race. BLUES 5, PENGUINS 1 Eric Staal, Jared Spurgeon and J.T. Brown also scored for the Wild, who PITTSBURGH — Vince Dunn scored twice, Pat Maroon had a goal and snapped a three-game losing streak that dropped them out of the final an assist and St. Louis Blues ended a three-game losing streak. wild card in the Western Conference. Minnesota entered the day three Former Pittsburgh draft pick Oskar Sundqvist and Jay Bouwmeester also points behind Phoenix for the last spot. It was the Wild’s second win in 11 scored and Jordan Binnington made 40 saves for St. Louis. Binnington home games. has 17 wins and five shutouts in his first 22 starts. Mika Zibanejad scored his first goal in nine games and Pavel Buchnevich Dominik Simon scored for Pittsburgh. They had won three straight. added a third-period goal for the Rangers, who lost their third straight. Henrik Lundqvist finished with 41 saves and managed to keep the PANTHERS 4, KINGS 3 Rangers within striking distance.

LOS ANGELES — Jonathan Huberdeau scored with 1:56 remaining and PREDATORS 4. SHARKS 2 Florida beat Los Angeles for its fourth straight victory. SAN JOSE, Calif. — Filip Forsberg scored the tiebreaking goal with Sam Montembeault made 24 saves to win his fourth consecutive start for 12:58 left in the third period and Viktor Arvidsson added his second of the the Panthers. game into an empty net to help Nashville beat San Jose.

Evgenii Dadonov scored twice, Mike Hoffman had a power-play goal, and Colton Sissons also scored and Juuse Saros made 24 saves to keep the Aleksander Barkov had three assists to extend his streak to five games Predators within one point of first-place Winnipeg in the division race. for the Panthers. The Jets still have two games in hand.

Anze Kopiar and Dustin Brown each had a goal and an assist for the Timo Meier and Joe Thornton scored for the Sharks, who failed for the Kings. They have lost 15 of 17. second straight game in their bid to clinch a playoff spot with their first back-to-back home losses in regulation all season. San Jose also RED WINGS 2, ISLANDERS 1 remained one point behind Calgary in the Pacific Division. DETROIT — Andreas Athanasiou scored twice and Jonathan Bernier Martin Jones made 26 saves. stopped 41 shots in Detroit’s victory over New York. OILERS 3, COYOTES 2, OT Anders Lee scored for New York. GLENDALE, Ariz. — Connor McDavid scored two goals, including the HURRICANES 4, SABRES 2 winner in overtime, to lead Edmonton. RALEIGH, N.C. — Andrei Svechnikov and Justin Williams each scored McDavid beat Darcy Kuemper from out front 58 seconds into the extra goals, and Carolina won for the third time in four games. period for the Oilers, who are 8-3-1 in their last 12 games while making a Jordan Staal scored a late goal for his 500th career point, Lucas late playoff push. Wallmark also scored early and Curtis McElhinney stopped 35 shots to Matt Benning also scored for Edmonton, and Mikko Koskinen made 28 saves.

Alex Galchenyuk had his third two-goal game of the season for the Coyotes, who lost for just the fourth time in their last 14 games. Arizona remained one point behind Dallas for the first wild card in the Western Conference. Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves.

Washington Post LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136509 Washington Capitals his chance to give the Lightning a lead 8:35 into the game. Less than two minutes later, Tampa Bay got a little bit of luck when Holtby played the puck behind the net and sent it along the wall. Killorn picked it off at the In a showdown that lived up to its hype, Lightning takes down Capitals half-wall, and his centering pass glanced off Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov and into the net to make it a two-goal game. Although the Capitals were able to trim the Lightning’s lead several times, they felt they never recovered from that early deficit. By Isabelle Khurshudyan “We were kind of chasing it,” said Carlson, who had Washington’s first March 16 at 10:11 PM goal. “Even though we were playing well, we were still forced into doing maybe a few things we normally don’t do.”

TAMPA — This game between two of the top teams in the NHL’s Eastern On the bright side, the Capitals were able to contain the Lightning power Conference, a rematch nearly 10 months in the making, didn’t feel so play — including 1:28 of a five-on-three — which entered the game first unlike the last time they met on the ice. It was physical and it was in the league. Washington went on a man-advantage of its own 5:59 into entertaining, as evenly matched as expected. the second period, and during the power play Ovechkin collected a rebound in his sweet spot in the left faceoff circle after Carlson’s shot “It felt like a playoff game,” Washington Capitals center Nicklas bounced off Oshie. With his goal 7:33 into the period, Ovechkin tied Hall Backstrom said. of Fame center Phil Esposito with 246 power-play goals for his career, fifth all time. Fortunately for the Capitals, it wasn’t, but the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 6-3 win was exactly the kind of battle both teams wanted with the Stanley The Lightning entered with 112 points, 17 more than the NHL’s second- Cup playoffs less than a month away. With the clubs facing each other best team. While Tampa Bay doesn’t have much left to play for in the for the first time since the Capitals prevailed in Game 7 of the Eastern regular season, a chance to get a little revenge was probably more than Conference finals in May, two late •empty-net goals made the score enough motivation. Now Washington has its own for next time; the teams appear more lopsided than the game actually was. meet Wednesday at Capital One Arena.

The Capitals left Amalie Arena feeling fine about their performance — “We have a goal in mind, and that’s to win a Stanley Cup,” Holtby said. other than some puck-management issues and a poor start — after “Obviously statistically they’re the best team in hockey right now, but we facing a team that has all but locked up the Presidents’ Trophy for know that that doesn’t make a difference. garnering the most standings points in the regular season. “We’re focused on us to improve our team to give ourselves the best Washington has two more meetings over the next two weeks to continue chance to win.” measuring itself against the Lightning, an opponent the Capitals expect they will have to get through again if they hope to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Washington Post LOADED: 03.17.2019 “We played pretty well,” defenseman John Carlson said. “But when you’re playing this good of a team, you need more than pretty well.”

In a game featuring some of the most star-studded offensive talent in the league, the goal that decided the outcome came from a rookie defenseman who has been out of the lineup for half the season and who entered with just three goals in his career.

Erik Cernak’s shot from the right faceoff circle slipped through goaltender Braden Holtby’s legs to give the Lightning a two-goal lead 2:45 into the third period, stunting the Capitals’ comeback effort after they had controlled the second period.

Captain Alex Ovechkin scored his league-leading 48th goal — and his second of the game — with 7:04 to play, cutting the Lightning’s lead to one for a third time. Washington seemed to be building momentum when it got a power play less than two minutes later when Ondrej Palat was sent to the penalty box for tripping. But the Capitals couldn’t muster a shot during the man-advantage, and when the team pulled Holtby for an extra attacker late, Alex Killorn scored into an empty net for his third goal of the game, prompting home fans to litter the ice with hats. Yanni Gourde added a second empty-net tally with about a second left, perhaps a statement for two teams that have built some bad blood.

“You can tell it got a little nasty there at times — a lot of scrums, which I think is awesome,” Capitals forward T.J. Oshie said. “It’s fun to play in these games. They had a lot of emotion, we had a lot of emotion, so it was a good one. It was a fun one with a little bit of playoff atmosphere.”

The Lightning was the only team the Capitals had yet to play this season, creating more of a buildup for both sides. Washington had success against Tampa Bay through physicality in the teams’ playoff series last spring, and the Capitals tried to replicate that from the start of Saturday’s game by throwing several big hits. Forward Tom Wilson caught Mikhail Sergachev with one along the boards, knocking the Lightning defenseman out of the game for a few shifts. But the Lightning pushed back just as hard, ultimately tallying 10 more hits than the Capitals.

“They had guys over there who you don’t typically see throwing the body around, and they were throwing the body around,” ­Oshie said.

“We can be even more physical, because that’s the way we like to play,” Backstrom said.

Despite the physical play, Tampa Bay was able to establish its speed and transition game. A Washington turnover in the neutral zone led to a two-on-one with Brayden Point and Tyler Johnson, and the latter buried 1136510 Washington Capitals games to be good. We’ll get them in their building in a couple of days and it will be different, it will be round two under different circumstances.”

NOTES: Lightning D Dan Girardi (lower body) and D Anton Stralman Killorn scores 3 as Lightning beat Capitals 6-3 (lower body) each missed their third consecutive game after neither took part in the full morning skate. ... Washington D Nick Jensen appeared in his 200th career game. ... Tampa Bay D Mikhail Sergachev left the game By Erik Erlendsson in the first period after taking a hit from Washington RW Tom Wilson along the boards but returned to start the second. ... Ovechkin has 655 March 17 at 12:09 AM career goals, one shy of tying Brendan Shanahan for 13th place on the all-time list. ... Tampa Bay RW Nikita Kucherov had two assists and reached 117 points on the season, the most since Sidney Crosby had TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning are focused on trying to win 120 in 2006-07. Kucherov’s 82 assists on the season are the fourth-most another championship, not records and milestones along the way. in league history by a wing.

Alex Killorn scored three goals for his first career hat trick, and the Lightning beat the Washington Capitals 6-3 Saturday night in the teams’ first meeting since last year’s Eastern Conference finals. Washington Post LOADED: 03.17.2019

Tampa Bay set team records for wins (55) and points (114) in a season, becoming the 12th team in league history to get at least 55 victories in a season. They need five wins in the last 10 games to become the third team to win 60.

“We don’t look at records or anything like that, we are focusing on the end goal right now and doing whatever it takes to be ready for that,” said Tyler Johnson, who scored his 26th goal of the season. “That’s all those little things that we can work on and improve.”

Erik Cernak and Yanni Gourde also scored in the Lightning’s fourth straight win, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 30 shots.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice to give him 48 on the season, John Carlson also scored and Braden Holtby finished with 29 saves for Washington. The Capitals remained two points ahead of the New York Islanders atop the Metropolitan Division.

“Disappointing to end up with a loss like that,” Washington coach Todd Reirden said. “I thought we did some decent things as the game went on but our first period we didn’t manage the puck well enough to give ourselves a chance.”

Killorn, who entered the game with 13 goals on the season, capped off the hat trick with an empty-netter with 47 seconds left. Gourde capped the scoring with another empty-netter 45 seconds later.

“When the third goal seals the victory a little bit, there’s (47) seconds left but to go up two goals ahead at that point, it felt pretty good,” Killorn said.

The Lightning jumped on the Capitals quickly as Brayden Point set up Johnson on a 2-on-1 at 8:35 of the first. Killorn made it 2-0 as he sent the puck from the boards toward the front of the net where it bounced off Washington defenseman Dmitry Orlov and past Holtby at 10:33.

Carlson cut the deficit in half as a blocked shot bounced out to the right point where he stepped into a one-timer for his 12th at 12:06.

Killorn answered that as he forced his way up the ice and outmuscled Michal Kempny for an initial shot before putting his own rebound with 4:04 left in the period to make it 3-1.

“You (can’t) start like that against a team, a high-caliber team, they can get away,” Washington forward T.J. Oshie said. “That’s what it was, we were chasing from behind the rest of the time and it was all mental errors.”

After the Lightning failed to convert on 1:28 of 5-on-3 power play time, 42 seconds of which carried over into the second period, the Capitals struck on the power play after Carlson’s shot deflected off Oshie in the high slot and landed right in the path of Ovechkin for a quick wrist shot to make it 3-2 at 7:33.

Ovechkin got his 246th career power-play goal, tying Hall of Famer Phil Esposito for fifth place on the all-time list.

Cernak regained Tampa Bay’s two-goal lead with his fourth of the season, coming open down the right circle before snapping a shot through Holtby’s legs at 2:45 of the third. Ovechik scored his second of the night off a carom from Orlov’s shot off the end boards to cut the Lightning lead to 4-3 at 12:56.

The teams meet again Wednesday night at Washington.

“I wouldn’t make too much of it,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said of the win. “It’s two first-place teams going at it and you would expect the 1136511 Washington Capitals

Lightning take down Capitals in first of 3 games in 15 days

By Brian McNally

March 16, 2019 8:45 PM

Alex Killorn scored a hat trick and the Tampa Bay Lightning used two empty-net goals to hold on for a 6-3 win against the Capitals at Amalie Arena on Saturday.

