SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 9/28/2020 1194017 Former goalie coach on Stars’ Khudobin: ‘It’s been fun to see him shine’ 1194018 , Stars forwards remain unfit to play; Andrej Sekera game-time decision for Game 6 1194019 making massive contribution to some of Stars' biggest playoff goals, even if he’s not scoring t 1194020 Lightning out for remainder of Final vs. Stars 1194021 Lowetide: Who will be available if the Oilers pick at No. 14? NHL 1194022 Hockey Needs Viewers. It Should Not Glorify Pain and Violence to Get Them. 1194023 Ottawa Senators' Christian Wolanin says it's time for this team to take the next step 1194024 Yohe: 10 observations on the Penguins’ overcrowded, oddly left-handed blue line 1194025 Lightning not about to start doubting themselves after Game 5 loss 1194026 'Can’t catch a break’: Lightning fans reacts to Stamkos being done for Stanley Cup final 1194027 Lightning’s Steven Stamkos ‘done for the series’ 1194028 No need for the Lightning to panic. Unless you remember 2018. And 2016. And 2015. 1194029 Seasoned pair give the Stars a confidence boost Maple Leafs 1194030 Stars beat Lightning in double to extend Stanley Cup Final 1194033 Canucks top 10 prospects: Brogan Rafferty 1194034 A sports collection for the ages, purchased one game at a time by lifelong fan 1194031 Golden Knights may pursue star defenseman, others in free agency 1194032 Where will longtime Capitals goalie sign in free agency? Websites 1194035 .ca / Pavelski keeping Stars in hunt for Stanley Cup with leadership, production 1194036 Sportsnet.ca / Lightning not discouraged after missing first chance to lift Stanley Cup 1194037 Sportsnet.ca / Making the case to and keep each of Canadiens' top centres 1194038 Sportsnet.ca / Lightning seek to close out Stars as Game 6 favourites SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1194017 Calgary Flames Thrust into the spotlight in relief of an unfit-to-play Ben Bishop, Khudobin has posted a 14-9 record during the restart with a 2.72 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.

Former goalie coach on Stars’ Khudobin: ‘It’s been fun to see him shine’ Despite a couple of tough outings against the Lightning, he would certainly be a frontrunner if the Stars could complete the comeback. Wes Gilbertson Watching from afar, Marcoux has been beaming with pride. Countless other goaltending coaches must be feeling the same way.

In the pressure-packed business of professional puck, not many guys are “He’s always been a guy that was very loud around the dressing room. eager — let alone angling — to spend so much downtime with the boss. You knew he was around. You knew Dobby was in the house,” Marcoux said. “Well, that’s translated also to being loud on the ice and telling the , as you know by now, is a little different. guys in front of him what he wants, too. He’s not shy of doing that, and “I was living in Carolina in an apartment complex, and he was in another he’s at that now with his team. one … And my complex had a ping-pong table in the basement, in a lounge area, and his didn’t have one,” said Calgary-based David Marcoux, chuckling as he reminisced about his days as Khudobin’s “Probably the biggest thing we worked on in Carolina was his puck- goaltending coach with the . “Well, after every handling skills and I gave him some examples, too, of Kipper — when he practice on a non-game day, he would say, ‘Dave, can I come over? He was injured and couldn’t go down in a butterfly and for a month, we just wanted to beat me every single time at ping-pong.” worked on his puck-handling skills because that’s all he could do. And I think he used that, and now he’s become a proficient puck-handling And? goalie. In his own zone, he’s now a quarterback. “I didn’t win too often, I can tell you that,” Marcoux said. “As a 5-foot-11 , you also want to be in a position to see Khudobin, the feel-good story of the NHL’s summer restart, was rock- pucks. If you don’t, if your defenceman are in the way or trying to block solid again Saturday as the Dallas Stars managed to keep their shots or what I call ‘playing bad goalie,’ then pucks go through and he championship hopes alive, delaying any champagne celebrations with a becomes vulnerable. So he really needed to establish his leadership double-overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of skills and his communication skills to be able to see pucks and to keep the Stanley Cup final. The Bolts still lead 3-2 in the best-of-seven pucks away from rebounds. Because he needs to challenge the showdown, with Game 6 set for Monday inside the bubble in Edmonton shooters.” (6 p.m. MT, CBC/Sportsnet). The challenge now is to scratch out two more victories against the Lightning.

The Stars are trying to become the first squad since 1942 to claw back In between games, based on one past account, he may also be racking from a 3-1 deficit in the league final. Two more wins would be fairytale up Ws at the ping-pong tables inside the NHL’s bubble. sort of stuff for Khudobin, a guy who has bounced around as a backup “Now, finally, he is The Guy and at the right time, at the right place, at the for five different NHL organizations and seems to be universally loved by right moment,” Marcoux said of Khudobin. “It’s been fun to see him those who have crossed his path. shine.” Even Flames bench boss Geoff Ward, whose club was eliminated from Calgary Sun: LOADED: 09.28.2020 these playoffs by the Stars, admitted a while back that the 34-year-old netminder from Kazakhstan — with his squat frame and unorthodox style — is an easy dude to root for.

Ward was an assistant coach in Boston when Khudobin played a total of 15 games with the Bruins in the 2011-12 and ’12-13 seasons during his first of two stints with the club.

“He has an outstanding personality. He loves to laugh, loves to have fun,” said Ward. “Everybody that’s ever been around Anton Khudobin just loves him. He fits into the locker-room so well. He’ll stay on the ice as long as you want after practice to do extra with you. When he goes in, he plays really hard for you …

“Just everything about him bleeds team. And to see him now having success, everybody is, for sure, so pumped about that.”

The undersized Khudobin came up big for the Stars in Saturday’s series- extender, delivering 39 saves in that 3-2 double-overtime triumph.

He and Marcoux, best known around Calgary as Miikka Kiprusoff’s tutor during his heyday at the Saddledome, overlapped in Carolina during the 2014-15 campaign.

“(Khudobin) has never lacked any self-confidence. Now, it’s just the opportunity that he does have to shine,” said Marcoux, who was the goaltending coach for the Flames from 2003-09, held the same job with the Hurricanes for three winters and now runs a puck-stopping school in Calgary. “He was very vocal during my time in Carolina, having as the No. 1 and him being the backup. He made it very clear that he wanted to play more. ‘He would say, ‘Why don’t I play more Dave? I should be playing more.’ And this is in a meeting with both goalies at the end of practice. Wardo and I would be looking at each like, ‘Holy smokes!’

“So self-confidence has always been there with him.”

Khudobin is showing this summer why he is so sure of himself. 1194018 Dallas Stars

Ben Bishop, Stars forwards remain unfit to play; Andrej Sekera game- time decision for Game 6

By Matthew DeFranks

Stars forwards Roope Hintz, and Radek Faksa, goaltender Ben Bishop and defenseman Stephen Johns remain unfit to play, interim coach Rick Bowness said Sunday. Defenseman Andrej Sekera will be a game-time decision for Game 6 on Monday night.

Hintz, Comeau, Faksa, Bishop and Johns missed Game 5 on Saturday night.

Sekera blocked a shot with the inside of his right knee in the first period of Game 5 and missed the second period before returning for the third period and both overtimes. Sekera played 13:38.

Should Sekera miss Game 6, the Stars could turn to Taylor Fedun. Fedun was the team’s first choice when Johns got hurt in the first round against Calgary, but he lost his job to Joel Hanley when Fedun got hurt in Game 6 against . Hanley has played the last 12 games.

Stamkos is done: Lightning coach said captain Steven Stamkos would not play the remainder of the series. Stamkos played in one postseason game, scoring a in Game 3 against Dallas in just 2:47 of ice time.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 09.28.2020 1194019 Dallas Stars

John Klingberg making massive contribution to some of Stars' biggest playoff goals, even if he’s not scoring them

By Matthew DeFranks

Defenseman John Klingberg has made a massive contribution to some of the Stars' biggest goals of these playoffs, even if he’s not the one scoring them.

Corey Perry’s game-winner Saturday in Game 5 against Tampa Bay? Started with a Klingberg shot.

Joel Kiviranta’s tying goal in Game 5 against Vegas? Started with a Klingberg shot.

Jamie Benn’s winning goal in Game 4 against Vegas? Started with a Klingberg shot.

Alexander Radulov’s tying goal in Game 7 against Colorado, and Radulov’s winner in Game 4 against Calgary and two of Joe Pavelski’s goals in the same game vs. the Flames? Yep, all originated from Klingberg’s stick.

John Klingberg is good at his job. pic.twitter.com/un1lIvNZf5

— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) September 27, 2020

Largely overshadowed by Miro Heiskanen’s performance throughout the postseason, Klingberg has been clutch for the Stars, especially in the Cup Final, during which he has a goal and four assists. He has sneaked into the conversation as a potential Conn Smythe Trophy dark horse and has been a key cog for the Stars on the back end as they have asked for more offensive contributions from their defensemen.

Klingberg is strong in transition, moving the puck with long stretch passes. He is aggressive in pinching down in the offensive zone to keep possessions alive. Those traits have their drawbacks, particularly turnovers, but are a big net positive for the Stars. Klingberg is also one of the best defensemen in the league at getting pucks toward the net.

He did it Saturday night, drifting on the blue line until there was enough space to shoot a puck toward the net. Perry cleaned up the rebound and set up Game 6 on Monday night with Dallas trailing the series 3-2.

“I think he’s one of the best guys in the league at just walking the blue line, finding that space and being able to attack it,” defenseman Jamie Oleksiak said. “I think he’s really shifty, and I think it’s been a huge strength in his game. You saw last night that created that big scoring opportunity for Perry. He’s always been really good at it, and obviously, it’s shining this playoffs.”

Interim coach Rick Bowness added: “Tampa’s done a really good job pressuring our D at the offensive blue line. Now you’ve got to have mobility, you’ve got to have your eyes up. You’ve got to have the ability to get that puck down by the net. You hope it gets through.”

Klingberg’s patience and skill at the point allows the machinery of the Stars offense to work in concert. Bowness wants the defensemen to be more involved in the offense, and that requires coordination with the forwards.

If defensemen jump up in the rush, a forward must cover for them. If they pinch down walls, a forward must cover for them. And, of course, the defensemen have to provide tip and rebound chances for the forwards, as Klingberg does.

“We’re yelling at the forwards, get to the net, get to the net, get to the net and there’s no pucks coming,” Bowness said. “So that frustrates the forwards. We put a lot of pressure on our defense. If we’re going to tell our forwards to get there and take a beating, you’ve got to make sure the puck is there, and John is very good at doing that.”

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 09.28.2020 1194020 Dallas Stars

Lightning captain Steven Stamkos out for remainder of Stanley Cup Final vs. Stars

By Callie Caplan

Lightning captain Steven Stamkos will miss the remainder of the Stanley Cup Final against the Stars, Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said Sunday afternoon.

