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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 5/27/2021 1188840 Coyotes' Darcy Kuemper helps to first win at 1188868 Ethan Bear, Edmonton Oilers speak out after racist social world hockey championship media attack 1188869 Edmonton Oilers need more offence to help McDavid and Bruins Draisaitl 1188841 Why Tuukka Rask decided against practicing with his 1188870 Holland says disappointment in Oilers stems from 'greater Bruins teammates on Wednesday expectations' 1188842 Why the Bruins’ David Pastrnak just kept shooting in 1188871 ‘We want so much more’: McDavid, Draisaitl not messing Round 1 against the Capitals around, Oilers free agent updates, fatherly perspective 1188843 to join as NHL analyst beginning in 2021-22 season 1188844 NWHL’s franchise sold to Pride 1188872 No Game 7 as Florida Panthers’ 4-0 loss in Tampa Bay operator BTM Partners ends an encouraging season too soon 1188845 Bruins Notebook: B’s will face Islanders in second round 1188873 Florida Panthers’ dream season ends with another 1188846 Bracing For ‘Heavy, Tough’ Series Vs. first-round exit vs. rival Lightning Islanders 1188874 Panthers’ defends decision to wait on 1188847 Is Zdeno Chara Done With The Capitals? using Spencer Knight vs. Lightning 1188848 Boston Bruins Lauzon (Upper Body) Returns To Practice 1188875 Panthers ending should be a beginning | Commentary 1188849 ‘He was handing the Cup to all of us’: The day Boston 1188876 Panthers’ memorable 2021 season comes to an end in celebrated ’s title Game 6 shutout at Lightning 1188877 Panthers’ Bobrovsky, Driedger take back seat in stride as ‘confident, mature’ Knight takes goalie reins 1188850 Sabres prospect Oskari Laaksonen named to AHL North 1188878 Game 6: Panthers see season end at hands of Lightning Division all-star team 1188879 FHN Morning Skate: Yandle out as Panthers try to stay alive v. Lightning Flames 1188880 Game 6: Panthers still on the verge v. Lightning but have 1188851 Team Sonnet's Brittany Howard shines with hat-trick at momentum PWHPA showcase in Calgary 1188852 Flames forward Mangiapane buries winner in world championship debut 1188881 World Championships Update – Moore/Petersen named players of the game + stats, quotes, photos, videos 1188853 Hurricanes will add more fans for next game, whether that’s Game 7 or Game 1 1188882 Wild played with determination in Game 6 and takes 1188854 Canes haven’t been their best in third period, but they’ve momentum into Vegas for Game 7 been their most productive 1188883 Vegas considered challenge of overturned a 1188855 All seems right in the Hurricanes’ world with Jaccob Slavin worthwhile risk back and playing 1188884 Wild-Vegas Game 6 recap 1188856 I scream, you scream, Staal screams for the Hurricanes’ 1188885 Wild's third-period flurry means 3-0 victory and a Game 7 game-winning goal in in Vegas 1188857 Pay no attention to the haters. As NHL hockey markets 1188886 Wild Kirill Kaprizov hopes first playoff goal breaks go, Carolina is pretty great ice for himself, teammates 1188858 Despite interference wiping away a goal, 1188887 Wild's mission tonight: Survive second period and the Hurricanes regain identity with Game 5 win 'long change' 1188888 Matt Boldy, Wild's No. 1 draft choice from 2019, 'available' to play tonight 1188859 Avalanche rookie Bo Byram back in fold after two-month 1188889 Wild knows things need to be better to extend series vs. bout with concussion Vegas to Game 7 1188860 ’s capacity increases to 10,500 for Nuggets, 1188890 Wild must keep weathering Vegas storms to keep Avalanche playoff games hopes alive 1188861 ‘Didn’t you teach him this one?’: J.T. Compher’s parents 1188891 Zach Parise giving Wild more to think about and sister break down his biggest Avalanche goals 1188892 Wild force Game 7 with 3-0 win over Golden Knights 1188862 Avalanche can use downtime to get even better 1188893 Wild rookie Kirill Kaprizov on physicality of playoffs: 1188863 Details of the next steps in the Nazem Kadri appeal ‘You’ve just got to play through it’ process 1188894 Wild pull even with Vegas: ‘It all starts at zero now’ as 1188864 Avs practice report: Sampo Ranta skates in place of teams head to Game 7 Newhook, Kadri appeal starts tomorrow Canadiens 1188895 What the Puck: Storm clouds on horizon for Bergevin's 1188865 Postseason absence costs Stars learning opportunity for Canadiens young guns Jason Robertson, Jake Oettinger 1188896 Canadiens Notebook: Tyler Toffoli can give Habs a reason to believe Red Wings 1188897 Leafs expect Canadiens' 'absolute best' in Game 5, 1188866 Former Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard at peace, Thornton says enjoying retirement from hockey 1188898 Stu Cowan: Canadiens falling to Leafs with barely a 1188867 Red Wings excited about Moritz Seider’s progress, whimper eagerly await debut 1188899 In the Habs' room: 'We have to rally and believe in ourselves': Danault 1188900 About Last Night: What the Chuck! Habs pushed to brink 1188901 Greybeards help Leafs take a commanding lead over Canadiens 1188902 Canadiens playoff notebook: Flashback to 2010, a passive defence and being a reverential opponent Penguins Continued 1188903 Carolina Hurricanes' Rod Brind'Amour's gripes worked in 1188939 Tristan Jarry became the Penguins’ biggest problem at the Nashville Predators series worst time — now what? 1188904 After Game 5 loss, Nashville Predators will have to make 1188940 Penguins report cards: Sidney Crosby’s line delivers a dud history to win series against Carolina in Game 6 loss to Islanders 1188905 Three things the Predators must do to beat the Hurricanes 1188941 Crosby On Penguins’ Future: That’s Up To Other People in Game 6 1188942 Jarry Falls Flat; Leaky Goals Sink Penguins, Bring up Big 1188906 If Predators lose series, Game 5 could haunt them Questions 1188943 Islanders ‘Jarr’ Penguins 5-3, Jarry Breakdowns, Isles Islanders Series Win in 6 1188907 With Fans in Full Throat, Islanders Upset Penguins in 1188944 Robert Morris Hockey Programs Axed by School Funding Round One Cuts 1188908 Islanders close out Penguins in Game 6 home win, 1188945 Whit-sburgh: Company Launches Ryan Whitney Mean advance to face Bruins in second round Mug Bobblehead 1188909 ‘Special’ Islanders built for the NHL playoff grind 1188946 Game 6: Will Emotional Toll of Game 5 be Penguins 1188910 Ex-Devil Travis Zajac provides lift for Islanders Fuel…or the End 1188911 Islanders knock off Penguins, will face Bruins in second round 1188912 The dynamic between Semyon Varlamov, Ilya Sorokin 1188947 Sharks, Google settle over downtown San Jose after crucial Islanders switch development 1188913 Islanders' series-clinching win over Penguins gives 1188948 30 Sharks: Ron Sutter Remembers “Fun” With Rebuilding crowd a fresh memory San Jose 1188914 Islanders-Penguins Game 6 recap: Winning goal, key stat and more 1188915 Islanders eliminate Penguins in Game 6 at raucous 1188949 Don’t completely rule out Joel Quenneville coaching the Nassau Coliseum, advance to play Bruins Kraken just yet 1188916 Now 24, Islanders' Mathew Barzal remains a superstar in progress St Louis Blues 1188917 Islanders' a game-time decision for 1188950 Hochman: The Blues' defense has the capability to be Game 6 vs. Penguins great again, but that means more from Krug, Parayko and 1188918 Killer B’s bring the sting, Ilya Sorokin stands tall: 6 o takeaways from the Islanders’ Game 6 clincher 1188951 Blues swan songs for Tarasenko and Schwartz? Jim 1188919 BROCK THE BARN: Nelson’s Three Point Night Leads Thomas weighs in Islanders to Series Clinching Win 1188952 Berube thinks Blues' challenges are mental as well as 1188920 Playoff Gameday: Islanders Game 6 Lines, Matchups and physical Game Notes vs. Pens 1188953 Armstrong: Stanley Cup window still open for Blues 1188954 Is the Blues’ championship window closing? 10 takeaways Senators from GM Doug Armstrong’s season-ending media session 1188921 SNAPSHOTS: Vitaly Abramov decides to head home to Russia to play in KHL ... Mike Reilly has been nice fit for 1188955 When they needed him most, Andrei Vasilevskiy showed up for the Lightning 1188922 What goes into Flyers' chances at Hamilton 1188956 Lightning find spark with return of Barclay Goodrow 1188957 First round: Lightning-Panthers Game 6 live updates 1188958 On to Round 2: Lightning finish off Panthers in Game 6 1188923 Minor league report: Nailers win 1,000th game since 1188959 Can Lightning continue their recent Game 6 success arriving in Wheeling against the Panthers? 1188924 Empty Thoughts: Islanders 5, Penguins 3 1188960 Andrei Vasilevskiy drives Lightning in ‘clinical’ win: ‘They 1188925 Sidney Crosby not in favor of breaking up Penguins’ core played like champions’ 1188926 Tim Benz: How bad was Tristan Jarry's goaltending? So 1188961 Former NHL referees weigh in on officiating in these bad that it may confuse the Penguins' offseason plans playoffs: ‘The other side is going to think you suck’ 1188927 Penguins enter uncertain offseason after being eliminated by Islanders Maple Leafs 1188928 Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom a 'game-time decision' 1188962 Maple Leafs can exorcise playoff demons with overdue for Game 6 series win 1188929 Penguins recent elimination game history shows mixed 1188963 The goals from Jason Spezza and Joe Thornton are gravy results to the leadership the Leafs’ veterans have provided 1188930 Tim Benz: Penguins must reverse recent trend of 1188964 The Canadiens will try to win one for the fans when they elimination-game failure to stay alive face the Leafs in Game 5 1188931 U mad, bro?: Penguins fans boil over following Tristan 1188965 The Leafs’ Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are finding Jarry's Game 5 flub ways to dominate off the scoresheet 1188932 Sidney Crosby points the finger at himself following quiet 1188966 Game 5 vs. Canadiens set to be toughest test yet for postseason, discusses keeping the core together Maple Leafs: Keefe 1188933 Stick taps, chirps and observations from 1188967 TOP FIVE: Maple Leafs driving away ghosts of series' Penguins-Islanders Game 6 past 1188934 Seven questions the Penguins must answer in what could 1188968 TRAIKOS: Is this one-sided Leafs-Canadiens series what be a transformative offseason we waited 42 years for? 1188935 Jarry falters again, Penguins eliminated by Islanders in 1188969 Injured Tavares visits Maple Leafs for first time since injury Game 6 1188970 SIMMONS: This is the Leafs team Brendan Shanahan 1188936 How the Penguins’ mobile defensive corps is making a envisioned difference in the postseason 1188971 Who are the unlikely heroes pushing the Maple Leafs to 1188937 Ron Cook: Hard not to take another look at Penguins’ the brink of the second round? goalie decisions now 1188972 Track pants, carrot muffins and playoff hockey: Inside 1188938 Yohe’s 10 observations: Tristan Jarry stumbles again and Steve Dangle’s new Maple Leafs ‘sidecast’ takes the Penguins down with him 1188994 Fanning our hopes: Canucks warmly welcome B.C.’s restart plan 1188995 Canucks buyout power rankings: Which contracts should Vancouver buyout? 1188973 Column: Closing out series not strength of Golden Knights 1188974 Kevin Fiala breaks scoring drought in Wild win 1188975 Golden Knights fail again in bid to win series, headed to Game 7 1188976 Max Pacioretty has been skating on his own, Pete DeBoer says 1188977 Golden Knights blanked in Minnesota, heading home for decisive Game 7 1188978 After another 3-1 series lead melts away, do the Golden Knights have a finishing problem? 1188979 Golden Knights Stumble Again, Lose 3-0 In Minnesota In Game 6 Wednesday and Face Winner-Take-All Game 7 On Hom 1188980 Vegas Golden Knights Pushed to Seventh Game by Wild 1188981 Vegas Golden Knights: Three Keys For Game Six Against Wild 1188982 The old Evgeny Kuznetsov was exhilarating. The new one is exasperating. 1188983 The Caps ‘ran out of gas,’ Brian MacLellan says. Next year, they will look to get younger. 1188984 First full-service sportsbook at a major sports arena opens in District 1188985 With NHL expansion draft looming, Oshie wants to stay with Caps 1188986 Caps GM: Team open to trading Kuzy, others 'if it makes sense' 1188987 William Hill Sportsbook at Capital One Arena officially opens 1188988 Are Capitals close to a rebuild? 10 takeaways from GM Brian MacLellan’s season-ending media session Websites 1188996 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Who wins, an all-time roster of stars who became coaches or stars who became G 1188997 .ca / Takeaways: What's next for the Penguins in net? 1188998 Sportsnet.ca / McDavid not ready to quit on Oilers despite another early playoff exit 1188999 Sportsnet.ca / The best and worst of the 2021 Vancouver Canucks season 1189000 TSN.CA / Influential Tavares ‘a huge support’ to Leafs, returns to practice facility 1189001 TSN.CA / Nylander’s strong postseason start fuelled by past painful losses Jets 1188989 Morrissey more than rises to the occasion 1188990 Jets enjoying a few days off to rest and reset before Round 2 1188991 JETS SNAPSHOTS: Empty building awaits Jets again for Round 2 1188992 Jets enjoy serving crow to doubters 1188993 Delirious Jets fans dare to dream after Oilers rout SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1188840 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes' Darcy Kuemper helps Canada to first win at world hockey championship

José M. Romero

Canada finally won a game at the International Federation World Championship on Wednesday, and will likely need to win all three of its remaining games in Group B to advance to the playoff round.

Arizona Coyotes Darcy Kuemper and Adin Hill could play a major role in those upcoming games against Kazakhstan, Italy and Finland, as the two goalies for Team Canada in Latvia.

Kuemper got the start on Wednesday and stopped 13 of 15 shots faced in Canada's 4-2 win over Norway. Canada lost its first three games before Wednesday.

"Obviously the tournament didn't start the way we wanted it to. But we've been building every period and if you've been watching the games, I think we keep getting better," Kuemper said. "That's what you want to do in a tournament. We've had a little bit of adversity here but (Wednesday) was a huge win and now we have to focus on the next game."

Kuemper hasn't had a great tournament this year by his standards, given his career success in the NHL. But that falls in line with Canada's performance as a whole. He's allowed eight goals in three games, a couple that were avoidable.

It's not his first time competing at the World Championship, as Kuemper minded the net for Canada in 2018.

Kuemper said he's enjoyed another chance to play for Canada and having Hill there with him.

"Darcy's an experienced goaltender. He's played really well. He's a solid guy and he had a great year in Phoenix the last couple of years," Canada head coach said. "He's definitely one of the leaders of our hockey club, so the players feel pretty good with him back there for sure. Our goaltending has been pretty solid for us."

Gallant said Kuemper and Hill feed off each other as Arizona teammates wearing Canada red.

"It doesn't happen a whole lot in the World Championships, but it's a good fit for us," Gallant said of having NHL teammates as national team goalies.

On another national team at the tournament, a young Coyotes prospect is turning heads with his play. Great Britain forward Liam Kirk ended Wednesday's action tied for the overall lead in goals scored with four.

Kirk, 21, was drafted in the seventh round by the Coyotes in 2018 and played for Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League from 2018 t20 before spending this past season with Sheffield of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom.

He had two goals in Great Britain's 4-3 lead over Belarus on Wednesday.

Kirk was the last player the Coyotes chose, out of nine in the draft that year, in a draft that produced some of the organization's top prospects in forwards Barrett Hayton and Jan Jenik, defenseman Ty Emberson and goalie Ivan Prosvetov.

Sheffield played only 16 games in an abbreviated season that ran in April and May, and Kirk tallied 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 14 games.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188841 Boston Bruins As of Wednesday morning, the Bruins (5 for 19, 26.3 percent) ranked fifth on the power play this postseason … Their win rate at the faceoff dot (54.2) stood third in the league, behind the Golden Knights (56.1) and Why Tuukka Rask decided against practicing with his Bruins teammates Jets (54.2) … The Bruins outshot the Capitals over five games by a thin on Wednesday margin, 173-169. They also launched more attempts, 346-323.

Boston Globe LOADED: 05.27.2021

By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated May 26, 2021, 8:22 p.m.

Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask turned back 94.1 percent of the Capitals’ 169 shots on net in Round 1, good for a 1.81 goals-against average.JOHN TLUMACKI/

GLOBE STAFF Tuukka Rask wasn’t the odd man out of Wednesday’s Bruins practice. In fact, he was the first one on the ice, turning back shots fired by goalie coach Bob Essensa and reserve winger Trent Frederic before the start of the 11 a.m. workout in Brighton.

But when the clock struck 11, Rask struck for the dressing room, yielding the 45-minute workout to fellow goaltenders Jeremy Swayman and Jaroslav Halak.

“Yeah, that’s basically a Bob and Tuukka conversation,” explained coach , adding that Rask is scheduled for the full workout on Thursday. “That’s what he felt would be best for him today, a little individual work, knowing that we have a bit of time here. I’m fine with it.”

Rask was at his best in Round 1, turning back 94.1 percent of the Capitals’ 169 shots on net, good for a 1.81 goals-against average.

The numbers were virtually in lockstep with the two seasons Rask backed the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final, in 2013 (1.81, .940) and 2019 (2.02, .934).

“Tuukka’s been on, obviously we’ve all seen that,” said Cassidy. “He played four games last week — five in 10 days — and that’s something he hadn’t done all year. So clearly he has taken care of himself, being ready to play every night. That’s a good thing.”

Tuukka Rask and the Bruins will meet the Islanders in the second round.JOHN TLUMACKI/

GLOBE STAFF Part of the consideration in Rask undertaking a lighter workload likely was also because of the late-season injury he suffered — believed to be a lower-back strain. He was able to take all of Monday and Tuesday off, and then followed that with the 15 or 20 minutes he limbered up against Essensa and Frederic

‘Large group’ vaccinated

A “large group” of Bruins invoked their right to bare arms on Tuesday and completed their second, and final, round of COVID-19 vaccinations.

“A bunch of our players — a large group — had their second shots,” confirmed Cassidy. “I don’t know exactly which ones, but there was a bunch that went in.”

A few players, noted the coach, “were a little bit more under the weather” than others come Wednesday morning, but no one felt poorly enough to have to skip the workout.

“In general, everyone came out of it fine,” said Cassidy. “So that’s good news.”

The NHL’s COVID protocols, per Cassidy’s understanding, will allow players a few more liberties on the road, roughly 14 days after their second injections.

Lauzon practices

Injured defenseman Jeremy Lauzon participated in the workout, but the rookie sported a red (non-contact) sweater. He is at least trending the right way, and Cassidy said there was some hope he would be good to go later in Round 2 … Injured blue liner Jakub Zboril skated with the reserves following the completion of the workout … No sign of Kevan Miller, the No. 3 pairing defenseman who exited the Capitals series when knocked to the ground by a late high hit by Dmitry Orlov in Game 4. Cassidy said Miller visited the practice facility the last two days, is feeling slightly better, but is not ready to return to workouts. Keep in mind, the Bruins already have lost defensemen John Moore and Steven Kampfer for the duration of the postseason. Proof again that no team ever has enough reserve blue liners to make it through the four-series gauntlet … 1188842 Boston Bruins

Why the Bruins’ David Pastrnak just kept shooting in Round 1 against the Capitals

By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated May 26, 2021, 7:46 p.m.

David Pastrnak is a long-established NHL shooter, but the Bruins right winger markedly increased his firepower in the Round 1 victory over the Capitals.

After averaging 3.67 shots per game in the regular season, the 25-year- old Pastrnak landed 29 shots across the five games (5.8 average) and launched a whopping 51 attempts on an array of Capitals goalies. Not surprisingly, he led the Black and Gold offense with a 2-4—6 line.

Meanwhile, Alex Ovechkin, the leading shooter of his generation, perennially atop the league for shots on net at the conclusion of each season, landed 20 of his 46 shots, and finished 2-2—4.

All’s good in the neighborhood when you’re outshooting, outchancing, and outscoring the Ovechkin.

Pastrnak has 59 points in 57 career playoff games, making him the rare player in today’s game to average more than a point per game in the postseason.

Consider: Dating to the spring of 2017, Pastrnak’s postseason debut, 62 NHL players as of Wednesday morning had played in 50 or more games over the last four-plus postseasons. Only Pastrnak and Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov (50 games, 62 points) averaged a point per game or better.

‘It’s obviously part of my game — I want to get shots on net.,” said Pastrnak, who returned to work Wednesday in Brighton for the club’s first workout since eliminating the Capitals Sunday night in Washington. “Sometimes it helps you as a player. Everybody has something. I try to get as many shots on net as possible, and usually that helps me.”

Pastrnak ran his hottest in Game 3, the first game on TD Garden ice in the series, when he fired a game-high 17 times and landed nine. It was the only night he was kept off the scoresheet, but he followed with a pair of goals and a pair of assists over the next two games.

David Pastrnak had two goals in the playoff series against the Caps.JOHN TLUMACKI/

GLOBE STAFF With Pastrnak leading the way, the Bruins’ No. 1 line finished 8-5—13 for the series, with and Brad Marchand combining for 33 shots on net, just four more than Pastrnak.

“I think their line was just damn good the whole series,” said coach Bruce Cassidy. “They had the puck a lot. They worked hard to get it. They worked hard to keep it. As a result, they benefited from offensive zone time and [Pastrnak] was the one doing a lot of the shooting.”

Cassidy said after Wednesday’s workout that he’ll open the next series with the same four lines that he rolled out against the Capitals. Had he tinkered at all, it likely would have been the No. 4 line, with Curtis Lazar centering Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner.

“I thought everyone bought into their job, so you want to reward that with loyalty to the group,” said Cassidy.

No surprise, of course, that the No. 1 line will remain intact, with Pastrnak charged with keeping up the drumbeat of shots.

As the opening series played out, Cassidy altered the power play, which gave Pastrnak, normally a fixture in the left circle on the power play, a few more looks in the opposite circle. The switch in the game plan helped Pastrnak build his totals.

“Some games you just have the looks,” said Pastrnak, musing over his 17-attempt effort in Game 3. “Sometimes the puck is [finding] you and you have the time to shoot. It’s every game different. But definitely I would love to get that many shots every game — but sometimes the puck is just [finding] you and sometimes not.”

Boston Globe LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188843 Boston Bruins

Wayne Gretzky to join Turner Sports as NHL analyst beginning in 2021- 22 season

By Chad Finn Globe Staff, Updated May 26, 2021, 3:37 p.m.

Turner Sports doesn’t have the biggest portion of the new NHL television rights deal. That belongs to ESPN. But it will have the sport’s biggest name as part of its broadcasts.

Turner confirmed Wednesday that it has reached a multiyear agreement with Wayne Gretzky to be a studio analyst during the NHL regular season and throughout the playoffs beginning with the 2021-22 season.

Gretzky, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer known as “The Great One,” left his role as vice chairman of the Edmonton Oilers, for whom he helped win four Stanley Cups as a player, after the team was eliminated from the playoffs earlier this week.

“I’ve long admired Turner Sports’ coverage of the NBA, among other sports, and I’m thrilled to be joining the studio team in their inaugural NHL season,” said Gretzky in a statement. “This is an exciting opportunity to share my experiences and perspectives on the game I will always cherish, while hopefully informing and entertaining fans along the way.”

Wayne Gretzky is headed for the TV studio as a hockey analyst.AP

Turner Sports also announced that veteran play-by-play commentator and analyst will call games throughout the regular season and the playoffs on its networks, TNT and TBS. Albert and Olczyk are currently calling the Stanley Cup playoffs for NBC, which is in the last year of its rights deal.

“Calling the NHL’s biggest games — including the Stanley Cup Final — has been a lifelong dream since I was 5 years old,” said Albert. “I look forward to this tremendous opportunity with Turner Sports and can’t wait for the puck to drop on the 2021-22 season!

“Becoming a teammate of ‘The Great One’ and sharing the broadcast booth with Eddie Olczyk — one of the best analysts in all of sports and a longtime friend and colleague of mine — is the icing on the cake.”

Said Olczyk, ”I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Turner Sports family and its coverage of the NHL. I’m equally thrilled to be on the same team with ‘The Great One’ for the first time in my career.”

Turner Sports reached agreement with the NHL in late April on a seven- year multimedia partnership that includes rights to air the Stanley Cup Final three times over the length of the contract on TBS and TNT. The networks also will be the annual home of the NHL Winter Classic.

Turner’s part of the NHL rights deal was announced approximately six weeks after the league reached agreement with ESPN on the first part of the rights package, which includes four Stanley Cup Final series over the seven years.

Boston Globe LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188844 Boston Bruins

NWHL’s Metropolitan Riveters franchise sold to Pride operator BTM Partners

By Nate Weitzer Globe Correspondent, Updated May 26, 2021, 12:18 p.m.

The National Women’s Hockey League announced Wednesday that the Metropolitan Riveters will be sold from W Hockey Partners to BTM Partners, an organization that also owns and operates the NWHL’s and .

The Boston Pride franchise is individually owned by Miles Arnone, and Johanna Boynton owns the Toronto Six. Boston-based entrepreneur John Boynton will serve as the chairman for the Riveters.

“The Riveters have one of the most iconic brands in women’s professional hockey and I am thrilled to welcome them to the BTM family,” said Boynton, who is also a member of the NWHL Board of Governors.

The Riveters are one of the league’s founding teams, who first competed in the 2015-16 season. The franchise won the in the 2017-18 season and finished with the third-best record in the 2019-20 regular season. The Riveters withdrew from the NWHL tournament in January due to positive COVID-19 results.

According to the league, the sale of this franchise is part of a transitional period where ownership groups may hold more than one club as the league pursue its goal of a full joint-venture ownership model, where each club is individually owned.

“This transfer of ownership is another step forward for the NWHL and continues the model our investors desire of having great ownership for the teams and to transition out of team operations,” said W Hockey Partners President Andy Scurto. “We all share the same goals of building the premier professional women’s hockey league in North America and are eager to help carry the momentum that last season generated.”

WHP continues to own and operate the and . The organization sold the Whale to Shared Hockey Enterprises earlier this month.

The NWHL recently announced an increased salary cap of up to $300,000 per team for the 2021-22 season with increased sponsorship and broadcast partnerships expected.

Boston Globe LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188845 Boston Bruins “Obviously we have some guys that have been skating up with us, (Trent Frederic) and Kuhlman, all along for different reasons. They both bring different elements. And if that’s something we feel would make us a Bruins Notebook: B’s will face Islanders in second round better team, then we’ll look at that. But I thought everyone bought in and did their job so you want to reward that loyalty to the group and the Fourth line comes together at right time performance up until now. At the same time, again, if there’s a better option, we’ll look at it and use it. But right now that’s the way we’re going

to go.” By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: May 26, 2021 at 4:19 p.m. | Miller questionable for second round UPDATED: May 26, 2021 at 10:20 p.m. Kevan Miller, who suffered a possible concussion on a high hit from the

Capitals’ Dmitry Orlov, is progressing but it’s still anyone’s guess as to The Bruins have found their second-round match. when or if he’ll be available in the second-round series. He has not yet skated since the hit. The B’s will face the , who completed the upset of the regular season East Division winner Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 on “I didn’t see him (Wednesday), but he’s been in the last couple of days so Wednesday to advance to face the B’s. he’s been feeling better but not able to participate yet. Obviously until he gets on the ice, it’s tough to predict when he’ll be joining us,” said There was a time earlier this season when the last team B’s fans would Cassidy. have wanted to see in the playoffs was the Islanders, but not so much since the trade deadline. ‘s team took the first five games of Two of the B’s other injured defensemen are further along in their the season series — three in regulation, one in a shootout and another in recovery. Jeremy Lauzon, out since suffering a hand injury in Game 1 of overtime. The B’s absorbed one of their worst losses of the season at the Washington series, practiced with the team in a red non-contact Nassau Coliseum on Feb. 25, when they imploded in the third period and jersey. lost 7-2. “He’s trending very well. Will he be ready for Game 1? I don’t know. I’ll But the B’s captured the last three, all of which came after the season- probably get an update Friday after he’s been through a few more changing trade deadline acquisitions of Taylor Hall, Mike Reilly and practices,” said Cassidy. Curtis Lazar. Jakub Zboril, who was unavailable for the Washington series after The B’s last victory that came on Hall’s spectacular overtime winner in suffering an upper body injury in the last regular-season game, skated the second-to-last game of the season secured third place in the East with the extra players after the main practice. He had no restrictions. over the Isles and thus home-ice advantage for this second-round series. Rask resting up Also in that game, the Islanders lost starting goalie Semyon Varlamov to a lower body injury. Varlamov (11-6-3, .928 save percentage, 2.26 GAA Tuukka Rask did not participate in the main practice, instead opting to lifetime against the B’s), who should get some Vezina consideration, take some shots before practice and then catching up on some rest. played in Games 2 and 3 against Pittsburgh (both Penguins’ wins), but has since been replaced by rookie Ilya Sorokin. “That’s basically a (goalie coach Bob Essensa) and Tuukka conversation,” said Cassidy. “That’s what he felt would be the best thing The B’s three wins against the Islanders also came after New York lost for him today, a little individual work, knowing we have a bit of time here its , , to a season-ending knee injury. so I’m fine with it. Tuukka’s been on, obviously, we’ve all seen that. He’s played four games last week, five in (nine) days, something he hadn’t But the Islanders have a couple of bona fide Bruin killers in Jean-Gabriel done all year. So clearly he’s taken care of himself, being ready to play Pageau and Kyle Palmieri. every night and that’s a good thing.” Pageau scored five goals against the B’s this year, all coming in the Odds and ends Islanders’ victories, while Palmieri, who came over from the Devils prior to the deadline, also notched five against the B’s this year. That the puck finally went in for David Pastrnak is not surprising. Going into Wednesday’s games, Pastrnak was second in both shots on net (29) The Islanders also have some big boys on defense that could present and attempts (51). challenges, including 6-foot-3 , 6-foot-2 , 6- foot-5 and 6-foot-4 Noah Dobson. “That’s obviously part of my game. I want to get shots on net. It helps you as a player. Everybody has something. I try to get as many shots as Forward momentum possible on the net,” said Pastrnak. Going into their first-round series against the Washington Capitals, the Pastrnak had a couple of days off to celebrate his 25th birthday on Bruins’ third and fourth lines were not nearly as solidified as the top two Tuesday. lines. That has changed, at least for the time being. “I’m not a big cake guy, so (his girlfriend) made me a fruitcake and gave It may seem like a long time ago now, but the B’s started that series with me a nice chessboard, so I might have to play some chess with her,” said a third line that had Sean Kuraly centering Nick Ritchie and Charlie Coyle Pastrnak with a grin. and a fourth line that had Jake DeBrusk on his strong side centered by Lazar with right wing Chris Wagner. Pastrnak and his girlfriend are expecting their first child on June 9. …

After the Game 1 loss, that was scrapped. Coyle went back in the middle, Cassidy said a large group of players received their second vaccine dose DeBrusk bumped up to play on his off side and Kuraly went down to play on Tuesday. While he said it affected some guys more than others, no left wing with Lazar and Wagner. player was forced to miss practice. Cassidy believes after the two-week period the B’s will be above the 85% threshold that will allow players and Four straight wins later, and coach Bruce Cassidy, understandably, is staff to enjoy a few more freedoms under league protocols. ready to go right back with that bottom six, no matter the B’s opponent in the second round. Boston Herald LOADED: 05.27.2021 The only possible changes it seems would be on the fourth line, with right wing Karson Kuhlman being a possible replacement for Wagner. But like both Coyle and DeBrusk have done thus far, Wagner (22 hits) has taken the opportunity afforded him in the playoffs to at least partially expunge the memory of what was a subpar regular season for him. As a unit, the Kuraly-Lazar-Wagner line did not give up a five-on-five goal against Washington and often pushed the issue at the other end.

“I liked our four lines, so we’ll probably start that way assuming there’s no fly in the ointment, if someone gets hurt or not this week. That’s the way we’ll look at it and go from there,” said Cassidy. 1188846 Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins Bracing For ‘Heavy, Tough’ Series Vs. Islanders

By Joe Haggerty

BRIGHTON, Mass – With the New York Islanders taking care of business against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a raucous Nassau Coliseum, the Boston Bruins now know in the second round they will face a team in the Isles that gave them a pretty hard time during the regular season.

The B’s were able to have a lot more luck after the NHL trade deadline against New York as they took three wins from the Isles while making it seem like a different matchup, but New York did give them major trouble in third periods (outscoring them by an 8-3 margin) all season while Boston battled to a 3-3-2 record against them. The Bruins are an impressive 16-5-1 since the NHL trade deadline and clearly have been a different team before, and after, the mid-April trade deadline.

The Bruins are certainly expecting it to be a tight-checking series where there won’t be a lot of free space on the ice, and perhaps there won’t be quite as many offensive chances as there would have been in a playoff series against the Penguins.

“Obviously, the Islanders play a less open system than Pittsburgh. So, it may be a little more similar to our style where they still want to score, but things may be a little tighter and they are comfortable in those 1-1 games,” said Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. “Pittsburgh is a team that was willing to trade chances a little more than the Islanders. The Islanders [defensemen] are heavier and a little tougher to get on the inside.

“The Penguins would often matchup Crosby against the Patrice Bergeron line, so it would be strength against strength. Whereas the Islanders most times will want to use Pageau or the Cizikas line, so you’re talking about a different animal when it comes to matchups.”

The best guess here: This will be a series of close games with solid two- way players on both sides and a red-hot goalie in Ilya Sorokin that played very well against the Penguins. The Perfection Line will see a steady diet of either the third or fourth checking line competition with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and clamoring to play shutdown roles against Bergeron and Co.

Certainly, the Isles boast a top-10 kill just like the Bruins, and they will guard the front of the Isles net with rugged, big and strong defenders. They finished 20th in the NHL in power play percentage during the regular season but weren’t far off from the B’s PP success rate through the first round of the playoffs.

With Anders Lee lost to a season-ending injury, though, the sobering truth for the Islanders is that they can’t hang with Boston’s goal-scoring and playmaking depth if the two forward lines are rolling for the Black and Gold. and were a handful for the Penguins to tackle in Game 6 and did some damage offensively for the Islanders during the first round series, and Mat Barzal is a dazzling offensive talent.

One thing to watch out for: Pageau and Kyle Palmieri have been big time Bruins killers in the past and combined for 10 goals (five apiece for Pageau and Palmieri) against the Black and Gold this season.

Still, it feels like the Islanders can’t match the firepower that the Boston Bruins will be bringing to the party, and that should be the difference when push comes to shove for two big, heavy physical hockey teams with solid all-around games, excellent goaltending and smart coaching staffs that get the most out of their players.

When will it all begin? Well, the best bet is a Saturday night start at TD Garden between the Bruins and Islanders that should go closer to the seven game distance than Boston’s first round matchup against a Capitals team that felt like they fell apart in the middle of the playoff series.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188847 Boston Bruins

Is Zdeno Chara Done With The Capitals?

By Jimmy Murphy

While his former team, the Boston Bruins prepares for a second-round matchup with either the Pittsburgh Penguins or New York Islanders, former Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is once again facing an uncertain future as an NHL player.

The Bruins knocked Zdeno Chara and the Washington Capitals out in five games with a 3-1 series-clinching win in Game 5 this past Sunday and on Tuesday, Chara was non-committal on his future with not just the Washington Capitals but also as an NHL player. Then on Wednesday, Zdeno Chara, who can become an unrestricted free agent again in July, seemed as if he might be done with the Capitals at least, in a social media post. Posting on both Facebook and Instagram, the former Boston Bruins captain appeared to be saying goodbye to the team and fans he spent this past season playing for.

‘I have been so very fortunate to be a part of the Washington Capitals organization. Since day one I’ve been welcomed with open arms and every day was a pleasure to come to the rink. Even though our season didn’t end the way we all wanted I am grateful and humbled for the opportunity to play for Washington. To all the players, coaches, staff, fans, and especially my family, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.’

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zdeno Chara (@zeechara33)

This social media post came a day after Zdeno Chara openly admitted that for the second straight year, he would need to have a sitdown with his wife, agent, and confidants to determine whether or not he will play another season in the NHL or retire from what has been a decorated and hall of fame worthy career.

“Obviously the season didn’t end the way we wanted it. That’s life. You have to move on.,” Chara said in his exit Zoom call with the media Tuesday. “As far as myself and my future, I’m going to take a few days to talk to my family and make decisions after,” Zdeno Chara said. “I have to have a conversation with my wife and children and see where we want to be in the next few days or weeks. After those conversations, I’ll let the emotions settle in and see where I’m at.”

Chara’s family stayed behind in Boston for his 23rd season in the NHL and while he credited the Capitals organization for trying to make his new living environment and being away from them as easy as possible, it’s clear being away from his wife and kids took a toll. That toll will definitely play a role in his decision on whether or not he should hang them up on his career.

“Definitely, that was one of those things I found to be the most challenging, but the accommodation and the environment I was in made it much, much easier and better than I expected,” said Chara who finished the playoffs with no points in five games after finishing the regular season with two goals and eight points in 55 games. “I’m looking forward to seeing my family and my kids every day. That will definitely be a factor going into the decision I’ll be making in the future.”

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188848 Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins Lauzon (Upper Body) Returns To Practice

By Joe Haggerty

BRIGHTON, Mass – The Boston Bruins got back to work on Wednesday after a couple days off the ice following their first round series win over the Washington Capitals, and they’ll have at least one healthy body returning ahead of the second round versus a still-unknown opponent.

Rugged defenseman Jeremy Lauzon was skating at Wednesday’s practice at in a no-contact jersey, but looked like he might be available to play soon after missing the final four games of the first round series vs. Washington. Lauzon was knocked out of action after getting hit in the right hand with a Justin Schultz blast during the overtime Game 1 loss to the Capitals.

Bruce Cassidy couldn’t say whether he’d be ready to play Game 1 when the Bruins don’t even know when the series is getting started (or who they might be playing), but it certainly sounds like they’ll get Lauzon back at some point in the second round.

“It is midweek, so that’s a good sign,” said Cassidy. “I don’t know when we’re going to start, but let’s assume it would be on the weekend. He’s trending very well. Will he be ready for Game One? I don’t know, but I’d probably have a better update by Friday when he’s been through a few of these practices.”

Connor Clifton had been playing in place of Lauzon since the injury and actually played very well for the Bruins in a physical series against the Capitals.

Kevan Miller (upper body) wasn’t on the ice on Wednesday, but he’s been reporting to the Bruins practice facility the last few days in a clear indication he’s also feeling better after absorbing a nasty Dmitry Orlov hit that sent him to the hospital during Game 4 vs. Washington. The hardnosed Miller won’t become an option until he actually begins skating on the ice with his teammates, but it sounds like he’s also trending in the right direction.

“He’s been in the last couple of days, so he’s feeling better. But not able to participate [in practice] yet,” said Cassidy. “Until he gets back on the ice, it’s tough to predict when he’ll rejoin us.”

Otherwise, it doesn’t sound like the Boston Bruins are going to enact any changes to their lineup with the forwards looking to remain intact and Tuukka Rask taking some additional rest time staying off the ice during Wednesday’s practice with Jaroslav Halak and Jeremy Swayman getting the extra reps with the rest of the team.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188849 Boston Bruins Cup to the ice at ’s Pepsi Center, where commissioner delivered it to Avalanche captain .

Pritchard: I watched Joe just immediately hand it to Ray Bourque. It was ‘He was handing the Cup to all of us’: The day Boston celebrated Ray so hockey, I guess you could say. I watched Ray lower it down and kiss Bourque’s Stanley Cup title it.

Two days later, a crowd estimated at 250,000 turned out in Denver to Steve Buckley May 26, 2021 celebrate the Stanley Cup champions. Then, in keeping with tradition, the Cup was sent on a months-long tour of celebrations as members of the Avalanche took turns acting as its temporary stewards. First to take home the Stanley Cup was Ray Bourque. It’s important that we begin here: There are no hard feelings between Ray Bourque and . Not now, not ever. The two men stay in Bourque: I came home from Colorado with the Cup. I had it with me touch, both as friends and as Boston Bruins legends whose talents overnight. landed them in the — Bourque as one of the game’s greatest defensemen, Sinden for coaching the B’s to a Stanley Bourque knew he’d be in possession of the Cup again in August. By Cup championship in 1970 followed by a decades-long run as president then, he thought, he’d have more elaborate plans in place to show off and general manager. Perhaps more importantly, certainly on the hockey’s Holy Grail. For now, it would be just friends and family. And international stage, Sinden coached Team Canada to victory over the then his agent, Steve Freyer, called. Soviet Union in the epic Summit Series in 1972. Freyer: I got a call from Mayor Menino, who I knew a little bit. And he And this is where you might want to give your head a scratch and think to said this was all his idea. He said, “We would like to honor Ray at City yourself, well, of course there are no hard feelings. It was Sinden, after Hall Plaza. What do you think about that?” I said, “Ooh, wow, I really all, who landed the eighth pick in the 1979 NHL Draft in exchange for need to think about that. Obviously I need to talk with Ray.” And I called trivia-question answer and then invested that pick in 18- Ray and he had the same reaction I had, which was, “Woaaaaah.” year-old Raymond Bourque of Saint-Laurent, Quebec. Bourque Bourque: It was a weird ask. Steve asked me and I quickly said, “I don’t established himself as one of the great Bruins of all time. And as think so.” I didn’t want to embarrass the Bruins. Bourque’s career was winding down with the Bruins in the dumps, Sinden traded his five-time Norris Trophy defenseman to the Colorado Freyer: Ray and I agreed that we would talk later. I talked to the mayor Avalanche for the sole purpose of putting Bourque in a position to finally again and asked specifically what he had in mind. He said we’d have him play on a Stanley Cup winner. appear at City Hall, out on the plaza, and we’ll honor him.

But no Bourque-Sinden discussion is complete without bringing up The Sinden: This is not something I laugh about. I was angry. I was angry City Hall Plaza Incident. It’s the unsightly crack in the Sinden-Bourque because this was all orchestrated by Steve Freyer. I’m not sure how mirror, the taboo topic that inspires a good leaving-alone when they see much Ray really wanted to do it. I thought it was kind of insulting to our each other. organization, and maybe even the city. He won it in Denver, Colorado, that’s how I felt. I might have been alone but I didn’t like it. But as the rest of us are not bound by such decorum, the upcoming 20th anniversary of The City Hall Plaza Incident is a good time to revisit that Bourque: That’s what I was worried about. So Steve said, well, what if June afternoon in 2001 when 40-year-old Ray Bourque gave Boston the Bruins signed off on it? He got ahold of (assistant general manager) sports fans something they hadn’t experienced in 15 years: A Mike O’Connell and Mike signed off on it, and I said OK, I’ll do it. championship celebration. It seems like alternate-universe fiction by today’s standards, given the whirl of rolling rallies that took place during Sinden: It was probably me. What I’m saying is, it was a bad choice the first two decades of this century, but on June 13, 2001, Bourque either way. If I didn’t sign off on it, it’d be a lot worse. If I did sign off on it, showed up at Boston’s City Hall Plaza to show off the Stanley Cup that it was bad for me. Maybe nobody else but me. So I signed off on it, I feel he and his Colorado Avalanche teammates had captured four nights I did, because the choice I had of signing or not signing didn’t leave me earlier. with much of a choice, really. Ray was foremost on my mind. He was doing it the right way. He was pressured by I don’t know who else, but Boston sports fans were so desperate to cheer for a winning team, any probably Steve Freyer. That’s their job, promote their client. winning team, that they turned out by the thousands to celebrate a championship that had been won by a team in another city. Indeed, in O’Connell: I’m sure I said, “Ray, do what you think is right.” I didn’t give it another time zone. a lot of thought at the time. I didn’t know what kind of event it would be. It turned out to be colossal. I don’t remember anything like that happening Nobody cared that this team from the Rocky Mountains — the old before. When has it happened that an athlete plays for a team and brings who had only been in Denver for six years — had back a trophy to the town he played in but didn’t win it with? won the Stanley Cup. What mattered was that Ray Bourque had won the Stanley Cup. So when it was announced by the office of Mayor Thomas Freyer: I said to the mayor, “You only have two days. How are you going M. Menino that the Boston would fête Bourque at City Hall Plaza — and to get people?” He said, and I remember this very clearly: “Don’t worry, that the Stanley Cup would be present — it turned into the hockey that’s not a problem.” equivalent of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Suddenly everyone Julie Burns, former deputy chief of staff to Menino: I handled a lot of was happy, observant and celebratory, even if it was cloaked in the these sort of one-off, unusual-type events. It was a really cool thing that inconvenient truth that no Boston sports team had played so much as a we were going to do. Everyone was really excited that Ray Bourque was single postseason game in more than a year and a half. (Yankees 6, Red going to come to City Hall. Sox 1, ALCS Game 5, October 18, 1999.) Sinden: Steve Freyer requested that I attend and speak at it. On March 6, 2000, with the Bruins languishing near the bottom of the standings, Sinden completed a trade that was designed to get Bourque’s Freyer: I might have called him, but I don’t have a clear recollection of name on the Stanley Cup. In exchange for , , that. Samuel Pahlsson and a first-round pick, Sinden sent Bourque and Dave Sinden: I was coming home from Maine when I got a call in the car. I’d Andreychuk to Colorado. The plan was for the Bruins to rebuild, but it been fishing. I thought that was incredible that I was going to stand up also gave Bourque a chance to play on a Stanley Cup winner, something there and say, “I’m glad Denver won and I’m glad I was part of it.” I said he had not done in his 19 seasons with the Bruins. no, I don’t like the idea to begin with. I’m certainly not going to participate Bourque’s spring fling with the Avalanche in 2000 did not end with a in it. championship. Colorado lost to the Dallas Stars in Game 7 of the Freyer: Ray did ask me what I thought Harry was going to think, and I Western Conference Finals. But he returned for another season and the said, “Harry’s not going to be happy.” Avalanche roared, amassing 118 points with Bourque playing 80 games and steadying the team’s defense. The Avalanche and O’Connell: Harry Sinden, he’s the protector of the franchise. He’s Devils battled to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, when Colorado probably one of the best protectors of a franchise I ever met in my life. emerged with a 3-1 victory. It was then that Phil Pritchard, known as the And one of the smartest hockey people I ever met. I cherish those years I Hockey Hall of Fame’s “Keeper of the Cup,” accompanied the Stanley was able to work side by side with him. I was a product of Boston, a product of the era, people going crazy over winning the Arnold: Whenever the police estimate the crowd size I always wonder Stanley Cup. But Harry’s going to have a much deeper understanding of how the hell they do that. But it felt to me like there were 20,000 people what that day was all about with the franchise. And I can understand out there. completely where Harry was coming from. It’s what makes Harry, Harry. Kluzak: I couldn’t tell, I don’t know for sure. But, yeah, maybe 20,000. Sinden: I just didn’t like the whole thing. It felt like Colorado was shoving it in our face, at least to me. But I don’t think the city took it that way or Steve Freyer: There were 25,000 people, I think that was the estimate. the fans took it that way at all. They were just so happy for Raymond, as I Bourque: Lots of kids on their dads’ shoulders. That’s what I remember was. Because that trade came about to give him that chance. when I think of that crowd.

On the day of the event, Bourque and his family drove to Freyer’s house. Among the fans was Dan O’Neill, then 31, a financial advisor for Wells From there, they would head south into the city. Fargo who lives in Winthrop.

Freyer: Ray wanted to have a little party at my house first, 30 or 40 O’Neill: I was a huge hockey guy growing up in Winthrop. people who were important to him come over and see the Cup. We were is a neighbor. And I was a huge Ray Bourque fan. From the day he able to set that up, but then it became a problem of getting the Cup became a Bruin I watched every single game of his career. I went there downtown. There’s a Cup bearer who’s in charge of it at all times, with that day with my son Michael. He was six years old and had just been his white gloves. And my wife had a Dodge Caravan and someone introduced to pee wee hockey. He was on my shoulders, and as Ray turned to Susan and said, “Would you mind driving the Cup downtown?” Bourque was speaking to us I felt he was speaking to us as if we were Susan Freyer: Let me put it this way, we did put it in the back of the car. his family. He seemed like such a genuine person, and when he held that The man with the white gloves was going to sit next to me while I drove Cup up, he was wearing this super tight black T-shirt, I just felt like he the Caravan. We had the trunk open, and I took a picture of it, and then I was handing the Cup to all of us. And even though I was a Bruins fan said, “I’m too nervous to drive this into Boston.” I was really nervous. But and a Boston fan since the mid-70s, I wept openly for the first time as an we had also rented two limos and we had to take one of them and clean adult over a sporting figure. To this day my son and I still talk about it. everything out to find a place to put the Stanley Cup. Ray Bourque is a living legend in our house, then and now.

Steve Ozimec was the Cup’s guardian who had accompanied Bourque Another face in the crowd was 34-year-old Martin J. “Marty” Walsh of on the flight to Boston. Dorchester, then a third-term member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives who would go on to replace Menino as mayor of Boston Ozimec: I distinctly remember sitting in the limo with Ray and his people in 2014. and Steve and having the Cup there. Of course the Cup’s case does not fit in the trunk very well so we had to take the Cup from the case and it Marty Walsh: I had been at a christening when Colorado won the Stanley rode with Ray in the car. Cup. There must have been a hundred of us crowded around a TV, watching the game. And we were all cheering for Ray. Everybody I know Bourque: We had a police escort all the way into Boston. wanted to see him win a Stanley Cup. And when they announced he was going to bring the Cup to City Hall Plaza, there was no doubt I was going Susan Freyer: We drove down Route 1 South and all of a sudden people to be there. It wasn’t something I decided at the moment. I was at the were just pulling over to the side because people figured out who it was. State House that morning, and then I walked over to City Hall Plaza with Steve Freyer: We came into City Hall from the back side, from the a few people from my office. The thing I remember most was how much Faneuil Hall side, and pulled into the garage. And you know, standing respect there was for Ray, everywhere you looked. down there in the back you can’t see City Hall Plaza. Burns: And all of sudden Ray is holding the Stanley Cup over his head.

Bourque: We had no idea how many people were there. Ozimec: It was quite clear that Ray played his entire career so that he Burns: Ray was a total class act, super nice and engaging with people. could do that. He posed for pictures with everyone. Walsh: Everyone loved it.

Steve Freyer: And then we were brought into the mayor’s office. Kluzak: Ray was excited to win the Cup, of course, but I think partly he Burns: The thing I recall the most was the amount of staff and support was remorseful that this didn’t happen with the Bruins. But that went and logistics around the Stanley Cup itself. There were extraordinary away immediately when he went out there (at City Hall Plaza) and saw details about how the Cup could be handled and managed and so on. how excited the fans were and he was able to hold up that Stanley Cup. Never mind Ray Bourque. This was all about the Stanley Cup. It was such joy.

Bourque: I don’t know if you’ve ever seen or been with the Cup, but it’s The amount of time Bourque actually spoke to the gathering was shorter an incredible trophy. It’s so impressive. People talk about winning the than the amount of time he held the Cup over his head. He said: “We’ve Stanley Cup, but just to be in the presence of it is really something. had some great years here with the Bruins, and I came real close to Stanley here, my friend. But we felt to touch this, there was a move that Burns: And there was the gentleman who was actually handling the Cup. had to be made, and it was a very tough one. And the support that you He was wearing white gloves and he treated it like an important piece of showed today certainly shows me that you guys all understood what it art. was all about and what I had to do.” Thirteen days later, and to the surprise of nobody, Bourque announced his retirement. Menino, who died in 2014, went all-out for the event. His office was a hub of politicians, family members, friends, friends of friends. Everyone Bourque: The two things that people talk to me about the most are Phil wanted to meet Bourque. Everyone wanted to see the Cup. Dale Arnold, Esposito Night and that ceremony at City Hall. It’s pretty funny. at the time the play-by-play voice of the Bruins and a talk-show host on WEEI, was there as well. He had been recruited for emcee duties, joined Night, held on December 3, 1987, at the original Boston by NESN analyst Gord Kluzak, a former teammate of Bourque. Garden, was a long-overdue event. Esposito had been a goal-scoring machine who played on two Stanley Cup winners during the heyday of Freyer: And the mayor said, “Are you ready?” And we followed the mayor Bobby Orr and the Big, Bad Bruins. But Sinden sent him, along with through the labyrinth that is City Hall, and we walked out on the stage Carol Vadnais, to the Rangers in a 1975 deal that brought veterans Jean and our jaws hit the floor. We were stunned. Ratelle and to Boston. As shocking as the trade was, even more shocking was that Esposito’s No. 7 was put back into circulation Bourque: The fans, the friggin’ fans. I couldn’t believe the amount of and assigned to Bourque in 1979. On the night Esposito’s No. 7 was people. finally retired, the plan was that Bourque would continue to wear it. But Susan Freyer: We’re looking out from the stage and we see all these Bourque had a surprise: He removed his No. 7 sweater and handed it to people, thousands of people. Esposito, saying, “It’s all yours.” Underneath the No. 7 was another sweater, No. 77. Bourque would wear it for the rest of his career. The No. Bourque: There were probably 10,000 people who showed up. I couldn’t 77 is now retired by both the Bruins and Avalanche. believe it. Bourque: I still get asked about those two events. Nothing to do with scoring a goal or winning a game or anything like that. It’s Phil Esposito Night and City Hall. Walsh: I never met Ray until I was mayor. And I told him I was there for Phil Esposito Night and I was there when he brought the Stanley Cup to City Hall.

A little more than seven months after Bourque held the Stanley Cup over his head at City Hall Plaza, Boston sports fans had a championship of their own to celebrate when the Patriots shocked the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. What went unnoticed was that Ray Bourque, the man who brought the Colorado Avalanche-earned Stanley Cup to Boston at a time when there was nothing else to celebrate, was in attendance that night at the Louisiana Superdome.

Bourque: I watched the Patriots beat the Raiders in the Snow Bowl (divisional playoffs) on television with , and Chris’ birthday is January 29. He said, “Dad, if they win can you take me to the Super Bowl?” I told him I’d work on it and we ended up going to the Super Bowl. It was pretty neat.

Two years later, the Patriots won another Super Bowl. And then the Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918. The Patriots won yet another Super Bowl. The Red Sox won another World Series. On June 17, 2008, the Celtics won their first NBA championship since 1986. On June 15, 2011, the Bruins won their first Stanley Cup since 1972.

After the Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup final, Sinden, by then a special advisor to owner , was given his own chance to host the Cup for a day.

Sinden: I did two things with it. I brought it to downtown Winchester and all the young sports teams came. All the kids lined up around the corner from where it was being displayed and they had their picture taken with it. I also brought it to my house and had a cookout for all my friends.

The Patriots won three more Super Bowls. The Red Sox won two more World Series.

That’s 12 rolling rallies, a history-making championship run for a town that had gone 15 years without any title. And it all began not long after Ray Bourque, in his black T-shirt and gray slacks, held a one-man Stanley Cup celebration at City Hall Plaza.

Bourque: That’s amazing. It’s crazy. I had nothing to do with all those championships, but I like to joke that I did.

Postscript: Ray Bourque and Harry Sinden understand each other perfectly.

Bourque: We had lunch a few years ago at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach. We talked about a lot stuff that day. About the night the Bruins retired Phil Esposito’s , and how Harry got that pick in the draft from the Kings to get me, trading Ron Grahame for the pick. We have a very good relationship.

Sinden: I’ve had a great relationship with Ray through the years, even during the years he played for Colorado. We’re very good friends. He knew I was upset, not particularly with him. He never brings it up and I never bring it up. It’ll come up now and then by other people and it’ll get rehashed, like we’re doing now. I don’t know how he feels, but I felt bad about it all. But that’s all disappeared. Any feelings that were there are gone.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188850 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres prospect Oskari Laaksonen named to AHL North Division all-star team

Lance Lysowski May 26, 2021

Buffalo Sabres prospect Oskari Laaksonen was selected Wednesday to represent the on the 's North Division all-star team.

Laaksonen, 21, totaled two goals with 15 assists for 17 points in 28 games during his first season with the Amerks. A third-round draft choice in 2017, Laaksonen was one of few drafted prospects competing for the Sabres' AHL affiliate during this shortened season.

The AHL is not holding a traditional all-star game, but Laaksonen was one of six players recognized as the division's best.

This was a bounce-back year for Laaksonen after he posted only 12 points in 46 games with of Finland's last season. Laaksonen signed his entry-level contract with the Sabres in June 2020. With the AHL season facing a late start, Laaksonen opened this season with Liiga's Lahden Pelicans. He had 12 points in 20 games before he left for North America.

With the Amerks, Laaksonen ranked second in the AHL among all first- year defensemen with eight power-play assists while his 17 points were fourth-most.

Laaksonen is part of a promising, young defense Sabres depth chart that also includes Rasmus Dahlin, Henri Jokiharju, Mattias Samuelsson, Jacob Bryson and Will Borgen.

Buffalo News LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188851 “We’re in a tough situation,” said Rebecca Johnston, a three-time Olympian and star forward for Team Scotiabank. “Probably three- quarters of our team hasn’t skated since November, so we’re just trying Team Sonnet's Brittany Howard shines with hat-trick at PWHPA to get out feet under us. We’re trying to get some chemistry, and that’s showcase in Calgary going to take a little bit of time. I think over the next couple of games, we can definitely improve and get better and start gaining that chemistry, but it is tough. We’ve had spurts where we’ve played really well and then when we don’t play as well or we cough up the puck or make a little Wes Gilbertson mistake, they capitalize.

“For us, I think our main goal is just try to improve each and every game. It’s an individual achievement, with a collective reward. We’re coming a long way and I’m proud of our group. We’re in a tough spot and there’s no excuses. We’ll just keep on going and work really Brittany Howard sparked Team Sonnet’s offensive outburst in an 8-3 hard.” triumph over Team Scotiabank in Wednesday’s action at the PWHPA Secret Dream Gap Tour: Calgary edition, and her hat-trick performance Calgary Sun: LOADED: 05.27.2021 was even sweeter because it secured an additional point in the unique standings system.

In fact, Team Sonnet collected a pair of bonus points thanks to this scoring splurge, earning another for putting five-or-more pucks in the opposition net.

A four-point victory is something worth celebrating, even if there were no hats flying in an empty Seven Chiefs Sportsplex and Howard’s friends didn’t have any lids — except their helmets, of course — to be tossing around the locker-room to salute the sharpshooter.

“The weather is pretty nice here today, so I think all the toques are still at the hotel,” Howard said with a chuckle.

It was an emotional day for Howard, who is a graduate of in the NCAA ranks and was crushed by news that the Colonials had disbanded both their female and male hockey programs.

The 25-year-old right-winger took her frustrations out on Team Scotiabank.

She capped Team Sonnet’s five-goal opening frame, buried on a breakaway early in the second and then completed the hattie with a short-side snipe on a three-on-one rush.

As Kristen Richards, Howard’s teammate at both Robert Morris and now with the Toronto-based PWHPA training group, put it afterward: “That’s a kid who just went from Bobby Mo to pro, so it’s good to see her being able to contribute that way.”

If not for a few clutch saves by Team Scotiabank’s Kassidy Sauve, Howard may have had company in the hat-trick club.

Jamie Lee Rattray scored on her first shift and again on her second but wasn’t able to light the lamp for a third time. It wasn’t for lack of opportunity, with her pass-happy pals anxious to stash another point in the standings in this week-long, three-team showcase.

“It’s kind of a different mindset. You’re just used to playing to win, and I think it was a fun thing to be a part of,” said Rattray, who has been named to Hockey Canada’s centralized roster in advance of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. “The girls were trying to find me and my linemate, Brianne Jenner, all I had to do was put my stick on the ice and she was finding me. It would have been nice to get another one, but I’m really happy with how we played as a group, and that is really all that matters.”

Howard insisted that the promise of an additional point in the standings didn’t impact her approach even once she’d potted a pair.

Team Sonnet (1-1, four points) is now hot on the heels of Team Bauer (2-0, six points), and they go head-to-head Thursday in their second round-robin matchup.

“On the bench, it’s obviously buzzing around,” Howard said of her hat- trick quest. “But when you’re in the game, you don’t think about it. You’re just trying to get pucks on net when you can and obviously not pass up opportunities. So you don’t really think about it when you’re on the ice, but the bench was definitely buzzing about it.”

There weren’t a lot of smiles on Team Scotiabank’s bench as the Calgary-based squad lost a second straight game.

They do, however, have some serious star-power, and a couple of wins — and maybe a hat-trick or another bonus achievement — could still give them a shot at qualifying for Sunday’s final at the Saddledome. 1188852 Calgary Flames

Flames forward Mangiapane buries winner in world championship debut

Wes Gilbertson

Calgary Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane is making an immediate impact for Team Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Hockey Championship.

Finally eligible to suit up after completing his quarantine requirements, Mangiapane buried the game-winner in Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over Norway.

The 25-year-old left-winger notched a career-high 18 goals for the Flames this season and apparently didn’t cool off any while spending six days locked in his hotel room after arriving in Latvia.

“I like the way he plays,” praised linemate Connor Brown, the regular who set up Mangiapane for Wednesday’s top-shelf one- timer from the slot. “He helped our offence a lot. He creates a lot out there, thinks the game really well, attacks the middle. He made a lot of great plays, so he was a big key for our offensive boost.”

Mangiapane is representing his country for the first time, and Team Canada certainly should benefit from adding another scoring threat to their lineup. They are now in must-win mode after dropping three in a row to open pool play. Next up for the Canadians is a matchup with Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, Flames defence prospect Connor Mackey has also finished his quarantine and should soon debut for Team USA.

The 24-year-old received some good news Wednesday when he was named to the AHL’s Canadian Division all-star squad. As a rookie, Mackey collected 16 points in 27 outings with the temporarily-relocated and also logged six appearances in the Flaming C.

— Wes Gilbertson

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188853 Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes will add more fans for next game, whether that’s Game 7 or Game 1

BY LUKE DECOCK

RALEIGH-In the attendance arms race with their first-round playoff opponent, the Carolina Hurricanes are going to the next level. The team announced Wednesday that it would increase capacity at PNC Arena from 12,000 to more than 15,000 going forward.

That applies to a potential Game 7 against the Nashville Predators on Saturday or Game 1 of a second-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning or Florida Panthers, which could also be as soon as Saturday. The Lightning has a chance to close out the Panthers on Wednesday night. Either way, the Hurricanes will play at least one more home game in front of their most fans yet.

“It’ll be wild for sure,” Hurricanes forward Warren Foegele said Wednesday. “I remember from a couple years ago how difficult it was to hear each other on the bench. I can imagine with more fans in the building the place will be electric and we’ll be feeding off that energy.”

The Hurricanes were originally planning to host about 6,000 fans under North Carolina’s COVID-19 capacity limitations, but those were lifted before the playoff series began and there have been 12,000 fans in PNC for all three home games so far. The Predators had 12,000 fans for Games 3 and 4 and announced this week they would bump that to more than 14,000 for Game 6 on Thursday.

The Hurricanes lead the series 3-2 after Tuesday night’s 3-2 overtime win at PNC.

Wednesday, the Hurricanes successfully completed the installation of a 500-ton chiller and other ventilation equipment in the arena’s north parking lots of PNC Arena that will allow them to meet NHL airflow standards for increased capacity. The exact maximum has yet to be determined, the team said.

Work on that front continues at this very moment. pic..com/s0KiDKz48s

— Luke DeCock (@LukeDeCock) May 26, 2021

The Hurricanes worked with Raleigh’s Gregory Poole Equipment Company — located just on the other side of the North Carolina Fairgrounds from the arena — to get the additional equipment installed in just over a week. The Centennial Authority, which oversees the arena, agreed to pay $207,838 to cover the first month of rental and operating costs. The Hurricanes would be on the hook for any costs after that, estimated at another $230,000 if the Hurricanes reach the .

“We are grateful to the NHL and to our friends at Gregory Poole for allowing us to safely increase capacity in time for this weekend,” Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. “The atmosphere for our home games at PNC Arena has been incredible, and we are looking forward to hosting even more of our passionate fans.”

WATCH CAROLINA HURRICANES VS. NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Game 6, Stanley Cup playoff series

▪ Thursday, 9:30 p.m.

▪ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville

▪ TV: BSSO (Bally), NBCSN

News Observer LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188854 Carolina Hurricanes ▪ TV: BSSO (Bally), NBCSN

News Observer LOADED: 05.27.2021

Canes haven’t been their best in third period, but they’ve been their most productive

BY LUKE DECOCK

RALEIGH-It’s been a little lost amid the drama of the Nashville Predators’ two double-overtime goals, but the Carolina Hurricanes have a 3-2 lead in this series heading into Thursday’s Game 6 because of their own late clutch dramatics.

Over the course of a series that’s been almost impossibly close — within a goal or tied for almost the entire duration — the Hurricanes have outscored the Predators 8-2 in third periods, and four of those eight goals were either score-tying goals or go-ahead goals, including Martin Necas’ game-tying shot late in Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime win.

The Hurricanes had only two official shots in the first 11 minutes of Tuesday’s third period before Rod Brind’Amour delivered an impassioned speech on the bench during a television timeout with 8:37 to go, unleashing a late nine-shot flurry that included Necas’ remarkable goal one shift later.

“There’s a fine line of sticking with the program and not getting too stagnant,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. “We had to start pushing for some opportunities.”

It’s all gone a little against the tenor of the series: While the Predators’ game has been predicated on clogging up the ice and retreating to the net — and they’ve attempted to impose a physical edge — it’s the Hurricanes who have worn down the Predators late in games despite a 95-90 Nashville edge in total shots attempted in the third period. The Hurricanes have a 317-236 edge at all other times.

The Hurricanes haven’t necessarily played their best hockey late, but they’ve been their most productive late — at least until it gets very late, with the Hurricanes running on fumes without Jaccob Slavin as the two games in Nashville dragged on and on.

But Slavin is back now ... and was on the ice for Staal’s four-on-four overtime winner 123 seconds into overtime (not 104 as originally and officially recorded, thanks to a timekeeping error).

“Our third period wasn’t great,” Slavin said. “Obviously we got the goal from Necas, which is huge. We knew we had better to give.”

POWER BACK ON

After the Hurricanes’ power play went 0 for 4 in Game 4, Brind’Amour made some changes Tuesday, moving Necas and Teuvo Teravainen onto the first unit for Andrei Svechnikov and Staal.

The switch paid immediate dividends: Necas converted on the Hurricanes’ first opportunity for their first man-advantage goal in more than 170 minutes of game time.

Svechnikov was in the penalty box for that goal, but he stayed on the second unit when the Hurricanes went back on the power play in the second period. Svechnikov has only one goal in the series, an empty- netter in Game 1.

TAILWINDS

Staal’s overtime goal was his second with the Hurricanes, tying him for second in franchise history with Kevin Dineen and Cory Stillman. Niclas Wallin, the “Secret Weapon,” remains the all-time leader with three. … Time to shorten the bench on the road in Game 6? Carolina’s fourth line has been on the ice for four of Nashville’s past six even-strength goals in regulation. It did score two of its own, both by Brock McGinn, in Game 4. ... The Hurricanes got over the NHL’s 85% vaccination threshold ahead of Game 3 in Nashville, a team spokesperson confirmed Wednesday, and are operating under the league’s less restrictive COVID guidelines.

WATCH CAROLINA HURRICANES VS. NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Game 6, Stanley Cup playoff series

▪ Thursday, 9:30 p.m.

▪ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville 1188855 Carolina Hurricanes An alternate captain, Slavin was not completely pleased with the Canes’ game Tuesday. Neither was Brind’Amour. The Canes showed resilience and refused to lose, but there were some aspects that need to be cleaner All seems right in the Hurricanes’ world with Jaccob Slavin back and and better Thursday in Game 6 in Nashville. playing “It wasn’t our best game,” Slavin said. “I think we got away from what makes us successful a little bit there. Obviously (Necas) had a great goal in the third to tie it up. That was huge. But we’ve got to go back to BY CHIP ALEXANDER Nashville and play the way that we know how to play.”

INCREASED ATTENDANCE

Any questions about Jaccob Slavin were answered 20 seconds into his The Canes announced Wednesday there will be an increased capacity of first shift Tuesday. more than 15,000 fans for all remaining home playoff games. PNC Arena installed a 500-ton chiller that will allow the facility to increase air flow That’s how long it took for the Carolina Hurricanes defenseman to make while maintaining the integrity of the playing surface. his first noticeable play against the Nashville Predators, cutting off forward Luke Kunin by the wall at the Carolina blue line. Slavin made the The Hurricanes worked with Gregory Poole Equipment Company to have big hit, knocking the puck away from Kunin, and the Canes were quickly the upgrade installed. The equipment was financed in collaboration with skating the other way. the Centennial Authority, which owns and operates PNC Arena.

“Welcome back to the series, Jaccob Slavin,” Canes TV analyst Tripp CAROLINA HURRICANES VS. NASHVILLE PREDATORS Tracy said with emphasis. Game 6, Stanley Cup playoff series. There were 12,000 Canes fans in PNC Arena likely having the same thought. Slavin was badly missed as he was held out of three straight ▪ Thursday, 9:30 p.m. games in the Stanley Cup playoff series with a lower-body injury that had ▪ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville become worrisome. ▪ TV: BSSO (Bally), NBCSN Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour didn’t try to downplay Slavin’s absence, calling it a “huge” loss. And Brind’Amour wasn’t sure if Slavin would News Observer LOADED: 05.27.2021 return Tuesday for Game 5 until after the pregame warmup — defenseman Max Lajoie also was dressed and on the ice, if needed.

But all was soon back to normal. Slavin likes to be the last off the ice after the warmup, making a high flip of the puck toward the net from near the bench. He did that Tuesday and soon was on the ice again with Dougie Hamilton, the Canes’ top defensive pairing back together.

With Slavin helping smooth things out on the back end, the Canes won 3- 2 in overtime on Jordan Staal’s hard-working goal. Slavin was on the ice to see it, be a part of it, passing to defenseman Brett Pesce for a shot that ended up with Staal whacking a loose puck past goalie Juuse Saros.

“It’s awesome to get back out there and battle with the guys,” Slavin said after the game. “They’ve been battling hard this whole series so far. Watching the games, I don’t like it. I definitely get more nervous watching than being in the action.”

Slavin played 21:25 in Game 1 as the Canes punched out a 5-2 win over the Predators. But the injury that had hampered him late in the regular season kept him out the next three games of the first-round series, including the two marathon double-overtime losses to the Preds in Nashville.

Pesce, Brady Skjei and Hamilton put in a lot of shifts in those two games, Pesce playing almost 80 minutes and Skjei 77. Brind’Amour also turned to Lajoie for the two road games rather than using veteran defenseman Jake Gardiner, who played in Game 2.

Continually asked about Slavin, Brind’Amour always said the same thing: He was waiting for Slavin to tell him he was ready. On Tuesday, he was. He played 10 shifts in each of the three regulation periods in finishing with 26:08 in ice time, and assisted on the Martin Necas wraparound goal in the third period that tied it 2-2.

“He was battling, too,” Pesce said Wednesday. “He’s dinged up a little and the boys really appreciate him coming back and fighting for us.”

Slavin not only had the hit on Kunin but took a few. On his first shift, he held on to the puck behind the Canes’ net and absorbed a hit from Ryan Johansen, passing to Hamilton as the Canes quickly transitioned out of the zone.

“He’s an elite defender and you take that out of anybody’s lineup and it’s going to be missed, big time,” Brind’Amour said.

Brind’Amour has said Slavin did not aggravate his injury by playing in Game 1. His hope now is that Slavin has recovered to the point it no longer will be an issue, saying Wednesday that he expects the same group to play in Game 6.

“Going forward I’m avoiding him,” Brind’Amour said Wednesday. “I want to make sure he gets out there. I don’t want to ask, to be honest with you. He looked great and until I hear otherwise, I’m going to leave him alone.” 1188856 Carolina Hurricanes “That’s the emotion he puts into every single thing he does,” Slavin said.

The Canes will go to Nashville for Game 6 on Thursday with a chance to wrap up the first-round Central Division series. The pressure reverts back I scream, you scream, Staal screams for the Hurricanes’ game-winning to the Predators, who will be facing elimination. goal in overtime In a season in which Staal has delivered so many times for Carolina, he delivered again with the pressure on. This night, this game, it was worth BY CHIP ALEXANDER screaming about.

News Observer LOADED: 05.27.2021

RALEIGH-On a night when there were a lot of screams at PNC Arena, the loudest may have belonged to Jordan Staal.

The Carolina Hurricanes captain had just scored one of the most important goals of his career, an overtime winner Tuesday that was equal parts strength and determination. He had willed his way to the front of the Nashville Predators net and somehow gotten the puck past goalie Juuse Saros at 2:03 of the OT.

Just like that, the Canes had beaten the Predators 3-2. They had taken a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff series.

PNC Arena was rumbling. Staal let out a primal scream and he stretched his arms wide as if to say “OK, boys, group hug” and soon was swarmed by his teammates.

“Not a lot of thoughts were going through my mind besides just wanting some bear hugs from the fellas,” Staal said.

Martin Necas scored twice for the Canes on Tuesday and his second, also timely, also critical, was a thing of style and beauty. The speedy winger swept down the right wing with the puck, around the back of the net and beat Saros with a wraparound in the third period for a 2-2 tie.

As for Staal’s score, it’s hard to explain exactly what happened. Defenseman Brett Pesce took a cross-ice pass from defenseman Jaccob Slavin at the right point and fired the puck toward the net. Saros blocked it, then took a swat at it. Staal got around the Preds’ Ryan Johansen and took a swing it and got enough of the puck to bounce it past Saros.

“I was going to the net,” Staal said. “I thought I had a step on my guy there and it went D to D and I was just trying to get a good screen. Pesc had an absolute bomb and I got a stick on it and it kind of just popped up and I started giving it a whack at it.

“Obviously, it was a great bounce. But we’re working for those, and I’m glad we got one tonight.”

It was a greasy goal, as the players like to say, and it was a great bounce. It also ended a game in which the Canes again wondered if they’d get either.

The Canes had a goal taken away in the second period when Slavin, back in the lineup after missing the past three with an injury, got off a shot that had the puck bounce off Staal’s skate and into the net. But the Preds won a coach’s challenge when, after review, it was ruled Canes forward Warren Foegele had caused goaltender interference.

There were other screams then -- Canes fans yelling and booing and chanting at the referees. The Canes appeared to lose some steam after the bad break and then were poor for the first half of the third period as the Predators hunkered down.

“I thought this game for two periods was really good,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We were doing everything we had to do and everything was going against us. That’s what it felt like. We had one taken off the board. It was like what else can happen, but these guys stuck with it.”

Necas scored on the wrap. “Basically a solo effort,” Brind’Amour called it.

In overtime, with the teams playing 4-on-4 after a pair of penalties, Staal went to the front of the net. His intent: be just the kind of net-front nuisance for Saros that Brind’Amour claimed had been missing in the two double-overtime losses in Nashville. And he scored the big one.

“And he should have had two,” Brind’Amour said. “There’s no secret this time of year. You’re going to get one of those Necas goals every seven or eight games. They’ve had theirs. But that’s the kind of goal you’ve got to have every night. That kind of play has to be there every night, at the net, grinding it out.”

And the Staal scream? 1188857 Carolina Hurricanes Caniacs flooded through the doors, like they’d been denied entry to meaningful hockey for more than a full calendar year or something.

Conclusion: The Hurricanes have a truly passionate fan base, one that Pay no attention to the haters. As NHL hockey markets go, Carolina is has suffered more than it should have in the past 10 years. They have a pretty great good hockey team — a very good hockey team — with a bright future.

So, to the Triangle region, thank you for welcoming this New Englander, BY JUSTIN PELLETIER and proving what I kind of, sort of, already knew: Y’all are a solid hockey market.

News Observer LOADED: 05.27.2021 RALEIGH-Dear Raleigh (and Durham, Cary, Apex, Garner et al),

I’m sorry.

I can’t offer apologies for an entire region, no more than an entire region can represent who I am as a person, but I can also admit when apologies are necessary at a personal level.

Having been part of the hockey landscape in the Northeast for better than 30 years, I’ve allowed my regional affiliation — and subsequent indoctrination into the hockey culture there — shape my thoughts about hockey markets, and specifically their viability for long-term success.

And, yes, some time in the past 24 years, something like, “What the heck is the NHL doing putting a team in North Carolina?” crossed my lips. I don’t remember specifically when that was, nor could I swear to the transcript, but I know that’s about right.

And it was based entirely on the tired tropes I still hear in and across the northern tier of the :

Location? Too warm.

Fans? Uneducated; No passion.

Youth program? They have no base.

Attendance? Poor.

Conclusion: Move the team ASAP. To Quebec. Back to Hartford. Add another team in the Toronto area. Anywhere but Carolina. Or Florida. Or Arizona. Or (insert market south of Ohio here).

And that’s a thought among more than just the uneducated. Two years ago, a morning host (who it should be noted is not affiliated with the Boston Bruins, nor with the coverage of the team) on the Bruins’ flagship radio station hung up on my colleague here at the N&O, Chip Alexander. He couldn’t handle someone speaking in a different dialect of his own language. Perhaps he should have tried speaking Neanderthal?

I was working in Boston at the time. I heard it. It was uncalled for regional bias at its worst.

The idea that teams in the South don’t deserve hockey because they’re not part of the good ol’ boys network (ironic, eh?) is pervasive.

But it’s also just not true. I never really believed that, but I had nothing tangible to back it up. Now, I do.

Location?

Who cares if it’s warm outside. I’ve attended games in Tampa, Sunrise, Florida, Glendale, Arizona, and Anaheim, California. Modern technology can help professionals make a rink in Raleigh feel like you’re in Rouyn- Noranda. (Never been? Look it up. I’d advise tripling up on your long johns and tuques.)

Heck, having warm weather for the majority of the season enhances the fan experience. Tailgates anyone? Delicious. Just don’t cook Hamilton.

Youth program?

It takes time to build that out, of course. There’s a period of education, and then a period of growth. It takes the pro club building and sustaining a regional product, and it takes a generation of players to grow up around it. This year, three Junior Hurricanes teams competed in USA Hockey national championships. The program is expanding, and sending players to the game’s highest levels. Young hockey players in the Triangle have plenty of resources and a lot to look forward to.

Attendance?

I’m not sure I could count 6,680 red seats (the number left empty per regulations) dotting the white-out towel landscape in the arena before the 1188858 Carolina Hurricanes But first, the secret sauce: Brind’Amour screaming something we’ll never know at the bench during the TV timeout directly before Martin Necas’ beauty of a late-game equalizer.

Despite goaltender interference wiping away a goal, Hurricanes regain “We had a great game going, and the third period, that was our worst 10 identity with Game 5 win minutes,” he said. “We were just not doing what we had to do. It was probably a little frustration on my part more than anything, but we just had to get back to doing what we do. That was it. You yell and scream a By Sara Civian May 26, 2021 little bit, try to get a little emotion on the bench and that was about all.”

It’s almost like the Hurricanes needed to remind themselves of who they are as much as the rest of us needed the reminder. The Canes had an After wasting another five minutes of my life I’ll never get back wondering excellent second period before this, with five-or-six net-front chances and what the hell goaltender interference really is — and if Warren Foegele five-or-six miraculous saves from Juuse Saros. You couldn’t blame them, committed it on Jordan Staal’s disallowed goal — a more existential but they just had to find a different way to get past him. question took hold. “It’s a fine line (between staying calm and creating urgency,” Staal said. Does it even really matter right now? “(Brind’Amour) did a great job of giving us a bump in that third period. We Of course, it matters in the grand scheme, and we can only hope the were running out of time, and it looked like we were a little stagnant. powers that be clear it up for us in our lifetime, but that is not the 2020-21 (Martinook, Lorentz and Fast) were out there and had a great shift for us, Carolina Hurricanes’ fish to fry. kind of got us going. And then (Necas) with a big goal right after that. When the crowd gets into it here, it’s exciting, and it’s tough to stop. The Hurricanes are looking to fry some catfish. There’s a fine line of sticking with the program and not getting too stagnant, and we really have to start pushing to get some more If they’ve learned anything from a Round 1 opponent as evidently opportunities.” respectable as the Predators, they’ve learned they aren’t going to do it on any sort of whim. Nashville has made Carolina’s 3-2 series lead Enter playoff Necas with his second of the night. incredibly difficult. A series like this presents an exhausting paradox: It feels like every penalty threatens to change the fate of a game, but when “We definitely have talent, and we’re going to get a goal like that every you get too caught up in the officiating you lose the plot. seven or eight games. That’s what happens,” Brind’Amour said. “But the other part of our game is just that grind game that we all have to play this Twitter user @88wheels summed this up nicely in my mentions: “I always time of year. We were doing it great for two periods and then for that say, good teams win — great teams win despite the refs.” beginning of the third, everyone was just trying to a little too much and we didn’t get to it, but the talent got us back in the game. Basically a solo See, the Hurricanes I thought I knew were great. The Hurricanes I effort, and it got us back to have a chance to win the game.” thought I knew, led by Jack Adams frontrunner Rod Brind’Amour and captain Staal, wouldn’t let the Predators take a series lead because of an You need it all this time of year, but more than anything you need an overturned goal. And although a series tie after a 2-0 stronghold wasn’t ability to overcome every flavor of adversity. the end of the world, a 3-2 deficit headed back to Nashville kinda would’ve been. So the captain was the Hurricanes’ first overtime hero of the series, with a goal just like the one that was overturned. The goaltender interference call that took Staal’s equalizer away was controversial, but “controversial goaltender interference call” is an “To get a big one like that felt really good,” he said. “We still have some oxymoron at this point. work to do, but yeah, it felt good.”

“Oh God, how do I answer this — I want to give you a good answer,” said Maybe they are who we thought they were. Brind’Amour, who has never shied away from giving his real opinion. The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 “Here’s the deal. I get why they called goalie interference. (Warren Foegele) was there initially. Had that shot come in initially, I think it’s goalie interference. But it didn’t come initially. So then, he gets out and their guy clearly pushes him and interferes with the goalie. It’s not our guy. There’s no chance he’s making that save anyway. It’s going wide, hits our skate and goes in. There needs to be a little more common sense on that, in my opinion. That’s clearly their guy preventing the goalie from making the save, not our guy. So that’s my take on it. I got a different explanation, but it is what it is.”

I applaud any coach pulling behind the curtain and giving us their true opinion about anything, and Brind’Amour has been the most genuine and thoughtful coach I’ve ever worked with. But I would’ve been concerned for the team if this snippet ended up being the story of the game again.

The real story, suddenly down 2-1 at home, vulnerable to a series deficit, would be the response. How do you “get punched in the face and keep going?” That’s what I thought this team was made of.

“That’s it in a nutshell, trying to figure that out,” Brind’Amour said. “I thought this game, for two periods, was really good. We were doing everything we had to do, and everything was going against us. No matter what we tried, they get their first goal, float one in and it goes in. We finally fought back, and obviously there’s a goal that gets taken off the board that you think is a goal. What else can happen? But these guys stuck with it, and we’re still around, and that’s what’s great.”

You might’ve started questioning if you really knew these Hurricanes over the past few games. It wasn’t for lack of effort, and it wasn’t necessarily anything they did. It’s what they weren’t able to do — elevate for that final scoring touch in overtime, open a game and/or take it over, overcome adversity no matter who it’s coming from.

It was a simple — not easy — formula the Hurricanes learned they were capable of this regular season: skill plus grit equals win. Oh, and the return of a certain Jaccob Slavin didn’t hurt. 1188859 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche rookie Bo Byram back in fold after two-month bout with concussion

By MIKE CHAMBERS | May 26, 2021 at 4:24 p.m.

Bo Byram was born four days after the Avalanche last won the Stanley Cup in 2001.

Nearly 20 years later, the Avs’ rookie defenseman has been cleared to play a potential role in the current postseason run that began with a four- game sweep of the St. Louis Blues.

Byram, 19, hasn’t played since March 25, when he absorbed an unpenalized hit to the head from Vegas Golden Knights winger Keegan Kolesar. But after two months of uncertainty and setbacks with concussion protocol, the Avs’ first of two 2019 first-round draft picks (No. 4 overall) could make his NHL playoff debut before his 20th birthday on June 13.

“It’s been a winding road to where I am now, but I’m just happy to be feeling 100 percent again,” Byram said Wednesday after practice in his first interview in more than two months. “It was frustrating being out so long. But now just being back, being around the guys, being around them on the ice again, you just really appreciate that. Definitely thankful for feeling good again, feeling healthy, and just looking forward to the playoffs here and hopefully the boys can keep going.”

Byram, who played in 19 of the Avs’ first 32 regular-season games, practiced Wednesday with Jacob MacDonald on a fourth pairing. The top-six defensemen from the first-round series against the Blues also practiced after the team had Monday off and an optional skate Tuesday.

Avalanche coach did not speak to reporters Wednesday but will likely discuss where Byram stands on the depth chart and when he might crack the lineup in the coming days.

Colorado will set its schedule for the rest of the week after Game 6 of the Minnesota-Vegas series Wednesday night. The Avs play the winner of that series, and if the Golden Knights win Game 6 to advance to the second round, Game 1 against the Avs could begin as early as Friday, but more likely over the weekend. If the Wild force a Game 7, the Avs’ next series could begin as late as Monday at Ball Arena.

Off the hook. Rookie forward Alex Newhook, the Avs’ second 2019 first- round draft pick (16th overall), has also been cleared to play. Newhook left early in Sunday’s Game 4 victory at St. Louis with a back injury. He said he did not practice Wednesday for precautionary reasons.

“Getting better every day. Just a maintenance day,” Newhook, 20, said during practice. “We have some time off. We’re lucky in that aspect. Trying to use the time to our advantage and clear everything up.”

Newhook completed his sophomore season at Boston College in March before signing his NHL entry-level contract. Sampo Ranta, another Avalanche rookie forward who played in this year’s NCAA Tournament, replaced Newhook as the left winger on the fourth line Wednesday.

Ranta, who turns 21 Monday, signed after his junior season at Minnesota. He has yet to make his NHL debut but could become an option for the Avs given where he practiced Wednesday.

Footnotes. The Avs’ extra forwards Wednesday were Nazem Kadri (suspended) and Kiefer Sherwood. Kadri is scheduled to appeal his eight-game suspension with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Thursday. … Colorado signed forward Alex Beaucage on Wednesday. The 19-year-old was taken in the third round of the 2019 draft (78th overall). He had 28 points (17 goals) in 22 games for two Quebec major- junior teams this past season. … In what could be a weeklong break between games, the Avs have full access to the Ball Arena ice sheet this week because the Nuggets are in Portland for Games 3 and 4 against the Trail Blazers on Thursday and Saturday.

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188860 Colorado Avalanche

Ball Arena’s capacity increases to 10,500 for Nuggets, Avalanche playoff games

The previously approved capacity was 7,750 or 42.3% of overall capacity

By JOE NGUYEN | PUBLISHED: May 26, 2021 at 8:55 a.m. | UPDATED: May 26, 2021 at 6:53 p.m.

It’s about to get louder at Ball Arena.

Capacity for Avalanche and Nuggets playoff home games has increased to 10,500 — or 57.3% of overall venue capacity — after the arena received approval from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment announced Wednesday.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring additional fans into Ball Arena for the upcoming Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche playoff games,” KSE vice president of venue booking Matt Bell said in a statement.

The previously approved capacity was 7,750 or 42.3% of overall capacity.

Nuggets fans can purchase tickets to the third and fourth home games — scheduled for June 1 and 5, respectively — at ticketmaster.com. Avalanche fans can sign up for the waitlist for second-round home games at teamkse.com.

The Nuggets are tied 1-1 with the Trail Blazers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Game 3 takes place in Portland at 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The Avs await the winner of the Vegas-Minnesota series. Vegas leads 3- 2.

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188861 Colorado Avalanche The goal itself was pretty straightforward. As Jesse sees it, her big brother walks right down the middle.

“He just bought time for himself,” she says. ‘Didn’t you teach him this one?’: J.T. Compher’s parents and sister break down his biggest Avalanche goals And then his wrist shot zoomed straight past the right shoulder of Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard.

After the play, Avalanche captain drenched Compher By Peter Baugh May 26, 2021 with his water bottle, leading him to have to get his helmet cleaned off.

“He knows it’s coming, too,” Valerie says as she watches.

ST. LOUIS — As J.T. Compher finished warmups Friday ahead of Game Now a fifth-year player, Compher’s goal total has reached 61: 53 in the 3 of the Avalanche’s first-round series against the Blues, he eyed the regular season and eight in the playoffs. crowd, searching for his younger sister Jesse. Spotting her, he made eye contact. Then he flipped a puck up and over the glass. Nov. 23, 2018: Two goals on the same penalty kill

Jesse stepped to the right of her aisle seat and snatched the puck out of Compher thrives on the penalty kill and has earned Bednar’s trust there. the air with ease. Like she knew it was coming. Only Matt Nieto has played more penalty kill minutes among Avalanche forwards over Compher’s first five seasons in the league, per Natural Stat It’s not the first time the brother and sister have connected this way — or Trick. over hockey in general. Well, it’s hard to find a better penalty kill than the one J.T. had against “I always looked up to him (growing up), and he was my role model,” Arizona in 2018, when he scored a pair of short-handed goals to get the Jesse says. “Anything he did, I wanted to do.” Avalanche scoring started in a 5-1 win. It was his first game back after Growing up near , that meant if J.T. was modeling his game off missing more than a month with a head injury. He scored his first on a two-way Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews, Jesse was modeling her’s wrist shot, then a minute later broke up a pass in the Avalanche’s off Patrick Kane. “We have some really cute pictures of them wearing defensive zone. Toews and Kane jerseys,” says Valerie, their mother. “He’s just so fast on the penalty kill,” Jesse says.