It was the first meeting between the two teams since May 23, when Washington won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final en route to the Stanley Cup.

The Capitals remain in first place in the Metropolitan Division at 91 points and Alex Ovechkin scored his 47th and 48th goals of the year. Here are five reasons why the Capitals lost.

Slow start

After a few solid minutes to start the game, one mistake in the neutral zone proved costly for the Capitals. T. J. Oshie lost a puck entering the offensive zone and Tampa Bay was off on the turnover. Nikita Kucherov tipped a pass to Brayden Point who went in on a 2-on-1 with Johnson. His pass beat goalie Braden Holtby for a 1-0 lead at 8:35 of the first period. Just 1:58 later, Killorn banked a bad-angle shot off Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov and past Holtby for the 2-0 advantage. That put the Capitals in an early hole. The Lightning are good enough. They don’t need much luck.

Andrei Vasilevskiy

The Lightning goalie was on his game from the start. He shrugged aside an Orlov shot early that bounced over his shoulder but was cleared off the line. The Capitals generated more chances in the second period with 13 shots on goal and only Alex Ovechkin’s power-play tally beat Vasilevskiy. He finished the game with 31 saves. A nice stop on a backhanded shot by Lars Eller early in the second period kept Tampa Bay’s lead at two goals. He had another on Jakub Vrana late in the third to keep the lead 4-3.

Physical play

Much was made of how the Capitals physically dominated the Lightning in the final two games of last year’s Eastern Conference Final. They had their moments on Saturday – especially Ovechkin and Tom Wilson. But Tampa Bay was ready for it this time. Killorn bulled his way to the net against Washington defenseman Nick Jensen and smacked home a rebound at 15:56 of the first period to answer a John Carlson goal and push the lead back to 3-1. Jensen had no chance to keep Killorn off of Holtby. That’s a good sign for the Lightning going into the playoffs.

Turnovers in the defensive zone

That bit Washington early in the third period when the score was 3-2. Matt Niskanen flubbed a clearing attempt and Tampa Bay pounced. One high-danger shot on Holtby was stopped. But a lost board battle let the Lightning get the puck back to the point. Defenseman Eric Cernak beat Holtby with a wrist shot from the right wing as no one stepped up to stop him. Ryan McDonagh had the primary assist. Holtby might have been screened by a diving Jensen. That made it 4-2 Tampa Bay. The puck was in Washington’s zone for 30 seconds.

Too little, too late

Ovechkin brought the Capitals to within 4-3 at 12:56 of the third. He was in perfect position when an Orlov point shot caromed to the left of Vasilevskiy. He one-timed the bouncing puck and just like that, Washington had life again. That was also No. 48 for Ovechkin, which leaves him just two shy of his eighth 50-goal season. But Tampa held on down the stretch, including a crucial penalty kill with under five minutes to play and almost three full minutes with a 6-on-5 advantage for Washington,where the Lightning scored twice on an empty net to earn a satisfying victory.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136512 Washington Capitals

Top 20 Goals of Caps’ Stanley Cup Run: Andre Burakovsky’s Statement Game 7 vs Lightning

By Jason Murphy

March 15, 2019 7:46 PM

“Game 7” was a phrase that most Capitals fans did not like to hear prior to May 24, 2018, due to the team’s 4-11 record previously in winner-take- all games. Although it is still not a happy phrase by any stretch of the imagination, Andre Burakovsky and his two-goal breakout performance helped ease the pain of Game 7s past by catapulting the Capitals into the Stanley Cup Final.

Burakovsky’s second goal in Game 7 vs Tampa Bay already made its way onto our countdown of the Top 20 Goals of the Stanley Cup Final and today, it is his first goal that late May day which lands at number 11 on our list.

After Alex Ovechkin made it known that the Caps were not wallowing in the past with his opening goal just 1:02 into the game, the Lightning surged and peppered Braden Holtby with 9 of the next 10 shots. That trend continued into the second period when Tampa Bay fired 8 of the first 9 shots in the second frame.

It was the 10th shot of the 2nd period though that proved to be the difference maker. Lars Eller fired a puck from the center into the Tampa Bay defensive zone where it hit Lighting defenseman Dan Girardi in the chest. Andre Burakovsky put pressure on Girardi and forced a turnover in the high slot before firing a quick wrister past the blocker of Andrei Vasilevskiy to give the Caps a little cushion with a 2-0 lead.

Injuries and healthy scratches limited Burakovsky’s playing time throughout the first three rounds, but the young Swedish winger found the perfect time to have his signature moment with the only NHL franchise he has ever known. After being bandied about as a potential trade chip around the NHL’s trade deadline last month, Burakovsky has really come into his own since finding out he would be spending at least the rest of the season with the defending champs.

Saturday’s showdown with Tampa Bay will be the first time both teams will take the same ice since Burakovksy’s standout performance in Game 7 and if he can continue his recent good play, he just might find his name on the scoresheet once more.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136513 Winnipeg Jets The Jets got some early luck in the first period, as the Flames hit the post on three different occasions. Two were by Johnny Gaudreau, the other by Mark Jankowski following a Jacob Trouba giveaway in his own end.

Jets douse Flames with 2-1 victory Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) makes the pass as Calgary Flames goaltender Mike Smith (41) looks on during second period NHL action.

By: Mike McIntyre Winnipeg opened the scoring with just 8.7 seconds left in the first period, thanks to some great work by defenceman Ben Chiarot. He got the puck Posted: 03/16/2019 8:48 PM | Last Modified: 03/16/2019 10:12 PM at the Calgary blue-line, then beat a Flames defender along the wall, | Updates | Comments: 17 opening up space and finding Mark Scheifele for the easy tap-in goal.

Scheifele's team-leading 34th of the year continues to add to his career high. Winnipeg Jets' Mathieu Perreault (85) scores on Calgary Flames goaltender Mike Smith (41) during second period NHL action in Winnipeg "You just have to have that attitude that it’s a playoff game from here on on Saturday, March 16, 2019. in. You’ve got to ramp yourself up; you’ve got to be ready for that grind. We’ve done that lately," Scheifele said of the mentality inside the room They haven't cleaned up all their problems. But the Winnipeg Jets took right now. another big step to getting the house in order with a relatively neat and tidy 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames Saturday night at Bell MTS As for Chiarot, he's been rock-solid lately and now has a career-best 20 Place. points. For a pending unrestricted free agent, the timing couldn't be better. Wheeler also had an assist on the Scheifele goal, giving him 87 A commitment to defence against one of the highest-scoring teams in the points. With 11 games left, 100 is definitely in sight. league was the story of this one. Winnipeg held Calgary to just the lone tally — a far cry from the 10 goals the Flames torched the Jets for in Veteran centre Bryan Little got a mouthful of stick from Calgary's Mikael winning two previous meetings. Backlund in the second period, drawing blood, The Jets were awarded a four-minute power play while Little went to the room for repairs. "2-1 at home against the best team in the west is a (expletive) beautiful win," said a fired-up captain Blake Wheeler. Winnipeg Jets' Mathieu Perreault and his teammates celebrate Perreault's go ahead goal on Calgary Flames goaltender Mike Smith (41) Winnipeg was coming off a hard-fought victory over Boston Thursday during second period NHL action. night, and followed that up with another solid effort against Calgary, which began the night leading both the Pacific Division and the Western But it was Calgary which immediately took advantage, as Jankowski Conference and had won three straight games. finished off a beautiful tic-tac-toe play for a shorthanded goal just 15 seconds into the double-minor. Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) saves the shot by Calgary Flames' Mark Jankowski (77) during first period NHL action. Winnipeg regained the lead later on the power play, as Perreault jammed home a loose puck in front of MIke Smith for his 14th of the year, and "This is playoff-type hockey. That's what we want. We're not looking to third goal in the past four games. score five, six goals and make it like an open game. We like the 2-1 games where we defend hard and bury them when we get a chance," "Huge obviously. You want to score on your power play. We bounced said forward Mathieu Perreault, who scored the game-winner on a back from that (shorthanded) goal really quick. That gave us some second period power-play. momentum back. We were able to not lose the momentum we had before for too long," said Ehlers. The Jets improve to 42-25-4, while the Flames fall to 44-21-7. Calgary came with a push in the third, outshooting Winnipeg 9-1 through Connor Hellebuyck stopped 27 shots for his 30th win of the season — the first 10 minutes of the game, and 14-3 overall. They also had a including all 14 he faced in a busy third period as the Flames mounted a couple power plays, including one in the final minutes which turned out to strong push. a 6-on-4 with Smith pulled for the extra attacker. "I think the two teams we’ve played against the last two games have This was the end of a stretch of eight straight games for the Jets against been more playoff hockey and the way we want to develop our game for playoff teams. Winnipeg went 5-3-0, with close losses to San Jose and the playoffs. We felt good, we felt comfortable. Now it’s just a matter of Washington and a no-doubter defeat to league-leading Tampa Bay. They keeping that grind going," said forward Nikolaj Ehlers. beat Nashville, Columbus, Carolina, Boston and Calgary in that span. To be fair to visitors, they were playing for a second time in as many With three weeks — and 11 games — left in the regular-season, Maurice nights, having disposed of the New York Rangers at home Friday, then wasn't ready to declare his team fit for the post-season just yet. There's flying into Winnipeg in the wee hours. They were also missing top centre still more work to be done. Sean Monahan due to illness and forward Sam Bennett due to an undisclosed ailment. "We need the three weeks, we do. But we just played eight playoff teams and were 5-3. I’m not even going to qualify it, with those guys out, Winnipeg Jets' Ben Chiarot (7) shot is saved by Calgary Flames because you play playoff games without key pieces out of your lineup goaltender Mike Smith (41) during first period NHL action. and you’ve got to win. So, 5-3. In one loss, we got beat by Tampa, but Of course, the Jets are missing a couple key parts in defencemen Josh the San Jose and Washington losses were pretty darn well played," said Morrissey and Dustin Byfuglien, which makes Saturday's attention to Maurice. detail in their own end especially impressive. Only Buffalo and New The Jets begin a three-game road trip Monday night in Los Angeles. Jersey have surrendered more goals than Winnipeg since the All-Star game, and a meeting with the red-hot Flames — who had won three straight and scored 20 goals in the process — could have gone south. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 03.17.2019 "The guys that are playing in their place are great players and they’re doing a heck of a job. It’s just that we’re talking about two of our best players, two of the best defencemen in the league. It’s never easy playing without them. You’re never going to replace them. We’re doing the best we can," said Wheeler.

The Jets blocked 17 shots on the night, which coach Paul Maurice said underscores an increase in awareness from his troops.

"I think it started with our penalty kill a few games ago. We started to get some real critical blocks. We’re now running eight forwards on our kill, so two-thirds of your group is in the mindset of shot blocking. And we’re starting to get better at it, for sure," said Maurice. 1136514 Winnipeg Jets

Defence key to dousing red-hot Flames, says Laine

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 03/16/2019 12:10 PM

Connor Hellebuyck will aim for his 30th win of the season tonight as the Winnipeg Jets try to end a homestand on a positive note in an all- Canadian match-up of division leaders.

Standing in their way is a red-hot Calgary Flames team that has won three straight games to vault into top spot in both the Pacific Division and the Western Conference. Johnny Gaudreau had a six-point night on Tuesday against New Jersey, and Matthew Tkachuk had a five-point game Friday against the New York Rangers.

"I think they have scored a lot of goals and, obviously, they have a good offence and a great first line and a lot of guys with a lot of goals and points. We just got to play good defence. I think, if we want to win this game, we have to play good defence and score from the chances they’re going to give us, but we can’t give them anything easily," Jets forward Patrik Laine said following Saturday's morning skate at Bell MTS Place.

Winnipeg (41-25-4) is coming off a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins that kept them on top of the Central Division.

"I think it will be a good challenge for us. They’re obviously leading the conference, so they will be pretty good this year. Likely, if we can play our best hockey, we’re going to see them in the playoffs. So, it will be a good matchup, and hopefully we can win this game and we can use those two points. It will be a good matchup, for sure," said Laine.