Stamkos has played just one game during the NHL’s restart this summer while rehabilitating an undisclosed injury. He had core surgery in early March, about a week before the NHL suspended the season amid the coronavirus, and then suffered a lower-body injury during summer training.

In the Lightning’s Game 3 win over the Stars, the 30-year-old forward played 2:47 in the first period and scored a goal, but Stamkos unexpectedly spent the remainder of the game watching from the bench.

“He did everything he could to get back, and he did get back, and unfortunately he couldn’t go any further,” Cooper said. “To be honest, I didn’t think he was playing at all in these playoffs. I don’t think any of us did, so he gave us 2:47 of brilliant hockey. It’s a phenomenal story. Scored a huge goal for us in a win, and hopefully we can keep that momentum moving forward. He’s for sure missed on the ice, but the rest of the series is done for him.”

The Lightning, who lead the series 3-2, decided Sunday morning Stamkos would not play in the maximum two games remaining.

The Stars won Game 5 in double overtime to avoid elimination and force Monday night’s Game 6.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 09.28.2020 1194021 Edmonton Oilers Kaiden Guhle are candidates), Finnish centre Anton Lundell and goalie Yaroslav Askarov, the Oilers will be sitting pretty as their turn arrives.

The pool of talent Edmonton would be tracking now (Connor Zary, Seth Lowetide: Who will be available if the Oilers pick at No. 14? Jarvis, Jack Quinn, Dylan Holloway and Dawson Mercer) will be chosen next. If there are several players Edmonton values but none is cherished, we might see it trade down in order to add an extra pick. By Allan Mitchell Sep 27, 2020 23 It’s also possible the , or another team, make their offer and Holland decides to trade the No. 14 pick and attempt to trade back into the first round or the early second round. It’s complicated, but a lot of A year ago, the Edmonton Oilers prepped the fan base for Philip what happens will depend on what’s available. Broberg’s selection in the first round of the draft. From the time of Ken Even more confusing, the situation is fluid among players who could be Holland’s arrival in May through draft weekend, Broberg’s name went surprise selections in the top 13. from nonexistent in local media to size-20 Impact bold font in about two weeks. When the time arrived for Holland to announce the name, Players are playing Edmonton’s population had been made aware of Broberg’s size, physical conditioning and foot speed. The draft is going to be remembered for many reasons, not the least of which is the month when it’s going to take place. Teams have the added The Oilers often telegraph the next step with their fans. At times, it’s a advantage (or disadvantage) of watching draft-eligible players currently trial balloon (What do you think of an Oliver Ekman-Larsson trade?) and playing in games all over Europe. That could have an enormous impact at other times, like Broberg, it’s an effort to prepare fans for what might throughout the draft. be a controversial selection. An example is Russian winger Rodion Amirov. He is well regarded, as In the case of Broberg, a defenceman, Edmonton fans were expecting a reflecting in Corey Pronman’s ranking (No. 16) in his final list for The forward (Dylan Cozens, Trevor Zegras, Cole Caufield), so getting Athletic. Scott Wheeler’s final list for is similar with Amirov at Broberg’s name and resume out there eased the shock of the actual pick. No. 20.

I’ve been waiting for a similar effort this year and it has not arrived. Why? Amirov has played in seven games in the KHL this year and has scored twice and amassed four points while averaging 13:25 per game. That I suspect the Oilers are contemplating their options. valuable information, available only due to the unique circumstances Draft uncertainty surrounding the draft, may have NHL teams (including Edmonton) adjusting their lists. His game on Saturday, in which he scored two goals No one knows the first 13 names that will come off the board, so Holland and had an assist with four shots on goal, would be especially interesting and the Oilers have to be patient. I expect management has been diligent to scouting directors. and has an idea of who it values enough at No. 14 to make the pick. It isn’t just Amirov. Askarov has a .974 save percentage in three KHL If the targets are off the board, we might see movement, perhaps a trade games and giant defenceman Shakir Mukhamadullin has one goal and down in the first round or two trades by Holland. The first would be to five points in 11 games in the same league. Not everyone who is playing secure a desired asset (Ekman-Larsson would qualify; Darcy Kuemper will move into the first round or even get drafted, but it is a fantastic would also be a candidate) and the second might bring in a first-round opportunity for those young players and the benefit should be seen on selection later in the draft. I don’t believe Edmonton will trade completely draft day. out of the first round. What to expect from the Oilers Draft strategy The most likely scenario has Edmonton picking a scoring forward at No. If Edmonton arrives at the draft with the No. 14 pick, watch for motivated 14. If teams start to trade in around No. 10 and draft players like Jarvis teams to make an attempt to trade in ahead of the Oilers in order to grab and Quinn, other options come into play. scoring forwards. A cursory glance at Edmonton’s prospect pipeline makes clear that director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright and his team Few outside the organization know how serious trade talks are or how will be adding offensive forwards in the draft and looking for an impact much those offers might improve on draft night. player at No. 14. We know Holland is motivated to improve his team while being mindful When there’s a perceived area of need (the Oilers have more than one), that the pipeline for scoring forwards is not pumping much at all. other teams with the same need often try to trade into the slots just Edmonton’s move at No. 14 may depend on Arizona’s new general before that team makes a selection. It happened last year in the second manager, Bill Armstrong, and his motivation to trade into the first round. round when the Carolina Hurricanes drafted goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov We haven’t heard a name this year. There is no Broberg being from Kapitan Stupino, a Russian junior team, at No. 36. mentioned by media. That’s a tell. The game is afoot. The Hurricanes were scheduled to make the next pick as well but instead Allan Mitchell dealt it to the Ottawa Senators, who drafted their target (and possibly Edmonton’s), goaltender Mads Sogaard. The The Athletic LOADED: 09.28.2020 Senators, no doubt concerned about a run on goalies, stepped in front of Edmonton to pick the giant Danish stopper. Edmonton chose overage goaltender Ilya Konovalov, from the KHL, in the third round.

That may happen this year with the skill forwards, meaning players who are coveted by Edmonton could cause a trade flurry just before Oilers’ turn at No. 14.

Baker’s dozen off the board

Over many months during this season, an elite group of draft-eligible players pulled away from the rest of the competition. After the hockey world shut down due to COVID-19, the eight players likely to be drafted first were universally agreed upon. QMJHL star Alexis Lafrenière led the way, followed by four OHL prospects (Quinton Byfield, Marco Rossi, Cole Perfetti and Jamie Drysdale), two SHL wingers (Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz) and one brilliant player from Germany (Tim Stutzle).

After that, things get a little vague through about No. 16, and those players are at the heart of the order for Edmonton. If pick Nos. 9 to 13 are spent on defencemen (the USHL’s Jake Sanderson and WHL’s 1194022 NHL The reason Taylor was not in uniform? Well, first he cracked his ribs while leading his team to victory in the first game of the season. Though badly hobbled, he forged on, expecting to play in the next game.

Hockey Needs Viewers. It Should Not Glorify Pain and Violence to Get The Chargers were willing to accommodate. A team doctor tried to inject Them. Taylor with a powerful pain reliever — a practice so common in major sports that, for decades, players have become addicted to such drugs. Only in this case, the doctor mistakenly plunged a needle into Taylor’s By Kurt Streeter lungs. He ended up in the hospital; it is unclear when he will play again.

Particularly damning is the way Taylor’s story has been discussed by coaches, reporters, players and fans. The focus has almost entirely been The tortured relationship between pain, violence and sports burst sharply on the doctor’s error. into view once again this month. The reminder came courtesy of a pair of reliable standard-bearers: professional hockey and football, both Little has been said about the deeper, more troubling part of this case: brimming with beauty and drama obscuring a dark side that should not the reliance on numbing drugs that allow athletes to take to the field for be ignored. our entertainment.

In the N.H.L., the are well underway. The Tampa Bay Where is the skepticism? Why has medicalized drug use of this kind Lightning lead the Dallas Stars, three games to two, in a taut best-of- been so normalized? seven series that continues Monday night. As the Stanley Cup finals got underway, the Canadian sports television The battle for the Cup has struggled for wider attention on a sports network TSN aired a documentary, “The Problem of Pain,” that shined a calendar upended by the coronavirus pandemic and social strife. In a light on anti-inflammatory drug abuse in hockey. In it, former N.H.L. stars normal year, hockey wouldn’t have had to compete for an audience with open up about the brutality of a sport in which brawls are still cherished a trifecta that includes the start of the N.F.L. season, the N.B.A. playoffs and legitimate body checks feel like car wrecks. A sport in which, and playoff chases in Major League Baseball. according to the ex-players, the use of desensitizing medicine often fuels performance as much as hard work. So the N.H.L., desperate for viewers, produced an eye-popping promotional video. It was a 1-minute-11-second montage of slow-motion “I never wanted to hurt the team, so I knew I had to play,” says a now game clips. Nothing about it highlighted hockey’s beauty — the pinpoint rueful Ryan Kesler, who played in the league for 15 seasons and had a passes or unfathomable shots on goal that fuel the game’s excitement. reputation for sucking up any kind of hurt in order to make it out on the ice. “To play, you have to take painkillers.” Instead it was a homage to misery. Fans have a part in this. Too many lust for the voyeuristic thrill of “There is a price to pay in the playoffs, isn’t there?” a play-by-play watching violence without considering the costs. announcer intones, as scenes of players suffering grievous injuries roll past. They double over and stumble on the ice in agony. They writhe in “What fans get out of suffering in sports is meaning,” said Nathan pain from laser slap shots to the gut and groin. Kalman-Lamb, a Duke University lecturer who has written extensively about the interplay of injury, suffering and sport. “The meaning fans get is When a puck slices against a player at speeds fast enough to break based on the idea that when they watch these games something really bones, an announcer remarks, “It’s going to leave a big mark.” profound, powerful and important is happening — and life or death Masochism on ice. What a thing to celebrate. stakes are part of it.”

This tone-deaf advertisement, sent out on the N.H.L.’s Twitter account “The harm has become the thing,” Kalman-Lamb said when we spoke and now conveniently deleted, came from a league that has long this week. “It is not just a byproduct. It is stuck at the very center of so struggled to address the toll of its brutality. A league laden with former many of our sports.” players dealing with brain injuries, several of whom have died by suicide. The harm has become the thing. A league that in 2018 paid $19 million to settle a lawsuit brought by retired players who claimed the N.H.L. hid what it knew about the long- Suffering as spectacle. Torment as tonic. Writhing agony used as bait for term effects of repeated hits to the head. viewers.

Hockey has been trying to tamp down its violence for years. But during Think of what that says about our society, particularly now, as we grapple this year’s N.H.L. playoffs, the floodgates have opened again. A fight with how to calm a world so prone to violence, so deadened to suffering, broke out between players less than three minutes into the first game. so on edge. That early brawl, replete with requisite uppercuts and jabs aimed at the temple, set a foreboding tone. Fighting marred too much of hockey’s New York Times LOADED: 09.28.2020 pandemic return. Just as bad was the way those brawls were extolled on television broadcasts.