Now, the siblings are playing at the sport’s highest level themselves. He zoomed up the ice on a breakaway and beat Coyotes goalie Antti J.T., 26, is in his fifth year playing for an Avalanche team that just won Raanta top shelf. Jesse has seen plenty of his breakaway moves before; the Presidents’ Trophy and swept the Blues in the first round of the they often mess around when skating together. playoffs. He’s had an “up and down” season, by his own admission, but “Didn’t you teach him this one?” Bob says. he’s one of Colorado’s top penalty killers, and his late-season play led coach Jared Bednar to make him the second-line center when Nazem “Yeah, I taught him that,” Jesse replies. Kadri was suspended eight games for a high hit on Blues defenseman Justin Faulk. (She was joking, but a gullible reporter bought it.)

Jesse, 21, is a member of the U.S. national team and recently graduated May 6, 2019: Go-ahead goal in Round 2, Game 6 from Boston University. She won a 2019 world championship gold medal Jesse and Bob were at this game live, and Jesse calls it “the coolest and hopes to make the 2022 Olympic team. thing I’ve ever experienced.” The Avalanche were playing a must-win They’ve even worked out in the offseason with the same two players Game 6 with San Jose, and J.T. had already had an eventful game. whose jerseys they wore as kids. “At the very beginning of the game, he tried to take off (Sharks “If J.T.’s home, he’ll drag me to most things, which he’s really nice defenseman Erik) Karlsson’s head,” Bob says. “And I was like, ‘What is about,” Jesse says. “Whatever he does in the summer, if he’s home, he’ll he doing?'” bring me with.” Then, with the score tied in the third, Compher got a pass in front of the For a while when they were kids, Jesse wanted to play goalie, but that net. Instead of shooting right away, he made a move in front of Sharks changed after facing enough slap shots from her brother in the goalie Martin Jones. basement. Maybe that’s why the puck flips now are no problem. “Just goes top shelf backhand.”

And anyway, it’s better to watch him score goals than to be on the The crowd exploded, and the Avalanche went on to force a Game 7 receiving end of his shots. He’s not a top-line scorer — his NHL-best is behind a Landeskog overtime goal. 16 goals in a season, and he had 10 this season — but he has had some big ones down the stretch for Jesse and the family to appreciate. A May 12, 2021: First career hat trick game-winner against Vegas. A hat trick against the Kings. Goal No. 1 With the Avalanche in St. Louis, the Compher parents — Valerie and Bob When it comes to J.T.’s games, Jesse watches everything, their mom — and Jesse made the drive down from their home in the Chicago says. suburbs to watch him in person. Morgan, the middle sister, couldn’t make the trip because of her work on the East Coast, but she was supporting So, naturally, she missed his first career hat trick. An old coach had from afar. texted her to see if she’d be willing to help run a stickhandling session, and she’d begrudgingly agreed. And sure enough, after the puck flip Friday, J.T. scored his first goal of the playoffs. “The second I walk out the door, (my mom) texted me, ‘He scored. Don’t come home,'” she says. What’d it look like from a sister’s perspective? And a mother’s and father’s? The Comphers sat down with The Athletic before the decisive The first goal came after Mikko Rantanen got him the puck at the Game 4 and explained, talking us through some of J.T.’s biggest goals offensive-zone circle. Compher scored on a one-timer. from his Avalanche career. “He just found a spot to get open,” Jesse says. March 15, 2017: First NHL goal Goal No. 2 Jesse was playing in her state championship game four years ago when she noticed a commotion in the crowd. Her friends had run up to Bob and Earlier that day, Jesse hadn’t realized her brother had a game, so she Valerie’s seats to bring them good news: J.T. had scored his first NHL did something she normally avoids: called him on a game day. She was goal. driving back from a workout as they chatted, and then she asked J.T. what he had planned for the rest of the day. “I saw them celebrating in the stands, and I was like, ‘What is going on?'” Jesse says. “He’s like, ‘I have to take a nap. I have a game,'” she says. Well, the call clearly didn’t mess with him much. After his opening goal, he scored on a perfectly placed pass from defenseman .

“That (pass) was so nice,” Jesse says. “And it was nice (J.T.) didn’t stop moving. He just kept going to the net.”

And the Kings failed to pick him up.

“Those D are sleeping!” Jesse says, pointing out Olli Maatta, who has worked out with the Comphers in Chicago before.

Goal No. 3

The Toews-assisted tally set up the final goal to cap the hat trick. Compher intercepted a pass, setting up a quick two-on-zero with Valeri Nichushkin, whom Jesse and Bob call a truck.

“J.T. said, ‘Oh, I’ll get an assist on this one,'” Bob says, watching the replay of his son passing to Nichushkin.

But Nichushkin had other ideas. He passed the puck right back to Compher, who fired it into the net for his third goal of the game.

“That unselfishness from Val was crazy,” Valerie says.

And after the play, Nichushkin mobbed J.T., a wide grin on his face.

“Val is happier than he was,” Bob says.

“Yeah, he was,” Valerie agrees. “That was so cute.”

And Jesse missed all of it.

“I was sitting in my car on the NHL app afterward just looking at every goal,” she says.

May 21, 2021: Goal in Game 3 against the Blues

Compher’s first goal of these playoffs was a funky one. He intended to clear the puck on a penalty kill, not score an empty-netter.

“He just threw it against the boards, Bob says.

It worked out well, ricocheting off and finding the net. He cashed in any luck he got from flipping his sister a puck before the game.

“I thought he was going to miss,” Jesse says. “I thought it was going wide.”

But it found its way in, and an extremely excited Toews seized him for a hug by the bench.

“(Toews) literally doesn’t let him go,” Jesse says.

May 10, 2021: Game-winning goal against Vegas

Compher’s girlfriend, Sydney Badger, is from Las Vegas, and her family cheers for the Golden Knights. But they didn’t mind when J.T. scored the game-winning goal against Vegas in the final week of the regular season. It was perhaps the biggest goal of the Avalanche’s regular season: It kept Colorado’s hopes at the Presidents’ Trophy alive. The next morning, Sydney’s mom texted Valerie a photo of the Las Vegas Review-Journal sports cover, which showed Compher unleashing an underhand fist pump.

“She was so excited,” Valerie remembers. “(She said,) ‘I know everyone else here hates this picture, but I love it.'”

In Jesse’s eyes, J.T. did a good job “just getting to the dirty areas.” So when rookie Alex Newhook put the puck on net, he was there to tap it in.

“I thought he and Newhook had some good energy,” Valerie says.

Jesse was able to watch the first two periods, but she went to bed ahead of the third. She had a workout the next day and needed a good night’s sleep.

Between that and missing her brother’s hat trick, she had some tough viewing luck at season’s end.

“Maybe,” Bob starts, “there’s a sign that when you …”

“No!” Jesse cuts him off, quickly shooting down her dad’s superstitious theory. “Because he scored the other night, and I was there. So it’s OK.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188862 Colorado Avalanche For now we all must wait; the fans who will finally be able to see every game free from cable provider dispute, the media members itching to craft stories from that communal Zoom experience, and the players who Avalanche can use downtime to get even better are ready for the challenge of a team that can push back against their unstoppable force.

Hopefully this pause in the tenacity of the season serves to whet and not By Ryan Boulding - May 26, 2021 dull the momentum.

“We don’t know when we’re going to be playing next here, and regardless of how many games that series goes, we have to be ready Rest is a weapon. come puck drop for that next round,” youthful sage and pretty good There’s no denying it. Whether it is on a personal level or when it comes defenseman Cale Makar proselytized. “We need to make sure that we’re to professional athletes, rest is never a bad thing. ready and [haven’t had] too much time off where we’re getting out of that winning mindset.” This has never been more true than during the postseason after a year of cutthroat contests coming at a breakneck pace with little time for honing, milehighsports.com LOADED: 05.27.2021 adjusting, and recalibrating during periods of rest and practice.

Unless you count COVID stoppages, which I do not.

So this period of downtime for the Colorado Avalanche offers a chance to heal and prepare.

When I asked what areas his team needs to improve on before whatever opponent may drift this western way on the sultry summer breeze, Avs head coach Jared Bednar said, “All of them.”

And despite his laugh, he meant it.

This isn’t your father’s NHL folks, and the philosophy of sticking with what worked once will only get you so far. For Bednar, there’s always room to improve, to be better, to focus on something that perhaps went overlooked or unexecuted before.

So this wait and see moment of respite from the fervor that has been 2021 isn’t just a break from everything that came before, it’s a chance to learn from it, to slow time and have a zen moment as a collective group and then come out the other side more dangerous and prepared than the team was before.

If that’s at all possible.

“Most of our learning, Ryan, this year has been on video. We have not had any practices really that had been mandatory just because of the schedule and the variance in ice time between say our top guys and top D [on] down the lineup. So some guys are getting heavier work in practices and other guys need rest. So, it’s sort of been a playoff schedule the whole year for us,” Bednar said. “We’ll have the luxury of getting some reps in a lot of those areas here over the next few days, but the guys have done a nice job taking what we’re giving them for information and then applying it in the games.”

While the Minnesota Wild clings to life in an overmatched series with the dangerous Vegas Golden Knights, the Avs can heal. While the team from the land of 10,000 lakes takes a last stand against the conquerers from the shiny oasis deep in the desert, Colorado can assess what worked and what didn’t in a minor speed bump that, when looking in the rearview mirror, appeared to be the St. Louis Blues.

“There were things we didn’t like out of Game 1 that we corrected in Game 2 and on. Some things popped up in Game 3 that we didn’t like and we corrected in Game 4,” Bednar continued. “As long as those guys can keep implementing what we’re showing them and improving in the areas just off of video and the teaching and getting that understanding and then implementing it into their game, that’s what we’re looking for. It shouldn’t take a lot of reps on the ice to do that but we’ll be working on almost every aspect of our game here over the next three-four days.”

For players passing the time until the next physical battle of skill and might, what could be improved is less a tangible concept to be held in the palms of their hands and more about simply trusting Bednar to continue to lead them to Stanley’s promised land in the way he has thus far.

“I think it definitely depends too on what team we’re playing. Obviously, we’re going to wait for that series to be over, but I think a lot of our game plan and certain stuff that we need to touch up and what not is going to depend a lot on who we’re playing,” Avs forward and potential expansion draft loss Tyson Jost said on Tuesday. “I’m sure the coaches will put together an awesome game plan like they did for the St. Louis series and us players, I know we’re looking forward to it. We’re chomping at the bit to get ready here for the second round.” 1188863 Colorado Avalanche

Details of the next steps in the Nazem Kadri appeal process

By Adrian Dater

If the NHL has its way, Nazem Kadri will miss six straight additional playoff games for the Colorado Avalanche. If Kadri has his way, that sentence will be shortened on appeal.

On Thursday via Zoom, the appeal process will begin. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will hear the appeal of Kadri that his eight- game suspension for his Game 2 hit to the head of St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk was too severe.

Bettman will be the sole decider on the appeal. And, yes, one might argue that he may be a bit biased, as his own Director of Player Safety, George Parros, levied the initial suspension length. That’s why, through collective bargaining, NHL players have one more chance should the commish rule against them in such cases.

From my reporting on this matter, here’s what will happen starting tomorrow, and what will happen if Kadri appeals Bettman’s decision, should it go against him:

Assuming Bettman rules to uphold the original sentence, Kadri has seven days to decide on a further appeal, to a neutral arbitrator.

Since it would be in Kadri’s best interests, because we’re in the playoffs and all, he would be expected to file the second appeal immediately.

Kadri has the right to the second appeal, because the suspension was for more than six games. Anything less than that, and he wouldn’t have the opportunity to appeal to a neutral arbitrator.

Assuming Kadri appeals a second time, the case would be heard by “neutral discipline arbitrator” Shyam Das. Interestingly, Das has a reputation for being on the side of players in these things. He was the arbitrator who shortened the lengthy suspension of Milwaukee Brewers steroid user Ryan Braun in 2012 (he was later fired by Major League over this, which was heavily criticized in the media).

Das would have another day to issue his ruling, and that would be binding. That’s how I’m expecting this to go. There are unconfirmed reports that Nazem Kadri has hired outside counsel to help represent him in the hearing with Bettman (and, presumably, with Mr. Das). You can bet Bettman will come with an armload of facts on his side though, too. Bettman is a New York lawyer well-schooled in courtroom procedures.

Both sides would split the cost of the arbitrator, Mr. Das, if it goes that far.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188864 Colorado Avalanche

Avs practice report: Sampo Ranta skates in place of Newhook, Kadri appeal starts tomorrow

Adrian Dater

From high above rinkside here at Ball Arena: Sampo Ranta is skating on a fourth line here at Avs practice, with P.E. Bellemare and Valeri Nichushkin. That’s the spot Alex Newhook has been occupying of late, but Newhook did not practice today. Is his availability for the start of Round 2, against either Vegas or Minnesota, something to worry about?

Not according to Newhook himself, who did a brief Zoom call with the media while his teammates were still on the ice. Newhook called it a “maintenance day.” Jared Bednar said yesterday he expects Newhook to be available at the start of the next series, which should start some day this weekend. Newhook, who went into the boards awkwardly in Game 4 in St. Louis, said he has been “feeling better every day.”

Everything else about the practice was “normal”, with all the lines that have skated together of late still together, along with the same defensive pairs.

Bo Byram practiced, but he was paired with Jacob MacDonald, a sign that he won’t start the second round. Patrik Nemeth and Conor Timmins were still paired together.

Not a whole lot of other news, as the Avs await their next opponent. Nazem Kadri’s appeal of his eight-game suspension will start tomorrow, in a Zoom call with Gary Bettman. If Bettman upholds the suspension length, Kadri can appeal one more time to an arbitrator. I think the odds are better at 918kiss that Kadri will win his appeal, but stranger things have happened.

By the way, Bettman has the power to add length to the suspension. I highly doubt that would happen, but he has that power, if he thinks Kadri got off too light with the eight games. I’m trying to gather more information on the appeal process, especially if it goes to an arbitrator, and will pass it along if I do. I have a message in with the NHL Players Association.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188865 Dallas Stars The level of competition is nothing compared to the first round, so it’s a disappointment that Stars fans couldn’t see Robertson and Oettinger making highlights in Dallas or Raleigh.

Postseason absence costs Stars learning opportunity for young guns Dallas Morning News LOADED: 05.27.2021 Jason Robertson, Jake Oettinger

By Matthew DeFranks 1:25 PM on May 26, 2021 CDT

These days, the only hockey highlights generated by the Stars emanate from Latvia, where Jason Robertson and Jake Oettinger are playing for the United States in the World Championship.

Via tweets from USA Hockey, you can watch Robertson bat down a puck in the neutral zone and then score, or watch him finish a dunk in the crease against Canada. You can watch Oettinger make 26 saves in that same 5-1 win over Canada for the Americans.

The plays are an extension of what the young Stars showed during their rookie seasons in the NHL, really, a continuation of standout play that excites the organization for the future.

But as this postseason is showing, it’s a shame that Robertson and Oettinger didn’t have the chance to shine in the playoffs.

The Stars missed the postseason this year, and the reasons for that have been covered for months (injuries and schedule and overtimes, oh my!). This is not to rehash the 2021 regular season, but rather to illustrate how great it would have been for the Stars to make the playoffs for the sole reason of getting their rookies postseason experience.

Sure, Oettinger technically played his first NHL games in the playoffs last summer, but mopping up a blowout is much different that starting postseason games.

There is a decent argument that Oettinger should have been the Stars goaltender starting playoff games over , and seeing the goalie of the future in high-stakes games would be beneficial to both Oettinger and the organization. Oettinger was 11-8-7 with a .911 save percentage and 2.36 goals against average this season and was more consistent than Khudobin.

Dallas could have experienced what the Islanders are going through with Ilya Sorokin or the Florida Panthers with Spencer Knight, as both organization have had their eyes opened by their rookie goaltenders. Perhaps Oettinger would be matching Carolina’s Alex Nedeljkovic overtime save for overtime save if the Stars, not Nashville, had gotten into that first-round series.

“It was a dream come true to be a Dallas Star this season, and it was one of the best years of my life,” Oettinger said after the season’s final game in Chicago. “I couldn’t have had more fun.”

Robertson was a revelation for the Stars this season, bursting onto the scene to become a legitimate Calder Trophy candidate, but his next playoff game will be his first playoff game. As the games become more physical and space more limited in the playoffs, Robertson should thrive. He’s a smart player with excellent vision who is also adept at winning pucks in the corners and on the boards.

He was a healthy scratch during the run to the Cup Final last year, and now he’s someone upon whom the Stars rely to drive the offense.

“Last summer was a good step in trying to get in the NHL,” Robertson said. “This upcoming summer, being an actual NHL pro, I’m just going to keep taking it to the next level and taking the next step. Now I know what I need to work on and improve on to be able to become that much more of a dominant player.”

Games on an international stage always carry some significant simply because players are competing for their countries, but the World Championship is far from a best-on-best tournament like the Olympics or the World Cup.

There are players trying to get NHL contracts (such as Joel Kiviranta two years ago), top prospects trying to prove themselves (such as Canada’s Owen Power), and players trying to resurrect their career (such as Brian Boyle or Justin Abdelkader). Absent are impactful NHL players unless you count Russia’s recent additions of Vladimir Tarasenko and Ilya Samsonov. 1188866 The only other thing I missed is playing in front of the fans. There’s no other rush than going out there on the ice and playing in front of 20,000 people, no matter how the game unfolds. It’s still so cool to know you’re going out there and all eyes are on us. Former Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard at peace, enjoying retirement from hockey ►Q. I called you in May or June of last year for a story, and it seemed as if you didn’t know what you were going to do. I don’t think the Wings’ decision was known quite yet. Other teams may have been interested, I suppose. Were you not quite sure yet or when did you know you had had TED KULFAN | The Detroit News enough hockey?

►A. I want to say it was the first week of December. (Earlier on) I still Detroit — Early in any conversation you get the sense Jimmy Howard is wanted to play. I wanted to get a job and still had my agent out there happy, content and greatly enjoying retirement. working the phones and seeing what was viable. But the problem was the longer the pandemic went on, it was do I really want to do this? Howard, 37, was an unrestricted free agent last summer but was not brought back by the Red Wings, and he didn't have his heart set on I’m was going to have to move away because Detroit was no longer an playing anywhere else. option. If I go to Canada, I may not see my family for six or seven months. There were so many question marks about everything, even in As the pandemic raged on and the NHL season was delayed, it became the States. If I went to a team like New Jersey or New York, would I still clear to Howard what his best option was. be able to see my family?

Retirement, and not having anyone shooting pucks at him. ►Q. But was there one incident?

Howard retired in January with 543 games played (523 starts), a 246- ►A. The one thing that finalized it was the first week of December. I was 196-70 record, 2.62 goals-against average and .912 save percentage on the ice with my goalie coach and I was getting hit by pucks and I was and 24 shutouts. Many of those numbers rank among the Red Wings' like, "This is not fun at all." The light bulb went off and I just didn’t want to and American-born goaltenders' all-time career-best lists. get hit by pucks anymore.

These days, Howard finds himself playing taxi to his hockey-playing I skated over to my coach and said, "Listen, I’ll stick with it one last boys, as well as being their coach — and enjoying the coaching part session, but I’m taking the rest of the week off and I will call you over the even more than he suspected. weekend." I came home and I put my stuff in the garage and it was kind of I don’t really want to do this anymore. Howard still watches the game, watches his former teammates and believes the Red Wings' organization is on its way to better days. ►Q. Have you put the gear back on for whatever reason, kid’s practice or anything? The News' Ted Kulfan recently caught up with Howard to talk about his retirement, his career and the memories he has within the game. ►A. The only time I touched the gear was when I took it from my locker in the garage to the basement. ►Question: How is retirement treating you? Are you enjoying it? ►Q. Was that kind of scary in a way? Hockey, the goaltending ►Answer: Loving it. Obviously it has its challenges, not only for myself equipment, it’s been such a big part of your life. but for the whole family. Guess what, dad is home all the time now. It never used to be really like that. So it’s been an adjustment but I was ►A. I was at peace with it. I was like it was a hell of a ride and, man, it lucky my boys are old enough (James will be 10 and Henry 7 within the goes by extremely fast. The day I announced my retirement, it (the next couple months) to be involved in hockey and I was able to jump right career) felt like it had started. But I enjoyed waking up in the morning and in and coach for them. That kind of filled my hockey void. being stress-free. Not having to worry about rolling out of bed to get your body going and go down to LCA. I’ve enjoyed being around my kids. I am with them six or so days at the rink. I’ve been busy with hockey and I absolutely love the challenge of teaching the game to these young boys ►Q. Did you watch a lot of Wings games this season? and girls. I love hockey so much and I want to share that with these kids. ►A. The ones I would watch were the ones I could catch. If I wasn’t at ►Q. Those are good ages for you to really impact them as far as the the rink with the boys or out of town and I could catch a Wings game, I game. The coaching part of it, you’ve really jumped into I’ve heard and it would tune in. I turned it on as a fan just to watch them. seems like you really enjoy it. Would you consider … And because I still want them to succeed and do real well because a lot ►A. Would I see myself coaching in the pro game? I’ve always said of them are my boys (friends). But I never really got emotional about it. I absolutely not, but at this point in time I’m leaving all options open. I’m never got choked up watching them play and a lot of it has to do, I not sure what I want to do still. I’m giving myself to the fall before I make believe, is because of the circumstances of the way everything was going a decision on what is going to be the next step. on (with the pandemic).

But I just love coaching the kids. I love the challenge. For me, I know how ►Q. It was crazy. When everything came down in March 2020, did you I want to say something, but saying it to a professional or college or think the season was over with right then? junior player (is different). But for these kids, you have to simplify it and they all might not get it. So the challenge of saying it in a different way ►A. It was crazy. We (on the team) all thought, all right, it was two where the light bulb goes off and they say “I get it," I find that really, really weeks and we’ll be right back out there. But we were all wrong about gratifying. that. As the pandemic stretched out and there was no way the NHL was going to lose a season (in 2020-21), it made me feel like I made the right They can get so frustrated with themselves with doing something wrong, decision for myself and my family. and it might not be their fault. It’s probably my fault and the way I’m explaining it. But I find so much joy in the smiles on their faces and the ►Q. It seemed like players had a difficult time getting through this excitement when they understand something. It’s really cool to see. season. A lot of protocols, testing …

►Q. Just the excitement in your voice … ►A. It definitely wasn’t easy on them.

►A. Don’t get me wrong, Ted. I can’t wait for the season to end. I need a ►Q. All right, so what do you think about your old team and where they break (laughter). stand right now? Are they on their way back?

►Q. Did you miss going down to Little Caesars Arena? It seems like with ►A. They’re on the right path. They’ve got a great leader in (general a lot of guys, it’s not until the second season that retirement really hits. manager) Steve (Yzerman). Obviously, he knows how to do it. There’s a What did you miss most? reason Tampa has had the success it has had lately, because primarily he built that team. They’ve won a Stanley Cup and could be on their way ►A. I missed being around the guys in the dressing room. I missed going to another one here. on the road and having the team dinners, or going out with meals with just the guys. I missed that — I still do miss it. You just need the young guys to keep taking steps. You have to get Bert (Tyler Bertuzzi) and Larks (Dylan Larkin) healthy for the start of next season. Then what I think Steve will do is start injecting youth a little more in the lineup and getting those guys going.

But that’s from someone on the outside because I’m not a part of it anymore (laughter).

►Q. What were some of the best moments in your career?

►A. So many, there were so many. Playing my first game at (in Los Angeles) my first year as a pro (in 2005) and we won. Being part of the Stanley Cup team in 2008 …

►Q. I don’t remember, did you get your name on the Cup?

►A. No, I didn’t play enough games that year and I didn’t play in the Finals. But that’s all right. I was still part of the team and I was able to get the Cup for a day and I got a chance to bring it back to my hometown (upstate New York). Being able to celebrate with my closest friends and family and bringing it back to the North Country (of New York) and have everyone celebrate with it was a lot of fun and a memory that’ll stick with me.

Being in my first All-Star game and being able to bring James, he was only 5 or 6 months old at the time. Those games were fun, even though they’re not a lot of fun for goalie.

Being able to play the last game at Joe Louis Arena and having it be Z’s (Henrik Zetterberg) 1,000th game, that was a cool memory. Playing the first game at LCA is another one.

But the last one is being able to take the boys to the All-Star Game in San Jose (in 2019) and watch how much they loved being around all their idols. They got to see Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon and Marc-Andre Fleury, all the guys they watch. Their eyes were as big as saucers.

And being able to go to the Olympics. That’s the pinnacle for being an athlete. Every time I put on the USA jersey, whether it was Under-18s or world juniors or the world championships, it was another experience on my journey in hockey and it was awesome.

►Q. Kind of cool that on the back of your hockey card it will be all Detroit, too. That’s so rare these days.

►A. To be able to stick with one organization, it’s almost unheard of nowadays. So to be able to do that, I sort of see it as a feather in my cap as well.

►Q. Any one teammate stand out along the way?

►A. My mentor.

►Q. Chris Osgood, right?

►A. Ozzie was huge. He taught me how to live in the moment. I don’t know if he was always like that, but when I got to Detroit he never let anything bother him. It just rolled off his back, so I got to witness that. I’m still tight with Mike Green, probably my closest friend that I’ve ever had with the Wings.

►Q. Talk about that, I didn’t realize the two of you were so close.

►A. He’s one of the best. He was my guy in the room. We were always together and if we weren’t together, the guys were like, "Whoa, what’s going on?"

►Q. Interesting that both of you retired after last season.

►A. We’ve never spoken about it. We just sort of congratulated each other and just moved on. Now we don’t even talk about hockey when we talk. Just what have you been up to lately. Times have changed.

►Q. So you guys, you specifically, it was just time. It wasn’t a physical thing. It was just mental.

►A. As things progressed, I told him I feel like this (retirement) is better for my family and I’m done. It wasn’t physical.

And, like I said, you don’t need to get hit by pucks anymore.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188867 Detroit Red Wings Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said he followed Seider’s season, checking in on his stats.

“I saw him play in training camp last year. He has that quiet confidence Red Wings excited about Moritz Seider’s progress, eagerly await debut about him,” Larkin said. “As a young player coming into the league, it’s huge to have that. It’s huge to believe in yourself, not in an arrogant way, but to believe and know that you can come in and help the team. We’re all hoping he can come in and do that.” Posted May 24, 2021 The Red Wings likely will pair the right-shooting Seider with an By Ansar Khan | [email protected] experienced left-shooting defenseman. Danny DeKeyser is their only such player as of now. Yzerman said they need to add a couple of left- shooting defensemen. At least one noted draft analyst rated Moritz Seider as the No. 1 NHL- affiliated prospect in early April. Seider last week was named Swedish One could be Marc Staal, one of only two Red Wings to play all 56 Hockey League defenseman of the year. games (Filip Hronek was the other). Staal, an unrestricted free agent, could be a good fit as Seider’s partner and mentor. The buildup for the Detroit Red Wings’ top 2019 pick appears justified, and general manager noted that Seider had “a great “I think my best fit is playing with a skilled, right-handed shot defenseman year” in Sweden, playing in all situations on a strong team in a good where I can make them feel as comfortable as possible making plays, men’s league. and just being solid for them and positioning,” Staal said. “Communication is huge on the ice. That’s the most under-developed But Yzerman also wanted to slow the hype train just a bit. skill. I try to do that as much as possible. I think it helps more when you’re playing with a young defenseman who’s trying to find his way.” “I want to temper the enthusiasm or the excitement,” he said. “He’s a great young player, his next move is to the NHL. We’ll see how training camp, the preseason goes. It’s a huge step from the American League or the Swedish League to the , but he probably Michigan Live LOADED: 05.27.2021 exceeded our expectations last year going into the American League. I’m not surprised he did well in the Swedish League.”

The start of the German league’s season was delayed due to COVID-19, so Seider – who was loaned to Adler Mannheim – decided to play for Rogle BK in Sweden.

The 6-4, 207-pound Seider tallied seven goals and 21 assists in 41 games and picked up a goal and four assists in 13 playoff games as Rogle advanced to the championship series before losing to Vaxjo.

“He’s got a great head on his shoulders, he’s got good hockey sense,” Yzerman, who in his first draft as Detroit GM selected Seider No. 6 overall. “He’s very competitive. He’s got size, his skills are good. He’s got a lot of work to do, but there’s a lot of potential for him. We’re excited to have him here next year. Our hope is he’s ready to play for the Red Wings at the start of the season.”

TSN’s Craig Button wrote that “there’s plenty of hope and excitement for the future” for the Red Wings after rating Seider No. 1 and Lucas Raymond, the fourth pick in the 2020 draft, No. 3 on his annual list of prospects.

“(The) German blueliner has elevated his play to the next level with his size, physicality, puck-handling and offensive skill,” Button wrote of Seider.

Yzerman said he is not committing to Seider and Raymond being on the NHL roster at the start of next season. Raymond might need some development time with the . But there is little doubt Seider is NHL-ready; it would be shocking if he didn’t earn a roster spot out of training camp.

“I want them to make the team and have a positive impact,” Yzerman said. “Our expectation and our hope is that Moritz is ready to go. We’ll see that next fall. Lucas, I don’t want to rule it out, but we’ll let the situation play itself out and if they prove they’re ready to go they’ll be on the team.

“I’m not going to force it or rush it. We have high expectations for them. Is it next season or the season after? I’m not sure. We’d love them to play but they’re going to need to earn it.”

Seider, 20, spent last season with Grand Rapids (two goals, 20 assists in 49 games) after being one of the final cuts in Red Wings camp.

“I thought Mo did a real good job in the American League a year ago,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “When camp starts, it’s always exciting to see where guys are at and the development they’ve shown. I will watch Mo even more throughout the course of the summer and have a bit of a feel. He’s going to face challenges here that he didn’t face in the American League, that he didn’t face in Sweden, and how he responds to those challenges will dictate how quickly he’ll have success here.” 1188868 Edmonton Oilers time to the community. He’s popular in the locker room. He’s an incredible role model.

“I feel sick for him, I feel disappointed for him that he would get this kind Ethan Bear, Edmonton Oilers speak out after racist social media attack of abuse. It’s unacceptable.

“I think we’ve made strides, but there is a long way to go to create a world where everybody feels safe and they don’t get this kind of racism Robert Tychkowski and abuse.”

Publishing date: May 26, 2021 Holland plans on seeing what can be done to protect his players from this kind of venom in the future.

“I’m going to reach out to him and let him know that I and the As a National Hockey League , Ethan Bear spent a lot of organization totally support him and will do whatever we can do help. years learning how to defend his net, his goalie and his team. “I’m 65 years old, I don’t live in that social media world, but I’m going to But defending himself and his heritage came naturally Wednesday, when talk to our PR (public relations) people and see what we can do as an the 23-year-old Edmonton Oiler fought back against a series of racist organization to try and make sure that this doesn’t happen in the future.” posts directed his way on social media in the wake of Edmonton’s early playoff exit. Ned believes all of this is a start, saying people need to speak out against the type of negative comments her people have been dealing Bear’s girlfriend, Lenasia Ned, brought the comments to light in a social with for years. media post of her own Tuesday, condemning the attacks as cowardly and dehumanizing. The post erupted into an outpouring of support for the “I’m wanting to make a positive change in our community and create a young Oiler. voice for Indigenous youth to stand up to these types of stereotypes and remarks toward our people,” she said. "I'm here to stand up to this behaviour... I'm proud of where I come from. I'm proud to be from Ochapowace First Nation. I'm not just doing this for “Ethan and I are wanting to use his platform as a way to make a shift in myself. I'm doing this for all people of colour & for the next generation." young Indigenous people and people of colour’s experiences growing up so that they don’t have to endure what we had to experience.” In a video response on the team’s Twitter account, Bear said staying silent in the wake of this ugliness simply wasn’t an option.

“As you know, I’ve been subject to racist behaviour on social media and I Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.27.2021 know this doesn’t represent all hockey fans or Oilers fans, and I greatly appreciate your support and your love during this time,” he began.

“I’m here to stand up to this behaviour, to these comments. I’m proud of where I come from. I’m proud to be from Ochapowace First Nation.

“And I’m not just doing this for myself, I’m doing this for all people of colour, I’m doing this for the next generation. To help make change. To love one another. To support one another. To be kind to each other. There is no place for racism in our communities, in sports or in our work place.”

“So, I call on all of us to help make change and to end racism. We all deserve to be treated fairly, and in the end I think we’ll get there.”

Bear, who is of Cree descent, was raised in the Ochapowace Nation in Saskatchewan. Has been a hero of the Indigenous community, and hockey fans in general, from the moment the Oilers drafted him 125th overall in 2015. His reach continues to grow as he evolves into a better and more important part of the Oilers.

In a July 2020 pre-season game, he became the first player to wear a jersey with his name written in Cree.

“I feel like I will be wearing it for all those Indigenous players who came before me and those Indigenous kids dreaming of playing in the NHL,” he said at the time. “I wear it with pride.”

Sadly, this kind of stuff isn’t unusual on the dark and ugly side of social media, where the worst elements of society can hide behind fake names and do their worst.

But there has also been a massive show of support for Bear in the wake of the incident, with Oilers fans and hockey people all across the social media spectrum coming forward to back the kid and condemn the actions that created this firestorm.

“We are overwhelmed with all the love and support and kind words we are receiving,” said Ned, who also addressed the issue in the video statement. “But it’s time to make a change, it’s time to educate ourselves on these matters and stand up to racism.”

General manager Ken Holland came out strong in his support of his young defenceman during his end-of-season media availability Wednesday.

“First off, it’s totally unacceptable and it’s disgusting, there is no place in our world for racism,” he said.

“Ethan is an unbelievable young man. He’s a tremendous role model for all young athletes and especially in the Indigenous community. He gives 1188869 Edmonton Oilers “When we won in Detroit ’97, there were a lot of disappointments in ’93, ’94, ’95 and ’96, which led to us winning . We lost one year to San Jose and we were 38 points better. Before we won in 2002, we had a three- goal lead with five minutes left against Los Angeles, and they beat us in Edmonton Oilers need more offence to help McDavid and Draisaitl overtime and beat us in the series. So, I’ve seen that before,” he said of his Oilers blowing a 4-1 lead in Game 3 in Winnipeg.

“This is a close, close league, you see all the overtimes. It’s too hard to Jim Matheson • Edmonton Journal be massively better than anybody else. When you do win, that’s why you Publishing date: May 26, 2021 see players partying so hard for two months. Steve Yzerman left us in Detroit to go to Tampa as general manager in 2010 and it took them until 2020 to win,” said Holland, who knows they didn’t blow it up. “The year before they won, they lost four straight to Columbus.” Ken Holland has the cash to buy free agents to help Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but he’s not a drunken sailor. • On where things stand with Oscar Klefbom (shoulder surgery): “He’s a big unknown. We have to submit our protected lists for the expansion So, if you’re expecting he goes after Colorado captain left-winger Gabe draft July 17. It’s not like I have to decide anything this week. I’m not sure Landeskog, who would be absolutely ideal, it’s probably a pipe-dream. we’ll really know anything, until September or October.” While the Edmonton Oilers general manager has $28 million in cap • On improving depth after the Jets had Paul Stastny, Nik Ehlers, Andrew space, he will go after some top-nine forwards. The most needed target, Copp, Mason Appleton, Pierre-Luc Dubois as second- and third-liners: a left-winger; come on down Blake Coleman, Tampa’s fast and feisty “We’ve got (Jesse) Puljujarvi, who’s only 23, (Kailer) Yamamoto, 22. Cup winner. Ryan McLeod’s 21, they’re part of the direction we’re going. There has to But the Oilers have their own free agents to try and sign, including Ryan- be internal growth. Yes, we need secondary scoring. Yes, I’m going to Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Larsson and , who will eat up a work at tweaking the team in the summer.” portion depending on who and how much they sign for. Larsson would be • On whether he would deal youngsters such as Evan Bouchard, Philip the cheapest, also the most likely to sign, Nugent-Hopkins would be the Broberg or Dylan Holloway for immediate help? “Are they untouchables? most expensive and Barrie could be taking a hike after a year because No. But it’s rare teams trade top prospects. I’m not doing that for a one- he wants a long-term deal. year player.” Holland will likely be digging in on a seven- or eight-year extension for

No. 1 defenceman Darnell Nurse, only 26, too, before hitting the open market in 2022. Edmonton has to keep some money aside. Will Nurse Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.27.2021 come any cheaper than $7 million to $7.5 million a season after his Norris trophy candidate year to go with McDavid ($12.5 million) and Draisaitl ($8.5 million)? That would be $27 million or so for three players on an $81.5 million flat-cap.

In his hour-long video conference Wednesday, Holland said he wants Mike Smith back for a third season, either as his starter or in a platoon; whether that’s alongside remains to be seen. Maybe Holland tries to trade Koskinen, eating part of his $4.5 million contract for one more year, to a team with two young guys wanting the net (Columbus?) and throws in a prospect and a draft pick to get it done.

He won’t be circling back to Smith like he did last year when he went after free-agent Jakob Markstrom, who went to Calgary. Smith is 39, but his game’s shown no slippage and a one-year contract for a nice raise over his $1.5 million seems a slam-dunk.

“I want to re-sign Mike. He’s gone back to Kelowna (where his family is) and I’ve got a place in Kelowna and we’ll get together in the next 10 days to two weeks and I’ll talk to his agent,” said Holland.

Somebody will be bought out to free up some money.

“Not 100 per cent sure, but very possible.” said Holland, with James Neal the most likely candidate to join ex-Oilers defenceman Andrej Sekera ($1.5 million for two more years) on that list.

Neal, who turns 34 in September, played the first two playoff games but not the last two and had five goals in 29 league games, hampered by sickness. With a two-thirds buyout, with two years left at $5.75 million, they would owe him $7.66 million, or $1.917 million on their cap for the next four years. But they would have $3.833 million in savings to spend this year and next.

There’s no magic bullet here for Holland. Like most managers, he’s preaching patience into under-promise and hopefully over-deliver. One free agent addition isn’t going to put them over the top, one blockbuster deal.

“We’re not just one trade away and that’s the winning piece. We’re not one trade away from a parade,” said Holland, who would like to help out his big guns McDavid (407 Oiler games) and Draisaitl (478), with only four playoff rounds.

But, it’s not fantasy hockey.

“I wish there was this store where you could go and pick up any player you want. But that’s not how the National Hockey League is,” said Holland, who lived through heartbreak after heartbreak in Detroit with Steve Yzerman as captain before they broke through. 1188870 Edmonton Oilers secondary scoring that, once again, the Oilers went without in the playoffs.

“Some of the solution is external. Some of the solution is internal,” he Holland says disappointment in Oilers stems from 'greater expectations' said.

There was development that showed itself, he testified, with Jesse Pulujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto and Ryan McLeod. Terry Jones “They are people we’re going to grow with. They are important to the Publishing date: May 26, 2021 direction that we’re going.

“My message is that we just had a massive disappointment but I believe we’re on the right path. Certainly we know we have a great nucleus. We Last year, Ken Holland used the expression, “Massively disappointed.” have some incredible players at the top end of our lineup. When you Just once. have Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, Mike Smith, Adam Larsson … We have some wonderful players This year, he used it again and again and again. and they’re just coming into the prime of their careers.”

Last year, the Edmonton Oilers won a playoff game. This year, they got Holland is selling pain brings gain. swept. “It’s like what I told our players Tuesday. I don’t know that it’s a bad thing. The Oilers general manager is now 72-44-11 in the regular season and I think it is a good thing. It’s because the expectations are greater. We 1-7 in the playoffs in empty arenas, including the last three of them in weren’t just satisfied making the playoffs. We played at a high enough overtime and the last one in triple overtime in the third-longest game in level over 56-games that we had aspirations that we were going to go on Oilers history. a playoff run and it hurts today. It’s massively disappointing.

Holland was repetitive with several different phrases in his 107-minute “But it’s not massively disappointing because we felt we underachieved, exit interview Wednesday with the media. it’s massively disappointing because we had greater expectations. We played the type of hockey that I believe we needed to play to be “We made very good strides this season with things we can build upon successful in the playoffs. These were the emotions I felt in 1994, 1995, going forward. You’ve got to let us grow a little bit. We’re growing. 1996 and 1997 in Detroit. “I don’t believe we’re one trade away and that we can start planning the “Stick with it. Stick with it. Stick with it,” he repeated again. parade. It doesn’t happen that way.”

Holland knows the fans in Edmonton have been left conflicted by their own compassion involving the circumstances and being somewhere Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.27.2021 between wanting to kick their dog and go hug Connor McDavid’s giant puppy.

Holland was quite emphatic about staying the course, even if his train left the tracks both times when it crossed into Stanley Cup playoff territory.

“I reflect back on my time in Detroit and before we won our first Stanley Cup and how many massive disappointments we had before we were able to finally get it done,” he said.

“There were a lot of disappointments in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 that eventually led to us winning the Cup in 1997 and 1998. I’m hoping it’s going to be shorter, but you stick with it.

“Stick with it. Stick with it. Stick with it,” he repeated. “As a manager, I need a good off-season. I need to go out and make some decisions and come back and try again.

“Obviously, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, with how great they are and with their determination and their passion and their commitment, we have incredible leadership — not only incredible talent but incredible talent and leadership. I know we have to add to it.

“It looks like we’re going to have some cap space. Now I’m going to explore what we’re going to do with that cap space. I don’t want to wake up six months from now and have buyers’ remorse.

“I know we have a tremendous nucleus. We need some internal growth. We need to get a little bit better. I know we have to get a little bit different. I know we have to get back into the same opportunity being in the playoffs and try again and believe that we’re going to be a little bit more prepared, a little bit different and a little better for a different result.”

There is hope that lies with going forward in returning to the Pacific Division featuring Vegas, Edmonton, five teams that missed the playoffs and expansion Seattle.

Holland totally wasn’t selling that or the cap space as a magic pill.

“There’s lots of cap space but I have lots of players to sign, he said indicating he wants to re-up 39-year-old goalie Mike Smith, longest- serving veteran Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and defenceman Adam Larsson, and adding it is almost certain there will be buyouts (Hello, Mikko Koskinen).

Holland also insisted he intends to stay the course following his philosophy of drafting and developing, while conceding his main priority externally will be to acquire veteran bottom-six forwards to provide the 1188871 Edmonton Oilers They want to win, and they want to win in Edmonton. They couldn’t have made that clearer on Tuesday.

“We have a great core here,” McDavid said. “We want to see this thing ‘We want so much more’: McDavid, Draisaitl not messing around, Oilers through together. We want to do this thing right as a group.” free agent updates, fatherly perspective McDavid has five more years left on his contract. Draisaitl has four seasons remaining. Nurse has just one left before he could hit free agency but is eligible to sign an extension this summer. By Daniel Nugent-Bowman “This is where I wanna be,” Nurse said. “We’ve played in this May 26, 2021 organization and been here when it wasn’t so great. We’ve played in seasons when you’re out in January. It was pretty dark ends of the

season. The Oilers’ returning group of core stars talked a big game a day after a “You wanna have success in this organization. You wanna win in this quick playoff exit, and they intend to back it up in the weeks and months organization because if you’ve been through the thick of it, why not work ahead. your way to be a contender each and every year? That’s my mindset. “If this was a couple years ago, we’d be so happy to play just four playoff That’s the way I’m thinking.” games,” Connor McDavid said. “That’s not the mood here today. We Nurse is a year away from free agency, so there are four notable Oilers want so much more.” who are set to hit the open market before then – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Added Leon Draisaitl: “We know we’re on the right track. With that being Adam Larsson, Tyson Barrie, and Mike Smith. said, we do know that it’s time for us now. We don’t have another five Nugent-Hopkins is the longest-serving Oiler, drafted first overall in 2011 years. The last two years (in the regular season) were amazing, but and before making the team as an 18-year-old. we’re building something bigger.” “I’ve said it from the start, I love being an Oiler and always have,” he If Tuesday’s season-ending media availability was any indication, there’s said. “My goal has always been to be an Oiler.” no more messing around in Edmonton. Nugent-Hopkins had 16 goals and 35 points in 52 games, but his The Oilers felt they deserved a better fate in their first-round series production at five-on-five plummeted. He posted seven goals and seven against the Jets. And they almost certainly the case. assists — only two of which were primary helpers — in that situation They were swept despite the underlying numbers being in the favour, while in a contract year. they blew a three-goal, third-period lead in Game 3, and they lost the last “I’m not going to use that as an excuse for anything that happened this three games in overtime — the finale in a sixth frame of play. year,” he said. “You try to put it out of your head as much as possible. Somewhere in there, they probably should have won once, twice or maybe more. “We had some conversations in the year which, I think was a positive thing.” But they didn’t. By the sounds of things, it’s only made them hungrier to make amends. Larsson missed time with a broken leg at the start of last season and then missed time during the play-in series with a back injury. He was McDavid said the players in the dressing room have started to demand injury-free in 2021 and played some of his best hockey as an Oiler. more from each other. That will only continue next season. Several reports before the playoffs suggested Larsson is likely to re-sign. “The standard’s gone up,” he said. Larsson said he hasn’t talked to Holland about a new contract in a month There are bound to be changes to this roster. Oilers GM Ken Holland has but wants to stay put. roughly $25 million in cap space to work with — before signing any “I love everything around this organization,” he said. pending UFAs — and needs to add more talent to the mix. Barrie, who signed a one-year deal with the Oilers last offseason, led all Holland and his staff will do their thing. The players in the room will let blueliners in scoring. the chips fall where they may and instead focus on what they can control. As I’ve mentioned, the organizational plan is to clear a path on the right “We have the right pieces,” said Darnell Nurse, who will receive Norris side for Bouchard to play regularly. Given his similar skill set to Trophy votes for the first time in his career. “There’s tweaks that go on Bouchard, Barrie is expected to be expendable. That’s even more likely with any team. We have so much potential to be better.” to be the case if he holds firm on his preference to sign a long-term The expectation is some of that improvement will come from players in contract, which he stated Tuesday. their early 20s having a larger impact. McDavid pointed to Ryan McLeod Smith had a tremendous season in net, posting a .923 save percentage and Evan Bouchard. Draisaitl mentioned Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer and finishing 12th with 7.04 goals saved above average, per Natural Stat Yamamoto. Trick. “Everyone’s got another gear they can get to,” McDavid said. The 39-year-old said the playoff loss was “too fresh” for him to divulge McDavid and Draisaitl aren’t leaving themselves out of the equation much about his future. He does want to play at least one more season. either. “Playing meaningful games puts the fire in your belly,” he said. Despite having one of the dominant regular seasons in NHL history and To think that Nurse registered the third-highest ice time in NHL history, vastly improving his defensive game, McDavid believes he has more to 62:07, in Game 4 in Winnipeg and he almost didn’t play. give. That’s because back in Edmonton, his fiancé, Mikayla Marrelli, had been “I’m only 24 years old. I’ve got lots left. I’ve got lots of ways to continue to at the hospital since 9 a.m. and was preparing to have their first child. grow my game in different areas, find different ways to have success,” he said. “It feels like I’ve been in the league a long time, but I’m still a young Nurse debated returning to the Alberta capital to be there for her but guy in this league.” opted to lace up his skates.

Draisaitl finished second in NHL scoring after winning the Art Ross “It was a real conflict,” Nurse said. “To her credit, she was like, ‘Yeah, Trophy last season. He said he’s going to continue working on his you need to play. I know it would kill you if you didn’t play.’ That’s how defensive game this offseason. strong of a woman she is and how fortunate I am to have her. She understood it was an elimination game.” There’s only one objective in mind. Despite Monday’s game extending into Tuesday morning, Nurse made it “We have had some very tough times. there’s been a lot of disappointing just time for the birth of his son, Aiden, who was due June 6. years,” he said. “It’s gonna feel that much better eventually when we do win, and we are at the top.” The disappointment of losing out in the playoffs quickly dissipated. “Having a son puts life in perspective a little bit,” Nurse said. “The sun came up this morning and it came up pretty bright in my world. I’m very fortunate to have a healthy son and a healthy fiancé.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188872 Florida Panthers South Florida’s teams in Game 7 sports, the Heat, Marlins and Panthers, have played a combined 89 seasons with a combined 14 Game 7s. They are rare gems, these must-wins.

No Game 7 as Florida Panthers’ 4-0 loss in Tampa Bay ends an The Heat are 6-4 in them, the Marlins 2-0 and the Panthers 1-1. encouraging season too soon The last one we’ve had was Heat at Toronto in 2016. The last at home was that same year, two weeks earlier.

BY GREG COTE The Panthers’ only Game 7s have been in magical, rat-strewn ‘96 and in 2012. MAY 26, 2021 10:37 PM I trust the Cats’ direction under the second-year coach Quenneville, a Hall of Famer, and new general manager .

Call this Florida Panthers season a failure, but only if you are feeling in a I trust that Knight, the former top draft pick, could be the answer at goal particularly cruel mood, and don’t mind being shouted down by reason. for a lot of years.

It ended Wednesday night in Tampa Bay, but it didn’t feel quite right. I trust in the young-veteran core of the team in and Jonathan Huberdeau. It ended in the first round, but the evenness and quality of play made it seem more like what we used to call a conference finals. Florida still needs that next step, though. Because the best regulat season in club history obviously isn’t enough. Any other year, any other not-emerging-from-a-pandemic-with-different- playoff-rules season, Florida surely would be savoring its second-round Panthers owner Vinnie Viola told fans two days ago: “The mission is not matchup right now after having waltzed past the much easier opening complete. It won’t be until we’re standing up here with the Stanley Cup. opponent it would have faced. We will win the Stanley Cup. It’s our commitment to you.”

It’s the devil’s luck that the Panthers, under the NHL’s temporary weird Micky Arison and Pat Riley have delivered on such a promise. Elsewhere postseason format, had to play the reigning league champion Lightning in town, Viola in hockey, Derek Jeter with the Marlins, the folks running to start the Stanley Cup playoffs. Crazy, almost. Unfair, dare say. the Dolphins, David Beckham of Inter Miami -- they can all talk as big as they like, but the bottom line will will judge them. Tampa Bay eliminated Florida 4-0 Wednesday night in Game 6, for a 4-2 series advance. Original Dolphins owner stood in a hotel lobby on a road trip late in a season not ending good enough, circa late ‘80s. I heard him say he was That leaves the Miami Heat as South Florida’s last hope now, and the worried his club was “wasting the Marino years.” Heat better be as desperate as the Panthers were, down 2-0 and look for a home lift in Games 3 and 4 here Thursday night and Saturday The Panthers should be hell-bent to make sure they aren’t doing that with afternoon. the Barkov/Huberdeau years.

The Lightning deserved the series result, yes. But no more than the Cats The imperative to make good better and get to great must be the priority -- on the heel of the best regular season in their 27-year history -- in an offseason starting too soon. deserved better than to draw a pedigreed champion in the opening round. The Panthers are getting there. But getting there and being there are not quite the same. Spencer Knight quite literally had been the Knight in shining armor in leading the Panthers’ 4-1 home victory in Game 5, becoming, at 20 years 35 days, the youngest goaltender in NHL history to win when facing Miami Herald LOADED: 05.27.2021 elimination in a playoff game. Most remarkably, perhaps, Tampa Bay scored on its first shot! The crowd groaned, a pin prick to the party balloon. The kid could have unraveled right then. Become a puddle on the ice.

Instead he stopped the next 36 straight shots on goal.

“How patient and cool he was in the net,” coach Joel Quenneville said after Wednesday’s morning skate in Tampa. “His composure.”

It was no surprise.

“First time I met him,” recalled Q, “the first thing that jumps out at you is how mature he is for his age.”

Knight fell to earth Wednesday. Pat Maroon scored on Tampa’s first shot. Knight let in a second-period power play slap shot by Steven Stamkos. Then Brayden Point made the horn sound again in the third. (Knight was off ice, pulled before Alex Killorn finished the scoring late).

Win again in Game 6 to even the series and Knight would have been an instant folk hero. One not yet old enough for a legal drink in a bar. He would have led the Panthers to their first game 6 win since May 30, 1996.

Instead, while Knight was alright, Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was better. He’s state of the art, the best goalie in the league and showed it, repelling all 29 Florida shots on goal, answering every rush and all the chaos near his crease brought by the desperate, fighting-for- their-season’s-life Cats.

The loss did more than end an encouraging season for Florida.

It denied fans who feed on drama maybe the best three syllables in all sports:

Game 7. 1188873 Florida Panthers .929 save percentage for Tampa Bay, while the Panthers’ three goaltenders combined for a .881 mark.

The move to Knight briefly changed the series, only it happened after the Florida Panthers’ dream season ends with another first-round exit vs. margin for error shrunk too thin. Knight made 36 saves on 37 shots rival Lightning Monday and 20 on 23 in the loss Wednesday. Vasilevskiy, who’s likely to win the Vezina Trophy for the second time in three years, delivered a gem of his own with 29 saves in the other net to send the defending champion back into the second round for the fifth time in seven seasons. BY DAVID WILSON “We needed to get that first one,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “He was MAY 26, 2021 10:36 PM great tonight.”

For the second straight game, the Lightning beat Knight on its very first TAMPA shot of the game.

Jonathan Huberdeau took a deep breath, closed his eyes and tilted his In Game 5, it meant a one-goal lead just 53 seconds into the game. On head backward when the final seconds ticked away on the Florida Wednesday, it took more than six minutes for Tampa Bay to finally test Panthers’ season. the rookie. Lightning forward Tyler Johnson beat the Panthers to a puck behind the goal to negate an icing call and flipped it in front of the net, The All-Star left wing’s career has been littered with early exits. This one past star defenseman MacKenzie Weegar and to Tampa Bay winger Pat was different. For six games in the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Maroon, who jammed home the opening goal to give the Lightning a 1-0 playoffs, he and the Panthers felt like they matched the Tampa Bay lead with 13:44 left in the first. Lightning. They were the higher seed, and they almost always finished games with more shots on goal and scoring chances. It didn’t matter: Until Tampa Bay opened the scoring, the Panthers and Lightning mostly After a 4-0 loss to the Lightning on Wednesday in Tampa, Florida is once traded fruitless possessions, with only two total shots on goal in the first again done before the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. six and a half minutes. After it broke through, Tampa Bay put together a repeat performance of its first period Monday. “Obviously, disappointed. I thought we had our chances in this series, could’ve went either way,” the All-Star left wing said. “It’s going to take a The Lightning fired eight shots at Knight in the opening period, generated little bit to swallow this one.” 12 scoring chances and four high-danger chances, and beat the goalie once. Tampa Bay even got a power play late in the first period and After a few seconds, he exhaled, bit his lower lip to fight back any Knight helped kill off the first 1:05 before the first intermission began, emotion and watched the Lightning celebrate another first-round victory, then finished the kill in the second period. then he headed back to the dressing room and changed into a suit before even sitting down for his postgame interview. He was ready to stop Florida started to swing play back in its favor in the second, just like two thinking about how a uniquely promising season ended for Florida. days earlier. It outshot the Lightning, 13-7, with a 18-10 advantage in scoring chances and 6-3 advantage in high-danger chances. Still, the Less than three weeks after hitting near-unprecedented heights by Panthers could never beat Vasilevskiy and Tampa Bay’s power play sweeping a two-game series with the Lightning at the end of the regular delivered a second-period dagger with 6:33 left. season to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Central Division and set a franchise record for points percentage, the Panthers’ season is once After Florida’s first kill Wednesday, the Lightning fell to 0 for 3 on the again over before the second round of the Cup playoffs. After falling into power play against Knight, but its extra-man unit was too potent to stay a two-game series hole and turning to a 20-year-old goaltender for a pair silent forever. Versatile forward Sam Bennett committed a foolish of must-win games this week, Florida’s run ended with a 4-2 series loss roughing penalty against David Savard, ripping the helmet off the head of in the first ever playoff meeting with its in-state rival. the Tampa Bay defenseman after the two got tied up, and Steven Stamkos finished a perfectly executed power play with a shot from the Spencer Knight, the rookie goalie who kept the Panthers’ season alive left faceoff circle. with a 36-save performance in Game 5 on Monday, gave up a goal on the first shot he faced and Florida never recovered in front of a hostile The Lightning went 8 of 19 on power plays in the series, while the crowd of 10,092 at Amalie Arena. Panthers went 6 of 22, including an 0-for-2 performance Wednesday.

Two days after winning their first elimination game since 1996, the With its season on the line, Florida got shut out for the first time since Panthers are headed home. They still haven’t won a playoff series since April. reaching the in their third season of existence This Panthers team, as players and coaches claimed all year, truly was and haven’t even been to a Game 7 in the first round since the 2012 different, but the ending was still the same. Stanley Cup playoffs. “That’s the most fun I’ve had, this year,” Huberdeau said. “We had a Huberdeau, 27, has won just five postseason games in nine seasons good group, it just didn’t go our way.” despite entering Wednesday leading the NHL with 10 playoff points. Star center Aleksander Barkov, 25, has also won only five playoff games in eight seasons and didn’t put a shot on goal until the third period Wednesday. Miami Herald LOADED: 05.27.2021

With only its sixth ever trip to the traditional 16-team Cup playoffs, Florida still put together one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, but the year once again ends without any sort of postseason success, even as the Panthers generated 40 more shots on goal than Tampa Bay, 70 more scoring chances and 22 more high-danger chances. They had more shots on goal, scoring chances and high-danger chances in 5 of 6 games, and more expected goals in all six.

“Before the playoffs, we were one of the contenders. We played really great hockey in the regular season, we showed everyone what we’re capable of,” Barkov said. “We played really good hockey in the playoffs. I know we didn’t win games, but we played pretty good hockey ... just couldn’t win games.

“That’s the point of hockey. You’ve got to win games, but we only won two. You’ve got to win four.”

The Lightning ultimately outscored Florida, 24-17, in the series with a 19- 13 edge in goals on scoring chances and a 14-7 edge on high-danger chances. Star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy finished the series with a 1188874 Florida Panthers Florida will be moving practices to Fort Lauderdale next year, and the Panthers officially broke ground on their new facility Tuesday.

Florida held a ceremonial groundbreaking at War Memorial Auditorium as Panthers’ Joel Quenneville defends decision to wait on using Spencer the organization begins a $65 million renovation of the facility. The Knight vs. Lightning Panthers will transform the 71-year-old structure with two rinks, a training center and a ballroom-style theater.

The project is scheduled to be complete in June of 2022, meaning BY DAVID WILSON Florida will likely return to practicing at the Florida Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs next season before moving to the new facility — called the MAY 26, 2021 01:24 PM Baptist Health IcePlex — the following year.

Florida views the project as an extension of its military ties. Owner TAMPA and president Matt Caldwell both graduated from the United States Military Academy in New York, so the club jumped at the Spencer Knight saved the Florida Panthers’ season with his 36-save gem opportunity to revitalize the War Memorial when the city presented the in Game 5 of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs Monday, opportunity. but Joel Queneville doesn’t regret not turning to the 20-year-old goaltender earlier. The original plan was just to help freshen up the historic site. Eventually, it transformed into a chance for the Panthers to add a state-of-the-art “We were very comfortable with the decision at the time,” the coach said, practice facility, too. “and that was part of the deal.” “The mayor of Fort Lauderdale thought of us because he knows that we The Panthers started Sergei Bobrovsky for Game 1 against the Tampa love vets,” Caldwell said Tuesday at the groundbreaking. “This is a Bay Lightning, then turned to Chris Driedger for the next two games facility that’s been a little rundown through the years and hadn’t had a lot before going back to Bobrovsky in Game 4 after they benched Driedger of investment. It started as a veteran tribute and somehow turned into after two periods in Game 3. After benching Bobrovsky midway through much more than that.” the second period in Game 4, Florida finally turned to Knight as it faced elimination in Game 5.

Knight became the youngest goaltender to make his postseason debut in Miami Herald LOADED: 05.27.2021 an elimination game and held the Lightning to one goal to help the Panthers cut Tampa Bay’s series lead to 3-2.

Knight, as expected, got the starting nod once again for Florida’s must- win Game 6 against the Lightning in Tampa.

Quenneville had good reasons to trust his other two goaltenders for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Bobrovsky is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, led the Panthers in starts in the regular season and is in the second year of a seven-year, $70- million contract for a reason — he’s one of the most-accomplished goalies in the NHL.

Driedger finished the regular season tied for fourth in save percentage and ranked fifth in goals against average — he started fewer games than Bobrovsky, but was statistically Florida’s best goalie.

Knight was just playing for the Boston College Eagles in March, only played in four games in the regular season and became the youngest goalie to start a playoff game since 1992 when the Panthers turned to him for Game 5. The original plan was for him to only start one game in the regular season, so postseason starts were never a thought until the other two faltered.

The way the first-round series has played out further exacerbates a looming quandary the Panthers face. Driedger will be a free agent and will likely head elsewhere for a chance to be a starter, but Bobrovsky will still have five years left on his deal as the highest-paid goalie in hockey, so he and Knight will likely share goaltending duties next season.

Knight’s rapid ascent, though, has him looking like a player who can be a full-time starter sooner rather than later. If he keeps playing at this level, Knight will force the Panthers’ hand at some point and leave them to make tough decisions about their goaltending situation.

Markus Nutivaara returned to the lineup Wednesday, which meant fellow defenseman Keith Yandle was scratched for the third time in four games.

After returning to the lineup for Game 5, Yandle skated with the taxi squad ahead of Game 6 at Amalie Arena, instead of participating in the main morning skate. Nutivaara was back in his place, paired with fellow defenseman Brandon Montour for the morning session.

Defenseman Radko Gudas was also “good to go” for Game 6 despite not participating in the morning skate, Quenneville said.

Yandle hadn’t missed a game since 2009 before Quenneville decided to scratch him for Games 3 and 4 last week. Yandle has the longest active regular-season games streak at 922 and is just 42 games away from tying the NHL record. Postseason games don’t count toward his chase, so the record remains intact heading into next year. 1188875 Florida Panthers “We learned how hard it is to win, the first round, it’s the toughest round,’' he said.

And so the Panthers go into a 25th straight offseason without advancing Panthers ending should be a beginning | Commentary in the playoffs. But, for once, there’s no condemnation in that.

The shame is due to the pandemic schedule the Panthers drew Tampa Bay in the first round. They couldn’t have picked a worse dance partner By DAVE HYDE than the defending champs getting front-line stars back in Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL Tampa Bay advances with every reason to think it will repeat as champs. MAY 26, 2021 AT 11:01 PM The Panthers? It wasn’t the perfect ending for them. But it wasn’t imperfect, either. Losing in six games sounds about right considering where they are. Normally, at the end of a Florida Panthers season, the idea is to simply add another year to the question of how much their fans can endure. “This year felt way different,’' Aleksander Barkov said. “It was a new start Now it’s 25 years without advancing in the playoffs. for me, a new start for everyone in this organization. That’s how we played. Like it was a new start.” With another management team in place. Sure, they lost. Bu they competed like they had in constructing their good With more unwanted questions facing the off-season. season. Then they found tomorrow — at least if you can see tomorrow after the glimpse of Knight. But as Tampa Bay put away an empty net goal to make it 4-0 in Game 6 Wednesday night, and take the series, the feeling around the Panthers This franchise has been full of false starts and false hopes. This shouldn’t wasn’t one of empty finishes or hollow hope. For once. For real, too. be one. This ending should be a beginning.

You can see tomorrow for one of the few times in the past quarter- century. Sure, you can see how the Panthers can screw it up, too, because nothing is a given around this franchise given their track record. Sun Sentinel LOADED: 05.27.2021

But there was no shame in losing to a better, bigger, more experienced Tampa Bay – the defending champs, getting a goalie’s great win from Andrei Vasilevskiy in the finale.

It was a good series, a fun series — a season in a series, really. Game 1′s thriller was a reason to fall in love with hockey. Down 2-0, if the Panthers continued quickly out the door they’d have squandered all the good edge and positive energy of their regular season.

Even pulling to within 2-1, there were lingering questions about what it all meant. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was benched, then returned — and then was benched again in Game 4. He’s never played like the goalie with the NHL’s richest contract.

That money looked to weigh down the offseason, and maybe the next season or two, with five years left on a $70 million deal.

And then Game 5 happened.

Rookie Spencer Knight’s performance didn’t just make Bobrovsky’s story a secondary concern — one more for General Manager Bill Zito to solve this offseason than anything else. If possible. If someone wants to take that contract.

As it is, Knight became the future of the franchise. It seems crazy to anoint him that after he’s only played six NHL games. But sometimes you know. Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson needed two weeks of summer practice to make a fifth-round pick in Zach Thomas his middle linebacker and cut the veteran Jack Del Rio. Jack McKeon took one September of Miguel Cabrera and said, “He’s in the lineup for as long as I’m here.”

Knight looks to be that guy. He gave full hope to the Panthers’ future. That Game 5 can be the opening sentence to his career if it runs as forecast. He was strong Wednesday, too, beat by strong Tampa Bay offense more than any youthful indiscretion.

“We’re pretty excited about Spencer,’' Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said.

There was one rule for the Panthers this series: Don’t take penalties. Sam Bennett took an unnecessary one in the second period, ripping a Tampa Bay helmet off. That his second needless one – the first deciding Game 1.

After this penalty, the deadly purposeful Tampa Bay power play moved the puck across the ice so Steven Stamkos had enough open net to beat Knight. That made it 2-0. And it was over with the goaltending they got.

Game, series, season to the Lightning.

Playing the defending champs, Quenneville said the playoff-rube Panthers learned the importance of, “structure, discipline, timing, the importance of every shift,” under the duress of high emotions. What they learned most of all was long lesson for this franchise. 1188876 Florida Panthers Added Quenneville: “It’s a tremendous start to your career. Great exposure to the best players in the game, great shooters. Being a goalie, it’s an acquired art. You learn from your experiences.”

Panthers’ memorable 2021 season comes to an end in Game 6 shutout For the second straight game, Knight gave up a goal on the first shot on at Lightning goal against him. Pat Maroon put a backhander in the net 6:16 into Wednesday’s action off a feed from behind the net from Tampa’s Tyler Johnson, who raced back there to get to the puck first.

By DAVID FURONES Knight saved the next 11 shots against him, making stops in dangerous situations. A notable one was when he denied Lightning center Brayden SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL Point on a breakaway off a 2-on-1 pass from Nikita Kucherov, but then MAY 26, 2021 AT 11:49 PM Steven Stamkos scored a power-play goal from the left face-off circle, one-timing the puck into the net off assists from and Kucherov, who led the series with 11 points after not playing in the regular season. The 2021 Panthers will be remembered for their best regular season in franchise history and a pair of young, unexpected heroes providing The Lightning had the man advantage for the goal that put them ahead playoff memories. two because of a Sam Bennett roughing penalty.

But after Ryan Lomberg’s Game 3 overtime winner and 20-year-old The teams exchanged penalty kills between the end of the first period goalie Spencer Knight’s phenomenal Game 5 to extend the first-round and start of the second. First, Tampa Bay didn’t convert on a power play series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, that’s as far as it would go. that carried over 55 seconds into the second from a Brandon Montour hooking penalty. Then, the Lightning’s Ryan McDonagh was called for a The Panthers couldn’t score on Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy high stick on Barkov, but the Panthers came up empty. while Tampa Bay got a pair past Knight plus a third late for the dagger in Game 6. Florida’s memorable season came to an end with a 4-0 defeat The Lightning also killed off another Florida power play late in the second at Tampa’s Amalie Arena on Wednesday night. The defending Stanley period. Cup-champion Lightning took the series, 4-2. Point finished off any remaining hope for the Panthers with 5:24 Since the Panthers’ magical run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996, it’s the remaining when he broke free and put a move on Knight to easily sweep seventh consecutive series loss in the franchise’s history, including the the puck past him. Alex Killorn added an empty-net goal with under 2 2020 postseason’s qualifying round. Instead of the Panthers staying alive minutes to play. for a Game 7 at home on Friday night, the Lightning advance to play the winner of the Carolina Hurricanes-Nashville Predators series, which the Going 37-14-5 in the regular season, the Panthers had their highest top-seeded Hurricanes lead 3-2. points percentage (.705) in franchise history in 2021. Florida was 5-2-1 in the regular-season series with Tampa Bay before falling in six in the “We learned how tough it is to win in the first round,” Panthers coach Joel playoff series. Quenneville said. “There’s a lot of good things that happened with our team, but I love how we competed in this playoff.” “I’m really proud of every guy in our room,” said Barkov. “Hell of a regular season, and then obviously, playoffs, we played good hockey. We didn’t Added All-Star center Aleksander Barkov: “You learn from them. They win more than two games, but I think we played good hockey. We tried know how to win, and we got to find a way to do those things too, those our best, but credit to Tampa too.” winning things every time you step on the ice.”

Star winger Jonathan Huberdeau was shown visibly upset on the broadcast in the final minutes as he went to the bench for Sun Sentinel LOADED: 05.27.2021 the last time on the season.

“It’s going to take a little bit to swallow this one,” said Huberdeau, who finished with 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in the series and was already in his suit in his postgame web conference shortly after Game 6 went final. “That’s the most fun, though, I’ve had, this year. I think we had a good group, and it just didn’t go our way in the first round.”

Despite the frustration, there’s a belief in the organization that this is only the beginning for a young core with veteran leadership sprinkled in after the transformation from where the team was at the end of 2020 in Quenneville’s second season in Florida.

Hyde: Panthers ending should be a beginning | Commentary »

“This year, I felt way different,” Barkov said. “I’ve been saying all year, new start for me, for everyone in this organization. That’s how we felt. That’s how we played. We played like a fresh team, fresh organization, different hockey. Had a lot of fun, but it sucks that it ended this way.”

Vasilevskiy made 29 saves for the shutout. Even at one point when he lost his stick in the third period, he was able to get his pads down to deflect multiple Panthers threats — one a blast from Gustav Forsling where he tried to go five-hole.

“He’s one of the best goalies in the league, if not the best. It’s tough to score on him,” said Barkov, who had seven points (one goal, six assists) in the postseason. “Easy shots on him, they’re not going to go in.”

Knight stopped 20 of the 23 Lightning shots that came his way coming off his sensational Game 5 performance, a postseason debut in which he saved 36 of 37 Tampa Bay shots.

“I think it’s good just to get a taste of what playoffs are like,” said Knight. “For me, coming in, I wasn’t trying to stay in awe. I was trying to help the team win. That was my priority, and to have fun while I was doing it. In a couple of weeks, probably, I’ll be able to decompress, look back on it. For now, obviously, it’s tough. Don’t like losing.” 1188877 Florida Panthers Joel Quenneville first unveiled his five-forward power play unit in Game 3 against the Lightning, and the Panthers are 5 for 14 on such power plays since.

Panthers’ Bobrovsky, Driedger take back seat in stride as ‘confident, “We’re creating a lot of chaos around the net,” said winger Patric mature’ Knight takes goalie reins Hornqvist, who has five points on two goals and three assists through the first five playoff games. “We don’t really have set plays and set spots. That’s what the power play’s all about, is to make their [penalty] killers move, and when you have a chance to shoot, take the chance and shoot. By DAVID FURONES And then, get those second or third pucks, even if you don’t get it to the SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL net, spread out their PK guys.”

MAY 26, 2021 AT 3:11 PM Hornqvist has been able to find the net twice in the series on tip-ins in front of Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

“You got to keep putting pucks to the net,” Aleksander Barkov said. “We Florida Panthers goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Chris Driedger have Hornqvist in front of the net. He’s great there, so you got to feed the combined for 53 of the team’s 56 starts in net in the regular season, while pucks to him.” rookie Spencer Knight got three down the final stretch. Hot Huberdeau As the 20-year-old Knight makes his second playoff start for Game 6 at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night after dazzling in his Game Part of that lethal power play, Panthers star left wing Jonathan 5 postseason debut, Bobrovsky and Driedger have taken a back seat. Huberdeau already has the franchise record for points in a series with 10 (two goals, eight assists) entering Game 6. But the two veterans have “absolutely” provided support for the upstart youngster, according to Panthers coach Joel Quenneville. “Every single game as this season has progressed, it seems like he’s getting better and better,” Joel Quenneville said. “His patience level with “I commend them both in their ways,” Quenneville said after the puck and play recognition and some of the passes he makes really Wednesday’s morning skate. “Hey, they’re doing what they can to be the alleviate a lot of the scrums and inside positioning. All of a sudden, the best teammate, be supportive for a fellow goalie, as well. Attitude’s been quality’s enhanced on a chance.” good, so you can’t think of anything better. I think it helps Spencer, as well, being comfortable and welcomed by them. As a teammate, the Added forward Frank Vatrano on Huberdeau: “Special player, especially goalies, the fraternity they have is spectacular, and these guys are when you’re on the big stage and you need someone to perform, he’s enhancing it.” always there for us. He’s a great player, even better guy. I’m happy to see what he’s doing, and he helps our team every single night, gives us a Bobrovsky, 32, is the two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goalie who was chance to win. He’s a special talent.” signed to a seven-year, $70 million deal in 2019. Driedger, 27, was top five in the NHL in the regular season in save percentage and goals against average. Their uneven performances in the first four games Sun Sentinel LOADED: 05.27.2021 against the Lightning led Quenneville to go with Knight, who saved 36 consecutive shots after giving up a goal on the first one against him in Monday’s 4-1 win to stave off elimination.

Going into a hostile environment in Tampa Bay for Game 6, down 3-2 in the first-round series, Quenneville said Knight’s mental makeup is something that gives him confidence in the rookie who was playing at Boston College earlier this year.

“First time I met him, it’s the first thing that jumps out at you,” Quenneville said. “The conversation, the way he can speak, the way he handles things, assesses situations. Kind of the same way on the ice. He handles reads very well. He’s one of those kids, very mature for his age. Put in that stage, that environment, handle it like he’s been there before and done that before.”

Added star forward Aleksander Barkov on Knight: “He’s special. You don’t see that often. He’s so young, so confident, technically really good. I could be here till tomorrow if you want me to say everything about Spencer. He’s just great.”

The praise comes as it’s looking more and more like Knight is the long- term solution for Florida.

“[Former general manager] drafted him two years ago, and kind of warned us this guy’s going to be our future,” Panthers president and CEO Matt Caldwell told NBC6 at Tuesday’s groundbreaking for the team’s new Fort Lauderdale training facility. “We didn’t realize, in less than two years, he’ll be winning games for us, keeping our season going. It’s a magical story.”

Knight approaches the opportunity with humility.

“At this time last year, we were in quarantine, and we weren’t playing hockey,” he said after Monday’s game. “Couldn’t go to the gym at this point, so coming into this year at school, my whole mentality was to be grateful. I get a chance to play, regardless of game or practice, whatever it is, just enjoy the moment.”

Quenneville said Wednesday he doesn’t regret not going to Knight earlier in the series.

“We were comfortable with the decision at the time, and yeah, it was part of the deal,” he said.

Five-forward power play 1188878 Florida Panthers At 12:53 of the second, Bennett got called for roughing after he put David Savard in a bear hug and tugged off his helmet.

With Bennett in the box, Tampa Bay has cashed in during this series and Game 6: Panthers see season end at hands of Lightning did so again after Steven Stamkos made it 2-0 with a shot from his favorite spot inside the left circle.

Florida came with everything it had in the third period but Tampa’s Published 6 hours ago on May 26, 2021 defense in front of the net made it hard for the Panthers to get anything clean off. By George Richards Bennett, Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Anthony Duclair, Markus

Nutivaara and Weegar all had great looks. Before Game 6 began on Wednesday night, the large scoreboard at Yet with just over five minutes left, Brayden Point got loose, kept control Amalie Arena had a message from the Tampa Bay Lightning to Florida of the puck as he walked around Knight and pushed the puck through. Panthers: ‘It’s time to end them.’ With a three-goal lead, the Lightning were well on its way to the second Andrei Vasilevskiy took said message to heart. round.

The Tampa Bay goalie was superb on Wednesday night, throwing back The Lightning added a final insult when Alex Killorn scored into an empty everything he saw he made 29 saves to beat the Panthers and send net with 1:42 left. them packing for the summer with a 4-0 victory. Huberdeau, who said on the Bally Sports pregame show that he was ”We needed to get that first one,” coach Joel Quenneville lammented. “tired of losing,” slammed the puck out of the net and went to the bench “We had some great looks, some great opportunities and some didn’t and hung his head. even get on net and those were the best quality chances we had. He was ”Obviously disappointed,” said Huberdeau, already dressed by the time great tonight. … We weren’t able to crack him tonight. Hey, that’s a really he came to the postgame podium. “We had our chances in this series. It good hockey team. A great hockey team. We learned how hard it is to could have gone either way. Down 2-0, it could have gone the other way. win in the first round. It’s the hardest round ever.” “Obviously disappointed, you want to be win and you play hockey to win. Tampa Bay won the first-ever Sunshine State Showdown series 4-2 and I loved our fans, the atmosphere and wanted to come back for Game 7. the defending Stanley Cup champions advance to the second round to Didn’t happen. Obiously it will take some time to swallow. But year was face either Carolina or Nashville. the most fun I had, we had a good group. It just didn’t go our way in the The Panthers, after one of their best regular seasons in franchise history, first round.” are done after one round. It’s going to be an interesting offseason in Sunrise — aren’t they all — Florida has not won a single playoff series since beating the Penguins in and there will be plenty of time to talk about all of that. the 1996 Eastern Conference finals. The Panthers are 0-6 in Stanley Cup playoff series since — and that’s not counting last year’s play-in loss to the Islanders. Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 Spencer Knight, the rookie Florida goalie making just his sixth NHL start, played an admirable game in making 20 saves. He gave the Panthers a chance.

They just did not capitalize on it — and the Lightning have Vasilevskiy to thank for that.

”Right now it is tough to analyze our last game,” Sasha Barkov said. “He’s a great goalie, one of the best goalies in the league if not the best. To score on him, you have to get more guys to the net or shoot better. Stuff like that. Easy shots on him are not going in.

“I’m really proud of every guy in our room. Hell of a regular season, we played good hockey. We didn’t win more than two games in the playoffs, but we played good hockey. Credit to Tampa, too.”

Tampa Bay got the ball rolling, getting its first goal off its first shot (sound familiar?) against Spencer Knight after a great job of hustling down the ice from Tyler Johnson.

Johnson raced to retrieve a puck and beat Anton Stralman to it, preventing icing; Johnson controlled the puck behind the net, sent a pass through MacKenzie Weegar to Pat Maroon who was in front of the net and scored at 6:16.

Both teams had plenty of terrific scoring chances in the opening period with both Knight and Vasilevskiy making some fantastic saves.

Vasilevskiy kept the lead by stopping a point-blank one-timer from Frank Vatrano as well as a couple good looks from Mason Marchment. Knight stood tall as well, stopping Barclay Goodrow as well as Brayden Point.

Florida kept up the pressure in the second period although the team seemed to be looking for a perfect pass instead of taking the shot.

It cost the Panthers in the slot time after time as Tampa’s defenders were strong with the stick and kept the puck out of harm’s way.

Florida killed off a power play that leaked into the second and got a chance of its own when Barkov took a high stick.

The Panthers had a couple of good scoring looks from Sam Bennett and Patric Hornqvist but nothing going. 1188879 Florida Panthers “A start is important in a building like this,” Quenneville said. “They’re going to be ready, they know how to win in this building. It’s loud and it’s a fun place to play. We’re going to try and neutralize that right off the bat. Let’s have a purpose right from the first few shifts. Hey, it’s going to be FHN Morning Skate: Yandle out as Panthers try to stay alive v. Lightning quick. Simplicity is part of that.

“Part of the playoffs is, whether it’s early in a round or round-to-round, the highs and lows are extreme. Recapturing momentum when it is lost is Published 16 hours ago on May 26, 2021 very important. When you get to the latter stages in the Games 6s and By George Richards 7s, you have to keep it as long as you can. The importance of every shift gets magnified.”

The Florida Panthers appear to be rolling out the same lineup Wednesday in Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning with one Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 exception: Keith Yandle was working with the scratch players again and will likely not play.

The Panthers were without defenseman Radko Gudas at the morning skate Wednesday but coach Joel Quenneville said he is “go to go.”

Since the Panthers used a fill-in — assistant coach and former team captain Derek MacKenzie — all signs point to Gudas indeed being in the lineup.

He was just taking the morning off apparently.

Yandle will be scratched for the third time in the past four games.

With Markus Nutivaara out with an assumed injury (Quenneville has repeatedly said simply that Nutivaara was “fine”), Yandle returned to the lineup in Game 5.

He did not see much ice time.

Daily coverage of the Panthers — right here. Subscribe to FHN today!

As we noted in this morning’s preview, Yandle played less than 10 minutes in Game 5 which is a number you would expect from a fourth- line winger not a defenseman. Yandle only got two shifts in the third period and one of those was for a power play.

Getting burned on his opening shift which led to Tampa Bay’s lone goal did not help his cause to stay in the lineup.

Blake Coleman worked the puck around Yandle defending in the neutral zone, went right by him to get the puck back and feed Ross Colton for a 1-0 lead. Spencer Knight did not give up another goal.

Nutivaara was back working with Brandon Montour on Wednesday with Quenneville saying it was likely he would play.

We expect Chris Driedger to back up Knight tonight as he did in Game 5.

BUSINESS TRIP

Controlling the ups-and-downs of a playoff series can be tough but the Panthers need to rein in theirs and continue playing smart after winning Game 5.

This is going to be a fired up Tampa Bay crowd so keeping things in check — and staying out of the penalty box — will be of the upmost importance.

“You can look and say a win forces a Game 7 but the biggest thing is to take it one game at a time and that is what we have done,” Frank Vatrano said. “We need to win to get to that next game so we just have to take it shift by shift, period by period. They obviously have a very dangerous power play so we just need to play hard between the whistles and don’t get that extra jab afterward. The refs are watching and they have been cracking down this series.”

Said Patric Hornqvist: “Obviously it felt good to win that game in front of a lot of fans in our building. We played a hell of a 60-minute effort. We were backchecking, playing for each other. That’s exactly what we have to do tonight.”

Quenneville has been in a number of playoff rounds where his team was down and rallied to win — the biggest coming in 2013 when the Blackhawks overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat the Red Wings in the west semifinals.

Florida is still a ways from coming all the way back against the Lightning, but winning Monday night certainly was a start. 1188880 Florida Panthers “His whole career coming up, then joining us this year gave every indication he’s capable of doing it,” Quenneville said. “Now it’s just an opportunity. Right off the bat, his composure gave you every indication he’s capable of handling any situation. We were in a situation where, Game 6: Panthers still on the verge v. Lightning but have momentum hey, we’ve got nothing to lose, so let’s go in there and have some fun with it. He did. He was great. That was a goalie win.’’

— The Panthers did not play Keith Yandle a whole lot Monday night after Published 21 hours ago on May 26, 2021 he got turned in the opening minute which led to a 2-on-1 rush that the By George Richards Lightning got a goal on.

Yandle found himself playing just two shifts in a third period where the Panthers were trying to shut things down defensively. One of those shifts The Tampa Bay Lightning still hold the hammer entering Game 6 against came as part of the second power play unit. the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night — but at least the Panthers have some momentum on their side. In Wednesday’s morning skate, Radko Gudas was missing but expected to play since assistant coach Derek MacKenzie played his role as a Florida staved off elimination on Monday night by taking Game 5 with a placeholder. Markus Nutivaara was back with Brandon Montour after 4-1 thanks in part to some elite netminding by 20-year-old rookie goalie missing the past two days. Spencer Knight. So, it appears Yandle will be scratched for the third time in the past four The Panthers are going to need a similar, perhaps even better, games. performance on Wednesday.

The Lightning can end the Panthers season with a win at Amalie Arena. Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 The Panthers continue to take things as they come.

A win would force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Friday night in Sunrise.

“One game at a time here,’’ MacKenzie Weegar said. “We’re going into a tough building, they play well at home. We’ve got to keep the momentum on our side and play our best game.”

The Lightning felt Florida’s intensity in Game 5 and know it has to match it in Tampa.

“We’ve got to be much hungrier,’’ Victor Hedman said Tuesday. “We are playing a great team that was on the brink of elimination and they played like it. We didn’t match that.’’

The Panthers did a good job Monday of staying out of the penalty box and keeping the Lightning’s electric power play at bay.

Tampa Bay really only had one kick at the power play in Game 5 and did everything but score.

Thank Knight for that.

The Lightning kept the puck in the Florida zone not only for the entirety of the power play, but extended it for about 15 seconds as well.

Knight ended up making five saves on the power play chance in the first period. Florida trailed 1-0 at the time and could have found itself in an even bigger hole. Instead, Knight kept things right where they were.

Tampa took 22 shots in the first period alone.

“We came into the room saying, ‘man are we lucky’,” Joel Quenneville said. “Knighter put on a clinic and gave us a chance. That was our worst period in a long time.”

The Panthers cannot afford that sort of start, not in such a hostile environment.

Say what you want about Knight’s poise in net, but Wednesday will be a different animal. He hasn’t played in front of a crowd as crazed as the one he will in Tampa in a long time — if ever.

The Panthers have faith the former Boston College star has the chops for this.

While Knight was supposed to just get one start after signing in late March, his performance not only in his debut game against Columbus but in practice each day gave the Panthers confidence he could handle a few more starts.

When Chris Driedger got hurt, Quenneville gave the ball to his rookie.

Knight became the youngest goalie in NHL history to start his career 4-0 and is the youngest to win a playoff elimination game.

Florida would love to see him win his second.

And then a third in Game 7 on Friday night.

That’s looking a little too far ahead. 1188881 Los Angeles Kings coming, I’m talking and communicating a lot. They’re sometimes challenging games to play in, because you don’t get a lot of shots to stay in it, and as you can see it was relatively close. We handled it really well, played how we needed to play and locked it down and didn’t give them World Championships Update – Moore/Petersen named players of the much. game + stats, quotes, photos, videos on naming Matt Roy an alternate captain

I haven’t been around him long, but I’ve done my homework on him with By Zach Dooley the LA Kings. He goes about his business in a certain way. One of the choices we made and it was a good choice on the back end.

Kim Nousianen on battling nerves in his first game Perhaps we should call this a Bizarro World Championships update, considering how crazy the tournament has been so far. Slovakia and It was like [the] first game for me in the World Championships, so I was Germany are leading their respective groups at the approximately pretty nervous, like [in the] first period. But after the first period, I felt halfway home mark, Kazakhstan and Denmark are currently in positions good and make my confidence a little bit better, and that helps. to advance, while four of the “big six” currently are not, but that’s why it’s the halfway home update and not the final update. Olli Maatta on what he hopes to accomplish at this tournament

What we do know, however, is that several Kings players and prospects I want to show internationally that I am a top player of course but mostly have produced so far at the tournament. it is about the team and my belief on the team that they will do perform good. UPDATES Adrian Kempe on playing on a line with his brother Mario We’ll start with Team USA, which has not only a skater on the Wikipedia scoring leaderboard, but also a goaltender, as well as a player of the It’s always fun to play for Sweden, but it’s something extra to play with game recognition from each of their two victories. your brother and playing on the same line tonight, I think we played a real solid game as well. That was the first time ever and it was pretty cool. Forward Trevor Moore has collected three goals and four points from three games played to lead Team USA offensively, including two goals in a win over Team Canada and another tally in yesterday’s victory over LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 05.27.2021 Kazakhstan. Moore was named as the United States “Player of the Game” against Canada. Overall, Moore is also +4, leading the team in goals, assists and plus/minus.

Between the pipes, goaltender Cal Petersen was selected as USA’s Player of the Game versus Kazakhstan yesterday, as he recorded his first international shutout with 18 saves in a 3-0 victory. Overall, Petersen is 1-1-0 in the tournament, with a .957 save percentage and a 1.01 goals against average from two games played. With an injury to Anthony Stolarz against Team Canada, expect to see even more of Petersen throughout the tournament.

Defensemen Christian Wolanin and Matt Roy have both skated in all three games for the Americans thus far. Wolanin has an assist and a +2 rating, while Roy is -1 and has worn an “A” as a part of Team USA’s leadership group at the tournament.

For Team Sweden, forward Adrian Kempe broke out yesterday with a three-point effort in Tre Kronor’s first victory of the tournament, a convincing 7-0 demolition of Switzerland. Kempe was held scoreless through the team’s first two games, but his big effort yesterday resulted in him being named as the IIHF’s Fan Chosen Hero of the Day across all games yesterday.

Defensemen Olli Maatta and Kim Nousianen have helped Team Finland to a 2-0-1 start, and a current place in the knockout round. Maatta collected an assist in Finland’s tournament-opening win over the United States and has appeared in all three games so far. Nousianen made his tournament debut yesterday against Norway, and scored the eventual game-winning goal, with a good-looking shot from the slot.