No lineup changes are expected for the Jets, although defenceman Dmitry Kulikov and forwards Brandon Tanev, Mathieu Perreault and Nikolaj Ehlers all missed the morning skate.

When asked if any could be unavailable to play, coach Paul Maurice said "no, not as of right now."

The Jets have lost both previous games to the Flames this season by a combined score of 10-4. Calgary arrived in town in the early morning hours and did not skate this morning. They've had a flu bug going through the team, so their lineup isn't clear. Sean Monahan left Friday's game due to not feeling well and didn't travel with the club.

"They’ve got a really good hockey team and they’ve got kind of all the bases covered. They’ve got enough physicality and defensive structure that you’re not going to get an easy game in terms of moving the puck up and down the ice. And clearly they have a real nice high level of skill, they can finish on plays if you give them room to make those plays," said Maurice.

"There’s a certain amount of creativity that makes them, sometimes, hard to define what you’re going to see when they stretch and run their offensive schemes. There’s certain teams that we play you can almost describe the game before it happens and it’s pretty consistent. We’ve had unusual games with them so I don’t know that I have a good handle on what it’s going to look like."

This will be the ninth straight game the Jets have faced a playoff team at the time the puck dropped.

"It’s important that you get geared up and start preparing for the playoffs. I think it’s a great opportunity for us to go up against some quality teams and really iron out our game. I think over the last little bit we’ve started to play better, and I think generally we’ve played pretty well against teams that are sitting well in the standings. You gotta beat good teams in the playoffs so it’s important that you do that in the regular season, too," said forward Adam Lowry.

Following the game, the Jets head west for a three-game road trip with stops in Los Angeles, Anaheim and Vegas.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 03.17.2019 1136515 Winnipeg Jets those guys out, because you play playoff games without key pieces out of your lineup and you’ve got to win.”

That the Jets remain a work in progress isn’t surprising, nor should it be WIEBE’S GAME REPORT: Perreault supplies game winner for Jets overly concerning.

Of course, there are areas to clean up, but that’s standard operating Ken Wiebe procedure at this time of the season.

Things haven’t come easy for the Jets, but they’re starting to get more comfortable playing in tighter-checking, lower-scoring games. Blake Wheeler isn’t the least bit concerned about style points at this time of the season. “For sure. The two teams we’ve played against the last two games have been more playoff hockey and the way we want to develop our game for The Winnipeg Jets captain is only interested in doing what it takes to pile the playoffs,” said Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers. “We felt good, we felt up victories and to be playing the right way as his team works toward the comfortable. Now it’s just a matter of keeping that grind going.” Stanley Cup playoffs. The grind is only going to get tougher, though the Jets are about to face Case in point was Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames that a different type of challenge in their next two teams as they face the closed out a three-game homestand. Kings and Anaheim Ducks — two clubs that are out of it, but have been giving their opposition some difficulty of late. It wasn’t picture-perfect, but the Jets held a team that had scored 20 goals in the three previous games and limited them to one — and that “This is playoff-type hockey. That’s what we want,” said Perreault. “We’re one came when Winnipeg got a bit loose during a power play. not looking to score five, six goals and make it like an open game. We like the 2-1 games where we defend hard and bury them when we get a “Two to one at home against the best team in the west is a (expletive) chance. beautiful win,” said Wheeler, who was asked about how his team is adjusting to the extended absences of defencemen Josh Morrissey and The Jets got another member of the 2017 draft class under contract by Dustin Byfuglien. “We’re never comfortable without those two guys. The agreeing to terms on a two-year, two-way entry level contract that kicks guys that are playing in their place are great players and they’re doing a in for the 2019-20 season. heck of a job. It’s just that we’re talking about two of our best players, two of the best defencemen in the League. It’s never easy playing without According to capfriendly, Jonathan Kovacevic’s deal carries an average them. You’re never going to replace them. We’re doing the best we can.” annual value of $925,000 (including $92,500 in signing bonuses) in the NHL and $70,000 in the minors. Jets left-winger Mathieu Perreault supplied the game-winning goal on the power play, jamming home a rebound with 37 seconds to go in the Kovacevic, 21, spent the past three seasons with Merrimack College, double minor for high-sticking assessed to Flames centre Mikael collecting nine goals and 54 points in 101 NCAA games. Backlund. A right-handed shooter, Kovacevic is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds and has The Flames had tied the game 15 seconds into the first minor, as Mark good mobility for a player his size. Jankowski finished off a beautiful passing play with Elias Lindholm and Kovacevic is expected to sign an amateur tryout offer with the Manitoba Mark Giordano. Moose and join the squad for the playoff push in the coming days.

“That’s the difference in the game, really,” said Perreault, who is up to 14 After a long travel day, Jets top forward prospect Kristian Vesalainen goals for the season. “Second (power-play) unit, we were about to get arrived back in Winnipeg and was able to watch the Moose face the out there, get a little bit more time than usually because it was a four- Texas Stars on Friday night. minute penalty. We hunt the puck, we were about to settle it down and we get a shot on goal and it came from a rebound, so it was a big goal Vesalainen skated with the Moose on Saturday and could be in the for us. lineup as early as Sunday.

“It’s nice, I guess. That’s what we’re here for. We like playing the power The 24th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft finished his Kontinental play. Our unit has been pretty good all year, so when the first unit can’t Hockey League season by losing in six games to Moscow Dynamo in the put it in, we like to get out there and give it a good shot.” playoffs, but enjoyed the experience of playing for his hometown team in Helsinki with Jokerit. Mark Scheifele (with his career-high 34th) also scored for the Jets, who improved to 42-25-4, open a three-game road trip on Monday against the “It was great. It was nice to have family and friends watch the games, I Los Angeles Kings. liked it a lot,” Vesalainen said in an interview with Mitch Peacock on MooseTV. “It was a good (season), but it ended too quick, so I would like “The last two games have been good. Before that we had flashes — the to play a little more. If I would stay (back in Finland), there was too much one against Nashville, the one against Vegas come to mind. We’re summer time for me, so it’s good for me to come here and help the guys playing solid,” said Scheifele. “You just have to have that attitude that it’s for the playoffs.” a playoff game from here on in. You’ve got to ramp yourself up; you’ve got to be ready for that grind. We’ve done that lately.” Jets head coach Paul Maurice is excited that Vesalainen has returned to North America to close out his season. Saturday ended a stretch of eight consecutive games for the Jets against a team that was above the playoff line. “It’s good for him and it’s good for the Moose,” said Maurice. “Boy they’ve done a great job. They had a real struggle with injuries and we stole all “It’s important that you get geared up and start preparing for the playoffs,” their players at the start of the year. To battle back the way that they said Jets centre Adam Lowry. “It’s a great opportunity for us to go up have, I know Pascal feels he’s got a great culture in his room. He’s got against some quality teams and really iron out our game. Over the last really good men and they’re playing hard for each other. So that’s a little bit we’ve started to play better, and generally we’ve played pretty wonderful place for a guy to come back in and kind of start, he’s been a well against teams that are sitting well in the standings. You’ve got to pro hockey player but to kind of start his North American pro career, it’s a beat good teams in the playoffs so it’s important that you do that in the really good environment to play and get the excitement of a real strong regular season, too.” playoff push here, 10 or 11 games. If you get in, what a great experience With 11 games left in the regular season, the Jets sit atop the Central for him, and then at some point he’s available to us.” Division standings and remain locked in a battle with the Nashville When Maurice spent his lone season in the AHL as head coach of the Predators for top spot. Toronto Marlies, former Moose captain Dallas Eakins was one of his Head coach Paul Maurice believes the Jets’ play is trending in the right assistants. direction, though he’s happy to have a few more weeks to tighten up their Eakins went on to be the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers and is a collective game. prime candidate to become the next bench boss of the Anaheim Ducks “We need the three weeks, we do,” said Maurice. “But we just played after Randy Carlyle was let go. eight playoff teams and were 5-3. I’m not even going to qualify it, with These days, Eakins is the head coach of the Ducks primary affiliate, the San Diego Gulls — who are in town to face the Moose on Sunday and Tuesday.

Eakins stopped by for a chat with Maurice on Saturday morning.

“Real good coach, very bright guy, very passionate and intense about what he does,” said Maurice. “You start running into guys you coached with and swap stories and I get to hear about his travel yesterday and be thankful I’m in the National League.”

Having gone through a similar situation of being fired before in three NHL jobs, Maurice reached out to Eakins after a natural cooling-off period.

“Probably gave him about seven days. (I remember I) didn’t want to talk to anybody for about a week. You commiserate a little bit,” said Maurice. “It’s not an easy thing to go through. It’s such a public thing. Everybody does, but you put your heart and soul, it’s so time consuming, it’s everything that you do, and then the next day it’s nothing that you do. You don’t get weaned out of a firing in pro sports. Real strong character guy, I think he bounced back real fast, made a good decision for him and his family, found a place he could learn and grow and get better and (had) lots of confidence he would get another opportunity.”

Speaking of the Gulls, former Moose forward Chase De Leo is having a career year after the off-season trade between the Jets and Ducks.

De Leo, now in his fourth pro season, has 17 goals and 44 points in 56 AHL games going into Sunday’s action, which leaves him second on the team in scoring behind Sam Carrick (51 points).

De Leo was chosen in the fourth round, 99th overall, of the 2014 NHL Draft.

The guy traded for De Leo, forward Nic Kerdiles, has been sidelined with an injury almost all season, limited to one assist in three games.

While the Moose continue to battle for a playoff spot and sit three points behind the Texas Stars (while holding two games in hand), the Gulls entered Saturday’s action in a tie for second place in the California Division with the San Jose Barracuda and Colorado Eagles.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 03.17.2019 1136516 Winnipeg Jets Although he wasn’t sure which forward would come up, Flames head coach Bill Peters said he would dress 11 forwards and seven defencemen, including Winnipegger Michael Stone.

Jets look to avoid sweep, Flames have already won first two meetings

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 03.17.2019 Ken Wiebe

The Winnipeg Jets will attempt to cool down the red-hot offence of the Calgary Flames as they close out a three-game homestand.

It’s the third consecutive meeting against one of the top teams in the NHL, as the Flames moved back into top spot in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference standings with a 5-1 win over the New York Rangers.

The Jets are coming off a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins and will try to buckle down defensively against a Flames team that has scored 20 goals during the past three games.

Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau had six points on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils, while Matthew Tkachuk was in on all five goals on Friday night.

“They have a lot of offence, but it comes from a lot of different areas,” said Jets centre Adam Lowry. “They get some great contributions from their back end and on any given night it can be any one of their forward lines going. Johnny’s been pretty hot lately, but you look at Tkachuk last night with five points and kind of what their line is able to do, they have a lot of depth scoring as well. It’s important that if you make a mistake you don’t compound that by making another mistake because if you make a couple mistakes in a row they end up in the back of your net.”

For the Jets, it’s the ninth consecutive against a team that’s been fighting for a playoff spot or well above the playoff line.

“It’s important that you get geared up and start preparing for the playoffs,” said Lowry. “It’s a great opportunity for us to go up against some quality teams and really iron out our game. I think over the last little bit we’ve started to play better, and I think generally we’ve played pretty well against teams that are sitting well in the standings. You’ve got to beat good teams in the playoffs so it’s important that you do that in the regular season, too.”

The Flames have won the first two games of the season series by a combined score of 10-4.

“We’ve had unusual games with them. It’s hard for me to find a consistent theme with it,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “They’ve got a really good hockey team and they’ve got kind of all the bases covered. They’ve got enough physicality and defensive structure that you’re not going to get an easy game in terms of moving the puck up and down the ice. And clearly they have a real nice high level of skill, they can finish on plays if you give them room to make those plays.

“There’s a certain amount of creativity that makes them, sometimes, hard to define what you’re going to see when they stretch and run their offensive schemes. There’s certain teams that we play you can almost describe the game before it happens and it’s pretty consistent. We’ve had unusual games with them so I don’t know that I have a good handle on what it’s going to look like.”

Getting swept by a Western Conference rival is something the Jets would like to avoid.

