Sport-Scan Daily Brief

SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 1/11/2020 Anaheim Ducks Colorado Avalanche 1170428 Corey Perry gets emotional during surprise Ducks tribute 1170459 Reeling Avalanche falls short in overtime loss to Penguins 1170429 Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg withdraws from All-Star 1170460 It’s only January, and the Colorado Avalanche appear to Game be slipping — again 1170430 ‘He’s our jerk’: In his return to Anaheim, Ducks fans 1170461 Frustrations continue to mount as Avs blow another third explain why they love Corey Perry period lead 1170462 Nathan MacKinnon: Our 2019 Sportsperson of the Year Arizona Coyotes 1170463 Avs Game 45 Grades: Hard-Fought Loss 1170431 Arizona Coyotes blanked again in loss to Carolina 1170464 Penguins get one more save than Avs in overtime Hurricanes decision 1170432 Coyotes loss to Lightning brings 4-game win streak to end 1170433 Bourne Thoughts: Why Arizona should consider trading Columbus Blue Jackets Taylor Hall, flamethrower time in Montreal 1170465 Flaws come back to haunt Columbus Blue Jackets as long points streak ends Boston Bruins 1170466 Carlsson patient despite limited NHL time 1170434 Zdeno Chara ‘ready to go’ for his 999th game with Bruins 1170467 Local ratings for Blue Jackets games on FOX Sports Ohio Saturday up 41%, pacing best in franchise history 1170435 Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara ready to face the 1170468 Portzline: Failure to launch, and other observations from Islanders the Blue Jackets’ loss to San Jose 1170436 The Bruins attack must overcome the Islanders tough three-deep defense Dallas Stars 1170437 NHL rumors: Bruins 'could do a deal for [Tyler] Toffoli 1170469 Expecting an ‘awkward’ reunion, Stars’ Joe Pavelski almost at any time' reflects on the toughest part of leaving the Sharks 1170438 Bruins' Zdeno Chara (jaw) expected to play vs. Islanders 1170470 Bad blood: Stars’ Jamie Oleksiak fights Ducks’ Nicolas on Saturday Deslauriers in rematch of 2015 scrap 1170439 Fourth line coming around for the Bruins at the perfect 1170471 ‘He’s our jerk’: In his return to Anaheim, Ducks fans time explain why they love Corey Perry 1170440 David Pastrnak's swagger is back, and Bruins are reaping 1170472 Stars 20/20: No comeback needed as Ben Bishop pitches the benefits shutout and adds assist for good measure 1170441 David Pastrnak responds to Auston Matthews' challenge 1170473 One year after trade from Anaheim to Dallas, Andrew in NHL goals lead race Cogliano thriving with Stars 1170442 Anders Bjork hopes added strength bolsters his chances of sticking around Detroit Red Wings 1170474 Dylan Larkin’s shootout goal gives Detroit Red Wings 3-2 Buffalo Sabres win over Senators 1170443 Sabres looking for Rasmus Dahlin to use his shot to ignite 1170475 Steve Yzerman on Detroit Red Wings, rebuild & trade offense deadline: I won't be passive 1170444 Jake McCabe expected to return to Sabres' lineup against 1170476 The Detroit Red Wings are in last place. So why aren't Canucks more top prospects in the lineup? 1170445 Sabres sinking fast in standings, losing touch with playoff 1170477 Homespun fun: Red Wings take down Senators in race shootout for third straight win at LCA 1170478 Red Wings' Steve Yzerman: 'Our goal is to acquire more Calgary Flames draft choices' before trade deadline 1170446 Flames assistant GM Chris Snow and wife Kelsie to join 1170479 Brian Lashoff continues to thrive for Red Wings in key Scott Oake on HNIC After Hours organizational role 1170447 Red-hot Flames goalie Talbot eager to start against Oilers 1170480 Red Wings’ Steve Yzerman addresses trades, top 1170448 Flames plan around Smitty's puck-handling ability prospects, coaching staff 1170449 Game Day: Oilers vs. Flames, Part 2 1170481 Michael Rasmussen plays with Griffins for first time since Nov. 12 Carolina Hurricanes 1170482 Dylan Larkin delivers for Red Wings in shootout victory 1170450 Mrazek hears his name, and the Hurricanes hope he 1170483 Three No. 1s return and so does winning for Griffins answers the call 1170484 Larkin's shootout goal gives Red Wings 3-2 win over 1170451 Mrazek’s saves, Necas’ speed spur Canes to 3-0 shutout Senators of Coyotes 1170485 Custance: Let’s talk about Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill’s 1170452 Hurricanes Shut out Coyotes 3-0 as Mrazek Makes 32 future Saves 1170453 LeBrun: Mike Fisher on what Justin Williams is likely to Edmonton Oilers experience upon his return after a lengthy layoff 1170486 Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen impressed with Pekka 1170454 Civian: Justin Williams has a new role and a new stall on a Rinne's scoring ability team full of new faces. He happens to like the vie 1170487 Cam Talbot badly wants to play against his former Edmonton Oilers teammates Chicago Blackhawks 1170488 Edmonton Oilers find identity on road trip 1170455 Robin Lehner won’t give the Blackhawks a discount and is 1170489 Competition heating up in race for Edmonton Oilers' net already eyeing next summer’s free-agent market: ‘Ther 1170490 Kailer Yamamoto has impressed the Oilers and especially 1170456 As NHL coaching carousel accelerates, Jeremy Colliton star linemate Leon Draisaitl becomes functionally middle-aged 1170491 10 bold predictions for the Edmonton Oilers in 2020 1170457 Blackhawks' Lehner likes Chicago, but he won't sign a discount deal to stay here 1170458 Robin Lehner discusses contract status and whether he'd be open to re-signing with Blackhawks Florida Panthers Ottawa Senators 1170492 As Huberdeau nears Panthers’ career points record, he 1170520 Top job for new Sens CEO: Filling those empty seats has a grander goal on his mind 1170521 GARRIOCH GAME REPORT: Senators edged by lowly 1170493 Acciari keeps scoring, Huberdeau closes in on Jokinen: Red Wings in basement battle Observations from the Panthers’ rebound win over the Ca 1170522 GAME DAY: Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators 1170523 SNAPSHOTS: Filip Chlapik made a road trip, he just went Los Angeles Kings in a different direction 1170494 Kings hope to maintain momentum against the Hurricanes 1170524 BIG JOB AHEAD: The Ottawa Senators have named Jim 1170495 Will Tyler Toffoli be traded? What’s Ron Hextall’s Little as their new CEO influence? Looking back on our 2019-20 Kings predictions 1170525 ‘He’s going to kill it in Ottawa’: Senators introduce Jim 1170496 WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: JANUARY 10 Little as new CEO Minnesota Wild Philadelphia Flyers 1170497 Leaky penalty kill continues to haunt Wild 1170526 Flyers goalie Carter Hart on streaking Lightning: ‘Who 1170498 Some words of wisdom for upset Canadiens fans cares what they’re doing? ... We need to play our game. 1170499 Canadiens still holding out hope they can make playoffs 1170527 Oskar Lindblom meets with Flyers after practice, and 1170500 What the Puck: With Habs reset in tatters, it's time for full coach Alain Vigneault calls it ‘the best part of my day’ rebuild 1170528 Alain Vigneault, Flyers all smiles after seeing Oskar Lindblom Montreal Canadiens 1170529 Nicolas Aube-Kubel looking for more than just a call-up 1170501 Canadiens Notebook: Habs' Brendan Gallagher with Flyers experiencing headaches 1170502 Stu Cowan: Some words of wisdom for upset Canadiens Pittsburgh Penguins fans 1170530 Empty Thoughts: Penguins 4, Avalanche 3 (OT) 1170503 Canadiens still holding out hope they can make playoffs 1170531 Jared McCann scores in overtime to lift Penguins past 1170504 What the Puck: With Habs reset in tatters, it's time for full Avalanche rebuild 1170532 Minor league report: Penguins drop fifth straight to Bears 1170505 Hickey on hockey: Canadiens not delivering much bang 1170533 Avalanche coach Jared Bednar learned from “Battleship” for fans' bucks Kelly 1170506 Duhatschek Notebook: Imagining an NHL with an all- 1170534 Penguins’ Dominik Kahun embracing role of 1st-line Canadian division, trade watch heats up and more winger 1170507 Bourne Thoughts: Why Arizona should consider trading 1170535 Mark Madden: Having 2 starting goalies not a bad Taylor Hall, flamethrower time in Montreal situation for Penguins 1170508 What Melnick thinks: The Canadiens have become the 1170536 Tim Benz: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is right to look for NHL’s doormats trade after Jake Guentzel’s injury 1170537 Jared McCann scores in OT for Penguins in win against Nashville Predators the host Colorado Avalanche, 4-3 1170509 Pekka Rinne on Predators' struggles: 'Sometimes the 1170538 Return to Colorado a reminder of grind to NHL for Andrew darker side of your mind takes over' Agozzino 1170510 LeBrun: Mike Fisher on what Justin Williams is likely to 1170539 Yohe: What to expect when Sidney Crosby returns experience upon his return after a lengthy layoff San Jose Sharks New Jersey Devils 1170540 Joe Pavelski returns to San Jose: Listing the ways his 1170511 Why Devils are struggling to find balance between absence has affected the Sharks creating offense and maintaining defense 1170541 Takeaways: Joe Thornton leading Sharks’ power play 1170512 Devils odds and ends: Why Connor Carrick hasn’t been resurgence (setting record in process) playing; Nico Hischier on All-Star push 1170542 Why ex-captain Joe Pavelski believes Sharks won't be down for too long New York Islanders 1170543 Sharks' Tomas Hertl named as All-Star replacement for 1170513 Islanders coach Barry Trotz looks for 200-foot game in the Logan Couture second half 1170544 Sharks' Brent Burns selected to 'EA Sports NHL 20' Team 1170514 Islanders look for scorers to produce in upcoming tough of the Year stretch 1170545 Joe Pavelski’s ex-Sharks teammates give glimpse of him 1170515 MVP and Unsung Hero? Islanders midseason awards, as before San Jose return voted on by the players 1170546 ‘I am surprised they’re struggling a little bit’: Joe Pavelski returns to face a Sharks’ team looking for an i New York Rangers 1170547 What did Joe Pavelski mean to the Sharks? 20 former 1170516 How Henrik Lundqvist is handling Rangers’ ‘unusual teammates and colleagues explain it all situation’ 1170548 DGB Grab Bag: When an anniversary isn’t, what NHL 1170517 How Rangers are responding to awkward Lias Andersson broadcasts are missing and better days for the Sharks freezeout 1170518 Rangers president John Davidson wants to speak with St Louis Blues Lias Andersson about his departure from the organization 1170549 Parayko still looks doubtful for Blues game Saturday 1170550 Blues pair up for seventh win in a row at home NHL 1170551 Jim Thomas: If Hutton had stayed, would Blues have won 1170519 In hiring Tom Anselmi, the Oilers are hoping to bring a the Cup? little of the MLSE business success to Edmonton 1170552 Home sweet home: Blues win 7th straight at Enterprise, 5-1 over Sabres 1170553 Thomas, Bozak lead Blues to 5-1 win over Sabres 1170554 Blues’ Stanley Cup championship was unprecedented, as was rise of goalie Binnington Tampa Bay Lightning Websites 1170555 Lightning rookie Mitchell Stephens shows his staying 1170590 The Athletic / Duhatschek Notebook: Imagining an NHL power with an all-Canadian division, trade watch heats up and m 1170556 Lightning’s Ondrej Palat day-to-day after being hurt 1170591 The Athletic / The Athletic’s NHL prediction spectacular: against Arizona Coyotes Projecting the 2019-20 winners and losers at midseas 1170557 Lightning midseason: Who is the biggest surprise and the 1170592 The Athletic / ‘I just want to play’: Behind Jordan Juron’s hottest? decision to switch sides in battle over future of 1170558 Midseason report card: Grading every Tampa Bay 1170593 Sportsnet.ca / Why Montreal Canadiens shouldn't fire Lightning player so far head coach Claude Julien 1170594 Sportsnet.ca / Four reasons Montreal Canadiens have Toronto Maple Leafs fallen out of playoff race 1170559 Toronto Marlies assistant coach Rob Davison rushed to 1170595 Sportsnet.ca / Flames embrace moment of levity prior to hospital, game with Texas Stars postponed pivotal Battle of Alberta rematch 1170560 Maple Leafs sign Martin Marincin to one-year extension 1170596 Sportsnet.ca / Keefe: Focus as Leafs' coach is creating 1170561 Medical emergency in dressing room sends Marlies 'environment for players to thrive' assistant coach Rob Davison to hospital, game cancelled 1170597 Sportsnet.ca / Q&A: CapFriendly's founders on signing 1170562 The Leafs are 15-5-2 under head coach Sheldon Keefe trends, building an online giant but they still trail Boston and Tampa Bay in the Atlantic 1170598 Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs face intriguing conundrum with 1170563 Leafs captain John Tavares hopes his game will heat up Rasmus Sandin with the Florida weather 1170599 Sportsnet.ca / Truth By Numbers: Malkin's dominance 1170564 Maple Leafs sign defenceman Martin Marincin to one-year defined by more than just offence extension 1170600 USA TODAY / Toronto Marlies assistant coach Rob 1170565 Marlies coach ill, game against Texas forfeited Davison rushed to hospital after pregame medical 1170566 Coaching all in the family for Keefes emergency 1170567 New Marlies coach Moore finding his way 1170568 Marincin gets another year with Leafs Winnipeg Jets 1170569 Mirtle and Siegel: Revisiting 10 bold (and bad) Maple 1170581 Jets win a lot for being a bad team Leafs predictions at midseason 1170582 Jets' top five forwards among league's best shooters, 1170570 Maple Leafs Klokebook 1.0: Dressing room DJ wars, passers Nylander’s secret rigatoni and Spezza’s advice for new 1170583 FRIESEN: Jets fix oil leak, bunker down for six-game s paren 1170584 A look at Mark Scheifele’s remarkable hot streak, plus 5 other Jets observations Vancouver Canucks 1170585 Patrick Johnston: Benning believes Canucks now headed in right direction despite lapses SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1170586 Patrick Johnston: Canucks aim to fix what failed in Florida losses, starting in Buffalo 1170587 Canucks send Zack MacEwen back to Utica 1170588 Canucks at 50: Teammates were in awe of Bure's first practice, first game, first goal 1170589 Canucks at 50: Russian Rocket left his new team, opponents feeling a little older, slower Vegas Golden Knights 1170571 Golden Knights help kick off renovation of Wolfgang Puck restaurant 1170572 Golden Knights eager to wrap up season-long homestand 1170573 Golden Knights’ Max Pacioretty selected for 1st All-Star Game 1170574 Golden Knights relive ‘same old story’ in 1st period against Kings 1170575 Golden Knights’ Max Pacioretty pegged for the NHL All-Star Game Washington Capitals 1170576 Looking to spark ailing power play, Capitals shake up personnel 1170577 Looking to spark a suddenly woeful power play, Reirden adds Jakub Vrana to top unit 1170578 Brian MacLellan on the Caps’ goalie tandem: ‘Holtby’s our guy’ 1170579 Capitals Prospect Report: McMichael wins gold, Has is coming to North America 1170580 Bang for your buck: How each Capitals player’s performance stacks up in relation to their cap hit 1170428 Anaheim Ducks

Corey Perry gets emotional during surprise Ducks tribute

By MATT WILHALME

JAN. 10, 2020 2:41 PM

Corey Perry has a knack for getting under people’s skin, be it via jab, poke, check or a bit of trash talk.

But this time, as a visitor to Anaheim for the first time in more than 14 years, it was the Ducks who got to him.

Perry, who had the last two years of his contract bought out by the Ducks in June, was surprised before Thursday’s game between the Dallas Stars and Ducks at Honda Center by Anaheim’s brass, former teammates and 50 children from the Ducks’ Learn To Play hockey program, the team posted on Twitter with highlights from the reception.

He was presented with a Hublot watch, and longtime teammate Ryan Getzlaf handed him a large bottle of wine. Both were selected in the first round of the 2003 draft by the Ducks.

“Obviously, you’re going to be in Anaheim forever in our hearts and we want you to enjoy that at some party bud,” Getzlaf said of Perry, who recently appeared in his 1,000th regular-season game — 922 of which came as a member of the Ducks.

Perry recorded 751 points (359 goals and 392 assists) for the Ducks, which included a 50-goal season in 2010-11 when he led the league in scoring and received the Hart Trophy, given to the NHL’s most valuable player.

Said an emotional Perry in remarks just brief enough to hold back his tears: “I just want to thank everybody here, guys ... thank you.”

Perry didn’t play in Wednesday’s victory for the Stars 3-0 over the Ducks because of a five-game suspension for elbowing Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis during the first few minutes of the NHL Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1.

Perry has already appeared in more games this season for Dallas (34) than he did last season with the Ducks (31), when his season was cut short by a knee injury which required surgery.

Jakob Silfverberg will not be making his first appearance in the NHL All- Star game on Jan. 25 in St. Louis.

The Ducks announced Friday that Silfverberg had withdrawn from the showcase event because of the expected birth of his second child.

“It is an amazing honor to be selected for the All-Star game, and I’m very grateful to have been named,” Silfverberg said in a release from the Ducks. “The timing is such that my wife and I are expecting our second child in late January, and I feel it’s most important to be with my family at that time. Thank you to the NHL and the Ducks organization for their support and understanding.”

Because of the nature of his withdrawal, Silfverberg will not be suspended for one game, unlike Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, who will be assessed a one-game suspension either prior to or immediately following the All-Star game, because of his decision to sit out of the game to rest a lower-body injury.

Max Pacioretty of the Vegas Golden Knights was selected to replace Silfverberg. Tomas Hertl of the San Jose Sharks will replace teammate Logan Couture, who broke his ankle Tuesday.

LA Times: LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170429 Anaheim Ducks team. Terry is roughly seven weeks ahead of schedule after suffering a fractured leg in a Dec. 17 game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.11.2020 Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg withdraws from All-Star Game

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: January 10, 2020 at 11:59 am | UPDATED: January 10, 2020 at 5:44 PM

ANAHEIM — Right wing Jakob Silfverberg withdrew from the All-Star Game on Friday, leaving the Ducks without a representative to the game later this month in St. Louis. Silfverberg and his wife, Clara, are expecting the couple’s second child and the NHL granted him his release.

“It’s an amazing honor to be selected for the All-Star Game and I’m very grateful to have been named,” Silfverberg said in a statement. “The timing is such that my wife and I are expecting our second child in late January and I feel it’s most important to be with my family at that time. Thank you to the NHL and the Ducks organization for their support and understanding.”

Max Pacioretty of the Vegas Golden Knights will replace Silfverberg, who was selected to play in his first All-Star Game. Silfverberg’s value to the Ducks has been undeniable during his seven seasons with the club, but never more than during their season of transition in 2019-20.

Silfverberg has been sidelined for two games this season and the Ducks have lost both badly. They were thumped 5-1 by the Rangers on Dec. 22, when he was out with an illness, and they were blanked 3-0 by the Stars on Thursday, when he was out with an upper-body injury.

“He’s critical to everything that we do,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “From right before the game starts, he’s a great leader, and he’s usually an 18- to 20-minute guy a night. He’s critical on our power play. He’s one of our top penalty killers. We’re looking for him on the bench a lot.”

Eakins couldn’t say when Silfverberg might practice or play again because of his latest ailment. He was injured in the first period of Tuesday’s loss to the Blue Jackets. The Ducks begin a four-game trip Saturday in Chicago that leads into the All-Star break.

Silfverberg has 15 goals and 13 assists in 42 games this season.

SCORING BREAKDOWN

The Ducks’ shots have increased by more than two per game from last season, but that still hasn’t produced the desired results so far. The bottom line is the Ducks don’t score enough and don’t win enough, ranking second-to-last in the 31-team NHL with only 2.48 goals per game.

Only the Detroit Red Wings (2.18) were averaging fewer goals per game than the Ducks going into Friday’s games around the league. Only the Red Wings (11-30-3), New Jersey Devils (15-21-7) and Ottawa Senators (16-22-5) had worse records than the Ducks’ 17-22-5 mark.

“We’ve got to keep putting pucks at the net, keep creating chances,” Eakins said. “I think we’ve gotten much better at that. But I think the final part of that is, first, get the O-zone time. Second, create the chances. I think we’re doing both of those.

“The third is the finish and that’s where we’ve got to get better.”

Scoring chances are always subjective and shot totals can be misleading, but more of each category is always helpful. For example, the Ducks fired 47 shots on goal in a 5-4 victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday. They had 40 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

When the Ducks’ shot total dipped to 27 shots Thursday against Dallas, they lost 3-0.

“Our team game, especially that scoring part of it, we’ve got to keep hammering on it,” Eakins said. “We have to find more goals out of everybody in our (dressing) room and that includes guys who aren’t usually goal scorers. I think anyone is capable of anything.”

ROSTER MOVE

The Ducks recalled La Mirada native Chase De Leo from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL and assigned right wing Troy Terry to their minor league 1170430 Anaheim Ducks “I don’t know if there’s any real easy way to do this,” Perry told The Athletic. “I don’t know if not playing is a better way to do it. Obviously, I’d love to be out there. Or being on the ice and just forgetting about it. I don’t know what the best way is.” ‘He’s our jerk’: In his return to Anaheim, Ducks fans explain why they love Corey Perry Perry has never been naturally at ease in the spotlight. Even when he was up to his tricks — some of which were funny, some nasty — in full view of everyone, he would often rather slither away while others commanded the attention. By Eric Stephens Jan 10, 2020 There was no way he was going to avoid the spotlight that greeted him in

Anaheim. And he welcomed it. Appreciated it. During the first television ANAHEIM, Calif. — Fandom is a wonderfully weird thing when it comes timeout, the Ducks showed a video that included his greatest hits. There to how players are viewed, especially when feelings about a player are were many. often accompanied with swear words. • His first NHL goal. Broadly speaking, fans don’t like miscreants. Unless it’s their miscreant. • The final tally that kicked off the Game 5 party to claim the Cup. If he can play and do so at the highest of levels, a lot of behavior is tolerated. And if he helps brings his team and his city a championship, • An overtime goal to beat the Kings that was part of his ridiculous team- then it makes him beloved. It makes people want his name and number carrying stretch run in 2011. on the back of their cherished jerseys. • The hat-trick goal against San Jose that gave him 50 and applied the Back in the day, it was Claude Lemieux. Not long ago, it was Chris finishing touch on his Hart Trophy season. Pronger. Brad Marchand? He fits the profile, hated in just about every NHL locale and beyond. Loved in Boston. Tom Wilson isn’t a star, but he • The gritty overtime effort at the Calgary net to send the Ducks into the can play the game, he can irritate like no other and Washington fans 2015 Western Conference finals. adore him. • The weave around outstretched Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot in the There was a Ducks home game Thursday night, but this was no run-of- second overtime to blow the roof off the arena in completing the the-mill midseason affair. Two of their most recent beloved stars returned Comeback on Katella. to Honda Center for the first time since their departures. Their Finally, as the video finished, the entire crowd rose in unison and gave appearances gave the 15,419 in attendance a moment of unified him an extended standing ovation. Perry took it in with his wife, Blakeny, celebration in what’s developed into another dreary season. and their toddler son, Griffin. Emotions ran within him. You would have look all over the continent to find someone with a bad “You’re going to get me to cry again,” Perry said, smiling when the scene word to say about Andrew Cogliano. But Corey Perry? Do a cursory was recalled afterward. “It’s special. Fourteen years. It’s a lot of games. A search of his name on Twitter and then start listing the invectives that are lot of goals, lot of points, lot of success. A lot of team success. hurled about him. Championships. Personal success. There might be a complicated legacy for a player who has won every “This is home. It was special.” major championship in the sport. But there is nothing complicated about how Ducks fans feel about Perry, who did most of that winning while It appeared overwhelming in his eyes, as he looked about the vast room affiliated with their team. as fans wouldn’t stop clapping. All the No. 10 jerseys with the familiar “A” near the left shoulder being worn. “I think I would actually hate him if he was on a different team,” said Michael Strecker, a Lake Elsinore resident who became a full-fledged Frank Hernandez and his son, David, had theirs on. The two have Ducks fan after the club’s 2007 Stanley Cup triumph. “He’s kind of like a regularly made the 30-mile trek from Eastvale to Anaheim. Frank proudly Brad Marchand or someone like that. But he’s our little guy. He’s our jerk. notes that he has “a Ducks family” in his household and that Perry became one of its favorite sons. “He’s always competing. He’s always looking for that edge. He just finds a way to make life hell for the other team. I love that tenacity. He’s a It wasn’t just the goals that he scored, of which there were 372, plus fighter. If he was on any other team but the Ducks, I would hate his guts. another 36 in 118 playoff games. But I love him because he was so important for them for so many years.” “He would dish it out, but he also took a lot as well,” Frank said. “He Numerous No. 10 and No. 7 jerseys populated the crowd that came to would take the punishment to score. That was Corey Perry.” see Perry and Cogliano get recognized for their extensive contributions to a golden era of Ducks hockey. Both are with Dallas now, with Cogliano Courtney and Stephen Janes have cheered on Perry and the Ducks being traded to the Stars last February and Perry signing with them as a since he entered the NHL in 2005. Courtney has been a proud free agent over the summer after Anaheim bought him out of his contract. worshipper at the right wing’s altar since his days tearing up the Ontario Hockey League for the London Knights. She has a tattoo of Perry’s As usual, Cogliano was in uniform, as he was for every single night signature on her left wrist, etched on in permanence at a parlor near except two over 7 ½ seasons with the Ducks. Those two games, as you LAX. firmly know, were the result of a controversial suspension that ended one of the longest consecutive game streaks in NHL history. He did what he “For me, I really liked his speed and his grit,” Courtney said while does, giving max effort on his defensive-minded shifts and doing wearing a current Perry jersey in the green Stars colors. “I know that’s whatever he could to keep his former team from scoring. not really a thing anymore. The NHL’s kind of going with the small guys, the fast guys, the puck possession. But back then, when he was coming Meanwhile, Perry was up in Suite 316A of the arena’s second level. He up with (Ryan) Getzlaf, it was about the big guys that could push you wore a blue suit and hung out with his family instead of playing against around but have the nice hands and do fancy work. And he was able to the Ducks, as he did for the first time back in October in Dallas. The do that when he was younger. irony, is course, is that the winger wasn’t on the ice because of a suspension that was as close to universal in agreement as one can get. “I remember sitting at home when he got his hat trick to score 50 goals. That’s an Ovechkin thing. With Alex Ovechkin, you’re talking prime-time There was no walk of shame made in front of the crowd Thursday night. guys. … Him and Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan on that line for a while — that The Ducks were going to honor one of their greatest players, a star for 14 RPG Line. That was just incredible to watch. It was just fun. It was fun seasons who rose from being a talented and prickly first-round pick to hockey.” one of the franchise’s twin pillars. Once the Ducks knew he would join the Stars on their West Coast road trip, it was all about getting his Her husband, Stephen, could relate to Perry. He played sports but wasn’t blessing to do it now, rather than wait for the team’s return visit to the strongest or most athletic guy. His dad always told him to combat that Anaheim in April. by doing whatever he could to win. If that meant occasionally getting in someone’s face, then do it. If it meant annoying your opponent, then In a way, the suspension allowed Perry to sit back in the suite and soak don’t hesitate. But back that up by playing well. everything in. When it came to watching Perry in action, Stephen said, “Yeah, he’d get “With how I play the game, sometimes I don’t score the most goals,” in your face and talk trash. Talk smack. But he’d turn around and score Cogliano said. “But I think people appreciate hard work. And I think as a three goals against you. Easily. And he’d do it from the blue line. He’d do fan, that was the one thing I always heard from people when I met fans it up against the net. He’d do it anywhere. He was just good. Just really, or met people. They appreciate my work ethic and how hard I worked on really good.” the ice and how I played the game and how I gave it 100 percent every game. It is those antagonizing moments that brought a smile to Cam Fowler’s face. “Not only as a player but as a human being, I think that’s what I grab onto. And that’s how I do prepare and play. When people recognize that, “My dad still talks about this all the time,” said Fowler, Perry’s teammate I think it makes me feel good.” for nine seasons. “There was a TV timeout and there’s video of Corey Perry squirting water into another player’s glove (that would be the Kings’ After he acknowledged the crowd from the ice, Cogliano saw Getzlaf Jeff Carter). That’s typical Pears. across the way and smiled. “Getz thought it was too long,” he chirped. “It’s cool. Some of my best friends still are on that side.” But the return “We got to see a lot of that behind the scenes. He would do it to his gave him the chance to bring up the memory of playing with Ryan Kesler teammates and to other players. My dad still talks about that story until and Jakob Silfverberg on the Ducks’ famed shutdown line that was a this day.” critical part of multiple Pacific Division teams and two runs to the That was the sneaky shady Corey Perry at work. There was the Corey conference finals. Perry who went over the line, reflected in three career suspensions that “Playing with those guys were probably the best years of my career, to included the hit to the head of Nashville’s Ryan Ellis during this season’s be honest,” he said. “You see what Silvy does now. I was the ball-and- Winter Classic. The result was a five-game ban and, most embarrassing, chain on him maybe at times.” a trudging walk made in front of 80,000-plus at the Cotton Bowl and a national TV audience. Dirty is the word most affixed to him, but others of Still, Cogliano’s years wearing the webbed-D logo earned widespread the foul variety are often in tow. admiration.

Fowler doesn’t doubt that he would be frustrated if he had to regularly “Obviously, the amount of games that he was able to string together in a play against Perry. But if he’s on your side, he’s a beloved teammate and row, he was just a true professional,” Fowler said. “Came to work every better friend. Perry broke the news of his Ducks buyout to the day. Played hard, enjoyed what he did and made it fun to be around defenseman on Fowler’s bachelor-party trip. him.”

“He plays with a lot of heart,” Fowler said. “For being a rather skinny guy, Cogliano could enjoy a 3-0 Stars win over the club that moved him to he took a beating in front of the net. He wasn’t afraid to get in the dirty usher in its roster redo. Perry had to do it from a self-inflicted distance. areas. Stick up for teammates. Do all the things that fans love in a player. He offered contrition immediately after his hit on Ellis, but makes no Was gritty with his work ethic. apology for the way he has played the game for many years.

“And then to have a combination of that and just that pure goal-scoring “That’s me in a nutshell, I guess. Right?” Perry said of the love/hate view touch is not something that you see very often. For playing his whole of him. “Yeah, there were goals. Sometimes there was other stuff. career here — obviously now he’s moved on to Dallas — but winning a Something had to be done to start something and get the team going. Stanley Cup here, that’s something that fans remember and will love until We’re losing 2-0 and we need a spark. Those are things that I took under his career is over.” my wing and kind of did it on my own. Nobody had to really tell me to go out and do it. It was just something I had to do over the years, and it was When it does end for the 34-year-old, it figures it won’t be too long before effective. No. 10 joins Nos. 8, 9 and 27 in the Honda Center rafters. If you’re new to this hockey deal, that’s Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya and Scott “People really appreciated it. Some people might not on different teams. Niedermayer. But that’s well into the future for Perry, who is adamant that But, you know, so be it.” he still has a lot of good hockey left and won’t think about a possible jersey retirement until long after he is done. The fans who love their favorite hellion wouldn’t have it any other way. Thursday night showed there is one place where he will never be the But the momentous return reflected the legacy that Perry left in Anaheim. object of scorn. Before the game, the Ducks surprised him with an assembly of people close to his heart. Selanne was among them, as well as Getzlaf, Fowler Upland resident Mike McAdams, who has had season tickets since 2004, and John Gibson, plus Francois Beachemin and Todd Marchant, two wishes that Perry would have retired as a Duck. other old favorites now in organizational roles. “Especially the way the season is going,” McAdams said. “I mean, he What particularly cracked Perry’s friendly but often stoic exterior was the couldn’t have really hurt our team. His contract, of course, perhaps. But, presence of 50 kids who are part of the Learn to Play program that he man, just his presence. It’s sad.” and Getzlaf founded in 2013. Thousands have learned about hockey It was everything that Perry did. He would get in your head. And then he since its inception. The hope is that some will take it up competitively or would go about beating you. at least make it theirs as the next wave of fans. “He could back up his antagonism by scoring,” McAdams said. “When he “When you build foundations, they never get broken,” Perry said. “But was Corey Perry, he could score and antagonize. Energize the team you do miss them. It was tough today. It was an emotional day. And it’s when we were successful. That was it. still going to be emotional.” “But that was what was great about Kesler as well. Same thing. You get It wasn’t just that way for him. Cogliano came to Anaheim as a first-round under their skin as irritation but score and lead the team to victory. Corey pick who didn’t live up to offensive expectations in Edmonton. He remade Perry was that. That was what he was. Spectacular. Great player. Irritate his game with the Ducks, turning himself into a shutdown artist and ace people. Get them off their game. Score goals.” penalty killer who could still score here and there. Ducks coach Dallas Eakins knows. He didn’t have Perry as a player but His 16 shorthanded goals tie him with Kariya for the most in franchise watched him terrorize the Oilers during his 18 months as their coach. He history. A video tribute during the second TV timeout showed his biggest professed his own appreciation for someone who also grew up in goal, a tying score in the wild 2017 playoff series against the Oilers that Peterborough, Ontario. allowed the Ducks to end their Game 7 hex. But it was his determination to show up to work every single day and give everything he had that “I’m sure if Corey was playing, he would find a way to piss us all off and earned his own standing ovation. dislike him,” Eakins said. “But that’s why he’s so great.”

On multiple occasions, Cogliano was nominated for the Masterton “He talked the talk,” Stephen Janes said. “He walked the walk. He did all Trophy by the Anaheim PHWA chapter, and he was a finalist for the that stuff. And for me personally, if you did a Mount Rushmore of Ducks award in 2017. He never let any ailment or illness stop him from suiting players, it’s got to be Kariya, Selanne, Getzlaf and him. Those four guys. up. That is where he feels people could best connect with him. It is that “You can put those guys on there, and I don’t think anybody would argue connection that he’ll always keep close to his heart. or complain with you.” The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170431 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes blanked again in loss to Carolina Hurricanes

The Associated PressPublished 8:25 p.m. MT Jan. 10, 2020 | Updated 9:11 p.m. MT Jan. 10, 2020

RALEIGH, N.C. — Petr Mrazek stopped 32 shots for his third shutout of the season, and Lucas Wallmark and Martin Necas scored within 63 seconds of each other near the end of the second period to help the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Arizona Coyotes 3-0 on Friday night.

It was the second straight night the Coyotes were shut out after they lost 4-0 at Tampa Bay on Thursday.

The Hurricanes were leading 1-0 when Wallmark's tip of Dougie Hamilton's shot went off Antti Raanta's glove and head before landing in the goal 1:13 before the second intermission.

Necas increased the lead to 3-0 when he curled behind the net and lifted a backhander into the goal with 9.6 seconds remaining in the period.

Warren Foegele also scored for the Hurricanes, who won their second in a row and improved to 4-2-0 on their seven-game homestand.

Raanta, who had been 3-0-0 in his last three decisions, gave up three goals on 28 shots before he was replaced for the third period by Adin Hill, who faced just one shot over the final 20 minutes.

Arizona averaged 4.5 goals per game over four straight wins from Dec. 31 through Jan. 7, but failed to score for the second game in a row as Mrazek was sharp and the

Hurricanes' penalty-killing unit was effective. Arizona was 0 for 3 on the power play.

Mrazek's best save came on a backhander by Lawson Crouse early in the third period after Crouse got behind Carolina's defense for a shorthanded scoring opportunity.

Foegele scored 14:20 into the first period after Andrei Svechnikov dug the puck out of the corner and fired a perfect pass into the slot in front of Raanta.

Notes

Arizona Republic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170432 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes loss to Lightning brings 4-game win streak to end

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS | JANUARY 9, 2020 AT 8:33 PM

UPDATED: JANUARY 9, 2020 AT 11:41 PM

TAMPA, Fla. — Nikita Kucherov had two goals, Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-0 Thursday night for their ninth consecutive victory.

Alex Killorn and Mikhail Sergachev also scored for the Lightning, who are one win from tying the franchise record of 10 straight set in February 2019.

Arizona’s Adin Hill, making his fourth appearance this season, stopped 30 shots as the Coyotes’ four-game winning streak ended. Arizona’s top two goalies, Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta, are out with lower-body injuries.

Kucherov scored a pair of second-period goals, coming at 6:15 and 8:52, to make it 4-0. Steven Stamkos assisted on both, with the second one giving him 400 career assists.

Kucherov has four goals and nine points during a six-game point streak. He has nine goals and 11 points in 10 games against Arizona.

Vasilevskiy, who is 11-1-1 over his last 13 starts, made a right pad save against Taylor Hall on a breakaway midway through the first. It was his 19th career shutout and first since Feb. 16.

Killorn opened the scoring at 15:06 of the first off a nifty backhand pass from along the goal line by Pat Maroon.

Tampa Bay went up 2-0 with 1:36 left in the first when Sergachev sent the puck into the slot on a 3-on-2 rush and it went into the net off Arizona’s Jordan Oesterle.

NOTES

The Coyotes have snapped an opponent’s winning streak of at least five games an NHL-leading four times this season. … Raanta (two games missed) is day to day. Kuemper (nine games) is on injured reserve. … Maroon had two assists but left in the second period after taking an elbow to the head from Carl Soderberg. There was no penalty called on the play. … Tampa Bay LW Ondrej Palat appeared to favor his leg and exited after a hit by Hall in the third. Hall was given an interference penalty. … Lightning C Brayden Point picked up an assist and has a seven-game point streak (six assists, 10 points).

UP NEXT

Coyotes: At the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.

Lightning: At the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170433 Arizona Coyotes type of run with Hall in the lineup to justify the lost value/assets by keeping him past the deadline.

At the end of the day, winning is what brings fans back, retains players Bourne Thoughts: Why Arizona should consider trading Taylor Hall, and convinces other players to sign with your franchise. I don’t think this flamethrower time in Montreal is the season the Coyotes are good enough to do enough winning to make inroads on those fronts. I do think they’d be better-served flipping Hall like a freshly renovated house at the deadline to see if they can’t get back more than they gave up for him. If they do, having not given up any By Justin Bourne Jan 10, 2020 of their biggest prospects in the original deal will make the whole experiment look like a big win for John Chayka.

Being in media has altered the way I watch sports, and not for the better. Could shooting selectiveness work its way into five-on-five hockey? Not. At. All. It used to be that information could wash over my brain, then At five-on-five, nearly a quarter of attempted shots get blocked. In recede like a wave, after having absorbed the event without ever really overtime, that drops to roughly 15 percent. There are several reasons for doing much mental work. But these days, particularly since I’ve started this – there are fewer bodies on the ice for one, duh. The types of players doing 10+ hours of talk radio every week, that’s no longer the case. As more prone to blocking shots also play less. But I think one of the biggest events happen, my media Take Machine absorbs those same events, but reasons is simply because possession is too valuable and taking asks this of them: what does that mean? What do you think of that, how “maybe,” hope-style shots can forfeit control of the puck without having did that make you feel? Do we have anything we can use here? earned a quality shot. Therefore, players hold the puck until they get a When there’s something “useable,” talking points are created, article higher quality look, something they can definitely get on net and maybe ideas are formulated and research on that idea needs to be done. score, before risking giving up possession. Sometimes that research will reveal just how wrong my gut is on I wonder if we won’t see that valuing of possession leak more into five- something. “I feel like that guy has brick hands” can often lead me to a on-five play. Bad shots are turnovers, no matter how many players are page on Elite Prospects or HockeyDB showing that said player had like on the ice and the value of puck possession is only headed up. 128 points in 48 games in the QMJHL or something the year before, and boom, that take has been vaporized. Yes, extend three-on-three OT. Just not by much

But having one of my takes blown apart by facts is far less common then I agree that three-on-three OT is so great that it should be extended, plus it is to find something confirming my feelings. And when those are right, it’s a better way to end the game than the shootout. I also think that boy, is it validating. Furthermore, not everything can be fact-checked, extending the game from five to 10 minutes changes it to a degree that which leads me here. I’ve got an overload of gut feels and takes stored wouldn’t be good for it. If you’re going 10 minutes, Connor McDavid can’t up – some musings, questions, pontifications – that can’t really be fact- play 80 percent of the minutes anymore. You can play 80 percent of a checked. With that in mind, I thought I’d unload a backlog of takes and small number of minutes, but once it gets that long, we’re talking about musings to be vetted by the court of public opinion. Here are my thoughts seeing way more depth players playing significant time, and that’s not on a few issues from around the NHL and I can’t wait to read yours in the what those that are clamoring for more OT are looking for. comments. But if we tack just two more minutes, I think we’ll see more games end Maybe Arizona should trade Taylor Hall? before the shootout, and the top guys won’t be asked for that much more output. Two more minutes. That’s all I’m asking for here, NHL. As of today, the Arizona Coyotes are first in the Pacific Division, but it’s tight. Maybe Montreal really should blow it up

Yes, I know they just traded picks and prospects. But you can recoup The Jets need Dustin Byfuglien those and improve on them, otherwise, you don’t do a deal. I know you know that. But what’s happening in Winnipeg – five regulation You have to do the math on “Is this the year we’re winning the Cup,” or at wins over the past month, just two against playoff-bound teams – is a least “Is this the year we could realistically be one of the handful of teams perfect example of something that blinds people in sports: less than great who could win the Cup,” and you have to consider what that’s worth. You players can get great results … for awhile. We see this around the NHL have to consider what a run and an attempt at that Cup is worth to your all the time. A team has a bunch of injuries, they plug in some minimally- loyal fans who’ve been with you through thick and thin. You have to known players in those holes, and they get adequate results that we laud consider what meaningful hockey does for the development of your as impressive. Then some of us in the media go on about how great young players. You have to show, at some point, that you’re trying to win. those fill-in players are and hypothesize that maybe that team can get by without the expensive injured players once they return, and we talk BUT! But I do not think this Arizona Coyotes team is good enough to win ourselves into a delusion. OK players who get elevated opportunities fire more than one round. I do think that they’d be better served heading into themselves up for those games, they’re focused, they give every ounce next season with high-end picks/prospects for Hall, and I believe they of themselves … until they can’t. Until the sample size gets too big, and could exceed what they gave up to get him in a return as teams get they get exposed. desperate down the stretch and the cap hit of taking Hall on has become all but nothing (between New Jersey’s retention and how teams accrue cap savings throughout the year). I don’t think Arizona has gone on the The problem with the Jets D-corps is, there are no “regulars,” no “expensive players” coming back to fill their holes on defense.

Boy, did they ever fill in adequately for long stretches during the early part of the season. But there’s no doubt that run of time has gone on for too long and they’re getting exposed. Their early season results have been good enough though, that if they get some help on the back end, they could stay afloat and even put their great forward corps in a position to succeed. Byfuglien could be that guy. If not, they need to find someone else to help defend.

No storm surge on Justin Williams reveal gets a boo

How amazing would it have been if the Carolina Hurricanes had revealed the return of Justin Williams in a storm surge? I am crushed we were denied that. Crushed!

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170434 Boston Bruins Islander strategy Cassidy is encouraging the Bruins to continue to shoot first and ask

questions later, especially against the Islanders’ 1-1-3 setup. Zdeno Chara ‘ready to go’ for his 999th game with Bruins Saturday “There is always a line of three back, they’re pretty consistent with it,” Cassidy said. “Very structured in that regard, so it’s tough to gain a blue line with numbers. You can get it in the zone but they usually have three By Frank Dell’Apa,Updated January 11, 2020, 2 hours ago back, so you’re not getting a lot of odd-man rushes, a lot of situations where you’re going to get one of those clear neutral-zone attacks.

“Now, if your D can beat their forwards up the ice, there’s a little room in Zdeno Chara is set to play for the 999th time as a Bruin in Saturday’s there, but that means the next wave has to participate.” visit to the New York Islanders. The Bruins captain missed Thursday’s 5- 4 win over the Winnipeg Jets because of a jaw problem related to Said winger Anders Bjork, “It’s important against every team. But a team surgery performed after last season. like [the Islanders] has good, hard-working defensemen, good skating defensemen, too. It’s definitely important to get the puck all the way “I feel ready to go,” Chara said after practice at Warrior Ice Arena Friday. behind their goalie and come at them with speed. Allows us to play in the “I want to play, yeah, excited for tomorrow.” offensive zone and hold onto the puck and more O zone time Chara had hoped to be in the lineup against Winnipeg but followed opportunities.” medical advice. Boston Globe LOADED: 01.11.2020 “Talked to him a little bit [Thursday] about the danger of playing through what he’s going through,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “He wants to play every game.

“But that was a decision made higher up, that he should take the day off. He did, begrudgingly, but he wants to get back in there tomorrow, and I believe he will be.”

Chara, 42, sustained a broken jaw during last year’s Stanley Cup Finals, but continued to play. He underwent surgery after the season and again to remove hardware Dec. 23.

“He had some screws or plates, I’m not sure exactly what,” Cassidy said. “There’s a bit of a risk of infection, so they have to go in there every once in a while.

So, the last time, we thought it may be infection but it was something else going on there that was causing a lot of discomfort. So they had to go back in there, open it up. They did another procedure, I think, a few days ago.

“We assumed he didn’t let us in on the fact it was very uncomfortable. Once he did, we took him out.”

Chara practiced at full speed in a half-hour session Friday.

“Of course I want to play but, you know, sometimes you have to listen to your body, listen to the doctors,” Chara said. “I think the decision was made for the right reasons, so today is a new day and getting ready for tomorrow’s game.”

Asked if he thought the problem had been solved, Chara said, “I hope so. It’s very unfortunate. Sometimes these things happen for whatever reasons.

“This one, obviously, came out of nowhere on the morning of the Nashville game [a 6-2 Bruins win Tuesday]. So, right away we were taking precautionary actions, ended up monitoring it closely, and so that’s just where it’s at right now.”

Chara also has played 137 playoff games for the Bruins and totaled 1,528 contests since beginning his career with the Islanders during the 1997-98 season. He could reach the 1,000-game mark for the Bruins in a visit to Philadelphia Monday.

Keep it simple

The Bruins (26-8-11), who have scored 11 goals in their last two games, have a four-game unbeaten road mark (3-0-1) with a 15-7 goal differential since Dec. 12.

“I think it’s build from what we’ve done well,” center Patrice Bergeron said. “I think it’s pretty simple. To me, it’s getting to the net, following the puck, and getting it there, having someone there.

“Often, we try to do too much, and that’s when you kind of get away from playing the right way and getting the results, ultimately. So that’s what it’s all about. I think it’s keep simplifying that game and getting better as a team.’’

“It was nice to see contributions from all around the lineup [against Winnipeg]. That’s how we win and that’s how we’re successful and we’ve just got to carry that on.” 1170435 Boston Bruins

Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara ready to face the Islanders

By RICH THOMPSON | PUBLISHED: January 10, 2020 at 4:54 pm | UPDATED: January 10, 2020 at 4:56 PM

Defenseman Zdeno Chara will resume his duties on the Bruins first defensive unit with Charlie McAvoy when they engage the New York Islanders on Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Chara was scratched from the Bruins 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night at the TD Garden to allow his surgically reattached jaw time to heal from its latest setback.

“I feel ready to go and I want to play and I’m excited for tomorrow,” said Chara following Friday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.

“Of course, I wanted to play (Thursday) but sometimes you have to listen to your body and the doctors. I think the decision was made for the right reasons. Today is a new day and I’m getting ready for tomorrow’s game.”

Chara had an abscess removed from his jaw area earlier in the week but he still participated in the Bruins 6-2 win at Nashville on Jan. 7. Chara took a looping right-hand punch to the jaw in a ruckus with Predators forward Vakov Trenin, but that was not the source of his pain.

Chara suffered the initial injury in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final against the St. Louis Blues on June 6. Chara experienced multiple fractures to the jaw when he took a puck off the stick of Blues’ center Brayden Schenn.

Chara had surgery on Dec. 23 to removed plates and screws from his jaw and was scratched from the Bruins 7-3 win over the Capitals.

“We talked to him about the danger of playing through what he’s going through and he wants to play every game,” said Cassidy. “But that was a decision made higher up that he should take the game off.”

Power surge

David Pastrnak upped his league lead in power play goals to 16 with a quick strike from the top of the left circle at 9:41 of the second period against the Jets.

The Bruins were one for four on the power play against the Jets and are now 40 of 146 for a 27.4% success rate.

Winnipeg forward Blake Wheeler was five seconds into his two-minute stretch for tripping when defenseman Torey Krug got the puck to Pastrnak on a designed play. Pastrnak’s preferred sweet spot is the left dot, but he’s learned to expand his area.

“Sometimes he gets pushed out there because of how teams defend,” said Cassidy. “He’s just been able to make that adjustment, find the ice and good players do that.

“That’s not something where we said “hey Pasta, you got to be six feet over.” You have to find space and teams will front that space (left dot) quicker with the D and sometimes they back off.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170436 Boston Bruins

The Bruins attack must overcome the Islanders tough three-deep defense

By RICH THOMPSON | PUBLISHED: January 10, 2020 at 4:32 pm | UPDATED: January 10, 2020 at 4:33 PM

New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz implemented a back-end scheme designed to make his team competitive in the NHL’s high-scoring Metropolitan Division.

The Atlantic Division leading Bruins will attempt to break down the Islanders’ 1-1-3 layers of resistance when the two teams clash on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The Islanders have allowed the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference (108) and second in the league behind the Dallas Stars (105), so Trotz’s system has achieved what he set out to accomplish.

“It is more through the neutral zone and he plays the 1-1-3 and they always have a line of three back,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy following Friday’s team practice at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.

“They have been pretty consistent with it and they are very structured in that regard so it’s tough to gain the blue line with numbers.

“If you get into the zone, they usually have three back so you are not getting a lot of odd man rushes. You are not getting a lot of situations where you are going to get one of those clear neutral zone attacks.”

The Islanders are overly reliant on protecting the back end because they are not lighting it up in the offensive end. The Islanders have scored 120 goals, the fifth fewest in the Eastern Conference.

Knowing what the Islanders do is one thing, breaking down the barriers are another. Cassidy has plans in place to get behind the Islanders’ three-deep defense but it involves some risk.

“If you can beat their forwards up the ice there is usually a little room in there but that means the next wave has to participate and so far, it’s worked well for them,” said Cassidy.

The Islanders top four defensemen, Nick Leddy, Ryan Pulock, Devon Toews and Scott Mayfield are a combined plus-17, which is one more than the difference between what the team has scored and given up in 42 games.

The backbone of Trotz’s scheme is goaltender Semyon Varlamov (15-5- 3), who owns 2.20 goals against average and a .924 save percentage.

The Bruins offense found its scoring mojo in consecutive high-scoring wins over the Nashville Predators (6-2) and the Winnipeg Jets (5-4). Bruins first-line right wing David Pastrnak netted his third hat trick of the season in the Bruins win over the Jets on Thursday night at the TD Garden.

The Bruins first line of Pastrnak (35-30-65), left wing Brad Marchand (20- 42-62) and center Patrice Bergeron (18-19-37) have a combined plus 50. Even with those numbers, Bergeron knows getting pucks behind the Islanders defense is going to be a challenge.

“Sometimes it’s good to get some speed and put the puck behind them and then go get it,” said Bergeron. “When they put a layer like that it’s about making sure you go past it with that speed and together as a unit, as a five or as a line, I think its about making sure you do that.

“Once you get in the zone, that’s when you can create some plays and it’s always about where’s the ice? Is the space in front of the defensemen or is the space behind them?”

Boston Herald LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170437 Boston Bruins

NHL rumors: Bruins 'could do a deal for [Tyler] Toffoli almost at any time'

By Jacob Camenker January 10, 2020 5:59 PM

The Boston Bruins recently endured a rough patch in which they struggled immensely to win games. They dropped 11 of 15 and it became clear some extra scoring punch was needed for the team to become more consistent.

And now, they're being tied to some potential trade targets to improve that area of their game.

According to Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Bruins are eying some potential players that could fit in as top-six scoring forwards. And one player that Friedman believes the B's could deal for at any time? Los Angeles Kings forward Tyler Toffoli.

LIVE stream the Celtics all season and get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My Teams App.

"I’ll tell you this, I do think Boston, if they wanted to, could do a deal for Toffoli almost at any time. I think they know they’ve got that in their hip pocket," Friedman said on The Goal Heard Round the World podcast. “So the question is: do you do that or do you wait for [Chris] Kreider?"

Toffoli, 27, has 12 goals and 15 assists for the Kings this season and the right-shooting forward would be a good fit on David Krejci's wing.

Kreider, a 28-year-old Massachusetts native, could also fit as a left- shooting forward for the B's. He has 14 goals and 15 assists this season and could make an immediate impact as well. That said, Friedman isn't sure that the New York Rangers are going to trade him ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

"My opinion is changing almost on the day on Kreider," Friedman said. "Because I’ve had guys tell me that they think the Rangers are starting to think more and more about do they keep him.

"And again this will all play out over the next six weeks, but you get rid of him, it’s hard to replace."

It appears that the Bruins may be weighing all their options before swinging a deal for Toffoli. Perhaps they're waiting to see if another top- six forward becomes available while they maintain a lead in the Atlantic Division.

Either way, it does look like the Bruins will have a chance to upgrade their lineup as they try to make another Stanley Cup run.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170438 Boston Bruins

Bruins' Zdeno Chara (jaw) expected to play vs. Islanders on Saturday

By Joe Haggerty January 10, 2020 3:23 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass. — The Bruins made a call for Zdeno Chara to sit for Thursday night’s game against the Winnipeg Jets as he was ailing from a jaw issue that continues to bother him, but it doesn’t appear that it will hold him back from this weekend.

Chara skated at Bruins practice on Friday morning at Warrior Ice Arena without any restrictions and the expectation is that he’ll play on Saturday night against the New York Islanders after missing his second game of the season.

“[Chara] wants to get back in there and I believe that he’ll be there,” said Bruce Cassidy. “He did another procedure a few days ago and he didn’t let us in on the fact that it was very uncomfortable. Once he did, we took him out.”

LIVE stream the Celtics all season and get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My Teams App.

The B's have been adament that the punch Chara took to the chin in the third period of the Nashville win didn't have anything to do with his absence against Winnipeg.

Chara said an issue that cropped up the morning of the Nashville game required another procedure to drain an abscess following his Dec. 23 procedure to remove the plates from his surgically repaired jaw. The hope is there won’t be any more issues for the 6-foot-9 defenseman with the jaw he initially broke in last spring’s Stanley Cup Final.

“I feel ready to go. I want to play. I’m excited for tomorrow,” said Chara. “Of course I wanted to play, but sometimes you have to listen to your body and listen to the doctors. The decision was made for the right reasons. Today is a new day and I’m getting ready for tomorrow.

Haggerty: Pastrnak's swagger returns, and the points are piling up

“It’s very unfortunate sometimes these things happen for whatever reason. This obviously came out of nowhere on the morning of the Nashville game, and right away we were taking precautionary actions and monitoring it closely. That’s where we’re at right now.”

It’s expected to be something close to Thursday’s lineup when the B’s take on the Islanders on Saturday, so here are the projected line combos and D-pairings based on Friday’s practice:

PROJECTED LINES

Brad Marchand Patrice Bergeron David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk David Krejci Anders Bjork

Danton Heinen Charlie Coyle Brett Ritchie

Joakim Nordstrom Sean Kuraly Chris Wagner

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS

Zdeno Chara Charlie McAvoy

Torey Krug Brandon Carlo

Matt Grzelcyk Connor Clifton

STARTING GOALIE

Tuukka Rask

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170439 Boston Bruins

Fourth line coming around for the Bruins at the perfect time

By Joe Haggerty January 10, 2020 12:30 PM

BOSTON — It wasn’t a barrage of goals from the Bruins fourth line or a round of board-rattling hits that everybody could see, but the B’s energy line was a constant factor in Thursday night’s 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets at TD Garden.

That's what they were pretty much all of last season, and that’s what they’ve needed to be this season while falling short most of the time.

But Sean Kuraly, Joakim Nordstrom and Chris Wagner had it going against the Jets with Wagner generating a handful of scoring chances among his team-high seven shots on net and nine shot attempts.

Wagner didn’t end up scoring and missed a little time after he crashed into the boards following a breakaway attempt in the first period, but their presence was felt throughout the game after Wagner had scored a few nights ago in Nashville.

“I thought [Sean] Kuraly’s line — Chris Wagner had the best game of the year offensively. Hit a post, was in all alone, breakaway, guy makes a great save, had a couple other point-blankers. Their line was going, I thought Nordy [Joakim Nordstrom] gave them a lot of energy,” said Bruce Cassidy of Wagner, whose offense has been down from last season when he popped in a career-high 12 goals and 19 points. “When he’s skating, it makes a difference on that line. They were good.

“We’ve said that all along that what they leave is just as important as what they accomplish for us, so if they can accomplish some o-zone time and then leave us with a good puck getting back on the attack, then they’ve really done their job.”

Certainly there is still ongoing work for the B’s energy after a couple of solid back-to-back games, and the Bruins still have a lot to iron out with the second and third lines still trying to find their workable combinations.

And it goes without saying at this point that they’ve missed the presence of Noel Acciari, who has blown up offensively with 17 goals for the Florida Panthers after signing with them as a free agent this summer.

This humble hockey writer has long been banging the drum for the Bruins to acquire a fourth line bruiser who can throw heavy hits, lean on teams with size and strength and stand up for his teammates when the situation calls for it within games. But right now, that’s just not the way it’s going for the B’s energy line.

Instead, a few promising games in a row is a step in the right direction for Boston’s fourth line, and having both them and the Perfection Line as consistent commodities that Cassidy can rely on will give the B’s building blocks they need to win hockey games right now.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170440 Boston Bruins As with most of Pastrnak's hat trick nights, it was a pretty good display of all his different offensive abilities to create offense and score goals that have catapulted him into the role of most dangerous game-breaker in the league. David Pastrnak's swagger is back, and Bruins are reaping the benefits “Look, even if there’s a guy standing next to him, I’ve got to get the puck to him to put it on net and let him shoot for [Bergeron’s] stick or shoot to score, or go through the seam to Marchand,” said Krug. “I’ve got to give By Joe Haggerty January 10, 2020 11:25 AM him a chance. He’s got however many goals and a ton of points, and he’s electric with the puck. I’ve got to give him a shot with the puck no matter what is happening.” BOSTON — Watch out, NHL. Because make no mistake about it: Pastrnak busted up a competitive It’s official: David Pastrnak has reached supernova status once again. Winnipeg Jets group on Thursday night and even scored on a make-shift The Bruins superstar winger extended his lead in the goal-scoring shift with the fourth line while Chris Wagner was briefly pulled from the department by tallying a hat trick and pacing the Bruins to a 5-4 win over game by the concussion spotter. the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night at TD Garden, giving him 35 goals in 45 games this season. “Typically, Bergy’s [Patrice Bergeron’s] line, they’re going to give you offense. Pasta [David Pastrnak] ends up finishing some shifts on the It was actually the “David Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk Show” as the B’s other lines and ends up scoring, kind of extending his shift. Wags [Chris left winger had the other two goals that accounted for all five Boston Wagner] got pulled off by the spotter and we happened to throw Pasta scores on the evening, but it felt like No. 88 was willing his team to out there and the puck finds him [when he’s hot] so it worked out well for victory in true superstar fashion at a time when Boston needs some wins. us in that regard,” said Bruce Cassidy.

LIVE stream the Celtics all season and get the latest news and analysis “I think the last two games you’re seeing more up and down the lineup on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My whereas the few games before that it was a struggle for some guys. But Teams App. it’s a long year and you hope they’ll come out of it and it looks like, at least in the short term here, we have.” The 23-year-old Pastrnak is truly collecting some elite, mind-popping numbers, whether it’s the NHL-leading seven hat tricks he’s amassed Certainly Pastrnak has the hot stick and the goal-scoring swagger back over the last two seasons, the streak of 12 straight games with a point after a relatively slow month of December, and that should put everybody that ties him with the legendary Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito as the only on notice that more video game numbers and Bruins records will be B’s with multiple 12-game point streaks in the same season, or the six broken in the weeks ahead by arguably the best pure goal-scorer the goals scored in four games while tearing it up in January. Bruins have had in their franchise’s history.

After scoring 12 goals in each of October and November before Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 “slumping” to five goals in 15 games during the month of December, Pastrnak has already scored six goals less than two weeks into the month of January.

Perhaps the most fun is now watching Pastrnak and Auston Matthews go back and forth for the goal-scoring title as the Leafs star was closing the gap on the B’s right winger until he exploded for the three goals on Thursday. Pastrnak says he’s not keeping a close eye on the individual stats, but he certainly has to know where he and Matthews stand headed into their nightly games.

Haggerty: This is what B's want to see from DeBrusk

Pastrnak entered Thursday just a goal ahead of the red-hot Matthews, but now he’s again widened that gap after his NHL-best third hat trick in a season that’s barely halfway over.

“It’s been good, you know? I don’t overthink anything and just play the same way. I focus on the things that help the team most and don’t put any pressure on myself. I just play my game,” said Pastrnak. “For me it’s just trying to get [my shot] past the first guy and I work on it every practice. I don’t think about it. It’s nice. It’s what I’m here for and the kind of player that I am.

“[Matthews] is a great goal-scorer, so it’s nothing new. It’s not anything I’m focused on. Obviously I see it because NHL Network is on in the room and he’s scored some nice goals. But it’s a team sport and none of these things matter. It’s getting the two points that matters.”

It does appear that Pastrnak hasn’t just magically started scoring goals again, though.

Teams had begun to shut off the young winger on the power play by denying him his shooting spot from the faceoff circle, and shadowing him a bit on the man advantage while forcing other players to beat them. Well, that just forced Pastrnak to set up a little deeper in the offensive zone where he’s not firing one-timer rockets from the top of the face-off circle on direct feeds from Torey Krug.

That was the case for his second goal in Thursday’s game as Patrice Bergeron won the faceoff, and then Torey Krug fed it to Pastrnak for the smoked one-time goal just five seconds into the power play possession. Pastrnak then scored the game-tying goal in the third period when he went hard to the net and flipped in a quick David Krejci dish after DeBrusk crashed the net for a short-side drive that created a loose puck rebound.

Highlights: Bruins survive back-and-forth vs. Winnipeg 1170441 Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak responds to Auston Matthews' challenge in NHL goals lead race

By Darren Hartwell January 10, 2020 8:00 AM

David Pastrnak is saying all the right things. He just wants to help the Boston Bruins win and doesn't care how many goals he scores.

He also doesn't play in a bubble.

So, the Bruins winger knew that Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews tallied two more goals Wednesday night -- giving him 12 goals in 11 games -- to cut Pastrnak's NHL goal-scoring lead to one entering Thursday night.

LIVE stream the Celtics all season and get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My Teams App.

"Well, obviously I saw it," Pastrnak said Thursday night after Boston's 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets, via the Bruins. "You know, there’s NHL Network every day in the room. So you see it. [He’s scoring] some nice goals. Good for him."

Better for Pastrnak: The 23-year-old racked up three goals Thursday night -- his seventh hat trick in the past two seasons -- to bring him up to 35 on the season and take a four-goal lead over Matthews.

Sounds like Matthews' run gave Pastrnak a little extra motivation, even if he won't admit it outright.

"Don’t overthink anything,” Pastrnak said when asked about the key to his success this season. "Just playing the same way and focusing on the stuff that I (need to)."

Haggerty: This is what Bruins want to see from DeBrusk

A Bruins player has never won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal scorer since the award's inception in 1999.

But Pastrnak currently is on pace for 63 goals, which would be the most of any player in a single season since Alexander Ovechkin in 2007-08.

His 35 goals in just 45 games put him in rare air, as well.

Update II: Most goals thru teams first 45 games since 2000-01

1. Ilya Kovalchuck - 2008 - 36

2. DAVID PASTRNAK - 2020 - 35

Pastrnak now has six goals in his last four games, so this should be an exciting race between he and Matthews for the NHL goal-scoring crown.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170442 Boston Bruins Bjork has become a stronger forechecker since he’s stronger on his skates. He has the ability to win puck battles deep in the offensive zone when the Bruins are forced to chip and chase.

Anders Bjork hopes added strength bolsters his chances of sticking “Anders is a good guy to be first on the puck; he has a good stick,” around Cassidy said. “When Anders is going, he can certainly find the open ice off the rush for (Jake DeBrusk and David Krejci). The big question mark is can (Bjork) finish at a consistent rate to merit being a top-six guy?”

By Joe McDonald Jan 10, 2020 Cassidy gave Karson Kuhlman a similar opportunity last season, and even though he didn’t finish on a consistent basis, he was more than

serviceable retrieving pucks off the wall and in corners to get it to Krejci The Bruins were conducting a basic two-on-two drill during Friday’s and DeBrusk. practice at Warrior Ice Arena when it became evident how well Anders Kuhlman, 24, broke his leg in a game with Boston on Oct. 19 in Toronto. Bjork has developed into a pro hockey player. He returned to game action last weekend with Providence and could be Veteran defenseman John Moore was chasing Bjork around the ice for given an opportunity in Boston again in the short term. His presence 15 seconds and could not knock him off the puck. The play resulted in adds another element of internal competition and should push a player Bjork scoring on Jaroslav Halak. like Bjork to add more to his game offensively.

When Bjork, 23, first entered the NHL, the forward was getting pushed The Bruins have received contributions throughout the lineup the past around with ease, which is one reason he suffered a pair of season- two games, and with the Feb. 24 trade deadline approaching, it should ending shoulder injuries the past two seasons. He needed to get make for some interesting decisions by Boston GM Don Sweeney. stronger. Instead of going outside the organization, maybe he believes the answer is homegrown if Bjork or Kuhlman can complement Krejci. He has become stronger, but it’s still not close to where he wants it to be. The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 “It’s a lot better,” he said. “I’m a lot more confident with my strength. Yeah, it’s improved a great amount. It’s there, but it’s not as consistent as I want it to be.”

Only once that aspect of his game becomes his “bread and butter” will he be pleased with it. Plus, all he has to do is look around the room to understand how important having that skill at his disposal will be to his success in the league. Teammates Charlie Coyle and Brad Marchand have become two of the best in the NHL at possessing and protecting the puck, so Bjork wants to achieve that level.

“Marchand has amazing skill and hands and he’s so elusive, but he’s so good at puck protection, which allows him to get into a position to make those moves,” Bjork said. “He’s really strong, but obviously not a big, huge guy like Charlie Coyle. (Marchand) does it every night, and that’s where I want to improve my consistency.”

It’s one thing to have that consistency, but when puck possession and protection equals quality scoring chances, that’s when it pays dividends. Bjork’s been creating more of those high-end plays of late.

“It shows me that it works,” he said. “When you have good body position it helps you make better decisions with the puck.”

Here’s one example Bjork explained perfectly: He’s trying to create more time and space near the boards instead of having his body “squished” against the wall. If he’s a foot or two away from the boards, it allows him to keep his feet moving and create more offensively.

“It’s been helping confidence-wise that I’ve been able to get into some of those gaps, but that’s been something I’ve been focusing on more – holding onto the puck longer. It allows you to make better decisions,” Bjork said.

A stronger player becomes more of a threat with possession of the puck off the wall rather than chipping it off the glass to avoid contact. Bjork also understands if he’s making smarter plays and learns to finish more that could allow him to remain a top-six player, which is something he’s striving to become.

“It would definitely help me increase my playing time,” he said. “I would gain trust with the coaching staff, especially with my decision-making, and they would feel confident with me not making a risky play, or a dumb play that ends up coming back the other way on us. It’s extremely important for me, especially where I’m at right now. It’s definitely the main thing I’m focusing on right now.”

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy likes to build lines by first finding a solid pair. He also believes it’s less of a challenge to find that third player to complement that existing pair. At first, he thought Coyle and Bjork would make a good pairing because of the veteran’s ability to possess the puck, while Bjork had the speed to find open areas to receive the puck.

“Usually, the pairs evolve when guys have natural chemistry,” Cassidy said. “Obviously, it takes a little bit of tinkering, but usually you can see it happen right away with certain guys. Finding a guy that’s the best fit on that line is probably more difficult within what you have for personnel.” 1170443 Buffalo Sabres Video is one pillar of the player development model used by Dahlin's former team in the Swedish Hockey League, Frolunda. He and his former teammates would be shown an entire game, rather than cut-ups of certain plays or sequences. Sabres looking for Rasmus Dahlin to use his shot to ignite offense The process taught him the value of watching video to learn from his mistakes and confirm positive aspects of his play. He's now using it as a tool to gauge when he should pinch in the offensive zone or join his By Lance Lysowski forwards rushing up the ice. Weighing risk versus reward is an important Published Fri, Jan 10, 2020|Updated Fri, Jan 10, 2020 part of a defenseman adding offense.

"You need to find a balance there," Dahlin said. "Sometimes it’s difficult to really know if you can go all the time or if you have to defend. It’s a Rasmus Dahlin knew what to expect from the St. Louis Blues' defensive- tough balance. When you find the opportunity it’s pretty good. When zone coverage Thursday night. you’re wrong, it can affect us really bad."

The defending Stanley Cup champions prefer to use man-to-man Despite the low shot totals, Dahlin has two goals among 23 points with a defense, particularly against a superstar talent such as Jack Eichel. minus-1 rating through 36 games. He has one goal among seven points When Eichel circled around the back of St. Louis' net in the second in 12 games since returning from a concussion Dec. 12. Dahlin is also period, Dahlin moved into the left-wing circle and set a pick by lowering the Sabres' candidate for the NHL All-Star Game's Last Men In balloting. his shoulder into Blues defenseman Vince Dunn. Dahlin has blossomed in Krueger's defensive structure. While Dahlin has "I saw the opportunity," Dahlin, 19, acknowledged following practice struggled at times against opponents' top forwards, he is no longer being Friday. "I know Eichs likes to skate with the puck, so I tried to pick two out-muscled in front of the net or turning the puck over under pressure. guys to give him some room." His evolution without the puck came following a difficult start to the season. The pick, which the linesmen mistook for incidental contact, allowed Eichel to cut toward the slot and unleash a wrist shot for the Sabres' only "We all see the offensive inputs and how we missed him dearly when he goal in a 5-1 loss. The sequence illustrated how Dahlin is making a was gone, whether it was on the power play or generally what we can significant impact without the puck in his second NHL season. create," Krueger said of Dahlin. "He just needs to continue to work on his strength, which is a natural evolution of somebody that age and that The Sabres, though, need Dahlin to make more of an impact with the whole battle level that’s needed for 82 home and away games throughout puck. Coach Ralph Krueger is using video to show Dahlin that his left- the season. ... We like his game away from the puck, the way it’s handed shot could ignite Buffalo's struggling offense. growing, but that would be, for me, the next step – continuing to confirm "More than anything you have to show him what it creates, and we need what he’s shown us here the last few weeks defensively." to create more second chances," Krueger said."It’s going to come Dahlin's play-making ability made him a Calder Trophy finalist last primarily from the defensemen getting pucks to the net. We’re working on season. His 44 points were the second-most in NHL history by a that kind of imagery so that he sees it in his head. That will then release defenseman ahead of their 19th birthday, trailing only Phil Housley. him to make the brilliant one-on-one move." Following his rookie season, Dahlin was determined to physically prepare Shooting was a focus of Dahlin's over the summer. He estimates that he himself to withstand the rigorous 82-game NHL schedule. A concussion took 100 during each of his on-ice offseason workouts, yet the former forced him to miss eight games earlier this season, yet he's again first overall draft pick has rarely unholstered the weapon this season. showing why he's a cornerstone of the Sabres. Entering Friday, Dahlin ranked last among qualifying Sabres in 5 on 5 Following back-to-back games with fewer than 20 shots, the Sabres need shots per 60 minutes, and his total shots per game ranked 12th. Over his Dahlin to be part of the solution. past 25 games, Dahlin has recorded more than two shots only four times, despite ranking third among the team's defensemen in average ice time "I’ve felt good," Dahlin said. "Better, more confident. I think it’s my overall this season. game. When you feel calm out there, it gets easier in both zones. I know I can play good in both zones." Dahlin quarterbacks the Sabres' top power-play unit, however, he typically uses his vision and elusiveness to try to create room for Eichel Buffalo News LOADED: 01.11.2020 or Victor Olofsson, who is expected to miss the next four to five weeks with a lower-body injury.

Predictability has factored into the Sabres' power-play woes. Opponents game planned against Eichel and Olofsson. Shots from the point could create rebounds in front of the net or create more space for forwards.

"If he’s a shooting threat they’re going to play him different and defend against him differently," Krueger explained. "It’s the same for the power play. We all know that’s no secret. We need to get more of a shooting threat in our power play, and it begins at the top. He’s so coachable and so excited to see these kind of secondary opportunities that we can create. I know he’s going to find a way to get more offense out of his shot."

One of Dahlin's two goals this season occurred on the power play, and he ranks third among all Sabres with 22 shots on the man advantage. For context, Los Angeles' Drew Doughty leads all NHL defensemen with 47 power-play shots, though he has appeared in 10 more games than Dahlin.

The Sabres' languishing power play entered Friday ranked 22nd in the NHL and had the sixth-fewest shots on goal. It had earned only 14 goals on second-chance opportunities. Dahlin has also deferred at 5 on 5, registering only 31 shots in 36 games, the fewest among the team's qualifying defensemen.

"That’s a thing I always want to improve on," Dahlin said. "I try to find my lanes. I have to get more of a shot mentality. When I see a lane, I take it." 1170444 Buffalo Sabres This will be the final matchup between the Sabres and Canucks during their 50th anniversary seasons. Vancouver (23-17-4) entered Friday three points out of the Western Conference's second wild-card spot and has lost back-to-back games since having its seven-game win streak end Jake McCabe expected to return to Sabres' lineup against Canucks with a 9-2 loss at Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

Canucks center Elias Pettersson, who won the Calder Trophy over Rasmus Dahlin in June, has 20 goals among a team-high 46 points in 44 By Lance Lysowski games. Published Fri, Jan 10, 2020|Updated Fri, Jan 10, 2020 "Everyone knows how dangerous he is," Dahlin said of Pettersson. "Hopefully we can stop him."

Ralph Krueger's lineup likely will change Saturday when the Sabres host Goalie decision the Vancouver Canucks in KeyBank Center. Linus Ullmark's run of consecutive starts is likely to end this weekend Defenseman Jake McCabe, who missed the loss Thursday in St. Louis with the Sabres hosting the Canucks on Saturday at 1 p.m. and facing with an upper-body injury, returned to practice Friday and is on track to the Red Wings in Detroit on Sunday. Ullmark has started 13 of the past play against the Canucks. Additionally, winger Zemgus Girgensons is 14 games, including eight in a row. expected to play after missing practice Friday for what the Sabres called Ullmark has a .896 save percentage over his past seven starts, and "maintenance." Carter Hutton has not been in goal for the Sabres since a 6-1 loss to McCabe, 26, has two goals among seven points and a minus-3 rating in Philadelphia on Dec. 19. 41 games, and he's averaging the second-most ice time among Sabres' Buffalo News LOADED: 01.11.2020 defensemen. Krueger did not reveal when or how McCabe suffered the injury.

McCabe had one shot on goal with a minus-1 rating in 18:44 of ice time last Saturday against the Florida Panthers, but he was a limited participant in the Sabres' skills challenge Sunday and did not practice prior to the team's 5-1 loss Thursday to the Blues.

If McCabe returns, he will give the Sabres eight healthy defensemen against the Canucks. Lawrence Pilut, who played 19:42 against the Blues in his season debut with Buffalo, is still with the team and was paired with Henri Jokiharju during practice Friday.

Girgensons' availability could factor into Krueger's decision to use 11 or 12 forwards against Vancouver. Girgensons had a minus-3 rating in 11:37 against the Blues. If Girgensons is unavailable, the Sabres may dress Zach Bogosian, who is among their top contributors on the penalty kill.

Skinner update

Krueger told reporters following practice Friday that Jeff Skinner is "on track" in his rehab from an upper-body injury suffered Dec. 27 against the Boston Bruins. Skinner has missed five games after sustaining the injury on a hit by David Pastrnak and was expected to return in three to four weeks.

Krueger provided few details when asked about Skinner's progress.

"He’s been extremely positive, working hard with the rehab," Krueger said. "So far, everything feels on track. Whatever that track will be, his body will decide it. He’s working hard with the rehab group, and he also has the opportunity to watch us from the outside. We’ll be tapping into that growth opportunity with him, too. Still talking hockey with him as he rehabs."

Skinner, 27, has 11 goals among 19 points in 39 games this season.

Another audition

Jimmy Vesey is the next Sabre up on the top line. The 26-year-old skated with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart in practice Friday after the trio logged 8:26 of ice time together at 5 on 5 against St. Louis. The Sabres had more 5-on-5 shot attempts (8-4) than the Blues with Vesey, Eichel and Reinhart on the ice together.

Vesey, who was acquired from the New York Rangers in July, has five goals among 13 points in 41 games with the Sabres. He has only two shots on goal in his past five games and scored 50 goals over his three seasons with the Rangers.

"To be honest, I think I need to shoot more," Vesey said. "I don’t know, I’ve passed up a couple in the last two games. ... So I think I got to get back to the shoot-first mentality, and I’d like to score more goals in front of the net. I think I’ve done that in my career. I don’t think I’ve had as many opportunities right on top of the crease. So I got to get myself there."

Look ahead 1170445 Buffalo Sabres Here's what Frolik is walking into: The Sabres have terrible special teams, pedestrian goaltending, spotty defense, perhaps two offensive threats in Eichel and Sam Reinhart and now critical injuries to Jeff Skinner and Victor Olofsson. Sabres sinking fast in standings, losing touch with playoff race Other than that, everything is great.

"Everybody needs to get hungrier to shoot on net," Krueger said. "I think By Mike Harrington we still give up too many opportunities. ... The other thing will be to get bodies there. There was opportunity around the net where we didn't stick Published Fri, Jan 10, 2020|Updated Fri, Jan 10, 2020 around. With 'Olie' and 'Skins' out, we need to find other ways to create net pressure."

ST. LOUIS — We're just 10 days into 2020 and the situation is already "We just didn't penetrate. I don't think we made good decisions with the looking dire. It's going to take a major, major run for the Buffalo Sabres to puck," Eichel said. "We turned it over too much. That's it." avoid extending their playoff drought to nine years. We're closing in on the point where the same might be said about the In their first game in five days, the Sabres were outclassed, 5-1, Sabres' season. Already. Thursday by the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues before Buffalo News LOADED: 01.11.2020 18,096 in Enterprise Center.

The Sabres are 3-7-1 in their 11 games and are losing touch with any semblance of a race. They were outshot, 31-19, marking the second straight game they failed to get to 20. It was 2-0 for St. Louis after one period and 2-1 for about 5 1/2 minutes in the second after Jack Eichel's 27th goal of the season.

David Perron's power-play goal at 10:17 of the second made it 3-1 and that was that.

"When you don't play for five days, you're not going to be as crisp as you usually are when you're playing a lot," Eichel said. "But we were rested. We should have had a lot of energy. I just don't think our game ever got going."

At 19-18-7 overall for 45 points, you can forget about the Sabres cracking the top three in the Atlantic Division. Talent and preseason prognostications have finally come through there.

Defending Eastern Conference champion Boston has 63 points after its 5-4 win over Winnipeg on Thursday, a game fueled by a hat trick from NHL goal leader David Pastrnak. Tampa Bay blanked Arizona on Thursday, 4-0, to win its ninth straight and improve to 56 points while Toronto is at 54 and flourishing under new coach Sheldon Keefe.

Those three teams are a combined 21-3-6 over their last 10 games, leaving no window for any other team to crack the division's upper echelon.

The Sabres are even losing touch with the wild-card race. Carolina and Philadelphia both hold those spots at 52 points. And while the Sabres have two games apiece remaining with both teams, it might not matter. None of the games are until March and Buffalo has dropped 10 straight to Carolina.

"We need to get a rhythm here of getting at least two wins of every three games for a while to push ourselves back up into the race," acknowledged coach Ralph Krueger. "We know that exists but at the same time we are here to continue to grow this group and deal with the adversity that we have right now."

Florida beat Vancouver on Thursday to improve to 51 points, Columbus, which had won two straight in California before Thursday's loss in San Jose, is at 50 and the New York Rangers crawled a point ahead of Buffalo with Thursday's 6-3 win over New Jersey.

The summary thus looks like this: Buffalo is fifth in the Atlantic, 12th in the Eastern Conference and 23rd overall. There's no playoff push there. That's a team that will be selling at the trade deadline and getting ready to watch the ping-pong balls at yet another draft lottery.

"Teams keep winning," Eichel said. "It seems like we take a couple steps forward and then we take a step back. We have to regroup on Saturday."

This game was no contest. The Sabres spotted the Blues the early lead and had little buzz to their game. A comeback never seemed to be in the offing.

"Always against them, it's not pretty. It's always full of battles there," said newcomer Michael Frolik, who had two shots on goal and three hits while playing 16:44. "They play the right way and it's never easy against them. You need to play an ugly game and be kind of patient. When you're behind them and they're up, they tighten it up even more defensively." 1170446 Calgary Flames

Flames assistant GM Chris Snow and wife Kelsie to join Scott Oake on HNIC After Hours

Kristen Anderson, Postmedia

Published:January 10, 2020

Updated:January 10, 2020 8:31 PM MST

The After Hours program on Hockey Night in Canada is always a must- watch following the late game on Saturday nights — or must-PVR if you are out and about.

But following the Battle of Alberta between the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers (8 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet 1, Sportsnet 960 The Fan), the guests will be fully worth tuning in for.

Chris Snow, assistant general manager of the Flames, and his wife, Kelsie, will be on and answering questions from host Scott Oake about Chris’ ongoing treatment for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

Their journey has been nothing short of inspirational. Currently, Chris is enrolled in a clinical trial for gene therapy in Miami to treat the devastating disease. The 38-year-old is into his 13th NHL season and ninth with the Flames after beginning with the club in 2011 as the director of hockey analysis.

Prior to joining the Flames, Chris worked as director of hockey operations for the Minnesota Wild between 2006 and 2010 and was a former journalist spending time as a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune as the Minnesota Wild beat-writer and covering the Boston Red Sox for the Boston Globe.

Chris and Kelsie have two young children, son Cohen and daughter Willa.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170447 Calgary Flames deadline to Philly and barely played at all. That weighs on you as a goaltender.

“But, last summer, I just tried to get back to my roots. I knew I still had it Red-hot Flames goalie Talbot eager to start against Oilers in me. I don’t believe you lose the ability to play the position, it’s just all mental. You just recharge.”

Perhaps it was a good thing that Rittich kicked things off this year, Kristen Anderson, Postmedia allowing Talbot to quietly gain his confidence back. Perhaps it was all leading to this moment anyway, with Saturday’s game up for grabs. Published:January 10, 2020 After Friday’s practice, the Flames hadn’t decided on a starter or, at Updated:January 10, 2020 7:39 PM MST least, didn’t reveal one publicly, but there’s arguments to be made both ways.

Cam Talbot admitted what has been evident to onlookers since the Talbot is the hot hand with a 3-0-0 record in January and has stopped 97 calendar flipped to 2020. of 102 shots on net, including 42 in Thursday’s 2-1 win over the Wild. The playing-against-his-former-team angle, too, is significant. It’s also something the 32-year-old Calgary Flames netminder has been searching for since he inked a one-year pact with the team July 1 when Rittich, meanwhile, was excellent when he was the starter on Dec. 27 in he started fresh in a new city with a new National Hockey League team. a 5-1 Flames win. He turned aside 28 of 29 attempts. The only shot that beat him was an out-of-this-world tip from Connor McDavid. “My confidence is pretty high right now,” Talbot said following an optional morning skate Friday at Scotiabank Saddledome. “I feel like I’m playing There’s some irony in the fact Talbot’s predecessor, Mike Smith, could as good of hockey as I’ve played in my career. I feel like I’m back to start for the Oilers against his former team, although head coach Dave myself. I’m playing aggressive when I need to, playing more conservative Tippett didn’t show his cards Friday, either. when I need to, I feel like I’m reading the play in front of me. The guys But there is a team-wide sense of confidence in their current depth in net are making it easy for me to do that and I feel like everything in our zone, which, Ward believes, will help them down the stretch and allow them to I can get a good read on our guys pretty easily and they’re doing a great maximize rest, without sacrificing results. job in front of me. Especially in a Pacific Division clash featuring two teams with identical “It’s allowing me to play my game.” records (24-17-5). His game has, in part, been the backbone of the Flames’ last two straight “Our goal is like everybody else’s,” Ward said. “We want to have a strong victories, including Thursday’s 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, and one finish so we’re one of the teams that are a playoff team by the end. I of the reasons they are 4-0-0. really believe in today’s day and age that you need two guys that can But deeper than that, his game is finally back to where he — and the play the position in order to have your best chance — not only to get into team — want it to be. playoffs, but also go on a long playoff run.”

A quiet presence and six-foot-four, 196-lb. athletic stature are part of his And, it seems, Talbot’s priming for the opportunity too. natural skillset, while his strong mental focus has allowed him to properly At least, he’s ready for Saturday if called on. position himself in his crease to anticipate the play. “To get an opportunity to play these guys, it would be a lot of fun for me,” Making saves, when Talbot is in this kind of groove, is the easy part. Talbot said. “They’re guys you played with for so long and I have a lot of “So, he’s in a position where the puck is able to hit him an awful lot and friends over there. Especially with the way the standings are, it’s a huge he doesn’t have to make a save where he’s diving to make something game. I don’t just want to play against the Oilers, I want it for the two happen,” pointed out Flames interim head coach Geoff Ward. “He’s points as well.” square and he’s set. I think the combination of how he’s a calm person Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.11.2020 by nature. He’s really focused right now.

“And he does have great athleticism but what he’s able to do with his head right now, he’s able to play real simple and real quiet and real big.”

Everything about Talbot at the moment suggests he is deserving of a third-straight start, which happens to be Saturday’s Battle of Alberta (8 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet 1, Sportsnet 960), coincidentally against the team that made the decision to re-sign Mikko Koskinen almost a year ago exactly and, in turn, sent Talbot to the Philadelphia Flyers (in the middle of a game).

At the time, Talbot was hot-and-cold and it didn’t help that he was rarely deployed after joining the Flyers, a team that was vying for a playoff spot.

The off-season saw change.

He and wife Kelly and their twins, Landon and Sloane, packed up their Edmonton home and travelled down the QEII for a fresh start. He reunited with his Hamilton-based summertime goalie coach Pat Di Pronio, who he has worked with since he was 10 years old.

Talbot vowed to return to his old self, kind of like the guy who started 73 regular-season games for the Oilers in 2016-17 and posted a 42-22-8 record and a 2.39 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. Then another 13 in playoffs.

He wanted to prove he wasn’t the guy from 2018-19 with THOSE numbers — a 3.36 goals-against average and .893 save percentage and 10-15-3 record in 31 games with Edmonton and a 1-2 with a 3.70 goals- against average and .881 save percentage in Philadelphia.

“It was really tough for my confidence,” Talbot said of last year. “Obviously I had a good year in Edmonton. Got traded last year at the 1170448 Calgary Flames

Flames plan around Smitty's puck-handling ability

Kristen Anderson, Postmedia

Should Mike Smith get the start in net for Saturday’s Battle of Alberta, the gameplan against the former Calgary Flames goalie will likely centre around his puck-handling.

The entire Scotiabank Saddledome has seen many of Smith’s performances when he was a member of the Flaming ‘C’ and observed how the 37-year-old can wheel when given the opportunity.

Smith acts almost like a third defenceman on the ice, at times, which is something the home side will brace for, if he plays.

“With goaltenders that play the puck well like Smitty does, you’ve gotta make sure you’re putting it in places where he necessarily can’t get to it,” said Flames interim head coach Geoff Ward. “As we saw (Thursday) … ”

The Flames were burned on a play made by Wild goaltender Alex Stalock in Thursday’s 2-1 eventual Calgary win.

Stalock took advantage of an ill-timed change which led to a long stretch- pass to Mats Zuccarello, who walked in all alone on Cam Talbot and picked the top corner.

“We cheated on a change … and Stalock made a great play up to the stretch player and it’s in our net,” Ward added. “Smitty has that same capability. So we have to be aware of it, for sure.”

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170449 Calgary Flames ABOUT THE OILERS Saturday’s game wraps up a five game road trip for the Oilers, winners of

three straight and are 4-0-1 in their last five games. Their latest was Game Day: Oilers vs. Flames, Part 2 Thursday’s 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens … Edmonton captain Connor McDavid became the first player to reach 70 points in 46 or fewer games in consecutive seasons since Jaromir Jagr with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1998-99 (46 games) and 1999-00 (38) … G Mike Kristen Anderson, Postmedia Smith made 35 saves in his fourth straight start on Thursday. Published:January 10, 2020 FLAMES LINEUP Updated:January 10, 2020 3:16 PM MST Forwards

Matthew Tkachuk – Elias Lindholm – Andrew Mangiapane “This is a game that’s going to be fun. I think both teams are looking Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Mikael Backlund forward to it,” said Flames interim head coach Geoff Ward. Milan Lucic – Derek Ryan – Dillon Dube SATURDAY Zac Rinaldo – Mark Jankowski – Sam Bennett Edmonton Oilers (24-17-5) at Calgary Flames (24-17-5) Defence 8 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, CBC, Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet 960 The Fan Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie

THE BIG MATCHUP Noah Hanifin – Travis Hamonic

Flames G Cam Talbot vs. Oilers G Mike Smith Oliver Kylington – Rasmus Andersson

Life works in mysterious ways. After two years in Calgary, this off-season Goaltenders saw Mike Smith ink a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Meanwhile, after parts of four seasons with the Oil, Cam Talbot signed a Cam Talbot one-year pact with the Calgary Flames. When these teams met on Dec. David Rittich 27, however, it was David Rittich who got the call and made 28 of 29 saves in a 5-1 win in the first edition of the Battle of Alberta. On the other OILERS LINEUP end it was Mikko Koskinen who started the game and was chased after allowing four goals on 24 shots before Smith came in and relieved the Forwards struggling 31-year-old Finn. It wasn’t official on Friday. But based on the James Neal — Connor McDavid — Zack Kassian way Talbot and Smith played in their respective games on Thursday and the backstory, it would make for a fantastic head-to-head duo. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Leon Draisaitl — Kailer Yamamoto

FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME Joakim Nygard — Riley Sheahan — Josh Archibald

PUPPY LOVE Jujhar Khaira— Gaetan Haas — Alex Chiasson

The Flames hosted 16 puppies that are currently up for adoption from the Defence Cochrane & Area Humane Society which made for a doggone happy day at Scotiabank Saddledome. No word if any player had caved and Darnell Nurse — Ethan Bear adopted one or not. Interim head coach Geoff Ward was firm on his Oscar Klefbom — Adam Larsson answer however as he already has a bulldog named Crash. Cam Talbot, a proud father of twins, likely won’t add to his busy household either. Caleb Jones — Kris Russell “They are cute though,” the Flames netminder said with a chuckle. Goaltenders THESE GUYS AGAIN? Mike Smith Get used to it. After meeting in Edmonton on Dec. 27 — two weeks ago — and on Saturday, these teams will clash again before the month is Mikko Koskinen over. Their next date is after the NHL All-Star break on Jan. 29 in INJURIES Edmonton which is their final game before the season series wraps up on April 4 at Calgary. The Flames struck first, winning 5-1 at Rogers Place Oilers — None. right after the NHL’s three-day Christmas break. Flames — D Juuso Valimaki (knee) BIG GAME FOR BOTH SIDES SPECIAL TEAMS There is no question that this is a massive clash for both teams who are Power play (prior to Friday’s action) neck-in-neck in the Pacific Division standings and trying to climb before they go their separate ways for the NHL All-Star break. Heading into Oilers: 83.2% (6th) Friday’s action, their identical records had the Oilers sitting in third (with 22 regulation plus overtime wins) and Calgary sitting in fourth (with 20 Flames: 82.8% (7th) ROW). Calgary has won four straight; Edmonton has won three straight. Penalty kill (prior to Friday’s action) Then, you factor in the Battle of Alberta fuel, the players-playing-their- former-teams, Hockey Night in Canada’s late game, and plenty of other Oilers: 29.5% (1st, 41-for-139) storylines, it’ll be a must-see date on the 2019-20 NHL schedule. Flames: 19.0% (19th, 26-for-137) HE SAID IT Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.11.2020 “This is a game that’s going to be fun. I think both teams are looking forward to it,” said Flames interim head coach Geoff Ward. “I think the fact the rivalry is relevant again is good and it should make for a heck of an atmosphere in here and a heck of a hockey game.” Oilers head coach Dave Tippett: “I understand there are players that have played on each team. But once you get into the game, those things fade. Players are on their new teams and if you look at the game (Saturday), it has huge implications on the standings. You take the personalities out of it and play for the team.” 1170450 Carolina Hurricanes A man of his word — and it really is a nice looking tie — Mrazek delivered.

