SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 6/9/2021 Arizona Coyotes Edmonton Oilers 1189330 Arizona Coyotes protected list: Who’s staying and who 1189366 What I’m hearing about the Oilers’ plans for the Kraken could be picked in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft draft: Protected list, possible re-signings and more Boston Bruins Florida Panthers 1189331 Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy is unsure whether Tuukka 1189367 Florida Panthers sign Anton Lundell, prep for training Rask can go in Game 6 camp 1189332 Complaining about officiating avoids the real problem for Bruins: They aren’t finishing against the Islanders Los Angeles Kings 1189333 Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing 1189368 Ontario Reign Updates on schedule, division, opening officials after Game 5 loss to Islanders night 1189334 ‘This thing isn’t over.’ The Bruins are facing elimination, but are confident they can force a Game 7 Minnesota Wild 1189335 Bruins Notebook: Uncertain situation in net ahead of 1189369 Wild defenseman Matt Dumba is Masterton Trophy finalist elimination game 1189370 Wild expansion protected list guesstimate, plus offseason 1189336 Bruins coach Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing refs depth chart 1.0 1189337 Bean: What's your confidence in Jeremy Swayman? 1189338 Why Bruins should stick with Rask in must-win Game 6 Montreal Canadiens 1189339 Barry Trotz, Islanders fans amused by Cassidy's 'Saints' 1189371 The Montreal Canadiens are the hot shooter of the NHL jab postseason 1189340 Bean: Bruins don't have much time to figure this all out 1189372 Did Forum ghosts finally arrive the Bell Centre? 1189341 Injury Update: Lazar, Carlo And Miller Out For Boston 1189373 About Last Night: Oui the North! Habs escape division with Bruins In Game 6 Jets sweep 1189342 Cassidy Not Ruling Rask In Or Out For Boston Bruins 1189343 Boston Bruins Cassidy Fined $25K For Criticizing Nashville Predators Referees 1189374 Why it makes sense for Pekka Rinne to return to the 1189344 Boston Bruins PK ‘Let Us Down’ In Game 5 Loss To Isles Nashville Predators next season 1189345 Tuukka Rask’s health creates big Bruins Game 6 1189375 Predators positioned well to build on success of youth goaltending choice: ‘We’ll see who gets the net’ movement Carolina Hurricanes New Jersey Devils 1189346 In losing to the Lightning, the Canes learn a painful lesson 1189376 ‘I’ve been myself since Day 1’: Meghan Duggan on on where they want to be leadership, equity and her new job with the Devils 1189347 Heroic effort from keeper Alex Nedeljkovic not enough as 1189377 Devils protected list: Who’s staying and who could be Hurricanes’ season ends picked in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft? 1189348 The Hurricanes’ core players hope to improve on a 2-2 record in elimination games New York Islanders 1189349 Injured Hurricanes trio expected to take warmups 1189378 Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing Tuesday, status remains uncertain refs after Game 5 loss to Islanders 1189379 Islanders know finishing off Bruins will be no easy task Colorado Avalanche 1189380 Islanders fans will make Bruce Cassidy pay for big 1189350 Golden Knights stone Avalanche in overtime, take 3-2 mistake series lead 1189381 Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 as Bruins-Islanders series 1189351 Knights-Avalanche Game 5 Quick Hits: Vegas takes gets heated control of series with overtime win 1189382 Islanders can eliminate Bruins in Game 6 at Coliseum on 1189352 Struggling Avalanche won’t lose series unless it loses to Wednesday Vegas at home 1189383 Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 by NHL for 1189353 Nazem Kadri suspension appeal denied, will sit two more postgame comments Avalanche games vs. Knights 1189384 Saints be praised! Sal LoCascio thanks Bruins coach 1189354 Avalanche cough away another third period lead in Game Bruce Cassidy for the shout-out 5, leaving their season in peril 1189385 Bruins coach Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing refs 1189355 Despite the series being tied, it’s the Golden Knights who 1189386 Semyon Varlamov, unshaken by early goals, continues to have been dominating the Avalanche impress in Isles-Bruins series 1189356 ‘They’re frustrated, for sure’: How Nathan MacKinnon’s 1189387 Islanders Confidence in Semyon Varlamov Has Allowed Avalanche top line has been neutralized — a deep dive Him to Regain Form 1189357 Deen’s List: Avalanche blow 2-0 lead in Game 5 and the 1189388 Barry Trotz Says He Isn’t ‘Working the Refs’ after Trading series, head to Vegas facing elimination Barbs with Bruce CassidyPublished 15 hours ago on J 1189358 Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Game 5 Odds, Prediction, 1189389 Islanders Take Series Lead After Slim Game 5 Win & Pick (June 8, 2021) MorePublished 18 hours ago on June 8, 2021 1189359 Stone scores early in OT, Knights beat Avs 3-2 in Game 5 1189360 Avs Game 5 Grades: Pain. New York Rangers 1189361 AVALANCHE PLAYOFFS Gut Punch: Avs Blow Game 5 1189390 These playoff coaches could impact Gerard Gallant’s to Vegas Rangers status 1189362 MORNING SKATE DIARY Game 5 preview: Logan O’Connor expected to return to Avs lineup Ottawa Senators 1189363 Film Room: Here’s how the Avs can win Game 5 1189391 GARRIOCH: A gold medal performance helps Senators' winger Connor Brown cap off what was a terrific season Detroit Red Wings 1189392 GARRIOCH: Scoring the golden goal for Team Canada is 1189364 Luke Glendening isn't a lock to re-sign with the Detroit a moment Senators' winger Nick Paul will cherish Red Wings. Here's why 1189365 Red Wings feel internal improvement is key to lifting listless offense Philadelphia Flyers Vegas Golden Knights 1189393 Flyers’ Oskar Lindblom, who beat cancer and returned to 1189421 Avalanche outplay Golden Knights for 2 periods, then the lineup, is one of three finalists for the NHL’s Ma collapse 1189394 Flyers need a No. 2 goalie; do they have the goods to 1189422 Mark Stone shows captain’s mettle with game-winner acquire defenseman Seth Jones? | On the Fly 1189423 Golden Knights-Avalanche Game 5 recap 1189395 A feat to not overlook in unprecedented year, Lindblom is 1189424 Mark Stone gives Golden Knights OT win, 3-2 series lead Masterton finalist 1189425 Golden Knights make 2 lineup changes for Game 5 at 1189396 Latest on Flyers' goalie picture as prospect goes from Avalanche Lehigh Valley to Finland 1189426 Avalanche will be without Nazem Kadri for 2 more games 1189397 Flyers announce new head coach of Phantoms 1189427 Blog: Stone wins Game 5 for Golden Knights in OT; Vegas one win from advancing Pittsburgh Penguins 1189428 Despite the series being tied, it’s the Golden Knights who 1189398 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins re-sign forward Felix have been dominating the Avalanche Robert 1189429 Golden Knights Look To Knock Out Avalanche At T- 1189399 Ex-Penguins defenseman Yannick Weber signs with ZSC Mobile Arena Thursday After Rallying To Beat Colorado, 3-2, In Lions in Switzerland 1189430 Marc-Andre Fleury Gets Past First Period Flub For Historic 1189400 Penguins A to Z: Justin Almeida needs a big 2021-22 Win season 1189431 Vegas Golden Knights Push Avalanche to the Edge With 1189401 Pittsburgh native a finalist for NHL's Willie O'Ree OT Win Community Hero Award 1189432 Do The Vegas Golden Knights Hold All The Cards In 1189402 Joe Starkey’s mailbag: Should the Pirates keep Adam Game Five? Frazier? 1189403 Dan’s Daily: Canadiens Sweep Jets; Jarry, Malkin Washington Capitals UpdatesPublished 22 hours ago on June 8, 2021 1189433 Capitals not ready to commit to a rebuild San Jose Sharks Websites 1189404 Sharks’ Patrick Marleau a finalist for prestigious NHL 1189441 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Every possible Stanley award Cup playoff matchup we could see in the last two rounds 1189405 Sharks should target five players eliminated from playoffs 1189442 Sportsnet.ca / Golden Knights’ experience advantage has 1189406 How Do You Get Rid of a Contract? Avalanche on brink 1189407 Sheng’s Daily: Sharks Are First NHL Team To Accept 1189443 Sportsnet.ca / Lightning prevail on grind, experience in Cryptocurrency tough series vs. Hurricanes 1189444 Sportsnet.ca / Troy Stecher guided by divine hand en Seattle Kraken route to gold with Canada 1189408 Expansion draft: What the Kraken can learn from Vegas 1189445 Sportsnet.ca / Senators’ Brown, Paul hope to bring and why they won’t choose the best available player golden-goal magic to Ottawa next season 1189446 Which third-round matchup should Montreal want? St Louis Blues 1189447 Kylington, Oduya helping to grow hockey in Africa 1189409 Where are they now: Catching up with former Blues goalie 1189448 USA TODAY / Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 Rick Heinz for ripping refs, calling Islanders 'New York Saints' 1189410 Blues can learn valuable lesson by watching this year's 1189449 USA TODAY / How Canadiens, on brink of elimination in playoffs Round 1, are now hottest team in NHL playoffs Tampa Bay Lightning Winnipeg Jets 1189411 Lightning-Hurricanes Game 5 report card: Punching above 1189434 Perfetti brings home the gold their weight 1189435 Uncomfortable truths: If the Free Press conducted the Jets 1189412 ‘There’s a storm over Tampa Bay but it’s no Hurricane’: end-of-season interviews Twitter reacts to Lightning clincher 1189436 FRIESEN: Jets seem to have reached their peak under 1189413 Second round: Lightning-Hurricanes Game 5 live updates Maurice, Cheveldayoff 1189414 When a hockey stick breaks, everyone has to lend a 1189437 BILLECK: Jets playoff tailspin shouldn't be a surprise to helping hand anyone 1189415 Defenseman David Savard remains a ‘steady presence’ in 1189438 The Winnipeg Jets’ 10 biggest offseason priorities as an return to Lightning lineup important summer begins 1189416 ‘As good as anyone I’ve ever seen’: Andrei Vasilevskiy 1189439 The heartbreak only hope can give: How the Winnipeg and other keys to Lightning run Jets crashed and burned so badly in Round 2 1189417 Smith: Why Tyler Johnson’s ‘selfless’ attitude in crazy year SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 for Lightning should be admired Toronto Maple Leafs 1189418 Toronto’s CN Tower will light up in Montreal Canadiens colours — to the chagrin of Maple Leafs fans 1189419 OUCH!: CN Tower will be lit to honour Montreal Canadiens ... in T.O. 1189420 What might have happened had the Leafs closed out the Habs? Vancouver Canucks 1189440 Troy Stecher puts golden exclamation mark on year of struggles, sorrow 1189330 Arizona Coyotes Kyle Capobianco

John Hayden

Arizona Coyotes protected list: Who’s staying and who could be picked in Dryden Hunt the Seattle Kraken expansion draft Protected

Barrett Hayton By Eric Duhatschek Jun 8, 2021 Exempt

Michael Bunting For as long as we’ve been doing mock expansion drafts to welcome the Seattle Kraken into the NHL, the player projections have shifted Available frequently for a lot of teams, thanks to all the roster fluctuation that’s Let’s start in goal, where 31-year-old goaltender Darcy Kuemper is one of taken place over the years. the Coyotes’ most valuable organizational assets. Kuemper recently The one team that’s mostly bucked that trend is Arizona, where we’ve backstopped Canada to the 2021 world hockey championship gold consistently put the Coyotes down as one of the teams that will likely medal, further enhancing his credentials as a clear No. 1. Kuemper has a contribute a goaltender to the Kraken when the expansion draft officially year remaining on a contract worth $4.5 million, and at which point he occurs on July 21. becomes an unrestricted free agent. Kuemper’s usual partner is the oft- injured Antti Raanta, who is one of the most confounding goalies in the So, let’s begin there, with one important caveat: The Coyotes can alter NHL to evaluate simply because of how much time he’s spent in sickbay. course quickly either by A) being active in the trade market ahead of the expansion draft; or B) by signing one of their pending unrestricted free Since Raanta first arrived in the NHL in the 2013-14 season with the agent defensemen or forwards to contract extensions. Blackhawks, he’s made only 196 appearances in an eight-year span.

By rule, teams can either protect seven forwards, three defensemen and Over the past three seasons with Arizona, he’s managed to get into just a goalie or eight position players, plus a goalie. In addition, teams must 57 games and in two of those three years, was restricted to a dozen make two forwards and one defenceman available that meet a minimum appearances. When healthy, Raanta is intriguing, with a sparkling lifetime experience criterium (either 27 games played in the 2020-21 season or .919 save percentage and a very respectable 2.46 goals-against 54 total NHL games played over the past two seasons). average. A pending unrestricted free agent, Raanta is 32, not old by goaltender standards, and if he could ever stay in the lineup, would be a The last time out, for the Golden Knights’ 2017 expansion draft, the useful addition for any team, not just an expansion team. Coyotes adopted the 8-1 protection model and had exemptions for many of their top young players (Clayton Keller, Max Domi, Christian Dvorak, Raanta’s injury issues (plus the fact that Kuemper missed some time this Lawson Crouse, Dylan Strome, Tony DeAngelo and others). The end year) has provided the organization’s No. 3, Adin Hill, with a chance to result: The Coyotes lost only Teemu Pulkkinen to Vegas (a player who play 45 NHL games over the past three seasons, and given him a never played a game for the Golden Knights). chance to show glimpses of excellence along the way. Hill is 25 and earned $800,000 this past season in 19 NHL games (.913 SP; 2.74 GAA) This time around, the Coyotes will shift a 7-3-1 protection model, and is a restricted free agent. If Seattle is looking for a 1B option in goal, projected as follows: they might not need to look much past Hill.

Arizona Coyotes protected list Two players on the Coyotes’ roster possess no-movement clauses, defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forward Phil Kessel. Unless they FORWARDS DEFENSEMEN GOALTENDERS waive those NMCs, it’s mandatory that the Coyotes protect them.

Phil Kessel The Coyotes’ best player last season was arguably defenseman Jakob Jakob Chychrun Chychrun, who is signed long-term and will be protected.

Darcy Kuemper Because four of the Coyotes’ regulars on defense last year are unrestricted free agents this summer (Alex Goligoski, Niklas Clayton Keller Hjalmarsson, Jason Demers and Jordan Oesterle), the Coyotes needed to sign a defenceman to meet the games-played criteria. They did that in Alex Goligoski April by signing Ilya Lyubushkin to a one-year contract extension for Adin Hill $1.35 million.

Christian Dvorak Lyubushkin could intrigue the Kraken next season because he’s a useful third-pair player: Only 27, with good size (6-foot-2, 209 pounds) and Oliver Ekman Larsson reasonably physical. It also means the third protected player on the blue line is likely to be Kyle Capobianco, though the Coyotes are in a position Antti Raanta to either fill that spot by trading for someone decent that another team Derick Brassard can’t protect. They are one of the few teams in the league in a position to do so and has to be an option they’ll explore. Jordan Oesterle Up front, the expectation is the Coyotes will protect Kessel, Keller, Nick Schmaltz Dvorak, Crouse, Nick Schmaltz, Conor Garland and one of Tyler Pitlick, Johan Larsson or Christian Fischer, all three of whom meet the Ilya Lyubushkin expansion experience criteria. Of the three, Pitlick played the largest role Johan Larsson on the Coyotes last season, so we protected him in this exercise, though it really could be a coin flip among all three. Niklas Hjalmarsson The wild card in the equation is 25-year-old forward Michael Bunting, Christian Fischer who played 21 games for the Coyotes this past season, scored 10 goals Jason Demers and who – on a points-per-game basis — averaged a very respectable 0.62, tied with Schmaltz for sixth on the team, and just a fraction behind Lawson Crouse Keller (0.63).

Jordan Gross That expression? He came out of nowhere? It applies to Bunting, who’d spent most of five seasons playing in the AHL, where he never scored Conor Garland more than 23 goals in a single season and actually had a higher goals- Victor Soderstrom per-game average in his NHL cameo than he ever did in the minors. In fact, Bunting did enough in less than half an NHL season to get an Tyler Pitlick invitation to play for Canada at the 2021 world hockey championships, an indication that his stock is on the rise.

Here’s the rub: Bunting is a Group 6 UFA this summer – by virtue of only playing 26 NHL games thus far in his career.

Accordingly, a few different scenarios could unfold when it comes to Bunting.

1. The Coyotes sign him to an extension before the expansion draft, in which case he would likely become their seventh protected forward.

2. The Coyotes leave him unprotected in the expansion draft, which would then give the Kraken a chance to speak to him during a free-agent courting period, ahead of the actual expansion draft. (Should the Kraken and Bunting talk and eventually come to terms on a contract, he would then count as their choice in the expansion draft).

3. Leave Bunting unprotected, assume Seattle gives him a pass, and then bid on his services as a UFA.

The Coyotes are at an organizational crossroads this summer, having parted ways with coach Rick Tocchet.

They don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, punishment for violating the terms of the NHL’s Central Scouting Combine regulations.

General manager Bill Armstrong, hired away from the St. Louis Blues organization before last season, is presumably thinking big-picture, long- term thoughts as he tries to get the franchise back on solid, competitive ground.

He did a good job last summer of getting a second-round draft choice from the Senators in exchange for Derek Stepan and that sort of around- the-edges wheeling and dealing might land the Coyotes a young defensive piece, depending upon how aggressive Armstrong wants to be ahead of the expansion draft.

Admittedly it’s more of a long shot, but the other scenario the Coyotes could conceivably explore is exposing one of their pricier forwards in the expansion draft, with a goal of clearing payroll. Keller, for example, is only one year into an eight-year, $57.2 million contract extension he signed with Arizona back in September 2019.

The contract – pre-COVID – probably made sense at the time – an opportunity to lock up an organizational cornerstone going forward. But in a flat-cap world, that $7.15 million average annual cap charge looks high – and the actual dollar compensation rises as the contract moves along, and tops out at $8.7 million in the 2027-28 season.

Keller had 35 points in 56 games this past season, after scoring 44 points in 70 games the year before. Good, but not breathtaking production.

Leaving Keller unprotected would represent a bold stroke for an organization that, on the one hand, needs as much young talent as it can possibly get but on the other hand, probably wants to keep costs in check for a couple more years before things start rolling again in the right direction.

A similar argument might be made for leaving Schmaltz available as well. Schmaltz is two years into a seven-year deal that carries a $5.85 million salary cap charge and produced 32 points in 52 games. Almost $6 million per season is a lot to pay for a player whose scoring totals prorate to about 50 points per season.

In the end, it doesn’t seem likely that Arizona will do anything that drastic when it comes to the expansion draft. Keller, for example, would likely have some value on the trade market, even at that price tag. Seattle will have some tough calls to make when filling out its 30-player expansion draft.

Arizona’s depth in goal suggests this won’t be one of them.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189331 Boston Bruins Boston Globe LOADED: 06.09.2021

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy is unsure whether Tuukka Rask can go in Game 6

By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated June 8, 2021, 6:41 p.m.

The Bruins will not have Brandon Carlo, Kevan Miller, or Curtis Lazar. Starting goaltender Tuukka Rask is a question mark.

Other than that, they’re ready for Game 6 against the Islanders Wednesday.

“We need to go win a game,” coach Bruce Cassidy said Tuesday before boarding the team plane to Long Island. “That’s it. There’s nothing else.”

There will be no help from Carlo and Miller, both defensemen yet to be cleared to return after hits to the head. Neither will travel.

Same goes for Lazar, listed as day to day with a lower-body injury. The fourth-line center went into the boards awkwardly with Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech in the 5-4 loss in Game 5 Monday. His left knee appeared to bend backward.

“Good hit,” Cassidy said. “Unfortunately for Curtis, he came out on the wrong side of it.”

Rask’s status was ostensibly unknown Tuesday, which was a rest day for the Bruins’ regulars. He was at Warrior Ice Arena “going over stuff” with goalie coach Bob Essensa.

“He’ll get his treatment,” Cassidy said, “and we’ll find out [Wednesday] how he is, if he’s able to go or not.”

In his postgame comments Monday, Cassidy said he expected Rask — who stopped 12 of 16 shots in 40 minutes of Game 5 before he was pulled — would be ready to go. If not, 22-year-old rookie Jeremy Swayman would get the call.

Swayman had not played in a playoff game at the NCAA, AHL, or NHL level before relieving Rask to start the third period Monday. To his coach’s eye, Swayman made two quality saves, and let one quality chance elude him.

“At the end of the day, do we win if we don’t pull Tuukka?” Cassidy mused, answering a question that was not asked. “I don’t know. I have no idea. We scored two goals and we let one in in the third.

“I thought we were pushing well. Didn’t go our way. Clearly when it doesn’t, you look back on it.

“But I’m not going to second-guess it, to be honest with you. It’s a decision we felt was the right one. We did it. We’re moving on, and we’ll see who gets the net in Game 6.”

Cassidy wouldn’t elaborate on what he termed “health issues” with Rask, who is believed to have suffered a lower back strain in early March. The coach did allude to potential fatigue. The 34-year-old Rask, who has not missed a playoff start (6-3, 2.20, .925), has started five games in the last 10 days.

“First of all with Tuukka, we’re happy with his performance,” Cassidy said. “He’s been better than he was yesterday, but we weren’t good enough in front of him as well. Let’s face it: You need your goaltender to bail you out when you’re not. It didn’t happen yesterday. It has happened in other games. It happened in previous series. We’re not dissatisfied with Tuukka’s play.”

Since winning the No. 2 gig from Jaroslav Halak in April, Swayman has dutifully prepared for action. He has been involved in every meeting. Cassidy would feel comfortable playing him.

He would rather they tighten up in front of Rask.

“We can’t be giving up those point-blank chances,” Cassidy said. “And when we do, we need him to make some saves for us. That’s the formula. That’s always been the formula. Especially in the playoffs.”

The Bruins will be back in Boston Friday. If they find a winning formula, they will be suiting up for Game 7. If not, they will be wondering how this series slipped away. 1189332 Boston Bruins The Garden’s groan was guttural. Instead of 2-0 with less than four minutes gone, the one-goal lead stood, until the clever Barzal potted the first of New York’s three power-play goals.

Complaining about officiating avoids the real problem for Bruins: They The Islanders made a night, and perhaps a series, of knocking home aren’t finishing against the Islanders their primo and less-than-primo chances, leading in part to Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy summoning rookie tender Jeremy Swayman to relieve Tuukka Rask to start the third period. By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated June 8, 2021, 6:52 p.m. Amid the flurry of three PP strikes, Josh Bailey fired home the 2-2 tiebreaker at 14:30 of the second, the Islanders forward allowed enough space at even strength first to consider skipping down the street to City A few lingering thoughts and swept-up ice shavings from Monday night Hall and filing a building permit. With revisions. A few loud ticks of the while the Bruins, enjoying a day of rest, hope they can force a Game 7 clock later, Bailey opted to snap the doorstep attempt by a defenseless against the Islanders back on Causeway Street on Friday night: Rask. The 5-4 loss in Game 5 closed with one of the irate TD Garden faithful, If you’ll allow me to summon my poor man’s John Peirson: “Not good among the more agile in the raucous crowd, repeatedly jumping up and coverage there, Fred.” clinging to the top of the glass, screaming, and flashing a middle finger at the officials as they sought safe harbor along the boards. Defensemen Jeremy Lauzon and Mike Reilly were there to bear witness. Which is all they did. Reilly, who failed to cut off the pass to Bailey from For sheer athleticism, the Causeway jumping bean was worthy of being the left circle, looked especially Landon of the Lost in space. featured on the iconic intro clip to “ABC’s Wide World of Sports” (voiceover here: “ . . . and the agony of defeat”). Maybe it’s time for the Bruins, their fans, and the rest of hockey’s Sagrada Familia, including the Causeway jumping bean, to credit the OK, hate the refs, but love the passion and all that. Islanders for their persistence, tenacity, and finish. They are a dogged Reminder: Heaving junk at the guys in stripes, no matter what you think bunch, a mirror image of their general manager (Lou Lamoriello) and of their work, is equal parts dangerous, classless, and stupid. Save that their coach (Barry Trotz), and a tribute to a team playing beyond the sum crap for your league night with pals down at “Pinhead Lanes.” of its parts.

Look, folks, time has taught us that hissing and moaning about the To that latter point, we’ve seen the same thus far from the Canadiens, officials is as useless as angsting over the Bruins not selecting Mathew who’ve now polished off the Maple Leafs (seven games) and Jets Barzal, Kyle Connor, and Sebastian Aho with picks Nos. 13, 14, and 15 (sweep) on their improbable, dumbfounding run to the Cup semis. in the 2015 draft. For the record, none of the three Boston picks from ’15 Warms the heart, doesn’t it, Bruins fans, finally to see that hard-luck were in uniform for Game 5. Habs franchise get a break here and there? Yeah, we love to complain, would love even more a big fat do-over for Boston Globe LOADED: 06.09.2021 Game 5 and the 2015 draft . . . but we’ll see that when pigs and Duck Boats fly.

The carping and kvetching about calls and non-calls changes nothing. Worse, it sets an unhealthy, unproductive, even defeatist tone of “woe is us.”

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy learned the cost of complaining about it all Tuesday morning when the league slapped him with a $25,000 fine for his postgame comments about the officials.

Equally damning, all the yelling acts as a dodge for a key fact made all the more poignant Monday: The Islanders are proving to be far more proficient at converting primo scoring chances, albeit some of them gift- wrapped in Black and Gold, and not just by virtue of the, shall we say, curious, inconsistent nature of the officiating.

Bad calls by the refs aren’t preventing the Bruins from scoring on great chances. That finger is better pointed at themselves. Finish at the net is as much a skill as skating, shooting, checking, and the invisible quotient of hockey IQ. They’ve too often suffered from their own dumb hands.

Lost in the huff and shuffle Monday night was the fact that the Bruins failed to cash in some delicious (chef’s kiss here) scoring chances that could have had them up by two or three goals by the end of 20:00.

Often, the error or neglect in this kind of observation is failing to give enough credit to the goalie (old Harry Sinden line: “Ya know, the goalie’s part of your team, too, and stopping pucks is why he’s there”).

Some of the Bruins’ best chances failed to go in not because Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov stopped them, be it with a simple save or a Tim Thomas dazzler. Nope. The Bruins simply didn’t goose them over the goal line after all the effort to get the puck there. Unfinished work on par with Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia (come for the hockey, my friends, and stay for the tourism tips).

Exhibit A: Brad Marchand’s doorstep bunny near the right post, with David Pastrnak alongside, at about 3:50 of the first period, the Bruins already with Pastrnak’s 1-0 blazer on the scoresheet.

Marchand deftly collected a loose puck off of a Charlie McAvoy attempt from up high, pulled it from backhand to forehand, and slid it on a string right by Varlamov and . . . right through . . . the other side of the crease. 1189333 Boston Bruins “You know what that told me as an athlete?” said LoCascio, 54, a five- time NLL All-Star. “That there’s doubt in that locker room.”

Trotz wasn’t feeding into that. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing officials after Game 5 loss to Islanders “I can’t tell you what’s going on there,” he said. “You’ll have to ask Bruce.”

Boston Globe LOADED: 06.09.2021 By Matt Porter Globe Staff, Updated June 8, 2021, 6:31 p.m.

The playoff tab for the Bruins is up to $40,000, with Bruce Cassidy plunking down the bulk of it.

After Cassidy criticized what he saw as subpar officiating in Game 5 on Monday, the NHL fined him $25,000 on Tuesday for “public comments critical of officiating.” That money goes to the NHL Foundation.

Cassidy wasn’t the only Bruin called onto the carpet. Third-line winger Nick Ritchie was docked $5,000 for his elbow on defenseman Scott Mayfield in the first period, a check that will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Ritchie is the third Bruins skater to be fined for stick work on Islanders players this series, following Jake DeBrusk (on Mayfield in Game 2) and David Krejci (on Mathew Barzal in Game 4). Each was fined $5,000. Neither Ritchie nor DeBrusk were penalized by officials during play. Krejci, who speared Barzal between the legs, was instead given a minor for slashing.

Reacting to his fine, Cassidy explained that he was upset about missed high sticks on Patrice Bergeron and Chris Wagner, but the thrust of his criticism was to “push back a little bit” against the idea posited by Islanders coach Barry Trotz before Game 5 — that Bergeron was “cheating” on faceoffs — rather than ripping officials.

In his Tuesday news conference, Trotz explained that he would have said the same about any crafty veteran center. He also said he wasn’t “working” officials.

“I don’t work them, I respect them,” Trotz said. “I’ve been in the league a long time [and being a ref] is a hard job and I have a lot of respect for those guys.”

Cassidy had a right to wonder why his comments earned him that kind of fine. In last summer’s first-round series against the Bruins, Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour coughed up the same $25K for calling NHL officiating a “joke,” and a “crime scene.”

“Usually when you get fined you say something to the effect of ‘embarrassing’ or ‘a joke,’ and I didn’t say any of that,” Cassidy said, adding that referees Francis Charron and François St-Laurent were “excellent.”

“We were told before that we have to keep our comments civil,” he said. “I thought it was. They didn’t see it that way. Got a lot of respect for Colie [Colin Campbell, the NHL’s director of hockey operations] and the NHL front office. That’s the way he saw it, and we’ll move on from that.

“Will it have an effect going forward? I’ve said any comments shouldn’t. The refs should call what they see. I think I said that as well. It’s a little bit about being asked a question after the game — I answered it as honestly as I could.”

Sticking to the point

Cassidy noted that coaches, in their public comments, are playing their role in “an entertainment business.” The Bruins coach gave some free fodder to New York tabloids with his “New York Saints” comment Monday.

When Cassidy, sarcastically remarking that the Islanders should be called the “Saints” for their supposed squeaky-clean image, it was unclear if he knew that that was the name of the National Lacrosse League team that played at Nassau Coliseum from 1989 to 2003.

Having fun with it, Long Island-based Newsday called up Sal LoCascio, the goalie for the Saints, who opined that Cassidy might be “having nightmares about Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin.”

LoCascio, who was an All-American at UMass, went on to say that the coach’s comments were a sign of trouble for the Bruins. 1189334 Boston Bruins “They know,” Trotz said. “They understand. They’ll be ready, Both teams will be ready. We’ve just got to focus on our next game and go from there. That’s all you can do.”

‘This thing isn’t over.’ The Bruins are facing elimination, but are confident Boston Globe LOADED: 06.09.2021 they can force a Game 7

By Julian Benbow Globe Staff Updated June 8, 2021, 10:02 a.m.

The Bruins have their backs to the wall in their second-round playoff series against the Islanders after a 5-4 gut punch in Game 5 Monday that left them resoundingly frustrated with the officiating, deeply disappointed in their penalty kill, and uncertain about their goaltending situation at the worst possible time.

They now face an elimination game Wednesday in New York against a franchise looking to reach the playoff semifinals for the second straight year. After falling behind, two games to one, the Islanders pulled out back-to-back wins to take control of the series, and the Bruins have an obvious urgency to avoid seeing the curtain close on their season.

The Bruins know how difficult it will be to go on the road and force a Game 7, but they’re also aware of the challenge the Islanders will face in a close-out game.

“The fourth one is the hardest one to win,” said Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy. “We’re going to New York to win a game, and that’s all that’s on our mind. We want to put our best foot forward and win a hockey game. That’s it. That’s all we’re thinking about right now is this thing isn’t over.”

Game 5 left the Bruins stewing over missed opportunities and what coach Bruce Cassidy perceived as missed calls. Bruins were sent to the box four times and the Islanders turned the penalties into three power- play goals. The Islanders were whistled for just two penalties.

That imbalance has been a serieslong frustration for Cassidy — that the Islanders have a “narrative” as “the New York Saints” that was leading to more favorable officiating. The Islanders have been whistled for 15 penalties throughout the series to the Bruins’ 19.

Cassidy also came to the defense of captain Patrice Bergeron, who was a focal point for officials after Game 4 when Islanders coach Barry Trotz complained that Bergeron was “cheating” on faceoffs. Bergeron was repeatedly tossed from the faceoff circle in Game 5.

Islanders coach Barry Trotz doesn't sound like he's a fan of the way Patrice Bergeron conducts himself on faceoffs.ADAM GLANZMAN/GETTY

With all that to manage, Cassidy also had to deal with goalie Tuukka Rask, who was pulled after the second period for health reasons. Rask hasn’t been at full strength all postseason. Rask’s status, along with a shorthanded blue line, only adds to the Bruins’ challenges.

Despite the drama and the health issues, the Bruins are confident. They’ve been the more aggressive team, outshooting the Islanders, 196- 143, but they’ve spent more time in the penalty box, 42 minutes to 32.

“It’s frustrating, but we’ve got to let it go,” said right wing David Pastrnak. “The main focus is get ready for Game 6. I think we’ve been the better team, but just didn’t go our way today. So just let go and refocus.”

The Islanders, on the other hand, are trying to keep writing chapters in a storybook season. As a fourth seed, they stunned the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. They’re making their final playoff run at Nassau Coliseum, their first home in 1972. They closed out the Penguins at home in the first round and have a chance to do the same against the Bruins.

The odds are in the Islanders’ favor. Home teams are 104-66 in Game 6 close-out situations, according to hockey-reference.com.

“The last one is always the hardest one to get,” Islanders right wing Jordan Eberle said. “But we’re excited to go back to the Coliseum. You guys have seen it. It helps us. It gives us some juice.”

In three seasons under Trotz, the Islanders are 5-4 in close-out games. Their biggest challenge came last season in the second round against the Philadelphia Flyers when they had a 3-1 lead but needed seven games to finish the job. 1189335 Boston Bruins “I guess most of what I thought I said was more in reference to the Islanders’ gamesmanship and Barry’s comments towards Bergy,” said Cassidy. “I’m going to protect my captain and try to push back a little bit.”

Bruins Notebook: Uncertain situation in net ahead of elimination game Injury update

Cassidy said injured defensemen Brandon Carlo (upper body) and Kevan By RICH THOMPSON | PUBLISHED: June 8, 2021 at 3:59 p.m. | Miller (upper body) and fourth-line center Curtis Lazar would not make UPDATED: June 8, 2021 at 4:32 p.m. the trip to Uniondale, N.Y. Lazar, 26, left the Game 5 at 4:35 of the first period with a leg injury and did not return.

Sean Kuraly will likely take over the center spot on the fourth line and Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy has a dilemma between the pipes going into Cassidy could activate Trent Frederic to play left wing. He could also put a playoff elimination game on Long Island. Jake DeBrusk back on the third line with Charlie Coyle and Ritchie and move Karson Kuhlman to fourth line. Kuhlman started in place of Cassidy hooked starting goalie Tuukka Rask between the second and DeBrusk in Game 5. third periods in the Bruins’ 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders in Game 5 Monday night at TD Garden. Boston Herald LOADED: 06.09.2021 The Islanders can close out the second round series Wednesday at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals. If the Bruins force a Game 7, it will face off at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at the Garden.

Rask gave up four goals, three short-handed, on 16 shots over 40 minutes and was replaced by Jeremy Swayman, a promising but playoff- untested rookie. Swayman gave up what proved to be the game-winning goal to Brock Nelson at 1:59 of the third period.

Rask has been dealing with a nagging injury throughout the series and will be evaluated following the pregame skate on Wednesday morning.

“Tuukka was here going over things with Bob (goalie coach Essensa),” said Cassidy. “He will get his treatment and find out on Wednesday how he is and if he is able to go or not.

“We are moving on and we will see who gets the net in Game 6. We need to play better and I need to coach better.”

Rask came out of the Bruins opening round 4-1 series victory over the Washington Capitals primed for an extended playoff run. But his numbers have fallen slightly against the Islanders; he’s posted a 2.20 goals against average and .925 save percentage after 10 games. Montreal’s Carey Price tops all active goalies with a .935 save percentage while Las Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury has the lowest (1.79) goals against average.

Cassidy had no regrets starting Rask in Game 5 but is receptive to making a change if necessary.

“We try to give you as much information as possible, we feel it is the right way to do it but there are certain things that stay in house here,” said Cassidy. “We factored in a number of different things and first of all with Tuukka, we are happy with his performance.

“He has been better than he was (Monday) and we weren’t good enough in front of him as well. Let’s face it, you need your goaltender to bail you out when you are not and it didn’t happen.

“It happened in other games and it happened in the previous series so we are not dissatisfied with Tuukka’s play. There are some health issues, we know that and give that some time. But the decision was the right one and I’m not going to second guess it.”

Pay for say/play

Cassidy and left wing Nick Ritchie were a shade lighter in the wallet on Tuesday courtesy of the NHL’s judiciary. Cassidy was fined $25,000 for making public comments critical of the officiating in Game 5. Ritchie was levied $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for elbowing Islanders’ defenseman Scott Mayfield at 13:57 of the first period. Mayfield was involved in a dust up with Bruins left wing Taylor Hall in Game 4.

Ritchie’s fine was handed down by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety and the proceeds go to the Players Emergency Assistance Fund. Cassidy’s involuntary contribution went to the NHL Foundation.

“I was held accountable for it,” said Cassidy. “We are told before we have to keep our comments civil. I thought it was but they didn’t see it that way.”

Cassidy took issue with Islanders’ coach Barry Trotz, who called out Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron as “a veteran guy who knows how to cheat on faceoffs.” Cassidy saw that as a bald-faced attempt by Trotz to influence the officials and was the source of his post-game comments. 1189336 Boston Bruins

Bruins coach Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing refs

By ASSOCIATED PRESS |PUBLISHED: June 8, 2021 at 1:55 p.m. | UPDATED: June 8, 2021 at 1:55 p.m.

BOSTON (AP) — The NHL fined Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy $25,000 on Tuesday for his criticism of the officials after Game 5 of Boston’s second-round playoff series against the New York Islanders.

The Islanders scored three power-play goals on four chances in a 5-4 victory on Monday night while being called for two penalties themselves. After the game, Cassidy commended the officials but said the teams were treated differently despite playing similar styles.

“I think they sell a narrative over there that it’s more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders,” he said. “The calls, the exact calls that are getting called on us do not get called on them — and I don’t know why.

“Maybe we need to sell them more — flop — but that’s not us.”

Asked about Cassidy’s comments, New York coach Barry Trotz noted that his team was one of the least penalized in the regular season. The Bruins had the most minor penalties called on them this year, and the Islanders were 29th in the 31-team league.

But some of the calls in Monday’s game were for plays that often are ignored.

“It’s not like I’m sitting there going, ‘Every call against us sucks.’ It’s not true. It’s just the end of the day, the similar plays — they need to be penalized on those plays,” Cassidy said. “They play hard, hard brand of hockey. Love the way they play. But they commit as many infractions as we do — trust me. It’s just a matter of calling ’em.”

Also Tuesday, the league fined Bruins forward Nick Ritchie the maximum of $5,000 for elbowing Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield in the first period of Game 5.

Boston Herald LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189337 Boston Bruins

Bean: What's your confidence in Jeremy Swayman?

BY DJ BEAN

If Tuukka Rask isn’t healthy enough to play Wednesday night, Bruce Cassidy’s decision should be easy. It’s that middle ground that makes it tough, but there’s more than one thing to consider here.

As we do our “what’s your confidence in Tuukka Rask?” talk (tune into any and every show on NBC Sports Boston, please!), we’re skipping an equally important question: What’s your confidence in Jeremy Swayman?

Bean: Bruins don't have much time to figure this all out

Swayman faced three shots in relief of Rask in Game 5 and allowed one goal, which was the game-winner for the Islanders. The “allowed this many goals on this many shots!” thing that Rask detractors do is dumb -- the number of shots doesn’t determine the quality of them -- but the point stands that neither Rask nor Swayman were impressive.

It would be a different story if Swayman was a wall Monday. Whether from rust, inexperience or whatever else, he wasn’t.

There's nothing wrong with changing your goalie in the playoffs, especially if your starter is laboring. Rask's been great this postseason, though, and if the Bruins weren't a catastrophe in their own zone and on the penalty kill Monday night, we'd be none the wiser on Rask's health. Plus, Rask's all-time stats in road win-or-go-home games are dynamite.

Tuukka Rask

Win or go home, on the road

(3-1, .750)

GAA - 1.56

SV% - .940 going to need at least that— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) June 8, 2021

It would be silly to rule out Swayman playing great in the postseason -- we’ve seen too many goalies do it over the years -- but expecting him to be great is just as baseless as expecting Rask to falter.

Both situations are unknowns for the Bruins. A better performance defensively and on the penalty kill would yield a steady performance from Rask if he's healthy. Swayman could be at the beginning of a historic run or he could be a puddle behind a team that’s falling apart in front of him.

The good (and bad News) is that this series shouldn’t come down to goaltending and hasn’t so far, even though Rask’s health is rightfully a major story. The Bruins should be able to win a series against the Islanders with either of their goalies because the rest of their roster is that much superior.

The problem is that the roster is both banged up and ineffective. The team dearly, dearly misses Brandon Carlo, Kevan Miller and -- yikes -- even Zdeno Chara. Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner, who have been good players in the past, are liabilities. Jake DeBrusk has been scratched. Curtis Lazar, the only effective fourth-liner Boston has right now, is out for Game 6.

Goaltending wasn’t the reason the Bruins lost Game 5, but the rest of the operation is such a mess that now you can get into “need a guy to steal one” territory. Teams that put themselves in that position don’t usually last long.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189338 Boston Bruins Rask is the Bruins' best goalie. He has, with the exception of Game 5 against the Islanders, played quite well in this playoff run. He deserves the chance to extend it if his health permits Wednesday night.

Why Bruins should stick with Rask in must-win Game 6 Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.09.2021

BY NICK GOSS

The Boston Bruins face a must-win Game 6 in their second-round playoff series against the New York Islanders, and if he's healthy enough to play, head coach Bruce Cassidy should stick with Tuukka Rask as the starting goalie.

Rask was pulled after two periods in the Bruins' 5-4 loss Monday night in Game 5 at TD Garden. He gave up four goals on just 16 shots.

"There was some maintenance that needed to be done. He wasn't 100 percent, so we made a decision," Cassidy said when asked about taking Rask out of the game. "That's a call we had to make between periods. I'll just say he wasn't himself (or) 100 percent. Certainly could've went back in, but we made a decision not to put him back in."

Bruins coach Cassidy rips Game 5 officiating, takes jab at Islanders

Cassidy said he assumes Rask will be ready to go for Game 6. It's clear that Rask has been less than 100 percent in the playoffs, and that's not much of a surprise given how much time he missed during the regular season due to injury. The veteran netminder played in just 24 of 56 regular season games.

If Rask is able to go in Game 6, he's still the no-brainer choice for Cassidy.

For starters, Rask has played very well in the 2021 playoffs overall with a .926 save percentage and a 2.20 GAA through 10 games. Rask posted a .926 save percentage against the Islanders through the first four games of Round 2. Of course, he didn't play amazing in Game 5, but he wasn't horrible on any of the four goals he gave up. When you look at his stats in the postseason so far, it's clear that whatever is bothering Rask isn't preventing him from playing at a high level more often than not.

Another reason to play Rask is his success at Nassau Coliseum. He's 8- 2-0 with a .953 save percentage and a 1.51 GAA in 10 career regular season road games versus the Islanders. He also was fantastic in Games 3 and 4 on Long Island earlier this series with a .951 save percentage, a 1.47 GAA and 2.87 goals saved above expected, per Natural Stat Trick.

Cassidy gives passionate defense of Patrice Bergeron after Game 5

A third reason to stick with Rask is his previous success on the road in win or go home situations. His stats are better than you might think:

Tuukka Rask

Win or go home, on the road

(3-1, .750)

GAA - 1.56

SV% - .940 going to need at least that— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) June 8, 2021

Jeremy Swayman's inexperience also should be a factor here. The rookie goalie was awesome during the regular season and has made the Bruins' future in net look pretty bright. But his 20 minutes in relief of Rask during Game 5 was the first playoff action of his career.

A young goalie making his first career playoff start on the road in a must- win game in front of a raucous crowd is far from an ideal situation, regardless of how well Swayman has played in 2021.

The Bruins have continued to play Rask in the playoffs despite the fact he's not 100 percent. Swayman has been ready to go and still didn't get any action until Monday night. Therefore, it would be pretty surprising if Cassidy all of a sudden changed course with the season on the line and played the rookie even if Rask was healthy enough to play. 1189339 Boston Bruins

Barry Trotz, Islanders fans amused by Cassidy's 'Saints' jab

BY DARREN HARTWELL

Bruce Cassidy had a lot to get off his chest Monday night.

The Bruins head coach blasted the Game 5 officiating crew after Boston's 5-4 loss to the Islanders at TD Garden, lamenting that New York benefits from the belief that it can do no wrong.

"I think they sell a narrative over there that it's more like the New York Saints and not the New York Islanders," Cassidy said. " ... The exact calls that get called on us do not get called on them, and I don't know why."

Game 5 takeaways: Disastrous penalty kill sinks B's

Islanders head coach Barry Trotz seemed a bit perplexed when asked about Cassidy's comments in his postgame video conference.

"You'll have to ask him about that," Trotz told reporters. "Just look at where we ended up during the year: I think we were one of the least penalized teams in the whole league. So, I don't know what he means by that. You'll have to ask him."

Islanders coach Barry Trotz is asked about Bruce Cassidy's comments pic.twitter.com/m3x614swoL— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) June 8, 2021

Trotz is right: The Islanders ranked 29th of 31 NHL teams in penalty minutes per game (6.61) during the regular season, while the Bruins ranked fifth at 9.52 PIM per game.

While that's likely evidence of a disciplined hockey club, Cassidy and Bruins fans could argue those low penalty numbers are proof that the Islanders may get away with a few calls thanks to their clean reputation.

Meanwhile, Islanders fans didn't pass up the chance to troll the Bruins by running with Cassidy's "Saints" remark with some photo editing magic.

Thanks Cass.

Tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/o0bgdlpaRv— x-YesSaintsOutfitters (@YesMenOutfitter) June 8, 2021

New York Saints #Isles pic.twitter.com/2xxyT7eNgB— IslesBlog (@IslesBlog) June 8, 2021

Good morning to the New York Saints and the NYS only. #Isles #LGI pic.twitter.com/O1TZnZV12v— x - TheSaintsWay (@TheIslanderWay) June 8, 2021

The New York Saints wish you a blessed night pic.twitter.com/i7fo5b9RAj— x - Nicole Shirman (@nicolefshirman) June 8, 2021

The New York Saints were actually a real team that played in the National Lacrosse League in 1990s (they're now the New York Riptide), so perhaps Islanders fans will bust out some old Saints jerseys for Game 6 at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday night.

We prefer the Riptide now, Bruce...but hey, do you! — New York Riptide (@newyorkriptide) June 8, 2021

You have my attention pic.twitter.com/W3jJcSH6AH— Peter Schwartz (@SchwartzSports) June 8, 2021

It's unclear whether Cassidy was aware of the lacrosse connection, but he gave Islanders fans plenty of ammunition with his team already on the ropes.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189340 Boston Bruins would likely have to center the fourth line. Jake DeBrusk, who was a healthy scratch Monday, would potentially re-enter the lineup.

Of course, the biggest injury question is in net. In a vacuum, the Bruins Bean: Bruins don't have much time to figure this all out are definitely capable of beating the Islanders with Swayman in net, but two games in a row with their backs to the wall? That’s a dicier proposition. If Rask is healthy enough, he’s the guy. If he isn’t, it’s BY DJ BEAN Swayman.

But the Bruins shouldn’t have trailed in Game 5, let alone lost it. Now they’re beaten up, not sure of who their goalie is, complaining about the Calling games "must-win" can be an eyeroll-inducing affair. The only officials and one game away from elimination. games that truly need to be won are the ones that could result in elimination. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.09.2021 Yet as the night went on Monday, Game 5 turned into a must-win for the Bruins. With how much they were dominating, and with the scoring chances they were creating -- and, most importantly, the questions they’d have about their team after -- they needed to win that game. With only (up to) two more contests in the series, it would be unreasonable to expect the ice to be tilted like that again.

The Bruins went all-out, spent most of the night peppering Semyon Varlomov and even made a desperation play by changing their goalie when down multiple goals in the third period. Now, the Islanders get to go home saying they’ve absorbed the Bruins’ best shot.

Game 5 takeaways: Disastrous penalty kill sinks Bruins

Rosters be damned, New York is in control of the series and, for the first time, we have to entertain the puzzling idea of the Bruins not making it out of the second round.

The Bruins were responsible for 68 percent of the shot attempts at 5-on-5 in Game 5. That’s the most one-sided it’s been for either team in a game this series. The second-most dominant performance was the Bruins in Game 1, which they won, followed by the Bruins in Game 3, which they won.

High-danger chances at 5-on-5 favored the Bruins 6-2 on Monday. In fact, the Bruins even outscored New York at 5-on-5, three goals to one. Being that much better than the opponent needs to yield victory.

But the Bruins didn’t just luck into a loss. Despite carrying the play at even strength, the Bruins’ fourth-liners and power play were horrible, both possibly exacerbated by the departure of Curtis Lazar. The Islanders scored on three of four power plays, often aided by mistakes from the B’s.

Tuukka Rask made a huge save on Kyle Palmieri in the second period, but was otherwise ordinary before departing due to ... "maintenance." Jeremy Swayman, who came in cold, allowed one goal on three shots. The Islanders had only 19 shots, but neither of Boston’s goalies had a save percentage of .800 (.750 for Rask, .667 for Swayman).

Latest update on Tuukka Rask's status entering Game 6

Even when the Bruins were seemingly dead in the water, they were buzzing. Minutes before David Krejci brought the Bruins within one, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand threatened with a 2-on-1. Even with the horrible penalty kill and the mistakes made, the game didn’t feel out of reach because the Bruins kept creating.

Bruce Cassidy was right to complain about the officials again after the game, even if the “New York Saints” stuff was a little much. Patrice Bergeron’s puck over the glass delay of game had to be called, but the first two penalties called on Boston -- a very light Sean Kuraly slash and Matt Grzelcyk just clearing a guy out in front -- were excessive. They both led to goals, too.

"I think they sell a narrative over there that's more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders"

Bruce Cassidy had a lot to say after the B's loss tonight pic.twitter.com/vedAMAaSXe— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) June 8, 2021

So Cassidy and the Bruins need some breaks from the officials in Game 6, even though they should be capable of winning without them.

The injuries are mounting, though. Getting Brandon Carlo back for Game 6 (and/or 7) would be big, but now the Bruins also have to worry about Lazar. Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner have both looked deserving of press box duty at points this postseason, but if Lazar can’t play, Kuraly 1189341 Boston Bruins

Injury Update: Lazar, Carlo And Miller Out For Boston Bruins In Game 6

By Jimmy Murphy

Boston Bruins head coach ruled forward Curtis Lazar, and defensemen Brandon Carlo and Kevan Miller out for Game 6 of the East Division Final against the New York Islanders on Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum.

“He’ll be unavailable. He’s not going to travel with us,” Cassidy said of Lazar who was injured in the second period of the Bruins’ Game 5 5-4 loss to the Isles and did not return.

“We’ll list him as day-to-day with a lower body. He went awkward into the boards. Good hit. He and (Adam) Pelech both got tangled up. Unfortunately for Curtis came out on the wrong side of it. We’ll have to look at our lineup.”

So that means the Boston Bruins will definitely be without Lazar, Carlo, Miller, and potentially goalie Tuukka Rask, who on Tuesday, Cassidy would not confirm as his starting goalie for Game 6.

“We’ll find out tomorrow,” the always blunt Cassidy said in a mid-day Zoom session with reporters. “We’re not dissatisfied with Tuukka’s play. There are some health issues. Listen, we know he missed some time this year. We’re not going to get into where he’s at if it affects his game, all that. There’s also a lot of games in a row he’s played. At some point that could be an issue in the playoffs. There’s a lot of things that go into it.”

Carlo and Miller are still recovering from concussions. Carlo left Game 3 6:14 into the third period after he took a hard but clean hit from New York Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck. He has missed the last two games. This is Carlo’s second concussion of the season after

Miller had to be helped off the ice midway through the second period of Game 4 in the Bruins’ five-game series win over the Washington Capitals in the first round. He was on the receiving end of a questionable hit by Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov, taken to the hospital and released the following day. He has missed the last six games.

Boston Bruins defenseman Jarred Tinordi will remain in the lineup but if defenseman Jakub Zboril (upper-body) was suddenly good to go for Game 6, then Cassidy could make another change. As for the

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189342 Boston Bruins

Cassidy Not Ruling Rask In Or Out For Boston Bruins

By Jimmy Murphy

After pulling goalie Tuukka Rask for ‘maintenance’ reasons following the second period of Game 6 and replacing him with rookie Jeremy Swayman in a 5-4 loss to the Islanders Monday, Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy assumed Rask would be good to go for Game 6 Wednesday night at the Nassau Coliseum.

“I assume he will,” Cassidy said when asked point-blank if his No.1 goalie would be ready to help his team stave off elimination as he has three times before in a Game 6 on the road.

The most recent of those clutch performances (yes Tuukka Rask has delivered plenty of clutch performances for the Boston Bruins!), came two years ago tomorrow in St. Louis. That’s when Rask made 28 saves to help the Bruins avoid elimination in a 5-1 win over the Blues in Game 6 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. However, based on the almost 180 Cassidy took on Tuesday with the media regarding Rask’s availability for Game 6 of the East Division Final, things feel a bit different than they did two years ago today.

“We’ll find out tomorrow,” the always blunt Cassidy said in a mid-day Zoom session with reporters.

Cassidy then stressed that he and his staff have no issues with Rask’s performance in this series or the five-game series win over the Washington Capitals in the first round. Rask did let in four goals on 16 shots in Game 5 but he’s 6-3 with a 2.20 GAA and a .925 save percentage in the playoffs.

“We’re happy with his performance. He’s been better than he was yesterday, but we weren’t good enough in front of him. There are health issues,” Cassidy said once again indicating this health issue is maybe worse than he thought.

“We’re not dissatisfied with Tuukka’s play. There are some health issues. Listen, we know he missed some time this year. We’re not going to get into where he’s at if it affects his game, all that. There’s also a lot of games in a row he’s played. At some point that could be an issue in the playoffs. There’s a lot of things that go into it.”

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189343 Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins Cassidy Fined $25K For Criticizing Referees

By Joe Haggerty

The collective wallets of the Boston Bruins are a bit lighter on Tuesday after a pair of fines following a heated, controversial Game 5 win for the New York Islanders at TD Garden.

Nick Ritchie was fined $5,000 for elbowing Scott Mayfield as the Islanders defenseman attempted to play a puck from his knees that on- ice officials Francois Charron and Francois St. Laurent both somehow missed during the game. That was the appetizer, of course, for the $25,000 fine tagged on Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy after his public lambasting of the on-ice officials for missing a series of calls against the New York Islanders, and for hilariously referring to them as the “New York Saints” for the holier-than-thou treatment they receive from the referees.

“I have all the respect in the world for Colie [Campbell],” said Cassidy, of the fine. “We’re told before the series that we have to keep our comments civil. I thought it was. They didn’t see it that way.”

Cassidy had a lot to say following the loss where the Bruins gave up three power play goals despite vastly outplaying the Islanders, but it was these words that probably drew the fine: “they just need to be better than that and just call the game you see. Quit listening to these outside influences and get it done right. I don’t think [the on-ice officials] were great tonight. I’m not going to lie to you.”

Certainly, Cassidy had legitimate gripes as the officiating was bad for both sides, but they missed an obvious high-sticking penalty on Kyle Palmieri where he literally stopped skating after clubbing Craig Smith.

Kyle Palmieri literally stopped skating because he thought he was going to the box. No penalty. That’s how bad the Francois Brothers were last night https://t.co/9Wgj7qeIl7

— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) June 8, 2021

That led almost directly to an Islanders PP goal that made it a 4-2 game after a soft call on Sean Kuraly in the first period handed the Islanders a power play as well.

And then later Brock Nelson swatted a puck over the glass for a delay of game call that was missed as well, among a number of black-and-white infractions that the Islanders simply aren’t getting whistled for in this series.

It remains to be seen if Cassidy’s gamesmanship will have any impact on the series with the Bruins trailing 3-to-2 headed into Wednesday night’s game vs. the Isles at Nassau Coliseum, but it probably should if the referees actually want to level the playing field just a little bit.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189344 Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins PK ‘Let Us Down’ In Game 5 Loss To Isles

By Joe Haggerty

While there were some well-chronicled problems with the Game 5 officiating that led to Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy going on a perfectly understandable “New York Saints” rant afterward, it’s not the reason ultimately that the B’s lost on Monday night.

The simple truth is that the vaunted Boston Bruins penalty kill let them down in a 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders in a pivotal Game 5 where they went down 3-to-2 in the best of seven series. There’s also Tuukka Rask allowing four goals on 16 shots in a particularly average performance in a big game for the Black and Gold, but the Bruins penalty faltering while allowing three PP goals in four PP chances for the Islanders was the story behind the loss.

The story-behind-the-story was the continued absences of top penalty killers Brandon Carlo (upper body) and Kevan Miller (upper body), a pair of big-bodied warriors that the Bruins absolutely missed on Monday night. On the last couple of Isles PP goals, Connor Clifton couldn’t handle clearing a puck that bounced off his skate to Kyle Palmieri for a tap-in and Charlie McAvoy wasn’t able to block a Jordan Eberle blast from the face-off dot.

Watch as the puck bounces off both of Connor Clifton’s skates, leading to a Kyle Palmieri goal. #StanleyCup // NBCSN pic.twitter.com/7CCyxSMTYK

— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 7, 2021

Those are the kinds of plays that get gobbled up by the injured shutdown warriors that are usually manning the right side on the penalty kill.

“We’ve got to fix some things, obviously the PK. Carlo and Miller eat up a lot of those minutes and we miss them. We had some breakdowns back there that we need to correct,” said Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. “Guys don’t have their abilities on it, so we need to coach them up and make sure they were better. I thought 5-on-5 we were dominant, but the PK let us down and we need to be better on it.”

On an even bigger score, the decision to go away from Zdeno Chara last offseason also loomed like a massive 6-foot-9 shadow as the Boston Bruins struggled in the one department where a 44-year-old Chara could have helped them tremendously. By and large the Bruins have not missed their former captain this season, but the war of attrition in the playoffs have exposed some depth issues on the back end for the Black and Gold.

Clearly there was some bad luck as well with the final Islanders PP goal happening after Jarred Tinordi broke a stick that rendered him ineffective against an Isles special teams unit clearly clicking. And the opening PP goal for the Islanders at the end of the first period was as much about the soft slashing penalty called on Sean Kuraly as it was about Mat Barzal sniping a pinpoint perfect shot through the B’s penalty kill.

“We just need to keep plugging away. I think everybody is stepping up and we’re trying to work together as a group to pick up for those guys,” said Charlie McAvoy, who was on the ice for all three Islanders power play goals scored in the game. “That’s what we’re trying to do. Everybody is trying to pull on the rope. That’s all we can do.

“The fourth one is the hardest one to win. We’re going to New York to win a game and that’s all that’s on our mind. We want to put our best foot forward and win a hockey game. That’s it. That’s all we’re thinking about right now. This thing isn’t over.”

Considering that the Islanders power play had been scoring at an 18 percent clip in these playoffs prior to Game 5, the complete breakdown by a normally well-coached Bruins penalty kill at a pivotal postseason moment is notable. It’s also something that needs to be fixed immediately if the Bruins are going to win playoff games in a row and keep their postseason lives going beyond this second round matchup.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189345 Boston Bruins Kevan Miller and Brandon Carlo have been skating on their own. But neither will play in Game 6. Both continue to recover from their head injuries.

Tuukka Rask’s health creates big Bruins Game 6 goaltending choice: They are especially missed on the penalty kill. Carlo was averaging 3:34 ‘We’ll see who gets the net’ of shorthanded ice time per game in the playoffs, second-most after Charlie McAvoy (3:45). Miller was averaging 2:34 of man-down time per game. By Fluto Shinzawa Jun 8, 2021 Cassidy, Ritchie fined

Cassidy did not hold back in criticizing referees Francois Charron and Health was one of the reasons Tuukka Rask was pulled after the second Francois St. Laurent after Game 5. He also spoke acutely of linesmen period in Game 5. It’s the primary reason the Bruins’ ace is not certain to Devin Berg and David Brisebois for tossing Patrice Bergeron from start Game 6. multiple faceoffs.

“He’ll get his treatment,” coach Bruce Cassidy said of Rask on Tuesday The NHL did not approve of Cassidy’s candor. The league fined Cassidy prior to the team’s Long Island departure. “We’ll find out tomorrow how $25,000 for public comments critical of the officiating. he is and if he’s able to go or not.” “I was held accountable for it,” said Cassidy. “Usually when you get fined, Rask has acknowledged he’s not at full health. His troubles began on you say something to the effect of ‘embarrassing’ or ‘a joke.’ I didn’t say March 7 when he skated to the bench at TD Garden holding his back. any of that. I actually think those two officials are excellent officials. I thought they missed a couple high sticks along the way in this series. I Rask did not look comfortable in Game 2. In Game 5, Rask did not pointed that out. We’re told before that we have to keep our comments control rebounds as well as usual, nor did he play the puck with his civil. I thought it was. They didn’t see it that way.” standard smoothness. Nick Ritchie was fined $5,000 for elbowing Scott Mayfield. Ritchie was Monday marked his 10th straight start. During the regular season, his not penalized. longest stretch was three straight games on two occasions. The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 Injuries, wear and tear and the Game 5 situation — down 4-2 after 40 minutes — convinced Cassidy, upon consultation with Rask, to go with Jeremy Swayman to start the third period. It was only the second time Rask was given the hook in the playoffs. The other occasion was in 2017-18. Anton Khudobin replaced Rask in the second period of Game 5 against Toronto after the Maple Leafs took a 4-1 lead.

“We’re happy with his performance,” said Cassidy. “He’s been better than he was yesterday. But we weren’t good enough in front of him as well. Let’s face it. You need your goaltender to bail you out when you’re not. It didn’t happen yesterday. It has happened in other games. It happened in the previous series. We’re not dissatisfied with Tuukka’s play. There are some health issues with Tuukka. We know that. He missed some time this year. We’re not going get into, ‘Where it’s at, does it affect his game.’ There’s a lot of games in a row he’s played. At some point, that could be an issue in the playoffs. There’s a lot of things that go into it.”

Rask spent Tuesday morning reviewing video with goalie coach Bob Essensa. He did not go on the ice.

The question the Bruins have to answer is whether Rask at a certain percentage of health is a better Game 6 option than Swayman. The 22- year-old has shown nothing but poise and performance over 10 career regular-season starts. It would be a big ask, however, to give Swayman the do-or-die start at a hostile Nassau Coliseum.

“I’m not going to second-guess it,” Cassidy said of the Game 5 swap. “It’s a decision we felt was the right one. We did it. We’re moving on. We’ll see who gets the net in Game 6.”

Regardless of whether it’s Rask or Swayman, the Bruins have to reduce the Islanders’ Grade-A chances, especially on special teams.

“We’ve got to be better in front of Tuukka defensively,” said Cassidy. “We’ve got to tighten up on the penalty kill. We’ve got to clean some of those areas up. We can’t be giving up those point-blank chances. When we do, we need him to make some saves for us. That’s the formula. That’s always been the formula, especially in the playoffs.”

Lazar out for Game 6

Curtis Lazar will be unavailable for Game 6. The No. 4 center suffered a lower-body injury while checking Adam Pelech on the opening shift of the second period. Pelech fell on Lazar’s left leg.

Lazar was averaging 11:26 of ice time per game in the playoffs, including 1:39 on the penalty kill. He won 54.6 percent of his faceoffs.

Sean Kuraly, formerly the No. 4 left winger, will likely move back to the middle. Jake DeBrusk, a healthy scratch in Game 5, could play left wing next to Kuraly and Chris Wagner.

Miller and Carlo unavailable 1189346 Carolina Hurricanes The Hurricanes may have been superior over the long haul of the regular season, but the Lightning were a little bit better in every way in the postseason. There’s no getting around that, no excuses to be made, no In losing to the Lightning, the Canes learn a painful lesson on where they mystery about it now. want to be The regular-season success was a huge step forward but there’s so much work still to be done.

BY LUKE DECOCK And there are difficult decisions to be made. Dougie Hamilton has almost certainly played his last game for the Hurricanes, and possibly Jordan Martinook, Brock McGinn and Mrazek as well. Even Brind’Amour isn’t under contract for next season, although owner Tom Dundon would be RALEIGH-In a sense, there was mercy in it ending like this. The Carolina insane to let it come to that. Hurricanes were spared worrying about what might have been. Their season ended at the hands of a team that did everything they tried to do, Still, it won’t be the same. Nor should it be. but did it so much better. “There’s a next step we have to find,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s what’s A shutout at the hands of Andrei Vasilevkiy on Tuesday was a fitting left.” finish to the series, a 2-0 loss to fall in five games to the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that didn’t miss when it had the chance. Wherever they thought the bar was set, as a Stanley Cup contender, the Hurricanes learned in the hardest way they aren’t in a position to clear it “We had in our minds, something different than this,” Sebastian Aho said. yet. The way this series went, the way it ended, left no doubt. “I thought we were ready to take the next step. And the next step is to be the best, right?” News Observer LOADED: 06.09.2021

They were not ready to take the next step. The Hurricanes were bodied out of the playoffs by the Boston Bruins the past two years; they ran into a mentally tougher team this time that also happened to have more talent.

Just as there can be no illusions about how far the Hurricanes have come in three seasons under Rod Brind’Amour, this series laid bare how much there is left to do. This was a fast-paced series, a test of skill as much as will. It was decided, as playoff series often are, where talent truly shines: special teams and goaltending.

“Our talent is close, but clearly we got beat in the talent area,” Brind’Amour said. “The big areas: PP, PK, that’s the area we’ve got to get better. We were good all year, but when you’re up against the best, it’s a great comparison. That’s how it’s done.”

Tampa’s power play was vicious — 1-for-2 on Tuesday and that was all it took — and the Hurricanes too often tested fate with undisciplined play.

Vasilevskiy bobbled only once and the Hurricanes couldn’t capitalize, while Alex Nedeljkovic and Petr Mrazek each gave a game away.

The Lightning’s top line was better, the Lightning’s fourth line was better.

Game, set, match, series, season.

There were still two great missed opportunities in this series: Game 1, when Nedeljkovic’s blunder gifted the Lightning a win, and Game 4, when the Hurricanes and Mrazek collectively collapsed after getting four past Vasilevskiy and taking a two-goal lead on the road.

On such delicate fulcrums, a playoff series can pivot. Especially against a team as experienced as the Lightning, a power play as clinical, a goalie as unflappable.

“We’re very close,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously we had a strong season. We had a solid playoffs. We couldn’t quite pull it together here at the end, close to the end, I guess. We still have a lot of really good young players that get it and are understanding the game and understanding how to win. We still have to find a way to be better in all aspects.”

The Hurricanes worked too hard over the course of a shorter-than-usual but harder-than-usual season to win the division to be summarily dismissed like this, and above and beyond the missed opportunities in this series, an even bigger one will loom in memory for a while.

The eventual survivor of this division always had a case to make as the best team in the NHL, having emerged from the Carolina-Florida-Tampa crucible; only the eventual winner of the Colorado Avalanche-Vegas Golden Knights series can argue. Whoever it was that emerged from this series was going to feel very good about its chances if the New York Islanders indeed close out that series. (The Bruins would be a different story for the Hurricanes, perhaps not the Lightning.)

Anything can certainly happen in the postseason, but the Islanders and Montreal Canadiens don’t appear to be at the same level — especially now that the Lightning has Nikita Kucherov back, salary cap be damned. 1189347 Carolina Hurricanes An obviously disappointed Staal preferred to look forward at the bigger picture.

“There’s a bright future here,” Staal said. “It’s all good stuff. Carolina Heroic effort from keeper Alex Nedeljkovic not enough as Hurricanes’ throughout the league is making a name as a team hard to play against.” season ends News Observer LOADED: 06.09.2021

By Chip Alexander

June 08, 2021 05:57 PM, Updated 9 hours 33 minutes ago

Carolina Hurricanes face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup playoffs

The Carolina Hurricanes did all they could to keep their season alive Tuesday.

They competed hard, played with desperation against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, given the start in Game 5 of the playoff series, made some huge stops. Forwards Vincent Trocheck and Nino Niederreiter, coming off injuries, gamely played.

But the Lightning again proved to be too good, and especially goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, as Tampa Bay clinched the series with a 2-0 victory at PNC Arena as Vasilevskiy had 29 saves.

“It feels pretty bad right now,” Canes forward Sebastian Aho said. “Maybe tomorrow, or in two days, I can give you a better answer. I don’t feel good right now. It sucks.”

Bradyen Point’s power-play goal in the second period gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead that Tampa Bay took into the third. Fourth-line forward Ross Colton then snapped a shot from the right wing that beat Nedeljkovic to the glove side at 9:04 of the third for a two-goal cushion.

With the Canes unable to solve Vasilevskiy, who allowed four goals in Game 4 and showed some vulnerability, there would be no comeback. PNC Arena eventually fell silent.

“I think our group in general, I thought there wasn’t a whole lot of waver in this room, with COVID coming through and guys stepping up, injuries, it was a group that just get working,” Canes captain Jordan Staal said. “That’s always been our identity in Carolina. I think the guys brought that every game.”

In winning the series in five games, the Lightning won all three games on the Canes’ home ice. The Canes’ lone victory came in Game 3 in Tampa, and they led 4-2 in Game 4 before the Lightning surged to a 6-4 win that gave Tampa Bay the 3-1 series lead.

“I’m always proud of these guys,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “You come to work and have a group of people that leave it out there. ... But we’re obviously disappointed. This is not what we set out for. We wanted to win it all.”

Point’s goal, his eighth of the playoffs, came at 4:06 of the second and moments after Vasilevskiy’s biggest save. The Canes had a shorthanded rush and Trocheck ripped a shot from the right circle, but Vasilevskiy got across to make the save and keep PNC Arena from really rumbling.

The Lightning dominated special teams in the series. The Canes were 2 of 14 on the power play.

Carolina defenseman Brett Pesce was injured in the third period, taking an elbow to the head from Ondrej Palat and being taken to concussion protocol. But the Canes, trailing 2-0, could not convert on the power play.

“We’ve got to get better,” Brind’Amour said, already starting to look ahead. “Your depth, there’s always a weakest link that you can have. You have to find what that is and get better at it. We definitely have great pieces here, talent wise and people wise. We have to keep those in tact, and if there’s areas to get better, we’ve got to find them and get better at it.”

Despite losing all three at home, the Canes faithful showed up en masse, something that at the outset of the playoffs was in doubt based on state and league regulations. The players noticed.

“It was amazing. I enjoyed moment to see fans out there, especially here in the PNC seeing all the Caniacs supporting us,” Aho said. “It’s such a loud barn. It makes the game even better and feels amazing.” 1189348 Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes’ core players hope to improve on a 2-2 record in elimination games

BY LUKE DECOCK

RALEIGH-For the first time this postseason, the Carolina Hurricanes face elimination Tuesday night, and this group’s record under such circumstances is decidedly mixed.

On the good side of the ledger, there’s the 2019 first round against the Washington Capitals, when the Hurricanes won Game 6 at home and Game 7 on the road (in double overtime) to knock off the defending Stanley Cup champions.

The last two times the Hurricanes’ season was on the line, they went relatively meekly: A 4-0 home loss to the Boston Bruins in 2019 to get swept out of the conference finals, a 5-1 loss to the Bruins in the Toronto bubble last August to lose in five games.

So now they face the same situation — at home this time, down 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning, in Game 5 — albeit in a series that has had a very different character than either against the Bruins. As a franchise, the Hurricanes have a 9-6 record in elimination games since moving to North Carolina. They’ve twice come back to win down 3-2, but never 3-1.

“Obviously we dug ourselves a hole and it’s time to dig out of it,” Hurricanes forward Jordan Martinook said Tuesday morning. “It’s time to treat every shift like it’s the most important shift and do everything you can to keep moving forward here.”

If anything, this series has been closer to the Washington series, which included two overtime games against the defending champs. That series had a couple blowouts, which this one has not, and the home team won every game in that series until Game 7 while the road team has already won three times in this series.

Still, the Hurricanes outscored the Capitals 21-20 over the seven games; the Lightning were up 12-9 on aggregate through four games of this series and the first three games were all one-goal games, one decided in overtime.

As was the case in the first round against the Nashville Predators, there hasn’t been much separating these teams on the scoresheet, even if Tampa Bay’s power play has been the biggest factor, exponentially so, in the series on the ice.

All of which is to say, if the Hurricanes looked like the more experienced postseason team against the Predators, especially in Games 5 and 6, the Lightning has looked that way in the second round.

That didn’t happen overnight; the Lightning’s core group is playing its 18th playoff series over the past eight years. This core Hurricanes group would only be considered inexperienced in the playoffs against a team like that. It is playing its seventh series in three years, has a Game 7 road win and two sweeps to its credit and is 5-4 in overtime. It’s no longer a bunch of first-timers; the rhythms and swings of the playoffs — like facing elimination at home — should be nothing new.

Not that there are any guarantees with that — Tampa is still only two seasons removed from being swept out of the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets as the best regular-season team in the NHL — but it can potentially make a difference in games like this. It certainly did in Game 4, when the Lightning weren’t rattled when they fell behind 4-2 and the Hurricanes were when Tampa stormed back to make it 5-4 in a flash with three goals in less than five minutes, and then quickly 6-4.

The next best thing to avoiding elimination games is winning them; the Hurricanes had a chance to bolster their resume in that regard Tuesday night, a logical and realistic next step in this team’s postseason progression — if it’s going to continue to progress this spring, that is.

News Observer LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189349 Carolina Hurricanes

Injured Hurricanes trio expected to take warmups Tuesday, status remains uncertain

BY LUKE DECOCK

RALEIGH-The status of injured Carolina Hurricanes forwards Nino Niederreiter, Vincent Trocheck and Warren Foegele remained in doubt Tuesday ahead of Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with Niederreiter and Trocheck hoping to test things out in warmups and Foegele “50-50,” according to Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour.

Niederreiter, who suffered an injury in practice before the series, was back on the ice for practice Monday. Trocheck injured his right leg in a collision with Foegele in Game 2 and has not played since, while Foegele suffered a shoulder injury in Game 3 and played in Saturday’s 6-4 loss in Game 4 that put the Hurricanes down 3-1, but not effectively.

“Everyone’s going to go in the warmup and we’ll just see where we stack out,” Brind’Amour said Tuesday morning.

The three forwards combined for 47 goals in the regular season and Trocheck had been one of the Hurricanes’ most dynamic players in the postseason before getting hurt.

NED IN NET?

Meanwhile, Brind’Amour for the first time in the playoffs declined to name a starting goalie ahead of the game, although the expectation was that Alex Nedeljkovic would be back in net after Petr Mrazek allowed six goals in Game 4.

“We could go either way,” Brind’Amour said. “Paulie (Schonfelder), our goalie coach, had a lot of influence on that. He does every time. That’s basically how we decide.”

THEY SAID IT

“It bothers a lot of people, and that would probably be the number one reason. Everybody wants to ask about it and it just gives me pleasure.” — then-North Carolina football coach Larry Fedora in 2014, refusing to name a starting quarterback

“I think I’ll let you guys marinate on the goalie. Add a little excitement to the day.” — Brind’Amour on Tuesday, refusing to name a starting goaltender

TAILWINDS

Tampa Bay has a 10-0 all-time series record when going up 3-1. The Lightning has needed six games to close out the last three. ... The Bolts are 5-3 in series-clinching games over the past two postseasons. ... The Hurricanes are 2-2 all time in Game 5s down 3-1. … Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal was not a finalist for the Masterton Trophy, which honors perseverance and dedication to hockey. He was a finalist in 2018. The Norris Trophy (best defenseman) finalists will be announced Wednesday and the Jack Adams Award (best coach) on Friday.

News Observer LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189350 Colorado Avalanche Tuch’s goal came off a defensive-end turnover by Avalanche winger Andre Burakovsky, whose exit pass was blocked by Mattias Janmark and picked up by Nicholas Roy. Roy fed it ahead to Tuch and he scored from Golden Knights stone Avalanche in overtime, take 3-2 series lead the doorstep. Marchessault, who had a hat trick in Game 4, beat Grubauer with a tap-in from the right post to cap a 3-on-2 rush following a Game 6 is Thursday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Game 7, if blown odd-man rush at the other end. necessary, is Saturday at Ball Arena. “I loved the way we played tonight. I loved it,” Bednar said. “I thought we were the aggressors. We were on our toes. We were playing to win the hockey game. We played to our identity. Even the third period, I had no By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: June 8, 2021 at 10:16 p.m. | problems with it — except for the turnovers.” UPDATED: June 8, 2021 at 11:01 p.m. He added: “We have to clean up those plays. On the Burakovsky one, he

has an out up the boards, even the cross-ice play that he was trying to Save for three turnovers, the Avalanche played a great Game 5 on make — he has it if he just throws it over there in the air. I don’t think that Tuesday night. had to have been a tape-to-tape pass in order to hit (teammates). We don’t get it out of the zone and they make you pay. Those three turnovers, however, led to the game’s final three goals as the Vegas Golden Knights rallied to win their third straight in the second- “That’s what Vegas does. I said it at the start of the series — they don’t round series. need a lot of chances to make you pay. They didn’t get a lot of chances tonight and they made us pay for the ones that they needed to to win the Forty seconds after the Avalanche nearly won it off a point-blank shot hockey game.” from J.T. Compher, Vegas captain Mark Stone scored with a wrist shot 50 seconds into overtime to give the Knights a 3-2 victory at Ball Arena, The Avalanche, outshot 119-63 in the prior three games of the series, and a 3-2 series lead. The Avs, who fell to 20-1-1 in their past 22 home had a fantastic start and controlled play for much of the first period. But in games, blew a 2-0 lead to begin the third period. the last five minutes, turnovers by defensemen Patrik Nemeth and Cale Makar hemmed the Avs in the defensive zone and Vegas had numerous “It was a really good hockey game by our team besides a couple plays opportunities to score the first goal. that ended up in back of our net,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “I didn’t think we had a lot of turnovers tonight but we had three that I know led to The siege ended in the final minute. Colorado got a clean exit from our goals-against.” defenseman Devon Toews, who used an indirect pass off the sideboards to Saad, and Saad’s long buzzer-beating wrister zipped by Fleury’s right The game-winning play began in the Knights’ end when Avalanche ear with 0.8 seconds on the clock. defenseman Ryan Graves fired a shot from the point that appeared to carom off Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. Knights forward Max Fleury, who catches with his left hand, tried to glove the puck across his Pacioretty backhanded the loose puck ahead to Stone, who outraced body. And he whiffed. After review, the goal officially came with 1.8 Graves to the slot in front of the Avs’ net and beat goalie Philipp seconds remaining in the period. Grubauer high to the glove side. Colorado outshot the Knights 10-9 in the frame, ended an eight-period Game 6 is Thursday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Game 7, if stretch of getting outshot (excluding overtime in Game 2). necessary, is Saturday at Ball Arena. Footnotes. Colorado shuffled its forward lines and added Newhook, who “We got to go to Vegas and win a hockey game. It’s as simple as that,” had played in Games 1 and 2, and Logan O’Connor, who had been on Avs captain Gabe Landeskog said. the injured list since March 31. They replaced Carl Soderberg and Kiefer Sherwood, who had played in Games 3 and 4. … The Knights’ Janmark Landeskog took the opening faceoff in OT and generated the first shot — returned after missing the last three games from an injury he suffered in a hard wrister from the left wing. The rebound caromed off goalie Marc- Game 1 on a hit from Graves. To make room for him in the lineup, Ryan Andre Fleury and Compher hammered it into the goalie’s chest. Reaves was scratched. Vegas also made a change on its blueline, insterting Nick Holden for Nic Hague. … Veteran Avs defenseman Erik “The margin in these games of the playoffs, and especially in overtime, Johnson, who hasn’t played since Jan. 31 because of an upper-body (is small),” Landeskog said. “Fleury makes a big stop there. It happens injury, skated in a regular sweater Tuesday morning but has yet to be bang, bang and he gets a piece of it. Didn’t go our way tonight but, like I cleared. said, we’ll move on and get ready for Game 6.” Denver Post: LOADED: 06.09.2021 Colorado dominated through 40 minutes, taking its 2-0 lead into the third period. And then the wheels fell off.

In short order, Vegas forwards Alex Tuch and Jonathan Marchessault scored at 1:03 and 4:07 of the third period after sloppy play by the Avs. The Avs’ offense stalled before and after that scoring binge, producing just one shot through the first 10:10 of the frame. Then, with a chance to go ahead on their first power play of the game after Knights defenseman Shea Theodore went to the box for delay of game, they again failed to capitalize.

The Avs built a 2-0 lead behind a late first-period goal from winger Brandon Saad and another late-frame one by winger Joonas Donskoi in the second. Grubauer was perfect to that point, with 14 saves through 40 minutes.

Donskoi, who had not scored in his previous six playoff games, capped an incredible shift with linemates Tyson Jost and Alex Newhook. The line used a cycle to maintain possession and wear out the Knights defenders, and ultimately, Newhook drove up the right wall from the goal line and found Donskoi for a one-time blast to beat Fleury at 16:48.

At the end of two periods, the Avs were outshooting the Knights 22-14 — significant dominance despite the aid of a power play. Vegas did not commit a penalty to that point and the game featured just one — a questionable interference minor on Mikko Rantanen in the first period.

The start of the third period was ugly for the Avs. 1189351 Colorado Avalanche

Knights-Avalanche Game 5 Quick Hits: Vegas takes control of series with overtime win

Overtime lasted only 50 seconds before Mark Stone won it for Vegas

By RYAN O’HALLORAN | June 8, 2021 at 10:06 p.m.

1. Third-period nightmare

For the first 40 minutes, the Avalanche had re-discovered its “A” game for the first time since Period 1 of Game 2. Coach Jared Bednar’s re- configured forward lines created chances and goals by Brandon Saad (first period) and Joonas Donskoi. Third-line winger Logan O’Connor was throwing his body around and trying to generate a fore-check. The Avs led 2-0 after two and had a 23-14 shots advantage. It … was … the … better team. But then the third period happened. A bad turnover by winger Andre Burakovsky quickly turned into Alex Tuch’s goal at the 1:03 mark and 3:04 later, the Knights tied in Jonathan Marchessault’s goal off an odd-man rush. Just like that, 40 minutes of expert work was thrown away. And Vegas took a 3-2 series lead just 50 seconds into overtime on captain Mark Stone’s goal.

2. Fourth line statement

For most of the postseason, Joonas Donskoi skated on the second line but didn’t have much to show for it — two goals and two assists in eight games and only one assist in the Vegas series. But with 4:32 left in the second period, Donskoi found an open pocket in the high slot and one- timed Alex Newhook’s great pass past Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Donskoi’s goal capped a period-long surge in which the Avs were the far- better team and the entire building could feel a goal coming. Just that one pass by Newhook showed his value for the present (Game 6 and possibly Game 7) but also the future (next year as a center, his best position). In his short stay with the Avs since leaving Boston College and being called up from AHL Colorado, Newhook has showed play-making potential.

3. Landy’s last home game?

Moving to the second line didn’t help Landeskog break out of his scoring funk. He tried to get his game going by being physical, but he had no shots on goal through regulation after no shots on goal in Games 3-4. Problem is, he didn’t have the puck on his stick that often, either. And when he did early in the third period, he made a poor pass that deflected off defenseman Ryan Graves’ skate, bounding into the neutral zone to allow Vegas a rush to tie the game at the 4:07 mark of the third. Later, he had a 1-on-1 against Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and tried to be too fancy instead of dumping the puck in or firing a shot in hopes of a rebound. Landeskog, the Avs’ captain, is a free agent this summer and it’s possibly he may have played his last home game Tuesday. Landeskog picked a bad time for his offensive game to desert him.

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Struggling Avalanche won’t lose series unless it loses to Vegas at home

Now down to a three-game series, two of those games are scheduled for Ball Arena, where the Avs are 20-0-1 dating to the regular season

By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: June 8, 2021 at 5:10 p.m. | UPDATED: June 8, 2021 at 7:13 p.m.

The Avalanche hasn’t blown it … yet.

Despite being outshot 119-63 and losing Games 3 and 4 handily, the Avs still have a key advantage in what has come down to a mini-series.

A team with home-ice advantage in a seven-game series isn’t truly in trouble until it loses on home ice. Through the first four games of its second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, both teams are 2-0 at home.

Now down to a three-game series, two of those games are scheduled for Ball Arena, where the Avs are 20-0-1 dating to the regular season. That’s where the Avs’ collective heads were at Tuesday ahead of Game 5.

“I think our guys are feeling good about it,” coach Jared Bednar said after the Avs’ morning skate. “They know for a couple games there we just weren’t where we needed to be in a series like this. This is a very difficult team that we’ve played, a team that doesn’t give you a lot of space and they were working and competing in certain areas when we hadn’t sort of entered that fight. Last game we did and I expect us to be even more so tonight at home.”

Bednar shuffled his forward lines for Game 5, dropping left wing Gabe Landeskog to the second line and promoting Brandon Saad (six goals in the playoffs) to the first. He dropped right winger Joonas Donskoi to the fourth line and brought back rookie forward Alex Newhook, who played in Games 1 and 2, on the fourth line. In place of Donskoi on the third line, second-year winger Logan O’Connor — who hasn’t played since March 31 because of a lower-body injury — stepped in to play with Andre Burakovsky and Tyson Jost.

The offensive key for Colorado is to get star center Nathan MacKinnon (pointless last two games) out of his rut, as well as wingers Landeskog (shot-less last two games) and Burakovsky (goal-less in the playoffs), among others.

The Avs have had very little sustained pressure on Knights goalie Marc- Andre Fleury since the first period of Game 2. They need to find that offensive magic that made them the NHL’s top-scoring team in the regular season and playoffs. They still lead the league in playoff scoring, despite producing just six goals in regulation over the last three games.

“One of the big things will be finding some room in the offensive zone to try to get some things going off the cycle,” Bednar said. “We haven’t been able to find space down there so we’ve looked at a few things, giving our guys some ideas and recommendations and we’ll see how we implement them tonight.”

Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights Game 5: Three keys for Colorado

“The guys are really excited,” Jost said. “We know what’s at stake. It’s a three-game series. It’s do-or-die now. We’re back in front of our own fans. That’s exciting and I know the guys are going to come out flying tonight.”

He added: “Last game, we battled hard. Didn’t see the result. Wasn’t what we wanted but I thought we built a little bit, so it’s something that we can build on tonight, and like I said, the guys are really energized and we’re excited to come out flying tonight.”

Footnotes. Forwards Carl Soderberg and Kiefer Sherwood were scratched after playing in Games 3 and 4. … The Avalanche pairings remained the same. … Veteran Defenseman Erik Johnson, who hasn’t played since Jan. 31 because of an upper-body injury, skated in a regular sweater Tuesday morning but has yet to be cleared.

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Nazem Kadri suspension appeal denied, will sit two more Avalanche games vs. Knights

Kadri can return no earlier than a potential Game 7 on Saturday night in Denver

By KYLE FREDRICKSON | PUBLISHED: June 8, 2021 at 10:05 a.m. | UPDATED: June 8, 2021 at 12:20 p.m.

Nazem Kadri will serve the entirety of his eight-game Avalanche playoff suspension after an independent arbitrator denied his appeal, the NHL announced Tuesday.

Kadri can return no earlier than a potential Game 7 on Saturday in Denver against the Vegas Golden Knights.

“It’s frustrating not to have him,” coach Jared Bednar said on Monday. “But the league made their ruling and we live with it. We’re not the only team facing adversity in the playoffs. Missing guys due to injury, COVID, suspensions; it happens all the time. It’s part of the game. We have to find a way to work around that as a group.

“But he is certainly a guy that we could use and could help us right now.”

Kadri was handed an eight-game NHL suspension on May 21 in Game 2 of Colorado’s first-round series against the Blues. It stemmed from an illegal hit to the head of St. Louis defenseman Justin Faulk. More notable, though, was Kadri’s history of unnecessarily rough play — which has produced five suspensions over 11 NHL seasons (he also had a team suspension in 2015).

The NHL denied Kadri’s initial suspension appeal. League bylaws allow for an independent arbitrator to make a second ruling, which was also denied.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told reporters the team expected an appeal decision Monday, and that no matter the result, it would provide needed “closure” to the situation. Kadri had struggled offensively for Colorado prior to his suspension with just one goal in his last 28 games.

Denver Post: LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189354 Colorado Avalanche defenseman Conor Timmins with a pass but, when the play got broken up, Roy seized the puck along the boards and passed it to teammate Alex Tuch, who was streaking toward the net. The forward beat goalie Avalanche cough away another third period lead in Game 5, leaving their Philipp Grubauer for a goal. season in peril “We have to clean up those plays,” Bednar said. “On the Burakovsky one, he has an out up the boards. Even the cross-ice play he’s trying to make, he has it if he just throws it over there in the air. I don’t think that By Peter Baugh Jun 9, 2021 had to be a tape-to-tape pass in order to hit those guys, and we don’t get it out of the zone.

“They make you pay. That’s what Vegas does.” After darting to the net and flicking a puck past Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury in the third period Tuesday, an elated Mikko Rantanen threw his arms in The Knights did again three minutes later. As Colorado entered the the air. The Avalanche’s home crowd followed his lead. The pompom offensive zone, a Landeskog pass hit off Ryan Graves’ skate, leading to flicking fans erupted in celebration, a decisive Game 5 victory in their an odd-man rush for a Knights second line that had crushed the sight. Avalanche in Las Vegas. Center William Karlsson skated toward Grubauer, then flung a pass to Jonathan Marchessault, who potted the Only the puck didn’t go in. Instead of finding the net, it bounced off iron equalizer. and back onto the ice, away from danger. The cheers faded into groans. “They didn’t get a lot of chances tonight,” Bednar said. “And they made Rantanen’s near-goal encapsulated a gut punch of a night for Colorado: us pay on the ones that they needed to to win the hockey game.” a flash of hope and excitement followed by a cruel awakening. The Avalanche lost 3-2 in overtime, allowing a 2-0 third period lead to slip The Avalanche, meanwhile, couldn’t quite capitalize on opportunities of away — much like their 2-0 series lead — and putting them on the brink their own. After the Knights’ two goals, Colorado pushed back but of their third second-round exit in as many seasons. couldn’t break through. Along with Rantanen’s near-goal, O’Connor got halted on a breakaway by Fleury, and the Vegas netminder barely got a “This is the playoffs,” captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “We lost one at piece of Tyson Jost’s wrister late in the game. The Avalanche got a late home, and now we’ve got to go on the road and win one. Bring it home power play when Shea Theodore was called for delay of game, but the for Game 7.” two minutes fizzled without any quality chances. Landeskog said his team played the right way Tuesday. Coach Jared After a stellar third period, Fleury had a couple big saves left in the tank Bednar agreed. For much of the evening, the Avalanche looked like the when it came to overtime. Landeskog got a puck on net early in the extra better team, forechecking hard, controlling play and not letting Vegas set period, and the shot bounced off the goalie right to Colorado forward J.T. up in Colorado’s defensive zone. Compher. He put it right back on net but Fleury recovered to make the But a few turnovers and a third-period rush for the Golden Knights, and save. Vegas captain Mark Stone said the game should have been over at the game was no longer theirs for the taking. that point, but the Knights goalie saved the day.