Wrapping up the updates is Team Canada, which has gotten off to an unconventional 0-3-0 start with just two goals scored through three games played. Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Gabriel Vilardi and Sean Walker have all skated in all three games so far, with Canada looking to breakout this morning against Norway, with a 10:15 AM puck drop.

THEY SAID IT

Trevor Moore on Team USA responding against Canada after a tournament-opening loss

We have good leadership in the room, [Justin Abdelkader] has done a good job of getting us ready. We know it’s one game at a time, you don’t get another shot at it, so you’ve got to come out firing and I thought we did a great job tonight.

Cal Petersen on playing against Kazakhstan and staying in the game without a ton of shots

Just staying in the game, and whether it’s communicating or anytime I can handle the puck or something like that, just doing little things to stay in the game. Just trying to help out the defense, make sure when I’m 1188882 Minnesota Wild Kaboom. Thankfully, Whitecloud wasn't injured, the glass was repaired quickly and

it was Game On. Wild played with determination in Game 6 and takes momentum into Moments later, the Wild's Matt Dumba unloaded on Alex Tuch in open Vegas for Game 7 ice — a clean but jarring hit — that caused Vegas' to make a beeline for Dumba to fight.

MAY 27, 2021 — 12:31AM Dumba obliged, wrestling Martinez to the ice. Once separated, Dumba skated to the penalty box waving his arms to fire up the crowd even Chip Scoggins @CHIPSCOGGINS more.

"That's just the pressure that we have to play with, the aggressiveness, the desperation," Foligno said. The Wild played big-boy hockey Wednesday night. Tough, gritty, in-your- face, relentless, smart hockey. "And Dumbs obviously firing up the crowd and firing us up, even though we didn't score in that period, it just felt like the momentum was in our It defended every inch of ice. Fought like crazy for every loose puck. favor." Gave every ounce of competitive battle they could muster. Even knocked an opponent face-first through the glass. No, serious. That really They have a lot of it heading back to Vegas. The Wild looked defeated happened. after falling into a 3-1 hole. Everything feels different now.

If you ever want to see what a team that doesn't want its season to end The Wild still has plenty of fight left. looks like, pop in a copy of the Wild's 3-0 win over Vegas in Game 6.

That was sheer determination on display. Star Tribune LOADED: 05.27.2021 "When it comes down to a big period, a big game, we always find a way," goalie Cam Talbot said. "That's what I love about this group."

Now on to Game 7.

Who would have guessed it?

The season hanging by the thinnest of threads only a few days ago, the Wild remains very much alive.

The Golden Knights have home ice. The Wild has momentum. And belief.

Unlike Game 5, the Wild didn't stave off elimination by relying on rope-a- dope hockey. Game 6 brought something entirely different. The Wild stood nose-to-nose with Vegas and pushed back.

Smothering defense. Tight checking. Huge saves by Talbot. And a barrage of goals in the third period. Just a mature performance by a team that started the season with meager outside expectations but has been resilient and unflappable all the way through to this win-or-else moment.

Nothing came easy for either team in Game 6. The flow looked like a bumper car ride at an amusement park. A mess of deflected pucks and bodies smashing into each other.

Every time the Wild and Knights attempted a pass in the first two periods, an opponent's stick choked off the passing lane and the puck went the other way.

When a player managed to find room to shoot, someone slid into position for a block. Multiple players hobbled to the bench after being drilled in the legs with a slap shot. Wild captain Jared Spurgeon threw himself to the ice to block one shot as if diving to protect something valuable that fell out of his hands.

The ice always shrinks in the playoffs, but things were so tight that players probably felt claustrophobic.

On top of that, the referees are letting players bang and mug each other in this series to that point that the action is clogged up like a toilet with bad pipes.

Rather than complain about the rough stuff, Wild rookie Kirill Kaprizov gave a defiant answer pregame when asked how he avoids becoming frustrated.

"The simple answer: That's hockey," he said. "It's part of the game, you just gotta kind of play through it."

The Wild more than played through it in Game 6. They kept pushing back.

The intensity went to level 10 with a sequence in the second period that brought Xcel Energy Center to full roar.

Wild bruiser Marcus Foligno hit Vegas defenseman Zach Whitecloud with such force along the boards that Whitecloud's face dislodged the glass from the boards, nearly catapulting him into the front row. 1188883 Minnesota Wild Star Tribune LOADED: 05.27.2021

Vegas considered challenge of overturned goal a worthwhile risk

By Randy Johnson Star Tribune

MAY 27, 2021 — 12:01AM

In Game 3 of the West Division first-round playoff series, Joel Eriksson Ek saw his first-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights — a goal that would have given the Wild a 3-0 lead — overturned by a successful video challenge by coach Peter DeBoer, who argued that Minnesota was offside on the play. Vegas would go on to win 5-2 at Xcel Energy Center.

Two nights later, Eriksson Ek scored again, only to have it erased by another video challenge by the Golden Knights, this one protesting that Wild forward Marcus Foligno was interfering with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's ability to play the puck. Vegas would win Game 4 4-0 in St. Paul and take a 3-1 series lead.

On Wednesday night in Game 6, the Xcel Energy Center faithful were waiting for what they believed was payback, and they got their wish in the third period of the Wild's 3-0 victory.

With the Wild leading a tight, defensive game 1-0 on Ryan Hartman's goal at 4:21 of the third, the Golden Knights were pressing for the tying goal. Top-line center Chandler Stephenson wired a shot through Wild defenseman Matt Dumba, Vegas winger Alex Tuch and Minnesota goalie Cam Talbot to apparently tie the score at 8:55.

On-ice officials, however, conferred and ruled that Tuch was in the crease and interfered with Talbot's ability to play the puck. DeBoer challenged, but it was denied, with officials ruling: "Vegas' Alex Tuch impaired Cam Talbot's ability to play his position in the crease prior to Chandler Stephenson's goal."

The crowd of 4,500 — limited by COVID-19 restrictions — roared in approval, sensing that the Wild was on its way to forcing Game 7 on Friday night in Las Vegas.

"You're splitting hairs, and those have gone our way before," DeBoer said, explaining his reasoning for challenging the play. "We felt it was worth the challenge that point in the game. Our penalty kill has been excellent all year."

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone was on the ice for the play and agreed with his coach's decision.

"It's a tough play," Stone said. "Tuchie was kind of getting held in the crease and couldn't get out of there. Those have gone both ways, and you can't argue it anymore. We've just got to get that penalty killed. It's always worth a challenge, hoping you get it reversed."

Said Wild coach Dean Evason: "What goes around comes around, right? We were holding our breath a little bit, you just never know."

Wild winger Marcus Foligno was on the ice and said, "Before it happened, you could hear [a referee] saying, 'Get out of the blue, get out of the blue.'"

With an unsuccessful replay challenge comes a delay-of-game penalty, and Vegas sent William Carrier to the box. The Wild would make DeBoer and the Golden Knights pay for the challenge, with Kevin Fiala firing a wrist shot past Fleury at 9:35 for a 2-0 Minnesota lead and the Wild's first power-play goal of the series. More eruptions from the 4,500, who could see Game 7 on the horizon.

"It was a challenge that everyone felt we should take," Vegas winger Reilly Smith said. "Teams are going to score on the power play if you give them too many opportunities. We've done a good job all series. Every now and then, they're going to find holes and get some bounces, and they did tonight. We'll be sure to be a little bit cleaner next game."

The Wild kept up the pressure, and Nick Bjugstad delivered the dagger with a backhander past Fleury to complete a breakaway at 15:17 of the third for the 3-0 victory.

"We just didn't play well enough in the third to win,'' Stone said.

1188884 Minnesota Wild

Wild-Vegas Game 6 recap

MAY 26, 2021 — 11:26PM

GAME 6 RECAP

STAR TRIBUNE'S

1. Kevin Fiala, Wild: The winger set up the game-winning goal and scored on the power play.

2. Cam Talbot, Wild: The goaltender turned aside 23 shots for his second shutout of these playoffs.

3. Ryan Hartman, Wild: The center snapped a scoreless tie in the third period.

BY THE NUMBERS

1 Power play goal by the Wild to end a 0-for-8 drought.

1 Goal by Vegas disallowed by goaltender interference.

Sarah McLellan

Star Tribune LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188885 Minnesota Wild And in the third, the Wild finally gained separation from Vegas — skating away on the scoreboard to pull even in a best-of-seven series that now comes down to one game.

Wild's third-period flurry means 3-0 victory and a Game 7 in Vegas "We don't know the results in a couple days, but we know that we're in it," Evason said. "We know we can compete. We know we're going to battle."

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune

MAY 27, 2021 — 12:38AM Star Tribune LOADED: 05.27.2021

The Wild is still in must-win territory to save its season, but now the Golden Knights are, too.

Despite falling behind 3-1 in the first-round series and getting outplayed for stretches, the Wild clawed back to force a winner-take-all Game 7 against Vegas after prevailing 3-0 on Wednesday night in front of 4,500 at Xcel Energy Center to keep its season alive.

"We just always seem to find a way," goaltender Cam Talbot said. "That's what I love about this group. We can be down, but we're never out. We just keep persevering."

This is the third time in the Wild's history that it has initiated a Game 7 after trailing 3-1. In both instances, the Wild completed the series comeback — in 2003 against Colorado in the first round and then again in the second round vs. Vancouver to advance to its only appearance in the Western Conference finals.

Puck drop for Game 7 is 8 p.m. Friday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

"Anything can happen in Game 7," winger Kevin Fiala said. "We'll be ready."

Talbot stopped 23 shots for his second shutout in the series, and Fiala set up the decisive goal before scoring his first of the playoffs — a timely breakthrough for one of the Wild's top forwards.

"Kevin hasn't changed anything," coach Dean Evason said. "He's played the same way. Just got rewarded."

Ryan Hartman snapped a scoreless struggle 4 minutes, 21 seconds into the third period when he buried a 2-on-1 pass from Fiala for Hartman's second goal of these playoffs off Fiala's first assist.

Later in the third, at 8:55, Chandler Stephenson appeared to tie the score on a shot through traffic but the goal was waved off because of goaltender interference, with Vegas winger Alex Tuch planted in the crease.

Vegas issued a coach's challenge, but video review confirmed no goal — swinging the score back to 1-0.

"I never get those calls," Talbot said. "But the way they've been calling them all playoff long, it would be hard to overturn that."

Because of the unsuccessful challenge, the Wild received a power play and the unit finally delivered after going 0-for-8. Fiala capitalized on a five-hole wrist shot on goalie Marc-Andre Fleury at 9:35, sealing his third career multipoint game in his playoff career.

Nick Bjugstad added a third goal on a backhander with 4:43 to go, becoming the sixth Minnesota-born player to record a playoff goal with the Wild and putting an exclamation point on an effective night for the fourth line.

Fleury totaled 21 saves. Talbot's shutout was the sixth of his playoff career and the first shutout ever at home for the Wild when the team is facing elimination. Captain Jared Spurgeon had two assists.

Although the second period — like the first — was scoreless, that's when the Wild's energy began to surge.

Foligno checked the Golden Knights' Zach Whitecloud into the boards, a hit that knocked loose a pane of glass, and Matt Dumba checked former Wild player Tuch as he gathered a pass to get out of the Vegas zone. The Golden Knights' Alec Martinez ended up fighting Dumba in the aftermath, with Dumba raising his arms to the crowd as he skated to the penalty box — igniting a robust cheer inside Xcel Energy Center.

"Even though we didn't score in that period, it just felt like the momentum was in our favor," Foligno said. "So, that physicality is needed, just the wearing down of a team." 1188886 Minnesota Wild "They've played at the highest level. It's hockey. End of the day, it's hockey. They go out there, and you hopefully have the right mind-set to play and have fun. You try to score, and you try to not let the other team score." Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov hopes first playoff goal breaks ice for himself, teammates

Star Tribune LOADED: 05.27.2021

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune

MAY 27, 2021 — 12:44AM

The celebration looked familiar, a huddle around rookie phenom Kirill Kaprizov after he scored a goal.

But the circumstances were different.

After netting a team-high 27 goals in the regular season, Kaprizov finally registered his first in the playoffs in Game 5 — the start of a three-goal first period that paved the way for the Wild's 4-2 victory.

"The game has definitely changed," Kaprizov said in Russian through a translator Wednesday before the Wild's 3-0 victory in Game 6. "It's definitely gotten a little bit more difficult."

Before scoring, Kaprizov had only an assist in the series, setting up center Ryan Hartman early in Game 3. But Kaprizov has gone head-to- head with some of Vegas' best players, regularly facing one of the Golden Knights' top defensemen in Shea Theodore. That's who was on the ice when Kaprizov capitalized in Game 5 to become the seventh Wild rookie in team history to tally a goal in the playoffs.

"Feels good to score," Kaprizov said. "Anytime you can score a goal and help your team with the win, it's something you look forward to. But, of course, it makes things a little bit easier, kind of takes the monkey off the back and just makes it a lot easier."

Calen Addison didn't look out of place when he made his NHL debut in February, and the defenseman's first playoff game Monday was just as smooth.

"He played great," said Ian Cole, who was paired with Addison in Game 5 at Vegas. "A ton of poise for his first playoff game coming into a very loud, tough building to play in against a team that's really, really good. Ton of poise. Creative puck plays."

Addison logged 13 minutes, 18 seconds against the Golden Knights and picked up his first point in the NHL, an assist on winger Jordan Greenway's game-winning goal. His playing time went down to 9:53 in Wednesday's victory when Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin and Ryan Suter each played more than 24 minutes — and Matt Dumba would have if he hadn't spent seven minutes in the penalty box.

"As much as everything's around you and the setting's crazy and all that, it is just another hockey game," Addison said. "It sounds pretty crazy to say once you do get in the moment. But the end of the day, it is another hockey game. The more you think of it, the more stressed you're going to be and the more you relax, I think the better it'll go usually."

The 21-year-old, who was acquired in last season's trade that sent Jason Zucker to the Penguins, was in the lineup because Carson Soucy, Cole's usual partner, has an upper-body injury.

"To go into a game in an elimination game like that in a place like Vegas is insane," said Addison, who was named to this season's AHL all-rookie team and Central Division all-star team for his steady pro debut with Iowa. "That place is rocking, and you can barely hear yourself talk.

"To get put into that opportunity was awesome, and it's something I'll never forget."

Despite having what coach Dean Evason called "some game-time decisions," the Wild rolled out the same lineup for Game 6 that it used in Game 5.

That meant forward Matt Boldy didn't make his NHL debut after skating with the group Wednesday morning. Evason said Boldy, the Wild's first- round draft pick taken 12th overall in 2019, was available to suit up and he wouldn't be nervous to have someone make his NHL debut in a game of this magnitude.

"They've all been on the big stage and if you're talking about a guy like Boldy or Addison, they've played the World Juniors," Evason said. 1188887 Minnesota Wild Star Tribune LOADED: 05.27.2021

Wild's mission tonight: Survive second period and the 'long change'

By Michael Rand Star Tribune

MAY 26, 2021 — 1:23PM

If you are a busy person with a full, rich life but are also someone with at least a passing interest in the Wild's playoff journey, I will try to save you some time.

Instead of turning on the TV a little after 8 p.m. Wednesday when the puck is dropped for Game 6 of Wild vs. Vegas at Xcel Energy Center, go ahead and carry on with tasks until around 9 p.m. when the second period should be about ready to start.

That is the period that — if recent history holds — will tell the story of whether the Wild forces a Game 7 or ends its season of overachieving with playoff disappointment.

I talked about this a little at the end of Wednesday's Daily Delivery podcast, but let's go into it in a bit more detail here.

Simply put, the Wild has played Vegas relatively even in periods 1, 3 and overtime, outscoring the Golden Knights 7-6 in those periods. But in the second period? Vegas is outscoring the Wild 8-1.

In the last four contests of this series, that has proved to be the game- changing period: Minnesota took a quick 1-0 lead in the second period of Game 2, its only goal in the period all series, but Vegas scored twice before the period was done in a 3-1 win. The Wild took a 2-0 lead into the second period in Game 3, but three Vegas goals in that period led to a 5- 2 win. Vegas boosted its lead from 1-0 to 3-0 with two second-period goals in a 4-0 win in Game 4. And the Wild after taking a 3-1 first period lead in Game 5 survived a lopsided second period and only allowed one goal, keeping a slim 3-2 lead it converted into a 4-2 win.

This is not a coincidence. The second period was the Wild's weakest, by far, in the regular season — with Minnesota allowing 61 goals in the second period and scoring just 46. The Wild outscored opponents 60-40 in the first period and 67-54 in the third. The Wild was No. 2 in the NHL in both first period and third period scoring this year.

What gives?

A touch of it is probably randomness. But a lot of it likely has to do with the Wild's style and the "long change" of the second period.

If you are unfamiliar with that term: In the first and third periods, a team's bench is situated near its defensive zone. So a team can chip a puck out and replenish tired players on the fly with relative ease. But the second period is the one period where benches are far away from each team's defensive zone. It's harder to change personnel on a clear to the neutral zone; a puck really needs to get deep in another team's zone to safely change players without getting caught by a counter-attack.

Every year in the NHL, when taking out empty net goals in the third period, more goals are scored in the second than in either the first or third in part because of the long change. This past season in the NHL was no different: Teams on average scored 47 goals in the first, 55 in the second and 52 (subtracting empty net goals) in the third.

So the Wild scored nine fewer than the average team and gave up six more than the average team in the second period during the regular season. The problem has been exacerbated against Vegas, a team with more skill than the Wild that can dominate possession and force tired Wild players to stay on the ice.

Intrigue about whether Matt Boldy will play on Wednesday will dominate pregame discussion, and rightfully so.

But pay attention to the second period Wednesday. If the Wild can find subtle tweaks to make the play more level — getting pucks deep, stopping Vegas from entering the offensive zone cleanly and keeping players fresh — and come out of the second 20 minutes relatively unscathed, it will have a decent chance to extend this series.

If not? The long change will probably lead to a quick exit. 1188888 Minnesota Wild

Matt Boldy, Wild's No. 1 draft choice from 2019, 'available' to play tonight

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune

MAY 26, 2021 — 12:07PM

Matt Boldy skated with the Wild Wednesday morning, and he could be back on the ice inside Xcel Energy Center Wednesday night to make his NHL debut in Game 6 against the Golden Knights.

Coach Dean Evason said the Wild has some game-time decisions to make and Boldy is "available to us if we see fit to put him in." The only forwards who didn't participate in the Wild's optional morning skate before Game 6 were Marcus Foligno and Nick Bonino, although those two don't usually skate in optional sessions.

Boldy had six goals and 12 assists in 14 games with Iowa in the American Hockey League, where Boldy began his pro career after leaving Boston College in March to sign an entry-level contract with the Wild. The forward was drafted 12th overall by the Wild in 2019.

"We've watched his games obviously down there as much as we can on our off nights and obviously communicate with [coach] Tim Army down there and how he's progressing. By the sounds of everything, he's gotten better and better. It's not easy obviously to come and play pro hockey. I don't care if you're in the American League or the NHL.

"So, he's gotten better and better."

Ahead of Game 5, the Wild had defenseman Calen Addison make his playoffs debut after Carson Soucy suffered an upper-body injury. Addison had an assist on the game-winning goal, his first career point in the NHL, and logged 13 minutes, 18 seconds of ice time.

"They've all been on the big stage and if you're talking about a guy like Boldy or Addison, they've played the World Juniors," Evason said. "They've played at the highest level. It's hockey. End of the day, it's hockey. They go out there, and you hopefully have the right mindset to play and have fun. You try to score, and you try to not let the other team score."

Regardless of how the lineup shakes out, what's at stake for the Wild in this best-of-seven series against Vegas remains the same: win or its season is over.

"You can't sugarcoat it again," Evason said. "We're still down 3-2. So, we're in a position where we have to be desperate. We're in a position where same as last game we have to score goals, and we have to win one game at a time. That's the message."

Star Tribune LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188889 Minnesota Wild The tie turned into a 2-1 advantage for the Wild when winger Zach Parise batted a carom off the end boards off Fleury and into the net, an example of the reward that can be reaped by getting close to the crease.

Wild knows things need to be better to extend series vs. Vegas to Game "He's not going to give up weak goals," Evason said of Fleury. "You need 7 a bounce, a break, a fortunate situation in order to score on him. We've got to continue to do those things even more."

Then, before the first period ended, Greenway widened the Wild's lead By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune when he delivered the eventual winning goal by burying the second rebound off his initial shot — this after Greenway ushered the puck MAY 26, 2021 — 6:17AM through the neutral zone and directly to Fleury's doorstep.

"What we liked about that goal is that he doesn't fly by and leave the front Quality over quantity. of the net," Evason said. "He stops and is in control of his body and has great hands to smack it home. We need more of those type of goals, for Less is more. sure, those type of breaks. Hopefully, we can continue to score."

Bend, don't break. Those three tallies were the most the Wild had recorded in the first period in its postseason history, and the team needed all of them to fend off the Whatever the strategy is called, it worked for the Wild in Game 5 against Golden Knights. Vegas' comeback bid, however, didn't officially deflate the Golden Knights. until center Nico Sturm's bank shot off the boards rolled into an empty net "This time of year when you come out with the win, doesn't matter how with 39 seconds to go in the third period. you do it," winger Zach Parise said. At this stage of the season, the destination is more important than how Despite mustering a franchise playoff-low 14 shots, half of which came in the Wild arrived at it. But where the team goes from here will decide how the first period, and getting pelted with almost triple that by Vegas, the long the journey will last. Wild survived the blitz 4-2 to shrink its deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven "We got the win," defenseman Ian Cole said. "That's what matters. We showdown. are going to go home for Game 6 and try to get another one." But as this first-round series swings back to Xcel Energy Center for

Game 6 on Wednesday night with the Wild facing another must-win situation, the team realizes it needs to iron out the unevenness to prolong Star Tribune LOADED: 05.27.2021 its season yet again.

"We can't give them the opportunities that we did," coach Dean Evason said. "When we get into our defensive zone coverage, we gotta get the heck out of there. We got stuck a little bit more than we have prior games here.

"We have to get better than we did [Monday] night in order for us to continue to have success."

By scoring four goals to equal what it accomplished in the previous four games combined, the Wild finally had an offensive breakthrough in these playoffs — even if play was mostly concentrated at the other end of the rink.

Wild didn't deserve to win Game 5 — but does deserve a shot at Game 6

The Wild fell behind in its series with Vegas by losing when it played better. Now it has a real chance to advance thanks to winning when it probably shouldn't have.

The team rarely invaded Vegas territory in the second period, getting outshot 22-1 while the Golden Knights dominated possession of the puck. Fourteen of those shots came without interruption, a run that was fueled by the Wild regularly icing the puck to bring the faceoff back in front of goaltender Cam Talbot, who posted 21 of his 38 saves on 40 total shots in the second period alone.

And although the Wild cracked only once under the pressure, a power- play goal by Vegas' Alec Martinez, spending the majority of the period in its own end was risky.

"We've got some things that we have to correct, for sure, certainly through the neutral zone, limiting their speed," Evason said. "Obviously, we turned the puck over a few times that we haven't done a lot through this series which contributed to their rush opportunities [Monday] night. That has to get corrected."

Another way to defend better is to defend less.

Cue the now-rekindled Wild offense.

After going 120 minutes, 36 seconds without a goal, the Wild snapped that funk in the first period when rookie Kirill Kaprizov flung a rising shot by Marc-Andre Fleury for his first of the playoffs. Perhaps even more impressive than the finish was the timing of it, just 52 seconds after Mark Stone opened the scoring for the Golden Knights.

"It's always helpful when you can come back and have a huge response like that," winger Jordan Greenway said. "It was huge." 1188890 Minnesota Wild And teams are going to surge, sometimes for an entire period. The Wild has proved it has the talent as well as the mentality to survive those moments. And it has to prove it one more time if it wants to earn another business trip to Vegas. Wild must keep weathering Vegas shot storms to keep hopes alive

Star Tribune LOADED: 05.27.2021 MAY 26, 2021 — 5:50AM

La Velle E. Neal III @LAVELLENEAL

The Wild has struggled to get the puck into the offensive zone. Then it has trouble getting shots past Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Vegas' best players, such as Mark Stone and Alex Tuch, have given the Wild fits while the Wild's leading scorers, Kirill Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala, have only one goal between them.

There are a few areas of concern as the Wild trail the Golden Knights 3-2 in this first-round playoff series. Coach Dean Evason and his assistants were crafting some adjustments before the team flew back from Las Vegas on Tuesday morning.

Let's focus, however, on what has allowed the Wild to stick around in this series: Surge protection.

When Vegas has gotten on a roll, extended the neutral zone and pinned the Wild in front of its goalie, Cam Talbot, the Wild has withstood the onslaught.

You've watched some lopsided stretches of games during the series and have shaken your head at times at the disparity in shots. Take a deep breath and follow this rundown:

In the first period of Game 1, Vegas outshot the Wild 19-5. The Wild fought to keep the game scoreless before winning in overtime on Joel Eriksson Ek's goal.

In the second period of Game 3, the Wild was under siege in the second period, getting outshot 22-5. This ended up being a gut punch, as Vegas overcame a 2-0 deficit to win 5-2.

On Monday, in a win-or-go-golfing game, the Wild shoved three goals past Fleury in the first period. The tables turned in the second period, with the Wild struggling with long changes and the Golden Knights dominating play. The result was a ridiculous 22-1 advantage in shots for Vegas.

But the surge protectors limited the damage to an Alec Martinez goal during that stretch that got Vegas within 3-2. The Wild added an empty- net goal in the third period to win 4-2 and put it one more victory from a Game 7 showdown.

"Fortunately, we didn't give up the lead," Wild defenseman Ian Cole said. "We've done that in the past."

This is not a validation of this dangerous-but-sometimes-unavoidable approach. But the Wild has dug in when it needed to with a collective effort to block shots, make strong saves and clear the puck from risky areas. It's a good trait to have, especially in the postseason, when goals can come at a premium.

It starts with Talbot, who has a .928 save percentage in the postseason but has faced 166 shots, fourth most in the postseason. He made 38 saves on Monday.

"More of the same from him," Cole said. "It's kind of like his baseline."

His teammates are like-minded. Matt Dumba's chest probably still stings from the puck he blocked in Game 1. On Monday, Wild players erupted when Nick Bjugstad dropped to the ice to stop a shot during a key defensive stand.

"It's so uplifting on the bench when you see someone so committed like that or the group committed like that," Evason said. "The guys get so excited for that and obviously everyone is paying the price at this time of year, but when those type of things happen, it can give you a real lift and a real boost and it is so contagious."

There aren't many beautiful goals in the postseason. Some puck luck is needed. No one shaves. And you might need a police report to get officials to call penalties. It makes the Stanley Cup playoffs like no other postseason. 1188891 Minnesota Wild Guerin will have a more difficult time moving the veteran forward than he did last February, when Parise waived his no-trade for a chance to play with late father’s New York Islanders.

Zach Parise giving Wild more to think about That deal fell through at the 11th hour, and no wonder. Parise can help a team, especially in the postseason, but his regular season numbers this season don’t seem to merit a $7.5 million cap hit for the next four years.

By JOHN SHIPLEY | [email protected] | Pioneer Press But Parise has shown this week he might not be an albatross quite yet.

PUBLISHED: May 26, 2021 at 11:13 p.m. | UPDATED: May 26, 2021 at 11:52 p.m. Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.27.2021

No one knows what will happen between Zach Parise and the current iteration of the Minnesota Wild. Or, frankly, what has happened. But if this first-round playoff series is his last go-round in Minnesota, he’s making the most of it.

Parise’s status will be one of primary issues in what promises to be an eventful offseason for the Wild, and in his three playoff games he showed that after 16 NHL seasons, he’s got more left in the tank. He made his presence keenly felt in the three playoff games he’s been asked to play.

Parise, 38, scored a mammoth goal in the Wild’s 4-2 victory in Game 5 on Monday — putting his team up 2-1 in the first period — and started the rush that netted Ryan Hartman’s go-ahead goal in the Wild’s 3-0 Game 6 victory on Wednesday at Xcel Energy.

That’s a goal and assist in three games, for those keeping track, from a winger that had been scratched in six of the seven previous games. In each of those games, he played on a line with center Hartman and Kevin Fiala.

“He’s played great,” coach Dean Evason said. “We’ve talked about it before: Everybody that’s not in the lineup on a given night stays prepared and ready to play. Clearly, Zach’s been there and done that and the attitude was right coming back. That has allowed him to fit seamlessly into the group.”

The 13-year, $98 million contract Parise signed on July 4, 2012, was bound to become an albatross for the Wild, though management hoped that they would have advanced to a Stanley Cup Final or two in the meantime. They, of course, did not — although it’s still up in the air with Game 7 of this first-round series set for 8 p.m. CDT Friday in Las Vegas.

Ryan Suter signed an identical contract at the same time as Parise, but the defenseman remains a top-four blue liner. Parise wasn’t a top forward this season, although he scored 28 and 25 goals in his previous two seasons.

Bottom line, Parise has four years left on a deal that will pay $10 million more but with an annual salary cap hit of just under $7.54 million. He had seven goals and 11 assists in 45 games this season, and because he had fallen out of coach Evason’s rotation — and been moved off his spot on the power play before that — it appears the Wild are moving on, or at least trying to.

One wonders if the Wild feel the same after the past three games. The playoffs are what counts, and playoff wins are what have been missing for most of the Wild’s 20 NHL seasons.

It’s unclear what, if any, disconnect there is between Parise and Evason. Interviews this season have been group meetings via Zoom, and as the season wound down, Parise wasn’t made available until after his first playoff appearance in a Game 4 loss at Xcel Energy Center last Monday. With the Wild down 3-1 in the series, he wasn’t about to open a vein.

“The last thing I want to do is be a distraction,” he said.

Inserted into the lineup after Marcus Johansson broke an arm — he ran into a post in Game 3 — Parise has been a conspicuous presence on the ice. He’s not as fast as he once was, but the guy knows how to score in close, as he showed in Las Vegas when he corralled a rebound behind the net and fired a hard shot off the back of Vegas goaltender Marc- Andrew Fleury.

On Wednesday, he slipped a contested puck behind the blue line to Fiala, starting a two-on-one that Hartman finished for a 1-0 lead just more than 4 minutes into the third period.

But even if the Wild are getting ready for life without Parise, moving him in a trade will be about impossible, and with the (draconian) expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken coming this summer, general manager Bill 1188892 Minnesota Wild While it was a pretty clear case of goaltender interference, Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer challenged the call, and Talbot admitted he was nervous while standing in his crease.

Wild force Game 7 with 3-0 win over Golden Knights “I’m always nervous,” Talbot said with a smile. “I never get those calls. But the way they’ve been calling them all playoff long, it would be hard to overturn that.”

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press He got the call on this particular night. The failed coach’s challenge put the Wild on the power play with a chance to add an insurance goal. PUBLISHED: May 26, 2021 at 10:56 p.m. | UPDATED: May 27, 2021 at 12:10 a.m. That’s exactly what Fiala did. Fiala, who hadn’t scored a goal in the first five games, unleashed a blistering wrist shot to make it 2-0. For good

measure, Bjugstad added a pretty goal down the stretch to finalize the All season long, this version of the Wild has felt different. score at 3-0.

Maybe it’s the presence superstar rookie Kirill Kaprizov and his ability to “Just great that it found the back of the net tonight,” Fiala said of his goal. completely take over a game. Maybe it’s the calming demeanor of “Just great to win at home in front of fans. It’s a great night for us, but veteran Cam Talbot between the pipes. Maybe it’s the noticeable culture Game 7 is waiting so we’ve got to regroup and do the same thing.” shift in the locker room. As the final seconds ticked away, the X erupted into a deafening roar. In reality, it’s all of those things, and so much more, coupled with a no- There’s a chance this was the last home game of the season for the nonsense approach from Wild coach Dean Evason behind the bench. Wild, though with the way this team has proven to be different it’s hard to bet against them at this point. Yes, this version of the Wild is indeed different, and they proved it Wednesday night at Xcel Energy Center with a 3-0 win over the Vegas “We knew it was going to be tough,” Evason said. “We didn’t know the Golden Knights. The Wild staved off elimination once again and forced a results obviously, and we don’t know the results in a couple of days. But winner-take-all Game 7 on Friday night at T-Mobile Arena. we know that we’re in it. We know we can compete. We know we’re going to battle. And at the end of the night we’ll see where we sit.” “It’s been like that all season,” winger Marcus Foligno said. “Honestly, I think from Cam on out, it’s been that mindset where we’re never out of it.”

It might have been the most complete game the Wild have played all Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.27.2021 season on a night they absolutely had to have it. Ryan Hartman, Kevin Fiala and Nick Bjugstad scored the goals, and Talbot finished with 23 saves for his second shutout of the postseason.

“We have been playing like this all season long,” Talbot said. “We just always seem to find a way. That’s what I love about this group. We can be down but we’re never out. We just keep persevering like we did tonight.”

It was a back-and-forth first period as both the Wild and Golden Knights played with the type of cautiousness to be expected in such an important game. Because of that, there weren’t many scoring chances from either side.

Perhaps the Golden Knights were simply waiting for the second period. They have dominated the middle frame throughout the series, and that’s putting it lightly. Entering Game 6, the Golden Knights had outscored the Wild 8-1 in the second period during the series, with a 72-40 advantage in shots on goal.

In that sense, the Wild deserve credit for tightening up in the second period on this particular night, limiting scoring chances in their own zone while carefully picking their spots on the other end.

With neither team finding the back of the net, the most notable thing to come out of the second period was a fight that never should’ve happened. The sequence started with Wild defenseman Matt Dumba crushing former Wild prospect Alex Tuch in open ice.

Though it was a clean hit, and Tuch immediately got up, Golden Knights Alec Martinez defenseman decided to drop the gloves anyway. In the end, Dumba and Martinez each were assessed major penalties for fighting. On his way to the penalty box, Dumba implored the 4,500 fans in attendance to get loud, and they happily obliged.

“The physicality in this series has been tremendous,” Evason said. “There’s some big, big men out there. Some big hits. Some grinding hockey. We had a couple tonight and (Dumba’s) hit was great obviously. They respond. That’s hockey, right? It’s showing such great passion from both sides.”

That set the stage for Hartman to play hero in the third period with tons of help from his linemates. Zach Parise started a rush with a heady play along the boards, Kevin Fiala raced into the zone with a full head of steam, and Hartman finished off a perfect feed to make it 1-0.

Not long after that, Chandler Stephenson appeared to tie the game at 1-1 for the Golden Knights. Upon further review, the officials ruled that Tuch was in the crease, thus wiping the goal of the board. 1188893 Minnesota Wild You can barely hear yourself talk. To get put into that (situation) was awesome. It’s something I’ll never forget, for sure.”

Wild rookie Kirill Kaprizov on physicality of playoffs: ‘You’ve just got to Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.27.2021 play through it’

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press

PUBLISHED: May 26, 2021 at 3:41 p.m. | UPDATED: May 26, 2021 at 3:41 p.m.

Star rookie Kirill Kaprizov has felt the game change during Wild’s first- round playoffs series with the Vegas Golden Knights.

After taking the NHL by storm with 27 goals and 24 assists during the 56- game regular season, Kaprizov did not score his first goal of the playoffs until Monday’s must-win Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena. He entered Game 6 on Wednesday night at Xcel Energy Center with a goal and an assist in the first five playoff games of his career.

Though some of that ineffectiveness has been a result of puck luck — or lack thereof — most of it has stemmed from the fact that the 24-year-old Russian winger has had to battle through some extremely physical play that the Golden Knights have directed at him on both ends of the ice.

Whether it’s been an ugly cross-check in the back from defenseman Zach Whitecloud near the boards, or a simple face wash from defenseman Alex Pietrangelo after the whistle, the Golden Knights have skillfully toed the line between clean and dirty as a way to get into Kaprizov’s head.

“That’s hockey,” Kaprizov said through a Russian translator before Wednesday’s game. “It’s part of the game. You’ve just got to play through it.”

Asked about the increased physical play, Kaprizov refused to use it as an excuse. He also wouldn’t entertain any questions about the officiating throughout the playoffs so far.

“I don’t like to speak any ill will,” Kaprizov said. “We have a job as players to play. That’s what we focus on. But yeah, overall, the game has definitely gotten a little bit more challenging since we’ve gotten into the playoffs.”

That’s made it more difficult for Kaprizov to make an impact on a nightly basis. It also has motivated him to be better moving forward. Though it’s on everyone to score goals in the playoffs, Kaprizov admitted he feels a sense of responsibility to do it at a higher rate than he has so far.

“I would definitely say there’s a little bit of that,” he said. “Obviously when we don’t win the game, I always question myself, like, ‘Did I do everything I could? Should I have scored? Should I have done this? Should I have done that?’ There’s definitely a little bit of that. You have to push through it.”

Wild prospect Matt Boldy participated in the team’s morning skate ahead of Game 6, and while coach Dean Evason said the 20-year-old was available to play, he refused to tip his hand in the hours leading up to puck drop.

After signing his entry-level contract on March 31, the 6-foot-2, 195- pound winger dominated with the of the American Hockey League. He recorded 18 points (6 goals, 12 assists) in 14 games, proving to be a force up and down the ice.

As for Boldy potentially making his NHL debut in an elimination game, Evason clearly wasn’t opposed to the idea.

“At the end of the day, it’s hockey,” the coach said. “You go out there and hopefully have the right mindset to play and have fun. You try to score. You try to not let the other team score.”

After making his NHL postseason debut in Game 5, rookie defenseman Calen Addison was back in the lineup for Game 6. He earned that opportunity after impressing the coaching staff in Monday’s game at T- Mobile Arena. Not only did Addison look solid alongside fellow defenseman Ian Cole, he recorded an assist in the game, too.

“It was awesome,” Addison said. “To go into a game in an elimination game like that in a place like Las Vegas is insane. That place is rocking. 1188894 Minnesota Wild This was one tough, hard-nosed game where there was little room on the ice to navigate through bodies and execute consecutive passes. It felt like one mistake could be the difference all game long, so scoring chances for both teams were at a premium. Wild pull even with Vegas: ‘It all starts at zero now’ as teams head to Game 7 That’s why it was so shocking early in the third period when a great stick at the defensive blue line by Zach Parise sprung Fiala for a two-on-one with Hartman.

By Michael Russo In Game 1 of the series, Hartman had five shots on goal — actually more because the off-ice officials incorrectly credited one flurry’s worth of shots May 27, 2021 to No. 36 Mats Zuccarello, not No. 38 Hartman, but according to Natural Stat Trick, Hartman was in on eight shot attempts, seven scoring chances, the five shots and 0.49 individual expected goals. Karma. After he didn’t bury one breakaway at the end of a period, defenseman Pete DeBoer made the gutsy decision in Game 4 to challenge a Joel Matt Dumba immediately skated up to Hartman in an attempt to lift his Eriksson Ek goal with the belief that Marcus Foligno inhibited Marc-Andre spirits. Fleury’s ability to make the save. After scoring his first goal of the series in Game 3, Hartman would take Whether you agreed with the reversal or not, the Vegas Golden Knights full advantage of Fiala’s phenomenal pass for a 1-0 lead that caused the coach was right, the goal was wiped off the board and the Golden 4,500 jittery fans to erupt like there were 18,000-plus in the seats. Knights stormed back to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Hartman, too, unleashed a fury of emotion with multiple arm-swinging windmills during his celebration. Wednesday night in Game 6 at Xcel Energy Center, with the Golden Knights trying to end the Wild’s season, Alex Tuch was camped in the “I knew the chances were gonna come, it was only a matter of time,” crease on Chandler Stephenson’s third-period tying goal. Referee TJ Hartman said. “You get enough chances, statistics say it goes in Luxmore originally called it a good goal, but the four officials huddled and eventually. The one tonight, we finally got the puck past their D along the changed the ruling. In a tense, tight-checking game where it did feel like boards and got a two-on-one out of it and Kev made a great play and it one goal could be the difference between winning and losing, DeBoer went in the back of the net.” took the risk of challenging again and this time lost and cost his team a power play. Over in Burnsville 20 minutes from the arena, Hartman’s dad, Craig, happened to be watching the game at a local bar with Hartman’s “Guess what goes around comes around, right?” Wild coach Dean girlfriend’s father, Jon Storhoff. Hartman was driving from Chicago to Evason said. “We were holding our breath a little bit — you just never Montana to attend his nephew’s wedding but couldn’t come to the game know.” because he was traveling with his German shepherd.

In a series where the Wild’s power play had been held off the board and “I have seen playoff hockey in Xcel before, so I’m looking forward to one of the Wild’s most dynamic forwards had been held without a goal, something different,” Craig Hartman said the day before. Kevin Fiala picked the perfect time to crack both goose eggs with a mammoth power-play goal to give the Wild a two-goal stranglehold in a Twenty-four hours later, Hartman insisted that he didn’t regret missing game they’d eventually win 3-zip to force a winner-take-all Game 7 at 8 the game even though his oldest boy scored the winning goal. Instead, p.m. CT Friday night in Vegas. Hartman and Storhoff roared and hugged each other inside the bar.

“It all starts at zero now,” Fiala said. “We’re gonna realize that and have a “All about the experience,” Hartman said. great start. Anything can happen in Game 7, and we’ll be ready.” Ryan Hartman’s goal 4:21 into the third could have created the most After two scoreless periods but a second period that the Wild had to be excruciating final 15-plus minutes of the Wild’s season, especially for the overjoyed with — they were outshot 7-5, yes, but that could be deemed a fans, but the overturned goal and Fiala’s power-play goal eased the win when one considers they had been outscored 8-1 and outshot 72-40 tension until Bjugstad, the Blaine native and former Gophers star, scored during the previous five second periods, Ryan Hartman and Nick his third career playoff goal and first since 2016. Bjugstad also scored goals and Cam Talbot put the finishing touches on It was a fitting goal for the fourth line of Nick Bonino-Nico Sturm-Bjugstad his second shutout of the playoffs, this time with 23 saves. because the trio of hard-working forwards put together several strong Talbot, who has been the victim of what he considers some questionable shifts throughout the game. But the game also had several other goalie interference non-calls and reversals this season and in the past, emotional moments, like when Dumba for some reason had to fight admitted he would have lost his mind had Stephenson’s goal tied the defenseman Alec Martinez for a crushing, yet clean hit on Tuch in the score. Foligno, ironically, was on the ice and immediately sped to open ice. Later, Foligno checked Zach Whitecloud so hard, he literally Luxmore and told him that if anybody knew Stephenson’s goal should not went through the corner glass. count, it would be him because he has been the guilty party on a pair of Foligno was just happy to be playing. He was a true game-time decision overturned goals in a month. after missing the final 7:48 of Game 5 in Vegas. Had he missed the “I’m always nervous. I never get those calls,” Talbot said. “But the way game, 2019 first-round pick Matt Boldy, who skated in warmups, would they’ve been calling them all playoff long, it would be hard to overturn have made his NHL debut. that. I mean TJ was yelling at (Tuch) while he was in the crease the “It was just something that I needed to take care of all day and entire time and then called it a goal originally and then eventually made (Tuesday),” Foligno said. “So I was 100 percent and felt good. Just the right call and overturned it. something that had happened, just a little stinger. … Hopefully I’ll be “Yeah, if that one stood, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now. I’d feeling great (Thursday), so it’s all good now.” just be getting fined.” Another player who could wake up sore Thursday is Eriksson Ek, who The Wild, 3-0 all time in Game 7s, now head to Vegas feeling confident gave every Wild fan, player, coach, manager and, heck, the owner a after consecutive victories. The Golden Knights must have that “not coronary when he crashed hard into the cage during a drive at the net in again” feeling. This is the third postseason in a row they’ve held a 3-1 the third period. He left the ice unable to put any weight on his left leg. series lead and wound up in a Game 7. Last summer they survived But suddenly, the Wild’s best centerman returned for a late third-period against the Vancouver Canucks, but in 2019, they were the last team — penalty kill. and 29th in history — to blow a 3-1 series lead in a best-of-seven to the “I thought the crowd was going to give him a standing ovation when he San Jose Sharks. came back because we sure did,” Evason said. “This is what it’s all about,” DeBoer said. “This is why you work your ass It was one impressive outcome for the Wild, who now head to Vegas to off all season and have the record you have to host this game in your play a banged-up Golden Knights team in a coin-flip type game. Max building and give yourself the best opportunity.” Pacioretty hasn’t played all series. Tomas Nosek is hurt. Ryan Reaves didn’t play Wednesday and DeBoer alluded that he too is hurt. Brayden McNabb, Vegas’ toughest defenseman, was also placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.

But the Wild had an impressive stick-to-it-iveness, as coaches love to say, Wednesday night.

This is nothing new, however. The Wild were one of the league’s best third-period teams all season.

“We’ve been playing like this all year long,” Talbot said. “When it comes down to it, when we need a big stand or a big game or a big period, we just always seem to find a way. That’s what I love about this group, we can be down but we’re never out. We just keep persevering like we did tonight. You see the elation in the group when Hartzy scores that big goal.

“It was just an unbelievable game by all the guys tonight. We’re just looking forward to Game 7.”

Addison living the dream

Before Sunday, Calen Addison had never even been to Vegas. After all, the Wild defenseman turned 21 just last month, so he had to get out of the hotel and take a few walks around the bustling city.

The next night, he made his Stanley Cup playoff debut alongside Ian Cole in Minnesota’s Game 5 win. He even registered his first career point on an assist of Jordan Greenway’s goal.

“To go into a game in an elimination game like that in a place like Vegas is insane,” Addison said Wednesday morning. “That place is rocking, and you can barely hear yourself talk.”

Addison said his nerves were surprisingly minuscule during the day, something that was aided by Cole and some of the Wild’s other veteran blueliners.

“It’s obviously a confidence boost anytime you get your name called to play a game, and especially a game like that,” he said. “It was the biggest game of their season, an elimination game. But obviously, there’s a huge difference from my first three games in Anaheim and LA with no fans to probably the loudest setting I’ve ever been in. So, you can’t beat that. And best moment I’ve had for sure.

“Colezy’s a great guy. He’s always giving me information, always helping me out on the bench, before the game. Just all the time, always coming up to me with little tricks and tips.”

Addison nearly got to play a game in Minnesota with Boldy like he did down the stretch in Iowa.

“He’s a special player,” Addison said. “I just met him when he came to Iowa there for the first time, and it was pretty eye-opening the skill he has and the hockey IQ he has. The plays he can make under pressure and stuff like that is pretty special. And I’m excited to watch him here in the future and whenever he does get his name called.”

The Athletic’s 3 stars

Kevin Fiala, Wild: Held without a point in the series, he assisted on Ryan Hartman’s winning goal, had a power-play goal and three takeaways.

Cam Talbot, Wild: Improved to 13-3 when he gives up two goals or fewer in a playoff game and made 23 saves for his league-leading second shutout.

Jared Spurgeon, Wild: Captain assisted on two third-period goals, had five shot attempts and five blocked shots. His 23 playoff points are tops in franchise history for a defenseman.

Turning point

Up 1-0 in the third period, the Wild caught a break when Chandler Stephenson’s tying goal was waved off because Alex Tuch was in the crease. Vegas challenged, lost, the Wild got a power play and made it 2- 0 on Fiala’s goal.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188895 Maybe his biggest error was trading for Weber. Sure P.K. Subban’s career has gone south, but the Habs have won precisely nothing with the Slow Man Mountain and he’s been an embarrassment in this series.

What the Puck: Storm clouds on horizon for Bergevin's Canadiens Bergevin constructed a slow-moving encased-in-cement defence corps, built in the image of the journeyman blue-liner he was. He’s out of touch with today’s NHL.

Brendan Kelly • Montreal Gazette The team being destroyed by the Leafs is Bergevin’s team and this badly constructed club is a reminder that the only plan he’s ever had is the Publishing date: May 26, 2021 brilliant one that’s kept him employed by Geoff Molson for the past nine years. He only has to please one guy and so far Bergevin’s doing a boffo job of managing upward. Losing to the Leafs isn’t what has me most depressed as a Habs fan this week. It’s the fact things are only going to get worse next season. You’d think Molson might care that Bergevin’s team hasn’t won a playoff series since 2015 and doesn’t look to be winning one any time soon. The North Division is the weakest one in the NHL and even then the You’d think. Canadiens just scraped their way into the playoffs. Imagine what it’s going to be like next season, when Montreal is back in a division with Tampa Bay, Florida, Toronto, Boston and Ottawa, which had the Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 Canadiens’ number all season and will be a much better team.

The Habs had, at best, an average season and there’s no reason to believe it’ll get better any time soon. Carey Price is playing all right in the playoffs, but had a terrible season — again. Shea Weber looked like he was fading and this week, he looks done.

The best line I heard came from a pal who quipped: “I didn’t realize you could cross-check your way to a Stanley Cup.” That’s about all Weber and Ben Chiarot have been doing for the very good reason that they can’t keep up.

New additions Josh Anderson and Tyler Toffoli did well, but almost all of the returning veterans took a step backward, notably Tomas Tatar, Brendan Gallagher, Phillip Danault, Jonathan Drouin, Weber and Chiarot. Everything points to next season being a tough slog.

The worst thing about this dull playoff series is that the Maple Leafs aren’t even that great. They’re good, but they’re not going anywhere.

Auston Matthews has been less than superstar-like, their goalie is average and their defence is hardly elite. The Habs make the Leafs look good, but reality is Toronto is eminently beatable. Just not by the Canadiens.

Not one Hab has consistently taken it to another level in the series. Price was spectacular the first game and quite good since. Anderson was amazing in Game 1 and hasn’t been seen since. Toffoli is not a factor. And the list goes on.

Then there’s the interim head coach. All the pundits went on about how Dominique Ducharme would be like a breath of fresh air, that he’d bring a new youth-friendly energy. It turns out he’s even more conservative than Claude Julien. He has the boys playing dump-and-chase hockey, a pathetic gambit at the best of times, but downright useless when the lads doing it chase the puck and then promptly lose it to the Leafs.

They even dump it in on the power play. That’s because there’s no player on the team capable of moving the puck over the opposing team’s blue line and actually maintaining control.

Did general manager Marc Bergevin even think for a couple of minutes before giving Ducharme the job or was he simply in a total panic about the possibility of losing his own job at that point?

“We won’t shy away from a challenge,” Ducharme said on Wednesday. “We won’t be going down easy. … We’ll be fighting.”

Nice to hear, but why weren’t Ducharme’s troops fighting on Tuesday?

This collapse is a perfect encapsulation of the Bergevin era. He picks up useful players, like Anderson and Toffoli, but he never understands the big picture. After what he saw in the bubble last summer, he rolled the dice, spent to the salary cap limit and talked about being able to play with anyone, in any style.

But this team isn’t anywhere near Stanley Cup-contending status. Anyone except Bergevin could see that. Instead he went out and grabbed vets like Eric Staal and Jon Merrill thinking he was loading up for a run. He has no vision.

He traded Mikhail Sergachev for Jonathan Drouin. He picked Jesperi Kotkaniemi instead of Brady Tkachuk. He re-signed Price when he should’ve traded him. He hasn’t been able to get his hands on a legitimate No. 1 . 1188896 Montreal Canadiens “We kind of have a mix of everything,” he said. “We got the veteran guys, some guys have won, some guys haven’t. We have young guys who are hungry. We have guys like myself, Eddie (Joel Edmundson), Andy (Josh Anderson) kind of right in the middle that kind of help push the bus and Canadiens Notebook: Tyler Toffoli can give Habs a reason to believe pull at the same time. So we have to come together, we have to perform to our abilities and if we do that I think we’re in a good spot. So one game

at a time and we just got to work. Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette “I think we have to find a way to just be consistent throughout the entire Publishing date: May 26, 2021 game,” Toffoli added. “There are definitely points in the games that we’ve played extremely well and then our game fades a little bit and they get some chances and they capitalize and then we’re chasing.”

The Canadiens will be facing elimination when they play the Maple Leafs Room for improvement in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series Thursday night in Toronto (7 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio). The Canadiens have been outscored 12-4 in the series, are 0-for-13 on the power play and have zero points from their defencemen, so there is a The Canadiens, who have scored two goals in the last three games, now lot of room for improvement in Game 5. have to win three straight — including two in Toronto — to advance to the North Division final against the . The Canadiens were When asked what the main thing is that the Canadiens have to do better only able to win three consecutive games three times all season, so the Thursday night, Toffoli said: “There’s a lot of things. But we just got to odds of that happening now appear to be somewhere between slim and keep getting our looks and keep getting our opportunities. I think if we none. The Canadiens also have a 4-8-1 record against the Leafs this just keep doing that, keep putting pressure on them, don’t give them too year, including the regular season. much respect. We got to play our game and be worried about ourselves and take it shift by shift. It sounds cliché, but that’s kind of the way that But Tyler Toffoli can provide his Canadiens teammates with some hope. we have to play and we just have to be confident in our own abilities and go from there.” When Toffoli was with Los Angeles in 2014, the Kings were trailing the San Jose Sharks 3-0 in their best-of-seven first-round series before As for the Canadiens defencemen having no points in the first four winning the next four games. The Kings went on to win the Stanley Cup. games, Chiarot said: “Toronto’s a great offensive team. I would say that the D joining offensively becomes secondary, especially when you have “Game 4, the night before, we kind of just said it’s one game at a time,” dangerous players on the ice. On all four lines they have (they) can strike Toffoli said Wednesday afternoon before the Canadiens headed to pretty quickly offensively. I don’t think our priority as defencemen right Toronto. “Got to try and put some doubt in their heads. We won Game 4 now is jumping up and joining the rush and taking those chances right and it was just one of those things. It was a game at a time and slowly now. That would be the biggest thing. That comes secondary right now. things started going our way and we ended up coming back and winning Right now our priority is defending.” the series. So we just got to stick together and come together as a team and just perform and play to our abilities.” Struggling to score

If the Canadiens win Thursday, they would force Game 6 Saturday night Toffoli led the Canadiens in goals during the regular season with 28, at the Bell Centre with 2,500 fans in attendance. followed by Anderson (17), Nick Suzuki (15) and Brendan Gallagher (14).

“It’s definitely in the back of all of our minds,” Toffoli said. “We’ve Toffoli and Gallagher have yet to score in this series against the Leafs, definitely missed it this year the entire season. To get the opportunity to while Anderson and Suzuki have one goal each. The other goals against be able to play in front of even the small amount that’s going to be the Leafs came from Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Paul Byron. allowed is huge and will be a lot of fun. So that’s definitely one of the factors and one of the reasons we really want to win tomorrow and just William Nylander alone has four goals for the Leafs. kind of move on.” “I think I’ve had some really good looks,” said Toffoli, who had eight shots As for facing elimination Thursday night, Toffoli said: “We’re not trying to in the first four games. “It’s the playoffs and guys are laying their bodies look at it like the end is coming. We’re looking forward to tomorrow. It’s on the line. Especially last night in general, I had some really good going to be a test for ourselves and we just have to come out and we chances and pucks were bouncing off them or off us and going the other have to play hard and just play as a group. No individuals … none of that. way, whereas early in the year it was kind of bouncing and going in. So So we have to play as a group, play the way that we’re set out and the just got to keep shooting, keep getting the looks that I’ve been getting way that we talk. I think if we do that and we play to our abilities, and hopefully they go in.” everybody has a good game, I think we have a good shot.” Chiarot was asked what the biggest disappointment has been in the first Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme announced Wednesday four games apart from the Canadiens’ lack of scoring. that injured forwards Jake Evans and Artturi Lehkonen wouldn’t travel “I don’t think that there’s been a whole lot of separation between the two with the team to Toronto for Game 5. teams,” he said. “Obviously, they have a deadly power play and they’ve You gotta believe had a lot of opportunities on the power play and they’ve capitalized on some of them. So I think that five-on-five there hasn’t been a big One team is going to end a playoff slump in this series and at this point it separation. I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed in anything five-on-five that certainly looks like it will be Toronto. we’re doing. If I’m disappointed in anything it’s just that we’re not capitalizing on our chances and putting the puck in the back of the net as While the Canadiens haven’t won a first-round playoff series since 2015, much as we need to.” the Leafs haven’t won one since 2004. There also seems to be a lack of cohesion with the Canadiens on offence What makes Canadiens defenceman Ben Chiarot believe his team can with them struggling to make passes and enter the offensive zone. come back and win this series? “It’s a lot to do with the mindset for me,” Ducharme said. “You look at the “The guys in the room is what makes me believe in it,” he said way we played the first game of the series, I think we were pretty sharp Wednesday. “The makeup of the team and the character of the guys is there. I think that’s part of the playoffs, too, to be going through some ups why I believe we can do it. and downs. It’s the way you react to it and adversity is part of it. It’s never “Being shut out last night that’s not anywhere close to what we’re easy to win. It’s the way you handle it as a group. We have a good group capable of,” Chiarot added. “It’s just confidence. It’s a funny thing when of guys here and I think we got a good idea of what we need to do you have it … it feels like you’ll have it forever. And when you don’t, it tomorrow.” feels like you’re looking for it forever. So we need to find some Power-play problems confidence offensively, make some more plays and be more dangerous offensively.” The Canadiens are 0-for-13 on the power play in this series, while the Leafs are 3-for-16 (18.8 per cent). Toffoli also believes in the guys in the room. After the Canadiens went 0-for-4 on the power play in Game 4, Jeff Petry said: “I think last game (Game 3 when they went 0-for-3) for sure was on us not executing, not being on the same page. I thought today we entered better, we moved the puck better and I think we just have to have a shooting mindset. They’re a team that pressures hard. We have to work the puck around, make them shrink and get pucks to the net. I don’t think we’ve generated enough shots to be a threat and that’s when things get dangerous when you’re moving the puck around, shooting the puck and getting them tired. Things are going to open up when you’re doing that. I think we have to get in, keep it simple, move the puck around and generate some more shots.”

When asked Wednesday about the Canadiens possibly not being on the same page on the power play, Ducharme said: “I thought that was more in Game 3 that at one point when things didn’t start well that guys were trying to fix it by themselves. I thought last night we created better looks. We need to finish. Yesterday we got shots from the top, we hit a post on a rush – Gally I think. A few things like that. So we need to take that and make it even better. Not on the same page was more in Game 3.”

Chiarot noted that the referees are calling things a bit differently this year from his previous experiences in the playoffs.

“But that’s just the way it is,” he said. “You have to deal with it and it’s part of the series. It’s not much we can do about the refs.”

The AHL announced Wednesday that goaltender Cayden Primeau and defenceman Otto Leskinen have been named to the Canadian Division all-star team for the 2020-21 season.

Primeau had an 11-4-0 record this season with two shutouts, a 2.10 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. The Canadiens selected the 21-year-old in the seventh round (199th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. In four games with the Canadiens this season, Primeau had a 1-2-1 record with a 4.16 goals-against average and an 849 save percentage.

Leskinen had 1-16-17 totals in 33 games with the Rocket and was plus- 15. The undrafted defenceman played one game with the Canadiens this season. The Canadiens signed the 24-year-old as a free agent two years ago.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188897 Montreal Canadiens “Will’s not a guy short on confidence,” Keefe said. “The fact he’s delivering on his end is giving him confidence to be able to push others.”

Leafs expect Canadiens' 'absolute best' in Game 5, Thornton says Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021

Herb Zurkowsky • Montreal Gazette

Publishing date: May 26, 2021

On the verge of making history, the moment hasn’t been lost on members of the ’ organization.

With a victory Thursday in Game 5 against the Canadiens (7 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690, 98.5 FM) at Scotiabank Arena, the Leafs will capture the North Division series and win a playoff round for the first time since 2004.

That might seem like a small step in the big picture, but it would be huge for an organization that hasn’t won the Stanley Cup — or advance to the final — since 1967.

“I certainly recognize the opportunity and responsibility I have as one of the leaders of the organization,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said Wednesday during a video conference. “We know this is a hurdle we have to get over.

“As an organization, of course, we need to deliver. We’ve given ourselves a great opportunity to do that. There’s a reason why it’s been this many years — closing out a series is a very difficult thing to do. We respect that greatly. We respect our opponent. We know (Thursday’s) game’s going to be the hardest one of the series.”

While the Leafs anticipate a desperate Canadiens team — one that’s facing elimination — Montreal hasn’t displayed that it’s up to the task, other than winning the opening game. The Canadiens have scored only four goals in the series, just came off two defeats on home ice and — despite proclaiming their heightened awareness prior to Tuesday’s game — were shutout 4-0 while generating only six shots in the first period.

The only signs of desperation from the Canadiens during the last two games materialized in the third period, while trying to overcome deficits.

“We’re going to see their absolute best next game and have to make sure we’re ready to go,” Joe Thornton, 41, said Tuesday after scoring his team’s third goal. “We have to come ready to play. They’re going to be a determined team.”

Spezza has two goals and three points. There’s no question those two veterans have outplayed the Canadiens’ pair of Eric Staal and Corey Perry, but it goes far beyond that.

The Canadiens simply can’t match the Leafs’ depth or offensive production. Toronto is missing injured captain John Tavares, while Auston Matthews — who led the NHL with 41 goals — has gone two games without scoring. But the Leafs haven’t missed a beat, in part because William Nylander has four goals, matching the entire Canadiens’ output.

“It’s the playoffs and anything can happen,” Nylander said Wednesday. “We’re just here, trying to win a series. We have a big goal, and that’s one small step on the road down we want to accomplish.

“Going into every game, you’re not thinking about scoring,” he added. “I’m just thinking about working hard and creating offensive chances. If you score, you score. As long as you win your game within the game.”

Selected eighth overall by the Leafs in 2014, Nylander seemed to improve once Keefe replaced Mike Babcock as coach. He scored a career-high 31 goals in 68 games last season before play was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nonetheless, Keefe has relentlessly pushed the 25-year-old to excel and live up to his enormous potential.

“My job, as a coach, is to push all our players when they need it,” Keefe said. “Credit goes to Will, his mindset and the work he’s put in. He’s recognized where he can be better; what he can offer to our team. He’s clearly been delivering on that since the playoffs began.”

As well as his on-ice production, Nylander has been developing into a leader. 1188898 Montreal Canadiens When asked Wednesday about the Canadiens’ lack of desperation in this series, Ducharme said: “That’s been the case at times. We talked about it. We’ll get out of it collectively. It’ll take everyone, together. We’ll be ready. I think we cracked at times in Game 4 and they made us pay. We Stu Cowan: Canadiens falling to Leafs with barely a whimper have to better control our own destiny. We need to take our desperation to another level. That goes for our intensity and engagement, too. We’ll

make sure to do it. Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette “We won’t shy away from a challenge,” the coach added. “We’re just Publishing date: May 26, 2021 looking at the game tomorrow and we want to get back here. We want to be playing here. That’s what we want to create. Any time you get to Game 6, any playoff round in the world is always 3-2 and you quite often see a Game 7. So we want to give ourselves a chance to come back For the first time in a long time, expectations were high for the Canadiens here. We won’t be going down easy, that’s for sure. We’re going to be heading into this season. fighting.” “At the end of (last) season, Marc (Bergevin) told me where all the holes We’ll see. are on our roster and he filled every single one of them with the new players,” team owner/president Geoff Molson told former Canadien Chris But after everything that has happened this season it looks like this Nilan during an interview on TSN 690 Radio before this season started. Canadiens team simply isn’t good enough. “So expectations, I think, are pretty high. I think hope is really high and I couldn’t ask for anything better because I couldn’t have answered that question in the same way a year ago and now I can. And so I think that Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 our fans have something to look forward to and we’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

General manager Bergevin also had high expectations after acquiring forwards Tyler Toffoli and Josh Anderson, defenceman Joel Edmundson and goalie Jake Allen, spending right up to the US$81.5-million NHL salary cap.

The Canadiens raised expectations for their fans when they got off to a 7-1-2 start before the wheels started to fall off. Head coach Claude Julien and associate coach Kirk Muller were fired when the team had a 9-5-4 record, replaced by Dominique Ducharme and Alex Burrows. Then goalie coach Stéphane Waite was fired after the second period of a game in early March, replaced by Sean Burke.

In late-March, Joel Armia tested positive for COVID-19 and the Canadiens were shut down by the NHL for nine days. When they returned to action, the Canadiens had to play their final 25 games in 44 days in what had already been a condensed schedule. There were then long-term injuries to Carey Price, Shea Weber and Brendan Gallagher, while Jonathan Drouin left the team indefinitely for personal reasons.

Still, the Canadiens were able to hang on and get into the playoffs with a 24-21-11 record, which was the first goal when the season started.

After limping to the end of the regular season, the Canadiens had a week off for a mix of rest and practice to get ready to face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs with all their injured players back in the lineup. They won Game 1 of the series 2-1 and expectations started to rise again.

It’s hard to explain what has happened since, with the Canadiens losing the next three games while scoring only two goals. As a result, they will be facing elimination in Game 5 Thursday in Toronto (7 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Not only have the Canadiens struggled to score while going 0-for-13 on the power play, they also look like they have no fight left in them — and I don’t mean dropping the gloves. After all that they have gone through this season, maybe they have nothing left — or maybe they’re just not that good.

Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to Toronto in Game 4 at the Bell Centre lacked the emotion you expect from any NHL playoff game and not just because there were no fans. Instead, it looked like a Tuesday regular-season game in February.

The Leafs have taken a 3-1 lead in the series without captain John Tavares, who was injured early in Game 1. Toronto’s dynamic duo of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have one goal between them (by Matthews) and the Leafs have still dominated the Canadiens. Bergevin spoke before the start of the season about all the depth the Canadiens have, but it has been no match for the Leafs’ depth in this series.

The Leafs haven’t won a playoff series since 2004, so you know they will be fired up on home ice Thursday with a chance to end that slump. The way the Canadiens have played, it’s hard to imagine them extending the series to a Game 6 Saturday at the Bell Centre, which would include 2,500 fans in the stands. 1188899 Montreal Canadiens

In the Habs' room: 'We have to rally and believe in ourselves': Danault

Pat Hickey • Montreal Gazette

Publishing date: May 26, 2021

The Canadiens will be allowed to welcome fans to the Bell Centre for Game 6 of their North Division semifinal series Saturday, but the smart money says the team will spend the weekend cleaning out their lockers.

The Canadiens were pushed to the brink of elimination Tuesday when they dropped a 4-0 decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs to fall behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven North Division semifinal.

Montreal has scored only four goals in four games, but the Canadiens insist the series won’t end Thursday in Toronto.

“We have to play like it’s our last game,” said defenceman Jeff Petry. “We’ve all gone through a lot this year, whether it’s injuries, tough stretches in the season. We found a way to get out of them and this is no different.”

“We should all be really hungry and come back to play in front of our fans,” added veteran Phil Danault. “We have to rally and believe in ourselves.”

The problem is that it will take more than belief to keep this series alive. The Canadiens’ power play is 0-for-14 and the team that dominated the second period in the regular season has been outscored 9-1 in the second period of this series.

Petry said the Canadiens have to establish more of an inside presence on offence. He said the Canadiens were spending too much time on the perimeter. This a problem the Canadiens were supposed to have solved with the addition of such veterans as Corey Perry and Eric Staal, but it hasn’t worked.

“If you aren’t a competitor, you aren’t in the right place,” said Ducharme. “We’re heading to Toronto to win. We’re going to Toronto to win the next game and come back here to play Game 6 in front of our fans.”

“I liked our first period,” said Ducharme, whose team was outshot 9-6 and managed only one shot on a pair of power plays. “Scoring a goal, taking a lead, energy comes from those things. There are many things that can provoke that and we’re going to go in there and battle to get the win.”

But scoring goals and taking leads has been a problem.

“(Toronto is) going good defensively, that’s for sure (but) I thought we created enough to score tonight,” said Ducharme. “We had some good looks, but sometimes guys think about it and they’re squeezing their sticks. Confidence is a big thing. We’re always looking at ways to produce more chances and, at some point, we have to finish when the chances are there. It’s a combination of many things, but we see it in any goal-scorer. He goes through a drought and gets one and he scores five goals in five games.”

“It’s the same for a team,” added Ducharme. “We have to dig deep and get one and get some confidence and go from there.”

The Canadiens did a good job of containing Auston Matthews, but Michael Nylander scored his fourth goal in four games and Alex Galchenyuk looked like the guy Marc Bergevin drafted third overall in 2012.

Rookie Cole Caufield played more than 19 minutes — Nick Suzuki and Tyler Toffoli were the only forwards to see more ice time — but his only shot came during the first period.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188900 Montreal Canadiens

About Last Night: What the Chuck! Habs pushed to brink

Erik Leijon • Special to Montreal Gazette

Publishing date: May 26, 2021

A familiar face dealt a potential knockout blow to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night in their Game 4 tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Alex Galchenyuk had two primary assists and an empty net goal in a 4-0 win for the Leafs, giving his new team a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round best-of-seven against his former team. It was also netminder Jack Campbell’s first playoff victory in his career. He made 32 stops in the victory.

Don’t let the shot counter fool you into thinking this was an even contest. Fourteen of the Habs’ 32 shots came in the third period, when they were already down three goals. For a third consecutive game, the Habs were sunk by a disastrous second period, where the Leafs did all their offensive damage minus the empty netter.

Jake Evans and Artturi Lehkonen were out of the lineup due to injury. Cole Caufield remained in, and Eric Staal returned after missing Game 3. The Canadiens were able to play their game in the first, winning in faceoffs and hits while keeping it a low shooting, scoreless affair. Price was sharp early, stopping Jason Spezza on a breakaway. The Habs didn’t get a shot on goal in the first five minutes, with Caufield eventually breaking the seal. The telling story of the opening period was the power play, with the Habs going 0-2 with the man-advantage. Brendan Gallagher left for the dressing room with seconds left in the period after seemingly showing discomfort with his previously injured hand, but returned in the second and showed no signs of relapse later on.

The Leafs opened scoring less than 90 seconds into the second period. William Nylander scored his fourth in four playoff games, from a no-look behind the back pass by Galchenyuk, who was nearly offside by a hair.

Halfway through the game, the Habs had only accumulated 10 shots on Campbell. Galchenyuk once again showed his smooth mitts, this time feeding Spezza with a saucer pass, who redirected the puck over Carey Price’s to make it 2-0.

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With Ben Chiarot in the box for cross-checking Auston Matthews, the Leafs headed into blowout territory with their third of the period. Ageless wonders Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza teamed up to make it 3-0 with a power play marker. The goals were scored using Montreal’s own medicine: plays off the rush.

Later in the period, Brett Kulak and Adam Brooks jostled behind Price’s net, with only Brooks going to the box. The period ended with the Habs down 3-0. The team that had only scored four goals in their previous three games combined would need to double their playoff tally to tie the series.

In the third, the Leafs repeated their late-game strategy of last night, using their speed and skill to play keep-away. Price once again had to be steady, stopping Zach Hyman on a shorthanded break. After two delayed attempts to pull Price for an extra attacker, the Habs finally succeeded, only to have the Leafs miss two open nets. Alex Galchenyuk scored on the team’s third attempt, giving the Leafs a 4-0 win.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188901 Montreal Canadiens scratch in the opening-game of this series. In 26 regular-season games for the Leafs, he produced four goals and 12 points.

This was the first three-point playoff game of his career. Galchenyuk said Greybeards help Leafs take a commanding lead over Canadiens it meant little coming against Montreal — the win was more important. And, considering all the teams for which he has played, he’d have plenty of animosity if he elected to hold grudges.

Herb Zurkowsky • Montreal Gazette Keefe said Galchenyuk has displayed drive, desire and passion since arriving in Toronto. Publishing date: May 26, 2021 “He has played well and come a long way,” Keefe said. “He certainly

contributed to our team’s success and has performed well. I reassured Knowing they’d be forced to play two games in as many nights when they him he was going to play and was going to be an important part of it. arrived in Montreal, the Maple Leafs, as an organization, probably would “Obviously he was a major difference maker for us tonight.” have settled for a split, knowing they’d have regained home-ice advantage in their North Division series.

Instead, after winning on Monday, 41-year-old Joe Thornton became the Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 oldest player in Leafs history to score a playoff goal Tuesday. His linemate, Jason Spezza, a relative youngster at 37, added a goal and assist.

And Jack Campbell blocked 32 shots to record the shutout in the Leafs’ 4-0 victory over the Canadiens at the Bell Centre, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead heading into Thursday night’s fifth game in Toronto.

Campbell became the first Leafs goaltender since Johnny Bower to blank the Canadiens in the playoffs. Bower was 42 years old on April 22, 1967, when he made 31 saves in a 3-0 victory at the Forum in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final.

Thornton admitted he and his teammates would have been happy splitting these two games in Montreal. But, following Monday’s 2-1 win, Thornton said the team became greedy.

“We felt great tonight, we really did,” said Thornton, who has never won the Cup over his long and distinguished career. “We wanted to grab two after the win (Monday) night. (Campbell) gave us that opportunity. It was nice to get greedy and get the second one.”

With back-to-back games, Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe made two lineup changes, inserting defenceman Travis Dermott for Rasmus Sandin along with centre Adam Brooks for Riley Nash. Brooks played between Thornton and Spezza.

While neither Brooks nor Dermott contributed a point, the Leafs’ depth came through on a night when Auston Matthews, the NHL’s goal-scoring leader this season, failed to produce a point for the second consecutive game.

“This time of year depth’s important,” Thornton conceded. “It’s up to us in the bottom six to help and chip in.”

But Thornton and Spezza weren’t alone.

William Nylander scored for the fourth consecutive game, matching the longest streak by a Toronto player in the NHL’s modern era, going back to 1943-44. To put this into perspective, Nylander has scored as many goals himself as the entire Canadiens roster.

“He has led the way,” Spezza said of Nylander. “He has shown a lot of determination. His board battles are second to none. He’s showing poise with the puck, which is hard to do at this time of year. He’s vocal on the bench and has taken a leadership role.”

Nylander’s centre, Alex Kerfoot — replacing injured captain John Tavares — contributed three assists, giving him a goal and five points in the series.

“He’s a very competitive guy, hard on the pucks,” Thornton said of Kerfoot. “This time of year brings out the best in him. He’s stepped up when we’ve had injuries and really filled the void. That’s what you need this time of year. He doesn’t get enough credit for how hard he is. I expected him to raise his game — and he has. He’s a great contributor who goes under the radar.”

This night also belonged to former Canadien Alex Galchenyuk, the left- winger on the line with Kerfoot and Nylander.

Galchenyuk scored once, into an empty net, while adding two assists. A former third-overall draft choice of the Canadiens in 2012, the 27-year- old has worn out his welcome in more than one port of call; the Leafs are his sixth NHL organization. Indeed, the 6-foot-1, 207 pounder was playing for the AHL earlier this season and was a healthy 1188902 Montreal Canadiens back to Montreal for Game 6 and Halak put on a performance that blew the roof off the Bell Centre, propelling the Canadiens to a 4-1 win and forcing a Game 7. This time, if the Canadiens win Game 5, they will be returning home to a Bell Centre with 2,500 fans in the building. They Canadiens playoff notebook: Flashback to 2010, a passive defence and won’t be as loud as the crowd in 2010, but you know they will try, and being a reverential opponent perhaps that emotional boost could push this series to a Game 7 as well.

But it is clear none of that will happen unless these Canadiens make a tactical shift like the Canadiens from 11 years ago used to come back By Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin against the powerhouse Capitals. Whether it comes from the players or May 26, 2021 Ducharme is irrelevant, but it must come from somewhere.

Toffoli: “Put some doubt in their heads.”

One was a veteran coach, the other is a rookie, but they were each in In Toffoli’s case, he remembers 2014. their first season running the Canadiens. That was the year the Los Angeles Kings became the fourth team in NHL Otherwise, the similarities between then and now are too striking to history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit when they eliminated the San ignore. Jose Sharks.

It was 11 years ago, on May 24, 2010, that the Canadiens were The task is not quite as daunting for the Canadiens this season seeing as eliminated from the playoffs in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals they already have a win in their pockets, but they have still seen their by the Philadelphia Flyers, and it’s been one year since we published our opponents take three games in a row. And let’s just say this Canadiens- look back at that run, full of behind the scenes material and stuff we Maple Leafs series is not exactly the same type of clash of the titans as never knew about that team. Kings-Sharks was in 2014, when they were both considered to be among the top teams in the NHL. With the present-day Canadiens facing elimination in Game 5 against the heavily favoured Toronto Maple Leafs after winning Game 1 and then “We won’t go quietly, that’s for sure,” Kings coach warned losing three straight games, it strikes us that this was the exact scenario once his team was down 3-0 in the series. those 2010 Canadiens were facing in the first round against the Words that were echoed almost identically by Ducharme on Wednesday. Washington Capitals. “We won’t be going down easy, that’s for sure,” he said before the team Aside from the similarity of a new coach, both teams had a sudden influx took off for Toronto. “We’re going to be fighting back.” of veterans who had won the Stanley Cup before in the previous offseason, both teams were built primarily with the playoffs in mind, both Kings and Sharks was the biggest rivalry in the Pacific Division in 2014, teams barely squeaked into the playoffs, both teams were not given a far more so than any supposed rivalry between the Canadiens and the chance against its top-seeded opponent, and both teams were being Leafs. The Kings had beaten them in seven games the year before and completely written off prior to Game 5 after one close loss and two the Sharks, led by a certain Joe Thornton, were hungry for revenge. relative blowouts. “Going into it, it was Game 4, the night before we kind of just said, ‘It’s But it was prior to Game 5 in Washington that Jacques Martin did one game at a time, we’ve got to try and put some doubt in their heads,’” something highly unusual. He turned to his leadership group and told Toffoli recalled Wednesday. “We won Game 4 and it was just one of them to figure out a solution, empowering them in a way that no one those things, it was one game at a time and slowly things started going involved had ever really seen before. our way, and we ended up coming back and winning the series.”

“That series, I remember feeling like we were getting shelled a bit. Well, a It was Toffoli who opened the scoring in Game 5 and it turned out to be lot,” former Canadiens forward Michael Cammalleri said. “Jaro (Halak) the game-winner. That was the turning point in the series, and that’s how was standing on his head, the big feeling in our room was, we were kind Ducharme painted the Canadiens’ upcoming Game 5 against Toronto. of looking around at the coaches and Jacques, I don’t know if it was by design or not — I like Jacques a lot, he’s an awesome guy and a great “Anytime you get to Game 6, any playoff round in the world is always 3-2, coach — what ended up happening is the players really took and you quite often see a Game 7,” Ducharme said. “So we want to give responsibility for our own game and some of the adjustments we had to ourselves a chance to come back here.” make.” What might be the fundamental difference between the historic We are not suggesting these Canadiens do the same thing as those accomplishment of the Kings in 2014 and what the Canadiens are Canadiens, nor that Dominique Ducharme would even be willing to do attempting to accomplish is that the Kings had won the Stanley Cup two something that unorthodox, but one thing former Canadiens defenceman years prior and had full confidence in their abilities. Josh Gorges said about the result of those adjustments seems to apply For the Canadiens, doubt has been one of their only constants this to these Canadiens 11 years later. season. We’re not talking about the players’ faith in the team, but just a The biggest result of those players being empowered to make tactical level of overall confidence that never got all that high at any point after changes was it created cohesion. they came crashing down from their hot start. But they will need to manufacture that confidence, practically overnight, to have any chance of “We’re just going to go out and do this and as long as we all go out and getting back in the series. do it together, what’s the difference? We’re all in this together anyways,” Gorges said. “No matter what system you draw up, it only works if Everyone knew from the start the Maple Leafs were the better, more everyone does it the right way anyways.” talented team. But the Canadiens can’t allow themselves to lose this series due to a lack of commitment and intensity. These Canadiens are not doing their system the right way. They don’t appear to be playing a system at all. They need someone to get them in We have heard too often about the character of this team, of how much the same book, let alone on the same page. leadership there is in the room to go around. That’s what needs to tangibly manifest itself now. It won’t make the Canadiens a better team The only member of that 2010 team still around today is Carey Price, and than the Leafs, but they must at least show they believe they are. as the young backup goalie, he was not a likely member of those leadership group meetings. But the memory of that experience is still with “We’ve just got to stick together and come together as a team, and just him, just as the memory of coming back from 0-3 against the San Jose perform and play to our abilities,” Toffoli said. Sharks remains with Tyler Toffoli. Come together. What’s important about those experiences are not fond memories, but It is about time they showed they can do that. rather the details of how a team did it, the mindset it needed and even the tactical shifts required to turn the tide of a series. Too much respect for the Leafs?

Another interesting tie in with what happened then and what might Working in parallel to the confidence a team can have in itself is the happen now? After winning Game 5 in Washington 2-1, the series shifted amount of respect it gives its opponents. No one ever wants to underestimate an opponent, but developing some sort of inferiority just the way it is. You have to deal with it and it’s part of the series. complex is not great either. Well, it’s hard to listen to some of the There’s not much we can do about the refs.” comments from the Canadiens and not get the sense that their respect for the Maple Leafs might be a tad too high. No, but perhaps adjusting to this new reality — which, we might add, is a reality where the rules on cross-checking and other stick fouls are Toffoli referred to it twice Wednesday, and Ducharme said he has actually enforced more properly — has impacted Chiarot in a negative specific moments in Game 4 where he felt his team was playing like that. way. The Canadiens are being outshot by the Leafs, as in actual shots on goal, 51-30 at five-on-five with Chiarot on the ice. Shot attempts are And even if the Canadiens are coming off a shutout and have only 77-54 and goals are 3-0 Leafs. scored four goals in four games, Ben Chiarot maintains that their defence must prioritize shutting down the Maple Leafs above supporting the Is it possible that an adjustment to a truer enforcement of the rules has offence. negatively impacted Chiarot’s value in the playoffs? Perhaps. And when you look at the way the Maple Leafs have been able to compile long “Toronto is a great offensive team,” he said. “I would say that the D shifts in the Canadiens’ zone in Games 3 and 4, it’s hard not to wonder if joining offensively becomes secondary, especially when you have Montreal’s defence adjusting to this standard has not impacted their dangerous players on the ice on all four lines like they have or can strike ability to kill plays quickly, which in turn leads to more time chasing after pretty quickly offensively. I don’t think our priority as defencemen right the Maple Leafs and less time in the offensive zone playing with the puck now is jumping up and joining the rush and taking those chances right and, ultimately, scoring goals. now. That would be the biggest thing; that comes secondary right now. Which is what made Ducharme’s response the other day to a question on “Right now, our priority is defending.” whether his team’s physical play is effective even more interesting.

If the forwards are thinking the same way, is there any hope the “It’s not a question of punishing the opponent physically,” he said. “What Canadiens will break through offensively? And if the forwards and we do best is cutting routes. That’s what makes us tough to play against. defence have different goals, can they really find any cohesion and all We cut routes and we force them to stop instead of keeping their pull on the same rope? momentum. That’s one way to be physical.”

The Maple Leafs were the best team in the North Division all season, but Ducharme went on to acknowledge that he has some players who can they have not won a round in the playoffs since 2004. They were in the play physical in different ways, in the way Chiarot is probably feeling driver’s seat a few times since then and had the series slip away from nostalgic about, but Ducharme’s answer suggests that he feels the them. This is part of the baggage that team carries. Canadiens are not really playing physical in the way he is describing, So, instead of constantly recognizing how talented the Leafs are, why not either. The Maple Leafs are generally getting free rein through the neutral build up your own confidence by reminding yourself that these are, after zone to establish possession in the offensive zone, and once there, they all, the Maple Leafs? are generally running their routes quite freely.

It’s not for nothing that Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe wants to distance this If cutting routes is what makes the Canadiens tough to play against, team to what previous Leafs teams may have done or not done. Game 5 would be a good time to start doing that.

“I certainly recognize the opportunity and the responsibility that I have as one of the leaders of the organization,” Keefe said Wednesday. “For the The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 organization itself and its fans, we know this hurdle that we’ve got to get over here. We don’t put any of that on the players. We’ve got a very small group of players that have been here for multiple years. This group itself I look at with its own identity, and not attached to anything that’s happened in the past. I think that’s important inside our walls. And the guys don’t wear any of those types of pressures. But as an organization, of course, we need to deliver for our fans, and we’ve given ourselves a great opportunity to do that.

“There’s a reason why it’s been this many years, it’s because closing out a series is a very difficult thing to do. We respect that greatly, we respect our opponent, and we know that tomorrow night’s game is going to be the hardest one in the series.”

Killing plays within the rules

It is impossible to know exactly why he did it, but it’s not all that difficult to make a link between what Marc Bergevin saw from his team in the bubble and his decision to acquire Joel Edmundson prior to the opening of free agency.

More specifically, what he saw from Chiarot and Shea Weber.

The two of them played a highly physical brand of hockey to great success, pushing the boundaries of the rule book as far as they would go, using their sticks in ways they are not meant to be used.

More importantly, they did it because they were allowed to do it, because it was the playoffs. And in the playoffs, the rules get blurry.

Edmundson has been an effective player in this series for the Canadiens. In fact, he’s probably been their best defenceman. The same can’t necessarily be said of Chiarot and Weber.

The parade to the penalty box in the second period of Game 2 made it clear the Canadiens were unaware of where the boundary of the rule book was. Edmundson said prior to Game 3 that the Canadiens would need to play physical, but they would need to keep their sticks out of it, because their sticks were what was getting them in trouble.

So it was interesting to hear Chiarot say this Wednesday.

“You know what, this year I would say it’s been called a little bit differently than past playoffs that I’ve experienced,” he said. “But you know, that’s 1188903 Nashville Predators whistled for skating into Sebastian Aho, canceling what had been a Preds power play early in overtime.

If the Canes go on to win the series, Carrier's penalty will stick out as a Carolina Hurricanes' Rod Brind'Amour's gripes worked in Nashville turning point. Predators series Whether you viewed him as clearly interfering or Aho as embellishing probably depends on which team you support. At the very least, it was relatively light contact and clever positioning by Aho to draw it. Gentry Estes “It is what it is in that situation,” said Hynes, again resisting the bait when Nashville Tennessean asked about the call.

You admire Hynes’ restraint. He’s taking the high road. Seems like he always has since being named the Preds’ coach. If the Carolina Hurricanes’ Rod Brind’Amour was the best coach in the NHL this season, as has been widely suggested, then what does that say But Brind’Amour – at least to some extent – has been rewarded for about the job John Hynes is doing right now? speaking up, and he has done it before. Had he been fined by the NHL for being critical of the officiating – as he was during last season’s Hynes’ Nashville Predators, as underdogs who were lucky to even make playoffs – I imagine he’d have been OK with it. He clearly knew the risk the playoffs, have basically played the Hurricanes to a dead heat in what and the reward. continues to be an exceptionally close series. When a lead of at least two goals has been nearly unattainable for either side, every little thing Julio Jones isn't just a good fit for Titans. He'd be a perfect fit. counts. Finally, the Preds had the Hurricanes. And then they didn't. Every shift. Every shot. Every save. Why does it always take desperation to bring out the best in Preds? And yes, every whistle. Vandy's AD after Year 1: 'I hope it signaled things are different here' Before and after Tuesday’s Game 5, Hynes was asked about a topic that you wouldn’t expect he’d touch in a press conference: The officiating in Sports leagues outlaw public criticism of officials for good reason. It this series. creates a problematic storyline, and referees aren't robots. It adds scrutiny and perhaps applies pressure on behalf of one team. After all, That just isn’t Hynes’ way. He isn’t the type of coach that would blame I'm still thinking about and writing about this series' officiating, even the referees publicly, even if he felt it was merited. though I don't think it has been unfair either way. And I've been watching for it. Since Brind'Armour complained, I think everyone has been "The fact that you talk about referees in the press conference,” Hynes watching for it. That's kind of the point. said, “I don't believe that influences the refs." But if he isn't punished, what is stopping every other coach in the NHL – Consider that one of many differences between Hynes and his including Hynes – from doing the same thing? counterpart on the Hurricanes’ bench. "I hope they get fined for doing that," Preds general manager David Poile Brind’Amour has twice tried to affect this series by airing gripes to the told 102.5-FM in Nashville prior to Game 5. Hurricanes’ media — and he ended up getting what he wanted both times. "... It's just gamesmanship to support his team to whine a little bit. I guess we've all done it from time to time. I'm just hoping that the officials are Far as we know, he hasn’t been fined by the NHL for blasting the smart enough and strong enough to not be influenced by that." officiating in his postgame media Zoom call after Game 3. I don’t know that Brind’Amour’s comments changed how Games 4 and 5 That made headlines. So did Brind’Amour’s comments before the series, would have otherwise been officiated, just like I don’t know for a fact that when he complained publicly about the Preds having a “big advantage” Brind’Amour blew the political winds in his state just in time to permit a because they increased attendance at Bridgestone Arena to more than larger crowd. 12,000 fans. North Carolina’s governor – who was at PNC Arena cheering for the Canes once the series began – promptly eased COVID- But in each case, it sure didn’t hurt him to speak up. 19 restrictions, allowing the Canes to nearly double their originally expected capacity of around 6,000 at PNC Arena.