“He better wear it tomorrow,” Mrazek said, but that will likely be Reimer’s Mrazek hears his name, and the Hurricanes hope he answers the call start. Mrazek and the tie should both be a go again Monday in Washington. And if all goes well for him and the Hurricanes, three of the four left before the all-star break.

BY LUKE DECOCK If Mrazek is going to lock down the job, now is the time to tie it up.

JANUARY 10, 2020 10:57 PM News Observer LOADED: 01.11.2020

There were two different instances Friday night when the PNC crowd chanted Petr Mrazek’s name. Once after a short-handed save on Lawson Crouse, the second over the final 48 seconds as the Carolina Hurricanes ground out the final minute of a shutout win.

The Hurricanes have been calling Mrazek’s name all season, hoping he can recapture the form he showed down the stretch last season. Friday, the fans took up the call, in appreciation.

There’s very little wrong with the Hurricanes’ offense, with a fifth (Warren Foegele), sixth (Lucas Wallmark) and seventh (Martin Necas) player hitting the 10-goal mark in the 3-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes. The defense remains a work in progress beyond the Big Three of Jaccob Slavin, Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce. There are two ways to fix that: Upgrade the defense to cut down on the miscues or upgrade in goal to keep them from ending up in the back of the net.

Mrazek getting on a hot streak, getting back to where he was last year, would take care of all of that.

James Reimer has had his moments, and by all indications will get the start Saturday in Hartford Whalers gear against the Los Angeles Kings in this unusual home-home back-to-back against Western Conference opposition to close out a seven-game homestand, but neither Reimer nor Mrazek has truly claimed the No. 1 job. It was around this point last season when Mrazek took control of the position and became the clear first choice over Curtis McElhinney

The Hurricanes really need Friday to be the beginning of something for Mrazek.

They really needed him Friday, too, on a night Mrazek made the difficult look easy.

“With any goalie, when they’re dialed in, it seems like even when they get Grade A’s, it doesn’t look like a Grade A (chance), because he’s already ahead of it,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “That’s almost what it felt like tonight at times. He had some really good looks he made look like easy saves when they weren’t.”

There were plenty of those. Mrazek bailed out his teammates during a sloppy second period, losing his helmet in the process at one point, making a one-goal lead stand up until the end of the period, when Wallmark and Necas scored 63 seconds apart, the latter a candidate for goal of the month on a team that doesn’t also have Andrei Svechnikov. Necas scooted in from the left point, circled behind the net and scooped a backhand over Antti Raanta, top shelf in both location and quality.

The save on Crouse, who broke free down the middle on an odd-man rush, was Mrazek’s best of 32 on the night. He didn’t overreact and left Crouse very little room to shoot, fully in keeping with the general poise Mrazek had in net. At his worst, he scrambles and gets himself out of position. At his calm best, like this, his reflexes are preserved until the last second, when they can do the most good.

“We don’t always want to give up those chance,” Foegele said, “but Petr came up big.”

So, the question remains, was this just a good night for Mrazek or the beginning of a few good months?

The answer may lie in fashion. On a shopping trip Wednesday, Mrazek good-naturedly bullied television analyst Tripp Tracy into buying an expensive new shirt and tie and even more expensive shoes. Mrazek promised Tracy a shutout if he wore the tie, a slim, blue striped number to replace Tracy’s arsenal of dated, wider ties, on Friday.

“The white sneakers he convinced me to get are what got me,” Tracy said. 1170451 Carolina Hurricanes The Coyotes entered the game as the Pacific Division leaders and with a 14-7-3 road record. With the trade for forward Taylor Hall, they have the look of a playoff team, although Hall had a relatively quiet night and two shots on net. Mrazek’s saves, Necas’ speed spur Canes to 3-0 shutout of Coyotes The game against the Kings will close out a memorable week that has had former captain Justin Williams end his semi-retirement to sign and rejoin the Canes. Williams, who now is practicing with the team, and his BY CHIP ALEXANDER two kids watched from an arena box and received a big hand when JANUARY 10, 2020 10:00 PM shown on the scoreboard.

News Observer LOADED: 01.11.2020

What will Carolina Hurricanes fans remember most about Friday’s game against the Arizona Coyotes?

Petr Mrazek’s goaltending, for sure. The Canes’ goalie was at his best in a 3-0 victory at PNC Arena, always in the right position, flashing the glove a few times, making 32 saves in his third shutout of the season and the 21st of his career.

Then there was the speed of Martin Necas. The rookie forward, who can be a blur on the ice, carried the puck behind the Coyotes net from left to right and roofed a shot quicker than you can say Nove Mesto na Morave, his hometown in the Czech Republic.

Necas was asked after the game if he considered scooping up the puck, lacrosse style, and attempting to score. Something to match teammate Andrei Svechnikov, who has pulled off the “Michigan” goal twice this season.

“Actually, zero,” Necas said, smiling. “I didn’t think about it at all. I’m going to leave the move to him.”

Probably a good idea. And Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour noted that just before the score, Necas had made a turnover at the Carolina blue line, a mistake he would then erase with a scintillating goal that had the crowd of 16,476 roaring.

“That’s a double-edge sword that we talk about a lot with a lot of our young guys,” Brind’Amour said. “It ended up pretty much putting the game away when he scored that goal.”

Svechnikov produced one of the best plays of the game, certainly a timely one. After claiming the puck from the Coyotes’ Brad Richardson and Jordan Oesterle below the goal line, Svechnikov wheeled around and found Warren Foegele open in the slot for a shot and score, Foegele beating goalie Antti Raanta for his 10th of the season.

Foegele’s goal was the only one for almost two periods, before Lucas Wallmark and then Necas scored in the final 73 seconds of the second. Wallmark redirected a Dougie Hamilton point shot with 1:13 left in the second for a 2-0 lead, and Necas’ score came with 9.6 seconds remaining in the period, ending Raanta’s night.

“As the season goes longer, especially for rookies here, you get more experiences, more confidence that you can make some plays,” Necas said.

The Canes (26-16-2), who close out a seven-game homestand Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings, had any number of near-misses. Brett Pesce hit a post. Erik Haula did the same, the puck dropping just short of the goal line.

Sebastian Aho was denied on a shorthanded breakaway in the first period, after a hustling play that had him chip the puck along the boards, chase it down and skate in for his scoring chance.

The Canes’ penalty killers were at their best this night, nullifying a Nino Niederreiter crosschecking penalty before Foegele’s goal and a Haula tripping penalty in the second when it was 1-0, Canes. Svechnikov had a hooking penalty in the third.

“That was huge for us,” Brind’Amour said. “The penalty kill didn’t give them momentum or obviously a sniff, really.”

The Coyotes (25-18-4) were shut out for the second straight game after dropping a 4-0 road decision Thursday against Tampa Bay. They did make a push in the second, getting off 14 shots, but Mrazek had all the answers, stopping Lawson Crouse in tight early in the period and later having his helmet knocked off by a Conor Garland shot.

“He had some really good looks that he made look like easy saves, which they weren’t,” Brind’Amour said. 1170452 Carolina Hurricanes 12-4-2 in their last 18 games away from home. … Wallmark, the Hurricanes’ fourth-line centre, has six goals in his last 11 games after scoring just four times in his first 33 games.

Hurricanes Shut out Coyotes 3-0 as Mrazek Makes 32 Saves UP NEXT

Coyotes: play host to Pittsburgh on Sunday.

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS JANUARY 10TH, 2020 Hurricanes: meet Los Angeles on Saturday in the final game of a seven- game homestand.

News Observer LOADED: 01.11.2020 RALEIGH, N.C. — Petr Mrazek made this shutout look easy. He made it sound simple, too.

Mrazek stopped 32 shots and the Carolina Hurricanes scored twice in 63 seconds late in the second period to defeat the Arizona Coyotes 3-0 on Friday night.

The Carolina goalie credited his teammates with doing a good job limiting Arizona’s opportunities to shots from the perimeter.

“It was a really solid game for everyone,” Mrazek said after his third shutout of the season. “I could see every puck from everywhere, so everybody did a good job.”

Warren Foegele scored Carolina’s first goal, and Lucas Wallmark and Martin Necas scored just over a minute apart as the Hurricanes won their second game in a row to improve to 4-2 on their seven-game homestand.

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Mrazek’s shutout was more difficult than it looked. Carolina played a strong first period as Foegele scored 14:20 into the game, but the Coyotes had some scoring chances in the second period.

But Mrazek always looked as if he was thinking one step ahead of the Coyotes’ shooters, and he seldom gave up a rebound after making the initial save.

“He was solid, especially the second period where we had a few turnovers and they came right at us,” Brind’Amour said. “I thought he came up huge, obviously, when we needed him to. … They had some really good looks, but he made them look like easy saves, which they weren’t.”

Arizona averaged 4.5 goals per game over four straight wins from Dec. 31 through Jan. 7, but failed to score for the second game in a row as Mrazek was sharp and the Hurricanes’ penalty-killing unit was effective. Arizona was 0 for 3 on the power play.

“I liked our game — obviously, we have to score goals,” said Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet, whose team lost 4-0 at Tampa Bay on Thursday. “Six periods and we haven’t scored. We obviously need to score a goal.”

The Hurricanes were leading 1-0 when Wallmark’s tip of Dougie Hamilton’s shot went off Antti Raanta’s glove and head before landing in the goal 1:13 before the second intermission.

Necas increased the lead to 3-0 when he curled behind the net and lifted a backhander into the goal with 9.6 seconds remaining in the period.

Foegele is 23 years old, Wallmark 24, and Necas a 20-year-old rookie — and each scored their 10th goal Friday just 44 games into the season.

“We’re a young group and they’re a huge part of what we’re doing,” Brind’Amour said. “We need everyone to contribute, but it’s nice when they’re scoring. It takes a lot of pressure off of our other guys.”

Rod Brind'Amour Carolina Hurricanes bench

A goalie as sharp as Mrazek was Friday also can take a lot of pressure off a team. Arizona’s Raanta made 25 saves on 28 shots through two periods, and Adin Hill faced just one shot in the third period. But by the time Hill replaced Raanta after the second intermission, the game wasn’t even close because of Mrazek.

“We don’t always want to give up the amount of chances we did today,” Foegele said, “but he played big.”

NOTES

Forward Justin Williams, who signed a one-year contract Tuesday to join the Hurricanes for his 19th NHL season, was a healthy scratch. The timetable for his entry into the lineup is uncertain. … Arizona’s consecutive road losses were an anomaly for the team this season. Before the defeats at Tampa Bay and Carolina, the Coyotes had been 1170453 Carolina Hurricanes try to change anything. Heck, they were top of the league. So it wasn’t like I was going to come in and needed to do anything other than do my role and try to help and help Roman in his role. And just add to what they already had. It was pretty easy. Just because Roman was wearing the ‘C’ LeBrun: Mike Fisher on what Justin Williams is likely to experience upon and I wasn’t anymore, I didn’t feel a lot different.’’ his return after a lengthy layoff In both cases, just as the Predators greatly valued the leadership Fisher brought back into the room, the same is felt in Carolina with Williams back in the fold. By Pierre LeBrun Jan 10, 2020 There is no set timeline for when Williams will play his first game with the

Hurricanes. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said when they feel Williams is From time to time, Mike Fisher would look for reports out of Carolina. ready to go, that’s when he’ll play.

He was curious, like many, to see if Justin Williams would indeed come As far as his decision to return, which ended with the Cup-contending back to play this season. And he wasn’t surprised by Williams’ decision. Predators losing a closely contested, second-round series with Winnipeg, Fisher says he’s never looked back on it feeling he made the wrong call. “Yeah, I kind of had a feeling,’’ Fisher told The Athletic this week. “I actually talked to him in the summer just when he was sort of going “I’m so glad I did it, it was a blast,” Fisher said. “I’m glad I got to through his decision-making. I know he talked to a few guys, he wanted experience that and be part of one more run. Then I knew for sure that to know about my experience. So I was watching a little bit and was it. I was really glad I did. Had I not done it, would I have regretted it? wondering if he would. But I kind of had a feeling he might do it.’’ I don’t know. But I’m sure glad I did it, no question.’’

It is no surprise that Williams would want to pick Fisher’s brain. Fisher, of One can’t imagine Williams will feel any differently. course, came back out of retirement in 2017-18 and rejoined the The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 Nashville Predators for one last playoff run. Unlike Williams, who left his options open after stepping away from the game last summer, the former Preds captain had announced his retirement in early August 2017. And he felt good about his decision.

But the pull came in January 2018.

“I didn’t really think I was going to come back until sometime in January,’’ Fisher said. “Actually, I would have told you `you’re crazy’ if you would have told me in the fall that I was coming back. Because it definitely wasn’t happening then. But just through events and things change … for me it felt like it happened pretty quick.’’

That’s where this situation feels a bit different. Williams began skating by himself in October and was ramping up his workouts. It’s also different because you get the feeling all along that Williams was leaning this way, which explains why he got back on the ice on his own as early as he did.

That wasn’t the case for Fisher.

“I hadn’t skated until I decided to come back,” Fisher said, who announced his comeback on Jan. 31, 2018. “Now, I worked out a little bit; I was in OK shape. I just started skating again. The first two weeks (after announcing his comeback) I remember saying to myself, `Holy cow.’ You’re getting skated hard. They eased me in the first little while but then it was hard, you know? But after the first few weeks, it got more fun. I started playing about a month in.’’

Indeed, just over a month after announcing his comeback, Fisher played his first game on March 2.

The Hurricanes wanted Williams to have more time to get back into the swing of things than Fisher had. That much is clear.

And that extra time should be beneficial to Williams.

“Oh yeah, the more time the better,” Fisher said. “For me, he’s a bit ahead of where I was, as far as time.’’

Williams at 38 is actually a year older than Fisher was at the time of his comeback. Fisher returned mostly in a fourth-line role, which he was fine with. The Predators, after all, were sitting first overall in the NHL standings. He just wanted to fit in.

“I was just happy to play whatever role,” he said. “The team was playing so good. So it wasn’t like I came in and played big minutes. It did take me a while to feel comfortable back in games.’’

One strong parallel between both situations? Both Fisher and Williams were captains when they stepped away, and returned half a year later to a new captain on the team — Roman Josi replacing Fisher when he retired and Jordan Staal taking over in Carolina as captain in September.

I asked Fisher what it’s like to walk back into a dressing room you know so well as the former captain but not wearing the “C” anymore.

“It was a little different,” Fisher said. “Josi was captain which is good. My approach was just supporting him. He’s the guy. But I didn’t want to come in and change anything I had done before other than being in a supporting role in what he was trying to do. I definitely didn’t come in and 1170454 Carolina Hurricanes to get him to the pace of even practice, and then make sure he’s dialed in on everything we’re trying to do. I’m definitely not putting any timeline on it, we’ll cross that bridge when he’s ready to play … I know everyone wants to know when he’s gonna play and all that, we’re taking it really Civian: Justin Williams has a new role and a new stall on a team full of slow here to make sure that it’s the right time, you know?” new faces. He happens to like the view So consider most of the questions unresolved for now. We don’t know when Williams will return to game play, but don’t count on it for at least a few weeks. We don’t know who will be the odd man out when that day By Sara Civian Jan 10, 2020 comes. We don’t know where Williams will slot in, with whom, or how effective he’ll be.

Justin Williams grimaced through his “I’m back” press conference the The most important thing’s been sorted out, though: The Hurricanes and best he could Wednesday at PNC Arena, sandwiched between Williams are easing into this reunion on the same page. Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and President/GM Don Waddell. The franchise great is simply here to improve the team any way he can. He’s got an accurate reputation as one of the best interviews in the NHL While he’ll always be that guy willing the puck off of his cheek and into — when he’s talking about anything except himself. So before he even the net, maybe he won’t have to save the world this time around. answered one question, he said what he was so clearly thinking. And maybe he likes the view from his new stall. “This is about me, and people who know me here know that I don’t really The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 like that very much,” he cringed. “But I want it to be: Today’s about me, and I’ll do the questions, and tomorrow I want it to be about the team. I don’t want to take anything away from the focus on being them. I’m here now and I’m going to do my best to fit into this team the best I can.”

So naturally, the media hovered around his brand new dressing room stall like vultures about 24 hours later. His former-and-current-and-brand new teammates were in there, too, letting all the chirps fly. Some were directed at him, and some the dramatic media (but come on, guys, it’s Justin Williams!)

At some point, there was a series of shrieks coming from somewhere in the distance, perhaps the shower area. One Hurricane joked that Williams signed his contract and all of a sudden they can’t afford hot water.

That was a good sign.

Of course, Williams’ return is a big deal to media and fans, and there’s just no way around that. But it can’t be a big deal to the Canes.

So after all the “will-he-won’t-he,” the normal day with normal jokes looked like a sigh of relief.

It was clear that, at least for now, nothing has changed in the dressing room — nothing except Williams’ new real estate in the corner of the room.

“It’s a corner office. it’s actually very nice,” he said. “I can see everybody and they can see me, which sometimes isn’t a good thing (laughing). It’s nice. I like it. I like being in here.”

Jordan Staal accidentally walked to his old stall the first day he took over as captain, but he walks decisively toward his spot that used to be Williams’ now. Staal has proved capable of leading this team in his own way. He’s earned the respect of his peers, and shoving his stuff somewhere else would be a slap in the face.

So would stripping his C, for the second time in his career no less.

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour sounded borderline horrified when I asked if Williams would get an official title.

“No, no. We know what he is,” he said. “He’s going to be a great teammate, obviously a great leader we know that. He’s gonna help the leadership group we already have in place like he did last year. I don’t think anything’s changing, we don’t need to put a letter on guys to do that. He’s gonna get his place in that locker room and assist the guys who are already doing a really good job.”

A good coach realizes giving any player a letter halfway through the season would make the current leadership group question itself for no reason. Even if that player is Justin Williams.

Williams is Williams because he’s confident enough not to need a letter. He also knows he doesn’t need to jump back into the lineup immediately.

“I’m a realist, I’m not naive,” he said. “‘Hey Roddy, I’m ready to go, put me in now?’… You can’t do that. I need time and fortunately for us we have it. I expect this to be very seamless and very easy because I have the right attitude coming in here.”

“I’m looking at it like it’s Day 1 of training camp for him,” Brind’Amour said. “He looked good but you gotta make sure you give him enough time 1170455 Chicago Blackhawks

Robin Lehner won’t give the Blackhawks a discount and is already eyeing next summer’s free-agent market: ‘There’s a lot of teams that need goalies’

By JIMMY GREENFIELD

JAN 10, 2020 | 1:57 PM

If the Blackhawks expect goaltender Robin Lehner to give them a discount in a contract extension because he likes playing in Chicago, they better guess again.

After an optional practice Friday at Fifth Third Arena, Lehner reiterated how much he enjoys being a Hawk and would like to be part of their future.

But he also made it clear he won’t sell himself short like he feels he did last summer, when he signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Hawks after being a Vezina Trophy finalist with the Islanders.

“I’ve taken discounts my whole life,” Lehner said. “I’m not a guy that wants to be overpaid either. I want to gain some respect that I think I deserve, and we’ll see if that happens or not.”

While Lehner said he is open to signing an extension with the Hawks before free agency begins in July, he seems to have done his research on the impending market for goalies.

[Most read in Sports] Cubs agree to 1-year deals with Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber and 2 others »

Lehner, 28, is the only current starting goalie under 30 scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent. The top available UFAs next summer include Braden Holtby (30), Jacob Markstrom (30), Thomas Greiss (34), Anton Khudobin (34) and Jaroslav Halak (35).

“The market is wide open,” Lehner said. "There’s a lot of teams that need goalies. It’s not that many goalies that are available this (summer). So we’ll see what happens. All I know is I really like it here. I’ve learned enough.

“(But) this is a business, and no matter how good things are going, how well you like it, sometimes it’s not up to you and it’s not in your control. But I know where I stand and I really like this team and I still really believe in this team and the pieces this team has. Would like to be a part of the turnaround.”

Lehner is 12-7-4 with a .922 save percentage in 25 games and had taken over as the No. 1 goalie after alternating starts with Corey Crawford for much of the season. He missed two games this week after injuring his right knee and was available but did not start in Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the Predators.

Dylan Strome still not ready

A fully dressed Dylan Strome stepped onto the ice minutes before the Hawks were set to start practice.

After skating for less than a minute and appearing to favor his sprained right ankle, Strome headed back to the locker room and didn’t return.

Strome hasn’t practiced since injuring his ankle in Tuesday’s loss to the Flames, and he sat out Thursday’s game.

“Trying to figure it out,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “It seems like it’s day to day, so that’s good. As far as when he’s going to return, I don’t know.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170456 Chicago Blackhawks Colliton has coached 112 NHL games. Six of his peers have yet to coach 300 with their current team, while 13 have coached fewer than 50.

Suddenly, the league’s youngest coach is no longer anything close to its As NHL coaching carousel accelerates, Jeremy Colliton becomes most inexperienced. functionally middle-aged Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 01.11.2020

By Ben Pope Jan 10, 2020, 6:55am CST

Just two partial seasons into his tenure, Jeremy Colliton is already more experienced than a number of other NHL coaches.

Jeremy Colliton, usually a reliable if stoic question-answerer, could only laugh when asked Thursday about his rapidly accelerating seniority compared to the rest of the NHL’s head coaches.

“I don’t really have a feeling on that,” he said, blushing slightly.

Still a few days away from his 35th birthday Monday, Colliton remains the youngest head coach in the league. And he has spent this season completely focused on preserving his job and trying to turn around the sputtering Blackhawks.

He has had just two partial seasons to implement his strategies, so compared to everlasting predecessor Joel Quenneville — who will return to the United Center with the surging Panthers in less than two weeks — Thursday might as well have been his first day on the job.

Certainly to the Hawks’ fan base, which never fails to grace Colliton with a scattered shower of boos, he remains a newbie. General manager Stan Bowman is naturally more positive in his appraisals of him but still talks about Colliton as though he were a new coach.

“He’s certainly settled into his role right now,” Bowman said Tuesday. “Now that he’s been through over a year and he knows the league better, that’s one thing that has helped him understand the different coaches you’re going against. You can study it from afar, but until you’re coaching against someone, you don’t really know their tendencies and adjustments in-game.”

But this is the NHL, where the coaching carousel always turns quickly outside of a select few cities.

Six coaches have already been fired this season: three for poor performance (New Jersey’s John Hynes, San Jose’s Pete DeBoer and Nashville’s Peter Laviolette), two for off-ice misconduct (Calgary’s Bill Peters and Dallas’s Jim Montgomery) and one essentially for both (Toronto’s Mike Babcock).

This comes after offseason coaching changes in Florida, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Buffalo, Ottawa, Edmonton and Anaheim — all perhaps inspired by St. Louis’ late December coaching change last season that sparked their fairytale Stanley Cup run.

All told, 14 franchises have changed coaches since the Hawks promoted Colliton on Nov. 6, 2018, making Colliton somehow now middle-aged in terms of longevity with his team.

Yet, he has no time to pay attention to that.

“I don’t think you think about it, as far as how long I’ve been in the job compared to other teams around the league,” he said. “Just focused on your own group.”

The only time it crosses his mind is in situations like the game Thursday against the Predators, playing just their second game since firing Laviolette and hiring Hynes (who was just a few months removed from his ouster in New Jersey).

That complicated the Hawks’ pre-scouting, Colliton said, forcing them to rely on videos of the early-season Devils and Colliton’s memories of playing against Hynes-coached Wilkes Barre-Scranton teams in the AHL five-plus years ago.

Colliton isn’t exactly pondering the tumultuous nature of his job during the midseason grind.

From afar, though, it’s worth noting how quickly he has climbed the ranks and how that might give the Hawks an advantage over an increasingly sizable number of their rivals. 1170457 Chicago Blackhawks Q: Would you like to know where you're going to be for the next five years or so?

A: For the majority of players in this league, (they) want to be somewhere Blackhawks' Lehner likes Chicago, but he won't sign a discount deal to and know where to be. It's more of having an investment somewhere stay here where you feel like, 'This is where I can have my goals and this is where I want to win and help this team win.'

First contract year might be a little bit of pressure, but it's not a big deal John Dietz for me (now). I would like to be somewhere for a longer period of time -- have a base and start a life. We'll see what happens. Updated1/10/2020 5:16 PM Q: Is it more important for you to have long-term security or more

important for you to have a chance to win a Stanley Cup? Robin Lehner cut right to the chase after an optional practice Friday: He A: I wouldn't say it's for long-term security. I think when you know you're will not be giving the Blackhawks a discount when it comes to signing a going to be somewhere for a while, that affects everything. contract extension. It affects your mental health. It affects your motivation. It affects a lot of "I've taken discounts my whole life," said Lehner, who signed a one-year, things. When you take that stress away and the wonder of where you're $5 million deal to come to the Hawks July 1. "I'm not a guy that wants to going to be, obviously it's going to translate to a better life but also better be overpaid either. performances. "I want to gain some respect that I think I deserve and we'll see if that Of course I want to win a Stanley Cup. That's why I came here. I think the happens or not." ingredients are here. Obviously it hasn't gone the way we want yet. But Locking up a high-quality goalie -- theoretically for at least a few years -- we have young guys that are getting better. We've shown we can beat is by far general manager Stan Bowman's biggest priority heading into anyone, it's just about consistency. I would love to stick around, but I also next season. And while Lehner is open to signing with the Hawks before know the business. I know how this works. Wherever I end up, I end up. free agency opens, he strongly implied he may test the open market. We'll see what happens.

"It's a different summer this summer than last summer," Lehner said. "(I Daily Herald Times LOADED: 01.11.2020 have) another year under my belt in my new journey.

"The market is (also) wide open. There's a lot of teams that need goalies (and) not that many goalies available."

The top free agents this summer should be Lehner, Braden Holtby, Thomas Greiss, Jacob Markstrom and Corey Crawford. The 28-year-old Lehner and the 30-year-old Holtby figure to command the most money.

Lehner was a Vezina Trophy finalist with the Islanders last season when he allowed a scant 2.13 goals per game and has more than proven his ability as a top-notch netminder once again with the Hawks this season.

Four goaltenders currently have a cap hit of $8.5 million or higher: Montreal's Carey Price ($10.5 million), Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky ($10 million), Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy ($9.5 million) and the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist ($8.5 million).

What should Lehner command? Something north of $7 million a year seems plausible. The Hawks, who probably can't afford much more than that, are Lehner's third team in as many seasons. There's no doubt he would like stability for himself and family.

Lehner and I talked about that and more before Thursday's game against Nashville.

Q: What's it like having to change teams so often?

A: It's tough. (Well,) let's not get ahead of ourselves. I still get to play in the National Hockey League. Still, it's mentally draining. Tough with my two kids to keep moving them around. My son is 5 years old and has been in four different cities. He's starting to miss his friends; it's tough to see.

But it's felt good (here). It's such a good organization. Made me feel good right from the get-go. I have a little experience (moving around) so it was a bit easier transition.

It was definitely a different type of team to come to. It's such an accomplished team -- obviously it's been struggling for a bit -- but it has a lot of accomplished players that pretty much have won everything you can win.

You come into kind of a different era, if you want to say. But it's been really good. Good guys. The core group of guys are really good people. They want to win. Competitors. It's been fun.

Q: Is moving around harder for you or your family?

A: It's more the wife and kids: "What's going to happen next? Where are we going to go next?"

There's not really any stability, but that's how it goes sometimes. We're fine with it. I get to still play hockey and do what I love. I'm not complaining. It's a privilege to play in this league. 1170458 Chicago Blackhawks

Robin Lehner discusses contract status and whether he'd be open to re- signing with Blackhawks

By Charlie Roumeliotis January 10, 2020 2:00 PM

Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman isn’t one to negotiate contracts with players through the media. So it wasn't surprising when he, earlier in the week, declined to discuss the statuses of the Blackhawks' pending restricted and unrestricted free agents out of respect for the process.

Perhaps the biggest name of that group is Robin Lehner, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season for the third straight year. He signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Blackhawks on July 1 and has been worth every penny.

With the window to begin negotiating contract extensions with pending UFAs having opened on Jan. 1, Lehner was asked after Friday's optional practice whether he'd be open to discussing an extension in the middle of the season.

"I'd definitely be open to it," Lehner said. "But let the agents and Stan figure that out. It's a different summer this summer than last summer. Me personally, another year under my belt in my new journey. The market is wide open. There's a lot of teams that need goalies. It's not that many goalies that are available this season. So I mean we'll see what happens.

"All I know is, I really like it here. I've learned enough. This is a business and no matter how good things are going, how well you like it, sometimes it's not up to you and it's not in your control. But I know where I stand, and I really like this team and I still really believe in this team and the pieces this team has. Would like to be a part of the turnaround."

Lehner was also asked a follow-up question on whether he'd consider taking a discount to remain in Chicago and sounded like a guy who just wants to be paid market value for the first time in his career, both in dollars and in term.

"I've taken discounts my whole life," said Lehner, who ranks No. 10 in NHL history with a .918 save percentage. "I'm not a guy that wants to be overpaid either. I want to gain some respect that I think I deserve and we'll see if that happens or not. We'll see what happens."

If the Blackhawks aren't prepared to pay him, somebody else will. And if they're still serious about being playoff contenders for years to come, it would be wise of the Blackhawks to do everything they can to lock up Lehner on a long-term extension sooner than later because it will be a bidding war for his services if he gets to July 1.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170459 Colorado Avalanche Footnotes. Colorado is now 11-7-3 at home. The Avs are 20-1-3 when taking a lead into the third period. … MacKinnon had a team-high six shots but just two after the first period. … Avs forward Joonas Donskoi (concussion protocol) missed his first game of the season. He was Reeling Avalanche falls short in overtime loss to Penguins among four to have played in Colorado’s previous 44 games, along with MacKinnon, Sam Girard and Matt Nieto. The Avs’ only healthy scratch

was defenseman Mark Barberio … The Avs will take Saturday off and By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: January 10, 2020 at 9:55 pm | practice Sunday and Monday before hosting the Dallas Stars on UPDATED: January 10, 2020 at 10:33 PM Tuesday.

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Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr. duped into postgame shower: “I thought we were having a heartfelt moment”

After a decade of dramatic gains, metro Denver home prices expected to slow in 2020

The relatively healthy Avalanche was a better team when it was injury- depleted — much like the current banged-up Pittsburgh Penguins.

Minus superstar Sidney Crosby and a handful of other regulars Friday night, the Pens rallied from a third-period deficit and defeated the Avs 4-3 in overtime at the Pepsi Center.

Center Jared McCann scored with 1:41 remaining in the 3-on-3 session as Pittsburgh improved to 10-2-1 in its last 13 games. The Avs, who were beginning a five-game homestand, fell to 3-6-2 in their last 11 games and 1-4-1 at in their last six at home.

“I thought we played hard,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said.

Avs goalie Pavel Francouz allowed three goals on 12 shots in the third period and OT.

“I don’t like separating our goalies from our team because there were areas of our game tonight that weren’t great,” Bednar said. “But that’s a really good hockey team. It was a really good hockey game. I have no problem with the way we played or the effort we played with.”

He added: “I’m sure Frankie would probably say he wants one of those goals back.”

Bryan Rust tied it 2-2 early in the third period and Evgeni Malkin struck with 4:17 remaining in regulation to give Pittsburgh its first lead of the game. But the Avs answered with 31 seconds left and Francouz on the bench for a sixth attacker when Cale Makar’s slap shot from the point was redirected past goalie Matt Murray by Matt Calvert.

Colorado did not produce a shot in OT, including on a 2-on-1 rush with Makar and Andre Burakovsky.

“We can’t give that up in the third period. Definitely (unfortunate) when you drop wins like that,” Makar said. “Obviously we get the one point. But we came here for two.”

Colorado got its first two goals from Nathan MacKinnon (power play) and Gabe Landeskog.

“I think we deserved more today,” Francouz said. “(McCann) shot it through a screen and it went my five-hole (between the legs). I think it’s great for us that we were able to bounce back and tie it with an empty- net. But I think we deserved two points.”

The Penguins played their 27th consecutive game without Crosby, who is on the three-game trip but canceled a scheduled skate Friday morning. Crosby is recovering from core-muscle surgery. Pittsburgh was also missing forwards Jake Guentzel and Nick Bjugstad and defensemen Justin Schultz and Brian Dumoulin.

The Avs took a 2-1 lead into the third period after getting a gift goal at 18:20 of the second. Landeskog’s high dump-in from Pittsburgh’s blue line changed direction upon landing and bounced over Murray’s left leg pad.

MacKinnon scored the game’s first goal at 14:38 of the first period and Teddy Blueger tied it at 13:29 of the second. MacKinnon’s 27th goal of the season came on the power play, and Blueger’s tally unfolded six seconds after a Penguins power play expired.

Pittsburgh had a first-period goal by Malkin immediately disallowed because of goaltender interference. 1170460 Colorado Avalanche Graves’ statement about addressing and solving these problems has become a primary discussion point whenever the Avalanche have dropped games.

It’s only January, and the Colorado Avalanche appear to be slipping — For Graves, or any player on the roster, what is it like knowing there have again been these conversations yet problems keep surfacing?

“It’s something that’s a work in progress,” Graves said. “But it’ll come.”

By Ryan S. Clark Jan 10, 2020 Right now? It’s arguably the most important question facing the Avalanche: When will it come?

Scoring goals does not appear to be the chief concern. The Avalanche One of the familiar statements Jared Bednar has made lately is claiming are fifth in the league since Dec. 16 in that category, and they are tied for he does not constantly check the NHL standings. second in shots per game at 35.5. They are slightly above average in shots allowed at 32.2, while the penalty kill is 19th with a 75.8 percent Those who have, however, have noticed what might be considered an success rate and the power play is 15th at 22.7 percent. alarming trend with the Colorado Avalanche even though there are still 37 games remaining in the regular season. No longer is this a team The 47 goals they have allowed in that time, however, are tied for jockeying alongside the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues second-most in the league and just one away from a share of first with for Central Division and/or Western Conference supremacy. the Winnipeg Jets.

Instead? The Avalanche are now eight points behind the Blues. They sit Bednar was asked if he believes the performances from goaltenders third in the Central Division, and with their latest result — a 4-3 overtime Pavel Francouz and Philipp Grubauer might have a part to play in the loss Friday to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Pepsi Center — the Avs are two Avalanche’s struggles. points clear of the first Western Conference wild-card spot and three clear of the final position. Francouz was in net against the Penguins and stopped 26 of the 30 shots he faced. Seeing what happens in the coming games with All of this comes with the perspective. Some will argue there is still more Francouz or Grubauer is another area under surveillance because of the than enough time for the Avalanche to fix their mistakes, get on a run and Avalanche’s inconsistent play. charge toward the postseason in a manner befitting a team with preseason Stanley Cup-contender buzz. But others will debate a Grubauer stopped 133 of the 149 shots he faced over his past five starts continual lack of consistency has repetitively hindered a team that has for a .893 save percentage. Three of those games were against teams used the last two years to discover how lost points in the middle of the that would be playoff-eligible as of Friday afternoon. Four of those five year could prove costly near the end of the season. clubs also have winning records.

Here is where it becomes even more complicated as it relates to Prior to Friday, Francouz actually encountered more shots and still assessing the Avalanche. Remember: The Avalanche were beyond recorded a higher save percentage. He saved 156 of the 167 shots he indomitable in 2017-18 around this time when they won 12 of their 15 faced for a .934 save percentage. The Avalanche scored three fewer contests from Dec. 16 through Jan. 22, which included a 10-game goals in his last five starts when compared to Grubauer’s. Two of winning streak with a roster still considered a work in progress. Francouz’s starts were against teams that were playoff-eligible, and three of them had winning records. But how is it they are presently on a path that could see them have another mid-winter decline for a consecutive campaign despite making Grubauer was 1-3 in games against teams above .500, while Francouz several roster improvements over the past two years? was 1-2. He now falls to 1-3 after losing to a Penguins squad that now has the second-best record in the Metropolitan Division while owning the Especially when they are 4-7-2 since Dec. 16, which is tied for the third-strongest mark in the Eastern Conference. second-most losses in the NHL, while possessing the sixth-lowest winning percentage in a group featuring NHL Draft front-runners such as Colorado allowed 56 high-danger scoring chances over Grubauer’s starts the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators? while giving up 43 whenever Francouz was in the net, according to Natural Stat Trick. “I think it’s hard to compare year to year, but the details haven’t been up to our standards for a couple weeks now and for a while now,” Avalanche Pittsburgh was kept to 13 high-danger scoring chances, which is the forward J.T. Compher said. “We haven’t at times, but it’s gotta be for 60 most Francouz has faced over the previous six contests. minutes every night, and it just hasn’t been there consistently enough.” Bednar was asked if he needed a better performance from Francouz. Bednar and defenseman Ryan Graves summed up what happened “I don’t know. He’s part of the team,” Bednar said. “I don’t like separating against the Penguins. The gist? A competitive first period followed by a our goalies from our team because there were areas of our game tonight shaky second, plus a third frame that saw Bryan Rust along with Evgeni that were great, but that’s a really good hockey team. That’s a really Malkin become the latest figures to reclaim a lead from the Avalanche good hockey game. I have no problem with the way we played. We and see them play catch-up. played with effort. There will be some guys that I’ll watch that game and Matt Calvert scored the game-tying goal with 31 seconds remaining to say, ‘Hey, we got certain guys that gotta be better and gotta give us a force overtime, yet it was Jared McCann’s game-winner that sent the little bit more.’ Avalanche to their third consecutive loss. This is their sixth defeat in the “I’m sure Frankie would say he probably wants one of those goals back.” past seven games and provides them with their third losing streak of more than three contests this season. Still, Bednar went into greater detail about his team’s defensive issues.

“It’s just something we need to fix and something we need to adjust. It’s “Whenever the other team scores, it’s either because they make a great something different each game,” Graves said. “It’s not like it’s one thing play or you miss something in coverage,” Bednar said. “It’s happening biting us every time. It’s just been different things. We’ll clean it up. We’re every night to every team. We’re not the only team getting scored on confident in that as a group.” when there’s a breakdown. Would I like to limit those breakdowns? Yeah. Did I think we did that tonight? Yeah. But there’s a couple rush coverage OK. Let’s compare the Avalanche’s most recent game — a 5-3 defeat to goals that we competed hard and we’re doing the right things and we’re a the New York Rangers — to what happened Friday. step late here or there.” What’s the difference, from Graves’ vantage point? And then he offered a solution. He said what could solve some of those “I think we played a better 60 tonight,” he said. “I think in our last game in issues is the Avalanche talking more during the game while keeping that New York, we were kinda sloppier. Details weren’t great, but tonight we awareness throughout an entire performance. had a good first, they took it to us in the second and we had a good third “We’ve talked about it for four years: Talk,” Bednar said. “The D says, ‘I for the most part, and I think we kinda fell apart. It’s something we’ll got him’; our forward can lay off if there’s no open man. It seems simple, address. It’s something we’ll fix.” but it’s not easy to instill. We have to be better at talking and communicating on the ice. That solves a lot of problems and it eliminates confusion. Guys aren’t guessing then.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170461 Colorado Avalanche milehighsports.com LOADED: 01.11.2020

Frustrations continue to mount as Avs blow another third period lead

By Aarif Deen - January 10, 2020

The Avalanche led by a goal entering the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday but fell 4-3 in overtime.

If this sounds familiar it’s because, well, it should.

Over the past 11 games, the Avs are 3-6-2. In those losses, they have blown third-period leads on five separate occasions and were tied in the final period another three times. And they don’t seem to have an answer as to why this keeps happening.

“In the third, rush coverage, they score off the entry,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “Two entry plays that I really didn’t like, one lacked communication on the rush coverage, and on the Malkin one, I don’t know.”

Colorado leads the NHL with 52 first-period goals and has the best second-period goal differential in the league. But as the game winds down, the Avalanche are struggling to close out their games. The Avs led after each of the first two periods on Friday but surrendered two goals in the third and another in overtime.

“I thought we had a really good first period, we limited their scoring chances,” Bednar said. “The second period flip-flopped for about 15 minutes until right before Landeskog scored they had the momentum.”

The Avalanche jumped out to a 1-0 lead after center Nathan MacKinnon scored his 27th goal of the season on the power play. Defenseman Sam Girard, who was elevated to the top power-play unit, set up MacKinnon for his first of two assists on the evening.

Colorado held the lead until late in the second period. Four minutes after the Penguins tied it, Avs captain Gabe Landeskog dumped the puck in from center ice and watched it bounce over goalie Matt Murray’s pad and into the net. The fortunate bounce gave the Avalanche a lead heading into the third.

Then the same story of the past three weeks was re-written.

The Avs watched as Pittsburgh tied the game, took the lead, and killed a penalty to hold a 3-2 lead heading into the final minute. With the goalie pulled for an extra-attacker, Avs forward Matt Calvert scored with 30 seconds remaining to tie the game and send it to overtime.

But after the teams exchanged chances, forward Jared McCann ended it for the Penguins. The Avs have four games at home before the All-Star break as they continue to find solutions to their recent struggles.

“I think a lot of what could help solve those issues is talking,” Bednar said. “We’ve been talking about this for four years. Talk. The D says I got him, our forward can lay off it, there’s no open net. It seems simple but it’s not easy. That solves a lot of problems. You look and it’s confusion, guys are guessing.”

“I wish we were a more vocal team. Some of the really good more experienced teams are more vocal.”

Takeaways

Girard adds two more assists. If you’re looking for positivity in Colorado’s 3-6-2 stretch, it’s Girard’s offensive explosion. The third-year Avalanche blueliner has 13 assists over the past 11 games, which leads NHL defenseman.

Colorado’s special teams were good, not great. Despite finished 1-for-3 with the man-advantage and a perfect 2-for-2 on the penalty kill, the Avalanche’s special teams continue to be mediocre at best. Colorado tied the game in the final minute, but not before failing to score on a power-play opportunity moments before. Before that, the Avs had an opportunity early in the third when the game was tied 2-2 but was unable to capitalize.

Avs surrender three more five-on-five goals. Before this 11-game stretch, Colorado was giving up just 1.57 five on five goals per game. Over the past 11 games, they have surrendered 26. 1170462 Colorado Avalanche Unlike McDavid, who went No. 1 overall in 2015, and Crosby, No. 1 in 2005, MacKinnon never was billed as one of the NHL’s occasional “generational” talents.

Nathan MacKinnon: Our 2019 Sportsperson of the Year Unlike McDavid and Crosby, MacKinnon was not an instant superstar.

In his earlier years, after his impressive games, you’d walk away asking about MacKinnon: With that breathtaking talent, with those eye-popping By Terry Frei - January 10, 2020 skills, why can’t he do that every night?

Then the switch flipped.

The choice of Nathan MacKinnon as Mile High Sports Magazine’s Loosely speaking, he is doing it every night. Sportsperson of the Year for 2019 wasn’t a slam dunk … or in this case, an uncontested shot into an open net. (Now you ask it about Jokic, especially since the Nuggets center has gotten off to a lackluster and puzzlingly inconsistent start in 2019-20. If Center Nikola Jokic, 24, last season was the Nuggets’ second-ever first- he can follow MacKinnon’s lead and take the next step, he might be on team All-NBA choice, joining only legendary David “Skywalker” the Sportsperson of the Year cover and profiled in this space a year from Thompson, selected in 1978. now.)

The Rockies’ Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story again had terrific seasons From the time the puck was dropped to open 2017-18, MacKinnon’s fifth in 2019. As a left-side-of-the-infield tandem, they again were hard to season, he has been among the NHL’s elite. MacKinnon finished second beat. in the Hart Trophy voting in 2018, deserved to be among the three finalists again last season (but wasn’t), and as the New Year And what of Broncos’ players? The correct box to check is “None.” approached, was having a terrific 2019-20. He mostly centers Gabe Instead, depending on definition of terms, I could argue for the choice of Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, and the line has been electric. late owner Pat Bowlen as another deserved posthumous honor. He died “It’s not magic,” MacKinnon said. “We’re even keel and we come out and in June and was touchingly saluted and then inducted into the Pro dominate. That’s our mindset. We’re not wondering where one another is Football Hall of Fame in July. He remains a key figure as the franchise on the ice. It’s second nature now, which I think is real cool.” operates under the Pat Bowlen Trust and faces both messy legal machinations and a possible transition to his youngest daughter, Brittany, He’s been asked about the comparisons to McDavid and also Toronto’s as the principal owner. Moving forward, even after his death, the guiding Auston Matthews, another recent “generational” No. 1 many times – and considerations should be: What did Pat want? Or, given his success as that’s by me alone. He never has been offended by it. an owner earning universal respect: What would Pat do? In that sense, he can – and should – remain influential. “There’s only one me, good or bad,” MacKinnon told me. “I’m not anybody else. I work really hard and I do a lot of things to get better . . . I Beyond Denver team sports, Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, from Vail and don’t know if I’m going to be a Connor McDavid one day, but I’m going to still only 24, is hands-down the best in the world, and again is dominating be the best version of myself and I hope that can help turn this team into the World Cup circuit. The asterisk is she plies her trade literally around a championship team.” the globe. Going into the Avalanche’s final game of the calendar year, MacKinnon Circling back … had 39 goals and 57 assists for 96 points in 82 regular-season games in 2019. Plus, he had 6 goals and 7 assists in 13 playoff games last spring. Here’s why the choice is MacKinnon, also only 24 (notice a pattern here?) and in his seventh season with the Avalanche. Plus, both last season and this season, MacKinnon has been heroic when the Avalanche has gone through extraordinary injury runs, In the past three seasons, the Halifax, Nova Scotia native has become including when Landeskog and Rantanen were out for extended periods one of the top handful of hockey players in the world. Once he got there, he didn’t coast. In fact, his improvement continued in 2019 and he I asked Avalanche coach Jared Bednar to what extent this latest arguably now is the second-best player in the NHL, behind only Connor MacKinnon run this season has highlighted his center’s continued McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. maturation.

“It’s nice to have good years,” MacKinnon told me after a recent “I would say significant,” Bednar said. “Not unlike we saw at the end of Avalanche practice. “I didn’t want to have just one good year and fade last year, though. We were without Mikko and Landy down part of the away after that. So, obviously, being consistent is a tough thing in pro stretch. For lack of a better term, he could have put our team on his back sports. It’s a tough schedule. There are a lot of variables. I pride myself and he was our leader on and off the ice.” on consistency.” This comes after even he characterized his horrible 16-goal total in the Last season, MacKinnon was named the league’s third-best forward in Avalanche’s dreadful 2016-17 as “embarrassing.” And he was right, an NHLPA peer vote, behind only McDavid and Pittsburgh’s Sidney especially considering Colorado in July 2016 had showed stunning faith Crosby. The interesting thing about that is McDavid long has been a in his upside, signing him to a seven-year, $44.1 million contract. reference point in any discussion of MacKinnon’s career – more on that in a minute – and Crosby, also from the Halifax area, in succession has He since has justified that faith. been MacKinnon’s idol, buddy, off-season training partner and co-star in MacKinnon has a bit of a swagger at times – and that’s in a good way – various (and hilarious) Tim Hortons commercial campaigns. but he surprisingly admits he had doubts early in his career about With all due respect to Crosby, one of the all-time greats, his slotting whether he could become the play he has become. ahead of MacKinnon in 2019 was more of an emeritus, body-of-work “I didn’t think I really could,” he said. “I didn’t really think about it. It feels gesture than as assessment of reality. like a long time ago with that mentality. But yeah, I didn’t really know if I This has been part of the fun: Since the Avalanche made MacKinnon the could ever do it. I was getting like 50, 60 points and I was kind of at No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft at age 17, Colorado fans have breaking point after a last-place finish. I went first overall and I was been able to watch him grow up and into that stardom role, including embarrassed. I had to make a decision about whether I wanted to take through some seasons when it seemed he might be destined for career my game to the next level or just be 50, 60-point guy on a bad team. mediocrity. “Confidence changes, especially since I never really dominated before, I “It feels good,” he said. “I’ve matured a ton. My first season seems like never really knew if I could. It felt like a different planet to be on that level. another life ago. It’s obviously flying by. But I’ve made a lot of friends and But my whole life, I was on that level. I was the first pick, I dominated it’s nice to be on a really good, competitive team this season. I’m 24. I’ve junior, and when I wasn’t very good in the NHL …” gotten better every season. I feel good right now. I feel the best I’ve felt. He paused, then added, “It feels normal now.” Hopefully, that trend continues.” MacKinnon’s seven-year deal made him one of the most overpaid players in the league at its outset, yet by now he is even more strikingly underpaid through 2022-23 in a league with a hard cap that doesn’t allow for renegotiation. (His own linemate, Rantanen, in late September signed a six-year, $55 million deal, and the front-loaded structure means he will be paid twice as much as MacKinnon this season.)

With speed, strength, maneuverability and skill, MacKinnon leaves opposing skaters hoping they have the angle plotted to contain him … and then they don’t. He’s gone. He’s either blown by them or cut, slithered or dodged into position for a shot or setup pass.

“He’s so dynamic,” Landeskog told me. “He changes the momentum sometimes on his own and when he starts going, it’s difficult to keep up with him. It’s hard for guys to stop him. It’s fun to see how he’s taken this team and driven us forward. In my opinion, he’s the best player in the world. I’m biased. I see him every single day, but I just don’t know if there’s a guy who can attack you in so many ways.

“He can score off the rush with speed, he can dominate, punish guys down low physically. He can come out of the corners with the puck, he can dish the puck. Everything’s happening so fast, he can go from stick- handle, to pass, to shoot. When he’s coming down on a 2-on-1, he has all three options. It’s not easy to do at that speed.”

Landeskog and defenseman Erik Johnson are the only Avalanche who have been with MacKinnon his entire career.

“He’s really comfortable now,” Johnson told me. “He’s had all the physical tools and sometimes you just need your mind to catch up. I think with him, he had matured, and he knows what he has to do every night and how to get his body ready to play. He puts in all the long hours. He’s super-disciplined in how he takes care of himself off the ice. He’s just learned how to be a pro over the last handful of years. That’s been fun to watch because you always knew he had the ability, so now it’s fun to see him put it all together and be one of the best in the league.

“I’m sure he always knew he could do it. Sometimes it takes time for it to happen. He drives our play every night. He holds people accountable. Our guys know you have to be on your game if you play with him because he’ll bark at you if he thinks you’re not on your game.”

Landeskog has noticed MacKinnon’s maturation. Not that long ago, in Bednar’s disastrous first season, MacKinnon rolled his eyes at a Bednar command and the rookie NHL coach, sensing a test of his authority, promptly benched one of his top players for most of a period. That wasn’t a big deal, but MacKinnon now refers to his coach as “Bedsy” in interviews.

“I think everybody goes through it, especially the guys, him and myself, guys coming in at 18, 19,” Landeskog said. “Of course, you mature. I don’t think that’s different from any walk of life, whatever you do between age 18 and age 35, there are a lot of things that are going to happen. He’s definitely matured, no doubt.”

When I asked MacKinnon whether he has grown to feel like a Coloradan, he laughed.

“Oh, I don’t know,” he said. “I kind of go to the rink and go home every day. It feels like home for sure. It’s been seven seasons now. I love it here. I love spending time here. Hopefully, I can explore a little bit more as I get older and have some more free time.” milehighsports.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170463 Colorado Avalanche Nazem Kadri – C- I liked Kadri’s feistiness tonight, as he was physical and threw some big

hits on Penguins defenders. I don’t like how he’s waiting too long to make Avs Game 45 Grades: Hard-Fought Loss plays with the puck, whether it’s distributing the puck or letting it loose himself. He managed to draw yet another penalty in this one.

Vladislav Kamenev – D BY EVAN RAWAL JANUARY 10, 2020 Kam didn’t have a very eventful night, but I do love how he’s playing physical this year. At one point in the second period, he took a massive hit along the boards, and the Avs players on the bench even assumed he Pierre Edouard Bellemare – D was hurt, but he got back up and threw a decent hit on Malkin. He was Bellemare had just come off the bench on the Malkin goal and got a little rewarded with some ice time late, which is nice to see, but not a great too aggressive, which left Malkin open for a split second. That’s all a guy game from him. like that needs. Smaller mistakes like that are things Bellemare typically Tyson Jost – D avoids. At some point, the production just has to start coming, especially when Andre Burakovsky – C he’s getting power play time. We’re looking at one goal in 35 games now. Like we said last game, Burakovsky just isn’t scoring goals now, but he’s He’s doing some things right, but his lack of breakaway speed is hurting finding ways to contribute overall with assists, including on the game- him as well. tying goal by Makar. It’s incredibly frustrating to look at the scoresheet, Gabriel Landeskog – B however, and see him finish a game with one shot attempt. They just need him to unleash the puck more. That odd-man rush in overtime was I have absolutely no idea why Landeskog was sliding on his butt, to the horrifying. point where he took Makar out of the play completely, on the Rust goal, but he was. Landy helped Compher out on the MacKinnon goal, and then Matt Calvert – B+ picked up the flukiest goal he’ll ever score at the end of the second. He’s At this point, why don’t you have this guy on the power play over generating shots, as he attempted six more at even strength tonight. someone like Jost? You can’t deny the production that is there. Another Nathan MacKinnon – A- goal, this one with him just standing off to the side and tipping it in behind Murray, which gave the Avs a point. MacKinnon was a wizard tonight, especially in the first, to the point where the Penguins scratches, which included Crosby, were in awe in the press Ian Cole – D box next to me. His defensive game leaves a little to be desired at this Cole was fine the first half of the game, but then took a penalty, and on a point, as he was just standing around on the Rust goal doing absolutely power play later in the period, decided to block a shot with his chest, nothing. which isn’t a bad thing. He compounded that, however, by chasing the Cale Makar – C+ puck out the point, leaving his side of the ice wide open down low, where the Penguins scored. In the third period he was a disaster with the puck It’s not coming easy for Makar anymore, as I feel like that pair in general as well. has really stalled out in all areas. He had some chances tonight and did well just to get his shot through on the tying goal late, but he’s no longer J.T. Compher – B- on the top power play unit and as his own worst critic, probably knows he Compher battled hard down low to outmuscle two Penguins defenders can be better. for the opening goal of the game. He didn’t pick up an assist, but that Valeri Nichushkin – F stuff gets noticed by the staff. He seems to be more engaged lately. Not a single shot attempt is a little sad, though. Nuke has been a strong pickup for the Avs…but tonight he may have been the worst forward on the ice. He looked out of place on the second Pavel Francouz – D line and just could not keep a handle on the puck in general. That may be WHY ARE PUCKS JUST GOING THROUGH THESE AVS GOALIES? more on the staff than on Nuke. Does this need to happen every January? Francouz is getting chances to Matt Nieto – C take the starting job, but giving up not one, but two goals right through his legs, including the overtime winner, is not going to cut it. I liked a lot of what Nieto did along the boards in this one, even if he wasn’t showing up on the scoresheet. That line battles, and Nieto’s Samuel Girard – A scoring rate has certainly normalized, but he did well for most of this one. Sure, the second assist looks a lot better on the stat sheet than it did in Mikko Rantanen – F real life, but you take assists any way you can get them, and Girard is on a roll right now. His play on the MacKinnon goal should not go unnoticed, Where has this guy gone? Just one shot attempt at even strength, and in as he sold the shot hard, and Murray bit, which is why MacK had so general looks uninterested. It’s honestly scary to watch him on the ice in much room short side. overtime because he has just never looked comfortable out there. The Avs just need WAY more from him as he’s lagging behind his linemates. Ryan Graves – C Nikita Zadorov – B+ I would not have matched a guy like Graves up against Malkin, but the staff wasn’t afraid of doing it tonight. Graves is getting his chances You can tell the staff wants to use him more, and they did tonight offensively, as he shoots from pretty much everywhere, but his gap was because he was playing very physical and his passing was crisp. The pretty poor on the Rust goal, which allowed Malkin to walk in deep. It’s first period might have been his best passing period of the season. He not his fault, however, that the other four players on the ice for the Avs had some good moments against Malkin when he was up against him, were standing around watching. including a nice play in the third shutting him down. He and Hornqvist battled all night long. Erik Johnson – C BSN DENVER LOADED: 01.11.2020 I felt like EJ’s speed got exposed a few times defensively, as Penguins skaters were not afraid to attack him with speed. He got some good luck in the first, as he got beat wide and Rust just decided to sit on Francouz, so the goal that went in was nullified. Bednar said he wanted the Avs players to have better gaps, and included the OT goal in that, as EJ’s guy got some time in the slot and ended the game. Although he had some rough moments individually inside the game, I didn’t hate his night overall. 1170464 Colorado Avalanche I just don’t see where even the most ardent of goaltender defenders can have no problems with what Francouz put on the ice tonight. There are always things players can do better on goals against but you literally pay a goaltender to be back there when mistakes happen and keep the pucks Penguins get one more save than Avs in overtime decision out. No team in the NHL is going to clear the puck every time or flawlessly handle a great forecheck or avoid making a mistake when

making split-second decisions. You have to get help from the guy in the BY AJ HAEFELE JANUARY 10, 2020 back end wearing all that extra gear.

At the same time, it took the Avs getting the break of all breaks and a desperation, late-minute goal to even get to the three goals to get to 60 minutes of hockey and the outcome can come down to something as overtime. That isn’t going to be good enough most nights but the offense small as one shift, one decision, one save made. has been so steady this season that I’m not going to make too many waves about it. Or in Colorado’s case, one save not made. This game was very tightly-contested at even strength and despite the Again. loss, it once again shows Colorado can absolutely hang with the best in Entering another third period with a lead in front of their home crowd, the the NHL. Even without Sidney Crosby, the Penguins have been rolling Avalanche once again found their way to a loss, this time 4-3 in overtime along easy peasy. They’re one of the best in the league once again and to the Pittsburgh Penguins. the Avs finish their season series 0-0-2 against them. Two of four points with two overtime losses isn’t the worst outcome against a very good The teams played an intense, fast-paced game and thanks to a laugher team but the points left on the board are starting to add up very quickly. of a goal allowed by Matt Murray, Colorado led 2-1 after two periods. They had some good luck. They played pretty well against a very good Going back to last month, the home losses to Carolina, Chicago, team. Minnesota, and now Pittsburgh were all games in which they had leads in the third period. For them to walk out with one point from those four And in the end, it still just wasn’t enough. games badly stings. Add in a road overtime loss to Dallas in which they Pavel Francouz got the start after watching Philipp Grubauer flounder also gave up a third-period lead and you’re looking at two out of ten with his opportunity to cement the job and all Francouz did was further points gained with eight left on the board. That’s a real problem! muddy the waters as two of the four goals he gave up were nothing short Colorado has to get back to finishing games. of terrible. While these struggles continue, Sam Girard has been nothing short of a This loss is really only half of that as the Avs did manage to get a point superstar the last five games. He casually added a couple more assists out of it and even that felt like a victory given their season-long problems tonight and looks awesome moving the puck. He played in his 200th coming from behind. career game tonight and it’s wild to think he’s already appeared in that many given how young he still is. I think it’s easy to take for granted Trailing 3-2 with under a minute to play, Colorado finally scored with the where Colorado’s defense is now but there’s still such a bright future on extra attacker this year and pushed a game they had lost into one they the horizon for that unit. Just get through this season and get to the would only sort of lose. Matt Calvert’s deflection of a Cale Makar shot growing pains with Bowen Byram (and maybe Conor Timmins?) and see injected a little life into the Avalanche but it didn’t carry into the extra what these guys can do. Girard and Makar each had game-changing period. moments in this one. I don’t know how the Avs lose in OT with these cats. They should figure that out. Anyway, mad appreciation for Girard Neither team really generated much in the way of quality chances in again tonight. overtime and the game-winning goal wasn’t anything outside of Francouz giving up another soft goal. It’s a hard life when you play okay in overtime Shoot the puck, Burakovsky. He got just a little too cute in overtime and (not good, not bad) and lose on a weak goal. eschewed an open look trying to make a crazy play to Makar on the backdoor. If it works, he’s a genius. If it doesn’t, I’m writing this bit about That’s Colorado’s problem right now. At least one thing is majorly him needing to shoot instead. That’s life when you have an odd-man rush misfiring every night and too often that thing is stopping pucks. in overtime and fail to register a shot on goal.

Colorado finally got on top of the special teams battle, keeping the BSN DENVER LOADED: 01.11.2020 Penguins from scoring on their PP chances and scoring on their own PP in the first period. They won special teams and then lost even strength.

That’s just how the cookie is crumbling once again for Colorado as they are repeating their December/January struggles of recent years. Now, their struggles this year haven’t quite been on the level of previous seasons but in a hyper-competitive Central Division, any opening will be filled by one of their division rivals.

After watching the Avalanche put themselves in position to scratch and claw until the final week of the season just to make the playoffs the last two years, this midseason swoon once again is betraying a strong start that positioned themselves for a more leisurely run to the postseason.

Instead, Colorado has lost second place in the division and sit just five points over Vancouver for being out of the playoffs entirely.

With four more home games this month before the All-Star break, Colorado badly needs to get back into the win column.

GAME TAKEAWAYS

Let’s just start with goaltending. It’s not good enough. Grubauer, Francouz, it hasn’t mattered. It just hasn’t been good enough from either of them lately. Francouz has now gotten two starts (Minnesota, tonight) when Grubauer was struggling and he gave up soft third period goals in each of those games and gave up a combined nine goals in those two games. Each time the Avs have opened the door a little for him to steal more playing time, he’s botched the opportunity. At some point, those opportunities will stop coming. 1170465 Columbus Blue Jackets

Flaws come back to haunt Columbus Blue Jackets as long points streak ends

Brian Hedger

Jan 10, 2020 at 10:29 PM

SAN JOSE, Calif — It started awhile ago, but the Blue Jackets have overshadowed their diminishing play with a run of great goaltending and a lot of gutsy wins.

Despite a flood of injuries that threatened to submerge the season in adversity, the Jackets rattled off 12 straight games with at least a point to claw back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Jackets went 8-0-4 between Dec. 9 and Jan. 2, finally losing in regulation to the San Jose Sharks a week ago in Columbus.

But trouble lurked.

The Jackets didn’t have much zip in that one, and the funk lagged into back-to-back games to start this week at Los Angeles and Anaheim. The Blue Jackets won both in find-a-way fashion, but the problems persisted.

Poor starts. Goals allowed early in periods. Difficulty clearing their own zone. Intermittent offensive pressure.

It all finally caught up with them Thursday night at SAP Center, where the Jackets weren’t able to mask their flaws in another loss to the Sharks — a 3-1 defeat in a disjointed game.

“I think the big part of the night was we just didn’t get a sustained forecheck until the end of the game,” captain Nick Foligno said. “We got running around a little bit in our end. That’s what they do, though. They funnel a lot of pucks at the net so it gets you scrambling as a defense, and we allowed that too much tonight.”

Actually, they’ve allowed it too much, period.

Going back to New Year’s Eve at Nationwide Arena, when the Jackets thumped former teammate Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers 4- 1, the Blue Jackets have been outshot in five of their past six games, including 37-28 in that game.

They were also outshot by the Kings (37-24) and Ducks (40-27) but won each game after falling behind early. The Sharks — a team that averages close to three shots more per game than it allows — also outshot the Blue Jackets twice in a six-day span, including 33-31 Thursday.

That’s not a brand of hockey the Jackets want to continue. Having nine injured players is part of it, as the roster stays afloat on the inspired play of replacements from the Cleveland Monsters, but how long can that last?

The Jackets have put together a memorable run to claw their way back into the playoff race amid a sea of adversity, but time has a way of exposing deficiencies. If the Jackets can’t correct theirs quickly, it will be even tougher Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where the Jackets will conclude their four-game western trip against the Golden Knights, who have a slow-start issue of their own to fix.

“I don’t think we were sharp,” coach John Tortorella said of the loss to the Sharks. “I don’t think we sustained enough constant forechecking. My biggest concern is just the start of periods. It’s an epidemic right now with our club, even though we’ve won some games.”

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170466 Columbus Blue Jackets

Carlsson patient despite limited NHL time

Brian Hedger

Jan 10, 2020 at 10:25 PM

SAN JOSE, Calif. — One of the offshoots of the Blue Jackets’ injury plague is hard to miss.

He’s a blond Swede who stands 6 feet 5, 192 pounds and was selected 29th overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2015 NHL draft. In case you’ve forgotten, his name is Gabriel Carlsson and he’s a rangy defense- oriented defenseman who’s still striving to make his NHL goals a reality.

“Sometimes it takes time,” said Carlsson, 23, who was recalled from the Cleveland Monsters on Dec. 26 along with Swedish forward Jakob Lilja. “Everyone develops differently, but my dream coming here is always to play in the NHL, and that’s what I just keep building for, even when I’m in the minors.”

Including this season, the “minors” is where Carlsson has spent the bulk of the past three seasons. After starting 2017-18 in the NHL, he’s been sidetracked by injuries — including a back issue last season — and has slugged it out with the Monsters in the American Hockey League.

It’s not the way he envisioned his career path going, especially after making his NHL debut in 2017 and logging five playoff games against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it’s become his road to the show.

“You’ve just got to stick with the process,” said Carlsson, who hasn’t scored in six games since being recalled. “Usually, as they say, it’s not a sprint. It’s kind of a marathon. It usually takes defensemen a little bit longer, and I’m still pretty skinny. I can develop that part of my body more.”

Until he does, Carlsson has a challenge to overcome.

In the NHL, winning one-on-one defensive battles is paramount to success. Assistant coach Brad Shaw said the job can be done without brute physicality — look no further than Markus Nutivaara — but Carlsson still needs to adapt.

“He has really put on a lot of strength, but he’s not a grizzly bear out there,” Shaw said. “He’s not going to maul a guy to death in the corner and, ‘Boy, look at that wrestling match.’ That’s not going to happen. So he has to find a way to go against a team’s best players because as much as we try and match things up, there’s always minutes you play against the top guys. You’ve got to find a way to not be on the wrong side of those equations.”

Ratings on the rise

The Blue Jackets might have lost a gaggle of star players to free agency last summer, but their interest locally continues to grow.

The latest Nielsen ratings for their broadcasts on Fox Sports Ohio are an example, showing an increase of 41 percent in average game rating from the same point of the season a year ago.

If their average audience rating of 2.12% of television households holds up through the end of the season, it would top the 2.09% rating in 2016- 17 as the highest-rated season in franchise history.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170467 Columbus Blue Jackets

Local ratings for Blue Jackets games on FOX Sports Ohio up 41%, pacing best in franchise history

FOX Sports Ohio

Jan 10, 2020 at 12:20p ET

According to Nielsen, the FOX Sports Ohio’s 2019-20 Blue Jackets regular season average game rating to date is 2.12 HH, which is up +41% to last year at the same number of games. Last season’s average of 1.61 HH is the third highest ever for the Jackets on FSO.

Their second highest rated season currently is their 2008-09 season (1.86 HH), when the Jackets had their first playoff berth.

The highest rated season in franchise history is the 2016-17 season (2.09 HH), when the club set numerous team records and made their third trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The current average is up +10% to the average rating at the same number of games in 2016-17 (1.94 HH).

2019-20 mid-season ratings highlights

#1 highest rated game of the season to date is the game from Nov. 29 against the Penguins, which posted a 3.08 HH.

#2 highest rated game this season to date is the game from Nov. 19 vs. Canadiens, which posted a 2.94 HH.

Games in the month of December averaged a 2.33 HH, on pace with the average December game rating in 2016 and up +50% to the average December game rating last year.

Five of the top 10 rated games so far this season came in December:

12/23 vs. Islanders 2.93 HH (3rd)

12/31 vs. Panthers 2.87 HH (6th)

12/19 vs. Kings 2.8 HH (7th)

12/3 vs. Coyotes 2.78 HH (8th)

12/5 vs. Rangers 2.77 HH (9th)

STREAMING & SOCIAL

All Blue Jackets programming televised on FSO streams live on FOX Sports GO. FOX Sports GO is currently available on mobile and tablet devices, including iOS and Android as well as foxsportsgo.com. FOX Sports GO is also available on connected devices including, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku Players and Roku TV, and Xbox One. Fans can download the app for free from the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Amazon App Store, Roku App Store, XBOX One App Store and Windows App Store. Fans can also stream the games directly through the Blue Jackets official mobile app. foxsportsohio.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170468 Columbus Blue Jackets Give Foligno the decision, but neither player appeared to land any significant punches.

“(Dillon) just came at me,” Foligno said. “I don’t know. Trying to get some Portzline: Failure to launch, and other observations from the Blue energy, trying to get us to go play a little more assertively. Jackets’ loss to San Jose “Didn’t work.”

Foligno led the Blue Jackets with four blocked shots and was tied for first By Aaron Portzline Jan 10, 2020 with three hits.

4. Shooter’s touch

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Ten observations from the Blue Jackets’ 3-1 loss to Sharks defenseman Brent Burns committed a massive turnover that led the San Jose Sharks on Thursday in SAP Center: to the Blue Jackets’ only goal.

1. One of those nights Burns tried to connect with Barclay Goodrow on a soft pass deep in his own zone, but he clearly misjudged Milano’s speed as he rocketed Slow starts have hurt the Blue Jackets on this road trip, not just slow through the left circle. starts to games, but also slow starts to periods. Milano gathered the puck on the dot, switched to his backhand and The Blue Jackets started this trip by falling behind 1-0 and winning in Los feathered the puck between the pads of Sharks goaltender Aaron Dell, Angeles and Anaheim, but they couldn’t snap out of their funk Thursday scoring an unassisted goal at 18:12 of the second. long enough to muster a comeback. Milano read that Dell was going for a poke-check so he adjusted “My biggest concern is just the start of periods,” Blue Jackets coach John accordingly. He adjusted in a way that only elite hockey goal-scorers Tortorella said. “It’s an epidemic right now with our club, even though would probably adjust. we’ve won some games. “When you see the stick come out, usually the five-hole opens up,” “Even though they didn’t score in the first period, they started really fast Milano said. “It’s pretty much automatic. If I see a poke-check, that’s on us. They scored a goal early in the second. Third period we killed off a where I’m going.” penalty and then, right away, we get scored on.” That’s Milano’s fifth goal of the season. The Sharks scored only 1:01 into the second period and 2:09 into the third. It continues a trend on this trip. 5. Elvis on a high wire

Monday in Los Angeles, the Kings scored just 1:26 into the game. In an otherwise dull first period, Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins Tuesday in Anaheim, the Ducks scored 3:06 into the game and 24 provided a chaotic scene that miraculously didn’t result in an early 1-0 seconds into the second period. lead for the Sharks.

“I don’t know what’s going on with the starts,” said Jackets forward Sonny Merzlikins, as he is wont to do, came out of his crease to play a puck Milano, who scored Columbus’ only goal. “Each period the starts aren’t below the goal line. Merzlikins might have misread how slowly the puck there. I don’t know what’s going on.” was coming to him along the woodwork. He might also have misread how quickly Labanc was arriving. That’s two losses to the Sharks in six days after a 3-2 loss in Columbus on Saturday. Either way, we can only guess that Merzlikins was screaming some variation of “sūdi, sūdi, SŪDI!” 2. The back-breaker Merzlikins confronted Erik Karlsson with the puck against the wall Milano’s goal with 1:18 remaining in the second period figured to give the momentarily before realizing he needed to high-tail it back into position. Blue Jackets some momentum. As he scurried, Labanc fired the puck into the slot.

The Sharks, after all, have been a horrible third-period team. Entering The puck caromed off the left skate of Vladislav Gavrikov and shot into Thursday’s game they’d been outscored by 25 goals (59-34) in the third the slot, where Nathan Gerbe was coming in so hot he couldn’t avoid period, one of the worst numbers in the league. kicking the puck back toward the net.

The Blue Jackets managed to kill off 54 seconds of a Sharks power play Merzlikins went full-on Superman, diving past Gavrikov at the near post, to start the third, but just when they should have hit launch sequence, the dropping his stick in midair so that he had full use of his right arm as he Sharks scored again. sailed across the goalmouth.

Brent Burns scored off a rebound as he skated across the hashmarks at It appeared that Merzlikins’ elbow grazed the puck, sending it along the 2:09 of the third, pushing the lead to 3-1. goal line. He then swatted the puck out of harm’s way near the far post, his stick bouncing on his back and coming to a rest in the crease. “You kill the penalty off and you hope you get going there,” Tortorella said. “I still think we’re right there. Even at 3-1, we’re right there, but that San Jose’s Evander Kane lifted his arms as if to celebrate a goal. hurts to kill the penalty off and get scored on right away.” 6. … on such a winter’s day 3. Fight, but fizzle This trip is the 20th time in Blue Jackets history that they’ve played all This has been a rough season offensively for Nick Foligno. He has only three California teams — San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles — on the four goals and 17 points, on pace for his lowest output since his early same road trip. Only once have they swept. years in the NHL with Ottawa. Believe it or not, the 2010-11 team, which did very few things right, pulled He’s gone 20 games since he last scored a goal, Nov. 29 against off the feat in November 2010. Pittsburgh. So frustration comes easily for the captain, one can safely assume. Ever since the Blue Jackets have been in the league, at least one of these teams has been a powerhouse. Some years getting through At 4:56 of the third, less than three minutes after the Sharks pushed the California has been a murderer’s row. lead to 3-1, Foligno flattened San Jose’s Kevin Labanc with a clean face- to-face hit along the wall. But that’s not the case this year. The Sharks, Kings and Ducks are sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Pacific Division. Foligno didn’t pull up on the hit, per se, but it could have been much worse if he wanted. 7. The secret? Ice cream

Still, Foligno was greeted by Sharks rugged defenseman Brenden Dillon, Zach Werenski can’t be sure where his current superstition began who immediately tossed his gloves and grabbed Foligno. exactly, but he guessed it was 20 games ago, or thereabouts. “My pregame meals change every day because it gets old eating the and had just 36.44 percent of five-on-five expected goals, so while the same thing,” Werenski said. “But I always finish with ice cream. quantity was close to that of the opponent’s, the quality was not.

“This year, maybe over the last 20 games, I’ve been eating even more • The expected goal total fell more or less in line with the final score as ice cream.” the Sharks were projected to beat the Blue Jackets 3.38 to 1.56. Money Puck’s ‘deserve to win o’meter’ had the Blue Jackets winning the game More? 17.5 percent of the time.

“Yeah, like two or three scoops,” Werenski said. “Well, three scoops, • Elvis Merzlikins performed above expectations compared with league yeah. Which … that’s a lot. average. He was plus-1.59 in terms of save percentage, meaning he “A lot of guys will reach in there with their spoons and have a taste of it, prevented .68 goals against. but I eat a lot of it. Like most of it.” • Quality chances were an issue for the Blue Jackets, but a familiar It’s vanilla with chocolate sauce, nothing fancy. But the more Werenski name, Zach Werenski, led the team in terms of individual expected goals eats the better he plays, or at least the better the results. (.39). No other Columbus skater was above .2, while five San Jose skaters were plus-.2 expected goals. He didn’t score Thursday against the Sharks, but he has nine goals in his past 12 games and leads NHL defensemen with 15 goals. • Werenski continues to prove he’s more than just a “defenseman.” In addition to leading the way in shot quality, the rover had nine shot Asked whether Blue Jackets director of high-performance Nelson Ayotte attempts and five individual scoring chances, both of which were team was aware of his caloric boost, Werenski smiled. highs for the game.

“I don’t know; I hope not,” he said. “I’ve just been going all out. I feel good • The top skaters according to game score: Sonny Milano (1.84); during the game, though. I’m not changing anything.” Alexander Wennberg (.78); Kevin Stenlund (.21); Nick Foligno (.54); Boone Jenner (.39). Werenski’s playing more than 23 minutes per game this season. He’s probably earning his carbs. — Data via MoneyPuck.com, Evolving-Hockey.com and NaturalStatTrick.com and reflects score- and venue-adjusted five-on-five Thursday, he led the Blue Jackets with 13 shot attempts, six of them on- play unless otherwise stated. net. The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 8. Face the music

It’s been a sore point for the past several seasons: the inability of the Blue Jackets centers — those not named Boone Jenner — to consistently win faceoffs.

But it’s rarely been this bad.

The Blue Jackets have been beaten soundly on the dot in each of the past six games, winning just 39.7 percent of draws (121 of 307) during that span. That includes 39 of 103 on offensive-zone faceoffs.

If you take Jenner (52 of 101) out of the overall equation, it drops to 33.5 percent.

9. Next: Elvis plays Las Vegas

Merzlikins had 30 saves and continued to play well in Joonas Korpisalo’s absence. He’s 4-0-2 with a .935 save percentage and 2.20 goals-against average.

There has been significant improvement in at least two areas:

• Merzlikins struggled earlier this season with shots to his glove side, but now he’s flashing the leather with confidence. After making saves on Evander Kane and Erik Karlsson on Thursday, he snapped his glove like Dave “The Cobra” Parker.

• The quickness of the North American game took some adjustment for Merzlikins, but his anticipation looks much smoother now as he picks up on NHL tendencies.

He’s expected to make his seventh consecutive start Saturday when the Blue Jackets play the Vegas Golden Knights.

It will be the first time Elvis has played Vegas since Dec. 12, 1976.

10. Subsidiaries

Tortorella moved to 12th on the NHL’s all-time games coached list at 1,302, passing Mike Babcock. … San Jose’s Joe Thornton played in his 1,612th NHL game, tied with Ray Bourque for 11th on the all-time list. … The Blue Jackets had their nine-game road point streak (6-0-3) snapped. It was the third longest in franchise history. … Thursday was the fifth consecutive game in which the Blue Jackets have allowed the first goal. … The Blue Jackets spent Thursday in San Jose and will travel to Las Vegas on Friday morning. They won’t practice Friday but will hold a full morning skate in T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

Alison Lukan’s analytics

The Athletic’s Alison Lukan provided these insights into the Blue Jackets’ loss:

• The Blue Jackets suffered an anticipated fate in San Jose. On the game, Columbus created 47.78 percent of all five-on-five shot attempts 1170469 Dallas Stars Pavelski has settled into a second line alongside young speedsters Roope Hintz and Denis Gurianov, who have 25 combined goals this season, including one each Thursday night in Anaheim. The trio has played together in the last four games. Expecting an ‘awkward’ reunion, Stars’ Joe Pavelski reflects on the toughest part of leaving the Sharks “There’s nights when you get the puck and those two are just flying,” Pavelski said. “You’re just bobbing it into places and they’re taking off. They’ve been playing just good quality hockey, and they’ve been using their strengths. I think our line, as we’ve stayed together a little longer, By Matthew DeFranks11:34 PM on Jan 10, 2020 have found a little bit more in-zone time and have found a little bit more success.”

SAN JOSE, Calif. — On Saturday night in Northern California, Joe Homecomings have become commonplace for the Stars during this road Pavelski will leave the team hotel, get on a bus, go to the visitors trip. Perry and Cogliano played in Anaheim on Thursday night for the first dressing room and occupy the bench on what will feel like the wrong side time since leaving the organization. During the first-period video tributes, of the red line. Pavelski got a peek into what Saturday night could hold for him.

He’s familiar with San Jose and the SAP Center, but not with the routine “You can see how much a place means to a player when they’ve played of entering his former home for 13 seasons as an intruder for the first there,” Pavelski said. “I would expect something similar.” time with the Stars. And Pavelski knows it’s going to be weird seeing teal Hanley down: The Stars reassigned Joel Hanley to AHL affiliate Texas on the other side of the ice. on Friday morning, potentially signaling the return of John Klingberg “Probably just seeing the jerseys is going to be the toughest part,” against the Sharks. Pavelski said. “Just be awkward in a lot of ways.” Klingberg has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury Pavelski, 35, left the cap-strapped Sharks over the summer to sign a suffered in the Winter Classic. Before he got hurt, Klingberg had eight three-year contract with the Stars that carries a $7 million cap hit. It was assists in his previous six games. the first time Pavelski hit free agency during his career, and the first time Twitter: @MDeFranks he had to envision somewhere other than the Bay Area as his home. Rolling seven Pavelski took visits to Dallas and Tampa Bay before ultimately deciding on the Stars, who enter Saturday on a six-game win streak and can tie The Stars tonight will try to match the Dallas franchise record with their the Dallas franchise record for with a seventh win in San Jose. seventh straight win. The four seven-game winning streaks in Big D:

“I always had a feeling that something would work out [in San Jose],” Season Dates Finish Pavelski said. “Until it didn’t, didn’t really give me any reason not to. … Until everything happens, there’s always thoughts both ways.” 1996-97 Mar. 16-Apr. 4 Conf. QF

Pavelski captained the Sharks for four seasons, and is all over the team’s 1997-98 Nov. 22-Dec. 5 Conf. finals record book. He ranks in the top three in franchise history in goals, 2007-08 Jan. 29-Feb. 11 Conf. finals assists, points, plus-minus, power-play goals, game-winning goals, shots on goal and hat tricks. 2019-20 Nov. 13-25

This season with Dallas, however, has been a struggle for Pavelski. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 01.11.2020 Entering Saturday night, he has eight goals in 44 games, putting him on pace for 15 goals for the season, his lowest output since his rookie season in 2006-07, when he split time between the NHL and AHL.

Pavelski isn’t alone in that regard. He’s one of five forwards on pace for historically poor seasons by personal standards. Pavelski and Tyler Seguin are on pace to score fewer goals than every season except their rookie campaigns. Jamie Benn, Corey Perry and Andrew Cogliano are on pace for the worst goal-scoring seasons of their careers. The Stars rank 24th in the league at 2.68 goals per game.

Despite the depressed scoring numbers, it’s still been the off-ice transition that has been hardest on Pavelski and his wife, Sarah, and son Nate.

“The hockey is always the easiest part,” Pavelski said. “The toughest part of the transition was probably the relationships we had here within the organization, outside. Just leaving those. This is what Nate has known. This is where we’ve kind of grown up in the hockey world. Leave that, that’s been the toughest part.”

Pavelski said he’s become more comfortable speaking up in the Stars dressing room as the season has progressed, first planting the seeds in the summer during informal skating sessions with a handful of teammates and then enduring the chaotic season Dallas has already endured — a 1-7-1 start, a fired coach, a Winter Classic victory and the best record in the league since Oct. 19.

People told Pavelski it would be a slow process, to erase the memory of 13 years in one place and start anew with a different coach, different teammates, different systems, different colors and a different number. Patrick Marleau, the 20-year Shark before spending two years in Toronto and then returning this season, was one of those people.

“Any advice, you start to see it coming and you think it’s going to easy, but this was a place where you know tendencies of teammates, you know the comfort levels — and I think I’m starting to get that in Dallas,” Pavelski said. 1170470 Dallas Stars

Bad blood: Stars’ Jamie Oleksiak fights Ducks’ Nicolas Deslauriers in rematch of 2015 scrap

By Matthew DeFranks7:41 AM on Jan 10, 2020

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Stars defenseman Jamie Oleksiak fought for the second time this season, dropping the gloves with Ducks fourth-line forward Nicolas Deslauriers during Thursday night’s 3-0 win over the Ducks.

The fight came immediately after Alexander Radulov’s goal made it 2-0 in the second period.

Deslauriers leads the NHL with 10 fights this season, double the next closest players in the league. It was also a rematch from Nov. 21, 2015, when Oleksiak was in his first stint with the Stars and Deslauriers was with Buffalo. Both players have been traded since that fight, when Oleksiak left Leslauriers bleeding from the back of his head.

“Apparently, that was a rematch from a couple of years ago,” Bowness said. “That’s the players. They dictate that. I didn’t even know that. I was told that they had a scrap a couple years ago, so that was a rematch. That’s hockey.”

Besides getting hit in the face by his own teammate, Dickinson was also trucked by Ducks defenseman Josh Manson in the third period.

Dickinson remained in the game.

Fortunate call

The Stars benefitted from poor officiating Thursday night, when they were rewarded with a power play mistakenly after Roman Polak accidentally hit teammate Jason Dickinson in the face with his stick.

Instead, Max Jones was assessed a two-minute minor for high-sticking. Radulov scored on the ensuring power play.

“It’s always frustrating, but those things happen quickly out there,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “The ref right away was quick to apologize. We just have to take it as that. The key there, not unlike the last game, we’ve got to get the kill there. We have to own that.”

Officials appeared to grant a make-up call later in the game when Polak was called for high-sticking.

Attempted highlights

Both Gurianov and Roope Hintz nearly scored highlight reel goals on Thursday night, with Gurianov trying to go between his legs on the rush to beat Gibson.

In the third period, a sliding Hintz nearly lifted a puck past Gibson after he was tripped entering the offensive zone.

Hintz iced the game with an empty-net goal with 3:04 left in the game.

“When they’re coming at you, you’re on your heels,” Bowness said. “You’re backing up. It’s working right now and we expect it to continue. Roope and Denis are going to keep getting better. They are. The more the experience they gain, the more confidence they gain, they’re just going to keep getting better.”

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170471 Dallas Stars In a way, the suspension allowed Perry to sit back in the suite and soak everything in.

“I don’t know if there’s any real easy way to do this,” Perry told The ‘He’s our jerk’: In his return to Anaheim, Ducks fans explain why they Athletic. “I don’t know if not playing is a better way to do it. Obviously, I’d love Corey Perry love to be out there. Or being on the ice and just forgetting about it. I don’t know what the best way is.”

Perry has never been naturally at ease in the spotlight. Even when he By Eric Stephens Jan 10, 2020 was up to his tricks — some of which were funny, some nasty — in full view of everyone, he would often rather slither away while others

commanded the attention. ANAHEIM, Calif. — Fandom is a wonderfully weird thing when it comes There was no way he was going to avoid the spotlight that greeted him in to how players are viewed, especially when feelings about a player are Anaheim. And he welcomed it. Appreciated it. During the first television often accompanied with swear words. timeout, the Ducks showed a video that included his greatest hits. There Broadly speaking, fans don’t like miscreants. Unless it’s their miscreant. were many. If he can play and do so at the highest of levels, a lot of behavior is • His first NHL goal. tolerated. And if he helps brings his team and his city a championship, then it makes him beloved. It makes people want his name and number • The final tally that kicked off the Game 5 party to claim the Cup. on the back of their cherished jerseys. • An overtime goal to beat the Kings that was part of his ridiculous team- Back in the day, it was Claude Lemieux. Not long ago, it was Chris carrying stretch run in 2011. Pronger. Brad Marchand? He fits the profile, hated in just about every NHL locale and beyond. Loved in Boston. Tom Wilson isn’t a star, but he • The hat-trick goal against San Jose that gave him 50 and applied the can play the game, he can irritate like no other and Washington fans finishing touch on his Hart Trophy season. adore him. • The gritty overtime effort at the Calgary net to send the Ducks into the [ Listen to Point Breakaway for more Ducks coverage ] 2015 Western Conference finals.

There was a Ducks home game Thursday night, but this was no run-of- • The weave around outstretched Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot in the the-mill midseason affair. Two of their most recent beloved stars returned second overtime to blow the roof off the arena in completing the to Honda Center for the first time since their departures. Their Comeback on Katella. appearances gave the 15,419 in attendance a moment of unified Finally, as the video finished, the entire crowd rose in unison and gave celebration in what’s developed into another dreary season. him an extended standing ovation. Perry took it in with his wife, Blakeny, You would have look all over the continent to find someone with a bad and their toddler son, Griffin. Emotions ran within him. word to say about Andrew Cogliano. But Corey Perry? Do a cursory “You’re going to get me to cry again,” Perry said, smiling when the scene search of his name on Twitter and then start listing the invectives that are was recalled afterward. “It’s special. Fourteen years. It’s a lot of games. A hurled about him. lot of goals, lot of points, lot of success. A lot of team success. There might be a complicated legacy for a player who has won every Championships. Personal success. major championship in the sport. But there is nothing complicated about “This is home. It was special.” how Ducks fans feel about Perry, who did most of that winning while affiliated with their team. It appeared overwhelming in his eyes, as he looked about the vast room as fans wouldn’t stop clapping. All the No. 10 jerseys with the familiar “A” “I think I would actually hate him if he was on a different team,” said near the left shoulder being worn. Michael Strecker, a Lake Elsinore resident who became a full-fledged Ducks fan after the club’s 2007 Stanley Cup triumph. “He’s kind of like a Frank Hernandez and his son, David, had theirs on. The two have Brad Marchand or someone like that. But he’s our little guy. He’s our jerk. regularly made the 30-mile trek from Eastvale to Anaheim. Frank proudly notes that he has “a Ducks family” in his household and that Perry “He’s always competing. He’s always looking for that edge. He just finds became one of its favorite sons. a way to make life hell for the other team. I love that tenacity. He’s a fighter. If he was on any other team but the Ducks, I would hate his guts. It wasn’t just the goals that he scored, of which there were 372, plus But I love him because he was so important for them for so many years.” another 36 in 118 playoff games.

