SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 5/29/2021 1214364 Despite woeful , Bob Murray and Dallas Eakins will 1214394 J.T. Compher has stepped up to second line to fill in for be back with Ducks suspended center Nazem Kadri 1214365 Ducks face ‘a critical summer,’ GM Bob Murray says 1214395 Three big questions for the Avalanche heading into their second-round series against the Golden Knights 1214396 2021 NHL Playoffs: Golden Knights vs. Avalanche 1214366 Coyotes sign forward Ben McCartney to 3-year entry-level schedule, TV channel, games, scores, guide to the deal second-round 1214397 Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer has ‘something to prove’ in these playoffs 1214367 Young Islanders went through growing pains, and now 1214398 Rest assured, Avs and Bruins relish long gap between they have playoff experience series 1214368 Bruins like their chances if they are dealt a full house 1214399 Avalanche to play in second round 1214369 Bruins are lined up well to take on Islanders this time 1214400 and Reconcile in Hilarious Ad 1214370 Tuukka Rask talks contract status, health as Bruins get set 1214401 Indications are Sampo Ranta might replace Alex Newhook for second round of NHL playoffs for Game 1 Sunday 1214371 Bruins Notebook: B’s looking forward to Garden party 1214372 OBF: Not nearly enough talk about Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron 1214402 Blue Jackets' hunt for next coach has produced crop of 1214373 Bruins vs. Islanders: Power ranking the lines, pairings, early candidates goalies 1214374 Tuukka Rask addresses health status, future with Bruins 1214375 Boston Bruins Believe Long Layoff Prior To Isles Is 1214403 Strength in Number: Why Joel Hanley’s switch to No. 44 is ‘Advantageous’ more than a jersey, but a tribute to his brother’s l 1214376 Who has the edge in a Bruins-Islanders series? Our panel of anonymous experts breaks it all down 1214377 Bruins, Islanders about to explore one of the quietest 1214404 Why the Detroit Red Wings might bring back Jonathan areas of the Boston-New York rivalry Bernier at 1214378 Bruins pre-scout: 6 Islanders pressure points they could 1214405 Red Wings show confidence Givani Smith is ready to stick target in the NHL 1214379 2021 NHL playoff preview: Bruins vs. Islanders 1214406 Red Wings’ offensive improvement must come mostly from within 1214380 Sabres prospect Aaron Huglen's 'surreal' comeback from back surgery 1214407 OILERS NOTES: Mike Smith proved everybody wrong this season 1214408 Bubble hockey in Edmonton comes to end as junior 1214381 Calgary's Team Scotiabank steps up at PWHPA Secret showcase falls through Dream Gap Tour 1214409 Take a chill pill, Oilers fans. Get ready for a decade of 1214382 Flames prospect Pettersen proud to represent Norway on dominance world stage 1214410 Lowetide: An early look at the Oilers’ options for the 2021 draft 1214383 Here’s when the Hurricanes vs. Lightning NHL playoff series begins and how to watch 1214411 This Panthers season was a massive step, but patience is 1214384 The absence of the indispensable Jaccob Slavin only running out to actually contend underlined his value to the Hurricanes 1214412 Panthers’ Barkov, Huberdeau want to start winning in 1214385 The Hurricanes switched up their lines after warmups. It playoffs: ‘Anything less is disappointment’ took another switch late to win. 1214413 Video of Florida Panthers fan asked to remove jersey in 1214386 Scouting the Lightning: What the Canes can expect in the Tampa goes viral second-round playoff series 1214414 Florida Panthers pack up, clear out as 2021 season 1214387 Hurricanes close out Nashville but have little time to officially ends celebrate. Tampa Bay is next. 1214415 Exit Day: reflects, talks future of Florida 1214388 Playing from behind is a habit the Hurricanes would like to Panthers break before Round 2 1214389 2021 NHL playoff preview: Hurricanes vs Lightning 1214390 Five things the Hurricanes did to beat the Predators — 1214416 Kings add four to hockey operations staff and can carry forward against the Lightning 1214391 2021 NHL Playoffs: Lightning vs. Hurricanes schedule, TV channel, games, scores, guide to the second-round ser 1214392 ‘Pick your poison:’ A 360-degree look at the potent Lightning power play and how to defend it 1214393 Do the Blackhawks have a No. 1 goalie in Kevin Lankinen? 1214417 Vegas' Max Pacioretty makes the most of his series debut 1214445 Long Island’s Charlie McAvoy now a star for Bruins 1214418 Overmatched Wild shows hope for the future with seven- 1214446 Breaking down Islanders-Bruins with series prediction game series 1214447 impressed by Islanders squad full of ‘heroes’ 1214419 Wild-Vegas game recap 1214448 Oliver Wahlstrom ‘doubtful’ for Islanders’ second-round 1214420 Janmark has hat trick to lead Vegas to Game 7 win over opener Wild 1214449 Taylor Hall could be difference maker in what promises to 1214421 Wild season ends with 6-2 Game 7 loss in Vegas be intense Isles-Bruins series 1214422 Wild's Nick Bonino played Game 6 hours after his son was 1214450 Isles boost capacity for Bruins series born with more fully vaccinated-only sections 1214423 Jace Frederick: For once, the end of a Wild season feels 1214451 Islanders' Oliver Wahlstrom doubtful for Game 1 for Bruins more like a beginning 1214452 Who has the edge in a Bruins-Islanders series? Our panel 1214424 Wild go down swinging in Game 7 loss to Golden Knights of anonymous experts breaks it all down 1214425 For Wild veteran Nick Bonino, Game 7 isn’t even his 1214453 2021 NHL Playoffs: Bruins vs. Islanders schedule, TV biggest moment this week channel, games, scores, guide to the second-round series 1214426 More first-round heartbreak for Wild, compromised 1214454 Bruins, Islanders about to explore one of the quietest defensively in Game 7 by early loss of Jonas Brodin areas of the Boston-New York rivalry 1214455 2021 NHL playoff preview: Bruins vs. Islanders Canadiens 1214456 Islanders Oliver Wahlstrom ‘Doubtful’ for Game 1 against 1214427 Maple Leafs living ‘game to game’ as they prepare for Boston Bruins Game 6 against Canadiens 1214457 Islanders Will Need to Crack a New Goaltending Code 1214428 Suzuki scores in as Habs beat Leafs 4-3 to force Against BruinsPublished 15 hours ago on May 28, 2021 Game 6 1214458 NYHN: Islanders Kick Off Series With Bruins on Saturday 1214429 Leafs must play like their season's on the line, & More Bogosian says 1214430 Canadiens Notebook: Nick Suzuki's OT was one to remember 1214459 taking patient approach in NY Rangers 1214431 Tomas Tatar hoping Game 6 vs. Leafs isn't his last with coaching search Canadiens 1214432 Canadiens' Cole Caufield gets big support from NFL star J.J. Watt 1214460 As the Senators prepare for draft lottery Wednesday, 1214433 Stu Cowan: Do the Canadiens have another fan-tastic there's some local names ranked in first round finish in them? 1214434 What the Puck: Canadiens' Game 5 win offers glimpse of Flyers CH future 1214461 World juniors coach won't be surprised if York makes 1214435 Hickey on hockey: Canadiens rookie Cole Caufield shows immediate impact on Flyers he belongs 1214436 About Last Night: Habs surrender lead but win 4-3 in OT in Game 5 1214462 Penguins players brace for changes after latest playoff 1214437 Canadiens playoff notebook: Nature is healing with fans flameout returning, Tomas Tatar sees the end, juggling the defe 1214463 Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin 'was not 100%' during 1214438 Phillip Danault and his linemates are finding their comfort playoffs zone, and that bodes well for the Canadiens 1214464 Penguins’ Tristan Jarry: confidence unshaken, vows ‘I will be better next year’ 1214465 'He’s a No. 1 goalie’: Penguins teammates stand behind 1214439 For all the Nashville Predators were, they're no longer a Tristan Jarry legit hopeful | Estes 1214466 'We have higher expectations': Penguins coach Mike 1214440 Nashville Predators' improbable run to postseason ends Sullivan reflects on turbulent season, future of the organi with some questions, some answers 1214467 Penguins notes: Tristan Jarry vows to learn from 1214441 The Predators’ 5 biggest offseason priorities as a pivotal postseason mistakes summer begins 1214468 Kris Letang wants to finish career with Penguins' core 1214442 Rexrode: Predators improved and impressed, but now intact bold changes must come 1214469 The most important things the Penguins said on locker 1214443 The foundation was laid, but Preds have plenty of choices cleanout day: Expiring contracts, goaltending, injuries to make 1214470 ‘Well, it’s about freaking time’: Shelby Cassesse brings a new, needed voice to The Fan and Pittsburgh sports New 1214471 Jarry Admits Inexperience, Growing Pains; Vows To 1214444 Stanley Cup winners show Devils the path must include Come Back Better finding value by any salary-cap legal means 1214472 Penguins Clean Out Day; Letang Wants Core Together, ‘That’s What We Want’ Vegas Golden Knights 1214473 If the Sharks land a top-two draft pick, how might it impact 1214496 Wild finally succumb to Golden Knights’ relentless their offseason plans? pressure 1214474 30 Sharks: Ignorance Was Bliss for San Jose’s Arturs Irbe 1214497 Column: Max Pacioretty returns just in time for Golden Knights St Louis Blues 1214498 Golden Knights, Avalanche to meet for West supremacy 1214475 Gordo: Why the Carpenter-Tarasenko comparison doesn't 1214499 Mattias Janmark tallies hat trick as Golden Knights hold up advance 1214476 In a season where lots went wrong, COVID issues hit 1214500 Max Pacioretty returns for Game 7 for Golden Knights Blues late 1214501 Sportsbooks need Wild over Knights in heavily bet Game 7 1214502 Ryan Reaves has false positive, available to play in Game 1214477 Tyler Johnson’s hustle making an impact for Lightning in 7 playoffs 1214503 Analysis: If anyone can beat the Avalanche, it’s the 1214478 Lightning to retire jersey policy after flap with Florida fan Golden Knights 1214479 Lightning fans will miss local flavor of regional broadcasts, 1214504 Pacioretty’s return, Janmark’s hat trick power Golden but welcome national exposure Knights to Game 7 victory over Wild 1214480 Lightning to open second round Sunday in Carolina 1214505 Blog: Golden Knights beat Wild in Game 7, advance to 1214481 Lightning to face Hurricanes in the second round second round vs. Avalanche 1214482 Synergy between Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point can 1214506 Golden Knights emerge from first-round battle with Wild make game ‘look easy’ stronger because of it 1214483 2021 NHL playoff preview: Hurricanes vs Lightning 1214507 Instant NHL Playoff Preview: Golden Knights vs. Colorado 1214484 2021 NHL Playoffs: Lightning vs. Hurricanes schedule, TV Avalanche in the second round channel, games, scores, guide to the second-round ser 1214508 2021 NHL Playoffs: Golden Knights vs. Avalanche 1214485 ‘Pick your poison:’ A 360-degree look at the potent schedule, TV channel, games, scores, guide to the Lightning power play and how to defend it second-round 1214509 With Season On The Line, Golden Knights Defeat Maple Leafs Minnesota, 6-2, In Game 7 Friday With Janmark Hat Trick, 1214486 Rasmus Sandin’s spot in the Leafs’ lineup is up in the air Pacior for Game 6 1214510 Las Vegas Sports-Biz News On A VGK Playoff Game 7 1214487 ‘It’s going to be electric’: Habs, Leafs set to battle in Game Friday 6 in front of fans 1214511 Max Pacioretty and Mattias Janmark Steal the Show for 1214488 The Leafs won’t say it but it’s time for their stars to come Golden Knights out against the Canadiens 1214512 ANALYSISVegas Golden Knights Advance With Game 1214489 Leafs-Habs to see fans for the first time at Game 6 in Seven Thrashing of Wild Montreal — and resale tickets aren’t cheap 1214513 Pacioretty Makes Dramatic Return for Vegas Golden 1214490 KOSHAN: Leafs head into Game 6 against Canadiens Knights with no interest in returning home for Game 7 1214514 GOLDEN KNIGHTS GAMEDAYMcNabb, Reaves, Krebs 1214491 SIMMONS: One goal in five games not enough for in COVID-19 Protocol for Vegas Golden Knights Matthews and Marner 1214515 ANALYSISVegas Golden Knights Scoring Missing In 1214492 HORNBY: Go Leafs Go will cost dough Action… Again 1214493 TRAIKOS: Why are the so afraid of playing their kids? 1214494 WARMINGTON: Leafs vs Habs Game 6 in Montreal a hot 1214516 Alex Ovechkin’s massive deal is ending, but he doesn’t ticket but not cheap want to look for a new team 1214495 Do the Maple Leafs need more from their top line? Is 1214517 What's next for Kuzy after Caps' playoff exit? William Nylander the answer? 1214518 Could Max Scherzer be the next D.C. franchise mainstay to go? 1214525 Canucks shopping list: They need some forwards this Websites summer 1214528 The Athletic / Duhatschek notebook: How will Wayne 1214526 Patrick Johnston: Canucks should bring the Computer Gretzky do on TNT? Where could Tyson Barrie sign? Boys home Plus, Mas 1214527 Canucks depth chart heading into the offseason: Trade 1214529 The Athletic / NHL power rankings: The ‘Sour’ rankings chips, roster holes, Kraken bait and more say Colorado remains “Good 4 U”, but is it “Deja Vu” fo 1214530 Sportsnet.ca / Stanley Cup Playoffs Takeaways: Supporting cast takes stage in Vegas 1214531 Sportsnet.ca / Why Maple Leafs' Rasmus Sandin should expect to be benched for Game 6 1214532 Sportsnet.ca / Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2 Preview: Bruins vs. Islanders 1214533 Sportsnet.ca / Golden Knights' Fleury has seen everything over roller coaster career 1214534 Sportsnet.ca / Pettersson, Hughes contracts will be precedent-setting for Canucks 1214535 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens keep season alive with desperate Game 5 win over Maple Leafs 1214536 Leafs looking to get Matthews ‘cleaner looks’ 1214537 What do we make of the Jets? 1214538 USA TODAY / NHL playoff predictions: Who wins Game 7 between Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights? 1214520 Waiting for Dubois to dominate 1214521 Maurice still the man, for now 1214522 Jets hoping Dubois can have significant impact as playoffs move forward 1214523 JETS SNAPSHOTS: Jets enjoying their break, trying to stay sharp, as Habs and Leafs slug it out 1214524 Would the Jets prefer the Maple Leafs or Canadiens? Likeability, loatheability, chances of winning and more

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1214364 Anaheim Ducks

Despite woeful season, Bob Murray and Dallas Eakins will be back with Ducks

By HELENE ELLIOTT

MAY 28, 2021 5:34 PM PT

Ducks general manager Bob Murray said he will return next season after three straight playoff misses with the goal of getting players “to embrace what we’re doing here, and they’ve got to take ownership of it.”

Murray also said coach Dallas Eakins will return. However, Murray is seeking an assistant coach who can take responsibility for the power play and ease Eakins’ burden. The Ducks’ power play ranked last in the NHL last season with a success rate of 8.9%, and the team ranked 30th among 31 teams with a record of 17-30-9. Former Kings coach Darryl Sutter was an advisor to Eakins before the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to travel between and the United States; Sutter gave up his advisory role to become head coach of the Calgary Flames in March.

Speaking during a season wrapup video conference, Murray said the Ducks’ dismal season produced the small benefit of giving the organization a chance to assess young players’ talent and potential fit in the lineup.

“A lot has been said about this being a lost season and I don’t agree with that totally,” he said. “A year ago I was talking about where younger players would be and where they would get to. We really didn’t have an idea where they’d be. At this point in time it’s much clearer to me that some of the younger guys have taken steps…

The Lakers, behind the play of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, dominated the Suns during the third quarter Thursday, showing signs of future dominance.

“Some of the young guys came along really well and a few didn’t. A couple of the middle-age guys have had lost years. Remodel, retool, reset — whatever you want to call it, it’s a plan. We need the core players and middle-aged players embracing what we do. We’ve got to identify which of our core guys really want to do that.”

He identified the team’s biggest need as top-six forwards — the Ducks ranked last in goals per game at 2.21 — but said they will choose the best player available in the annual draft, which is heavier at the top with promising defensemen than forwards. The Ducks have a 12.1% chance of winning the draft lottery on Wednesday and of getting the No. 1 choice. The Buffalo Sabres have the best odds at the top pick, 16.6%.

Murray blamed the Ducks’ scoring woes in part on the fact that too many players were unwilling to battle to get to tough areas on the ice to draw penalties or get prime scoring chances. He accepted blame for not recognizing that sooner. “We got older and maybe I waited one year too long to start this whatever ‘re’ word you want to use. We got older and guys got less willing to go to those places,” he said. “I don’t quite have the answers.”

In an era where pitchers throw harder than ever, and hitters are trained to react accordingly, the demand for a knuckleball pitcher could be rising in MLB.

Murray said he discussed his plans with owners Henry and Susan Samueli and executive chairman Michael Schulman and was pleased with their reaction. “They want it to be quicker, too. Everybody wants it. Nobody likes losing,” Murray said. He added that he was given a budget that’s “more than fair” for next season.

The Ducks have already made changes on the executive side, adding former Kings salary cap guru Jeff Solomon as vice president of hockey operations and assistant general manager following the retirement of David McNab as senior vice president of hockey operations. “Jeff brings us a whole different element of things….[and] brings an analytic component to our organization that really needs to be upgraded and moved forward. I just haven’t pushed hard enough to move it forward but this was a good time for us to do that. We got lucky. We got a break finally.”

LA Times: LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214365 Anaheim Ducks Drysdale (2020), have taken big strides. But there’s still a generation gap.

“A year ago, I was talking about the younger players,” Murray said. “I was Ducks face ‘a critical summer,’ GM Bob Murray says wondering where they would be and where they were going to get to. We didn’t really have an idea of what they were going to be. At this point in time this year, it’s much clearer to me that some of the younger guys have taken steps and can be legitimate top-six forwards in this league.” By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: May 28, 2021 at 3:05 p.m. | UPDATED: May 28, 2021 at 3:46 p.m. But what of mid-career players such as Adam Henrique and Rickard Rakell? Where do they fit in 2021-22 and beyond?

“You can call it a rebuild, retool, remodel, reset,” Murray said. “Whatever Ducks general manager Bob Murray laughed. He knew the questions you want to call it, it’s a plan. A key component of the plan for us has to were coming. Maybe not in such blunt terms, but after a clunker of a be our core group of players embracing what we’re trying to do, 2020-21 season, he was prepared Friday to address many of the understanding it, wanting to be a part of it and helping us. rebuilding franchise’s most pressing issues during a state-of-the-team Zoom call. “You can’t get moving forward quicker unless they embrace it and take part in it, take ownership of it themselves. We’ve got to identify which of Will you be back as GM next season? our core guys really want to do that, because they’re the key to this. Will Dallas Eakins continue to coach the team? Everybody wants to get faster and younger. You hear that all the time. We want to make a team that’s faster and younger and plays an exciting What is longtime captain Ryan Getzlaf’s future with the Ducks? brand of hockey that our fans want to come and see.

“I’m coming back next year,” Murray said after a brief chuckle. “Dallas will “That’s what we’re trying to build here. We need a certain group of be our coach next year. Ryan Getzlaf and I have met and we’re talking middle-aged players to take ownership and embrace this. We need about a few things. He’s obviously at a point in his career where he everybody, and I don’t think this happened last year, to get working. We needs to take a little step back and see what’s best for his family and need to have a good summer, making sure we’re all on the same page what he thinks his role can be. We discussed roles on the hockey team. and there’s no individual thinking.” Ryan and I discussed a whole bunch of things. We’ll continue to have discussions, so I don’t quite have an answer on that one.” Unlike recent seasons, when the Ducks faced salary cap restrictions, Murray has money to spend. The salaries of retiring players David What’s done is done. What happens next is what’s most important. Backes ($4.5 million) and Ryan Miller ($1 million), plus the reduction of Corey Perry’s buyout (down to $2 million from $6.625 million), give “This is a critical summer,” Murray admitted. Murray financial flexibility. Changes have already been made in the front office, with longtime Plus, Getzlaf’s $8.25-million cap hit comes off the books. If he re-signs executive David McNab announcing his retirement and Murray hiring Jeff with the Ducks, he’s likely to agree to a shorter and less expensive deal. Solomon away from the Kings to replace McNab as vice president of He turned 36 earlier this month and his best days are well behind him, as hockey operations and assistant general manager. evidenced by a shift to the fourth line late in 2020-21. “We got lucky,” Murray said of replacing McNab with Solomon. “First of Players such as Henrique, who has three years remaining on his contract all, you don’t replace everything David did, but Jeff brings us a whole at $5.825 million per season, and Rakell, who has one additional season different element. Jeff brings the analytic component to our organization at $3.8 million, could be left unprotected for the expansion draft, with the that really needs to be upgraded and moved forward. I just haven’t hope the Kraken opts to take one of them instead of a younger player. pushed hard enough to move it forward. But this was a good time for us to do that.” Murray expects a flurry of activity leading into the expansion and entry drafts. Greater changes are likely to be made in the coming weeks and months, including a shake-up on Eakins’ coaching staff after the Ducks set a “We’ve got to continue to draft well,” he said. “That is how we’re going to modern-day NHL record for power-play futility, with a meager 8.9% fill some of the boxes. I have boxes that need to get filled going forward, success rate. The Ducks also scored a league-low 126 goals overall. and there are two ways to do it. You’ve got to draft. You’ve always got to supplement through the draft. The other way is through trades, being “We’re in the process of re-evaluating the whole coaching staff,” Murray able to make a hockey deal if you have to make a hockey deal. I’m very said. anxious to see what happens right around the expansion draft.” The Ducks also are looking ahead to Wednesday’s draft lottery. Their Orange County Register: LOADED: 05.29.2021 second-to-last finish in the NHL’s standings gives them a 12.1% chance of picking first overall for the first time in their 28-year history and possibly selecting University of Michigan defenseman Owen Power.

Things will go quiet for several weeks, but then heat up again in July. Protected lists for the Seattle Kraken’s expansion draft must be submitted by July 17, with the selections to follow July 21. The Ducks are guaranteed to lose one player.

The entry draft will be July 23-24.

Free agency begins July 28.

Training camps are tentatively set for Sept. 22.

Murray said he delayed his annual postseason meeting with reporters until after speaking Wednesday with owners Henry and Susan Samueli and chief executive officer Michael Schulman. Murray indicated they were fully on board with his ongoing plans to restore the Ducks to elite status in the NHL.

“They understand the plan,” Murray said. “They want it to be quicker, too. Everybody wants it. Nobody likes losing.”

Much has changed since his last postseason meeting with ownership. Many of the Ducks’ youngest players, including but not limited to leading scorer Max Comtois and top draft picks Trevor Zegras (2019) and Jamie 1214366 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes sign forward Ben McCartney to 3-year entry-level deal

BY AUSTIN NICHOLSON

MAY 27, 2021 AT 12:51 PM

The Arizona Coyotes signed forward Ben McCartney to a three-year entry-level contract on Thursday.

“We are very pleased to sign Ben to an entry-level contract,” said general manager Bill Armstrong in the team’s press release.

“Ben had a great junior career and played well for the Roadrunners last season. We look forward to watching him continue to develop next year in Tucson.”

The Coyotes’ seventh-round pick played for both the Roadrunners (AHL) and the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) last season.

He had 13 goals, 24 assists and 37 points with the Wheat Kings before moving to Tucson.

McCartney played only four games with the Roadrunners and finished with one goal, four assists and five points.

He was drafted by Arizona as the 204th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214367 Boston Bruins When the Bruins acquired Taylor Hall at the trade deadline, the addition of a proven scorer allowed things to fall into place across all their lines. In the same way, things synched up for the Islanders when they traded for Kyle Palmieri in April. In 17 games, Palmieri notched 4 points (two goals, Young Islanders went through growing pains, and now they have playoff two assists), filling a void with and Michael Dal Colle injured experience and also bringing punch to the lineup.

“He’s given us a more natural scorer,” Trotz said. “We needed a little more finish in our lineup and Kyle’s provided a little bit of grit a little bit of By Julian Benbow,Updated May 28, 2021, 7:38 p.m. finish and some experience.”

Palmieri scored three goals in the first round against Pittsburgh, including Defenseman Scott Mayfield has been to the playoffs four times in his two in the Islanders’ Game 1 win. seven-year career with the Islanders. And even though the exits brought Boston Globe LOADED: 05.29.2021 heartbreak, the losses felt less like disappointments and more like growing pains.

Mayfield was just 22 and in his second season when he experienced the playoffs for the first time, in the 2014-15 season. Brock Nelson was a rookie. Josh Bailey was a veteran with seven years of experience, but he was only 25.

They were young, but they saw how far they could go if they stayed together. With that group as a foundation, the Islanders added players such as Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier, who became part of the team’s core. Bringing in the NHL’s third-winningest coach, , tied it all together.

Now, as the Islanders prepare to open the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs Saturday against the Bruins, all those years feel like building blocks toward something bigger.

“I feel like it means a lot more this time around because we have a little more belief,” Mayfield said. “Whether it’s our fans, whether it’s other people, I think there’s a belief that we can go further.

“Inside the locker room, we’ve always had that belief here. I can even say in the years we didn’t make playoffs, I think guys knew that our core group could be a group that pushed in the playoffs to get it done.”

Two years ago, in Trotz’s first season with the team, the Islanders lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. Last year, they reached the conference finals but lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“After last year, making it the way we did, I think there’s a belief there’s a little more buzz that we could do something special,” Mayfield said.

It took six games for the Islanders to bounce the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round and it was an upset to everyone except the Islanders. Mayfield said the postseason experience they’ve gained over the years is now proving valuable.

“I think we’re a confident group,” Mayfield said. “We’ve played a good amount of playoff series together now with Trotzy as the coach. I think winning the first one was our first step. But, at the same time, the playoffs can be an emotional roller coaster as far as just game-in, game-out, series-in, changing series, all that stuff. So it’s kind of staying even-keel and just making sure we play our game.”

Bailey has an edge

The Islanders have come to expect Bailey to raise his game in the postseason. He’s a different version of himself on the bigger stage.

“[Bailey] has a little more edge during the playoffs than he has maybe during the regular season,” Trotz said. “He’s played a lot of games in the league and sometimes you don’t have that same edge during the regular season. But playoff time, he steps up. He understands the magnitude of every game. Those good players have that ability to just raise their game he does in a very quiet way.”

Bailey finished the regular season with eight goals. He scored three in the first round against the Penguins, and he notched three assists.

Over the past three playoffs, he’s recorded nine goals and 23 assists.

Trotz said he has a well of experience to tap into with 58 playoff games under his belt.

“I think he’s a veteran player that has a high IQ and a high skill level,” Trotz said. “He elevates in the playoffs. And then we play a lot of playoff games. That’s probably the combination of those two.”

Palmieri fills void 1214368 Boston Bruins An upper-body ailment (believed to be a back strain) shelved the ace goalie for 17 games in March and April. No sign of any issues thus far. Rask allowed the Capitals 10 goals in five games, with a .941 save percentage, and was beaten cleanly just three times. Bruins like their chances if they are dealt a full house Asked about his pending unrestricted free agent status, he said he feels no rush.

By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated May 28, 2021, 7:57 p.m. “We haven’t had any discussions during the playoffs,” said Rask, 34, who is in the final year of an eight-year, $56 million deal. “We’ll find out.

“There’s going to obviously be some decisions to be made. We’ll see. Making its long-awaited return to the sporting scene: a playoff There’s no pressure about that. I’m sure we’re going to have good talks atmosphere. and come to a conclusion that pleases everybody.” The Bruins are expecting a sellout — or at least to sell as many seats as Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is unlikely to re-sign any of his they are permitted — for Game 1 against the Islanders. If the Red Sox UFAs — a group that includes Rask, Krejci, and Hall — before the July don’t sell out Saturday afternoon (or if they get rained out), it would be 21 expansion draft, since those players would then have to be protected the first full house in a Boston sports stadium in some 15 months. from Seattle. Free agency opens July 28. TD Garden could hold some 17,000 fans Saturday night. Assuming Rask returns for a 15th season, how much longer does he “It’s been a long time,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said before Friday’s want to play? workout. “You kind of forget what it’s like. I thought it was getting loud “With my style, I could probably play 10 more years if I wanted to,” he here with 25 percent capacity against the Caps, so I can only imagine a mused. “It’s just a matter of how long you want to play. That’s the full house. question I have to ask myself. How long do I want to keep doing this? “Probably be a little bit shocking at first, to be honest with you. You’re just “It takes a lot of time and effort every season to prepare yourself and go so used to quietness throughout the game.” through that grind, so those are the questions I have to ask. Meanwhile, the Islanders, who host Games 3 and 4, will increase “Because if you sign a contract and you play, you have to commit to it. capacity from 9,000 to 12,000 at Nassau Coliseum (full capacity is You don’t want to be second-guessing yourself midway through the 13,913). season — “Why did I keep playing?” — or you’re totally checked out. The Islanders said in a news release that “to create the loudest possible “I could play 10 more years with my style of hockey, but I’m definitely not atmosphere,” tickets will be made available primarily in “fully vaccinated” going to play that long. It’s just a matter of how long I want to keep sections. New York State guidelines mandate that fans provide proof of grinding out.” vaccination, with the final shot at least 14 days before game day. Massachusetts does not ask for the same. Fans must wear masks at TD Lauzon skates Garden. Among those who participated in an optional skate in Brighton: “Having close to a packed Garden [Saturday] is going to be special,” defenseman Jeremy Lauzon, who took a shot off the right hand in Game Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron said. 1 against the Capitals. Cassidy didn’t know whether Lauzon would be cleared to start the Islanders series, but he’s expected back soon … “You don’t want to get too high, obviously, and waste your energy. But Fellow back liner Kevan Miller, who took a high hit from Dmitry Orlov in that being said, you have to soak it in and stay in the moment and work Game 4, was riding a stationary bike. He will not play in Game 1. “At out your game. Sometimes it does make a difference as far as energy least he’s progressing,” Cassidy said … Not too often does Bergeron goes. You try to get a lift out of that crowd going wild.” come in with a lesser faceoff win percentage than an opposing center. Escaping the trap The NHL’s first-round leader at the dot was the Islanders’ Casey Cizikas (66.3 percent), with Bergeron (58.5) running fifth. “They’re great at what The Islanders, under coach Barry Trotz, smother opponents with a they do,” said Bergeron of the Islanders, praising them for having a neutral-zone trap. Cassidy noted that this season, he has seen more 1-2- wealth of lefthanded and righthanded options. Krejci (53.2) and New 2 looks, rather than more conservative 1-1-3. Taylor Hall will help the York’s Jean-Gabriel Pageau (52.9) ranked 14th and 15th … Algonquin Bruins attack both schemes. Regional forward Kerryn O’Connell and Dexter Southfield forward Matt Copponi won the Bruins’ John Carlton Memorial Trophies, for excellence Hall, who scored four goals in the Bruins’ final three regular-season in academics and hockey. games against the Islanders, backs off defenders with powerful, low- center-of-gravity strides. His hands are strong. He has clicked with David Boston Globe LOADED: 05.29.2021 Krejci, who has a knack for setting him up to attack vulnerable defensemen.

Like many top puck-handlers (see: David Pastrnak), Hall can overreach when going one-on-one, but Cassidy didn’t say that has been a major issue.

“We’ve seen him go by guys in traffic where it doesn’t look like there’s much materializing, and all of a sudden he comes out the other side with the puck and he’s in all alone,” Cassidy said. “When he does get a head of speed and he gets it in the right spots from Krejci or the D, boy, he’s dangerous.”

Tuukka Rask held the Capitals to 10 goals in Boston's five-game victory, his .941 save percentage playing a big part.JOHN TLUMACKI/

GLOBE STAFF Rask: ‘Health is OK’

Tuukka Rask, who submitted a Grade-A performance in the Washington series, said Friday he’s not in perfect health, but he is ready to face the Islanders

“Game feels good,” Rask said during an appearance on WEEI. “Health is OK. I’ve been playing, so that’s OK. It’s not as good as I’d want it to be, but obviously I’ve been playing and practicing. I’m out there. That’s all that matters.” 1214369 Boston Bruins Red Army squad. He won’t be prone to the big boo-boo. And if there is a wrinkle in his game, Varlamov is there to smooth it out.

The netminding aside — admittedly like trying to ignore heat from the sun Bruins are lined up well to take on Islanders this time — Job 1 for the Bruins will be to establish their ice presence down low, particularly against top D pairings Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield-Nick Leddy.

By Kevin Paul Dupont,Updated May 28, 2021, 4:09 p.m. Solving those duos was mission impossible for Boston early in the season.

“Early in the year, they were so dependent on that one [Patrice Bergeron] The Bruins pre-April 12, without the likes of Taylor Hall, Mike Reilly, and line — they weren’t getting any secondary scoring at all,” recalled Trotz. Curtis Lazar in residence, would have had zero chance of slipping by “So I think all the focus and all the weight on that team was, if you can Washington in Round 1 of the playoffs. stop Bergeron’s line and not take penalties, you can probably have some Rather than talking about Round 2 and the Islanders today (Game 1, success.” Saturday, 8 p.m. at the Garden), we’d be focused on body parts and Limiting the Brad Marchand-Bergeron-David Pastrnak trio has been the surgeries, roster fixes, potential salary-cap casualties, upcoming free main challenge for Boston playoff opponents since Cassidy’s first agency, and how general manager Don Sweeney might keep Seattle postseason behind the bench in 2017. It’s that Hall-David Krejci-Smith from poaching a roster goodie in the July expansion draft. follow-up threesome now that makes it all the more difficult. The big line Uh, not today, Stanley. clicked for 8-5—13 vs. the Capitals, while the Krejci trio popped for 3-5— 8. As the series played out, both lines saw better looks, particularly off Instead, it’s the refurbished Islanders, the broad-shouldered charges of the rush. Barry Trotz and , and specifically whether the Bruins can auger their way into that stout NYI defense to squeeze off shots in primo “All of our numbers went up, not only against New York but against scoring areas. The Penguins succeeded some, but not enough, even everybody,” said Cassidy, nothing his club’s offensive surge post-April with the superstar likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the job. 12. “Some of that, again, was Taylor Hall, Lazar comes in and is a little more creative on the fourth line, and Mike Reilly’s moving pucks a little As for the Bruins: They proved late in the season that they can get in cleaner than some of the other guys. there. Reason: because of the roster additions noted above, and above all, because of what Hall has meant for second-line pop and the club’s “All of that translates into some better attacks, really more of a rush quantum boost in five-on-five scoring. offense than anything.”

“Since they got Taylor Hall,” noted Trotz, now three years removed from Bruins in six, and then on to the Cup semis vs. TBA. That’s the inside ice. leading the Capitals to the Cup, “it’s really put everybody on the right seat Boston Globe LOADED: 05.29.2021 on the bus for their team.”

That Black-and-Gold bus is rolling right now. It should deliver a second- round victory in five or six games. The Bruins are confident, well-rested after Sunday’s first-round clincher, and in good health, albeit with some notable attrition on their blue line, including the rock-solid Kevan Miller, who won’t return for the start of the Islanders series and could be sidelined for the duration.

“From an outsider,” said Trotz, “it’s given them that first line/second line that is a threat night in and night out, and can be a game-changer for them at times.”

The Bruins needed five games to send the Capitals packing, the series tilting dramatically in their favor on Craig Smith’s OT winner in Game 3 when rookie goaltender Ilya Samsonov hiccupped on the rear wall and left the puck back there for Smith to waltz out in front and stuff home. That Blue Danube of a finish became part of a stretch that carried into Game 5 during which the Bruins potted eight of nine goals between the two clubs.

The Islanders, even with their 21-16 scoring edge over six games with the Penguins, never held more than a one-goal lead in the first three games. Their first sign of relief came in Game 4 when they rolled up a 4- 0 lead before the Penguins scored their lone goal, and then it took a major gaffe in Game 5 by another rookie tender, Tristan Jarry, to provide their open door to Round 2.

All of 51 seconds into the second OT, Josh Bailey canned the 3-2 finisher, set up perfectly in the slot by, of all things, Jarry’s tape-to-tape pass. Under no pressure, and with infinite options to do otherwise, Jarry wired his pass up the middle for the oncoming Bailey to clip and convert. Two nights later, after rubbing out 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 deficits, the Islanders clinched it with a 5-3 win.

“We have good faith in our team,” said Trotz. “No different than going into Pittsburgh. You know, I think Bruce [Cassidy] said it in his presser the other day, and I’ll say it, there’s a lot of similarities in the teams, the way we play.”

Echoing Cassidy’s words of earlier in the week, Trotz added, “I think we’re playing ourselves little bit.”

The biggest, perhaps only surprise from the Islanders side has been the emergence of backup goaltender Ilya Sorokin, filching the No. 1 job from Semyon Varlamov, potentially this season’s Vezina winner. Sorokin, 25, is also a rookie, but played the last five-plus seasons for Russia’s famed 1214370 Boston Bruins

Tuukka Rask talks contract status, health as Bruins get set for second round of NHL playoffs

By Hayden Bird,Updated May 28, 2021, 1:55 p.m.

Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask spoke to WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on Friday morning, discussing a range of topics as he prepares for the start of Boston’s next playoff series on Saturday against the Islanders.

One subject Rask talked about was helping to raise money for Charlie Capalbo, a fellow goaltender who is currently battling cancer for the third time.

“I figured I could help out and donate some money and hopefully if people want to donate a dollar or two, that probably would be greatly appreciated,” Rask explained.

As far as his current status with the Bruins, the 34-year-old goaltender said he thinks Boston is in a good place after defeating the Capitals in the first round of the playoffs in five games.

“I think we’re really well balanced,” Rask said of the Bruins. “We have four really solid lines, everybody can score, everybody can play defense. And I think our defensive pairings have come together. They feel very comfortable playing with each other.”

Rask missed several weeks late in the season due to an upper-body injury, but said he’s feeling good enough to stay on the ice.

“Game feels good,” Rask noted. “Health is OK. I’ve been playing, so that’s OK. It’s not as good as I’d want it to be, but obviously I’ve been playing and practicing. I’m out there. That’s all that matters.”

Following the season, Rask is set to become a free agent. He expanded on previous comments he’d made about his future when asked a health- related question following Game 1 of the series with the Capitals.

“I guess if you’re talking contract status, we haven’t had any discussions during the playoffs,” said Rask on Friday. “We’ll find out. There’s going to obviously be some decisions to be made. We’ll see. There’s no pressure about that. I’m sure we’re going to have good talks and come to a conclusion that pleases everybody.”

As far as how much longer he thinks he can play, the 14-year veteran shared his thoughts.

“With my style, I could probably play 10 more years if I wanted to,” said Rask. “It’s just a matter of how long you want to play. That’s the question I have to ask myself. How long do I want to keep doing this? It takes a lot of time and effort every season to prepare yourself and go through that grind, so those are the questions I have to ask.

“Because if you sign a contract and you play, you have to commit to it. You don’t want to be second-guessing yourself midway through the season — why did I keep playing, or you’re totally checked out. I could play 10 more years with my style of hockey, but I’m definitely not going to play that long. It’s just a matter of how long I want to keep grinding out.”

Boston Globe LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214371 Boston Bruins

Bruins Notebook: B’s looking forward to Garden party

By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: May 28, 2021 at 2:29 p.m. | UPDATED: May 28, 2021 at 5:19 p.m.

There may not be the traditionally full Garden capacity of 17,565 in the house for Saturday’s Game 1 between the Bruins and Islanders, but for the first time in over a year, it will be pretty darn close.

With the state and city lifting both their indoor and outdoor COVID-19 restrictions, the TD Garden will be rocking like it hasn’t since a March 7, 2020, loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Coach Bruce Cassidy was curious to see what that will feel like again.

“There is some anticipation. It’s been a long time, so you kind of forget what it’s like,” said Cassidy. “I thought it was getting loud here with 25 percent capacity, so I can only imagine a full house. It’ll be nice to have everyone back in there. It’ll be good for all sports to get back to your typical home-ice advantage in terms of the crowd being behind you, creating energy. All that is going to be great. Like I said, it’s been a long time.

“It’s probably going to be a little shocking at first, to be honest with you. You’re just so used to quietness throughout the games, so it’ll be a good thing for everybody, in any building, I think for both teams. Crowds obviously are there for the home team, but I think they can also get the visiting team into it. I think it’s just good for the game, period.”

With some logistics still being worked out, a spokesman for the club did not have an exact number on how many fans will be allowed in other than to say it will be “near full capacity.”

Throughout this season, the players have experienced an incremental appreciation for having fans in the building.

“It’s been a while. I’ve said this before: I think from the bubble to the start of this season, you adapt and you adjust to not having fans. In a way, you almost forget how special it is to have them,” said captain Patrice Bergeron. “So when we went up to 12 percent and now 25, it makes such a big difference — the impact they have on the game, the energy you try to feed off, is amazing. So having close to a packed Garden (Saturday) is going to be special.”

Any danger of the players being too amped up?

“You don’t want to be too high and waste your energy, but at the same time you need to soak it in and stay in the moment and worry about your game. But sometimes it does make a difference as far as energy goes and you try to get a lift out of that crowd going wild,” said Bergeron. …

Odds and Ends

The Capitals could not contain the B’s top line, but the Islanders should pose a stiffer challenge. They not only have two very good two-way centers in Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Casey Cizikas but a strong shutdown defense pairing in 6-3 Adam Pelech and 6-2 Ryan Pulock.

“They have a lot of size but they’re also very mobile. They move the puck well. They’re good on their retrievals and making that first pass,” said Bergeron. “I think it’s not just that first pairing but also all six defensemen play the puck well, but also seem to be in sync and stick to the system. It’s a very structured team defensively. … It’s definitely going to be a challenge. I think our forechecking and puck placement on our forecheck is going to be really important.” …

Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon, who’s been out with an injured hand, participated in the B’s optional practice on Friday but Cassidy said a decision on his availability for Game 1 would be made on Saturday morning.

Defenseman Kevan Miller has begun riding the stationary bike but has not yet skated since suffering a head injury a week ago.

“That keeps him out of the lineup in the short-term here but at least he’s progressing,” said Cassidy.

Boston Herald LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214372 Boston Bruins All at the same time. After the Islanders closed out the Penguins on Wednesday at home, their

fans chanted “We Want Boston!” The last time these teams met in the OBF: Not nearly enough talk about Bruins’ captain Patrice Bergeron postseason was in 1983. The Islanders were in the midst of a Stanley Cup four-peat. Fortunately for Boston, , Dennis Potvin and won’t be skating through any doors in this series.

By BILL SPEROS | May 28, 2021 at 6:00 a.m. The Bruins lost their first five games against Nassau County this season but won all three meetings after the trade deadline and the acquisition of

Taylor Hall. Defensive play and goaltending will be a key in this series. Patrice Bergeron and David Ortiz came to Boston in 2003. We’ve walked back from the official Tuukka Rask Diving Board on the Zakim Bridge, for now. It’s always open until that elusive 16th playoff The Score of Supremacy was in its first trimester. The Bay State had victory. The time off this week should do wonders for Boston’s Blueliners, celebrated only one pro championship in the new century. There would who absorbed a literal beating against Washington. be 11 more trophy-triggered Boston bacchanals over the next 16 years thanks to the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins. A dozen titles spread Still, Boston’s front line remains the best in the NHL and will be the across four teams in a 20-year span that will forever be unmatched. determining factor in just how far the team progresses toward the Stanley Cup. The players who dominated that run form their own mini–Mt. Rushmore chiseled into our emotional granite: Tom Brady, Paul Pierce, Ortiz and And Bergeron remains the core around which the rest of the Bruins’ Bergeron. universe rotates.

Brady is now winning titles in Tampa Bay. “I mean, we could talk about him all day,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of Bergeron after his team put Washington out of its misery and Pierce came and went from the Nets, Wizards, Clippers and ESPN. likely ended Chara’s career. “So happy to see him get his first series win as a captain.” Ortiz has been shot and pitched COVID shots since retiring in 2016. We could talk about Bergeron all day, week or month. There hasn’t been (Hard to believe it’s been five years since Big Papi’s farewell tour.) nearly enough talk about Bergeron during the past 17 years. They’re all gone. The Celtics are withering in the first round against the Nets. The Red Sox Except for Bergeron, who doesn’t even have his own nickname. have settled into a three-way fight in the AL East. Bergeron and the Bruins should dominate sports media until their season ends or Boston Can we get a #GrandPère on Twitter? plays host to a socially-distanced Duck Boat parade in July.

Even the key supporting cast members during the “Score” are among the Bergeron has one more year remaining on his contract. While other departed. Julian Edelman, Adam Vinatieri and Dustin Pedroia retired this Bruins greats including Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque and even Milt Schmidt year. Mookie Betts roams right field for the Dodgers. Milan Lucic was last found themselves attached to other teams during their playing/coaching seen playing for Calgary. The Pro Hall of Fame just welcomed career, Bergeron has been nothing but a Bruin. The nightmare image of Kevin Garnett. Orr playing in Chicago forever scars the hockey soul of anyone over 50. But Bergeron is still here. And his Bruins have home ice for their second- It remains unimaginable that Bergeron will ever wear any uniform that round series against the Nassau County (N.Y.) Islanders. Game 1 is doesn’t feature a spoked B. Saturday night at TD Garden. Bergeron will be the rare player who gets to determine when and where Much has been made of Bergeron’s captaincy this season. A legacy he retires — unless injuries finally make that decision for him. delivered after Zdeno Chara was discarded and self-exiled to In the meantime, let’s talk about him as much as we can. Washington. But Bergeron has been a commander on the ice for more than a decade. All he needed was the “C” stitched on the front of his Boston Herald LOADED: 05.29.2021 jersey to make it official. Crazy that it took 17 seasons for Bergeron to become a captain, even though he ranks among the top-five players ever for a franchise founded 96 1/2 years ago.

In addition to playing in the literal 6-foot-9 (before stakes) shadow of Chara, Bergeron was lost in the magnificent maelstrom of titles and parades where the likes of Rob Gronkowski, Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez and Brad Marchand stole the show.

The -born, native-French speaking Bergeron has a public persona that remains that of the textbook ideal hockey player: speak softly and carry a lethal stick. He’s won four Selke Trophies for his two- way play as a forward, tied for the most all-time. His official birth name “Patrice Bergeron-Cleary” is stamped on the Stanley Cup.

Bergeron’s fellow front-liner David Pastrnak has become a cult figure mangling the local language while trying to finish off his coffee at Dunkin Donuts. He’s even co-opted the “pasta” emoji on social media.

To his left, Bergeron has Marchand. The Little Ball of Hate has re- emerged this spring as both a vocal leader off the ice and a playmaker on it.

Both devour much more time on social and digital media than their discreet-but-deadly center.

During the Bruins’ 4-1 series rout of the aged Capitals, Marchand and Pastrnak found their games. But Bergeron scored a pair of goals in the 3- 1 series-clinching victory — including the game-winner. Bergeron dominated before shooting the puck, as well, winning 60% of his faceoffs in 17:53 of ice time in Game 5.

Not bad for a 35-year-old center who once played in the Stanley Cup Finals with a separated shoulder, cracked ribs, torn cartilage and a punctured lung. 1214373 Boston Bruins This line is a huge x-factor for the Bruins. Ritchie started off hot in the regular season but cooled off. He scored in Game 1 of the first round and didn't make a huge impact on the series overall. DeBrusk was pretty solid against the Capitals, scoring in the first two games and adding an assist Bruins vs. Islanders: Power ranking the lines, pairings, goalies in Game 4. His inconsistency is frustrating, but he's typically locked in come playoff time even if he's not scoring.

Coyle had a bad regular season and also didn't factor much in Round 1. BY NICK GOSS He's being paid like the top third-line center in the league and was a real difference maker for the Bruins when they beat the Blue Jackets in the second round two years ago. That's the kind of play the B's need from The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders will kick off the second round Coyle if they're going to receive the scoring depth needed to win this of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs with Game 1 at TD Garden on Saturday series. night. Bean: What B's can expect from strong, balanced Islanders team It's the first playoff meeting between these teams since the 1983 Wales Conference Final, where the Islanders emerged victorious in a six-game 7. Matt Martin--Casey Cizikas--Cal Clutterbuck series. This line sets a physical tone for the Islanders each game. These players Which team has the advantage at forward, on the blue line and between will throw huge hits, battle hard for 50-50 pucks, create traffic in front of the pipes in Round 2? Here's a power ranking of each line, pairing and the net and even fight if required. It's also capable of generating some goalie in the series. decent scoring looks, and Clutterbuck scored twice in Round 1.

LINES 8. Sean Kuraly--Curtis Lazar--Chris Wagner

1. Brad Marchand--Patrice Bergeron--David Pastrnak The B's fourth line plays a physical game and takes on tough defensive zone assignments. This group knows its role and plays it well, and head This line is one of the league's best, and it combined to score eight goals coach Bruce Cassidy can rely on it in several different situations. Still, the (three on the power play) in Round 1. If the B's top line is similarly Bruins need a little more offense from this group. Zero goals and one productive in Round 2, it would be hard to envision Boston losing the assist between these three players in Round 1 was not ideal. series. The B's tallied more than 60 percent of all shot attempts, shots on net, scoring chances and high-danger chances at 5-on-5 when this line PAIRINGS was on the ice in the first round. 1. Charlie McAvoy--Matt Grzelcyk There isn't a better two-way trio in the world. McAvoy is one of the top five defensemen in the league and should be a Complete preview and prediction for Bruins vs. Islanders series Norris Trophy finalist. Grzelcyk compliments McAvoy's game perfectly and the two have great chemistry. The Bruins dominated 5-on-5 play in 2. Taylor Hall--David Krejci--Craig Smith the first round when this pairing was on the ice, accounting for 60 percent of shot attempts and 67 percent (!) of scoring chances. That's pretty Hall scored a couple clutch goals in Round 1, including one of the damn good. prettiest of the playoffs so far. Smith won Game 3 by capitalizing on a miscommunication behind the Capitals net in double overtime. Krejci 2. Mike Reilly--Brandon Carlo didn't score but the B's drove puck possession at a high rate when he was on the ice during 5-on-5 action. Carlo is a legit shutdown defenseman and Reilly is a great skater who jumpstarts the transition game with quick, accurate passes out of the 3. Anthony Beauvillier--Brock Nelson--Josh Bailey defensive zone. The majority of Carlo's 5-on-5 minutes in games versus the Islanders during the regular season came against their second line. New York's second line dominated in Round 2, scoring nine goals (eight Given the way that line is playing (see above for more info) entering at 5-on-5) in six games. Beauvillier, Nelson and Bailey each had three Round 2, this matchup (if it continues) could prove pivotal in the outcome goals apiece. This is one of the hottest lines in the playoffs and the of the series. Bruins have to slow it down, so look for the Bergeron line and/or the McAvoy/Grzelcyk pairing to get plenty of action against this Islanders trio. 3. Adam Pelech--Ryan Pulock

The battle between the second lines should be a pivotal one in Round 2. The Pelech-Pulock pairing was matched up against Sidney Crosby's line in the first round and the Penguins tilted the ice in their favor quite a bit 4. Leo Komarov--Mathew Barzal--Jordan Eberle during that 5-on-5 action. The Bergeron line presents many of the same Barzal struggled in Round 1 with zero goals and three assists (only one challenges for the Islanders that the Crosby line did. New York will be in at 5-on-5). However, he has the ability to play at an elite level and is trouble if this pairing is out-shot and gives up a ton of scoring chances for without question the Islanders' best playmaker. He's led the team in a second consecutive series. scoring four consecutive seasons. There also might be some personal 4. Nick Leddy-Scott Mayfield motivation for Barzal against the Bruins after they passed on him three times in the first round of the 2015 draft. Leddy has 108 games of playoff experience with one Stanley Cup title from his time with the Blackhawks. He's still a quality playmaker and can Eberle plays the game with tremendous speed and Komarov plays a play 20-plus minutes per game against quality competition. He's a key tough, physical style. Overall, this is a well-balanced line that can excel in player for the Islanders in this series. Mayfield ranks second on the several different ways. Islanders in shorthanded time on ice per game at 1:58. 5. Kyle Palmieri--Jean-Gabriel Pageau--Travis Zajac 5. Connor Clifton--Jarred Tinordi Boston fans will fear this line because it has two of the biggest "B's Clifton entered the first round in Game 2 after Jeremy Lauzon suffered an killers" on it. Palmieri scored five times against the Bruins this season (all injury, and he played really well. His skating, physicality and with New Jersey), while Pageau tallied eight points in eight games versus killing were a huge help to the B's. He also blocked four or five Alexander Boston. Zajac has loads of experience and can take important faceoffs if Ovechkin shots while the B's were shorthanded, which aided Boston's needed. Palmieri struggled after the Islanders acquired him before the effort in thwarting one of the league's top power-play units. Tinordi isn't a trade deadline. His four points (two goals, two assists) in 17 games to top-six defenseman but if Miller and/or Lauzon are unable to play at any close out the regular season were pretty underwhelming. However, he point in this series, he's the most experienced option for the third pairing. scored three times in Round 1, including the overtime winner in Game 1. 6. Andy Greene--Noah Dobson Palmieri and Hall were the top wingers available at the trade deadline, and whichever player performs at a higher level in this series could be a Greene is in his 15th season and has 77 games of playoff experience. key factor in the outcome. Dobson is a more offensive-minded player than Greene and plays a key role on New York's power play, where he averages 1:45 of ice time per 6. Nick Ritchie--Charlie Coyle--Jake DeBrusk game. This pairing was badly outshot in Round 1, which makes it an appealing matchup for Boston's bottom-six forwards.

GOALIES

1. Tuukka Rask

Rask shook off an average Game 1 performance against the Capitals and posted a .949 save percentage the rest of the series to lead the B's to the second round. He stopped 40 of the 41 shots sent his way in the Game 5 clincher on the road. Rask is a proven playoff performer with nearly 100 games of playoff experience. His counterpart, Sorokin, made his postseason debut earlier this month. The Bruins should have a clear advantage in net this series. Even a good-but-not-great performance from Rask should be enough.

2. Ilya Sorokin

Sorokin won all four of his starts in Round 1, including the last three games of the series. He tallied a .943 save percentage and a 1.81 GAA overall. The Islanders gave up 55 to 60 percent of all shot attempts, shots on net and scoring chances at 5-on-5. They also had a weaker power play than the Penguins. Despite all of that, New York emerged from the series because Sorokin was excellent in net and Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry was equally bad. Sorokin needs to have another stellar series because the Islanders are unlikely to beat the Bruins if Boston, like the Penguins, tilts the ice heavily in its favor at 5-on-5.

3. Semyon Varlamov

Varlamov was excellent in the regular season with a 2.04 GAA and a .929 save percentage. He missed Game 1 due to injury, returned to the lineup and lost the next two games. He allowed five goals on just 27 shots in a Game 3 defeat and lost his job to Sorokin. Varlamov's career is full of good-but-not-great playoff runs. He hasn't been a horrible postseason goalie, but he's probably not going to steal a series, either. New York is wisely riding the hot goalie in Sorokin, but head coach Barry Trotz does have the luxury of turning to an experienced veteran if needed.

4. Jeremy Swayman

Swayman being fourth on this list doesn't mean he isn't capable of playing well in a postseason setting as a rookie, he just doesn't have the experience or track record of the goalies above him. Boston's rookie netminder was fantastic during the regular season with a 7-3-0 record, a .945 save percentage and a 1.50 GAA. The Bruins should have plenty of confidence in Swayman if Rask struggles or suffers an injury.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214374 Boston Bruins

Tuukka Rask addresses health status, future with Bruins

BY DARREN HARTWELL

Tuukka Rask was a steady presence for the Bruins in their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff victory over the Washington Capitals. But the Boston goaltender still doesn't feel fully healthy heading into Round 2.

"Game feels good. Health is OK," Rask told WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" on Friday. "I’ve been playing, so that’s OK. It’s not as good as I’d want it to be, but obviously I’ve been playing and practicing. I’m out there. That’s all that matters."

Rask missed several weeks due to an upper-body injury in March and April and played sparingly down the stretch as rookie Jeremy Swayman emerged as the leading goaltender. Head coach Bruce Cassidy went back to Rask in the postseason, though, and the 34-year-old has delivered, stopping 95.9% of Capitals shots over Games 3 through 5 to help the Bruins close out the series.

Bruins-Islanders Round 2 playoff preview, odds and prediction

Rask is set to become a free agent after the season and sparked some speculation about his future prior to the Capitals series by responding, "I’ll talk to you after the season. You’ll find out," when asked if he felt physically able to play next season.

Rask clarified Friday that that comment was strictly health-related and had nothing to do with his contract. On the contract front, Rask said he'll wait until after the playoffs to decide what's next.

"If you’re talking contract status, we haven’t had any discussions during the playoffs. We’ll find out," Rask said. "There’s going to obviously be some decisions to be made. We’ll see. There’s no pressure about that. I’m sure we’re going to have good talks and come to a conclusion that pleases everybody."

Rask also seemed confident his body would hold up going forward, and that any decision to stop playing wouldn't be for physical reasons.

"With my style, I could probably play 10 more years if I wanted to. It’s just a matter of how long you want to play," he said. "That’s the question I have to ask myself. How long do I want to keep (going)? It takes a lot of time and effort every season to prepare yourself and go through that grind, so those are the questions I have to ask.

“Because if you sign a contract and you play, you have to commit to it. You don’t want to be second-guessing yourself midway through the season -- why did I keep playing, or you’re totally checked out. I could play 10 more years with my style of hockey, but I’m definitely not gonna play that long. It’s just a matter of how long I want to keep grinding out."

Rask has yet to win a Stanley Cup as Boston's starting goaltender, but his quest will continue Saturday night in Game 1 of the second round against the New York Islanders at TD Garden.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214375 Boston Bruins legitimate playoff crowds waiting for them at both TD Garden and Nassau Coliseum in the upcoming series.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 05.29.2021 Boston Bruins Believe Long Layoff Prior To Isles Is ‘Advantageous’

Published 19 hours ago on May 28, 2021By Joe Haggerty

The Boston Bruins will get nearly a week of down time prior to dropping the puck for Game 1 of the second round against the New York Islanders on Saturday night at TD Garden. The B’s dispatched the Washington Capitals last weekend in five games, took two full days off the ice and then snuck in a couple practice days prior to ramping up for this weekend’s opener against the Islanders.

It’s a good bit of rest following a physical series against a big, heavy Capitals crew, and prior to another heavy playoff match against an Islanders hockey club where the Black and Gold will need to fight for every inch of their ice against a hard-working, well-coached team.

The six days off between playoff series is a long respite in terms of a normal hockey routine during the regular season, but it’s nothing close to the 11 days off between the conference final sweep of Carolina and the 2019 Stanley Cup Final that the B’s experienced just a couple of years ago. With a veteran team full of players that played through that experience just a few years ago, Bruce Cassidy feels confident the Boston Bruins will respond well to a bit of a lengthy layoff.

“Rest is important. I think we’re a mature enough group, especially if you feel like you’re in it for the long haul, which we do,” said the Boston Bruins bench boss. “You want to close out any series as quickly as you can. It takes away the stress and any possibility of losing, obviously. Guys get to rest up a little bit.”

The added bonus, of course, is that the time off gets the Bruins a little closer to full health. Jeremy Lauzon has returned to practice after being out since Game 1 with a suspected right hand injury, and the extra time gives Kevan Miller (upper body) a better chance of returning at some point during the second round series. Given that the Bruins had very little practice time down the stretch while playing a ridiculous 17 games in the month of April, the hockey club was happy to be able to exhale after a sprint to the regular season finish line playing 23 games in 40 days.

“It’s such a challenging year from the compression overall of the schedule. I honestly believe the time we have right now will be advantageous to us, to have a little bit of a reset,” said Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney. “I think if we can get in [to practice] and stay healthy, we’ll be ready to go for the next round because it’s going to be a hell of a challenge.”

“We’re fortunate that we’re moving on to the next round and be able to take advantage of what looks like as much full capacity as we can within the protocols and what the league will mandate. We need it. The players have gone through tremendous challenges over the course of a year and a half and missing the excitement, having the energy of an incredible fanbase. Hopefully now we can get more fans in our building to fully support them the way that we know all Bruins fans will do.”

As Sweeney reference, the Boston Bruins also used the six days off to schedule second vaccine shots for a large group of their players and anticipate being at the 85 percent fully vaccinated threshold within the next couple of weeks. It means great freedom from the NHL’s COVID Protocols for the players and it also means that the TD Garden will be opening to “close to full capacity” this weekend for the start of the second round series.

And that has everybody excited from Bruins players, to fans and to employees at TD Garden that have been waiting all season for light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel.

“Maybe this can show everybody that life is returning to somewhat normal. It’s been, as we all have experienced, it’s been a very strange 14 or 15 months here,” said Boston Bruins President . “It does bring so much more energy and excitement when there are fans in the building, especially at playoff time.”

The Boston Bruins still have one optional practice on Friday ahead of this weekend’s season opener, but they are rested, fine-tuned after a couple of good days of practice on the ice and totally jacked up at the thought of 1214376 Boston Bruins What’s the Bruins X factor? Current player: It’s got to be (Taylor) Hall. He’s given that line with

(David) Krejci and (Craig) Smith a huge boost. That top line is going to do Who has the edge in a Bruins-Islanders series? Our panel of anonymous what it always does, you really just have to limit the damage, but if they experts breaks it all down can come right behind it with a line that’s generating just as much that’s a lot for the Islanders to handle.

Scout: I think the biggest surprise for some people who watch the By Arthur Staple May 28, 2021 Islanders a lot will be how the Bruins can match their physicality. The Caps are a tough, tough team and I thought the Bruins “out-physicaled”

Wash in that series, they took a few of their key guys out of the picture Our panel — a current East Division player, a former Eastern Conference with that. (Chris) Wagner, (Sean) Kuraly, (Nick) Ritchie — those guys are NHLer, a Western Conference scout who covers the East and a public going to try and do what the Islanders do. If they do it well, that’s a data analyst — was pretty on target for Islanders-Penguins. It’s fair to say problem. no one saw how the Islanders would overcome Pittsburgh, with rookie Predictions? goalie Ilya Sorokin stepping in to lead the way and Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry ruining his team’s chances. Current player: I’ll go Bruins in seven. It’s basically a coin flip for me. If the big boys on Boston get going that probably gives them an edge no Nevertheless, we’ve reconvened the gang to preview Isles-Bruins. Let’s matter what the Islanders are doing, but I love that (Anthony) Beauvillier- see what they had to say: (Brock) Nelson-(Josh) Bailey line and they lit it up the last few games Who has the edge here? against Pitt. If the Islanders get their lines rolling and do what they do best, there’s basically nothing between these two. Scout: I’m probably giving the Bruins a slight edge, but very slight. People I think really underrate how well Tuukka Rask performs for Scout: Bruins in seven. It’s such a compelling series. Both teams have Boston and he was really sharp against Washington. They have three three lines that can score, though you’d like to see (Oliver) Wahlstrom lines that can score and so do the Islanders, so it’s a toss-up, really, with come back and give them some balance. I did like what (Travis) Zajac maybe just a small edge to the Bruins. did in Game 6 but Wahlstrom gives them a real threat. The goaltending is pretty even. Maybe if the Isles’ second and third D pairs can’t contain Current player: It’s going to be tight, no doubt. The Bruins really look like Krejci’s line or (Charlie) Coyle’s line that’s an issue that can’t be fixed in a they’re hitting their stride, that was a heck of a series they played against seven-game series. But it feels like there’s no way it’s going to be a short the Caps but the Islanders are just a fine-tuned machine — you expect one. them to play well this time of year and they did. These teams are built pretty similar so it could honestly fall either way. Former player: Bruins in six. I love the Islanders game, they are built for the long playoff haul but I just didn’t see enough good from them last Former player: I’m probably leaning Bruins here, mostly based on how round to make me feel like they’ve got what it takes this year. the teams looked last round. The Islanders won their series and they had some really good parts of their game, but the Bruins looked dominant at Data analyst: Bruins in six. The Islanders got five low-danger goals last times to me. In such a tight matchup I think that gives them the edge. round and won two games basically as a result. That doesn’t seem likely to happen here. Data analyst: Last round I said that you’d take a top-five defensive team over a top-five offensive team any day and the Islanders made that true The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 again, though with some caveats since the Penguins handed them a couple games. The Bruins were middle of the pack in terms of team defense this regular season, which is lower than you’d expect from them. They really shut down the Caps, though — just 18 high-danger chances for Washington in those five games at five-on-five. If the Bruins are that stingy defensively that they can match what the Islanders do you probably give Boston the edge going in.

Can Sorokin be the X factor again?

Scout: He was outstanding against Pitt but I can’t help thinking they’re going to need (Semyon) Varlamov before this series is over. You definitely wondered about Varlamov’s health after Game 3, he just doesn’t give up five like that without something being wrong. So if he’s healthy enough, I think they’re going to need both guys to win this one. That was always going to be a strength for the Islanders — you need two guys to go 3-4 rounds nowadays. So I’m not sleeping on seeing Varlamov come back.

Current player: Even if he’s not standing on his head again, the fact that Sorokin’s their No. 2 guy is a huge advantage. Boston has their kid (rookie Jeremy Swayman) and (Jaro) Halak, but if Rask doesn’t play well or gets hurt, it’s a big drop off. With the Islanders, they’ve got a guy in Varlamov who was lights out last playoffs and now this guy who won them a series.

Former player: I focused on the goalies last series and look how that worked out! This one, it’s real interesting with Sorokin. Every goalie’s second lap around the league is tougher than their first and he’s still on his first lap. That should help him. I can’t help but think when I watch him though: He makes himself look real small at times in the net. Side to side he’s terrific, but he doesn’t make himself big. I wonder if the Bruins forwards will give him more problems than the Penguins forwards did.

Data analyst: His numbers were good but even just watching, there was some luck involved — think about that Game 5 save in overtime (on Freddy Gaudreau’s deflection). You need that in the playoffs. It’s hard to get a full read on a player with so little data and video. The Bruins don’t have the most developed pre-scouting department so that may play a part. 1214377 Boston Bruins Alas for the Bruins, Mike Bossy was having one of his Mike Bossy seasons. Having scored 60 goals during the regular season — he did that five times in his career before knee and back injuries forced him to end his brilliant career at age 30 — Bossy went on a tear against the Bruins, Islanders about to explore one of the quietest areas of the Bruins. He scored nine goals in the series, four of them coming in an Boston-New York rivalry easy 8-4 Islanders victory in the clinching Game 6.

Boston’s last goal of the series — which makes it the last time a Bruin scored against the Islanders in the Stanley Cup playoffs — was a power- By Steve Buckley May 28, 2021 play tally by Middleton in the second period.

“The wild card was that the Islanders had won three Cups already,” said It took more than three weeks of negotiations — and a whole lot of finger- Middleton. “They knew how to win. We did as well, but the Islanders pointing, accusations and denials — but on January 27, 2000, the New really turned it on in the playoffs.” York Jets and New England Patriots finally agreed to a deal that would The Islanders also bumped off the Bruins in the 1979-80 Stanley Cup allow Bill Belichick to get the hell out of the Meadowlands and become playoffs, this time in five games in the quarter-finals. From there, the Isles the Pats’ new head coach. won the first Stanley Cup in franchise history by defeating the Such was the acrimony leading up to the announcement — who could in six games. forget Belichick resigning as “HC of the NYJ” — that Bill Parcells, head of Maybe if you’re an Islanders fan, then, you can be buoyed by the football operations for the Jets, tried to pretty things up by proclaiming, knowledge that two of the Isles’ Stanley Cup runs have gone through “The Border War is over.” Boston. Which of course it wasn’t. But … nah. And never will be. Maybe if you’re a Bruins fan, you can root for your guys to win one for Whether it’s Pats vs. Jets, Pats vs. Giants, Celtics vs. Knicks or Middleton, Bourque and the other veterans from ’80 and ’83. (especially) Red Sox vs. Yankees, the Boston-New York thing has been But … nah. Subplot Central for more than a century. From the Babe Ruth sale to the Kyrie Irving saga that’s been playing out during the Celtics- Nets There’s just no real history between the Bruins and Islanders. Perhaps playoff series, there’s usually a non-game related Boston-New York that’ll be the saving grace of this series: with no scores to settle, no contretemps to dissect and analyze. slights to be avenged, no curses to overcome, the 2020-21 Bruins and the 2020-21 Islanders can make some history of their own. But not always. Which brings us to the Bruins’ second-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New York Islanders that gets underway with The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 Game 1 Saturday night at TD Garden.

What we have here, friends, is fertile ground for our forever Boston-New York Border War. And before we continue, yes, I’m counting the Islanders as a New York team. It’s about as far from Times Square to Nassau Coliseum as it is from Boston Common to Gillette Stadium, so let’s not quibble over technicalities.

Besides, what was it that Islanders fans were chanting as their team was closing out its opening-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins? Ohhhh, right: “We want Boston! We want Boston!” That’s old- fashioned Border War stuff right there, even if Bruins-Islanders hasn’t contributed much to it over the years.

But if you’re in the market for new characters and fresh controversies to be written into the script, this is the series for you. Not only will this be just the third time the Bruins and Islanders have faced each other in the postseason, it’ll be their first showdown in the Cup tourney since 1983. To illustrate just how long ago 1983 was as relates to the Boston-New York Border War, consider this: That was the year newly-installed Giants head coach Bill Parcells promoted Bill Belichick from special teams coach to linebackers coach. The announcement merited barely more than a line or two of agate in the “Transactions” column.

It was also the year the New York Islanders of Mike Bossy, , Denis Potvin and Billy Smith won their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. And to get to the Cup final, where they erased the emerging Edmonton Oilers in four straight, they defeated a powerhouse edition of the Bruins in six games in the Wales Conference Finals.

The ’82-83 Bruins went 50-20-10 en route to capturing one of the many annoying “Adams Division” banners that were displayed from the rafters at the old Garden. Veteran Rick Middleton scored 49 goals that season, and 21-year-old Barry Pederson netted 46. Keith Crowder had 35 goals. Defenseman Raymond Bourque amassed 73 points, his career high at the time. And there were plenty of veterans, including , Terry O’Reilly, Wayne Cashman (in his last season) and the Hall of Fame- bound Brad Park. Goaltender Pete Peeters won the Vezina Trophy, which must have been especially pleasing to Bruins coach Gerry Cheevers, who was between the pipes when the B’s won the Stanley Cup in 1970 and ’72.

“We had a very good team that year,” said Middleton, 67, president of the Bruins Alumni Association. “We had five All-Stars that year — Barry, myself, Ray (Bourque), Pete Peeters and Mike O’Connell. We just thought that was our year. We were very confident going in.” 1214378 Boston Bruins It is more fun to eat rocks than absorb punishment from Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck. All three arrive with ferocity. The unit is critical to establishing a forecheck, causing turnovers and giving the Islanders momentum. Bruins pre-scout: 6 Islanders pressure points they could target They cannot hit, however, if the puck is gone.

Mike Reilly played in the last three regular-season games against the By Fluto Shinzawa May 28, 2021 Islanders. It may not have been a coincidence that the Bruins won all three with help from Reilly’s puck-moving touch. Reilly assisted on one of

the Bruins’ three goals against Sorokin by advancing deep into the corner The Islanders dispatched the Penguins in Game 6 on Wednesday to and setting up David Pastrnak. advance to the second round of the playoffs. Bruce Cassidy was “One pass can beat one or two guys,” Reilly said. “That’ll be for sure the watching. goal with those other lines too. Play quick. If you’re doing that, moving “You’re looking at systems, adjustments,” the Bruins coach said. “Who the puck quick, they’re not going to be able to be faster than the puck. A are the coaches putting out on the ice in certain situations — starting lot of the defensemen do a good job with that — make a good first pass, games, after a goal? Are they double-shifting a line that’s going well? Are try to beat a guy, suck a guy in, jump in a hole and maybe be a late they sitting some players? That’s how you look at it: the big picture. Is it attacker. If we can just try to do that and keep the puck going, I think we physical? Are they finishing checks on a regular basis? Are they trying to can be successful. Those guys are as physical as any line in the league.” play with pace? There’s little things you’re looking for through the ebb 3. Sorokin is inexperienced and flow of the game while you’re watching the game live.” The 2014 third-round pick has just four playoff appearances. Games 1 Earlier on Wednesday, assistant coaches Kevin Dean, Jay Pandolfo and and 2 will be at a nearly capacity TD Garden. There is no telling how a Joe Sacco, along with goalie coach Bob Essensa, huddled over their rookie goalie will perform before an almost-full hostile crowd for the first laptops to study clips compiled by video coordinator Mat Myers and time in his NHL career. assistant video coordinator Sean Andrake. The coaches reviewed their respective specialities — defense, power play and five-on-five offense, 4. An incomplete No. 1 line penalty kill, goaltending — from the eight regular-season meetings between the Bruins and Islanders. The Bruins were 3-3-2 against their Leo Komarov is a pain in the neck. He has a postseason history, while Long Island adversaries. with Toronto, of getting Brad Marchand to cross the line.

On Thursday, the staff assembled to go over all their intelligence and But Komarov (one goal and seven assists in 33 regular-season games) prepare their game plan for Round 2 of the postseason. The players got plays at a different gear than linemates Mathew Barzal (17 goals and 28 their first peek at Islanders clips before their 11 a.m. practice at Warrior assists in 55 games) and Jordan Eberle (16 goals and 17 assists in 55 Ice Arena. In some ways, they were watching themselves. games). If Cassidy uses Matt Grzelcyk and Charlie McAvoy at home against the first line, they will not have to worry as much about silencing “They’re a patient team,” Cassidy said. “They defend well. We saw it in Komarov. Their priority will be reducing Barzal’s time and space to the first series. Two good . They had to go to their Plan B and freelance with the puck and closing on Eberle’s rapid release. he won them all four games. It doesn’t matter who they put in there. They’re going to get good goaltending. I think they have a lot of our 5. A conservative penalty kill attributes. They want to be structured. They want to play with discipline. Washington was aggressive in Round 1. At times, the Bruins had trouble They have good goaltending. Their D, they certainly want to get involved, gaining entries and clicking into their preferred sets. The Islanders pack but they want to play D first. They’ve got different lines that can hurt you. the house more and cede the outer limits of the offensive zone. In that regard, we’re playing ourselves, a little bit.” This makes it difficult to get shots through and complete seam passes. Ilya Sorokin was masterful in Round 1. Semyon Varlamov’s backup Bergeron will not have much room in the bumper. But McAvoy, Pastrnak posted a .943 save percentage, just a shade higher than Tuukka Rask and David Krejci should have more opportunities to handle pucks at the (.941). He was square to pucks, fast on east-west sequences, electric points and outwait the Islanders. with his pads. 6. Barzal can get frustrated The Bruins had two regular-season looks at Sorokin. They got two pucks past the 25-year-old and added an empty-netter on April 16 in a 3-0 win. The right-shot center is dazzling with the puck in open ice. But he can go Sorokin relieved an injured Varlamov in the third period on May 10. quiet when opponents limit his touches. Like all dynamo centers, Barzal Taylor Hall beat Sorokin in overtime to give the Bruins a 3-2 victory. is least effective when he’s chasing pucks instead of controlling them. If the Bruins use Grzelcyk and McAvoy along with the No. 1 line against The Islanders were thorough in front of Sorokin in their closeout game. Barzal, chances are they’ll be possessing the puck. They played typical Barry Trotz hockey: airtight in their defensive zone, structured with a high forward in the offensive zone, stifling in center ice. The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 The worker bees stuck with their hive mind.

‘When we go off individually, we’re not that good,” the Islanders coach said. “But when everybody stays on task, a lot can get accomplished with a group. I’ve said it to probably every team I’ve had: ‘You want to go somewhere fast, go by yourself. You want to go somewhere far, go with a group.’”

The Islanders will be a handful. But they have areas to pressure. Here are six:

1. Defensive mobility

Nick Leddy is an experienced puck-rusher. Noah Dobson, their power- play quarterback, walks the blue line well. But overall, the six-pack relies on positioning, strength, support from their collapsing forwards and good sticks. Foot speed is not their priority.

“Put some pressure on their D. There’s no doubt,” Cassidy said of his preference. “I thought earlier in the year, the games got away from us as much as what we did as what they did. The later games here at home, I thought we managed pucks better. We didn’t try to force the issue in games that were tight.”

2. An aggressive fourth line 1214379 Boston Bruins boasting top five goaltending, that likely would’ve been a key path to victory for New York.

Things have changed since the deadline. Boston had a much more 2021 NHL playoff preview: Bruins vs. Islanders normal 8.3 percent shooting percentage and turned into an offensive powerhouse thanks to its shot volume game. An average shooting percentage may not seem that threatening, but when a team is always in the offensive zone it’s a major problem. The Bruins were the league’s top By Dom Luszczyszyn May 28, 2021 expected goals percentage team down the stretch, earning a top-five offence to match its sterling defence. That’s carried over to the playoffs where the team’s shooting percentage ranks second, though that looks If defence wins championships then the East Division finals combatants sustainable given the team’s expected goals for rate. should be of no surprise to anyone. For years, the Bruins and Islanders have made it their personal missions to stifle opponents and frustrate The Islanders? Not so much. The team does focus on quality as them into oblivion with their defensive prowess. Now, they meet their evidenced by its expected rate being higher than its pure shot attempt match … or so it would seem. rate. That may not even do it justice given the team’s ability to complete and capitalize on cross-seam passes. The issue for the Islanders is that The Islanders got by the Penguins in a series that looked like it would be Tristan Jarry will not be leading the Bruins on the ice. It’ll be someone very close. But the Bruins are a new beast thanks to their savvy deadline much better. That makes it difficult to expect the team to replicate the additions. It’s hard to argue any team has played better hockey than stunning 11 percent shooting percentage from the first round that drove Boston over the last month or so while there have been legitimate cracks the team’s playoff-best offence. I know Islanders fans hate this sentence, in the Islanders’ armour over the same stretch. but regression is likely. It’ll be even harder to get chances against Boston’s stingy defence, which was even better at suppressing shots in The series odds from the model reflect that, expecting the Bruins to the playoffs compared to the regular season. The Capitals, a better deliver something similar to what they did in Round 1: a win in five offensive team than the Islanders, really struggled. games. This has the makings of a strong defensive matchup, but the Bruins have Series Odds the Islanders beat there and the other problem is that their offence will Matchup adjustment takes into account each player’s Game Score likely be overwhelmingly stronger. The Islanders have the ability to hang against this specific opponent as well as his Game Score over the last six with Boston and make things interesting, but that version of the team weeks. hasn’t shown up as often since losing Anders Lee. The one before that was a real contender, a team that was top five in expected goals That’s the most likely outcome at 26 percent, but any Bruins win looks percentage all season. The one after has survived off “bend don’t break” likelier than any Islanders win. This series, according to the model, is and that can work for a little bit, but it’ll be a difficult strategy against a very lopsided. It will be very difficult for the Islanders to eke out a victory. team as relentless as Boston. Not impossible, but very difficult. On special teams, both teams have really strong penalty kills, but New To the Islanders fans already sprinting to their garage to grab a pitchfork, York’s did struggle in the first round while their power play was anemic. let me at least explain what’s going on here. After that, feel absolutely That too looks to be an advantage for Boston. free to go nuts in the comments to get all your anger out, print a picture of my face and put it on a dartboard — whatever makes it all better, as It’ll take a full team effort from New York to take Boston down, and that long as you remember that I do not hate this team or any team for that starts with figuring out how to stop Boston’s ridiculous top six. matter. And just know the longer the odds, the sweeter it will be to shove Roster Breakdown in my face if that 20 percent comes true. Matchup adjustment takes into account each player’s Game Score That 20 percent is largely a result of two key adjustments: the against this specific opponent as well as his Game Score over the last six matchup/recency effect and goaltending. Both hurt the Islanders. With weeks. The numbers may be slightly skewed as a result of ice-time Semyon Varlamov in net, New York’s chances would be five percentage allocation. points higher. Without the matchup/recency adjustment, the team’s chances would be nine percentage points higher. Essentially, this series Boston’s top line remains the focal point of every Bruins-related preview. would be a 66/34 series, which is likely a lot easier to buy (especially The trio of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak is the considering it’s closer to market price). I’m sure most Islanders fans straw that stirs the drink for the Bruins. They’ve played great all season, would agree the Bruins should be decently favoured and 66 percent but they took their territorial dominance to new heights in the first round would be understandable — but 80 percent is absolutely pitchfork- against Washington, earning a 72.5 percent expected goals rate grabbing season. together, which is second to only Toronto’s top line at time of writing (they may have dropped after Game 5). The trio may not have lit up the We’ll get to the goalie debate with the roster breakdown, but so far the scoresheet, but their ability to control the game was incredibly difficult to matchup/recency adjustment has been very worthwhile. The teams that ignore. They owned the puck, giving Washington very little to work with have come in hot have stayed hot while the teams that matched up well during the series — even less so than usual. During the season the line during the season have mostly continued that trend — win or lose. was closer to 64 percent. Unfortunately for the Islanders, there are a few signs in that vein that Things should get tougher for them in this series, though, as the point toward the Bruins. Islanders are much better situated to slow down the top line. Not shut Season Stats down, but slow down. During the season series, Boston’s top line still controlled play, but it was to a lesser degree at around 58 percent. Matchup-wise, it’s not about wins. The Islanders won five of eight Continuing that trend will be critical for the Islanders, as will stopping contests against Boston this season and while that is encouraging toward them on the power play. the team’s goal of winning four of seven here, it feels unlikely a playoff series will play out in the same way. The Islanders did that well to start the season series, beating the Bruins in five straight, but again, this is a different Bruins team. The two teams At five-on-five there are three key numbers that tell the story and one of went head-to-head three times after the deadline and the Bruins came them is not like the other. The Bruins had 57 percent of the shot out ahead each time. For a team as deep as the Islanders, stopping a attempts, 56 percent of the expected goals and … 44 percent of the one-line team didn’t seem all that troubling, but Boston’s second line is a actual goals. Boston carried the run of play heavily throughout, but it’s game-changer that has tipped the scales. Now, it’s not just one super- hard for any team to win a majority of games scoring on only 5 percent of charged top line to worry about, it’s two. It’s a matchup nightmare. It’s their shots. That was the difference. hard enough to slow down the top line, but now teams also have to worry Two months ago, that would’ve been incredibly worrisome for Boston. It about David Krejci, Craig Smith and Taylor Hall. wasn’t just the Islanders the team couldn’t score against — they couldn’t Hall has predictably been the best deadline addition for any team and score against anyone. The Bruins finished 30th in five-on-five shooting he’s single-handedly changed the team’s complexion. In 16 games percentage during the season at just 7 percent and with the Islanders before the playoffs, Hall had 14 points and elevated the second line to juggernaut status. In 180 minutes together, they outscored opponents by One of the reasons for that is the Bruins’ top pair, mainly their No. 1 a stunning margin of 13-1 and earned a 68 percent expected goals rate. defenceman Charlie McAvoy. Barzal may have avoided the forward He’s been a perfect fit next to Krejci and Smith, forming what looks to be matchup decently, but he couldn’t avoid the stud shutdown defenceman a nearly unstoppable trio. Hall was a big part of the three Bruins wins on the other side — the second most frequent skater he matched up over the Islanders since his arrival, scoring four goals while earning a 81 against this season. The duo went head-to-head for 56 minutes this percent expected goals rate. On paper, that second line is a huge hurdle season and Barzal only mustered a 42 percent expected goals rate to clear. against him.

It looked that way in the Pittsburgh series, too, the difference was McAvoy has a way of doing that against everyone he plays against and chemistry and fit. As noted in that series preview, Evgeni Malkin and he’s legitimately one of the league’s best defencemen. He’s elite Jason Zucker just didn’t work this season and they continued not to work defensively and an excellent puck-mover, which creates incredible five- during the playoffs. The Islanders exposed that weakness well. The on-five impacts regardless of who is his partner. It’s difficult to find Bruins’ second line is different because the trio fit together perfectly and someone who can drive a pair on his own, but McAvoy is that player, have already proved how well they can work together. The Islanders which contributes to his lofty GSVA rating. That’s a major issue for the themselves have seen it first-hand already. Islanders; they may have an elite defence pair of their own, but they happen to be playing one of the few teams with an even better one. That gives the team two top lines to game plan for and well, New York’s During the regular season, Matt Grzelcyk and McAvoy owned the puck, defence corps doesn’t look well-equipped for that. earning a 66 percent expected goals rate and that manifested in the The Islanders have Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech, arguably the NHL’s playoffs with a near-identical ratio. It’s yet another area that’s advantage best shutdown duo, but they only have one of each. The top pair will be Bruins. He was at 70 percent against Washington, giving Boston four tasked with the top line, but can Nick Leddy and Scott Mayfield really be such players during the playoffs. trusted with that tough second-line assignment? The Bruins advantages skew toward the top of the lineup and are fairly During the season there was a sizeable chasm in play-driving ability overwhelming. The top six is collectively worth 20.6 wins while New between the top two pairs. Together, Pulock and Pelech were excellent, York’s is just 8.9 wins. The top pairs are both elite, but Boston’s is still a earning a 61.6 percent expected goals share and 61 percent of the actual step above. The top of the lineup is the most important part of any roster goals. That’s elite and was among the highest marks in the league. and in this series the two teams simply aren’t close. That should lead to a Leddy and Mayfield were at 52 percent and 50.9 percent, respectively. massive discrepancy in five-on-five play, especially if the Islanders’ Solid numbers, but a big difference that will likely be exposed against a second line continues to get out-chanced the way they did against team that has a high octane second line. During the season series, the Pittsburgh. They may have been very productive, but the 34 percent duo had a 33 percent expected goals rate that was likely highly expected goals rate is alarming. influenced by the final three games where Hall and company eviscerated But if the Islanders can find a way to neutralize Boston’s top end talent to them. It’s hard not to expect similar results here. a manageable degree, there’s a legitimate path to victory. It’s an unlikely Perhaps the bigger problem is that the top pair also lost their matchup by path due to how difficult it will be to slow down Boston’s top six and top a large margin. That was implied by the Bruins top line being at 58 pair, but after that, the Bruins do look vulnerable. They’re a very top percent expected goals in the season series, but is confirmed further by heavy team and that can play right into the Islanders’ hands given the the top pair’s numbers mirroring that at 42 percent. Optimistically that team’s main strength is its depth. figure is lower than Boston’s usual dominance from its top line, and while Based on Game Score, Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been the best that’s one way to look at it, it ignores that the Islanders’ top pair has Islanders player in the playoffs with seven points in six games (tied for possession numbers north of 60 percent, too. Theoretically, that should the team lead), a solid expected goals rate relative to the team and a mean that when playing against each other everyone should be pushed plus-five at five-on-five. With eight points in eight games and a 53 closer to 50 percent. That’s not what happened and it’s another matchup percent expected goals rate, he was also the best Islanders player during the Islanders lost and look likely to lose in this series. the season series. He was a playoff hero last season and he may be Likely doesn’t mean impossible, but it means one of the keys for New what drives an Islanders upset in this series. Kyle Palmieri waking up to York is for the top pair to really step up their games in this series. This is score three goals in the series will help as will rookie sniper Oliver an extremely tough test that they have so far not had a strong answer for. Wahlstrom, assuming he’s healthy and able. Winning the matchup against the Ratatouille line would go an extremely That line really started to click during the playoffs and that could be a big long way in tipping the scales in New York’s favour. The duo had a 57 boost for the Islanders, especially considering the third line on the other percent goals rate against Pittsburgh, but given the poor expected goals side. Charlie Coyle, Nick Ritchie and Jake DeBrusk were all above rate (43 percent), that probably had more to do with the Jarry experience average in terms of expected goals and had some strong moments than their actual play. The top pair is this team’s identity and in this during Washington. DeBrusk and Ritchie had three points apiece, which series, they’ll need to be at their best. is solid for scoring depth, but all three still have a bit more to prove before That goes for New York’s top line too as the team’s dominance at five- we can ignore the disappointing regular season showing. Coyle on-five with the top pair was usually a result of having Mathew Barzal’s especially. There’s potential here, but for now, it’s an edge the Islanders line on at the same time. It was an incredible five-man unit, one that had have over Boston. an expected goals percentage north of 60 percent regardless of whether Ditto the team’s strong fourth line, a forechecking machine that can make it was Lee or Leo Komarov on the left side during the regular season. life miserable for any matchup. They’re coming off a strong series, which The playoffs have been a different story as they only managed a single cannot be said about a Boston fourth line that looks like a major liability. goal together at five-on-five. Against Pittsburgh, they were the only They don’t earn as much ice time, but when they’re out there it could be Islanders line that was outscored at five-on-five and had just a 43 percent trouble for Boston given their expected goals percentage was under 35 expected goals rate together. That won’t be good enough against percent against Washington. The Islanders really need to capitalize in Boston. those minutes to get Boston’s top six chasing the game. That’s when the During the season series, Barzal had seven points in eight games, which Islanders are usually at their best. is excellent, but those same five-on-five concerns remained. He had a Usually. In the playoffs, especially in the final two games, it felt like the sub-40 percent expected goals rate, but the extra interesting thing is that Islanders were parking the bus a bit more than usual rather than setting wasn’t a result of going up against the top line. Coach Barry Trotz the tempo. That could be problematic against this Bruins team and could actually did his best to keep Barzal away from the top line with Barzal mean that their goaltending comes under siege even more than it did only playing 21:51 of his 110 minutes against Bergeron. That might be against Pittsburgh. This is going to be a challenge for rookie netminder because Trotz didn’t want his best offensive threat neutralized or it might Ilya Sorokin. be because Barzal was outclassed when he did go up against Bergeron. He had a 27 percent expected goals rate against the annual Selke The decision for Sorokin to take over midway through the Penguins contender. In a playoff series, it will be a lot more difficult to hide Barzal series was a stroke of genius by Trotz, one this model doesn’t capture. from that matchup, especially on the road. After a series where he was He looks ready to be The Guy here and was poised under fire against a outplayed at five-on-five, scored zero goals and only added three assists, talented Pittsburgh team. His status as starter drops New York’s series Barzal will need to step up regardless. He has the talent to do so, but the win probability by five percentage points, but it certainly doesn’t feel that Bruins appear to be a difficult matchup for him. way given what we just witnessed in the opening round. It’s a result of his solid, but not overwhelming .918 save percentage and 2.7 goals saved for the season. His save percentage above expected wasn’t nearly as good as Semyon Varlamov’s this season and that plays a role in the model’s perception. It’s a big fan of Varlamov, but still a bit skeptical of Sorokin. It doesn’t account for playoff data either where Sorokin has a .943 save percentage, stopping 1.4 goals above expected with a save percentage above expected equal to Varlamov’s during the regular season. If that’s sustainable, the Islanders’ chances definitely improve.

The problem is that in this series they’ll have to face an actually good goalie in Tuukka Rask, who has a similarly strong .941 save percentage for the playoffs and an even better 2.2 goals saved above expected. Rask’s numbers this season were worse than Sorokin’s, but he has pedigree and was elite last season. That’s accounted for here and it’s why the model gives the Bruins the edge in net analytically. In reality, it may be a lot closer than given credit for here.

The other thing to remember is that the Bruins not only have a backup plan if Rask falters in Jeremy Swayman, they have a backup backup plan with the still capable Jaroslav Halak. The Penguins didn’t have that due to Casey DeSmith’s injury and that meant the Islanders could pick apart Jarry all series. On the off-chance the same happens against Rask, the Bruins won’t have the same issue.

Given the strength in net and on defence and with regard to their puck possession ability — it’s really difficult to see the Islanders scoring anywhere near as prolifically as they did in the last series. Based on the two rosters, it may be a real struggle in this series and may ultimately be their downfall.

The bottom line

Top end talent is the difference. It always is when it comes to any Islanders playoff series. It didn’t matter against Pittsburgh (twice) or Washington and Philadelphia last season. Against Tampa Bay, the team held its own, too. Stylistically, Boston feels like a much more difficult challenge because the Bruins’ game is basically “the Islanders, but better, plus we have three elite offensive talents.”

It’s hard to beat someone at your own game when your best assets aren’t a strength. The Islanders generally thrive because of their top line and top pair, but that’s greatly nullified here. The team has forward depth, but finding anyone to stack up favourably against Boston’s incredible second line is going to be incredibly challenging. Goaltending is usually a strength, too, but it’s hard not to side with Rask here.

The Islanders live to be in this position, ready to prove any doubters wrong. Everyone will have them as underdogs and this model will likely be the harshest of any due to the strong recent play of the Bruins. This series is the lowest probability the Islanders have had in a playoff series in the Trotz era, according to this model. With the way the Bruins are playing, a seemingly unstoppable buzzsaw, it doesn’t feel completely wrong either, even if it is a bit more extreme than expected. Can the Islanders defy the odds once again?

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214380 Buffalo Sabres The injury began like many minor ailments athletes endure. In preparation for the NHL scouting combine in May 2019, Huglen attempted to deadlift a weighted hex bar when he felt a twinge in his back. He was diagnosed with a bulging disk, which typically requires four Sabres prospect Aaron Huglen's 'surreal' comeback from back surgery to six weeks for recovery.

When the six-week mark passed, Huglen went through several prescribed remedies by three chiropractors, all of which failed. A high- Lance Lysowski May 28, 2021 Updated 11 hrs ago caliber anti-inflammatory medicine alleviated the symptoms, only for them to return a few days later. He received four cortisone shots, but the pain and discomfort persisted. Huglen also underwent an unsuccessful The pain isn’t completely gone for Aaron Huglen. He still experiences the rhizotomy, a surgical procedure in which an electric current is used to dull discomfort in his back after a weekend of hockey. destroy problematic nerve roots in the spinal cord.

It’s become as common to Huglen as the other aches any athlete “When the injury originally happened, we thought that, well, he'll be back experiences during a rigorous five months that included 48 games skating again in maybe a month, maybe two months,” his father said. between the United States Hockey League regular season and playoffs. “And then things drag out. And before, you know, it's cutting into his hockey season, and he ends up missing the whole year. And so, we're Nothing about the root of the problem, or Huglen’s remarkable thinking, boy, is he ever gonna be able to play again, at full speed? So, comeback, are common, though. Huglen, a 20-year-old draft pick of the we had concerns. We were worried.” Buffalo Sabres, is a little more than one year removed from undergoing surgery on his back, specifically a microdisectomy, which is the removal The return of abnormal material that places pressure on a nerve root or the spinal cord. Fifteen months following the injury, in August 2020, Huglen returned to the ice. The pain was overwhelming. Fearing a setback, he chose to stop The lingering effects of the procedure remain, for now. But the two weeks skating and diligently worked through his prescribed physical therapy in bed post-operation and having his passion ripped from him at such a workouts. young age, will never leave Huglen. Huglen wanted to keep his skills sharp, so he’d step on the ice to “You know, hockey is not everything to me, but it's obviously a big part of stickhandle. His muscle memory didn’t fail him. The instincts weren’t my life,” the talented center told The Buffalo News. “So, it was fun to be gone. Neither were the skills that helped him score 40 goals between his able to do what I love again.” junior and senior seasons at Roseau High School in Roseau, Minn., a hockey-mad town that’s won the second-most state boys hockey Returning to the ice was a feat in and of itself. Huglen, a fourth-round championships and is located only 10 miles from the Canada border. draft choice of the Sabres in 2019, surpassed even his own loftiest expectations this season by earning co-MVP honors for the USHL’s When December arrived and the Force’s season was near, Huglen Fargo Force, helping his team reach the league’s championship series. decided to put on his skates and pads for another comeback attempt. The pain, albeit not excruciating, was present. He chose to continue. Only six months ago, Huglen was faced with a decision: skate through pain to attempt a comeback after missing the 2019-20 season or “I wasn’t sure how long I was going to be able to tolerate it or what but continue to wait for the sensation to disappear. Huglen proceeded to that was a point when I kind of made the decision to go for it,” said show why he was considered a future NHL player by former Sabres Huglen. “It had been so long. And I honestly felt like I had nothing to General Manager Jason Botterill. lose.”

Thanks to their age and production, Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart lead Following weeks of on-ice training, the call came. Huglen was told by his the way into the future for the Buffalo Sabres, even if General Manager coach, Pierre-Paul Lamoureux, that he could return to game action if he Kevyn Adams may have trade offers and new contracts to consider. Add felt comfortable. Mike and Brenda traveled down Interstate 29 to Fargo, in the potential of players such as Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt, Jack where, on Jan. 2, they watched Aaron score a goal in his first game since Quinn, Rasmus Dahlin and two goalies, and the cupboard is far from April 16, 2019. bare in Buffalo. “That was a really exciting time,” said Aaron. “It had been so long. I didn't Ben Tsujimoto know how it would go either, because I hadn't been playing for so long. I was just gonna go out there and have fun. That's what I did and ended “We're very proud of him,” said Mike Huglen, Aaron’s father. “We've up doing pretty well. It was a really surreal time. A lot of fun.” always known he's had very good hockey skill. And since he was a young kid, he was making some great plays here and there in games, but Huglen still had to be cautious. He rested for a few days following a once he faced this adversity, a kind of a threat to his continued ability to compressed stretch of games because the dull pain would return. Yet, for play and watching him through that and do what he needed to do as far all that Huglen endured, he finished the regular season with 15 goals and as his rehab exercises, I feel like he's really worked at it to get himself 20 assists for 35 points in 39 games. He added eight points, including back to where he was.” three goals, in nine playoff games during the Force’s run to the Clark Cup, where they lost to the Chicago Steel five games. 'We were worried' Huglen is back home with family, awaiting a checkup appointment with Aaron Huglen was warned that he would need help getting out of bed for doctors. He’ll then enroll at the University of Minnesota, where he’ll play approximately two weeks after the surgery last May, yet requiring hockey for the Golden Gophers. It wasn’t the path he intended, but it’s assistance from his parents, Mike and Brenda, was difficult. one that did not derail his promising career. Aaron wondered if he would ever play hockey again. The thought of “I think I'm close,” Huglen said. “I had a better season than I would have competing seemed unfathomable at the time. His days in bed were spent anticipated after missing so much time and I was thankful for that. But I'm reading and reminding himself that patience was the only path toward excited to get a summer of training and hit the weights a little bit, which I returning to the ice. haven't been able to do for so long. After that, I'll hopefully be feeling Then came physical therapy. Three sessions per week that began with 100% back to normal.” basic walking and progressed into half-squats. Huglen also had Buffalo News LOADED: 05.29.2021 exercises to perform on his own, movements designed to address localized weakness and maximize return of function.

“Honestly, it was pretty discouraging, not being able to get out of bed for two weeks,” recalled Huglen. “I was trying to be careful with it, too, but I got a lot of help from family. It was definitely different not being able to do all the things you could do. You always have doubts. I doubted a few times – like, if I could make a return. But I just had to stick with it.” 1214381 Calgary Flames “Since we haven’t really been on the ice, it was something we were trying to focus on: Getting pucks to the net and making a simple pass and making a simple play.”

Calgary's Team Scotiabank steps up at PWHPA Secret Dream Gap Tour Team Scotiabank won’t be playing in Sunday’s final at the Saddledome. Three losses in three games means they’re out of contention. They will, however, play against the Toronto-based Team Sonnet in one final game on Saturday. Daniel Austin For a group of athletes that’s been desperate for ice time, that’s Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 2 hours ago something.

“We may not be playing in the final, but (Saturday) is the last game we’ll It should come as absolutely no surprise to anybody that actually skating, play for who knows how long, so that’s our gold-medal game,” Mikkelson practising and playing together is good for hockey teams. said. “Anyone who’s watching can expect to see Team Scotiabank come and play hard and battle.” That is completely and totally obvious. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 05.29.2021 For anyone who – inexplicably – denies that, we present to you Team Scotiabank.

The Calgary representatives at the PWHPA Secret Dream Gap Tour were barely able to practise together prior to this week’s three-team tournament in their hometown. That hurt.

They were defeated 6-1 in their opening game by a Team Bauer (Montreal) team that had been working together for months. The Calgary crew’s second game saw them fall 8-3 to the Toronto-based Team Sonnet.

That was earlier in the week, though.

On Friday, Team Scotiabank took to the ice for a rematch against Team Bauer. They ended up losing 4-3, but looked like an entirely different group than the one that had struggled so badly on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The improvement was real.

“I think every single day we’ve gotten better. That was our goal here,” said Meaghan Mikkelson, the veteran Team Canada defender. “We knew coming in that we had five or six players on our entire team who had even touched the ice since November and you look at a team like Montreal, they’ve been skating all year long. Even Toronto has, like, 13 national team members.

“I think coming in, our goal was to get better each and every day and we really showed that today. For us to come out and play the way we did today and give ourselves a chance to win that hockey game against a team that’s been skating five times a week, all year long, I think we did a great job.”

To be clear, the lack of practice time wasn’t being used as an excuse. It is an explanation for Team Scotiabank’s slow start to the week-long showcase for Canadian women’s hockey in Calgary, though.

COVID-19 restrictions prevented the group of Calgary-based players from putting in real work on the ice together, and that meant there was a lot of team-building that needed to be done in a very short period of time.

There were signs on Friday afternoon at the , though, that they’d already begun to find some chemistry.

The Montreal team is no joke, and goals from Kristin O’Neill, Alexandra Labelle and Marie-Philip Poulin put them ahead 3-1 in the second period. Rebecca Johnston scored the opener for Calgary.

With the way their first two games had gone this week, it would have been understandable if the Calgarians had hung their heads and accepted another loss.

Instead, they stormed back.

First, Blayre Turnbull finished off a nice pass from Johnston – who was outstanding all afternoon – to draw Team Scotiabank to within one. Then, the excellent 24-year-old Sarah Potomak tied things up in the third period.

Ultimately, a goal from Jessie Elridge would give Montreal the 4-3 lead they would never relinquish, but the pushback alone was enough to show how much progress the Calgary squad has made this week.

“I think it’s huge,” Johnston said. “The last couple games, once they got a goal and then two goals, we’d get a little bit deflated and it turned into more and more. I think for us, today was a new day and we wanted to take a new approach and keep it simple. 1214382 Calgary Flames to make the team better and to just make a difference out there,” Pettersen said. “I feel like in a lot of games this year, we did a good job of sticking to it. For myself, I just wanted to make sure I was bringing what I could bring every game. And throughout the year, I felt like I did a pretty Flames prospect Pettersen proud to represent Norway on world stage consistent job, although sometimes making mistakes and just learning from it really.

“For me, it was really just about playing consistent each game. Even if I Jeffrey Morgan wasn’t getting on the scoresheet, or if I was, I was still kind of looking at Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 9 hours ago the way I played the game and if I did the little things right. In a tough year team-wise, you just have to look at what you can do yourself and how you can help make the team better through individual stuff. So it was a big learning year, I think.” Emilio Pettersen didn’t need even a nanosecond to ponder this question. The learning, thanks to a call from his country, isn’t done just yet. But before sharing the answer, the Calgary Flames’ forward prospect wanted to make one thing oh-so-clear. You know, just in case the staffers And when he finally gets home for his off-season, maybe he can treat at the Saddledome are reading. himself to a little bit of that milk-chocolatey magic from Freia, Not too much, of course. Pettersen hails from Norway — in fact, he is currently representing his country at the 2021 IIHF World Hockey Championship in Latvia — and is “I felt like I was hitting my groove a little bit at the end of the season,” asked if there are any specific comforts of home that he misses most Pettersen said when he arrived in Latvia. “And I’m excited to show that while spending his winters on the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean. here against some really good teams.”

“This is a dangerous one, but I love Norwegian chocolate,” Pettersen Calgary Sun: LOADED: 05.29.2021 replied. “I don’t get it that often, just to put that out there, but definitely if my mom is sending me something, a birthday gift or something like that, I’ll always tell her, ‘If there is anything you could put in there, please sneak some chocolate in.’

“It’s made at a pretty famous factory in Norway called Freia, and it’s just really good. Every time I bring it to my friends over here, they absolutely love it. It’s a big hit. That’s one of my treats, I guess.”

The opportunity to skate in the international spotlight is another sort of treat for the 21-year-old left-winger.

Pettersen just wrapped his rookie campaign with the AHL’s Stockton Heat, finishing fifth in scoring among the farmhands with 14 points.

While he wasn’t one of the up-and-comers asked to stick around the Saddledome in hopes of an end-of-season audition, everybody seemed to agree that the chance to skate for Team Norway would be a developmental bonus for a guy who has turned heads since being selected in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Draft.

“I feel very honoured. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do my whole life,” Pettersen said from Latvia. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been watching worlds and been watching the guys I’m playing with in this tournament. All in all, it’s a dream come true for me. Wearing the jersey never disappoints. It’s the same feeling every time, even in world juniors. It’s pretty amazing and I’m pretty fired up.”

Pettersen scored his first of the tournament in Friday’s showdown with Latvia and although he was denied in the shootout, his squad still emerged with a 4-3 victory via the breakaway competition.

The Norwegians have managed only two Ws — the other a 4-1 triumph over Italy on Sunday — in five games so far, but they’re never an easy out. They proved that yet again in a 4-2 loss to Team Canada on Wednesday, although Pettersen missed that matchup due to a minor injury.

Norway’s next contest comes Saturday against the U.S.

“Obviously, we want to win and to be effective against those top teams, but you have to respect how good they are,” Pettersen said prior to the tournament. “Playing against guys that are doing well in the NHL, that’s a dream come true. And it’s where I want to play one day, so it will be exciting.”

The Flames figure this young left-hander — yet another undersized forward at 5-foot-10 and 180 lb. — is on the right track. He is shooting to become just the ninth gent from Norway to skate into the NHL spotlight.

Pettersen previously put up impressive numbers in his two seasons with the NCAA’s Denver Pioneers, notching 19 goals and 46 assists in 75 games from 2018-20.