Attendance in Raleigh has been announced to be around 12,000 instead, Tennessean LOADED: 05.27.2021 and it has felt like more. The place was rocking as the Canes won Games 1 and 2 and Tuesday’s pivotal Game 5.

Fans in Nashville, similarly, helped the Preds hold serve in Games 3 and 4. It was after Friday’s Game 3 defeat, the Canes’ first in the series, that Brind’Amour needed barely a minute of his postgame call with media before leaning on the referees.

“Nashville is a phenomenal team,” he said, “but we're also fighting the refs, plain and simple. You can't tell me two games in a row we get seven and eight penalties and they get three – when the game is this even? That's not right.”

Was it justified? In Games 2 and 3, the Preds had 14 power plays to the Canes’ six. Any coach would have taken issue with such lopsided numbers.

Not all of them, however, would have done so publicly.

In two games since Brind’Amour did, the Preds have had five power plays to the Canes’ seven. The first three power plays of Game 4 went to the Canes, who didn’t have to kill a penalty until 18:18 remained in the third period.

And while calls were far from the only reason the Preds lost Game 5, they were a factor. The Canes’ first goal was via a power play – after a fracas in which two Preds were penalized alongside one Hurricanes player – and their game-winner came after Alexandre Carrier was 1188904 Nashville Predators Hynes resisted the bait about officials after Tuesday's game, after Alexandre Carrier was called for a penalty that erased a Predators' overtime power play and led to Staal's game-winner.

After Game 5 loss, Nashville Predators will have to make history to win None of that will matter Thursday, though. series against Carolina "It's on to Game 6," Hynes said.

Where the Predators season goes from there, if anywhere, will be up to Paul Skrbina the Predators.

Nashville Tennessean

Tennessean LOADED: 05.27.2021

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Nashville Predators faced a win-and-go-home scenario Tuesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes.

And a lose-and-go-home scenario.

Either way, the Predators were coming back to Bridgestone Arena, and its increased capacity, for Game 6 on Thursday. (8:30 p.m. CT).

After losing 3-2 in yet another overtime game Tuesday to fall behind 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, the Predators now face a go-home-and-win- or-go-home-for-the-summer scenario

Jordan Staal ensured that when he scored 2 minutes, 3 seconds into the third consecutive overtime game of the series in the seventh straight meeting between the teams dating to the regular season.

"We've got to flip the script here, and we know that," Predators forward Nick Cousins said before Game 5. "Our fans gave us a big boost back at home, but we've got to win on the road here now, so we should hopefully be able to silence their crowd here (Tuesday)."

By virtue of their loss Tuesday, the Predators still will have to win on the road for the first time in eight tries in Raleigh, N.C., this season if they are to advance.

First, they must win at home Thursday.

The Predators' return to Bridgestone for a Game 6 looked improbable after they dropped the first two games of the series to the Central Division champions.

But a pair of double-overtime victories — Matt Duchene in Game 3 and Luke Kunin in Game 4 — ensured the series would be stretched to at least six.

Not to mention the unofficial assist on Kunin's winner Saturday came from a man who was in the neighborhood — Mr. Pete Rogers.

The only equipment manager the Nashville Predators have ever known was quick with a new stick after Kunin broke his moments before giving his team its second dose of a double-OT victory in two games.

Rogers received a round of applause in the locker room afterward, and the sequence served as further evidence that the Predators are going to need every last person to contribute in order to have a chance to survive this series.

Duchene's double-overtime winner in Game 3. Kunin's — and the assist from Rogers in Game 4. Juuse Saros' masterful performances in goal nearly every game. They'll need to add to that list Thursday.

History suggests the Predators won't win the series. They never have when losing the first two games of a seven-game set.

Not that now is the time they're going to say never.

The margin for error is closer to none than to slim.

"It's a really tight every game," Predators captain Roman Josi said. "The last few games have been really tight and could (have gone) either way."

The bounces, it seemed, were going the Predators' way at times Tuesday.

So much so, Yakov Trenin wasn't even aware he'd scored his first playoff goal to give his team a 1-0 lead after Roman Josi's shot deflected off him.

Heck, even a tying goal that was taken away from the Hurricanes after John Hynes' first goalie interference challenge of the season didn't draw the true ire of Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, who hasn't been shy about criticizing the officials during the series, saying after Game 3 his team also was "fighting the refs." 1188905 Nashville Predators With respect to Calle Jarnkrok, the Hurricanes have less to fear when he is in the left circle. The dual threat of Forsberg and Tolvanen was largely responsible for the power play being somewhat dangerous during the regular season. Three things the Predators must do to beat the Hurricanes in Game 6 Really, what do the Predators have to lose (other than the series)?

By Adam Vingan The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 May 26, 2021

An unthinkable 3-2 series lead was in the Predators’ grasp. For more than 50 minutes Tuesday, they kept the Carolina Hurricanes at bay but were unable to complete the task.

The Predators, to their credit, have not been overmatched in this series; through five games, the score has been within one goal for around 96 percent of the total playing time. The teams have combined for 11 tying goals, the most in a single playoff series in 15 years, according to the NHL.

“We’ve been in these situations before,” Predators coach John Hynes said. “I think we’re programmed (for them). We’re ready. Our guys (will) respond. We’ll certainly be ready to go for Game 6 and really excited about the opportunity we have in front of us here.”

On Thursday, the Predators will attempt to extend the series in front of 14,107 amped-up fans at Bridgestone Arena. Here is how they can do it.

Cash in on rebound opportunities

Midway through the third period Tuesday, Eeli Tolvanen launched a sharp-angle shot from the right wall that Alex Nedeljkovic redirected into the slot. Ryan Johansen had a golden opportunity to finish off the Hurricanes, but his shot sailed wide.

The Predators lead the NHL with 3.2 rebound chances per game during the playoffs, up from 1.63 during the regular season. Yet despite that improvement, the Predators have been credited with two rebound goals in five games, including Johansen’s in Game 4. (The other was Mikael Granlund’s power-play goal in Game 3.)

For as good as Nedeljkovic has been in the series, he is leaving loose pucks in the slot. The Predators must make him pay for it.

Employ ‘Staal’ tactics

Jordan Staal has been a menace. The battle-tested, big-bodied Hurricanes captain, who has 101 games of postseason experience, has a series-leading four goals, winning Game 5 by swatting an airborne puck past Juuse Saros in overtime.

“You see the emotion he had there at the end,” said Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who returned Tuesday after missing the previous three games because of a lower-body injury. “He doesn’t always show it, but that’s the emotion he puts into every single thing he does. … I’m thankful I don’t have to play against him down low in the corners.”

Staal and linemates and Warren Foegele have been matched against Johansen, Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg. The Hurricanes have had the better chances when those lines have been on the ice at even strength, outshooting the Predators 16-8 overall and 7-2 from the slot. Neither line has scored against the other, though. (On defense, Roman Josi and Alexandre Carrier have drawn the assignment of guarding Staal’s line and done a solid job in keeping it off the scoresheet.)

The key to stopping Staal might be avoiding four-on-four situations; he has two such goals in the series. Regardless, Staal will have to be watched closely.

Make one specific personnel adjustment on the power play

Before Game 3, Hynes made the bold decision to remove Duchene and Johansen from the Predators’ power play. Although the team has scored twice in 22 opportunities against the Hurricanes, the rejiggered units seem to have led to more sustained offensive-zone pressure.

Predators’ power-play units in Games 3-5

At this point, the power play might be beyond saving, but one adjustment Hynes should consider making is putting Forsberg and Tolvanen back on the same unit. 1188906 Nashville Predators

If Predators lose series, Game 5 could haunt them

MICHAEL GALLAGHER

MAY 26, 2021

The Nashville Predators were seven minutes and five seconds away from bringing a 3-2 series lead against the No. 1 team in the Western Conference back to Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

Instead, the Predators find themselves in win-or-go-home mode after a 3- 2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on Tuesday.

“It’s a tough loss for us,” Preds star Roman Josi said. “I think in the third we were in control of the game, and they obviously scored…It’s such a tight series and there’s a lot of chances on both sides and they just found a way to score in OT tonight. We’re still in this series.”

What makes Tuesday’s loss such a gut punch for the Predators is the fact that they were staring down a potential series-clinching Game 6 at Bridgestone Arena and couldn’t close the door.

The series has gone back and forth like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in a Wimbledon final. Game 1 was tied heading into the third period before Carolina eventually pulled away. Carolina held a 1-0 lead in Game 2 until the final 53 seconds before pulling away again. Then each of the next three games were decided in overtime, two needing double overtime.

If the Predators end up losing the series, they will point to Tuesday’s Game 5 and say, “That was our missed chance.”

Nashville executed its game plan to perfection and still lost. The Predators frustrated the Hurricanes for the better part of two periods, clogging the lanes and blocking 16 shots to Carolina’s 12. They even forced the Hurricanes into 21 giveaways. For comparison’s sake, Nashville had only four giveaways.

No team has truly dominated the other in the series. But if you had to point to a single stretch of dominant hockey for the Predators in this series, the second period through 12:55 of the third period on Tuesday night was it.

“It’s been three overtime games now in a really competitive series,” Predators coach John Hynes said. “I think Game 1 we weren’t at our best. Game 2 we know what happened with special teams, but the 5-on- 5 game was there. We went home and found a way to win two hard- fought battles…This is what playoffs are.”

Carolina is a team that doesn't let its opposition ruffle its feathers too often. Tuesday was perhaps the first time Nashville had done so. The Predators have done well to hang with the Hurricanes for this long. But not coming back to home ice with a 3-2 series lead could be the dagger that does them in.

Nashville Post LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188907 New York Islanders the-art home at Belmont Park next season, but that can wait as the franchise chases its first title since a run of four straight championships from 1980 to 1983.

With Fans in Full Throat, Islanders Upset Penguins in Round One “This is just one step,” Nelson said. “We want to make some history of our own here at the Coli.”

By Allan Kreda New York Times LOADED: 05.27.2021 May 26, 2021

The Islanders arrived at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday with the opportunity to clinch a playoff series victory at their original home for the first time since 1993.

A raucous home crowd — with arena capacity increased to 9,000 for Game 6 from 6,800 earlier in the series — was an added bonus and the Islanders did not disappoint them.

A seesaw game tilted the Islanders’ way midway through the second period when Brock Nelson and Ryan Pulock scored 13 seconds apart, giving the Islanders a one-goal lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Nelson scored again three minutes later to cement a 5-3 win. The fourth- seeded Islanders upset the East Division-winning Penguins, closing out the first-round series with three consecutive wins. The Islanders will continue their playoff run against the Boston Bruins in their final season at the Coliseum.

The rookie netminder Ilya Sorokin — who won all four games he started in his first playoff series — made 34 saves for the clinching win. He stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced in the final two periods, including a denial of Evgeni Malkin on a breakaway. The stop spawned cascading chants of “Ilya, Ilya” from the Coliseum crowd and encapsulated the series: Penguins frustration and composed Islanders execution.

“The crowd was rowdy — they were loud,” Nelson said. “They gave us a boost. We wanted to win that one in front of them.”

Josh Bailey’s Game 5 double-overtime winner on Monday in Pittsburgh had inspired the fans, as the chance to advance was at their trembling fingertips. The team hadn’t clinched a series on Long Island since a six- game victory over the Washington Capitals in April 1993, though it did win a series in 2016 while playing at in .

Each team scored twice in the first period. Penguins center notched his fourth goal of the series just 1 minute 27 seconds into the contest before Anthony Beauvillier sent the crowd into a frenzy at 5:16 when he knocked the puck past Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry.

Jake Guentzel put the visitors ahead at 11:12 with a power-play goal while Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield was in the penalty box for crosschecking Malkin.

But Kyle Palmieri, one of the Islanders’ late-season acquisitions from the Devils, tapped a rebound past Jarry at 12:25, tying the score again and claiming his third goal of the series.

Travis Zajac, also acquired from the Devils, made his series debut, replacing Oliver Wahlstrom, who was injured in Game 5. Zajac and Jean- Gabriel Pageau, who had two points, assisted on Pulock’s go-ahead goal.

“The Pageau, Palmieri, Zajac line was terrific,” Coach Barry Trotz said. “Those are the acquisitions we made, they are the type of players that fit into Islanders mentality.”

The Penguins started the third period on a power play after a disputed call against Pulock late in the second. But the Penguins captain Sidney Crosby’s shot off the post was as close as Pittsburgh got.

The Penguins’ stars had limited impact in the series. Malkin had five points, but he missed Games 1 and 2 with injury. Crosby had only two points in six games.

The Islanders entered the contest with history on their side.

They came in with an 11-1 record in Game 6s when they were leading a series by three games to two. And they were 7-2 in playoff games against Pittsburgh under Coach Barry Trotz, including a 3-1 mark at Nassau Coliseum.

Fans are relishing one last chance for playoff games at their intimate home rink, which opened in 1972. The team will move into its state-of- 1188908 New York Islanders And that’s when Sorokin sealed the game. Nelson missed the Penguins’ net on a breakaway at 13:03, and Malkin

raced back down ice on his own breakaway, but Sorokin made a stellar Islanders close out Penguins in Game 6 home win, advance to face kick save with his left pad to deny Malkin’s backhand try. Bruins in second round Trotz said Sorokin’s save on Malkin and a Zajac first-period stop on Kasperi Kapanen were critical points that calmed the Isles down in a back-and-forth game. By PAT LEONARD The Isles never trailed by more than one goal in the first two periods. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Beauvillier answered Jeff Carter’s early tally, and Kyle Palmieri responded to Jake Guentzel’s goal to even it at two apiece heading to MAY 26, 2021 AT 9:32 PM the second period.

And with 4:44 remaining in the final period, fourth-liner Matt Martin drew Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier buried the Pittsburgh Penguins in a four-minute Penguins penalty — bleeding from his forehead after a a 5-3 Game 6 victory on Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum, lifting the high stick — to help stave off a Pittsburgh comeback. Islanders into round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. “I thought we showed a lot of resilience,” Trotz said. “They scored a goal The Isles came back by scoring three goals in a two-minute, 59-second early. We were chasing the game. I thought when the game was 2-1, we span of the second period. Nelson, at center, had two goals in that span got a huge save that gave us momentum and we got it 2-2. I thought it and an assist. was 5-3 and we got a huge save and it settled us right down. Really proud.” The speedy Beauvillier, a pace-setter for the Islanders all series, scored a goal and notched two assists, giving their line eight points on the night including Josh Bailey’s two assists. New York Daily News LOADED: 05.27.2021 The three forwards combined for nine goals and 19 points in the series. Nelson said after last year’s run to the Eastern Conference Final inside empty arenas in Canada during the pandemic, it feels great this year to win playoff games in front of the fans.

“It feels as close to before everything kind of went crazy with the shutdown,” Nelson said of the 9,000 fans who witnessed Wednesday’s win. “We wanted to win for them for a long time. It’s nice to get them back in the building so they can see it live. We put together a pretty good run last year. Now we want to try and do it again and go a little bit further.”

Rookie goaltender Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves, including a second- period breakaway stop on Evgeni Malkin, and improved to an undefeated 4-0 so far in these playoffs. The Islanders closed out a playoff series at Nassau Coliseum for the first time since 1993.

They now have won a playoff series in each of Barry Trotz’s first three seasons as head coach. This time they upset their division’s No. 1 seed. All that was missing Wednesday night was a Nelson hat trick.

He actually hit the post of an open net looking for it with 1:08 to play in the third period. He would have been the first Islander since (four goals, 1993) to notch a hat trick in a playoff game.

The Isles, the East’s No. 4 seed, now will take on the No. 3 seed Boston Bruins in round two.

The Islanders were 5-2-1 against the Bruins this season, out-scoring Boston, 20-18.

But they lost their final three meetings head-to-head in the final month of the regular season as the Bruins — bolstered by deadline acquisitions Taylor Hall, Curtis Lazar and Mike Reilly — charged ahead of them in the standings.

The Islanders’ mojo at the Coliseum and in this postseason, however, gives them a chance to continue rolling. They won three straight to close out this series, and a three-goal flurry in Wednesday’s second period finished the Penguins off.

Pittsburgh’s Jason Zucker snapped a 2-2 tie 1:53 into the second period, threatening to quiet the rabid home crowd. But then Nelson and defenseman Ryan Pulock scored back-to-back goals just 13 seconds apart to put the hosts ahead, 4-3, at the 8:48 mark of the period.

That tied the mark for the quickest consecutive goals in Islanders franchise history.

Nelson tied it at 8:35 off a terrific Bailey pass into a gaping net behind lunging Pens goalie Tristan Jarry after a fantastic entry by Beauvillier. Pulock then scored at 8:48 from the point off a Travis Zajac faceoff win and a JG Pageau drop pass.

Nelson then scored off another Beauvillier assist through a screen at 11:34 for the 5-3 lead, forcing Penguins coach Mike Sullivan to call timeout. 1188909 New York Islanders This is a team forged with steel that thinks as a unit, plays as a unit, and advances as a unit. It is a team that practices what Trotz preaches in good times and bad, when in the lead and when chasing the game, as the Islanders were doing for much of this game’s first 28 minutes. ‘Special’ Islanders built for the NHL playoff grind “They don’t deviate too much from [the process],” said the coach, whose team once trailed the series 2-1. “We just find a way to keep on task. When we do that, we can do a lot of things as a group. When we go off By Larry Brooks individually we’re not that good but when everybody stays on task, we May 26, 2021 | 11:19PM can accomplish a lot as a group.

“I’ve always said this to every team I’ve had — if you want to go somewhere fast, go by yourself, but if you want to go somewhere far, go In a lot of ways, these Islanders remind me of the 1960s Maple Leafs. with the group.” Well, except for those four Stanley Cups within six years, that is. Or at least so far, wink, wink. The group once comprised Mahovlich, Horton, Bower, Armstrong and Keon. Now it’s Nelson, Barzal, Bailey, Pulock and Sorokin. Those Toronto teams were not only built for the playoffs, they were better in the postseason than during the regular season. A top seed only once Past prelude to the future. in their four championship seasons, their unique slow-it-down, tight- checking approach to the 70-game regular season prepared them perfectly for the playoffs. New York Post LOADED: 05.27.2021 And so it is on the Island, where the precepts of both executive-in-chief and head coach Barry Trotz do not bend to serve the flavor of the day. From Day 1, it’s all about grinding, being responsible without the puck and taking hits to make plays. It is about playing a demanding style under which a straight line is the shortest distance taken between two points.

It is about playing playoff hockey from beginning to end.

The Islanders are a quarter of the way to their first Cup since 1983 following their first Coliseum closeout of a series since 1993’s six-game, first-round victory over Washington ended with taking that dishonorable hit from Dale Hunter that likely doused the team’s Cup hopes.

The Islanders celebrate after their series-clinching 5-3 win over the Penguins.

They are a quarter of the way through once more following Wednesday’s 5-3 Game 6 victory over the Penguins in a raucous, celebratory atmosphere in which the Islanders kept their composure despite falling behind three different times.

What turned it? Why, the Islanders remembered to shoot the puck at the shooter-tutor in nets who went by the name of Tristan Jarry.

Look, playing goal in the NHL is a tough job, but sorry to say that Jarry just was not up to it. Not in the series and not in this game. His performance was the stuff of Pee Wee hockey.

The Penguins went ahead 1-0, and the Islanders tied it 3:49 later. The Penguins went ahead 2-1 and the Islanders tied it 1:13 later. The Penguins went ahead 3-2 and the Islanders tied it 6:42 later … by scoring their first of three goals on three consecutive shots within a span of 2:59 midway through the second period.

“It’s a special group we have,” said Anthony Beauvillier, who scored his team’s first goal and added a pair of assists in combining with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey on the team’s most dangerous and effective unit. “We stick with it. … It’s a mindset we have, it’s the leadership in the room. We know that one goal is not necessarily going to win the game so we stick to our plan. It’s the playoffs. There are going to be ups, there are going to be lows, and you just have to battle and fight through it.”

The Islanders have a lot of practice at sticking with it, not only through the regular season, but through the last three tournaments. For beginning with 2019, the Islanders have played 36 postseason games, fourth in the NHL behind the Bruins (42), Stars (40) and Blues (39).

These aren’t your underdog Islanders anymore, even though they will probably wear that tag facing Boston in Round 2. That does not matter just as it does not matter that the team wheezed its way to the finish line, dropping from the top of the division to fourth place while going through a full month in which the Islanders won only three games in regulation — and every one of them against the Rangers.

Again, though, this is a team built for the tournament that has been under construction for years. Seven members of this club have been together for nine postseason series dating back to 2016, with another seven together for seven postseason rounds going back two years. 1188910 New York Islanders

Ex-Devil Travis Zajac provides lift for Islanders

By Mollie Walker

May 26, 2021 | 10:48PM

With Oliver Wahlstrom unavailable for Game 6 Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum, Travis Zajac slotted right in and had a hand in helping the Islanders to a 5-3 series-clinching win over the Penguins.

Zajac, who the Isles acquired from the Devils at the trade deadline along with Kyle Palmieri, had been a healthy scratch this entire first-round series until Game 6 and hadn’t seen game action since May 8.

The former longtime Devil won the offensive-zone faceoff that led to Ryan Pulock’s goal at 8:48 of the second period, which gave the Islanders their first lead of the night at 4-3. He also saved a goal at the end of the first period, swiping away a loose puck that was going to trickle in.

Since joining the Isles in April, Zajac has been scratched nine times. But Trotz has maintained the 36-year-old Zajac has been patiently waiting for the call.

“It’s difficult,” Zajac said after the win. “You want to be out there on the frontlines with your teammates badly, being part of the wins and the losses and the ups and downs. But, like I told Barry, I’m here for the long haul. I’m here to help any way I can, be a part of it any way I can.

“Like everybody else when their name is called, you got to go in and do the right things and play winning hockey and control what you can control.”

Wahlstrom was not on the ice for morning skate after leaving Game 5 in the third period following a collision with Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson that caused him to fall awkwardly on his right leg. Trotz classified the 20-year-old as day-to-day and he was considered a game- time decision, but ultimately didn’t play.

“It makes it easier on everybody,” Trotz said of how Zajac has handled his new role. “One of the things that you want, is good people. You’re not going to find a better person than Travis. As I said when I had to tell Travis he wasn’t dressing for the first time in probably 1,000 games, I mean, that’s probably a harder conversation. But he just said, ‘Hey, coach, I’m good.’ I know it probably hurt the first time, but I think I said, ‘I have a lot of loyalty and I have a lot of trust in that group that I’ve had. This is where we want to go tonight or whatever, you’ll be a part of it at some point.’

“He’s said, ‘I’ll be ready whenever you want me to play.’ That’s just Travis Zajac. That’s why he was a captain and that’s why he’s played so long in the league.”

The Isles’ top defensive pairing of Adam Pelech and Pulock showed just how much they’ve grown since the last time they faced the Penguins in the playoffs in 2019.

In a team-high 98:48 of ice time through six games, the duo allowed just three goals while facing a steady diet of the Penguins’ top line in Jake Guentzel, Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust.

“Before, when I tried to do it too early for them, it was a little bit too much for them,” Trotz said. “As we kept, I would say force feeding them and giving them those type of matchups, they got a comfort level and they’ve become a really good, really good pairing in the National Hockey League.”

Trotz revealed that “tweaked something” the other day and was unavailable Wednesday night.

New York Post LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188911 New York Islanders you’re down two or whatever it is. I think there’s lots of character in this room and we just found a way to get it done.”

Islanders knock off Penguins, will face Bruins in second round New York Post LOADED: 05.27.2021

By Mollie Walker

May 26, 2021 | 9:10pm | Updated

The NHL is a hard league, the East is a hard division, and this was a hard first-round series, as Islanders head coach Barry Trotz likes to put it.

But the Islanders are now one of two teams still standing in the loaded East, after a 5-3 win over the Penguins on Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum punched their ticket to the second round of the playoffs.

It was the first series-clinching win for the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum in 28 years.

The fourth-seeded Isles will face the third-seeded Boston Bruins, who have been patiently waiting since Sunday, when they finished off the Capitals in five games. The series — er, division finals? — will likely begin this weekend.

All but one of the Islanders’ four wins in this six-game series saw the team grind through every lead change, every tie score and every momentum swing the Penguins built. Wednesday night was no different.

“The playoffs are hard enough,” Trotz said after the win. “But when you have to chase the game, it’s a grind mentally. The next mistake maybe puts you in such a hole that you might not be able to dig out. It is a challenge. We were down in this series two games to one, and we found a way to win.

Jubilant Islanders fans celebrate Ryan Pulock’s goal during their 5-3 series-clinching win over the Penguins.

“We had to come from behind, we haven’t led this series a whole lot. That is a mental grind for the group, but it tells me a lot about them because they just stuck with it.”

Both teams exchanged two goals in an eventful first 20 minutes, but the Isles owned the second period. They got off to one of their only-a-goal- will-wake-us-up starts in each period, which carried over from the first when Penguins center Jeff Carter scored roughly 90 seconds after puck drop, with Pittsburgh going up 3-2 at 1:53 of the middle frame.

But the Islanders, as they did throughout the series, didn’t shy away from the challenge. They attacked it head on.

A sequence of brilliant passing from the Islanders led to Josh Bailey teeing up Brock Nelson at the left post for his first of two goals in the second period to knot the game 3-3. Thirteen seconds later, Ryan Pulock’s slap shot off a faceoff win blew past Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry for the Islanders’ first lead of the night.

The two scores matched the Isles’ franchise playoff record for fastest two goals in a game.

The taunts of Jarry from the 9,000 fans at the Coliseum came early and often, but they intensified after the Islanders took the lead. It led to Nelson’s soft shot bouncing between Jarry’s pads at 11:34 of the second for the 5-3 lead.

Rookie goalie Ilya Sorokin, who finished with 34 saves on 37 shots to improve to 4-0 this series, denied Evgeni Malkin on the breakaway toward the end of the period to protect the two-goal lead.

Brock Nelson celebrates after one of his two goals in the Islanders’ series-clinching win.

Both teams exchanged two scoreboard blows in the first period, with the Penguins striking first, but the Isles had an answer each time.

“It’s the mindset we have, it’s the leadership that we have in the room” said Anthony Beauvillier, who beat Penguins star Sidney Crosby to the slot for a shot that made it a 1-1 game. “One goal is not necessarily going to win the game, so we want to stick with it and stick to a plan.

“It’s playoffs, there’s going to be lows, there’s going to be ups, and just got to fight through it. Doesn’t matter if it’s a goal, or you lose a game, 1188912 New York Islanders “He’s had a couple of good games here. He’s had a good season for us. But you can hold on a little bit on that, because you have to do it over time, and that will be the test.”

The dynamic between Semyon Varlamov, Ilya Sorokin after crucial Islanders switch New York Post LOADED: 05.27.2021

By Mollie Walker

May 26, 2021 | 1:43pm | Updated

After the final horn sounded on the Islanders’ series-tying Game 4 win last weekend, veteran goaltender Semyon Varlamov waited at the end of the celebration line as his teammates took turns congratulating rookie netminder Ilya Sorokin for backstopping, at the time, his second win of the series with 29 saves.

Once it was his turn Varlamov, who was relegated to the bench after rocky performances in the Isles’ losses in Games 2 and 3, threw his arms around his fellow Russian. The two shared a lengthy embrace.

The Islanders highlight their close-knit locker room all the time, and it doesn’t stop at their goalie tandem. Though, the current dynamic between Sorokin and Varlamov is unique.

Varlamov has been the team’s No. 1 goalie this season, after sharing the net rather equally with Thomas Greiss (now with the Red Wings) during his first season on Long Island in 2019-20. But Sorokin is not your typical backup goaltender.

The third-round pick in 2014 has been one of the most highly anticipated players in recent memory. Now that he’s finally in the NHL, after a stellar career in the KHL, Sorokin has continuously gotten more comfortable with the North American game and it has shown through his three starts of this first-round series against the Penguins.

Sorokin had stopped 116 of the 122 shots he faced heading into a potential series-deciding Game 6 Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum. He may have earned the starting nod in Game 1 because Varlamov was held out for precautionary reasons after sustaining an injury in the regular-season finale, but Sorokin has been the go-to following a few blunders from Varlamov in Games 2 and 3.

Islanders goalies Ilya Sorokin (#30) and Semyon Varlamov celebrate a win on Feb. 16, 2021.

Asked about the dynamic between his two goaltenders Wednesday morning, head coach Barry Trotz had nothing but positives to relay.

“Unbelievable,” he said. “I think as friends, as teammates and countrymen. If you know anything about Varly, Varly is a great mentor for not only a Russian goalie but any goalie in the NHL. He’s got a great demeanor.”

Varlamov, who is under contract through 2022-23, is coming off of one of the most successful seasons in team history after leading the NHL with a career-best seven shutouts. He also posted career highs in save percentage (.929) and goals-against average (2.04).

With 13 seasons of NHL experience, Varlamov has shared many nets, beginning his career with the Capitals and then spending eight seasons with the Avalanche. Even during the Isles’ playoff run last season, Trotz went with Greiss in Game 7 of the second-round series against the Flyers.

So it’s not surprising that Varlamov hasn’t been fazed by Sorokin’s emergence during this first round. The 33-year-old has taken Sorokin under his wing since he arrived. During training camp, Sorokin referred to Varlamov as his big brother from who he’s been able to learn.

Varlamov is not a bad mentor to have, especially when expectations for Sorokin are higher than most rookies.

“I’ll just put it this way: You guys pump your tires a little bit,” Trotz said in response to reporters pouring on the praise for Sorokin. “He’s played well in this series. To me, greatness is about longevity. Look on the other side. Sidney Crosby and [Evgeni] Malkin and those guys have been really good players and elite players for a decade. Ilya hasn’t proved it yet in the league, but it’s a good start. 1188913 New York Islanders When it was 3-2 early in the second, the Jets’ Dan Feeney – who famously celebrated with his teammates at the Coliseum during Game 4 – was shown on the video board exhorting the fans.

Islanders' series-clinching win over Penguins gives Nassau Coliseum Shortly thereafter, the Islanders took care of that themselves, with goals crowd a fresh memory by Nelson, Ryan Pulock and then Nelson again. Noise ensued.

Then Sorokin stopped a breakaway by future Hall of Famer Evgeni Malkin, inspiring deafening chants of "Il-ya, Il-ya." Staff Report "Our fans were fantastic," Trotz said. "They were loud. They were into it." Updated May 26, 2021 10:42 PM Before the game Trotz said he hoped his team would savor the opportunity.

They chanted Ilya Sorokin’s name and taunted Tristan Jarry. "It’s a moment," he said. "I always look at it that these are moments when you want to live in it and stay in the moment. When you’re young you They sang "Happy Birthday" to Mathew Barzal and sang the Josh Bailey don’t recognize moments, and when you’re older I think you do." song to Josh Bailey. On Wednesday night at the Old Barn, fans and players young and old They chanted, "We want Boston!" recognized a moment when they lived one. They gave Ralph Macchio a standing ovation.

Of course, they yelled, "Let’s go Islanders!" Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.27.2021 Mostly, though, they partied like it was 1993.

On a raucous, rowdy, retro Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum, Islanders fans had a grand time watching their team eliminate the Penguins, 5-3, in Game 6 of a first-round playoff series.

It was the first time the Islanders clinched a playoff series at the Coliseum in 28 years, and it ensured at least two more games there in the second round against the Bruins.

What began with a trickle of 1,400 or so fans in March and grew to 6,800 last week expanded to 9,000 for Game 6, and the sound matched anything from the full-capacity days of yore.

When it was over, players raised their sticks in gratitude and both Islanders goalies, Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov, clapped their gloves together to thank the audience.

Before the game, coach Barry Trotz had asked the fans for their best.

"They can help a lot," he said. "I hope they start cheering and getting the lungs going about 1 o’clock this afternoon. They should be primed up for a real good night, hopefully. We’ll need them."

He got them.

"A little bit of a crazy game," said Brock Nelson, who scored two goals and missed an empty net with a chance for a hat trick. "The fans gave us a boost. They were fired up today. They were rowdy. They were loud.

"It’s awesome having them back . . . They were rocking. They were ready to go."

Said Anthony Beauvillier, who also scored, "They were a huge part of our success."

Kyle Palmieri added, "The building was electric."

Nelson figured there were some fans in the arena who had been there for the dynasty years of the early 1980s, and presumably there were others who were there in 1993.

Now there is a new generation with such memories.

"It was fun to get it done tonight in front of them," Nelson said. "It’s just one step. We want to try to make some history of our own here and make some history at the Coli."

The Islanders prevailed with another excellent performance by their second line of Nelson, Beauvillier and Bailey, and with some help from another shaky performance by Jarry, the Pittsburgh goalie. (The Bruins’ Tuukka Rask figures to be a far more formidable obstacle.)

Before the series began, the Islanders’ goaltending edge was perceived to be a difference-maker, and it was.

Sorokin now is 4-0 in his NHL playoff career.

It all came together during the bedlam of the second period, when the Islanders scored thrice in about three minutes to take a 5-3 lead. 1188914 New York Islanders

Islanders-Penguins Game 6 recap: Winning goal, key stat and more

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

Updated May 26, 2021 9:29 PM

Final score: Islanders 5, Penguins 3

Winning Goal

Ryan Pulock, a slapper from the right point at 8:48 of the second.

Key statistic

The Islanders are now 12-1 all-time in series they’ve led 3-2 and 11-2 in Game 6s of those series.

Turning point

Travis Zajac cleanly beat Evgeni Malkin on an offensive-zone faceoff after the Penguins iced the puck, setting up Ryan Pulock’s goal for a 4-3 lead at 8:48 of the second period, just 13 seconds after Brock Nelson broke the tie.

Did you notice?

The Coliseum crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to Mathew Barzal (24) midway through the first period. Barzal nearly scored, right on cue, but Penguins defenseman Cody Ceci was able to deflect Barzal’s shot.

Injury report

Islanders rookie RW Oliver Wahlstrom (undisclosed) did not dress after being checked hard into the wall in Game 5 by defenseman Mike Matheson… Penguins G Casey DeSmith (undisclosed) remained unavailable.

Other news

Rookie goalie Ilya Sorokin started his third straight game but coach Barry Trotz continued to praise Semyon Varlamov, in net for losses in Games 2 and 3. "Varly is a great mentor for not only a Russian goalie, but any goalie in the NHL. He’s got a great demeanor." . . . Bridgeport defenseman Samuel Bolduc was named an AHL Atlantic Division All Star.

Three stars

1. Brock Nelson (Islanders). Two goals and an assist, centering the Isles’ hottest line.

2. Ryan Pulock (Islanders). Scores the game-winner, and helps shut down Sidney Crosby.

3. Anthony Beauvillier (Islanders). A gorgeous goal to tie it 1-1, plus two assists.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188915 New York Islanders Nelson’s second goal, a dribbler through Jarry (19 saves), made it 5-3 at 11:34 of the second period.

Both teams scored on their first shots — the Penguins’ Jeff Carter at 1:27 Islanders eliminate Penguins in Game 6 at raucous Nassau Coliseum, of the first period and Beauvillier at 5:16 — and Jake Guentzel’s power- advance to play Bruins play shot off Pulock’s skate made it 2-1 at 11:12 of the first period.

"We just found a way to get it done," Beauvillier said. "We stuck with it and we’re looking forward to the next round." By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.27.2021 Updated May 26, 2021 11:03 PM

The success story is the team, not the arena. Yet the Islanders and Nassau Coliseum are forever intertwined, even in the venerable barn’s waning days as an NHL facility.

But the Coliseum is not done hosting playoff games yet after the Islanders clinched a playoff series in the building for the first time in 28 years. They rallied three times from one-goal deficits and scored three second-period goals in a span of two minutes, 59 seconds to outlast the Penguins and shaky goalie Tristan Jarry, 5-3, in Game 6 of their first- round series on Wednesday night before a sell-out crowd of 9,000 in a party-like atmosphere.

"Whenever we got that goal, they were there to keep us going," said Brock Nelson, who scored twice and added an assist but later shot wide on a breakaway and hit the post on an empty-net try to miss out on a hat trick. "Once we got the lead, they were loud to the end. It’s awesome having them back. We just wanted to win that one in front of them."

"You just feed off the fans," said Kyle Palmieri, who tied the game at 2 at 12:25 of the first period.

Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves for his fourth win in the series — including overtime victories in Games 1 and 5 in Pittsburgh — and the Islanders’ second line of Nelson, Anthony Beauvillier (one goal, two assists) and Josh Bailey (two assists) powered the attack.

The Islanders next face the Bruins, who ousted the Capitals in five games. The crowd chanted, "We want Boston," as the clock ticked down.

"We’re enjoying this win right now," said Travis Zajac, who had a strong playoff debut with the Islanders subbing for injured rookie right wing Oliver Wahlstrom after being acquired along with Palmieri from the Devils on April 7. "In the next day or two we’ll get ready to go up against Boston. They’re playing some good hockey. They beat a really good team. We beat a really good team so it’s going to be another fun series."

The Islanders won a first-round series for the third straight season under coach Barry Trotz.

"It’s been quite the journey," said Nelson, an Islander since 2013. "A lot of guys in here that have been around. But I think it just goes back to this is a special place, a special group. Everyone wants to go out there and win and compete for a Stanley Cup and raise it. To be seeing some progress and getting close and having runs, it’s awesome. We’re trying to get it to go all the way."

The Islanders advanced to the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time since 1993 in the playoff bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton.

The Islanders’ last playoff clincher at the Coliseum came on April 28, 1993 as they defeated the Capitals, 5-3, in Game 6 of their Patrick Division semifinals. But that game is more infamously known for Dale Hunter’s vicious hit on an unsuspecting Pierre Turgeon after the Islanders’ star celebrated a goal.

The Coliseum hosted 6,800 fans for Games 3 and 4. That increased for Game 6 at the 13,913-capacity barn with seating in the vaccinated sections expanded.

"It feels as close to before everything kind of went crazy with the shutdown," Nelson said.

Nelson, racing to the left post, redirected a fabulous feed from Bailey to tie the game at 3 at 8:35 of the second period. Zajac then won an offensive-zone faceoff after the Penguins iced it and set the screen for defenseman Ryan Pulock’s blast from the right point to make it 4-3 just 13 seconds later, tying the franchise record for the two fastest playoff goals. 1188916 New York Islanders Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.27.2021

Now 24, Islanders' Mathew Barzal remains a superstar in progress

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinSNewsday

Updated May 26, 2021 7:01 PM

Mathew Barzal turned 24 on Wednesday, which meant he no longer can be considered a young, rising star in the NHL. Instead, he should now be thought of as a star in his prime.

Barzal, who led the Islanders in scoring in the regular season, was tied for fifth on the team in scoring in the postseason entering Game 6 of the Isles’ first-round series Wednesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nassau Coliseum, with three assists in the series’ first five games.

The Isles led the series, 3-2, and had a chance to close it out Wednesday with a victory to advance to a second round matchup against the Boston Bruins.

Barzal is the same age as the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid, who scored an amazing 105 points this season in 56 games. Compared to McDavid, though, Barzal is a grizzled veteran when it comes to playoff hockey, with 36 playoff games through Wednesday. McDavid, whose Oilers were swept in the first round of this year’s playoffs by the Winnipeg Jets, has played in 21.

But where McDavid, the first pick overall in the 2015 draft, seems like a fully developed star, Barzal, the 16th overall pick in that same 2015 draft, is still growing and getting better, according to Islanders coach Barry Trotz.

"We've played a lot of playoff games the last three years, and he's learning that the playoff game is a little different than the regular season game,’’ Trotz said Wednesday of Barzal. "[There]'s not as much space. Guys are tighter on you, you're getting matchups more and more… and you’ve got to keep your emotions in check, and the discipline part of it is all encompassing. So, he's continuing to learn.’’

Barzal, a speedy, 6-foot, 187-pounder whose dazzling, circling moves in the offensive zone evoke memories of former great Denis Savard, is unique on an Islanders roster known for its physical, straight-up-and-down style.

Playing on the defense-first Islanders, Barzal, who has 76 goals and 252 points in his four-year NHL career — and seven goals and 27 points in the postseason entering Wednesday, may never put up the kind of numbers players like McDavid or Toronto’s Auston Matthews do. But Trotz called him by far the Islanders’ most dynamic player.

"Obviously, he's got these good hands,’’ Trotz said. "But what makes him exceptional is his [skate] edges; his speed and his edges. And then the hands are probably secondary. But he has breakaway speed [and] his ability to cut laterally, forehand or backhand, is almost the best I've seen.’’

And, Trotz said, Barzal is constantly working to improve the areas where he needed improvement.

"He's worked on his shot over the last couple of years; it's gotten much better,’’ Trotz said. "He's worked on faceoffs; it's gotten much better.’’

After Barzal lost his left wing Anders Lee to a season-ending knee injury in March, the Isles’ No. 1 center still managed to produce at nearly the same level he did in the first half of the season with Lee on his line. In the 28 games before Lee got hurt March 11, Barzal had nine goals and 15 assists. In 27 games after Lee’s injury, Barzal had eight goals and 13 assists.

Leo Komarov, who ended up filling Lee’s spot on the No. 1 line, called Barzal an "unbelievable player.’’

"He loves the puck,’’ Komarov said. "He does a lot of good things, so my job is to try to get him the puck, and battle for it, try to make some room for him out there.’’

1188917 New York Islanders

Islanders' Oliver Wahlstrom a game-time decision for Game 6 vs. Penguins

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

Updated May 26, 2021 1:45 PM

Barry Trotz termed Oliver Wahlstrom a game-time decision for Wednesday night’s Game 6 of the Islanders’ first-round series against the Penguins at Nassau Coliseum, though it seems unlikely the rookie right wing will be available.

The coach also confirmed after an optional morning skate at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow that Travis Zajac would draw into the lineup for the potential series clincher if Wahlstrom cannot play.

Wahlstrom, who has a goal and two assists in his first five NHL playoff games, was shouldered hard into the wall by Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson in the third period of the Islanders’ 3-2 double-overtime win on Monday night in Pittsburgh. He needed help to support his weight as he was led off the ice to the Islanders’ dressing room. Wahlstrom’s head also was whiplashed.

Zajac was acquired from the Devils along with Kyle Palmieri on April 7 for a package that included a first-round pick. But, after playing 1,024 games for the Devils since 2006, Zajac struggled to find a spot with the Islanders, notching one goal and one assist in 13 regular-season games as Trotz used him anywhere from the first to the fourth line and at all three forward positions.

"It doesn’t matter who’s not playing," said defenseman Andy Greene, also a former Devil. "We’re all competitive and this is the time that you want to be out there and being able to play the games. You try to support him and talk to him as much as you can. But, at the same time, you don’t want to sit there and keep bringing it up and be in his ear the whole time. It’s a fine line."

Zajac likely wouldfill Wahlstrom’s spot on Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s third line with Palmieri while defenseman Ryan Pulock would likely take Wahlstrom’s spot on the 3-for-14 power play.

"One of the things you want is good people and you’re not going to find a better person than Travis," Trotz said. "When I had to tell Travis he wasn’t dressing for probably the first time in probably 1,000 games, that’s a harder conversation. He just said, ‘Hey coach, I’m good.’ I know it probably hurt the first time. He just said, ‘I’ll be ready whenever you want me to play.’ That’s Travis Zajac."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188918 New York Islanders Just as Kyle Palmieri made Lou Lamoriello look good when it mattered most by scoring twice, including the overtime winner, in Game 1, Travis Zajac made Lamoriello look doubly good in his series debut Wednesday. Zajac subbed in for Oliver Wahlstrom, whose knee injury from an ugly Killer B’s bring the sting, Ilya Sorokin stands tall: 6 takeaways from the Game 5 collision wasn’t as bad as initially feared, but he wasn’t able to Islanders’ Game 6 clincher go in Game 6.

Trotz also said Michael Dal Colle “tweaked something” in practice this week and was unavailable on Wednesday. So Zajac got the nod without By Arthur Staple much debate and made an impact in just 11:55 of ice time. May 27, 2021 He saved a goal late in the first when he circled the net and got his stick in front of Kasperi Kapanen’s try that was heading toward the yawning cage. It was a subtle play but huge, given the twists and turns of the first The Islanders somehow managed to dispatch the Penguins in six games period. while being outplayed for about 4 1/2 of them. Barry Trotz refers to the Islander Way a lot, and this was the way for them in the opening round: Then Zajac won a draw that J-G Pageau pushed back to the point for Start slow, hang around and capitalize on an error here or there. Usually Pulock’s goal. Zajac was called upon for only two faceoffs in Game 6 and from Tristan Jarry, to whom the Islanders owe a dinner or a case of Natty won one — that one. Light or something. Wahlstrom may heal up in time to start the Bruins series and he deserves Let’s look at how the Islanders got through to the second round: to go right back into the lineup. But Zajac made a big contribution in a big game and that’s got to help his case to get back in. Killer B’s on the swarm Sorokin MVP of the series The Anthony Beauvillier–Brock Nelson–Josh Bailey line definitely had some extended shifts without the puck this series — everyone who saw Sorokin didn’t commit any felonies in net in Game 6, but there were big ice time against Sidney Crosby posted some ugly underlying numbers — saves when needed. He denied Evgeni Malkin on a breakaway in the but that line revved the Isles’ engine in Games 5 and 6, doing just second to keep it 5-3 and swallowed up every long-range shot that came enough to push the Isles over the line. It was the Isles’ dominating line in his way, leaving few rebounds and nothing in a problem area as the Isles the 2020 playoffs, and if this trio can get there again, the Islanders will settled the game down once they got up by two. have extra weapons to bring to the Bruins series. Each of them scored Sorokin was the biggest player on either side in the series, winning all three against the Penguins. four of his starts and posting a .943 save percentage. It’s not even a The numbers for all three players since the 2019 playoffs: question who starts against the Bruins.

Nelson: 36 games played, 16-12-28 The best thing about Game 6 was how much more determined the Islanders got with that lead. The Penguins were desperate and had the Beauvillier: 36 GP, 13-10-23 puck a ton in the third but blasted a dozen shots wide or high and had another eight blocked. The ones that got through, Sorokin saw clearly Bailey: 36 GP, 9-23-32 and handled cleanly. That’s going to be big against a Bruins team that Only five NHLers have more playoff goals since 2019 than Nelson, and crashes the net as well as any team. Bailey is ninth in points. The Isles haven’t won anything other than Trotz tames the Penguins yet again another first round, but it’s been a long, long time since they had any players with elite postseason totals. Crosby, Malkin, Kris Letang and coach Mike Sullivan have now bowed out to a Trotz-coached team three of the last four postseasons. Since it Bailey in particular has been superb. He got the Game 5 gift in double was 2-2 between the Caps and Penguins in the second round in 2018, overtime, but he made two high-level plays on goals in Game 6 — a chip Trotz is 10-3 against Pittsburgh. It probably didn’t hurt that Todd Reirden, that caught Kris Letang and Crosby in-between to start the rush on Trotz’s former assistant who took over the Caps after winning the Cup Beauvillier’s first-period goal, then a cross-ice look for Nelson on a three- and Trotz’s sudden departure, is now an assistant with the Penguins; on-two in the second that started the goal rush. Trotz, who didn’t hire Reirden in Washington, and his old assistant are Bad numbers, good series for Pelech and Pulock not close.

Might have to get primitive on you and beg for the eye test in evaluating It’s hard to pinpoint how Trotz’s coaching made the difference this year. It the Adam Pelech–Ryan Pulock pairing. Pelech had the Isles’ lowest was a very different series than 2019, when the Penguins simply couldn’t expected-goals percentage against Pittsburgh, an unsightly 40.6 percent produce against the tightly structured Islanders and Robin Lehner shut — compare that to his 58.4 percent from the regular season. the door effectively from the end of Game 1 on through the sweep. That series was an eye-opener for the Penguins and the rest of the league But Pelech was defending, which is exactly what the game plan that Trotz’s Islanders were no joke. ultimately called for. The Islanders would have been better served, obviously, if Crosby and his linemates weren’t wheeling and dealing the The Penguins made plays and scored goals this time around, but the puck around the Islanders’ zone for most of the series, but the Penguins Islanders never let Pittsburgh get clear. The Penguins had a two-goal captain established himself early on as a force, unlike in 2019, when lead twice in the series: For 21:37 in Game 2, their best game of the six, Pelech and Pulock came of age by completely denying Crosby and for about five minutes in Game 3 before chaos ensued in the third possession, time and space. period. The Islanders win by never letting go of the rope, even if the other side is pulling them off their feet and around the playing surface. This one was different and showed the maturation of the Pelech-Pulock pair. They struggled at times early in the series before getting The Coli comfortable with not having the puck much and just trying to keep Crosby The place was loud for 9,000 people. There’s a chance it could be closer from the dangerous areas. to capacity for Game 3 against the Bruins sometime next week, since And it worked, in a sense. Crosby posted a 59.4 xGF% for the six games these capacity limits change almost daily. But Game 6 showed that all and was just heaving volumes of pucks toward Ilya Sorokin. But was he you need is more than 65 percent capacity and a bunch of Islanders fans ever really robbed on a high-danger chance that you can recall? He had hungry to see their team win a playoff series — it was the first series one in tight in Game 4. He ripped a power-play snap shot off the post in clincher on the Coliseum ice since the Caps in 1993, and that night was Game 6 early in the third. There wasn’t much else, though, and the marred by Dale Hunter on Pierre Turgeon. ledger now stands at one goal and two assists for Crosby in his last 10 So the Coliseum stays open for another few games at least. playoff games against Trotz’s Islanders.

Pulock equaled his regular-season total with his second goal Wednesday, one that ended up the game-winner. The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 Zajac impresses 1188919 New York Islanders The Islanders evened the score yet again just over a minute later when Palmieri scored on the rebound. Jean-Gabriel Pageau sent a floater of a shot on net that was stopped by Jarry, but the puck went right to Palmieri, who was able to put it back in at the 12:25 mark. BROCK THE BARN: Nelson’s Three Point Night Leads Islanders to Series Clinching Win Jason Zucker gave Pittsburgh its third lead of the game when he deflected a shot in front of the net 1:53 into the second period to make it a 3-2 game.

Published 7 hours ago on May 26, 2021 “They were dialed in this morning, you could tell,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. “I had a good feeling at the rink all day. I felt like this By Christian Arnold group was up for those challenges. We’re going to have a big challenge with the Boston Bruins and they’re playing very, very well… they have some game-changers and the perfection line… they’re a deep team that UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Brocktober traditionally isn’t for another couple of plays the right way. It’ll be an event for both teams.” months, but the New York Islanders forward came up clutch when it counted on Wednesday night.

Brock Nelson had a three-point night, including a two-goal second period, NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 that helped the Islanders defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 and clinched the First Round Series in six games. Wednesday marked the first time that the Islanders had clinched a series win on Nassau

Anthony Beauvillier, Kyle Palmieri and Ryan Pulock also scored for the Islanders and Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves in the win in front of a boisterous Nassau Coliseum crowd of 9,000 fans. The Islanders advance to face the Boston Bruins in the Second Round and it is the third consecutive year that the Islanders have made it out of the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoff.

“A little bit of a crazy game,” Nelson said. “We spot them the lead, we battle back two or three times. This group sticks with it. The fans were rowdy, they were loud. Whenever we got the goal, they kept us going… It was awesome to have them back.”

The NHL has yet to schedule the start of the Second Round.

It was Nelson’s first goal of the night that evened the score for the third time on Wednesday. Beauvillier was able to skate into the zone and send the puck over to Josh Bailey. The longest-tenured Islander sent a quick cross-ice pass to Nelson, who tapped the puck in past Tristan Jarry to tie the game at three.

The New York Islanders took their first lead of the night 13 seconds later off a blast from the point by Pulock. New York won the offensive draw and moved the puck back to Pulock for the blast and the 4-3 lead.

Nelson scored his second of the evening after getting the puck in the offensive zone. He skated into the slot and sent a shot at Jarry. The puck was able to sneak through the pads of Jarry to give the Islanders the two- goal advantage.

“That’s the mindset that we have, that’s the leadership that we have,” Beauvillier said about the comeback. “We know one goal isn’t going to win the game so we want to stick with it, stick to the plan, and it’s the playoffs. There’s going to be ups and downs… There’s just lots of character in this room and we found a way to get it done.”

Wednesday marked the first time since Game 7 of the Islanders’ Second Round Series with the Philadelphia Flyers last season that Nelson recorded three points in a playoff game. Nelson has Seven points (three goals, four assists) through six playoff games thus far.

“A couple of nice plays up the rush Beau and Bails,” Nelson said. “Whenever you can kind of get that momentum and ride it, that’s huge. There’s going to be ups and downs, but you can get the crowd up and going, get the adrenaline flowing… that’s huge.”

Despite some early jump from the Islanders to start the game, it was Pittsburgh that drew first blood. Jeff Carter beat Sorokin with a shot that snuck through his pads to give his team the early 1-0 advantage.

Carter was able to get by Beauvillier and take a pass from Kasperi Kapanen to set up the goal. It was Carter’s fourth goal of the series.

The New York Islanders answered back moments later after they broke out of their own end in a similar fashion as Pittsburgh did on their goal. Beauvillier took a pass from Nelson and backhanded the puck over the glove of Jarry to tie the game at one at the 5:16 mark of the first period.

However, the scoring barrage was far from over. Pittsburgh recaptured their lead on the power play at 11:12 after Jake Guentzel’s one-timer hit off the glove of Pulock and deflected past Sorokin. 1188920 New York Islanders Game 5, the most among all active Islanders skaters. … The Islanders are 11-1 all-time in series that they lead 3-2 (and are 10-2 in those series in Game 6). … Pittsburgh is 4-3 all-time under head coach Mike Sullivan when facing elimination in a playoff series. … The Penguins have an all- Playoff Gameday: Islanders Game 6 Lines, Matchups and Game Notes time series record of 7-8 in best-of-seven playoff series when entering vs. Pens Game 6 down, 3-2, in the series. … Evgeni Malkin enters Game 6 one goal shy of tying for most power-play goals in the playoffs

in Pittsburgh franchise history. Malkin currently has 28. Published 16 hours ago on May 26, 2021

By Christian Arnold NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021

Will the New York Islanders be partying like it’s 1993 or will they be booking flights to Pittsburgh when the night is over?

That question will be answered in a matter of hours when the puck drops for Game 6 between the Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. The Isles have a chance to clinch a playoff series on Nassau Coliseum ice for the first time since 1993.

They may have to do it without Oliver Wahlstrom in the lineup after he was forced to leave Game 5 on Monday after taking an awkward hit to the boards in the third period. Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said he would be a game-time decision and that Travis Zajac would take his place if he couldn’t play.

Zajac hasn’t played in a game during the postseason and his last time in any type of game action was on May 8 against the .

Report: Nassau Coliseum Capacity Increasing for Game 6

“You talk to him and you just try to make sure he’s ready,” Andy Green said about Zajac. “Involved and part of the team. Then when he does get in there he’s ready.”

Since arriving on Long Island Zajac’s playing has been limited on the Islanders roster. He played in 13 regular-season games with the New York Islanders after being acquired before the April trade deadline. He had a goal and an assist in that span.

Trotz said that Zajac’s true character shined through during the time he had to sit out.

“One of the things you want is good people and you’re not going to find a better person than Travis,” Trotz said. “When I had to tell Travis he wasn’t dressing for the first time in probably 1,000 games, I mean that’s probably a harder conversation. He just said ‘hey coach I’m good.’ It probably hurt the first time. … He just said ‘I’ll be ready whenever you want me to play.’ That’s just Travis Zajac. That’s why he was a captain.”

If Zajac plays it would likely be on the third line alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Kyle Palmieri.

No other lineup changes are expected from the Islanders and Ilya Sorokin is the likely starter tonight for Game 6. Sorokin was the first goaltender off the ice at the Islanders’ optional morning skate in East Meadow, Per Arthur Staple of the Athletic.

The Islanders will see one change… in the stands. Capacity for the Nassau Coliseum is being raised to 9,000 from the 6,800 that was allowed for Game 3 and Game 4.

“I hope they start cheering and get the lungs going at about 1 o’clock this afternoon,” Trotz said. “They should be primed up for a real good night hopefully. We’ll need them. This is a very good hockey team that we’re playing in a special building, obviously because of its history. The atmosphere is hard to replicate because of the quaintness of it and the passion of our fans.

“We’ve got to use every ounce of their good vibes or whatever you want to call it to get by this very good hockey team in Pittsburgh.”

Leo Komarov added: “It’s going to be loud hopefully. It’s always nice to play at home and we have great fans.”

Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES

Should the Islanders win tonight it would be the third straight year they’ve advanced to the Second Round of the playoffs and the first time since 1979-83 that they’ve done in it in three consecutive years. … Josh Bailey scored the second overtime goal of his Stanley Cup Playoff career in 1188921 Ottawa Senators “He did it three times in the first five or six games he played. The guys gave him a puck or lot and were able to get it back in those situations.”

Reilly has played mostly with Brandon Carlo and they’ve had a good SNAPSHOTS: Vitaly Abramov decides to head home to Russia to play in partnership. Reilly was plus-seven in 15 regular-season games with the KHL ... Mike Reilly has been nice fit for Bruins Bruins and he suited up for 40 games with the Senators before being moved.

“He certainly added secondary offence when he got here and Carlo was Bruce Garrioch hurt when (Reilly) arrived so we experimented with partners because we had a lot of guys injured,” said Cassidy. “He got a chance to come in and Publishing date: May 26, 2021 play a lot. That helps a player to be able to play to his strengths and move pucks.

The Ottawa Senators will have one less restricted free agent to deal with “He’s balanced our group very well with his ability to move pucks and during the off-season. he’s able to stretch teams out. He’s played with both Carlo and (Kevan) Miller, who are both more defensive guys, so they’ve been able to Winger Vitaly Abramov, who suited up for only two games with the club complement each other. He’s done a good job keeping the puck out of this season and hasn’t really lived up to expectations, signed with the the net and he’s been a plus player for us.” Kontintental Hockey League’s Traktor Chelaybinsk on Wednesday morning. He finished with seven goals and 19 points with the club’s AHL THE LAST WORDS affiliate in Belleville this season. As suggested in this space Tuesday, Washington GM Brian MacLellan is Abramov, 23, agreed to a two-year deal with the club located in his open for business as well. Asked if he’d deal C Evgeny Kuznetsov, hometown. He started last season in Finland, showed up injured for MacLellan didn’t throw water on the idea: “I don’t think anybody’s off the training camp and never really got going here. He tweeted a message to table. We’re not going to trade (Alex Ovechkin) or (Nicklas Backstrom) Ottawa fans after his signing. and those type of people, but I think you have to be open on anything. We would talk to anybody about any player.” If the Caps are willing to eat “I would like to say thank you to all the Ottawa Senators fans for their cash, then Kuznetsov is an interesting option. … Belleville forward Egor support through the years. It’s been huge for me. See you soon,” Sokolov, a third-round pick as an overage player in the draft in October, Abramov wrote. was named to the AHL’s Canadian Division all-star team Wednesday. He finished with 15 goals and 25 points in 35 games with Ottawa’s AHL To make sure he’s eligible to be selected by the Seattle Kraken in the affiliate this season. Many believe Sokolov has the chance to push for a expansion draft being held July 21, Senators general manager Pierre spot in camp next season. He showed great progress this year. Dorion will send Abramov a qualifying offer. That means the club will retain his rights for RFA status, and if he wants to return to the NHL, he’d either have to come back to the Ottawa organization or have his rights dealt. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 05.27.2021

Traded to the Senators at the February 2019 deadline from the as part of the Matt Duchene deal, Abramov likely wanted a one-way contract to stay in North America.

Qualifying offers are due June 25 this year and free agency won’t get underway until July 28. Abramov can make a lot more money in the KHL than he can on a two-way deal with the Senators.

The club will qualify forwards Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson, along with minor-league centre Logan Brown and several others in the organization. The Senators did inform goalie Marcus Hogberg during his exit meeting he won’t be brought back and the expectation is he will resume his career in Europe.

At the moment, Dorion is focused on getting RFA defenceman Victor Mete signed to an extension. He was picked up on waivers from the Canadiens at the deadline and played well down the stretch for the Senators. The 5-foot-9 Mete suited up for 14 games with the Senators and got the job done.

Mete is only 22 years old, but the Senators do have a lot of defencemen in the system and want to make sure they find the right fit with the deal they put in place. The two sides hope they’ll be able to reach a resolution on Mete soon.

MAKING HIMSELF AT HOME

Dealt to the Boston Bruins for a second-round pick in 2022 at the deadline in April by the Senators, Mike Reilly has made his presence felt on the club’s blueline.

With the club coming off a five-game series victory over the Washington Capitals in Round 1, the Bruins are taking the chance to get rested and ready to face either the New York Islanders or Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round.

Boston coach Bruce Cassidy has been pleased with the impact Reilly has made.

“First and foremost, he’s made a good offensive impact for us, because we were struggling to get our shots through and making decisions up there,” Cassidy said Wednesday. “He came in and changed some of that. He made some really good plays up high and some really good give-and- go plays down low to forwards in front of the net. 1188922 Philadelphia Flyers

What goes into Flyers' chances at Hamilton

BY JORDAN HALL

FLYERS

If Flyers fans are having dreams of Dougie Hamilton wearing orange and black, there's no wondering why.

The Flyers missed the 2021 playoffs in large part because they allowed the NHL's most goals per game at 3.52 and failed to fill the hole left by the retirement of top-pair, righty-shot defenseman Matt Niskanen.

Hamilton, currently playing in the postseason with the Hurricanes, is a top-pair, righty-shot defenseman and widely considered the best pending unrestricted free-agent blueliner.

And for good reason.

During his three seasons with Carolina, the 6-foot-6, 229-pound Hamilton has ranked first among all NHL defensemen in goals (42), 11th in plus- minus (plus-50) and 14th in points (121).

In the latest PHT Power Rankings on NBCSports.com, outlining the top 2021 UFAs, Adam Gretz wrote that Hamilton "should have no shortage of suitors if he makes it to market. A team like Philadelphia should be all in here. As should Carolina when it comes to re-signing him."

That's the first obstacle in the Hamilton-to-the-Flyers dream. The Hurricanes finished as a top-three club during the 2020-21 regular season and are aiming for a long playoff run. From many indications, Hamilton, a soon-to-be 28-year-old, is in a good spot with Carolina. In March, Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell said to NHL reporter Frank Seravalli that "Dougie wants to stay here. We’ve talked to him, we love Dougie, we want him to stay here. ... I truly think Dougie wants to stay here."

The Flyers, in their current spot, will highly likely have interest in the free- agent market's top defenseman. But the plausibility of the Flyers acquiring Hamilton is not as simple as pay that man. The Flyers would need to be able to pay Hamilton what he wants in a flat-cap world and pay others in the future when the cap could stay stagnant. With any spending, the Flyers must be cognizant of the fact that Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux will be due new contracts after next season. Couturier has earned a considerable raise.

This offseason, the July 21 NHL expansion draft for the Kraken will provide the Flyers some cap relief. Offseason trades will be another avenue if the Flyers want to free up space for spending on a bigger name.

Per CapFriendly.com and PuckPedia.com, Hamilton has an average annual value of $5.750 million on his current deal. He is due for a raise and some term.

The Flyers will have to be "creative," as Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said, to vastly improve in key areas this offseason. No doubt, landing Hamilton would require creativity.

"We need to improve our ability to keep the puck out of the net," Fletcher said. "Everything that goes with that is what we’ll look to do this offseason."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188923 Pittsburgh Penguins

Minor league report: Nailers win 1,000th game since arriving in Wheeling

SETH RORABAUGH

Thursday, May 27, 2021 4:08 a.m.

Two goals by forward Tim Doherty led the Wheeling Nailers to a 5-1 home win against the Indy Fuel at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, W.Va.

The victory was the 1,000th for the franchise since it arrived in Wheeling in 1992 as the Thunderbirds.

Forward Patrick Watling added a goal and an assist for the Nailers (21- 34-6-1) while goaltender Tommy Nappier made 28 saves on 29 shots in the victory.

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188924 Pittsburgh Penguins Ultimately, the Islanders’ team game won out over the Penguins’ approach.

Even with their high-end players such as Mathew Barzal or Jordan Empty Thoughts: Islanders 5, Penguins 3 Eberle not offering all that much, the Islanders got enough contributions from a roster full of role players to emerge with a victory.

And having a goaltender steal games (or just post a save percentage SETH RORABAUGH north of .900) is key too.

Thursday, May 27, 2021 3:28 a.m. The Penguins’ failures in the 2021 playoffs are no different than the setbacks they suffered the previous two years in terms of what they failed

to accomplish. Observations from the Penguins’ 5-3 loss to the Islanders in Game 6: But this foundering just feels as though it carries so much more gravity. There’s going to be quite a bit written about what the Penguins will do “It’s disappointment,” Crosby said. “It’s not guaranteed to make the over the next four months. This little corner of the Internet won’t delve playoffs. We’ve been fortunate that we’ve been there a lot. Every time into that too much. For the time being, let’s just focus on what went you get to play in the playoffs, it’s an opportunity. It really is the best time wrong over the course of six games in mid-spring. of the year. You want to be in it. You want to be in it for a long time, you Well … a lot went wrong. want to compete for the Stanley Cup. It’s never a good feeling when you lose. With the way that we played leading into the playoffs, I think that we And it really didn’t seem like it should have. felt good about our group and we thought that we could make a good run. So for it to come to a halt here is disappointing. Sure, the Penguins have failed to win a postseason series for the third consecutive year. But this loss feels different. “This is probably the ultimate learning experience going through this. It’s tough to lose in the playoffs. It’s tough to get here. This one stings.” In 2019, the Penguins just looked way too disjointed down the final stretch of the regular season and were swept by the New York Islanders What happened in the first round. They were trying to basically outscore teams with 5-4 results and that approach will never work in the playoffs. The Penguins took a lead 1:27 into regulation. Off a two-on-two rush into the Islanders’ zone, Carter got behind backchecking Islanders forward As for 2020, in their qualifying round loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Anthony Beauvillier and received a pass in the left circle from Kapanen. things were so disjointed given the pandemic, it was hard to really draw Attacking the net, Carter was able to slip a forehand shot through any connections between the regular season and the postseason due to goaltender Ilya Sorokin’s five hole for his team-leading fourth goal of the the four-plus month gap between games. Sure, the Penguins should postseason. Kapanen and forward Jason Zucker collected assists. have beaten the Canadiens with ease, but there was almost no reason to gauge how they would play in “the bubble” based on what they did during It didn’t take the Islanders long to tie the game at the 5:16 mark. On a the regular season. It was just two random teams showing up and similar two-on-two sequence, Beauvillier got behind backchecking playing hockey with the lesser team happening to win. Penguins forward Sidney Crosby and accepted a pass in the slot. Approaching the net, he lifted a backhander over the left shoulder of This? It’s baffling. Jarry for his third goal. Linemates Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey recorded assists. With apologies to backup goaltender Casey DeSmith and forward Evgeni Malkin’s creaky right knee, the Penguins entered this postseason mostly A power-play goal put the Penguins back up in front, 2-1, at 11:12 of the healthy. first. Faking a shot off the left half wall, Letang pulled his stick down then fed a pass to the slot where Guentzel stroked a one-timer. The puck And deep. From the top tiers of their lineup to the reserves who didn’t glanced off the right skate of Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock and dress, this was a very deep roster. hopped over past Sorokin’s glove for Guentzel’s first goal of the And they were playing very well down the final portions of the regular postseason. Letang and Malkin tallied assists. season. To borrow an idiom made famous by former coach Dan Bylsma, The Islanders persisted and tied the game again, 2-2, at 12:25 of the the Penguins routinely were able to get to their game and systematically first. Off a neutral zone steal, Islanders forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau carve out wins en route to a division championship. gained the offensive zone and chucked a wrister on net from the right Yet, with the benefit of all those factors, they could only muster two wins point. Jarry punched the puck away with his blocker towards the left against an admittedly stiff opponent. circle where Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri crashed in and tapped in an easy forehand shot for his third goal. Pageau had the only assist. Why? How? Zucker scored his second of the postseason 1:53 into the middle frame There are a variety of reasons. to put his team up, 3-2. From the right point, Penguins defenseman Cody First, the goaltending. It was just bad. Tristan Jarry has been groomed for Ceci lobbed a wrister towards the cage. Zucker gained position on this moment over the course of eight years and he simply did not meet Islanders defenseman Andy Greene to the right of the crease and the challenge. The Penguins needed him to be the franchise goaltender redirected the puck with his backhand past Sorokin’s blocker on the far they hoped he could become when he was drafted in 2013 and he never side. Assists went to Malkin and Ceci. provided that for them. Things were tied again, 3-3, at 8:35 of the second. Accepting a pass on That was evident even in the context of this game. The Penguins had the right half wall, Islanders forward Josh Bailey faked a shot then three separate leads and he allowed the Islanders to tie the game each chopped a slap-pass to the left of the crease. With Crosby late in time before they ultimately went out in front. defending on a backcheck, Islanders forward Brock Nelson was able to tap in the puck past Jarry’s blocker on the near side for his second goal. By no means is Jarry a lost cause. He can rebound from this. But Bailey and Beauvillier had assists. goodness, was this a poor showing by him. The Islanders took their first lead 13 seconds later. After Malkin lost a Beyond him, the Penguins had far too many passengers on this train and faceoff in his own right circle to Islanders forward Travis Zajac, Pageau not enough conductors. claimed the puck and slid a pass to the right point where Pulock teed up a one-timer that blew past Jarry’s left skate for his second goal. Jarry Jake Guentzel, Jared McCann, Kasperi Kapanen, John Marino and even appeared to be screened on the play as he reacted late to the puck. Sidney Crosby could all fit that description over the course of this series. Assists went to Pageau and Zajac.

On the other hand, Jeff Carter, Malkin (albeit at less than 100 percent), Nelson added an insurance score at 11:34 of the second. Stealing a puck Kris Letang, Brandon Tanev and even Frederick Gaudreau did what they off of Guentzel in New York’s zone, Beauvillier turned up ice in transition could do in their various stations to keep this team’s season going. and gained the offensive zone on the left wing. Taking a little backhand pass at the left point from Beauvillier, Nelson surveyed the zone, lined up Ceci as a screen and snapped off a wrister that trickled through Jarry’s five hole. Beauvillier had a the only assist. The Penguins called timeout If the Penguins harbor realistic hopes he will be their top defenseman at to get organized but that tactic proved to be too little, too late. some point, he needs an immediate rebound.

Randomly speaking • What made this loss all the more disheartening for the Penguins was that this was Sorokin’s least impressive effort of the series. He looked • At least from a player’s perspective, Jarry will bear the brunt of what shaky at times. It just happened that Jarry looked shakier more of the went wrong in this series. And that’s more than fair. That’s the nature of time. being a goaltender, particularly one who has been developed for nearly a decade to be a difference-maker in situations like this. • Beauvillier had quite a series. He has plenty of speed and skill to go with a little bit of grit to his game. He’s a very complete player. The way he played in Game 6 almost looked like some of the low moments former Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury endured in that • Zajac came into the lineup to replace injured forward Oliver Wahlstrom chaotic Eastern Conference quarterfinal series in 2012 against the after being a healthy scratch for the first five games and came through Philadelphia Flyers. He just looked like his confidence was shattered and with a couple of key plays. with that, his technique went by the wayside. At 18:20 of the first period, Kapanen made a mad dash on net and For the series, Jarry had a 3.18 goals against average and a putrid .888 appeared to have Sorokin beat with a forehand shot but Zajac almost save percentage. Neither is anything close to being adequate in the accidentally happened to be in place to clear it out with his stick. postseason. Then, he came through with a key faceoff win against Malkin (after If Jarry was even average, the Penguins win this series. Pageau was tossed by a linesman) to set up Pulock’s winning goal.

• Crosby was below his otherwise high standards as well. That’s not an Success in the playoffs is often predicated on having a ton of depth. The external opinion either. Crosby said as much after the game (see below). Islanders needed to tap into their depth given Wahlstrom’s absence and it paid off. Having Zajac, even if he’s well past his prime, as a 13th In Game 6, he just looked slow, particularly defensively. There aren’t forward is evidence of strong depth. many times you can say that about Crosby but in this contest, he was just a step or two behind some of the younger, quicker players on the • Full marks to the Islanders’ fans for creating an incredible atmosphere Islanders. at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Not only do they make this cramped lovable dump of a building loud, but they have so many There didn’t seem to be anything wrong with Crosby from a medical individual chants for players or situations. At one point, they were singing standpoint - and certainly the Penguins aren’t going to be all that “Happy Birthday” to Barzal while the Penguins were on the attack. forthcoming with such information - but he just didn’t look like the player who dictated everything as he has for the past 15 years. The Penguins • Handshakes: needed more out of their captain. Publicly speaking • As for Malkin, he did what he could within his limitations. He clearly wasn’t skating at 100 percent. It wouldn’t be a surprise if it’s revealed that • Crosby on the Penguins’ core potentially being broken up: his damaged right knee requires some sort of procedure this offseason. “They’ve been saying that for four years, right? So I don’t know if I’m Regardless, he powered through his issues and found ways to generate going to change anybody’s mind. We did a lot of good things this year. some offense. But his skating just looked several steps behind what he You can look at every year and analyze it differently. But this year, I felt typically offers. He had an unsuccessful breakaway late in the second like we had a good group and we did a lot of good things. We easily period in which he looked like he was skating in sand. could have made a run. I feel very confident about this group in saying that and the way that we were trending, the way we finished this year. • Zucker showed some guts in this game. He left the ice at 13:42 of the But it’s a fine line in the playoffs. … I know the three of us, we want to second period needing assistance from Crosby and athletic trainer Chris win and we’ll do whatever it takes to try to compete to do that every Stewart to even get to the rampway. All signs pointed to him being down year.” for the night. Yet, at the start of the third period, he came out of the tunnel and grinded through some kind of right leg ailment. • Crosby on the future of the franchise:

Zucker didn’t do nearly enough for his team over six games, but he left “I’ve never been one to try to be (general manager) and I’m not going to everything he had left on the ice in the sixth game. start now. Those guys want to win. We’ve been together for a long time. We’ve seen how much they care and their commitment. Don’t ever • Where would the Penguins have been without Carter? He led the team question that. There’s so many parts and it is a business. So, that’s up to in postseason goals with four. He was clearly reinvigorated by the late- other people. As far as what I can see and how I feel, there’s zero doubt season trade that landed him in Pittsburgh. He was easily the team’s in my mind that the group that we have is a really good group. We had an best player in this series. opportunity here and that’s why it stings so much.”

• Guentzel’s goal was certainly a positive development but it was clearly • Carter on what the Penguins core players may have left beyond this too little, too late. He had plenty of chances in this series but just couldn’t season: find a way to solve Sorokin or Semyon Varlamov, the Islanders’ other goaltender, until Game 6. “Up and down the lineup, it’s a team that can definitely compete for a Stanley Cup. The hunger is still in that room. That comes from the top • For the second consecutive year, McCann was a non-factor in the guys. Those guys want to win. They want to go out, they want to go back postseason. Whatever chemistry he developed with Carter and whatever to the top. You can see that. There’s some really disappointed guys in resurgence he found on his own in the regular season did not translate to that room. This year was a really good opportunity for this group and the postseason. unfortunately, we came up short here.”

• Letang had a pretty good series all things considered. He had six points • Sullivan on the core: (one goal, five assists) in six games and largely cut down the crippling errors that aggravate his harshest critics. “I believe in the core. This is the best core group of players that I’ve ever been around, bar none. They’re a passionate group, they’re generational He was not perfect in this series, but Letang was nowhere near being a talents, they can still compete at an extremely high level and they’ve problem for the Penguins. shown it game in and game out.”

• Whatever final hopes the Penguins had in the late stages of this game • Crosby put blame on himself when asked about the series: evaporated when Marino took a double minor for high sticking Islanders forward Matt Martin and drawing blood at 15:16 of the third. The “For so much of this series, we had the lead. We felt comfortable about Islanders just milked the clock and secured a victory. our game. We didn’t feel like we were on our heels very much throughout the series. It’s such a small margin for error. I feel like I didn’t make a big It was something of a fitting end to Marino’s otherwise forgettable play, whether it’s overtime or adding to a lead when we’re up 2-1. I look season. After such a steady and impressive rookie season in 2019-20, at some chances that I had, those kind of things are so important. You his sophomore campaign almost seemed like a regression. can’t overlook the importance of those. ”I thought we got better as the series went on. You look at two overtime games obviously that we lost, being able to win one of those would have been huge. I think we did a lot of good things. The last couple of games I thought we played really well. Made some big mistakes. Tonight, I miss a guy on a couple of chances that end up in the back of our net. Just a play here or there was really the difference. I’ve got to come up with that on either side of the puck.”

• Carter on the series:

“For the most part, I thought we played some really good hockey. We couldn’t capitalize on some of our chances throughout the series. Give them a lot of credit. They’ve done it for years. They play a very structured game, a very simple game and patient game. When they get opportunities, they capitalize on them. That’s how they win games. They played a heck of a series as well. It could have went either way to be honest with you, that’s how I feel.”

• Sullivan was asked about his goaltending and largely defended Jarry but not really answering the question:

“You win game as a team, you lose games as a team. It’s not any one position, it’s not any one person’s fault. Everybody is doing their best to be part of the solution. There’s a number of things that go on throughout the course of games. We could all be better. We all have to find ways to have success throughout this. We have to support one another through the process.”

• Carter on the Penguins giving up multiple leads in Game 6:

“Playoff hockey, you’ve got to tighten things up. You get a lead on the road, you’ve got to lock it in. We battled. We battled right to the end. There was no let-up in this group. It’s just a tough one to take right now.”

• Islanders coach Barry Trotz offered a profound thought on the value of teamwork:

“I’ve said to probably every team that I’ve had. If you want to go somewhere fast, go by yourself. If you want to go somewhere far, go with a group.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188925 Pittsburgh Penguins But as the face of the franchise, if not league, Crosby isn’t going to be traded. He sounds like a man who doesn’t want his longtime sidekicks to be, either.

Sidney Crosby not in favor of breaking up Penguins’ core “I know that the three of us,” Crosby said of he, Malkin and Letang, “we want to win, and we’ll do whatever it takes to try to compete to do that every year.”

CHRIS ADAMSKI

Wednesday, May 26, 2021 11:49 p.m. Tribune Review LOADED: 05.27.2021

The Penguins’ Sidney Crosby waits for the rest of the team to leave the ice after losing to the Islanders in Game 6 on Wednesday at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Shown in the moments after being eliminated from last year’s playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ longtime core of center Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang have been part of four consecutive postseason series defeats.

When Jim Rutherford abruptly resigned four months ago, a bunch of names were reported and suggested and presumably considered to replace him as Pittsburgh Penguins general manager.

One high-profile figure, apparently, never applied.

“I’ve never been one to try to be the GM,” Sidney Crosby said Wednesday, “and I’m not going to start now.”

The timing isn’t ideal to be put in charge of Penguins roster management. After yet another disappointing playoff flameout, the men in that role — Brian Burke and Ron Hextall — have some tough decisions to make.

At the forefront of those is what to do with the team’s celebrated longtime core of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. That trio has led the Penguins to three Stanley Cup titles and a 15-year run of postseason berths. But it also has presided over a run of four consecutive playoff series defeats, including a six-game elimination at the hands of the New York Islanders this year.

Crosby, as has been established, is not the general manager. But that didn’t mean he shied away from responding to a prevailing narrative that the Penguins need to break up their Crosby-Malkin-Letang core.

“Well, they’ve been saying that for four years, right?” Crosby said via video conference with media soon after a 5-3 defeat in Game 6 on Long Island. “So I don’t know if I’ll change anybody’s mind.

“But I think we did a lot of good things this year. You can look every year and analyze it differently, but I think this year we had a good group and did a lot of good things. We easily could have made a run. I feel really confident about this group with the way we were trending and the way we finished out this (regular season). But it’s a fine line in the playoffs.”

“We had an opportunity here, and that’s why it stings so much.”

The Penguins, by some measures, deserved a better fate. Among the 16 playoff teams, they ranked No. 1 in puck possession measured by 5-on-5 shot-attempts percentage (58.9%). Their coach, Mike Sullivan, said he believed his team carried the play in five of the series’ six games.

That followed a regular season in which the Penguins won what was thought to be a strong, competitive eight-team East division. This after playing the final 32 games of the regular season at a pace (25-7-2) that equates to a 125-point “normal” regular season.

But, teams are measured by their performances in the playoffs. And the Penguins have lost 13 of their past 16 playoff games. Considering Malkin will be 35, Crosby 34 and Letang 33 by the time next season begins and that Malkin and Letang are entering the final year of their contracts, there is ample case to be made the Penguins should move on from one (or even two) of their longtime triumvirate.

“Up and down the lineup,” veteran Jeff Carter said, “it’s a team that can compete for the Stanley Cup.”

Crosby, unsolicited, on Wednesday multiple times brought up his failures during Game 6. (He was on the ice for each of New York’s first three goals). He also referenced how he “didn’t make the big play” at times during the series — particularly during Monday’s Game 5 overtime loss. Crosby was limited to two points in the series. 1188926 Pittsburgh Penguins They managed 50 shots on goal in Game 5, yet could only bury two behind Sorokin. Their output in the previous two postseasons was putrid, totaling just 14 goals in eight games.

Tim Benz: How bad was Tristan Jarry's goaltending? So bad that it may Those issues aren’t on Jarry. Yet Sullivan doesn’t sound like a coach confuse the Penguins' offseason plans looking for changes.

“For a lot of this series, we really liked our overall team game,” Sullivan said in the wake of Wednesday’s elimination. “We were playing to our TIM BENZ strengths. We were playing to our identity. We were trying to dictate the terms out there. We were playing against a really good opponent as well. Wednesday, May 26, 2021 11:23 p.m. There is a fine line between winning and losing.”

Team captain Sidney Crosby also doesn’t seem willing to assign too The Islanders’ Brock Nelson’s shot beats Penguins goaltender Tristan much negativity to a third consecutive one-and-done postseason Jarry in the second period during game 6 on Wednesday May 26, 2021 campaign. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. “We did a lot of good things,” Crosby said Wednesday night. “For so OK, Penguins fans. Now you can say it. Goaltending really did cost them much of this series, we had the lead. We felt comfortable about our a series. game. We didn’t feel like we were on our heels very much at all in this series. It’s such a small margin for error.” This wasn’t Matt Murray getting outdueled by Carey Price or Braden Holtby. Or Marc-Andre Fleury losing to Henrik Lundqvist twice. Or the It feels like Crosby and Sullivan are just too close to the picture to Tampa Bay Lightning advancing by Fleury in a series when the power appreciate the view of the full canvas. Maybe they are too close to each play went 1-35 in seven games. other. Maybe they are too close to everyone else in the locker room.

Pens goalie Tristan Jarry was bad. New York Islanders goalie Ilya Hextall and Burke aren’t. And I bet significant changes will come in the Sorokin was really good. And the only reason the series lasted six games offseason. Those changes may start in goal. But they won’t end there. in the first place is that New York coach Barry Trotz was dumb enough to Nor should they. bench Sorokin for Semyon Varlamov for the two games the Islanders lost.

That’s why the Penguins are going home for the summer after a 5-3 Tribune Review LOADED: 05.27.2021 Game 6 elimination defeat on Long Island. The analytics-based Money Puck site determined Jarry’s performance to be the worst by a goalie in the playoffs since 2014.

The worst thing about Jarry’s goaltending in the 2020 playoffs is that I think it may cloud the reality of what the Penguins have become.

Jarry allowed 3.50 goals per game over six contests. He single-handedly blew Game 5 in overtime with a stickhandling gaffe. So one has to wonder how the Penguins new management team of general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke will analyze the franchise’s postseason disappointment.

Do they rationalize and say, “Look, we had a first-place team that was let down by an inadequate goaltender we need to trade. So let’s not change much.”

Maybe they even go so far as to believe, “It’s a first-place team, and Jarry was in his first playoff series as a starter. He’ll get better. Let’s not overreact with the roster, or him specifically.”

Yes. Jarry’s goaltending was bad. But Hextall and Burke can’t evaluate the future of this team based exclusively on Jarry’s recent failures.

They have to be honest with themselves. We have to be honest with ourselves. With or without Jarry, this is who the Penguins are now.

They are a good regular-season team that can’t win in the playoffs.

Again. Just as they were for those frustrating years between Stanley Cup titles from 2010-2015. Tons of talent. Always contending. Usually among the favorites to hoist the Cup. And often eliminated a round or two earlier than expected, falling to a lesser-seeded team.

They’ve been bounced in the first round each of the last three years. They’ve lost four playoff series in a row. They haven’t even gotten to a Game 7 in the process of any one of them. The last two teams to beat them — the Islanders and the Montreal Canadiens — have finished behind them in the standings.

Let’s not act like this is a new phenomenon. The Penguins were upset by lesser-seeded teams in every year between 2010-14 as well.

The small matter of winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships blots out some of those bad memories. Unfortunately, though, that comparison shows us the early success of the Mike Sullivan era is starting to regress in the same way Dan Bylsma’s did.

The Penguins may have scored enough to win if they got better goaltending in Game 1 (4-3 overtime loss) and Game 6. But they had to grind through a 2-1 win in Game 2 when Varlamov gifted them the game’s first goal. 1188927 Pittsburgh Penguins “There’s some really disappointed guys in that room,” Carter said. “This year was a really good opportunity for this group and, unfortunately, we came up short here.”

Penguins enter uncertain offseason after being eliminated by Islanders

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.27.2021

SETH RORABAUGH

Wednesday, May 26, 2021 9:16 p.m.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — A favorite idiom of Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is “high stakes.”

He refers to it often when he evaluates his players and how they perform in “high-stakes” games.

On Wednesday, the Penguins played in a game with the highest of stakes.

Survival.

They were unable to ante up what was necessary to keep their season going as they fell to the New York Islanders, 5-3, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Game 6 of their first-round series. The Islanders claimed the series 4-2, whereas the Penguins entered another uncertain offseason.

“You work so hard all year long for the opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup,” Sullivan said via video conference. “That’s what we’re all in it for. That’s why it stings. Because you care so much. I know this group of players cares, I know how hard our coaching staff works as well and the care factor that goes into trying to put this team into trying to put this team into the best position possible.

“It stings. It hurts.”

Further discomfort could be coming in the ensuing weeks or months. With general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke entering their first offseason with the organization, they aren’t likely to maintain the status quo for a franchise that has failed to win a postseason round since 2018.

“There’s so many parts, and it is a business,” captain Sidney Crosby said. “So, that’s up to other people. As far as what I can see and how I feel, there’s zero doubt in my mind that the group that we have is a really good group. We had an opportunity here, and that’s why it stings so much.”

The Penguins took a lead 1 minute, 27 seconds into regulation thanks to forward Jeff Carter’s team-leading fourth goal of the postseason, but the Islanders responded at 5:16 of the first when Beauvillier skated past Crosby and beat beleaguered goaltender Tristan Jarry with a backhander for his third goal.

A power-play goal by forward Jake Guentzel, his first of the playoffs, put the Penguins back in front 2-1 at 11:12 of the first.

The Islanders persisted and tied the score 2-2 at 12:25 when forward Kyle Palmieri collected his third score by cleaning up a rebound.

Penguins forward Jason Zucker scored his second of the postseason 1:53 into the second period to put his team up 3-2.

Goals by Islanders forward Brock Nelson — his second at 8:35 of the middle frame — and defenseman Ryan Pulock — his second 13 seconds later — gave the hosts a lead for good. Nelson scored again at 11:34 to secure victory.

Jarry, who entered the game under heavy scrutiny after a puck-handling gaffe cost his team in a double-overtime loss during Game 5 on Monday, did little to silence detractors as he allowed five goals on only 24 shots.

For the series, Jarry had a 3.18 goals-against average and a dismal save percentage of .888.

“You win game games as a team,” Sullivan said when asked about his goaltending. “You lose games as a team.”

What this team will look like when training camp convenes in four months is anyone’s guess. 1188928 Pittsburgh Penguins to help win the loose pucks. It’s a collective effort off the draws. It’s not just the center icemen but that’s certainly an area where we’ve talked about trying to improve.

Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom a 'game-time decision' for Game 6 “We did (in Game 5). We were 52.5% which was a big improvement from (Game 4). That’s something that we’re trying to make sure we bear down and pay attention to the details.”

SETH RORABAUGH Attendance at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for Game 6 is expected to be increase with loosened capacity restrictions in regards to Wednesday, May 26, 2021 1:32 p.m. covid-19.