Numerous No. 10 and No. 7 jerseys populated the crowd that came to “He would dish it out, but he also took a lot as well,” Frank said. “He see Perry and Cogliano get recognized for their extensive contributions would take the punishment to score. That was Corey Perry.” to a golden era of Ducks hockey. Both are with Dallas now, with Cogliano being traded to the Stars last February and Perry signing with them as a Courtney and Stephen Janes have cheered on Perry and the Ducks free agent over the summer after Anaheim bought him out of his contract. since he entered the NHL in 2005. Courtney has been a proud worshipper at the right wing’s altar since his days tearing up the Ontario As usual, Cogliano was in uniform, as he was for every single night Hockey League for the London Knights. She has a tattoo of Perry’s except two over 7 ½ seasons with the Ducks. Those two games, as you signature on her left wrist, etched on in permanence at a parlor near firmly know, were the result of a controversial suspension that ended one LAX. of the longest consecutive game streaks in NHL history. He did what he does, giving max effort on his defensive-minded shifts and doing Courtney Janes has a tattoo of Corey Perry’s signature. (Eric Stephens / whatever he could to keep his former team from scoring. The Athletic)

Meanwhile, Perry was up in Suite 316A of the arena’s second level. He “For me, I really liked his speed and his grit,” Courtney said while wearing wore a blue suit and hung out with his family instead of playing against a current Perry jersey in the green Stars colors. “I know that’s not really a the Ducks, as he did for the first time back in October in Dallas. The thing anymore. The NHL’s kind of going with the small guys, the fast irony, is course, is that the winger wasn’t on the ice because of a guys, the puck possession. But back then, when he was coming up with suspension that was as close to universal in agreement as one can get. (Ryan) Getzlaf, it was about the big guys that could push you around but have the nice hands and do fancy work. And he was able to do that when There was no walk of shame made in front of the crowd Thursday night. he was younger. The Ducks were going to honor one of their greatest players, a star for 14 seasons who rose from being a talented and prickly first-round pick to “I remember sitting at home when he got his hat trick to score 50 goals. one of the franchise’s twin pillars. Once the Ducks knew he would join That’s an Ovechkin thing. With Alex Ovechkin, you’re talking prime-time the Stars on their West Coast road trip, it was all about getting his guys. … Him and Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan on that line for a while — that blessing to do it now, rather than wait for the team’s return visit to RPG Line. That was just incredible to watch. It was just fun. It was fun Anaheim in April. hockey.” Her husband, Stephen, could relate to Perry. He played sports but wasn’t His 16 shorthanded goals tie him with Kariya for the most in franchise the strongest or most athletic guy. His dad always told him to combat that history. A video tribute during the second TV timeout showed his biggest by doing whatever he could to win. If that meant occasionally getting in goal, a tying score in the wild 2017 playoff series against the Oilers that someone’s face, then do it. If it meant annoying your opponent, then allowed the Ducks to end their Game 7 hex. But it was his determination don’t hesitate. But back that up by playing well. to show up to work every single day and give everything he had that earned his own standing ovation. When it came to watching Perry in action, Stephen said, “Yeah, he’d get in your face and talk trash. Talk smack. But he’d turn around and score On multiple occasions, Cogliano was nominated for the Masterton three goals against you. Easily. And he’d do it from the blue line. He’d do Trophy by the Anaheim PHWA chapter, and he was a finalist for the it up against the net. He’d do it anywhere. He was just good. Just really, award in 2017. He never let any ailment or illness stop him from suiting really good.” up. That is where he feels people could best connect with him. It is that connection that he’ll always keep close to his heart. It is those antagonizing moments that brought a smile to Cam Fowler’s face. “With how I play the game, sometimes I don’t score the most goals,” Cogliano said. “But I think people appreciate hard work. And I think as a “My dad still talks about this all the time,” said Fowler, Perry’s teammate fan, that was the one thing I always heard from people when I met fans for nine seasons. “There was a TV timeout and there’s video of Corey or met people. They appreciate my work ethic and how hard I worked on Perry squirting water into another player’s glove (that would be the Kings’ the ice and how I played the game and how I gave it 100 percent every Jeff Carter). That’s typical Pears. game.

“We got to see a lot of that behind the scenes. He would do it to his “Not only as a player but as a human being, I think that’s what I grab teammates and to other players. My dad still talks about that story until onto. And that’s how I do prepare and play. When people recognize that, this day.” I think it makes me feel good.”

That was the sneaky shady Corey Perry at work. There was the Corey After he acknowledged the crowd from the ice, Cogliano saw Getzlaf Perry who went over the line, reflected in three career suspensions that across the way and smiled. “Getz thought it was too long,” he chirped. included the hit to the head of Nashville’s Ryan Ellis during this season’s “It’s cool. Some of my best friends still are on that side.” But the return Winter Classic. The result was a five-game ban and, most embarrassing, gave him the chance to bring up the memory of playing with Ryan Kesler a trudging walk made in front of 80,000-plus at the Cotton Bowl and a and Jakob Silfverberg on the Ducks’ famed shutdown line that was a national TV audience. Dirty is the word most affixed to him, but others of critical part of multiple Pacific Division teams and two runs to the the foul variety are often in tow. conference finals.

Fowler doesn’t doubt that he would be frustrated if he had to regularly “Playing with those guys were probably the best years of my career, to play against Perry. But if he’s on your side, he’s a beloved teammate and be honest,” he said. “You see what Silvy does now. I was the ball-and- better friend. Perry broke the news of his Ducks buyout to the chain on him maybe at times.” defenseman on Fowler’s bachelor-party trip. Still, Cogliano’s years wearing the webbed-D logo earned widespread “He plays with a lot of heart,” Fowler said. “For being a rather skinny guy, admiration. he took a beating in front of the net. He wasn’t afraid to get in the dirty areas. Stick up for teammates. Do all the things that fans love in a player. “Obviously, the amount of games that he was able to string together in a Was gritty with his work ethic. row, he was just a true professional,” Fowler said. “Came to work every day. Played hard, enjoyed what he did and made it fun to be around “And then to have a combination of that and just that pure goal-scoring him.” touch is not something that you see very often. For playing his whole career here — obviously now he’s moved on to Dallas — but winning a Cogliano could enjoy a 3-0 Stars win over the club that moved him to Stanley Cup here, that’s something that fans remember and will love until usher in its roster redo. Perry had to do it from a self-inflicted distance. his career is over.” He offered contrition immediately after his hit on Ellis, but makes no apology for the way he has played the game for many years. When it does end for the 34-year-old, it figures it won’t be too long before No. 10 joins Nos. 8, 9 and 27 in the Honda Center rafters. If you’re new “That’s me in a nutshell, I guess. Right?” Perry said of the love/hate view to this hockey deal, that’s Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya and Scott of him. “Yeah, there were goals. Sometimes there was other stuff. Niedermayer. But that’s well into the future for Perry, who is adamant that Something had to be done to start something and get the team going. he still has a lot of good hockey left and won’t think about a possible We’re losing 2-0 and we need a spark. Those are things that I took under jersey retirement until long after he is done. my wing and kind of did it on my own. Nobody had to really tell me to go out and do it. It was just something I had to do over the years, and it was But the momentous return reflected the legacy that Perry left in Anaheim. effective. Before the game, the Ducks surprised him with an assembly of people close to his heart. Selanne was among them, as well as Getzlaf, Fowler “People really appreciated it. Some people might not on different teams. and John Gibson, plus Francois Beachemin and Todd Marchant, two But, you know, so be it.” other old favorites now in organizational roles. The fans who love their favorite hellion wouldn’t have it any other way. COREY PERRY GOT EMOTIONAL AS HE WAS SURPRISED PRIOR Thursday night showed there is one place where he will never be the TO TONIGHT'S GAME BY A GATHERING OF FORMER DUCKS object of scorn. TEAMMATES, EXECUTIVES AND 50 KIDS FROM THE LEARN TO PLAY PROGRAM CO-SPONSORED BY PERRY AND RYAN GETZLAF, Upland resident Mike McAdams, who has had season tickets since 2004, AS THEY HONORED HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN ANAHEIM wishes that Perry would have retired as a Duck. AND 1,000 NHL GAMES. PIC.TWITTER.COM/QUV0PPPT1N “Especially the way the season is going,” McAdams said. “I mean, he — ANAHEIM DUCKS (@ANAHEIMDUCKS) JANUARY 10, 2020 couldn’t have really hurt our team. His contract, of course, perhaps. But, man, just his presence. It’s sad.” What particularly cracked Perry’s friendly but often stoic exterior was the presence of 50 kids who are part of the Learn to Play program that he It was everything that Perry did. He would get in your head. And then he and Getzlaf founded in 2013. Thousands have learned about hockey would go about beating you. since its inception. The hope is that some will take it up competitively or “He could back up his antagonism by scoring,” McAdams said. “When he at least make it theirs as the next wave of fans. was Corey Perry, he could score and antagonize. Energize the team “When you build foundations, they never get broken,” Perry said. “But when we were successful. That was it. you do miss them. It was tough today. It was an emotional day. And it’s “But that was what was great about Kesler as well. Same thing. You get still going to be emotional.” under their skin as irritation but score and lead the team to victory. Corey It wasn’t just that way for him. Cogliano came to Anaheim as a first-round Perry was that. That was what he was. Spectacular. Great player. Irritate pick who didn’t live up to offensive expectations in Edmonton. He remade people. Get them off their game. Score goals.” his game with the Ducks, turning himself into a shutdown artist and ace penalty killer who could still score here and there. Ducks coach Dallas Eakins knows. He didn’t have Perry as a player but watched him terrorize the Oilers during his 18 months as their coach. He professed his own appreciation for someone who also grew up in Peterborough, Ontario.

“I’m sure if Corey was playing, he would find a way to piss us all off and dislike him,” Eakins said. “But that’s why he’s so great.”

“He talked the talk,” Stephen Janes said. “He walked the walk. He did all that stuff. And for me personally, if you did a Mount Rushmore of Ducks players, it’s got to be Kariya, Selanne, Getzlaf and him. Those four guys.

“You can put those guys on there, and I don’t think anybody would argue or complain with you.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170472 Dallas Stars 6. The Stars’ other goal was Gurianov-esque when Alexander Radulov made it 2-0 on the power play in the second period.

Bishop sprung Tyler Seguin on a stretch pass, who fired and collected Stars 20/20: No comeback needed as Ben Bishop pitches shutout and his own rebound before finding Alexander Radulov for the finish. adds assist for good measure It’s a reversal of what you’d typically expect from the Stars’ two power- play units. The unit with Hintz and Gurianov is more known as the rush attackers, while the Seguin unit is expected to create more after By Sean Shapiro Jan 9, 2020 establishing time in the zone.

When things are varied, like we mentioned earlier, this team becomes much more dangerous. ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Dallas Stars extended their win streak to six games with a 3-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. It is important to note that Radulov’s goal was the result of a blown call by the officials. 1. No comeback was needed this time. Max Jones was called for high-sticking Jason Dickinson, but that didn’t After trailing in their prior five games and needing a comeback in each, happen. Dickinson, who has a propensity for getting hit in the face, was the Stars extended their win streak to six games in comfortable, albeit actually high-sticked by his own teammate in Roman Polak. The referees uneventful fashion. apologized to the Ducks after realizing they blew the call, but there’s also Dallas took advantage of opportunities on special teams, limited nothing they can do at that point to take it back. Anaheim’s chances to minimal damage and the rest was easily taken It was a fortunate break for the Stars and they capitalized. care of by Ben Bishop in his second shutout of the season. 7. No matter how the power play happened, it was Bishop’s 11th career The Ducks aren’t a good team, they are quite bad actually, but the Stars assist and most of Bishop’s career assists have come in similar fashion took care of things like they needed to on the second game of a back-to- — it’s the second period, and he’s caught a team on a change or on the back. power play with what the Stars coaches like to call a “Bish-up.” 2. Dallas scored twice on three power-play opportunities and have struck It wasn’t the biggest goalie point of the night, however. Over in Nashville with the man advantage in four straight games. Predators goalie Pekka Rinne scored into an empty net against the Since the end of the holiday break, which is when this win streak started, Chicago Blackhawks. the Stars have gone 7-for-20 on the power play and have gotten The goalie union is a supportive one, and after the game when reporters contributions from a handful of players. entered the locker room, Bishop was walking into the room to tell Anton There have been some consistent elements, but the variation and Khudobin that Rinne had scored. Bishop was almost giddy about it and movement within the power play has been the key to success. The puck mentioned to Khudobin that it wasn’t just Rinne getting credited with a is moving faster and more efficiently, players are winning battles when goal, but a real one where he fired the length of the ice. the puck isn’t on their stick and specific young players are trusting their Bishop also said he’d love to score a goal at some point in his career. shot more than ever before. 8. When it comes to the main part of his job description, stopping pucks, 3. When he was brought up to Dallas to run the power play, Stars Bishop was perfect on Thursday and stopped all 27 shots. assistant coach Derek Laxdal wanted to find ways to better unlock Denis Gurianov on the power play, particularly as a one-timer trigger. There weren’t any highlight-reel stops required and the Stars did a good job of eliminating any chances in the slot and on the rush. The Ducks There was also more of a focus on better connecting Roope Hintz and also did their part in messing up offensively, case in point in the first Gurianov, similar to the power play setup the Texas Stars rolled out period they had a two-on-one after a Stars turnover and didn’t even get during their run to the 2018 Calder Cup Finals. off a shot. That plan came to fruition when Gurianov blasted a one-timer past John 9. Bishop was playing the second game of a back-to-back, and typical Gibson on a feed from Hintz in the first period for the only goal Dallas hockey wisdom often states the starting goalie gets the first game of a would need. back-to-back. It’s the second one-timer goal from that spot Gurianov has had since the The Stars have gone against that trend recently and had Khudobin coaching change after he scored on a similar play against the Colorado handle the front end of the back-to-backs while Bishop has played in the Avalanche on Dec. 28. latter game. It’s something that both goalies are on board with and both 4. Gurianov was also a threat in his typical fashion, burning up and down have enjoyed the communication that goes into who starts and why. the ice and putting defenders on their heels with his speed. The exact reasons are typically kept hidden, Stars goalie coach Jeff It’s something the Ducks are well aware of and back in October the fleet- Reese doesn’t like to divulge too much, but Bishop did indicate that footed Russian had scored both goals on the rush in a 2-1 Stars win in before the Stars left Texas for this trip Reese had discussed his past Dallas. success against the Ducks as a reason for the decision.

On Thursday he nearly added to his highlight reel and got a shot off 10. Anaheim only had one shot on the power play in two opportunities. between his legs while on the rush. Power plays in Southern California seem to be fizzling out this season. Going between the legs isn’t that difficult; all NHL players can probably 11. This is the first time since 2005-06 season the Stars have had two do it and Bishop even takes shots between the legs with a goalie stick six-game win streaks in a season. If they win against the San Jose during warmups. But to do it with a man on his back, like Gurianov did, is Sharks on Saturday, it will be the first time in franchise history they’ve a remarkable play. had two seven-game win streaks in the same campaign. 5. Gurianov became the fifth Stars player to hit double-digit goals, joining 12. John Klingberg missed his third consecutive game but did skate for Jamie Benn (10), Alexander Radulov (13), Tyler Seguin (11) and Roope the first time since the Winter Classic on Thursday morning. Hintz (15). Klingberg skated for a little more than 30 minutes with assistant coach Hintz added to his total and scored into the empty net to make it 3-0 in Todd Nelson and Corey Perry, Justin Dowling and Joel Hanley. the third period. There wasn’t much of a formal update from Bowness on what that means Hintz and Gurianov are re-writing the narrative about the Stars 2015 draft for Saturday in San Jose. From my vantage point, Klingberg didn’t seem and have fit well with Joe Pavelski. Another reporter had a good hindered at all, which is a positive. comparison when he asked Stars interim coach Rick Bowness about that line, comparing Pavelski to a conductor working with two bright young 13. The Stars rolled out the same lineup they used on Wednesday in Los musicians. Angeles: Jamie Benn — Tyler Seguin — Alexander Radulov That Eaves trade could quietly be one of the better deals Jim Nill made as a general manager. By flipping Eaves for a first-round pick, the Stars Denis Gurianov — Roope Hintz — Joe Pavelski were able to come out of the first round in 2017 in Chicago with Andrew Cogliano — Radek Faksa — Blake Comeau Heiskanen and potentially their goalie of the future, Jake Oettinger.

Mattias Janmark — Jason Dickinson — Joel Kiviranta 18. Oleksiak fought Deslauriers in the second period in an old-fashioned off the draw, gloves-tossed bout. Esa Lindell — Roman Polak It was a good fight for the Ducks. Jamie Oleksiak — Miro Heiskanen The Stars lost a top-four defenseman for five minutes, while the Ducks Andrej Sekera — Taylor Fedun simply lost a fourth-line forward who happens to lead the league in fights.

The Ducks countered like this: It was the Stars’ fourth fight of the season and second by Oleksiak, who also fought Chris Stewart in Philadelphia. Adam Henrique – Ryan Getzlaf – Daniel Sprong After the game, Bowness said it was a player-driven fight, since Max Comtois – Isac Lunderstrom – Ricard Rakell Deslauriers and Oleksiak have a history. That history happened back on Max Jones – Sam Steel – Ondrej Kase Nov. 21, 2015. That’s more than four years in the past, and both players have been traded twice since that tilt. Nicolas Deslauriers – Devin Shore – Carter Rowney It’s not the type of history, in my view, that was worth a bout, and it gave Hampus Lindholm – Josh Manson the Anaheim crowd the only life it ever really had in the game.

Cam Fowler – Erik Gubrandson 19. On a prospect note, the OHL trade deadline is Friday. We’ll soon find out where Stars top prospect Thomas Harley will finish the season and if Jacob Larsson – Korbinian Holzer he gets moved by Mississauga. 14. Perry was didn’t play in this game as he continues to serve a five- We’ll also see Stephen Johns play hockey Friday for the Texas Stars at game suspension, but he was honored with a tribute video by the Ducks the start of his conditioning stint. Even on an off day for the NHL team, in his return to the building where he played the first 13 years of his there will be something to follow. career. 20. Through 44 games, the Stars have allowed a league-low 105 goals. While he wasn’t playing, Perry did meet with media members on Thursday morning before skating on the Honda Center ice for the first Winning the Jennings Trophy was something the team aimed for last time as a non-Duck. season and ultimately missed out when it went to the New York Islanders. As we move into the second half of the season, it’s going to be Perry joked that some things were very much the same: He said hello to the Stars and the Islanders again in that race for the title of the NHL’s the same arena workers that would greet him each day for more than a most defensively stout team. decade at Honda Center. Perry and Pavelski also talked about returning back to an old home, which Pavelski will do on Saturday in San Jose, The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 and there really isn’t an easy way to prepare for it.

15. Cogliano also made his return to Anaheim and was honored with his own tribute video.

Cogliano doesn’t hold the same cache that Perry has in Anaheim, but he was both a fan and teammate favorite during his time with the Ducks.

16. Earlier Thursday I wrote about Cogliano’s impact in Dallas. That trade was also a big change and eye-opening moment for Shore, who was sent to Anaheim in the deal.

“It’s been exciting, it’s part of being a pro hockey player. Especially the league now with the cap and everything, not many players expect to play for one organization their whole career,” Shore said. “You don’t really think it about it on the day-to-day, but kind of from the overhead view, you realize the reality of it all. It’s been a fun change, it’s a great place to call home. I have a lot of memories in Dallas, but I’m making new memories here.”

Shore said the trade, which happened on Jan. 14, was a crash course into the fact hockey is a business.

“You’re told about it. Whether it’s older guys in the league or before you get to become a pro, they tell you to enjoy college because it becomes a business,” Shore said. “So you know it, but it’s a real eye-opener when you get traded.”

17. Another former Star was on the ice on Thursday morning, even if his playing career is over.

Patrick Eaves was traded from the Stars to the Ducks for a first-round pick during the 2016-17 season and re-signed with Anaheim that summer. Since signing that contract, he’s only played nine games for the Ducks while dealing with a series of injuries, including a life-threatening muscle disease.

Eaves skated with the Ducks during the optional morning skate in a track suit. During home games he helps the Ducks in an eye-in-the-sky role from the press box.

He’s still one of the nicest people you’ll meet; we had a great conversation during the second intermission. He also still has one of the best beards you’ll ever see. 1170473 Dallas Stars But he keeps going and you can tell how much he loves the game, you respect that and he has a fire in him to go out and play that style of game. He doesn’t play an easy game.”

One year after trade from Anaheim to Dallas, Andrew Cogliano thriving On the ice, Cogliano has been a constant for a forward group that has with Stars been shuffled like a deck of cards for much of the past two seasons.

Since his arrival, Cogliano has been a fixture on the Stars’ checking line with Comeau and Radek Faksa. While other lines have been altered to By Sean Shapiro Jan 9, 2020 the umpteenth degree, the “FCC” line has been a constant and often gets the toughest matchups, particularly when the Stars have last change at

home. LOS ANGELES — Andrew Cogliano was air-dropped into chaos. That line has played 27 games together this season, a side effect of That was the state of the Dallas Stars in January 2019 when Cogliano Comeau’s injury on opening night. At even strength, bad things rarely was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in a one-for-one deal for Devin happen. Whatever your preferred shot metric, the FCC line tends to fair Shore. The trade, which took place on Jan. 14, came roughly two weeks rather well. Their CorsiFor checks in at 52.53 percent and heading into after Jim Lites’ notorious comments about Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn Wednesday’s game in Los Angeles the line had an edge in expected — and two days after then Stars coach Jim Montgomery lamented that goals of 8.35 to 6.98 according to Natural Stat Trick. he was very frustrated that he hadn’t been able to “change the culture of The knock on the line, and it’s a fair one, is that they aren’t finishers and mediocrity.” have only been on the ice for four goals together at even strength. All Over eight seasons, Anaheim had become home — a place where three players have talked about upping their offensive output. Cogliano and his wife were preparing to welcome their first child. He was When that line does score, like Comeau did in the Winter Classic, it’s ripped out of that environment and taken to the dramatic center of the typically a goal that comes with outside help from that trio, like when NHL: a franchise that seemed ready to implode from within. Dickinson made it happen on the zone entry in the Cotton Bowl. Of the Roughly a year since the trade, in a week when Cogliano returns to 16 goals Faksa, Comeau, and Cogliano have combined for this season, Anaheim for the first time, he reflected on the deal. only three of them came with a primary assist from another member of the FCC line. “It was difficult. I think my experience got me through, and it made me more comfortable as the season went on,” Cogliano said. “I thought it While this partly falls on the players, it’s also a lesson in understanding was a team that really wanted to have success, but they didn’t seem to proper roles and game situations. This really is a shutdown line, and have the stability … They’d have good years and bad years, make the neither team is likely going to score when they are on the ice. Effectively playoffs and miss the playoffs … So that’s the one thing I noticed. It felt shortening a 60-minute game to a 45-minute one is a great asset, but it’s like there was a lot of pressure to make the playoffs and for the team to also something needs to be kept in mind when a team is trailing, win, which can really dig into you when times are tough.” particularly in the third period.

Dallas wasn’t expecting Cogliano to be a savior, but the Stars were Controlled, zero-sum hockey is, however, extremely valuable when hoping he’d be part of the solution for a team that was desperately shorthanded. Cogliano, Comeau, and Faksa have all been heavily searching for something close to consistent quality. For Stars general involved with the Stars penalty kill, and Dallas ranks sixth in the NHL at manager Jim Nill and Montgomery, the ancillary leadership was lacking. 82.9 percent heading into Wednesday. There weren’t enough even-keel veterans surrounding Benn and Seguin Comeau is second on the team in average shorthanded time on ice for who could help guide the team when needed. Remember, this was a forwards with 2:21 per game (Dickinson leads the team at 2:23), while season where the Stars stripped away the “A” from both Jason Spezza Faksa ranks third (1:45) and Cogliano ranks fifth (1:38). and Alexander Radulov. Cogliano’s role on the penalty kill is particularly interesting since he rarely This isn’t a shot at Shore, whom the Stars liked as a player; the then-24- is out for faceoffs. Of Cogliano’s 123 shorthanded shifts this season. 103 year-old simply wasn’t that player at this point in his career. He was a of them have come on the fly, more than any other player. Only Mattias good teammate and perhaps the most well-liked person on the team. But Janmark (88 of his 103 PK shifts started on the fly) is used in a similar he wasn’t a leader who commanded the respect Cogliano did. fashion. Comeau, for example, has 104 shorthanded shifts and 55 of Cogliano’s addition also had an interesting impact on the other players them have started with faceoffs. the Stars had brought in to be ancillary leaders. Blake Comeau and For Cogliano, it’s an important part of an aggressive forecheck that helps Roman Polak were signed as much for their hockey acumen as their disrupt opposing chances before they have an opportunity to get set up leadership qualities, but had been a bit hesitant to grab the room as their in the offensive zone. Stars interim coach Rick Bowness said the role own since they were still the “new guys.” requires a combination of speed and intelligence. The right angles have But adding another new guy, one without any qualms about speaking up, to be taken, and even if Cogliano or Janmark aren’t getting on the puck Comeau and Polak shook off any prior hesitation about their place to right away, they are at least taking some of the space away from the speak up. opposing breakout.

“Just the presence he has in the locker room and the leadership, he’s “I’ve always been good up ice, so it’s always been a strength,” Cogliano been around the league for a long time, and he’s a guy that does said. “I haven’t really thought about it too much. But I guess I’ve always everything right when he shows up to the rink,” Comeau said. “So when thought that was my strength as a penalty killer, I get up the ice fast and I he speaks up, everyone listens. He doesn’t ask anyone else to can disrupt with my speed and use to my advantage coming off the something he won’t do, so it really helped our locker room.” bench.”

That happened recently. According to a couple of players, when the Cogliano compared it to adding a little bit of chaos for the opposing Stars went to Arizona and were complacent in the first period, Cogliano power play, messing up the flow of what should be a constant situation. was the one who vocally held them accountable during the first It’s ironic, because since his arrival the winger, has done his part to help intermission. do the opposite and control a bit of chaos for the Stars.

Coaches and managers love to talk about the examples set by veteran The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 players. It happens so often that it becomes a cliche, so when it comes from someone in a suit we almost have to second-guess that sentiment.

The team’s young players have organically discussed Cogliano’s impact. The forward doesn’t set out to be an example, but other players notice how he’s the first player on the ice before every practice and often one of the last players to leave the locker room.

“He cares so much about the guys and the game,” Jason Dickinson said. “You get guys that play for a while and you see they lose that passion. 1170474 Detroit Red Wings

Dylan Larkin’s shootout goal gives Detroit Red Wings 3-2 win over Senators

Paul Harris, Associated PressPublished 11:05 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2020 | Updated 11:05 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2020

DETROIT — Dylan Larkin scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 win over the skidding Ottawa Senators on Friday night.

Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist, and Larkin also scored in regulation for Detroit (12-30-3). Red Wings defenseman Filip Hronek had two assists. Jonathan Bernier made 29 saves and thwarted Tyler Ennis, Anthony Duclair and Artem Anisimov in the tiebreaker.

It was the Red Wings’ third win in five games, the first time they’ve done that since Nov. 8-16.

Colin White had a goal and an assist and Brady Tkachuk also scored for Ottawa, which lost its season-high sixth straight. Marcus Hogberg stopped 26 shots.

White’s power-play goal with 9:18 left in the second period tied it at 2. He tipped in defenseman Mike Reilly’s shot from the point for his fourth goal.

Larkin’s power-play goal 5:32 into the middle period gave Detroit a 2-0 lead. He skated through three Ottawa players in the neutral zone and the Senators end and stuffed the puck past Hogberg as Larkin cut across the top of the crease from right to left. It was his 11th goal.

Tkackuk put Ottawa on the board just 22 seconds later when his attempted pass from the side of the net went in off the skate of Red Wings defenseman Patrik Nemeth. It was Tkachuk’s 14th goal.

Bertuzzi gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead with 5:05 left in the first period when he tipped in Hronek’s shot-pass. It was Bertuzzi’s 16th goal.

The Red Wings host the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170475 Detroit Red Wings somewhat unfair to pin that on the coaching staff at this point. The injuries make it really difficult to really know what you truly have.

“There's nothing you can do about it. You work your way around it and it Steve Yzerman on Detroit Red Wings, rebuild & trade deadline: I won't gives other players an opportunity to play. For our coaching staff, it gives be passive them an opportunity to try different things. You're kind of forced to get creative a little bit, play players in different positions, adjust the systems you play a little bit. Try new things because you're trying to figure it out. You try to put a positive spin on things and learn from it all." Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 9:56 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2020 | Updated 11:11 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2020 Detroit Free Press LOADED: 01.11.2020

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman aims to continue a trend of adding draft picks at the NHL trade deadline, and has tentative plans to give his first pick an audition this spring.

In an interview released Friday by the team (watch below), Yzerman touched on the state of the 31st place Wings, head coach Jeff Blashill, prospects Moritz Seider and Filip Zadina and top rebuilding blocks Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Filip Hronek.

Yzerman has not held a news conference with media since training camp. He reiterated what he said then and when he was named GM last April: That he will take as much time as he needs to familiarize himself with everyone in the organization.

The Wings are in a rebuild, and are headed for a fourth straight draft lottery. That, however, doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to see his players compete.

“We can sit and float through the season and not try — that won't do anyone any good and that's not going to happen," Yzerman said in a video interview with team radio play-by-play announcer Ken Kal. “Every player is looking to use the second half to improve and they will be expected to improve and will be held to a standard to improve and gradually become a better hockey team.”

One of Yzerman’s top focal points is the draft. Last year he stunned pundits — and Seider — when he selected the German defenseman at sixth overall. The 2020 trade deadline is Feb. 24 but while the Wings will be sellers, the players they would like to move have limited value. Veterans Jimmy Howard, Trevor Daley, Mike Green and Frans Nielsen have struggled this season, and aren’t likely to yield much on the market.

“My plan isn't to be passive,” Yzerman said. “Certainly, I'm looking for ways to build for the future and trying to acquire draft picks or prospects or young players that can come into the organization sooner or later.”

As hinted at Thursday by Blashill, the Wings may take a look at Seider during the second half of the season. The 18-year-old has impressed in Grand Rapids, and giving him nine games in Detroit would stop short of triggering his entry-level contract. Prospects Joe Veleno and Gustav Lindstrom could also get a call-up.

"Potentially, yes,” Yzerman said. “I don't have anything set in stone but that's definitely something in the back of our mind. You have to take into consideration the nine and the 10 games as far as counting toward a year of pro. Do we bring up the Velenos and Seiders and give them a feel for the NHL? I won't say absolutely you're going to see this player or that player here, but I think it's safe to assume that at some point some of these young guys will get up here and play some games as the season winds down.

“You look at some of the first-year players who are trying to make it here in Detroit like a Zadina or the kids in the American Hockey League. We're trying to assess where they're at and what their long-term potential is. As everyone knows, we're rebuilding and I'm trying to watch and get to know every single player and they're all at different stages of their careers. With our veteran players, where do they fit in the short term and even the long term? You need players to play. We need to surround the Dylans, the Hroneks and the Manthas with a group of players that help them develop and compete on a nightly basis and gradually get better.”

Yzerman often watches practices from the family room at Little Caesars Arena, and is at most home games. It has been a tough season for the Wings, who lost top defenseman Danny DeKeyser to injury after eight games, and are currently without top-six forwards Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou.

“We've had injuries from day one of training camp,” Yzerman said. “Regardless of injuries, our record and our team's performance is 1170476 Detroit Red Wings Blashill said there have not been discussions about bringing Seider up for a look “in the immediate future.” If he is brought up, he’d likely max out at nine games so that his entry-level contract does not kick in.

The Detroit Red Wings are in last place. So why aren't more top “Steve will make the the final determination on whether or not he’s up prospects in the lineup? and how long he’s up and those types of thing,” Blashill said. “There is a lot of different factors at play, including, most importantly, his own development.”

Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 6:00 a.m. ET Jan. 10, Seider is only 18, and the organization likes where he is at in Grand 2020 Rapids, adapting to the North American game out of the spotlight of the NHL. He is second among Griffins defensemen with 12 points in 28

games. Dennis Cholowski, drafted 20th overall in 2016, has three assists With the Detroit Red Wings bottoming out in the NHL standings, why in 12 games since being demoted mid-December after starting the aren’t more of their top prospects getting a chance to show what they can season with the Wings. do? The list of former Wings-drafted first-round picks in GR includes forward The answer is injuries and inconsistency. Evgeny Svechnikov, drafted 19th overall in 2015. He missed a year of development last season recovering from knee surgery, and has The 31st place Wings host the 30th place Ottawa Senators on Friday at struggled to be an impact player at the AHL level. He has five goals and Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit). It’s an opportunity eight assists in 29 games. for Filip Zadina to fill the net of another team that passed on him in 2018, following up on scoring the game-winning goal Tuesday against the “What he needs to do is put himself in a position where he is the guy that Montreal Canadiens. gets called up,” Blashill said.

Coach Jeff Blashill plans to use the same lineup that defeated Montreal, Svechnikov’s situation bears the added weight that this is his last season though Frans Nielsen is questionable because of illness. of being waiver exempt, but his disappointing performance in GR is lessening the urgency to give him an audition in Detroit. It speaks to the lack of skill in the Wings’ lineup that it has been nearly three weeks since Anthony Mantha wast lost to a ribcage/shoulder injury “We get looks at him down there,” Blashill said. “He is going to have to and he is still second on the team with 12 goals. Blashill said Mantha play great hockey. Regardless of it’s here or there, if you play great won’t be ready coming out of the late January All-Star Break, but did not hockey, the organization is going to feel good about you. I think it’s really have a firm timeline beyond that. important for guys to be elite at the level they’re at before they move to the next level, when possible, and he still has to continue to prove that he Mantha’s absence has opened up ice time for Zadina, who scored the is elite at that level.” game-winning goal against the Canadiens. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 01.11.2020 While their prize pick from 2018 is doing well, it’s a different story for the Wings’ first pick in 2017. Michael Rasmussen, selected at ninth overall, hasn’t played for the Grand Rapids Griffins since since suffering an undisclosed injury in mid-November. Blashill said Thursday his understanding is Rasmussen is close to being ready to return.

This is Rasmussen’s second year of pro hockey. He has played only 10 games this season, recording two goals and seven assists.

“You’re missing critical development,” Blashill said. “The fact he has been out as much as he has hurts. It hurts just the timeline of development. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it will hurt his development long term, but the quickness with which he would be potentially ready to be an NHL player is hurt.

“We made the decision he needed time to go down to the AHL and really play well and gain confidence and do all those things, and he hasn’t had much of a chance to do that, so that makes it more difficult for him. There’s still half a season left and hopefully he can get to where he’s healthy enough to play every night and do real well down there.”

Rasmussen, 20, played 62 games for the Wings last season, producing eight goals and 10 assists. His play deteriorated during the second half, though, and had it been possible, the Wings would have sent him to the Griffins (the only option was to send him back to his junior team).

General manager Steve Yzerman assigned Rasmussen to Grand Rapids after exhibition season. Rasmussen played mostly wing last season, but ultimately the Wings see the 6-feet-6, 220-pound forward helping the rebuild best at the center position.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that both myself and Steve Yzerman view him as a long-term center for him to use his attributes to the best of his abilities,” Blashill said. “When you have that kind of size up the middle, you become almost a third defenseman and it’s a real factor.

“I envision him as somebody that can hopefully become a kind of shutdown-type center that can play against the other team’s best, and then do a great job net-front on the power play.”

Blashill watched defenseman Moritz Seider, the sixth overall pick in 2019, play for his native Germany at the World Juniors and said that “he was really, really good in the games I watched. His development is right on cue. He got more power play time there and he looked like he knew what he was doing up top. I was really impressed with him.” 1170477 Detroit Red Wings “He’s kept us in countless games,” Bertuzzi said. “He’s going to keep giving us those opportunities, so if we can score some goals we can get some wins.”

Homespun fun: Red Wings take down Senators in shootout for third With Bernier pretty much holding down the No. 1 job lately, the increased straight win at LCA workload has helped his performance.

“It’s just confidence, the more I play the more I feel confident,” Bernier said. “The better I see the puck. You try to reproduce that in practice but Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 10:37 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2020 | it’s hard to do when you don’t play for weeks. Updated 12:05 a.m. ET Jan. 11, 2020 “I feel pretty good right now.”

Detroit News LOADED: 01.11.2020 Detroit — The Red Wings haven't had to go to overtime or a shootout often this season.

They've usually decided the outcome — more often a loss — in regulation time.

They had to work extra time Friday and came away with a 3-2 shootout win over Ottawa.

The Wings won the shootout 1-0, with Dylan Larkin scoring the goal while Jonathan Bernier stopped all three Senators shooters.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, left, celebrates his goal with Tyler Bertuzzi in the second period.

Friday's game was the fourth past regulation this season — the second on a shootout — for the Wings (12-30-3), who won their second consecutive game.

They’ve won three straight home games, something to build on during this difficult season.

“We’ve talked about it so much, just something to grab on to,” said Larkin of the home win streak. “I really do believe we can be a great team at home and we’ve seen it. With our schedule coming up (two more home games next week, before the bye week) before the big All-Star break, we need to get on a roll here and keep it going until the end of the season.

“It feels good in the locker room with these wins and we need to keep that good feeling going.”

Each team had to kill a penalty in overtime, with the Wings getting the better of the scoring chances.

Tyler Bertuzzi, Mike Green and Valtteri Filppula had quality scoring chances in overtime against goalie Marcus Hogberg during one sequence after a Wings power play had expired.

Somehow the puck did not go in the net despite Hogberg scrambling all over the crease.

“I couldn’t believe it didn’t go in,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “Ultimately he (Hogberg) made some saves. I was just looking at the replay, I couldn’t tell live, but it was a mad scramble and I don’t know how the puck didn’t go in.

“You’d hate to lose it after having those opportunities. Good for us to win it in a shootout.”

Bertuzzi and Larkin (power play) had Wings goals in regulation — Filip Hronek assisted on both — while Brady Tkachuk and Colin White (power play) scored for Ottawa.

Larkin’s goal was one that will be in every highlight show this weekend. Larkin transported the puck basically coast to coast, driving around Ottawa defenseman Ron Hainsey last, and tucked it past Hogberg for his 11th goal, giving the Wings a 2-0 lead.

“I saw an opening there and it’s nice to get the puck like that where most of their players are standing still,” Larkin said.

But the Senators countered quickly, with Tkachuk banking a centering pass off Patrik Nemeth’s skate and into the net just 22 seconds after Larkin scored.

The Senators tied it 2-2 at 10:42 of the second period, with White, who was skating through the slot, redirecting a Mike Reilly shot from the high slot past Bernier.

With 29 saves in regulation and overtime, then his spotless shootout performance, Bernier was again a key factor in a Wings’ win. 1170478 Detroit Red Wings obviously. Based on how they play as 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds, you kind of project them.

"Generally, I kind fo simply say, if I like the way they play and if they do Red Wings' Steve Yzerman: 'Our goal is to acquire more draft choices' certain things, they'll probably do those things moving forward. Can they before trade deadline get physically stronger? Can they get faster to adapt to playing in the American Hockey League and eventually the NHL? I don't want to call it an educated guess but it takes some time.

Mark Falkner, The Detroit NewsPublished 5:48 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2020 | "It's an inexact science because ultimately we can't predict if these Updated 10:22 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2020 players are going to get injured or not. Some of them you're hoping they grow and put on weight and get stronger. What none of us know is how

bad do they want it. They all want it at 17 but it's a tough road to get to Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said "our goal is to acquire the NHL. You have to put up with injuries, setbacks along the way and it's more draft choices" before the NHL trade deadline on Feb. 24. hard work to play in the best league in the world.

"My plan isn't to be passive," Yzerman said in a TV interview with team "You do as much work as you can to find about the person. Again, play-by-play announcer Ken Kal released on Friday afternoon. "Certainly, they're 17- and 18-year-old kids. Think back to yourself as a 17 or 18 I'm looking for ways to build for the future and trying to acquire draft picks year old. You're not the worldly man you are today and that goes for all of or prospects or young players that can come into the organization sooner us. You're watching them growing up and becoming adults and how or later." much do they love to play, how much burning desire do they have to be successful. Time tells that. That's the difference maker. It's tricky." Yzerman said he's getting ready now for the trade deadline with midseason amateur and pro meetings and he'll have a better idea if ► On the improvement of young players like Filip Zadina, Filip Hronek "there's areas of interest from other teams and a better indication of what and Madison Bowey: "I'll use Zadina as an example just because he's you may be able to do." been called up. If he stays here with the team as we continue to get our team healthy, look for continued improvement. Yzerman said "there's a lot to play for" in the second half of the season despite the league's worst record at 11-30-3 heading into Friday night's "As for Filip Hronek, with all the injuries on the back end and missing game against the Ottawa Senators at Little Caesars Arena. Danny DeKeyser for an extended period, it's really thrown a young player (into the lineup) who is really in his first full season in the NHL. He's in "We can sit and float through the season and not try -- that won't do there playing with and against our best players and the other team's best anyone any good and that's not going to happen," Yzerman said. "Every players every single night, baptism by fire. He's held his own and learned player there is looking to use the second half to improve and they will be a lot. expected to improve and will be held to a standard to improve and gradually become a better hockey team." "I look for continued development and evolution of our younger players. Even a young Madison Bowey, who is playing a lot of minutes. Watch for Here's what Yzerman had to say on other subjects in the interview: him to continually develop. And that goes for all of our younger players."

► On whether top draft picks Moritz Seider or Joe Veleno will be recalled ► On Alexis Lafreniere, the consensus No. 1-prospect for the 2020 NHL from Grand Rapids at some point in the season: "Potentially, yes. I don't draft: "He certainly played very, very well there (world junior have anything set in stone but that's definitely something in the back of championships in the Czech Republic). I've had a chance to watch him our mind. the last couple of years. He's a late birthday so he's big, strong, physical, mature, has very good hockey sense, very good skills. Just an excellent "You have to take into consideration the nine and the 10 games as far as all-around player." counting toward a year of pro. Do we bring up the Velenos and Seiders and give them a feel for the NHL? I won't say absolutely you're going to ► On drafting Moritz Seider with the sixth overall pick last year: "I think see this player or that player here, but I think it's safe to assume that at he's got tremendous potential. He's a 6-foot-4 defenseman who is a good some point some of these young guys will get up here and play some skater, good mobile skater, passed the puck well. When I went to watch games as the season winds down." him, I took note of the little things, the way he plays the position not like the end-to-end, rushing type of defenseman, these high-skilled guys who ► On the first half of the season and evaluation of the nucleus of the will blow you away with skill. team: "As everyone knows, we're rebuilding and I'm trying to watch and get to know every single player and they're all at different stages of their "He's more of an NHL-style of player. He has the potential if he continues careers. to develop to be a player who will play in all situations, play on a power play, definitely in a defensive role, a penalty-killing role, play with and "You look at some of the first-year players who are trying to make it here against your top players because he can get the puck up to your in Detroit like a (Filip) Zadina or the kids in the American Hockey League. forwards and when it's in the offensive zone and they kick it back to the We're trying to assess where they're at and what their long-term potential point, he has the ability to walk the line and get his shot through or find is. the open player. "Then you have that group of players, the nucleus of that core would be "Defensively, he anticipates well, which is very impressive for a young the Dylan Larkins, the Anthony Manthas and (Filip) Hroneks. That age player. His anticipation and knowledge of how to defend was very good. group of player is really the core of our team moving forward. He's still got a lot of work to do to smooth things out, what works against "As the year goes along, you see how they're developing and figure out the best players in the world, adjusting, figuring the game out at this who is going to be an important part of the team one, two, three, four speed but we were very impressed with him last year. There were a good years down the road." group of D-men in that draft but we just felt he had the whole package and as much upside as some other good players in that draft." ► On the team's veteran players: "With our veteran players, where do they fit in the short term and even the long term? You need players to ► On the Red Wings ranking fourth in attendance: "We know the play. We need to surround the Dylans, the Hroneks and the Manthas with passion of hockey in this city and our fanbase has been tremendous a group of players that help them develop and compete on a nightly basis supporters. For this year, we know where we are in the standings and we and gradually get better." know what our record is. I've been really thrilled with the enthusiasm of our fanbase watching the games, supporting the team and having a ► On the coaching staff and the team's long list of injuries: "There's one positive attitude and outlook for where we're at and what we're trying to or two or three teams every year that just get hammered by injuries. do. We've had injuries from day one of training camp. Regardless of injuries, our record and our team's performance is somewhat unfair to pin that on "I'm very appreciate of it and hope everyone can remain patient as we go the coaching staff at this point. The injuries make it really difficult to really through this process because as I've said and I'll say it again, it's going to know what you truly have." take some time."

► On projecting draft-eligible players: "I don't want to say it's impossible Detroit News LOADED: 01.11.2020 but you have to base it on something. One, you watch the players play, 1170479 Detroit Red Wings “(But) what it (Bowey on the power play) gives us is two righties and I like that look at times, if you can run it off that other half-wall. That’s when Mike Green has been at his best, power-play wise, and Madison’s got a pretty good shot and he’s good at getting the shot off.” Brian Lashoff continues to thrive for Red Wings in key organizational role Detroit News LOADED: 01.11.2020

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 3:42 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2020

Detroit – Time does fly, and all you have to do to confirm that is look toward Brian Lashoff’s stall in the Red Wings’ locker room.

The veteran defenseman has been part of the Red Wings’ organization since September 2008, signed as an undrafted free agent.

He’s had chances to test the free-agent market, but Lashoff has become a valuable part of the Wings’ organization, mentoring young defensemen in Grand Rapids and providing depth at the NHL level.

“It’s been awesome, I love playing for these guys, love playing in Grand Rapids,” said Lashoff, 29, who has been in the Wings’ lineup the last five games and counting, because of injuries on defense. “Anything that I can do to help. I’ve had a great relationship with the staff here and the players in Grand Rapids, where I’ve been fortunate we’ve had some real good teams and we win.

“And I still have my opportunities to play here. I’m grateful for it.”

Lashoff made his debut in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season – a rental car service brought him to Columbus when injuries struck the Wings – and he played 75 games the next season with the Wings, before settling into a role between Grand Rapids and the Wings during the 2014-15 season until now.

“I go down there and try to help the guys as much as I can, whether it’s off the ice, trying to acclimate the young guys to living on their own, but also on the ice, show them that I’m preparing to be called up, as well,” Lashoff said. “If it doesn’t happen, I don’t change the way I act or play. I keep doing the same things, and that’s the biggest thing for young guys, because it can be a rollercoaster, and I try to show them you have to be on an even keel through it all.

“It’s a great feeling anytime you get called up, any year. You work hard in Grand Rapids, everybody does, to get called up. I’m no different. I’m in a role where I try to help the young guys as much as I can down there, but at the same time be ready to get the opportunity (in the NHL).”

Coach Jeff Blashill has remarked about Lashoff’s importance to the organization more than a few times, especially as a role model for the young players in Grand Rapids.

“One is leadership, the leadership he provides in the American League,” Blashill said. “When he’s in the American League you need great models, great people that young players can look to and say that’s how I need to prepare and with the selflessness I need to approach it with, and the work ethic and compete I need to play with on a nightly basis. He’s a great role model down there.

“Two, he’s a very efficient player. He can come up and just play good, solid minutes. He makes a lot of good decisions. He helps you manage through games, so when you need depth on the back end, he can provide it.

“He’s an extremely valuable part of the organization.”

Lashoff has played 133 games with the Wings over parts of seven seasons. The goal, every season, is to remain in the NHL as long as he can.

“That’s the way I take it every year,” Lashoff said. “You want to get called up, you want to play in the NHL, and that’s the way I take it every day, so when I do get the chance, I’m ready.”

Power-play time

Defenseman Madison Bowey saw some power-play time during Tuesday’s victory over Montreal, and it sounds like Blashill is considering using Bowey more on the unit.

“Madison hasn’t had much time on the power play in pro hockey; certainly he did in junior,” Blashill said. “When he got here I wanted to make sure he concentrated on becoming a real good defender, because that’s going to allow him to stay in the NHL, No. 1. 1170480 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings’ Steve Yzerman addresses trades, top prospects, coaching staff

Updated 2:53 AM;Today 2:49 AM

By Ansar Khan

Steve Yzerman, in his first season as Detroit Red Wings general manager, provided a mid-season state of the team evaluation.

Yzerman has declined multiple media interview requests since speaking to reporters during the first day of training camp, but he spoke with team radio play-by-play announcer Ken Kal in an interview posted on DetroitRedWings.com, which can be seen below.

He touched on many topics. Here are some highlights:

Trade deadline: Yzerman said he hopes to acquire more draft choices at the Feb. 24 trade deadline. Problem is, several of the team’s impending unrestricted free agents (rentals) are struggling and will be difficult to move. The list includes goaltender Jimmy Howard and defensemen Mike Green, Trevor Daley and Jonathan Ericsson.

“My plan isn't to be passive,” Yzerman said. “I'm looking for ways to build for the future and trying to acquire draft picks or prospects or young players that can come into the organization sooner or later."

Top prospects: Yzerman indicated first-round picks Moritz Seider and Joe Veleno, coming off the World Junior Championship, as well as defenseman Gustav Lindstrom, likely will be recalled later in the season. They would be limited to nine games to avoid burning a year off their entry-level contracts.

“I don't have anything set in stone but that's definitely something in the back of our mind,” Yzerman said. “Do we bring up the Velenos and Seiders and give them a feel for the NHL? I won't say absolutely you're going to see this player or that player here, but I think it's safe to assume that at some point some of these young guys will get up here and play some games as the season winds down."

On coach Jeff Blashill’s future: Yzerman said it’s unfair to pin the team’s record on the coaching staff because of injuries. The team has played without top defenseman Danny DeKeyser for nearly the entire season while key forwards Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou have missed extensive time.

“We've had injuries from day one of training camp,” Yzerman said. “The injuries make it really difficult to really know what you truly have."

On tanking: The Red Wings are buried in last place in the overall standings, 10 points behind the nest-worst team, New Jersey. Barring a second-half run, this would give Detroit an 18.5 percent chance of winning the draft lottery and the right to possibly select Alexis Lafreniere. But Yzerman doesn’t approve of tanking.

“Every player is looking to use the second half to improve and they will be expected to improve and will be held to a standard to improve and gradually become a better hockey team,” he said.

Michigan Live LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170481 Detroit Red Wings

Michael Rasmussen plays with Griffins for first time since Nov. 12

Today 10:54 PM

By Peter J. Wallner

GRAND RAPIDS - Michael Rasmussen has a lot of catching up to do.

Rasmussen, the ninth overall pick in 2017, returned to the Grand Rapids Griffins after missing 23 games with an injury and said he’s progressing after being out nearly two months.

“It’s tough being out that long; you don’t want to be out that long,” he said after Friday’s 1-0 win against Manitoba. He played on the second line between Chris Terry and Evgeny Svechnikov, had two shots and was a plus-1.

The 6-foot-6 center last played Nov. 12 before he went out with an undisclosed injury but believed to be back related. And, that was after he missed five games beginning in late October. Rasmussen said those were not related injuries.

Asked directly how he feels, Rasmussen said, “It’s OK. Like I said, I worked real hard to get where I’m at here. So, it’s OK and I feel good.”

The injury made for an unfortunate first half of the season for one of the organization’s most promising young players. Rasmussen was playing well in his limited time with two goals and nine points in 10 games.

Now, he has to see how quickly he can catch up.

“I don’t think there’s too much lost time; I don’t look at it like that,” he said. “Health comes first. I’m not helping the team when I’m in pain, so I wouldn’t call it a waste of time. It’s just getting healthy and getting back out there.”

The Red Wings have recalled or assigned a player from Grand Rapids just over 60 times in the first half of the season, so there have been opportunities.

“The fact he’s been out so much hurts the timeline of development,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said earlier Friday. “It doesn’t necessarily mean it will hurt his development long term. But the timeline, the quickness with which he would be ready to be an NHL player is hurt.”

That will bring a close watch from the Griffins’ staff to monitor Rasmussen’s progress.

“You have to manage his ice time,” said Griffins coach Ben Simon. “We have back to back games and he might wake up tomorrow sore. So we’ll have to make decisions on the lineup (for Saturday), and he’s got to make sure he’s taking care of himself in the gym, with his nutrition and making sure he’s getting his rest to go to the amount of minutes we want him to play.”

Rasmussen had his best scoring opportunity in the first period as he stood sturdy in front and got in a couple jabs at a loose puck before Comrie covered it up.

Late in the game he gave up a good scoring opportunity on the power play, opting for a pass attempt in front of the net.

“Obviously, his timing was a little bit off,” Simon said, "But, for all intense and purposes his skating was there tonight, his hockey sense was there and he was holding onto the pucks in the O zone and playing responsibly defensively.

“It’s tough. He’s been working his the tail off the ice in the weight room pretty much since he’s been back skating. But you can’t replicate game situations.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170482 Detroit Red Wings

Dylan Larkin delivers for Red Wings in shootout victory

Updated 11:21 PM;Today 10:27 PM

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT – Dylan Larkin scored a highlight-reel goal in regulation and the lone goal in the shootout Friday, lifting the Detroit Red Wings past the Ottawa Senators 3-2 at Little Caesars Arena.

Jonathan Bernier made 29 saves in regulation and overtime for the Red Wings (12-30-3), who have won consecutive games for only the fourth time this season.

The Senators have dropped six in a row (0-4-2).

The Red Wings had an excellent opportunity to end it late in regulation or early in overtime on the power play but didn’t generate much pressure. They nearly ended it midway through OT when Senators goaltender Marcus Hogberg made two saves on Valtteri Filppula and Mike Green hit the goal post.

The Red Wings needed to kill a tripping penalty on Filppula late in OT to send it to a shootout, where Detroit is 1-1 this season.

Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist and Filip Hronek recorded a pair of assists for the Red Wings.

Bertuzzi opened the scoring at 14:55 of the first with his team-leading 16th goal. He redirected a long pass from Hronek past Hogberg.

Larkin made it 2-0 at 5:32 of the second on a terrific individual effort, weaving his way through the offensive zone and cutting in front of the net to whip in a shot past Hogberg. It was his 11th goal and came on the power play.

The Senators quickly got one back at 5:54, when Brady Tkachuk’s wraparound attempt deflected in off Detroit defenseman Patrik Nemeth.

Colin White tied it at 2-2 on the power play at 10:42 with a net-front tip of a shot by Mike Reilly.

Michigan Live LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170483 Detroit Red Wings

Three No. 1s return and so does winning for Griffins

Updated 12:13 AM;Today 10:21 PM

By Peter J. Wallner

GRAND RAPIDS - There was no shortage of energy for the Grand Rapids Griffins to start of the second half of the season Friday against Manitoba:

* Three No. 1 draft picks returned in Michael Rasmussen, Mortiz Seider and Joe Veleno;

* They faced goalie Eric Comrie, who was briefly with the Detroit Red Wings last month and would have been with the Griffins if not claimed off waivers again by Manitoba.

Add in the start of an eight-game homestand, and Van Andel Arena was electric at the outset.

It was the same buzz in the closing seconds, too, as goalie Calvin Pickard withstood a barrage of shots - including an impressive kick save at the buzzer - to preserve a shutout in a 1-0 victory before 7,503. Pickard pumped his stick in the air in celebration.

Chris Terry scored the lone goal, poking in a shot from in close past Comrie at 13:37 of the first period.

Rasmussen returned after missing 23 games with an injury, while Seider and Veleno were out nine games while playing in the World Juniors. Veleno joined tournament champ Team Canada, while Seider captained Germany.

“I don’t look at three No. 1 picks but three hockey players who add depth and value to our team,” said coach Ben Simon. “So those guys, all things considered with the travel Veleno and Seider had coming back, they played pretty well. And Ras, who hasn’t played in a while, all things considered he’s worked his tail off and I thought he was pretty good tonight.”

The Griffins (16-19-2-2, 36 points) began the second half of the season tied for last in the Central Division but only three points out of fourth and a playoff spot.

The Griffins outshot Manitoba (18-21-0-0) 17-5 in the first period and went ahead 1-0 as Terry poked in a shot for his team-leading 14th goal. It ended a home scoring drought of just over 174 minutes, dating back to Dec. 6.

Overall the Griffins outshot Manitoba 28-23. The Moose had the third- period advantage, 10-3.

The teams meet against Saturday.

Michigan Live LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170484 Detroit Red Wings

Larkin's shootout goal gives Red Wings 3-2 win over Senators

By PAUL HARRIS Associated Press 2 hrs ago

DETROIT — Dylan Larkin scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 win over the skidding Ottawa Senators on Friday night.

Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist, and Larkin also scored in regulation for Detroit. Red Wings defenseman Filip Hronek had two assists. Jonathan Bernier made 29 saves and thwarted Tyler Ennis, Anthony Duclair and Artem Anisimov in the tiebreaker.

It was the Red Wings’ third win in five games, the first time they’ve done that since Nov. 8-16.

Colin White had a goal and an assist and Brady Tkachuk also scored for Ottawa, which lost its season-high sixth straight. Marcus Hogberg stopped 26 shots.

White’s power-play goal with 9:18 left in the second period tied it at 2. He tipped in defenseman Mike Reilly’s shot from the point for his fourth goal.

Tkackuk put Ottawa on the board just 22 seconds later when his attempted pass from the side of the net went in off the skate of Red Wings defenseman Patrik Nemeth. It was Tkachuk’s 14th goal.

Bertuzzi gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead with 5:05 left in the first period when he tipped in Hronek’s shot-pass. It was Bertuzzi’s 16th goal.

NOTES: Ottawa hired Jim Little as CEO on Friday. Owner Eugene Melnyk had been the team’s CEO. Little will be responsible for business strategy, focusing on marketing and community relations. … Senators D Ron Hainsey returned after sustaining a lower-body injury on Dec. 19. … Larkin stretched his point streak to five games (two goals, three assists).

UP NEXT

Senators: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

Red Wings: Host the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.

Macomb Daily LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170485 Detroit Red Wings It still may not matter in the end. When you talk to people around the league, the prevailing opinion is that the Red Wings will make a change after this season with the usual caveat that Yzerman rarely tips his hand.

Custance: Let’s talk about Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill’s future Blashill declined to comment when asked about his contract by The Athletic, but according to an NHL source, after the regular season ends, the Red Wings have seven days to pick up Blashill’s option for next year. If they don’t, he gets a $300,000 buyout and the search for his By Craig Custance Jan 10, 2020 replacement begins. So there’s going to be certainty fairly quickly after the season, assuming Yzerman keeps the staff together to play out the regular season. DETROIT – You watch, looking for overwhelming signs of frustration. Or players checked out. Or a team that has every intention of mailing it in There’s not a lot of financial resistance to making a change here. And if the rest of the season. you just step away and examine it clinically, it certainly becomes an easy sell to make a change. Blashill wasn’t Yzerman’s hire, and general Instead, while the Red Wings practiced on Thursday, things look managers typically like to bring in their own guy even if there appears to surprisingly upbeat. Fun, even. Dylan Larkin ends one drill with a goal be a good working relationship and healthy respect between Yzerman and a celebration like it clinched a playoff spot. You take your wins when and Blashill. Still, the team is going to finish last. A new voice could bring you can. new energy into next season.

In the middle of it all, Jeff Blashill’s voice echoes through the Red Wings’ In a similar rebuilding situation, Ottawa brought in D.J. Smith from the practice facility. Correction, some encouragement. Focused on finding Maple Leafs this season and it’s provided some juice to the franchise. small areas in which to improve. “The advantage I have over what (Blashill) had coming here, he had a lot And in the corner of the facility, up in a suite, GM Steve Yzerman is of older players left over from their playoff runs,” Smith said. “I got a watching it all. He does this often. Surrounded by the white leather chairs bunch of younger guys just growing into the league and we’re kind of that fill the suite, he chooses to stand near the glass, observing. growing together.” Gathering. If Yzerman were to do the same, one name surfacing within hockey Because soon enough, he’s going to have to make a decision. circles is New York Islanders associate coach Lane Lambert. He has head coaching experience in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals. He With the firing of Peter Laviolette in Nashville, Detroit’s head coach has won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals. He’s part of a staff now moved up to No. 3 on the list of longest-tenured coaches. Blashill’s under Barry Trotz that continues to overachieve with the Islanders. He close friend, Jon Cooper, is No. 1 in Tampa. Winnipeg coach Paul also was Yzerman’s roommate when the two were kids trying to make it Maurice is No. 2. And then Blashill. in the NHL. The longevity is both a credit to Blashill and a reminder that his time in “He’s had incredible success in Washington and New York, and he’s very Detroit may soon be up. well thought of,” said one NHL source of Lambert. “I think Lambert is the “I wouldn’t have known that until you said it,” Blashill said when this bit of next guy to get a job.” coaching trivia was presented to him on Thursday. “It’s not something If Lambert is someone Yzerman wants, the threat of losing him to I’ve spent any time thinking about. In the end, I look at it on a day-to-day another team could be motivation enough to make a change. And basis, to be the very best I can be and try to help this team be the very suddenly, there are also a lot of NHL coaches with lengthy head best they can be.” coaching experience available, including Peter DeBoer, who has plenty And right now, that’s not particularly good. At least from the team of Detroit connections. But this isn’t a team that is a coach away from perspective. contention. Culture and development will be as big a factor as someone who has proven they can win games. It’s going to be a while before that The Red Wings have been bad this season. It’s no surprise. They may starts happening consistently in Detroit again. be historically bad, and that kind of is. “If they win the lottery and you add (Alexis) Lafreniere, it’s still three years Injuries to key players like Danny DeKeyser and Anthony Mantha away,” said a rival executive of the Red Wings. “Detroit needs another derailed an already thin roster. DeKeyser’s injury especially hurt because three or four years of it.” he may be the one legitimate top-four defenseman on the roster. Filip Hronek has played admirably this year but you can see signs of him So you can see why Yzerman is being patient here. Why rush a decision wearing down. He’s still developing. He’ll get there. when, in the grand scheme of the rebuild, it’s not going to make a major difference in the short term? This may be a decision driven more by a Just the fact that an injury to DeKeyser can derail a season says all you contractual deadline than anything that happens on the ice. Until then, it’s need to know about the construction of the Red Wings’ defense. about observing. It’s about watching. It’s about gathering facts and Last season, Jimmy Howard’s goaltending helped gloss over the erosion keeping options open. It’s how Yzerman usually operates. of the Red Wings’ defense. He helped cover up a lot of mistakes. He The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 hasn’t this year and, as much as Jonathan Bernier has tried to pick it up, that’s a tall task.

So yeah, there’s not a lot to work with. Blashill has had the unenviable job of coaching a team with a roster getting progressively worse as his tenure extends. So evaluation from the GM doesn’t become about wins and losses. It’s about player development. It’s about whether the coaching staff is holding players accountable, especially the young players. It becomes about whether the environment remains a positive one during a brutal season.

Talk to the players on and off the record and it appears the coaching staff has done a pretty good job of the last part.

“You don’t ever want to beat a dead horse,” said one Red Wings player. “A lot of times in a situation like this, instead of hammering guys and always on the negative – negative people are going to be negative. You’re going to get outside criticism. Why do we need that in here? Let’s keep it positive. Let’s do things we can change and get better. That’s been the mindset from the top down.” 1170486 Edmonton Oilers “We were actually watching the game at dinner on our dads’ trip,” said Talbot. “Everybody stopped mid-dinner and watched the replay 73 times. At that point I’m a fan not a goalie. I saw how good Connor was in practice for four years. He’s going so fast and like he was in Toronto from Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen impressed with Pekka Rinne's scoring the outside, he can beat you any which way. ability “He’s got so many moves he can try and he’s got the ability to do them all. He gets right on top of a goalie too. I watched an Anaheim game earlier where he was in tight on John Gibson and with no angle Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal whatsoever got it over Gibson’s shoulder.” Published:January 10, 2020 BLONDS HAVE MORE FUN Updated:January 10, 2020 7:53 PM MST Ex-Oiler winger Milan Lucic dyed his black hair blond a short time ago in partnership with Calgary fourth-liner Zac Rinaldo. Rinaldo wanted to look like one of his favourite singers Eminem. Lucic had no ulterior motive; CALGARY — Nashville Predators Finnish goaltender Pekka Rinne “Just something to do,” shrugged Lucic. playfully is answering his phone with; “Hello, Pekka Selanne here,” after scoring against Chicago on Thursday night. This ’n that: Tippett said Matt Benning (concussion) probably wouldn’t play until after the All-Star break. The Oilers have the game in Calgary Rinne lobbed one over the head of Blackhawks rookie Kirby Dach, but and two at home against Nashville and Arizona next week, then the his countryman, Edmonton Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen, doesn’t think a entire Pacific Division is off for five days, piggybacked by the All-Star time goal is in the cards for him. He’s not good enough with the puck. in St. Louis. Oilers play Jan. 29 at home to the Flames … Defenceman Caleb Jones only played 7:46 in Montreal (minus-2), 9:07 in Toronto and “No pressure on me to score. I’m really happy for him, though. We played eight minutes in Boston but Tippett wouldn’t say if William Lagesson together in the World Cup and the world championships, same Finnish (9:22 in Buffalo to kick off the road trip) might get a look against the team. He’s an awesome guy,” said Koskinen. Flames in the third pairing with Kris Russell … Tippett could take winger Calgary goalie Cam Talbot won’t be scoring anytime soon, either. Jujhar Khaira out for Sam Gagner against the Flames … Ex Oiler winger Tobias Rieder could be back in for the Edmonton game and Mark “I made a few attempts at it when I was playing junior but what Pekka did Jankowski (no goals) might come out. was pretty impressive, especially how high he got it from behind the net,” said Talbot, who’s never really been tempted. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.11.2020

“I’d only do it with a two-goal lead in case you duff it. Not in a one-goal game for sure. Smitty (Mike Smith) would probably try it but he’s a better puck-handler than I am.”

Smith is one of seven NHL goalies who’ve scored. He did it with Arizona against Detroit. Sherwood Park’s Cam Talbot also did it for Carolina. Marty Brodeur did as well.

TURNING THE TIDE

The Oilers have lost four straight at the Saddledome with their last win in Calgary Dec. 2, 2017 — a 7-5 win when they were up 6-1 and the Flames roared back to make it 6-5 against Laurent Brossoit.

Home or away, the Oilers have dropped six of the last seven to Calgary. No need to ask which Oiler has been hottest against Calgary in his career. Connor McDavid, who turns 23 this upcoming Monday, has 12 goals in 17 career games against the Flames.

CHANNELING FIRST MONTH’S WORK

Smith’s play since it became 2020 mirrors his early-season start when he was making all the tough saves look easy.

“I don’t think it’s as much physical as it is mental. Especially this position. It’s always a mental grind at some point in the season. There are ups and downs and it’s about finding your way through those difficult times and when things are going well you want to ride that as long as you can and play as consistent as possible,” said Smith.

“Every player goes through it during the course of a season where they’re not feeling as sharp as they need to. In the position I’m in, if you’re not feeling as sharp as you need to you you can get away with it for a little while but eventually it will come back to bite you.”

Smith sat for stretches while Koskinen played, so it’s hard to make an impression when you don’t play. But, it’s turned around for him.

“The team is playing a lot better as of late so obviously that helps the goaltending position out drastically. But you just have to go in there and play well when you get a chance,” said Smith, who’s always had coach Dave Tippett, who had him in Dallas and Arizona, solidly in his corner.

“He’s a good pro, he prepares. He’s an unbelievable athlete. I’ve seen him get on rolls before and he’s a really good player when he’s on a roll. He’s got his mojo back,” said Tippett.

AN OPPOSING PARTISAN VIEW

Former Oilers goalie, Talbot got a charge out of McDavid’s fantastic goal against the Maple Leafs. 1170487 Edmonton Oilers night and it was a holiday Monday and it took me four days to get the visa.

“At the time the Flyers were in a playoff race. Elliott was hot, I understood Cam Talbot badly wants to play against his former Edmonton Oilers it. teammates “Then last summer I tried to get back to my roots. I went back with my old goalie coach Pat DiPronio, somebody I’ve worked with since I was 10 years old. He always gets the best out of me. You don’t lose your ability, Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal it’s all mental.

Published:January 10, 2020 “When your confidence is there, pucks go through scrums and the puck hits you in the chest, falls at your feet between your pads. You can’t Updated:January 10, 2020 7:32 PM MST explain it, it’s just there.”

Koskinen, who has started 24 games to Smith’s 22, has a 2.85 average CALGARY — There are two obvious subplots in the Battle of Alberta and .912 save percentage to Smith’s 3.01 and .900. story line Saturday; the ongoing James Neal / Milan Lucic trade soap “There’s been some positives to not playing, there’s been time to opera but also the juicy possibility that we might also get to see Cam practise. Of course you want to play but at the same time the important Talbot vs Mike Smith stopping pucks, because both are showing their net thing is getting points, getting wins,” said Koskinen. worth right now. “I know who’s playing against Calgary, but you’ll have to ask Dave Alas, there’s a far better chance we’re writing sentences or paragraphs (Tippett).” about Neal on his first trip back to Calgary after the July trade and Lucic’s transformation to a blond hair-do from his normal black than seeing how Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.11.2020 the former Edmonton Oilers goalie Talbot looks against the ex-Calgary Flames goalie Smith, because Oilers coach Dave Tippett may feel it’s time to get Mikko Koskinen back after he’s watched Smith for the first four games of the Edmonton road trip. He’s an equal opportunity coach as much as a win-and-you’re-in guy.

“So if Smith came to you and said I really want this game because it’s against my old team, he wouldn’t automatically get it?” Tippett was asked Friday after a smattering of players including Koskinen skated but not Smith.

“Smitty wants every game, not just this one,” laughed Tippett. “That’s normal. Koski wants to play too.

“Yeah, I understand the relevance of this but we’ll figure out where we’re at. Smitty’s played really well lately but as we’ve said all along we’ll go with the guy who gives us the best chance to win on that night. Feel really confident in both guys. It’s not just win and you’re in. There’s being smart and making sure we have guys ready to play.”

Koskinen started against the Flames Dec. 27 at Rogers Place and was pulled after giving up four goals on 24 shots when the Oilers were awful in the first game after the Christmas break.

“I was sick to my stomach that game. Both goalies were sick … but Smitty was worse than me,” said Koskinen, who won against New York Rangers New Year’s Eve (7-5) but was still under the weather to kick off the road trip in Buffalo and not fully healthy until after Boston, but they rode Smith.

Smith didn’t talk Friday but after Thursday’s win in Montreal he said; “I feel my game is back to where it should be.”

Ditto for Talbot, who is 3-0 since the calendar turned to 2020, still the No. 2 to David Rittich but on a hot streak.

“To get an opportunity to play against those guys would be a lot of fun. Got lots of friends in that other room and especially with the standings (both teams have 53 points, one back of Vegas and Arizona playing Friday in Carolina) the way they are, this is a huge game,” said Talbot.

“It’s not just because it’s the Oilers, I want it for the two points.”

Talbot has watched Rittich start 33 games (2.81 avg, .911 save percentage) while he’s only got 13 starts but has a .923 save percentage and a .2.51 avg.

“My confidence is pretty high right now. I feel I’m playing as well as I have at any time in my career. I’m back to playing aggressive, reading the plays in front of me,” said Talbot, who certainly had doubts last year before he was traded in mid February from the Oilers to the Philadelphia Flyers and for the last seven weeks when he was the third wheel with Carter Hart and Brian Elliott before signing as a free-agent in Calgary.

“It was really tough for my confidence, obviously I didn’t have a good year in Edmonton, got traded mid-game in Carolina and barely played at all in Philly,” said Talbot. “I knew during the game where I was going but not who I was going for. After the game I signed my waiver papers (no- trade clause) to go there but I had visa issues. I got traded on a Friday 1170488 Edmonton Oilers Defenseman Oscar Klefbom spoke to it in his post-game media scrum in Montreal.

“I think we’re a really good team when we put our work ethic first. And Edmonton Oilers find identity on road trip then our skill takes over.

“Our work ethic has to be No. 1. And then our skill.”

Terry Jones First will. Then skill.

Published:January 10, 2020 Put that up on the dressing room walls where Dallas Eakins painted “Chop Wood — Carry Water” or whatever that slogan was. Updated:January 10, 2020 3:26 PM MST Tippett was honest enough about the Oilers effort early.

“It was a game we can learn a lot about ourselves. We can learn a lot Flames assistant GM Chris Snow and wife Kelsie to join Scott Oake on about our start. Play harder and execute harder. When we started doing HNIC After ... that, we gave ourselves a chance. They were the quicker team. They were on loose pucks. They were executing and we weren’t. You can First will. Then skill. have all the skill and firepower you want but if you don’t play well, you’re The Edmonton Oilers identity, throughout December and much of the not going to win.” Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl era has been that of being a ‘Chase The The Oilers had the flight to Calgary to think about that and maybe come Game’ team. to grips with the concept that wins against Eastern Conference teams This past week on the road they may have finally stumbled upon what don’t have the same value as victories head-to-head against the teams has to become their identity for the rest of the season. they’re playing against for a playoff position.

It was there to be seen from the start of the season, of course. But it took Arizona and Vegas go into the weekend with 54 points and Calgary and a December dive and the damn near scuttling of another season to Edmonton with 53. Vegas has played 47 games and the Coyotes, rediscover it. Flames and Oilers have each played 46.

Dave Tippett’s hockey club essentially had to go back and reboot and You don’t need to be a math major to figure out how big of a game this is start the season over for this flawed squad to get it through their thick that the nation will watch. helmets. It ought to be a study to watch how Edmonton approaches the first shifts And one can’t be certain that has actually happened. and the first period.

I mean, for the first time since before the Grey Cup, the Oilers won back- Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.11.2020 to-back games and did it the hard way, winning an afternoon game in Boston, where that almost never has happened, and winning a game in Toronto where they hadn’t won since 2010.

They did that the same way they put together a five-game winning streak to start the season, by showing up committed to compete right from the opening face-off and launching themselves into the fray with the intention of winning the little battles and little races to the puck and making their will to win very visible.

Tippett made the observation when I was pushing his buttons prior to the road trip. He could see from the first day of training camp that he was taking over a team that was tired of missing the playoffs and had decided to do something about that.

But 82 games is a long season and when the goaltending falters and individual players start to struggle because either they are trying too hard or can’t build any confidence because of their own lack of ability, the wheels can fall off.

Suddenly a team that had been leading the Pacific Division had played themselves out a playoff position had a decision to make.

Wave the white flag and decide once again it was ‘The End’? Or go ‘Back To The Beginning’?

Obviously they chose the latter.

But after those back-to-back wins, the Oilers went to Montreal and went right back to what they’d been, by not showing up prepared to pay the price from the git-go. They found themselves down 2-0 against a Canadiens team on a seven-game losing streak.

The Oilers were able emerge from their funk in time to escape with a 4-2 win and have just a great night on the out-of-town scoreboards where, although Calgary won, Vancouver, Vegas and Arizona all lost.

They headed to Calgary with a 3-0-1 record on their five-game road trip and essentially in a five-way tie with those teams when you factor in Vancouver’s games in hand.

And, while they failed the first time against the Flames, the Oilers have given themselves another opportunity to seize a moment in the final game of the trip in Calgary Saturday on Hockey Night In Canada.

If they have any awareness at all, maybe they’ve finally stumbled on what has to become their identity for the final 36 games of the season. 1170489 Edmonton Oilers “Even when the team was at home I’d be skating an hour before practice, so I’d be off the ice and done before some guys would even show up at the rink. I still missed a lot of them. It’s good to get back into the routine.”

Competition heating up in race for Edmonton Oilers' net It’s been a tough ride for Edmonton product. He missed six games after Evander Kane smacked him with his stick in San Jose, then, in his first game back, he took a puck on the helmet and has been out ever since.

Robert Tychkowski There were no real headaches this time, but there were some vision issues that concerned the medical people. Published:January 10, 2020 “This time is a little more serious,” he said. “I don’t know if it was a Updated:January 10, 2020 9:07 AM MST second concussion or the first one didn’t heal. I saw a few neurologists and my vision was a little bit off, my eyes weren’t tracking the way they should be. I don’t really notice it, but the neurologists have it on video. MONTREAL — Believe it or not, everything is going according to plan with the Edmonton Oilers goaltending situation. “So I was waiting for that to come back. From two weeks ago to four or five days ago made a huge difference.” We had serious doubts about that when head coach Dave Tippett announced there would be a competition for the net between Mikko It’s a slow process, which is good, but he’s now been cleared for contact Koskinen and Mike Smith, then promptly stuck to a two-start rotation for in practice. He also wants to see how his eyes react to 11 other players two straight months. being on the ice instead of just one or two during his private skates.

No matter what, each goalie got two starts in a row. One thing is for certain, it will be as long as it takes, and then some, before he’s cleared to play in a game. And he’s fine with that. There’s too Not exactly what a lot of us would describe as competition. much at stake.

JONES: McDavid: How good will he get? “You don’t want to be that story, 15 or 20 years from now, of a guy who had that issue,” he said. “It’s definitely a good thing (they’re being so But we’re there now. The two and out has been replaced by something thorough). It’s frustrating because it feels like I’ve been out for a year, but very close to ‘Win and you’re in.’ Koskinen played seven of eight recently it’s definitely the right thing that they’ve done.” while Smith was trying to regain his early form, then Smith wrestled the cage away, starting his fourth game in a row when the Oilers took on the Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.11.2020 Montreal Canadiens Thursday.

“We’re trying to ride the hot hand,” said head coach Dave Tippett. “We did that a little but with Koski in December when Mike’s game wasn’t where he’d like it. We’re trying to maximize every player and Mike is no different.”

All part of the master plan, as it turns out.

“That was part of our thought process at the start of the year, going two and two,” said Tippett. “We wanted to make sure our team felt confident in both guys going in and that’s exactly what happened.

“You ask anyone in our dressing room, ‘Who’s playing goal tonight?’ and it’s not a big concern for them. They think both guys can do the job. I think we’ve established that.

“Players also recognize that when a goalie is playing well, throw him back in and hopefully get another good start out of him.”

Tippett believes the era of the 70-start goalie is going the way of the enforcer, anyway, so they might as well buy in and create an environment where the rules are clear and both guys can flourish.

“You look at the schedules and importance of games now, I really think it’s turning more to a two-goalie league, especially when you’re out west with the travel we have out there,” he said.

“We have two guys that I think are very capable of doing the job. We’re trying to maximize each start they get and find ways to win with them.”

What happens if/when they make the playoffs? They will cross that crease when they come to it. But it sounds like the gun just went off in the race to be No.1 in the first round.

“The way I look at it, it’s a friendly, competitive battle for the net every night,” said Smith, adding he and Koskinen get along very well, despite both of them wanting what only one of them can have.

“Mikko is a great guy, a good guy to be around and he works really hard in practice. We’re both trying to achieve the same thing and working in the same direction. You want to be the guy in there when it matters most.”

BENNING ON THE MEND

Matt Benning is still a long way from playing, but practising with the Oilers is a much-needed next step.

“It’s good to be back here with the group,” said the 25-year-old defenceman, who’s been out since Dec. 1 with a concussion. 1170490 Edmonton Oilers Along the way, the recently recalled winger has benefited from his PK partner. I suggested to Yamamoto that Malone’s experience would make him a good player to learn from and he nodded quickly and enthusiastically. Kailer Yamamoto has impressed the Oilers and especially star linemate Leon Draisaitl “Awesome. One of the best mentors I’ve had,” he said. “I roomed with him on the road and stuff. He’s taught me a lot. I tip my hat to him because he’s helped me a lot this year.”

By Jonathan Willis Jan 10, 2020 Malone is an interesting fit because there are similarities between his game and that of Yamamoto. Both are aggressive players with a

reputation for being good on the defensive side of the puck. Malone MONTREAL – Leon Draisaitl thinks the scoring will come, but he’s never had the same scoring upside that Yamamoto possesses — he had thoroughly enjoying playing with new linemates Kailer Yamamoto and 15 points in his best season and has just 30 on his career — but his high- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, for reasons which include but stretch beyond energy style and attention to detail allowed him to stick in the majors for offensive talent. quite a while despite offensive limitations.

“They’re a lot of fun to play with,” he said. “Yamo, he wins races, he wins The Oilers, who drafted Yamamoto in the first round in 2017, have higher pucks, he does little things that a lot of people that watch games probably hopes for his offensive game. Yet part of the rationale for drafting him don’t really see. He’s very feisty and hard to play against. It’s a lot of fun was his tenacity, his ability despite a small stature to impact the game and I think we can still create more offensively. That will come with more defensively and even physically. If Yamamoto can deliver on those chemistry.” hopes, he’ll bring value to Edmonton’s roster even on nights where the offence isn’t going. In Saturday’s game against the Bruins, Yamamoto had a run-in with master agitator Brad Marchand. He responded in kind without any Tippett moved Joakim Nygard to Riley Sheahan’s line prior to Thursday’s hesitation. It’s that kind of attitude that impresses his current centre. game against the Canadiens, remembering how good that unit had looked in a previous showing against Montreal. The trio (which also “I missed that, but I’m sure he did,” Draisaitl said, chuckling. “He’s not included Josh Archibald) responded beautifully, scoring a goal and afraid to do that. That’s good on him.” providing Edmonton with perhaps its most effective unit in the contest.

The trio has looked good at times and less so at others, and as an One of the interesting, and perhaps intended, side effects of GM Ken experiment it’s still in its early stages. Outscoring the opposition 3-1 is a Holland reworking the bottom-six has come on the penalty side. Peter pretty good start, especially given the slump Draisaitl had been in Chiarelli’s Oilers were famously a “heavy” team and one of the immediately prior to the lineup shuffle. The shot metrics aren’t particularly drawbacks of that style of play was that they tended to take a lot of good and expected goal share is just 49 percent, but with less than an penalties, which combined with an awful penalty kill really hurt hour as a unit it’s a bad idea to read too much into that. Edmonton’s ability to win games. Now not only are the special teams better under Tippett but the Oilers’ depth guys are putting the team on Yamamoto seems to bring value to the line, and it’s a good landing place the power play. if he can stick. Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins haven’t played much together but at least in theory should be a good combination. Edmonton’s Nygard and frequent collaborator Gaetan Haas are particularly good, with second- and third-best forwards should stand the best chance of creating each drawing eight penalties. Combined they’ve drawn 16 calls while a secondary scoring unit behind Connor McDavid and thereby giving the committing just seven infractions, meaning that Edmonton’s elite power club multiple dangerous lines. Whether they continue to play well play has been asked to score a goal nine times more than the penalty kill together, and whether Yamamoto sticks with them in the event they do is has been asked to prevent one. Only McDavid and Draisaitl, who play far still uncertain, but so far coach Dave Tippett likes what he sees from his more minutes, have been more likely to draw a power play opportunity. newest winger. It’s virtually certain that the combined differential for the two bottom-six forwards will be in double-digits by year’s end. “He plays with speed, he makes good plays, the tenacity he brings to our group,” Tippett said. “He’s not a big guy but he plays really hard and (is) Most one-number models (e.g. WAR) incorporate drawn penalties as part a smart player. He’s come in and in a short time has contributed and of their calculations, which is part of the reason Nygard and Haas tend to made our team a better team … score high in those metrics. No fair assessment of their play this year can afford to ignore the way they draw penalties. It’s especially valuable for a “He’s a smart player, he reads situations well. He makes good plays with team like Edmonton, because as long as the Oilers have a top power the puck and that’s why you see a guy like Draisaitl likes to play with him, play unit driven by McDavid and Draisaitl they should be lethal on the because he can play a give-and-go game and he makes intelligent plays. man advantage. That along with the tenacity, he gets to the front of the net, he finds loose pucks, he’s a smart player with a good skill set and he’s willing to work.” Both Nygard and Haas are unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, and Edmonton has a few months before it decides whether to There is room for Yamamoto to take on an expanded role in Edmonton, extend them. Right now, both are delivering nicely on six-figure entry- perhaps including penalty kill work. It’s a role he thrived in with the level contracts. There’s a decent chance they can continue to give the Condors, playing next to veteran centre Brad Malone. Oilers a combination that was rarely seen from Chiarelli’s bottom-six: Talk to Yamamoto for any length of time about his developmental effective play on cap-friendly contracts. experience and he’s likely to mention Malone. The Oilers originally The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 signed the 30-year-old centre as a free agent with the idea that he could fill the dual role that so many minor-league veterans do: providing a veteran presence for the young players on the farm team while simultaneously serving as a fill-in in the majors as needed.

Malone has played 23 of his 199 NHL games for Edmonton, but none of them has come this season. He’s spent the entire first half of the year with a Condors team that couldn’t buy a save in the early going. As usual he’s a fixture on the penalty kill, and his work there this season has included mentoring Yamamoto.

Yamamoto has killed penalties in the past; he’s done it at every level, in fact, but his minutes increased this season. The Condors penalty kill has been reasonably good at 82 percent effectiveness, right around the AHL average. If that doesn’t sound great, consider the context: Stuart Skinner was thrust into the starting role after Shane Starrett got hurt and thanks to a recent hot streak owns a .890 save percentage. It isn’t easy to kill penalties on a team where no goalie has managed to consistently stop nine shots out of 10. 1170491 Edmonton Oilers The Oilers nab one of them after Vegas, Arizona and Vancouver get the first three seeds in the division. That leaves the Oilers to face Vegas or St. Louis in the crossover. Putting McDavid and Draisaitl on separate lines creates matchup issues for the opposing coach, but depth issues 10 bold predictions for the Edmonton Oilers in 2020 and fewer opportunities on special teams do in Oilers.

5. Jesse Puljujarvi is dealt for a young-but-middling forward and a mid- round pick By Daniel Nugent-Bowman Jan 10, 2020 The draft in June seems like the most logical time for the Oilers to trade

Puljujarvi. Holland has been clear that he’s not willing to do Puljujarvi a The last decade was disastrous for the Oilers. favour and deal him for pennies on the dollar just so the winger can resume his NHL career. Despite being afforded four No. 1 picks, they were horribly managed and missed the playoffs in every season except one. Man, things were dark. However, Holland’s under no disillusion that Puljujarvi’s stock hasn’t dropped considerably. “I certainly understand he’s not the fourth overall With a new decade beginning, there’s a promise of sunnier days ahead – pick (anymore),” he told The Athletic in late November. starting with this year. At some point, unless Puljujarvi changes his mind, Holland is going to Here are 10 predictions on what 2020 could bring to Edmonton. have to make a deal. The preference is acquiring a “young player – or maybe young player/prospect, pick,” he said. 1. Ken Holland acquires one meaningful player before the deadline He won’t get exactly want he wants. But after more than a year on the The Oilers aren’t expected to make a big splash on the trade market by job, he should get close to the ballpark. the end of February. Holland didn’t want to relinquish a first-round pick or a top prospect for Taylor Hall, making it unlikely that he’s willing to part 6. Zack Kassian re-signs for three years with those assets for a lesser player. One of his more intriguing trade chips, Jesse Puljujarvi, is ineligible to play in the NHL this season, The Oilers are Kassian’s fourth team and he’s never been a more making him undesirable to most teams. productive NHL player. He was the 13th pick in 2009 but never quite panned out until the Oilers acquired him from Montreal for goalie Ben That doesn’t mean he won’t do something. Holland told The Athletic’s Scrivens in December 2015. Pierre LeBrun that the standings are going to tell him if he’s a buyer or a seller, adding that cost will play a factor in his decision. However, it’s It’s safe to say it’ll never get better for Kassian anywhere else. After all, hard to envision the Oilers being out of the playoff contention in six he won’t be riding shotgun to McDavid on another team. weeks. There could be a chance for him to cash in as a free agent in July. The Oilers could use a boost at top-six winger, third-line centre and on However, the Oilers-Kassian relationship seems to be mutually defence. Save for his 2020 third- and seventh-round picks, Holland has a beneficial. Kassian is amid a career season and is producing solely at full array of other selections for the foreseeable future to use in a trade. A even strength but, at 29, isn’t likely to get a long-term contract – pick or two and a second-tier defence prospect should fetch him some especially because of his limited track record. help in one of the areas mentioned for this year’s Oilers. A shorter new pact with a modest pay bump on his current $1.95-million 2. The power play maintains its pace as the fourth-best in NHL history cap hit would be sensible for both sides.

The Oilers wouldn’t be where they are right now, third in the Pacific 7. One of Anton Khudobin, Thomas Greiss or Jaroslav Halak replaces Division, without their dominant power play. Mike Smith

They’ve scored 41 times with the man advantage on 139 opportunities Stranger things can happen. Smith might continue playing as well as he through 46 games, good for a 29.5 percent success rate. Only three has in the early days of 2020 and the Oilers could then take a leap of teams – 1978 Canadiens, and 1978 and 1979 Islanders – have cracked faith and offer him another contract at age 38. the 30 percent barrier since the NHL started keeping power-play stats in It’s more likely, however, that they’ll have to find a replacement on the 1977-78. free-agent market. Scoring rates now aren’t nearly what they were back then, so expecting Mikko Koskinen needs someone to split the workload with and Khudobin, the Oilers to better those teams is a big ask. But expecting a team with Greiss and Halak are veteran options that might be in the Oilers’ price Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in their primes to keep up what range. Any would be a solid addition as a 1B goalie; Greiss has the they’ve managed so far isn’t nearly as unrealistic – even if it’s a tall order. lowest save percentage of the three this season at .919. 3. Connor McDavid wins the Art Ross, Ted Lindsay and Hart trophies If it’s not Smith or one of those three, the Oilers are probably going to Admittedly, choosing McDavid to claim the Art Ross isn’t exactly going have to try the trade route to solidify their crease situation in the fall. out on a limb. McDavid is leading the NHL in scoring and has finished 8. Evan Bouchard starts next season as the No. 4 defenceman second, first and first in the race over the last three years. He’s as sound a choice as any when singling out one player. Holland needs to clear up some cap space and get some more forward help. Trading one of Adam Larsson or Kris Russell could be the ticket to McDavid was a finalist last season for the Ted Lindsay Award, the at least one of those objectives. league’s most outstanding player as voted by NHLPA members, after winning it the previous two. A third Art Ross Trophy in his first five Clearing out one of the veterans on the blue line opens the door for seasons should make this an easy decision for his peers. Bouchard, the 10th overall pick in 2018, to not only make the team but start in a prominent role. Even if it’s Larsson who stays put, he’s Where this prediction gets bolder is by naming McDavid the Hart averaging less than 20 minutes a game for the first time as an Oiler. He recipient. Not because he doesn’t deserve it, but because voters tend to could be better suited for a bottom-pairing role if he’s still on the team. lean toward players on playoff-bound teams. So, that means … Bouchard is in Bakersfield as a first-year pro to round out his defensive 4. The Oilers make the playoffs but lose in Round 1 game. He has all the offensive tools to be an excellent NHL blueliner. There are five Pacific teams battling it out for division supremacy – Pairing him with Darnell Nurse and slotting Oscar Klefbom and Ethan Vegas, Arizona, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Unless San Jose Bear together could be a revamped top four. goes on a miraculous and completely unexpected tear, three of those five 9. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scores 30 goals in the calendar year teams are destined to make the postseason. Two down; 28 to go. Nashville’s struggles have created another potential opening for the Oilers via the wildcard. It’s possible both of those spots are claimed by Nugent-Hopkins’s first half of the season, at least from a production two Pacific teams. standpoint, was well below his standards. But after scoring once on New Year’s Eve and netting two more goals in the first four games of 2020, it seems like he’s turned a corner.

Really, it was just a matter of time. Nugent-Hopkins is a career 11.8 percent shooter and wasn’t going to be stymied forever. The new line with Draisaitl and Kailer Yamamoto seems to suit him well and he’s a fixture on the first power-play unit.

Nugent-Hopkins had 28 goals last season. Here’s betting his scoring woes are behind him and 2020 brings better things.

10. McDavid ties the franchise record for points in a game

With six points in the first two periods against Colorado on Nov. 14, the only thing that seemed to stop McDavid was his coach.

The Oilers led 6-2 through 40 minutes against the Avalanche, so Dave Tippett called off the wolves and played McDavid 4:14 in the third. (Draisaitl, who had five assists, was on the ice for 4:05 over the final 20 minutes.) No one scored for the rest of the night with the game out of hand.

Under different circumstances, there was a real chance McDavid could have tied the Oilers’ mark of eight points in a game held by Wayne Gretzky (twice), Paul Coffey and teammate Sam Gagner – the last player to accomplish the feat almost eight years ago.

There are nights when McDavid seems to rack up a couple of points almost by accident. It’ll take a little luck but recording eight of them over 60 or 65 minutes isn’t as absurd as it seems.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170492 Florida Panthers “The numbers are pretty amazing this year,” Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said.