He posted six goals and eight assists in 29 contests this winter with the Heat in his welcome-to-pro-hockey, decent pop on a team that had one extended winning streak and then a pile of losses.

“I felt like everything improved — play with the puck, play without the puck, reading the game at a faster pace, reading what I can do on the ice 1214383 Carolina Hurricanes

Here’s when the Hurricanes vs. Lightning NHL playoff series begins and how to watch

BY CHIP ALEXANDER

MAY 28, 2021 01:45 PM,

Who’s ready for more playoff hockey?

The Carolina Hurricanes will host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday at 5 p.m. in Game 1 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series at PNC Arena, the NHL announced Friday.

Game 2 also will be played at PNC Arena before the series shifts to in Tampa, Florida, for Game 3 and Game 4.

The Canes, who won the Central Division, have the home-ice advantage in the series against Tampa Bay, the 2020 Stanley Cup champion. , the Canes’ president and general manager, said Friday that attendance could top 16,000 in the first two games with the possibility of a full building at some point should Carolina continue to advance.

“It’s going to be another expense if we want to take that next step,” Waddell said. “But forget about the expense. If we can do it we’re going to do it because having the building full is very exciting not only for the fans but more importantly the players.”

Waddell, in looking as the financial aspects of being in the playoffs, said there is not as big a gain as many might believe because of the costs involved. “Where you do benefit from the playoffs, and we saw it three years ago, is the season-ticket bump we got the following year,” he added.

The Lightning closed out the Florida Panthers is six games, taking a 4-0 victory in Game 6 on Wednesday. The Canes then followed with a 4-3 overtime win Thursday to clinch their first-round series with the Nashville Predators in six games.

In sizing up the matchup against the Lightning, Waddell said, “You’ve got to try to stay out of the penalty box. I think they’re running about 40 percent on their power play, which is remarkable. The five guys they can put out there to run the power play is pretty darn good, maybe the best.

“Both teams skate very well. I think there will be a good flow to the games. Obviously their goaltending is outstanding. For us ,we’ve got to be ready to play. If we are, it’s going to be a helluva series.”

The Canes were 4-3-1 against the Lightning in the regular season, going 3-1-0 at home. Rookie goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was 2-1-0 against Tampa Bay, with a 1.02 goals-against average and .962 save percentage.

Nedeljkovic started all six playoff games and had 24 saves Thursday in the clincher.

“He doesn’t look like a rookie,”Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said after the game. “He was solid and that’s what you have to have at this time of year.”

Brind’Amour expressed pride in his team after the six-game series with the Predators, noting their resilience and ability to overcome adversity.

“They take a lot of pride in how they play and how they represent each other and our organization,” he said. “You can see it. I think they also are hungry. They’re hungry and they want to win. They know that it takes a lot to win.”

News Observer LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214384 Carolina Hurricanes 2024) were his Mona Lisa. They’re both worth almost twice that much to the Hurricanes now.

Nationally, internationally, Hamilton’s point production has tended to The absence of the indispensable Jaccob Slavin only underlined his inject him into the Norris Trophy conversation in a way Slavin’s quiet value to the Hurricanes excellence does not. That really started to change during the Hurricanes’ playoff run in 2019, when Slavin was introduced to the hockey world at large through his immutable presence.

BY LUKE DECOCK Two years later, his value was only underlined by his absence.

MAY 28, 2021 12:46 PM News Observer LOADED: 05.29.2021

On the first goal, Jaccob Slavin skated forward, getting behind the defense and picking out a wide-open Dougie Hamilton at the back door.

On the second, seven minutes later, Slavin took the shot off a faceoff win that Sebastian Aho tipped past Juuse Saros to end the series.

The Carolina Hurricanes struggled without Slavin in the lineup. With him, they haven’t lost in the playoffs. He set up the two biggest goals of Game 6, completing the comeback to close out the Nashville Predators with a 4-3 overtime win. He made a subtle play to facilitate Jordan Staal’s overtime winner in Game 5.

And that -- all of that -- pales in comparison to his ability to defuse attacks on defense with his positioning or a subtle stick, or the way he makes every player on the ice with him better. On Thursday, he was on the ice for all three Carolina even-strength goals, and scoring chances were 15- 7 in the Hurricanes’ favor with Slavin on the ice. Only Andrei Svechnikov, who has struggled mightily to score in this series, was better.

If there was any doubt about Slavin’s indispensability to the Hurricanes, and there really shouldn’t have been, the three games he missed in this series removed all doubt.

“He goes in the lineup, we didn’t lose, right?” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He’s that important to this team.”

There was a delicate calculus in play here, a balancing of present and future, at heart a gamble. Slavin exited the Hurricanes’ penultimate regular-season game in Nashville for precautionary reasons, then sat out the final one with a “lower body” injury. He played in Game 1, a Carolina win, but sat out the next three.

The Hurricanes lost two of those in double overtime, Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei shouldering an impossible workload in Slavin’s absence as the games stretched out into oblivion, Jake Bean victimized on the Game 3 winner in a situation when he normally would not have been on the ice.

But if those were long games, Slavin was playing the long game all along.

“I think it’s progressing in the right way,” Slavin said. “As much as I hated sitting out those games, I think it was the right move. If we want to make a deep playoff run I want to be healthy in the later rounds as well and not push it too hard. It is feeling good the past two games. I felt good out there. I felt confident in my skating ability.”

The time away may have been necessary, but his return only highlighted how much he was missed. His mere presence lifts the entire team, and not only usual defensive partner Dougie Hamilton, although he probably missed Slavin more than anyone. Hamilton made some critical mental and defensive errors with Slavin out, so costly in a series where every goal was weighted with extraordinary value.

With Slavin back the past two games, Hamilton went from a partial liability to an overall asset, allowed to showcase his skills while obscuring any deficiencies.

But it’s not only Hamilton: Slavin eats up so much difficult ice time, it allows everyone else to slot into more reasonable roles.

“We all know he makes everybody around him better,” Brind’Amour said. “He plays with Dougie most of the time. That’s only going to make Dougie better.”

Ron Francis may have had his failings as a general manager -- an almost pathological unwillingness to make changes and catastrophic misses on goaltenders Eddie Lack and Scott Darling, just to start -- but the extraordinarily reasonable contract extensions he nailed down with Slavin ($5.3 million per year through 2025) and Pesce ($4.0 million through 1214385 Carolina Hurricanes TAILWINDS Nashville held its first and only two-goal lead of the series during

Thursday’s second period. It lasted only 6:02. Of the 434:13 played in the The Hurricanes switched up their lines after warmups. It took another series, the teams were separated by more than a goal for only 18:55. … switch late to win. Aho, held off the scoresheet in games 4 and 5, scored twice Thursday. He’s never gone pointless in three consecutive playoff games. He finished the series with a team-leading seven points (two goals, five assists). ... The Hurricanes outscored the Predators 9-2 in the third BY LUKE DECOCK period in the series. MAY 28, 2021 12:00 PM, News Observer LOADED: 05.29.2021

Was it subterfuge from Rod Brind’Amour? Or did the Carolina Hurricanes coach actually outthink himself? Either way, it ended up working. Eventually.

The Hurricanes went through warmups before Thursday night’s Game 6 with the same lines they’d used for most of the series, but quickly switched to new groupings that put Sebastian Aho between the team’s two in-form wingers, Brock McGinn and Martin Necas, while rearranging all three of the other lines.

That produced two of the Hurricanes’ worst periods of the playoffs, and Brind’Amour switched things up again in the third, one of the Hurricanes’ best. Aho kept McGinn but got Teuvo Teravainen back, and that line accounted for the game-tying and game-winning goals as the Hurricanes eliminated the Nashville Predators in six games with a 4-3 overtime win.

“We had a plan going in,’ Brind’Amour said. “It was just going to see what their matchups were, to be honest. When we saw what they were thinking of doing, we made the change. It didn’t work, obviously, for two periods. Then we changed that up again and that worked. Probably overthought it a little bit, maybe, but that’s coaching.”

FOUR STRAIGHT OVERTIME GAMES

After Jordan Staal scored only 2:03 into overtime Tuesday to win Game 5, the Hurricanes scored quickly again Thursday, with Aho’s tip of a Jaccob Slavin shot coming 1:06 into overtime. That was in stark contrast to games 3 and 4, which went a combined 71:04 with the Predators winning both.

“It was pretty awesome just to not have to play too much longer,” Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton said. “We were all pretty happy about that, I think.”

This series concluded with four straight overtime games, one of only three playoff series ever to have four consecutive OTs. The other two went even further. The Chicago Blackhawks and Phoenix Coyotes started their first-round series with five straight OT games in 2012 and the and Montreal Canadiens went to OT in all five games of the 1951 Stanley Cup finals.

“Four overtime games, it could have went either way,” Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “A bounce here, a bounce there. Obviously, it went their way tonight.”

JORDAN MARTINOOK DELIVERS FOR THE CANES

In critical moments of Game 6, the Hurricanes got a boost from Jordan Martinook, who at one point slid on the ice in front of Alex Nedeljkovic to deny a scoring chance and at another knocked Nashville defenseman Roman Josi out of the game with a big hit in the corner.

Martinook’s physical play was a big catalyst for the Hurricanes as they recovered from a sluggish first period and dismal second to dominate the game in the third.

“Martinook, he was having a good game, all the way through,” Brind’Amour said.

VERY SPECIAL TEAMS

The Hurricanes’ penalty-kill allowed just three power-play goals on 26 Nashville chances in the series, and two of those came with the Predators on a two-man advantage, including the goal that put Nashville up 3-1 in the second Thursday.

Carolina’s power play went 4-for-19, scoring key goals in games 5 and 6. Necas got the Hurricanes on the board after falling behind Tuesday and Aho’s power-play goal late in the second period Thursday gave the Hurricanes a puncher’s chance going into the third. 1214386 Carolina Hurricanes Carey Price of Montreal among goalies who played more than 10 games in the playoffs.

In this year’s Round 1, though, against an equally talented offensive club Scouting the Lightning: What the Canes can expect in the second-round in Florida, his numbers weren’t so gaudy. He’s allowed 16 goals in six playoff series games, a 2.64 GAA. His 16 goals allowed are third-most in the playoffs to date, behind only Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry and Nashville’s Juuse Saros (both of whom have been eliminated). With the Canes top scoring units still finding their footing in these playoffs, this would seem to be a BY JUSTIN PELLETIER favorable matchup, at least for now. MAY 28, 2021 10:37 AM, WHY TAMPA IS IN A DIFFERENT DIVISION

For the past seven seasons, the Hurricanes have played in the Despite the overall parity in the modern , it’s still . And for the first five years of that division’s rare for a defending Stanley Cup champion to miss the playoffs the existence, the Canes didn’t finish higher than sixth in the eight-team following season. We’re talking three-times-in-a-16-team-playoff-era rare. grouping. In 2019 and 2020, they were fourth and earned playoff berths under two different formats. It’s no shock that the defending bubble-hockey champion Tampa Bay Lightning is back in the hunt. What it took to get them there — legally — The Lightning, meanwhile, after being in the Southeast Division with was a feat of salary cap gymnastics. Carolina for years, was separated from its former division rivals to form the “Flortheast,” a scrambled Eastern Division that included mostly That the Lightning found a way to stash injured superstar Nikita Kucherov former Adams Division foes, plus Florida teams. So, with scheduling on the long-term injured reserve long enough to postpone his salary cap being what it was, despite Carolina being one of the more geographically hit for a full season is pure genius. Devious, but genius. Against the spirit adjacent NHL cities to Tampa, the teams played far fewer games against of the salary cap rules. But genius. Borderline unfair, but, well, you get each other than in previous seasons. the point. That changed this season, with the teams meeting eight times over 56 But, the Lightning is far more than just Kucherov. The team did make the games. The Canes went 4-3-1 in those games, with Carolina winning the playoffs without him, and they did so also without captain and team most recent of the eight meetings, 4-1 on April 20. lightning rod Steven Stamkos (whom the team had on the long-term injury list last season …). HURRICANES VS. LIGHTNING

So, with a quick turnaround for the Canes this week as they shift their When: Sunday, May 30, 5 p.m. gaze from Music City to the Southeast, here’s what the team will be Where: PNC Arena looking for against Tampa — and what you should, too — starting with Game 1. WATCH: NBCSN

THE BOLTS KNOW HOW TO SCORE News Observer LOADED: 05.29.2021 The one thing you might question when reinserting Kucherov into the lineup is what that could do to the team’s chemistry. The lines had been pretty well established over the 56-game season, and certain players were used to playing with one another.

But adding Kucherov? No problem.

The Lightning leads the league in goals in the playoffs with 24, and the scoring dispersal is pretty even. Brayden Point and Alex Killorn each have four goals for Tampa, Kucherov and Stamkos have three each and Anthony Cirelli, Yanni Gourde, Ondrej Palat and Ross Colton have two apiece. All four lines are represented, which makes matching up against the Lightning tough.

One thing Tampa doesn’t have is a goal from its blue line. Not that it’s seemed to matter so far, but it could. Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev are certainly capable, and Hedman does have eight assists (though seven of those are on the power play), but if the Canes are able to pinch off their forward production there is an avenue to slow down the scoring machine.

JUST HOW GOOD IS THE LIGHTNING ON THE POWER PLAY?

To say that the Tampa Bay Lightning is good on the power play is to say that Luciano Pavarotti is ‘OK’ at singing. Among the 16 teams in the first round, the Lightning is second only to the Avalanche in power-play percentage, clicking at a 40 percent clip. That allowed Tampa to average four goals per game over six games against Florida. A top unit that includes Stamkos, Kucherov, Point, Hedman and Killorn has been fun to watch, even when they haven’t scored (which hasn’t been often).

Part of the series against Nashville that so frustrated the Hurricanes’ faithful was an apparent disparity in penalties (which Nashville coach John Hynes debunked during a news conference between Games 5 and 6). The outlier in an otherwise evenly called series was Game 2, a game in which the Predators did a great job goading the Canes into retaliatory penalties. If the Canes slip and take a spate of penalties against that Tampa power play, that’s trouble.

SURPRISING IN THE CREASE

One of the big pieces of the Lightning’s run to the title a year ago was the play of hulking keeper Andrei Vasilevskiy, who posted a 1.90 goals- against average and a .941 save percentage, which was second only to 1214387 Carolina Hurricanes Aho’s first goal, on a second-period power play, was important. The third period belonged to the Canes, who outshot the Preds 16-5, forcing Saros to make save after save, until Hamilton scored on a set faceoff play, sneaking in alone on the backdoor for a 3-3 tie. Hurricanes close out Nashville but have little time to celebrate. Tampa Bay is next. The Predators were playing shorthanded at that point. They lost their captain, defenseman Roman Josi, after he took a big hit in the third from the Canes’ Jordan Martinook, missing the last 14:30 of regulation.

BY CHIP ALEXANDER “I didn’t think we played (well), especially the first two periods, and obviously Nashville was good,” Aho said. “We weren’t quite there. But the MAY 28, 2021 07:30 AM, third period was an unbelievable effort through the lineup and obviously OT as well. It shows there’s no quit in this team.”

Rod Brind’Amour didn’t have long to celebrate before being hit with the From the time the NHL announced the four-division setup for this season question: what about facing the Tampa Bay Lightning? and with the first two rounds of the playoffs set within the division, the Canes were faced with the prospect of having to face Tampa Bay. The The Carolina Hurricanes had just clinched their first-round Stanley Cup Canes’ goal is to win a Stanley Cup. To do it, they’ll have to go through playoff series with the Nashville Predators, taking a 4-3 victory Thursday the team that held up the Cup last year. in Game 6 on Sebastian Aho’s goal at 1:06 of overtime. Aho was wearing a black T-shirt after the game with “Prove it” on the Aho, getting position on the Preds’ Mikael Granlund in front of the net, front. That’s the Canes’ goal. got a piece of a Jaccob Slavin shot from the left wing to end it. The Canes players poured off the bench for another wild group hug, then News Observer LOADED: 05.29.2021 went through the requisite handshake line with a Predators team that had shown its own resilience in the hard-fought series, twice winning double- overtime games and earning a standing ovation from their fans at .

Then, soon, the Tampa Bay Lightning question.

Brind’Amour broke into a grin as the Canes coach was asked about facing last year’s Stanley Cup champion and how the Canes would match up in the second-round series.

“You didn’t even let me enjoy it for a couple of minutes,” Brind’Amour said.

“You knew if we got through this series, whether it was Florida or Tampa (Bay), for me it was going to be the next best team in the league,” he said. “Either one. Pick ‘em. Stanley Cup champs or I thought Florida played great all year.

“We’re getting the Stanley Cup champs and we know what we’re up against. We’re going to have to be as good as we can to have a chance against these guys, especially now when they’ve kind of got their full group back. It’s a great challenge for us.”

And it could be a challenge for the champs. The Canes were the Central Division winners. The Canes will have the home-ice advantage and play the first two games at home in PNC Arena, where attendance will top 15,000 and the place will rock.

Granted, the Lightning looked impressive in beating the Panthers in six games and are more imposing with a healthy Nikita Kucherov in the lineup and with captain Steven Stamkos also back, rested and playing well.

Matchups? What about Canes rookie goalie Alex Nedeljkovic against the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, who most agree is the best goaltender in the world?

But Nedeljkovic, 25, has seemingly played with a chip on his shoulder all season, as if hell-bent on proving he can be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL. In his first Stanley Cup playoff series, he waged a back-and-forth battle with Juuse Saros of the Predators that was thrilling to watch at times as the two matched dynamic saves.

“He’s been unbelievable,” defenseman Dougie Hamilton said. “He’s got so much confidence. Just a quiet swag to him. I think that helps our team. He’s so calm in the net and plays the puck really well and makes huge saves. It’s easy to play in front of a guy like that.”

Nothing came easily for the Canes in this series. They allowed the Preds to score the first goal of the game too often and played from behind. They had some bad breaks, bad bounces. They lost the two double- overtime games in Game 3 and Game 4.

But they kept battling and did again Thursday in Game 6. Brock McGinn circled the net and beat Saros with blocker-side shot for a 1-1 tie. The Preds built a 3-1 lead on an even-strength goal by Granlund early in the second and then a 5-on-3 power-play goal by Ryan Johansen that had the arena rumbling. 1214388 Carolina Hurricanes But, McGinn said: “We have to do a better job of not putting ourselves in those scenarios.”

News Observer LOADED: 05.29.2021 Playing from behind is a habit the Hurricanes would like to break before Round 2

BY JUSTIN PELLETIER

MAY 28, 2021 06:30 AM,

The Carolina Hurricanes didn’t mean to play from behind all the time, they just … did. It didn’t end up costing them in the first round against the Nashville Predators after they rallied from behind in Game 6 in the wee hours Friday morning.

But it could cost them dearly against a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning — against whom the Canes will begin battling Sunday at 5 p.m. — or any other team remaining in these Stanley Cup playoffs.

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour acknowledged multiple times throughout the series, and again after Game 6, that it wasn’t an ideal way to start a game or a period.

“That’s obviously not something we want to keep up,” Brind’Amour said matter-of-factly after the Game 6 win.

And the Canes didn’t fall behind in only one or two games, nor did the quick goal against happen just once in any of the games. This truly was a first-round trend:

• In Game 1, Filip Forsberg gave the Predators a 1-0 lead 12:14 into the game. Teuvo Teravainen equalized 1:27 later.

• In Game 2, the outlier, the game was still tight throughout. Despite a 3-0 final, two of those goals came in the game’s final minute as the Canes’ Alex Nedeljkovic earned his first playoff shutout.

• In Game 3, Ryan Ellis scored for Nashville just 4:35 into the game. The Canes equalized, took the lead, and gave up the lead again, all before the start of the third period, which also started with a quick Nashville goal. Brett Pesce’s late third-period strike forced overtime.

• In Game 4, Luke Kunin made it 1-0 for the Preds just 57 seconds into the game. Ryan Johansen scored early in the second to snap another tie. Both times the Canes equalized, and yet another double-OT game went the home team’s way.

• In Game 5, Yakov Trenin kept the trend alive, though it took a while — nearly 12 minutes — for the Preds to take a 1-0 lead. Trenin added another just 53 seconds into the second, though, in another period with a slow start.

• Thursday in Game 6, with a chance to eliminate the Predators, the Hurricanes once again played from behind. This time, Nick Cousins redirected an Eric Haula slap pass into the cage just 1:44 into the contest. Brock McGinn tied the game for Carolina in the first, but again in the second, Nashville struck quickly, at 1:13.

And with a chance to move on, it was this most recent example that was head-scratcher. Though Brind’Amour was quick to point out that although the Canes fell behind, they also clawed their way back into each one.

“To flip that, we’ll fight back,” Brind’Amour said. “I think that’s the thing. We’re not trying to give up the first goal, but the fact that if we do, it’s not over. I think that’s a real confidence boost to this team moving forward.”

The players have adopted Brind’Amour’s grind-it-out mentality, something he played with, and something he’s obviously coached up among his players.

“We’re a resilient group, we just keep playing no matter what happens,” said defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who scored the third-period equalizer on a set play on an offensive zone faceoff. “We just keep going, keep going, keep going. It’s been like that for a couple of years now.”

Thursday, McGinn picked up the pieces early, netting his third of the playoffs 2:37 after Cousins’ opening marker.

“This series we kind of got behind the eight-ball most of the games, so I think we did a good job of fighting back and not quitting on the games,” McGinn said. 1214389 Carolina Hurricanes though the Lightning have added a dangerous weapon to that, Carolina has the ability to slow it down.

On the other side of things, the Lightning’s usually stingy penalty kill had 2021 NHL playoff preview: Hurricanes vs Lightning some real trouble limiting chances and goals against Florida, while Carolina’s usually strong power play struggled to generate as much against Nashville. Tampa Bay’s power play vs. Carolina’s penalty kill will be an epic battle of strengths, but whichever team figures out the other By Dom Luszczyszyn May 28, 2021 side might hold the overall edge here.

In the end, it probably all comes down to goaltending though. That’s not It’s the playoff series many of us expected from the very start of the something the Hurricanes got much of during the first round, but it was season, and one we’ve been longing for all year: Hurricanes vs. what propelled both teams to the top of the standings this season and is Lightning. Two of the league’s best and most exciting teams square off in what defined the season series. While these two teams may feel like a duel for Central Division supremacy, the defending champions going up high-octane offensive juggernauts, the actual season series only against an on-the-rise team that has finally arrived as a legitimate averaged 4.4 goals per game as a result of identically good goaltending contender. at five-on-five. A .945 or .946 on both sides of the ledger meant both teams scored nearly one goal-per-60 less than expected and both The Hurricanes won the division and were the better team for much of penalty kills did their parts. the year. With the season series being split very evenly you might expect odds closer to 50-50. But while this series is a close one, there is a slant Unless the firepower on both sides awakens, this might turn into another towards the defending champions who are obviously a very different goaltending duel as it has all year between these two teams. Both teams team in these playoffs thanks to the return of their best skater. Tampa have a very strong candidate for the job, a microcosm for the teams as a Bay has the early edge here. whole: the established team/goalie with a winning pedigree going up against a rising team/goalie hungry to dethrone the best. Series Odds Roster Breakdown Matchup adjustment takes into account each player’s Game Score against this specific opponent as well as his Game Score over the last six Matchup adjustment takes into account each player’s Game Score weeks. against this specific opponent as well as his Game Score over the last six weeks. The numbers may be slightly skewed as a result of ice-time The two teams split the series 4-4 with just one goal separating the two, allocation. but Nikita Kucherov is a major X-factor and that was plainly evident in the opening round. He is the difference in this series, adding an extra nine Andrei Vasilevskiy is widely regarded as the best goalie in the world. He percent to Tampa Bay’s series probability. Carolina would be at 49.3 won the Vezina Trophy in 2019 and looks likely to add another to his percent if not for Kucherov, which would’ve made this series just about mantle at the end of this season. He has a large sample size of strong as close as you can get to even odds. play, even if it took until this season for this particular model (which uses data from Evolving Hockey’s expected goals model) to figure that out. Unfortunately for Hurricanes fans, we don’t live on that planet. Kucherov Vasilevskiy finished the season fourth in goals saved above expected at is back and he’s as big of a problem as he’s ever been and that makes 12.7, though he was second in goals saved above average with 21. the road to the semifinals much more arduous. It’s obviously not That’s a strong season that makes him worthy of his lofty GSVA total. impossible, but Carolina is the clear underdog here now, a role that will likely fuel this team. They’re hungry, have a lot of heart, and are ready to And yet, the goalie on the other side, the up-and-coming Alex prove they belong among the league’s elite as a true contender. There’s Nedeljkovic, is just a shade higher and worth 4.2 wins. He has a very no better measuring stick for that than a series against a fully healthy limited sample of 27 career games so the error bars for his projection are Lightning team. significantly larger, but in 23 games this year he saved 13.2 goals above expected. In 19 fewer games, he was half a goal better than Vasilevskiy, Season Stats though Tampa Bay’s netminder has made up the difference in the postseason so far (4.1 goals saved vs. 0.5 for Nedeljkovic). Nedeljkovic Like the Florida series, there isn’t too much to glean from Tampa Bay’s also gave this Lightning team plenty of trouble in particular, allowing only season stats. The Lightning were strong across the board as expected, three goals over three contests and saving 4.8 goals above expected in but their overall numbers weren’t exactly elite. A 53 percent share in those games alone. every major category at five-on-five is good, but it’s not world-beating by any means and obviously pales in comparison to past seasons. It’s also On paper, according to this model, it’s a surprisingly even matchup a fair bit worse than Carolina’s full-season numbers where the between the pipes. I’m a big fan of Vasilevskiy’s game and disagree that Hurricanes were three percentage points better in terms of goals share he’s the lesser choice, but the overall sentiment might not be so far- with the slightest of edges in expected goals share. Combine that with fetched. That sentiment is that goaltending in this series might not be a better special teams numbers on both the power play and penalty kill and lopsided mismatch by any stretch — Nedeljkovic looks like he can hang. it would be fair to call Carolina the better team this past season. There might be much less confidence in what he’s shown to date due to low volume of games, but what he has shown in his short career so far The same goes for the head-to-head matchup. It may have been by the has been very impressive. It’ll be a matter of which goalie brings his best slightest of margins, but Carolina had the edge in goals at five-on-five stuff for this series. and special teams. There was a clear expected goals edge in that latter category too that offers plenty of optimism for Carolina. The Hurricanes Despite the projected rating, the better goalie will still likely be Vasilevskiy have the better shot and expected goal shares at five-on-five during the and going through the two rosters side-by-side reveals a similar feeling of playoffs, but it’s important to remember the differing quality of competition big brother vs. little brother. The Hurricanes are very strong across the there as Florida is a stronger team than Nashville (and looked like a board and look pretty similarly constructed to Tampa Bay, but the tough matchup to the Lightning based on the season series). At even Lightning are just a bit stronger each time. Each team has a loaded top strength this series looks like it should be relatively tight, though how big line with star scorers, but it’s hard not to side with the Lightning. Same of an impact Kucherov has to all those numbers remains to be goes for a secondary scoring second line, as well as a fierce checking determined. line – Tampa has the edge. Defensive depth is in their favour too ever so slightly, even if Tampa Bay’s is arranged towards balance. While this is a different Lightning team thanks to Kucherov, the team’s biggest strength in the first round as a result of his return is one Carolina Really, the only area where Carolina has an edge is that its number one is well-equipped to combat. Tampa Bay had the best power play of the defenceman is better than Tampa Bay’s … which … uhh … might also opening round in terms of goals-per-60, but there’s a massive difference be wrong. between Florida’s poor penalty kill and Carolina’s. Things won’t be so easy against Carolina’s power kill which held Nashville to under four If Carolina wins this series, it might finally be enough for Dougie Hamilton goals-per-60. Yes, there’s also a massive difference between Nashville’s to get the respect he deserves as one of the game’s top defencemen. He power play and Tampa Bay’s, but Carolina was second in the league on produced well for Carolina this season and was a catalyst for the team’s the penalty kill by both actual and expected goals during the regular elite power play, but as usual it’s his five-on-five play that’s most worthy season. It’s something that manifested during the season series too and of praise. His 57 percent expected goals rate was 12th league-wide and he’s been the only defenceman in the league who’s consistently been series between both clubs this year: Teuvo Teravainen didn’t play in any near the top of that leaderboard for five years running. When Hamilton is of the games between these two clubs either. Teravainen was sidelined on the ice, good things happen and that led to Carolina earning 63 for all but 21 games this season and though he’s obviously no Kucherov, percent of the goals this past season. Hamilton had a 56 percent his playmaking ability and defensive awareness was sorely missed for expected goals rate during the first round which is pretty impressive Carolina. He had a quiet first round, but at his best he can be a considering four of the games were spent next to Brady Skjei. Getting difference-maker. Same goes for Andrei Svechnikov who still has Jaccob Slavin back was obviously a godsend though and the pair another gear left to hit. These playoffs and this series could spark that dominated the final two games. breakthrough to elite status.

I’ll die on the “Hamilton is elite” hill and anyone who says otherwise at The Hurricanes are far from a one-line team though and possess one of this point is being willfully ignorant, but taking Hamilton over Victor the league’s most fearsome middle sixes. Everyone fits in the right place Hedman is of course a much spicier take. The model is all-in on it with and has a role. In the first round, all three of the team’s lines in the top one win separating the two, but that’s partly because Hedman played the nine earned an expected goals percentage greater than 60 percent when last month of the season injured which seriously tanked his projected intact. There were times where the lines were shuffled to find a spark, but value. He too was a three-win defenceman before that and if he’s truly it’s clear the way it’s usually set up is likely the most optimal. back to full health, then Tampa Bay’s edge only grows further. He was second on the team in expected goals percentage in the opening round Vincent Trocheck has been a revelation for the Hurricanes all season, at 50 percent. but for Carolina to win this series he’ll have to step things up a bit. He had just two points in seven games against Tampa Bay this season and But even if we account for Hedman’s injury the two defenders are close only managed three points in the opening round. There’s room for more and that’s probably not a consensus opinion either. Visually, it’s hard not from him and the same goes for Nino Niederreiter who had just one point to back Hedman who does a lot for the Lightning from the back end and against Nashville. In the speedy Martin Necas though, Carolina has a bit can take his game to new heights in the playoffs as we saw last year. But of a secret weapon against the Lightning. He was tied for second on the the impacts at five-on-five really support Hamilton enough to at least team in the first round with five points, but more impressive was his make it a conversation. heroics against Tampa Bay this season. He led all Hurricanes skaters with eight points and had a very strong 56 percent expected goals rate to From the start of the season to March 27 (to ignore the injury-plagued go with it. Necas had a strong breakout this season and he has the final month), Hedman had a 60 percent goals rate and 53 percent potential to really make a name for himself in this series. He’s a guy to expected goals rate at five-on-five, both of which were lower than watch out for. Hamilton’s. Relative to teammates, both numbers were negative, and that’s while playing against secondary matchups. Hamilton plays top While most will veer towards the guys in the top six as the guys that matchups and puts up better results. That’s been true in each of the last make Carolina go, it’s the third line anchored by captain Jordan Staal that two seasons and though he doesn’t score as many points as Hedman, was the engine in the opening round. Staal is the perfect checking line his impact at even strength appears larger. Against the Lightning this center and he showcased his two-way ability well against Nashville, year, Hamilton had a 57 percent expected goals rate. Hedman was the leading his line to a very nice 69 percent expected goals rate for the exact opposite at 43 percent. If these playoffs go in a similar direction, it’s series. That trio is a forechecking force and will cause headaches for the advantage Carolina and should provide a boost for Hamilton’s reputation. Lightning.

Having Slavin obviously helps with that a lot. Hedman rarely has a The matchup game will be especially intriguing in this series because the legitimate partner to play with, doing a lot on his own, while Hamilton has two teams are built pretty similarly up front. I doubt we see power vs. developed some strong chemistry with a player who is probably a power which would mean Staal will likely be in charge of keeping Tampa number one defender in his own right. Slavin is an incredible puck-mover Bay’s super line in check. that can really do it all. He’s solid in his own end which affords Hamilton the opportunity to freelance a bit more. Add a rejuvenated Brett Pesce to Last playoffs, the line of Brayden Point, Kucherov and Ondrej Palat were the mix and Carolina has an excellent triumvirate of defenders that’s a cheat code and they’ll be an extremely tough assignment for Staal and tough for any team to match. Pesce had a bit of a down year in 2019-20, co. The line has a solid 57 percent expected goals rate and outscored but bounced back in a big way in 2020-21 to get back to the level of a Florida 4-2 in their minutes together, but that pales in comparison to what legitimate top-pair defender. He was second to Hamilton in expected they can do. Last year they outscored opponents 21-9 en route to a goals percentage this year at a shade under 57 percent. Stanley Cup and had a 65 percent expected goals percentage in the process. Tampa Bay’s next best defender to Hedman isn’t on either of Slavin’s or Pesce’s level, but the Lightning do have a solid trio manning every That’s a terrifying enough line at five-on-five, but it’s what Point and pairing to give the team balance. Mikhail Sergachev is a nice weapon to Kucherov can accomplish with the man advantage that’s really scary. have on the third pair and though he didn’t take the expected leap to Kucherov, despite missing an entire regular season of hockey, leads the stardom this year, he was still a strong puck-mover that held his own at league in playoff points with 11 in six games and seven of those have even strength. In the playoffs he led all Lightning defencemen in come with the man advantage. His ability to completely freeze penalty expected goals. kills with his half wall mastery is among his best attributes and it makes Tampa Bay’s power play all the more threatening. He’s ridiculous in the Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak make up the team’s shutdown pair and best way and it’s nice to see him immediately step in and be a force. despite playing tough minutes were the team’s best five-on-five There was an acclimation period at five-on-five to start the series against defenders this season. They took on the very tough Florida, but it didn’t last long and he looks just like his old self again. He’s assignment, and though they narrowly lost the possession battle, they the best skater on either side, and with Point as his running mate Tampa won on the scoresheet by a sizeable margin. The shutdown pair will have Bay has the two best skaters in the series. That’s usually a good recipe a similarly tough task ahead of them with Carolina’s top line though they for success. saw the exact opposite effect during the season: excellent expected goals rates, but McDonagh was outscored 5-2. It was 6-0 against That leaves Tampa Bay’s own checking line as the answer for Carolina’s Cernak. own top line, and they too look ready to pick up right where they left off from the last playoffs. They had a 58 percent expected goals rate Sebastian Aho is not as strong as Barkov is, but “Playoff Aho” might be a together and upped that to 60 percent during the regular season. They’re different story. He was electric against Nashville scoring five goals and a problem, especially with Barclay Goodrow back and healthy (Ross seven points in six games while being the strong play-driver at five-on- Colton was not cutting it). He just fits so well next to Yanni Gourde and five he always is. Aho lives for the postseason with 19 points in 14 Blake Coleman, both of whom would be legitimate top-six options on games over the last two playoff runs. He’s going to be a problem for another club. Here, they’re tenacious and annoying disruptors, ready to Tampa Bay, especially if Carolina sticks with its super-charged top line. make Aho’s life hell. You may not see their names on the scoresheet as The trio was excellent territorially against Nashville with a 61 percent much as the guys in the top six, but the little things they do absolutely expected goals rate and though they didn’t convert on all opportunities, translate to their underlying numbers. They’re analytics darlings. it’s encouraging that the chances were there. They still outscored Nashville 2-1. That leaves the second line featuring Steven Stamkos, Anthony Cirelli and Alex Killorn — a line that looked a little vulnerable going into the While all eyes are on the return of Kucherov for Tampa Bay, there’s a Florida series. Previous stints together suggested the chemistry wasn’t small detail that’s been almost completely ignored regarding the season there and down seasons from Cirelli and Killorn didn’t inspire much confidence. Six games later, any worries are out the window as their numbers together were identical to the top line’s: 4-2 on the scoresheet with a 57 percent expected goals rate. Not bad, plus Stamkos and Killorn helped a fair bit on the power play, which contributed to both scoring eight points in the series. That was second to only Kucherov.

Tampa Bay’s firepower is a bit more obvious than Carolina’s and there are a lot of weapons that the Hurricanes will need to nullify, but that wasn’t too big of a problem during the season series. Kucherov obviously changes the dynamic, but it was Killorn who led the Lightning forwards in points against Carolina and he only had five. Hedman had five too. Point and Palat had four in eight games, and Stamkos had just two in six games. That’s a rough look and the top guys will need to step up. It might come down to which stars on either side can solve the goaltending conundrum on the other side.

The bottom line

There is a lot of talent in this series on either side, but nothing will be given — everything will be earned. That could mean another grind-it-out series decided by goaltending just like the head-to-head matchups this year, and that’s something both teams will welcome just fine. They may have the reputation for fun, fast-paced hockey, but both teams are built for the postseason, ready for whatever style is necessary to win.

Tampa Bay is the elder statesmen here, the favourite, the defending champion. The Lightning have been contenders for most of the past decade and know exactly what it takes to win. They will be a very tough team to knock out.

But Carolina is certainly one of the teams capable of doing it. This isn’t their first playoff rodeo having gone to conference finals two seasons ago only to get swept by the Bruins, and then losing to Boston again in the opening round last season. Losses are learning opportunities and this team too knows what it will take to go the distance after experiencing those two defeats at the hands of a very strong contender. It felt like the team had some deer in the headlights moments in those series, but I don’t think that’ll be the case here. Carolina is ready for this moment.

Whether that means victory is much tougher to say, though the odds aren’t in their favour. The Hurricanes will need to be at their best because the similarly constructed Lightning are just a little bit better all throughout the lineup. Regardless of who wins, little brother or big brother, the fight to make it to the next round between these two should be a classic.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214390 Carolina Hurricanes “The way the players react to him is just incredible. These players want to play for him,” Waddell said. “I’ve seen it where it’s not always that way, but I know this team — they want to win for him. They don’t want to let him down.” Five things the Hurricanes did to beat the Predators — and can carry forward against the Lightning He knows when to pack that punch — like after a few rough shifts when he knows his guys can do better — and he does it out of respect for them. His expectations of the team and its individuals give them confidence in their expectations of themselves. By Sara Civian May 28, 2021 And, as Waddell said, they respond. Martin Necas’ equalizer came only a

few shifts after a Brind’Amour speech. Much like the rest of the series — and the rest of the Carolina The other side of it is a closeness and a family bond he’s cultivated. Hurricanes’ season, really — Game 6 of the first round in Nashville wasn’t pretty. There were no goals, sparse offerings for the Just watch this: highlight reels, and it got off on the worst foot possible, with a Predators goal just 1 minute, 44 seconds into the game. Staal has elevated his play past what anyone on the outside expected in an effort to get the Canes to Round 2. Those on the inside, on the other But the Hurricanes knew what they had to do. hand, saw it coming.

“I think when you have the chance to close out a team, that’s exactly “It’s awesome,” Slavin told me after Game 5, when I asked him what it’s what you want to do,” left wing Jordan Martinook said after morning skate like to be captained by Staal. “You see the emotion he had there at the Thursday. “You don’t want to give them another chance. We obviously end. He doesn’t always show it, but that’s the emotion he puts into every know they are going to be a desperate team, but we’re going to be just single thing he does. He’s a great leader on and off the ice. He’s a beast as desperate because we want to close it out. (In) Game 7s, anything on the ice. Off the ice, he’s just a great guy. He’s a great leader, a great can happen.” teammate. He’s willing to do whatever it takes. I’m thankful I don’t have to play against him down low in the corners. I’m thankful he’s on our In the fourth consecutive overtime situation and sixth game of the series, side.” the Hurricanes eliminated the Predators in a 4-3 decision. I’ll let Necas, aka “Marty Jr.,” show Martinook’s impact with one facial “We just keep playing — we’re a resilient group,” said Dougie Hamilton, expression. who broke through shooting percentage regression for the game-tying goal. “We just keep playing no matter what happens. We just keep going. Don’t forget that right after this, Martinook drew a penalty that resulted in We’ve been in every game all year. There’s no quit in us.” the Canes’ power-play goal.

That’s a good thing because it doesn’t get slower or easier from here. “We had to wake up. (Martinook) was doing his thing. That was big for us. I think he drew a penalty after that, and we scored on the power The Canes know all about how tough Round 2 against the defending play,” Hamilton said. “That’s big for him to step up and the rest of us to champion Tampa Bay Lightning will be. General manager Don Waddell follow. That could have been the turning point for us.” gave us his scouting report Monday: Slavin came back from injury exactly when the team needed him and “They won the Stanley Cup last year, not by mistake — they’re a very didn’t miss a beat. He uncharacteristically threw his body around to make good hockey team. The one thing, certainly, to watch from the first round a statement in his first shift back and has been absolutely dynamic since, is you’ve got to try and stay out of the penalty box. You know you’re including the work he did on Thursday’s game-winner. going to take some penalties, but they’ve got to be good penalties because I think they’re running somewhere around 40 percent on their 2. Resiliency power play, which is remarkable. The five guys that they put out there to run the power play is pretty darn good in the league, probably the best. I’m not going to act like these games have been easy for the Canes, or … I think both teams skate very well. There’s going to be a good flow to even ideal. Besides Game 1, they’ve all been nail-biters with tons of the game. Obviously, their goaltender is outstanding, one of the best in blemishes and deflating moments. But the Canes have done what the league. For us, we’ve got to be ready to play. If we are, it’s going to they’ve prided themselves on all season: risen above. be a hell of a series.” The Predators scored first in five of six games in the series. That can’t The good news? There might be an even fuller PNC Arena. Waddell said continue against the Lightning, but the Canes have managed to dig they’re working on getting at least 16,000 strong for Sunday’s 5 p.m. ET themselves out of some pretty bad situations. puck drop in Raleigh. “That’s not something we want to keep up, but again to flip it, we’ve “We’re looking at every measurement right now,” he said. “I think we’re shown that we’ll fight back. That’s the thing,” Brind’Amour said. “We’re going to get 16,000 or right around that number come Sunday. We’ve not trying to give up the first goal, obviously, but the fact that when we already started looking at measurements that can possibly increase it. do, it’s not over. That’s a real confidence boost for this team.” We still have quite a number of seats blocked off by the NHL around the They scored three straight after a 3-1 deficit to win Game 6. benches and penalty box. Just got back in here a few minutes ago and am going to meet with the box office to see how many seats we actually 3. Sebastian Aho have blocked off. I think it’s around 500. That takes away from your capacity also, so it’s just going to be another expense if we want to take You just can’t say enough about Aho’s demeanor in the playoffs: that next step, but forget about the expense. Certainly, if we want to do it, competitive, surgical, businesslike. He is here to win, and after this series we’re going to do it.” has 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists) in 29 career playoff games.

What else can the Hurricanes take into Round 2? Let’s look back at the He nails the set plays and celebrates like he can’t be bothered to get five biggest reasons the Canes avoided a first-round exit and what they excited — there’s a job to finish. Game 6 was a classic in that aspect, mean going forward. between two offensive zone faceoffs that resulted in a late-game equalizer and the game-winner he’d eventually net himself, and the 1. Leadership power play. Nashville has been too good at five-on-five, and Aho knew someone had to break through on the man advantage to get this done. Leadership thrives on the fine line between screaming and silence. The Canes’ leaders — namely, coach Rod Brind’Amour, captain Jordan Staal No player impacts the Hurricanes’ on-ice product more than Aho, and and alternate captains Jaccob Slavin and Martinook — all provided luckily for them, he’s rarely off. essential leadership in their own ways in the first round. 4. Sorry, haters: Brock McGinn Brind’Amour is revolutionizing the idea of a “player’s coach,” and he’s patient with his feistier moments so that they pack a real punch. He does I had an epiphany Thursday night that maybe half of you have already this with a term my therapist calls “radical empathy.” come to and half of you will hate: Brock McGinn reminds me of Brind’Amour in the playoffs. Brind’Amour, noted McGinn fan, smiled when I asked him about it.

“Oh, I don’t know. He’s old school,” Brind’Amour said. “He could play back in the day, I’ll just leave it at that.”

McGinn has been the difference on the road, with two goals in a brutal loss, and then a response to Nick Cousins’ opener Thursday night.

He just understands how to play on a big stage on the road, and he’s fearless about it. Four points in the past three games, for the record.

5. The Power Kill

You say the Lightning power play is going to be a problem?

Look me in the eyes and tell me the Canes win this series without this performance.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214391 Carolina Hurricanes

2021 NHL Playoffs: Lightning vs. Hurricanes schedule, TV channel, games, scores, guide to the second-round series

By The Athletic NHL Staff May 28, 2021

In this Central Division matchup, the No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning are facing the No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. For more information on the playoffs, check out The Athletic’s daily chances, odds and betting guide and complete NHL coverage.

Schedule/TV/results

Game 1: at Carolina, Sunday, May 30, 5 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN, TVAS)

Game 2: at Carolina, date, time and TV TBD

Game 3: at Tampa Bay, date, time and TV TBD

Game 4: at Tampa Bay, date, time and TV TBD

Game 5*: at Carolina, date, time and TV TBD

Game 6*: at Tampa Bay, date, time and TV TBD

Game 7*: at Carolina, date, time and TV TBD

(* – if necessary)

What to expect from the series

Dom Luszczyszyn’s Lightning-Hurricanes preview: This is the matchup we all wanted in the Central Division this year. Both teams are pretty similar, but one has the slight edge in all categories.

Five things the Hurricanes did to beat the Predators — and can carry forward against the Lightning: From Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal to the Power Kill, here are the reasons the Hurricanes are succeeding so far in the playoffs.

“Pick your poison:” A 360-degree look at the potent Lightning power play and how to defend it: Tampa Bay has scored eight goals with the man advantage — a stunning 40-percent clip. Here’s how they do it.

Lightning and Hurricanes top reads

Where did Alex Nedeljkovic come from? Inside the Hurricanes goalie’s journey from top prospect to waivers to potential playoff hope.

How to win back-to-back Stanley Cups: Past champs believe Lightning have the recipe to repeat: Past back-to-back Cup champs from the Red Wings and Penguins believe the Lightning can “absolutely” repeat.

Three words to sum up 1,000 games of the Hurricanes’ Jordan Staal: What everyone from Rod to Crosby had to say.

NHL second-round playoff matchups

North Division: Jets-Maple Leafs/Canadiens

East Division: Islanders-Bruins

West Division: Avalanche-Golden Knights/Wild

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214392 Carolina Hurricanes “Everyone looks at the highlights and sees the puck go in the net, but they don’t see the step that happens before you get there,” coach Jon Cooper said. “It’s the breakout, the shot before that happens, the retrieval, where guys know where other guys are going. Ultimately, guys’ ‘Pick your poison:’ A 360-degree look at the potent Lightning power play playmaking and skill has to take over, and it does. They are highly skilled and how to defend it and the power play is an art to them. It’s on full display. But so much more goes into it than just ‘the puck ends up in the net.’”

It starts with getting the puck in the offensive zone, which is one of the By Joe Smith and Shayna Goldman May 28, 2021 first objectives of the power play according to the work of Parnass, followed by maintaining possession, quickly getting into formation, and generating scoring chances. Joel Quenneville has won more Stanley Cups than any other coach in the past 11 years, and will likely be in the Hall of Fame. The Lightning have two of the best in terms of zone entries in Point and Kucherov, which allows the power play plenty of time to set up. Point’s But the Panthers coach still struggled to find a way to thwart the one of the best at bringing the puck into the offensive zone at 5-on-5 too Lightning’s potent power play in their first-round series. Tampa Bay both in terms of the rate of entries and carry-in percentage, according to scored eight goals with the man advantage — a stunning 40-percent clip. Corey Sznajder’s tracking data. That translates to the power play, where he often has more space because not only are their opponents down a Quenneville felt with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov returning for player, but have to face-off against the team’s best at once. the playoffs, it was like Tampa Bay starting a Texas Hold’em hand with “a pair of aces.” When it was suggested to Quenneville that a key might be What makes Point so effective carrying the puck in? taking away the two world-class snipers on the flanks and force Victor Hedman shoot from up top, he chuckled. “He’s inherently good at it,” Moore said. “It’s his speed, timing, lateral movement with the puck is as good or better than anyone in the league… They still have Brayden Point in the middle, he pointed out. Being a smaller guy helps him be agile. I feel all those teams that try to have a 1-3 or play back, and you drop it to Point when you’re not gapped “It is pick your poison,” Quenneville said. “That’s why they’re the best at up, you’ve got no chance.” it.” Do you try to disrupt the drop pass? The Lightning were outshot and out-chanced at 5-on-5 against the Panthers, but their power play helped them advance to the second “If they see you, they’ll adjust and all of a sudden, they stretch pass it and round. And it could be a major factor if the Cup champions manage an Point doesn’t come back,” Moore said. “It’s a constant cat and mouse historic repeat. It makes their matchup with the touted Hurricanes penalty game, especially in the playoffs when you go up against teams over and kill must-see TV. over. That’s where the coaching adjustments come in.”

“It’s nightmare fuel for a penalty kill,” former Lightning wing Ryan Quick regroups help make the most of the power play clock, and with Callahan said. puck possession, the Lightning can get into formation and get to work. All but one of the Lightning’s eight postseason goals was scored while in So, let’s break down what makes the Lightning so dangerous on the formation in the offensive zone. power play and how teams can try to defend against it. Stamkos said the top unit has a lot of experience together, which helps “What separates Tampa is not skill — a lot of power plays around the their chemistry and their reads. league have skill,” said former NHLer and current NBCSN analyst Dominic Moore. “What separates Tampa is the intelligence with which “We’re a familiar group with each other, we’ve played together a long they design their units, design their plays. It’s kind of like Jiu-Jitsu, they time now. The power play has clicked and been a big part of our use what you do against you. If you take one thing away, well that opens success,” Stamkos said. up something else.” Through six playoff games, the Lightning have created a high volume of The setup shots — about 94 unblocked shot attempts per 60. Expected goals, which weighs in shot type, angle, distance, and whether it was a rush or The Lightning go with the 1-3-1 “umbrella” formation that many teams second chance opportunity among other factors, can be used as a proxy use. The key difference for Tampa Bay is that their top unit is loaded with for shot quality; Tampa Bay’s generated 8.3 expected goals per 60. star power. They’ve out-performed that by a lot, scoring at a rate of 18.91 goals per Just as teams have trended toward a four forward and one defender unit 60. that’s proven to boost shot and goal production, more are also leaning on The heat maps below help give a glimpse into that offensive generation, their top power play unit instead of equally splitting time between groups. with orange and brown tones representing where the team frequently Tampa’s top unit has played close to 78 percent of the power play shoots from, and purple areas showing where they rarely shoot. minutes in the playoffs. (Via HockeyViz) The first unit’s core has been the same for much of the last two years. Stamkos and his right-handed shot is stationed in the left circle, while Six games is already a small sample, it’s even smaller when breaking it lefty Kucherov plays on the right. Each is a dynamic passer and shooter. down into just power play time; the Lightning have only played about 25 Plus, both play on their off-wing which helps speed up puck movement minutes on the man-advantage so far. Operating at 40 percent may not and shooting that can challenge a goaltender’s lateral movement. While be sustainable long-term, but there’s clearly a difference between their there are some defensive risks to playing on the offside, Arik Parnass, production now versus during the regular season when they clicked at now an analyst for the Avalanche, found that deploying skaters on their 22.2 percent (ninth in the league). The team’s shooting the puck and off-wing can lead to a higher goal probability. getting to the quality areas more often. Much of that has to do with a key addition for the playoffs. Point plays in the slot between the wingers, to round out the ‘three’ of the umbrella formation. Alex Killorn helps provide a screen in front of the Runs through Kucherov crease, and is at the ready for deflections and second chance shots, and Hedman is up at the point. Ryan McDonagh and Blake Coleman believe Kucherov is one of the best in the world at the half wall spot, partly due to his elite hockey IQ, partly Tampa Bay’s approach focuses on puck movement and reads, with three due to his skill and playmaking ability. The power play runs through him. one-timer options up top and both flanks. What strikes Marty St. Louis about the Lightning power play is how there’s not really many set plays. “What he’s able to do is read the layers,” St. Louis said. “He’s not just making one read, he’s making a bunch of reads at once. And he usually “They just read off one another,” he said. “And with great playmakers and makes the best play. Not just a play. He usually can find the best play game-breakers, they can make you pay if you over defend one thing. It’s through multiple layers of reads. He knows where not just where his guys like chess the way they do it.” are, he knows where the opponents are, whether he’s a righty or lefty, there’s so many calculations he has to do and very quickly be able to How the Lightning generate offense execute the best possible play.” Kucherov had to shake off rust after missing the entire 2020-21 regular Case in point was Killorn’s zone entry on Brayden Point’s power-play season and get back up to speed after hip surgery last offseason. That goal in the second period of Game 3. Before the tic-tac-toe passing play appeared to impede his 5-on-5 game a bit when the series opened, but of Stamkos to Hedman to Kucherov, who one-touched a pass to Point in not on the power play. When the Lightning are in formation on the man- the slot, Killorn had to fight off three Panthers to maintain possession in advantage, their winger can stay somewhat stationary while dishing the the zone. puck or firing it on net. “It’s about possession in space,” St. Louis said. “As soon as you lose “He can see the right play happening two plays before it’s there,” possession, it’s more physical work. I think ‘Killer’ is one of the best in McDonagh said. “His anticipation, his understanding of who is going to retrievals. I compare him to Dennis Rodman, how he knew where every be the guy open is world class. There are guys that can see a play there, rebound was going to go. ‘Killer’ is really good at retrieving, he has a but not necessarily make it all the time.” sense of where the puck is going to end up based on the angle of the shot. Honestly, you won’t have a good power play unless you’re able to With the return of Kucherov the team “added another level to the power retrieve and they do a really good job at it.” play,” according to Killorn. “Every power play unit needs guys to understand what their job is out “He’s one of the best, if not the best, half wall guy in the entire NHL. He there and ‘Killer’ understands, he knows he has to be strong on the puck makes players around him a lot better. He’s finding Pointer. If you take and retrieve pucks when they go behind the net or in the corners,” Pointer away, Stammer is open. If you take Stammer away, I’m open in Stamkos said. front. If you take me away, Hedman is free. When Kuch can find those guys, it’s very difficult.” How do you defend it?

(Via HockeyViz) “What would be your choice if you give them one of those options?” Dave Andreychuk asked. The shooters “I don’t think you want to give Kuch the puck, I don’t think you want to It’s tough enough when you have one of the generation’s most prolific give up the Stamkos one-timer. I personally would try to let Victor goal scorers in Stamkos on one flank. And he’s not making it any easier Hedman shoot down the middle of the ice. You have the best chance of this postseason, he’s firing the puck at the highest rate of any skater in blocking it from there. You’ve got to stay close to Point because he the playoffs –– most of which have come from ‘his office’ in the left circle. seems to be able to find a way to get there. What I would say is, ‘Okay, It’s where the sniper has clustered so many of his shots throughout his we’re going to give up a shot from Hedman, they’re not going to beat us career, especially on the power play. It’s where Stamkos scored the elsewhere.’” series-clinching goal in Game 6. That’s the challenge the Lightning’s opponents face: Finding the lesser of The shot maps below from HockeyViz highlight just how many of those five evils. power play attempts have been taken from that area of the ice. “If you’re a killer, I always wanted to flush that half wall guy down as (Via HockeyViz) much as possible,” said Moore, an experienced penalty killer. “I wanted to not just take away that pass up to the top because it’s easy for them to What makes Stamkos and Kucherov so unique is they’re among the best use the bumper and get it to the top indirectly. In most cases, the most at one-timing any pass. skilled player is the man on the half wall and I felt, ‘Take the puck out of his hands.’ It’s harder than it seems.” “Front foot, back foot, short side, far side,” St. Louis said of Stamkos. “He doesn’t just shoot — he shoots to score every time. The Hurricanes have a proactive approach while shorthanded. While they can shut down their opponents’ offense with Jaccob Slavin, Brett “There are certain times you’re just shooting it trying to get it on net, and Pesce, and Jordan Staal leading the charge, they have a more shooting it as quick as possible,” Stamkos said. “Other times, if you know dimensional penalty kill. Their aggressive power kill excels at disrupting a goalie has a tendency to anticipate well and slide over, I have to go teams from staying in formation and in the offensive zone. If any team back against the grain. There are different moments where you can think can ‘keep them on the run,’ it’s Carolina. The question is how much before you shoot.” they’ll counter-attack against a power play this loaded. According to Parnass, one-timers are one of the most dangerous shots, The Panthers struggled to limit shots and quality chances against on the aside from tips, because the puck movement can catch a goaltender out penalty kill, and their netminders only stopped 65 percent of the shots of position. Ideally, that movement goes across the royal road, or the they faced. imaginary line that goes right down the middle of the home plate area in front of the net, forcing a goaltender to move laterally. Against Nashville, the Hurricanes had the opportunity to push the pace of play and create short-handed offense. They were one of the better teams Kucherov and Stamkos are just two of the shooters that can deflate a in the opening round at creating quality chances for and limiting those penalty killing unit. Point’s one of the best players in the league; he’s against. And they had the stability of Alex Nedeljkovic in net. improved his skating, reads and reacts to plays at a high pace, and is incredibly crafty. And he plays in a scoring area in front of the net. But there’s less room for error in Round 2 with the Lightning as their next opponent. There’s also Hedman at the point, who put his offensive impact on display throughout last year’s Stanley Cup run. Andreychuk put it simply: “The easiest way to defend them is to stay out of the box.” “He can’t be afraid to pound pucks from the middle,” St. Louis said. “You create confusion, you create a chaotic environment. Now that’s where Carolina’s taken 32 penalties through six games so far this postseason, there’s breakdowns, and seams open for retrievals. I think Heddy has and do have to be more disciplined against Tampa – although some done a really good job of shooting the puck when it’s time” questionable officiating has inflated that total along the way. So even if they can find ways to defend this power play, which won’t be easy, they During the playoffs, that shot hasn’t come as often on the power play. certainly can’t give them this many opportunities. Instead, much of the shooting has been left for the skillful forwards around him. As Coleman explained, this power play is “typically one step ahead of the PK” because they’ve been together for so long. “He’s done a good job of pretending to go one way and then the other, feel which way the box is moving and all of a sudden go against the “They know what the options are before you get the puck. The best grain, and now there’s so much more space for that guy to shoot,” St. power plays have the quickest puck movement and multiple options that Louis said. can hurt you, and it’s no secret that “Kuch’ is one of the best in the world at the half wall and world-class shot from Stammer, and a lot of guys that The retrievals can hurt you. The biggest misconception about the Lightning power play is that it’s all “I’m happy they’re on my side.” skill and highlight-reel plays. Power plays are hard work, as Killorn mentioned; winning puck battles and securing puck retrievals are key. The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214393 Chicago Blackhawks

Do the Blackhawks have a No. 1 goalie in Kevin Lankinen?

BY CHARLIE ROUMELIOTIS

One of the biggest storylines going into training camp was which goaltender would take control of the No. 1 job after the Blackhawks parted ways in the offseason with two-time Stanley Cup champion Corey Crawford.

The competition centered around three netminders: Collin Delia, Kevin Lankinen and Malcolm Subban. Of that group, only Delia (16 starts) and Subban (60 starts) had NHL experience.

And yet it was Lankinen who emerged as the go-to guy after he started in 37 of the 56 games and went 17-14-5 with a 3.01 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and two shutouts.

Now the question is: Have the Blackhawks found their starting goaltender of the future in Lankinen? The short answer: maybe. But it's too early to make any such declarations, given the sample size.

"Kevin had the longest run of the three during the season," President/GM Stan Bowman said. "I think he emerged as the guy who stepped forward, but I think they all had their moments. ... I remember saying early on that we don’t know at this point which player’s going to emerge or if one or two of them will. Kevin probably took the biggest step forward, but I don’t think any took a step backward. It was great to see Kevin take that."

Lankinen got off to a terrific start after going 9-3-3 with a 2.55 goals- against average and .924 save percentage in his first 15 games. His play started to dip when the schedule got tougher in March and the Blackhawks rode him hard in hopes of making a playoff push.

Those experiences will be important learning lessons for the young goaltender moving forward as he looks to solidify himself as a bonafide No. 1 goaltender.

"It's been a crazy season all-in-all," Lankinen said. "I really enjoyed it, though. Lots of learning lessons, lots of great experiences and great moments. I was able to show myself and everybody else what I could do."

The Blackhawks have four goaltenders under contract next season: Delia, Lankinen, Subban and newly signed Arvid Soderblom. As of now, it looks like those four guys will be the ones fighting for the crease at training camp again.

If the Blackhawks are sold on Lankinen as their potential No. 1 starter, it would make sense for them to explore signing a veteran goaltender in the offseason to help him navigate the ups and downs of an 82-game season, both physically and mentally. If they feel the jury is still out, well then we might just see the competition from this season carry into the next.

"I feel like I had a good season," Lankinen said after his final start of the season. "What comes next season, that's not up to me yet. I haven't thought about it. My goal was just to win tonight, and we'll see what happens in the future."

"He has had a successful year as far as where he started and where he’s ending," head coach Jeremy Colliton echoed. "But it should be just a stepping stone, at least that’s how I hope he looks at it. He’s got to do everything he can to improve, work on his game, train hard and come in and earn more. So, those things, they’ll be sorted out by performance."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214394 Colorado Avalanche

J.T. Compher has stepped up to second line to fill in for suspended center Nazem Kadri

By RYAN O’HALLORAN | PUBLISHED: May 28, 2021 at 5:25 p.m. | UPDATED: May 28, 2021 at 5:34 p.m.

The Avalanche learned to play — and win — without center Nazem Kadri in Games 3 and 4 of its first-round sweep of St. Louis.

Kadri has sat out the first two games of an eight-game suspension administered by the NHL for his illegal check to the head of St. Louis defenseman Justin Faulk on May 19.

Kadri’s appeal was heard by the league office on Thursday, but as of Friday at 5 p.m., a final decision had not been announced.

As he did to wrap up the Blues series, J.T. Compher took the second-line center line rushes during Friday’s practice between wingers Andre Burakovsky and Joonas Donskoi. The Avalanche will play Game 1 of its second-round series against Minnesota or Vegas at 6 p.m. Sunday.

“I thought (Compher) was good (against St. Louis),” Avs coach Jared Bednar said earlier this week. “His checking was good, he seems to be skating a lot better in the latter part of the season, he’s been on pucks and I’ve liked his game on both sides of the puck.”

Compher averaged 14:43 of ice time against St. Louis (one goal) and saw his usual steady amount of minutes killing penalties; the Avalanche were 7 of 9 short-handed.

“He’s always been like that,” center Nathan MacKinnon said of Compher’s ability to move up and down the lineup. “He had a really good second half (of the season), a really good first round and it’s obviously key to have depth. He’s been stepping up for years into different spots. Very versatile for us.”

If kept at eight games, Kadri’s suspension will be the longest of the 2021 regular season/playoffs, exceeding the seven-game penalty for Washington’s Tom Wilson in early March and the longest of any kind since Wilson’s 14-game ban in September 2018.

Getting ready. The Avalanche had another full-squad practice Friday at , lasting about 45 minutes. The Avs will have a full week between Game 4 of the St. Louis series and Game 1 on Sunday.

First-year Winger Alex Newhook (back) returned after sitting out Thursday’s workout, but through observation of the line rushes, rookie Sampo Ranta took Newhook’s fourth-line spot with center Pierre- Edouard Bellemare and right wing Carl Soderberg.

Ranta, the Avalanche’s third-round pick in 2018, had 31 points for the University of Minnesota this season and seven in 14 games for the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. He has not played in an NHL game.

“He looks great; he has all the tools to be a really good player,” MacKinnon said. “Talking to him off the ice, he’s humble and wants to learn, which is great to see from a young player.”

Footnote. In the past decade only twice has a team that swept its first- round series (like the Avalanche) faced a second-round opponent that needed seven games to advance (Minnesota or Vegas) — both in 2018. Columbus swept Tampa Bay, but lost to Boston, and the New York Islanders swept Pittsburgh, but lost to Carolina. … Defenseman Conor Timmins averaged a team-low 9:29 of ice time in Round 1, but the experience was valuable. “I just kept it simple,” he said. “For the most part, I was pretty good moving pucks, did a good job defending and spent some time in the O zone so I think I can build on that.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214395 Colorado Avalanche Wednesday, the team’s most recent full skate before Friday. Coach Jared Bednar said earlier in the week that he expects the rookie to be ready for the second round, so he could still play in Game 1. The Avalanche are also without reserve forward Jayson Megna, who had Three big questions for the Avalanche heading into their second-round points in the final two games of the regular season but tested positive for series against the Golden Knights COVID-19 this past week.

If Ranta cracks the lineup, he would likely take Newhook’s slot as a fourth-line winger playing with center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Carl By Peter Baugh May 29, 2021 Soderberg, both of whom are more than 10 years his senior.

Ranta is from Finland, and he cited Rantanen, another Finn, as someone After a season battling for the best record in the NHL, the Avalanche and he looks up to. They’ve worked out in the offseason together and, in his Vegas Golden Knights will face off for a long-awaited postseason tilt. news conference after signing his pro contract, Ranta said it would be After letting a 3-1 series lead slip away, Vegas knocked off Minnesota 6- “awesome” to play with the star Avalanche winger someday. 2 in a Game 7 on Friday, advancing to the second round. With Newhook’s status up in the air, that day could be coming soon. Now the Golden Knights will travel to Colorado — which ultimately won “I’m not sure what the lineup is or anything,” MacKinnon said. “But the Presidents’ Trophy over Vegas in a tiebreaker — for Game 1. Puck whenever he gets the chance to play, he’ll be ready.” drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. Mountain Time on Sunday. What’s the latest on Nazem Kadri? The Avalanche coaching staff has been breaking down both Vegas and Minnesota this week, and players will go over a crash course scouting Kadri received an eight-game suspension for a hit to Justin Faulk’s head report Saturday. The teams already have plenty of familiarity with each in Game 2 of the first round. He served the first two games of his other, though, playing eight times in the regular season. Colorado took suspension against the Blues and elected to appeal the discipline. NHL the season series, going 4-3-1, but the Golden Knights outscored the commissioner heard the appeal Thursday and will render a Avalanche 18-17. decision, though Kadri’s camp doesn’t have clarity on when a decision will come. Vegas leading goal scorer Max Pacioretty missed the first six games of the Minnesota series, but he returned Friday. He, captain Mark Stone “The Commissioner will endeavor to hear all appeals on an expedited and the goalie tandem of Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner will mark basis and will determine whether the decision was supported by clear quite a test for the Avalanche. Defenseman Shea Theodore will appear and convincing evidence,” the NHL’s website says. on Norris Trophy ballots, and the Knights roster also features veteran blueliner Alex Pietrangelo, their big free-agent acquisition and a Stanley Since Kadri’s suspension is for more than six games, he will have the Cup winner with the Blues in 2019. right to a subsequent appeal to a neutral arbitrator.

But Colorado has more than enough star power itself. Superstar Nathan “The neutral arbitrator shall have full remedial authority in respect of the MacKinnon and his linemates, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, matter,” per the NHL page. “The standard of review will be whether the dominated the Blues in a first-round rout, and Cale Makar, Devon Toews League’s finding of violation of the League Playing Rules and the penalty and Samuel Girard give the Avalanche arguably the best defensive corps imposed were both supported by substantial evidence.” in the NHL. Philipp Grubauer also had a standout season in net. Kadri will remain suspended while his appeal is pending. If the eight- The two teams are in completely different situations. Vegas will enter game ban holds, he would not be available until a potential Game 7 Game 1 riding a high after its Game 7 win, but it’ll have less than 48 against Vegas. hours of rest after a grueling opening-round series. Colorado, meanwhile, J.T. Compher has been skating as second-line center in Kadri’s spot. In hasn’t played since last Sunday. They’ll be well rested and have had time Sean Gentille and Dom Luszczyszyn’s most recent power rankings for to let bumps and bruises heal, but they might have to kick off some rust. The Athletic, Gentille made a good point in regard to Compher’s play, “Rest is a weapon,” forward Tyson Jost said this week. saying he had “an expected goals percentage (56.14) that was right there with Kadri’s (and) an actual goals percentage (68.42) that was right there It’ll be a fascinating matchup between two Stanley Cup-level teams. Here at the top of Avs’ regulars.” are three storylines to keep an eye on: “We have depth,” MacKinnon said. “(Compher) is very versatile for us, Is Sampo Ranta’s time coming? and he’s been like that for years. Nothing new for him. He’s not nervous at all about the spot he’s in.” The Avalanche relied on one rookie forward in the first round: Alex Newhook, who scored his first NHL goal against the Blues but injured his What does Erik Johnson’s presence mean? back in Game 4. Now another player fresh out of college could replace him. Sampo Ranta, the Avalanche’s 2018 third-round pick, has been The Avalanche have been without defenseman Erik Johnson, their practicing with the fourth line the past two full-team skates and could be longest-tenured player and an alternate captain, for all but four games an option to make his NHL debut Sunday. this series. He suffered a scary upper-body injury Jan. 30 against Minnesota and hasn’t played since. General manager Joe Sakic said at “He’s got all the tools to be a really good player,” MacKinnon said. “He the trade deadline there’s a chance he could play in the later rounds of looks like an awesome player. Talking to him off the ice, too, he’s a really the playoffs, but that’s hard to count on after so long off. nice guy. Very humble, wants to learn, which is great to see from a young player.” Johnson has, though, been able spend more time around his teammates lately. The 20-year-old Ranta, listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, signed with the Avalanche in April after spending the previous three seasons playing “He wasn’t around for a long time,” Bednar said. “He’s been around here college hockey for Minnesota. He finished second in the NCAA with 19 a little bit last week and it’s not every day, but he has had a presence goals this year and, after signing his first pro contract, had nine points in around the room a little bit here more recently.” 16 games playing for the Colorado Eagles in the AHL. “It’s nice to see him doing better,” MacKinnon said. “His spirits are better. “His game is about building lateral speed and generating offense off of I don’t think he’s coming back this season, but just as a human being that,” Eagles coach Greg Cronin said during the season. “His challenge hopefully he gets healthy. It’s good to see him around, though. He’s at this level is going to be more of a vertical, straight-line game and a working hard off the ice.” stop-and-start game. He’s not afraid, so he’ll get physical with people. And regardless of whether he is able to get on the ice this postseason, He’s got a body frame that will allow him to attack inside ice.” his presence is a boost. “I’m not sure,” Ranta said in April when asked about the chances of Said MacKinnon simply: “It’s good to see your friend.” making his NHL debut this season. “My game will do my talking.” The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 Newhook skated Friday but was on a line of extra forwards with Kiefer Sherwood and the suspended Nazem Kadri. He took a maintenance day 1214396 Colorado Avalanche

2021 NHL Playoffs: Golden Knights vs. Avalanche schedule, TV channel, games, scores, guide to the second-round series

By The Athletic NHL Staff and more May 29, 2021

In this West Division matchup, the No. 2 Vegas Golden Knights are facing the No. 1 Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.

Schedule/TV/results

Game 1: at Colorado, Sunday, May 30, 8 p.m. Eastern (NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS)

Game 2: at Colorado, date, time and TV TBD

Game 3: at Vegas, date, time and TV TBD

Game 4: at Vegas, date, time and TV TBD

*Game 5: at Colorado, date, time and TV TBD

*Game 6: at Vegas, date, time and TV TBD

*Game 7: at Colorado, date, time and TV TBD

(* – if necessary)

What to expect from the series

Three big questions for the Avalanche heading into their second-round series against the Golden Knights: It’ll be a fascinating matchup between two Stanley Cup-level teams, and here are some aspects of play to keep an eye on.

Instant NHL Playoff Preview: Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche in the second round: A quick look at how the Golden Knights match up with the Avalanche, with Game 1 set for Sunday.

Avalanche and Golden Knights top reads

The early years of Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon: Frisbee, figure skating and dancing to “Electric Feel.”

Marc-Andre Fleury, better than ever at age 36: Fleury stamped himself as a Vezina Trophy candidate this season.

Cale Makar “has it’“: What NHL defensive legends see when they watch the Avalanche’s 22-year-old star.

Vegas bang for the buck: Which Golden Knights overperformed or underperformed this season?

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214397 Colorado Avalanche And Grubauer proved to be exactly what they needed. He solidified their goaltending, leading the Spitfires to an OHL title. Then, in the 2010 Memorial Cup, he posted a .930 save percentage, helping his team to a title. Boughner called his demeanor “perfect for a goaltender.” Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer has ‘something to prove’ in these playoffs “You could tell he just gave our team so much confidence,” the coach said. “We scored a lot of goals but we needed someone that had some experience and calmness to his game, and that’s what he brought us.”

By Peter Baugh May 28, 2021 Listed at 6-foot-1, Grubauer isn’t one of the bigger goalies in the league. The past three Vezina Trophy winners have all been at least 6-3, and

Grubauer is at least 3 inches shorter than the other goalies currently Philipp Grubauer can’t point to one specific, groundbreaking change that skating with the Avalanche. This stood out to Hockey Hall of Famer Doug has led to his standout 2020-21 season. He describes it more as the Gilmour, Grubauer’s OHL general manager in Kingston in 2010-11. accumulation of minor adjustments he’s made over the course of his “He’s not your typical 6-foot-4 goalie,” said Gilmour, now working with the career. He started analyzing video after every game as a teenager, for Maple Leafs. “He has to play big, and he played big for us, for sure.” example, and now works on situational exercises during Avalanche practices, focusing on details related to upcoming opponents. He strives The potential Boughner and Gilmour saw in Grubauer carried him to the to avoid making the same in-game mistake twice. NHL, and the Avalanche traded for him ahead of the 2018-2019 season. Along with Brandon Saad and Andre Burakovsky, he’s one of only three He’s done this all with a goal in mind that he’s had since watching Felix Colorado regulars who have won a Stanley Cup, and he compared the Potvin and Mike Richter highlight videos growing up in Rosenheim, Avalanche’s situation to the Capitals a few years ago. Colorado is looking Germany: becoming an undisputed No. 1 NHL goaltender. to get over a hump and advance past the second round, and Washington “You just adapt and adjust,” the 29-year-old said. “It’s small steps over had trouble beating Pittsburgh in the playoffs. They finally did in 2018, the years.” and that year ended with them lifting the Cup.

Those strides have culminated in the best season of Grubauer’s NHL “It was great to be a part of and find out what’s going on past the second career, and they’ve made him arguably the most irreplaceable player on round, conference finals, finals: how the intensity gets raised again,” the Avalanche’s roster. On a team featuring a potential Hart Trophy Grubauer said. “In the playoffs, every small little detail matters.” finalist in superstar center in Nathan MacKinnon, a potential Norris Grubauer has also delighted fans by wearing a cowboy hat to games and winner in defenseman Cale Makar and a captain who’s done it all in the on road trips this year — he likes spending time at a friend’s ranch and postseason in Gabriel Landeskog — Grubauer is the key to the said it’s impacted his style — and showed a level of candidness in the postseason hopes. first round when discussing Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, who skated Two of Grubauer’s past three seasons, though, ended with him watching, to the Avalanche’s side of the ice after Game 2. not playing. While with the Capitals in 2018, he got benched during the “If he feels the need to come down and do that stuff and fake punch playoffs in favor of Braden Holtby, who proceeded to lift Washington to its guys, then so be it,” Grubauer said. “I worry about stopping the pucks.” first Stanley Cup. Then he suffered a groin injury last season in Game 1 of the Avalanche’s second-round matchup with the Stars and it kept him He’s done a good job at that, and it could lead to a big payday this out for the rest of the series, which Colorado lost in overtime in Game 7. offseason, especially if he keeps his play up in the postseason. He currently carries a $3.33 million cap hit — a bargain for the Avalanche, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said going into the season that it would given his production — but is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. be a big season for the goaltender, noting the lingering disappointment of Binnington, 27, and Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom, 31, two similarly aged not being able to play the bulk of the Stars series. goalies who recently inked long-term deals, each signed six-year “He’s coming back with a vengeance and something to prove,” the coach contracts worth $6 million a year. Grubauer said during the season that said. “I see a guy that’s taking another step in leadership of this team and there hasn’t been much negotiating with the Avalanche because of the holding himself accountable to be an impact player for us on big nights.” compressed schedule but added that he wasn’t in any rush.

The results: A league-high seven shutouts, a 1.95 goals-against average The Avalanche, who are in a tight cap situation, will have a lot to consider (best among goalies who started more than half of their team’s games), a when evaluating Grubauer over the summer. He’s had an outstanding .922 save percentage and career-high 40 games played during the season, boosted by a strong Avalanche defense. But even with the regular season. strong play in front of him, his advanced statistics are promising. Among goalies who played more than half of their teams’ games, he ranked fifth And, most importantly for the Avalanche, he’s playing his best hockey at in the league in goals saved above average and eighth in goals saved the most important time of year. With help from the best shot- above expected, per Evolving-Hockey. suppressing defense in the league, he posted a 1.75 GAA and a .936 save percentage in a four-game first-round sweep of the Blues. “Everyone in our room and with our organization values Grubi and what he’s done for us,” Bednar said recently. “I think he gets overshadowed “He’s swallowing everything that’s a routine shot, and then he’s made because we’re not letting teams put up 40 shots a night or high 30s. some crazy saves on top of that this year,” Landeskog said. “He’s really We’re trying to keep those shots down, but it doesn’t diminish what he elevated his game and been that anchor back there that we need.” brings to our team. When we need a save, he’s been there to give it to us.” Other than health, what’s the key to Grubauer’s success? Take it from one of the best goal scorers in the league, Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, The goaltender has also shown an impressive ability not to lose his who has played with Grubauer on German national teams: “I’m no goalie rhythm, even when the season has had interruptions. The Avalanche coach here, don’t get me wrong, but I think he’s very quick. He’s hard to have gone through two COVID-19-related pauses, and Grubauer got the beat side to side. He reads the play really well. He does everything right, virus himself, experiencing minor symptoms. He hasn’t suffered any and he’s obviously had a fantastic season.” other injuries all season; he placed an emphasis on durability during offseason training and frequently said throughout the season he was Grubauer, one of only two active NHL goalies from Germany (Detroit’s comfortable with his heavy workload. Thomas Greiss is the other), came to North America as a 16-year-old in 2008 to play in the Hockey League. That’s where he met San Grubauer has also found creative ways to improve while away from the Jose Sharks coach Bob Boughner, then the coach. rink. He uses a virtual reality system that simulates a hockey rink and net. He can crouch in position and, holding remotes in each hand, stop Boughner remembers liking Grubauer when Belleville selected him in the pucks. league’s import draft, so a year later, Windsor made a trade to acquire him. The move solidified an already star-studded roster: Taylor Hall, who “You can pick the drills, you can pick screens, you can pick deflections,” went on to become the top pick in the 2010 NHL draft and won a Hart said Grubauer, who uses the device to warm up his eyes on game days Trophy in 2018, was averaging nearly two points a game for the Spitfires, and also relied on it while the team was on its COVID-19 pauses. “You and the team also featured NHLers Ryan Ellis, Adam Henrique, Zack can see your gloves and your blockers and you can track the puck.” Kassian and Cam Fowler. The Avalanche traded for goalie depth during the season, acquiring Jonas Johansson and Devan Dubnyk, but Johansson has never played in a postseason game and Dubnyk posted a sub-.900 save percentage on the season. If the Avalanche want to make a deep postseason run, Grubauer will likely have to be their guy.

That’s more than OK with them.

“He’s been great for us all year,” forward Nazem Kadri said earlier this month. “Why wouldn’t we be confident in him?”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214398 Colorado Avalanche The Avalanche are steadily healing, too. Most notably, young defenseman Bowen Byram, who hasn’t played since March 25 against Vegas due to an upper-body injury.

Rest assured, Avs and Bruins relish long gap between series “I’m just happy to be feeling 100% again," Byram said. “It’s definitely a tough thing to go through and it was frustrating being out for so long.”

The injury bug besieged the Bruins' blue line with defensemen Jeremy By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer 20 hrs ago Lauzon, Jakub Zboril and Kevan Miller all sidelined. Lauzon returned to practice Wednesday in a non-contact jersey, with Cassidy saying he's

“trending very well.” DENVER (AP) — Devan Dubnyk debunked the whole rest-or-rust “Our group has enough experience to understand the time off, how to debate. use it to the best of their abilities as far as getting rest and recovery,” Rest always trumps potential rust, the Colorado Avalanche backup Bruins president Cam Neely said. “It’s very important. Especially if you goaltender said, because rust may at most spill into the opening minutes hope to have a long run, I think these days off are going to be very of Game 1 — if at all. beneficial moving forward.”

The Avalanche are certainly well-rested. Same goes for the Boston Because the road only gets tougher. Bruins. "We just need to stay sharp,” Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar said. Both teams made quick work of their first-round opponents, which was “Whatever the guys need to do now, whether it’s getting on the ice or not rewarded with some valuable downtime. The Bruins will play the New or making sure their bodies are recovered is important. York Islanders starting Saturday — a full five days off between games. "We need to make sure that we’re ready and not too much time off where The top-seeded Avalanche face either Minnesota or Vegas, who play we’re getting out of that winning mindset.” Game 7 of their grueling series Friday night in Las Vegas. The winner LOADED: 05.29.2021 travels to the Mile High City to begin a second-round series with Game 1 set for Sunday. That's a six-day break for Colorado.

“It’s a real advantage to have the rest we have,” said Dubnyk, whose team finished a sweep of St. Louis on Sunday.

Because the alternative is not that appealing — a long, grinding series where anything can happen, including going home.

“You always want to close out a series as quickly as you can. It just takes away any stress,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, whose team eliminated Washington in Game 5 on Sunday. “Guys get to rest up a little bit. So I’m OK with it. We’ll try to do whatever we can.”

The Bruins experienced a similar sort of layoff during their 2019 Stanley Cup chase. They completed a sweep of Carolina in the Eastern Conference final on May 16 and then had to wait for the Blues to eliminate San Jose in six games on May 21.

The Cup Final between the two didn’t begin until May 27, with Boston going 11 days between games.

St. Louis captured the Cup in seven.

“I think guys have their eye on the prize, so to speak, and they’ll be fine,” Cassidy said of the break.

The Avalanche have taken a low-key approach to a week of practice sessions. If a player feels like taking the ice, they take the ice. If they don’t, they don’t.

"Every individual is different,” Avalanche forward Andre Burakovsky said. “So do whatever it takes to get prepared.”

The Avalanche have shown to be a resilient bunch with time on their hands. Twice they were paused due to coronavirus-related issues this season, but they still captured the Presidents’ Trophy for the best regular-season record.

Much like Boston, Colorado is no stranger to the playoff waiting game. In 2019, the Avalanche knocked off Calgary in five games, clinching their first-round series on April 19. They waited until April 26 to open a second-round series against San Jose, which the Avalanche lost in seven.

For coach Jared Bednar, this is a perfect chance to tighten up some areas.

Asked which particular ones, Bednar cracked: "All of them. That would be my answer. ... We’ll brush up on everything.”

Admittedly, Burakovsky doesn’t watch much hockey in the regular season. He's tuning in now to catch the Wild and Golden Knights. The Avalanche went 5-2-1 against Minnesota in the regular season and 4-3-1 vs. Vegas.

“It's good to see what kind of style they’re playing now in the playoffs and where you can expose them," Burakovsky said. 1214399 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche to play Vegas Golden Knights in second round

Published 5 hours ago on May 28, 2021By Adrian Dater

Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights. Twenty-six years ago, the very utterance about a possible future NHL Stanley Cup Playoff city series matchup would have been grounds for admission to a mental health ward.

On Sunday night in Denver, where NHL hockey was given a rare future reconnoiter after the original Colorado Rockies left town in 1982, the Golden Knights will play the Avs in Game 1 of a second-round series. Vegas earned a trip to the second round with their seventh-game victory over the Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile Arena in Sin City tonight.

Colorado beat out Vegas by percentage points on a tie-breaker to win the first seed in the Honda West Division title. Many pundits believe these may be the two best teams in the NHL.

Vegas is a bigger, heavier team than the Avs. But the Avs have more speed and skill. It remains to be seen, though, whether the Avs can impose their will more on Vegas than vice-versa. The Avs will enter as the favored team with the sportsbooks probably.

But the Avs have failed to get past the second round of the playoffs since 2002, including two straight second-round exits. There is a lot of pressure on this Avs team, and it won’t be easy at all against Vegas. In Game 7, Vegas’ Max Pacrioretty returned in dramatic fashion, after having not played since May 1. Pacrioretty scored in his return.

All the games in the series will be available to any cable subscribers and NBC channels, with no local blackouts.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214400 Colorado Avalanche

Patrick Roy and Mario Tremblay Reconcile in Hilarious Ad

Published 9 hours ago on May 28, 2021By Adrian Dater

It remains one of the most pivotal moments in Colorado Avalanche history – and yet it happened with the Montreal Canadiens. The on-the- bench snarling match between Patrick Roy and former Habs coach Mario Tremblay directly led to the seismic Roy trade to Colorado four days later, on Dec. 6, 1995. The Avs – and Canadiens – were never the same in the ensuing years.

After all these years, Roy and Tremblay can apparently now have a laugh about it.

Roy and Tremblay just did two really funny ads for Uber Eats, which I’ll post below, and Le Soleil also wrote an article about it. Despite taking four years – four years – of French in high school, I still can barely make out what anyone is saying in the language. I know bits and pieces still, but, yeah, I’m just not very bright. Je suis en imbecile. But I have many Avs fan friends from Quebec who are always happy to translate for me.

Patrick Roy, who is looking to get back into the NHL, and Tremblay did two ads, one in English and one in French.

Here’s the English version:

And now the French version, which has some funnier repartee:

Thanks to my friend Philippe Bissonette, an airline pilot from Quebec, here is what is being said in the French version:

“Tremblay scores to make it 9-1 then says to Roy: ‘you should pull your goalie’. Roy answers back: ‘No, he’s still good for another couple championships!’

Great ad!

Here is the article from Le Soleil, and a Google translation of it: (sorry for the unwieldy layout of the story, but it is what it is:

Out of the game as the team trailed 9-1 against the Detroit Red Wings, the goaltender had twice passed the then head coach of the Canadiens to slide to the ear of President Ronald Corey that he had just played his last game with the team.

"Got it," the lips could be read in Tremblay's direction. He would be traded to Colorado a few days later to then win the Stanley Cup that same season with the Avalanche.

“I was pleasantly surprised when I got the idea of working with Uber Eats and reuniting with Mario. This is something that I had in mind for a long time. If there's one thing that brings people together, it's food, ”Roy said in a statement.

“In life, there are opportunities that pass and you have to seize them. Uber Eats was able to create this moment, ”noted Tremblay for his part.

The Tonight I Eat ad was broadcast exclusively on TVA Sports during the first intermission of Thursday's game between the Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The campaign promotes the variety of Quebec restaurants and meals that can be found on the app.

“What not many people know is that we were roommates during the 1985-1986 season. The pandemic has been an opportunity to reflect, to put things in perspective and we are very happy to be reconciled thanks to Uber Eats. We are really happy to have taken this decision and we invite Quebeckers who are cold with loved ones to think about the idea of seeing them again, ”added with one voice those who also appreciate the visibility offered to restaurateurs in their homes. Steps.

In this adventure, Roy and Tremblay jointly signed a hockey stick which will be given to Opération Enfant Soleil via Uber Eats during the telethon. It is auctioned at uber.encansoleil.ca.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214401 Colorado Avalanche

Indications are Sampo Ranta might replace Alex Newhook for Game 1 Sunday

Published 15 hours ago on May 28, 2021By Adrian Dater

From high above rinkside here at Ball Arena: the most newsy thing that I can derive from Avs practice today is the fact that Sampo Ranta skated on a line with two guys who will play Game 1 against either Vegas or Minnesota Sunday night, and that Alex Newhook skated with two guys who almost certainly won’t play Sunday night.

While Newhook did practice at what appeared to be full speed, after missing a couple of practices with a lower-body injury, he skated in drills on a line with the suspended Nazem Kadri and spare forward Kiefer Sherwood. Meanwhile, Rampa skated with P.E. Bellemare and Carl Soderberg.

Could Ranta replace Newhook in the Game 1 lineup? Certainly seems possible, though Jared Bednar isn’t going to tip his hand on that right now.

The other three lines at practice:

Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen

Saad-Jost-Nichushkin

Burakovsky-Compher-Donskoi

Conor Timmins and Patrik Nemeth are still paired together, by the way, so don’t expect to see Bo Byram in Game 1.

As for the potential Ranta replacement of Newhook, I mean, I’m not sure how to feel about it. Newy scored the game-winner in Game 4 and Ranta has yet to play a shift in the NHL. But if he’s not 100 percent, I guess that would change things. Or, maybe Newhook will be back on a line with Bellemare and Carl tomorrow.

I’ll update this story after the coach speaks.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214402 Columbus Blue Jackets Multiple reports have connected Tocchet, the former Arizona Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning coach, with the Blue Jackets, Rangers and Buffalo Sabres. Like Tortorella, Tocchet and the Coyotes mutually Blue Jackets' hunt for next coach has produced crop of early candidates agreed to part ways after this season, which was the 57-year-old's fourth in Arizona.

Like Gallant, Tocchet was a goal-scoring forward in the NHL BRIAN HEDGER before entering the coaching ranks, in 2002-03 as an assistant with Colorado. He has spent the past 13 years coaching as an NHL assistant

or head coach, and is another one of the bigger names on the market. The Blue Jackets’ search for a head coach is heating up. Tocchet reportedly interviewed with the Rangers on Tuesday, the General manager Jarmo Kekalainen has said the position will be filled Sabres on Wednesday and has an interview set up with the Blue Jackets before NHL free agency arrives on July 28, but it might happen sooner this week. than later. The names of candidates are starting to emerge and Michael Arace: Random thoughts on Jackets' coaching search, including interviews are taking place to find John Tortorella's replacement. 'I like Tocchet' CBJ coach search: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen has plenty of Todd Nelson, Dallas Stars assistant coach options to replace coach John Tortorella Nelson, 52, is a Dallas Stars assistant to coach Rick Bowness and has Here’s a look at six options confirmed through multiple sources and spent the past 19 years coaching professionally. reports as candidates for the vacancy: Nelson has logged one brief stint as an NHL head coach in 2014-15, Brad Larsen, Blue Jackets assistant after taking over the Edmonton Oilers midway through that season, and All that’s known about Larsen’s candidacy is that he will be guided the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins to a Calder Cup championship in interviewed. Larsen, 43, specialized in coaching Blue Jackets’ forwards 2017. He’s been an assistant with the Stars for three years, previously and coordinated the power play as one of Tortorella’s assistants the past worked as an NHL assistant with the former Atlanta Thrashers and has five seasons. also been mentioned for the Coyotes' coaching vacancy.

He also was an assistant for two years with previous Blue Jackets coach According to Sportsnet, Nelson has scheduled interviews with Arizona Todd Richards and has spent the past 11 years coaching for the and Columbus. organization — including two as an assistant and two as head coach of Takeaways: Blue Jackets dealing with 'larger problems' than loss to the , the team's affiliate Dallas Stars before the Cleveland Monsters. NHL playoffs: Heroes, villains among former Blue Jackets still chasing The Blue Jackets’ power play struggled under Larsen’s purview, but that the Stanley Cup wasn’t his only job responsibility. He’s still young among his coaching peers and Kekalainen thinks Larsen will be an NHL head coach sooner Jukka Jalonen, Finnish coach or later. Jalonen, 57, has loads of head coaching experience in multiple European 2021 season: Takeaways from Blue Jackets' finale include Tortorella's leagues and has guided a number of Finnish national teams to success exit and a video coach's new view on the international stage. He is currently in Latvia coaching Finland in the world championships and it’s unclear whether he will get an interview David Quinn, former New York Rangers coach with the Blue Jackets. Quinn, 54, was fired by the New York Rangers on May 12, a week after Kekalainen was interviewed for a podcast called “Hockey Wanderlüst” they parted ways with general manager Jeff Gorton and president of earlier this week and brought up Jalonen’s name when asked whether he hockey operations John Davidson, who was recently rehired by the Blue will consider European coaches. Kekalainen said Jalonen would be Jackets in the same role. considered for the Jackets’ vacancy, but stopped short of confirming that Asked last week whether Quinn would be considered for the Jackets’ he will get an interview. vacancy, Davidson said it would be “negligent” not to consider his former Kekalainen was recently named as Finland’s assistant GM for the 2022 coach in New York. Quinn, a former head coach at Boston University, Olympic team and knows Jalonen well. He also knows a number of other was only three years into a full rebuild project with the Rangers and European coaches and didn’t rule out the possibility of hiring one. went 96-87-25 overall. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 05.29.2021 The assumption is he will get at least one interview, but it’s unknown if or when it will happen.

What to know: Blue Jackets' search to include former Rangers coach David Quinn, who might be a good fit

Gerard Gallant, former Vegas coach with extensive resume

Gallant reportedly has interviewed with the Blue Jackets this week via video conference from Riga, Latvia, where he is coaching Canada’s national team at the IIHF world championship. The Athletic reported that development Thursday.

Gallant, 57, didn’t coach this season after being fired in 2019-20 by the Vegas Golden Knights despite a 24-19-6 start to the season. Gallant is the hottest name among available NHL coaches and the former forward now has 17 years of NHL coaching experience as an assistant and head coach — including his first opportunity to run a bench with the Blue Jackets in parts of three seasons, from 2003-07.

Gallant also has interviewed with the Rangers and could be in the running for the expansion Seattle Kraken, a role he handled with aplomb in Vegas.

Next for Keklalainen: Michael Arace: Blue Jackets GM has a raft of big decisions ahead of him

Rick Tocchet 1214403 Dallas Stars Strength in number Since Jordon’s death, Joel learned more about mental health, taking

psychology classes in college and understanding more about brain Strength in Number: Why Joel Hanley’s switch to No. 44 is more than a chemistry. jersey, but a tribute to his brother’s legacy “In the last 30 years, we’ve learned a lot about the mental side of the brain, and there’s so many things we haven’t learned either,” Joel said. “There’s still a long way to go as far as understanding the brain and By Matthew DeFranks10:00 AM on May 28, 2021 CDT understanding mental health and how it affects [us].”

Because of the age difference, Jordon and Joel played only one season of hockey together, in 2007-08 on the Georgina Ice, a junior team in Long before he wore No. 44 on his Dallas Stars sleeves or back or Ontario. They still played hockey together at the family’s cottage or helmet, Joel Hanley wore it on his shoulder. ministicks inside the house but didn’t play organized hockey with each Much like his dad Rob’s arm and his mom Rosanne’s back, Joel had the other outside that one season. No. 44 stamped on his left shoulder for the last decade. It rests on a The season served as a springboard for Joel to UMass and then a shield, below the initials “J.R.H” and above a script “Walk By Faith.” professional career with stops in the ECHL, AHL and NHL. It was also There’s also an ichthys — a Christian symbol — with crossed hockey when Jordon gave his No. 44 to Joel. sticks in the background. It’s a tattoo Joel designed in the summer of 2011, months after his brother Jordon died by suicide in October 2010. After Joel wore No. 44 in college, it would be another seven years before “Hanley” and “44” were reunited on the back of a hockey sweater. With It was a way for the Hanleys to honor Jordon and remember Joel’s Montreal and Arizona, Joel wore No. 71. During his first two seasons with outgoing, athletic, spiritual older brother. This past season in Dallas, Joel Dallas, including when he scored a goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup found another tribute, wearing No. 44 for the first time in his professional Final, Joel wore No. 39. hockey career — the same number Jordon wore growing up and one that he passed on to Joel. But when Gavin Bayreuther departed the Stars organization last year, No. 44 became available, and Joel’s wife, Kate, told him he should ask When Stars training camp began four months ago, it was the first time the team if he could change numbers. since college that Joel was wearing his older brother’s number. “I don’t know if it’s a big deal or not, but it would mean a lot to me if I “I never thought I’d be able to wear, especially for an NHL team in Dallas, could change to 44,” Joel recalls telling equipment manager Steve never thought I’d have the chance to wear 44, so it was just really Sumner. A week later, he was told the number was his. special,” Joel said. “When I walked in, I was like ‘Wow!’ kind of reflecting on what it’s taken to get there and just thinking about my brother and just Still inspiring knowing that he would be so proud of me. Rob and Rosanne have watched almost every game Joel’s played “since “He never got to see me play a pro game, so he was definitely looking he’s been just a little fella,” Rob said, a career that has taken him through down and really happy and proud of what’s happened so far.” one ECHL team, four AHL teams and three NHL teams. The Hanley house is plastered with pictures of Joel in the NHL. Touching many lives “Oh, we’ve got too many pictures here,” Rob said. “There’s no more room Jordon died when he was 23, while 19-year-old Joel was going through on the walls. We’ve got some of his stuff from Montreal and Arizona, the his freshman year of college at UMass. Jordon was a hockey player, a school.” lacrosse player, a volleyball player and a track and field standout, Joel said, who studied kinesiology at York University in Toronto and posted Both Rob and Joel express a hint of wonder when talking about Joel’s straight A’s. NHL career, one that will continue for another two seasons with the Stars after Joel signed an extension earlier this season. Joel knows that Jordon He was an approachable person who kept a prayer list on his iPod for would have been his biggest fan. “friends, family, someone he met, a stranger,” Joel said. Jordon’s faith impacted many people in Keswick, Ontario, where Rob owns and runs “Honestly, he always would give me so much positive encouragement Hanley’s Plumbing. Though the time following Jordon’s death was a blur like ‘Man, I don’t know how you saw that play,’” Joel said. “He was for Joel, he remembers people coming up to him at the funeral to talk always really positive with me, and he was the one that I always looked about his late brother. up to. He was four years older than me and stronger than me, so I was trying to keep up with him. Just the classic brother duo trying to push “Everyone enjoyed being around him,” Joel said. “He had a soft spot for each other. people that didn’t fit in very well. He would always go out of his way to make people feel special. That was something that I admired about him. “Definitely didn’t imagine that I would be in the NHL. I know he would be the biggest fan, the biggest supporter, and try to be at every game. “People would come up to me after and be like, ‘Jordon was a big part of Asking questions and stuff, I know he’d be texting me after every game my life.’” for sure.” It was a side of Jordon that Joel hadn’t realized before, how many people Since Jordon’s death, Joel has written his initials — J.R.H. for Jordon he influenced, and said it was “overwhelming to just see that and the Robert Hanley — and “44” on his stick, along with an ichthys as a people that reached out.” reflection of Joel’s renewed Christian faith. “They were four years apart, but I don’t think that mattered,” Rob said. This season, Joel was able to have 44 on his sleeves and back and “Jordon, he was a real sensitive guy and he’d always let Joel jump in with helmet, too. all his buddies. They had a real strong relationship. It’s been a tough go for him, for sure, losing your brother.” “I have faith today just because of Jordon and my parents,” Joel said. “That’s kind of the biggest thing, just knowing that one day, I’ll see Jordon When Joel went to UMass in 2010, it was emotional for the entire family again. That gives me hope and gives me encouragement that I’ll see him since it was his first time leaving Keswick. About a month later, Joel again.” received a call from his parents telling him Jordon had died. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 05.29.2021 Jordon was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental health condition that results in extreme mood swings and energy. “Jordon was always so upbeat and high energy all the time, so I guess with bipolar disorder, you get super high and super low,” Joel said. “During the highs, it was his personality to begin with. And then the lows, maybe we could have done a better job of seeing the lows. But when things like this happen, you don’t really want to put blame on yourself, it was the lows that we didn’t really see.” 1214404 Detroit Red Wings

Why the Detroit Red Wings might bring back Jonathan Bernier at goaltender

HELENE ST. JAMES

Over the past two seasons, Jonathan Bernier has been the Detroit Red Wings’ most reliable player.

He has provided the goaltending needed for his teammates to have a chance to win games, even as those teammates were prone to defensive lapses and struggled to score. Now Bernier’s contract is expiring, and general manager Steve Yzerman has to decide whether to keep Bernier, or sign someone new. There isn’t a prospect in the organization who is ready for an audition.

For his part, Bernier isn’t wavering.

“My family and I, we really like it here,” he said on May 20. “I feel comfortable at the rink, on the ice. For me, it would be my No. 1 choice, but it all depends on if Steve wants to keep me or if he wants to try somebody else. But I’d definitely like to stay here.”

Since mid-December 2019, Bernier has posted a .915 save percentage and 2.85 goals-against average in 49 appearances, 46 of which were starts.

The one issue with Bernier, 32, has been staying healthy. He suffered an upper-body injury Jan. 28, though that happened because teammate Anthony Mantha ran into Bernier. That sidelined Bernier three weeks. He spent three weeks in sickbay again from March 18-April 8, that time with a lower-body injury stemming from another run-in with a teammate, Patrik Nemeth. During the 2019-20 season, Bernier missed roughly three weeks in January with a lower-body injury.

Bernier is coming off a three-year, $9 million contract. Thomas Greiss, who rebounded from a poor start to post a .912 save percentage and 2.70 GAA in 34 games, was signed last October for two years, $7.2 million.

There are multiple goaltenders who could hit the open market this offseason, but high-profile ones such as Tuukka Rask (Boston Bruins) and Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators) are either likely to re-sign with their previous teams or make more sense for a team in win-now mode.

If Yzerman wants to bring in somebody younger, Chris Driedger could be an interesting choice. He’s 27, and coming off a two-year, $1.7 million contract. The 6-foot-4 Driedger spent the past two seasons with the Florida Panthers, backing up Sergei Bobrovsky. Driedger went 14-6-3 in in 23 starts with a .927 save percentage and 2.07 GAA in 23 starts this season. He played three games in the playoffs, posting a .871 save percentage and 3.70 GAA, after Bobrovsky failed to impress in Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Re-signing Bernier would seem to be the safest route, perhaps on a short-term deal in the $3 million range. Bernier has developed the mental toughness to play on a team in a rebuild, able to block out losing games in a way he wasn’t able to when he was with the rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs from 2013-16. He was traded during the summer that the Leafs — the NHL's worst team in 2015-16 — won the draft lottery and were able to add Auston Matthews, transforming the franchise.

“I lived it in Toronto and the one thing that I regret is being there through the pain but not when they’re better,” Bernier said. “So that’s one of the reasons I want to stay here. All the pain we went through the last couple years, I finally see we are getting better with some great young guys. We are headed in the right direction, and I’d definitely like to stay here.”

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214405 Detroit Red Wings The Wings are at an important crossroads with Smith, in that at the start of next season, he'll either need to stay on the NHL roster or be exposed on waivers.

Red Wings show confidence Givani Smith is ready to stick in the NHL There's also the question of whether to protect Smith on the expansion list, as he's a player the expansion Seattle Kraken would surely be interested in selecting.

TED KULFAN General manager Steve Yzerman grouped Smith among several young players (Smith, Michael Rasmussen, Dennis Cholowski, Gustav

Lindstrom) who the Wings have to make decisions on. Detroit — In a hockey season that almost wasn't because of the Yzerman said Smith was among the players who didn't look out of place pandemic, Givani Smith was thankful for the chance to play and get back in the NHL, but that positions in the lineup will not be handed out freely. to doing what he loves most. "Our decision at the end of training camp is, are they on the roster?" That's being on the ice, and doing so with a fearlessness that makes him Yzerman said of certain Wings prospects. "Are we willing to risk putting an intriguing prospect for the Red Wings. any of them on waivers? They’re going to have to be pretty bad to be put In the summer and autumn of 2020, it didn't look like there was a path for on waivers at this point, and I don’t anticipate that. But I can’t guarantee a young player like Smith to play pro hockey in 2021. The pandemic that they’re going to be in the lineup, and that’s up to them.” seemed to be winning. Smith played 16 games with the Wings (one goal, three assists) and 25 "I remember sitting at home and itching to get back and play," Smith said. with the Griffins (nine goals, six assists). "Scoring goals or being in a fight, or just skating on the ice. "It was a good learning point in my career," said Smith, who has now "It was nice to have these months to play." played 37 NHL games over two seasons. "I was able to get some NHL time and develop my game a little more. Going back and forth, it was Smith split time with the Wings and Grand Rapids of the American good for me mentally. Hockey League. He believes it was a productive season, and provided another opportunity to show he's closer to being ready for the NHL full- "It was a grind, but it's nice to work for things, and not have it just given." time. Smith knows what he needs to work on. Listening to Wings coach Jeff Blashill and Smith's peers in Detroit, the "I need to get a little bit quicker with my skating, and also to navigate the progress of the big, rugged forward has been evident. corner a little better and make the right play. Making plays in the It affirmed the Wings' confidence in Smith. As soon as next season, offensive zone and keeping things going," he said. Smith likely will get to show what he can do on the NHL level on a daily Making the decision for the Wings. basis. Detroit News LOADED: 05.29.2021 "I'm excited and ready to work hard to get that spot, that job," Smith said.

Wings fans have been salivating for Smith to get a spot in the lineup for quite some time.

At 6-foot-2, 210-pounds, he brings an element of toughness to an organization that could use more of it.

Late in the season against Florida, Smith was in the lineup against the Panthers. Florida defenseman Riley Stillman leveled Dylan Larkin with a big hit in a game the Panthers had taken several physical liberties on smaller Wings forwards.

Smith challenged Stillman to a third-period fight, meeting the problem head on.

“It’s a testament to who Smitty is,” forward Luke Glendening said after the game. “To step in there, after he (Smith) had already fought (earlier in the game), and stand up for Larks, stand up for a teammate."

Blashill took notice.

“That’s stepping up big time," the coach said.

Smith, 23, a Wings' 2016 second-round draft pick who the team has brought along patiently, has expanded his game beyond the physical presence.

Against those same Panthers on Super Bowl Sunday, Smith had a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight). In that game, you could see the confidence growing in Smith's overall ability.

His skating and offensive awareness looked improved during this shortened season. His play away from the puck was better.

“When he gets into the offensive zone, he’s a load,” Blashill said. “He’s a hard guy to check and he has pretty good hands in those (hard) areas, and he knows to go to the net.”

Smith felt there were areas, specifically in the offensive zone, where he made strides this season.