“They have scored a lot of goals and, obviously, they have a good offence and a great first line and a lot of guys with a lot of goals and points. We just got to play good defence. If we want to win this game, we have to play good defence and score from the chances they’re going to give us. But we can’t give them anything easily,” said Jets forward Patrik Laine. “It will be a good challenge for us. They’re obviously leading the conference, so they will be pretty good this year. Likely, if we can play our best hockey, we’re going to see them in the playoffs. So, it will be a good matchup and hopefully, we can win this game and we can use those two points. It will be a good matchup, for sure.”

Connor Hellebuyck will start in goal for the Jets, while the Flames counter with Mike Smith. 1136517 Winnipeg Jets point in the hushed, crowded stands. His triplet brothers look on — Josh from the bench, Connolly from the stands — worried. Keegan is helped onto a stretcher. The crowd, seeing he is conscious, applauds. The EMS Connolly Gamble’s bond with his brothers saved his life; his bond with attendant makes the call: Keegan will be rushed to Alberta Children’s Adam Lowry changed the way he lives it Hospital for medical attention.

Stephen loads Connolly and Josh into the car. Their friend Ben comes too. Fifteen minutes east of WinSport Arena, on the other side of the Bow By Murat Ates River, Aisling Gamble gets a text.

Mar 16, 2019 “The concern was not so much that he had a concussion but that something had happened to Keegan’s back,” Aisling says. “He was not

moving around very well.” It’s Friday, May 29, 2015, at WinSport Arena in Calgary, and 10-year-old As a communications advisor for the University of Calgary, Aisling works Keegan Gamble — the eldest of triplets — is battling for a loose puck in so close to the Alberta Children’s Hospital that she can see it from her the corner for his Atom team, the Edge Mountaineers. desk. His mother, Aisling Gamble, is at work but Keegan’s father, Stephen “I raced over there,” Aisling says. “Even though I didn’t see this particular Gamble, is at the rink. So are his triplet brothers: Josh, born one minute hit, I’d seen similar ones, both on Josh and Keegan, and on their after Keegan, plays defence for the Mountaineers while Connolly, born teammates. It’s not a good feeling, especially when they have little to no one minute after Josh, is watching from the stands. All three boys have movement for an extended period of time.” played hockey since they were 5 years old and their parents, former Winnipeggers, were both such die-hard fans of the original Jets franchise When Aisling arrives, reunited with her husband Stephen and all three of they donated money to try to save it in 1995. their sons, the news is terrific. Keegan is going to be just fine. In fact, he is discharged a few hours later. Suffice to say, the Gamble family has seen many puck battles over the years. This one is going to be different. This one is going to change their The entire Gamble family breathes a sigh of relief. Then, over the next 48 lives. hours, Keegan starts to experience concussion symptoms.

It’s also going to help them form an enduring bond with an NHL family. They turn out to be a blessing.

In May 2015, Adam Lowry is licking his wounds at home. The elation of Connolly Gamble doesn’t play for the Edge Mountaineers with his one- the Jets’ first playoff spot — clinched with help from a Calgary win over minute older brother Josh or his two-minutes older brother Keegan. Los Angeles a month earlier — has turned to misery. Despite learning to skate together at 3 years old and then starting to play hockey in the same Timbits program when they were 5, Keegan and The Jets had been hot to finish the season, running a 12-6-2 record over Josh Gamble usually play at a higher level than Connolly does. their last 20 games. Their underlying numbers were good and hopes were high. None of it had mattered in the end: Anaheim swept Winnipeg “We put it as he’s not the most skilled player,” Aisling says. “But he has in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Lowry scored three points the biggest passion for it. I don’t think anybody could match Connolly’s in four post-season games, but his points do little to dull the pain. passion for the game.”

Who do you turn to when you’re hurting? Often, you turn to family. In May 2015, Connolly’s lower-tier hockey career gives him an opportunity. It was in Calgary where Lowry grew up. It was on a lake just outside Calgary where Lowry had battled with his brother Joel on outdoor rinks When Keegan develops severe headaches and sensitivity to light and as a boy. Their older sister Sarah, a physiotherapist, played a variety of noise, the Gambles take him back to the hospital and he gets diagnosed sports while their youngest sibling, Tessa, constantly clamored to join the with a concussion. The hospital is participating in a concussion research boys on the lake. The boys always included her, she says, making sure study and if, in addition to studying Keegan’s brain, they can have a look that Tessa Lowry always got to play and always got to be her favourite at a healthy “control” subject, the Gambles can contribute to some NHL player — their dad Dave. groundbreaking research.

Adam says Tessa reminds him most of their mother Elaine. Keegan is willing to brave the study’s MRI and other tests. The family just needs to choose a second son to act as a control. They can’t say for sure “They’re two very stubborn people but they have extremely hard work that Josh has never had a concussion but, at the level of hockey ethics,” Adam says. “They’re passionate people. Tessa is a very caring Connolly has played, they were confident he had not. person. She’s very passionate in what she believes in.” “I was very proud of Connolly for taking part in the concussion study,” He also confesses he wasn’t at home very often during Tessa’s formative Stephen says. “He wasn’t hesitant at all. MRIs can often be scary for years — he left home to play in the WHL when he was 16 and she was kids, the boys were only 10 years old at the time, but he was totally game 11. to do it and to be a part of something pretty cool.” If that bothered Tessa, she doesn’t show it. His example to her during Keegan recovers from his concussion symptoms by the end of the week. those years became her inspiration. The boys are able to stay in the study as summer continues because its “I really look up to Adam,” she says. “Not just because of hockey but purpose is to investigate why some kids recover more quickly than others because of the person he is. He’s extremely generous, he’s extremely do. understanding and I look up to his drive. He was very, very driven to Keegan and Connolly go for their first session in late July. Their first test make sure that his dream could happen and he could give himself every is an MRI. opportunity to make it happen.” Keegan goes first. Everything is fine. He goes on to the next test, a Adam’s 2015 playoff exit reunites him with Tessa a little earlier than transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). usual. Connolly is up next. He goes into the MRI machine. When he comes out, By May, Tessa is a high school student at the Edge School in Calgary researchers tell his mom there was something wrong and they’ll have to and works as a skills coach for its hockey program. It is through the Edge bring Connolly back at another time to do his TMS. School that Tessa first meets Stephen and Aisling Gamble, allowing her to build an enduring bond between two families. “Four days later, we received a phone call,” Stephen says. “They had found abnormalities in Connolly’s MRI.” Through this bond, Adam will inspire Tessa all over again. Eight weeks later, on Sept. 22, 2015, 10-year-old Connolly Gamble has As Keegan Gamble reaches for the puck, he is checked from behind. He emergency brain surgery. crashes headfirst into the boards and then falls to the ice, motionless. Tessa Lowry met Connolly, Keegan, and Josh Gamble the first year she An EMS attendant rushes to Keegan, establishing that he is conscious coached at the Edge School in 2014. and breathing. His father Stephen scrambles to get a better vantage She says all three boys participated in her drills and, most of all, she was After investigating their options, the Gambles decided they didn’t want to struck by how well-behaved they were. put Connolly through repeated surgeries. They wanted their son to have the less-invasive ETV. “I think those triplets are probably some of the most respectful kids I’ve ever met in my life at their age,” Tessa says. “I think it comes from the The Alberta Children’s Hospital recruited Dr. Jay Riva-Cambrin, a leading parents. They treat all three of the boys exactly the same regardless of neurosurgeon who specializes in treating hydrocephalus, to Calgary who’s better at hockey and who’s not.” exactly three weeks before Connolly’s surgery date.

As time went by, Tessa’s respect for her pupils grew. She developed a Aisling Gamble calls this development “an incredible blessing.” The idea relationship with Aisling and Steve, chatting with Aisling at least once a of less-invasive surgery was very important to her and her family. month and looking after the Gambles’ dog whenever they went on holiday. For Connolly, the most important aspect of Dr. Riva-Cambrin’s arrival was the introduction of hope. Up until that moment, Connolly had been The second year Tessa coached the boys, two unique things happened. told he might never play hockey again. That idea hit 10-year-old Connolly right where it hurt most. The first is the Gamble family finally realized Tessa’s last name was Lowry. “I was really upset,” Connolly says, “because I love hockey so much, especially playing it. I’ve been on the ice since I was 4 years old and then Aisling remembers it this way: at 10 years old I wasn’t allowed to play anymore.”

“When we were talking about the Jets playoff run in 2015, we were “I don’t think anybody could match Connolly’s passion for the game,” talking about who everybody was cheering for. Tessa said, ‘Oh I’m Aisling says. cheering for the Jets.’ And we’re like, ‘Really? You’re in Calgary, why are you cheering for the Jets?’ She said, ‘My brother plays for them.'” Stephen Gamble doesn’t think anyone in the family slept the night before Connolly’s surgery. They’d known each other for most of a year but the Gambles had never thought to ask. Tessa was just a responsible young person who they “Josh and Keegan stayed over at Aisling’s parents the night before,” trusted and who coached their boys. Stephen says. “They were pretty stressed about it.”

The second unique thing that happened was, in July, Connolly Gamble Connolly admits to feeling the same way. learned he had hydrocephalus (excess fluid on his brain), Syringomyelia (where fluid-filled cysts called syrinx form within the spinal cord), and a “It’s pretty rough because once I started Timbits, I started loving hockey,” small mass on his brain stem. It was a frightening realization for the Connolly says. “It’s my favourite sport because it’s a team sport where whole Gamble family. everyone can play together and supports each other. Your teammates are your second family and I would really miss that.” These two unique developments coincide in two ways: Adam Lowry, Tessa’s brother, had been Connolly Gamble’s favourite hockey player When morning came, Stephen and Aisling took Connolly to the hospital ever since he came into the NHL. And Tessa is an extremely caring at 6 a.m. Connolly tried to keep himself distracted with a colouring book person who wanted to help lift young Connolly’s spirits. but, at times, the fear of brain surgery nearly overwhelmed him.

In the lead-up to Connolly’s surgery, as Aisling and Stephen Gamble “He was scared,” Stephen says. “He burst into tears a few times and researched surgical procedures, Tessa reached out to her big brother. asked if he really had to have the brain surgery. Even at 10 years old, it’s hard to understand the seriousness and risk of any surgery, let alone “When I would speak to Connolly, he would tell me, ‘I love the Jets! brain surgery.” You’re brother’s my favourite player!'” says Tessa. “So I thought how cool would it be if before his surgery he got this stick. Adam said, ‘Yeah, I “For them to try and grasp that at 10 years old,” adds Aisling. “For Josh have an extra stick laying around. I’ll sign it for you.'” and Keegan to think ‘OK their brother is going in for brain surgery and one wrong move and that’s it.’ And then for Connolly being told he would It was a simple, meaningful gesture, met with open arms and an inspired probably never play hockey again …” heart. In the end, Connolly was afraid but he knew what he needed to do. He Connolly’s surgery was scheduled for September, meaning that Adam faced his fear. Lowry was back at Jets camp. To make sure Connolly got his stick, Tessa hand delivered it. On Sept. 22, 2015, he had successful brain surgery. Josh and Keegan joined him as soon as he got out and then, as he recovered in the “I have never seen a kid so happy,” Tessa says. “That was nice for me to hospital, they seldom left his side. see. That also made me more proud of Adam because I’ve never seen a kid look up to someone like this. I was just so happy to say my brother Connolly went home just four days later. Three months later, he got to was one of those players who wants to help those in need and wants to participate in gym class for the first time. And whenever Keegan and help make other lives more happy.” Josh had a hockey game, Connolly was right there cheering them along. He wanted to be there for his brothers just like they were there for him. Connolly remembers it exactly the same way. Deep inside, Connolly knew he would find a way to thank his brothers for “It meant a lot to me because he really cared about me,” Connolly says. being there for him when he needed them most. “Even though he didn’t know me as much.” In March 2016, six months after Connolly’s surgery, the Make-A-Wish In the lead-up to Connolly’s September surgery, the Gamble family was Foundation gave him his chance. met with one more good tiding. Adam Lowry remembers meeting Connolly Gamble perfectly. There are two common methods for treating hydrocephalus through surgery. The first and most common way is to install a cerebral shunt — “I remember being told that we were going to be doing Make-A-Wish and a mechanism that connects the brain to the abdominal cavity. When a kid wanted to be made into a Winnipeg Jet,” he says. “Then they said Aisling and Stephen Gamble researched this method for Connolly’s ‘triplets’ and I thought, How many triplets could there be?” surgery, they were dismayed by its invasive nature and by the prospect “Tessa was really nice so I kind of assumed that Adam was too,” of repeated surgeries. Shunts tend to need replacement every few years Connolly said. “But, well, I got nervous. It was my first time meeting my and can sometimes lead to infection. favourite NHL player. Normally if I meet someone I don’t really get The second method is a procedure called endoscopic third scared.” ventriculostomy (ETV). In this instance, a hole the size of a quarter is On March 19, 2016, Connolly shook hands with Kevin Cheveldayoff and drilled into the skull and then a camera is used to guide the drilling of a signed a two-day contract with the Winnipeg Jets. He then met his new tiny hole that allows excess fluid to drain from the brain’s third ventricle. teammate Adam — Tessa’s brother — who had signed a stick for him ETV leaves nothing mechanical behind and, if successful, can treat back when he thought he would never play hockey again. “Keep smiling!” hydrocephalus in a single surgery. it had said, and now the 10-year-old Connolly was grinning ear to ear. What nervousness Connolly experienced the moment he met his hero in Calgary. He’s playing the sport he loves and Adam makes a point of gave way to jubilation as the day continued. Adam introduced Connolly to checking in to see how his season is going. his new teammates, making sure to ask him about himself to help make him feel comfortable. Connolly’s parents say his passion for hockey was unparalleled even before meeting his hockey hero. In the three years since he became a It helps that Adam, just like his sister Tessa, is good with kids. Winnipeg Jet, Connolly’s passion has only grown.