It’s a sign of how much Huberdeau has matured and his game has As Huberdeau nears Panthers’ career points record, he has a grander progressed since the Panthers drafted him with the third overall pick in goal on his mind the 2011 NHL Draft. Huberdeau has always been a gifted passer, but it got to the point when opponents were able to scout him too easily because they anticipated he would feed the puck to his teammates instead of trying to bury a shot himself. BY JORDAN MCPHERSON “I’m always going to have that pass-first mentality,” Huberdeau said, “but JANUARY 10, 2020 10:16 AM sometimes I have to change my mind and say ‘OK, you have to shoot some pucks.’

The rise of Jonathan Huberdeau began in the opening minutes of his “It was a big adjustment. When I was passing too much, coaches were career with the Florida Panthers. getting a little rattled that I wouldn’t shoot. Now, I’m able to decide quickly in my head a little more.” Early into the second shift of his NHL debut, a 19-year-old Huberdeau camped out in front of the Hurricanes’ net, took a short pass from Peter It has paid dividends, especially this season. Huberdeau has recorded Mueller and flicked the puck past goaltender Cam Ward. multiple points in 17 of 44 games, four multigoal games and four games with at least three assists. It was the start of an eventual three-point debut for Huberdeau, who added the primary assist on each of the Panthers’ final two goals of the “He’s at that level where he can ‘wow’ you. There’s not too many guys night scored by Scottie Upshall and Alex Kovavel in the 5-1 win on Jan. who have that ability,” Quenneville said. “It’s nice to watch him be able to 19, 2013, to begin a lockout-shortened NHL season. do that. He enhances our power play, our 5-on-5 play, our possession as well. I think he’s getting better as the year goes on. Being a complete “Welcome to the NHL, kid,” Fox Sports Florida play-by-play announcer player without the puck is something he’s improving on. His overall Steve Goldstein said on the television broadcast as he called instincts offensively are, they’re in a great spot.” Huberdeau’s goal. “Wow. It didn’t take long for Jonathan Huberdeau to make a mark.” Having a good on-ice rapport with Barkov has been beneficial, too.

It has been almost seven years since that debut. The points have piled Heading into Sunday’s game against the Maple Leafs, 168 of up since then. Huberdeau’s 418 career points (or just more than 40 percent) have involved Barkov in some way, shape, or form, according to the advanced And Huberdeau is leaving his mark on the Panthers’ record book. hockey statistics website NaturalStatTrick.com.

He set the franchise record for career assists earlier in the season. After ▪ 58 of his 276 assists (21.01 percent) came on Barkov goals. a two-assist night against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, Huberdeau now stands one point shy of matching the Panthers’ record ▪ 54 of his 142 goals (38.03 percent) have included Barkov assists. for all-time points. ▪ 56 of his assists (20.28 percent) have come with Barkov also receiving He could very easily pass Olli Joniken’s mark of 419 points in a Panthers an assist. uniform on the back half of this four-game homestand, which continues “Barky is the best player a teammate could ask for,” Huberdeau said. Sunday against the Toronto Maple Leafs and concludes Thursday “He’s unbelievable with his abilities. Having the chance to play with him is against the Los Angeles Kings. a bonus. I couldn’t ask for a better person to play with.” The 26-year-old Canadian winger acknowledges the rare company his Huberdeau’s teammates could easily say the same thing about him. name is joining after his breakout production over the past two seasons. However, his hope — his expectation — is that he is remembered for Like Acciari, who has Huberdeau to credit for helping start his hot streak something much bigger in South Florida by the time his hockey career over the past month. Acciari has scored a dozen goals in the past dozen comes to an end. games and had back-to-back hat tricks on Dec. 16 and 20 while playing on the same line as Huberdeau. “With the points, it’ll be nice to make history,” Huberdeau said, “but that’s just an extra for my game. I’d rather win the Stanley Cup than be first in “He’s special with the puck,” Acciari said, “and he can find guys the points.” backdoor, probably one of the best in the league. I’ll stand there all day if I have to.” In reality, though, the two likely are going to go hand-in-hand. Or Mike Hoffman, a regular benefactor of Huberdeau’s passes on the Huberdeau and fellow top-line forward Aleksander Barkov have paced power play. Huberdeau has assists on 14 of Hoffman’s 23 goals with the one of the highest-scoring offenses in the NHL during ver the past couple man-advantage over the past two seasons. years. That will likely need to continue if Florida wants to avoid missing the playoffs for the sixth time in Huberdeau’s eight seasons with the club. None was possibly more breathtaking than his assist on Hoffman’s goal Thursday that put Huberdeau on the doorstep of tying Jokinen. With the The Panthers enter Friday with 51 points on a 23-16-5 record, which puts Panthers holding a two-goal lead over the Vancouver Cancuks early in them a point shy of being in a three-way tie with the Philadelphia Flyers the second period, Huberdeau picked up the puck from the boards on the and Carolina Hurricanes for the Eastern Conference’s two wild card left side of the net. He stopped directly in the middle of the left circle, spots. knocked over Vancouver defenseman Christopher Tanev with a quick toe “The points have been coming,” Huberdeau said, “but I think we drag and slid the puck across the ice and past the net to Hoffman. obviously want to do better every day. I want to be ready for the team. Hoffman’s one-timer from the right circle went past Canucks goaltender We’re not where we want to be as a team. That’s all that matters. I want Thatcher Demko. to help the team every game. Obviously, there’s been some good games, “That was a wow wow play,” Quenneville said after the 5-2 win. “Pretty but I have to get better consistently.” amazing patience and play recognition. Obviously, Hoff’s got to hit the Even at that, Huberdeau has been the Panthers’ most consistent perfect shot. He did. offensive playmaker this season. “But it was more than a perfect pass.” Huberdeau leads the club this season in assists (42), points (59), even- And like Barkov, who has said he would rather give up his own scoring strength points (39) and power-play points (20). His 17 goals are tied with chance if it meant helping Huberdeau pick up a milestone. Noel Acciari for second most on the team and trail just Evgenii Dadonov’s 19 on the roster. He will participate in his first career NHL All- “Whoever’s on the ice,” Quenneville said, “... he’s given them looks in Star Game on Jan. 25. some pretty good spots.”

This comes a year after he set the Panthers’ single-season record with He has put the Panthers as a whole in a pretty good spot as well. His 62 assists, a mark he very well could reset again this year. hope — his expectation — is that this is just the start. “I want to play here for the rest of my career,” Huberdeau said. “Obviously, you have to win. That’s how you stay on the team.”

Miami Herald LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170493 Florida Panthers The guy Florida signed to a three-year deal on July 1 who had 18 goals in 180 career games now has 17 in 41 this season — good enough to be tied for third on the team.

Acciari keeps scoring, Huberdeau closes in on Jokinen: Observations “I do not have a good explanation except he has the ‘amazing’ factor from the Panthers’ rebound win over the Canucks going right now as hot as he is,” Quenneville said after the game.

“He is going to the net, tipping the puck and getting the fortunate bounce. He almost had another hat trick, which would have been amazing By George Richards Jan 10, 2020 considering what he has done already. Forget about the production. He does all the right things you want in a player. What a great addition to our

team.” SUNRISE, Fla. — Now that was the reaction the Florida Panthers Thursday, Acciari got his two goals by being at or around the net. On the wanted to see. first, he was charging up and intercepted the clearing pass from Hughes Defenseman Keith Yandle said his team needed to be “more pissed off” and fired. On the second, he got a piece of a shot from Aaron Ekblad and than the visiting Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night after both teams deflected it through. were on the wrong end of lopsided scores their last night out. “It is a good streak going right now but you don’t want to think about it too Vancouver, you may remember, had a seven-game winning streak much,” he said. “Just keep playing the game, get to the right places. smashed to smithereens with a 9-2 loss in Tampa on Tuesday. That Credit my linemates again. They have been awesome the whole way same night, the Panthers fell to visiting Arizona, 5-2. through this.”

Thursday, the two met up and the Panthers took the lead a minute in and The fourth line gets points never surrendered it in a 5-2 win at BB&T Center. Pysyk and Brian Boyle were back in the lineup as Quenneville changed The teams split the season series with Vancouver winning on home ice, up the fourth line again by sitting Denis Malgin and Jayce Hawryluk. 7-2, back in October. The three players on that line all got points on Florida’s second goal with “We had a good first, wanted to follow that up and did a good job of that,” Pysyk scoring off a pass from Colton Sceviour. Yandle said postgame. “We kind of owed these guys from last time when Pysyk now has three goals this season — and all of them have come they embarrassed us. This was a good response by us. while the defenseman has been on the fourth forward line. Pysyk said “We were pissed off in the right way. We knew they had a great power earlier in the season he had not played as a forward since he was a play, so we didn’t take a lot of penalties — and we capitalized on our small child, but he has shown versatility by playing well when he has. power play. Pissed off isn’t going out and fighting everyone you see, but “Pysyk is new to this and I don’t know if it is a surprise or not, but he has it is battling for every loose puck and doing things the right way. We did really understood the wing position very well, especially from a guy who that.” has played D his whole life,” Boyle said. “He is effective and responsible. Noel Acciari (who else?) got the Panthers’ scoring started by pounding a We want to score but we don’t want to give anything up. But when the turnover from Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes a minute in. The Panthers led fourth line gives you some offense, it is a great feeling.” 2-0 on Mark Pysyk’s goal before the Canucks got one off a rebound. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was back after a few days off and did not have Yet the Panthers never surrendered the lead Acciari gave them as a heavy workload as his team’s defensive play was much improved in Evgenii Dadonov scored to close the first and Mike Hoffman scored on a front of him. power play cannon shot in the second before Acciari added another one The two goals Bobrovsky gave up (he made 30 saves) were off a in the third. deflection in the first and then a turnover from Mike Matheson in the Florida outshot the Canucks 49-32, had a big edge in shot attempts (72- defensive zone, which led to an easy 2-on-1 for Tyler Motte and Jay 52) and saw 12 players hit the scorecard. Beagle with 7:46 left.

“I liked our game tonight; liked our start, liked our pace right off the bat, “It was a good, 60-minute effort and I thought we were solid in all zones,” and production was good,” coach Joel Quenneville said. Bobrovsky said. “I thought our guys helped me a lot, they were solid and the backcheck was great. They allowed me to see the puck. It was a “I thought we did a lot of good things, had a couple tough shifts in the great game. Everyone contributed. Great win for us.” second where we kept turning the puck over but did a good job after that. We did good things and when we play the right way, we get some Said Yandle: “Bob played unbelievable. He made some saves in the first production.” and it could have been a tie game and it was not. He was great tonight. Some of those big saves were turning points you can win games off.” Hello, Olli Trocheck gets it going Jonathan Huberdeau closed to a point of tying Olli Jokinen as the franchise’s leading scorer as he notched a pair of assists. Trocheck helped forced the turnover along the backboards and got a primary assist Thursday — the only point he was credited with in the Jokinen remains Florida’s all-time scorer for at least another two days as game. Huberdeau can take possession of that title Sunday against the visiting Maple Leafs. Still, he was all over the place. He ended the night with numerous scoring chances, six shots on goal and a miss. Trocheck also was credited with Jokinen had 419 points (188 goals, 231 assists) from 2000-09 with the two hits, including one in the opening minute that led to Acciari’s first Panthers; Huberdeau has 142 goals and is the franchise-leader with 276 goal. assists since joining the team as a rookie in 2013. Trocheck has a three-game point streak going and a point in four of his “I had tickets tonight but something came up last second,” Jokinen texted past five games. The Athletic on Thursday night after Huberdeau got his second assist of the night. “I am watching the game. Hopefully, Huberdeau passes me “I thought that was his best game,” Quenneville said. “He had a good tonight!” start to the season, got hurt and now is trending in the right direction. I think (Thursday) was a big step, he had really good pace with his game Huberdeau had a secondary assist on Dadonov’s goal, which made it 3- and had the puck a lot. His line was really dangerous.” 1, then sent a beautiful cross-ice pass that Hoffman smoked for Florida’s first power play goal in the past four games. The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020

Since Dec. 16, Acciari has been not only Florida’s hottest goal scorer but also one of the top goal producers in the league.

Simply going by the past 11 games, Acciari would have the most goals in a single season of his NHL career with 12. 1170494 Los Angeles Kings when he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason’s most valuable player.

Kings at Carolina Kings hope to maintain momentum against the Hurricanes When: 4 p.m. Saturday

Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina By ANDREW KNOLL |PUBLISHED: January 10, 2020 at 12:33 pm | TV/Radio: Fox Sports West/iHeartRadio UPDATED: January 10, 2020 at 12:33 PM Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.11.2020

The Kings capitalized on a strong start to both a game and a road trip Thursday before heading east to square off against another possession- minded team, the Carolina Hurricanes, on Saturday.

They scored four goals in the final third of the first period in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights. Despite allowing a pair of goals in under a minute during the second period and being outshot heavily, they left town with a 5-2 victory.

“We wanted to try and take some momentum away from them early and calm everything down. We were successful in that, but we gave a lot of it back in the second and third,” Kings coach Todd McLellan told reporters.

Center Adrian Kempe had two goals, including an unassisted marker directly off a faceoff. It was the third time in eight back-to-back sets the Kings won the second game. They have yet to win both ends of a back- to-back.

In fact, winning consecutive games has been a rarity for the Kings (18- 24-4). They have done it just four times this season, and only once managed to string together three victories.

Their next opportunity will come against Carolina, a team with some structural and strategic similarities to the Kings.

At even strength, Carolina (25-16-2) and the Kings rank first and second in shots-for percentage, and overall they also rank Nos. 1 and 2 in shots on goal allowed. Carolina leads the league in Corsi-for percentage and Fenwick-for percentage – shot-attempt differential numbers that often guide possession analysis. The Kings place in the top five in both categories as well.

Yet the Hurricanes reached the conference finals last season and the Kings are attempting to claw their way out of a second consecutive last- place finish in the west. The Kings are in the early stages of implementing McLellan’s system, and are working through various personnel issues as well.

Carolina’s volume-shooting, possession-dominating approach did not bring immediate prosperity either. The Hurricanes excelled in the same areas under former coach Bill Peters, but lacked finishing ability on offense, as well as consistent goaltending, leading to tepid, non-playoff finishes. That has changed under the leadership of Rod Brind’Amour, who guided them to a deep playoff run last season and has them in the thick of a cutthroat Metropolitan Division race.

The ‘Canes have outperformed the Kings in bottom-line statistics. They have generated more scoring chances, scored more goals and allowed fewer goals than the Kings, as evidenced by their respectable plus-22 goal differential. In contrast, the Kings have a negative-26 goal differential, fifth-worst in the NHL.

Strangely, both teams have fared far better when being outshot by their opponent than when they have dominated the shot total. Carolina has gone 12-14-1 with a shot advantage, but owns a 12-2-1 mark without it. The Kings have been particularly feeble on the road, winning just four out of 16 away games in which they had the upper hand in shots on net.

Second-year stud Andrei Svechnikov has been prolific and spectacular at times for Carolina. He and Teuvo Teravainen lead the ‘Canes in scoring with 41 points a piece. Last year’s top scorer, Sebastian Aho, is not far behind with 39. Dougie Hamilton has also amassed 39 points, which ranks fourth league-wide in scoring for a defenseman.

Carolina will also receive a second-half boost without surrendering any assets. Right wing Justin Williams signed a one-year deal to return to the team from semi-retirement, though it remains unclear when he will play his first game. Williams captained the Hurricanes last season. He was a teammate of Brind’Amour’s in 2006 when the franchise won its only Stanley Cup. He won two more Cups with the Kings, including in 2014 1170495 Los Angeles Kings Who knows how this has played out behind the scenes, but Blake has shown a new level of ruthlessness — Kovalchuk’s contract termination, for starters, and also allowing his coach to healthy-scratch some stars — that had been absent from the franchise for some time. The decision to Will Tyler Toffoli be traded? What’s Ron Hextall’s influence? Looking healthy-scratch Kovalchuk came when Hextall happened to be in town. back on our 2019-20 Kings predictions An interesting coincidence. One thing is clear: the former Philadelphia Flyers GM was/is known as a no-nonsense type of manager. That’s how

Blake is now acting in his job. By Lisa Dillman and Josh Cooper Jan 10, 2020 Alex Turcotte will play in at least one game for the Kings

That prediction is looking questionable. The recently completed World Sports predictions — really, prognostications of any sort — are fraught Junior Championship in the Czech Republic with Team USA provided a with peril at every turn. Politics, sports and entertainment. It’s a lose-lose mere snapshot of Turcotte but suggested that another year of proposition. development at the University of Wisconsin is in order. An extra year in school certainly didn’t hurt Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar. Why? Virtually no one pats you on the back if you happen to get one or If the Kings were in an advanced stage of their rebuild, you could see two right. The new-age cyber equivalent of that would be a Twitter them deciding to give Turcotte a shot, so their fans could see their top notification or a happy emoji if someone happened to have a good prospect in action. Selling the future is huge for L.A. and they’ve done memory. Plenty of folks are on hand to remind you how dead wrong y’all their best to showcase Turcotte as much as possible — look at how often were before the puck dropped in October. they’re broadcasting Wisconsin games in Southern California this season. But his long-range future is far more important than a quick Having said that, this is a good time to look in the mirror now that the cameo at the end of the regular season. calendar has flipped to 2020 and the Kings have played 46 games. They are coming off a feel-good 5-2 road victory against the Vegas Golden Rumors of Jonathan Quick’s demise were exaggerated Knights and jumped past the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night to get out of last place in the Western Conference. It’s clear that he’s not the goaltender he once was, but Quick has bounced back admirably from last season. The win in this category really So we are here to look at the wins, the losses and the undecideds. And should go to former Kings goaltender and Sportsnet analyst Kelly … we just might do it again at the end of the season if we somehow Hrudey. With Quick struggling during the first two weeks of the season, manage to survive unscathed. Hrudey told us: “The way he thinks the game — he can adapt. It’s going to take a little bit of time. Just knowing his personality and how Ilya Kovalchuk will not be a member of the Kings at some point in 2020 competitive he is. … I truly believe he is going to get it back in no time. Wow, we hit the nail on the head with this prediction. (Pause for very faint “I don’t think we’re going to have this conversation in six weeks, and if we applause.) Kovalchuk is indeed no longer a member of the Kings and is are, I’d be really surprised.” now with the Montreal Canadiens after being put on unconditional waivers and then having his contract terminated on December 17. It Since Nov. 9, Quick has held a .912 save percentage and gone 9-10-2. If looked like a ill fit from the beginning — despite a lot of optimistic chatter he was on contending team, his numbers would probably look far more — and it quickly turned into a nightmare. What should have been a fresh impressive. For example, swap him and Marc-Andre Fleury and how start under new Kings coach Todd McLellan didn’t even last until good would Quick look for the Golden Knights and how pedestrian would American Thanksgiving. Kovalchuk played 17 games with the Kings Fleury — or any goaltender — look for the Kings? His salary, injury before shifting to a healthy scratch and a press-box observer in history and remaining term make him close to untradeable, so he likely November. His final Kings game, coincidentally, happened to be at won’t go to a contender and lead them deep into the playoffs. But he’s at Montreal on Nov. 9. Now that he’s with the Canadiens, we’ll see if this least played well and looked much more like the wildly entertaining was a Kovy problem or a Kings problem. game-stealing goaltender from the franchise’s glory years.

Anze Kopitar will hit 80 points The mentoring project will go beyond nine games

This is not looking great at the moment. Kopitar is on pace for 71 points Who knows if Tobias Bjornfot will get recalled this season, but it took and absent getting an elite-level sniper on his wing, he probably won’t three games in the NHL for the Kings to realize the 2019 first-round pick finish with a higher total. That being said, who knows if he will get on a needed AHL seasoning. He’ll never put up dazzling numbers, but he’s hot streak in the second half. He had 92 points two seasons ago, so had nine points in 23 games for the Ontario Reign and is a plus-5. anything is possible. In his final 36 games, he has to total 40 points. At Overall, he hasn’t seemed overmatched in North America, which least with Kopitar’s current linemates — someone who is being probably is exactly what the Kings were hoping for with the 18-year-old. showcased (Tyler Toffoli) and a surging Alex Iafallo (on a career-high, Internally, the Kings were pleased with the defenseman’s showing at the nine-game point streak) there remains some chance of us hitting on this World Junior Championship for Sweden, which took home the bronze one. medal.

Adrian Kempe will realize his potential – whatever that is Tyler Toffoli finds a new home, via trade

At the start of the season, when Kempe was a healthy scratch and going This is still expected to happen; we just don’t know when. Toffoli’s value nowhere, this prediction didn’t look all that great. Now? Kempe seems to has gone up since being put on a line with Kopitar and Iafallo. In his last be moving in the right direction with seven goals and 10 points in his last six games, Toffoli has six points. For a while it seemed like the Kings 15 games. He’s bought into McLellan’s system and the Kings seem to be would not be able to get a meaningful return for him, but now it may be giving him a longer leash, in part because he has stepped up his game. wise for a playoff team, looking for some experience and scoring, to add He’s only on pace for 34 points but we think he’ll finish with somewhere Toffoli, provided L.A. pays part of his $4.6 million salary for the rest of the between 40 and 50. The key is, we now know what Kempe is. He’s not season. The Athletic colleague Craig Custance had Toffoli listed at No. 2 going to be a point-per-game guy, but he’ll at least give some offense at on his NHL Trade Board, of players who could be moved before the times and play in a few different situations. deadline. One NHL executive told Custance that the expected asking price for Toffoli could be a second-round pick and a prospect. Another The Kings will be patient in making their first trade contending team is viewing Toffoli as a fallback option if its Plan A falls Kings general manager Rob Blake has done just that this season, trying through. to better gauge the (trade) market. Last season, his first meaningful deal Ailing special teams on the road to recovery came on Nov. 14 with the Kings in a free fall, when they sent Tanner Pearson to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Carl Hagelin. With the Kings in a Yes, we did whiff on this one, even though there has been recent rebuild and open for business, Blake hasn’t been hasty in making a deal. improvement. The Kings’ power play is at 15.3 percent — fifth-worst in Instead, he has waited for some of his depreciating assets — like Toffoli the NHL. The penalty kill is at 74.6 percent, which ranks 27th in the and goaltender Jonathan Quick — to find their games again and league. The issue isn’t coaching as much as personnel. Los Angeles potentially boost their values. Check mark in the “win” box for us. doesn’t have the right type of defensive defenders to keep the puck out of the net on the PK. They also don’t have any big-time finishers on the Ron Hextall will be the voice Blake needs in the war room power play. Their special-team struggles have completely negated some incredible positives 5-on-5, as noted in Jordan Samuels-Thomas’ latest piece on L.A.’s analytics. L.A.’s 53.45 5-on-5 CF% is the fourth-best in the NHL per Natural Stat Trick. Quite simply, if the Kings’ special teams had not been so bad in the first half of the season, they’d be fighting for a playoff spot.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170496 Los Angeles Kings

WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: JANUARY 10

JON ROSENJANUARY 10, 2020

GAME STORY

Several abbreviated thoughts on Thursday’s 5-2 win at Vegas:

Records between clubs over decades or eras are not particularly important given the changes in personnel, the changes in the game, the changes in coaching, et cetera, et cetera. But there were still interesting conversations before and after the game about Jack Campbell’s sturdy play at T-Mobile Arena, something that Todd McLellan wasn’t cognizant of when scheduling the Dallas and Vegas starts (nor would he be expected to, given the whopping two-game sample size prior to Thursday’s win). But Campbell was sharp again in Vegas and banked on a blitzkrieg first period in which the Kings generated a strong five or six shifts off the hop, weathered a brief push as the Golden Knights collected and asserted themselves, and then struck four times in 6:16 to win the third heat of the Clark County Boat Race.

Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire

The LA Kings, who won 5-2, are now 7-4-1 all-time against Vegas. Again, not particularly important; the 2018 playoff sweep doesn’t reside within those borders. But there was a good spark to the game and a good resilience after a relatively healthy outing against a tightfisted Dallas team. Alex Iafallo is not only playing his best hockey as a King, he’s now on pace for 46 points after extending his point streak to nine games. He earned that secondary assist on Ben Hutton’s goal by dragging Nate Schmidt through the low slot on a fly-by, taking Malcolm Subban’s eyes off the puck for a beat.

Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire

You know what Thursday’s game had a lot of? Five-on-five time. That’s good! L.A.’s a top-five team in 5×5 Corsi-for, shots-for and expected goals-for percentages but has been anchored by a pesky 6.5% shooting percentage that represents a dearth of skill and finishing regularity. Not all of that five-on-five time was put to good use, given, you know, the 36- 5 shot discrepancy over the final 40 minutes of regulation. But Vegas is another excellent possession team capable of paving over opponents to get to the cookie jar even during tied games, so that storm was forecast well in advance.

Jeff Bottari/NHLI

Tense times in the Pacific Division. Vegas is feeling some of the heat, and last night’s game – one in which Gerard Gallant called his team’s performance “embarrassing” and decried the “no contact, soft” play in the first period – was representative of the inevitable evolution from a storybook honeymoon towards the general angst of a team and fanbase with high aspirations. The Golden Knights are good. Very good. They also need a defenseman, are up against the cap and are playing amidst the primes of their top players’ careers. They kind of need to win soon, because in two years seven players 29 and older will have cap hits of $5- million and greater. The Coyotes also lost, as did the Canucks, which wedges the Western Conference’s upper-middle class into a compacted consortium of eight teams separated by six points in the standings. Stats visualization expert Micah Blake McCurdy projects the Jets, Predators, Wild and the five non-California Pacific teams to finish with between 88.1 (MIN) and 96.6 (ARI) points, a logjam that’s even tighter following last night’s Pacific Division results. Assuming St. Louis, Dallas and Colorado are in, three teams from that group won’t qualify.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 01.11.2020

1170497 Minnesota Wild

Leaky penalty kill continues to haunt Wild

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press

PUBLISHED: January 10, 2020 at 3:42 pm | UPDATED: January 10, 2020 at 3:42 PM

Was that Winona Ryder at Mickey’s Diner? We investigate.

Try as they might, the Wild can’t seem to find a rhythm on the penalty kill as of late, and it’s starting to haunt them in nearly every game.

After the frustrating 2-1 loss to the Flames in Calgary on Thursday night, when the Wild allowed yet another power-play goal, they are now 43 for 64 on the penalty kill over the past month and a half.

That’s a success rate of 67 percent over the past 23 games. Their season rate of 75.8 percent ranks No. 26 in the NHL.

To put things in perspective, the league average for the penalty kill sits right around 80 percent, and the Winnipeg Jets rank dead last with a season success rate of 73 percent. a number the Wild could easily reach if things keep going in the wrong direction.

It’s been confounding for coach Bruce Boudreau, especially considering the Wild have long been one of the best teams in the league on the penalty kill.

“We have to be able to stop that or we have to change the way we penalty kill,” Boudreau said. “We can’t continue to win at (67 percent).”

Maybe the most frustrating thing for the Wild is the fact that it’s a lot of the same penalty killers as usual.

Whether it’s veteran center Mikko Koivu or gritty winger Marcus Foligno, the Wild haven’t changed personnel much.

And this is starting to weigh on some of those guys.

“It’s frustrating,” Foligno said. “Especially a guy like me that takes pride in it and wants it to be perfect. Nobody that plays on the penalty kill wants to get scored on. It’s such a crucial part of the game now. We know that has to get fixed sooner rather than later.”

There have been some bad bounces here and there, like during a recent home game against the Flames in which the Wild put a pair of goals into the back of their own net.

“They didn’t have very good entries (in that game) and we did what we were supposed to do,” Boudreau said. “It’s almost like when it’s going bad in that respect and things aren’t working, everything seems to go to hell in a hand basket.”

It hasn’t been all bad bounces, though, evidenced by the road game against the Flames in which the Wild failed to get the puck out and then left an opposing player unmarked in front of goaltender Alex Stalock.

“You talk to them and show them and hope they understand that the No. 1 thing (that leads to) teams scoring goals on a power play is when we don’t get the puck out,” Boudreau said. “You don’t get the puck out, it almost always kills a team.”

It’s clear in the locker room that the Wild don’t feel like they have to make wholesale changes to fix this.

“I think if we just keep doing what we’re doing, it will be successful at the end of the day,” Stalock said. “If we play the same structure, I think we’re going to have a lot of success.”

That said, it’s clearly a confidence issue for the Wild, which explains why Boudreau hasn’t torn into his players yet.

“I’m confident because it’s the same guys we’ve had for years, and we’ve always been in the top 10,” the coach said. “It’s going to turn around, and when it turns around, we’ll go on a really good streak.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170498 Minnesota Wild behind their win, I think. No, there was no wager, but it was all in good fun and we had a good time doing that.

“We have a great group of guys in here,” Thompson added. “It’s always Some words of wisdom for upset Canadiens fans been like that. It’s always been good chemistry. It’s just we’re going through tough times right now. But at the same time, we believe we have With what's happening in the world today, frustrated Habs fans should the group to get ourselves out of it.” remember these words from the legendary Red Fisher: "Nobody died." 풯푒풶퓂 퓈퓅풾퓇풾퓉#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/myuO3NRfXn— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 10, 2020

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 10, 2020 When Price was asked about the mini-game, he said: “It’s definitely nice to change speeds up a little bit. It’s always nice to come to the rink and

have some fun.” When the legendary Red Fisher was covering the Canadiens for The Some fans will no doubt be upset the Canadiens were having fun at Gazette and the team was really struggling, he liked to write the words: practice Friday instead of doing wind sprints with an 18-20-7 record and “nobody died.” their playoff hopes basically gone with 37 games still left in the season. So in memory of Red — who died in January 2018 at age 91 — and with But when a team — or a person — is in the dumps, sometimes it’s more what’s happening in the world today, Canadiens fans should remember important to try and put smiles on faces. That often works better. those words. “I know it’s black right now and I know there’s a dark cloud over us right Do fans have reason to be upset and frustrated with the Canadiens mired now,” Julien said. “But nobody has quit on this team. Players, coaches, in their second eight-game winless streak of the season and headed we’re still going to work as hard as we can and I’ve seen a lot of toward missing the playoffs for the third straight year and the fourth time situations where teams have packed it in in the past. I’ve seen it, I’ve in five seasons? Absolutely. Especially the ones paying big bucks for witnessed it. But this team here hasn’t done that. But are they frustrated? tickets at the Bell Centre. Yeah, because they care and because they’re trying to win hockey games and right now we just haven’t been good enough.” But the Canadiens aren’t forcing anyone to buy tickets or watch their games. Pro sports are supposed to be an escape from the real world, so RIP, Red. if you’re a fan getting overly upset about the Canadiens, here’s another The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 line Red liked to use: “Take a deep breath and hold it.”

The Canadiens, who are 0-7-1 in their last eight games, practised Friday morning in Brossard in preparation for Saturday’s game in Ottawa against the Senators (7 p.m., CBC, SN, SN360, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Canadiens fans aren’t the only ones frustrated. So is coach Claude Julien and his players. It’s obvious when you speak with them.

“I’m beyond frustration now,” goalie Carey Price said after Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell Centre. “I’m just going to play and do the best I can and try and get past any kind of frustrations or negative attitudes.”

After Friday’s practice, Price spoke to the media for the first time since then and was asked to clarify or expand on what he meant.

“It means what I mean,” he said. “I’m not dwelling on negative attitudes or anything like that. I’m going to just continue to do the things that I feel like will make me successful and not worry on the result and focus on the results. Just not getting the results … that’s usually what causes the most frustration.”

Instead of skating the players hard on Friday as punishment, Julien had them play a mini-game with the nets placed on each blue line. The players were obviously having fun and when Matthew Peca scored the winning goal for his team there was a celebration.

“It had two purposes today,” Julien said about the mini-game. “Part of it is yeah, it’s fun, the guys enjoy that. But, you know, at the same time we really want to try and get a little bit better and playing in the restricted areas, tight areas. You see that in a lot of games and those kind of things it looks like it might be a little sloppy, but it’s about managing pucks, getting yourself open in those tight areas. So there was a double purpose to that drill.”

Veteran Nate Thompson enjoyed the mini-game, even though he was on the losing side.

“I think we wanted to create some competitiveness and try and score some goals and, at the same time, have some fun with it,” Thompson said.

Here's link to video of #Habs playing a mini-game this morning during practice in Brossard #HabsIO: https://t.co/rHlzyp9TNE pic.twitter.com/5Ugqjq3o8r— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) January 10, 2020

When asked if there was some kind of wager on the result judging by the celebration after Peca’s goal, Thompson smiled and said: “Kirkie (assistant coach Kirk Muller) I think lost track of the score on the other side. They were telling him what the score was. There’s an asterisk 1170499 Minnesota Wild When asked what impact the slump might have on the confidence of some of his young teammates, Price said: “They’ll be fine. A day in the NHL is a good day. They’re having fun. They know what it is. It’s learning experiences and they’re just trying to get better.” Canadiens still holding out hope they can make playoffs In the meantime, the Canadiens are trying to keep hope when it comes to Seventeen of the Habs' 27 losses this season have been by one goal, making the playoffs. including six during their current eight-game winless streak. “You guys see the same game I do,” Julien said. “I don’t think we’re being outplayed by any means by anybody. But you know the mistakes are costly right now and (losing) by one goal, does it give you hope? It STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 10, 2020 also gives you frustration because you know you’re that close. I think it’s a natural feeling for anybody right now. There’s frustration but the one thing there isn’t, there’s no quit.” The Canadiens are still looking at the NHL standings. The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 “Yeah, it’s on the board right in the hallway,” goalie Carey Price said in the Canadiens locker room at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard following Friday’s practice.

After Thursday night’s 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at the Bell Centre, the Canadiens were in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with an 18-20-7 record, nine points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the final wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens ranked 26th in the overall NHL standings.

When asked why the Canadiens would think they can still make the playoffs, Price said: “Well, it’s been done before. As recently as last year, so I think everybody kind of uses that as an example.”

After 45 games last season, the St. Louis Blues had a 20-20-5 record, two points ahead of where the Canadiens are now at the same point. Not only did the Blues go on to make the playoffs, they won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

It’s very unlikely the injury-depleted Canadiens can pull off a similar feat, but as New York Yankees legend Yogi Berra once famously said: “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

At least that’s what the Canadiens need to keep telling themselves.

Seventeen of the Canadiens’ 27 losses have been by one goal, including six during their current eight-game slide. The other two games during the slump were two-goal losses that both included an empty-netter.

“I thought we’ve been playing some pretty good hockey and, like I said, just not getting the result,” Price said. “That’s just part of the game is trying to figure out ways to get the results. That’s part of the process. You got to constantly evolve and try to find ways to be successful.”

Coach Claude Julien was asked after practice about all the one-goal losses and whether he might need to make some technical tweaks to his systems.

“I think I would if we were getting outplayed,” he said. “For example, last night we out-chanced the other team, we outshoot the other team. We did everything else, we did everything well, except we didn’t outscore them. So I’m not sure how you find a way to score more than the other team when your team is getting more chances than the other team. I think when people look at the game last night, for example, for two periods we were by far the better team. Third period we got a little bit on our heels and it was probably a little bit more even at the end. But one period cost us the game. So it’s hard to say: Well, all of a sudden we just change everything that we’ve been working on because of our lineup.

“You can tweak certain things, which we’ve tried to do,” Julien added. “You’re trying to put some lines together and some of them when you don’t get the last change you say you got to be careful who they’re out against and that kind of stuff. But at one point there’s so many things you can do as a coach. You have what you have. We’ve got some young players, we’ve got some guys that would be in Laval if we were healthy. That’s reality and that’s life. So you have to deal with that and adjust.”

Price, 32, is in his 13th season with the Canadiens and was asked how he handles difficult times different from a mental standpoint now than he did during his younger days.

The shock has to come from outside the cozy executives suites on the What the Puck: With Habs reset in tatters, it's time for full rebuild seventh floor of the Bell Centre. It can only come from two places: the other groups that own equity in Groupe CH or the fan base. Things turned around in Toronto after a fan threw a Maple Leafs jersey on the ice in disgust. Here in Montreal, a sellout crowd of 21,302 fans turned up BRENDAN KELLY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 10, 2020 at the Bell Centre Thursday night. And for the moment, it appears the corporate partners aren’t challenging Molson.

The date Habs fans need to circle in their calendars is Monday, Feb. 24. So change will come. But not now. That’s this year’s National Hockey League trade deadline and it’s going The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 to be a crucial moment for the future of this tattered franchise.

The first thing you need to know is that your Montreal Canadiens will not be making the playoffs this season. This will be the third straight time they miss the post-season. As my colleague Stu Cowan underlined on Tuesday, this has only happened twice before in the team’s 110-year history. That means GM Marc Bergevin’s version of the Canadiens is right up there with the worst-ever Habs teams.

Following a sadly predictable 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night at the Bell Centre, the team is now in the midst of its second eight- game losing streak of the season and is in 26th place in the NHL.

Between now and Feb. 24, Habs management needs to make a huge decision. Do they continue to follow the present plan? That plan can be charitably described as treading water. Bergevin calls it a “reset,” but it’s really a big nothing. He says it’s all about youth, but that’s just bafflegab. Every team develops young players and many do it better than the Canadiens. What Bergevin’s really doing is trying to get into the playoffs to save his job.

That’s also what coach Claude Julien is doing. He’s trying to not get fired in 2020. Julien is playing spare parts like Nick Cousins, Nate Thompson and Jordan Weal at the expense of the kids. Playing Cousins on the power play is a joke. Meanwhile Jesperi Kotkaniemi has significantly regressed since Jan. 1, 2019, Ryan Poehling is a huge disappointment, and Cale Fleury is looking like he should be in the AHL. The only young guy on track is Nick Suzuki.

The other option is to adopt a visionary plan for the team. It probably should be full-on reconstruction. That’s the most obvious path. If Bergevin and his boss Geoff Molson follow that path, they’ll unload as many veterans as they can before Feb. 24, acquire as many picks and prospects as they can, and hope to finish as close to the bottom of the standings as possible. This would give them the best odds to draft expected No. 1 pick and francophone Alexis Lafrenière — the equivalent of winning the Cup for the Habs. At the very least, they should be gunning for a hoped-for top-three pick if the NHL lottery Gods are kind.

But Molson and Bergevin have both insisted ad nauseam they won’t be rebuilding and we shouldn’t expect them to do so. Keep in mind that Bergevin’s reaction to the current crisis was to pick up Ilya Kovalchuk, a 36-year-old who was let go by the Los Angeles Kings, who are even worse off than the Habs, sitting at No. 27 in the NHL standings.

The architect of this failure is the guy who runs the company and that guy is Molson. He’s made a lot of money with this hockey team. The consortium he leads bought the team for $575 million in 2009 and it’s now reportedly worth $1.3 billion. But it’s been a decade of failure on the ice.

Molson appointed himself president and then named Bergevin general manager in 2012. Bergevin first implemented a win-now plan. It failed, so Molson gave him a second chance. In some ways, that’s laudable. Everyone deserves a second chance. Bergevin’s second plan was the infamous reset, which is now in tatters. The reset was an attempt to both make the playoffs and develop the kids, but the Habs keep missing the playoffs and are doing a poor job of developing their young players.

In any case, it’s all academic because Molson is not going to demand a full rebuild this year. I was at Molson’s late September speech where he talked about an eight-year window for success. This management group needs a little electroshock therapy and it’s not going to come from a 1170501 Montreal Canadiens The Canadiens headed to Ottawa by train after Friday’s practice and will play the Senators on Saturday night (7 p.m., CBC, SN, SN360, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Canadiens Notebook: Habs' Brendan Gallagher experiencing headaches The Canadiens will have the day off Sunday before playing four games next week. The Calgary Flames will be at the Bell Centre on Monday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, SNW, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM), followed by the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., SN, RDS, TSN 690 STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 10, 2020 Radio, 98.5 FM). The Canadiens will then travel to Philadelphia to play the Flyers on Thursday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) and then the Vegas Golden Knights will be at the Bell Centre on It looks like the Canadiens might have brought Brendan Gallagher back Saturday (7 p.m., SNE, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). from his concussion too soon. After that, the Canadiens will have their bye week in the NHL schedule Gallagher, wearing a tinted visor, played in Thursday night’s 4-2 loss to with their next game on Monday, Jan. 27 at the Bell Centre against the the Edmonton Oilers after missing the four previous games with a Washington Capitals (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). concussion suffered during a 3-1 loss to the Hurricanes on New Year’s Eve in Carolina. Gallagher suffered the concussion when he was Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.11.2020 checked hard by the Hurricanes’ Jordan Stall and while falling down was accidentally kneed in the head by teammate Ben Chiarot before hitting the back of his head on the ice.

Gallagher logged 17:19 of ice time against the Oilers with four shots and two hits and seemed fine while doing postgame interviews in the locker room. But after Gallagher returned home he started to experience headaches late Thursday night.

Gallagher didn’t take part in the Canadiens’ practice Friday morning in Brossard.

“He came in this morning, so what we’re doing with him because he’s had a concussion is making sure it’s not a relapse,” coach Claude Julien said about Gallagher after practice. “And, at the same time, it could be a virus. So he’s gone to see the doctor and we’re being cautious with this situation because of what he’s been through.”

When asked if Gallagher has been ruled out of playing Saturday’s game against the Senators in Ottawa (7 p.m., CBC, SN, SN360, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM), Julien said: “We don’t know yet. He’s seeing the doctor. So if it’s a virus and it’s not concussion, then it depends on how he feels tomorrow. If it’s concussion-related, then there’s no doubt he’s out. We’re going to always protect the player first before we force somebody like that into a lineup.”

Gallagher must have passed a concussion-protocol test before being allowed to play against the Oilers, but with the Canadiens’ playoffs hopes all but gone some extra time off obviously wouldn’t have hurt. But Gallagher is a warrior and you know he would have wanted to play. Gallagher has 15-17-32 totals in 41 games and was on pace for his third straight 30-plus goal season before being injured.

"The third period’s got to be your best, and that hasn’t been the case."#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/G8HRRs009I— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 10, 2020

Chiarot won’t play in Ottawa

Defenceman Ben Chiarot, who missed his first game of the season Thursday night with a lower-body injury, won’t play Saturday against the Senators, but Julien said he doesn’t think it’s a long-term injury.

Defenceman Jeff Petry also didn’t practice Friday, taking a therapy day instead, but is expected to play against the Senators.

Forward Matthew Peca, who has missed the last 14 games with a knee injury, took part in the full practice Friday and looks almost ready to return to the lineup.

Injured forwards Jonathan Drouin (wrist surgery) and Joel Armia (hand) both skated after Friday’s practice and were also doing puck-handling drills. However, Julien said there’s no chance either of them will return to the lineup until after the bye week in the schedule. Drouin has missed 26 games, while Armia has missed eight.

Paul Byron, who looked close to returning to the lineup last month when he took part in a full practice before the Canadiens went on their Western Canada road trip, is no longer skating and has missed 26 games.

“He hasn’t started skating yet, so obviously there’s been a good setback,” Julien said about Byron.

 Brossard#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/6sHWVPYEFy— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 10, 2020

What’s next? 1170502 Montreal Canadiens “We have a great group of guys in here,” Thompson added. “It’s always been like that. It’s always been good chemistry. It’s just we’re going through tough times right now. But at the same time, we believe we have the group to get ourselves out of it.” Stu Cowan: Some words of wisdom for upset Canadiens fans 풯푒풶퓂 퓈퓅풾퓇풾퓉#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/myuO3NRfXn— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 10, 2020

have some fun.” When the legendary Red Fisher was covering the Canadiens for The Some fans will no doubt be upset the Canadiens were having fun at Gazette and the team was really struggling, he liked to write the words: practice Friday instead of doing wind sprints with an 18-20-7 record and “nobody died.” their playoff hopes basically gone with 37 games still left in the season. So in memory of Red — who died in January 2018 at age 91 — and with But when a team — or a person — is in the dumps, sometimes it’s more what’s happening in the world today, Canadiens fans should remember important to try and put smiles on faces. That often works better. those words. “I know it’s black right now and I know there’s a dark cloud over us right Do fans have reason to be upset and frustrated with the Canadiens mired now,” Julien said. “But nobody has quit on this team. Players, coaches, in their second eight-game winless streak of the season and headed we’re still going to work as hard as we can and I’ve seen a lot of toward missing the playoffs for the third straight year and the fourth time situations where teams have packed it in in the past. I’ve seen it, I’ve in five seasons? Absolutely. Especially the ones paying big bucks for witnessed it. But this team here hasn’t done that. But are they frustrated? tickets at the Bell Centre. Yeah, because they care and because they’re trying to win hockey games and right now we just haven’t been good enough.” But the Canadiens aren’t forcing anyone to buy tickets or watch their games. Pro sports are supposed to be an escape from the real world, so RIP, Red. if you’re a fan getting overly upset about the Canadiens, here’s another Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.11.2020 line Red liked to use: “Take a deep breath and hold it.”

Canadiens fans aren’t the only ones frustrated. So is coach Claude Julien and his players. It’s obvious when you speak with them.

After Friday’s practice, Price spoke to the media for the first time since then and was asked to clarify or expand on what he meant.

Veteran Nate Thompson enjoyed the mini-game, even though he was on the losing side.

“I think we wanted to create some competitiveness and try and score some goals and, at the same time, have some fun with it,” Thompson said.

Here's link to video of #Habs playing a mini-game this morning during practice in Brossard #HabsIO: https://t.co/rHlzyp9TNE pic.twitter.com/5Ugqjq3o8r— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) January 10, 2020

When asked if there was some kind of wager on the result judging by the celebration after Peca’s goal, Thompson smiled and said: “Kirkie (assistant coach Kirk Muller) I think lost track of the score on the other side. They were telling him what the score was. There’s an asterisk behind their win, I think. No, there was no wager, but it was all in good fun and we had a good time doing that. 1170503 Montreal Canadiens When asked what impact the slump might have on the confidence of some of his young teammates, Price said: “They’ll be fine. A day in the NHL is a good day. They’re having fun. They know what it is. It’s learning experiences and they’re just trying to get better.” Canadiens still holding out hope they can make playoffs In the meantime, the Canadiens are trying to keep hope when it comes to Seventeen of the Habs' 27 losses this season have been by one goal, making the playoffs. including six during their current eight-game winless streak. “You guys see the same game I do,” Julien said. “I don’t think we’re being outplayed by any means by anybody. But you know the mistakes are costly right now and (losing) by one goal, does it give you hope? It STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 10, 2020 also gives you frustration because you know you’re that close. I think it’s a natural feeling for anybody right now. There’s frustration but the one thing there isn’t, there’s no quit.” The Canadiens are still looking at the NHL standings. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.11.2020 “Yeah, it’s on the board right in the hallway,” goalie Carey Price said in the Canadiens locker room at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard following Friday’s practice.

It’s very unlikely the injury-depleted Canadiens can pull off a similar feat, but as New York Yankees legend Yogi Berra once famously said: “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

At least that’s what the Canadiens need to keep telling themselves.

Coach Claude Julien was asked after practice about all the one-goal losses and whether he might need to make some technical tweaks to his systems.

Price, 32, is in his 13th season with the Canadiens and was asked how he handles difficult times different from a mental standpoint now than he did during his younger days.

“Experience helps you deal with anything,” he said. “You can reflect on situations that you’ve been in and use those experiences as a positive. … I think as a younger player you kind of lean on older guys to help show the way and I think we got a pretty good core group of guys here that are staying pretty positive in light of things.” 1170504 Montreal Canadiens In any case, it’s all academic because Molson is not going to demand a full rebuild this year. I was at Molson’s late September speech where he talked about an eight-year window for success. This management group needs a little electroshock therapy and it’s not going to come from a What the Puck: With Habs reset in tatters, it's time for full rebuild president who is famous for his conservative executive style and tight control over his pocketbook. The crucial date coming up for the Canadiens is Feb. 24, the NHL's trade-deadline day. Will the team use it to build for the future? The shock has to come from outside the cozy executives suites on the seventh floor of the Bell Centre. It can only come from two places: the

other groups that own equity in Groupe CH or the fan base. Things BRENDAN KELLY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 10, 2020 turned around in Toronto after a fan threw a Maple Leafs jersey on the ice in disgust. Here in Montreal, a sellout crowd of 21,302 fans turned up at the Bell Centre Thursday night. And for the moment, it appears the corporate partners aren’t challenging Molson. The date Habs fans need to circle in their calendars is Monday, Feb. 24. That’s this year’s National Hockey League trade deadline and it’s going So change will come. But not now. to be a crucial moment for the future of this tattered franchise. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.11.2020 The first thing you need to know is that your Montreal Canadiens will not be making the playoffs this season. This will be the third straight time they miss the post-season. As my colleague Stu Cowan underlined on Tuesday, this has only happened twice before in the team’s 110-year history. That means GM Marc Bergevin’s version of the Canadiens is right up there with the worst-ever Habs teams.

It’s time for a new plan and here’s the question: Is Molson going to give Bergevin a third kick at the can after two abject failures? There probably does need to be a full rebuild and my pal Tony Marinaro from TSN 690 is right that such a decision has to come from Molson, not Bergevin. But it makes no sense to have this difficult task managed by a GM who has presided over eight years of futility. 1170505 Montreal Canadiens Shut Gallagher down: Brendan Gallagher returned to the Canadiens lineup Thursday night after missing four games with a concussion and he provided a bit of a spark as he logged more than 17 minutes of ice time, had four shots on goal and a couple of hits. Hickey on hockey: Canadiens not delivering much bang for fans' bucks But Gallagher experienced headaches after the game and he missed A season ticket in the Bell Centre's nosebleed seats costs the average practice Friday. Coach Claude Julien said Gallagher would see a doctor Montrealer 62.1% of a month's salary, second-highest after Toronto. and, while there is concern the headache might be related to the concussion, it could simply be a virus.

Knowing Gallagher, he’ll want to be back in the lineup Saturday in PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 10, 2020 Ottawa, but the Canadiens should err on the side of caution and assume he’s dealing with post-concussion symptoms and shut him down. The Canadiens aren’t going to make the playoffs and it’s not worth risking When I was a youngster, I would do yard work and I was paid 75 cents Gallagher’s long-term health for a short-term goal that is already out of an hour. An hour’s work allowed me to buy a bleacher seat to watch the reach. Brooklyn Dodgers play at Ebbets Field. On occasion, I would splurge and pay $1.25 for a grandstand seat along the foul line, but I preferred to Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.11.2020 spend my hard-earned money on a hot dog (25 cents) and a soft drink (15 cents). I was too young to enjoy the 35-cent beer.

The least expensive seat for a Canadiens game is about $50 and that means today’s young fans have to flip burgers or toil at some other minimum-wage task for four hours in order to pay for a ticket. Another hour of work doesn’t even cover the cost of one beer.

Several events in the past week got me thinking about ticket prices.

It started with an email from Verve Search, a British marketing firm. For some reason that escapes me, the company has produced a series of studies on the relationship between ticket costs for the major North American pro sports leagues and median incomes.

The research shows, unless you’re in Ottawa, Canadians are spending a fair bit of their hard-earned money to see games. The study looked at the lowest price for a season ticket and calculated the percentage of the average monthly salary in that market. Fans in Toronto had to fork out 62.4 per cent of a month’s salary to get an entry-level seat at the arena formerly known as the Air Canada Centre, while Montreal fans are next, spending 62.1 per cent of a month’s salary to sit in the nosebleed seats at the Bell Centre.

Vancouver (62 per cent) and Winnipeg (52.3 per cent) are the only other cities where NHL fans pay more than half a month’s salary.

Ottawa is last in the NHL in attendance with 11,732 fans a game, but the Senators should get a boost Saturday when the Canadiens visit the Canadian Tire Centre (7 pm, SN, SN360, SN1, CITY, CBC, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio). Fans in Ottawa can gets season ticket for less than $1,300 and that represents 18.5 per cent of a monthly salary.

The Verve research indicates the Minnesota Wild has the highest ticket price in the NHL, but these figures represent the least expensive seats. The Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers and the Canadiens lead the way at the top of the market.

High ticket prices have been cited for a softening of the market in Montreal and Toronto. It’s possible to buy tickets at the box office on game day in both cities and that was unheard of five years ago.

The Canadiens announced a sellout for Thursday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, which wasn’t a surprise because the visitors included Connor McDavid — the best player on the planet. The surprise was that there were hundreds of empty seats.

Some of those unused tickets were on the street being held by independent ticket brokers, who have been experiencing an industry- specific recession.

“Business has been better for this game, but we couldn’t give tickets away Monday (for a game against Winnipeg) and it’s going to be the same for next Monday when Calgary’s in town,” one ticket reseller said. “It’s going to like that for the rest of the season. We’ll have one good game next month when Toronto’s in town, but that’s about it.”

The reseller said high prices have scared some customers away, but he said there was a more fundamental problem.

“The team’s not good and people have lost interest,” he said. “If the team was winning, price wouldn’t matter. People will pay whatever to see a winner.”

You can check the research at bit.ly/2tKLtAQ. 1170506 Montreal Canadiens season. Toronto was actually in the Western Conference until the 1998- 99 season – and did, for a time after shifting to the East, play a handful of extra games against Western Canadian opponents because the Leafs were such a popular box-office draw. Duhatschek Notebook: Imagining an NHL with an all-Canadian division, trade watch heats up and more The NHL has been a far more stable entity during the 21st century, largely because of commissioner Gary Bettman’s desire to establish the league’s footprint in every corner of North America, whether it had a hockey tradition or not. Bettman also understood that stability enhances By Eric Duhatschek Jan 10, 2020 43 perception – and that to become a significant player on the professional sports scene, it couldn’t keep shifting underperforming franchises to different markets. On Wednesday, in the aftermath of their second massively entertaining game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the span of six days, Winnipeg But back to the original thesis: What would the NHL look like today, if the Jets coach Paul Maurice was asked: Isn’t it a shame that the two clubs seven Canadian teams were all grouped in one division? In turn, that meet only twice in a single season? would mean three, eight-team divisions from the 24 U.S.-based franchises? (Under this model, the new Seattle franchise would Maurice gave a deadpan response, essentially saying it’s probably just eventually have to become the eighth team in the Canadian conference. as well – the turnover count was so high in the two games that it was It would work far better if the league had added Quebec when Vegas close to record-breaking. The implication was that his coaching heart joined – but that’s another story for another day). couldn’t take that much loosey-goosey play on a nightly basis, because coaches are all about structure and process. The free-for-all style, The possible permutations for the U.S. divisions is almost endless, but especially in the three-on-three overtime, was a little too much to bear. let’s examine one and then invite readers to dream up their own incarnations: Of course, just about everybody watching would beg to differ. Hockey is, by its nature, a game of mistakes. On an NHL rink, mistakes are usually Canadian (7): Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, made because of pressure and aggressive checking. When executed Vancouver. properly, it is extraordinarily fun to watch. U.S. Northeast (8): Buffalo, Boston, New York Islanders, New York The Leafs and Jets put on quite a show – Auston Matthews on the Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington. Toronto side, Patrick Laine for Winnipeg, the two players inextricably U.S. Central (8): Nashville, Colorado, St. Louis, Chicago, Minnesota, linked by the fact that they went one-two in the 2016 Draft. A compelling Detroit, Columbus, Carolina. chapter added to their emerging personal rivalry. Fold in the Leafs’ equally absorbing game against the Edmonton Oilers this past Monday – U.S. South (8): Tampa Bay, Florida, Dallas, Arizona, Vegas, Los when it was Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Show versus Matthews, Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose. Mitch Marner, John Tavares – and it got me circling back to an idea that I used to bring up incessantly. Geographically, there are a few options in the U.S. configuration, but if you spread all the Canadian teams out along the northern border, there’s Could – or even should – the NHL have a stand-alone Canadian a part of me that wants to see a similar setup in the U.S. south. division? Snowbirds, fleeing the winter weather from chilly Canada, were Practically speaking, the answer is likely a hard no. supposed to help contribute to the box-office salvation of the Floridas, Arizonas and other teams operating in more temperate climes. The NHL is funneled into north-south (rather than east-west) silos because of time zones and the constraints that broadcasting games It hasn’t quite worked out that way. If putting Winnipeg in the same outside of their own zones puts on the television side of the industry. division as Toronto and having the Leafs and Jets play each other four or Even in a market as popular as Toronto, any game that starts in a five times every season is the outcome, well, that just seems like a win- Mountain or a Pacific time zone becomes problematic for TV viewing win for everybody. numbers. Not everyone can stay up late on a work night to watch the Leafs play the Canucks in Vancouver. Trade watch heats up

Travel is a factor too – although, in an era where every team uses charter Canadian playoff content has varied wildly in the NHL over the past rather than commercial flights, it’s not the issue it once was. The reality handful of years. It went from zero participants in the 2016 postseason to is, it doesn’t take that much longer to fly from Edmonton to Toronto as it five (Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton and Calgary) just one year does from Edmonton to Los Angeles. later. Of course, playoff qualification hasn’t translated into the ultimate goal – winning the Stanley Cup – since 1993, when the Montreal And when it comes to audiences in the building, well, it’s long been said Canadiens of Patrick Roy, Vinnie Damphousse and Jacques Demers that isolated outposts such as Edmonton, Winnipeg and Calgary do not turned the trick against Wayne Gretzky’s Los Angeles Kings. Twenty-six resonate with the ticket-buying public in hip, major-market U.S. markets years and counting? It’s getting a bit ridiculous. such as New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. Minimal box-office appeal probably contributed to keeping Winnipeg out of the NHL for a long time Montreal’s recent swoon – eight consecutive losses amid a roster – or until Atlanta proved, once and for all, it couldn’t sustain an NHL devasted by injuries, only seven wins in the past 26 games – has left franchise. Quebec still isn’t back – even if a Quebec consortium put them a long way back, and probably too far back to mount a second-half together an attractive pitch for an expansion team at the same time charge. Plucky Ottawa was never going to be a realistic playoff Vegas was granted theirs. contender, so that just leaves Toronto as a viable challenger in the East. As of this moment, the good news is the Leafs do not face the prospect Just speaking of Toronto and Winnipeg specifically, not everyone may of yet another first-round series against the Boston Bruins. The bad news remember that there was a time when they actually did play in the same is, the likelier possibility is that they’ll be facing the Tampa Bay Lightning, division. In point of fact, it happened twice. currently on a nine-game win streak and come April, desperate to put behind last spring’s disappointing opening-round sweep at the hands of In the 1981-82 season, to accommodate the shift of the Calgary Flames the Columbus Blue Jackets. from the Patrick to the Smythe Division, Winnipeg and Toronto were placed in the same division (the Norris, alongside Minnesota, Detroit, Then there’s what’s unfolding in the Western Conference, where the Chicago and St. Louis). That lasted just a year. The next season, 1982- Canadian teams are collectively grouped in a tight – and completely 83, the Colorado Rockies moved to New Jersey to become the Devils, wide-open – race. As of Friday morning, four points were separating which meant Winnipeg shifted to the Smythe, joining Calgary, Edmonton, second-place Dallas from eighth-place Winnipeg. Moreover, the four Vancouver and Los Angeles. – just in time to see the Oilers and Wayne Canadian franchises – Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Vancouver – Gretzky regularly during their dynasty years. were running sixth-seventh-eighth-and-ninth respectively. Three points back in tenth sit Nashville, who made a coaching change this week – Toronto and Winnipeg were reunited in what by then had become known from Peter Laviolette to John Hynes – in the hope of salvaging a season as the Central Division for the start of the 1993-94 season. That that’s threatening to go completely off the rails. More on the Predators in alignment lasted a further three years, or until the Jets relocated to a minute. Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes at the start of the 1996-97 In other years, you usually start to see some separation by the All-Star Soaring in the scoring race break. But this year? In the West? Other than St. Louis, no one appears home free. Other than Anaheim, Los Angeles – and now in the aftermath The Predators’ Pekka Rinne became the 12th goaltender in NHL regular- of Logan Couture’s injury this week, San Jose – no one appears dead in season history to score a goal Thursday night during John Hynes’ first the water. The race at the top of the Pacific is practically neck and neck victory as the Nashville’s new coach (Hynes replaced Peter Laviolette among four teams: Arizona and Vegas have 54 points apiece, while earlier in this action-packed week). Edmonton and Calgary are next with 53. Rinne’s goal was the second of two that Nashville deposited in the empty It may also create a greater urgency among the bubble playoff teams to net – he’d steadied the puck behind the goal, saw there was time and start tinkering with their rosters sooner rather than later. Oilers’ GM Ken room and lofted a shot about 200 feet that didn’t take any odd unlucky Holland said it again this week in an interview with Pierre Lebrun: The hops but skipped and jumped right into the unattended cage. It gave the only thing that matters in today’s NHL is making the playoffs; it doesn’t Predators a 5-2 win over Chicago, in a game which was far closer than matter how or where in the standings you finish, as long as you get in. the final result indicated.

The Canadiens will – if they haven’t already – join the ranks of the The Blackhawks had overcome an early 3-0 deficit in the game and sellers, though it is hard to imagine that they can add much to their looked as if they had the Predators on the ropes. The fact that Nashville current roster of players unless they are prepared to wheel out a core wiggled off is one thing – the fact that they had something so joyous and piece. unexpected to celebrate is quite another.

Dale Weise and Nate Thompson top the list of possible rentals. Tomas Turning points in a season can sometimes occur in mysterious, Tatar, with a year left on a contract with a $4.8-million AAV, might draw unpredictable ways. some interest – but most suitors would surely be wary of adding Tatar, The sheer joy that the Predators’ players demonstrated in the aftermath given how difficult it was for him to adjust to Vegas from Detroit the last of Rinne’s goal was noticeable. Maybe this moment of the season – time he was moved at the deadline. second week of January, still time to make a move – can alter the team’s Similarly, Detroit doesn’t have a lot of potential rentals available up front, course. Clearly, there’s a lot that needs to improve under Hynes, but our Max Bultman speculated that Andreas Athanasiou might be on including the overall level of the Nashville goaltending, but sometimes, a the move at some point in 2020. Red Wings’ GM Steve Yzerman was team just needs a collective spark. If you’re a Predators’ fan and looking believed to have been interested in the Flames’ Sam Bennett once upon for hope, maybe this is the moment the team can seize upon. a time, back when he was running the Tampa Bay Lightning. And while Currently, in addition to Rinne, 105 other NHL players have scored just a the Flames are looking for a top-six forward to play with Sean Monahan single goal this season and a total of 189 who have played at least one and Johnny Gaudreau, and Athanasiou’s skill set is intriguing, they would game that hasn’t scored any. prefer a right-handed shot to fill that spot. Along with Rinne, St. Louis’s Alex Steen, New Jersey’s Kevin Rooney, Continuing on Calgary, Bennett looks like the most intriguing trade chip Nashville’s Colin Blackwell and L.A.’s Alec Martinez also scored their first the Flames could play if they decided to move a player off their current goals of the season Thursday night. roster to fill that desired top-six forward spot. In all, 15 NHL regular-season goals have been credited to goaltenders, Bennett was the fourth overall pick in 2014, one place behind Draisaitl, with Martin Brodeur (three) and Ron Hextall (two) leading the pack. Of and while he has often been effective in the limited number of those 15, however, only eight were actually shot by a goaltender into the postseason games that Calgary’s played, his regular-season empty net. In the case of the other seven, the goaltender received credit inconsistency has been an issue. for a goal, where a team inadvertently scored on itself and the opposing If not Detroit, could Toronto be a landing place for Bennett? The Hall of goaltender was the last player to touch the puck. Famer, Doug Gilmour, is around the Leafs a lot more these days, And finally … working in the organization as a community representative. Bennett was his protégé when Gilmour coached and managed the Kingston It’s hard to believe that it was just last Sunday that Canada defeated Frontenacs – and you’d think would deliver a favorable scouting report if Russia in the final of the World Junior Hockey Championships. For those ever asked. In the meantime, the Leafs have one player under contract – of a certain age, no matter how the geopolitical winds may shift, Canada- Kasperi Kapanen – that would neatly fit the bill of what Calgary’s looking Russia in a high-level hockey competition will always trump any other for: Top-six potential, plays on the right side, good speed. Kapanen isn’t rivalry, just because of its historical significance. big, but then Jiri Hudler wasn’t a massive physical presence either – and Sunday’s final was a riveting spectacle, partly because it involved kids – it didn’t stop him from thriving on a line with Monahan and Gaudreau. and games involving kids can often have massive momentum shifts, Kapanen was the 22nd player selected in the 2014 draft, 18 places which you can practically feel through your television screen. Whenever behind Bennett, but he’s clearly surpassed him as an NHLer. Not sure if there’s a dramatic outcome to a Canada-Russia game, it’s hard not to there’s a one-for-one fit there but maybe the teams could work something think back to the 1972 Summit Series, which really marked the start of out as part of a larger deal. this epic rivalry. The two players are the same age; both are signed for next year – It was also why on Monday, I called up Greg Franke, who is the author of Bennett at $2.55 million, Kapanen at $3.2 million – and both are under “Epic Confrontation,” the latest entry into the long list of books chronicling their respective teams’ control as RFAs once their current contracts the ‘72 series. What sets Franke’s book apart is that he presented the expire. view from the Soviet side. Back in 1993, Franke met the legendary Other possible places for Calgary to look include Los Angeles, where the Russian coach Anatoly Tarasov at an event in Boston. He’d learned to Kings are doing a good job of showcasing Tyler Toffoli, a pending UFA. speak Russian seven years earlier, as a senior in college at Bowling Even after Dustin Brown returned from a three-game absence after Green University, and was on his way to Moscow to take in the World recovering from pneumonia, the Kings left Toffoli on the top line with Hockey Championships. In Boston, Tarasov’s daughter, Galina, amused Anze Kopitar and Alex Iafallo. Toffoli has thrived, producing at a point-a- to find an American who was now fluent in Russian, invited him to visit game pace over the last six games. the family in Moscow, where they then provided Franke with a contact list of who’s who in Russian hockey. Franke started by speaking with the Wayne Simmonds, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract with New legendary Boris Mikhailov and then Mikhailov subsequently opened Jersey last summer, will almost certainly be on the move again at this doors that permitted Franke to speak to others on that ’72 team and get year’s trade deadline. He didn’t have a lot of playoff success in Nashville their perspective. last year, though the expectation is that he is healthier now than he was 12 months ago and thus can contribute more. “Even though Mikhailov had been retired for 25 years, the guys still called him ‘the captain,’” Franke said. “When I sat down with (Vladimir) Petrov, Pace-of-play is an issue with Simmonds, though physically, he could he said, ‘the captain said I should talk to you, so here I am.’” provide a presence on any team that thinks it is too light going into the postseason. (Most GMs have noted how, even in an age of increased Back in ‘72, there was a collective sense in Canada that the Summit speed and skill, ultimately it is the hard, heavy teams that tend to thrive in series would be a one-sided affair. One period into the first game, that the playoffs). The trade deadline is 45 days away. Happily, the perception changed. According to Franke, in his interviews with the countdown can start in earnest now. Russian players, the team wasn’t sure what to expect. Some feared the Canadians because of their reputations. Others, who played against Canadian players in exhibitions, were more confident in the outcome.

In their conversation, Franke said Mikhailov told him: “Even our own sports officials were telling us, ‘when you go over there, we don’t expect you to win, but we expect you to lose with honor. We don’t want you going over there to get embarrassed.’ Mikhailov said, ‘we had no idea what to expect, but when all you ever hear is that these guys are the best, the greatest, the fastest, the strongest, you almost involuntarily start to believe it, no matter how hard you try to tune that out.’

“But then I went to Petrov and told him what Mikhailov said and he chuckled a little and said: ‘Maybe he was afraid, but I wasn’t.’ Petrov told me, the first-ever NHL game he went to was in the 1960s and Bobby Hull was playing. Petrov felt that while the game was played on a fairly high level, conceptually, it was a primitive style of game – up and down, like a table-hockey game, and not the interchanging of positions and turning back and regrouping – all the things the Russians were known for. He said, ‘I saw they were good, but I thought we could compete with them – and it didn’t really surprise me what happened in ’72.’”

Over time, North American coaches adopted many stylistic elements that they first saw in Europe, while European teams added elements of the North American approach. The net effect is that there is no longer a distinct difference in playing styles that existed back in ’72.

As good as the rivalry remains, it doesn’t seem as if it can ever be the same as it was almost 50 years ago now, even though – if you watched Sunday’s final – you could see that the compete level remained off the charts.

“I don’t know if it can ever be the same,” Franke said. “In terms of style of play, it’s too similar now. Nothing’s ever going to match the political friction that existed in the Cold War era. But the beauty of it all is, because of that legacy, whenever Canada and Russia play, there’s always this extra sense of anticipation – and that’s because of that ’72 series and the great rivalry that developed. I mean, it transformed the league. The NHL is what is today because of that series.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170507 Montreal Canadiens type of run with Hall in the lineup to justify the lost value/assets by keeping him past the deadline.

At the end of the day, winning is what brings fans back, retains players Bourne Thoughts: Why Arizona should consider trading Taylor Hall, and convinces other players to sign with your franchise. I don’t think this flamethrower time in Montreal is the season the Coyotes are good enough to do enough winning to make inroads on those fronts. I do think they’d be better-served flipping Hall like a freshly renovated house at the deadline to see if they can’t get back more than they gave up for him. If they do, having not given up any By Justin Bourne Jan 10, 2020 171 of their biggest prospects in the original deal will make the whole experiment look like a big win for John Chayka.

They’re in the thick of it, Taylor Hall has eight points in 11 games and After their second eight-game losing streak of the season, the Canadiens their fans are more excited than they’ve been in years. But … playoff chances are all but shot. Yes, they’ve been dealing with their share of injuries, but here is a good tweet that addresses that: They’re also just 6-5 with Hall, who has just three goals and has laid a goose egg in four out of those 11 games. Not exactly wowee numbers. THE CANADIENS HAVE 7 WINS IN 26 GAMES SINCE DROUIN WENT They’re without their starter, Darcy Kuemper, for at least two more weeks DOWN. HE’S A GOOD PLAYER, BUT IF THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS – a player who’s in the conversation to win the Vezina this season. WHEN YOU LOSE A GUY LIKE THAT, SOMEONE BUILT A BAD (Another note: even when he returns, can he keep that level of play up?) HOCKEY TEAM. If you’re Hall, I think it’s unlikely you look at Arizona — a franchise that notoriously hasn’t spent to the cap to be as competitive as possible, isn’t — CONOR MCKENNA (@MCKENNACONOR) JANUARY 10, 2020 poised to be a powerhouse in the near future and plays in a market that Does that mean that it’s flamethrower time? isn’t considered to be one of the more desirable locations — and consider it one of the best places to sign as a UFA. I think if you’re Maybe it is. While the roster does features a couple of nice pieces, the running the organization, you have to be honest with yourself about that. focus has now shifted to next season and beyond. Shouldn’t an organization in this position be doing everything its power to help collect And if you’re Arizona, isn’t the best, best, best thing you can do for your prospects and picks that will help in that regard? franchise is to acquire high draft picks or prospects that will be tied to your organization for the duration of their entry-level contracts (and The point here is, wouldn’t the Habs be better positioned to acquire the they’ve had success keeping those players)? Wouldn’t trading Hall best, strongest prospects possible if they didn’t have a guy like Shea provide you cheaper talent that’s going to stick around? Weber – who is having another excellent season – dragging them to additional wins? And that Carey Price money could be limiting down the Yes, I know they just traded picks and prospects. But you can recoup road too, couldn’t it? those and improve on them, otherwise, you don’t do a deal. They could, of course, make a move behind the bench, but I think Claude You have to do the math on “Is this the year we’re winning the Cup,” or at Julien is one of the best coaches in the league. A lot of people do. least “Is this the year we could realistically be one of the handful of teams who could win the Cup,” and you have to consider what that’s worth. You So … what now then, if not something drastic? have to consider what a run and an attempt at that Cup is worth to your loyal fans who’ve been with you through thick and thin. You have to The Jets need Dustin Byfuglien consider what meaningful hockey does for the development of your I know you know that. But what’s happening in Winnipeg – five regulation young players. You have to show, at some point, that you’re trying to win. wins over the past month, just two against playoff-bound teams – is a BUT! But I do not think this Arizona Coyotes team is good enough to win perfect example of something that blinds people in sports: less than great more than one round. I do think that they’d be better served heading into players can get great results … for awhile. We see this around the NHL next season with high-end picks/prospects for Hall, and I believe they all the time. A team has a bunch of injuries, they plug in some minimally- could exceed what they gave up to get him in a return as teams get known players in those holes, and they get adequate results that we laud desperate down the stretch and the cap hit of taking Hall on has become as impressive. Then some of us in the media go on about how great all but nothing (between New Jersey’s retention and how teams accrue those fill-in players are and hypothesize that maybe that team can get by cap savings throughout the year). I don’t think Arizona has gone on the without the expensive injured players once they return, and we talk ourselves into a delusion. OK players who get elevated opportunities fire themselves up for those games, they’re focused, they give every ounce of themselves … until they can’t. Until the sample size gets too big, and they get exposed.

The problem with the Jets D-corps is, there are no “regulars,” no “expensive players” coming back to fill their holes on defense.

No storm surge on Justin Williams reveal gets a boo

How amazing would it have been if the Carolina Hurricanes had revealed the return of Justin Williams in a storm surge? I am crushed we were denied that. Crushed!

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170508 Montreal Canadiens The sad part is, it surely wasn’t. But is it now? That’s a question that Geoff Molson should be asking a president of

hockey operations. Perhaps something to ponder as he walks around What Melnick thinks: The Canadiens have become the NHL’s doormats Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal while kicking a couple of tomato cans out of the way.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 By Mitch Melnick Jan 10, 2020 41

I think it’s clear by now the Montreal Canadiens have become, in boxing parlance, an opponent.

You know the type. The guys who are used as stepping-stones for other fighters as they climb the ladder to a championship bout. They might look good in spurts, and every once in a while, shock even themselves with a win (Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson).

But, by and large, they find ways to lose. A less elegant term, from the days when my late dad used to talk boxing with me, is a “tomato can.”

Since their high-water mark of this season on Nov. 15, a convincing and eye opening 5-2 win over the Capitals in Washington, the Canadiens moved into what Pierre McGuire refers to as the true test of the first half, games 20 to 40, when there are no longer any surprises. When reality sets in for players who get off to unexpected hot starts (often a veteran who is hanging on – remember Tomas Fleischmann?) and, perhaps more importantly, when injuries tend to pile up.

Right on cue, in game No. 19, the Habs lost Jonathan Drouin and Paul Byron. (Although it’s possible that Byron was already playing hurt as he had been mostly ineffective). And then, game No. 20 on home ice to the New Jersey Devils.

In storytelling parlance, that’s called foreshadowing.

From games 20 to 40, the Habs lost 14 of them plus Joel Armia and Brendan Gallagher. Not surprisingly, for a team that already struggled mightily after Drouin went down, they haven’t won since their top two right-wingers were injured.

It’s kind of remarkable that through a pair of eight-game losing streaks, the Canadiens are still not yet double digits out of a wild card spot (nine points behind Carolina and Philadelphia).

To put it more succinctly, the Habs have lost 19 of their last 26 games. And yet, they are a Columbus Blue Jackets-type run (9-2-3) away from perhaps moving back into that wild card race.

Following the embarrassing meltdown in Detroit on Tuesday night, Claude Julien said, “…we’re asking a lot of certain players and I think there’s an element of fatigue setting in and you’re starting to see those mistakes. We’ve had injuries for a while… our lineup is thin …it eventually catches up… part of that is happening but it’s still frustrating and, you know what, when you get tired of losing you do something about it. Hopefully we’re there.”

Not so fast.

If fatigue has already set in (eight games in 12 days since the Christmas break) perhaps playing Shea Weber 28 minutes in the second game of a back-to-back and expecting him to get better as the game progresses is not the wisest option. And if fatigue has already set in, what happens between now and their bye week that begins after hosting Vegas in game 50? That’s five more games in just eight days.

I don’t see pucks on the ice. I see tongues.

The smattering of boos aimed at the Canadiens as the seconds ticked away in their Thursday night loss to the Oilers (a carbon copy of Detroit) was predictable but yet, considering the circumstances, very subdued. There was a resignation about it. Like it was a mass “sigh.”

That’s just one small sound away from total apathy. When they realize their team has turned into the most infamous of all so-called opponents, the Washington Generals. And then they pay only if the other team has a player or two worth seeing.

The Canadiens are so tight in the third period of close games, you’d be hard pressed to pull a nail out of their collective rear ends with a pair of six-inch pliers. Waiting around to lose.

In the year of Alexis Lafrenière, with the draft in Montreal, it’s almost as if it was planned this way. 1170509 Nashville Predators "Looking forward to that — a little bit of a spark, a little bit of change among us, especially."

Are you surprised this team, the oldest by average age in the NHL, has Pekka Rinne on Predators' struggles: 'Sometimes the darker side of your had issues like that, letting one little thing deflate it so quickly? mind takes over' "It's hard to accept, hard to say that, but probably. Good example, the Winter Classic. Good start to the game, had a five-on-three and we score two quick power-play goals, up 2-0. In this league it's so hard to protect a Paul Skrbina Nashville Tennessean lead if you don't keep going, if you don't keep attacking. ... Sure enough, they came back and won the game. That was a pretty good example. Published 4:24 PM EST Jan 10, 2020 “I guess you could notice a lot of times if something would go wrong then

a lot of other stuff started happening. CHICAGO — Last place in the Central Division was on the line Thursday “I was just a feeling of, you know, I think we were fragile and probably still when the Predators faced the Blackhawks at the United Center. are. We just have to climb our way out of it and that’s not coaches or The Predators were one point ahead of their foes from Chicago for that anything. It’s the situation we’ve been in and what we’ve done this distinction, which is why they fired coach Peter Laviolette on Monday and season, so many ups and downs. A lot of negativity in your head when brought in John Hynes on Tuesday. you have high expectations of yourself, and expectations from outside.”

If the Predators are to climb out of that hole — the first baby step was After the Winter Classic you said the team was in trouble. What did you taken when they defeated the Blackhawks 5-2, highlighted by goalie mean by that? Pekka Rinne's first career goal — they must first escape from another. If "It’s been going on too long. It wasn’t that I was sensing something, but I there were standings based on team mentality, the Predators, whose feel like that game … just terrible results. All that positivity (from before heads have been headed the wrong way for a bit now, might be in sole Christmas break) was gone. We can't just continue to say, 'We have possession of last place. enough time. We have enough time.' It’s hard to gain 10 points on Hynes said Tuesday there are plenty of tactical things he plans to attack. somebody. You have to do it over a period of time and be consistent. He also said he wants to make sure his players' heads are right. You can’t just flick a switch and start collecting points and winning games. That’s something we are really lacking currently." Rinne, perhaps the voice that carries the most weight in the locker room, said after an embarrassing Winter Classic that the team was "in trouble." You've never experienced a coaching change midseason. How do you anticipate the transition to go? His statement wasn't a premonition of Laviolette's firing five days later, he said, but rather an honest assessment of where the team stands. "We know each other really well and there is nothing new (with the players). But with the new coach, him getting to know us, kind of little by Rinne opened up about the mental state of the team before Thursday's little, getting into they way he views the game and the way he wants us to game against the Blackhawks, which essentially was Hynes' first full play — system-wise and everything. That can’t happen overnight. It’s a game day as the coach after he arrived in Nashville on Tuesday morning process." and was behind the bench that night for a 6-2 loss. Tennessean LOADED: 01.11.2020 Rinne, who never has experienced a coaching change midseason, used the word "fragile" more than once when describing the team's state of mind at times, especially during some of the more trying times of this season.

How important is (mentality), for you guys to be in the right state of mind?

“If affects you. When expectations of yourself and outcomes of games don’t match, all of a sudden you start second-guessing in your head. It’s just human nature.

"All those feelings, you try to fight against it and you try to believe the stuff you do and believe in this team, but it’s just human nature that when things get hard, sometimes the darker side of your mind takes over and you think about the negative things and it doesn't help at all."

Do you feel like the team wasn't in the right state of mind?

Not necessarily. I think we still had good confidence in the room. Every game, we wanted to start with a clean slate and keep at it and try to move on but I guess you could notice a lot of times if something would go wrong then a lot of other stuff started happening.

“It was just a feeling of, you know, I think we were fragile and probably still are. We just have to climb our way out of it, and that’s not coaches or anything. It’s the situation we’ve been in and what we’ve done this season — so many ups and downs. A lot of negativity in your head when you have high expectations of yourself, and expectations from outside.”

Hynes stressed the importance of building the team's mentality, making sure that part of your team's game is sharp. Why is that so important?

“Any given night you can win or lose a game, and a lot of those differences come inside your head and the confidence level you have as a team. When things aren’t going well it’s even more crucial.

"A lot of times you’re fragile and something goes against you and all of a sudden you let it all out and, you know, ‘Here we go again.’ We’re trying to change that. We still have enough time to turn things around. But it’s huge to be mentally in the right place, be confident, have to believe no matter what the situation. 1170510 Nashville Predators try to change anything. Heck, they were top of the league. So it wasn’t like I was going to come in and needed to do anything other than do my role and try to help and help Roman in his role. And just add to what they already had. It was pretty easy. Just because Roman was wearing the ‘C’ LeBrun: Mike Fisher on what Justin Williams is likely to experience upon and I wasn’t anymore, I didn’t feel a lot different.’’ his return after a lengthy layoff In both cases, just as the Predators greatly valued the leadership Fisher brought back into the room, the same is felt in Carolina with Williams back in the fold. By Pierre LeBrun Jan 10, 2020 9 There is no set timeline for when Williams will play his first game with the

Hurricanes. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said when they feel Williams is From time to time, Mike Fisher would look for reports out of Carolina. ready to go, that’s when he’ll play.

But the pull came in January 2018.

That wasn’t the case for Fisher.

Indeed, just over a month after announcing his comeback, Fisher played his first game on March 2.

The Hurricanes wanted Williams to have more time to get back into the swing of things than Fisher had. That much is clear.

And that extra time should be beneficial to Williams.

“Oh yeah, the more time the better,” Fisher said. “For me, he’s a bit ahead of where I was, as far as time.’’

I asked Fisher what it’s like to walk back into a dressing room you know so well as the former captain but not wearing the “C” anymore.

Why Devils are struggling to find balance between creating offense and Star Ledger LOADED: 01.11.2020 maintaining defense

By Chris Ryan

NEW YORK -- The Devils peppered the Rangers with 49 shots on goal. They created 33 scoring chances and 10 high-danger chances among their 76 shots attempts, and they had three goals to show for it.

On the scoreboard, they still weren’t close to the Rangers.

The Devils’ 6-3 defeat on Thursday at Madison Square Garden provided another display of some of the defensive issues that have hurt the team over the course of the season.

While they created plenty of chances themselves, those weren’t enough to mask what went wrong on the other end.

“One of the things that we’ve stressed since day one a training camp is managing the puck and our puck decisions, especially high in the offensive zone near the blue line,” forward Kyle Palmieri said. “A lot of teams do it now where they’ll see maybe a 50-50 puck high in the zone and they’ll start blowing guys out. We just lost some coverage and we’re unable to back check quick enough and get on the defensive side of the park quick enough to eliminate some of those odd-man rushes, and that was part of our game plan going in, we just didn’t execute that.”

Early in the season, the Devils suppressed scoring chances and rushes more effectively, but it came at the cost of their own offense.

Since Alain Nasreddine became interim head coach on Dec. 3, the Devils are averaging about six more shot attempts, four more scoring chances and 2.5 more high-danger shot attempts per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play.

But at the same time, they’re also allowing five more shot attempts, eight more scoring chances and 3.5 more high-danger shot attempts per 60 minutes in the same game state.

Simply put, their increased push of pace and offense has also made them susceptible to allowing more chances on the defensive end. Mackenzie Blackwood’s play since the coaching change has negated a lot of that, since he sports a .932 save percentage at 5-on-5 in that span.

He’s been the biggest reason why the Devils have been able to rattle off some wins in the past month, but he’s still human. The Rangers were able to break through him on Thursday, and the Devils paid the price.

Forward Blake Coleman and Nasreddine both pointed to execution and mental focus as the keys to keeping their offense humming while limiting some of the dangerous chances they’ve been surrendering.

“You gotta be on the right side of things. And I think part of our opportunities is we’re trusting the guys behind us that have full possession that they’re going to make the play to get it up and out," Coleman said. "So, myself included, if the puck’s on our stick in our end and we don’t execute, a lot of times we’re taking off to go on a rush. So that’s when teams can kind of counter and get some offense. So it’s on us to execute the plays, and they’re correctable.”

Quick hitters

- Damon Severson scored the most bizarre goal of his career Thursday, getting credit for a score on a play where the net was dislodged before the puck crossed the goal line. Coleman, who was a said he knew he was forced into the post, causing the net to fall off its moorings, and he thought the puck crossed the line, so he wasn’t surprised when the video review gave him the goal. Coleman was originally credited with the goal, but a scoring change later gave it to Severson.

- The Devils faced Rangers rookie goalie Igor Shesterkin for the first time, and the players didn’t have much of a scouting report on the Russian. One player who did, however, was Nikita Gusev, who faced him in the KHL. Coleman said he asked Gusev prior to the game for advice on attacking him, and he simply said, “Shoot to score.” 1170512 New Jersey Devils Hischier also wore the "A" on Thursday as the Devils’ second alternate captain, along with Travis Zajac. Hischier will continue to wear the letter during road games for the duration of the season, while Kyle Palmieri will get the distinction during home games. Devils odds and ends: Why Connor Carrick hasn’t been playing; Nico Hischier on All-Star push He wore the letter down the stretch during the 2018-19 season when the Devils were crushed with injuries, but since the team traded Taylor Hall, it’s seemed like an obvious shift toward making Hischier a clear leader.

By Chris Ryan Players and coaches have said Hischier has been more vocal and confident in the room and on the ice during his third NHL season.

Hischier still believes he’s on the quiet side, but when games arrive, he’s NEW YORK -- The Devils left Madison Square Garden with a 6-3 loss not afraid to speak up and take charge. That’s what’s earned him the against the Rangers on Thursday. Here are some odds and ends from chance around the team separate from the game. “It’s an honor to be trusted with an A on the jersey. You’re doing Why Connor Carrick isn’t playing something right. Do those right things again and keep doing them. Be consistent, lead the way, and just go out there and be a leader, do the Thursday marked Connor Carrick’s fifth straight game as a healthy right things, do the little things right and not be afraid to say anything.” scratch, and since returning from a broken pinky in the middle of December, the defenseman has played just twice. He has appeared in Joey Anderson an AHL All-Star six games total this season, recording one assist. There was a change to the Devils’ representative for the AHL All-Star Given the Devils’ position in the standings, plus their overall struggles on Game. Forward Joey Anderson will play in the game, taking the place of the defensive end over the course of the season, why hasn’t Carrick Ben Street. Street was originally selected to play, but he will sit out for played more? family reasons. His wife had the couple’s second child last week, one day before Street’s NHL recall. Basically, it’s a numbers game. So Anderson will make his first appearance in the game in his second “It’s not so much about him. I think it’s attributed to guys that have been pro season. Anderson has played on Street’s right wing for the majority in the lineup, guys have been pretty consistent, and for Connor, he’s of the season, going for eight goals, 15 assists and 23 points in 34 been a true professional," Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine said. games. He is third on the team in points. "He comes in ready to work, he knows it’s not an easy situation. We sit down with him and we try to explain. You can’t please everyone on a Star Ledger LOADED: 01.11.2020 hockey team unfortunately. He’s going to have to be a little patient, but he’s putting in the work, he’ll be ready when called upon.”

And if you look at the Devils’ lineup, there’s only one spot where he would logically slot in, and that’s for Mirco Mueller. Andy Greene, P.K. Subban, Sami Vatanen, Damon Severson and Will Butcher aren’t getting healthy scratched.

So the sixth spot comes down to Mueller and Carrick on a nightly basis, and lately, Mueller hasn’t been the issue on the defensive end. Entering Thursday, Mueller was on the ice for just one 5-on-5 goal against over his previous eight games. However, he was on for two 5-on-5 goals on Thursday.

Mueller’s also a solid penalty killer, and the Devils don’t need Carrick on the power play.

Playing Mueller also gives the Devils three lefties and three righties on defense, rather than four righties with Carrick dressed instead. The Devils have players who can play on their weak side, but lineup construction is something worth considering.

So barring an injury, Carrick is going to have to keep biding his time while competing with Mueller for playing time.

Nico Hischier on All-Star push, evolving role

Nico Hischier is one of eight players in the running for the final spot on the Metropolitan Division team in the NHL All-Star Game. The “last man vote” runs through 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

Hischier has taken notice of the support he’s gotten on social media toward earning him a spot in St. Louis, and his play in the past month has also provided a reason for him to be a deserving candidate.

He went scoreless Thursday, but Hischier has eight points over his past seven games. Following a quiet month of October, where he had just four points and no goals, he posted eight goals and 19 points in the next two months.

Since the Taylor Hall exited the Devils’ lineup prior to his Dec. 16 trade, Hischier has gone for five goals and 10 points, and without Hall on his left, Hischier has looked like a player more committed to taking charge and driving play, though he said he hasn’t tried to shift his game in any drastic way.

“Honestly, I still have to say mindset from the beginning of the year. I don’t try to change much," Hischier said. "I try to be a player that my teammates, my coaches know what they get from me every night. Just try to be consistent there.” 1170513 New York Islanders “I felt one of the strengths with David all the time, especially the early years when we’d hit some rough patches and he would come in and say, ‘Hey, the answer is in this room. There’s not going to be any change here. We’ve got to work through it,’ ” Trotz said. “And when we did, we Islanders coach Barry Trotz looks for 200-foot game in the second half were a better team on the other end.

“The easiest thing is to panic when it’s not going really well,” Trotz added. “But we’re in the winning business and I understand that totally. I As the Islanders embark on the second half of the NHL season, the next understand it more now, 20-something years into it, than I probably did in level to their game is one Barry Trotz has seen his team play in the past. year one or two. In the first or second year when you’re starting out, “The next level we’ve got to get to is we’ve got to get back to a little more you’re just trying to survive. You just want to stay in the league. You want of our consistency in our 200-foot game,” the coach said. “We’re not all to have a career. I probably have a different perspective now than I did the way there. It’s sort of like a juggler with four balls. Right now, we’re when it was 1998.” only juggling three. We’ve got to get that fourth ball in the equation and Picked from the pod build our game a little bit more up and down the ice.” Josh Bailey, the only Islander to be on the team’s NHL roster for every Trotz said this before the Islanders earned a 1-0 victory over the season through the 2010s, was the guest on Episode 15 of Newsday’s Avalanche, who at the time had the most goals in the NHL, and beat the Island Ice podcast. Devils, 4-3, in overtime. Those games last Monday and Tuesday were Nos. 41 and 42 of the 82-game regular season. He discussed the players he looked up to as role models when he first made the Islanders and the differences between being a 20-year-old Still, regardless of when Trotz said it, the sentiment remains the same: player and a 30-year-old. Bailey also talked about the song the fans sing The Islanders need to be more consistent in their playoff push than what for him at every home game and whether his teammates use that to rib they showed in an 11-9-1 stretch that followed their franchise-record 17- him still. It's DJ Otzi's "Hey Baby" song sung as "Hey Bailey." game point streak (15-0-2) from Oct. 12 to Nov. 23. “I don’t know if it’s a chirp anymore,” Bailey said. “We get a kick out of it. And as much as their team success is predicated on defense, it’s the The guys in here run with it a little bit. There have been times we’ve been offense that is most glaringly inconsistent. out somewhere, they get the song going and try to embarrass me a little Many of the players the Islanders count on for consistent scoring were in bit. It’s all in good fun. For me, it’s a great feeling when you get that many the midst of lengthy droughts entering Saturday night’s game against the people chanting your name. It puts a little more pressure on me to get a Bruins at Barclays Center. couple of more goals at home, obviously. But I look forward to it.”