"(The biggest improvement) was being able to keep plays going, and recognize the areas of the ice where I am," Smith said. "Body position, things like that. I just improved mentally, growing as a player.

"Just getting tougher and stronger. Overall, making more plays in the offensive zone." 1214406 Detroit Red Wings been here will be important and any additions that add scoring without sacrificing the other side will be important as well.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 05.29.2021 Red Wings’ offensive improvement must come mostly from within

Posted May 27, 6:02 AM

By Ansar Khan

Three goals often translate into two points for NHL teams. The Detroit Red Wings went 17-1-2 this season when scoring three or more goals.

Problem was, they averaged only 2.23 goals, the second-lowest output in the league. It has been an issue the past two seasons – they ranked last in 2019-20, averaging only 2.00 goals per game.

After improving defensively and in net in 2021, offense is the Red Wings’ top priority.

“We need to score more goals and improve offensively,” general manager Steve Yzerman said. “That’s easier said than done. The biggest part of that is having players who have the ability to produce.

“I’m hopeful our younger players can generate a little more offense. With the players that have been here for a while, I expect them to score more than they did this year.”

The improvement must come mostly from within the organization. The Red Wings will look to sign a couple of free-agent forwards, preferably right-handed shooters, but that market surely will be thin when it opens on July 28.

The list of potential unrestricted free-agent forwards with offensive ability includes Alex Ovechkin (Washington), Gabriel Landeskog and Brandon Saad (Colorado), Taylor Hall and David Krejci (Boston), Mike Hoffman and Jaden Schwartz (St. Louis), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Edmonton), Blake Coleman (Tampa Bay) and Zach Hyman (Toronto).

Several are expected to re-sign with their current club. Those that don’t might not be inclined to move from a strong team, in many cases, to a rebuilding club.

Yzerman didn’t rule out trading for offense – in addition to their own first- round pick, the Red Wings have Washington’s (it will be in the mid- to late 20s), as well as three second-rounders.

“I don’t think it makes a lot of sense for us to be trading draft picks and prospects for players that might not be here in three, four, five years,” Yzerman said. “So, if we are able to do something with some of our future assets, I’d certainly be willing to do that, but I would look to add younger players that are going to fit with the core group – Dylan Larkin, Jakub Vrana, Tyler Bertuzzi, roughly in that 26 or under range.

“Having said that, if something is too good to pass up that doesn’t necessarily fit that description, I’d be open to it. You can look at free agency, the players that might be there today, I don’t know that they’re going to be there once free agency opens. What are they going to cost and are we a fit for them? We’ll explore it. In trades I’d like to add younger players; in free agency I’m more open to anything.”

Regardless of who they add, the Red Wings must generate more offense from players already here.

It starts with a healthy Bertuzzi (limited to nine games) and Robby Fabbri (10 goals in only 30 games) and a better season from Larkin (nine goals and 23 points in 44 games).

Having Vrana for a full season will help (eight goals and 11 points in 11 games with Detroit), as will growth from younger players like Filip Zadina and Michael Rasmussen.

“Having introduced a number of young players over the last couple years, and we’ll continue to do that, the growth of those players can be big depending on the steps they take,” coach Jeff Blashill said.

“It’s probably going to take a little bit of everything. You don’t need to lead the league in goals in order to be a really good team. If you play smart hockey, you play the right way, you have to score enough. We didn’t win some of those close games; you just have to slowly turn those close games into wins. Certainly, the growth of the players that have 1214407 Edmonton Oilers unrestricted free-agent Dmitry Kulikov was healthy scratch for Kris Russell in elimination game against Winnipeg, his chances of returning certainly went down. Keep an eye on Patrik Nemeth (Colorado) as a third-pairing LD possibility. The Oilers were interested but Detroit traded OILERS NOTES: Mike Smith proved everybody wrong this season him to the Avs. They got Kulikov at deadline, instead … Dominik Kahun is in Latvia playing for the German national team at the worlds. Will the

restricted free-agent winger get a qualifying offer here or will he enter the Jim Matheson • Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 4 hours ago • UFA fray? When you’re a healthy scratch the last two playoff games, you have little leverage but he still scored nine goals in 48 games. That’s 15- goal pace over 82 games … When Holland, unsolicited, talks about how well Devin Shore played in Game 4 against Winnipeg, that sounds like a Mike Smith has a starter’s mentality, which is why the NHL’s oldest puck- tell they’re going to re-sign him … Unlikely Joakim Nygard will be back, stopper will likely be returning on a one-year deal for a handsome raise same with Patrick Russell, both UFA forwards who spent weeks and on his $1.5-million because he can be that here, but as to his goalie weeks on the taxi-squad. Between them, they played 17 games this year. partner? Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.29.2021 Clearly murky.

Mikko Koskinen ($4.5-million) will likely be unprotected in the expansion draft. Alex Stalock ($785,000), too, if Smith is re-signed by then. Koskinen turns 33 in July, Stalock 34.

The Oilers probably want to get younger, somebody in the mid 20s range to work with the 39-year-old Smith. Whether that’s going after a UFA like Chris Driedger in Florida, even with his slim portfolio, or trading for an established Joonas Korpisalo in Columbus, which would mean finding a team for Koskinen, who knows?

Driedger will have lots of suitors; Korpisalo has one year left and he’s unrestricted, a consideration for any team in a trade.

The clock’s ticking on Smith’s best-before date at his age but he’s coming back if the money’s right. While figuring out goalies is basically voodoo — they can be good one year, fantastic the next and seem to lose it the next — Smith was one of the NHL’s top six to eight goalies when, only the Oilers, wanted him, as a consolation prize after missing out on Jakob Markstrom.

“Honestly I came on a mission … I proved to myself and to a lot of people I’m still capable of being a top goaltender in this league,” said Smith. “I did a lot of things in the off-season to set me up to be prepared. To have the injury (leg) before the season started wasn’t ideal, but it was probably one of the most consistent years I’ve had in a long time.

“Not having my family here (his wife and four kids stayed in Kelowna) wasn’t ideal. There were a lot of sacrifices made but I love playing this game. I love playing at a high level, even at my age and still having the drive to compete. Disappointed by how it ended but I’ll be stronger because of it,” he said.

When Winnipeg winger Kyle Connor squeezed a shot under goalie Smith’s arm for the winner in the third OT period in Game 4, he was tired and upset, but it wasn’t the end of the world for Smith.

“As a kid you dream of playing triple overtime in the NHL playoffs. Not the outcome we wanted, but overtime games? Nothing like it,” said Smith. “You replay the games over and over in your mind, you go through the what ifs. There’s a fine line between winning and losing in the play offs. You earn it.”

Smith didn’t change his technique or style, but getting his body finer tuned helped.

“There’s a physical aspect to this. I moved to Kelowna, I was able to work with (goalie coach/trainer) Adam Francilla, whom have a lot of respect for,” he said.

“I’ve always stressed the physical part, but he got me working on different stuff. I was in the best shape ever. I stayed healthy, too. But stopping the pucks? I didn’t really change anything.”

This ‘n that: The Oilers may want to get bigger on LW in free-agency but don’t discount Jaden Schwartz in St. Louis. He turns 29 in a month, fast (190 pounds, five-foot 10), but after two 50-plus point seasons he’s coming off poor 21-point (eight goals) in 44 games this year. His dad Rick died this season which obviously had bearing on his season … The Oilers made a mistake not playing Stalock after they claimed him March 1 from Minnesota. He ate up a roster spot for weeks after he got off IR. He can be an NHL backup, for sure. Will he be in Bakersfield if they get somebody else for Smith? … Ex-Oilers coach and current Dallas assistant Todd Nelson has reportedly interviewed in Columbus for their vacant head job and might get a look in Arizona, too … Ken Holland probably has circled Mattias Janmark, the ex-Dallas winger now in Vegas, as a free-agent to go after. He’s a very versatile third-liner … If 1214408 Edmonton Oilers The event had basically been built for weeks now. One of the attractions of holding the event here was to provides a stage

for the two top rated CHL draft prospects, forward Dylan Guenther and Bubble hockey in Edmonton comes to end as junior showcase falls goaltender Sebastian Cossa both of the Oil Kings and to showcase some through of the others likely to play for Team Canada in the return of the IIHF world junior here Dec. 26-Jan. 5.

Thursday NHL Central Scouting announced the final rankings. Guenther Derek Van Diest dropped to fifth among North American skaters while Cossa remained No. 1 among North American goaltenders. Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 10 hours ago • “It’s going to be an interesting draft,” said Nicholson. “There weren’t

many views of this draft class by scouts. That’s why we were willing to The coronavirus pandemic inspired Edmonton Ice Age is now officially take this on. If we hadn’t run the other hubs it would have been a ton over. more. We had the model. We were helping them more than they were helping us just because we were so successful with the two other The final horn has sounded on 10 months of the city being the world bubbles. It was basically going to be a made-for-TV event, so it would capital of no-fans-in-the-stands bubble hockey that began back on July have been pretty contained.” 26. If nothing else, the cancellation provides closure to a significant chapter It didn’t end in triple overtime in the third longest game in Oilers history in Edmonton hockey history. Monday in Winnipeg. The final bubble actually burst Thursday when the planned Canadian Hockey League Prospects Showcase & NHL Combine “It was huge,” said Nicholson of the exposure and the image of both the for draft eligible players officially fell apart. city and the organization.

“We will not be hosting for sure — 100 per cent,” Oilers chairman Bob “It also kept OEG functional. It gave us jobs. It didn’t make any money Nicholson confirmed of the event planned for July 1-2-3-4. but it filled some holes, that’s for sure. And all the way to the presentation of the Stanley Cup and the presentation of the world junior, it was What happened? spectacular.”

“It was basically the CHL and all the COVID conflicts,” said Nicholson of Nicholson said the Edmonton experience is over but the great thing is the protocols that were in place for the NHL Hub City and IIHF near- that the return of the NHL in the fall and world junior do-over will actually perfect productions under Alberta Health Services mandated conditions be able to be experienced by fans in the building. here. “I think it will be more exciting than ever because of all the pent-up “The CHL thought it was still too strict. They wanted to come here energy,” he said. because of all of our history and all that we’d done but they felt it was still too complicated.” “There’s disappointment because of how the Oilers lost and being swept but the fans know we got a lot better and that we should even be a great The timing was interesting. deal better next season with what Kenny Holland will be able to achieve in the offseason.” While no fans have attended pro sports events in Canada so far, Edmonton will possibly be left in a situation of effectively going from zero Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.29.2021 to 60 … as in 60,000.

With Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announcing Alberta’s so-called Grand Re-Opening in time for the Calgary Stampede, the Edmonton EE football club, in the largest stadium in the CFL, was left ecstatic with the news.

“We are very excited about the announcement, particularly as it relates to an Aug. 5 start with full capacity,” said President and CEO Chris Presson.

Full capacity. What wonderful words.

At Commonwealth Stadium, since the installation of new seats, that’s now 56,302 not the 60,000 it used to be.

While there’s unlikely to be any feeling great remorse about the loss of the showcase event, it would have been a nice way to complete the pandemic package Edmonton had given the hockey world since “The Pause” in mid-March last year.

The Oilers Entertainment Group had gone to great lengths to build one last bubble event here to follow the 81-games of last year’s Hub City Stanley Cup playoffs hosting here followed by a return to the bubble with the hosting of the IIHF world junior, the ice will now come out and the focus will be on the return of summer sports.

And considering the city is about to enter a 15th month without a sports fan turning a turnstile, that will be definitely be something to be celebrated.

Nicholson, with OEG owning the Edmonton Oil Kings, felt they were the right people to do it.

The event was to include a trio of teams featuring draft eligible players from each of the QMJHL, OHL and WHL playing a round robin with a final with participation in the NHL Combine on the non-game days. The NHL was to provide combine funds to finance most of it. The combine is an event held prior to the draft where players are tested, evaluated, have medicals and are interviewed by management and scouts of the now 32 NHL teams. 1214409 Edmonton Oilers General manager Ken Holland and head coach Dave Tippett took over a team that was in 28th place with a minus-42 in goals for/against, and took it to 11th place in two seasons with a plus-29 in goals for/against. I mean, come on. Take a chill pill, Oilers fans. Get ready for a decade of dominance Playoff pratfall? Tampa Bay was swept in the playoffs two years and carried the Stanley Cup in the bubble here last year. Tampa Bay was built by Holland protégé Steve Yzerman. The Lightning defeated the Terry Jones Dallas Stars, managed by Holland protégé Jim Nill, in last year’s Hub Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 4 hours ago • City Stanley Cup Final right here in

For his part, Holland did it this year wearing handcuffs because of the salary-cap situation he inherited because of the major mess made by his Take a pill Edmonton. Relax. Get past the emotion of the Oilers’ early predecessor, Peter Chiarelli. exit. You’ve had all week. Holland had no money to spend last off-season, so he signed up four This is not a return to the decade of darkness. That’s all in the past. players at minimum expense this nattering nabob of negativism called Enough already. Get over it. “reclamation projects.” They were Tyson Barrie, Jesse Puljujarvi, Kyle Turris and Mike Smith. He batted three for four! Step back and consider where this team will be when it returns from playing in empty arenas and you can share what I totally believe will be a People were disappointed that Holland, in his exit interview, didn’t make new decade of excellence in Edmonton. It’s there to behold. promises for immediate action?

For the last 15 years, I’ve typed a lot of negative paragraphs about the Holland and Tippett have brought stability that should be celebrated bottom-feeding Oilers as they flailed and failed. But Edmonton just despite what happened in the playoffs. watched two exceptional seasons and all the arrows are up. Holland has salary-cap room to work with now. He knows what he is This city knows hockey. So, slap yourselves. doing and what he intends to do is make moves to give this team a chance to reach for the top for the rest of the decade. If you live and die with this team, you’re picking yourself up out of a puddle covered in mud again. We all know that unlike many other cities, Everybody in town knows the moves he has to make. Bottom-six the fans in this city take it personally. But you’ve had enough time to feel forwards. Secondary scoring. Upgrade for left wing on a top line. Third- sorry for yourselves since three straight overtime losses, including a line centre. Goaltender. He’s going to work to make those moves now, replay of the Miracle on Manchester and the third longest overtime game internally and externally, not in 2025. in Oilers history. He’s a grinder, not a showman. Step back. Look at the big picture. Quote-unquote: “As a manager I need a good off-season.” Ask yourself some questions. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.29.2021 Is there a hockey club in Canada or in next season’s Pacific Division — maybe even in all of the NHL — you’d really rather watch for the rest of this decade?

Connor McDavid is 24. He’s about to win his second Hart Trophy and third . Leon Draisaitl is 25. He’s coming off a Hart and a Ross. For a second straight year, they were 1-2 in scoring. They’re the ultimate show in the NHL. Period. They are just now entering their ‘window.’

And what we watched from these two this year in terms of maturity, leadership, hunger, dedication to defence and so many other areas, was exceptional.

Darnell Nurse developed into a Norris Trophy caliber defenceman in front of your eyes, even if it had to be on your TV screens, this year. And what a way to finish the season, playing 62:07 minutes in Game 4 after going to OT the night before, flying back to Edmonton for the birth of his new son, Aiden.

You’ve waited for a defence to develop here and now it’s happening, with Adam Larsson coming off his best year and eager to re-up. If Oscar Klefbom returns from surgery good to go and the likes of Even Bouchard, Philip Broberg and others about to join Ethan Bear in the mix, look at all the up arrows involved.

And how impressed were you with the maturity and character of Bear this week? Yes, he made the turnover that sent Game 4 into overtime. But Bear was forced to endure the mindless social media racist comments and handled it brilliantly.

Take a good look at this group. This is a great bunch of guys who genuinely like each other, love Edmonton that handled themselves exceptionally well in their exit interviews, despite the extent that they’d just been gutted a dozen hours earlier in Winnipeg.

The core and developing players all spoke to how much they wanted to be here, loved playing here and believed in each other, wanted to win for each other and return to start writing different endings. Edmonton fans want players who want to be in Edmonton. And clearly it was from-the- heart stuff.

There are those who throw out statistics to make points, and I love fans who do deep dives into the numbers. But why do so many of them ignore the most important statistical evidence of all — the standings? 1214410 Edmonton Oilers No. 21 overall 2

Traded to the Red Wings for Andreas Athanasiou Lowetide: An early look at the Oilers’ options for the 2021 draft 3

Awarded to the Flames by the NHL By Allan Mitchell May 28, 2021 4

No. 117 overall For the first time in more than a decade, the NHL entry draft won’t be the top attraction in the Edmonton Oilers’ offseason. 5

From 2010 through last year’s video conference edition, Oilers fans were Traded to the Senators for Tyler Ennis accustomed to the procurement of a gifted player with a high pick on opening night of the proceedings. 6

Things will be different this summer. No. 181 overall

The Oilers have established that the current roster can make the 6 playoffs, but for two seasons in a row, they have failed to get out of the No. 189 overall first round. Management knows the challenge, and this season the team has money (and more resources) to make things happen. 7

General manager Ken Holland gave media and fans the outline and No. 213 overall timeline for this summer at Wednesday’s media availability, as the work of improving the roster goes into Year 3 under his leadership. Edmonton has five selections over the seven rounds but only one in the first 100 picks. I think Holland would contemplate dealing down. Using Much of the business of a hockey summer happens around the draft, and The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn’s trade value chart for specific picks, the there are several attractive options for Holland and the Oilers. First, there No. 21 pick is worth two selections (Nos. 32 and 54) currently held by the are some wrinkles in this year’s draft you should know about, as they Buffalo Sabres. may be the catalyst for unusual moves by NHL teams. That’s a deal Edmonton could make and win, partly because this year’s 2021 draft oddities draft is so wide open and local scouting knowledge may hold extreme value. Having more picks means having a better chance to hit a home In a normal season, most draft-eligible players would be plucked from the run. four major junior leagues. Trading out completely In 2020, Canadian junior leagues remained dominant. The OHL (31 picks), WHL (28) and QMJHL (19) represented 36 percent of the NHL’s This would be highly unusual for Holland, because the result (without 217 selections. picks added in separate deals) would mean a lost year in the draft.

The USHL (along with the U.S. National Team Development Program, One seam in the system he might pursue is something similar to the which plays some games in the league) accounted for 36 more Andreas Athanasiou transaction. That deal involved the Oilers giving up selections, meaning the four powerhouse junior circuits delivered 114 of two second-round selections (about equal to a first-round pick) in 217 (52.5 percent) of the total picks. exchange for an RFA with arbitration rights.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected some leagues more than others in the The Red Wings weren’t sure what to do with the arbitration-eligible 2020-21 season. The OHL played no games, WHL played some games Athanasiou, who despite struggling had a 30-goal NHL season in his (no club more than 24, far less than half a season) and the QMJHL saw recent past that would be part of the arbitration case. teams play between 26 and 40 games along with playoffs. Holland took the risk, eventually leading to considerable criticism for both The USHL played almost its entire schedule and crowned a league the player and the GM. champion, therefore showcasing the best players eligible, including Luke Hughes and Chaz Lucius. That may give players from the league an That doesn’t make it a bad idea, in theory, and better execution in advantage come draft day, as scouts will have had fresh views and might procurement could benefit the Oilers for years. be more certain of the USHL prospects. The deadline deal by the Panthers that brought Sam Bennett from the In Europe, draft-eligible players saw action but often in lower leagues due Flames is that type of trade. Florida gave up Emil Heineman, who was a to the flood of North American players who wanted to play the first half of second-round pick from the 2020 draft, plus a second-rounder in 2021 for the season to get ready for the NHL campaign. Those players would Bennett. He is an RFA this summer and is likely to sign for an increase in have been scouted and should retain much of their actual value. Florida based on his strong post-deadline showing.

All of this means we could see older players chosen. Players born A few players Holland might target in the same fashion: between Jan. 1, 2001, and Sept. 15, 2003, are eligible for the 2021 draft. Warren Foegele, Hurricanes: He is 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, has good European players born in 2000 are eligible and players chosen in the speed, can win battles and has delivered consistent offence for three 2019 draft who are unsigned will be eligible. The Oilers under Holland years running, via Natural Stat Trick. used this rule to select Ilya Konovalov in the 2019 draft. Sam Reinhart, Sabres: Obviously this would be a bigger deal and would Expect plenty of 19- and 20-year-olds to be chosen, as NHL teams will involve more than the No. 21 selection, and it’d be less than ideal have a stronger book on them. because Reinhart is a righty. However, the skill is there, and he would be an upgrade at right wing over Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto. Trading up or down Andrew Copp, Jets: Money is always an issue for the Jets, not The Oilers are unlikely to trade up from No. 21 in the first round. The necessarily for the coming season but long term. Winnipeg has an prospect pipeline ( or “development program,” as Holland called it in his internal cap and miles of less-expensive options bubbling under. I doubt presser) will also be docked several new players because some they would deal Copp to the Oilers, but he makes the list for sure. selections are gone from this year’s draft, via trade. The current list of picks (subject to change) looks like this: Holland could target a player under contract and one year away from a big payday, like Jake DeBrusk. Edmonton might be wise to target ROUND PICK DeBrusk, or a similar player, while he’s on a slight downbeat, as with his talent it’s unlikely he’ll be available one year from now. 1 It’s also possible the first-round selection could be used to ease a team’s expansion worries. An organization like the Lightning might be tempted by a nonconference team offering its first for an exposed player.

First-round possibilities

Oilers fans are still getting to know Holland and director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright, but early indications have the organization valuing athletes and players who have at least one dominant strength.

Looking at how the first round might play out, Edmonton Oil Kings goaltender Sebastian Cossa would be a good fit. In his two WHL seasons, Cossa has posted save percentages of .921 and .941, and in a season when scouting opportunities are rare, scouts and management will have an up-to-date book on the big man (6-6, 212).

Cossa told Guy Flaming of the Pipeline Show, “I move well in my crease for how big I am, move east-west as well as anyone,” and that is the bold bullet point on his resume that makes him an attractive option around No. 20 in this year’s draft.

The other player Edmonton might have its eyes on is Mason McTavish, who scored 29 goals in his draft-minus-one season with the of the OHL. He is a dangerous shooter (scored a bunch in Switzerland and the U18s this season), creative with the puck and has size (6-1, 207). It’s doubtful he would fall to the Oilers, but he would be a quality selection at No. 21.

Overagers

It’s a good bet that half or more of Edmonton’s 2021 picks will be on their second year (or more) of eligibility. The organization is comfortable in taking older players, would have a longer history tracking the prospects and could be acquiring a player closer to NHL-ready. Here are a few names:

Owen Pederson, Winnipeg Ice: He is 19 years old, 6-3 and 192 pounds, with goal scoring (13 in 24 games this season) as his main strength. Pederson is a smart player who has a sixth sense around the net, and he could be a draft bargain in later rounds.

Zakhar Bardakov, Vityaz Podolsk (KHL): He turned 20 in February and scored eight goals in the KHL during 2020-21.

Zachary Okabe, St. Cloud State: He just completed his sophomore season. He’s undersized (5-9, 170) but is a burner and fantastic passer.

Summary

Edmonton’s cap room this year gives the team room to wheel in free agency. The draft gives the club a chance to move down, to move out of the first round for the right (young) player, or to choose another significant piece for the future.

If I’m betting on Edmonton’s moves draft weekend, Cossa in the first round, at least one overage player in later rounds and one or more defenceman are all good bets.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214411 Florida Panthers “We’ll talk about it with my people, with the organization, too, and we’ll come up with something, but all I can say is I love it here right now,” the star center said. “I’ve enjoyed this year the most I’ve enjoyed in my entire life, so I want to keep doing that every year.” This Panthers season was a massive step, but patience is running out to actually contend Said Quenneville: “Expectations are healthy.”

FLORIDA PANTHERS OFFSEASON OUTLOOK, PREVIEW

BY DAVID WILSON Florida is in position to keep most of its roster intact, too. The Panthers will have about $10 million in cap space to work with this offseason, MAY 28, 2021 01:36 PM, according to CapFriendly, and have eight unrestricted free agents and and nine restricted free agents.

Of the restricted free agents, Bennett will certainly be back — Florida Aleksander Barkov spent most of eight seasons waiting for a year like traded for him in April with the intention of keeping him long term — and this one. the Panthers will have every opportunity to bring back Duclair and He went to the Stanley Cup playoffs once in 2016 in his third season in Forsling after they both played top-line roles this season. the NHL, then got to go to the expanded playoffs last year, but a year like Of the unrestricted free agents, Wennberg will be the top priority after he the 2020-21 NHL season for the Florida Panthers — with a franchise spent most of the year as the second-line center. Driedger is coming off a record for points percentage and a real belief they were a Stanley Cup breakout year — he was tied for fourth in the NHL in save percentage in contender — eluded him. It was, undeniably, a massive step forward and the regular season — but there’s not really room to keep him around with a positive development for an organization without much history of Sergei Bobrovsky entering the third season of a seven-year, $70-million winning, but, in the end, it will only matter if it’s actually a springboard to deal and fellow goaltender Spencer Knight ready to compete for the playoff success. starting job. Next year, the Panthers have to win a postseason series for the first time The 2021 NHL Expansion Draft also complicates the offseason plan. The since the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs. Seattle Kraken will select one player from each NHL team, except the “Anything less is a disappointment,” Barkov said, “for sure.” recent-expansion Vegas Golden Knights, and the Panthers can protect up to 11 players, as long as they’re seven forwards, three defensemen The best regular season in team history once again yielded a first-round and one goalie. All players with no-move clauses must be protected, exit when Florida fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0, on Wednesday to which means, as of now, Bobrovsky and defenseman Keith Yandle both bow out of the playoffs. After an unprecedented level of success in a have to. Impending free agents are also part of the Expansion Draft, shortened regular season, the Panthers felt a different type of giving the Kraken an exclusive window to negotiate with them. disappointment when they left Tampa after their 4-2 series loss to the Lightning. A fair expectation of forwards to be protected: Barkov, Huberdeau, Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Patric Hornqvist, and two of Wennberg, After his first season in Florida, Joel Quenneville was disappointed with Duclair and Frank Vatrano. As for the three defenseman, Yandle, Ekblad the way the Panthers played almost all year long, finishing below .500 in and MacKenzie Weegar are virtual locks, plus Bobrovsky as the the 2019-20 NHL season and only reaching the 2020 Stanley Cup goaltender. playoffs when the league expanded them to 22 teams because of the COVID-19 pandemic. After his second year, the coach was disappointed Unless Yandle and Bobrovsky waive their no-move clauses, Forsling will because of what this season could’ve been. be exposed, Driedger will be unprotected and at least one potential top- six forward will be available to Seattle. Florida was the higher seed than Tampa Bay in the opening round. It won the regular-season series with the in-state rival and even regularly Still, the Panthers will mostly be intact — and probably even improved — generated more shots, scoring chances and high-danger chances than next year. the Lightning throughout the best-of-7 series. The Panthers viewed “Huge step forward, but we’re not satisfied. We’re not done. This is just themselves as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, who just happened to the beginning,” Barkov said. “I’m really looking forward to next season.” match up against the defending Cup champion in the first round. Miami Herald LOADED: 05.29.2021 Part of it was the result of a COVID-altered season, with teams playing within regional divisions, so Florida wound up playing another of the best teams in the league in the first round despite finishing fourth in the NHL’s overall standings. Part of it, though, was the result of a team still working to join the ranks of the league’s elite.

“For the organization, for us mentally — we’ve got to win a round,” All- Star left wing Jonathan Huberdeau said, “and after, you never know what can happen.”

Barkov, 25 and the captain, is entering his ninth season and still hasn’t won a playoff series. Huberdeau, 27 and an alternate captain, is entering his 10th without a series win.

Those two — plus defenseman Aaron Ekblad, a former No. 1 overall pick who didn’t play in the postseason because of a leg fracture — make up a still-promising core, but patience.

“We’ve been here for a long time and we always say we’re sick of losing, and this year obviously we didn’t win, but it made it just seem like it’s fun to win and this year was a lot of fun. And that’s what we want to feel every year coming in,” Huberdeau said. “I want to bring a Stanley Cup to Florida. That’s what I want to do. I want to play here my whole career, but we’ve got to get on the winning side and the winning culture.”

Huberdeau is still locked up for two more seasons, but Barkov will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2021-22 NHL season.

Although he said he hasn’t thought much about an extension, Barkov is happy right now and wants to stay with the Panthers — as long as they keep winning. 1214412 Florida Panthers them how to win those games. … You got to learn from those teams and put that in your own game and do that next time you’re in the playoffs.”

Quenneville knows that, for a team with relatively little playoff experience, Panthers’ Barkov, Huberdeau want to start winning in playoffs: ‘Anything it was encouraging to see his Panthers compete with defending champs, less is disappointment’ setting the stage to be better equipped for future postseason meetings.

“I thought we played them at least even and gave ourselves a great chance,” Quenneville said. “There’s little lessons along that, but you need By DAVID FURONES a lot of things to win a round. And to try do that four times, is the biggest challenge that you face in your hockey career. I still thought we made MAY 28, 2021 AT 3:21 PM significant inroads in learning that lesson.”

As far as Barkov’s contract talks that will heat up over the following year, The Florida Panthers’ 2021 season gave South Florida a taste of what he said Friday he hasn’t thought about it much yet but offered comforting truly competitive hockey can look like for a franchise that hasn’t thoughts for Panthers fans that want to see the Finnish star in South experienced much success in its history. Florida for years to come.

But as the Panthers made the stride of having their best regular season “I love it here right now. I’ve enjoyed this year the most,” he said. “I want (.705 points percentage) and finishing with the fourth-most points overall to keep doing that every year, so I’m really happy.” in the NHL standings, they had the tough draw of facing the defending With Knight’s rise and fellow goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who turns 33 Stanley Cup-champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round — as the in September, having five years left on his $70 million contract, Florida Lightning brought former league MVP Nikita Kucherov into the lineup for has goalie questions to answer in an offseason where Chris Driedger is the first time all season. also a free agent. It resulted in a six-game first-round exit, but the Panthers will go into a “He handled it like a pro, commend him in a tough situation that he was key offseason with urgency to take the next step: Win a playoff series for just moving to be a good teammate,” said Quenneville said of Bobrovsky the first time since 1996 and make a deep playoff run. getting pulled in the playoffs and being a healthy scratch for the final two “Anything less is disappointment, for sure,” said star center Aleksander games. “It was a situation where he wants to play, but I think he has an Barkov on Friday morning as Florida wrapped up its season. “We’re understanding of the situation we have now. So, we’ll sort the goalie stuff capable of going further. Even these playoffs, I feel like we were really out over the course of the summer.” contenders. We’re really trying to win the Cup, but obviously, a game at a Quenneville said Ekblad, who suffered a brutal lower-extremity injury in time. Tampa was good. They beat us four times. late March, is on track with his 12-week recovery timetable and should be “We took a huge step forward, with the organization, with the team, in the healthy in his return next season. right direction. We played really good hockey over almost every game. Sun Sentinel LOADED: 05.29.2021 Even in the playoffs, we played good hockey. Just couldn’t come up with the wins. … We’re note done. This is just the beginning. I’m really looking forward to next season, but first, get some rest.”

Left wing Jonathan Huberdeau backed up Barkov’s sentiment on Friday afternoon.

“We got to start by winning one round, and that’s what we’re going to do next year,” said Huberdeau, who turns 28 on June 4. “Now we know we can be a playoff team. We know what we can do. ... We have to win for the organization, for us, mentally. We have to win a round and, after, you never know what can happen.

“I want to bring a Stanley Cup to Florida. That’s what I want to do. I want to play here my whole career, but we’ve got to get on the winning side and winning culture.”

Panthers coach Joel Quenneville, completing his second season at the helm in Sunrise, appreciates the approach of his rising stars.

“Expectations are healthy,” said Quenneville, who has won three Stanley Cup titles leading the Chicago Blackhawks and another as an assistant for the Colorado Avalanche. “Creating a higher standard of expected play is where we’re at. I think that happened, started being in place going into the playoffs.”

Hyde: Panthers ending should be a beginning | Commentary »

The Panthers move forward with their young core of forwards Barkov and Huberdeau and defensemen MacKenzie Weegar, after a breakthrough season, and Aaron Ekblad, who was injured for the final stretch — plus an up-and-coming goalie prospect in 20-year-old Spencer Knight.

“It’s been a crazy last couple of months, kind of flew by,” Knight said Friday. “Only got in a few games and a few playoff games, but it’s really helpful for me going into the offseason, just being able to recognize that I’ve started my professional career. I think it just gives me a sense of what it’s like around here and what it’s like to be a pro.”

That group, which, in some cases, isn’t so young anymore, along with the veteran experience sprinkled in, looks to one day get over the hump of the perennially contending big brother up I-75 in Tampa Bay.

“We learned a lot from Tampa,” said Barkov, the 25-year-old with one more season left on his current contract. “They won the Cup last year. They know how to do it. They have a good team, so we learned from 1214413 Florida Panthers It is reality, however, in most Sun Belt markets — regardless of the sport — you are going to have fans of the other team.

Most of them live in your neighborhood. Video of Florida Panthers fan asked to remove jersey in Tampa goes It happens at Panthers, Marlins, Heat and Dolphins games, for sure, as viral well as at games of the Arizona Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Coyotes as well as in Nashville and Carolina. Atlanta knows of which we speak.

Published 13 hours ago on May 28, 2021By George Richards The list goes on and on.

When you live in a town with a high level of transplanted residents from the north, you’re going to see a lot of loyalty to teams from those areas A video of a Florida fan being asked to remove his Panthers jersey at and not necessarily to the local one. Wednesday’s Game 6 in Tampa is going viral as Brad Bargman’s YouTube post has gotten 84,000 views since being put up on Thursday. It is why Tampa has a hockey team in the first place.

Bargman apparently attended Wednesday’s game with his 11-year-old Did the NHL give a one-sport town like Tampa a team in the early 1990s son and both were approached by what appear to be team staffers at the because it believed in the local fan base? No. It knew there were a lot of Lightning’s Chase Club at Amalie Arena and asked to take off their transplants and snowbirds who would fill the joint up. Panthers gear or leave the area. As Reggie Dunlop said in ‘Slap Shot:’ “What do you think those old He is not the first person to be asked to remove opposing team gear in geezers really miss in Florida?Hockey. Their own team. A Saturday night the team’s club area — just perhaps the first to record his interaction. game. Those poor old people down there, they got to have something to root for.” I have not been able to locate Bargman for comment. When the Panthers first started, said the team welcomed fans Anyway, the Lightning has had this “no opposing gear” rule in place for who root for the Rangers, Islanders or Canadiens when they played the the past six years but, as of Thursday afternoon, apparently will not Panthers — but he hoped those fans would root for their new team (the enforce it anymore. Panthers) the rest of the time.

According to Greg Wyshynski, the Lightning told ESPN that it would not And, perhaps over the years, change their allegiances. force opposing fans to change out of enemy apparel. That has definitely happened in Tampa over the years and, to a lesser The rule only applied to the club areas — the Chase and Lexus clubs — extent, in South Florida. at the arena as well as seating areas along the glass in an attempt to keep opposing fan gear from being on television. The Lightning are an established entity in Tampa. Even though the Bucs just won the Super Bowl and have decades on the Lightning, you could What amounts to a Tampa Bay-only (or plain old clothing) dress code say the hockey team runs that town. policy was pretty well stated. It is about time they stopped with the “you can’t wear this here” stuff. Tickets in these specific areas come with disclaimers: Only Lightning gear or neutral clothing is allowed. It really was not a good look — and it took a viral video from a guy wearing Panthers gear to make it go away. At least for now. “Fans wearing visiting team apparel will be asked to remove them while in these areas,” the Ticketmaster statement reads. Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 05.29.2021

Looking at tickets in the Chase Club earlier Thursday on StubHub, there is a note that says there is an “apparel restriction” and that “opponent jerseys cannot be worn.”

Per TickPick: “The one caveat for both club areas, is that away team colors are PROHIBITED and the staff will ask you to remove. This is a fairly childish policy, but it ensures that no visiting team fans will end up on the TV broadcasts.’’

Yeah, it most definitely was a “fairly childish” policy and one that made the organization sound a little insecure in their standing. Which, of course, it should not be.

Make no mistake, the Lightning is a first-class organization but one which apparently got tired of seeing opposing teams clog the lower bowl — like when the Rangers came to town for the 2015 Eastern Conference finals.

This is when the team first implemented selling tickets to fans with Florida addresses first.

For the Stanley Cup Finals, some Chicago fans wanting to come down for some games found themselves locked out when their credit cards were declined when they put their zip codes in.

The New York Times did a story on Tampa’s restrictive ticket policy in 2015 during the Rangers series in the east finals.

“We’re not going to apologize for the policy. We want to create as much of a hometown environment for the Lightning players and our season- ticket holders as we can, and we’ve been somewhat successful with it,’’ then-executive VP of communications Bill Wickett told the Times.

Wickett left the Lightning for Nashville earlier this year.

“We understand some general hockey fans don’t like it, but the Lightning team and Lightning fans need to come first. We wanted to do anything we could to make sure the building is blue and fans inside are Lightning fans.” 1214414 Florida Panthers This summer will be shorter. The NHL is expected to go back to its normal 82-game schedule, which

means training camp by mid-September, exhibition games soon Florida Panthers pack up, clear out as 2021 season officially ends afterward and a season kickoff around October 12.

For the teams which play for the Stanley Cup come July, the means a really short offseason. Published 17 hours ago on May 28, 2021By George Richards For teams like the Panthers, it should be just long enough.

“The sooner the better for us,’’ Barkov said. “We obviously finished the Clean out day is an annual rite of passage for hockey teams and only season two days ago, but we want to keep going. Let’s get some rest, one gets to do it with the stale scent of Champagne lingering in the room. get better mentally and physically and come back even stronger.” For the Florida Panthers, the end of the 2021 NHL season came quickly as these things tend to do. OFFSEASON BUSINESS

Even though the Panthers were on the verge of elimination since losing The Panthers have a lot of business to attend to this summer and Game 4 of their playoff series with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, general manager has a lot of things on his plate. no one ever expects to lose. Florida has to make a number of decisions on which restricted free The Panthers were planning on having a Game 7 at BB&T Center on agents (Sam Bennett, Anthony Duclair, Gus Forsling, etc.) to retain and Friday night, the winner moving on to face Carolina in the second round. which pending free agents (Brandon Montour, Alex Wennberg) it wants to make serious offers to. Instead, players wrapped up sticks, packed up duffel bags and put the finishing touches on their end-of-season golf outing and team party. Goalie Chris Driedger, a free agent looking to be a starter, almost certainly will not be back. Radko Gudas said no one did anything on Thursday as the only plans anyone had was for an off day before returning to the arena for Friday’s The Panthers also have to deal with the upcoming expansion draft (July Game 7 morning skate. 21) with Zito saying the Panthers know they’re going to lose a good player, but it will be interesting to see exactly who Florida protects from The end of a season, unless your team has been out of it for weeks and the Kraken. the finale is a foregone conclusion, is like hitting a wall. Who knows, perhaps there is a side deal with Seattle already in place? No more practices, no more games. Plenty of time to get to that. It takes time to adjust to having nowhere to be anymore. Zito and his front office are already working on draft prep (July 23-24) “You see the guys today and you’re like, ‘What did you do yesterday?’ It’s with qualifying offers for the RFAs to come after that. just like, ‘Nothing.’ I had nothing planned and nothing I really wanted to do,’’ Gudas said. BARKOV’S BIG DEAL

“It was really tough. In our minds, we weren’t ready for the season to be The Panthers are also working on their offer to Barkov and their future over. That one really stings this year.” together.

It is not ‘say goodbye for the summer’ just yet, but the Panthers are Barkov, who turns 26 in September and just wrapped up his eighth NHL getting there. season, can become a free agent after next season.

While no travel plans were set before Wednesday night’s loss, they’re Florida can sign Barkov to a long-term extension this summer — perhaps being worked on now. as early as late July when the NHL’s new business year is expected to start. Most players will not return to BB&T Center for months; some may only return as visitors. The Panthers are not messing around with this.

What we do know is the team the Panthers iced Wednesday in Tampa Of course there will be negotiations between the two sides but the will not return completely intact when the 2021-22 season opens in general belief is a big deal will get done. October. These will not be contentious negotiations. No team ever does. Panthers NHL Award WATCH: Sasha Barkov; Selke, Hart trophies Disappointing end leads promising Florida Panthers into offseason With the work Zito & Co. already has done to the roster, getting Barkov These next few days will be the last ones the 2021 Panthers will spend locked down long-term may just be the most important thing the Panthers together. And then they will go their separate ways. Most will be back but do in this offseason. a good number will not. It also could also be the team’s biggest move. That’s just how professional sports works. Clearing salary cap space is also an offseason priority as it will be for “Yeah, it’s never easy,” Jonathan Huberdeau said. “We don’t know every other contending team in this flat-cap world. what’s going to happen. It’s not my job, but I like the team that we have “I haven’t really thought about it yet,” said Barkov, who told FHN two and hopefully a lot of the guys come back next year. Obviously we’re weeks ago that he had not thought of the upcoming negotiations. going to hang out with each other the next few days and enjoy our time. Then, it’s get ready for the next season. It’s part of the business. You “Obviously we’ll talk about it, my people and the organization. We’ll come lose some guys and that’s part of it. It’s never easy. Hopefully we stay up with something. I love it here and I enjoyed this season the most of the same team, come back next year and be even better.” my entire life. I want to keep doing that every year. I am really happy.”

BACK BEFORE YOU KNOW IT Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 05.29.2021 Due to the odd scheduling of this season, the offseason will be a little shorter than the last.

The Panthers broke last August after being eliminated from the extended postseason Toronto bubble and did not return for training camp until January.

Sasha Barkov said the extended offseason was good for him as he got to spend a lot of time at home in Finland and prepare for what turned out to be his best NHL season. 1214415 Florida Panthers Obviously our regular season put us in a better spot this year as far as we knew what to expect game-in, game-out from our guys. When we got to the playoffs, we were ready. We were at the playoff pace. Their power play was lethal in some key moments. Exit Day: Joel Quenneville reflects, talks future of Florida Panthers Look at Game 1, Game 2 and the last game, we had our chances. I think the regret is that a lot of things have got to go right. We believe we can do it and that’s a step in that direction as well. Published 15 hours ago on May 28, 2021By George Richards What were most proud of this season?

I think the pace of our game and the consistency that we played it at. You Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville looked ready for summer as he could say we were hard to play against, our work ethic was good. But the stepped to the team’s makeshift Zoom conference arraignment for the pace and sustaining it from start to finish was probably a step in the right final time on Friday afternoon. direction for sure. Wearing a red golf shirt, his voice still a little raspy from yelling over the How do you improve on that next season? din of sold out crowds throughout this playoff series with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Quenneville looked back on the 2021 season and what is I think our rush game was good, I think defending the rush we can be a ahead for the Panthers. little bit better. I think our defensive zone coverage improved to a level that can get the job done. One message sent to players on Friday’s exit day was that they are close, but the Panthers are not there yet. Our special teams had good stretches, OK stretches. But overall, I can’t really say there was one area that really was our nemesis. I think for the Quenneville said he was encouraged by the way the Panthers kept a most part that brought more predictability and consistency. consistent game throughout the season and in their playoff loss to the Lightning. Do you feel everyone on the team is on the same page moving forward?

Tampa Bay may have played its best game in Wednesday’s 4-0 victory, Expectations are healthy Creating a higher standard of expected play is but the Panthers did not let up throughout the series either. where we’re at. I think that happened and we started to be in place going into the playoffs and I think that was the consistency you’re getting from The Panthers play this season was encouraging and they need to build lines, four lines. The way we were attacking off the rush. off of this next year from the start. That standard is starting from Square One. That’s where we’re taking Quenneville said expectations have been raised within the fabric of the off from. Easier said than done but that’s what we’re looking forward to. organization — and that’s not a bad thing. We want to push each other and whatever changes we can do improve Among the topics discussed: Dealing with Covid-19, how he plans to our team, you know, Bill has done a great job in a short amount of time. address the goalie situation next season after making Sergei Bobrovsky That’s what we’ll be looking at. a healthy scratch in the final two playoff games and why sometimes Surprised the NHL got all the way through this Covid-19 season? teams have to lose in the playoffs to learn how to win in them. I think the doubt for me was last year in the bubble. That gave me some Here is what Joel Quenneville had to say in his final meeting with the encouragement that this can happen and this can get done. I think that media in 2021: was probably even more amazing in that type of environment that we You wanted to see this team get tougher to play against this season. Did were able to get through a playoff run. you accomplish that? Knowing that in this type of a situation, it is doable. A lot of things were I think we were made significant progress in being hard to play against, going on across the board, whether it was the league organizing being way more competitive game-in, game-out. There was way more everybody in the protocol that had to be in place and our local consistency in that type of our game. Game-to-game, we gave ourselves compliance officer who was implementing the rules and having fun with it a chance to get points every single night. Knowing that was our standard along the way. Guys adapted to it and did not stray from it. A lot of things of play and expectations from the staff, by teammates, linemates that happened in an unusual year but I was pretty proud of the guys and the was in place, accountability from the players went to a different level job they did. which we appreciate. Having the squad and the team and everybody getting a chance to play So there was a lot of things that were put in place, whether it Horny and then being a part of it, knowing how competitive it is to be in the coming in with his enthusiasm or … each guy had a different kind of look lineup, and then showing the right support. That was probably the thing to what he brought our team. There was a lot of individual contributions that was really helped our team. that added up to us being harder to play against and being way more Did seeing all the fans at games serve as a reminder that sports really do consistent in the work department. matter? Do you feel the Panthers have closed the gap between your team and I think everybody loves sports. They love it from all ways whether it’s the the best in the NHL? excitement or a hit or a fight, a goal or a save, a close call. There’s this I think we had a heck of a year in a lot of ways. It was a big improvement and that which gets you excited about watching hockey which makes it in our overall team game. (We played a) playoff-ready team that knows so great. how to win. There are some things we can take out of that series But it’s really really unusual when you don’t hear the appreciation or the because I thought we played them at least even and gave ourselves a excitement from the fans in those empty buildings. All of a sudden it great chance. We lost a couple of games that maybe we could have returns and now you have playoff hockey. been playing a Game 7. But they know how to win and their best game was Game 6. You watch our games here, go to Tampa, watch last night in Nashville and the pitches keep getting higher and the crowds are keep getting I think our game was pretty consistent from start to finish. Playing the bigger. The excitement, which makes hockey and playoff hockey so right way and from that there’s little lessons along they way. You need a exciting, it’s a whole different game and they get to see how important it lot of things to go right to win a round and to try to do that four times is is to win and I think people appreciate that type of passion. the biggest challenge of that you faced in your hockey career. On that note, going to miss wearing a mask on the bench? I still thought we made significant inroads of learning that lesson. You saw Carolina last night, the division is, you got to go through that to be That’s why I’m can’t talk right now. champions. It’ll be a great and interesting next round. It’s a something we certainly learned from and I think that there’s real valuable lessons that Feel good about the future of this organization and your role in that we look forward to playing. moving forward?

Do you agree sometimes teams have to lose and learn before they take I think we’re excited. I think talking to all the players today and talking to that next step in the playoffs? our staff, and we haven’t really, really summed up the whole season, but I think we made significant progress in the consistency of our team. We played at a high level, a predictable level and expectations changed internally.

Now I think that going into a start of a season all of a sudden we have different goals. The goal will always be to make the playoffs and then there’s the next plan. There was a lot of belief that went along going into this playoffs. I think we all felt that if things changed a little bit here or there, we could be having a different conversation here today.

Disappointing end leads promising Florida Panthers into offseason

How do you handle the goalie situation now after what happened the past two games — starting Spencer Knight while scratching Sergei Bobrovsky?

They’ll get talked about. With Bob’s situation here, he handled it like a pro. I commend him for, being in a tough situation, he was just trying to be a good teammate. He was getting himself ready to come in as soon as possible. In talking with him, going forward as well, it was a situation where he wants to play and I think he has an understanding of the situation we have now.

So, we’ll sort the goalie stuff out over the course of the summer. We haven’t talked about the players with Bill and the plans, but certainly it was different.

Having three goalies around who could all play and were all successful. I’d say that was unique in its own way and the decision making was something that you had to trust guts and experience as well.

Was there one common message sent to the players in their exit meetings?

I think there was a message that you can take out of the Tampa series as far as you’re close but you learn from a heck of a hockey team. Know how hard it is to win one playoff round and then try to do that four times. That’s the process you’re getting yourself ready for.

Florida Panthers pack up, clear out as 2021 season officially ends

We feel their consistency, they played their best in Game 6 so you have to improve over the course of a series. I thought we didn’t slow down at all in any of the games which is encouraging.

Knowing that you face a top team like that and give them something to think about, maybe it’s something for us to think about as well when we find a way to get the job done. There are some improvements to be had and knowing that we played pretty good hockey to go forward off of that.

Is their a final update on Aaron Ekblad?

That was a disappointment that he didn’t get a chance to play. If that would have happened, we would have been in a pretty good spot. He was disappointed as well coming off a great year and he has more than enough time to get himself ready for the next season. That’s what we’re all looking forward to.

Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214416 Los Angeles Kings

Kings add four to hockey operations staff

By Zach Dooley15 hours ago

Insiders, some news this morning!

The LA Kings have added four to their hockey operations staff this morning. From the team’s official press release –

The LA Kings have named Ryan Kruse as Vice President of Research and Development, Jake Goldberg as Senior Director of Hockey Operations, Vukie Mpofu as Manager of Hockey Operations and Legal Affairs, and Rosie Yu as Software Engineer for Research and Development. In addition, Joe Leibfried has transitioned into the role of Team Finance Consultant. These positions are all part of the hockey operations department.

Kruse joins the Kings after spending the past seven years with the Chicago Cubs where he held multiple roles with the organization. He most recently served as Director of Systems Development where he led a team of software engineers and delivered several custom products built for the enhancement of baseball operations. With LA, he will be responsible for overseeing all data analytics and working closely with the general manager and hockey operations staff on strategic development. Prior to his time with the Cubs, he spent 15 years in software engineering and advancement with companies such as Noesis Energy, SolarWinds, Hyper9, AlterPoint and Cargill. The Minnesota native is receiving his Master of Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has his Bachelor of Arts in Quantitative Methods and Computer Science from the University of St. Thomas.

Goldberg comes to LA after three seasons (2017-20) with the Arizona Coyotes, initially serving as Director of Hockey Operations before assuming the role of Assistant to the General Manager. Among his responsibilities with the Kings, Goldberg will be involved with negotiating player contracts, overseeing the salary cap, preparation for arbitration and other matters pertaining to the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Prior to his time in Arizona, Goldberg was with the (OHL) for four seasons in multiple capacities, including Assistant Director of Scouting and then Assistant General Manager and Director of Analytics, winning the Memorial Cup and OHL Championship in 2016. The Toronto native was previously a corporate lawyer at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP and also served as an Advanced Statistics Consultant with the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2012-13 season. Goldberg received his business degree from the Ivey School of Business and his law degree from Western University.

A recent graduate from UCLA School of Law, Mpofu has spent the last five months working as a Legal Intern for Team Sports at Wasserman in Los Angeles. Prior to that, he spent 10 months with the Vegas Golden Knights as Hockey Legal Affairs Intern, concluding that role this past January. He has also held positions with UCLA Athletics (NCAA Compliance Extern) and Wintersports, Ltd. (Hockey Legal Intern). The native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan played for two seasons (2012-14) in the Western Hockey League (WHL) as a forward with the Red Deer Rebels, tallying 15 points (9-6=15) in 69 games. As part of the Kings, Mpofu will work closely with Goldberg on all matters pertaining to hockey operations and legal affairs.

Yu, who has a PhD in Materials Engineering from MIT and is receiving her Master of Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, will report to Kruse and work to further hockey operations applications and analytical models.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214417 Minnesota Wild

Vegas' Max Pacioretty makes the most of his series debut

By Randy Johnson, Star Tribune MAY 29, 2021 — 12:47AM

Throughout the West Division first-round playoff series against the Wild, Vegas Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer had said injured winger Max Pacioretty would be a game-time decision, and the decision every time was to keep the team's leading goal scorer out of the lineup.

That changed for Friday night's Game 7 in Las Vegas, and it paid off in a big way for the Golden Knights.

Pacioretty, who paced Vegas with 24 regular-season goals and added 27 assists, returned to the lineup after not playing since May 1 because of an undisclosed injury. He was back on the top line at left wing with center Chandler Stephenson and right winger Mark Stone and scored the winning goal in the second period as the Golden Knights defeated the Wild 6-2 to advance to the second round.

"Huge lift," said DeBoer, who improved to 6-0 in Game 7s. "Just writing his name on the board in the lineup gave our group a lift. … It changed everything, about our confidence, our confidence to score."

With the score tied 2-2, Pacioretty got loose in the Wild zone, drove down the middle to the net and converted a pass from Stephenson to beat Wild goalie Cam Talbot for a 3-2 Vegas lead at 7:44 of the second. The Golden Knights poured it on from there, securing a second-round matchup with Colorado.

"It was some good days and bad days, and I turned the corner a couple days ago," Pacioretty said, adding that the time away from the ice was "a lot more nerve-racking when you're up there [in the press box] watching and have no control over the game."

The addition of Pacioretty to the lineup had a trickle-down effect, too. It enabled DeBoer to move Alex Tuch back to the third line, where he skated with left winger Mattias Janmark and center Nicolas Roy. Janmark responded by notching a hat trick, scoring the Golden Knights' first, fifth and sixth goals.

"I had a couple hat tricks back home in the Swedish league but never had one over here," said Janmark, acquired from Chicago in April. "… Game 7 is what everyone dreams about and scoring a hat trick is what everyone dreams of."

Fourth-line right winger Ryan Reaves, who missed Game 6, was taken off the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list on Friday afternoon and returned to the lineup. Defenseman Brayden McNabb remained on the list. DeBoer said his team dealt with 11 false-positive COVID-19 tests in the series.

Reaves made an impact, but it wasn't in a positive way. With Vegas leading 2-1 in the second, he checked Wild defenseman Ryan Suter face-first into the goalpost, drawing an interference penalty. Kirill Kaprizov tied it for the Wild on the power play.

It wasn't just the forwards who got in on the scoring for Vegas. The third defensive pairing of Nicolas Hague and Zach Whitecloud each contributed a goal.

Hague broke a 1-1 tie 2:05 into the second period, whistling a shot from the blue line past Talbot. Whitecloud, the former Bemidji State standout, extended the Vegas lead to 4-2 at 13:38 of the second, toe-dragging as a Wild player slid by and firing a shot into the far upper corner of the cage.

"It's fun. It's the best time of the year," Whitecloud said. "When you're playing in Game 7, there's nowhere you'd rather be."

Star Tribune LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214418 Minnesota Wild Suter said: "It was a tough year, with all of the stuff going on." We already know that Kaprizov has replaced Parise as the franchise

player. The question is whether they will ever play together again. Overmatched Wild shows hope for the future with seven-game series Kaprizov excelled in his first year in America. He and his team should be back in the playoffs next year, and, with a little help at center, should be better at the most important version of the game. MAY 29, 2021 — 12:49AM "Those guys are just going to get better and better, with Kirill having Jim Souhan another year under his belt," said Marcus Foligno. "We're going to be a dangerous team, or even a more dangerous team, next season."

The columnist did not travel for this game. This article was written using Ryan Suter had his face smashed into the goalpost, then wobbled off the the television broadcast and video interviews after the game. ice, only to return, probably wishing he could apply some gas station frozen pasta to his cheek. Star Tribune LOADED: 05.29.2021 Zach Parise scored on a no-look, between-the-legs tip-in, never turning to show off his new facial stitches until the puck was in the net.

Joel Eriksson Ek left because of an injury, only to return. Jonas Brodin took a hit that left his left side crumpled, needing help to open the gate so he could rush down the tunnel.

Wild players wore this beating on their faces, beneath their pads and on the scoreboard, losing Game 7 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series 6-2 to the Golden Knights on Friday night in Las Vegas.

How they and their fans should feel about this series and this team depends on the realisticness of each individual's expectations.

My recommendation: After the emotions fade, after seven games worth of manufactured hatred of the opponent dissipates, Wild players and coaches should admit something to themselves: They lost to a better team.

The Wild was good enough to turn what could have been a blowout series into wonderful entertainment. But don't confuse competitiveness and entertainment with equality.

Vegas outscored the Wild 20-13. That's right — despite a few dominant offensive periods, the Wild couldn't average two goals per game.

Vegas had the better goaltender, although Cam Talbot, like his team, put up a quality fight. Vegas has the better size, depth and recent playoff pedigree, which is a remarkable development for a franchise that isn't much older than Kirill Kaprizov's first whisker.

This wasn't one of those losses that should cause Minnesota sports fans to lament fate. This wasn't an embarrassment, like the Vikings losing badly to the Giants or Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. This wasn't a heartbreaker, like the Vikings losing to the Saints or Falcons in the NFC Championship Game. This was an overmatched team proving itself gritty enough to extend a series that could easily have ended on Monday.

The Wild finished third in an eight-team division that featured a bunch of lousy teams. It got to face a second-place team in the first round of the playoffs. The Wild was probably lucky to not have matched up with Colorado, which swept St. Louis.

Instead, the Wild drew the Golden Knights, a good-not-great team but a tough matchup. And, predictably, a team dependent on two young scorers, in Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala, received sporadic production but not dominance from the duo.

And received good-but-not-magical goaltending from Talbot. And good- but-not-always-physical play from the defense. And lacked talent and depth at center.

The Wild flashed its strengths but suffered because of its weaknesses, and, if we're to be honest, this series might have ended in a much-less- encouraging five games if Parise hadn't been returned to the lineup because of an injury to Marcus Johansson.

Parise produced a key goal to help win Game 5 and a beautiful breakout pass that started the scoring in Game 6. Without him, this series would have appeared, and been, much more lopsided.

Late Friday night, Parise mentioned the "sideshow" that surrounded his benching in the first four games of this series, noted he has four more years on his contract and said of meetings with the Wild this summer, "We'll see how it goes. … We'll have to figure that out in the coming summer what's going to happen. I don't have an answer for that right now." 1214419 Minnesota Wild

Wild-Vegas game recap

MAY 29, 2021 — 12:44AM SARAH MCLELLAN

GAME RECAP

Star Tribune's three stars

1. Mattias Janmark, Golden Knights: The winger scored a hat trick.

2. Max Pacioretty, Golden Knights: The winger scored the game-winner after sitting out the previous six games of the series with injury.

3. Shea Theodore, Golden Knights: The defenseman picked up two assists, his first points of the playoffs

By the numbers

1 Power play goal by the Wild for a second straight game.

3 Goals in the second period by Vegas.

11 Different Golden Knights players with at least a point.

Star Tribune LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214420 Minnesota Wild climb," DeBoer said. "It was critical that we got him back tonight. It changed, I thought, everything about our confidence, about our confidence to score."

Janmark has hat trick to lead Vegas to Game 7 win over Wild Later in the second, defenseman Shea Theodore unselfishly passed up an opportunity to fire one on net, dished to his right for Whitecloud, who found the far, top corner to extend Vegas' lead to 4-2.

By W.G. RAMIREZ Associated Press MAY 29, 2021 — 12:45AM Theodore snapped a scoreless series drought with assists on Pacioretty and Whitecloud's goals.

After playing aggressively through the first two periods, the Knights LAS VEGAS — Mattias Janmark had scored just one goal since being played low-risk hockey in the third while keeping the Wild at bay until acquired by Vegas at the trade deadline from Chicago. Janmark scored his second after Nicolas Roy stripped Ryan Suter behind He tripled that Friday night with his first career hat trick in what might the net. Roy fed Janmark, who snapped the puck over Talbot's far have been the most important home playoff game in the Golden Knights' shoulder. Janmark's empty-netter with a little more than three minutes left four-year history, a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild in Game 7 of their put the game out of reach. opening-round series. "We knew it was going to be a really tough series," DeBoer said. "I guess "It's what every player dreams of, to score in a Game 7," Janmark said. that's what you get for tying for the most points in the league, is to get an "To win a Game 7 and to score a hat trick, it's hard to believe that it's opponent like that." going to happen to you, but today, bounces were going in. Next stop: Denver, where the other team with the most points in the "It's a dream come true, for sure." league awaits.

Nic Hague, Max Pacioretty and Zach Whitecloud also scored for Vegas, Star Tribune LOADED: 05.29.2021 which hosted a Game 7 for the first time after losing in San Jose in 2018 and defeating Vancouver in Edmonton last year. It was also the first time Vegas clinched a playoff series at home.

Marc-Andre Fleury, playing in his eighth career Game 7, made 19 saves to earn his 85th playoff victory in front of an announced crowd of 12,156. Fleury is three playoff wins shy of tying Billy Smith and Ed Belfour for fourth in NHL history.

"It was a ton of fun," said Hague, the only Golden Knights skater in the lineup who hadn't played in a Game 7. "The building was rocking, which is always awesome. But it was on another level tonight. A little nervous at the start. Boy, was that a fun game."

Vegas, which squandered a 3-1 series lead for the third straight season, heads to Denver for Sunday's second-round opener against the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche won the regular-season series, 4-3-1.

Peter DeBoer improved to 6-0 when coaching in Game 7s, while Minnesota dropped to 3-1 all-time in a seventh game. Home teams in Game 7s are 105-74, excluding last season's playoff bubble in Canada.

Zach Parise and Kirill Kaprizov scored for the Wild. Cam Talbot made 29 saves.

"We hope that they're proud of each other and proud of themselves of how they conducted themselves this year," Minnesota coach Dean Evason said. "You get to a Game 7 and one team wins and one team loses. Our effort was there. We competed our butts off."

Janmark opened the scoring when he fought the pressure to create his own rush, then went forehand-to-backhand and used a filthy deke before softly tapping the puck past Talbot's right skate. Parise, who started the series scratched from the lineup, tied it at 1 when he sent Joel Eriksson Ek's feed to the front of the crease between both his legs and Fleury's.

Hague got his first goal since April 5 when he lasered a wrist shot from the blue line to give Vegas a 2-1 advantage. The Wild answered shortly thereafter, and moments after Ryan Reaves was called for cross- checking Ryan Suter, as Kaprizov's snapper from the edge of the left circle beat Fleury to his glove side.

"We had a pretty good start and made it 2-2," Wild forward Marcus Foligno said. "We liked our chances, but couldn't get a lot generating after that."

Unlike the Golden Knights, who again dominated the second period by generating scoring chances and capitalizing on ample opportunities. In the second periods of the series, Vegas outscored Minnesota 11-2 and outshot the Wild 96-51.

Pacioretty made his presence felt in his first game back from an undisclosed injury since the regular season, when he sneaked into the slot and one-timed Chandler Stephenson's feed from the boards past the pads of Talbot to put Vegas back on top, 3-2, with what ended up being the winner.

"There was a lot to unpack with this series and playing the first six games without (Pacioretty), our leading goal scorer, was a hill our group had to 1214421 Minnesota Wild "Ek is such a warrior," Evason said. "Gave absolutely everything he had. I can't imagine how busted up he is."

And although the Wild had bounced back throughout the season, Wild season ends with 6-2 Game 7 loss in Vegas including in these playoffs, the team didn't have another comeback in it.

"We got ourselves to a Game 7," Evason said. "We just didn't push through. We need to learn from this experience right now, and we will." By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune MAY 29, 2021 — 12:57AM Star Tribune LOADED: 05.29.2021

LAS VEGAS – The culmination of the first-round series between the Wild and Golden Knights encapsulated what the battle between these two teams was built on: who could rise above the physical grind and score.

And while the Wild did that in spurts to rally from a 3-1 deficit and extend the action to a decisive finale, the team ultimately didn't have the manpower to persevere one more time, falling 6-2 on Friday to Vegas in front of 12,156 at T-Mobile Arena to get eliminated from the playoffs.

"We all felt like we could beat these guys," Ryan Suter. "Everyone else might think one thing, but the group of guys that we had we felt confident in ourselves. We're pretty disappointed it's ended the way it has."

The Wild has failed to make it past its first round of postseason games for a fifth straight time. As for the Golden Knights, they move on to face the Avalanche in Round 2. Their coach Pete DeBoer is 6-0 all-time in Game 7s.

"They took advantage of their key moments, and we didn't," Wild coach Dean Evason said. "Likely the difference in the game."

Vegas' Mattias Janmark scored a hat trick, but Max Pacioretty was the sparkplug. The Golden Knights' leading goal scorer in the regular season made his playoffs debut after not playing since May 1 due to an upper- body injury and wired in the game-winner during a three-goal second period that gave Vegas a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

"It adds a different dynamic to them," Zach Parise said. "Just gives them that much more depth and for him to come right in and contribute and deliver, that was a big addition for them."

The climb to catch up was too steep for the Wild, which was shorthanded for almost the entire game. Nicolas Roy crunched Jonas Brodin's left side into the boards early in the first period and Brodin left the bench hunched over. He did not return, leaving the Wild with only five defensemen for most of the game.

"It was a huge loss for us," Evason said.

Not being at full strength was especially tough for a Wild lineup that was chasing the Golden Knights most of the night.

BOXSCORE: Vegas 6, Wild 2

Vegas opened the scoring at 5:09 of the first period when Janmark slid the puck by goalie Cam Talbot's right pad. Parise tied the game at 16:49 with one of the slickest goals of the playoffs, swiping a deflected puck through his legs while his back faced the net.

But like the first, the Golden Knights pounced on the Wild early in the second and regained the lead at 2:05 on a point shot by Nicolas Hague.

After Wild defenseman Ryan Suter was pushed from behind by Ryan Reaves to fall face-first into the post, the Wild received a power play and took advantage with a one-timer from Kirill Kaprizov at 4:35 to even the score at 2.

But then Pacioretty stole the spotlight.

He was left all alone in the slot to bury a one-timer at 7:44, and then Zach Whitecloud capitalized on a rising shot at 13:38. Janmark tallied his second of the game at 12:36 of the third before completing the hat trick into an empty net at 16:53.

"We spent a lot of time in our D zone," Suter said, "and it's not a very good recipe for success when you're defending the whole time."

Talbot had 28 saves, and Fleury made 18 stops. The Wild power play went 1-for-2, while Vegas was 0-for-1.

Suter kept playing after he was dumped into the net, a penalty by Reaves that Suter thought could have been called a major but wasn't. Center Joel Eriksson Ek also returned after leaving the bench in the second. Evason confirmed Eriksson Ek aggravated an injury he sustained in Game 6. 1214422 Minnesota Wild The Wild lost defenseman Jonas Brodin in the first period of Friday's game when he took a hit along the boards. He didn't return, meaning the Wild had to rotate five defensemen into play.

Wild's Nick Bonino played Game 6 hours after his son was born Suter played 28 minutes, 50 seconds and Matt Dumba played 28:47 as they ate up most of the minutes. Brodin's night ended after only two shifts.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune MAY 29, 2021 — 12:46AM Center Joel Eriksson Ek, who suffered a leg injury in Game 6 when he flew into a goalpost, had the injury aggravated during the game, but was

able to continue. LAS VEGAS – Nick Bonino arrived at for a game The Wild played the past three games without defenseman Carson Wednesday two hours before puck drop, as he normally does, and went Soucy, who has an undisclosed injury. Soucy skated Friday morning and through his usual warmup. was "progressing," Evason said, meaning he likely could have returned But before that, his day was far from typical. had the Wild advanced to play Sunday against Colorado. Calen Addison again played in Soucy's place Friday. Bonino and his wife, Lauren, welcomed their third child, a son named Bowie, on Wednesday afternoon before Game 6 against Vegas in St. Star Tribune LOADED: 05.29.2021 Paul.

"My plan was to play the whole day," said Bonino, 33. "Everything was smooth. The baby and mom were healthy, and [I was] able to get to the game at 6 [p.m.] and then felt a little bit tired in warmups. But Game 6, elimination game, those are easy to get up for. I thought it was great to be a part of a win like that."

After getting to the hospital around 7 a.m., Lauren delivered Bowie at approximately 2:30 p.m. and Bonino spent time with them while also trying to grab a snooze on the couch before taking off for the game.

The Boninos met at Boston University, where both were standout hockey players. Nick Bonino played on a national championship team at BU, and won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Lauren Cherewyk, who was from St. Albert, Alberta, had 33 goals and 38 assists in 144 games for the Terriers women's team from 2007-11. They married in 2014.

The veteran forward faced another goodbye when he had to travel to Vegas for Game 7 on Friday; daughters Maisie and Isobel are also home with Lauren.

"He's a day old, but we're in the playoffs," Bonino said. "We've got help at home with Lauren's family, so these are things we were ready for."

Bright lights of Game 7

Half of the players in the Wild's lineup suited up Friday night for their first career Game 7s, one of the brightest spotlights in pro sports, let alone the NHL and Stanley Cup playoffs.

"When you're a kid playing road hockey or shooting on the net in your backyard or front of your garage, you're always talking about Game 7 game winner," coach Dean Evason said.

"We're all kids, right? We're all kids playing a game."

Bonino brought the most Game 7 experience to the ice for the Wild, appearing in six Game 7s before Friday. Ian Cole, who like Bonino won Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, was next with five previous games.

Marcus Johansson, who's out because of a broken left arm, has logged the most Game 7s among Wild players with eight.

Four players in action for the Wild on Friday also participated in the team's last Game 7, a 5-4 overtime win at Colorado on April 30, 2014.

Defenseman Jared Spurgeon tied the game at 4 with 2 minutes, 27 seconds to go in the third period, and Nino Niederreiter scored 5:02 in overtime to seal the comeback. Aside from Spurgeon, defensemen Ryan Suter and Jonas Brodin and winger Zach Parise were also part of the rally.

"We trailed the entire game and we kept tying it up, and I remember Jared scoring that late one to make it 4-4 and [goalie Ilya Bryzgalov] coming in and shutting the door and then all of a sudden Nino getting that game-winner for us," Parise said. "It was an exciting game. It was awesome for us as a team.

"There's just that special thing about Game 7s from a player's perspective, what's on the line. They're the games you want to play in, and then also from a fan's perspective, they're always exciting to watch."

Brodin injured early 1214423 Minnesota Wild The Wild will be better next year because their best players will their rise to stardom.

Yes, there are needs. The hunt for that elusive No. 1 center continues. Jace Frederick: For once, the end of a Wild season feels more like a No one is saying Minnesota will hoist the Stanley Cup next season. beginning Still, for once, it makes sense to look at this team and think to yourself, “The best is yet to come.”

By JACE FREDERICK PUBLISHED: May 28, 2021 at 10:55 p.m. | Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.29.2021 UPDATED: May 28, 2021 at 11:34 p.m.

Another playoff appearance, another early exit for the Wild.

Minnesota has made eight postseason trips since 2013 — assuming you count last year’s qualifying round — and has bowed out in the first or second round every time.

Friday’s 6-2 loss in Game 7 in Las Vegas marked Minnesota’s fifth straight first-round departure.Jace Frederick column sig

Ho hum. Status quo.

So why does this one feel a little different?

Perhaps it’s because rather than this being another end to a mundane season, it feels more like the beginning.

This Wild team was electric. They feature young, must-see goal scorers like Kirill Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala. Other young talents such as Joel Eriksson Ek, Jordan Greenway, Matt Dumba and Jonas Brodin round out a core so promising you don’t even know what its ceiling is.

That’s not even including the mythical Matt Boldy, who lit up the American Hockey League this season to the tune of 18 points in 14 games. There is a reason so many wanted to see him skate with the NHL club this postseason. Wait until next year. He is just another reason for fans to fondly look forward to the future.

How refreshing is that? Sure beats past years, when the Wild season ended exactly when you thought it would, because just making the playoffs was about all those groups seemed capable of accomplishing. And there was no reason to believe ensuing seasons would bring anything different.

This team looked so good at times, you almost believed it might make a deep postseason run in its first real crack at the playoffs.

For once, the Wild were the team with the scintillating goal scorers capable of stealing games even when they were thoroughly outplayed, such as Game 5. There were other times, like Game 6, where Minnesota frankly just looked better than a Las Vegas team with a legitimate postseason resume.

Social media suggested there were plenty of Wild fans who believed their team was going to advance Friday night, and for good reason. Because that’s what is possible with this team, which wasn’t true of previous editions.

Sure, it didn’t go Minnesota’s way this time. Friday couldn’t have played out much worse for the Wild. Brodin left the game early. Eriksson Ek and Ryan Suter each left the ice for short periods of time. The Wild clearly were not at 100 percent.

At times during the final two periods, Minnesota seemed to be skating on “E” — though, to the Wild’s credit, they didn’t exactly lie down.

There were other times in the last two weeks when the Wild didn’t look prepared for the punches and counterpunches the Golden Knights threw within the series, or even individual games.

Yes, this group was the first to lose a Game 7 in Wild history. It’s a good bet it will also be the first to achieve countless other positive feats not previously deemed possible in this franchise’s relatively brief existence.

The Wild will be better next year for this experience — a seven-game heavyweight bout with a perennial Stanley Cup contender who tied Colorado for the most points in the NHL during the regular season. That may be the echelon this group soon ascends to.

The Wild will be better, because next year this core will have another season with which to mesh and grow together. 1214424 Minnesota Wild If the Wild were thinking comeback, Janmark put those thoughts to bed midway through the third period with a snipe to make it 5-2. Though that proved to be the dagger, Janmark added an empty-net goal in the final minutes to complete his hat trick and finalize the score at 6-2. Wild go down swinging in Game 7 loss to Golden Knights As the final buzzer sounded on the this unprecedented season, Wild players skated through the handshake line looking directly at the Golden Knights players across from them. By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: May 28, 2021 at 10:49 p.m. | UPDATED: May 28, 2021 at 11:52 p.m. It was a fitting scene considering this version of the Wild had no reason to hang their heads.

“There’s a lot of positives that can be taken from this season,” Talbot LAS VEGAS — In the end, the Wild simply ran out of gas in Game 7 of said. “I don’t think anyone had us pegged to push these guys to Game 7, their first-round series. Largely because they almost ran out of players. and at the beginning of the year no one even had us making the playoffs, Truthfully, for this version of the Wild, that might’ve been the only thing I don’t think. standing in the way of a magical run. This group of players proved to be “We have a lot of good core pieces, and a lot of good leadership pieces, cut from a different cloth this season with their ability to consistently as well. This is a group that can do something special moving forward. overcome adversity. I’m looking forward to being a part of that.” That played out so many different times over the past six months — from Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.29.2021 overcoming a lengthy COVID shutdown, to mounting countless comeback wins — so it’s only right the Wild went down swinging in a 6-2 loss to the Golden Knights on Friday night at T-Mobile Arena.

“This year was a tough year with all the stuff going on,” Ryan Suter said. “We all felt like we could beat these guys. Everyone else might think one thing. But the group of guys that we had we felt confident in ourselves. We are pretty disappointed that it’s ended the way its has.”

Though the Wild finished the game with most of their players still on the bench, they clearly weren’t at 100 percent. They lost Jonas Brodin to an apparent upper-body injury early in the game, and Joel Eriksson Ek clearly wasn’t at 100 percent as he fought through a lower-body injury. If that wasn’t enough, Carson Soucy missed his third straight game with an upper-body injury, which forced rookie Calen Addison into the lineup.

“You’d like to say if everyone is healthy we’d be a different team tonight maybe,” Marcus Foligno said. “It is what it is.”

Still, the Wild gave the Golden Knights everything they could handle in the winner-take-all matchup, erasing a couple of deficits early in the game before fading down the stretch.

After missing the entire series to this point with an upper-body injury, star sniper Max Pacioretty returned to the lineup for Game 7, and he scored what stood up as the game-winner, proving to be the finisher the Golden Knights have so sorely lacked for the past couple of weeks.

His presence in the lineup provided a boost before puck drop as the Golden Knights started the game on fire. They peppered goaltender Cam Talbot with scoring chances early in the opening minutes of the game, and broke through when Mattias Janmark stole a puck in the neutral zone, skated around a defender in front, and calmly slid the puck past the goal line to make it 1-0.

Give the Wild a ton of credit. For the umpteenth time this postseason, they took a haymaker on the chin, and like they have each time, they responded with a flurry of their own.

After a getting a couple of scoring chances in front of goaltender Marc- Andre Fleury, the Wild finally beat him with a goal from Zach Parise on the doorstep. He parked his butt near the crease, then skillfully hammered a backhand attempt between his legs to tie the game at 1-1.

“We were all ready to play,” Parise said. “With all the sideshow stuff that’s been going on, I was ready to play from Day 1, and tonight was no different.”

That set the stage for the second period, where Nicolas Hague made it 2- 1 in favor of the Golden Knights with a wrist shot from the point that snuck past Talbot.

While it would’ve been easy for the Wild start thinking about the offseason at that point — especially with the 12,156 fans in attendance reaching a deafening decibel level — they battled back once more with a goal from Kirill Kaprizov to tie the game at 2-2.

That’s where the magic stopped for the Wild.

After nearly scoring a couple of times earlier in the game, Pacioretty finally got his goal midway through the second period to put the Golden Knights in front 3-2. That seemed to take the edge off, and Zach Whitecloud extended the lead to 4-2 later in the frame. 1214425 Minnesota Wild “He’s just progressing,” coach Dean Evason said of Soucy. “He’s gone through rehab and all that good stuff. The next step is on the ice.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.29.2021 For Wild veteran Nick Bonino, Game 7 isn’t even his biggest moment this week

By DANE MIZUTANI PUBLISHED: May 28, 2021 at 4:15 p.m. | UPDATED: May 28, 2021 at 4:15 p.m.

LAS VEGAS — It was a whirlwind 48 hours for Wild veteran Nick Bonino leading up to Game 7 at T-Mobile Arena.

He arrived at a hospital in the Twin Cities on Wednesday morning with his wife Lauren about to give birth to the couple’s first son. The doctors induced labor a few hours later and Bowie came into the world right around 2:30 p.m.

After spending some quality time with the family, Bonino packed up his stuff and raced to downtown St. Paul for a must-win Game 6 of the first- round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights. He arrived a couple of hours before puck drop at Xcel Energy Center and was able to go through his usual pregame routine.

“My plan the whole day was to play,” Bonino said. “Obviously, if complications arose as it got closer to the game, we would have talked about it. I got to the (8 p.m.) game at 6 o’clock. I was able to get a normal warmup in. All the guys were congratulating me. It was pretty cool.”

Though he admitted to feeling a little tired during warmups for Wednesday’s game, Bonino got a rush of adrenaline once the puck dropped. He logged exactly 11 minutes of ice time as the Wild earned a 3-0 victory over the Golden Knights to force a Game 7.

“Those are easy to get up for,” Bonino said. “It was great to be a part of a win like that.”

With the Wild forcing a Game 7 on the road, Bonino had to board the team charter to Las Vegas on Thursday afternoon. He admitted it was a weird feeling leaving home just 24 hours after his son was born.

Plus, he wasn’t sure how long he would been gone. If the Wild beat Vegas in Game 7, they would fly straight to Denver for a second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche.

“It’s a little bit hard,” Bonino said. “But we’re in the playoffs. We have help at home with Lauren’s family, so these are things we were ready for. I would love to be able to put the kids in the (Stanley Cup), and this is part of that.”

PARISE SHINES

It’s hard to believe Wild veteran Zach Parise spent the early portion of the first-round series with the Golden Knights as a healthy scratch. Especially considering the impact he has made since being reinserted into the lineup for Game 4.

After feeling his way through his first game of the postseason, Parise scored a big goal in Game 5 and added an important assist in Game 6. Not that he was surprised by his production.

“There was never any doubt in my mind that I can play and be an impact player in the series and in these games,” Parise said. “I’m just happy to be in the room and playing and hopefully keep contributing to the team winning.”

Needless to say, Parise is enjoying his view from the ice level a heck of a lot more than watching from up above alongside team reporter Dan Myers.

“I was begging them, ‘Just don’t put my tickets next to Dan anymore please,’ ” Parise joked. “Fortunately, they moved me down the bench, so no looking back.”

SOUCY SKATES

After suffering a lower-body injury earlier this week, defenseman Carson Soucy participated in the morning skate ahead of Friday’s game. But he wasn’t available to play in the actual game; fellow defenseman Calen Addison moved back into the lineup instead. 1214426 Minnesota Wild The future should be bright with prospects such as Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, Addison and others coming, but the loss will trigger a busy offseason for general manager Bill Guerin.

More first-round heartbreak for Wild, compromised defensively in Game He’ll need to address the team’s feeble center position because the Wild, 7 by early loss of Jonas Brodin who lost 42 of 62 faceoffs Friday, got little production up the middle beyond Eriksson Ek. The Wild GM has expansion challenges, will need to count dollars and cents when re-signing Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek and Kevin Fiala and will need to have a heart-to-heart talk with Zach Parise in By Michael Russo May 29, 2021 the coming days.

Parise, scratched in three of the final four regular-season games after LAS VEGAS — We’ll never know, but one does have to wonder how first seeing his ice time slashed the final month, was scratched in the first different Friday night’s Game 7 showdown between the Wild and Vegas three games of the series and didn’t play on the power play for the past Golden Knights would have been had Jonas Brodin not gotten hurt less couple of months. It was the lowest point of his career, yet he returned to than six minutes into the game. the lineup and scored two goals, including one beautiful tying goal in Game 7, and an assist in the final four games. Maybe the Wild’s plane Saturday morning would be directed to Denver rather than the Twin Cities for another long offseason. Parise talked Friday morning about how his confidence never waned and that he knew he could make an impact in the series. After Friday’s game, If you ever doubted Brodin’s value to the Wild, just review the video of he further opened the door to his dismay in an unsolicited fashion when Minnesota’s season-ending 6-2 loss to see how the game unfolded after asked about his motivation. Kirill Kaprizov tied the score early in the second period. “With all the sideshow stuff that’s been going on, I was ready to play from The moment Brodin left the ice in pain and struggled down the tunnel Day 1,” Parise said. “Tonight was no different.” with what surely looked like a shoulder or collarbone injury, the obvious question was: How long would the Wild survive without him? Asked how much his situation will need to be addressed after this offseason in order for him to be comfortable with his role, Parise said, “I As goaltender Cam Talbot said, give the Wild credit for hanging in there. think that conversation is gonna be for a different day. We’ll see where it But they spent a ton of time in their own end and had to use a mishmash goes. I don’t know. I don’t know. We’ll have to figure that out in the of mostly four defensemen because they didn’t want to overexpose coming summer what’s going to happen, but I really don’t have an rookie Calen Addison with Carson Soucy already hurt. That created more answer on that right now.” open ice than we’d seen in the previous six games of this tight-checking series and a lot of confusion before Vegas broke the game open and Asked if he wonders if Friday’s game could be his last in a Wild uniform, advanced out of the first round. Parise, who’s well aware that his only options are a trade, a buyout or returning, said with a grin, “I mean, I’ve got four years left in my deal. “Anytime you lose a defenseman in a game like this, it’s tough,” Talbot That’s, I guess, not really up to me at the time. But right now, just said. “But to lose Brodes, who does everything well for us? He kills disappointed in the outcome of the game.” penalties, he’s so elusive back there and can escape under pressure. They come at you in waves. It’s not easy to fill those minutes, and they Fair enough. all did an admirable job tonight. Against a group like that in a building like Just 26 seconds after Janmark scored the game’s first goal, Brodin was this, it’s never an easy guy to replace, that’s for sure.” crunched against the wall by Nicolas Roy. It was immediately clear this Facing a team that led the NHL in victories and tied for the most points in was no stinger or anything like that. He suffered a significant injury and the league, the Wild did a commendable job of rallying from a 3-1 series immediately left. Evason said he didn’t know the extent of the injury, so deficit to pull even and force a winner-take-all final game in rowdy T- the team will save the revelation of what happened until the end-of- Mobile Arena. And just as they did all series, the Wild put some doubt in season media wrapups next week. the Golden Knights’ mind when Kaprizov scored a second-period power- The Wild tied the score when Parise, posting up all alone in front of Marc- play goal. Andre Fleury, watched as an Eriksson Ek-deflected Ryan Suter shot “What a great opponent they were,” said Golden Knights coach Pete trickled right to him. He perfectly backhanded the puck through Fleury’s DeBoer, who is 6-0 in Game 7s. “They gave us everything we can wickets. handle.” The Wild fell behind again early in the second, but Ryan Reaves turned But Max Pacioretty, the Golden Knights’ first-line left wing, who had the game when he violently pushed Suter face-first into the goalpost. missed the previous games in the series with an upper-body injury, “It wasn’t good,” Suter, sporting a bruise below his left eye, said of returned to the lineup for the first time since May 1 and made an Reaves’ dirty hit. “Didn’t feel good.” immediate impact. Besides deepening Vegas’ lineup by pushing Alex Tuch to its third line, Pacioretty escaped Jordan Greenway just three The infraction could have been deemed a major, but the Wild instead minutes after Kaprizov’s power-play goal for what turned out to be the were given a minor, and Kaprizov scored off Mats Zuccarello’s feed. winning goal and the first of four consecutive tallies by Vegas. But not long after, Pacioretty scored, and the Wild would be chasing the One of those goals came from former Bemidji State defenseman Zach rest of the way. There were some other moments that could have Whitecloud and two from Mattias Janmark, who had a hat trick. changed the game. Kaprizov hit the crossbar. Parise was stoned by Fleury twice before Vegas’ fourth goal. Nick Bjugstad should have Let’s be honest: The Wild’s reward, anyway, would have been a second- earned a double minor when he was cut open after being high-sticked. round matchup against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Eriksson Ek was mauled a couple of times in front of the net. Avalanche, a juggernaut that just swept the St. Louis Blues and who beat the Wild in five of eight regular-season meetings, including a couple of But it was the Brodin injury and subsequent absence that changed the epic spankings in Denver. game. There’s no debate about that.

But it was a disappointing way for the Wild, who haven’t advanced past “You lose a defenseman like Brodes, it’s tough. Top-4 D-man that plays the first round since 2015, to finish a season during which they were in all situations is definitely hard,” Suter said. “We spent a lot of time in dominant on home ice, got a likely Calder Trophy-winning season from our D zone, and it’s not a very good recipe for success when you’re Kaprizov, produced great goaltending, for the most part, received a defending the whole time.” breakout season from Joel Eriksson Ek and at one point late in the season flirted with home-ice advantage in the first round. “Brodes is an unbelievable defenseman, and there’s a reason why he’s so special for us,” Marcus Foligno said. “You’ve got to give a lot of credit “Right now, the group in that room is very disappointed with how far to Addison, Ian Cole. They’ve got to step up and play some more we’ve come and didn’t get past that spot that we were in,” coach Dean minutes. And it’s not easy. I mean, you’re getting pushed out there quite Evason said. “We got ourselves to a Game 7. We just didn’t push a bit at times where Brodes is going over there to handle that speed of through. We need to learn from this experience right now, and we will.” their top players. It’s a gutsy effort on everyone, but you never want to see Brodes go down early. It just goes to show you know how valuable Max Pacioretty: Playing in his first game since May 1, he returned he is to our team.” for Game 7 and snapped a 2-2 tie with the winning goal.

It also didn’t help that Eriksson Ek, who hurt his left leg in the third period Shea Theodore, Golden Knights: Norris Trophy contender had of Game 6 when he drove the net and crashed into the goalpost, was two assists, three shots, another three shot attempts and three blocked skating on one leg after aggravating the injury when Greenway, who had shots. a rough game, threw Alex Pietrangelo into him. Turning point Eriksson Ek hobbled to the bench and down the runway and missed a number of shifts before returning in visible discomfort. Less than six minutes into the game and 26 seconds after Janmark’s first goal, Nicolas Roy crunched Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin into the “I’m not surprised about Ekker. He’s a horse,” said Foligno, Eriksson Ek’s boards. Brodin was injured and lost for the rest of the game, meaning linemate. Minnesota, already without Carson Soucy, played 54 minutes with five defensemen, including a 21-year-old rookie. Said Evason: “Ek is such a warrior. Gave absolutely everything he had. I can’t imagine how busted up he is.” By the numbers

The Wild gave up three second-period goals and were outshot 17-6. 3-1: Wild record in Game 7s. When they look back at this series, they’ll need to go no further than the second period of each game to figure out where they lost it. 6-0: Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer’s record in Game 7s.

They were outscored 11-2 and outshot 96-51 after a regular season in 5-0: Records in Game 7s for Golden Knights defensemen Alex which they were outscored 61-46 and outshot 591-562 in the middle Pietrangelo and Alec Martinez. stanza. 7: Game 7s played by the Wild’s Nick Bonino (3-4).

It was simply a disappointing finish to an exciting season and series, 80: Career playoff points for Zach Parise in 105 games. something the Wild have experienced way too often during this run of five first-round exits (including last summer’s qualifying round) in six seasons. They said it

“We all firmly believed with where we were a handful of days ago, down “You can make up a forward obviously when you’ve got 12 of them. 3-1 making this thing 3-3, we all firmly believed that we were going to win You’ve got six guys back there, and it’s very difficult. People are playing this game tonight,” Parise said. “Making it 2-2, we were in a great out of position and playing too many minutes and different minutes. It position. And then they got those two goals to make it 4-2, we didn’t quit, disrupts, obviously. Compound that with the guy that usually eats up the we played, we competed, but just couldn’t get that third one. most minutes and skates like the wind and can get back for pucks and breaks it out and all those things. It was a huge loss for us, no question.” “But they’re all brutal. Anytime you’re eliminated from the postseason, it’s — Wild coach Dean Evason on the injury to defenseman Jonas Brodin not fun.” 5:35 into the game.

Still, the Wild are excited about the future, something they’ll all start The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 focusing on once the latest sting wears off.

“There’s a lot of positives that can be taken from this season,” said Talbot, who was fabulous in the series leading into Game 7. “I don’t think anyone had us pegged to push these guys to seven. At the beginning of the year, no one even had us making the playoffs, I don’t think.

“So, I think that this group came together. We got a lot of good, young core pieces and a lot of good leadership pieces as well. So this is a group that can do something special moving forward. I’m just looking forward to be part of that moving forward after this year.”

Bonino’s wife gives birth, then he rushes to rink

Wednesday night in St. Paul, rookie Matt Boldy was an option in warmups in case Foligno or Nick Bonino couldn’t play.

Foligno was dealing with an injury. Bonino was dealing with something else.

Bonino’s wife, Lauren, gave birth to the couple’s third child and first son – given the cool name of Bowie Bonino — 5 1/2 hours before the opening puck drop of Game 6.

After getting to the hospital at 7 a.m., Bonino sprinted into Xcel Energy Center at 6 p.m. and was able to play.

“I felt a little bit tired in warmups, but Game 6, elimination game, those are easy to get up for,” Bonino said. “And I thought it was great to be a part of a win like that.”

After playing so soon after the birth of his son, Bonino was on the Wild’s Las Vegas-directed charter Thursday, Bowie’s first day on Earth.

“It’s a little bit hard,” Bonino said. “You just give birth and he’s a day old, but we’re in the playoffs, we’ve got help at home with Lauren’s family, so these are things we were ready for. It’s obviously odd knowing what happens tonight if we’re gone for a week or gone for a day. I would love to be able to put the (three) kids in the Cup (in six weeks).”

Unfortunately, that won’t happen — at least not this season — for the two-time Cup champion.

The Athletic’s 3 stars

Mattias Janmark, Golden Knights: Picked up at the trade deadline by Vegas, he entered the game with zero goals since with a goalie in net. He ended the night with a hat trick, including an empty-netter. 1214427 Montreal Canadiens Spezza shrugs that part off. “The good news for us is that we have played in front of crowds before,

so we should be comfortable with it,” he said. “In terms of just having Maple Leafs living ‘game to game’ as they prepare for Game 6 against people in the building, I think it is a great step towards what the future Canadiens may hold. It will add a little more excitement to the game, which we welcome as players.”

Game 6 is here. PUBLISHED MAY 28, 2021 The Canadiens remain one loss away from elimination. If they don’t win, UPDATED 11 HOURS AGO they don’t get a second chance. That advantage is held by Toronto – but the same was true on Thursday. Only now the leash is a little shorter. DAN HAMILTON/USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS “We know they are going to come out and be desperate,” Spezza said.

“That is why we have to come out and match their intensity. It is The Maple Leafs flubbed their first chance to finish off the Canadiens on important to learn from [Thursday]. We didn’t have the start we were Thursday, but two more opportunities remain. They have a 3-2 series looking for and that should be a lesson for us.” lead as they take on their forever rivals in Montreal on Saturday, and if It is the beauty of the playoffs. Or it can turn into a one-game beast. that one goes badly they will be back at home on Monday to try again. Globe And Mail LOADED: 05.29.2021 They fell behind by three goals in Game 5 and ended up with an overtime defeat.

Toronto looked disinterested early on, mounted a furious rally and then lost within the first 60 seconds of sudden death to its much more motivated opponent.

The good news is that generally speaking, there is little carryover from one game to the next during the playoffs. If that were the case, this one would be over. After losing the opener, the Maple Leafs won the next three and appeared poised to advance to the second round of a postseason for the first time in 17 years. Then they came out as flat as a freshly ironed sheet. Already, some long-suffering fans are preparing to lower the lifeboats from the SS Toronto Torment.

Jason Spezza, 37, has played in the NHL for 18 years, appeared in 90 playoff games and has never won a Stanley Cup. But we are only nine days into this marathon and the Maple Leafs centre sees no reason to fret. It is all about the subtle adjustments teams make from day to day, Spezza said on Friday.

“You really have to live game to game,” Spezza said. “You start to understand as you play more playoff hockey that there really is no momentum. The playoffs are all about learning as you go along. Montreal came out more desperate than us [on Thursday] and now we have to move forward and have a response. That’s the beauty of playoffs. It is every other day and you continually challenge yourself and respond.”

Toronto allowed two goals in the first 8:18 of Game 5 to a team that had only scored four in the preceding four games. Montreal still almost blew it. The Canadiens got better goaltending from Carey Price than the Maple Leafs received from Jack Campbell. They took advantage of a few colossal mistakes. The margin was still razor thin.

Toronto won seven of 10 games between them during the regular season, and for the year that number is now 10 of 15. It would take a tremendous shift in fortune for there to be a monumental collapse – even for the Maple Leafs. They know it. Everybody outside of the Canadiens’ players, their parents and wives knows it.

Zach Bogosian has bounced around the league so long that he began his career in Atlanta. It took until last year for him to win a Stanley Cup, after a fortuitous move that sent him to Tampa. The Toronto defenceman looked unfazed on Friday as he discussed Thursday’s favourable performance by Montreal.

“That’s part of the playoffs,” said Bogosian, 30. After Atlanta, he played in Winnipeg and Buffalo. Not exactly the freeway to good fortune. “You have ups and downs. We controlled a chunk of the series, and then they had a good push back. You look around the league right now, and that is pretty much the way it goes.”

Nevertheless, Bogosian says the Maple Leafs need to go into Montreal and battle on Saturday night as though it is their last chance. Not leave it to luck in a possible Game 7. The team won both of its previous games at the . The only difference this time is that a limited crowd of 2,500 mostly batty Canadiens fans will be on hand.

Thanks to COVID, it has been 14 months since fans have been allowed into an NHL arena in Canada.

“It should be electric,” Cole Caufield, the Montreal rookie, said Friday. He has never played an NHL game in front of spectators. 1214428 Montreal Canadiens Toronto captain John Tavares was on hand for the first time since he suffered a concussion and knee injury in the series opener seven days earlier. He skated for the first time since then on Thursday, but it is unknown when he can return to the lineup. For sure, it won’t be against Suzuki scores in overtime as Habs beat Leafs 4-3 to force Game 6 the Canadiens.

The Maple Leafs have two more chances to do what they have been unable to achieve in such a long time that it actually spans parts of three MARTY KLINKENBERG decades. They have been eliminated in the first round in three of the past PUBLISHED MAY 27, 2021 four years, and were knocked out of the Stanley Cup qualifying tournament in 2020. UPDATED 1 DAY AGO Montreal surprised the Pittsburgh Penguins in last year’s qualifying round, but then lost in six games to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Canadiens played their best game of this series on Thursday, with The Maple Leafs will have to wait for another chance to win their first elimination only a loss away. playoff series in 17 years after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Canadiens on Thursday at . Toronto rallied from 3-0 down to send the “I just thought Montreal came out real hard, not unlike game one, and we game to sudden death, but Montreal staved off elimination and set up a didn’t deal with that well,” Sheldon Keefe, the Toronto coach, said. “We sixth game between the long-time rivals on Saturday at the Bell Centre. got ourselves in a hole. We’re a good team. We look at the two games that we’ve lost, and we haven’t played nearly at our best, yet in both we Nick Suzuki beat Toronto goalie Jack Campbell on a 2-on-0, with an were right there. When we have played well, we’ve been in control. assist from Cole Caufield 59 seconds into extra time for the Canadiens. A give-away by Alex Galchenyuk led to the winning goal. “We’ve got lots of reasons to be confident and lots of reasons to believe in our group. At the same time, we got another reminder today that ‘”I just have to make the save on that,” Campbell said. “I was a little Montreal is going to make it real difficult and that they’re a very good aggressive. I will learn from it.” team.” After winning the opener, the Canadiens lost three successive times and Muzzin, who won a Stanley Cup when he played for the Los Angeles still trail the best-of-seven series 3-2. Saturday’s game will be the first in Kings, was unusually terse after the defeat. He is usually one of the most well over a year in which either team will play before fans. Approximately amenable of players. 2,500 spectators will be allowed in Montreal’s home rink. He said there is no time to dwell on mistakes. Forget about them, he Toronto’s last series-clinching victory was on April 20, 2004, at Air said, and get ready for Saturday. Canada Centre when they earned a 4-1 win against the Ottawa Senators in Game 7 of the conference quarter-finals. “We’ll be alright,” Muzzin said.

The Winnipeg Jets await the winner of Toronto-Montreal after their Globe And Mail LOADED: 05.29.2021 surprise sweep of Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers in the North Division’s other first-round matchup.

“It’s tough to close a team out,” Campbell said. He stopped 26 of 30 shots. “They came out hard. I thought we pushed back. We played well enough to win. I just can’t give up three [goals] in regulation. I’ve got to be better and I will be.”

The Canadiens scored only four goals in the first four games and had just two in the previous three. But Joel Armia scored twice in a span of a little more than three minutes in the first period to stake them to an early lead. Those were the first two goals of the series for Armia. Don’t even try to figure it out; there is no logic to hockey.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi had a goal just shy of five minutes into the second to make it 3-0, and then the Maple Leafs staged a furious rally. Zach Hyman got one back on a short backhand, with 13:38 remaining in the second, and then Jake Muzzin scored on a one-timer and a deflection five minutes apart in the third.

The defenceman had four goals in 53 games during the COVID- shortened regular season. Then, quickly two. Again, no logic.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

“They were much more desperate than us in the first period and I think it showed,” Auston Matthews, Toronto’s star centre, said. “I’m proud of the way that we fought back and battled and gave ourselves a chance, [but] we came up short.”

Matthews, who led the National Hockey League with 41 goals during the regular season, has one through five playoff games. Mitch Marner, who was second on the team with 20, is yet to score.

William Nylander, who had goals in each of the first four contests, was held off the scoreboard for the first time. He needed a goal in a fifth straight on Thursday to equal the franchise postseason record established in 1993 by Dave Andreychuk.

Nylander had several dangerous chances, including two that were thwarted by Montreal goalie Carey Price in the final 40 seconds of the first period. Price stopped 32 of 35 shots while giving his team a chance to even things up on its home ice on Saturday. If necessary, a seventh game would be played in Toronto on Monday.

Maple Leafs captain John Tavares skates for first time since suffering injury in Game 1 1214429 Montreal Canadiens “We tend to look at production as a big measuring stick, and that’s understandable,” the coach said. “If you score five or six, but give up five or six, you haven’t really helped the team.

Leafs must play like their season's on the line, defenceman Bogosian “They’ve done a lot of really good things. I can understand why you want says the goal production to inflate and grow. They do as well.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.29.2021

Herb Zurkowsky • Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 8 hours ago •

The Canadiens’ season was on the line Thursday night in Toronto, and they responded, winning in overtime.

Heading into Saturday night at the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., CBC, SN, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM), the Maple Leafs still lead the best-of-seven North Division playoff series 3-2, but they know they have to increase their desperation level.

“We need to go into Montreal and play Game 6 like it’s our Game 7,” defenceman Zach Bogosian, who won the Stanley Cup last season with Tampa Bay, said Friday during a video conference. “It has to be our best game.”

While the Leafs still control the series and have generally been the better team through five games, they know they must match the Canadiens’ urgency in the next contest. Even though they would have home-ice advantage, Toronto doesn’t want things to come down to a winner-take- all seventh game Monday night at Scotiabank Arena.

“We’re a team that wants to close the series out,” veteran centre Jason Spezza said. “We don’t want a team like that to hang around. It’s an important game for us. We have to move forward and have a response.”

While it would appear the Canadiens have the momentum — and there’s no denying the dynamics will change on Saturday, with 2,500 spectators in the Bell Centre for the first time in the series — Spezza denied momentum exists in the playoffs.

“You have a fresh chance every day to create new momentum,” said the 37-year-old, who also doesn’t believe his teammates will become unravelled playing before what should be a hostile, albeit reduced, crowd. “We’ve played in front of people before. We should be comfortable with it.”

While the Leafs, and coach Sheldon Keefe, maintain their confidence hasn’t wavered, they understand this franchise is battling history — the majority of which has been negative. Not only has Toronto failed to win a championship since 1967, it hasn’t won a playoff round since 2004.

The Leafs have had their share of opportunities. Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss marked their sixth consecutive playoff defeat with a chance to eliminate their opponent. That’s a telling statistic, even if the majority of their players haven’t experienced the ignominy.

“It’s difficult to win a series and end a team’s season,” Keefe said. “We have an opportunity to do that again (Saturday). We feel good about our team. We feel good about our chances, about how we’ve played in this series. (Thursday) night we found a way to score three goals. That should be enough to win in the playoffs.”

Keefe wouldn’t speculate on potential roster changes, although it wouldn’t be surprising if 21-year-old defenceman Rasmus Sandin is scratched for the second time this series for the more experienced Travis Dermott.

Sandin struggled Thursday. He turned the puck over on the Canadiens’ opening goal after being hit by Corey Perry, then lost the puck behind Toronto’s net to Jesperi Kotkaniemi, resulting in another score.

Sandin had a plus/minus rating of minus-2 and played sparingly thereafter, limited to barely more than six minutes’ ice time. That also meant the Leafs basically were relying on five defencemen.

While Auston Matthews isn’t struggling, having produced four points, he has only one goal. After leading the NHL this season with 41 goals, that has raised some questions among the media. His wingers, Zach Hyman and Mitch Marner, also have only one goal between them, although Marner has four assists.

Keefe was quick to point out the line hasn’t been scored upon in the series. 1214430 Montreal Canadiens “It’s obviously a good moment for us .. .it’s a big win,” Caufield said “But you kind of forget about it right away because the job’s not finished. It’s one of the steps to getting to our goal, but we still got more work to do. Obviously, we enjoyed it right after, but we kind of reset our minds and Canadiens Notebook: Nick Suzuki's OT goal was one to remember refocused for today. It’s a big game tomorrow and we’re all excited for that.”

It’s becoming obvious that Caufield and Suzuki have some chemistry on Stu Cowan • Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 8 hours ago • the ice and they’re also building a friendship off it.

“We spend a lot of time at the rink,” Caufield said. “When we’re not on The Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki scores overtime goal against Maple Leafs the ice we’re in the weight room or you’re just hanging out around the goalie Jack Campbell for a 4-3 victory in Game 5 of first-round playoff (locker) room. That helps and goes a long way. Obviously, you can’t series Thursday night in Toronto. really do too much outside of the rink (because of COVID-19) and we’re just trying to be cautious. I think in the future we’ll be able to do a lot It was definitely an overtime goal to remember. more things and we’ll be hanging out a bunch.”

It will become even more memorable if the Canadiens can come back Finally some fans and win their first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Saturday’s game will be the first with fans at the Bell Centre since March With the scored tied 3-3 in Game 5 Thursday night in Toronto and the 10 of last year when the Canadiens lost 4-2 to the Nashville Predators. Canadiens facing elimination after blowing a 3-0 lead they had in the second period, Nick Suzuki scored only 59 seconds into OT to force It will be Caufield’s first game at the Bell Centre with any fans. Game 6 Saturday at the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, “No matter the amount of people that are in the Bell Centre it’s going to TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). be electric,” Caufield said. “We can just count on those fans to be The Leafs had the puck in the Canadiens’ zone when Alex Galchenyuk passionate and dedicated to being behind us, giving every ounce of had his pass intercepted just inside the blue line by Cole Caufield, who excitement they can. The guys have told me a lot about what it’s like sped away with Suzuki on a 2-on-0 breakaway. when it’s a packed house. It’s pretty surreal … you can’t really put it into words, I guess. I’m excited … the 2,500 people are going to be on their Here’s how Caufield described what happened next. feet getting loud for us. I’m really excited for that and it’s going to be a special moment for us and hopefully we can get the job done for them.” “We were coming back in the zone and (Tyler Toffoli) was actually just going to be the low guy so Suzy had to read off of him and he kind of Tatar knows what it’s like to play at a packed Bell Centre, but is excited took Toff’s spot,” Caufield recalled on Friday. “So I just kind of filled the about seeing even a small amount of fans back in the building. middle there and made sure there was no place to the middle and it ended up on my stick and the rest we finished the job. But it was a good “I don’t know how loud it can get with these numbers,” he said. “But it sort out by us. Guys got to read off things and react from the different definitely will be super nice to see fans around during the warmup during plays on the ice. the game. It gives you that little bit of extra push through the game.”