The N.H.L.’s advertisement did not feature those fights, but the fact that the league thought that highlighting pain was a good way to promote itself demonstrated its continued embrace of machismo and violence. What the league signaled is that the athletes we should exalt are those who treat pain as something to be stuffed away and ignored, and who are willing to take the hurt and dish the hurt, no matter the cost.

Problem is, the costs are known, and in many cases the costs can lead to a lifetime of debilitating agony and even death.

Hockey is one of the most breathtaking of sports, as the intense double- overtime win by Dallas in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals made clear. It does not need fights or the veneration of gruesome injury to make it great.

When is hockey going to grow up and properly address the problem of unmoored violence and the way it deals with suffering?

Make no mistake, the N.H.L. is hardly alone.

In the N.F.L. on Sunday, the Los Angeles Chargers played again without quarterback Tyrod Taylor. 1194023 Ottawa Senators “I’m healthy and the shoulder is 100%,” he said. “I just miss the team environment and the camaraderie and everything that comes with being a hockey player. After being at home for about a month and lifting bricks for workouts and piles of wood and just ridiculous stuff I decided I’m Ottawa Senators' defenceman Christian Wolanin says it's time for this going to go somewhere I know they have the facilities. team to take the next step “In North Dakota, life is fairly normal here and I’m being cognizant of what’s going on around me. I just came here to be part of the team. I have to be limited in my role because I’m not actually part of the team but Bruce Garrioch it’s just nice to be around the team environment. To be able to have the Publishing date:Sep 27, 2020 ice and the gym at North Dakota 24/7 is nice for me. I loved it here and I’ve always wanted to come back so it was perfect timing.”

Wolanin said he doesn’t know when next season will begin but he has to Christian Wolanin is ready to turn the page and is prepared for the next stay ready. The league was scheduled to start Dec. 1, but there’s little chapter. chance that’s going to happen. Rinks can be open to small groups Oct. 15, but at this point if Wolanin came to Canada he’d have to self-isolate The Ottawa Senators’ defenceman, who will be in the mix for a full-time for 14 days. job when the 2020-21 campaign gets under way, was disappointed to see veterans Craig Anderson, Mark Borowiecki and Bobby Ryan make “Weird is the best way to describe it. There’s no reason to be mad about their departures from the dressing room in recent weeks, but the players it or waste energy thinking about it. Nobody can control what’s going on left won’t dwell on it. around us,” Wolanin said. “With the injury, it was kind of a blessing in disguise because this is just an extended version of what I’ve already Speaking to TSN 1200 Sunday morning, the 25-year-old Wolanin, who gone through. All I’m doing is staying ready and prepared if camp or the was the club’s No. 107 pick overall in the 2015 NHL draft, said it’s up to season does come out of nowhere. I’m not panicking to get back into the club’s roster next season to get Ottawa back to respectability. shape or be ready. “We’re done saying we’re rebuilding,” Wolanin told the station. “That was “I’m just making sure I’m ready at all times and whenever we get the call something we could say for a year or two but it’s time to turn the page to head back to Ottawa I’ll be the first one there and ready to go.” and turn into a winning organization and turn into what the Ottawa Senators used to be. It’s the business side of things.

“I was sad, I talked to (Anderson and Ryan) and told them I was Ottawa Sun LOADED: 09.28.2020 legitimately sad and I was going to miss them. At the same time, both guys told me good luck and they told me that this is business and it’s time for you guys to start winning with all the talent we have as young guys.

“Like I said, it’s about time we hang that rebuild in the past and start focusing on winning hockey games and the young guys playing their roles to the best ability and doing what we have to do.”

Ottawa Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk and Senators General Manager Pierre Dorion talking during a Postmedia editorial meeting in Ottawa Wednesday Sept 12, 2018. Tony Caldwell

When Senators’ owner Eugene Melnyk and general manager Pierre Dorion went into this rebuild in Feb., 2018 much of it was predicated around building through young players and getting the right prospects in the draft. The next two weeks for this organization are going to play a large role in where this team is headed next.

The Senators are going to get high-end talent with the No. 3 and No. 5 picks in the NHL draft which is set to be held virtually on Oct. 6-7. The club also has the No 28 pick in the first round along with four picks in the second round and 13 overall. Naturally, some of those selections will be used to acquire players that can help immediately.

This team will be built around the likes of Thomas Chabot, Brady Tkachuk, Colin White, Drake Batherson, Alex Formenton and Josh Norris.

“I don’t want to say I’m not excited about the draft, but it happens every year and every year there’s going to be new competition to keep my job,” said Wolanin. “Like I said, I’m excited for us to turn the page. Enough is enough with the rebuild thing and I know we’re ready to turn to the page and this draft is a big one for the organization.

“I know it’s a big deal and any pieces we can continue to add I know will be a good addition.”

Out of the lineup after suffering a shoulder injury just before camp last September, Wolanin returned to play three games with the Senators before heading to Belleville to help the club’s AHL affiliate make a long run in the post-season. Unfortunately, that didn’t materialize because of the novel coronavirus.

He was at his home near Detroit with his family but has returned to the University of North Dakota where he went to school and he’s been skating there to prepare. The Senators have top prospects Jacob- Bernard Docker and forward Shane Pinto suiting up for the Fighting Saints. 1194024 Pittsburgh Penguins If Johnson is the No. 7 defenseman, it’s not the end of the world. Sure, that’s a lot of money in the press box, but it’s better for the Penguins if he’s replaced by someone better on the ice.

Yohe: 10 observations on the Penguins’ overcrowded, oddly left-handed • Count me among those who are Chad Ruhwedel believers. There’s blue line nothing wrong with starting the season with Ruhwedel as your No. 6 defenseman. He’s not flashy, but he’s perfectly dependable. Ruhwedel on his natural side versus Johnson his off-side is a considerable mismatch if that becomes the battle for the No. 6 spot. By Josh Yohe Also, while the Penguins do like free agent Christopher Tanev a great Sep 27, 2020 deal, there’s no money to sign him right now. Also, is Tanev that much better than Ruhwedel? Oh, he’s probably better, but is he $4 million per year better? I don’t think so. There are so many defensemen currently on the Penguins’ roster, I could write an observation for each of them. I had a chat with Jacques Martin in San Jose during the Penguins’ disastrous road trip to California (it seems like it was a decade ago, but it The Penguins’ surprising trade of Patric Hornqvist has given them one of was late February). Martin told me that Ruhwedel had been the hockey’s deepest defensive corps. But just how good is it? And what Penguins’ best defenseman for the past couple of months at that point. comes next? We have much to discuss. I’ll take his word for it. This is a solid player.

• Mike Matheson is the newest member of the Penguins’ blue line, and • Under no circumstances should the Penguins trade Dumoulin unless whenever next season begins, all eyes will be on him. The fact of the the return includes a couple of private Caribbean islands. Even then, I’d matter is that he possesses one of hockey’s most troubling contracts and hesitate. While players such as Matheson and Johnson might own “bad hasn’t been particularly good during the past two seasons. Thus, contracts,” there aren’t many contracts in the sport that are better than Matheson has become a very attractive candidate to replace Jack Dumoulin’s. A fraction over $4 million annually for a player of Dumoulin’s Johnson (more on him later) as the player Penguins fans most love to greatness is robbery. On the open market, a player of his caliber, age hate. and Stanley Cup experience would easily receive $6 million annually.

It’s a curious trade, and the Penguins are taking a big chance on him. I’ve not heard that Rutherford was considering such a thing, and I can’t They’re also betting on Todd Reirden. We know that Sergei Gonchar imagine that he would. received rightful accolades for reviving the careers of defensemen such as Justin Schultz, Jamie Oleksiak, Ian Cole and many others. It must • Letang’s situation is different, of course. For all of his wondrous ability, also be noted that, before Gonchar became the defensemen whisperer, Letang is 33, and I’ve never suspected he would age all that well. He’s there was Reirden. Just ask Matt Niskanen. not a thinking man’s player. Rather, he’s an awesome physical talent. Eventually, the legs will go. Reirden specializes in dealing with defensemen who have offensive upside and good wheels. These are the attributes that Matheson Still, it’s my understanding that the front office is legitimately excited to possesses. Reirden has done some of his best work with the likes of see what Letang will do during his second stint under Reirden. I’ve heard Niskanen, Kris Letang, Dmitri Orlov, Nate Schmidt and John Carlson. whispers, fairly or not, that it was difficult for Letang and Gonchar to have These are all guys who can skate and who are gifted offensive players. a player-coach relationship because they’re such good friends and were No, Matheson isn’t close to this class of player, but he has the physical teammates for many years. Makes sense if you think about it. gifts to warrant attention. Reirden knows Letang’s game so, so well. He groomed him and has The Penguins wouldn’t have made this trade without consulting with coached against him for years. It will be interesting to see them reunited. Reirden on this player. He’s worked his magic before. • You know who Reirden will like coaching? John Marino, that’s who. • At first glance, I didn’t particularly like the trade, and I know I’m not • I continue to be confused about the Juuso Riikola re-signing. And they alone. I’m a big believer in Hornqvist and don’t necessarily like the idea gave him a raise. Why would he want to stay if he’s rarely going to play? of dealing him, nor do I like Matheson’s contract. Why did the Penguins bring him back when the coaching staff clearly However, ask yourself this question: Is the Penguins’ blue line better now wasn’t a huge fan? Even if the Penguins get rid of Johnson, there’s no than it was last week? I believe the answer is yes. You might not be a room for Riikola in the lineup. Very odd. Matheson fan, but will you take 26-year-old Matheson over 33-year-old • Here’s one issue I have with this trade: You’re already crowded on the Johnson? The answer has to be an emphatic yes, correct? left side, and your best defensive prospect happens to play on the left So sure, it’s a dicey trade, the money and term are substantial, and side. Pierre-Olivier Joseph will be ready soon, in less than a year, to be Matheson’s future performance is something of a mystery. But he’s an NHL regular. Whom does he supplant? Dumoulin? Pettersson? absolutely a better player than Johnson and, thus, the blue line is better. Matheson? Perhaps it was a lot to give up to make the blue line better, but if you But then, remember this. I truly don’t think the Penguins care about watched even a moment of the Penguins-Canadiens series, you know anything other than the next couple of years. So, the more good players Johnson and Schultz were problems. I don’t believe these two will be a the better is their thinking, 2024 be damned. problem moving forward. • I’ll send you into your Sunday with some predictions … • We know Schultz, an unrestricted free agent who fell out of favor during last season, won’t be back. It’s becoming increasingly clear that Johnson won’t be in the lineup and might not be back at all. Penguins general manager is on record as saying that , The Athletic LOADED: 09.28.2020 Marcus Pettersson and Matheson are the projected three defensemen on the left side of the Penguins defense, as they should be. That means Johnson either plays on the right side, is a healthy scratch or gets traded.

Those are the options.