Jordan Eberle scored his first goal in 11 games against the Devils. Josh Islanders aplenty Bailey had gone 13 games without a goal, with only two assists in that The Predators’ Pekka Rinne on Thursday became the 12th goalie in NHL span. Anthony Beauvillier was without a goal in 11 games and had only history to score a regular-season goal. Four of those goalies spent time two assists. Derick Brassard had gone 10 games without a goal and had with the Islanders, though only Billy Smith scored his goal while playing only three assists. All-Star Mathew Barzal had been stuck on a team-high for the team: 16 goals for seven games. Billy Smith — Nov. 28, 1979 Yet for all the noted inconsistency, the Islanders sat in third place in the Metropolitan Division after Friday night's games -- two points behind the Ron Hextall — Dec. 8, 1987 (with Flyers) Penguins and with two games in hand -- and their 57 points put them in the league’s top five. Chris Osgood — March 6, 1996 (with Red Wings)

And the team is confident that it is positioned for a strong second-half Evgeni Nabokov — March 10, 2002 (with Sharks) push. Also, one of those goalie-scored goals came against the Islanders: “Yeah, I don’t see how we couldn’t be,” defenseman Scott Mayfield said. Jose Theodore — Jan. 2, 2001 (with Canadiens) “I don’t think anyone’s content with it. You’ve got to keep climbing. You’ve got to keep getting points. So it’s a good [first] half and we’ve got Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.11.2020 to get back to what we were doing on that long run we had.”

With all that in mind, here’s a quick look back at the first half and a crystal-ball glance at the second half:

First-half MVP: Center Brock Nelson has been the Islanders’ most consistent skater with 15 goals and 16 assists. He’s also a solid two-way center and Trotz often pairs his line — whoever his linemates may be in the game — against the opponent’s top line. Other candidates: Goalie Semyon Varlamov, defenseman Ryan Pulock, center Mathew Barzal.

Second-half what to watch for: Can rookie defenseman Noah Dobson grab the spot left open by Adam Pelech’s season-ending Achilles tendon injury? If not, will Thomas Hickey ever be healthy enough to earn a recall from Bridgeport of the AHL? Or will president and general manager Lou Lamoriello be forced to acquire a defenseman?

Trade target: The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 24, and the assumption is that Lamoriello will look to acquire scoring help up front. The Senators’ Jean-Gabriel Pageau will be highly sought after. The Kings’ Tyler Taffoli would be a solid acquisition who could come at a cheaper cost.

Maturing as a coach

Trotz was an interested observer this past week as the Predators fired Peter Laviolette and hired John Hynes as the third coach in the franchise’s 21-season history. Trotz, of course, coached the expansion franchise for its first 14 seasons.

Trotz said the lessons in stability that Predators general manager David Poile preached still resonate with him. 1170514 New York Islanders

Islanders look for scorers to produce in upcoming tough stretch

By Brian Heyman

The puck will drop Saturday night at Barclays Center to begin an action- packed stretch of seven games in 11 days for the Islanders before a non- action-packed stretch of 10 days for the All-Star/bye-week break.

“It’s going to be a grind,” Anthony Beauvillier said. “You’re going to be looking forward for the break after. But, yeah, it’s some important games coming up for us, a lot of games in the Metro. It’s going to be fun. … It’s going to be important for us to be dialed in.”

The Islanders practiced Friday in East Meadow for the start of it against Boston. They could use several players to be more dialed in to scoring to bring consistent success in this demanding slice of the schedule.

“A little downer stretch I would say for me and some guys,” Beauvillier said. “But I think we’re working hard, working on doing the right things, and it’s going to come. I had a few chances the last couple of games. It’s going to start to go in if you stick to the process and keep doing the right things.”

Beauvillier hasn't scored in the last 11 games. Josh Bailey is 0-for-13. Derick Brassard has gone 10 straight without a goal. Mathew Barzal has none in the last seven. Michael Dal Colle has a five-game drought and has only scored twice. Jordan Eberle scored in Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Devils to end a 10-game drought, but he has only four goals.

“You just can’t go into games thinking about points and goals,” Bailey said. “That ends up hurting you more than helping you.”

The Islanders, who entered Friday second in the division, sandwiched two one-goal games around a no-goal game and went 1-2 before beating New Jersey. They finished a seven-game, 12-day stretch at 4-3.

Barry Trotz wants production from all over to help overcome what’s ahead, including three games against the Rangers.

“You can’t rely on one line,” Trotz said. “If you think one line is going to be fabulous for seven games in 11, 12 nights, you’re probably going to be not so successful. But if you can get everybody contributing through that stretch, you might have a chance to be successful.”

Bailey knows there’s a fine line here.

“We all want to produce and get goals and points,” said Bailey, who has produced eight goals and 23 points. “I’m sure we would probably get more if we got away from what gives us success. We’d be giving up more and we wouldn’t be winning games. So it’s finding that happy medium of offense while doing what we need to do to be successful.”

Notes & quotes: Tom Kuhnhackl, currently the third-line right wing and the owner of three goals in the last six games, didn’t practice. “He just had a slight strain (Thursday),” Trotz said. “I expect him to play (Saturday).”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170515 New York Islanders Back when the 17-game point streak was a winning streak, the Islanders hosted the then-underachieving Lightning on Nov. 1. It was classic Islander hockey under Trotz: A scoreless first gave way to Barzal racing around the offensive zone to get one to go, Pulock hammering one to MVP and Unsung Hero? Islanders midseason awards, as voted on by break a 1-1 tie and a fair bit of counter-attacking to extend the lead in the the players third in a 5-2 win.

The Isles have played with fire a bit more this season than last and needed some furious rallies during that 15-0-2 run. But the win over By Arthur Staple Jan 10, 2020 13 Tampa, now the hottest team in the league, showed the best of what the Isles can give.

The Islanders hit the halfway mark on Monday night, with their 1-0 win Best number over the Avalanche bringing Barry Trotz’s team to 26-12-3, tied with the 1.011 is the Isles’ current PDO, according to Natural Stat Trick. PDO is a 2014-15 squad for the best 41-game record since the dynasty era. made-up acronym that basically amounts to how lucky a team is, Lots of highs and still a fair amount of lows, a couple of which should combining shooting and save percentage; last season, the Isles were at have a profound impact on the second half of this season. The Islanders 1.021, tied for first in the league with the Caps. 1.000 is league average. will need to overcome their lack of consistent goal scoring to hold onto a Now, the Isles are still getting above-average save percentages from top-two spot in the Metro, which is shaping up as the league’s toughest their goalies — the team’s 5v5 save percentage is .933, second in the division. league. But the Isles are not shooting above the league average so far First up are the only two “awards” worth anything: First-half MVP and this season. They’re at 7.72 percent, 20th in the league. first-half Unsung Hero, as voted on by the players. We polled 19 This 1.011 suggests the Isles may not regress hard in the second half. Islanders anonymously for this one. Here are your 2019-20 Halfsies: After a season and a half of top-five save percentage with three different MVP: Brock Nelson goalies, there may be enough evidence that the Trotz-Mitch Korn-Piero Greco triumvirate has hit on a way to replicate high save percentages. The goalie tandem of Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss got plenty And if the shooting percentage bounces back toward the mean, the Isles of support here, garnering 7.5 votes out of 19 overall, but Nelson edged may have a few more goals in them without sacrificing defense. them out with 8.5 votes. In the first season of a six-year contract worth $6 million per, Nelson picked up right where he left off in his breakout 2018- So, it’s promising that they’re still lucky and good, with maybe a bit more 19 under Trotz. of the latter this season.

There was his usual Brocktoberfest, when Nelson posted 4-6-10 in the Best scoring attempt (successful) 11 games of the first month of the season — and added to his career- Cole Bardreau may never make it back to the NHL, but his penalty-shot best month, with 27 goals and 54 points in 71 career October games. But goal against the Senators on Nov. 5 for his first NHL goal at age 27 is a then there was no November fade; Nelson had 10 points each in pretty neat takeaway from the first half of this year. November and December, establishing himself as the Isles’ most consistent player so far this season. Add in his three overtime winners, Best scoring attempt (unsuccessful) one off the league lead, and Nelson has shown to be pretty clutch, as well. HI @ANNAKENDRICK47

“He’s been a rock for us all year,” one teammate said of Nelson. “Maybe — ANTHONY BEAUVILLIER (@TITOBEAUVI21) DECEMBER 26, 2019 one of the most underrated guys in the league,” another said. Player to watch in the second half The Varlamov-Greiss tandem has been rock solid, as well, and it’s hard A lot of the Islanders’ success may ride on whether Noah Dobson can to imagine the Isles being where they are without both goalies playing start to earn more trust from Trotz, and thus more ice time. As Trotz well. noted this week, the Isles are basically playing with “five and a half” Also receiving single votes: Adam Pelech, Anthony Beauvillier and defensemen in the wake of Pelech’s injury, rotating their five regulars Mathew Barzal. around the odd shift from Dobson.

Unsung Hero: Adam Pelech That likely can’t last. If the 20-year-old rookie can show he’s learned how to defend while maintaining his above-average speed and vision, the This one feels a little less enjoyable given Pelech’s Achilles injury, Islanders’ D corps can become a bigger threat while also holding up its suffered in an off-ice game of two-touch prior to last Thursday’s game. end of the bargain in the defensive zone. If Dobson can’t gain that trust But the under-the-radar Islander was well into a very strong year on a and continues to be perceived as a liability in need of sheltering, it’s hard defense that was once again preventing goals with remarkable efficiency. to see how the other five D-men make it through the next 40 games intact. Pelech has come to embody Trotz’s defensive ethos of “bend but don’t break,” or “keep things to the outside.” His on-ice shot share is a The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 mediocre 44.5 percent, but his expected goals share is 49.1 percent, best among the six Islanders defensemen who were regulars over the first half of the season.

“Any time you lose a guy to injury, it sucks,” said Nick Leddy, who has taken Pelech’s spot on the top pair with Ryan Pulock in the last week. “When it’s someone who’s as important to our team as Pelly it’s even worse.”

Pelech received nine of 19 votes, the runaway winner here. Beauvillier, who had a strong start but has cooled off considerably the last 20 games, got three votes. Casey Cizikas, a perennial Unsung Hero favorite, got two votes and is probably the odds-on favorite to be the full-season selection, given how hot he’s gotten lately and Pelech’s absence the remainder of the season.

Also receiving votes: Derick Brassard, Josh Bailey, Johnny Boychuk, Varlamov and Nelson.

On to a few other “awards,” bestowed by yours truly:

Best game 1170516 New York Rangers Ryan Lindgren, who did not play in the third period of Thursday’s match after blocking a shot in the first, did not skate at practice and is questionable for Saturday’s match.

How Henrik Lundqvist is handling Rangers’ ‘unusual situation’ If Lindgren, who absorbed a pounding by Nazem Kadri in a first-period fight on Tuesday and did not play in the final two periods of that one, is unable to go against the Blues, either Brendan Smith will shift back to defense or Libor Hajek, sidelined since Dec. 5 with a knee injury, will get By Larry BrooksJanuary 11, 2020 | 12:44am the call.

New York Post LOADED: 01.11.2020 So it will be Henrik Lundqvist in nets, Alexandar Georgiev on the bench and Igor Shesterkin in street clothes in the Rangers’ latest installment of three-goaltender monte Saturday night in St. Louis.

“It’s an unusual situation right now,” said Lundqvist, who has started just one of the previous six games and six of the team’s 17 matches since Dec. 5. “But you can only control so much. You don’t want to put too much thinking into this.

“When you get the opportunity to play, you want to do your best. It’s quite a challenge.”

The Rangers have not laid out a plan to or for their goaltenders. Coach David Quinn, in the unenviable position of trying to make three-into-two come out whole, again said Friday that he is approaching this “day by day.” So are the goaltenders. That includes Lundqvist, who has gone 5- 5-2 with a .914 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average since Nov. 20.

“It’s a different situation, but it’s been the same as far as being told when we’re going to play,” said Lundqvist, who backed up on Tuesday and Thursday while Shesterkin stopped 75 of 81 shots to record victories in each of his first two NHL contests. “We haven’t been given a long-term plan.

“I feel pretty good. I’ve been working hard in practice. I’m just going to try to do my best.”

The Rangers, who held pro-scouting meetings this week, are prepared to go both ways as the Feb. 24 trade deadline approaches.

“Sometimes these things can change in a [flash]. We have to be ready for both sides,” club president John Davidson said. “It sounds generic, but it is. You’re in the hunt, a week later you’re out of the hunt, a week later you’re in the hunt …

“The vision I have is whatever we do, we’re dealing with the business of hockey and the business of big picture trying to become a championship team. That’s where our decisions will lie.

“That could be a number of different things, too. Sometimes a playoff race is healthy for your club even if you don’t get in because they’re like playoff games, so that’s what we’re in the middle of.”

Perhaps Quinn will hear from Larry David about benching Ryan Strome for a stretch during the first period of Thursday’s 6-3 Garden victory over the Devils. Maybe the coach will be forced to walk behind the bench in St. Louis wearing a sandwich board proclaiming, “I bench people, even our second-leading scorer.”

Strome sat from 8:06 to 16:59 of the first period following a woefully deficient wave at Pavel Zacha in the defensive faceoff circle immediately before Kevin Rooney scored a shorthanded goal off Zacha’s rebound. Brett Howden filled in for Strome on the first power-play unit while Filip Chytil took a couple of spins in Strome’s even-strength spot between Artemi Panarin and Jesper Fast.

Asked if the benching was meant to send a message, Quinn’s answer was sharp and direct.

“Yes … [and the message was] that’s unacceptable,” the coach said. “He knows it.

“He’s had a hell of a year, and I think responsibility comes with being in the situation he’s in now. More is expected of you when you play in that role and are as productive as he is. And he knows that.”

True, that, for after the game Strome told The Post: “It’s about accountability. I have to be accountable. That kind of a play, it can’t happen. I understand.”

Strome, who had two assists in the match, has 41 points (12-29), second on the club to Artemi Panarin’s 61. 1170517 New York Rangers “However I will say that I’ve tried to reach out to everybody involved in our organization and I don’t sense there have been issues. And at the same time, there’s always a fine line with this stuff, especially in today’s world. I don’t want to see anybody get marked with anything, and that How Rangers are responding to awkward Lias Andersson freezeout includes Lias and anybody who’s worked with him.

“All I know is that everybody has tried to do the right thing for the right reason and I believe that’s what’s happened.” By Larry BrooksJanuary 10, 2020 | 4:32PM Until the parties talk, there is obviously no chance at reconciliation and

about as little chance of a trade. Davidson said that he is not planning on Kind of like an adolescent in the wake of a messy breakup, Lias hopping on a flight to Stockholm any time soon. Andersson has effectively advised club president John Davidson and the “Not right now,” he said. “There are plenty of ways to talk to people.” Rangers not to call him, he’ll call them if and when he’s ready. Or not. “I’ve called him, but haven’t talked to him. We’ve talked to the agent [Jarrett Bousquet] a lot. That seems to be the way he wants to do things New York Post LOADED: 01.11.2020 at this point, which is fine,” Davidson told reporters before the Blueshirts practiced in advance of their flight to St. Louis for Saturday’s match against the reigning Stanley Cup champions. “He’s disappointed things haven’t worked out to this point. We’re disappointed things haven’t worked out to this point, which is natural.

“When you look at this situation and try to analyze it, I’ve done a lot of research and I can’t really figure out exactly what the issue is other than disappointment. I think that this group here — the Rangers — treat players well, as most people know, do the best they can to provide them with every opportunity to become the best player they can be as quickly as possible. And I feel that that has happened here.

“It’s a hard one to really figure out until you end up talking to Lias directly. We haven’t done that [because] at this point he wants everything to go through his agent. So we’ll see where it goes.”

The Andersson Saga has become well-known. A surprise seventh-overall selection in the 2017 entry draft with the pick the Blueshirts obtained from Arizona with Tony DeAngelo in exchange for Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta. Two below-par training camps out of which he was assigned to the AHL Wolf Pack. A better camp this season in which he earned a spot on the big league roster. Demoted after weeks on the fourth line in which No. 28 accomplished little and was unable to earn a more expansive role. A stint in Hartford that came to a sudden end with his request for a trade and no-notice exit/resignation. Comments this week from Gothenburg, Sweden, in which Andersson referred to “other factors” and “incidents” that had taken place in Hartford or perhaps even New York.

What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.

“Things may have gotten lost in translation, I don’t know,” Davidson said. “I know the last game he played in Hartford [on Dec. 18 in Charlotte], he played 20 minutes and then decided to leave.

“And you know what I find interesting? It’s this. I thought [Ryan] Lindgren was one of our best defensemen and could have made the team out of camp, but no room. So he [went] to Hartford, and now he’s here. [Filip] Chytil was in shock when he was sent to Hartford, and he found a way to get back.

“And I’m hoping along the line with Lias that he finds the way to get back into it and find the way to play in this league.”

The Rangers had been soliciting offers for Andersson pretty much from the moment he was sent to the Wolf Pack on Nov. 20. But there wasn’t much of a market for the youngster with a sum of nine points (3-6) in 66 career NHL games and 39 points (15-24) in 74 career AHL matches. That market has essentially evaporated in conjunction with this job action.

No wonder Davidson said that “everything is on the table,” when asked whether it would be conceivable for the currently suspended Andersson to rejoin the organization at some point.

“I would never say, ‘No, no, no.’ That’s being spiteful. That’s not right,” Davidson said. “It’s better to be open-minded about everything and see where it goes as we move along down the line.”

Maybe Andersson will be able to explain himself to the degree that he would be welcomed back by his team and teammates. Maybe there are extenuating circumstances that are unknown to Davidson, general manager Jeff Gorton and Hartford GM Chris Drury.

“I’m not going to read translations because it doesn’t make sense until you hear it from the actual person,” Davidson said. “It just doesn’t make sense. 1170518 New York Rangers

Rangers president John Davidson wants to speak with Lias Andersson about his departure from the organization

By Denis P. Gorman

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — During a sit-down interview with writers, team president John Davidson made it clear that the Rangers have not begun divorce proceedings with Lias Andersson but do want to hear directly from the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft about what prompted him to leave the organization.

“It’s a really hard one to figure out until you really end up talking to Lias,” Davidson said before practice at the MSG Training Facility on Friday. “I’ve gone and done a lot of research. I can’t figure out exactly what the issue is other than disappointment.”

In recent interviews with a Swedish television station and newspaper, Andersson said there were “factors” and “incidents” that led him to request a trade and leave the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, to return to Sweden.

Tony DeAngelo became the second defenseman in Rangers history to record five points in a game on Thursday night vs. the Devils. Newsday Rangers beat reporter Colin Stephenson breaks down DeAngelo’s big night at the Garden. (Credit: Newsday / Colin Stephenson)

The Rangers sent Andersson to Hartford on Nov. 17 in order to give him ice time. Andersson made the NHL team out of training camp but was limited to an average of 9:33 of ice time per game in 17 games. He had one assist in those games before being sent to Hartford, where the 21- year-old had four goals and an assist in 13 games with the Wolf Pack. His last game with Hartford was a 7-1 loss to the Charlotte Checkers on Dec. 18.

Davidson defended the organization’s handling of Andersson, which has been a season-long talking point.

“The Rangers, as most people know, treat players well, do their best to provide them with every opportunity to become the best player they can be as quickly as possible, and I feel like that has happened here,” he said.

Davidson stressed that he will not make any determinations about alleged mistreatment based on media reports that had to be translated into English.

“I’m not going to read translations in this [situation] because it doesn’t make sense until you hear it from the actual person. It just doesn’t make sense,” he said. “However, I will say that I’ve tried to reach out to everyone involved in our organization and I don’t sense that there’s been issues.”

Davidson wants direct contact with the disgruntled forward. “I’ve called,” he said. “I haven’t talked to him. I’ve talked to his agent a lot. It seems to be the way they want to do things at this point, which is fine. He’s disappointed, obviously, that things haven’t worked out to this point.”

When asked specifically if he or general manager Jeff Gorton will fly to Sweden to facilitate communication with Andersson, Davidson was unequivocal.

“No, not right now,” he said. “There’s plenty of ways to talk to people. Plenty of ways. He right now, at this point in time, feels that he’s doing everything through his representatives, so that’s where we are right now.”

Notes & quotes: After the interview, Davidson observed practice along with Gorton, assistant general manager Chris Drury and Glen Sather, who is a special adviser to owner James Dolan . . . David Quinn announced that Henrik Lundqvist will start Saturday night’s game in St. Louis and that Alexandar Georgiev will be the backup. Also making the trip, according to Quinn: Ryan Lindgren, who suffered a lower-body injury Thursday night; Marc Staal, who didn’t practice, and Libor Hajek.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170519 NHL “I was playing golf – and not getting any better – when this came around,” Anselmi said. “We started to talk and it interested me.”

He travelled to Edmonton, toured Rogers Place and pored over the In hiring Tom Anselmi, the Oilers are hoping to bring a little of the MLSE blueprints for the Ice District. business success to Edmonton “When you look at it, it is the epicentre of something great,” Anselmi said. “Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

MARTY KLINKENBERG In June, Anselmi was introduced as president of business operations and chief operating officer in Edmonton. As Nicholson and Holland work to improve the team after many lacklustre years, Anselmi is charged with broadening and increasing the off-ice interests of the Oilers As a civil-engineering student, Tom Anselmi worked on mining projects in Entertainment Group. Western Canada. In the summer of 1983, the future Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment executive pocketed $6 an hour as a surveyor at a coal- Its holdings include not only the NHL team, but AHL and WHL franchises, mining camp near Hinton, Alta. a film studio and massive real estate interests. At the heart of it, the Oilers are what make the other things possible. “I remember being there when an upstart Oilers team made its first run at the playoffs,” Anselmi said this week. After losing that year to the “I think the Oilers can be one of the great hockey brands in the world for Islanders, Edmonton went on to win five Stanley Cups in seven years. a number of reasons,” Anselmi said. “It’s a franchise with an incredible “Little did I know at the time that I was watching the end of one great history. It has an arena with the best of everything. It has the Ice District hockey dynasty and the beginning of another.” and Connor McDavid.

Four decades later, the 64-year-old finds himself overseeing business “It is a combination of all of that we have in front of us.” operations for the Oilers Entertainment Group, the NHL club’s parent company. In hiring him, the Oilers hope to bring a little MLSE to Alberta. A little more than halfway through the regular season, the Oilers are one point removed from first in the NHL Pacific Division after missing the Over 17 years, the Toronto-area native held a number of titles with the playoffs in 12 of the past 13 years. With an assist in a victory over the organization that owns the Maple Leafs and Raptors, including chief Canadiens on Thursday, McDavid became the first player in the league operating officer, executive vice-president and president. Before he to reach 70 points in 46 games in successive seasons since Jaromir Jagr stepped down in 2013, he oversaw the development of Air Canada did it with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. Centre and helped in the planning of Maple Leaf Square. When he left, the organization’s assets exceeded $2-billion. The Oilers enter a game in Calgary on Saturday 4-0-1 over their past five games. It is the first of three meetings this month between the provincial In Edmonton, his mandate is to see through construction of the Ice rivals and comes only days after Edmonton won for the first time in District, Canada’s largest mixed-use sports and entertainment Toronto since December of 2010. development. The $2.5-billion project covers 25 acres and is anchored by Rogers Place, the $480-million downtown arena that opened in 2016. McDavid, who turns 23 on Monday, clinched the victory and hushed the crowd at Scotiabank Arena with another of his what-did-we-just-see Its footprint is multiple times larger than what exists in Toronto, or at True goals. North Square, a similar project under development in downtown Winnipeg. “The building went silent except for Oilers fans,” Anselmi said. “It was a special moment.” “What has been created in the Ice District is ground-breaking,” Anselmi said. “The difference between it and Toronto is that things were done Anselmi made only a brief visit to Toronto before he returned to incrementally there. Here, there always was a grander, long-term vision. Edmonton to continue with the task at his fingertips.

“It starts with ownership. Daryl Katz has a vision for what the organization Along with a new arena with a soaring 45,000-square-foot entrance hall, can be and a desire to succeed in the community he grew up in. The the Ice District includes a 50,000-square-foot public plaza with an future is bright. You can feel it.” outdoor skating rink being built at its doorstep. A JW Marriott just opened in a new 55-storey building that also has condominium units on 31 floors. A reclusive billionaire raised in Edmonton during the Oilers’ glory years, It stands beside a new 66-storey skyscraper that is the tallest building Katz purchased the Oilers for $200-million in 2008 but has seen the team west of Toronto. All around them, other towers are going up that include have only limited success since then. It is not for a lack of interest or retail space and more residences. investment on his part; Katz has spent hundreds of millions to make it better. The only larger mixed-use development in North America is Hudson Yards, a $25-billion private real estate development being built on the In the most recent moves, former Hockey Canada boss Bob Nicholson West Side of Manhattan. It is not the centrepiece of a sports and was promoted to Oilers chairman and alternate governor, Ken Holland entertainment complex, however. was brought in as general manager and president of hockey operations, Dave Tippett was hired as head coach and Anselmi is taking over off-ice “There is really nothing like it in North America,” said Tim Shipton, the duties previously handled by Nicholson. senior vice-president of the Katz Group and Oilers Entertainment Group as well as vice-president of the Ice District. “It is a fully master-planned “In Bob and Ken, I think I have partners in crime that want to take this development [with] the arena and team as the anchors.” team to where we need to go next,” Anselmi said. In Edmonton, concrete was just poured for the skating pads. A three- Anselmi grew up in Etobicoke, a suburb just west of Toronto, and studied storey sports bar with a 10,000-square-foot rooftop patio and vodka- landscape architecture at what is now Ryerson University and then tasting room constructed out of blocks of ice and snow will open in the engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. It is fair to say that few in middle of next year. A massive fireplace is going up in the outdoor plaza, the sports-management business have taken such a curious path. which the organization hopes to unveil in the spring in conjunction with a playoff run. It led to him living in a coal-mining camp, and working to design uranium and potash mines in isolated parts of northern Saskatchewan. “We envision thousands of Oilers fans gathering in that space,” Shipton said. “We see it as the heartbeat of the Ice District.” “I used to joke with my friends that the mosquitoes were bigger there than streetcars in Toronto,” he said. The rebuilding of the Oilers and Edmonton’s downtown core are separate but connected entities. Before joining MLSE in 1996, he helped build Rogers Arena in Vancouver as vice-president and general manager for Orca Bay Sports “The parallels between the product on the ice and off of it are always and Entertainment. He also spent years in Toronto overseeing the fascinating to me,” Anselmi said. “You can succeed when they work development and opening of the SkyDome. together in lockstep and with clarity of focus. Our job is to move into a new transition phase and get things right. He was semi-retired last year when Nicholson offered him a job. “The canvas is there. We just have to start painting the right picture.” Anselmi muses that he never expected to end up in a position like this in Edmonton. It takes him back to 1983 when the Oilers rose to become one of the biggest dynasties in pro sports.

“It is a nice loop and it would be really cool to close it and be part of a new dynasty,” he said. “Edmonton is probably the biggest small town in Canada, and people here are as salt-of-the-earth as it gets.

“The fans are so good and so loyal that we owe it to them. We want to win a Stanley Cup. It is a great hockey town.”

Globe And Mail LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170520 Ottawa Senators he took on the role of chief marketing officer for Calgary-based Shaw Communications, a cable operator and major promoter of sporting events.

Top job for new Sens CEO: Filling those empty seats Little exited Shaw in May 2018 in the midst of a bone-crunching restructuring. Shaw’s earnings in 2018 were hit by $446 million in "His passion for winning is apparent as soon as you meet him," team restructuring costs related to the company’s decision to trim operations in owner Eugene Melnyk says of new CEO Jim Little. the face of a weakening consumer video market. Thirty-three hundred employees — Little among them — representing approximately 25 per

cent of Shaw’s total workforce, accepted buyouts. JAMES BAGNALL Updated: January 10, 2020 While Little had been one of Shaw’s top 10 executives, the company’s financial hiccup was not exclusively a marketing issue. In any case, Shaw’s strategy of tightening up operations was evidently successful. The job facing Jim Little, the incoming chief executive of the Ottawa Earnings soared to $753 million in its latest fiscal year. Senators, is quite simple: He has to bring back the fans. Melnyk noted that Little’s mandate with the Senators would be to oversee Going into Saturday’s match against the Montreal Canadiens, the operations at Canadian Tire Centre, “including events,” and to try to Senators had played 20 home games this season with average boost the team’s revenues “through partnerships and marketing.” attendance of fewer than 11,800, dead last in the 31-team National Hockey League, despite the fact many of those seats were filled by Mostly, though, he has to start filling those seats with paying fans. giving away tickets. Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 01.11.2020 For a small market team like the Senators, this matters a lot financially. Because nearly 6,800 seats are unfilled each game, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is leaving an estimated $500,000 on the table for every home match in the form of foregone ticket revenue. That’s $20 million to date. For a team that barely broke even on operations last year on total revenues of $165 million — the recent estimate from Forbes Magazine — that gap must be addressed.

Little, 55, won’t find it easy. The slide in attendance began during the 2016-17 season and has accelerated since then. Former top gun Cyril Leeder and chief marketing officer Peter O’Leary were casualties of that initial decline. Melnyk replaced Leeder, now CEO of Myers Automotive Group, with Tom Anselmi early in 2017. O’Leary was fired in late 2016.

Anselmi’s mandate was to oversee negotiations related to the $600- million-plus project to build an NHL stadium on LeBreton Flats. But Anselmi resigned in early 2018, when it became clear Melnyk and Trinity Development founder John Ruddy wouldn’t come to terms on the overall $4-billion mega project.

Ever since, Melnyk has been both owner and acting CEO, watching with increasing frustration as many fans have simply stopped coming to Senators home games.

The reasons are many, ranging from a weak team to the lack of a downtown arena, but a key one concerns Melnyk, a Barbados resident who has not endeared himself to the Ottawa community. More than two- thirds of Ottawa residents surveyed a year ago by Ekos Research Associates believed Menyk bore the brunt of responsibility for the collapse of the LeBreton project, while fewer than 40 per cent blamed Ruddy. Late in 2017, Melnyk had mused about moving the team if fan support didn’t improve.

Before 2017, the team regularly attracted more than 18,000 fans per game and maintained a solid core of 13,000 season-ticket holders. The latter are now substantially fewer in number.

During the hunt for a new CEO, which began at the end of last season, Melnyk recognized he needed to hire someone who could rebuild links with the community.

Leeder, who had been part of the group that brought the NHL back to Ottawa in 1992, was known and generally liked throughout the capital region. He was on a first-name basis with nearly all the 125 companies and organizations that rented suites in the Canadian Tire Centre and knew very well the importance of maintaining good relations with the business community. The Senators depend on corporate clients to fill 35 per cent of the seats every game, all the more important given that federal government employees are not allowed to accept tickets as gifts.

Leeder, of course, had many years to develop these personal ties. Little will have to move much more quickly, but Melnyk thinks he’s up to the job. Little was one of four candidates Melnyk interviewed in October, when a road trip took the Senators to Las Vegas. “Jim stood out immediately,” Melnyk wrote in a reply to queries by this newspaper. “His passion for winning is apparent as soon as you meet him.”

LIttle, a McGill University arts graduate, is familiar with the world of sports thanks to a series of corporate marketing gigs. During the 2000s, he oversaw RBC’s sponsorships for the Olympics and golf. Starting in 2012, 1170521 Ottawa Senators Tkachuk pulled the club to within a goal at 5:54 of the second when his wraparound attempt took a fortunate bounce off defenceman Patrik Nemeth and into the net. It was Tkachuk’s 14th of the season and his first in five games. Not long after, he got in a short tussle with Detroit’s GARRIOCH GAME REPORT: Senators edged by lowly Red Wings in Filip Hronek in front of the Wings’ bench. basement battle Only 22 seconds before Tkachuk got Ottawa on the board, the Wings had pulled out to a 2-0 lead. With Detroit on the power play, Larkin scored a highlight-reel goal by skating past Brown and Hainsey on his Bruce Garrioch way to the Ottawa net, where he held onto the puck long enough to beat Hogberg on the stick side.

DETROIT — All the Ottawa Senators desperately wanted Friday night The Senators didn’t get off to the kind of start they wanted. They were was to get back on track. outshooting the Wings 8-3 only eight minutes into the first, but they struggled from that point. Bertuzzi opened the scoring at 14:55 of the first They were close, but they came up short. when he was able to redirect a Hronek shot from the point by Hogberg on the glove side. The frustration continued for the Senators as Dylan Larkin scored the winner in the shootout as Ottawa dropped a 3-2 decision to the Detroit “I thought a lot of guys played hard, we didn’t give up a ton and when we Red Wings on Friday night at Little Caesars Arena, extending the club’s did (Hogberg) was great and made the save,” Smith said. “We got on the winless skid to six games. forecheck, we tracked, we didn’t give up a ton of odd-man rushes. I thought we played a very good road game, some guys could have played Ottawa had a power play in overtime, but couldn’t put it home. a little bit better, but as a whole I thought we played good enough to win.” It was no surprise, with both teams sitting near the bottom of the There will be no rest for the Senators as they host the Montreal standings, that there were opportunities, but the Senators led the way in Canadiens on Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada at the Canadian Tire good scoring chances. Centre at 7 p.m. Ottawa winger Connor Brown took an untimely tripping penalty with 1:25 Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.11.2020 left in the third, which meant the power play carried into the overtime period.

Colin White had a two-point effort while Brady Tkachuk also chipped in with a goal against Jonathan Bernier. Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi did the scoring for the Wings on Marcus Hogberg before the two teams went to overtime. The shots were 29-23 in regulation for the Senators.

Determined to improve defensively after getting knocked off 6-1 by the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night to start this trip, the Senators did a good job limiting the opportunities on Hogberg. The Wings were coming off a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday and were feeling pretty good about themselves.

“Bouncing back from the game the other night was what we wanted to do and we left it all out there,” White said. “We worked pretty hard. We’re happy with the effort, but not the result.

“We had a really hard practice yesterday, and tonight it was about forechecking and getting in on them. We did that well.”

Ottawa was without veteran defenceman Mark Borowiecki. He was battling the flu bug, didn’t skate Thursday and wasn’t at the rink Friday morning. He didn’t take part in the warmup and his spot on the roster was taken by blueliner Ron Hainsey, who returned after missing 10 games with a knee injury he suffered before Christmas.

The Senators came into this one knowing they had to find a way to try to get the job done against the struggling Red Wings.

Coach D.J. Smith made sure to remind his players they had to get back to playing the style that has made them successful this season.

“We had two days to focus and re-evaluate ourselves. That was just such a disappointing game against Washington and we just weren’t ourselves,” Tkachuk said. “These past two days, we just wanted to focus on getting back to our game, getting in on the forecheck and playing that fast, physical game we play.

“We did that for a majority of the game and we can still be better in different aspects of our game, but it was a pretty exciting game for both teams. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the two points. It was disappointing we couldn’t get the extra point for (Hogberg). He was excellent.”

The action heated up pretty quickly in the second as the Senators outshot the Wings 19-14 through two periods and tied it up 2-2.

The Senators erased a 2-0 deficit when White scored his fourth of the season with 9:18 left in the period when Mike Reilly’s shot from the point was tipped by White past Bernier on the stick side. It was White’s first goal in eight games and it came on the power play at a time the Senators had been pressing to tie it up.

This sequence is NUTS.  pic.twitter.com/zLqzeIPCvS

— NHL (@NHL) January 11, 2020 1170522 Ottawa Senators Mark Borowiecki-Dylan DeMelo Mike Reilly-Andreas Englund

GOALTENDERS GAME DAY: Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators Marcus Hogberg

Craig Anderson Bruce Garrioch HABS GAMEDAY LINES

Tomas Tatar-Phillip Danault-Brendan Gallagher Montreal (18-20-7) at Ottawa (16-22-5) Ilya Kovalchuk-Max Domi-Nick Suzuki Saturday, 7 p.m., Canadian Tire Centre, CBC, TSN 1200 AM, Unique 94.5 FM Artturi Lehkonen-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Nick Cousins

SPECIAL TEAMS Ryan Poehling-Nate Thompson-Jordan Weal

OTT: PP 11.3% (31st); PK 80.8% (15th) DEFENCE

MTL: PP 21.3% (10th); PK 77.3% (24th) Marco Scandella-Shea Weber

THE BIG MATCHUP Brett Kulak-Jeff Petry

Brady Tkachuk vs. Nick Suzuki Victor Mete-Cale Fleury

The Senators winger didn’t have much presence against the Washington GOALTENDERS Capitals last Tuesday, but Tkachuk is a pain to play against most nights. He loves these games against division rivals and has a strong ability to Carey Price get the Habs off their game. That has to be the case on a Saturday night Charlie Lindgren in Ottawa. Acquired in the Max Pacioretty deal, Nick Suzuki is having a strong rookie season with eight goals and 25 points. INJURIES

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME OTT: Anders Nilsson, Nick Paul, Nikita Zaitsev, Christian Wolanin

1. Back-to-back challenge MTL: Joel Armia, Paul Byron, Ben Chiarot, Noah Juulsen, Matthew Peca.

This isn’t an easy situation for the Senators because they played in Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.11.2020 Detroit Friday night while the Habs travelled to Ottawa to prepare for this game. This is Ottawa’s eighth set of back-to-back games this season. The Senators went into the game against the Wings with a 3-3-1 record in the first game and are 2-4-1 on the second night.

2. So, who starts in goal?

That may depend on how Marcus Hogberg performed against the Wings Friday because Craig Anderson was pulled after allowing five goals on 30 shots against the Caps Tuesday to start the road trip. This will be an interesting decision because the 38-year-old Anderson has struggled lately, but it would make sense to start him in a back-to-back.

3. A good rivalry

There’s always a good atmosphere in the building when the Senators take on the Habs with these two teams just down the road from each other. The Senators will play four games this week before they begin an eight-day break in the schedule so it would be a good way to get this homestand off to a strong start.

4. Strong memories

When the Senators dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Habs on Dec. 11 in Montreal, Habs’ goalie Carey Price chased Brady Tkachuk off the ice after the winning goal. That’s because Price wanted to give the puck to Cayden Primeau because he had just backstopped his first NHL win. Just adds a little intrigue to this night.

5. In a battle

The Senators aren’t going to make the playoffs, but that wasn’t the plan for the Habs this season and it looks like they’re in big-time trouble. If they’re going to get back into the race then these are the kinds of games they cannot afford to let the two points slip away. The Senators wouldn’t mind making life a little more difficult for Montreal.

SENS GAMEDAY LINES

Brady Tkachuk-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Connor Brown

Anthony Duclair-Artem Anisimov-Drake Batherson

Rudolfs Balcers-Colin White-Tyler Ennis

Vladislav Namestnikov-Chris Tierney-Filip Chlapik

DEFENCE

Thomas Chabot-Ron Hainsey 1170523 Ottawa Senators The Senators are hopeful that defenceman Nikita Zaitsev will be able to play before the club starts its eight-day break in the schedule after next Saturday’s visit by the Calgary Flames.

SNAPSHOTS: Filip Chlapik made a road trip, he just went in a different THE LAST WORDS direction Mike Reilly will face his former Montreal Canadiens teammates Saturday night for the first time since being dealt here last week. He has settled nicely into his role on the club’s blueline in the first two games. “I knew Bruce Garrioch when I got traded here I was just going to try and go out there and play,” Reilly said Friday. “I’m going to learn from the mistakes and take

something I can learn from each game and try to apply it to the next one. DETROIT — Filip Chlapik had his bags packed, but he had no plans to I definitely feel more comfortable because the guys have been great.” make the trek to the Motor City on Thursday afternoon. Reilly played 18:43 against the Caps on Tuesday and was minus-one, and ended up getting a chance to partner with pretty much everybody Instead, the Ottawa Senators’ winger was just about to get on the bus because Christian Jaros left the game early in the third. “I haven’t been with the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville when he got the call to join the too worried about who’s been partner,” he said. “Guys are smart enough team here for Friday night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings at the to adapt quickly. I’m just trying to talk. I started with Jaros in the last Little Caesars Arena. game and I told him he knows the system and if I’m out of position just yell at me. You want to be better together and just help the team.” … Belleville was just about to begin a 16-day road trip that started with a Smith was impressed with Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne scoring against bus trip to Rochester before making stops in Utica, Winnipeg, Grand the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night by firing the puck the length Rapids, Rockford, Milwaukee and back to Utica on Jan. 24 to wrap it up. of the ice. “He was outstanding in that game and probably the big reason Chlapik had a lot of luggage packed so he just threw the suitcase in the they won,” Smith said. “It’s part of the game. I think the fans love it.” back of the limousine and made the trip here instead. Rinne said he tried it because the Predators had a two-goal lead. “It’s a little easier with two goals, but in saying that I just want to win the game,” “I packed my stuff and got the call for the trip. I’ve still got my bags here. Smith said. “If he puts it in the net and we win the game that’s great. If It was 16 days in a row. It was crazy.” they pick it off and it goes in your net they’re mad, but it helps grow the The Senators brought up Chlapik to suit up against the Wings because sport. People are talking about it today and it’s exciting.” they’ve lost Nick Paul for an extended period with an ankle/leg injury he Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.11.2020 suffered Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals in the club’s 6-1 loss to start this trip.

Yes, the club could have dressed Mikkel Boedker or Scott Sabourin, but it wanted to give Chlapik the opportunity to play here because he deserves it. He suited up for his 19th game this season when he faced the Wings.

“I’m really excited to be back. It’s been a long time,” Chlapik said before facing the Wings. “I want to come here, do my job and hopefully take it day by day and see what happens.

“There’s so many games (up here) and there’s ups and downs, but I feel you get more confident every day. You have to build a little confidence in every game and every practice, and after that good things will happen.”

Coach D.J. Smith said he likes what Chlapik can bring.

“He’s worked really hard down there, he’s a bit of a forechecking presence, and that’s what we want to get back to a bit,” Smith said before the game. “He’s a guy that will go north-south and do the right things so we’re going to reward him.

“His work ethic (was good when he was here before) and I thought he was dependable when he was here before, and also added some offence. He’s gone down there and he’s been one of their hardest workers so I think it’s a good time to reward him.”

Chlapik plays a similar style to Paul.

“Nick was a really dependable guy who was a north-south player and always above (the puck) and very dependable so that allows (Chlapik) to get a few more minutes and be a little bit of a physical presence for us,” Smith said.

HAINSEY RETURNS

Veteran defenceman Ron Hainsey returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with a knee injury he suffered during a game Dec. 19 against the Nashville Predators.

The Senators were happy to have him back. Smith paired him with Thomas Chabot because he feels they work well together.

“One of the things you notice when you get older guys out like (Dylan) DeMelo and Hainsey, they know where to stand, they know how to not run into the corner and give up a Grade A chance. They’ve been through it and they’ve been scored on for the first five or six years of their careers,” Smith said. “They’ve learned those lessons. It helps (Chabot) because (Hainsey) talks a lot when he’s out there. It’s a calming presence for him.” 1170524 Ottawa Senators Melnyk cautioned not to get too caught up in the low numbers because that’s only one part of the business operation.

Of course, he’d like to see more people in the seats and that’s just a BIG JOB AHEAD: The Ottawa Senators have named Jim Little as their given. new CEO “Attendance is part of about six different revenue streams and selling tickets is only one component,” said Melnyk. “It’s important to get to fans out to the game but to me it’s so they can be the seventh man for our Bruce Garrioch team. The players love to see a full house.

“It helps, it gets the players pumped up, it does lead to wins and that’s very important for us and that’s what we care about.” DETROIT – The Ottawa Senators left no stone unturned in their search for a new chief executive officer and now it’s up to Jim Little to lead the Melnyk, who had been the acting CEO since 2018, outlined what areas business side of the operation. Little needs to focus on in the role.

A former executive with Shaw Communications, Little, 55, has already “His challenge’s are going to be bringing back fans and corporate started in his role and Senators’ owner Eugene Melnyk wants him to help advertisers and growing and maintaining that part of the business and lead the team off the ice to help improve the attendance at the Canadian also working on merchandising and food and beverage operations to Tire Centre and the club’s corporate base. make them all better,” Melnyk said.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Postmedia from the club’s offices Melnyk said as the rebuild continues and the club continues to follow the in Ottawa, Melnyk told this newspaper he hired a firm to do an extensive path to have success the key for Little is to grow the business so the search to find the right person for the job. The list started with 220 Senators are successful on and off the ice. candidates and the top four people who were up for the title were interviewed during two days of meetings in Las Vegas when the Senators “He’s been a very quick study as to what’s required to get the business visited in October. side to catch up with _ and will have to be side-by-side with the hockey operations success,” Melnyk said. “We really believe we’re going to have Melnyk was impressed with the depth of experience that Little brings to huge success on the hockey side but we need the business side to be the table. right next to it and also be a success.”

Of the four finalists, two were already working in senior executive He’s been pleased with the direction the rebuild is taking and is confident positions with NHL teams and Little was hired after talks with the top two down the road the Senators will be a contender. after meetings in San Diego. Since December, Little has been working in a consultant’s role for the Senators and has moved to Ottawa from his “I’m so excited about this draft after watching the world juniors,” said home in Montreal. Melnyk. “To have seven picks in the first three rounds is huge in what’s arguably one of the best drafts in two decades.” “We conducted a pretty exhaustive search, which included not only the sports and entertainments sectors, but also anybody that was involved in Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.11.2020 any way in some kind of entertainment or corporate promotional programs,” said Melnyk. “These were very extensive interviews.”

Melnyk said Little impressed him because he knows what it will take for the organization to get back on track and he’ll provide leadership in the front office.

“He (had) a quick understanding of the dynamics of our business,” Melnyk said. “And, he also understands the importance of our community, who we are and our stature in the community and the importance of the hockey team in the community with our fans.

“He basically gets it. He’s had experience here in Ottawa, he’s lived in Ottawa and he’s also had exposure and experience at the highest corporate levels. He’s a true hockey fans and he’s looking forward to being our games. I felt he was the best candidate for the job.”

General manager Pierre Dorion will continue to focus on the club’s rebuild with young players and reports directly to Melnyk.

“That’s exactly the way I like it,” said Melnyk.

Yes, Little has a big job ahead of him, but the Senators are confident he can help get the operation headed in the right direction. The club parted ways with chief operating officer Nic Ruskowski last spring because it simply wasn’t working. Little has experience in business and that’s going to be a key in helping the Senators get corporate partnerships.

He last worked as executive VP and chief marketing and culture officer for Shaw Communications, but also held roles with RBC, Bell Canada and Bombardier Aerospace.

“Eugene has asked me to lead the business operations of the Ottawa Senators – and to do so with a clear priority to re-create a strong, positive relationship with this community,” said Little in a statement. “I want to thank him for the confidence he has shown in me and for the clarity of the mandate to be creative, to engage fans, partners, business and civic leaders in getting this chemistry right for the long term.

“We’ve got a passionate and dedicated team of professionals, on and off the ice, and a community that wants us to succeed – together, we will.”

The Senators have averaged 11,732 fans per-game through 20 home games this season and that’s the biggest challenge ahead for Little, but 1170525 Ottawa Senators For some, that bridge will forever remain a smoking ruin. It will never be able to be repaired as long as Melnyk is owner.

The Senators need a layer of insulation between the hockey and ‘He’s going to kill it in Ottawa’: Senators introduce Jim Little as new CEO business operations. They need a new voice out in the community that can start to build some credibility with the club’s corporate partners and fans.

By Chris Stevenson Jan 10, 2020 11 I know, for some fans that’s never going to be enough.

The hiring of Little, an executive with a proven track record in sports, sponsorship and community involvement, is what the Senators need right Jim Little, the Canadian marketing executive was named the Ottawa now. Senators new CEO Friday. There could be someone who’s worked more closely with Little than Bill Paul, but I don’t know who that might be. On Twitter, Canadian golfer Graham DeLaet had the following to say about the hiring: “Has there ever been a more well-liked person in the Paul, who retired as Golf Canada’s chief championship officer in July, corporate golf world? Jim’s the best and he’s going to kill it in Ottawa just worked with Little when the latter oversaw first Bell and then RBC’s like he did at Bell, RBC and Shaw.” sponsorship of our men’s national golf championship. Between the two of them, they took a tournament that was languishing at the bottom of the Paul told The Athletic what Senators fans can expect from Little: PGA Tour with a bad date on the schedule (right after The Open Championship in late July) and little relevance in the golf world and laid “(There’s) good vision there, a good leader, one that saw objectives and the groundwork for a June date and record attendance. saw through the clutter and could see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of ‘here’s my vision to make this bigger and grander than what it is. So, what are the Senators and their fans getting in Little, who is leaving It’s a great property and let’s move on it,’” Paul said. his position as executive vice president and chief marketing and culture officer for Shaw Communications? “High energy. ‘Don’t tell me all the things that we can’t do, tell me the things that we can do. Here are the strengths that I’ve got. I’m going to “I still remember the first meeting that I had with him,” Paul told The work with the strengths I’ve got, I’m going to work with the people I’ve got Athletic. “This is the date that we have. Let’s not dwell on it. What can we and I’m going to turn those into greater positives.’” do to make it better? Boom. That was the platform from Day 1. It’s a great parallel with Ottawa and the challenges in the marketplace. He’s Little has led some remarkable turnarounds. not going to dwell on what was the past. He’s not going to dwell on what He was looking for his big next challenge and he’s found it. are the negatives. He’s going to ask what can we do with the asset we have, the market that we’ve got, who I know, what I can bring to the table The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 to grow this thing and bring it back.

“You look at that ’07-08 time period, there was a new PGA Tour schedule, it was the FedEx Cup, (the RBC Canadian Open) was in July, it was after the British (Open), there were all kinds of reasons to be down, to be negative and you saw a guy who saw the sum of all the parts was greater than four or five negative parts. ‘Here’s what I can do to work with everybody to bring it up to where it was.

“A lot of what Jim brought to that table, we’re still bearing the fruit of that today.”

There have been rumblings out there for a while the Senators were getting close to hiring their fourth C-suite executive since popular president Cyril Leeder was fired three years ago. Tom Anselmi and Nicolas Ruszkowski each lasted about a year before quietly going off into the good night. Chief marketing officer Aimee Deziel took her leave after one season.

I BELIEVE IT WAS JIM’S IDEA TO INITIATE “TEAM RBC” A SIGNIFICANT MOVE TO IMPROVE THE FIELD FOR THE @RBCCANADIANOPEN

— RICHARD ZOKOL (@RICHARDZOKOL) JANUARY 10, 2020

Little, 55, has a track record for embracing the challenge of taking on a depressed property and seeing its potential where not many others can.

I don’t know if there’s a better way to describe the Senators right now.

Little comes into a situation where the owner’s reputation in this marketplace is the largest impediment to success off the ice. Melnyk’s bombastic and often petty proclamations, his infamous rant on Parliament Hill on the eve of the outdoor game, the meltdown of the LeBreton Flats deal and resulting lawsuits and his firing of Leeder, who led the campaign to find a liver donor that saved Melnyk’s life, are things some Senators fans will never forgive.

They cannot forgive the messy divorce with franchise icon Daniel Alfredsson or the decision to trade away fan favourites Erik Karlsson and Mark Stone.

It is not a coincidence the Senators are languishing in last place in the NHL in attendance, according to ESPN.com, with attendance totals close to when they were playing out of the little Civic Centre:

Little’s challenge is going to be to leverage his marketing magic and ability to forge relationships to repair the bridge between the Senators, the Ottawa business community and hockey fans in the national capital region. 1170526 Philadelphia Flyers Niskanen (24 minutes Wednesday) and Provorov (26) might see even heavier minutes as the Flyers try to slow the Lightning, who are averaging 4.7 goals during their streak.

Flyers goalie Carter Hart on streaking Lightning: ‘Who cares what they’re “They’re going to be a tough opponent to play,” said Sean Couturier, who doing? ... We need to play our game.' spent most of his off-day on his couch. “But at the same time, it’s a great challenge and a great opportunity for us to show that we’re right up there, and that we’re a good team, as well.” by Ed Barkowitz, This will be Tampa Bay’s only visit this regular season to the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers have won eight of their last nine at home, all in

regulation, which will be huge come tiebreaker time. The win Wednesday James van Riemsdyk got a haircut and one of his teeth fixed and was arguably as big as any, especially for the jolt it gave them in the attended the Shining Star Awards charity dinner. locker room.

Kevin Hayes went to the Sixers game and saw his Celtics lose. “When we play our game,” Hart said, “we’re as good as anybody.”

Ivan Provorov made meatloaf for dinner. Matt Niskanen built toy houses Ice chips with his 4-year-old son, Charlie. David Kase will play his first game since Dec. 19, taking Misha “Build them up, and then tear them right back down again,” the veteran Vorobyev’s spot in the lineup. “Energy and speed," Vigneault said. “We defenseman said. play some quick teams here coming up." ... Oskar Lindblom (Ewing’s sarcoma) stopped by for a visit after practice Friday. “Treatments are Thursday was the first full day off at home after a murderous schedule, going well,” Vigneault said. “We can’t shake hands or hug, but it’s good and it was a chance for the Flyers to unwind. At practice Friday, they for him to be around the boys and it’s good for everybody to see him.” ... leaned on their clutch win at home Wednesday against Washington and The Lightning’s five consecutive wins against the Flyers have come shifted their focus to the next challenge: a visit from the hottest team in against four goalies: Michal Neuvirth, Petr Mrazek, Calvin Pickard, and the NHL. Hart. Brian Elliott was the last to beat Tampa, back on Dec. 29, 2017. ... Reserve forward Chris Stewart sat out practice with the flu. ... The Tampa Bay has won nine in a row and is again looking like the team that Inquirer’s free, twice-weekly Flyers newsletter will launch Tuesday crushed the rest of the league last year (before being swept in the first morning. Visit Inquirer.com/newsletters to sign up. round by Columbus). COMING TUESDAY: @BroadStBull and @edbarkowitz will be bringing The Lightning are coming off a 4-0 win against Arizona on Thursday that Tampa captain Steve Stamkos called their best overall game of the you ON THE FLY, a new @PhillyInquirer newsletter covering your season. Philadelphia Flyers: https://t.co/lqdFmbRSJm

“I don’t think it matters," Flyers goalie Carter Hart said. "Who cares what It's free to sign up. they’re doing? Obviously, we went through some hardship on the road trip there [going 1-4-1]. We weren’t playing our best hockey. But every You'll get it Tuesdays and Thursdays. team has to go through a tough stretch and overcome it. And here's what to expect: pic.twitter.com/oK3dHyfYKW "We came out with a hard performance against the Caps, the best team — Josh Rosenblat (@joshrosenblat) January 9, 2020 in the league right now. I think we just have to have the same approach coming into the game tomorrow. Come out and play our game.” Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.11.2020 The Lightning have won five straight against the Flyers, though three of those needed overtime or a shootout. They scored three goals in the first period off Hart last February and eventually chased him.

Hart, who watched the movie It 2 on Thursday (and hated it, by the way) picked up his 12th home win of the season Wednesday. He will start Saturday (7 p.m., NBCSP+).

The absence of defensemen Justin Braun (groin) and Shayne Gostisbehere (knee) adds another challenge for the Flyers. Phil Myers and Travis Sanheim are now the second pairing, ahead of Robert Hagg and Mark Friedman.

“Five of our six defensemen are 24 years old and below,” coach Alain Vigneault pointed out. “It’s great for them to get this opportunity to get important minutes, to get tough matchups. That’s how you get better.”

Flyers starting defensemen Age Career games

Mark Friedman 24 2

Robert Hagg 24 178

Phil Myers 23 47

Matt Niskanen 33 924

Ivan Provorov 23 290

Travis Sanheim 23 175

Friedman received high marks for his performance against Washington. He played 12 minutes in the 3-2 win. It was the second game of his career and first this season.

“I thought ‘Freeds’ jumped in last game and was efficient in the way he moved the puck,” Niskanen said. “He competed hard and was in the right spots. … He did a good job in his first game.” 1170527 Philadelphia Flyers

Oskar Lindblom meets with Flyers after practice, and coach Alain Vigneault calls it ‘the best part of my day’

by Sam Carchidi,

Oskar Lindblom meets with Flyers after practice, and coach Alain Vigneault calls it ‘the best part of my day’

Flyers left winger Oskar Lindblom, who is undergoing treatments at Penn for a rare type of bone cancer, gave his teammates and coaches an emotional lift when he met with them after their practice Friday in Voorhees.

“Best part of my day so far!” coach Alain Vigneault said. “He’s doing real well; he’s in good spirits."

Flyers fans and players tell Oskar Lindblom ‘we’re in this together’

Lindblom, 23, was tied for the Flyers’ lead with 11 goals when his Ewing’s sarcoma was diagnosed. He played in 30 games and will miss the rest of the season.

"The guys call him ‘Sunshine,’ " Vigneault said, referring to a character’s nickname in the movie Remember the Titans. " ... You know, that quarterback? He does look like him. And he’s got that same beautiful smile today, so it’s real good to see him.”

It’s the first time the players and coaches have had a chance to meet with Lindblom since returning from a six-game, 12-day road trip.

“Treatments are going well,” Vigneault said. " ... We can’t shake hands or hug today [because of germs], but it’s good for him to be around the boys and it’s good for everybody to see him in good spirits."

The Flyers will host Tampa Bay on Saturday night and will try to end the Lightning’s nine-game winning streak.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170528 Philadelphia Flyers

Alain Vigneault, Flyers all smiles after seeing Oskar Lindblom

By Jordan Hall January 10, 2020 3:55 PM

Nothing makes the Flyers smile more than seeing Oskar Lindblom's captivating smile.

His smile always brightens the Flyers' day.

The 23-year-old forward visited the Flyers on Friday at Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey. Lindblom has begun his treatment for Ewing's sarcoma.

Head coach Alain Vigneault was proudly wearing an "Oskar Strong" shirt (more here on the shirts by Biscuit Tees).

He's looking real good," Vigneault told reporters at Skate Zone. "The guys call him 'Sunshine' in that movie 'Remember the Titans,' the quarterback, he does look like him. And he's got the same beautiful smile today, so it's real good to see him.

Best part of my day so far.

When Lindblom welcomed his teammates home in December, he uplifted the Flyers, who went on to win four straight games.

The Flyers smile when they see his smile. And you can bet their smiles mean a lot to Lindblom, too.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170529 Philadelphia Flyers attributes, you’ll be able to create some room for yourself and people are gonna be aware when you’re on the ice. He’s had some pretty big impacts and big hits in that sense. I’m sure people will be aware when he’s on the ice.” Nicolas Aube-Kubel looking for more than just a call-up with Flyers So far it’s been enough to impress Vigneault.

Aube-Kubel wasn’t one of the top prospects that Vigneault was briefed Dave Isaac, NHL writerPublished 2:27 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2020 most about heading into his first training camp with the Flyers. He also wasn’t even as effective with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before the call-

up on Dec. 15 as he has been in the NHL with the Flyers. VOORHEES — The trickle-down effect of the most emotional story of the “One of the reasons he’s been here for the number of games that he has Flyers’ season is still playing out on the roster, far away from the greatest is that he’s a powerful skater, real good skater. He does finish checks, concern which is someone’s quality of life off the ice. which is a plus for anybody who can bring that dimension,” Vigneault Oskar Lindblom, the 23-year-old left wing who was leading the team in said. “I think he’s improving his overall knowledge of the game. The skill scoring last month, was told he had Ewing’s sarcoma on Dec. 10 and set is there. Can we put it all together? The right play in the right hasn’t been on the ice since then. He is going through chemotherapy situation? We’re hoping we can. He’s gone through now three years in treatment at University of Pennsylvania and his career is in jeopardy. the minors. He’s paid his dues. Now he wants to prove that he can do it Friday afternoon he was there to surprise his teammates when they at the next level and do it consistently and that’s the challenge, whether it came off the ice after practice and coach Alain Vigneault said it was the, be him with three years in the minors, Joel (Farabee) who’s just trying to “best part of my day so far.” come in or some of the older guys trying to stay in the league. That’s the challenge everybody has.” “He’s looking real good,” Vigneault said. “The guys call him, ‘Sunshine’ from that movie, ‘Remember The Titans,’ like that quarterback. He does Courier-Post LOADED: 01.11.2020 look like him and he’s got the same beautiful smile today so it’s good to see him.

“We can’t shake hands or hug today but it’s good for him to be around the boys today and good to see him in real good spirits.”

Lindblom isn’t ready just yet to meet the media. All he’s shared publicly is his appreciation for the support he’s gotten around the world via his Instagram account. The Flyers have kept Lindblom’s locker stall up both at the practice facility and set it up every game, home and road, as if he were playing even though they have already conceded that his season is over.

That means the replacements have to find a new stall and the closest one for winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel is on the other side of the room with the defensemen. It’s fine by him. He’s in the NHL.

Considering Lindblom was the team’s leading scorer at the time of his diagnosis, a top penalty killer and one of their strongest players along the wall, he won’t be replaced by one single player and Aube-Kubel doesn’t share many of Lindblom’s skill sets anyway.

Where he’s found a role, on a line with James van Riemsdyk and Kevin Hayes, is bringing a physical element that the Flyers’ roster otherwise lacks on a nightly basis.

“Bringing that every game, I need to bring that and be annoying to the opposition,” he said.

“I feel with me being called up with some injuries makes me prove I can play in a top-nine (role) or just stay in the lineup. Since then I’ve played very aggressive. I think I’ve played well, 200-feet. I think that’s what the coach likes about me. It’s been going well with Haysey and JvR the games I’ve played with them. I’m just trying to do the same thing for the future. If it goes well with them (going forward), I might stay.”

In 11 games so far this season, Aube-Kubel has a pair of goals and a pair of assists. The average of 12 minutes, 10 seconds per game has suited him much better than last season when he averaged only 5:35 in nine games and didn’t have much of an opportunity to show anything at all.

Two years ago, when playing for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Aube- Kubel got himself in some hot water when he was suspended for hits to the head multiple times. He said it affected him a bit upon return, scaring him off his game a little, but he’s feeling confident now that he can bring a level of physicality that’s within the rules.

“So far I think I’ve been good,” he said. “I’ll try to keep it that way.

“They don’t have the Broad Street Bullies like they had in years before. It’s just the way I play. If I fit in, I fit in. The team wants to play more skilled and fast, which is the way the NHL has been going lately. If I can bring that to the team, it’s always welcome.”

“It’s interesting. I think now, if you can bring that, because there is a lot less toughness (leaguewide), that it is a bigger advantage almost,” van Riemsdyk added. “The game seems to be trending in a certain direction but if you have guys who can bring pace but also those physical 1170530 Pittsburgh Penguins glove hand” tweets. Landeskog recorded his 11th – and presumably, easiest – goal. The lone assist went to Girard.

The Penguins responded only 1:14 into the third period. Kahun gained Empty Thoughts: Penguins 4, Avalanche 3 (OT) the offensive zone on the right wing and tried to backhand the puck but had it blocked. Malkin followed up on the puck and roared into the offensive zone with plenty of momentum. He fired a wrister from the high slot which Francouz fought off. The rebound trickled back to the high slot Seth Rorabaugh where Rust reclaimed it and whipped a wrister through Francouz’s five hole for his 18th goal. Malkin and Kahun had assists.

Observations from the Penguins’ 4-3 win against the Avalanche: At 15:43 of the third, the Penguins took their first lead of the contest. Rust lugged the puck up from his own zone to the offensive blue line and The notion of Bryan Rust scoring key goals isn’t anything new. He flicked a backhand pass to the left boards for Kahun. Pulling up on the established his reputation as “Big Game” Bryan Rust in the 2016 half wall, Kahun fed a little forehand pass for Malkin in the left circle. As postseason and cemented it in the 2017 postseason by scoring game- Rust drove the net and created a screen with Avalanche defenseman winning and series-winning goals. Erik Johnson, Malkin snipped a wrister from just above the left dot past Francouz’s glove hand on the far side. The puck clinked off the post and But that penchant for finding the net almost seemed exclusive to the into the cage for Malkin’s 13th goal. Kahun and Rust recorded assists. postseason. The game was tied again late in regulation at 19:29. With Francouz Until this season that is. pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin Granted, there aren’t many options to score important to goals given the corralled the puck at the right point and fed it low to the right corner for various maladies the Penguins have encountered this season, but Rust’s former Erie Otters forward Andre Burakowsky. Curling out of the corner game has matured so much this season in that he’s scoring goals the to the right half wall, Burakowsky distributed a pass to the center point for Penguins need. defenseman Cale Makar who unleashed an angry one-timer. Avalanche forward Matt Calvert was positioned to the right of the crease and His goal on Friday was of that variety. reached his stick out in front of Murray, tipping the puck past Murray’s left The Penguins – or goaltender Matt Murray specifically – allowed a fluky shoulder for his 11th goal. Makar and Burakowsky collected assists. goal near the end of the second period to give the Colorado Avalanche a During a wild overtime period in which each team had ample chances, 2-1 lead going into the second intermission. the Penguins claimed victory at the 3:19 mark. After the Penguins With his team reeling a bit, Rust comes out of the chute in the third forward Brandon Tanev played the puck from the Avalanche’s right period and scored a game-tying goal which was vital to his team’s corner all the way to Murray to allow a line change, which in overtime, is momentum. The Penguins could have gone into a tailspin after that ugly at the far side of the defensive zone, Marino controlled the puck behind goal they allowed at the end of the second period. the Penguins’ cage and fed a pass to the right dot for Blueger. Blueger turned and ramped it up ice on the left wing into the Avalanche’s zone. Rust will never be as valuable to this team as Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Pulling up on Colorado’s right dot, Blueger distributed the puck to the Malkin. Or even a lesser star like Jake Guentzel. But he’s been so center slot for forward Jared McCann. Using Erik Johnson as a screen, important for this team this season. McCann snapped off a wrister through Francouz’s five hole to win the game. It was McCann’s 12th goal. Assists went to Blueger and Marino. He’s not only scoring more goals – he tied his career high of 18 on Friday – for the Penguins this season. He’s scoring vital goals. This entire overtime period is worth watching:

What happened Statistically speaking

A power-play goal at 14:38 of the first period gave the Avalanche a 1-0 • The Avalanche had a 31-30 edge in shots. lead. Avalanche forward J.T. Compher outworked Penguins defensemen Kris Letang and Jack Johnson for a puck on the Penguins’ end boards • MacKinnon led the game with six shots. and was able to give it to Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog who • Blueger led the Penguins with five shots. offered a supporting forecheck. Turning towards the left corner, Landeskog flicked a pass to the left point for Avalanche defenseman • Girard led the game with 25:17 of ice time on 30 shifts. Samuel Girard. As Girard took a moment, Avalanche forward Nathan • Letang led the game with 24:37 of ice time on 34 shifts. MacKinnon raised his stick in the left circle. Girard fed the puck to his captain who smoked a one-timer past Murray’s blocker on the near side • The Avalanche controlled faceoffs, 33-23 (59 percent). for his 27th goal of the season. Girard and Landeskog had assists. • Landeskog led the game with three blocked shots. The Penguins tried to tie the game at the 16:24 mark of the first. Rust drove the net off the left wing and had a forehand shot denied by • Forward Andrew Agozzino, defenseman Juuso Riikola and Pettersson goaltender Pavel Francouz. As Rust kind of just lingered in the crease each led the game with two blocked shots. and hovered over Francouz, Penguins forward Dominik Kahun jabbed at Historically speaking the rebound but was denied. Evgeni Malkin followed up on that rebound and jabbed it into the cage. Officials immediately waved off the score and • Rust (151 points) surpassed forward Matt Cooke and defenseman Ryan confirmed the call of goaltender interference with a video review. Whitney (150 each) for 59th place on the franchise’s career scoring list.

A little luck led to the Penguins’ first goal at 13:29 of the second period. This was the Penguins’ first overtime win against the Avalanche since a Just as a power-play opportunity expired, Penguins defenseman Marcus 3-2 victory at home on Oct. 16. Forward Brandon Tanev scored to give Pettersson corralled a puck at the left point and chucked a heavy wrister the Penguins a win. That was like a decade ago. on net. Avalanche defenseman Ian Cole blocked the puck with his chest in the slot. The rebound bounced to above the right circle where • Girard appeared in his 200th career game. Penguins defenseman John Marino claimed it and chopped a shot/pass Randomly speaking which glanced off Kahun’s stick in the slot and bounced to the left of the cage where Penguins forward Teddy Blueger cleaned up the garbage by •Kahun finished with three assists. In the three full games he’s played on plunking a forehand shot past Francouz’s glove on the near side for his a line with Malkin and Rust, Kahun has five points (one goal, four sixth goal. Kahun and Marino netted assists. assists).

A lot of luck led to the Avalanche’s second goal. Pushing the puck • Malkin took another penalty, a slashing minor at 14:09 of the first period through the neutral zone, Landeskog encountered Marino and Pettersson which led to MacKinnon’s goal. He now has penalties in eight of his past at the offensive blue line and chipped it towards the cage. Murray kind of nine games. He had taken penalties in only five of his first 23 games. scrunched up on the lip of his crease to play the puck but had it take a crazy hop over his glove hand into the net, prompting countless “Murray’s Malkin is not dabbing his toes into his return with that “being penalty- prone” thing. He’s cannonballing it. • Francouz was the second right-catching (AKA: silly sider) goaltender the Penguins have faced this season. The other was New Jersey’s Louis Domingue who had 17:30 of mop-up duty of a 4-1 home win by the Penguins on Nov. 22.

• The Avalanche’s television broadcasters – who … let’s say … aren’t the most objective observers of the sport – regularly criticized the state of the ice throughout the game. They even suggested Landeskog’s fluky goal was a byproduct of the ice’s quality. It’s safe to say, the surface wasn’t optimal for the skilled puck-handlers on each squad.

Publicly speaking

• Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was happy with how Murray bounced back after that fluky goal:

“He responded real well. He had a solid game. Obviously, that fluke goal is a tough one but I really like how he responded to it. He didn’t let it get him down. He just stayed in the moment. He made some big saves in the third period for us.”

• Murray explained what happened on the goal:

“That’s a tough read. I can’t really expect that kind of bounce and I’m just trying to get out and play, settle it down so our (defensemen) can make a play and it bounces sideways on me. I just brushed it off as quickly as I could.”

• Sullivan outlined what the mood was like after allowing that crazy goal:

“The chatter on the bench after it happened was great. Patric Hornqvist in particular really took some leadership there on the bench when it happened. They were all talking that, hey, it happens. We’ve got to forget about it. That’s hockey. Let’s just drop the puck and keep playing. The other thing … some of our other coaches shared with me is that (the players) waited for Matt and made sure they gave him a tap on the pads and encouraged him. That’s an indication of the type of team that we’re becoming.”

• Sullivan on Kahun’s success with Malkin and Rust:

“It doesn’t surprise me. The reason we put him there is because we think he can make plays and that’s what he does. He has good offensive instincts, he can score himself. But he sees the ice real well. He can play in real tight space. For a guy that’s not overly big, he plays with a lot of courage. He’s real elusive in tight space. He’s quick. He helps those guys. He’s a good playmaker.”

• Sullivan spoke about his team’s improved success in overtime:

“It’s attention to detail. When you don’t have the puck, you have to defend. Like I tell the guys all the time, hope is not a strategy. We can’t hope that we’re going to win a puck battle. We have to make sure we defend and we’re diligent in limiting our opponent’s opportunities. I give the players credit. They are committed to playing without the puck when we don’t have it. Sometimes in overtime, you don’t have it for a while because it’s hard to get it back. We talk a lot about strategies offensively and defensively. In that three-on-three overtime, I think the guys are committed to playing the game the right way, and they’re playing together as a group of three out there.

“One of the details I’ll share with you that we talk a lot about is just trying to out-change the opponent. If we can do that, it gives us a better chance because we can keep fresh people on the ice. They have the ability to recover and react when the puck turns over, either way, offensively or defensively. … The guys are doing a good job with the line changes. They’re not staying out there too long.”

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Jared McCann scores in overtime to lift Penguins past Avalanche

JUSTIN GUERRIERO | Friday, January 10, 2020 11:51 p.m.

DENVER — Jared McCann’s goal with 1:41 left in overtime elevated the Penguins to a 4-3 win on the road at Colorado on Friday night at the Pepsi Center.

McCann’s game-winner keeps the Penguins (27-12-5) perfect on their current three-game road swing. Having previously defeated Las Vegas on Tuesday, the Pens look ahead to a 6 p.m. showdown with Phil Kessel and the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday.

There was no lack of drama in the final five minutes of regulation, as with the score tied 2-2, Evgeni Malkin put the Penguins up with 4:17 to play on a heatseeker of a wrist shot that went above the left shoulder of Avs’ goaltender Pavel Francouz.

Celebration around Malkin’s go-ahead goal was short-lived, as the Avalanche, having pulled Francouz, tied the game with 30.4 seconds to play.

Malkin, whose slashing penalty in the first period led to a Nathan MacKinnon power-play goal to open up the scoring in the game, doubtless atoned for his earlier sin. He managed to score an apparent goal shortly after his penalty by rebounding a Bryan Rust shot in front of the Avs’ net, but Rust was called for goalie interference and it was waved off.

Dominik Kahun had himself a night, notching assists on three of the Penguins’ final four scores, lending further credence to coach Mike Sullivan’s recent decision to place him on the Pens’ first line opposite Malkin and Rust.

“The reason we put him there is because we think he can make plays,” Sullivan said. “That’s what he does. He’s got good offensive instincts, he can score himself, and he sees the ice real well.”

After the Avalanche took a 1-0 lead into the second period, Teddy Blueger got the Pens on the board and tied the game at one, finding the back of the net after a John Marino pass deflected off of Kahun’s stick and into Blueger’s wheelhouse.

The Penguins, for the most part, played a pretty sound second period, but 18:20 into it, Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog skated through the neutral zone and attempted to dump the puck in from outside the blue line. It wound up taking an unfavorable bounce, one-hopping past Matt Murray and putting Colorado up, 2-1.

“It (was) a tough read,” Murray said. “I can’t really expect that kind of bounce. I just tried to go out and play, settle it down so our (defense) can make plays. (After it happened), I just brushed it off.”

While it certainly was a deflating play and goal, the Penguins rallied behind Murray.

“I thought the chatter on the bench after it happened was great, and Patric Hornqvist in particular really took some leadership when it happened,” Sullivan said. “I was walking off the bench, but some of our other coaches shared with me that (the players) waited for Matt and made sure they gave him a tap on the pads to encourage him. That’s an indication of the type of team we’re becoming.”

The Penguins got it going quickly in the final period of regulation, as Rust scored 74 minutes into things, which was then followed by Malkin’s tally.

With the game comfortably into OT, McCann, assisted by Kahun and Marino, emerged as the night’s hero.

“Obviously, the team’s been playing hard as of late. We’ve earned these last couple games, so (it feels) good,” McCann said.

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Minor league report: Penguins drop fifth straight to Bears

Seth Rorabaugh

Goaltender Dustin Tokarski made 18 saves for the Wilkes- Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 2-1 shootout loss at home to the rival Hershey Bears at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Forward Jamie Devane scored the lone regulation goal for the Penguins (17-15-3-3) who have lost five consecutive games.

Highlights:

The Penguins conclude a six-game homestand against the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday, 7:05 p.m.

—-

Goaltender Emil Larmi made 39 saves on 42 shots for the Wheeling Nailers in a 5-2 road loss to the Reading Royals at the Santander Arena in Reading.

Forward Ryan Scarfo recorded two assists for the Nailers (16-14-4-0) who have lost three consecutive games.

The Nailers’ host the Fort Wayne Komets at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling on Saturday, 7:05 p.m.

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Avalanche coach Jared Bednar learned from “Battleship” Kelly

Seth Rorabaugh

After toiling for parts of 14 seasons in the ECHL and AHL as a coach, Jared Bednar finally reached the NHL when the Colorado Avalanche hired him to be coach during the 2016 offseason. In his three full seasons as coach, the Avalanche has improved from a non-playoff team to an appearance in last spring’s postseason.

While he got his start in the NHL in Rocky Mountains, he got his start as a player in the Appalachian Mountains as a 21-year-old playing for a popular Penguins enforcer.

After completing his junior career in 1993, Bednar signed with the Huntington Blizzard, an expansion ECHL franchise in southwestern West Virginia and spent parts of three seasons with that franchise.

“It was good,” Bednar said when the Avalanche visited Pittsburgh in October. “I went down there, it was an expansion team my first year. We got beat up a little bit then I spent parts of two more seasons there. That’s where I met my wife. She’s from Huntington. Spent some time there in the offseason as well. Then ended up getting traded down to South Carolina. … Lots of good memories there. Still good buddies with some of the guys I played with there.”

Bednar’s time with the Blizzard was primarily distinguished by his rambunctiousness as he reached triple digits in penalty minutes in each of his two complete seasons in Huntington He racked up 115 penalty minutes as a first-year professional in 1993-94 then led the team with a robust 215 in 1994-95.

He had an accomplished mentor for that aspect of the game.

Bob “Battleship” Kelly.

The former enforcer, who was perhaps the Penguins’ most popular player in the 1970s, served as the Blizzard’s head coach for its inaugural season of 1993-94.

“He was quite a character,” Bednar said. “I remember talking to him. He was a rough-and-tumble guy obviously. That was a little bit of my game. I was able to sit down and pick his brain over the course of a season there and talk with him and try to get some tips and take anything along that I could implement in my game from his experiences. He was real good to me down in Huntingdon for sure.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170534 Pittsburgh Penguins John Marino sent a pass across the center of the ice that Kahun stopped before scoring on a backhand shot.

Heading into Friday night’s game at Colorado, Kahun is one of seven Penguins’ Dominik Kahun embracing role of 1st-line winger Penguins with double-digit goals and ranks sixth on the team in scoring (10 goals, 13 assists) in 42 games played.

His goal moving forward, regardless of where he finds himself in the Justin GuerrieroJUSTIN GUERRIERO | Friday, January 10, 2020 5:43 lineup? p.m. “I just want to keep winning — that’s the most important (thing) — play well and get goals,” he said.

DENVER — The Pittsburgh Penguins are approaching two weeks Tribune Review LOADED: 01.11.2020 without All-Star forward Jake Guentzel, who likely is out for the season after surgery on his right shoulder following a violent crash into the boards during a Dec. 30 victory over Ottawa.

In the aftermath of the Penguins being down their leading scorer (20 goals, 23 assists in 39 games played) and regular left wing next to Evgeni Malkin on the first line, coach Mike Sullivan doubtless has worked to find an in-house solution to fill the offensive hole left in Guentzel’s absence.

With general manager Jim Rutherford steadily exploring trade options on that note, Sullivan since Dec. 30 has run some experiments to determine the Penguins’ best option beside Malkin and Bryan Rust.

On Jan. 2 at home against the San Jose Sharks, the Penguins’ first game after Guentzel’s injury, Sullivan inserted Alex Galchenyuk on the Malkin line. Galchenyuk and Rust assisted on Patric Hornqvist’s tying goal in the second period, but the Penguins lost 3-2 in overtime.

Two days later in Montreal, Sullivan stuck with Galchenyuk on the first line to start the game. However, by the third period, Sullivan made a change. He moved Dominik Kahun from the fourth line with Joseph Blandisi and Thomas Di Pauli all the way up to Malkin’s line.

The switch paid off. With just less than 15 minutes left in regulation, Kahun had a key feed to Jack Johnson off the boards in the offensive zone.

Johnson’s ensuing shot from the blue line near the Canadiens’ bench was deflected left of the goal, only to ricochet to the stick of the waiting Rust, who put the puck in the net and tied the score 2-2.

Brandon Tanev won the game for the Penguins in overtime.

Sullivan stuck with Kahun opposite Malkin and Rust in the Penguins’ 4-1 loss to Florida on Jan. 5, and although not much showed up on the stat sheet — as with the majority of the team — Kahun’s 19 minutes, 55 seconds on ice was the most of all Penguins forwards except Rust.

For Sullivan, figuring out how best to bolster Malkin and Rust, who are the Penguins’ second- and third-leading point scorers, has been a priority since Guentzel went down.

And based on the quickness with which Galchenyuk was yanked in favor of Kahun, expect whoever skates with Malkin and Rust to conduct nightly performance-based job interviews to stay there.

“That’s a line that really has the ability to score, so we’re trying to accomplish a number of different things,” Sullivan said. “We’ve got a number of different options to move people around.”

When the Penguins and Avalanche faced off Friday at Pepsi Center in Denver, Kahun once again was on the first line.

Kahun gave Sullivan a reason to be confident in him with a multi-point performance Tuesday against the Golden Knights.

Malkin scored first, netting a goal less than three minutes into the first period, with Kahun and Rust notching assists. Having established some quick camaraderie with Malkin and Rust, Kahun seems to be enjoying every second of it.

“It’s a huge opportunity,” he said. “I love to play with those guys. They make it easy for me if I’m playing good. I think we had a great third period in Montreal, and then on Saturday (against Florida), I moved to the first line. Last game (at Vegas) we scored, also, so yeah, it’s been good.”

Later in the second period Tuesday night in Las Vegas, Kahun beefed up his special-teams credentials, scoring a power-play goal with five seconds left on the man-advantage. 1170535 Pittsburgh Penguins Injury can intervene, as it did in ’16, and again when Fleury had his big playoff run in ’17, and like it has constantly for the Penguins this season.

But if the status quo is maintained, the Penguins find themselves where Mark Madden: Having 2 starting goalies not a bad situation for Penguins they were in ’16 and ’17: With two very good goalies. Not a bad situation.

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MARK MADDEN | Friday, January 10, 2020 1:25 p.m.

Tristan Jarry leads the NHL in all three significant goaltending categories.

Matt Murray’s stats are his career worst in goals-against average and save percentage.

Yet the story of the Penguins’ goaltending situation is far from written.

Murray is playing better. He has won three of his last four starts. He posted save percentages of .929 and .917 in the last two.

Does Murray still leak in the occasional bad goal? Yes. Is he still sitting too deep in the crease? Yes. Is he still making himself small? Yes.

But all that is getting better, however incrementally. He also is making big saves.

But Jarry has become incredibly reliable in his first stint as a true starting goaltender. He makes netminding look easy (though his blocker stop on Florida’s Aaron Ekblad this past Sunday will be among the saves of the year). His puckhandling is simple, yet skilled and effective. He already is among the league’s elite in that department.

Jarry’s workload can’t be lightened. He’s too effective.

But Murray has to be kept active and coaxed toward his previous heights.

That’s because the Penguins don’t know how Jarry will respond to the cauldron of the playoffs. Can he be trusted to deliver in that environment? There’s no way of knowing. Jarry has never played in a postseason game.

Murray has. His career playoff stats are better than his career regular- season numbers. He has won two Stanley Cup championships. Murray pitched back-to-back shutouts to finish off Nashville in the 2017 final. He allowed one goal in Game 6 of the ’16 final as the Penguins beat San Jose to clinch the championship.

Those accomplishments get further away all the time. But they can’t be dismissed.

There will be nervous anticipation when Jarry starts his first playoff game. But Murray’s inexperience was ignored when he backstopped the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in ’16, his first playoff action. (It had to be. Marc-Andre Fleury was out at the beginning of the postseason with post- concussion syndrome. He started just one game in those playoffs.)

The playoffs are a different, pressure-packed atmosphere. But the puck and nets are the same size. It’s difficult to picture Jarry flinching.

The story hardly stops after the season.

Jarry and Murray are due new contracts. Each is a restricted free agent, which means neither is going anywhere of his own accord.

But raises are certainly due, and Murray reportedly wants big term and big money: eight years and in the neighborhood of $8 million per. That and Jarry’s relative affordability could pave Murray’s road out of Pittsburgh.

There’s the 2021 expansion draft to consider. Could the Penguins lose a starting-caliber goalie for the second straight expansion? Who would stay and who would go?

Murray could be gone before then. GM Jim Rutherford hasn’t actively shopped Murray. (Jarry was definitely on the block this past offseason.) But Rutherford isn’t hanging up the phone when Murray’s name comes up. Discussion has occurred.

But it’s hard to imagine Rutherford trading Murray now unless a legit backup comes the other way as part of the deal.

Jarry is the starter right now. That won’t change unless he soils the bed. If we’re not through waiting for that to happen, we should be close. Murray can close the gap by catching fire, but that’s hard to do playing sporadically. 1170536 Pittsburgh Penguins Kahun can bounce up and down the line as much as Sullivan wants. Unfortunately, he still only counts as one player.

So adding another winger is crucial. Tim Benz: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is right to look for trade after The sooner the better. Jake Guentzel’s injury Granted, rumored names the Penguins may want to acquire sound only

decent. Not great. TIM BENZ | Friday, January 10, 2020 6:18 a.m. You’ve heard most of them by now — Chris Kreider (Rangers), Brandon Saad (Blackhawks), Tyler Toffoli (Kings), J-G Pageau (Senators), Rickard Rakell (Ducks), Mike Hoffman (Panthers). Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford stopped short of saying the Penguins would definitely make a trade to offset the loss of All-Star All of them would help cushion the blow of losing Guentzel. winger Jake Guentzel. Unfortunately, whether it is on the ice or off, there seems to be a rub with each player. Whether that’s age, injury, salary, fit, attitude or contract Not by much, though. length, there’s a legitimate argument as to why a first-round or second- round pick may be too much, especially if another player from the current Speaking on his 105.9 the X radio show Wednesday night, Rutherford roster has to go out the door in the deal. sounded like a GM well-aware of what he had lost. One could understand Rutherford’s reticence to throw in a lot of capital He also sounded like one who was determined to make sure his team for moderate rental return, especially since Guentzel and his $6 million didn’t suffer because of it. salary cap hit will — hopefully — be back next season. Rutherford spent much of the show’s first two segments glowing about I’m sure Rutherford doesn’t want to be too desperate and act too quickly. how his players “scratched and clawed” in the face of so many injuries But it’s not like the Penguins haven’t had an eye toward potentially this year. He referred to the organization’s 57 points and second-place adding scoring depth anyway. My guess is that scouting on at least some standing in the Metropolitan Division as “an amazing story” because of these guys started long before Guentzel’s injury. many of those wins occurred despite injuries to the likes of Sidney Crosby, Brian Dumoulin, Kris Letang, Justin Schultz, Evgeni Malkin, At the time of Rutherford’s comments, his club was seven points clear of Patric Hornqvist and Bryan Rust at various stretches over the course of the playoff cut line. That sounds good now. But with 39 games left, that the season. cushion could vanish in a heartbeat.

In some cases — such as Crosby’s 26 games — very long stretches. Augmenting the need to get someone on board quickly is the desire to give that player as many games as possible to build chemistry with Now, add Guentzel to that list. He already has missed four games and Malkin or Crosby. Plus, there is the small matter of seven more games will sit out the next four to six months after shoulder surgery. smooshed into the schedule over the next 11 days. Rutherford’s tone turned dour as he recollected watching Guentzel crash Not to mention, the price of doing business always seems to get higher into the boards after scoring a goal against Ottawa on Dec. 30. once other teams start to sniff the playoffs as the trade deadline “It was really sickening, when he went into the boards,” Rutherford said. approaches. “The way he went in. It could’ve been worse. You just didn’t know. Did he In the past, Rutherford has made trades in December and January. break his neck, or something like that?” Deals that yielded Marcus Pettersson, Carl Hagelin, Jamie Oleksiak and Rutherford also seemed upset that his leading scorer couldn’t participate Trevor Daley come to mind. in the All-Star Game and receive the praise he deserved for following up To buffer the loss of Guentzel, I think he’d be wise to do so again this a 40-goal season last year with a 20-goal start this year. year. Rutherford seems to think his team deserves it. “Jake is probably the most underappreciated star in our league,” He’s right. Rutherford continued. “When players play with Sid or Geno, (observers) will say ‘Well they are playing with great centers.’ Well, they are. But I Tribune Review LOADED: 01.11.2020 can put a lot of other guys there that aren’t going to do what Jake Guentzel does.”

Crosby is expected to rejoin Malkin in the lineup at some point over the next few games. Now Rutherford is tasked with trading for a player who can skate with one of his two great centers, even if that player can’t do it as well as Guentzel.

Rutherford doesn’t appear to want his team, which has worked so hard to stay afloat, to suddenly be hindered by a lack of firepower.

“With where our team sits and how much we like our team, we are always going to be looking at where we can strengthen it for the playoffs,” Rutherford said.

That’s encouraging to hear.

Because there aren’t enough answers within the franchise at wing as it sits right now. With 17 goals this season, Rust is within one goal of matching his career high. So he’s already exceeding expectations.

The general manager also couched his comments by saying he wanted to “take a chance to think about it,” adding he wanted to give an opportunity for some players to “step up.”

Here are the problems with that.

Hornqvist’s shelf life on Crosby’s line often only seems to be a few games at a time. Head coach Mike Sullivan seems inclined to keep Brandon Tanev and Zach Aston-Reese with Teddy Blueger. Jared McCann may have to continue playing center for a while. Alex Galchenyuk has yet to find consistency in Pittsburgh. And Dominik 1170537 Pittsburgh Penguins “I just think that’s an indication of the type of team we’re becoming,” he said.

Murray had a strong response a minute into the third period. He kicked Jared McCann scores in OT for Penguins in win against the host out Landeskog’s tip-in try, sending the Penguins the other way. After two Colorado Avalanche, 4-3 Avalanche defenders took each other out, Rust beat Francouz to make it 2-2.

That was his 18th goal, tying a single-season career high. It’s still MATT VENSEL January.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette With 4:17 left in the third, Malkin pulled in a pass from Dominik Kahun and snapped a shot under Francouz’s glove to put the Penguins in the JAN 11, 2020 7:43 AM lead. But with the Colorado net empty and 30.4 seconds left in regulation, Matt Calvert, parked in front, redirected Cale Makar’s blast from the point past Murray. DENVER – Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon dominated the first period, looking like a grown man skating through actual The Penguins controlled the 3-on-3 overtime despite all that talent on the penguins. The visitors pushed back only to watch a Phil Mickelson flop other side. With 1:41 left, McCann got a pass from Blueger and flicked a shot from center bounce in. The Avalanche landed a game-tying stomach shot toward Francouz, who let the puck squeak through him for the punch with 30.4 seconds left. game-winner.

But these Penguins are Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers. They keep Murray made 28 saves, several high-caliber, to earn his third straight win. getting up. They keep coming. And they don’t stop until they calmly “He had a solid game,” Sullivan said. “Obviously, that fluke goal was a chase you down. tough one. But I really liked how he responded. He didn’t let it get him The high-scoring Avalanche, a threat to win the West this spring, couldn’t down. He just stayed in the moment and I thought he made some big escape the horror movie villains from Pittsburgh on Friday. Matt Murray saves in the third period.” had another encouraging start, Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust both lit the The Penguins, who refuse to be left for dead, have won 13 of 17 games. lamp again and Jared McCann scored in OT to give the Penguins a 4-3 win at Pepsi Center. “We didn’t have a good first period. After that, we came back. Had a good second and they scored late in the game,” Letang said. “And we “It was another really gritty, hard win,” Murray said. “That’s a really good kept coming.” team over there. We just stayed resilient no matter what happened.” Post Gazette LOADED: 01.11.2020 Murray was razor sharp early on, looking more like the confident kid who was in goal in those two Cup-clinching wins, or it might have gotten ugly.