“Once the puck got on my stick, I think the first thing I was thinking was Returning home just to beat that defenceman to make sure it was a 2-on-0,” Caufield The Canadiens flew back to Montreal from Toronto after Thursday night’s added. “Once we did that, I gave it to Nick, I got it back. I think the best game and Tatar was asked if there was a sense of relief on the plane part about that was I think the goalie (Jack Campbell) thought I was after the OT victory. going to shoot. The puck was kind of rolling at the end but Nick buried it, luckily enough, and we got a big win for us.” “I wouldn’t say relieved,” he said. “The job is still not done. There are hopefully two games ahead of us. We were definitely happy. When your Teammate Tomas Tatar enjoyed watching the goal from the bench. back is against the wall and you do the right step and push yourself off a “Cole actually asked me after if I thought it was offside and I said: ‘To be little bit it makes you happy, for sure. Today’s a new day and we have to honest, I was just enjoying and trying to focus on how you two were focus again on what to do best tomorrow to be successful again.” going to finish this, so I wouldn’t even care about the blue line,'” Tatar Head coach Dominique Ducharme said Jake Evans, who has missed the said. “I wasn’t even watching the blue line. I was just trying to think how last four games with an injury, is doing better and he expects to have are they going to score the goal, which they did. I think they did a great more details on the forward’s condition Saturday. The coach added he job.” will consider all options if Evans is available to play. Caufield and Suzuki also had a pretty good celebration after the goal. Ducharme doesn’t expect Artturi Lehkonen, who has missed the last two “I just love how they enjoyed it,” Tatar said. “They obviously know what games with an injury, to play. kind of skill they have and you have to have certain skill to be able to get “We definitely did a lot of good things out there,” Tatar said about the to the league. … They come to a market like this is and coming to the Canadiens’ performance in Game 5. “We were helping each other. It was NHL — for Cole coming to the playoffs. He should enjoy it and I think he pretty tight at the end, but we stayed strong and stayed mentally focused does. He’s a very skilled and very smart player. He’s not a big guy, but and win it in overtime. But I think we did a lot of good stuff through the just how smart, extra smart he has to be on the ice to be able to win game and we (kept) the pressure through the whole game. So I think we battles or create open ice for himself. I think him and Nick are extremely were pretty happy with the way we played. We just have to continue to intelligent players and I hope the Montreal Canadiens fans will enjoy do the same way. It’s a big game coming and we’re very excited and them for a long time. looking forward to it. “I came with Nick from Vegas,” Tatar added about him and Suzuki both “I think we can still get better,” Tatar added. “.We know what we are and being acquired by the Canadiens in the Max Pacioretty trade before the what we can do on the ice. The game plan’s going to be the same start of the 2018-19 season. “In a (training) camp where I saw him I could tomorrow from the puck drop. We want to stay focused and play hard see the potential that he has and I think the same goes for Cole. To have and make it hard on them. I think we enjoyed the game last night and we a season like that in college (at the University of Wisconsin), it’s raised the bar higher, but we want to be even better.” extraordinary the numbers that he put on and you can see the skill that he has during the practices. Now it’s about work ethic and commitment to What about Romanov? hockey and I think they both are very smart guys, so I think they are heading to the right path, for sure.” Ducharme was asked Friday about the situation with defenceman Alexander Romanov, who has been a healthy scratch for all five games Building chemistry in this playoff series.

While Caufield and Suzuki enjoyed celebrating after the OT goal in Game “I won’t go in details on that,” the coach said. “I like to talk to my players, 5, the focus now is on Game 6. sit down with them, and make them understand really from top to bottom the reasons why and so on. In going public with that I don’t think is a good thing. I talked about that before. The game goes through four levels, for me, throughout a season and to be able to raise your game through those four stages is something that you need to learn. To be able to do that is not easy.

“He’s a young guy, we like him, he’s got a great future,” Ducharme added. “He played 54 games this year in the NHL with a lot of challenges with everything that we went through. Not because he’s not playing the game right now that we’re not working with him. There are a lot of things that we’re working with him right now on the ice and off the ice. I won’t go in details exactly on those things because I think it’s more for him and I don’t want to go there.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214431 Montreal Canadiens We were able to produce some scoring chances. So I think we’ll keep the same strategy tomorrow and make it as tough as possible for them.”

Tatar is hoping it won’t be his last game with his two friends and Tomas Tatar hoping Game 6 vs. Leafs isn't his last with Canadiens linemates.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.29.2021

Stu Cowan • Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 9 hours ago

"NHL is a business,” says the Canadiens’ Tomas Tatar, who can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, along with linemate Phillip Danault. "You can’t keep everyone."

Tomas Tatar doesn’t want the relationship to end.

For the last three seasons, Tatar’s regular linemates with the Canadiens have been Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher. But when the Canadiens play the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series Saturday at the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) it could be the last time they ever play together.

The Canadiens are facing elimination for the second straight game after winning Game 5 by a 4-3 score in overtime Thursday night in Toronto. Tatar and Danault can both become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season and it seems unlikely they would both return with the Canadiens already up tight against the NHL salary cap. It’s also possible both of them will be gone.

“Honestly, I just want to enjoy every shift with Brendan and Phillip,” Tatar said Friday. “You never know when it’s going to be our last one. Both of us contracts expiring. NHL is a business. You can’t keep everyone. You have to make some decisions that have to be made at the end of the season. I had one of the best three years of my career, for sure, playing with these two guys. We were so close on and off the ice. Honestly, I just want to play as long as possible with them. So hopefully we can give it all tomorrow and we can play another game in this series. I just want to enjoy it with them. They are my great friends and we have become pretty close friends. So to me that’s something very special that was built here in Montreal with this team and I will probably never forget it.

“I didn’t really know Gally and Phil before I got here and once we were put together as a line we were talking, helping each other on and off the ice,” Tatar added. “It became a very big friendship. To come here every day and enjoy the presence of these two guys for me and that chemistry that we build on the ice and how successful we were over the course of the three years was very special, for sure. I personally just enjoyed it a lot and hope and I wish it will continue, for sure.”

While Tatar has had success in the past with Danault and Gallagher, they have yet to score a goal in the first five games of this series with Toronto. Tatar is the only one with a point, picking up an assist.

“I think we’re making a lot better plays through the neutral zone,” Tatar said. “We were getting to their O-zone a lot easier (in Game 5) than games before, which creates a lot of O-zone time and O-zone chances.

“The same goes for our team and the same goes for our line,” Tatar added. “We raised the bar higher yesterday and we want to continue to grow. I’m sure we’ll feel a lot better if one of us puts the puck in the net. That gives the line an extra boost, but I don’t think we’re far away. We created chances in previous games, we were just not fortunate enough to put it in. Maybe now is going to be the best timing to do it, for sure.”

While Tatar’s line hasn’t had success on offence, it has been strong defensively while mostly matched up against Toronto’s No. 1 line of Auston Matthews between Zach Hyman and Mitch Marner. Matthews, who led the NHL with 41 goals in 52 games during the regular season, has only one goal in the first five games, along with three assists. Marner has no goals and four assists, while Hyman has one goal and no assists.

Marner finished fourth in NHL scoring this season with 20-47-67 totals, while Matthews was fifth with 41-25-66.

“We did a pretty good job last night,” Tatar said after limiting Toronto’s No. 1 line to one goal by Hyman. “Most of the time our line is matched up against them, which is a big defensive responsibility. They’re great players … I think the stats talk for themselves, for sure. But yesterday I think we did great. We were put in a lot of defensive-zone faceoffs, which Phil was tremendous. I think me and Gally create a lot of battles for them, which makes it tougher. And we didn’t spend (a lot of) time in our zone. 1214432 Montreal Canadiens “I think he’s confident in what he does,” Ducharme said when asked about Caufield. “What I like is that he’s really paying attention to everything. We know that he’s an offensive guy that can be scoring goals … he wants to be playing the game the right way. Those little things Canadiens' Cole Caufield gets big support from NFL star J.J. Watt when you talk in one situation with him and you see the same situation or something really similar happening again you can see he’s paying

attention because he’s adjusting, he’s adapting, he’s really paying Stu Cowan • Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 11 hours ago • attention to what we talked about and little details in the game.

“So I really like that for right now, but I also and mostly like that for his future,” the coach added. “It’s really nice to see the way he’s reacting "It’s been really good for me to be out there,” the Canadiens’ Cole right now, the way he’s handling himself.” Caufield says after being made a healthy scratch for first two games of playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. "I think every shift you’re J.J. Watt would agree. just learning more things and it’s working out for the best." Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.29.2021 J.J. Watt is probably Cole Caufield’s biggest fan at 6-foot-5 and 288 pounds.

The star defensive end with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals played his college football at the University of Wisconsin, which is also where the 5- foot-7, 162-pound Caufield played hockey.

During the Canadiens’ 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series with Caufield sitting out as a healthy scratch, Watt tweeted: “This Canadiens-Leafs game could use some Cole Caufield.”

Caufield was also made a healthy scratch for Game 2, which the Canadiens lost 5-1, but the right-winger made it to the lineup for Game 3 and has stayed in ever since.

With the Canadiens facing elimination in overtime of Game 5 Thursday night in Toronto and the score tied 3-3, Caufield intercepted a pass in the Canadiens zone and sped away on a 2-on-0 breakaway with Nick Suzuki, who ended up scoring the winning goal on a pretty back-and- forth passing play.

After the game, Watt tweeted: “You’re welcome @CanadiensMTL”.

“He also went to Wisconsin,” Caufield said Friday when asked about the support he has received from Watt. “So I think when you’re a Badger you’re kind of a family. No matter what your sport or where you’ve come from, I think we’re all kind of close. It’s obviously nice to have the guys support you like that. He’s a guy I look up to a lot. He’s a great person. I thank him for his support and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Caufield will definitely be back in the lineup for Game 6 against the Leafs Saturday at the Bell Centre with the Canadiens facing elimination for the second straight game (7:30 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

“Being able to watch and get that experience is one thing,” Caufield said about sitting out the first two games of the series. “But being able to play and be out there and experience those things on the ice is another. It’s been really good for me to be out there. I think every shift you’re just learning more things and it’s working out for the best. Getting more experience and every shift counts. At this point, it’s all about execution and doing the right things. So I think the experience is out the window and you need to do the right things to help the team win.

“I don’t think that’s something for us to decide on,” Caufield added about the lineup decisions made by head coach Dominique Ducharme. “The coaching staff has the say and we have all the trust in the world in them to make the right decisions. Game 1 and 2, 3, 4, they’re all behind us — (Game) 5, too. We’re just focused on the next one. You put the past in the past and you regroup and you focus with the lineup that you’re given. All the guys that they put out there are the guys they trust to win and stuff. We got some great young talent in the room here, but right now we’re all just focused on winning. I think everybody’s on board with that.”

Caufield has six shots on goal in the three games he has played — plus another he rang off the crossbar early in Game 3 while on the power play — with one assist and a minus-2 while averaging 17:24 of ice time. He certainly hasn’t looked out of place and has created scoring chances, including Suzuki’s OT winner in Game 5.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who was made a healthy scratch for Game 1, scored his second goal of the series in Game 5 and now has six goals in 14 postseason games going back to last year. Meanwhile, young defenceman Alexander Romanov has remained a healthy scratch for all five games of this series with Toronto. 1214433 Montreal Canadiens Canadiens lost 4-2 to the Nashville Predators. It’s remarkable to think back now about how much has happened in the world since then.

“I think for the fans here in Montreal, so passionate about the team, going Stu Cowan: Do the Canadiens have another fan-tastic finish in them? through that tough time with the virus and all the restrictions and to be able to see people there (at the Bell Centre) is not only for hockey, I think it’s a good sign for what people in Quebec, here in Montreal, in Canada — what people went through,” Canadiens head coach Dominique Stu Cowan Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 7 hours ago Ducharme said Friday. “We can see the light at the end of the tunnel there. It’s really positive and I think it’s great for hockey, hockey fans, but I think it’s a great sign for the population in general. How many of you thought the Canadiens were done going into Game 5 Thursday night in Toronto? “We’ve talked about we have an opportunity to do something special,” Ducharme added. “And when opportunities come like this, you’ve got to I know I did after they scored only four goals in the first four games of make the most out of it. The guys really played for each other (in Game their first-round playoff series against the Maple Leafs while falling 5) and fought hard. … Now it’s behind us and we’ve got to prepare for behind 3-1 and facing elimination in Game 5. tomorrow. For us it’s tomorrow night again, like the last couple of months, tomorrow night is the most important game of the year.” But, as I have written several times, the only consistent thing about the Canadiens this season has been their inconsistency and it was on Who’s going to win Game 6? display again Thursday night. At this point, your guess is as good as mine. After storming out to a 2-0 lead only eight minutes into the game on two goals by Joel Armia and then taking a 3-0 lead when Jesperi Kotkaniemi But it should be a lot of fun no matter who you’re cheering for and scored at 4:52 of the second period, the wheels started to fall off. whether you spent a small fortune to be there in person or are watching at home on TV. The Leafs fought back to tie it 3-3 and send the game to overtime while holding all the momentum. After everything we’ve all been through, Hockey Night in Canada is finally getting back to normal and that’s something to celebrate. But former Canadien Alex Galchenyuk made a bonehead pass (sound familiar?) when the Leafs had the puck in the offensive zone that resulted Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.29.2021 in a two-man breakaway the other way with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. After three pretty passes back and forth, Suzuki scored the winner only 59 seconds into OT.

That’s the same Caufield who the Canadiens didn’t think was good enough to play in the first two games of this series and made him a healthy scratch while they scored only three goals while splitting the first two games in Toronto. Kotkaniemi, who has two goals in this series and six goals in 14 playoff games including last season, was also made a healthy scratch in Game 1.

Go figure.

Now the stage is set for Game 6 Saturday at the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) with 2,500 fans allowed in the stands. The Game 6 tickets were first made available to Canadiens season-ticket holders with three price ranges: $190, $260 and $330 per ticket. Since then the economic law of supply-and-demand has kicked into full gear and the asking price for tickets on the Ticketmaster website Friday afternoon had soared well above $5,000, including service fees of more than $1,000.

I wonder if some of those tickets might end up in the hands of wealthy Toronto fans hoping to see the Leafs win a playoff series for the first time since 2004 with hopes of winning their first Stanley Cup since 1967. COVID-19 travel restrictions will make it difficult for them to get to Montreal, but often when there’s a will there’s a way and it wouldn’t be a shock to hear some “Go Leafs Go!” chants Saturday night at the Bell Centre, which often happens when the Leafs are in town for a regular- season game.

Montreal Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi steals the puck from Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Rasmus Sandin and moves in to score in Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on May 27, 2021.

The Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki beats Maple Leafs goalie Jack Campbell in overtime for 4-3 victory in Game 5 of first-round playoff series Thursday night in Toronto.

About Last Night: Habs surrender lead but win 4-3 in OT in Game 5

When the Leafs’ Jason Spezza was asked Friday about the possibility of Toronto fans paying top dollar and making efforts to come to Montreal for Game 6, he said: “I saw that (travelling road show) first hand in Ottawa (while with the Senators). One of the coolest things playing for a club like this is when we go on the road, we see the support we have. So, no, I wouldn’t be surprised. I’m sure the Canadiens will try and control who gets the tickets. But it never ceases to amaze me the support the Leafs get on the road.”

The Leafs — and their fans — were ready to celebrate Thursday night in Toronto, but the Canadiens spoiled the party. Saturday night’s game will be the first at the Bell Centre with fans since March 10 last year when the 1214434 Montreal Canadiens be thinking of nothing other than how to surround them with some suitable talent when that moment comes.

They shouldn’t be focusing on those rentals because there’s no run What the Puck: Canadiens' Game 5 win offers glimpse of CH future coming this year. The Montreal-Toronto series has been one of the duller first-round battles and I continue to believe even the Leafs don’t hold a candle to the top teams still playing.

Brendan Kelly • Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 13 hours ago • The best news to come out of this matchup is the success of all the young dudes. So stop putting roadblocks in front of them. Thursday night

proved they’re the future — and the present. The kids sure were alright Thursday night in Toronto. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.29.2021 In the first minute of overtime, Cole Caufield, 20, intercepted a boneheaded pass from former Hab Alex Galchenyuk and the young man immediately made a beeline toward Jack Campbell’s net. He was accompanied just to his left by another kid, Nick Suzuki, 21, and these two college-age players pulled off one of the more memorable plays from recent Canadiens history.

They came in alone on Campbell and you could see that the Maple Leafs’ goalie was certain Caufield was going to shoot for the very good reason that Caufield is a shooter. But the wonder of Wisconsin completely baffled the netminder by sending it right back to Suzuki at the last second and before you could say “reset on the fly,” the puck was in the net and suddenly we had a playoff series.

It was a great moment for a team that has been notably short in classic playoff moments during the Marc Bergevin era. Fun times.

Even better, you just know all of the Toronto players, and especially the coaches and managers, are beginning to wonder if it’s happening again. “It” is the Leafs’ usual first-round collapse. Of course it’s still 3-2 for Toronto, and Montreal will have to win two in a row to win this thing. I hardly need to remind you that this Habs team has been consistent in its inconsistency all season. So a Canadiens victory isn’t the most likely outcome.

But what Game 5 showed is that this team has an exciting core of next- generation players, in Suzuki, Caufield and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The Finnish centre, who’s still just 20, only made it into the series because Jake Evans got injured and he has two goals in the series, which is a lot for a team that is ridiculously bad at scoring in the post-season.

It’s interesting that his goal was a greasy one, scored thanks to KotkaKid getting right in the blue paint and doing the dirty work à la Brendan Gallagher. It wasn’t pretty, but it did the job.

These three, plus defenceman Alexander Romanov, are the future of this team, and this seems clear to everyone except Habs management. Three of the four were not in the lineup on opening night in Toronto and, astonishingly, Romanov still hasn’t seen any action, with head coach Dominique Ducharme preferring virtually anyone to the 21-year-old Russian. I find this completely incomprehensible. He played 54 games this season and when he joined the Habs last summer, Bergevin said he was NHL-ready.

If they had incredible defencemen in instead of him there wouldn’t be so much discontent about this. But Ducharme has put in middling rentals like Jon Merrill and Erik Gustafsson instead of Romanov and you might wonder how that makes the young Russian feel. Also he is probably the best checker of any Habs blue-liner and you would think he’d come in handy this week.

Ducharme also didn’t start Caufield until Game 3, arguing that he was too inexperienced. As soon as the kid arrived, he looked more dangerous than any other forward on the team.

The reality is the Habs aren’t winning the Stanley Cup this season and probably aren’t going far in the playoffs. If that’s the case, the most important thing is to give their young players crucial playoff experience. There is no small amount of speculation that the lineup decisions are being made not by the “interim” head coach but by his boss, Bergevin, who was spotted down in the tunnel with the players and coaches before the overtime.

Is he twisting Ducharme’s arm to put in the vets he picked up precisely for the playoff run? Ducharme’s in a tough spot. He has the lame-duck “interim” tag and it’s easy to imagine he’ll try to please the boss in order to keep his gig.

The fact is Suzuki, Caufield, Kotkaniemi and Romanov could be the core of a pretty interesting team in four or five years and management should 1214435 Montreal Canadiens Some people will do anything for money: Patrick Roy and Mario Tremblay, whose 1995 feud led to Roy’s departure from the Canadiens, have buried the hatchet and all it took was an Uber Eats commercial.

Hickey on hockey: Canadiens rookie Cole Caufield shows he belongs Roy felt he was embarrassed by Tremblay when the coach left him in the nets until the Detroit Red Wings piled up a 9-1 lead, but he wasn’t embarrassed to have Tremblay beat him by the same score in a table hockey game during the commercial. Pat Hickey • Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 14 hours ago • The spot could be the start of a series with Marc Bergevin squaring off

against Andrei Markov or Bob Gainey taking on Guy Carbonneau. Long before Cole Caufield picked off a pass — from former Canadien Leafs fans big on tattoos: A totally unscientific study by gambling.com Alex Galchenyuk, no less — and set up Nick Suzuki for the winning goal reveals that the Maple Leafs logo is the most popular tattoo among in Thursday’s Game 5 overtime win over the Maple Leafs, he made sports fans. The study, which measured Instagram hashtags showed another play that showed why he is a special player. 5,663 fans sporting the Leafs logo. That far eclipsed the Denver Broncos Caufield raced the length of the ice to break up a Toronto rush, logo, which was found on 3,805 fans. The Ottawa Senators were 25th prompting Sportsnet analyst Craig Simpson to say that was the kind of with 325 tattoos, but there were no figures on how many fans are play that could earn Caufield a start in the next game. representing the iconic Canadiens logo.

There shouldn’t be any doubt about the rookie’s status with the Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.29.2021 Canadiens and, in fact, he should have been in the lineup from the first drop of the puck in Game 1.

Caufield sat out the first two games in Toronto because the Canadiens felt the youngster would be overwhelmed on the road and that he would benefit from watching from the press gallery. This was a case of the Canadiens not understanding what they have. Caufield reminds me of Martin St. Louis, a player who was ignored by the NHL during his formative years because of his size. St. Louis had to work harder to prove that he belonged in the NHL and he earned a place in the .

Caufield might never reach that level, but he has shown that he is a hard- working, two-way winger and, if the Canadiens had challenged him by starting him in Game 1, he would have met that challenge.

Is there a spot for Romanov? The Canadiens have used seven defencemen in this series and Alexander Romanov hasn’t been one of them.

Last summer, general manger Marc Bergevin burned a year of Romanov’s entry-level contract and bemoaned the fact that he wasn’t available to play in the Toronto playoff bubble. Bergevin declared him NHL ready and he appeared in 54 of 56 regular-season games this season, averaging 17 minutes a game.

But now, someone has decided that he can’t play ahead of Jon Merrill and Erik Gustafsson, a couple of journeymen who were picked up late in the season as insurance policies.

This is wrong on several levels.

For starters, the Canadiens seemed reluctant to put Merrill and Gustafsson on the ice Thursday night. Merrill played 9:18 and Gustafsson got a little more (10:16) because he had some power-play time. The Canadiens relied on their top four, with Ben Chiarot (28:27) and Shea Weber (27:06) doing the heavy lifting. Montreal was lucky the overtime ended quickly or those two would have been running on fumes.

There’s also the matter of how this might affect Romanov. He’s an upbeat guy, but this experience can’t be good for his confidence and he has to be wondering why he isn’t playing. The situation also doesn’t make any sense from a development standpoint because Romanov should be around for a long time and it would be good to see how he handles the pressure of the playoffs. Gustafsson and Merrill, on the other hand, will probably be moving on when the season ends.

Some fans look to cash in: Game 6 Saturday will see the Bell Centre welcome fans for the first time since March 10, 2020, and — while I thought it would have been a nice gesture for the Canadiens to offer the 2,500 available tickets to front-line workers — I have no problem with the prized tickets going to the team’s longtime season-ticket holders.

I do have a problem with some of the so-called fans trying to profit by taking advantage of the law of supply and demand. Within hours of the tickets being doled out with face values ranging from $190 to $330, they began to appear on resale sites.

You can find a nosebleed seat for a shade under $1,500, while someone is offering two centre-ice red sets for $10,000 each, with Ticketmaster adding $2,300 for fees and taxes. 1214436 Montreal Canadiens 2. “May be just may be, if we win game 6, doubt will creep in TO based on their history…..” -Moshe Dukani

1. “This is going to be awesome!! Curfew lifted tomorrow. Sunny About Last Night: Habs surrender lead but win 4-3 in OT in Game 5 weekend. Terasses open tomorrow and Montreal is playing Toronto on Saturday night in Montreal for game 6 with fans in attendance for the first time in a year!! ….EPIC weekend coming up – the best weekend in months!!” -Brian Bailey Erik Leijon • Publishing date:May 28, 2021 • 20 hours ago • Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.29.2021

After jumping to an early three-goal advantage, squandering the lead and then winning in overtime, the Montreal Canadiens lived to fight another day with a hair-raising 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5 of their first-round best-of-seven series. The reward for that victory is the first game of the season in front of spectators: 2,500 at the Bell Centre this Saturday night, to be precise.

Let’s get straight to the winner, courtesy of Cole Caufield stealing the puck from Alex Galchenyuk before setting up give-and-go partner Nick Suzuki with the finisher past Jack Campbell:

Although cautiously handled early in the series, when he was benched for the first two games, Caufield was out in the opening minute of the first overtime of the series with Montreal’s season on the line.

Everything was hunky-dory in the first. Sleeping giant Joel Armia awoke from his 12-game goalless slumber to score twice in the game’s opening 10 minutes. The first came thanks to Corey Perry landing a big hit on Toronto puck carrier Rasmus Sandin, which allowed Armia to turn back toward the net and send a wrister past Campbell.

On the second goal, Armia and Perry were hacking away at the loose puck around a sprawling Campbell, with Armia eventually tallying the marker.

The team that couldn’t score suddenly exited the first period with a 2-0 lead, but the second periods of this series have been their undoing, so when Jesperi Kotkaniemi single-handedly gave the team a 3-0 advantage by stealing the puck behind the net, bringing it out and banging it in from close range for his sixth career playoff goal, it felt like the Canadiens had reversed their downward trend. If only things had been that simple.

Less than two minutes later, the Leafs got one back. Mitch Marner centred to a pile of bodies in front of Carey Price, with the puck ping- ponging to Zach Hyman and eventually under Shea Weber’s leg along the goal line to put the Leafs on the board.

The Habs exited the second period still up by two. The bad second- period karma that seemed to vanish Thursday night actually transferred over to a calamitous third that saw the Canadiens blow their biggest lead of the series.

Under seven minutes into the third, Jake Muzzin struck fear in the hearts of Habs fans everywhere, reducing the deficit to one with a seeing-eye shot that sailed through traffic and past a stationary Price, who never saw the puck.

If Armia was an unlikely offensive hero for the Habs, then Muzzin was an even more surprising one for the Leafs, but it was a deflected puck off the defenceman’s stick that wiggled its way through Price’s five-hole to tie the game. Their comfortable lead vanished, the Canadiens were forced to scratch and claw their way to a potential Game 6.

Overtime was short and sweet for the Canadiens. In the opening minute, Galchenyuk had his blue-line pass picked off by Caufield, who rushed down the ice with Nick Suzuki on a two-on-zero. It was hard to see at first, but Suzuki’s reaction said it all: the Habs squeezed out a second victory in the series and will play at least one more game this Saturday. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a nice change of pace to see some goals, especially from the younger players. The Liveblog commenters seemed resigned to their fate after Muzzin tied it up. Let’s hope for some more pep from the 2,500 strong who will pay through the teeth to be there.

Besides, if Patrick Roy and Mario Tremblay can bury the hatchet for an Uber Eats commercial, anything’s possible, including a comeback win for the underdog Habs:

3. “I’m gonna say Suzuki from CC on a two-on-0 in the first minute of OT. Why not shoot for the moon, huh? *EDIT: I really did post that 15 minutes ago, but it didn’t just show until now. Believe me. Please.” -Balls McPhee 1214437 Montreal Canadiens It’s going to be a special moment for us, so hopefully we get the job done for them.”

About that, 2,500 tickets were sold to season ticket holders, but many of Canadiens playoff notebook: Nature is healing with fans returning, them have made their way to the online resale market. As of late Friday Tomas Tatar sees the end, juggling the defence afternoon, the cheapest ticket to the game in the whites available on Stub Hub was $1,135, while the most expensive more than $5,600 to sit against the glass. The possibility therefore exists that some Maple Leafs fans will snatch up some tickets and be among the crowd, though at By Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin May 29, 2021 those prices it seems outrageous.

Still, if they do, it would only add to the normalcy of the evening. Because This notion exists that the Canadiens will benefit from some sort of no Leafs-Habs game on a Saturday night at the Bell Centre is complete additional home-ice advantage because 2,500 fans will be cheering them without somewhat of a split in the crowd, the dueling “Go Habs Go” and on in Game 6 of their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on “Go Leafs Go” chants. Saturday night. But however the atmosphere winds up being will be welcome. Simply After waiting 14 months for this moment to arrive in Canada, after because it’s there. watching playoff games in the United States played in partially full “I think it’s a good sign for people in Quebec, here in Montreal, in buildings create energy and excitement we have all been longing to see Canada, what people went through, we can see the light at the end of the and hear and feel for all that time, after Winnipeg Jets coach Paul tunnel there,” Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme said. “It’s really Maurice acknowledged how envious he felt watching those games, does positive and it’s great for hockey fans, but I think it’s a great sign for the anyone honestly believe the athletes themselves will care whether that population in general.” crowd of 2,500 fans at the Bell Centre are cheering for them or the other team? There is a cliché in hockey that says you need to play every shift as if it’s your last. This is exactly how Tatar is approaching things right now, “The good news for us, we’ve played in front of people before,” Maple because it appears obvious to him that his partnership with Brendan Leafs centre Jason Spezza said Friday, “so we should be comfortable Gallagher and Phillip Danault has an expiry date — and it is fast with it.” approaching. Then, Spezza laughed a bit. The chances that all three forwards who have formed the Canadiens’ Because who the fans are cheering for is completely irrelevant. The fact best line for three seasons can continue working together with Tatar’s they are cheering at all, the fact they are even there, is all that matters. and Danault’s contracts coming to an end soon don’t appear very high, Their presence in that building Saturday night on “Hockey Night in and Tatar sees it. Canada,” broadcast coast to coast, will send a common message to “Honestly, I just want to enjoy every shift with Brendan and Phillip,” Tatar Canadiens and Maple Leafs fans alike. It will send a common message said. “The NHL is a business. You can’t keep everyone, you have to to fans of the other Canadian teams as well, to fans of some other team, make some decisions, or they’ll have to be made at the end of the casual fans or maybe even people who couldn’t care less what happens season. I had one of the best three years of my career, for sure, playing in the game or the playoffs or about hockey in general. with these two guys. We were so close on and off the ice and, honestly, I And, after making his little funny, Spezza was able to acknowledge that just wanted to play as long as possible with them. as well. “Hopefully we can give it all (Saturday) and we can play another game in “In terms of just having people in the building, I think it’s a great step this series, and I just want to enjoy it with them. They are my great towards what the future may hold here in terms of getting back to normal friends, and we became pretty close friends. So to me, that’s something and talking more about life and allowing people into the building,” he very special that we built here in Montreal and this team, and I will said. “So, great to have people in the building — we enjoy playing in front probably never forget it.” of fans, we’re used to playing in front of fans, so we should be able to It’s quite unusual to hear a player talk this way in the middle of a playoff handle that type of pressure. But it’s going to add a little more excitement series. We would have expected Tatar to put off the question until after to the game, which we welcome as players.” the playoffs. The fact he answered, and did so as honestly as he did, was Saturday night should be a significant moment, a milestone in Canada’s remarkable. battle against this virus that has taken so much from us, the latest sign And then there was the tense he used. The past tense. that we are fighting back and reclaiming our lives. Sometimes things can get lost in translation when a player is speaking in In that sense, the 2,500 people in the building will never match the sound his second language. But sometimes that slight language barrier can of 20,000-plus in the Bell Centre at playoff time. But when you consider make a player’s comments more direct and sincere once all the nuance how long it has been, consider how accustomed the players have that comes with familiarity with a language gets stripped away. become to the sterile environment that existed in last summer’s playoff bubble and in rinks across the country this season, whatever noise that Speaking in his native Slovak with colleague Zdenek Matejovsky, Tatar small crowd can muster will likely sound louder than the Bell Centre has said there were no negotiations going on with the Canadiens (which is ever been. perfectly normal at this time of year) and that he’s focused on the playoffs. His future in the NHL can wait. “I’m extremely excited to see fans in our building who will cheer for us,” Tomas Tatar said Friday. “I don’t know how loud it can get with these Again this year, Tatar’s playoffs have not produced the results he has numbers, but it will definitely be super nice to see fans around during the shown capable of producing in the regular season. Were it not for the fact warmup, during the game. It gives you that little bit of extra push through that Eric Staal was injured for Game 3, Tatar would have watched the the game.” game from a Bell Centre loge. Ducharme said Tatar’s difficulty in creating offence stems from the game’s intensity ramping up and Tatar seemingly Tatar, however, has experienced the Bell Centre at its finest. How the being unable to keep up. crowd can actually sway the outcome of a game. There are so many new players on the Canadiens who have never lived through that, at least not There’s a big difference between how scoring chances are generated at as a member of the home team. And then there’s Cole Caufield, the beginning of the season and in the playoffs, Ducharme said. someone who will likely be forcing Canadiens fans to get out of their seats and scream for years but also will be playing his first NHL game in “I don’t think it’s something that he’s doing differently; it’s really a matter front of paying customers. of adapting to this moment and overcoming this challenge,” he said. “You need to be even more dynamic. Capitalizing on your chances is “No matter the amount of people that are going to be in the Bell Centre, important; creating them is, too.” it’s going to be electric,” Caufield said. “You can just count on those fans to be passionate and dedicated to being behind us, giving every single Data from Natural Stat Trick would seem to support what Ducharme is ounce of excitement they can. … I’m really excited. The 2,500 people are saying. going to be on their feet getting loud for us, so I’m really excited for that. Tatar in the playoffs vs. regular season “We knew (Thursday) when we started the game that those guys would be getting more minutes,” Ducharme said. “Every situation and every Playoffs game is different. We can’t say Chiarot will play exactly the same number 40 of minutes … but there’s no doubt those guys will be used and they will be used more than they were in the regular season and earlier in the 24 series.”

0.6 Then there’s the other obvious question, which is more pressing about this whole situation and, frankly, more confusing. And that is how 3 Gustafsson, who played five games for the Canadiens after their suspect 12.5% decision to acquire him at the trade deadline, has somehow jumped ahead of prized rookie Alexander Romanov on the depth chart. How 0.075 Romanov can go from playing 54 out of 56 regular-season games to not even getting one playoff game. Regular season Ducharme was asked this question directly after days of tiptoeing around 625 it, and he didn’t want to answer. But then he did answer. 449 “I won’t go in details on that. I like to talk to my players, sit down with 0.71 them and make them understand really from top to bottom the reasons why and so on. Going public with that, I don’t think is a good thing,” 116 Ducharme said. “I think Romy — I talked about that before — the game goes through four levels for me throughout a season. To be able to raise 25.8% your game through those four stages is something that you need to learn; 0.186 to be able to do that is not easy.

This table looks only at high-danger chances. Tatar not only gets fewer “He’s a young guy, we like him, he’s got a great future, he played 54 chances in the playoffs but also cashes them in less frequently. games this year in the NHL with a lot of challenges, with everything that we went through. It’s not because he’s not playing right now that we’re So is there still hope that the Tatar-Danault-Gallagher line can produce not working with him. There are a lot of things right now that we’re more, especially with the difficult defensive assignments they get? working with him on the ice and off the ice. So I won’t go in details Before Game 5, Gallagher said he was encouraged by the progress of exactly on those things because I think it’s more for him, and I don’t want his line from one game to another even if the numbers weren’t there. to go there.”

“Obviously we play our best hockey when we’re working together as a Basically, it would seem that Romanov failed the third stage of the unit, so it’s something that we enjoy,” Gallagher said. “And I owe a lot to season as he struggled down the stretch. Ducharme didn’t say that, but those two guys. It’s one of those situations where you want to earn one it’s certainly implied in his answer. Except it could also be argued that more game. Hopefully, we can do our job tonight, and then be good for Jesperi Kotkaniemi failed that stage as well, and he’s getting minutes and the team to earn that opportunity.” contributing. Ducharme even acknowledged that contribution Friday just before giving that answer about Romanov. Gallagher saying how much he owes to his linemates was the most revealing part of that answer. In a very consistent way, that line has “With everything we’re doing with our players, we want to put them in the successfully tilted the ice in the Canadiens’ favour for three seasons, and best conditions possible at the moment they’re available to play or when even when they are not producing they are usually able to keep the it’s the right moment to come in,” Ducharme said. “If we look at KK, I opposition’s top threat off the board. This is why Leafs coach Sheldon think the week of practice, the fact he took a step back missing the first Keefe occasionally got the Auston Matthews line away from them in game, he comes back in the second game and we like how he’s Game 5. reacted.”

Tatar is in full agreement with Gallagher. He also owes a lot to his Romanov plays a different position, and Rasmus Sandin’s series for the linemates. Leafs is an example of how a young defenceman can sometimes get eaten alive in the playoffs. But he has not been given the same “I didn’t really know Gally and Phil before I got here, and once we were opportunity to properly react as Kotkaniemi has, the same opportunity to put together as a line, we were talking to each other and helping each pass the test of the fourth stage of the season after having failed the other on and off the ice,” Tatar said. “It’s become a very big friendship. third. Just to come here every day and enjoy the presence of both these two guys, and that chemistry we built on the ice and how successful we were The Canadiens want to win, and that’s perfectly normal. But this is not over the course of the three years, was very special for sure. even about getting Romanov some playoff experience that would also serve as an investment into building a sustainable winner. It is far more “I personally just enjoyed it a lot, and I wish we would continue for sure.” basic and immediate than that.

Pretty soon, Tatar will have no influence on that anymore. Does Romanov give the Canadiens a better chance to win right now than Gustafsson? The juggling act on defence The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 The insertion of Erik Gustafsson into the lineup in Game 5 worked to the extent the Canadiens won the game, but it wasn’t simple or easy. He was meant to help the power play, but the Canadiens got only one of those and Gustafsson didn’t even start, playing 49 seconds with the man advantage. The third pairing was supposed to be made up of Gustafsson and Jon Merrill, but the two of them did not play a single shift together, forcing defence coach Luke Richardson to mix and match pairings to get them the roughly 10 minutes of ice time each received.

But the Canadiens won the game, and in the limited time Gustafsson played, he looked relatively effective.

With the series shifting to Montreal for Game 6, however, it is worth asking if this will be necessary with the Canadiens getting the last change. Or if it is necessary considering Gustafsson only played on one power play. Or if it is necessary since it forced the Canadiens to play Ben Chiarot and Shea Weber way too much and they can’t keep playing outrageous minutes forever. Joel Edmundson and Jeff Petry’s minutes were more reasonable, but that top four was leaned on heavily. 1214438 Montreal Canadiens Phillip Danault 8:40

Nick Suzuki Phillip Danault and his linemates are finding their comfort zone, and that bodes well for the Canadiens 4:09

Jake Evans

By Arpon Basu May 28, 2021 1:57

Eric Staal

Through 10 head-to-head matchups in the regular season, Toronto 1:00 Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe had never seemed overly preoccupied with the matchup of his top centre Auston Matthews and the Canadiens’ 2 top defensive centre, Phillip Danault. Phillip Danault

Whether it was in Toronto where Keefe controlled the matchups or it was 6:49 in Montreal where he didn’t, little effort was made to get Matthews and his linemates Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman away from the Selke-calibre Nick Suzuki Danault and his linemates Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Tatar. On the morning of Game 1 of this first-round series, Keefe explained why. 3:16

“First of all, I don’t feel the need to protect Auston from anybody,” Keefe Jesperi Kotkaniemi said. “He and Mitch, they need to take on the most difficult matchups. 2:37 That’s important for our team especially when you look at Danault with Gallagher and Tatar — that’s been as good a line as there is in the Eric Staal league the last few years. So that in itself, we have to respect that line as 1:52 well. 5 “Auston and Hyman and Mitch, those are three players that we like to take on those matchups and they’ve found a way to succeed in those Phillip Danault matchups. We’re going to look to put our best offensive people in favourable positions on the ice, but there’s just too many important 9:37 faceoffs and too many things that happen throughout the game to try to Nick Suzuki get away from it. … I’m not going to be hiding our best people from anyone.” 8:04

Fair enough. There would be no reason to hide Matthews and Marner in Jesperi Kotkaniemi particular from anyone considering the prolific season they had, especially Matthews, who led the league with 41 goals in 52 games. 4:19

Through the first two games of this series, Keefe held true to his word. Eric Staal He did not hide Matthews from Danault, not allowing Dominique 1:31 Ducharme to dictate when and where he would use his best player. This is what Danault is used to facing when he is on the road, where But by the start of Game 5, Matthews had one goal in four games, teams will make an effort to get their best offensive threats away from something that would probably be a massive storyline were it not for the him. It was a sign that he and his linemates were finding their game fact the Maple Leafs led the series 3-1 and had a chance to win their first again. playoff series since 2004 with a win on Thursday. For nearly two days, the Maple Leafs had been asked about that long drought and the Think of what this game meant to Danault, especially after the Canadiens importance to the fan base to break through and finally reach the second blew a 3-1 lead in the third period and allowed the Maple Leafs to tie it up round. 3-3. No one knows what will happen with Danault at the end of this season with his contract expiring and him potentially becoming one of the But after the Canadiens opened the scoring early in Game 5 on a goal by most attractive centres on the unrestricted free agent market. Joel Armia that came off an excellent forecheck from Corey Perry, Matthews was on the bench and rested. It was an important moment in The Canadiens’ future at centre is represented by the guy who scored the game for both the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs, with momentum the game-winning goal in overtime and the guy who took many of the to be either maintained or seized back. Ducharme sent Danault over the shifts against Matthews that didn’t go to Danault: Suzuki. Jesperi boards with Gallagher and Tatar. Keefe opted for Alexander Kerfoot, Alex Kotkaniemi, who scored his second goal of the series to make it 3-0 in Galchenyuk and William Nylander, which allowed Matthews to face the the second period, is also a big part of that future. No one really knows line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Tyler Toffoli on the following shift. what part of that future is represented by Danault, but with the potential finality of this game approaching, he seemed to want to put off that future When Armia scored again a few minutes later, Matthews was reasonably for at least another two days. His mentality entering the game was to well-rested on the bench and Ducharme again sent Danault out to take focus on the present instead. the ensuing faceoff. This time, Keefe opted to send Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton and Adam Brooks out, again choosing to wait a shift to send “I told myself that’s what I’m born for,” Danault said of his pregame Matthews out for a matchup against the line of Jesperi Kotkaniemi. mental preparation, “to be in those big moments.”

These were both relatively important faceoffs. Shifts after goals are Danault does not have a point in this series. But Matthews still has one always important. And yet Keefe chose to wait before sending Matthews goal after five games and Marner has none. Carey Price is a big reason out, and it was something we saw more and more as Game 5 went on. for that because the metrics would suggest Matthews’ line has created more than enough chances to have scored more than they have. But It would not be fair to say Keefe was hiding Matthews from Danault — Danault is a big part of it as well. they faced off against each other to start every period — but when you look at the matchups from Games 1 and 2 in Toronto and Game 5, you Aside from his defensive play, Danault finally found his touch in the notice that Matthews had the benefit of more variety against some of the faceoff circle in Game 5, winning 19-of-29 overall, but more importantly Canadiens’ younger centres in Game 5 then he did in the previous 9-of-13 against Matthews, who had generally owned him in the faceoff games in Toronto. circle all series.

Matthews' 5-on-5 matchups in Toronto “We were hungrier as a line, and we’re still building,” Danault said. “We had more confidence with the puck, we were making better plays, 1 creating more chances. We can be better, that’s for sure. And we want to be better and make a difference. Tonight was a good game.”

Danault didn’t want to go any further than that. He knew there’s more work left for him and the Canadiens to do. But if his line can build on what they did in Game 5, if they can become the line that Keefe described prior to the start of the series, the Canadiens have that much more of a chance to be back in Toronto for a Game 7.

“I can’t say exactly what Sheldon’s intention was on the other side,” Ducharme said, “but I found Danault’s line tonight was doing some good work.”

The Canadiens’ performance in Game 5 created something important not only for them and their fans, but the entire country. The Bell Centre will be opening its doors to 2,500 fans Saturday night, the first NHL game played in Canada in front of spectators, a moment everyone has been waiting more than 14 months to see.

“They will deserve that game, big time,” Danault said. “It’s going to be crazy there, it’s going to be awesome. I can’t wait to be in front of our fans. Been waiting for that all year, and here we are, Game 6, against Toronto, Saturday night at home, can’t get any better than that.”

The scenario is something that is at the heart of the Canadian experience, Leafs-Habs on Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada. It will provide something the country has long wanted. Normalcy.

But Game 6 will also provide some normalcy to Danault and his linemates, something they, too, have been seeking for a long time, ever since Gallagher went down with a broken thumb on April 5. They are accustomed to making some of the top players in the NHL uncomfortable, removing time and space, playing in the offensive zone and disrupting their rhythm. They will be playing at home Saturday and will surely see a heavy dose of the Matthews line, attempting to keep one of the most potent lines in the NHL off the scoresheet in an effort to get back here for Game 7.

And as Keefe made clear in Game 5, that’s not something he is all that comfortable with, either.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214439 Nashville Predators Credit to some promising young players this season that made a difference. Saros in particular offered fresh optimism for the future, but the decline of the past few years is why there has been so much talk about breaking apart the team and rebuilding. For all the Nashville Predators were, they're no longer a legit Stanley Cup hopeful | Estes On that, two things can be true:

That Poile, in hindsight, did the right thing in keeping this team together through the trade deadline and letting it play out. GENTRY ESTES But that major changes are still in order for a roster that lacks the pieces offensively to challenge for a Cup and is handicapped by bloated salaries and at least two forwards – Johansen and Matt Duchene – being paid too After the handshakes, the Nashville Predators stayed on the ice much for their production. Thursday night and raised sticks to an ovation from the remaining fans at Bridgestone Arena. It might be impossible for the Preds to rid themselves of those contracts amid a flat NHL salary cap, and that’ll make Poile’s other moves more As this ride was ending, such a salute felt deserved, if only because it important. was so inconceivable at one point. Now, it's tough to know how to digest this season. The team receiving Thursday night’s ovation could look a lot different next season, and if it does, that’ll be a positive sign. From a historical perspective, these Preds will go down as having accomplished little. But they also did more than they should've. They Because for all these Preds ended up being in 2020-21, they just weren’t were fortunate to even make the playoffs. Once there, they pushed the enough. heavily favored Carolina Hurricanes to six games. Tennessean LOADED: 05.29.2021 The better team won, but it was an entertaining series. The Preds put on a good show – as they’d been doing for the past few months, redeeming themselves and keeping hope alive in a rescued season.

The 4-3 overtime defeat in Game 6 finally stopped that, and in the aftermath, forward Ryan Johansen made a puzzling observation: “We’re close. We’re very close.”

Close? To what?

Look, these Preds had a lot of strong qualities. They were resilient. They played inspired at times, usually when motivated by desperate circumstances. That made them a tough out.

But they weren’t close.

Not to this franchise’s goal, which is still the Stanley Cup, right?

They are getting further away, in fact. Since the run to the Finals in 2017, they’ve won only one postseason series. They’ve lost their last four.

This franchise is no longer a declining NHL powerhouse. It is a former NHL powerhouse. If last season’s failures and a dismal start to this season didn’t prove it, then this series against the Canes did.

As close as the games were, the gap between teams was glaring at times. Take the third period Thursday, for example. Trailing 3-2, the Canes swarmed and overwhelmed the helpless Preds. They dominated play for large chunks of time, pressuring goalie Juuse Saros until they finally beat him to force overtime.

You could sense that goal ahead of time, because that goal happened all series. In three of the final four games, the Canes trailed the Preds in the final eight minutes of the third period. In all three instances, the Canes needed a game-tying goal and got it.

That’s what a Stanley Cup contender does.

And that’s just not these Preds anymore.

Somewhere between the 2017 run until now, the Preds went from a franchise capable of winning the Presidents’ Trophy to this gritty, overmatched underdog that gets a pat on the head for fighting the good fight while losing a first-round series in six games to a superior foe.

“We did some good things,” Preds coach John Hynes said, “but our objective was to come in and win. We really changed some things – to the players’ credit – the second half of the season. There was much more of an identity. … That’s a step. But you’ve got to win. We want to be able to win these series and continue to move on.

“We have to get to another level to be able to get through this series and continue to move on and be a team that can compete for the Cup.”

I asked Hynes if he viewed this season as a success. He didn’t say that he did.

He seems to hold a clear-eyed view of how far the Preds still have to go. That’s good. That's needed. GM should share that mentality and approach the offseason with urgency to change the franchise's trajectory. 1214440 Nashville Predators Is Viktor Arvidsson, who missed the final four games of the series with an injury, part of the plans for the future?

These questions will have answers sooner or later. Nashville Predators' improbable run to postseason ends with some "We're close," Johansen said. "We're very close." questions, some answers Tennessean LOADED: 05.29.2021

Paul Skrbina

More than eight hours before the Nashville Predators took the ice Thursday night, coach John Hynes appeared calm and collected.

"Every game writes its own story," he said.

The story of Game 6 against the Carolina Hurricanes, it turned out, was "Games over" for the Predators after a 4-3 overtime loss in front of more than 14,000 witnesses inside Bridgestone Arena.

With that, the story of another Predators season is complete.

Sebastian Aho made sure of that when he tipped in Jaccob Slavin's shot 66 seconds after overtime began for the fourth consecutive game.

Like the Predators' season, this series began with optimism before Nashville fell behind 2-0 to the Central Division winners. Just when it looked like it was over, similar to how the season looked a little more than two months ago, when the team had a less than 1% chance of making the postseason, hope was poked awake.

Matt Duchene and Luke Kunin each took a turn scoring winning goals in double-overtime to even the series 2-2 at home on Sunday.

Either team could have won Game 5 in Raleigh on Tuesday, another overtime affair, but this win was reserved for the home team, thanks to Jordan Staal's timely score.

Same for Thursday, when the Predators took a two-goal lead in the second period — the first time either team had led by at least two since the final minute of Game 2.

But it wasn't to be, no matter the number of magical saves by Juuse Saros, who carried the club to a place it didn't look like it belonged two- and-a-half months ago.

Going uphill is a phrase that could be used to describe the Predators' place in the hockey hierarchy this season.

The odds were never in their favor, or even even for that matter.

They had never come back to win a seven-game series after losing the first two. Duchene and Ryan Johansen each had seasons that didn't match their $8 million salaries. Their power play still stunk.

They had beaten the Hurricanes just twice in eight tries during the regular season — the victories coming in the final two games.

Still, somehow the Predators showed they could hang with the Hurricanes when it mattered. In the meantime, Saros has turned the franchise's best and most beloved player — Pekka Rinne — into its biggest cheerleader. Not just in the postseason, but during the team's resurgence into contention.

"We just hung with them punch for punch," defenseman Ryan Ellis said. "We showed we are a contending team and that we deserve to be in the playoffs. I mean, four overtime games, could have went either way ... bounce here, bounce there."

Hynes hasn't had time to reflect on the ride to the postseason, but he was sure of a couple of things before Game 6.

One was that his team, after a lot of soul searching, had found its identity, that it had become "hard to play against.

"The confidence comes from the process ... that we've done it numerous times throughout the year. That's what the recipe is now," he said.

Except the recipe calls for more. Some changes and decisions will be made in the coming months of the offseason.

Will Rinne return to Nashville or go home to play in Finland or retire?

Will Mikael Granlund be back?

What to do with Duchene and/or Johansen? 1214441 Nashville Predators 3. Make a determination on Mikael Granlund The Predators have around $17 million in cap space heading into next

season, according to CapFriendly. The Predators’ 5 biggest offseason priorities as a pivotal summer begins Mikael Granlund and Pekka Rinne are their most notable unrestricted free agents. Rinne, 38, intends to continue his career, his agent told The Athletic earlier this month. If that remains the case, then it would make By Adam Vingan May 28, 2021 sense to re-sign him at a reduced price.

Granlund was crucial to the Predators’ turnaround, especially with several top-six players missing significant time because of injury. Coach The Predators’ season began in front of a couple hundred friends and John Hynes leaned on Granlund in all situations; his 19:28 of ice time per family members. A catfish wearing a blue surgical mask landed on the game led Predators forwards this season. ice with an audible thud as the artificial crowd roared. Evolving Hockey projects that Granlund, who made $3.75 million this On Thursday, more than 14,000 people crammed Bridgestone Arena to season, will receive a three-year contract with a $5.185 million cap hit if watch a playoff game, a scene that once seemed impossible for multiple he re-signs with the Predators. At that price, keeping the 29-year-old reasons. would be worth it, but the team’s finances might not allow for it. (The Left for dead at midseason, the Predators pushed the high-powered Predators also have to plan for potential contract extensions for Ekholm Carolina Hurricanes to six nail-biting games. and Forsberg.)

“There’s a lot of optimism around here, or there should be,” Predators “It’s been fun to play for (Hynes) and for this team,” Granlund said. “We’ll defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “From where we came the last couple years see what’s going to happen.” to the identity we have now, the way we play now, we just hung with (the Predators’ unrestricted free agents third-place team) in the (NHL standings) punch for punch. We showed that we’re a contending team and that we deserved to be in the playoffs. Mikael Granlund Four overtime games, could have went either way. … Unbelievably proud of this group. Everything looks good around here.” $3.75 million

Now comes a pivotal offseason. Here are the Predators’ major priorities. Erik Gudbranson

1. Be realistic about the direction of the team $4 million

In mid-March, when the Predators were 11-16-1 and in real danger of Erik Haula missing the postseason for the first time in seven years, blowing up the $1.75 million roster seemed like the only option. Then the team went on a remarkable run in the second half of the season and was competitive against a Brad Richardson superior playoff opponent. $1 million Predators general manager David Poile said before the series that its outcome would have some influence on “the decision-making process in Pekka Rinne the offseason as to where we go with the franchise.” $5 million

This is where the organization needs to be careful. There is more reason Luca Sbisa for optimism than there was a few months ago. Young players such as Alexandre Carrier, Tanner Jeannot, Eeli Tolvanen and Yakov Trenin $800,000 have filled important roles, and 19-year-old Philip Tomasino, named to the AHL All-Rookie Team this week, is on his way. Juuse Saros was 4. Re-sign Juuse Saros and several other young players magnificent and proved that he has what it takes to be a true No. 1 Saros tops the list of restricted free agents. He had a career season at goaltender. the perfect time. A shorter-term deal, one similar to Philipp Grubauer’s The reality, though, is that the Predators, who have not advanced past three-year, $10 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche, is probably the first round since 2018, are no closer to winning the Stanley Cup. A the Predators’ best bet. full-scale rebuild might not be necessary as previously thought, but Despite being scratched for the entire series, Dante Fabbro is still part of Predators management cannot be blinded by recent events. the Predators’ plans.

2. Shake up the core “We’re expecting a really big summer out of him,” Hynes said. The nucleus of the Predators’ roster has barely changed over the past “Sometimes a little bit of adversity, when you go through (it) as a young several years. It is time for that to end. player, it’s important to learn. It’s important to learn how hard the NHL is. There’s always players coming, and there’s always situations that you’ve Roman Josi will continue to lead the team. Along with him, Mattias got to be able to play at a high, high level consistently. Dante is a really Ekholm and Filip Forsberg, both of whom have one year left on their good player. He’s an unbelievable kid. I think he’s dealt with this contracts, are suited to mentor the next generation. Ellis is beloved by experience the right way in my conversations with him. We’re expecting a the organization, which makes it difficult to imagine him being traded. really good exit meeting with him and expecting a big summer out of him. We need Dante to come back and be a big-time player for us in the fall.” That leaves three core players with uncertain futures: Viktor Arvidsson, Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen. Arvidsson, whose 94 goals between None of the other RFAs should cost much. 2016 and 2019 ranked 19th in the NHL, has been an injury-prone shell of himself in recent seasons, and a trade should be explored. His contract, Predators’ restricted free agents which carries a $4.25 million cap hit through 2024, is not prohibitive. Jeremy Davies

On the other hand, Duchene, Johansen and their $8 million paychecks Yes are immovable without the Predators taking a hit, whether that means retaining salary or throwing in a draft pick. Dante Fabbro

Duchene and Johansen had their moments against the Hurricanes, but Yes the Predators are unlikely to go far with them as their highest-paid Ben Harpur forwards.

Poile got a sense of his players’ values during the first half of the season, Yes when the Predators were trending toward being sellers at the trade Tanner Jeannot deadline, so at least he has a head start. Yes Mathieu Olivier

Yes

Rem Pitlick

Yes

Juuse Saros

Yes

Eeli Tolvanen

No

5. Figure out a plan for the Seattle expansion draft

On July 21, the Seattle Kraken will unveil their inaugural roster. The Predators’ protection list was easy to predict in 2017, but there are many more questions this time.

Do the Predators expose Duchene and Johansen and incentivize the Kraken to take one of them? Which forwards are worthy of protection? Luke Kunin, for example, has probably earned his way onto the list following a productive second half.

We will dig deeper into the Predators’ approach to the expansion draft in the coming weeks.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214442 Nashville Predators undeniable impact on Game 6, just as Carolina’s lineup has been markedly better when Slavin has been healthy enough to play.

The Canes surged. Saros turned away primo shots in bunches. And then Rexrode: Predators improved and impressed, but now bold changes Trenin — a body-bashing revelation this season and the near hero of must come Game 5 with two goals — made two costly mistakes. He iced the puck, releasing it a fraction of a second too early, to keep his tired Herd Line on the ice against the swarming Canes. Then he missed his assignment after Carolina won the offensive zone faceoff, and Hamilton was alone in By Joe Rexrode May 28, 2021 front to tie the game with 6:01 left in the third.

“That’s where that attention to detail and focus are important in these The Nashville Predators overachieved in a postseason for the first time in types of games,” Hynes said, and the Canes force teams to sustain that, years, which probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind for Preds at high levels, for long periods. fans after watching their team blow a 3-1 lead Thursday to lose a first- “They turned it up for sure,” Johansen said. “But I think it was probably a round series in six games. little more on us on how we sat back.” If this is overachieving, this loss to the Carolina Hurricanes without even Now it’s on the Predators to figure out what they are and what must be taking them the distance, the bar isn’t high enough. Especially when the done to get to “another level,” as Hynes said is necessary after the game. last examples of exceeding expectations were so lofty — sweeping No. 1 That starts with the ownership group thoroughly examining David Poile, seed Chicago in 2017, then advancing past Anaheim to the Stanley Cup the only GM this franchise has had. Final and taking Pittsburgh to six games in it despite injuries that should have prevented both. The decline from the 2018-19 season through mid-March of this year wasn’t just in tandem with several costly Poile moves, it was largely But it’s true, because Carolina is good enough to win three more series, driven by those mistakes. The idea that he would be in danger of losing and because it had been a steady decline for Nashville since its last his job is far-fetched, especially after this surge and improved outlooks Game 7, a crushing 2018 loss to Winnipeg. The deflation in Bridgestone for some of the players he has acquired. But that idea should not be Arena that night was palpable. It was not unlike Thursday when dismissed altogether. Pro sports GM jobs are not lifetime appointments. Sebastian Aho won it for Carolina, 4-3 after just 66 seconds of overtime, He should be questioned by more than media and fans, and if he doesn’t by tipping a Jaccob Slavin shot high and past Juuse Saros. Perfect stick. have a strong plan in mind to navigate this team back toward realistic No chance for Saros. Cup contention, there are others in his field who will. Everyone not in the pile of Carolina white stood there for a moment in Assuming Poile isn’t asked to leave and doesn’t volunteer, he has to raw disappointment. The fans mustered some applause in tribute to their figure out what to do about Johansen, Matt Duchene and Mikael team. Then they streamed out quietly, the largest crowd yet of this NHL Granlund. He needs to re-sign Granlund if possible. He may want to postseason, 14,000-plus who sounded like 41,000. They created three unload Johansen, or Duchene, or both. He may not be able to, though postseason scenes in this building that made Nashville feel like things the Seattle Kraken’s expansion draft provides a possible opportunity for are really back. The question now is whether the primary performers in one. And there’s at least another unidentified player or two who aren’t in this building are on their way back with a retooled team that has been Nashville who probably need to be to take this team up significantly. very good since mid-March, or if this will end up counting as a brief uprising. These teams were awfully close through six games, and that surprised a lot of people. Start with Saros on why. In the end, the Canes had more “The last couple years, we lost the Predator way,” Preds defenseman good players, and more of their good players coming up with key plays in Ryan Ellis said in the somber aftermath of a second straight late lead the big moments. The gap between the top teams in this league and the squandered. “We weren’t the team that the fans and that we expected, Predators isn’t likely to be closed by hard offseason work alone. as far as work ethic.” “It doesn’t feel good,” Granlund said of what may be his final loss in a Ellis added that there’s “a lot of optimism around here, or there should Nashville uniform. “But that’s life.” be.” That will largely depend on individual perspective. The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 The information this series provided suggests the Predators have found some things to build on, starting with Saros. He answered the question of whether he’s up to being Pekka Rinne’s permanent successor, emphatically. Young players such as Alex Carrier, Luke Kunin, Yakov Trenin, Eeli Tolvanen, Tanner Jeannot and Mathieu Olivier emerged. One young player who remains a key part of the future, Dante Fabbro, receded. Coach John Hynes established himself. Some of the Preds’ highest-paid players performed. Some didn’t. But the collective effort of six games, the last four going to at least one overtime, was impressive.

It wasn’t impressive enough, of course. And now that it’s over, the Preds have plenty of time to look back on how close they were to advancing. They had a 2-1 lead with 7:05 left in Game 5 at Carolina’s PNC Arena, made some mistakes, succumbed to some clutch Carolina plays and lost.

They had a 3-1 lead in the second period Thursday after a Ryan Johansen five-on-three goal on a spectacular pass from Roman Josi. It was Nashville’s only two-goal lead of the series. It would not last. Mattias Ekholm had the puck on his stick to clear it and kill off a Carolina power play, but Dougie Hamilton managed to keep it in. He sent it toward the net for Aho’s first deflection past Saros, to get things back within a goal. That left the series with a total of 18 minutes, 55 seconds in which the teams were separated by more than a goal. That’s how close it was, if four extra-session games weren’t evidence enough.

The Preds’ final full period simply wasn’t good enough, though. Carolina applied the pressure, as few teams can. Josi took a hard hit from Jordan Martinook in the corner with 14:30 left, and Josi’s head banged against the glass. He retreated to the locker room, looking woozy, and wasn’t seen again. No update was given after the game. But it was the sort of thing that easily could have kept Josi out of Game 7. It had an 1214443 Nashville Predators It’s difficult to picture a Predators team with Arvidsson, but given how the last two years have played out, he has either regressed from the player he was in 2018 or all the beatings and net-front muggings he has endured over the years are catching up to him. He has missed The foundation was laid, but Preds have plenty of choices to make substantial time in each of the last three seasons and just isn’t reliable enough at this point to justify taking up a top-six roster spot.

Ellis is the intriguing piece here. He by no means played poorly against MICHAEL GALLAGHER MAY 28, 2021 Carolina; the opposite, in fact. His trade value is at or near its peak and the assets he could bring back in a trade may be too much for Poile to pass up. If Fabbro is in Nashville’s plans for next year, Alex Carrier’s Ten weeks and four days ago, it was hard to envision a scenario where emergence could make one of Ellis and Mattias Ekholm expendable. the Nashville Predators qualified for the postseason in a top-loaded, makeshift Central Division. Ekholm at times is the Predators’ best defensemen and losing him would weaken the team more than losing Ellis. The Preds desperately need an General Manager David Poile was perhaps the only person bold enough impact, top-six forward and Ellis could potentially fetch that. to still call Nashville a potential playoff team at that point. That was reflected in his decision to hold onto the team’s few trade assets at the Then, of course, Nashville has to find roster spots for Eeli Tolvanen, trade deadline, pushing all of his playoff chips to the middle of the table. Tanner Jeannot, Mathieu Olivier, Yakov Trenin, Carrier, Jeremy Davies, and potentially Philip Tomasino and Rem Pitlick. All of them played vital Yes, the Predators' 20-7-1 run over the final 28 games to resurrect their parts in Nashville’s second-half resurgence that got the team to the season was quite impressive. And sure, giving the No. 1 seeded Carolina playoffs. Hurricanes everything they could handle in a playoff series they were supposed to lose quickly — but ended up dragging into overtime in The groundwork was laid this year. Now all Poile and head coach John Game 6 — was impressive as well. Hynes have to do is not mess it up.

But where the franchise goes from here and which players are invited “The next (step) is you’ve got to win,” Hynes said. “We want to be able to back next season — six of them are unrestricted free agents while win these series and continue to move on. So, I think there’s some things another eight are restricted — will determine if Poile and the team have we can certainly take from (the season turnaround) but otherwise, as I learned anything. continue to say, we have to get to another level to be able to get through these series and move on and compete for the Cup.” “I think there’s a lot of optimism around here, or there should be,” defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “From where we came the last couple of Nashville Post LOADED: 05.29.2021 years to the identity we have now, the way we play now, we just hung with (the third-place team in the NHL) punch for punch and we showed that we’re a contending team and that we deserve to be in the playoffs.”

While a full-scale rebuild that many — including myself — were calling for a few months ago probably isn’t necessary, there’s no question that more than a few minor changes need to be made.

“We’re close; we’re very close,” center Ryan Johansen said. “I think from game 15-20 on, we saw the resilience come out throughout our whole lineup… It didn’t matter what our record was, we were just going to keep pushing. I’m just really proud of our group and the character we showed. It was fun.”

Poile would be wise not to get swept up in the enchantment of the Predators’ backs-against-the-wall march to the playoffs and take a real, hard look at the team’s roster. Nashville has two players — Mikael Granlund and Erik Haula — who have more than earned contracts next season, if they want them.

Granlund locked down Nashville’s No. 2 center position over the final two months of the year, outplaying Matt Duchene, and oftentimes Johansen, too. If the team can get out from under one of those centers' $8 million- per-year contracts, re-signing Granlund in the offseason to an extension in the $5 or $6 million per year range would make more sense both dollars wise and from a production standpoint.

“That’s another time, to think about (my future with the team),” Granlund said after Thursday's loss. “But I mean, I’ve been trying to do my best and it’s been fun to play for (John Hynes) and for this team. We’ll see what’s going to happen.”

Poile also needs to address the other elephants in the room, specifically where — or if — Duchene, Viktor Arvidsson, Dante Fabbro, Rocco Grimaldi and Ryan Ellis fit in to the team’s long-term future.

It seems all but certain that one of Johansen and Duchene will be on another team next season, potentially the expansion Seattle Kraken. Taking on such an inflated salary will surely cost the Preds a few other assets to sweeten the deal. A draft pick or two seems the likely route, but perhaps Fabbro, who sat for the series against the Hurricanes, could be what makes the deal worthwhile.

Like Fabbro, Grimaldi sat for the Carolina series as well. Many times, we’ve seen Grimaldi and his Energizer Bunny-like work ethic spark the team when they needed a little extra motivation. It was a bit of a head- scratcher to see the player tied for the fourth-most goals on the team sit in a playoff series where Nashville needed all the goals it could get. Perhaps Grimaldi could be of more use to another team. 1214444 to add another asset. Both Nico Hischier’s and Mackenzie Blackwood’s contracts were structured in subtle ways to benefit the player. Nashville GM David Poile said the Devils were the only team willing to absorb the entirety of P.K. Subban’s contract (three years, $27 million) when he was Stanley Cup winners show Devils the path must include finding value by traded in June 2019. any salary-cap legal means It’s not just exploiting loopholes, or bending the rules that are in place. Having a hard-ish cap has also put a premium on drafting, developing and contract negotiations. It has also created opportunities for clubs to By Corey Masisak May 28, 2021 acquire players at discount rates.

Finding a star player in the later rounds? Signing a player who blossoms For each of the past 16 seasons, the NHL has set a specific limit on what into a superstar to a team-friendly contract? Acquiring an impact player its clubs can spend on their rosters. for a fraction of what should be his market price? These are all ways that great teams have found ways to build a championship-quality roster that The salary cap was expected to usher in a new era of parity with teams isn’t necessarily level with its competitors. on relatively equal economic footing. There have been plenty of consequences to dissect and analyze, some intended and others Tampa Bay is not one of the favorites to win in 2021 (after claiming the certainly not. Cup in 2020) just because the Lightning put Kucherov on LTIR, and spent $98 million in salaries when the cap ceiling was $81.5 million. The One theme is abundantly clear: If an NHL franchise wants to win the Lightning have created advantages in all phases of roster-building and Stanley Cup, or be considered a top contender, it’s really hard to do that cap-management. without “cheating.” And while the Devils might be nearing the end of their rebuilding process, they’re going to need to do some “cheating” between Few teams can match their drafting success, both by landing franchise now and when they expect to play deep into the NHL’s postseason. players with high picks (Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos and Andrei Vasilevskiy) and in later rounds (Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli). They OK, “cheating” might be too strong of a word, or conjure the wrong found impact players as undrafted free agents (Tyler Johnson, Yanne reactions. But the list of Stanley Cup champions, and teams that have Gourde). They had limited cap space, but still traded for strong role been considered top contenders, is filled with clubs that found ways to players with two of the best contracts in the league (Blake Coleman, extract surplus value out of a roster built within a standard salary-cap Barclay Goodrow) by not being afraid to pay a premium. system. And while the Kucherov injury/decision has garnered a ton of attention, We have more than a decade of data now after franchises adjusted to signing Point, one of the best centers in the league, to a well-below the new financial reality and began to find ways to … let’s call it push the market bridge deal is just another way the Lightning are able to ice one of limits of the rules. This has been a hot topic early in the 2021 postseason the most talented rosters in the cap era. because Nikita Kucherov missed the entire regular season but returned for Game 1 of the playoffs and had 11 points in six games. That allowed Colorado is another powerhouse, in part because the Avalanche have the Lightning to place him on on long-term injured reserve, and his $9.5 one of the three best players in the world (Nathan MacKinnon) counting million cap hit did not count towards Tampa Bay’s $81.5 million limit this about half what he should against the salary cap. The Avalanche also season. added one of the best defensemen in the NHL this season, Devon Toews, for far less than it should have cost (two second-round picks) to This is obviously an extreme example, and suggestions that “everyone obtain him. will start doing it” are not considering a considerable amount of context — most notably that the 2021 NHL season was only four months long Vegas might seem like an anomaly, but for this exercise the Golden and this wouldn’t have been possible in a normal campaign. Past Knights are an obvious example of finding surplus-value on the trade champions have also taken advantage of the salary-cap limitations market. They quite literally built a Stanley Cup Finalist in 2018 with a disappearing in the postseason. roster of castoffs — players the other 30 franchises did not value enough to keep. The Blackhawks traded for Kimmo Timonen, Antoine Vermette and Andrew Desjardins in 2015 after Patrick Kane broke his collarbone and Boston has emerged as a potential title winner late in the year. How did his cap hit went on LTIR. Kane also returned for Game 1 of the first that happen? The Bruins landed an elite player (Taylor Hall) at an absurd round, though he was originally projected to be out until deep into the discount. Sure, there were mitigating factors. But that is also the point playoffs. The Kane “loophole” was discussed at the NHL’s GM meetings here — teams that want to live in the NHL’s penthouse have to be ready, the following year. Sounds familiar, right? able and flexible to make these types of moves.

Pittsburgh sent Miroslav Satan to the AHL after trading for Bill Guerin The Bruins are also helped by all three members of the “Perfection Line” 2009 because it put the Penguins over the salary cap. He returned for — who could all easily fetch $10 million on the open market — each the start of the playoffs, and the club suddenly had a $3.5 million option counting less than $7 million against the cap. That’s a lot of savings … as an extra forward. Both players helped Sidney Crosby and Evgeni like, enough to be able to fit a player like Hall before the trade deadline, Malkin win their first championship. for instance.

Speaking of loopholes, the league’s two superpowers from 2010-15 — Pittsburgh won in 2009, but the Crosby/Malkin era didn’t add titles two the Blackhawks and Kings — both benefitted greatly from them en route and three until the Penguins were able to land another elite player, Phil to claiming the Cup a combined five times in a six-year span. There was Kessel, for both a discounted trade cost and cap hit in a similar deal to a time when signing players to extremely long contracts with lower Boston’s Hall move. average annual values was all the rage, until the league finally cracked It took a long time for the Capitals to claim the Cup in the Alex down on them (in part because of the Devils’ attempt to push the Ovechkin/Nicklas Backstrom era. Landing Evgeny Kuznetsov, who boundaries of a legal contract even further with Ilya Kovalchuk). should have been among the top picks in his draft, at No. 26 because Chicago won three championships in part because two Hall of Fame teams feared he wouldn’t leave Russia for a long time, became an players, Duncan Keith and Marian Hossa, cost about two-thirds of what unexpected advantage when he blossomed into a star in 2018. Having a they should have against the cap during that run, essentially allowing the top-five Norris Trophy candidate (John Carlson) at less than $4 million Blackhawks to squeeze one extra elite player on the roster. Los Angeles against the cap was also a huge plus. didn’t sign Jeff Carter and Mike Richards to loophole contracts, but the Fast forward to 2021, and the Capitals are a pretty good example of what Kings traded for both and reaped the benefits. There have been other it’s like to be a team without some of these advantages. Washington has workarounds for the franchises willing to flex their financial might, never been a franchise that pushed the limits of the contract rules. All of including how the cash outlay in contracts is structured, being willing to the Capitals’ best players are now on contracts that are pretty close to take on the deals of injured/pseudo-retired players to stash on LTIR and what they’re worth. Most of the trades and signings they’ve made in the more. past few years have been on the margins for role players. The Devils have not spent close to the salary-cap ceiling since the start Their best chances for players providing huge surplus value was if one of of their rebuilding project, but they have shown a willingness to do some the young goalies took a star turn in the playoffs, or if Anthony Mantha of these things. New Jersey took on Marc Savard’s contract in June 2016 went off after the trade from Detroit. That didn’t happen, and the Capitals were bounced in the first round for the third straight season.

Washington has lots of really good players. The core is aging, but not to the point of panic.

But having lots of good players that are compensated correctly, and players that were acquired in trades that weren’t particularly one-sided in your favor isn’t enough. Putting together a good team that doesn’t extract a lot of extra value is probably going to get you beat, because your team is going to end up with a talent disadvantage against the elite contenders.

So, how can the Devils become not just a Cup contender, but a franchise that can compete with the superpowers for titles?

Finding value in the draft

Jesper Bratt and Yegor Sharangovich are a pretty nice start with finding players later in the draft, and there are already a few intriguing players in the system who would be another top-nine forward/top-four defenseman who wasn’t selected high.

Drafted players can also be huge bargains early in their careers. Will the Devils be able to make a deep playoff run while players like , Dawson Mercer and a top-10 2021 pick to be determined are still on their entry-level contracts?

Finding value in contract negotiations

The Devils had Coleman on one of the best team-friendly deals in the league. Will they be able to sign a player or two at unexpected discounts in the coming years? This can also happen at the top of the roster. What will the next contracts look like for Jack Hughes and Ty Smith? They could significantly outperform them. Nico Hischier’s already locked in with a big contract, but could he become a player worth more than $7.25 million per season?

What about luring a significant free agent, possibly with the help of a front-loaded contract or other structural perks that some franchises might not be able to match after the pandemic punched a hole in their proverbial wallets?

Finding value in trades

The Subban deal with the Predators was a swing at the type of “star player available at a discount” maneuver that other organizations have hit big on. It hasn’t been that type of success for the Devils, but that shouldn’t prevent the club from still searching for those types of trades.

The NHL isn’t quite like the NBA when it comes to stars changing addresses, but great players do become available. And the potentially weird economic climate in the league over the next season or two could help shake free an extra star player or three. New Jersey has a lot of cap flexibility and trade assets to be one of the teams at the front of the queue when such a player is suddenly for sale.

New Jersey has done plenty right since Ray Shero took over as GM to dig out of a canyon-sized hole the franchise was in after back-to-back playoff misses in 2013 and 2014 and plenty of bad roster/drafting decisions. Tom Fitzgerald has grabbed the baton, and like his mentor, continued to find intriguing players with strong trades.

The Devils have done a lot right at the margins, building a base of intriguing prospects and developing solid NHL players. They’re going to need more elite talent to help Hischier, Hughes and Smith. Maybe Holtz, Mercer and another prospect or two will be those guys. But they still might need more.

Whether we call it “cheating” the system, legal bending of the rules or just shrewd business, the Devils are going to need to find ways to squeeze more than $81.5 million of value out of the roster. If we’ve learned anything from the past 15-16 years, in most seasons that is the only way to achieve the ultimate goal and claim a championship.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214445 New York Islanders This series just feels different than all the others before it. “You just want your children to enjoy playing and do their best,” Charlie

Sr. said, “and all of a sudden, his dream comes true, and it becomes our Long Island’s Charlie McAvoy now a star for Bruins dream of watching him every night and hoping he stays healthy. We’re there to support him through the peaks and valleys and everything in between, but we’re on a high right now.”

By Ryan DunleavyMay 28, 2021 | 9:15PM New York Post LOADED: 05.29.2021

A McAvoy Plumbing truck with Bruins stickers on the back door was parked Friday afternoon on the west end of Long Beach.

That was enough to prompt an Islanders fan with the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the brain to come outside.

“Listen, you guys aren’t allowed to work on this block until this series is over!” he shouted, maybe only partially in jest.

Charlie McAvoy Sr. laughed from a distance. He knows more interactions like this one are in store as long as his son Charlie Jr. — one of the NHL’s top defensemen — leads the Bruins against the Islanders in a series that opens at 8 p.m. Saturday in Boston. Games 3 and 4 will be played 20 minutes away from Long Beach, up the Meadowbrook State Parkway at Nassau Coliseum.

“It’s so strange,” the elder McAvoy told The Post. “Charlie even said to me, ‘Dad, I’m from Long Island. I’m going to be hearing some heat from people.’ He already has people coming out of the woodwork saying, ‘We’ll see you in Game 3’ and buddies putting pressure on him. But he doesn’t get rattled very easily. I admire him for the way he handles anything that comes at him.”

Charlie McAvoy

If Charlie Sr. closes his eyes, he can see his 12-year-old son skating at the old Islanders practice rink in Syosset with the Amateur Hockey Association’s Long Island Gulls or on the Coliseum ice with the junior Rangers as a teenager.

When Charlie Jr. was teammates with then-Islanders center Mike Sillinger’s son, they headed straight from practices to Islanders games.

The running joke now is Charlie Jr.’s rise to stardom is good for McAvoy Plumbing, because customers like to talk hockey.

“We should almost give him a commission, though he doesn’t need it,” uncle Kevin McAvoy joked. “We’ve shared Charlie with the whole community.”

The family business is four generations old, and the McAvoys were Rangers fans for practically as long. Charlie Jr. modeled his game after Brian Leetch, but wanted to absorb as much hockey as possible, so his father bought a 10-game ticket plan for the Islanders.

“He was really a student of the game, and we got a lot out of it,” Charlie Sr. “We have some good memories of being in that place.”

Will more be created soon? McAvoy, 23, already is making his fifth career playoff run. He ranked 17th in the NHL with a plus/minus of 22 this season.

“Having Charlie come play the Islanders makes for great entertainment,” his uncle said, “because now everybody has a horse in the race. If you are Rangers fans or don’t like the Islanders, you’re rooting for Charlie. If you like the Islanders, you’re rooting for the Islanders.”

Kevin accidentally called Charlie Jr. from a blocked phone number last week while toying with the Bluetooth in his wife’s car. To his surprise, his nephew, in the middle of a playoff series, answered.

“Right away, he’s joking around: What is this your burner phone?” Kevin recalled. “He’s no different than the level-headed kid he’s always been.”

It’s how Charlie Jr. handled debuting in the playoffs — not the regular season — fresh out of Boston University in 2017 and replacing the great Zdeno Chara as the Bruins’ top defenseman this season, even as injuries forced a slew of different pairings.

“I don’t know where he gets it from sometimes, but he’s very cool, calm and collected,” Charlie Sr. said. “He doesn’t have my, let’s call it, Irish temper. I’m more nervous about what fans are going to think of us being in the Coliseum than I am watching my son. Seats are at a premium, but we’ll try our best to get as many McAvoys in the Coliseum as possible.” 1214446 New York Islanders acquired Taylor Hall at the trade deadline to flank their second line. He posted 14 points in 16 games after he arrived in Boston.

The Islanders are a balanced scoring team, with a bulk of their offensive Breaking down Islanders-Bruins with series prediction contributions coming from the middle six in the first round. But the top line of Leo Komarov, Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle will need to come alive if the Isles want to counter the Bruins’ offensive prowess.

By Mollie WalkerMay 28, 2021 | 8:26PM Edge: Bruins

Special teams

So arguably the most loaded division in the NHL comes down to the The Bruins had a top-10 power play during the regular season, and it Islanders and Bruins. The last time these teams squared off in the carried over into the playoffs. Boston recorded five man-advantage goals playoffs was back in 1982-83, when the Islanders defeated Boston in the in five games, while averaging nearly four power-play opportunities per conference final on the way to their fourth straight Stanley Cup. game. Boston also allowed the third-fewest power-play goals during the regular season, just three more than the Isles, and tied for the most That was then, this is now. But these are two teams that have made a shorthanded goals with nine. run at winning it all in the last three seasons, with the Isles coming off a conference final appearance in 2019-20 and the Bruins falling just short Having a man-advantage hasn’t always bode well for the Isles, but their of the Cup in 2018-19, with a seven-game finals loss to the Blues. Both penalty kill is one of the better ones in the league. The Penguins, squads look nearly the same as they did during those respective runs, however, scored three power-play goals in the first round, while the Isles which means it’s sure to be a series that highlights how hungry each went 3-for-16 with the man-advantage. team is. Edge: Bruins The Islanders went 5-3 against the Bruins during the regular season, winning the first five matchups and outscoring Boston 18-8. But in the Coaching final three meetings, when the Islanders were on a downward spiral, the As the reigning Jack Adams Award winner, Bruce Cassidy has led Bruins rolled to three wins, outscoring the Isles 10-3. Three of the eight Boston to immense success over his five-year tenure, including a Stanley games went to overtime, including a shootout. Cup final appearance in 2018-19. The Post’s Mollie Walker takes a look at how the teams matchup. However, Barry Trotz has the Islanders buying into his philosophies more Brad Marchand and Mathew Barzal than ever before. They are competing as one unit, one mind and one collective force. He also has a Cup to his credit with the Capitals in 2018. Goaltending Edge: Islanders The Islanders have maintained their faith in both of their goalies, veteran Semyon Varlamov and rookie Ilya Sorokin. While Varlamov was Prediction considered the No. 1 throughout the regular season, in which he had a The Bruins may be playing some of their best hockey, but the Isles have career year and led the league with seven shutouts, the 33-year-old proven they have the ability to dominate Boston. These are two netminder was rocky in his two starts in the first-round series against the experienced squads, however, when the Islanders are at their best, it is Penguins. Sorokin started the series-opening win while Varlamov was the exact style of hockey that can shut down the Bruins. held out after sustaining an injury in the regular-season finale. He returned for Games 2 and 3, both losses, before turning things over to Islanders in six Sorokin. The 25-year-old stole a couple games — including a 48-save masterpiece in Game 5 — but the team could go back to the more New York Post LOADED: 05.29.2021 experienced Varlamov.

After opting out of the playoffs last season because of a family emergency, Tuukka Rask has been the Bruins’ No. 1 netminder. After a series-opening overtime loss to the Capitals, Rask backstopped four wins and posted a 1.81 goals-against average through the first round. Jeremy Swayman, who arrived in the NHL ahead of schedule when Jaroslav Halak contracted COVID-19 in April, has assumed the role as backup after a head-turning 7-3 record and 1.50 GAA in 10 regular-season starts.

Edge: Islanders

Defense

The Bruins were right there two spots below the Islanders for the lowest goals-against average during the regular season, posting a 2.39 mark with the Isles at 2.23. Boston also owned the second-lowest average in shots allowed per game at 27.1.

However, the Islanders still allowed fewer goals this season. They also have a more balanced and experienced defensive core led by Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, who shut down the Penguins’ top line in the first round. Boston is a bit banged up on the back end, with Jeremy Lauzon, Kevan Miller and Jakub Zboril coming off injuries and Steven Kampfer ruled out. Charlie McAvoy is a Norris-caliber defenseman, and is coming off a stellar regular season.

Edge: Islanders

Forwards

Much like the Penguins, the Bruins are loaded up front. There’s the Perfection Line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, who combined for three goals and 14 high-danger chances in the first- round, per Natural Stat Trick. Not only are they dynamic, but Marchand plays a pesky game that frustrates opponents. Oh, and the Bruins 1214447 New York Islanders we don’t get Mike McEwen [in 1981 in the deal], we lose to Pittsburgh in the first-round the next year.

“And that’s exactly what Lou has done the last couple of deadlines, Denis Potvin impressed by Islanders squad full of ‘heroes’ building a team for the playoffs. They’re talented and they’re physical. And they have courage.”

Barry Trotz and Lou Lamoriello By Larry BrooksMay 28, 2021 | 7:42pm | Updated Potvin retired following the 1987-88 season. He was affiliated for a time with the Senators as a broadcaster and spent two decades with the Panthers in that capacity. But he retired from that business a couple of A year ago, when I spoke to Denis Potvin on the eve of the 40th years ago. Now an ardent fisherman, he again bleeds blue and orange. anniversary of the Islanders’ first Stanley Cup, the dynasty’s captain mentioned how much he had enjoyed the “Big Boy” final of 2019 between “, who is the minority owner but the one who is there every St. Louis and Boston. day, has made a huge effort to reach out to the alumni. That has changed [180] degrees from before the team was sold,” Potvin said. So you should be able to imagine how No. 5 feels about these Islanders “This ownership value the guys who played on the Island, and not only as they continue the Drive for a Franchise Five entering Saturday night’s the dynasty years. second-round opener against the Bruins in Boston. “This is the old team, the New York Islanders, and I am very much a fan. “I am very impressed,” Potvin told The Post on Friday while making the Absolutely. And depending on COVID quarantine rules in Canada that drive from his home in Florida to his house in Canada. “First of all, when may be changing, if there is an opportunity for me to be at the Coliseum, you talk about ‘Big Boy,’ I mean, it doesn’t get better than Anders Lee, I’ll be there for sure, cheering them on.” and when he went down, in my mind I thought, ‘How the heck are they going to replace him or at least compensate for the lack of Big Boy New York Post LOADED: 05.29.2021 presence in front of the room as their captain, and all of that?’

“So from that aspect, I am truly amazed at how well they’ve done. And of course, Lou Lamoriello the last couple of years with [Jean-Gabriel] Pageau, [Kyle] Palmieri, [Travis] Zajac at the trade deadline, I just think the machine on Long Island is working very, very well.

“And that’s because it’s working as a team,” Potvin said. “They’ve got big strong defensemen, they’ve got centermen who can win draws and score, they have depth, and like everybody else they’ve got the goaltending that’s not surprising, but is even better than expected.”

Islanders legend Denis Potvin

Paul J. Bereswill

When Lee went down with his season-ending knee injury on March 11, 29 games remained. But after acknowledging the severity of the blow, the Islanders never again cited his absence as an excuse for a late- season dip. Never once was there evidence of a woe-is-us attitude. Never did the Islanders talk about everything they were going through.

“I think if you consider yourself a good team, you’re never going to feel like the loss of one player is … Well, I can give you a good example … Even if it’s a Mike Bossy in Game 1 of the finals in Edmonton in 1983 and it’s essentially a 1-0 game [2-0 final score with an empty-netter],” Potvin said while a guy in a motorcycle drove up beside him. “We knew going into that game we were going to have to adjust accordingly because we wouldn’t have that dynamic goal-scorer and we did adjust. Boom!

“And that’s the mentality that the Islanders are showing me with [Barry] Trotz behind the bench after having won the Cup with a Washington team that had been incredibly frustrating for a number of years. It’s a wonderful thing to watch.

“That last game against Pittsburgh had to be one of the best games I’ve seen in a long time,” the three-time Norris winner said. “And that’s the way they play. They have a lot of heroes on that team. When I talk about the Islanders of our dynasty, you could count the heroes on both hands, whether it was [John] Tonelli, Kenny Morrow’s overtime goals, or Bobby Ny[strom], and on and on.

The Islanders were built for the playoffs, something Denis Potvin loves to see.

Corey Sipkin

“And I think this is the way this team has been built.”

This represents the third-straight season the Islanders have won at least one playoff round. They, the Bruins and Avalanche are the only three teams to achieve that. The Islanders hadn’t done that since advancing seven straight years from 1979 through 1985.

“You take a look in your archives and you’ll find a quote from Bill Torrey saying that he builds a team for the regular season and he also builds a team for the playoffs,” Potvin said, referring to the Hall of Fame general manager. “Bill counted on being able to add certain components to the team going into the playoffs, and it wasn’t only the trade. If 1214448 New York Islanders little more edgy during the playoffs than he is maybe in the regular season.

“Maybe that’s just the grind of playing a lot of games in the league, but Oliver Wahlstrom ‘doubtful’ for Islanders’ second-round opener playoff-time he steps up, he understands the magnitude of every game. Those good players have that ability to raise their game and he does that in a very quiet way.”

By Larry BrooksMay 28, 2021 | 6:52PM Game 2 of the Islanders-Bruins series is set for Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Boston.

New York Post LOADED: 05.29.2021 According to Barry Trotz, Oliver Wahlstrom is “probably doubtful” for Saturday night’s Round 2 opener against the Bruins in Boston, which, interpreting the Islanders coach’s language, means that Travis Zajac will remain in the lineup on the unit with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Kyle Palmieri.

The overarching question is what would happen when Wahlstrom, who suffered a leg injury in the third period of the Game 5 of the opening round in a collision with Pittsburgh’s Mike Matheson, is healthy enough to play?

Would the 20-year-old freshman winger, who recorded 12 goals in 44 regular-season games before getting one in the first round, automatically return to his post or could the 35-year-old Zajac, scratched from three of the final seven regular-season contests and the first five of the tournament, earn a permanent spot?

“I’m a big believer in a player [not] losing his spot during an injury, for sure,” Trotz said following Friday’s practice. “But that comes with a little bit of a caveat, too, in that if a player has been there for a long, long time and he gets injured, you really don’t lose it, but if a player has been there for 20 games and has done a good job, I don’t think that holds as much weight.

Oliver Wahlstrom’s status for Game 1 against the Bruins is ‘probably doubtful.’

“But when you’re talking about Wahlstrom, he’s a unique player for us. He’s a player we need in our lineup for a number of different reasons, [including] his size, his ability to score, and the power play. And Travis brings an element of experience. He’s quietly competitive and very detailed, so he brings a little different element to it.”

Zajac, of course, came to the Island at the deadline from the Devils, with Palmieri, for a package featuring the Islanders’ 2021 first-rounder after Zajac waived his no-trade clause. He had an assist in 11:55 of ice time in the Game 6 clincher against the Penguins with a clean faceoff win against Evgeni Malkin that led directly to Ryan Pulock’s tie-breaking and game-winning goal midway through the second period.

“It’s a little bit of a mix-and-match [between Wahlstrom and Zajac],” Trotz said. “But, you know, Travis can earn his way into someone else’s spot, as well.”

Ilya Sorokin has likely earned the nod for the round two opener.

Ilya Sorokin, who was likely the difference in the first round in going 4-0 with a 1.95 goals-against average and .943 save percentage, started just once while making one relief appearance during the eight-game season series against Boston, going 0-1-1/2.23/.921.

The 25-year-old would seem the obvious choice to get the Game 1 assignment, but the veteran Semyon Varlamov, who was 0-2/3.61/.903 against Pittsburgh, went 5-1/1.93/.943 in seven starts against the B’s during the regular season.

And with Trotz, of course, there is really no telling.

Trotz reiterated that Anders Lee, who underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL sustained by the captain on March 11, is done for the year.

“Same timetable,” said the coach. “You will not see him in the playoffs this year.”

Coming off a first round in which he had three goals and three assists, Josh Bailey is ninth in playoff scoring since 2019 with 32 points (9-23) in 36 games. He is seventh in assists and 12th in points-per-game at 0.89 among players with at least 25 games.

“I think he is a veteran player of high IQ and high skill level who elevates in the playoffs,” Trotz said of the winger who has been an Islander since 2008-09 and is New York’s longest-tenured pro athlete. “I see Bails is a 1214449 New York Islanders LOADED: LOADED: 05.29.2021

Taylor Hall could be difference maker in what promises to be intense Isles-Bruins series

By Andrew Gross

May 28, 2021 3:40 PM

The Islanders don’t have a Perfection Line, the Bruins’ dominating top trio of Patrice Bergeron between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Nor do they have a former Hart Trophy winner, as the Bruins do with Taylor Hall.

Still, these second-round playoff opponents are strikingly similar in the way they want to play.

"Both teams bring a high intensity and a high compete," Mathew Barzal said after the Islanders practiced at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow on Friday. "That would be the two biggest things that are the similarities between us. You watch a Boston Bruins game, it’s heavy, it’s fast, just intense hockey. We bring a bit of the same thing. It’s two teams that play pretty similar and it’s going to be an intense series."

Game 1 is Saturday night at TD Garden as the teams meet in the postseason for the first time since 1983. The winner of the best-of-seven series will advance to the NHL semifinals, where the four divisional champions will be reseeded.

Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders. Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders.

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss the Isles' series- clinching win vs. the Penguins and look ahead to facing Boston.

The Islanders, seeded fourth in the East Division, dispatched the Penguins in six games in the first round while the third-seeded Bruins ousted the second-seeded Capitals in five games. The Islanders reached the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time since 1993 while the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011 and lost in the Cup Final in 2013 and 2019.

So, while the competition stiffens with each successive playoff round, Islanders coach Barry Trotz, who won the Cup with the Capitals in 2018, said the first round is often the toughest to get through.

"You work so hard to get to the playoffs and then that first round, teams are so amped up," said Trotz, whose teams have now advanced past the first round in seven straight seasons, including three with the Islanders. "It’s just a different level and you want it to continue and, so, it’s really hard. Once you get through that first round, you know it’s going to be hard and you almost get used to it. It becomes a more natural thing for you."

The Islanders went 5-2-1 against the Bruins this season, winning all four at Nassau Coliseum but losing all three after the Bruins acquired Hall, named the NHL’s MVP in 2018 while with the Devils, from the Sabres. Hall had four goals in three games against the Islanders as a Bruin and adding him to the Bruins’ second line with David Krejci and Craig Smith presents a matchup nightmare given how lethal the top line can be.

"It’s a lot similar when you look at Pittsburgh and the addition they made with [Jeff] Carter," defenseman Scott Mayfield said. "It just gives them more depth. It’s huge for them. It turned them into a more dangerous team. They have that first line up front that everybody knows about, everybody knows what they can do. But that gives them a little more scoring on the second line, as well."

"Since they got Taylor Hall, it’s really put everybody on the right seat on the bus for their team," Trotz said of the Bruins’ second line. "Our second pair or whatever line is out there has to respect what they can do. They’re very dangerous."

Notes & quotes: Trotz listed rookie sharpshooter Oliver Wahlstrom as doubtful for Game 1, meaning Travis Zajac will likely remain in the lineup. Wahlstrom suffered an unspecified injury going hard into the wall in the third period of Monday’s Game 5 against the Penguins. Zajac logged 11:55 in Wednesday’s Game 6 with an assist and a goal-saving swipe out of the crease of Kasperi Kapanen’s chance. 1214450 New York Islanders

Isles boost Nassau Coliseum capacity for Bruins series with more fully vaccinated-only sections

By Andrew Gross

Updated May 28, 2021 3:48 PM

The Islanders announced Friday that capacity will increase to 12,000 when their second-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins shifts back to Nassau Coliseum for Games 3 and 4.

Additional tickets went on sale Friday afternoon to season-ticket subscribers, and the added capacity was created by reducing the number of sections reserved for non-vaccinated people.

President and general manager Lou Lamoriello, in an open letter thanking fans for their "continued support," wrote, "The energy you brought to Nassau Coliseum during our first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins was not only incredible but truly made a difference in the result."

The Islanders eliminated the Penguins, 5-3, in Wednesday’s Game 6 before a crowd of 9,000 at the Coliseum. The building had hosted 6,800 for Games 3 and 4 of that series.

Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders. Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders.

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss the Isles' series- clinching win vs. the Penguins and look ahead to facing Boston.

"In an effort to maximize capacity for our second-round series against the Boston Bruins, while respecting current New York state guidelines, there will be a particular focus on fully vaccinated sections.

"The plan will allow us to create the loudest possible atmosphere in the National Hockey League."

All fans must show proof of full vaccination, with the final vaccine dose administered at least 14 days prior. Those 16 and under may sit in the vaccinated sections with a negative COVID-19 test and proper identification to match their documentation.

The Coliseum holds 13,913 for hockey. The team will move next season to UBS Arena at , which is targeted to open in November.

"Throughout this season and the playoffs, tickets have sold out quickly to season-ticket members and we expect that trend to continue," said Michael Cosentino, senior vice president of sales and service. "As we are now over 95% sold out of season tickets at UBS Arena, demand for Islanders tickets continues to grow."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214451 New York Islanders

Islanders' Oliver Wahlstrom doubtful for Game 1 for Bruins

By Andrew Gross

Updated May 28, 2021 2:05 PM

Oliver Wahlstrom is unlikely to return to the Islanders’ lineup for Saturday night’s Game 1 of their second-round series against the Bruins at TD Garden.

"He’s day-to-day," coach Barry Trotz said Friday. "He’s probably doubtful for tomorrow. He’s still doing some rehab."

Wahlstrom, a key component on Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s third line as well as the second power-play unit, suffered an unspecified injury going hard into the wall in the third period of Monday’s Game 5 of the first-round series against the Penguins.

Wahlstrom’s absence allowed Travis Zajac to make his Islanders playoff debut in Wednesday’s 5-3 Game 6 series-clinching win at Nassau Coliseum. Zajac, who played 1,024 games for the Devils before being traded to the Islanders along with Kyle Palmieri on April 7, logged 11:55 with an assist while also saving a goal when he swiped Kasperi Kapanen’s chance off the goal line.

Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders. Island Ice: Newsday's podcast about the Islanders.

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss the Isles' series- clinching win vs. the Penguins and look ahead to facing Boston.

Trotz said Friday he believes players should not lose their spot in the lineup because of injuries.

"But there comes a little bit of a caveat to that," Trotz said. "For players that have been there a long, long time and he gets injured, you really don’t lose it. But if a player has been there for 20 games and done a good job, I don’t think it holds as much weight."

Wahlstrom, the 11th overall pick in 2018, had 12 goals and nine assists in 44 regular-season games and a goal and two assists in five games against the Penguins.

"He’s a unique player for us," Trotz said. "A type of player we need in our lineup for a number of different reasons: For his size, his ability to score, the power play. Travis brings an element of experience. He’s quietly competitive and very detailed. But, Travis can earn his way into someone else’s spot as well."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214452 New York Islanders What’s the Bruins X factor? Current player: It’s got to be (Taylor) Hall. He’s given that line with

(David) Krejci and (Craig) Smith a huge boost. That top line is going to do Who has the edge in a Bruins-Islanders series? Our panel of anonymous what it always does, you really just have to limit the damage, but if they experts breaks it all down can come right behind it with a line that’s generating just as much that’s a lot for the Islanders to handle.

Scout: I think the biggest surprise for some people who watch the By Arthur Staple May 28, 2021 Islanders a lot will be how the Bruins can match their physicality. The Caps are a tough, tough team and I thought the Bruins “out-physicaled”

Wash in that series, they took a few of their key guys out of the picture Our panel — a current East Division player, a former Eastern Conference with that. (Chris) Wagner, (Sean) Kuraly, (Nick) Ritchie — those guys are NHLer, a Western Conference scout who covers the East and a public going to try and do what the Islanders do. If they do it well, that’s a data analyst — was pretty on target for Islanders-Penguins. It’s fair to say problem. no one saw how the Islanders would overcome Pittsburgh, with rookie Predictions? goalie Ilya Sorokin stepping in to lead the way and Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry ruining his team’s chances. Current player: I’ll go Bruins in seven. It’s basically a coin flip for me. If the big boys on Boston get going that probably gives them an edge no Nevertheless, we’ve reconvened the gang to preview Isles-Bruins. Let’s matter what the Islanders are doing, but I love that (Anthony) Beauvillier- see what they had to say: (Brock) Nelson-(Josh) Bailey line and they lit it up the last few games Who has the edge here? against Pitt. If the Islanders get their lines rolling and do what they do best, there’s basically nothing between these two. Scout: I’m probably giving the Bruins a slight edge, but very slight. People I think really underrate how well Tuukka Rask performs for Scout: Bruins in seven. It’s such a compelling series. Both teams have Boston and he was really sharp against Washington. They have three three lines that can score, though you’d like to see (Oliver) Wahlstrom lines that can score and so do the Islanders, so it’s a toss-up, really, with come back and give them some balance. I did like what (Travis) Zajac maybe just a small edge to the Bruins. did in Game 6 but Wahlstrom gives them a real threat. The goaltending is pretty even. Maybe if the Isles’ second and third D pairs can’t contain Current player: It’s going to be tight, no doubt. The Bruins really look like Krejci’s line or (Charlie) Coyle’s line that’s an issue that can’t be fixed in a they’re hitting their stride, that was a heck of a series they played against seven-game series. But it feels like there’s no way it’s going to be a short the Caps but the Islanders are just a fine-tuned machine — you expect one. them to play well this time of year and they did. These teams are built pretty similar so it could honestly fall either way. Former player: Bruins in six. I love the Islanders game, they are built for the long playoff haul but I just didn’t see enough good from them last Former player: I’m probably leaning Bruins here, mostly based on how round to make me feel like they’ve got what it takes this year. the teams looked last round. The Islanders won their series and they had some really good parts of their game, but the Bruins looked dominant at Data analyst: Bruins in six. The Islanders got five low-danger goals last times to me. In such a tight matchup I think that gives them the edge. round and won two games basically as a result. That doesn’t seem likely to happen here. Data analyst: Last round I said that you’d take a top-five defensive team over a top-five offensive team any day and the Islanders made that true The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 again, though with some caveats since the Penguins handed them a couple games. The Bruins were middle of the pack in terms of team defense this regular season, which is lower than you’d expect from them. They really shut down the Caps, though — just 18 high-danger chances for Washington in those five games at five-on-five. If the Bruins are that stingy defensively that they can match what the Islanders do you probably give Boston the edge going in.

Can Sorokin be the X factor again?

Scout: He was outstanding against Pitt but I can’t help thinking they’re going to need (Semyon) Varlamov before this series is over. You definitely wondered about Varlamov’s health after Game 3, he just doesn’t give up five like that without something being wrong. So if he’s healthy enough, I think they’re going to need both guys to win this one. That was always going to be a strength for the Islanders — you need two guys to go 3-4 rounds nowadays. So I’m not sleeping on seeing Varlamov come back.

Current player: Even if he’s not standing on his head again, the fact that Sorokin’s their No. 2 guy is a huge advantage. Boston has their kid (rookie Jeremy Swayman) and (Jaro) Halak, but if Rask doesn’t play well or gets hurt, it’s a big drop off. With the Islanders, they’ve got a guy in Varlamov who was lights out last playoffs and now this guy who won them a series.

Former player: I focused on the goalies last series and look how that worked out! This one, it’s real interesting with Sorokin. Every goalie’s second lap around the league is tougher than their first and he’s still on his first lap. That should help him. I can’t help but think when I watch him though: He makes himself look real small at times in the net. Side to side he’s terrific, but he doesn’t make himself big. I wonder if the Bruins forwards will give him more problems than the Penguins forwards did.

Data analyst: His numbers were good but even just watching, there was some luck involved — think about that Game 5 save in overtime (on Freddy Gaudreau’s deflection). You need that in the playoffs. It’s hard to get a full read on a player with so little data and video. The Bruins don’t have the most developed pre-scouting department so that may play a part. 1214453 New York Islanders

2021 NHL Playoffs: Bruins vs. Islanders schedule, TV channel, games, scores, guide to the second-round series

By The Athletic NHL Staff May 29, 2021

In this East Division matchup, the No. 3 Boston Bruins are facing the No. 4 New York Islanders in the second round of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. For more information on the playoffs, check out the daily chances, odds and betting guide, or The Athletic’s complete NHL coverage.

Schedule/TV/results

Game 1: at Boston, Saturday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)

Game 2: at Boston, Monday, May 31, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

Game 3: at New York, date/time TBD (TV TBD)

Game 4: at New York, date/time TBD (TV TBD)

*Game 5: at Boston, date/time TBD (TV TBD)

*Game 6: at New York, date/time TBD (TV TBD)

*Game 7: at Boston, date/time TBD (TV TBD)

(* – if necessary)

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214454 New York Islanders Alas for the Bruins, Mike Bossy was having one of his Mike Bossy seasons. Having scored 60 goals during the regular season — he did that five times in his career before knee and back injuries forced him to end his brilliant career at age 30 — Bossy went on a tear against the Bruins, Islanders about to explore one of the quietest areas of the Bruins. He scored nine goals in the series, four of them coming in an Boston-New York rivalry easy 8-4 Islanders victory in the clinching Game 6.

Boston’s last goal of the series — which makes it the last time a Bruin scored against the Islanders in the Stanley Cup playoffs — was a power- By Steve Buckley May 28, 2021 play tally by Middleton in the second period.

“The wild card was that the Islanders had won three Cups already,” said It took more than three weeks of negotiations — and a whole lot of finger- Middleton. “They knew how to win. We did as well, but the Islanders pointing, accusations and denials — but on January 27, 2000, the New really turned it on in the playoffs.” York Jets and New England Patriots finally agreed to a deal that would The Islanders also bumped off the Bruins in the 1979-80 Stanley Cup allow Bill Belichick to get the hell out of the Meadowlands and become playoffs, this time in five games in the quarter-finals. From there, the Isles the Pats’ new head coach. won the first Stanley Cup in franchise history by defeating the Such was the acrimony leading up to the announcement — who could Philadelphia Flyers in six games. forget Belichick resigning as “HC of the NYJ” — that Bill Parcells, head of Maybe if you’re an Islanders fan, then, you can be buoyed by the football operations for the Jets, tried to pretty things up by proclaiming, knowledge that two of the Isles’ Stanley Cup runs have gone through “The Border War is over.” Boston. Which of course it wasn’t. But … nah. And never will be. Maybe if you’re a Bruins fan, you can root for your guys to win one for Whether it’s Pats vs. Jets, Pats vs. Giants, Celtics vs. Knicks or Middleton, Bourque and the other veterans from ’80 and ’83. (especially) Red Sox vs. Yankees, the Boston-New York thing has been But … nah. Subplot Central for more than a century. From the Babe Ruth sale to the Kyrie Irving saga that’s been playing out during the Celtics-Brooklyn Nets There’s just no real history between the Bruins and Islanders. Perhaps playoff series, there’s usually a non-game related Boston-New York that’ll be the saving grace of this series: with no scores to settle, no contretemps to dissect and analyze. slights to be avenged, no curses to overcome, the 2020-21 Bruins and the 2020-21 Islanders can make some history of their own. But not always. Which brings us to the Bruins’ second-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New York Islanders that gets underway with The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 Game 1 Saturday night at TD Garden.