“Just a couple bad plays,” said Logan O’Connor, who returned from a Shortly after the save, Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves fired two ill- lower-body injury and collected three shots and seven hits in the game. advised deep shots at the net. Vegas blocked both and, following the “That’s all it really takes against a good team like Vegas.” second, Max Pacioretty seized the puck and sent it to Stone. The captain raced up ice, getting by Graves and wristing a shot past Grubauer. He let This was a game a championship-level team needs to find a way to win. out a scream as Pacioretty mobbed him. On the other side of the net, And if the Avalanche can’t regroup quickly — as the best clubs are able Graves knelt, dejected. to do — they’ll have to wait another season to get a crack at the Stanley Cup. Now the Avalanche return to Vegas, where they got dismantled in Games 3 and 4, for Game 6 on Thursday. Bednar’s message to the team Colorado entered Tuesday coming off two painful losses in Vegas. The was clear: play the exact same way but cut out the costly mistakes. Avalanche got outplayed in Game 3 but still managed to hold a lead with less than six minutes to go. Then Vegas scored two goals in 45 seconds, Anything less will lead to a dominant season — one that saw Colorado taking the contest and wrenching control of the series away from win the Presidents’ Trophy for best record in the league — cut short in Colorado. Bednar called on more from his star players after the game, the playoffs. but the Avalanche got dominated once again in Game 4 on Sunday, “We don’t have much time to do anything but rebound,” Landeskog said. leaving the series tied. Added Bednar: “We have no choice but to go get it done.” Searching for a spark, Bednar made adjustments. He tweaked every line ahead of Game 5, took advantage of favorable matchups on home ice, The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 inserted a pair of young forwards and — perhaps most controversially — stuck with struggling defenseman Patrik Nemeth.

And the moves worked. Brandon Saad, moved to the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Rantanen, managed to fling a shot around Vegas defenseman Alec Martinez and into the net with less than two seconds left in the first period. The bottom three lines worked well together, too; the team outchanced Vegas 28-15 in total, per Natural Stat Trick. O’Connor and rookie Alex Newhook, the forwards who entered the lineup, each had productive nights, and Nemeth, who cost Colorado with two bad turnovers in Game 4, teamed with Newhook to assist Joonas Donskoi’s second-period goal.

“I loved the way we played tonight,” Bednar said. “I thought we were the aggressors. We were on our toes. We played to win the hockey game. We were playing to win the hockey game. We played to our identity.”

But, much like in Game 3, a quick stretch in the final period sunk Colorado. Turnovers, Bednar said, were the only parts of his team’s game he didn’t like. Because of them, the 2-0 lead the Avalanche built over 40 minutes of quality hockey vanished as abruptly as a thunderstorm.

The first mistake came a minute into the third period when Vegas’ Nicolas Roy took advantage of an Andre Burakovsky turnover in the Avalanche’s defensive zone. The Colorado forward had tried to hit 1189355 Colorado Avalanche What’s rare is Colorado being on the other side of that: This season, it happened just twice. Jan. 13 and April 12. That’s it, two months ago and three months apart. The last time before that was Feb. 8, 2020, meaning Despite the series being tied, it’s the Golden Knights who have been that it’s happened just three times over the team’s past 89 games. To dominating the Avalanche even do it once to this team is remarkable. Vegas just did it three times in a row.

It’s crazy enough that the Golden Knights are doing this against By Dom Luszczyszyn Jun 8, 2021 Colorado, but the fact of the matter is that it’s crazy they’re doing it all. In the playoffs, it’s very rare for one team to be that dominant over another.

There are obvious mismatches and lopsided games every postseason, It’s difficult to fathom just how quickly and dramatically the balance of but those performances are still relatively rare given the many power has shifted in the West, a series between two heavyweight teams adjustments made in-series to counter big blows. Colorado hasn’t had an that’s looked anything but. answer for Vegas.

On the surface, it seems tight with the series knotted at two games Of the 2,470 playoff games since 2007-08, two of the games (Games 3 apiece and only two total goals separating the clubs. But anyone who’s and 4) were comfortably inside the top 100 most lopsided at five-on-five, watched the series will tell you it’s been bafflingly one-sided. After getting while the other (Game 2) was just outside. All three landed in the 95th blown out in the opener, Vegas has owned Colorado, making the percentile or higher with Game 3 being the most absurd. On a per-60 league’s top team look like it doesn’t even belong in the same rink. basis, only two other playoff games had a more lopsided expected goal differential than what Vegas was able to earn against Colorado in Game That it happened after a demoralizing 7-1 loss, where Vegas looked like 3. the team that didn’t belong, makes it all the more perplexing. It was difficult for anyone to see Game 1 coming, but after it happened, many Funny enough, the game at the top was one Vegas played last season figured Vegas would be in a tough spot going forward. Very tough. against Vancouver in the bubble and one right below is one Colorado Instead, the Golden Knights have put on an absolute clinic since, played against Arizona. And that’s exactly what’s meant by Vegas completely capturing all the momentum of the series. It’s now getting making Colorado look like it doesn’t belong in the same rink: The very difficult to imagine Colorado crafting a worthy response with the way Avalanche are getting dominated to the same extent as two non-playoff- Vegas seemingly has an answer to everything the Avalanche throw at it. caliber teams were last year against actual contenders. Can the Avalanche shift the momentum back in their favor, or were the The degree is bad enough, but it’s the consistency too: Three straight past three games a sign of things to come? games of pure domination does not happen often during the postseason. It’s helpful to examine just how much the Golden Knights dominated the Teams usually trade blows or find a way to adjust in-series — it’s Avalanche and how other teams managed after similar beatdowns. extremely rare for one team to seem like it has completely solved another from a scoring chance perspective. There’s game-to-game variability, but Colorado entered the postseason as a heavy Stanley Cup favorite as a that hasn’t been the case here where Vegas and Colorado have followed result of an absurdly dominant regular season. The Avalanche owned the a similar script for three straight games. puck like no team before them, earning a 61 percent expected goals rate at five-on-five during the regular season. The previous high since 2007- Since 2007-08, there have been nearly 1,600 distinct three-game 08 was 58 percent by the 2014 Sharks. Colorado annihilated the stretches (distinct means games can overlap, so Games 1 to 3 and 2 to 4 previous best, imposing its will on any team that stood in its way. That would both be distinct even though they share two games) of playoff includes Vegas and it’s why the Avalanche were also relatively heavy hockey. Only 54 (3.3 percent) saw a team average minus-1 expected favorites in this series. goal difference of worse. Only eight (0.5 percent) managed it in three straight games. This is extremely rarified air. Over the past three games, it hasn’t played out that way with Vegas flat out dominating Colorado at even strength. It hasn’t even been close To Colorado’s credit, four of the seven other instances were also against since the Game 1 debacle with Vegas at least doubling up Colorado in Vegas, all last year in the bubble. The Golden Knights did the same thing expected goals in each of the past three games, earning an expected to Chicago in Games 2, 3 and 4 and then completely ran roughshod over goal difference north of one in three straight games. Vancouver, doing it in Games 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (and also Game 1 too). Perhaps the scoring chance dominance says more about Vegas than it Game 2 does about whoever its opponent is, but there should be a very meaningful difference between Colorado and last year’s brutal 2.2-0.9 Vegas (+1.3) Blackhawks and Canucks teams, right? Colorado hasn’t shown that over Game 3 the past three games of the series, and that’s the scary part.

4.0-1.2 Vegas (+2.8) It’s not just that Vegas has made the Avalanche look like the lowly Canucks or Blackhawks, it’s that the Golden Knights have made them Game 4 look worse. In Chicago’s worst three-game stretch against Vegas last season, the Blackhawks had an average expected goal differential of 3.1-1.5 Vegas (+1.6) minus-1.37. Vancouver was even worse at minus-1.89, with another In total, the expected goals in those three games were 9.3 to 3.6 in favor stretch at minus-1.8. Those two Canucks three-game sets were the worst of Vegas, almost perfectly mirroring the actual goal total of 8-3. three-game sets since 2007-08 … until now. That honor now, somehow, Expectations met reality, and the series is tied as a result. belongs to Colorado.

Even the best teams get outplayed every once in a while and it’s Let me just repeat that as I’m still not sure many can grasp what we just especially common against Vegas in particular — but not Colorado, not witnessed in the previous three games of this series. in this fashion, and not by this much. It’s an extreme rarity in more ways The Colorado Avalanche, owners of the best expected goals percentage than one. Based on data since 2007-08, what we just witnessed was in the analytics era, just had the worst three-game playoff stretch by relatively unprecedented for any team let alone the Avalanche, who expected goals in the analytics era. It absolutely boggles the mind and in looked like the pinnacle of puck possession for the entire season. a postseason where a lot of things haven’t made much sense, this is by The key cutoff line used here is an expected goal differential of one. Yes, far the most nonsensical thing to happen. Vegas deserves every ounce it’s arbitrary, but it’s also tidy and makes for a decent measuring stick of of credit for this performance. Dominant doesn’t justify it. dominant or not. One extra expected goal worth of chances is usually So, what now for the Avalanche? Have the Golden Knights found their more than enough to have a significant edge in a game. kryptonite or can Colorado take back the momentum of this series? This season, the Avalanche had 21 games where they out-chanced The series is far from over. In fact, it’s tied at two. The sky hasn’t fallen opponents by at least one expected goal. They won 20 of those games. yet, even if it really feels like it based on just how completely outclassed That’s 38 percent of their season when they owned the puck and they Colorado has been over the past three games. But those results are made it count in the standings. Possessing the puck and dominating the obviously far from encouraging. There’s an adage that momentum scoring chance share is their bread and butter. doesn’t carry over from game to game in the postseason, but it obviously hasn’t felt like it here, and in extreme cases, it is generally very difficult to come back from.

In looking into every three-game set from the past decade-plus in the playoffs, I also looked into what happened in the next game: Did the dominance continue or was the other team able to flip the switch? The results weren’t very promising for Colorado.

Of the 54 teams to average minus-1 expected goal difference or worse over a three-game stretch, 31 played another game after. Of those 31, only 20 percent ended up winning the series and only 32 percent had a positive expected goal differential in the next game. It means continuation is likely and it usually means the end of a team’s playoffs, too.

The degree of lopsidedness is lessened though and that gives some room for hope as those 31 teams went from an average of minus-1.25 to an average of minus-0.4. The next game might be bad in terms of scoring chance share, but it shouldn’t be nearly as bad — though the sheer volume of series losses is striking (even with a few double-ups from the same series). That the Golden Knights are on here seven times is also not encouraging.

The change in expected goal differential is a 68 percent decrease, which falls almost exactly in line with the plotted relationship between the two variables. The relationship itself is very weak, but there’s still enough of one where getting dominated over three games usually means that the next game will also likely be a losing battle in terms of expected goals, albeit a smaller one. It might not mean much in a close series, but at the extremes, it can be telling and that’s easy to see given two-thirds of past lopsided series stayed on that side of the ledger in the following game. Based on the relationship, expect a team to retain roughly 31 percent of its prior three-game dominance in the following game.

That’s not a great sign for the Avalanche, who would wind up all the way to the left on the above chart where there are very few peers and very few teams that found a way to flip the switch.

The reason for that is most of the teams getting outplayed were poor teams. We know enough about the Avalanche from the 61 prior games to know they’re anything but. They have a gear they haven’t been able to show yet in this series, and eight games against the Golden Knights during the season series showed the team is just as capable of tilting the ice the other way.

In that vein, it might be more apt to look at exceptions to the rule and one in particular really sticks out: The 2014 Kings-Sharks series, an opening- round bout between two Stanley Cup contenders. We all remember how the first three games went for San Jose, taking a 3-0 lead with some lopsided results, but the underlying numbers were just as stark. The Sharks averaged a plus-0.94 expected goal difference against the Kings over the first three games. The Kings looked done from the outside, but they had other ideas. Los Angeles actually lost the expected goals battle again in Game 4, but the 6-3 score was more than telling. That’s when the Kings found their extra gear with their best five-on-five game of the series in Game 5 and two narrow edges in their favor to close out the series. They averaged a minus-0.9 expected goal differential through the first four games and plus-0.5 through the final three.

That’s the kind of energy Colorado needs in the final three games of the series, and lucky for the Avalanche, they don’t have to win four straight, just two of the final three. It’s more than possible, but it starts with some in-series adjustments toward figuring out what Vegas is doing to stifle them and how to counter it.

Colorado has a very strong team and some sharp minds behind it. There are some big-game players too who are more than capable of rising to the occasion. While the odds of a turnaround aren’t in their favor based on how past series have transpired, it’s feasible to expect an elite contender to have a strong counterpunch after getting their teeth knocked in for three straight games.

The Avs have the capability to be an exception to the rule, and I’d expect much better in Game 5. Their season depends on it.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189356 Colorado Avalanche The line’s efficiency has decreased against Vegas, though. Their expected goal rate is just below break-even. They haven’t created as much offense as they’re known for and have allowed more against.

‘They’re frustrated, for sure’: How Nathan MacKinnon’s Avalanche top MacKinnon and Rantanen have an expected goals rate of just 34 percent line has been neutralized — a deep dive over the past three games. Landeskog, whom Bednar split from that top line at points in the third period of Game 3 and replaced with Andre Burakovsky, is even lower at 30.6 percent. By Shayna Goldman and Peter Baugh Jun 8, 2021 That comes after an outstanding start to the postseason from MacKinnon, specifically, who tallied eight goals and 12 points in all situations in his first five playoff games. His unblocked shot attempt After the Colorado Avalanche opened their long-anticipated second- equated to an individual expected goal value of 5.08 that not only led the round series against the Vegas Golden Knights with a 7-1 thrashing in postseason to that point but would still stand as the best (though through Game 1, it was on the Knights to make adjustments. They did, and the eight games now, MacKinnon is up to an individual expected goal total of result has been a 180 in the momentum of the series. The Avalanche 6.2). escaped with a win in Game 2, but their star-studded top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen has been Over that clip of games at five-on-five, MacKinnon earned a 62 percent contained, if not shut down, since the series-opening onslaught. expected goals rate. And the Avalanche had yet to allow an even- strength goal with him on the ice, outscoring their opponents 8-0 through Now, following two losses in Vegas, the series is tied 2-2, and it’s those five games. His box score stats and metrics combined for an Avalanche coach Jared Bednar and his players’ turn to make average game score of 3.38, which was the best in the league after adjustments. Game 1 of Round 2. All of that contributed to his high marks in The “This is the way a series goes,” forward Brandon Saad said. “That’s why Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn’s Conn Smyth watch. they call it a series.” A lot has changed over the last three games, though. Added Bednar: “It’s not unique to our series where a team catches When looking at the series as a whole, which includes Colorado smoking momentum and starts to go. Now it’s up to us to go take it from them.” Vegas in Game 1, the Avalanche aren’t driving play with their best How can they do that? Where are adjustments most needed? And what players on the ice. While the team has created some shots in front of the has happened to the MacKinnon line, which scored a combined 70 goals net and from the left circle with MacKinnon deployed (and by proxy, in the regular season but has zero five-on-five goals in the past 10 typically Rantanen and Landeskog, who have been on the ice for 92 and periods of hockey? 86 percent of his ice time, respectively), they’re still lacking.

Let’s dive in. Via HockeyViz

The Avalanche dominated at five-on-five through much of the season, Even when a player as skilled as MacKinnon can get to the middle of the but their even-strength play has slipped this series, both in the offensive ice, where much of the blue is in the heat map above, the Golden Knights and defensive zones. are more than willing to jump in front of the puck.

Defensively, Colorado was one of the NHL’s best teams this season at The green “AB” markers in the Natural Stat Trick shot map below show limiting shots and quality chances against. The HockeyViz heat map the elite center’s shot attempts that were blocked by their opponent so far below on the left shows where the Avalanche were most able to this series. Vegas led the league with 140 blocks in all situations in suppress shots, highlighting those areas in blue. Colorado hasn’t been Round 1, and so far in Round 2, they’ve accumulated 68 blocks, 57 of able to maintain that against Vegas. The Golden Knights have exploited which have come at five-on-five: the Avalanche since Game 2 and are driving right to the middle of the Shot blocking has been a key part of their game throughout the season. ice, as shown by the red ink on the right heat map: Alec Martinez is the most frequent shot blocker in the league and Alex Via HockeyViz Pietrangelo is up there, too. Brayden McNabb, who returned to the lineup in Game 4, is also more than willing to get in front of a screaming puck. What’s hurting Colorado even more in this series — and is uncharacteristic after a dominant regular season — is that their offense is Bednar, who noted his squad was out of sync, wants the team to shoot suffering at five-on-five, too. quicker and find open lanes that can spark a flurry of shots. Their opponent, after all, conceded shots right in that net-front area and has The heat map below on the left once again shows the regular season, struggled to limit second chances and rebounds this season. with the Avalanche’s shot generation highlighted in red. Now, playing against a stingy Vegas team that blocks shots and closes lanes, that “We’re getting in some areas where we can shoot, and we’re just taking a offense has been held out of similar scoring areas at even strength, as split second too long,” Bednar said. shown by the blue areas on the right heat map. Between the regular “Getting it by that first layer and giving your guys a chance at or around season and Round 2, their expected goal generation has decreased by the net (is important). It doesn’t have to be a shot that goes in, but a about 1.2 per 60 minutes, from 2.77 to 1.59. playable puck around the net can help you create some chaos and attack Via HockeyViz points on the ice.”

Those offensive woes start at the top, with a MacKinnon-centered trio Adjustments are crucial after these past few games, especially after that helped drive the team to this point. Landeskog, the captain, said they Vegas made changes to its game to counteract its opponent. needed to be better after Game 3, but the line combined for only five To limit their Colorado from using its speed and skill to dominate shots in Game 4. possession and create quality chances, the Golden Knights have “They’re frustrated, for sure,” Bednar said after the loss. tightened up their game in the neutral zone and leaned into a chippier style that relies on forechecking aggressively and winning board battles. Through more than 500 five-on-five minutes this regular season, the Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen line was one of the league’s best. With “I felt like they were getting through the neutral zone too easy on us and their top line on the ice during the regular season, the Avalanche took spending a lot more time in our zone than we did in theirs. That’s hard to about 68 percent of the shot attempts, and the team rocked a 66 percent play against,” Landeskog said. expected goals rate. The line produced 4.14 goals per 60 minutes, which “For us, the neutral zone is a big part of the game, and especially in was among the league’s best. The team didn’t allow much defensively these tight playoff games. We need to make sure we make the with this line on the ice, either, in large part because they were so adjustments necessary to be better there.” frequently in possession of the puck. The offensive matchups also changed after the opening game of the Via HockeyViz series. In Game 1, the MacKinnon line primarily faced off against the Vegas second line of Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith. In approximately six head-to-head minutes at five-on-five during that game, the Avalanche’s top line had no problems against the Karlsson line, out-attempting Vegas 8-0 in that time and outscoring the Knights 2-0.

The Avalanche still had home ice and last change in Game 2, but the forward matchups shifted. After Game 1, the Golden Knights’ top line of Max Pacioretty, Chandler Stephenson and Mark Stone has played a big part in slowing Colorado’s No. 1 line.

Like Colorado’s top line, Vegas’ Stone line is among the best in the league. And since being reunited upon Pacioretty’s Game 7 return in Round 1, they’ve been one of the best trios in the postseason. They shut down the MacKinnon line at even strength in Game 2, so the Golden Knights actively deployed them when they gained home ice in their next two meetings.

Once again, they were able to manage Colorado’s best.

That line was a tough matchup for the Avalanche in the regular season, too, even though Colorado outscored Vegas 3-2 while MacKinnon and Stone were on the ice together (about 42 five-on-five minutes). Colorado conceded more unblocked shots than it created in that stretch and lost the quality chance battle.

Meanwhile, with MacKinnon on against Karlsson and the Vegas second line in the regular season, Colorado outscored its opponent 3-2, but the numbers below the surface were far more encouraging. The Avalanche generated about 64 percent of the unblocked shot attempts and 62 percent of the expected goal share.

So, with the series heading back to Denver, last change should be a difference-maker.

“It’s important,” Bednar said Monday. “Their lines are going 1-4, and they’re a lot to handle, all four of them. So we need everybody going, not just the MacKinnon line. … Their (offensive) production is coming from that second line of Karlsson now. They’ve been doing a good job against all four of our lines right now. (We’re) trying to find the right matchup that we like and that can shut down that line is going to be important.”

Aiming for more favorable matchups is just one part of the task. As Bednar noted, “They have all four lines chipping in, so we’re going to have to be sharp all the way through our lineup.”

There are also challenges past the forwards. Vegas has two tough defensive pairs that MacKinnon’s line has had to face off against. Shea Theodore is an elite two-way defender who has kept up his strong regular-season play in the postseason, whether he’s been next to mainstay shutdown partner McNabb or Nick Holden, who filled in when McNabb was on the COVID-19 protocol list. Theodore limited MacKinnon to a 17 percent expected goal rate in 14 minutes of five-on-five ice time in Game 3 while paired with Holden, and 28 percent in Game 4 with McNabb.

And if Theodore’s not out there, the top line still has to stare down the Martinez-Pietrangelo pairing.

“I think we all know what we need to do better and we all know that we need to be better,” Landeskog said. “We all need to step up. And leadership definitely needs to step up. That’s the way it is in any game following a loss. Simple as that.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189357 Colorado Avalanche If Vegas smells blood — or nerves — in Graves’ defensive game on Thursday, they’ll look to take advantage.

Andre Burakovsky Deen’s List: Avalanche blow 2-0 lead in Game 5 and the series, head to Vegas facing elimination Turnover notwithstanding, forward Andre Burakovsky has struggled mightily. When you account for the turnover it’s about the worst game he’s had since joining the Avalanche.

By Aarif Deen - June 8, 2021 Burakovsky was unable to get the puck out of the zone and it led to Vegas’ opening goal just 1:03 into the third period. He also failed to record a shot and has just three shots in five games in the series. Call it a tough break, a gut punch or a choke job. It doesn’t matter. To make matters worse, Burakovsky has yet to score this postseason What matters is the Avalanche are facing elimination heading into a and has just three assists. The 2020 Burakovsky, who was a stud in the hostile T-Mobile Arena for Game 6 after losing three consecutive games Edmonton playoff bubble, is what the Avs need. to the high-flying Vegas Golden Knights. Clean up the turnovers and lets see more of that finesse Burky shot. Just like they did in the series, the Avs blew a 2-0 lead in Game 5 — often considered the worst lead in hockey — to fall behind 3-2 in Cale Makar overtime and the series. And with this loss coming at Ball Arena, have He hasn’t had a terrible series by any means but he’s got more. A lot relinquished home-ice advantage in the process. more.

Can they rebound? maybe. But it’s going to take a full 60-minute effort. Makar is of the best defenseman in the NHL. But he has not pitched in Because 40 minutes, or as Avs coach Jared Bednar called it, “a bad 10 much offensively since his four-point outburst in Game 1. Makar has two seconds in the third period” can wash away a two-goal lead in a flash. assists during this three-game slide and like the rest of the Avalanche’s “We lost one at home now we gotta go into Vegas and win one and bring top weapons, has not had many good looks at the goal. it home for Game 7,” said Avs captain Gabe Landeskog. Things need to change in Game 6 to bring it back home for a winner- Easier said that done. The Golden Knights stymied the Avalanche in a take-all matchup. All they need is a couple of Makar-MacKinnon way they hadn’t seen all season in both Games 3 and 4 at T-Mobile powerhouse connections to get them there. Arena last week. They outshot Colorado by a combined 40 shots and milehighsports.com LOADED: 06.09.2021 watched as the Avs’ star players failed to generate much of anything.

“Good teams find a way.” Avs forward Logan O’Connor said after returning to the lineup for the first time since March 31.

They sure do. Just like Vegas has after dropping the first two games of this series.

It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be a grind. But if the Avalanche want yet another crack at a second round Game 7 matchup at Ball Arena on Saturday, they’ll have to go into Vegas and steal a win on the road. Just like Mark Stone and his Knights did Thursday.

Here are five players that can help make that hypothetical a reality.

The Deen’s List:

Nathan MacKinnon

This one’s easy. Very easy. Because the Avalanche’s superstar center and early favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy just a week ago has suddenly gone missing for the third consecutive game.

MacKinnon started the playoffs with eight goals in five games after an unstoppable showing in the first round and in the opening game of this series. But since then, he has zero points and just nine shots.

Good teams need depth to win. Great teams use that depth and have their top guns step up when they’re needed. This is MacKinnon’s time to shine.

Gabe Landeskog

He was demoted from the top line Thursday after Bednar shuffled the lineup and replaced by the suddenly hot Brandon Saad.

The fire Landeskog showed against St. Louis, the energy he brought in Game 1 and much of Game 2 has since been extinguished.

The Avalanche need their captain more than ever. Whether on the scoresheet or on the front lines on this juggernaut battle. Even more so after Vegas’ captain, Mark Stone, worked his tail off on the final play of the game to score the game-winning goal with his gas tank on empty.

That’s what captains do.

Ryan Graves

He doesn’t play big minutes but he’s a factor in the sense that pucks die on his stick. At least that’s what it looked like on Tuesday.

Not only did Graves struggle on two of Vegas’ goals, but he also had a number of chances to score and instead shot the puck into an opposing player. His inability to get the puck to the net hurt the Avs. 1189358 Colorado Avalanche meaning he has a lot of jump in his skates early on. If you want to take a flier on an exotic bet, this could be one that makes some sense.

FanDuel Sportsbook Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Game 5 Odds, Prediction, Pick (June 8, 2021) States: CO, PA, NJ, IA, IN, IL, TN, VA, MI and WV

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Bets We Like With a Golden Knights Win

This series between the top two teams in hockey may be tied, but there’s Reilly Smith OVER 0.5 points (+132, FanDuel) OR William Karlsson no doubt that Vegas has been the better team. After enduring a beat OVER 0.5 points (+110 FanDuel) OR Jonathan Marchessault OVER 0.5 down in Game 1 on short rest against a well-rested Avalanche squad, the points (+104, FanDuel) Golden Knights have outplayed Colorado, and would be up 3-1 in this series were it not for a lack of discipline that gave Colorado six power It’s rare that we offer three different props associated with a bet linking to play opportunities in Game 2. a team victory, but in this instance it makes perfect sense to do so. The Golden Knights have won the last two games because their second line Let’s take a look at the Game 5 matchup between Colorado and Vegas of Smith, Karlsson and Marchessault have been difference-makers. from a betting perspective in our Golden Knights vs. Avalanche betting Without them, Colorado probably would have swept this series. The trio preview with odds, picks and predictions. has combined for 10 points in the last two games with Marchessault registering a hat trick in Game 4. Vegas needs them to keep producing to BETMGM win. If you like Vegas to keep the momentum going in Game 5, then STATES: CO, IN, IA, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, WV, VA adding any or all of these guys as side bets could bring you great value.

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But, the series shifts back to Colorado now, where the Avalanche simply GET THE APPSIGNUP BONUSBET $1, WIN $100 have the magic touch. Colorado is 26-4-2 at Ball Arena this season, NBA 100-1 ODDSBET NOW including the playoffs, are are 20-0-1 in their last 21 games at home, with that one overtime loss coming at the hands of the Golden Knights, way Bets We Like Independent of Outcome back on March 27. UNDER 5.5 goals (-122, DraftKings) The challenge for Colorado will be finding a way to control possession. Vegas has dominated the puck and played more in the Colorado end of The Under is only .500 in this series so far, but it’s likely going to be the the rink than vice versa. Only great goaltending from Vezina finalist bet to place in the next 2-3 games, depending on how long this series Philipp Grubauer has kept the Avalanche in the last three games of this goes. Things are going to only tighten up more and scoring chances are series. They’ll need more of that from him, but also have to find a way to going to be fewer and more far between. There’s a reason it’s -122 – the solve the Vegas system that clogs shooting lanes and doesn’t yield many oddsmakers know where the line of demarcation is for games in this opportunities at all at even strength. series – and this is it.

Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Game 5 Betting Pick (June 8, 2021) Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Game 5 Prediction

The Avalanche can’t just rest on their laurels and assume that heading Colorado worked their butts off at the end of the season to get the home home will cure all ills. While being a dominate home team is a more ice advantage for the entire playoffs, but specifically they wanted it for mental than something measurable, it can also be a detriment if the team this series. The Avalanche hasn’t played their best game yet and they gets overconfident. probably need to tonight. They have to view this as a must win game, because they don’t want to be facing elimination in Vegas on Thursday There was no practice for Colorado on Monday, but coach Jared Bednar night. As such, we believe they’ll find a way, and do it in a very tight did hint at some changes. Maybe a lineup change. Maybe a line shuffle. game. The point is, the Avalanche will have to focus on doing things right and just can’t rely on the fact that they haven’t lost a home game in more than Pick: Avalanche 2, Golden Knights 1 two months be the reason to expect a different outcome. milehighsports.com LOADED: 06.09.2021 That said, there is something about this team playing in Colorado that can’t be completely dismissed. It could simply be a matchups thing, where Bednar gets his best players on the ice in favorable situations, which generates more chances and ultimately more goals.

Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Game 5 Odds

Here are the lines for Avalanche vs. Golden Knights at DraftKings Sportsbook:

Team Spread Moneyline Total

Golden Knights +1.5 (-210) +127 O 5.5 (-103)

Avalanche -1.5 (+175) -148 U 5.5 (-120)

Bets We Like With an Avalanche Win

Brandon Saad OVER 0.5 goals (+270, FanDuel)

Saad is having a great playoff. He has six goals in eight games for the Avalanche and has scored a goal in each of the last five games in which the Avalanche were favored. He is definitely a depth forward for Colorado, but has been able to take advantage of some mismatches to get high-scoring chances and cashing in.

Another interesting bet for Saad is or him to score the first goal of the game (+1400, DraftKings). He’s done it twice in the last five games, 1189359 Colorado Avalanche It worked, with Saad scoring with 1.8 seconds left in the first period on a shot that appeared to cross up Fleury. Saad has now scored in seven of Colorado’s nine postseason games.

Stone scores early in OT, Knights beat Avs 3-2 in Game 5 Donskoi made it 2-0 late in the second on a pinpoint pass from rookie Alex Newhook, who was reinserted into the lineup after sitting out the last two games. By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer Jun 8, 2021 "We don’t have much time to do anything but rebound,” Landeskog said. "We’ve got to go into Vegas and win a hockey game. It’s as simple as that.” DENVER (AP) — Mark Stone blocked a shot on the defensive end and by the time he spun around, a pass was waiting for him with nothing but BACK IN ACTION clear sailing ahead. Returning to the lineup for Vegas was Mattias Janmark, who was hurt on A burst of speed — even as tired as he was — and a wrist shot later, he a check from defenseman Ryan Graves in Game 1. Back for Colorado was being mobbed along the boards by teammates. was forward Logan O’Connor, who hasn’t played since since March 31 due to a lower-body injury. The captain to the rescue. SUSPENSION UPHELD Stone scored on a breakaway 50 seconds into overtime as the Vegas Golden Knights overcame a two-goal deficit to beat the Colorado Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri saw his eight-game Avalanche 3-2 on Tuesday night and take a 3-2 lead in their second- suspension for an illegal hit in the St. Louis series upheld by an arbitrator round series. hours before Game 5. Kadri will be eligible to return if there's a Game 7.

“He was exhausted and you saw how hard he skated all the way down AROUND THE RINK the ice,” teammate Alex Tuch said. “He’s the heart and soul on this team. He wears his character on his chest. He’s the captain we’ve always Vegas F Ryan Reaves was a scratch. ... There was a shout-out on the wanted. It was a huge goal.” video screen to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who was named the NBA MVP on Tuesday. Max Pacioretty corralled the puck after two blocked shots on that end and fed it to Stone, who was off to the races. Stone beat Philipp LOADED: 06.09.2021 Grubauer on the glove side to hush what had been a boisterous crowd.

“That was vintage Mark Stone,” Vegas coach Pete DeBoer said. “Big- time play to win it for us.”

Trailing 2-0 entering the third, the Golden Knights found another gear with Tuch scoring 1:03 into the period and Jonathan Marchessault tying it up just 3:04 later.

Really, though, it was the Marc-Andre Fleury Show, with the Vegas goaltender stopping 28 shots, many of the sensational variety. He stuffed J.T. Compher just 10 seconds into the extra period.

“Fleury makes a big stop there. It happened bang, bang,” captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “He’s able to get a piece of it. It didn’t go our way tonight.”

Fleury picked up playoff win No. 88, which ties him with Billy Smith and Ed Belfour for the fourth-most in NHL history. It was also Fleury's 12th career playoff overtime win, which trails only Tuukka Rask (15) and Braden Holtby (14) for most among active goaltenders, according to NHL Stats.

“He’s a Vezina candidate for a reason,” Stone said of Fleury, who's up for the league's top goaltender award. “He’s the Vezina winner in my opinion for a reason and he stayed strong throughout the whole game."

Colorado appeared in command after a 2-0 lead courtesy of Brandon Saad's goal late in the first and another from Joonas Donskoi in the second. The Avalanche couldn’t make it stand as their 13-game home winning streak was snapped. It’s a string that dated to March 27 — an overtime loss to Vegas.

The Golden Knights are in the driver’s seat, with the winner of Game 5 going on to take the series 78.8% of the time when a best-of-seven series is tied at two games.

Game 6 is Thursday at Vegas.

“The biggest cliché in the playoffs is the toughest game to win is the fourth one,” said Stone, whose team has won three straight. “We’re gonna have to regroup and get ready for that one.”

It was another big performance from Marchessault. He had a hat trick in Game 4.

Grubauer, who's been dominant at home, finished with 22 saves. He's lost only two of his last 19 games at Ball Arena — both in overtime.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar switched up his lines in an effort to generate more energy and production. He paired Saad, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen on the top line, while moving Landeskog to the second unit. 1189360 Colorado Avalanche making smart plays, nothing flashy, but subtly important. He played few minutes but certainly pulled his weight tonight.

Joonas Donskoi (B-) – Joonas Donskoi was the beneficiary of great Avs Game 5 Grades: Pain. sustained O-zone pressure by his line late in the second period to put the Avs up 2-0. That newly-formed fourth line was pretty solid all night long. I thought Donskoi played with good pace tonight, too. By Scott MacDonald Defense

Devon Toews (B+) – He finished with a team-leading +2, five takeaways, Brandon Saad (B) – Brandon Saad continues to lead the charge for the and assist and a couple shots on goal in 25 minutes of ice time. I thought Avalanche. That’s exactly what he was brought to Denver for. He’s that he was activating and pushing the pace throughout the night. veteran presence that is a requisite of the NHL playoffs. He scores his seventh goal of the playoffs tonight, and now has six goals in his last Cale Makar (B) – One of the messages preached during the Avs come- seven games. He was also credited with two giveaways though. to-Jesus team meeting after getting thoroughly out-worked by Vegas in Game 3 was for the D to help out their offense and activate more. What Nathan MacKinnon (B-) – MacKinnon looked like a man possessed Cale Makar did tonight was all of that. He was flying and making plays tonight. That’s the Nathan MacKinnon the Avalanche have been missing left and right. He generated three shots on goal, but finishes with a team- for much of the series against Vegas. He was cutting through the ice, leading three giveaways, as well. makings plays, creating chances, winning a good majority of his face- offs. It just wasn’t good enough tonight though. Like his new linemate, Ryan Graves (C-) – Tough break on the OT-winner for Ryan Graves. He MacKinnon was also credited with two giveaways. had both of his shot attempts blocked, leading to the game-winning Mark Stone breakaway less than a minute into overtime. Mikko Rantanen (B-) – Was *this* close to scoring in the first period, and then seconds later was penalized for interference for “kicking” the stick of Sam Girard (C-) – I haven’t been exactly impressed with Sam Girard’s Marc-Andre Fleury. Not so sure about that one, stripes. But the game play these past few games. He’s been relatively quiet and not as involved goes on. The Avs couldn’t buy a power play tonight. in the game as I’d like to see, seemingly frantic and indecisive with the puck. Tonight, I thought he ramped up his physical play a bit at least. He Gabe Landeskog (C+) – I really liked his line tonight. Landeskog was led the backend with five hits. leading the way in the physicality department (team-leading 8 hits tonight) and the led the forwards in ice time, too. He finished with a -2. Patrik Nemeth (C-) – Wasn’t his worse game, by far, in the series. Landeskog is now -5 in the last three games of this series. The most Nemeth picks up his first point of the postseason, and, believe it or not, costly “minus” was his giveaway that led to the Knights’ tying goal. he’s a +3 in the playoffs.

J.T. Compher (B+) – J.T. Compher had a great game tonight. I’ve haven’t Conor Timmins (C+) – I love the confidence that Conor Timmins is said that statement very often this postseason. I think putting Compher playing with recently, especially on such a big stage. He’s holding onto with Landeskog was a great idea. Compher needs a guy like Landeskog the puck more, not afraid to stickhandle a little more, he’s making crisp to lead the reins a bit I think. Compher was generating chances all night accurate, patient passes. Keep it up, kid. long and nearly ended the damn thing 10 seconds in OT. Philipp Grubauer (C) – It certainly wasn’t Grubauer’s best game by any “That’s the margin in these playoffs,” Landeskog said of Compher’s near- means. His glove was too slow on Mark Stone’s snipe, but his goal after the game. teammates hung him out to dry for Vegas’ first two goals.

Val Nichushkin (B+) – Big Val played a heavy, heavy game tonight. He Colorado hockey now LOADED: 06.09.2021 had his legs under him too. He led the team with five shots on goal tonight. On the defensive side of things, he was the Avs best forward. He chipped in five hits and two takeaways.

Logan O’Connor (A-) – Man, I’ve missed Logan O’Connor. I say it just about every time I watch him play, but the kid’s all-heart. And I say it so often because he’s that consistent. He’s that boost of energy the Avalanche need in the postseason. Someone who not only finishes all of his checks, but seeks them out. It’s a damn shame he wasn’t around for the whole Vegas series. This could’ve been a different series. I’m telling you, he can be that much of a difference-maker.

Tyson Jost (A) – Was *this* to making SportsCenter Top-10 with his trot to the net early in the second period, inches away from giving the Avs a 2-0 lead. But alas. That’s the margin in these playoffs.

I thought, overall, Tyson Jost played a great game. He kicked it into high- gear tonight and was generating chances most every shift.

Andre Burakovsky (C-) – A brutal giveaway early in the third cut the Avs lead to 2-1. It surely swung the momentum in the direction of Vegas, no doubt. But he wasn’t the only one turning pucks over tonight.

Either way, Burakovsky is a guy that hasn’t impressed me much this series—or, really, for a good portion of the postseason, for that matter. He’s turned over a lot of pucks so far, and Colorado’s needed his depth scoring this playoffs, and he’s fallen short.

Alex Newhook (C) – Alex Newhook now has five points and is a +6 in his first dozen National Hockey League games. He’s not there yet, but Newhook has the ability to be a mainstay, top-six center for this Avalanche team for a long, long time. He’s looked better than average in every game he’s played in his young career. Newhook played just over six minutes tonight, and I wouldn’t exactly say he was a difference-maker in tonight’s game.

P-E Bellemare (C) – He made a couple of nice shot blocks, in what I’d say is a vintage Bellemare game. That is to say, he’s blocking shots, 1189361 Colorado Avalanche

AVALANCHE PLAYOFFS Gut Punch: Avs Blow Game 5 to Vegas

By Adrian Dater

Well, how the hell did that happen?

How did the Avs lose this game? How?

How did a two-goal lead to start the third period turn into a 2-2 game within the first three minutes? How would the Avs, so smart with the puck the first 40 minutes, make two major gaffes with it and pay both times? This whole thing went from done like dinner to an overturned table of food all over the carpet in an instant. Then, before many fans could get back into their seats, they lose 50 seconds into overtime.

What happened?

Well, this was certainly quite the gut punch. And it all was so unnecessary too. Two blunders with the puck – Andre Burakovsky on the first, Gabe Landeskog on the second – just gift-wrapped two goals to the Golden Knights early in the third period.

That instantly vaporized a first 40 minutes of hard work and smart hockey. Just like that.

It felt like the Avs just got stunned from there and lost it, in overtime. A game, and series, that had seemed over in their respective stages, is now a loss in the rubber Game 5 and potential elimination night in the madhouse of T-Mobile Arena Thursday night.

“We got to go into Vegas and win a hockey game. It’s as simple as that,” Landeskog said, trying to project confidence in a tough situation.

The Avs had just come off one of their best periods of the playoffs too, a dominant second in which they outworked and outskilled Vegas for most every second, building a 2-0 lead on a Joonas Donskoi one-timer from the slot. That’s what made the start of the third so shocking. The Avs been in such command, and just played giveaway all of a sudden.

Burakovsky threw away a puck in his own end, leading to a bunch of scrambling around and Alex Tuch putting a puck past Philipp Grubauer in front. OK, fluke goal, fluke play, won’t happen again. Still, a 2-1 game.

Down the ice came Landeskog on a 3-on-2 break, with the puck on his forehand coming down the right side. Landeskog, instead put directing the puck toward the net, threw a long cross-ice pass over to Ryan Graves, but the puck hit Graves’ backfoot and bounced the other way and an odd-man rush for the Knights.

Jonathan Marchessault put a puck past Grubauer and suddenly it was a tie game in a building with the air taken out of it.

The Avs came close a couple of times in the third, but couldn’t finish anything and it went to sudden death.

Mark Stone won it with a wrister on a mini-breakaway at 50 seconds.

It was sudden death, indeed. After everything had seemed so good too.

“It’s a game of mistakes,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “We might have had only three turnovers the whole night and each one cost us a goal. They didn’t get a lot of chances tonight, but they made us pay on enough chances to win the hockey game.”

“Go do that again except for two plays. That’s exactly what I told the team,” Bednar said.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189362 Colorado Avalanche

MORNING SKATE DIARY Game 5 preview: Logan O’Connor expected to return to Avs lineup

By Adrian Dater

Hello from high above rinkside here at Ball Arena, where the Avs will try to shake off the embalming fluid on them and take some control back in this second-round NHL playoff series with Vegas. There were some intriguing developments here at the skate, and the gist of what seems to be going on for the lineup tonight is: Alex Newhook and Logan O’Connor in, and Carl Soderberg and Kiefer Sherwood out.

Yes, it appears as of LOC will return to the lineup in Game 5, after missing some significant time with a lower-body injury. While Jared Bednar would not say for sure Logan O’Connor is playing, he said he’s ready to play and available – “an option for us” – and LOC left the ice along with the other regulars here.

Guys such as Carl, Bo Byram, Jacob MacDonald and Sampo Ranta all stayed on late – suggesting they’ll be healthy scratches.

J.T. Compher did not take part in the morning skate, but Bednar said he his healthy and available. Not sure why J.T. didn’t skate.

NOTEBOOK: After appealing twice, once to Gary Bettman and once with neutral discipline arbitrator Shyam Das, Nazem Kadri received no reduction in his eight-game suspension. Das upheld the original suspension today. The earliest Kadri can play is either a Game 7 against Vegas – or a Game 1 against Montreal. … Tyson Jost on Zoom: “Guys are excited. We know what’s at take tonight. We knew it was going to be a battle, but we’re excited for the challenge.” … Conor Timmins on Zoom: “As defensemen, we need to join the rush more.” … Erik Johnson took part in the skate, in a regular jersey. But he won’t play tonight, Bednar said. … Avs are -140 favorites to win outright tonight at SuperBook Colorado.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189363 Colorado Avalanche When Girard draws down the wall, Mikko Rantanen switches up high to the point, but that isn’t the problem here. This is a set play they run often with good results. What the negative is on this play is assumptions and Film Room: Here’s how the Avs can win Game 5 poor choice of ice management. Landeskog and MacKinnon are creating traffic for what they think is going to be a point shot from Rantanen or a quick wrister from Girard. But as soon as Girard advances the puck and decreases an optimal shooting angle, all three of Girard, Landeskog and By Ash Glover MacKinnon end up vacuumed behind the play once Girard’s floater is blocked by Stone.

Avs lose Game 4 at Vegas This leaves Mikko flat-footed as the left-hand defenseman as the rush begins. Makar is faced with a 3-on-2 with Rantanen to his left side. He So, just what is going wrong? The Avs started the series looking like the chooses to step up into the puck carrier Stone as he passes the middle team we thought should show up. But over the course of the last eight line but his sweep is unsuccessful and it leaves Pacioretty with space periods, Vegas has managed to outshoot Colorado 116 to 62 in all down the left wall. situations; that’s an absolute stomping in anyone’s book. Stone drives the middle as the play continues and Pacioretty has just Vegas is a bloody good team, it’s no surprise that they’ve been solid, but enough room to sneak a soft-ish goal glove side high on Grubauer. are they actually this much better than the Avalanche? It’s looking possible right now. Some not-so-crash-hot play was starting to eventuate This play is relatively bad luck, but the lack of man-on-man recognition in in games two and three, but game four was something else, for all the the offensive zone is poor. Too many stagnant bodies and improper puck wrong reasons. I had to watch the game back again just to confirm what management leads to an easy breakaway. my initial thoughts were whilst watching live. It’s worse the second time Play #3 around, TRUST ME. Now hiring! Peter DeBoer and his staff are somewhat pulling one over on Bednar and his men. I say somewhat because I’m not in that locker room. My eyes, Avs’ are working well here down three goals, throwing pucks on net and however, do not lie. The on-ice product isn’t up to its usual standard. trying to establish some possession. Whether it be coaching or execution, or both, it’s an issue. As they battle in the corner, Rantanen (orange circle) applies a soft – The Avalanche in game four did themselves in by way of poor contain on Stone (blue circle). But what I don’t like is the fact he doesn’t forecheck execution and offensive methods. seem to recognize the handedness of Stone. As a right-handed shot, he’s got his blade pointed to middle ice. He doesn’t have to work south or – They displayed a VERY poor panic threshold in which I hadn’t seen all utilize his backhand to escape or make a pass. Mikko needs space of season. course as he does want the puck too, but he’s just lacking that exterior – Both issues resulting in very poor puck management and continual defensive acumen on this particular play as you can see below. He turnovers. needs to be in a position to jam Stone sooner, and for that, he pays the price. Both guys are cheating space, but Stone 1 – Rantanen 0. Something has to improve, it’s as simple as that. Be it some adjustments pre-game in terms of personnel change, new plays drawn up, or even As Stone starts to make his way north, Rantanen finds himself having to new line combinations; the time to strike and bring change is now. defend the cross-ice pass and also tries to keep the zone. This results in him losing balance and thus creating the odd number. Devon Toews has I’m going to show you why. to make a split-second choice as to what to do. At first, he fishes for puck-moving inside but he can’t quite locate it, gets turned around, and Simple Mistakes bang, there’s your 2-on-1 against. Play #1. As the play unfolds, the Avalanche again overplay Vegas. Makar does a The Avalanche send threw forwards deep into the OZ (offensive zone) heck of a job slowing down Stephenson, but Pacioretty is able to relocate and with that commitment, you really need to win that battle. But what the puck as Makar goes down and both Rantanen and Landeskog get happens instead, the puck battle is lost and Vegas are gifted an extra caught hunting the same ground. number coming back the other way. A boatload of space opens up in around the high slot and the vacuum Compher makes a ‘great play’ disrupting the cross-ice pass to Smith, but that Colorado create for themselves, sees not-so offensive defenceman he’s actually getting himself and Graves out at the proverbial. Brayden McNabb get a clean look on net, in space.