On Colorado’s first shot, a slapper from the left circle, he aggressively stepped outside of blue paint and nonchalantly pinned the puck to his chest protector. He stayed with MacKinnon when he sliced through the Penguins. He turned aside a point-blank shot from Gabriel Landeskog, MacKinnon’s talented linemate.

The Avalanche finally got one past Murray with 5:22 left in the first. With Malkin in the box, MacKinnon, who may be the baddest dude on the planet with Sidney Crosby still sidelined, bombed a one-timer from the left circle.

“Speed. Skill. Shot. He’s the whole package. He’s big and strong,” Kris Letang said. “He makes me think a lot of Sid, I think, by being shifty and all these things.”

Letang said the Penguins in that first period showed too much respect to MacKinnon and the Avalanche, which rank second in the league in scoring, and they gave them too much time and space. They tightened up in the second period.

Then, seconds after a power play ended, a pass from John Marino nicked a stick and fluttered to Teddy Blueger. He tied it up, 1-1, with 6:31 left in the period. But the Avalanche quickly regained the lead with a fluky goal on Murray.

With nowhere to go as the Penguins stacked their blue line, Landeskog flipped the puck from the neutral zone on goal. Murray sat back, waiting for it to come to him. It hit the ice just outside the crease and hopped over his left pad.

After plopping onto his backside, he glanced at the heavens in disbelief.

“That was a tough read. I can’t really expect that kind of bounce. … It bounced sideways on me,” Murray said. “I just brushed it off as quickly as I could.”

The Penguins weren’t getting up after that crowbar to the face, right?

“I thought the chatter on the bench after it happened was great,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “Patric Hornqvist, in particular, really [showed] some leadership there on the bench. … They were all talking, ‘Hey, that happens. We’ve got to forget about it. It’s hockey. Let’s just drop the puck and keep playing.’”

Sullivan also noted that teammates waited for Murray at the door after the horn sounded at the end of the period, whacking his leg pads in support. 1170538 Pittsburgh Penguins “We’re hopeful that we will. We thought we were going to get him one [Wednesday] in Vegas [but] for the most part we had an optional skate,” Sullivan said.

Return to Colorado a reminder of grind to NHL for Andrew Agozzino After Tuesday’s win over the Golden Knights, Sullivan made that practice highly optional. Only a handful of players, including Crosby, skated that day.

MATT VENSEL Crosby last played for the Penguins on Nov. 9. He had sports hernia surgery five days later. Entering Friday, the team was 16-6-4 without the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette captain. JAN 11, 2020 1:59 AM Top-liner Kahun having fun

Dominik Kahun again started out on the top line against the Avalanche. DENVER – Many good memories came to mind for Andrew Agozzino on Kahun, who was initially promoted to play with Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Thursday when he walked into Pepsi Center and took a twirl around the Rust during last Saturday’s win in Montreal, had a goal and an assist ice. Tuesday.

Agozzino first clawed out a footing in pro hockey in 2012-13 with the “It’s a huge opportunity and I love to play with those guys. They make it Lake Erie Monsters, then the American Hockey League affiliate for the easy for me if I’m playing good. I thought we had a great third period Colorado Avalanche. He made his NHL debut for the Avalanche two there in Montreal when it all started,” he said. “The [Vegas] game we also seasons later. And after a stint with St. Louis, he returned to Colorado, scored. So it’s fun.” skating for the Eagles of the AHL. Sullivan praised the young winger for his instincts, playmaking and “I played in the organization for six years. So I pretty much know scoring ability. But he also made it clear that Kahun’s top-line role is not everyone top to bottom, both the staff and personnel,” he said after a set in stone. Penguins practice. “It’s a big chunk of my professional career so, yeah, “We’ve got a number of candidates,” he said. “We’re trying to, obviously, there’s a lot of roots here.” surround Geno with people that can help him be successful and in turn it Last season, for the first time, Agozzino stuck around at the NHL level for helps us be successful. But we’re also trying to create some balance a little while. He played 11 games and on Feb. 19, 2019, scored his only through our lineup.” career NHL goal at Pepsi Center, where the Penguins played the Post Gazette LOADED: 01.11.2020 Avalanche on Friday.

“Any time you get to play a former team, it’s exciting. You want to play well,” he said. “It’s another big game for us. But I’m sure it will be an exciting night.”

The center joined the Penguins organization last summer, feeling comfortable with management and believing he could eventually earn a role with the NHL club. A slew of injuries in Pittsburgh got him promoted earlier than he expected. But his call-up lasted one game. He logged less than two minutes Oct. 10.

“We were still going through an adjustment process with some of the new players we had .... We were going through [injuries] at the same time. So we had a lot of guys coming in and out of the lineup,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “To his defense, there wasn’t a lot of control on his part in his first experience.”

Agozzino returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and with 14 goals and 31 points in 35 games, the 29-year-old was recently named the AHL team’s lone All-Star.

“It’s been a really good start to the season,” he said. “I had some great chemistry with linemates there, with [Sam] Miletic for the most part and [Stefan] Noesen early on. [Coach Mike] Vellucci lets us play our game and empowers us to be confident and comfortable out there. So I think that’s helped me big time.”

The Penguins recalled him on Monday and he played close to 10 minutes in their 4-3 win in Las Vegas on Tuesday, earning him another game Friday.

“I thought he had a strong game the other night,” Sullivan said Thursday, adding, “I think he’s been one of the best players in Wilkes-Barre to this point, if not the best player. He brings a different dimension than some of the other guys we’ve had up. He’s a good playmaker. He has good offensive instincts.”

Bryan Rust celebrates after scoring his second goal of the night against the Senators Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena.

Sidney Crosby was not among a small group of Penguins who took the ice before Friday’s game. Crosby, after skating hard in Las Vegas on Tuesday and Wednesday, was given a scheduled day off Thursday. Sullivan said Crosby wasn’t feeling well Friday, so he didn’t skate for a second straight day.

The Penguins practice in Arizona on Saturday. If Crosby feels OK in the morning, the Penguins might try to get him on the ice for a full team practice. 1170539 Pittsburgh Penguins Injury: Concussion Crosby returned for a second time that season and, once again, his

return was a successful one. He set up two goals in a 5-2 victory against Yohe: What to expect when Sidney Crosby returns the Rangers and this time Crosby was back in the lineup for good, his concussion symptoms finally subsided.

What we learned: Crosby, like during the returns earlier in his career, By Josh Yohe Jan 9, 2020 38 was something of a binge scorer during this stretch. His goal-scoring touch took a while to surface as he didn’t score a goal in his first five

games which, combined with his seven-goal drought earlier in the LAS VEGAS — In Sidney Crosby’s 15 seasons with the Penguins, he season, gave him 12 straight games without scoring a goal. Producing has treated Pittsburgh to championships, scoring titles, MVPs and too points was no issue, though. Crosby racked up nine assists in his first many magical moments to count. four games back. He produced three goals and 16 assists in his first 11 games back, his playmaking once again returning to its customary level Unfortunately for Crosby, much like his former landlord a generation before his goal scoring. earlier, he’s missed significant chunks of time over the years because of injuries. Return: May 3, 2013

Crosby will make his return from sports hernia surgery soon — it wouldn’t Games missed: 13 be surprising if he were to play on Friday night in Colorado — and the Injury: Broken jaw Penguins are eagerly awaiting their captain’s presence in the lineup. They’ve played exceedingly well without him, but the Penguins are Crosby was having one of his most dominant seasons when he missed displaying signs of fatigue and, quite obviously, are a better team with the final 12 games of the regular season and the playoff opener against him in the lineup. the Islanders because of a broken jaw. A wayward Brooks Orpik shot ended Crosby’s regular season prematurely. “He’s the best player in the world,” Patric Hornqvist said. “He’s going to help this team to move forward. We are all looking forward to the day He returned to the lineup in Game 2 against the Islanders. This stretch he’s back in the lineup. It’s coming up here soon.” was Crosby’s most impressive after returning from injury. He scored two goals in his first game back, then set up three goals in Game 3 of the It has been a while since Crosby has missed this much time — today series, including Chris Kunitz’s overtime winner. In five games against marks two months since he last played — and it’s impossible to gauge the Islanders, Crosby scored three goals and added six assists. what form he’ll be in upon his return. But history does teach us what we can expect. What we learned: Crosby was generally terrific in the spring of 2013, but some trends did again surface. In particular, his goal-scoring always has Here’s a look back at Crosby’s returns from notable injuries. been a bit streaky after missing significant amounts of time to injury. He Return: March 4, 2008, at Tampa Bay was held without a goal in 10 of the 14 postseason games in which he participated that spring. Yet he managed two goals in his return against Games missed: 21 the Islanders and a hat trick in Game 2 against Ottawa.

Injury: High ankle sprain This is a pretty central theme in all of Crosby’s comebacks.

In Crosby’s return from the first major injury of his career, the Penguins So what does it all mean? broke a scoreless tie with three minutes remaining in the third period as Crosby set up Max Talbot for the game-winning tally. I’ve taken a look at Crosby’s four worst injuries and his play in the remaining games of the season after his return. Crosby recorded two goals and two assists in three games back from the injury before missing another couple of weeks. He then managed two Crosby has participated in 69 games in the four seasons following his goals and five points when he returned for the final four games of the worst injuries. He has failed to score a goal in 49 of those 69 games, season. which is a pretty high number for him. This suggests that it takes Crosby’s goal-scoring some time to surface to its normal capability. What we learned: In the seven games mentioned, Crosby was held without a goal in five of them but scored two each in the other two Of course, he did register seven multi-goal performances in those 69 games. This is significant. When Crosby has returned from injuries, his games, so there has been evidence of some binge scoring. goal-scoring has been a little streaky. Also, in those 69 games, Crosby produced 86 points, which is good for Return: Nov. 21, 2011 1.25 points per game. Crosby averages 1.28 points per game in his career and, given that many of the games included in this list were Games missed: 68 playoff games, where offense is harder to come by, the conclusion would be that Crosby hasn’t really been negatively impacted by these droughts. Injury: Concussion History says to expect Crosby to be a little streaky upon his return and Crosby returned to action for the first time in almost 11 months after that his goal-scoring might require some time. dealing with a career-threatening concussion. His performance that night against the Islanders was the stuff of legend. He roofed a backhand on But history also tells us Crosby is the rare athlete who can still work his his second shift and finished the evening with two goals and two assists magic even when he’s rusty. He has been skating for weeks and, given in a 5-0 win. This marked one of the most important and joyous evenings how good he looked during a couple of skates in Las Vegas this week, in PPG Paints Arena history. It was short-lived, however. it’s safe to assume his return is near.

Crosby played only eight games before missing another three months It’s likely that his dominance won’t be far behind. because of more concussion symptoms. The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 What we learned: Crosby was an interesting study in those eight games. He didn’t score a goal in the next seven games, yet he did produce 12 points in those eight games, 10 of them on assists. This is noteworthy. When Crosby has missed lengthy portions of time, he typically relies more on the facets of the game which come most naturally to him. He’s a playmaker before he is a goal-scorer, and Crosby was visibly more of a pass-first player during this particular stretch. He also used his backhand — shooting and passing — more than usual because, again, that’s a part of his arsenal that is utterly natural.

Return: March 15, 2012

Games missed: 40 1170540 San Jose Sharks Besides his production, Pavelski showed his importance over the years by sliding over and playing center when the Sharks were dealing with injuries to players such as Joe Thornton and Hertl. His natural position is right wing. Joe Pavelski returns to San Jose: Listing the ways his absence has affected the Sharks The Sharks are dealing with those issues right now with Couture out for approximately six weeks with a broken bone in his left ankle. Marleau can slide over and play center if need be, but at the moment, the Sharks have Hertl, Thornton, Antti Suomela and Joel Kellman as their four By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay centers. Area News Group The Sharks won their first game without Couture on Thursday, beating PUBLISHED: January 10, 2020 at 3:11 pm | UPDATED: January 10, the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1. 2020 at 4:02 PM 2. Power play production: Without Pavelski, the Sharks were a mess with

the man advantage throughout much of the first half the season. After 41 SAN JOSE — Doug Wilson made the boldest move — and maybe even games, they had just 17 power play goals in 119 chances, a 14.3 his biggest gamble — of his tenure as Sharks general manager when in success rate that ranked 29th in the league. June of last year he signed two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson Including their 2-0 loss to Detroit Red Wings, the Sharks, in a 20-game to a eight-year, $92 million contract extension, the richest deal in team stretch, went 2-for-49 with the man advantage. history. The Sharks have turned things around recently, switching up the But with that decision came ramifications. personnel on the two power play units and having players in different The most of important of which was that there was not going to be spots. That’s led to a surge in production, as the Sharks have five power enough room under this season’s NHL’s salary cap of $81.5 million to fit play goals in their last five games, and was ranked 24th in the NHL (16.9 Joe Pavelski, who established himself as one of the greatest players in percent) as of Friday morning. team history. The Sharks had a 16.7 percent success rate on the power play in 2016- “The impact he’s had on this franchise and his teammates are going to 17, but otherwise never finished a season below 17 percent with Pavelski be felt for years to come,” Wilson said July 1, the day Pavelski signed a on the roster. From 2006 to 2019, Pavelski had 278 power play points, three-year, $21 million deal with the Dallas Stars. “With a cap system, second only in that time to Thornton’s 354. these are pretty difficult decisions.” Without a tipper like Pavelski, the Sharks weren’t as effective with their The Sharks will welcome back Pavelski on Saturday night when they low to high strategy, where pucks are shot from the point toward the net host the Stars in one of the more anticipated regular season games at with traffic in front. SAP Center in recent memory. 3. Leadership: Kevin Labanc told a story about how Pavelski mentored Pavelski played 13 seasons in San Jose, serving as captain from 2015- him when he was first breaking into the NHL in the 2016-17 season. 2019, and finished his career with the Sharks with 335 goals and 761 “Changing in the offensive zone,” Labanc said with a smile about some points in 963 regular season games. bad habits he picked up in junior hockey. “But he’s so right. Just having a “It’ll be weird,” Pavelski said Friday. “Probably just seeing the jersey’s shorter shift, it helps you so much. going to be the toughest part. Just be awkward in a lot of ways, “If you’re not back-checking or playing good defensively, he’ll be on you.” probably.” The Sharks have plenty of leaders. Couture has found his voice as a first The Sharks have felt his absence from a production standpoint, as they year captain, and there’s other veteran voices in the room to hold each are averaging 2.64 goals per game, 26th-best in the NHL. They sit 13th player accountable. in the Western Conference with a 20-22-4 record, and odds are they will miss the playoffs for just the second time in the last 16 seasons. But everyone noticed when he and Burns used to be the first players on the ice before a practice or a morning skate. He did things the right way, But there may be more to it than just the numbers. With the way he every day. carried himself, Pavelski, now 35, became the heart-and-soul of the Sharks, synonymous with the crest he wore and the city he grew up in. “It didn’t matter the fact that he 800, 900 games or hundreds of goals, he was always out there working on his craft,” Dillon said. “He was the first “You could argue that it’s still a bit of an adjustment period,” Sharks guy — whether you were someone coming into play your first game or defenseman Brenden Dillon said of the team’s time without their former play your 1,500th game — he’d find a way to connect and make you feel captain, adding that Pavelski was, “everything about Sharks hockey.” special, make you feel a part of the group. Let’s look at the ways Pavelski’s absence has been felt. “I think that was most (impressive) part about it.” 1. Even strength play: Pavelski had 219 goals and 236 assists at even To be clear, the Sharks did not want to let Pavelski go. But more than the strength in his 13 seasons with the Sharks. Twenty-five of those goals money he received from the Stars, the sticking point was the term. came last season. Pavelski wanted a three-year deal, and Wilson was not willing to extend This season, the Sharks’ leader in even strength goals is Logan Couture that far. with 14, followed by Timo Meier with 13 ad Tomas Hertl with 11. “Always had a feeling that something would probably work out,” Pavelski When Pavelski had to miss seven games late last season with a lower said Friday of contract talks with the Sharks. “Until it didn’t, it didn’t give body injury, the Sharks, also without Erik Karlsson at that time, went 1-5- me any reason really not to (think that way).” 1 and scored just 15 even strength goals. “It’s emotional,” Wilson said July 1. “You have a heart and you have a As Pavelski has struggled to find the back of the net this season with just head, and you understand these decisions have to get made, and they eight goals in 44 games, the Sharks have had a team-wide problem get made. So, you have mixed emotions.” producing at even strength. Going into Saturday, the Sharks are 23rd in San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 01.11.2020 the NHL with 82 goals coming at 5 on 5.

Pavelski averaged close to 19 minutes per game in his time with the Sharks and won 55 percent of his faceoffs. He had 58 game-winning goals.

“Especially our system, it was made perfectly for Pavs,” Sharks winger Timo Meier said. “Him and (Thornton) with those high tips. I don’t know how many tips (Pavelski) got when he and (Brent Burns) connected. He was definitely a huge part of our success.” 1170541 San Jose Sharks 2. Top line’s responsibility: Couture’s absence is sure to be felt in a handful of areas, most notably at even strength when the Sharks’ top line is matched up against the No. 1 line of the opposition.

Takeaways: Joe Thornton leading Sharks’ power play resurgence Right now, Boughner has Kane, Labanc and Tomas Hertl on his top line. (setting record in process) Not only did they combine for the Sharks’ first goal Thursday, scored by Labanc at the 1:01 mark of the second period, but they helped keep the Blue Jackets’ top line of Pierre-Luc Dubois, Gus Nyquist and Nathan Gerbe off the scoresheet. By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group Hertl, playing in Couture’s spot as the No. 1 center, finished with 20:42 of ice time and won 16 of 23 faceoffs. PUBLISHED: January 10, 2020 at 4:50 am | UPDATED: January 10, 2020 at 5:00 am “Tommy Hertl did a good job tonight of trying to shut down that big line of theirs and winning some crucial draws,” Boughner said. “That was a big

bonus for us. A big help. His linemates (Kane and Labanc) played really SAN JOSE — With or without Logan Couture, the Sharks know they well, too, and controlled the play.” have to play a certain way if they want to have any sustained success Going forward, the Sharks’ top line has to at least play the opposition’s and find a way to rejoin the Western Conference playoff race over the top line to a draw to stay in games. That task will be appreciably harder next few weeks. Saturday when the Dallas Stars, led by Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and They played to that identity Thursday, as Kevin Labanc, Joe Thornton Alexander Radulov, roll into San Jose. and Brent Burns all scored and Aaron Dell made 30 saves in a 3-1 win 3. Dell leading the way: With his performance Thursday night, Dell has over the Columbus Blue Jackets at SAP Center. now allowed no more than three goals in any of his last eight starts. The Couture is expected to be out for approximately the next six weeks after Sharks are 4-2-2 in those games. it was discovered Wednesday that he had a small fracture in the Talus With the Sharks playing four games over the next nine nights, one has to bone in his left ankle. There’s no simple way for the Sharks to replace a wonder how often Boughner will go to Dell with every point being so player like Couture, a do-everything player on the ice and the heartbeat critical. The Sharks enter Friday still in 13th place in the Western and conscious of the club off of it. Conference, eight points out of a playoff spot. So if the Sharks want to keep their flickering playoff hopes somewhat Boughner said he’s also liked what he’s seen from Martin Jones, who let alive, they have keep playing with the same mindset they’ve started to in just one goal in games against Detroit and Philadelphia before the establish under interim coach Bob Boughner: take care of your own end team-wide meltdown in Washington on Sunday. first and use that work ethic to help create offense at the other end. “I like the way our goaltenders are trending,” Boughner said. “But Deller’s “I think we’re playing the right way,” Boughner said. “We’re giving definitely doing a job of finding a way to win games, making the big save ourselves a chance to win every night. That’s our focus, to be a defense- at the big time.” first team. We’re not a team that’s going to score five or six a night. We realize that. We’ve got to win those kind of games.” San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 01.11.2020 Takeaways from Thursday night.

1. Led by Thornton, power play continues uptick: The Sharks’ power play hit a low point Dec. 31 when they went 0 for 3 with the man advantage against the Detroit Red Wings, one of the NHL’s worst penalty killing teams.

The Sharks have turned things around since then, with Thornton’s second period goal giving the Sharks five with the man advantage over their last five games.

At 40 years and 191 days old, Thornton is now the oldest player in Sharks history to score a power play goal. The previous older player was Rob Blake, who was 40 years and 117 days old when he scored with the man advantage against the Calgary Flames on April 6, 2010.

Thornton’s goal didn’t come on a dazzling play by any means, as he took a pass from Erik Karlsson near the top of the circle and slapped the puck past a screened Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins at the 13:28 mark of the second period, giving the Sharks a 2-0 lead.

It does, though, speak to the Sharks’ willingness to get pucks off their sticks a little quicker and get a player in front of the net with the man advantage.

Thornton, who tied former Boston Bruins teammate Ray Bourque on Thursday for 11th on the NHL’s all-time games played list with 1,612, now has two goals and five assists in the eight games.

Thornton had 17 minutes and 14 seconds of ice time Thursday, second- most this season.

“He surprises me every night with something else,” Boughner said of Thornton. “I’ve increased his minutes and he’s responded positively to that. He’s (led) a little bit of a resurgence on our power play, he’s almost the catalyst, the quarterback. It goes through him on the half-wall, and defensively, I like his game.

“He’s been a great leader for us here, and one of the guys we talk about that’s got to fill the shoes of Couture being out and stepping up. I thought he did that tonight.” 1170542 San Jose Sharks

Why ex-captain Joe Pavelski believes Sharks won't be down for too long

By Brodie Brazil January 10, 2020 8:00 PM

SAN JOSE -- Similar to the earliest moments of his NHL career, Joe Pavelski again leaned on Patrick Marleau for veteran guidance.

Last July, Pavelski switched teams for the first time, leaving the Sharks after 963 games over 13 seasons with the franchise to sign with the Dallas Stars.

Marleau, who's back in San Jose after a two-year stay in Toronto, gave Pavelski some sound advice ahead of his free-agent move to the Lone Star State.

" 'It’s probably going to take longer than you thought, so be patient in a lot of ways,' " Pavelski said Friday in an exclusive 1-on-1 interview. “I would say he was fairly accurate with that.

“I knew going in if you could get off to a good start, it would build some confidence, take care of some things. We did not."

The Stars started 2-7-1, but they're now second in the Central Division. And on Saturday night, Pavelski, the former Sharks captain who has eight goals and 10 assists in 44 games for Dallas, returns to oppose a San Jose team that's facing uncharacteristic struggles.

Pavelski called it “a tough year to date” for the Sharks, who own the Western Conference's third-worst record at 20-22-4. He has been watching the games on television, and he also keeps in regular contact with many of his old teammates and friends.

“There’s too much skill and character in that room not to have a little run here, and bounce back quick,” Pavelski said. “There’s always that stretch you’re looking at, last week six or seven points out of a [playoff] spot, you’re like, ‘Why not?' "

There's no denying the awkwardness that will ensue Saturday, even after the puck drops at SAP Center. But that’s an expected human reaction for a homegrown product who might have saved his most memorable times with the franchise for last.

“Being able to wave to the fans [in Game 5 of a second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche], and then come back for Game 7 and score a goal, those were pretty emotional moments for me," Pavelski said. "Those were something when I went back home, it was a tough time sleeping because you were so full of emotions."

Pavelski has gone from his Midwestern roots to becoming a family man in California, to now transitioning into a full-blown Texan. His recent experience playing in the NHL Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl certainly reinforced that.

“We got nice belt buckles, and boots, and hats," Pavelski said. "So that’s pretty good. They did a tremendous job. That was so good.”

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Sharks' Tomas Hertl named as All-Star replacement for Logan Couture

By Alex Didion January 10, 2020 1:17 PM

A Shark being replaced by a Shark.

With San Jose center Logan Couture being sidelined with a broken ankle for the 2020 NHL All-Star Game, forward Tomas Hertl will replace Couture on the Pacific Division roster at this year's event in St. Louis.

 Hey now, he's an All-Star!  @TomasHertl48 will make his first career #NHLAllStar appearance, replacing teammate Logan Couture. pic.twitter.com/jidghUtUwx

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) January 10, 2020

Couture broke his ankle in Tuesday night's loss to the Blues, and the Sharks captain is expected to miss up to six weeks.

Hertl already was in the running for a spot, as he was among the Pacific's candidates to be one of the NHL's "Last Men In" for the All-Star Game. Hertl has 34 points in 42 games played this season.

This will mark Hertl's first All-Star appearance.

You can see Hertl and the entire All-Star roster compete on Saturday, Jan. 25 from the Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis.

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Sharks' Brent Burns selected to 'EA Sports NHL 20' Team of the Year

By Jessica Kleinschmidt January 10, 2020 3:00 PM

EA SPORTS NHL 20 revealed its Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) Team of the Year on Friday, and Sharks defenseman Brent Burns was one of six NHL players selected to the team.

Burns was originally part of a group of 36 nominees for the prestigious honor, based on their performance over the past calendar year in hockey.

The Sharks defenseman was selected to the team, thanks to his career- high 83 points during the 2018-19 season and 29 points to start the 2019-20 season.

"Burns’ towering presence and elite skating ability easily puts him among the league’s best blueliners," the EA Sports press release wrote.

Burns will receive a special Team of the Year HUT item, a special trophy, and custom Team of the Year skates for his work.

He joins St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, Washington Capitals defenseman Josh Carlson and left wing Alexander Ovechkin, Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid on the HUT Team of the Year.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170545 San Jose Sharks “If anyone is going to be calm and cool and collected during this, it’s probably going to be Pavs,” he predicted.

Murray knows Sharks fans will give their former captain an overwhelming Joe Pavelski’s ex-Sharks teammates give glimpse of him before San show of appreciation, but he also went on to detail what Pavelski could Jose return do in order to return the favor:

“In short, just lose the game. Like I did.”

By Brodie Brazil January 10, 2020 7:42 AM Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.11.2020

When Joe Pavelski takes the ice in San Jose for the first time wearing a different shade of teal, there are bound to be personal connections and emotions that feel a little weird.

This is the same seventh-round draft pick who transformed himself from the moniker of “Little Joe” to “The Big Pavelski” with the Sharks, eventually representing his country and NHL team as captain, before joining the Dallas Stars as a free agent this past summer.

I spoke to some of Pavelski's former teammates ahead of his Saturday night return to SAP Center, and they shared some insight into the man who spent 13 seasons in a Sharks sweater.

Relatable and likable

Dan Boyle encountered plenty of teammates during his 17-year NHL career, and he used “likable” as the encompassing word to describe Pavelski.

“He was so easy to deal with,” Boyle said. “Easy to befriend, whether you were a rookie or a 20-year vet.”

Sure, Pavelski knows the limelight of a 40-goal season in the NHL, and winning an Olympic medal. He could relate to high-caliber teammates in those same circles. But he also could connect with the newest members of teams, too.

“Having seen some of the things young guys go through, maybe getting sent down, not playing enough, he’s kind of gone through that,” Boyle explained. “I always appreciated hard workers over guys with talent, and he’s right up there.”

Student of the game

“Pavs would write a hockey journal after games,” former Sharks teammate Devin Setoguchi recalled.

This was a personally transcribed account of what went right and wrong on given nights so the forward could reflect and grow from experiences in the future.

But Pavelski's quest to get better went way deeper than introspection alone.

“I remember him going to Detroit and asking [former Sharks coaches] Todd McLellan and Jay Woodcroft, to see if they could set up a meeting with [Pavel] Datsyuk, to see if he could pick his brain on playing hockey,” Setoguchi recalled.

A younger Setoguchi didn’t see how it was “professional” or even possible to gain something from a stranger who was about to be an opponent hours later.

“And now, I think, man … I wish I would have done things Pavs did,” Setoguchi admitted. "He’s always a good friend, great teammate. A guy you can always count on.”

As for Saturday night …

Former Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray knows what it’s like to be drafted by San Jose, spend a lot of time there and then eventually come back as an opponent.

“I just wanted to hit everything that moved that game,” Murray said. “It was a very emotional game, and I was so appreciative of the Sharks organization for recognizing me, but also the warm welcome of the fans.”

He also saw Patrick Marleau return under similar circumstances in 2017 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I met him briefly downstairs after the game, and honestly he almost looked like he had seen a ghost,” Murray said. “It was weird, it was a really awkward moment. 1170546 San Jose Sharks a good spot. Then some of the transitions in the organization with the coaches added a little wrinkle, but the guys have been good. The guys play a pretty honest game out there and the room is a pretty honest room as far as just competing, and showing up each night to do our job. It’s ‘I am surprised they’re struggling a little bit’: Joe Pavelski returns to face been fun.” a Sharks’ team looking for an identity There’s no question Pavelski is one of the most popular players in franchise history, sitting second all-time in goals (355), third in points (761) and fourth in games played (963). The Sharks six individual playoff By Kevin Kurz Jan 10, 2020 13 series wins were the most they’ve ever had in any four-year stretch, and they came while Pavelski was serving as captain.

For the first couple of months of the season, Joe Pavelski’s current team, In the second round of the playoffs against Colorado last season, the Dallas Stars, and his former team, the Sharks, traversed similar Pavelski, recovering from the head injury he incurred in Game 7 of the paths. first round against Vegas, was shown on the Jumbotron during a break in the action in Game 5. The ovation he received was deafening, matching Both teams got off to brutal starts. The Sharks dropped their first four or maybe even surpassing the roar heard following Barclay Goodrow’s games, all in regulation, on their way to a 4-10-1 mark through 15 games. overtime winner against the Golden Knights.

The Stars weren’t much better. Despite inking Pavelski to a three-year, He was back on the ice two games later, scoring the opening goal in the $21 million deal in the offseason, they managed just one win in their first Sharks’ eventual 3-2 win over the Avalanche in Game 7 with one of his nine games (1-7-1). patented tip-ins.

But then the results dramatically improved. The Sharks reeled off 11 wins “One moment I’ll not forget for a long time is coming back in Game 7 in 13 games as the calendar turned to November, while the Stars went (against Colorado) and scoring a goal,” Pavelski recalled with a grin. 14-1-1 from late October to just before Thanksgiving. “That was a pretty awesome feeling when I stepped out there for warmups, and to score that goal and win that game was pretty special for The Stars, who replaced coach Jim Montgomery with Rick Bowness on me. Just with the head injury, you never know, and I was thankful to be Dec. 10, have continued their success. They currently own the Western back and feeling good.” Conference’s second-best record, including a six-game winning streak. Despite the Sharks and Pavelski’s camp never getting close to a contract The Sharks, who replaced Pete DeBoer with Bob Boughner one day after extension in the months leading up to his unrestricted free agency, the the Stars changed coaches, haven’t. They remain in 13th place in the 35-year-old always figured he would be back in teal. conference, and haven’t won three consecutive games since Nov. 21-25. “I always had a feeling that something would probably work out. Until it Pavelski, who will play in his first game as a visitor in the building that he didn’t, I had no reason not to,” he said. called home for the first 13 seasons of his career on Saturday at SAP Center, was asked on Friday if he is surprised that the Sharks have As it turned out, the two sides never got close. struggled to gain traction. It’s impossible to determine how much the Sharks’ current standing has “I am,” he said, speaking at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose. to do with removing Pavelski from the dressing room. Certainly, no one in “It’s a situation you can never predict, especially in the NHL right now. the Sharks organization is going to ever admit that the team culture has You always think you have it figured out. The tough start, and then very taken a turn for the worse, despite mounting evidence and suggestions similar to us, they claw their way back. It’s just, they’ve kind of stumbled from several league sources that there may be some real concerns in again where we’ve been consistent enough. that regard.

“A lot of good skill over there, a lot of good pieces. I am surprised they’re But general manager Doug Wilson made a decision, likely when he struggling a little bit. I would have thought they would be a little more signed Evander Kane to a seven-year, $49 million extension in the 2018 successful this year. That’s just the way it goes.” offseason, and certainly when he agreed to an eight-year, $92 million extension with Erik Karlsson on June 17, that the organization would It didn’t take long for Pavelski to make his voice heard in the Stars’ locker have to move on without its beloved — yet aging — captain. room. Winning just one of the first nine games likely sped up that process of getting Pavelski acclimated to his new surroundings. Pavelski isn’t exactly piling up the points this season. In 44 games, he has eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points, well off of his pace from last “It was such a tough start going 1-7-1, there were different moments that season when he led the Sharks with 38 goals and finished the season everyone was kind of saying something,” Pavelski said. “We were trying with 64 points in 75 games. Whether the Stars get their full money’s to get out of it. At the end of the day, we didn’t play bad hockey but we worth from Pavelski is still to be determined. found ways to beat ourselves. When we started coming out of it, it was a group effort. We found a lot of one-goal wins, and found different ways to But Dallas brought Pavelski in as much for his reputation as a leader and win. That was good to see.” example-setter as anything else. On the day of the announcement on July 1, Stars general manager Jim Nill said: “(Pavelski) is a leader in Stars assistant coach John Stevens said: “He just gives us another voice every sense of the word, and a proven goal-scorer that continues to in the locker room that wants to play the game the right way. He exudes produce at an elite level. In meeting with him it is evident how much he the coach’s message.” values winning, and that mindset will mesh perfectly with our leadership Stevens was familiar with Pavelski for a long time from an opposition group.” standpoint, as the former associate coach and then head coach of the Remember, this is a club that a little more than a year ago saw its CEO, Los Angeles Kings from 2010-18. Jim Lites, call out franchise cornerstones Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, “He was always a concern,” said Stevens, recalling the many Sharks- as “fucking horse-shit” for their lack of production. Nill preferring to add a Kings battles over the years. “In tight games, he found a way to get proven leader and winner in Pavelski in the offseason made perfect himself on the scoresheet that a lot of times made a difference.” sense.

Currently, Pavelski is skating on the Stars’ second line with 23-year-old From a hockey standpoint, an argument can certainly be made that Roope Hintz at center and 22-year-old Denis Gurianov, the 12th overall Wilson’s personnel decisions made sense at the time, too. Kane pick in the 2015 draft, on the left wing. managed 30 goals last season to go along with a mean streak and physical presence, while Karlsson is a two-time Norris Trophy winner “I think he’s been a really good influence on those young players who can singlehandedly take over games. Further, Logan Couture because they don’t have a lot of experience, but they’re big, they can seemed primed to move into the role as captain, as one of the league’s skate, and he seems to be a real good compliment to them,” Stevens best playoff performers of the past decade and as someone whose effort said. “He’s almost a coach on the bench with them because he has a lot and desire to win is never in question. of detail in his game. He’s been very good for those young players.” But Wilson may have underestimated how important Pavelski was to the Pavelski said: “There’s been some ups and downs. We got off to that Sharks’ culture. terrible start, and battled back the next 15 games to put ourselves back in Is there a correlation to the Sharks struggling without the man who is probably the best leader they’ve ever had?

“One hundred percent,” said Drew Remenda, the former Sharks TV analyst who now calls games for the Edmonton Oilers. “Now, I could make the argument in Doug’s favor, of why he did what he did. I can make the argument on Karlsson, I can make the argument on Kane. But you cannot ever replace character.

“That word gets tossed around, but the one thing that you look at in any team is culture. That’s a big word, and there are a lot of different meanings. Joe Pavelski not only established the culture of that room, but stabilized it, and made it the San Jose Sharks’ culture. He was a big part of it. You take that out and replace it with two different guys — and like I said, you can make the argument either way. I can understand Doug’s point of view. But I don’t think you can ever replace true character, especially at the level of Joe Pavelski. … Letting a guy like Joe Pavelski walk away, that’s a big risk.”

Jody Shelley spent three seasons with the Sharks as Pavelski’s teammate from 2007-10. Is it that difficult to replace the character of a guy like Pavelski in the dressing room?

“I don’t think you understand how tough it is until it’s not in the room,” said Shelley, now an analyst for the Columbus Blue Jackets. “That’s how valuable he is. … The biggest compliment to him is that when he’s not there, you really notice it because he just does it the right way. People talk about doing it the right way, Joe Pavelski always does it the right way.”

Sharks fans came to love that about Pavelski. It’s why he’ll surely blow the roof off of SAP Center one more time on Saturday, when he’s recognized by what is expected to be a sellout crowd.

“One of the most exciting parts about (Saturday) is just getting out there in front of the fans,” Pavelski said. “It was an awesome run, I always loved skating out of the Shark head, loved scoring goals in the playoffs. Those are some of the best games you could play in as a hockey player.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170547 San Jose Sharks make others better in games and he could step it up when it mattered most, in the playoffs.

The way he treated people — everybody — there was no stature. It was What did Joe Pavelski mean to the Sharks? 20 former teammates and like, we’re all in this together. That includes the people that are colleagues explain it all vacuuming the rugs in the dressing room. If you’re in there cleaning our dressing room, then you’re part of us, because we’re all in this together. Same thing with the flight crew, the trainers.

Kevin Kurz Jan 10, 2020 48 The last thing is he studied what leadership meant, and to be a great leader and a great captain. That means you need other leaders in the

room, but he always had a pulse on the room — when to give someone a Considering he played the first 963 games of his NHL career with the pat on the back, maybe give them a kick in the butt. A little reassurance Sharks, it was a bit unfair that Joe Pavelski’s new teammates with the here, a little feedback there. Or maybe leave them be, maybe there’s a Dallas Stars had to foot the bill for a gift for his 1,000th career game, personal issue. He could identify with other players and ultimately put which he played on Dec. 20. them in a position to be the best that they could be for the team.

In a pregame ceremony in Dallas on Jan. 3, Stars captain Jamie Benn Brian Boucher presented Pavelski and his family with a golf trip for four to Scotland, Former Sharks goaltender, current NBC analyst while general manager Jim Nill handed Pavelski the traditional silver stick from the league that accompanies the milestone. Pav was a heart-and-soul player for the Sharks. I think most guys would be shocked to know he was a seventh-round pick. I know I was. Not sure But Pavelski’s former Sharks teammates made sure to let their old how a guy like that isn’t noticed sooner. captain know that they recognized the accomplishment, too. Logan Couture revealed on Twitter that some of the guys got together to His character is what stood out most to me. He’s not the most vocal or purchase a Rolex watch for their good friend. most noticeable guy in the room, but you always knew you could count on Pav to be ready to play when it was game time. Competes and goes Logan Couture to difficult areas to score. One of the better guys I’ve played with that ✔ could tip pucks.

@Logancouture Bob Boughner

Don’t worry Biz, we got him something nice...rollyrollyrolly Sharks interim head coach, Sharks assistant coach 2015-17 https://twitter.com/BizNasty2point0/status/1213242884457000961 … Just an inspirational leader. Away from his actual game, he’s just a guy in Paul Bissonnette the dressing room that everybody gravitated to. I know as a coach, being an assistant coach and having him as a captain, you knew that your ✔ message was going to be the same message in the room. He was great to be able to come and sit down with you and the staff and give you a @BizNasty2point0 perspective of where the players were at, where he thought the team was My heart goes out to all the players in the Dallas Stars locker room. at, and what the team needed. That’s a huge character trait of his. He’s Sharks players should have to chip in on this. Such a shame. very realistic and honest and he’s always that guy that if the players #ChingChing needed something he wasn’t afraid to come and ask. And his game, he https://twitter.com/DallasStars/status/1213236331347922949 … showed up every night. Whether he was on or off, he was there for the team. A team-first guy. 2,083 Dan Boyle 8:41 PM - Jan 3, 2020 Former Sharks defenseman/teammate Twitter Ads info and privacy I just think he was a competitive guy with a great attitude. No b.s., no 142 people are talking about this drama. A guy that you knew would lead or follow in the battle, no matter what the situation was. Loved playing with him and loved being around “Everyone always gets gifts for their thousandth game, and he was close him. to 1,000 with us, so we thought we’d get him something nice that he can look at and remember his time in San Jose,” Couture said this week, Logan Couture before he fractured his ankle during Tuesday’s game in St. Louis. Sharks captain In anticipation of what will surely be an emotional return to San Jose on Saturday when Pavelski’s Stars play the Sharks for the first time since he I can tell you what he meant to me. A role model. Just a warrior. departed as a free agent over the summer, we reached out to 20 of his Someone I wanted to model my game after. He was the type of guy that former teammates, colleagues and media members to ask a simple scored all the goals and got all the points, but he was the first guy to dive question: in front of a shot and play hard defensively, take a hit, make a hit. True role model for some like myself. Fortunate that I was able to learn from What did Joe Pavelski — captain for four seasons, the franchise’s him, the way he went about his business on a day-to-day basis, how hard second-leading goal scorer with 355, third in points with 761 and fourth in he worked. A guy that was never really given anything, and turned out to games played — mean to the Sharks organization? be one of the best San Jose Sharks that there will be.

Their answers are presented below, in alphabetical order. Brenden Dillon

Jamie Baker Sharks defenseman

Former Sharks forward, current TV/radio analyst Joe Pavelski kind of embodies what the Sharks want to be about, and what the Sharks are about. A guy that is always having to prove himself It’s difficult to answer with one word or anything because there are layers year after year, late-round draft pick who worked his way up from high of depth to what he brought, as a person and as a hockey player. If I look school to college and at every level just found a way to succeed and do at Joe Pavelski and where he was drafted (seventh round, 2003), to me, well. Not just a good hockey player, but an awesome guy, one of the best he paved the way for young guys to, one, find an identity of who you are guys I’ve ever played with. Whether you’re an 18-year-old guy playing his as a hockey player, and two, to really learn what preparation and first game or a 40-year-old playing your 1600th, he found a way to perseverance are all about. He epitomized professionalism. Joe Pavelski connect with you and make you feel important and special. knew he wasn’t the fastest or the biggest, but that didn’t ever bog him down. He kept finding ways. I know he’s got a high hockey IQ, that’s his Scott Hannan best asset, but he utilized it to his utmost advantage. He had an ability to Former Sharks defenseman/teammate I think with Joe, he’s just that rare leader. He brings it every day in did after being the 205th player drafted in 2005 — first, identify what you practice, how he works, how he worked on his tip shots. He was just a do well and then work and work and work to get even better at it. That’s leader that could bring together everybody. That’s something that, I don’t why he’d take part in tip drills at every practice even after it was clear he know if it was underappreciated, but it’s just rare that he was able to do was arguably the best in the NHL at that task. that. He could talk to a fourth-liner as much as he could to first-liners. I think that, to the Sharks, and the runs they’ve had over the past in the The respect his teammates had for him showed in their insane response playoffs and everything, he was a big part of that. That’s not to say that last spring after he left the ice injured late in Game 7 of what looked to be there weren’t other leaders, but Joe was an integral part of that. a playoff-ending loss to Vegas. That respect came from the fan base as well, judging by the thunderous ovation he received the first time they Bret Hedican saw him back inside the SAP Center a few weeks later.

Former NHL defenseman, Sharks TV/radio analyst Mark Purdy

His personality, you never saw it waver too high or low. Whether he was Former San Jose Mercury News columnist playing well or had a tough stretch of games where he wasn’t scoring. I think when you have players within an organization that can keep an I generally hate music analogies, but I’ll make one, anyway. The Sharks even keel like he was able to do and then at that moment when you need of the past 10 years were a team with a lot of big personalities. Pavelski a goal is when Joe Pavelski is there. wasn’t one of them. I can’t recall a single memorable quote by him over his dozen-plus seasons with the team. But if the Sharks were the Rolling The one word that always comes back to me is slimy. He slimes into an Stones, Pavelski was Charlie Watts. When the Stones are on stage, area where you don’t even know how he got there, because it’s a prime everybody notices Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood — scoring area. Like, how can you leave Joe Pavelski there? And there he but if you watch the band, those guys at some point all look to Charlie, was, he slimed himself into an area where the puck landed on his tape, the drummer, to figure out what the tempo is and where they are in the and he buried it. Those are the things you marvel at when you watched song and where they’re going next. He’s the reason it all holds together. Joe play, because he just found ways of making the most of his talent. Pavs was the same way with the Sharks. He wasn’t always the fastest guy in getting there, but that is the artistry of his game. He was the quintessential guy you’re talking about when you say, “He makes everybody around him better.” I don’t think Logan Couture would Kevin Labanc be as gritty a player as he is without having watched Pavs be gritty. I don’t think Brent Burns would have won the Norris Trophy if Pavs hadn’t Sharks right wing tipped all those shots from the point into the net. I don’t think Joe He was a great leader. He led the team. Whenever he spoke, he was Thornton and Patrick Marleau would have been as accepting of losing that voice that everybody listened to. He also brought it through his their captaincy if Pavs had not been on the roster to take over the “C” actions on the ice. Me being a young guy, coming in my first year, I because … well, how could anyone argue that Pavs wouldn’t be a good learned so much from him, and he was a great guy. It will be fun playing and fair guy to lead the dressing room? I think Kevin Labanc, a sixth- against him. round draft choice, was inspired by the example of Pavelski, a seventh- round draft choice. I think Todd McLellan and Pete DeBoer were better Todd McLellan coaches because they could rely on Pavelski to be exactly where he needed to be in key situations and set the proper tone in the room. Add it Sharks head coach, 2008-15, current LA Kings head coach all up and the band doesn’t sound as good or have as many hits without I think it’s a short answer: everything. Unreal player. Got the most out of Pavelski. what God gave him. He worked on his game, was an infectious player I haven’t covered the team in two years, so I have no idea if this season’s throughout the lineup. His enthusiasm, his attention to detail rubbed off troubles are connected to him no longer being in a Shark uniform. But on a lot of people. A winner. Scored big, big goals. Great leadership. right now, watching the beloved Los Tiburones is like watching a bus with Good in the community. … They were blessed to have him, and I’m sure the wrong-sized tires or a driver that’s distracted. Something is amiss. I’m Dallas is happy with him, too. pretty sure they’d be at least a little better if Pavelski were still around. I tell people, when I talk to junior teams or coaches, that Pav was one of Doug Wilson had tough choices to make last offseason and I understand the best-prepared players. Pavel Datsyuk and Joe Pavelski, in my mind, why he made the ones he did. But it’s still odd not to see Pavelski out were two of the best practice players because they learned how to there wearing teal. practice and worked on situations. Things they’d need in the game — Ray Ratto whether it was a wrap or a deflection — they studied those moments and worked on it and worked on it, and lo and behold, they would appear in Longtime Bay Area columnist, co-host 95.7 The Game the game. Pavelski was all the numbers you can see, but less tangibly was also sort There’s numerous moments where Pav was elite and scored a big goal of a rolling conscience for the room — talented enough to get his voice or made a big play. For me, what stands out, is his ability to get better. heard, determined enough to go to the greasy areas repeatedly, and hard enough to say tough things to players who often preferred to play Dan Plante elegant non-challenging hockey. He didn’t make the dressing room his as Pavelski’s agent much as he made those around him better and more accountable simultaneously. Were he still there, they might not be a playoff team, but I think Joe’s influence on the Sharks organization was huge. He was a they would have a lot fewer nights with substandard effort and thought. home-grown, late-round talent that helped established a path for future Sharks through Worcester, giving credit to the scouting staff and Drew Remenda organization as a whole. This path contained patience, humility, ability Former Sharks TV analyst, current Edmonton Oilers analyst and class which was also used to establishing himself with legendary players (Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Jeremy Roenick, Rob Blake, In a word, everything. A team leader, a great teammate, a terrific friend etc.) as an every day NHL player with both skills and work. Additionally, — just ask Patty Marleau and Joe Thornton that. A consummate he showed those attributes while dealing with the acceptance of the professional, somebody that you’re always proud of, and he was a big captaincy, which was not easy either in the room or on the ice. game player. It used to be Big Joe and Little Joe, but it went from Big Joe to The Big Pavelski with his playoff performances and the clutch goals His story has been told many ways, but the same adjectives always pop that he scored. up. He has a unique ability to calm situations, compute the information and lead. The thing he was more than anything was he was an example of how to do it right. That story goes back to his rookie year, in the exit interviews David Pollak with (then-coach) Ron Wilson, who said, “Joe, you’re my 13th forward. Former Sharks beat reporter, San Jose Mercury News You need to do this, you need to do that, you need to be better at this, you need to be better at that.” Now, even veteran guys would walk away Without saying a word, Joe Pavelski sent a message to every teammate and go, Pssh, Coach doesn’t like me, and sulk. Joe Pavelski went, that you aren’t limited by what the scouts thought of you as an 18-year- “Thank you, Ron,” and went back and started to work on all those things. old kid. And there was no mystery as to how he accomplished what he You’ve seen him day after day, he’s the first guy out on the ice. That’s why he’s the consummate professional. He worked his way to becoming a superstar.

(Former Sharks assistant coach) Jay Woodcroft put it best. He said Joe Pavelski has championship habits. When you look at Joe Pavelski, it’s all those things I said, but the biggest thing to me was he was an example about how to do it right.

Dan Rusanowsky

Sharks radio play-by-play man

He meant so much in so many different ways. I’d say that he showed the value of persistence, dedication and leadership. I think as a captain, he was a really great manager of the locker room. He understood what was needed in there, knew when it was time to say something, knew when it was time to take somebody aside and knew when it was time to not do those things.

Because of that dedication that he had and his love of the game, he was able to be at his best when it really mattered the most. That came right away, early in his career. You could see it, and it built and built until he became a really key figure in the history of the team.

Patrick Sharp

Former NHL forward, current NBC analyst

Watching the Game 7 vs. Vegas (in the first round of the playoffs last April), it was pretty clear how much of an impact he had with those players.

He is a true professional. He says and does the right things on a daily basis and that should be contagious to younger players.

There has to be a void with him gone. Anytime a guy can play that many years with one team, especially in a leadership role, it has to be felt throughout the organization.

Jody Shelley

Former Sharks forward/teammate, current Columbus Blue Jackets analyst

Joe came in at a time where there was a lot of veterans here, and he was a young guy. He did things in the training room that other guys weren’t used to seeing. He did extra stuff. Hand-eye coordination, ball-off-the- wall stuff after practice, after the workouts were done. It was just extra stuff that I think people took notice of but weren’t used to seeing. Like, what are you doing? Why are you doing that stuff? Then the results he got when he was here from doing that, I think it showed a lot of people that this guy works hard, he knows what his bread and butter is, and look what he’s done personally by doing that.

Joe Thornton

Sharks center

He grew up here, he played in the minors, came up to the Sharks and just worked his way. Just a guy that worked his way to be a star in this league. It was great to witness firsthand from where he was when he first came here and what he got to. He meant so much. Leadership, his play, everything. It was just outstanding.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic

Sharks defenseman

I’m sure he meant a lot to the organization, being a captain, being from the States. Playing for that long for one team, 900-plus games. Big piece for that many years, important player for us for that many years. Works hard, nice guy off the ice. Everybody got along with him, he got along with everybody. He’s a great guy to have on your team, and a good friend, as well. A lot of good things.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170548 San Jose Sharks The third star: The case of the missing trousers – This technically isn’t an NHL story, but we’ll allow it because the BBC sure seems to be under the impression that it is. Besides, I don’t think I’ve ever not laughed at a sentence that includes the word “trousers.” DGB Grab Bag: When an anniversary isn’t, what NHL broadcasts are missing and better days for the Sharks BBC Sport

✔

By Sean McIndoe Jan 10, 2020 95 @BBCSport

A Sunday National League ice hockey game was delayed because the referee forgot his trousers. Trivial annoyance of the week Yep.  The Canucks are in Buffalo to face the Sabres tomorrow in their second of two meetings on the season. Normally, that matchup wouldn’t exactly Full story: https://bbc.in/2MY4GWD be a big deal. But this year it is, because both teams are celebrating their 50th anniversary. View image on Twitter

The season has been an ongoing celebration for the 1970 expansion 231 cousins. The Sabres unveiled special logos and golden jerseys. The 6:51 AM - Jan 6, 2020 Canucks have been breaking out old school jerseys all season, and both teams are flogging the concept at every opportunity. It’s all been pretty Twitter Ads info and privacy cool, especially if you’re a hockey history nerd like me. These two teams made their first impact on the NHL world before they’d ever played a 106 people are talking about this game, when they gave us the infamous pre-draft wheel, and both have The second star: Wes McCauley – If you don’t yell “WHISTLE!” at your provided plenty of ups and downs ever since. I’ve always had a soft spot problems for the rest of the week you’re dead inside. for the two franchises, as well as their fantastic fan bases, and I hope that both get to experience a Stanley Cup championship someday. Scouting The Refs

There’s just one little problem with the whole 50th anniversary thing. ✔

It’s, uh, not either team’s 50th anniversary. @ScoutingTheRefs

Go ahead and do the math. The two teams debuted in the NHL with the NHL referee Wes McCauley blows whistle six times, then yells "Whistle!" 1970-71 season. That means that their actual 50th anniversary – the one -- just in case the players didn't hear the whistle... marking five decades since their first game – won’t happen until October. https://scoutingtherefs.com/2020/01/28265/ref-wes-mccauley-blows- That’s next season. whistle-yells-whistle-to-reinforce-whistle/ …

OK, sure, but you might argue that they’re really referring to their 50th Embedded video season. That’s even what the NHL has been calling the whole deal. But 2019-20 isn’t that either, thanks to the missing season from the 2004-05 695 lockout. This is both teams’ 49th season in the league. 4:32 PM - Jan 7, 2020 You could call this the teams’ 50th year in the league, which is another Twitter Ads info and privacy way the whole thing has been sold. That much would be true. But it would be a strange thing to celebrate. If you’re 29 years old, that means 105 people are talking about this you’re in your 30th year, but nobody gives you balloons with “30” on them until your birthday. And besides, if we’re just going by year, then both The first star: Scott and Wesley Hartnell – Scott’s impression of team’s 50th year in the league was 2019, which means the whole thing McDavid’s epic goal is pretty bang-on, but the kid’s reaction is what seals should be over by now. This is making my head hurt. it.

Either way, this much is clear: Both the Sabres and Canucks will have Scott Hartnell their 50th anniversary and their 50th season in 2020-21, but they’re ✔ plastering a “50” on everything this year instead. It’s weird. @Hartsy43 This isn’t either team’s fault; it appears to be a league-mandated thing. Teams like the Kings and Blues did their 50th anniversary in 2016-17, @cmcdavid97 #McDavidChallenge my best impression of last nights their 49th season. The Stars did their 25th anniversary in Dallas in 2017- Goal!! Excuse the annoying voice!!! And Wesley is so my son...a great 18, also a year early. Even the NHL itself started their 100th anniversary slash after getting dangled!!! celebration during the 2016-17 season, although they at least waited for 2017 to kick it off and continued it into the 2017-18 season. And to make Embedded video matters even more confusing, the Sabres actually celebrated their 40th 763 anniversary in the right season, back in 2010-11 – nine years ago. 10:16 AM - Jan 7, 2020 To be clear, the Canucks and Sabres and any other team can celebrate however and whenever they please. This falls into the same sort of Twitter Ads info and privacy category as retiring player numbers – if their own fans are good with it, teams can go ahead and do whatever they want, and the rest of us don’t 129 people are talking about this get to tell them they’re doing it wrong. Go ahead and put a big “50” at Be It Resolved center ice for your 49th season. Hell, put a 73 or a -68 or a pi symbol if you want. If it sells more merch and makes your fans happy, that’s good I’ve been watching a lot of NFL games lately. It’s pretty much my favorite enough. sport apart from hockey, and the league never fails to offer up some solid action and fascinating storylines. As I’ve mentioned more than a few Just be aware that somewhere out there, embittered pedants who can do times over the years, the NHL could learn a thing or two from their basic math are confused by all of this. And don’t expect us to forget football friends. about that when you inevitably try to sneak another round of 50th anniversary stuff by us next season. So could their TV partners. There’s been a recent trend on NFL broadcasts of having a former official available to explain rules and (And in the meantime, the NHLPA might want to double-check that 50 breakdown replay reviews in real time. The first was Mike Pereira, the percent of hockey-related revenue they’re supposed to be getting, just to NFL’s former head of officiating, who was hired years ago by Fox. It was be sure the league didn’t decide to change it to 49 for no good reason.) awkward at first, but once he settled in he became so valuable that other The week’s three stars of comedy networks followed along. Sometimes it worked (Dean Blandino was pretty good), and sometimes it hasn’t (Mike Carey was legendary for He’d remain there for years, bouncing around the AHL and IHL and also being wrong on reviews). Sometimes the expert is right in the booth, or having a stint with the Canadian national team. Expansion brought sometimes he’s back in a main studio helping out with multiple games at another shot at the big leagues, as he signed with the Lightning in 1992 once. But they’re available, and they’re allowed to call a spade a spade and played 12 games over two seasons. That would be it for his NHL when they think a call’s been blown. Nobody’s done it as well as Pereira, career, which finished with 34 goals and 87 points in 146 games spread but the role has become an expected part of an NFL broadcast. across five seasons.

Some games, you barely need to hear from the guy. Other times, he’s He continued playing in Europe, and that’s where things take a bit of an invaluable, like when there’s a confusing review situation or an obscure interesting turn. After stints in Germany, Spain and Italy, he landed in a rule comes into play. We saw that on Saturday, when the Titans started British league for a few seasons. He’d put up big numbers there, and is intentionally taking penalties late in their win over the Patriots. It was fondly remembered as one of the better plays in league history; this weird, but Gene Steratore was there to explain that the Titans were delightful profile from 2010 starts off by noting that “Jason Lafreniere is a exploiting a loophole in the rules. He knew exactly what was happening, name widely regarded in British ice hockey circles.” and how the situation would play out, and was able to explain to the audience in real time. It was great. (The fact that analyst Tony Romo Classic YouTube clip breakdown knew the rule too certainly helped.) The Sharks suffered what may stand as the single most devastating loss Compare that to the NHL, where we’re constantly getting controversial of the season this week, by any team. On Sunday, they went into calls and replay reviews, and are often left to pretty much figure it out on Washington to face the first-place Capitals, and held a one-goal lead late our own because the broadcasters as just as confused as we are. in the third period. When Logan Couture scored into an empty net with a Sometimes, their homer instincts kick in. Other times, they pretty clearly minute left to pad the lead to 4-2, that was it. They’d iced the win. Teams don’t understand the rules. As a result, fans watching end up furious over that score empty net goals at the end of games never go on to lose. what they think was a blown call, even if the refs actually got it right. (Literally. As hard as it is to believe, it had apparently never happened in NHL history.) The NHL isn’t the NFL; there are so many regional broadcast partners across so many networks at so many different times that you couldn’t But it all fell apart. The Caps scored twice in the final minute, then won have a handful of experts available to everyone. But for big games, and the game in overtime. It was an almost unimaginable collapse from a certainly for the playoffs, the NHL should absolutely steal this idea. team that absolutely couldn’t afford one.

They’ve tried it in the past, sort of. TVA has used Stephane Auger, and It was also one of the only times in NHL history that a team had blown a TSN introduced those “C’mon Ref” studio segments with Kerry Fraser, two-goal lead in the final minute. According to the league, it had only which have often been helpful. But hockey fans need something in real happened seven other times: time.

Why don’t we have it? The obvious answer might be that there isn’t One of those games might look familiar to San Jose fans. So today, let’s anyone out there who could do it. There are only so many former try to heal a few wounds by heading back to 2004, as the Sharks make officials, and not everyone is good at TV. If every former ref out there just some late-game magic against the Kings. sounds like Carey, maybe it wouldn’t work. But that excuse only goes so far. Sure, most people are bad at TV – at first. It takes experience and It’s April 4, 2004, and it’s the last day of the regular season. The Sharks training to get better. Some network should be making that investment are hosting the Kings in a game that doesn’t really matter for either team. right now, getting a former official as many reps as they need to get good But it’s fan appreciation day in San Jose, so let’s have some fun. at this. Have them do practice games off the air for an entire season if We open with a dramatic intro that tells the story of the Sharks’ season of they have to. Hire consultants to work with them until they feel redemption, and how they’ve rebounded from a disappointing 2002-03 comfortable. season and “soared to new heights.” That’s technically true; they’ve Just get us that expertise. When the playoffs roll around and some topped the 100-point mark for the first time in history. They’ve had eight crucial game hinges on a close call or review, hockey fans deserve more more since, and also made the playoffs every year but one. See, Sharks than a pair of play-by-play guys throwing their hands in the air and fans? I bet you feel better already. I’m assuming they also won a bunch deciding it’s all too confusing to understand. The model is right there. It of Stanley Cups over that run. (Note to self: Double-check that before works. Somebody just needs to step up and steal it. publishing.)

Obscure former player of the week Glen Kuiper welcomes us to the show, and runs down the playoff situation. It’s a little jarring to somebody today, because we see Detroit Alexis Lafreniere had himself a world juniors. He looked great. Then he somewhere they clearly don’t belong: in the playoffs Western got hurt and looked like might be out for a while. Then he came back and Conference. They wouldn’t move to the East for another nine years. looked even better. In the end, he went home with tournament MVP honors and a gold medal, cementing his status as the presumptive top Glen throws it to Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda, who tell us that the pick in this year’s draft. Blues have been talking a little trash about being happy to face the Sharks in the playoffs, presumably because they’ve been working on key So while we all wait to enjoy the Lafreniere experience in the NHL, let’s strategies like stopping slapshots from center ice and not throwing pucks look back on a time when we already did. This week’s obscure player is into their own net. Jason Lafreniere. (Thanks to reader Francois for suggesting his week’s player.) With that, we jump cut to the final seconds of the game. The Kings are up 3-1 but are killing a penalty. (Fun fact: Current Kings president Luc Jason has no relation to Alexis, but his father Roger was successful Robitaille is the guy in the box.) There’s a faceoff in the L.A. zone, but minor leaguer who had quick cups of coffee with the Red Wings and with only 23 seconds left, there’s clearly no chance of a Sharks Blues a decade apart in the ’60s and ’70s. Jason was a shifty center who comeback, he said, building suspense. put up big numbers in the OHL before being drafted by the Nordiques with the 36th overall pick of the 1985 draft, going one pick after Benoit I’m going to give you fair warning on a couple of things. First, this is one Hogue and four ahead of future playoff legend John Druce. He went back of those mid-2000s clips where everything is kind of washed out and to junior for one more year, racking up 132 points, before joining the hard to see, because hockey was unwatchable until high-def came along Nordiques for the 1986-87 season. and none of us noticed. More importantly, this is one of those games that is just filled with “Wait, that dude played for them?” guys if you’re not a He was in and out of the lineup as a rookie, but managed 13 goals and Kings or Sharks fan, and maybe even if you are. I’ll point out a few, but 28 points while occasionally playing with Hall of Famers Peter Stastny both teams are basically stocked with them. and Michel Goulet. He followed that up with 10 goals and 29 points in 40 games as a sophomore. Alyn McCauley wins the draw, and Obscure Player alumni Nils Ekman sends it back to the point. Brad Stuart hammers it home, but barely That was it for him in Quebec; he was traded to the Rangers in the celebrates because there’s only 19.8 seconds left and no time to get offseason along with Normand Rochefort in exchange for Walt another goal, he said, still trying to build suspense for some reason even Poddubny, Jari Gronstand, Bruce Bell and a draft pick. He lasted half a though he gave away what’s going to happen in the intro. season in New York, managing eight goals and 24 points in 38 games, and then headed to the minors. “Wait, he played for them?” alert: the Kings goalie is Roman Cechmanek. We get a shot of Ron Wilson drawing up a play on the Sharks’ bench. Somewhat weirdly, we also see the team’s leading scorer, Patrick Marleau, sitting there instead of being on the ice, because Wilson is going with big guns like Tom Preissing and Alexander Korolyuk instead. Then again, Marleau led this Cup-contending team with 57 whole points. You know, maybe this upcoming lockout isn’t a bad idea.

“Wait, he played for them?” alert: Vince Damphousse sighting! This is actually the last of his 1,378 career regular season games.

We get back to the action, as the Sharks get it in deep. A bad pass to the point almost clears the line, but they keep it in and Stuart heads to the net to tap in a Damphousse centering pass for his second goal in 20 seconds. Man, this guy is awesome. I bet you could get some team out there to trade somebody pretty good for him.

“Wait, he played for them?” alert: Trent Klatt as a King. I’m 90 percent this never actually happened.

We get a few replays and a reference to the Sharks’ recent comeback in Dallas (this game), and that’s it for our clip. We don’t get to see the overtime, which is a shame because Damphousse wins it with a nice goal you can find here. Vinny was the best.

Epilogue: The Sharks went on to beat the Blues in the playoffs, and the Avs too before falling to the Flames in the conference final. At the time, it was their longest playoff run ever. As for the Kings, their season was a write-off and this game ended in disaster, but the good news is that they got a high draft pick that they used on (checks notes) Lauri Tukonen. So at least this year’s Sharks have something to look forward to.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170549 St Louis Blues

Parayko still looks doubtful for Blues game Saturday

Tom Timmermann 12 hrs ago 0

The Blues held an optional practice on Friday, with most of the participants being players who weren't on the ice for Thursday's 5-1 win over Buffalo. Only Jordan Kyrou and Niko Mikkola both played Thursday and skated Friday, along with backup goalie Jake Allen.

The rest were either scratches -- Troy Brouwer and Jacob de la Rose -- or injured players: Carl Gunnarsson and Colton Parayko. Parayko worked on his own with assistant coach Sean Farrell while the rest worked with Marc Savard and head coach Craig Berube said Parayko would likely sit out Saturday's game with the New York Rangers.

"I’ll decide tomorrow but I’m going to caution against it again," Berube said.

Exactly what is wrong with Parayko remains unclear. Berube has called it an upper-body injury and said it happened in a game, but not the Colorado game, which was the last one he played in. If Parayko does sit out Saturday's game, that will be his fourth game he hasn't played in, which will be the most he's missed in his five seasons in the NHL.

"We’ve got extra D and we don’t need to rush him," Berube said. "We need him healthy. I don’t want to put him in a bad spot. He doesn’t miss games but it is what it is and he’s working through it. I’d rather him 100 percent and healthy."

Making the choice much easier has been the play of Niko Mikkola, who saw his ice time go up to 15:51 against Buffalo. It's clear that Berube and assistant coach Mike Van Ryn have plenty of confidence in him.

"I thought he played a good game," Berube said. "He was on the ice for some goals for when he was out there. It was good to see, and then an assist. He plays a confident game, a simple game, a confident game. That’s why he’s successful now."

Sammy Blais, who has been skating regularly as he approaches his estimated return date of the end of January, beginning of February, didn't skate Friday.

"He’ll be on the ice tomorrow again," Berube said. "I think it’s too early to say when he’s going to play. He’s got to feel comfortable and we want him 100 percent."

In really long-term injury news, Berube said Vladimir Tarasenko was making progress.

"Just normal progress with him," Berube said. "I’m not sure the timeline when he can go on the ice but everything’s fine. He’s healing and that’s where he’s at right now. Everything’s on course."

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170550 St Louis Blues Buffalo center Curtis Lazar blocked the shot. Thomas got the puck behind the net and served up Steen, who scored amid the mayhem, much to the delight of his teammates. It took Steen 29 games to get his first goal. Happiness abounded. Blues pair up for seventh win in a row at home “It’s tough for a guy like that,” Berube said. “He wants to score. Everybody does. A successful player like himself that’s scored a lot of goals, it’s tough. But I’m very happy for him to get a couple here tonight. Tom Timmermann 14 hrs ago 0 That was really good. It’s good to see.”

“I had no idea he hadn’t scored yet,” Bozak said. “I was just expecting The Blues offense revolves around pairs. Coach Craig Berube likes to that he had with all the good little things he does out there on the ice and have Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz together. Ryan O’Reilly and obviously for him to get rewarded, everyone in this room is happy. He’s a David Perron. Oskar Sundqvist and Ivan Barbashev. The third person on huge part of our team on and off the ice and we’re a lot better team when the line may change, but the pairs are fairly constant. And you can add to he’s in the lineup, so for him to get rewarded is great.” that group of pairs Tyler Bozak and Robert Thomas. Steen got his second goal when Sabres coach Ralph Krueger, down One of them is in his 11th season in the league, the other is 20 years old, three goals, pulled Ullmark with 5:10 to play and it took only 28 seconds but the veteran and the youngster have turned out to be a formidable for the Blues to get the puck and Steen to put it in. pair. The two took turns setting up and scoring the Blues’ first two goals St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.11.2020 on Thursday and then they combined to set the table for linemate Alexander Steen’s first goal of the season. All three of them finished with three points – Steen added a late empty-net goal – as the Blues won their seventh in a row at home, beating the Sabres 5-1 at Enterprise Center in yet another testament to the team’s depth as the third line scored three times.

“I think you saw it last year,” Steen said. “They have extremely good chemistry together and read well off each other. They flip-flop on the draws and I think Bozie helps Thommer with some pointers there sometimes and that’s really helped Thommer grow. I think Bozie’s done an incredible job of kind of mentoring Thommer since he got here, all throughout last year and this year. I think Thommer’s playing some exceptional hockey right now.”

Thomas and Bozak played together much of last season, and they were two-thirds of the line that scored maybe the biggest goal in Blues history, Pat Maroon’s double overtime game-winner in Game 7 of the Dallas series in the second round of last season’s playoffs. This year, they have been separated at times, but both players’ recent hot streaks – Bozak has five goals in seven games and Thomas has four in six – began a few games after they were put back together and Steen was added in a week before Christmas.

“It’s just something,” Thomas said. “We find each other, we know where each other are. Steener as well on that line. You know he’s such a smart player, always in the right spot, and he creates a lot of space for us down low. Just playing with those two is amazing.”

Bozak is in his 11th NHL season and Steen is in his 15th, so between them, they’ve had more years in the league than Thomas has on the planet. That’s to Thomas’ benefit.

“They keep talking to me and making sure I’m feeling good, making the right plays, and they get me the puck,” Thomas said. “It’s great playing with them. They obviously up to this point have had such great careers so it’s awesome for me to play with them.”

“I thought Robert Thomas really had the puck tonight,” coach Craig Berube said. “Did a lot of good things, like cutbacks and reading people. It opens things up. Bozie and Thommer have had good chemistry for quite some time. Steener does a great job of being at the net all the time for that line, and going to the net. Little picks and things like that. Screens. Great screen on that first goal.”

Thomas started the scoring 4:47 into the game, skating a big circle in the Sabres zone after getting a pass from Bozak before making a nice drag at the right dot to get a shooting lane and beating Linus Ullmark for his eighth goal of the season. Almost nine minutes later, Thomas had the puck behind the Sabres net and found Bozak going to the net with a pinpoint pass that made for an easy goal, his 10th, while Steen got in Ullmark’s way.

“When he’s got the puck, you’ve got to try to get open,” Bozak said. “He sees the ice so well and makes those good plays. Steener was right in front of the net, I think he had two guys on him. That’s another big reason I got that easy goal there.”

After a goal by Buffalo All-Star Jack Eichel (his 27th) and another goal for Blues All-Star hopeful David Perron (his team-high 19th), the line clicked again for Steen’s first goal of the season. Steen made a strong move to the net to get inside for a scoring chance. Ullmark made the save but was pulled out of the net and Bozak had a shot at an open net but 1170551 St Louis Blues “It’s hockey,” Hutton said. “We’ve still got a ton of games here left. Just chipping away at it here. At .500 right now, 6-6. I’ll live there and keep working at it.”

Jim Thomas: If Hutton had stayed, would Blues have won the Cup? Linus Ullmark made his eighth consecutive start in goal for Buffalo on Thursday against the Blues.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.11.2020 Jim Thomas 14 hrs ago 0

Few were happier to see Jordan Binnington lead the Blues to the Stanley Cup last season than former Blues goalie Carter Hutton.

“Obviously for him, it’s been an unbelievable story,” said Hutton, now with the Buffalo Sabres. “I couldn’t be happier for the guy. He’s always been nice to me and he was a good kid.

“And I think a guy that no one ever thought was going to turn into a Stanley Cup-winning goalie, NHL All-Star. I know in his mind he did, but I meant from like an outside standpoint.”

Hutton, 34, can relate. He has spent most of his career trying to prove he could be a starter in the NHL.

“It’s something I can appreciate and am happy for him,” Hutton said.

Hutton finally got that chance following the 2017-18 season when he left the Blues to sign a three-year, $8.25 million free-agent contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

The Blues were interested in re-signing him, but according to Hutton, contract length was a sticking point. The Blues didn’t want to commit to a three-year deal.

Hutton got his wish in terms of being a No. 1 goalie with the Sabres last season. His 48 starts easily was a career high. He hadn’t started more than 26 games since 2013-14 — his first full season in the NHL (for Nashville) when he started 34 times.

But while Hutton and the Sabres were doing that, the Blues — you know — were winning the Stanley Cup. Did a part of Hutton wish he were still with the Blues last season and winning the Cup?

“Of course,” Hutton said. “But I don’t view it from that sense. I view it from we all have the potential to try and get there. My road took me somewhere else, right?

“I think if my road doesn’t take me somewhere else, maybe they don’t win a Cup. Because if I stay, maybe Binnington doesn’t get called up that year if I’m healthy or whatever it is.”

Or maybe Hutton stays, he helps the Blues win the Cup, and Binnington continues to toil in obscurity in the minors.

“Yeah, yeah. I could say something,” Hutton said, laughing. “But that’s not the way I look at it. Of course I always picture that (winning the Cup), but at the same time, I’m just happy for those guys and proud of my friends and stuff like that.

“That’s not the way to get through life, like being jealous or wanting worse for anybody else by any means, so I was just happy for them.”

Hutton was outstanding during the 2017-18 season, going 17-7-3 with a 2.09 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. Many Blues fans, you may recall, wanted the Blues to keep Hutton and trade Jake Allen.

After the Blues took care of Boston in seven games in the Cup Final, Hutton took his wife and son to defensemen Robert Bortuzzo’s Cup day in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Bortuzzo and Hutton are from Thunder Bay and have trained together there for years. They’re close friends.

Hutton and Allen have stayed in touch as well. When the Blues played in Buffalo last month, Allen had dinner at Hutton’s home.

“Me and Jake are still really good friends,” Hutton said. “We had a great relationship here (in St. Louis).”

While Allen has revived his career this season with the Blues, Hutton has struggled for Buffalo. After a 6-0 start, Hutton is winless in his last 10 games (0-6-4), hasn’t appeared in a game since Dec. 19 against Philadelphia, and hasn’t won a game since Oct. 22 against San Jose. 1170552 St Louis Blues

Home sweet home: Blues win 7th straight at Enterprise, 5-1 over Sabres

Jim Thomas Jan 9, 2020 0

The Blues have been all about streaks this season. And they're putting together another one in the friendly confines of Enterprise Center.

A stellar performance by the line of Alexander-Steen-Robert Thomas- Tyler Bozka keyed a 5-1 Blues victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday before another sellout crowd of 18,096 at Enterprise Center.

It was the seventh consecutive home victory or the Blues, tied for the longest home winning streak this season in the NHL (with Dallas).

"Yeah, you’ve gotta be good at home," coach Craig Berube said. "And we’ve been better this year than we were last year which is good. So that’s what I’m looking at. We just gotta keep going here. We gotta good homestand and let’s move on from this one."

As for the Thomas line, that trio combined for four goals and five assists, with Steen scoring his first two goals of the season _ the second on an empty-netter. So Steen finished with two goals and one assist, while Thomas and Bozak both finished with one goal and two assists.

In their last six games together. dating back to a Dec. 27 game at Winnipeg, that line has combined for 11 goals and 10 assists. That's what you call production.

"We’re definitely feeling good," Thomas said. "We’re playing the right way and that’s what’s getting us our success,"

"The two of them are working extremely hard, both Bozy and Thommer," Steen said. "I think Thommer's grown so much and he's playing some really good hockey right now holding onto the puck. Bozy does a good job of keeping things light, energetic, so it's good."

It continues to be very good for the Blues, now 28-10-7 for the season; Buffalo, which hasn't won in St. Louis since 2009 _ or Steve Spagnuolo was coaching the Rams _ fell to 19-18-7.

The Blues allowed only 19 shots on goal, their third-lowest total of the season. The only time Buffalo was even in the same area code as the Blues came early in the second when Jack Eichel scored his 27th goal of the season.

That came 4:22 into the second period. But for the second game in a row, David Perron turned a 2-1 Blues lead into a 3-1 advantage _ this time on the power play.

Perron's 18th goal of the season came at the 10:17 mark. He has a goal now in each of his last three games. At one point in the period, the Blues had outshot Buffalo 11-1, but that one shot was Eichel's goal.

But Steen closed out the scoring, with two goals _ the second coming on an empty-netter.

Entering Thursday's game, the Blues were 19-0-5 when scoring first in a game. With that in mind, Thomas put the Blues in good position when he opened the scoring against Buffalo.

Thomas skated around the right circle, then flicked a wrist shot past Linus Ullmark, far side, for his eighth goal of the season just 4:47 into the game. Thomas had nine goals all of last season.

Steen got a secondary assist on the play, giving him 300 assists as a member of the Blues. Only five other Blues have reached 300 assists.

The Steen-Bozak-Thomas line continued to sizzle later in the period. Thomas emerged from behind the Buffalo net, threading a pass to Bozak through three Sabres defenders for a room-service goal.

Bozak's 10th goal of the season gave St. Louis a 2-0 lead at the 13:29 mark of the first. The secondary assist this time went to Niko Mikkola, giving the rookie defenseman his first NHL point.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170553 St Louis Blues “I thought we were pretty good defensively all-around,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “I thought that we had urgency in the D zone and pressuring and not giving them time. We talked about not giving this team time and space with the puck, and I thought we did a good job of it.” Thomas, Bozak lead Blues to 5-1 win over Sabres NOTES: The Blues won their seventh straight home game, tying Dallas for the longest such streak in the NHL this season. … RW Michael Frolik made his Sabres debut. Frolik was acquired in a trade with Calgary on BY JOE HARRIS ASSOCIATED PRESS Jan. 2. … The Blues are 20-0-5 when scoring first this season and are the only team in the league without a regulation loss in that scenario. … The Sabres placed forward Victor Olofsson (lower body) on injured ST. LOUIS reserve Wednesday. Olofsson, who leads NHL rookies with 35 points, is expected to miss five to six weeks. Robert Thomas is proving to be a fast learner. UP NEXT Thomas and Tyler Bozak each had a goal and two assists, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 on Thursday night. Sabres: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

Alexander Steen had two goals and an assist and David Perron also Blues: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday. scored for the Blues, who won their eighth straight against the Sabres on home ice. Jordan Binnington made 18 saves, running his record to 21-7- Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 01.11.2020 4.

The 20-year-old Thomas has found chemistry playing on a line with veterans Bozak and Steen. The line combined for nine points against the Sabres.

“They always make the right play,” Thomas said. “Such smart players. It makes it easy on me. I can try a couple of things and just kind of learn from them.”

Thomas’ three points equaled a career high. He has eight points in his last seven games.

“He’s a kid who will keep getting better,” Bozak said. “It’s fun to be a part of, fun to watch. I’ve been lucky in my career to play with a lot of young really good players and see them grow and he’s just on the same path like a lot of those guys.”

Jack Eichel scored and Linus Ullmark made 26 saves for the Sabres, who won their previous two games.

“Everybody needs to get hungrier to shoot on net,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said. “I think we still give up too many opportunities, our D and our forwards, to try to make a play, and the other thing will be to get bodies there.”

Thomas gave the Blues a 1-0 lead at the 4:47 mark of the first period when he squeezed a wrist shot from the right circle through traffic. Steen got an assist, his 300th with the Blues.

“We just keep coming on teams,” Thomas said. “When we’re playing the right way it just seems like an endless forecheck and endless pressure and when we do that we’re a tough team to beat.”

Bozak made it 2-0 with 6:31 left in the first off a one-timer set up by Thomas, who made a nifty move behind the net to start the sequence. Niko Mikkola also got an assist for his first NHL point.

Eichel got the Sabres on the board at 4:22 of the second period. It was his 27th goal of the season and fourth in his last four games against St. Louis.

“We just didn’t penetrate,” Eichel said. “I don’t think we made good decisions with the puck. We turned it over too much and that’s it.”

Perron’s power-play goal midway through the second restored the Blues’ two-goal lead, 3-1. Perron has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in his last 11 games, and the St. Louis power play has at least one goal in seven of its last nine games.

The Blues appeared to take a 4-1 lead late in the second on a goal by Jaden Schwartz, but after a Sabres challenge it was waived off when Jordan Kyrou was ruled offside.

Steen did make it 4-1 at 5:36 of the third period, burying Thomas’ feed into an open net after a wild scramble. It was his first goal of the season.

“I think when we can help him create a little bit more space and he’s been able to hang onto the puck like that, I think the last three games or so he’s been incredible,” Steen said of Thomas. “He’s very easy to play with.”

Steen added an empty-netter with 4:42 left. 1170554 St Louis Blues Rather than the highlight reel savior that he at first appeared to be, Binnington is instead settling in as a stable presence who has the ability to steal games behind a top-tier defensive unit. The Blues have excelled at shot and chance suppression over the last calendar year, and as the Blues’ Stanley Cup championship was unprecedented, as was rise of team’s primary starting goaltender, Binnington has been a beneficiary of goalie Binnington those efforts.

There’s something to be said for the comfort a team feels in playing in front of a goaltender and the confidence which may radiate outward from BY JEFF JONES SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-DEMOCRAT the crease. JANUARY 10, 2020 05:00 AM Allen, for all his flashes of high level skill, has seemingly not provided the reliability which allows his team to display that confidence. Binnington, always cool and famously not nervous, looks like he belongs in the net. ST. LOUIS Wry jokes from January of 2019 about Binnington leading the Stanley The fourth anniversary of a significant night in St. Louis Blues history is Cup parade were formed into stunning reality just six months later as he approaching, and without effort to recognize it, it may have slipped past commandeered musical instruments and electric scooters, drinking in far more quietly than it deserves. every ounce of celebration he could reach and likely a few produced by Anheuser-Busch. On Jan. 14, 2016, the Blues came out listless and flat at home against the Carolina Hurricanes, ultimately losing 4-1. Despite Jake Allen being His legend, already cemented, was crystallized. His story will be one told out of the lineup with a lower body injury, then-Blues coach Ken by people in St. Louis and more broadly throughout hockey for years. Hitchcock decided goaltender Brian Elliott had seen enough abuse in the He’s an impeccable example of determination and seizing your moment net after Carolina’s third goal, which came with 12:47 left on the clock in when it becomes available. the third period. He’s also a goalie who has been good, if not great, at keeping the puck Elliott was replaced by a 22-year-old named Jordan Binnington, who out of the net in his second NHL season. For the Blues, for now, that’s stopped three of the four shots he saw in his NHL debut. That game more than good enough. would be Binnington’s last in the NHL for nearly three full years, until he came in in relief of Allen on Dec. 16, 2018. Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 01.11.2020

In between, he bounced from Chicago to Providence to San Antonio, all the while resisting organizational attempts to ship him off to the ECHL and clearing NHL waivers more than once. If he could’ve been had by another team for nothing, he certainly would have been available in trade.

Why, though, would there have been interest? Every organization has its own tweener goalies. There’s no sense in taking on someone else’s project.

Binnington’s emergence came with a shutout in Philadelphia last Jan. 7. The story of that game became the stuff of legends; it was on that road trip that a jewelry dealing friend of a few players introduced them to a private club in which the Eagles were being watched and bad 80s disco was being played during the commercial breaks.

The players, in the middle of a long season trending the wrong direction, got wrapped up in a song, and shouted for “Gloria” to be played. And it was played frequently and for months to come.

Despite playing in just 32 games last season, Binnington was the runner up for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year. He finished fifth for the Vezina, awarded to the top goalie. He was 10th in voting for the Hart Trophy, given to the NHL’s MVP. He made 26 postseason starts en route to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup and was the runner up for the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the postseason MVP.

Binnington’s story is one that’s without precedent in the annals of NHL history and will almost certainly never be duplicated.

Skeptics compared him at first to Andrew Hammond, whose outrageous run in 2015 ended with a thud in the playoffs. Steve Penney played just four games for Montreal in the 1983-84 season before blasting through 15 outstanding postseason starts. He had one more good season in the NHL before fading into obscurity.

Meteoric rises have happened before, but riding such a rise to sustained success is a new proposition.

Four years after his first taste of the NHL and one year after he asserted himself as an all-time figure in St. Louis sports lore, it’s fair to wonder what the future holds for Binnington. He was selected as an All-Star representative for the upcoming game to be hosted by the Blues despite falling outside the league’s top 10 in both save percentage and goals against average.

His impressive placement in the goalie wins column is reflective of the team’s success, and though advanced stats for goaltenders are still in their nascent stages, he doesn’t appear in the top 10 for goals saved above average. He’s barely among the top third of the league in goaltender point shares. 1170555 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning rookie Mitchell Stephens shows his staying power

By Eduardo A. Encina

TAMPA — When Mitchell Stephens received his first NHL callup Dec. 9, he didn’t know how long his stay with the Lightning would be or what opportunity his promotion would hold.

But one full month after making his debut, the forward has shown staying power, carving out a role on the fourth line by doing the little things right.

With every game comes new confidence and comfort for Stephens, a Lightning second-round draft pick in 2015 who turns 23 next month. Fifteen games into his NHL career, most of his firsts are out of the way. The Lightning have done their part to make Stephens’ adjustment easier.

“I think as every game goes on, you get more confident with the puck,” Stephens said ahead of tonight’s game against the Flyers, in which the Lightning have a chance to tie a franchise record with a 10th straight win.

“You realize that some plays you’re hesitant (with) early on, you can start to make. With the amount of talent in this room, you just get better playing with them.”

Stephens showed early in his Lightning time an ability to make an impact in the faceoff circle. He is fast on his skates and is an assertive forechecker. Because of that, his playing time is increasing.

In Thursday’s 4-0 win over the Coyotes, Stephens logged 13:04 in ice time, the most he has had since joining the Lightning and the third time in the past four games that he logged at least 11 minutes, something he didn’t do once in his first 11 games.

When Stephens received his initial callup, it was to fill in for injured forward Tyler Johnson after Stephens had scored five goals in 24 games with AHL Syracuse. Since then, while more experienced players such as Mathieu Joseph and Cory Conacher play in Syracuse, Stephens has played in every Lightning game.

“For me, it’s a matter of doing every little thing to help the team win,” Stephens said. “There’s a lot of really good and talented players on this team, NHL All-Stars on this team, so my job is to bring energy and bring speed on the forecheck and help the team as much as I can in every area.”

Stephens has won 55.2 percent of his faceoffs, the fourth-best percentage on the team, and has even earned time on the Lightning’s penalty kill. In Thursday’s game, Stephens had a season-high 14 faceoff opportunities, winning eight.

“We’ve been putting him in positions to win some big faceoffs and he’s doing a good job there,” coach Jon Cooper said. “We’re not putting any pressure on him and say, ‘Oh, you’ve got to be scoring. We’d love you to, but that’s not what you’re here for. We’re trying to put you in situations to succeed and draw from that success,’ and he’s been doing it.

“He understands he’s not a 20-minute guy here, but the minutes he’s getting, he’s grateful for them and he’s going to give us his best.”

Mitchell has two goals, and there are signs his offense could develop, especially playing alongside Carter Verhaeghe, another rookie who provides speed on the fourth line and who got his first NHL hat trick Tuesday against the Canucks.

“He’s gotten the opportunity to come up here and show that he belongs at this level,” Steven Stamkos said. “He’s kind of ran with that opportunity. If you asked him at the beginning, he probably thought he’d get called up and then sent back down, but he’s had an attitude.”

Stephens was limited to 32 games last season with Syracuse due to injury. He spent the offseason working outside Toronto alongside Stamkos with former NHL player turned renowned personal trainer Gary Roberts.

“It just shows the work ethic he’s had,” Stamkos said. “He’s earned and deserves to be the lineup every night since he got the callup.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170556 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Ondrej Palat day-to-day after being hurt against Arizona Coyotes

By Times Staff Writer

TAMPA — Ondrej Palat didn’t practice with the Lightning on Friday and was day-to-day with a lower-body injury suffered against the Coyotes the night before.

Coyotes forward Taylor Hall hip-checked Palat and made contact directly with the forward’s left knee with under 10 minutes left in Tampa Bay’s 4-0 win. Palat left the game and didn’t return.

Pat Maroon was a full practice participant Friday after taking an elbow to the face against Arizona and was expected to be able to play against the Flyers on Saturday night.

Maroon was hurt after he followed Coyotes forward Carl Soderberg to chase down a puck along the boards late in the second period. As Soderberg played the puck, his elbow came up and caught Maroon hard, directly in the face.

Maroon looked a little unstable as he looked for his stick and skated to the bench slowly, hunched over. Head athletic trainer Tom Mulligan checked him on the bench; then the forward headed down the tunnel to the dressing room. He didn’t return.

Also Friday, forward Alexander Volkov was recalled from AHL Syracuse.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170557 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning midseason: Who is the biggest surprise and the hottest?

By Diana C. Nearhos

TAMPA — The Lightning hit the halfway point of the season on Monday. They’re now two games into the second half, but let’s take a look at where they stand.

The biggest, most important distinction: They’re in a playoff spot, battling back-and-forth with Toronto for second in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, on a nine- game win streak after Thursday’s 4-0 win over Arizona.

Tampa Bay is among the league’s top-scoring teams. The penalty kill is climbing up the ranks the power play is tied for first. Things are looking good for a team that seemed to be sputtering out of the gate.

Biggest surprise

Alex Killorn has found another gear in his game this season. The forward is two goals from reaching 20 for the first time in his eight-year career. The 30-year-old has stepped into a larger leadership role this season and carried the resulting confidence in to his play. He has played in more offensive roles, including on the first power-play unit, and earned all of it.

Most improved

Mikhail Sergachev wanted a bigger role, so he upped his game. The third-year, 21-year-old defenseman is playing a more physical game. And now, that doesn’t just mean his fight in the Buffalo game. Sergachev is using his body better, positioning himself to make hits and knock players off the puck. Combine that with his already strong skating and good shot and Sergachev has become a dangerous player.

Getting hot

A couple of weeks ago, Andrei Vasilevskiy wasn’t inspiring great confidence. He was playing inconsistently, again without that “how’d he do that element” we associate with his acrobatic saves. The goalie has turned a corner in the last few games, however. He’s won his last seven starts and looked smooth in net. Even when he saw only 23 shots from Vancouver, he looked in control enough to have made a difference in the game (though the offense poured on enough goals not to need Vasilevskiy to do so).

Best game

Okay so it was Game No. 42, but the 9-2 win over Vancouver might have been the Lightning’s best complete game. Nine goals will make any team look good, but it was more than that. They scored all of those goals without the risks we’ve seen from this team in the past. There was no ill- advised pinch to create a scoring opportunity, but also leave an opening the other way. The only dangerous chances the Lightning gave the Canucks in the second or third period came on a five-on-three power play.

Worst game

It’d take a lot to beat out Game No. 3 at Carolina in this category, and the Lightning are hoping not to. They squeezed out a point with an overtime loss, but they did not deserve it. The team was flat and got entirely outworked by the Hurricanes. The Lightning went without a shot on goal in the second period and only had 13 in the game. Steven Stamkos took his team, himself included, to task after the game, and they haven’t reverted since.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170558 Tampa Bay Lightning Point is now third in the league in wins above replacement (WAR) at 2.8, trailing only Brad Marchand (2.9) and Nashville’s Ryan Ellis (3.3), according to evolving-hockey.com. The team shoots more and takes more quality chances relative to teammates when he’s on the ice. It Midseason report card: Grading every Tampa Bay Lightning player so far wouldn’t be surprising if the Lightning’s No. 1 center ends up in the Hart Trophy conversation by the end of the season.