What we have here, friends, is fertile ground for our forever Boston-New York Border War. And before we continue, yes, I’m counting the Islanders as a New York team. It’s about as far from Times Square to Nassau Coliseum as it is from Boston Common to Gillette Stadium, so let’s not quibble over technicalities.

Besides, what was it that Islanders fans were chanting as their team was closing out its opening-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins? Ohhhh, right: “We want Boston! We want Boston!” That’s old- fashioned Border War stuff right there, even if Bruins-Islanders hasn’t contributed much to it over the years.

But if you’re in the market for new characters and fresh controversies to be written into the script, this is the series for you. Not only will this be just the third time the Bruins and Islanders have faced each other in the postseason, it’ll be their first showdown in the Cup tourney since 1983. To illustrate just how long ago 1983 was as relates to the Boston-New York Border War, consider this: That was the year newly-installed Giants head coach Bill Parcells promoted Bill Belichick from special teams coach to linebackers coach. The announcement merited barely more than a line or two of agate in the “Transactions” column.

It was also the year the New York Islanders of Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Denis Potvin and Billy Smith won their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. And to get to the Cup final, where they erased the emerging Edmonton Oilers in four straight, they defeated a powerhouse edition of the Bruins in six games in the Wales Conference Finals.

The ’82-83 Bruins went 50-20-10 en route to capturing one of the many annoying “Adams Division” banners that were displayed from the rafters at the old Garden. Veteran Rick Middleton scored 49 goals that season, and 21-year-old Barry Pederson netted 46. Keith Crowder had 35 goals. Defenseman Raymond Bourque amassed 73 points, his career high at the time. And there were plenty of veterans, including Mike Milbury, Terry O’Reilly, Wayne Cashman (in his last season) and the Hall of Fame- bound Brad Park. Goaltender Pete Peeters won the Vezina Trophy, which must have been especially pleasing to Bruins coach Gerry Cheevers, who was between the pipes when the B’s won the Stanley Cup in 1970 and ’72.

“We had a very good team that year,” said Middleton, 67, president of the Bruins Alumni Association. “We had five All-Stars that year — Barry, myself, Ray (Bourque), Pete Peeters and Mike O’Connell. We just thought that was our year. We were very confident going in.” 1214455 New York Islanders boasting top five goaltending, that likely would’ve been a key path to victory for New York.

Things have changed since the deadline. Boston had a much more 2021 NHL playoff preview: Bruins vs. Islanders normal 8.3 percent shooting percentage and turned into an offensive powerhouse thanks to its shot volume game. An average shooting percentage may not seem that threatening, but when a team is always in the offensive zone it’s a major problem. The Bruins were the league’s top By Dom Luszczyszyn May 28, 2021 expected goals percentage team down the stretch, earning a top-five offence to match its sterling defence. That’s carried over to the playoffs where the team’s shooting percentage ranks second, though that looks If defence wins championships then the East Division finals combatants sustainable given the team’s expected goals for rate. should be of no surprise to anyone. For years, the Bruins and Islanders have made it their personal missions to stifle opponents and frustrate The Islanders? Not so much. The team does focus on quality as them into oblivion with their defensive prowess. Now, they meet their evidenced by its expected rate being higher than its pure shot attempt match … or so it would seem. rate. That may not even do it justice given the team’s ability to complete and capitalize on cross-seam passes. The issue for the Islanders is that The Islanders got by the Penguins in a series that looked like it would be Tristan Jarry will not be leading the Bruins on the ice. It’ll be someone very close. But the Bruins are a new beast thanks to their savvy deadline much better. That makes it difficult to expect the team to replicate the additions. It’s hard to argue any team has played better hockey than stunning 11 percent shooting percentage from the first round that drove Boston over the last month or so while there have been legitimate cracks the team’s playoff-best offence. I know Islanders fans hate this sentence, in the Islanders’ armour over the same stretch. but regression is likely. It’ll be even harder to get chances against Boston’s stingy defence, which was even better at suppressing shots in The series odds from the model reflect that, expecting the Bruins to the playoffs compared to the regular season. The Capitals, a better deliver something similar to what they did in Round 1: a win in five offensive team than the Islanders, really struggled. games. This has the makings of a strong defensive matchup, but the Bruins have Series Odds the Islanders beat there and the other problem is that their offence will Matchup adjustment takes into account each player’s Game Score likely be overwhelmingly stronger. The Islanders have the ability to hang against this specific opponent as well as his Game Score over the last six with Boston and make things interesting, but that version of the team weeks. hasn’t shown up as often since losing Anders Lee. The one before that was a real contender, a team that was top five in expected goals That’s the most likely outcome at 26 percent, but any Bruins win looks percentage all season. The one after has survived off “bend don’t break” likelier than any Islanders win. This series, according to the model, is and that can work for a little bit, but it’ll be a difficult strategy against a very lopsided. It will be very difficult for the Islanders to eke out a victory. team as relentless as Boston. Not impossible, but very difficult. On special teams, both teams have really strong penalty kills, but New To the Islanders fans already sprinting to their garage to grab a pitchfork, York’s did struggle in the first round while their power play was anemic. let me at least explain what’s going on here. After that, feel absolutely That too looks to be an advantage for Boston. free to go nuts in the comments to get all your anger out, print a picture of my face and put it on a dartboard — whatever makes it all better, as It’ll take a full team effort from New York to take Boston down, and that long as you remember that I do not hate this team or any team for that starts with figuring out how to stop Boston’s ridiculous top six. matter. And just know the longer the odds, the sweeter it will be to shove Roster Breakdown in my face if that 20 percent comes true. Matchup adjustment takes into account each player’s Game Score That 20 percent is largely a result of two key adjustments: the against this specific opponent as well as his Game Score over the last six matchup/recency effect and goaltending. Both hurt the Islanders. With weeks. The numbers may be slightly skewed as a result of ice-time Semyon Varlamov in net, New York’s chances would be five percentage allocation. points higher. Without the matchup/recency adjustment, the team’s chances would be nine percentage points higher. Essentially, this series Boston’s top line remains the focal point of every Bruins-related preview. would be a 66/34 series, which is likely a lot easier to buy (especially The trio of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak is the considering it’s closer to market price). I’m sure most Islanders fans straw that stirs the drink for the Bruins. They’ve played great all season, would agree the Bruins should be decently favoured and 66 percent but they took their territorial dominance to new heights in the first round would be understandable — but 80 percent is absolutely pitchfork- against Washington, earning a 72.5 percent expected goals rate grabbing season. together, which is second to only Toronto’s top line at time of writing (they may have dropped after Game 5). The trio may not have lit up the We’ll get to the goalie debate with the roster breakdown, but so far the scoresheet, but their ability to control the game was incredibly difficult to matchup/recency adjustment has been very worthwhile. The teams that ignore. They owned the puck, giving Washington very little to work with have come in hot have stayed hot while the teams that matched up well during the series — even less so than usual. During the season the line during the season have mostly continued that trend — win or lose. was closer to 64 percent. Unfortunately for the Islanders, there are a few signs in that vein that Things should get tougher for them in this series, though, as the point toward the Bruins. Islanders are much better situated to slow down the top line. Not shut Season Stats down, but slow down. During the season series, Boston’s top line still controlled play, but it was to a lesser degree at around 58 percent. Matchup-wise, it’s not about wins. The Islanders won five of eight Continuing that trend will be critical for the Islanders, as will stopping contests against Boston this season and while that is encouraging toward them on the power play. the team’s goal of winning four of seven here, it feels unlikely a playoff series will play out in the same way. The Islanders did that well to start the season series, beating the Bruins in five straight, but again, this is a different Bruins team. The two teams At five-on-five there are three key numbers that tell the story and one of went head-to-head three times after the deadline and the Bruins came them is not like the other. The Bruins had 57 percent of the shot out ahead each time. For a team as deep as the Islanders, stopping a attempts, 56 percent of the expected goals and … 44 percent of the one-line team didn’t seem all that troubling, but Boston’s second line is a actual goals. Boston carried the run of play heavily throughout, but it’s game-changer that has tipped the scales. Now, it’s not just one super- hard for any team to win a majority of games scoring on only 5 percent of charged top line to worry about, it’s two. It’s a matchup nightmare. It’s their shots. That was the difference. hard enough to slow down the top line, but now teams also have to worry Two months ago, that would’ve been incredibly worrisome for Boston. It about David Krejci, Craig Smith and Taylor Hall. wasn’t just the Islanders the team couldn’t score against — they couldn’t Hall has predictably been the best deadline addition for any team and score against anyone. The Bruins finished 30th in five-on-five shooting he’s single-handedly changed the team’s complexion. In 16 games percentage during the season at just 7 percent and with the Islanders before the playoffs, Hall had 14 points and elevated the second line to juggernaut status. In 180 minutes together, they outscored opponents by One of the reasons for that is the Bruins’ top pair, mainly their No. 1 a stunning margin of 13-1 and earned a 68 percent expected goals rate. defenceman Charlie McAvoy. Barzal may have avoided the forward He’s been a perfect fit next to Krejci and Smith, forming what looks to be matchup decently, but he couldn’t avoid the stud shutdown defenceman a nearly unstoppable trio. Hall was a big part of the three Bruins wins on the other side — the second most frequent skater he matched up over the Islanders since his arrival, scoring four goals while earning a 81 against this season. The duo went head-to-head for 56 minutes this percent expected goals rate. On paper, that second line is a huge hurdle season and Barzal only mustered a 42 percent expected goals rate to clear. against him.

It looked that way in the Pittsburgh series, too, the difference was McAvoy has a way of doing that against everyone he plays against and chemistry and fit. As noted in that series preview, Evgeni Malkin and he’s legitimately one of the league’s best defencemen. He’s elite Jason Zucker just didn’t work this season and they continued not to work defensively and an excellent puck-mover, which creates incredible five- during the playoffs. The Islanders exposed that weakness well. The on-five impacts regardless of who is his partner. It’s difficult to find Bruins’ second line is different because the trio fit together perfectly and someone who can drive a pair on his own, but McAvoy is that player, have already proved how well they can work together. The Islanders which contributes to his lofty GSVA rating. That’s a major issue for the themselves have seen it first-hand already. Islanders; they may have an elite defence pair of their own, but they happen to be playing one of the few teams with an even better one. That gives the team two top lines to game plan for and well, New York’s During the regular season, Matt Grzelcyk and McAvoy owned the puck, defence corps doesn’t look well-equipped for that. earning a 66 percent expected goals rate and that manifested in the The Islanders have Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech, arguably the NHL’s playoffs with a near-identical ratio. It’s yet another area that’s advantage best shutdown duo, but they only have one of each. The top pair will be Bruins. He was at 70 percent against Washington, giving Boston four tasked with the top line, but can Nick Leddy and Scott Mayfield really be such players during the playoffs. trusted with that tough second-line assignment? The Bruins advantages skew toward the top of the lineup and are fairly During the season there was a sizeable chasm in play-driving ability overwhelming. The top six is collectively worth 20.6 wins while New between the top two pairs. Together, Pulock and Pelech were excellent, York’s is just 8.9 wins. The top pairs are both elite, but Boston’s is still a earning a 61.6 percent expected goals share and 61 percent of the actual step above. The top of the lineup is the most important part of any roster goals. That’s elite and was among the highest marks in the league. and in this series the two teams simply aren’t close. That should lead to a Leddy and Mayfield were at 52 percent and 50.9 percent, respectively. massive discrepancy in five-on-five play, especially if the Islanders’ Solid numbers, but a big difference that will likely be exposed against a second line continues to get out-chanced the way they did against team that has a high octane second line. During the season series, the Pittsburgh. They may have been very productive, but the 34 percent duo had a 33 percent expected goals rate that was likely highly expected goals rate is alarming. influenced by the final three games where Hall and company eviscerated But if the Islanders can find a way to neutralize Boston’s top end talent to them. It’s hard not to expect similar results here. a manageable degree, there’s a legitimate path to victory. It’s an unlikely Perhaps the bigger problem is that the top pair also lost their matchup by path due to how difficult it will be to slow down Boston’s top six and top a large margin. That was implied by the Bruins top line being at 58 pair, but after that, the Bruins do look vulnerable. They’re a very top percent expected goals in the season series, but is confirmed further by heavy team and that can play right into the Islanders’ hands given the the top pair’s numbers mirroring that at 42 percent. Optimistically that team’s main strength is its depth. figure is lower than Boston’s usual dominance from its top line, and while Based on Game Score, Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been the best that’s one way to look at it, it ignores that the Islanders’ top pair has Islanders player in the playoffs with seven points in six games (tied for possession numbers north of 60 percent, too. Theoretically, that should the team lead), a solid expected goals rate relative to the team and a mean that when playing against each other everyone should be pushed plus-five at five-on-five. With eight points in eight games and a 53 closer to 50 percent. That’s not what happened and it’s another matchup percent expected goals rate, he was also the best Islanders player during the Islanders lost and look likely to lose in this series. the season series. He was a playoff hero last season and he may be Likely doesn’t mean impossible, but it means one of the keys for New what drives an Islanders upset in this series. Kyle Palmieri waking up to York is for the top pair to really step up their games in this series. This is score three goals in the series will help as will rookie sniper Oliver an extremely tough test that they have so far not had a strong answer for. Wahlstrom, assuming he’s healthy and able. Winning the matchup against the Ratatouille line would go an extremely That line really started to click during the playoffs and that could be a big long way in tipping the scales in New York’s favour. The duo had a 57 boost for the Islanders, especially considering the third line on the other percent goals rate against Pittsburgh, but given the poor expected goals side. Charlie Coyle, Nick Ritchie and Jake DeBrusk were all above rate (43 percent), that probably had more to do with the Jarry experience average in terms of expected goals and had some strong moments than their actual play. The top pair is this team’s identity and in this during Washington. DeBrusk and Ritchie had three points apiece, which series, they’ll need to be at their best. is solid for scoring depth, but all three still have a bit more to prove before That goes for New York’s top line too as the team’s dominance at five- we can ignore the disappointing regular season showing. Coyle on-five with the top pair was usually a result of having Mathew Barzal’s especially. There’s potential here, but for now, it’s an edge the Islanders line on at the same time. It was an incredible five-man unit, one that had have over Boston. an expected goals percentage north of 60 percent regardless of whether Ditto the team’s strong fourth line, a forechecking machine that can make it was Lee or Leo Komarov on the left side during the regular season. life miserable for any matchup. They’re coming off a strong series, which The playoffs have been a different story as they only managed a single cannot be said about a Boston fourth line that looks like a major liability. goal together at five-on-five. Against Pittsburgh, they were the only They don’t earn as much ice time, but when they’re out there it could be Islanders line that was outscored at five-on-five and had just a 43 percent trouble for Boston given their expected goals percentage was under 35 expected goals rate together. That won’t be good enough against percent against Washington. The Islanders really need to capitalize in Boston. those minutes to get Boston’s top six chasing the game. That’s when the During the season series, Barzal had seven points in eight games, which Islanders are usually at their best. is excellent, but those same five-on-five concerns remained. He had a Usually. In the playoffs, especially in the final two games, it felt like the sub-40 percent expected goals rate, but the extra interesting thing is that Islanders were parking the bus a bit more than usual rather than setting wasn’t a result of going up against the top line. Coach Barry Trotz the tempo. That could be problematic against this Bruins team and could actually did his best to keep Barzal away from the top line with Barzal mean that their goaltending comes under siege even more than it did only playing 21:51 of his 110 minutes against Bergeron. That might be against Pittsburgh. This is going to be a challenge for rookie netminder because Trotz didn’t want his best offensive threat neutralized or it might Ilya Sorokin. be because Barzal was outclassed when he did go up against Bergeron. He had a 27 percent expected goals rate against the annual Selke The decision for Sorokin to take over midway through the Penguins contender. In a playoff series, it will be a lot more difficult to hide Barzal series was a stroke of genius by Trotz, one this model doesn’t capture. from that matchup, especially on the road. After a series where he was He looks ready to be The Guy here and was poised under fire against a outplayed at five-on-five, scored zero goals and only added three assists, talented Pittsburgh team. His status as starter drops New York’s series Barzal will need to step up regardless. He has the talent to do so, but the win probability by five percentage points, but it certainly doesn’t feel that Bruins appear to be a difficult matchup for him. way given what we just witnessed in the opening round. It’s a result of his solid, but not overwhelming .918 save percentage and 2.7 goals saved for the season. His save percentage above expected wasn’t nearly as good as Semyon Varlamov’s this season and that plays a role in the model’s perception. It’s a big fan of Varlamov, but still a bit skeptical of Sorokin. It doesn’t account for playoff data either where Sorokin has a .943 save percentage, stopping 1.4 goals above expected with a save percentage above expected equal to Varlamov’s during the regular season. If that’s sustainable, the Islanders’ chances definitely improve.

The problem is that in this series they’ll have to face an actually good goalie in Tuukka Rask, who has a similarly strong .941 save percentage for the playoffs and an even better 2.2 goals saved above expected. Rask’s numbers this season were worse than Sorokin’s, but he has pedigree and was elite last season. That’s accounted for here and it’s why the model gives the Bruins the edge in net analytically. In reality, it may be a lot closer than given credit for here.

The other thing to remember is that the Bruins not only have a backup plan if Rask falters in Jeremy Swayman, they have a backup backup plan with the still capable Jaroslav Halak. The Penguins didn’t have that due to Casey DeSmith’s injury and that meant the Islanders could pick apart Jarry all series. On the off-chance the same happens against Rask, the Bruins won’t have the same issue.

Given the strength in net and on defence and with regard to their puck possession ability — it’s really difficult to see the Islanders scoring anywhere near as prolifically as they did in the last series. Based on the two rosters, it may be a real struggle in this series and may ultimately be their downfall.

The bottom line

Top end talent is the difference. It always is when it comes to any Islanders playoff series. It didn’t matter against Pittsburgh (twice) or Washington and Philadelphia last season. Against Tampa Bay, the team held its own, too. Stylistically, Boston feels like a much more difficult challenge because the Bruins’ game is basically “the Islanders, but better, plus we have three elite offensive talents.”

It’s hard to beat someone at your own game when your best assets aren’t a strength. The Islanders generally thrive because of their top line and top pair, but that’s greatly nullified here. The team has forward depth, but finding anyone to stack up favourably against Boston’s incredible second line is going to be incredibly challenging. Goaltending is usually a strength, too, but it’s hard not to side with Rask here.

The Islanders live to be in this position, ready to prove any doubters wrong. Everyone will have them as underdogs and this model will likely be the harshest of any due to the strong recent play of the Bruins. This series is the lowest probability the Islanders have had in a playoff series in the Trotz era, according to this model. With the way the Bruins are playing, a seemingly unstoppable buzzsaw, it doesn’t feel completely wrong either, even if it is a bit more extreme than expected. Can the Islanders defy the odds once again?

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214456 New York Islanders

Islanders Oliver Wahlstrom ‘Doubtful’ for Game 1 against Boston Bruins

Published 13 hours ago on May 28, 2021By Christian Arnold

It’s unlikely that Oliver Wahlstrom will be on the ice for Game 1 between the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins.

The Islanders forward was knocked out of the Islanders’ Game 5 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Islanders head coach Barry Trotz classified Wahlstrom as still day-to-day and he was “doubtful” for the opening game of the Second Round.

“He’s still doing some rehab,” Trotz said after the Islanders practiced at Northwell Health Ice Center on Long Island on Friday.

Wahlstrom was hurt after he went awkwardly into the boards from a hit by Mike Matheson late in the game. The hit sent Oliver Wahlstrom to the ice and forced his head to violently whiplash back and forth. The rookie was on the ice for several moments before he was helped to the team dressing room by a trainer and Scott Mayfield.

There was no penalty called on the play and it didn’t totally sit well with the Islanders head coach at the time.

“There was a little bit of an objection from our bench,” Trotz said on Wednesday prior to Game 6 against Pittsburgh. “We felt that the puck was in the corner. But you see a lot of that, what we call taking the guy’s lane and reverse hits and all that. We had a little bit of a complaint. But it was sort of a battle. He got twisted up, he got sideways and went down. I just thought it was a little further from the puck than it should have been.

“But it’s happening really quick. I understand the non-call on that.”

Oliver Wahlstrom had been having a rather strong performance in the playoffs when the injury occurred. The 20-year-old forward was coming off Game 4 which saw him score his first career playoff goal and he had been generating plenty of chance alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Kyle Palmieri.

Game 1 between the Islanders and Boston takes place on Saturday at 8 p.m. at TD Garden.

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214457 New York Islanders Rask allowed only 1.81 goals per game, with a .941 SV% in their first- round series against Alex Ovechkin and the talented Washington Capitals. Not only are those statistics impressive, but he also came up large to bail his team out more often than not. Islanders Will Need to Crack a New Goaltending Code Against BruinsPublished 15 hours ago on May 28, 2021 New York Islanders Proving that Bubble Playoff Run Wasn’t Fluke

Rask faced 38 high-danger shots and allowed just four goals for a .895 high-danger SV%. The analytics expected the 34-year old to allow 12.93 By Stefen Rosner goals in his opening-round series. He only allowed 10.

After a weaker start to the series, Rask got better and better each game. The good news for the Islanders is that every goaltender is beatable The New York Islanders were not a strong offensive club during the regardless of the statistics. regular season. However, as we saw in last year’s postseason, they found a way to ignite a spark when they turned the page from the regular The Islanders need to figure out Rask’s weakness and exploit it. And he season to the playoffs. may just have one that the Isles can take advantage of.

New York was able to solve Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry Of the 10 goals Rask allowed in the First Round, five of them came off in the First Round, now they’ll have to find that magic again in the deflections and tips in front. Rask had difficulty picking up shots when Second Round against Tukka Rask and the Boston Bruins. Jarry there was a crowd in the slot, which seemed to be the case more often struggled immensely against an Islanders offense that was far from a than not. Even without Anders Lee’s big net-front presence, the Islanders powerhouse during the regular season, but the offensive outbursts in the have bodies on each line that can do the trick. first round were sure to help boost their confidence going into round two. The Bruins defense finished the season with the second-fewest shots The New Islanders came into the playoffs having scored just 2.78 goals allowed per game, at 27.1. They have seen that increase to 33.8 in the per contest, which ranked 21st in the NHL. Well, that same team heads playoffs. Those starts are from a small sample size against a very into the second round averaging 3.5 goals per game. That ranks fourth offensive-based Washington team, so it will be up to the Islanders to among playoff teams. generate more shots.

The good news for head coach Barry Trotz is that it was not just one line If they can do just that, the chances will be there. producing. Those fluky goals that got past Jarry in Round 1 will not occur against Trade Deadline acquisition Kyle Palmieri, who struggled with his new Rask. That means the Islanders will have to work harder in the offensive team during the regular season, picked up three goals against Pittsburgh. zone to collect goals and by the show of things, crashing the net looks The second line, which carried the Islanders to the Eastern Conference like the best way to do that. last postseason, scored nine goals. NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 05.29.2021 Jordan Eberle, a streaky goal-scorer, lit the lamp twice in key moments and the fourth line did their jobs, and more, as Cal Clutterbuck collected two goals as well.

Even the defensemen came through.

Scott Mayfield had a goal and three assists and Ryan Pulock had two goals and an assist. That’s Two different defensive pairings right there getting in on the offense and coming up big when their team needed them.

What had plagued the Islanders for years was their inability to make the most of their offensive-zone opportunities. While there were surely missed chances throughout round one, the Islander made it count more often than not.

That was because Jarry had a tough series.

At the end of the series, his lackluster play was a significant reason as why Pittsburgh failed to defeat the Islanders.

The 26-year old netminder had an expected goals against (xGA) of 11.22 but allowed 21. Trotz’s club knew Jarry’s weakness and exploited it all series long.

#Isles scored 21 goals this series against #Pens netminder Tristan Jarry.

15 of them went glove-side.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) May 27, 2021

Jarry gave the Islanders the win in the pivotal Game 5 double-overtime thriller. In the series-clinching Game 6 win back on Wednesday, Jarry had an xGA of 1.27, yet allowed five goals to enter the back of the net.

The Islanders had struggled to beat the Penguins during the regular season. They were 2-4-2, had averaged a mere 2.38 goals per game, and had lost four games at PPG Paints Arena.

Two out of the four wins in the series for the Islanders came at that arena.

Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask a Different Story in Round 2

Boston netminder Tuukka Rask entered the 2021 postseason with a chip on his shoulder. He took a lot of heat for leaving the bubble last postseason due to a family issue, and now he is making the haters eat their words about his commitment to his team and to the sport. 1214458 New York Islanders young age, that does not imply that you cannot hold good grades. Thus, we have compiled a list of smartest players in NHL history – and we’re leaving out quite a few here on this list. (Colorado Hockey Now)

NYHN: Islanders Kick Off Series With Bruins on Saturday & More It’s not every day that an NHL head coach says this about a second-year player. “I think one day,” San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner said about Mario Ferraro, “you’re going to see him wearing a letter here in San Jose.” (San Jose Hockey Now) Published 20 hours ago on May 28, 2021By Stefen Rosner Nick Suzuki scored 59 seconds into overtime, and the Montreal

Canadiens recovered for a 4-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in The New York Islanders had their matchup. Now they have a date and a Game 5 of the Stanley Cup First Round at Scotiabank Arena on time for Game 1 against the Boston Bruins. The Islanders are showing Thursday. Suzuki won it with a one-timer on a 2-on-0 with Cole Caufield that last year’s postseason run was no fluke and that they deserve to be after a turnover by forward Alex Galchenyuk at the opposite blue line to in the playoffs. These stories and more in today’s daily links! extend the best-of-7 series. (NHL)

The NHL has confirmed Boston Hockey Now and NYI Hockey Now Sebastian Aho scored his second goal of the game at 1:06 of overtime to reports that the Boston Bruins will host the New York Islanders at TD give the Carolina Hurricanes a series-ending 4-3 win against the Garden in Game 1 Saturday night at 8 PM ET. (NYI Hockey Now) Nashville Predators in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup First Round at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday. Aho redirected a shot from Jaccob The question of whether or not the New York Islanders run to the Eastern Slavin from the top of the left circle. (NHL) Conference Finals last year was a fluke is slowly being answered. And for anyone still having doubts, the Isles gave them plenty to think about The Tampa Bay Lightning will play the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley with their 5-3 Game 6 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins and their 4-2 Cup Second Round. Tampa Bay, the No. 3 seed in the Discover Central series win over a team everyone favored over them. (NYI Hockey Now) Division, eliminated the No. 2 seed Florida Panthers in six games of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Lightning are the defending Remarkably, the Islanders are facing their second-round opponent, the Stanley Cup champion. (NHL) Bruins, for just the third time in their playoff history and for the first time in 38 years. The Islanders have won both previous series, both en route to Peter DeBoer made an interesting comment about Game 7 of the the Stanley Cup. The Islanders beat the Bruins in five games in a fight- Stanley Cup First Round, considering how the Vegas Golden Knights got filled quarterfinal series in 1980 and in six games in 1983. Here’s a here against the Minnesota Wild. “I think we’ve done a good job so far of position-by-position look at the Islanders and Bruins. (Newsday) pushing this to a one-game opportunity in our home rink, and we’ve got to take advantage of that,” the Vegas coach said Thursday. A good job? When rookie right wing Oliver Wahlstrom was checked heavily and (NHL) awkwardly into the wall by Pittsburgh defenseman Mike Matheson in Game 5 and then couldn’t play in Game 6, Trotz decided Travis Zajac Jake Muzzin had a defiant tone in his voice when asked how the Toronto was the best of his options to enter the lineup in Wahlstrom’s place. And Maple Leafs will rebound from a 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal he was as he is played his best game since becoming an Islander. Canadiens in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference First Round Thursday. (Newsday) “We’ll be all right,” the defenseman said sternly. (NHL)

The Islanders and the Bruins, their second-round playoff opponent, had The Nashville Predators were proud of their effort in their best-of-7 series an odd eight-game season series, with the first four games at Nassau loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup First Round that Coliseum — all tied entering the third period — and then four in Boston. ended with a 4-3 overtime defeat in Game 6 at Bridgestone Arena on The Islanders went 5-2-1, but the Bruins were the more dominant team Thursday. “There’s a lot of optimism around there,” Nashville after acquiring Taylor Hall from the Sabres on April 12, giving them a defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “We just hung with the [third-best] team. strong second line to support their “Perfection Line” of Patrice Bergeron (NHL) between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. (NHL) The NHL released a statement in response to the hateful, racially Ilya Sorokin celebrated with his New York Islanders teammates at focused comments directed toward defenseman Ethan Bear in the wake Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday after they advanced to the Stanley Cup of the Edmonton Oilers’ elimination from the first round of Stanley Cup Second Round. For Sorokin and the Islanders, it was a moment seven Playoffs on Monday. “Ethan Bear represents both our game and his years in the making. And there could be more moments to come. Sorokin Indigenous heritage with dignity and pride,” the NHL said. “He, and all may have surpassed Semyon Varlamov as the No. 1 option and could people from Indigenous backgrounds, deserve to feel empowered and start Game 1 of the second-round series against the Boston Bruins at TD respected on and off the ice. We stand with Ethan and his family in Garden on Saturday. (NHL) denouncing hate.” (NHL)

Did Boston Bruins winger Taylor Hall force his way out of Buffalo and to John Tavares is back on the ice. The Maple Leafs’ captain took part in a the Bruins? Was the Hall trade to the Boston Bruins and how he became light skating session on Thursday morning at Scotiabank Arena, just a Bruin a sign that NHL players are about to approach NBA status and hours before Toronto will try to eliminate Montreal in Game 5 of its first- dictate their way out of town when things aren’t going their way? (Boston round playoff series. It was exactly one week ago that Tavares was Hockey Now) stretchered off the ice midway through the first period of Game 1, having suffered a knee injury and concussion in successive collisions with Ben With some irony, acquiring an older player struggling through another Chiarot and Corey Perry. (TSN) losing season may have been the missing piece for the Pittsburgh Penguins to keep Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang Jim Rutherford may be ready to return to work in an NHL front office. together for at least one more year, if not more. Jeff Carter changes the Sports agency PBI Sports announced on Twitter on Thursday that it now Pittsburgh Penguins calculus. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now) represents the Hall of Fame executive, who stepped down as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins in January. (TSN) Max Pacioretty hasn’t been seen in a game for the Vegas Golden Knights since May 1 against the Arizona Coyotes, when he went down NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 05.29.2021 with what has been termed an upper-body injury during the game. Pacioretty would miss the last six regular-season games, and despite being called things like “day-to-day” and a “game-time decision” hasn’t appeared in the playoffs either. He did not make the trip to Minnesota for Game Six against the Wild. But after yesterday’s morning skate, Vegas Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer did offer a little glimpse into the situation. (Vegas Hockey Now)

People have a faulty notion about the smarts of hockey players. It is a standard view that players or even sports enthusiasts cannot excel in their studies. Well, that is a very wrong impression for there are several players who have excelled in their academic records. While it is true that becoming a sports person requires incredible practice from a very 1214459 New York Rangers

Chris Drury taking patient approach in NY Rangers coaching search

Vincent Z. Mercogliano

17 hours ago

The market for available NHL coaches is still developing and it appears the New York Rangers are intent to let it materialize.

Word around the team is that new team president and general manager Chris Drury is taking a patient approach while searching for David Quinn's replacement. He's only interviewed two candidates — at least that we know of — in Gerard Gallant and Rick Tocchet. Both are near the top of the Rangers' wish list, but it remains a fluid situation.

Drury wants to wait and see if any intriguing coaches are fired once their teams are ousted from the playoffs. The first round is nearly complete, with only the Toronto-Montreal and Vegas-Minnesota series ongoing. (The Golden Knights and Wild will play Game 7 on Friday night.)

The process could linger deep into the playoffs, especially if there's a particular name Drury has his eye on. But it also could speed up if a coveted coach shakes loose.

The situation in Pittsburgh is worth monitoring.

After being eliminated by the Islanders, 4-2, the Penguins are facing questions about their future. At the center of those questions is head coach Mike Sullivan.

The 53-year-old just completed his sixth season at the helm. His tenure began with back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, with Pittsburgh compiling a 251-131-43 record under his watch while making the playoffs each year.

It's a strong résumé, one which includes a first-place finish in the ultra- tough East Division this season. But the combination of another early playoff exit, which made it three years in a row for the Pens without making it out of the first round, and a new GM in , have cast doubt on Sullivan's status.

As Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Joe Starkey wrote Friday morning, "History says new management rarely sticks with the old coach." That's what we saw when Drury decided to move on from Quinn earlier this month. But Starkey also concluded that he believes Sullivan will get another season on the bench.

There's a compelling case for that to happen, but if Hextall does opt for a change, how serious would the Rangers' interest be?

There are reasons to believe Drury would at least want to talk to Sullivan. They have ties back to their alma mater, Boston University, plus Sullivan was an assistant coach for the Rangers under John Tortorella from 2009- 13. Drury was the captain of the team for two of those seasons.

Sullivan is known for a style predicated on speed and skill, which would fit the Rangers' current group of personnel. But is that what Drury wants as he aims to balance the roster with more physicality and 200-foot players?

The hunch here is that Sullivan, if he comes available, would be a strong contender. The same goes for Florida's Joel Quenneville, but his status seems more stable following the Panthers' 4-2 series loss to the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning. The dream scenario would be Rod Brind'Amour, who's emerged as one of the league's top coaches and has yet to sign a contract extension with Carolina. But his Hurricanes are marching on to the second round and all indications are that he's staying put.

If no viable new coaches hit the market, Drury seems comfortable falling back to Gallant, Tocchet, or perhaps a mystery candidate. Gallant is currently coaching Team Canada in the IIHF World Championships and is unlikely to take any next steps until the tournament is concluded, which buys the Rangers some time. (Unless another team swoops in with an offer.)

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1214460 Ottawa Senators Button released his list of his top 32 players this month after seeing a lot of prospects first hand while doing colour analysis at the tourney in Texas. If you look at the players he has in the range where the Senators may fall, they include Djurgarden centre William Eklund, winger Zachary As the Senators prepare for draft lottery Wednesday, there's some local L’Heureux of Halifax, Russian centre Fedor Svechkov and Johnson at names ranked in first round Michigan.

“I’m not sure I can tell you that this guy is better than that guy but one thing I can tell you is that I like them all,” said Button. “They’re all good Bruce Garrioch offensive players. I don’t think they’re players that are prime time or elite Publishing date: May 28, 2021 No. 1 forwards. I think they’re going to have a chance at some really good players.

“My own feeling, looking at Ottawa, is they have such a good stable of The Ottawa Senators will learn Wednesday where they’ll select in the defencemen I don’t see a defencemen that stands out unless one of the NHL draft in July. four guys at the top falls. I’d be shocked if that’s the case.”

With the lottery set for June 2 at the NHL Network studios in Secaucus, Lists are difficult this year because viewings have been limited and many N.J., the Senators will have the 10th best odds with a 4.5% chance of have been by video. Button said it will be tough for players to move up landing the No. 1 spot and a 9.3% opportunity to finish at No. 2. Once the the lists like 67’s forward Jack Quinn did last year because he had a dust has settled on where they select that’s when general manager strong effort last season. Pierre Dorion and chief scout Trent Mann can sit down to determine who may be available. “It might complicate (the draft) more in the second or third round but I don’t think it will complicate much in the first round,” Button said. “You’ve The draft will be held virtually with the first round July 23 and the other six had a chance to watch those guys. It was limited, it wasn’t as much as rounds will be wrapped up July 24. you wanted, but you still had a chance. There’s going to be a Jack Quinn but we don’t know who it’s because those guys didn’t get a chance to And, as the Senators make their lists, they’ll reference the rankings the show.” Central Scouting Bureau released Thursday that had Carp forward Mason McTavish of the Peterborough Petes ranked at No. 2 and blueliner Brandt Clarke of Ottawa sitting at No. 6. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 05.29.2021 McTavish, who was ranked behind defenceman Owen Power of the University of Michigan at No. 1, made a big climb up the list after a strong performance at the IIHF world under-18 tournament earlier this month in Texas. McTavish helped Team Canada capture a gold medal and by all accounts he had a strong presence.

McTavish played 13 games in the Swiss league with Olten EHC.

“McTavish is at No. 2 for us not from one tournament but rather from the collective history, knowledge and evaluations we’ve had over the past two seasons watching him develop and mature,” Dan Marr, head of Central Scouting told NHL.com. “Our group views McTavish as that coveted power centre that possesses the elite package of size, smarts, skills and compete which all NHL clubs look to add

“But the next few names could also be selected in any order as each can be considered impactful franchise players.”

McTavish finished with five goals and 11 points in seven games with Canada and was plus-10. He moved ahead of the likes of Michigan forward Kent Johnson, defenceman Luke Hughes of the U.S. development program and winger Dylan Guenther of the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings.

Michigan centre Matthew Beniers, who was also a standout for Team USA in Texas, was ranked No. 6.

“(McTavish) is a good player and he was really good at the tournament,” said Craig Button, TSN’s director of scouting, from his Calgary home Friday. “Mason’s solid. He’s really good.”

Once the balls have dropped and the draft order has been settled, the Senators know they’re not going to fall any further than No. 12 in the first round and, of course, they can still move up to No. 1 if they happen to score a victory. In any case, the Senators have done an excellent job getting prospects so they’re confident they’re going to get a good player.

Everybody’s list will be different this year. The OHL never got off the ground while the QMJHL is still trying to finish its playoffs and the WHL had a limited season. American schools that opted to play had shortened seasons and those in the Central Canada Hockey League never got the opportunity to play at all.

Button will do a mock draft for TSN once the first round is settled Wednesday and is confident the Senators will do just fine.

“They’re going to get a good player,” Button said. “The fifth guy picked might not be any different than the No. 15 guy picked. I really believe there’s a lot of depth there. I don’t see any drop off from No. 5-to-No. 9 or from there to No. 14. There’s some really good players that are going to fall right into the range of the Ottawa Senators.” 1214461 Philadelphia Flyers "He's a guy that can make the right decision under pressure, particularly on his breakouts," Leaman said. "The game's hard now, defensemen have hard pressure coming at them all the time on breakouts. The ability to make those quick decisions to get the puck to your forwards with World juniors coach won't be surprised if York makes immediate impact speed is really a big asset in the game. That's one of his strengths." on Flyers

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Cam York delivered a banner year in 2020-21.

He won a gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship as the U.S. captain, earned Big Ten Defenseman of the Year with Michigan and made his NHL debut in a Flyers jersey.

All at 20 years old.

General manager and the Flyers want York pushing for a roster spot in September training camp. There's no doubt the Flyers are looking for and need help on their back end. They're coming off a letdown, playoff-less 2020-21 season in which the puck ended up in their net at an alarming clip.

Would it be surprising if York makes the Flyers to start next season and stays with them?

"I wouldn't be surprised because he can make the simple plays," Nate Leaman, the 2021 U.S. world juniors head coach and bench boss at Providence, said Wednesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. "Part of the real positive side of Cam's game is he can make the simple play over and over and over again. And he can make some hard plays look simple.

"From my experience with him, he didn't try to do too much with the puck. He was never looking for the home run plays, he was always able to evaluate the smart, simple play in front of him and make it. At that level, if you can get the puck to the forwards with speed, that's a big asset."

In his three-game NHL appetizer at the end of the Flyers' season, York showed his quick and slick puck-moving ability. What stood out most was his highly touted poise. He's a cool customer and confident decision- maker, traits that are critical to being an NHL defenseman. There's little to no hesitation in his game.

In an ideal world, York will grow into the Flyers' top-unit power play quarterback. The jury is still out on Ivan Provorov in that role and the 24- year-old workhorse already does enough as it is for the Flyers. York leading the first unit and Provorov manning the second could be the Flyers' long-term vision.

"He's a smart player, skates extremely well, has the vision, moves the puck well," Provorov said earlier this month about York. "This is where the game's going — you have to be able to skate, you have to be able to move the puck, and he's got all the tools. For him, hopefully he gets bigger and stronger in the summer. I think he'll have a chance of sticking around for the whole year next year."

For purpose of a story: Cam York with multiple keeps quarterbacking power play in May 10 season finale.

Shows natural instincts and the skill/mobility at the point to tire the opposing PK. pic.twitter.com/zqcfuCV9Yl— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) May 25, 2021

York, the Flyers' 2019 first-round draft pick, opened eyes on the national stage in January. Leading the U.S. to a gold medal, York put up six points (one goal, five assists) and a plus-4 rating over seven games in the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship tournament.

"His poise with the puck, his ability to read pressure on breakouts and make the right decisions," Leaman said about what stood out in York's game. "He was great in all facets — he was great on the power play, he was great on the penalty kill, he was great 5-on-5. He led our defensive core in minutes for the tournament, so he was very usable. I thought he had great poise, he was really good in all situations."

After his banner year, York's next challenge will be Flyers training camp. The prospect will try to show he can be an immediate factor to the team cutting down its NHL-worst 3.52 goals allowed per game from this season. 1214462 Pittsburgh Penguins “This is a business. It’s not up to me to decide those things,” Letang said. “Me, (Malkin) and Sid want to finish as Penguins. We truly believe in ourselves. We think we have a lot to offer.

Penguins players brace for changes after latest playoff flameout “That’s what we want, but it’s not up to us.”

Even beyond those on the ice, the fate of coach Mike Sullivan and his staff is far from certain. While he has two years remaining on his SETH RORABAUGH contract, Sullivan has not directed this team to a playoff series win since the first round of the 2018 postseason. Friday, May 28, 2021 4:48 p.m. “Ultimately, you get judged on your success,” Sullivan said. “Our

performance in the regular season, I would have to think it would be Penguins captain Sidney Crosby waits for the rest of the team to leave acceptable that we won our division. But having said that, we have higher the ice after losing to the Islanders in Game 6 on Wednesday, May 26, expectations in Pittsburgh. We have higher expectations inside our room. 2021, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. And we didn’t ultimately live up to that, and we have to take ownership.”

Bryan Rust’s future came into focus this week. Regardless of who is playing for this team or coaching it, do the Penguins need to operate differently? Does their long-standing belief in He became a father. being faster and more talented than stronger, larger opposition need to be adjusted for the NHL of 2021? With his wife, Kelsey, welcoming son Hunter to the world, the Pittsburgh Penguins winger was succinct on what Sunday was like. “Speed and skill, that’s kind of what we’ve established here in Pittsburgh,” defenseman Brian Dumoulin said. “That’s kind of our mantra. “It’s the best day of my life.” That’s how we want to play as a team. … For our team systems, that’s As for life at the rink? That’s another matter for Rust and his teammates. what we base it upon and that’s what we try to bring. It’s given us some success. Obviously, sometimes we have to execute better, but that’s For the third consecutive year, the Penguins have failed to win a playoff what we hang our hat on. That’s what gives us the best chance to win is series. And for the third consecutive year, they face the real possibility of that. significant changes in the upcoming offseason. “Everyone wants to be faster. Everyone wants to be more skilled. That’s The biggest difference between this premature ending to their season kind of what we have to try to continue to get better in.” and the previous two campaigns is who will be making those changes. The Penguins will be different next season. The realities they are facing Former general manager Jim Rutherford certainly made considerable this offseason — some of which are out of their control — will dictate maneuvers in the early summer of 2019 as well as the late summer/early that. fall of 2020 to retool the team with additions such as forward Brandon Tanev and defenseman Mike Matheson. But even with those alterations, But how different will their future be? the Penguins largely got the same results. “There’s questions to be answered,” Letang said. “I’m not in charge of Now? Current general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey those. But at the end of the day, I thought we had a great team, a great operations Brian Burke are overseeing the franchise, and there would core. I still strongly believe in this core of players, that we can do great appear to be few, if any, changes to the organization they would not things.” consider after such a run of futility.

“Anytime you don’t reach the ultimate goal of winning a (Stanley Cup Tribune Review LOADED: 05.29.2021 championship), I think there’s always a thought of what didn’t go right, what needs to be better, what changes can be made to make this team a winner,” Rust said via video conference Friday. “That goes through everyone’s mind. Obviously, I love it here. I’ve been here my whole career. Wouldn’t want to go anywhere. I want to win here. I just want to win here. This is my home for me.”

Many of Rust’s teammates who spoke Friday echoed similar sentiments. They enjoy being members of the Penguins. But they also acknowledged the realities facing the organization after another far-too-short postseason run.

Additionally, with the NHL likely having a flat salary cap for the second consecutive season and the expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken looming, some change will happen.

“You know the game is a business,” said Jake Guentzel, Rust’s linemate for most of this past season. “You never know what’s going to happen. You never want to be an early exit, and the last three years have been that case. We’ve just to be better overall in the playoffs.

“It’s out of our control. That’s management. We’ve just to make sure we’re better next year.”

Who exactly management views as part of “we” for next season is still a matter of speculation considering the Penguins are barely removed from being eliminated in the first round of this postseason.

That includes the “core,” commonly identified as franchise pillars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

The 33-year-old Crosby certainly appears to be the closest thing to a lock as far as being a member of the organization until he decides to quit the sport. As for Malkin and Letang, each 34, their futures are a little less clear considering they are entering the final years of their contracts.

Per league rules, the Penguins can sign players entering the final year of their current contracts to extensions — should they choose to do so — beyond the 2021-22 season. 1214463 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin 'was not 100%' during playoffs

SETH RORABAUGH

Friday, May 28, 2021 3:55 p.m.

Limited to four games this postseason, Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin had five points (one goal, four assists).

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan shed some light on the injuries his team was dealing with during its first-round playoff series with the New York Islanders.

Forward Evgeni Malkin missed the first two games of the series with a right knee injury. It was the first time the team publicly identified the nature of Malkin’s ailment.

“(Malkin) was dealing with a knee injury that he fought really hard to get back (from) to get back into our lineup,” Sullivan said via video conference. “He was not 100%. I think I’m probably stating the obviously when I’m saying that. But he fought really hard to get back into the lineup to help us now. He’s continuing to be evaluated right now.”

During a 2-1 home loss to the Boston Bruins on March 16, Malkin was hit by Bruins defenseman Jarred Tinordi. During the sequence, their right knees collided.

Malkin missed the next 23 games as a result of the ailment but was able to skate in the final four games of the regular season.

During the regular-season finale, a 1-0 home win against the Buffalo Sabres on May 8, Malkin appeared to aggravate his injury when Sabres forward Dylan Cozens checked him, with Malkin’s right knee bearing the brunt of contact.

Despite not being at full strength, Malkin had a productive series against the Islanders, as he was tied for second on the team in scoring with five points (one goal, four assists) in five games.

Sullivan also revealed the nature of backup goaltender Casey DeSmith’s injury that forced him to be scratched for the entire series.

“Casey was dealing with a soft tissue groin injury, which is not an easy injury from a goaltending standpoint,” Sullivan said. “That’s why he was unavailable for the playoffs.”

DeSmith was initially injured during a 7-2 road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on May 3, DeSmith left the game. He missed the final three contests of the regular season as well as all six postseason games.

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Penguins’ Tristan Jarry: confidence unshaken, vows ‘I will be better next year’

CHRIS ADAMSKI

Friday, May 28, 2021 2:05 p.m.

A shot from the New York Islanders’ Josh Bailey beats Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during Game 2 of this month’s playoff series between the teams. It was one of 21 goals Jarry allowed over six games in the playoffs.

Neither Tristan Jarry nor Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan would say if Jarry has been assured he will be the team’s No. 1 goalie when next season begins.

But Jarry did vow his much-criticized showing during the playoffs has been put behind him.

“I think that will make me a better person and a better player,” Jarry said during a video conference call with media two days after the Penguins’ season ended with a first-round series loss to the New York Islanders. “It’s something that will push you to be better.

“And I will be better next year.”

Speaking after a postseason during which he was statistically among the worst of any of the NHL’s starting goalies, Jarry insisted his confidence isn’t shaken.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “I played a lot of good hockey this year. I played a lot of games. I went through a lot of learning and teaching moments.”

Among goalies with more than two starts this postseason, Jarry has the worst save percentage and second-worst GAA.

Over Jarry’s final 30 regular-season starts, he allowed more than three goals just five times. He allowed two or fewer in 17 of them.

Jarry acknowledged his play over the first month of the condensed season was “rough.”

“But I was able to pick it up and play a lot of good hockey.”

Between Feb. 18 and April 25, Jarry was 18-3-2 with a .924 save percentage.

But that became a distant memory by the time the Penguins’ brief playoff run ended, in no small part, because of Jarry. Among goalies with more than two starts this postseason, Jarry has the worst save percentage and second-worst GAA.

“Obviously, it didn’t go the way I wanted,” Jarry said, “and it’s just learning from it and getting better.

“That was my first time playing postseason games consecutively. Learning from that and the goals I let in and learning from the mistakes, I had I think will make me a better person and goalie. Those experiences are something I’ll reflect on over the summer and come back better next year from.”

Jarry said he has had some veteran and former NHL goalies reach out with words of encouragement or advice. Jarry’s teammates, too, have publicly supported him and endorsed him as the Penguins goalie in 2021-22.

The Penguins’ new management team of president of hockey operations Brian Burke and general manager Ron Hextall might elect to upgrade at goalie over the offseason, perhaps at least by adding a more proven veteran.

“That’s their decision,” Jarry said. “It’s out of my control. There’s nothing I can do about that. It’s up to them. It’s up to management. I think just having a good summer, pushing myself and just coming back as the best version of myself is all I can do.”

1214465 Pittsburgh Penguins

'He’s a No. 1 goalie’: Penguins teammates stand behind Tristan Jarry

CHRIS ADAMSKI

Friday, May 28, 2021 12:17 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jason Zucker and Marcus Pettersson can only watch as a shot from the New York Islanders’ Ryan Pulock beats Tristan Jarry during Game 4 of their playoff series last week.

It remains to be seen if Tristan Jarry will still be the Pittsburgh Penguins’ No. 1 goalie when next season begins.

Or if upper management has maintained confidence in him after a playoff showing that rated somewhere on the spectrum between slightly-below- average and downright poor.

But judging by what some of his teammates said Friday, Jarry hasn’t lost the locker room.

“At the end of the day, I truly believe he’s a No. 1 goalie who got the job done for us all year round,” veteran defenseman Kris Letang said over a video conference call with media. “It’s been two years in a row he’s been among the best at his position.”

Jarry played in the 2019-20 NHL All-Star game as he began to wrestle the starting job away from Matt Murray during that season. He took over the starting gig upon the trade of Murray to the Ottawa Senators last summer.

Jarry put up a 2.60 goals-against average and .915 save percentage combined over the past two regular seasons. Over his final 30 regular- season games this year, Jarry was at his best: 22-4-2 record, .919 save percentage, 2.45 GAA, two shutouts.

But Jarry’s postseason showing was less inspiring: 3.18 GAA, .888 save percentage. He was pegged as a primary reason the Penguins lost Games 1, 5 and 6. His double-overtime gaffe in Game 5 was particularly panned.

“That doesn’t affect confidence that I have in him. No chance,” defenseman Mike Matheson said. “I think he’s one of the best goalies in the league. I know that there’s been lot of attention and lot of blame on him through this series, but I think that’s unfair. It’s a team game, and through each game we made a lot of mistakes throughout the lineup, and to be able to think that you can narrow it down to one person or one position — whatever the case may be — is unfair.”

Among goalies with more than two starts this postseason, Jarry has the worst save percentage and second-worst GAA. The advanced metrics compiled at naturalstattrick.com rate him as third-worst in “high-danger” save percentage (.796). At five-on-five, Jarry has — by far — the worst GSAA “goals saved above average” among all goalies in the playoffs. His minus-6.46 is more than three times that of the second-worst, Alex Nedeljkovic of the Carolina Hurricanes (minus-2.03).

With the obvious caveat that the code of professional sports — to say nothing of basic human courtesy — dictates that a player should have a teammate’s back, those who play in front of Jarry have his back.

“For us, Tristan is an unbelievable goalie and an unbelievable guy,” forward Bryan Rust said. “Everyone’s got confidence in him. He’s been great for us for a while …

“He’s an awesome goalie and awesome guy.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214466 Pittsburgh Penguins “In terms of motivating, his passion for the game, his drive and intensity is contagious,” Matheson continued. “He brings it to every practice. He brings it to every game. As a player, that’s great to play for.”

'We have higher expectations': Penguins coach Mike Sullivan reflects on In terms of playing style, Sullivan crafted a system predicated upon turbulent season, future of the organization speed to match the personnel. He believed — rightfully so in 2016 and 2017 — that playing this up-and-down approach would highlight stars such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. The Penguins doubled-down on that approach over the last two seasons. Speed is the Mike DeFabo first word you’d probably use to describe the additions of Brandon Tanev, 5/28/2021 Jason Zucker, Kapanen, Matheson and others.

But now, the core is in its mid-30s. A new front office has made it no secret they plan to evolve the roster to get bigger. Will that speed game Penguins coach Mike Sullivan spent a dreary Friday at UPMC Lemieux still be the most-critical word to describe these Penguins? Sports Complex engaged in hard, honest conversations. “Stylistically, yes, the roster can evolve and so can styles of play to make During exit interviews, players reflected, analyzed and set personal sure that we’re putting together a game plan that allows us to play to our goals. Then, the coach was asked by the media to do the same for his strengths,” Sullivan said. “That’s the question that we ultimately try to own 2021 performance. answer as a coaching staff.”

“Ultimately, you get judged on your success,” said Sullivan, a two-time, As you may have noticed, there were about as many question marks in Cup-winning head coach. “Our performance in the regular season, I think this story as periods. And that’s for good reason. it would have to be acceptable that we won our division. Perhaps new general manager Ron Hextall will shed some light when he “But having said that, we have higher expectations in Pittsburgh. We holds his season-ending media availability next week. But even after that, have higher expectations inside our room. We didn’t ultimately live up to questions about the core, the coaches and the championship window will that. We all have to take ownership for it.” likely linger long into what could be a pivotal offseason.

Emotions were raw for many members of the organization during locker clean-out day. Kasperi Kapanen appeared on the verge of tears throughout his media session. Sullivan, speaking in a hushed tone Post Gazette LOADED: 05.29.2021 himself, was also obviously still trying to come to terms with how a team that felt like they out-played the opponent for five games still lost the series in six.

“I thought our team competed extremely hard in the playoffs and for the most part played a lot of really good hockey in the playoffs,” Sullivan said. “It was unfortunate that we didn’t get the result.”

So now what?

What change will be made to the coaching staff — if any? What changes will be made to the roster — if any? What changes will be made to playing style — if any?

As of Friday evening, the answers to those questions remain as murky as Pittsburgh’s unsettling sky. When Sullivan was asked directly if he anticipates any changes to the coaching staff, he sidestepped the question. He was asked a second time, this time more directly.

“I haven’t considered anything at this point,” Sullivan said. “The season just got over.”

One wonders whether Tristan Jarry’s performance could have an impact on goaltending coach Mike Buckley’s future. As Post-Gazette columnist Joe Starkey wrote, it’s also fair to question Sullivan’s status moving forward.

On Friday, the club only held its exit interviews for players. Meetings between the management group and the coaching staff will continue into next week.

When it comes to Sullivan, several players spoke glowingly about the way he navigated a turbulent season in which former general manager Jim Rutherford quit days into the season … in the midst of a pandemic … with an injury-ravaged roster that at one point lost all four left-handed defensemen and later lost five of the top nine forwards … to lead the team to the top of the East Division, a division many would consider the best in hockey.

“I think Sully is a great coach,” Brandon Tanev said. “He does a great job with this group and has for many years. … Every day, he comes to the rink excited, enthusiastic.”

Sullivan’s college coach at Boston University, Jack Parker, liked to say coaches should do more than explain things so that players understand. They should explain things so players cannot possibly misunderstand.

Mike Matheson touched upon that quality.

“He’s incredibly good at — I don’t want to say dumbing down — but really making sure that his message is direct, simple and clear for the team to understand exactly what is expected and needed against each team that we play against,” Matheson said. 1214467 Pittsburgh Penguins “That goes through everyone’s mind,” said Rust, a 2010 third-round pick who has blossomed into a first-line forward. “Obviously, I love it here. I’ve been here my whole career and I wouldn’t want to go anywhere. I want to win here.” Penguins notes: Tristan Jarry vows to learn from postseason mistakes But Rust is also eligible for an extension. The contract he signed in 2018 pays him $3.5 million annually. With a team-leading 49 goals since the start of the 2019-20 season, the 29-year-old Michigan native is in line for Matt Vensel another pay bump. 5/28/2021 Rust, whose first child was born Sunday, said he will look to secure the best possible future for his family when considering his next deal. Factors that he could consider beyond the annual salary include the contract In the 48 hours after the Penguins were eliminated from the playoffs by length and the location. the New York Islanders, Tristan Jarry learned something meaningful — he is not alone. “Family comes first for me,” Rust said. “I make every decision with them or for them and I’m going to do what’s best for us. Obviously, any time Jarry’s poor performance in the first round of the playoffs prevented the you can get a good contract or whatever, it’s definitely nice. But I’m trying Penguins from going on a deep run, leaving everyone from Mike Sullivan to just enjoy the family time right now. It’s been really exciting. … Being a and Sidney Crosby and on down disappointed. But he’s far from the only dad is awesome.” goalie who has ever struggled in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And some would later find redemption. He beamed while he discussed becoming a father. Five days after his son, Hunter, was born, Rust was still wearing his hospital bracelet on his Speaking with reporters for the first time since allowing five goals in left wrist. Game 6, Jarry said “quite a few” current and former NHL goalies have reached out to him. “It was obviously really emotional,” he said. “But it was the best day of my life.” “That was something that was uplifting and something that will help me get through it and just motivate and push me to be better next year,” Rust’s linemate, Jake Guentzel, was among the team’s biggest Jarry said. “It’s always encouraging that you have that hockey family disappointments this postseason. He scored just once on 25 shots and around the league.” took a beating against the Islanders. The winger was hit 16 times, second-most among all Penguins forwards. Goaltending was the difference in three of the four games the Penguins lost to the Islanders. That was especially glaring in Game 5, when Jarry “That’s why the game’s so fun. Sometimes you’re feeling it and passed the puck to Josh Bailey and flailed as the Islanders forward everything goes in. And sometimes it’s not going to find the way into the scored in double overtime. net,” he said. “I had chances, had shots. I’ve got to find a better way to produce and do my job there. I take a lot of responsibility for that. I let a But Jarry said his confidence remains intact after his disastrous playoff lot of people down. … Yeah, it hurts.” debut. He plans to reflect during the offseason on his first season and first postseason as a No. 1 goalie in the NHL and vowed to come back Guentzel, now nearly a year and a half removed from shoulder surgery, better for it in the fall. said getting physically stronger will be his main focus during his offseason training. “In the playoffs, I obviously wish it would have went better,” the 26-year- old said. “I think there were some things I could do differently and some “I’m just excited to get in the weight room and get going for that reason. things I could learn from. I think next year, there’s a lot of room for I’ve just got to be better overall,” Guentzel said. “It’s going to be a good improvement for me.” summer.”

He added: “That was my first time playing in postseason games Sleepless about Seattle? consecutively. Just being able to learn from it, learn from the goals that I A few players acknowledged that the July 21 expansion draft is let in, learn from the mistakes that I had, I think that will make me a better something that will be on their minds, if it isn’t already. The Penguins person and a better goalie.” have several players who could interest the new Seattle Kraken and their Asked if he was looking to get away for a while, Jarry said he does not general manager, Ron Francis. plan to do anything differently than he normally would. He will return to “It’s going to [stink] to see somebody go,” Jared McCann said. “But we his offseason home in Edmonton, Alberta, take “a couple” of days off and have a lot of talent on this team and I think a lot of guys are going to get then start training. a look.” Jarry knows he could have competition if he returns to Pittsburgh in the McCann could be one of them. Among Penguins forwards, McCann, fall. Jason Zucker, Teddy Blueger and Zach Aston-Reese are among those “That’s their decision. It’s out of my control,” Jarry said. “There’s nothing I who could be left unprotected. The same goes for defensemen Marcus can do about that. ... It’s up to management. I think just having a good Pettersson and Mike Matheson. summer and pushing myself and coming back as the best version of “It’s a tough situation,” Pettersson said. “We’ve been through it before as myself is all I can do.” a league with Vegas coming in. I think guys know how it works now. It’s Injury issues something you’ve got to deal with, right? It’s the same for every team. It will be interesting to see what happens. … I think guys are trying not to Sullivan said Friday that star center Evgeni Malkin was not fully healthy think of it too much.” during the playoffs and that his right knee will continue to be evaluated.

“He was not 100%. I think I’m probably stating the obvious when I say that, but he fought really hard to get back in the lineup to try to help us Post Gazette LOADED: 05.29.2021 win,” he said.

As for Casey DeSmith, who was unavailable during the Islanders series, Sullivan said the second-string goalie has been dealing with a “soft-tissue groin injury.”

“[That’s] not an easy injury from a goaltending standpoint,” Sullivan said.

Rust will put family first

Veteran winger Bryan Rust is no stranger to offseason trade chatter. So he knows there may be more of that this offseason after another early playoff exit. 1214468 Pittsburgh Penguins

Kris Letang wants to finish career with Penguins' core intact

Matt Vensel

5/28/2021

Kris Letang is entering the final year of his contract with the Penguins. And the team’s new management team of Ron Hextall and Brian Burke must soon decide if the All-Star defenseman will remain a part of their plans going forward.

Letang was asked Friday if he is worried he could be traded this offseason.

“That’s not my call, and I don’t want to think about those things,” he said.

Penguins players on Friday had exit meetings with coaches at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Letang, as of 10:30 a.m., had not had any discussions with management about his future. Those talks will presumably come in the coming weeks.

Letang has helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup three times. Does he believe that he and Evgeni Malkin have “earned” the right to finish their careers in Pittsburgh, alongside captain Sidney Crosby, who is under contract through 2024-25?

“As far as earning something, I don’t know. This is a business. It’s not up to me to decide,” he said. “Like I’ve said in the past, me, Geno and Sid want to finish as Penguins. We truly believe in ourselves, and we think we have a lot to offer. Earning something is a tricky word.

“That’s what we want. But it’s not up to us.”

The 34-year-old missed just one game this season, and with seven goals and 45 points, he ranked among the NHL’s most productive players at his position.

He believes he still has a lot to give to the Penguins, who lost in the first round of the playoffs for the third year in a row. Ditto for the team’s other veterans.

“At the end of the day, I thought we had a great team, a great core,” Letang said. “I still strongly believe in this core of players, that we can do great things.”

Post Gazette LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214469 Pittsburgh Penguins because of the reality that the Penguins carried play for most of the series but still lost.

His teammates very much had his back publicly, though two of the The most important things the Penguins said on locker cleanout day: team’s leaders, Letang and Bryan Rust, noted they hadn’t spoken to him Expiring contracts, goaltending, injuries and more privately in the aftermath of the loss.

“I truly believe he’s a No. 1 goalie,” Letang said.

By Rob Rossi and Josh Yohe It remains to be seen if Jarry is a No. 1 goalie and if the Penguins intend on using him in that capacity next season. Jarry, for his part, said he May 28, 2021 intends on improving and commented that he’s already received some reassuring messages from those who have previously walked in his

shoes. A couple of days later, the Penguins’ latest early exit from the As for the front office’s confidence in Jarry moving forward? postseason seemed to still bewilder players and coach Mike Sullivan. “That’s their decision,” he said. “It’s out of my control. There’s nothing I Cleanout Day, when players gather their belongings before or after can do about that. It’s up to them. It’s up to management. I think just partaking in exit interviews with coaches, was held Friday. Select players having a good summer, pushing myself and just coming back as the best and Sullivan also spoke to the Pittsburgh media by way of video version of myself is all I can do.” conferencing — the new normal in the NHL since the league’s initial shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Jarry sounded a little more accountable than when he spoke with the media following Game 5. This was his first season as the Penguins’ No. These are the takeaways from The Athletic’s beat reporters. 1 goaltender, and it was quite a learning experience. Kris Letang: ‘Me, Sid and Geno want to finish as Penguins’ “I think just being able to learn from that, learn from the goals I let in, One thing is becoming increasingly clear: The Big Three is a united front. learn from the mistakes I made,” he said. “I think it will make me a better person and a better goalie. I think those are experiences that you can Sidney Crosby’s guttural response immediately after Game 6 on hold with you for a lifetime and just learn from. I think that’s something I Thursday was matched by Kris Letang’s emotive reaction Friday. The will reflect on over the summer and come back better next year.” topic, of course, was the future of Crosby, Letang and Evgeni Malkin — teammates of 14 seasons, during which the Penguins have never missed Jake Guentzel: ‘I let a lot of people down’ the playoffs and also won three Stanley Cup titles. Guentzel sounded despondent Friday. “That’s not my call, and I don’t want to think about those things,” said “It’s the game of hockey sometimes,” he said. “That’s why it’s so fun. Letang, referring to him and Malkin entering the final season of Sometimes, you’re feeling it and everything goes in. Sometimes, it respective max-term deals. doesn’t find its way in the back of the net. I thought I had chances. Had Speculation about the Penguins potentially cutting ties with Letang and/or shots. I have to find a better way to produce and to do my job there. I Malkin predated the latest early-round postseason exit. General manager take responsibility for all of that. I let a lot of people down. I have to find a Ron Hextall has not publicly committed to moving forward with either way to put the puck in the net and make plays, be better. It hurts.” player. Hextall also hasn’t said he is looking to part with Letang and/or Guentzel has been physically manhandled during the past two Malkin. postseasons. He sounds like a player who knows it. There is a growing sense among employees who work with Hextall over When asked what he’ll be working on this summer, Guentzel was blunt. the past several months that his intention is to try re-signing Letang and Malkin prior to the start of next season. And the relatively strong “Strength training,” he said. “Physically getting stronger. For me, it’s just postseasons from both players — Letang scored a goal and five assists that I’m excited to get in the weight room and get going. I’ve got to be while playing over 28 minutes per game; Malkin had a goal and four better overall. It’s going to be a good summer. It left a sour taste in my assists while playing on a re-injured right knee after missing Games 1 mouth. I’ve got to be a lot better. Skating and strength training will be the and 2 — likely did not hurt that cause. big things for me this offseason.”

As an individual, Letang received high praises from several teammates Bryan Rust: ‘Family comes first for me’ Friday. Notably, fellow defenseman Marcus Pettersson said, “He works his ass off every day. He’s a real leader for us.” Rust has come a long way since emerging as a depth forward who excels at penalty killing and has a knack for scoring in big games. His 49 Brian Dumoulin, Letang’s longtime defense partner, credited Letang, goals led the Penguins over the past two seasons, while his 98 points Malkin and Crosby for establishing “the winning culture we have here.” and plus-23 rating rank fourth and second, respectively.

A flat salary cap and Letang and Malkin’s ages (both are 34) likely would His contractual status has not received as much attention as Letang and influence any plans Hextall has as part of their potential future fits in Malkin but Rust is also set to play out the final season of his current deal. Pittsburgh. And whereas it’s likely that Letang and Malkin would not equal their current salaries on their next contracts, especially if the trade-off is term, “This is a business,” Letang said Friday. “Like I’ve said in the past: me, Rust is probably due a bigger number when it comes to compensation Sid and Geno want to finish as Penguins. We truly believe in ourselves. and years. We think we have a lot to offer. He just turned 29. He’s also a first-time father after his wife gave birth to “Earning something? It’s a tricky word. That’s what we want. But it’s not a son during the playoffs. up to us.” Rust would prefer his third NHL contract be with the Penguins. They’re Tristan Jarry: ‘It’s up to them’ his professional family. The Penguins’ media relations department rolled out nearly a dozen He has an actual family now, though. players, one by one, to speak with the media Friday. Then, there was a lengthy delay. “Obviously, as of a few days ago, I’ve got some big priorities,” Rust said Friday. “Family comes first for me. I’m going to make every decision with Finally, the final player greeted the media, and it was the player who has them and for them, and I’m going to do what’s best for us. received the most scrutiny during the past week. Goalie Tristan Jarry, whose disappointing performance has been the talk of Pittsburgh, spoke “Any time you can get a good contract or whatever is really nice. But I’m in a tone that was uncharacteristically firm. just trying to enjoy the family time right now. It’s really exciting.”

“I will be better next season,” he said. Rust is one of 11 Penguins who played in the postseason and is on a contract that will expire after either this or next season. Those players Jarry is taking the brunt of the criticism following the loss to the Islanders primarily because of his stunning gaffe in double overtime of Game 5 and combined to count approximately $33 million against the $81.5 million cap.

Other

Sullivan said he had not decided on making any changes to his staff. Top assistant Todd Reirden and Mike Vellucci, who had been promoted after serving as GM and coach with AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, were hired last offseason by former GM Jim Rutherford. Goalie coach Mike Buckley was given a new contract last season by Rutherford, as well.

Sullivan confirmed that Malkin was “not 100 percent” during the playoffs, which he played with a right-knee injury. Malkin was still being evaluated as of Friday.

Backup goalie Casey DeSmith was unavailable in the playoffs because of a soft-tissue groin injury, Sullivan said.

Winger Kasperi Kapanen on his first full season with the Penguins: “I was in Toronto, and it’s a great place to be. But I’ve never really felt as comfortable as with this group of guys.” That was evident by Kapanen’s attire: sunglasses atop a checkered fedora, a purple T-shirt adoring the image of a wolf howling at the moon. He and Malkin clearly were meant to be linemates.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214470 Pittsburgh Penguins when I burn out, no one wins. I’m upset and sad, and the work isn’t good.” He was very gracious in allowing me to start out at my own pace and really get my feet wet. For the last two Sundays I actually sat in with Josh Taylor to get my feet wet. I really like to move slowly with changes ‘Well, it’s about freaking time’: Shelby Cassesse brings a new, needed and do things gradually, and they have given me every opportunity to do voice to The Fan and Pittsburgh sports talk radio that — despite the fact I just was offered this opportunity about a month ago.

It was something that, honestly, I never saw myself doing. That’s not to By Stephen J. Nesbitt say I didn’t want to do it, but I just always envisioned myself as a May 28, 2021 reporter. I wanted to get back into sports, and that’s where I hopefully will one day end up working full time. I was planning to sit down with my bosses here and talk about maybe getting back into some of those opportunities, and before I could even have that conversation, this When Shelby Cassesse checked her phone, shortly after announcing opportunity was presented to me. So, it was a no-brainer, but it’s just May 23 that she’ll soon be hosting a show on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, completely different than what I’ve ever done. she saw that NFL Network reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala had replied to her tweet, “Well, it’s about freaking time this market highlighted a smart, You come from a long line of Pittsburgh sports fans, right? Did you have informed and engaging female voice. Good for you — and can’t wait, any connection to the radio world growing up? Shelby!” Cassesse: My entire family is from Butler and East Brady, home of Jim Cassesse, 28, broke into a big smile. Kelly. I was born there, and when I was going into fourth grade my dad (David) accepted a job transfer to Crystal Lake, a suburb outside of “I’ll probably print it out and hang it somewhere,” Cassesse said, with a Chicago. I grew up in a pretty typical Yinzer household. The majority of laugh, during a lengthy conversation with The Athletic on Thursday. my dad’s clothes were black and gold. He had to tell us to stop buying Cassesse’s first show is Sunday, from 7 to 9 a.m., and Kinkhabwala will him Steelers gifts at Christmas. It was constant. That was all we bought be one of the first guests. The news of Cassesse getting her own show him. Even while we were out in Chicago, we got DirecTV so we could was met with a wave of support this week. She is just the second woman watch the Steelers games from there. My grandparents still lived out to host a show in The Fan’s 11-year history. (The first, Stacy Kaufmann, here, so when we’d be back here, I remember having KDKA-AM on the won the station’s “Next Fan Host” contest in 2013. She is still on the air radio, listening to Fred Honsberger — very vague memories, but I for updates but isn’t currently hosting.) remember having the radio station on. My major intro into radio was interning here at The Fan while I was in college. I’d actually always Michael Spacciapolli, senior vice president/market manager at Entercom wanted to do TV, which is what I started out in, but I have really found my Pittsburgh, said diversifying the voices and perspectives on the air has home here in radio. I have always found my way back to this cluster of been a “major focus” for him in recent years. Not every show should stations. sound the same, and Spacciapolli said he believes Cassesse’s approach and insights will resonate with weekend listeners. “She’s the right person You’re the second woman to host a show for The Fan, and the only at the right time to bring us a new opinion and a diverse set of thoughts woman with a show currently. Is that something you’ve given much on The Fan,” Spacciapolli said. thought?

Cassesse should be no stranger to local listeners. She interned at The Cassesse: I have always been someone that has advocated for more Fan while studying at Duquesne, then spent two years as a sports women, more people of color to be covering sports in this city. It is not anchor at WDTV in Bridgeport, W.Va. Cassesse returned to Pittsburgh, lost on me the honor, the privilege that I have of being one of the first earned an MBA from Pitt’s Katz Graduate School of Business and women to host a sports-talk show here in Pittsburgh. But when the mic freelanced on radio and TV for KDKA. She was hired full time as a news comes on on Sunday, I’m not a female sports-talk show host. I’m just a reporter at KDKA Radio in February. talk-show host — like all of my other colleagues here. I want to be a good representation for women in sports, and I want younger girls to look at Now, she has a sports-talk radio show on top of all that. Eventually, me as someone who might have paved the way for them. But I don’t Cassesse plans to host at least every other Sunday, but it’ll be a “semi- want that to be what people view me as, if that makes sense. regular” show for now due to summer travel and Cassesse’s full-time work for KDKA Radio. Absolutely.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for length. Cassesse: I don’t want people to view me as a female talk-show host. I want them to view me as a talk-show host who happens to be a woman You’re a couple days out from the first show. How are the jitters? and has the honor of being one of the first to do it in the city.

Cassesse: I am, in the most positive way, ready to get this first show What have you heard from folks around the city since the under my belt — because there is a lot of anticipation among myself, my announcement? family and my friends. There has been so much support, not just from my inner circle but from colleagues here at The Fan and KDKA-AM and Cassesse: I’ve had so many people reach out. It’s been really 100.1 FM. And not just people that know me, either. The response online overwhelming and surprising. I never anticipated that I would get that has blown me away. It’s been completely overwhelming. Given all of the type of reaction. I’ve maybe had one negative comment, and it was so attention and hype that we’ve had for this show, it’s so encouraging, and mild that there’s no reason for me to think about it. The community here it’s also gotten me more and more anxious to just get this started. So, it’s in Pittsburgh is so supportive — (listeners) have been so wonderful and unfortunate the turn the hockey season took last night, but the good excited to hear what I’m going to be talking about and are planning on news is there’s plenty to talk about on Sunday. tuning in. There have also been colleagues, not just at The Fan but journalists in the city, that have reached out that, honestly, I thought they There’s no doubt about that. How did this opportunity come about, and didn’t know I existed. I didn’t think they’d know who I was. how did you weigh whether to add this assignment to your already full plate? Aditi Kinkhabwala, who is going to be one of my first guests on the show, she reached out to me and said something along the lines of: It’s about Cassesse: Honestly, there wasn’t much thinking about whether or not I time there’s a knowledgeable, refreshing female voice on sports-talk wanted to take the opportunity. It was pretty much an instant yes. I did radio of Pittsburgh. Those words from a journalist like her are, I mean, I’ll take a day to let it all sink in, understand what the responsibility would be, probably print it out and hang it somewhere. They’re so meaningful. Of and also understand what would be the proper way to go about this so course, Bob Pompeani, whom I’ve worked with, words from him mean a that I don’t burn out. I’m working full time, five days a week, and those lot. Some of these people that have made such a name for themselves days are always packed. So, I wanted to not only make sure that I have a could have looked at my tweet, maybe liked it, congratulated me in good, balanced life, but I also wanted to make sure that I had the time to person maybe, they’re taking the time to publicly make sure I know that prepare for these shows, in addition to my workload during the week. I that they’re rooting for me, that they’re behind me. That type of reaction sat down with my husband (Tom Goehring) and talked it out. I’m really just overwhelms me, honestly. grateful to Spacc (Spacciapolli) and the management here because I was pretty straightforward with them. I said, “I don’t want to burn out, because Spacciapolli: If I can jump in here quickly, the response we’ve gotten finally going all the way — but also my guy was retiring. That was the since Shelby tweeted this out last Sunday has been incredible in the moment I knew I was probably a little bit different from a lot of other 13- market. So incredibly positive. People are so excited to have her on the year-old girls. I don’t think they were crying when their favorite NFL air. players retired.

Did you have any favorite sports-talk hosts growing up? I’ve got to let you go. Anything I missed?

Cassesse: Honestly, I did not listen to radio a ton growing up, so if Spacciapolli: The one thing I’d say is that we’re incredibly excited. We’d there’s anyone I’ve looked up to it’s been these guys at The Fan, 110 ask all the listeners to tune in. Listen to Shelby. We’re going to ride with percent. I grew up in a city whose teams I didn’t follow, and there was no Shelby. We feel incredibly fortunate that we can build and help her grow, way to get the radio on your phone or listen to across the country. Once I along with the listeners who will be fortunate from the work she’ll do. And got here to The Fan for my internship, I’ve loved these guys here and one thing I’ll add about Shelby: she was a great Madden player when she have always looked to them for encouragement. Even when they don’t was younger. realize it, I’m listening to them to hear what they have to say and considering what my opinions are based on the information that they’re Cassesse: I’m an only child, and I was decently into video games providing. I grew up in the Erin Andrews, Rachel Nichols era, so I love growing up. I actually learned a lot about football and hockey by playing both of them. And I’m loving what Mina Kimes is doing right now. video games. The very basics. What different plays were like: a draw versus play action. I very rarely won as an 8-year-old playing Madden She’s so good. against the computer, but I still enjoyed it and learned a lot from it. Now, every time I win a game of Madden, I retire from it. I beat my husband in Cassesse: Every time I watch her, I’m so engrossed in what she’s saying Madden last year, so I retired again. because of the confidence with which she says it and because of the vast knowledge she has. I was actually looking into her background. She’s an I also wanted to mention my dad. He was my biggest sports influence. Ivy League graduate and is big into analytics. She’s much smarter than I Sports were always a way to come together during the hectic-ness of could ever be, but I really admire her and what she’s doing. school, work, activities and travel. Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock, my mom (Donna) would make lunch before game time and we’d sit down The Sunday morning listener isn’t the same as the weekday morning- and watch the Steelers. No matter what. No matter if I had to do drive listener. How do you plan to differentiate your show from others? homework in the middle of the game. My parents got me involved in Cassesse: We are, of course, going to touch on all angles of the pro organized sports pretty early on, and I started to take interest in teams and Pitt. You can’t have a sports-talk show in Pittsburgh without professional sports soon after. My dad would bring me along to games. I doing that. Something that I’ve been a big advocate for in the city is more think he was always trying to see if this interest was legitimate. He’d community sports coverage. In West Virginia, that was a huge part of always take the time to explain what was going on when I was younger. what we did because what people cared about was the 27 high schools He and my mom both were at every ridiculous sport I tried. I played and five Division II schools. So many major sports storylines start at the volleyball year-round for almost 10 years. So I would be remiss if I didn’t high school level. Like all the beyond-incredible NFL quarterbacks that mention my parents. have come out of our little area — at one time, they were just high school But especially my dad. He has always really encouraged me. As a huge players, too. As of right now, I envision it as a small segment once a sports nut with only one child, (sporting events) have been one of the week on something that’s going on in the community with sports. I just biggest bonding experiences that we’ve shared over time. He was very had someone reach out to me today about a freshman who already has upset that I married a New England Patriots fan, though. his sixth Division I football offer. Stuff like that. People you need to be watching out for that you might’ve missed because there’s just not Ooh. I’m also married to a Patriots fan. We suffer together. enough time and resources to tell all the stories out there. I’ve also had someone reach out to me about doing a segment on special hockey Cassesse: He’s more of a Tampa Bay Bucs fan now. leagues in our area. Highlighting stuff that’s going on right in our own backyards. The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 So, the Penguins lost Game 6. Afterward, while everyone else was tweeting their thumbs off, were you practicing what you might say on the radio the next morning? Has your mind flipped that switch yet?

Cassesse: I definitely had to shift gears. Actually, before the game, Chris Mueller was in here a little early. He walked up to me and says, “Go! If your show started now, what’s your take before the game?” I was like, “What?” He’s like, “Give me your take.” So, I gave him my take. I said (Tristan) Jarry needs to improve, but I think the real key is going to be getting in front of (Ilya) Sorokin and causing traffic. We talked about how we’d frame that as a talk-show topic. I’ve definitely had to switch my mindset from casually watching or being a reporter that has a deadline to meet after the game to actively note taking on how to digest what just happened and have an opinion on the air.

What sports moment from your childhood would have made for your best radio rant the next morning? For me, coming from Michigan, it would have been when the Penguins beat the Red Wings in 2009. I was gutted.

Cassesse: At least you had the year prior.

Hey, fandom isn’t rational.

Cassesse: When things started to turn from casual fandom to more of a passion and something where I wanted to soak in every second was when the Steelers beat Seattle in the Super Bowl. I was 13. That season and that playoff run was just a textbook example of the highs and the lows and the anxiety and the complete triumph of a sports season, an athletic season, a football season. That was the first time I saw a Pittsburgh team win a championship. I was just so enamored. I was hooked. I didn’t want the season to end. Every sports fan has that one athlete who draws them in for the first time. That was Jerome Bettis for me. I loved Jerome Bettis and will never forget him fumbling that ball at the goal line against Indianapolis. Obviously, that night he announced he was retiring. I just bawled my eyes out. It was a mix of complete elation that I was watching this anomaly for the first time in my life — your team 1214471 Pittsburgh Penguins able to bounce off those guys. Those guys are there to help, and I think that’s always (good) to have that hockey family around the league.”

Jarry spoke with Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, too, of course. Jarry Admits Inexperience, Growing Pains; Vows To Come Back Better “We talked about his development as a player, some of the positive things and the progress he’s made, and some of the areas he could get better,” Sullivan said, declining to offer further details of their Published 12 hours ago on May 28, 2021 conversation.

By Shelly Anderson Some of Jarry’s teammates offered support of Jarry in their wrap-up interviews Friday.

“I truly believe he’s a No. 1 goalie,” defenseman Kris Letang said. They were the final six words Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry spoke Friday in his season wrap-up interview with reporters. Another defenseman, Mike Matheson, was staunch in his defense of Jarry. “I will be better next year.” “It doesn’t affect (the) confidence that I have in him. No chance” How those words will be received no doubt depends greatly on the Matheson said of Jarry’s postseason performance. “I think he’s one of perception of who is listening. the best goalies in the league. While many outside the Penguins organization — based on things such “I know there’s been a lot of attention and a lot of blame on him through as social media, sports talk shows and comment sections – heavily the series, but I think that’s unfair. It’s a team game, and through each blame Jarry for the team’s loss in six games to the New York Islanders in game we made a lot of mistakes throughout the lineup. To think that you the first round of the playoffs and even are calling for his ouster from the can narrow it down to one person or one position … is unfair. team, Jarry sees his performance as something of a starting point, a place from which to build after his first season as a No. 1 NHL goalie. “It was six games of back-and-forth play. At the end of the day they got the best of it. There’s a lot of reasons for that. It’s not just one.” “Obviously, there are a lot of expectations, a lot of things to learn,” Jarry said. “I think it was a bit of an up-and-down year for me, just playing the Jarry, who said he will keep a normal offseason of a little rest followed by games I did. … I think I was able to pick it up and play a lot of good getting back into training, insisted his confidence is not shaken. hockey. “No, I don’t think so,” he said. “I played a lot of good hockey this year. I “And then in the playoffs I think you obviously wish it would have gone played a lot of games and went through a lot of learning and teaching better. I think there were some things I could (have done) differently and moments.” some things that I could learn from.

“I think next year there’s a lot of room for improvement for me.” Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.29.2021 Jarry was 25-9-3 during the COVID-19-shortened regular season with a 2.75 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.

In the playoffs, where he played all six games with backup Casey DeSmith injured, Jarry’s record against the Islanders matched the Penguins’ – 2-4. He had a 3.18 goals-against average and save percentage of .888 that easily could set off alarm bells.

The Islanders at times seemed to successfully target the high glove side against Jarry.

And then there was that gaffe early in double overtime in Game 5 when he made an ill-advised clearing attempt that was easily picked off by New York’s Josh Bailey, then flailed at a save attempt as Bailey scored the winner.

Jarry didn’t address that or any play specifically but acknowledged his shortcomings.

“Obviously, it didn’t go the way I wanted, and I think it’s just learning from it and getting better,” he said. “I think being able to learn from that experience, that was my first time playing in postseason games consecutively.

“Just being able to learn from that, learn from the goals I let in, learn from the mistakes that I had, I think that will make me a better person and a better goalie. I think those are experiences you can hold with you for a lifetime and just learn from it. I think that’s something that I’ll reflect on over the summer and come back better next year from.”

Will that still be with the Penguins, who drafted Jarry, 26, in the second round in 2014? And if so, will the team bring in a veteran goalie to push or even displace him?

“That’s their decision,” Jarry said. “It’s out of my control. There’s nothing I can do about that. It’s up to them. It’s up to management.

“Having a good summer, pushing myself and then coming back as the best version of myself is all I can do.”

In the 36 hours or so after the Penguins lost the series, Jarry said he heard from several people in the hockey world – presumably other goalies and mentors – who offered him encouragement.

“I’ve had quite a few, actually, reach out,” he said. “That was something that was uplifting and something that will help me get through it. It will motivate me and push me to be better next year. That’s something I’m 1214472 Pittsburgh Penguins The questions of Letang’s future hang over him and the organization. He deflected a question if he “earned” the right to finish his career as a Penguins. As Letang admitted, “earned” is a tricky word.

Penguins Clean Out Day; Letang Wants Core Together, ‘That’s What We “This is a business. It’s not up to me to decide those things. Like I said in Want’ the past, Geno and Sid want to finish as Penguins,” Letang siad. “We truly believe in ourselves and I think we have a lot to offer. Earned is a tricky word. I would say that’s what we want. But it’s not up to us.”

Published 14 hours ago on May 28, 2021 Brandon Tanev

By Dan Kingerski The Penguins crash and bang winger was a force when healthy. He also scored more points per game than at any time in his career. While Tanev

finished with only 16 points (7-9-16), he played only 32 games for a .50 It’s a sad day but also a day when the pressure is off, and the boys can ppg. goof around without worrying about a game that night or their spot in the Tanev, 29, primarily united with his shutdown line teammates Teddy lineup. The Pittsburgh Penguins season is over, and no amount of Blueger and Zach Aston-Reese throughout the season, but that trio was scoring chances or rehashing the failed six-game series against the New the Penguins third line for a good bit of the season. And they all added York Islanders will bring it back. Now we wait and wonder if a blockbuster more offense. Penguins trade is in the works. “The longer you play in the NHL, the more confidence you have. Being The Penguins made select players available for about 75 minutes on comfortable with Teddy and Zach, too, playing together for a second Friday morning and then head coach Mike Sullivan later in the afternoon. year, it made things a little bit easier,” Tanev said. “The goal for myself is Pittsburgh Hockey Now covered each interview and will provide in-depth to grow every year. To get better at something every year and to bring coverage in the hours and days following. There were few surprises, a lot that to the team….” of disappointment, and many questions about the future of the Pittsburgh The Penguins have something special with Tanev on that line. Whether it Penguins. remains intact is another matter. Aston-Reese will be a restricted free Neither Sidney Crosby nor Evgeni Malkin spoke. We did not expect agent. Blueger and Tanev could be protection casualties in the coming Crosby to speak as the Penguins captain spoke immediately following Seattle Kraken expansion draft. the Penguins’ Game 6 loss. The sting of a first-round exist when the Pittsburgh Penguins genuinely He already offered his best defense of the Penguins core staying believed (and correctly so) that they had a chance at something special. together. Kris Letang did the same on Friday morning. Because the Penguins have taken the first exit ramp in each of the last three seasons, there is some question about Mike Sullivan’s job security. The Penguins won the East Division with a strong kick in the second half of the season, but playoff hockey again bit the speedy Penguins as the ‘He does a great job for this group and has for many years…I see the New York Islanders took away space. The Penguins still managed to work he puts in every day. Every day, he comes to the rink ready to work, fight through the traffic and lead the league in scoring chances during the excited, enthusiastic,” Tanev said of Sullivan. “He does a great Round One series, but Jarry struggled to keep the puck out of the job…that’s all you can say about Sully. He’s a great individual. An even Penguins net. better coach. We’re lucky to have him in Pittsburgh.”

Instead, questions abound regarding the Penguins’ future and if Kris The players were ready for the questions regarding the immediate future. Letang and Evgeni Malkin will return, the expansion draft, Tristan Jarry, Most put the decision on management and demurred any input. and the Penguins thoughts of their season. “That’s management’s job. It’s not our job as players to worry about. I “Bitter.” “It stings.” And “we thought we could have made a deep run” think our job is just to go out there and get ready to play and obviously were the common answers. now have a good offseason and come back ready, enthusiastic, excited for next season.” Marcus Pettersson also offered some insight into Kris Letang that is worth sharing:

“Kris Letang goes out and plays his ass off every night. It’s a pleasure to Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.29.2021 play with him.”

Pittsburgh Penguins Parting Interviews, Kris Letang & Brandon Tanev.

Letang, 35, thought he had a pretty good season. He did, too. The Penguins defenseman had 45 points, including 38 assists in 55 games.

“I thought I did pretty well, stayed pretty consistent all year,” Letang said. “It was nice to have Todd (Reirden, assistant coach) back on the bench. It gave me a lot of confidence for my game. When things don’t go your way, it’s fun to have someone you can talk to and understand you.”

Pittsburgh Hockey Now will bring you many of the Penguins interviews over the next few days. There were no bombshells, though Letang’s acknowledgment of the Penguins trading him is significant. He could have shut down the talk but instead defended their work.

That sounds like someone making a case to stay together, not someone who assumes they will be. The future of the Penguins core, which now includes Jeff Carter based on numerous references to his leadership and Carter excelling in the playoffs, is in doubt.

Will the Penguins management, including GM Ron Hextall and President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke, let the team roll into the future with the current core, or is the time now to say goodbye?

Obviously, Letang’s performance will never be enough to satisfy the anti- Letang crowd in the fanbase who insist he incorrectly pinched throughout the Round One series (because he should have known Anthony Beauvillier would beat three Penguins defenders). 1214473 San Jose Sharks although it might be difficult to move him considering his difficult 2021 campaign, the Sharks would potentially try to find him a new home or perhaps entice Seattle to take him in the expansion draft.

If the Sharks land a top-two draft pick, how might it impact their offseason The Sharks are almost certainly stuck with Marc-Edouard Vlasic and his plans? horrific contract, with five years left at $7 million annually. It’s almost impossible to envision the club being able to get rid of that deal. Vlasic could play the right side on the third defense pair, as he did for much of last season, or just be healthy scratched until/if they need him. By Kevin Kurz Erik Karlsson, of course, isn’t going anywhere, either. What a Power May 28, 2021 addition might do, though, is accelerate a Brent Burns departure. The Sharks might be more likely to leave Burns unprotected in the expansion draft rather than Simek, but it’s more likely they would deal the The NHL draft lottery always brings with it the chance to drastically alter defenseman, who we’ve previously reported might be open to moving on the direction of a franchise or two. The Sharks already expect to draft at age 36 and with four years at $8 million annually left on his contract. higher than they have in at least 16 years, when Devin Setoguchi was Burns probably also would return some assets that could help in the selected eighth overall in 2005. Currently, the Sharks’ likeliest draft short or long term. position is the seventh or eighth spot. In fact, entering Wednesday’s lottery, they have an identical 39.7 percent chance to pick in either of If the Sharks end up with the No. 2 overall pick, that’s a little more difficult those two slots, according to Tankathon. to predict.

But they could get lucky. The Sharks have a 6.7 percent chance to win The current system is short on high-end defensive prospects, particularly the top pick and a 6.9 percent chance to move up to second. That’s a after the Sharks spent all nine of their picks on forwards in 2020. Their 13.6 percent chance they could end up with the opportunity to speed up best prospect on defense, Ryan Merkley, had an underwhelming first their rebuild … er, reset, or whatever they want to call it these days. season in the AHL.

Sharks scouting director Doug Wilson Jr. won’t reveal how many players But the Sharks really shouldn’t be thinking about targeting specific he believes could play in the NHL next season, right out of the draft. positions at this point considering the state of the organization — they That’s understandable because the organization doesn’t want to give should just take the best player available, whoever they think that is. The anything away prior to the first round on July 23. players with the best chance to play in the NHL right away in this year’s draft class, other than Power, are probably center Matthew Beniers and “I’d rather not comment on the top 10 players, but I will say there’s some wingers Dylan Guenther and William Eklund. good players there,” Wilson Jr. said last Friday. “I just go by, historically, guys who get drafted in the top 10, their timelines to help an NHL team Beniers seems to be the player most envision as the second overall pick, are significantly increased over the (later) guys.” and, like Power and Bordeleau, he just wrapped up his freshman season at Michigan. He posted 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 24 games. If the Sharks draft seventh, eighth or ninth, that player probably will not make the Sharks out of next season’s training camp. Wilson Jr. “Beniers is that rare breed of smarts, skills and sandpaper that all NHL mentioned that whoever they take, that player should be on the same clubs covet particularly in the Stanley Cup playoffs,” according to Marr. timeline as some of their other prospects in the system, such as the guys “A hardworking and ultimate competitor, he has an intuitive game and they selected in 2020, when the team was given generally good grades dogged determination to not be denied on plays. He possesses the for its draft performance. That includes winger and first-round pick Ozzy offensive skills to contribute, particularly when it matters most.” Wiesblatt and center and second-round pick Thomas Bordeleau, who And here’s Pronman on Beniers: “Beniers has been very good in college was named as the NCAA’s top freshman after his first season at the as one of the youngest players in the NCAA, and played a top-six role for University of Michigan. the USA in its gold-medal effort at the world juniors. Beniers has a quality But what if the ping-pong balls go their way and the Sharks move up this NHL-caliber skill set, but not a lot that jumps off the page. He is a top year and have a chance to grab someone who can play right away? That prospect, though, because he is an elite competitor.” could change their approach to the 2021 offseason and next season. The Sharks have already made it public that they’ll be searching for a Defenseman Owen Power is the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall third-line center in the offseason. But if they viewed Beniers as the pick. Power is a 6-foot-6, 213-pound left-handed shot who posted 16 second-best player in the draft behind Power, might they re-think that points (three goals, 13 assists) in 26 games with Michigan as a plan and give him a shot to impress in training camp? That would allow freshman-year teammate of Bordeleau. It’s likely that Power will jump the team to use its cap space in other areas of need, such as goaltending directly to the NHL. or another top-nine winger who can score.

“Power is an excellent package of NHL size, skating and attributes, which There really is no consensus No. 2 pick in the draft, at least at this point. he utilizes effectively in all situations,” according to NHL Central Scouting That Sharks might think someone like Luke Hughes — who, like Power, director Dan Marr. “His hockey sense is intuitive and instinctive. A very is a left-shot defenseman — is worthy of the second overall pick. Or fluid and agile skater who can transition quickly on plays and separate maybe they like center Kent Johnson, or winger Mason McTavish. it’s himself from checking. He plays a mature game for his age and is at the impossible to know what the Sharks’ internal list looks like at the top of this draft class.” moment, and it’s likely that list hasn’t even been finalized. Deciding who to take with the second overall pick is an internal debate the scouting According to The Athletic’s Corey Pronman in March: “Power was a big- staff would surely welcome, though. minutes, all-situations player for Michigan as a young freshman and one of the best overall defensemen in his conference.” It’s been a tough two years for the Sharks, who are just 24 months removed from Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. While they’d So where would Power fit on the Sharks? His addition would certainly still have plenty of work to do even if they won big in the draft lottery next solidify the left side of their defense for the foreseeable future. week, it would be the biggest bit of truly encouraging news for the club in a little while in its quest to return to respectability. Mario Ferraro took a gigantic leap forward in his second NHL season with the Sharks, posting 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in 56 games. Nikolai Knyzhov, meanwhile, earned team rookie of the year honors after bulking up the previous offseason, and the team brass seems just as The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 high on Knyzhov, who had 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 56 games, as it was on Ferraro a year ago. It’s doubtful that the chance to draft Power would lead to the departure of either of those two young players.

But the same can’t be said for some of the other defensemen.

Radim Simek would immediately be in the crosshairs. The 28-year-old has three years left on his contract at $2.25 million per season, and 1214474 San Jose Sharks reasons,” Irbe noted. “But, he [had been] the only European goalie that really made it into the big leagues [at that point].”

It’s safe to say that Irbe had his work cut out to prove himself. 30 Sharks: Ignorance Was Bliss for San Jose’s Arturs Irbe “There was this perception that for Europeans, it’s hard for them to play NHL hockey and [play the] tough schedule. Whatever the thought process was, I could sense it that I had to break the barrier in order to Published 14 hours ago on May 28, 2021 succeed,” Irbe elaborated. “Luckily, I had a supporting cast as I was not the only [European goalie]. There was also Dominator [Dominik Hasek] By Ryan Cowley breaking into the league at the same time. So, there were two of us and the rest of it is history.”

Standing at 5-foot-8, Arturs Irbe didn’t exactly promote fear when As far as Kevin Constantine was concerned, though, as long as Irbe opposing teams saw him at first. Once the puck dropped, though, that could stop the puck, he could have been from outer space for all he fear took very little time to set in, especially during the 1993-94 cared. campaign, when the Latvian netminder helped the San Jose Sharks “Kevin believed in me,” Irbe fondly reflected. “He rode me. I played, I achieve one of the most impressive single-season turnarounds in NHL guess, a record number of minutes in a season by a goalie and I loved it. history. I was ready for a challenge because I used to play all the games in In this, the penultimate installment of my “30 Sharks” series for San Jose Europe, in Dynamo Riga, before the NHL. I played in every single game. Hockey Now, I speak with Irbe, who retraces the Sharks’ success in I never missed a beat. Of course, there were only 42, 43 games a 1993-94 and talks about the size factor for goaltenders. season, something like that, but still, with the breaks and everything, I played every single game. It was normal, I guess, and that was fun.” PLAYING FOR CONSTANTINE IGNORANCE IS BLISS In his first two seasons in teal — also the San Jose Sharks’ inaugural campaigns — Arturs Irbe’s 49 games weren’t particularly noteworthy. In Probably one of the biggest things that stood out about Arturs Irbe as a fact, in 1992-93, the Riga native went 7-26-0 with a 4.11 goals-against goaltender was his stature. average and an .886 save percentage. Of course, while these numbers Standing at 5-foot-8, the former Dynamo Riga netminder wasn’t exactly can largely be attributed to the team’s collective futility, Irbe was the most foreboding presence between the pipes. That didn’t bother Irbe, nonetheless without direction during his early days with the team. though. In fact, he wasn’t even aware that size was a factor playing goal. The season before, however, Irbe helped the Sharks’ then-affiliate, the “I didn’t even realize that that could have been an issue in the NHL,” Irbe Kansas City Blades, win the IHL’s Turner Cup. His coach was future San said, laughing. “I had proven that I could play at the top level and be Jose bench boss Kevin Constantine. successful, but again, in the NHL, it was a different animal, I guess you “I think he really saw a lot of potential in me,” Irbe said of Constantine. “I can say, and I had to battle that. But, I did not even blink an eye on that. definitely felt confidence and full support, which was the key because my Whatever people thought, for me, it was not an issue and those people first year in San Jose when I was called up, I think I won the first two were mistaken.” games against Edmonton and the Islanders and still got sent down.” At the end of the day, Irbe’s success came down to one factor. In his first stint in the NHL in 1991-92, Irbe went 2-6-3 with a 4.47 GAA “Confidence was the key because I really saw it as a game where results and an .868 save percentage. matter,” he added. “It’s not statistics per se where it was the Most would have likely pressed the proverbial panic button. But, when measurements, et cetera, it was whether you could get the job done. It Irbe returned to Kansas City, he was reassured of his coach’s faith. After was not an issue and I didn’t even realize it was. [Opposing teams] all, the North American game just took some getting used to. wanted to say, ‘Oh, we can go top shelf on this guy,’ and I’d say, ‘Okay, go ahead. I’ll just stand up. I don’t have to go into the splits to make a “For me, as a goalie who has played elite level in Europe, it was a culture top-shelf save.’” shock [playing in North America],” the former netminder admitted. “I was young and confident but I did not know the system per se, so I was really SHARKS RISING thinking, ‘These people, they really don’t see what I can do for them,’ and In hindsight, it is nearly impossible to believe that a team can improve by for me, it was like a red flag to the bulls. So, I said, ‘I’ll show you! I’ll show 22 wins and 58 points in just one season. Yet, that was exactly the case you what I can do.’” for the 1993-94 San Jose Sharks. But, a turnaround of such magnitude As fate would have it, the Sharks would hire Constantine to replace isn’t accomplished by one or two people. It takes a heck of a lot more in George Kingston behind the San Jose bench in time for the 1993-94 terms of people, patience, and the willingness to adapt and evolve. season. This left Irbe filled with joy and even relief, especially after a Irbe took me through some of those adjustments that helped the Sharks memorable phone call. reach unprecedented heights. “Luckily, Kevin got the job as the head coach and I remember he called “First of all, we came in hungry and the team chemistry was just insane,” me that summer,” Irbe recalled. “It was very early. I think on the first or emphasized the 54-year-old. “We had found a formula very early. We second day [of Constantine’s hiring], he called and said, ‘Arch, we have had our penalty-killers, we had our own KLM line with [Jeff] Norton and big things to do. You are going to be my guy.’” Ozo [Sandis Ozolinsh] in the back — or GLM with [Johan] Garpenlov Irbe, with a newfound jolt of confidence, was over the moon. there — and Kevin figured out that as long as these guys deliver, he better give them freedom to wheel because, otherwise, if you put them in “It was a boost,” he beamed. “So, I thought, ‘This year, I have a shot. I a system, which Kevin was a big believer in, there won’t be results.” have shown [Constantine] that I can deliver. Now, he’s in the NHL and this is my year.’” We’re getting ahead of ourselves though: 1993-94 didn’t start out great for the San Jose Sharks, as they limped out of the gate 0-8-1. Irbe and TRAILBLAZING A NEW PATH Constantine, however, were undeterred.

While it may not have been much of a concern at the time, Irbe realized “We couldn’t score early on in the season and him being a really good there weren’t many European-born goaltenders gracing NHL nets in the coach, he figured out that he had to adjust because this is what he had early- to mid-1990s. and he had to squeeze out everything from the guys,” Irbe explained. That’s when Constantine allowed Igor Larionov, Sergei Makarov, and In fact, aside from Sergei Mylnikov’s 10-game stint with the Quebec Garpenlov to do their own thing. “Because he was so big on discipline, Nordiques in 1989-90, no Soviet-born goaltender had ever played in the he had to make sure that the free-wheeling game [didn’t] hurt the team NHL up to Irbe’s NHL debut in November 1991. and the rest of the team plays the way that they’re supposed to.” “You have to remember that European goalies had not broken into the Aside from talent and on-ice success, the mix of personalities on the league at all except Pelle Lindbergh, and his career was short for tragic roster also helped towards the team’s massive overhaul. “We had characters,” an amused Irbe noted. “It was one of the most fun were complete games. In one game, I was pulled late in the season after years that you can have in the NHL because we believed in each other. surrendering [just] one goal.” We were outcasts, some of us, and we just went all the way we could.” In spite of how difficult it was playing for Iron Mike, Irbe nonetheless SLAYING GOLIATH appreciated his time playing for Keenan.

While they were still a few years away from achieving Stanley Cup “Listen, I’m very thankful to Mike because he made me as strong as I success, the Detroit Red Wings were nonetheless a force to be reckoned could be,” a confident Irbe added. “If I would have just gone into self-pity with in 1994. or had lost the confidence or had lost the drive or couldn’t squeeze my feet or prove that I could deliver, I could not have had that success in Led by Steve Yzerman and 1994 Hart Trophy winner Sergei Fedorov, the Carolina.” Red Wings had cruised to a 46-30-8 record, capturing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference entering the playoffs. That success in Carolina, by the way, resulted in the club’s first-ever Stanley Cup Final appearance for the franchise. Irbe led the underdog The San Jose Sharks, in spite of their turnaround, still finished 18 points Hurricanes all the way to the Final and even though they lost — to the behind the Red Wings, who happened to be their first-round opponents. Red Wings in five games — Irbe wouldn’t have changed a thing. That The rest is history. even includes surrendering the triple-overtime Game 3 goal to his former “With Detroit, we surprised them,” Irbe remembered. “We exposed some San Jose teammate, Igor Larionov. of their weaknesses because they were a great team; but on defense, After retiring as a player in 2007, Arturs Irbe would transition into the there were some deficiencies. They were mostly dominant on offense, so coaching ranks. we had to shut them down. Now, looking back, I took that challenge in stride. Being an experienced guy right now as I am, I think back, ‘What After serving as an NHL goaltending coach — first with the Washington was I thinking going up against a super team, an all-star team?’ I just Capitals and then the Buffalo Sabres — Irbe would return to his native wanted to have a shot. It was my first playoff and we went.” Latvia where he has been the goaltending coach for HK Kurbads since 2017. Unfortunately for Irbe, his performance in Game Six of this series was one to forget as he allowed six goals on 26 shots before being pulled. He made some stops along the way, but no stop was more pivotal for The Red Wings won in convincing fashion, 7-1, and had all the Arturs Irbe’s playing career than San Jose. This was where he really confidence to win the series back at home. established himself as an NHL netminder, and for that reason — one of many — there will always be a special place in Irbe’s heart for the San Kevin Constantine, as he did all season long, had faith in Irbe to bounce Jose Sharks. The feeling is more than mutual as in 2010, Irbe was back in Game Seven. The Latvian rewarded his head coach’s faith, inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame. stopping 28 of 30 shots to lead the Sharks to the upset.