As Vegas breaks out to the left side of the ice, Graves (red circle) How To Adjust automatically becomes the weak or lone side defender as shown by my First thing that needs doing, get Graves and Girard away from each super awesome yellow line. His job now is to defend the middle lane and other. protect against rushes from the right. Of the most common pairs this post-season, they’ve struggled together. CLEAR AS DAY as he notices the 3-on-2, he signals to Compher Their lack of communication is proven in some of these clips. They just (orange) to pick up Graves’ man (Reilly Smith #19) as he cuts in to help aren’t working well together at the moment. Girard late off the rush. The only issue is, Compher in this scheme is the ‘F1’, meaning that his job is to also protect the middle and high slot but The pair had a regular-season corsi percentage 55.68 at even strength also attempt to disrupt the primary puck carrier, which happens to be his but have just managed a tick over 47 so far through eight games. direct match-up, William Karlsson. He’s also too far behind the play for Graves to make the assumption he can impact the play defensively. With thanks to Natural Stat Trick, we can see how Girard has faired with others corsi-wise in the playoffs. As the Avs clear their own zone later in the play, Girard and Graves assume that danger has subsided and collectively don’t create a good Context is important as always. Girard has spent roughly an even 15 distance between their gaps. That gap control and pairing distance go minutes with both Timmins and Toews at even strength this post-season, out with the old Pepsi Centre sign; into the trash. Graves pokes and Makar he’s flanked for around 40. However, with Graves’ struggles of prods, gets turned around and the middle ice behind him is more open late, I’m all for asking some more of Timmins and seeing what he can do than the Simpson Desert, mate. with Girard. Or alternatively, try Timmins and Toews as they’ve had some decent success over 18 minutes together. This is all things bad and all things lucky in the same breath. Speaking of lucky, check out slotxo for fun games to play. Toews and Graves have been a total hand grenade when paired together, not going to get into those numbers. It’s beyond bad, trust me Play #2 on that.

This shouldn’t happen this easily from an OZ draw. I believe that something in that top four needs changing. They have the talent to mix things up and improve, not many teams boast such a luxury. No time to lose, find what works and stick with it. Byram for Nemeth is also a no-brainer after Nemo’s nightmare game four.

Re-jigging The Forecheck

The simple old 3-2 forecheck (three forwards in, two defenders out) just isn’t working. Too much space is being given up and it’s a huge problem. I know of two good forecheck strategies that are common and may be able to prevent the Vegas bypass.

Something like this above, a 2-1-2 would be better suited to negate how Vegas have been burning Colorado. The F1 goes hard at the puck (green circle). The F2 contains the weak side and the F3 plays as a spy in the middle. Defenders remain pretty stout as this is more so a forward pressure play.

Or maybe a 1-3-1 system should see some action. The F1 attempts to flush the puck and/or puck carrier to one side where either a defender or forward will then increase the pressure and create a blanket around the puck. The 1-3-1 can be both defensive and aggressive, it’s as flexible as you need it to be. How much pressure you apply all depends on possession and numbers in the OZ. For this reason, it’s one of the better forechecks to deploy due to its controllable nature.

I Know, I know

Duh, I’m no head coach. But I’ve had extensive experience scouting, playing and analyzing the game for 15+ years.

Adjustments are needed before the Avs find themselves on the descent.

Let’s see what Bednar and company can cook up. Home ice is a big advantage, time to get back to Avs’ hockey and make the most of it.

Limiting breakaway chances will not only help stem their momentum, it’s going to help eliminate both personal and team shortfalls and keep some gas in the tank. The best way to ease someone in (Byram, cough cough) or to nurse someone through who isn’t playing at their best is to limit those poor offensive plays, provide adequate entry prevention and let the best puck-moving defense in the league get to work.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189364 Detroit Red Wings

Luke Glendening isn't a lock to re-sign with the Detroit Red Wings. Here's why

HELENE ST. JAMES

As much as the Detroit Red Wings re-signing Luke Glendening makes sense, there are stumbling blocks to consider.

Glendening, 32, is poised to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He’s coming off a four-year, $7.2 million contract with a $1.8 million salary cap hit. Since the contract went into effect, Glendening has recorded 33 goals, 33 assists and a minus-38 rating in 261 games. His faceoff percentage in that time span is 57.5%, which ranks fourth in the NHL among centers who have taken at least 3,000 faceoffs.

Glendening has been with the organization since signing as a free agent with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2012. Prior to that, he spent four years playing for Michigan, where he went from walk-on to serving as captain his junior and senior seasons.

He has built his professional and personal life in Michigan.

“Growing up in Grand Rapids, and then being able to be here my whole career so far, is a dream come true,” Glendening said during media exit interviews in late May. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I love being a Red Wing. We’ll see what happens here, but every day that I get to put on a Red Wings sweater is a special day to me. I love being part of the organization.”

ABOVE AVERAGE: What Luke Glendening got for a grade in 2021

Glendening is a leader on and off the ice, an alternate captain who helps maintain the locker room culture of which the Wings are so protective. Re-signing him seems a lock, but as always, there are factors at play.

One is whether another team will make Glendening an offer Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is not willing to match. There’s been annual interest in Glendening at the trade deadline, because of his faceoff prowess, speed and sound defensive instincts.

Former general manager Ken Holland extended Glendening in July 2016, so this would be the first time Glendening has hit the market. While the flat salary cap caused by the pandemic has left some teams with little wiggle room, there are plenty who have room to maneuver. Another team could offer more money or more years — or both — than fits into Yzerman’s plan.

That team could be the Seattle Kraken, which under expansion rules has an exclusive window, July 18-21, to negotiate with pending UFAs that aren’t on the protection lists that all clubs except the Vegas Golden Knights must submit July 17. In such an event, Glendening would count as the player the Wings lose in the expansion draft.

FOGGY FUTURE: Steve Yzerman won't give a timeline on the Wings rebuild. Here's why

Another factor is that Yzerman's priority in making next season's team more competitive is adding offense. The Wings averaged 2.23 goals- per-game this past season, ranking second from the bottom. In fairness, Tyler Bertuzzi missed all but nine games because of a back injury, and COVID-19 along with injuries to others including Bobby Ryan, Robby Fabbri and Dylan Larkin played into that dismal number. But that doesn’t change the need to add more scoring power, and that is not Glendening’s forte.

Glendening’s assets are on draws and defense, and he’s become an integral part of the leadership in the locker room. There’s certainly a fit for him with the Wings, but in order for it to make sense, he’s likely looking at a contract in the two-year range, for around $1.25 million annually. But there may be richer offers available that could lead Glendening elsewhere.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189365 Detroit Red Wings The Wings also figure to get more production from Larkin, who missed the final weeks of the season due to a neck injury and never got traction offensively.

Red Wings feel internal improvement is key to lifting listless offense In part, Larkin terribly missed Bertuzzi, a gritty linemate who blends well with Larkin's speed and creativity.

TED KULFAN | The Detroit News Larkin continued to improve defensively this season and evolve into one of the better two-way forwards in the NHL. With that, Larkin feels his offensive production will increase if his defensive game can grow, too.

Detroit — Those who watched the Red Wings religiously this season "When I play great defense, I have the puck more and that's what I want. know it to be true. And it’s been the case for the last couple seasons, for I want the puck on my stick," Larkin said. "That's where I want to be sure. better. I want to be quicker playing defense so I can be fresh playing offense. The Wings have trouble scoring goals. "You watch guys like (Boston's Patrice) Bergeron and (St. Louis') Ryan They ranked 30th (out of 31 teams) in the NHL this season, averaging a O'Reilly, they always do the right things and they're hard on the puck." weak 2.23 goals per game, which was still an overall improvement from a season ago. The Wings were 31st, rock bottom, in 2019-20 averaging Improving a power play that ranked among the worst in the NHL would 2.00 goals per game. also lift a dormant offense.

If the Wings plan on winning more games and moving upward in the Along with internal improvement, potentially adding veteran pieces who standings, they’ll need to generate more offense (the power play ranked can help strengthen the Wings overall offensively is an option Yzerman 30th this season). will look at.

How will they do it? "We have to do something different with our power play, for sure," Yzerman said. "It struggled the last few years. We need to add to our General manager Steve Yzerman is likely to tweak through free agency personnel to get the right fit, so our power play has a chance to be more or trade, adding to the lineup. But largely speaking, the Wings are successful and we need to do things a little bit differently than we have banking on internal improvement. done." “Obviously our one area we need to address, need to get better at, is we But at the core, the needed and expected improvement of the Wings' need to score more goals and improve offensively,” Yzerman said in his younger players will be key for the team to be more of an offensive season-ending press conference. “That is easier said than done. The threat. biggest part of that is having players that have the ability to produce. “We have to figure out a way to generate more goals," Yzerman said. “Personnel-wise, can Adam Erne generate a little bit more offense? Can "How we do that? I am hopeful our younger players can generate a little Filip Zadina score a little bit more? Can Robby Fabbri and Dylan Larkin bit more offense. With the players that have been here for a while, I generate a little bit more offense? Collectively, we need to score more." expect them to score more than they did this year." Despite the offensive struggles from many key Wings this season, there Detroit News LOADED: 06.09.2021 is reason to be optimistic the goal-scoring can improve.

Injuries played a major role in Detroit's miniscule offensive numbers. Injuries limited players like Fabbri (30 games, 10 goals, 18 points), Larkin (44 games, nine goals, 23 points), and Tyler Bertuzzi, who had back surgery and only played nine games (five goals, seven points). All three players likely could have put up greater numbers had they been healthy and in the lineup.

Then, there's the knowledge of knowing the team will have a full season of Jakub Vrana, who arrived in the Anthony Mantha trade and scored eight goals in 11 games with the Wings.

Vrana displayed the type of game-breaking offensive ability that could be a huge game changer for the Wings. With a full season and a greater role than Vrana had in Washington, the Wings are likely to benefit from Vrana's bigger opportunity.

If Zadina (six goals, 19 points, 49 games) can rebound from his offensive slump, which the organization expects given Zadina's goal-scoring past, the Wings feel there is enough potential to make a significant jump.

Add to the mix power forwards such as Michael Rasmussen and Givani Smith, and Joe Veleno, a potential sturdy two-way forward, there is further reason to think the offense can improve.

“The growth of those players can be big depending on the steps they take,” said coach Jeff Blashill, talking about the introduction of so many young forwards into the lineup in recent years and how it could benefit the Wings going forward.

Erne, who led the team with 11 goals, is also an interesting case.

A rugged forward who has shown goal-scoring ability during his college career and at times in the NHL, Erne could blossom further given the opportunity.

"You just have to slowly turn those close games into wins," Blashill said. "Certainly the growth of the players that have been here will be important, and any additions that add scoring without sacrificing the other side (defensively) will be important as well.” 1189366 Edmonton Oilers To note, those players are exempt from selection in the expansion draft. Raphael Lavoie, a 2019 second-round pick, is another noteworthy forward who cannot be taken by Seattle.

What I’m hearing about the Oilers’ plans for the Kraken draft: Protected Will Adam Larsson, Mikko Koskinen or Oscar Klefbom, right, be wearing list, possible re-signings and more different jerseys next season? (Walter Tychnowicz / USA Today)

Defencemen

By Daniel Nugent-Bowman Jun 8, 2021 The smart money is on Larsson re-signing at some point. Everything is settled if pen hits paper before the expansion draft. The Oilers would then have their three defencemen ready to protect. The dust hasn’t completely settled on the Oilers’ blueprint for the Seattle expansion draft, but the picture is becoming clearer. This appears to be the preferred method for the organization.

And things appear to have changed a fair bit in the past month. The Oilers could still protect another blueliner and hope to retain Larsson later. However, that would come with considerable risk. Seattle has a 48- The Oilers were thought to be leaning toward protecting eight skaters hour negotiating window before the expansion draft with all unsigned free and a goalie a few weeks ago. They will almost certainly go the 7-3-1 agents. And if Larsson gets to free agency, the odds of him returning to route now. I’m told by a team source who has knowledge of the current Edmonton are long. protection plans that the only way they’ll revert to an eight-skater plan is if pending UFA defencemen Adam Larsson and Tyson Barrie are re-signed The pecking order for the Oilers when it comes to blocking off ahead of the expansion draft. That seems unlikely. defencemen is clear: Nurse, Bear, Larsson (if re-signed) and Barrie (if re- signed). The locks for protection are Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto up front and Darnell Nurse and Ethan Based on that priority list, it’s likely Oscar Klefbom will be available for Bear on the back end. That leaves three more spots to protect for the Kraken. This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise based on the forwards, one for defencemen and one in net to be determined. suboptimal outlook Holland presented at his season-ending news conference regarding Klefbom’s playing status. Let’s break it down. There’s no doubt the Oilers would use one of three precious blue-line Forwards protection slots on Klefbom were he at full health. Before his shoulder injury, which cost him the entire 2020-21 season and resulted in major With four spots etched in stone, three remain. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will surgery in March, Klefbom perhaps would have been the first get one of them if he signs a new deal before the 3 p.m. MT deadline on defenceman blocked off by the Oilers. He played the most of any July 17; that’s when expansion draft lists are due. blueliner on the power play and penalty kill — and led the team in ice Barring a trade or sudden change of heart, a team source said there are time — in 2019-20 and has two more years on his contract at a very four players under consideration for the last two or three forward spots: reasonable $4.167 million average annual value. Josh Archibald, Tyler Benson, Zack Kassian and Jujhar Khaira. If Klefbom remains out of the mix — and if the Oilers don’t retain Larsson Archibald, 28, was the Oilers’ most-used forward on the penalty kill this before July 17 – they could acquire a defenceman in a trade and protect season. His seven goals were most among bottom-six players not him. receiving power-play time. He was used as a fill-in on McDavid’s line in Without adding a new blueliner, the final slot would come down to Caleb the event of injury or underperformance by a fellow winger. He was Jones or William Lagesson. usually tasked with defending leads late in games in five-on-six situations and scored three empty-net goals. Archibald has one year at $1.5 million Jones turned 24 on Sunday. He started the season on the second pair left on his contract. with Larsson before becoming a regular health scratch. He found his way back into the lineup on a regular basis on the third pair down the stretch Benson, 23, was a point-per-game player for AHL Bakersfield in 36 but missed 23 games and all four postseason contests at the coaching contests this season and got work on the PK to make him a more viable staff’s decision. He has one more year on his contract at $850,000 before depth option at the NHL level. He has 138 points in 151 AHL games over he can become an RFA with arbitration rights. the past three seasons and got into his first seven big-league contests in 2019-20. He’s set to become an RFA. Lagesson, 25, filled in for Jones on the second pair but was limited to 19 games due to injury and healthy scratches. He didn’t play in the Kassian, 30, provides a blend of size, toughness and some offence that postseason, either. Like Jones, he has one year left on his deal — but at few on the Oilers can when he’s on his game. He’s coming off a season $725,000 — before he can become an RFA with arbitration rights. that saw him sustain two significant injuries and record two goals and five points in 27 games. He has three years left on his $3.2 million AAV The impression I get is that the organization wouldn’t be as concerned contract. with losing either player as it might have been a few months ago.

Khaira, 26, ranked third among Oilers forwards in ice time on the penalty For one thing, the Oilers could ensure one or perhaps both are saved kill this season. He managed three goals and 11 points in 40 games, from selection by going the eight-skater route. Instead, barring a change missing time down the stretch because of two separate head injuries. of heart or a trade, they appear to be prioritizing two or three of He’ll be an RFA at the end of July and can become a UFA as early as Archibald, Benson, Kassian and Khaira up front. next summer. For another thing, the organization seems comfortable enough with its Archibald and Benson appear to have the inside track for the last two defensive pipeline that the prospect of losing Jones or Lagesson to protection slots if Nugent-Hopkins re-signs. Archibald offers intangibles Seattle isn’t the end of the world. and versatility, and Benson has the potential to make the Oilers in the fall on a cheap contract with upside. Bouchard, Broberg, Dmitri Samorukov, Markus Niemelainen, Theodor Lennstrom, Filip Berglund, Philip Kemp and Michael Kesselring are all Management will have to add another player to the protected list if exempt from selection. Bouchard is expected to be a regular next Nugent-Hopkins remains unsigned. Regardless of his status, the Oilers season. Samorukov and Niemelainen might be able to play some NHL shouldn’t be concerned about bringing in a forward or two via trade prior games in 2021-22. Broberg was the eighth overall pick in 2019 and is set to the expansion draft. None of Archibald, Benson, Kassian or Khaira to play his first campaign in North America. would be a devastating loss if selected by the Kraken. Goaltending Acquiring other players to add to the protection list might have its challenges for Oilers general manager Ken Holland. He doesn’t have Holland has said he wants to re-sign veteran Mike Smith. The Oilers many tradeable trade assets on the roster and doesn’t want to deal top should be all set if that happens by deadline time on July 17. prospects Evan Bouchard, Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway and Ryan But there’s a ton of uncertainty right now. Without Smith in the fold, the McLeod. Oilers’ current options in net are Mikko Koskinen, Stuart Skinner and Alex Stalock. Koskinen turns 33 in July and posted a 13-13-0 record with an .899 save James Neal percentage this season. He has one more year on his contract at $4.5 million and has a modified no-trade clause. Dmitri Samorukov

Skinner, 22, had his best AHL season with a 20-9-1 record and a .914 Kyle Turris save percentage. He made his first NHL start in January before heading Markus Niemelainen to the minors where he backstopped the Condors to a Pacific Division title. He’s due to become an RFA but won’t require waivers next season Zack Kassian because he’s a goaltender who signed his entry-level deal on the year of Filip Berglund his 20th birthday. Ryan McLeod Stalock turns 34 in July. He was acquired off waivers from Minnesota on March 1 but never played in a game for the Oilers. He has one more year Theodor Lennstrom on his contract at $785,000. Joakim Nygard** It’s unlikely Koskinen is protected given his salary and body of work. Skinner could have some untapped upside, whereas Stalock has Philip Kemp experience and could be a cheap backup option for next season. Patrick Russell** But even if the Oilers retain Smith, they’re expected to bring in a more Michael Kesselring reliable 1B goaltender to support him. That netminder could be signed in free agency or acquired via trade. Tyler Benson

If such a trade happens before July 17, it would completely change the Cooper Marody expansion draft landscape at the goaltending position for the Oilers. Available Prospects Ilya Konovalov and Olivier Rodrigue are exempt from the draft. Dylan Holloway Edmonton Oilers protected list Protected FORWARDS DEFENCEMEN GOALIES Raphael Lavoie Connor McDavid Exempt Tyson Barrie** (Note: Roster sorted by games played in 2020-21. ** Unrestricted free Mike Smith** agent.)

Leon Draisaitl — Contract information from CapFriendly and PuckPedia.

Darnell Nurse The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 Mikko Koskinen

Jesse Puljujarvi

Adam Larsson**

Stuart Skinner

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins**

Ethan Bear

Alex Stalock

Kailer Yamamoto

Kris Russell

Olivier Rodrigue

Josh Archibald

Caleb Jones

Ilya Konovalov

Dominik Kahun

William Lagesson

Alex Chiasson**

Slater Koekkoek**

Jujhar Khaira

Evan Bouchard

Devin Shore

Dmitry Kulikov**

Gaetan Haas**

Oscar Klefbom

Tyler Ennis**

Philip Broberg 1189367 Florida Panthers — The Avs are tied with Vegas 2-2 in their series but are in trouble. (CHN)

— Could Seth Jones end up with Colorado? (Ottawa Sun) Florida Panthers sign Anton Lundell, prep for training camp — Detroit has itself some pretty good looking prospects. (DHN)

LOCALS ONLY By George Richards The Miami Marlins weren’t able to string along a second consecutive win and end this long roadie 1-8 after losing at Fenway on Monday. (Miami The Florida Panthers did not take long in making sure Anton Lundell Herald) would indeed be part of their 2021-22 team by signing the rookie center — Yes, Nick Saban left the Dolphins to coach Alabama after saying there to his three-year entry level contract on Monday. was no way he was doing that. The dislike of Coach Nick has waned Lundell, who has spent the past three seasons playing professionally in over the years — for some, apparently. (MH) Finland’s Liiga, was Florida’s top pick of the 2020 NHL Draft going 12th — Greg Cote says Lionel Messi to Inter Fort Lauderdale/Miami would be overall. great news for David Beckham. (MH)

Florida GM Bill Zito said last week that there was “a plan,’’ when it came — There was a boxing match in Miami on Sunday. Don’t know if you to Lundell. If not, “I’m going to go get him myself.” heard. (MH)

Turns out, he didn’t have to hop on a plane to Helsinki after all. — Pat Riley wishes Danny Ainge all the best as he talks to Dan Le Lundell, who helped Finland win Silver at the IIHF World Championships Batard. (Sentinel) on Sunday, said when he was drafted that Sasha Barkov is one of his Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 favorite players.

“I was really excited to be drafted by the Panthers,” Lundell said. “I know the Finnish players there and have been following them.”

Subscribe to FHN today for coverage of your Florida Panthers all offseason long

The Panthers plan on having Lundell speak to the South Florida media on Wednesday afternoon.

The 19-year-old is not only expected to be with the Panthers this coming season, but he may play a key role in Florida. He is projected to be Florida’s No. 2 center behind Barkov moving forward — if not now, but soon enough.

Florida is trying to hold on to free agent Alex Wennberg and restricted free agent Sam Bennett for next season as well. If Zito is able to do that, Florida’s center depth — with Lundell in the mix — appears to be pretty deep.

“Anton is a cerebral, skilled and dynamic young player who continuously established himself in Finland’s top league and played a pivotal role on Finland’s national teams at all levels,” Zito said in Florida’s statement Monday.

“Anton’s maturity, compete level and sound two-way ability are exciting qualities to add to our organization. We are thrilled to have signed Anton and look forward to his future with the Florida Panthers for years to come.”

FLORIDA PANTHERS LINKS

The Athletic looks at who the Panthers may keep when it comes time for the Seattle Expansion Draft.

I have some thoughts on this as well, obviously. Stay tuned. (TA)

— Randy Moller and Katie Gaus welcome Kevin Weekes onto their podcast. (Florida Panthers)

— Zach Hyman, former Florida prospect, is about to cash in. (Calgary Sun)

AROUND THE NHL

Tyler Toffoli scored early into overtime as the Montreal Canadiens beat Winnipeg 3-2 to pull off the sweep in Round 2.

The Canadiens, not exactly highly-regarded when these playoffs started, are now headed to the semifinals.

Montreal will play either Vegas or Colorado in the Final Four. (SportsNet)

— The Bruins pulled Tuukka Rask but still pulled within a goal before losing to the Islanders — who now lead that series 3-2. (BHN)

— And the Isles get to play Game 6 with a chance to advance to the NHL semifinals at the Coliseum. (NYIHN)

— Are the Penguins looking for goalie help? Probably. (PHN) 1189368 Los Angeles Kings Stockton Heat

Tucson Roadrunners

Ontario Reign Updates on schedule, division, opening night Joining the fray this season is the new franchise in Abbotsford, BC, recently relocated from Utica, NY. Abbotsford will be the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, meaning that we will likely see the prospects By Zach Dooley June 8, 2021861 from Los Angeles and Vancouver square off in the AHL for the first time since the 2015 Calder Cup Finals, won by Adrian Kempe and the Manchester Monarchs over the Comets.

Insiders, the Ontario Reign and the American Hockey League announced The AHL will not have an even breakdown of divisions, with the nine- several updates yesterday heading into next season and beyond. team Pacific outweighing an eight-team Atlantic Division, and seven- team divisions in the Central and Northeast. Schedule The added wrinkle in the discussion is the pending addition of Palm For the first time since the AHL relocated five franchises to California, the Springs, which will become Ontario’s closest geographic rival. Palm member clubs will have a uniform schedule across the league. Beginning Springs is scheduled to enter the league in the Fall of 2022 as the AHL with the 2022-23 season, all 32 teams will play 72 games, representing a affiliate of the Seattle Kraken. The arena in Palm Springs recently broke four-game increase for the teams in the Pacific Division, including ground, with the expectation of being ready for action for the 2022-23 Ontario, and a four-game decrease for the rest of the league, which had AHL season, one season after their NHL affiliate. Seattle is expected to previously played 76. announce a split affiliate for its inaugural 2021-22 season. The 2021-22 season will remain status quo from a Reign perspective, Palm Springs would be a natural fit in the Pacific Division, located less with Ontario and the rest of the Pacific Division playing 68 games as has than 75 miles from Ontario and less than 150 from San Diego. A 10 team been the case since the team relocated to the Inland Empire from division in a 32-team league, though, creates an interesting situation. Manchester in 2015. Other teams around the league will play either 72 or 76 games, with points percentage back to determine the standings. But that’s the summer of 2022’s problem and something the league will likely look to move around in advance of the following season. “I am very pleased that we were able to achieve a schedule of 72 games for all teams in the American Hockey League,” AHL President & CEO Playoffs Scott Howson said. “In coming together to create a plan that is fair and equitable, our owners have demonstrated a commitment to the long-term Lastly, the league announced a coming expansion of the Calder Cup strength of the league.” Playoffs.

Speaking at the Ontario Reign State of the Franchise event in 2018, “Additionally, there will be an increase in the number of teams qualifying outgoing AHL President & CEO David Andrews called the schedule the for the Calder Cup Playoffs each year; details will be finalized and one project he didn’t think he’d ever find common ground. Getting teams announced later in the offseason.” to play 72 games was a priority within the league office for some time, At this point, ambiguous, but the concept is a good one. At the minor- and perhaps the pandemic that prevented a full 2020-21 season opened league level, it’s a natural expectation that teams would like to see their up enough teams to either increasing or decreasing their total. Good on players playing a larger slate of competitive games. While I wouldn’t Howson, and likely many others, on getting all 32 teams on the same expect to see something similar to this season, where every team in the page. Pacific Division qualified for a makeshift postseason tournament, On the schedule front in the more immediate future, Ontario will open the expanding the playoff format to a degree puts additional, meaningful upcoming season on home ice on October 15 at Toyota Arena. The games on the schedule for more teams. Reign will return to Ontario for the first time since February 29, 2020 for a A net victory. game in front of fans. This past season, the Reign played their home games at Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, behind Expect to see a full schedule for the Reign, as well as the updated closed doors. postseason format, announced later on this summer. Exciting announcements to come for Ontario as the team returns to one of the The Reign announced the following slate of guaranteed dates for the best fanbases in minor league hockey in the IE. 2021-22 season – LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 06.09.2021 Friday, October 15

Saturday, December 18

Saturday, January 8

Friday, January 14

Saturday, January 22

Friday, February 11

Expect to see some cool and exciting promotions in Ontario this season, with the remaining five after Opening Night likely to have some of the best.

Division

The AHL also announced the divisional alignment for the 2021-22 season, with the Reign a part of a nine-team Pacific Division.

Abbotsford (Vancouver)

Bakersfield Condors

Colorado Eagles

Henderson Silver Knights

Ontario Reign

San Diego Gulls

San Jose Barracuda 1189369 Minnesota Wild

Wild defenseman Matt Dumba is Masterton Trophy finalist

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JUNE 8, 2021 — 11:17AM

Matt Dumba's efforts to change hockey have been recognized again.

The Wild defenseman is a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy that honors perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Philadelphia's Oskar Lindblom and San Jose's Patrick Marleau are the other finalists. The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and a winner will be announced later this month or in July.

Lindblom, who was also a finalist last year, returned to action in the playoffs last September after getting diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer and has since been declared cancer-free.

As for Marleau, he passed Gordie Howe's record for most regular-season games played in NHL history.

Dumba was nominated for the Masterton Trophy by the Twin Cities chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association after he emerged as the face of hockey's fight against racial injustice.

Not only did Dumba speak out against inequality, delivering an anti- racism speech on national television ahead of the 2020 playoffs before becoming the first NHLer to kneel for the U.S. anthem, but he also organized resources to try to transform the sport. The 26-year-old is a co- founder of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, which was created to eradicate racism and intolerance in the game, and he launched a camp in Roseville earlier this year to make the sport more accessible to young players.

His contributions to the community also earned Dumba, who's Filipino- Canadian, last season's King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which acknowledges leadership qualities on and off the ice.

This is the third time a Wild player has been a finalist for the Masterton Trophy. Devan Dubnyk won in 2015 and Josh Harding was the recipient in 2013.

Star Tribune LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189370 Minnesota Wild Zach Parise ($7.53+M) Ryan Hartman ($1.7M)

Kevin Fiala (RFA) Wild expansion protected list guesstimate, plus offseason depth chart 1.0 3

Jordan Greenway ($2.1M) By Michael Russo Jun 8, 2021 270 Joel Eriksson Ek (RFA)

Marcus Foligno ($3.1M) Even though this could be the most convoluted offseason in Wild history, we’re going to continue our longstanding tradition of beginning each 4 offseason with a depth chart. The objective is to hopefully create some clarity for all of you passionate Wild fans even though this guide could ----- change dramatically and often throughout the offseason. Nico Sturm ($725K)

The Wild have $22 million worth of cap space with only 14 players ----- signed. Teams can carry rosters with up to 23 players, so it’ll be tight. 5 While $22 million may normally be a lot of money heading into an offseason, that’s hardly the case this summer because restricted free ----- agents Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek and Kevin Fiala require hefty raises and new contracts. Vying for spots: Marco Rossi ($925,000), Matt Boldy ($880,833), Connor Dewar ($825,833), Brandon Duhaime (RFA), Adam Beckman The biggest questions heading into the offseason that will impact this ($925,000), Mitchell Chaffee ($925,000), Damien Giroux ($818,833), depth chart? Alex Khovanov ($811,667)*, Will Bitten (RFA), Dmitry Sokolov (RFA), Mason Shaw (RFA), Ivan Lodnia ($747,500), Nick Swaney (842,500). • Will the Wild be able to trade Zach Parise, and if not, will they buy him out? Unrestricted free agents: Nick Bjugstad, Nick Bonino, Marcus Johansson, Gerry Mayhew, Gabriel Dumont, Kyle Rau, Joseph Cramarossa, Luke • How much money will Kaprizov, the Calder Trophy front-runner, Johnson. Eriksson Ek and Fiala command on long-term contracts and how much money will that leave for others? *Khovanov is currently deciding whether to return to North America or continue in the KHL, a source close to him says. • Will Fiala, who two years ago arrived late to training camp because of a contract dispute with GM Bill Guerin, play hardball again? If so, will that Defensemen cause Guerin to dangle his name as trade bait? Fiala has since fired his agent and hired new representation, so that could be a sign he expects PAIRS LEFT D RIGHT D to be handsomely paid. 1

• Will the Wild continue last offseason’s futile attempt to trade Ryan Suter ($7.53+M) defenseman Matt Dumba, who was named a Masterton Trophy finalist Tuesday a year after winning the King Clancy? Jared Spurgeon ($7.575M)

• Will the Wild pursue a No. 1 center via trade like Buffalo Sabres captain 2 Jack Eichel or teammate Sam Reinhart? If so, who would be part of the trade offers? In order to take on Eichel’s $10 million salary, one could Jonas Brodin ($6M) presume Dumba and Fiala would have to be part of the package in order Matt Dumba ($6M) to afford him? The same conceivably could be said for Reinhart, 25, who is a pending restricted free agent and should command more than his 3 expiring $5.2 million deal. Carson Soucy ($2.75M) • Who will the Wild lose in the expansion draft? How will potential trades ----- beforehand affect the Wild’s protected and exposed list? Will Guerin make deals with Seattle to essentially protect others and manipulate 4 which player the Kraken select? And how will the Wild replace the player they lose in expansion? We’ll take a more extended look below. -----

• Will the Wild be able to circle back and afford re-signing pending Vying for spots: Calen Addison ($795,000), Ryan O’Rourke ($886,667)*, unrestricted free agents like Nick Bonino, Ian Cole and perhaps Nick Daemon Hunt ($850,833)*, Brennan Menell (RFA)**, Fedor Gordeev Bjugstad? ($791,667).

• How will the Wild afford to fill out the rest of their roster? Unrestricted free agents: Ian Cole, Brad Hunt, Dakota Mermis, Louie Belpedio, Matt Bartkowski, Ian McCoshen. • Which players will be signed or acquired to play in Iowa because the Wild are losing a lot of players down there, particularly on the blue line? *Must play in the NHL or return to juniors

The offseason will be condensed this summer, so Guerin plans to get **Looking for a one-way contract from the Wild, or he may return to going after meeting this week with ownership and coach Dean Evason. Europe and become an unrestricted free agent in 2022, a source says.

Let’s take a look: Goalies

Forwards STARTER/BACKUP

LINES LEFT WING CENTER RIGHT WING Cam Talbot ($3.67M)

1 Kaapo Kahkonen ($725K)

Kirill Kaprizov (RFA) Vying for spots: Hunter Jones ($825,833), Dereck Baribeau ($733,333).

Victor Rask ($4M) Unrestricted free agent: Andrew Hammond.

Mats Zuccarello ($6M) Salary cap hit: $59,418,589

2 Projected salary cap: $81.5 million Salary-cap space before re-signing restricted, perhaps re-signing And, remember, this could all be moot if Guerin makes a trade or two unrestricted free agents: $22,081,411 before the July 21 expansion draft.

Few things give Wild fans more indigestion than expansion drafts, and for “We don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “The phone could ring good reason. Just imagine a Wild lineup with big, speedy Alex Tuch tomorrow and a potential deal is on the table and could happen and it motoring up and down the ice. could change everything. You have to be pretty flexible.”

So, naturally, let’s add to your anxiety by telling you that Guerin, too, may Below is our latest guesstimate as to what the Wild do. have to make some deals with Kraken GM Ron Francis in an attempt to control which player he selects from the Wild. Now, would that be a top In this chart, we are assuming no player waives or is asked to waive their prospect like Tuch? no-move clause (the only players to waive their no-moves in 2017 for Vegas was Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury, who was selected, and Probably not. Winnipeg’s Toby Enstrom, who was not selected).

That deal former Wild GM Chuck Fletcher made with then-Vegas GM In this chart, we are assuming the Wild go the 7-3-1 route, which George McPhee to draft Erik Haula in exchange for Tuch will surely act essentially leaves one forward decision to make: Protecting Nico Sturm, as a cautionary tale for Guerin. Ryan Hartman or Rask. If Parise waives, is traded or is bought out, the Wild could protect two of those players. If they go this route, Dumba and But with five picks in the first three rounds come July, perhaps Guerin Soucy would be exposed. If Suter waives, Dumba would be protected. would be willing to give up a high draft pick and/or what’s considered a lesser prospect to keep things mostly intact. Regardless, losing one player in expansion should free up some extra and much-needed cap space … unless Seattle ends up taking a player Once again, the Wild have expansion complications in large part like Brennan Menell, one of the Wild’s many unrestricted free agents because players with no-move clauses must be protected unless the (yes, the Johanssons, Hunts, Boninos and Belpedios of the world can clauses are waived. Parise and Mats Zuccarello possess such clauses at technically be plucked), another minor leaguer (yes, the Bittens and forward, while Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin have no- Shaws of the world can technically be plucked) or an inexpensive NHLer moves on defense. (Sturm, Hartman or Kahkonen if they were exposed).

If the Wild choose to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one Minnesota Wild projected protected list goalie as opposed to eight skaters and one goalie, Dumba and Carson Soucy would have to be exposed unless, say, Suter waives his no-move, FORWARDS DEFENSE GOALTENDERS Guerin makes a trade in advance of the expansion draft or he makes a deal with Seattle to take another player. Zach Parise

Guerin has indicated multiple times he doesn’t want to lose Dumba in the Jared Spurgeon expansion draft. Cam Talbot

But he also indicated at his end-of-the-year presser that he won’t Mats Zuccarello necessarily ask players to waive their no-moves because, “I don’t know if we’re going to have to.” Ryan Suter

Perhaps Guerin already has something up his sleeve that he hopes to Kaapo Kahkonen execute. When Guerin first became Wild GM, he often downplayed Kevin Fiala expansion by just saying the Wild will need to accept that they’ll lose one good player. Jonas Brodin

But lately, he sounds like a man willing to make a deal with Francis, Hunter Jones joking on my “Worst Seats in the House” podcast with Anthony LaPanta last week that “I was a big talker in that, too,” always saying he would Kirill Kaprizov give up nothing. Matt Dumba “But we also want to preserve what we built,” Guerin said. “Some teams Joel Eriksson Ek will say, ‘Take who you want to take,’ but other teams will be like, ‘No, we’ve built this to where we’re very happy with it and we don’t want to Carson Soucy take a step back, so let’s give them what we feel like giving them to take something else.’” Marcus Foligno

That sounds like where Guerin is leaning. Brennan Menell

For instance, the Wild don’t want to lose Kaapo Kahkonen or Cam Talbot Jordan Greenway in goal. Would they protect Kahkonen because he’s 24 but expose Calen Addison Talbot, 33, who had a solid first season with the Wild, if they knew they can protect him by attempting to get Seattle to take somebody else. Nico Sturm

Would they do the same by exposing Dumba but attempt to get the Available Kraken to take somebody else? Or, at the end of the day, would the Wild expose Dumba and if Seattle ends up taking him simply accept the fact Ryan Hartman that they just gained $6 million in cap space? Protected

You can see where your brain could be turned into a pretzel if you were Victor Rask sitting in Guerin’s chair. Exempt It’ll be interesting to see what Guerin has up his sleeve. For instance, would he be willing to flip Seattle one of their first-round picks in the mid- The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 20s range or a second-round pick to take a Soucy or even a Victor Rask, who makes $4 million because of the contract Francis coincidentally once signed him to in Carolina?

“There’s a lot of moving parts, and it’s not just all with Seattle, it’s within your organization and what you can do to protect or keep the guys you want to keep,” Guerin said on the podcast. “There’s a lot to go over. We’re going to have to have a Plan A and try to execute that, and if not, we’re really going to need a Plan B, too. There’s a lot of planning going on.” 1189371 Montreal Canadiens Who called the St. Louis Blues in 2019? No one. As soon as they’d won, everyone was convinced the Blues had figured out how to get the Caramilk into the Caramilk bar. Forget about small, quick guys. Get more big, old guys. These aren’t trends any more. They’re fads. They change The Montreal Canadiens are the hot shooter of the NHL postseason so often, they’re out of fashion before anyone can implement them.

Are the Canadiens a great team all of a sudden? Define “great.” Then define “are.” Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press They’ve been great for seven games, and otherworldly for five. Would

they be as great if they played those games again? Probably not. Would The Montreal Canadiens are a good reminder of that old saying – “Don’t the Leafs and the Jets both be as flat? Probably not. Combine those two put too much faith in old sayings.” “probably nots” and you get one “highly unlikely.”

On Monday night, Montreal won the Canadian end of the NHL this year Everyone who’s spent time at a craps table understands what’s (which isn’t saying much, but still). The Habs spent four games slapping happening – the Canadiens are on a heater. the Winnipeg Jets around like they had them under the hot lights. It No math can explain why a shooter gets hot in craps. But if you are wasn’t domination. It was something more humiliating than that. standing there when they do, you can feel it happening. If you spin this chain out – Canadiens sweep Jets who swept Oilers – The Canadiens are the hot shooter of the NHL postseason. It started with Connor McDavid should not immediately demand a trade out of a couple of lucky breaks in overtime against Toronto. That got Carey Edmonton. He should demand to be moved to a different sport under a Price in a mood. His confidence was contagious. In the tone-setter new identity. against Winnipeg, Mark Scheifele lost the plot for a moment. That wrong- The knockout of the Jets followed seven games of rope-a-dope against footed his own team, and convinced the Canadiens they were in Toronto. That ended with the Leafs TKO-ing themselves. Winnipeg’s head. All of a sudden, the Jets look like the point of the game is to hit posts and the Canadiens can’t miss. The Canadiens look as well put together as any of the best teams still in the playoffs. Building a winner in the salary-cap era is tough. How’d the None of this has anything to do with roster construction. Montreal is Canadiens manage it? objectively less talented than Toronto and Winnipeg.

Simple. They do everything wrong. But when you’re on a roller coaster this short, incremental differences in ability can sometimes stop mattering. They give the bulk of their annual spend – nearly a quarter of it –- to two guys in their mid-30s. Neither one of them scores goals. That’s like Great teams are not defined by their individual parts. It’s their collective buying two anchors for your rowboat, and not having enough left over for ability to begin and/or end the sorts of runs Montreal is currently on. That oars. sort of team is the Holy Grail of sport.

They do have offensive players in their prime, but only if by that we mean Are the Montreal Canadiens that sort of great team? No. Not even close. that they are 27 or 28 years old and wear skates to work. In a star- But they are a great team right now. They are a team that Vegas or obsessed league, the Canadiens don’t have one (that is, if we don’t count Colorado – whichever they end up facing – will say all the right things the guy in net, and no one does any more). about. That they’re not overlooking or underestimating them. But that will They have some intriguing young talent, none of which they trusted just a be a lie. They’ll be thinking, “Who? These muppets that’s the best couple of weeks ago. Canada’s got this year?” That’s human nature.

The Canadiens are built like an old-school news story – an inverted No one takes Montreal seriously because no one should. pyramid. There’s a reason they build pyramids the other way around. But those teams won’t be playing the Montreal Canadiens. They’ll be The Leafs? Now the Leafs are built right. They conform to the specs laid playing whatever team is showing up right now in blue and red. The team out by 10 out of 10 currently employed NHL executives, all of whom that doesn’t know it isn’t good enough to be here. The team that just think, act and talk exactly like one another. keeps coming out and making its point.

Toronto tanked for years and drafted high. The Leafs lost. They showed Globe And Mail LOADED: 06.09.2021 patience. They lost. They paid everyone off. They lost. They sat back and waited for the crop to come in. And they lost.

That’s how it works. That’s how it has always worked (since 2010). But right now, it’s not working. The Right Way of Doing Things is making strange popping noises and giving off a funny smell.

Over on the other end, there’s Montreal. The Canadiens are not providing some new vision for how hockey rosters ought to be constructed. Instead, they are a reminder that all such systems are flawed. At worst, they’re delusional.

Not because they don’t work, but because teams are not a machine language. One is filled with humans, and the other with 1s and 0s. The 1s and 0s don’t break up with their girlfriend and have a bad night.

Sports executives – understandably keen to convince people they’ve solved the Rubik’s Cube of performance – talk like a hockey team is a math problem. You find the right inputs (AustonMatthews+MitchMarner+SomeOtherGuy) and it’ll give you the solution you’re looking for (PARADE).

Analytics are the hammer. Players are the nails. If a nail bends, it’s no one’s fault. Nails just bend and no one knows why. That’s how everyone keeps their job.

The elevated guesswork that is the modern management cult does turn out sometimes. But nearly as often, it’s the team you didn’t quite see coming that wins. 1189372 Montreal Canadiens “When they were trailing 3-1 against Toronto we were saying (head coach Dominique) Ducharme won’t be back … (GM Marc) Bergevin will be out,” Tremblay said. “It was a close call, you know. But sometimes in sports things change so quickly. I was listening to Ducharme on my way Did Forum ghosts finally arrive the Bell Centre? home today after golf and he was saying after being down 3-1 how important it is to have the veterans on the team, like Shea Weber, Eric

Staal, Corey Perry, Tyler Toffoli. Their experience when they were trailing Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette the Leafs … whatever they were saying, sometimes if you push the right button you never know what is going to happen. But let’s be honest … against Toronto if (Carey) Price is not there the series is over.

After the Canadiens took a 1-0 lead on the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of “Sometimes, the toughest series to go through is the first one and then the North Division final Monday night at the Bell Centre, I tweeted: “I’ll after that you start to feel good, you have confidence in yourself,” tweet this again. What happened to the guys who were wearing the Habs Tremblay added. “But what I’m most impressed with is to see the mix of jerseys for the first four games against the Leafs? Where did they go?” the veterans and the young players. It seems like every move that team is doing right now is working the proper way.” Gélinas responded on Twitter: “That’s an easy one … The ghosts returned to the Bell Centre when Mario Tremblay and Patrick Roy Tremblay laughed out loud when I brought up Gélinas’s response to my reconciled!” tweet during Monday’s game.

Whether the old Forum ghosts finally found their way to the Bell Centre “I saw that, too,” he said. “That was funny … I told Luc: ‘You’re a funny or not, the Canadiens beat the Jets 3-2 in overtime Monday to sweep the guy.’ series and advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals for the first time since 2014. The Canadiens will play the Vegas Golden Knights or the Colorado “But it’s amazing if you look at it that way … maybe? You never know,” Avalanche. Tremblay added with another laugh. “Maybe he’s right.”

Tremblay and Roy hadn’t spoken since that infamous night at the Forum Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.09.2021 on Dec. 2, 1995, when Tremblay was head coach of the Canadiens and left Roy in net for nine goals before finally pulling him during an 11-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. After getting pulled, Roy told team president Ronald Corey — who was sitting directly behind the bench — he had played his last game with the Canadiens. Two days later, the goalie who led the Canadiens to Stanley Cup championships in 1986 and 1993 was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, where he would go on to win two more Cups.