For Games 3 and 4 of the series, attendance was listed as 6,800. New York Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom is helped off the ice in the According to the Islanders, they can up that figure to 9,000 for Game 6. third period during Game 5 of his team’s first-round playoff series with the Full capacity for hockey listed as 13,900. Penguins on Monday May 24, 2021 PPG Paints Arena. Even with less than half of the building filled, the atmosphere for Games UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Officially, New York Islanders forward Oliver 3 and 4 was chaotic and rollicking. Wahlstrom is a “game-time decision” for Game 6 of his team’s first-round Each side appears eager to see that amplified for Game 6. playoff series with the Penguins at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday. “Players love to play in an exciting environment,” Sullivan said. “The fans are such an important aspect of that, whether you’re playing at home or Unofficially, it’s difficult to envision seeing him suit up less than 48 hours on the road. Our guys love playing in front of an energetic fan base and after he suffered a gruesome injury during Game 5, a 3-2 double- an energetic environment. It just makes the experience that much better overtime win at PPG Paints Arena on Monday. for everyone.” At 11:57 of the third period, Wahlstrom and Penguins defenseman Mike “(It’s) a special building obviously because of its history,” Trotz said. “The Matheson raced for a loose puck in the Penguins’ left corner. Matheson atmosphere is hard to replicate because of the quaintness of it and the initiated contact planting his left shoulder into Wahlstrom’s right shoulder, passion of our fans. We’ve got to use every ounce of their good vibes, or sending Wahlstrom crashing awkwardly into the boards. whatever you want to call it, to get by this very good hockey team in Upon landing, Wahlstrom’s right leg was pinned under his body. Pittsburgh.” Additionally, his head jerked violently to the right.

After laying on the ice for several moments, Wahlstrom skated to the Tribune Review LOADED: 05.27.2021 dressing room with assistance and did not return.

There was no penalty or supplemental discipline for Matheson.

Islanders coach Barry Trotz didn’t offer much of a remonstrance to the hit.

“There was a little bit of an objection from our bench,” Trotz said on Wednesday via video conference. “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.”

The Islanders have not disclosed the nature of Wahlstrom’s injury (or injuries).

Matheson expressed concern for Wahlstrom’s well-being on Tuesday.

“Obviously, I hope he’s doing OK,” Matheson said. “I saw the replay after the game. It just looked like he got tangled up. I never want to see anybody getting hurt. From my perspective, going into that play, they have a hard forecheck. So there was a loose puck and I kind of just tried to play hard and gain position onto that puck. It just seemed like he got tangled up a little bit. I hope he’s doing OK.”

Should Wahlstrom indeed be scratched for Game 6, Trotz indicated forward Travis Zajac would replace him in the lineup.

A 15-year veteran, Zajac has been a healthy scratch for the first five games of the series.

Crosby’s numbers in faceoffs down

Through the first five games of the series, Sidney Crosby’s faceoff numbers have been sub-par, especially given his usual success in that area of the game.

Having won only 46 of the 111 draws he has taken, Crosby’s success rate of 41.4% is well below his regular season figure of 53.6% (676 of 1,262).

“Sid has times when he’s very effective in the faceoff circle and other times it’s a struggle,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “I don’t think he’s any different than any other center iceman. That’s probably somewhat of a normal circumstance. We’ve just got to work at it. We’ve talked about it as a team, just as a group, trying to bear down. It’s not always about the center icemen. Seven out of 10 of the draws land somewhere around the faceoff circle. So it’s the players that are on the flanks that have got to try 1188929 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins recent elimination game history shows mixed results

ZACH BRENDZA

Wednesday, May 26, 2021 11:30 a.m.

The Pittsburgh Penguins face off against the New York Islanders in Game 1 of a Stanley Cup first round playoff series in Pittsburgh on May 16.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will play the New York Islanders on Wednesday night in a game that could see the Pens eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

A look back at recent games in which the Penguins faced a win-or-go- home scenario shows mixed results.

The team has been 4-6 in their past 10 games when facing possible postseason elimination.

Over those 10 games, the Penguins have a slight edge in goals, outscoring opponents 19-17. In the four games they won, the team scores an average of three goals per game.

The last time the Penguins won a postseason elimination game was Game 7 of the 2017 Eastern Conference final against the Ottawa Senators.

Interestingly, the team was 4-0 in their last two Cup runs (2016 and 2017).

Home ice, statistically, doesn’t seem to make much difference in their past 10 elimination games, as the Penguins are 2-3 at home, 2-2 on the road and 0-1 at a neutral site. Last season’s playoffs were held at two “bubble” sites.

If Game 6 vs. the Islanders goes to overtime, it doesn’t bode well for the Penguins — the Pens are 1-2 in elimination games that go to overtime.

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188930 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins have to say stuff like that. But there are two major differences between Sullivan’s first two Penguins teams that won Cups and the four most recent editions.

Tim Benz: Penguins must reverse recent trend of elimination-game The 2016 and 2017 teams could score enough goals to win in the failure to stay alive playoffs — 3.06 per game over those two years. Starting with those two losses to the Caps to close out 2018, the Pens are only averaging 2.07 goals per playoff contest since then.

TIM BENZ The Stanley Cup championship teams had multiple quality options at goaltender. Matt Murray, Marc-Andre Fleury and even Jeff Zatkoff won Wednesday, May 26, 2021 6:13 a.m. playoff games en route to those titles.

These Penguins have a struggling Tristan Jarry and that’s it. Backup Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen celebrates his goal as Casey DeSmith is injured. Third-stringer Maxime Lagace has no playoff Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry, Kris Letang and Zach experience and just two NHL starts since 2018. Aston-Reese react during the third period of an NHL hockey playoff Penguins fans probably want to rely on history as a reason for optimism game on Aug. 7, 2020, in Toronto. as opposed to looking for reasons why this year’s team will prevail. Ever since the New York Islanders put the Pittsburgh Penguins on the Well, I guess I can’t blame them. History books are easier to read than brink of first-round elimination by winning Monday’s Game 5 in double tea leaves. But don’t squint too hard. Because the ugly recent history is overtime, you have heard a lot of talk from the Penguins about more readily forgotten than highlighted championship glory. maintaining flickering faith based on their past playoff experiences. And it is a lot less appealing. “Our players are well aware of the circumstance that we are in. We’ve been in this in the past. And we’ve found a way to have success,” said Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network joins me to preview Game 6 Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan Tuesday. against the Islanders. We talk about the goaltending disparity in the series between Tristan Jarry and Ilya Sorokin, Penguins goal-scoring True. For Sullivan and a handful of his players, they remember being deficiencies, the upcoming expansion draft and hope for the Penguins to down 3-2 in a best-of-seven playoff series and coming back to win. bounce back from the Game 5 heartbreaker. That occurred in the 2016 Eastern Conference Final when — like this year — the Penguins lost Game 5 at home. Tribune Review LOADED: 05.27.2021 Then they went to Tampa Bay and beat the Lightning 5-2. Then they won Game 7 at PPG Paints Arena 2-1 before washing out the San Jose Sharks in six games to win the Stanley Cup.

In 2017, much of that same group stared down a one-game elimination situation by beating the Washingtin Capitals in the second-round, then the Ottawa Senators in double overtime of a Game 7 after they had lost Game 6 of that Eastern Conference Final in Canada.

“Those guys in the room are going to have to lead by example,” said winger Bryan Rust, who had three goals during those two wins over the Lightning. “They are going to have to come out and work hard, play hard and try to lead this team. A lot of those guys are leaders of this team and everyone else is going to have to follow suit.”

That’s great. But, for the majority of Penguins who will be on the ice Wednesday, they know a lot more about elimination-game disappointment in black and gold. And they know nothing of success in those situations.

That’s because each of the last three times they’ve faced elimination games they have lost.

• After losing Game 5 against the Capitals 6-3 on the road in the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Penguins dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the Caps at home in their first chance to be bounced in that series.

• Following three straight defeats to open their first-round series in 2019 versus the Islanders, the Pens allowed themselves to be swept with a meek 3-1 loss in Game 4.

• In a best-of-five 2020 qualifying-round contest, the Penguins split the first two games of “bubble hockey” against the Montreal Canadiens before losing Game 3, 4-3. Then the upset-minded Canadiens dropped the Penguins 2-0 in their first shot to advance.

So that’s three straight elimination-game defeats with two goals in more than nine periods of hockey.

Turn down the Bee Gees and turn up Billy Currington. Because for the Penguins in recent years it’s been a lot more about “Let Me Down Easy” and a lot less about “Staying Alive.”

“We can’t sit around and feel like we deserve more than we got and just pack it in,” said defenseman Mike Matheson following Tuesday’s practice. “No matter what order it comes in, it’s the first team that wins four games. And we still have an opportunity to do that.” 1188931 Pittsburgh Penguins In terms of tactics, tell me what you want Sullivan to change specifically, then I’ll tell you whether he’ll do it or not.

Beyond all that, the changes you seek for the Penguins are unlikely to U mad, bro?: Penguins fans boil over following Tristan Jarry's Game 5 occur until the offseason. Then I bet we see a bunch. flub Especially if that offseason starts Thursday morning.

Shawn is just mad at the NHL playoffs in general. TIM BENZ “I would rather watch a regular season full of fast skating, clean hockey Wednesday, May 26, 2021 6:04 a.m. and not worry about the Cup than see the Penguins change to a brawler team.

“The playoffs are a joke. They throw out the rules at the end of the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry reacts to the New York regular season.” Islanders’ Josh Bailey’s game-winning goal in the second overtime period during Game 5 on Monday, May 24, 2021 at PPG Paints Arena. Hold on a minute. Are you telling me the NHL has “rules” in the regular season? I had to strategize around Penguins games to figure out when to release “U mad, bro?” this week. Since when!? Can I get confirmation on this?

If I planned to post it in its usual Thursday morning slot, I’d have to wait Actually, before Game 3, Chuck was feeling quite optimistic. until Wednesday night’s Game 6 between the Penguins and New York Disagree, Chuck. At this rate, I expect Ilya Sorokin to shut out the Islanders ended. And I’d have to write my postgame column first. Penguins in Game 6. Then he’ll move upstate and intercept Ben If the Pens lost, I’d have to sift through the mass volume of season- Roethlisberger twice as a member of the in the Steelers ending angst, bile and frothing reader responses before finding the most season opener. representative collection of unhinged emotion possible for this week’s “U Alan knows who could’ve saved the Penguins in Game 5 against New mad, bro?” edition. York. If Game 6 goes like Game 5 did, that could take … years! “They simply lack sharpshooters. (Phil) Kessel would have had a hat- Even worse — and hold onto your hats for this one — what if the trick.” Penguins actually … win it? Then how come he didn’t have one in any of the games against the I know. I know. It’s a long shot. But then everybody would be in a good Islanders in 2019 before he was traded? Or any goals on the final nine mood. And my cup o’ cranky that usually runneth over may go dry. shots he took over the last three games of that series?

Luckily for me (and you), a gift from the hockey gods fell into my lap: Let’s conclude with this post from the comments section at the bottom of Tristan Jarry’s horrific misplay and a Penguins 3-2 double overtime loss my column recapping Game 5. It comes from “WG.” He’s my favorite kind in Game 5. of reader.

That means there is plenty of frustration to meet our usual high Thursday “WG” is your quintessential “why don’t these spoiled athletes go out and standards on a Wednesday. get a real man’s job like me?” kind of guy.

So with the Penguins down 3-2 in their first-round series to the Islanders, “Good! Too bad little millionaires. Go get a real job in the mines, sissies.” here is an all-hockey anger edition of “U mad, bro?” Tremendous hockey analysis, “WG.” A day early. But not too soon. Tell you what, if the Pens force a Game 7, how about you and Sidney Bill has a two-word response for Tristan Jarry’s postseason thus far. Crosby switch jobs? Sid will take your shift in “the mines.” And you take Sid’s shift on skates getting cross-checked in the head for two-and-a-half Geez. And I thought I was being harsh with my “Neil O’Jarry” reference. hours by Scott Mayfield?

Josh Bailey tends to score enough against the Penguins on his own. My guess is you’ll be running back to “the mines” before the ice crew Counting the playoffs, he’s got more goals (18) and points (51) against skates out for the first television timeout. the Pens than any other team in his career. Sissy. He needed no help from Jarry.

R.R. has grown impatient with Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan. Tribune Review LOADED: 05.27.2021 “With superior stats in Game 5 — all except the final score — if Sullivan doesn’t change something for Game 6, he is part of the problem not the solution.”

In terms of the roster, I think because the Penguins dominated the way that they did, that’s the exact reason why you won’t see any changes, R.R.

Not many of substance anyway.

When the whole team plays well and the other team’s goalie steals it while your goalie blows it, who are you supposed to bench? I mean, Freddy Gaudreau for Evan Rodrigues? Go for it.

They kept the top line together in Game 5, and it was great. It just didn’t score enough. So should Sullivan make the change people were calling for and elevate Jeff Carter while demoting Bryan Rust now?

That seems backward, doesn’t it?

The only thing that Sullivan could change that would make any sense is the goalie. And Casey DeSmith isn’t making the trip to New York due to injury. Do you yank Jarry in favor of Maxime Lagace? Keep in mind, it’d be his playoff debut and just his third game since the start of 2018. 1188932 Pittsburgh Penguins operations Brian Burke will ultimately be the ones who decide if, when or how the Penguins will move on from the group that brought so much to Pittsburgh.

Sidney Crosby points the finger at himself following quiet postseason, Asked if he’ll weigh in, Crosby said, “I’ve never one to try to be GM. I’m discusses keeping the core together not going to start now.”

“As far as what I can see and what I feel, there’s zero doubt in my mind that the group that we had is a really good group and we had an Mike DeFabo opportunity here,” he continued. “That’s why it stings so much.”

5/27/2021 Asked a similar question, coach Mike Sullivan likewise doubled down on his faith in the big three.

“I believe in the core,” Sullivan said. “This is the best core group of UNIONDALE, N.Y. – After the handshake line ended and reality began to players that I’ve ever been around, bar none. They’re generational set in, Sidney Crosby stood at the tunnel entrance leading to the talents that can still compete at a very high level and they’ve shown it Penguins’ dressing room. game in and game out.” Before each player stepped off the ice at Nassau Coliseum, they were Style changes? greeted by the captain. An encouraging word here. A stick tap on the pads there. The Penguins prioritized pace above all else with so many of their recent moves. Speed is the first word that comes to mind when it comes to the Then, after doing what he could to lift up teammates, Crosby stepped in additions of Mike Matheson, Kasperi Kapanen, Jason Zucker, Brandon front of a microphone – and pointed a finger at himself. Tanev and others who have joined the lineup in the last two seasons. “It’s such a small margin for error,” Crosby said. “I feel like I didn’t make a But is it worth wondering if it’s time to pivot in some way stylistically? big play, whether it’s overtime or adding to a lead when we’re up 2-1. I look at some chances I had. Those kinds of things are so important.” “We didn’t lose this series because we’re not big enough,” Sullivan said. “Where the roster goes moving forward, that will be a discussion for the Part of this is Crosby being Crosby. When teams lose, leaders step up to offseason. But this particular group that we had, I can’t say enough about shoulder the blame, say the right thing and take the burden off of them.” scapegoats. Crosby especially holds himself to the highest standard as one of the game’s all-time greats.

But there’s also truth to his comments as well. Post Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 Crosby helped set the tone for the series with a possessed Game 1 that included a goal. Then in the five games after that? He tallied just one assist.

It continued during Wednesday’s 5-3 loss, when Crosby failed to tally a point and was on the ice for three of the five Islanders goals.

Crosby, on a separate instance in the post-game press conference, was the one pointing out that minus-3 stat. The defensive shortcomings were just as surprising as the lack of offensive production. This season in particular, Crosby surely will wind up on a number of Selke Trophy ballots. Who knows, he might even be a finalist. Yet, on two instances in particular, a generational talent had a chance to make a defensive play and didn’t.

On the Islanders’ first goal, Anthony Beauvillier raced past the flatfooted Crosby and won a foot race before burning Jarry. Then in the second period, with the Penguins holding a one-goal lead, Josh Bailey ripped a cross-ice pass through Crosby’s outstretched stick to set Brock Nelson up for the game-tying goal.

“We made some big mistakes obviously tonight,” Crosby said “I miss a guy on a couple chances that end up in the back of our net. Just a play here or there really was the difference. I’ve got to come up with that on either side of the puck.”

Keep the core together?

Crosby’s underwhelming postseason will only contribute even more to some of the questions that surrounds the Penguins in the offseason. Alongside Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, the Penguins’ core has hosted three Stanley Cup parades and added several chapters to the club’s championship tradition.

As recently as 2016 and 2017, they looked like a group built to keep on contending for years to come. However, after three consecutive first- round exits and four consecutive series losses, there will be questions about the direction this team will go.

Asked how he would respond to someone who said the Penguins should shake up the core, Crosby answered, “They’ve been saying that for four years, right?”

“I know that the three of us, we want to win,” he said. “We’ll do whatever we can to compete to try to do that every year.”

While the first-round exit was the same result as it’s been in recent years, the thing that is different is that there are new bosses in charge of that decision. General manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey 1188933 Pittsburgh Penguins They said it: Jeff Carter on the core: “Up and down the lineup, it’s a team that can

definitely compete for the Stanley Cup. The hunger is still in the room. Stick taps, chirps and observations from Penguins-Islanders Game 6 That comes from the top guys. Those guys want to win. They want to go out and they want to get to the top. You can see that.”

Sidney Crosby on his own performance this postseason: “It's such a Mike DeFabo small margin for error. I feel like I didn't make a big play, whether it's overtime or adding to a lead when we're up 2-1. I look at some chances I 5/27/2021 had — those kinds of things are so important and you can't overlook the importance of those.”

Stick taps, chirps and observations from Penguins-Islanders Game 6 Mike Sullivan on goaltending: “You win games as a team, you lose games as a team. It’s not any one position. It’s not any one person’s For the third consecutive year, the Penguins’ playoff run ended in the first fault." round. Tristan Jarry played his third inconsistent game of the six-game series, as the Islanders bounced the Penguins, 5-3. New York took the Next up: Big decisions. The Penguins’ latest first-round failure should series, 4-2, and advances to play the Boston Bruins. give the new general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke plenty to think about as they navigate a flat salary It was over when: The Penguins’ season was already on life support with cap and decide how they want to reconfigure the roster going forward. 4:44 left when John Marino high-sticked Matt Martin, who started gushing blood. The double minor poured that last shovel full of dirt on a disappointing postseason. By the time Marino got out of the box, the Post Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 Islanders were shooting on an empty net.

Turning point: If there was any hope that the Penguins could win in spite of Jarry, thirteen critical seconds changed everything. With the Penguins leading 3-2 in the second period thanks to a goal from Jason Zucker, Brock Nelson buried a cross-ice pass from Josh Bailey. Even before the fans could to retake their seats, the Islanders took the lead, 4-3, on Ryan Pulock’s rifle from the point.

Chirps:

Jarry’s softies: A series full of soft goals ended with a few more of them in Jarry’s net. The second goal began with a relatively innocent shot from distance. Jarry left a rebound waiting for Kyle Palmieri on the doorstep. The worst of the bunch was the fifth goal, when Brock Nelson flicked a shot from the top of the circle that skittered through Jarry somehow. Throughout the game — and the series as a whole — he never appeared comfortable or confident in net.

Ceci’s decision-making at the blue line: Jarry is allowed to stop pucks. But he wasn’t the only one committing miscues that led to the five goals. On the Islanders’ second goal, defenseman Cody Ceci had two chance to clear the Penguins’ zone. Both times he tried overly aggressive passes through the middle of the ice that led to turnovers. Moments after the second one, Palmieri scored on a rebound attempt. In the continuum of blame for the second goal, Ceci was second behind Jarry.

Crosby’s postseason production: Sidney Crosby will go down as one of the game’s all-time greats. He sure didn’t play like it in this series. The captain set the tone with a Game 1 goal, tallied just one assist in the four games that followed. Then in the critical Game 6, he was on the ice for three goals, including when he tried in vain to break up the cross-ice pass to Nelson for the Islanders’ third goal of the game.

Stick taps:

Jason Zucker’s warrior mentality: Zucker likely didn’t enter this game at 100% after taking a maintenance day on Tuesday. Twice he blocked shots with his foot that sent him crumpling to the ice in pain. After the second one, he had to be escorted to the dressing room. But somehow, he re-emerged for the third.

Jeff Carter’s wheels: When the Penguins acquired Carter, it was fair to wonder how a 36-year-old would fit into Mike Sullivan’s up-tempo system. He’s proven time and again that even though he’s accumulated 16 years and 1,000-plus games of wear on the tires, he still has the wheels. He showed them off just 1:27 into the game when he raced ahead in transition to beat netminder Ilya Sorokin.

Malkin’s physicality: The stage was set for Jake Guentzel’s first goal of the series began thanks to Evgeni Malkin asserting himself. The big Russian laid a hard, clean hit on Matt Martin along the boards. Islanders Scott Mayfield retaliated with a cross-check that put the Penguins on the power play.

Zajac’s goal-saving play: Kapanen had the puck on his stick inside the blue paint after deking a defender and goalie Ilya Sorokin. But Travis Zajac flew around the back of the net and was there with a great stick to save a goal. Zajac was only in the lineup because of Oliver Wahlstrom’s injury. 1188934 Pittsburgh Penguins If Sullivan is going to stick around in 2021-22, middle ground will presumably need to be found in terms of roster construction and an altered on-ice identity.

Seven questions the Penguins must answer in what could be a 3. What might that identity look like? transformative offseason Hextall, who handles the day-to-day duties in the front office, hasn’t said much about his vision for the Penguins. His track record suggests that he will be patient and calculated while keeping at least one eye on the Matt Vensel longer-term outlook.

5/27/2021 Burke, meanwhile, has been more outspoken about his thoughts on team-building, whether it was in his old media role or in new interviews.

And you have to think Hextall started on the same page here. If they For the third year in a row, the Penguins were one-and-done in the didn’t, that’s a problem. playoffs. Two comments Burke made to the Post-Gazette this season stand out. Wednesday’s loss to the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum sent The first is that he believes that title teams should be built from the them home to Pittsburgh for what may be their most transformative crease out, with rock-solid goaltending like he had in Anaheim and blue- offseason in years. liners with some bulk and physicality. Many of his past teams had some General manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian big boys up front, too. Burke were hired in February to oversee the final years of the Sidney The second is his statement about bringing a knife to a gunfight. You can Crosby era. They sat tight and observed the team for a few months. Now bet they will be looking to bring in one brawler to serve as a deterrent it’s their time to act. when opponents try to pick on Crosby and whichever other skill players They must make decisions about the future of the Big Three, their Cup- are sticking around. winning coach, postseason flop Tristan Jarry and the team’s 4. Will your favorite player get dealt? philosophical direction. If Hextall and Burke indeed want to make significant changes to the Here are seven questions the Penguins must answer in the coming roster, they are going to need to give something to get something. That months: means we could see more members of their back-to-back Cup clubs get 1. Will the Big 3 get broken up? traded away this summer.

First off, Crosby isn’t going anywhere. Burke has said the Penguins view Jake Guentzel took a pounding in the playoffs and for the second straight him as their one untouchable player and the captain reaffirmed his year couldn’t carry his prolific production into the postseason. Bryan Rust commitment to the franchise a few months ago in the lead-up to his is 29, has one more season left on his contract and is due for a 1,000th NHL game. But they could look to move on from Evgeni Malkin significant pay bump. or Kris Letang this summer. Jason Zucker and Kasperi Kapanen are pricey middle-six wingers. The Malkin and Letang are both 34 and heading into the final year of their Penguins have that logjam on the left side of their defense to clear. Cody contracts. The Penguins can sign them to extensions this offseason. So Ceci, Teddy Blueger and Zach Aston-Reese are notable free agents. And they will likely have to decide now if one or both players will be a part of then there’s Jarry. their longer-term plan. Some guys will surely be goners. But right now, we aren’t sure which Letang had a strong season, good enough to earn Norris Trophy votes, ones. and he stayed healthy. He bought into the tactical tweaks the Penguins 5. What will the Penguins do in goal? made and his production from the blue line helped them win the East Division despite myriad injuries. His incredible work ethic has so far You might have heard that Hextall is a former NHL goalie. And he did staved off a steep decline. more than just swing his stick at Robbie Brown. Anyway, he will prioritize this position. Ditto for Burke, who has a ring in part due to the dazzling Malkin, meanwhile, had his second subpar season in the last three years. play of J.S. Giguere. He was in a funk for the first 20 games, snapped out of it for a couple of weeks then went down with an injury. He gave it his all playing on one Jarry’s first postseason as a No. 1 was a disaster. He cost the Penguins leg this postseason. with soft goals in Game 1, then spaced out in double overtime in the crippling Game 5 loss. The 26-year-old has talent but there are serious As Burke and Hextall proceed with these two all-time Penguins, they will doubts about his composure. have to weigh their immense sentimental value to the city and their close friendships with Crosby against their projected contributions to the club We will see if the Penguins bring back Jarry. But either way, they have to going forward. explore free agency and the trade market for a proven option between the pipes. Tough conversations with those two, who both have at least some level of no-move protection to dictate where they play in 2021-22, could be on Dependable backup Casey DeSmith is under contract for one more the horizon. season.

2. Will coach Mike Sullivan be back? 6. What about the expansion draft?

Mike Sullivan is a heck of a coach, one who helped bring the Stanley The Penguins would be wise to learn from the 2018 expansion draft, Cup back to Pittsburgh and in turn picked up the collective pace of the when NHL teams helped the Vegas Golden Knights build an immediate league. If the Penguins opt to move on from him, he will have a new gig Cup finalist by doing side deals. Just let the Seattle Kraken pick a player as soon as he wants it. and move on, fellas.

But it is fair to wonder if a new voice is needed behind the bench. You Obviously, the calculus may change if they make a trade or two before can chalk up this playoff loss to shaky goaltending, or their 2020 no-show the July 21 expansion draft. But right now, protecting seven forwards and to the pandemic, or the 2019 sweep to the Islanders to an ill-fitting roster. three blue-liners is the way to go as opposed to keeping eight skaters But zoom out and the 10,000-foot view reveals three first-round exits in a regardless of position. row to less-talented teams. Up front, Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel and Rust are locks. They can then Throw in the fact that Burke and Hextall, despite having a lot of respect protect three of Zucker, Kapanen, Blueger, Brandon Tanev, Jeff Carter for Sullivan, aren’t the ones who hired him — and that they have their and Jared McCann. own ideas about what it takes to win playoff games today that may differ from Sullivan’s — and it would not be a surprise to see the Penguins go On defense, Letang and Brian Dumoulin are keepers and John Marino is in a different direction there. exempt. The Penguins can protect Ceci, Mike Matheson or Marcus Pettersson. In goal, Pittsburgh will have to leave either Jarry or DeSmith unprotected.

7. Is the championship window shut?

With the current group, it would sure appear so. They have lost 13 of their last 16 playoff games under Sullivan and their stars are not getting any younger.

But there is hope that Hextall and Burke can make moves to squeeze one more Cup out of the Crosby era. It will require a long look at the coaching staff and personnel and possibly a hot streak like we saw from Jim Rutherford in his first two years here. But if Crosby ages gracefully, the Penguins will have a chance.

Post Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188935 Pittsburgh Penguins “Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry!” Jarry posted a .888 save percentage while allowing 21 goals in six

games. Jarry falters again, Penguins eliminated by Islanders in Game 6 He was far from the only Penguin who struggled in the series. Crosby had another quiet postseason, with a minus-3 rating in the loss and just two points against the Islanders. Guentzel took a beating and scored only Matt Vensel once on 25 shots. Brian Dumoulin had two costly lapses in Game 5. Jared McCann had just one assist. 5/27/2021 But even with just average goaltending, the Penguins probably win this

series. UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The chants started raining down on Tristan Jarry at Instead, they have now lost 13 of their last 16 playoff games under 6:36 p.m., the raucous crowd at Nassau Coliseum letting the Penguins Sullivan. They are 0-4 in elimination games since their consecutive goalie know before the puck had even dropped that they expected it to Stanley Cup wins. be another rough night. “The hunger is still in that room,” Carter said. “And that comes from the “Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry!” top guys. Those guys want to win. They want to get back to the top. You Jarry had given away two wins to the New York Islanders already, the can see that. There’s some really disappointed guys in that room. This last one quite literally with his stickhandling gaffe in Monday’s double- year was a really good opportunity for this group, and unfortunately we overtime loss in Pittsburgh. Now the series, and a once-promising came up short here.” season, hung in the balance in Game 6. A potentially transformative Pittsburgh entered the 2021 playoffs with high hopes after the first-place offseason was waiting if the Penguins lost. Penguins overcame so much adversity during the first two months of the “Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry!” season.

Jarry would melt down one more time Wednesday night, costing the Training camp started in January with the backdrop of the COVID-19 Penguins yet another game in their first-round playoff series. The pandemic and the team took great care in keeping players, coaches and Islanders eliminated them with a 5-3 victory. The Islanders won three staffers safe. straight games to take the series, 4-2. Jarry, their new No. 1 goalie, had to bounce back after a worrisome start. Jarry stopped just 19 of 24 shots for the Penguins, who never stood a Two weeks into the regular season, general manager Jim Rutherford chance. blindsided the franchise with his abrupt resignation during a long, snowy Two weeks ago, Sidney Crosby believed these Penguins would go on a road trip. deep playoff run. Instead they went one-and-done, blowing three leads in Few teams had players miss more games due to injury than the Game 6. Penguins. Early on, it was their blue line that was decimated. When “We had a good group and did a lot of good things,” Pittsburgh’s captain March rolled around, they lost a few key forwards, most notably Evgeni said. “We easily could have made a run. I feel pretty confident about this Malkin, for extended stretches. Goalie Casey DeSmith’s recent injury group.” eliminated that fallback option against the Islanders.

After another season ended in disappointment, Mike Sullivan didn’t want Despite it all, the Penguins got rolling in March, climbed the East Division to place the burden of blame on his goalie. But the coach’s assessment standings and surged down the stretch to win their first division title since that he liked the way the team played in five of the six games in the 2013-14. series spoke volumes. But for the second time in three years, the Islanders took them down in “Listen, you win games as a team. You lose games as a team,” he said. the first round. Now franchise-altering decisions are waiting for them in “It’s not any one position or any one person’s fault. Everyone’s doing Pittsburgh. their best to try to be part of the solution. … We’ve got to support one Will new general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey another through the process.” operations Brian Burke bring back Sullivan after another early exit at the Jeff Carter scored 1:27 into Wednesday’s game but that lead lasted less hands of a less talented team? How much will they alter the team’s on- than four minutes. The Islanders raced up the ice on a 2-on-2 and ice identity? Did Malkin, Kris Letang or another Cup winner just play their Anthony Beauvillier beat Crosby to the net. He roofed a backhand to last game with the Penguins? score on New York’s first shot on Jarry. “I’ve never been one to try to be GM and I’m not going to start now,” “Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry!” Crosby said, adding, “It is a business. So that’s up to other people. As far as what I see and how I feel, there’s zero doubt in my mind that the Jake Guentzel scored his first of the series to restore the lead. But Jarry group we have is a really good group and we had an opportunity here. gave it right back just over a minute later. Jean-Gabriel Pageau flung the puck on goal. Jarry had a chance to smother his shot but let a rebound “And that’s why it stings so much.” leak out to Kyle Palmieri. And, yes, the Penguins have a massive question mark in the crease after After that soft goal, Guentzel fired the puck into the boards in frustration. shaky play and a shocking lack of poise from Jarry doomed them in these playoffs. “Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry!” After the final buzzer blared at the end of Wednesday’s loss and perhaps Sullivan during his Penguins tenure has typically displayed a deft touch an era in Penguins hockey, Islanders fans serenaded the goalie one last when it comes to making a goalie change. But he opted to stick with time. Jarry even though a clear lack of confidence in Jarry affected the composure of the guys in front of him. He declined to say why he didn’t “Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry! Jarrrrrry!” put in backup goalie Maxime Lagace.

Jason Zucker scored on a deflection 1:53 into the second period to make Post Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 it 3-2. But the Islanders soon buried Jarry and the Penguins in an avalanche of goals.

Beauvillier blew by Crosby at the blue line and placed a one-timer on a tee for Brock Nelson. Thirteen seconds later, Ryan Pulock scored off of a faceoff, a major issue for the Penguins all series. Nelson then dribbled a shot between Jarry’s pads. With three goals in 2:59, the Islanders ran up the score to 5-3. The old building buzzed. 1188936 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins understand the situation. Down 3-2 in the series, they’ll need to win on the road in Game 6 and then finish the job at home on Friday in Game 7 if they hope to continue their season.

How the Penguins’ mobile defensive corps is making a difference in the “When your backs are against the wall, you’ve got to bring everything you postseason can to have success,” Sullivan said. “I’d like to believe we’re doing that each and every game. But there’s something bout an elimination game that brings an elevated sense of urgency.”

Mike DeFabo ‘Collective effort’ in the circles

5/26/2021 Through the first five games of the series, the Penguins have won just 48.3% of their faceoffs. Sullivan said that the club talked about this

element of the game and what they need to do to improve. UNIONDALE, N.Y. — If there’s one single word that describes the “It’s not always about the center ice man,” Sullivan said. “Seven out of 10 Penguins’ defensive corps, it’s mobility. of the draws land somewhere around the faceoff circle. It’s the players The Penguins already had a number of fleet-footed skaters on the blue that are on the flanks that have to try to win the loose pucks.” line when they entered last offseason. Top pair defensemen Kris Letang Bring the noise and Brian Dumoulin are both above-average skaters. John Marino’s ability to race back in transition to close on plays was evident from the The hostile road environment the Penguins faced earlier in the series will first minute he stepped onto the ice last season as a rookie. And even get even louder for Game 6. Capacity will increase from 6,800 fans the the long and lanky Marcus Pettersson has decent mobility for his size. Penguins heard in Game 3 and Game 4 at Nassau Coliseum to 9,000 spectators for Game 6. Then, the Penguins upgraded this attribute even more in the offseason. They bought Jack Johnson out of his deal to take away their slowest “I think players love to play in an exciting environment,” Sullivan said. defenseman. Meanwhile, they signed Cody Ceci, who isn’t super quick “The fans are such an important aspect of that, whether you’re playing at but has the instinct to know when to join the rush. And then there’s Mike home or you’re playing on the road. Our guys love to play in front of an Matheson, who might be the best skater on team full of great skaters. energetic fan base and an energetic environment.”

“It’s a way to gain a competitive advantage when you can move,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “When you have speed to your game, it allows you to create separation in order to make a play or get out of trouble or defend Post Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 or close on both sides of the puck. Mobility, for me, is always a good thing.”

In this series against the New York Islanders, that attribute has flashed on a number of occasions.

Islander coach Barry Trotz’s team likes to get in on the forecheck and pressure defensemen to make plays under pressure. The ability to get back to pucks quickly gives Penguins blue liners an extra fraction of a second to make a decision. Then, if they get into trouble, players like Matheson have whisked the puck out of trouble and negated that forecheck almost before the opposition can set it up.

In a more matchup-specific way, the mobility has also been beneficial against Islanders star Mathew Barzal, who was held without a goal through the first five games of the series. The Penguins have mostly been playing Matheson or Letang against the speedster to negate his advantage.

Sullivan noted the speed of the defensemen shows up all over the ice.

“I thought in the last game in particular, we did a much better job with our motion and our support as a group of five, both on our exits coming out of our own end but also in the offensive zone, as well,” Sullivan said. “Just being active and creating movement to give our guys an opportunity to get some pucks to the net and create some scoring chances.”

At some point, when the postseason turns into the offseason, new general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke will have some key decisions to make. The blue line is part of that.

Will they believe in the same philosophy that mobility should be prioritized when putting together their defensive pairings? Or will they choose to add some more mass to the back end to theoretically give the Penguins some bigger bodies to clear the front of the net, where they have been inconsistent in this series and in this season as a whole?

There’s a balance here.

“You would love all your defensemen to be mobile and move the puck really well and this and that,” Hextall told the Post-Gazette earlier this season. “But you do have to have different players that fit together. For example, when you look at [Dumoulin] and [Letang], they fit together well. Obviously, Tanger brings the offensive element and Dumo brings the opposite, the defensive element.

“I look more for fits than I do necessarily types of players.”

Elimination mindset 1188937 Pittsburgh Penguins Murray after last season — again, the right call — but Jarry has been mostly awful against the Islanders. If the Penguins don’t win Games 6 and 7 and get bounced from the playoffs in the first round for the third consecutive season, Jarry will be the primary reason. Ron Cook: Hard not to take another look at Penguins’ goalie decisions now “I believe in Tristan. We believe in Tristan,” Mike Sullivan said Tuesday. “We’re going to rally around him.”

The Penguins don’t have any other choice. Casey DeSmith is injured and Ron Cook unavailable. I’m fairly certain Sullivan would turn to him if he were healthy. Third-string goalie Max Lagace isn’t a realistic option. 5/26/2021 It will be Jarry’s net at Nassau Coliseum in Game 6.

Let me guess what you’re thinking: What would have happened if the Penguins had stuck with Marc-Andre Fleury? You wish it were Fleury’s net.

Would they have won a third consecutive Stanley Cup in 2018? Would they have gone out weakly in the first round of the 2019 and 2020 playoffs? Would they be on the edge of postseason elimination this Post Gazette LOADED: 05.27.2021 spring against the New York Islanders because of their lame goaltending?

Fair questions, all.

That isn’t to say Jim Rutherford was wrong to keep Matt Murray instead of Fleury after the Cup-winning 2017 season. It absolutely was the right call at the time. Murray was younger than Fleury. He was cheaper. Like Fleury, he had done plenty of heavy lifting to help the team win consecutive Cups. Murray was 15-6 with a 2.08 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in the 2016 playoffs. He took over the net in the 2017 postseason after Fleury beat Columbus and stunned Washington in the first two rounds and closed out the final series against Nashville by pitching shutouts in Games 5 and 6.

Rutherford had to go with Murray over Fleury.

I pause here to quote Chuck Tanner, the former Pirates manager who won the franchise’s most recent World Series in 1979 and might go down as the last Pirates manager to ever win a championship:

“I never made a wrong decision in all the years I was managing. Some just didn’t work out.”

The Murray-Fleury decision certainly didn’t work out for the Penguins.

Murray regressed after those Cup seasons. He wasn’t terrible against Washington in the 2018 playoffs, but he wasn’t as good as Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby. He wasn’t terrible against the Islanders in the 2019 playoffs, but he wasn’t as good as Robin Lehner. He wasn’t terrible against Montreal in the 2020 playoffs, but he wasn’t as good as Carey Price.

It was relatively easy for Rutherford to move on from Murray in October 2020 by trading him to the Ottawa Senators for forward Jonathan Gruden and a second-round draft pick. The Penguins couldn’t afford, under the salary cap, the four-year, $25 million contract that the Senators gave Murray.

Fleury, on the other hand, has continued to play Hall of Fame-caliber hockey at 36. He immediately became the face of the expansion Vegas franchise after Rutherford sent him to the Golden Knights at Fleury’s request after the 2017 season. He led Vegas to the Cup final in 2018. He didn’t pout last season when Vegas coach Peter DeBoer went with Lehner as his primary goalie and didn’t even blink when his agent, Allan Walsh, posted a derogatory tweet directed at DeBoer for his choice of goalies. He regained the No. 1 goaltender’s job this season despite Lehner signing a five-year, $25 million contract in October.

Through it all, Fleury is playing the best hockey of his career and is a big reason Vegas is one of the favorites to win the Cup. He hadn’t allowed more than two goals in 13 consecutive starts before losing Game 5 of the first-round playoff series against Minnesota, 4-2, Monday night. Vegas still leads that series, 3-2.

Rutherford said parting with the popular Fleury was the toughest decision of his career even if he believed it was the right move, the only move. He tried to get Fleury back in a trade after last season but couldn’t reach an agreement with Vegas.

What would have happened if Fleury had returned?

It’s fair to think the Penguins wouldn’t be facing elimination against the Islanders on Wednesday night. Rutherford kept Tristan Jarry instead of 1188938 Pittsburgh Penguins goaltenders in recent years, while perhaps admirable on some level, has been misguided. Anyone who witnessed practices before the 2020 playoffs realized Jarry was operating at a much higher level than Murray, yet Sullivan went with the man who won him two championships. Yohe’s 10 observations: Tristan Jarry stumbles again and takes the Penguins down with him Anyone paying attention to Game 6 knew Jarry was a disaster waiting to happen. Maxime Legace has all of 18 NHL appearances on his resume. Thus, it was a hell of a spot for Sullivan. Casey DeSmith’s injury was a serious problem for the Penguins. I have to think DeSmith would have By Josh Yohe received the start in Game 6 had he been available. But he wasn’t. So May 27, 2021 Sullivan’s choices were a goaltender who was mentally fried or a goaltender who had played in 18 NHL games.

There’s nothing easy about that decision, but I don’t think Jarry was ever To win the Stanley Cup, a team must win four consecutive series. The going to give the Penguins a chance in this series and I think Sullivan Penguins have now lost four straight. needed to be more aware of that. Maybe Legace wouldn’t have given them much of a chance, but my God, it would have been a chance, which Suddenly, 2016 and 2017 are a long time ago. is more than Jarry was providing. For the most part, the Penguins again carried the play against the Jarry is a mess and I’m not sure how he’s going to recover from this. I’m Islanders in Game 6 on Wednesday, just as they did for most of the also not sure whether Mike Buckley, the Penguins’ goaltending coach, series. Tristan Jarry, however, was never yanked and the Penguins’ top will still be employed next season. Two goaltenders have badly line never got on track. Game, set, match. Jarry allowed three more regressed on his watch. I don’t know whether it’s his fault. That’s an horrendous goals as the Islanders overcame three deficits to skate away impossible thing to determine. But the recent results are not good. with a 5-3 victory. • This was one of the worst games Sidney Crosby ever played. That’s not Jeff Carter, Jake Guentzel and Jason Zucker scored for the Penguins, hyperbole. He didn’t record a point and blew two defensive who won the mighty East Division but who again went out with a whimper responsibilities on two New York goals. And they were two huge, huge in the postseason. goals. This will go down as one of the most frustrating playoff losses in Crosby is still one of the great players in hockey, and he’s rightfully franchise history because the Penguins enjoyed a wonderful regular deserved considerable credit recently for transforming himself into one of season and didn’t exactly embarrass themselves in the series. Far from the best 200-foot players in the game. He deserves all the accolades he it, in fact. The Penguins outplayed the Islanders in five of the six games gets. But it wasn’t a great series for Crosby, and his defensive work was and outshot the Islanders in five of six games. strangely subpar in Game 6. He had as many defensive breakdowns in For the series, the Penguins outshot New York 241-197. Even more Game 6 as he had points in the entire series. Crosby isn’t why the noteworthy, in the games the Islanders won, the Penguins outshot them Penguins lost this series. Make no mistake, Jarry’s performance is the 159-119. primary reason for the setback.

Ten postgame observations Still, Crosby has managed three points in his past 10 playoff games against Barry Trotz. Not good. It’s a not-so-subtle reminder that, even for • It was a truly embarrassing series for Jarry. He looked rattled one of history’s greatest players, dominating in the postseason while in throughout most of the six games, particularly in Game 6. It was pretty your 30s is a much different thing from dominating in your 20s. clear to me that Jarry never recovered from his stunning gaffe in overtime of Game 5. His final save percentage for the series was .888. You aren’t • I give Evgeni Malkin high marks for his performance. He had two more going to win a series with that kind of goaltending. You just aren’t. And points and was a force at times during this game. Malkin was playing in it’s not like the Islanders were bombarding the Penguins with pain throughout and clearly couldn’t cut to the center of the ice while overwhelming loads of scoring chances. Far from it. skating down the right wing, his knee injury not allowing him to skate laterally. Rather, it was the Penguins who had the majority of good looks and scoring opportunities in this series and in this game. Jarry was simply Still, he played on and he played with a tremendous amount of pride. never up to the challenge. He looked overmatched physically and I was told a couple of the Islanders told Malkin he was soft in Game 3 mentally. Jarry was off his angle throughout the series, his glove hand because he didn’t play in the first two games of the series. I was also told betrayed him in Game 1 and he clearly had zero focus in Game 6. these comments infuriated Malkin, which is probably why he was a Everything about this series is a bad look. Jarry looked immature regular in the penalty box in this series. Still, the man’s pride remains. throughout the series, which is probably a concern when you consider that, at 26, he’s not exactly a kid. By my count, Jarry allowed eight goals It will be an interesting summer for Malkin and the Penguins. He has one that I’d consider “bad goals” in this series. Eight! That’s a pretty year remaining on his contract and will turn 35 in July. It’s clear that, even disturbing number. when healthy, Malkin isn’t the same player he was even three or four years ago. The Penguins will enter the offseason knowing they were the better team against the Islanders but that the most important position on the team That said, he’s still really good. He’s also still really hard to trade. Malkin completely abandoned them. has a full no-trade clause, and I’ve long been under the impression he isn’t interested in going anywhere. Remember, he makes $9.5 million Is Jarry the man for the future? Can you anoint him as your No. 1 and every NHL team has lost an enormous amount of money during the goaltender starting next season after that kind of performance? Do you past 15 months. Teams need to be careful with money and, though only bring in a veteran goaltender to push him next season? Do you trade one year remains on his deal, that’s a lot of money to pay a declining him? There’s no obvious answer here, but Jarry was only average during player. the regular season and there’s no evidence to suggest he’s the guy to lead the Penguins to the promised land anytime soon. Jarry is a nice kid, So, my belief is Malkin will remain in Pittsburgh for the final year of his key word being “kid.” There’s an immature quality to him that keeps contract. The real question is, will the Penguins give him an extension popping up. He’s 26 going on 20, and that’s a problem. this summer? I’m not so sure they will, but I don’t know. No one does just yet. • It’s quite easy to second-guess Mike Sullivan for some decisions he made during this series. The goaltending situation is interesting. It’s easy It would be nice to see Malkin go out on his own terms. It wasn’t a great to suggest Jarry should have been yanked in this game. I would have season for him, and he came into it out of shape, which wasn’t the most considered it after the Islanders’ second goal, and I absolutely would becoming look. Still, this is a franchise icon and, if you watched him play have pulled him after the fourth goal. He was clearly shot. He wasn’t in Game 6, you know he still cares about winning as much as he always winning the game. Everyone knew it. has. I suspect he will return next season, but it’s going to be interesting. Everyone except Sullivan, anyway. The coach stuck with Jarry, just as he stuck with Matt Murray last summer through three games against Montreal. Sullivan is right about a lot of things, but his loyalty to his No. 1 • That Sullivan never made changes to his top line was stunning to me. The liberties NHL referees are letting teams get away with are dangerous The Penguins had all of this depth, and yet they never experimented. and embarrassing. Why? It’s baffling. • I wouldn’t blow up the Penguins. They had a great season and won the The line of Crosby, Guentzel and Bryan Rust was indeed magnificent NHL’s best division. That was quite an accomplishment. These guys can during the regular season. No one is disputing this. But that line was still play. I wouldn’t remove Crosby, Malkin, nor Letang from this lineup, wildly ineffective during the entire postseason. This was clear. And either. You aren’t going to win a trade if you send Malkin or Letang away. Sullivan never made a change. It makes no sense. Much like when The three should remain. Sullivan left Justin Schultz and Jack Johnson in the lineup to destroy the 2020 season, he allowed his top line to get smothered by the Islanders But contrary to what Sullivan said after the game, the Penguins do need without making changes. to get bigger. It’s pretty obvious. The NHL is all about balance. Speed, skill, size, physicality, hockey IQ … you need all of those things to win a How about sliding Guentzel onto Malkin’s line? How about trying Carter Stanley Cup. The Penguins are badly, badly lacking in the size and with Crosby? How about moving Brandon Tanev up in the lineup? This physicality department. This doesn’t mean they need to turn into a goon was an exceptionally deep lineup, and deep lineups afford a coach the squad. It means they need to acquire some more abrasive players. privilege of toying with his line combinations. A new goalie might be necessary, too. I’m not sure how Jarry is going to Curiously, Sullivan never did it. Weird. Really weird. recover from this and I’m quite sure he doesn’t need to be designated as the No. 1 goalie in October. • High marks to Jason Zucker. It’s been a tough go for him in Pittsburgh. Stylistically, I just don’t think he fits. And I think everyone knows it. Changes are coming. Significant ones. And they should be. But this isn’t the end of the era just yet, I’m confident in saying. This team is too good But he scored a big goal in the second period, delivered some crunching to blow up. That said, this team has lost four straight playoff series. hits and blocked a shot that led to a Malkin breakaway. Like I always say Something is wrong even if it remains a very good team. Very good about him, you can’t question how hard he plays. On this night, he played doesn’t win championships, and this group is 3-13 in its past 16 playoff really hard and was quite good. games.

If this was Zucker’s last game with the Penguins — don’t be surprised if it Blowing it up? That’s a reactionary thing to say. But some serious was — I’ll remember him at the beginning of the third period, screaming changes to the supporting cast are long overdue, and locating a big-time at his teammates, attempting to inspire them to roar back. He’s a great goaltender — price be damned — might be the place to start. guy and has always been known for his leadership intangibles. They were very much on display there and there is something very noble about him. I just don’t think he’s with the team that is going to get the most out of him. The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021

• What else can be said about Carter? He scored four times in the series and gave the Penguins a goal one minute into regulation. That’s all you need to know about him. The Penguins were surely rattled after Game 5 and were walking into the lion’s den on Long Island, which is always one of the NHL’s most rabid atmospheres. So, what happens? Carter steps on the ice and buries one. Of course he does. That’s the kind of man he is.

The Penguins made the right move to acquire him at the deadline. Ron Hextall knew exactly what he was doing, and Carter can still play. How about the speed he showed to free himself to take that pass from Kasperi Kapanen? It was an unbelievable run for Carter.

I’ve been told the Penguins are going to make him one of the players they protect in the expansion draft. Understandably so. He’ll be a big part of the puzzle next season.

• Kris Letang had a really good series, so I’m not knocking him. But he was trapped after a pinch on the Islanders’ first goal, just like he was trapped after a pinch on the Islanders’ first goal in Game 5.

How many times does this have to happen? Part of this is on Sullivan. He wants his defensemen activating constantly. Did you see the Islanders’ defensemen getting trapped? Nah, not very often.

Letang had a really good season, but he doesn’t pick his spots all that well when he jumps into the play. It was a really, really bad time for him to be trapped, after the Penguins silenced the crowd by taking an early lead. Many, many goals were scored this season against the Penguins because he was trapped after a bad pinch. It’s a problem.

• The officiating in the Stanley Cup playoffs is embarrassing. It’s not biased nor geared to help or hurt any team in particular. It’s just predictable and awful. The Islanders didn’t have a power play until late in the third period. Do you know why? Because they were winning, that’s why. Referees love to punish teams that are ahead. It’s incredible. You don’t see this in any other sport, or any other league. The Penguins got away with numerous penalties in the second and third periods that would have been called had they been winning.

Also, when the Penguins received a power play in the first period, they should have had a five-on-three. Malkin hit Matt Martin with a totally clean hit, and Scott Mayfield, who went over the edge numerous times in this series, responded by crushing Malkin from behind. Mayfield received a penalty. However, as he was hitting Malkin, Martin grabbed Malkin’s leg and twisted it, which could have created a significant injury. Zucker came to Malkin’s defense and was sucker-punched in the face while completely vulnerable and unsuspecting. 1188939 Pittsburgh Penguins Casey DeSmith is a nice backup — the kind of guy you don’t mind having if your starter melts in double OT and sets up an elimination game. An injury stopped him from walking through that door.

Tristan Jarry became the Penguins’ biggest problem at the worst time — If he hadn’t played in the regular-season finale against the Sabres, it’d be now what? fair to wonder if Maxime Lagace exists. He might not have been on the bench at Nassau Coliseum until Sullivan called his timeout after the Islanders scored their fifth goal. If Sullivan didn’t go him then — after Jarry had completed his self-destruction protocol — he was never going By Sean Gentille to. May 27, 2021 So, voila. That’s what the Penguins have on tap, entering Crosby’s 34- year-old season and the last year of Letang and Malkin’s contract. Maybe they move money around and bring in a UFA like or When John Marino took a four-minute minor late in the third period Linus Ullmark. Maybe they think bigger, though Brian Burke spent most Wednesday night, outside one Pittsburgh window, there were still visible of his time in Toronto and Calgary searching for a goalie, and Ron slivers of sunlight. Orange. Purple. The kind of thing you see after a Hextall spent the end of his time in Philadelphia waiting on Carter Hart. storm. Those are all questions for the not-so-distant future, not Wednesday night, but none of the answers seem great. Goaltending, another adage Ah, irony. Sure, Marino had effectively ended the Penguins’ season — goes, is voodoo. Supposedly, a guy can make an All-Star team one but he did it the way feathers knock Wile E. Coyote into canyons. The season, earn a new contract and have the wheels fall off before the car Penguins were perched on the brink from the beginning of Game 6 leaves the garage. against the Isles. They were in that spot because of Tristan Jarry. In the meantime, this is what the Penguins (and the fan base) are left It’s harsh, and the sort of thing one sect of fans might close their eyes with: the fact that, with, even mediocre goaltending, they’d still be and try to wish away. Doesn’t make it any less true. No single player can playing, if not on to the second round. They can look to last offseason as lose a series, the adage goes. Jarry spent six games testing it, though, proof that holes can be plugged and weaknesses can be fixed — they and may have become the exception to the rule. lost in the bubble to Montreal for plenty of reasons, not just one. But it’s Not that the Penguins are going to cop to it. Sidney Crosby lamented his getting late. It’s getting dark. And when you have one big problem, you own missed chances after the Islanders’ 5-3 victory eliminated the still have one big problem. Penguins four games to two.

“You win games as a team, you lose games as a team,” Mike Sullivan The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 said. “It’s not any one position. It’s not any one person’s fault.”

Disagree. In the last two games of the series, the Penguins beat the Islanders in expected goals rate by 20 percentage points. They won those games in most conceivable metrics, actually, except for the simplest, most important one. And now they’re done. Another wasted year of Crosby. Another year closer to the core detonation that was (and remains) an option.

We are, once again, having this discussion primarily because of one person. The logic from another sect, it seems, is that that’s … not a bad thing. That a capped-out team with minimal tradable assets can just kinda-sorta fix the most important position in the sport. That’s not true, either, and it’s no less shortsighted a position than acting like a full-on roster overhaul — “Trade Kris Letang for picks! Move Evgeni Malkin for 26-year-old Evgeni Malkin!” — is the only way out of whatever mess the Penguins wake up in when the morning comes.

And that, maybe more than anything else, sums up the Penguins’ fundamental problem. The boat isn’t filled with holes, but it’s pretty old, there’s a big’un right in the middle, and there’s not much time to patch it, or much to patch it with.

Down the stretch, a lot of folks liked to throw around Jarry’s home and road splits. His save percentage was .926 in 21 games at PPG Paints Arena (All-Star stuff) and .885 elsewhere (taxi squad stuff). The logic heading into the playoffs went something like this: The Penguins must get a top-two seed in the East, because he’s a lot better at home. It was wrong then, and it’s wrong now. Jarry is a grab bag. He’s capable of great runs and terrible ones, as most mediocre goalies tend to be. The home-road stuff wasn’t the solution; it was a symptom.

We knew all that before Game 1, when he allowed four goals ranging from “bad” to “oh no.” We knew all that before Game 5, when he got the primary assist on Josh Bailey’s double-overtime winner. Asked the next day what he’d do differently, if anything, his answer was: “I don’t know. Maybe just leave it.” Tough to give a wrong answer there, but he managed.

We knew all that before Game 6, when he blew three one-goal leads and watched his save percentage in the series drop to .887, which is “Marc- Andre Fleury in 2012” bad. My thought after the Islanders’ third goal was that maybe getting beat cleanly by Brock Nelson would help set him up for the rest of the game. Ryan Pulock scored from the blue line 13 seconds later.

Inconsistent in the regular season, incomprehensible in the playoffs. Not ideal. Suboptimal. 1188940 Pittsburgh Penguins more for him, on the line, he could hardly be blamed for leaning aggressive. B-minus

Brian Dumoulin: See every word written about Letang. Add this: It’s rare Penguins report cards: Sidney Crosby’s line delivers a dud in Game 6 when playing behind a line centered by Crosby does a defenseman no loss to Islanders favors. But Game 6, like this series, had a lot of rare to it. B-minus

Marcus Pettersson: Pettersson was on the wrong end of the Sergei Gonchar treatment in this series — get hit, get hit again, get hit some By Rob Rossi, Sean Gentille, and Josh Yohe more, get hit all the time. That didn’t change in Game 6. Pettersson hung in throughout. That speaks to his character. B-minus May 27, 2021 Cody Ceci: Not his finest game of a sublime season for arguably the best

free-agent signing by former GM Jim Rutherford. Then again, with his Nobody ruins a spring in Pittsburgh like the New York Islanders. goalie so shaky and the forwards with whom he shared the ice necessarily trying to create at all costs, Ceci did nothing to hurt his stock A 5-3 loss at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday night eliminated the as one of the NHL’s more intriguing unrestricted free agents. C Penguins from the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Penguins lost three consecutive games after taking a 2-1 series lead and are now 1-5 all-time Mike Matheson: A player as skilled as Matheson needs to find a way to against the Islanders in postseason series. put more shots on goal than the two he did in Game 6. Otherwise, what good is having that game-changing offensive skill? C-minus “There’s some really disappointed guys in that room,” center Jeff Carter said Wednesday night, likely referring to any number of teammates Tristan Jarry: Jarry should have made saves on the Islanders’ second facing uncertain futures in Pittsburgh. That group includes Evgeni Malkin and fourth goals. He should have recognized when icing wasn’t going to and Kris Letang, who are set to enter the final seasons of their contracts be called. He should have been pulled and maybe should have been and have publicly expressed their desire to retire as Penguins — spared starting Game 6. He didn’t single-handedly cost the Penguins presumably alongside captain Sidney Crosby. Game 6 the way he did Games 1 and 5, but he also never made a save of significance in this elimination game. F However, neither general manager Ron Hextall nor hockey operations president Brian Burke is emotionally attached to holdovers from the Josh Yohe’s grades Penguins’ 2016 and 2017 Cup clubs, let alone Malkin and Letang, who Jason Zucker: Zucker probably played his best game with the Penguins. along with Crosby have formed the core of three title teams and 14 He scored a huge (at the time) goal, added an assist, delivered a couple consecutive postseason appearances. When hired in February, Hextall of crunching hits and blocked a shot that led to Malkin’s breakaway. and Burke each said Penguins ownership mandated exhausting options Zucker’s time with the Penguins has largely been disappointing, but he to try for another title this season but also to move forward with the aim of played a heck of a game. Did you see him on the bench at the beginning contending without mortgaging the future. of the third period, yelling words of encouragement? Good leader. He So it seems safe to say the Penguins arrived at a crossroads with their played a fine game. A-minus loss to the Islanders on Wednesday night. Evgeni Malkin: Malkin played really well. Of the four games he’s played Reporters from The Athletic graded players and coach Mike Sullivan for since his return to the lineup, this was the best. He had a couple of Game 6. helpers, threw some big hits and was a presence throughout. There’s no question that Malkin was playing hurt, but he battled through it. I give him Sean Gentille’s grades a lot of credit. His talent wasn’t on full display because of his injury, but he showed plenty of character. His Penguins career will soon be over, Jeff Carter: Carter was the Penguins’ best player on the ice — not sure it but here’s hoping it doesn’t end like this. He deserves better. B-plus was all that close. He led them in shot attempts (seven), shots on net (four) and individual scoring chances (four) and scored the first goal. Kasperi Kapanen: Blah. He wasn’t terrible, and he did make a pretty feed We’re going to make plenty of goaltending and how it wiped out one of to Carter for the game’s first goal. But I want to see more from him. The Crosby’s last, best shots, but it applies to Carter, too. A constant pulling up after crossing the blue line was well scouted by the Islanders. Go to the net, young man. Go to the net. Kapanen is a good Frederick Gaudreau: Hey, another wasted forward. Gaudreau was player, better than I realized. But he needs to get his nose a little dirtier. money from the moment he entered the lineup. It was yet another really C strong five-on-five performance from him; in just over 10 minutes with him on the ice, the Penguins out-attempted the Isles 19-3. He’s worth Mike Sullivan: On one level, Sullivan did something right in this series. bringing back. A-minus His Penguins were the better team, and I suppose the coach deserves some credit for that. However, I can’t say this was Sullivan’s finest hour. Jared McCann: Ilya Sorokin robbed him, and his on-ice numbers are fine, Far from it. I realize there wasn’t an experienced goaltender playing but Wednesday that felt more like a creation of his linemates. He wasn’t behind Jarry, but how do you leave him in for that entire game? The nearly as good as Carter, and more is expected from him than Gaudreau. second goal against made it clear Jarry was toast. It’s the coach’s C responsibility to give his team the best chance to win. Jarry wasn’t its Teddy Blueger: So much for “The Blueger line is more than a fourth line.” best chance to win. There’s no way. I also am baffled that Sullivan never In an elimination game, he got a hair over six minutes at five-on-five and changed up his top line, which was so silent all series. The Penguins didn’t do much of anything with them. Together, the unit got 5:43. Those have lost four series in a row. They’ve been favored to win the past two. are the breaks when you’re down two goals in an elimination — when Sullivan’s stubbornness has been on display. Great coach? Yes, he is. you’re a fourth line. Which they are. A good one? Sure. But a fourth line Still the right coach for this team? It’s fair to ask that question. D all the same. D-plus Sidney Crosby: This was one of the worst series he’s ever played. Rob Rossi’s grades Crosby again didn’t register a point and produced only two points in six games during the entire series. He also committed defensive mishaps on John Marino: This was one of Marino’s better postseason performances, the first and third New York goals. That’s just not him. For good measure, if not his best. Was it enough to sell new management on him being a Crosby hit the post early in the third period when the Penguins were vital part of the Penguins’ future? Well, Marino’s Game 6 didn’t hurt his trailing by two. He remains one of the best players in the world, but with case. B each passing year that sees Crosby fail to dominate in the postseason, Kris Letang: The qualifier with any Penguins defenseman is that they’re we are reminded of his age. Not a great performance from the captain. D coached to play with the puck, pinch in the offensive zone and skate with Jake Guentzel: He scored a goal, which is great. But let’s be honest: It the puck while looking to create. Knowing that and the situation they was a lucky bounce off an Islanders skate. No real great skill was faced as a group in Game 6 — facing elimination, backed by a goalie required on that one. It was a terrible series for Guentzel, and while I who had given away Games 1 and 5 — it’s almost unfair to put too much respect him as a player and think he’s tough as nails to play his preferred blame on any individual for trying to do a little too much. Letang might style despite not having much in the way of size, I saw Guentzel going have been guilty of such attempts in Game 6. With the season, if not out of his way to avoid contact in Game 6. Maybe the Islanders finally got to him a bit. Disappointing game. Disappointing series. D Bryan Rust: Rust scored two goals in this series, but he really was something of a non-factor throughout. Given his playoff history, you expected more from him. One almost always notices Rust’s speed and energy. In this series, however, he looked pretty bland, and that was particularly the case in this game. He’s a wonderful player, but he just didn’t have it in this series. D

The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188941 Pittsburgh Penguins “This is probably the ultimate learning experience, going through this. It’s tough to lose in the playoffs. It’s tough to get here. So, like I said, this one stings.”

Crosby On Penguins’ Future: That’s Up To Other People Crosby, ever the leader, also made sure he took some public responsibility. After leading the Penguins during the regular season with 24 goals and 62 points in 55 games, he was held to one goal and one point in the six games against the Islanders, no points in Wednesday’s Published 5 hours ago on May 26, 2021 deciding loss. By Shelly Anderson Asked what went wrong during the series, Crosby did not bring up the much-maligned goaltending of Tristan Jarry or the outstanding goaltending of New York rookie Ilya Sorokin. He made sure to point a Sidney Crosby still believes. He still leads. He still bleeds, figuratively, at finger at himself. times like Wednesday night. However, the Pittsburgh Penguins future Hall of Fame center and team captain will not try to dictate what might “I don’t know if it’s one thing,” Crosby said. “I thought we got better as the happen with the club. series went on. I think you look at two overtime games that we lost, being able to win one of those would have been huge. But I think we did a lot of Oh, he has his opinions, but in offering some candid if sad postgame good things and the last couple games I thought we played really well. thoughts, he made it clear he will not try to wield whatever power his Some big mistakes, obviously, (Wednesday night). I miss a guy on a stardom might give him to influence personnel moves during what could couple chances that end up in the back of the net. Just a play here or be a tumultuous offseason — one that has suddenly arrived. there was really the difference. I’ve got to come up with that on either side of the puck. After three straight opening-round losses, capped by a 5-3 loss Wednesday that gave the New York Islanders a 4-2 first-round East “I feel like I didn’t made a big play, whether it’s overtime or adding to a Division series win, Crosby acknowledged there will be calls for the lead when we were up … look at some chances that I had, those kinds of Penguins to break things up, perhaps rebuild. things, those are so important. You can’t overlook the importance of those.” That could especially be true given that the Penguins have newer front- office executives in Ron Hextall and Brian Burke.

In particular, Crosby addressed the status of the other two-thirds of the Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 team’s big three – center Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang.

“I’ve never been one to try to be GM, and I’m not going to start now,” Crosby said. “I think those guys want to win. I know that we’ve been together a long time. I’ve seen how much they care, their commitment. I don’t ever doubt or question that.

“There’s so many parts, and it is a business. That’s up to other people, but as far as what I can see and how I feel, there’s zero doubt in my mind that the group that we have is a really good group, and we had an opportunity here. That’s why it stings so much.”

The Penguins have won three Stanley Cups since Crosby, 33, Malkin, 34, and Letang, 34, joined the team, most recently in 2017.

Crosby acknowledged that there has been and now certainly will continue to be speculation about and calls for a new Penguins era, and he was asked what he might say to dissuade that.

“Well, they’ve been saying that for four years, right, so I don’t know if I’m going to change anybody’s mind, but I think that we did a lot of good things this year,” he said. “You can look at every year and analyze it differently, but this year I felt like we had a good group and we did a lot of good things. I think we easily could have made a (long playoff) run. I feel pretty confident about this group in saying that, the way that we were trending, the way that we finished the year. But it’s a fine line in the playoffs.

“As far as what I’d say, I really don’t know, but I know that the three of us, we want to win and we’ll do whatever it takes to try to compete to do that every year.”

The Penguins struggled early in this COVID-19 shortened and highly regulated season, leading to questions about whether they would make the postseason for a 15th straight year, but they improved over time and ended up winning the East with a final 10-3 run playing a strong, effective two-way style.

Then came the Islanders, and it was all over.

“It’s disappointment,” Crosby said. “It’s not guaranteed to make the playoffs. We’ve been fortunate that we’ve been there a lot. Every time you get to play in the playoffs, it’s an opportunity. It really is the best time of the year. You want to be in it. You want to play for a long time. And you want to compete for the Stanley Cup.

“It’s never a good feeling when you lose, but I think … with the way that we played leading into the playoffs, we felt good about our group. We thought that we could make a good run. For it to come to a halt here is disappointing. 1188942 Pittsburgh Penguins “You win games, and you lose games as a team…,” Sullivan said. That’s three straight early playoff exits, and the Pittsburgh Penguins

organization, like most businesses, has taken a beating through the Jarry Falls Flat; Leaky Goals Sink Penguins, Bring up Big Questions pandemic. Per the NHL-NHLPA agreement, the salary cap will remain flat until the organizations recoup their lost revenues, but that will be over the course of several years.

Published 6 hours ago on May 26, 2021 Finances will play a role (and it could go either way–to retool or to keep the core together because they are likely to make the playoffs). Nor is the By Dan Kingerski new Penguins regime led by President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke and GM Ron Hextall known to prefer smaller, faster hockey in which the Penguins specialize. There aren’t many ways to sugarcoat the Pittsburgh Penguins situation. There just aren’t. The Pittsburgh Penguins outplayed the New York “We didn’t lose because we weren’t big enough,” Sullivan said defiantly. Islanders for much of their Round One series. Unlike 2019 when the Sidney Crosby will turn 34 in August. Evgeni Malkin will be 35 in July. Penguins flailed and thrashed about in futile attempts, they controlled this Kris Letang will be 35 next April. If the team keeps the Penguins core series against the New York Islanders, but goalie Tristan Jarry buckled together, what becomes of Jarry? under the bright lights of the NHL playoffs. Can the Penguins charge into another playoff series with a goalie who The Penguins controlled play for a majority of the series, yet they still was not adequate in his first go as the starter? lost. Before Game 6, Jarry had a .902 save percentage and a 2.85 GAA; “I thought we got better as the series went on, and I think you look at two those stats belie the shakiness, rebounds, and close calls which resulted. overtime games that we lost–being able to win one of those would have After Game 6, his final tally bubbled around an .886 save percentage. been huge. But I think we did a lot of good things,” Sidney Crosby said. “The last couple of games, I thought we played really well– (we) made That’s not good enough. some big mistakes tonight. I missed a guy, and a couple of chances end up in the back of the net.” Jarry was at times brilliant in the regular season. He thieved no less than 10 points this season. From this one to the ink and paper outlets, the Crosby took some ownership, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone. He did headlines from media outlets often used the word “steal.” whiff on Anthony Beauvillier a couple of times. Jake Guentzel whiffed in Game 5. But like so many goalies the Pittsburgh Penguins have broken in the postseason, New York broke Jarry. The glove hand issue seemed to Jake Guentzel or Jared McCann could have popped one more, too. No, appear out of nowhere. Whether it was a coached technique or a sudden the Penguins didn’t toss their goalie under the bus or publicly humiliate bad habit, Jarry’s glove dangled by skates. him (*ahem Mr. Ovechkin), but when the final accounting is done, the Penguins can’t answer the question: “What else could we have done” And the New York Islanders put pucks up high. Again, again..six, seven without starting with Jarry. times, again.

Unfortunately, so much of the series loss rests on the Penguins In a series marked by missed chances and opportunity, the Islanders goaltending and Jarry. Three long-range wristers beat Jarry high-glove in didn’t miss their chances. Jarry didn’t take them away, either. And he Game 1 when the Penguins otherwise controlled play. There were other gifted one biggie. softies along the way, big rebounds served like pizzas, but the Penguins But make one save, and it’s a different series. That must weigh on Jarry, survived them in Games 2 and 3. who has waited for years for his chance. At 23-years-old, he was passed The Penguins couldn’t overcome Jarry backing into the net to give over for Matt Murray, which delayed his arrival by another year, maybe Anthony Beauvillier far too much net for the Islanders’ first goal in Game two. Now, he’s 26 and no longer a “young” goalie. 5. And, of course, a play which will stick with Jarry for a long time–the His big chance did not go the way anyone wanted it to go. tragic giveaway and flop against Josh Bailey to end Game 5. Now, let me address the Marc-Andre Fleury calls. That ship sailed. This And then Jarry’s collapse in Game 6. The big rebounds which ponged off writer was the very last person on that hill, but suddenly there’s a lot of Jarry like a rubber ball became Islanders’ goals. The whiffs against Brock folks who reappeared. But it’s over. Done. That was four years ago and Nelson and a point shot from Ryan Pulock. not worth more than these three sentences. In singularity, any of the goals are forgivable. Former GM Jim Rutherford tried in vain to get Fleury back. Vegas wisely In totality, Jarry did not hold his end of the bargain. Sullivan called a pulled back. That situation is over. timeout when the Penguins yielded three goals in less than three minutes Though you may harken back to Fleury’s playoff meltdowns in 2012, in the second period. Two of three were stoppable. To many’s surprise, 2013 and his stick-handling gaffes in 2014 for a frame of reference to a Sullivan left Jarry in the game. goalie finding his groove after disastrous playoff appearances. “I’m not going to discuss the discussions we have as a coaching staff and If the Penguins stick with the Big 3–Crosby, Malkin, Letang–they must the discussions we have at any position,” Sullivan said as he quickly also look for an experienced goalie with playoff experience. shut down any discussion of the matter. In the history of the Penguins, few playoff losses will sting like this one. The Penguins blew third-period leads in three games (Games 1, 3, and The 2018 team was gassed. The 2011 team ran out of luck without 5) and coughed up leads in five of the six games, including three leads in Malkin or Crosby, despite leading 3-1. 1996 and 2001 Eastern Game 6. Conference Finals against bland trapping teams also come to mind as The Penguins needed a big save that never came. And now, big crushing defeats. questions loom both about Jarry’s future and about the future of the But this time, they outplayed their nemesis. And yet, it’s the New York Pittsburgh Penguins core. Islanders who are moving on. And we wait to see who else is moving on, Will Sidney Crosby play another season with both Evgeni Malkin and Kris too… Letang?

Pittsburgh Hockey Now believes at least one, if not both, will return. Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 Letang had a great season. Malkin battled injuries but was brilliant once he found his stride later in February.

There was no shortage of energy or production from either.

But… 1188943 Pittsburgh Penguins Head coach Mike Sullivan called timeout but did not pull Jarry in favor of regular season third-string goalie and minor league journeyman Maxime Lagace.

Islanders ‘Jarr’ Penguins 5-3, Jarry Breakdowns, Isles Series Win in 6 The Penguins scored three goals on their first 11 shots, but the Islanders continued to answer and the Penguins’ offensive zone advantages mattered not.

Published 8 hours ago on May 26, 2021 Defenseman John Marino took a four-minute high sticking penalty with four minutes remaining and that was the end of the Penguins season. By Dan Kingerski Islanders rookie goalie Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves on 37 shots. Jarry

stopped only 19 of 24. It was a different script but the same ending. The Pittsburgh Penguins season is over, again at the hands of head coach Barry Trotz and again by the New York Islands. Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 For the third consecutive time, the Pittsburgh Penguins were ousted in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and for the second time it was to the New York Islanders. In front of a raucous crowd at Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders rocked the Penguins for three unanswered goals in the second period en route to a 5-3 win in game 6 and a 4-2 series win.

The teams broke loose in the first period for four goals, though New York was gifted another soft goal by Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry, who remained at war with himself.

The Penguins quickly established a continuation of their Game 5 offensive barrage. Just 87 seconds into the game, Penguins winger Jason Zucker intercepted a centering pass and sprang Jeff Carter on a two-on-one. Carter slipped behind the Islanders defender and was unabated to the net. Carter (4) slipped it through Ilya Sorokin’s five-hole for the opening tally.

The Penguins should have been off and running, however, it hasn’t worked that way in the series. At least not for the Penguins.

Five minutes into the first period, New York tied the game when both Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby stepped forward in defense instead of retreating. Anthony Beauvillier beat Crosby to the Penguins zone for a two-on-one. Beauvillier got a free pass to the net and beat Jarry high- glove side.

Jarry has developed a bad habit in the last couple of weeks of dropping his glove and the Islanders have torched him for at least six goals in the series to that spot. 1-1.

That was just the start of the wild scoring. The Penguins kept scoring, and the Islanders kept answering, and not always with good goals, either.

The Penguins earned their second lead of the first period with a power play goal midway through the period. Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (1) scored his first of the series with a turning shot from the slot. 2-1.

But the Islanders answered, again.

One minute later, Jarry blocked a long wrister directly to Kyle Palmieri, who redirected the puck into the net.

That was the end of the first period of wildness. The second period had more waiting for the more than 9,000 fans at the Nassau Coliseum.

The Penguins again struck within the first two minutes of the period and took their third lead of the game. Jason Zucker (2) neatly deflected Cody Ceci’s shot. The Penguins had momentum. For a moment.

Midway through the period, the Islanders reeled off three goals in 2:59 to put away the Penguins.

Another of the Penguins who didn’t have a good game, Sidney Crosby was beaten by Beauvillier at the blue line. The resulting breakdowns allowed Brock Nelson (2) to be uncovered on the backside and he snapped it into the open net.

Just 13 seconds later, Jarry allowed a goal from the point as Ryan Pulock’s snap shot was untouched but Jarry didn’t see it and New York had its first lead. It was the fastest two goals in the Islanders playoff history.

The icing on the Islanders’ cake was again Nelson who finished the triple play with a wrist shot from the hashmarks. The shot dribbled through Jarry’s five-hole as the goalie simply hung his head. 5-3. 1188944 Pittsburgh Penguins

Robert Morris Hockey Programs Axed by School Funding Cuts

Published 12 hours ago on May 26, 2021

By Alan Saunders

Robert Morris University will no longer sponsor men’s or women’s Division I ice hockey teams, the school announced in a press release on Wednesday, in a shocking decision to cut two of the school’s most successful programs.

The story is from our sister site Pittsburgh Hockey Digest. For additional coverage, including reaction from coach Derek Schooley, who coached the Men’s team since its 2004 inception, visit PHD.

“We are saddened for the student-athletes who will be unable to continue in their sport at Robert Morris University and are committed to assisting them during this difficult time,” RMU president Chris Howard said. “However, this is the best course of action to leverage our strategic assets and position us for future growth.”

According to the Robert Morris press release, the school saw a desire to reduce the total number of athletic teams to 15 to more closely align itself with similarly sized institutions.

The hockey teams were slated to be cut because of the cost of maintaining the programs and improvements that were necessary to keep RMU Island Sports Center, the teams’ off-campus home on Neville Island, up to date.

The teams had been in existence since 2004. Since its inception, the RMU men’s team has been coached by Derek Schooley and won CHA regular-season championships in 2015 and 2016, and earned a CHA tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014.

The school also hosted the men’s Frozen Four twice, in 2013 and 2021.

The women’s team made two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017 and 2021 and won the CHA Tournament and CHA regular season three times. Head coach Paul Colontino had been with the team since 2011.

Former RMU goaltender Brianne McLaughlin was a two-time member of the US women’s Olympic ice hockey team, winning silver medals in 2010 and 2014.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188945 Pittsburgh Penguins

Whit-sburgh: Company Launches Ryan Whitney Mean Mug Bobblehead

Published 12 hours ago on May 26, 2021

By Chase Wilpert

It was the most balanced trade in Pittsburgh Penguins history. After drafting, grooming, and deploying one of the game’s greatest offensive defensemen, on Feb. 26, 2009, the Penguins traded Ryan Whitney to the for a stiff named Chris Kunitz.

Or at least that’s how Whitney tells the story on his world-famous podcast Spittin’ Chiclets with fellow Penguins alum (and former Wheeling Nailer) Paul Bissonette (aka Bizz-Nasty). The show is on the Barstool podcast network, one of the world’s five largest podcasters. The show is the largest hockey podcast in the world and launched in October 2018.

Last summer, the pair wrangled Sidney Crosby into 18 holes and managed to leave their former teammate in stitches, figuratively, not literally. And had to buy dinner afterward.

Though if you saw either podcaster golf, you know stitches or bruises were a real possibility.

FOCO, a manufacturer specializing in sports-themed items from bikinis to bobbleheads, backpacks to suits, is launching a limited edition Whitney bobblehead as part of their Mean Mug collection.

And as you can see by the picture, Whitney is giving his best intimidating look.

Only 360 of the nine-inch, hand-painted Whitney bobblehead dolls with the ice surface base are being made. Of course, the Pittsburgh Penguins logo is also prominently featured. Preorders began this week. They are available here.

FOCO says the bobbleheads will ship out this summer.

The company is touting its first hockey bobblehead thusly:

“Welcome to Whit-sburgh, home of the hockey player/podcaster/bobblehead extraordinaire! Show off Whit’s grit by adding this Ryan Whitney Penguins Mean Mug Bobblehead to your lineup!”

Whitney, who ended his hockey career with a couple of games in the Swedish elite league in 2016, was the Penguins first-round pick in 2002 (5th overall) and was the first of the Penguins succession of top five picks, which began with Whitney and ended with Jordan Staal in 2006. In between were Marc-Andre Fleury (1st overall), Evgeni Malkin (2nd overall), and Sidney Crosby (1st overall).

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188946 Pittsburgh Penguins However, Rust’s acknowledgment, if you read between the lines, is softer. The loss was still stinging, as it should.

Teams just can’t lose games in which they dominate like that. Not like Game 6: Will Emotional Toll of Game 5 be Penguins Fuel…or the End THAT.

*For the Penguins betting preview, predictions, and odds, our experts also weigh in. Published 14 hours ago on May 26, 2021 And so I have the same questions that you. We don’t need another X’s By Dan Kingerski and O’s preview. The Penguins activated their defensemen to great effect on Monday. The puck rarely left the Islander’s zone. New York is

seemingly permitted to obstruct, hold, and clog as needed. That’s not The hockey gods are cruel. They will only grant one team so many going to change in Game 6. chances, or opportunities before they snatch one back at the worst Yes, Penguins winger Jake Guentzel has only one point. Sidney Crosby moment with punishment for failing to convert the gifts bestowed. The two. And Teddy Blueger has none. But the Penguins degrees of Pittsburgh Penguins had an extraordinary amount of chances in Game 5 offensive production vary greatly on the lines and roles. against the New York Islanders, but in Game 6 it is they who will face elimination, not New York. Bleuger’s lack of points is A-OK because he is also taking away Mathew Barzal, New York’s best player. A fourth-liner nullifying a star is just great The Penguins had an extreme number of chances, shot attempts, and work. opportunity. Crosby’s two points are also acceptable as Crosby’s play has been And when the Penguins didn’t do enough with them, the hockey gods stellar. flipped the script in one cruel moment. Goalie Tristan Jarry not only made a turnover in his own zone, but his abandonment of technique and wild It’s Guentzel, and Jason Zucker, and Jared McCann who need to pick up flop reaction in an unsuccessful attempt to make the following save will the slack but have not yet done so. be the worst moments of his goaltending life. One other question for Game 6–the Penguins were flat and perhaps An astute viewer on our Penguins Live Chat compared it to Marc-Andre overconfident in Game 4 when they had a series lead. Will New York Fleury’s 2004 World Juniors meltdown. It’s not far off. suffer a similar fate; knowing they have a lead, will they try to dish a few extra hits or get loose trying to go for the kill? And so, Game 5 becomes Game 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins skaters were brilliant but failed to finish the job. Jarry was acceptable though a bit It happens. unsteady and ultimately finished his own team. The Penguins should be desperate. If they’re not, there will be hell to pay It happens. this summer, and GM Ron Hextall and President of Hockey Operations may get an extra big-name trade chip as a consequence. Steve Smith will forever be remembered for ending the Edmonton Oilers Cup runs in 1986 with an errant pass off his own goalie and into his own Look for the Penguins to start cautiously, conservatively. They need to net late in Game 7 against the hated Calgary Flames in the Smythe get their legs and regain their confidence. The Islanders will use the extra Division Final. several thousand fans and go for it.

Jarry’s gaffe didn’t quite measure the same on the Richter scale as that “I think players love to play in an exciting environment. The fans are such whoops, but it hurt nonetheless. And now the Pittsburgh Penguins must an important aspect of that, whether you’re playing at home or playing on pick up the pieces, put themselves back together, and charge at the the road,” Sullivan said. “Our guys are excited to play tonight.” stingy New York Islanders at least once more.

Do the Penguins have it in them? Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 Teams that lose double OT games typically have a hangover. The winning team feels fresh and invigorated the following day. The loser feels like they were drinking tequila off the belly of a sweaty trucker and woke up in a cheap motel room full of hurt and regret.

It’s not easy to get over. Especially with the nearly unprecedented level of domination the Penguins displayed. At some point, it felt like New York stopped trying for offense and merely waited for the Penguins to make a mistake. It wasn’t a rope-a-dope strategy as much as duck and cover.

The Penguins team leaders didn’t speak to the media on Tuesday. It was Kris Letang and Bryan Rust’s turn to speak Monday night following the loss. And this is one of those cases in which media not being in the locker room was a clear impediment to getting the real story.

“We’re going to take one shift at a time,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think that’s the biggest part of this whole experience, is just staying in the moment, staying on task, keeping the focus where it needs to be and I believe our team has the experience to do that.”

Words only tell a part of the story.

“I think we made a statement, and that’s the way we need to play going in their arena. So I’m pretty confident that if we play the same way, we’ll get the result,” Letang said.

I believe Letang. He’s not one for soft media vagueries and steaming piles of fertilizer.

“This is a team game. Obviously, things happen throughout the game, and obviously, we would have liked to have that win, but I think we’re all going to grow closer as a team,” Bryan Rust said Monday night. “I think we’re gonna work together. I think we’re going to lift our heads up and get out there and try and win.” 1188947 San Jose Sharks

Sharks, Google settle over downtown San Jose development

BY MARCUS WHITE

The Sharks on Tuesday backed down from their vocal opposition to Google's plans to expand into downtown San Jose, with the San Jose City Council announcing a settlement between the NHL franchise and tech giant moments before unanimously approving the proposal.

Sharks Sports & Entertainment agreed not to sue Google nor the city of San Jose after addressing the Sharks' concerns over the effect development near the Dirdon train station would have on parking at SAP Center.

Google and San Jose modified its proposals after the city's planning commission on April 28 unanimously recommended approving the Downtown West project, agreeing -- among other things -- both parties will work with the Sharks to make sure at least 2,850 parking spaces are available within one-third of a mile of SAP Center's south entrance.

“Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE) has long been a proponent of the urban planning vision that the city has for the Diridon Station Area, including Google’s Downtown West project, so long as it does not endanger the viability and success of the city-owned and SSE-managed SAP Center,” Sharks spokesperson Scott Emmert wrote in a statement published by Bay Area News Group.

The Sharks and NHL had expressed concerns -- and even outright opposition to -- the project for years.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told NBC Sports California at the 2019 NHL All-Star Game that the league hoped "everything's done to protect the ease of access to this building," specifically referring to BART's expansion into San Jose and Google's plans.

Last November, Sharks president Jonathan Becher wrote in a letter to fans, "the planners of these projects appear intent on moving forward in a manner that could force the Sharks out of San Jose."

Fewer than two weeks later, Becher told reporters it "[seemed] more likely now than before" that the city and Google would address the Sharks' concerns.

"Our message was heard loud and clear," Becher said Nov. 20. "I am more optimistic now."

The Sharks' lease with the city runs through 2025, with annual options to renew until 2040. Google's development, which is set to include as much as 7.3 million square feet of office space and 4,000 housing units, could begin construction on roads, infrastructure and buildings within the next two years.

“The city and Google absolutely hear the Sharks’ critical need for efficient access and have worked to incorporate many of Sharks Sports & Entertainment concerns,” San Jose deputy transportation director Jessica Zenk said in Tuesday's city council meeting (H/T Bay Area News Group).

“We firmly believe that the Sharks will be able to succeed and, in fact, thrive with the proposed project as its neighbor, particularly given all the new people and access brought to live by this project.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188948 San Jose Sharks While Dean Lombardi definitely deserves credit for this change, no doubt Darryl Sutter does too.

“Just the identity that Darryl brought to the team and that veteran 30 Sharks: Ron Sutter Remembers “Fun” With Rebuilding San Jose presence that the veterans had and trying to help the younger guys in what it took to win was great,” Ron said of his brother’s contributions to the Sharks. “It was really important. So, those were some of the best memories: To see the progression and how the team improved.” Published 16 hours ago on May 26, 2021 As mentioned, the Sharks got past the first round in 2000. By Ryan Cowley They had entered the 2000 playoffs as the eighth-seeded team in the

Western Conference, facing Ron’s old team, the St. Louis Blues. But, the Coming off their worst season since 1992-93, the San Jose Sharks 1999-2000 season was a particularly special one in the Gateway City as entered the summer of 1996 in unfamiliar territory. New general manager the Blues finished first in the entire NHL with 114 points, leading many to Dean Lombardi, though, was committed to turning the Sharks into a believe that they were favorites to win the Stanley Cup. championship contender. It was a long-term plan, however — and one of The Sutters and the Sharks, however, had different plans as they ousted Lombardi’s first steps was to sign veterans to guide his young talent, the heavily-favored Blues in seven games. veterans like Ron Sutter. “I think being the eighth-seed and knocking out St. Louis in the first round In this installment of my “30 Sharks” series for San Jose Hockey Now, I in St. Louis was great,” a modest Ron recalled. “So, that was huge.” speak with Sutter about helping make the rebuilding Sharks a tight-knit group playing for his brother Darryl. HIGH MORALE

After spending the first nine seasons of his career with the Philadelphia When he joined the San Jose Sharks in 1996, Ron Sutter was entering a Flyers, Ron Sutter would play the next three in St. Louis before playing fairly unpleasant situation with a team who was, for all intents and the next three for as many teams. purposes, one of the NHL’s bottomfeeders. It wouldn’t remain that way for long, though, and the better the Sharks got on the ice, the better After his stints with the Islanders, Nordiques, and Bruins, Sutter saw a things were off the ice. new opportunity with the San Jose Sharks and jumped at it. “We did a great job in keeping the group tight,” Sutter remembered. “We “Well, I saw some similarities in the direction of both [the Sharks and had great team-gathering parties and it was just fun all around. Adjusting Bruins],” Sutter began. “Coming off some personal success in Boston, I to the climate and not having the snow that you were used to in the other knew I could add or bring the same to the Sharks.” cities I played in made it enjoyable, too. So, I think with having young A late-season signing, Sutter had scored 12 points in just 18 games in families, you had guys you gravitated towards more like the Bodgers and Boston. the Granatos, the Cravens, the Gills.”

Sutter, however, was not able to replicate his Beantown scoring success While some may have questioned him for signing with an in the Bay Area, settling into a key defensive role on the 27-47-8 San underperforming team, Ron Sutter was thankful for his decision, and Jose Sharks. even more thankful for his career with the Sharks — a time the former centerman wouldn’t trade for anything. Out as head coach was Al Sims; in was Ron’s older brother, Darryl. Believe it or not, this was not the first time that Ron played for one of his “Those are the best memories that you create, not just at the rink, but the brothers. memories you create off the ice and away from the rink,” he concluded.