I believe the Penguins will try to include Johnson in a trade, perhaps to a team looking to reach the salary cap floor, or maybe they’ll include him in a package with and take less in return to rid themselves of his contract. Playing him on the right side — Rutherford noted this as a possibility on the Mark Madden show on 105.9 FM in Pittsburgh on Friday — is an absurd notion. Johnson played at times on the right side during his first year in Pittsburgh, and it was a disaster. He just can’t skate well enough nor turn his hips well enough to play on his off side at this stage of his career. 1194025 Tampa Bay Lightning grind, and there’s definitely a lot of things you miss. But, ultimately, if we end up winning the trophy, it makes all the sacrifices worth it. That’s all we’re focused on.”

Lightning not about to start doubting themselves after Game 5 loss

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.28.2020

By Jason Hills

Published Yesterday

EDMONTON — The job’s not done, but the Lightning have been in this position before and are not about to start doubting themselves after Saturday night’s Game 5 loss.

This core group of Lightning players have been chasing the Stanley Cup for years, and it just has to look back at its last series against the for perspective.

The Lightning lost Game 5 of that series in overtime, only to win Game 6 in overtime to earn their right to compete for the Cup.

“We’ve really handled it well so far,” said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper.

“You miss an opportunity to win a game in overtime in an elimination game, we’re not going to sit here and say we’re failing in that department. Our guys are battling their asses off. I really like how we respond after losses.”

Cooper’s right. The Lightning have yet to lose two straight games in this playoff run, and they’ve responded by winning games in a multitude of ways.

The Lightning have shown in these playoffs they can win games however they need to get the job done.

The biggest attribute they’ve shown in this playoff run is resiliency.

“I really like the focus with this group and the collective leadership with Stammer (Steven Stamkos) not in the lineup. ... It’s been exceptional,” said Cooper. “So many guys have really grown into that (leadership) role. The more that happens, the better off our team is.”

Dallas Stars interim head coach Rick Bowness tweaked his forward lines prior to Game 4, moving veteran Joe Pavelski on to the top line with captain and Alexander Radulov and moving onto a line with veteran Corey Perry and rookie forward Joel Kiviranta.

It worked, as Perry and Pavelski have scored the last six goals for Dallas and given them a fighting chance in this series.

But the Lightning have come too far this postseason to risk allowing the Stars to force a Game 7. This organization has been through the ringer of past playoff heartbreaks, but it has shown this year it is a different team with a different mindset.

“We’ve got to keep going here, because the stakes are pretty high at this point,” said Cooper. “Dallas is a formidable opponent, and they’re not going to go away quietly. You have to go take (momentum) from them, and that’s what we’re going to try and do.”

The Lightning have shown throughout these playoffs that they won’t let tough moments get them down.

Even after Pavelski scored with 6:45 left to tie the game and send it into overtime, the Lightning continued to press, and they dominated the first overtime period but couldn’t pull it out.

“It’s disappointing, no doubt. The time after the game stings after you lose, but you can’t rewrite history and say, ‘what if?’” said Cooper. "You can’t start second-guessing a missed shot or a post.

“Just stay to our plan. It’s gotten us this far. When you’re that close ... you can sit here and say you can taste it, but in the end, we’re still up 3-2 in the series. Let’s bring it tomorrow night and see what happens.”

Every Stanley Cup playoff run is filled with ups and downs and sacrifices, but none more than this year. Twenty-four teams entered bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton 63 days ago, and the Lightning want nothing more than to finish the job and burst the bubble and head back home.

“It’s been tough. ... You think back to when we first got to Toronto, and it feels like six months ago,” said forward Barclay Goodrow. “It’s been a 1194026 Tampa Bay Lightning

'Can’t catch a break’: Lightning fans reacts to Stamkos being done for Stanley Cup final

By Mari Faiello and Diana C. Nearhos

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

For some fans, the news was expected. For others, they were fearing the worst. Regardless, Steven Stamkos has played his last game in the 2020 postseason.

Coach Jon Cooper ruled the Lightning captain out for the remainder of the postseason Sunday.

Fabio Sorini, a 33-year-old Lightning fan from Turin, Italy, doesn’t fear the captain’s status career-wise, but thinks it’s best for Stamkos to rest.

“I’m worried about the finals,” Sorini posted on Twitter. “We have a lack of ‘finisher’ that could cost us a lot. Stammer would have had a huge impact (on) our team…”

Benjamin Cumberlidge, 31, wasn’t surprised by the news.

“Even so, he has one goal with only 2:47 (time on ice) for the entire playoffs,” Cumberlidge tweeted. “That’s pretty impressive.”

The Lakeland resident further elaborated that he was hopeful Stamkos eventually would play given the fact the captain had not left the bubble, but his limited playing time in Game 3 led Cumberlidge to believe he’d be absent for Games 4 and 5.

Nonetheless, Stamkos' impact on the team (even when he wasn’t playing) was still important.

“I think his leadership is very important to the team even as others step up on the ice,” Cumberlidge said. “I don’t think (him getting ruled out) changes that.”

Caroline Freeman, 27, said she’s okay with Stamkos sitting out of the rest of the postseason if that’s what it takes for him to get healthy. “I have to trust Coop’s judgment and live with it,” the Richmond, Va., resident posted in a tweet. “He contributed — he played, scored a goal and reenergized the team. Now if he could just do that last bit again (Monday) night in the locker room between periods, that would be (great).”

Ryan Eldred, 30 of St. Petersburg, has a “sinking feeling” that the Lightning has two or three years left with Stamkos. He also compared Stamkos' situation to that of Ryan Callahan, who the Lightning were prepared to put on long-term injured reserve when he could not play his final season under contract.

Eryn White, a 28-year-old Senators fan from Ottawa, called the situation brutal, saying she feels for Stamkos.

“As a Sens fan he really reminds me of (defenseman Erik) Karlsson,” White posted to Reddit. “Both incredible talents that have been plagued by freak injuries to their legs that have now started compound on each other. Tough to see, hope he gets that ring.”

The Lightning, who lead the series 3-2, have a second shot at clinching the Cup on Monday in Game 6. Tampa Bay is 6-0 in games following a loss this postseason.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.28.2020 1194027 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Steven Stamkos ‘done for the series’

By Diana C. Nearhos

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

Steven Stamkos will not play in the rest of the Stanley Cup final, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Sunday.

“To be blunt, he’s done for the season,” Cooper said. "Hopefully the next time we see him on the ice is for a trophy presentation.

“The conversation was (Sunday) morning because there’s only one or two games left in the series. He did everything he could to get back, and he did get back, and unfortunately he couldn’t go any further. I’m sure it will all be addressed once these playoffs are over.”

The Lightning lead the series with the Stars 3-2 and have a chance to win the Cup in Game 6 tonight at Edmonton.

Stamkos played 2:47 of Wednesday’s Game 3, his first game action since Feb. 25, and he scored in the Lightning’s 5-2 win. The whole team erupted after the goal, celebrating as much as it has for some wins.

That all happened in the first period. Stamkos sat on the bench for the rest of the game.

“To be honest, I didn’t think he was playing at all in these playoffs,” Cooper said. “I don’t think any of us did. He gave us 2:47 of brilliant hockey that’s a phenomenal story, scored a huge goal for us in the win.”

Stamkos had core muscle surgery March 2, and the expectation was he might miss the first round of the playoffs. But then the league shut down March 12 because of the coronavirus.

When the league announced its plan to resume the season with a postseason, the expectation was Stamkos would be healthy for a playoff run. But just before training camp opened in July, general manager Julien BriseBois said Stamkos had suffered a leg injury and wouldn’t be a full participant. Stamkos said the injury was part of the ebb and flow of recovering from the surgery.

Stamkos skated by himself between camp sessions and eventually joined for special-teams play.

When Stamkos resumed practicing with the team after it entered the postseason bubble in Toronto on July 26, the tone was optimistic. Cooper said the goal was for him to play the first game of the playoffs and maybe a round-robin game or two.

Then Stamkos stopped practicing, and Cooper stopped taking questions about him. Two weeks ago, he said Stamkos was skating again.

Stamkos' only public appearance in the bubble before Wednesday was when Tampa Bay was presented the Prince of Wales Trophy for winning the Eastern Conference final. He joined the team on the ice — his jersey pulled over a tracksuit — to receive the trophy.

The three alternate captains — Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh and Alex Killorn — were adamant that the captain was going to be involved in that moment.

“We wanted all the team captains up there and wanted Steven a part of it, for sure,” McDonagh said. “No doubt he’s been a huge part of this run even without playing.”

The Lightning repeatedly have spoken of Stamkos' leadership off the ice during this run. Killorn called him a calming presence.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.28.2020 1194028 Tampa Bay Lightning And from there, the two teams played a helter skelter version of hockey with all kinds of dramatic chances in the first overtime, but very few shots reaching the net. The Stars were outshot 7-2 in the first overtime, and wasn’t forced to make a save until nearly 18 minutes No need for the Lightning to panic. Unless you remember 2018. And into the period. Whenever the Stars got control of the puck, they would 2016. And 2015. sail it deep into Tampa Bay’s zone just to create a chance for line shifts.

Yet it was hard to know whether to feel good about Tampa Bay dominating the game’s flow, or uneasy about letting so many By John Romano opportunities get away. Published Yesterday And, eventually, all of those missed chances caught up to the Lightning.

Dallas defenseman John Klingberg shot the puck from near the blue line This was the plot twist that you really didn’t need. and it bounced off Dallas forward Tyler Seguin and Tampa Bay defenseman Jan Rutta, who were tied up on the left side of the goal. The Yes, I know the Stanley Cup is supposed to be the hardest trophy to win puck bounced in front of Perry, who drove it past Vasilevskiy for the in sports. And, yes, the Lightning have actually had a fairly easy journey game-winner. through the 2020 postseason, even with all of their overtime games. And now it’s on to Game 6. But this just seems unnecessarily cruel for a franchise that blew a lead in the 2015 Stanley Cup final, in the 2016 Eastern Conference final, in the NBC cameras caught Lightning coach Jon Cooper addressing the 2018 conference final, and then washed out of the 2019 playoffs in the players in the locker room before Game 4 on Friday night. first round against a No. 8 seed. “Make it miserable on them,” he said. A 2-1 lead with seven minutes left in Game 5 Saturday night? Was he talking about the Stars, or us? Shrunken.

So, drink up Tampa Bay, this journey just got a little more uncomfortable. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.28.2020 The Stars beat the Lightning 3-2 in double overtime in a game that was not decided until two minutes before Sunday morning when Corey Perry put in a rebound in front of the net with 10:37 remaining.

The odds are still in Tampa Bay’s favor. Heavily, I might add. The Lightning have not lost two games in a row in the entire postseason, and a Dallas comeback would eventually require three consecutive losses by Tampa Bay.

But here’s the caveat:

If the Stars manage to win Game 6 on Monday, the momentum suddenly shifts heavily in their favor and the pressure ramps up exponentially on a Tampa Bay team with a history of tripping over their own expectations.