Nikita Kucherov By Joe Smith Jan 10, 2020 10 Grade: B

Stats: 17 goals, 32 assists, 49 points, plus-13 in 42 games TAMPA, Fla. — Give them all “A’s.” No one is a harsher critic of Nikita Kucherov than the Hart Trophy winner After watching the Lightning rattle off nine straight wins to hit midseason himself. So any grade I give is likely higher than his evaluation. The as the hottest team in the league, it’s hard to grab the red pen and begin bottom line is there was nowhere to go but down after his Russian- to nitpick. Captain Steven Stamkos said Thursday’s 4-0 victory over record-setting, 128-point season a year ago, in which he brought home Pacific Division-leading Arizona “might have been our best overall the Hart, Art Ross and Ted Lindsay Awards. performance of the year in terms of just playing the right way all over the ice.” Kucherov’s numbers are still really good, with the winger averaging more than a point per game. But Kucherov, one of the best players in the world The numbers bear that out. and the reigning MVP, wasn’t as consistent a difference-maker earlier in THE LIGHTNING ONLY ALLOWED 0.89 EXPECTED GOALS IN ALL the season as he’s capable of being. There were several occasions SITUATIONS TO ARIZONA. ACCORDING TO @NATSTATTRICK, where you could tell by his body language and play that he was THAT'S THE SECOND BEST DEFENSIVE SHOWING IN THE NHL SO frustrated. He even got benched last month for the third period and FAR THIS SEASON. overtime of a game against Ottawa for some questionable decision making and poor effort in the defensive zone. THE WILD HELD THE FLYERS TO TO 0.86 XG ON DECEMBER 14TH. PIC.TWITTER.COM/4SWT7LOHRE This is not to say Kucherov has had a bad season — far from it — as he still leads Tampa Bay in Game Score average (1.40). And Kucherov has — REPLACEMENT LEVEL ANALYST (@LOSERPOINTS) JANUARY been playing some of his best hockey of late, with six goals and eight 10, 2020 assists (14 points) in the 11 games since he got benched. And it hasn’t been just offensively — Cooper has lauded his play all over the ice. “We’re having fun,” star wing Nikita Kucherov said. “That’s the most important thing.” “He’s in command of his game right now,” Cooper said. “I really like that he’s shooting the puck more. He’s been really, really good on both sides “The guys are kind of feeling it right now,” coach Jon Cooper said. of the puck. It hasn’t just been on the offensive side. I think his offense is But, recency bias aside, it’s time to take stock of Tampa Bay (26-13-4) blossoming because of how he’s been defensively, and he’s deserved it. with a midseason report card. He’s playing great.”

I’ve been asked to give a letter grade to each player on the Lightning, so WHEN THE @TBLIGHTNING ARE ROLLIN', SO IS NIKITA KUCHEROV I gave it my best shot, with a couple of caveats. We’re grading on a (@86KUCHEROV). PIC.TWITTER.COM/4A0JKGD79I curve. That means players are evaluated based on their specific — NHL (@NHL) JANUARY 10, 2020 standards or expectations for production, so Jan Rutta isn’t going to warrant the same kind of scrutiny as Norris Trophy winner Victor Ondrej Palat Hedman, for example. Grade: A This is a challenging, subjective process, one to which I gave a lot of thought. I sought out input from others who also watch the team on a Stats: 12 goals, 14 assists, 26 points, plus-16 in 43 games daily basis. Palat is one of the best stories of the Lightning season. After an injury- So here we go. Keep in mind, the final grade in mid-June will be the only plagued 2018-19, coaches challenged Palat in exit meetings in April to one that matters. “gain a step.” Palat responded by changing up his summer training, replacing all his heavy lifting and gym work with drills designed to get “We’re enjoying the time now, but we have to keep it up,” said goalie faster. He wanted to be more “dangerous,” a threat on the ice. Andrei Vasilevskiy, who picked up his first shutout of the season and franchise-best 19th of his career. “It changes just like that, so you have to Mission accomplished. have a short memory.” Palat has been the type of dynamic 200-foot player Tampa Bay expected Editor’s note: One way to look at how Lightning players have performed him to be, looking more like the 2014-15 “Triplets” version. He has relative to expectations is with this model by The Athletic’s Dom returned to the top six, where he was a staple for a while on the top line Luszczyszyn, which compares preseason projections with current with Point and Kucherov. He’s still a valuable penalty killer when needed performance (you can read more about how his projections work here and is one of those guys the Lightning depend on late when protecting a and the adjustments made to his model before this season here). lead.

Brayden Point There was a scary moment for Palat in the third period Thursday when a dangerous knee-to-knee hit from Taylor Hall forced Palat to leave the Grade: A- game. Cooper said after the game that injuries to both Palat and Pat Maroon (who took an elbow to the face) were not believed to be serious, Stats: 18 goals, 22 assists, 40 points, plus-12 in 39 games which is a good sign. Point understandably got off to a slow start, taking a while to get his TAYLOR HALL STICKS HIS LEG OUT AND KNEES ONDREJ PALAT. timing back after double hip surgery over the summer. Point made his HALL GIVEN TWO MINUTES FOR INTERFERENCE WHEN HE season debut in the second week, scoring twice in a win over Toronto SHOULD’VE BEEN SHOWN THE GATE. ARIZONA DOWN 4-0 WITH before scoring just two more goals in the next 14 games. But Point, LESS THAN 10 MINS IN THIRD PERIOD… CANNOT MAKE THIS PLAY signed to a three-year bridge deal in late September with a $6.75 million PIC.TWITTER.COM/UTQT2YFTAE cap hit, has exploded lately, with eight goals and 18 points in his last 13 games. — NHL PLAYER SAFETY MOD (@NHLSAFETYMOD) JANUARY 10, 2020 “I think I’m getting more comfortable now with the puck,” Point said. “It’s tough when you don’t skate a lot in the summer and jump into NHL Hall said postgame that there was no malicious intent on the play and he games. But it’s been enough games now where I feel comfortable. I think hopes Palat is OK. as a whole and as a team, we’re starting to roll.” Alex Killorn Grade: A For Paquette’s role, he has been pretty solid. There was a time, especially during the Lightning’s trip to Sweden, that Paquette centered Stats: 18 goals, 19 assists, 37 points, plus-11 in 41 games their most impactful line with Pat Maroon and Yanni Gourde. The veteran This was an easy “A” for Killorn, who is playing the best hockey of his has stayed healthy, which is key for him, and has been a stout penalty career. Killorn is on pace to not only rack up his first 20-goal season (by killer. a sizable margin) but to net his highest point total. Pat Maroon

But there’s been a lot more to Killorn’s resurgence than that, as we Grade: B pointed out in a recent story. GM Julien BriseBois said they met with Killorn early in the season and challenged him to be a more vocal leader, Stats: 5 goals, 10 assists, 15 points, minus-1 in 41 games hoping the seven-year veteran would help fill the void left by departing veterans Anton Stralman, Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi. Killorn has The Lightning didn’t think they’d be able to add Pat Maroon when the delivered in that category, too, earning an “A” on his sweater as he has summer began, as the veteran wing had just played a key role in the taken on more of a leadership role on and off the ice. Blues’ improbable Stanley Cup run. But as it got later and later in the offseason, Maroon, 31, fell into Tampa Bay’s lap on a one-year, “Being relied upon is something that’s great,” Killorn said. “I’ve been $900,000 deal. It has turned into a bargain with Maroon bringing much- more so offensively now than I have been in the past, but right now my needed size up front (6-foot-3) and standing up for teammates on several game feels like it’s going in the right direction. I feel confident, and when occasions. He has also brought a valued perspective in the dressing you have confidence, you’re able to make a lot of plays.” room, bringing the team together off the ice. That steadying presence helped the Lightning get through their early-season adversity. Anthony Cirelli Yanni Gourde Grade: A Grade: C+ Stats: 9 goals, 18 assists, 27 points, plus-11 in 42 games Stats: 6 goals, 13 assists, 19 points, minus-1 in 43 games Cirelli, 22, has been terrific all season long for the Lightning, pulling the team into the fight with his relentless, nonstop motor. “He’s our engine,” Gourde is in the middle of a tough scoring slump, not having scored in 22 said one teammate. games (since Nov. 25 in Sweden against the Sabres). We grade Gourde based on his expected production, and not just because he’s paid like a While Cirelli may not reach the 25-goal mark, as I suggested in my top-six forward (six years, $31 million). This is a relentless forechecking preseason predictions, he has been a difference-maker all over the ice. forward who has scored 25 goals in the league before and made an He’s a key cog on the penalty kill, which has been No. 1 in the league the improbable rise to this level from his ECHL days. past couple of months and gotten some spot power-play time. When there’s a high-leverage moment late in the game or Tampa Bay faces a To be fair, while Gourde is paid like a top-six player, he has spent most have-to-have penalty kill, Cirelli is usually one of the first players over the of this season in the bottom six and has actually played well recently on a boards. He has the makeup of a future captain. line with rookies Stephens and Verhaeghe. The effort is always there, but the Lightning are going to need more from him down the stretch. The Lightning will have to pay him this summer as a restricted free agent, but Cirelli’s evolution has made him worth every penny. Mathieu Joseph

Steven Stamkos Grade: C

Grade: B Stats: 4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points, minus-2 in 34 games

Stats: 17 goals, 27 assists, 44 points, minus-1 in 40 games I don’t think many people expected Joseph to be back in AHL Syracuse right now, especially after his solid rookie season a year ago (13 goals, Stamkos was coming off a season in which he felt he was playing his 13 assists in 70 games). But that’s where Joseph is, as the Lightning best hockey since before he broke his leg in 2013. The 29-year-old, who hope he can regain his confidence after a slow start. became a first-time father over the summer, has played pretty solidly overall. It was tough for Stamkos to have a revolving door of linemates Joseph, 22, has the kind of disruptive speed that can push defenders the first month or so, but he found some chemistry with Killorn and Cirelli back and wreak havoc on the forecheck. But Joseph didn’t make as for a good stretch. much of an impact in the first half of the season. And with the emergence of Stephens — the Crunch’s best player the first few months — Joseph Stamkos’ 17 goals are behind only Killorn’s 18, and his faceoff lost his spot. percentage (55.8 percent) is 15th in the NHL. The captain showed some leadership by delivering a stern public message after the clunker in Victor Hedman Carolina in Game 3, and he has continued to try to evolve into a better two-way player. Grade: A

Tyler Johnson Stats: 9 goals, 31 assists, 40 points, plus-9 in 41 games

Grade: B- The Lightning’s lone All-Star — unless Stamkos gets selected in the last- man vote — has been a horse on the blue line once again. There’s a Stats: 10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points, even in 38 games reason I picked him as team MVP at midseason in my “41 thoughts” piece, as Hedman has been a consistent dynamic force at both ends of A key in determining grades is providing context. And when you look at the ice. He has played with six different partners (everyone but Ryan Johnson’s numbers, they’ll come across as a bit disappointing, especially McDonagh) and has settled in nicely with Jan Rutta. And Hedman had considering the kind of production he has put up previously. But keep in the storybook trip back to his home country of Sweden for the Global mind that Johnson has bounced around all over the lineup, from center to Series in November, where he played a big role in both wins. wing, top line to fourth line. While Johnson played most of last year on the top line with Point and Kucherov, he has been coach Jon Cooper’s Kevin Shattenkirk Swiss Army knife, playing often with rookies like Carter Verhaeghe and Mitchell Stephens. Johnson has found some life offensively recently, with Grade: B+ three goals in his last five games. Stats: 7 goals, 19 assists, 26 points, plus-16 in 43 games

“It’s definitely been different (this year),” Johnson said. “But my job is to Shattenkirk has proved to be a bargain after signing a one-year, $1.75 do whatever I’m told. Just whenever I get my name called, no matter who million deal in August. Now healthy and playing in a system that’s a it is or where I’m playing, just do my best. Luckily we have a pretty good perfect fit for him, Shattenkirk is playing the kind of hockey the Rangers team so it makes it a bit easier for me.” never got to see from him the past couple of years. Bought out by his Cedric Paquette hometown Rangers over the summer, Shattenkirk came in with a chip on his shoulder, and he has delivered, as colleague Shayna Goldman and I Grade: B broke down this week. Shattenkirk isn’t the Lightning’s top defenseman

Stats: 4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points, minus-4 in 35 games and doesn’t have to be, and the veteran is flourishing in the right role for None of the three have played in enough games for a fair grade, though a Cup contender. all three have filled in well in their respective roles. Coburn missed several weeks after a knee-to-knee hit from Washington’s Radko Gudas Ryan McDonagh but has stepped in nicely the past week with McDonagh out.

Grade: B Schenn, signed to a one-year deal July 1, has been a steady veteran Stats: 1 goal, 10 assists, 11 points, plus-2 in 40 games presence in the room and holds opponents accountable when he plays (15 games). McDonagh has been good for the Lightning this season but not nearly the dominant defender he was for most of last season when he cracked Stephens, called up last month, has been impressive in his first taste of my Norris Trophy ballot. Still, McDonagh remains a key cog on the the NHL, racking up two goals in 14 games (minus-3) while using his penalty kill, logging big minutes against some top-line-caliber players, strengths, which are skating and winning faceoffs (54.9 percent). and serves as a leader in the room. Andrei Vasilevskiy

The main concern now is getting McDonagh healthy, as he has been Grade: B- sidelined the past three games with what’s believed to be a concussion. The best-case scenario is McDonagh returns this weekend on a road trip Stats: 21-9-2, 2.66 GAA, .913 save percentage back-to-back in Philadelphia and New Jersey. But with the way the team is rolling, it might be smart just to rest him through the upcoming All-Star If I was giving out grades three weeks ago, Vasilevskiy might have gotten break. a “C” after his inconsistent start to the season. Vasilevskiy admitted himself in late December that he had been a “way, way, way average Mikhail Sergachev goalie.”

Grade: A- But since then, he has gone on a tear, flipping the script with a seven- game winning streak, including making 25 stops in Thursday’s first Stats: 7 goals, 16 assists, 23 points, plus-7 in 43 games shutout of the season. He became the first Lightning goalie with four Sergachev has taken a big step forward in the past couple of months, straight 20-win seasons. He has been locked in, playing bigger in net, turning into the kind of two-way force the Lightning envisioned when they like during a win in Montreal in early January which was his best acquired him from the Canadiens a few years ago. The 21-year-old is still performance of the season. Vasilevskiy has even gotten better handling just scratching the surface, but you’re seeing the kind of physicality in low-shot volume games, something he has struggled with in the past. battles and command in his own end that has earned the trust of Vasilevskiy is now tied for the league lead in wins (21), is third in save coaches, who have put his ice time over 20 minutes in six of the last percentage (.913) and sits 19th in goals-against average (2.66). If the seven games. Sergachev’s role will only expand with McDonagh out of Vezina Trophy winner keeps playing like this, the Lightning will be a the lineup, and he has proven he’s ready for it. tough out come playoff time.

Jan Rutta “He’s been unbelievable,” Kucherov said. “People are going to say (whatever) about his game. I think he’s the best player in the league and Grade: B he proved it (Thursday). (He’s) been proving it all season.”

Stats: 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points, plus-4 in 23 games THE NINTH STRAIGHT VICTORY FOR THE @TBLIGHTNING AND YOU CAN THANK ANDREI VASILEVSKIY'S @PEPSI SHUTOUT FOR What a pleasant surprise Rutta has been. After spending a good part of THAT. PIC.TWITTER.COM/LVPAMXCVM4 the first month as a healthy scratch, Rutta has turned into the ideal partner for Hedman in the top pair. Rutta isn’t a flashy defenseman, nor — NHL (@NHL) JANUARY 10, 2020 will he score you a lot of points, but he plays a simple, straight-line game. He can skate well, and his strength is recovering, which is especially Curtis McElhinney important playing with the aggressive Hedman. Rutta’s Corsi-For Grade: B percentage is excellent at 55.7 — part of that is playing with the Norris Trophy winner, but he has not looked out of place. Stats: 5-4-2, 3.19 GAA, .904 save percentage

Carter Verhaeghe Many were surprised when the Lightning made a goalie swap on July 1, signing the veteran backup to a two-year deal and announcing their plans Grade: B- to trade Louis Domingue. I know the numbers don’t look great overall, but Stats: 5 goals, 4 assists, 9 points, minus-2 in 30 games McElhinney has been everything Tampa Bay expected. He has been a steady pro on and off the ice and given the team a chance in almost Verhaeghe had a “thrill of a lifetime” Tuesday night with his first career every start. The fact that McElhinney started in two of the team’s worst NHL hat trick and is showing signs he’s coming into his own as a rookie. games of the year (in Carolina and Ottawa the second week of the season) hurt his numbers. But the Lightning should be happy with But it hasn’t always been smooth for the 24-year-old, who took the long McElhinney overall. route to the NHL. Verhaeghe opened the season playing out of position due to injuries to Cedric Paquette and Brayden Point, then struggled to The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 make plays offensively. He doesn’t get a lot of playing time, averaging just 9:27 per game. But Verhaeghe, who received “the letter” in November, has rewarded the organization’s faith in him and continues finding ways to earn his ice time.

Erik Cernak

Grade: B

Stats: 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points, plus-3 in 40 games

Cernak was a revelation last year, going from a November temporary call-up to a fixture in the shutdown pair. He hasn’t been quite as consistent this season, but the right-shot defenseman has been solid in his usual pair with McDonagh (until the injury). Cernak was suspended for the first time after his elbow on Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin but has provided an overall physical presence on the blue line.

Luke Schenn, Braydon Coburn, Mitchell Stephens

Grade: Incomplete 1170559 Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Marlies assistant coach Rob Davison rushed to hospital, game with Texas Stars postponed

THE CANADIAN PRESS

PUBLISHED JANUARY 10, 2020

Marlies assistant coach Rob Davison experienced a medical emergency ahead of Toronto’s game against the Texas Stars on Friday night, leading to the postponement of the American Hockey League game.

The incident occurred in the visitors dressing room at HEB Center, the home of the Stars.

Davison, 39, was immediately transported to hospital where he is being evaluated and will remain under medical supervision.

The Marlies, who are the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, asked for the game to be postponed in the wake of the incident.

“Following what happened tonight with Rob in front of our players and staff, I consulted with Laurence Gilman, Greg Moore and the leadership group of the Marlies,” said Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas. “I was informed by the leadership group that the entire team was in a state of shock and not comfortable proceeding with tonight’s game. We fully support our players and staff in this matter.”

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Maple Leafs sign Martin Marincin to one-year extension

THE CANADIAN PRESS

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenceman Martin Marincin to a US$700,000, one-year contract extension.

Marincin, 27, has no points and eight penalty minutes in 13 games for the Maple Leafs this season. He has an assist in five games with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.

Marincin has 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in 129 career games as a Maple Leaf.

He has 30 points (four goals, 26 assists) over 214 career regular-season games with Toronto and Edmonton.

Marincin has also appeared in 65 career regular-season games with the Marlies, recording 25 points (five goals, 20 assists), while adding a goal and six assists in 20 career Calder Cup playoff games. Marincin helped the Marlies win the 2018 Calder Cup.

Marincin was acquired by the Maple Leafs in a June 27, 2015 trade with the Oilers after being selected by Edmonton in the second round (46th overall) of the 2010 NHL draft.

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Medical emergency in dressing room sends Marlies assistant coach Rob Davison to hospital, game cancelled

By Kevin McGran

Sports Reporter

Fri., Jan. 10, 2020timer1 min. read

Toronto Marlies assistant coach Rob Davison experienced a medical emergency Friday night in the visitors dressing room at HEB Center in Cedar Park, Texas.

The 39-year-old Davison was transported immediately to hospital. He was being evaluated and will remain under medical supervision, the team said in a release.

The Marlies decided to forfeit the game. Texas was awarded a 1-0 win.

“Following what happened tonight with Rob in front of our players and staff, I consulted with Laurence Gilman, Greg Moore and the leadership group of the Marlies,” Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said in a statement. “I was informed by the leadership group that the entire team was in a state of shock and not comfortable proceeding with tonight’s game. We fully support our players and staff in this matter.

“The Maple Leafs would like to thank the Stars’ medical team and the HEB Center staff for their urgent care.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170562 Toronto Maple Leafs both the Bruins and Bolts are superior defensively to Toronto and are among the league’s better offensive teams.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... The Leafs are 15-5-2 under head coach Sheldon Keefe but they still trail The other challenge facing Keefe’s team, meanwhile, will be keeping the Boston and Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division. Florida Panthers at bay. This is going to be interesting to watch, starting with a head-to-head collision Sunday in Sunrise, because these teams are mirror Images of each other. By Damien Cox Like the Leafs, the Panthers don’t defend well but score lots of goals. Contributing Columnist Like the Leafs. the goaltending stats aren’t great, although the .896 save percentage of $70-million goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has been a bigger

headache for Joel Quenneville’s team. The Leafs have the NHL’s 16th Sheldon Keefe’s first task as Mike Babcock’s replacement has been best save percentage at even strength, while Florida is 29th in that completed. department.

That job was to lift the Maple Leafs out of the doldrums they were in The Panthers sit three points behind the Leafs with a game in hand. when Babcock was dismissed. Keefe has done that with a 15-5-2 record Florida started the season 1-4, then hit another slippery patch in early over the past seven weeks, and has the team scoring goals and creating December with three losses in four home games over a span of seven offence at the level at which many believed it was capable. days.

Whether Babcock would have turned the team around if he was allowed After facing the Leafs on Sunday, the Panthers are looking at a softish to continue, well, that no longer really matters. All that matters is Keefe section of their schedule with their next five games after Sunday against has done what he was hired to do. non-playoff teams. They face the Leafs again on Feb. 3, this time in Toronto. So mark that game on your calendar, and we’ll see if Florida is Or at least, one-third of what he was hired to do. The next two parts will able to gain any ground on the Leafs over that period. be much more difficult. In a league defined by streaks, the Panthers have yet to get really hot. First, it has to be a priority to get the Leafs home-ice advantage for at This could be their chance, particularly if Bobrovsky can find his game. least one round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Right now, that’s looking There are no signs, however, of that happening. In his last five starts, his less likely with each passing day. save percentage is an awful .879.

The Atlantic Division has returned to the order most anticipated before Still, Florida has six forwards with 13 goals or more, including surprising the season. Buffalo has been unable to maintain its strong early season ex-Bruin forward Noel Acciardi, who has 17. The high-scoring Leafs, form. Montreal is in a complete free fall. The Habs don’t have a meanwhile, have three such scorers. franchise-type young player, an impact scorer, and don’t want to do a complete rebuild to get one. Florida would be thrilled just to make the post-season after missing in six of the past seven seasons.Toronto’s objectives, meanwhile, have to be a At the top end of the division, Boston is as strong as ever. Tampa Bay good deal more ambitious than that. has managed to pass the Leafs in recent days despite Toronto’s strong play under Keefe. The Lightning are looking powerful again, having won As we head into the dog days of the season, the Leafs are looking to nine of 10 games, and have set their sights on catching the Bruins now move up. But they better keep an eye on their rear view mirror, as well. that they’ve skipped past the Leafs. Toronto Star LOADED: 01.11.2020 That leaves the Leafs again set to start the post-season on the road, a formula that hasn’t worked the past three springs. Even with Auston Matthews scoring at a pace that has him contending for both the Hart and Rocket Richard trophies, and even with the AHL Marlies having done an admirable job of providing very useful players to the parent club, the Leafs are at the moment essentially headed to repeat their finish of the last two seasons.

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He has currently gone three games without a point, four without a goal. He’s gone pointless one other time for three games, and once for four games. His longest stretch without a goal has been five games. He’s gone goalless another four games in a row three times in total, including his current drought.

“With the skill level that he has, he’s going to make plays. He’s going to score,” Keefe said. “All that stuff’s gonna come, gonna happen for him. We just need him to not take on too much, to recognize he’s got a lot of support around him and he can just relax and play.”

While Keefe was mildly critical about Tavares following the Jets game, he walked back that criticism after rewatching the game. It’s easy to remember a giveaway that led to a goal. That’s just bad luck really. 1170564 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs sign defenceman Martin Marincin to one-year extension

By The Canadian Press

Fri., Jan. 10, 2020timer1 min. read

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenceman Martin Marincin to a $700,000 U.S., one-year contract extension.

Marincin, 27, has no points and eight penalty minutes in 13 games for the Maple Leafs this season. He has an assist in five games with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.

Marincin has 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in 129 career games as a Maple Leaf.

He has 30 points (four goals, 26 assists) over 214 career regular-season games with Toronto and Edmonton.

Marincin was acquired by the Maple Leafs in a June 27, 2015 trade with the Oilers after being selected by Edmonton in the second round (46th overall) of the 2010 NHL draft.

Toronto Star LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170565 Toronto Maple Leafs

Marlies coach ill, game against Texas forfeited

Lance Hornby

Friday night’s road game between the Toronto Marlies and Texas Stars in Cedar Park near Austin was forfeited to the home team after Toronto assistant coach Rob Davison experienced a medical emergency in the visitors room prior to puck drop and the farm club elected not to play.

Davison, 39, was transported immediately to hospital where he was being evaluated and remained under medical supervision.

Citing league rule 66.1, centred on non-compliance to start a game, the American Hockey League gave the Stars a 1-0 forfeit win. The league was made aware of Davison’s situation an hour before the 7 p.m. local scheduled start and made two attempts to reschedule, postponing it to 7:30 p.m. and then 8:30.

But the Marlies declined to go out.

Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, who was with the parent team in Sunrise, Fla., ahead of Sunday’s game against the Panthers, issued a statement: “Following what happened tonight with Rob in front of our players and staff, I consulted with (Marlies GM) Laurence Gilman, (head coach) Greg Moore and the leadership group. I was informed by the leadership group that the entire team was in a state of shock and not comfortable proceeding with tonight’s game. We fully support our players and staff in this matter.

“The Leafs would like to thank the Stars’ medical team and the HEB Center staff for their urgent care.”

The Marlies are scheduled to play a second game against Dallas’ farm team Saturday night, part of a 3-on-3 weekend with a Sunday match in San Antonio.

Davison, in his third year as an assistant, played five NHL seasons with San Jose with brief stops around the league and in Europe. The St. Catharines, Ont., native began coaching in Austria in 2014-15 and worked in the KHL before joining Sheldon Keefe’s staff with the Marlies.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170566 Toronto Maple Leafs when he got that first job, then met Kyle Dubas (who hired him for the OHL Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and later the Marlies as a Leaf exec), winning just kept happening for him.

Coaching all in the family for Keefes “The NHL was the pinnacle, but that was just a matter of time. Now he’s fallen into the perfect situation and he’s deserved it.”

BUSY IN BRITAIN Lance Hornby Adam Keefe would like to be at Scotiabank Arena to see his brother coach sometime in 2020, but that might require a long Maple Leafs playoff run. Many relatives of Maple Leafs in Europe stay up late to watch their favourite players on game night. The younger Keefe is once more handling main coaching duties with the Belfast Giants and is an assistant on Great Britain’s national team, both But Adam Keefe set his alarm for 3 a.m. last month in Northern Ireland in the 2022 Winter Olympics qualifying tournament, which continues next just to watch a coach. Older brother Sheldon was making his NHL debut month, and the world championships (versus Canada in the opening with the Maple Leafs in Arizona and Adam wasn’t going to miss it. Not round May 15 in Lausanne, Switzerland). even if his own stint with the Belfast Giants meant he’d put in a long day behind the bench, too. “Our (10-team) league operates like English soccer, first place is the goal so every game is a big one,” said Adam, whose third-place Giants hosted “Sheldon’s a very humble guy, he’d kept the news about the Toronto job the top-ranked Sheffield Steelers on Friday. “The GB job takes about six quiet,” laughed Adam, on the phone from his office in SSE Arena. “The weeks of my summer.” text he sent me the day before his first game was typical of that: ‘Tomorrow I’ll be coaching the Leafs.’” Keefe says the Giants usually draw about 4,000 to 6,000 fans on game night with a retractable lower bowl that can feature entertainment such as It was a 3-1 win for Sheldon and his squad has hardly slowed down cheerleaders or be used as full seating to bump hockey capacity to since. He takes a record of 15-5-2 into Sunrise, Fla., on Sunday after around 7,200. promotion from the AHL Marlies to replace Mike Babcock, re-establishing the Leafs as a playoff contender. “Since 2000, our team has been a uniting factor for Catholics and Protestants and it’s part of the reason I’ve stayed,” Adam said. “It’s a “I watched their first 10 games, always around the time change,” said special feeling to work here.” Adam, who at 35 is four years younger than Sheldon. “I think him being with the Leafs will make me a better coach because I’m watching him Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.11.2020 and more NHL games a lot closer now.

“He’s always had an influence on me, a guy that worked his way up the ranks, a long journey and now an inspiring guy to look up to.”

Sheldon went further than Adam as an OHL player, a second-round draft pick of Tampa Bay and 125 NHL games played. He also stopped playing at 25 to pursue coaching, while Adam was still active up to a few years ago with the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League’s Giants. Unsure what he’d do with his life after retirement, Adam flew home to Brampton to seek advice.

“My body was worn down (more than 3,000 penalty minutes in the OHL, the minors and with the Giants does that to a guy) and Sheldon gave me a first-hand look at what coaching could do for me. I needed a push. The family all met, Sheldon and I looked at some video and he gave me a basic structure to get started.”

Married to Colleen, a Belfast girl, Adam transitioned from player to coach. Within a couple of years, he was an assistant with Great Britain’s team that qualified for the top pool of the world championships where it was beaten by Canada last May.

“Now I know how much work is required,” Adam said. “But when I run into a wall or need some clarity on something, I can contact Sheldon. Of course, I try not to bother him too much, or on a game day. I also realize I’m a young coach and need to know what works for me at this level. But he’s always trying to point me in the right direction, even if it’s something small like (post-game media) interviews.

“I needed a solid sounding board like him and to get my feet wet and get on my own way.”

Adam said they had their hyper-tempestuous moments as kids, Sheldon as the older brother setting the bar high for him to keep up.

“It was something our father (Brian) instilled in us, a competitive man who demanded the best,” Adam said. “So yes, I battled against him in games and that drove up my compete level. I was not as gifted as him and chose another route, which is why I had all those penalty minutes.”

Though Sheldon’s rise to coach in the NHL happened a year or two faster than most projected as Babcock fell, Adam never doubted his sibling would make a quick impact, having been the most successful Marlies manager in the farm team’s tenure and 2018 Calder Cup champions.

“He’s righted the Leafs ship pretty quick,” Adam said. “You can say I’m surprised, but not surprised. A handful of people in Pembroke (where Sheldon began with the Tier II Lumber Kings) and our family followed his coaching career from the start. Not many people begin at age 25. From 1170567 Toronto Maple Leafs

New Marlies coach Moore finding his way

Lance Hornby

Like any new coach, Greg Moore wanted to hit the ground running.

But there have been a few obstacles for Sheldon Keefe’s replacement behind the Toronto Marlies bench. Some of the farm club’s biggest, most-creative and most-reliable forwards are on well-deserved trials with the Maple Leafs. Pierre Engvall, Mason Marchment, Adam Brooks and Dmytro Timashov remain up with the big club, while defenceman Rasmus Sandin, a first-round pick, was at the world junior championships with Sweden before returning this week.

Add the unfamiliarity factor for Moore, who went from working with teenaged players in the United States Hockey League to pros not far removed from the 35-year-old’s own generation. With the quirky AHL scheduling, you get a record of 3-5. But wins aren’t always the true measurement of a development model.

“The challenge for me is you want to make an impact, but you learn to be patient,” Moore said Friday from Austin, Texas, where the Marlies were starting a 3-in-3 weekend of games. “What’s good for me is that it’s all even better than I thought it would be, how supportive everyone is, how really good they are at their jobs.”

Keefe had almost 200 AHL regular-season victories, a .672 winning percentage and enviable playoff numbers that helped get him and the Marlies the 2018 Calder Cup. When Keefe was summoned to the Leafs, it left tough shoes for the next man to fill.

“I did not approach it like that,” insisted Moore. “I’m here to learn from what he has done, but it’s important to be my own coach.”

To that end, Moore made the most of a two-week stint with Keefe’s and the NHL staff, to learn systems and ‘the Leafs language’ to quote general manager Kyle Dubas.

“Very helpful,” Moore said of the experience. “You find out about the organization, its vision and you work with Sheldon. You get details at both (NHL and AHL) levels, about players coming and going.”

While some recent Marlies contributors are currently with the Leafs, Moore is now in charge of three scrutinized players who must maximize their time in the farm; Sandin, fellow first round pick Timothy Liljegren and forward Jeremy Bracco.

“That’s what gets me really excited, that’s the motivation at this level,” Moore said of the trio. “It’s the last leap to one day playing in the NHL. They have to keep gaining experience in all areas, the more reps the better. They’re great people; motivated, driven.”

Sandin is now re-acclimatized after some highs and lows at the worlds, he and the recently ill Bracco cleared to play on this weekend’s trip. Then there’s the veterans, who range from contentment to spend their final days as model Marlies for the kids to those impatient to get in the lineup when the prospects get preference.

“Older players have all been really welcoming and are maturing into good leaders on the team,” Moore said. “That has been fun. It’s a process for them, too.”

Less than two months ago, Moore thought he would finish with this season with the Steel. Then came Mike Babcock’s firing, Keefe’s promotion and a phone call from Dubas to secure Moore’s release after he made an impression as a guest coach at Leafs development camp.

“It has been a bit of a whirlwind,” Moore agreed. “There has been a lot of changes, but I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170568 Toronto Maple Leafs

Marincin gets another year with Leafs

Lance Hornby

Slowly, but surely, the Maple Leafs are getting defencemen under contract for next year.

After starting the season with only Morgan Rielly’s long-term deal on the books, the club recently extended Justin Holl with a three-year deal and on Friday re-upped Martin Marincin at one year on a one-way deal for an economical $700,000 US.

Often counted out as far as regular NHL employment is concerned, the 27-year-old is definitely a survivor, having arrived early in the Mike Babcock era, shuttling between the Marlies and Leafs ever since.

He’s set to play in his 14th Leafs game of the season on Sunday in Florida, getting longer rope with the Jake Muzzin foot injury.

Muzzin, Tyson Barrie, Travis Dermott and Cody Ceci will be in various free-agent classes beyond July 1.

First-round picks Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren are expected to contend for jobs next year if not earlier.

Marincin, a second-round pick (46th overall) by the Oilers in the 2010 NHL draft, has 19 points in 129 games as a Leaf and was a member of coach Sheldon Keefe’s 2018 Calder Cup champions.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170569 Toronto Maple Leafs already hit a career-high with 13 5-on-5 goals, while shooting what would be a career-best 14 percent. What’s interesting is he’s actually attempting the fewest shots of his career in those spots (13 per 60 minutes), but true to the observations of his smirking teammates, Mirtle and Siegel: Revisiting 10 bold (and bad) Maple Leafs predictions at Nylander is hitting the net a lot more and capitalizing on his chances. midseason He’s also become an important cog on the Leafs’ No. 1 power-play unit, which I hadn’t anticipated back in the fall.

Mirtle: Look, Jonas, Stephane Robidas is the only one who gets an By Jonas Siegel and James Mirtle Jan 10, 2020 13 island. Let’s not complicate things. Maybe Nylander has a peninsula. Or a fjord.

Oh boy. Here we go. Time to pay the piper. Yeah, this was a good prediction. Although if Nylander shoots his career average percentage the rest of the season, he would end up around 29 Back in September, we sat down and came up with 10 predictions for the goals and you’d fail by a slim margin. So I’ll go with that as the likeliest Maple Leafs season. At the 45-game mark, some of those predictions outcome. Out of spite. look pretty darn solid. Confidence level before: 65 percent Others … are, frankly, terrible. We failed you. Confidence level now: 75 percent Here comes sad Alfred … Prediction #4: Mirtle says Cody Ceci doesn’t last the season in the top Let’s dive in with a look back at what we got right, what we got wrong and four what still remains up in the air. Siegel: You nailed this one, though let’s admit it wasn’t really all that bold. Prediction #1: Siegel says the Leafs win the Atlantic We both thought Ceci would be overmatched in a top-four role, especially Siegel: This one had disaster written all over it early when the Leafs were if Babcock insisted on playing him against top lines with Morgan Rielly. in a funk and the Bruins looked like a runaway train. But it’s gotten Keefe quickly broke up that duo early last month, but what’s been interesting now that Boston has come back to Earth and the Leafs have interesting (if somewhat predictable) is that the question of who can and made strides under Sheldon Keefe. What fuels the remaining confidence should face top competition remains. It was Muzzin and Justin Holl I still have: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander are all before Muzzin broke his foot, and maybe that’s the combo Keefe turns to trending upward, the Leafs have found bits of help from lower in the whenever he returns. Maybe the answer comes in a trade. Another lineup despite a rash of injuries and I still think Kyle Dubas has a trade to curiosity: whether Ceci sticks with the Leafs all season. If Dubas and the make to improve the defence. The Leafs only play the Bruins once, but front office add that defenceman via trade, he’s the obvious candidate the Lightning three times, meaning there’s ground to gain if Tampa ends from the top six to go. up being the team to beat. Mirtle: The thing that elevated this to somewhat bold is it wasn’t clear Mirtle: This was a fine bold prediction, although calling it the “boldest of who was going to take Ceci’s place. The Leafs remain thin at RD, the bold” seems a bit overboard. Predicting space aliens abduct Babcock buried Holl in the press box most of last season, and there Laurence Gilman or Mike Babcock gets fired in November would have didn’t seem to be many candidates to challenge him for minutes. Turns been bolder. They’re probably not winning the division – Loose Chicken out Holl has been one of the stories of the year, going from forgotten man says there’s only a 2 percent chance – but if they stay hot under Keefe, it to getting key minutes in the top four. That would have been a better bold could be reasonably close. Second spot feels like a reasonable goal for prediction. I should have made that one. But it felt far-fetched under the them to aim for, as this franchise hasn’t had home ice in Round 1 in 16 former coach. years. Confidence level before: 80 percent Confidence level before: 35 percent Confidence level now: 100 percent Confidence level now: 15 percent Prediction #5: Siegel says Rasmus Sandin never plays another game for Siegel: You had only 30 percent confidence in this prediction before, the Marlies James. I’m probably even lower than that now. Injuries haven’t let up for the Leafs. They started the year with Zach Hyman and Travis Dermott on Siegel: James, this prediction, WOOF! the shelf, and will likely go the entire regular season without a fully I had this wrong two weeks into October when Sandin was returned to healthy lineup now that Ilya Mikheyev is likely done until the playoffs. the Marlies after six games with the Leafs. What I failed to anticipate, and Andreas Johnsson and Trevor Moore are inching closer to return, but probably should have, is that Sandin would never get enough minutes to Jake Muzzin remains out for the foreseeable future, which helps on the justify keeping him with the big club all season. In other words, his cap space front and will prevent any of those 20-man nights anytime development wouldn’t be best served playing for the Leafs. I’m convinced soon. he’ll be up again this year (maybe soon!) though even that possibility will Mirtle: All the injuries screwed this one up. Capmageddon was supposed change if the team upgrades ahead of the trade deadline. to hit in a big way back in November, with four roster players getting cut, Mirtle: This probably didn’t make sense, because who was going to sit? but Brandon Pridham’s magical LTIR dance ruined those plans. Now I’ve Sandin was behind Rielly and Muzzin on LD and relegated to third-pair got this giant stack of “Capmageddon 2019-20” T-shirts that I can’t sell duty unless someone got hurt. And playing Dermott on RD was always on CafePress, and I look like a fool in this prediction piece. Time for something the Leafs were fairly reluctant to do. But Sandin looked so some scotch. good in camp and preseason that I can see what you were thinking. And Confidence level before: 30 percent he may well come up and bump someone out of the lineup in the coming weeks. Confidence level now: 5 percent Confidence level before: 75 percent Prediction #3: Siegel says William Nylander scores 30 goals Confidence level now: 0 percent Siegel: $$$$$$. My proudest moment, James. Prediction #6: Mirtle says the Tavares line isn’t together by the playoffs It was a pretty lonely existence on William Nylander Island for a while there. Now, the condos are filling up, the restaurants all require Siegel: Strong work here, James. reservations and the streets are getting clogged. It’s getting crowded You saw regression coming. What helped your case, and what neither here! you nor I anticipated, was the change behind the bench and how that My confidence in this prediction has only gotten higher now that Nylander would affect combinations like Tavares, Marner and Hyman. Keefe is is on pace for 35 goals with more than half a season in the books. Babcock’s opposite when it comes to making changes – he does it freely Nylander is showing he can get things done without Matthews, shining and often. He gave that trio about seven games together before he here recently (though not the last couple games) with John Tavares. He’s scrapped it and tried something else. Last year, they logged over 800 minutes together and were dominant. This year: only 94 minutes, and not Siegel: Wow, my confidence level in this one was high! nearly as dominant. What’s interesting is that Marner and Hyman, not Marner and Tavares, have ended up together when healthy – but with I still think Andersen will come close to 66 starts, topping 60 for sure, but Matthews, not Tavares, in the middle. he probably won’t get all the way there. We’ve seen the Leafs trying to lighten his load a bit lately with Keefe in charge, but I’m not convinced Mirtle: Yeah, I definitely didn’t see it going this way exactly. I thought that lasts into February and March. Andersen has already started 35 maybe Hyman would end up back with Matthews and Nylander, as I times. The Leafs have 37 games to go, including four back-to-backs. So always liked the way that trio played at even strength. We’ll see what (maybe?) scratch off four starts right there. But how many more after that happens here, though. It’s possible Keefe ends up back with Tavares will Keefe zap from Andersen, especially if things remain tight in the and Marner together, as that duo was so dynamic a year ago. Where the division? The answer probably depends on whether Michael Hutchinson lines end up in April is very much up in the air. (or a backup acquired in trade) performs well enough to justify it. I’m not convinced he can do it, and the Leafs will only have more reason to roll Confidence level before: 25 percent with Andersen if he heats up again.

Confidence level now: 80 percent Mirtle: He’s on pace for just under 64 starts. That feels about right, Prediction #7: Siegel says Morgan Rielly puts up 70 points (or close to it) especially given Hutchinson is playing better of late. But it’s really going again to depend on how the Leafs play. If they’re comfortably in playoff position by mid-March, they can afford to lessen how much Andersen plays and Siegel: I felt like Nostradamus through November with this one: Rielly, save some of that juice for the postseason. If the wild-card race is real playing through injury, had 17 points in the first 20 games. Since then, close and they’re in it? Yeah, he might well get to the 66 again. over a span of 25 games, Rielly has picked up only nine points, all of them assists. Dropping off the top power-play unit hasn’t helped, nor has Confidence level before: 85 percent shooting regression (2.5 percent) that’s hit even harder than I imagined. Confidence level now: 50 percent Rielly is looking more spry of late, even setting up Matthews’ game-tying goal late in regulation against the Jets on Wednesday night. He’s still on Prediction #10: Mirtle says the Leafs finally get out of the first round – pace for almost 50 points and is one hot streak away from something and go on a run beyond even that. But 70 points? Not happening this year. Siegel: What’s hugely surprising is that Babcock won’t get the chance to Mirtle: How many defencemen have had back-to-back 70 point seasons see this one through. We never expected that. the last 20 years? It’s probably a tiny list. I know Erik Karlsson did it a few years ago, but it almost never happens, in part because defenceman I’m intrigued looking ahead by Keefe’s insistence on playing up the scoring is so volatile. The two reasons I didn’t like this call? Tyson Barrie team’s strengths and what that ultimately reaps in the playoffs (assuming was always going to be a likely candidate to eat into Rielly’s PP minutes. the Leafs get in, which I believe is pretty close to a lock). The Leafs can And basically everything went right for Rielly last season, including a very be tough to play against in their own way, by playing keep-away with the high on-ice shooting percentage for a lot of the year. Regression was the puck mostly. How does that look in April, especially if it’s opposite a like- better prediction – although it wouldn’t be a very bold one. minded team like Tampa? It feels like 50-50 right now whether this prediction pays off. Confidence level before: 60 percent Mirtle: Yeah, whether it’s Boston or Tampa, it seems like they’ve got a Confidence level now: 1 percent plausible chance either way to finally get out of Round 1. But because their division is so tough, it’s kind of a toss-up (at best) again. I still think Prediction #8: Mirtle says Auston Matthews will hit 45 goals and 90 points we need to see more than 22 games of the Keefe Leafs to know what to earn Hart Trophy votes they really are.

Siegel: This was not bold, especially in light of your weak confidence in it If they maintain this crazy .727 points percentage the rest of the season, looking back now (35 percent!!!). they’ll climb to 108 points and likely get home ice in the first round. And Injuries always seemed like the only thing that would stop Matthews from that would help their chances. The tough thing about the “go on a run” reaching the kind of heights you imagined — and that we’re seeing now. part of this prediction is not only do you have to beat Boston or Tampa – What’s been fascinating to watch is how Matthews continues to develop getting to the third round probably means going through both. And no his arsenal, including with a one-timer that he didn’t have even a couple matter how good the Leafs look by April, that’s a tough ask for anyone in months back. That’s helped him become even more of a threat on the the league. power play, where he seems likely to top the career-best 12 power-play Confidence level before: 50 percent goals he managed last season. (He’s up to eight right now.) If the Leafs get to 100 points and/or win the division and Matthews pots 50, he’ll be in Confidence level now: 45 percent the mix for the Hart. The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 In short, a prediction realized. Congrats?

Mirtle: Not bold? Consider Matthews’ 82-point pace production his first four NHL seasons:

Year 1: 40 goals and 69 points

Year 2: 45 goals and 83 points

Year 3: 45 goals and 88 points

Year 4: 56 goals and 98 points

So he’d never hit the totals I went with and this year clearly represents another level. He’d been hurt for fairly lengthy stretches the past two seasons, too. And he hasn’t had a single Hart vote since he was a rookie (he got seven in 2016-17 and finished 11th in voting).

I probably should have gone with 50 goals. That was clearly the next step target for him. It’s just such a rarity that any NHL player gets there, and I didn’t think Babcock would dial his minutes way up the way they’ve been lately. But he’s having an even special-er season than expected.

Confidence level before: 35 percent

Confidence level now: 90 percent

Prediction #9: Siegel says Frederik Andersen starts 66 games 1170570 Toronto Maple Leafs While he was disappointed the meet and greet couldn’t be arranged, that hasn’t dampened his love for one of the greatest American rock bands of all time and their seminal debut album, “Ten.”

Maple Leafs Klokebook 1.0: Dressing room DJ wars, Nylander’s secret “Every song on there seems like it’s ahead of its time,” said Barrie. rigatoni and Spezza’s advice for new parents “Release” is his favourite Pearl Jam song.

“That was the first song I ever heard them play live,” said Barrie, smiling. By Joshua Kloke Jan 10, 2020 27 “And I was just blown away.”

Pearl Jam recently announced a European tour for this summer and Barrie wouldn’t be surprised if he made it to their London date. Welcome to “The Maple Leafs Klokebook,” an every-so-often collection of anecdotes, observations and interviews from the Leafs dressing room “Any time they’re in striking distance, I’m going to make it,” said Barrie. that have nothing to do with what’s happening on the ice, and everything Dad tales to do with who these Leafs are off the ice. Being a new-ish dad, I prattle on way too much about my son, as Jonas Dressing room DJ swap Siegel can attest. And parenthood has come up in conversation this With Nazem Kadri and Jake Gardiner departing the Leafs this past season with Jason Spezza, John Tavares and Sheldon Keefe. summer, there was a vacancy as the dressing room DJ. Kadri had My son was born on a Leafs game day last season, so it got me thinking: previously been in charge ahead of games, with Gardiner warming the what happens when players and coaches have children in the middle of team up before practice. the season? We learned earlier this season that Mitch Marner had taken over the job, Let’s start with Keefe. His first son was born on the first day of 2010 but it didn’t last long. training camp with the CCHL’s Pembroke Lumber Kings. At the time, “He’s been fired because he was so bad,” joked Morgan Rielly, referring Keefe was coach and GM of the team, and even chipped in with building to Marner’s playlists. “Too much work for him. He can’t handle the maintenance at the Pembroke Memorial Centre. responsibility. He’s still a young puppy.” With his wife going into labour, Keefe had just enough time to deliver the “Everyone kept bitching, so I told everyone I was done with it,” countered opening address to the team and staff that morning before making what Marner. “We have a team iPod, and we have a bunch of songs there and he remembers to be a “45 second” drive to the Pembroke Regional everyone can play whatever they want now.” Hospital.

Rielly said Justin Holl, in the midst of a breakout season for the Leafs, (Google Maps has the drive at more like seven minutes, so let’s assume was appointed as Marner’s replacement. But Holl remains tentative about Keefe wasn’t following the rules of the road that morning.) taking over the role, full-time. Keefe slept at the hospital that night and then returned to training camp “So we’re in turmoil,” said Rielly. the next morning.

Other Maple Leafs say there’s a big difference between what Marner and “I had a lot of responsibilities there,” he said of his time with Pembroke. Holl each offered. “So I was doing my best to balance it out.”

“They both bring their own styles,” said Travis Dermott. “Mitch is into the Balance can be difficult when it comes to professional hockey new stuff. He picks through newer playlists. And Hollsy will play stuff we requirements and the birth of your children. haven’t heard as much. More his style. He’s got a good ear for music so Take Spezza. Late in the 2011-12 season, Spezza and the Ottawa he likes to find stuff that people don’t fully appreciate it. He’ll play it loud Seantors were fighting for a playoff spot. His wife’s due date had passed for the boys.” and he was debating going on the team’s final road trip of the season Barrie is a jammer through Winnipeg, Philadelphia and Long Island. His wife Jennifer told him to go. What was one of the first things Tyson Barrie heard from Kadri after they switched homes for the season following their summer trade? After a 4-3 shootout win, the Senators had clinched their playoff spot. Spezza received permission from the Senators to head home if his wife “Whoa. You really like Pearl Jam, huh?” went into labour.

That’s because the walls of the basement in Barrie’s Denver home are “‘Don’t fly home. I’m not having the baby,’” Spezza recalls his wife telling covered with Pearl Jam posters. him.

Barrie’s eyes lit up when a recent conversation drifted towards music and So he flew to Long Island with the team. Along the way, Spezza hired a I mentioned I’d seen Pearl Jam live 13 times. Barrie himself has seen charter flight to stay in Long Island in the event he needed to return home Pearl Jam on five occasions. after the game.

Here’s what you need to know about Pearl Jam fans: they are dedicated, The plane could only be held until midnight, so after a 5-1 win, he to the point of obsession. Barrie is no different, recalling seeing them in checked in again with his wife. All was quiet at home, so he let the 2016 in Pemberton, B.C. charter flight go.

“I got there early so I could be right on the rail,” said Barrie. “That was Then, in the wee hours of the morning, Spezza heard from Jennifer. pretty special.” “She called me and said she was in labour!” he said. Barrie has also seen Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder perform solo seven times. A slightly frantic Spezza made it to Newark International Airport, got on a 5:30 a.m. flight to Washington to connect to a flight to Ottawa. When he “I saw Eddie Vedder three nights in a row in Amsterdam,” said Barrie, landed in Ottawa, Jennifer called and said she’d given birth to a baby girl adding that he’s also seen Vedder at Ohana Fest in Hawaii. — the first of his four daughters.

But Barrie didn’t stop there. “I was upset. I didn’t want to miss the baby,” said Spezza. “You can’t control how fast it happens.” He had heard that former NHLer Chris Chelios was close with Vedder, and he also knew that Wayne Gretzky was close with Chelios. So ahead "MY KIDS WEAR THEIR JERSEYS TO SCHOOL, SO MAYBE THAT of that Pemberton show he started to work the phones. Barrie said he’s MEANS WE’RE DOING WELL."-JASON SPEZZA close with Gretzky’s children, and asked if they could pull some strings to PIC.TWITTER.COM/61Y8RLZGX6 get him a backstage pass and a possible meet and greet with Vedder. — DALLAS STARS (@DALLASSTARS) NOVEMBER 24, 2015 Spezza’s fourth daughter was also born during the season. But after Sugo has garnered a reputation for having big portion sizes, without having three children, he was considerably more composed for the birth sacrificing quality. And that’s, in part, what keeps Nylander going back. of Julia at 1 p.m. the day of a March 12, 2016 game for the Dallas Stars against the St. Louis Blues. “It’s perfect,” said Nylander with a grin.

“I played at 7 p.m.,” he said, laughing. Drawing up plays on a thigh

Spezza scored two goals in a 5-4 loss. A fun scene after a recent Leafs practice: Pierre Engvall, then having just been called up to the Leafs, and Andreas Johnsson were sitting in a “It’s fun to come to the rink,” Spezza said of playing after the birth of his corner of the dressing room. In the absence of a portable whiteboard, daughter. “Everyone’s happy for you. It’s a pretty amazing experience, to Johnsson was left to explain — in Swedish — specific Xs and Os… on be able to share it with that many people. The guys on your team are his leg. As Engvall nodded along, Johnsson continued, the sound of his sharing it with you.” voice growing louder than normal.

Leafs captain John Tavares was concerned about having his first child You don’t often hear much from Johnsson. He’s the type to always offer mid-season as things can get “really complicated during the season.” a smile and gladly make time for a curious reporter, but you don’t get the sense he’d be the centre of attention in a social setting. So as Tavares and his wife, Aryne, headed to the hospital late on Sept. 10, he called Leafs GM Kyle Dubas to let him know Aryne was in labour. Ahead of this season, Johnsson told The Athletic that he wanted to “take a bigger responsibility” on the team. To him, that included extending Though training camp was set to begin the following day, Dubas told more of a helping hand to new Leafs. Tavares not to arrive until Saturday, four days later. “I was asking him about how he would think and what he would do on the “A couple days to come down,” said Tavares, whose son Jace arrived on forecheck,” said Engvall. “And if he gets beat, where he would go. He Sept. 11. told me and I think I got it.”

It didn’t take long for Tavares to feel ready to return to the ice. It might sound simple enough, but it made a difference to Engvall. It’s not “A night or two of good sleep is all you need to get back on track,” said always easy for a first-year player to form connections in an NHL Tavares. dressing room. Engvall said Johnsson has been helpful and he’s had no problem seeking out advice from other Leafs. Jace is now almost four months old, and he is eating and sleeping well. As is his dad. “If you need to know something,” said Engvall, “you can go to anyone here.” “I’m sleeping great,” Tavares said, noting they’ve been getting help from extended family. “My mother-in-law has been incredible.” Holl’s real estate plans

He understands that early on, the bond between mother and child is Toronto’s real estate market is notoriously difficult for new buyers. And strong. Justin Holl gets it.

“That’s probably why I’m getting as much sleep as I am,” said Tavares. After signing a three-year, $6-million contract extension, Holl said he hopes his first big purchase will be a new home. But he is still trying to create his own bond with his son. But even with Holl staying in Toronto for the foreseeable future, he has “Honestly, I look forward to changing his diapers,” said Tavares. “It’s no plans on buying in the city. Holl, like many young people in Toronto, is amazing, that face he gives you when you give him that sense of relief. struggling to comprehend Toronto’s hot housing market. Knowing that he’s mine, and that we’re developing that bond, there’s nothing more important than that and there’s no bigger responsibility.” “It’s crazy,” he said.

Through a sometimes tumultuous season, Jace has become a constant His hope is to buy close to his hometown of Minnetonka, Minn. He’s source of happiness for Tavares. thinking about a home more akin to a cottage, far away from the noise of Toronto. “I’m racing home from the rink just to see him and catch up with him,” said Tavares. “I felt even more special to be doing what I do every single “Something I can have for the rest of my life,” Holl said. day because I’ve got someone to truly share it with. It means that much The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 more to me.”

But what kind of advice would Spezza, now something of an expert in parenting, give to new parents like Tavares?

Keep it simple.

“Your first kid, there’s a lot of over preparation,” said Spezza. “And then you realize that all you need is a mom, a couple diapers, a swaddler and a bassinet and you’re good.”

Nylander loves his rigatoni

When the Maple Leafs are on the road, Tavares is generally the player in charge of finding restaurants for the team to dine at. But it’s a different story here in Toronto.

Toronto restaurant-goers may have noticed William Nylander in recent appearances and Instagram posts repping one of the city’s better, but small and still slightly under-the-radar, Italian restaurants: Sugo.

Sugo is also a personal favourite of mine, so I had to ask Nylander what his order is. I’m partial to the rigatoni in a spicy rose sauce.

“I like the rigatoni a lot,” said Nylander. “And I like the gnocchi Bolognese.”

How did Nylander, who lives downtown like so many other young Leafs, come across a joint well north-west of Scotiabank Arena?

“(Former Leaf) Dominic Moore actually told me about it,” said Nylander. “He told me to go check it out.” 1170571 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights help kick off renovation of Wolfgang Puck restaurant

By Al Mancini Las Vegas Review-Journal

January 10, 2020 - 11:26 PM

Alex Tuch, William Karlsson, Deryk Engelland and Reilly Smith grabbed some tools on Friday afternoon and officially began the conversion of the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill in Downtown Summerlin into Wolfgang Puck Players Locker.

The four Golden Knights, who along with Shea Theodore are partnered with Puck on the project, performed some symbolic demolition of the private dining room as guests ate in the restaurant. Tuch then lead a tour of the kitchen, lounge and main dining room, pointing out some cosmetic changes that are planned.

One of the highlights of the new space will be private lockers where “members” can store personal bottles of high-end spirits.

“We wanted this concept to be almost an attraction, for the normal person to come in and you can look and see (what’s in the lockers),” Tuch explained.

In addition to members of the Golden Knights, Tuch revealed that team owner Bill Foley, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and basketball great Shaquille O’Neal will all have their own lockers.

For his locker, Tuch has a bottle of pricey Louis XIII Cognac he plans to stash there, along with “some other nice bottles.”

While the Knights right wing was fairly tight-lipped about the menu that chef Daniel Stramm is creating, he did reveal one dish that he insisted be included. It’s called the Tuch Reuben, and he promises it will be a “sloppy, greasy, full-of-sauerkraut corned beef Reuben that’s really hearty.”

“The Reuben is my favorite sandwich in the world,” the Syracuse, New York, native explained. “The dressing actually comes from upstate New York. It’s called the Thousand Island dressing, and I have a cottage in the Thousand Islands.”

When asked about customers who might want something a bit healthier, he said they won’t be disappointed.

“It’s a very healthy menu. There are going to be the original kind of bar menu items: chicken wings, stuff like that. But we (will) offer vegan options. It’s Wolfgang Puck, so it is going to be high quality food.”

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill will close to accommodate the renovations at 3 p.m. Sunday. It’s expected to reopen as Wolfgang Puck Players Locker on Jan. 25.

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Golden Knights eager to wrap up season-long homestand

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

January 10, 2020 - 5:31 PM

The Golden Knights might be learning a lesson that every kid who has gorged on candy on Halloween night has learned: Too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing.

The Knights have lost steam as their season-long seven-game homestand has wound down. They’ve lost their past two games — their fifth and sixth at home during this stretch — and fallen behind 3-0 in their last three.

Whether it’s complacency, cabin fever or something else, the typically nomadic Knights seem ready to move on. But before that happens, they conclude their homestand at 7 p.m. Saturday at T-Mobile Arena against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“We had a great start to this homestand, and the last two have been real tough to stomach a little bit, you know?” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “We’ve been home too long. Let’s get going here. It just feels like almost the summertime. It’s not right. It’s a long time home, but you can’t use that excuse. You got to prepare yourself. We’re professionals.”

The Knights have been clear that this schedule quirk, tied for the longest homestand in franchise history, in no way excuses their starts recently.

Being at home hasn’t caused the team to fall behind 3-0 in 16:16 against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, or 3-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 24:18 on Tuesday, or 4-0 to the Los Angeles Kings in 19:56 on Thursday.

That’s on the Knights.

“It’s just little mental lapses in the beginning of games,” left wing Chandler Stephenson said. “There’s no reason for it. It’s, you know, on us. And only we can change it. I think that enough’s enough, and everybody’s sick and tired of it.”

Defenseman Nate Schmidt said being at home since their Dec. 27 game at Anaheim has been “a little bit different,” though. Previously, the Knights’ longest stint in Las Vegas came after an Oct. 22 game in Chicago. They played four straight home games, then left for Columbus on Nov. 3.

The team is used to moving on by now. To going to a new city. To having team dinners on the road. It’s accustomed to a back-and-forth lifestyle while the season is ongoing.

And the Knights will soon get their fill of it. After Saturday, their next home game is Feb. 8, which gives their date with the Blue Jackets added significance.

“It certainly is (important),” Schmidt said. “That’s something that you got to leave a good taste in the mouths of our faithful that come out and watch us and pay good money to see what’s not happening in the first period.”

The Knights know Saturday’s game isn’t just meaningful to their fans; it’s crucial in the standings, too. They entered Friday fourth in the Pacific Division in points percentage (.574), behind the Arizona Coyotes (.587), Edmonton Oilers (.576) and Calgary Flames (.576).

That’s not where they want to be coming off a long homestand, especially because their next eight games are on the road. They have a four-game trip before the All-Star break/bye week and another four-game one after.

Winning Saturday could keep them toward the top of the standings as they pack their bags. Going 5-2 on the homestand — as opposed to 4-3 — would let them hit the road with momentum.

“It’s our last home game before the break, and I think we have four on the road before the break, so let’s pick it up again,” Gallant said. “We’ve played well for a while, and we got to get it going again.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170573 Vegas Golden Knights Roster move The Knights on Friday swapped forwards with their AHL affiliate in

Chicago, sending Nicolas Roy to the Wolves and promoting Keegan Golden Knights’ Max Pacioretty selected for 1st All-Star Game Kolesar.

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By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

January 10, 2020 - 1:20 PM

Max Pacioretty didn’t need to capture the popular vote to make the NHL All-Star Game.

The Golden Knights’ leading scorer was added to the Pacific Division team by the league Friday as the replacement for Anaheim’s Jakob Silfverberg.

Silfverberg was excused from the Jan. 24-25 event in St. Louis for the impending birth of his child.

#NHLAllStar Update: Jakob Silfverberg of the @AnaheimDucks has been excused from the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game because of the imminent birth of his child. He will be replaced by @GoldenKnights forward Max Pacioretty. pic.twitter.com/i6ALVsi5ir

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 10, 2020

Pacioretty, 31, will be making his first All-Star Game appearance. He tops the Knights with 45 points in 47 games and reached the 20-goal plateau for the seventh time in his 12-year career in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to Los Angeles.

“I felt maybe some time in my career (I) probably should’ve been there, but if it happens or not, either way I can’t control what happens,” Pacioretty said this week. “I’m just worrying about the team and contributing, and I feel happy about my play this season.”

Pacioretty was part of the “Last Men In” voting that ended Friday but is the Knights’ lone on-ice representative regardless of the outcome.

Coach Gerard Gallant was selected to lead the Pacific Division squad by virtue of the Knights being in first place on points percentage at the season’s midway point.

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury previously announced he will not attend after being selected for the fifth time in his career.

“Max has had a great season, for sure,” Gallant said Thursday. “He well deserves it.”

Merrill’s magnificent mullet

The NHL’s official Twitter account conducted a poll asking whether Jon Merrill or Cody Eakin had the better mullet, and Merrill won in a landslide with 69 percent of the nearly 6,000 votes.

“I think I’ve got a little bit better curl in the back,” Merrill said. “Hockey and hair go hand in hand. To have good hair like this, I’m very blessed.”

This town ain't big enough for the two of us. 

— NHL (@NHL) January 8, 2020

However, Merrill said he isn’t going to dethrone William Karlsson for the crown of best hair on the team. Karlsson was voted to have the third-best hair in the NHL in last year’s NHL Players Association poll.

“He’s got good hair in his own way. But we’re a completely different style,” Merrill said. “He’s got that model, suave look. Mine’s more trashy, blue-collar.”

No change for Marchessault

Left wing Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) did not practice Friday and is expected to be a game-time decision Saturday against Columbus.

Marchessault missed the past four games and remains day to day, according to Gallant. He had six goals and nine points in the nine games before the injury.

“He was playing his best hockey before he got hurt,” Gallant said. “It’s nothing serious. It’s just sort of a day-to-day lingering. Hopefully he’ll be ready (Saturday), but I’m not sure.” 1170574 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights relive ‘same old story’ in 1st period against Kings

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

January 10, 2020 - 5:15 am

Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant summarized it best.

“Same old story, isn’t it?” he said after his team’s 5-2 defeat to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

The loss hit a lot of familiar notes. The Knights got down early. They rallied. The same cycle occurred in their 5-4 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday and their 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

But Thursday’s opponent was of a different sort. The Blues are the defending Stanley Cup champions and the top team in the Western Conference. The Penguins, the 2016 and 2017 champs, are tied for the fourth-most points in the NHL.

The Kings are different. They’re 27th in the overall standings. They also played Wednesday and lost 2-1 at home to the Dallas Stars.

Yet somehow they were the aggressors early on at T-Mobile Arena and hounded the Knights in a dominant first period.

“Just weren’t ready to play,” left wing Max Pacioretty said. “Obviously, it’s one of those game where you’ve got to look yourself in the mirror and figure out why.”

The Knights certainly weren’t at their best early in the first period, but they looked fine. Through the first 10-plus minutes shots on goal were 9- 5 in favor of the home team.

Then defenseman Alec Martinez changed everything.

He picked up a loose puck that defenseman Deryk Engelland deflected away from the net, and unleashed a slap shot from the left point. His rising shot beat goaltender Malcolm Subban glove-side for his first goal with 6:20 left in the first.

For the rest of the period, the Knights seemed shell-shocked. It took the Kings just 1:21 to score again.

Their second goal was much like their first. It featured a defenseman taking a slap shot from the left point — this time Ben Hutton — and besting Subban. Hutton was aided by a screen provided by teammate Adrian Kempe, who skated in front of Subban along with defenseman Nate Schmidt just before the shot arrived.

The Kings didn’t stop piling on. Next right wing Tyler Toffoli gathered the puck after a faceoff win by center Anze Kopitar and lasered it through traffic with 1:16 remaining. Subban likely never saw the puck.

The Kings finished their onslaught with perhaps the most egregious goal the Knights allowed. With time winding down in the first period, defenseman Matt Roy snapped his stick on a slap shot.

Center Mike Amadio grabbed the puck in front of the crease and moved to his right to sneak it past Subban. He couldn’t get the puck in the net, and instead it sat in the crease. Kempe beat everyone to the loose puck and knocked it in with four seconds left.

It was an inexcusable gaffe by the Knights. It ended a horrific frame for the home team, who played so poorly a 36-5 edge in shots on goal the final two periods wasn’t enough to save it from a humbling loss.

The Kings scored more goals in the first period than they did their entire first-round playoff series against the Knights in 2018. They had 13 of the final 14 shots on goal in the frame and coasted to victory from there.

“I think every guy has to be accountable,” Engelland said. “And know exactly how we need to play and come out ready to do that right off the drop of the puck.”

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Golden Knights’ Max Pacioretty pegged for the NHL All-Star Game

By Justin Emerson (contact)

Friday, Jan. 10, 2020 | 1:34 p.m.

Marc-Andre Fleury may have pulled out of the NHL All-Star Game, but the Golden Knights will still have a representative on the ice.

Forward Max Pacioretty was named to the Pacific Division roster, the NHL announced today. It is first appearance in the game for Pacioretty, who will join coach Gerard Gallant in St. Louis on Jan. 25.

Pacioretty scored his team-leading 20th goal in last night’s game to go along with a team-high 45 points. That puts him on pace for 79 points, which would be the best of his career.

Pacioretty was named as a replacement for Anaheim forward Jakob Silfverberg, who was excused in anticipation of the birth of his child.

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Looking to spark ailing power play, Capitals shake up personnel

Samantha Pell

January 10, 2020 at 2:53 PM EST

Washington Capitals Coach Todd Reirden knew the team’s power-play unit needed a shake-up after its poor performance over the past five weeks. So the coaching staff decided not only to move personnel around but also to slightly change its philosophy.

As shown for the first time at Friday’s practice, Jakub Vrana will be tested out on the Capitals’ first power-play unit with the normal group of T.J. Oshie, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson. Vrana has scored all 19 of his goals this season at even strength, which leads the team. Vrana’s power-play time this season has been limited to just 1:33 per game with the second unit.

“I’ve been watching them for almost three years now, and I’ve learned a lot,” Vrana said. “You know, it is a good opportunity, and I want to take advantage of every chance I got.”

Vrana will take Evgeny Kuznetsov’s place on or below the goal line, where the primary job is to distribute the puck, usually either to Backstrom on the half-wall or Oshie in the slot.

The second unit will be composed of Kuznetsov, Tom Wilson, Lars Eller, Brendan Leipsic and Dmitry Orlov.

As Capitals’ power play continues to struggle, ‘That’s on us.’

“I mean, we were not satisfied with some mistakes there. But, you know, I am just doing what I can do best and try to skate a lot, and, you know, it is very important,” Vrana said. “I’m playing low, so I’m going to make sure I’m winning the battles around the net and give it to Backy’s hands. And, you know, I am going to be out there and use my skills and try to create some offense and get us going.”

Reirden said the Capitals want to spread the talent over the two power- play units and split the ice time more evenly, with the hope of putting fresher players on the ice and winning more puck battles.

“Moving them around is something that sometimes can give a different look at things and allows us to go into each power play with fresher units,” Reirden said. “Sometimes we’ve been fatigued and gone with certain groups, and then you end up losing puck battles.”

Over the past 17 games, the Capitals are 7 for 51 (13.7 percent) on the power play, and the second unit has produced two goals, one of which was from Ovechkin off a feed from Orlov. During that stretch, Kuznetsov has scored three power-play goals on the first unit, and Oshie has scored two.

Reirden said the combination of Wilson, Eller and Kuznetsov with Ovechkin and Carlson could start a power play if those particular players are fresher at that moment. So far this season, Reirden has stuck with his typical top unit.

“Sometimes when you struggle, like we have the last couple games, I feel like sometimes you just need to shake it up a little bit,” Backstrom said. “We always had two good units, and to be able to split it up, I think it just gives other teams — it’s going to be harder for them to defend. We want to be better on the power play, and we need to be better. Shake things up and see where we’re at.”

Washington Post LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170577 Washington Capitals But the move is not just about hoping Vrana can fix the top unit, it is also about being able to throw two different power play units out on the ice. Washington has leaned heavily on its top unit and Reirden expects that in part may be the problem. Looking to spark a suddenly woeful power play, Reirden adds Jakub Vrana to top unit “For us, we want to spread some of the talent out and go with a little bit of a shorter shift mentality where we can win some more puck battles because right now we're not winning enough puck battles. We’ve gotten out-worked in some areas. I think that by having a fresher group out By J.J. Regan January 10, 2020 1:09 PM there then I think that our success level for winning puck battles and executing better will improve.”

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Capitals were given every opportunity to win on Should that not work, Reirden made it clear he had plenty of other Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers, but the power play failed options in terms of personnel he could throw out on the ice. them. The 3-2 loss was an exclamation point to what has been a “We feel confident in a number of different guys and different spots,” he troubling trend for Washington since the start of December: the vaunted said. “We feel just at this point this is the right thing to do. Looking power play that has for so long dominated the league just has not been forward to watching it Saturday night.” good enough. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 Washington had three opportunities in the second period and an additional two in the third, but went 0-for-5 on the night in what was a one-goal loss. Not only did the power play not produce, but the Caps gave up a shorthanded breakaway goal to Kevin Hayes that proved to be the game-winner.

“I think when you have a good power play, you've got a target on your back,” said Tom Wilson who plays on the second unit. “Teams have an emphasis on studying the video and we're going to have to work through it. At the end of the day, we've had some good chances throughout the game, we aren't getting results.”

But it was not just one bad game. This has been an issue for some time now.

Since Dec. 1, Washington ranks 30th in the NHL on the power play with 13.7-percent. That is over the course of 17 games, not at all a small sample size.

A unit that boasts John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov has got to be better and the team knows it.

“It's generally your top players out there so someone has to step up and we've got to get the job done,” Wilson said. “It's as simple as that.”

On Friday, Reirden made a tweak to the personnel in practice putting Jakub Vrana on the top unit and moving Evgeny Kuznetsov down.

"Sometimes when you struggle, like we have the last couple games, I feel like sometimes you just need to shake it up a little bit,” Backstrom said. “We always had two good units and to be able to split it up, I think it just gives other teams -- it's going to be harder for them to defend. We want to be better on the power play, and we need to be better. Shake things up and see where we're at."

“It's just maybe like coach changes the lines sometimes if you're not getting things done 5-on-5,” Wilson said. “I don't think it's much different than that.”

Vrana’s power play time this season has been limited to just 1:33 per game as he plays on an under-utilized second unit. As a result, he has no power play goals at all this season. But Vrana has proven himself to be a lethal scorer with 19 even-strength goals. That is two more than Ovechkin has and ranks tied for third in the NHL.

“I've been watching them for almost three years now and I’ve learned a lot,” Vrana said of the top unit. “It is a good opportunity and I want to take advantage of every chance I got and just going to make sure you are prepared and ready to go out there and do your best."

But will Vrana’s addition to the power play really be the change the team needs?

Vrana is a lethal scorer to be sure, but if he plays in Kuznetsov’s spot, he may not get much opportunity to actually put pucks on the net. Kuznetsov plays the corner on the power play and is often positioned on or below the goal line, his primary responsibility being to distribute the puck mainly to either Backstrom on the half wall or Oshie in the slot. Unless the power play setup is tweaked as well as the lineup, Vrana may not find himself in a position where he can have as great an impact as it is hoped.

“I'm playing low so I'm going to make sure I'm winning the battles around the net and give it to Backy's hands,” Vrana said. “I am going to be out there and use my skills and try to create some offense and get us going." 1170578 Washington Capitals

Brian MacLellan on the Caps’ goalie tandem: ‘Holtby’s our guy’

By J.J. Regan January 10, 2020 6:00 AM

Think there’s a goalie controversy in Washington? Not according to Brian MacLellan. The Capitals general manager was interviewed Tuesday on the Hockey Central radio show from SportsNet in Canada and made clear that while Ilya Samsonov may be the future starter for the Capitals, Holtby remains the No. 1.

“Holtby’s our guy. He has the Cup, he’s got a history, he’s been a huge part of our organization,” MacLellan said. “He’s our No. 1 guy.”

This has become a hot topic around Washington considering the stats. While Holtby has gotten a majority of the start this season, Samsonov statitically has been the better netminder.

Holtby: 31 games played, 18-8-4, .901 save percentage, 2.99 GAA

Samsonov: 16 games played, 12-2-1, .921 save percentage, 2.24 GAA

With Holtby on the final year of his contract, the Caps found themselves in an awkward situation in which the team is both focused on winning now and preparing for the future between the pipes. Samsonov has long been considered the heir apparent to take over as the starting goalie in Washington since he was selected in the first round in the 2016 draft. Even though he had only one season of experience in North America heading into this season, the team felt compelled to develop Samsonov for the NHL and he has served as Holtby's backup.

“I think what we’ve been trying to do is develop Samsonov and he’s handled everything we’ve thrown at him very well,” MacLellan said. “He’s continually gotten better, he works at his game, he’s calm under pressure. We’ve put him in difficult starts lately where we’re on the road and playing against good teams and he’s responded well to that. I think it’s more, our team’s about Holtby but we’re developing Samsonov and trying to do what’s best for both guys.”

The future certainly appears bright for the 22-year-old rookie, but MacLellan also made clear that both goalies still have a role to play in the present.

“Hopefully they’re both healthy and we can use both down the stretch and into the playoffs.”

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Capitals Prospect Report: McMichael wins gold, Has is coming to North America

By J.J. Regan January 10, 2020 10:30 AM

Connor McMichael is a gold medalist. Team Canada won the World Junior Championship on Sunday with a 4-3 victory over Russia. Russia had defeated Canada 6-0 during the round-robin stage of the tournament, but McMichael and Co. won in the rematch to claim gold.

Canada trailed 3-1, but McMichael was a big part of the turnaround, scoring to pull Canada to within one.

Just 34 seconds after the @russiahockey goal, @con91mcmichael tips one in for @hc_wjc and we have a 3-2 game!! @capitals @GoLondonKnights pic.twitter.com/2MwwhPDIN7

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 5, 2020

The goal was McMichael's fifth of the tournament and helped spark the comeback win. He finished the tournament tied for fourth in goals.

Want to hear more about McMichael? TSN analyst Craig Button joined Rob Carlin on the Capitals Talk podcast to give his thoughts on the future Cap and he had some high praise for him.

It is no surprise to hear Button praise McMichael on the podcast. After all, McMichael came in 19th in Button's rankings of NHL-affiliated prospects. Also making the list? Alex Alexeyev at No. 37.

Defenseman Martin Hugo Has is coming to North America. He will play for the North Bay Battalion in the OHL. General manager of the Battalion, Adam Dennis, told reporters, "Hugo has decided to come to North America for further development and develop his career for a chance to have an NHL career so we are happy to help with that process." Has was playing in Finland prior to the move. He also played for the Czech Republic in the World Junor Championship, recording one goal and two assists in five games.

Joe Snively is out week-to-week after getting boarded by Bridgeport Sound defenseman Kyle Burroughs. Burroughs received a two-game suspension for the hit. Snively was enjoying quite the turnaround after a slow start to the season. He has nine goals and seven assists in 34 games.

Vitek Vanecek has won eight of his last 10 starts and has allowed two goals or fewer in nine of those games. He ranks seventh in the AHL in GAA with 2.30 and 19th with a .911 save percentage.

Mike Sgarbossa has been named to the Atlantic Division's AHL All-Star roster. He leads the Bears in points with 35 which is also tied for fifth in the league.

The season did not get off to the start either Riley Sutter or Kody Clark would have wanted as they both had to sit out with injuries. But since both were injured during the prospects showcase in Nashville, both were able to keep each other's spirits up as they worked their way back onto the ice. Check out the story here.

Philippe Maillet has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his last four games for Hershey.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170580 Washington Capitals (47), and spare forward Travis Boyd, who has the third-lowest cap hit among the Caps’ forwards. Boyd hasn’t played much (19 games) but when he has, he’s produced. In fact, he’s 11th on the team in points per game at .42, which ranks ahead of full-time forwards Dowd, Leipsic, Carl Bang for your buck: How each Capitals player’s performance stacks up in Hagelin and Richard Panik. relation to their cap hit Meantime, three top-six forwards are outplaying their salaries – Vrana, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie. Vrana, who agreed to a two-year, team-friendly $6.7 million deal in July, is on pace for career highs in goals By Tarik El-Bashir Jan 10, 2020 19 (35) and points (66). Interestingly, all of his 19 goals have been scored at even strength. Backstrom, who’s in the final year of a 10-year deal that averages a club-friendly $6.7 million AAV, has been one of the Caps’ ARLINGTON, Va. – For teams operating at, or near, the salary cap, each most productive forwards since returning from injury Dec. 9, racking up and every dollar allocated to payroll matters. 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) inn 14 games.

Just ask the NHL-leading Washington Capitals. Which brings us to the five forwards who are in the red. That Panik and Hagelin are there shouldn’t come as a surprise; the third-line wingers When injuries piled up earlier this season, the team was forced to have combined for a meager six goals and 11 points thus far. perform cap gymnastics – Ilya Samsonov’s temporary demotion to AHL Hershey was among the moves, if you recall – just to clear enough space The others in red, however, may raise some eyebrows. Until you take a to field a complete roster of 20 players for the Nov. 16 game at Boston. close look at their underlying numbers, that is. Offensively, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov have been good, but the numbers It was that tight. show they’re giving a lot back on defense. Ovechkin’s goals against per When cap space is so scarce, extracting the most from every dollar is 60 at 5-on-5 is 3.54, worst on the team. That’s partially bad luck, but not paramount, particularly for teams with Stanley Cup aspirations. The top- completely undeserved because he’s second to last in expected goals end guys must earn their paychecks and, just as important, the guys at against per 60 at 2.82. Kuznetsov is last in that category at 2.92. This the bottom of the pay scale need to pull their weight or, better yet, was the case last season, too, but it was covered up by both being more productive on offense at 5-on-5, and goalies making more saves behind outperform their contracts. them.

To gauge how much bang the Caps are getting for each buck, I reached As for Wilson, it should be noted that he’s a difficult player to assign a out to Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic’s resident hockey analytics expert. value to because of his uniqueness. In addition to being the Caps’ first- Luszczyszyn’s game score value added (GSVA) model combines typical line right wing, he’s also the team’s biggest hitter, he stands up for box score stats and advanced analytics to come up with a single number teammates and, in general, brings to the table a host of intangibles that to represents a player’s value over the course of 82 games. aren’t easily measured by statistics. That said, because he plays a lot GSVA isn’t perfect, and Luszczyszyn acknowledges its limitations. But with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov, their problems this season at 5-on-5 have his model does a good job of not only determining a player’s value but been his, as well. also projecting future production. (Read more on Luszczyszyn’s GSVA On to the defensemen: model here.) It should come as no surprise that Carlson is outperforming his contract As a primer, Hart Trophy level forwards typically earn a score of around given the numbers he’s putting up. He leads all defensemen in points 3.0 or higher, while defensemen in the Norris Trophy discussion usually (54) and assists (41). He’s also fourth in goals (13) and has been grade out around 2.5. First-line forwards are expected to come in around hovering around the 100-point pace for most of the season. The last time 2.25, while top-pair blueliners should garner a 2.0 to 1.7 or so. A top-six a defenseman reached triple digits was 1991-92 when Brian Leetch did it forward, meantime, is expected to earn a 1.0, while a second pair as a member of the Rangers. defenseman should check in around 0.4. Under-performing players can dip below zero. Meantime, Dmitry Orlov is enjoying a bounce-back season after a down year last season, while Jonas Siegenthaler leads the team in blocked So, in short, 3.0 = great, 2.0 = good, 1.0 = average and zero or negative shots and is quietly establishing himself as a reliable defender, as well as numbers = bad. a quality penalty killer in his first full NHL season. Radko Gudas, too, is Luszczyszyn has also calculated how much GSVA a player should performing solidly for a third pair defenseman/penalty killer. (The Flyers contribute based on his salary. That is represented in the charts below as retained a little more than $1 million on Gudas’ salary, reducing Gudas’ “xWin,” or expected wins. For this exercise, we’ll be paying close cap charge in D.C.) attention to the numbers under “difference” on the far right. The higher The only two defensemen in the red shouldn’t come as a shock, either. the difference, the more valuable a player is in relation to his 2019-20 After missing the first eight games as he rehabbed the torn hamstring cap hit. And when you’re a cap team, it’s absolutely crucial to have that ended his 2018-19 season, Kempny is still working his way back to multiple players contributing above their xWin. his pre-injury form. Kempny also missed a couple of games recently with The best difference on the team – 2.46 – belongs to Jakub Vrana, not so an illness and played sick in a couple more games. surprisingly. The 23-year-old forward is second on the team in goals and As for Jensen, he’s struggled. There’s no other way to put it. The Caps has the ninth-highest cap hit ($3.35 million) among the team’s 20 skaters. only score 1.98 goals per 60 with him on the ice, worst on the team. He’s On the flip side, defenseman Nick Jensen has the worst difference at the only player on the team without a goal and has just two assists. His minus-1.35, which shouldn’t be a surprise. Acquired at the trade deadline goal percentage, in fact, is second to last on the team behind Ovechkin. last season, the 29-year-old is still searching for his comfort zone in D.C., and for a time Wednesday night in Philadelphia, was benched for his The overall takeaway is that the Caps are getting good value from their ineffectiveness. roster, with 12 of 19 skaters outperforming their cap hits, according to Luszczyszyn’s GSVA model. And a few big name exceptions could get Let’s take a look at Luszczyszyn’s charts, beginning with the Caps’ things turned around by improving their production at 5-on-5. The Caps forwards: have been pressed up against the salary cap ceiling for a number of As you can see, the Caps are getting plenty of bang for their buck from years now, and that doesn’t appear likely to change any time soon. As the bottom six and, in particular, the retooled fourth line of Brendan such, it’s critical that they continue to get good efficiency out of the Leipsic, Nic Dowd and Garnet Hathaway. All three are outperforming majority of their contracts. their salaries, based on Luszczyszyn’s model. One of the team’s top Finally, Luszczyszyn’s model does not include goaltenders. If it did, priorities in free agency last summer was squeezing more from this line – Samsonov would likely rank among the team’s most efficient players and doing it on a budget. So far, so good. It’s important to point out that considering his breakout season and entry-level contract’s cap hit Leipsic is earning the league-minimum salary of $700,000, while Dowd is ($925,000). earning just $50,000 more, so the bar is set relatively low. The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 Two more bottom-six forwards outperforming their salaries are third-line center Lars Eller, who is on pace for career highs in goals (20) and points 1170581 Winnipeg Jets certainly the case in these last four and a big reason why the Jets were able to pick up some points, with the power play going 4-10, and the penalty kill going 12-for-14 with a pair of short-handed goals.

Jets win a lot for being a bad team It’s also putting plenty of pressure on No. 1 goalie Connor Hellebuyck and, when called upon, backup Laurent Brossoit. Hellebuyck has Outplayed, out-chanced, out-everything every game... is it sorcery? typically been up to the task, while Brossoit has struggled in limited action.

Sooner or later this is all going to come back and bite them in a big way, Mike McIntyre right?

You’d think. And yet, it’s somehow gotten the Jets this far, currently By some accounts, the Winnipeg Jets should have limped back into town sitting in a playoff spot at 24-17-4 and just four points out of second place under the cover of darkness early Friday morning, licking their wounds in the Western Conference. after having just been throughly beaten down and demoralized following The Jets are last in the NHL with 294 high-danger chances for, and also a fruitless four-game road trip. last in the NHL with 473 high-danger chances against. After all, the advanced numbers don’t paint a very pretty picture, to say They also have just nine wins in 20 games at Bell MTS Place and a the least. penalty kill that is last in the league despite showing some recent signs of According to Natural Stat Trick, the Jets registered just 13 high-danger improvement. chances generated during pit stops in Minnesota (2), Montreal (5), I repeat: How in the heck? Toronto (3) and Boston (3). The Jets also surrendered a whopping 54 high-danger changes to the Wild (11), Canadiens (14), Leafs (13) and The Jets were in tough coming out of the Christmas break with a stretch Bruins (16). of eight games in 14 days, but managed to weather the storm by going 3- 3-2. Six of those were on the road. If these were boxing matches, Winnipeg’s corner man likely would have thrown in the towel. "These next six games going into the break are going to be huge. We’ve got, obviously, Nashville, new coach, they’re going to be ready to go. But, true to form, these confusing, confounding Jets managed to defy the They’re a great team. Then Tampa, Vancouver. All of these teams we’re odds, dodge a barrage of punches, stay in the fight and somehow sneak coming up against are really good teams. We need to bunker down for away with five of a possible eight points. these next six and then enjoy the break." A controversial overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. A tidy one-goal – Andrew Copp victory over the Montreal Canadiens. A thrilling shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. And a frustrating one-goal defeat to the Boston Now comes the next key stretch, beginning with a three-game Bruins. homestand that starts Sunday afternoon against the Nashville Predators. That’s followed by a visit on Tuesday by the Vancouver Canucks, and a Go figure. Also, how in the heck? Friday evening date with the Tampa Bay Lightning. "I think we did some good things. I feel like we’re peeling our way out of a "It felt like a fair amount of travel coming out of Christmas, with some little bit of a funk," time-zone changes and things like that. It’ll be good to come back home – Jets forward Andrew Copp and (make) another push," said Maurice.

I suppose that’s what solid goaltending and strong special teams will do The Jets haven’t been doing much pushing at home this season. for you (high-danger chances are for five-on-five play), plus a generous Winnipeg has lost five straight games at Bell MTS Place and will now sprinkling of good luck and making the most of your limited chances with face the two teams that are directly behind them in the Predators and a group of slick, skilled forwards who can strike at any time. Canucks, followed by the NHL’s hottest team in the Lightning.

It also follows a familiar script for a Jets team that, as head coach Paul Then it’s back on the road for three more leading into the all-star break, Maurice recently said, will never be an "analytics darling," yet keeps with stops in Chicago, Carolina and Columbus. The Jets will have some finding ways to hang around in games they have no business being in. special guests, as they host their first-ever "Mom’s Trip."

Most teams would be sounding the alarm over such lopsided underlying "These next six games going into the break are going to be huge. We’ve numbers. But not Winnipeg, which seems to be living by a "they don’t ask got, obviously, Nashville, new coach, they’re going to be ready to go. how, just how many" mantra this season. They’re a great team. Then Tampa, Vancouver. All of these teams we’re coming up against are really good teams. We need to bunker down for Just check out some of the post-game soundbites following Thursday these next six and then enjoy the break," said Copp. night’s 5-4 loss to the Bruins, in which members of the club were asked to reflect on the week that was. If we’ve learned anything about the Jets this season, it’s that it’s probably not going to look very good. At times it may be downright ugly. "I think we did some good things. I feel like we’re peeling our way out of a little bit of a funk," forward Andrew Copp told me. Regardless of what the fancy stats might say, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Jets take a licking but keep on ticking. Somehow, that’s become "Obviously, we didn’t finish the way we wanted, but overall the road trip the Winnipeg way. was a great effort by all the guys. We should be happy with this road trip," said defenceman Dmitry Kulikov. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 01.11.2020

"Yeah, really good. Got some people back to make a difference. Got some confidence going. It was real good," was Maurice’s overall assessment.

I don’t mean to sound like a downer, but getting out-chanced 54-13 at five-on-five doesn’t exactly scream "turning a corner." Nor does it appear to be a recipe for sustained success.

"Obviously, we didn’t finish the way we wanted, but overall the road trip was a great effort by all the guys. We should be happy with this road trip."

– Jets defenceman Dmitry Kulikov

There’s no question such a wide disparity means your special teams need to save the day from your woeful five-on-five play. That was 1170582 Winnipeg Jets Cutting things down to the most important types of passes, Wheeler and Scheifele rank 17th and 18th, respectively, so not quite as highly as Connor ranks in shooting, but still in excellent company.

Jets' top five forwards among league's best shooters, passers Wheeler doesn’t attack much off the rush, but Scheifele has completed the eighth-most passes off the rush in the league this season with 44, which has really taken advantage of his two high-scoring young linemates. Andrew BerkshireBy: Andrew Berkshire Where Scheifele likes to attack off the rush, Wheeler likes to make long,

lateral passes across the ice to get goalies moving. Both strategies are After dropping recent home games against the Montreal Canadiens and quite effective for creating goals. Toronto Maple Leafs, the Jets travelled to Eastern Canada and took Just like Scheifele and Wheeler were highly ranked but outside the top some revenge. 30 in shots, the three top shooters on the Jets are doing very well in the Despite finishing up the road trip through half the Atlantic Division with a passing game as well. Connor ranks 66th among forwards in completed close loss to the Boston Bruins Thursday, it was a pretty successful week offensive-zone passes, Ehlers ranks 72nd and Laine ranks 73rd. Keeping for a Jets team that had been trending a bit downwards of late. in mind that each team has a first line, meaning there are 93 top-line forwards in the NHL, that means the Jets have five first-line quality The wins against the Habs and Leafs kept the Jets in a wild-card playoff shooters, and five first-line quality playmakers all going this season. spot, a precarious position the team will have to fight tooth and nail to maintain as the season drags on through the second half. That goes a long way towards floating a team with some flaws into the playoff picture. It’s startling how quickly expectations can change but after being a Cup contender in recent seasons, making the playoffs at all this season Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 01.11.2020 should be seen as a pretty big accomplishment for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck will be the biggest reason for it if the team does make it, but there are other players who deserve some credit, as well.