In 1991-92, his first season in St. Louis, Ron played for his brother, Brian. Holding the distinction of being the Sutter who was drafted the highest — Unfortunately for Brian, he was let go at season’s end. In San Jose, Ron fourth overall by the Flyers in 1982 — Ron went on to play 19 seasons would enjoy three seasons playing for Darryl. and 1,093 games in the NHL. With 272 of those contests coming as a Shark, Ron Sutter established himself as a key figure in the team’s “I was really excited for that opportunity,” Ron Sutter noted. “I knew that turnaround. after having that one year in San Jose, bringing in someone with Darryl’s experience, and being a respected coach, I knew it wouldn’t be a After San Jose, Sutter joined the Calgary Flames, where he played one problem playing for him. I had already played for Brian and having Darryl season before retiring in 2002. Sutter has remained with the Flames ever already coached my other brothers [Brent and Duane] in Chicago, I knew since, working first as a scout, then as the club’s Director of Player it would work.” Development, and now as a development coach.

Nepotism, then, was a non-issue with the Sutters. Better yet, it was intolerable. San Jose Hockey NowLOADED: 05.27.2021 As was the case both in St. Louis and Chicago, Ron and Darryl made it clear that they were only brothers away from the rink. At the rink, it was strictly a player-coach relationship.

“I knew what was expected of me being a veteran player and on game days, Darryl was my coach; non-game days, he was my brother, then my coach,” the younger Sutter explained.

As for the team itself, the San Jose Sharks got better in each of Ron Sutter’s four seasons in Northern California. In fact, the Sharks made the playoffs in each of Ron’s final three seasons with the club, advancing past the first round in 2000 — the first time the team had done so since 1995.

Over the course of his tenure in San Jose, Ron reflected on how enjoyable it was to be part of an ever-improving team.

“We had a really good mix of character veterans and some up-and- coming star players in , Jeff Friesen, ,” the Viking, AB, native said. “So, being around that group — the older guys and the young guys — made it really easy and fun to come to the rink every day just to work and to see the progression that was made with the team. Being able to be part of a culture change was huge.” 1188949 Seattle Kraken Barkov — who came up huge in Game 5 of the Lightning series — after the 2021-22 campaign.

Getting an inkling that some of your playoff team’s core might be broken Don’t completely rule out Joel Quenneville coaching the Kraken just yet up can drive coaches to leave teams.

Anyhow, we won’t know more until Florida’s season ends. The Panthers were to face the Lightning in Game 6 on Wednesday night, still trailing 3- GEOFF BAKER 2 in the series.

The Seattle Times Quenneville’s insertion of backup Chris Driedger in place of No. 1 goalie Sergei Bobrovski for Game 2 blew up on the Panthers, who have played May 26, 2021 01:26 PM, Updated May 26, 2021 01:31 PM musical netminders since with mostly porous results.

Florida’s season was saved in Game 5 when rookie Spencer Knight, We’ve had a good two-year run-up, but here’s where things are starting formerly of Boston College, became the first goalie to play in the NCAA to get really fun, interesting and possibly creative with the Kraken and its and start an NHL playoff game the same season. After allowing an pursuit of a coach. opening-minute goal, Knight turned aside everything else in a 4-1 victory.

In the midst of the Florida Panthers’ opening-round playoff showdown Still, the coach’s goalie handling has given the Panthers an excuse — with the Tampa Bay Lightning, veteran New York Post hockey writer albeit a rather flimsy one — to move on from Quenneville should they Larry Brooks last weekend offered-up a jarring tidbit. Brooks suggested choose, either for financial reasons or to appease their GM. Of course, there have been rumblings about Panthers coach Joel Quenneville getting rid of Quenneville requires paying him $15.75 million to do leaving his job and joining the Kraken. nothing for three more seasons.

Now, we sometimes tie ourselves in knots chasing down every new But if the Kraken takes on Quenneville’s remaining salary, it becomes Kraken coaching possibility, and naturally, they all can’t work out. Travis much easier to part company. Green did indeed sign an extension with the Vancouver Canucks, so he It’s a bit more difficult — but not impossible — for Quenneville to come isn’t coming. Ex-Coyotes bench boss Rick Tocchet will interview here. here if he’s the one — not the Panthers — who wants out. In that case, Rod Brind’Amour is still without a new deal in Carolina, so we’ll see what some big-time compensation would need to be paid to the Panthers for happens. And then there’s this Quenneville stuff, which, despite all the Quenneville to get out of his deal. holes, appears to have legs. And given Quenneville having the second- Fortunately, there’s this thing called the expansion draft July 21, in which most all-time NHL coaching wins behind , this is a huge the Kraken will already be cutting side deals with teams. Francis has said deal until somebody confirms it isn’t. he has held pre-draft discussions with every club, so, there likely have Sure, I can cite reasons it should be a non-starter. Quenneville is only been preliminary talks with the Panthers about the cost of him not picking two seasons into a five-year contract paying him an NHL-best $5.25 certain players. million annually. And he just guided Florida to its best regular season in It isn’t too far of a stretch to jump from those conversations to years. compensation talk for Quenneville. Or, to include some expansion draft So why leave? Well, the Panthers are on the verge of being knocked out guarantees as part of any Kraken compensation package. by the defending champion Lightning, which, in isolation, is no big These are unusual NHL times, given the coming draft, the financial disgrace. impact of COVID-19 on teams and the ability of the cash-flush Kraken to But there’s also Quenneville’s history with Kraken general manager Ron provide some squads with salary relief. In other words, scenarios that Francis, his teammate in the 1980s. When Quenneville appear a longshot — as this one still does — cannot be ruled out until was let go by the Chicago Blackhawks in November 2018 after leading somebody does that. them to three Stanley Cup championships, he seemed a solid fit for an Right now, Quenneville and the Panthers have not quashed this fire that would clearly need a veteran coach. when they easily could have. Back then, remember, Francis was still a half-year from being hired by In other words, keep an eye on this all-Floridian series. If the Panthers the Kraken, but Dave Tippett — another Whalers teammate from the are eliminated and Quenneville doesn’t immediately dismiss rumors of 1980s — was then an NHL Seattle senior adviser. Also, the franchise his pending departure, the Kraken could very well make a play for an was a month from being awarded to Seattle, and back then it appeared iconic coach. the team would begin play in October 2020 instead of this fall.

So sure, Tippett talking Quenneville into joining the Kraken early and waiting a year-and-a-half to coach wasn’t beyond imagination. News Tribune LOADED: 05.27.2021 But the NHL delayed the Kraken’s launch by a year. For Quenneville, who’d just turned 60, there was no possibility he’d stay away from an NHL bench that long. So he took the Florida job in April 2019, when Tippett was negotiating to become the Edmonton Oilers’ coach and three months before Francis even got here.

It’s possible Quenneville now sees a Kraken opportunity with an ex- teammate that didn’t exist when he took the Florida job. But there’s one other important factor that’s happened since.

Onetime NHL defenseman Dale Talon, the GM who hired Quenneville in Chicago and Florida, was fired by the Panthers last August. Nothing against rookie replacement Bill Zito, who the Kraken approached about its GM vacancy pre-Francis, but he doesn’t have the history with Quenneville that Talon did.

And we don’t know what has gone on behind the scenes since that front- office change. It’s possible Zito wants his own hire.

Also, we don’t know whether Panthers ownership, in light of COVID-19 financial shortfalls, has a different financial approach from when Quenneville was hired. The Panthers have several pending unrestricted free agents the next two offseasons, including team captain Aleksander 1188950 St Louis Blues It would also help if he’d shoot more. Yes, that’s an easy thing to gripe about from an onlooker’s standpoint. But at least once a game, Parayko passes up a shot that defensemen of lesser strength surely would’ve shot. Hochman: The Blues' defense has the capability to be great again, but that means more from Krug, Parayko and others “We do want him to shoot a lot — he’s got a great shot and he has to use it more,” Berube said Wednesday. “And this guy, this player, he’s one of the players that can control a game, in my opinion.”

Benjamin Hochman Incidentally, Parayko isn’t the only defenseman who could look to score more. Just 13.8 percent of the Blues’ goals last season came from

defensemen — that was 19th in the National Hockey League. Of course, Head Coach Craig Berube responds to questions on Wednesday, May with Parayko, his shooting isn’t solely to score, if that makes sense — his 26, 2021, about Tarasenko, chemistry and the team's slump and not slap shot is a weapon for deflections or rebounds (or, in a rare case, for playing Kostin in the post season. (Video courtesy/Blues) dropping a Dallas Stars goalie to the ice like a knockout punch in the 2019 postseason). The state of the Blues’ blueline? “The offense hasn’t been there to maybe what we envisioned earlier,” In the playoffs? It flatlined. In the regular season? Some nights, it was Armstrong said of Parayko. “But his job is a 200-foot player that’s asked online, while other nights, the lines were crossed. But a line has been to play two way and take a strong defending role — and I think he’s one drawn — the Blues must be much better on defense. And not just the of the best in the game at doing that.” defensemen. So who’s the fourth defenseman next year? And who makes up the third “Defending is everybody, goalie out,” Blues coach Craig Berube said pairing? There is a lot to like from Niko Mikkola, who fits the mold as 6- Wednesday. “You’ve got to take pride in that.” foot-5 gritty player. And he played valiantly down the stretch and in stretches during the playoffs. Of course, in addition to possible Sure, the Blues need to take care of some other little things, such as, transactions, the Blues have a pool of other players, from Vince Dunn to perhaps, score more. But an improved blueline will help the Blues Marco Scandella to Jake Walman. There is optimism about this group rediscover their push-’em-around, shut-’em-down identity. going forward — but there must be improvement, or we could be writing The Blues are a lot like the Cardinals in this regard — always season’s-end stories after the first round again. competitive, the team seldom stinks enough to get a super-high draft pick “I think for any organization to have success, you have to evolve,” (like Colorado did, over and over, in order to build its current juggernaut Armstrong said. “I think I have to evolve as a manager, I think (Berube) on ice that swept the Blues). So St. Louis is going to have to win with has to evolve as a coach. And our players have to evolve … But I have to style over stars, even if the style doesn’t get many style points. be in connection with Craig. There’s no sense going out getting the “Our defense was not to the standard that we’ve had in the past,” general player that I envisioned one thing, and then it’s a square peg into a round manager Doug Armstrong said in Wednesday’s season’s-end news hole. So he and I got to continue to work on that.” conference, in which his annual honestly often reveals the state of the franchise. “(In the net front on defense), you either have to be physically competitive or you have to tie up sticks. And I thought what we did this St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.27.2021 year was that we took up space, but didn’t take up sticks — and you saw that through that whole Colorado series and the number of deflections (for goals).

“(Assistant coach Mike) Van Ryn and the defenseman have to come up with a plan to either front those and block those more — or tie up sticks. Because those are impossible saves for the goalie.”

It’s fair to at least ask: Can the Blues play their bruising, shutdown defensive style with the current personnel? I want to give Armstrong the benefit of the doubt on the Torey Krug signing. I did the same thing regarding the Justin Faulk contract following Faulk’s frustrating first year — and sure enough, Faulk was clearly the best Blues defenseman this past year, his second in St. Louis. Krug is a smaller player, and though he’s tough as nails, he isn’t a physical dominator on defense. He needs to create more offense more often.

And as quarterback on the power play, the former Boston star can be wily like a Doug Flutie. But it sure took the power play quite a while to become effective in 2021 — though it was down the stretch, which gave St. Louis some hope entering the Colorado series.

Krug led all Blues blueliners with 32 points, 24th-most of NHL defensemen. But he can be better. And the reality is, and Armstrong pointed this out — joining a new franchise during a pandemic, in which you and your family can’t get accustomed to a city or a routine, can wear on a guy. Here’s thinking 2021-2022 will seem like the fresh start for Krug that a first season should’ve felt like.

Armstrong admitted that besides Faulk, David Perron and Ryan O’Reilly, everyone involved in the organization, himself included, must improve next season. But a particular player whose potency is of high importance to the Blues’ engine is Colton Parayko. Clearly, Colton’s back injury was a factor — it affected his play before sitting out, it led to him missing a long stretch of the already shortened season and, in his first few games back, he had to find his game on the fly. But he looked good leading up to the playoffs … and then he was minus-5 in the playoffs.

The 6-foot-6 Parayko is the epitome of the Blues’ D. When he’s battling and pushing and pushing the puck up the ice, he’s an All-Star-in-waiting. But next year has got to be that year. 1188951 St Louis Blues A: I would like to see Blais be given an extended run at the start of next season with the Ryan O'Reilly and David Perron line. I think Blais could be a consistent 15-goal scorer, maybe approach 20 every once in a while, if he could just stay healthy for an entire season -- or most of a Blues swan songs for Tarasenko and Schwartz? Jim Thomas weighs in season. One problem is that he hurls his body at opponents so often and with such force that he's more prone to injury. One thing thing that might

help on this front -- other than better luck -- is to get himself in the best Jim Thomas shape possible this summer and get stronger.

Q: Torey Krug cannot defend against top-6 forwards. The Bruins certainly have not missed him. I just don't see him any better than Vince Dunn. Here's the highlights of our first postseason chat with Blues fans. And he is eating up millions for years. Why protect him?

Q: I don’t see Vladimir Tarasenko ever being the player we thought he Blues Coyotes Hockey would be, or was. He's always one shoulder check into the boards from going on the injured list. Do you think the Blues will expose him in the A: There are still some things about Krug's game that puzzle me, but I expansion draft? thought his defense improved as the season went along. I think there were fewer situations down the stretch in which he got out-muscled. He Blues swept from playoffs with 5-2 loss to Colorado really came on running the power play. I think he's an asset. And like Justin Faulk (in Year 2 with the Blues), I would expect him to be better A: That's a tough question to answer in terms of will he ever be the same next season. player. I'm not sure even Doug Armstrong or Craig Berube can answer that definitively. I would think they'd take even a Tarasenko who scores Q: The Colorado series exposed the Blues’ weakness of lack of scoring 20-25 goals a season (assuming his 30- to 35-goal seasons are behind and physical play. It’s easy to get brutes, but where can they look for him). Players that can score from distance are hard to find in the NHL, offense? and that's why the Blues have to think about this long and hard before they either put Tarasenko on their protected list or leave him exposed. A: The Blues' scoring certainly dried up in the playoffs, but for the season The last thing you'd want to do is expose the guy, have him claimed by it wasn't that far off the pace from recent seasons. They averaged 2.98 Seattle and be a productive player, and you got nothing in return for him. goals per game this year; the Stanley Cup team averaged. ... wait for it … 2.98 goals per game. Last year's team averaged 3.14 goals per game, I certainly could be wrong, but my sense is the Blues protect him. But like and that was the highest for the team since 1994-95. a lot of people, I think Tarasenko's best days are behind him. Too many shoulder surgeries. I think the team's defensive woes made the scoring look more deficient than it was. And it seemed like the scoring droughts were sharper than in Q: The Blues had quite a few starters shelved during the playoffs, but recent years. even with them I still believe they are behind Vegas and Colorado. Changes are going to have to be made to be able to compete with them. I think shoring up the defense is the bigger issue. Which players do you think are off-limits this offseason? Q: Not placing blame, but do you see a need to shake up the assistant A: I agree. Even without the injuries, Colorado and Vegas are better than coaches? the Blues, although certainly not to the degree we saw this season. On A: Interesting you should mention that. On the Zoom call with Doug one hand, Doug Armstrong indicated on today's Zoom that this could Armstrong, he mentioned that he thought Mike Van Ryn and the defense potentially be a busy offseason for the team. On the other hand, he didn't needed to figure out something in terms of lessening the net-front think a rebuild was needed. Maybe a retool, but not a rebuild. presence of opponents. Armstrong said he didn't anticipate any staff In terms of off-limits … I think those players are say Ryan O'Reilly, David changes. But they always say that. Perron, , Jordan Kyrou, Jordan Binnington, Colton Q: I'm surprised no one asked about Craig Berube sticking with the same Parayko, Justin Faulk, and I think Torey Krug as well. forward lineup through four losing games. Kyle Clifford was invisible. I Q: Should the Blues sell low on Jaden Schwartz? His highs are no longer think it was a mistake to not play Klim Kostin and at least try. Agree? very high, and his lows too low. Nothing contributed again during the A: Berube was asked about not playing Kostin in the playoffs during playoffs. What’s his value moving forward? (Wednesday’s) Zoom call. I would've played him in at least one of the Blues 4, Wild 0 games. I forget if it was Berube or Doug Armstrong, but one of them said Kostin looked a little tired -- he played 67 games in the KHL and then had A: Schwartz had 12 goals to lead the team in the playoff goals during the the long trip to the U.S., etc. Armstrong is very high on him. As for Stanley Cup year. He shared the team lead with 4 playoff goals last year. Clifford, I thought he was OK this season, but I expected a little more in So he has been one of the team's better postseason players recently, terms of physical play. although not this year (there's a long list of players who didn't perform in the playoffs.). Schwartz does have a track record of injuries, although he did play in all 71 games last season. This was a tough year for him, too, St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.27.2021 with the death of his father before the season started.

Schwartz is a good skater, with good quickness. His style of play -- in terms of effort, puck-hounding, etc. -- fits the team's personality. Still, I would offer him less than the $5.35 million he's now making. How much less, I'm not sure. I've mentioned this before in chats: I don't quite have the sense of what a hockey player is worth like I developed in all my years covering the NFL. But I'm going to say $4.5 to $5 million a year.

Q: Even with the need for the Blues to acquire a big, rangy defenseman, do you think Jake Walman has earned more ice time, with the expectation that Vince Dunn will be drafted by Seattle?

A: Walman certainly has put himself on the radar. But Doug Armstrong today wouldn't go as far as to say that Walman (or Nikko Mikkola) has solidified a top-6 role. While generally complimentary of their development, he put them in the top 7 or 8 category, with a chance to compete for the top 6.

Q: I believe Sammy Blais makes a big jump to a top-6 forward next season. He is a big, adept skater and passer with a hard shot and meaner than a junkyard dog. … Am I into too much wishful thinking? How and where do you see Blais fitting in on next year’s team? 1188952 St Louis Blues sure.” Tarasenko has arrived in Latvia for the world championships and now has a six-day quarantine before he can start playing for Russia.

• While Berube liked in general what he saw from forward Klim Kostin in Berube thinks Blues' challenges are mental as well as physical his two games after coming back from the KHL, it wasn’t enough to get him in the lineup in the playoffs. “I thought he looked a little tired, I think with the travel and everything and the season he had,” he said. “He looked like he got a little winded at times. But he did fine. … Where we Tom Timmermann were at, I went with all the guys that I thought could get the job done.”

Head Coach Craig Berube responds to questions on Wednesday, May St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.27.2021 26, 2021, about Tarasenko, chemistry and the team's slump and not playing Kostin in the post season. (Video courtesy/Blues)

In reflecting on the just-completed season, Blues coach Craig Berube on Wednesday boiled his team’s troubles down to the essentials: “We didn’t score enough, we didn’t defend enough. … We were just in between.”

The problems were easy to identify, but the solutions may not be so simple. Injuries took a toll on this team, but even if everyone was healthy, there’s no assurance the team would have done the things needed to avoid a second straight early exit from the playoffs. Still, Berube sees this as a team that can contend for a Stanley Cup, if it can only find its identity, something that escaped it all season.

Doing that will be essential to the team’s success. For instance, can the Blues stick with its coach’s rugged, forechecking preference while integrating faster players into the lineup?

“You could still do both and you have to do both,” Berube said. “I do believe that you have to score off the rush or get scoring chances off the rush. I think it’s important. I know that we got some speed with some young guys on our team that are good off the rush. I preach both. It’s about decision making for me. And as players mature and develop and spend more time in the NHL, they’re going to get better at that. So I saw improvement. Jordan Kyrou’s a perfect example. Comes in and I thought his game improved over time this year and he had a real good year in my opinion, and he’s a good rush player.”

Look at a heat map of shots in the Blues-Avalanche series and you’ll find that at both even strength and the power play, the Blues didn’t get a lot of chances from the area in front of the net (except, at five on five, an area right around the right goalpost) while Colorado did. On offense and defense, the Blues need to do more in front of the net. But for Berube, that’s a matter of mindset more than body type.

“You can get better at everything,” he said. “I know we lost players. But it’s not just on the defense, defending is everybody, goalie out. It’s everybody and you’ve got to take pride in that. It’s an important part of the game. And yes, you can improve at being harder at your net and doing different things. Listen, the D corps, there’s guys that are big guys, it’s easy for them to push guys out of the way or be physical around the net and there are smaller D who’ve got to do it a different way.

“Getting to the net (on offense) has got to be on everybody, it’s not just the ‘Oh, we’re gonna go get a couple net-front guys.’ It’s an attitude that we’ve got to go to the net more. We didn’t get enough rebound chances because of that and that was a problem that we talked about all the time. So for me it’s just more of an attitude. If you want to score in this league on a consistent basis as a player, and be a good scoring team, you got to go to the net and get those rebound goals, because that’s where a lot of the goals are scored, we all know that.”

Notes

Berube said that Justin Faulk and Robert Bortuzzo, both of whom were hurt in Game 2 after hits to the head, would be fine. As for another defenseman, Vince Dunn, who missed the final 16 games of the season with what is thought to be a concussion, Berube said, “He just never felt comfortable to play. So we never want to put a player in a bad situation. And so he just wasn’t ready. I mean, he told us he wasn’t ready so that’s why he didn’t play.”

• Berube said that neither the Blues nor Vladimir Tarasenko were happy with his play in his return from shoulder surgery but he foresees a better future. “He needs to get his legs going again,” Berube said, “and use his body and just play a harder game down low in the offensive zone and get to the harder areas to score goals. … This is a big summer for him for sure, from a training standpoint, and making sure he comes in real healthy next year at training camp, then use training camp to get everything going again. … I think you’re gonna see a different Vladi for 1188953 St Louis Blues The Blues don’t have a superstar (or two) on their roster. Their formula is based on having a lot of good and really good players. Depth scoring. Unselfish play. Team first.

Armstrong: Stanley Cup window still open for Blues Armstrong stressed this approach in his message to the team Tuesday.

“It was basically that we have to get back to being a pack,” Armstrong said. “We have to get back to the team. We have to be the hardest, Jim Thomas closest, fiercest team because our competition might have acquired better players through free agency or through the draft or whatever.

“So our strength has always been the team. And it’s gonna continue to For those frustrated Blues fans looking for general manager Doug be the team.” Armstrong to blow it all up and make massive changes on an underachieving roster, don’t hold your breath. Armstrong still believes in the character of his core players. He told squad he was proud of the late-season push with multiple victories over Make no mistake, Armstrong foresees a “potentially” active offseason for Colorado and Minnesota that helped put the Blues in playoff position. He his team. But as he sees it, a scorched earth policy means you “pick in wasn’t happy that the team was in the position where it needed a late the top four or five for five or six years.” push to reach the postseason but . . . Which means you’re at the bottom of the standings for at least five or six “It looked like we were getting healthy,” Armstrong said. “We looked like years. we were coming on, we looked like we were gonna be a tough out, and “I don’t think anyone has the appetite for that today,” Armstrong said then we lost a couple more players (to COVID and injury).” Wednesday. “But I need to sit down with the ownership group, Mr. (Tom) And that was that. The team got blown out by Colorado in four games of Stillman, talk about the window that I believe we created three years ago its first-round playoff series. . . . and make a game plan.” Armstrong said only three players should be truly happy about their play Undoubtedly, Armstrong has an idea of where he wants to take the this season: Ryan O’Reilly, David Perron, and Justin Faulk. He said roster. But regardless of the sport, it’s always good to let the emotion of everyone else needed to be better. He said Berube and his coaching the season die down — good or bad — before firming up plans. staff needed to be better. He said he as general manager needed to be So Armstrong will talk with Stillman, the Blues’ chairman and governor, to better. take the temperature of the ownership group. He didn’t like the team’s net-front work at either end of the ice. The “If their desire is to go that way (total rebuild), then we’ll go that way,” defense and offense needed to be better and so did the penalty kill. Armstrong said. “My feeling right now is it’s not necessary to take that That’s pretty much everything, isn’t it? (Except for the power play.) type of draconian step.” But an unusual number of lengthy injuries, plus the unprecedented In the coming days and weeks, he also will meet with his front office COVID situation will, factor into Armstrong’s evaluations. Things aren’t group to get their thoughts on how to proceed in the offseason. always black-and-white. Obviously, he’ll get input from coach Craig Berube because there’s no “Certainly that is going to play into my overall assessment of the year,” sense making a particular move if Berube doesn’t think it’s a fit. Getting a he said. “I need to find out why since COVID hit a little over a year ago, square peg for a round hole is a waste of time and resources. we went to the bubble and weren’t able to muster the same effect that we This doesn’t have to crystallize overnight because the expansion draft, had pre-COVID. And I think this year was sort of a continuation of that.” regular draft and free agency all take place in late July. So no easy answers, but plenty of issues that must be addressed if that But this much is clear as the process begins in earnest: Even with back- window of opportunity truly is going to stay open for a while. to-back first-round playoff ousters, even with a losing overall record (29-

30-10) since the team entered the Edmonton bubble last July, Armstrong still likes the core of this team. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.27.2021 He believes the window of opportunity in terms of being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender remains open.

“I do think it’s open,” Armstrong said, while also adding “it’s gonna be difficult” to keep it open.

Difficult because as a result of their success over the last decade, there’s a certain way the Blues have to navigate through this to remain a contender.

“This group has averaged a little over 103 points a season, which is commendable,” Armstrong said. “And in that last decade, Colorado’s had four top-four picks and I think six top-10 picks.

“So they’re primed, and I think they’re gonna be good for a while. You look at the Toronto Maple Leafs, you look at their team today with the number of top-5 picks, they’re gonna be good for a while.”

Because of their sustained success, the Blues haven’t had the opportunity to draft the highest-end talent.

“So the way that we have to go is a team and pack mentality,” Armstrong said. “We’ll have to assess how we can get better under that format.

“We don’t have an answer internally for (Nathan) MacKinnon, or (Connor) McDavid or (Sidney) Crosby or (Alex) Ovechkin,” Armstrong said. “These guys are No. 1 overall picks or top picks.

“The way that we have to build our team, and we have to continue to do it, is by believing in each other, supporting each other and understanding that individually we can’t get it done. We have to do it as a group.” 1188954 St Louis Blues way. (But) my feeling right now is it’s not necessary to take that type of Draconian step.”

Here are 10 other takeaways from Armstrong’s 40-minute season-ending Is the Blues’ championship window closing? 10 takeaways from GM media session on Wednesday. Doug Armstrong’s season-ending media session 1. How did the Blues suddenly get three COVID cases?

On Tuesday, Blues forward David Perron spoke to reporters for the first By Jeremy Rutherford time since being placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list, which kept him out of the series against Colorado. May 26, 2021 Perron was crushed to learn that he was a confirmed positive case, especially since he said he was vaccinated.

Three years ago, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong told ownership “I Googled so many things about COVID, and you can still get it, that the organization was in a five-year window to win the Stanley Cup. regardless,” he said. “It’s a tough bounce.” Easy-peasy, they won it that year. One vaccinated player who contracted the virus would be one thing. But It hasn’t been so easy-peasy since. the Blues said all three Blues players on the list, including Jake Walman and Nathan Walker, all received their shots. How does that happen? After beating Boston in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, the Blues were No. 2 in the NHL standings (42-19-10) when the 2019-20 regular season was “New York Yankee-ish,” said Armstrong, referring to the COVID outbreak paused because of COVID-19. But since then, they’ve gone 29-28-9 among vaccinated players on the MLB team. “I thought, like everybody (including 2-8 in 10 playoff games) and were ousted in the first round of else, you follow the news and you see the vaccinated people and society the playoffs for the second straight season last week. is opening up and masks aren’t necessary and people are going to restaurants … and then we got hit with it.” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has to decide whether the COVID world played a role in his team’s sudden demise or whether The NHL had no intention of postponing the Blues-Avalanche series. changes with the roster and underperforming players are the culprit. “They have a business to run,” Armstrong said. “We were told that if you “Certainly (COVID) is going to play into my overall assessment of the get a COVID case and it’s not something that’s running through your year,” Armstrong said. “I’m trying to look at it in short snippets and then a whole organization … the reality is you just have to push and deal with it. longer haul obviously. I need to find out why since COVID hit a little over I never expected them to push the playoffs back. So, no, I wasn’t a year ago that we went to the bubble and weren’t able to muster the surprised.” same effect that we had pre-COVID. I think this year was sort of a continuation of that. The strength of this organization is the team and we 2. Any concern about Tarasenko playing in the World Championships? have to get back to being a better team.” After the Blues’ series against the Avs wrapped up Sunday, Tarasenko For now, Armstrong is sticking to his belief that the window is still open. acknowledged that he missed the final six games of the regular season But after being swept in four games by Colorado this season, and with a groin injury. He played in each of the four playoff games but said knowing the Avalanche may not even be the best team in the West, he the injury would need time to heal. realizes the need to have awareness about where the Blues now fit in the Then on Monday, it was announced he would be leaving for Latvia to picture. play for Russia at the IIHF World Championships. “It’s going to be difficult, obviously,” Armstrong said. “The way the league Say what? works, over the last decade this group has averaged a little over 103 points a season, which is commendable. (But) in that last decade, Asked if he was OK with Tarasenko playing at the World Championships, Colorado has had four top-four picks and I think six top-10 picks. So Armstrong replied: “Yeah, I was. I was excited because he wanted to they’re primed and I think they’re going to be good for a while. You look play. The passion is still there, the desire to continue after not playing a at the Toronto Maple Leafs. You look at their team today with the number lot of hockey. Obviously you’re a little bit nervous because he hasn’t of top-five picks, and they’re going to be good for a while. played a lot and it’s a long trip over there. But I fall back on he loves the game and he wants to continue to compete and he’s going to get that “We don’t have an answer internally for (Colorado’s Nathan) MacKinnon, opportunity.” (Edmonton’s Connor) McDavid, (Pittsburgh’s Sidney) Crosby, or (Washington’s Alex) Ovechkin. So the way that we have to be good is a But, um, what about that groin? team and pact mentality, and we’ll have to assess how we can get better under that format.” “You’d have to ask (Tarasenko),” Armstrong said. “The player signed off that he was 100 percent healthy and ready to go play, so I take his word With Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly having two more years left for it.” on their contracts at $7.5 million each per season, and four others — Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, Torey Krug and Jordan Binnington — all The GM wasn’t aware of any other Blues players headed to the having at least six more seasons left on their deals at a combined salary- tournament, but in answering the question, he may have shed some light cap hit of $25.5 million, a rebuild doesn’t seem to be a remote possibility. on how Tarasenko received his invitation.

But Armstrong had an interesting response Wednesday when asked to “I haven’t been told of anybody else leaving,” he said. “(But) some of define whether the Blues were in a “retool” or a “rebuild.” these countries, they bypass the team and go right to the player.”

“I guess define rebuild — trade everybody and pick in the top four or five 3. Any chance Hoffman returns to the Blues? for five or six years?” he said. “I don’t think anyone has the appetite for The chances of Mike Hoffman playing in St. Louis beyond his one-year that today. But then I need to sit down with the ownership group, Mr. contract this season seemed to end on March 28 when he was scratched (Tom) Stillman, talk about the window that I believe we created three the first of three times. years ago and give him my opinion on why it’s still open. Obviously he loves hockey, he’s got passion for the game, he understands the game After his third healthy scratch, Hoffman scored eight goals in the final 15 and we can digest and make a game plan. games of the regular season. Did that change anything in the relationship between the Blues and the pending unrestricted free agent? Could “But when you talk rebuild, that’s a long, long process. We’re lucky that Armstrong see him re-signing in St. Louis? we have a great fan base here in St. Louis that they understand it, but it can be difficult. When I went back, like the Colorado method of having “I could,” he said. “Mike is a goal scorer and I think he was certainly in four top-four picks, that’s a lot of 60-75 point seasons. It’s a process that the top portion of our team in points. When we needed goals, when our when you sit here in May and say, ‘We’re going to start a rebuild,’ it season was on the brink, I thought he stepped up and played. sounds like it’s not that bad. But when you’re in Year 3 of it, and your team has had 65, 70 points, that’s a rebuild, and that’s what I have to talk “It’s that communication and bonding that takes time with coaches and to ownership about. If their desire is to go that way, then we’ll go that teammates. Sometimes you say, ‘OK, I envision this player working with that guy’ and it doesn’t work out that way. (But) what I was really impressed with Mike is that he hung in there, he battled, he worked, he The Avalanche’s sweep of the Blues spotlighted several issues with the waited for his opportunity and then he produced. What we asked him to club, but the biggest may be the lack of players willing to stand in front of do, he produced.” the net. Actually both nets, but in this case, we’re talking about the offensive end. Though the relationship seemed to be strained, it’s believed that Hoffman will keep the Blues on his radar because, like when he signed last year, “Yeah, I think you have to go to that area to score goals in the NHL, he believes they’re a contending team. But with other offers expected this there’s no question,” Armstrong said. “Hoffman, Tarasenko, there’s few summer, the club would likely have to make a multi-year commitment. players that can score from distance. You have to go into the paint to score. I think one of the areas where we need to improve is our desire to 4. Where does Schwartz’s contract situation stand? go in there and not be half committed. I thought Colorado made it a lot It turns out Jaden Schwartz might have been wise to work out a contract more difficult on (Blues goalie Jordan) Binnington to see pucks than we extension with the Blues before the 2020-21 season. made it on the Avalanche goaltenders, and that’s an area that we’re going to have to improve.” Armstrong acknowledged Wednesday he’s had conversations with Schwartz’s camp, Sports Consulting Group Inc., but nothing materialized. 9. Are the assistant coaches coming back?

“Schwartz is a player that we talked to before the season and he was Berube has one more season left on his contract, and there’s no reason very adamant that he was comfortable waiting and I understood that,” to think he won’t fulfill it. But what about his assistants: Steve Ott (penalty Armstrong said. “He was going through a lot of things personally kill), Mike Van Ryn (defense), Jim Montgomery (power play), David (including the passing of his father, Rick), and now we have until the end Alexander (goalies) and Sean Ferrell (video)?

Schwartz might’ve lessened his value over the course of the season, “Craig and I are going to talk about that,” Armstrong said. “I think we all netting just eight goals in 40 regular-season games and going without a need to improve. I don’t sense that Craig has an issue with any of his point in the Blues’ four-game playoff series loss to Colorado. staff. Again, I haven’t sat and talked to him about that yet. There’s really no rush. 5. Is Bozak coming back? “I think we have young coaches that are getting better, getting stronger. Another pending UFA for the Blues is veteran center Tyler Bozak, who is But we do have to get our special teams better; our five-on-five has to be wrapping up a three-year, $15 million contract. Could the 35-year-old be better. I have to sit with Craig and find out how we continue to develop back if he were to take a pay cut? our younger players so they can have a great impact on our team quickly, and how we fix some of the areas that weren’t up to par this “I think Bozie is a good pro,” Armstrong said. “I haven’t got into the year.” minutiae yet on who’s coming back, who’s not coming back. Obviously I’m going to work with my management staff to get their assessment of 10. Does Armstrong still plan to address Player Safety? our group as a whole and then we’ll do individual players. I’ll get some input from the coaches on their thoughts on players and we’ll make a In the Colorado series, the Blues lost defensemen Justin Faulk and plan. But Bozie is a good pro, I’ve enjoyed him for three years, and if it Robert Bortuzzo to head hits. The Avs’ Nazem Kadri received a match works out, great.” penalty for his hit on Faulk and was later given an eight-game suspension that he’s appealing. Tyson Jost elbowed Bortuzzo in the 6. How is Parayko’s back? face, but no penalty was called and no supplemental discipline was issued, either. Colton Parayko was shut down for 1 1/2 months with a back injury in the regular season. When he returned, he played 20 games including the The Blues will only say that both Faulk and Bortuzzo suffered an upper- playoffs, averaging 20-plus minutes per game and progressively getting body injury and both would be fine. better. In the wake of those injuries, Armstrong spoke with The Athletic’s Pierre So does that mean Parayko can avoid offseason back surgery? LeBrun last week and said he’d like to advance the conversation with the NHL about the Player Safety department, which is headed by former “I’m certainly going to leave that to Colton and the doctors to find out player George Parros. what’s best, but I know he was able to come back and play,” Armstrong said. “We had to give him the ability to get strong (in the regular season), On Wednesday, Armstrong elaborated on his intentions. regardless of how we were playing on the ice. “I’m looking forward to talking to the commissioner (Gary Bettman) at “He’s such a dominant player with his skating and his size. The offense some point or (deputy commissioner) Bill Daly or both. George Parros, wasn’t there, (but) a lot of that was probably related to maybe his injury. he’s got the hardest job in hockey. Going through all of this, I said, I’m hoping there’s no surgery involved for him. Once the season is over ‘There’s not enough money in hockey to have me do that job.’ It’s an and you let your body settle down, it’ll tell you what it needs. Right now, awful job, quite honestly. But I think, as a league, from the players to the he’s just going to be able to continue the rehab and get back to work.” owners to the coaches to the managers, we can support George and give him more insight and help him do his job. 7. Why didn’t Kostin play in the postseason? “As I said, it’s always going to be a job that people second-guess. but I There was a lot of fanfare about Klim Kostin’s return to the Blues at the think that as a group we can all help him out because that’s the one thing end of the season. But while he appeared in the team’s final two regular- we all agree on, player safety. Nobody wants to see anyone get hurt. season games, picking up his first NHL assist, the power forward was a Nobody wants to see anyone miss a game. And as a league I think we healthy scratch in all four playoff games. can help George and his group find areas where maybe it’s not as gray, “He did fine in the two games there,” Blues coach Craig Berube said it’s more black and white. So it’s more of a ‘Support George Parros and Wednesday. “He looked a little tired with the travel and everything with Player Safety’ than criticize them. the season he had. He looked like he got a little winded at times, but he “That wasn’t what I meant to do. It was more that I think that group could did fine. I just didn’t feel, for me, that where we were at (in the playoffs), I use assistance from everyone in hockey because as a fan, you don’t went with the guys that I thought could get the job done.” want to wake up the next day and talk about player safety, and they don’t Armstrong said he hasn’t talked to Kostin since the end of the season to want that. I know George. He doesn’t want to talk about this either. So see if he’s keeping a positive mindset after sitting out in the postseason. we have to give him the tools and the vehicles and have everyone play a brand that’s not going to have Player Safety to have an input.” “But I will,” Armstrong said. “He’s got size, he’s got power. I saw him make a couple of plays in the games that he played. He had a good scoring chance his first shift and made a nice pass on a goal. There’s The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 some positive things there that we’re going to have to push along. You have to have young players to have success in this league, and I’m excited about his play.”

8. How desperately do the Blues need a net-front presence? 1188955 Tampa Bay Lightning There’s a calmness, and a poise to Vasilevskiy’s game that allows the Lightning to play full-tilt on the opposite end of the ice. Vasilevskiy may not have stolen an outcome through the first five games of the series, but he kept the Lightning in contention every night while Florida was cycling When they needed him most, Andrei Vasilevskiy showed up for the through goaltenders from Sergei Bobrovsky to Chris Driedger to Spencer Lightning Knight.

“He hates to lose and he especially hates to lose back to back games,” said Lightning forward Pat Maroon, who scored the game’s first goal on By John Romano Wednesday. “So it’s great to have him, and that’s why he’s the best Published 32 minutes ago goalie in the league by a longshot. We’re very happy to have him. Just another great performance by Vasy again tonight, some key saves at key moments. You need that moving forward in the playoffs.”

TAMPA — For five games, the most important man in a Lightning After Game 6, the Lightning are moving forward. And for this game, uniform had been largely inconsequential. they’ve got Vasilevskiy to thank.

This first-round series against Florida had turned into a battle of skaters and scorers. Of punches and penalties. The only goaltenders in the headlines were the ones being benched or plucked from obscurity by the Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.27.2021 Panthers.

Andrei Vasilevskiy had not been awful, but he had not been stellar either. He was facing a ton of shots and was mostly in control, but the Lightning had blown leads in both of their losses to Florida. Ten days into the postseason, Vasilevskiy had yet to be a difference-maker.

Until Wednesday night. Until Game 6. Until the second period.

With Tampa Bay clinging to a one-goal lead, Vasilevskiy turned in the performance you had been waiting to see. He stopped breakaways, he blocked one-timers, he shut down a power play. He stopped six shots in four minutes, and turned up the heat on Florida’s desperation.

By the time the game had ended, the Lightning had moved on to the second round with a 4-0 victory and Vasilevskiy had his second career postseason shutout.

“That’s what you need in tight games … come playoff time,” said Lightning captain Steven Stamkos. “Especially on the (penalty kill), you need some big saves in order to calm the group down and we had that tonight.

“It was funny, a lot of people were talking about their goalie after the last game. I think our guy obviously proved tonight to us why he’s the best in the league.”

Welcome to the fight, Andrei. The Lightning are going to need a lot more of that.

Tampa Bay may be leading the NHL with 24 goals this postseason, but you’ve got to believe games are going to get tighter and tighter. Few teams play as aggressively as Florida, and 6-5 and 5-4 scores are not going to be the norm going forward.

Vasilevskiy actually began the day tied for the most goals allowed in the postseason, although it wasn’t necessarily a reflection of his play. The Panthers are highly skilled and the Lightning had made things easier by giving away too many power plays.

That’s what made the start of the second period so critical. The Lightning had a 1-0 lead in Game 5 but lost momentum with too many penalties, and they began the second period of Game 6 with a high stick call on Ryan McDonagh.

Vasilevskiy stopped two quick shots early in the penalty kill, and then stepped up in the crease to knock the puck away from Patric Hornqvist. With his stick knocked out of his hand, Vasilevskiy immediately recovered with a kick save.

“Their power play is like two minutes of cardiac arrest. They’re just a skilled group that has you on your heels,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “Guys were blocking shots, but in the end you need your goalie to make some saves and, sure enough, he was there for us. He was seeing pucks tonight, he was tracking.”

The shutout lowered Vasilevskiy’s goals-against average to 2.64 for the series, although that’s still a far cry from the 1.90 average he posted in the playoffs last year.

Still, Vasilevskiy says his confidence is as high as it’s ever been. And why not? He’s now won 20 of his last 28 postseason starts. He hasn’t lost back-to-back games in the playoffs since the first-round debacle against Columbus in 2019. 1188956 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning find spark with return of Barclay Goodrow

By Mari Faiello

Published 5 hours ago

Updated 5 hours ago

TAMPA — With a little push — literally — Lightning forward Barclay Goodrow helped his team find its spark and close out its first-round series against the Panthers Wednesday with a 4-0 win.

Goodrow, who made his 2021 postseason debut in Game 6, didn’t take long to break back into action. He delivered three of his team-high five hits in the opening period, including a loud one on Owen Tippett, which sent the Panthers forward into his team’s bench.

For the past six games, Goodrow watched his team from a distance, sidelined with an upper-body injury suffered during the next-to-last game of the regular season. That night, he was in a late third-period fight with Panthers forward Noel Acciari.

“It’s tough when you’re out and watching,” Goodrow said. “You see the guys battling so hard, working so hard and just playing so well. But it’s great to be back (Wednesday).”

Goodrow’s return reunited him with Yanni Gourde and Blake Coleman on the Lightning’s third line. It was just like old times, with the trio — which forged its gnat-like identity en route to the Stanley Cup last postseason — causing chaos as always.

“He’s a glue guy,” coach Jon Cooper said. “He drives the team into the fight, and you can’t have enough of those guys. He has an impact on the team, not necessarily in a point-producing way, but in ways that help you win, so I think it was a big lift for our guys to get him back.”

Goodrow, 28, didn’t shy away from big hits in his return, bringing a grittiness to Tampa Bay’s game that helped it close out the series and clinch a second-round berth.

The “bite” to his game adds to the team’s physicality. Goodrow led the team in hits (111) during the regular season, and his five on Wednesday led both rosters. He was involved offensively, too, with three shots on goal.

It didn’t take long for Goodrow’s teammates to recognize his contributions on the ice.

“He was outstanding (Wednesday),” captain Steven Stamkos said. “I mean, to just jump right into a game after being out a while and just the physicality that he brings (was outstanding).”

Goodrow plays a key role on the Lightning’s penalty kill. He blocks shots, goes up against top power-play units and steps up to take key faceoffs.

Goodrow has played in the second-most playoff games (47) over the past three seasons, behind teammate Pat Maroon (57), compiling 147 hits and eight points (3-5—8) in those games. In 2019, he scored San Jose’s game-winning goal in a 5-4 overtime victory against Vegas in Game 7 of the opening round.

When it comes to the postseason, Goordrow’s experience speaks for itself.

“The cream rises to the top in big moments,” Cooper said. “And he’s definitely done that.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188957 Tampa Bay Lightning

First round: Lightning-Panthers Game 6 live updates

By Frank Pastor

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

Pat Maroon, Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point and Alex Killorn scored, and Andrei Vasilevskiy did not allow a goal as the Lightning beat the Panthers 4-0 in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series at Amalie Arena.

Tampa Bay, which won the best-of-seven series four games to two, eliminated Florida and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Maroon scored just over six minutes into the game, marking the fifth times in six games the Lightning opened the scoring. Stamkos scored a power-play goal in the second period. Point scored on a beautiful individual move in the third, and Killorn added an empty-net goal in the closing minutes.

Vasilevskiy stopped all 29 shots he faced.

Third-line wing Barclay Goodrow, sidelined for the first five games by an upper-body injury, was back in the lineup and played alongside Yanni Gourde and Blake Coleman.

Bolt, the Lightning team dog, lays down while playing on the ice as the pregame light show is tested hours before Game 6.

Bolt, the Lightning team dog, lays down while playing on the ice as the pregame light show is tested hours before Game 6. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Let’s try this again, shall we?

The Lightning appeared on their way to wrapping up their first-round series against the Panthers when they took a 1-0 lead into the second period Monday in Sunrise. The team that had scored first had won the first four games of the series, so Ross Colton’s first-period goal seemed momentous at the time.

But the trend did not hold in Game 5. Florida answered with four straight goals to win 4-1 and stave off elimination.

The Lightning continue to lead the series, 3-2, and get the second of three chances to end it tonight in Game 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa.

The Panthers seem to have steadied their goaltending situation, thanks to the unlikeliest of sources. After allowing Colton’s goal on the first shot he faced in Game 5, 20-year-old Spencer Knight stopped the next 36 to win his postseason debut after playing in just four games during the regular season.

Meanwhile, the Lightning hurt themselves by taking five penalties, compared to Florida’s two. Though the Panthers only scored on one of their power plays, the time Tampa Bay spent in the box robbed it of momentum and kept many of its skilled players off the ice for large stretches of the first period.

Will tonight be the night the Lightning finally rid themselves of the pesky Panthers?

Follow our live updates, starting at 8 p.m., as Florida hopes to move one step closer to winning a postseason series for the first time in 25 seasons, while Tampa Bay aims to eliminate one obstacle in its quest to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

History is on the Lightning’s side. Tampa Bay twice went into Game 5s during last season’s Cup run with a chance to clinch series and lost. In each case, it came back to win Game 6 — against the Islanders in the Eastern Conference final and Dallas in the Cup final.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188958 Tampa Bay Lightning Alex Killorn provided the final goal, an empty-netter. The return of third-line forward Barclay Goodrow, out since the second-

to-last game of the regular season, added the right amount of physicality On to Round 2: Lightning finish off Panthers in Game 6 to the Lightning lineup. Ask Florida forward Owen Tippett, who was sent skates up into the Panthers bench by Goodrow in the first period.

After leading the NHL in minor penalties this postseason, the Lightning By Eduardo A. Encina went to the box just twice.

Published Yesterday Florida outshot Tampa Bay 29-24.

Updated 3 hours ago “We didn’t have a ton of shots, but you know, we stuck (with) it,” Lightning forward Pat Maroon said. “I thought we battled very hard; we

won a lot of puck battles. As individuals, too, we were determined to just TAMPA — Those Panthers were definitely pesky. They pushed the win and compete. And everyone, all four lines, to the (defense) to ‘Vasy,’ Lightning, frustrating them at times with their physicality. And they have we all competed hard.” closed the gap in the battle for Sunshine State bragging rights. Lightning 1-1-2—4 But the Lightning finally showed the determination of a battle-tested, Panthers 0-0-0—0 defending Stanley Cup champion in Wednesday night’s Game 6 of their first-round playoff series. First Period—1, Tampa Bay, Maroon 1 (Sergachev, Johnson), 6:16. Penalties—Montour, FLA (Hooking), 18:55. They knew they couldn’t give the Panthers any more life. They couldn’t allow the series to get back to Sunrise for a Game 7. So the Lightning Second Period—2, Tampa Bay, Stamkos 3 (Kucherov, Hedman), 13:27 played one of their most disciplined and determined games in weeks — (pp). Penalties—McDonagh, TB (High Sticking), 1:53; Bennett, FLA definitely of the playoffs — in a 4-0 series-clinching victory at Amalie (Roughing), 12:53; Sergachev, TB (Cross Checking), 15:05. Arena. Third Period—3, Tampa Bay, Point 4 (Cernak, Kucherov), 14:36. 4, “You don’t want to risk a Game 7 because that’s a hell of a team over Tampa Bay, Killorn 4 (Cernak, Stamkos), 18:18 (en). Penalties—Vatrano, there,” coach Jon Cooper said. “But the boys played like champions FLA (Slashing), 19:35. (Wednesday). … It was 60 minutes of just sheer will and compete. And to win in this league, that’s what you need.” Shots on Goal—Florida 8-11-10_29. Tampa Bay 8-7-9_24. Power-play opportunities—Florida 0 of 2; Tampa Bay 1 of 3. Goalies—Florida, Knight The Lightning await the winner of the other Central Division series, 1-1-0 (23 shots-20 saves). Tampa Bay, Vasilevskiy 4-2-0 (29-29). A— between the Hurricanes and Predators. Carolina leads 3-2 going into 10,092 (19,092). T—2:25. Referees—Francis Charron, Jon Mclsaac. tonight’s Game 6 in Nashville. Linesmen—Shandor Alphonso, Matt MacPherson.

In front of a limited-capacity crowd of 10,092, Wednesday’s win was the first time the Lightning closed out a playoff series at home in more than three years, since a Game 5 win over Boston in the second round of the Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.27.2021 2018 playoffs.

“We had a good feeling about (Wednesday),” captain Steven Stamkos said. You’ve got to back it up sometimes. (Wednesday) was one of those nights where we talked about it, went into the game, and then we backed it up.”

Tampa Bay went into the game still searching for a complete-game effort in the playoffs.

“It was our best effort by far in the playoffs in the biggest game that we played so far,” said Stamkos, who scored a power-play goal in the second period to put the Lightning up 2-0 and also had an assist. “That’s what experienced teams do in those situations … they step up when it’s time to step up.”

They were backed by a remarkable effort from goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who made 29 saves in his second career postseason shutout. In the second period, he handled two Florida power plays and 17 scoring chances.

With the Lightning holding a 1-0 lead with a little more than seven minutes left in the second period, Panthers forward Sam Bennett tried to put Lightning defenseman David Savard into a headlock, knocking his helmet off in the process.

With Bennett in the box for roughing, the Lightning power play got the team’s biggest goal of the series from a familiar place.

Stamkos took a pass from defenseman Victor Hedman at the left circle and launched the type of one-timer that Panthers rookie goaltender Spencer Knight, in his second postseason start, definitely hadn’t seen.

Almost in relief, Stamkos pumped his fist in celebration.

The Lightning power play was 8-for-23 in the series.

Center Brayden Point, who didn’t have a shot on goal in the Lightning’s Game 5 loss, scored on an impressive move with 5:24 remaining in the game. Point sped down the ice, took a feed from forward Nikita Kucherov, juked Florida defenseman MacKenzie Weegar and skated across the crease. He waited out Knight until the goalie was spread on the ground before tucking it inside the near post to make it 3-0. 1188959 Tampa Bay Lightning

Can Lightning continue their recent Game 6 success against the Panthers?

By Eduardo A. Encina

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — The Lightning have drawn from their experience of winning the Stanley Cup throughout this season and will need to do so again in tonight’s Game 6 against the Panthers at Amalie Arena.

This marks the third straight playoff series that the Lightning took a 3-1 series lead into Game 5 and lost. But in the previous two — against the Islanders in last year’s Eastern Conference Final and versus the Stars in the Stanley Cup Final — they rebounded for series-clinching wins in Game 6.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said that experience helps going into tonight’s game.

“It’s never fun losing, but you want to be able to put teams away when you have the opportunity; it doesn’t always work out that way,” Cooper said. “But we have had some success. If we didn’t fare well in the one game last year, we ended up taking care of business. It doesn’t guarantee future results but I think a lot of the messages are the same, they’ve proven to work and hopefully it works again tonight.”

The Lightning think that if they can correct their mistakes, and control their emotions, they can close out the Panthers tonight at home. They certainly don’t want the alternative, which is sending the first-round series back to Sunrise for a decisive Game 7.

“We can’t feed them,” Cooper said. “And when I say that, feeding them is turning pucks over. They like to generate off the rush, we primarily did a pretty good job with that in this series, but we can’t be doing that. And the other thing is we have to be more disciplined.

“We can’t control the officiating, but we can control ourselves and I think that’s been a message that we’ve been trying to get that point across to our players and a lot of times it’s an experience thing and it’s like ‘Holy cow, we’ve got to stop taking penalties.’ Guys aren’t meaning to do it, it’s just happening.”

Penalties have certainly hurt the Lightning in this series, and Tampa Bay has taken the most minors this postseason (32), but the Panthers have taken their share as well (29).

“You can be frustrated all you want but you still got to win the game,” defenseman Mikhail Sergachev said. “It’s not the regular season where you can blame somebody for the loss. Obviously sometimes we get frustrated but we still got to win the game. We try to put that aside and let our coaches handle that and we just focus on the game.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188960 Tampa Bay Lightning Whether the Lightning can achieve the rare repeat remains to be seen. But watching them in this series reminded me of something former Penguins defenseman Ian Cole said of the only team to go back-to-back in the salary-cap era — the 2017 Pittsburgh team: Andrei Vasilevskiy drives Lightning in ‘clinical’ win: ‘They played like champions’ “When things aren’t going well, you lose some games, but it’s all about how we can bounce back from this, ‘We’ve got this, we’re good,’” Cole said. “Then you are down in a game and have the same mindset. ‘We’re OK, we’ll be fine.’ Having that confidence of climbing the mountain before By Joe Smith helps.” May 27, 2021 The tone was set by Johnson, the hero on the Lightning’s run to the 2015 Cup final. Though Johnson has been much-maligned by fans and now on the fourth line, he made an outstanding hustle play to beat an icing in the Andrei Vasilevskiy was a 21-year-old rookie in his first taste of NHL first period and set up Pat Maroon’s game-opening goal. You want to hockey in 2015 when he got an education from his “mentor,” Ben Bishop. talk about culture and buy-in? Find a former All-Star who was on waivers and in trade rumors all offseason, played just 7:36 on Wednesday but still Vasilevskiy watched Bishop, the Vezina Trophy finalist, close out three showed the motor of one of the team’s top players. straight series — including two Game 7 shutouts — en route to the Stanley Cup Final. The Russian rookie was struck by how confident, how “Johnny had a big-time impact on the game,” Cooper said. “He beat the calm Bishop was “in the heat of battle.” No matter whether he faced 20 or icing (on the goal) and beat an icing out on six-on-five, those are 25 shots, there was an ease to his game. Vasilevskiy called Bishop his monumental. Guys were going nuts on the bench for him. Johnny had a teacher, his big brother. whale of a game. He deserved to set up that first one with magnificent work.” “I was like, ‘Wow, maybe one day I’ll be like him,'” Vasilevskiy said, smiling. “Tonight is the day.” People forget how much of an impact Goodrow makes for this team, from his work with the Yanni Gourde line in the playoffs last year to his Vasilevskiy saved his best performance of the series for the biggest presence on the penalty kill. Goodrow, who was sidelined at the end of game, shutting out the Panthers 4-0 at Amalie Arena. Though much of the regular season with an upper-body injury, was out “indefinitely” but the talk has been about Panthers rookie phenom Spencer Knight, it was always felt he’d be back. Cooper called Goodrow a “glue guy,” one who Vasilevskiy who stole the show with 29 saves. Some of the biggest came rises to the top in big moments. in the second period when the Panthers had a power play — which coach Jon Cooper dubs “two minutes of cardiac arrest.” On nights like “He was outstanding,” Stamkos said. “To jump right into a game after this, you understand why Vasilevskiy will likely be on Hart Trophy ballots. being out for a while, the physicality he brings to that line, we know how important they were come playoff time.” “I think our guy obviously proved tonight to us why he’s the best in the league,” captain Steven Stamkos said. “That’s what you need in tight Cooper said the message to the players the past couple of days was that games come playoff time, in order to calm the group down.” they couldn’t control the officiating, but they could control themselves. And Tampa Bay played a disciplined game, giving Florida just two power This wasn’t all Vasilevskiy, however. This was a Cup-winning team plays. When the Lightning made mistakes — they weren’t perfect — playing with the kind of determination and execution you need to close Vasilevskiy shut the door. out series in the playoffs. They were relentless from the start, taking the lead in the first and not sitting back in the third, like they did in a Game 3. Hedman was as active and dynamic as he’s been all series, joining Erik There was Barclay Goodrow, making his postseason debut, smashing Cernak, Mikhail Sergachev and Ryan McDonagh in playing more than 21 Owen Tippett into the Panthers bench. There was Tyler Johnson beating minutes. And the top line with Ondrej Palat, Point and Kucherov was out two icings, including the one to set up the team’s first goal. There was forechecking and creating all the way to the end. deadline acquisition David Savard playing his best game in a Lightning uniform, delivering some big hits and thwarting a two-on-one. “It was our best effort by far in the playoffs,” Stamkos said. “That’s what experienced teams do in those situations. They step up when it’s time to And there were the stars. Victor Hedman said before the game that the step up. We didn’t like our game (Monday) and talked about it. It was just leaders had to “show the way,” and they certainly did. Stamkos scored on a 60-minute effort. That’s what it takes to close out series, especially the potent power play, Nikita Kucherov extended his own record of 11 against good teams. It was great to be part of that. We knew it before the points in a playoff series, and Brayden Point — held to zero shots on game and had a good feeling, but you’ve got to back it up.” goal in Game 5 — sealed the game with his sick move and score late in the third. Vasilevskiy learned a lot last year in accomplishing his lifelong dream of winning a Stanley Cup. It validated all Vasilevskiy’s preparation and gave “It was 60 minutes of just sheer will and compete,” Cooper said. “The him more trust in his routine. Hall of Famer Marty Brodeur said there’s a boys played like champions tonight.” certain kind of confidence you gain from being the goaltender who leads a team to the Cup, something both the goalie and teammates feel. The Panthers gave the Lightning a hell of a fight in the first of what will likely be many Sunshine State showdowns in the Stanley Cup playoffs in Vasilevskiy hasn’t been at his best for every game in this series, coming years. They’ve got world-class players in Sasha Barkov and including giving up six in a Game 3 loss. But when it mattered the most, Jonathan Huberdeau, a future franchise goaltender in Knight and some Vasilevskiy was one of the team’s best players. Like Bishop often was. agitators that made this a nasty, six-game series. Tampa Bay will face the winner of the Carolina- Nashville series, with the Hurricanes up 3-2 “He could have faced 20-25 shots in a period, and he was so good and heading into Thursday’s Game 6. so confident in himself and our team,” Vasilevskiy said. “I just learned so much from him. He’s my mentor. But Tampa Bay, which finished third in the Central Division, showed why it’s still the team to beat in the East. There’s a reason the Lightning didn’t “So thanks, Bishy.” lose two in a row during their Cup run last year, including finishing a series in Game 6 in the conference and Cup finals after losing Game 5. They don’t get rattled. Stamkos said there was a calm and confident The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 feeling among the group before Wednesday’s game. They made some changes to their game plan, then went out and had their most complete performance of the postseason. “Clinical,” Stamkos said.

Cooper said the other day that he had “complete and utter confidence” his group would close it out. Why?

“The difference is, do you want to be just like every other team and win one and be done?” Cooper said. “Or do you want to become special and do it again? There’s a reason teams haven’t done that. Pittsburgh was special.” 1188961 Tampa Bay Lightning “You’re on the rules committee, you should know the rule better than me,” Stewart replied. “The crease extends to the post but it also extends from the ice to the crossbar. Carbonneau is athletic, but he’s no gazelle.”

Former NHL referees weigh in on officiating in these playoffs: ‘The other Stewart paused: “I thought you were calling to tell me you’d bring me a side is going to think you suck’ pizza after the game.”

Stewart was in his dressing room after the game taking off his skates when there was a knock at the door. By Joe Smith “It was Savard with a pizza,” Stewart said, laughing. “You know what that May 26, 2021 showed? Respect. But the guys can’t command it, they’ve got to earn it.”

Both Stewart and Fraser talked about how many more younger refs are in the game today, noting there could be some growing pains that come Two days after being critical of officiating, Lightning coach Jon Cooper with it, especially as guys get used to a two-man system. Stewart hopes was more subtle following Monday’s Game 5 loss to the Panthers. the newer officials had the kind of mentors and the Hall of Famers he Tampa Bay’s top power play unit had just two opportunities in a 4-1 loss, learned from. Both acknowledge what can be extremely challenging is while Florida had five. managing a series that starts to get ugly, much like the Panthers- Lightning series did in Game 4 on Saturday. “We’ve got to take less penalties — it’s killing us,” Cooper said. “For whatever reason, they must not take very many. They do a good job “When you let this go and let that go and it snowballs down the hill, it’s because it seems like we’re the only ones taking them.” getting worse and players’ aggressiveness is running rampant how would I treat a situation like that?” Fraser said. “At a stoppage of play, I would When Hall of Fame referee Kerry Fraser heard the comment, he go to the benches to both coaches and say, ‘Obviously you’ve taken way chuckled. “The game within the game. Floating a balloon.” too much advantage of my generosity and I’m embarrassed, but I’m now going to lay the hammer down. I prefer you to control your guys before I Cooper isn’t the only NHL coach to publicly criticize the officiating in the have to. But I’m going to grab one player in the scrum — it might be your playoffs, with Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour and Blues’ Craig Berube also guy or their guy. Control your guys or I will.” weighing in. There’s been merit to their concerns. But with limited communication with officials — other than chats/chirps by the benches or The key is the follow through. That seemingly became an issue in Game chats with series supervisors — it’s a strategy as old as time for coaches 4, as Cooper said the officials told his players to not do anything “stupid” to send a message through the media. or they’ll get them, but felt the Panthers were instead “rewarded for it.”

Do the referees hear it? Fraser said, “If I said something, you can take it to the bank, I was going to do it. The guys that are really successful are when they step on the ice “Absolutely,” Fraser said. “The gamesmanship for the coaches and GMs and players know they mean business. When they tell them something, in a seven game series to get their way through to officials, whether it’s they follow through. It’s not an idle threat.” the media or series supervisor, they plant something into the supervisor’s brain — I’ve seen it all. As a referee, you have to block all that noise out But Fraser can see where this series can tilt sideways. because when the puck drops it’s on them, it’s their game, they have to manage it. There’s a bunch of external pressure that referees today “You have (Ryan) McDonagh launch a guy and then there’s a crosscheck experience that we didn’t when we first started.” down on a goalie with no call, one where a guy got thrown into the boards sideways and there was no penalty,” Fraser said. “As these There are many things the Lightning need to do in Wednesday’s Game 6 events in that first game evolved, it created a mindset for a player that to close out this series. Erik Cernak said they have to win more battles, they can be really aggressive and sure enough, this series escalated having not had the necessary compete in Monday’s loss. Victor Hedman from this point. Historically, as the series go along and when teams have said the leaders have to “show the way.” their backs against the wall, in those situations they can’t afford to take stupid or foolish penalties.” But one of the biggest issues in this series has been penalties — the ones called, and the ones that weren’t. Tampa Bay has been one of the Fraser always felt it was important to leave the game in good shape for league’s most penalized teams in recent seasons, but have also had the next crew that takes over because you don’t want the next group to their number of minor penalties per game in these playoffs doubled (from come in and have to clean up the “Wild West.” three to six). Cooper said it’s essentially like giving the Panthers a goal per game, though he lamented how his team was on the wrong end of “It confuses a player, Game 1 was played a certain way and it was ‘old- those 50-50 penalties. time hockey,'” Fraser said.”Now, what happens when Game 2 comes and there’s another group.” You can’t blame a coach for trying to get the point across. The example Fraser uses was the 1989 Stanley Cup Final. He took over “I promise you, with the people I’ve worked with over the course of my in Game 3, but before he did, John McCauley told him the first two career, I don’t think you’re going to tell Andy Van Hellemond, Don games were too loose. Koharski or Kerry Fraser how to referee a hockey game,” said Hall of Fame referee Paul Stewart, a fourth-generation official. “They just look at “I need you to bring this series back,” McCauley said. “I need you to lay you like pffft. the hammer down.”

“I didn’t give a shit. I did the job based on what my feelings were. In many So Fraser called a lot of penalties in the first period, the second period he senses, I felt the players played for me. If you’re going to officiate and be managed the game and by the third period, there were a few double at the top level of your game, you can’t allow this type of outside minors “just to let them know we were still around.” influence to taint your thinking. You have to gauge it by how you are and But Fraser was forced to call a penalty in overtime when Mark Hunter ran who you are.” Shayne Corson into the boards in an obvious late hit, and the Canadiens Stewart used to hear all the time about the “Montreal rule,” that the won in double OT. Canadiens got all the calls in their favor. He remembered one game at “You’ve got to make tough calls sometimes,” Fraser said. “Here is where the old Montreal Forum where was in the crease on a the pressure on the officials is historic, it’s almost like that old adage, ‘Let shot. The Capitals goalie Pete Peters couldn’t get to the the players decide the outcome of the game.’ That was the mandate in spot because Carbonneau had jumped straight up in the air. Stewart 2005, the players commit the infractions, not the officials. They should be disallowed the goal and the crowd booed him mercilessly. supported when they make those tough calls and not feel like they’re Stewart skated over to the box and was handed the phone. It was then boxed in and inmates run the prison.” Canadiens GM Serge Savard. Stewart said the scrutiny on officials has always been there, from all “How can that be a no-goal?” levels, joking, “In 1998 I had colon cancer, after that I had (NHL senior VP) Colin Campbell.” But there are more eyeballs and angles on the group now. Stewart used the example of how there were three cameras at the old Spectrum in Philadelphia and now 23 in the Wells Fargo Arena.

“I see plays that should be penalties or see plays that I don’t think are, and it’s almost like they’ll go to the replay more often,” Stewart said. “The thing that really bothers me the most is you know the coaches are leaning over the boards with a tablet on their bench, saying, ‘That’s not how it looked,’ and it puts a tremendous amount of pressure on guys, and that’s an influence.

“What I would tell the coaches in my time is, ‘Go shit in a hat. I don’t give a shit.'”

Stewart said the first round is always the toughest round to work and, by the Final, you have the “cream of the crop” playing where neither side wants to take the penalty that costs them the game. Fraser believes there’s more animosity between teams because of the condensed, division-based schedule, which is why you’re seeing such physical games between teams like the Lightning and Panthers who are playing for the 14th time Wednesday.

It reminds Fraser of the old days when they used to call the Norris Division the “Chuck Norris Division.”

“I get a kick out of commentators calling these fights ‘brawls,'” Fraser said. “There used to be 25-minute brawls where the benches cleared and it took three of us to clean it up. Now if there’s two fights, it’s all of a sudden a line brawl. The thing we need to start to watch is the dangerous hits, guys who are vulnerable hit into the boards, these blindside hits. Those are the things that really have to be eliminated and controlled.

“Now in the two-ref system, you’ve got to mesh guys together. You have one guy more dominant, stronger than the other or a veteran that a player will play for and a younger guy who sometimes has an overreaction. There’s an overreaction of penalties that can go the other way. It can run the game as much as being lax, too liberal.”

There have been a few coaches who have lamented how referees manage based on score, where a team that falls behind all of a sudden gets more calls and power plays. Then there’s the idea of the “makeup call.”

“The worst thing that can ever happen for a referee is to feel like you can’t call a penalty and that happens when you let one thing go and to be fair and balanced, you let the other team commit an infraction that’s actually worse,” Fraser said. “Now you start managing the game and becoming an accountant as well as an arbitrator and referee. That’s an awful feeling to get where you’re caught in that situation and at some point you have to put the brakes on it.”

Cooper said the message the last few days with his team has been, “we can’t control the officiating, but we can control ourselves.” Fraser watched Cooper’s press conference on Saturday and thought his comments were “fair,” noting how the NHL’s longest-tenured coach “carefully” chose his words and brought up the point that everyone loves aggressive, intense hockey, but he did lose two of his top players — Nikita Kucherov and Mikhail Sergachev — to injury.

“You’ve got to know in the pit of your stomach that there’s one side that’s going to think you did a great job and the other side is going to think you suck,” Fraser said. “The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As an official, you have to trust your judgment and have to be honest with yourself. And you have to be able to adjust if you’re a referee that feels you can be too generous, or the energy and emotion of the game is running too high, it’s going to result in somebody taking advantage or someone getting injured.

“You’ve got to manage that and the best way is to, when there’s a penalty, raise your arm and call it. You need your call to be able to be defended by video review. It’s a really hard job, people don’t realize how hard it is to manage a game and keep it fair and safe and all the mandates under the pressure.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188962 Toronto Maple Leafs Whippersnapper. According to stats keepers at the NHL, it is only the third instance in

which two players aged 35 each scored in a playoff game in the Maple Maple Leafs can exorcise playoff demons with overdue series win Leafs’ 100-plus years. Campbell’s shutout was Toronto’s first against the Canadiens in the postseason since Johnny Bower did it in the second game of the Stanley Cup final in 1967. That is the last year the Leafs claimed the Cup. MARTY KLINKENBERG Before even hoping to achieve something so marvellous again, there PUBLISHED MAY 26, 2021 must be one more triumph over Montreal, and many more following it. UPDATED MAY 26, 2021 “There is a reason why it has been so many years because closing out a series is a very difficult thing to do,” Keefe said. “We respect that greatly and we respect our opponent. We know [Thursday night’s] game is going Goaltender Jack Campbell of the Toronto Maple Leafs makes a save to be the hardest in the series.” against Phillip Danault of the Montreal Canadiens during the third period in Game Four of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 25, 2021 in Montreal. Globe And Mail LOADED: 05.27.2021 The Maple Leafs best players were barely in public school the previous time the team won a playoff series. Auston Matthews was 6 years old. Mitch Marner was 7. William Nylander just 8.

It tells you not just how difficult it can be to win in the NHL, but also a little about the team’s hard history.

The last time the Maple Leafs won a postseason series was 2004. The last time they led one 3-1, they lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games. That heartbreak occurred in 2013, when Toronto blew a three-goal lead and lost in overtime. It was the first time in NHL history that a team trailed by three goals in the third period of Game 7 and went on to win.

That stain and so much misery can be wiped away on Thursday night when the Canadiens visit Scotiabank Arena. To this point, the series has been as one-sided as it was during the regular season. The Maple Leafs won seven of 10 meetings between them then and have collected victories in three of four now.

Nobody associated with the team needs to be reminded of the frustrating failures of the past. Sheldon Keefe is just finishing his first full season as coach and it looms above him like a dark grey cloud.

“I certainly recognize the opportunity and the responsibility I have as one of the leaders of the organization,” Keefe said Wednesday. It was a day off for the team, but Keefe and Nylander were made available for virtual interviews. “For the organization and its fans, we know the hurdle we have to get over here. We don’t put any of that on the players. We have a very small group that have been here for multiple years.

“I look at this group as having its own identity, and not as being attached to anything that has happened in the past. The guys don’t wear any of those pressures, but as an organization we need to deliver for our fans.”

Toronto has strung together three victories since a Game 1 loss to take control. Montreal has scored only twice in its past three games as a result of Jack Campbell’s strong goaltending. Nylander has as many goals in the series – four – as the entire Canadiens team. He has scored in each game and if he does so again in Game 5, he will equal a club record for the Stanley Cup playoffs set in 1993 by .

This is Nylander’s fifth shot with Toronto at winning a series. He had three goals in his first 20 postseason games but has had six in the past nine. He says he is motivated by the pain of defeat.

“I think it is the losses in the previous series,” he said Wednesday. “They hurt you. That is something I don’t want to happen this year.”

The Maple Leafs captured a division championship for the first time since 1990. They are a breath away now from moving on to meet the Winnipeg Jets in the second round.

“That has been our goal,” Nylander said. “We have a big one, but that is one small step we want to accomplish [along the way.] Our mindset is different this year.”

Toronto has done it so far without its captain, John Tavares, who was injured in the series opener. It has done it without a goal from Matthews or Marner.

In Tuesday’s 4-0 victory, the Leafs got goals from a pair of players who are a combined 78 years old. At 41 years 327 days, Joe Thornton became the oldest player in franchise history to record a playoff point. Jason Spezza had the other. He is 37. 1188963 Toronto Maple Leafs

The goals from Jason Spezza and Joe Thornton are gravy to the leadership the Leafs’ veterans have provided

By Mark Zwolinski Sports Reporter

Wed., May 26, 2021

Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza continue to make contributions to the Maple Leafs as much off the ice as on it.

While the two each had goals in the Leafs’ Game 4 win in Montreal on Tuesday, the duo’s leadership qualities appear to be getting the players to a point they have not been able to achieve previously — advancing past the opening round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

No one appreciates that more than Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe, whose team can end its first-round series against Montreal with a win on home ice Thursday night.

“I think there’s no question there’s a lot of things that have happened with our team,” Keefe said Wednesday, a non-practice day for the team. “You see the growth of our team, the maturity of our team, the way we have gone through the season and the early round of this playoff, the way we’ve handled the emotional swings … you can’t help but look at the contributions of our veteran players.

“Their experience, their voice, the level of calm they have in situations, their confidence in the group, that stuff is over and above what their on- ice contribution is. I think that’s the value of those players, and that’s why we’ve taken a step as a team.

“All of our players have taken a step in terms of accountability, the responsibilities you have for your teammates. It’s been really good in that area, and that’s the area of growth in our team from last year to this year, and I think (Thornton and Spezza) in particular have really helped us in that regard.

“Whether they’re scoring or not, I believe those guys raise the level of every guy on our team and make us a cohesive group.”

Thornton has been able to manage the ups and downs of the series. His goal came after he was on the ice for all four Montreal goals in the series. And Spezza’s marker came after he had been robbed twice by Montreal goalie Carey Price, once on a sure-bet, open-net opportunity.

Keefe feels managing key situations and emotions has led to the Leafs’ opportunity to put four years of first-round playoff failures behind them.

“I certainly recognize the opportunity and the responsibility I have as one of the leaders of the organization … this hurdle we have to get over here,” the coach said. “But we don’t put any of that on the players. We have a very smart group of players that have been here for multiple years — this group itself I look at with its own identity, and not attached to anything that’s happened in the past. I think that’s important inside our walls, and the guys don’t wear any of those type of pressures.

“But as an organization, we need to deliver for our fans, and we’ve given ourselves a great opportunity. There is a reason why it’s been this many years, because closing out a series is a very difficult thing to do, and we respect that greatly, and we respect our opponent, and we know tomorrow night’s game is going to be the hardest one of the series.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188964 Toronto Maple Leafs

The Canadiens will try to win one for the fans when they face the Leafs in Game 5

By Mark Zwolinski Sports Reporter

Wed., May 26, 2021

The Montreal Canadiens have many reasons for wanting to win Thursday and extend their first-round playoff series with the Maple Leafs. About 2,500 of them.

With the Quebec government set to pull back some of its COVID-19 restrictions on Friday, the Canadiens could be the first team in the country to play in front of home fans this season, if there is a Game 6 on Saturday. The Leafs lead the series 3-1 and can eliminate Montreal with a win at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday.

“It’s definitely in the back of all our minds,” said Tyler Toffoli, Montreal’s top goal scorer in the regular season. “The opportunity to play in front of even a small amount (of fans) is huge and it’s definitely one of the factors why we want to win and move on.”

Some 2,500 fans will be allowed into Montreal’s Bell Centre if there is a game Saturday.

The Canadiens know they’ll have to muster some offence to make that happen. They have just four goals in four games, a dry spell that has wasted some superb goaltending from Carey Price. The team’s power play is also stagnant, with no goals in 13 opportunities in the series.

When asked Wednesday, during the team’s media Zoom call, what Montreal needs to do to extend the series, defenceman Ben Chiarot didn’t mince words: “Put the puck in the net,” he said.

Montreal coach Dominique Ducharme said Artturi Lehkonen (upper body injury) and Jake Evans (undisclosed injury) would not be travelling with the team to Toronto.

Ducharme believes his team has “fight” left to show the Leafs. “We won’t be going down easy, that’s for sure. We’re going to be fighting … just this group of guys. We’ve been through so much to get here, and we won’t go down this easily.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188965 Toronto Maple Leafs by a lot of other measures, Matthews and Marner are doing precisely what they’ve been told they need to do if their tenure in Toronto is ever going to amount to anything beyond rich paydays and individual acclaim.

The Leafs’ Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are finding ways to If they’re not dominating the scoresheet, they’re commandeering shifts dominate off the scoresheet with relentless 200-foot mastery. In other words, they’re doing a little bit of everything. Matthews, for instance, ranks second on the team in hits. He has won 59 per cent of his faceoffs. He’s been credited with eight takeaways, tied with Vegas forward Mark Stone for most in the playoffs By Dave Feschuk Sports Columnist heading into Wednesday’s games. He hasn’t been on the ice for a single Wed., May 26, 2021 goal against at five-on-five all series.

And while Matthews has clearly been a Montreal target — the Canadians have attempted to engage him in after-whistle scrums — he’s been a One goal and two assists. Three measly points. smiling, occasionally smirking nonparticipant in the nonsense. For all Montreal’s baiting, Matthews has refused to bite. He’s drawn two Four games into this Maple Leafs-Canadiens first-round playoff series, penalties. He hasn’t taken one. Oh, and it’s probably only a matter of that’s the modest extent of Auston Matthews’ production on the time until he explodes for some goals; according to the folks at scoresheet. And if things were different and the Leafs weren’t on the Sportlogiq, Matthews’s 26 scoring chances led the NHL playoffs heading verge of clinching their first trip to the second round of the playoffs in into Wednesday’s games. more than 17 years — if they didn’t have their ancient rivals in a 3-1 series stranglehold heading into Thursday’s Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena Marner, meanwhile, has logged more ice time than any other Leaf, even — it’s not difficult to imagine a scenario in which Matthews would be the defencemen, playing an average of nearly 24 minutes a night. He’s painted in a not-so-flattering light. been a tireless presence on a penalty kill that has yet to give up a goal in 13 Montreal power plays. And he’s been a faithful disrupter of Montreal’s You only need to look West to know this to be true. Connor McDavid, attack. His 29 blocked passes amounted to the second-most in the after all, had one goal and three assists in his four playoff games this playoffs heading into Wednesday, according to Sportlogiq. spring. And if McDavid, as the highest-paid player in the sport, is being pilloried in some corners for his failure to elevate his game in Edmonton’s So while it’s true that Matthews and Marner would be taking considerable four-game bow-out to the Winnipeg Jets, surely Matthews, as the criticism for their lack of point production if the Leafs were losing, it’s a second-highest-paid player in the playoffs as measured by cap hit, would glimpse at some of those other numbers that give you a window into why be taking tremendous heat if the Leafs weren’t currently dominating the they’re most certainly not. You can’t win if you don’t score, sure. overmatched Canadiens. Matthews and Marner — heck, even Nylander — seem to be figuring out that it doesn’t matter how many you score if you don’t win. But that’s the thing: The Leafs are very much dominating the Canadiens. And it says a lot that they’re doing so with Matthews, the newly crowned Rocket Richard Trophy winner as the regular season’s top goal scorer, sitting behind the likes of the red-hot William Nylander and Jason Spezza Toronto Star LOADED: 05.27.2021 on the Toronto goal chart.

It says even more that the Leafs are having so much success with John Tavares, the third-highest-paid player in the playoffs as measured by cap hit, having played all of 2:53 of Game 1 before he was gruesomely felled in a freak collision with Corey Perry. And yet more that they’re prospering with Mitch Marner, Matthews’ linemate and the fourth-highest-paid player in the playoffs as measured by cap hit, having put up all of three assists in four games.

It certainly tells you Nylander has shown up to play in the nick of time. After scoring all of five goals in his first 25 playoff games heading into this series, he has four goals in four games, as many as the entire Canadiens roster. And he’s done it in less-than-optimal circumstances. He has been largely without both of his Game 1 linemates, Tavares and Nick Foligno, the latter of whom missed Games 3 and 4 to injury. And if that would amount to an easy excuse for a few off games — an excuse another iteration of Nylander might have gladly taken — so far he’s been in the middle of the fray.

What’s changed?

“I think it’s the losses in previous years. They hurt you when you lose,” Nylander said Wednesday. “That’s something we don’t want to happen this year.”

Said Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, speaking of Nylander: “To me he’s competing harder and the offence will come. It’s obviously big for us. You lose Tavares, Foligno and he’s (kept going) … I think I was most impressed with, in the third period (of Game 4), he battled his ass off along the wall. He’s playing a real nice complete game for us. He’s given us real hard shifts.”

It also tells you that, as fixated as we get on the so-called counting stats — the goals and the assists for which the NHL issues annual regular- season awards — those numbers have never been flawless measures of performance, especially when seen in relatively small snapshots of time.

Mich Marner, left, and Auston Matthews have one goal between them in the Leafs’ first-round playoff series, but no one is accusing of them of not being involved.

While Nylander is being showered with attention for his goal-scoring exploits — and justifiably so, given that the last Leaf to reel off a goal in four straight games to open a playoff series was Wendel Clark in 1986 — 1188966 Toronto Maple Leafs “We need to find some confidence offensively, make some more plays and be more dangerous offensively.”

Heading into what could be their final game of the season, the Habs are Game 5 vs. Canadiens set to be toughest test yet for Maple Leafs: Keefe looking inward and not giving the Leafs too much respect, said forward Tyler Toffoli.

“We’ve got to play our game and worry about ourselves, take it shift by By Gemma Karstens-Smith The Canadian Press shift,” he said. “It sounds cliché but that’s kind of the way we have to play. We just have to be confident in our own abilities and go from there.” Wed., May 26, 2021 The Leafs have been getting a boost of confidence from their sidelined

captain, John Tavares, who left Game 1 on a stretcher after taking a Coach Sheldon Keefe knows the hardest work is yet to come for his knee to the face in Game 1. The 30-year-old centre is expected to miss Toronto Maple Leafs. two weeks with a knee injury and a concussion, but he’s still found ways to connect with his teammates. After blanking the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 on Tuesday, the Leafs are up 3-1 in the best-of-seven first-round North Division series and on the brink “We get text messages from him before every game reminding us of of advancing in the playoffs for the first time since 2004. what we need to do out there and what our mindset needs to be like. He’s been a huge support and obviously he’s been on FaceTime after The Canadiens, though, aren’t about to surrender heading into the wins in the locker room,“ Nylander said. ”So he’s there every Thursday’s Game 5. moment.”

“We know they’re going to compete really hard tomorrow, look to make Tavares made an in-person appearance at the Leafs’ training facility on things difficult on us,“ Keefe said Wednesday. ”We’ve got to anticipate it’s Wednesday, Keefe said, “re-acclimating himself with the group.” going to be another very tight game and we have to be prepared for it. It’s going to be the most difficult game of the series.” “For him to still be showing those leadership qualities that he has at this time of year is really important,“ the coach said. Difficult games are nothing new for the Leafs, who’ve experienced ample playoff heartbreak in the past.

Toronto was ousted from the first round in 2017, 2018 and 2019, the last Toronto Star LOADED: 05.27.2021 two in seven-game losses to Boston. Last year, the team battled the Columbus Blue Jackets in the play-in round, losing in a gritty five-game series.

“There’s a reason it’s been this many years,“ Keefe said. ”It’s because closing out a series is a difficult thing to do. And we respect that greatly, respect our opponent.“

The coaching staff have been careful not to place the pressure of the past on the shoulders of current players, Keefe said. But the Leafs are well aware of what’s at stake when they step on the ice on Thursday.

Winning a playoff series has been a prime objective for the team all season, said William Nylander.

“Obviously that’s been our goal,” he said. “We’ve got a big goal and that’s one small step on the road that we want to accomplish.”

Toronto Maple Leafs' Jason Spezza (19) celebrates his goal with teammate Alex Galchenyuk (12) as Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) looks on during second period NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey action in Montreal, Tuesday, May 25, 2021.

The 25-year-old right-winger heads into Game 5 on a four-game scoring streak, having put up a goal in each of the first four matchups in the series. He also added an assist in Toronto’s 5-1 win on Saturday.

“Going into every game, you’re not thinking about scoring,” said Nylander, who had 42 points (17 goals and 25 assists) through 51 regular-season games. “I’m just thinking about working hard and creating offensive chances. If you score, you score. I mean, as long as you win your game within the game.”

Nylander has grown this season after recognizing where he could be better and what he can offer the team, Keefe said.

“He’s had some really great moments where he’s done a terrific job for us,” the coach said. “We know what his skill set is and what he can do. When he does little things on top of that, the results just seem to follow.””

His offensive outburst has been timely, with Montreal largely containing Toronto’s top two scorers, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Matthews, who led the NHL in goals with 41 in the regular season, has just three points (one goal, two assists) in the playoffs while Marner has three assists.

Still, the Leafs have outscored the Canadiens 12-4 over four games.

The goal drought comes down to confidence, said Montreal defenceman Ben Chiarot.

“It’s a funny thing — when you have it, you feel like you’ll have it forever and when you don’t, you feel like you’re looking for it forever,” he said. 1188967 Toronto Maple Leafs came back from injury in time as the ideal complement for Rasmus Sandin and in Game 4, for Travis Dermott. Toronto’s blueline has also added to the so-far perfect penalty kill and eight points to the scoring chart versus zero by their Montreal counterparts. TOP FIVE: Maple Leafs driving away ghosts of series' past KEEFE ON THE CASE

The sideshow of Mike Babcock keeping the bit firmly clamped on big Lance Hornby horse Matthews when it came to more playoff ice time is in the past. While Sheldon Keefe doesn’t let Matthews or Marner run wild and free as Publishing date: May 26, 2021 he keeps an eye on the clock, he’s also got a lot more in his corral than Dominique Ducharme.

While this series against Montreal isn’t over yet — 13 NHL teams have While the Canadiens’ boss won Game 1 and then chose to activate reversed 3-1 deficits in this century alone — the Maple Leafs have been dynamic Cole Caufield, Keefe had Galchenyuk and Pierre Engvall on call at their Ghostbusting best so far. when Tavares and Foligno were hurt and made the right move to Dermott and Adam Brooks on Tuesday when Sandin and Riley Nash The vexation of Leafs Nation since the team’s last triumph in 2004, five were scratched. Babcock was bettered by Boston’s Bruce Cassidy and first-round ousters in the years they managed to qualify, is painfully while Keefe had weeks to prep for Columbus and found himself out-foxed documented. Bitter fans recall where they were for The Causeway St. at times by John Tortorella, this series has gone smoother. Collapse against Boston, they can rhyme off Nazem Kadri’s suspensions and still grouse about how Liam Foudy of Columbus was uncovered behind five Leafs to beat Frederik Andersen last year. Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.27.2021 The Leafs did come close in their past eight appearances, four times taking foes to a deciding game. But something always came undone at the worst time or a slew of problems caught up with them. For this round at least, the squad are changing the narrative, though some won’t believe it until they see a happy handshake line.

A look at five ways the Leafs are into exorcism rhythm:

SOUP’S ON

Andersen and James Reimer just couldn’t steal a series at the time of year money goalies make their reputations. Compare them to Jack (Soupy) Campbell, sitting atop all NHL stoppers as of Wednesday with a .965 save percentage.

Yes, he has a much more cohesive team shielding him than Freddy had in any of his spring flings and the Canadiens aren’t scaring the Leafs with their pop-gun offence to date. But Campbell has also stared down an average of close to four power plays a night and remain calm amid belligerent Habs’ traffic. He quickly moved on from a Game 1 loss in his NHL playoff debut.

EXTRAS, EXTRAS

Who could’ve fathomed the Leafs doing his well with John Tavares exiting Game 1, playoff insurance policy Nick Foligno sidelined after Game 2, then Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner largely held off the board?

Matthews, Tavares and William Nylander accounted for what little offence was generated last year against the Blue Jackets. But at last there’s secondary scoring. Beyond Matthews’ three-point Game 2 it’s been Nylander (four goals), Alex Kerfoot, Jason Spezza and Alex Galchenyuk all stepping up. There have been too many moving parts to this Leafs’ offence for the Canadiens to cover.

DO THE RIGHT THING

One reason Kadri took an annual dive off the deep end into hot water with the league was to try and show the Leafs weren’t afraid of the Big Bad Bruins, Washington’s Tom Wilson or heavy teams.