The scary thing is, in some ways, this series has been much closer than it has appeared. The Stars have had a lead in three of the five games. They’ve also outscored the Lightning 13-11 in evenhanded situations.

The major difference in the matchup is Tampa Bay’s special teams have vastly outperformed the Stars. And that’s why Saturday night turned out to be a problem for the Lightning. After averaging nearly four power plays a game, the Lightning had only one through regulation in Game 5. So it became a battle of 5-on-5, and the Stars are one of the rare teams capable of hanging with Tampa Bay at even strength.

One day, you will think of this game as epic.

One day, you will recall how Mikhail Sergachev sent a 94 mph shot from near the blue line to put the Lightning up 2-1 in the third period, or how Ondrej Palat skated through traffic to bury a shot for Tampa Bay’s first score. One day you will appreciate Victor Hedman logging 36 minutes or Barclay Goodrow delivering nine hits and throwing his body in front of three shots.

Today is probably not that day.

For now, you probably just feel robbed. And maybe just a teensy bit spooked.

You dreaded Columbus, you feared Boston, you may have even been alarmed by the first game against Dallas.

But you were never really nervous, were you? You never really felt like the Lightning were in a do-or-die situation, did you?

That’s kind of what Game 6 will now feel like Monday night.

As good as Victor Hedman has been for Tampa Bay, Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen may be playing better in this series. As good as Brayden Point has been for the Lightning, Stars forward Joe Pavelski may be playing better in this series.

It was Pavelski who sent the game to overtime with a rebound directly in front of the net with 6:45 remaining in the third period. 1194029 Tampa Bay Lightning With these playoffs in a bubble, neither team has much family on hand to cheer them on, but since Perry’s wife arrived, she’s been a good luck charm.

Seasoned pair give the Stars a confidence boost “She tallied that it’s been exactly 100 days since I had seen her,” Perry said.

“She’s our rock back home, and she’s done a lot for our family, and it’s By Jason Hills, Times Correspondent nice to have her here.”

Published Yesterday The Stars have thrived in an underdog role in these playoffs. They weren’t given much of a chance to beat the Avalanche in the second Updated Yesterday round.

Everyone expected their run to come to a crashing halt against the EDMONTON — Corey Perry is widely known as a pain in the rear to play Golden Knights. against around the league, and the Lightning found out the hard way. And against the Lightning, many pundits felt they’d be overmatched. The former 50-goal scorer reached back into Father Time and scored two But they’re still alive, with a big thanks to veterans like Perry and goals, including the double-overtime winner to keep the Stars' season Pavelski. alive in Game 5 with a 3-2 victory Saturday night. “We just battle. It doesn’t matter, we believe in that dressing room,” Perry Perry opened scoring, then finished it off with a vintage Perry-style goal, said. battling in front of the net to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy at 9:23 of the second overtime. "It’s the Stanley Cup final. It was do or die for us tonight and I thought our team game was pretty good. We have a lot of guys who are in the fight “You love him on your team. I’ve coached against him long enough, and I and that’s what we’re asking for. know he’s a pain in the butt, and that’s when he’s so effective,” Stars interim head coach Rick Bowness said. “We came here with 51 people and all those guys in that dressing room believe we can get this done. That’s all that really matters.” The Stars have been boosted by the likes of Perry, 35, and another grizzled veteran. Joe Pavelski, 36, and Perry have combined to score the last six goals in the series for Dallas. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.28.2020 After Mikhail Sergachev scored the go-ahead goal for the Lightning 3:38 into the third period Saturday, Pavelski scored with 6:45 left. Pavelski’s 13th goal of the playoffs tied Lightning forward Brayden Point for the playoff lead. It also marked the 61st of his career — most for a U.S.-born player.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars will face off for a crucial Game 6 on Monday.

“This is why I give and his staff a lot of credit. This is why we went out and signed (Perry) and (Pavelski),” Bowness said.

“When you get to his point in the playoffs, you need that experience and guys who aren’t intimidated in the situation we’re in, and Corey Perry is one of those guys.”

After spending the first 13 years of his career with the Sharks, Pavelski signed with the Stars last summer. Perry spent 14 years with the Ducks before being bought out and signing with Dallas.

Perry hasn’t looked like the same player who won a Cup with Anaheim as a fresh-faced 22-year-old in 2007 — until these playoffs. He also has two Olympic gold medals, World Championship and World Cup gold, and a Memorial Cup to his credit.

“He’s been a huge addition to our team, and regardless of what happened in the regular season, it doesn’t mean anything,” Bowness said. “When you get into the playoffs, you need guys who know how to win and have been there before and will not be intimidated by the situation and Corey fits that bill.”

After only garnering two shots in the first overtime, the Stars came out flying in the second and started to put pressure on the Lightning.

The reason? A big pep talk from Pavelski and Perry between periods.

“The biggest switch tonight was those guys talking in the dressing room about having to go for this. We can’t be sitting back and hoping to win. You saw the change in the second overtime where we started going after them. This is great confidence for our group,” Stars forward Tyler Seguin said.

“They have so much composure… they have a lot of experience and they have compassion and drive. They’re guys that have been there and know how hard it is to get to these moments. We won’t want to have any regrets.”

When Perry scored the winner, while you could hear the elation from the Stars bench, you also could hear Perry’s wife, Blakeny, cheering on her husband from up above in a suite. 1194030

Stars beat Lightning in double overtime to extend Stanley Cup Final

Staff Report

THE CANADIAN PRESS

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 27, 2020

UPDATED 21 HOURS AGO

Corey Perry scored on a goalmouth scramble in double overtime and the Dallas Stars beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Saturday to stay alive in the Stanley Cup Final.

Perry jammed the puck past Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy at the 9:23 mark for his second goal of the game.

Tampa Bay still leads the best-of-seven series 3-2. Game 6 goes Monday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Joe Pavelski also scored for Dallas. Goalie Anton Khudobin made 39 saves for his 14th win of the playoffs, just 20 hours after he faced 35 shots in a Game 4 loss to the Lightning.

Ondrej Palat, with his 11th goal of the post-season, and Mikhail Sergachev replied for Tampa Bay.

Vasilevskiy, also coming off a quick turnaround after Tampa’s Game 4 overtime win, stopped 30 shots but took the loss, and is now 17-7 in the post-season.

Dallas opened and finished the scoring.

Perry made it 1-0 late in the first period, taking advantage when Sergachev was winded in a collision with Alexander Radulov.

Sergachev was doubled over and couldn’t get off the ice, and Perry scooped up a loose puck in the slot and wristed it over Vasilevskiy’s blocker-side shoulder.

Palat tied it less than five minutes into the second period, taking a dish pass from Nikita Kucherov, swooping around Dallas defender , cutting across the front of the net and slipping the puck past Khudobin.

The Lightning took the lead early in the third when Sergachev fired a slapshot through traffic past Khudobin. Pavelski replied, scoring his 13th playoff goal with less than seven minutes to go, burying the rebound off a Miro Heiskanen point shot.

The Stars won despite mounting injury woes.

Justin Dowling played in his first playoff game for Roope Hintz, who fell awkwardly into the boards in Game 4. The Stars were also without Radek Faksa and Blake Comeau, making it three of their key two-way forwards and killers.

The Lightning were again without captain Steven Stamkos. Stamkos, dealing with a lower-body injury, has played just five shifts in the entire playoffs: a 2:47 stretch of Game 3, although he scored in his one shot on net.

All games are being played in front of no spectators at Rogers Place. Players are also isolated between games to prevent contracting the coronavirus.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 09.28.2020 1194031 Vegas Golden Knights Zemgus Girgensons, — A former first-round pick of the Sabres who was voted into the 2015 All-Star Game, Girgensons, 26, is now a high-effort, bottom-six role player. The 6-foot-2-inch, 211-pound native of Latvia can play center or wing and made $1.6 million last Golden Knights may pursue star defenseman, others in free agency season.

Tyler Pitlick, — He is due a small raise from his $1 million AAV and might re-sign after a 20-point season. If not, Pitlick would By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal provide a bottom-six forechecker with double-digit goal potential. The 28- September 27, 2020 - 12:04 PM year-old led the Flyers’ forwards in hits (132) and blocked shots (42).

Updated September 27, 2020 - 3:22 PM Carl Soderberg, Arizona Coyotes — Productive centers rarely get to free agency, and at 34, he might not be the answer to the Knights’ need for a middle-six pivot. But Soderberg could provide a net-front presence that’s been lacking. He’d have to take a pay cut from his $4.75 million AAV, Golden Knights owner Bill Foley made a name for himself in the business though. world by purchasing distressed companies and properties. Goalies Could a similar strategy work for the Knights in free agency? Laurent Brossoit, — The backup to winner As contract negotiations between the St. Louis Blues and captain Alex Connor Hellebuyck wasn’t handed many starts in Winnipeg and didn’t do Pietrangelo become increasingly contentious, the Knights appear ready much when called upon (3.28 goals against, .895 save percentage). But to swoop in should he reach free agency. Brossoit is inexpensive after making $1.225 million last season. Multiple reports indicate the Knights will aggressively pursue the right- Aaron Dell, — He had marginal success with the shot defenseman if he’s available starting Oct. 9 and then perform the Sharks when DeBoer was the coach and wouldn’t be called on often if necessary salary cap gymnastics to fit in a player of his caliber. Robin Lehner shoulders most of the workload. Dell has a modest .908 The Blues are pushed against the salary cap and offered the maximum career save percentage and is coming off a deal with a $1.9 million AAV. eight years with an $8 million average annual value, according to St. Brian Elliott, Philadelphia Flyers — The two-time all star was briefly Louis media. Pietrangelo’s reported asking price is more than $9 million teammates with Lehner in Ottawa during the 2010-11 season. Elliott’s per season. save percentage has decreased each of the past four seasons from .910 Thanks to Foley’s financial clout and dogged pursuit of a Stanley Cup, to .899. The 35-year-old made $2 million last season. the Knights are one of the few teams willing to spend to the salary cap Cam Talbot, Calgary Flames — This would represent a bigger ceiling during the pandemic. investment at the goalie position in the event of a condensed schedule. Pietrangelo, 30, finished fourth in the voting for the Norris Trophy as the Talbot, 33, posted a 2.63 GAA and .919 save percentage for the Flames league’s best defenseman and posted a career-high 16 goals with 52 and started all 10 playoff games. He made $2.75 million last season. points.

With few holes on the current roster, the Knights are not expected to be LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 09.28.2020 active in free agency outside of Pietrangelo. But here are some other possibilities should they decide to spend (players listed without teams are unrestricted free agents):

Defensemen

Tyson Barrie, Toronto Maple Leafs — He shoots right-handed like Pietrangelo and ranks 10th in points among defensemen the past five seasons. Barrie’s contract is projected to be around $7 million per season. The Knights would have to clear cap space to fit him in. Considering his defensive shortcomings, is he worth it?