All teams rely on their stars to carry them, to a certain extent, and the Jets are no different in that regard. What has helped them a ton this year is that their top group of five forwards have complementary skill sets or, at least, their performances have been complementary.

Comparing players in all situations, the Jets have three of the top 30 shooters in the entire NHL this season.

The Jets’ top shooter this season has been Kyle Connor, hitting the net eighth-most in the entire NHL. But, it’s not just his overall volume that’s impressive. Connor is one of the NHL’s premier net-front players, registering 61 shots on goal from the inner-slot so far this season. Only Brady Tkachuk has managed to better Connor in that area. Connor is no slouch from the high-slot area, either; he’s put the 13th-most pucks on net from that area in the league. Overall, the only player in the league who has ripped more scoring chances on net than Connor is Alex Ovechkin, so if this level of performance continues, you can say it’s a safe bet that Connor sets a new career high in goals.

Next on the list for the Jets is Patrik Laine, who is scoring fewer goals than might be expected but has added some high-quality playmaking to his game that will see him set a career high in assists. He’s still shooting a ton though — only 12 players in the league have hit the net more than he has.

Among the top 30 shooters in the league, Laine shoots the least-often from the inner-slot. He relies more on the strength of his shot than his positioning and only a handful of the top shooters take fewer shots from the slot overall. Laine could probably really help himself by being more aggressive with his shooting position, but he’s maintained a near-point per game pace despite mostly playing on the perimeter.

The surprise name on the list is the Jets’ most underrated player; Nikolaj Ehlers has put the 23rd-most shots on net this year among forwards, putting up the same number of scoring chances as Laine with the same balance between the high-slot and inner-slot, but with fewer perimeter shots.

Ehlers has converted more successfully on his shots; he has three more goals than Laine so far and I think a big reason for that might be that when he’s on the perimeter he prefers to pass the puck instead of shoot, which backs off defenders a little bit and allows him to get better lanes. He doesn’t have the shot that Laine does — almost no one does — but he’s been excellent.

Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler haven’t been shy about shooting this year, either; they’re 58th and 62nd in the league in shots on goal among forwards, but their primary contributions have been playmaking.

In offensive-zone playmaking, the Jets have only two players in the top 30. I say "only," but that’s still above average by double — most teams are lucky to have one. Scheifele and Wheeler are almost exactly tied in total passes made in the offensive zone this season; with the 18th- and 19th-most passes completed in the league among forwards. 1170583 Winnipeg Jets “They were opportunistic,” is how Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy described Thursday’s attempted heist. “They’ve got good goal-scorers, beat us one- on-one a couple of times to finish some plays. But we kept pressing it and were able to play in their end and get some good looks. FRIESEN: Jets fix oil leak, bunker down for six-game s “I don’t think it was a fluke by any means.”

That’s a familiar theme. Teams usually come out of games against the Paul Friesen Jets happy with the looks they got, yet more often than not unhappy with the result.

A combination of scoring touch and stingy goaltending can go a long BOSTON – They’ve stopped the bleeding for now, a four-game, five- way, no matter how many jail breaks happen in their own zone, and the point road trip acting as a tourniquet. Jets have used that blend to stay right in the mix. But the wound that had the Winnipeg Jets leaking oil late in the calendar If they can stay ahead of the law for more than half a season, there’s year will be rattled and tested over the next week. almost no reason to think they can’t do it the rest of the way. The rival Nashville Predators on Sunday, followed by the surging The one thing to keep in mind: there will be a ramp-up in cold, hard Vancouver Canucks and the sizzling Tampa Bay Lightning, will all try to desire down the stretch. The game tightens like a vice, defence becomes rip it open again in Winnipeg, where the Jets have barely been a 50-50 king and weak spots are exposed. proposition this season. But that’s after the all-star break. So when head coach Paul Maurice says “it’ll be good to come back home and (make) another push,” as he did after Thursday’s 5-4 loss in Boston, First they’ve got to get there in one piece. you’re best to take it with a grain of salt. [email protected] You know what salt does to a wound. Twitter: @friesensunmedia The road, though, has somehow provided a cooling salve for this team. The latest example the just-completed trek through Minnesota, Montreal, All-Star S Toronto and Boston. Jets next six games For a group that had won just twice in its previous eight, it was sweet Sunday, at home vs Nashville relief. Tuesday, at home vs Vancouver The Jets’ road record is up there with the better ones in hockey, even if there were some sour faces after they’d let a third-period lead slip away Friday, at home vs Tampa Bay to the Bruins. Sunday, Jan. 19, at Chicago “We’re peeling our way out of a little bit of a funk,” is how forward Andrew Copp saw the state of things. “These next six games going into the break Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Carolina are going to be huge. We’ve got obviously Nashville, new coach, they’re Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Columbus going to be ready to go. Then Tampa, Vancouver – all of these teams we’re coming up against are really good teams. Jets record (with points percentage): 24-17-4 (.578)

“We need to bunker down for these next six and then enjoy the break.” Combined record next six opponents*: 134-98-31 (.568)

How much they enjoy the week-long all-star respite, beginning Jan. 23, *going into Friday will depend largely on how the next 11 days go. Jets record at home: 10-9-2 It’s a six-game sprint to the break, when everybody can finally take a breath, poke their heads out of the bunker and survey the landscape in a Jets record on the road: 14-8-2 playoff chase that’s not for the claustrophobic. Jets record in last 10: 4-4-2

It’s crowded behind and crowded ahead, like Confusion Corner at rush Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.11.2020 hour.

The rear-view mirror shows Vancouver and a glimpse of Tennessee plates. The view through the windshield provides a road map to a better place, through Alberta, Colorado and Texas.

Spin your wheels and you slide out of the wild-card lane. Get some traction and maybe park yourself in second place in the NHL’s Western Conference.

Any spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, of course, is the Promised Land. Except there are no promises for a team that continually gives up more than it gets.

“There’s some things that we need to clean up, for sure, if we’re going to be a contender,” Copp said.

The game in Boston was a prime example.

Despite being out-chanced by a Massachusetts mile, the Jets’ ability to finish gave them a chance to steal at least a point.

We probably shouldn’t even call it theft anymore. It’s become the norm. Kind of like bank service charges. We just come to expect it.

Winnipeg’s institutional ripoff typically goes something like this: the slick hands of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine pick a pocket or two, the power play makes a formal withdrawal and suddenly opposing teams find themselves strapped, despite feeling flush with chances. 1170584 Winnipeg Jets By pushing himself during rehab after his injury, Andrew Copp was able to fast forward his recovery timeline by a few weeks and he didn’t need long to make an impact in his return to the lineup.

A look at Mark Scheifele’s remarkable hot streak, plus 5 other Jets And he wasn’t about to be eased into things either, playing just over 17 observations minutes in Monday’s game against the Canadiens.

Those numbers were on the rise against the Maple Leafs, thanks in part to his promotion to the second line with Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj By Ken Wiebe Jan 10, 2020 25 Ehlers.

Yes, there was an uncharacteristic turnover that helped lead to a goal from the Maple Leafs, but mistakes happen – even if they are few and far BOSTON – This was supposed to be the stretch where the underlying between for Copp. numbers finally caught up with the Winnipeg Jets. Copp remained on the second line in place of Jack Roslovic on A home-and-home with the defending Stanley Cup champions, a home Thursday, taking 27 shifts for 21:26 of action, delivering a nifty redirection game with the surging Toronto Maple Leafs, followed by a four-game for his seventh goal of the season. road trip that included three games against the Eastern Conference – including a date with the injury-ravaged Montreal Canadiens, a rematch The Jets power play scored twice, including Copp’s marker with the with the Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins. second unit.

Well, that eight-game block came to a close on Thursday night and the Copp also delivered a classic line when asked about the significance of Jets actually found a way to survive, managing a record of 3-3-2. recording his 100th NHL point in Thursday’s game on an impressive redirection of a point shot from Josh Morrissey on the power play. Despite a 5-4 loss to the Bruins to wrap up the four-game swing, the Jets arrived back at home in the wee hours of the morning still in possession “The next hundred better come a hell of a lot faster than the first 100,” of a wild card spot in the Western Conference. said Copp.

Were it not for giving up a pair of goals in a 33-second span during the The versatile forward recorded that 100th point (43 goals and 57 assists) third period against the Bruins, the conversation would have carried an in his 330th NHL game. even more exuberant tone. As for Roslovic, outside of his three-assist effort against the Colorado Instead, there was a bit of lamenting for what could have been, while still Avalanche on New Year’s Eve, he’s working his way through a managing to see the bigger picture – which includes a record of 24-17-4. substantial dry spell – going without a point in the 10 games around that one, dating back to Dec. 19 against the Chicago Blackhawks. “There are some things that we did well that we want to take forward. And there are some things that we need to clean up for sure if we’re Roslovic went through a stretch where he was rolling and if he wants to going to be a contender,” Jets forward Andrew Copp said. “I feel like remain as a top-six forward with this group, he needs to find a way to we’re peeling our way out of a little bit of a funk. We need to bunker down chip in a bit more offensively. for these next six and then, enjoy the break.” On Thursday, he had the fourth-lowest ice time among forwards (11:45), The Jets have six games to go before the NHL All-Star weekend and was on the ice for two goals against and managed only one shot on goal player break arrives – including a three-game homestand that features and two shot attempts. games against the Predators, Canucks and Lightning and a three-game road trip with tilts against the Blackhawks, Hurricanes and Blues Jackets. Roslovic has the potential to be a 20-goal guy, but right now he’s working his way through a rough patch. Yes, there are 37 games remaining and plenty of points up for grabs for the Jets, but it’s not an exaggeration to suggest this next block – Laine’s lighting-quick release including home games on consecutive days against the Bruins and Blues The wide-open nature of the three-on-three overtime in the game against coming out of the break – could be pivotal in determining whether the Maple Leafs, which included a two-on-zero rush for Patrik Laine and Winnipeg finishes above or below the playoff line. Roslovic and a breakaway for Scheifele among the offensive outbursts, Here are six observations from the six-game block that just wrapped up: attracted plenty of attention.

Smouldering Scheifele But one of the most impressive highlights occurred during the shootout when Laine ripped home a snapshot past Maple Leafs goalie Freddie A remarkable hot streak has vaulted Jets centre Mark Scheifele into 12th Andersen from long distance. place in the NHL scoring derby ahead of Friday’s action. Needing to score to extend the penalty-shot contest, Laine casually And this isn’t any run-of-the-mill heater either. skated in and beat Andersen cleanly to the blocker side with a blast that went bar down. During the past 18 games, dating back to Dec. 5, Scheifele has recorded 13 goals and 27 points. While many in the arena were blown away by the shot and release, Laine was just as nonchalant in skating to the bench as he was describing the Only Leafs centre Auston Matthews has more goals during that stretch play in question. (15), and only Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers and Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers have more points (28). “I just saw an opening. I saw it from pretty far that he had the blocker side open. I tried to snap it quick, so he can’t move,” Laine said, who then The Jets’ top guns have been doing a lot of the heavy lifting when it allowed himself to relish the moment. “Yeah, it was a pretty good shot.” comes to the offence and Scheifele is certainly doing his part. Was it ever. As the midway point approached, it looked like my prediction of Scheifele reaching 100 points for the first time in his career was going to be a bit One of Laine’s other remarkable achievements during the six-game block ambitious. came in the first meeting with the Maple Leafs when he managed a career-high 13 shots on goal and directed 17 shot attempts toward the That’s still the case, but with 52 points in 45 games, it’s back to being a net. legitimate possibility. By chipping in another assist on Thursday, Laine is up to 15 goals and 41 And while Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck remains the Most Valuable points in 43 games this season. Player for his team during the first half, Scheifele has narrowed the gap considerably and would be a slam dunk for second in the voting. The evolution of his game is real and he’s shown he can handle the top- line minutes. Copp’s speedy recovery Don’t be surprised if there’s a stretch around the corner where he starts to pour in a bunch of goals. Kulikov shakes off the rust quickly Appleton settling in

There was a welcome addition to the Jets blue line on Thursday, as Forward Mason Appleton didn’t want his season to be defined by the Dmitry Kulikov suited up after sitting out the previous 18 contests with an unfortunate injury he suffered while playing football on the afternoon injury. before the Heritage Classic in Regina.

It only took a few shifts for Kulikov to get back up to speed and he Since returning to the fold after a two-month absence on Dec. 17, provided a steadying presence on the back end throughout the game. Appleton has been steadily improving and he’s back up to full speed and contributing to both the new-look fourth line and to the penalty kill. Kulikov kept things simple and was moving the puck well, making smart decisions as he was heavily involved. In Wednesday’s game against the Maple Leafs, Appleton scored his first goal of the NHL season (while shorthanded) to snap a drought that had By the third period, he was bumped back up to the second pairing with reached 29 games at this level. Neal Pionk – who continues to log big minutes, including a team-high 23:14 on Thursday and 27:17 on Wednesday. Going into the campaign, Appleton was a guy who I thought could help fill the void left by the departure of Brandon Tanev. Kulikov was playing well before he was knocked out of the game on Nov. 28 by Anaheim Ducks forward Carter Rowney. Appleton is skating well, getting involved physically and is a guy who could eventually work his way into becoming a double-digit goal scorer. Reuniting Kulikov (who played 19:27 in his return while chipping in an assist) and Pionk should help provide a bit more balance for both the Although the fourth line has played more since the arrival of Nick Shore, second and third pairings. remaining in the mix on the penalty kill (mostly with Connor), should allow Appleton to keep his ice time in the 10-minute range. The return of Kulikov meant that Jets head coach Paul Maurice had to take out another blueliner and on Thursday, he chose to sit down Sami Eventually, he’s a guy who could be a fit with Copp and Lowry as well. Niku as a healthy scratch. The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 Niku has played only two games since he was recalled for the first time since October, but sitting down for this game doesn’t mean he’s quickly found his way into the doghouse or that he’s going to spend an extended period in the press box.

If the Jets weren’t planning to keep Niku in a somewhat regular rotation, they would have simply returned him to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League instead of placing forward Logan Shaw on waivers.

The growing pains are a fact of life for most young players, but Niku needs to be playing, so if he’s not going to be in the Jets lineup, he’s better off getting 20-plus minutes per game down on the farm.

Brossoit must be better

The job of an NHL backup is rarely glamorous and often features an incredibly difficult task, whether that’s facing a tough opponent on the back end of games on consecutive days or going long stretches between starts.

But that’s part of the deal and contending teams need a backup goalie that gives his team a chance to win on a regular basis.

After a breakout season in 2018-19 that included a record of 13-6-2, a goals against average of 2.52 and a save percentage of .925, Brossoit has come back to earth a bit.

Numbers don’t tell the whole story and while they’ve been skewed by three starts in particular (seven goals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, six goals against the Canadiens and five more against the Bruins), a goals against average of 3.65 and a save percentage of .889 isn’t good enough.

No, his workload hasn’t been the same as last season – Thursday was just his 10th start and 13th appearance of the campaign – and it’s obviously a challenge to try and find a rhythm right now, but Brossoit is having a difficult time reaching that level.

This isn’t an attempt to pin the 5-4 loss on the goaltender either, as the quality of high-danger chances surrendered was high and none the goals against were of the muffin variety, but Brossoit needs to elevate his game in the coming weeks.

Even if those starts are few and far between.

Hellebuyck is going to continue to be a workhorse, but if Brossoit is going to get close to the target of 20 starts, he’s going to be busier during the second half.

He’ll increase his chances of being tapped on the shoulder a bit more often if he can play just a little better.

Brossoit will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and he’s determined to finish the season off on a positive note – whether it’s just improving his bargaining power to remain as the Jets backup in a place he’s comfortable or if he chooses a situation that could provide a bit more of a job-sharing scenario on the road to challenging for a No. 1 job. 1170585 Vancouver Canucks those guys to our group, it would be nice to have a healthy team and to see what our group looks like,” Benning added.

And the GM also suggested the age of many of the Canucks’ key players Patrick Johnston: Benning believes Canucks now headed in right meant there was inconsistency from time to time, leading one to direction despite lapses conclude he believed greater consistency would come with maturity and NHL experience.

Benning pointed to the team’s recent seven-game win streak as a Patrick Johnston positive sign of the group’s progress. But he stopped short of putting a timeline on when his squad might be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

“We want to be competitive every night now,” he said. BUFFALO, N.Y. — There are a number of things going well in Jim Benning’s world. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.11.2020 Two of his prized draft picks from last summer had strong performances at the recent World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic.

He’s got a couple prospects who appear to be blooming with the AHL’s Utica Comets.

And he’s got a couple potential superstars already in the lineup with his Vancouver Canucks.

Finding young talent, after all, was the biggest item on his resumé when he was hired as the NHL team’s general manager nearly six years ago.

Not all is hunky-dory, of course. The Canucks are in a difficult cap position because of several large contracts eating up dollars that will be difficult to move out to make space for younger players with bigger upsides. And even though his team may be better this year, it’s not a lock to make the playoffs.

Benning has managed to stock his prospects pipeline, even if the past week in Florida left a lot to be desired. And there are rocky contract- renewal seas to navigate this summer, with some of those rocks self- inflicted.

For three days this week, Benning got to focus on his true passion. He and his scouting staff were holed up at the Hilton in Fort Lauderdale, building a list of their top 45 prospects for this year’s entry draft.

The Canucks’ GM is hopeful he won’t have a first-round pick this summer, because that will mean his team has qualified for the playoffs. But you still prepare your list just in case.

Benning smiled when the world junior performances of Vasili Podkolzin and Nils Hoglander were mentioned.

Podkolzin didn’t post great point totals with Team Russia, but that was due to bad luck in finishing, Benning believed.

“When we drafted him we knew what we were getting. He plays a power forward-style game. He’s good in the corners, he will take the puck to the net, he can play with good players. So you know he did all the things that we kind of saw last year and that we wanted to add to our group,” Benning said.

Hoglander’s star turn for Team Sweden thrilled fans and his future bosses as well.

“I love the way this guy plays,” said Benning. “He’s competitive, he’s hard on the puck, he protects the puck, he’s got quick hands. He makes players he plays with better.”

The development of Brogan Rafferty and Kole Lind with the Utica Comets was pleasing, too.

Promoting Chris Gear is something he spoke about earlier in the week, but he added this week that another reason for giving him a promotion to assistant GM will allow Benning and long-standing assistant general manager John Weisbrod to head out on more scouting missions.

“It gives us a chance to get out to see the amateur players, go to the prospect game, do all the things that we want to do,” he said.

As far as day-to-day issues with the team, he wouldn’t reveal the extent of injuries to Brandon Sutter and Micheal Ferland, but suggested that Sutter was closer to returning than Ferland, who is likely out until after the NHL All-Star break at the earliest.

“I’d like to see what our full team looks like. I haven’t really had a chance this year to. Those are two top-nine forwards in the league and to add 1170586 Vancouver Canucks

Patrick Johnston: Canucks aim to fix what failed in Florida losses, starting in Buffalo

Patrick Johnston

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A 5-2 loss to the erratic Florida Panthers on Thursday night might not have stung so much if it wasn’t coming off the heels of a 9-2 loss in Tampa Bay two nights earlier.

But the missing effort in what should have been a bounce-back game stings even worse.

The Canucks have a pair of back-to-back games this weekend and, while the mood was sombre after Thursday’s loss, there remained a tone of defiance from the team’s players and coaches.

We’ll fix this, appeared to be the message they were offering inquiring minds. They figured on starting that process on Saturday (10 a.m. PT start) against the Sabres.

“Yeah, that’s hard, especially when there’s so much talk the last couple days leading up to this game and after a tough loss,” head coach Travis Green said. The Canucks were ready and raring to go, he felt. For much of the first period against the Panthers, he believed his team was playing well, even if it fell behind early.

The visitors were clawing their way back into the game, having cut the deficit to 2-1 on a nice tip-in goal by Brock Boeser, who also had a glorious chance later in the period to tie the game when he found himself all alone in front of Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

But he couldn’t beat the Russian netminder. Minutes later, the Cats extended their lead and there was no looking back from there.

“If we could have made a few more plays with the puck, it would have been better. We needed to make a couple more plays in our own zone to break out and we didn’t execute well enough,” Green added. That said, the bench boss thought the Canucks did push to get back in the game in the third.

“When you’re chasing the game there’s a good chance, or there is a chance that you’re going to force plays, maybe turn over the puck. It’s not like we’re, the guys, are going to sit back and not try to score. We’ve got to try to score to win the hockey game.

“You want your team to be consistent. And that’s something that’s not always easy when you’re young, and you’re going to have some ups and downs and teaching moments along the way with a young group. When you’re on the road, you’re not always going to get your (desired) matchups.”

POKE CHECKS — The Canucks play the Minnesota Wild on Sunday (1 p.m.) and finish their five-game road trip in Winnipeg with a Tuesday tilt (5 p.m.) against the Jets.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170587 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks send Zack MacEwen back to Utica

Patrick Johnston

The Canucks made a roster move on Friday.

Zack MacEwen is on his way back to the Utica Comets.

The big winger had been up with the Vancouver Canucks since before Christmas as a depth forward when Josh Leivo suffered a cracked kneecap, but didn’t dress in any games over the past three weeks.

As of yet, the Canucks haven’t made a corresponding roster move, but given Jim Benning said Thursday evening that Brandon Sutter was likely to return soon, it’s very possible the veteran centre has recovered from whatever undisclosed upper-body injury he suffered a week before Christmas.

Green said Sutter "is banged up" and Schaller draws back in against Vegas. Green also said Sutter's ailment is not related to a recent groin injury that sidelined the forward for 13 games. #Canucks— Ben Kuzma (@benkuzma) December 19, 2019

TSN 1040’s Jeff Paterson reported midday Friday that the Canucks had hired a car service to take MacEwen to Utica, a three-hour drive from Buffalo, in time for that night’s AHL game.

Given the geographic proximity to Buffalo, it also seems possible that MacEwen, having got in his first game action in three weeks, will simply be recalled in the morning, so he can travel back to Buffalo and rejoin the Canucks before the team flies post-game to Minnesota, where they’re playing the Wild on Sunday.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170588 Vancouver Canucks MacIntyre. Bure would win the Calder Trophy and win over anybody who doubted his drive with election into the Hockey Hall of Fame and being recognized as one of the top players of the NHL century.

Canucks at 50: Teammates were in awe of Bure's first practice, first But first came some jitters before the first game and that eventual first game, first goal goal to fuel a remarkable rookie season.

“Of course I’m nervous,” the then 5-10, 180-pound Bure told The Province through translator and adviser Serge Levin. “It should be a very Ben Kuzma difficult game for me. I will try to play my best, but I can’t be sure.”

Added former Red Army teammate Larionov, who housed Bure before he found an apartment and would aid his transition: “I’ve tried to talk to him Ronning: 'He liked the big city and the big stage — that's what great about the physical play. I think he’ll be ready. Who knows, maybe he’ll players do — but there was no ego. He was more on the shy side and score on his first shift.” would always stop and sign autographs' Bure didn’t score in his first game in an alignment with Ryan Walter and When Geoff Courtnall lined up against Pavel Bure at the 1991 world lifelong friend Gino Odjick, but he was credited with three shots and a hockey championship in Finland, he spoke on behalf of a hopeful Lower multitude of dips, dekes and dangles that didn’t show up on a Mainland hockey populace. scoresheet. “I asked Pavel: ‘When are you coming to Vancouver?,’” Courtnall “We were all in awe, said Courtnall. “Some of the moves and the speed. I recalled. “And he said: ‘Soon.’” knew other teams didn’t know what to do.” In what would be a 2-2 Well, not soon enough. overtime draw with the Winnipeg Jets, he wasn’t expected to be the difference but could have been. “He played great in that tournament,” Courtnall said of his future teammate. “You could see that he would make a huge impact if he came Even Bure’s post-game summation was one of a curious mix of relief and to Vancouver.” tough self-assessment.

Bure buzzwords became “if” and “when” because of anticipation. Adding “I will remember everything about this night for the rest of my life,” said a speedy, spectacular and strong-willed game-changer, who was a Bure. “Thank you to everybody, the fans, my teammates and coaches. It standout on the world junior stage, could help propel the Canucks to was my fault I didn’t score.” contender status. My fault? Really? Bure tied for third in scoring at the 1991 worlds with 13 points (3-10) as a In his fourth game, Bure scored his first goal in fitting fashion during an 8- 19-year-old phenom for the Soviet Union — which took bronze overall 2 pounding of the Los Angeles Kings. Using his heightened sense of and gold in the now-eliminated European championship portion — and anticipation and acceleration, he intercepted a cross-ice outlet pass by the Vancouver Canucks couldn’t wait to sign him for commencement of Brian Benning in the defensive zone, raced in from top of the slot and the 1991-92 NHL season. slipped a sublime backhand home on the deke with Wayne Gretzky However, that’s exactly what they had to do — wait, and wait, and wait trailing in pursuit to make it 4-1. some more. He would score again on an amazing night where four-point There was initial intrigue of being a high draft selection had Bure performances by Sergio Momesso and Ronning should have stole the defected. There was debate to his actual late-round eligibility and a legal show. But it was Bure and his five shots and two goals and the promise battle to make the eventual 1989 pick by the Canucks legit. There was of what could be that commanded the spotlight. also the Red Army contract, transfer resistance and the eventual parting Bure scored two goals on six occasions en route to 34 goals and 60 of $200,000 — including an additional $50,000 from Bure — just to make points in 65 games that season — a pace that would have produced 42 his arrival finally come to fruition on Nov. 1, 1991. goals and 75 points over 82 games — and potted his first hat trick in his “There was some doubt, but I always felt that it had been done before first post-season series. with bringing over (Igor) Larionov and (Valdimir) Krutov, so if anyone was However, those first two goals were the fuel. going to be able to pull it off, I thought it would be Pat (GM, coach Quinn),” said Bure’s former teammate Cliff Ronning. “Just to see the excitement in him because he knew,” said Courtnall. “The game is so much about confidence and when pucks are going in, “And when Pavel finally did come, it was like this energy came into the they go in with a much more regular basis. Once it (goal) happened, room that anything was possible.” everything just started to break free. Still, it was a long, winding and arduous road to Bure’s arrival. “I played the power play with him, but I also had the greatest seat in the The controversy over his eligibility as a surprising sixth-round selection rink and that was on the bench when I wasn’t on the ice with him. Every — most teams thought he didn’t have enough games with Central Red single game, I knew he was going to do something explosive and Army to be selected after the first three rounds as per draft rules — exciting.” ended because the Canucks did their homework to meet that criteria. The foundation for a Calder Trophy season included building And when Bure finally signed a four-year, $2.7 million contract, the hype relationships and a comfort factor away from the rink. over his Nov. 5 debut at the Pacific Coliseum was preceded two days And whether it was Odjick’s instant connection with Bure as a friend and earlier by a mob scene. At the tiny Britannia Arena, more than 2,000 protector, or a natural curiosity about new stops on his hockey journey, onlookers crammed in and jockeyed for a glimpse of Bure’s first practice. Bure lapped it all up. They weren’t disappointed. His new teammates were impressed, too. “He had a lot going on and he wasn’t afraid to say I’m going to score 50 “It was the first minute,” recalled Ronning. “We were doing a breakout for (Bure followed his rookie season with back-to-back 60 goal campaigns),” the power play and Pavel swung behind the net to pick it (puck) up. As said Ronning. “And he was just a pleasure to hang around with. When soon as he got across the blue line, I said: ‘Holy, this kid can skate.’ It we went out for dinner the first time in New York, you could just see his was phenomenal. eyes light up.

“Right away, you knew there was something special about him. It’s what “He liked the big city and the big stage — that’s what great players do — he could do at high-end speed and the confidence he had to try it. And if but there was no ego. He was more on the shy side and would always it didn’t work, he’d try it again and eventually it would work.” stop and sign autographs.

The Canucks instantly saw how a now 20-year-old wunderkind could “There were times where we had to get in-between because it could have transition to a new country, language and game to command leaguewide got out of hand. We’d be stuck at a restaurant for an hour if fans found attention with superlative skill and boyish enthusiasm. He would be out he was there. We tried to protect him.” dubbed The Russian Rocket by former Vancouver Sun columnist Iain Nobody did that better than Odjick, who was the same age as Bure and his biggest backer.

“Gino is that type of guy — he doesn’t judge anyone,” added Ronning. “He’s just a true friend and a trustworthy person and I think right away Pavel felt comfortable having him as his best buddy. And they went everywhere together.”

On the ice, Odjick was at his protective peak. Following a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary Ice Guardians, he recalled when Bure told him to back off from doing what he did best.

“We were playing the Maple Leafs and I decided I was going to hit (Doug) Gilmour to slow him down so we could win the game,” said Odjick, who had a career-high 31 bouts in the 1991-92 season. “After the first period, Pavel said don’t hit him no more.

“I said OK, but I didn’t know why until a few years later when Wendel Clark told the story that he told Pavel if I hit Gilmour any more, Clark was going to kill Pavel.”

Courtnall also helped ensure that Bure’s transition to North America would be smoother by taking care of the rookie’s banking, cable and telephone concerns.

“I became god friends with Pavel and I still am. He had a huge heart. He was great to my kids and had a positive influence on the city and the team.

“One of my greatest memories is the Dallas series (Game 2 of the second round in 1994). People were saying different things in the playoffs — that Pavel didn’t compete well — and there were doubters. He was getting abused by (Craig) Ludwig and (Shane) Churla and that (unpenalized elbow) hit he laid on Churla — he knocked him out.

“It set the tone for the rest of the series and showed his competitive spirit for a smaller guy.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170589 Vancouver Canucks “I will remember everything about this night for the rest of my life,” said Bure through interpreter Serge Levin. “Thank you to everybody, the fans, my teammates and coaches. It was my fault I didn’t score.”

Canucks at 50: Russian Rocket left his new team, opponents feeling a Though he didn’t get a point, he drew seven minutes in Jets penalties little older, slower and was stopped three times while in cold by Winnipeg goalie Rick Tabaracci.

After mocking the Jets defence by splitting it once and walking around Staff Reporter another seemingly lead-footed defender at the end of a long shift, he was royally introduced to the violence of the NHL. Doug Evans smacked him

in the face with the stick and took a five-minute major and game After so many draft picks in the 1970s and 1980s disappointed, the misconduct, but the Canucks were unable to capitalize. 1990s brought real promise for the Vancouver Canucks. On the heels of And it’s as well he was outstanding for as it turns out the original figures Trevor Linden being picked second overall in 1988, the Canucks found a on his contract were low. His agent Ron Salcer confirmed the signing way to steal a real superstar. After drafting Jason Herter, Rob Woodward bonus was for $800,000 US, not $600,000 and fully $500,000 is paid this and Brett Hauer with their first three picks of the 1989 draft, they found a year. Further he has high bonuses for reasonable games played, loophole to pick Bure in the sixth round when other teams didn’t think he milestones and goals scored. was eligible. After appeals from other NHL teams, and a waiting period to get him into Canada due to a claim for compensation from his Russian “The package is well in excess of $3 million (over four years),” says team, Bure made his debut on Nov. 5, 1991 at the Pacific Coliseum Salcer. against the Winnipeg Jets. Prior to his appearance, Tony Gallagher wrote: Pavel Bure and his best buddy, Gino Odjick (left), apparently can’t wait to get on the ice, walking to practice in January 1994, the season the Igor Larionov refers to himself as one of the ‘old Russian hockey players’ Canucks went to the Stanley Cup Final. Mark Van Manen/Vancouver and even admits the arrival of Pavel Bure makes him feel that way. Sun / PNG files

But as Pat Quinn pointed out, there’s a lot of hockey left in the charming He appeared to be worth every penny last night in entertainment value gentleman from Voskresensk. alone, to say nothing of the 2,500 seats he sold all by himself.

“I’m feeling a little bit older these days,” said Larionov on Sunday after his “I’ve played in Europe a lot and I could see he likes to come off the wall,” hat trick sunk the Edmonton Oilers. “Now I have three kids staying with said Cliff Ronning, who along with Bure seemed to be trying to set a me. My two, and Pavel Bure.” record for the league’s longest shift. “He’s got great speed and skill. He’s going to create a lot of room for others out there. He’s going to be good. Bure wished his old idol some success before yesterday’s game and in He’s got too much talent not to.” fact, asked Igor to bag him a goal. The Canucks opened the scoring when Geoff Courtnall hammered a “I said I would try, but I always do anyway,” he laughed. “I couldn’t make power play point shot four minutes into the game. any promises.” Troy Murray tapped in a goalmouth rebound to even the score at one at After chatting with Bure, the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder with an astonishing 6:49 of the second period and then Luciano Borsato put Winnipeg up 2-1 5.8 per cent body fat, Larionov is convinced Bure’s transition to the NHL with Robert Dirk in the penalty box. will be easier than his own. Bure, who got to play on Ronning’s line because of a back injury to Jim “It’s not so much having me around as that he is young and easier to Sandlak, had a chance to give the Canucks a 2-1 lead five minutes into mould and also he is coming to a winning team, which it was not when I the third period but the pass from Ronning hopped over his stick. came.” Dirk’s first goal of the season with just over six minutes remaining earned Bure, who is planning to take an apartment downtown this week now that the Canucks the point. his friend and semi-agent Serge Levin is in town to help, said he thought Larionov was outstanding. “I had taken a stupid, retaliating penalty when they took the lead, so I had to do something,” said Dirk. “He played a great game, really, so did the whole team,” he said. “It was certainly better than Friday.” The Canucks head to L.A., where Bure will face Wayne Gretzky.

Bure may well draw into the Vancouver lineup Tuesday, although starting “He’s always been my favourite player in the NHL,” said Bure. “I have him on the road might be a wiser choice. dreamed of playing against him.”

“Physically he’s ready to play, but there are still some mental parts of the Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.11.2020 game that need to be worked on,” says Quinn. “We’ll see what happens the next couple of days and make our decision.”

Quinn says he’ll play right wing to start, but is less certain of which centre he’ll be with, perhaps even Larionov.

He played, oh yes, he played that night against the Jets at the Pacific Coliseum, and Gallagher was there:

Hip, hip, Bure.

What else could you say after last night’s 2-2 tie between Vancouver Canucks and the Winnipeg Jets at the Pacific Coliseum — the first NHL game for Pavel Bure.

While the point from the tie was nice for the Jets, the flashes of brilliance Bure showed the full house were the talk of the evening.

Although he isn’t a left-winger, Premier Mike Harcourt could well have named him minister for speed and stickhandling Tuesday as his rushes brought standing ovations and tumultuous cheers. And win or lose, the prospect of watching this fellow for the next 10 years would have to bring a smile even to the kisser of Don Cherry. 1170590 Websites season. Toronto was actually in the Western Conference until the 1998- 99 season – and did, for a time after shifting to the East, play a handful of extra games against Western Canadian opponents because the Leafs were such a popular box-office draw. The Athletic / Duhatschek Notebook: Imagining an NHL with an all- Canadian division, trade watch heats up and more The NHL has been a far more stable entity during the 21st century, largely because of commissioner Gary Bettman’s desire to establish the league’s footprint in every corner of North America, whether it had a hockey tradition or not. Bettman also understood that stability enhances By Eric Duhatschek Jan 10, 2020 43 perception – and that to become a significant player on the professional sports scene, it couldn’t keep shifting underperforming franchises to different markets. On Wednesday, in the aftermath of their second massively entertaining game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the span of six days, Winnipeg But back to the original thesis: What would the NHL look like today, if the Jets coach Paul Maurice was asked: Isn’t it a shame that the two clubs seven Canadian teams were all grouped in one division? In turn, that meet only twice in a single season? would mean three, eight-team divisions from the 24 U.S.-based franchises? (Under this model, the new Seattle franchise would Maurice gave a deadpan response, essentially saying it’s probably just eventually have to become the eighth team in the Canadian conference. as well – the turnover count was so high in the two games that it was It would work far better if the league had added Quebec when Vegas close to record-breaking. The implication was that his coaching heart joined – but that’s another story for another day). couldn’t take that much loosey-goosey play on a nightly basis, because coaches are all about structure and process. The free-for-all style, The possible permutations for the U.S. divisions is almost endless, but especially in the three-on-three overtime, was a little too much to bear. let’s examine one and then invite readers to dream up their own incarnations: Of course, just about everybody watching would beg to differ. Hockey is, by its nature, a game of mistakes. On an NHL rink, mistakes are usually Canadian (7): Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, made because of pressure and aggressive checking. When executed Vancouver. properly, it is extraordinarily fun to watch. U.S. Northeast (8): Buffalo, Boston, New York Islanders, New York The Leafs and Jets put on quite a show – Auston Matthews on the Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington. Toronto side, Patrick Laine for Winnipeg, the two players inextricably U.S. Central (8): Nashville, Colorado, St. Louis, Chicago, Minnesota, linked by the fact that they went one-two in the 2016 Draft. A compelling Detroit, Columbus, Carolina. chapter added to their emerging personal rivalry. Fold in the Leafs’ equally absorbing game against the Edmonton Oilers this past Monday – U.S. South (8): Tampa Bay, Florida, Dallas, Arizona, Vegas, Los when it was Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Show versus Matthews, Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose. Mitch Marner, John Tavares – and it got me circling back to an idea that I used to bring up incessantly. Geographically, there are a few options in the U.S. configuration, but if you spread all the Canadian teams out along the northern border, there’s Could – or even should – the NHL have a stand-alone Canadian a part of me that wants to see a similar setup in the U.S. south. division? Snowbirds, fleeing the winter weather from chilly Canada, were Practically speaking, the answer is likely a hard no. supposed to help contribute to the box-office salvation of the Floridas, Arizonas and other teams operating in more temperate climes. The NHL is funneled into north-south (rather than east-west) silos because of time zones and the constraints that broadcasting games It hasn’t quite worked out that way. If putting Winnipeg in the same outside of their own zones puts on the television side of the industry. division as Toronto and having the Leafs and Jets play each other four or Even in a market as popular as Toronto, any game that starts in a five times every season is the outcome, well, that just seems like a win- Mountain or a Pacific time zone becomes problematic for TV viewing win for everybody. numbers. Not everyone can stay up late on a work night to watch the Leafs play the Canucks in Vancouver. Trade watch heats up

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170591 Websites It’s a simple formula: Win when people don’t expect you to and they give you the coach of the year award. Having Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on his team usually disqualifies Mike Sullivan, but keeping Pittsburgh afloat through injuries has given him the edge at midseason. The Athletic / The Athletic’s NHL prediction spectacular: Projecting the 2019-20 winners and losers at midseason Andrei Svechnikov was also named the winner of our less official awards: the Alexander the Great Award (goal of the year) and the Mark Giordano Award (most improved). Pretty solid hat trick.

By Sarah Goldstein Jan 10, 2020 140 Everything looked great in July for P.K. Subban and Sergei Bobrovsky.

And finally, the quick over/under picks. I won’t bother to try (unsuccessfully) to come up with a witty sentence that no one will read to The parity in the NHL is one of the many things that makes hockey so lead into these results. Here are the questions we asked: great. You can go from the bottom of the standings in January to raising the Cup in June. It makes every game more important. Can Connor McDavid match last season’s career high in points?

What it’s not great for is when you are asked to make predictions at the Does Alex Ovechkin have a ninth 50-goal season in him? end of September about what is going to happen. Are the Blues actually a 100-point powerhouse? That didn’t stop us from asking The Athletic’s entire NHL staff to make their preseason picks. But it provides a great opportunity for us to Will the Lightning escape the first round of the playoffs? reassess who we think will raise the Cup and take home the hardware at The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 the end of this season.

All graphics by the great Dom Luszczyszyn.

Let’s get started with the conference champions. At the start of the season, Tampa Bay and Vegas were the front-runners, and neither has fallen too far in our panel’s voting despite both having rocky starts to the season. However, the Avalanche rose to the top in the West, and the Capitals have a slim advantage over the Bruins and Lightning in the East.

Predictions for who will raise the Stanley Cup followed a similar pattern with Washington, Colorado, Tampa and Vegas close at the top.

Not to spoil the surprise, but this won’t be the last time Nathan MacKinnon’s name is mentioned in this article. The Avs’ star forward wasn’t a preseason favorite, but leading his team through injuries made him the clear favorite on that Colorado squad. Mark Stone remains at No. 2 in our voting after being the only non-Lightning player to crack our top six in preseason.

Isn’t it nice when we can all (almost) agree on something? Best of luck to Detroit in the draft lottery.

After a flashy offseason, New Jersey was the trendy pick to make some noise this season. Well, that worked out about as well as picking the Lightning to win the Cup last season — unless you want to argue that it is surprising how bad the Devils are.

So as the Devils take their seat behind the Sharks in our most disappointing team voting, Taylor Hall’s new team gets the glory for being the best surprise of the season. If only the Coyotes could make the playoffs and still continue Hall’s draft lottery luck.

Awards

Those not so subtle hints about MacKinnon pay off here. There’s a reason his picture is at the top. He’s got 26 goals and 39 assists through 44 games with his team in the top three in the Central Division standings.

Not much debate here, we can all agree that Connor McDavid is good at hockey. His closest competition comes from teammate Leon Draisaitl, who is just two points behind, but the two of them remaining atop the points leaderboard for the rest of the season could mean good things for Edmonton.

It’s good to see that our panel was able to look up who is leading the league in goals and vote accordingly, but in all seriousness, this isn’t one to overthink.

It is Capitals defenseman John Carlson’s award to lose. His 100-point pace is getting him mentioned in the same breath as the greatest defensemen in NHL history. It could also get him on the Hart Trophy ballot.

As our Goalie Tiers panel noted in the midseason audit, Dallas’ Ben Bishop and Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck have exceeded expectations so far this season. Bishop has a goals-against average of .926, while Hellebuyck’s is slightly lower at .919 while facing the most shots against in the league.

To quote Duncan Keith, Cale Makar is “a pretty special player and Colorado is pretty lucky to have him.” Our panel agreed. 1170592 Websites Juron, 25, insists her decision was not motivated by drawing a line in the sand.

“I have nothing negative to say about any attempt to keep women’s The Athletic / ‘I just want to play’: Behind Jordan Juron’s decision to hockey in the spotlight and to continue to bolster the interest in the sport switch sides in battle over future of women’s hockey and I think this year it definitely has really picked up across all the platforms,” she said. “Both (the NWHL and PWHPA) want that, and they want that attention, but they just have different ideas on how to do it.

By Hailey Salvian Jan 10, 2020 70 “On a personal level, I just want to play the game.”

After four seasons at Boston University, Juron joined the Buffalo Beauts. In May she joined the boycott with the majority of her Beauts teammates. On Saturday morning, Jordan Juron was a member of the Professional During her boycott, she played in one of the PWHPA’s showcase events Women’s Hockey Players Association, a group that has vowed to sit out in New Hampshire, which she said was “amazing” and “well run.” all professional hockey in North America until there is a league deemed sustainable for the future of the game. The chance to return to the NWHL, she said, was completely out of the blue. Later that day though, after a last-minute decision, Juron found herself on the opposite side of the movement and on the ice with the National On Saturday, Juron was in Buffalo visiting her boyfriend who plays Women’s Hockey League’s Boston Pride. hockey at Canisius College when she met her friend and former Boston University teammate Kaleigh Fratkin for coffee. Fratkin has played in the Hours before puck drop, Juron signed a professional tryout contract with NWHL since Day 1 and was vocal against the boycott when it first made the Pride for their weekend series in Buffalo. Shortly after the PTO was headlines. announced, she received a message from a PWHPA head saying she would be removed from their rosters for all future events. Shortly after their coffee meeting, the coach of the league-leading (17-0-0 record) Pride, Paul Mara, reached out to Juron through Fratkin and said, “I was given an opportunity, I did not seek an opportunity out, and it “I think Jordan could help the team,” Juron recalled. “Would she want to sparked that little girl inside of me who just loves the game and wants to play?” play,” Juron said in a recent interview. “I just thought it was what is best for me and my current situation.” Luckily, said Juron, she had her gear in the trunk of her car. Three hours before puck drop, she joined the team. Shortly after she was removed Her decision is a relatively small development in the long dispute from the PWHPA. between the two factions in women’s hockey with competing visions for the future of the game. A formal announcement that Juron will join the team full-time for the remainder of the season is expected on Friday. Juron’s decision once again raises the question: how long are players willing to sit out before a resolution is reached? Juron said she knew playing in NWHL would prevent her from participating in the PWHPA showcases, but the opportunity was too good Juron is not the first player to break off from the PWHPA. While a to pass up. spokesperson for the NWHL said other players have reached out recently about abandoning the boycott and joining the league, the “Two games into the season last year I broke my spine, so missed the PWHPA remains steadfast. In a text message, Jayna Hefford, a former entire rest of the season – and then the decision happened this summer member of Canada’s Olympic team and the head of the PWHPA, said for the PWHPA,” she said. “I got in one showcase in New Hampshire. It she understood the need to play. was a great event, I have nothing but good things to say about the PWHPA and what they are doing, but I didn’t get in any of the other “We understand every player wanting to play. So does every member of showcases that have been announced at this point. the PWHPA,” she said of Juron’s removal from the group. “This isn’t an easy choice to make. At the end of the day, PWHPA players have “It was the opportunity that was so attractive to me and I just wanted to chosen to work for the future of the game and what can be instead of the play hockey. It was the love for the game.” current state and what is. We are hopeful our sacrifices result in a better future for ALL women hockey players.” On top of the chance to play more, Juron said she recently moved from Buffalo to Syracuse for her job in orthopedic medical sales. As a result of The battle over the future of women’s hockey has been ongoing since the the move, she hasn’t been able to utilize the PWHPA’s training at inaugural NWHL season in 2015-16, but the latest and most significant Buffalo’s Habour Centre as planned. divide began when the Canadian Women’s Hockey League folded last March. For now, the NWHL is where she wants to be.

Following the news that the CWHL would shutter after 12 years of Meanwhile, the PWHPA has sold out its three showcase events in operation, several prominent players announced in May that they would Toronto, New Hampshire and Chicago — though only the Toronto event forego participation in any professional leagues in North America “until held a capacity higher than 1,000. we get the resources professional hockey demands and deserves.” The group has also begun its 2020 schedule after taking a short break About a month later the PWHPA was formed to provide a united voice for from its Dream Gap Tour. They recently hosted an exhibition game in boycotting players. The group has since started a travelling exhibition Hefford’s hometown of Kingston, Ont., and a future exhibition game will game showcase called the “Dream Gap Tour.” be held later this month in the Waterloo region. And on Saturday and Meanwhile, the NWHL has maintained that they are “open for business” Sunday, the Dream Gap Tour will return to Toronto for another showcase and are in the midst of their fifth season and continue to sign new event. Select players will also play in a skills contest in partnership with sponsors. An NWHL spokesperson also pointed out that the league has the Toronto Maple Leafs’ outdoor practice at Toronto’s outdoor rink at been clear that all players are welcomed, regardless of whether they Nathan Phillips Square. A future event in Philadelphia has also been initially joined the boycott. announced.

A number of players who were originally boycotting have returned to the And while the PWHPA has scarcely mentioned the NHL explicitly, it is NWHL, including Mallory Souliotis who said she had a change of heart believed they are holding out playing this year in the hopes of the and went back to the Boston Pride in the offseason. creation of an NHL-backed women’s league (already dubbed the WNHL).

“(The movement leaders) just didn’t have very clear answers and they NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic in November that were very unsure about a lot of my concerns,” Souliotis said in June. “I the NHL remains supportive of growing the women’s game. But, he said, just really didn’t understand why they had chosen to take this route when any further type of support at this point, in organizing a league or we have a league already there. We have our one league that everybody otherwise, is “purely speculative and hypothetical.” wanted.” “We aren’t actively working on a ‘plan’ for a professional women’s hockey More recently, Michelle Picard, who started the year sitting out, was league,” he said. “We don’t have a team of people modelling out named as the new deputy commissioner of the NWHL. projections. The league hasn’t (and isn’t) giving consideration to appropriate markets versus markets that might not be ready. We aren’t canvassing specific clubs or owners to gauge their interest in operating franchises. By contrast, we do (and will continue to) actively support women’s hockey, both financially and by working cooperatively to raise profile and increase opportunity.”

If the boycott stretches beyond this season, and the NHL does not step in, more players like Juron could start switching sides.

“At the end of the day, I’m playing for those little girls in the stands who are buying jerseys and are maybe the only girl on their boys’ teams,” Juron said. “We are trying to give those girls something to look to and have hopes and dreams to reach.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170593 Websites Amazingly, the penalty kill, which had been inexplicably bad through a fair portion of the first half of the season, has successfully killed off 17 of the last 19 power plays the Canadiens have given their opposition.

Sportsnet.ca / Why Montreal Canadiens shouldn't fire head coach Claude So yeah, when Julien says the team hasn’t packed it in — like he did Julien after Thursday’s devastating loss to Edmonton and also after Friday’s practice in Brossard — there’s more than enough evidence to support his claim.

Eric Engels | @EricEngels January 10, 2020, 3:41 PM "You guys see the same games I do. I don’t think we’re being out-played by any means, by anybody," said Julien. "But the mistakes are costly

right now. BROSSARD, Que.—The axe is swinging, and everybody is just waiting "There’s frustration, but the one thing there isn’t — there’s no quit. You for it to drop. see (it) again today (at practice). I know it’s black right now, and I know That’s what typically happens when a team flunks out like the Montreal there’s a dark cloud over us right now, but nobody has quit on this team. Canadiens have. Players, coaches — we’re still going to work as hard as we can. And I’ve seen situations where teams have packed it in in the past. I’ve seen it, The Canadiens are currently enduring their second eight-game winless I’ve witnessed it, but this team here hasn’t done that." streak of the season and have won just seven of their last 26. They came into this most recent skid in third place in the Atlantic Division, but now Does that mean the coach needs to make technical changes to generate that they are 11 points out of that position and nine points behind in the different results? wild-card race, their fans are expecting someone to pay the price for that "I think I would if we were getting outplayed," Julien said. "For example, result. (on Thursday) we out-chance the other team (they did), we out-shoot the And with the expectation that it won’t be general manager Marc Bergevin, other team (they did), we did everything else… we did everything well, despite Montreal trending towards a third straight absence from the except we didn’t out-score them. So, I’m not sure how you find a way to playoffs (and a fourth in the last five years), coach Claude Julien is in score more than the other team when your team is getting more chances their sights. than the other team. I think when people look at the game (Thursday) for example, for two periods we’re by far the better team. Third period we got We believe Julien has squeezed every ounce of juice there is to squeeze a little bit on our heels and it was probably a little bit more even at the out of this lemon, that he’s generated better results than anyone else end, but one period cost us the game. So it’s hard to say all of a sudden, could with what he’s been given, that the Canadiens haven’t quit on him we just change everything that we’ve been working on because of our or his system, and that it would be entirely unfair to fire him at this stage. lineup.

But it’s all up in the air right now. Even if management has sold "I’m not sure there’s too many coaches in the league that… you can ownership on the future of the team and internal expectations for this tweak certain things, which we’ve tried to do. You’re trying to put some season were low — and considerably lower than external expectations — lines together and some of them (like Ilya Kovalchuk-Max Domi-Nick to begin with, situations like these are untenable. Suzuki) when you don’t get the last change and you just say, ‘We’ve got to be careful who they’re out against,’ and that kind of stuff. But at one The bottom line is that if the Canadiens don’t start winning games, point there’s only so many things you can do as a coach; you have what someone’s going to pay for it. you have and we’ve got some young players, we’ve got some guys who But Julien? He should be seen as the guy you want at the helm for when would be in Laval (in the AHL) if we were healthy. That’s reality, and this team eventually is where management — and the fans — want it to that’s life, so you have to deal with that and adjust." be. We’re not sure what else Julien can do, and it’s probably not going to Consider the 5-on-5 numbers: help his situation that Gallagher isn’t likely to be available on Saturday, when the Canadiens play the Ottawa Senators. • The Canadiens have had more shot attempts than their opponents in 71 per cent of their games. One of the team’s best defencemen, Ben Chiarot, will be out of action for a second-straight game and is likely to miss a few more before returning • The Canadiens have had more scoring chances than their opponents in from a lower-body injury. That’s a killer, too. 76 per cent of their games. But if the Canadiens can’t find a way to win, regardless, that axe could • The Canadiens have had more scoring chances from the high-danger drop. It would just be wrong if it fell on Julien. zone than their opponents in 64 per cent of their games. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.11.2020 And if you want to look at just the last eight games alone — every one of them essentially lost by a goal, because in the two that were by two goals the opposition scored an empty-netter — the Canadiens have generated more shot attempts in five of them. And although they’ve given up more scoring chances in five of them, they’ve been neck and neck in high- danger scoring chances in all of them but one (their loss on Tuesday in Detroit, in which the Red Wings had 12 high-danger chances to Montreal’s eight).

This is all taking into account that Jonathan Drouin, one of the Canadiens’ most important forwards, went down on Nov. 15 with a torn and since-surgically repaired tendon in his left wrist; that Paul Byron was lost in the same game as Drouin and has since had knee surgery and suffered a setback in his rehabilitation; that Joel Armia, the big Finn who was on pace to shatter career-highs in goals and points, went down with a hand injury on Dec. 23 and has missed each of the last eight games; and that Brendan Gallagher — the team’s heart-and-soul forward — suffered a concussion on New Year’s Eve and missed four of the last eight games.

The team’s power play had shot up as high sixth in the NHL, even with some of these players unavailable, but it has understandably dipped down to 10th. 1170594 Websites like Price — or Pekka Rinne — has slowed as they’ve aged. He just doesn’t look the same as he did when he was the world’s best goalie, and now his numbers are reflecting that.

Sportsnet.ca / Four reasons Montreal Canadiens have fallen out of No. 2: Are they burly enough to hang with the playoff contenders? playoff race Look, the NHL is definitely more about skill today than it was a decade ago and if you try and build a team around anything but that, you’re not going to be successful. But you still need a level of grit and toughness Sportsnet Staff | @Sportsnet January 10, 2020, 1:10 PM that Montreal may lack. They are one of the younger and smaller teams in the league and we shouldn’t underestimate it.

Every time “toughness” is mentioned as a positive and necessary team Following their loss at home to the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night, the trait it needs to be followed by a caveat: No, the Canadiens don’t need Montreal Canadiens are on their second eight-game losing streak of the someone to go out and fight or even be a deterrent. It’s about winning season. puck battles, being hard in front of the net, difficult to knock off the puck, Just before the Christmas break began, this team was sitting third in the and so forth. In terms of veteran leadership, having a few players who Atlantic Division. Now, on Jan. 10, they’re sixth and chasing the second have experienced the ups and downs make you better prepared to wild card spot by an astounding nine points. As Eric Engels has written handle the low points in the season. this week, the loss to Detroit all but sunk their playoff hopes, and the loss “I think they’re a really skilled group,” Friedman told Lead Off. “They’re to Edmonton brought a new level of dejection. So what the heck has not the biggest group and I do think you don’t have to be killers anymore happened here that turned this thing south so fast? in the NHL, but you do have to have some beef and that beef has to be “I don’t know what’s wrong there,” Brian Burke told Sportsnet 590 The able to grind and I do wonder if they need more beef.” Fan’s Lead Off earlier in the week. “The coach is a great coach and their No. 3: The goal scoring has evaporated team is a decent team. I’m just not sure what’s wrong there.” It’s hard to say the Canadiens have been playing poorly during this Naturally, this tumble down the table has opened up questions about stretch. Their 52.49 shots for percentage at 5-on-5 since Christmas is what happens next, and the first answer for most is to consider a eighth-best in the league and they’ve created the most high danger coaching change. Julien has proven himself to be a good coach over chances in the league during that stretch. Their expected goals for mark many years, but we’re now staring down the real possibility the team will ranks fourth and yet they’ve scored the 12th fewest times over the past miss the playoffs three years in a row. And if that happens, the only time few weeks. Montreal has been outscored by 12 at 5-on-5 over their past Montreal would have made the post-season under Julien would have eight losses. been in his very first season with them, when he was hired over halfway through the year. This can partly be chalked up to some bad luck, but also draws attention to the hard truth that Montreal doesn’t have the same individual star After Thursday’s loss Julien himself said they were “running out of power the NHL’s best teams do. Those types of players can will a team’s answers.” So until they start winning games, the coach’s future will be the offence through an extended bad run — they’re not impervious to biggest question around the team. slumps, but this is the second bad streak of its kind that has happened to “I agree Claude Julien is a good coach, but I see a team that something’s the Canadiens this season and a lack of true superstar power is coming,” Elliotte Friedman told Lead Off on Friday. “I don’t know if it’s the contributing to it. coach, I don’t know if it’s a big trade, but I just get the sense that’s a team The good news here is that while Montreal was trying to win now, there’s that is just drowning right now and when you’re like that as a player and still an eye on the long-term future, which promises to be bright. an organization, you’re almost like ‘OK what’s the GM going to do?’ He tried Kovalchuk. I wonder if something more’s going to come.” Bergevin has done a solid job building up organizational depth. The centre position used to be a huge problem for the team, but suddenly What that next step is remains to be seen, but how the Canadiens got they’re overflowing. The prospect base is strong, with some recent here isn’t due to just one factor. It’s not so easy to just point the finger at graduations to the NHL and more to follow. the coach, and that dismissing him would solve it all. “(Bergevin’s) made it very clear they have some very good prospects So what, exactly, has contributed to this quick drop? coming and he’s not getting rid of them for a short term fix,” Friedman No. 1: Carey Price may not be solely to blame, but he hasn’t been said. “I think Bergevin’s trying to do both at the same time: contend and himself wait for his prospects to come.”

We’re not breaking new ground here by pointing out that the 32-year-old But are any of them superstars? That remains to be seen. Price is the lynchpin of the team. After all, that’s why Marc Bergevin No. 4: The injuries made him the highest-paid goalie in the league with a $10.5 million cap hit. The problem, of course, is the league itself is trending in a direction The biggest missing piece right now is Jonathan Drouin, out of the lineup towards tandems and offence, so investing that much in a 30-something since mid-November just as it was looking like he could be taking off as netminder to lean on will probably never look solid. an impact player. That has hurt his centre, Domi. But that’s not the only loss the team has had to deal with. When Price is struggling, as he has been lately, the Canadiens aren’t able to cope around him. In Price’s past nine games, he’s allowed three Joel Armia was a terrific fit in the lineup, playing in all situations, and he’s or more goals seven times. missed the whole losing skid. Paul Byron is a major penalty killer and he hasn’t played since Novemeber either. Brendan Gallagher missed four Back in November, in the midst of Montreal’s last eight-game losing games in January with a concussion before returning Thursday, but his streak, Andrew Berkshire wrote a great analysis of Price’s play. A major availability has come into question again on Friday. factor was that Montreal was not a good team at defending the pass in front of the net. During this current losing skid, only the Winnipeg Jets Claude Julien says Brendan Gallagher has headaches and they want have allowed more high danger chances than Montreal — and the Jets to check him out to see if he he’s coming down with a virus or if it’s are the league’s worst at this across the entire season. related to concussion

This is the kind of stuff Price, at his peak, would have been able to — Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 10, 2020 overcome to steal games, but he’s currently sitting with a .901 save percentage that ranks 39th among all goalies with at least 15 games Defenceman Ben Chiarot is the latest to go down to injury and he’s been played. His high danger save percentage at 5-on-5 is a lowly .817 a surprisingly big part of the team’s defence. Only Shea Weber averages according to Natural Stat Trick, which is 21 percentage points lower than more shorthanded ice time among Montreal defencemen and no one Sergei Bobrovsky, who has faced the same amount of high quality gets more even strength time. All of this adds up and challenges the chances. And much has been made of Bobrovsky’s struggles in Florida. team’s depth and ability to bounce back from a tough losing streak.

On this week’s 31 Thoughts Podcast, Jeff Marek made the point that, Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.11.2020 when player tracking comes, it could shine a light on how much someone 1170595 Websites “We’ve got a good trip going. I understand there are players who have played on each team, but once you get by a game those things all fade. Players are on their new team and if you look at the game tomorrow it has huge implications on the standings. Take the personalities outside of Sportsnet.ca / Flames embrace moment of levity prior to pivotal Battle of it and play for the team.” Alberta rematch The two Alberta teams have identical 24-17-5 records as part of a Pacific division race that has the top four teams separated by one point.

Eric Francis | @EricFrancis January 10, 2020, 6:26 PM “They’re a team I think is going to be ready to play,” said Ward of an Oilers team that clearly wasn’t ready when they met the first game after

Christmas. Lying in the middle of the dressing room floor in full gear, Zac Rinaldo “A tight division is good – that means every game for us forces us to play delighted in the canine carnage. at a higher level and will ultimately make us a better team. You can’t go Puppy-swarmed by a good chunk of 16 adoption-eligible fluffballs from into this part of the season not being battle tested and recognizing what the Cochrane Humane Society who had taken over the joint, the Flames that looks like and how to react to it. The fact that the teams are this tight winger became a human chew toy. helps us with that. Ultimately down the stretch that’s what you need.”

While Jerry nibbled on Rinaldo’s skate lace and Hank wrestled with But after Friday’s optional skate, what the Flames felt they really needed Ebony in his arms, the cutest of a handful of tiny German shepherds were puppies. licked his face. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.11.2020 “This,” said the rugged veteran, “is the best.”

A few feet away Johnny Gaudreau was on his knees, cuddling up with a trio of adorable furballs as Sean Monahan and Mikael Backlund did the same nearby.

If indeed the biggest game of the year is one sleep away against an Oilers team they’re deadlocked with, you wouldn’t have known it on Friday.

Four straight wins will do that for a team, as does the knowledge they were able to pound the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 when they first met two weeks ago.

The Oilers will come into this rematch feeling pretty good about themselves too, going 4-0-1 since the Calgary game, including a 3-0-1 road trip on which former Flames goalie Mike Smith played every game.

Rife with storylines and intrigue, Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada tilt marks James Neal’s first trip back to Calgary since he was swapped out for Milan Lucic this summer.

While Flames fans are sure to be “Looing” every time he touches the puck, you can bet they’ll be booing every chance they get to welcome Neal back following an uninspiring, seven-goal season in Calgary that paid him $5.75 million.

The far bigger storyline Saturday could revolve around the possibility the starting netminders will include Cam Talbot and Smith, who both played on the other side of the Battle of Alberta last year.

“Smitty has played real well here lately but we’ve said all along we’re going to go with the guy who gives us the best chance to win every night, and we feel very confident in both guys,” said Oilers coach Dave Tippett at the Saddledome following an optional skate Friday.

Flames interim coach Geoff Ward’s comments were similar regarding a decision he’s glad is a tough one.

Despite the fact Talbot is coming off back-to-back wins allowing one goal apiece, the 32-year-old has yet to start three since signing as a free agent with the Flames this summer.

Ward is seriously contemplating using David Rittich, who stymied the Oilers their first meeting.

When Tippett was asked what he’d say if Smith came to him saying he, “wants this game,” the coach chuckled.

“Smitty comes to me every game and says he, ‘wants this game.’ – it would be just normal,” he laughed of the fiery 37-year-old who wasn’t resigned by the Flames this summer after two years of service.

“Koskie (Mikko Koskinen) wants to play too.”

Tippett says he understands all the storylines surrounding players swapping sides on the Battle of Alberta, but he insists he isn’t interested in any of it.

“We’re interested in playing well and winning,” said the first-year Oilers boss, whose club arrived in Calgary following a comeback win in Montreal Thursday night. 1170596 Websites are, the Maple Leafs might not have enough physicality to go all the way. In other words, they might not be “tough enough.”

Keefe defends that he and Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas don’t Sportsnet.ca / Keefe: Focus as Leafs' coach is creating 'environment for necessarily shrug off those claims. But, like most things with the duo, players to thrive' their definition of toughness veers away from conventional ideas.

“We don’t for a second disregard the fact that you need to be competitive and you need a level of physicality that’s going to allow you to be able to Julia Kreuz | @juliackreuz January 10, 2020, 8:59 PM play the way you want to play and also to persevere when things are difficult,” said the coach. “I think we probably look at toughness in a

different manner that others do, and we would describe it mainly as just As the Toronto Maple Leafs headed for South Florida, remnants of their the ability to play through difficult circumstances, and that to us is annual outdoor practice were still visible at Nathan Phillips Square on toughness.” Friday. Marincin extension It was a first for Sheldon Keefe, the rookie NHL coach who’s already With a couple of days off ahead of him before his team’s game against made the Leafs’ record books as the first coach to win 15 of his first 20 the Florida Panthers, Keefe also had time during his Tim and Sid games. And though the team was coming off of a frenetic shootout loss appearance to comment on Martin Marincin‘s one-year extension, as to the Winnipeg Jets, some fun was well deserved given the dramatic reported by Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston earlier on Friday. turnaround — on and off the ice — Toronto has seen under its new coach. “He’s served the organization very well in his role as a depth defenceman, played in the minors and (was) a big part of our Calder Cup “It was a great time, the players had a lot of fun with it, the fans seemed championship down there,” Keefe said about the polarizing Marincin. to enjoy it,” Keefe said in an appearance on Tim and Sid on Friday. “It “You need to have really good depth in the NHL. was a fun time for all.” “I can also say, from my time in the American League, that when it The Maple Leafs jumped from a 9-10-4 record under Mike Babcock this comes to players that can play in the American League, but also when season to 24-15-6 since Keefe took over following his Calder Cup- you need them to be players that can fill in and play minutes in the NHL, winning season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. In addition, their goals- that’s extremely valuable. And as I see it from my short time in the NHL for, goals-against and power-play percentage numbers all improved Marincin is as good a depth defenceman as there is.” under their rookie head coach, who is currently leading the team to a projected 98-point season. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.11.2020 They’re still a work in progress, but there’s reason to be content as well.

“I certainly would say I’m happy. The players have responded very well,” Keefe said during Tim and Sid. “(We’ve seen) lots of progress in some key areas, both offensively and defensively and on special teams.”

The uptick in production comes along with a new culture.

As a former player, turned AHL coach, turned Maple Leafs saviour, Keefe has experienced multiple facets of the game and its evolution — on and off the ice. A new generation of players, one that requires direct communication and transparency, has contributed to Keefe’s keenness on keeping open lines of communication with his players, and creating an environment where everyone feels safe and heard.

“So much attention, of course, goes onto the tactics and all the decisions you make as a coach every day,” he said. “But really the softer skills when it comes to communication and creating an environment for players to thrive, that’s what I’ve tried to (focus) on my own development and I like to think I’ve made some strides there. I’m not perfect, by any means, and it is a challenge … it’s probably the biggest area of growth for me, that I recognize.”

ODR SZN.

The @MapleLeafs are taking their practice outdoors today at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/PueVv7rpnz

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 9, 2020

Maple Leafs fans who attended the open practice on Thursday probably couldn’t catch a real glimpse of how elaborate and diversified Keefe’s practices are. The 39-year-old brought with him from the Marlies an unconventional yet dynamic approach, in which players are divided within two different rinks and six or seven coaches take the ice at once.

He defends it’s more than simply a mechanism to stave off the monotony of the NHL season, but also a unique way to work on specific skills and game situations.

“In the development program like that, we really got to see the benefits of having deliberate practice and deliberate skill work to refine the skill sets of the players,” said Keefe. “You get to the NHL, and of course you’re dealing with players that have great skills, but even them over the course of the season require some fine tuning and the proper repetitions to refine their game in that way.”

Now that the coaching drama is resolved and Keefe has proven his ability to coach an NHL team, old storylines have begun to creep their way back into discussion, and there are still those who say that, as they 1170597 Websites and every year we think, ‘Oh this is unbelievable, we’ve hit x amount of users or x amount of page views this year, whoever thought that would be done. It’s probably going to start flat-lining a little bit.’ And then the next year rolls around and we just completely obliterate those numbers Sportsnet.ca / Q&A: CapFriendly's founders on signing trends, building and we’re shocked all over again. an online giant SN: Take us back to the beginning — how did CapFriendly begin and how did you two decide to work together?

Sonny Sachdeva | @sachdevasonny January 10, 2020, 12:21 PM Dominik: I started CapFriendly — or the idea of CapFriendly — in January 2015, shortly after CapGeek went down. Obviously, CapGeek

was the site in terms of the salary cap, CBA, player contracts. When it TORONTO — Long before they launched what wound up an online went down, I kind of found myself lost in terms of where to go to find that staple for hockey lovers, CapFriendly’s founding duo’s earliest forays in information that, as a fan, I really valued. I thought it was something I the sport looked much like those of the players whose names eventually could take on. populated their site. In the beginning, it wasn’t really something I planned on having go up on Early trips to the rink, and an unfiltered love of the game. the web or become what CapGeek was — it was more really for myself, for the challenge, if you will, to see if I could do it. So I started building it “I was introduced to skating at three years old,“ says Jamie Davis, one with a friend of mine who helped me out on the development side. We half of the duo at the head of the CapFriendly operation. “I started playing launched in June of 2015 and it quickly started to gain traction — we Timbits hockey when I was four or five, played competitive hockey, so started to get quite a few followers right off the bat. I think in our first day, I’ve been playing my whole life. Both my brothers were the same. our Twitter had somewhere in the range of 5,000-6,000 followers. They’ve been playing hockey and skating pretty much since they could stand and walk.” It quickly escalated — in terms of time and effort, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into at the beginning. But I quickly realized how The same goes for the website’s original founder, Dominik (who much work it was. requested his last name be omitted). “Very similar for me,” he says. “I played hockey as a kid, I would watch hockey all the time — Saturday That’s actually how I met Jaime. He was working on a similar site at the nights were always Hockey Night with my dad, watching the Habs here in time, it was called Hockey’s Cap — same idea, same principle, player Montreal. … As I got a little bit older, that would translate into collecting contracts, the salary cap, the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He had a hockey cards, because I wanted to get to know more about my favourite really good site going, which was also gaining a lot of traction. Jamie players and my favourite clubs.” reached out to me first to see if there was a fit there, if we could kind of join forces and bring it all together under one umbrella. I think in January That was where it all began. Before websites like CapFriendly became 2016 we merged our sites under the banner of CapFriendly, and we’ve the corner of the internet at which NHL fans’ interest often pools, the been working together ever since. relationship between them and the players they loved was restricted to the tangible — hockey cards, posters, a signed stick here and there. The Jamie: Me and my two brothers were all fans of CapGeek, too. We had past few decades have changed that relationship significantly, though, used the site for a couple years when we saw the announcement that it and when it comes to the financial side of the game, it was one site in was going to shut down, and we were all very bummed about that. At the particular that altered a generation’s interest in the league. time, I was experimenting with some web design, just as a hobby, and working on a site that was music-related. My brother suggested we try to “That was the way to know more about these guys. And then time went create a similar site —- there were some sites that had similar features, on and things evolved and sites like CapGeek came out, and introduced but we didn’t feel they were as in depth as CapGeek, so we went ahead us to new ways to fall in love with our favourite game, with our favourite and started designing the site. clubs and our favourite players,” says Dominik of the late Matthew Wuest’s seminal cap-focused site. We were kind of expecting another site to pop up to fill CapGeek’s void, and it never really happened, so we started working on it a little bit “That was just like candy for me — I soaked it all in.” harder. We ended up releasing the site in May, I believe, one week after General Fanager released his site — he released, we released a week He was far from alone, as the proliferation of NHL salary information later, and then Dom released CapFriendly two weeks after that. So within unlocked a new avenue for fan engagement with the game. And it was a month, three sites all popped up. always about far more than just understanding how hefty a paycheque star players were collecting. I knew how much work went into creating a cap site, so I reached out to Dom to congratulate him on the release. As time went on, we realized “It allows the average fan to play the role of GM, the role of coach, to see that we both have strengths and they’re different from each other. Dom’s how he or she thinks that they could do better,” says Dominik. strength was definitely a weakness of ours — he’s excellent at “Everything that’s come out over the years, all the new ways for fans to networking and meeting people and getting information. And then we felt interact with their favourite clubs, it’s given them an opportunity to fall in that Hockey’s Cap had some features that we had set up, like love with their favourite players and their favourite teams all over again.” ArmchairGM, that he didn’t have developed at that point. So after a Nearly five years into their effort to spur that love story via CapFriendly, couple months, we got into bigger discussions and decided a merger the preeminent source for fans looking to indulge in the financial side of would make sense. the game, Dominik and Jamie spoke to Sportsnet about the journey of SN: Looking at it now, it’s become a staple of the hockey world, one of building the online giant. the daily go-to sites for hockey fans. What are your thoughts on where it This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. stands now and how far the project has come?

Sportsnet: It’s incredible to see how much the site has grown and the Dominik: For me personally, I still find it surreal sometimes when I take a level it’s reached — what was the first moment for each of you where it look at the people that follow us on Twitter or the people that reach out to dawned on you just how big this was getting? us on a daily basis, asking for an opinion or for some help. It’s hearing our site’s name on the radio, or in a magazine or newspaper, or Jamie: For me personally it was the day that Dion Phaneuf was traded occasionally on television — even though it’s been four years going on from Toronto to Ottawa, because our site went down. And it went down five, any time it happens, I’m still kind of at a loss for words. That’s really hard. That was the first time we ever had an issue with dealing with been something that I would’ve never ever imagined. I thought that scale, the scalability of a website. So that’s when I kind of realized, ‘Oh, maybe it would have a degree of success – it was never my goal or my we might have something here.’ intention, but I figured there’s always that possibility, there’s always some Dominik: I think on my end, it was gradual. It was always around, how people that would like it and visit it. But I never ever thought it would gain much interest there was in player contracts and the salary cap. Just the kind of popularity that it has over the years. It’s really mind-blowing. watching the daily traffic on the site and seeing how the progression Jamie: Surreal is a great descriptor of the feeling. It’s pretty unbelievable chart was always a constant up arrow — there was no up and then down how much interest there actually is. And it’s an honour to have people and then back up again. It was one direction and one direction only. We rely on us — it’s something we take very seriously. continue to see that every year. This is going to be five years in June, SN: What does a day in the life of the CapFriendly team look like? Tell television and radio, fans are just soaking it up, and have more and more me about the team you have in place and what the process looks like ways to know everything they need or want to know about their favourite when a signing breaks. players or their favourite clubs.

Dominik: For the day-to-day, Jamie is around to take care of most of So I think the desire has always been there for fans, I just think that now, what happens, weekdays 9-5. I’m also fortunate enough that because of with everything we have at our fingertips, they’re getting more ways to do my day job and the way I’m set up, I’m also pretty available during the it. day to monitor any kind of action going on in the hockey world. And we’re really fortunate to have several other people that help us out, especially Jamie: To add to that, I don’t find it surprising because of the importance over the evenings and on weekends, whether that’s monitoring Twitter or that the salary cap has on every single move that is made in the NHL. other websites to see if anything has gone down, or to help out with the You have your upper limits, you have your lower limits and teams have to actual website itself and everything that goes into making sure that’s up abide by those limits at all times. Every time you make a trade, every and that nothing goes wrong. time you sign a player, or call a player up from the minors, you have to consider, ‘Do I have enough cap space?’ Every single time there’s a [Aside from Dominik and Jamie, the CapFriendly team is rounded out by move made in the NHL, the salary cap always comes into play. I think Ryan Davis, Chris Davis and Joe Mazza] people are really interested in that aspect, because it is such an important factor. So we have a great little team here — we all complement each other really well, we have fun working together. It’s never a chore. We’re really SN: Have you ever felt any pushback from anyone in the league or fortunate that we get to do this — this is not any of our day jobs. We all elsewhere for providing the resource you provide? have day jobs. Jamie’s the only one who works on the site full-time, but for the rest of us, it’s all in our spare time. So it’s a lot of hours, but it’s Dominik: I haven’t felt any pushback — if anything, I think because of the definitely a lot of fun. interest that fans have in this kind of information, it maybe opened it up a little more, to be a little bit more transparent, for providing a little more SN: One thing that fans have taken note of is how fast you guys update information because they see that it helps them engage with their fans. It the site when new signings or trades drop — how have you developed a drives the interest up. So if anything I’d say it’s helped clubs maybe system to manage that while most of you have so much other stuff going share a little bit more and be a little more transparent with their fans on? because they’re really starting to see the importance with their fans.

Jamie: We’re always in contact with each other — we have a messaging SN: Given you guys have been watching signing trends closer than system where we’re always talking to each other, and honestly, the probably anyone outside of those in the league, what are some of the conversation that we have doesn’t go quiet for more than a couple hours most interesting overall shifts you’ve noticed when it comes to player every day. We try to have somebody always paying attention to the signings? hockey world to make sure we’re on top of the news, and if something’s coming down, then we’re ready in case it actually does. Dominik: I’d say the trends kind of shift every two years. The type of contracts that would be signed say four, five years ago are no longer Dominik: We’ve also gotten to a point where there’s so many people that what we’d see today — for example, prior to the last Collective love the site and are interested in making sure we’re up to date and have Bargaining Agreement, we’d see those long contracts that would be all of the information as quickly as possible. If we miss something — and back-diving, trying to lock up players as long as you possibly could. And when I say ‘miss something,’ I mean it could’ve happened five minutes then with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2012 they ago and we don’t have it up on our site yet — we’ll get people tweeting at abolished that, and you started to see kind of a new way of thinking, of us, we’ll get emails, we’ll get text messages saying, ‘Hey, you missed maybe we can break this up into tiers — we’ll have entry-level contracts, this, it happened three minutes ago, it’s not up yet.’ We really appreciate and then maybe out of entry-level we’ll see about signing a bridge deal, that, because it’s happened, where we might’ve missed something for and then from a bridge deal maybe we’ll go on to a longer-term deal. whatever reason, and thanks to the fans we were able to pick up on it and add it to the site. Now you’re seeing maybe less bridge deals, and clubs signing players either to longer terms right out of entry-level or maybe signing them to SN: There must be a different sense of pressure now compared to when one- or two-year deals. But every year you’ll see a new trend. The you first started, with fans now having an expectation that CapFriendly perfect example is this past year — in July, one of the biggest things that will have all the details, and instantly. How has the pressure on you guys stood out to us is how many shorter-term deals were signed. A few years changed over the years? back on July 1st, you saw longer-term deals and big dollars. This past year you saw a lot of one-year deals, two-year deals, for a lot lower Dominik: I think it’s definitely gone up over the years, that kind of money. pressure. I won’t say that it hasn’t — it definitely has. I think it’s gotten now where people expect everything to be up to date within minutes of Jamie: And the three-year bridge deal with the third year being all salary news breaking and being as accurate as possible. They rely on us and and significantly higher than the first two years. want to see how a trade or a signing or a move might impact their team because it’ll trickle down. Or if it’s a reporter in the media it might impact Dominik: That’s another thing that we saw a lot of this year that we didn’t a story they’re writing. We’ll have people in the hockey community as see as much of in the past years. You’d get those deals that would take a well that are looking at the site and using it for certain things each and player to one year from being an unrestricted free agent but all salary in every day. that last year, so that the qualifying offer would be high, to kind of force the team’s hand, to see what they’d do. So every year we see new We’ll get people working for clubs that will call us and say, ‘Hey, I just trends, and it’s really interesting to watch. want to let you know, this is just slightly off, you might want to change that. Or agents will contact us and say, ‘Hey, you know, this player’s SN: How has the site changed since you first started up, with all the contract here, you’ve got just this little thing wrong here, we just wanted growth that’s come? to let you guys know.’ So we definitely feel a little bit of pressure I guess, Dominik: I think when we first started the site, a lot of what we built were but it also pushes us forward. It encourages us to know that people are ideas or features that we wanted to see. Things that we were interested interested. in, that we thought would really improve the site. But I would say the last SN: The financial side of the game has obviously proven to be year or so, a lot of the features and a lot of the new tools that we’ve fascinating for fans, probably to a bigger degree than the league added to the site, have come from the fans. expected. Why do you think that is? Has the level of interest surprised And in some cases have come from people in the actual hockey you at all? community who reach out to us and say, ‘Hey, what would you think if Dominik: I’m not surprised. I like to tell people, back in the ‘90s, the way you added this kind of feature? What would you think if you added this that you could get to know your favourite player was collecting a hockey kind of information to the site?’ So that would then spawn ideas for us, card, looking at the back of that card and seeing what that player’s points we’d obviously add our own flavour to it, to try and make it as user- were. Or maybe buying a poster and putting it up on your wall. And now friendly as possible, as simple as possible, because sometimes it could we have access to player contracts with sites like ours. We have access get overcomplicated. to advanced stats thanks to sites like Evolving-Hockey and NaturalStatTrick. With social media, with everything that we have now on But a lot of the tools and the features that we have on the site now, they come from ideas offered to us by the fans and people in the hockey community.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.11.2020 1170598 Websites disappointed when you are getting sent down, but you’ve got to see the good things about it."

Top 3 players of Sweden in the 2020 World Juniors as selected by Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs face intriguing conundrum with Rasmus the coaches: Sandin Rasmus Sandin (TOR)

David Gustafsson (WPG) Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox January 10, 2020, 11:45 AM Samuel Fagemo (LAK)

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) January 4, 2020 The Toronto Maple Leafs have not been dressing their best six Keefe, who’s worked closely with Sandin for a year and a half, sees the defencemen and we’re not just talking about the injured Jake Muzzin kid’s dominance at the world juniors as another positive step in his here. accelerating development. He’s already seen it firsthand with William As head coach Sheldon Keefe experiments with defender Martin Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen and Liljegren. Marincin — who signed a one-year extension Friday — in his top four "It is the chance to play with their peers and represent their country and against Connor McDavid and challenges/rewards Travis Dermott with play in a high-pressured environment," Keefe said. "It’s just a really good tough minutes head-to-head versus a three-headed monster like Kyle step for a high-end young player, and one that services players really Connor–Mark Scheifele–Patrik Laine, the club has kept an intriguing wild well going forward." card in the pocket. Going forward, Dubas faces a compelling decision: How much of the Rasmus Sandin, 19, may be young — at least according to his birth future do you sacrifice for the now? And how many standings points does certificate — and he is certainly benefitting from the extra minutes and swapping Marincin for Sandin really get you? seasoning that comes with his current big-fish-in-a-small-pond status, but his farm-system performance is beginning to scream for a call-up to the On a personal-growth level, it seldom does a teenager harm to spend a real squad. few more months dominating a league that may be a notch lower than what they’re worthy of. Sandin’s confidence and his game is arguably at its highest. His standout performance in the world juniors’ bronze medal game led Sweden to And there is a great argument to be made that a club as cap crunched as bronze. His 3-7-10 stat line in the tournament’s seven contests bested all the Leafs must resist the temptation to play Sandin four more NHL blueliners and secured him Top Defenceman honours in Ostrava. He games (10 total) and permit his entry-level contract to slide till 2020-21. was recently named to the AHL all-star game. Sportsnet’s Brian Burke, an experienced exec, believes it foolish not to There is a swelling momentum here begging for a promotion, and the use the CBA to your advantage in a situation like this, arguing that Dubas Leafs are only carrying six D-men. will need cheap talent like Sandin for the three seasons after this one. He’s not wrong. "Obviously, he’s an important player for our future, but we feel like we’ve been going pretty well here as a group, even without Muzzin," Keefe said On the flip side, Tampa is charging fast, catching the Bruins is a this week. "But we recognize, whether it’s [Timothy] Liljegren or Sandin, possibility, and home ice in the postseason sure would be a pleasant that both guys are right there, and they’re playing lots and they’re part of change. things with us and keeping an eye on what’s happening. Can that be accomplished when an already-thin blue line isn’t being "We know they’re only a call away if we need to make a change or add represented by the best six talents in the organization? somebody." Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.11.2020 The Maple Leafs have gone a respectable 3-1-2 since a P.K. Subban point blast fractured Muzzin’s foot.

Aside from Monday’s loss to the Oilers, the result of a weak overall effort, Twitter’s whipping boy, Marincin, has held his own.

Despite being a minus on the Wednesday, Dermott looked inspired by the challenge of shutting down Winnipeg’s top unit and was a physical presence.

"Part of that is just to try to get Derms to take that next step at this phase in the season, and we think he’s an important guy for us to be able to get a little bit more from him," Keefe explained.

Now 45 games deep, the Leafs don’t truly have a handle on the optimal six-man combination on the blue line. Part of that is a coaching refresh and Keefe’s openness to experimentation. Part of that is injuries.

"You get guys in there, you give guys more responsibility, and you expect guys to take that and run with it," says Morgan Rielly, the club’s top minutes muncher. "If you look back at wins and losses since [Muzzin] has been out, I think we’ve done a pretty good job. That being said, there’s always areas for improvement."

The other part of that is Sandin, sharpening his skills and his teeth in the shadows since being sent down to the American League by Kyle Dubas after the six-game mark of the season.

"Up with the Leafs, I was averaging about 13 minutes or so a game. Down here, I am probably playing double," Sandin told Good Show Wednesday. "When you get confidence as a hockey player, that is how you build your game.

"I know it is not easy to crack a roster when you are 19 years old as well, but that was one of my big goals this year — to crack the lineup — and I did. After that, I was just trying to play as well as I could every game and every practice to stick around. Obviously, you are going to be 1170599 Websites negatives in per cent of team control, there’s no area where they aren’t worse than they were last season.

So what’s going on here? Surely part of the issue is the loss of Joe Sportsnet.ca / Truth By Numbers: Malkin's dominance defined by more Pavelski: than just offence same with Sharks, now that Joe Pavelski is gone.

pic.twitter.com/su8iyLKe9q Andrew Berkshire — nobody (@petbugs13) January 8, 2020

However Pavelski hasn’t had a sterling first season away from the Every couple seasons, it seems like the Pittsburgh Penguins try to set a Sharks either, so they may have ‘lost’ Pavelski even if they retained their record for man games lost with their core players, and somehow they find captain. He is 35-years-old after all. a way to pull through and make the playoffs. Losing Joonas Donskoi hurt as well. Even in years where he wasn’t This year, Sidney Crosby saw them through the early part of the season putting up tons of points, he was an excellent play driver who really where seemingly everyone was out even though he was struggling with a improved their depth. sports hernia that needed surgery himself. Since Crosby took his leave, But the roster losses likely don’t loom as large here as the the player driving the bus for the Penguins is this week’s Spotlight underperforming players. Performer. Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic have seemingly fallen down the SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCE proverbial elevator shaft in terms of overall performance, and while the Every time Sidney Crosby gets hurt, Evgeni Malkin acts like he’s Goku signs have been there for Vlasic for several seasons now, Burns is likely and Krillin just died. That’s a Dragonball Z reference, and I’m not sorry. the one that hurts the most.

Every time, Malkin seems to find a new gear when his teammate miss Combine all those factors with Erik Karlsson not having a great season time, and this season is no different. The point production is always a either, and the team’s relatively old and extremely expensive defence is good place to start but what Malkin has been able to do this season to an absolute mess. That’s an uphill battle to fight out of if ever there was keep the Penguins a dominant team with their captain and best player one. out goes beyond just goals and assists. In fact, it’s more than just offence. QUICK HITS As a general look at where Malkin stands this season, we can compare every player in the league who has played at least 300 minutes at 5-vs-5 • Age seems to be catching up to the Sharks in a brutal way, but you in the amount of scoring chances he has a hand in creating, contrasted know who just keeps chugging along? Jumbo Joe Thornton is rocking a with how many transition plays he makes every 20 minutes. 52.5 per cent inner slot shot differential, 52.8 per cent slot pass differential, and 53.1 per cent shot attempt differential. He’s not a big That lone mark way off on the far right is Malkin, creating a startling point producer anymore, but the man is still killing it. Ageless. amount of offence, way beyond what anyone else in the league is doing, including Connor McDavid. It helps to play on a better team than • I promised I’d circle back to it, but scroll up the page and look at the McDavid does, and rest assured that I’m not going to suggest that Malkin graph for Evgeni Malkin again. is the superior player overall, but so far this season he has been remarkable, moving the puck up the ice at the rate of the league’s elite, Do you see Roman Josi? Do you see how far he’s removed from the and creating offence more efficiently than anyone. cluster of defencemen offensively? Josi’s 6.05 scoring chances created per 20 minutes at 5-vs-5 is nearly 40 per cent better than the next-most The cluster of players on the left side of the graph are mostly dynamic offensive defenceman this season, and he also leads all defencemen, as you might guess, while the cluster on the right are defencemen in transition play. The Predators have been in freefall, mostly forwards. The gap with which Malkin outpaces the average of the enough to get Peter Laviolette fired, but it hasn’t been because of their forward group is even larger than the gap between the average defender captain. and average forward, which really drives home how utterly dominant he has been. • Defence hasn’t been an issue for Josi this year either as he and Ryan Ellis have controlled over 60 per cent of the inner slot shots while they’ve The other labelled player on the graph we’re going to circle back to in a been on the ice, and over 57 per cent of slot passes. John Carlson is bit. putting up record-setting offensive numbers, but Josi should be the front- runner for the Norris right now. Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, • For the first time in what seems like forever, Alex Ovechkin doesn’t they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover have a massive lead on his peers in scoring chances on net in all Canada’s most beloved game. situations. His 114 paces the league, but Kyle Connor is on his heels with 111, while Auston Matthews and Nathan MacKinnon are close with 105 THE QUESTION and 102 respectively. This week Steve Dangle wants to know about those disappointing San • I’m still betting on Ovechkin to take the scoring title though, and the Jose Sharks. He asks… simplest reason is one-timers. Over 32 per cent of Ovechkin’s shots are “It’s easy to blame the goaltending in San Jose, but it was awful last year one-timers, contrast that with 10.1 per cent for Connor, 19.1 per cent with as well, so how deep are the problems there for this season to go so off Matthews, and 22.4 per cent for MacKinnon. It’s going to take a lot to the rails?” dethrone the king.

Martin Jones and Aaron Dell are a goaltending tandem that scares no Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.11.2020 one, but you’re right that goaltending isn’t the big problem this time around. It’s not good, but comparing the Sharks of last year to the Sharks of this year, things look really bad.

Last season the Sharks were a pretty excellent team that was held back by truly terrible goaltending. They held an advantage in nearly every category at 5-vs-5, even if some were by thin margins, but this season they’ve regressed in almost every area.

Control of the inner slot has dropped by nearly 10 percentage points. Control of the slot overall has dropped over five percentage points, and even in the areas where the Sharks haven’t been dragged into the 1170600 Websites

USA TODAY / Toronto Marlies assistant coach Rob Davison rushed to hospital after pregame medical emergency

Mike Brehm

An American Hockey League game was canceled Friday night when an assistant coach had a medical emergency in the visitors' dressing room in front of players.

Toronto Marlies assistant Rob Davison, 39, was taken to the hospital before the game at the Texas Stars and is being evaluated, the Toronto Maple Leafs said. No further details were given.

“I was informed by the leadership group that the entire team was in a state of shock and not comfortable proceeding with tonight’s game," Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said. "We fully support our players and staff in this matter.

“The Maple Leafs would like to thank the Stars’ medical team and the HEB Center staff for their urgent care.”

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The Marlies opted to forfeit the game, and it will be recorded as a 1-0 victory for the Stars.

Davison, a defenseman, played seven seasons in the NHL, mostly with the San Jose Sharks. He joined the Marlies coaching staff in 2017.

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