“Game 7 was big, we scored some goals, made some saves, made some great defensive plays, and after that, we really believed that we San Jose Hockey Now LOADED: 05.29.2021 could go all the way. We really did,” Irbe beamed. “It wasn’t far off.”

In the next round, although they took their opponents to seven games once again, the Toronto Maple Leafs got the better of the Sharks, winning Game Seven to advance to their second-straight conference final.

“When we went into the Toronto series, it took us to seven games and we were a crossbar away from winning,” Irbe noted. “So, even though our fortunes went in another direction, we were up against the big, nasty, hard-checking Toronto Maple Leafs with some tenacity and skill up front. That was not an easy task.

“We surprised a lot of people. That’s the key we have to remember ourselves and I have no remorse whatsoever that we could not go further. We could have, but we gave it our all and gave them a run for their money.”

INVALUABLE LESSONS

After helping the San Jose Sharks pull off another first-round playoff upset in 1995, Irbe spent another season in San Jose before signing with the Dallas Stars in 1996. Yet, while the end of his tenure in San Jose marked a sad time for him, the Latvian netminder was eternally thankful for his experiences with the Sharks.

“San Jose taught me what success is,” a matter-of-fact Irbe stated. “Also, it humbled me because I was demoted and had to learn to deal with the adversity. It was not a smooth ride from then on from 1993-94. I never doubted my abilities but I needed a chance. I went to Dallas and seized the opportunity when I could and I was very thankful to [Stars GM] Bob Gainey for giving me that shot. He was very patient with me and I thought after a slow start, I had a very good run especially when [Stars starter] Andy Moog was out with injury.”

Following his lone season in Dallas, though, Irbe returned to the West Coast, this time, though, with the Vancouver Canucks, where he played for one of hockey’s most infamous coaches.

“I went to Vancouver and quite honestly, that season (1997-98) was the best learning experience I could have had in the NHL because I was playing for ‘Captain Hook’, Mike Keenan,” Irbe recalled, chuckling. “God bless [Canucks GM] Pat Quinn. He brought me in and I knew he had tons of confidence in me but he got let go pretty early. So, then I had to succeed against all the odds for the first time in my life. I felt like Mike was testing me to the brink, like a lack of oxygen completely. So, I played in 41 games, and quite honestly, out of those games, only 25 games 1214475 St Louis Blues A: When a team trades multiple prospects for one veteran, as the Cardinals did with the Marcell Ozuna, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado trades, then some organizational backfill will be needed. Had the Cardinals simply held on to all of those prospects they might be Gordo: Why the Carpenter-Tarasenko comparison doesn't hold up ahead today, but in the interim they likely would not have been as competitive -- and fans would have complained about their lack of

aggression. Jeff Gordon This team has some very good hitting prospects at the Double-A level, including left-hand hitting outfielders Nick Plummer and Alec Burleson, but they lack immediate help at Memphis. Also, the near-term pitching It might be a holiday weekend, but the sports fans were out in force for depth has been compromised through the various trades and injuries. So our weekly chat. Here are some of the highlights. at the moment John Mozeliak is not in a great position to make more trades, since he doesn't want to move his remaining high-ceiling Q: Is Vladimir Tarasenko the Blues version of Matt Carpenter? Where prospects when this team has so many older players in key roles. memories of what he once was is creating false hope and elevated expectations to help offset the fact that it isn’t financially feasible to just Q: Is Burleson a legit hitting prospect - and how has Plummer come back move on? - reports are he changed his hitting approach/style

Tarasenko and Carpenter East Carolina's Alec Burleson

Vladimir Tarasenko and Matt Carpenter. Post-Dispatch photos. Rob Goldberg Jr.

A: In Tarasenko's case repeated shoulder injuries knocked him out of A: Plummer was drafted as a high-ceiling high school hitter. But, yes, he action, so there is not a great comparison to Carpenter there other than had to fix his swing after enduring consistent failure iin the low minors their contracts. Matt has no such excuse for his erosion. The fact and recovering from hand/wrist repairs. To this point, the transformation Vladimir has a contract means the Blues will keep give him at least one almost seems magical. more chance, since the buyout would be steep. And if he ends up back on long-term injured reserve, the team can spend his salary cap dollars Alec Burleson had a great plate discipline in college. And he can make on somebody else. hard contact. He's hit for average at both Peoria and Springfield during his first pro season after hitting for average in college. There's some Q: Expose Vladi to the expansion draft?. It's a business. Look at reason to believe power will follow. He was a pitcher/outfielder in college Backes... It’s no different than if Vladi were a free agent and wanting a and now he is focusing on hitting. two-year 15 million dollar package right now? Q: Adolis Garcia looks like an Adonis at this point. Just another A: If the Blues expose him without his permission, that would create fundamental mistake by FO - Cardinals have more resources and cache major problems if he came back to them. It just would. than most midsized markets and certainly more than the other teams in a weak division outside of the Cubs. Q: The current Cards team reminds me of the Blues. A good team that might make the playoffs but bow out early. We thought their defense If they have to overpay for a hitter/of to beat the competition- and make would be better, but lots of errors and plays not made that don't show up an impactful trade at the deadline (which they don’t seem willing or able in the box score. They score in spurts but not consistent. Injury bug has to do) this would be a great year to do it with East and Central not being revealed weaknesses and a lack of depth. We kept hearing about the as formidable and keep Arenado and Cards fans more content. deep pitching, but that myth evaporated A: Well, the Cardinals just pulled off the Arenado trade. So I'm pretty A: The Cardinals still have pretty good pitching depth compared to most confident that at some point they will be able to make another big move. teams, even after the injuries. But they don't to test it any further. They But at the moment the organization must let the higher-ceiling guys could really use an encouraging outing from Johan Oviedo to take some develop before trying to make another big move because the earlier pressure off the group. trades depleted the group.

Q: Elliotte Friedman mused that the Blues had big interest in Eichel. First Also, the team will always rely on developing players far more than if any where close to available don't you have to kick the tires on a guy of making trades or signing free agents. Fans want to judge the front office that caliber? Second the deal he floated was Eichel (Buffalo retains $2M on trades and trading is down the list of priorities for this franchise. of his salary), '21 third rounder to Blues for Dunn, Sanford, Thomas, '21 first rounder & '22 first rounder. Do you take that deal? I think I want to As for Adolis Garcia, he finally broke out at 28 after every MLB team keep one of our 1st or Thomas, but I would be willing to take a shrugged went he went through waivers. He didn't earn regular work with conditional pick if Eichel loses time to back injury/surgery. the Rangers last season and he didn't make the team out of the gate this season either. Heck of a story there. Sabres GM disputes disconnect between team and Eichel Q: Hi Gordo, I am a fan of and Craig Berube, but I don’t A: Sure, Doug Armstrong would have to look at that. In that scenario, the believe improving from within works. We need to see what Vladi and Blues would keep Jordan Kyrou and Klim Kostin. Robert Thomas we Dunn can get in a trade, and we need to use the J Schwartz money to have discussed. Vince Dunn we have discussed. Zach Sanford . . . what upgrade to a big defenseman or someone who’s not afraid to shoot. a disappointment this year. Trading all of those picks is tough, but the Thomas needs to shoot and play stronger, or not play. I think part of Blues see the window closing in a few years so they want to go for it. Binners problem was he was knocked around in his crease too often. Buffalo eating some Eichel money gives Armstrong cover there. Being bigger on defense should be priority #1, a shooting physical winger #2. Possible targets, RN Hopkins, Puljuijarvi, J Gaudreau, Eichel, on On Eichel, there is injury risk with his neck and concerns that the losing defense Rustolinen, Prince. And Sanford, Bortuzzo, Peronivich could be has taken a toll. On the other hand, Ryan O'Reilly can offer a character added to any package. Even healthy, this could be a boring team to reference. We know that O'Reilly is a good pitchman from is TV watch next year if they don’t make 2-3 changes. What say you? Thanks commercials, so I imagine ROR would could get Eichel to sign off on the trade. A: With a $7.5 million salary cap hit until 2023, multiple shoulder operations on his medical record and a miserable 2020-21 season in the Q: Jeff, as you noted in a recent article, the Cardinals should expect no books, Vladimir Tarasenko would have little trade value in the NHL's flat immediate help from the Memphis team. No disrespect, but it takes a cap world. I'm guessing that he comes back next season and scores at a major leap of faith to see any stardom (now or in the future) from the higher rate than he did this season -- which is a low bar to clear. current players that have auditioned for the major league club. That said, how did an organization that only several years ago was stockpiled with But I do agree on the need to add a sturdier defenseman capable of outfielders and pitching prospects end up in this sad state? With legacy playing in the Top 4. And Vince Dunn will have some value, whether it's players like Molina and Wainwright leaving after this season, it is hard to taking the hit and going to Seattle in the expansion draft or heading see this team competing or even building toward a WS title in the next 3- somewhere in a trade. As for Eichel, would Doug Armstrong be willing to 5 years. Thoughts? make salary cap space for him? Would he be willing to change his pay structure to accomodate him? Does he have the assets to make that deal? Is he convinced that Eichel is not a medical risk and that he can overcome all the losing in his background? I doubt it on all fronts, but Doug has never failed to surprise me with his aggression.

Q: Who would you like to see in a Blues sweater next year?

BRANDON SAAD, LW, 28: 2020-21 cap hit: $6,000,000

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS, LW, 28: 2020-21 cap hit: $6,000,000

ZACH HYMAN, LW, 29: 2020-21 cap hit: $2,250,000

KYLE PALMIERI, RW, 30: 2020-21 cap hit: $4,650,000

JAMIE OLEKSIAK, D, 28: 2020-21 cap hit: $2,137,500

BRANDON MONTOUR, D, 27: 2020-21 cap hit: $3,850,000

ADAM LARSSON, D, 28: 2020-21 cap hit: $4,166,666

Penguins on the verge of another NHL postseason failure

A: Actually the guy I REALLY like is defenseman Alec Martinez, who was outstanding this season in Vegas. Sure, he's going to be 34 next season, but he blocks a ton of shots, adds some offense and he would bring a winning pedigree. Vegas has cap issues, so there's a chance there.

Adam Larsson is a beast on the blue line and still in his prime, but I see the Oilers making every effort to keep him. If not, then he goes to the top of the list.

Montour is not a big guy, but threw himself around earlier in his career and he's in his prime. Florida has some dead money on the payroll, so maybe the Panthers have trouble keeping him.

Q: The stats on Kyrou and Thomas as far as checking goes was alarming as compared to other top 6 forwards like O'Reilly, Schenn, Schwartz, Perron, and even Tarasenko (when healthy). Don't they both need to get stronger in the off season and make playing more physical a priority if they want fit into what Berube expects from all his forwards?

A: Jordan Kyrou did make strides on playing the Berube style. He got into the fray along the walls later in the season and did his part to sustain offensive pressure in the cycle game. So I believe he is on his way to bigger things. Robert Thomas does have to get stronger and he does have to learn to use his speed, quickness and sense of anticipation to do a better job of puck hunting. He is a terrific playmaker, but he will need to develop a more well-rounded game to reach his full potential.

Q: Lance Lynn was always an innings moose, but If I recall correctly his last seasons with the Cards were plagued by a stubbornness and over- reliance on fastballs that had little movement. This resulted in long balls for the opposition and frustration within the organization. Glad to see him right his career, but not sure I can wag a hindsight finger at management for their decision.

A: I disagree. Lynn had a 3.43 ERA in his final season here. He has subsequently refined his mechanics to become even better after a tougher 2018 for the Twins and Yankees. But he was always a good pitcher for the Cardinals. And the fact the team ended up paying Miles Mikolas big money instead . . . oops!

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214476 St Louis Blues “But it is what it is. I guess if I wanted to sit here and find excuses why we didn’t perform to our level, we could. But nobody really cares. You are what you are. You are what your record says you are, and we’re 0-4 (against Colorado).” In a season where lots went wrong, COVID issues hit Blues late So after a season in which they had largely avoided COVID in their ranks, the Blues got hit late. Until then, they had experienced only false positives by Sammy Blais and Zach Sanford that forced each player to Jim Thomas miss only one game — Feb. 20 (San Jose) and March 20 (San Jose), respectively — before the false positives were cleared up.

When Jake Walman, Nathan Walker and David Perron all tested positive As the season wound down, Armstrong said he thought the Blues for COVID during the week of May 9-15, Blues general manager Doug reached the 85 percent vaccination rate among their travel party, which Armstrong thought they’d be false positives. was required in order to participate in relaxed COVID protocols for NHL playoff teams. Then again, they weren’t in the playoffs long enough to put “Because no one (in the NHL) was getting COVID,” Armstrong said. them to much use.

At least not at that time. Alas, all three proved to have COVID. During his season-ending Zoom call Tuesday, Perron said he was hoping the league would postpone the start of the Blues-Avalanche series for a The following week, when Jordan Binnington and Vladimir Tarasenko few days to give him (and Walman) more time to clear COVID protocols. came up positive, Armstrong expected the worst. Walman cleared protocol in time to play in Game 4 against Colorado. “These two I thought were gonna be positive because that just seemed to Walker was a “Black Ace” — or roster extra — and wouldn’t have played be the way our team was going at that point,” Armstrong said. unless there were a rash of injuries or more COVID cases. Wrong again, but this time Armstrong was glad to be wrong because For his part, Armstrong harbored no illusions of the series getting moved Binnington and Tarasenko got to continue playing in the team’s first- back by the NHL. round playoff series against Colorado because of erroneous test results. “They have a business to run,” Armstrong said. “They want this to end on Even so, it made for a strange day for Binnington, Tarasenko and the schedule. And we were told if you get a COVID case and it’s not entire Blues team leading into Game 2 on May 19 against the Avalanche. something that runs through your whole organization (there would be no Over the course of the season, Armstrong said he got daily updates at postponements). 4:30-5 a.m. on the previous day’s tests results. On May 19, after getting “But I think the reality is, you just have to deal with it. I never expected the news that Binnington and Tarasenko had showed up positive, them to push the season back or the playoffs back. So no, I wasn’t Armstrong said he talked to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly. surprised or did I expect it.” “And he said that there could be a tainted lab issue,” Armstrong recalled. As for next season, if there’s one GM hoping for a return to normalcy, it’s “Obviously, Vegas I think, had a number of people (show up positive) in Armstrong. Starting with the Edmonton bubble in the 2019-20 playoffs, management and players. And then the NBA had people, too. So that his team struggled mightily with pandemic pucks. gave us a glimmer of hope. I talked to the players. We ran a test. We took it right to a lab there in Denver and they were cleared by 1 o’clock.” “This is getting old for everybody right now,” Armstrong said. “Just even watching the Canadian division in the playoffs, knowing what the Bell But as Armstrong said, it made for a hectic morning and early afternoon. Centre (in Montreal) would sound like. Or knowing what the old Toronto Neither Binnington nor Tarasenko could take part in the morning skate, Gardens, whatever name they’re using now. and the Blues lost 6-3 that night in Game 2 in what was really a one-goal game because the Avs scored a pair of late empty-netters. “Just not having fans, it’s different. When you see 9,000, 6,000, 12,000 — the energy that it brings. You forget what 18,000 and 20,000 looks “I felt bad for the players because no one wants to wake up and then turn like. your phone on, and it’s the GM or the trainer: ‘Give me a call ASAP,’” Armstrong said. “I’m not an anti-vaxxer, I hope that everybody gets vaccinated. I think it’s a smart thing to do. I think it makes our society better. I think we can “And then their minds start working on, ‘OK, how did I get this? What’s move on quicker. And once we do that, we’re gonna get back to the going on?’ And then you try to calm them down. Or not calming them things that are normal. This is abnormal and I hope it always stays down, but you try and tell them that there could be another false positive abnormal. I want to get back to normal.” and you just work through it. But it was a hectic six hours.”

Perron, Walman and Walker from the week before weren’t as lucky. Even though all three were vaccinated, they all tested positive, an occurrence St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.29.2021 which is highly unlikely. But not unprecedented.

“The New York Yankees,” Armstrong said.

The Yankees team had nine vaccinated players test positive.

“It’s not something that quite honestly, I thought was gonna happen (to the Blues),” Armstrong said. “I thought that like everybody else, you follow the news and you see the vaccinated people, and society’s opening up and masks aren’t necessary and people are going to restaurants, and we got hit with it.”

The Blues were a little shocked when Walman showed up positive despite being vaccinated. That took place on the day of the team’s regular-season road finale May 10 in Los Angeles. Imagine how they felt when leading scorer Perron showed up on the COVID list May 15, the day the team left for Denver for Games 1 and 2 of the Colorado series.

“I think it’s the psychological (impact) of losing a player like Perron,” Armstrong said. “And then there’s also that psychological fact of how and why did Walker and Walman get it as vaccinated people? So it plays with our mind a little bit. It plays with our mind a little bit when Vladi and Binner had the tests in Colorado. 1214477 Tampa Bay Lightning

Tyler Johnson’s hustle making an impact for Lightning in playoffs

By Eduardo A. Encina

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — Tyler Johnson’s playing time diminished and his scoring numbers reached career lows this season. But as a playoff-tested veteran, the Lightning forward is showing that important contributions can go well beyond numbers on a scoresheet.

In the postseason, scoring first is important, as is setting tempo. And in the Lightning’s series-clinching win over the Florida Panthers Wednesday night, Johnson contributed to both.

About six minutes into a scoreless game, Johnson used his speed to beat an icing call, outracing Florida defensemen MacKenzie Weegar and Anton Stralman to the puck behind the Panthers’ net. Quickly switching to offensive mode, he centered a pass to Pat Maroon in front of the goal that Maroon flicked past Florida goalie Spencer Knight for the game’s first score.

The play gave the Lightning the lead, and momentum, in Game 6. They really never looked back after that, putting the Panthers and the series away with a 4-0 win.

“I just wanted to try to do whatever I can to help our team win,” Johnson said. “That’s just trying to play the best you can when you’re called upon. It’s just trying to do all the little things right. The playoffs is a different atmosphere, it’s a different game where the stakes are a lot higher. And you’re not too focused on the individual stuff. It’s just trying to do whatever you can for the team.”

This has been an interesting year for Johnson. Even before the season began, not long after he lifted the Stanley Cup, there was talk that the Lightning were trying to move him to clear cap space. They didn’t have to, instead putting Nikita Kucherov on long-term injured reserve and trading for other dead injury contracts to become cap-compliant.

Johnson had seven goals and 15 points in the Lightning’s first 30 games but went through a 21-game goal drought that lasted until May 5. He had his share of scoring opportunities but was seemingly snake-bitten before his streak ended when a pass went off an opponent’s skate and into the slot, where he scored.

Currently centering the Lightning’s fourth line, Johnson is averaging just 8:52 of ice time in the postseason. But that lack of playing time doesn’t mean he hasn’t made an impact. He showed that in Game 6, not only with his assist, but also beating out another icing call after the Panthers had pulled Knight for an extra attacker late in the game.

“You need everybody contributing,” Cooper said. “And maybe those guys didn’t play as much as some of the other lines (Thursday). It was just a matching scenario with the way things were going. But Johnny had two big-time impacts on the game.

“Those are fundamental. Guys are going nuts on the bench for him. Johnny had a whale of a game (Wednesday), and he deserved that set up on that first one because it was magnificent work. It’s hard when you’re not playing as much to come out and do that, and he performed well for us.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214478 Tampa Bay Lightning This is one jersey (policy) that deserved to be retired.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.29.2021 Lightning to retire jersey policy after flap with Florida fan

By John Romano

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — Once upon a time, the Lightning were desperate for fans.

The glow of the 2004 Stanley Cup had worn off, the Oren Koules ownership regime had gone sideways, and the Lightning were struggling on the ice and in the bleachers. It was not uncommon to see Rangers, Blackhawks and Maple Leafs fans show up en masse for games at Amalie Arena.

So when the Lightning made a surprising run to the Stanley Cup final in 2015, the team took the unusual step of monitoring zip codes to block out-of-state fans from purchasing seats through Ticketmaster during the postseason. Not only did this ensure local fans would get the first crack at tickets, it also, theoretically, created a greater home-ice advantage during the playoffs.

The policy, which was mocked in other markets, was soon eliminated as Lightning season ticket sales began to grow, and it became a forgotten relic of a bygone era.

Except for one tiny detail that blew up on social media Friday.

Along with the ticket restrictions, the Lightning had instituted a policy that forbade fans from wearing the jerseys of other teams in their premium seats and club lounges. It worked out to less than 10 percent of capacity when Amalie Arena was filled, but the Lightning were serious enough about it to post notices when fans purchased seats in those areas.

Sporting venues should be the one place where we celebrate our differences peacefully and joyfully. If we can’t be civil to each other while cheering at a hockey game, how can we possibly co-exist anywhere else?

Now the Lightning say they did this only at the request of their season ticket holders in the club lounges, but that still doesn’t make it right. Or very smart. And it came back to bite them during the Panthers series when an encounter with a fan was videotaped.

A Florida fan and his 11-year-old son were confronted by a pair of team/arena representatives who explained they would either need to switch their apparel (the team would provide them with T-shirts) or they would be given a refund and asked to leave their seats. When the man argued his case, the team employee threatened to have Tampa police remove them from the arena.

Overkill? Oh, yeah.

Did it come to pass? No.

If you listen to the videotape closely, the Florida fan starts off by claiming ignorance but then later says he was told by a team employee that they could wear their jerseys in their seats. The video has a bit of a gotcha feel to it, but that doesn’t make the episode any less wrong.

And, hours after the video showed up on YouTube and other websites, the Lightning told the Tampa Bay Times in a statement that they would no longer enforce the policy.

“After careful consideration the Lightning have elected to relax its visiting team apparel policy in the premium clubs for playoff games at Amalie Arena. The policy was originally instituted in 2015 at the request of our valued ticket holders in those areas, but we realize we have grown as an organization and as a hockey market since that time and it is no longer necessary.”

This was one of those ideas that might have sounded clever in a staff meeting, but wasn’t fully vetted. And it just got compounded when trying to enforce it beyond a simple request.

It may have been after the fact, but the Lightning at least recognized the mistake. 1214479 Tampa Bay Lightning Among the Lightning fans not upset about the shift is Brandon Black, 44, of New Tampa. Though national broadcasts can feel “biased” in favor of the big-market teams, he said, he knows the viewing experiences will at least be reliable. Lightning fans will miss local flavor of regional broadcasts, but welcome national exposure “I won’t miss Bally at all,” Black said. “The app can’t be watched for more than six minutes at a time before going out. Then you have to watch an ad to get back to the game and, oh, you missed another goal!”

By Mari Faiello Black said he relies on the app because he’s usually away from home when the games are on. Published Yesterday Others, such as Knight, hope that the national broadcasts help to Updated Yesterday promote the Lightning.

“I like that the Bolts are going to be on NBC for the rest of the playoffs to There’s one thing Lightning fans know they can rely on when it comes to give the team more exposure and (make) our players more notable,” the Bally Sports Sun broadcast: an entertaining, informative call focused Knight said. “I like the big-game feel and the production for a big stage on the home team. like the playoffs.”

Play-by-play announcer Dave Randorf and color analyst Brian Engblom have made games an enjoyable experience for local viewers this season. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.29.2021 Randorf had big shoes to fill, in his first season replacing retired longtime announcer Rick Peckham in January.

But with the start of the second round Sunday, games for all playoff teams move solely to NBC and its family of channels, a typical move for playoff broadcasts.

For Lightning fans, the switch will make broadcasts accessible to Frontier cable subscribers and those who use streaming services such as Hulu or YouTube TV that dropped Bally Sports Sun due to a carriage-fee dispute with Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Carriage fees are what cable and streaming companies pay network owners to carry their networks. Sinclair Broadcast Group owns Bally Sports Sun.

The change is welcome for some fans. Others are not happy about it.

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“The main reason I don’t like the national broadcasters is that they rely on their knowledge and coverage of the big-market teams and know very little organically about all other teams,” said Judith Moroff, 61, of Palm Harbor. “They repeat the obvious. It is frustrating to listen to them, but in all fairness, I felt like they did a better job with different teams of coverage during last year’s playoffs.”

Jared Knight, 32 of Tampa said Randorf and Engblom, who was part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams with the Canadiens during a 10-year NHL career, bring a national-television feel to every game, no matter which team the Lightning are playing.

“Every broadcast feels like a big game,” he said.

Some Lightning fans circumvent the national broadcasts by muting the sound on their televisions and playing the radio call from play-by-play announcer Dave Mishkin and color commentator — and Lightning founder and Hall of Fame player — Phil Esposito.

Nicholas McDaniel, 25, of Tampa has watched the national broadcasts this way since the Lightning’s opening-round series against the Blue Jackets in 2020.

Now for every national broadcast, McDaniel sets up his Jensen radio (which was an unwelcome family heirloom at one time) and tunes into WFLA-AM 970 from his living room.

“(The radio) took up space at first but has gotten me through some Lightning games,” McDaniel joked.

Chris Coulson, 31, of Denver said he prefers to listen to the radio broadcasts because he finds the national TV ones “painful.”

“They don’t know the players or their backstories,” said Coulson, a Lightning fan since 2004 who moved to Denver in 2016 for work. “They don’t provide the same level of detail, context or stats that Brian and Dave provide, and there’s always some sort of noticeable bias toward the team that represents a larger market. It’s frustrating and eventually leads me to mute the broadcast and try to sync up Phil and Dave’s radio calls to the TV.” 1214480 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning to open second round Sunday in Carolina

By Eduardo A. Encina

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — The Lightning will open the second round of the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes Sunday at 5 p.m. at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.

The game will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network as the first half of a doubleheader broadcast. It will be followed by the opening game of the series between the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas-Minnesota winner.

The remaining schedule for the best-of-seven series between the Lightning and Hurricanes will be announced “when available,” the NHL said. Expect an alternating-day format like in Round 1, which would put Game 2 Tuesday in Raleigh, with Games 3 and 4 at Amalie Arena on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214481 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning to face Hurricanes in the second round

By Eduardo A. Encina

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

The Lightning’s playoff path will go through Carolina.

Tampa Bay found out its next postseason opponent Thursday night, when the Hurricanes advanced to the second round with a series- clinching 4-3 overtime win over the Predators in Game 6 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Sebastian Aho scored just 66 seconds into overtime as the Hurricanes rallied from down 3-1.

The Lightning were 4-3-1 against the Hurricanes this year, and the teams played mostly low-scoring, tightly contested games.

Playing a pressure-filled, tight-checking game that takes away an opponent’s space, Carolina has given the Lightning trouble. The Lightning’s 2.13 goals per game against Carolina was their lowest against any opponent, and two of Tampa Bay’s shutout losses were to the Hurricanes.

The NHL hasn’t announced game times for the Round 2 series, but it appears the series will open Sunday in Raleigh, N.C., according to NBC. By finishing first in the Central Division, the Hurricanes hold home-ice advantage over Tampa Bay, so Games 1 and 2 will be played at PNC Arena before the series moves to Amalie Arena for Games 3 and 4.

The Hurricanes were tested by the Predators in the first round. After the Hurricanes took a 2-0 series lead, the next four games went to overtime, and Nashville won two of those games at home before Carolina was victorious in Games 5 and 6.

Carolina plans to increase capacity to 15,000 fans for home games at PNC Arena in the second round, up from 12,000 in the opening round of the playoffs. The Lightning lost three of their four road games against the Hurricanes this season, including two shutout losses. They were outscored 13-4 in those games.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy had a .933 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average in seven starts against the Hurricanes, who averaged 32 shots on goal against him. Hurricanes rookie goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, a Calder Trophy favorite, allowed just 1.02 goals a game and had a .962 save percentage in three regular-season meetings with the Lightning.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214482 Tampa Bay Lightning have very, very high-end skill sets and a great expectation for how to find one another, they know how to make themselves available to one another. And they can improvise on the spot, they’re two of the most resourceful players in the game, and you know that’s not to be Synergy between Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point can make game ‘look understated.” easy’

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.29.2021 By Eduardo A. Encina

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — It might have been the prettiest play of the Lightning’s first- round playoff series win over the Panthers, and the type that Tampa Bay fans have grown accustomed to seeing.

The Lighting were clinging to a two-goal lead inside of six minutes left in Wednesday night’s Game 6, certainly not a safe cushion given the back- and-forth nature of the series.

Nikita Kucherov took a bank pass off the far boards from Erik Cernak and with two Panthers in front of him, wheeled back around the left circle. All a part of the plan, Kucherov waited as Brayden Point sped toward the net, then backhanded a perfect pass through two Florida skaters right onto Point’s stick as he charged to the left hash.

Point then put on a clinic in power skating that few can match. In one move, he tucked the puck away from MacKenzie Weegar and turned the corner on him, leaving the Panthers’ top defenseman flat-footed and flailing.

With Weegar beaten, Point then schooled Florida rookie goalkeeper Spencer Knight, cutting in front of him through a poke check and across the crease, waiting until Knight was splayed across the net before tucking the puck into the net inside the near post.

“There’s an interesting kind of synergy between Point and Kucherov,” said NHL Network studio analyst Stu Grimson, who played 14 seasons in the NHL. “They really bring out the best in one another. I continue to believe that there’s no skater more important to Tampa than Brayden Point. And having said that, the one guy in that organization that really reads Point well, plays off of Point exceptionally well and is a great fit for Point is Kucherov.

“They’re a really tough tandem to curtail.”

Two days earlier, the Panthers found a way to stop the pair. Point had zero shots on goal and just two shot attempts; Kucherov had two of the Lightning’s best looks on Knight, but was turned away. Florida took away the space that allows Kucherov to be creative and make plays, and Point the ability to use his speed and skill to find the back of the net.

But in Game 6, Point scored his third goal of the series that was a result of a Kucherov primary assist. Two others looked very similar, both coming on the power play, with Kucherov drawing attention from the circle, slowing down the play and surveying the scene before feeding Point the puck in front of the net.

Point’s third-period Game 1 goal from Kucherov tied the score in the Lightning’s 5-4 win. The two found each other again in Game 3 for the fourth of five second-period goals.

“They’re elite thinkers and they play at a really high pace,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “So when you have that, it’s almost like they know where each other is going before the other guy does and then they communicate. They’ve played together for a while. They talk about where they want each other on the ice, but when you can make those high-skill plays at such an incredible rate of speed, they can make the game look easy at times, and we’ve seen signs of that in this series and a ton of it in last year’s playoffs.”

Because Kucherov missed the entire regular season recovering from hip surgery, the first-round playoff series was the first time the duo has played together since last postseason. And it’s almost like they never missed a beat since then. During the Stanley Cup run last year, Kucherov had the primary assist on six of Point’s team-high 14 postseason goals.

“I think it has a lot to do with just the way they process the game cognitively,” Grimsom said. “They’re like-minded in that respect. They 1214483 Tampa Bay Lightning season. It’s something that manifested during the season series too and though the Lightning have added a dangerous weapon to that, Carolina has the ability to slow it down.

2021 NHL playoff preview: Hurricanes vs Lightning On the other side of things, the Lightning’s usually stingy penalty kill had some real trouble limiting chances and goals against Florida, while Carolina’s usually strong power play struggled to generate as much against Nashville. Tampa Bay’s power play vs. Carolina’s penalty kill will By Dom Luszczyszyn be an epic battle of strengths, but whichever team figures out the other May 28, 2021 side might hold the overall edge here.

In the end, it probably all comes down to goaltending though. That’s not something the Hurricanes got much of during the first round, but it was It’s the playoff series many of us expected from the very start of the what propelled both teams to the top of the standings this season and is season, and one we’ve been longing for all year: Hurricanes vs. what defined the season series. While these two teams may feel like Lightning. Two of the league’s best and most exciting teams square off in high-octane offensive juggernauts, the actual season series only a duel for Central Division supremacy, the defending champions going up averaged 4.4 goals per game as a result of identically good goaltending against an on-the-rise team that has finally arrived as a legitimate at five-on-five. A .945 or .946 on both sides of the ledger meant both contender. teams scored nearly one goal-per-60 less than expected and both penalty kills did their parts. The Hurricanes won the division and were the better team for much of the year. With the season series being split very evenly you might expect Unless the firepower on both sides awakens, this might turn into another odds closer to 50-50. But while this series is a close one, there is a slant goaltending duel as it has all year between these two teams. Both teams towards the defending champions who are obviously a very different have a very strong candidate for the job, a microcosm for the teams as a team in these playoffs thanks to the return of their best skater. Tampa whole: the established team/goalie with a winning pedigree going up Bay has the early edge here. against a rising team/goalie hungry to dethrone the best.

Series Odds Roster Breakdown

Matchup adjustment takes into account each player’s Game Score Matchup adjustment takes into account each player’s Game Score against this specific opponent as well as his Game Score over the last six against this specific opponent as well as his Game Score over the last six weeks. weeks. The numbers may be slightly skewed as a result of ice-time allocation. The two teams split the series 4-4 with just one goal separating the two, but Nikita Kucherov is a major X-factor and that was plainly evident in the Andrei Vasilevskiy is widely regarded as the best goalie in the world. He opening round. He is the difference in this series, adding an extra nine won the Vezina Trophy in 2019 and looks likely to add another to his percent to Tampa Bay’s series probability. Carolina would be at 49.3 mantle at the end of this season. He has a large sample size of strong percent if not for Kucherov, which would’ve made this series just about play, even if it took until this season for this particular model (which uses as close as you can get to even odds. data from Evolving Hockey’s expected goals model) to figure that out. Vasilevskiy finished the season fourth in goals saved above expected at Unfortunately for Hurricanes fans, we don’t live on that planet. Kucherov 12.7, though he was second in goals saved above average with 21. is back and he’s as big of a problem as he’s ever been and that makes That’s a strong season that makes him worthy of his lofty GSVA total. the road to the semifinals much more arduous. It’s obviously not impossible, but Carolina is the clear underdog here now, a role that will And yet, the goalie on the other side, the up-and-coming Alex likely fuel this team. They’re hungry, have a lot of heart, and are ready to Nedeljkovic, is just a shade higher and worth 4.2 wins. He has a very prove they belong among the league’s elite as a true contender. There’s limited sample of 27 career games so the error bars for his projection are no better measuring stick for that than a series against a fully healthy significantly larger, but in 23 games this year he saved 13.2 goals above Lightning team. expected. In 19 fewer games, he was half a goal better than Vasilevskiy, though Tampa Bay’s netminder has made up the difference in the Season Stats postseason so far (4.1 goals saved vs. 0.5 for Nedeljkovic). Nedeljkovic Like the Florida series, there isn’t too much to glean from Tampa Bay’s also gave this Lightning team plenty of trouble in particular, allowing only season stats. The Lightning were strong across the board as expected, three goals over three contests and saving 4.8 goals above expected in but their overall numbers weren’t exactly elite. A 53 percent share in those games alone. every major category at five-on-five is good, but it’s not world-beating by On paper, according to this model, it’s a surprisingly even matchup any means and obviously pales in comparison to past seasons. It’s also between the pipes. I’m a big fan of Vasilevskiy’s game and disagree that a fair bit worse than Carolina’s full-season numbers where the he’s the lesser choice, but the overall sentiment might not be so far- Hurricanes were three percentage points better in terms of goals share fetched. That sentiment is that goaltending in this series might not be a with the slightest of edges in expected goals share. Combine that with lopsided mismatch by any stretch — Nedeljkovic looks like he can hang. better special teams numbers on both the power play and penalty kill and There might be much less confidence in what he’s shown to date due to it would be fair to call Carolina the better team this past season. low volume of games, but what he has shown in his short career so far The same goes for the head-to-head matchup. It may have been by the has been very impressive. It’ll be a matter of which goalie brings his best slightest of margins, but Carolina had the edge in goals at five-on-five stuff for this series. and special teams. There was a clear expected goals edge in that latter Despite the projected rating, the better goalie will still likely be Vasilevskiy category too that offers plenty of optimism for Carolina. The Hurricanes and going through the two rosters side-by-side reveals a similar feeling of have the better shot and expected goal shares at five-on-five during the big brother vs. little brother. The Hurricanes are very strong across the playoffs, but it’s important to remember the differing quality of competition board and look pretty similarly constructed to Tampa Bay, but the there as Florida is a stronger team than Nashville (and looked like a Lightning are just a bit stronger each time. Each team has a loaded top tough matchup to the Lightning based on the season series). At even line with star scorers, but it’s hard not to side with the Lightning. Same strength this series looks like it should be relatively tight, though how big goes for a secondary scoring second line, as well as a fierce checking of an impact Kucherov has to all those numbers remains to be line – Tampa has the edge. Defensive depth is in their favour too ever so determined. slightly, even if Tampa Bay’s is arranged towards balance. While this is a different Lightning team thanks to Kucherov, the team’s Really, the only area where Carolina has an edge is that its number one biggest strength in the first round as a result of his return is one Carolina defenceman is better than Tampa Bay’s … which … uhh … might also is well-equipped to combat. Tampa Bay had the best power play of the be wrong. opening round in terms of goals-per-60, but there’s a massive difference between Florida’s poor penalty kill and Carolina’s. Things won’t be so If Carolina wins this series, it might finally be enough for Dougie Hamilton easy against Carolina’s power kill which held Nashville to under four to get the respect he deserves as one of the game’s top defencemen. He goals-per-60. Yes, there’s also a massive difference between Nashville’s produced well for Carolina this season and was a catalyst for the team’s power play and Tampa Bay’s, but Carolina was second in the league on elite power play, but as usual it’s his five-on-five play that’s most worthy the penalty kill by both actual and expected goals during the regular of praise. His 57 percent expected goals rate was 12th league-wide and While all eyes are on the return of Kucherov for Tampa Bay, there’s a he’s been the only defenceman in the league who’s consistently been small detail that’s been almost completely ignored regarding the season near the top of that leaderboard for five years running. When Hamilton is series between both clubs this year: Teuvo Teravainen didn’t play in any on the ice, good things happen and that led to Carolina earning 63 of the games between these two clubs either. Teravainen was sidelined percent of the goals this past season. Hamilton had a 56 percent for all but 21 games this season and though he’s obviously no Kucherov, expected goals rate during the first round which is pretty impressive his playmaking ability and defensive awareness was sorely missed for considering four of the games were spent next to Brady Skjei. Getting Carolina. He had a quiet first round, but at his best he can be a Jaccob Slavin back was obviously a godsend though and the pair difference-maker. Same goes for Andrei Svechnikov who still has dominated the final two games. another gear left to hit. These playoffs and this series could spark that breakthrough to elite status. I’ll die on the “Hamilton is elite” hill and anyone who says otherwise at this point is being willfully ignorant, but taking Hamilton over Victor The Hurricanes are far from a one-line team though and possess one of Hedman is of course a much spicier take. The model is all-in on it with the league’s most fearsome middle sixes. Everyone fits in the right place one win separating the two, but that’s partly because Hedman played the and has a role. In the first round, all three of the team’s lines in the top last month of the season injured which seriously tanked his projected nine earned an expected goals percentage greater than 60 percent when value. He too was a three-win defenceman before that and if he’s truly intact. There were times where the lines were shuffled to find a spark, but back to full health, then Tampa Bay’s edge only grows further. He was it’s clear the way it’s usually set up is likely the most optimal. second on the team in expected goals percentage in the opening round at 50 percent. Vincent Trocheck has been a revelation for the Hurricanes all season, but for Carolina to win this series he’ll have to step things up a bit. He But even if we account for Hedman’s injury the two defenders are close had just two points in seven games against Tampa Bay this season and and that’s probably not a consensus opinion either. Visually, it’s hard not only managed three points in the opening round. There’s room for more to back Hedman who does a lot for the Lightning from the back end and from him and the same goes for Nino Niederreiter who had just one point can take his game to new heights in the playoffs as we saw last year. But against Nashville. In the speedy Martin Necas though, Carolina has a bit the impacts at five-on-five really support Hamilton enough to at least of a secret weapon against the Lightning. He was tied for second on the make it a conversation. team in the first round with five points, but more impressive was his heroics against Tampa Bay this season. He led all Hurricanes skaters From the start of the season to March 27 (to ignore the injury-plagued with eight points and had a very strong 56 percent expected goals rate to final month), Hedman had a 60 percent goals rate and 53 percent go with it. Necas had a strong breakout this season and he has the expected goals rate at five-on-five, both of which were lower than potential to really make a name for himself in this series. He’s a guy to Hamilton’s. Relative to teammates, both numbers were negative, and watch out for. that’s while playing against secondary matchups. Hamilton plays top matchups and puts up better results. That’s been true in each of the last While most will veer towards the guys in the top six as the guys that two seasons and though he doesn’t score as many points as Hedman, make Carolina go, it’s the third line anchored by captain Jordan Staal that his impact at even strength appears larger. Against the Lightning this was the engine in the opening round. Staal is the perfect checking line year, Hamilton had a 57 percent expected goals rate. Hedman was the center and he showcased his two-way ability well against Nashville, exact opposite at 43 percent. If these playoffs go in a similar direction, it’s leading his line to a very nice 69 percent expected goals rate for the advantage Carolina and should provide a boost for Hamilton’s reputation. series. That trio is a forechecking force and will cause headaches for the Lightning. Having Slavin obviously helps with that a lot. Hedman rarely has a legitimate partner to play with, doing a lot on his own, while Hamilton has The matchup game will be especially intriguing in this series because the developed some strong chemistry with a player who is probably a two teams are built pretty similarly up front. I doubt we see power vs. number one defender in his own right. Slavin is an incredible puck-mover power which would mean Staal will likely be in charge of keeping Tampa that can really do it all. He’s solid in his own end which affords Hamilton Bay’s super line in check. the opportunity to freelance a bit more. Add a rejuvenated Brett Pesce to the mix and Carolina has an excellent triumvirate of defenders that’s Last playoffs, the line of Brayden Point, Kucherov and Ondrej Palat were tough for any team to match. Pesce had a bit of a down year in 2019-20, a cheat code and they’ll be an extremely tough assignment for Staal and but bounced back in a big way in 2020-21 to get back to the level of a co. The line has a solid 57 percent expected goals rate and outscored legitimate top-pair defender. He was second to Hamilton in expected Florida 4-2 in their minutes together, but that pales in comparison to what goals percentage this year at a shade under 57 percent. they can do. Last year they outscored opponents 21-9 en route to a Stanley Cup and had a 65 percent expected goals percentage in the Tampa Bay’s next best defender to Hedman isn’t on either of Slavin’s or process. Pesce’s level, but the Lightning do have a solid trio manning every pairing to give the team balance. Mikhail Sergachev is a nice weapon to That’s a terrifying enough line at five-on-five, but it’s what Point and have on the third pair and though he didn’t take the expected leap to Kucherov can accomplish with the man advantage that’s really scary. stardom this year, he was still a strong puck-mover that held his own at Kucherov, despite missing an entire regular season of hockey, leads the even strength. In the playoffs he led all Lightning defencemen in league in playoff points with 11 in six games and seven of those have expected goals. come with the man advantage. His ability to completely freeze penalty kills with his half wall mastery is among his best attributes and it makes Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak make up the team’s shutdown pair and Tampa Bay’s power play all the more threatening. He’s ridiculous in the despite playing tough minutes were the team’s best five-on-five best way and it’s nice to see him immediately step in and be a force. defenders this season. They took on the very tough Aleksander Barkov There was an acclimation period at five-on-five to start the series against assignment, and though they narrowly lost the possession battle, they Florida, but it didn’t last long and he looks just like his old self again. He’s won on the scoresheet by a sizeable margin. The shutdown pair will have the best skater on either side, and with Point as his running mate Tampa a similarly tough task ahead of them with Carolina’s top line though they Bay has the two best skaters in the series. That’s usually a good recipe saw the exact opposite effect during the season: excellent expected for success. goals rates, but McDonagh was outscored 5-2. It was 6-0 against Cernak. That leaves Tampa Bay’s own checking line as the answer for Carolina’s own top line, and they too look ready to pick up right where they left off Sebastian Aho is not as strong as Barkov is, but “Playoff Aho” might be a from the last playoffs. They had a 58 percent expected goals rate different story. He was electric against Nashville scoring five goals and together and upped that to 60 percent during the regular season. They’re seven points in six games while being the strong play-driver at five-on- a problem, especially with Barclay Goodrow back and healthy (Ross five he always is. Aho lives for the postseason with 19 points in 14 Colton was not cutting it). He just fits so well next to Yanni Gourde and games over the last two playoff runs. He’s going to be a problem for Blake Coleman, both of whom would be legitimate top-six options on Tampa Bay, especially if Carolina sticks with its super-charged top line. another club. Here, they’re tenacious and annoying disruptors, ready to The trio was excellent territorially against Nashville with a 61 percent make Aho’s life hell. You may not see their names on the scoresheet as expected goals rate and though they didn’t convert on all opportunities, much as the guys in the top six, but the little things they do absolutely it’s encouraging that the chances were there. They still outscored translate to their underlying numbers. They’re analytics darlings. Nashville 2-1. That leaves the second line featuring Steven Stamkos, Anthony Cirelli and Alex Killorn — a line that looked a little vulnerable going into the Florida series. Previous stints together suggested the chemistry wasn’t there and down seasons from Cirelli and Killorn didn’t inspire much confidence. Six games later, any worries are out the window as their numbers together were identical to the top line’s: 4-2 on the scoresheet with a 57 percent expected goals rate. Not bad, plus Stamkos and Killorn helped a fair bit on the power play, which contributed to both scoring eight points in the series. That was second to only Kucherov.

Tampa Bay’s firepower is a bit more obvious than Carolina’s and there are a lot of weapons that the Hurricanes will need to nullify, but that wasn’t too big of a problem during the season series. Kucherov obviously changes the dynamic, but it was Killorn who led the Lightning forwards in points against Carolina and he only had five. Hedman had five too. Point and Palat had four in eight games, and Stamkos had just two in six games. That’s a rough look and the top guys will need to step up. It might come down to which stars on either side can solve the goaltending conundrum on the other side.

The bottom line

There is a lot of talent in this series on either side, but nothing will be given — everything will be earned. That could mean another grind-it-out series decided by goaltending just like the head-to-head matchups this year, and that’s something both teams will welcome just fine. They may have the reputation for fun, fast-paced hockey, but both teams are built for the postseason, ready for whatever style is necessary to win.

Tampa Bay is the elder statesmen here, the favourite, the defending champion. The Lightning have been contenders for most of the past decade and know exactly what it takes to win. They will be a very tough team to knock out.

But Carolina is certainly one of the teams capable of doing it. This isn’t their first playoff rodeo having gone to conference finals two seasons ago only to get swept by the Bruins, and then losing to Boston again in the opening round last season. Losses are learning opportunities and this team too knows what it will take to go the distance after experiencing those two defeats at the hands of a very strong contender. It felt like the team had some deer in the headlights moments in those series, but I don’t think that’ll be the case here. Carolina is ready for this moment.

Whether that means victory is much tougher to say, though the odds aren’t in their favour. The Hurricanes will need to be at their best because the similarly constructed Lightning are just a little bit better all throughout the lineup. Regardless of who wins, little brother or big brother, the fight to make it to the next round between these two should be a classic.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214484 Tampa Bay Lightning

2021 NHL Playoffs: Lightning vs. Hurricanes schedule, TV channel, games, scores, guide to the second-round series

By The Athletic NHL Staff

May 28, 2021

In this Central Division matchup, the No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning are facing the No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. For more information on the playoffs, check out The Athletic’s daily chances, odds and betting guide and complete NHL coverage.

What to expect from the series

Dom Luszczyszyn’s Lightning-Hurricanes preview: This is the matchup we all wanted in the Central Division this year. Both teams are pretty similar, but one has the slight edge in all categories.

Five things the Hurricanes did to beat the Predators — and can carry forward against the Lightning: From Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal to the Power Kill, here are the reasons the Hurricanes are succeeding so far in the playoffs.

“Pick your poison:” A 360-degree look at the potent Lightning power play and how to defend it: Tampa Bay has scored eight goals with the man advantage — a stunning 40-percent clip. Here’s how they do it.

Lightning and Hurricanes top reads

Where did Alex Nedeljkovic come from? Inside the Hurricanes goalie’s journey from top prospect to waivers to potential playoff hope.

How to win back-to-back Stanley Cups: Past champs believe Lightning have the recipe to repeat: Past back-to-back Cup champs from the Red Wings and Penguins believe the Lightning can “absolutely” repeat.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214485 Tampa Bay Lightning How the Lightning generate offense “Everyone looks at the highlights and sees the puck go in the net, but

they don’t see the step that happens before you get there,” coach Jon ‘Pick your poison:’ A 360-degree look at the potent Lightning power play Cooper said. “It’s the breakout, the shot before that happens, the and how to defend it retrieval, where guys know where other guys are going. Ultimately, guys’ playmaking and skill has to take over, and it does. They are highly skilled and the power play is an art to them. It’s on full display. But so much more goes into it than just ‘the puck ends up in the net.’” By Joe Smith and Shayna Goldman It starts with getting the puck in the offensive zone, which is one of the May 28, 2021 first objectives of the power play according to the work of Parnass, followed by maintaining possession, quickly getting into formation, and generating scoring chances. Joel Quenneville has won more Stanley Cups than any other coach in the past 11 years, and will likely be in the Hall of Fame. The Lightning have two of the best in terms of zone entries in Point and Kucherov, which allows the power play plenty of time to set up. Point’s But the Panthers coach still struggled to find a way to thwart the one of the best at bringing the puck into the offensive zone at 5-on-5 too Lightning’s potent power play in their first-round series. Tampa Bay both in terms of the rate of entries and carry-in percentage, according to scored eight goals with the man advantage — a stunning 40-percent clip. Corey Sznajder’s tracking data. That translates to the power play, where he often has more space because not only are their opponents down a Quenneville felt with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov returning for player, but have to face-off against the team’s best at once. the playoffs, it was like Tampa Bay starting a Texas Hold’em hand with “a pair of aces.” When it was suggested to Quenneville that a key might be What makes Point so effective carrying the puck in? taking away the two world-class snipers on the flanks and force Victor Hedman shoot from up top, he chuckled. “He’s inherently good at it,” Moore said. “It’s his speed, timing, lateral movement with the puck is as good or better than anyone in the league… They still have Brayden Point in the middle, he pointed out. Being a smaller guy helps him be agile. I feel all those teams that try to have a 1-3 or play back, and you drop it to Point when you’re not gapped “It is pick your poison,” Quenneville said. “That’s why they’re the best at up, you’ve got no chance.” it.” Do you try to disrupt the drop pass? The Lightning were outshot and out-chanced at 5-on-5 against the Panthers, but their power play helped them advance to the second “If they see you, they’ll adjust and all of a sudden, they stretch pass it and round. And it could be a major factor if the Cup champions manage an Point doesn’t come back,” Moore said. “It’s a constant cat and mouse historic repeat. It makes their matchup with the touted Hurricanes penalty game, especially in the playoffs when you go up against teams over and kill must-see TV. over. That’s where the coaching adjustments come in.”

“It’s nightmare fuel for a penalty kill,” former Lightning wing Ryan Quick regroups help make the most of the power play clock, and with Callahan said. puck possession, the Lightning can get into formation and get to work. All but one of the Lightning’s eight postseason goals was scored while in So, let’s break down what makes the Lightning so dangerous on the formation in the offensive zone. power play and how teams can try to defend against it. Stamkos said the top unit has a lot of experience together, which helps “What separates Tampa is not skill — a lot of power plays around the their chemistry and their reads. league have skill,” said former NHLer and current NBCSN analyst Dominic Moore. “What separates Tampa is the intelligence with which “We’re a familiar group with each other, we’ve played together a long they design their units, design their plays. It’s kind of like Jiu-Jitsu, they time now. The power play has clicked and been a big part of our use what you do against you. If you take one thing away, well that opens success,” Stamkos said. up something else.” Through six playoff games, the Lightning have created a high volume of The setup shots — about 94 unblocked shot attempts per 60. Expected goals, which weighs in shot type, angle, distance, and whether it was a rush or The Lightning go with the 1-3-1 “umbrella” formation that many teams second chance opportunity among other factors, can be used as a proxy use. The key difference for Tampa Bay is that their top unit is loaded with for shot quality; Tampa Bay’s generated 8.3 expected goals per 60. star power. They’ve out-performed that by a lot, scoring at a rate of 18.91 goals per Just as teams have trended toward a four forward and one defender unit 60. that’s proven to boost shot and goal production, more are also leaning on The heat maps below help give a glimpse into that offensive generation, their top power play unit instead of equally splitting time between groups. with orange and brown tones representing where the team frequently Tampa’s top unit has played close to 78 percent of the power play shoots from, and purple areas showing where they rarely shoot. minutes in the playoffs. Six games is already a small sample, it’s even smaller when breaking it The first unit’s core has been the same for much of the last two years. down into just power play time; the Lightning have only played about 25 Stamkos and his right-handed shot is stationed in the left circle, while minutes on the man-advantage so far. Operating at 40 percent may not lefty Kucherov plays on the right. Each is a dynamic passer and shooter. be sustainable long-term, but there’s clearly a difference between their Plus, both play on their off-wing which helps speed up puck movement production now versus during the regular season when they clicked at and shooting that can challenge a goaltender’s lateral movement. While 22.2 percent (ninth in the league). The team’s shooting the puck and there are some defensive risks to playing on the offside, Arik Parnass, getting to the quality areas more often. Much of that has to do with a key now an analyst for the Avalanche, found that deploying skaters on their addition for the playoffs. off-wing can lead to a higher goal probability. Runs through Kucherov Point plays in the slot between the wingers, to round out the ‘three’ of the umbrella formation. Alex Killorn helps provide a screen in front of the Ryan McDonagh and Blake Coleman believe Kucherov is one of the best crease, and is at the ready for deflections and second chance shots, and in the world at the half wall spot, partly due to his elite hockey IQ, partly Hedman is up at the point. due to his skill and playmaking ability. The power play runs through him.

Tampa Bay’s approach focuses on puck movement and reads, with three “What he’s able to do is read the layers,” St. Louis said. “He’s not just one-timer options up top and both flanks. What strikes Marty St. Louis making one read, he’s making a bunch of reads at once. And he usually about the Lightning power play is how there’s not really many set plays. makes the best play. Not just a play. He usually can find the best play through multiple layers of reads. He knows where not just where his guys “They just read off one another,” he said. “And with great playmakers and are, he knows where the opponents are, whether he’s a righty or lefty, game-breakers, they can make you pay if you over defend one thing. It’s there’s so many calculations he has to do and very quickly be able to like chess the way they do it.” execute the best possible play.” Kucherov had to shake off rust after missing the entire 2020-21 regular “It’s about possession in space,” St. Louis said. “As soon as you lose season and get back up to speed after hip surgery last offseason. That possession, it’s more physical work. I think ‘Killer’ is one of the best in appeared to impede his 5-on-5 game a bit when the series opened, but retrievals. I compare him to Dennis Rodman, how he knew where every not on the power play. When the Lightning are in formation on the man- rebound was going to go. ‘Killer’ is really good at retrieving, he has a advantage, their winger can stay somewhat stationary while dishing the sense of where the puck is going to end up based on the angle of the puck or firing it on net. shot. Honestly, you won’t have a good power play unless you’re able to retrieve and they do a really good job at it.” “He can see the right play happening two plays before it’s there,” McDonagh said. “His anticipation, his understanding of who is going to “Every power play unit needs guys to understand what their job is out be the guy open is world class. There are guys that can see a play there, there and ‘Killer’ understands, he knows he has to be strong on the puck but not necessarily make it all the time.” and retrieve pucks when they go behind the net or in the corners,” Stamkos said. With the return of Kucherov the team “added another level to the power play,” according to Killorn. How do you defend it?

“He’s one of the best, if not the best, half wall guy in the entire NHL. He “What would be your choice if you give them one of those options?” Dave makes players around him a lot better. He’s finding Pointer. If you take Andreychuk asked. Pointer away, Stammer is open. If you take Stammer away, I’m open in front. If you take me away, Hedman is free. When Kuch can find those “I don’t think you want to give Kuch the puck, I don’t think you want to guys, it’s very difficult.” give up the Stamkos one-timer. I personally would try to let Victor Hedman shoot down the middle of the ice. You have the best chance of The shooters blocking it from there. You’ve got to stay close to Point because he seems to be able to find a way to get there. What I would say is, ‘Okay, It’s tough enough when you have one of the generation’s most prolific we’re going to give up a shot from Hedman, they’re not going to beat us goal scorers in Stamkos on one flank. And he’s not making it any easier elsewhere.’” this postseason, he’s firing the puck at the highest rate of any skater in the playoffs –– most of which have come from ‘his office’ in the left circle. That’s the challenge the Lightning’s opponents face: Finding the lesser of five evils. It’s where the sniper has clustered so many of his shots throughout his career, especially on the power play. It’s where Stamkos scored the “If you’re a killer, I always wanted to flush that half wall guy down as series-clinching goal in Game 6. much as possible,” said Moore, an experienced penalty killer. “I wanted to not just take away that pass up to the top because it’s easy for them to What makes Stamkos and Kucherov so unique is they’re among the best use the bumper and get it to the top indirectly. In most cases, the most at one-timing any pass. skilled player is the man on the half wall and I felt, ‘Take the puck out of “Front foot, back foot, short side, far side,” St. Louis said of Stamkos. “He his hands.’ It’s harder than it seems.” doesn’t just shoot — he shoots to score every time. The Hurricanes have a proactive approach while shorthanded. While “There are certain times you’re just shooting it trying to get it on net, and they can shut down their opponents’ offense with Jaccob Slavin, Brett shooting it as quick as possible,” Stamkos said. “Other times, if you know Pesce, and Jordan Staal leading the charge, they have a more a goalie has a tendency to anticipate well and slide over, I have to go dimensional penalty kill. Their aggressive power kill excels at disrupting back against the grain. There are different moments where you can think teams from staying in formation and in the offensive zone. If any team before you shoot.” can ‘keep them on the run,’ it’s Carolina. The question is how much they’ll counter-attack against a power play this loaded. According to Parnass, one-timers are one of the most dangerous shots, aside from tips, because the puck movement can catch a goaltender out The Panthers struggled to limit shots and quality chances against on the of position. Ideally, that movement goes across the royal road, or the penalty kill, and their netminders only stopped 65 percent of the shots imaginary line that goes right down the middle of the home plate area in they faced. front of the net, forcing a goaltender to move laterally. Against Nashville, the Hurricanes had the opportunity to push the pace of Kucherov and Stamkos are just two of the shooters that can deflate a play and create short-handed offense. They were one of the better teams penalty killing unit. Point’s one of the best players in the league; he’s in the opening round at creating quality chances for and limiting those improved his skating, reads and reacts to plays at a high pace, and is against. And they had the stability of Alex Nedeljkovic in net. incredibly crafty. And he plays in a scoring area in front of the net. But there’s less room for error in Round 2 with the Lightning as their next There’s also Hedman at the point, who put his offensive impact on opponent. display throughout last year’s Stanley Cup run. Andreychuk put it simply: “The easiest way to defend them is to stay out “He can’t be afraid to pound pucks from the middle,” St. Louis said. “You of the box.” create confusion, you create a chaotic environment. Now that’s where Carolina’s taken 32 penalties through six games so far this postseason, there’s breakdowns, and seams open for retrievals. I think Heddy has and do have to be more disciplined against Tampa – although some done a really good job of shooting the puck when it’s time” questionable officiating has inflated that total along the way. So even if During the playoffs, that shot hasn’t come as often on the power play. they can find ways to defend this power play, which won’t be easy, they Instead, much of the shooting has been left for the skillful forwards certainly can’t give them this many opportunities. around him. As Coleman explained, this power play is “typically one step ahead of the “He’s done a good job of pretending to go one way and then the other, PK” because they’ve been together for so long. feel which way the box is moving and all of a sudden go against the “They know what the options are before you get the puck. The best grain, and now there’s so much more space for that guy to shoot,” St. power plays have the quickest puck movement and multiple options that Louis said. can hurt you, and it’s no secret that “Kuch’ is one of the best in the world The retrievals at the half wall and world-class shot from Stammer, and a lot of guys that can hurt you. The biggest misconception about the Lightning power play is that it’s all skill and highlight-reel plays. Power plays are hard work, as Killorn “I’m happy they’re on my side.” mentioned; winning puck battles and securing puck retrievals are key.

Case in point was Killorn’s zone entry on Brayden Point’s power-play The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 goal in the second period of Game 3. Before the tic-tac-toe passing play of Stamkos to Hedman to Kucherov, who one-touched a pass to Point in the slot, Killorn had to fight off three Panthers to maintain possession in the zone. 1214486 Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Star LOADED: 05.29.2021

Rasmus Sandin’s spot in the Leafs’ lineup is up in the air for Game 6

By Mark Zwolinski Sports Reporter

Fri., May 28, 2021

If it was a regular-season game, Rasmus Sandin’s miscues Thursday wouldn’t lead to him being removed from the starting lineup.

But Sandin’s status on the Maple Leafs’ blue line is at least being discussed before Game 6 of their first-round series with Montreal on Saturday night.

Sandin, playing in just his fourth career playoff game Thursday, made a pair of costly mistakes that led directly to two Montreal goals, and the Game 5 gaffes are sure to factor into the roster decisions of Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe as his team attempts to clinch the series on its second attempt.

“As a young defenceman, you’re going to make mistakes,” Leafs defenceman Zach Bogosian said. “You’re going to make mistakes if you’ve played 20 years in the league. I guess the response would be just to go out there and do what makes him good, and we’re confident he’ll be better.

“Hockey is a game of mistakes. You learn from them, you learn when to park it. Now is not the time to dwell too much with a big game (Saturday). He’s a confident guy who can make plays. We’re not worried about him.”

Sandin was used sparingly after his mistakes in Game 5, on the ice for just two shifts over the final 15 minutes of the second period and one shift in the third. The final shift was with T.J. Brodie, an 11-year NHL veteran who has not been scored on over the 106 minutes he has played in the series.

Sandin earned a spot on the blue line with his offensive potential, and scored a power-play goal in Game 2. But the 21-year-old has also been on the ice for three of Montreal’s eight goals in the series.

Keefe wasn’t making any decision on Sandin on Friday, though he admitted the young defenceman’s spot in the lineup was being discussed. He swapped Sandin for the more experienced Travis Dermott in Game 4.

There is pressure on the coach and the players to eliminate Montreal and erase the narrative surrounding the Leafs’ run of opening-round exits.

“We found a way to score three goals (Thursday), that should be enough to win in the playoffs,” Keefe said, pointing to the Leafs’ mistakes at the other end. “They scored three unassisted goals. Two were actually unassisted, but the overtime goal for me was unassisted as well. So that’s three of their four goals …

Rasmus Sandin earned a spot in the Leafs’ lineup with his offence, and could lose it because of defensive miscues.

“We gifted them offence. That’s obviously something we can’t afford to do in the playoffs. Clean that up, and we score enough to win the hockey game.”

Sandin’s mistakes stemmed from hits and positioning in puck battles. As a team, the Leafs had their worst game of the playoffs in terms of puck battles. In data collected by Sportlogiq, they lost battles in all three zones, with Montreal holding a 55-43 edge. Toronto had the advantage in the first four games.

Sandin ultimately should learn from his mistakes. He is still viewed as a potential top-four defenceman next season.

“That’s part of playoffs, you will have ups and downs,” said Bogosian, who was part of Tampa’s Stanley Cup-winning team last season. “We controlled the chunk of the series for a while, and (the Canadiens) had a good push back.

“That’s the beauty of playoff hockey — you’re not doing the right thing if you don’t have pressure. We need to go in there and play Game 6 like it's our Game 7.” 1214487 Toronto Maple Leafs “With the virus and all the restrictions, to be able to see people there is not only for hockey,” he said. “It’s a good sign for people here in Quebec and Montreal and Canada.”

‘It’s going to be electric’: Habs, Leafs set to battle in Game 6 in front of Tickets to Game 6, which the Canadiens prioritized for season-seat fans holders, luxury-suite clients and corporate partners, are pricey on the resale market. The least expensive pair, relatively speaking, was listed a shade under $2,500 on one website late Friday afternoon, but Spezza said he won’t be surprised to see some blue and white jerseys dotting the By Joshua Clipperton The Canadian Press crowd. Fri., May 28, 2021 “It never ceases to amaze me the support that the Leafs get on the road,” said the 37-year-old.

MONTREAL - Cole Caufield has played in front of exactly zero fans in his Caufield helped make Game 6 a reality when he intercepted an errant young NHL career. pass in Thursday’s overtime and raced the other way with Nick Suzuki on a 2-on-0 break. The young linemates played catch with the puck as they A packed-to-the-rafters Bell Centre would have exploded when the moved in on Toronto netminder Jack Campbell before Caufield — usually Canadiens rookie sniper buried his first NHL goal in overtime earlier this the trigger man throughout his decorated amateur career — passed up month. And Montreal’s home arena would have been equally loud some his final opportunity to shoot and instead found Suzuki for the winner. 48 hours later when Caufield again found the back of the net in the extra period. “I gave it to Nick, I got it back,” Caufield recalled. “The best part about that was I think the goalie thought I was going to shoot.” COVID-19 restrictions made all that impossible — Canada’s seven NHL rinks have been devoid of spectators throughout the league’s pandemic- The Leafs dropped the opener of the series at home before winning three shortened season — but the 20-year-old’s teammates did their best to straight, including two in Montreal, only to allow the Canadiens back into describe one of hockey’s best atmospheres. the fight by falling behind 3-0 and failing to match their opponent’s intensity early in Game 5. “Pretty surreal,” Caufield said of what he’s been told. “You can’t really put it into words.” “You’re going to have ups and downs,” said Toronto defenceman Zach Bogosian, who won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning last He won’t have to wait much longer to get a taste himself. season. “We controlled a chunk of the series there for a while, and they had a good pushback. That’s the beauty of playoff hockey. You’re not Montreal’s 4-3 OT victory in Toronto on Thursday, one that kept the club doing the right thing if you don’t have pressure. alive in its first-round playoff series with the Maple Leafs, paved the way for 2,500 fans to be allowed inside the Bell Centre for Saturday’s Game 6 “These are the moments you live for.” — the first Canadian NHL crowd since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Playing the Canadiens for the first time in the post-season since 1979, the Leafs are looking for their first series victory in 17 years. The fan “It’s going to be electric,” Caufield said Friday. “You can just count on base has plenty of scars from past collapses and disappointments, but those fans to be passionate and dedicated to being behind us, giving Keefe said his players — many of whom have nothing to do with the every ounce of excitement they can.” failures of yesteryear — are focused on the present.

The Quebec government gave the thumbs up for a fraction of the 21,273- “This group loves being with each other and we want to continue on,” he seat venue to be opened to paying customers a day after the province’s said. “That’s the motivation, that’s the pressure. It’s very difficult to win a curfew, which had been in place since Jan. 9, was lifted along with a series, very difficult to end a team’s season. We’ve got an opportunity to loosening of other coronavirus rules. do that again (in Game 6).

“I’m really excited,” Caufield added. “It’s going to be a special moment.” “We feel good about our team, we feel good about our chances, we feel good about how we’ve played in this series. We just have to go out and A trickle of NHL teams in the U.S. were permitted to allow a percentage execute.” of fans into buildings as the 56-game season progressed and vaccine rates outpaced those in Canada, but every playoff contest south of the Ducharme told his players this week they have an opportunity to do border has included boisterous scenes that have made both players and something special in this series. would-be attendees up north jealous. But regardless of the result, Saturday night’s game will be special as Montreal Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki (14) celebrates his game winning Canadian hockey fans head into an NHL arena for the first time in nearly goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with teammate Cole Caufield (22) 15 months. during overtime NHL Stanley Cup playoff action in Toronto on Thursday, May 27, 2021. “We can see light at the end of the tunnel,” Ducharme said. “It’s really positive. It’s great for hockey. Canadian franchises have done their best with artificial crowd noise. It’s just not even close to the same. “But it’s a great sign for the population, in general.”

Montreal winger Tomas Tatar, whose team will again be facing elimination Saturday down 3-2 in a best-of-seven matchup of Original Six Toronto Star LOADED: 05.29.2021 rivals, can’t wait to see people peppering — masked and socially distanced, of course — the Bell Centre’s seats.

“It’s huge,” he said. “We know the number is not where we would want it to be.

“But I think the 2,500 people will make a lot of difference.”

Leafs forward Jason Spezza said the crowd of roughly 12 per cent capacity will be a good sign for both sports and society.

“We’ve played in front of people before,” he said with a smile. “We should be comfortable with it. It’s a great step towards what the future may hold here in terms of getting back to normal.”

Montreal interim head coach Dominique Ducharme agreed having people in the building to cheer is a step towards life returning — at least in a small way — to the way things were. 1214488 Toronto Maple Leafs given up anything despite playing the most minutes, despite spending a lot of time against really good players, really good matchups, despite having to take faceoffs in their own end, which a lot of top lines don’t necessarily do.” The Leafs won’t say it but it’s time for their stars to come out against the Canadiens Which was a veiled way of saying: For all those clamouring for more ice time for William Nylander, who leads the Maple Leafs with four goals, consider that Nylander, while he’s been on the ice for five Toronto goals at 5-on-5, he’s also been on the ice for five Montreal goals at 5-on-5. By Dave Feschuk Sports Columnist That’s not wholly Nylander’s fault. He’s been dealt the blow of losing Fri., May 28, 2021 linemates John Tavares and Foligno to injury. But that’s been a burden heaped on Matthews and Marner, too. Keefe pointed out that, with Tavares and Foligno out, it’s been “a lot easier” for the opposition to Sheldon Keefe seemed miffed that he was even having the conversation. focus on the Matthews line.

And to be fair, it’s not unreasonable to suggest Keefe and the Maple “When you’re the top guys, you get checked tighter,” Spezza said. “And Leafs should have spent Friday preparing for the Winnipeg Jets in Round it’s important that they just keep plugging along. When you’re that good, 2 instead of flying to Montreal for Saturday’s Game 6. If they had taken the puck goes in for you and you’ll make an impact in games … They’ve care of proverbial business, if they’d put in a more professional been great. They’ve been really good players for us. They’ve controlled performance in the biggest game of the season to date, they could have play at all times. “ easily finished off the Canadiens in Thursday’s Game 5. Toronto is clearly the better team with superior high-end players and a deeper Still, they’re paid like they’re paid, ultimately, because they’re rare roster. Montreal, beyond the confines of Carey Price’s crease, is a hard- thoroughbreds, not rank workhorses. Star players, from Colorado’s playing squad built like a patchwork shambles. Nathan MacKinnon to Carolina’s Sebastian Aho to Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, have been delivering big performances under the weight of Still, as Game 5 underlined, there’s clearly a way the Leafs can lose this considerable expectations. Which speaks to a growing Toronto trend series: They can beat themselves. There’s clearly a way they can lose that’s best nipped in the bud. Thursday’s loss, after all, dropped the Saturday’s Game 6 in front of 2,500 fans at the Bell Centre and Leafs’ win-loss record to 0-5 in potential series-clinching games during necessitate a Game 7 back in Toronto. They can give another game the Matthews-Marner era. In those five games, Marner has zero goals away, in the way Rasmus Sandin and Alex Galchenyuk essentially and two assists. Matthews has one goal and one assist. handed Montreal the golden Game 5 opportunities that brought us here. Two measly points apiece in five big games. During this past regular “We gifted them offence,” Keefe said Friday, lamenting his team’s latest season, Matthews won the Rocket Richard Trophy by scoring at a rate of head-shaking step in the wrong direction. nearly four goals in five games. Let’s just say the regular-season numbers would come to mean more if they were backed with a timely Said Leafs veteran Jason Spezza: “Most of the offence they’ve gotten playoff performance to carry this team over a long-lamented hump. throughout the series has been stuff that we’ve given them.” For all that, Keefe said he had faith that better bottom-line production So the adjustment is easy enough. Cease with the brain cramps. Swap from Toronto’s top-line players is in the offing. Matthews leads the series Sandin for the more experienced and defensively responsible Travis in scoring chances with 28, according to Sportlogiq. Marner is second Dermott, who was essentially flawless in his only appearance of the with 18. Nobody else on either team has more than 16. series. Reinsert defence-first centre Riley Nash. And, injury status willing, welcome back Nick Foligno . If all that means you lose a little bit of “If they keep getting those chances, I think they’re going to fall in,” Keefe offensive potential around the fringes, perhaps it wouldn’t be asking too said. “It’s just a matter of time.” much for the roster’s core to make up the difference. The time, clearly, is now. Five games into the playoffs, after all, Auston Matthews has still scored a grand total of one goal. Heading into Friday’s slate of post-season action, there were 62 NHL players who had already scored at least two. As for Toronto Star LOADED: 05.29.2021 linemate Mitch Marner: If you saw his gaze raised to the heavens in visible frustration on Thursday night, it’s at least partly because he was in the midst of his 16th straight playoff game without a goal.

Given how Matthews looked particularly unenergetic Thursday, when he registered a series-low two shots on goal, it was fair to wonder: Is the pressure of delivering Toronto’s first playoff-series victory in 17 years beginning to wear on Toronto’s first-liners?

“They’re great players. They’re the best in the game for a reason … I’m willing to say they have daily pressure on themselves, whether it’s regular season or playoffs, to perform,” Spezza said. “And they want to perform. But hockey’s truly a team sport. From the bottom of the lineup, we have to help those guys. We can’t be on for goals against. We have to give them an opportunity to win games, and they’ll do the rest because they’re elite players.”

Fair enough. It’s a team game. And Matthews and Marner, as has been noted in this space, are playing well on a lot of important levels. They’ve logged more ice time than anyone other than Morgan Rielly. They’ve taken the best Montreal can throw at them — and mostly it’s been the line centred by Phillip Danault alongside Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Tatar — and mostly dominated the puck. They’ve outshot the Danault line 15-11 at even strength. And while they’re not scoring at their usual rates, Keefe said it was crucial to note that, while they’re playing against Montreal’s best line, they have yet to be on the ice for a goal against.

Mitch Marner, left, and Auston Matthews have two points each in five potential series-clinching games with the Leafs. Toronto is 0-5 in those games.

“If you score five or six goals but you give up five or six goals, well then you haven’t really helped the team,” Keefe said. “These guys haven’t 1214489 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs-Habs to see fans for the first time at Game 6 in Montreal — and resale tickets aren’t cheap

By Justin Smirlies Toronto Star

Fri., May 28, 2021

Canadiens fans are going to have to put up a pretty penny if they want to see their team live for the first time since March 2020.

Maybe anywhere between $1,600 and $8,000 to be a bit more exact.

After Thursday night’s Game 5 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs to stave off elimination, the series now shifts back to Montreal’s Bell Centre for Game 6, but with one new and important dynamic that no Canadian team has experienced yet this season: fans.

That’s right. Real cheering instead of computer generated audio.

With the easing for COVID-19 restrictions in Quebec, the province is now allowing large venues to host up to 2,500 people with physical distancing and masking in divided sections capped at 250 people each.

Tickets for the game were already sold out as of Friday morning, but as is tradition in the sports world, a number of tickets were on the resale market available on both Ticketmaster and StubHub. As of Friday morning, the cheapest ticket available on Ticketmaster was $1,593.40 for a seat in the 300 section, while the cheapest on StubHub was $1,765 for another 300-section level seat.

The most expensive on StubHub, for a 100-level seat just behind the Canadiens net, was someone asking $3,783 for a single ticket. For Ticketmaster, someone wants a whopping $8,060 for a single 100-level seat. The ticket itself costs $6,500, while Ticketmaster is charging a cool $1,560 in extra fees.

While there might be an opportunity for Leafs fans in Quebec to attend the game, fans in Ontario remain under a stay-at-home order until June 2.

The Leafs had the opportunity to eliminate the Habs in Game 5 but lost 4-3 almost a minute into overtime off the stick of Nick Suzuki. The two rivals hit the ice again for Game 6 Saturday at 7 p.m.

The Leafs will have at least two more chances to exorcise some first- round playoff demons. Toronto hasn’t advanced to the second round of the playoffs since 2004. The winner of the series will move on to face the Winnipeg Jets.

Toronto Star LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214490 Toronto Maple Leafs “We’ve played very good hockey throughout this series,” Keefe said. “We have to focus on playing our game and playing at our best and that’s really it. When we’ve done that, we’ve been in control.

KOSHAN: Leafs head into Game 6 against Canadiens with no interest in “We’re competing to extend our season. This group loves being with returning home for Game 7 each other and we want to move on. That’s the motivation.

“We feel good about our team, we feel good about our chances, we feel good about how we’ve played, we just have to go out and execute.” Terry Koshan Rasmus Sandin out, Travis Dermott in? Publishing date: May 28, 2021 That option is on the table for the Maple Leafs’ defence corps for Game 6, but no confirmation was forthcoming on Friday from Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. It’s Game 7 for the Maple Leafs on Saturday at the Bell Centre in Montreal. “We’re talking about (making a change),” Keefe said. “It has been an off- day with the team, so I haven’t had any discussions with any of our No need to rub your eyes, give your head a shake and read that again, players. I’m not going to comment on any of that until (Saturday).” never mind that the Leafs hold a 3-2 lead against the Canadiens in the best-of-seven. The move would make sense. Sandin had a rough outing in Game 5, twice committing turnovers that resulted in goals by the Canadiens in The first-round series of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs isn’t tied 3-3 and Montreal’s 4-3 overtime win. the Leafs won’t be eliminated if they lose, but they’re taking the mindset that a win is the only acceptable result once the puck drops just after Keefe can’t take the chance that the 21-year-old Sandin might not 7:30 p.m. rebound properly on Saturday night. Dermott’s experience presumably would put the Leafs in a better position to end the series. “We need to play Game 6 like it’s our Game 7,” Leafs defenceman Zach Bogosian said on Friday before the team departed for Montreal. “You’re Not only did Sandin’s gaffes help put the Leafs in a 3-0 hole, Keefe not doing the right thing if you don’t have pressure. These are the couldn’t trust him afterward. The Leafs went with five defencemen after moments you live for. We’re excited to go in there and get the win.” Jesperi Kotkaniemi stole puck from Sandin and scored at 4:52 of the second period, as Sandin had just two more shifts. Veteran Leafs forward Jason Spezza agreed with the suggestion that it’s not only about matching the desperation of the Canadiens, who find “He’s a young defenceman, you’re going to make mistakes,” said Zach themselves in a must-win for the second game in a row. No matter that Bogosian, Sandin’s defence partner. “You’re going to make mistakes it’s Montreal with its collective backs against the wall, the Leafs can set when you’ve played 20 years in the league. We’re confident that he’ll be the tone. better (if Sandin gets back in).”

“Definitely,” Spezza said. “We’re a team that wants to close the series out and we don’t want a team like that to hang around. Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.29.2021 “The playoffs are all about learning as you go and Montreal came out more desperate than us (in Game 5 in the Canadiens’ 4-3 overtime win) and now we get to move forward and have a response.”

If that response results in a win, the Leafs will turn their attention to playing the Winnipeg Jets in the second round. If Montreal prevails again, the actual Game 7 will go in Toronto on Monday night.

The Canadiens could have an advantage with 2,500 fans in the stands, but do we think that will be a factor? Not really.

No matter the atmosphere, Spezza didn’t think the Canadiens will have a wave to ride after winning Game 5.

“You start understanding as you play more playoff hockey that there’s really no momentum from game to game,” Spezza said. “You have a fresh chance every day to create new momentum. (Coach) Sheldon (Keefe) does a great job of kind of having us hone in on what we need to tweak. That’s really helpful.”

Whether there are lineup changes for the Leafs remain to be seen. Nick Foligno, who has missed the past three games with a lower-body injury, skated again on Friday morning and Keefe said a decision on his veteran forward’s status would be made on Saturday. It’s possible that Keefe benches defenceman Rasmus Sandin and inserts Travis Dermott on the blue line, but the coach was not yet ready to make that declaration.

Above all else, what the Leafs will keep in mind is that they have been, for the most part, the better team in the series. Toronto has had the edge at even-strength, and boasts the only perfect penalty kill in the playoffs, denying Montreal on 14 power plays.

Jack Campbell’s desire will be to rebound after giving up four goals in Game 5. As good as Carey Price has been in the Canadiens net, Campbell has a better save percentage through five games, registering a .944 mark to Price’s .919.

The Leafs’ preference is that Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner would have produced at the clip they maintained through the regular season, but there have been contributions from throughout the lineup, most notably William Nylander and Alex Kerfoot. Of the 14 Leafs who have played in all five games, only forward Ilya Mikheyev has not recorded at least one point. 1214491 Toronto Maple Leafs But Jason Spezza is not unlike his coach in his evaluation of the Matthews line.

“They’ve controlled play at all times,” said the Leafs’ veteran leader. SIMMONS: One goal in five games not enough for Matthews and Marner “When you’re that good, the puck goes in for you. They’ve had a great series so far. Those guys have played very well for us all series long.”

This much has been apparent heading into Saturday night’s Game 6 at Steve Simmons the Bell Centre: Montreal doesn’t really create a lot of offence. The Habs take advantage of Leafs mistakes and that’s how they score almost all of Publishing date: May 28, 2021 their goals. In the crucial Game 5 defeat of Thursday night, Montreal scored three of its four goals directly off weak or terrible giveaways.

The obvious numbers don’t add up for Auston Matthews and Mitch If you want to get picky, all four of the goals came when a safe Toronto Marner in this first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens. play would have prevented any scoring at all.

They should be a goal-a-game line. Or even more than that in The series might be 3-2 in games played — but it’s three games won by conjunction with Zach Hyman. the Leafs, and two games lost by them. Montreal is taking advantage of gifts. The Leafs have to stop being generous. They should be dominant the way Nathan MacKinnon’s line has been explosive in Colorado or the way the Brayden Point-Nikita Kucherov line That’s part of what makes Keefe pleased about the Matthews-Marner has been in Tampa Bay. line. They don’t play much in their own end. They don’t give the puck away carelessly. They don’t make rookie mistakes in the defensive zone. The obvious numbers indicate that Matthews has scored just once in the And they haven’t been scored on — which should be the Toronto ticket to series, and, as the leading goal-scorer in all of hockey, that doesn’t seem the next round of the playoffs. like much. Hyman has scored once also. Marner has no goals through five games. Should be. Then again, the leading scorer in all of hockey should have more than one goal in a series entering Game 6. Two goals in five games for the line with no name.

That’s the bad part. The good part: No forwards have played more for either team in the series than the Matthews line. No one is even close. Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.29.2021 And they have yet to be on the ice for a goal against. Not one.

As great as William Nylander has played offensively this series, he’s been on the ice for five goals against in five games. Playing six or seven minutes a night fewer than Matthews or Marner.

So, where exactly does value come from? It’s supposed to come from scoring goals and creating offence. That’s why they get the big dollars. The Matthews-Marner line has created offence, held the puck, been defensively responsible, caused Montreal trouble, had numerous shots on goal and lots of the ubiquitous shot attempts.

Which suggests they haven’t produced, but they have. It depends how you define production.

“There’s a lot to it,” said Sheldon Keefe, the Leafs head coach. “Obviously, they’re trying to generate chances. Last night, Hyman had a breakaway. Marner has been in alone a bunch of times … To me, that line has played very well. They accept the responsibility that they have to produce.”

They expect more of themselves. That’s part of who they are, how they define themselves as players. Matthews didn’t come into this series expecting one goal in five games. Marner didn’t expect no goals and four assists to date. But the four points, as meager as it sounds, is more than all but one Montreal player has produced.

Keefe obviously credits goaltender Carey Price for making life difficult for the big line. But he admits they have to find ways to get Matthews more open, even if he leads the series with 25 shots and no one on the Habs is even close to that.

“We’re playing without two of our top-six forwards,” said Keefe. “It makes it a lot easier for the opposition to focus on them. We think they can produce more. They’ve yet to be scored on in the series. So a lot of good things are happening. You just have to stay with it.

“If you score five or six goals and you give up five or six goals, well, you haven’t really helped the team,”

Keefe believes the Matthews line is handling the difficulties well.

“There are a number of really positive things that are happening for them,” he said. “We tend to look at actual production as a big measuring stick and that’s understandable.”

In the not-so-regular season, Matthews, Marner and Hyman combined to score 76 goals. So far in this round, two. By their own standards, they should probably have six or seven goals. When you add in the Price factor, the quality of goaltending they’re facing, maybe you drop that number to four or five. 1214492 Toronto Maple Leafs THAT’S OUR BOY This series is big news back in Stevens Point, Wisc., where parents Paul

and Kelly are following Cole’s role in Canada’s oldest playoff rivalry. HORNBY: Go Leafs Go will cost dough Paul, an arena manager and former NCAA player, is not unaware of the divide, born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Lance Hornby “He lived in that area a short time and we’re obviously a hockey family,” Cole said.“They’re my biggest supporters and wish they could be at our Publishing date: May 28, 2021 games. But they’ll be cheering at home.”

Caufield’s late grandfather, Wayne, played minor pro in The Soo in the early 1970s and prior to that for the 1963-64 Philadelphia Ramblers of Want to attend the game between the Maple Leafs and Canadiens on the Eastern League, whose ranks included 325-penalty minute Saturday night? defenceman . Drive to Montreal, convince Quebec border guards it’s essential travel, LOOSE LEAFS and then maybe sell your car once there to pay for some of the coveted 2,500 tickets for the first NHL game in Canada with fans in regular seats The last chance for a Toronto-Montreal Stanley Cup final, before the since the pandemic began 14 months ago. conferences were re-aligned, was denied 28 years ago Saturday when Wayne Gretzky and the Kings beat the Leafs in Game 7 of the Western Enough die-hards in Leafs Nation have the coin to make that happen. final … The last time the Leafs eliminated the Habs on home ice was Hey, it’s merely a do-or-die game in the two teams’ first playoff meeting April 9, 1964, in Game 7 of the semifinals … The Leafs don’t want to in 42 years, forced by the Habs’ season-saving 4-3 overtime win in contemplate it, but they were up 3-1 in 1987 in the Norris Division final Toronto on Thursday. Those people will pay for a chance to finally see a and the Red Wings came all the way back … Caufield has received a game live again, in hopes of witnessing their side win its first series in 17 couple of encouraging tweets from fellow University of Wisconsin grad years, having never beaten the Habs in the playoffs since 1967 and only J.J. Watt, defensive end with the Arizona Cardinals and 10 years eliminating their arch-rivals in their barn four times in 103 years. Caufield’s senior. “When you’re a Badger, you’re kind of a family, no As of Friday, the price for a single seat on Ticketmaster was in the matter what your sport,” Cole said. “I thank him for his support” … The $8,000 range with service charges. When the Canadiens first put the giveaway that sent Caufield and Suzuki away for the overtime winner seats up as Quebec partially lifted its public events ban, they had three inadvertently came from the only other Wisconsin-born player in the modest price ranges, $190, $260 and $330. The club let a few health series. Galchenyuk’s father was in the minors in Milwaukee … Bottom-six care workers watch Games 3 and 4 from private boxes. forward Jake Evans could be back for Montreal in Game 6, but Artturi Lehkonen remains out. Leafs forward Jason Spezza, who spent much of his career as an Ottawa Senator surrounded and shouted down by Leafs fans in his own building, expects patches of blue and white to somehow get in amid the 10 Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.29.2021 socially distanced sections of 250 people each.

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Spezza laughed on Friday. “I’m sure the Canadiens will try and control who gets the tickets. But it never ceases to amaze me the support the Leafs get on the road.

“Just having people in the building is a great step towards what the future may hold in terms of getting back to normal. It’s going to add a little more to the excitement of the games, which we welcome as players.”

VIVE LES CANADIENS

The Leafs took a pounding from critics for not putting away the Habs in Game 5, but teams in the supposedly weak North Division often showed their best profile when least expected.

Winnipeg, given up for dead in early May, swept the Oilers and now await winner of this series, while Montreal made the most of limited scoring resources and out-willed the Leafs when it counted. Carey Price made big saves, the Habs were up 3-0 early, got pucks deep to deny rushes by Toronto, avoided turnovers, and took only one penalty.

“We raised the bar higher,” said forward Tomas Tatar. “We were grinding, playing in the O-zone, exiting the D-zone fairly fast. It was tight at the end, but we kept pressure up the whole game, stayed above their best players. We can still get better. We know who we are and what we can do. The job is still not done. Hopefully, there are two games ahead.”

D-LIGHTFUL

Toronto’s defence has out-pointed Montreal’s 10-0 so far, and that could ultimately be the difference in winning this series.

“Part of it is the nature of the playoffs,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “It’s so hard to get to the net. Shooting from greater distances, trying to get traffic, it’s an easier way for defencemen to get involved.”

What Keefe would prefer to see cashed in are all those breakaways and 2-on-1s to date.

“High-end chances, we haven’t necessarily capitalized on and that’s why some of our forward production is down. But again (Thursday), we find a way to score three and that should be enough to win in playoffs. For me, you don’t have to look any further than they scored three unassisted goals (he counts Alex Galchenyuk’s giveaway to Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki with the other two).” 1214493 Toronto Maple Leafs In Game 2, the Leafs were rewarded with the decision as Sandin scored a goal. In Game 5, the decision backfired, with Sandin turning the puck over twice for goals the other way. He was benched for the remainder of the game. TRAIKOS: Why are the Montreal Canadiens so afraid of playing their kids? That’s the fear with putting Romanov or any young player on the ice when the season is on the line. Coaches want players who are predictable and safe. They don’t risk, even if that means negating the possibility of a reward. As much as Romanov could be a positive Michael Traikos difference-maker, especially for a power play that has yet to find the back Publishing date: May 28, 2021 of the net in this series, he could also be a negative difference-maker like Sandin was in Game 5.

So Ducharme, who doesn’t know what his coaching future might hold, is In an alternate universe — one in which head coach Dominique erring on the side of caution — even though caution is no way to win in Ducharme had more faith in his young players — how different would this the playoffs. Playing conservatively certainly wasn’t how the Canadiens best-of-seven series between Toronto and Montreal look? stunned the Penguins in last year’s post-season.

What if the Habs had not scratched college-aged Cole Caufield from the That upset win was made possible because Carey Price stood on his lineup in Games 1 and 2? What if 20-year-old Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who head. But an even bigger factor was the confidence former coach Claude was a healthy scratch in Game 1, got to play more? What if rookie Julien had in Suzuki and Kotkaniemi, who both had a coming-out party defenceman Alexander Romanov got to play, period? by combing for three goals in four games.

Would it be the Maple Leafs — and not the Habs — who now find This year, despite sitting out for the first two games, it’s been Caufield themselves on the ropes? who is now making his mark. And if Romanov can ever get in, he might just be able to do the same. It’s a question that hockey fans in Montreal have been asking ever since Ducharme decided to place a greater importance on experience over skill Then again, with Montreal trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, you at the start of the playoffs. And it’s one that is growing louder and louder have to wonder if it’s already too little, too late. with each subsequent game.

After all, it’s not the veterans who have been getting the job done for the Canadiens. It’s been the kids. Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.29.2021

While Josh Anderson, Tyler Toffoli, Brendan Gallagher and Eric Staal have combined for just one goal, Nick Suzuki, Caufield and Kotkaniemi have combined for four goals and one assist. And that’s while playing in three fewer games.

Following a 4-3 win on Thursday, in which Kotkaniemi scored and Caufield set up Suzuki for the overtime winner, it’s not hard to imagine what could have been had Ducharme decided to go all-in with youth.

“I don’t think that’s something for us to decide,” said Caufield. “We have all the trust in the world in (the coaching staff) to make the right decisions. Games 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 are behind us — Game 5, too — so we’re just focused on the next one. You put the past in the past and you regroup and you focus with the lineup that you’re given.

“All the guys they put out there are guys they trust to win. Obviously, we’ve got some great young talent in the room here, but right now we’re all just focused on winning. And I think everybody’s on board with that.”

Had Caufield and Kotkaniemi not been in the lineup for Game 5, it’s safe to say there probably would not be a Game 6 on Saturday. And if the Canadiens hope to force a Game 7, it’s time Ducharme took the training wheels off of Romanov and let him also run loose.

“We take every situation differently,” Ducharme said of his decision not to have Romanov, who appeared in 54 of 56 games this year as a rookie, in the lineup.

“Playing a position, whether it’s a centre or a ‘D’ or a wing, there are some differences. Putting the young guys in situations where they can succeed is something important. You have to consider everything. It’s important to do those things at the right time and that’s how you grow, too, and it’s part of it. We’ve got to be taking everything in consideration. Every player is different.

“The game goes through four levels, for me, throughout a season. To be able to raise your game through those four stages is something you have to learn. To do that is not easy. He’s a young guy, we like him, he has a great future … he’s not playing the game right now, but we’re working with him.”

Listening to Ducharme speak, you would think he was the same age as Darryl Sutter. Instead, this is a first-year coach who is only eight years older than Toronto’s Sheldon Keefe. And yet, their coaching styles could not be more different.

On Thursday, Ducharme sat out Romanov for a fifth straight playoff game. Meanwhile, Toronto once again rolled the dice with Rasmus Sandin, who is the same age as Romanov, but has even less NHL experience. 1214494 Toronto Maple Leafs booking as well. So, this NHL playoff game is going to serve as a test for more than just finally having fans back into an arena but also on interprovincial travel.

WARMINGTON: Leafs vs Habs Game 6 in Montreal a hot ticket but not If it goes well, and if Montreal wins Game 6, perhaps there could be a cheap push to open up some seats at the Scotiabank Arena for Game 7? With Premier Doug Ford and his government having difficulty sorting out whether or not to reopen schools, it will be a huge challenge to justify opening up for a big hockey game. Joe Warmington But they are trying to do it in Montreal. Publishing date: May 28, 2021 It will be fascinating to see if the game at the Bell Centre has a home

Habs crowd or whether a bunch of high-flying Torontonians make their It’s the hottest ticket in Canada but you will have to break out your wallet way to Montreal to cheer on the Leafs in their quest to get out of the first to get your hands on one. round and start a run toward the Stanley Cup.

Make that two! Whoever fills those 2,500 seats in the Bell Centre on Saturday night, it is going to cost them! If you want to get one of the 2,500 tickets being made available for Saturday’s big Game 6 playoff game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre, you have to buy a pair. Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.29.2021 And so far, according to online ticket selling agencies, there are still some available.

But they are pricy.

On Ticketmaster, there are tickets on sale in Section 115, Row G for $7,865, which means a purchase of two comes in at a total of $15,730. In Section 116, Row W there’s tickets available for $2,299 each, which means almost $4,600 for a pair. In Section 322 Row FF, tickets are $1,758.13 each, which includes $305 for “fees and taxes.” In Section 331 Row AA, there are a pair available for $1,694 each.

On StubHub there are seats for as low as $1,988 to $3,783. On the Bell Centre website, tickets based on purchasing two are available for as low as $1,003 each.

In all cases it has a caveat that “additional protocols may be required for entry into this venue” and that “if the game is not played, you will automatically receive a full refund including fees.”

The sites do not mention vaccinations being necessary but do say “physical distancing” and “wearing personal protective gear” is imperative. If this happens as planned, it will be the first time fans will have attended a sports game in Canada in 15 months.

The NHL has played without fans inside bubbles while basketball’s and baseball’s have been forced to find a temporary home in the United States.

But in Toronto terms, there is no more exciting event and rivalry than the Leafs and Habs facing off in the playoffs. In normal times, a Saturday night Leafs and Habs tilt in Montreal would have a large contingent of fans coming from Toronto to attend. It will be interesting to see how it works this time because there is no indication these tickets are restricted to be purchased by only people in Quebec.

A curfew in Quebec that’s been in place since Jan. 9 will be lifted Friday evening and restaurant patios can reopen with restrictions.

But there are pandemic travel restrictions between the borders of Ontario and Quebec. In fact, there is a border point at the provincial lines manned by the OPP checking for people returning from Quebec to be sure travel is considered essential.

“Yes, they are still in place,” said OPP spokesperson Bill Dickson.

But the OPP “are just on the highways” and not monitoring airports or train stations, says Dickson.

That said, they don’t check cars leaving the province or those coming back with Ontario plates.

Said Dickson: “We do not check any vehicles leaving Ontario. For those coming from outside the province … commercial vehicles (i.e. transports) are waved through. Ontario-plated cars come through the checkpoints, but we do not screen them. We do stop all private vehicles with out-of- province plates to determine their reason for entering Ontario.”

Quebec police have not said if they will stop Ontarians from coming in for the game, but they do have police monitoring their borders.

Meanwhile, there are numerous flights or trains available to be booked between the two cities this weekend and Montreal’s hotels are open for 1214495 Toronto Maple Leafs playoff series (albeit in a small sample) than they were overall as a line during the regular season.

That narrative is probably best tossed aside, even with Habs coach Do the Maple Leafs need more from their top line? Is William Nylander Dominique Ducharme seeking out the matchup as often as he can in the answer? Game 6 in front of the hometown crowd.

As Keefe pointed out, not having John Tavares around has put extra pressure on the Leafs’ top unit. They’ve lined up for nearly as many By Jonas Siegel defensive zone draws (27) as offensive zone draws (37). The Leafs just can’t trust all that many own-zone faceoffs to either the Alex Kerfoot-led May 28, 2021 second line or Spezza-led fourth line. Sheldon Keefe went to great lengths Friday afternoon to defend his No. 1 “We’re playing without two of our top six forwards, and a lot more has line’s performance against Montreal ahead of Game 6. fallen on to them,” Keefe said, referring as Tavares as well to the ongoing “There’s a lot of really good things happening with them,” the Maple absence of Nick Foligno, who seems unlikely to play in Game 6. Leafs coach said of the trio of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and Zach The best looks for the Leafs’ No. 1 crew in Game 5 came from Marner Hyman. “We tend to look at actual production as a big measuring stick, and especially Hyman. He finished with a team-high six shots, scored the and of course that’s understandable. But if you score five or six goals, but first Leafs goal and had breakaway and sneaky wraparound opportunities you give up five or six goals, well then you really haven’t helped the denied by Price. team. Chances weren’t quite as available for Matthews. And it’s pretty evident “These guys haven’t given up anything despite playing the most minutes; why: The Habs are crowding his airspace any time he even gets near the despite spending a lot of time against really good players and really puck. (difficult) matchups; despite having to take faceoffs in their own end, which a lot of top lines don’t necessarily do. Notice Tyler Toffoli eyeing Matthews as he winds through the zone, and Ben Chiarot picking up the slack after that. “They’ve taken on a lot and they’ve played very well for us, and it’s just a matter of time if they keep getting those chances — we think they’re Matthews is being swarmed. gonna fall in.” Those times he’s managed to elude the Habs’ watch have come up There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s start with the central argument empty save for a daring rush with Justin Holl in Game 2. Matthews has Keefe is making: The top line has been productive, if still needing to missed the net (nine times), hit posts (twice), or been denied by Price, come through on the scoresheet. the goalie he’s beat 13 times in his career.

Clearly, Keefe is right on a basic level. The line has produced three goals “He has had a number of good looks,” Keefe said of Matthews. “Maybe in the series and given up none. not as clean, and having as much time to utilize his shot necessarily. But he’s had some stuff in around the net — some tight rebounds and quick Underlying numbers also suggest dominance for the Leafs when they’ve shots and quick plays in there.” been out there: “But credit to Montreal, they have done a really good job against him.” Shot attempts: 74-56 Matthews registered only two shots in Game 5. Shots: 52-28 Some luck is bound to go his way. He’s shooting a mere 5 percent five- Scoring chances: 44-32 on-five in the series after blazing at nearly 18 percent during the regular Goals: 3-0 season.

Expected goals: 69 percent “We’d like to find a way to get Auston some cleaner looks at the net,” Keefe said. “A lot of the best looks have come with Mitch and Hyman, In Game 5, the line was all over Montreal, spending shift after shift in and Auston hasn’t been able to get as many as clean looks. At the same Canadiens territory. All three guys were relentless chasing down pucks, time, he’s drawing a lot of attention and focus there.” turning them over and creating zone time and scoring chances. So how to siphon some attention away from him? “They’ve controlled play at all times,” Jason Spezza said. “I know everybody likes to see the gaudy offensive numbers to justify your play, Keefe hinted at perhaps tweaking his line — which brings us, finally, to but those guys have played very well for us all series and I expect they’ll William Nylander. only do the same moving forward.” Nylander has been maybe the Leafs’ best player in the series with And yet, Matthews and Marner, the Leafs’ top two scorers in the regular apologies to Morgan Rielly, Jack Campbell and T.J. Brodie. Keefe season with 61 goals between them, have just a goal in the series. conceded that he’d like to find more minutes for Nylander, who logged 17 of them in Game 5 while chipping in with two more points. Play long enough in the playoffs and numbers for the stars (Matthews and Marner) will eventually shine through, but they need to play long Part of the problem, as Keefe explained it, was that Nylander didn’t play enough in the first place — by winning at least a round in other words — on the top line, and the top line sees — by far — the most minutes. The to get that chance. only way to bring Nylander’s minutes up would be to play his current linemates, Kerfoot and Alex Galchenyuk, even more, which seems like a The Leafs’ depth will only take them so far. non-starter, or double-shift Nylander, as the Leafs did last time out.

So what gives? There’s one more option, of course, and that’s to promote Nylander onto the No. 1 line, likely in place of Hyman. Well, Carey Price has something to do with it. Surely, you can spot the issue right away with loading up like this: Those He’s stopped 45 of the 47 shots that Matthews (19), Marner (13), and other three lines look pretty punch-less. Hyman (15) have combined to throw at him during five-on-five play in the series. That’s a .957 save percentage if you’re wondering. He’s Carey Maybe Hyman’s energy and blue paint hunting skills pair well with Price for a reason. Galchenyuk and Kerfoot. Or maybe Keefe reconnects him instead with Pierre Engvall and Ilya Mikheyev, a trio that was pretty explosive early in Has the Phillip Danault-led Montreal top line been a problem for their the season but may also lack for offence. counterparts from Toronto? The point here is to get the Leafs’ three best players on the ice as much Pesky, but not exactly slowing them down either. as possible — together. And of course, drag some eyes, sticks and Though the Habs as a whole have done well in limiting opportunities for attention away from Matthews. Matthews in particular (we’ll get to that in a second), the Leafs’ top trio has actually been more dominant against Danault-led groups in this Marner has scored one five-on-five goal in his last 17 playoff games. He “But you can’t take away from the fact that the line has performed very has none to this point against Montreal, came up empty in five games well,” he said. “You really break it down statistically and then you match it against Columbus in August and had just the one against Boston in up to the video and you watch the games, they’ve done a lot of really 2019. good things. So, I can understand why we want the goal production to inflate and grow — they do as well. But they’re contributing very At times, it’s looked like he’s pressing, occasionally forcing pucks to positively to the success we’ve had throughout the series.” Matthews. That’s understandable given his place at the top of the depth chart alongside Matthews.

“When you’re at the top of your team and you’re a driver of your club, you The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 go through daily pressure,” said Spezza, who would know from past experience himself. “And I don’t think people realize how driven those guys are to be good every day.”

Nylander is well suited to ease some of their pressure by adding a balanced threat to their line.

Not only does he have the puck skills and vision to create scoring opportunities for them both, but also his shot is threatening enough that if the Habs overcrowd Matthews, Nylander will have extra space to load up and add to his goal total in the series (four).

Matthews and Marner have spent the entire season in tandem, but rarely has Nylander joined them. Just under 10 minutes during the regular season.

Game 5 was the most concerted effort to do so all season, with Nylander joining Matthews and Marner for only about a minute.

The Leafs would be entirely dependent on such a line to win them Game 6. And there’s reason to think, given how well Nylander has played and how overdue Matthews may be, that it’s worth the relative gamble.

The Boston Bruins have made plenty of deep runs with a top-heavy approach. It might only be a one-game thing anyway, with Foligno likely ready to play again in Round 2.

And yet, it also feels a tiny bit panicky, and not entirely dissimilar from Tavares joining Matthews and Marner in Game 5 against the Blue Jackets last summer to little effect.

The difference here is it’s a promotion of the hottest player in the series, not a last-ditch effort at something new with nothing else working.

Part of the argument for keeping the status quo is Matthews, Marner and Hyman feeling inevitable in the last game.

“I think that we’re all over it,” Hyman said. “We’re just looking to break through here.”

Nylander also continues to find ways to produce on his own, leading the team with seven points in the playoffs.

“He’s competing extremely hard,” Zach Bogosian said proudly. “When you have a skill set like that, and you’re competing and that hard on pucks, that makes it hard for the other team.”

It was the subtle plays that really stuck out for Bogosian, like Nylander hustling to win a puck back in the defensive zone.

“Coming from a guy like Will who has that explosive offensive side of him, just to show that maturity, to make those small, little plays, that goes a long, long way with the group,” Bogosian said.

Maybe the best option, short of having Nylander join the line full time, is to make an even more sustained effort to double shift him there. Maybe he hooks up with Matthews and Marner for offensive-zone draws coming out of TV timeouts, or after icings, with Hyman doing the dirty work on every D-zone faceoff.

The only other guys, save for Hyman, to hang for any sustained length of time with Matthews and Marner during the regular season were Galchenyuk and Joe Thornton — aside from the injured Foligno. Neither option feels especially enticing at the moment: Galchenyuk isn’t trustworthy enough, and Thornton has looked like a 41-year-old in this series.

Keefe could go nuclear and split up Matthews and Marner. But given his sustained faith in the duo throughout the regular season, why go that route now, with a chance to advance to the second round?

And where would Marner even make sense if not with a shooter like Matthews?