“I think it has a lot to do with our parents,” says Tessa, “and the way they Connolly wants to be the general manager of the Winnipeg Jets when he brought us up. We always had to treat everyone with our respect.” grows up. Given that he’s 13 years old and growing, I suggested Cheveldayoff might still want the GM gig in 10 to 15 years. He didn’t miss Adam’s way of showing Connolly respect was to think about the day from a beat. Connolly’s point of view. “Then I’ll do your job,” he told me. “You ask them questions about their lives,” he says of making young people feel comfortable. “They obviously want to know about you, they’re No matter what Connolly does in the years to come, he will do it with fans, but you start asking them about themselves and you start to get to passion and with a good heart. He’s already started giving back to Make- know them and they start to open up a little bit.” A-Wish Canada, raising funds and speaking at their events.

“He wanted to be a Winnipeg Jet for the day,” Adam says of Connolly. Connolly still goes to a pediatrician every six months for checkups. He “You don’t need to put on a show for him, you just have to make him feel also goes for MRIs once a year to ensure the mass on his brain stem comfortable and try to allow him to enjoy the experience. You want the isn’t growing and the fluid is not accumulating again in his brain or in his kids coming in to feel comfortable, to be able to be themselves. They’re spinal cord. So far, so good, say his parents. going to enjoy that experience that much more if they’re able to laugh, they’re able to smile, and they’re able to have fun.” “Connolly’s story is incredible all around,” says Stephen. “From the chance way we found out about his conditions, to brain surgery eight At practice that day, Adam and Connolly each wore their favourite weeks later, to the roller coaster ride of not knowing if he’ll ever play number 17 on their helmet and were partnered for every drill. Lowry, a hockey again, to meeting his hockey hero and his favourite team. We are left shot, and Gamble, a right shot, developed a quick chemistry on the more than aware how truly blessed we are and Connolly in particular is.” ice. It’s almost enough to make you believe in karma or “meant to be.” When But Connolly’s Make-A-Wish day was bigger than just the two of them. his brother Keegan needed him most, Connolly stepped up and He made sure of it. volunteered. Their bond of brotherhood literally saved his life.

As practice came to a close, Josh and Keegan joined Connolly and the Now, thanks to his unparalleled passion for hockey, his bond with Adam Jets. Josh, a defenceman, was partnered with Jacob Trouba, while Lowry and the Winnipeg Jets is changing the way he lives it. Keegan, a winger, was partnered with Blake Wheeler.

It was a moment that made Mom and Dad very proud. The Athletic LOADED: 03.17.2019 Aisling recounts that, when Connolly went through brain surgery, it was emotionally tough for Josh and Keegan.

“It was scary for them,” Aisling says. “I think for Connolly to include them in his Wish was a big thank you for their support, helping him and being there in the hospital all the time after he got out of there.”

“No matter what Connolly’s wish was going to be, his brothers were going to be a part of it,” Stephen says. “That’s the kind of kid Connolly is. He thinks of other people before himself. With the Jets wish, he specifically said he wanted Josh and Keegan to be a part of the wish whatever it turned out to be.”

Adam Lowry, who grew up with three siblings of his own, recognized the bond between Connolly, Josh, and Keegan as soon as he saw it. When he first met all three boys, Adam watched them interact and noticed, just as Tessa had, that they get along extremely well. Like Tessa, Adam credits Aisling and Stephen.

“I think it just shows that his parents instilled some real positive values and some real good family values that wore off on him at a young age,” Adam says. “It also shows what kind of a person Connolly is and what kind of people his brothers are if he wants to include them in his wish. He really made his special day a special day for all of them.”

But why, in Connolly’s own words, was it so important for him to include his brothers in such a meaningful occasion?

“Because we’re triplets,” Connolly says. “And I love them, even though they’re not Jets fans.”

In the three years since Connolly Gamble first met Adam Lowry, their friendship has grown. The two follow each other on social media, regularly exchanging hockey advice, happy birthdays, and Merry Christmases. Connolly sends Adam messages whenever he scores a big goal and Adam checks in on his schoolwork.

That’s what is perhaps most remarkable about Connolly and Adam’s friendship. It could easily have ended but, because of their growing bond, neither one will let it.

“If I have a good game, he’s wishing me luck and checking on me just to see how my family’s doing,” Adam says. “He’s a very caring person.”

It goes both ways. Connolly, the boy who wasn’t supposed to be able to play hockey again, got his doctor’s blessing to join a non-contact league 1136518 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks sign defenceman Jett Woo to entry-level contract

Harrison Mooney

The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenceman Jett Woo to a three- year entry-level contract, the organization announced Saturday.

Woo, 18, was originally selected by the Canucks in the second round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft at 37th overall.

The hard-hitting, right-side defenceman was considered more of a stay- at-home type after putting up just 25 points in 44 games in his draft season. But Woo returned to the WHL for his draft+1 season and broke out offensively, averaging over a point a game and obliterating his career highs in scoring with 12 goals, 52 assists and 64 points in 62 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors.

He finished the regular season fifth among WHL blue-liners in scoring. The Canucks, who are in desperate need of a retool on their back end, especially on the right side, couldn’t afford not to sign the Winnipeg native.

“We’re very excited at the strides Jett has made this season with Moose Jaw,” said Canucks general manager Jim Benning. “He plays the game with good intensity and attention to detail at both ends of the ice. Jett is an important part of our future and we look forward to his continued development.”

But don’t expect to see Woo in a Canucks uniform anytime soon. The Warriors completed their WHL season Saturday and will meet the Saskatoon Blades in the first round of the playoffs, beginning on March 22.

Woo’s contract with Vancouver will begin next season, but could slide another year if he fails to play 10 games with the Canucks before being returned to junior. Woo will also be eligible to represent Canada at the world juniors next December after missing the cut this year.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136519 Vancouver Canucks “It’s unfortunate. It seems like ever since I’ve been here those guys have been injured a lot.”

The ripple effect of their injuries has also made a huge impact on the Ed Willes: Canucks’ ‘fearless’ blue-liners offer sporadic leadership Canucks. Without Tanev, Edler and Stecher logged more than 29 between injuries minutes against the Devils, including just under 12 minutes each in the third period and overtime. They were the only Canucks defencemen to see the ice in extra fun. Alex Biega also logged a season-high 25:37 Ed Willes against the Devils.

“We’ve got some guys playing big minutes,” said Canucks head coach Travis Green following the game. “I mean, Alex Biega played 25 minutes Alex Edler and Chris Tanev providing a steadying influence for the tonight. Is it frustrating? Yeah.” Canucks' younger D-men sounds good on paper, but it’s difficult to provide that steadying influence when your presence in the lineup is Friday night also marked Edler’s fifth straight game with at least 26 sporadic. minutes of ice time, and while he’s performed admirably, that workload leaves the veteran Swede vulnerable to further injury. After watching Chris Tanev carried out on his shield yet again, the question for the Vancouver Canucks isn’t about the defenceman’s value The Canucks, in fact, have been trapped in a cycle for the last four years. to the team or the respect he’s earned in the locker room. They show some encouraging signs. Then Edler gets hurt. Then Tanev gets hurt. Then the bottom falls out of their season. No, following the 3-2 shootout loss to New Jersey on Friday night, the Canucks lined up to offer testimonials to Tanev’s courage and character So how do they break that cycle? Good question. — qualities that make him indispensable when he’s healthy but also expose him to injury. GM Jim Benning has said he’ll look to restructure the blue-line in the off- season. In the meantime, Quinn Hughes, the prize rookie who just signed During a first-period Devils power play, the veteran rearguard blocked a out of Michigan, will play some games over the final couple of weeks and Kyle Palmieri slap shot and suffered what appeared to be a season- he’ll help. But it’s also unrealistic to expect a 19-year-old rookie to fix the ending foot injury for his troubles. defence.

LISTEN: This week’s White Towel podcast opens with talk of Ben Hutton, who took a step in his development, also figures to be part of expectations squarely on the shoulders of injured rookie Quinn Hughes; the future, but he’s missed the last five games with a foot injury of his potential for the Canucks to make moves at the NHL Entry Draft; Travis own. Green’s pitch to be the bench boss going forward; and why GM Jim Benning might be out of a job by the end of the season. On paper, a defence with Edler, Tanev, Stecher, Hutton and Hughes figures to be an improvement for the Canucks, with Edler and Tanev The Canucks, who are paper-thin on the blue-line at the best of times, providing a steadying influence on the younger D-men. But it’s difficult to now face life without Tanev — again. He’s a difference-maker when he’s provide that steadying influence when your presence in the lineup is in the lineup. But he can’t stay healthy long enough to make that sporadic. difference, and that’s a problem as the Canucks try to assess where they are and where they hope to be. “It’s tough,” Markstrom said. “They’re the two top players in the back end. When they’re healthy, it’s different.” “He’s fearless and you guys would be amazed how many injuries he plays through where he doesn’t miss a game,” said Troy Stecher. “He’s “You can’t control it,” said Stecher. “What can you do about it? You have my captain every single night. I feel fortunate to be his teammate. You to play the cards you’re dealt. But it’s frustrating. We believe it would be feel bad for him, obviously. It’s just shitty luck.” different if we had them.”

For the player and the team. Unfortunately, it seems they’ll never know that for sure.

“Good guy and a good player,” goalie Jacob Markstrom said. “He’s a guy we need on our team. That guy’s luck is unbelievable. Pretty much every Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.17.2019 injury he’s had, it’s from blocking shots. You’d think after he broke three, four hands or three, four (feet) — but he still heads out there with no fear.”

This will be Tanev’s third trip to the infirmary this season. He’d just returned for Wednesday’s win over the Rangers after missing 11 games with an ankle injury that, remarkably, didn’t arise from a blocked shot. He’d also missed five games earlier in the season, which means he’ll miss 28 Canucks games this season.

Last season it was 40. The year before it was 29.

That’s bad enough. But compounding the problem is Alex Edler, the team’s best all-around defenceman, is also injury prone. This year, the longest-serving Canuck had a 15-game stint on injured reserve that ran through most of November, and he’s just returned from an 11-gamer after suffering a concussion against the Flyers.

When Tanev and Edler are both in the lineup, the Canucks are 21-14-5 this season. When they’re out, they’re 8-18-5, which is the difference between a playoff team and another ticket in the draft lottery.

The Canucks were also off to a 6-4 start when Edler went down with a knee injury Oct. 24. The team went 4-9-2 without him in the lineup — a stretch that coincided with Tanev’s earlier injury — then went 13-10-4 before Edler was knocked out with a concussion during a Feb. 4 game in Philadelphia.