Dylan DeMelo, Winnipeg Jets — Knights coach Pete DeBoer is familiar with the reliable right-hand shot from their time in San Jose. DeMelo wouldn’t cost much (projected $2 million AAV) and can kill penalties. But he doesn’t offer much offense, which is where the Knights are looking to improve.

Brenden Dillon, Washington Capitals — The physical left-hander doesn’t fill an immediate need, but he might offer an upgrade over Nick Holden or Brayden McNabb. And he also played for DeBoer in San Jose. Dillon’s next contract is projected by Evolving Hockey to be in the neighborhood of $4 million AAV.

Travis Hamonic, Calgary Flames — A steady veteran who plays the right side. Hamonic’s offense has diminished since a 33-point season in 2014- 15, but he should get a raise from his $3.86 million AAV. He finished his junior career playing for general manager Kelly McCrimmon with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Sami Vatanen, Carolina Hurricanes — The Knights were rumored to be interested in the right-handed shooter at the trade deadline before he was injured. Vatanen might help the No. 2 power play, if healthy. But his price tag could be almost $4 million per season, according to The Hockey Code’s salary projections.

Forwards

Jesper Fast, — If the Knights create room in the top six for Alex Tuch, Fast is the type of hard-working winger that could plug the hole on the third line. He is the only member of the Rangers to win the Players’ Player award five straight seasons and is projected to cost less than $3 million per season. 1194032 Washington Capitals Edmonton Oilers Roster/cap space: 15 players/$11.3 million

Signed goalies: ($4.5 million) Where will longtime Capitals goalie Braden Holtby sign in free agency? Why it might be a fit: , Connor McDavid and the Oilers were

upset in the best-of-five qualification round by the Blackhawks, the last By Tarik El-Bashir seed in the Western Conference. It wasn’t all because of goaltending. But subpar play in net surely played a role. Koskinen posted a .889 save Sep 27, 2020 percentage in three postseason starts, while Mike Smith finished with a .783 in his one start. Smith, 38, is an unrestricted free agent. Two years

ago, Holtby helped a star-studded Caps’ lineup hoist the Cup. Could the From the South Carolina Stingrays to the Hershey Bears to the Saskatchewan native do the same for Draisaitl and Co., while also Washington Capitals, this organization is all Braden Holtby has known as moving closer home? a pro. San Jose Sharks But that seems likely to change when free agency opens at noon ET on Roster/cap space: 16/$14.1 million Oct. 9. Signed goalies: Martin Jones ($5.75 million per through 2023-24) Washington has decided to hand the reins to second-year standout Ilya Samsonov, and Holtby, who turned 31 earlier this month, is expected to Why it might be a fit: The Sharks allowed more goals per game (3.21) fetch more in dollars, term and role on the open market than the cap- than all but five teams. And, yes, substandard goaltending was a strapped Caps are willing to commit to a No. 2 netminder. contributing factor. Jones posted a .896 save percentage in each of the last two seasons, and Aaron Dell is an unrestricted free agent. GM Doug That said, the door in D.C. hasn’t been completely closed. Wilson is looking to upgrade the position and reportedly inquired about It’s just mostly shut. Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper. It’s also believed that Wilson asked about Jake Allen before the Canadiens acquired him last month from St. Louis. General manager Brian MacLellan said on Sept. 15 during Peter Kuemper is due to count $4.5 million against the Coyotes’ cap next Laviolette’s introductory press conference that he plans to remain in season and Allen’s hit is $4.35 million. That would seem to indicate that contact with Holtby and his agent during the free agency period “to see if Wilson’s budget is in the mid-$4 million range. he’s getting what he wants” before deciding on a replacement. And that stance hasn’t changed. Washington Capitals

Washington asked Holtby’s camp if there was any interest in a one-year Roster/cap space: 16/$9.98 million extension, we’re told. There wasn’t. Even if there was, money would Signed goalies: Ilya Samsonov ($925,000), Pheonix Copley ($1.1 million) have then become a stumbling block. Holtby just completed a five-year, and Vitek Vanecek ($716,000) $30.5 million contract that averaged $6.1 million per season. Why it might be a fit: The math doesn’t appear to work. But no one really The Caps, meanwhile, are in a cap crunch. They’ve got 16 players under knows how free agency is going to play out, particularly for goalies. What contract next season and are about $10 million under the $81.5 million we do know is that it looks like there will be a lot of good netminders ceiling, according to CapFriendly’s calculations. Factor in extensions for available. It also looks like some teams could be more cautious about unrestricted free agent Brenden Dillon (Evolving-Hockey projects $3.732 spending to the cap given all of the uncertainty created by COVID-19. In million per) and restricted free agent Jonas Siegenthaler ($1.255 million), Washington, there’s also an internal faction that believes Vanecek, a and Washington has 18 players (11 forwards, six defensemen and 2014 second-round pick and two-time all-star, Samsonov) with around $5 million left to flesh out the roster. has earned a shot at backing up Samsonov. But what if, after shopping So, yeah, all signs seem to be pointing toward Holtby’s days in D.C. around, Holtby can’t find a situation that suits him? Would he circle back being done. to the club that drafted him in 2008?

Which brings us to the next question: Where might the 2016 Vezina It’s obviously too early to know where Holtby is going to end up. But this Trophy winner end up? Let’s take a look some potential destinations: much can be said without much hesitation: a likely change of address for No. 70 will be a whole lot easier for Caps fans to digest if he ends up in Calgary Flames the Western Conference.

Roster/cap space: 14 players/$16.9 million

Signed goalies: David Rittich ($2.75 million) The Athletic LOADED: 09.28.2020 Why it might be a fit: Goaltending in recent years has been a question for the Flames, who haven’t advanced beyond the first round since 2015. Rittich made 48 starts during the regular season and is signed through 2020-21. Cam Talbot started all 10 qualification round and playoff games, and is due to become an unrestricted free agent. Flames GM Brad Treliving could seek an upgrade via a trade. He could also sign a playoff-proven vet like Holtby, who struggled this past regular season (.897 save percentage and 3.11 goals-against average) while backstopping a team that had its share of difficulties in the defensive end. Although Holtby’s numbers are in decline, he’s a proven No. 1, is a recent Stanley Cup champion and was one of Washington’s best players in the restart.

Carolina Hurricanes

Roster/cap space: 17 players/$7.8 million

Signed goalies: James Reimer ($3.4 million) and Petr Mrazek ($3.125)

Why it might be a fit: The Canes don’t have much cap space. They don’t currently have an opening, either, with both Reimer and Mrazek under contract for another year. Their championship window, though, is wide open and there’s pressure on GM Don Waddell to capitalize. Could Holtby rediscover his form behind a group that plays sound team defense, boasts a deep blue line and limits shots against? Perhaps. 1194033 Vancouver Canucks “He learned about getting a sense of the score, clock management, not being a riverboat gambler, picking your spots to take risks,” Johnson said.

Canucks top 10 prospects: Brogan Rafferty One of the bonuses Rafferty was handed in signing with the Canucks — the latest in scout Jonathan Bates’s NCAA free-agency finds, a line that stretches to Chris Tanev — was the chance to play in the final two NHL games of the 2018-19 season, earning a big-league paycheque for a Patrick Johnston week. Publishing date:Sep 27, 2020 The standout memory of his NHL debut sums up his biggest challenge: defending against NHL attackers. Now, his first NHL game, against the in the penultimate contest of the 2018-19 season, The 2020 NHL Entry Draft is just over a week away. came without him having even skated in a single practice with his new team.He had a hard time dealing with the pace of opposing attackers, of The Vancouver Canucks don’t have a pick until the third round. As they keeping a safe defensive gap. prepare for the draft, we’re evaluating the top 10 prospects in their system. Today, at No. 6, is Brogan Rafferty. The second game, against the St. Louis Blues, saw an improved performance at both ends of the ice, including some glimpses of the The Canucks have hit home runs in the first round in recent years, but a offensive swagger he showed off time-and-again in 2019-20 with the top 10 list means checking out more than the players who are almost Comets. certain to make it — which usually happens with first-rounders — as the best teams find players on the edges of the draft. “He worked hard on understanding the D-zone, defending zone entries, how to use space,” Johnson said. “All coachable things. They all were Is Rafferty one of those guys? A high-upside signing 18 months ago after things he worked on all year. He likes to watch himself, he likes to watch he finished his collegiate career at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, his shifts, he’s eager to sit in with (coaches) Trent Cull or Gary Agnew Conn., he’s showed off his skating and offensive talents in his short time and review video.” in pro hockey. Rafferty put up 45 points in 57 games in 2019-20, a rate that Canucks But he’s also already 25. He’s just about the player he’s always going to Army’s Jeremy Davis called midseason“almost what we’d expect from a be. borderline NHL defenceman playing in the AHL.” In other words, he’s got Brogan Rafferty scoring talent like a player who might have already made The Show — but is similarly in that category for a reason. (Prospect No. 6) Rafferty was an all-star in his rookie AHL season. Johnson believes he’ll Age: 25. be an all-star again. Of course, the real goal is to make the next step and Height: 6-2. Weight: 192 pounds. become an NHL regular.

Draft year: Collegiate free agent, 2019. Davis’s analysis of Rafferty’s scoring performance up to January showed a player whose list of comparables was more heavily filled by players Current team: (AHL). who flamed out as NHLers — like former Canucks minor-leaguers Justin Kurtz and Brett Skinner — than by guys who had long, quality careers, Outlook: Third-pairing defenceman. like Kevin Bieksa.

Rafferty’s skating is the first thing that stands out when you watch him As it stands, he’s a borderline NHLer, which is fine, but the Canucks play. Then it’s his ability to distribute the puck, to create offence for both would love it if he turns out to be more. himself and his teammates.

Signing him as a free agent in 2019 was a clear move by the organization to fill a weakness in the prospect pool, even if his age meant Vancouver Province: LOADED: 09.28.2020 he wasn’t going to develop much more.

The Canucks needed puck-moving defencemen. And even if he didn’t make the ultimate step up to the big club, he’d likely make New York’s Utica Comets better, playing a style of game closer to what coach Travis Green wants the Canucks to play, helping the other prospects on their way to The Show.

When you talk to scouts and analysts who have seen Rafferty perform for the Comets, the way he’s described reminds you of a point guard in basketball, a guy who is tasked with organizing the game for the team in possession, of bringing the ball up the court.

Or in this case, of course, the puck up the ice.

“It’s a great analogy,” agreed Ryan Johnson, the Comets’ general manager and the Canucks’ senior director of player development. “He’s a guy who knows you don’t have to make that blind pass every time up the court. Beating that extra man, hitting that hole, you’re managing when those opportunities arise.

“Brogan’s got a swagger to him, he’s got a confidence, the offence he gave us, the way he can walk the line, run the power play,” he added.

And, yes, he’s pulled out the occasional highlight-reel play, like the goal he scored in January against the Hartford Wolfpack: He deked through the Hartford zone, getting in one-on-one with the goalie, then flipping the puck past the netminder.