The Canadiens haven’t made it back to the Stanley Cup final since 1993.

After not speaking for more than 25 years, Tremblay and Roy were reunited last month to film a TV commercial for Uber Eats. In the commercial, the two are playing a table-hockey game and after Tremblay scores to take a 9-1 lead he suggests that Roy change his goalie. Roy responds that his goalie is still good for two more championships.

During the filming of the commercial, Tremblay and Roy had to look each other in the eyes for about 20-30 minutes during several takes.

“I told Patrick: ‘We haven’t spoken for 25 years and now we’re looking at each other for half an hour,’ and he started to laugh,” Tremblay said over the phone Tuesday. “We did that commercial in Quebec a month ago, after 25 years of not talking. We played golf at Le Mirage after that and it was like it was before. People have a tendency to forget … they know that game on Dec. 2, 1995, but before that Patrick was my roommate (when they were teammates on the Canadiens). I was a veteran and the coach put him with me and we had a lot of fun.

“It’s good,” Tremblay added about getting back together with Roy. “Because of COVID a lot of families aren’t talking. So I hope we’re going to send a message to those people. It’s time to get back together and if we can help people with that, well that’s good.”

Tremblay was at Monday’s game, sitting in a private loge with former Canadiens Guy Carbonneau, Vincent Damphousse, Patrice Brisebois and Chris Nilan, who all have Stanley Cup rings. Tremblay has four rings from his 12-year playing career with the Canadiens.

“It was really nice,” Tremblay said. “It was fun to be with the guys. It’s always nice to be together, especially for a night like this.”

Bon match, messieurs!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/2HPPyBtDkX

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 8, 2021

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

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Like just about everyone following the Canadiens, Tremblay has been surprised by the team’s dramatic turnaround since falling behind 3-1 to Toronto in the first round while scoring only four goals in the first four games. 1189373 Montreal Canadiens that seemingly caught Carey Price, and just about everyone else in the hockey world, by surprise.

Not so fast, the @NHLJets are on the board! #ItsOn About Last Night: Oui the North! Habs escape division with Jets sweep pic.twitter.com/4Yk1Oh4Jdk

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 8, 2021

Erik Leijon • Special to Montreal Gazette Then at 5:29 in the second, Stanley did it again. This time the recipient of a Kyle Connor pass, he was able to blast a one-timer past Price.

The @NHLJets tie it up! #StanleyCup // NBCSN The Montreal Canadiens are the last Canadian team standing. The Habs pic.twitter.com/fHcPVD2gT1 swept the Winnipeg Jets with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 4 Monday night at the Bell Centre to take North Division supremacy in its first and — NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 8, 2021 likely only year of existence. They’ll move on to the conference finals to The Jets were tied after two periods, but the Habs’ streak of not trailing in face an American team for the first time this season: either the Colorado a game continued past the 400-minute mark. The Canadiens led in shots Avalanche or Vegas Golden Knights. 25-11 after 40 minutes, with Hellebuyck keeping his team in the hunt. In Here’s the winning goal at 1:39 by Tyler Toffoli from a pass by Cole the third period, Hellebuyck showed why he’s the reigning Vézina Trophy Caufield: winner, making another 14 saves to push his team to overtime. Habs outshot the Jets 39-16 in regulation. TOFFOLI MET FIN À LA SÉRIE!!!!!! Overtime was quick, with Toffoli sending the Jets packing. Caufield’s TOFFOLI ENDS THE SERIES!!!!!!#GoHabsGo pass will only propel the legend of Bilbo Baggins further, while Nick pic.twitter.com/45qjEU0zmI Suzuki was a tenacious forechecker. Paul Maurice’s team now has the summer to contemplate how things might’ve been different had their star — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 8, 2021 centre not removed himself from the series via suspension. The Habs Here’s the handshake line. I haven’t shaken a hand in over a year. were the last team to clinch a berth in the second round, and now they’re the first team to seal a trip to the third. With the Avalanche and Golden Handshakes between the two Canadian teams. #ItsOn Knights series tied 2-2, the Habs could have some extra time to rest, not pic.twitter.com/KlNt3UwwZx that it did the Jets any favours after they swept the Oilers. At the very least, Jeff Petry and perhaps even Jake Evans will get a chance to — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 8, 2021 recover. How about some love from the Montreal faithful outside the Bell Centre: As for Mark Scheifele, his punishment isn’t over. Mood in MTL rn #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/ZqLHukH8Uk Since Mark Scheifele served 3 of his 4 game suspension. Next season — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 8, 2021 he will have to complete the suspension by missing the first regular season game of 2021-22https://t.co/9f2ORn8X7L And of course, the Man in Red: — CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 8, 2021 Marc Bergevin's lucky red suit is now 2-0 in series clinching games this postseasonpic.twitter.com/BhoIpKQAKX Here’s how the Liveblog commenters celebrated:

— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) June 8, 2021 3. “You think that Jake Evans didn’t play a part in this ending. So happy for the Boys and so happy that they never lost after that hit. They made Prior to the game, it was announced Jeff Petry wouldn’t play after getting Schiefele pay. There was a lot of talk of our team was built for the his hand caught in the camera hole in the boards in Game 3. His playoffs. Well that was a pretty dominating sweep. That was a pretty replacement was none other than rookie Alexander Romanov, making great follow up to an incredible comeback from down 3-1 to the Leafs. his NHL playoff debut. He was stoked, as were the Liveblog faithful: This team is built for the playoffs. Congratulations to Marc Bergevin and #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/e6rseAKLWu the Montreal Canadiens on a great playoff effort to here. Embrace it fans….Go Habs Go!!!!!” -Charles Patrick — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 7, 2021 2. “So who is the best team in Canada this year. It’s the team that went The Canadiens stormed out of the gate, looking like the same team that the farthest in these playoffs, Montreal canadiens. I don’t want this magic scored the opening goal in the first three games of the series. Jesperi season to end anytime soon” -Ryan Katz Kotkaniemi took a high-stick from Andrew Copp behind the Jets net, only the referee in front kept his whistle down. It was the zebra at the far end 1. “Seeing how happy MB is for the team and players and his who sent Copp to the box. The Habs power play responded. After Toffoli work….WELL DESERVED MARK. How can you dislike this guy? sneakily swiped the puck from former Hab Nate Thompson as he Caufield with the great pass. Tofolli with the goal, so fitting. Conference attempted to exit the zone, Erik Gustafsson faked a one-timer, found an Finals. Best team in Canada. Go Habs go.” -Joseph Barrie open shooting lane with Thompson flat-footed and wristed the puck off Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.09.2021 the post and in. The Habs once again opened the scoring.

Gustafsson marque son premier avec les Canadiens!!

Gus gets his first as a Hab!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/w7eHAmKyoT

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 8, 2021

After the Jets and Habs traded unsuccessful power plays, Artturi Lehkonen gave his squad a 2-0 advantage with under a minute in the first period. Following a strong forecheck by the Habs forwards, blue-liner Brett Kulak flicked a point shot on net that Lehkonen tipped over Connor Hellebuyck. The goal came at 19:09 in the first, if you believe in ghosts.

The @CanadiensMTL are rollin' in Game 4 #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/mvUqC6Y2ol

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 8, 2021

The Jets needed someone, anyone, to be a hero in the second period as they fought for their playoff lives. Enter 6-foot-7 defenceman Logan Stanley, who scored a solitary goal in his rookie campaign in Winnipeg. At 1:40 of the second, Stanley ripped a slingshot with massive torque 1189374 Nashville Predators

Why it makes sense for Pekka Rinne to return to the Nashville Predators next season

PAUL SKRBINA | Nashville Tennessean

The day is inevitable. At some point, sooner rather than too much later, Pekka Rinne no longer will wear a Nashville Predators uniform, something he's done in 772 games spanning 15 seasons with the only NHL team to which he's pledged his allegiance.

But I don't think that day will come this summer for the 38-year-old with a Vezina Trophy, a Stanley Cup Final appearance and a goal on his hockey résumé.

Rinne didn't sound like a man ready to retire just after his team's season ended with a six-game loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the playoffs.

"It's the passion," Rinne said soon after the season ended. "To me, that's the most important thing, just the love for the game. I still have that. ... My family, they love to see me play. ... I just need to take my time (with a decision). I'm not stressing."

Rinne didn't play a second this postseason. Didn't play a second last season in the play-in round loss, either. This after starting 89 consecutive postseason games.

Coming back to be Juuse Saros' backup for another season seems logical for Rinne, who holds nearly every franchise record for goalies.

"I've been in those situations where you carry the load at the end of the season," Rinne said. "I was there to support (Saros) and my team and I totally accept my role."

Rest assured, Rinne's rest has been assured most of the last two seasons, which is why it makes perfect sense for him to return for another one. For a proper sendoff for arguably the best and most beloved player in franchise history.

The Predators don't have an NHL-ready goalie in the pipeline. He and Saros are closer than two coats of paint. So don't count on a career that began with a 5-3 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 15, 2005, to have ended with a 5-0 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on May 10, 2021.

General manager David Poile has said he would welcome Rinne back.

Roman Josi said Rinne, like Josi a new father, has "a lot more years left."

That may be an exaggeration, but the point remains. Rinne, who has played the fewest minutes of his career the last two seasons, still has some quality minutes left in him.

He also likely would be affordable, much cheaper than the $5 million cap hit of the last two seasons, and the $7 million the seven seasons before that.

It's almost impossible to imagine Rinne, an unrestricted free agent, spending the sunset of his career with another team.

Nashville, after all, is a "special city" to Rinne, his "home now."

And, in all likelihood, his home for at least another year with the Predators.

Tennessean LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189375 Nashville Predators second in goals. He showcased a scoring prowess well beyond his years and gave Poile every reason to give him an extended look in training camp.

Predators positioned well to build on success of youth movement “We had [Tomasino] up here for a little bit of time but didn’t get an opportunity to play him, but he’s on my list,” Poile said. “I think from our development guys, he deserves a real good chance to make our team next year.” MICHAEL GALLAGHER JUN 8, 2021 Nashville Post LOADED: 06.09.2021

Perhaps no team in the NHL leaned on its rookies more in 2021 than the Nashville Predators did.

Over the course of the season, Nashville played an NHL-high 12 rookies, who produced 25 goals, 53 points, seven power play goals, 13 power play points and a combined plus-12 rating in 182 games, sparking the Predators’ 20-7-1 run over the final 28 games — momentum that lead the team into the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

But quite possibly the rookies’ best contribution didn’t come in the form of goals or points but in the way the team carried itself and rallied together as if it had been a playoff team all along.

“The new players we brought in, I was so impressed with their details, their work ethic and their character every single day,” center Ryan Johansen said. “I thought once they really found their spot on this team, they started flourishing and we really saw what they were capable of in those last 25 games.”

"I thought it was great," forward Filip Forsberg added. "They got experience, but at the same time, they earned it…It's something that I've definitely been impressed with; [they] definitely push everybody. You see the depth and you see the quality that's coming in from underneath, and it definitely makes you want to work harder, and you want to keep your spot because there's guys coming from [the AHL]."

Of the 12 rookies that took the ice this year, as many as seven of them — Eeli Tolvanen, Yakov Trenin, Tanner Jeannot, Alex Carrier, Mathieu Olivier, Jeremy Davies and Rem Pitlick — could have a chance of claiming full-time roster spots next season.

And top prospect Philip Tomasino, who didn’t play at the NHL level this season, could be in line for a full-time job with the Preds as well.

Tolvanen began to carve out a role for himself on Nashville’s top power play unit and on the team’s top line alongside Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen. The 22-year-old forward also tied for the most game-winning goals (four) and ranked second in power play goals (six) and third in power play points (12) among rookies.

The trio outscored opponents 14-3 when playing together, dominating in several areas including scoring chances for (80-60), high-danger chances for (31-24), high-danger goals (6-3) and offensive zone faceoff percentage (78).

Nine of Tolvanen’s 11 goals came when he was playing next to Johansen, and Tolvanen’s line had more than double the scoring chances (46-20) when playing with Forsberg.

“It’s been a steady progression for [Tolvanen] to get back up to NHL ready,” Preds GM David Poile stated. “Finally, we felt he was ready and we gave him a chance. He did a great job for us mostly on the power play…He looks like he can be an elite player on the power play with his shot and his ability to score goals, which we need very much.

“…Again, in terms of what I see for the future of our team, I’m willing to bet [Tolvanen] is going to be a big player in our future. He could be a big answer [to needing a scoring forward] because he has the potential to score. Everything is going in the right direction, and he needs to have a good summer of conditioning to get ready and put in a good spot coming back in training camp.”

In any other year, Tomasino would have played in the junior leagues. But due to COVID-19 altering the QMJHL season, he spent the year tormenting AHL goalies with the Chicago Wolves.

The 19-year-old center had the best plus/minus rating (+20) of any rookie in the AHL and second-best in the league, and he ranked sixth in goals (13) and third in points (32) among all rookies. The 6-foot centerman finished tied for the seventh-most goals and points in the AHL.

Tying fellow Predators prospect Tommy Novak for the Wolves team lead in points, Tomasino ranked first on the team in shots on goal (91) and 1189376 New Jersey Devils • On her reputation as a leader (she captained the 2018 gold medal team, among many others): “I think, when I was younger, my personality thrusted me into a lot of leadership roles. I’m outgoing. I’m competitive. I think as a young kid, those types of players on teams rose as leaders. ‘I’ve been myself since Day 1’: Meghan Duggan on leadership, equity Because they were the ones (with) work ethic or the communication; and her new job with the Devils those pieces came a little bit natural to me. But as I evolved, once I got into college or on the national team, being one of those leaders, I

certainly had to learn a lot and develop and grow and ask questions — By Sean Gentille and Craig Custance Jun 8, 2021 4 and find mentors that I could take things from, or things that made me say, ‘Ooh, actually I don’t like that.’’

“Up until leading a team to a gold medal in 2018, my leadership evolved When Meghan Duggan retired from professional hockey as one of the and was challenged. I had really high highs and really low lows. It can be most decorated players in American history — and when the New Jersey a lonely job sometimes. It can certainly be a difficult one. But I think the Devils hired her last month as manager of player development — you biggest thing for me, in even some of the lowest moments in my heard most conceivable versions of this phrase: Everywhere she goes, leadership, what was consistent for me was I always continued to try to she wins. evolve. Try to learn. Try to ask questions. Read a ton of different books. ‘The Captain’s Class’ was one of my favorites. In low moments, I was And it’s true. Duggan bagged three national championships at Wisconsin, like, ‘OK, how can I get better?’ Or even in high moments, when things eight medals (seven golds) at the World Championships for the United were going well and teams were winning championships.” States and three medals at the Olympics. Two of those were silvers; both came in competition against her wife, former Canadian national team “And it wasn’t always easy. My leadership was challenged a ton. But I member Gillian Apps. Duggan, naturally, hears about those. Not that she think that’s something that I’m definitely proud of, that I tried to continue has a problem bringing them up. to learn and evolve as generations change and new players come in and I change as a person.” “I’ve got some losses on my belt,” Duggan told The Athletic Hockey Show. “Oh gosh. No, no rivalry (at home) at all.” “A lot of growth happened after my first Olympics in Vancouver (in 2010). I was a young kid on that team. We didn’t come home with the result that The laugh might’ve given her away. We had a great, far-ranging we wanted. I certainly knew that I was young in my career and that I was conversation with Duggan, touching on her fight for equal pay in USA going to go for another one. I had to go back to Wisconsin and play my Hockey; her efforts to improving accessibility, diversity and participation senior season. … The program was super successful. In that Olympic in the sport; her trail-blazer status as the first known openly gay person to year, it was just an off year for the team and the program. Mark Johnson work in an NHL front office; and, of course, her new gig. was our coach and he came with us to the Olympics. A handful of players You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Some more from the previous team had graduated or were centralized with Team highlights from our talk: USA. So we came back, and the team was a little fragmented, off course a little bit. • On her work with the NHL’s player inclusion committee, which started in September as part of the league’s larger efforts to improve in that space: “And here we were, this is my senior season, I’m ready to go after a “I represent a lot of different groups, and I think it’s been such a national championship. But I had to make a quick transition, going from a wonderful experience for me to be a part of the NHL player inclusion young kid on the Olympic team, showing up and doing my business, and committee and working on making hockey a safer, more accepting, now I need to pick this team up and lead us to a national championship. inclusive space for anyone who wants to be part of it, regardless of That was a huge period of transformation for me, from a leadership sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, whatever it is, right? Ten years perspective. And I had great people to work with. Obviously (Hilary ago, that’s just not the case. There’s a lot of people that don’t feel safe in Knight) was there and a lot of other teammates that had the same feeling hockey. For me, I’ve been fortunate that hockey has always felt like a about the group … It was one of the greatest teams, from a personality safe space for me. I’ve been myself since Day 1.” standpoint and a cohesiveness (standpoint), that I’ve ever been a part of. I think that was the work of a lot of great leaders challenging each other “Playing the game, being welcome in an arena, I’ve always felt safe. I’ve to be better each day. It was a really good group, but certainly a always loved it. It’s changed my life. It’s been my life and made me who I transformational time in my career.” am. So I want that for everyone — everyone who looks like me, everyone who identifies like me, anyone who loves hockey. That will continue to be • On her job with Devils, where she’ll work on- and off-ice with different a goal of mine. I do feel that the NHL, as the alpha dog in the hockey departments to help players excel, physically and elsewhere: “I think world, has evolved and continues to evolve in how they are working that’s what excites me most about the role. Really, when you think about toward these things. what’s on the horizon for this young team and this organization, and being a part of something like that — that’s exciting. Anyone that’s “We are already starting to see some of the fruits of the labor, and we’re working on something that has so much potential and growth, it’s fun to only going to continue to, as more recommendations are presented to the work in that environment.” executives at the league, and strategy and how to roll themselves out come into play.” “(Part of the job is) certainly understanding what some of our coaches see in these players, but also what do I think? What do I see? How am I • On the fight she helped lead for equitable treatment with USA Hockey viewing this player through video and understanding who they are and before going on to win gold at the 2017 World Championship and the who they can be, so I can help.” Olympics: “It was intense. It was pressure, but when I think back to that time period … it was pressure, but it was such a privilege to feel that There’s plenty more from Duggan in the full episode, along with our pressure. We were like, ‘We’re going to bet on ourselves. I remember thoughts on the current state of the NHL postseason and the future of even in some of our negotiations, saying, ‘If we don’t (win gold), then we Jack Eichel. Again, it’s available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and The won’t even need it. We won’t even ask for it.’ We’re saying, ‘We’re gonna Athletic. do this. And we’re guaranteeing that. We’re betting on ourselves right The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 now. And if we don’t, then everything’s out the window.’ That’s why I’m so proud of our team, because we said, ‘We are going to win a gold medal. So let’s all work together and figure out how we can best do this as a group.’”

“There was so much potential to change our sport, to change mindsets, attitudes, futures of young kids. And we just rode that wave.”

“I’m so proud of the women (negotiating the next deal). I know what they do, how hard these last couple years have been for them with COVID and the World Championship cancellations, and what they do for that program and for that sport. So I know that something great is going to come out of it, and I’m excited to see how they push it forward.” 1189377 New Jersey Devils * Will be a pending UFA in the offseason. These players can be protected or exposed. If exposed, Seattle will have a 48-hour window to negotiate with and sign them before the draft starts. If they are selected during the draft, Seattle would gain their exclusive negotiating rights until Devils protected list: Who’s staying and who could be picked in the free agency begins. Seattle Kraken expansion draft? The locks

Forwards: Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, Janne Kuokkanen, Yegor By Corey Masisak Jun 8, 2021 73 Sharangovich, Pavel Zacha

Defensemen: Damon Severson

The regular season is over and the countdown to the Seattle Kraken Goaltender: Mackenzie Blackwood expansion draft is on. Zacha set career highs in goals (17) and points (35) despite playing in Which player the Devils might lose to Seattle was the most divisive only 50 games. He led the Devils in points and tied for the team lead in question of the more than 30 posed by The Athletic to our subscribers in goals. Kuokkanen and Sharangovich were two of the club’s top success a recent reader survey. The top two were separated by two votes, while stories in 2021, not only becoming regulars in their first NHL season with four other players received a significant number of them. New Jersey but finishing the year flanking Hughes on the top line and cementing their place in at least the outer circle of the young core. It’s going to be one of the key points of an intriguing offseason in New Jersey. The Devils are trying to steer towards the end of a long rebuilding The Devils just traded for Siegenthaler at the deadline. He only played process, and it’s possible they will lose an intriguing young player. The eight games for them, but he’s 24 and it’s tempting to make him a lock. If Athletic is going to dig into the protection process for all 30 NHL teams there was an eighth of the 10, it’d be him. It’s obvious from what the that will participate this week (a reminder: Vegas will not lose a player to Devils have on the depth chart that they will be protecting seven Seattle) and then our team of experts led by Kraken beat writer Ryan S. forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender. Clark and national writer Eric Duhatschek are going to pick who they believe will form the preliminary edition of the Seattle roster. The big decisions

Let’s recap the rules from the Vegas expansion draft, which the NHL has Goaltender told its GMs would be the same for Seattle. It’s Blackwood. The only thing to note here is that Cormier fulfills the Teams can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or Devils’ exposure obligations. four forwards, four defensemen and one goalie. Defensemen All players with current no-movement clauses must be protected. This is one spot where the Devils clearly have the ability to add another All first- and second-year professionals and unsigned draft choices are player before the draft. They could do it with a forward, but it would make exempt. some tough decisions even harder.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic cut last season short and reduced this It’s Severson, likely Siegenthaler and then … Butcher and Subban are one to 56 games, the exposure requirements have been tweaked a little. both under contract through next season. If the Devils don’t add anyone — either via a trade or say signing Murray to a new contract — it should Every team must expose: be one of those two guys. There are pros and cons to protecting or exposing both. At least one defenseman under contract for next season with 27-plus NHL games this season or 54 in the past two combined. If the Devils wanted to keep the Kraken away from their young forwards that might need to be exposed, enticing them to select Butcher or At least two forwards under contract for next season with 27-plus NHL Subban is one avenue to do it. General manager Tom Fitzgerald also games last season or 54 in the past two combined. mentioned at the trade deadline that he wanted to keep his third salary One goaltender who is under contract for next season or is a restricted retention slot open in case he needed it before the expansion draft. That free agent with a qualifying offer. could work one of two ways — he could use it to retain part of Subban’s or Butcher’s cap hit for next season in a trade with Seattle. Or he could Players with career-threatening injuries who have missed the past 60- retain salary as a third party in a trade between two other teams as well. plus games or have been confirmed to have career-threatening injuries are not allowed to be used to fulfill exposure requirements. Forwards

First, here are the Devils who will be exempt from the process: So we’ve established five pretty obvious locks. That leaves two spots for … Jesper Boqvist, Graeme Clarke, Nolan Foote, Alexander Holtz, Jack Hughes, Mikhail Maltsev, Kevin Bahl, Nikita Okhotiuk, Gilles Senn, Ty Nathan Bastian Smith, Aarne Talvitie, Tyce Thompson, Michael Vukojevic, Reilly Walsh, Andreas Johnsson Fabian Zetterlund, Michael McLeod Any draft pick who has yet to play for Binghamton or New Jersey Nick Merkley Here are the players who are not exempt. They will either need to be protected or exposed: Marian Studenic

Forwards: Nathan Bastian, Jesper Bratt, Brandon Gignac, A.J. Greer, Miles Wood Nico Hischier, Mason Jobst*, Andreas Johnsson, Janne Kuokkanen, Nick Merkley, Michael McLeod, Nate Schnarr, Brett Seney*, Yegor That’s the entire energy line, which was technically fourth in the lineup Sharangovich, Ben Street*, Marian Studenic, Miles Wood, Pavel Zacha but regularly played third-line minutes, plus two young guys who have flashed NHL potential in limited viewings, plus a guy with a decent track Defensemen: Will Butcher, Connor Carrick*, Jeremy Groleau, Ryan record as a top-nine forward but also had a down 2021 season. This is Murray*, David Quenneville, Damon Severson, Jonas Siegenthaler, what the NHL wants for the expansion process — for the new guys to get Colby Sissons, P.K. Subban, Matt Tennyson*, Colton White some intriguing players. Teams that have developed a lot of NHL-caliber depth are going to have some tough calls to make, and are likely going to Goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood, Evan Cormier, Aaron Dell*, Gilles feel it. Senn^, Scott Wedgewood Vegas used this leverage to collect several players who turned out much ^Senn has signed with HC Davos in the Swiss league for the next two better than their previous club had expected. Will Seattle be able to lean seasons but is a restricted free agent with the Devils. on teams to make as many trades? Will they be able to find impact players where other organizations didn’t see one? Johnsson might seem like an obvious choice, but the context of his Nathan Bastian season — he dealt with more significant fallout from contracting COVID- 19 because he also deals with asthma — is pretty important. If the Devils Marian Studenic expose him, and he has a healthy offseason … it’s certainly plausible Brandon Gignac that he could be the player New Jersey thought it was getting from Toronto while playing next season for the Kraken. And that player can Nate Schnarr play higher in the lineup/potentially be more productive than the three A.J. Greer guys on the energy line. Mason Jobst New Jersey Devils protection list Available FORWARDS DEFENSEMEN GOALIES Brett Seney Jesper Bratt Protected Will Butcher Ben Street Mackenzie Blackwood Exempt Nico Hischier Butcher (238 votes) was the top option for our readers, with Johnsson Damon Severson (236) just two behind. Subban, McLeod, Merkley, Bastian and Wood all Gilles Senn received at least 69 votes.

Janne Kuokannen Of those six forwards who are left to vie for the last two spots, there are likely two tiers — one is Wood, Johnsson and McLeod, and the other is Jonas Siegenthaler Bastian, Merkley and Studenic. Maybe Studenic is a tier below the other Evan Cormier two, but he is an intriguing player because he could be an above-average skater at the NHL level. Yegor Sharangovich Wood just tied for the team lead in goals. McLeod became arguably the Kevin Bahl team’s most dependable role player, and the door for him to be more than a No. 4 center is open wider than it might have been before the Nico Daws second half of the season. Johnsson’s underlying numbers were strong Pavel Zacha for much of the year, but he struggled mightily to score and had several nights where he lost ice time because Ruff felt he wasn’t making enough Nikita Okhotiouk of an impact.

Akira Schmid Butcher and Subban feel like tossups for different reasons. If the Devils definitely want to keep both, then exposing Subban makes more sense Andreas Johnsson because of his $9 million cap hit. If they want to keep both and try to Ty Smith steer the Kraken away from the loser of the Wood-McLeod-Johnsson battle for the final two spots, the Devils could try to sweeten the idea of Aaron Dell locking Seattle into Merkley, Bastian or Studenic with a mid-to-late round draft pick. Miles Wood Losing one of those six forwards would not be a critical blow for the Michael Vukojevic Devils — building up the NHL-quality depth they have, plus the collection Scott Wedgewood of near-NHL ready forwards on the way should help blunt the impact. But it could still sting for the club to lose a useful, young player just as this Jesper Boqvist rebuilding project might finally be heading for its final stages.

Reilly Walsh The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 Graeme Clarke

P.K. Subban

Nolan Foote

Colton White

Alexander Holtz

Ryan Murray

Jack Hughes

Connor Carrick

Mikhail Maltsev

Matt Tennyson

Fabian Zetterlund

David Quenneville

Tyce Thompson

Colby Sissons

Aarnie Talvitie

Jeremy Groleau

Michael McLeod

Nick Merkley 1189378 New York Islanders

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing refs after Game 5 loss to Islanders

ASSOCIATED PRESS |

BOSTON — The NHL fined Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy $25,000 on Tuesday for his criticism of the officials after Game 5 of Boston’s second- round playoff series against the New York Islanders.

The Islanders scored three power-play goals on four chances in a 5-4 victory on Monday night while being called for two penalties themselves. After the game, Cassidy commended the officials but said the teams were treated differently despite playing similar styles.

“I think they sell a narrative over there that it’s more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders,” he said. “The calls, the exact calls that are getting called on us do not get called on them — and I don’t know why.

“Maybe we need to sell them more — flop — but that’s not us.”

Asked about Cassidy’s comments, New York coach Barry Trotz noted that his team was one of the least penalized in the regular season. The Bruins had the most minor penalties called on them this year, and the Islanders were 29th in the 31-team league.

But some of the calls in Monday’s game were for plays that often are ignored.

“It’s not like I’m sitting there going, ‘Every call against us sucks.’ It’s not true. It’s just the end of the day, the similar plays — they need to be penalized on those plays,” Cassidy said. “They play hard, hard brand of hockey. Love the way they play. But they commit as many infractions as we do — trust me. It’s just a matter of calling ‘em.”

Also Tuesday, the league fined Bruins forward Nick Ritchie the maximum of $5,000 for elbowing Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield in the first period of Game 5.

New York Daily News LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189379 New York Islanders

Islanders know finishing off Bruins will be no easy task

By Mollie WalkerJune 8, 2021 | 9:52PM

The Islanders are on the cusp of returning to the same point in the playoffs at which their run ended last season in the expanded bubble playoffs.

A win over the Bruins on Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum would punch the Islanders’ ticket as the champion of the East Division. That would send them up against a team they have yet to face this season because of the NHL’s realignment to minimize travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.

If the Islanders lose, this second-round series would come down to a sudden-death Game 7 in Boston on Friday night.

“The last one is always the hardest to get,” said Jordan Eberle, who had a power-play goal in the Islanders’ 5-4 Game 5 win on Monday night. “But we’re excited to go back to the Coliseum. You guys have seen it, how loud it’s been, it helps us, it gives us some juice.

“Watch some video, get prepared and be ready for another tough battle.”

Jordan Eberle battles the Bruins’ Craig Smith for the puck during the Islanders’ Game 5 win in Boston.

If there’s anything for the Islanders to take away, it’s how they defended in the final minutes of Monday’s game. The Bruins garnered 73 shot attempts through the first 54:43 of the game, but were limited to just three in the final 5:17, after David Krejci made it a one-goal game late in the third.

The Islanders have successfully worked to protect leads in the past two games of this series, buckling down in the final period to pull out wins. They also did it in Game 4 , keeping the pressure up after Mathew Barzal made it 2-1 more than halfway through the third, which led to empty-net goals from Casey Cizikas and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

“We’ll be desperate [Wednesday], they will be desperate,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said Tuesday, an off-day for the team. “To get the fourth one is always the toughest. I think guys understand that they’ve got to leave their best game out there. If we leave our best game out there, hopefully we get the result, and if we do, then we advance. If we don’t, we go to Game 7 and we’ll have to have our best game there in Boston.

“I think guys understand that. I don’t think there’s any magic to it, it’s just understanding the reality of it. And how hard it is to finish off a team.”

Oliver Wahlstrom missed a sixth straight game Monday as he continues to nurse a lower-body injury he sustained in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Penguins.

Trotz said Tuesday the rookie sharpshooter is still “day-to-day” and unavailable.

In addition to Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy’s $25,000 fine for his postgame criticism of the officiating, Nick Ritchie was fined $5,000 (the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement) for elbowing Scott Mayfield in the first period.

New York Post LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189380 New York Islanders this time, they mean it. There is a sparkling new arena just 10 miles down the road, and UBS Arena is a beauty. The Barn was always as much a target of derision as affection, from the minute it opened.

Islanders fans will make Bruce Cassidy pay for big mistake But if you grew up on the Island?

The @NYIslanders are putting on a SHOW in front of their home crowd. #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/xVmuWWIu3i By Mike VaccaroJune 8, 2021 | 6:24pm | Updated — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 27, 2021

It was a barn, all right. But it was our barn. We went there for Arrows Oh, Bruce Cassidy, you shouldn’t have. games and NCAA Tournament games, for the old Newsday Classic high- school hoops showcase, for Springsteen and U2 and Squeeze and Billy No. Really. You shouldn’t have. Joel, for the Nets, who hung two ABA banners. And for the Islanders, Cassidy’s Bruins were already going to be skating into a cauldron of who hung four Stanley Cup banners. sound and fury Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum. Part of that is The building will remain. The hockey team will go, soon enough. And it because the Old Barn on Hempstead Turnpike really is, and always has was the hockey team that allowed Long Islanders to stand, proudly, been, noisier and more cantankerous than your cranky neighbor, whenever the roll of area champions is called. Islanders fans didn’t get especially when its favored tenants, the Islanders, are playing. any of that last year, when their team won three postseason series, every That’s especially true when those Islanders have an opportunity to close minute played far away from The Barn. out a playoff series. And if you’d like to take it a step further: if the They have tried to make up for that. Islanders don’t close out this second-round playoff series in Game 6 Wednesday, there is the possibility that it might be the last Islanders And Wednesday might be most amazing chapter yet. game ever played in The Barn. “It’s going to be crazy and loud,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said with a So all of that was already in play. wry smile. “Even [Monday] was stressful, but it was fun. Fans make such a big difference.” Then Cassidy cleared his throat Monday night, after the Bruins somehow lost 5-4 in a Game 5, in which they outshot the Islanders 347-6 (or They always have, whether it’s trying to outshout Robert Plant while he thereabouts) and spent 59 ½ minutes (or thereabouts) camped in the reaches the high notes on “Black Dog,” or to urge Dr. J as he soars Isles’ zone: toward a basket or to join a glorious dog-pile, 12,000 strong, when a puck finds the back of a net. One more time, at the least, The Barn can give us “We’re playing a team that has a very well-respected management and that. coaching staff. But I think they sell a narrative over there that it’s more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders.” A helpful suggestion for Bruce Cassidy: two words — ear plugs.

Oh, Bruce. Now you’ve done it. The 12,000 or so zanies who were going New York Post LOADED: 06.09.2021 to make the pilgrimage Wednesday were already prepared to go home with their voice boxes ruined. They were already going to fill the Coliseum with a sublime sound unmatched by even The Barn’s more esteemed contemporaries. You were already going to get an earful.

Islanders fans will be even more riled up for Game 6 Wednesday following Bruce Cassidy’s comments Monday.

Charles Wenzelberg, AP

And now …

Well, put it this way: By acclimation, the three loudest nights in the history of the old incarnation of the Coliseum are generally listed thusly:

Feb. 13, 1975, when Led Zeppelin opened with “Rock and Roll” and closed with “Stairway to Heaven” and then added four encores (capped by “Communication Breakdown,” joined on stage by the Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood), a thunderous 2 ½-hour ode to ear-splitting delight.

May 13, 1976, when 15,434 folks watched as Julius Erving scored 31 points, Super John Williamson added 28 and the Nets outscored the Denver Nuggets 34-14 in the fourth quarter to capture the last ABA Championship, 112-106, in the final game ever contested with a red, white and blue ball.

(I was at that one. I was 9. I’ve been to probably 2,500 sporting events in the 45 years since. I’ve still never heard sports louder than it was that night.)

And May 24, 1980, when Bobby Nystrom took a pass from John Tonelli and nudged the puck past Pete Peeters 7:11 into overtime to give the Islanders a 5-4 win and their first Stanley Cup. It was so loud that day they had to replay “We Are the Champions” — then just in its infancy as a championship anthem — because nobody could hear it the first time.

Islanders fans celebrate during Game 4.

That brings us to Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The Coliseum has been a raucous adventureland of ferocity for each of the five home games so far against the Penguins and the Bruins; no surprise there, of course, because playoff hockey tends to stir the inner snarl inhabiting all of us. Pittsburgh was loud, too. Boston looked like quite a party for Game 5.

But this is different. There is a clock ticking on the Turnpike. At some point in the next few weeks, it really will be last call at The Barn — and 1189381 New York Islanders

Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 as Bruins-Islanders series gets heated

By Mollie WalkerJune 8, 2021 | 2:45pm | Updated

The deeper the playoff run, the harder it is for a team to harness its emotions.

This tense second-round series between the Bruins and Islanders has proven that heading into Game 6 on Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders lead the series 3-2 and, with a win, would advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals against the Lightning, who knocked off the Hurricanes on Tuesday.

The Islanders and Bruins have both come so close to winning it all in the past three seasons that they will do and say anything to pull this series in their favor. That can happen when a team has watched Lord Stanley get handed over to its opponents, as the Bruins did in 2019, or when it has lost in the conference finals to the eventual champions, as the Islanders did in 2020.

Still, the team on the other bench is always going to take exception to any snide remarks or attempt to influence the perception of the series. And, so will the NHL.

Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy was fined $25,000 on Tuesday for his critical comments regarding the officiating during his postgame press conference following the Islanders’ 5-4 win in Game 5 on Monday night. After his team, which had the second-most effective penalty kill in the NHL this season, gave up three power-play goals, Cassidy said the Islanders “sell a narrative over there that it’s more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders.”

Bruce Cassidy was fined $25,000 for his critical comments about the officiating.

The power-play disparity through five games in the series is four: 15 for the Islanders and 11 for the Bruins. Asked about his expensive postgame complaints, Cassidy said they were more in reference to the Islanders, not the referees, and to Islanders head coach Barry Trotz’s previous comments that Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron “knows how to cheat” on faceoffs.

“I’m always going to protect my captain,” Cassidy said Tuesday. “Listen, we’re in front of the cameras a lot and the media, it’s an entertainment business. It’s been a good series, so there’s been a little bit of that back and forth. Obviously, I felt there were some calls that didn’t go our way that have gone against us when it comes to high sticks.

“I was held accountable for it. When you get fined, you say something to the effect of ‘embarrassing’ or ‘a joke,’ and I didn’t say any of that.”

After Trotz essentially called for the officials to take note of Bergeron’s tactics from the dots ahead of Game 5 at TD Garden, the Bruins’ top-line center was tossed from the first faceoff he took Monday night — and from a few more after that.

“Have a little respect for Patrice Bergeron,” Cassidy quipped after the game.

Trotz didn’t have much to say in response to Cassidy’s postgame remarks, except that the Islanders were one of the least-penalized teams in the NHL this season. And when asked to follow up on his targeted observations of Bergeron, Trotz stood behind them.

“That’s a comment I would make to every veteran center in this league,” he said Tuesday. “You always look for an edge and he’s very good. … You asked me honestly what I thought and I told you.”

The harsh words are beginning to fly just as ruthlessly as the hits.

“He said it was a veteran play,” Bergeron said of Trotz. “I think it’s a veteran play by him as a coach to talk to try to get the linesmen and the officiating to think about it.”

New York Post LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189382 New York Islanders "We’ve got to minimize some of our mistakes from our blue line back," Cassidy said. "Do our best to stay out of the box."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.09.2021 Islanders can eliminate Bruins in Game 6 at Coliseum on Wednesday

By Andrew Gross

There almost certainly will be some fans at Nassau Coliseum wearing New York Saints shirts, quite possibly even some wearing jerseys of that defunct indoor lacrosse team that once played at the venerable barn and has seemingly been brought back to life thanks to unwitting comments from Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy.

It will be an electric atmosphere with a charged crowd of 12,000 as the Islanders can oust the Bruins in Wednesday night’s Game 6 of their second-round series.

"The last one is the hardest to get," said Jordan Eberle, who scored one of the Islanders’ three-power play goals in Monday night’s improbable 5-4 win in Game 5 at TD Garden. "But we’re excited to go back to the Coliseum."

Monday’s win left the Islanders on the brink of a second straight berth in the NHL’s final four after being eliminated by the Lightning in six games in last season’s Eastern Conference finals.

Island Ice Ep. 96: Isles vs. Bruins Game 5 analysis

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss the Isles' 5-4 win in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Bruins.

This season, the four divisional champions will be reseeded and the Islanders or Bruins will play either the Lightning or the Hurricanes in the NHL semifinals with the Canadiens set to play either the Golden Knights or Avalanche.

So, just as certainly, neither the Islanders nor Bruins are focusing on the off-ice back-and-forth between Cassidy and Islanders coach Barry Trotz.

Cassidy, reacting to Trotz’s comments on Sunday that Bruins top-line center Patrice Bergeron cheated on faceoffs and unhappy with some calls and non-calls in Game 5, said the Islanders pushed the narrative they were the "New York Saints."

Cassidy was fined $25,000 on Tuesday and Trotz declined comment

Neither team practiced on Tuesday and Trotz said during his media availability he doesn’t believe the Islanders will carry any momentum over from Game 5. The Bruins outshot them, 44-19, including 18-3 in a third period in which they scored twice and nearly rallied from a three- goal deficit. But goalie Semyon Varlamov was strong in net.

"Every game is an individual event," Trotz said. "We have to be way better. We found a way to win. But we can be way better in our game. We have a few individuals that can have a little more substance to their game. Give [the Bruins] credit, they made some adjustments, they came with everything. They threw the kitchen sink. We were able to survive it and find a way to win it. That’s the playoffs.

"We’re just looking forward to tomorrow," Trotz added. "It’s an opportunity."

The Islanders, who have scored four or more goals three times in this series, have won two straight and also trailed their first-round series to the Penguins, 2-1, before advancing in a Game 6 at the Coliseum.

But the Bruins, too, are a seasoned team, having advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019.

Game 7, if the Bruins make it necessary, will be Friday night at TD Garden.

"They know what’s at stake," Cassidy said. "We need to go win a game, that’s it. We’re not looking ahead or behind now, either. We’re going up to New York to win a game. We have to. We look at Game 5, we thought we played well enough to win. In terms of the mindset of the guys, they know we can outplay the opposition. We’ve just got to go out and do it."

The Bruins dominated five-on-five play on Monday and Bergeron’s line with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak combined for three goals and three assists. 1189383 New York Islanders

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 by NHL for postgame comments

By Andrew Gross

It was an expensive Tuesday for the Bruins, on the cusp of elimination heading into Wednesday night’s Game 6 of their second-round series against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

The NHL fined coach Bruce Cassidy $25,000 for comments after the Islanders’ 5-4 win in Monday night’s Game 5 at TD Garden the league deemed critical of its on-ice officials. Bruins left wing Nick Ritchie was fined the maximum $5,000 for an unpenalized first-period elbow to defenseman Scott Mayfield

Also this series, Bruins right wing Jake DeBrusk was fined $5,000 after hitting Mayfield in the back of the head in Game 2, though no cross- checking penalty was called. And Bruins center David Krejci was fined $5,000 for getting his stick into Mathew Barzal’s groin area in Game 4. Krejci initially received a five-minute spearing major but that was quickly reduced to a two-minute slash by the officials.

Cassidy ran afoul of the league for saying the Islanders acted like the "New York Saints." Cassidy said Tuesday those comments were not directed at the officiating crew. Islanders coach Barry Trotz declined to comment.

Isles files

Trotz said Oliver Wahlstrom (lower body) continues to be considered day-to-day and has not been available to play. The rookie right wing has been skating . . . The Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport announced six guaranteed home dates at Webster Bank Arena, including the home opener on Oct. 23. The AHL will announce its complete schedule this summer, with the season expected to begin on Oct. 15.

Bruins news

Cassidy said fourth-line center Curtis Lazar suffered a lower-body injury attempting to check Adam Pelech on Monday and will not be available for Game 6. Defensemen Brandon Carlo and Kevan Miller remain unavailable. Goalie Tuukka Rask’s status will be determined Wednesday after he exited Game 5 after two periods for health reasons.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189384 New York Islanders play at UMass. LoCascio’s day job is as a regional business director for Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals.

The Cassidy incident was fodder for fans and journalists, but LoCascio Saints be praised! Sal LoCascio thanks Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy for considered it a bonus that it gave publicity to his old team and his lifelong the shout-out sport.

Now there is a new lacrosse team based at the Coliseum. Might Cassidy want to check it out later this year? Sal LoCascio had a message for the Bruins on Tuesday morning: "Hey, Coach Cassidy, it sounds like you’re having nightmares about Cal "If he wants season tickets," LoCascio said, "let him know we’ll get him Clutterbuck and Matt Martin!" out to see the Riptide."

Then he laughed. By Neil Best

It had been an interesting 12 hours for LoCascio. First, he thoroughly Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.09.2021 enjoyed watching the Islanders defeat Bruce Cassidy’s Bruins, 5-4, on Monday night in Game 5 of the teams’ second-round playoff series.

Then he awoke to his phone "blowing up" with messages about Cassidy having referred to the Islanders as "the New York Saints" after the game, accusing them of creating a false narrative that they play cleanly and are above reproach.

Cassidy presumably was unaware there used to be a lacrosse team that went by that name and played at Nassau Coliseum. But LoCascio knew, because he starred in goal for the team for the majority of its National Lacrosse League run from 1989 to 2003.

He was a five-time NLL All-Star, was an All-American at the University of Massachusetts and is a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Now, the Saints have become an unlikely storyline for Game 6. "I absolutely love it," LoCascio said.

So much so that he plans to attend his first playoff game of the season on Wednesday night and to do so wearing one of his Saints jerseys — even if it required breaking into an old picture frame to get to it.

Former New York Saints goalkeeper Sal LoCascio poses in his home with his old jersey Credit: LoCascio family

(Memo to the Islanders’ video board operator: Fans might enjoy that sight during a TV timeout.)

LoCascio is confident he will witness a victory. "Oh, there’s no doubt," he said. "When they come back to the Old Barn, they’re closing it out."

Part of that belief is grounded in Cassidy’s remarks, which stemmed from the coach’s ire at the officiating — the Islanders scored three power-play goals — and earned him a $25,000 fine from the NHL on Tuesday.

Then the league fined the Bruins’ Nick Ritchie $5,000 for an uncalled elbow infraction against Scott Mayfield, further undermining Cassidy’s argument.

Barry Trotz refused to be dragged into a conversation with reporters about any of that on Tuesday.

Asked what Cassidy might have been thinking, he said, "I can’t tell you what’s going on there. You’ll have to ask Bruce. I don’t really have any comments on that at all, sorry."

What about the added drama and/or emotion this sort of byplay can create? "I don’t have any tension at all, and I don’t have any emotion to those things," Trotz said.

What about working the officials? "I don’t work them; I respect them," Trotz said.

Adorable!

Truth is, Trotz was doing his job when he accused Bruins center Patrice Bergeron of cheating on faceoffs, and Cassidy was doing his job when he complained about, well, everything after Game 5.