“They’re huge parts for our team,” said Alex Biega. “The guys in the locker room know how valuable they are. Chris is the prototypical defenceman, not flashy, but he doesn’t make any mistakes and he plays the right way. He’ll do whatever it takes for the team. 1136520 Websites and if you’re a D-man, it’s to move the puck and keep it out, so everyone just do your own job and we’ll be fine."

This is the least fine the Leafs have looked all season. Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs cap troublesome week with another poor performance Morgan "Career Year" Rielly snapped his 20th goal of the season and became just the third Leafs defenceman in history to reach that plateau, joining Ian Turnbull and Al Iafrate.

Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox John Tavares dug in for a power-play marker and hit the 40-goal March 16, 2019, 9:53 PM milestone for the first time in his 10-year career.

But neither could properly celebrate with a minor crisis to snuff out.

KANATA, Ont. – It should’ve been a rout, this match between one of the "It’s obviously been a hell of a week," Tavares said. "All we can do is NHL’s tornado offences and a depleted roster that more closely mirrors continue to push forward, stick together and work our way out of it. That’s that of a great American Hockey League outfit. the only way we’re going to get to where we wanna get to."

The Ottawa Senators had already traded away pretty much anyone worth The dismal week in Toronto’s own zone has seen the club surrender a dealing, then they got smacked with injuries to emerging young studs minimum of five goals in each of its four games. Colin White and Thomas Chabot. Counting on your guys to score six or seven a night? Not exactly a recipe The Sens have the second-worst goals-allowed average in entire league for success. (3.66), give up shots easier than a St. Patrick’s Day bartender (an NHL- For the most part, an inexperienced Ottawa roster responded to every worst 36 per night), and, as the 31st-best team in hockey, have the Toronto push and did an admirable job of limiting chances off the rush greatest odds of securing a first-overall pick they’d be forced to and stifling the Leafs’ pep through the neutral zone — a key focus of sheepishly hand over to Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche. interim coach Marc Crawford’s plan.

Beyond pride, the Sens have little to play for. Nothing to tank for. "If you’re going to play a trade-chances game, that’s not in our best So, into Kanata stroll the mighty, playoff-bound Maple Leafs, with the interest," Crawford said. second-most-potent offence in hockey. In front of them is the carrot of "What they do better than anybody in the league, I believe, is they Round 1 home-ice advantage. Behind them is a convoy of buses, SUVs, counter on you so well. They’ve got a lot of guys who want to get going Ubers and taxis full of blue-bleeding supporters searching for a cheap north as quick as they can, and they’ve got the ability to make those road trip and a head start on some Irish revelry. passes and really play a game that’s high-paced."

"Go! Leafs! Go!" chants rocked Canadian Tire Centre through warm-up That pace originates from the back end, which has been horribly exposed and interrupted the anthem. in the nine games (and counting) played without slick puck-movers Jake And then? Gardiner and Travis Dermott.

Toronto laid another defensive egg, in an alarming week that’s featured Toss in this week’s shaky goaltending, and not even a group as skilled as four such leaky efforts in a row. these Leafs can outscore its D-zone debacles. Those Kelly-green St. Pats uniforms looked fantastic, though. With a healthy three quarters of the road barn rooting them on, the Maple Leafs lost 6-2 to the Senators, raising the question yet again: With only "Less turnovers within our own zone, managing the puck a little bit better 10 games left on the docket, are the Maple Leafs prepared to grind out a going through the neutral zone, breaking out smoother – basically nasty, tight playoff series with Boston? anything regarding getting the puck out of our zone and into theirs and playing offence is an area that we can improve on," Rielly said. "There’s nights where it looks like we’re ready for it, and there’s some nights where it looks like we’re not ready for it at all," Mitch Marner said. "If anything we should be amping it up and using these games as "We talk about it a lot. We know what we gotta do. It’s time to start doing preparation for what’s to come." it. It should’ve been a rout.

"We’ve got to make sure we dial it in. It’s a different beast in the playoffs." It was a rout.

It’s the type of animal that devours the inconsistent efforts exhibited by The Leafs will take a day off Sunday to lick their wounds, take another flu the Leafs this week and spits out the bones. shot and a long look in the mirror.

During Ottawa’s 17-shot first-period barrage, it was defenceman Cody They’ll try to steer this rickety thing back on the rails Tuesday in Ceci drawing first blood, hopping into the play and sniping high glove on Nashville. Leafs netminder Garret Sparks, snapping a personal 32-game goal drought and quieting the blue sea early. God speed.

“We did a good job of taking the crowd out of it right from the start,” said Zack Smith, after playing a game for Ottawa in Ottawa. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.17.2019 Brian Gibbons doubled the Senators’ lead in the second frame with a spinning, tumbling, extra-effort backhand in the slot that weaseled through a crowd and scooted past Sparks’ nifty St. Patrick’s Day pads.

Winger Magnus Paajarvi scored twice. Anthony Duclair added some insurance. The outcome was never in doubt, and the pushback from Toronto was mild at best. At worst.

"We need more emotion," said Sparks, after appearing in a fifth consecutive loss.

"I’m an emotional player. I need more emotion. We need more emotion from everybody. We need people to get angry. We need people to step up and get mad and take it personally."

It’s a quote that should come attached with its own flame emoji, and coach Mike Babcock did his best to snuff it out.

"Being a professional is getting ready each and every day and doing your part," Babcock said. "So if you’re Sparky, your job is to stop the puck, 1136521 Websites Meanwhile, Julien said Byron was moved to the fourth line because he "had some issues" over the last couple of games. The coach’s reasoning for putting Weal out for a team-leading 10 shifts in the third period was Sportsnet.ca / Perplexing decisions hurt Canadiens in loss to Blackhawks because he had a strong showing in the faceoff circle. He explained that Kotkaniemi had lost defensive coverage on a couple of occasions before being parked.

Eric Engels None of it really jived.

March 17, 2019, 12:25 AM In reality, Weal had won four faceoffs and lost four through two periods, and he didn’t fare any better on the six he took in the final frame. He also

turned the puck over to Slater Koekkoek on the goal Brendan Perlini MONTREAL—Jesperi Kotkaniemi sat in the middle of the Montreal scored to make it 2-0 Chicago with 15:11 to go. Canadiens’ bench, watching his teammates try—and fail—to beat Corey Byron, who was flying in the game, unquestionably could’ve helped Crawford on the 18 shots they notched in the third period of Saturday’s alongside better players. And Kotkaniemi would have been a good option game against the Chicago Blackhawks. for the power play, which sunk to 11.9 per cent on the year and now rests The 18-year-old Finn, who has 11 goals and 21 assists this season, as the 14th worst one in league history since the NHL began publishing played two shifts in the frame while his team trailed by two goals. power play statistics in 1977-78.

Fourth line centre Nate Thompson, who has 10 goals in his last six "The only thing missing right now is our game to be at its best," said seasons combined, jumped on the ice for five. One of them came with Julien. "It’s just not there." less than four minutes to go. And Artturi Lehkonen—he of one goal in his He—and they—had better find it in a hurry. last 34 games—continued to hop over the boards next to the team’s best playmaker, Max Domi.

With the Canadiens’ net empty, with just under three minutes to play, it Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.17.2019 wasn’t 17-goal scorer Andrew Shaw anchoring the team’s 6-on-5 unit. It wasn’t Paul Byron, who has 13 goals in 49 games but has scored at least 20 in each of the two seasons prior to this one. No, they were sitting next to Kotkaniemi, watching five-goal man Jordan Weal complete the last of his shifts as Montreal’s second-most used forward in the game.

Domi, who leads the Canadiens with 24 goals and 62 points, and Tomas Tatar (22 goals, 50 points) also watched from the bench as Weal played 3:48 on the first wave of the power play.

Perplexing? Completely. And Canadiens coach Claude Julien stood at the podium of the team’s press room afterwards wondering aloud about whether or not the pressure of the playoff race had disabled his group from turning any one of their 48 shots on net into goals in the 2-0 loss.

"It’s certain the goaltender on the other end deserves a lot of credit," said Julien. "Crawford played a heck of a game. But, at the same time, our execution for the majority of the game wasn’t on point. We were sloppy at times, and if it’s related to the pressure it’s definitely not good timing to be having difficulty."

Conceded on that point. The Canadiens fell to three points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final playoff spot available in the Eastern Conference. They’re now four points behind the Carolina Hurricanes and six behind the Pittsburgh Penguins, and they’ve got 10 games left in the season to make up ground.

Are they tight? You bet. But Julien could’ve loosened the Canadiens up by relying on the players who put them in the race in the first place. He’s done an exceptional job to this point of the season, but he managed Saturday’s game in such a fashion that would only incite one to wonder whether or not the pressure of the situation is getting to him.

Julien spoke earlier in the week about needing Jonathan Drouin to snap out of a funk that saw him go without a point in 13 of 14 games. Then he put Drouin on a line with Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia; a line that produced nothing in a 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday but one that was reassembled for Saturday’s game.

The result? They didn’t generate a single scoring chance. Nada. Zilch.

Drouin has produced 50 points in 71 games this season, and 32 of them have come at 5-on-5. Of those 32, he’s scored 23 next to Domi. It’s no big leap to suggest reuniting the two made sense prior to the loss to Chicago. No big leap to suggest it should have been done after the Canadiens registered 30 mostly perimeter shots through two periods without scoring a goal.

And Lehkonen?

"He hit the post tonight, right? And he had another great scoring chance where Crawford made an unbelievable glove save," said Julien. "So, just because he hasn’t scored, I don’t know why we should question whether he should be there…"

He’s not there to almost score, is he? 1136522 Websites hard and we got the results out of it, we got two points, so we’ve got to keep doing that.”

The Jets have 11 games left to play. They are three points ahead of Sportsnet.ca / Jets fend off tough schedule, begin to reclaim playoff second-place Nashville in the Central, with a game in hand. They’ll very identity likely get to tune up on a wild-card club in Round 1 before another meaty second-round series, like last year’s against the Preds.

Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec This win over Calgary? It was like a bulldog — so ugly that it becomes beautiful. March 16, 2019, 11:59 PM No, even better than that.

“A 2-1 at home against the best team in the West,” said captain Blake WINNIPEG, Man. — The coach can always see the trends coming long Wheeler, “is a (bleepin’) beautiful win.” before everyone else, so Paul Maurice wants to go back a lot further than this three-game home stand to cite the starting point for when the Winnipeg Jets began to evolve back into the Winnipeg Jets. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.17.2019 It seems a team that gave up five goals in a loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, beat the Boston Bruins two nights later, then rolled out this playoff-replica gem against the Calgary Flames has reacquired its identity just lately. Of course, Maurice begs to differ.

“It wasn’t just when we came home, it was before that,” Maurice said after a steady Eddie, 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames Saturday. “Right at the trade deadline, we played a pretty darn good game against Minny and we’ve kind of built from there, for me.”

When it all began is something we can sort out over a beer, later on. That it has happened is what truly matters, and over the course of three games this week we’ve watched a Jets team that more closely resembles what it will need to be three-and-a-half weeks from now, when the playoffs open here in Manitoba.

“We need the three weeks, we do,” admits Maurice. “But we just played eight playoff teams and were 5-3. I’m not even going to qualify it, with (Dustin Byfuglien and Josh Morrissey) out, because you play playoff games without key pieces out of your lineup and you’ve got to win. So, 5- 3. In one loss, we got beat (5-2) by Tampa, but the San Jose and Washington losses were pretty darn well played.”

As the Jets charter south to take on lowly SoCal sisters Los Angeles and Anaheim, before a one-night stand in Vegas, it’s worth looking back at the fiendish test the schedule-maker tasked them with of late. Their past eight opponents, against which they went 5-3, looked like this: Nashville, Columbus, Tampa, Carolina, Washington, San Jose, Boston and Calgary.

That’s eight of the Top 12 teams in the NHL, and the Jets not only survived it without their best two defencemen, they won more than they lost.