Rafferty’s come a long way in just one year in sorting out how to use his talents in the AHL, a league where everyone is much closer to the NHL than most of the competition Rafferty came up against in his NCAA days. 1194034 Vancouver Canucks He also coached hockey, baseball and soccer, and when he was a kid changed the scores at baseball games at the old Capilano Stadium/Athletic Park at 6th and Hemlock.

A sports collection for the ages, purchased one game at a time by “At the old Capilano stadium, you were right out on the field, you had a lifelong fan stool and sat there (in foul territory in right field),” he recalls.

“When we got up to Nat Bailey Stadium at Little Mountain, we had a little office or house stuck out in the middle of centre field. We’d have holes John Mackie we could look through and would put the scores up.

Publishing date:Sep 27, 2020 “Sometimes my friend and I would get mixed up, we’d get so busy watching the game we’d forget to do something. There was a phone in

there and they’d say, ‘ah, the score is dadada.’ We said ‘we need more Growing up on a farm near tiny Bawlf, Alberta, Len Damberger fell in love help,’ so then we’d get another person in there.” with hockey. Damberger was 11 when he moved to Vancouver in 1947. His parents “I’d lay on the floor in the Prairies, and all we had was a radio — this was ran a rooming house at 14th and Oak, and he had to go all the way to the about 1944-45-46 — and I’d listen to Foster Hewitt (of Hockey Night in PNE ground to find a hockey rink to play in. Canada),” recounts the 84-year-old Damberger. “I’d catch the streetcar at 16th and Cambie and go all the way out to the “Usually he came on at the end of the first period. He’d always say ‘Hello Forum to play hockey at six o’clock in the morning,” he said. “John Canada, and hockey fans in the and Newfoundland,’ Ferguson was on the team. He couldn’t skate (at the time). Once he got because Newfoundland wasn’t part of Canada yet.” playing professional hockey he was a different player.”

Damberger learned to skate on a small rink his dad built for him. And he Damberger’s collection of 1940s hockey calendars came from the ate a lot of Quaker Oats cereal and Beehive Corn Syrup, because those neighbourhood barber at 16th and Oak. companies offered large photos of hockey stars he could pin up in his “I used to get my hair cut there, and he knew how much I loved hockey, room. so he saved me the calendar every year,” he said. “Instead of tearing the Seven decades later, he still has them. (months) off, he would just turn them over, and at the end of the year he’d give it to me.” Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Turk Broda, stretching to make a glove save, the puck perfectly snared in his web. great Bernard “Sweet Caps (cigarettes) sponsored the Canadiens calendar, and Export (Boom Boom) Geoffrion taking off up ice with a crazy grin on his face, left A the Leafs,” he notes. “You can’t do that anymore.” hand on his stick, the right swinging free. After graduating he worked as an insurance agent, starting off with Damberger contacted this writer after I wrote a story about the last Wawanesa and then switching to ICBC. Vancouver Canucks player from the original 1945-46 team, Ernie “In 1972 the NDP came into power and government (auto) insurance Dougherty. COVID-19 intervened, but recently I went out with Jason came in,” he said. “I thought ‘What am I going to do now?’ Fortunately Beck of theB.C. Sports Hall of Fame to check out his collection. Bob Strachan, who was the minister responsible, contacted me and two For a sports fan, it’s jaw dropping, a one-of-a-kind collection that includes other guys to come over and help set up Autoplan. I was one of the first professional and local amateur sports. 10 employees hired in June, 1973.”

Some of the programs may be the only ones in existence, like a Girls At 84, he’s looking to donate the collection, and Beck hopes to land some Softball program from the long-gone Centre Park, at Fir and Broadway. of it for the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

Jason Beck was blown away. “Anything B.C. related we’d like,” said Beck.

“Just going through the lineups, there’s probably 10 (B.C. Sports) Hall of “It’s almost like peeling an onion — you take one program off and, there’s Famers, at the time (when) they were just everyday players,” Beck said. another layer underneath of even better stuff. I haven’t had this kind of “Our collection is incredible, but I’ve never seen some of this stuff. The day since (the pandemic). I was sitting here thinking ‘God, this is Hall of Fame would take it in a heartbeat.” awesome. I miss this.’”

What makes it even more remarkable is that Damberger purchased all the programs himself, on the day of the various games. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 09.28.2020 “I never bought anything after, this is all stuff I got,” he said.

“This would normally be a collector’s collection,” said Beck. “I can’t believe this is a private, personal collection. I see this a lot, but not from someone who actually went to the games.”

If you’re into vintage hockey, there’s a Kerrisdale Monarchs program from 1950-51, a New Westminster Royals program from 1958-59 and a wealth of Vancouver Canucks programs from their days, including exhibitions against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1963 and ’64.

The baseball programs include some awesome Vancouver Capilanos programs from 1951 and ’52.

The 1951 program is red, black and white with a yellow bat and a greyish ball that reads “A Hit Every Time With Harrison’s Distinctive Clothes, Hastings at Carrall & Granville at Nelson.”

The Harrison’s ball is also featured on the 1952 program, beside a colourful illustration of a smiling Capilanos’ player. Both lay atop a white diamond, classic late ’40s/early ’50s imagery.

Damberger wasn’t just a fan — he was a pretty fair hockey player, and still plays slo-pitch softball with a team that has won seven gold medals in the last nine years at the World Senior Games in St. George, Utah. 1194035 Websites There is some irony in the fact they used to attach the nickname “Little Joe” to Pavelski during his days in San Jose. He is average-sized at five- foot-11, 195 pounds, but the sway he carried inside that organization was every bit as big or bigger than the bearded giant, Jumbo Joe Thornton. Sportsnet.ca / Pavelski keeping Stars in hunt for Stanley Cup with leadership, production And so it was Dallas GM Jim Nill’s bonanza when he landed Pavelski for his Stars, a team that had the tangibles but simply did not know how to win. Of course, Pavelski looked at the free agent landscape the way he does a fairway, before deciding that Dallas best suited his swing. Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec “It my first time, and you’re taking the calls,” he said. “There were a few September 27, 2020, 2:34 PM places that had interest. I liked the goalies here, and I liked the defensive structure. They played a lot of one-goal games and didn’t give up a lot of goals, and I always believed — especially in the playoffs — you need to EDMONTON — To Joe Pavelski, life is like a golf course. find those types of wins.”

You can blast through in 2:45 and hit the Spike Bar with little memory of It’s funny: showing up this season in Dallas, right when the Stars were more than 11 or 12 of the holes you just played. Or you can have a plan, ready to turn a corner, is the macro version of Pavelski’s greatest micro use your other-worldly hand-eye coordination, and do something a little skill. bit better than average. “He has this sense of arriving on time. He has a sense of when to get to “I’ve been lucky enough to golf with Pav a few times,” begins Todd his spot,” said McLellan, who references his son Tyson, a forward who McLellan, the current head coach who was Pavelski’s played four years at the University of . “Tyson arrives too early, or coach for seven seasons in their former lives as San Jose Sharks. sometimes too late. When he gets there early, he’s wrestling around with these big six-foot-six guys. When he gets there too late, the puck has From the Stanley Cup Qualifiers to the Stanley Cup Final, livestream gone by. every game of the 2020 , blackout-free, on Sportsnet NOW. “Pav has this sense of timing to arrive on time for the tip-in, the deflection, the screen.” “I’m like most golfers: I get up there, I grab a driver and I hit it as far as I can. I just chase this little white ball all over the course,” explained Or perhaps, a Stanley Cup. McLellan. “Pav is an excellent golfer, and he thinks the entire hole through prior to playing it. ‘I need to drive it this far, and I need to be in Down 3-2 to Tampa with Game 6 on Monday, Pavelski and the Stars this spot for the approach…’ better hit ‘em straight.

“It’s remarkable how patient he is, but how productive he is out there. His hands, his eyes, his thoughts… Just incredible.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.28.2020 That golf analogy paints nearly every canvas in Pavelski’s world, from tipping pucks, to inspiring teammates, to picking the Dallas Stars upon his first exposure to unrestricted free agency last summer.

With a crucial, game-tying goal with 6:45 to play in Saturday’s Game 5, Pavelski became the all-time goal scoring leader among American-born players. His 61 goals now surpass Joey Mullen (60), (58), Jeremy Roenick (53) and (52).

What’s crazy though is the fact that Pavelski, at age 36, and Corey Perry — the 35-year-old who joined Pavelski as a Stars UFA pick-up after being bought out by Anaheim — have scored the last six consecutive goals for Dallas in this series.

It is highly likely that each are playing in their last Stanley Cup Final, and they trail the Tampa Bay Lightning three games to two. At least Perry has a ring from 2007 in Anaheim.

Pavelski does not.

“It’s a hard place to get to,” the Plover, Wis., native said. “I think I’ve played in four Conference Finals in San Jose and one here, and this will be the second time going to the Final. The first one didn’t go the way we wanted it to.”

So, what about that golf course? And how might he find a couple more birdies in this Final to complete his Hall of Fame career?

It starts with the goals, usually deflections and in-tight plays that belie the fact Pavelski’s puck-tipping abilities rival legends like Tomas Holmstrom, Tim Kerr and Dino Ciccarelli as the greatest of all time. Then it extends to the dressing room, where he is credited with turning the tide after the first overtime in Game 5, when the Stars need someone to get them off their heels and on to their toes.

Stars coach Rick Bowness has marvelled at Pavelski’s “tone” during this series, adding that it’s not just about saying the right words. It’s about how you say them.

Like Pavelski playing the golf course, it’s all thought out, said McLellan.

“When I say this, what do I want to come out of it? How do I want my teammates or my coaches to respond? It’s calculated. It’s done with a purpose,” McLellan said. “He is able to drag players into games, into situations, without yelling and screaming. There is a feel around him that is unique.” 1194036 Websites Final under similar circumstances before closing out the New York Islanders in the sixth.

With a little rest, and a refreshed attitude, they’ll look to repeat that script Sportsnet.ca / Lightning not discouraged after missing first chance to lift on Monday night. Stanley Cup “We’ve felt this feeling before,” said Cooper. “We have felt this sting and then we’ve rebounded. But the big thing is to get some rest here.

Chris Johnston | @reporterchris “Just in the end you could see — I don’t know, if that game went any longer, I don’t know if there would have been any goals scored. September 27, 2020, 2:07 AM “I think both teams were pretty tired.”

They’ve been at this for nine weeks now. EDMONTON — The job’s not finished. For many of the Lightning, this is the 15th playoff series they’ve gone The core of this Tampa Bay Lightning team has been chasing the through since 2015 and it’s the closest they’ve been to lifting the Stanley Stanley Cup for years, so what’s another two days between friends, Cup. They managed to keep their minds in small places with the trophy right? inside Rogers Place on Saturday night, but they couldn’t quite seal the deal. That’s not to discredit the Dallas Stars or pronounce this Final over. It’s merely a reflection of the Lighting’s attitude after having the trophy put “I thought we kept it cool,” said Hedman. back in its case with a 3-2 double-overtime loss on Saturday night. The heat will get turned up quickly if they don’t get the next one. “We’ve got a plan,” said head coach Jon Cooper. “It’s gotten us this far and we fully believe it’ll get us through the end.”