Clearly, Keefe has a lot to consider ahead of the Leafs’ biggest game of the year and acknowledged as much. 1214496 Vegas Golden Knights

Wild finally succumb to Golden Knights’ relentless pressure

By Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal

May 28, 2021 - 11:00 PM

Minnesota finally ran out of answers.

The Wild responded to each of the Golden Knights’ first two goals in Game 7 of the first-round playoff series between the West Division foes Friday night, but the relentless pressure finally wore them down, ending their season with a 6-2 loss.

“We all felt like we could beat these guys,” Minnesota defenseman Ryan Suter said. “Everyone else might think one thing, but this group of guys felt confident in ourselves. We’re pretty disappointed that it’s ended the way it has.”

The game was only necessary because Minnesota responded to a 3-1 series deficit by winning two straight and forcing the winner-take-all matchup at T-Mobile Arena.

“We all firmly believed with where we were a few days ago down 3-1, then making this thing 3-3, we all firmly believed we were going to win this game,” Wild forward Zach Parise said.

They had positive responses to adversity again Friday.

After the Knights dominated for the first 15 minutes and led 1-0, Parise cleverly tipped a puck between his legs and under Marc-Andre Fleury to tie the score late in the period.

Rookie star Kirill Kaprizov then matched Nicolas Hague’s early second- period goal with one of his own on a power play to tie the score 2-2.

The Knights then dialed up the pressure and seized a 4-2 lead in the second period. This time, Minnesota couldn’t respond.

“Making it 2-2, we were in a great position,” Parise said. “Then they got those two to make it 4-2. We didn’t quit. We played and competed, but we just couldn’t get that third one.”

The Wild’s season ends with plenty of questions about what could have been had things gone a bit differently.

“We had a couple chances in the first,” Suter said. “(Goaltender Cam Talbot) played solid. We just had a hard time getting anything going. It wasn’t for lack of effort. I thought everybody left it out there and played hard. We just weren’t able to get that third goal.”

Kaprizov nearly gave Minnesota a lead early in the second period when he fired a rocket over Fleury’s shoulder that could have put the Wild in a different situation.

Coach Dean Evason also pointed to a possible high-stick by Hague on Nick Bjugstad that went uncalled in the second period when his team was in need of a break.

“I think Kirill hits the crossbar, which could have made it 2-1 for us,” Evason said. “I think that’s probably a key point in the game. Likely the missed high stick would have been a four-minute penalty. He was smashed up pretty good in the face. That’s a key moment in the game. There were several.

“But they took advantage of their key moments, and we didn’t. That’s likely the difference in the game.”

Evason had hoped to fly straight to Colorado after the game. Instead, the Wild will fly home.

“These are all brutal,” Parise said. “Anytime you’re eliminated from the postseason, it’s not fun.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214497 Vegas Golden Knights Now, however, Pacioretty can settle back into a more normal existence of being the most dangerous scoring threat for the Knights. They’ll need a lot of it going forward.

Column: Max Pacioretty returns just in time for Golden Knights The Knight and Avalanche open their second-round series Sunday in Denver, DeBoer’s team needing every last body against the speed and skill that it is about to encounter.

By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal “The best team in the league with arguably the best player in the league,” Pacioretty said of the Avalanche and star center Nathan MacKinnon. “We May 28, 2021 - 10:20 PM knew that to get to where we want to go, we’d have to go through them.”

He will be part of such a challenge now. Back just in time. Twenty-seven days later, Max Pacioretty slid into a premier scoring area On your marks, get set … It should be a great one. and fired one those mighty one-time rockets. Sure was different from being a game-time decision.

The script of a Game 7 in sports is just written differently, a winner-take- LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.29.2021 all moment in a playoff series that almost always produces some level of the unexpected.

It’s a major reason the Golden Knights remain alive in the postseason.

Pacioretty and his Willis Reed moment.

The Knights beat the Minnesota Wild 6-2 on Friday night before 12,156 delirious souls at T-Mobile Arena, taking the best-of-seven series 4-3 and advancing to meet the Colorado Avalanche in the second round.

Pacioretty returned to the lineup in time to score what proved to be the game-winning goal in the season’s biggest game yet. He finished what was even a better pass from Chandler Stephenson at 7:44 of the second period to make it 3-2 Knights.

Cam Talbot, who was terrific in goal for the Wild all series, hadn’t a chance to stop the close-in blast. Storybook stuff is often impossible to defend. The hockey gods need a good yarn to spin every now and then.

I imagined early Friday it might have been William Karlsson being assessed a minor penalty for boarding because, well, there is every chance he had no clue it occurred.

Karlsson actually boarded someone?

“It was important for me not to get too emotional,” Pacioretty said. “It’s definitely a lot more nerve-wracking when you’re sitting up there in the press box and have no control. I’d much rather be on the ice.

“There was some good days and bad days. A lot of people behind the scenes helped me get to where I’m at right now. That was a big reason I was able to play.”

Presence might simply be the state of existing, but it has the power to inspire others. Pacioretty taking the ice undoubtedly brought an extra level of juice for teammates.

There’s no such thing as a small edge in Game 7.

“It adds a different dynamic to them,” Wild forward Zach Parise said. “For him to come right in and contribute and deliver, it was a big addition for them.”

It had been nearly a month of the Knights honoring that bizarre NHL secrecy code when it came to Pacioretty and what exactly kept the team’s leading goal scorer out. Days ran into weeks. You had a better idea where Waldo was than Pacioretty.

He had been sidelined since May 1 but played to a plus-2 in 16:28 of ice time Friday, rejoining Stephenson and Mark Stone on the top line.

“Having (Pacioretty) was a huge lift,” Knights coach Pete DeBoer said. “Just writing his name up on the board in the lineup gave our group a lift. Playing the first six games of the series without him was a hill our group had to climb. It was critical we got him back tonight. It changed everything.”

Pacioretty was 18 years from being born when Reed in 1970 — essentially playing on one leg — led the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship in Game 7 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

So it goes that any time since when an injured athlete returns for such a pivotal game and helps lead a team to victory, those memories are replayed. 1214498 Vegas Golden Knights “They have a lot of speed and skill,” Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud said. “They’re good in all areas of the ice. Their lineup’s very good all the way through it.”

Golden Knights, Avalanche to meet for West supremacy Starting in goal for Colorado will be Philipp Grubauer. The 29-year-old is in his third season with the Avalanche after serving as Braden Holtby’s backup for the Washington Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup victory over the Knights. By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal This season has been one of Grubauer’s best, as he posted a .922 save May 28, 2021 - 8:50 PM percentage, a 1.95 goals-against average and a career-high seven Updated May 28, 2021 - 10:29 PM shutouts. He’s covered up for his teammates on some of their rare off nights, like when he made 36 saves May 10 in a 2-1 win over the Knights that kept Colorado’s Presidents’ Trophy hopes alive.

The two teams with the most regular-season points in the NHL are The amount of star power present on both sides should make it the meeting in the second round of the playoffs. marquee series of the second round. The winner probably will be the Stanley Cup favorite. The Golden Knights will play the Colorado Avalanche after winning their first-round series against the Minnesota Wild on Friday at T-Mobile Arena “We know what we’re dealing with,” Knights coach Pete DeBoer said. in seven games. The winner of the best-of-seven series will advance to “We’ll enjoy this tonight and start looking at that tomorrow.” the Stanley Cup semifinals and have home-ice advantage the rest of the postseason.

Game 1 is scheduled for 5 p.m. Pacific time Sunday at Ball Arena in LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.29.2021 Denver. The rest of the schedule hasn’t been announced.

“The best team in the league,” Knights left wing Max Pacioretty said of the Avalanche. “They arguably have the best player in the league, a couple of them. We’ve got to make life hard on them. We knew that to get to where we want to go, we’d have to get through them at least in the second round.”

The Avalanche and Knights each finished the regular season with 82 points, but Colorado won the Presidents’ Trophy for the NHL’s best record because of the regulation wins tiebreaker. This will be the first time they have met in the postseason.

Their matchups were incredibly close this season. The Knights finished 4-4 with a plus-one goal differential. Five of the games were decided by one goal and one went into overtime.

The Knights were the only West Division opponent Colorado failed to outscore. The Avalanche’s goals per game (2.13) in their regular-season meetings were their fewest against any opponent, but their goals allowed per game (2.25) were their second fewest.

Colorado rolled against basically everyone else. The Avalanche scored the most goals per game (3.52) and allowed the third fewest (2.36) in the NHL. They were 35-10-3 versus their other six West Division foes and swept the St. Louis Blues in the first round.

Colorado outscored the Blues 20-7, outshot them 145-110 and outchanced them 118-73, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

The Avalanche have been so dominant because few teams can match their speed and skill throughout the lineup. Center Nathan MacKinnon turned in another incredible season with 65 points in 48 games. Right wing Mikko Rantanen scored 30 goals despite the shortened schedule, and captain Gabriel Landeskog added 20.

Colorado had six other forwards score at least 10 goals: Andre Burakovsky (19), Joonas Donskoi (17), Brandon Saad (15), Nazem Kadri (11), Valeri Nichushkin (10) and J.T. Compher (10). Kadri was suspended for eight games halfway through the Blues series for a check to the head, but he has appealed. The Avalanche also have former Knights center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare assisting on the NHL’s eighth- best penalty kill.

Colorado’s back end is nearly as strong. Cale Makar was the only NHL defenseman to score at a point-per-game pace with 44 in 44 games. He will be strongly considered for the Norris Trophy. His partner, Devon Toews, also had an excellent season with 31 points after being traded from the New York Islanders in the offseason.

Samuel Girard (32 points), Ryan Graves (15 points) and Conor Timmins (seven points) help round out a young and exciting blue line with excellent puck-moving skills. The defensemen have done an impressive job feeding the Avalanche’s transition attack. The group doesn’t have a lot of size, so it will be up to the Knights to pressure with a heavy forecheck. 1214499 Vegas Golden Knights contributions from every line tonight, and that’s the way we’ve got to play going forward and that makes hockey a lot more fun as well.”

Minnesota was looking to become the first franchise in NHL history to win Mattias Janmark tallies hat trick as Golden Knights advance its first four Game 7s, but the Knights grabbed the lead 5:09 into the first period on a fantastic individual effort by Janmark.

He intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and chipped the puck over Wild By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal defenseman Ian Cole, who lost his stick.

May 28, 2021 - 8:47 PM Janmark settled the puck and, as his momentum took him the opposite direction, he tucked a forehand around the outstretched pad of Updated May 29, 2021 - 12:02 am Minnesota goalie Cam Talbot with a slick move.

But the Wild settled down after a power play and got the tying goal with Mattias Janmark started to blush as the Golden Knights forward was 3:11 left in the first period. shown on the video scoreboard at T-Mobile Arena late in the third period. Defenseman Ryan Suter held the point, and his shot trickled through to Alex Tuch playfully shoved his linemate, and the announced crowd of Zach Parise on the doorstep. 12,156 roared in appreciation after the trade-deadline acquisition With his back to the net, the 36-year-old Parise, who was a healthy completed his hat trick. scratch for the first three games, poked the puck between his legs and “It was a long time to wait between whistles there, and everyone was past Fleury for his second goal of the series and franchise-record 37th kind of on me, so you’ve got to take it in,” Janmark said. “At the same career playoff point. time, it was a huge team win. You kind of want to share it with everyone “I think as a group we’re so good all year kind of keeping an even keel else, too.” and just pushing forward. We’re never out of the fight,” Hague said. “It’s a The Knights received offense from unexpected sources Friday night, testament to that, we had two chances to close it out, one at home, once including the surprising return of forward Max Pacioretty, to claim a 6-2 on the road and not being able to do that but coming back here, we felt victory over the Minnesota Wild in Game 7 of the West Division first- good about our game.” round playoffs.

After nearly blowing a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series for the second LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.29.2021 time in three seasons, the Knights advance to face Colorado in a highly anticipated West Division final. Game 1 is at 5 p.m. Sunday in Denver.

“We knew it was going to be a really tough series. I guess that’s what you get for tying for the most points in the league is to get an opponent like that,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “What a great opponent they were because they gave us everything we could handle.”

Pacioretty, who led the team with 24 goals during the regular season, scored the go-ahead goal during a three-goal second period in his first appearance of the series.

Defensemen Nic Hague and Zach Whitecloud also had their first goals of the playoffs to help the Knights win their first Game 7 at home and avoid a first-round collapse that would have started an offseason full of questions.

Janmark had one empty-net goal in 15 games during the regular season after he was acquired from Chicago in April for two draft picks and had no goals in the first six games of the series.

He buried a pass from Nicolas Roy to put the Knights ahead 5-2 with 7:24 remaining and finished off his first career NHL hat trick with a diving effort into an empty net after fighting past defenseman Calen Addison.

“To score a hat trick is what everyone dreams of,” Janmark said. “It’s hard to believe that it’s going to happen to you, but today the bounces were going in. It’s a dream come true, for sure.”

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury bounced back from two straight losses and made 18 saves to improve to 4-4 in Game 7s during his career.

The Knights, who also added forward Ryan Reaves to the lineup after he missed Game 6 because of a false positive COVID-19 test, were averaging 2.33 goals in the first six games of the series but broke out offensively after another strong second period.

Pacioretty, in his first game since May 1, buried a feed from Chandler Stephenson at 7:44 for a 3-2 lead.

Whitecloud gave the Knights a two-goal advantage, as he moved in from the right point and zipped a shot into the top corner for his first goal of the postseason at 13:38.

Shea Theodore finished with two assists after being held without a point in the first six games. Roy and Stephenson also had two assists. DeBoer remained undefeated (6-0) in Game 7s.

“To come out and play a game the way we did in Game 7 when our back’s against the wall, we know what type of group we have,” Pacioretty said. “Moving forward it’s nice to play with that type of depth. We got 1214500 Vegas Golden Knights

Max Pacioretty returns for Game 7 for Golden Knights

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

May 28, 2021 - 5:43 PM

Updated May 28, 2021 - 5:51 PM

Golden Knights left wing Max Pacioretty is in the lineup for Game 7 of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild.

Pacioretty hasn’t played since May 1 because of an injury. He missed the last six games of the regular season and the first six of the playoffs. The 32-year-old led the Knights with 24 goals this season and was second in points in 51.

Pacioretty skated in his normal spot during warmups with center Chandler Stephenson and right wing Mark Stone. The trio has been one of the most effective in the NHL over the past two seasons. The line outscored opponents 38-17 at five-on-five this year.

The team has missed Pacioretty’s scoring touch in the series. The Knights have scored 14 goals through six games, but nine of those came in Games 3 and 4.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214501 Vegas Golden Knights “Goal in first five or 10 minutes is always popular,” Bogdanovich said. “The overtime one draws a little bit because people like the chance to bet a little to win a lot.

Sportsbooks need Wild over Knights in heavily bet Game 7 “Individual player props to score a goal always draw, they always bet Mark Stone ‘no’ every time. I mean every time the sharps are betting on him not to score a goal.”

By Todd Dewey Las Vegas Review-Journal For all their success, the Knights are 2-8 in potential close out games over the past three seasons. May 28, 2021 - 2:23 PM “My official prediction will be Knights win, but I won’t be running out to bet

a lot of money on that,” Murray said. “If it’s 0-0 at the end of the second It’s time for two of the most exciting words in sports. Game 7. period, you’ll be able to hear a pin drop. The Knights are going to get a reputation as chokers if they lose this game. It could be a franchise The Golden Knights are consensus -180 favorites over the Minnesota defining game tonight.” Wild (+160) in Game 7 of their first-round NHL playoff series Friday night at T-Mobile Arena.

Not surprisingly, bettors are loading up on the Knights at the valley’s LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.29.2021 sportsbooks.

“It’s the same situation we’ve been in with the Knights playoff games in all four seasons. The book needs the Knights to lose,” Westgate sportsbook director John Murray said. “From the perspective of the sportsbook bottom line, we definitely want to see Minnesota win the game. But all of us are big Knights fans.”

The Knights lead the ticket count on the money line by a 3½-1 margin at the Westgate. Books also are overflowing with wagers on the Knights on the -1½ puck line, which pays +160 if they win by two goals or more.

“We’re starting to see a lot more action on the puck line on the Knights because they’re getting a better price,” Sunset Station sportsbook director Chuck Esposito said. “And being Game 7, if the Wild are down, they’ll probably pull their goalie earlier to try to get an equalizer and that will increase the chances of an empty-net goal.

“We’re still rooting for the Knights to win tonight just to set up what could be a huge handle series between the Knights and Avalanche.”

Esposito said the betting handle, or amount wagered, on Knights playoff games has dwarfed the handle on every other game, and Game 7 will be the biggest bet one yet.

“This game will definitely have the handle of a Stanley Cup Finals game that the Knights weren’t involved in,” William Hill sportsbook director Nick Bogdanovich said. “So if the Avalanche were playing the Lightning, this Knights-Wild Game 7 would probably do more than that. All the Knights games just do so much more business, usually around three times as much as the rest of the playoff games.

“On the flip side, their decisions are so big and we get stung when they win, especially when they cover the puck line and go over the total. So there’s a good side and a bad side. … game-to-game we can get hurt pretty good here in Nevada.”

The total is 5 (over -130/under +110) after it opened at 5½ as 62 percent of the money at William Hill is on the under.

Seventy-five percent of the money on the money line at William Hill is on the Knights, including a $15,000 wager to win $8,571.40.

Another William Hill bettor in Nevada has a $5,000 wager to win $10,750 on the Wild to win the series (+215).

After Minnesota won Game 1, a bettor at the Westgate bet $24,000 to win $20,000 on the Knights to win the series (-120).

“There’s a pretty big decision already on the game, but the bigger decision for us is the series price,” Murray said.

The Westgate opened Colorado as a -160 favorite over the Knights (+140) in a possible second-round series and the line has climbed to - 175/+155.

“Despite money coming in at +140 on the Golden Knights, we drifted the price up a little bit in response to the Knights losing Games 5 and 6 to Minnesota,” Murray said.

There are a plethora of props on the game, including a goal scored in the first 10 minutes (-130 yes), overtime (+330 yes) and first goal scorer (Mark Stone and Kirill Kaprisov 10-1). 1214502 Vegas Golden Knights

Ryan Reaves has false positive, available to play in Game 7

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

May 28, 2021 - 10:30 am

Updated May 28, 2021 - 10:24 PM

Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves was removed from the NHL’s list of COVID protocol-related absences Friday and played in Game 7 6-2 victory over Minnesota of the West Division first-round playoffs.

Reaves was on the ice for the optional morning skate at City National Arena after he was placed on the NHL’s list of COVID protocol-related absences Thursday.

Coach Pete DeBoer said Friday morning the team was still awaiting test results to determine whether Reaves had a false positive result for COVID-19. He was cleared by the afternoon.

Defenseman Brayden McNabb entered the COVID protocols Wednesday and did not play in Game 6. He remained in COVID protocol and did not play in the deciding Game 7 at T-Mobile Arena.

According to the NHL’s positive test protocols, if a third test sample is confirmed negative 48 hours from the initial sample, the individual may exit isolation.

The Knights and Wild combined for 128 hits in tone-setting Game 1. While both sides were skeptical about the accuracy of that count, there’s no doubt it was a hard, heavy series.

Left wing Jonathan Marchessault believed it was the Knights’ most physical playoff encounter since they faced Los Angeles in the opening round during their inaugural season.

The opener of that four-game series featured 127 combined hits, and Game 2 was a double-overtime slobberknocker that saw William Carrier rack up 11 hits of his team’s 56 hits.

“It was just a war, just a battle physically. Mentally, too,” Marchessault said. “I think Minnesota is a great team. … They worked as hard as us to make it a Game 7.”

Wild forward Nick Bonino was at the hospital hours before Game 6 on Wednesday when his wife, Lauren, was induced into labor. She gave birth to their third child (and first son) at approximately 2:30 p.m., and Bonino rushed to Xcel Energy Center ahead of warmups.

A day later, Bonino was on the team’s charter to Las Vegas for Game 7, with the possibility of being away for several more days in Colorado if the Wild advanced.

“Yeah, definitely, it’s a little bit hard,” Bonino said. “I would love to be able to put the kids in the (Stanley) Cup, and this is part of that.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214503 Vegas Golden Knights game suspension — pending appeal — from a dirty hit in the team’s first- round sweep of the Blues. He’s not the Avalanche’s best player, but he’s an important player. It will take some adjustment playing without him against a more evenly-matched opponent. Analysis: If anyone can beat the Avalanche, it’s the Golden Knights • Yes, Vegas has done enough to prove it deserves to be considered pretty evenly matched with Colorado. The two teams’ regular-season set of eight games were dead-even when looked at collectively. The total By Case Keefer (contact) score was Vegas 18, Colorado 17 with each side nabbing four victories Saturday, May 29, 2021 | 2 a.m. apiece. Sure, the Avalanche were banged up during some of the early- season meetings but that was made up for by the last encounter when the Golden Knights were forced to play with 15 skaters because of injuries and a salary-cap crunch. Despite the handicap, Vegas largely The Golden Knights looked like lightweight bowling pins for a large part outplayed Colorado that night. The Golden Knights lost 2-1 but made it of Friday night’s first period, tipping over or falling down even after only clear the Avalanche wouldn’t bury them like they buried virtually every taking the slightest amount of contact. other opponent they played this season. The uncharacteristic clumsiness for the typically skate-you-silly Golden • The Golden Knights won’t be buried because their offense is special. It Knights didn’t ultimately mean anything in a 6-2 victory over the was easy to forget with the struggles throughout the series with Minnesota Wild to escape the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Minnesota, but Vegas was one of only four teams (along with Colorado a seven-game series win. and since-eliminated Pittsburgh and Washington) in the NHL to score at It sure just seemed like a byproduct of the nerves of the moment. The least 190 goals this season. With the clip the Golden Knights are capable pressure was palpable everywhere at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, from the of lighting up the scoreboard at, they can’t be counted out against ice to the stands. anyone. Not even the best team in the NHL.

The Game 7 rally towels picturing Alex Pietrangelo — he’s No. 7, get it? Just ask Minnesota. The Golden Knights went from the pins to the — provided to the 12,156 fans in attendance waved from the beginning bowling ball in short order on Friday, striking down the Wild’s hopes with but they sure rotated with more conviction after Mattias Janmark started persistent and rapid pressure. his hat-trick night with an early goal. And then with every successive goal Vegas channeled the nervous energy of T-Mobile Arena and turned into from the home team after that. an all-out attack of shots the way few teams can. The series with It may not have been good for the mental health of most in the building, Minnesota wasn’t for faint-of-hearted fans of the favored team. but the first-round showdown between the Golden Knights and the Wild Avalanche fans should be warned. The next series won’t be either. ended the way that should have been considered most likely from the beginning. With how well Minnesota played all year, especially against Vegas, the series felt destined to go the distance. LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 05.29.2021 The good news? So too could the next one.

Yes, the Golden Knights’ path to the NHL’s final four goes through the prohibitive Stanley Cup frontrunner, the President’s Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche, with the teams’ second-round series starting at 5 p.m. Sunday in Denver. Colorado is a decent-sized favorite — early betting odds imply the Golden Knights have about a 35% chance to win the series — but Vegas is entering in a good spot.

Everyone can take a deep breath now; the fourth season in franchise history isn’t going to be remembered as an unmitigated disaster. That might sound harsh, but that’s exactly how things would have felt with a first-round exit after tying for the most standings points in the regular season.

Losing to Minnesota after holding a 3-1 series lead would have been a major franchise-altering moment, one that would have likely led to significant offseason changes if not close to an outright overhaul. Losing to Colorado in any fashion would be disappointing for a team that’s built to contend for a championship, no doubt, but a defeat would be more understandable, and the timing would make Vegas a victim of circumstance.

In a normal season, the Golden Knights and Avalanche wouldn’t even be playing each other until the Western Conference Finals. It’s a shame the long-awaited first playoff meeting between the two teams has to come prematurely because of the pandemic-shifted setup to the season, but maybe it will ultimately be to the Golden Knights’ benefit.

Citing a relatively minimized level of pressure is a flimsy explanation for why to expect Vegas to compete with Colorado and entirely narrative- based, but there are several more compelling, scientific reasons too. In a nod to Janmark’s big night in Game 7 against Minnesota, here are three of them.

• In a change from the first-round series, the Golden Knights will be the team closer to full strength. Vegas’ leading regular-season goal-scorer Max Pacioretty returned to the ice for the first time in nearly a month on Friday, and there’s no understating his impact. Not only did he put the Golden Knights ahead permanently with a goal from the slot off of a feed from Chandler Stephenson to make the score 3-2 but the team’s possession numbers were spectacular with Pacioretty on the ice. His presence lets Vegas restore its top two lines — something Colorado won’t be able to do, at least for the majority of the series. Avalanche second-line center Nazeem Kadri still has six games left on an eight- 1214504 Vegas Golden Knights Janmark came to Vegas in an April 12 trade and scored just once in his first 21 games with the team, including in the playoffs. And that one goal was an empty-netter.

Pacioretty’s return, Janmark’s hat trick power Golden Knights to Game 7 A month and half of a scoring drought that DeBoer mentioned was victory over Wild “weighing on him” came to an emphatic end Friday. He scored the initial goal of the game to give the Golden Knights the lead in the first period, then put the game on ice with a one-timer in the third for a 5-2 advantage. By Justin Emerson (contact) He completed the hat trick with the game’s final goal, hustling to dive for Friday, May 28, 2021 | 10:48 p.m. the puck and get just enough of his stick on it to bat it into the empty net. It was the first hat trick of his career.

There was only one way for this series to end for the Golden Knights. He looked in shock when Alex Tuch bull-rushed him for the celebratory hug, then sheepishly acknowledged the crowd when he was put on the After weeks of questions about his availability and after not seeing him in big screen from the bench, flanked by Tuch and Mark Stone nudging him nearly a month, there was only logical conclusion when Max Pacioretty on. darted down the tunnel for warmups to provide an already electric crowd at T-Mobile Arena one more jolt. “To score a hat trick is what everyone dreams of and it’s hard to believe it’s going to happen to you,” Janmark said. “It’s a dream come true for Pacioretty scored the game-winning goal in the second period of Game 7 sure.” against the Wild, which could easily be considered the most predictable outcome for anyone who believes in destiny. The way the Golden Knights were playing, they may not have needed Janmark’s extra goals, but they’ll happily take them. The Wild had Pacioretty put Vegas ahead for good, and winger Mattias Janmark stole answered Janmark’s goal in the first period and Nicolas Hague’s goal in the show, scoring the first goal of the game as well as two more to get the second with tallies of their own. There was no reason to think, with showered with hats from appreciative fans for recording a hat trick in the their season on the line, the Wild wouldn’t come into the third and empty Golden Knights’ 6-2 series-clinching victory for a spot in the next road. the tank.

The Golden Knights will open the second round at 5 p.m. Sunday against They tried, but the Golden Knights played some of their best defensive the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver. hockey in the third to hold the Wild to just four shots in the period.

“For anyone who knows who Max Pacioretty is and what he does for our “They’re a really tough team to play against because they’re very team, you know what kind of boost he is,” defenseman Zach Whitecloud opportunistic,” DeBoer said. “I really liked our game right from the drop of said. “Especially for an older guy in the room, a leader, a guy who plays the puck but they were still hanging around halfway through it.” with passion, plays with fire. He wants to score every game and score as much as he can. When you have that guy in your room, on the ice, it And so onto Colorado the Golden Knights advance for a long-awaited makes a world of difference. showdown with the other West Division superpower. The Golden Knights and Avalanche finished tied for the best record in the league, with the “Obviously you saw what he did tonight.” Avalanche claiming the top seed and the President’s Trophy with a tiebreaker. Pacioretty hasn’t been with the team since May 1 game early, despite near-daily questions to coach Pete DeBoer and weeks of him being Minnesota is history. The Avalanche are up next. labeled a game-time decision. There was no prior indication he was going to play tonight, and his emergence felt like the Golden Knights’ “I love our group,” DeBoer said. “I’m proud of how we handled the first version of Kirk Gibson pinch-hitting in the 1988 World Series for the round and obviously we’re excited to get to work here and seeing how we Dodger. stack up against Colorado.”

DeBoer said there was an instant stir inside the room the moment he wrote Pacioretty’s name on the lineup board, and it was echoed by the LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 05.29.2021 12,156 fans inside the arena when they saw him. The crowd went ballistic when he took his first shift of the game, then again when he one- timed home a Chandler Stephenson pass to put the Golden Knights up 3-2 in the second period.

It held up as the game-winner.

“There were some good days and bad days, but I turned the corner there a couple of days ago,” Pacioretty said. “A lot of people behind the scenes were helping me around the clock to get to where I’m right now and that’s what helped me feel so good tonight. So I’m thankful for all the people that put in the effort to get me out there and that was a big reason why I was able to play tonight.”

Pacioretty had a team-best 24 goals in the regular season, while also serving as the Golden Knights premier trigger man on the power play. Vegas’ scoring went in waves in the six games without him this series, but his absence was most noticed in a Game 5 loss where Vegas dominated possession, but didn’t have the finish to come back. The team also failed to score in Game 6.

Vegas Golden Knights center Mattias Janmark thanks fans after the Golden Knights defeated the Minnesota Wild in Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 28, 2021, in Las Vegas. Janmark scored a hat trick.

He naturally scored in his return, but the Golden Knights also got scoring from up and down the lineup. Third-pair defensemen Nicolas Hague and Zach Whitecloud both netted their firsts of the series, and Janmark had three. 1214505 Vegas Golden Knights snapping it by Marc-Andre Fleury for his second goal of the series and the Wild's second of the night.

What happened next was either unbelievable or completely predictable, Blog: Golden Knights beat Wild in Game 7, advance to second round vs. depending on your point of view. Pacioretty, appearing for the Golden Avalanche Knights for the first time since May 1, collected a Chandler Stephenson feed and one-timed it into the net at the 7:44 mark of the second. The Golden Knights' leading scorer in the regular season missed 12 games, then scored in his return. By Justin Emerson (contact) Vegas wasn't done. Hague's goal represented one half of the third pair, Published Friday, May 28, 2021 | 3 p.m. so his partner got in on the fun at 13:38. Zach Whitecloud walked in from Updated Friday, May 28, 2021 | 8:49 p.m. the right point to the circle, wound up and went bar-down, putting the Golden Knights up 4-2.

Hague's goal was the first of his playoff career. Including his two goals in The sound you heard late Friday night coming from the Strip was 12,156 last year's postseason, Whitecloud now has more career playoff goals (3) fans at T-Mobile Arena exploding, shoving aside any narratives that than regular season goals (2). existed coming into the first Game 7 in the building's history. Vegas led 25-16 in shots on goal after two periods. All week they've heard about the Golden Knights' problem with 3-1 series leads, that this was the third year in a row such a lead needed a Game 7, Golden Knights, Wild tied after one in Game 7 that if they can't close out the Minnesota Wild how would they beat the The Golden Knights brought T-Mobile Arena to its feet for its first-ever Avalanche in the second round? Game 7 with an early goal, but a late one by the Wild brought them back They may have played a Game 7 three years in a row, but after a 6-2 to ground level. victory against the Wild, they've won two of them. Vegas scored first, Mattias Janmark got things going for Vegas but the Wild answered with never trailed, Max Pacioretty made a triumphant return with a goal and just over three minutes to go in the frame, and the Golden Knights and Mattias Janmark netted his first career hat trick as the Golden Knights Wild went to first intermission in a 1-1 tie on Friday. held off Minnesota and advanced to the second round. The Golden Knights had the first good look of the game just a minute in Vegas will play Game 1 against the Avalanche at 5 p.m. Sunday at Ball when the puck bounced off Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon and right Arena in Denver. to Mark Stone. Stone fired from in close, but Cam Talbot gloved it down. The Golden Knights jumped out to a 1-0 lead 5:09 into the game The Wild had a couple of looks soon after, but Shea Theodore got a shin courtesy of Janmark's first, a terrific effort play. Nicolas Hague had the guard on a Nico Sturm offering from the slot and Nick Bjugstad shot low next Vegas goal, the first of his postseason career, in the second period. and wide on a breakaway.

But the Wild answered each with a goal of their own, not allowing Vegas And as the action went, the first goal of the game followed. Janmark to extend the lead. Zach Parise and Kirill Kaprizov had Minnesota's turned in a terrific individual effort at the attacking blue line, fighting off an goals, and the game remained tied 2-2 until the 7:44 mark of the second. Ian Cole attempt to bat down the puck and went in alone on Talbot. He deked to the backhand, then tucked the goal around his outstretched pad That's when Pacioretty had his moment. Returning to the lineup for the at 5:09 to open the scoring. first time since May 1, Pacioretty collected a Chandler Stephenson feed and one-timed it by Minnesota goalie Cam Talbot for a goal in his first It was Janmark's first goal against a goalie as a Golden Knights. He did game this series. score an empty-netter in the regular season.

This time the answer to a Vegas goal came in the form of another Vegas In Game 5 the Wild did a good job answering Vegas' opening salvo with goal, as Zach Whitecloud picked the corner and added to the Vegas a goal on their next shift, then pumping in two more before the period lead, 4-2 after two periods. ended. The Golden Knights kept the pressure on this time, keeping the Wild on their heels and holding them to one shot through the first 10 The Wild gave everything they had in the third period, but the Golden minutes of the game. Knights never allowed them to get into the game. Vegas held Minnesota to just five shots in the third period through the 12:36 mark, and it was Vegas kept the pressure up much of the period, and minus a brief then that Janmark scored again, making it 5-2 and sending the Golden penalty kill, controlled much of the period. The Wild had a chance with Knights to the second round for the third time in four postseason trips. about seven minutes to go when Zach Whitecloud slipped and gave the Wild a 2-on-0, but Zach Parise couldn't bury it. Janmark swatted his third of the game into an empty net with 3:07 to go to complete the trick. He did on his next opportunity though, and it's still hard to know just exactly how. He positioned himself in front of Marc-Andre Fleury and as The Golden Knights led in shots on goal 34-21 for the game. Ryan Suter fired one at the net trying to make something happened, but Parise redirected the puck between his legs and Fleury's with 3:11 to go, The second Max Pacioretty skated onto the ice for warmups, there was a and tied the game. feeling something was going to happen. Would bhe score? Was he coming back from injury too soon? Minnesota led 10-8 in shots after the first.

Turned out the former was correct. Pacioretty slapped home a go-ahead Max Pacioretty returns for Golden Knights in Game 7 goal in the second period and helped the Golden Knights close in a on a Game 7 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Vegas led 4-2 after two periods The Golden Knights had an ace up their sleeve for Game 7 against the at T-Mobile Arena on Friday. Wild.

Nicolas Hague started things early in the second with a long-range wrist Max Pacioretty, who led the team with 24 goals in the regular season and shot and one of the best celebrations of his career. He let loose a has not played all series, took the ice for warmups ahead of the team's 6 seemingly innocuous shot, but it weaved its way through traffic and into p.m. puck drop at T-Mobile Arena. Pacioretty was injured on May 1 and the top corner of the net. Hague paused for a second, then let loose a has not skated with the team since. full-throated yell and double-handed fist pump as he put Vegas up 2-1 at Pacioretty took line rushes in usual spot on the top line left wing the 2:05 mark of the second. alongside center Chandler Stephenson and right wing Mark Stone. He is The lead was short-lived. The Wild grabbed a power play not long after expected to play. when Ryan Reaves checked Ryan Suter face-first into the goal post. 'Where else would you rather be?' Golden Knights host Wild in Game 7 Reaves was sent off for interference as Suter was slow to get to his feet. The Golden Knights had two chances to eliminate the Wild this week And Minnesota made Vegas pay on the ensuing power play. Kirill after taking a 3-1 lead in the first round playoff series, but it comes down Kaprizov netted it at 4:35, collecting a feed from Mats Zuccarello and to Game 7 tonight. The winner gets the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Sunday. Loser goes home. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena.

"All I can look back at is convincing our group that they've done the heavy lifting and to just go out and play, that the preparation's been done," said coach Pete DeBoer, who is 5-0 all-time in Game 7 as a coach. "Go out and enjoy the moment because, I mean frankly, where else would you rather be?"

This is the third Game 7 in the Golden Knights' four-year history. Vegas lost in 2019 in San Jose and last season defeated Vancouver in the Edmonton bubble.

"We know how to play when we're playing good, so I don't think anyone is feeling nervous. The only thing is being excited," forward William Carrier said. "The crowd's always good. I don't think it can be more hyped up than before. I think we've played a lot of games in the playoffs and they're great for us."

The Golden Knights don't expect to have Max Pacioretty, who has not played since May 1, or Tomas Nosek, who has not played since Game 2, but are hopeful about Brayden McNabb and Ryan Reaves. Both opened the day on the NHL's "Players Unavailable Due to COVID Protocols" list, and neither played in Game 6 on Wednesday.

Reaves though took the ice for an optional morning skate, indicating he is off the list and available for tonight. McNabb's status is less clear.

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to start for the Golden Knights as he has every game this series. He has allowed 10 goals in six games with a .935 save percentage.

It's also fitting that tonight, one of the most important games in T-Mobile Arena, comes on the three-year anniversary of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2018, arguably the biggest win Vegas has had in that building. The Golden Knights are looking give their fans another memorable victory.

Vegas is 1-2 at home in this series, but are 10-6 all-time at home in the playoffs.

"Hockey players, we're here for a reason," forward Jonathan Marchessault said. "For my part, it's what I'm living for. It's playoff hockey, Game 7, there's no tomorrow, you know? It doesn't matter what happens in the next day or two days or three days, we're just focused on tonight and embracing the challenge."

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214506 Vegas Golden Knights during the condensed season. During the winning streaks and the losing streaks and the practices. We were ready to go.”

And while the team probably wishes Friday’s Game 7 wouldn’t have been Golden Knights emerge from first-round battle with Wild stronger necessary, the experience is valuable moving forward. because of it “We were up 3-1, and you want to learn to close those games out when you have the chance,” Janmark said. “But they were a good team and they fought back. I think what I’ve learned throughout my career in the By Jesse Granger playoffs is you have to go through these games if you want to get far. So you have to know how to play in them. May 29, 2021 “I think the feeling in the locker room was great today. I don’t think there

was ever a doubt that we were going to win this game. So, I think you’re By the time Mattias Janmark picked himself up off the ice and dusted the going to be here again in a Game 6 or a Game 7, so we learn how we snow off his sweater, hats were already raining down on him. need to play in those games, and that’s what we have to take forward.”

In the 21 games since Janmark was dealt from Chicago to Vegas on the Not only did the Golden Knights prove they can show up when the NHL’s April 12 trade deadline, he had scored only one goal, and that was pressure is at its highest, they did it with contributions from unexpected an empty-netter. But Friday, the newest Golden Knight scored three of places. Janmark’s stunning hat trick led the way, but young defensemen the biggest goals of his career to propel Vegas to a 6-2 win over Nic Hague and Zach Whitecloud also scored critical goals with perfectly Minnesota in Game 7. placed shots.

“This is what every player dreams of, to score in a Game 7 and to win a “I was a little nervous at the start, but boy was that a fun game,” Hague Game 7,” said Janmark, who had never scored a hat trick in the NHL said. “I’m happy it went our way.” prior to Friday. “To score a hat trick is what everyone dreams of. It’s hard The Golden Knights hope to drag the Avalanche into deep water in the to believe that it’s going to happen to you, but today the bounces were second round. If they get there, they’ll already be comfortable in that going in. It’s a dream come true for sure.” environment. After watching a commanding 3-1 series lead slip away, the Golden “From an experience standpoint, it’s one of those games where you get Knights showed up in Game 7. It started with the return of Max so deep in a series and teams know each other so well that the level of Pacioretty, who had not played since suffering an injury on May 1. The execution has to be so high,” Whitecloud said. boost the team got from its leading scorer began before the puck dropped when coach Peter DeBoer grabbed a marker and wrote Not only did Vegas gain valuable experience in the first round, but it also Pacioretty’s name on the lineup whiteboard. lasted long enough for Pacioretty’s return.

“Absolutely a huge lift,” DeBoer said. “Playing the first six games without “It’s not too often you’re healthier going into the second round than you our leading goal scorer was a hill that our group had to climb, and it was were going into the first, but that’s probably the case,” DeBoer said. “I critical that we got him back tonight. It changed, I thought, everything love our group. I’m proud of how we handled the first round, and we’re about our confidence, our confidence to score, and it slotted our lines obviously excited about getting to work here and seeing how we stack up properly.” against Colorado.”

Playing in his first game in 27 days, Pacioretty scored the eventual Perhaps Colorado’s rest will benefit it in the next round, but Vegas isn’t in game-winning goal and injected Vegas with offense. His return meant a bad position just because its opening-round series was a slugfest. This Alex Tuch slid down to his usual spot on the third line, improving the Golden Knights team hasn’t avoided the battle but seems to embrace it. Golden Knights’ scoring depth drastically. The third line of Tuch, Janmark and Nic Roy was dynamic, outshooting Minnesota 6-0 and outscoring And that is a very good thing. them 3-0 in only 8:16 of ice time. “It’s always good to learn in those situations,” Whitecloud said. “Learn “I think once we got healthy tonight and got everyone slotted properly, I what that atmosphere is like. Learn what the pressure is like. And it’s fun. think everyone played with more confidence,” DeBoer said. It’s the best time of the year, and when you’re playing in Game 7, there’s nowhere you’d rather be.” And while it’s not ideal to lose two potential closeout games to force this Game 7, this incredibly tough battle with the Wild could be good for the Golden Knights. Yes, it’s easy to be envious of the Colorado Avalanche, The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 who have been sitting at home for the past five days resting and waiting for the second round. But the Golden Knights have been in that position plenty of times, and how many Cups has it won them?

Last postseason Vegas was fortunate enough to have the easiest path to a Stanley Cup Final in league history. The Golden Knights throttled the Blackhawks, who wouldn’t have qualified for a normal postseason, and slipped past a feisty Canucks team with the 15th-best record in the league. They even dodged the Avalanche, who were ousted by the Dallas Stars in the second round. But even with that path, they fell short.

This year is a complete juxtaposition. Vegas finished with more wins than any team in the NHL, and the reward was a Minnesota squad that had owned the Golden Knights since the franchise began. The Wild weren’t intimidated by the Golden Knights or T-Mobile Arena, and it showed in this series.

The Golden Knights had never won a game in regulation at Xcel Energy Center and overcame that with two huge wins in Games 3 and 4. They survived a mid-series scare with 11 false-negative COVID-19 tests that momentarily put the series status into question. They survived an actual positive COVID-19 test by one of their most reliable defenders, Brayden McNabb. They played the first six games without Pacioretty and found a way to emerge.

“You hope that moments like that galvanize your group,” DeBoer said. “When we talked this morning in our team meeting, we talked about how we felt that we were prepared for this tonight. The preparation was done 1214507 Vegas Golden Knights Golden Knights. And Colorado was only shut out twice the entire season, both times by Fleury.

Albeit not as dominant as in their season-long statistics, Colorado still Instant NHL Playoff Preview: Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche in comfortably controlled possession against Vegas. The Avalanche usually the second round sustain more offensive-zone time and create more offense in these matchups, and they usually do it with speed. And Colorado’s biggest speed advantage doesn’t come as much from their top line as it does the rest of the lineup. Cale Makar, Samuel Girard and Devon Toews are a lot By Jesse Granger to handle on the blue line. All three are exceptional skaters, move the May 29, 2021 puck quickly in transition and aren’t afraid to join the rush.

Colorado’s depth forwards also provide plenty of speed and offensive skill, with power forward Andre Burakovsky and his 44 points leading the Sometimes a playoff matchup feels inevitable. As preseason Stanley Cup way. Former Golden Knight Pierre-Edouard Bellemare centers one of the favorites both residing in the West Division, Vegas and Colorado have best fourth lines in the league, with veteran Carl Soderberg on his wing. been on a collision course since January, and we’re finally here. Nazem Kadri is usually a key piece to that depth scoring, but he remains suspended until Game 7 (if the series reaches that point) due to an illegal After Colorado easily handled the Blues in the first round, and Vegas hit in the first round. survived a comeback scare against the Wild to win, a heavyweight slugfest is set in the divisional final, starting with Game 1 on Sunday in It will be up to Vegas to use its size and physicality advantage to contain Denver. Colorado’s speedy attack. The Golden Knights did that incredibly well in the teams’ final meeting of the regular season, on May 10. Even though Colorado edged the Golden Knights for the Presidents’ Trophy on a the Golden Knights lost 2-1, I thought it was their best effort against the regulation-wins tiebreaker and will own home ice in this series because Avalanche, out-shooting them 37-21 and holding Colorado to only 22 of it. The Avalanche are also minus-175 favorites to advance, according scoring chances. It wasn’t the result they wanted, but is a partial blueprint to the opening odds set by the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas. Prior for a pathway to victory in this series. to this, the Golden Knights were favored in their last six playoff series. The last time they were underdogs was in the Western Conference finals You can count on Vegas’ defense and goaltending to show up in this against Winnipeg in their inaugural season (2017-18). series. They have consistently all season and there’s no reason to believe that will stop now. It’s the Golden Knights’ offense that will likely It’s not often that the Golden Knights are underdogs in general, but it’s a determine their fate. Vegas scored with the best of teams in the regular role they relish on the rare opportunity. After a 3-2 overtime win in season, but has been inconsistent in the postseason. Colorado’s offense Colorado on March 27, coach Peter DeBoer said, “For the believers out gets all the spotlight, but the Avalanche are quietly one of the better there, thanks for sticking with us. I know there were some doubters out defensive teams as well. It will be another big challenge for Vegas’ there after the last game, but I knew our group would respond with a real forward group. good effort. We did that.” And as strong as Philipp Grubauer has been in net for Colorado this That win came after a disappointing 5-1 loss in Denver, and DeBoer’s season, he’s still likely the biggest question mark on a team without offhand comment was a rare window into the team’s psyche. They clearly many. In the regular-season matchups, Vegas had far fewer shots and felt they were underdogs in that game, and used it as motivation. I expect chances but actually outscored Colorado. That’s usually the opposite of a similar narrative around this series, as the Avalanche have been the what happens for the Golden Knights, but it’s a rare situation in which prohibitive favorites to win the Cup since the beginning of the playoffs. they were the more efficient offensive team, generating more high- So, why are the Golden Knights the underdogs in this series, and what danger chances and goals with fewer opportunities. can they do to pull off the upset? Here’s how the teams match up, stats It comes as no surprise that Max Pacioretty topped the list, which makes courtesy of Natural Stat Trick. his last-minute return to the first round all the more timely. He led the If you remember a similar chart to this, previewing the Golden Knights’ Golden Knights with 24 goals – six of which came against Colorado – so first-round series with Minnesota, you’ll notice how much closer this he’ll likely play a major factor in the outcome of this series. It’s unlikely matchup is. Vegas held an edge in 10 of the 11 categories, with the only Pacioretty is at full health right now, considering he was a late addition to exception being a tie with Minnesota in power-play percentage. This the lineup in Friday’s Game 7 after missing nearly a month of action, but time, Colorado holds an edge in seven statistics while Vegas owns the he played well and scored a big goal in his return. other four. Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault were also No team in the NHL controlled possession better than the Avalanche this strong performers against Colorado. Another name on this list, Alex season. They ranked first league-wide in Corsi percentage, shot share, Tuch, is one of the only players who can match MacKinnon’s size and scoring chance share and expected goal share. Led by Nathan speed. He’s an interesting variable who could play a major role, MacKinnon, the Avalanche possess the most effective offensive attack in especially if Pacioretty returns, allowing Tuch to slot back into his usual the league and they put on a scoring clinic against most of the West this third line role, where he’s a nightmare matchup. year. Overall, this should be a highly entertaining series between two of the MacKinnon racked up an incredible 65 points in 48 games (1.35 points best teams in hockey. Whoever emerges will rightfully be amongst the per game) and he wasn’t even the team leader in points. Mikko Rantanen favorites to win it all. had an exceptional season as well with 66 points in 52 games, and

Gabriel Landeskog rounds out the most dangerous trio in the NHL. The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 This series is a matchup of strength versus strength, as the Golden Knights will counter the Avalanche’s dynamic attack with one of the best defenses in the NHL, backed up by perhaps the best goalie of 2021. Vegas allowed the league’s fewest goals (122) thanks to Marc-Andre Fleury’s career year. The 36-year-old netminder allowed an average of fewer than two goals per game this season and led the league in goals saved above expected (19.2) according to Evolving Hockey.

Fleury’s performance has continued into the postseason, as he single- handedly kept Vegas in the first-round series early before the Golden Knights found their legs.

Regular-season results aren’t the best playoff predictors, but in the eight regular-season meetings, Vegas’ defense seemed to have a slight edge on Colorado’s offense. The Avalanche averaged 3.75 goals per game in their 48 games against the rest of the division, but only 2.13 against the 1214508 Vegas Golden Knights

2021 NHL Playoffs: Golden Knights vs. Avalanche schedule, TV channel, games, scores, guide to the second-round series

By The Athletic NHL Staff

May 29, 2021

In this West Division matchup, the No. 2 Vegas Golden Knights are facing the No. 1 Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.

What to expect from the series

Three big questions for the Avalanche heading into their second-round series against the Golden Knights: It’ll be a fascinating matchup between two Stanley Cup-level teams, and here are some aspects of play to keep an eye on.

Instant NHL Playoff Preview: Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche in the second round: A quick look at how the Golden Knights match up with the Avalanche, with Game 1 set for Sunday.

The early years of Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon: Frisbee, figure skating and dancing to “Electric Feel.”

Marc-Andre Fleury, better than ever at age 36: Fleury stamped himself as a Vezina Trophy candidate this season.

Cale Makar “has it’“: What NHL defensive legends see when they watch the Avalanche’s 22-year-old star.

Vegas bang for the buck: Which Golden Knights overperformed or underperformed this season?

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With Season On The Line, Golden Knights Defeat Minnesota, 6-2, In Game 7 Friday With Janmark Hat Trick, Pacioretty Game-Winner

May 28, 2021

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

Just the facts: Vegas Golden Knights 6 Minnesota Wild 2

Series: Vegas wins in 7, advances to play Colorado in second round Best-of-7

VGK goal scorers: Mattias Janmark 3, Nic Hague, Max Pacioretty (game- winner), Zach Whitecloud

Shots on Goal: Vegas, 34; Minnesota, 20

Takeaway: Minnesota ran out of juice, Pacioretty return was a spark in first playoff series-clinching win at home for VGK

With the Vegas Golden Knights’ season hanging in the balance, the Knights came out flying in front of a pumped-up crowd of 12,156 at T- Mobile Arena in the first game 7 in the building.

The VGK’s Mattias Janmark made his best individual effort as a Knight to score on Cam Talbot about five minutes into the game. It was unassisted.

The Golden Knights controlled the flow of the game for the first 10 minutes, but then Minnesota started getting back in this win-or-go-home game.

The VGK left veteran forward Zach Parise all alone in front of Marc- Andre Fleury and it cost Vegas a goal. Parise scored his second goal of the series with about three minutes left in the first period.

After one period, Minnesota and Vegas were tied at one.

Three years ago to the day in Vegas Golden Knights history.

The Golden Knights took back the lead early in period two when defenseman Nic Hague scored on Talbot from the point. He scored a little more than two minutes into the middle stanza to give VGK a 2-1 lead.

But the VGK’s Ryan Reaves took a bad penalty and Minnesota made Vegas pay on the power play when top rookie Kirill Kaprizov scored on Fleury to knot the game at two at 4:35 of the middle period.

The Knights have missed Pacioretty, the team’s top goal-scorer. In his return from an unknown injury, he showed why he’s so dangerous around the net by receiving a fast-paced pass in the low slot and fired home the Knights’ third and decisive goal past Talbot to restore the VGK one-goal advantage at 7:44 of period two.

Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore has had a quiet series, but he made a nice move to feed fellow defenseman Zach Whitecloud, who fired home a pinpoint wrist shot past Talbot and the Knights were leading 4-2 at 13:38 of a second period dominated by the VGK.

After two periods: Knights 4 Wild 2

The Golden Knights played solid defensive hockey to protect a 4-2 lead and then struck thanks to a feed from a forechecking Nic Roy to Jansmark, who flipped a shot over Talbot’s shoulder to lengthen the lead to 5-2 with 7:24 left in the third period.

Minnesota pulled Talbot with 4:56 left, down by three goals.

Janmark dove to poke in this third goal into an empty net with a few minutes left and that sealed the Knights’ ticket to a Best-of-7 second round showdown with the Colorado Avalanche.

Final: Vegas 6 Minnesota 2

VGK win in seven.

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Las Vegas Sports-Biz News On A VGK Playoff Game 7 Friday

May 28, 2021

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

It’s not every day a Game 7 comes to Las Vegas. But this evening, the Vegas Golden Knights will play with their season in the balance.

A win against the Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile Arena tonight and it’s off to Denver and Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs for a Best-of-7 matchup with the Colorado Avalanche. Lose before 12,156 fans tonight and it’s a disappointing season for a team that had a Cup Final in its sights during this pandemic year.

Look for our live VGK coverage later. In other sports-biz news:

The , hungry for free public money to pay for a $1 billion retractable-roof ballpark, visited with the cities of Las Vegas and Henderson this week.

Oakland Athletics President Dave Kaval also visited T-Mobile Arena Monday for the NHL Game 5 playoff matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild.

For many Bay area fans, the tweet came off as tone deaf and slightly bizarre for the Athletics and NHL San Jose Sharks fan bases because here was the president of an MLB team in one market seemingly showing his good times in another market that he’s wooing for a subsidized ballpark.

Here are the statements from Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and the city of Henderson on the A’s baseball park visit and chat.

It should be noted that Goodman has been pushing the Cashman Center and stadium complex in downtown as a potential ballpark site. But keep in mind that the Athletics probably want a baseball stadium closer to the Strip’s sports/entertainment corridor, which already includes T-Mobile Arena for the Golden Knights and Allegiant Stadium for the Raiders.

Here’s the statement from Henderson, which has already met with representatives from the MLB Arizona Diamondbacks: “Henderson City Manager Richard Derrick and members of the City’s development team met with the Oakland A’s on Thursday to discuss the team’s interest in relocating. The City has developed great partnerships with the Raiders and Golden Knights organizations and would welcome an opportunity to work with an MLB team to bring more recreational opportunities to residents and spur economic vitality and job creation.”

The city of Henderson is already pouring $42 million into the $84 million, 6,000-seat Dollar Loan Center arena for the Henderson Silver Knights hockey team, more than $10 million into the Golden Knights’ Lifeguard Arena ice center on Water Street in downtown Henderson and gave a price break to the Raiders on a land deal for the NFL team’s headquarters across from the Henderson Executive Airport.

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Max Pacioretty and Mattias Janmark Steal the Show for Golden Knights

Published 3 hours ago on May 28, 2021

By Tom Callahan

Max Pacioretty returned after a 12-game absence to score the game- winning goal and Mattias Janmark registered his first career hat trick to pace the offence as the Vegas Golden Knights advance, beating the Minnesota Wild 6-2 in Game Seven Friday night.

Janmark came to the Golden Knights as a trade deadline acquisition and has played very well for the team, but hasn’t been finding the net on a regular basis. Tonight, he exploded for three goals and was a major difference-maker for the VGK.

“I think in the playoffs, (goals) count double,” said Janmark.

For the record, Janmark’s Game Seven hat trick was just the eighth in NHL playoff history. For Vegas, getting three goals from Janmark was worth its weight in gold.

“He was huge tonight,” said Pacioretty about Janmark. “Everyone was. We felt unbeatable.”

Indeed, getting Max Pacioretty back into the lineup redistributed the scoring as Alex Tuch moved back to the wing on the third line. Coming into the game Tuch was second on the team in playoff goal-scoring, and his presence with Janmark and Nicolas Roy was immediately evident. It allowed Vegas to roll lines with confidence, and when that third unit started scoring it really took the weight off everyone’s shoulders.

Plus reuniting the top line of Pacioretty with Mark Stone and Chandler Stephenson always leads to danger for opposing defenses. When Pacioretty one-timed the puck into the net at 7:44 of the second period to break a 2-2 tie, it was the moment the balance of power went back to Vegas for the final time in the series. The Golden Knights never trailed in the game, and the Wild never tied it up again.

“Just writing his name on the board in the lineup gave the team a lift,” said head coach Pete DeBoer. “It was critical that we got him back tonight. It changed everything. It changed our confidence to score.” DeBoer also mentioned getting the lines back together as before Pacioretty’s injury, and we saw plenty of evidence as to why that was critical, too.

Scoring consistency has been a bugaboo for this Golden Knights team reaching back through its playoff history, but thankfully Friday night was not one of those nights. Vegas finally seemed to tire out the Wild by relentlessly attacking them, especially once they went down to five defensemen after losing Jonas Brodin early in the game. When the Wild did push, Marc-Andre Fleury and the Golden Knights answered the bell.

It was just about as perfect a game as you could ask out of the Vegas Golden Knights. Now they’re going to have to duplicate it as they prepare for the Colorado Avalanche coming up starting Sunday for Game One in Denver.

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ANALYSISVegas Golden Knights Advance With Game Seven Thrashing of Wild

Published 5 hours ago on May 28, 2021

By Tom Callahan Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights closed out a series on home ice for the first time in franchise history, topping the Minnesota Wild 6-2 on Friday night at TMobile Arena and moving on to a second-round clash with the Colorado Avalanche.

Max Pacioretty made a dramatic return to the Golden Knights lineup after missing 12 games and scored the game-winning goal. Meanwhile, Mattias Janmark, the Vegas Golden Knights NHL trade deadline acquisition, recorded a hat trick including icing the game into an empty net late in the third period.

Marc-Andre Fleury was solid in net, keeping Minnesota at bay and weathering the third-period push from the Wild as desperation set in.

Now, the Golden Knights will travel to Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday at 8 pm ET – 5 pm PT.

The Takeaways

High drama, but Max Pacioretty’s return to the Golden Knights lineup was incredibly impactful. From the emotional lift it provided to his scoring of the third (and as it turned out game-winning) goal, Pacioretty being back on the ice also re-balanced the scoring through the lineup. With Alex Tuch back down the lineup to provide his offensive talents, scoring was once again spread out more evenly throughout the lines.

Also great to see Zach Whitecloud and Nic Hague finding the score sheet as well. Whitecloud’s goal was perfectly placed just inside the top corner and Hague’s seemed to have eyes, finding a way through Cam Talbot on the short side. Some nights things just go your way. This was one of them.

The Golden Knights finally wore the Wild down. It took the entire series but they did it. Vegas was able to get more and better chances than in almost any other game in the series tonight. Hopefully that carries over to the next series.

Congrats to Mattias Janmark who posted a playoff hat trick to drive the scoring for Vegas. Janmark has been such an important part of the Golden Knights success since his acquisition, and tonight it was fantastic to see him rewarded for it.

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Pacioretty Makes Dramatic Return for Vegas Golden Knights

Published 7 hours ago on May 28, 2021

By Tom Callahan

It couldn’t come at a better time for the Vegas Golden Knights.

Strapped for scoring, Golden Knights leading scorer Max Pacioretty is strapping on the blades for the first time in 12 games. He missed the last six games of the regular season yet still led the team in goals with 24 this year, and his absence has been felt deeply by a team that’s been shut out twice and scored only two goals in three losses this series.

Pacioretty hasn’t played since May 1 after sustaining an injury against the Arizona Coyotes. Without him, Vegas has had trouble scoring goals, especially in the playoffs. Pacioretty’s linemate Mark Stone has four goals against the Wild, and Alex Tuch – who took Pacioretty’s spot on the first line – has three goals. Those seven goals represent exactly half of the Golden Knights offensive output in the series, with several big names missing from the scoresheet.

In 23 playoff games with the Vegas Golden Knights, Pacioretty has 10 goals and 19 points. There’s no way to succinctly state what his return to the lineup means both physically and mentally for the VGK. The lift just seeing 67 on the bench will give teammates is massive. Plus it will make the Wild arch an eyebrow and ask the same question you and I would: how healthy is he really?

Regardless of the actual level of health for Pacioretty, if he’s in the lineup it means management thinks he can make a difference. Skate laces crossed that it’s enough to get Vegas into the second round against the Colorado Avalanche.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214514 Vegas Golden Knights

GOLDEN KNIGHTS GAMEDAYMcNabb, Reaves, Krebs in COVID-19 Protocol for Vegas Golden Knights

Published 17 hours ago on May 28, 2021

By Tom Callahan Vegas Golden Knights, Brayden McNabb Marc-Andre Fleury

Entering Friday’s critical Game Seven against the Minnesota Wild, the Vegas Golden Knights will be without key defenseman Brayden McNabb and forwards Ryan Reaves and Peyton Krebs due to the players being placed in COVID-19 protocols.

McNabb missed Game Six due to being on the list and will not return for Game Seven. Reaves was held out pending test results from Game Six and is now confirmed on the list as well. Krebs will also not be available to draw into the lineup as he lands on the list as well.

Missing McNabb takes one of the Vegas Golden Knights best shot- blocking defensemen out and robs the team of a physical presence on the blue line. Speaking of physical presence, no one brings more of that than Ryan Reaves, who will not be able to bang bodies for the VGK tonight when they need it most.

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ANALYSISVegas Golden Knights Scoring Missing In Action… Again

Published 20 hours ago on May 28, 2021

By Tom Callahan Alex Pietrangelo Max Pacioretty Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights are in a most uncomfortable situation after blowing a 3-1 series lead against the Minnesota Wild and now face a do- or-die Game Seven at T-Mobile Arena on Friday night.

Pointing out the problem is simple. In the three games the Golden Knights lost, they’ve scored a total of two goals and have been shut out twice. I don’t care how good or bad Marc-Andre Fleury plays, if you don’t score goals you can’t win games.

Here’s a roll call of names that should be splashed all over the scoresheet but aren’t and desperately need to be: Chandler Stephenson, Reilly Smith, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore.

This isn’t me merely reaching for low-hanging fruit. This is a real and serious problem for the Golden Knights. Mark Stone has four goals. Alex Tuch, who is Mr. Playoff Scorer for the VGK, has three. After that? The rest of the team has a total of… seven goals. Only Nic Roy has more than one (he has two, I’ll save you the time).

Patrick Brown has exactly as many goals as Karlsson, Marchessault and Smith. I don’t need to explain how bad that is for Vegas.

At least Stephenson (three assists) and Pietrangelo (two assists) have found the scoresheet minimally, but Shea Theodore has zero points in the series to go with his minus-1 rating. That’s atrocious. These guys need to be difference-makers, and instead, we’re shifting uncomfortably in place and avoiding eye contact if anyone brings it up. There’s no excuse for any of them to be as absent offensively as they’ve been.

I give credit to the Minnesota Wild. They’ve figured out that allowing the Vegas Golden Knights to run themselves around on the perimeter and just stay patient defensively with sticks and bodies in lanes effectively shuts down the Vegas offense. The Wild let the VGK cycle themselves into the ground and when a player releases from the cycle they simply pick up that player in one-on-one coverage and eliminate the threat.

On top of that, I keep waiting for head coach Pete DeBoer to change the game plan but it doesn’t happen. I know there are those who will complain that Vegas “needs to establish its game” and “force Minnesota to play their way”.

That’s total garbage.

What Vegas needs is a different way to attack the net and utilize puck possession in the offensive zone. The VGK has done a good job for most of the series dominating the Wild when it comes to actually having the puck on their sticks. Where Minnesota has done well is exactly what I said above. They know very well that outside threats are less dangerous and don’t care one bit if Vegas has 22 shots in a period when only four are dangerous scoring chances. If there are no bodies at the net, and those bodies aren’t battling, nothing is going to happen.

This brings me to another big bone of contention. The compete level has come and gone at times during this series and if Vegas can’t get excited on a full-time basis about playoff hockey, there’s a bigger problem. The Wild is a scrappy, hard-working team that generates chances across all four lines. Sound familiar? That’s because previously we talked about the Vegas Golden Knights in the same terms. Lately, they’ve been a far cry from that team. If they’re going to beat the Wild and advance to a second-round matchup with the Colorado Avalanche, they’re going to have to return to that form. Anything less means they could be booking tee times as soon as this weekend.

In short, what we see from the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Seven will say a lot. Not only this team’s real chances at playoff success now, but in the future as well. If they’re going to turn it around, there’s no more time to wait.

1214516 Washington Capitals injury. He played in all five of Washington’s first-round games against the Bruins, posting two goals and two assists.

This season, he missed 11 games, the most of his 16-year NHL career. Alex Ovechkin’s massive deal is ending, but he doesn’t want to look for a “It was a weird year,” Ovechkin said. “But finally it’s a good thing next new team year is going to be like a regular one and you know exactly what you have to do, how you have to prepare yourself, the body and mentally- wise, too.” By Samantha Pell He revealed after the season that he also had a back injury during the May 28, 2021 at 7:07 p.m. UTC postseason but was “confident” it did not affect his play. It will not require surgery.

Ovechkin has 730 career goals, which is sixth on the NHL’s all-time list. Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin raised his stick to salute the He is one away from tying Marcel Dionne for fifth and 164 behind Wayne fans at earlier this month, the final bow in the team’s Gretzky’s record. 2020-21 campaign. The Capitals had lost Game 5 of their Stanley Cup first-round playoff series to Boston and were eliminated. And Ovechkin, “You still have chances, man,” Ovechkin said. “You just have to go out the franchise cornerstone, had played his last game under a 13-year, there and do your thing and maybe it happens, maybe not, but ... one $124 million contract that is set to expire in July. step at a time.”

Ovechkin said this week that he is confident he will re-sign with Washington soon. Capitals management feels the same way. Washington Post LOADED: 05.29.2021 Both sides have had continued talks and are comfortable with the timing. General Manager Brian MacLellan said the team is flexible with how many years Ovechkin wants, but he did not reveal the timeline of negotiations.

“We want him to be happy about this contract,” MacLellan said Wednesday during a video news conference. “We want him to finish his career here. He’s defined our organization, so it’s important for us for him to feel comfortable with what he’s doing, for him to feel comfortable with the contract, for the direction of the team. We don’t want to end the relationship, I guess is the point. We want him to go out the way he wants to go out.”

Ovechkin’s teammates were also confident their longtime leader would stay.

“When you think of the Washington Capitals, you think of Alex Ovechkin,” forward T.J. Oshie said. “So, no, I don’t see it. He’s our captain. … I think Ovi loves it here. I think Ovi wants to stay here forever. I think they want him here forever, so I’m hopeful that something will get done that’s fair for both sides.”

Ovechkin negotiated his 2008 deal with the help of his mother, Tatyana. This time around, Ovechkin is negotiating by himself — as center Nicklas Backstrom did recently. Backstrom, whose extension runs through 2024- 25 with a $9.2 million salary cap hit, joked during the season that if Ovechkin needed an agent, he would be happy to assist for the small fee of 0.5 percent. Ovechkin declined.

Ovechkin is speaking directly with MacLellan and team owner Ted Leonsis during negotiations.

“Alex knows that if he plays five more years, 10 more years, whatever it is, we’ve got his back,” Leonsis said recently. “Our commitment to him is to continue to have great teams. We’ll spend to the cap. We’ll try to win championships. And that’s what he’s focused on because that will be his legacy.”

The Capitals could wait until after the Seattle Kraken expansion draft July 21 to sign Ovechkin, who turns 36 in September. Teams can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender in the expansion draft, or they can protect any combination of eight skaters and one goaltender. The first option is likely for most forward-heavy teams such as the Capitals.

If Washington leaves Ovechkin exposed, it could protect another forward. Seattle then could select Ovechkin, but it could then lose him in free agency, which begins a week later. Washington left Oshie unprotected in the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft in 2017 but re-signed him a few days later after he went unselected.

Ovechkin led the team with 24 goals in 45 regular season games; he also recorded 18 assists. His season got off to a rough start when he — along with teammates Dmitry Orlov, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilya Samsonov — landed on the NHL’s covid-19 protocols list in mid-January. Ovechkin was off the ice and in quarantine for 10 days before returning.

Ovechkin’s on-ice production gradually picked up midway through the season, and from March 3 to 28 he scored 11 goals in 13 games. But between April 24 and May 8, he missed seven of eight games with a leg 1214517 Washington Capitals for us to determine what impact that had on his performance. It was inconsistent, I agree, throughout the year. We needed more from that position from that amount of salary that we expend on him, but it's tough to evaluate what effect that had on his performance. What's next for Kuzy after Caps' playoff exit? "How does that affect an athlete aerobically?" MacLellan added. "So we're trying to figure it out. What part is that, what part is inconsistency? What part is the player?" BY J.J. REGAN But MacLellan also didn't mince words about Kuznetsov's performance.

"I think it's been inconsistent for a few years here, and it's hurt our team," As one of the Capitals' top two centers, Evgeny Kuznetsov is one of the MacLellan said. most important players to the team's success. The issue with Kuznetsov is twofold. First, the inconsistent play cannot He is also one of the most inconsistent players on the roster. be ignored. Sure, COVID certainly took its toll in 2021, but after failing to In 2021, Kuznetsov twice had COVID-19, was benched for a game and play at an elite level over the last three seasons, the 2018 postseason registered zero points in the playoffs. now seems to be more of an anomaly than a reflection of the kind of player Kuznetsov should be expected to be. “It wasn’t an easy one you know?" Kuznetsov said of the season after the Caps fell in five games to the Boston Bruins. "Tough year, where we Second, a number of the issues Kuznetsov has dealt with have been want to be and it is always frustrating right? Everybody and every time self-inflicted. you have a season like that you always want to go back as quick as Kuznetsov was suspended for four years by the IIHF in 2019 after testing possible to work and be successful next year so that is what I’m trying to positive for cocaine. do right now.” While COVID was a virus with unknown effects, breaking health and The NHL season had barely gotten off the ground when Kuznetsov found safety protocols and getting benched for being late to a team function are himself on the league's COVID absence list the first time. Kuznetsov was not the actions of a player who learned his lesson from previous added to the list on Jan. 21 when goalie Ilya Samsonov tested positive transgressions. and it was found he was in a hotel room with Kuznetsov, Alex Ovechkin and Dmitry Orlov in violation of the league's health and safety protocols. When Washington was finally able to get over the postseason hump and win a Stanley Cup in 2018, Kuznetsov was the x-factor. He scored 32 Kuznetsov ultimately contracted COVID-19 himself and dealt with points in 24 games during that postseason run. That's the most in a symptoms over the course of the next few weeks. He played on Jan. 19 single postseason in franchise history and tied for the 19th most all-time in Pittsburgh before being added to the absence list. He would not play across the NHL. again until Feb. 14. If he cannot raise his play to that elite level again then does he actually When he did play, Kuznetsov hardly looked like the difference-maker the make the team better? team needed. In 41 games, he recorded nine goals and 20 assists. That is a 58-point pace in a normal 82-game season, hardly the type of That question leaves MacLellan and Laviolette with a difficult decision to numbers you would expect from a player of Kuznetsov's caliber. make regarding Kuznetsov's future in Washington.

On May 3, Kuznetsov and Samsonov were benched for a game for being "I think it's the key to our organization what decisions get made or how late to a team function. Soon after, both players landed on the COVID list [Kuznetsov] plays or how he comes out of this," MacLellan said. "We won again as Kuznetsov tested positive a second time. This second bout with the Stanley Cup because we had a great 1-2 punch and [Lars Eller] in COVID would ultimately keep Kuznetsov out of the lineup for 16 days the third spot, so center depth is important. We need him to play at his and force him to miss the first two games of the team's series against the highest ability, and if he can't play at his highest ability, we're not going to Boston Bruins. be a good team and we'd have to make some other decisions."

"I get the COVID again and it is basically put me in a very tough position having to jump right into the playoffs after quarantine for 14 days," Kuznetsov said. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.29.2021

"You lost players for a minimum of 14 days and maybe 15 or 16 before they play a game, and that’s without conditioning, without being on the ice, without exercise," head coach Peter Laviolette said. "So when you’re talking about a top center and a possible top goaltender, a No. 1 goaltender, I think that those now become something that you’re dealing with inside of your locker room."

After so much time on the COVID list, Kuznetsov struggled to return to form and be a difference-maker on the ice.

“I think the season for Evgeny was inconsistent," Laviolette said in a postseason press conference this week. "It was marked by the probably the 30 plus days in COVID protocol, probably 35 days of being out of the lineup and again it is not just having him for those games, it is the aftermath of coming back and trying to find the speed and the pace and the skill in which he needs to attack the game so I don’t know he ever hit the gear or the stride he wanted to or had the impact on the game like he wanted to or that he wants to as a player and the importance of that I think is crucial for a team."

The 2021 season was unique in the challenges it presented players and perhaps it is unfair to single out Kuznetsov for his bad season. After all, he did contract COVID twice and we are still learning of the long-term effects the virus can have. To expect it to have no effect on him when he returned is simply unrealistic.

"It's tough to evaluate his year," general manager Brian MacLellan said in postseason availability. "I mean, he had COVID twice. I don't fully understand the effects it has on players when they come back. There are rumored to have players throughout the league that have had it and have struggled to find it when they come back from COVID. I guess it's hard 1214518 Washington Capitals Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.29.2021

Could Max Scherzer be the next D.C. franchise mainstay to go?

BY MATT WEYRICH

The Wizards traded John Wall to the Houston Rockets on Dec. 2, 2020, shocking the greater D.C. fanbase after it waited almost two years for the injured star to overcome a series of ankle injuries. Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, was a five-time All-Star and the face of a Wizards era that saw the team reach the playoffs four times in five years.

Five months and 15 days later, former Washington Football Team edge rusher Ryan Kerrigan signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. It will be a jarring sight for D.C. fans once training camp begins to see Kerrigan, the franchise’s all-time sack leader, donning a winged helmet. The four-time Pro Bowler had spent his entire 10-year career in Washington before hitting free agency this spring.

Now, D.C. fans face the possibility of two more mainstays leaving the District, though the first is unlikely to exit. Alex Ovechkin, perhaps the greatest pure goal scorer in NHL history and the face of the Capitals ever since they drafted him with the first selection of the 2004 draft. His career accolades include leading Washington to a Stanley Cup title in 2018, winning three Hart trophies and scoring the sixth-most goals in NHL history. But with no contract signed yet (though both sides have repeatedly said that they're interested and can't imagine his future anywhere else), fans are a bit nervous.

“I think both sides are interested,” GM Brian MacLellan told reporters Wednesday. “We want Ovi. The ownership wants Ovi to finish his career here. Everyone wants him to finish his career [here]. He’s saying the same thing. I think we’ll get it worked out in the end.”

The bigger question behind him looms Max Scherzer, the Nationals’ three-time Cy Young winner who’s in the final season of the seven-year, $210 million contract he signed with Washington in 2015. Scherzer has proven to be one of the best free-agent signings in the history of any sport. He helped anchor the Nationals’ rotation during their 2019 World Series run and cemented his eventual place in the Hall of Fame with a dominant stretch of seasons that only once saw him finish lower than fifth in NL Cy Young voting.

Though no talks of an extension have been publicly confirmed, the Nationals remain interested in re-signing Scherzer for beyond this season.

“He will not become a free agent without us at least discussing what each other wants,” GM Mike Rizzo said in March.

Ovechkin has repeatedly said himself that he’s “pretty sure” he will be back in a Capitals uniform next season. Most of the best years of Scherzer’s career were in D.C. and the Nationals would be remiss not try and retain the first player that will wear the Curly W on his cap in Cooperstown. Yet until the contracts have been signed, there’s still a sense of uncertainty that comes with a franchise player entering free agency.

Both the Wizards and Washington Football Team are about a year into a transition phase for each of their franchises. The Wizards went from building around Wall and Bradley Beal to Beal and Russell Westbrook, which landed them in the playoffs this season. WFT reached the postseason for the first time in five years under head coach Ron Rivera in 2020 and Kerrigan’s departure was a result of the team’s youth movement on the defensive side of the ball.

Scherzer has given the Nationals a perennial Cy Young candidate atop their rotation for the last seven years. Rizzo has touted the Nationals in the past as a “pitching-first organization.”

With Scherzer gone, the oft-injured Stephen Strasburg and up-and-down Patrick Corbin would be left to shoulder that load.

Washington has to consider the futures of Trea Turner and Juan Soto as well, leaving little room for the club to invest in another frontline starter.

And fans have no choice but to just stay tuned.

1214519 Washington Capitals Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.29.2021

Could Max Scherzer be the next D.C. franchise mainstay to go?

BY MATT WEYRICH

The Wizards traded John Wall to the Houston Rockets on Dec. 2, 2020, shocking the greater D.C. fanbase after it waited almost two years for the injured star to overcome a series of ankle injuries. Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, was a five-time All-Star and the face of a Wizards era that saw the team reach the playoffs four times in five years.

Five months and 15 days later, former Washington Football Team edge rusher Ryan Kerrigan signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. It will be a jarring sight for D.C. fans once training camp begins to see Kerrigan, the franchise’s all-time sack leader, donning a winged helmet. The four-time Pro Bowler had spent his entire 10-year career in Washington before hitting free agency this spring.

Now, D.C. fans face the possibility of two more mainstays leaving the District, though the first is unlikely to exit. Alex Ovechkin, perhaps the greatest pure goal scorer in NHL history and the face of the Capitals ever since they drafted him with the first selection of the 2004 draft. His career accolades include leading Washington to a Stanley Cup title in 2018, winning three Hart trophies and scoring the sixth-most goals in NHL history. But with no contract signed yet (though both sides have repeatedly said that they're interested and can't imagine his future anywhere else), fans are a bit nervous.

“I think both sides are interested,” GM Brian MacLellan told reporters Wednesday. “We want Ovi. The ownership wants Ovi to finish his career here. Everyone wants him to finish his career [here]. He’s saying the same thing. I think we’ll get it worked out in the end.”

The bigger question behind him looms Max Scherzer, the Nationals’ three-time Cy Young winner who’s in the final season of the seven-year, $210 million contract he signed with Washington in 2015. Scherzer has proven to be one of the best free-agent signings in the history of any sport. He helped anchor the Nationals’ rotation during their 2019 World Series run and cemented his eventual place in the Hall of Fame with a dominant stretch of seasons that only once saw him finish lower than fifth in NL Cy Young voting.

Though no talks of an extension have been publicly confirmed, the Nationals remain interested in re-signing Scherzer for beyond this season.

“He will not become a free agent without us at least discussing what each other wants,” GM Mike Rizzo said in March.

Ovechkin has repeatedly said himself that he’s “pretty sure” he will be back in a Capitals uniform next season. Most of the best years of Scherzer’s career were in D.C. and the Nationals would be remiss not try and retain the first player that will wear the Curly W on his cap in Cooperstown. Yet until the contracts have been signed, there’s still a sense of uncertainty that comes with a franchise player entering free agency.

Both the Wizards and Washington Football Team are about a year into a transition phase for each of their franchises. The Wizards went from building around Wall and Bradley Beal to Beal and Russell Westbrook, which landed them in the playoffs this season. WFT reached the postseason for the first time in five years under head coach Ron Rivera in 2020 and Kerrigan’s departure was a result of the team’s youth movement on the defensive side of the ball.

Scherzer has given the Nationals a perennial Cy Young candidate atop their rotation for the last seven years. Rizzo has touted the Nationals in the past as a “pitching-first organization.”

With Scherzer gone, the oft-injured Stephen Strasburg and up-and-down Patrick Corbin would be left to shoulder that load.

Washington has to consider the futures of Trea Turner and Juan Soto as well, leaving little room for the club to invest in another frontline starter.

And fans have no choice but to just stay tuned.

1214520 Winnipeg Jets finished with two assists in three games. Both came in a pivotal Game 3 victory, and both were on the power play.

The Jets have given Dubois an opportunity to flourish. He’s played centre Waiting for Dubois to dominate alongside the team’s best wingers in Ehlers and Kyle Connor. When he seemed to struggle with the Jets systems, he was moved to the wing to lighten his responsibility in the defensive zone.

By: Jeff Hamilton Simply put, the Jets are doing what they can to get the most out of him. And they certainly have shown him patience — and will continue to do Posted: 7:11 PM CDT Friday, May. 28, 2021 so.

"One of the things he hasn’t been able to do is play with a consistent line Pierre-Luc Dubois was wiping away sweat from his forehead, moments and play a consistent position. It felt right, kind of, when he went right after wrapping up practice Friday and with the Winnipeg Jets still waiting back into the middle there, halfway through Game 3, he looked more to know who their second-round opponent will be, when he was asked to comfortable," Jets head coach Paul Maurice said. go over his entire season. "But that wasn’t the driver. It was actually Nik Ehlers. Nikky likes being on In a way, Dubois has already provided that answer many times this year. the right side, so we moved him there. That was kind of the impetus In what’s been an up-and-down season for the 22-year-old centre, the behind the change and then he’s comfortable there. He just keeps question seemingly comes up every week. They almost always carry a building." tone of concern; or, at the least, with a hint at when exactly it’ll all turn He added: "The longer we can play, the more we’re going to see of what around for the No. 3 overall pick in 2016. he’s capable of doing." Such is life as a professional athlete, especially when you carry the level That move in Game 3 will stick heading into the second round, with the of hype and skill that Dubois brought to the Jets after he was acquired in Jets playing the winner between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets that saw Patrik Laine go the Canadiens. Dubois has been practising this week at centre, between other way. In a hockey town expectations are high and when they’re not Stastny and Ehlers, and will stay there for the upcoming series. met, the same troubling narrative can often rear its ugly head. Dubois said he’s most comfortable at centre, a position he feels more Like any good centreman, Dubois anticipated the play and answered as if engaged in the game because it keeps his feet moving. The Jets will he’d been thinking the same thing himself. need him to be a major contributor if they hope to go on a deep run, "There have been a lot of ups and downs this year and it hasn’t been the whether that’s racking up points or playing a consistently effective game easiest year, with two injures. I haven’t been injured in my life and this that shows up in other areas. year there’s two," he said. Needless to say, the expectations remain high for Dubois — including "You can learn from everything. I still know my game isn’t necessarily those he puts on himself. He understands he has the chance to flip the where I know it can be and where it should be. I’m somebody who puts a script on his season. lot of pressure on himself and has a lot of expectations, but you just keep "Where my career took off and when I became the player that I am was working in practice." when I moved to centre," he said. It made sense to focus on the playoffs rather than dive too deep into the "Now’s the time to get your game where you want it to be and when the past. second round starts, it’s a new game and that’s what I’m trying to work Dubois played just five games with the Blue Jackets this year, registering on right now." a single goal, before he got his wish to be traded. When he arrived in

Winnipeg he had to quarantine for two weeks. He played two games before a lower-body injury kept him out another 10 days. While he had Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 05.29.2021 flashes of brilliance mixed with mostly underwhelming performances over the ensuing months, the injury bug would come to bite him again in the final regular-season game.

Just like that, he was ruled out of Game 1 in the Jets opening-round series against the Edmonton Oilers after taking a puck to the head.

"At least I played Game 2 and just missed the one," Dubois said. "Game 2, for me personally, was just OK. Game 3, I thought I had a better game and Game 4 was OK also."

While Dubois is still searching for his best game with the Jets, he’s no stranger to excelling in the playoffs. Few had as memorable a series as Dubois against the Maple Leafs last season.

Dubois dominated the Leafs for long stretches during their preliminary- round series, playing a hard 200-foot game. In Game 3, with the best-of- five series tied at one game apiece, Dubois put the Blue Jackets on his back, scoring three goals, including the winner in a 4-3 overtime victory. Columbus won the series in Game 5, 3-0.

The Jackets went on to lose to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the next round, falling in five games. Dubois ended that stretch with another six points (1G, 5A).

"In the playoffs, scoring goals and getting assists is fun but every little detail matters and a lot of them don’t appear on the stat sheet. People don’t even see it," Dubois said. "But at the end of the day, it’s about winning and doing something right, whether it’s a good stick, or good body position, that can be the difference between a win and a loss. Winning in the playoffs is a lot more complex."

Dubois was productive upon his most recent return for the playoffs. Playing wing on a second line with Paul Stastny and Nikolaj Ehlers, he 1214521 Winnipeg Jets advantage. But, to Maurice’s credit, he actually started PP2 at times, and it paid off in spades.

Finally, there’s no question he’s got this group working together, washing Maurice still the man, for now away the stink of the late-season slide and doing whatever it takes to win this time of year. They stepped up the physical play, blocked an incredible amount of shots and are clearly all pulling in the same direction. All for one, one for all. By: Mike McIntyre | Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Friday, May. 28, 2021 "I’ve said this since day one. They’ve been unbelievable," Stastny, who Last Modified: 10:18 PM CDT Friday, May. 28, 2021 | Updates has played more than 1,000 games in this league, told me Friday when I asked him to assess the job Maurice and his staff did in the first round.

There will come a time when Paul Maurice is no longer the right man for "They know what to say when we’re winning games, they know what to the job. But a surprising first-round playoff sweep of the Edmonton Oilers say when we’re in slumps. You guys don’t see the stuff behind closed should silence critics and prove there’s still some shelf life left for the doors. I’ve had some good coaches and I’ve had some bad coaches. veteran head coach of the Winnipeg Jets. You appreciate when you get them."

Just 54, Maurice has been around longer than most. This is his 23rd year Stastny spoke of the "calming presence" that Maurice brings, which was as an NHL head coach and eighth straight with True North, which makes no small thing when the club was taking on water, and fast, down the him the second-most tenured bench boss behind current Stanley Cup stretch. Having 1,656 regular-season games under his belt, and another champion Jon Cooper. The product of Sault Ste. Marie is fourth in all- 88 in playoffs, no doubt helps. As does being able to look around his time games, trailing , Joel Quenneville and Barry Trotz, room and see so many of the same core faces that have been through having passed other legends such as , Ken Hitchcock, Dick plenty of battles before. Irvin, Pat Quinn and Mike Keenan. Maurice discussed the value of both individual and shared experience That’s impressive company. But as his Jets limped towards the finish-line when I asked him about it following his team’s practice at Bell MTS of the 56-game campaign, questions were rightfully being asked about Place, likening it to a tight-knit family environment which is something the Maurice’s job security going forward. Was he nearing the inevitable best organization certainly values. before date that all coaches, even the best, have? Had his message "As you get older, you learn to enjoy the special moments more. I’m not grown stale? Was he capable of making the necessary adjustments to this old, but go watch a two-year-old’s birthday and watch the get his team back on track, or was stubbornness getting in the way? grandparents. They’re the happiest people in the room. It’s the greatest The knives were out. And they were quickly being sharpened. thing ever," said Maurice.

"There’s not much time left to get it figured out," I wrote in this space "When you get a little older and you spend some time in the game, yeah back on May 4, after Maurice’s troops had just lost a seventh straight there is lots of pressure, but if there is anything that I’ve brought to the game in regulation, getting outscored 28-10 in the process. "The Jets are team this year that is different from years past is a real desire — and I spiralling out-of-control and look to be easy first-round playoff fodder for think this is related to the pandemic and all these things — that we need one of Edmonton or Toronto. If this ends with a predictable crash landing, to enjoy it. I’m not talking about being casual about it, or ‘let’s see who it will be time for the organization to pull the chute and find a fresh voice wins tonight, who cares?’ I’m talking about really, truly appreciating the to lead this skilled but flawed squad going forward." work that went in to get us here."

That aged well, didn’t it? Critics of Maurice will point to two other significant numbers attached to his name — 670, as in losses, the most in NHL regular-season history It wasn’t simply that Winnipeg quickly dispatched of heavily-favoured (Trotz, Lindy Ruff, Arbour, Bowman and Quenneville are next on the list). Edmonton, but how they did it after dropping seven of nine head-to-head And zero, as in the number of Cups he’s won, when everyone else in the meetings in the regular-season. Just as Connor Hellebuyck outplayed top six of all-time games coached has at least one. Mike Smith in goal and the Jets impressive forward depth overpowered the Oilers, the battle behind the bench turned out to be pretty one-sided He can’t do anything to change the former, and he’ll continue adding to as well. Maurice outcoached his counterpart, Dave Tippett. By a his own record the longer he stays in the game. But his ultimate goal is to considerable margin. do something about the latter. Every spring represents a clean slate, and Maurice and his troops are clearly relishing this one, especially when so He found a way to keep Edmonton’s dynamic duo in check, getting the many — including yours truly -- were ready to write them off. Now, for the Adam Lowry line out against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as second time in his Winnipeg tenure, they’ll be down to one of just eight much as possible, both on the road and at home. Tippett made that teams left in the hunt for Lord Stanley. easier by putting the pair together after Game 1 and not splitting them up. That allowed Winnipeg’s top two scoring lines to get much more "I’ve got a special appreciation for this group because I think making the favourable match-ups. playoffs was a lot bigger challenge than maybe you think," Maurice said of a year like no other, which included playing all 28 road games outside Maurice also moved Dylan DeMelo up to the top pair to play with Josh their own time zone and facing added scrutiny being in an all-Canadian Morrissey, finally giving up on having Tucker Poolman in that role. That division. was one of the main points of my column earlier this month, questioning why he had yet to show that hand. "You have a bunch of guys who have been in the league a long time and now we really appreciate it. I hope we’re imparting that to the players. Better late than never. DeMelo-Morrissey were terrific against the Oilers, The idea that being in the playoffs is special. It has to be enjoyed. If it giving the Jets a strong top four along with the reliable Neal Pionk-Derek can’t, what’s the hell is the point of this job? If you can’t enjoy playoff Forbort pairing. Maurice also kept impressive rookie Logan Stanley in the hockey, where do you get your joy from your job?" lineup, something that didn’t look like it was going to happen a month ago when he kept auditioning journeyman Jordie Benn in that role. Stanley It was only recently that people were wondering how close we were passed his first postseason test with flying colours, and that third-pairing getting to a changing of the guard. Now, many questions have been with Poolman proved to be a handful for the Oilers. answered. And it turns out this "old dog," at least by NHL longevity standards, is very much capable of learning some new tricks. Another big adjustment was using his second power play unit a lot more. The forward group of Pierre-Luc Dubois, Nikolaj Ehlers, Mathieu As a result, Maurice has earned a longer leash. Perreault and Andrew Copp, along with Pionk on the blue-line, came through with several big goals, including a pair in last Sunday’s epic 5-4 overtime victory that gave the Jets a 3-0 series lead. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 05.29.2021 The top unit, with Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Blake Wheeler, Paul Stastny and Morrissey, can get far too predictable at times, and make it easier to defend when they are out for nearly the entire two-minute man 1214522 Winnipeg Jets “When he’s at his best, I think he’s not thinking out there. The less you think, the faster you’re playing out there, and sometimes what happens in playoffs is you try to do too much, you’re trying to think too much, you’re trying to do one thing and you’re just playing that half-second slower.” Jets hoping Dubois can have significant impact as playoffs move forward Jets coach Paul Maurice has consistently defended Dubois this season because of the circumstances of the young player’s arrival in Winnipeg.

Ted Wyman “He had such a difficult start and that start goes back to last summer,” Maurice said. “And then what he went through in that transition time out Publishing date: May 28, 2021 of Columbus, the injury, the quarantine, the injury, the different systems, the different style of game.

We’re not at the point where Pierre-Luc Dubois is making the kind of “So it took him a while to get back to it but I think he’s just been building impact that was expected from him when he was acquired in a and he’ll just keep getting better. The longer we can play, the more we’re blockbuster trade by the Winnipeg Jets early in the 2021 NHL season. going to see of what he’s capable of doing.”

But it might be fair to say he’s starting to get there. As the Jets showed in their first-round sweep of the Edmonton Oilers, playoff hockey is about much more than goals and points. It’s about Dubois is a player who was built for playoff hockey and if he’s even close sacrifice, using any part of the body to block a shot, skating harder than to finding his game, he can be a significant asset to the Jets. you thought you could to break up a play defensively, getting a stick on an opponent’s pass or shot, just to disrupt things a little bit. “He’s so big and strong, he can skate and once he protects the puck, he buys himself that extra one or two seconds for us to get open,” said Paul “In the playoffs, scoring goals and getting assists is fun but every little Stastny, who plays on the Jets second line with Dubois. detail matters and a lot of them don’t appear on the stat sheet,” Dubois said. “People don’t even see it. But at the end of the day, it’s about “I think a lot of the success, especially in the playoffs, came from winning and doing something right, whether it’s a good stick, or good (Dubois) kind of starting to attack the net, starting to get the puck on net. body position … that can be the difference between a win and a loss. It sounds simple, but it’s almost playing a simpler game.” Winning in the playoffs is a lot more complex.” Dubois had one of his better performances in a Jets uniform in Game 3 One thing is for sure, if Dubois starts to play the way he did in the 2020 of the North Division semifinal against the Edmonton Oilers. playoffs, the Jets will be a tough out. And if not, he can still play a big He assisted on the first two goals of the game — both on the power play role. — and tied up his man in overtime, allowing Nikolaj Ehlers to rifle home “I haven’t looked at the production of numbers, ever, with him, as an the game-winner. important part of what he does,” Maurice said. “We want him to put pucks He also looked a little more engaged than he has at times during a trying in the net, sure. But we want him to develop into a certain style of player first year in Winnipeg, playing with physicality and good defensive and we think we’re on path to get that.” positioning, if not showing much offensive creativity.

“I’m somebody who puts a lot of pressure on himself and has a lot of Winnipeg Sun LOADED 05.29.2021 expectations, but you just keep working in practice,” Dubois said Friday after the Jets skated at Bell MTS Place. “Now’s the time to get your game where you want it to be, when the second round starts.”

If Dubois is truly finding his game, four months after first arriving in Winnipeg, it could be great news for the Jets. In 29 career playoff games, all but three of them with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the 22-year-old Dubois has eight goals and 21 points.

He also has the kind of size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and strength that can be advantageous as a team tries to make a long playoff run.

All you need to look at is last season, when he scored four goals and 10 points in 10 games with Columbus in the playoff bubble. His Blue Jackets eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs — the same team the Jets could see in the next round — with Dubois playing a dominant role.

The Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are battling to see which team will face the Jets in the North Division final. The Habs won 4-3 in overtime on Thursday night and will host Game 6 Saturday night at the Bell Centre, with the Leafs still leading 3-2 in the series.

The Jets are looking at either next Monday or Tuesday as the start date for Game 1 of the second round series, if the Leafs win Saturday, or Wednesday or Thursday next week if the other North semifinal goes to a Game 7.

For Dubois, the 2021 season has been about ups and downs and there have certainly been more downs than ups. It started with a contract dispute and a trade request that got him shipped to Winnipeg in exchange for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic.

Next up there was a two-week quarantine, followed by his first of two stints missing time with injuries. When he did play — he got into 41 regular-season games with the Jets — he put up eight goals and 20 points.

Most people who watched the Jets all year would say it was nothing special and Dubois would no doubt agree.

“He’s hard on himself,” Stasnty said. “Every time something doesn’t go right, doesn’t go his way, he’s always yelling at himself. But sometimes that’s the nature of the beast when you’re young. 1214523 Winnipeg Jets Added Stastny: “I’m a Man United fan, so rooting for City is tough. But my best friend is a huge City fan. But I’m pulling for Chelsea. I’m just actually hoping it’s a good game. I think it will be.”

JETS SNAPSHOTS: Jets enjoying their break, trying to stay sharp, as Jets coach Paul Maurice is tasked with managing players that are not Habs and Leafs slug it out playing right now, but will soon be playing some of the biggest games of their lives.

It has all been broken down into phases as he tries to keep the Ted Wyman momentum of three straight overtime wins over the Oilers going, while still giving players ample time to heal up from blocking almost 100 shots Publishing date: May 28, 2021 during the first-round series.

“The first phase was recovery,” Maurice said. “I think we finished that The problem with sweeping a team in the first round of the NHL playoffs phase (Thursday). (Friday) was the first day we brought video back into is it can lead to a lengthy break before the next series begins. the room in terms of game tactics.

That’s exactly how things are playing out for the Winnipeg Jets after they “Until we get an opponent, we’ll only look at Winnipeg Jets video. As punted the Edmonton Oilers in four straight in the North Division soon as that opponent is defined — whether we have a day, two days, or semifinal. three days — we’ll bring that back into the room. Basically, the first chunk of video we’re doing right now is just us. Then the last two days before The Jets had two days of straight rest on Tuesday and Wednesday and the game will be our opponents and any adjustments that we have to returned to practice on Thursday, not knowing when their next game make with that.” might be. On the ice, it’s about simulating game conditioning as much as possible. They still didn’t know after Friday’s practice at Bell MTS Place, as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens continue to battle in the “We’re trying to build the speed,” Maurice said. “We’ll have slightly more other North Division semfiinal. grind in (Friday) and (Saturday) depending on where we feel our next game is going to be. Then we’ll go to speed at the very end of it. We The Habs got an overtime goal from Nick Suzuki to win 4-3 on Thursday won’t be finishing a lot of checks. We’ll try and get up and down the ice night and force Game 6, in Montreal, Saturday night. If Toronto wins that as fast as we can. Once the puck drops there will be all the grind you can game, the series against the Jets could start Monday or Tuesday in handle. Toronto. “That’s the path we’re on here. We’ll take care of ourselves and our If it goes to a seventh game on Monday, the next series would be pushed primary things that are in our game, regardless of who our opponent is. back to Wednesday or Thursday. If Montreal wins the series, the next We’ll take a look at them a little bit going in, and we’ve already been round will open in Winnipeg. sneaking that in for the last two or three weeks — style-of-game kind of things. Then we want to be as fast as we can for Game 1.” As you can see, a lot is to be determined and the Jets could end up being idle for as many as 10 days, which would not be ideal.

Then again, this is all something completely beyond their control, so the Winnipeg Sun LOADED 05.29.2021 Jets players are not worrying about it.

“I don’t think it matters,” Jets forward Paul Stastny said. “In the backs of our heads we were preparing to most likely play Sunday and now we’re preparing that we might play Monday or Tuesday. It’s always nice to have that little break and see the other teams play against each other and beat up on each other.”

“I watched the game (Thursday), expecting the series to be over, so I could be mentally ready, and if it gets extended, it gets extended.”

Stastny was happy to see the Canadiens win for one reason — it means there will be 2,500 fans in the stands at the Bell Centre in Montreal for Game 6. They will be the first fans to attend an NHL game in Canada since March of 2020.

“I think Canada has waited long enough,” Stastny said. “It’s only 2,500 fans but Montreal and Toronto are two of the most famous franchises in the NHL so you know those fans are gonna be as loud as anyone. It will be exciting to watch. The game misses that. Those games are way more exciting to watch when they allow fans and this is just one little step closer.”

Stastny and forward Pierre-Luc Dubois were happy to not have a game this weekend because it means they can watch the Champions League soccer final between Manchester City and Chelsea on Saturday afternoon.

“If we were playing Sunday we would have been travelling (Saturday),” Stastny said. “That was the only positive I took out of (Montreal beating Toronto).”

Apparently, there are a number of soccer fans on the Jets’ roster and there could be some friendly wagering going on Saturday.

“I’m not a Chelsea fan or a Man City fan, but Fly, (Nikolaj) Ehlers, he’s a die-hard Chelsea fan so I might get a bet against him, because I think Man City is going to win,” Dubois said. “I know he’s never going to bet against Chelsea, so I’ll probably try to get a bet going with him that Man City is going to win.” 1214524 Winnipeg Jets And if someone is driving the net, Winnipeg is probably safer for it to be Josh Anderson, Tyler Toffoli, Joel Armia, Nick Suzuki or Jonathan Drouin than Matthews, Marner, William Nylander and the rest of Toronto’s stars. Montreal’s defence is capable and more likely to throw its weight around Would the Jets prefer the Maple Leafs or Canadiens? Likeability, than Toronto’s, but it does not come with the same play-driving ability. loatheability, chances of winning and more Desirability point goes to: Montreal. The Leafs are better, and it’s not a mirage.

By Murat Ates 2. Goaltending: Jack Campbell is the only playoff goalie fit to duel Connor Hellebuyck thus far May 28, 2021 Winnipeg’s defensive commitment — led by the usual suspects, Adam

Lowry and Andrew Copp, but supplemented by improvements from all of In the first round, the Winnipeg Jets defeated an opponent that they had Blake Wheeler, Josh Morrissey, Scheifele and Dylan DeMelo — was not previously beaten in the Stanley Cup playoffs. better in the first round than at any point this season.

For an encore, the Jets will face a team from either the English- or Hellebuyck still leads the NHL in goals saved above expected, according French-speaking centre of the hockey universe and take on a playoff to Evolving-Hockey. opponent they’ve never even played. The man in second place? None other than Toronto’s Campbell, who Whether it’s the Montreal Canadiens, whose forecheck can buzz so started 2021 as a backup and then set the Maple Leafs’ all-time record aggressively that Pierre-Luc Dubois compared it to a swarm of “bees” for most consecutive wins by a goaltender, with 10. Carey Price isn’t too early this season, or the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were the North’s best far behind, in sixth, but fades into oblivion if you include more substantial team at creating scoring chances from the slot, Winnipeg will make recent history — he was most dominant from 2010-17. history at puck drop. Save percentage tells the same story, whether you use the playoffs Without a storied rivalry or historical playoff hatred to lean on, which team (Hellebuyck .950, Campbell .944, Price .919) or the regular season should Jets fans hope comes out of the Montreal-Toronto first-round (Hellebuyck .916, Campbell .921, Price .901) series, which heads into Game 6 on Saturday with the Leafs up 3-2? So while Hellebuyck was clearly superior to Mike Smith in Round 1, his On one hand, Toronto has been Winnipeg’s fiercest 2021 rival and is the battle to be the best goaltender in the series could be much more difficult centre-of-the-universe juggernaut that Jets fans love to loathe. Whether if Campbell is in goal. it’s rooted in the English-speaking media’s incessant coverage of the Desirability point goes to: Montreal. Price is a million-time All-Star and a largest market in the country, a Winnipegger’s baked-in skepticism of big- multiple gold medalist, but he’s the third-best goalie in this comparison. city success, or the sheer quantity of Jets players injured in games against Toronto this year, I’ve seen more Jets fan passion toward putting Jack Campbell makes a save on Josh Anderson. (John E. Sokolowski / Toronto in its place than any other team. USA Today)

On the other, the Maple Leafs were the better team all season. Winnipeg 3. Dragon-slaying: Auston Matthews is the only acceptable follow-up to went 4-4-2 against Toronto, including a disappointing game wherein Connor McDavid Mark Scheifele was benched on “Hockey Night in Canada,” while the Jets carried the season series against Montreal by a 6-3-0 margin. To go from playing the star power of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Winnipeg’s strengths (finishing talent and goaltending) were exactly to Montreal would be akin to watching Paul McCartney open for Rage Montreal’s weaknesses this season and, unless Carey Price can turn Against the Machine. Sure, there’s greatness there in the second act, but back the clock, the Canadiens are — theoretically — the easier out. it’s genre-specific and a world away from what you just witnessed.

But there are so many factors to consider: line-by-line matchups, on-ice Montreal’s leading scorer this season was Toffoli, whose 28 goals and 44 rivalries, draft “what if?” scenarios, likeability, loatheability, likelihood of points in 52 games marked the highest production of his career. victory and more. Matthews scored 41 goals this season. Canada is wide open and the right series matchup could be the The Canadiens’ second-leading point-getter was Jeff Petry, with 42 difference between sudden death and the final four. points. Matthews, Marner and Tavares all eclipsed that mark. So who’s the better opponent for the Jets? William Nylander, Alex Kerfoot and Alex Galchenyuk are all at or over a 1. Flow of play: One team has superstars and depth point per game against Montreal so far this series.

The hype is real. Toronto is a great team, and — unlike Edmonton — it is The playoffs are supposed to get harder each round and, for Winnipeg, a great team even when its best two players are off the ice. the only way that happens is if Toronto faces them next.

Toronto created more dangerous scoring chances against Winnipeg than Desirability point goes to: Toronto. If a win is to be had, there’s no way any other team did this season. The Maple Leafs attack the middle of the beating Toffoli et al comes close to the satisfaction of stopping Matthews ice in waves, whether it’s Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on the top in his tracks. line, veterans like Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza, or secondary 4. Dirty team or not, there’s bad blood brewing with Toronto superstars such as John Tavares, who made a surprise appearance at Toronto’s morning skate Thursday. (Tavares’ knee injury and concussion Maple Leaf fans won’t see it this way, particularly given Alex Edler’s are healing, although the latter comes with no firm timetable.) Toronto’s kneeing major against Zach Hyman, but Toronto has dealt a lot of defence activates often, leading to tremendous offensive impact from damage this season — not all on clean plays. Morgan Rielly, and is finally strong in its own end — mostly due to the acquisitions of Jake Muzzin and T.J. Brodie. Whether it was Hyman’s high-stick on Neal Pionk, Thornton’s blindside hit on Mathieu Perreault, Thornton’s blindside hit on Nik Ehlers, Muzzin’s Gone are the days when a Maple Leafs opponent could simply outscore clean-but-costly hit to Ehlers, Alex Galchenyuk’s concussion-inducing hit whatever offence that Matthews et al. generated on their own. on Lowry, or Wayne Simmonds’ hit that dazed Dubois, leading to a week of missed action, the Maple Leafs have battered Winnipeg this season. Meanwhile, the Canadiens look great by shot attempts but poor by shot quality. They throw the puck on net from anywhere and try to create And while hockey is hockey and the Jets have likely done plenty of things havoc after the fact. Montreal doesn’t come with Toronto’s star power to Toronto hasn’t agreed with, either, the Maple Leafs’ injury ward wasn’t finish plays, and the Canadiens definitely don’t come with Toronto’s exactly filled to the brim by their matchup with Winnipeg. None of this ability to attack the centre slot. applies to Montreal, where former Jets Ben Chiarot (two assists in five games) and Joel Armia (four goals and one assist in seven games) may I understand that playoff hockey involves plenty of chaos and a battery of have hurt Winnipeg on the scoresheet but that’s about as far as the point shots, deflections and bad-angle shots could lead to success. damage went. I just don’t think that’s the way to beat Connor Hellebuyck. If you want playoff fireworks, Toronto’s your team.