“The last two games have been more playoff hockey,” said swift winger Nik Ehlers, “and the way we want to develop our game for the playoffs. We felt good, we felt comfortable. Now it’s just a matter of keeping that grind going.”

When a team goes on its first real playoff run, as Winnipeg did last season, we all sit back and watch how it handles the following season, how it deals with winning games in an atmosphere that isn’t nearly as electric as it had been in April and May.

How a goalie like Connor Hellebuyck follows up a career season; how a 19-year-old who scores 44 goals deals with being a 20-year-old in a prolonged scoring slump; how Mark Scheifele learns to be a leader when his name isn’t all over the score sheet the way it was in Round 2 versus the Nashville Predators last spring.

Well, Scheifele looks just fine, thanks. And Patrik Laine, as it turns out, is learning to do a whole lot more than sit out there on the perimeter hammering one-timers.

Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, Leafs and Canucks. Plus Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more.

With their top two defencemen out, the Jets have swum, not sank. You can thank a physical, dependable Dmitry Kulikov, an improved, steady Ben Chiarot, a shot-blocking Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers, the guy the Buffalo Sabres inexplicably thought they should move elsewhere.

“A lot of good blocked shots,” said trusty depth centreman Mathieu Perreault. “(Trouba) in the third had two or three himself on (Johnny) Gaudreau, and Helly making the saves. So we were committed to defend 1136523 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Coach's Corner: Senators' DeMelo a bright light on a struggling team

Sportsnet Staff @Sportsnet

March 16, 2019, 8:41 PM

It has been a tough task for Ottawa Senators fans to see the silver lining this season, but thinks there should be some optimism around Dylan DeMelo.

The defenceman was acquired by the Sens in September as part of the deal that sent Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks and he has impressed in his first season on his new team.

The 25-year-old London, Ont., native is enjoying the best year of his young NHL career with three goals, 12 assists and 18:50 of ice-time per night through 66 games.

Cherry is particularly impressed with the fact DeMelo had a plus-6 rating heading into Saturday’s home contest against the Maple Leafs despite most of his teammates being firmly in the minus column.

“It’s incredible that a guy can be a plus and still be on that club,” Cherry said Saturday during the Coach’s Corner segment of Hockey Night in Canada.

DeMelo was a sixth-round pick of the Sharks back in 2011 and appears to be someone the Sens can pencil into their top six next season. He has one more year and $900,000 remaining on his contract before he’ll become an unrestricted free agent in July 2020.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136524 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs' Jake Gardiner progressing not as quickly as hoped

Mike Johnston | @MikeyJ_MMA

March 16, 2019, 10:11 PM

This isn’t what Toronto Maple Leafs fans want to hear with the Stanley Cup Playoffs right around the corner.

Defenceman Jake Gardiner, who has been out with a back injury since Feb. 25, isn’t progressing as quickly as originally hoped, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported Saturday during the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada.

Gardiner has yet to resume skating and there remains no definitive timetable for his return.

The pending unrestricted free agent has 29 points in 60 games played this season. The team has now gone 5-4-1 in his absence after Saturday’s drubbing courtesy of the Ottawa Senators.

Travis Dermott is also out with an injury but it appears he is much closer to returning to the lineup than Gardiner at this point.

Martin Marincin, Justin Holl and Igor Ozhiganov have all gotten some extra playing time while Gardiner and Dermott recover. Calle Rosen is in the midst of an impressive season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and once he recovers from a foot injury he could also potentially compete for a spot on the Leafs’ blue line.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136525 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Peter DeBoer expected to sign contract extension with Sharks

Mike Johnston | @MikeyJ_MMA

March 16, 2019, 10:35 PM

Peter DeBoer is currently in the final year of his contract with the San Jose Sharks but the veteran bench boss won’t have to worry about where he’ll be working at the start of next season.

The team is expected to imminently sign the head coach to a multi-year agreement, Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported Saturday during the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada.

DeBoer is enjoying his fourth and best season with the Sharks. Through 71 games, the Sharks boast the third-best points percentage in the NHL and are considered a viable Stanley Cup contender.

Overall, the 50-year-old is 317-180-106 behind the Sharks bench since joining the team in 2015.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136526 Websites Following a solid first period, the Senators continued to control much of the play and extended their lead to 4-1 after 40 minutes.

Ottawa made it 2-0 early in the second as Gibbons jumped on a Dylan TSN.CA / Last-place Senators score six in rout of slumping Maple Leafs DeMelo rebound and went to his backhand as he fell. Toronto cut it to 2- 1 at 12:33 as Rielly put a shot over Nilsson's right shoulder for his 20th of the season. Staff Report Less than two minutes later, Paajarvi scored his first of two goals. Rudolfs Balcers found Paajarvi, who buried a wrist shot.

OTTAWA — The best thing the Toronto Maple Leafs can say about this With less than two minutes remaining in the second, Paajarvi scored his week is that it's over. second of the night as he ripped a wrist shot past Sparks.

The Leafs lost 6-2 to the last-place Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, "We capitalized on two turnovers and that's what we wanted," said concluding a week that saw Toronto lose three of four while giving up 23 Paajarvi of his two goals. "Two nice passes from Balcers and Smith and I goals. tried to pick corners and it worked."

With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Leafs know they The Senators outshot the Leafs 17-9 in the first and led 1-0 off Ceci's must improve. sixth of the season. Christian Wolanin saw Ceci trailing and he wristed a shot past Sparks from the circle. Ottawa-born rookie Max Veronneau "A little adversity is not a bad thing," said Toronto defenceman Morgan picked up his first NHL point on the play in his second game as a Rielly, whose team fell four points behind the Boston Bruins for second in professional. the Atlantic Division. "We believe in ourselves, we believe in the group, we believe in the structure and right now it's just not going well for us. It’s important that we look at one another, we discuss what we can do better and get it fixed.” TSN.CA LOADED: 03.17.2019

Magnus Paajarvi led the way with two goals, while Cody Ceci, Brian Gibbons, Anthony Duclair and Oscar Lindberg also scored for Ottawa (25-41-6). Anders Nilsson made 35 saves as the Senators won their second in a row.

"We had four lines that all played good," said Senators interim head coach Marc Crawford. "Our leaders were really good (Saturday). If you look at the guys that wear 'A's on the team, they were all terrific."

John Tavares also scored for the Leafs (43-24-5), while backup goalie Garret Sparks stopped 38 shots.

Sparks was clearly frustrated and feels some of his teammates need to step up.

"We need more emotion," Sparks said. "I'm an emotional player. I need more emotion. We need more emotion from everybody. We need people to get angry. We need people to step up and be mad and take it personally."

Leafs coach Mike Babcock said the team has to simplify things.

"Being a pro is getting ready each and every day and doing your part. So if you're (Sparks), your job is to stop the puck and if you're a d-man it's to move the puck and keep it out so everyone just do your own job and we'll be fine."

The Leafs should have felt right at home at the Canadian Tire Centre with a season-high crowd of 18,607 mostly cheering for Toronto in the Battle of Ontario.

The Senators are used to seeing a lot of blue in the stands.

"We talked about it a bit before and we knew there would be a lot of Leafs fans since they're having a good season and it’s their first time playing here in Ottawa this year," said Nilsson, who came to the Senators in mid-season. "It was definitely a new experience for me seeing so many away fans from the visiting team in your home barn."

Trailing 4-1 to start the third, Toronto caught a break when both Zack Smith and Mark Borowiecki took minor penalties, giving the Leafs a two- minute, two-man advantage.

Tavares managed to score to cut the lead in half, but not until there were just 14 seconds remaining on the power play. Ottawa regained its three- goal lead shortly after as Duclair tracked a shot off the back boards and slid it past Sparks. Lindberg capped the scoring.

Tavares’ goal was his 40th of the season, a career high for the 28-year- old, but admitted it was hard to feel good about the accomplishment with the way things are going right now.

"We have high expectations for ourselves and we know the level we're playing at right now isn't consistent enough and has to be better," Tavares said. "All we can do is continue to push forward and stick together and work our way out of it. That's the only way we're going to get to where we want to get to." 1136527 Websites "He's playing great," said Matthews. "I think we've rekindled that chemistry we had our first two years playing together."

Babcock sees it a bit differently. TSN.CA / Crawford: Matthews represents new wave of NHL "The biggest part about the chemistry is Willie is competing and working and skating and getting pucks," the coach said. "He made an Mark Masters unbelievable play on that one goal (Toronto's fifth), on one leg, winning a battle, making a play. That’s what’s happened. When we put him there before, whether it was his conditioning, whether it was his timing ... it’s a hard league and he wasn’t ready. And now it looks like he’s ready." TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes on the Maple Leafs. The team (optional) and Senators skated at It’s a big boost to a team that is struggling to reclaim its top form right Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday morning. now.

Marc Crawford coached Auston Matthews in the Swiss league during his "Pretty exciting," said defenceman Jake Muzzin when asked about the draft year and found out, almost immediately, that the kid from Arizona Matthews line, which also includes left winger Andreas Johnsson. "It's was the real deal. nice to see. They're working hard, they're shooting, they're getting to the net, they're back hard in the zone. It's really nice to see and it's fun to "When he was with us in Zurich, I think the thing that kind of told me as a play with." coach right away is, the older players, really, they’re always cautious whenever good, young players come in and they’ve heard of them and In order to have a chance at a big upset tonight Crawford says the Auston was in that category. So, veteran players, it’s not that they're Senators need to stay above pucks and neutralize Toronto’s transition cynical, but they want to really see it. And very quickly our guys in Zurich game. were like, 'Ooh, boy, he's pretty good. I’d like to be on his line,' sort of thing." "That’s what they do better than anybody in the league, I believe, is they counter on you so well," Crawford noted. "They’ve got a lot of guys that Fast forward a few years and now Crawford is behind the bench of the want to get going north as quick as they can and they have the ability to Ottawa Senators – elevated from assistant to interim head coach on make those passes and really play a game that’s high paced." March 1 – trying to devise a game plan to slow down Matthews, who has lived up to the hype with 197 points in his first 201 NHL games. The neutral zone is also a key for the Leafs, who have allowed 17 goals in three games this week. "Speed is really at a premium in the National Hockey League and Auston carries speed and he has the ability to make moves as he's carrying that "We got to slow them down in the neutral zone a little more," Muzzin speed as well as anybody that there is," Crawford observed. "Having said. "A little more 'skin' we call it around here. We got to do a little bit coached Auston, you recognize how good he is carrying speed through better job of that around here as D and forwards." the neutral zone. He's one of those players that's been able to make Did the Leafs stop the bleeding in win against Flyers? moves and he's got no fear of carrying that speed through the neutral zone and that’s really the new wave of the National Hockey League." The TSN Hockey panel discuss whether or not the Leafs still have issues to sort, even though they were victorious against the Flyers in a 7-6 win. Matthews' current coach often points to skating as the bellwether that shows when the centre is on his game. Senators centre Colin White did not skate this morning and will miss a third straight game with a neck injury. "The biggest thing with him is skating," Mike Babcock said after Friday's win over Philadelphia, "and his physical side of his game on offence is "We want it to be totally 100% completely healed before we'll put him in making him way better, and when you’re skating like he is, you’re back the lineup," Crawford said. "He's practiced the last couple of days and there for defence and you’re not giving anything up." usually it's after practice that he starts to feel the soreness and strain from it. So, our doctors and our medical people are recommending that The numbers overall – 34 goals and 31 assists in 57 games – look we keep him out of practice today and tomorrow and probably again on amazing for Matthews this season, but it hasn’t always been smooth. He Monday and then we'll make a further evaluation as we move forward. It dealt with a shoulder injury, which cost him 14 games and blunted his hasn't been responding with a single day off so now we're going to give momentum after an incredible start. And despite possessing the dynamic him a few days off and hopefully that will do the trick." ability to take over games, the 21-year-old seemed passive at times. There is some good news on the injury front for Ottawa as a pair of "I don't know if it had to do with negotiations or any of those things," defencemen – Mark Borowiecki and Christian Jaros – will be returning. Babcock said. "I don’t know. We're all human beings. I know, the players, Borowiecki missed Thursday's game because of a nasty stomach flu. when they feel great they play right. When you don’t feel good, you don’t How’s he feeling now? play." "Better," the 29-year-old said with his trademark big smile. "The hazmat Sens' Crawford on why Matthews represents 'new wave of NHL' suit isn’t on today. It was a rough 24 hours. We'll call it the involuntary Senators interim head coach Marc Crawford, who coached Auston cleanse there so I'm fully detoxed now." Matthews in the 2015-16 season with the ZSC Lions of the Swiss Jaros has been sidelined for six games with a hamstring issue. National League A, explains why the Leafs' star represents a new wave of player in the NHL, and how his teammates in Zurich were impressed "It will be nice to have him back in there," said Crawford. "He’s been with how special of a talent he was at such a young age. really good for us this year and he’s been able to play against good players and he's been able to play specific roles for us in mostly a What’s clear now is that Matthews, who signed a contract extension on defensive style. We like the way that he plays with power, we like the Feb. 5, is flying with four goals and one assist in the last three games. way that he jumps up in the play, we like the fact that he goes at people He’s been very vocal this week about the need for the team to turn things really with a lot of speed and, again, a lot of power. He plays a power up a notch and he is leading by example. game for a defenceman and still has a lot of upside. He’s been one of the "We were pretty good all game," Matthews said Friday night when asked guys who’s been a bright spot for us here with his play and his overall about his line. "It doesn’t look too good on the scoresheet when you’re improvement." minus two, but I thought we had a lot of good chances there in the first Sens Ice Chips: Borowiecki returns following 'involuntary cleanse'; White period. A couple face-offs there where they had some set plays and still out they’re capitalizing so that’s something we can all clean up, but I thought the first and third we were dominant. We had the puck lots and were Ahead of another chapter in the Battle of Ontario tonight, Mark Masters creating plays and luckily, we finally got a couple goals at the end which explains that Colin White will miss his third straight game with a neck was a nice little reward for us." injury, but says the Sens will be getting a boost on the blueline with a pair of defencemen returning, including Mark Borowiecki, who missed With Kasperi Kapanen out with a concussion, Matthews has been Thursday's win over the Blues with the flu. reunited with right winger William Nylander, who also seems to have lifted his level. Max Veronneau didn't have much time to soak up his NHL debut on Thursday night, because the 23-year-old Princeton University product had an astronomy exam to prepare for on Friday.