“They get the goal and we don’t, so it’s not a big deal,” added forward Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.28.2020 Anthony Cirelli.

From the Stanley Cup Qualifiers to the Stanley Cup Final, livestream every game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, blackout-free, on Sportsnet NOW.

The Lightning were on the verge of a very big deal after Mikhail Sergachev gave them a 2-1 lead before the third period was four minutes old. They nursed it into the second half of the period before Joe Pavelski found a loose puck at the edge of the crease and did what he’s been doing for years.

Still, Tampa was one shot away from a championship and threw everything it had at Anton Khudobin. Cirelli hit a post while Tyler Johnson put one off the knob of Khudobin’s stick.

It wouldn’t have been a surprise to see them pull out oxygen tanks on the Dallas bench during the first overtime period. This was the difficult end of a back-to-back and the Stars were taking on water while leaning heavily on their top-four defencemen — seeing Tampa out-attempt them 25-7 and outshoot them 7-2.

“I thought we played a good enough game to win,” said Lightning forward Ondrej Palat. “I thought in overtime we really tilted the ice, we had a lot of possession, a lot of chances, we just didn’t score on them.

“So yeah, they’re a good team, they battled back.”

The Stars gave it a push in the second overtime and won it on Corey Perry’s goal-mouth scramble at 9:23. A John Klingberg point shot ricocheted off two Tampa players and stopped at the edge of the crease before Perry slid it around Andrei Vasilevskiy.

“They’re a good team at getting pucks to the net,” said Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman. “It’s one of those things, you block a shot and it just lays behind you. We’ve got to be a little bit harder to help Vasy, but yeah, they made a nice play.

“They went hard to the net and they got a puck there and they put it in. That’s the end of it, we’ll look over it and get better for next game.”

They had an excellent chance to break the NHL bubble and finally get their hands on the Cup, but the tape will reveal that this was not Tampa at its best.

The Lightning appeared to be a step off for much of the night and didn’t create the kind of high-danger chances on Khudobin it had while building a 3-1 series lead. They also got just one first-period power play — Khudobin was the only reason they didn’t cash in there — so the goals were tougher to come by.

This was the sort of style Dallas needed to play with its season on the line.

Tampa will find some comfort from the fact it hasn’t dropped consecutive games yet in these playoffs and it lost Game 5 of the Eastern Conference 1194037 Websites Why move him? Well, he could move himself next summer as a UFA if he’s not happy with how things play out or the money Montreal is offering. Even with free agency on the immediate horizon, Danault would net a great return because he probably tops the second tier of two-way Sportsnet.ca / Making the case to trade and keep each of Canadiens' top centres in the league. Understanding what a coach’s dream Danault is, centres there’s one thing I keep coming back to: If he’s playing ahead of Suzuki and Kotkaniemi long-term in Montreal, something went wrong. Those

latter two guys — though they may not quite have Danault’s Selke chops Ryan Dixon | @dixononsports — are both 200-foot players with more offensive potential.

September 27, 2020, 10:07 AM Why keep him? The Canadiens got Danault in a 2016 deadline deal with Chicago, sending and Tomas Fleischmann the other way. That’s a huge win even before you consider they received a second- rounder in the package, too. So much talk is devoted to his awesome The issue with things we dub “good problems” to have is this: the word defensive play that the fact he’s a first-round pick (26th overall in 2011) “problem” remains a pesky little part of the equation. can get overlooked. He’s just gotten better and better. If you inked him to The suddenly centre-rich Montreal Canadiens likely can’t believe where a six-year extension today, he’d still be just 33 in the final year of the they are today when it comes to this crucial position. Just two years ago, deal. Max Domi was in his first training camp with the Habs and the more Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey fretful portion of the fan base was convinced his move to the middle world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what would go no better than Jonathan Drouin’s shambolic transition did one they think about it. year prior, when Montreal plucked him from Tampa with the logic he’d help cure a years-long deficiency up the middle. Ryan Poehling, 21

The subsequent seasons somehow saw Montreal go from desperate for Why move him? This is the last guy listed here who, if you squint and tilt centre solutions to having four guys — Domi, , Nick Suzuki your head, you could see the path to dealing him today. The only way and — who can all make a case for big minutes. As you could stomach trading a young centre prospect like Poehling is when for the fourth-line role none of the aforementioned guys would want, the you have two guys — Suzuki and Kotkaniemi — who are both younger team has said 2017 first-rounder Ryan Poehling is ready to compete for a than him (Suzuki has him by 10 months) and have already done more at full-time job next year and the Habs inked cerebral, right-shooting Jake the NHL level. The Habs don’t have a crown jewel in their cupboard, but Evans to a two-year deal just last week. they’re loaded with quality prospects and draft picks thanks to their two- year reset. Dangle Poehling with a pair of your three 2020 second- Too many centres in the kitchen? Well, there’s certainly been some noise rounders and you’d have somebody’s attention. around the position. Neither Danault nor Domi emerged from Montreal’s pandemic-triggered playoff performance completely happy with his role. Why keep him? Though Kotkaniemi has been bulking up, Poehling is the Domi’s name has been in the rumour mill and while his new agent Darren only centre Montreal has who could be described as barrel-chested. Ferris recently reiterated to Sportsnet pal Eric Engels that Domi has not There have always been questions about his high-end potential, but his requested a deal, let’s just say the speculation won’t be ending any time floor is a super-strong, two-way guy who will play in most — if not all — soon. situations. A 1-2-3 of Suzuki, Kotkaniemi and Poehling could have Habs supporters smiling for 15 years. Another throbbing factor in all of this is Montreal’s blatant need for talent on the wings (always has to be something, right?). There are a lot of Jesperi Kotkaniemi, 20 things about being an NHL GM most of us could never understand, but one simple concept we can all grasp: Trade what you have lots of for Why move him? We’ve arrived at the debate club portion of this piece, stuff you need more of. where you make a case for something regardless of whether your heart is in it or not. Had we not had bubble hockey, Kotkaniemi’s stock would Montreal GM Marc Bergevin has already added aggressively this off- be in a different place right now after a difficult sophomore season that season, trading for goalie Jake Allen and defenceman Joel Edmundson. saw him sent to the AHL. However, he looked like a different (specifically He’s also inked 32-year-old defenceman Jeff Petry to a four-year stronger) player in the post-season and that third-overall pedigree is extension, so let there be no debate about how all-in the Habs are right shining through again. Say this: you’d be selling high if you moved him now. That being the case, the next logical move is to bring some centre right now. clarity to the picture by swapping someone for players who can help at other positions. Why keep him? The Canadiens ultimately whiffed when they selected Alex Galchenyuk third overall in 2012. Six years later they took With that in mind, here’s a look the pros and cons of moving each guy Kotkaniemi in the same spot — right ahead of Brady Tkachuk — largely (excluding Evans). because of the position he plays. If you draft a guy that high and he’s six- foot-two, has a great attitude and skill to boot, just go ahead and see it Max Domi, 25 through. If you let recency bias wash over you, it feels very reasonable to Why move him? This is the safest play by a mile. In some ways it will be suggest Kotkaniemi will be a terrific No. 2 in the NHL. a shame if Domi’s time ends with Montreal, because he threw himself Nick Suzuki, 21 into being a Hab and brought a fighting spirit the club needs. That said, he’s had one good year and one bad year in Montreal and — unlike the Why move him? You don’t. I can’t even fake it. In fact, don’t even move other guys on this list — he’s an offence-only player. The fact he’s a him to the wing, though he’s probably the guy best-suited on this list to restricted free agent in need of a new contract also presents a natural do so. You know why he could do it? Because he’s clever, shifty and pressure point. determined. Keep him in the middle, where he can get the most out of his prodigious, right-shot potential. Why keep him? Again, this guy loved being in the Montreal fire and you simply cannot say that about every high-level player who wears the red, Why keep him? Because, between major junior and his first NHL playoff white and blue. Also, though hiring Ferris would seem to indicate Domi is showing, Suzuki has demonstrated a serious ability to meet the moment. after every dollar, he doesn’t have a ton of leverage coming off a He might not be a true, Art Ross-style No. 1, but having him at the top of disappointing 44 points in 71 contests. A team could kick the can with a your depth chart will work just fine given the Canadiens — however they one-year deal. But if you’re convinced in his abilities as a 2C, the door is choose to play this out — should have another two or three great pivots likely open to make the commitment and get him on a longer-term deal at playing behind him. a friendly AAV.

Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.28.2020 they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game.

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Sportsnet.ca / Lightning seek to close out Stars as Game 6 favourites

OddsShark Staff

September 27, 2020, 5:30 PM

The Tampa Bay Lightning will get another chance to close out their Stanley Cup Final clash with the Dallas Stars on Monday night when they hit the ice for Game 6 of the best-of-seven series as -160 favourites on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Tampa Bay squandered a one-goal lead in the third period of Game 5 on Saturday night on their way to a 3-2 defeat in double overtime, which cut the team’s lead in the series to 3-2 going into Monday night’s matchup at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

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Despite Saturday night’s disappointing result, which also marked the club’s second loss in its past four contests settled in overtime, the Lightning remain heavy -550 favourites on the NHL playoff series prices to eventually claim their first Stanley Cup win since 2004.

The Lightning outpaced Dallas on offence but were once again thwarted by Stars netminder Anton Khudobin, who regained his impressive playoff form while turning aside 39 of 41 shots. Tampa Bay also matched the Stars’ physical play, racking up 64 hits against a Dallas team that has been hobbled by injury. However, with the Stars taking just one penalty in the contest, Tampa Bay was denied another opportunity to use its potent power play to its advantage after potting six total goals with the man advantage over the previous three games.

The Lightning have struggled to fill the net at even strength, averaging just 1.86 goals per game over their past seven contests. That trend has contributed to the total dipping to 5.0 for Monday’s contest. However the UNDER has yet to pay out in this series at online betting sites, lifting the OVER to a short -140 for Monday.

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After extending the series with Saturday’s victory the Stars now look to Game 6 as +140 underdogs. Contributions from veterans up front that have kept the Stars alive in this series. Corey Perry found the back of the net for a second straight game in Game 5, potting the opening goal and the game winner. Tyler Seguin showed clear signs of putting his scoring slump behind him, assisting on all three goals, and has five helpers in the past two games.

Dallas owns a solid track record in Game 6 appearances while trailing 3- 2 in a series, going 6-6 in its past 12 such outings. However, with the team still battling injuries that have sidelined Blake Comeau, Radek Faksa, and Roope Hintz, the Stars continue to lag as +425 longshots on the series prices.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.28.2020