"Look, as an athlete, I get what he’s doing," LoCascio said. "You try to get every edge you possibly can. But here’s the truth: They can’t handle Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck hammering their guys on every possible play . . . The backbone the Islanders have is special, and as the series is wearing on, you can see it."

He wasn’t through. "Cassidy’s comments, you know what that told me as an athlete? That there’s doubt in that locker room."

LoCascio, 54, who lives in Bayport, still is involved in lacrosse. He works with the Team 91 travel program, and his son Gavin has committed to 1189385 New York Islanders

Bruins coach Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing refs

By The Associated Press

BOSTON - The NHL fined Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy $25,000 on Tuesday for his criticism of the officials after Game 5 of Boston's second- round playoff series against the New York Islanders.

The Islanders scored three power-play goals on four chances in a 5-4 victory on Monday night while being called for two penalties themselves. After the game, Cassidy commended the officials but said the teams were treated differently despite playing similar styles.

“I think they sell a narrative over there that it's more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders,” he said. “The calls, the exact calls that are getting called on us do not get called on them -- and I don't know why.

“Maybe we need to sell them more -- flop -- but that's not us."

Asked about Cassidy's comments, New York coach Barry Trotz noted that his team was one of the least penalized in the regular season. The Bruins had the most minor penalties called on them this year, and the Islanders were 29th in the 31-team league.

But some of the calls in Monday's game were for plays that often are ignored.

“It's not like I'm sitting there going, ‘Every call against us sucks.' It's not true. It's just the end of the day, the similar plays -- they need to be penalized on those plays," Cassidy said. “They play hard, hard brand of hockey. Love the way they play. But they commit as many infractions as we do -- trust me. It's just a matter of calling 'em.”

Also Tuesday, the league fined Bruins forward Nick Ritchie the maximum of $5,000 for elbowing Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield in the first period of Game 5.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189386 New York Islanders lost, 2-1. But he shook it off and has stopped 68 of the next 73 shots (.931 save percentage) as the Isles won the next two games.

Sorokin still has better numbers than Varlamov does this postseason — Semyon Varlamov, unshaken by early goals, continues to impress in he is 4-1, with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage Isles-Bruins series — but Varlamov (3-3, 2.72, .925) is rolling now. There’s no question anymore who should start the next game for the Islanders.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.09.2021 By Colin Stephenson

There was a time, not long ago, when it seemed right to question whether Semyon Varlamov should be the guy in goal for the Islanders in the playoffs.

Barry Trotz, the head coach, made the decision that with Varlamov still getting over a little bit of a groin strain, it made sense to start rookie Ilya Sorokin in Game 1 of the first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. And Sorokin played well, and the Islanders won. So it seemed reasonable to keep going with Sorokin, at least until he lost a game.

But Trotz started Varlamov in Game 2 of that series, and Game 3. And when the Islanders lost both games, and Varlamov gave up one or two questionable goals along the way, Trotz came back with Sorokin, and the Isles won the next three in a row to finish off the Penguins and advance to the second round against the Boston Bruins.

Sorokin started Game 1 of the series, which the Islanders lost, and Trotz immediately turned to Varlamov and hasn’t looked back.

Island Ice Ep. 96: Isles vs. Bruins Game 5 analysis

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss the Isles' 5-4 win in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Bruins.

"He's been one of those guys that has a bad game, you want to throw him [back] in there right away, because you know he's gonna come back with a really good game,’’ Trotz said.

Things seem to have stabilized with Varlamov, whose goals-against average has been dropping while his save percentage rises. And the Isles have won two in a row, to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven series against Boston.

They would not have won the pivotal Game 5 on Monday without a massive performance from Varlamov, who stopped 40 shots as the Islanders were outshot, 44-19, in what turned out to be a 5-4 victory.

"Varly made some huge saves,’’ Islanders forward Jordan Eberle said. "You’ve got to be ready to go at the start, and especially in Boston, you know that they were going to come, and they took us by storm there. I thought we leveled off pretty good and obviously [Mathew Barzal’s] goal . . . brings us back.’’

The Islanders fell behind almost immediately on David Pastrnak’s first goal of the game, at 1:25. It wasn’t a shot Varlamov rightly could have been expected to stop, but it did mark the fifth time in his six postseason starts that Varlamov had allowed a goal on one of the first three shots he faced in the game. And the Islanders have fallen behind in all six games.

But Varlamov was unshaken. The Bruins kept pressuring and the 33- year-old Russian just kept making saves, to keep his team in it until Barzal’s power-play goal tied it, 1-1, late in the period and the Isles ended up building a 5-2 lead before holding on for the win.

"If you know anything about Varly, there's not a guy that cares more, there's probably not a guy that's more low maintenance, there's probably not a guy that understands himself, and the game, the process of being a goalie in the NHL [better],’’ Trotz said before the game. "And his demeanor gives you that confidence that he gets that.

"Goaltending's one of the those positions where, if you don't have that trigger where you can just sort of understand it, why, maybe . . . a goal goes in that you don't expect, how to shake those off, then you find goaltenders really go into those long slumps — or never even get a career going — because they can't let it go.’’

Varlamov has mastered the art of letting it go. In Game 2 against Pittsburgh, he gave up an inexplicably bad goal to Bryan Rust, on the third shot he saw, 3:22 into the first period. He went on to play an outstanding game, making 43 saves, but the Islanders lost, 2-1. In Game 3 against the Bruins, Varlamov stopped 39 of the first 40 shots he faced, but gave up a bad-angle goal to Brad Marchand in overtime as the Isles 1189387 New York Islanders Here are a few of his highlights during a busy second period. Semyon Varlamov standing on his head in the second #Isles

pic.twitter.com/QD9dAEN5fA Islanders Confidence in Semyon Varlamov Has Allowed Him to Regain — Rob Taub (@RTaub_) June 8, 2021 Form “They came at us hard early, and Varly did a good job weathering the

storm for us,” said Josh Bailey after the strong start by the Bruins in the By Stefen Rosner first period. Semyon Varlamov denied 10 of 11 in the first in the least number of shots he would face in a period.

He stopped 15 in the second and 18 in the third. It’s been pretty well documented who the New York Islanders owe a large sense of gratitude to in getting them to the postseason. In case it After the conclusion of Monday night’s game, Varlamov has now stopped wasn’t as obvious, that would be veteran netminder Semyon Varlamov, 145 of the 152 shots he’s faced this series. That is a .954 save who bailed his hockey club out left and right and looked to be a shoo-in percentage. for a Vezina nominee. “Varly made some huge saves,” said Jordan Eberle. However, the playoffs are a whole different animal. Varlamov looked a Those big-time saves are nothing new, as all series long, he has come little lost early on but he has been able to turn things around due to the up with those more times than not. confidence and support from his head coach and teammates regardless of the results. That has allowed him to find his game and now he is on After allowing just one goal on 11 high-danger chances faced (HDC) in the brink of helping the Islanders reach the semi-finals for the second Game 5, Varlamov has seen 44 HDC in the Boston series. He has straight season. allowed only four of those chances to enter the back of the net.

Despite the greatness we saw from Varlamov in Game 6, it was a subpar Varlamov’s job will not get any easier as the Bruins will surely put up a start to the postseason against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the First fight in Game 6. Round that opened the door for Ilya Sorokin to get into the net If Varlamov can continue to play as well as he has, the level his team Then in the Second Round, it was Varlamov that replaced Sorokin and knew would come to the forefront this postseason, the Islanders have a the experienced Russian has been exactly what the Islanders have very strong chance to close out this series on Wednesday. needed ever since. NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 Now, he hasn’t played free of mistakes, but Varlamov has been the steady rock between the pipes that New York needed in a tough series with an offensive juggernaut like the Boston Bruins. Part of that has come from the trust that everyone inside the Islanders organization has had in him on a nightly basis.

Even after Varlamov allowed a sharp-angle shot in overtime of Game 3 against Boston, it was all praise from teammates and coaches for his play in that specific game and what his play has meant to the team.

“He’s been outstanding for us all year,” Jean-Gabriel Pageau said after that tough Game 3 loss. “He made huge saves for us tonight and kept us in the game. That’s what we need out of him.”

When asked if that was a goal Varlamov could just shake off, Trotz, in a rather relaxed way, was confident he would.

“That’s a shot he’ll want back but he’ll let it go,” the Islanders coach said. “No different than he’s done many times before. Varlamov kept us in the game and gave us a chance to get it tied up and then gave us a chance to win it in overtime.”

In Game 4, Semyon Varlamov was forced to stand tall yet again as he allowed the Islanders to come back from an early deficit before winning 4-1 and tying the series at two games apiece.

We have seen Varlamov play better and better as this series has gone on, and on Monday he was at his best. He stopped 40 of 44 shots in the win, and despite allowing a goal on the third shot he faced, he shook it off.

His play in the first period gave the Islanders a chance. His play in the second period kept the game tied. And it was his resiliency until the buzzer that gave his team the win.

The last big save by Semyon Varlamov to seal the win! pic.twitter.com/lAXYIyxT0V

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) June 8, 2021

It was a fantastic performance.

“Obviously, we needed good goaltending,” said Trotz following the 5-4 victory. “We got that”.

No, the saves were not flashy. They will not crack the top 10 on ESPN, but boy, were they good.

It was all about positioning and anticipation that allowed Varlamov to be successful Monday night. The rebound control was rather strong, and he stood tall against one of the most talented offenses in all of hockey. 1189388 New York Islanders

Barry Trotz Says He Isn’t ‘Working the Refs’ after Trading Barbs with Bruce CassidyPublished 15 hours ago on June 8, 2021

By Christian Arnold

It’s not too often a defunct New York lacrosse team becomes a major part of an NHL playoff series, but that has become the case as the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins head to Game 6 on Long Island.

Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy called the Islanders the “New York Saints” and told reporters New York was selling a narrative of how they play after Game 5, which he felt wasn’t called as fairly as it should have been. At the time Islanders head coach Barry Trotz pointed to the Islanders’ low number of penalties called against them during the regular season.

[Click here for complete Stanley Cup Playoff coverage of the New York Islanders]

So naturally on Tuesday, the back and forth between the two coaches was a topic of conversation. The New York Saints… Er, Islanders head coach remained somewhat tempered in his comments on the team’s off day.

“I can’t tell you what’s going on there, you have to ask Bruce,” Barry Trotz responded when a reporter asked what the postgame jab signified for Boston’s current state. “I don’t really have any comments on that at all.”

Trotz Media Availability pic.twitter.com/DnE1bqm0DL

— x – New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 8, 2021

The war of words started on Sunday when Trotz said that Patrice Bergeron “knows how to cheat on the faceoffs.” The remark was part of a broader answer about Bergeron’s faceoff skills in which Trotz praised the veteran Boston forward.

Boston didn’t take too kindly to the remarks, especially after they felt that the officials had reacted to Trotz’s comments by booting Bergeron out of the faceoff circle several times early in the game. Boston, down 3-2 in the series, viewed the remarks as gamesmanship on the part of the Islanders bench boss.

Barry Trotz didn’t quite see it that way on Tuesday.

“That’s a comment I would make to any veteran centerman in this league, you always look for an edge and he’s very good at it,” Trotz said. “I don’t work (the officials). I just respect them. … It’s a hard job and I have a lot of respect for those guys.”

Monday’s comments cost Cassidy $25,000 after the league fined the Boston bench boss for “public comments critical of the officiating following Game 5.” Cassidy said his remarks were directed more towards the Islanders than the officials and that he felt his comments were civil.

“It’s been a good series, so there’s a little bit of that back and forth,” Cassidy said. “So that’s where a lot of that was directed and obviously I felt there was some calls that didn’t go our way that have gone against us when it comes to high sticks. I know there was specifically one on Wagner and there was definitely one on Bergy last night behind the net by Nelson and they didn’t get called. I voiced that and I was held accountable for it.”

#NHLBruins coach Bruce Cassidy provides updates on Curtis Lazar, Brandon Carlo, Kevan Miller, and Tuukka Rask: pic.twitter.com/BZ7rSbOpGn

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 8, 2021

Game 6 is Wednesday on Long Island at 7:30 p.m.

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189389 New York Islanders It’s readily apparent at this point that there isn’t much love lost between the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders. The Boston Bruins were the better hockey club by pretty much all measures while outshooting the Islanders by a 44-19 margin, but those three power-play goals played the Islanders Take Series Lead After Slim Game 5 Win & MorePublished 18 big difference-maker in a 5-4 Bruins loss at TD Garden. There were hours ago on June 8, 2021 some good calls, some bad calls, and some missed calls which infuriated Boston and head coach Bruce Cassidy. (Boston Hockey Now)

The Pittsburgh Penguins trade rumors and free agency whispers are By Stefen Rosner true. The team is indeed looking for an experienced backup goalie to fortify the net should Tristan Jarry struggle in the regular season, or especially the postseason, as he did last month in the Penguins Round The New York Islanders are heading home with a 3-2 series lead and One loss to the New York Islanders. Jarry will be protected in the have the chance to eliminate the Boston Bruins on Wednesday. The expansion draft along with Evgeni Malkin says sources. (Pittsburgh power play came up large in Game 6 and Varlamov stood tall yet again. Hockey Now) Scott Mayfield has impressed this postseason and Anders Lee was seen skating at warmups. These stories and more in today’s daily links! Rebuilds are never easy on a fan base. It’s aggravating to watch a team that is realistically out of the playoffs before the season begins. The Red It was the middle of April when Barry Trotz was fielding questions about Wings have missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons. Over the the New York Islanders’ struggling power and that “it’s got to be an past two seasons, they have won 36 of 127 games. And Detroit general element that doesn’t lose us games.” Fast forward to Monday night and it manager Steve Yzerman says it’s still going to take more time to was one of the main reasons the Islanders came away with a win in transform this team into a contender. But for some reason this rebuild Game 5 of their Second Round series with the Boston Bruins. New York doesn’t seem as painful as rebuilding efforts in other cities. For scored three power-play goals in their 5-4 win over Boston to take a 3-2 example, there is far less negativity in Detroit than there is in Buffalo. series lead back to Long Island for Game 6 on Wednesday. (NYI Hockey Here are five reasons why Detroit’s rebuild has been more bearable than Now) some others. (Detroit Hockey Now)

It wasn’t easy, especially over the final 10 minutes, but the New York On Monday afternoon, a day after the Avalanche saw an early 1-0 lead Islanders took Game 5. After holding a three-goal lead at the start of the sink into 5-1 oblivion, Avs head coach Jared Bednar met with the media third period, New York held on for an eventual 5-4 win over the Boston and said he was still in the process of dissecting the film from Game 4. Bruins at TD Garden. The Isles can clinch the series with a win at After all, right now, there is a lot to break down as the head coach of the Nassau Coliseum in Game 6. New York erupted on the man advantage, Avalanche. (Colorado Hockey Now) scoring three in total on the power play before the final whistle. Let’s examine this one a little deeper. (NYI Hockey Now) Thank you, San Jose Hockey Now subscribers! Earlier this month, Sheng Peng announced a contest to give away some of my San Jose Sharks New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield had his fair share of hockey cards to my subscribers. Special thanks to Upper Deck for issues during the regular season. Despite putting up stronger numbers providing most of the giveaway goodies! Here, in order, are the statistically speaking, the eye test showed an abundance of mental errors randomly-selected winners. (San Jose Hockey Now) that had tainted those stats and his confidence. But during the postseason, he has been one of the Islanders best players. (NYI Hockey Tyler Toffoli scored 1:39 into overtime, and the Montreal Canadiens Now) swept the Winnipeg Jets with a 3-2 win in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Second Round at Bell Centre on Monday. Toffoli won it on a one-timer The New York Islanders had a surprise guest on the ice at TD Garden from low in the left face-off circle off a cross-ice pass from rookie Cole during the team’s optional morning skate on Monday. As things were Caufield after Nick Suzuki won a battle along the boards. (NHL) wrapping up, Anders Lee was seen skating on his own. Lee has been sidelined with an ACL injury since March when the Islanders announced Tuukka Rask was replaced by rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman for the their captain would miss the rest of the 2021 season. Monday would Boston Bruins to start the third period in a 5-4 loss to the New York mark the first time that Lee has been seen skating by members of the Islanders in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Second Round on Monday. Rask media since the injury. (NYI Hockey Now) allowed four goals on 16 shots, but the switch was not solely based on his performance, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. (NHL) The Islanders still need nine more victories to get to the finish line, but sometimes it is impossible to ignore the hockey gods when they are David Savard is getting a taste of what he hoped for in the Stanley Cup trying to tell us something. Maybe it’s your year when you get dominated Playoffs when the defenseman was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. by the Bruins both early and late in a playoff road game, yet somehow The Lightning are getting a taste of what Savard can do for them in their find a way to win, 5-4, and get within one victory of a return to the NHL’s hunt to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, which is why they acquired final four. (Newsday) him April 10 from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a three-team trade that included the Detroit Red Wings. (NHL) As bizarre as Game 5 was, with the Islanders getting badly outplayed at even strength for the first 15 minutes and about a 15-minute stretch in The Winnipeg Jets were swept in the Stanley Cup Second Round the third, the postgame news conference from the home side in Boston because the Montreal Canadiens are playing at the top of their game, was equally bizarre writes Arthur Staple. (The Athletic) particularly goalie Carey Price, Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler said after a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 4 on Monday.”They’re playing at a The New York Islanders scored on each of their first three power plays in really high level right now,” Wheeler said. (NHL) a 5-4 win against the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Second Round at TD Garden in Boston on Monday. Nino Niederreiter could return for the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Second Round against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Mathew Barzal, Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle each had a goal and an Tuesday. assist for the Islanders, the No. 4 seed in the MassMutual East Division. Semyon Varlamov made 40 saves to help New York take the lead in the The forward practiced Monday for the first time since sustaining an best-of-7 series. (NHL) upper-body injury at practice May 29 that kept him out of the first four games of the series. He was at left wing on the third line with center There is yet no word on the scheduled meeting between Buffalo Sabres Jordan Martinook and Martin Necas. (NHL) captain Jack Eichel and Sabres management, or if the meeting has yet taken place. Based on all indicators, the two sides have some serious NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 issues to figure out to keep Eichel, one of the premier centers in the league, off the NHL trade market. There is rampant speculation the Sabres will select their new coach with Eichel in mind. We have one name to watch on that front, and he’s very familiar to the Metro Division and Boston fans. However, Off The Record has been reporting for a few months the two sides are headed for divorce, but the coach could be the Hail Mary to keep the former second-overall pick. (NHL Hockey Now) 1189390 New York Rangers New York Post LOADED: 06.09.2021

These playoff coaches could impact Gerard Gallant’s Rangers status

By Larry BrooksJune 8, 2021 | 5:43pm | Updated

Gerard Gallant remains the leader in the clubhouse, but Rangers president-general manager Chris Drury is waiting to see if there is fallout from second-round playoff series that could free up another candidate or two to succeed David Quinn behind the bench, according to several individuals familiar with the team’s coaching search.

That means, first, the Blueshirts are going to monitor the situation in Carolina, where Rod Brind’Amour’s ’Canes were eliminated in five games by the Lightning after falling 2-0 in Game 5.

Brind’Amour’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and though the coach and team owner Tom Dundon had been working on a three-year extension late in the regular season, that remains unfinished business.

There is always the chance that the notoriously parsimonious owner will lowball Brind’Amour into free agency. It is believed the parties were discussing a number around $1.8 million per before talks broke off. The coach would probably be in line for close to $4 million annually in New York.

If it becomes about money, the Rangers will not be outbid. It may not, however, become about money for Brind’Amour, who played the final 10 seasons of his career in Carolina before joining the coaching staff as an assistant in 2011.

Gerard Gallant, seen here coaching Team Canada at the World Championship, remains the favorite for the Rangers’ coaching job.

Xinhua News Agency via Getty Ima

A well-placed source said Brind’Amour would immediately become Seattle’s first choice if he gets to the open market. The expansion Kraken might have greater appeal to Brind’Amour, with his one-time Carolina teammate Ron Francis running the show as GM.

The Rangers are also believed monitoring the situations with Winnipeg’s Paul Maurice following the Jets’ second-round sweep by Montreal after having swept Edmonton in the opening round, and with Boston’s Bruce Cassidy, whose Bruins are down 3-2 to the Islanders heading into Wednesday’s showdown at the Coliseum.

The Post has been told that Jared Bednar’s job as coach of the Avalanche might be in jeopardy if Colorado goes down to Vegas in a series that was tied 2-2 entering Tuesday’s Game 5. It is not clear whether Bednar would become a candidate in New York if he becomes available.

Bruce Cassidy, Rod Brind’Amour, Paul Maurice

Drury was impressed by Gallant, who led Team Canada to an unexpected gold medal in the World Championships with a championship victory over Finland on Sunday, when he first interviewed in New York on May 14. It is believed Gallant then had a follow-up with Drury that was conducted remotely while the coach was in Latvia for the tournament.

Rick Tocchet, who has also spoken to Drury twice, created a favorable impression and also remains a viable candidate for the job.

Though John Tortorella, Mike Babcock, Patrick Roy, Bruce Boudreau and Claude Julien are not in the running, we have been told that Drury — as meticulous, methodical and close-mouthed as they come — has spoken to other persons of interest. It is not known whether any received what would be considered a formal interview.

Though Gallant and Tocchet could have other options with the Blue Jackets, Coyotes, Sabres and Kraken also in the market for a head coach — and with each known to have spoken with Columbus — the Rangers are operating as if they believe that neither would take a different job before notifying Drury of an offer.

As the Blueshirts hunt for his successor, Quinn remains in the mix with both Columbus and Arizona. 1189391 Ottawa Senators “It makes it sweeter for sure,” said Brown. “To turn it around and to do what we did, we were talking about it after the game and it’s something we’ll never forget. We won’t forget that whole tournament, the experience and that group of guys. We spent a lot of time together, so we bonded GARRIOCH: A gold medal performance helps Senators' winger Connor pretty well so that group of guys will be close for sure for the rest of our Brown cap off what was a terrific season lives.”

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An outstanding finish to what was a standout season for Ottawa Brown and Paul also had the opportunity to share this moment with Senators’ winger Connor Brown. Ottawa teammate Jacob Bernard-Docker, who was a last minute addition to the blueline after Kevin Bahl of New Jersey was unable to attend. While the 27-year-old Brown had written a good story already by closing Senators’ staffers John Forget, Alex Menezes, Dom Nicoletta, and Dr. out the year with 21 goals and 35 points in 56 games with the Senators Tim Cregan were also part of the Canadian team. this season, a trip to the IIHF world championship in Riga, Latvia made it even better after Team Canada captured a gold medal Sunday with a 3-2 “We had a lot of Ottawa staff and players. They’re unbelievable guys that overtime victory over Finland in the gold medal game. work hard and deserved to be there,” said Paul. “Hugging those guys after spending all season with them it just meant that much more. We And, to make it even better, Brown set up Ottawa teammate Nick Paul for see them all the time. To share that with them is awesome and it’s the winning goal to cap off the tournament as the leading score with two something that’s good for our group that we can bring into next year.” goals and 16 points. You could call this a breakthrough year for Brown because he’s worked hard to become a good two-way player and those After getting some rest, Brown will get prepared for his marriage to results are showing at both ends of the ice. Madison Shaw in August.

“Really, halfway through the year, I started to believe that I had a Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.09.2021 different level to my game,” Brown, an alternate captain for Canada, told this newspaper from his Toronto home Tuesday. “I feel like I’m starting to reach my potential and trusting my instincts fully on the ice. That’s why I was so excited to get over there, keep that rolling and just play and offensively trust my instincts to make plays.

“It’s good. I feel great about my game, I’m excited about our team in Ottawa and I’m just excited to get back. I just loved being the go-to guy offensively. I’ve been that guy in other parts of my career and I’ve never really had that chance in the NHL. I was starting to get relied on more offensively in the second of the season. I was on the second unit of the power play and I just loved that opportunity.”

When Andrew Mangiapane arrived from the Calgary Flames after Canada got off to an 0-3 start that seemed to turn everything around for the country. Coach Gerard Gallant put Mangiapane on a line with Brown and Anaheim centre Adam Henrique because they were the most experienced players. They clicked right away and created about 60% of Canada’s offence.

“(The chemistry) was really good and I feel like that’s rare to play with guys for so little time and to click on the level that we did,” Brown said. “Henrique is such a responsible player, which kind of gave me and Mangiapane, a little bit more freedom to make plays. They’re such good finishers, we just clicked right away and that made it more fun. We just go better and better.”

Make no mistake, this was a different world championship in many ways because of COVID-19. One factor that makes going to the world championship an incredible experience is the opportunity to bring your family over, play overseas in a relaxed atmosphere without much pressure and see the country where the tourney is being held.

Many players turned down invitations to attend this year because everything in Riga was done in a bubble. The players weren’t allowed to leave the grounds of the hotel to go for walks or spend anytime doing sightseeing. Team Canada organized three dinners at remote locations but a lot of free time was spent in the lounge at the hotel.

“The hockey was amazing and it’s great playing for your country,” Brown said. “It was difficult, at times, from a bubble standpoint because it was very, very strict. We were confined to the hotel. The three weeks overseas got to be a lot but once those playoff games started it was a lot more fun.

“The outings we did have had to be super-isolated. They were strict and they were doing their due-diligence.”

What makes this victory memorable is the fact Canada had to dig down deep to get to the final after the start they had.

Canada’s forward Nick Paul (C) celebrates scoring the winning 3-2 goal with team mate Canada’s forward Connor Brown (R) during the IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships final match between Finland and Canada. 1189392 Ottawa Senators “You never want to start a tournament 0-3,” Paul said. “One thing we did as a team was just come together. We started having meals in a room together or playing cards. It was one of those things where every single guy was involved and there was no one left out. That really helped the GARRIOCH: Scoring the golden goal for Team Canada is a moment chemistry of our team. Senators' winger Nick Paul will cherish STORY CONTINUES BELOW

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“We started to trust each, play together and we just started taking it step- Nick Paul has his two feet back on the ground in Canada but he’s still by-step starting with practice and the to games. As the games went on, flying high. we could tell that we had the guys there to do this. We got some really good bounces and some upsets and we made it harder than it had to be. The Ottawa Senators’ winger arrived back at his Nepean home late The whole way through wasn’t easy but we believed in each other, Monday afternoon after scoring the overtime goal to lead Team Canada played for each other and we came out on top.” to a thrilling 3-2 win over Finland and gold medal at the IIHF world championship that wrapped up Sunday in Riga, Latvia. The jersey Paul wore to score the winner is in a special place. It will be framed and will hang in his basement along with the stick he used to It’s a moment that will be one of his lasting memories when the 26-year- score the goal. The puck was retrieved and will be put in his hands as old Paul hangs up his skates down the road. well so that will be a keepsake along with the gold medal. “It was insane. There was so much adrenaline and emotion going at the Paul played for Canada at the world junior championship 2015 in Toronto time,” Paul told this newspaper Tuesday. “After the game, you’re taking it and called this one of the top two moments in his career. all in: You’ve got a gold medal around your neck, you’re watching the flag being raised and you’re in arms with your brothers that you just fought “I scored the second goal in the world juniors in my hometown in a rink I the whole tournament with. grew up going to and watching hockey and my whole family was there. That was a massive moment,” said Paul. “At the same time, it’s overtime “Then, you get back home and you’re just taking the whole experience in. and you’re scoring the game winner, you can’t beat it. The bench is You realize how crazy it really is with the overtime goal and it’s believable clearing. I don’t know how much Brown weighs but he jumped, I caught and it’s really just sinking in.” him and I was squeezing him to death. Canada’s Nick Paul celebrates scoring their third goal and winning the “Those two are up there and I can’t put one above the other.” IIHF World Ice Hockey Championship 2021 Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.09.2021 What makes it even more special is Paul took a pass from Ottawa teammate Connor Brown on an odd-man rush during the three-on-three session to secure Canada’s comeback from an 0-3 to start the tournament to the top of the podium. It was a moment Brown predicted as the duo were working out together in the gym before the game got under way.

“We were just warming up and we were the last ones left because we like to go late to the dressing room,” said Paul. “About 10 minutes before we go on the ice, we were just sitting there and Brown said, ‘I’ve got a crazy feeling this thing’s going to overtime and I’m giving you the winner’.

“I was joking, let’s finish it before overtime. But, overtime comes, we lock eyes and we knew we were going together and we were just ready to end that thing.”

So, why did Brown have that feeling?

“I just told him I had a weird feeling that he was getting the OT winner and I was going to give him the puck for the OT winner,” Brown said from his Toronto home. “He was saying he didn’t want to get it there and I said, ‘Well, I’ve just got a feeling so be ready.’

“It was unreal. Nick’s a great friend of mine and he’s such a good player. I’m just so proud of him, to see where he’s come from in his career. When I got to Ottawa, he didn’t make the team right away and I remember playing on his line and thinking this guy’s a great player. He just gotten better and better. To me, an OT winner had to happen for him because he’s got a whole other level to his game and I’m excited for him to find it. We’re lucky to have him.”

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What’s nice about this gold medal performance is in it’s one of the few times in the history of Canadian hockey where people didn’t think this team stood a chance. The group in the dressing room believed, but after they got off to that winless start with losses to Kazakhstan, the Americans and Latvia, it looked grim.

But, from there, Canada was able to find another gear. The country needed help to get into the medal round, but once the team got there the confidence built with victories over Russia and the Americans to advance against Finland. 1189393 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers’ Oskar Lindblom, who beat cancer and returned to the lineup, is one of three finalists for the NHL’s Masterton Trophy

by Sam Carchidi

For the second straight year, Flyers left winger Oskar Lindblom, who overcame a rare bone cancer, has been named one of three finalists for the Masterton Trophy, the NHL announced Tuesday.

The award is given to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

Lindblom, Minnesota defenseman Matt Dumba, and San Jose center Patrick Marleau are the finalists.

The local chapters of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted nominations, with the top three vote-getters becoming the finalists. The award will be announced on a date to be determined during the playoffs.

Bobby Ryan, the Cherry Hill native, won the award last year.

This year, Lindblom, 24, played his first full season with the Flyers after beating Ewing’s sarcoma, which sidelined him for most of the 2019-20 campaign. He played in 50 games this season — one interrupted when he contracted the coronavirus — and collected 14 points (eight goals, six assists) while averaging 13 minutes, 11 seconds of ice time per game.

Flyers left winger Oskar Lindblom checking Devils defenseman Kevin Bahl in the season finale on May 10.

“It goes up and down every day,” Lindblom said late in the season. “You can feel great one day, and another day you feel like you haven’t played hockey for a while. You just have to battle through, try to be strong mentally and do your work every day and hopefully feel good.”

A year ago, the Sweden native was having a breakout season (11 goals in 30 games) when he was diagnosed with cancer. He had some ribs removed and underwent grueling chemotherapy sessions before returning to the team and playing two games in the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Three Flyers — Ian Laperriere in 2010, Tim Kerr in 1989, and Bobby Clarke in 1972 — have won the Masterton. The award is named after the Minnesota North Stars’ Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game. Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968, two days after he was checked by an Oakland Seals player and hit his helmet-less head on the ice. He was 29.

As for Dumba, he has sparked several community initiatives and cofounded the Hockey Diversity Alliance. He has spoken out against racism and intolerance in hockey.

Marleau, 41, overtook Gordie Howe for the most regular-season games played in NHL history and later became the fourth player to play in 900 straight games. He broke Howe’s mark when he played in his 1,768th career game on April 19 in Vegas.

Sandstrom signs

In a strange twist, goalie prospect Felix Sandstrom, a pending restricted free agent, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Flyers on Tuesday for $750,000. A day earlier, a Finland team reported it had signed Sandstrom to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports.

General manager Chuck Fletcher said those reports were erroneous.

Sandstrom, 24, is expected to be the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ No. 1 goalie next season. In all likelihood, he will also be the goalie the Flyers expose to Seattle in the expansion draft. Each team must expose one goalie.

Last season, Sandstrom was 5-3-3 with the AHL’s Phantoms, compiling a 3.19 GAA and .903 save percentage. In his last six starts, he had a 2.02 GAA and a .943 save percentage.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189394 Philadelphia Flyers Ersson, 21, signed a three-year entry-level contract last week for a total of $2.775 million.

Playing for a weak team (Brynas IF Gavle) in the Swedish Hockey Flyers need a No. 2 goalie; do they have the goods to acquire League last season that gave him little help, he had a 16-26 record, a defenseman Seth Jones? | On the Fly 2.96 GAA, and a .910 save percentage. The Flyers drafted him in the fifth round (143rd overall) in 2018.

Fletcher said he was “still making a decision” on whether to sign the 28- by Sam Carchidi year-old Alex Lyon, who in 22 career games with the Flyers has a 3.21 GAA and .893 save percentage.

Flyers goalie prospect Felix Sandstrom is not going to Finland after all. I’d rather be covering the Stanley Cup playoffs these days, but since a certain local hockey team had more ups and downs (mostly the latter) Flyers goalie prospect Felix Sandstrom is not going to Finland after than a roller-coaster on the Ocean City Boardwalk, I find myself writing all.AKIRA SUWA / For The Inquirer. about the Flyers’ many needs in the offseason. Things to know So, it was refreshing to take a break from the latest version of Fixing the Flyers and to write about one of my all-time favorite personalities, Ian Former Flyers defenseman Erik Gustafsson opened the scoring Monday Laperriere, a Philadelphia assistant the last eight years who was named as Montreal defeated Winnipeg in overtime, 3-2, and swept the four- the Phantoms’ head coach Sunday. game playoff series. Montreal, the last team to qualify for the playoffs, needs four more wins to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. I used to call him “Hollywood” because that’s where he told me he went to make “my movie,” a flick called This Is 40. But when he wasn’t making The Islanders, thanks to a power play that keyed a 5-4 victory in Boston, cameos, Laperriere was always willing to share his thoughts on what are one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup semifinals. makes special teams click, or dozens of other hockey topics. The guy New coach Laperriere will stress fitness with the Phantoms. He was known as Lappy was always informative and gracious with his time. rewarded for his dedication to the Flyers. Always someone who didn’t take himself too seriously, but was truly a student of the game. The Flyers will pick 13th in next month’s draft. Mike Sielski has the story.

Unfortunately, when Ron Hextall became the Flyers’ general manager in Kevin Hayes has successful surgery and will be ready for camp, Ed 2014, he shut down the media’s access to the assistant coaches. That Barkowitz writes. was a shame because the assistants added much-needed insight to stories. Donna Ashbee, wife of former Flyer Barry Ashbee, has died at 82. She was a “driving force in helping form the Flyers Wives Carnival,” Gary When Chuck Fletcher was named the GM late in 2014, the muted- Miles reports. assistants policy was eased a bit; if you were working on a special story and needed input from an assistant, permission was frequently granted. Trivia time

Anyway, Laperriere is no longer off limits to the media. He was named How many of the Phantoms’ 11 coaches can you name since they began the 11th head coach in the Phantoms’ history. It’s the first time he will be in Philadelphia 25 years ago? a head coach on any level, and if his coaching matches his anecdotes, The Phantoms have been known as Philadelphia (1996-2009), his amazing rapport with players and his in-depth knowledge gained over Adirondack (2009-14), and Lehigh Valley (2014 to present). Here are 30-plus years in the sport, he will be an overwhelming success. their coaches in that span:

You’re signed up to get this newsletter in your inbox once a week during 1. Bill Barber, 1996-2000. the offseason. If you like what you’re reading, tell your friends it’s free to sign up here. I want to know what you think, what we should add, and 2. John Stevens, 2000-06. what you want to read, so send me feedback by email ([email protected]) or on Twitter (@broadstbull). Thank you for 3. Craig Berube, 2006-08. reading. 4. Kjell Samuelsson, 2006-07.

— Sam Carchidi ([email protected]) 5. John Paddock, 2008-09, 2010-11.

Goalie uncertainty 6. Greg Gilbert, 2009-11.

The goalie situation for the Flyers and Phantoms appeared muddled until 7. Joe Paterson, 2010-12. Felix Sandstrom signed a one-year contract Tuesday for $750,000. 8. Terry Murray, 2012-14. Carter Hart will go into next season as the Flyers’ No. 1 goalie, but they are expected to explore the free-agent market to get someone who 9. Kerry Huffman, 2018-19. complements him — and can handle a lot of the workload if Hart struggles as he did this season. 10. Scott Gordon, 2015-21.

Among the pending unrestricted free-agent goalies, with their ages: 11. Ian Laperriere, 2021-?. Buffalo’s Linus Ullmark (2.63 GAA, .917 save percentage), 27; Toronto’s Important dates Frederik Andersen (2.96, .895), 31; Colorado’s Philipp Grubauer (1.95, .923), 29; Detroit’s Jonathan Bernier (2.99, .914), 32; and Tampa Bay’s July 17: Deadline for clubs to submit protection lists for expansion draft, 5 Anders Nilsson, 31, who missed the season because of post-concussion p.m. syndrome. July 21: Seattle expansion draft. Brian Elliott (3.06, .889), who has spent the last four seasons with the July 23: NHL draft, Round 1. Flyers, is also a pending UFA. But Elliott is 36, and though he has played gamely, the Flyers will probably opt for a younger, more durable July 24: NHL draft, Rounds 2-7 goaltender. July 28: Free-agent signings permitted, noon. As for the Phantoms, Sandstrom finished strong this season, but a Finland professional team signed him Monday, according to multiple From the mailbag reports. But Fletcher said Tuesday the reports were erroneous, and he Question: Which could/would wear Orange and Black next season: signed the 24-year-old goaltender Tuesday. (Seth) Jones, (Dougie) Hamilton, (Johnny) Gaudreau? — from Luc Sandstrom is expected to be the Phantoms’ No. 1 goalie. He will get (@theashcity) via Twitter competition from Samuel Ersson and Kirill Ustimenko, who missed last season because of hip surgery. Answer: Thanks for the question, Luc. Gaudreau would definitely help the Flyers’ stale attack if he came home, but their No. 1 priority should be adding a right-handed defenseman, and Jones and Hamilton are two of the best who fit that description.

Hamilton is a free agent and would be a perfect fit with the Flyers, but he will probably re-sign with Carolina. Columbus’ Jones would be a great consolation prize, and he has said he will test the free-agent waters when his contract expires after next season. So what would he cost in a trade? Plenty. And before the Flyers put together a hefty package, they would need to get assurances that Jones would sign a long-term deal here.

Would a package of, say, a first-round pick, Phil Myers, Nolan Patrick, and Scott Laughton get it done?

Jones, who will turn 27 on Oct. 3 and has a modified no-trade clause, is a three-time All-Star selection and is in his prime. His defensive analytics slipped this season, but he played for a bad Columbus team.

The 6-4, 209-pound Jones plays in all situations, and averages about 25 minutes a game. He and Ivan Provorov would give the Flyers one of the league’s best No. 1 defensive pairings.

Jones’ father, Popeye, is a former NBA star who is now an assistant with the Sixers. Seth Jones’ brother, Caleb, 24, is an Edmonton Oilers defenseman.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189395 Philadelphia Flyers Denver that he had cancer — we didn’t quite know what type it was, but we had to send him back to Philly. Some of the flashbacks that I have are him every time he’d be around the team with no hair, smiling and being positive. I think it made everybody in our group — players and coaches A feat to not overlook in unprecedented year, Lindblom is Masterton and management that were close to Oskar — realize how important finalist every moment is, to make sure that you're always at your best and doing the right things when you see someone go through that, such a

wonderful person." BY JORDAN HALL Last month, Lindblom said playing hockey again has been "unbelievable."

Back in March, a grueling 17-game month for the Flyers, Oskar Lindblom "I didn't know what to expect, if I ever could play again from the start," he was taken out of the lineup by head coach Alain Vigneault. said. "Just to play on the highest level in the world and I could still manage to do that, it's making me proud just to think about it. I feel great The healthy scratch wasn't for a lack of effort from the 24-year-old about myself and I know I've got some work to do this summer, but I'm winger. proud of myself that I was able to play this year."

Lindblom was fatigued. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.09.2021 "I had a good conversation with Oskar this morning and I believe that he needs a reset," Vigneault said before his team's game on March 17. "I love the young man, but right now, his game and his energy level, what it seems to be, is not where it needs to be. So we're going to do a small, little reset here with him."

The next night, Lindblom delivered a two-goal game. He was working his way back into form after beating cancer last July and being shut down for two-plus weeks in February because of a bout with COVID-19.

Lindblom had been through a lot; in actuality, him just playing this season was an admirable feat in and of itself. He ended up playing a lot — in 50 of the Flyers' 56 games, putting up eight goals and six assists.

It's why Lindblom was voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association as one of three finalists for the 2020-21 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, an award given annually to "the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey."

The finalists were announced Tuesday as Lindblom was joined by the Wild's Matt Dumba and the Sharks' Patrick Marleau. The winner of the award will be announced during either the Stanley Cup semifinals or Stanley Cup Final.

"You talk to Oskar, he knows that he wants to do more, he wants to do more to help the team," Ian Laperriere, then-Flyers assistant coach and now head coach of the Phantoms, said in March. "Personally, I'll give him a longer break for what he's been through last year. Knowing what he's been through, he couldn't train, he lost muscle mass and even the training he did during the break, it's not enough [time] for what we went through."

Lindblom's life and career were rocked in December 2019, when the humble Swedish native received his diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that occurs in bones or in the soft tissue around the bones. Lindblom missed the remainder of the 2019-20 regular season as he fought for his life. He completed his radiation treatments last July at Pennsylvania Hospital and astoundingly returned to the Flyers' lineup for two games during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs that September.

Lindblom has remained cancer-free and pushed himself through last offseason and the 2020-21 campaign to regain his strength and conditioning. With the crammed schedule of a 56-game regular season, on top of testing positive for COVID-19, it was challenging for Lindblom to feel like himself on the ice again.

"That schedule didn’t help because I felt like the recovery part was a big part that I was struggling with," Lindblom said last month. "I felt better in the end, but I still feel I have a lot more to give. I actually feel great to get back to work this summer, I'm excited for that because I know what I can do out there. When I'm in good shape, I know I can play well in this league. It's been a tough year both physically and mentally, so it's going to be nice to recover here and get back in shape like I once was."

Lindblom, who was also a finalist for the Masterton Trophy last season, had a special moment with his teammates in April on Hockey Fights Cancer night at the Wells Fargo Center. In warmups, the Flyers all wore purple and black No. 23 Lindblom jerseys and had Lindblom take a solo lap before joining him on the ice.

“Every time I look at him, I see a beautiful young man," Vigneault said in April. "I wish he had the same hairdo that he had last year, but it’s coming back. I have flashbacks sometimes of when we had to tell him in 1189396 Philadelphia Flyers

Latest on Flyers' goalie picture as prospect goes from Lehigh Valley to Finland

BY JORDAN HALL

Update, Tuesday, 6:22 p.m. ET — Flyers goalie prospect Felix Sandstrom signs new deal, not going to Finland.

With one Swedish goalie prospect set to come to North America, another will leave to play overseas.

Felix Sandstrom, a 2015 third-round draft pick of the Flyers, recently signed a one-year contract with TPS Turku to play in Liiga, Finland's top pro league. The 24-year-old Swedish native is a pending restricted free agent this offseason and the Flyers will retain his rights when they extend him a qualifying offer in July.

With the original uncertainty and eventual late start to the AHL season in 2020-21, Sandstrom started the year on loan to Vasterviks IK of the Allsvenskan League in Sweden. He then joined AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, finishing 5-3-3 with a 3.19 goals-against average and .903 save percentage through 11 games.

Sandstrom spent a good bit of the season on the Flyers' taxi squad and practicing with the big club. He played well over his final six outings with the Phantoms, going 3-1-2 with a 1.85 goals-against average.

"We've had ongoing talks with Felix and about the opportunities," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said Monday. "Most importantly, he played really well at the end of the season. The most important thing for him is to make sure he's getting No. 1 goaltender ice time and he's doing everything he can to continue his development. The last month was a big step forward for him. We'll just continue to speak and see what the right solution is for him going forward."

Last week, the Flyers signed Swedish goalie prospect Samuel Ersson to his three-year entry-level contract. Alex Lyon, who has played parts of the last five seasons with the Phantoms, is a pending unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Flyers also have prospects Kirill Ustimenko (signed 2017 third-round pick), Ivan Fedotov (unsigned 2015 seventh- round pick) and Matej Tomek (unsigned 2015 third-round pick) in the system.

Ustimenko missed the 2020-21 season after undergoing surgery on his left hip to repair a torn labrum. The 22-year-old was on the Flyers' 31- man playoff roster in the NHL's return-to-play 24-team tournament last summer.

For Sandstrom's situation, it's never a great sign when a prospect aims to continue his development outside of the organization when he could be playing under the watch of its coaching and development staff. But perhaps both parties felt this would be Sandstrom's best bet at playing the most in 2021-22.

"You never can predict ice time," Fletcher said. "I think there's a strong possibility he would get a lot of ice time, but we have Ustimenko and Ersson and still making a decision on Alex Lyon, so you can't guarantee ice time. The important thing for Felix is that, whether it's here or over there, he gets an opportunity to play."

Another player in the Flyers' system that is set to play overseas in 2021- 22 is forward David Kase, a 2015 fifth-round pick and also a pending restricted free agent. The Flyers are expected to retain his rights as he plays in his native Czech Republic for HC Sparta Prague.

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Flyers announce new head coach of Phantoms

BY JORDAN HALL

Many Flyers prospects won't have to get to know their "new" head coach at AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.

A familiar face and voice will be behind the bench for the Phantoms as Ian Laperriere on Sunday night was officially named Lehigh Valley's next head coach.

The 47-year-old Laperriere had been an assistant coach with the Flyers over the last eight seasons. After playing for the Flyers in 2009-10 and finishing his NHL career with 1,082 games played, Laperriere joined the club's staff in June 2012 as director of player development and became an assistant coach in October 2013.