"It went decently well," he said after Saturday's morning skate. "I probably should've studied a little bit more, but I did fine. It was nice to get it over with, because it was on my mind the last week. Now, it’s over and it’s a lot more relaxing. It was one of the easier classes at Princeton so (smile) still it’s not that easy."

The Ottawa native faces another big test tonight against Toronto and is looking forward to his first taste of the Battle of Ontario.

"It's going to be awesome especially since a lot of my teammates back at school, most of them are from Toronto and are big Leafs fans so hopefully I can play spoiler to them … I just know it's a pretty hostile environment, because there are a lot of Leafs fans here."

What does Borowiecki remember about his first taste of this rivalry?

"Oh, geez, so my very first one was actually a rookie tournament game and I remember we had a double knockout. Me and Jamie Devane knocked each other out. I think I had like 20 stitches across my nose so that was my very first Battle of Ontario."

Despite their spot in the basement, the Senators have played the Leafs tough this year splitting two close games in Toronto.

"They’re always a lot of fun, injects a little bit of passion and energy," said Borowiecki. "It's an easy game to get up for and given the situation we’re in right now any little extra boost you can find is always welcome."

After shutting out the Blues on Thursday, Anders Nilsson starts again for the Senators.

With his first NHL game now under his belt, and after surviving his astronomy exam at Princeton on Friday, Max Veronneau now turns his focus to playing in his first Battle of Ontario tonight. The Ottawa native jokes about how he thinks he did on his exam, reflects on early memories of the Leafs/Sens rivalry and says he's looking to break the hearts of some of his teammates at school, many of whom are Leafs fans.

TSN.CA LOADED: 03.17.2019 1136528 Websites 5) With Anaheim scoring five times in Colorado on Friday and the Canucks managing just two goals, the Ducks moved out of the basement and ahead of Vancouver in goals scored since Christmas. Yes, the TSN.CA / Five Takeaways: Canucks vs Devils Vancouver Canucks are now 31st and dead last in the NHL in offense since the brief December holiday break. The Canucks have managed 74 goals in their last 32 games (an average of 2.31 per game). They have scored five times twice in that span (vs FLA on January 13th and in COL Jeff Paterson on February 2nd) and been shutout six times. Brock Boeser leads the team in goals and points since Christmas (11+14=25) and he and Elias Pettersson (10) are the only players on the roster in double-digits during TAKEAWAYS that time. Boeser, Pettersson and Bo Horvat (7) are the only players with more than six goals since Christmas. For an organization that wants to 1) A two-game win streak for the Vancouver Canucks will have to wait. believe it is progressing, this has to be a troubling statistic. Up 2-0 early in the third against one of the few teams beneath them in the standings, the Canucks let the New Jersey Devils off the hook on Friday night. The Devils scored twice in the third to tie the game and then won it in the seventh round of a shootout. It was the fifth time this season TSN.CA LOADED: 03.17.2019 New Jersey has rallied when trailing after two periods while the Canucks lost for the sixth time when leading after 40 minutes (now 16-2-4). The Canucks still have not won consecutive games since January 18th and 20th and have only strung back to back wins together twice since Christmas. They seemed to be in full control when Tanner Pearson scored a gift goal 1:42 into the third to extend the lead to 2-0, but then sat back and watched as the Devils started to control the play. The Devils tied the game with two of their own and very nearly took the lead in regulation when Travis Zajac was stopped point blank by Jacob Markstrom with 3:40 remaining.

2) The story of the night happened early in the hockey game. Chris Tanev blocked a Kyle Palmieri slap shot on the Devils lone power play of the night. Tanev struggled to the bench and headed straight down the tunnel to the locker room. Later in the period, he returned to the ice during a television timeout, took a quick twirl and once again retreated to the dressing room and that was it for his night. And, as it turns out, his season. After the game, it was revealed that Tanev suffered a broken bone in his foot. He was spotted outside the Canucks locker room in a walking boot and on crutches. The injury occured just minutes into Tanev's fourth period of hockey since missing 11 games with an ankle injury suffered February 13th in Anaheim. Earlier in the season, he missed time with a hip contusion suffered in a late October game in Vegas. Last season, Tanev was shutdown for the year with the final one of his five injuries that forced him out of the line-up. A warrior who puts himself in the line of fire -- perhaps too often at this stage of his career -- Tanev will turn 30 in December and you have to wonder if he has any chance of staying healthy and playing anything resembling a full season ever again. He ended up playing 55 games this season after playing 42 last season and 53 the season before that. As much as he can help the Canucks when healthy, the problem is he just can't stay healthy and can't be counted on to be there for the team because of the long injury history.

3) Elias Pettersson said Friday morning he had to be more selfish with the puck and shoot a little more. He did just that on a second period power play opening the scoring with a snap-shot from the right circle that Devils netminder Mackenzie Blackwood didn't see. It snapped an 11- game goal drought for Pettersson and surely brought with it some relief. The goal was his team-leading 27th of the season and gives him 59 points which ties Trevor Linden's rookie season output and moves Pettersson just a point away from matching Pavel Bure and Ivan Hlinka for the franchise record for first year points. He could reach that mark as soon as Sunday in Dallas. Pettersson also opened the shootout with a spectacular 'Peter Forsberg' drawing Blackwood to his right and then reaching back to deposit the puck into the unguarded goal. It was just another sensational move to add to his already impressive highlight reel that will be shown when he collects the Calder Trophy at the NHL Awards in June.

4) Pettersson was great in the shootout. Unfortunately, his fellow shooters stunk. Pettersson was the only one of seven Vancouver shooters to convert in the skills competition. This has been an on-going issue for the hockey club all season. Pettersson is now 3/6 and is the only Canucks to cash in three times in the shootout. Brock Boeser and Tanner Pearson each hit the post. Bo Horvat and Nikolay Goldobin were both thwarted and each of them is now 0 for 5 this season. As a team, the Canucks have won just three of eight shootouts and three of 13 in two seasons under Travis Green. This year, collectively, Canucks shooters are 7 for 34. Pettersson has three of the goals, Boeser and Markus Granlund have the other two apiece. And after that, no other Canuck has managed to score in eight trips to the breakaway contest. 1136529 Websites “(Goalie) Darcy Kuemper hasn’t been a starter before and coming in and doing it at this level and Conor Garland coming up from Tucson (of the American Hockey League) has created a lot of buzz in our market,” USA TODAY / NHL has new look: Arizona and Carolina both in the Chayka said. playoffs The national spotlight is just starting to find Hurricanes blossoming superstar Sebastian Aho, who has 30 goals and 77 points in 70 games.

Kevin Allen, USA TODAY “If he were in a larger hockey market, he would be getting a lot more attention,” Waddell said. “But he will sell more jerseys than any other Published 7:00 a.m. ET March 16, 2019 | Updated 12:08 p.m. ET March player this year.” 16, 2019 The Hurricanes have also received considerable attention for their choreographed post-game win celebrations for their home fans. Players did this completely on their own. The celebrations’ notoriety grew after Success smells like smoked barbecue for the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canadian television hockey analyst Don Cherry criticized the more they win, the earlier tailgating begins at PNC Arena. celebrations and called the Hurricanes “a bunch of jerks.” Saturday’s home game against the Buffalo Sabres starts at 7 p.m. “By Waddell had T-shirts made that say “A Bunch of Jerks.” More than noon there will be hundreds of people in our parking lot,” Hurricanes 10,000 have been sold. president and general manager Don Waddell said. “We have shirt orders from 49 states,” Waddell said. “Someone from With the Hurricanes currently holding the first wild-card spot in the Wyoming needs to buy a shirt.” Eastern Conference, they are in position for their first playoff appearance in a decade.

“Everyone was aware of the team, but now they are talking about the USA TODAY LOADED: 03.17.2019 team,” Waddell said.

There is a similar story in Arizona, where the fan base has been energized by the Coyotes’ frenzied effort to qualify for the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2012. They occupy the Western Conference's final wild-card spot.

Coach Rick Tocchet promised his injury-riddled team would “scratch and claw” their way to success, and they are 10-2 in their last 12 games.

“That phrase, scratching and clawing, has resonated with the team and the whole market,” Coyotes president and CEO Ahron Cohen said. “That’s what we are about – it’s resiliency and fighting for every inch, playing with a chip on their shoulder."

Given the length of their playoff absence, it’s hard to believe too many teams would receive more benefit from a playoff appearance than the Hurricanes and Coyotes. The last time both franchises were in the playoffs at the same time was 2002.

“I even look at from what it would mean for growing the sport in Arizona,” Coyotes general manager John Chayka said. “Obviously, since we last made the playoffs, we’ve had (Arizona resident) Auston Matthews be a No. 1 pick and there has been a huge explosion in youth hockey because of that. And some of those young players have never experienced an NHL playoff atmosphere.”

Both Arizona and Carolina are markets where attracting new fans is still a primary mission.

“It’s the buzz you create,” Waddell said. “There is a lot more interest now, a lot more people buying tickets. Now we have to take fans beyond hope and belief and give them the reality of the playoffs.”

Just the excitement of the playoff chase has had major benefits for both teams. Carolina’s attendance is up 12% and the suite sales are up 15%.

“We are seeing a lot of positive metrics throughout the organization,” Cohen said. “Our TV ratings are up, our corporate sales are up, our ticket sales are up, our merchandise, our food and beverage, across the gambit.”

In February, the Coyotes had back-to-back home sellouts in games against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets.

“I get attendance and ticket sale numbers every morning,” Cohen said. “And the numbers we're getting are unheard of for this time of year.”

Both teams are drawing more national attention than they have received in recent years. Tocchet is considered a coach of the year candidate for the job he has donein the face of an overwhelming number of injuries. At one point, the Coyotes had 10 regulars on the injured list.

“We offer entertaining hockey,” Chayka said. “Our guys play hard. They have overcome a lot of adversity, showed resiliency. It’s one of those stories that fans love.”

The Coyotes call it a “mosaic of positivity.”