General manager Kyle Dubas realized that imbalance during another long off-season. In this series, outside of Foligno going a bit too far to avenge Tavares, the Leafs have a veteran influence who are mixing it up without crossing the line. Matthews is taking some guff from the Habs, but giving it right back and never too far away in case of emergency are Wayne Simmonds and others.

A FINE BLUE LINE

Maintaining a six or seven-man defence had been a playoff problem, and we don’t just mean Jake Gardiner’s personal highlight hell. But the Leafs bloomed back there this past regular season and haven’t wilted in the current spotlight. After shots on goal and goals against came way down from 2020, the Leafs kept that standard this series and in conjunction with Campbell, four goals against in the first four games is their best mark in playoffs since sweeping Ottawa in 2001.

Jake Muzzin and Justin Holl have been busy, but not overtaxed, TJ Brodie’s poise continues to rub off on Morgan Rielly, 1188968 Toronto Maple Leafs opponent is without two-thirds of its second line — has to be troubling for Montreal fans who used to own bragging rights when it came to the playoffs.

TRAIKOS: Is this one-sided Leafs-Canadiens series what we waited 42 If not for Carey Price, who once again is reminding everyone why he is years for? the highest-paid goalie in the NHL, this series would have been over in four. And it wouldn’t have been this close.

The thing is the other North Division series was even worse. Sure, the Michael Traikos Oilers and Jets went to overtime in three of their four games. But if you were a casual sports fan hoping to see the best hockey player on earth, Publishing date: May 26, 2021 you were better off watching Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon score six goals in a four-game sweep over St. Louis.

Zach Hyman of the Toronto Maple Leafs pulls away from Habs In fact, pretty much all of the other games that have been played south of defencemen Jeff Petry (left) and Ben Chiarot for a third-period the border have been much better than what Sportsnet has been forced breakaway in Game 4 on Tuesday night. Hyman was stopped by Carey to air. Prce on the play. Maybe it’s the lack of fans in the building. Or maybe the parity in the Article content North Division wasn’t quite as close as we imagined it was. But Toronto versus Montreal has yet to live up to the hype. What the is happening? Who knows? It could all change in Game 5. With their backs against the Toronto and Montreal had not played each other in the playoffs since wall, we might finally see what made the Habs so dangerous in the 1979. And the thinking was that the time apart would add fuel to a fire regular season. that has been burning for more than four decades. Perhaps Cole Caufield will have his coming- out moment. Maybe Jeff We expected raw emotion, pent-up passion and bad blood. Hatred. More Petry will show everyone why he is considered a longshot Norris Trophy than anything, we expected a close-fought, seven-game series that candidate. would take us back to the glory days of Bower and Keon and Dryden and Lafleur, back when the two Original Six franchises divided the country’s Or maybe this series will come to a merciful end and we can get to the fandom. North Division final, where Winnipeg is waiting for Toronto in what we can hope will be a battle of two heavyweights. Instead, with the Leafs leading the Habs 3-1 in a one-sided series that already feels like it’s over, the hockey has been kind of boring and On paper, it looks like it could be a great series, with not much separating uneventful. the two teams.

There have been no overtimes. No stirring comebacks. Aside from the The Jets might have struggled in the regular season, but they seem to be nasty — and accidental — knee to the head that John Tavares received built for the playoffs. They are big, physical and defend well. They are in the series opener, there’s been no bloodshed or anything resembling deep down the middle and have a ton of scoring options on the wing. hatred. They also have a goaltender in Connor Hellebuyck who has regained his Vezina Trophy-winning form and has been standing on his head. Honestly, we waited 42 years for this? As much as fans wanted to see McDavid versus Auston Matthews, pitting I don’t know if any of us actually thought that the Canadiens would upset Matthews against Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele might be even better the Leafs in the first round. But most of us anticipated a closer matchup considering how effective Scheifele was against McDavid. than we’ve seen so far. At the very least, we expected some level of pushback. The matchups don’t end there. Whether it’s Mitch Marner and William Nylander versus Kyle Connor and Nikolaj Ehlers, or Jack Campbell Four games in, there’s been none of that. The Habs don’t have anyone against Hellebuyck or Paul Maurice versus Sheldon Keefe, the battle for who can match the Leafs’ firepower, much less their depth or desire. the North promises to be a good one that could go the distance. They can’t score. They can’t defend. Tyler Toffoli has no goals. Brendan Gallagher has no points. Shea Weber has made no impact, whether on Then again, don’t hold your breath. the scoresheet or in the trenches.

Since scoring twice in a 2-1 win in Game 1, Montreal has lost 5-1, 2-1 Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.27.2021 and 4-0.

That’s not a series. That’s a shift-kicking.

The good news is that this will probably be over in five (forgettable) games. At least, it lasted that long. It’s more than the Edmonton Oilers can say after being swept by the Winnipeg Jets in the other forgettable North Division series where Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl went without a point in half of the games.

Talk about anti-climactic.

When the NHL was forced to rearrange the divisions based on geography, we assumed that an all-Canadian division would be the best thing since Canada received a seventh team. But then the season started and it turned out that seeing the same seven teams play each other over and over again was good for a couple of weeks. After that, it became like Groundhog Day.

Nearly five months later, the days keep repeating. And despite it being the Stanley Cup playoffs, the games are not getting any better or more heated. It turns out that familiarity does not always breed contempt.

In the case of Toronto versus Montreal or Winnipeg versus Edmonton, it breeds boredom.

Credit goes to Toronto for how responsibly the team has played at both ends of the ice. But the fact that the Canadiens haven’t figured out how to stop the Leafs offence — or even limited it in a series where their 1188969 Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews twice had similar playoff runs in 2017 and ‘19, while Dave Andreychuk was up to five in the spring of 1993 when Toronto drove three rounds deep. Nylander has also tied Wendel Clark for second-longest run from start playoffs when Clark had four in fourin ‘86, Injured Tavares visits Maple Leafs for first time since injury with Gordie Drillon holding that club record with five in 1939.

HABS IN SURVIVAL MODE

Lance Hornby Facing elimination, Montreal coach Dominique Ducharme is doubling down on motivational speeches. His team has been frustrated offensively Publishing date: May 26, 2021 with only four goals and an 0-for-13 power play.

“We won’t be going down easy, that’s for sure,” he vowed. “We’re going As if they didn’t need more incentive to finish off the Canadiens and to be fighting.” move to the next round of playoffs, the Maple Leafs had an important But the Canadiens have said much the same thing since falling behind in visitor on Wednesday. the series. Forward Josh Anderson’s promise that they’d be a “hungrier” Injured captain John Tavares, six days after being stretchered off the ice team in Game 4 and other pronouncements rang hollow. They’re down to with a significant concussion and knee injury, met the team at its practice one game to start backing it up, while the Leafs can take a huge step in facility following back-to-back wins in Montreal that set up a 3-1 series’ theor program. lead. “I certainly recognize the opportunity,” said Keefe, who lost his first and While nowhere near returning, Tavares would like to be there in later only playoff series last year to Columbus. “We know this hurdle we have rounds, if Toronto reaches the second stage for the first time since 2004. to get over (five straight first-round losses since 2013). There’s a reason why it has been this many years, because closing out a series is a very “He has been doing very well,” coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He was here difficult thing. We greatly respect our opponent.“ kind of re-acclimating himself to the group and getting back going. There’s a lot of really positive things, both in his recovery and having him POTVIN AUCTION around our group.” The Cat is letting his stuff out of the bag. While confined at home since Friday, Tavares stayed in touch via texts Felix Potvin, in conjunction with Quebec-based Classic Auctions, is prior to Games 3 and 4 in Montreal, as well as join in post-game putting up 25 personal items for on-line bidding, many from his dazzling celebrations using Facetime. The Leafs’ in-house broadcast network days as a young goalie who helped the Leafs to consecutive conference showed Keefe holding up the Game 2 puck and dedicating that triumph finals in ‘93 and ‘94, eventually putting himself third in franchise victories to the absent Tavares. with 160. Winger William Nylander said Tavares’s pre-game messages go beyond “He’s still very popular in Toronto, he was a star right off the bat,” said simply ‘good luck’, to fulfilling his captain’s role. Classic Auctions president Marc Juteau. “The Leafs collection (some “He’s reminding us of what we need to do out there and what our mindset game-worn jerseys, such as his rookie No. 29, plus pads and sticks) is needs to be,” said Nylander. “He’s been there every moment.” great, but there’s items from all the teams he played on (Islanders, Canucks, Kings, Bruins). That includes his very cool Los Angeles jersey Tavares is likely at least as week or two away from strenuous skating from the warmup game when they retired Wayne Gretzky’s number because of the knee issue, while the knock he took in the accidental there. It has Gretzky’s number and it’s signed to Felix.” collision with Corey Perry of the Canadiens in Game 1 is a much harder recovery to forecast. Also on the list are sweaters from the Leafs’ 1931 Heritage games and the NHL all-star game. Keefe said that injured winger Nick Foligno, out since Game 2 with a lower body injury, remains day-to-day. With a commanding lead in the “But he’s keeping his masks,” laughed Juteau. “We’ve received a lot on series and the second line humming with Alex Kerfoot between Alex interest and bids from our regular customers and from a lot of different Galchenyuk and Nylander, it’s doubtful Foligno will be rushed back if places (around North America). A goalie’s stuff is usually big, because there are any doubts. For the first time in awhile, the Leafs can look at a it’s kind of a cult, they’re often the most popular players on their team.” playoff game with a bigger picture in mind. The bidding at www.classicauctions.net ends June 15. WIRED UP WILLIAM LOOSE LEAFS While Nylander often seems an almost too passive personality for an There’s a good battle going on between Spezza and Price in this series, NHLer, no question a fire has been lit in these playoffs. Spezza with two goals on nine shots, though denied on some golden Too many shortened springs will do that. When Nylander scored his opportunities, an empty net and breakaway. “He’s probably the best fourth goal in as many games on Tuesday, you could hear his emphatic goalie of our generation, so it’s important you don’t get frustrated,” shout throughout the Bell Centre. Veteran Jason Spezza says Nylander Spezza said. “As a scorer, you have to stay around the net. When you’re is being more vocal on the bench. getting chances it’s a good sign … Leafs radio voice Joe Bowen had a notable non-goal call in Game 4. As Zach Hyman approached the empty “I mean, it’s the losses in previous years,” Nylander said Wednesday. Montreal net, the Leafs leader in freebie goals inexplicably fired wide, “They hurt. It’s something I don’t want to happen this year.” sending Bowen into hysterics. “He missed! How did he miss?,” shouted Bowen. “Okay, Zach the hands are not back (from a late season knee It could also be that Keefe’s prodding of the now 25-year-old has paid off, injury)” … When Jack Campbell blanked the Canadiens in playoffs on on top Mike Babcock’s and Keefe’s own experience handling the free Tuesday for the first time since Johnny Bower in the ‘67 playoffs, the late spirit Nylander in their Marlie days. Bower’s family donated $4 per 32 saves to the Johnny Bower Fund and “I think it’s been (his) systems, I’m more dialled in during those kinds of urged matching donations … Forward Kalle Kossila of the Marlies was situations,” Nylander said of the coach. named a Canadian Division AHL all-star on Wednesday. He had 29 points in 28 games. Keefe expanded on that.

“It’s my job to push all players when they need it and Will’s on that list. But creditto Will just for his mindset and the work he’s put in. He’s Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.27.2021 recognized where he can be better and what he can offer our team. He’s clearly been delivering on that since the playoffs have begun and through the whole season, he’s had some really great moments. We know what his skill set is and when he does other little things on top of that, the results seem to follow.”

Nylander is in good Leafs’ company with his four-game goal streak. 1188970 Toronto Maple Leafs He signed TJ Brodie. He brought in Zach Bogosian. He changed 33% of the Leafs defence with those moves, and maybe more importantly, changed their ability to kill penalties. Under Babcock against Boston in two consecutive playoff series, the Leafs gave up 14 power-play goals SIMMONS: This is the Leafs team Brendan Shanahan envisioned against.

This round, through four games, no power-play goals scored by Montreal in 13 attempts. That was something that had to be fixed by coaching Steve Simmons working in concert with the general manager. Keefe needed better Publishing date: May 26, 2021 options. Dubas delivered them.

Dubas added, in no particular order, Nick Foligno, Alex Galchenyuk, Joe Thornton, Wayne Simmonds, re-upped Jason Spezza, Riley Nash, and When Brendan Shanahan was hired as president of the Maple Leafs in added those the Leafs had developed, Pierre Engvall, Adam Brooks, April of 2014 — some seven long years ago — he knew what he wanted Rasmus Sandin as possibilities to the lineup. That’s a lot of tinkering in a his hockey team to become. short time.

He wanted the Leafs to be, what he called, one of those teams. “The six Some will say the Leafs are only in this position now — and a position or seven teams that have a chance to win the Stanley Cup every year.” they should be in after finishing the series with Montreal on Thursday night — because of the North Division setup. Because it works in their It wasn’t a one-and-done kind of proposal. It was the thought to build favour. something that could be sustained for a long period of time. That is partially true. But we won’t know how true it is until Toronto and He made a bold hiring, bringing Mike Babcock in to coach from the Winnipeg decide a national winner and one team advances to the Final Detroit Red Wings, where all he had done was win. He made another Four. bold hiring, bringing in his first general manager, one of his mentors, convincing Lou Lamoriello to leave the New Jersey Devils for the Leafs. Shanahan never honestly believed it would take this long to get this far. He replaced most of the Leafs front office and so many of their scouts. He thought it might happen earlier. Now it’s time to take advantage of the opportunity. It’s time to make a long wait worthwhile. He wanted things done his way — and no one believed his way would take this long. This is the fifth consecutive season in which the Leafs have been a decent to above-average NHL team. Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.27.2021 This is the first time, really, that they have the opportunity to be one of those six or seven teams with a chance. They are in the conversation. At the end of this playoff round, only eight teams will remain. The Leafs haven’t been one of the Elite Eight since before Shanahan helped change the rules, as a player, back in the lockout of 2005.

Over time, he had to make uncomfortable moves. He had to push Lamoriello aside, which wasn’t easy, so that young Kyle Dubas could be elevated to general manager. The two shared a vision of sorts. They wanted a Leafs team with speed and high skill. In a first among equals situation, Shanahan chose Dubas over Mark Hunter to be GM, in some ways a new school choice over old school thinking.

And eventually, his coach of choice, Babcock, had to go: Babcock had done what he came here to do. He began the rebuild. He established a presence and a work ethic. And then he had to be replaced because he has taken the team as far as he could, stumbling over himself in his final season and some on the job.

Dubas turned to Sheldon Keefe to coach, whom he had rescued from tier-two junior hockey, given him a job no one else in the OHL would provide, then convinced the Leafs to hire him to coach the AHL Marlies. Keefe, over time, has gone from persona non grata in many hockey places to an upper-echelon NHL coach. He has re-written his own story along the way — and is now bringing the team along for the apparent ride.

When Shanahan first took over the Leafs, he ordered his front office to come up with a detailed list of prospects in the organization and to rate their futures in the game. What he came away with at the time was almost an empty closet. There may have been more there than was originally thought — Connor Brown and , for example, have gone on to play well in other NHL markets. But Shanahan was clear: No more Freddie Gauthiers as first-round picks.

He wanted talent, high-end talent if possible, and his Leafs were fortunate enough to be picking in desirable draft locations. They landed William Nylander in 2014, followed it up with Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews the next two seasons. Those three drafts — along with inherited picks of Morgan Rielly and Nazem Kadri, who were already here — built the foundation of a growing Toronto team.

A team good enough to have 95-100 point regular seasons along with first-round playoff defeats. Being in a division with Tampa Bay and Boston didn’t help. Being not deep enough or strong enough didn’t help either.

Dubas went to work in the rather off-season of October and began sewing and repairing the Maple Leafs needs. It was road work of sorts for him. He had holes that needed filling, he had some pavement that needed smoothing. And he had to do all of it on a rather tight budget. 1188971 Toronto Maple Leafs But was it likely that, with his 38th birthday around the corner in mid- June, Spezza would have half the Montreal goal total on his own through four games? No. Probably not.

Who are the unlikely heroes pushing the Maple Leafs to the brink of the He’s been the one constant on the fourth line all season, putting together second round? the 82-game equivalent of a 46-point regular season. The Leafs have smartly contained Spezza’s role that way, not overexposing him one bit.

They’ve upped his ice time slightly in the playoffs, to just under 12 By Jonas Siegel and Joshua Kloke minutes per game (from 11 in the regular season).

May 26, 2021 When the Leafs first signed Spezza in the summer of 2019, GM Kyle Dubas said it was primarily for the veteran influence he would offer a

young team. Spezza had reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2007, but The Maple Leafs are on the verge of advancing past the first round for fallen short of winning it. He would remind Matthews and Marner how the first time since 2004 and it’s not been entirely because of their stars. difficult it was to come even close.

Some unlikely heroes have emerged. It’s hard to imagine even Dubas saw the on-ice part coming to this degree. Let’s shine the spotlight on them! Spezza set up Joe Thornton for a power-play goal in Game 4 and scored 6. Pierre Engvall once himself on a dangerous rush with Alex Galchenyuk.

The Engvall stat that will probably (?) make Sheldon Keefe happiest That made him only the fifth Leafs player, aged 37 or older, in the last 50 heading into Game 5: He’s thrown six hits! years to have multi-point games in the playoffs, joining Steve Thomas, Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts and Patrick Marleau. For years now, Keefe has been begging — pleading! — with Engvall, all 6-foot-5, 214 pounds of him, to assert himself physically, and for years, Spezza also scored a crucial game-tying goal in Game 2. Engvall has responded inconsistently. The Leafs coach has continued to push, dropping Engvall in and out of the lineup. The Leafs count on his production from the bottom of the lineup even if he sees his role differently at this late stage in his career. Back in again after sitting out Game 1, Engvall is delivering on an evolving energy line. “I’ll be honest, I’m completely comfortable with not getting goals and assists and knowing that I can contribute,” he said. “You can change your His mother, Alexandra, a mental performance coach, believes Keefe value system as you get older as a player.” knows how to push her son in a meaningful way. In other words, he would contribute however he was needed to help the “He needs a coach to believe in him and see him for what he is,” said team win. Alexandra. “This time of year,” Spezza went on, “I think you do need contributions Engvall’s wheels and massive frame have made him a nuisance to deal from up and down your lineup so it is a positive when we can score. But with. Despite the fact that he’s got an offensive-zone start percentage by no means is that our main focus when we’re out there. We’re trying to under 30 percent — lining up for just two offensive-zone draws — the give (the team) good shifts and carry momentum.” Leafs have outchanced the Habs 21-8 when he’s been on the ice. Keefe may actually have to mothball the line of Spezza, Thornton and And though he doesn’t have a point in the series, Engvall has fired off Wayne Simmonds. eight shots, speaking to his involvement. Expected goals for the trio was 39 percent, albeit in a small sample size The 24-year-old has — is shockingly too strong a word? — overtaken of about 13 minutes. They’ve looked a little too slow. Riley Nash for the third-line centre job. It’s likely what led to the insertion of Adam Brooks in Game 4. He’s fit in The real question is whether he can keep this up. You can bet Keefe will well, playing alongside Spezza and Thornton. happily keep him in the lineup if that ends up being the case. Spezza looks like the one thing the Leafs can count on from down there. 5. Rasmus Sandin Thornton has looked creaky again in these playoffs after a late-season It was curious that Keefe chose to scratch Sandin in Game 4 given his surge, and Simmonds, while physical, doesn’t have a point in the series early impact in the series. after a long offensive struggle to finish off the regular season. (His underlying numbers are rock solid, though.) The explanation, however, made sense: Keefe said he wanted to get Travis Dermott some action in the (likely) case he’s needed at a later To think Spezza would have retired had the Leafs not offered him a point in the playoffs. Sandin is likely to be back in the lineup for Game 5 contract in the offseason is mind-blowing given how much he still on Thursday night. appears to have left.

His creativity and assertiveness have breathed life into the power play, 3. Jack Campbell including for Auston Matthews, who has five shots there in the playoffs with Sandin on ice and none when he’s not. (To be fair, it was only one Is Campbell’s performance really unlikely? game that Sandin sat out.) OK, so not exactly after the brilliant regular season — 17-3-2, .921 save In contrast to Morgan Rielly, the alternate option on the top unit, Sandin percentage — he put together. (That’s the reason he’s not higher on this has found a way to get his shots through from the point with the man list.) advantage — with four of his five attempts hitting the net. But it wasn’t exactly likely either that Campbell would be outduelling His blast in Game 2 showed the kind of “payoff” he can deliver if given Carey Price, who’s been superb himself, in Campbell’s first NHL the chance. postseason.

The more he adjusts to the pace and rhythms of playoff hockey, the more He’s stopped all but four of the 114 shots he’s faced for a .965 save likely it is that Sandin puts his puck-moving skills to work and makes an percentage. Included in that was his first playoff shutout. He’s stopped all imprint on the game at even strength. 18 shots from Montreal’s power play.

4. Jason Spezza A Michigan native, Campbell’s early memories of playoff hockey came from the juggernaut Detroit Red Wings — from Steve Yzerman scoring a Spezza contributing at 37, from the bottom of the lineup, is nothing new big goal against the St. Louis Blues to the often bloody rivalry with the and not entirely unexpected. Colorado Avalanche.

“It kinda gave me a first look at what playoffs are all about,” Campbell said. He hasn’t appeared intimated one bit by the raise in stakes. More than the production, it’s the spunk and fire that’s stuck out. Those elements were always there in the regular season, but seem especially in The Leafs have done a pretty good job in front of him, taking another tune with the intensity that playoff hockey demands. step even from the regular season in shutting Montreal down. “I’ve been playing golf with him and playing cards and he’s competitive “I think we’re doing pretty much everything really well defensively,” with everything we do,” Nylander said. “So it doesn’t surprise me on the Campbell agreed. “If I have a rebound or something, they’re clearing it, ice.” they’re on it. We’re working hard (getting) back; Montreal’s super fast — they’re not getting too much rush chances right now. Kerfoot has absorbed 14 hits in four games, dished out seven himself, and drawn a power play. In some ways, his play in this series mirrors “I just think we’re really doing a great job of limiting their Grade-A what the Leafs used to get from Nazem Kadri, the guy he was traded for chances and then we capitalize on ours.” two summers ago.

The Leafs have stuffed the Habs on all 13 of their power-play That trade hasn’t worked out for the Leafs to this point. But that can opportunities. Montreal’s top two goal scorers from the regular season change if Kerfoot continues to deliver in these playoffs, especially while have been kept quiet: Tyler Toffoli, a Campbell teammate in L.A. who Tavares is out. had 28 goals during the regular season, has yet to score and mustered only eight shots. Josh Anderson has just one goal on 11 shots. Kerfoot had only one multi-point game during the regular season.

2. Alex Galchenyuk He motored into the Montreal zone and drew the attention of Jeff Petry — creating a lane for Galchenyuk — to get things rolling on that Nylander From the day they acquired him from Carolina, Galchenyuk has goal in Game 4. Perhaps more impressive was the board battle he won impressed the Leafs with his attitude — hardworking and upbeat. against the combo of Cole Caufield and Petry to make the Galchenyuk Then he was scratched in Game 1 of the playoffs. empty-netter happen.

Nothing changed. Though Kerfoot hasn’t really stapled down a spot for himself through two regular seasons as a Leaf — is he better on the wing or at centre? — his “That conversation,” Keefe said of informing Galchenyuk that he wouldn’t versatility has been helpful. The Leafs just don’t have many players who play in the opener, “was not an easy one for me just because he had can play both forward positions, which makes things tough when a worked so hard and had performed well for us. I did reassure him that he centre, Tavares especially, goes down. was going to play and he was going to be an important part of it. Whether it was performance or injury or what have you, he was going to get in and Keefe said this was the finest hockey he’d seen Kerfoot play. I didn’t think it would take him long to get in.” “I think this time of year brings out the best in him,” Spezza said. “Kerf is Galchenyuk got that chance in Game 2, with John Tavares out, and an extremely competitive guy. I don’t think he gets enough credit for how really took off in Game 4 with the first three-point playoff game of his NHL hard he is, how competitive he is in all aspects. I expected him to raise career. his game and he has.”

Consider this actually: In just that one game — which saw Galchenyuk Faceoffs remain a problem for Kerfoot (36 percent), but he won the score into an empty net and directly set up two goals — Galchenyuk offensive zone draw in Game 3 that spurred another Nylander goal. matched, or exceeded, his total scoring output in four of five previous The Habs power play hasn’t threatened much at all so far, but Kerfoot postseasons. has been a big part of that. His smarts and speed make him effective as Even if Galchenyuk’s contributions were to end here, with his efforts a penalty killer. Keefe deserves credit for that: It was midway through last greatly influencing a playoff win, the Leafs have scored with his no-risk, season that the Leafs coach got Kerfoot killing penalties for the first time no-cost addition. It’s all gravy from here. in the NHL.

“He just competes every single night,” Thornton said. “It’s really nice to Only Mitch Marner has logged more shorthanded minutes among Leafs watch him.” forwards so far in these playoffs.

Keefe will have to decide at some point, when Nick Foligno is ready to play again for instance, whether Galchenyuk’s offensive capabilities The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 outweigh his defensive limitations.

Galchenyuk owns a lowly expected goals mark of 32 percent in this series.

The Leafs have given up double the high-danger shot attempts they’ve managed (4-8) when he’s been out there. They’ve been out-chanced (12- 19) in those 32.5 minutes, but not outscored (3-1) — to this point. A more dangerous Winnipeg opponent in the second round and that could well change.

But for now, Galchenyuk has delivered.

1. Alex Kerfoot

It’s notable that when Keefe had to reconfigure his lineup without Tavares for the first time in Game 2 he did not simply replace the captain with Kerfoot.

Instead, the Leafs coach opted to play Foligno out of position at centre and keep Kerfoot in third-line territory. Then, Foligno got hurt too and the Leafs coach had no other choice (short of moving Nylander back to centre).

Kerfoot has done about as well as one could do filling in for Tavares. He’s matched Nylander for the team lead in scoring — with five points — and averaged about 17 minutes a night in the three full games the Leafs have played without their captain.

Kerfoot had only the second three-point game of his Leafs career in Game 4. Keefe was double-shifting Kerfoot late in Game 3 as the Leafs clung to a one-goal lead. 1188972 Toronto Maple Leafs through, and if not, potentially a Habs fan — a side-by-side with a Jets fan in the next round?”

Fans from other Canadian markets have complained about the additional Track pants, carrot muffins and playoff hockey: Inside Steve Dangle’s coverage afforded the Leafs, especially in a season when four Canadian new Maple Leafs ‘sidecast’ teams qualified for postseason play.

“I think that’s fair,” said Sutherland. “We hear the criticism all the time, that we’re a national sports network, and not a Toronto sports network. By Sean Fitz-Gerald We try so hard to eliminate any of that bias. Steve is a wild card who was kind of in the game long before we knew what the game was.” May 26, 2021 Glynn joined Sportsnet after spending more than a decade producing

videos about the Leafs on his own YouTube channel. His personal Moments into the second intermission, Steve Glynn, sitting alone in a following on the platform has grown to more than 150,000 subscribers, room in his basement, began yelling at his invisible audience. They were and his reach has extended across social media. watching him through Sportsnet’s YouTube channel, and now they were His eponymous podcast, The Steve Dangle Podcast, is into its eighth very loudly being asked a question: “Is Steve wearing pants?” season. Glynn had been sitting — legs concealed from view — for more than an “I would not say that the experience of watching with Steve Dangle at hour while offering real-time reaction to the Maple Leafs during Game 4 home is much different than what you see on those streams,” said long- of their first-round playoff pairing with the Canadiens. His Leafs jersey, time friend Justin Fisher. which had not been washed since the series began, was in full view. “It’s a unique experience,” said podcast co-host Adam Wylde. “There’s “What’s it going to be? Jeans? Sweat pants? Shorts?” he asked. “Are we no question about that.” going bathing suit? Are we going kilt?” Glynn is known for his animated reactions, especially when the Leafs Glynn slipped off camera and yelled again: “Make your bets in the chat have struggled. At 33, that means he has spent the entirety of his adult right now, and then afterwards, I’m going to go get a carrot muffin.” life getting animated over the team’s performance — especially in the More than 12,000 users were watching at that moment. playoffs.

By the end of the third period, that number swelled to more than 17,000, “It’s not an uncomfortable sort of feeling,” Wylde said with a laugh. closing in on what would have been a capacity hockey crowd at “There’s some people who get mad on a team and you’re like, Scotiabank Arena. Glynn, known to fans of his own YouTube channel as ‘Dude, this is adult softball, who cares?’ Steve’s rage is everything you “Steve Dangle,” has drawn more than 600,000 total clicks through the felt as a child, but you’re too afraid to express as an adult.” first four games of the series. “I mean, everyone thinks it’s a character until they watch a game with No guests appear on the live stream. There are no prizes — aside from me,” Glynn said. “And then they realize I’m very … not pretending.” the potential self-satisfaction of correctly guessing Glynn was wearing Toronto won Game 4 on Tuesday night to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of- grey track pants for Game 4 — and no frills. seven series, but the tension was written across Glynn’s face until the Essentially, users log in to watch Glynn watch a game in his basement. final horn. He was streaming from the same room where he records his postgame Leafs videos, and where he has been recording the podcast The concept is not new, but there are signs it is gaining more traction during the pandemic. with traditional broadcasters. Earlier this month, NBC announced a partnership with for coverage of the Olympics in Tokyo this He fielded questions from users, offered a tour of his room and rocked in summer, where personalities from the digital platform will discuss events his chair during uneasy moments in the game. (In a phone call, Glynn unfolding in real time, which the U.S. network hopes will encourage “co- said he wore a heart monitor when he helped a friend move three years viewing of the nightly primetime broadcast.” ago. They lifted furniture in and out of a truck, but his heart rate never got as high as it did that night, when the Leafs played a Game 7 against NBC described the initiative as “Primetime Sidecasting.” Boston.)

“This is the new world we’re going to live in,” said Don Kollins, a former Glynn said he has installed soundproof foam in his basement workspace, Canadian radio executive who works with Twitch. “This generation can but the sound routinely travels beyond the four walls. His 11-month-old consume several screens at once. My daughter watches Netflix, has the son sleeps upstairs with a white noise machine. His wife has a fan to TV on and is on her phone with a friend at the same time – and she help block out the sound. knows what is going on with each of those things.” “I’m doing my best here,” he said. “But we’ve been together for long On Twitch, hosts without broadcast rights will show a stream of them enough that she knows the volume knob is broken.” watching a game without Images from the game itself. The effect, Kollins said, is that users can feel like they are watching a game with someone without having to leave their own home. The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 “I think a great portion of this has stemmed from having a life of being quarantined,” he said, “and not being able to hang with your buddies and experience a game.”

The numbers might dip when the pandemic has finally ended, he said, but the practice will not end.

“In the beautiful world of digital, these numbers are real,” said Kollins. “So 150,000 people found Steve Dangle (the other) night. That’s pretty cool in itself. That’s phenomenal.”

Sportsnet had initially only planned to have Glynn sidecast one game from his basement, but the idea quickly expanded to the entire first series. The size of those audiences has led to explore a potential expansion for the second round, when either the Leafs or Canadiens advance to face the Winnipeg Jets.

“Having a winner already identified in Winnipeg … gives us the opportunity to start searching for a Winnipeg superfan,” said Andrew Sutherland, vice-president of original content, marketing and creative at Sportsnet. “And wouldn’t it be amazing to have — should the Leafs go 1188973 Vegas Golden Knights The Avalanche fly, brother, and it’s even more impressive at a Mile High. First things first. Way first.

The Knights had a chokehold on this series days ago. Come Friday, Column: Closing out series not strength of Golden Knights they’ll try and finish off the Wild once and for all instead of heading to an off-season while, well, grabbing their own necks. By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal May 26, 2021 - 10:15 PM “It’s not disbelief,” Knights captain Mark Stone said. “We believe in ourselves and our team. We have one game in our home rink to move on. It’s that simple.” ST. PAUL, Minn. — I’m thinking in other lives, a majority of Golden Maybe, but closing things out never is simple with these guys. Knights players weren’t types when it came to selling cars. Not sure you’d want them discussing those financing options that either seals LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.27.2021 or kills a deal. Consistency is most always a valued trait in sports, but not this kind: The Knights on Friday head to Game 7 of a playoff series for the third time in as many seasons after losing all of a 3-1 advantage. It’s the Minnesota Wild who rallied back this time, the capper a 3-0 victory in Game 6 on Wednesday of this divisional playoff at Xcel Energy Center. It means the series will be decided in T-Mobile Arena, which will host a Game 7 for the first time. The puck is scheduled to drop at 6 p.m. on Friday, which means it will be 6:15, with the winner receiving a trip to Colorado to open a second-round matchup. “It’s a new year and (the past) doesn’t really matter,” Knights forward Reilly Smith said. “It’s an opportunity to come out in your home arena with all your fans excited and full of emotion.” Waiting on others Feeling things out. Waiting for the other to make a critical mistake. Call it whatever you want, the Knights and Wild spent an opening two periods Wednesday playing as if whichever scored first would immediately be declared the winner. It was a Game 6 with Game 7 nerves. It’s not something the Knights would ever admit, the idea they weren’t in constant push mode. But while Minnesota and its plug-the-middle style again helped dictate such things, the Knights skated off after a final horn having taken just 23 shots. They weren’t pushing that hard. They challenged another call, this time disagreeing there was goaltender interference by forward Alex Tuch that disallowed a Chandler Stephenson score that would have tied the game 1-1 with just over 11 minutes left. It was both correct to challenge and chance having to kill off a penalty and yet the call was never going to be overturned. Not after the Wild had a score taken off the board in Game 4 via a similar call. But when finding the net was proving so incredibly difficult, it was worth the risk. Then the Wild scored on the ensuing power play and that was that. It will be interesting to learn if many of those game-time decisions that have defined the Knights lineup this series are handled differently Friday. Head coach Pete DeBoer said Wednesday morning that injured forward Max Pacioretty, who hasn’t played since May 1, was back skating. Whatever that really means. Tomas Nosek missed another game Wednesday. Ryan Reaves was out. Brayden McNabb was scratched after the defenseman entered the league’s COVID protocol. But nothing screams all-blades-on-deck like a Game 7. “This is what it’s all about, what you work your ass off for all season and to have the record you have,” DeBoer said. “To host (Game 7) in your building and give yourself the best opportunity.” Meanwhile, out in Colorado, the Avalanche sit and wait for whichever survives. It’s never simple Colorado has been off since sweeping St. Louis from these playoffs and the last thing you would think its next opponent wants is all that speed and skill resting its legs before welcoming someone to altitude. 1188974 Vegas Golden Knights

Kevin Fiala breaks scoring drought in Wild win

By Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal

Kevin Fiala picked the right time to break out of his playoff slump for Minnesota. The team’s second-leading scorer during the regular season got his first two points of the postseason in the third period on Wednesday night to help the Wild to a 3-0 victory at Xcel Energy Center and even the first- round series with the Golden Knights. Game 7 will be 6 p.m. Friday at T-Mobile Arena. Fiala said after practice Tuesday he wasn’t getting frustrated despite getting no results out of 18 shots on goal in the series’ first five games. Instead, he was concerned with the team’s lack of production as a whole. He helped change that with a perfect cross-ice pass to Ryan Hartman, who beat Marc-Andre Fleury to break a scoreless tie 4:21 into the third period. Ending the drought appeared to bolster Fiala’s confidence. The 24-year-old Switzerland native sniped a bast past Fleury on the power play five minutes later for an insurance goal and the Wild were in control, on the verge of rallying from a 3-1 series deficit. “It’s great that I found the back of the net tonight and it was a huge game for us overall,” he said. “To get the momentum and win in front of our fans, it was a great night for us. But Game 7 is waiting so we have to regroup and do the same thing again.” Minnesota coach Dean Evason said general manager Bill Guerin reminded the team this week that not every player is going to be able score in every game. The message was to keep playing the same way as long as you’re creating chances and results will come. “You have to just stay the course and play right and maybe you’ll get a chance to make a difference and he did tonight,” Evason said of Fiala. “Kevin hasn’t changed anything. He’s played the same way and stayed the course and he got rewarded tonight.” The production was more than enough for Cam Talbot, who made 23 saves and recorded his second shutout of the series. “I’m just trying to go out there and give us a chance to win,” he said. “I’m playing behind an elite group in front of me. I can’t say enough about the guys laying their bodies on the line in front of me. I’m just one piece here and tonight there is 20 pieces out there that did their job, and it was just unbelievable to see and fun to play behind.” One puck did get by Talbot, who was helped by 18 blocked shots. But Chandler Stephenson’s goal that would have tied the game in the third period was waved off because of goaltender interference on Alex Tuch. “I’m always nervous,” Talbot said of the review. “I never get those calls. The way they’ve been calling them all playoff long, it’d be hard to overturn that. If that one stood, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now. I’d just be getting fined.” Instead, he’s preparing for a Game 7. The Wild have played three of them in franchise history, all on the road. They have won all three. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.27.2021 Vegas Golden Knights William Karlsson had the best chance for the Knights about 6:30 in when 1188975 he pounced on a loose puck in traffic and sent a shot off the crossbar.

But most of the action in the period was courtesy of the Wild’s physical Golden Knights fail again in bid to win series, headed to Game 7 play. Marcus Foligno drove defenseman Zach Whitecloud through the glass with 12:10 remaining in the period, causing a brief delay when the pane By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal came loose and had to be repaired. About five minutes later, Dumba delivered a huge open-ice hit to Tuch that Alec Martinez didn’t like. He challenged Dumba to a fight and was ST. PAUL, Minn. — Alex Tuch stood in place in front of the Minnesota wrestled to the ice, while Dumba waved his arms to the crowd on his way net. Knowing he was bordering on the blue paint, the Golden Knights to the penalty box. forward raised his arms as if to declare his innocence on the play. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.27.2021 The officials saw through the tactic and stuck with a pivotal call that went against the Knights. Chandler Stephenson’s apparent tying goal in the third period was waved off for goaltender interference as the Knights went on to a 3-0 loss to the Wild on Wednesday in Game 6 at Xcel Energy Center. The best-of-seven West Division first-round playoff series concludes with a deciding game at 6 p.m. Friday at T-Mobile Arena. Colorado awaits the winner in the second round. “Listen, those have gone our way before,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “We felt it was worth the challenge.” The Knights missed a second straight opportunity to eliminate the Wild and will play a Game 7 after holding a 3-1 series lead for the third straight postseason. They are 1-1 in those situations, losing to San Jose in 2019 and beating Vancouver last season in the second round. The Knights are 2-8 in their past 10 potential series-clinching games, while goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury lost his fifth straight with the Knights with a chance to eliminate an opponent. “It’s an exciting opportunity,” forward Reilly Smith said. “Our fans are definitely going to be full of energy. They’re going to be really loud, so let’s make the most of it.” The Knights played without defenseman Brayden McNabb (COVID protocols) and forward Ryan Reaves (undisclosed) in addition to being without forwards Max Pacioretty and Tomas Nosek. Minnesota led 1-0 in the third period when Stephenson fired a shot from the right-wing boards that slipped past Wild goaltender Cam Talbot. Tuch was battling with Minnesota defenseman Matt Dumba when the puck sailed into the net with 11:05 remaining. “(Tuch) was kind of getting held in the crease. Couldn’t really get out of there,” Knights captain Mark Stone said. “It’s gone both ways. Can’t argue it anymore. It is what it is.” The Knights benefited from successful coach’s challenges during their road victories in Games 3 and 4 but were on the wrong side of this one. The Knights believed Dumba pinned Tuch in the crease and didn’t allow him to exit the blue paint. According to DeBoer, officials thought Tuch didn’t make enough of an effort to leave the crease before the goal being scored. “I guess what goes around comes around, right?” Wild coach Dean Evason said. Minnesota capitalized on the ensuing power play, as Kevin Fiala’s shot sneaked past Marc-Andre Fleury for his first goal of the series. Nick Bjugstad added a late breakaway goal for the Wild, who broke a scoreless tie at 4:21 of the third when Ryan Hartman converted on a two- on-one. Talbot finished with 23 saves for his second shutout in the series. “We had some chances. I don’t think there was a ton of high-dangers each way,” Stone said. “We had a chance to win the hockey game. We just didn’t play well (enough) in the third to win.” With so much at stake, both teams played close to the vest in the first period and made simple plays with the puck to avoid any mistakes. The result was a quiet 20 minutes with more icings (six) than scoring chances combined (five), according to NaturalStatTrick.com. Fleury finished with nine stops in the period, best coming in the final minute after Victor Rask was sent in alone. The tight-checking style continued into the second period, with little space to create with the puck. 1188976 Vegas Golden Knights

Max Pacioretty has been skating on his own, Pete DeBoer says

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Golden Knights remain tight-lipped regarding the status of injured left wing Max Pacioretty. But coach Pete DeBoer did offer one glimmer of hope Wednesday that the team’s leading scorer could return soon when asked whether Pacioretty has skated on his own during the West Division first-round playoff series. “Max is skating,” DeBoer said after the morning skate. “I’m just going to leave it at that.” Pacioretty was not in the lineup for Game 6 against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center and has not appeared in a game since he left after the second period of the May 1 game at Arizona. He missed the final six regular-season games, and Knights majority owner Bill Foley said May 11 that Pacioretty is dealing with an upper- body injury. The Knights have listed Pacioretty, who had a team-best 24 goals in the regular season, as a game-time decision throughout the series even though he hasn’t practiced or participated in a morning skate the entire month. Pacioretty was not on the ice for the team’s morning skate Wednesday and presumably is skating on his own at City National Arena, rather than in Minnesota. Forward Tomas Nosek also did not participate in the morning skate and remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury he sustained early in Game 2. Ryan Reaves also was scratched for an undisclosed reason and replaced in the lineup by Cody Glass, who made his playoff debut. McNabb on COVID list Defenseman Brayden McNabb was included on the NHL’s list of COVID protocol-related absences before Game 6. McNabb missed Game 4 for undisclosed reasons and returned for Game 5 but didn’t take a shift in the final 8:54. In addition to a confirmed positive test, players can be on the list for an unconfirmed positive test, quarantine as a high-risk close contact or for mandated isolation if they are symptomatic. Not-so-hostile territory The road team won four of the first five games in the series, and it’s a leaguewide trend in the first round of the NHL playoffs. In the series between Montreal and Toronto, the visiting team is 3-1. Tampa Bay and Florida saw the road team win the first three games before the home team answered back in the past two matchups. Also, three of the five games involving the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh have gone to the road team. The only series that hasn’t seen a road victory is Nashville-Carolina. “I think the lack of full capacity buildings and that environment for sure makes it a little bit easier,” DeBoer said. “That’s the only thing I can think of. You just got to get ready and be prepared to do whatever it takes from puck drop, wherever you are.” Minor leaguers honored Silver Knights goaltender Logan Thompson and defenseman Ryan Murphy were voted to the 2020-21 Pacific Division all-star team. Thompson appeared in 23 regular-season games, leading all American Hockey League goaltenders with a .943 save percentage. He was second overall with a 1.96 goals-against average and topped all rookies with 16 wins. Murphy, who was named captain late in the regular season, led all AHL defensemen with 22 assists and 27 points. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.27.2021 Vegas Golden Knights like it just fine with that result. The Golden Knights are plus-7 in the 1188977 second period this season.

The Wild didn't have a shot on until until past the five-minute mark, at Golden Knights blanked in Minnesota, heading home for decisive Game which point Vegas had only two. In the first 15 minutes the best action 7 was Wild forward Zach Parise appearing to beat out an icing but after it was whistled, it looked like he picked up the puck to show the linesman he won the race. A nice humorous moment. By Justin Emerson But when the most exciting play is an icing, that says all you need to know about the period. According to Natural Stat Trick, the teams combined for just five scoring chances and three high-danger (they were ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Golden Knights are having a hard time finishing all Minnesota's). off the Minnesota Wild. The Wild did have a flurry of action in the final minute with three shots, The Golden Knights failed to score for the second time in the series in but no goals. Game 6 on Wednesday, and the Wild netted three goals in the third Minnesota led 9-6 in shots in the first. period to send Vegas to a 3-0 defeat at Xcel Energy Center. Cody Glass in, Ryan Reaves out for Golden Knights vs. Wild Now, Vegas will have one last chance to close out the first round playoff series — 6 p.m. Friday at T-Mobile Arena. The Golden Knights made a surprising roster change before Game 6 against the Wild on Wednesday, inserting second-year forward Cody Vegas in three straight seasons has blown a 3-1 series advantage to be Glass and scratching veteran Ryan Reaves. A reason for Reaves' forced into a winner take all Game 7. They are 1-1 in those games, scratch was not immediately available. beating Vancouver last year. Glass was recalled to Vegas before Game 3 and has skated with the The Wild scored 4:21 into the third, and what a goal it was. team but has not played. He did not appear in last year's playoffs after Zach Parise started it with a well-placed chip at the neutral zone that let finishing the season with an injury, and tonight will mark his postseason Kevin Fiala and Ryan Hartman dart down the wings. Cody Glass was the debut. The 2017 No. 6 overall pick, the first draft pick in team history, only Vegas defender back, so Fiala fed Hartman across the ice and recorded 10 points in 27 games with the Golden Knights in the regular Hartman fired the puck by a sprawling Marc-Andre Fleury for the first season. goal of the game. Reaves was not at morning skate, though it was listed as optional. His And like so often in this series, the goal woke the Golden Knights up. A injury status is unknown. few shifts later they had their best chance of the game — Glass from the Defenseman Brayden McNabb was also unavailable after falling on the doorstep — but Cam Talbot came up with the sliding save to maintain NHL's "Players Unavailable Due To COVID Protocol" list. Nick Holden Minnesota’s lead. took his spot on the second pairing, and Nicolas Hague slotted back into The Golden Knights put the puck in the net with 11:05 remaining in the the lineup on the third pair. third, but the officials huddled and decided Alex Tuch interfered with Marc-Andre Fleury will start for Vegas, his sixth start in six games this Talbot on Chandler Stephenson’s long-range shot. Vegas challenged series. that it should have counted, but a quick review upheld it. The Golden Knights lined up as follows: But not for long. Forwards The failed challenge resulted in a delay of game penalty and put the Wild on the power play, and they picked an impactful time for their first power- Alex Tuch—Chandler Stephenson—Mark Stone play goal of the series. Fiala lasered it through traffic and Xcel Energy Center exploded as the Wild led 2-0 at 9:35. Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith Two goals was tough enough to chase, but three was impossible. Nick Mattias Janmark—Nicolas Roy—Cody Glass Bjugstad got loose on his own in front of Fleury and back-handed home William Carrier—Patrick Brown—Keegan Kolesar the Wild’s third goal of the game with 4:43 to play, ensuring the series would return to Vegas one more time. Defensemen Golden Knights, Wild head to third period of Game 6 tied Alec Martinez—Alex Pietrangelo The second period ended with the same score the first did, but with Nick Holden—Shea Theodore plenty more action. Nicolas Hague—Zach Whitecloud The Golden Knights and Wild combined for more scoring chance and even a fight in the middle frame, but the score of Game 6 remained 0-0 Goalies after 40 minutes at Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday. Marc-Andre Fleury, Robin Lehner Even as the game started to open up from the first period, several of the Second-period success fueling Golden Knights ahead of Game 6 with chances failed to go on net. On one Vegas shift, William Karlsson snuck Wild in and appeared to take everyone on the ice by surprise but hit the crossbar, and at the end of the shift Reilly Smith fired high on a 2-on-1. In every morning skate for every team, you'll likely hear someone Two good chances, but zero shots on goal. mention how important a hot start is. Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer broke the mold when he joked that every time they talk about it, they lay Then near the 13-minute mark, business started to pick up. Matt Dumba an egg. So, he's not going to do it anymore. But it's a hockey truism: lit off Alex Tuch on an open-ice hit in the Vegas zone, and Alec Martinez teams love a strong first period. didn't like. Martinez and Dumba threw down, Dumba got the better of the scrap and hyped up the crowd on his way to the box. It got Xcel Energy What about a strong second period, though? The first 20 have been a Center vocally into the game for the first time in what had been a slow 30 bugaboo for the Golden Knights, but the next 20 are where they've done minutes to start. serious damage. Vegas has a plus-7 goal differential in the second period this series, and the Golden Knights know that a first-period slog The only other game this series without a goal through two periods was won't bog down the rest of the game. Game 1, and the Wild won that one 1-0 in overtime. They'll look for more of the same in Game 6 against the Minnesota Wild Tight defensive first period has Golden Knights, Wild scoreless in Game at 6 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center. 6 "All year as the game has gone on, we've gotten better and better," The Golden Knights have struggled in the first period this series and forward Chandler Stephenson said. "It's just bitten us too many times in excelled in the second. They didn't have an issue with the first in Game 6 the butt with our first-period starts, and that's kind of the main focus on Wednesday, and will look to turn on the jets in the second. tonight." The Golden Knights and Wild finished a low-event opening stanza in a 0- Vegas has been outscored 5-2 in first periods, which has cost them this 0 draw at Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday. The first is the only of the series. Just last game the Wild led 3-1 after a period and though Vegas three periods in which Vegas has a negative goal differential, so it seems was the better team the rest of the way, including a 22-1 shots-on-goal Alex Tuch—Chandler Stephenson—Mark Stone edge in the second, a two-goal disadvantage is often too much to overcome. Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith Often, but not always. The Wild also had a two-goal lead after the first Mattias Janmark—Nicolas Roy—Keegan Kolesar period of Game 3, and the Golden Knights knocked their doors down with William Carrier—Patrick Brown—Ryan Reaves three in the second on the way to a 5-2 win. Defensemen One theory for the second-period success could be the long change that happens in the second period. Teams switch ends for each period, Alec Martinez—Alex Pietrangelo meaning in the middle frame a team's bench is on the opposite end of the ice from its net. It opens up the ice more when teams change lines and Nick Holden—Shea Theodore pairs. Nicolas Hague—Zach Whitecloud To wit — and it's debatable how much the long change mattered here — Goalies of their eight second-period goals in the series, six have had some sort of rush or transition or speed element to them. Marc-Andre Fleury, Robin Lehner "I think part of that is probably that you switch sides in the second period, LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 05.27.2021 so it's a bit easier to get offensive zone changes and stuff like that," forward Mattias Janmark said. "As far as this series goes, I think we've been down in a few second periods, so that brings out another level of your game maybe. Maybe they back off a little and we really have to push for it." The third period also belongs to Vegas, but with a 4-1 goal differential that is less forceful than the 8-1 second-period mark. Vegas has its second chance to eliminate the Wild tonight after grabbing a 3-1 lead in the series and falling in the first chance in Game 5. The Golden Knights are 2-0 at Xcel Energy Center this postseason with a plus-7 goal differential. The Golden Knights are 1-2 all-time in Game 6. All those games have come with Vegas holding the 3-2 lead in the series. It's been awhile since the Golden Knights had a player on the NHL's "Players Unavailable Due To COVID Protocol" list, but defenseman Brayden McNabb appeared on it today. Players can join the mist for multiple reasons so it does not necessarily mean that he tested positive for COVID-19, but it does mean he is out for Game 6. In his absence, Vegas figures to back to its Game 4 lineup, which had Nick Holden and Nicolas Hague both in on defense. No other lineup changes are expected tonight, with the possible exception of goalie. Marc-Andre Fleury has started all five games in the series and if Vegas wanted to get Robin Lehner some game action as part of a rotation, tonight would make sense. He hasn't played in more than two weeks and would either win the series or allow Fleury some extra rest before a potential Game 7. While the first goalie off the ice at morning skate is typically that night's starter, Fleury and Lehner left the ice nearly simultaneously this morning. Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 Series: Golden Knights lead 3-2 TV: AT&T SportsNet (DirecTV 684, Cox 1313, CenturyLink 1760) Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM Betting line: Golden Knights minus-140, Wild plus-120; over/under: 5.5 (EVEN, minus-120) Golden Knights (3-2, West Division No. 2 seed) Coach: Pete DeBoer (second season) Points leader: Mark Stone (5) Goals leader: Mark Stone (4) Assists leader: Nick Holden, Mattias Janmark, Chandler Stephenson (3) Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (1.40 GAA, .946 save percentage) Wild (2-3, West Division No. 3 seed) Coach: Dean Evason (second season) Points leaders: Matt Dumba, Jordan Greenway, Jonas Brodin (3) Goals leader: Joel Eriksson Ek (2) Assists leaders: Jonas Brodin (3) Expected goalie: Cam Talbot (2.41 GAA, .928 save percentage) Golden Knights projected lineup Forwards Vegas Golden Knights strategy. The Golden Knights have shown the ability to outskate the Wild 1188978 for long stretches during this series, including the final two periods of Game 5. After that game, Smith said the team can’t wait until it’s down to turn up the intensity, and yet that’s exactly what happened on After another 3-1 series lead melts away, do the Golden Knights have a Wednesday. finishing problem? Because after 45 minutes of generating next to nothing, as soon as Minnesota took a 1-0 lead, the Golden Knights turned it on. It didn’t last long, because Chandler Stephenson’s goal was waved off due to goalie By Jesse Granger May 27, 2021 interference, and the Wild capitalized on a power play after an unsuccessful challenge. That essentially iced the game, but it’s another example of the Golden Knights playing with less-than-optimal intensity For the third straight season, the Golden Knights have watched a 3-1 until they are behind. series lead slip through their hands to force a Game 7. The first two periods didn’t look like a Vegas team trying to impose its will During Vegas’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017-18, the Golden on the Wild. It looked like a team afraid to make a mistake. A team afraid Knights were a perfect 3-0 in potential close-out games. In the three to watch another 3-1 series lead slip away. It looked like the same team seasons since, they’ve won only twice in 10 chances to eliminate their that has scored an average of only 1.8 goals per game in potential close- opponent. out games. And that risk-averse style opened the door for a slightly less talented but hungrier Minnesota team to walk through. In 2018-19, the Golden Knights lost three straight to the San Jose Sharks after leading the series 3-1. Not even a year later, they poached the The Wild have scored the first goal in three of the five games of this coach from the opposing bench, hiring Peter DeBoer. Last postseason series and followed up Vegas’ opening goal on Monday with three of their Vegas raced out to a commanding 3-1 series lead over Vancouver and own before reaching the first intermission. Slow starts have plagued outscored the Canucks 15-8 in the opening four games. But the Golden Vegas throughout, and one more could spell the end of their season. Knights managed only one goal over the next two games, allowing the Canucks to force a Game 7. History doesn’t point in the Golden Knights’ favor for Friday’s Game 7. The Wild are 3-0 all time in Game 7s, with all three victories coming on This year’s first-round series with Minnesota has followed a similar the road. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have never closed a series out trajectory. Vegas seemed to find its scoring touch in Games 3 and 4, on home ice and are 1-1 in Game 7s. The lone stat working in Vegas’ trouncing the Wild by a combined score of 9-2. But since then the offense favor is that DeBoer is 5-0 in his career in Game 7s, including a win last has gone dry, and the team finds itself on the brink of elimination. year against Vancouver. The Golden Knights are clearly incredibly talented, but after squandering But when the puck is dropped on Friday, none of that will matter. The chance after chance to end playoff series it’s fair to ask: Do they have a better team over that 60 minutes will move on to face the Avalanche. The finishing problem? s̶i̶l̶v̶e̶r̶ gold lining is that the Golden Knights still have a chance to move on. They open up as -160 favorites in Game 7, and if they find a way to Over the last three postseasons, Vegas has outscored the opposition an escape this series, they could be better off for it moving forward. This impressive 63-37 in games in which they aren’t attempting to close the series has been an absolute battle, which should prepare either team for opponent out. But in the 10 games with the potential to eliminate the a huge second-round series far more than Colorado’s four-game other team, they’ve been outscored 18-31. demolition of the Blues. Blowing this series lead isn’t ideal, but it also Forward Reilly Smith said he believes the past results won’t weigh on doesn’t prevent Vegas from reaching its final goal. their minds entering Friday’s Game 7, saying “I think it’s a new year and “We believe in ourselves,” Stone said. “We believe in our team. We have it doesn’t really matter. It’s an opportunity to come out in your home one game in our home rink to move on. It’s that simple.” arena with all your fans, excited and full of emotion. It’s the stuff we dream about as kids.” The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 Smith is right. Just about every NHL player has pretended their childhood game of pick-up hockey is a Game 7, with everything on the line. Game 7s are where hockey legends are written. And he’s also right that T- Mobile Arena will be rocking. Maximum capacity was increased to more than 12,000 and the venue has proven time and again to be one of the loudest in the NHL. But the fact that the Golden Knights are playing in Game 7 is far from a dream. It’s much more of a nightmare. Vegas didn’t generate much of anything in Wednesday night’s 3-0 loss in Minnesota, struggling to carry the puck into the offensive zone throughout, and rarely challenging Minnesota goaltender Cam Talbot. He made 23 saves — most of which were routine — to earn his second shutout of the series. It was the Wild’s defense that impressed. They stood any transition opportunity up at the defensive blue line, protected the slot with desperation and held Vegas to 13 scoring chances. “I think you have two good defensive teams,” DeBoer said. “It wasn’t for a lack of effort. I think it was a really hard-fought game at ice level both ways. There weren’t a lot of looks. As the game went on, you felt like whoever got that first goal was probably going to win, and that’s what happened.” Neither team found the back of the net through the first 40 minutes, as both sides seemed content to play conservatively and wait for the other to make the first mistake. It wasn’t until 4:21 into the third period when Wild forward Kevin Fiala fed a perfect cross-crease pass to Ryan Hartman on the rush, who fired it into the net as Marc-Andre Fleury lunged across. “It was a feeling-out process for sure tonight,” said Mark Stone, who was held to zero shots on goal and one shot attempt in the entire game. “I don’t think there were a ton of high-dangers each way, but 0-0 going into the third we had a chance to win the hockey game. We just didn’t play well enough in the third to win.” And while it’s easy to say Vegas’ play through the first two periods led to a winnable game in the final frame, I think it’s also fair to question the 1188979 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Stumble Again, Lose 3-0 In Minnesota In Game 6 Wednesday and Face Winner-Take-All Game 7 On Home Ice Friday

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

This was not the way Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley wanted to generate more revenues at T-Mobile Arena. Up three games to one after four games over nemesis Minnesota Wild, the Golden Knights have lost Games 5 and 6 and now face a win-or-go- home Game 7 on home ice in Las Vegas Friday at 6PM local Las Vegas time. Expect 12,156 at the VGK home arena in two days. The Wild blanked the Golden Knights, 3-0, in Game 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota Wednesday before 4,500 at Xcel Energy Center. Netminders Marc-Andre Fleury of VGK and Cam Talbot of Minnesota pitched shutouts after two periods before the Wild notched all three goals in the final 20 minutes: Ryan Hartman at 4:21, Kevin Fiala at 9:35 and Nick Bjugstad at 15:17. Knights lose, 3-0. Photo: NHL, VGK The Knights’ Chandler Stephenson scored what appeared to be the game-tying goal in period three, but NHL officials in Toronto ruled it was no goal because of goalie interference by Alex Tuch. Minnesota then scored twice more to complete the 3-0 win. The Golden Knights are 1-1 in Games 7 in their four-year history. “It’s an exciting opportunity,” VGK winger Reilly Smith said of Game 7 at T-Mobile Arena Friday LVSportsBiz.com documented VGK fans watching Game 6 in places from the official watch party at the Red Rock Resort pool to City National Arena’s MacKenzie River pizzeria to even the Wolfgang Puck Players Locker in Summerlin. Early second period — Red Rock Resort pool Midway second period, Red Rock casino Late second period, Red Rock sportsbook Late second period, City National Arena — MacKenzie River pizzeria The Golden Knights have never closed out a playoff series at home in Las Vegas. In Year 1, the Knights won the first three rounds in Los Angeles, San Jose and Winnipeg. In Year 2, there was a controversial Game 7 first round loss to the Sharks in San Jose. In Year 3, it was life in the Edmonton postseason bubble. The VGK had a chance to clinch this first round series two days ago in Game 5, but lost, 4-2, before 12,156 fans, or 70 percent of capacity. This is the third consecutive postseason that the Knights have squandered a 3-1 lead in games in the postseason. There was the loss to San Jose in 2019 and the win against Vancouver in 2020. It’s Game 7, Vegas vs Minnesota on Friday. The New York Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins to win that series, 4-2, and will move on to play Boston. In the Sunshine State, the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers to close out that series, four games to two, and will play the winner of Nashville vs Carolina. The VGK minor league team, the , also lost Wednesday, 3-2 in OT to Bakersfield. The WNBA las Vegas Aces were repping the Golden Knights in Phoenix tonight. The Aces defeated Phoenix and are now 3-2. LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188980 Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights Pushed to Seventh Game by Wild

By Tom Callahan

The Vegas Golden Knights find themselves heading home and facing elimination in the first round of the NHL Playoffs after a 3-0 shutout loss to the Minnesota Wild in Game Six Wednesday night. It was a terribly disappointing result for the Golden Knights in many ways, but most importantly after leading the series three games to one Vegas now finds itself facing elimination back at T-Mobile Arena on Friday night. It also saw the Golden Knights enter the third period in a scoreless tie only to give up three goals against to the Wild. Once again goal-scoring deserted the VGK, as they failed to find the net and only registered 23 shots on goal in the game. Marc-Andre Fleury took the loss with 21 saves. The Takeaways The momentum is entirely with Minnesota now. They’ve shown they can win on the road at T-Mobile Arena, they’ve shown they can hold Vegas to low or no goals, and now they’ve shown they can play a tight-checking game that is more their identity and wins doing it. Not good for the VGK. Once again, scoring has dried up. I can’t explain what makes this Golden Knights team so streaky when it comes to scoring, but I can tell you this isn’t news to anyone who follows this website. Missing Max Pacioretty hurts, but every team needs to overcome injuries to win the Stanley Cup. Here’s the thing about Minnesota: they’re doing this without major contributions from Kirill Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala, who just scored his first goal of the playoffs tonight. They are a balanced, capable team that has taken Vegas out of its own game. I would never want to put this pressure on a goalie in the playoffs, but it’s starting to feel like if Marc-Andre Fleury gives up a goal at all, Vegas loses. No, I do not go to Robin Lehner. This is Fleury’s team. Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188981 Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights: Three Keys For Game Six Against Wild

By Tom Callahan

Clearly the Vegas Golden Knights wants to take care of business tonight in Minnesota against the Wild and not risk returning home for a where anything can happen. Here are three important keys for the Golden Knights to win and advance to a second round clash with the Colorado Avalanche. Get Out of the Gate Let’s face it, the Vegas Golden Knights have a really bad habit of not starting on time. Even if they manage to score first, sometimes they just don’t finish the first period. In several games of this series, Vegas has been the better team win or lose. The problem, and Game Five is a prime example, is that just because you decide to play the last 40 minutes far better than your opponent you’re automatically going to overcome any deficit. Minnesota is a good hockey team. They are getting exellent goatlending from Cam Talbot. They are still a confident bunch and believe they have a great chance to win on home ice. Vegas needs to get after the Wild immediately. VGK head coach Pete DeBoer likes to start the fourth line to stir the pot, but I’m not sure this is one of those games. Get the Mark Stone line out there and let them fly around. William Karlsson and his linemates are up next. Roll those top two lines for the first four shifts and see where you land. Let Minnesota know you mean business right away. If you don’t pop an early goal, turn Ryan Reaves and company loose. Don’t Worry About Hitting, Worry About Details I feel like there have been times in the series when the Vegas Golden Knights have been guilty of chasing hits and/or physical play. Let’s be clear, I’m not saying don’t hit. But we’re deep enough in the series where opportunities for physical play will present themselves in abundance. Instead of taking yourself out of position to throw that extra hit in the neutral zone, focus on playing well in the offensive and defensive zones. Details like forecheck routes, breakouts and defensive coverages need to be paramount. It’s cliche for a reason, but simplifying your game this time of year pays dividends. Win the Board Battles Puck possession is going to determine who wins the scoring battle. Supporting the puck on the wall high-side is something the Vegas Golden Knights can do very well, and when they do they generate a ton of chances. Scoring off the rush or a turnover is great and it happens on occasion. Hard work on the wall is where playoff goals are born on a more regular basis. Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 05.27.2021 Washington Capitals Since, he has just two even-strength goals and two even-strength assists 1188982 in the postseason.

The Capitals bowed out early again. Now they have plenty of questions The old Evgeny Kuznetsov was exhilarating. The new one is to answer. exasperating. “It was inconsistent, I agree, throughout the year,” MacLellan said. “We needed more from that position, from that amount of salary that we spent on him.” Barry Svrluga Signing players to expensive, long-term deals carries inherent risk. You’re betting on the physical ability for sure, but you’re also betting on the human. In the fall of 2017, after MacLellan granted Kuznetsov a deal Here’s where we are with Evgeny Kuznetsov as the Washington Capitals that runs through 2024-25, he acknowledged exactly that: “If he’s good, make their tee times rather than their playoff plans: He is worth leaving I’m good. If he’s not, it was nice meeting you guys.” unprotected in the upcoming NHL expansion draft. Dare the Seattle Kraken to take the $7.8 million average annual value of his contract for The jokes are great — when the contracts work out. That looks different the next four years. What kind of player would the Kraken be getting? now than it did three years ago to the day. Back then, Kuznetsov had Who the heck knows? scored the overtime goal that finally vanquished Pittsburgh, then racked up four goals and five assists in the six games he played against the There is nothing in sports more exasperating than unrealized potential. Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals. Only the Cup awaited, and he That’s why Kuznetsov is the most exasperating part of the Capitals’ third seemed well worth it — in output and attitude. straight first-round playoff exit. He has enormous potential. He is consistently not realizing it. “Before I signed that deal, I knew it was going to be some pressure on me,” Kuznetsov said, back in the fall of 2017. “But sometimes players Put this bluntly, Brian MacLellan. need it. I think it’s going to be even better for me.” “I think it’s the key to our organization, what decisions get made or how Right now, it looks worse. He is eating ice time. He is eating salary cap he plays or how he comes out of this,” the general manager said in a space. It’s fair to question his decision-making, what with a 2019 NHL video call with reporters Wednesday, three days after a season-ending suspension and a four-year ban from international play after a positive Game 5 loss to the Boston Bruins. “… We need him to play at his highest test for cocaine. Add in the fact that, despite the NHL’s rigid protocols, ability, and if he can’t play at his highest ability, we’re not going to be a Kuznetsov managed to test positive for the coronavirus twice during the good team.” 2021 season — rendering him unavailable for a long stretch to start the Remove yourself from the immediacy of such a dispiriting loss, and season and the first two games of the playoffs. Could the virus itself have remember that the Capitals are a good team. In the three seasons since contributed to a season in which Kuznetsov averaged fewer points per Washington won the Cup, only Tampa Bay and Boston have game than in any campaign since 2014-15, when he was 22? accumulated more regular season points. The problem: The Bruins “We’re trying to figure it out,” MacLellan said. “What part is that? What reached the Cup finals two years ago, losing in seven games. Last year, part is inconsistency? What part is the player? We’re working through it the Lightning won the whole thing. The Caps, in that span, are 5-12 in right now.” postseason games. It’s important to note that MacLellan did not say the following: “Despite So when a regular season behemoth shrinks in the postseason three acting responsibly, Kuzy unfortunately got waylaid by the virus not once straight years after winning the franchise’s only Stanley Cup, people but twice, and that absolutely affected his performance, and we believe in demand answers. The obvious culprits here aren’t as much individuals as him going forward.” age, and it’s easy to say that the Caps were banged up entering the Boston series because they have so many players on the wrong side of The hand-wringing about the age of the roster and the injuries that 30. hampered it, there’s a place for all of it. The Caps will get a deal done with free agent-to-be Ovechkin, and they have one in place for The Caps ‘ran out of gas,’ Brian MacLellan says. Next year, they’ll look to Backstrom, and you don’t sign up Batman and Robin into the years when get younger. they will need canes rather than capes if you’re heading into full rebuild It’s reasonable to believe there’s some correlation there. Nicklas mode. Anyone looking for a complete makeover will be disappointed. Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie, Lars Eller and John Carlson — But there are serious questions, none more central than the center who that’s a major chunk of the team’s core that was compromised to some makes $7.8 million annually and only occasionally plays like he’s worth extent, and each one of them is closer to the end of his career than the that. beginning. You want a crack at him, Kraken? But there’s not a champion that doesn’t lift the Cup and feel some sort of tweak in his back or tug on his groin. Hockey players live their lives with Washington Post LOADED: 05.27.2021 crooked noses and gaptoothed grins. Skating through injuries is part of the contract. What’s not part of that contract — particularly, say, an eight-year, $62.4 million contract — is fading in and out of games depending on your interest level on a given night. That’s how Kuznetsov has appeared the past three postseasons — disengaged and ineffective. Which, for a player of his ability, is unacceptable. Yes, the entire roster has added another ring to its trunk. But it says here that the biggest difference between the springtime results from 2018 and the springtime results the three years since is the difference in Kuznetsov being a star and Kuznetsov being a dud. During the run to the Cup, Kuznetsov rang up 1.33 points per game. Since 2010, according to hockey-reference.com, 702 skaters have played at least 20 games in a single postseason. Only two — Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov last year — averaged more points per game than Kuznetsov did that magical spring. So it’s in there. Somewhere. “We won the Stanley Cup because we had a great one-two punch and Eller in the third spot,” MacLellan said, referring to Backstrom and Kuznetsov. “So center depth is important.” Indeed. Kuznetsov has appeared in 15 of the Caps’ playoff games since he helped them lift the Cup. His production: 0.73 points per game. The contrast runs deeper, too. In 2018, nine of his 12 goals and 11 of his 20 assists came at even strength — so crucial to success in the playoffs. Washington Capitals nagging injury that caught up to him at the end of the year, and there is 1188983 no indication whether it will impact next season.

MacLellan also admitted there was “probably a little regret” that he did The Caps ‘ran out of gas,’ Brian MacLellan says. Next year, they will look not add another center during the season. He said the Capitals were to get younger. targeting a player with about a month left in the schedule but ended up not making a move.

“You need your best players playing at center, and you need to slot them Samantha Pell right if you want to contend for a Cup,” MacLellan said. “Boston had health with their four guys, and they played well. [David] Krejci played well, [Patrice] Bergeron played really well, and I think that was the key to The Washington Capitals will look to insert younger players into their the series. They played well up the middle and we were thin because of lineup next season, General Manager Brian MacLellan said Wednesday. injuries and because of performance.” Washington lost Game 5 of its best-of-seven series against the Boston Washington Post LOADED: 05.27.2021 Bruins on Sunday night, exiting the Stanley Cup playoffs in the first round for the third time in as many years. What followed were questions about their aging, veteran core and the injuries that derailed their postseason. MacLellan on Wednesday acknowledged the team “ran out of gas” at the end. “We will be looking to add younger players, yes. … There’s opportunity to add youth into the lineup,” MacLellan said in his video news conference. “We’ll get younger, but we’re still going to have a veteran team because that’s our core.” MacLellan said forward Daniel Sprong, who recorded 13 goals and seven assists in 42 games for the Capitals this season, and Martin Fehervary, a defenseman who played in six games for the Capitals during the 2019-20 season, could see bigger roles next season. Capitals reveal postseason injuries; Alex Ovechkin says he’s confident in contract talks MacLellan had high praise for Fehervary, who is close to full-time NHL duty. The defenseman spent the year with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey, Pa. MacLellan said prospects Alexander Alexeyev and Garrett Pilon should get some games next year, too. “I think Marty is ready,” MacLellan said. “I think he’s ready to be a full- time player. How high he plays in the lineup will be up to him. I think we’re counting on him to play right away, and we’ll make adjustments after that. I don’t think we have to make any decisions right now.” MacLellan also remains confident in the team’s two young goaltenders: Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek. Samsonov has the talent to carry the workload of a No. 1 goalie, MacLellan said. He went 13-4-1 with a 2.69 goals against average and a .902 save percentage in the regular season. “I mean, there were a lot of things that aligned that threw him off his path to develop this year, but I think in the end, he played well and that he showed us some abilities that he can handle a No. 1 role, that he has the skill level to do that,” MacLellan said. “I think we’re going to give him another opportunity to grab it and run with it.” Samsonov did not go to the IIHF world championship in Latvia because the Capitals “had some things we wanted to work through with him at the end of the year,” MacLellan said. Samsonov did not play the first two games of the postseason after he landed on the NHL’s covid-19 protocols list earlier this month, his second stint on the list this season. He tested positive for the coronavirus in January. Capitals Coach said Wednesday he believes both goalies will learn from this season. “At points and in pockets I think they both played terrific,” Laviolette said. “They are young goaltenders, and there is going to be ups and downs throughout the course of the year. … Most nights our goaltenders gave us a chance to win, a chance to be successful, and so we are excited about their growth and their improvement and to grow with the team next year.” After another first-round exit, where do the Capitals go from here? Connor McMichael, the team’s 2019 first-round draft pick, is also a potential addition to the lineup. The 20-year-old made his NHL debut in January but did not scratch the scoresheet. He didn’t make another NHL appearance for the rest of the season. McMichael was named to the AHL’s all-rookie team Tuesday, becoming the first forward in franchise history to receive the honor. “He’s a young guy that we’re not going to force into the lineup,” MacLellan said. “We’ll see how he does in camp and what he can handle, but he had a really good year.” There was a clear need for more center depth in Washington this year, after a rash of ailments and absences involving Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Lars Eller. MacLellan said Backstrom had a 1188984 Washington Capitals

First full-service sportsbook at a major sports arena opens in District

By Stephen Whyno - - Wednesday, May 26, 2021

The first full-service sportsbook at a major sports arena or stadium in the United States opened its doors Wednesday at the home of the NBA’s and NHL’s Capitals. Capital One Arena is directly accessible from the William Hill sportsbook during Wizards playoff games without fans needing to leave the building. That possibility exists when the Capitals return to the ice this fall if the NHL adjusts its policies. The New Jersey Devils opened a betting “lounge” inside in Newark in October 2018, but it’s only able to show odds with bettors able to place wagers on a mobile application. State restrictions there limit in-person wagers to casinos or racetracks. Caesars CEO Tom Reeg called it a groundbreaking moment for sports betting. Caesars is in the process of buying William Hill. “This is the first integrated sports book in a physical stadium in the country, so this is the new paradigm,” he said. “This is where (sports betting is) going.” , who owns the Capitals, Wizards and the arena, hopes to capitalize on the increasing acceptance of legalized sports betting in the U.S. and continue chipping away at the stigma of gambling. “Fans come to the arena and they now have the ability to have a rooting interest, if you will, in the outcome of the game,” Leonsis said. “I just view this as a natural extension of what was happening but to do it in a more modern - in the sunlight, in a transparent - way.” Leonsis is betting it’ll be the first of many around the country. “You’ll see lots of other arenas, lots of other leagues pushing on the gas to do this,” he said. “Because of that, we know we’re an exemplar and everyone’s going to be watching how well we execute.” The first opportunity for fans to go from an arena to a sportsbook comes Saturday when the Wizards face the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. Washington Times LOADED: 05.27.2021 Washington Capitals "I don't know that we've fully made any decisions on [the expansion 1188985 draft], but ideally we'd like to keep [Oshie] around."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.27.2021 With NHL expansion draft looming, Oshie wants to stay with Caps

BY J.J. REGAN

Through the 2021 season, the upcoming Seattle expansion draft loomed over every personnel decision every team in the NHL made. Now that the campaign is over for the Capitals, that Kraken shadow remains front and center for the team and one of its stars. T.J. Oshie was born in Washington state. While he is a fan favorite and a key player here in the District and surrounding areas, he is also 34 and has four years remaining on a contract that carries a weighty salary-cap hit of $5.75 million. His popularity and skills could make him an attractive target for Seattle while his age and contract dictate the Caps should at least consider leaving him exposed in the expansion draft. Oshie knows his name has been connected with Seattle, but he also made it clear there is only one Washington team he wants to play for and it's not in his home state out west. "I signed an eight-year deal here because this is where I wanted to spend the rest of my career and retire here," Oshie said this week. "I know there's a business side of things and there's a reality when it comes to pro sports, team sports in particular that there's always a chance that you could go somewhere else or get traded or whatever. But I've approached every day since I've been here like this is going to be the last team that I ever play for and I think I've done a decent job of proving that to [head coach Peter Laviolette] and [general manager Brian MacLellan] that this is where I want to be and I feel like I can still be a big part of this team moving forward as I get older here." Oshie is one of the emotional leaders of the Capitals. While Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson wear the C and the As on their jerseys as the team leaders, Oshie is the sparkplug that ignites the locker room. And he is also still producing at a high level despite being 34. "I thought he had a great year, one of his best years," MacLellan said. "He continues to produce, he continues to be a big part of what's going on in the room and on the ice. He's a big part of our organization. It would hurt our team and our organization if we lost him in the expansion draft." Oshie scored 22 goals and 21 assists in 53 games in 2021. That is the second-highest scoring rate and points rate Oshie has had since coming to Washington. Objectively, moving Oshie to Seattle would make a lot of sense for both the team and the player. It would clear up much-needed cap space for Washington while also offering Oshie opportunities he may not get if he stays. As beloved as he may be by Caps fans, Oshie would almost certainly become the face of the franchise in Seattle as a skilled, popular, personable player. He's an American with name recognition above most players given his heroics for Team USA. He could easily be a captain for a first-year club looking for leadership. If the Kraken are able to build a competitive team right away as the expansion Vegas Golden Knights did in 2017-18, there's a case to be made that Oshie could have a better chance at another Stanley Cup there than with the Caps considering the age of star players like Ovechkin and Backstrom. Plus, the move would bring Oshie, still mourning the death of his dad, Tim, on May 4, closer to some of his family in Washington state. But Oshie has roots now here also after six years and he does not want to give that up. "I've got family out there, that's great, but Washington's where I want to be," Oshie said. "This is where I've bled and cried and everything here. This is where I want to stay for long term. People can speculate and they can make assumptions about what I want to do or what I would like. People bring up the C, that stuff's not that important to me. This is where I want to be with my buddies, with my family, my kids are growing up in schools here, this is where I love to play hockey." The Caps don't want to lose Oshie and Oshie doesn't want to go, but someone has to. It's the nature of the expansion draft. And while MacLellan made his feelings about losing Oshie to Seattle quite clear, he also did not exactly slam the door on the possibility of leaving him exposed. 1188986 Washington Capitals

Caps GM: Team open to trading Kuzy, others 'if it makes sense'

BY ANDREW GILLIS

As a massively interesting summer commences in Washington for the Capitals, a popular rumor has been a potential trade of center Evgeny Kuznetsov. A few weeks ago, it was reported that the Capitals could look to trade him in the offseason. On Wednesday, general manager Brian MacLellan didn’t shoot down those rumors. "I think we're always open to trading people if it makes sense for what's going on,” MacLellan said. “If it's going to make our team better, I think we're open to it. I don't think anybody's off the table. We're not going to trade Ovi or Backy and those type of people, but I think you have to be open on anything. We would talk to anybody about any player." Kuznetsov is now halfway through his eight-year $62.4 million deal, but since the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018, he hasn’t regained the same level of dominance that led the team to a championship. Now, the Capitals are in a tight spot with a flat salary cap (of $81.5 million) for the next few seasons and key players referenced by MacLellan like Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson and T.J. Oshie locked into long-term deals. That doesn’t take into account a new contract for Alex Ovechkin, meaning the Capitals will need to shed salary in some way before the 2021-22 season. If that takes the form of a Kuznetsov trade, the Capitals will assuredly look for value that could help them immediately on the NHL roster. MacLellan indicated that, when Kuznetsov is on his game, the Capitals are a tough team to beat. When he’s not, the Capitals aren’t a very deep team at center and aren't very competitive. Kuznetsov’s 2020-21 regular season was certainly up and down, as he tallied 29 points in 41 games with two trips to the COVID-19 list, the second of which lasted into the playoffs. He returned in Game 3 against the Bruins before the Caps' early playoff exit. And since that 2017-18 season, Kuznetsov’s points-per-game average has gone down each year since that Stanley Cup season. So while the Capitals and MacLellan didn’t appear anxious to move him just yet, and certainly think he's still useful to the team, a trade is certainly not off the table. "I think it's the key to our organization what decisions get made or how he plays or how he comes out of this," MacLellan said. "We won the Stanley Cup because we had a great 1-2 punch and [Lars] Eller in the third spot, so center depth is important. We need him to play at his highest ability, and if he can't play at his highest ability, we're not going to be a good team and we'd have to make some other decisions." Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188987 Washington Capitals

William Hill Sportsbook at Capital One Arena officially opens

BY RYAN HOMLER

Wednesday marks a big day at Capital One Arena, as the William Hill Sportsbook at the arena held its grand opening. With Capitals and Wizards owner and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Ted Leonsis in attendance, the sportsbook made history as it became the first sports betting venue to coincide with a professional sports arena in the United States.

LIVE now! The Grand Opening of the William Hill Sportsbook at @MSE's @CapitalOneArena! This marks the 1st ever sports betting venue to operate within a pro sports arena in the U.S. with a restaurant concept by Michelin-star Chef Nicholas Stefanelli.https://t.co/DQc8FQWSIu— William Hill US (@WilliamHillUS) May 26, 2021 FIRST LOOK: William Hill Sportsbook at Capital One Arena, the first sportsbook in a US based stadium or arena, opens at noon pic.twitter.com/NKFR2bi1lu— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 26, 2021 “This is really the first step in the reinvention of the role that arenas play in the community, in the city, and how we can get closer to our customers," Leonsis said on Wednesday. The opening comes at a special time for Capital One Arena, as the Washington Wizards will welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to town on Saturday for Game 3 of the first round playoff series. With the sportsbook now open for business, fans will have an opportunity to place some bets close to the action on the court. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.27.2021 Washington Capitals “Both sides are interested,” MacLellan said. “We want Ovi, the ownership 1188988 wants Ovi to finish his career here, everybody wants him to finish his career. He’s saying the same thing. We’ll get it worked out in the end.” Are Capitals close to a rebuild? 10 takeaways from GM Brian As for the potential structure of an Ovechkin’s extension — a year-by- MacLellan’s season-ending media session year arrangement vs. a multi-year contract — MacLellan said, “we’re flexible.”