"I'm very excited for this next challenge in my career and I would like to thank Chuck Fletcher, Brent Flahr and Barry Hanrahan, as well as Jim and Rob Brooks (Phantoms co-owners) for this opportunity," Laperriere said in a statement released by the team. "The Phantoms are a first-class organization in the AHL and the fan base in Lehigh Valley is the very best at showing their support at every game. I look forward to developing the players in our system, helping the Flyers reach their goals by continuing the success of the Phantoms and building towards winning a Calder Cup championship."

In May, the Flyers and previous Phantoms head coach Scott Gordon mutually agreed to part ways. In a related move, Phantoms assistant coach Kerry Huffman decided to step down from his role. Fletcher and Laperriere will address the media Monday at approximately 10:40 a.m. ET, so we'll learn more then about possible assistants and any other organizational role changes.

Prior to the hiring of assistant coach Mike Yeo in May 2019, Laperriere was in charge of the Flyers' penalty kill. Over the past two seasons, his focus shifted to pre-scouting and various other responsibilities.

Laperriere has been known to be a good buffer between the players and head coach/management, going back to 2012 when he first came on board. He relates well with the players and works well with those above him, which made him a quality candidate to be the club's next AHL affiliate head coach. There's a reason why he has stayed in the organization through a regime change. Younger players, in particular, have valued his experience and personableness.

"We're very happy to have Ian serve as the next head coach of the Phantoms," Fletcher said in a statement released by the team. "He has been an extremely dedicated individual to the Flyers organization and has shown a strong work ethic as a player, development coach and an assistant over the last 12 years for us. We are excited to have him at the forefront of developing our prospects, preparing them to reach the NHL and bringing success to Lehigh Valley."

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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins re-sign forward Felix Robert

SETH RORABAUGH | Tuesday, June 8, 2021 2:32 p.m.Support Local Journalism

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have re-signed forward Felix Robert to a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract for the 2021-22 season.

Undrafted, Robert initially joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton by signing an AHL contract in August of 2020.

A first-year professional, Robert (5-foot-9, 180 pounds) split the 2020-21 season between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Wheeling of the ECHL.

In 27 AHL games, the 21-year-old had 13 points (six goals, seven assists) while primarily being deployed in a bottom-six role. Appearing in 10 ECHL games, Robert had six points (five goals, one assists).

Seth Rorabaugh

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Ex-Penguins defenseman Yannick Weber signs with ZSC Lions in Switzerland

SETH RORABAUGH | Tuesday, June 8, 2021 1:11 p.m.Support Local Journalism

The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost one of their veteran defensemen.

Yannick Weber, 32, signed a three-year contract with the ZSC Lions of the National League in his native Switzerland.

The team announced Weber’s signing Tuesday.

Weber’s time with the Penguins was brief.

When injuries besieged the blue line this past season, the Penguins signed Weber as an unrestricted free agent to a one-year contract with a salary cap hit of $700,000, the league minimum, Jan. 27.

Weber played for the Nashville Predators and was living in Tennessee at the time of his signing. Because of travel restrictions in place as a result of the pandemic, Weber was forced to drive through portions of six states (as well as a snowstorm) in order to meet up with his new team in Manhattan and make his Penguins debut Jan. 30, a 5-4 road win against the Rangers.

In total, Weber played in only two games for the Penguins with no points. Once the blue line healed, Weber was assigned to the practice squad for the remainder of the season.

A 13-year veteran, Weber also played for the Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks.

With Weber’s departure, the Penguins have eight remaining pending unrestricted free agents this offseason: defenseman Cody Ceci, Kevin Czcuzman and Zach Trotman; forwards Josh Currie, Frederick Gaudreau, Evan Rodrigues and Colton Sceviour; and goaltender Maxime Lagace.

Seth Rorabaugh

Tribune Review LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189400 Pittsburgh Penguins largely haven’t for two seasons — he’s barely a viable option for an AHL lineup.

Few players in the Penguins’ organization need a big 2021-22 season Penguins A to Z: Justin Almeida needs a big 2021-22 season more than Almeida. He has one more year on his entry-level contract and probably one more chance to show he has some future with the organization.

SETH RORABAUGH | Tuesday, June 8, 2021 8:01 a.m.Support Local Seth Rorabaugh Journalism Tribune Review LOADED: 06.09.2021

With the Penguins in the midst of their offseason, the Tribune-Review is looking at all 50 players currently under NHL contracts to the organization in alphabetical order, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to top-six winger Jason Zucker.

Justin Almeida

Position: Left winger

Shoots: Left

Age: 22

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 165 pounds

2020-21 AHL statistics: 11 games, four points (two goals, two assists)

Contract: Entering the final year of a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $809,166. Pending restricted free agent in 2022

Acquired: Fifth-round draft pick (No. 129 overall), June 23, 2018

2020-21 season: Almeida’s second professional season was much better than his first professional season in one sense.

He did not spend any time in the ECHL.

But that was primarily due to the unique nature of the 2020-21 American Hockey League campaign. Due to the pandemic, NHL teams maintained a taxi squad of players that would typically be among the best on most AHL squads. As a result, mid-level prospects such as Almeida were never in danger of being sent to the ECHL.

Regardless, Almeida did little of note in 2020-21, even after recording a goal in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s season opener, a 4-3 overtime home loss to the Binghamton Devils on Feb. 8. On the sequence, a Devils player inadvertently played a puck into his own net and Almeida was credited with the score.

After two games, Almeida suffered an undisclosed injury and would be sidelined for nearly six weeks from mid-February to late March, hardly an ideal development for a player who had his 2019-20 season partially stunted by offseason shoulder surgery during the summer of 2019.

After he recovered and appeared in one game on March 21, Almeida was shuffled between the AHL roster and taxi squad on two separate occasions in transactions that were geared toward the NHL club maximizing the salary cap space it could recoup with other players on long-term injured reserve.

By April 4, Almeida was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for good. In his final eight games of the season, he recorded a mere three points (one goal, two assists).

During the final days of the season, Almeida was typically deployed on the fourth line and was even scratched in favor of players on AHL contracts.

The future: Things just don’t look good for Almeida after two seasons. Granted, the pandemic has hindered the development of prospects of every kind of pedigree. But Almeida has been limited to 20 of a possible 95 AHL games over the past two seasons.

In contrast, he appeared in 37 ECHL games for Wheeling during the 2019-20 campaign.

All isn’t lost for Almeida. He clearly has talent as evidenced by his final season (2018-19) at the junior level when he put up 111 points (33 goals, 78 assists) in 64 games for Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League.

If things go well for him, he’s a hiccup-quick and intelligent winger who can create offense for his linemates. If things don’t go well — and they 1189401 Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh native a finalist for NHL's Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award

ADAM BITTNER

The NHL is honoring a Pittsburgh native for his efforts to make hockey more accessible to everyone.

The league announced Tuesday that Howard Smith is a finalist for the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award, which is given to “an individual who — through the sport of hockey — has positively impacted his or her community, culture or society.”

Smith has done just that as a co-founder of Pittsburgh I.C.E — short for “Inclusion Creates Equity” and previously know as Hockey in the Hood — a program that has helped children of different socio-economic backgrounds find opportunities to play and learn the game for more than 20 years.

Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin, left, and Sidney Crosby, right, celebrate with Jake Guentzel, center, after Guentzel scored during the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders, Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y.

He also works with the Steel City Icebergs, a hockey program for children and adults with developmental disabilities, and the Pittsburgh Warriors organization, which helps veterans with service-related disabilities heal through hockey. Smith previously served in the U.S. Navy.

“Oh, boy. It’s going to sink in later this evening,” Smith said in a video announcing his nomination. “Wow. Just to get this far. ... I’m beyond words right now.”

The award named for the league’s first Black player will be given to the finalist who receives the most votes in a tally conducted on the NHL’s website. Voting opens this Friday.

Also nominated are Renee Hess, founder of the Black Girl Hockey Club, which seeks to grow interest in hockey in the Black community, and Kevin Hodgson, executive director of the HEROS (Hockey Education Reaching Out Society) program in Canada. His program helps children with physical and cognitive challenges interact with the game.

“I appreciate all you do for your community in Western Pennsylvania, helping others and growing the game of hockey,” O’Ree said in informing Smith of his nomination. “Again, thank you and congratulations.”

Adam Bittner

Post Gazette LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189402 Pittsburgh Penguins Walt Sliker, @SlikerWalt: On Physics, can you explain the current fascination on spin rates in MLB, and why it took over 100 years to become an issue?

Joe Starkey’s mailbag: Should the Pirates keep Adam Frazier? Starkey: I’m no physicist, Dr. Sliker — I went out of my way to avoid any class with “physics” in the title for all of my extremely undecorated academic career — but this is very simple: The more the ball spins, the harder it is to hit. JOE STARKEY I’ll let Trevor Bauer take it from here. Before last season, he wrote an

article for “The Players Tribune” on this topic. Here’s an excerpt: Jeremiah Miller, @JeremiahMiller0: Should the Pirates deal Adam “I mean, when I see a guy go from being a good pitcher for one team and Frazier at the deadline, or keep him as a piece of the team’s future? spinning the ball at 2,200 rpm, to spinning the ball at 2,600 or 2,700 in Starkey: Let me be abundantly clear here, Dr. Miller: TRADE HIM. AS Houston, I know exactly what happened. … For eight years I’ve been SOON AS POSSIBLE. trying to figure out how to increase the spin on my fastball because I’d identified it way back then as such a massive advantage. I knew that if I I’m not sure the Internet has enough room to list the reasons, but I’ll give could learn to increase it through training and technique, it would be it a shot — and this is all a compliment to Frazier, who has turned himself huge. But eight years later, I haven’t found any other way except using into an extremely marketable asset. foreign substances.”

The team logo is in the center of the Pittsburgh Penguins locker room Bauer believes this issue is bigger than steroids ever were. Major League before players come in to talk to the media before leaving for the off Baseball might agree, judging by the way they are apparently going to season two days after being swept by the New York Islanders in the first crack down big-time on spin rates. Here’s part of Bauer’s visit with HBO’s round of the NHL hockey playoffs, Thursday, April 18, 2019, at their Real Sports, which will help explain further. practice facility in Cranberry Township, Pa. Bottom line: The methods for cheating have been refined, and more As one NL executive told fansided.com, “If I’m running a team and was pitchers are cheating. Near as I can tell, that is why it’s more of an issue asked who the one player we need to get, I’d say Adam Frazier.” than ever before.

Anyway, the main reasons Frazier must go … Jeffrey Bobeck, @ExileInDC: Since the days of John McGraw and Connie Mack, every successful manager has had something: inspiration, 1. That quote from the NL executive, which, translated, means this: game strategy, pitcher management, skill teaching, etc. Serious question: Frazier’s stock will never be higher. Several teams will have major what does Shelton bring? (“Spring training was super fun, man,” is interest, which should be music to the ears of Pirates GM Ben ineligible.) Cherington, who’s in the midst of a major rebuild and doing a nice job of restocking the farm system. Starkey: How could anyone possibly know the answer to that question, Dr. Bobeck? The Pirates are in tank mode from a roster-building 2. Frazier turns 30 before next season and can be an unrestricted free standpoint. He could be a combination of John McGraw, Connie Mack, agent after next season. The Pirates aren’t going to be good for at least a Jim Leyland, Sparky Anderson and Joe Torre (who suddenly became few more years, if at all, so what’s the point of keeping Frazier around as smart when he managed the Yankees, as compared to the early 80s his value depreciates and his cost appreciates? New York Mets) and we would have no clue. Not yet. Maybe never. But 3. Did I mention Frazier’s stock will never be higher? He is hitting and let’s at least wait until they are trying to win to judge him. slugging nearly 60 points above what his career averages were coming Angerman, @_Angerman_: Expansion draft for Pens: Why not trade into this season. As of this writing he leads the majors in hits and McCann for a goalie from a team with two to protect (MIN, CLB, COL, doubles. FLA) and leave Jarry exposed? SEA likely passes on him for a forward 4. It’s always fun to try to raid the Yankees’ farm system, and they have a and it builds the team’s goalie depth. If they lose him, that’s $3.5 mil off desperate need on the left side, as Jon Heyman recently noted with this the books. DeSmith is no.2. tweet: “Adam Frazier is a great trade fit for the #Yankees, as I mentioned Starkey: I like the way you’re thinking. Angerman. I think. on @MLBNetwork a short time ago. The Yankees have a .573 OPS among their left-handed hitters (worst in @MLB) and .618 OPS at 2B DAVE FOSSICK, @dman586: Will the Steelers defense be as good next (28th among 30 clubs). Frazier could address both weaknesses.” year as this year?

TRADE HIM … before it’s too late. Starkey: Probably not, Dr. Fossick. They were third overall (yards allowed), third in scoring defense, second in takeaways and first in sacks. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 18: Colin Moran #19 of the That’s pretty good. And a tough act to follow. Pittsburgh Pirates is congratulated by Bryan Reynolds #10 following a three run home run during the third inning against the Milwaukee Having said that, this defense should easily crack the top 10 and can top Brewers at American Family Field on April 18, 2021 in Milwaukee, last year’s by actually finishing the season. Some recent Steelers Wisconsin. defenses have put up fancy regular-season numbers only to be embarrassed in the playoffs. No defense can be considered great if it Neil O’Donnell, @neilodo24: What are the chances Ron Hextall is in net flops at the most important time of the year. next season for the Pens? Bud Dupree and Mike Hilton were major losses. There is no denying that. Starkey: About as good as the chance Larry Brown drops one of your Dupree at his best was a game-wrecker. Hilton was a high-impact slot throws, Neil. But I am getting plenty of Tristan Jarry questions these corner who made all kinds of plays behind the line of scrimmage. The days, and it seems the Penguins are doubling down on him as their guy. cornerback position is a major concern. I wouldn’t be so confident. I don’t see how anybody over there can have Two Steelers on the spot: Cam Sutton and Alex Highsmith. One more, confidence in Jarry as a franchise goalie. They should still be playing. because he needs to become great based on the assets relinquished to He’s the reason they are not. draft him: Devin Bush. Jarry is 100 games into his NHL career — still a relatively small sample, Manko, @MikeDaFicus: If you could go back in time and change the I’ll grant you — but I’m just not seeing franchise goalie material. I am outcome of one play, catch, goal, save, shot, etc. what would it be? seeing, perhaps, a goalie that will tease you just enough during the regular season and then not be good enough in the playoffs again. Or Starkey: Good morning Michael. Why are you torturing me? You know it disastrous again. would be Scott Norwood kicking a little further to the left (and why is it every time I see that &%$#^%$#@ lowlight, I think he’s going to make It feels like a long ways from the time Mike Sullivan could turn to Marc- it?). Andre Fleury or Matt Murray in a playoff series. Fleury, you’ll recall, stole a series from the Capitals during Sullivan’s second Cup run. The Other than that? Penguins were outplayed for the majority of that series. Fleury won it for them. I guess Scottie Reynolds missing. I really liked that Pitt team — and I happen to believe they would have given North Carolina quite a game.

Bobby, @BuStA607: The Pens were on fire when bigger bodies like Angelo and Zahorna were on the 4th line. Do you think the answer for a checking line was right in front of them the whole time?

Starkey: I don’t know about a checking line, per se, Dr. Bob, but I do think if they are looking to add more size, some answers might be within. A very astute point by you, although you did misspell both names (it’s Zohorna and Angello; on the other hand, I will admit that I very ironically misspelled “misspell” in my answer, as caught by spellcheck).

Jake Corcoran, @Jake_Corcoran: Are ticket prices too high at Pirate games? 40 bucks for a ticket and a beer. Another facet of MLB that is broken, in my opinion.

Starkey: One could argue that prices across sports — especially for concessions and parking — are ridiculous, Dr. Corcoran, but last I saw, the Pirates were tied for the sixth-lowest average ticket price in MLB. Which is as it should be.

Tom Oglesby, @TomOggie2: Now that Tabata is on (fire) in WV should I come back on for another Tabata Bat episode?

Starkey: Yes.

Chris Hawthorne, @Hawthorneee: Are you the person selling Ron Cook’s reporting memorabilia?

Starkey: No.

Brandon Shields, @BrandonShields2: Could you beat @ChrisMuellerPGH in a 1 on 1 golf match, but Mullsy has to use left handed clubs?

Starkey: Maybe.

We’ll find out on June 24th, although he is expected to play right-handed that day.

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Dan’s Daily: Canadiens Sweep Jets; Jarry, Malkin UpdatesPublished 22 hours ago on June 8, 2021

By Jimmy Murphy

While Dan is jet hopping today, you’re stuck with me. It’s feeling like 1993 for the Montreal Canadiens and for the Pittsburgh Penguins? Well, it’s feeling like goalie Tristan Jarry is going to get another shot to make next season feel more like 2009, 2016, and 2017.

PHN: As for the Pittsburgh Penguins, unless the John Gibson speculation from earlier in the season comes to fruition or Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ron Hextall can sign a proven goalie like Tuukka Rask – if he hits the free-agent market – you can throw away that rumor that the Penguins were actually thinking of exposing goalie Tristan Jarry. Or Evgeni Malkin. A team source confirmed to PHN on Monday…(read more)

Sportsnet: For the first time since they won their last Stanley Cup in 1993, the Canadiens have won seven in a row. After sweeping the Winnipeg Jets with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 4 of the North Division Final, Les Boys’ in the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge, are heading to the semifinals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs just two weeks after they fell down 3-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round.

Canadiens winger Tyler Toffoli took a beautiful cross-crease pass from rookie winger Cole Caufield to score the overtime winner 1:39 into the extra frame.

“We’re proud. We worked extremely hard,” Montreal Canadiens center Philip Danault said. “Everybody is playing their best hockey at the same time. It’s great to see. We’re happy, but we aren’t satisfied. We want to keep winning. We’re having the time of our lives right now.”

So is the city of Montreal, which is just starting to reopen from COVID restrictions and is abuzz over that and their beloved Montreal Canadiens. Ole! Ole! Ole!

NHL & National Hockey Now:

PHN+: Could former New York Rangers Head Coach David Quinn be the solution to the Buffalo Sabres keeping Jack Eichel?

The AHL will be back up and running at full strength and playing for the Calder Cup again next season.

Colorado: After calling out his team’s effort in the last two games, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar changed his tune on Monday and expressed confidence that his team can get it done and force a Game 7 with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Boston: After his team was the recipient of some soft calls (again) in the Boston Bruins Game 5 loss to the New York Islanders, Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy absolutely went nuclear on the referees

Sound familiar? I know Dan pointed out similar in the Pittsburgh Penguins Round One series. The Bruins must now win Game 6 at Nassau Coliseum to force a Game 7 back in Boston.

NYI: They just keep winning. The Islanders took advantage of those aforementioned questionable calls and went 3-for-4 on the powerplay.

Detroit: Red Wings fans obviously want to get back to the glory days in Mowtown ASAP but at least they find the rebuild tolerable–for now.

San Jose: It was a rough season for the San Jose Sharks but at least forward Mario Ferraro got some Gold out of another losing season in San Jose. Ferraro was part of the Canadian squad that took home gold from the 2021 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021

1189404 San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ Patrick Marleau a finalist for prestigious NHL award

By JON BECKER | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: June 8, 2021 at 11:49 a.m. | UPDATED: June 8, 2021 at 12:59 p.m.

The plaudits keep coming for Sharks center Patrick Marleau, who was named one of the three finalists for the 2020-21 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the NHL announced Tuesday. The 41-year-old Marleau, who broke Gordie Howe’s prestigious NHL all- time games played record this past season, joins Minnesota defenseman Matt Dumba and Philadelphia left wing Oskar Lindblom as finalists for the award. The winner will be announced during either the Stanley Cup semifinals or final, with an exact date, format and time still to be announced. Dumba’s resume includes co-founding the Hockey Diversity Alliance, which spoke out against racism and intolerance in hockey. Lindblom, meanwhile, is a finalist for the second year in a row while in the midst of an inspiring comeback. In 2019, Lindblom was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer that sidelined him for a year. Marleau is the fourth Sharks player to be named a finalist, joining Joe Thornton (2018-19) and Jed Ortmeyer (2009-10), who were runners-up, and Tony Granato (1996-97), who won the award named after the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game. While only one Bay Area hockey player has won the award presented to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, two former Bay Area players have an unfortunate link to it. Masterton’s Minnesota North Stars were playing the Oakland Seals on Jan. 13, 1968 when he carried the puck across the blue line before encountering Oakland defensemen Larry Cahan and Ron Harris. As Masterton was passing the puck, his skates got tangled with the stick of one of the defensemen. He then fell forward and didn’t see Harris, who cleanly checked him and knocked Masterton backward. In those days, NHL players didn’t wear helmets and the back of Masterton’s head slammed against the ice. “It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball,” Masterton’s teammate André Boudrias once told ESPN. “His eyes were gray at the time — it was like a horror picture. “I knew he was done.” Masterton was carried off the ice on a stretcher and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors there could do little for the 29-year-old Masterton, who died nearly 30 hours later after being taken off life support. Masterton’s death shook up the sports world and also took a toll on the two Seals defensemen. Cahan died an early death in 1992 at age 58. Harris, who is 78, has had trouble over the years coming to grips with his role in the tragic incident. Five years ago, ESPN writer John Rosengren investigated what led to Masterton’s death and, through interviews with doctors and former players and coaches, concluded Masterton had likely been suffering from a concussion even before the tragic game.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 06.09.2021 San Jose Sharks Talbot could be one of four goalies the Kraken claim, or the Wild keep 1189405 him after dealing draft picks to the NHL's newest team. Either way, the Sharks have an opportunity, as Seattle probably won't keep all four netminders in the former case, while San Jose can help Minnesota Sharks should target five players eliminated from playoffs recoup the assets required to hang on to Talbot. No matter where Talbot is after the expansion, the Sharks should ensure he knows the way to San Jose not long after. He'd be an immediate BY MARCUS WHITE improvement in net, while allowing young goalies Josef Korenar and Alexei Melnichuk to gain additional experience in the minor leagues. SHARKS Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Let's say you're Sharks general manager Doug Wilson. Unlike the other players on this list, the Sharks wouldn't have to trade for the Edmonton Oilers center this summer, as the former No. 1 pick is set You have your work cut out for you this summer, trying to build a team to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. But without clearing that can return to the Stanley Cup playoffs while dealing with a flat salary out major salary, which is easier said than done given the amount of cap and an expansion draft in July. Oh, and you have your highest draft trade and movement protection on San Jose's roster, the Sharks can't pick since 2015. get into a bidding war for Nugent-Hopkins. Got all that? Of course, Nugent-Hopkins might not get the term or salary he's looking for this offseason. During free agency last fall, few forwards signed for You have plenty of time to kill, too, with the first round of the draft not longer than three years, and few teams' cap situations have improved occurring until July 23. So, how do you spend all of it? By reaching out to since then. your recently eliminated colleagues, of course. The Sharks need depth down the middle, and Nugent-Hopkins -- who The second round of the playoffs is well underway, with quite a few has scored no fewer than 18 goals in all but one of his 82-game NHL franchises looking to make tweaks -- if not full overhauls -- in order to seasons -- would immediately bolster San Jose at center behind Tomas advance beyond the first round next year. Those are the teams you Hertl and Logan Couture. Could San Jose, with over $11 million in cap should be eyeing, with many of those teams featuring compelling players space before the expansion draft, offer Nugent-Hopkins a short-term deal who would check off the biggest boxes on the offseason to-do list. at a higher cap hit? Who are those players? Here's a look at five the Sharks should be The 28-year-old could get paid while waiting for the market to normalize, circling this offseason. and the Sharks would add a player who'd improve their roster and/or could be traded at the deadline if San Jose spends another season in the Mitch Marner and William Nylander cellar. Depending on Nugent-Hopkins' market, that could be best for both The Toronto Maple Leafs will insist until they're blue in the face -- yes, parties. even bluer than the fans with painted faces in Maple Leaf Square -- that they won't trade one of their Core Four forwards. But with $40 million tied up in Marner, Nylander, Auston Matthews and John Tavares, something Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.09.2021 has to give, right? Matthews isn't going anywhere, and neither is Tavares, unless there's another team with its likeness on his childhood bed sheets that will get him to waive a no-movement clause. That leaves Marner ($10.9 million salary cap hit for four more seasons) and Nylander ($6.96 million for three more), as neither has any trade protection. The former struggled for his third consecutive postseason, while the latter has faced criticism for a supposed lack of consistency. Both players would've led the Sharks in scoring this year, though, and San Jose should really press Toronto's brain trust on its willingness to part with either player. Given the Leafs' cap situation, is there a Hockey Trade to be made with one of the Sharks' young wingers and, if needed, some draft capital? Timo Meier ($6 million cap hit) and Kevin Labanc are ($4.725 million) are cheaper and would allow the Maple Leafs to clear space to address other areas on the roster. Wilson can give Toronto something to think about. Lars Eller Wilson publicly identified third-line center as one of the Sharks' biggest needs, and Eller would fit the bill. Although he's 32, he has consistently thrived for the Washington Capitals as a shutdown center. He's no slouch offensively, either, scoring 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 44 games this season. Eller's affordable ($3.2 million cap hit), but he might be too rich for the Capitals' taste this offseason. Washington, even after losing a player to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, will be awfully close to the salary cap for a team that has been eliminated in the first round three consecutive years. Eller hasn't been the problem by any means, but his contract is easily movable and could enable the Capitals recoup some draft picks. The Caps only have 11 draft picks in the next two years, while the Sharks have 15. If San Jose starts the conversation with its 2022 second-round pick, would Washington listen? The Capitals don't have one after the Anthony Mantha blockbuster, but convincing win-now Washington to part with a prized depth piece could require more sweetening. Cam Talbot The Minnesota Wild have to expose one of Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen in the expansion draft, but the former's contract ($3.67 million cap hit for two more years) and recent playoff performances (.924 over the last two postseasons) have to be appealing to the Kraken. It should be appealing to the Sharks, too, who need to upgrade on Martin Jones. San Jose Sharks Karlsson 29. Perhaps not shockingly, Kane’s deal, given at 26, has aged 1189406 best.

It’s not impossible to play well into your 30’s, but it’s harder, for sure. It How Do You Get Rid of a Contract? would be an upset, at this rate, if Karlsson, Vlasic, Burns, or Couture complete their contracts in teal playing a standard of hockey commensurate with their price tags. Published 3 hours ago on June 8, 2021 This is a likely destination one day for the Sharks’ contracts that we’re talking about. By Sheng Peng But not yet: There’s nothing to suggest that Kane, Karlsson, Couture, Burns, or Vlasic will be hitting LTIR anytime soon. You never know, of How do you get rid of a contract? course, but even the oft-injured Karlsson has suited up for 77% of San Jose’s regular season games over the last three years. And that’s the That’s the question on every San Jose Sharks fan’s mind right now: The least among these five Sharks. Sharks have five active players on their roster with contracts seven years or longer, third-most in the NHL, tied with the Islanders, Pittsburgh, St. But there’s plenty of time yet on these contracts, plenty of time for some Louis, and Vegas, just behind Nashville’s six and Tampa Bay’s seven. serious breakdowns. Nobody’s rooting for a career-ending injury, it’s just the circle of life for many an athlete. Of course — case in point, the 2020 Stanley Cup champion Lightning — it’s not the contracts themselves that are the problems. It’s the players Just four of the 65 long-term deals that I looked at ended with the player underperforming relative to cost and term. on LTIR with their original signing squad: Johnny Boychuk (signed 2015), Mattias Ohlund (2009), Johan Franzen (2009), and Henrik Zetterberg On San Jose, at the moment, Evander Kane is the only player of the five (2009). living up to his price tag. But a number of these lengthy contracts were traded to another team, Two years into his eight-year contract, Logan Couture has suffered back- then buried, most recently, Marian Gaborik who was sent from Los to-back injury-plagued seasons. Angeles to Ottawa to Tampa Bay’s LTIR. Halfway into his eight-year pact — and just two campaigns removed from a Norris Trophy nomination — 36-year-old Brent Burns is slowly but surely looking his age. San Jose Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 Three years into his eight-year deal, Marc-Edouard Vlasic was dropped to the Sharks’ bottom pairing this past season. Two seasons into his eight-year agreement, Erik Karlsson is still a shadow of his 2018-19 form. So are the San Jose Sharks simply carrying these anchors for the next half-decade? How do teams get out of long contracts? Let’s look at all the seven season-plus contracts signed since the 2004- 05 lockout and how franchises cut bait. I’m going to concentrate on how the initial signing team got out from under: For example, Matt Niskanen was inked by Washington to a seven-year deal in July 2014. He was traded to the Flyers in June 2019, then retired the following summer with another season on his pact. My emphasis is on how Washington, the first team, moved on from Niskanen. That’s San Jose’s position right now. Looking at 65 seven-year-or-longer contracts from 2006 on, there are five typical ways that teams get out of these agreements: Sometimes, the players complete the contract on the same team. Trade, buyout, retirement, and Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) are other options. Let’s look at all these methods, from least likely to likely for the Sharks. In July 2013, 30-year-old Ilya Kovalchuk opted to retire from the NHL, leaving the 12 years and $77 million remaining on his contract with New Jersey to go back to his native Russia and the KHL. Because of Kovalchuk’s departure, the Devils were hit with an annual $300K cap restructure penalty until 2024-25 — a consequence of the winger’s initial cap-circumventing deal — but it also opened up a ton of cap space. Kovalchuk returned to the NHL in 2018, but that’s another story. As for the San Jose Sharks, there’s no sign at this point that Kane, Karlsson, Couture, Burns, or Vlasic are going to walk away from multiple years and tens of millions of dollars, so there’s no reason to further explore this path. Kovalchuk’s was a special case. 18 of the 65 seven-years-or-longer contracts that I looked at were completed by the players on the same franchise that signed them. Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Alex Pietrangelo, Gabriel Landeskog, Tuukka Rask, Roman Josi, and Ryan Getzlaf recently completed pacts inked in 2013, in their original colors. Not relevant to the San Jose Sharks: Nine of these 18 “winners” were signed by players 23-or-under, Pietrangelo, Josi, Fleury, Bäckström, Ovechkin, Doughty, Kopitar, Nugent-Hopkins, and Landeskog. So their squads, with the exception of the exceptional Ovechkin — who signed a 13-year contract when those were allowed — got these players’ best campaigns without the risk of age-related decline. Not so with San Jose, of course: Burns was extended at 32, Vlasic 31, Couture 30, and 1189407 San Jose Sharks

Sheng’s Daily: Sharks Are First NHL Team To Accept Cryptocurrency

Published 19 hours ago on June 8, 2021 By Sheng Peng

Who won my San Jose Sharks cards? Who Won My Sharks Cards? Could Fabian Lysell add a spark to the San Jose Sharks? Alexander Appleyard of Smaht Scouting joins Locked On Sharks to talk about San Jose potentially drafting Lysell: Could Fabian Lysell Add Spark to Sharks? Four members of a Muslim family in London, Ontario — Syed Afzaal, 46, his wife, Madiha Salman, 44, their 15-year-old daughter, Yumnah Afzaal, and Syed Afzaal’s 74-year-old mother — were killed in a hate crime. Their 9-year-old son, Faez Afzaal, survived. Kurtis Gabriel is back in London: I touched on a variety of fantasy San Jose Sharks topics here: What to expect from Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns next year, what’s plaguing the Sharks power play, and Timo Meier’s issues. The San Jose Sharks will become the first NHL team to accept cryptocurrency payments: The San Jose Barracuda will play 72 regular season games, instead of their current 68, starting in the 2022-23 season. AROUND THE NHL… The NHL has nominated Renee Hess (founder of the Black Girl Hockey Club), Kevin Hodgson (executive director of HEROS), and Howard Smith (co-founder of Pittsburgh I.C.E.) as the three finalists for the 2020-21 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award, given to an individual who – through the sport of hockey – has positively impacted his or her community, culture or society. (NHL)

San Jose Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 Seattle Kraken It means more legitimate NHLers will be at Seattle’s disposal than were 1189408 made available in the expansion drafts of 20 years ago and beyond.

By rule, Seattle is obliged to select one player from every NHL team, Expansion draft: What the Kraken can learn from Vegas and why they except for Vegas, which is exempt. won’t choose the best available player What people sometimes forget is how unexciting that first list of Golden Knights players actually was. Ten of the 30 players chosen by the Golden Knights in the actual expansion draft never played for Vegas and By Eric Duhatschek five others played 60 games or fewer. It means one-half of the players they selected in the expansion draft itself didn’t make any sort of Jun 8, 2021 meaningful contribution to the organization’s rapid success. That’s also an important fact to file away when fans of the Kraken begin First, a brief history about expansion drafts, but mostly, the Vegas to wonder why a handful of minor-leaguers they’ve never heard of might Golden Knights expansion draft of 2017. Every time the NHL has be chosen by Seattle ahead of bigger, sexier names. undertaken expansion – from doubling the Original Six to 12 teams in Vegas created a template: The Golden Knights didn’t need — or want — 1966-67 to all the ones in between — the rules have changed and as a 30 players signed to NHL contracts coming out of the expansion draft. result, so have the approaches taken by teams. For starters, they only needed 23 to play in the NHL. Moreover, they had So, for example, when the Atlanta Thrashers entered the league in 1999, to find room in the lineup for all the warm bodies acquired in their side general manager Don Waddell stuck to a tried-and-true formula: Picking deals, which is really where the strength of that inaugural team lay. players that were available (not much in the way of pure talent) and then Seattle will do some things differently, but accumulating too many slowly building an organization, from the ground up, piece by painstaking contracts too soon isn’t going to be one of them. piece. They’ll select some players on expiring contracts, and then not bid for I remember asking Waddell once why he didn’t dive into the free-agent them as free agents, just letting them walk away. In Vegas’s case, there pond. As I recall, Brian Leetch and a few other equally tantalizing talents were teams where they’d probably have preferred to pass rather than were available that summer and his answer (I’m paraphrasing here) select someone from an ultra-thin protected list. touched on two team-building principles. Since that wasn’t an option, they dug deep into an organization’s system One, it would be hard to convince veteran players to join an expansion to extract a player that ranked low on the name-recognition scale, hoping team because they’d want to win sooner than later. And two, it didn’t there was a glimmer of an upside. Many times, their assessments were make a lot of sense to commit the dollars it would take to lure Leetch correct. away from New York because there really was no good way to fast track the development process of an expansion team in that era. Furthermore, To illustrate the point further, let’s examine the actual Vegas expansion by the time the Thrashers got to be any good, any player they’d added as draft — the 30 players the Golden Knights unveiled on their roster reveal a free agent would be aging out. day, listed in the order the names were announced. This, in the era of unrestricted free agency at age 31, seemed like a Vegas selected William Carrier from the Buffalo Sabres, who’d only reasonable, prudent take at the time. played 41 NHL games (plus 127 in the AHL) prior to being the Vegas selection. From Detroit, they took Tomas Nosek, who up to that point had The Thrashers were among three expansion teams new to the league in played 121 AHL games and only 17 in the NHL. From Los Angeles, the a span of four years, and two of them did relatively OK. The Minnesota Golden Knights had the chance to select players from the Kings’ Stanley Wild made it to the conference finals in their third year (but missed the Cup core — such as Dustin Brown and Jeff Carter — but ultimately opted playoffs entirely in Years 1,2,4 and 5). The Nashville Predators took six for a less sexy option: Brayden McNabb. All three — Carrier, Nosek and years to get to the playoffs, but then made them seven out of the next McNabb — have proven to be useful contributors in Vegas’s short eight years. history, even if they were largely unknown minor leaguers, or in By contrast, the Columbus Blue Jackets made the playoffs only once in McNabb’s case, a useful depth player on defence, at the time they were their first 12 years of existence, while the Thrashers only got there once selected. in 11 years before moving to Winnipeg. Now, some of the players Vegas chose were byproducts of the pre- Part of the problem was the onerous terms imposed upon expansion arranged deals made with teams such as Anaheim, Minnesota, teams by the NHL which protected the depth of their existing franchises Columbus, Florida, the Islanders and others to land either good by severely limiting the options of the expansion teams. prospects (Shea Theodore, Alex Tuch) or high draft choices (extra first- rounders that allowed them to draft Nick Suzuki and Erik Brannstrom and It was also the pre-salary cap era, so teams couldn’t leverage salary-cap later flip them in the deals for Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone). space the way they can in current times. Over the course of their first summer, the Golden Knights traded away All of which brings us back to Vegas, a team that re-invented the some of their defensive surplus (Marc Methot, David Schlemko, Alexei expansion-draft formula, largely by capitalizing on two changes. Emelin, Trevor van Riemsdyk). Others didn’t last in the organization past the first few days of NHL free agency (J.F. Berube, Connor Brickley, One, the NHL was now operating in a salary-cap world and in 2017 when Chris Thorburn). Still, others went on long-term injury reserve from the Vegas entered the league, the Golden Knights craftily presented start and never saw the light of day (Clayton Stoner). But even after all themselves as a soft-landing spot for any team trying to dump their those player shuffles, the Golden Knights still had too many players on salary-cap missteps. Naturally, they didn’t do it for free. There was a cost NHL contracts and thus ran into a waiver issue before opening night. associated with it. It obliged them to ship a couple of their better younger prospects (notably Two, Vegas simply had better players to choose from. The formula had Tuch and Theodore) plus their big signing out of the KHL, Vadim become far more generous. For example, in the 1992 expansion draft for Shipachyov, to the minors for the start of the season because they were the Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning, teams were allowed to waiver-exempt. protect 14 position players and two goaltenders. A couple of others chosen in the expansion draft started the year as For the 1998 Nashville expansion draft, the formula became slightly more spares — Jon Merrill and Griffin Reinhart were in the press box opening generous. Teams could protect either one goalie, five defensemen and night. Merrill eventually played himself into a regular spot in the lineup; nine forwards; or two goalies, three defensemen and seven forwards. Reinhart did not. Nashville, incidentally, drafted five goalies — including a fourth-stringer from the Montreal Canadiens, Tomas Vokoun, who actually ended up And then a handful of players from the opening night lineup — such as being their best find in the entire exercise. Jason Garrison and Brendan Leipsic — played limited roles once the season got going. Garrison finished his Vegas career with only eight In short, by the time it came to admitting Vegas to the fold, the league appearances; Leipsic got into 44 games and then was traded mid-season had smartened up. to Vancouver. Under the current protection formula, which is also in place for July’s By the time the Golden Knights completed their first regular season Seattle Kraken expansion draft, teams can choose one of two scenarios: roughly half of the players chosen in the actual expansion draft had made Either protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender, or important contributions to that team’s success. eight position players and one goaltender. Up front: Karlsson, Marchessault, Perron, Haula and Neal were five of the top six scorers (Reilly Smith was the sixth, added from Florida to take on Marchessault’s contract). Additionally, a handful of energy players made important contributions at the bottom end of the roster: Pierre- Edouard Bellemare, Nosek, Lindblom, Eakin and Carrier. On defense: Nate Schmidt, Colin Miller, McNabb and Derek Engelland, all played 75 games or more on defence, and were four of the five ice time leaders on the blue line (Theodore was the fifth; he played in 61 games; averaged 20:21, and had 29 points — a sign of exciting things to come). In goal: Fleury was an absolute difference maker: He won 29 games, lost only 13 in regulation, and had a 2.24 GAA and a .927 save percentage. So, what does the Vegas experience teach us for Seattle? Mostly, that the actual expansion draft is an important, but fluid first step. The Kraken will ultimately chase the best fit, just as Vegas did. But that’s not necessarily the same thing as selecting the best or most recognizable player. It’s a nuanced, but important distinction. The lesson is, don’t despair if the Kraken opt for Matthew Phillips from Calgary instead of Mark Giordano, or Nicolas Aube-Kubel from Philadelphia instead of James Van Riemsdyk. There’ll be a certain rhyme and logical reason behind every selection. The single most important takeaway for Seattle? If you’re a team building from the ground up, big-picture, long-term thoughts must frame your decision-making process, even if some of the players that land on your roster in the expansion draft may underwhelm you at first. All you need to remember is that was also the initial response to Vegas’s roster — there wasn’t necessarily a broad optimistic consensus right away. That came later. It was only after the Golden Knights took to the ice that it all started to make sense.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 St Louis Blues It was a different experience there, with coach Harry Neale running a 1189409 looser ship than Heinz had found with the Blues. (“My first game, against Buffalo, he said, ‘Let’s go out and and try to tie these guys!” Heinz said.) Where are they now: Catching up with former Blues goalie Rick Heinz The Canucks went to the Final that season, losing to the Islanders in four games. Heinz played in only three games for the Canucks, none in the playoffs, but he still was that close to winning it all and had a great time. After the season, the Blues reacquired Heinz for cash. Tom Timmermann His NHL career ended in 1984-85, with a 4.06 career goals-against average and an .857 save percentage. After two more seasons in the Rick Heinz knows how hard it is to make it in the NHL, knows it so well minors, his playing career was over. (He passed on an offer to extend his that he wrote a book about it. career in Finland.) A different time, a different place, a different position, and it might have He returned home to the Toronto area and wrote a book, “Many Are worked out differently. Heinz was a goalie who played nine seasons of Called . . . Few Are Signed: The Hard Realities of Professional Hockey” a pro hockey, from 1978 to 1987, almost all of it in the Blues’ organization. guide for young players hoping to make it in the NHL which, he said, was a best seller in Canada. After that, he started a goalie and hockey school, In five of those seasons, he saw time in the NHL, but in most of those which has had a healthy list of NHLers pass through it. (“I was a much seasons, his NHL game total was in single digits. Much of that time, he better teacher than goaltender,” he said.) wasn’t the backup goalie, he was the No. 3 goalie — the guy in the minors who got called up when someone got hurt. Only once, in 1983-84, The school did so well that when Heinz sold it in 2008, the new owner did he spend the full season in the NHL. The rest he bounced back and kept Heinz’s name on it, even though he no longer had anything to do forth between the Blues and their farm team, in Salt Lake City or Peoria. with the programs. “I was like a toilet seat, up and down,” Heinz recalled. Heinz owned a junior team in Milton for a year and later the Humberview Hockey Club for younger players. Now, he’s retired, living in the rural He made his debut in the ’80-81 season, having been called up after outskirts of Toronto, gardening, reading and exploring spirituality. A few backup Ed Staniowski got hurt and then being thrown into a game when years ago, he bought a race horse that has run at the nearby harness starter Mike Liut took a puck to the groin. track and won a few races, but now has an injury and might never race again. “I had a tuna fish sandwich on the way in from the airport,” Heinz said, “and I felt that tuna fish sandwich in my throat. I’m on the bench saying, “Everything I’ve ever done has been related to hockey and it’s always ‘Get up! Get up!” been a great experience,” Heinz said. “Hockey has been good to me. . . . You get to my age, 66, and I look back and say, ‘That was OK, that was While that game got him started, one really stands out. It was March of a nice experience, but it’s in my past.’ 1983 and the Blues had a big game coming up with Toronto, which was chasing them for third place in the Norris Division. But the day before, “What’s going on tomorrow? What am I going to do in the future? What March 8, the Blues played the Stanley Cup champion New York else is going to happen to me? I try not to live in the past. You appreciate Islanders and coach Barclay Plager wanted Liut rested and ready for the it but you’ve got to get up and brush yourself and enjoy today.” Toronto game. So Heinz got one of his nine starts that season against the Islanders. “I think it was the highlight of my life, my career,” he said. “Like winning a St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.09.2021 championship, everything clicked that night for me.” Heinz stopped 39 shots in a 6-0 win. When the game ended, he formed his arms into a V, for victory, then skated to the bench throwing kisses to the fans. “I was so excited, I was so jacked up, I was on cloud nine,” he said. “The fans were always so good to me there. The few times I played, I felt such support. Whenever I played, for me, that was like icing on the cake in my relationship with fans. Every time I made a save, they stood up for me, clapped for me. (Broadcaster) Dan Kelly gave me a couple shots about throwing kisses to the fans.” Heinz remembers an early save on a breakaway by Greg Gilbert that set the tone, and an early goal for the Blues by Mark Reeds. He remembers Alain Vigneault clearing a puck off the line after it got behind him. And he remembers the Islanders’ Clark Gillies repeatedly parking in front of him, leading to Heinz being called for slashing him — making him one of only a handful of Blues goalies to post a shutout and be called for a penalty in the same game. The Blues got him a videotape of the Islanders’ telecast of the game. “I think I wore it out I watched it so many times,” he said. Of course, the shutout didn’t change anything. Liut started the next night in Toronto, and the Blues lost 5-2 and the Maple Leafs ended up finishing three points ahead of the Blues for third place. “Mike was a hell of a competitor,” Heinz said. “He just was on a real roll. It was a poor time for me. I could never really get in there, get on a roll myself. Even if I played well, the few times I got in, it was always going back to Mike anyway. ‘Give Mike a breather, give the kid a game, get Mike back in.’ I could never establish that momentum. Even though I proved myself in the minors with four championships, I could never get that experience in the NHL.” Heinz was on teams that won two Central Hockey League titles and two International Hockey League titles. (“Even though it’s the minors, it didn’t diminish the rewarding experiences,” he said.) He was the IHL’s top goalie in 1984-85, the year Peoria won the title. The closest he got to a Stanley Cup came in his second season, 1981-82, when the Blues traded him at the deadline, along with Tony Currie and Jim Nill, to Vancouver for goalie Glen Hanlon. St Louis Blues is going to be real important. If our guys understand that it is going to be 1189410 very difficult but we can get it done.”