Desirability point goes to: Toronto. The season series was way more intense and the drama is baked in.

5. The “Canada’s Team” narrative is unavoidable, but Toronto’s enemies will choose the underdog

Many Jets fans felt that Edmonton got all of the media attention during Winnipeg’s 4-0 sweep against the Oilers. It was plain to see here in the comments, on Twitter, on talk radio — Jets fans felt that “Hockey Night in Canada” spent too much time and energy on McDavid and not enough time on any of the Jets.

Well.

Whatever the proportions were in the first round, they’re about to be pushed wildly further away from Winnipeg in the second.

The Toronto media juggernaut is enormous; the market size discrepancy is multi-fold. The Montreal media juggernaut is also enormous; the market size discrepancy is also multifold.

No matter who the Jets play, national coverage will be heavily skewed. You will hear more about Matthews or Price than Scheifele or Hellebuyck.

The flip side to this is that Winnipeg, by virtue of its small-market, little- engine-that-could, lone-X-wing-just-searching-for-that-exhaust-port mentality, is going to become most of the country’s bandwagon team.

And sure, the city of Winnipeg often has an inferiority complex when it comes to Toronto. Meanwhile, the city of Toronto thought about Winnipeg once, concluded that it is, in fact, a city somewhere, wondered why it doesn’t have an airport, but then promptly forgot about it because Drake dropped another mixtape.

I’m not sure why this cross-city animosity never quite developed with Montreal but, if you’re looking for a Goliath for which Winnipeg’s fan base would most happily play the role of Goliath, Toronto is the city you’re looking for.

Desirability point goes to: Toronto. No better way to fill a Winnipegger with smarm than to shake up the centre of the universe.

Realistically, if you’re looking for the easiest possible out or cheering with cold, Cup-crazed calculation, you want the Canadiens to force Game 7 and win it.

That said, the series against Edmonton proved the worth of regular- season results.

If you’re looking for drama, competition and a heavy underdog role with the biggest possible satisfaction payout, you’re taking Maple Leafs in six.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214525 Vancouver Canucks playmaker off the wing. He knows how to use his size to create space for both himself and his linemates.

There’s every reason to think he’ll make an easy transition to the NHL Canucks shopping list: They need some forwards this summer next fall, playing as the left winger on the team’s third line.

It’s hard to predict with rookies, but from what we saw in the KHL, it’s a safe bet that he will make a big difference right from the start. The Patrick Johnston Canucks have done well integrating young stars into the lineup, the problem has been what’s already been there. Publishing date: May 28, 2021 Jonah Gadjovich stretches in the pre-game skate at .

The holes “We want to add speed and depth to our forward group,” Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning said a week ago, following the Which brings us to centre and right wing on the third line. conclusion of his team’s 2020-21 NHL season. There are no other options on the Canucks’ depth chart at the moment. It’s not the first time Benning has laid out such a vision. After his hiring in Ideally they’d have a young, cheap centre ready to take the next step. May 2014, he spoke in similar terms. There’s no one on the wing who truly fits the bill either. Lockwood is fast, but does he have the offensive element to last in the role? Jonah “We need to get back to what we’re good at. This organization needs to Gadjovich has nice hands but does he have the wheels? play an uptempo, fast skating skilled game. Before last season, this team had … a relentless attitude that they were going to skate and to wear And with the Canucks working with a thin budget at best — even teams down and to score. For whatever reason that didn’t happen last assuming there’s a buyout or two and they’re able to get some further year, but I’m hoping that, with Trevor (Linden), we hire the right coach for cap relief either through an AHL assignment, a trade or another this group and get back to that moving forward,” he said. unforeseen change — there’s not a lot of money to be thrown at in free agency to find both a centre and a winger. Seven years later, he’s back on the hunt. There are some interesting players who are pending free agents, led by In looking at the Canucks’ roster for 2021-22, there are some obvious Florida’s Alex Wennberg. But given the season he just had, with 17 points to fill. First up, let’s look at the forwards. goals, he’s not going to be cheap. Same with Blake Coleman, who What’s in the basket already scored 14 times for Tampa.

The Canucks’ top two centres are very solid. More than likely, filling these spots is going to be a roll of the dice on players like Vegas’ Tomas Nosek, who has been a solid role player for Elias Pettersson had a difficult 2020-21 with a wrist injury that ended his the Golden Knights, or Vinnie Hinostroza, the pint-sized forward who season early. He said in his post-season media session that he was started the year with Florida on a cheap contract but finished with focused on getting back to the player he wants to be in 2021-22 and at Chicago and picked up 12 points in 17 games. Someone like Steven age 22, he’s right in his prime as a scorer. Lorentz from Carolina, a player with some hockey and the Hurricanes won’t be able to protect in the expansion draft, might be a decent bet. Captain Bo Horvat played hard and was voted the team’s MVP by the fans. He turns 27 this fall, not a spring chicken anymore, but will be a Looking at a veteran who is looking for an intriguing opportunity and quality forward for several more seasons. willing to sign for less, as Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza have done with Toronto, and Corey Perry with Montreal, is worth consideration as There are also some handy wingers. We know that Pettersson centring well. J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser can make for a formidable trio, a first line that any team in the league would want. Or maybe the Canucks will get even more creative and look to Europe, seeing if they can find a player in top circuits like the Swedish Hockey Tanner Pearson was re-signed and is expected to start next season on League or the KHL who are unrestricted free agents. Horvat’s left side. The real question on the second line is whether Nils Höglander will be the right winger again. Solving this problem isn’t going to be easy. And on Monday, we’ll look at the other big question: the defence corps. The rookie Swede proved to be one of the better two-way forces on the team. Using the expected goals metric, which measures the probability of a goal being scored off every shot, when Horvat and Pearson played with Höglander the Canucks had an expected goals metric of 53 per cent and Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.29.2021 just 46.5 per cent when he wasn’t playing with them.

That’s an important consideration.

The problem, as Benning himself identified, comes when the top two lines haven’t been on the ice. Some of that is about the makeup of the defence corps, but as the Winnipeg Jets have shown this season, if you can build three strong forward lines and you have a top-class goalie, you can make up for a sub-par blue line.

The Canucks have a sea of options to play on the fourth line — Matthew Highmore, Jayce Hawryluk, Travis Boyd, Zack MacEwen, Will Lockwood, Kole Lind and so on — so the focus for improvement going forward must be on the third line.

Vasily Podkolzin is mobbed by his SKA St. Petersburg teammates after scoring the winner in the third overtime period of Game 5 against CSKA Moscow in the KHL playoffs.

The Rookie

One winger on the third line is almost certainly going to be Vasily Podkolzin. Benning told CHEK-TV on Friday that he expected to be able to announce Podkolzin’s signing after the IIHF World Championships, currently underway in Latvia.

The Russian had a strong second half to his season in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg. He’s a powerful force along the boards and a great 1214526 Vancouver Canucks

Patrick Johnston: Canucks should bring the Computer Boys home

Patrick Johnston

Publishing date: May 28, 2021

The data revolution in hockey continues to advance apace.

The Los Angeles Kings are hiring a former number cruncher from the Chicago Cubs, Ryan Kruse, to head up their research and development department. R&D is a term we’re used to hearing from tech and engineering companies and it is very much de rigueur in hockey now.

The Kings also hired Rosie Yu, who holds a PhD in materials engineering and is working on a master’s degree in computer science. Yu will work as a full-time software engineer.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have called their analytics department the R&D department for some time now. They’ve had developers working on staff for some time now.

Hockey teams studying numbers is no big secret. Even the Canucks’ front office, which has plenty of old-school thinking from its key leaders in Jim Benning and John Weisbrod, have three analytics experts — Jonathan Wall and assistants Aiden Fox and Ryan Biech. They support scouting, managing the salary cap, delivering head coach Travis Green data to help him assess his team’s performance and plenty more. The Canucks don’t have a developer on staff full-time, but are believed to be working with someone on a contract basis.

Data is more important than ever. And the NHL is working to bring more data online. But the more you have, the more people you need to break it all down.

The Canucks would be wise to hire more people to work with Wall and Fox and Biech … and who better than Cam Lawrence and Josh Weissbock, the number crunchers who went from Canucks Army to the Florida Panthers five years ago?

The duo worked as consultants for Florida and mostly supported the scouting staff to build their draft list. They used a big data approach to build a projection model that helped assess probable development paths of potential draft picks.

They weren’t even that expensive, working as consultants, rather than full-time employees.

They’re part of the group of outsiders who were labelled the Computer Boys, along with assistant general managers Steve Werier and Eric Joyce, during the year-long stint they were allowed to run the Panthers five years ago. The quartet took a fresh perspective to roster building and contract negotiations and while much of their work was undone by Dale Tallon’s reinstallation as general manager, their influence remains in the solid contracts they signed with Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. They also identified under appreciated players on other teams like Reilly Smith, Jonathan Marchessault and James Reimer, who all have helped their current teams find success.

Teams around the league have approached Lawrence and Weissbock since the news got out that the Panthers weren’t renewing their contracts.

Both are from B.C. Both got into hockey through their passion for the home team. Both would bring fresh perspectives and plenty of hockey management and scouting experience with them.

With the Canucks looking ready to bring goalie coach Ian Clark back, a move that would suggest money is being spent by the Aquilinis after a year of austerity, it would be prudent to make some shrewd investments in their data team. Lawrence and Weissbock fit the bill.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214527 Vancouver Canucks Until Elias Pettersson’s autograph is on his second contract, the star restricted free agent’s status will dominate the hockey conversation in the Vancouver market.

Canucks depth chart heading into the offseason: Trade chips, roster Subtly, however, the bigger story to watch in the centre of Vancouver’s holes, Kraken bait and more forward corps is whether Miller’s end-of-season audition at centre is something the club makes permanent at the outset of next season. Miller suggested in his final media availability of the season that he now preferred to play in the middle as opposed to along the wall and the club By Harman Dayal and Thomas Drance was certainly impressed with how he acquitted himself at centre. May 28, 2021 There’s a lot of hockey reasons to believe that Miller is a better play driver on the wing, but one thing the club also has to factor into their decision making is that it’s significantly easier to identify middle-six Dominating the far side of Jim Benning’s office, high above Griffiths Way, wingers than good third-line centres on the trade and free-agent market is a large, meticulously maintained wall that extends from floor to ceiling — considering the club’s limited available cap space this summer. and encompasses the entire length of the room. It features the depth chart for every team in the National Hockey League. The knock-on effect of where Miller lines up next season is significant. If he’s a first-line winger, then the club will need to identify a third-line It includes the Vancouver Canucks’ depth chart, and while we can’t give centre. If he’s a third-line centre (who still logs top-line ice time), then the you an official look at precisely how the club is thinking about their needs club will need to recruit a third-line wing. and wants heading into this offseason, we have a pretty good sense of how it’s formatted and some opinions on what it will look like when the Beneath the trio of Pettersson, Bo Horvat and Miller, things get Canucks take the ice on opening night in the 2021-22 campaign. interesting and dicey for the Canucks.

Let’s go position-by-position and grapple with some of the major holes, Brandon Sutter and Travis Boyd are unrestricted free agents, and of the issues and assets that the Canucks will be navigating during a crucial two, Sutter seems the more likely player to remain a Canuck. Sutter has offseason. made no secret of his preference to remain in Vancouver, both publicly and in conversations prior to the deadline with Canucks management. At The importance of Nils Höglander’s emergence as a top-six forward can’t the right term and cap hit, which is to say a one-year deal within shouting be overstated. Höglander’s breakout affords Vancouver the option of distance of the league minimum, it could be worthwhile to explore. being able to shift natural left-winger J.T. Miller to the third line centre position; a hole they would otherwise find difficult to fill due to their salary Jay Beagle is signed through next season to a relatively buyout proof cap constraints. ticket, and the club doesn’t anticipate him spending the season on long- term injured reserve — although additional meetings with specialists will We expect the Canucks to give Miller more time at centre next season, occur in the coming days and weeks to verify his precise status. Ideally, but either way, we’ll know for sure what the club is thinking by what other the club would find enough bottom-six centre depth to offset Beagle in pieces they target in the offseason. If Miller does end up doing the heavy the event of injury and ideally give him some competition as an everyday lifting for a third scoring line that can credibly drive play, just remember player. that it’s only possible because of Höglander’s accelerated NHL graduation. Organizational depth centre Tyler Graovac earned a ton of plaudits internally for the way he competed down the stretch this past season. He Miller’s potential shift to centre would still leave a significant mark on the would make sense to return in a first-man-up sort of role shuttling north club’s left-wing depth, however. and south up Highway 1.

Miller, Höglander and Tanner Pearson as your top-nine left-wingers Carson Focht, meanwhile, had a decent first season in Utica, although would stand as contender quality positional depth, but removing Miller there’s a fair bit of work to do on the details in his game. If Focht hits, it’ll from the equation forces Höglander — who’s probably a true talent be as a defensive centre, and there’s a feeling internally that he second-line winger rather than a high-end first line driver — and Pearson, benefitted significantly from the watered-down level of competition in the who’s a true talent third-line player, to each slide one spot higher on the pandemic-wracked American Hockey League this past season. depth chart than what’s ideal. There’s a lot that needs to be determined on the right wing beyond Brock The impact of that is felt in the gaping need for an additional top-nine left Boeser. winger once you move past Höglander and Pearson. This is where Vancouver will need to exploit expansion-related opportunities or turn to Part of it will again come down to whether Miller plays the wing or not the bargain bin in free agency to hunt down another middle-six left winger because if he does, it’d allow coach Travis Green to shift Höglander back who can tread water in a third-line role. to the right wing. Should that not come to fruition, it leaves another middle-six winger hole that needs to be plugged in. If the club can add a top-nine left winger, it would allow them to slot Matthew Highmore more appropriately as a fourth-line winger. That The wild card in this equation is 2019 10th overall pick Vasili Podkolzin, would spell trouble for Antoine Roussel’s bid for an everyday lineup spot who the Canucks will sign this offseason. Podkolzin possesses a because Highmore leveraged his speed, disruptive ability on the complete, NHL-ready two-way game but it remains to be seen whether forecheck and secondary penalty-killing utility more effectively in the his offensive chops will be developed enough for him to be an impact grinder role than Roussel. The caveat to note here is the possibility that player from Day 1. The Canucks shouldn’t operate under the assumption Highmore gets poached by Seattle in the expansion draft. that he’ll be top-six ready because he may need a more gradual NHL introduction as Horvat did. If he’s top-six ready off the hop, they should Bolstering winger depth would also ensure that the Canucks don’t have simply treat it as a bonus. to lean on Marc Michaelis and Loui Eriksson at the NHL level as often as they did last season. Michaelis looked overmatched going pointless in 15 After Podkolzin, the Canucks have an abundance of fourth-line calibre games while being outscored 8-3 at five-on-five and caved in from a two- right wings. Tyler Motte leads the pack in a tier of his own; his speed and way perspective. It remains to be seen if Vancouver chooses to retain the elite penalty-killing impact always integral to the bottom-six. 25-year-old as he’s a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights Vancouver will have a decision to make on Jayce Hawryluk, a pending but if they do, it’s clear that he’d be better suited honing his craft in RFA with arbitration rights. Hawryluk was able to tread water in a fourth- Abbotsford. line role and would be a serviceable 13th or 14th forward but it’ll be Jonah Gadjovich, meanwhile, scored at a torrid pace in a watered-down interesting to see if his lack of special teams value works against him as version of the AHL. Even as the club weathered myriad injuries through a the Canucks juggle a surplus of replacement level wings. challenging schedule down the stretch, Gadjovich saw just a single game Hawryluk at least possesses above-average two-way ability which is against the Flames where he logged only seven shifts. The fact that this something that Zack MacEwen and Justin Bailey, another pair of is the only NHL opportunity he was given would suggest that he’s in replacement level wingers who don’t kill penalties, are unable to boast. tough to make a big-league case heading into next season. MacEwen and Bailey (who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in February) each offer robust physical tools but haven’t earned the defensive trust of the coaching staff. These two could end up Bowey didn’t even get a look in a single game down the stretch doesn’t marginalized for that reason as the team looks to upgrade its forward auger well for him. depth. Another right-shot defenceman that didn’t get much of an opportunity At the bottom, we have a pair of Canucks prospects in Will Lockwood with the big club this season is Brogan Rafferty. Vancouver’s long had and Kole Lind. Lockwood has a limited ceiling but fared well in Utica and reservations about his defensive game and gave him just a single NHL stood out in his lone NHL game because of his wheels and physical game. He’s likely to move on as a UFA and look for a better chance abrasiveness. He doesn’t have the type of offensive upside that Lind elsewhere. does, but might be the more suitable stylistic fit as a call-up. Lind, on the other hand, failed to leave an impression in his six games which could Rounding out the group is Jett Woo, who fared well with the Comets in affect his standing ahead of the expansion draft. The 22-year-old is still a his transition to professional hockey. The Canucks believe he’s a long- promising prospect but if the Canucks monetize their last protection slot term project that will need further marination in the minors. by adding another forward, he’d presumably be one of Seattle’s top Thatcher Demko’s the undisputed starter. Backup Braden Holtby’s status choices. is less certain — one wonders if he’s a piece they try moving on from one It’s crazy to think that Jack Rathbone, who will still qualify as a rookie way or another to clear extra salary cap room. skater next season, is Vancouver’s only full-time left-side defenseman In the No. 3 role, the Canucks will be counting on Michael DiPietro to get under contract for the 2021-22 season. back to regular game action as Abbotsford’s starter. This is going to be a Obviously, the club will eventually come to an agreement with Quinn decisive development year for DiPietro. The Canucks are confident he Hughes. There’s no real suspense here, particularly because Hughes can step in as the backup in 2022-23 but it’s going to be imperative for has blackhole 10.2(c) status and can’t be tendered an offer sheet. him to get back to excelling as a workhorse AHL starter before that.

Negotiations haven’t really begun with veteran stalwart Alex Edler just One should expect a young tandem in Abbotsford as 2019 sixth-round yet, and one wonders if the club may deem it time to move on from the pick Arturs Silovs will likely be tasked with backing up DiPietro. most accomplished defender in franchise history. Jake Kielly will be an RFA this summer after posting mediocre results The fit is a bit awkward considering that Edler’s minutes need to be split between the AHL and ECHL during the last two seasons. rigorously managed at this stage of his career, and yet the club can’t Jake Virtanen had probably played his way out of Vancouver on his form really afford to have him playing on the third pair with Rathbone and Olli alone and is now on leave from the team in the wake of sexual Juolevi both pushing for an everyday spot. misconduct allegations that are being investigated in parallel by both the In the event that Edler departs in free agency, the club will either need to Vancouver Police Department and an undisclosed firm commissioned by replace him on the left side or identify an additional right-handed the Canucks. defensive option while bumping Nate Schmidt over to the left side. Either For Sven Baertschi, the three-year, $10.1 million contract he signed back way, it’s clear that the blue line needs a significant injection of speed and in 2018 won’t officially expire until July 27, but his time in Vancouver has talent, and in the event that Edler walks, his two-way intelligence won’t been over, practically speaking, for a long time now. be easy or affordable to offset. Even as the club dealt with myriad injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak and Juolevi broke into the NHL last season and acquitted himself reasonably gave an extended look to players such as Lind and Lockwood and Jimmy well in prescribed minutes, although there was little in the way of offense, Vesey, Baertschi never so much as sniffed a call-up. play driving or special teams value to his game. A restricted free agent without arbitration rights, Juolevi is affordable depth at the very least and Baertschi is hoping to restart his NHL career and will exhaust those is likely to find himself competing with Rathbone for third-pair minutes options prior to signing in his native Switzerland or with a team based in next season. another European league. By all accounts he went down to Utica with the right attitude, conducted himself to the highest professional standards In Rathbone and Juolevi, the Canucks have a pair of lefty defenders and hopefully the thoughtful, talented scoring forward will get a chance pushing to make the NHL, but they don’t have much in the system elsewhere next season. beneath them. Ashton Sautner and Guillaume Brisebois have been organizational depth for the club for years now, but with Rathbone and As for Vesey, there just wasn’t much there for him in his short stint with Juolevi’s impending graduation from the prospect ranks and 2020 third- the Canucks. He’s been a reliable middle-six rate scorer in his career, but round pick Joni Jurmo’s uneven campaign in 2020-21, there are really no he quickly fell out of the top-six with the Canucks despite being given prospects of significance at left defense remaining in the system. every opportunity to succeed and accomplished very little in Vancouver overall. The club will move on and explore other middle-six forward Travis Hamonic has enjoyed his time in the city and wants to return as a options this summer. Canuck. Vancouver really liked the fit as well, especially Green, who lobbied hard to sign him in the first place. The fit is too good and it seems more likely that he’ll return than any other pending UFA at this juncture. The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 It’s going to be fascinating to see how the two sides work out the timing of a possible extension.

Vancouver would be best suited to establish the parameters of a deal now but wait until after the expansion draft to make it official to preserve maximum flexibility. This route would allow the Canucks to expose Hamonic as a pending UFA (Seattle would only be able to earn negotiating rights if they selected him), protect three other defencemen, and then make an extension official after the draft. Conversely, if the Canucks re-sign him before the July 21st draft, they’ll have to burn one of their three protection slots on him.

Regardless, a Hamonic extension at one point or another seems likely.

The Canucks ideally need another top-four defender and as we mentioned earlier, the handedness of that addition will dictate whether Schmidt plays the right or left side this coming season. After him, you can also count on Tyler Myers to log major minutes.

Beneath them, Jalen Chatfield will become a UFA this summer after appearing in 18 games. Vancouver’s decision to retain him or not will partly hinge on whether they have faith in Madison Bowey, who’s already signed for next season, as a potential No. 8 defenceman. The fact that 1214528 Websites That encyclopedic knowledge — on live TV — will add value to the TNT package. Not everyone was on board with the idea of the Great One on TV, but I’ll stake out the territory on the other side of the discussion and argue it’s going to be better than people might think. Gretzky never The Athletic / Duhatschek notebook: How will Wayne Gretzky do on settled for mediocrity. It’s hard to imagine he’d go down this path, if he TNT? Where could Tyson Barrie sign? Plus, Masterton thoughts didn’t think he could excel at it too.

This and that

By Eric Duhatschek The post-mortems were unfolding, fast and furiously this past week, as more and more teams with high playoff expectations found themselves May 28, 2021 on the sidelines after Round 1. Let’s look at a few specifics:

Tyson Barrie is going to be an interesting offseason case study. The News: Wayne Gretzky is joining Turner Sports as a studio analyst. Oilers signed Barrie to a one-year bargain-basement contract last offseason for $3.75 million and the idea was that it would give him time to Views: Gretzky is the NHL’s all-time leading scorer, a four-time Stanley get his career back on track after a bump in the road with the Toronto Cup champion, and in most people’s minds, the best player to ever play Maple Leafs. It worked too. In the end, Barrie led all NHL defencemen in the game. Gretzky has a name recognition value that transcends the points with 48, a reasonable development considering he got to be the sport, there hasn’t been a hockey player before or since him who does power-play quarterback on a team that also boasted Connor McDavid that. Bobby Orr was sensational, Gordie Howe legendary and Mario and Leon Draisaitl. Lemieux so much fun to watch. But if you were to ask a casual sports fan with a limited interest in to name a single player, they might Over the past three seasons, Barrie has had a chance to play with elite manage Gretzky’s name — but probably no one else’s. NHL centers in three different locales: Colorado, Toronto and now Edmonton. It worked well in two — with Nathan MacKinnon and with So, it’s pretty clear why both TNT and ESPN were interested in adding McDavid. But it also means Barrie, at age 29, knows first-hand that the Gretzky to their broadcasting teams, when they share U.S. national grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the hill. television rights next season. If you want to grow the audience for hockey, having the Great One as part of your studio package can only Fit is so important. Like so many teams, Edmonton will be juggling to enhance your chances. make the cap numbers work and for Barrie, it’s hard to imagine they can afford anything more than $5 to $5.5 million on a three, or maybe a four- Truthfully, I never saw Gretzky as a TV voice, but I also know how much year term. Could Barrie get more on the open market? Sure, probably. he loves the NHL and this is a way of staying connected to the game. Based on his departure interview, it sounds as if he’ll at least want to Presumably, TNT will provide some coaching on the ins and outs of how explore the security of a long-term deal. Now, if you stripped away the to be a TV panelist and he’ll probably get some advice internally from his financial part of the equation, Boston would make some sense for Barrie. family. Wife Janet and son Trevor are both actors and can provide some He could effectively go in there and replace what Torey Krug gave the helpful hints about projecting your voice and making yourself heard in a Bruins all the years he was there. Eventually, Boston is going to have to panel situation which — if the decibel levels on Inside the NBA are any find the dollars to extend Charlie McAvoy (one year remaining on a $4.9 indication — will be half of the challenge. million AAV), but Barrie, at the right price, might look attractive.

Gretzky is, by nature, soft-spoken. Presumably, Barrie would look also at the contracts signed by Krug in St. Louis and Justin Faulk before him and think he too should get around six Soft-spoken and TV in the modern era generally do not go hand in hand. years at $6.5 million. Is it doable in a flat-cap world? Logically, you’d think ALSO: Gretzky, in the past, has been reluctant to criticize the NHL very no — but then logic rarely ever enters the free-agent sweepstakes. much over the years. It has been the hand that’s fed him over a 20-year playing career and then in a variety of gigs afterward — NHL coach, part Oilers’ GM Ken Holland acknowledged that perhaps the greatest owner, front-office advisor and league ambassador for its 2017 offseason unknown revolves around defenceman Oscar Klefbom who Centennial celebrations. missed the entire season because of a chronic shoulder problem. Holland is hoping to get a progress report on Klefbom before the Oilers What I will tell you however is, for all the time, Gretzky has been on the have to file their protected lists for the Seattle expansion draft. In his last outside, looking in — he has paid close, close attention to goings on full NHL season, Klefbom played a crucial role for the Oilers, gobbling up around the NHL. We’d be talking about a team — he was always asking 25:25 minutes per game, contributing 34 points in 62 games and about the Calgary Flames — and he’d be familiar with a third-pairing effectively playing as a No. 1 defenceman — all for a very reasonable defenceman, a fourth-line forward or a youngster coming through the $4.167 million per season, a contract which has two years to run. system. He might not be at the Mark Scheifele-engagement level, but he had a top-to-bottom knowledge of the teams and the players around the If the Oilers sign Adam Larsson to a contract extension before the league that show he’s continued to pay attention throughout the years. expansion draft, they could decide to leave Klefbom unprotected and then force Seattle to make a decision on whether to choose him or a Plus, his circle is huge. If Gretzky ever wanted to be a news breaker or safer option. Philosophically speaking, Seattle should be prepared to “insider,” he would rocket to the top of the charts in that role. His Rolodex take a handful of big swings in the expansion draft, and this is one would be unparalleled. If he needed to do a bit of research before a TV situation where a big swing would defensible if Klefbom were available. hit and reached out to someone — anyone — in the game, who is going There’ll be all kinds of third-pair defencemen and minor-league forwards to turn down a call from The Great One? available to the Kraken. If Klefbom can play, he’s someone that would The problem, over the arc of his playing career, was that his words land on their first pair. That’s no small feat … always carried so much weight whenever he ventured a strong opinion What about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins? Currently, Nugent-Hopkins is set to that he eventually just stopped doing it. The backlash over calling the become an unrestricted free agent and he’ll be one of the more desirable New Jersey Devils a “Mickey Mouse” organization back in 1983 stung players if he doesn’t re-sign with Edmonton. Gabe Landeskog tops the him — and also stuck with him. He navigated the waters carefully after charts of wingers approaching UFA status, but it’s hard to imagine any that. But what that moment told you was, he was capable of a strong scenario under which Landeskog leaves Colorado. opinion, he was just been reluctant to share them publicly. Or at least, he was in the past. Nugent-Hopkins is part of the Oilers’ leadership group and that matters internally — to coach Dave Tippett and also to McDavid and Draisaitl. If Charles Barkley becomes his spiritual guide on this latest journey, will Considering how and why the Oilers lost to Winnipeg in the opening that change? Probably not. The best people on TV are also the most round — little secondary support for the Big 2 — it doesn’t make any authentic. You’d have to think that before agreeing to do this, Gretzky sense to lose your third-best forward if you can at all help it. They need to would have told the TNT people — if you’re looking for outrageous or add quality up front, not subtract it. But there is a price point for every headline-making commentary, look elsewhere. What he can provide is player and it’s hard to imagine any scenario under which Nugent-Hopkins knowledge and insight into the game, and he’s a stickler for history. As gets a raise in Edmonton – he’s a $6 million player now and you’d have anyone who ever played with him will tell you, Gretzky remembers to think the organization would actually like to get him done for something everything. Every pass. Every play. Every moment. It’s uncanny. a little under that, a number that begins with a five rather than a six. That negotiation will be interesting … So last week, I ventured a thought that T.J. Oshie would be more Of all the players nominated for the Masterton, Fleury is probably the valuable to Washington going forward than maybe even Evgeny only sure-fire Hall of Famer (though Nashville’s Pekka Rinne will have a Kuznetsov and when the Caps did their post-mortem after losing in the great shot). Fleury has won major awards before, and Stanley Cups, and opening round, that’s the message that came through from all the parties. sometimes those sorts of achievements actually work against a Oshie made it clear that his preference would be to play out his career candidate in the Masterton vote, because the Masterton also serves as a with the Capitals rather than return to Seattle as the first captain of the de facto unsung hero award some years. But in Fleury’s case, it shouldn’t Kraken, even if it meant finishing out his career in his home state. matter. General manager Brian MacLellan noted that Oshie, at age 34, had one of his best seasons ever and that a decision on who to protect and who As with Marleau, he checks all the boxes. But in terms of struggles and to expose would be complicated. Kuznetsov contracted COVID-19 twice ups-and-downs along the way, both Jack Campbell (Toronto) and Chris last year, completely disrupting his season. He earns a ton of money — Driedger (of Florida) have taken different, long and winding roads to the $7.8 million — and if that money could be moved, it would open the door NHL that featured more than a few detours. To get to where they were to retain Oshie and give the Caps a little wiggle room going forward to this year — key cogs on teams that reached great regular-season address other needs. heights — after starting the season as the nominal backups was really something. Lots of interest in Tampa and how the Lightning might get cap compliant next year. For starters, it’s hard to imagine the Lightning can bid for either Performance actually isn’t a Masterton criterium, other than the fact that Blake Coleman ($1.8 million) or Barclay Goodrow ($900,000) who were in Campbell’s and Driedger’s cases, performances this year solidified so helpful during last year’s Stanley Cup run, not just for what they did on their NHL credentials, where maybe three years ago, there would have the ice, but how much value they got from both players at bargain- been questions about whether they belong in the league or not. basement salaries. Both are on expiring contracts and Coleman likely will How about Eric Comrie in Winnipeg, who played one game in the NHL attract attention from half a dozen teams around the league — everybody this year, three last year, but has been part of four different organizations that bids for Zach Hyman and comes up short will be in on Coleman as over a 24-month span, a frequent waiver-draft addition as an insurance well. You can’t imagine Coleman getting less than four years at $4 policy who never really got the chance to show he could play? million, which probably prices Tampa out and makes you wonder, is he the sort of player that would help Edmonton get to the next level or if not The fact that he’s still carrying on? Good for him. Edmonton, then maybe Dallas, which would be a homecoming of sorts Campbell and Driedger have to be his role models, going forward, proof for the Plano, TX. native … that if you stick at it long enough, a door eventually opens a crack. Then The Oilers will almost certainly buy out James Neal and if Neal goes to you’ve got to make the most of the opportunity when it’s there. In some market, he will likely command little more than the NHL minimum next ways, it’s also what Dustin Tokarski (Buffalo) or Scott Wedgewood hope year. Is Pittsburgh a fit? Five-on-five, he’s unlikely to be able to play on to do. Rounding out the goalie nominees: the irrepressible Mike Smith either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin’s line, but he still has the ability to (Edmonton), the accomplished Rinne (Nashville) and the steady Casey be a net-front presence on their second power play. The Penguins never DeSmith (Pittsburgh). really replaced Patric Hornqvist this year. If Neal is available for $1 If you consider the third component of the Masterton criteria — million or less, do the Penguins sign him as a specialist for a rock-bottom sportsmanship — against their career penalty-minute lists, you can price to make the salary-cap numbers work elsewhere? He does have probably guess that a successful campaign will be a tough sell for all allies (Crosby, Malkin) in the Penguins’ dressing room. three, though there is a weird part of my animal brain that completely And finally understands why they were nominated.

NHL trophy ballots were due back on May 20, all except for the The Flyers’ Oskar Lindblom is up for the Masterton for the second year in Masterton Trophy, which is voted on differently. Every member of the a row. He was a finalist last year when Bobby Ryan, then of the Ottawa Professional Hockey Writers’ Association is permitted to cast a ballot — Senators, won the award. Lindblom was back playing full-time this year NHL trophy ballots were restricted to 100 selectors this year — and the after recovering from Ewing’s sarcoma. He wasn’t supposed to play at all Masterton votes weren’t due until this past Monday. last season, but when the playoffs were delayed until August last year, managed to get back into the Flyers’ lineup for an Eastern Conference Every year, I go on a Masterton riff because it’s a personal favorite and a semifinal game against the Islanders in early September. feel-good award. Often, the Masterton highlights a player who may have gained some notoriety in his own market, but doesn’t necessarily This year, Lindblom played 50 games for the Flyers, scored 14 points translate onto a league-wide canvas even if there is a story there worth and averaged 13:11 in ice time. But it was a challenge, he noted, that his telling to a larger audience. It reminds me of what they used to say about energy “goes up and down. You can feel great one day and the other day the Academy Awards — the honor is in being nominated, not necessarily you feel like you haven’t played hockey for a while. You just have to winning because even by being nominated, it highlights an achievement. battle through and try to be strong mentally and do your work every day, and hopefully you feel good. That’s the only thing I can do. Try to recover Sometimes, it’s recovering from an injury. as well as I can and be on top of my game.”

Sometimes, it’s an appreciation for longevity — and acts as kind of a The other thing that the list of finalists makes you do is go down the long-service award for players that have flown under the radar. rabbit hole of a few other stories, such as Roope Hintz of the Dallas This year, from another long list of very worthy candidates, it’s notable Stars, who played through a lower-body injury all year. Hintz and the that the San Jose chapter of the PHWA nominated Patrick Marleau for Stars coaching staff collectively made the call of whether he was in or out the award after Marleau passed Gordie Howe to become first all-time in depending upon how he was holding up on a given day; he ultimately got NHL regular-season games played. That happened in the final month of into 41 games and contributed almost every time he felt good enough to the regular season and there was a legitimate appreciation from both play. The easier path for Hintz would have been to shut it down for the teammates and opponents alike for Marleau and what an extraordinary season; the fact that he quietly kept going, as the Stars stayed close in accomplishment that was. the playoff race, demonstrated the perseverance the award is intended to highlight. Think of the specific definition of the Masterton — for dedication, perseverance, sportsmanship — and Marleau ticks all the boxes. The Masterton is always the hardest award in which to pick a winner because unlike the other awards, where there is sometimes a runaway What was particularly noteworthy about this year’s nominees was how winner and other times, a small cluster of worthy candidates, you could many were goalies — nine of the 31 — and the list illustrates how difficult make a strong case for probably 25 of the nominees. Results tend to be and varied the path to the NHL could be for so many netminders. scattershot, but if I was making an educated guess, I would say Marleau and Lindblom’s names will be on the majority of ballots, with one of So, for example, Marc-Andre Fleury is the Vegas nomination — No. 1 Fleury, Driedger or Campbell as the third finalist. pick in 2003, subject of trade rumors last summer. Some players would sulk and wear their injured pride on their sleeves. Fleury, by contrast, seems incapable of having a bad day. That sunny disposition, and the ability to put everything aside and professionally get the job done, game- The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 in and game-out, night-in and night-out, matters. 1214529 Websites back was obviously big for that. At five-on-five the series ended up dead even by expected goals, but that ignores that the Lightning were the much better team in the final two games. Again, that’s on Kucherov starting to figure things out at five-on-five. His first three games there The Athletic / NHL power rankings: The ‘Sour’ rankings say Colorado were so-so, but then he rattled off expected goals percentages of 68, 85 remains “Good 4 U”, but is it “Deja Vu” for the Leafs? and 66 percent. He’s back.

3. Boston Bruins

By Dom Luszczyszyn and Sean Gentille Last week: 3

May 28, 2021 Series Record: Won 4-1 over the Washington Capitals

Dom rank: 3

We said we’d never change the intro to The Athletic’s NHL power Sean rank: 3 rankings. We lied. Dom lied, actually. Sean: Be careful, Long Island. Tristan Jarry is on the other black and This time — and maybe this time only — some tweaks are necessary. gold team. You can thank the Stanley Cup playoffs for that. We ranked the playoff teams from 1-16, based on how good we believe their Cup chances to Dom: I remember when it was 1-0 Capitals and someone tweeted be. If there was a tie, personal bias won out. We’re not sorry about this something sassy to me about my Bruins in five prediction. Folks, never week’s tie-breaker. count your chickens until they hatch. What an absolutely dominant showing from the Bruins who owned the puck all series at five-on-five That is it. It’s that simple. First team? Best shot. Eleventh team? Worst against Washington. Boston gave them absolutely nothing for the shot. As for the non-qualifiers, you get sad lyrics from Olivia Rodrigo’s majority of the series and though four of the games were decided by one debut album “Sour”. Missing the playoffs is basically like a breakup so it goal, it didn’t really feel like the series was that close. They’re the team to all fits pretty perfectly. beat in the East and if the bracket unfolds as expected could be a real threat to Colorado in the semi-finals. You’re welcome. Sean: Charlie McAvoy is so good at so many things. We talk about 1. Colorado Avalanche Bergeron, et al, every week, and it’s not fair. Charlie McAvoy erasuretop Last week: 1 must end.

Series Record: Won 4-0 over the St. Louis Blues 4. Carolina Hurricanes

Dom rank: 1 Last week: 4

Sean rank: 1 Series Record: Won 4-2 over the Nashville Predators

Dom: The Avalanche swept the series, winning every game by three or Dom rank: 4 more goals. The two teams were so far apart that there was an Sean rank: 4 interesting question whether the Avalanche should, err, maybe rest some players in Game 4 to guarantee Nazem Kadri is back for at least Game 6 Dom: The comeback Canes! Down 2-1 in the third in Game 5 and win it of the next series. Yes, I know it goes against everything in hockey two minutes into overtime. Down 3-2 in the third in Game 6 and win it one culture and the idea of sportsmanship in general. It’s incredibly minute into overtime. The vibes on this team are simply immaculate and disrespectful to the Blues. But I mean, if the goal is to win the Cup it that series against Tampa Bay is going to be a whole lot of fun. I don’t certainly would’ve helped the team’s chances of winning it all and it’s not even care who wins there, I just hope it goes to seven. like the Blues really had a shot of coming back. Sean: Carolina isn’t in this spot because they committed to the diagonal Sean: Know who else is incredibly disrespectful to the Blues? You! “CANES” look on the road and the black warning flags at home, but … Gotcha! While we’re on the topic of Kadri — his appeal was heard on actually, they might be. What a player Jaccob Slavin is. The dude misses Thursday, so we’ll see how that goes — it’s worth talking about J.T. three games, steps back and immediately starts playing 25-plus minutes Compher, who took Kadri’s spot between Andrei Burakovsky and Joonas and doing exactly what he needs to do. He didn’t quite score the game- Donskoi. Honestly, I hadn’t realized that he’s coming off a pretty solid winner on Thursday, but it was close enough. That’s after he set up regular season; 10 goals and 18 assists in 48 games; an expected goals Dougie Hamilton off a face-off to tie it in the first place. Sheesh. percentage (56.14) that was right there with Kadri’s; an actual goals percentage (68.42) that was right there at the top of Avs’ regulars … not Dom: Was also on for all three Canes goals at five-on-five, none against, a bad guy to bump up. Whoever they play, it’ll be on Sunday. and rocked a 65 percent expected goals percentage. Have yourself a night future Lady Byng winner. 2. Tampa Bay Lightning 5. Toronto Maple Leafs Last week: 2 Last week: 7 Series Record: Won 4-2 over the Florida Panthers Series Record: Up 3-2 on the Montreal Canadiens Dom rank: 2 Dom rank: 5 Sean rank: 2 Sean rank: 5 Sean: I think most of us figured that Nikita Kucherov would hit the ground running — it feels like he started practicing with the Lightning around Sean: I should’ve gone to more Penguins practices when Jarry and Alex Valentine’s Day — but man, his first series was wild. Three goals and Galchenyuk were both on the roster. The back-breaking turnover eight assists for a league-leading 11 points, and he generally looks like contests must have been a real treat. I’m going to embed this, in case himself despite shrugging off another injury. Good players are good, and four or five or you haven’t seen it yet. Florida didn’t have much of an answer for him from the jump. If he isn’t Dom: ready to roll, particularly in Game 1, who knows? That series, basically, went according to plan — the games were tight, the metrics were close, Sean: Look, there are plenty of reasons to think the Leafs still get this but the team with the quasi-All-Star roster won out. done. The basic nature of the Canadiens, for one. I’m sure we’ll talk about that shortly. But man, the elements just keep stacking up. Brutal My big question around them is still whether they’re too reliant on that OT goal? Check. Shaky goaltending performance by Jack Campbell? power play, great as it is (8-for-23 against Florida). Fewer opportunities, Check. Again, they’ll probably be fine. Nothing to worry about. Nothing to a couple of unfortunate bounces … you never know. But whatever. see here. Dom: The power play was definitely something I noted in my preview because Florida’s penalty kill was a glaring weakness. Getting Kucherov Dom: It really felt like the Leafs would pull it off after coming back from a In any case, we’re getting at least a couple more games of televised three-goal deficit. A cathartic end to the series that would’ve hopefully Coliseum crowds. Enjoy that while you can; when that arena comes squashed at least some doubts about the team’s mental fortitude. I guess down, that sort of environment is going to disappear alongside it. they’ll have Game 6 at the Bell Centre, in front of fans for the first time all year, to prove otherwise. Dom: Watching the Isles crowd buzz like that in Game 6 has been one of the best parts of the playoffs, but the team will really need to be better to 6. Vegas Golden Knights get by a much stronger Bruins team. Yes, the Islanders won five of eight, but all five of those were before the deadline and the team was out- Last week: 6 chanced pretty heavily during the season series. It was nice to throw a Series Record: Tied 3-3 against the Minnesota Wild few pucks at Jarry for six games, but that’s not going to work against Boston’s goaltending. Dom rank: 6 9. Winnipeg Jets Sean rank: 6 Last week: 13 Dom: This is the single greatest tweet regarding Vegas, and of course it’s by McIndoe who basically owns half the top 100 all-time tweets on Series Record: Won 4-0 over the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Twitter. Dom rank: 9

It’s pretty crazy how much this season has helped unearth the Sean rank: 9 importance of Matchups and this series is the best indicator of it. Vegas is the better team on paper, had the better stats this year, and are a Dom: For starters, I want to apologize to some Jets fans who felt a bit legitimate Cup contender. But for whatever reason, the Wild have been a slighted by my article on playoff officiating. Never did I mean to imply that problem all season and now here they are: going to Game 7, dead even the Jets bending the rules was a fault of the team (that’s playoff hockey, in expected goals at five-on-five. Would’ve been hard to see coming in baby, do it until you get caught), nor did I state the series would’ve ended past seasons, but those eight games really helped illuminate what to differently otherwise. And yes, the penalties go both ways. Replace expect from the post-season. Connor McDavid’s name with Nikolaj Ehlers and the story still works.

As for why the Wild have had their number, I still don’t really have much Regardless, that’s an impressive win for them. (And for me. I bet on them of a clue. But I will say that Vegas really needs to stop sprinkling shots every single game and to win the series, so go me). from the points in the playoffs. Yes, the shot difference is high, but the actual quality hasn’t really been there. Sean: McIndoe said someone called that series “the closest sweep of all time,” which — if true — is about as accidentally funny as you can get. It Sean: If you ask me, in Game 6, they shouldn’t have given up a goal off made me feel bad for picking the Oilers in the first place. I’m done the rush, a second on a penalty and a third off a neutral-zone penalty. In assuming that “Connor Hellebuyck plus fairy dust” isn’t a viable strategy. my opinion, they should just … stop doing that. And then they’ll win. Also, do not have their own goals disallowed. That is vital. Dom: I picked Oilers in seven (despite my bets), so I was so close, but still a dumbass. One of the big disappointments of the first round post-Game 4, when it looked like this was going to be a short one. Now, am I ready for it to Sean: Can you just start texting me this stuff? end? Would I be a little bummed if we didn’t get Vegas vs. Colorado? 10. Montreal Canadiens Yes and yes. But this has lived up to the billing. Last week: 14 7. Minnesota Wild Series Record: Down 3-2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs Last week: 10 Dom rank: 10 Series Record: Tied 3-3 against the Vegas Golden Knights Sean rank: 10 Dom rank: 7 Sean: Looking forward to tweets like this for the next 15 years: Sean rank: 7 It’s the rite of passage for short players. Do something neat, and watch Dom: God, I love this team. Down 3-1 in the series against one of the beat writers for every team that inevitably passed on you for not being 1 league’s best teams and they really went out and forced Game 7. It may ½ inches taller tap out, basically, the same thing. The San Jose Sharks not have been pretty, but they did and now there’s just one game passed on Alex DeBrincat 27 times. Bet they wish they had that back. standing between them and the next round. The vibes are immaculate — what could possibly go wrong here? Anyway, Caufield’s a 100-percent lock to play on Saturday, right? Right? Right? Sean: The wildest stat I’ve seen all week: The Wild are 3-0 all-time in Game 7s! That means they’ve made it out of the first round **calculator Dom: I still can’t believe he didn’t play the first two games, he has sounds** at least three times! Madness! Dap to Cam Talbot, honestly. In continuously looked like the most dangerous guy on the ice for Montreal Minnesota’s wins, he’s stopped 103 of 105 shots. Ignore the other three every night. games, I guess, but he’s handling his business. Game 5 was Montreal’s best performance of the series and it still Dom: What makes that stat even wilder is *gestures at the entire history involved coughing up a three-goal lead. With fans back in the stands for of Minnesota sports* Game 6, it feels like we will only see two extremes: an even better performance to force Game 7, or a Leafs blowout. No in-betweens. 8. New York Islanders Dom: Alright so this is the part with all the teams who have been Last week: 11 eliminated featuring lyrics from Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour”, an album Sean Series Record: Won 4-2 over the Pittsburgh Penguins had not heard until Thursday evening. I, of course, forced him to listen to it. Here’s his review. Dom rank: 8 Sean: The only Olivia Rodrigo song I’d heard before Thursday was Sean rank: 8 “Drivers License.” At the risk of wading too far into the larger discourse, here’s what I’ll say: people in their mid-30s should get comfortable with Sean: Mat Barzal’s near-complete lack of production against Pittsburgh not feeling compelled to gin up takes on art meant for younger folks. That — one five-on-five assist, underwater on shot attempts and expected could mean uncharitably comparing it to stuff you listened to as a kid, goals — was one of the wildest parts of that series. Good on the Isles for decontextualizing it and claiming it as your own, or forcing yourself to managing to handle business despite all that, but he’s probably got to be give a shit about it when, actually, you don’t. If you like it, neat. If you better if they’re hoping for much of a chance against the Bruins don’t, neat. If you have no opinion, neat. Don’t be weird. It doesn’t matter if your boss’s 17-year-old thinks you’re cool. Also, flooded as the marketplace of ideas seems to be here, Gen Z Sean: They’re a wreck, dude. What do you do with Evgeny Kuznetsov? should, similarly, have the option not to give a shit. In 2003, I couldn’t Hope the Kraken take him? They’re running out of good players. Even have cared less what some dork with fish-oil pills and a 401k thought Anthony Mantha (26) is older than you’d think and more expensive than about whatever since-canceled, third-wave emo bands I was obsessing he should be. Not good. over. Dom: Here is a chart: That being said, “brutal” and “good 4 u” are standouts. The record itself is omnivorous if a little chaotic. It’s earnest and honest, and easy to see All the team’s “stars” are crazy overrated, I will die on this hill. why so many people — including those of us hurtling toward middle age Sean: Didn’t that happen back in 2018? — connect with it. I give it a 6.8. Dom made me do this. I wash my hands of whatever comes next. 14: Nashville Predators

Dom: 3.2 too low IMO. Anyways, here are the Panthers. Last week: 15

11. Florida Panthers Series Record: Lost 4-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes

Last week: 9 Dom rank: 14

Series Record: Lost 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning Sean rank: 14

Dom rank: 11 “Their win is not my loss

Sean rank: 11 I know it’s true, but

“And ain’t it funny how you ran to her I can’t help gettin’ caught up in it all”

The second that we called it quits?” Dom: Remember when Sean had the Predators ranked 27th or whatever? Remember when I said they should just sell because they’re Dom: It took one game to switch from Sergei Bobrovsky to Chris just going to get throttled in the first round? Well, the team may have lost, Driedger, and then he turned into a pumpkin, and then Bobrovsky but that was a real gutsy effort. They took Carolina to four straight continued to do Bobrovsky things, and then it was the Spencer Knight overtimes and played a lot better than I could’ve anticipated. Nashville show and then it was series over. What a roller coaster that I’m sure the deserves some credit for that and with Juuse Saros in tow, maybe this team didn’t expect when it invested $10 million per year for seven season will have something to build on after all — even if it ended as seasons at the position, expected.

Sean: Bright side: If it’s Bob and Knight next year (Bob Knight), they can Sean: I’ve said it for weeks, and I’m gonna say it again: I was not quite just pretend each of them makes $5.5 million or something. That’s … prepared for the Saros emergence. He was Vezina-finalist caliber before almost normal. this series, and then the star turn continued. This is a pro-Saros space. I 12. Pittsburgh Penguins still think that’s a weird hodge-podge of skaters, but I’ll gladly watch him, and gladly talk about him like he’s Darren Pang-sized, not an inch taller Last week: 5 than me.

Series Record: Lost 4-2 to the New York Islanders 15: Edmonton Oilers

Dom rank: 12 Last week: 12

Sean rank: 12 Series Record: Lost 4-0 to the Winnipeg Jets

“So when you gonna tell her that we did that, too? Dom rank: 15

She thinks it’s special, but it’s all reused” Sean rank: 16

Dom: Which goaltending experience was worse, 2012 Fleury or 2021 “They say these are the golden years Jarry? But I wish I could disappear Sean: The thing about that particular Fleury meltdown was that the entire series against the Flyers was out of control. Ilya Bryzgalov might have Ego crush is so severe been just as bad; one game featured seven power-play goals. Plus, the God, it’s brutal out here” Flyers basically forced the Penguins into a full-team meltdown. They had 89 penalty minutes in Game 3, Crosby got all pissed afterward, blah blah. Dom: Imagine getting swept in the first round with the best player in the It was a wasted opportunity and a total freak show. Fleury sucked out world on your team. Yikes. loud, yes, but he was only part of the circus. This loss to the Isles was Sean: Imagine getting swept in the first round with a second guy who more boring by an order of magnitude. The only interesting thing was won MVP last season. Double yikes. Jarry steering the car off a cliff. So … I guess this one. 16. St. Louis Blues Dom: I really feel like you’re underselling the .834 (!!!) save percentage Fleury was rocking that year. Five more goals on 31 fewer shots! There Last week: 16 may have been an entire circus around him, but he wasn’t just part of it, he was the ringleader. Series Record: Lost 4-0 to the Colorado Avalanche

13. Washington Capitals Dom rank: 16

Last week: 8 Sean rank: 15

Series Record: Lost 4-1 to the Boston Bruins “All I did was try my best

Dom rank: 13 This the kinda thanks I get?”

Sean rank: 13 Dom: The Blues indeed tried their best, they were just a bad team, thanks for coming to my TED talk. “You got me f—–ed up in the head, boy Sean: Time for a round of Is This Dom Talking About the Blues or The Never doubted myself so much” Blues Talking About Themselves? The quote: “It was pretty pathetic.”

Dom: Three straight first round exits, the last two in only five games. That was … Ryan O’Reilly. Also, probably Dom. Hmmmmmmmm. Dom: That’s way too generous for it to have been me. 17. Dallas Stars (23-19-14, 60 points) “I know you get déjà vu”

“Well, good for you, you look happy and healthy Same shit. Different year. I’m sure the off-season will feature some terrible signing in the name of Veteran Leadership to clog the cap…err… Not me, if you ever cared to ask” I mean, take the team to another level. But hey, maybe the Sedins are Dallas might have made the playoffs if not for the year-long infirmary, and the figureheads this team needs to squeak into the playoffs. given the trouble Nashville has given Carolina, it’s possible the Stars 27. Detroit Red Wings (19-27-10, 48 points) might have made things interesting if they just got in. “And I see everyone gettin’ all the things I want 18. New York Rangers (27-23-6, 60 points) I’m happy for them, but then again, I’m not” “Where’s my fucking teenage dream? The Red Wings have finished 31st, 28th, 27th, 25th in the previous four If someone tells me one more time seasons and didn’t earn a single top-three pick for their troubles. This “Enjoy your youth,” I’m gonna cry” year they finished 27th and look unlikely to earn one again. It’s fine, I’m sure Detroit fans are fine. The top two picks usually flourish right away, even as teens. Not Alexis Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko though. 28. New Jersey Devils (19-30-7, 45 points)

19. Chicago Blackhawks (24-25-7, 55 points) “It’s always one step forward and three steps back”

“The things I did Every off-season looks great for the Devils who do so many savvy things to position themselves for the present and future. Every actual season Just so I could call you mine” feels like the exact opposite.

Flags fly forever and the Blackhawks earned three, and now this current 29. Columbus Blue Jackets (18-26-12, 48 points) state is the price they’re paying for it. Worth it. “I’ve lost my mind, I’ve spent the night 20. Philadelphia Flyers (25-23-8, 58 points) Cryin’ on the floor of my bathroom” “And maybe in some masochistic way This is actually about Patrik Laine who requested a trade from Winnipeg I kind of find it all exciting only to land in America’s Winnipeg — and put up the worst season of his career. Like, which lover will I get today? 30. Anaheim Ducks (17-30-9, 43 points) Will you walk me to the door or send me home crying?” “Maybe I’m too emotional The Flyers are the league’s most chaotic mediocre team, drifting between the extremes of pretty good or pretty bad. Just be average, we Or maybe you never cared at all” don’t need the roller coaster! As usual, no, we do not care about the Ducks. 21. Arizona Coyotes (24-26-6, 54 points) 31. Buffalo Sabres (15-34-7, 37 points) “I want it to be, like, messy” “Now you can be a better man for your brand new girl” Maybe one day this will be a functional organization. Maybe. Literally, any lyric from any song from “Sour” works for the Sabres as this 22. Calgary Flames (26-27-3, 55 points) season probably gave a lot of people déjà vu. One step forward and three steps back as usual likely had many fans crying on the bathroom “I’m so sick of myself floor, especially when it looked like half the team never cared at all. I’m I’d rather be, rather be sure they’d rather be anyone else and it’s hard to even know where to start with this team. No teenage dream will save this team. Anyone, anyone else” But while the end of a season may feel like a break-up for most teams Just sitting here thinking about what a fast and fun team the Flames were who don’t make the playoffs, the Sabres look likely to have a very real in 2019, how they lost to a faster and more fun team, and then they one coming with Jack Eichel, the current face of their franchise. We all completely changed their identity. Now Darryl Sutter is their coach and expect him to be at his best away from the Sabres. But for Buffalo fans, they’re in league purgatory. Good luck. it’ll be a very tough pill to swallow.

23. San Jose Sharks (21-28-7, 49 points) All you can really do now is turn up the speakers and blast “good 4 u.” I promise it’ll be good for you. “Oh, I hope you’re happy

But not like how you were with me” The Athletic LOADED: 05.29.2021 Joe Thornton winning the Cup with Not San Jose after over a decade of close but not quite would have to sting. Like seeing your ex get married while you’re at home, sitting on the couch alone, eating Doritos.

24. Los Angeles Kings (21-28-7, 49 points)

“And good for you, I guess that you’ve been workin’ on yourself”

The Kings finished outside of the bottom five and a turnaround feels like it’s coming thanks to the prospects the team has amassed. A strong rebuild that might still benefit from the last few good seasons of Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty.

25. Ottawa Senators (23-28-5, 51 points)

“And God, I don’t even know where to start”

The Senators finished the season 23rd, which is a nice step if you think this rebuild is over… but does this team really have the elite young core to say that? They go back to the Atlantic Division next year and… well… it looks tough. So, what’s the plan here?

26. Vancouver Canucks (23-29-4, 50 points) 1214530 Websites that he'd been "going back and forth" with in his recovery -- hence his game-time status throughout this series.

"We were unbeatable tonight," he said post-game. Sportsnet.ca / Stanley Cup Playoffs Takeaways: Supporting cast takes Vegas has been the deeper team all along, but Minnesota's ability to shut centre stage in Vegas down that typically strong offence had been causing the Golden Knights problems all series, with no room for error on either side.

Emily Sadler@EmmySadler Minnesota's ability to claw their way back from being down 3-1 in the series to force Game 7 came with its bumps and bruises. Star forward May 29, 2021, 1:36 AM Joel Eriksson Ek was dealing with an injury all game that stemmed from a scary collision with the goal post from Game 6. He appeared to

aggravate the injury Friday night, and wasn't his usual dynamic self. Considering their status as a Stanley Cup favourite heading into the But the biggest toll taken was on defence, with Minnesota losing a key playoffs, you may have predicted the Vegas Golden Knights would defeat piece of its blue line in Jonas Brodin early in the game. Brodin was the Minnesota Wild in their first-round matchup. But if you were to script shoved hard into the boards and left the game early in the first period this Game 7, it's safe to say you probably wouldn't have cast Mattias after playing less than two minutes, leaving the Wild with just five D-men Janmark, Nicolas Hague, and Zach Whitecloud as the lead actors in this for most of the matchup. Ryan Suter and Matt Dumba each played nearly one. half the game, clocking in at 28:50 and 28:47, respectively. With the Vegas stage set for the Golden Knights' star-studded cast to win DeBoer stays perfect in Game 7 their first Game 7 on home ice, it was this chorus of depth scorers who truly made the biggest difference on this night, with Janmark getting Going to wager a guess he'd like to avoid testing this record again. Friday's first, fifth, and final word to claim 6-2 victory over the Wild to move on to Act 2 against the Colorado Avalanche. Parise's final act?

Since arriving in Vegas at the trade deadline as the Golden Knights’ lone A difficult season for Zach Parise ended with a tough series for the roster addition, Janmark had just one goal to his name -- a regular- veteran forward, who was held out the first three games as a healthy season marker on April 21. By the time he left the rink Friday night, he'd scratch. While he kept quiet when asked about being scratched, citing a added three more. desire not to be a distraction to the team, you could tell he was playing with a little extra fire when he was slotted into the lineup after a broken Janmark's first of the night -- and of the post-season -- was a stunner to arm took Marcus Johansson out. Parise scored in Game 5, registered an open the scoring, splitting Minnesota's defence and tucking it past Cam assist in Game 6, and on Friday night went between the legs for a crafty Talbot: net-front goal to tie the game in the first period.

Remaining Time -0:49 Remaining Time -0:59

Janmark makes nice deke on Talbot to score after battling for puck Parise bats the puck between his legs to score beauty on Fleury

He added his second goal of the night midway through the third period to Parise's future in Minnesota has felt uncertain all season -- though, make it 5-2, then completed the hat trick with an empty netter four considering he's still under contract for four more seasons at $7.54 minutes later. He's the eighth player in NHL history to score a hat trick in million per and has a no-move clause, he still holds the power here. After a Game 7 -- a "dream come true," Janmark said after the game. almost being traded last year, this season has brought plenty of speculation that the 2020-21 campaign could be his last with his Let's look at that first goal from another angle: hometown team. This will certainly be a storyline to watch in Minnesota Two minutes into the second period of the game, at that point tied 1-1, this off-season. If this was in fact his last game with the club, he gave another unlikely hero: Nicolas Hague, who released a seeing-eye shot fans a vintage Parise goal as his final act. from the point right off the faceoff to beat Cam Talbot for his first career playoff goal. Later in the frame, it was his usual third-pairing partner, rookie Zach Whitecloud, who stepped up and showed off his elite shot Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.29.2021 after being set up by Shea Theodore.

While five of Vegas' six goals were scored by Janmark, Hague, and Whitecloud, the game-winner belonged to the team's leading man, Max Pacioretty. Life without their top regular-season goal-scorer through the first six games of this series brought its challenges, with Vegas struggling to get its powerful offence firing and finish plays.

"Just writing his name on the board today in the lineup gave our group a lift. Playing for six games without him ... was a hill that our group had to climb, and it was critical that we got him back tonight," Vegas head coach Pete DeBoer told reporters after the game. "It changed, I think, everything."

With Pacioretty back in the lineup, the ripple effects were felt early and often throughout the roster, with DeBoer able to reunite his usual line combos that did so well in the regular season -- and put Janmark on that third-line wing, where he thrived. Bringing back Ryan Reaves brought a strong physical presence, too.

Of course, it wasn't just his general presence that made Pacioretty such a clutch addition on Friday. While at times he did not look 100 per cent, his signature shot was certainly on point -- a one-timer at close range that gave the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead seven minutes into the middle frame and served as the eventual game- and series-winning goal.

This was Pacioretty's third career series-clinching goal and his second career Game 7 game-winner. He trails just Patrick Marleau (he's got five) and Patrice Bergeron (four) for most such goals among active NHLers.

Following the game, he didn't tip his hand with regards to the exact nature of the injury he's been dealing with but indicated it was something 1214531 Websites "That just speaks to the fact that we gifted them offence — and that's obviously something you can't afford to do in the playoffs."

We’re using Sandin as Exhibit A today, but in truth, the gifting of offence Sportsnet.ca / Why Maple Leafs' Rasmus Sandin should expect to be has long been a soft spot for the Maple Leafs. Blame gets shared just as benched for Game 6 high-fives do.

Although Keefe has rightly questioned the league’s bookkeeping on such stats, Toronto led the entire NHL in giveaways this season, averaging Luke Fox@lukefoxjukebox 12.56 per 60 minutes.

May 28, 2021, 3:49 PM The Canadiens’ forecheck has swelled that figure to 13.15 in the post- season. (Among all 16 playoff teams, only Montreal — 13.95 giveaways

per 60 — is more likely to turn over the puck.) TORONTO – Look no further than Rasmus Sandin for the twists and "Most of their offence they've gotten throughout the series has been stuff turns playoff drama, those split-second swings of emotion and that we've given them," Spezza said. perspective that get fans acting deliriously irrational. "I think that's an important piece for us, to not give them free The youngest Toronto Maple Leaf had his face to his own goalie and was opportunities. To make them earn their chances. We feel like when we two strides slow in his playoff debut when Paul Byron scored Game 1’s do that, we're a very difficult team to play against." winner. While Keefe stopped short of announcing Sandin’s scratch for the most The next game, Sandin’s phone was exploding with Swedish important game of the year Saturday, trust has taken a body blow. congratulations from friends and family who’d pulled all-nighters to see him one-time a pivotal power-play goal, sparking a victory and one of Of course, hockey is game of mistakes. But it’s also a game of limiting those glorious Joe Thornton group hugs. mistakes, especially when you’re game-planning to win 3-2.

He looked poised in Game 3. The club beat the Montreal Canadiens "I just think that with Rasmus, the payoff can be really big for us in terms again. of his skill-set and what he can bring. That requires a little extra patience on our side," Keefe said. "You want the player to be aware of the But his coach is a tinkerer who likes to keep his taxi drivers on call. And mistake, which I think that itself is pretty obvious. They know that. But it's the Leafs were facing a back-to-back. As a result, Sandin was healthy- more just being aware of what was available there, what the better play scratched — for a solid and fresh-legged Travis Dermott — in a relatively was, and then you park it and move on." easy Game 4 win. May is not the month for patience. Sandin popped back on the ice for Game 5. Urgency is the order. Think you know how this year's playoffs will unfold? Before every round, from Round 1 to the Stanley Cup Final, predict the winners and number And if you’re hesitant with puck decisions below empty stands, how do of games for each series and answer a few prop questions. you react with 2,500 pent-up enemy voices raining down?

One observer could chalk up the 6:11 Sandin skated Thursday as a Sure, Dermott didn’t wow in his one-game playoff look the way Sandin learning experience. Another could call it unmitigated disaster. They’d did in Game 2, but he didn’t make a city cringe and sweat either. both be correct. Keefe said informing Dermott he’d (temporarily) lost his job to Sandin at "You start understanding as you play more playoff hockey, there's really the outset of the post-season was a "difficult discussion." Keefe also told no momentum from game to game," said Jason Spezza, the Leafs him to stay ready. resident player/sage. "You have a fresh chance every day to create new momentum." "I know [assistant coach] Dave Hakstol trusts [Dermott] and will put [him] on the ice to defend, and [he] can play against any line," Keefe said That goes for the other guys, too. earlier in the week.

Sandin was bullied off the puck in his own zone by Corey Perry, and his Sandin is a team-worst minus-3 in the series despite playing sheltered resulting cough-up led to Joel Armia’s opening strike. Later, Jesperi minutes. The Habs are now pressing him like a Cuban sandwich. Kotkaniemi picked Sandin’s pockets behind the Leafs net to hand the visitors a 3-0 lead and, essentially, end Sandin’s worknight. And, Through nine regular-season games, Sandin had two giveaways. He has perhaps, his series. five through four playoff games.

The rookie saw one brief shift, alongside security blanket T.J. Brodie, in The post-season is an unforgiving beast. Rasmus Sandin is a heckuva the third period. talent whose day will come.

Ostensibly, Sandin was in the lineup to revive a clunky top-unit power "He's a young defenceman — you're gonna make mistakes. You're play. But when the Leafs earned a late 5-on-4 opportunity, Sandin gonna make mistakes when you've played 20 years in the league as glanced back at the coaching staff only to see Morgan Rielly get tapped well," partner Zach Bogosian said. instead. "Now's not the time to dwell too much. We have a big game tomorrow Jake Muzzin subbed in to run point on PP2 and clapped one past Carey night." Price shortly after the penalty expired.

At that point, with Hall & Oates blasting, it would be hard to argue Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.29.2021 benching Sandin is the wrong decision.

Reviewing the tape and assessing what went wrong, Sheldon Keefe was careful not to mention Sandin — or overtime goat Alex Galchenyuk — explicitly Friday.

The coach did emphasize that, in a 4-3 OT loss, the Maple Leafs scored three goals.

"That should be enough to win in the playoffs. You don’t have to look any further, for me, than to the fact that they scored three unassisted goals last night. Two were actually unassisted, but for me the overtime, winning goal is unassisted as well. So that's three out of their four goals," Keefe said prior to hopping a Game 6 flight to Montreal. 1214532 Websites Cassidy said. "Some of it was off the rush, we were able to get inside. I know Taylor Hall definitely helped in that matter."

The Bruins didn't have Rask for most of their playoff run last season and Sportsnet.ca / Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2 Preview: Bruins vs. you wonder what sort of a difference he could have made against the Islanders Tampa Bay Lightning, when Jaroslav Halak went 1-4 with a .896 save percentage. Rask got better every game against Washington, finishing the series with a .941 save percentage. Remember, when the Bruins made the final in 2019, Rask was incredible, allowing more than three Rory Boylen@RoryBoylen goals in a game just twice through the entire playoff run. Boston is a May 28, 2021, 11:51 AM different team when he's playing this well.

NY Islanders: As mentioned off the top, the Islanders finished the season terribly and had to meet a Penguins team that was one of the NHL's best In the history of these two franchises, this will be just the third time stretching back three months. But this is why season series and regular they've ever met in the post-season, and the first since 1983. The New season success go out the window come playoff time. The Islanders had York Islanders won both of the previous two series, but we'll give the the better goaltending, dealt with adversity better than the Penguins did, Boston Bruins a break on those -- after all, they happened at the and knocked Pittsburgh out for the second time in three seasons. beginning and end of New York's dynastic run of four straight Stanley Cups. How did they do it? Well, for one, Kyle Palmieri showed up. He was acquired before the deadline from the New Jersey Devils to help add Both teams pulled off an upset to get here. Boston, the East Division's scoring punch after captain Anders Lee went down to an injury that third seed, knocked off the Washington Capitals in five, while the ended his season. Palmieri never moved any higher than the third line Islanders as the fourth seed beat out the Pittsburgh Penguins in six. In and scored just twice in 16 regular season games with the Islanders. that way they're similar, but they got to the playoffs in much different Now, this team's strength is certainly not its offence, but the 2.18 goals ways. they averaged in the last four weeks of the season ranked 28th in the league and was not a good sign. The Bruins came in hot and were a popular Round 1 upset pick. From the trade deadline to the end of the regular season, Boston was 12-4-1 But Palmieri scored two goals right away in Game 1 against the with a .735 points percentage that was among the best in the league. Penguins, including the OT winner, and then scored one of the tying Deadline pickup Taylor Hall played a massive role in that, scoring eight goals in the decisive Game 6. New York averaged 3.5 goals per game in times in 16 games. Round 1 on an 11.1 shooting percentage. Tristan Jarry had a series he'd like to forget and the Isles shouldn't count on having that level of offence The Islanders, meanwhile, were 5-6-3 post-deadline and had just one win against Boston. in their last five regular season games. Time to doubt them, right? That's just what Barry Trotz wants you to do. The good news on that front is that New York's defence still did a pretty good job of keeping the Penguins to the outside. Even better is that 25- New York was a comeback machine in Round 1 against the Penguins, year-old Ilya Sorokin won all four of his starts with a .943 save taking advantage of shaky goaltending that probably won't occur in percentage and now has the momentum to carry forward as the team's Round 2. In Game 6 alone they overcame three separate one-goal starter for now. And if he falters? Semyon Varlamov is still there and he's deficits to end the series. only been relegated to backup because of one bad start and the fact When discussing what makes the Islanders successful it always comes Sorokin was just so good. back to their system and the buy-in to it. They have a good defence, Boston Bruins X-Factor: Taylor Hall even though the 34.88 shots they allowed per 60 minutes of play was the third-highest amount in Round 1. Speaking to Hockey Central on The Bruins targeted Hall at the deadline because he brought them Thursday, Trotz discussed what he wants his teams to accomplish and something they lacked: second line scoring and a player who can create how Boston takes a similar approach. so much in motion. Cassidy talked about his impact against Washington and, in Round 2 against the Islanders, his ability to work with set-up man "The inside ice is the most dangerous ice," Trotz said. "Boston takes care David Krejci on the rush could give the Islanders' system hassles. New of the inside ice...shots are opportunities, but when they're predictable York will be studied up and prepared for this of course, but it's Hall's job shots, especially (against) the goaltenders in this league now, that if to fight through that anyway and find a way to be productive. they're on their game and you make it predictable for them they're going to be good for you. That's what we try to do with our goaltenders." He's still playing for a new contract and hopes it's with Boston, so one round of good post-season play might not be enough. It will be harder for This should be a heck of a series. Game 1 will go Saturday night at 8 Boston to get through the Islanders' defence to create high quality p.m. ET. Here's how the two teams match up. opportunities, but as these guys follow Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron Think you know how this year's playoffs will unfold? Before every round, and David Pastrnak on the ice there are two lines that should relentlessly from Round 1 to the Stanley Cup Final, predict the winners and number test New York. If Hall gets through with any consistency he'll be a of games for each series and answer a few prop questions. nightmare to the Islanders and what a story it'd be if he's a difference- maker in getting Boston back to Round 3. Boston Bruins: Boston is a mostly healthy squad and that is a massive development for them as they had to fight through a few things during the NY Islanders X-Factor: Anthony Beauviller season. But as things moved along, the Bruins gained strength, New York might not be able to score as much against Boston's stingy overcame various challenges and you could see their Stanley Cup defence and established, experienced goaltending, but if they're going to candidacy begin to grow. win they'll still need a game-breaker. There are a few candidates for that, There was a time when making the playoffs wasn't even a guarantee for including Palmieri continuing his good start and Mathew Barzal this team. At the trade deadline, they were four points up on the absolutely putting on a show. Philadelphia Flyers for fourth and had just lost 8-1 to Washington the But between those two lines is the trio of Josh Bailey, Brock Nelson and night before. Tuukka Rask was still out of the lineup. Philadelphia was Anthony Beauvillier, and the 23-year-old left winger could be a starting to struggle, too, around that time, but the Bruins still decided to breakthrough player here. He scored in three of the six games against buy into a championship window that exists as long as the Perfection Pittsburgh and had three game-winning goals in the 2020 playoffs. Look Line is an elite unit and brought in Hall at a pretty good price. out for a big moment or two for him against Boston. Hall was the best acquisition of deadline day, both for his regular season "He's got really explosive speed," Trotz told the Hockey Central crew. contributions and for what he did in Round 1. Hall scored twice and "He and Mathew (Barzal) have another gear. And because of that he added an assist in the five-game series and the way he plays, so puts pressure on opponents. It's not always big, physical pressure, but it excellent off the rush, helped give Boston the edge it needed. is speed pressure that he gets on people to move the puck a little "I thought we were better on offence in terms of attacking their D, quicker." breaking them down, and finding ways to create offence against their bigger Dmen, so that was below the goal line," Bruins coach Bruce Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214533 Websites 2021 playoffs, his .923 mark is better than all but two goalies (Tuukka Rask and, ahem, Lehner are at .924) who’ve played at least 20 games in those five post-season sessions.

Sportsnet.ca / Golden Knights' Fleury has seen everything over roller If you focus solely on “Flower’s” easygoing manner, you run the risk of coaster career underestimating how much fortitude he has. What makes Fleury like a weed you just can’t kill -- and a guy teammates universally adore -- is the competitive spirit and moxie simmering just below the sweet surface. When he was a major junior player for the Cape Breton Screaming Ryan Dixon@dixononsports Eagles, Fleury was asked by coach Pascal Vincent to take a seat one May 28, 2021, 11:23 AM night. Vincent also tasked Fleury with charting scoring chances for both his own team and the opponents. When Fleury turned in his homework assignment, all Vincent saw was a note that said, “I’m a goaltender, not a statistician.” If you were to call a player the face of -- not just his team -- but the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs, chances are you’d land on somebody like the Vincent, now the coach of the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, recalled the fallout captain of the New York Islanders dynasty Denis Potvin, with his scar- in a story I wrote for The Hockey News when Fleury was beginning to obscuring beard, or maniacal St. Louis Blues centre Ryan O’Reilly, who establish himself in the NHL. “I was not too happy to see that, but on the wore a toothless grin from ear-to-ear when he skated off with the 2019 other hand I could see he’s got a lot of character,” he said. “So, of Conn Smythe Trophy. course, he was brought into my office the office and we had a few words -- well he listened to the few words I had to say -- but when he left [the Set those stereotypes aside, though, because the person who best other coaches and I] looked at each other and I remember saying, ‘This represents what the playoffs are all about -- perseverance against the kid is for real. He wants to play, maybe he made a mistake there, but he headwind of unrelenting challenges -- is no whiskered warrior. Even at 36 wants to play.” years old, Marc-Andre Fleury retains a mug as smooth as the flat side of a puck. And as the Vegas Golden Knights stopper prepares to start his ENTER NOW 145th post-season contest on Friday -- a winner-take-all affair versus the Minnesota Wild -- he does so armed with the knowledge that no matter That’s as true today as it was then. Fleury has never stopped fighting for what his opponent or the game itself throws at him, there can’t be any the net, just as he’s never given up on a puck. His signature play from curveballs left he hasn’t seen. the 2009 Cup Final -- diving headfirst to his blocker side to deny Nick Lidstrom’s attempt and preserve a one-goal lead in the final seconds of I look at Fleury, see the sincerity of a golden retriever who just wants to Game 7 -- perfectly captures the spirit of Fleury. spread love within his family, and wonder how one easy-to-love goalie found himself in so many hockey situations that just required a hug. Thank goodness he got that moment. Given everything that’s been thrown at him, Fleury probably deserves another just like it. CHOOSE PLAN

Seriously, the Hockey Gods have been whizzing arrows at this guy’s flashy armour for decades now. It was almost 20 years ago that the 2004 Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.29.2021 World Junior Championship was settled by Fleury’s clearing attempt bouncing off teammate Braydon Coburn and into the Canadian net, handing Team USA its first-ever gold medal. One year earlier, Fleury was out of his mind at the WJC in advance of becoming the first-overall pick at the 2003 NHL Draft, but Canada lost a one-goal final to the Russians on home ice.

Two of his best NHL playoff seasons came in 2008 and 2017. In the former year, Fleury posted a .933 save percentage and 1.97 goals against average, but still experienced heartbreak when the Penguins lost to Detroit in the Cup Final. In the latter post-season, Fleury played 15 games -- including a second-round, Game 7 shutout of the Washington Capitals -- put up a .924 save percentage, yet still ceded the net to Matt Murray when the guy who had supplanted him as Pittsburgh’s No. 1 was ready to return in the Eastern Conference Final.

That was the same year Fleury waived his no-move clause so he could tearfully say good-bye to Steeltown and start anew in Vegas. Two years after taking the “Golden Misfits” to the 2018 Final in their first season of existence, Fleury was popped out of the crease in the bubble playoffs by 2020 trade deadline acquisition Robin Lehner.

After enduring an off-season of hearing about how his $7-million cap hit made him untradeable, Fleury crumpled in the fetal position and begged for mercy. Just kidding. He used the opening created by Lehner’s recovery from shoulder surgery to turn in a Vezina-calibre season in which he finished third in both wins (26) and shutouts (six), while posting the sixth-best five-on-five save percentage (.929) and high-danger save percentage (.853) in the league among goalies with 1,000 minutes of action. In these playoffs, he’s allowed Minny two goals or fewer in four of six outings.

If you can believe it, the Sorel, Que., native has been absorbing blows and pushing forward dating all the way back to his home province’s famous pee wee tournament in Quebec City. Fleury’s Longueuil AA team won the event, but -- after splitting time with his fellow adolescent batterymate -- he didn’t get the tap for the final and experienced his team’s championship game from the bench.

It’s not as though every bad thing that’s happened to Fleury can be chalked up to fate’s sick sense of humour. From 2010 through 2017, his .903 playoff save percentage was the worst mark among the 14 puck stoppers who appeared in at least 35 contests during that timeframe. To his credit, though, Fleury righted the ship and from 2017 through these 1214534 Websites With so little flexibility to add the speed and skill at depth positions that Benning acknowledged last week the Canucks need, it would be helpful for cap-clarity to re-sign Pettersson and Hughes well before the NHL rolls through the expansion draft, entry draft and free agency in late July. Sportsnet.ca / Pettersson, Hughes contracts will be precedent-setting for Canucks Given the NHL’s current recession and lingering uncertainty about how much ticket revenue the Canucks should expect next season, two- or three-year bridge deals for the team’s best forward and best defenceman appear to make sense for both sides. But as preliminary discussions Iain MacIntyre@imacSportsnet have begun with super agent Pat Brisson, who represents both May 28, 2021, 7:29 PM Pettersson and Hughes, the Canucks aren’t ruling out long-term deals and will budget for that possibility.

While Benning was proactive in re-signing goalie Thatcher Demko to a VANCOUVER -- No matter how aggressively general manager Jim five-year, $25-million contract in March, Horvat didn’t get his six-year Benning attacks the Vancouver Canucks’ off-season, patience and extension until the week before training camp in 2017, and Brock prudence are going to be vitally important ideals because, realistically, Boeser’s three-year bridge deal two years later came in at the end of there isn’t a whole lot the club can do this summer to escape its camp. deadweight contracts. Long-term or bridge, sooner or later, new contracts for Pettersson and After a season of losses in the standings and financial ledger, Canucks Hughes will be precedent-setting for the Canucks and shape the general manager Jim Benning announced one week ago that owner organization for many years. Francesco Aquilini has pledged to provide whatever resources are necessary to get the team back to the playoffs in 2022. Fantasy Hockey Playoffs Bracket

“Buyouts are going to be part of our strategy this summer to save cap Think you know how this year's playoffs will unfold? Before every round, space,” Benning told reporters. “We're going to be aggressive in the trade from Round 1 to the Stanley Cup Final, predict the winners and number front and in free agency.” of games for each series and answer a few prop questions.

The Canucks should be aggressive. Captain Bo Horvat and co-leader It probably didn’t get the attention it deserved a week ago, but J.T. Miller are under contract for two more seasons, during which Pettersson’s season-ending explanation about his troublesome wrist franchise players Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson are expected to injury felt familiar and ominous. play on bridge deals (see below). Nils Hoglander, Vasili Podkolzin and Boeser’s Calder Trophy campaign in 2017-18 ended when he suffered a Jack Rathbone will be on entry-level contracts. The team should do broken bone in his back during a March 5 home game against the New everything it can to take advantage of this window. York Islanders. But it wasn’t until a month later that Boeser revealed to But management needs to be careful. There is so little wriggle room Sportsnet that a wrist injury that occurred Feb. 8 in Tampa, and caused financially – and much more salary-cap relief coming after next season – him to miss only one game, hadn’t healed and was getting treated by a that Benning can’t afford to repeat mistakes in free agency like the four- specialist. year, $12-million deals he gave to Antoine Roussel and Jay Beagle in Boeser said his wrist would not require surgery, and a full off-season of 2018. rest and training should allow him to be 100 per cent for the start of the As Week 1 of the Canucks’ off-season ends with the team inching 2018-19 season. Although he scored 26 goals as a sophomore, his towards new deals for coach Travis Green’s staff, including goaltending shooting percentage dropped by four points and Boeser missed 13 coach Ian Clark, there is a pile of work to be done. games with a groin injury attributable to his injury-delayed start to summer training. There are endless ways to project/configure the Canucks’ roster for next fall. Depending on how management deals with the most inefficient Pettersson left the Canucks’ lineup two days after hyper-extending his contracts, a rough estimate leaves the team with $16- to $20-million of wrist during an awkward collision in a March 1 game in Winnipeg. available cap space and 5-7 roster vacancies. Much of this money will be “I don't know how to describe it,” Pettersson said. “It's just been so allocated to restricted free agents Pettersson and Hughes. frustrating because I thought I would be gone for maybe four to six weeks It’s great that Benning has authority to initiate buyouts, something he was and then I still haven't played yet and still not 100 per cent.” denied last fall and contributed to the needless loss in free agency of Although he could skate and lift weights, Pettersson said the injury first-line winger Tyler Toffoli. But the reality is, due to the way contracts affects his shot, which is world class. He is confident a summer of rest were structured for Roussel, Beagle and Loui Eriksson (six years and and training will allow him to be fully healthy next fall. Boeser felt the $36 million in 2016), there is little or no cap savings to buying out any of same way. these players. The Canucks have relied too long on too few players up front, and A far better option for Benning on Roussel and Beagle would be to seek extending their scoring through three forward lines is imperative if they’re a trade, even if it means the Canucks retain 50 per cent of their salary. In going to become a superior team. The arrival from Russia of Podkolzin, a this scenario, the structure of their front-loaded contracts helps because two-way tank chosen with the 10th pick of the 2019 draft, should help the Roussel’s actual salary next season is $1.9 million and Beagle’s $2.2 top-nine depth the way Hoglander did this season. million. Barring trades, the most sensible cap savings would be to bury their salaries in the minors, along with Eriksson’s, which would at least But the Canucks have a glaring need for a third-line centre. The team trim $1.125 million per player from the cap. gave up on prospect Adam Gaudette as a future 3C, have no one pushing up through their system to fill that role, and will have holes in the Buying out the one year and $2.55 million remaining on Jake Virtanen’s middle depending on what they do with Beagle and soon-to-be UFA contract should be a no-brainer, but so was moving on from him last fall Brandon Sutter. Converted winger J.T. Miller could stay at centre, but when Benning had a chance to trade him for a draft pick. Placed on leave that isn’t ideal. by the Canucks on May 1 following the publication of a sexual-assault allegation, Virtanen is currently the subject of police and team If Benning finds enough cap space to add one $3- to $4-million player investigations, as well as a civil lawsuit filed last week. this off-season, it should be for a centre capable of taking some of the defensive heavy lifting off Horvat. How much would 28-year-old Montreal The 24-year-old had five goals and no assists in 38 games this season, Canadiens free agent Phillip Danault cost? and a buyout would save the Canucks $2.5 million next season but add a $500,000 liability the year after. Pending the result of the investigations As many have noted, the Canucks have no expansion protection into Virtanen, it is possible his contract could eventually be terminated. problems ahead of the Seattle draft on July 21 and can use this as trading leverage with teams that can’t protect all their key players. The only other plausible buyout candidate is backup goalie Braden Holtby, but the net-savings on replacing him in the lineup next season But this “advantage” for Vancouver isn’t as simple as it sounds. Apart while adding a new charge of $1.9 million on the 2022-23 payroll makes from obvious concerns about the salary cap and assets required to make a buyout highly questionable. a trade, the Canucks will be bidding against a bunch of other teams shopping for discounts. And potential trading partners with multiple protection issues, like Colorado and Carolina, may decide simply to limit their roster drain to one player selected by the Kraken rather than lose a player in expansion and another (or others) at a trading loss.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214535 Websites “Like I said, we got a ton of leaders — (Shea Weber) Weby, (Price) — keeping us calm, and it translated into OT.”

It was Perry and Staal, a pair of Triple Gold Club members, who helped Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens keep season alive with desperate Game 5 win awaken this dormant — near dead — Canadiens offence. Staal with a over Maple Leafs steady play in the neutral zone, and Perry with a flying forecheck hit on Rasmus Sandin that jarred the puck loose for Joel Armia to score Montreal’s first goal since the second period of Game 3. The shot to the top half of the net came at 5:13 of the first period, just three minutes and Eric Engels@EricEngels five seconds before Armia picked the puck out of a mad scramble in front May 28, 2021, 1:13 AM of Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell and shoveled it into the net to make it 2-0.

The Canadiens wrapped that first period ahead in goals, shots, hits and It was the symphony of the situation, the most fitting song, with lyrics that faceoffs, with confidence restored and a sense of urgency pulsating perfectly encapsulated what was on the line with the puck set to drop in throughout their room. the fourth period of this elimination game. “Right now. Hey! It’s your tomorrow. Right now. Come on, it’s As Van Halen’s Right Now blared through the speakers at Scotiabank everything.” Arena, Kyle Dubas’ Toronto Maple Leafs were a shot away from knocking the Montreal Canadiens out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. As the They prepared for the second period, which had put them at death’s door chorus rolled around, the general manager began nodding his head in after four terrible ones prior. With the Maple Leafs spinning the rhythm with the drumline, and he appeared to be singing along under his Canadiens around in every middle frame — holding an 8-1 lead in goals, mask. a 108-63 advantage in shot attempts and a 2.5-1 edge in offensive-zone time to generate twice as many scoring chances — this was going to be “Right now. Hey! It’s your tomorrow. Right now. Come on, it’s the ultimate test. everything.” “We talked a lot about it,” said Ducharme. The Maple Leafs hadn’t advanced to the second round of the playoffs since 2004, and their best chance to do it was right in front of them. And then the Canadiens adjusted. Gone were the in-zone reversals, the D-to-D passes that enabled the Maple Leafs to pin the Canadiens down Down at ice level, Brendan Gallagher and his Canadiens teammates just behind their goal line, the hesitations that froze out their own forwards in listened to the music. The words echoed the message their coach, transition and kept allowing the Maple Leafs to regroup in the neutral Dominique Ducharme, had just delivered in their dressing room. zone, and suddenly the pucks started coming out and going towards Campbell’s net. “I just said these moments here are moments for gamers,” Duchame later explained. “Little plays make a big difference in those situations,” said Ducharme. “Making those little plays and piling them up leads to big plays.” His team had just blown a 3-0 lead and rendered this a one-shot game for their season, and he stressed what the looming opportunity instead of Little plays: a forecheck from Josh Anderson, a quick read and a reaction the blown one. from Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

“You looked around the room,” said Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, Big play: a second whack at a loose puck in front of Campbell that leads “and everybody knew what was at stake.” to goal for Kotkaniemi to give the Canadiens a 3-0 lead in the fifth minute of the second period. Play resumed, a 29-second shift unraveled up and down the ice, and then Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Tyler Toffoli jumped on for Montreal. Remaining Time -2:19

“Right now. Hey! It’s your tomorrow. Right now. Come on, it’s Canadiens gain life as series shifts back to Montreal for Game 6 everything.” The Maple Leafs had to push back. The Maple Leafs, leading 3-1 in this series, had control of the play 150 feet away from their own net. Alex Galchenyuk was in possession of the “Right now. Hey! It’s your tomorrow. Right now. Come on, it’s puck. The former Canadien, who had scored three points in Tuesday’s everything.” Game 4 win and had set the play that saw Jake Muzzin tie this one 3-3 in Less than two minutes after Kotkaniemi’s goal, Zach Hyman just got the 12th minute of the third period, forced it through a lane Caufield was enough of a loose puck in front of Price to get his team in the game. filling. The boys in blue had no interest in a trip back to Montreal, and they Caufield and Suzuki, the Canadiens’ most talented offensive players, made that clear a 16-5 shot advantage in the third and two goals from took off on a 2-on-0 from their side of centre, with a chance to extend the Muzzin to tie it up. series and send it back to Montreal, where 2,500 of their fans would have an opportunity to be in attendance at the Bell Centre for the first time He shot one through four sets of legs to beat Price, who had turned away since March 10, 2020 if they connected on a goal. so many quality chances to that point in the game. And then he tipped home Galchenyuk’s wrister to bring the Canadiens to within an inch of “Right now. Hey! It’s your tomorrow. Right now. Come on, it’s submission. everything.” But the Canadiens managed to collect themselves. They had found some Remaining Time -1:51 confidence in the way they had played — in their attention to detail, in Suzuki's overtime winner gives Canadiens lifeline against Maple Leafs their assertion of their own game, and in the way their leaders rose to the occasion. They crossed over the offensive blue line with Caufield passing to Suzuki. Suzuki sent it back to Caufield, and Caufield one-touched it right Remaining Time -1:37 back his way. Fifty-nine seconds into overtime, staring death in the face, Everyone had to be better. From Jon Merrill, who played a team-low 9:18 Suzuki did one last chest compression on this Canadiens season, ripping to Phillip Danault, who had struggled in Game 2 through Game 4 but the puck into the back of the net with authority. made it an extremely difficult night for Toronto’s best players in Game 5. “We’ve got a ton of leaders — especially that I look up to — and we had “I told myself that’s what I’m born for, to be in those big moments,” a meeting yesterday and guys like Corey (Perry) and (Eric Staal) Staalsy Danault said after pulling back 66 per cent of his faceoffs and doing spoke up and said, ‘These opportunities in the playoffs don’t come that everything possible to keep Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William often, so you gotta make the most of it,’” Suzuki said. Nylander and Hyman in check through his 19:07 on the ice. If you don’t make the most of a 2-on-0 in overtime, you’ve blown the best “That’s what I work hard for every summer,” Danault continued. “All year, opportunity you’ll ever get in the playoffs, but 21-year-old Suzuki and 20- you’re battling with your life on the ice, and you lay it all (on the line).” year-old Caufield kept their composure. He also said the Canadiens can play better, and that he was confident they would with this series shifting back to Montreal.

“Obviously, you want to recreate those moments, which we have another chance to do next game,” Danault said.

They will play to the music their fans make in this reunion that was over a year in the making. A little Van Halen for the encore might be in order, too.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.29.2021 1214536 Websites Per NaturalStatTrick.com, shot attempts between the Leafs and Canadiens were equal in the nine minutes and 37 seconds that Matthews and Danault shared the ice in five-on-five play on Thursday. Plus, Danault won nine of 13 faceoffs against Matthews. Leafs looking to get Matthews ‘cleaner looks’ "We did great," said Tatar. "We are put on for a lot of defensive-zone faceoffs, which Phil was tremendous [on] and me and Gally created a lot of battles out there, which makes it tougher. We didn't spend as much By Mark Masters time in our zone too. Actually, we were able to produce some scoring chances so we have to [stick with] the same strategy tomorrow and make it as tough as possible for them." TSN Toronto Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs, who held a media availability on Friday before travelling to Montreal for As the series shifts back to the Bell Centre where Montreal coach Saturday’s Game 6 against the Canadiens. Dominique Ducharme owns the last-change advantage, Matthews should see even more of that line. Auston Matthews scored seemingly at will during the regular season – 41 goals in 52 games – running away with the Rocket Richard Trophy. But Toronto's depth players want to make sure they back up the big boys as through five playoff games against the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto's the pressure builds. top-line centre has just one goal. Zach Hyman also has just one goal "Hockey's truly a team sport," said veteran forward Jason Spezza. "We while Mitch Marner is still looking for his first of the series. have to help those guys. We can't be on for goals against. We have to "We'd like to get Auston some cleaner looks at the net," acknowledged give them opportunities to win games and they'll do the rest, because coach Sheldon Keefe. "A lot of the best looks have come [from] Mitch they're elite players ... I know everybody likes to see the gaudy offensive and Hyman and Auston hasn't been able to get as many clean looks. numbers to justify your play, but those guys have played very well for us That is something for us to continue to look at both in what we can do all series." with that line or if we are able to move some things around." Leafs' top line looking to turn positive possession into production With John Tavares (knee, concussion) and Nick Foligno (lower body) Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner only have one goal to show for sidelined, there's an increased onus on the top line to generate offence. through five games against the Canadiens, but as Mark Masters The goals haven't flowed, but Keefe is quick to point out the trio of explains, their coach is hoping they can get their big guns some cleaner Hyman-Matthews-Marner is having a big impact on the series. looks at the net. "These guys haven't given up anything despite playing the most William Nylander leads the Leafs in goals (four) and points (seven) in the minutes," noted Keefe, "despite spending a lot of time against really good playoffs, but is only averaging 16 minutes and 20 seconds of ice time per players and really good matchups and despite having to take faceoffs in game, which is actually down slightly from the regular season (16:36). It their own end, which a lot of top lines don't necessarily do." is also much less time than what the top line gets. Matthews, Marner and The Leafs have outscored the Canadiens 3-0 when their top line is on the Hyman are all logging more than 22 minutes per game in the playoffs. ice in five-on-five play. "He doesn't play on that line so that's the first part of it," said Keefe in Matthews has fired 25 shots on Carey Price. explaining the discrepancy. "That line gets a lot of difficult assignments and key faceoffs and [shifts] coming out of timeouts and stuff like that." "The other team's goaltender has a say in it as well and that's been a major factor," added Keefe. Nylander did get double shifted at times in Game 5 as the Leafs tried to climb out of an early hole. Matthews had an 18.5 shooting percentage in the regular season. "Willy has a tendency to keep the shifts a lot shorter than some other "Price is a great goalie and he's been playing really well," said Hyman. guys and, over the course of the game, that's going to create some "We have to make his life difficult. The goals that we scored [in Game 5], discrepancy," Keefe noted. if you watch them all, they're all net-front stuff, guys in front, dirty plays, tips so that's how we got to beat him." Nylander averages 41 seconds per shift in the playoffs, which is 10 seconds behind what the top-line trio is averaging. Nylander had 27 shifts There were no signs of frustration when Matthews met with the media on Thursday while Matthews had 30. following Thursday's overtime loss. Keefe could look to find Nylander some more minutes via special teams. "We're hunting pucks good and trying to stay above them, forcing The Leafs have used two balanced power-play units for much of the turnovers and trying to attack the net as much as possible," the 23-year- series and Nylander is part of the second group. old said. "I think we just want to continue to do that. We're getting chances so just bear down and try to capitalize. We just want to continue "It is just simply a matter of how the roles on the power play come to play the way we've been and give our team momentum." together and who plays in which spots," Keefe said. "Those types of things are really what it has been about. Really, that’s it." 'We're all over it': Matthews, Leafs' top line seek to capitalize on more chances Nylander plays on the flank as part of the second group. He usually plays down low in the zone when he's on the top unit. Toronto's top line of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman has combined for two even-strength goals in the series against Montreal. During Toronto's lone power play on Thursday, the first unit featured "We're getting chances," said Matthews, who has one goal on 25 shots. Morgan Rielly up top, Matthews and Marner on the flanks, Hyman in front "We just want to continue to play the way we've been and give our team of the net and Joe Thornton in the bumper spot. momentum." What's on his mind heading to Montreal? "We're going to "We have liked having the two groups," Keefe said. "We are looking at win a game," Matthews said. different things there. The fact that we have lost John, who plays a The Matthews line helped spark Toronto's comeback from 3-0 down in primary role in the middle of the ice as a left-handed player, is something Game 5 as Hyman scored Toronto's first goal off a scramble in front. we think is really important on that power play. That is something that Marner and Matthews picked up the assists. has led us to give Joe [a lefty] a little bit more time there."

"We were moving it well," said Hyman. "We generated a bunch off of the The second unit featured Jake Muzzin, Nylander, Spezza, Alex Kerfoot cycle and then obviously on the rush. We're all over it. You know, we're and Wayne Simmonds. The Leafs scored their second goal shortly after just looking to break through here." the power play expired with that unit still on the ice.

Hyman missed the last 11 games of the regular season due to a knee Jack Campbell allowed four goals on 30 shots on Thursday night. It was injury and seems to be getting more comfortable with each passing the first time he allowed more than three goals in a game since April 10. game. "I just can't give up three in regulation," he said. "I've got to be better and But Montreal's top line is also finding its way after Brendan Gallagher, I will be." Phillip Danault and Tomas Tatar all dealt with injuries down the stretch. Campbell has been pretty hard on himself in the past, which is something he's worked on this season while adapting to a heavier workload. With that in mind, it was notable to hear him also take some blame for the overtime winner by Nick Suzuki, which came on a 2-on-0 rush.

"I just got to make the save on that," Campbell said. "I was a little aggressive so I'll learn from it."

This series represents Campbell's Stanley Cup playoff debut and now the 29-year-old is facing his first dose of adversity.

"He was playing at a really high level for us," said Keefe. "He's earned the opportunity and the trust that he will bounce back."

Did we see signs of weakness from Campbell in Leafs' Game 5 loss?

Did we see cracks in Jack Campbell's game in the Maple Leafs' Game 5 loss to the Canadiens? How big of a role did Cole Caufield have on Thursday's overtime-winner? Gino Reda, Martin Biron and Dave Poulin discuss this and more.

What was missing early in Game 5?

"They were desperate and they won every battle and we weren't ready for it," said Muzzin, who lifted the Stanley Cup with Los Angeles in 2014. "We have to be hungrier earlier."

The two Cup champions on Toronto’s roster are calling for more urgency.

"We need to go into Montreal tomorrow and play Game 6 like it's our Game 7," said defenceman Zach Bogosian, who won a title with Tampa Bay last year. "It's got to be our best game."

The Lightning clinched the Eastern Conference Final and Stanley Cup Final in six games last year after having dropped Game 5.

"I don't think we need to focus on Game 7 or changing any sort of mindset or anything like that," said Keefe. "We have to focus on playing our game and playing at our best. That is really it. When we have done that, we have been very good in this series. We have been in control of things. We didn't have a good game last night. Credit to Montreal. They have found another level. We dropped a level. That is not acceptable and we paid for it."

Toronto's defensive discipline wavered in Game 5 as a few costly turnovers led directly to Montreal goals.

"They scored three unassisted goals last night," Keefe said. "Two were actually unassisted but, to me, the OT winner is an unassisted goal as well. That is three out of their four goals. That just speaks to the fact that we gifted them offence. That is something we can't afford to do in the playoffs."

And while much of the focus after a loss is on what can be improved, Spezza said there's lots that the Leafs can build on from the effort.

"All year we've responded to things," the 37-year-old stressed. "I think last night was a great sign for our club. A lot of teams would've just gone away once we got down, knowing you got two more cracks to close the series out so it showed the fight in our group and the spirit in our group. That's something that's been really prevalent in our locker room this year is just the spirit we have and the drive and wanting to win games and stop losing streaks and fight right to the end of games. I think that's probably where we draw our confidence from is knowing we've responded well in the past."

For the first time since the pandemic began in March 2020, fans will be allowed into an arena to watch an NHL hockey game in Canada. The Canadiens will have 2,500 supporters at the Bell Centre on Saturday.

"The good news for us is we've played in front of people before so we should be comfortable with it," Spezza said with a laugh. "It's a great step towards what the future may hold here in terms of getting back to normal. It will add a little more to the excitement of the game, which we welcome as players."

What COVID protocols will Habs implement to host 2,500 fans?

With 2,500 fans attending the Bell Centre for Game 6 between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs, John Lu explains what COVID protocols the team will implement on Saturday.

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What do we make of the Jets?

By Travis Yost

An awful lot of time has been spent dissecting the Edmonton Oilers after a ghastly four-game sweep – a four-game sweep in which they were a clear series favorite (about 65 per cent implied probability of winning the series at most sportsbooks). The Connor McDavid line couldn’t break- even in goals, and relying on the Oilers' depth over any period of time has been a losing bet. It will be a long summer in Edmonton.

On the other side of the coin: how about Winnipeg! For a team that finished third in a very average division – nine points and thirteen goals worse than the Oilers, for frame of reference – that was an impressive victory. And not lost on me was Connor Hellebuyck’s 95.0 save percentage against an Oilers attack that couldn’t be slowed down all year.

The Jets certainly have the personnel up front to compete with high-end teams around the league, but the Winnipeg story – true for a few seasons now – starts with goaltender Hellebuyck. He is the ultimate equalizer, a perennial Vezina Trophy consideration at this point in his career and the single most important player for the Jets organization.

It wasn’t long ago the Jets were mired in goaltending woes. From 2007 to 2015, the era pre-Hellebuyck era, stopping pucks was a challenge. The Thrashers before the move (2007-10) were getting a dismal 90.3 stop rate in all situations (26th); the Jets after the move (2011-15) didn’t fare much better, stopping 90.6 per cent of shots. From Chris Mason, to Johan Hedberg, to Ondrej Pavelec, to Al Montoya – well, it was mostly all bad.

Since Hellebuyck entered the league, Winnipeg’s fate has changed. The team eased him into service in his first two professional seasons, and since then it’s been sustained dominance:

One of the interesting components underlying those gaudy year-over- year save percentages: Hellebuyck’s workload has been increasingly more difficult. As the Jets entered a transitory part of their roster-building (highlighted by the gutting of their blue-line), teams were much more effective at generating big shot volumes against the Jets and from dangerous areas of the ice.

If we overlay those shot volumes and expected goals against one another, you can see how much more difficult Hellebuyck’s job has become. You are also amazed at how he’s been able to sustain his Vezina-type performance amidst these challenges:

The Jets improved a bit defensively this season (and it’s part of the reason why they finished 16 goals above average on the year), but otherwise this has been a multi-year negative trend that has pushed the Jets as a franchise towards the middle-of-the-pack in performance.

Even through some marginally improving defensive measurements, the Jets still have a whale of a time pushing shooters from outside of the low- slot, perhaps the most dangerous scoring area of the ice.

This sort of stuff makes Hellebuyck’s job a nightmare, but when he’s on his game, the Jets are going to be a difficult out for anyone. Nothing can frustrate a team – especially a playoff team – like a goaltender who seems impenetrable, and that’s been Hellebuyck over most of his career. Couple that with the fact that the Jets do have considerable weaponry in front – Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Blake Wheeler, and Nikolaj Ehlers all had big years and finished in the top-fifty in scoring.

And that’s a scary proposition if you are the Toronto Maple Leafs or Montreal Canadiens as we await the winner of the other North division match-up. Winnipeg may not have the hallmarks of a Stanley Cup contender, but they do have the most critical piece on the roster, and it gives them a competitive advantage in the goaltending department irrespective of who they play the rest of the way.

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USA TODAY / NHL playoff predictions: Who wins Game 7 between Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights?

Jimmy Hascup

USA TODAY

During the Minnesota Wild's first playoff appearance in 2003, they became the first team to overcome a 3-1 series deficit twice in one postseason.

Friday, they'll try for a third successful rally when they visit Las Vegas in Game 7. The Golden Knights will be ready.

"It’s an exciting opportunity," said forward Reilly Smith. "Our fans are definitely going to be full of energy and they’re going to be pretty loud. Let’s make the most of it."

Vegas was 21-5-2 at home during the regular season, but Minnesota has gone 2-1 there in the playoffs.

This is the third consecutive postseason that the Golden Knights have been pushed to a Game 7 after holding a 3-1 series lead. They beat the Vancouver Canucks last season in the Edmonton bubble. In 2019, the San Jose Sharks overcame a 3-0 deficit to win Game 7 after a controversial five-minute major to Cody Eakin.

Who will win this Game 7? USA TODAY Sports NHL staffers weigh in:

Jimmy Hascup: 3-2 Golden Knights

Minnesota has given Vegas a tougher time than I predicted and goalie Cam Talbot has been masterful at times, but this is when I will lean on some of hockey’s biggest clichés when determining the winner. The Golden Knights will use their home crowd — 21-5-2 record during regular season, though one win at home in this series — and Marc-Andre Fleury, their netminder with 144 playoff starts, to eke out this series win.

Mike Brehm: 2-1 Golden Knights

Vegas coach Peter DeBoer is 5-0 all-time in Game 7. Last year looked desperate, too, because the Golden Knights couldn't solve the Canucks' Thatcher Demko. But they got a goal past him, plus two empty-netters. Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty is a game-time decision. It would be helpful if he could play.

Jace Evans: 2-0 Golden Knights

Blowing leads is becoming a disturbing trend for this young Golden Knights franchise, but I picked VGK to win in seven before the series and I'm going to stick with it. Marc-Andre Fleury wasn't at his best the past two games as the Wild climbed back into the series, but I expect a return to the form he's flashed all year in what should be a tough Vegas environment.

USA TODAY LOADED: 05.29.2021