“We want him to be happy about this contract,” MacLellan said. “We want By Tarik El-Bashir May 26, 2021 him to finish his career here. He’s defined our organization, so it’s important … for him to feel comfortable with the contract, (with) the direction of the team. T.J. Oshie told reporters Tuesday he would prefer to stay in Washington “We want him to go out the way he wants to go out.” over being selected by Seattle in the upcoming expansion draft, even if that meant captaining the Kraken in his home state of Washington. 3. What about those Kuznetsov trade rumors? On Wednesday, Brian MacLellan indicated he plans to give the star As with everything involving Kuznetsov it’s, um, complicated. winger what he wants: a spot on the Capitals’ protection list. MacLellan expressed disappointment in Kuznetsov’s season, though he “I thought he had a great year, one of his best years,” MacLellan said. did acknowledge that it’s difficult to evaluate the 29-year-old center’s “He continues to produce, he continues to be a big part of what’s going performance because he ended up catching COVID-19 twice, costing on in the room and on the ice. He’s a big part of our organization.” him a total of 13 games. (He missed two other contests due to an upper- body injury.) Oshie is indeed the heart and soul of the Caps’ dressing room and bench. He also remains one of the team’s most important players on the “We needed more from that position, from the amount of salary that we ice, having racked up 43 points (22 goals and 21 assists) in 53 games expend on him,” MacLellan said, referring to Kuznetsov’s $7.8 million cap this season. His 13 power-play goals, meanwhile, led the unit, which hit, which is third highest among Caps forward behind Ovechkin and ranked third during the regular season. Backstrom. “But it’s tough to evaluate what effect (COVID-19) had on his performance.” Speculation about Oshie and the Kraken has swirled pretty much since Seattle was announced as the NHL’s 32nd franchise. Why? A couple of Kuznetsov finished with nine goals and 20 assists in 41 regular-season reasons. For one, Oshie is a native of Everett, Wash., which is about 30 games. After missing the first two playoff games while recovering from miles north of Seattle, and he still has family there. And two, the veteran- his second bout with the coronavirus, he failed to record a point in laden Caps are perpetually pressed up against the salary cap and Oshie, Games 3 through 5. who’ll turn 35 in December, has four years remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $5.75 million. If he were to be exposed and selected, it would “We won the Stanley Cup because we had a great 1-2 punch (with help Washington get younger and create some much-needed cap space. Backstrom and Kuznetsov) and (Lars) Eller in the third spot,” MacLellan said. “So center depth is important. We need (Kuznetsov) to play at his MacLellan, though, doesn’t see it that. In his view, losing Oshie would highest ability. And if he can’t play at his highest ability, we’re not going leave a crater-sized hole in the Caps’ forward corps as well as in the to be a good team and we have to make some other decisions.” room. Like dealing him in this offseason, as colleague Pierre LeBrun suggested “It would hurt our team and our organization if we lost him in the is a possibility? expansion draft,” he said. “I don’t know that we’ve fully made any decisions on that, but ideally we’d like to keep him around.” “We’re always open to trading people if it makes sense,” MacLellan said, asked point-blank about the rumors. “If it’s going to make our team MacLellan’s position on Oshie and the expansion draft was one of the better, we’re open to it. I don’t think anybody’s off the table — (though) many offseason issues the veteran general manager addressed in a 20- we’re not going to trade (Ovechkin) or (Backstrom) and those types of plus minute season-ending video conference with reporters. He also people.” discussed the status of contract talks with Alex Ovechkin, trade rumors involving Evgeny Kuznetsov, the goaltending situation and much more. “You have to be open on anything. We would talk to anybody about any player.” Here are the top 10 highlights from the session: 4. How injured was Backstrom? 1. Is it time to rebuild? Backstrom refused to use injury as an excuse for his postseason After a third straight first-round exit and considering the Caps’ aging core performance but anyone who watched him against Boston could see that and salary-cap situation, the question had to be asked, right? he wasn’t right. In five games, he registered just a single assist and only nine shots on goal. That, for a player that was arguably the Caps’ MVP “Yeah, I think about it,” MacLellan said. “(But) I don’t know that we’re at during the regular season, notching a team-high 53 points. that stage where we need to rebuild.” A report from Swedish outlet Aftonbladet said Backstrom would not play MacLellan’s M.O. the past few offseasons has been to surround for Sweden in the IIHF world championship due to a hip injury. The 33- Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson and Oshie with year-old center has battled hip problems in the past, too. complementary pieces that address areas of need, all while navigating a sticky salary-cap situation. And that still appears to be the plan. “He has an injury that caught up with him at the end,” MacLellan said. “It got worse and he struggled to be at 100 percent. Nick had a great year. “We made the decision here to bring back Backstrom and to bring back He led our team. He was top 20 (in the league) in scoring. Unfortunately, Ovi,” MacLellan said. “I don’t think that’s a rebuild situation when you’re he got worn down at the end of the year.” doing that. The priority for us is to have these guys finish their careers here and we’re going to work around that situation. It’s important for this Backstrom, of course, wasn’t the only Capitals player battling injury by organization to have Ovi and Backy finish their careers here. The rebuild season’s end. Ovechkin missed a career-high 11 games due to a leg would be a little premature. I do realize that it’s coming, but right now injury and COVID-19 protocols. Oshie tweaked a groin muscle late in the we’re just looking to incorporate a few more younger players in our regular season. Carlson had a bum knee. Eller tweaked both groin lineup, and we feel that we have a couple coming.” muscles and battled through a shoulder injury. And those are the injuries that we know about. So that’s that. For now, anyway. “We ran into some (injury) issues and we didn’t get a break,” MacLellan 2. Where do things stand with Ovechkin’s extension? said of the compacted schedule. “If we would have had a break — a Ovechkin said Tuesday he expects to re-sign in Washington “soon,” week break — we could have caught up with our injury stuff and though he declined to be more specific. MacLellan didn’t provide a performed better in the playoffs but … we never caught up. We were timeline on reaching an extension with his star player, either, but he did always chasing injuries.” indicate that he anticipates a deal getting done. Ovechkin is set to “Other teams in our division had it earlier in the year,” he added. “Ours become an unrestricted free agent this summer and, if you’ve been were at the wrong time for us.” following this storyline in recent months, then you are no doubt aware that both sides have good reason to wait until after the expansion draft to 5. Is there interest in re-signing Chara? finalize a deal. Zdeno Chara, who turned 44 in March, said Tuesday he plans to huddle “We had some things we wanted to work through with him at the end of up with his family in the coming days before deciding whether to return the year,” MacLellan said of not releasing him to play for Russia in the for a 24th NHL season. world championship. “We needed a couple of weeks of weeks with just to get him going in the right direction for the offseason.” MacLellan said they’ll wait on word from Big Z before making any decisions. “Skill-wise,” MacLellan added, “he can carry a No. 1 workload. He has the ability within him to do that. But …we need to get him on track. He “He’s uncertain on what he wants to do,” MacLellan said. “He played got thrown off at the beginning of the year with his accident off ice and he great for us. He was a great addition. Our third pair was solid all year with never really fully recovered. Then he got COVID. I mean, there were a lot him and (Nick) Jensen. We’ll wait to talk to him to see what his plan is of things that aligned that threw him off his path to develop this year. But before we decide that.” I think, in the end, he played well and that he showed us some abilities It should be noted that the Caps are well-positioned if Chara decides to that he can handle a No. 1 role, that he has the skill level to do that and hang ’em up. Even after trading Jonas Siegenthaler at the deadline, the we’re going to give him another opportunity to grab it and run with it.” Caps have a logjam on the left side of the blue line with veteran Dmitry Samsonov is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. Orlov and Brenden Dillon occupying roles in the top four and promising youngsters like Martin Fehervary and Alex Alexeyev waiting in the wings. 10. How about Laviolette’s performance in his first season? 6. Does the team need to get younger? If the Caps’ “good culture” had begun to slip by the end of Todd Reirden’s tenure, MacLellan believes Laviolette has helped restore it. It does. And, according to MacLellan, it will. “He does a real good job of addressing issues as they come up during Daniel Sprong, 24, is expected to have an expanded role next season. the year, as they come up every year,” he said. “He’s a good Fehervary, 21, is ready for a full-time role with the big club. Alexeyev is communicator. He defines expectations. He shows people what he wants close, though he might not be a full-time player right away. Garrett Pilon, from them and he addresses it if it’s not being attended to.” 23, will get some games. MacLellan added that he hopes Laviolette’s impact will be greater in Year “We’ll get younger, but we’re still going to have a veteran team because 2 when there are few league-mandated protocols, many of which limited that’s our core,” MacLellan said. face-to-face interaction between coaches and players. 7. Where does McMichael fit into the plans? “He’s a person that is a natural communicator, that likes to be in front of Top prospect Connor McMichael led the Hershey Bears with 14 goals people, and he was limited in his ability to do that,” MacLellan said. and 13 assists in 33 games and, on Tuesday, became the first forward in “What he’s established this year will benefit us next year. People the franchise’s storied history to be named to the AHL’s all-rookie team. understand how we’re playing, how he operates and we’ll have a good But that doesn’t mean the 2019 first-round pick is ready for full-time NHL jump on the season next year.” duty just yet, MacLellan said. The Caps are known for being patient with The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 their prospects. “He finished up the year well,” MacLellan said. “It’s going to depend on how his offseason goes, what improvements he makes. He’s a young guy that we’re not going to force into the lineup. We’ll see how he does in camp and what he can handle. But he had a really good year. I think he finished up the year on a high, improved in all areas. So we’re going to look for opportunities to play him, but we’re not going to force him into a situation he can’t handle.” Something else to consider here: if Kuznetsov is not moved, the Caps are pretty well set at center on each of the four lines, going Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Eller and Nic Dowd. And even if Kuznetsov is dealt, it might be asking too much for McMichael to step into a top-six role as a 20- year-old, particularly for a team that intends to remain in “win-now” next season. 8. Who’ll be the goalies next season? Per MacLellan, the same goalies as this year: Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek. “They progressed,” MacLellan said. “Samsonov has some stuff we’re working on with him. He’s shown the ability that he could be a No. 1 and we’ve expressed what we feel he needs to do to accomplish that. I think he’s buying in at this point and hopefully he’ll make progress. We’ll monitor his progress through the offseason and into the camp and adjust accordingly from there.” Samsonov, 24, finished the regular season with a record of 13-4-1 to go along with a .902 save percentage and a 2.69 goals-against average. Vanecek, of course, finished the season on the sidelines due to a lower- body injury that he suffered in Game 1 vs. the Bruins. In the regular season, though, the 25-year-old posted a record of 21-10-4 as well as a .908 save percentage and a 2.69 goals-against average. His win total led all rookie netminders. Coach Peter Laviolette said on Wednesday that Vanecek’s injury likely would have held him out into the second round had the Caps advanced. 9. Can Samsonov be counted on? Last summer, Samsonov got hurt in an ATV accident. In January, he and three teammates ran afoul of the NHL’s stringent COVID-19 protocols list and the Caps were fined $100,000. He had a nasty bout with the coronavirus early in the season and ended up league’s COVID-19 list for a second time late in the campaign. He was also scratched for a game along with Kuznetsov after showing up late for a team function in New York earlier this month. It was mostly a year to forget for Samsonov. That said, he possesses a ton of talent and the Caps are hopeful that, with some patience and mentorship, he can become a better pro. Winnipeg Jets "And those guys are playing those minutes too, so I know I’ve got 1188989 Scheifele at a big number but he’s nine minutes less than those other guys. We’re hoping for the advantage will eventually come through with those guys. But that very likely won’t happen again." Morrissey more than rises to the occasion Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 05.27.2021

Jeff Hamilton

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey is coming off a standout performance in a four-game sweep of the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He capped off the series with a team-high 41:54 of ice time in a 4-3 triple- overtime marathon Monday night, all while being tasked with defending arguably the two best players in the world in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He also finished with a pair of assists, giving him four points through as many games. Given the high expectations put upon the 26-year-old, including a hefty cap hit of US$6.25 million per season, some have even suggested it was a breakout performance for the Jets highest-paid D-man. Morrissey has starred for the Jets for years, but his play has been up and down at times since the departure of Dustin Byfuglien prior to the 2019-2020 season. "I’m definitely happy with the series against the Oilers. I feel like it was an opportunity to play against two of the best players in the world. I thought as a team we did a really solid job," Morrissey said. "(Dylan DeMelo) played awesome. And as a partnership, we found a new chemistry level that we haven’t had before. Not that it hasn’t been there, but I think it just went to another level." He added: "Individually, I’ve always said I’m just trying to work on my game, continue to get better every day and try to push myself to new elements and continue to improve. And that’s all I’m trying to do. It’s the playoffs, so everyone tries to raise their game. It’s the most important time of the year to be able to bring your best stuff." Morrissey was also a big contributor in the first three games. He was the minutes leader in all those games as well, logging 22:19, 27:17 and 28:16, respectively. Again, playing against McDavid and Draisaitl for most of the night. He also played a pivotal role in the thrilling come-from- behind Game 3, setting up the Jets third goal from Blake Wheeler before tying it 4-4 with a goal 16 seconds later. Morrissey isn’t the only one with confidence in his game. Jets head coach Paul Maurice has had to lean on Morrissey throughout the season, including moving him to his off-side on the right, and with a number of different defensive partners. What he saw the last week was no surprise. "You don’t have to go and convince Josh that he played well. He’s a veteran guy now that understands what he and Dylan were able to do," Maurice said. "Just even some of the statistics of the series, he had seven shot blocks in the last game and produced offence as well. In the past playoff rounds, he and Jacob Trouba were tasked with the other team’s top line and that was almost all we could hope for from them and he delivered it. And then in this round, he did both. He and Dylan did just a marvelous job on two of the elite scorers in the world and also put some numbers up. We think he has a strong understanding of kind of the evolution of his game, where he’s able to do both." Odd men out It was impossible not to notice the discrepancy in ice time between some members of the Jets in Game 4. While most players logged more than 20 minutes, with others such as Mark Scheifele (40:13), Neal Pionk (40:08), Kyle Connor (39:40) and Blake Wheeler (36:56) finishing with significantly more, there were three forwards that didn’t get the same amount of looks. In fact, the Jets fourth line, a trio that has been more than serviceable throughout the year, and has played a big role at times in the playoffs, was mostly kept stapled to the bench. Maurice was asked what went into limiting (12:24), Nate Thomson (7:19) and (7:09) to such little playing time when the rest of the team looked gassed by night’s end. "This is a really, really unusual set of circumstances and it has to do with McDavid and Draisaitl. The problem was, you know you either want Scheifele or you want (Adam) Lowry against them, certainly in a road game, and then they got locked into a rotation of three lines. They shut their fourth line right down. Your options then are to pull… You can’t really pull Lowry and you can’t really pull Scheifele out of that rotation because you go to four and they’re in three and you’re going to get those guys loose against a line you don’t want," Maurice said. Winnipeg Jets playing game 1, I think was an afternoon game. So, that was a pretty 1188990 quick turnaround. And then other times you have more rest. So that's just another thing that's out of our control." Jets enjoying a few days off to rest and reset before Round 2 There's been an adjustment off the ice as well. Players are definitely keeping a closer eye on the Toronto-Montreal series, providing a quality opportunity to pre-scout their next opponent. Jeff Hamilton "I've been watching pretty close, I'd say," Copp said. "And maybe last night I watched differently than I did maybe Game 1 or Game 2, just based on you know that you're playing the winner and maybe there's To suggest there was a collective sense of relief for the Winnipeg Jets some things that you're concentrating on. It's not like I'm watching details following Monday's series-clinching 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton and writing notes down. It's just kind of general things that they do, or Oilers would be putting it lightly. maybe little habits that each player has, or whether it's their line combinations without (John) Tavares… Your mind kind of jumps around On Wednesday, the same day the now-no-longer-necessary Game 5 from topic to topic when you're watching the game." was to be played at Rogers Place, just the thought of having to travel to Edmonton after battling into a third overtime period days before was Another thing to consider is a proper sleep schedule. Maurice said the enough for forward Andrew Copp to thank the hockey Gods. team's doctors handle all the technical aspects, but that his staff also takes a keen interest in who is and who isn't logging enough Zs. "Everyone is thankful we’re not in Edmonton right now doing a pregame skate," Copp said. "I think everyone is still a little bit tired from the game Maurice said the coaches discuss it among themselves in the morning, the other night. You might have taken a little bit of liberty the other night, with almost a sense of relief when someone admits they, too, had a just in terms of not rushing out of the rink, not rushing to bed. Now it’s tough time hitting the pillow. They've made adjustments in their travel catching up on sleep today and tomorrow, then getting into your normal plans to account for sleep patterns, though sometimes that's completely routine for however many days until you play." out of control. Such as Monday, when an 8:45 p.m. start goes into triple overtime. Because the Jets were able to dispose of the Oilers in four straight games, they now get a much-needed few days — and perhaps even "And you're saying that's great, we just came home from a home game longer — as they await the winner between the Toronto Maple Leafs and after three o'clock, right? How many days does that usually take before Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs currently hold a 3-1 edge in the best-of- you can get back to being right? That's usually about three," Maurice seven series, with a chance to eliminate the Canadiens in Game 5 said. "So, a little bit of break in this series, hopefully we'll be able to get Thursday night in Toronto. past that. We haven't had an off day — even on the days we've been tired off the road, we've never not been able to not bring them to the rink, Theoretically, if the Leafs win Thursday, a second-round matchup against which in some ways may be a good thing. Now it's five straight months of Winnipeg could begin as early as Saturday. Either way, the plan for the coming to the rink to get tested but it gets them out of bed at a regular Jets is to take full advantage of the time away from game action — which time. So, we are on top of that as much as we can be. I think we may be will be done in a number of different ways, with attention given to on- and in a little bit of sleep debt right now." off-ice activities. When things get more complex and can't be handled by the coaching As Copp alluded to, the Jets were able to linger around the rink into the staff, that's when the experts come in. early hours Tuesday morning, no doubt savouring what many outsiders thought was an improbable sweep. They had their coach's blessing, "Oh, there's lots of people, right? There's lots of doctors, even in the though it's likely the last time they'll get to do that for some time, at least area, our own medical staff," Maurice said. "I think you're better off until another series win. having a doctor do the research than you are doing it yourself. They understand that stuff. So, our medical group here would have strong "I don’t know what time you guys got home (on Monday) but I finished the opinions on how a lot of this should run." media at 2:05 a.m., so (Tuesday) was a bit of a write-off," Jets head coach Paul Maurice told reporters. "We have to come in and test (for Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 05.27.2021 COVID-19) every day and it has to be done before noon, so it was a short turnaround. They went home, they came back, and they tested. We did a one-through on the medical (side) today; I think we’re in pretty good shape. But we had 47 shot blocks in Game 4, which means there are a lot of ice bags going around." Beyond tending to various bumps and bruises Wednesday, a number of players were back in the gym doing strength work and stretching — what Maurice referred to as maintenance programs. He confirmed no players have skated the last two days, with the team returning to practice on Thursday. "Our program, in terms of how we want to play, isn’t going to change and isn’t dependent on the opponent, so we’ll start there tomorrow back on the ice and a lot of that will just get them in the rhythm of it," Maurice added. "Away from the players, we’re just kind of running whatever program we run to pre-scout a team, we’re just doing it twice. We’re looking at both teams very closely. As soon as this is decided, we’ll work back from the day of Game 1, we’ll work back in terms of video and what we do on the ice." The Jets spent a majority of their practice time leading up to the series against the Oilers working on various systems at all ends of the ice, with a particular focus on their transition game. There was also a detailed focus on special teams, with the power-play and penalty-killing units getting tweaked, adjustments that would have been made specifically for the Oilers. Needless to say, the Jets feel grateful for the time off between games, whether it's a few days or even a week, depending how the other series goes. As for an ideal length for a break, given the rest versus rust debate, they claim it's really no concern at this point. After all, they’re playoff experience confirms the situation could always be worse. "I was talking to someone about that yesterday. I think whatever it ends up being, really you just have to adapt and be ready to go," Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said. "We played a series where you had literally one day off, I remember that a few years ago, after the Nashville Game 7 win, staying over in Nashville and flying back the next day and Winnipeg Jets Morrissey had a goal and three assists, including the play to spring Kyle 1188991 Connor for the series-clinching goal in triple-overtime.

“To see it actually go in was just remarkable and I kind of blacked out for JETS SNAPSHOTS: Empty building awaits Jets again for Round 2 the next couple minutes,” Morrissey said. “But it was pretty, pretty awesome and just a great feeling.”

It seemed Morrissey and DeMelo found new chemistry in their role. Paul Friesen “Not that it hasn’t been there, but I think it just went to another level,” Morrissey said. The Winnipeg Jets are resigned to another round of playoff hockey in an DeMelo’s take: “We just played extremely hard. We were both really empty home building. assertive in our play and we knew the matchup was coming and we didn’t shy from it.” With Manitoba now the hot-spot of the pandemic, there’s still no hint of when the Jets will be able to throw the doors open to fans. Certainly it ‘UNUSUAL AND EXTREME’ won’t be in Round 2. Lost in the excitement of the longest game in Jets history was the lack of “I don’t know if we’ll have fans at all,” forward Andrew Copp said on ice time for the Jets’ fourth line. Wednesday. “It’s unfortunate. Obviously Manitoba’s getting hit hard right now, from what you guys are saying. I don’t really look too specifically at Nate Thompson and Trevor Lewis were stapled to the bench for the any of that stuff in particular. entire overtime, while Mathieu Perreault took a few turns with the second line. “But I do feel bad that fans weren’t able to be a part of the last two games as they normally would have. It would have been two of the best nights of Maurice says he had little choice, given how Edmonton wasn’t playing its people’s lives in this city.” fourth line and how he wanted either Adam Lowry’s line or Mark Scheifele’s to go up against McDavid’s. Montreal could become the first Canadian team to allow fans in their building if they push their series with Toronto to a sixth game. “That very likely won’t happen again,” the coach said. “Those two guys are freaks of nature. It was unusual and it was extreme.” The Habs plan to welcome 2,500 fans for Game 6 on Saturday — if they beat Toronto in Game 5 on Thursday. Maurice said he was worried about what would happen if the Jets took a penalty in overtime, as Thompson and Lewis are penalty killers. “Whatever the government thinks is appropriate,” Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo said. “It’s not our call and hopefully we can go long enough here “That power-play unit they got is the best in the world,” he said. “What that we can get them in.” happens if we get one and I’ve got these guys sitting on the bench now for an hour and a half and I’m going to fire them out there against that? DeMelo is in his first full season in Winnipeg and has never experienced the playoff whiteout. “I didn’t like where I was in the rotation, but you’re kind of locked into it.” But he gets the sense the city is fired up after a first-round sweep of the HOME ALONE Edmonton Oilers. DeMelo has a new challenge to deal with, as his wife and newborn son “I could hear the honking before the game when I’m warming up off the have moved back home to London, Ont., where his parents can finally ice and afterwards, too, after we won and clinched,” he said. “To have see their first grandchild. that inside the building would be amazing. It’s hard to see, watching the “I’ve been able to sleep a lot better, which has been great,” DeMelo said. other teams play, especially in the U.S., and they’ve basically got full “But I would trade that to be with him any day of the week. I miss him a barns or at least a lot of fans. And those games are more fun to watch lot. FaceTiming a lot, but super happy he’s home to spend some time than games without any fans in the building.” with my folks and my in-laws.” Drivers were honking their support for the team well after Game 4 ended Winnipeg Sun LOADED 05.27.2021 at 1 a.m., Tuesday morning. “I’m sure the residents of downtown maybe didn’t love it considering it was 2:30, three in the morning the other night and people were still flying around downtown and honking and celebrating,” Josh Morrissey said. “But that makes it pretty special. And driving home after the game, just seeing some of the streets lined up with cars and people waiting to wave at us and celebrate in the best way you can was pretty cool. So hopefully we can get fans back as soon as possible.” With a long break between series, players weren’t in a big hurry to get home after Game 4. While they were off the next day, they still have to report to the rink for daily COVID-19 testing. Wednesday was a day to take stock of bumps and bruises and get in a workout. “We’re in pretty good shape,” head coach Paul Maurice said. “But we had 47 shot blocks in Game 4, which means there are a lot of ice bags going around.” The first day of practice for Round 2 is Thursday. BREAKOUT PAIRING The play of Morrissey and DeMelo against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl was one of the keys to beating Edmonton. Some, including Maurice, are calling Morrissey’s a breakout performance. “In the past playoff rounds, he and Jacob Trouba were tasked with the other team’s top line and that was almost all we could hope for from them and he delivered it,” Maurice said. “And then in this round, he did both. He and Dylan did just a marvelous job on two of the elite scorers in the world and also put some numbers up.” Winnipeg Jets “It’s such an unusual time,” he said. “All I would say is that there seems 1188992 to be a really good vibe in the room and it is different. I just don’t know that I can describe it better to you than that. It’s not just the hockey and it’s not just the men. The environment has shaped this group as well.” Jets enjoy serving crow to doubters Copp was a third-year NHLer in 2018, a 23-year-old who — confident as he already was — had yet to hit double digits in goals. Paul Friesen Today, he’s coming off his third straight season with 10 or more, including a career-high 15 goals and 39 points in just 55 games.

For him, standing on this ground again feels comfortably familiar, except It was Andrew Copp, about a week ago, who said he felt insulted by for the one noticeable difference. those who didn’t think his Winnipeg Jets stood a chance against Edmonton. “This time we were doubted a little bit more along the way,” Copp said. “Three years ago … there was a belief we were going to make a big run. “Just counting us out of the series is a little insulting to me,” Copp said at We finished second in the league in points that year. We were kind of the time. expected to move on. This time there was a little bit less of that from the One hard-earned series sweep later, Copp entered the Zoom Room outside. again to say I told you so. “I don’t know if there is much of a difference in the feeling inside the “Everyone pays attention to what’s going on, whether they’re watching room. Because we believed in ourselves and we believed we could other games or you see picks that are made going into a series,” Copp definitely make a run at this thing.” said on Wednesday. “You saw the Oilers logo a lot more than you saw The Jets will have their doubters again in Round 2. the Jets logo. It gives you a little added, I don’t know about incentive, but maybe a chip on the shoulder.” If it’s against the Leafs, they might even feel insulted again. Copp wasn’t alone in enjoying the chance to serve up some virtual crow They probably wouldn’t have it any other way. to the doubters, as the Jets made their first public comments since Monday’s triple-overtime series clincher. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 05.27.2021 Defenceman Dylan DeMelo says after all the talk about Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl going into the series, he and partner Josh Morrissey are relishing knocking the Oilers stars from the Stanley Cup chase — and from more than a few playoff pools. “We just took it as a challenge and wanted to prove everybody wrong, that we could handle it,” DeMelo said. “Not just us two but as a whole D- corps and a whole team. We heard that outside noise and thought we could ruin some people’s playoff pools. The guys really stepped up and took that opportunity and ran with it.” That underdog, us-against-the-world mentality has been known to fuel teams. Some players, even coaches, latch onto it like a Labrador retriever onto a downed mallard. Many of those teams wind up going home with their tails between their legs, regardless. The Jets, though, clearly had a plan they believed in and went out and brought it home, even if it wasn’t as decisive as the brevity of the series would suggest. Now they’re on ground they first tread three years ago: Second-round earth, which has a distinctly different smell and feel than the garden, first- round variety. It’s more fertile, with all kinds of possibilities buried in it. The previous time the Jets worked this soil, an epic, seven-game series with the Nashville Predators sprung from it. While the players weren’t getting ahead of themselves — they don’t even know who they’ll be playing, yet — some of Wednesday’s questioners weren’t as patient. For instance, Morrissey was asked to revisit 2018’s Game 7 victory in Nashville. Someone even asked Copp about comparisons to the 2012 L.A. Kings, a No. 8 seed that upset No. 1 Vancouver — when Copp was still in high school. “We’re not really concentrating on drawing parallels to Stanley Cup winners just yet,” Copp said. “We’re just worried about Game 1 of the next series.” That’s what happens when you reach this game’s second difficulty level. The poking and prodding become more intense, just like the hockey. Jets boss Paul Maurice says there’s no comparison to 2018, though. “It’s a different group,” the head coach said. “The environment of everything has changed, so it doesn’t compare. Nothing feels the same and nothing is the same.” Maurice cited the experience and maturity his team has now that it didn’t then. Everything has happened so fast, too, in such a compressed schedule. There’s also the pandemic bubble they’re in. Winnipeg Jets It has been madness since the original Jets opened as a member of the 1188993 upstart in 1972. Owner flamboyantly handed over a cheque for $1-million to before a massive, cheering crowd gathered on the corner of Portage and Main. Delirious Jets fans dare to dream after Oilers rout Hull, then a superstar with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, gave the new league some credibility and a lot of publicity. The chance to play with Hull brought in Swedish superstars Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson in 1974 Roy MacGregor to form “The Hot Line.” The Jets would win the Avco Cup, the WHA championship, three times in the 1970s.

But no Stanley Cup was to follow. In 1979, the Jets and several other “It would have been insane!” WHA franchises were folded into the NHL. There would be hometown superstars such as Dale Hawerchuk and Teemu Selanne, but no Mathieu Perreault was talking about Monday and Tuesday’s wild Game championships. When the team, struggling financially and in need of a 4, his Winnipeg Jets down 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers well into the third new arena, departed for Phoenix, fans gathered by the thousands at the period when his power-play goal started a three-goal comeback that Forks and wept openly. And wept again when, 15 years later, the Jets resulted in a triple-overtime 5-4 victory for the Jets. returned. “The roof would have come off this building,” he added. “I don’t know “There is a cultural need for Winnipeg to celebrate its hockey team,” what to say other than it would be great to have the fans.” Shannon Sampert, a professor of political science at the University of “You know what?” Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice said after his team Winnipeg, wrote in an opinion piece a few years back. “For Winnipeg, the had eliminated the Oilers in their opening round of the 2021 Stanley Cup need to prove we’re economically competitive enough to sustain a playoffs, “We’re jealous here now. We turn on the TV and watch the hockey franchise has been like a scar on our collective identity.” other playoff series and they’ve got fans and it seems to drive the “We get knocked for our weather,” Joe Daley, goaltender for the original intensity. ... They’ve got pompoms in their seats and we’ve got coverings Jets, said in 2018. “We get knocked for our mosquitoes. We get knocked in ours, and we’ll have to make our own enthusiasm.” for a lot of things, but we’re loved for our hockey team. Lights out for Oilers as Jets seal sweep with triple-OT heartbreaker “It’s sort of like we’ve been adopted by the rest of the country.” It has been yet another curiosity of this most curious NHL season: empty It’s now 2021 and that may happen, especially if the Jets were to move rinks, pumped-in arena sound, cardboard fans and team-colour tarps. on as the only Canadian team to reach the semi-finals. For all the advantages of losing the idiots in the first row who hammer on the glass any time they feel a camera on them, the fan-less building has Perhaps by then the arena doors will open again, if only slightly. been a novelty that very quickly wore off. “It’s just too damn bad our fans weren’t in the building,” Wheeler said Fans have returned in middling to large numbers at sporting events in the after the Round 1 win, “because that would have been something.” United States, but Canada has moved at a far more cautious case through the COVID-19 pandemic. Quebec has recently loosened And will, certainly, at some point be something once again. regulations and the Montreal Canadiens could have 2,500 spectators at Globe And Mail LOADED: 05.27.2021 Bell Centre for Saturday’s Game 6 – should there be a Game 6 in a series the Toronto Maple Leafs now lead three games to one, with the Leafs able to wrap up the series Thursday at Scotiabank Arena. Not so in Manitoba, where the pandemic is classified as “critical” and the province is under stringent stay-at-home restrictions. “The pandemic is at a high,” Jets forward Paul Stastny said. “A lot of people are stuck at home and you can’t really do anything. You can’t really go outside unless it’s with your family on the long weekend, so that puts a damper on things.” On the other hand, the veteran player added, these fan-less games may have somewhat of an upside. “They get to watch the game,” Stastny said. “It takes their minds off it a little bit. Then you see other teams and other sports where fans are coming back, so that kind of gets you a little bit hopeful, a little light at the end of the tunnel.” “Watching Florida [Panthers] and Carolina [Hurricanes] gives me envy – and hope,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. “I mean, especially at this time of the year, to see people back in the buildings down there is a sight for sore eyes.” The fans the Jets are seeing on U.S. television broadcasts might be into it, but nothing, nothing compares to what a packed Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg can be on a playoff run. There’s nothing tongue-in-cheek about the poster that hangs in the lower lobby of the rink: “The Heart of Canada and birthplace of the most intimidating playoff environment in the NHL.” When the Jets took on the Minnesota Wild in Round 1 of the 2018 playoffs, they opened with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory that did indeed have that metaphorical roof blowing off the building and into Portage Avenue, where thousands of fans who couldn’t get inside were cheering and blowing their horns. Inside, the place was packed, as always, with 15,321 fans who screamed “TRUE NORTH!” at the moment the national anthem headed into “strong and free” – “TRUE NORTH!” being the regular salute to the group that brought the Jets home in 2011 after 15 years in the U.S. wilderness. (The first NHL Jets left in 1996 to become the Phoenix Coyotes, Jets 2.0 returned in 2011 when the relocated.) There is the famous Jets “Whiteout,” when the entire stands are white from towels and clothes rather than tarps. In the series against the Wild, two women even showed up in their wedding gowns. Others wore white wigs. There was even a polar bear costume. All 15,321 chanting “GO! JETS! GO!” 1188994 Vancouver Canucks

Fanning our hopes: Canucks warmly welcome B.C.’s restart plan It requires full sign-off from Vancouver Coastal Health, but the Canucks hope to have at least 5,000 fans in the building when hockey resumes next fall — and maybe more

Patrick Johnston

The Vancouver Canucks had been preparing for Tuesday’s news from the provincial government that crowds will be back in the stands next fall for some time. They’ve been in discussions with officials from Vancouver Coastal Health for months. They’ve had multiple reopening plans in the works, preparing for scenarios that call for limited crowds or full crowds. Under B.C.’s restart plan, the earliest that sports stadiums could feature full capacity is Sept. 7, though that’s far from a certainty. The Canucks’ 2021-22 NHL season, of course, would start well after that. It’s good news on their end, no doubt. “The reopening plan outlined by Premier Horgan, Minister Dix, Minister Kahlon and Dr. Henry was very exciting and we can’t wait to welcome fans back at Rogers Arena in the fall, if everything goes to plan,” Canucks chief operating officer Trent Carroll said in an email. “We are continuing to prepare for all possibilities, including physically distanced plans and ultimately a full arena, whenever we receive the green light to safely do so. To help make that happen, we need to keep going and encourage all of our fans to register and get vaccinated if they haven’t already. Once we all do that, we can get back to together again for Canucks games, concerts, Warriors and start to enjoy all of our entertainment aspects of our lives as we did before the pandemic.” The team has plans that would accommodate at least 5,000 fans, spread out between suites, the upper and lower bowls, to begin with. The team hopes, of course, that by the time their season arrives, they’ll be able to have even more, perhaps even a full crowd. Whatever crowd size they get approved for, the Canucks will have plenty of research to point to. Nearly two weeks ago, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said local public health officials were looking to see how the infection rate played out in the United Kingdom in the coming weeks, following its limited reopening of sports. Soccer’s FA Cup final, played 10 days ago, had a limited capacity crowd, for instance. And the Canucks will surely be eyeing what’s gone on in : In late March teams that play at — ’s Knicks and hockey’s Rangers— and the Barclays Center, home of the basketball Nets, were first allowed to admit fans into the building at just 10 per cent of capacity. So was Nassau County Coliseum on Long Island, home of hockey’s Islanders. Fans had to provide proof of vaccination and they had to wear a mask. Last week, New York state loosened those rules, allowing the arenas to host maskless, vaccinated fans in designated sections. On Monday, the Knicks hosted their first playoff game in eight years and had 15,000 people on hand, 90 per cent of whom were fully vaccinated, the team said. Ahead of their own playoff opener last Saturday, the Nets offered both testing and vaccinations to fans in a facility across the street from Barclays Center. Both teams have also been raffling off tickets to vaccinated fans. Meanwhile, the Islanders were approved to have just over 9,000 fans in the stands for Wednesday’s Game 6 vs. Pittsburgh, with the majority of tickets reserved for vaccinated fans. Capacity for Games 3 and 4 was about 6,800, roughly half the soon-to-be-abandoned arena’s full capacity. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.27.2021 1188995 Vancouver Canucks 2022-23 $0

$500,000 Canucks buyout power rankings: Which contracts should Vancouver buyout? -$500,000 Before we get into the weeds here, let’s begin with a few key qualifiers and facts about our approach. By Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal May 26, 2021 All buyout data below is sourced from CapFriendly and is broken down in

the table above as follows: For teams operating through the NHL’s flat cap era, carving out every Initial cap hit: This number reflects the annual average value or cap hit of available cent of cap space is everything. the standard player contract in question. In fact, not exercising a buyout on a single standard player contract was Buyout cap hit: This number reflects the dead space cap hit that the club arguably the original sin of the 2020 offseason for the Vancouver will incur as a result of exercising a buyout on the contract in question. Canucks. Real cap savings: This is a number that reflects the real cap impact for There were obvious buyout candidates for the Canucks last October, in the club of exercising a buyout on the contract in question. In every case, players like Sven Baertschi and Brandon Sutter. Exercising those two the cap benefit number is adjusted by $1.125 million, which is the amount buyouts would’ve saved the club nearly $3 million against the cap for the of cap space that can be saved off of any standard player contract that is 2020-21 league year. re-assigned “below the line” to the minor leagues during the 2021-22 That additional space would’ve made the difference between retaining season. Tyler Toffoli or permitting him to walk to Montreal on a team-friendly deal With all of that said, Jake Virtanen has Vancouver’s most buyout-able without even receiving an offer. contract and it’s not particularly close. The Canucks made a hash of the 2020 offseason, and that mess was In proceeding with this analysis, we should note that Virtanen is the fundamentally driven by catastrophic cap allocation decisions made subject of sexual misconduct allegations and is currently on leave from several years before and short-term budgetary restrictions imposed by the Canucks organization. Parallel investigations into the allegations are ownership as the club grappled with the harsh economics of the ongoing by both the Vancouver Police Department and an undisclosed pandemic. firm retained by the Canucks. Virtanen has also been named civilly in a Even as the Canucks moved to project stability last week in the wake of a statement of claim that was filed in Kelowna, B.C., in mid-May. devastating, disappointing 2021 campaign, grappling with the reality of Intimate partner violence is a serious issue and we cannot risk trivializing the mistakes of last offseason loomed over everything. it by factoring possible outcomes related to investigations or legal Club chairman explicitly cited “resources” in an proceedings into our analysis. For the purposes of this exercise, we will eyebrow-raising letter to season ticket holders on Friday, while general focus solely on the cap math of a possible Virtanen buyout. manager Jim Benning pointedly brought up buyouts in a prepared Because of Virtanen’s age, he’s only entitled to 1/3 of the salary statement that preceded his question and answer session with media. remaining on his contract in the event that his deal is bought out. That’s “Buyouts are going to be part of our strategy this summer to save cap significantly lower than the 2/3 ratio that players older than 26 are due in space,” Benning said plainly. the event of a buyout. In public-facing communications, it seems, both Canucks ownership and That 1/3 ratio applies to both the real money that would be owed to hockey operations leadership seemed to tacitly admit that the impact of Virtanen in the event that his contract is bought out, and to the cap hit not availing themselves of the buyout window in the fall of 2020 was that the Canucks would carry as a result of exercising a buyout on his decisive in setting the club on course to finish in last place in the North deal. As a result, Virtanen’s 2021-22 cap hit after being bought out would Division. be only $50,000 which is negligible from a cap management perspective. The Canucks, it seems, will not make the same mistake again this Even if the aggregate cap benefit is under $1 million all told, it’s a no- offseason. brainer to buy out Virtanen. Even before Benning’s pointed reference to the buyout mechanism this 2. Braden Holtby week, there’s been some internal chatter around the team about the Braden Holtby buyout possibility that the Canucks may utilize multiple buyouts this offseason. SEASON INITIAL CAP HIT BUYOUT CAP HIT REAL CAP The first NHL buyout window of 2021 will open 24 hours after the SAVINGS conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final and will remain open until July 27, the day before the free agent market opens. 2021-22 It’s an extended window, which has significant strategic implications from $4.3 million a Canucks perspective. $500,000 More than anything though, the way the NHL calendar is aligned strongly suggests the buyout device is likely to be a last resort option for the club. $2.675 million A break glass in case of emergency maneuver the club can utilize in the 2022-23 event they’re unable to find an alternative solution to reallocating cap space in the expansion process or on the trade market. $0 We have a sense of which contracts the club is likely watching as $1.9 million reallocation targets, but which Canucks contracts make the most sense to buy out this offseason? Let’s get into it below with a power ranking of -$1.9 million the most buyout-able Canucks contracts. Braden Holtby is an interesting case. 1. Jake Virtanen The veteran goaltender — a Vezina and Stanley Cup winner — struggled Jake Virtanen buyout mightily in his first Canucks season. He also signed a two-year deal that was heavily backloaded and carries a $5.7 million salary for 2021-22, SEASON INITIAL CAP HIT BUYOUT CAP HIT REAL CAP making his deal particularly sticky to move. SAVINGS It’s going to be all but impossible to trade the full freight of Holtby’s 2021-22 contract in this business climate, considering the salary owed to him and his performance the past two seasons. On the trade market, it will surely $2.55 million take retention or accepting inefficient money back to dislodge Holtby from $50,000 Vancouver. $1.375 million Of course, a retained salary transaction is almost always preferable to $0 executing a buyout and that’s the case here too. $633,334 While a Holtby buyout saves the Canucks significant cap space in 2021- 22, the cost in 2022-23 is high and suboptimal. All told you’re still looking -$633,334 at well under $1 million in total cap benefit from exercising a buyout on As you’ve surely realized at this point, contract structure is the biggest the final season of Holtby’s deal, whereas with a retained salary factor in determining whether a buyout makes financial sense or not. transaction the Canucks would be looking at great cap savings upside Signing bonuses, for instance, the kind that Eriksson has on his contract, depending on the precise details of the trade. can make certain deals practically buyout proof. Outside of the bonuses In the event that all other options — including the trade market and aspect, the front or backloaded nature of the contract plays a pivotal role massaging the expansion process — fall through, a Holtby buyout is a too. good way to save some cap space in the short term. Backloaded contracts like Virtanen’s or Holtby’s — which pay a greater The bill will come due if the Canucks take this route, but Vancouver at proportion of salary in the latter years — are tougher to trade, but more least has a nearly NHL-ready young goaltender waiting in the wings in favourable to buy out. The opposite is true for frontloaded contracts that Mike DiPietro. DiPietro should be ready to be a backup at the NHL level pay a higher proportion of salary upfront — these are easier to trade but by 2022-23, leaving the Canucks relatively well-positioned to swallow the less conducive for buyouts. second year hit from a Holtby buyout if they decide to go that route. It’s Antoine Roussel’s contract falls in the frontloaded contract tier as he’s probably not worth doing but could be if the Canucks were able to do owed just $1.9 million despite the $3 million cap hit he actually carries. something really meaningful with the additional $2.675 million in cap Consequentially, there isn’t a whole lot to be gained from buying his space that a Holtby buyout would open up next season. contract out. 3. Loui Eriksson Vancouver would be able to carve out $1.26 million in space for 2021-22 Loui Eriksson buyout through a buyout, with a $633,334 cost for 2022-23. Taking the second year hit isn’t worth it, however, considering the cap relief for next season SEASON INITIAL CAP HIT BUYOUT CAP HIT REAL CAP is only $141,666 higher than what you’d be able to net through a simple SAVINGS demotion. 2021-22 5. $6 million Jay Beagle buyout $4 million SEASON INITIAL CAP HIT BUYOUT CAP HIT REAL CAP SAVINGS $875,000 2021-22 2022-23 $3 million $0 $2.2 million $1 million -$325,000 -$1 million 2022-23 Life was a lot simpler when Loui Eriksson was filling empty nets on a shutdown line with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson. Deteriorating foot $0 speed has unfortunately robbed him of his defensive utility and as a result, the 35-year-old Swede appeared in just seven games this season. $400,000 Unlike other buyout candidates like Holtby, Antoine Roussel and Jay -$400,000 Beagle, Eriksson can’t be expected to hold down a regular NHL roster Kudos to Jay Beagle’s agent Wade Arnott of Newport Sports: he not only spot. There is virtually no use for him at the highest level of hockey got his client a $3 million cap hit, four years of term and a modified no- anymore. trade clause, but he was also able to structure the contract so that it’s That’s an important distinction for a couple of reasons. For one, it makes essentially buyout proof. trading his contract even more difficult than the other inefficient deals — Beagle’s deal is frontloaded and includes a $1 million signing bonus for you can perhaps sell a team on the idea of Holtby or Beagle providing this season — it’s a double whammy that fundamentally destroys any NHL value, especially on the back of their intangibles like championship incentive to go down the buyout route. experience, but you can’t do the same for Eriksson. The calculation shows that a buyout would only offer $800,000 of cap While Eriksson’s inability to contribute in the NHL works against the relief next season, less than what the Canucks would gain by simply Canucks on the trade market, it does make him one of the players on this reassigning Beagle to the AHL. And all of this is before we even consider list you can justifiably bury in the minors for that avenue of cap relief. Beagle’s health and how it might potentially affect the Canucks’ ability to You’d need to weigh the cap benefit of demoting Eriksson to the AHL use a buyout on him in the first place. against the buyout option and this is where the logic for the latter looks As we mentioned earlier, however, there is one advantage to a less appealing. frontloaded contract and it’s that the lesser salary commitment makes it Vancouver would superficially appear to gain $2 million in cap space next more palatable for another team to absorb on the trade market. In season by buying Eriksson out, but the actual number is $875,000 when Beagle’s case, he’s only owed $1.2 million in hard cash once his signing you factor in the opportunity cost of not just burying him in the minors. bonus has been paid out, which would be significant for teams When you consider that this extra $875,000 in space will come with a $1 considering the financial damage that the pandemic has inflicted on million cost for the 2022-23 campaign, it’s really hard to see how an every major professional sports organization. Eriksson buyout makes any sense at all, frankly. The lesser base salary coupled with Beagle’s intangibles, penalty-killing 4. Antoine Roussel utility and skill in the faceoff dot might make him the most appealing contract for an opposing team to take on assuming the Canucks either Antoine Roussel buyout offer a sweetener or take some money back. There’s a caveat to note even with this path though and it’s that Beagle can submit a five-team no- SEASON INITIAL CAP HIT BUYOUT CAP HIT REAL CAP trade list — his camp could selectively curate those teams based on who SAVINGS they believe might be most willing to absorb the contract. 2021-22 Vancouver has to hope it can find a solution on the trade front because if $3 million not, the buyout option won’t offer practical relief. In fact, in overall cap terms, buying out Beagle is an inefficient move that adds $725,000 in cap $1.733 million spend to Vancouver’s books over the next seasons. $141,666 Conclusion 2022-23 The Canucks don’t have any really great options on the buyout front this offseason, aside from Virtanen. In fact, the aggregate cap savings from buying out Eriksson, Roussel and Beagle are actually negative. The club would be better off, across the board, just burying those players in the minor leagues for the final years of their respective contracts as opposed to exercising a buyout on any of those three deals. A Holtby buyout could make sense if nothing emerges through expansion or on the trade market, but even with Holtby, the cost of a buyout will be significant in 2022-23. And the club is much better positioned cap-wise to take a significant step forward in 2022-23 than they are next season. This is really the final takeaway here. The leverage of additional cap space for 2020-21 — particularly with Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes on the final years of their entry-level contracts — warranted buyouts for players like Sutter and Baertschi last offseason. This offseason, and particularly because players like Beagle, Eriksson and Roussel are such intractable cap issues on this roster, there’s little benefit to pushing any sort of cap hit from a buyout of one of those three standard player contracts into the future. Unless there’s an opportunity to land an elite player in free agency or trade, or if the club decides to sign Pettersson and Hughes to long-term deals, additional buyouts don’t really seem warranted with how the club is positioned. The club is most likely better off buying out Virtanen and just taking their medicine on every other buyout candidate this offseason. Canucks Aggregate Buyout Savings PLAYER 2021-22 CAP SAVINGS AGGREGATE CAP SAVINGS Jake Virtanen $1.375 million $875,000 Braden Holtby $2.675 million $775,000 Loui Eriksson $875,000 -$125,000 Antoine Roussel $141,666 -$491,668 Jay Beagle -$325,000 -725,000 The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 Websites The edge probably has to go to Team Coach here just based on having 1188996 Gretzky, but it ends up being closer than you might expect — and maybe even tilts to Team GM if Lindsay catches anyone with their head down. Which he will. The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Who wins, an all-time roster of stars who became coaches or stars who became GMs? Second lines We’ll start Team Coach’s second line with another Hall-of-Fame center in . His brief stint as Devils co-coach with was By Sean McIndoe May 26, 2021 even weirder than the thing, but luckily he had a few years in Washington to make sure he qualifies. We’ll reach back into history to give him a pair of Hart Trophy winners as his linemates, in Milt Schmidt NHL teams sure do love to hire former players for important jobs. These and Toe Blake. Schmidt had some strong seasons behind the bench in days, if your favorite player retires, it’s probably not goodbye. Just give it Boston and two more he’d rather forget in Washington, while Blake may a few years, and he’ll be back as coach or GM or to be determined. be the only Hall-of-Fame player who actually went on to even more success as coach. Sometimes it works. Joe Sakic could win GM of the Year honors for his work in Colorado, while Rod Brind’Amour is the favorite for this year’s Team GM will stay in the modern era with a trio current GMs you were Jack Adams Award. Sometimes it doesn’t, like Wayne Gretzky’s probably waiting to see. We’ll start with Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic. coaching career or as GM. Jim Benning and Travis Green, Granted, it will feel a little bit weird to see them on the same line given two former players, didn’t have a great year in Vancouver, but Bill Guerin that the Red Wings and Avalanche had a bit of a rivalry back in the day, and Dean Evason did pretty well in Minnesota. Lou Lamoriello and Barry but we’re figuring they can get along well enough to rack up some Trotz never played a shift in the NHL, and neither did Julien BriseBoise offense. We’ll round out the line with Ron Francis, giving us the fifth-, or Jon Cooper, while Bob Murray and Dallas Eakins played plenty. It’s seventh- and ninth-highest scoring players of all time on one line. Yeah, kind of all over the map. that’s probably manageable. Today, let’s come at the question from a different angle. Who’d win a It’s always tough to compare across eras, and Blake and Schmidt were head-to-head matchup, a team made up entirely of NHL stars who went legitimate stars in their day, but I think Team GM takes this one and it on to become coaches, or those who went on to become GMs? isn’t especially close. You’re already starting to come up with names for both teams, and that’s Third lines half the fun. But first, a few ground rules: Depth is no issue for Team Coach, as the list of ex-players who went on – We’ll build two full rosters of 12 forwards, six defensemen and two to a coaching career is a long one. We’re starting to run low on truly elite goalies, without worrying too much about position beyond that. We’ll go stars, though. We can find one from the league’s earliest days in Newsy back over all of NHL history, but we’ll give priority to guys from the Lalonde, although we get some help from the fact that back then it wasn’t modern era, because I’m told it’s more fun if reader know who I’m talking uncommon for guys to hold the dual role of player/coach that we about. absolutely need to bring back. We’ll play him with an Original Six star in Boom Boom Geoffrion, who followed his playing career with hit-and-miss – To be clear, we’re looking to build our two teams based on how good coaching stints with three teams including the . And we the player was, not necessarily what they did as coach or GM. You can cover off the post-expansion era by completing the line with Bill shouldn’t hire Wayne Gretzky to coach your favorite team, but you do Barber, a Hall-of-Famer who just barely qualifies thanks to a season and want him on your Team Coach roster here. a bit behind the Flyers bench in the post-Lindros era. – In the case of guys who spent time as both coach and GM, we’ll assign Team GM doesn’t have anywhere near the same number of options, but them to a team based on which job they held the longest. We’re looking there’s still some solid star power. Let’s build a classic crash-and-bang for NHL jobs only, not WHA or other leagues. And assistants aren’t in third line, and there’s no better place to start than with . The play — you need to have held the real job. three-time Hart winner went on to a front office career with … well, pretty much everyone. We’ll play him with a pair of Montreal Canadiens – Finally, we’re going to limit this to guys who held the job for more than legends who knew their roles: checking winger Bob Gainey, and tough one full season. It turns out a lot of guys got hired for very short stints, guy John Ferguson. (Calm down, Leaf fans, this is Ferguson Sr., who ran especially on the coaching side, and we don’t want to fill our roster up the Rangers and Jets.) Good luck scoring against this crew. Or finishing with ringers. your shift with two functional ankles. Take a moment to see if you can figure out which side is going to win, This is a tough one to call. Clarke is the best player, which puts Team and how many names your favorite team will supply. OK, let’s see how GM over the top for me. this plays out… Fourth lines First lines The fourth lines are always my favorite with these things, because it’s fun So yeah, let’s start with the obvious pick for Team Coach: the greatest to build around a theme. For Team Coach, let’s see if we can match that player in NHL history, Wayne Gretzky. He never got the Coyotes into the Team GM checking line with one of our own, using Jacques Lemaire, playoffs in four years behind their bench, apparently because yelling Guy Carbonneau and Rod Brind’Amour. Carbonneau and Brind’Amour “Just do what I used to do” isn’t really a strategy. That doesn’t matter give us a combined five Selkes, and while Lemaire was more of an here, as he gives Team Coach a huge head start. offensive threat in his playing days, he became synonymous with the defense-first mindset once he became a coach and ruined hockey re- For his wingers, we’ll reach back into history for , who imagined defensive strategy. coached the Wings for parts of four seasons (and was their GM for three). On the other wing, let’s slot in Denis Savard, who’s top claim to For Team GM, let’s add a few more current GMs by starting with Chris fame behind the Blackhawks bench was being fired and replaced by Joel Drury. We’ll give him Joe Nieuwendyk and his 500 goals to work with. Quenneville. Gretzky, Savard and Delvecchio give us about 5,500 points Our last winger spot will go to everyone’s favorite 15th-round draft pick, worth of production, over half of which comes from Gretzky. Pretty good! , who remains the second longest-serving GM in Kings Team GM doesn’t have any Gretzky-level stars available, but they come history. pretty close. Let’s start them with Phil Esposito, who held the job with I’ll give the fourth-line edge to Team Coach because they’ve got two Hall both the Rangers and Lightning and was a complete and certifiable of Famers, sort of, to Team GM’s one. Overall, it’s hard to beat Wayne madman the whole time. (Seriously, look at his trading record in just Gretzky, but I like Team GM’s balance just a bit more, and they don’t three years in New York.) We’ll give him Terrible on one have to rely on as many old-timers as Team Coach does. It’s close, but I wing, thanks to three seasons running the Red Wings in the late 70s. think the forwards tilt to Team GM. The other pick for a spot on Team GM’s top line came with some Late cuts controversy. I originally assumed that Brett Hull would be an easy pick, based on his two seasons in Dallas. But Hull shared the job with Les Depth would have been an issue if we’d kept going with Team GM. They Jackson, with both listed as co-GMs. Should that count? The pair held still have Bill Guerin available, maybe Doug Risebrough, and could even the job for less that two seasons, meaning if we give Hull 50 percent call up a Hall-of-Famer in , but after that the well gets kind of credit he’ll fall just short of our one-year cut off. But I’m not an NHL replay dry. That probably makes sense — NHL GMs keep their jobs longer than official and I’m not here to pull goals off the board on a technicality, so coaches, meaning there won’t be as many of them to choose from. As far Brett Hull is on the team. as the one-year limit, it doesn’t really cost us anyone significant up front, although maybe we could have tried to sneak in Pat LaFontaine for those Famer Harry Howell only got a single season running the Cleveland few months when he was running the GM-less Sabres. Barons before they folded. Team Coach has the opposite problem, with so many options that we’d Goaltenders have a tough time running training camp. We could have used Rick Tocchet or Gerard Gallant, or maybe earlier guys like Doug Weight, Ed Are goalies more likely to be GMs than coaches? I feel like they might Olczyk, Kevin Dineen, Kirk Muller, or even Sid Abel. We could have be, but that could just be from hearing about Ken Holland and Jim made an entire checking line of miscellaneous Sutters, which is always Rutherford over the years. Let’s see where this goes … fun. The one-year rule costs us some mega-stars, including Rocket Team Coach seems to want to confirm my theory, because there isn’t Richard, Cy Denneny and Bryan Trottier. One more near-miss: Gordie much to choose from here. In fact, I can really only find two options that Howe was originally offered the job as the first coach of the New York stand out as legitimate stars during their playing days. Luckily, that’s all I Islanders, but turned it down. need, so let’s start with the obvious name: , who’ll give us one First pairs of the very best goalies ever right up until he randomly quits right before training camp. We’ll back him up with Gerry Cheevers, who coached the Do defensemen make for better coaches and/or GMs than forwards? Bruins for five seasons including two first-place finishes in the 1980s, You might think they would, since it’s sometimes thought of as a more then never got another shot despite a career record north of .600. cerebral position. Let’s find out if there’s anything to that. As expected, Team GM has a few more names to choose from, although Team Coach can start its blue line with a Hall-of-Famer who also had it’s not a ton. Let’s counter Team Coach’s use of a Habs legend with one some significant success behind the bench: , who joins of our own in Ken Dryden, who held the Leafs’ GM title for a couple of Toe Blake as a Cup-winner on the coaching side. We’ll pair him with Red years in the late-90s. We have a few decent options for the backup job, Kelly, a multi-position legend who launched a bench career in the late but I think the best of them is Tony Esposito, a five-time all-star who just 60s with early expansion teams before downgrading to the Harold barely sneaks over the one-year limit thanks to a short stint as the Ballard-era Maple Leafs. Penguins’ GM before handing the reigns to Craig Patrick. Team GM counters with a Hall-of-Fame pairing of its own, one made up This one’s close, with four Hall-of-Famers in play, but I think the starters of guys holding the job today: and . They’d are close to a wash and I’d have Esposito ahead of Cheevers as a complement each other well on the ice, and in between shifts they could backup. Team GM takes it. talk about the finer points of rebuilding California teams around terrible contracts. Late cuts Some of these have been tough calls. Not this one, a decisive edge for Team Coach doesn’t really have any. Jacques Plante coached a year in Team Coach. Let’s see if the GMs can make up some ground … the WHA and other stars have gone on to coaching careers at various levels, but few make an impact in the NHL. If we need an emergency Second pairs backup, we might have to call Ron Low or Glen Hanlon. Let’s go old school with Team Coach’s second pair. They’ll take Leo Team GM is a different story. We have another Hall-of-Famer available in Boivin and , two Hall-of-Famers and long-time Bruins. Neither Rogie Vachon, and we could also use Ron Hextall, especially if Roy was had much success behind the bench, with Clapper coaching the Bruins getting punchy. And of course, we could always turn to . Or for four mostly lousy seasons and Boivin having two interim stints with at least ask to borrow his oversized gear. the Blues in the 70s that combine to just push him past our one-year limit. Real good players, though. And the winner is … Team GM counters with two more Hall-of-Famers of their own, with Here’s what the final rosters look like: Serge Savard and Kevin Lowe. Good luck making any handshake deals Team Coach with these guys without the combined 13 Stanley Cup rings they earned as players getting in the way. Savard went on to earn two more FORWARD championships as GM in Montreal, while Lowe in Edmonton, uh, did not do that. Alex Delvecchio This pairing is closer, but I’ll let my bias for the modern era nudge me Wayne Gretzky towards Team GM. Team Coach still has the overall blueline edge, Denis Savard though. Milt Schmidt Third pairs Adam Oates Team Coach will finish up with a Norris Trophy and a Hall-of-Fame nod, although somewhat oddly from two different guys. Randy Carlyle has Toe Blake been a coach for so long that some fans might not remember that he was a really good defenseman (with flowing locks) back in the 1980s, Boom Boom Geoffrion including a Norris win in 1981 that makes him the only eligible player to Newsy Lalonde have won the trophy but not made the Hall of Fame. Phil Housley never got a Norris, and couldn’t do much behind the Sabres’ bench, but his Bill Barber 1,200 career points rank fourth among defensemen. Rod Brind'Amour Meanwhile, Team GM is running into some depth issues here. It turns out that a lot of defensemen do indeed go on to a front office career, but Jacques Lemaire most of them weren’t stars. I’m honestly having to at least think about Mike Milbury here, which is never a good sign for a list of GMs under any Guy Carbonneau circumstances. I must be missing a few names somewhere, but the best I DEFENSE DEFENSE GOALIE can come up with are a pair of hard-nosed blueliners who combined for 31 seasons and not one single Norris vote: Bob Murray and Don Larry Robinson Sweeney. No question here, as Team Coach takes the third pair by a mile and earns a pretty solid decision in the blueline category. Patrick Roy Late cuts Leo Boivin Team Coach gets burned by the one-year rule again, as it costs them Dit Clapper Brad Park, Scott Stevens, Sprague Cleghorn and . (You’re Gerry Cheevers seeing why we had to have this rule for this to work now.) We could make a case for Marcel Pronovost or Hap Day, but other than those guys Randy Carlyle and maybe , Joel Quenneville or Craig Hartsburg, no obvious snubs are standing out to me. Phil Housley Team GM is similarly thin. We could have gone with Benning or Dale Team GM Tallon, but other than that I’m mostly seeing guys who had short NHL careers. They do lose one big name to the one-year rule, as Hall-of- FORWARD Ted Lindsay Phil Esposito Brett Hull Joe Sakic Steve Yzerman Ron Francis Bob Gainey Bobby Clarke John Ferguson Joe Nieuwendyk Dave Taylor

DEFENSE DEFENSE GOALIE Rob Blake Doug Wilson Ken Dryden Serge Savard Kevin Lowe Tony Esposito Bob Murray I think it’s Team Coach, but I could be convinced otherwise. Team Coach has the best player ever, four deep lines, the best blue line by a decent margin, and goaltending that’s close enough to almost be a wash. Team GM has more overall star power up front and maybe a slight edge in goal, but isn’t all that close on the blue line and falters a bit around the edges in terms of the depth spots. I say it’s Team Coach, but if you wanted to challenge that, we can set up some sort of painfully slow review process everyone will hate. Or you could just head into the comments and let me know which team you prefer, or which guys I missed altogether. The Athletic LOADED: 05.27.2021 Websites Florida's first round was not without its own drama in the crease, with 1188997 Chris Driedger, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Spencer Knight each getting two starts against Tampa Bay -- the first time that's ever happened in a single playoff series. Sportsnet.ca / Stanley Cup Playoffs Takeaways: What's next for the Penguins in net? Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has had zero questions when it comes to who and how they play in net, and Andrei Vasilevskiy's 29-save shutout Wednesday night to close out the series in six games had the reigning Cup champs looking ready to run it back. Emily Sadler May 27, 2021, 1:20 AM In what has been a historically high-scoring series for Tampa Bay, the focus through much of this first round in the Sunshine State has been on It's the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the stakes are high, and the crowd loud. the fast pace of the games, the physicality, and the dazzling offensive After a season of few fans being allowed to attend games, about 9,000 of efforts by both sides. But Game 6 was all about Vasilevskiy, who's got a them are now chanting your name from the stands. If you're an NHLer, knack for stepping up his already-strong game in the biggest moments. that's the dream... right? The last time he had a playoff shutout? That was Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against Dallas to claim the Cup. Not if you're the goaltender of the visiting team, like Tristan Jarry was at Nassau Coliseum Wednesday night. As we bid farewell to what was the most entertaining series of 2021, it's clear that the state of hockey in Florida is incredibly strong. On the heels of what was a nightmarish finish for Jarry two nights ago, a double overtime giveaway that gift-wrapped the Islanders a 3-2 series Talbot stumps Vegas, again lead, the biggest question for the Pittsburgh Penguins heading into As for the actual state of hockey... Minnesota topped Vegas at home Wednesday's Game 6 was whether Jarry would be able to gather up the Wednesday night, with Cam Talbot earning a shutout of his own -- his pieces of his shattered confidence and give the Penguins a performance second shutout this series after blanking the Golden Knights in Game 1. worthy of a win. We've now got our first Game 7 of the post-season to look forward to, Unfortunately for both player and team, it didn't take long to learn the coming up Friday night. answer. Between Talbot's game-saving stops and the Golden Knights' inability to Jarry let in two goals on his first four shots, the first of which followed a bring the kind of fire on offence we saw from them in the regular season, pattern of Islanders goals as Anthony Beauvillier's glove-side snipe we're a game away from a pretty wild upset. exposed a weakness that's been exploited by New York all series long. Goalie interference strikes again Remaining Time -0:47 Death. Taxes. No one truly understanding what constitutes goaltender Nelson feeds Beauvillier who breaks in and scores on Jarry interference. The second solidified another familiar pattern that has emerged in That's been particularly true between Vegas and Minnesota. After a Pittsburgh throughout the first round: the club's inability to hold on to any controversial (and ultimately, very confusing) call that discounted a lead for long. Game 6 was like a microcosm of how Round 1 went for the Minnesota goal in Game 4, the tides turned two games later. Penguins -- a tale of leads lost, with Pittsburgh's goaltending unable to Midway through the third period of Wednesday's Game 6 chess match match the strength of its skaters and New York's never-say-die depth between Vegas and Minnesota, Chandler Stephenson tied things up at 1- constantly ready to pounce on any misstep. 1 only to have it quickly ruled no-goal due to goalie interference. Replay Period No. 2 saw New York grab hold of the game with three goals in a showed Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch sandwiched between Wild span of 2:59, including two just 13 seconds apart. The absence of defender Matt Dumba and goalie Cam Talbot -- both in the way and backup Casey DeSmith due to injury left Pittsburgh in a tough spot, with unable to get out of it. Sullivan clearly not convinced that the inexperienced Maxime Lagace Remaining Time -3:13 would bring any kind of relief. So, even when Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan called a timeout in an attempt to cool things off, Jarry remained Vegas goal gets called back for goalie interference, challenge in the game. And through it all, the Long Island crowd showed no mercy unsuccessful for the netminder. With the game on the line, Vegas had almost no choice but to challenge Now with the East Division's No. 1 seed knocked out, Pittsburgh faces the call on the ice of goalie interference in an effort to make the goal many more questions as it approaches yet another early off-season, its count, but the challenge was unsuccessful and ultimately led to a Vegas third straight year of failing to advance beyond the first (or qualifying) loss. Minnesota then capitalized on the ensuing power play, later adding round, and second time in that span it's fallen to the Islanders. a third goal in the win to force Game 7. Questions will be asked about the core: can it stay together, sustainably, Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.27.2021 for another run? Since winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, the club has won just a single playoff series. But front of mind for many right now, in the wake of Wednesday's disheartening loss, will be goaltending. Once boasting the kind of depth organizations dream of, the team chose Matt Murray over Marc-Andre Fleury with Vegas calling a few years ago, then went with Jarry over Murray last off-season. Jarry’s under contract for two more seasons at $3.5 million per; DeSmith, one more at $1.25 million. While his regular season numbers weren’t as strong as last year’s, which ultimately won him the starting gig, Jarry put up respectable stats worthy of a No. 1 behind a strong offensive team through most of 2020-21. But he now finishes the post-season with a stat line that tells a drastically different story: 3.18 goals against average, .888 save percentage through six games in his first full playoff series against the Islanders, a team not exactly known for scoring. With the core at the age and stage that it is, top-tier goaltending was the most obvious missing piece this spring. With new management at the helm, where does that factor in? Time for a young netminder to develop isn't the kind of luxury this group has if they're to turn around and make another run. How Pittsburgh tackles its crease will be the biggest key as we shift focus from looking back on this season that was to looking ahead to what the next could be. Meanwhile, on Long Island... bring on the Bruins. And the Billy Joel. Vasilevskiy steps up (as usual) Websites As such, Edmonton brought in a GM like Chiarelli, and players like 1188998 Andrew Ference and Milan Lucic, hoping to import some winning culture into a locker room that had long since run out. But all those ex-Bruins had lost their fastball when they arrived here, and their ability to lead Sportsnet.ca / McDavid not ready to quit on Oilers despite another early suffered accordingly. playoff exit Today the leaders are McDavid, Draisaitl, Nurse, Nugent-Hopkins and Oilers have the right foundation for long-term success Larsson, a five-year Oiler who will be signed to a three- or four-year deal within weeks. They all have chops because they all can play. Gene Principe and Mark Spector discuss the end of the Edmonton Oilers season and why the team has high hopes for the future with the core in They’re also the guys who set the bar here, a bar that is finally being set place. by players whose standards take something special to live up to. “It’s not the way we wanted (this season) to end, no question about it,” began Draisaitl. “But we took some big steps internally: the way we want Mark Spector May 25, 2021, 8:02 PM to play, the compete level we have every night. There’s no quit in our game. No pouting. We’re starting to build a real good foundation of what is to come the next few years here with the Oilers. EDMONTON — From the outside, the Edmonton Oilers are all about past sins. “We know we’ve had some tough times — we have had some very tough times. There have been a lot of disappointing years. It’s going to feel that A litany of management teams. Too many No. 1 picks and not enough much better when we do win, when we are at the top. We want to win as success with them. A rebuild that stalled on Floor 1 for, oh, about a a group, and we want to do it with the guys that are here.” decade. Maybe longer. Do the math. Edmonton became a better team in almost every category So when you look at this team in its totality, another early playoff exit this season — particularly defensively. GM Ken Holland, after two years comes off just another boulder on the avalanche of disappointments to of mopping up after Chiarelli, has some cap space this summer to fill in a come out of Northern Alberta over the past 20 years. couple of crucial holes in his roster. Hey – we’ve covered them all. I know how long it’s been. But whomever he brings in, they’ll walk into a proper dressing room now, with the right culture. Sure, the leaders still need to learn how to win in But if you could simply look at what they have now. Where they are today the playoffs — undoubtedly — but that’s all that remains, and they have — without all the Peter Chiarelli or Craig MacTavish shade — you’d be paid their dues. where Connor McDavid sits, as his 24-year-old season comes to a close with a disappointing first-round sweep. This is that annual playoff team now, with a puncher’s chance that will grow as Holland fills in around the edges of his lineup, and playing next And you might understand how ridiculous those people sound who are year in a division full of teams that will all but ensure Edmonton hosts a predicting that McDavid is just this close to wanting out of Edmonton. first-round playoff series. “That’s not the case – at all,” McDavid said emphatically. “We have a “This is where I want to be,” said Nurse, who played 62 minutes Monday great core here. Leon (Draisaitl) and Nursie (Darnell Nurse), Nuge (Ryan night and became a father Tuesday morning. Nugent-Hopkins), Larss (Adam Larsson) … These are guys that I’ve kinda grown up with. We want to see this thing through together. Do this “We came up in this league together, me, Leon, Connor, Nuge… We’ve thing right – as a group. It’s special to be able to play with these guys. It been here when it wasn’t so great, played in seasons where you’re out in feels like we’re light years away (after being swept), but we’re a lot closer January, and it was some pretty dark ends to the season. than it feels today.” "You want to have success and win in this organization. We’ve been Remaining Time -4:46 through the thick of it." Where do the Oilers go from here? Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.27.2021 It is disrespectful, frankly, to opine that McDavid is ready to just quit on everything and everybody here and walk away — to the Toronto Maple Leafs, as the narrative goes, that bastion of playoff success. If you know McDavid, you see a person who doesn’t run away, even from an organization that has floundered like this one. He’s a builder, and this team’s regular season numbers say it actually is on the rise. He even looks at his own Hart Trophy-level game and finds places where it can be improved. “I’ve got another level I can get to. Leo has another level. Collectively just finding another gear,” he said. “I’m only 24 years old. I’ve got lots left. Lots of ways to grow my game in different areas, find different ways to have success. (Even though) it feels like I’ve been in the league for a long time, ultimately I’m still a young guy in this league and I have lots of good years ahead of me.” The fact that the hockey world has gone here again, after a three-OT loss to a Winnipeg Jets club that is better than you think, is because expectations have risen, McDavid said. Both from the outside and within. “The standard’s gone up,” he said. “The culture where we come to the rink every day, demand better from each other, expect better from each other... If this were a couple of years ago we’d be happy we got to play four playoff games. “We want more. We want lots more.” There was a time when the Oilers looked with envy at a team like the Boston Bruins, with its deep, successful culture. With players like Patrice Bergeron, the departed Zdeno Chara, Brad Marchand and David Krejci, who created an environment where young players simply walked into the dressing room and were immersed in the right way to do things. Fantasy Hockey Playoffs Bracket 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 of games for each series and answer a few prop questions. Websites Almost the best: Jack Rathbone. Going a year without playing after 1188999 leaving Harvard, Rathbone was fast-tracked to the Canucks from the American Hockey League and instantly looked like a fit in the NHL. The mobile, 22-year-old defenceman was assertive and confident, saw his Sportsnet.ca / The best and worst of the 2021 Vancouver Canucks role increase over the eight games he played and even made it on to season Travis Green’s power play as the shooter alongside friend and landlord Quinn Hughes. Rathbone contributed three points in his eight games, Canucks plan to be very aggressive via trade and free agency markets during which he was among the top half-dozen Canucks in most Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning says ownership has been gracious advanced stats. to give them whatever resources they need to get back to where they Worst: Adam Gaudette (and, no, of course not because of COVID). A need to be next season, including buyouts, and be very aggressive in player who had been viewed near the top of the second tier of Canuck both the trade markets and free agency. prospects, a potential third-line centre for years to come, Gaudette crashed and burned and was traded. A frequent scratch during last summer’s playoff run, Gaudette lost his spot at centre before the season, Iain MacIntyre then scored just four times in 33 games before the team moved on. Best: Travis Green. The head coach deserved before the season the contract extension he waited for until last week, having spent 56 games VANCOUVER -- These year-end review columns are sometimes called buffeted like underwear on a clothesline. During a hurricane. Even when “Best and Worst,” but for the Vancouver Canucks it seems it should be it looked late in the year like he’d be coaching elsewhere next season, “Best of the Worst.” Or maybe “Least Bad of Terrible Things and Worst.” Green did some of his best work to keep his decimated team engaged So much went wrong for the Canucks in the pandemic season as they and believing. Not every Canucks player likes him, but they all respect regressed by an 82-game equivalent of 20 points that it’s impossible to him and everyone who was asked wanted him back. see a glass half full – especially since the glass felt empty until someone Worst or best: Ian Clark. We’re still waiting to see if Khrushchev’s dropped and broke it. And then you stepped on the shrapnel in your missiles make a U-turn before Cuba, crisis is averted and one of the best socks, got a chunk of glass stuck in the vacuum hose and never did find goaltending coaches in the world remains with the Canucks. As with that last shard until the dog did. Green, the team should have been proactive in locking down the goalie whisperer whose brilliant work was evident in the rise of both Demko and Even a lot of the good stuff had bad stuff in it, like general manager Jim Markstrom, but here we are. Please, for the sake of Canucks Twitter, let Benning’s declaration on Friday that the organization would be aggressive in the off-season trying to add speed, skill and depth to a there be peace. lineup that didn’t have enough of any in 2021. Worst: Those greeny reverse retro Canucks jerseys that looked like We like the idea of aggressiveness. Captain Bo Horvat is already 26 pajamas pirated by a manufacturer without NHL merchandising rights. years old, and he and J.T. Miller (see best AND worst below) are two Best: New No. 1 anthem singer Marie Hui, who never mailed it in despite years away from unrestricted free agency, which pretty much defines the singing to an audience of 40 players who had heard it all before. immediate window to win. Brock Boeser will be going into his fifth season next fall, Elias Pettersson his fourth and Quinn Hughes his third. With the Worst: COVID-19 outbreak. And honestly, nothing else was close to as expected arrival of Vasili Podkolzin and expected return of Jack bad as this. Rathbone, all of the Canucks’ best prospects will soon be in the National Hockey League. So, darn right, the Canucks better get after it and do Best: All the Canucks who got sick recovered well enough to finish the everything they can to earn a ticket back to the playoffs in 2022 without season and, with a summer to rest and train, hopefully will be back to wasting another year. 100 per cent as players next fall. But then we remember Benning’s previous attempts to be aggressive in Best: Brock Boeser. The winger a lot of people seemed in a hurry to free agency, the organization’s spotty record in trades, the salary-cap hell trade after his 16-goal season last year had a bounceback season and that only now is starting to cool in Vancouver, and wonder if maybe it looked again like an elite finisher, scoring 23 goals and 49 points that would be safer to be careful and patient and wait a 52nd year before over a full-season calibrates to 34 goals and 72 points. People want to going for that first Stanley Cup. praise his 200-foot game, but Boeser’s job is to score. Hindered by injuries his first three seasons, Boeser stayed healthy this year and got One thing we can guarantee: it won’t be dull. his fastball back, which is great news long term. BEST AND WORST OF 2021 CANUCKS Worst: Elias Pettersson. One of the most talented 22-year-olds on Earth had an explicably erratic start and was playing his way back into elite Best: Thatcher Demko. The most important individual development of form when his season ended on March 3, two days after he hyper- Vancouver’s season was the emergence of Demko as a No. 1 goalie to extended his wrist in an innocuous-looking collision in Winnipeg. The replace Jacob Markstrom. Demko struggled at the start of the season franchise cornerstone was badly missed, and his absence over the final and again after he emerged from the COVID-19 crisis, but still finished two and a half months feels ominous heading into the off-season. The with a .915 save rate that was a full percentage point better than his centre fully expects to be fit for next season. He has to be for the rookie year in 2019-20. Evolving-Hockey rated Demko No. 8 among NHL Canucks to have a chance at returning to the playoffs. starters (30+ games) with 8.03 goals saved above expectation. Remaining Time -1:16 Worst: Braden Holtby. Except for an inspired four-game stretch after the COVID break when Holtby helped carry the Canucks, the former Elias Pettersson explains all details of his frustrating wrist injury Washington Capital was a major disappointment in his first season in Vancouver. He wasn’t close to winning the starting job against Demko Best AND worst: J.T. Miller. Like Ryan Kesler and Todd Bertuzzi, earlier and finished the season with an .889 save percentage, deflated at the Canuck power-forwards with the skill and visceral emotion to change end by allowing 25 goals in his final five starts, that was 61st among 67 games, Miller was an unpredictable thrill ride in the coronavirus season. goalies who played at least 10 games. Holtby’s contract, two years at an Without any fans to yell as loudly as he does, Miller’s frustration was as average of $4.3 million, looks like another the Canucks will have to evident as his supreme skill. With Pettersson injured and the team survive. reeling, the winger tried to do too much -- we hope that’s what it was -- and became an exasperating, stick-smacking, F-bomb dropping, turnover Best: Nils Hoglander. The rookie dynamo not only made the NHL team machine in some games. But he also led from the front every night, as a 20-year-old, he grabbed a top-six spot that he never surrendered. battled until the end and still finished with 46 points in 53 games. The Swede’s effort was relentless, and after a mid-season lull, played some of his best hockey at the end. He finished with 13 goals and 27 Worst: The schedule. Starting with 13 games in 21 nights, four sets of points – 26 of them at even-strength – and led Canucks regulars in play- back-to-backs and more games and less rest (you can’t have fewer than driving with a 50.4 per cent Corsi-for. When he scored in the Canucks’ zero practices) compared to all others in the division, Vancouver’s season-opening win in Edmonton, which was pretty much the team’s schedule was a joke. Then came COVID and 19 games in 32 nights to peak, Sportsnet’s national host, , asked wryly: “Really, finish. Vancouver? Another one?” Yes, Hoglander looks like another core piece. Best: It’s over. And next year will be better. It will be better, right? Remaining Time -0:58 Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.27.2021 Hoglander scores first career goal in NHL debut Websites "Just the small situations," he said. "Every little situation makes a 1189000 difference at the end of the game."

Nylander has always possessed a certain swagger and self-belief, which TSN.CA / Influential Tavares ‘a huge support’ to Leafs, returns to practice has served him well. Now, his teammates are also benefitting. facility "Will's not a guy that's short on confidence in any way," said Keefe, who Despite being knocked out of the first-round playoff series against the also coached Nylander in the American Hockey League. "Having Montreal Canadiens after sustaining a knee injury and concussion in personal confidence is one thing, but having confidence within the team, Game 1, Maple Leafs captain John Tavares has been “there every within the team unit, is a whole other thing and that's where we've seen moment” as he continues to communicate with – and fire up – his the growth. He recognizes the role that he has and the responsibility that teammates, Mark Masters writes. comes with it." William Nylander extended his goal streak to four games and moved within one of matching the @MapleLeafs franchise record for longest in By Mark Masters the #StanleyCup Playoffs.#NHLStats: https://t.co/Yd22T7EVeU pic.twitter.com/IKYMuh3B4V

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 26, 2021 TSN Toronto Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs, who held a media availability on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s Game 5 Nylander has been a dominant force against the Canadiens scoring in all against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena. four games, but also making the subtle plays necessary to win. He started the sequence leading to his goal on Tuesday night with a check John Tavares returned to the Leafs practice facility on Wednesday. on Tyler Toffoli behind the Leafs net. "John is here today re-acclimating himself to the group and getting back "He understands the importance of these games and understands what going," coach Sheldon Keefe revealed. "There are a lot of really positive he needs to do to take the next step in his evolution as a hockey player," things both in his recovery and having him around our group." observed linemate Alex Kerfoot. "He wants to be a great player. He is a Despite being knocked out of the series against Montreal after sustaining great player. He's doing all the little things to help us win right now and a knee injury and concussion in Game 1, Tavares has continued to that's what we need." influence the Leafs. In Tavares' absence, Nylander asserts himself as a leader for the Maple "We get text messages from him before every game reminding us what Leafs we need to do out there and what our mindset needs to be like," said With four goals over the first four games of the Maple Leafs' series with William Nylander. "He's been a huge support. He's been on FaceTime Montreal, William Nylander has asserted himself as a leader for Toronto. after the wins in the locker room. He's there every moment." Jason Spezza acknowledged after Tuesday's game that Nylander was Tavares will be sidelined at least through June 3 due to the knee injury. more vocal on the bench, in addition to being a leader on the ice while There is no timeline for his return from the concussion and general Sheldon Keefe said Nylander's confidence has now extended to a manager Kyle Dubas said the team will be cautious in how they handle confidence within the team structure. that. --- "For him to communicate, reach out, and assure the guys he is doing well On Thursday night, the Leafs have a chance to clinch the franchise's first — because he has been doing very well — is a very good thing for our playoff series win since 2004. team," said Keefe. "He is the captain of the group so for him to still be showing those leadership qualities that he has at this time of year is During the Auston Matthews era, the team has come painfully close to really important." advancing. In 2017, Toronto held a 2-1 series lead against the Washington Capitals. In 2018, the Leafs held a third period lead in Game pic.twitter.com/jp3uBC3IL4 7 against the Boston Bruins. In 2019, they had a 3-2 series lead against — John Tavares (@91Tavares) May 26, 2021 the Bruins, but couldn't hold a lead at home in Game 6. And, in 2020, the team squandered a 3-0 lead in Game 3 against the Blue Jackets with a 'He's been a huge support': Tavares still in constant communication with chance to swing a tied series. Leafs "We know this is a hurdle we have to get over," acknowledged Keefe. After John Tavares went down with a gruesome injury in Game 1, he "We don't put any of that on the players. We have a very small group of made sure to text the team to let them know he was alright. Since then, players that have been here for multiple years. This group of players I William Nylander said he texts the players to let them know what their look at with its own identity — not attached to anything that has mindset should be heading into games, and Sheldon Keefe praised happened in the past. I think it is important inside of our walls that the Tavares for his leadership, even from home. guys don't wear any of those types of pressures." Teammates will often rave about Nylander. They will talk about his The Leafs have never had a chance like this. The team is better than it smooth skating ability. They will highlight his vision and creativity. They has been in recent years and the opposition is weaker. Montreal owns will gush about his shot and urge him to use it more. But after Tuesday's the worst record of all 16 playoff teams. Toronto dominated the North win, in which Nylander scored yet again, we heard something different. Division in the regular season and has played well in building a 3-1 series lead against the Habs. "He's really led the way," said veteran forward Jason Spezza. "He's showed a lot of determination. His board battles have been second to "As an organization, of course, we need to deliver for our fans," said none. He's more vocal on the bench. You can tell he's really taken on a Keefe. "We have given ourselves a great opportunity to do that. There is leadership role with John down. He's stepped up." a reason why it has been this many years. It is because closing out a series is a very difficult thing to do. We respect that greatly. We respect 'He's been a huge support': Tavares still in constant communication with our opponent. We know tomorrow night's game is going to be the hardest Leafs one in the series." After John Tavares went down with a gruesome injury in Game 1, he This Leafs team appears to be up to the challenge. There's a different made sure to text the team to let them know he was alright. Since then, feel after the organization brought in several veteran players in the off- William Nylander said he texts the players to let them know what their season to supplement the core. mindset should be heading into games, and Sheldon Keefe praised Tavares for his leadership, even from home. "The simple thing for me is just unity and camaraderie. This is a true team," said Keefe of the change. "It just goes to show the personalities Nylander insists his play and approach hasn't been impacted by the that we have and how it is all coming together. They enjoy being around absence of Tavares. So, what sparked the change? each other. I think it is something that is thrown around a lot across the "It's the losses in previous years," he said. "They hurt you when you lose league and all of that, but I really feel it this season." so that's something I'm trying to not have happen this year." Six players have experienced all of Toronto's playoff setbacks in the last four years: Matthews, Nylander, Mitch Marner, Zach Hyman, Morgan Last year, Nylander struggled in Game 5 against the Columbus Blue Rielly and Frederik Andersen. Jackets. Asked to play centre, Nylander was on the ice for all three Jackets goals in the elimination game. He finished the series with only Down but not out, Habs look to get series back to Montreal in front of one even-strength goal. The takeaway? fans With their backs against the wall, down 3-1 in their series against the to do my job for my team like he is for his team ... It's just been an honour Maple Leafs, Ben Chiarot offered a simple solution for the Canadiens' to battle him and still got a long ways to go so got to be ready for next scoring woes: Put the puck in the net. The Habs will get a boost if they game." make it to Game 6, as 2500 fans will be allowed into the Bell Centre. John Lu has more on the Habs' fight to stay alive. 'Probably the best goalie of our generation': Spezza, Campbell outline approach v Price Alex Galchenyuk made a beautiful no-look pass to set up Nylander's goal on Tuesday. He finished the night with three points against the team that After getting robbed by Carey Price on Monday, Jason Spezza beat the picked him third overall in the 2012 draft. It must feel good to get some Canadiens star on Tuesday. "He's probably the best goalie of our revenge, right? generation so it's just important that you don't get frustrated," Spezza noted. Meanwhile, Jack Campbell is posting better numbers than Price in "Not really, to be honest," he said. "To come into games and think about the series. "I don't know if 'out-duelling' is the right word," Campbell said. playing here in the past or any stuff like that is extra talk. [I'm] just trying "I'm just trying to do my job for my team." to keep it pretty simple in my head." Campbell has benefited from a strong defensive performance by the Any old friends, though, on the other side? Leafs. "It's playoffs, man," the 27-year-old said. "You know what time it is right "We're doing pretty much everything really well defensively," the 29-year- now. There's no friends. We'll leave that for later." old said. "Like, if I have a rebound or something, they're clearing it. They're on it. We're working hard [to get] back. Montreal's super fast, but Galchenyuk has resurrected his NHL career in Toronto. After clearing they’re not getting too many rush chances right now." waivers and being acquired by the Leafs in February, he reported to the AHL for the first time in his career and earned positive reviews over six "Soup's obviously made really timely saves for us," said Spezza. "That’s games with the Marlies. Upon entering the Leafs lineup, Galchenyuk huge come playoff time. We're just trying to limit their rush chances. If received consistent praise for his work ethic. you look at Game 1 they got a goal on a rush chance and it's important we take that away from them. When we do we're able to slowly gain But then, after playing the final 26 games of the season, Galchenyuk was territorial play and wear them down." scratched in Game 1 of the playoffs as Riley Nash, a guy who had not played for the team previously, entered the mix. Even in the second period, with the long change, the Canadiens have been unable to generate much of anything. In fact, Toronto has owned "It wasn't easy to have that conversation," Keefe admitted. "He had the middle frame, outscoring Montreal 8-1. played well. He had come a long way. He certainly had contributed to our team's success. So, that conversation to have him on the outside was not "There's a lot more space on the ice because of the line changes and an easy one for me. I did reassure him that he was going to play and he people generally have to leave structure to get off the ice, which changes was going to be an important part of it." it a little bit and that is an opening for us to really get going," Keefe said. "First and third periods are difficult this time of year, especially with After Tavares got hurt, Galchenyuk got a chance. He struggled in Game structure generally in place. You've got to come through groups of five 2 and Game 3, failing to register a shot and taking a double minor for people quite often. Second period opens up a little bit and we look at that high sticking on Monday. Still, Galchenyuk kept grinding. as a big opportunity for us to take hold of the game." "A lot of credit goes to him just for his attitude," said Spezza. "He The Leafs will hold a morning skate on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena. understands that we have a deep team. Even when he was out, he had a great attitude and he works at his game. He spends time after practice, Nick Foligno remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury. spends time before practice and he's a guy that's just had a really determined effort." TSN.CA LOADED: 05.27.2021

THE SAUCE #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/U6zchMmVw1 — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 26, 2021 Galchenyuk got rewarded on Tuesday. "He just has a great passion for the game," said Keefe. "I think he's fit in very well and he’s earned the respect of his teammates through the attitude that he's brought and through the work ethic and how he's played on the ice, most importantly." 'There's no friends': Passionate Galchenyuk burns old team, earns respect of Leafs Alex Galchenyuk has revived his career in Toronto with his passionate play and focused approach. "He's earned the respect of his teammates through the attitude that he's brought," said head coach Sheldon Keefe. Galchenyuk produced three points against his old team on Tuesday night. Any friends left on the Habs? "It’s playoffs," the 27-year-old said. "There's no friends." --- Carey Price robbed Spezza with an incredible stick save in Game 3. He stoned him again on a breakaway early in Game 4. The 37-year-old just kept on coming and eventually picked up Toronto's second goal on Tuesday night. "He's probably the best goalie of our generation so it's just important that you don't get frustrated when saves get made," Spezza said. "Saves are going to be made at times. When you're getting chances it's usually a good sign. I expect him to make saves. You're not going to score every time. You just have to stay with it." Carey Price robs Jason Spezza blind with the paddle pic.twitter.com/MTYHM1CoYD — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 24, 2021 Price has performed well posting a .920 save percentage in the series but Jack Campbell, playing in his first Stanley Cup playoffs, has even better numbers with a .965 save percentage. "He's giving them a chance to win every game," Campbell said of his counterpart. "I don't know if 'out-duelling' is the right word. I'm just trying Websites “I think regardless of what happened to John, I would have played the 1189001 same way,” said Nylander. “It’s playoffs, and whether he's in the lineup or he's not, doesn't mean that's going to change the way I play. [Kerfoot and I] played a little bit last year together, we had a connection from the TSN.CA / Nylander’s strong postseason start fuelled by past painful beginning and I think that has been turned over into this year. There's losses always been chemistry between us, from day one.” William Nylander is tired of painful playoff losses. The Maple Leafs Keefe had a long talk with Kerfoot in the off-season about what his role winger has been through three first-round postseason exits and one on the Leafs would be this season, never expecting how much that would qualifying-round loss in his NHL career so far, feeling the sting of change based on injuries and adjustments throughout the year. But disappointment increase each time. Kristen Shilton has more. versatility is one of Kerfoot’s strong suits, and he’s giving the Leafs exactly what they need right now.

“He’s stepped up and found another level and is playing as good of By Kristen Shilton hockey as I've seen from him,” Keefe said. “It can be a somewhat heavy thing, when you look at the lineup as a centre on this team and you're playing behind Auston Matthews and John Tavares. [You wonder], TORONTO — William Nylander is tired of painful playoff losses. ‘Where do I fit in?’ Or, ‘Where's my opportunity to grow and take a step as a player?’ We were making it very clear to him that he's an important The Maple Leafs winger has been through three first-round postseason guy for us, and he has been.” exits and one qualifying-round loss in his NHL career so far, feeling the sting of disappointment increase each time. The Leafs took Wednesday off the ice following their set of back-to-back games, but most players still visited the practice facility for treatment. Nylander has channelled that past frustration into a sensational start to And for the first time since his injury, Tavares went to the rink on the Leafs’ first-round matchup against Montreal. Toronto leads the series Wednesday as well. three games to one, and Nylander leads all Leafs with four goals. He and linemate Alex Kerfoot also share the team lead with five points each. Keefe said Tavares was “getting going again” in his recovery process and “reacclimatizing” to the group, but he’s never been far away. “The losses in previous years, they hurt you,” Nylander said on Nylander said the team captain sends text messages before every game Wednesday. “So that's something that I'm trying to not have happen this reminding the team what it needs to do to be successful, and appears on year. [I’ve learned] just about the small situations, and how every little FaceTime in the dressing room after every game. situation makes a difference in the end of the game. [The] mindset is different now. We set a goal and we're working towards that goal every It’s just another example of the foundation Toronto has tried to build all day.” season, bringing together not just good players, but good people too. Toronto could take a big step towards its ultimate objective in Thursday’s “The simple thing for me is just our unity and camaraderie; this is a true Game 5. There’s a chance then for the Leafs to eliminate Montreal, and team,” Keefe said. “And I think that just goes to show the personalities by doing so advance to the second round of the postseason for the first that we have, and how that it's all come together. We put ourselves in a time since 2003-04. good spot here and we're excited about the opportunity to compete again tomorrow. It’s a huge chance for our team to take another big step For those like Nylander who have lived through the Leafs’ recent playoff [towards] a very difficult thing to accomplish, and that’s the closing of the failures, winning a round would be especially meaningful. Knowing that, series.” coach Sheldon Keefe – who only took over behind Toronto’s bench in Nov. 2019 – is trying to keep any undue pressure at bay leading up to TSN.CA LOADED: 05.27.2021 Game 5.

“This group itself I look at as its own,” said Keefe. "It has its own identity, and is not attached to anything that's happened in the past and what's important is inside our walls. [That said], we’ve given ourselves a great opportunity here. But there’s a reason why it's been this many years [since the Leafs won a round]. Closing out a series is a very difficult thing to do, and we respect that greatly. We know that tomorrow night's game is going to be the hardest one of the series.” The Leafs have already been through some adversity in these playoffs, starting with captain John Tavares being stretched off the ice early in Game 1 following a scary sequence of collisions. Tavares was diagnosed with a concussion and knee injury that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. Nylander played with Tavares most of the season, and was rattled to see him leave so suddenly and in such gut-wrenching fashion. The Leafs went on to lose that game 2-1. A silver lining to that incident though has been Nylander’s response. Not only has the 25-year-old winger continued to elevate his game on the ice ever since, he’s helping to fill other voids as well. “He’s more vocal on the bench,” said Jason Spezza of Nylander. “You can tell he's really taken a leadership role with John down. He’s stepped up, and he’s showed a lot of determination. His board battles have been second to none on our team. And he's showing poise with the puck, which is hard to do at this time of year.” It’s even more difficult when your line is in constant flux. After losing Tavares in Game 1, Nick Foligno stepped in to centre Nylander and Alex Galchenyuk for Game 2. But Foligno suffered a lower-body injury at some point and remains out day-to-day with the ailment. Keefe was forced then to shuffle the deck once more, moving Kerfoot up to centre Nylander and Galchenyuk. That combination has led to some impressive early returns. Through two games together so far, Kerfoot has assisted on a pair of goals by Nylander and added three more helpers to the mix. Their line emerged as Toronto’s best in Game 4, with Galchenyuk pitching in a goal and two assists for a total of seven points from the trio. What Nylander and company are doing now goes beyond just being motivated by Tavares’ absence.