Those sound like the words Blues opponents spoke in ‘19 after getting Blues can learn valuable lesson by watching this year's playoffs swarmed. Maybe Ryan Reaves, William “Aircraft” Carrier and rest of the Golden Knights have a chance to crush the Avalanche dream. Most fans in these Jeff Gordon parts would rather see Alex Pietrangelo win another Cup than see Avalanche owner Stan Kroenke hoist the sacred chalice over his skull tarp. Come playoff time, the Xs and Os matter in the NHL. Talent obviously is Or maybe the intrepid Canadiens can extend their roll against whichever critical, too, especially in goal where one guy can steal victories. West Division power survives that series. But collective will still is the most essential element to postseason “We’re sticking together,” Canadiens forward Tyler Toffoli said. “We’re success. It can drive a team to new levels with its players powering playing as one and we’re winning games and having fun.” through physical and emotional punishment. Maybe the Islanders can complete their upset of the Bruins and advance These thrilling playoffs are illustrating that once again. to the Final Four. All signs point in their favor as the series returns to Teams that appear dominant on paper often break down on the ice. Long Island. Underdogs can pull upsets, build confidence and morph into a more Boston coach Bruce Cassidy blinked first by pulling goaltender Tuukka formidable team on the fly. Rask in Game 5 and then ripping the officials going soft on the Islanders. Teams can keep raising their play. That’s what the Blues did during their “There was a calmness about our group,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz 2019 Stanley Cup run while getting better and better. said. “To me, experience is, instead of worrying about all the things, it That’s what the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders and Vegas does not matter if it is hockey or life, experience just lets you focus on Golden Knights are trying to do this season. four or five things that are the most important. Everything else will fall into place.” The Blues need a reminder of how they must play to regain their standing. They can get it by tuning into these playoffs. Maybe the Blues can rekindle their spark and reestablish their resolve by seeing these teams succeed with the same vibe they built just two years The underdog Canadiens rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to topple the ago. Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. Thus emboldened, the Canadiens also swept the favored Winnipeg Jets to reach the Final Four. It can be done. Just watch. “There’s such a great group of guys in there,” Canadiens captain Shea Weber said. “That translates on the ice. Everyone does their job and has St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.09.2021 a specific job that they’re supposed to do on the ice. And that’s part of it, too. But I think that everyone plays for each other and does the right thing for their teammates.” Remember when Blues veterans talked that way? The Islanders upset Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, then now have forged a 3-2 series lead over David Pastrnak and the favored Boston Bruins in Round 2. “We found a way to win. Good teams do that,” Islanders forward Jordan Eberle said after his team held on for a wild 5-4 victory Monday night. “We have a lot of character in this locker room and a lot of guys who have battled with each other for the last three years throughout the playoffs. You go through that many rounds and that’s how you gain character. You really want to play hard for one another. “So, you see the hits, you see the blocked shots, you see the bearing down at the end of the game with the last five minutes when we are protecting a lead. All character things and we have a lot of it in this locker room.” Again, those are the sorts of words the Blues uttered during their unlikely Cup run. The game did not pass the Blues by. For a host of reasons — injuries, COVID complications, personnel changes, perhaps complacency — they lost the edge the forged during their championship season. To see what they are missing, they can view the Colorado-Vegas series, which has turned into an absolute war. The Golden Knights did an excellent imitation of the ‘19 Blues while pummeling the Avalanche in Games 3 and 4 of their series to tie the matchup, then had a scintillating victory Tuesday in which they overcame a 2-0 third-period deficit and won 3-2 in overtime. They now lead the series three games to two. The Blues broke down the Peter DeBoer-coached San Jose Sharks with relentless physical pressure in 2019. Now the DeBoer-coached Golden Knights are trying to do the same to Colorado. They sent the puck in deep again and again and went bowling for ‘Lanche players with crunching hits. “They make a play in the D-zone, they are throwing it out in the neutral zone, and they are coming at us 100 miles an hour,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “We have to make sure that we beat their guys back up the ice and we got to find a way to transition out of that cleanly, and they are making it tough on us. “So, earning our ice and earning our space, fighting in those hard areas to try and keep advancing the puck and put them under duress a little bit Tampa Bay Lightning Lightning defensemen Mikhail Sergachev, left, and Victor Hedman try to 1189411 form a wall against the puck and around goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ] Lightning-Hurricanes Game 5 report card: Punching above their weight Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev took the punishment, but it was Hurricanes counterpart Dougie Hamilton who had to have been hurting the most. By Frank Pastor Hamilton had a couple of great scoring chances in the second period, but Sergachev threw his body in front of both. He blocked a Hamilton shot Published 6 hours ago from just above the right circle with his skate, then took a Hamilton shot Updated 4 hours ago from the slot off his, er, rump, later in the period. Sergachev looked the worse for wear, but he was right back on the ice for his next shift. Tyler Johnson was flying. Pat Maroon was mucking. And Ross Colton was, well, scoring. They were two of a game-high five blocks for Sergachev in the game. He also stepped in front of an Andrei Svechnikov shot from the left circle in And a Lightning squad teeming with stars at every position stormed into the third period. the Stanley Cup semifinals for the fifth time in seven seasons on the shoulders of its ... fourth line? Toughness isn’t just about fighting. You’d be hard-pressed to find a filthier goal than Brayden Point’s winner Grade: A in the second period of Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over the Hurricanes. Or a No goal more spectacular save than Andrei Vasilevskiy’s sprawling stop on Vincent Trocheck moments earlier to keep the game scoreless. When does a puck beat a goaltender, cross the goal line and still not count as a goal? But for sheer dominance over the course of the night, no forward line could match the one lowest on Tampa Bay’s lineup sheet. Johnson, When it fails to beat the clock, as Cernak found out at the end of the Maroon and Colton combined for a goal, 13 shot attempts (six on goal), second period. As the final seconds ticked down in the period, Killorn two hits and a blocked shot in just over 7-1/2 minutes of play. won a battle behind the net and passed around the boards to Cernak at the right point. Cernak’s shot beat Nedeljkovic on the glove side, but as Johnson, bumped to the fourth line this season after spending most of his replays showed, crossed the goal line mere tenths of a second after the career among the top six forwards, was reminiscent of the pivot who period clock had expired. centered the “Triplets” line during Tampa Bay’s run to the 2015 Stanley Cup final. He skated like his pants were on fire and created offense Instead of a comfortable 2-0 advantage after two periods, the Lightning everywhere he went. He set up Maroon for scoring chances in front of headed to the third clinging to a one-goal lead. the net in the first and third periods and generated three of his own in the second. Grade: B In addition to his work around the net and along the boards, Maroon gave Opening salvo the Lightning the man-advantage that led to Point’s goal, drawing Jani After the craziness that was the eight-goal second period in Game 4, the Hakanpaa into an interference penalty immediately following a faceoff in Lightning entered Game 5 expecting more of the structured defensive the Carolina end. And Colton, whose three shots on goal tied for most on play we saw in Games 1 and 2. the team, shot every chance he got. A key was getting the first goal, something Tampa Bay had done in three You thought surely the line would be rewarded for its hard work when (winning on each occasion) of the first four games in the series and eight Johnson dropped a pass into the slot for Maroon midway through the (winning seven) of the previous 10. third period. Maroon couldn’t get the puck to the net, but he chased it into the corner and centered a pass for Colton in the low slot. Colton’s first try Point gave the Lightning the goal they needed in the second period, and was stopped by Alex Nedeljkovic, and the goaltender deflected his they were able to focus on defending as a group and seize their followup attempt away from the net. opportunities as they came, not having to take unnecessary risks as they might if playing from behind. After conferring over a tablet on the Lightning bench, the three found the answer they were looking for on their next shift. Colton, who hit the post They followed the blueprint to perfection, closing out yet another playoff on a 2-on-1 with Johnson earlier in the game, collected a loose puck after win — their 24th (and sixth series win) over the past two seasons. Erik Cernak stood up Steven Lorentz at the Lightning blue line, skated to the right circle in the Hurricanes zone and wristed a knuckler toward the Grade: A net that got under Nedeljkovic’s glove for an important insurance goal.

The line looked comfortable and confident throughout the night. Johnson Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.09.2021 smiled at Maroon — who collided with the net, knocking it off its moorings — after threading a pass through the crease that the big forward tipped over the net in the first period. Later, Maroon, whose colorful language while complaining to officials during the second period was caught by television microphones, fist-bumped them as he left the ice. That’s how you close out a series. Grade: A-plus Point’s second-period goal was a thing of beauty, the center taking a cross-ice pass from Alex Killorn and going backhand-forehand-backhand, flipping the puck up over Nedeljkovic on the power play for his fourth goal of the series, sixth in the past seven games and eighth of the playoffs. For sheer spectacle, it was matched only by the save from Vasilevskiy at the other end of the ice just moments earlier. With the Lightning on the power play, Vasilevskiy exploded from his right to his left, kept himself square to the puck and lunged to make a glove save on a Trocheck shorthanded chance on a 2-on-1 with Jordan Staal. Even for a team spoiled by sensational plays, these were one-of-a-kind efforts. Grade: A-plus, in both instances Hurts so good 1189412 Tampa Bay Lightning

‘There’s a storm over Tampa Bay but it’s no Hurricane’: Twitter reacts to Lightning clincher

By Mari Faiello Published Earlier today Updated 5 hours ago

With a 2-0 Game 5 win over the Hurricanes, the Lightning advanced to the Stanley Cup semifinals on Tuesday night. It’s Tampa Bay’s sixth-straight series win dating to the start of last year’s postseason, which ended with the franchise’s second Stanley Cup. And it’s the fifth time in the past seven seasons the Lightning have made it this far. Mother Nature even celebrated Tampa Bay’s latest victory, with plenty of thunder and lightning in the area.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189413 Tampa Bay Lightning

Second round: Lightning-Hurricanes Game 5 live updates

By Frank Pastor Published Yesterday Updated Earlier today

Aho and Stamkos receive roughing minors as the period comes to a close. Aho engaged Stamkos after Stamkos hit Skjei from behind. How do you want to play? Fast and loose? Tight-checking? Leave things to the special teams? Whatever the style of play, the Lightning have shown this postseason they can play — and win — them all. They won shootouts with the Panthers and low-scoring affairs against the Hurricanes. On Saturday, their power play took over a game after Carolina opened the door with some ill-advised second-period penalties. Now up three games to one, the Lightning find themselves with three chances to clinch the second-round series against the Central Division champions, starting with Game 5 tonight before more than 16,000 Caniacs at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Tampa Bay’s top line had a lot to do with putting it in this position, as center Brayden Point (goal, assist), left wing Ondrej Palat (two assists) and right wing Nikita Kucherov (two goals, assist) combined for seven points in Saturday’s Game 4 win in Tampa. Three goals came on the power play, and fourth-line center Tyler Johnson contributed the tying goal before Steven Stamkos, who had two goals of his own, netted the game-winner in the 6-4 victory. Alex Nedljkovic, who started the first two games before yielding the net to Petr Mrazek for the next two, is back in goal for the Hurricanes. Forwards Vincent Trocheck and Nino Niederreiter also are back in the lineup, though forward Warren Foegele is out. Follow our live updates tonight, starting at 6:30 p.m., as Tampa Bay aims to eliminate Carolina and advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals for the fifth time in the past seven seasons.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.09.2021 Tampa Bay Lightning “In that situation, we’d rather be having Sergy with a stick, playing down 1189414 low in front of the net,” Cirelli said. “I think everyone’s kind of aware and we see it and just try to recognize which guys are more important with the sticks than without. In that situation there on the PK, Sergy definitely When a hockey stick breaks, everyone has to lend a helping hand needs a stick and you can just try to take away the shooting lane by staying up top.”

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said players are coached up on how to think By Eduardo A. Encina quickly when they can give their stick to a like-shot teammate who Published Yesterday suddenly needs one. “There’s a sense in players that they can really identify those situations when they happen,” Cooper said. “But I’ll tell you, if you’re the coach on RALEIGH, N.C. — During the most critical moments of the Lightning’s the bench when that stick’s broken, it isn’t a great feeling when you’re second-round series opener against Carolina, defenseman Ryan sitting in the D zone. But it’s something that is a skill, it’s coached, it’s McDonagh found himself in a tough situation. preached as to what happens in these situations and who goes where. In the final seconds of Tampa Bay’s 2-1 win at PNC Arena, the “But it’s never a comfortable feeling, that’s for sure.” Hurricanes were pressuring the Lightning net with an extra attacker and McDonagh swung his stick in an attempt to clear the puck from in front of the crease. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.09.2021 In the middle of traffic, McDonagh’s stick broke, the blade snapping off and leaving him holding a useless shaft as the puck spun away. Then forward Barclay Goodrow, who was positioning in front of McDonagh in the slot, swung his right arm behind him and gave his teammate his left- shot stick. Time ticked away as Goodrow could only use his body to screen the Hurricanes from getting an open look. With Carolina having the extra attacker, the game was ending in the Lightning zone, so Goodrow had no chance to sneak back to the bench to get a new stick. The Lightning locked down the net late to seal the Game 1 win, but not without some nervous moments. “When it happens to your opposition, you try to take advantage of it,” McDonagh said. “When it happens to you, your opponent’s going to try and take advantage of it, so it’s a part of the game. You play the percentages there as far as passing the stick down to a defenseman or whatnot, or a forward breaks and tries to get off the ice or get a new one. You’ve just got to handle the adversity in the right way.” If it seems like more broken sticks have littered the ice during the postseason, it’s because they have. Lightning equipment manager Ray Thill, who has been with the team for 22 years, said the postseason brings a lot more intensity. “It is hacking and whacking,” Thill said. “Guys are desperate, and it always happens in the playoffs. ... Guys are going down, they’re blocking shots. It’s the playoff mode.” On the bench, sticks are lined up on a rack in numerical order. But Thill and his staff can recognize each player’s stick by the knob or the tape job as well, so when Steven Stamkos is in the faceoff circle, Thill has a spare at the ready. “Power play, the same thing,” Thill said. “Guys on the power play, we have all their sticks ready in our hands. And penalty kill, the same thing, because the sticks, if they just get the tiniest nick, they’ll end up breaking. … During the game, it’s usually the guys screaming at me sometimes if I can’t see the play like if it’s down in the corner. They’ll scream, ‘Stick for 86,’ and I’m there for that.” Players are particular about their sticks and their lifespans. Some will switch after a few games. Others, like center Brayden Point, will use the stick until it breaks. When they do snap, Thill will go into the dressing room to get an extra to add to the rack. And sometimes players will just get a bad batch of sticks. Thill remembers one time several years ago when former coach John Tortorella fumed on the bench after watching defenseman Dan Boyle’s Easton two-piece stick break four times in a game. “I remember Torts just absolutely yelling at me for the sticks,” Thill said. “I’m like, ‘I don’t know what you want me to do. I’m not making them.’ I think he even called the stick rep after the game.” But players can’t always get to the bench and will have to rely on teammates. In Game 2 of the Lightning’s series with Carolina, a contest in which five Tampa Bay sticks broke, defenseman Mikhail Sergachev’s snapped on the penalty kill after a puck battle against the boards behind the net. Forwards typically give up their sticks to defensemen, especially on the penalty kill if they shoot from the same side. Anthony Cirelli, left-handed like Sergachev, offered up his, then clogged shooting lanes higher up in the zone empty-handed. Tampa Bay Lightning And Cooper expects that as the series continues, Savard’s play will only 1189415 get better. For now, the defenseman has “been everything as advertised” with the Lightning. Defenseman David Savard remains a ‘steady presence’ in return to “In (penalty kills), he finishes plays down low, he blocks shots and we Lightning lineup didn’t necessarily bring him in here to score goals,” Cooper said. “We brought him in here to help prevent them, and that’s what he does.”

Looking ahead By Mari Faiello If the Lightning-Hurricanes series needs a Game 6 on Thursday at Published Yesterday Amalie Arena, the time is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on NBCSN. Updated Yesterday

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.09.2021 TAMPA — The Lightning know exactly what they’re going to get when they put a guy like David Savard on the ice. The defenseman, who joined the team after a mid-April trade from Columbus, is a “steady presence” on the blue line, according toe coach Jon Cooper, and adds depth to the team’s defense in a third pairing with Mikhail Sergachev. And after missing the first three games of the second-round playoff series against the Hurricanes with an upper-body injury, it was nice for Tampa Bay to have him back in the lineup Saturday. Trailing 4-2 in the second period, Savard saw the team’s playoff experience at work as Tampa Bay erased Carolina’s two-goal lead and scored four straight for the 6-4 win. “I think we lost ourselves for a few minutes there,” Savard said of the team’s mentality when trailing by two. “There was no panic. We kind of just settled down and got back to our game and obviously the power-play was huge there, and they’re just so calm and we get the first one there and we saw the team playing really well at the end of the game. It’s fun to be a part of it and to see how the team reacted in that situation.” Savard knew the kind of environment he was jumping into this spring when he got wind of the trade from the Blue Jackets to “one of the best teams in the league.” In Columbus, where Savard played for a decade, the team never advanced past the second round in his five years of playoff experience. Now, with the Lightning taking a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, Savard has a chance to make it to the league semifinals for the first time with a team that knows how to go the distance, having won the Stanley Cup in some of the most difficult circumstances last season. “It’s awesome (to be in this situation),” Savard said. “I think as soon as I heard about the trade coming here, I knew how good of a team they were. And I think it’s something special they can accomplish by going back-to-back and it’s fun for me to be a part of it.” In his Game 4 return, Savard skated for 13:32, logging two penalties and taking one shot on goal (which was the Lightning’s second of the game) along with two hits. It wasn’t a perfect night, but Cooper was pleased with his production after the layoff. “It’s tough when you play a team like Carolina and the game’s going at warp speed,” Cooper said. “And for him to come in and contribute the way he did (was good).” Added Savard: “It’s not easy to sit out in the playoffs. It’s never fun, and I just try to keep it simple, trying to be physical, kind of the same thing I was doing the last few games against Florida (in the opening round).” Veteran defenseman Victor Hedman said these kind of games against Carolina make it clear why the Lightning went after Savard before the trade deadline. His physicality and “shot blocking machine” kind of play make him a good addition to Tampa Bay’s blueline. “He’s not afraid to get up in the play as well,” Hedman added. “Always a good passer. It’s been fun to see since he got into the team… He’s fit in very well and he and (Sergachev) have done a great job together.” Since joining the team April 10, Savard has played in 21 games, including 14 during the regular season. It’s given him time to adjust to new systems and learn to play off his gut. “It took me a few games (to settle in),” he said, “but now I’m feeling more comfortable on the ice and I feel good through all of the systems and play.” Savard’s stat line this postseason doesn’t scream productivity at first glance. In seven games, he is scoreless with only three shots on net. But he has blocked five shots and dished out 25 hits, fourth most on the team (eight behind team leader Anthony Cirelli) and second most among Lightning defensemen behind Erik Cernak (31). Tampa Bay Lightning Cooper’s plan going into this game was to roll all four lines. Screw the 1189416 matchups. And when you have a team this freaking good, you can do that. By the time the third period came around, the Canes seemed gassed. This line was a big reason why. Nobody could take the puck ‘As good as anyone I’ve ever seen’: Andrei Vasilevskiy and other keys to from Maroon behind the net. Johnson, coming off a trying year, Lightning run channeled his 2015 playoff form, was flying, both demanding and commanding the puck. Colton, the team’s least experienced player, looks like he’s been doing this for a decade. By Joe Smith If the Lightning get contributions like this from their “fourth line,” it doesn’t Jun 9, 2021 matter who they play in the next round — the Islanders or Bruins — they’ll be tough to beat.

“That line, I think they were trying to find an identity and I think they found Rod Brind’Amour played 20 years in the NHL facing all-time great it,” Cooper said. “When you have that confidence, and I had that goaltenders in Dominik Hasek, Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy. confidence to play them. You have to trust yourself and they did, and they scored a huge goal.” But when it came time for Brind’Amour to finally get to chat with Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy during the post-series handshake line Tuesday, Said Point: “It takes everyone in the playoffs. Everyone has their he offered high praise to the Russian who tormented his Carolina moments. And tonight they were great.” Hurricanes team the entire series. That included a 2-0 shutout in Game 5. During the Lightning’s Cup run last summer, their stars were their best players, from Conn Smythe-winner Victor Hedman to Kucherov and Brind’Amour shook Vasilevskiy’s hand, then said something that made Point, not to mention Vasilevskiy. the Vezina Trophy-winning goalie shake his head and smile. The Hurricanes coach finished by poking Vasilevskiy in the chest with his In these playoffs, and this series, it’s been more of the same. Kucherov finger twice, saying he was “number one.” took over a chaotic Game 4, with Steven Stamkos also scoring twice in that game. And Point, who led the team in scoring during the regular “I’ve been around a long time,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s kind of what I season, continues to be among the league’s most clutch players in said. I’ve seen a lot of goalies that were good, but he’s as good as recent years. He has eight goals in 11 games in these playoffs. anyone I’ve ever seen. I go back to Dominik Hasek and how he affects the team the way they can play. He makes it look easy. Dominik Hasek Just look at his numbers the last two playoffs: made it look hard. We had a lot of great looks tonight, and they looked As I wrote in my profile on Point last fall, he’s been doing this his entire like nothing because he was in the right place or whatever. That’s what I life, from bantams to juniors. And now he’s doing it on the biggest stage. told him.” “It’s not a fluke,” Cooper said. “He’s a heck of a player and he’s been like There are many reasons the Lightning beat the Central Division that in junior. Was like that for Canada in world junior. And he’s showing champions in five games. The stars were their best players, from Nikita it in the NHL. He’s got a heart of a lion, can play the game at a fast pace. Kucherov in Game 4 to Brayden Point’s game-winner on Thursday. The There are a lot of players on this team that do big things in big moments fourth line stole the show with a dominant performance, and the mature, and the moment is not too big for him. He continues to deliver for us.” experienced group relentlessly executed its plan. Point delivered the game-winner Tuesday, showing an uncanny amount But Vasilevskiy is the best goaltender in the world, and he’s been a of patience in his sick backhand goal on the power play. You ask him and difference-maker in each of the first two series. He gave up one goal or it’s almost like he didn’t even know how he did it. fewer in three victories in Carolina in this round and has become the first goaltender in NHL history to post a clinching shutout in three consecutive “I just tried to make a play,” he said. “I got to the forehand and the goalie series. has got me. I make a move to the backhand. You never know. It’s kind of a reaction, and lucky enough it goes in. I don’t think I’m thinking too much “It’s pretty awesome,” Vasilevskiy said. “I didn’t know that, to be honest. about it.” Just a great effort by the whole team. I help them a little bit, they help me even more.” Is Point a top-10 player in the league? I think so. It’s still crazy to me that Point fell to the third round in 2014 with Tampa Bay slyly trading up one The Lightning did bail Vasilevskiy out with six goals in Saturday’s Game spot to take him. That $6.75 million cap hit through next season is one of 4, but — for the most part — it’s been him being their backbone. While the better bargains in the league. Tampa Bay has faced five goaltenders in these playoffs, he’s been the constant calming force for the Cup champs. You can see why Hall of Mikhail Sergachev had a monster game, seemingly blocking a shot on Famer Ken Dryden called him “imposing,” or why Brodeur and Hasek every shift he was on the ice. believed Vasilevskiy has a chance to win an MVP. Vasilevskiy, who made 29 saves Thursday, had his biggest during the Lightning’s second- Erik Cernak was eating shots, smothering Hurricanes players against the period power play, thwarting Vincent Trocheck on a short-handed rush. boards (including the hit that set up Colton’s goal). On the same power play, Point scored the eventual game-winner, a huge The Lightning kept the pressure on until the end to the point where it was swing. hard to tell who had more players on the ice in Carolina’s six-on-five situation in the closing minutes. It wasn’t just one player, it was “They’re two big-time players,” coach Jon Cooper said. “And they made everybody, and it started at the top with stars like Kucherov hustling on big-time plays.” the backcheck and the rest of the guys following suit. Besides Vasilevskiy, here are four other reasons the Lightning are in the The Lightning had a huge lead in high-danger chances five-on-five at 21- semifinals for the fifth time in seven seasons. And no, it’s not just 7. because, as my boss said, “They’re really (freaking) good.” “We didn’t want to come back to Tampa and play another game,” A dominant fourth line Sergachev said. “We wanted to close them down, and we did. It was a great effort today by our guys, blocking shots. Guys were locked in.” There was a moment during Tuesday’s game when the Lightning line of Tyler Johnson, Pat Maroon and Ross Colton peered over their shoulders There’s a reason the Lightning were undefeated during the regular at Cooper. season when holding a lead entering the third period (28-0) and have continued that closing ability in the playoffs. Look at the score of the road “Are we going?” wins in this series — 2-1, 2-1, 2-0. The matchup wasn’t the best, especially with the Canes pushing to tie “We have a lot of belief in our group,” Point said. “We’ve got four lines the game and keep their season alive. and all the ‘D,’ great goaltending. We feel confident. But this is not the “Damn right, you’re going,” Cooper told the trio. end goal. There’s still so much work to be done.” And why not? Those guys were dominant. They may be the “fourth line” Eight more wins. in terms of minutes per game, but Maroon, Johnson and Colton put on a “I’ve been very fortunate to coach in a few playoffs now,” Cooper said. clinic. Colton, the dynamic rookie dubbed “Ross the Boss,” scored the “Those are two of the toughest rounds we’ve ever faced. It was a hell of a insurance goal midway through the third as the Cup champs eliminated grind to get out of this division.” the division champions in five games. Experience There were other mitigating factors, too, with the Hurricanes banged up on the forward side, with Vincent Trocheck and Nino Niederreiter returning for Game 5. The Lightning were a deeper team, but they were also more experienced. Canes star Sebastian Aho said they hoped to take “the next step,” but Tampa Bay has already been there, done that, with a seasoned group of vets who know what it takes this time of year. Carolina will get there, as the Hurricanes have the talent and one of the best coaches in the game. Their time may come, but Tampa Bay’s time is now. “Experience is a real thing, that’s the bottom line,” Cooper said. “You learn from your mistakes, you have to grow and this group has grown together. I’m just proud I’ve had a front-row seat to watch it.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 Tampa Bay Lightning team on his back and got us the win. We probably didn’t deserve to win 1189417 that series. But he willed us.”

Johnson is one of the longest-tenured players in the organization, behind Smith: Why Tyler Johnson’s ‘selfless’ attitude in crazy year for Lightning Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Alex Killorn. And his path likely should be admired sparked his perspective. He signed as an undrafted free agent in March 2011, a few months before Kucherov and Ondrej Palat were drafted. Johnson was a star for his hometown Spokane Chiefs, leading them to the Memorial Cup in 2008. He won a World Junior Championship for By Joe Smith Team USA in 2010. But after attending three NHL camps (Minnesota Jun 8, 2021 twice, Arizona once), he didn’t get signed. It wasn’t until his overage year in 2010-11 when he scored 53 goals for Spokane that Johnson had a group of NHL teams to pick from. The The day after Tyler Johnson scored the biggest goal of his season — the Lightning recruiting effort, led by then-GM Steve Yzerman, won out, with tying goal in the Lightning’s 6-4 Game 4 victory over the Hurricanes — the Hall of Famer offering to fly out west during a snowstorm to see the veteran center pulled out his phone and made a special video. Johnson play. Johnson told Yzerman to not worry about it, though the GM’s call to his father, Ken, certainly was a nice touch. It was Sunday and Riley Ryan, the daughter of NHLer Bobby Ryan, was turning five. Ryan and Johnson have worked out the last four summers Johnson was a big part of the Norfolk Calder Cup title team in 2011-12, together in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, so Johnson has become an extended the group that won a record 28 straight games. part of their family. When Johnson scored on Saturday, the Lightning bench and Amalie Arena stands exploded, but so did Riley, who jumped For Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto, 22, who grew up in Spokane as a and screamed in the family living room. Johnson, who taught Bobby and fellow undersized forward, it was inspiring. wife Danielle how to wakesurf, plans to get on the board with Riley this “Especially being a smaller guy, to see what he’s done and how he’s summer. done it, it really made me believe I could do it too,” said Yamamoto. “I No. 9 used to be daddy’s number. Now it’s Tyler’s. remember him working twice as hard as everybody else. He kind of paved the way.” “She always says Tyler is her first boyfriend — it’s annoying,” Ryan joked Monday from Idaho. “She’s rooting for him. We all are.” A couple weeks after winning the Cup, Johnson had a sobering conversation with GM Julien BriseBois, who wanted to talk to him and his It’s been a trying year for Johnson, 30, who was put on waivers twice in camp about potentially working out some flexibility in his no-trade clause. the offseason, once in October and another time that forced him to be a The Lightning were in cap hell, and Johnson had four years left at a $5 healthy scratch for the Lightning’s banner-raising opening night. He’s million cap hit. been the subject of trade rumors and expansion draft fodder. The same player who put Tampa Bay on his back in the 2015 Stanley Cup run is “It’s not personal,” BriseBois told him. now in a fourth-line role, logging around nine minutes per game. Johnson didn’t want to be traded but gave Tampa Bay a list of teams But those who know Johnson best, including his friends and former they could talk to about a potential deal. He didn’t have to do that, and teammates, have never heard him complain. He talked a lot in the fall nobody would have blamed him if he said no. Johnson loves it in Tampa, with Ryan, who had been bought out by the Senators, about the situation where he has a Davis Islands home, and where his parents have a place and uncertainty. so they can attend games. “For me, it would have been crushing,” Ryan said. “If I was him, I would “When I met with him initially, he was courteous and professional,” have been bitter about the first game, not being dressed when the BriseBois said. “He was not happy. I didn’t expect him to be happy. But banner goes up. But it’s part of the business and Tyler understands that. he handled the whole thing as best as he could have.” With the cap being what it is, it doesn’t mean the team thinks any less of Johnson was put on waivers a couple days later, which shocked his him. And he absolutely loves it in Tampa. camp and many in the hockey world. The fact he cleared wasn’t as “He never wanted to leave.” surprising. This might be Johnson’s last couple months in a Lightning uniform, “I think he probably saw it coming in some sense,” Ryan said. “So that especially with the defending champs already over the cap for next shielded the initial reaction. I don’t think he was hurt. I think part of him season, plus the Seattle expansion draft looming. He’s aware of that. But probably thought with $5 million (hit) and the season he had last year, he you have to appreciate the way Johnson has handled himself, buying into wasn’t going to get claimed. He just wanted to get the 24 hour (waiver his role, becoming a dressing room catalyst instead of a cancer. It says process) over with and get back to work instead of worrying about it… I a lot about Johnson and the organization’s culture and is a great example was glad nobody picked him.” for younger players. When Johnson was put on waivers the day before opening night, along “Johnny is a big part of how our culture has been defined and progressed with veteran defenseman Luke Schenn, it was a move to get under the — he’s been here the whole way,” said coach Jon Cooper, who has cap. It was tough for Johnson, who couldn’t be on the ice with teammates coached Johnson for a decade since the 2011-12 season with AHL as the Stanley Cup banner was unveiled. Norfolk. “When asked upon, has Johnny been able to deliver for us year “It had to be a kick in the teeth,” Ryan said. “I thought he handled it the after year? Yes. Has he been put in different situations? Of course. Has right way. Part of him was really bitter about that. But, you never know, he been in this situation a ton? No. But he’s a team-first guy, it’s why he I’m sure he went home that night, got back up in the morning and went to wins everywhere he goes. He’s a selfless player that puts the team first, work like nothing happened. and whatever role he’s in, he plays it to the best of his abilities. And he’s proving time and time again that come playoff time, he’s a big contributor “I honestly think in a lot of articles and fluff pieces, people will tell you for us.” they don’t care about much as long as the team is winning, but Tyler legitimately embodies that.” Before Brayden Point became one of the league’s top centers, before Nikita Kucherov was a Hart Trophy winner, it was Johnson who was their Callahan can attest to it. He remembers Johnson has a relatively play-driving No. 1 center — their playoff hero. Johnson scored 13 goals reserved teammate, but someone who was always inclusive in keeping (with 23 points) in 25 playoff games in the team’s run to the 2015 Stanley everyone involved. He’d be one of the first to volunteer to help Callahan’s Cup Final, near single-handedly willing them to a win in the first-round charity, which benefits pediatric cancer patients. It didn’t matter if series against the Red Wings. Former assistant coach George Johnson was at center or wing, top line or third line, his demeanor didn’t Gwozdecky said he’ll go to his grave believing if Johnson didn’t break his change. “He is a very popular guy in that lockeroom,” he said. wrist against Chicago in the final, Tampa Bay wins the Cup that year. Callahan was in trade rumors in his final year as captain with the Retired wing Ryan Callahan wondered had Johnson not sparked their Rangers, and saw his role with the Lightning diminish in his final season, comeback over Detroit, and the team bowed out in the first round two even being a healthy scratch. It hurts your pride, no doubt. Players are years in a row, how different would their roster, their core have looked human, too. the next season? “A lot of times, stuff like that can distract you, or make you upset with the “He definitely was our (Point),” said Callahan, who played with Johnson organization – you want out, maybe you don’t play hard,” Callahan said. from 2014-2019. “It was unbelievable the way he played. What always “There’s a sour taste in your mouth, because the team put you on sticks out to me is his games against Detroit, when Johnny put the whole waivers, through trade rumors. Then this year, I saw the opposite with Johnny. He plays less minutes and he went out, worked hard and played some of his best hockey I’ve seen him play in a while. It could be a chip on his shoulder to prove a point.” Since Johnson arrived in camp, he’s declined to speak much about last offseason, focusing mostly on moving forward and doing “everything I can to help the team win.” “They’re my family,” he said. Johnson’s offensive numbers have declined the past couple years since his 29-goal season in 2018-19, with him finishing with eight goals and 22 points in 55 games this season. His ice time (13:40) was his lowest since his 14- game cameo as a rookie in 2012-13. But Johnson’s posted career-high in face-off percentage (54.8), with his Corsi shot share of 52.2 percent his highest since 2015-16 (52.2). I can’t tell you how many times this season where fans have unfairly made Johnson a punching bag on social media. “Scratch him. “Ship him to Seattle already.” Instead of benching Johnson, Cooper backed him, pulling him aside before a morning skate on April 20. “I trust him as a player,” Cooper said then. “He’s had many, many, many more ups than downs. And when you go through this, you’ve just got to stand with your player and try to have him work his way out of it.” Johnson’s play has been trending up in recent weeks, with Cooper saying the forward has been “exceptional” in these playoffs, even better than during last year’s Cup run. When asked Saturday about his fourth- line role and why he’s been able to play well in it, Johnson said: “I’m just here to try to help the team win, and the team is winning and playing well. I’m happy to be here with the guys and looking forward to being on another run. That’s what we’re here for.” Johnson has been flying while averaging 9:16 of ice time on a line with Pat Maroon and rookie Ross Colton. He beat out two icings in Game 6 of the Panthers series, including one to set up Maroon’s game-opening goal. Then came Johnson’s game-tying goal in Saturday’s 6-4 win over the Hurricanes. The goal was just Johnson’s second since mid-March. Johnson’s goal song, Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B Goode,” blared from the rafters. “A monster goal,” Cooper said. “That’s Johnny in a nutshell when it comes to the playoffs,” Hedman said. The Chuck Berry song may not play as much as it used to, Johnson doesn’t see as much ice time as he used to. But Johnson showed there still may be a few more clutch moments left in his Tampa Bay tenure. “Not a lot of people see what goes on behind the scenes, especially this year with how tough it has been for Johnny, with all those (trade) rumors and everything happening, the waivers,” captain Steven Stamkos said. “He just comes to the rink and he puts in the work, and he’s been a huge part of this team for a really long time. “ You give all the credit to him, because he’s going out there and doing whatever it takes to help our team win, and that attitude is contagious in the room when you see a veteran guy like that who’s done so much for this team and organization in playing a reduced role.” Ryan said he’s watched a lot more Lightning games in these playoffs because of how close he is with Johnson. The same with Riley. Ryan recently posted an Instagram video of Riley and her younger brother Chase, who turns three June 25, reacting to an older photo of their dad on the wall wearing No. 9 with Ottawa. “They were like, ‘That Tyler?”‘ Ryan quipped. “The video is me trying to convince them I still play hockey. They’re like, ‘No, that’s Tyler. He laughed. “I’m not going to let Tyler give them any (Lightning) gear.” Ryan and Johnson still talk almost every week, and the idea of it being his last run in a Lightning uniform doesn’t really come up. “I think he’s very accepting of it,” Ryan said. “With the flat cap, Seattle coming in, I don’t know if they’ll take him, but they’re the hometown team. All those things are weighing on him. But the way he’s able to compartmentalize is impressive. When we talk, it’s about the playoffs, the next round or the next game. We’ll talk more about (his future) when he’s back and we’re face to face. I just let him be and let him try to chase down another Cup.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189418 Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto’s CN Tower will light up in Montreal Canadiens colours — to the chagrin of Maple Leafs fans

By Star staff Tue., June 8, 2021

If you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan trying to forget about the painful playoff loss to the Montreal Canadiens ... don’t look up. The CN Tower’s verified account announced on Twitter that it will be lit red, blue and white on Tuesday night to honour the Habs — yes, Toronto’s Original Six rivals from Montreal — who “represent Canada’s hope” for a Stanley Cup. The underdog Canadiens stormed back from 3-1 down in their first-round series with the Leafs before winning in Game 7 and moving on to sweep the Jets. They’ve won seven straight playoff games and will play the winner between the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights in the third round. Leafs fans, who are rightfully still bitter after another playoff collapse as their team still hasn’t won a playoff series since 2004, are taking exception to the decision to dress the city’s most famous building in Habs colours.

Toronto Star LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189419 Toronto Maple Leafs

OUCH!: CN Tower will be lit to honour Montreal Canadiens ... in T.O.

Staff Report Postmedia News Publishing date: Jun 08, 2021

The CN Tower is pulling the ultimate heel turn. Forget about the Maple Leafs, apparently. It’s all Habs, all the time now. Even in Toronto, home of the hard-luck Buds. According to a tweet from the official CN Tower Twitter account, the CN Tower would be lit red, blue and white for the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. The hated Habs completed a second-round sweep of the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night to advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals. The Maple Leafs, of course, were eliminated from Stanley Cup contention by Montreal in a North Division first-round showdown, falling flat in the deciding seventh game. The Habs are the lone remaining Canadian-based team in the playoffs. “Tonight the #CN Tower will be lit red, blue, and white for the @CanadiensMTL who will go on to represent Canada’s hope for a 2021 @NHL Stanley Cup,” a tweet from the CN Tower account read.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.09.2021 Toronto Maple Leafs And yet, maybe it’s more than that; maybe Montreal has discovered the 1189420 winning formula for playoff success.

It’s not about highlight-reel goals or entertaining the fans. It’s about What might have happened had the Leafs closed out the Habs? winning ugly. The first goal that Montreal scored in Monday’s series- clincher came on a screened point shot with six bodies in front of the net. The second goal was courtesy of a tipped shot. The overtime winner was scored from on the doorstep of the crease. Michael Traikos That’s the way you score in the playoffs. That’s also the way you win in Publishing date: Jun 08, 2021 the playoffs. If this were the 8-bit Nintendo game of Ice Hockey, the Habs would be Oui the North? the team with three fat players and one skinny player. Having two of the top scorers in the league in Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews means Once you’re done choking on your poutine, try to imagine what could nothing if they don’t have space to play with the puck. have been had the Toronto Maple Leafs not blown a 3-1 series lead to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs. And it’s not just Montreal that plays this way. What if the Leafs had scored in overtime in either of Game 5 or Game 6? The Islanders, who have a 3-2 series lead on the Bruins, did not have a What if they had come to play in that pivotal Game 7? Would they have single player ranked amongst the top 40 in scoring this year. For all their also gone on to sweep the Winnipeg Jets in the second round? offence, the Lightning have relied just as much on their goaltending and their defence to get to where they are today. And while Colorado’s Would it be Toronto — and not Montreal — representing all of Canada in Nathan MacKinnon was the early Conn Smythe Trophy favourite after the Stanley Cup semifinal? If so, would fans still be celebrating up and scoring five goals in the first round, the reason he went three games down Yonge St. today? without a goal against Vegas is because Alec Martinez and Alex Pietrangelo rank amongst the top three in blocked shots. Oh, tabernac! Can the Habs go all the way? After beating Toronto and now Winnipeg, Just the thought of it should make GM Kyle Dubas sick to his stomach. they sure seem built for it. But instead of asking what might have happened had the Leafs finished off an opponent that was on the ropes, maybe we should be asking why it didn’t happen. Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.09.2021 Why couldn’t the Leafs close out the Habs? Why didn’t the Leafs get over the hump? Why haven’t they found playoff success yet? The obvious answer is that Toronto is built to win in the regular season, while Montreal is built for the playoffs. The Leafs, who have $40 million tied up in four of their forwards, are a star-driven team that tries to out-skill, out-skate and outscore their opponents. They place an emphasis on puck possession and playing with creativity. They are all about offence. The Habs are all about preventing goals. They invested in a $10.5-million goalie and a $7.85-million defenceman. They are big and physical. They clog up the neutral zone and crash the crease and own the boards. They try to keep the score low and then let their skilled players make a difference. They don’t choke. Instead, they raise their games to another level when it matters the most. Put simply: Montreal’s players are more interested in winning a Stanley Cup than a scoring title. This is the lesson Dubas should take away from what was a fifth straight year of failing to get out of the first round. Each of those years now looks the same: Toronto’s star players set the league on fire in the regular season but then got smothered once the games got tighter and more physical. For Montreal, which finished 18 points back of Toronto in the standings, it has been the opposite. Like last year, when the Canadiens upset the Penguins in the play-in round as the 12th seed, the team once again struggled all season long. They fired their coach had onlookers wondering if Carey Price and Shea Weber were past their primes. Some even wondered if GM Marc Bergevin knew what he was doing. But give the Canadiens general manager credit: he built a team that is peaking at the right time of the year. You might not have known who Joel Armia was during the regular season. But with four goals and seven points in 11 games, you know who he is now. Corey Perry, who looked too old for most of the year, has turned the clock back with three goals and six points in the playoffs. Eric Staal has seven points. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who was a healthy scratch in Game 1, has four goals. Twelve different players have found the back of the net. Price, who went from being the most overpaid and overrated goalie in the NHL, is back to being the guy you’d want in your net for a must-win Game 7. As for Weber, he has tilted the once-contentious trade for P.K. Subban back in Montreal’s favour. Maybe luck has something to do with it. After all, it’s still difficult to imagine the Habs making it this far had John Tavares not been injured in the first game of the playoffs or if Mark Scheifele had not been suspended in Game 1 of the second round. Vegas Golden Knights minus-2 rating. “That’s the way we have to play. That’s how we’re 1189421 effective. We just have to replicate that. It’s a tough building, but this is the playoffs, and now that we lost one at home, we have to go on the road and win one to bring it home for Game 7.” Avalanche outplay Golden Knights for 2 periods, then collapse

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.09.2021 By Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal June 8, 2021 - 10:42 PM

The Colorado Avalanche did everything they wanted to do for 40 minutes Tuesday night. But it wasn’t enough to avoid a third consecutive loss that put them on the brink of elimination in the West Division final against the Golden Knights. Colorado allowed two goals in the third period and one to Mark Stone 50 seconds into overtime as a 2-0 lead turned into a 3-2 loss in Game 5 at Ball Arena in Denver. “I think just a couple bad plays, and that’s all it really takes against a good team like Vegas,” said forward Logan O’Connor, who was inserted in the lineup for the first time since March 31 and had three shots and seven hits. “We felt like we carried the play for the most part but had a couple slip-ups that obviously led to goals. But we just have to turn the page at this point.” The Avalanche played their best overall game since a Game 1 blowout victory but must win Thursday at T-Mobile Arena to get the series back to Denver. “We were forechecking hard, we were skating, coming up with pucks in the neutral zone and kind of turning it quick on them and didn’t let them get set up in our zone,” forward Gabriel Landeskog said. “Lots of positives to take out from tonight, but we don’t have much time to do anything but forget about this one and move on. We have to go into Vegas and win a hockey game. Simple as that.” The home loss was a rare one for the Avalanche, who were 20-0-1 in their last 21 games at Ball Arena. For most of the night, it looked as if they would extend that streak. Brandon Saad, who was moved up to the top line in place of Landeskog, opened the scoring in the final seconds of the first period. The goal appeared to ignite Colorado, which dominated the puck in the second period. The Avalanche had an 86.2 expected-goal share, a 12-3 edge in scoring chances and 75 percent Corsi For advantage in the second period. Yet, Colorado led only 2-0 after two periods. “We had a lot of chances to spread the game out more than what it was,” coach Jared Bednar said. “We didn’t capitalize.” The Knights turned two Avalanche mistakes into goals in the third period and did it again in overtime. “It was two plays that lasted about 10 seconds and another in overtime,” Bednar said of what cost his team. “I didn’t have a problem with the way we played our third period. I had a problem with the way we managed those two situations.” Still, Bednar hopes his team stays the course and doesn’t change much over the next 48 hours. He thinks a similar effort would produce better results as long as the Avalanche avoid the costly turnovers that haunted them Tuesday. “I told them that’s exactly how you have to play in order to win against Vegas, and now you have to do it again,” Bednar said. “I liked our attack mentality. We defended hard and did a lot of good things. We just have to be smarter with the puck in a couple areas, and that’s what ended up costing us tonight. “But I love the way we played. We were the aggressors. We were on our toes. We were playing to win the hockey game, played to our identity. Even the third period, I had no problem with it except for the turnovers.” Bringing that level of play might be easier said than done for a team that didn’t get to see a winning result for its Game 5 effort. The Avalanche remain confident despite knowing they must win two consecutive games or see a season in which they won the Presidents’ Trophy come to an end. “We don’t have much of an option, do we?” said Landeskog, who was held without a point for the third time in four games and played to a 1189422 Vegas Golden Knights They own such opportunity, in large part, because of Stone. “Sometimes when the defensemen shoot it, they can get a little flat-

footed,” he said. “I just took off and was fortunate to win the game.” Mark Stone shows captain’s mettle with game-winner Mark Stone: Typically deferential, consummate captain.

By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.09.2021 June 8, 2021 - 10:19 PM

DENVER — It was in January, the day Golden Knights forward Mark Stone was named the first captain in franchise history, when his coach spoke about the choice. “I don’t think Mark Stone is a one-moment guy,” Pete DeBoer said. “I think he’s a guy that does it right every single day. How he approaches the game, how he approaches practice, how he is with his teammates.” Believe it: DeBoer is absolutely fine with one specific moment of play — well, more like eight seconds — Stone executed Tuesday night. The Knights are a win away from advancing out of this West Division final, this after a 3-2 overtime win against Colorado at Ball Arena. The best-of-seven series returns to T-Mobile Arena for Game 6 on Thursday. A victory by the Knights will earn them a semifinal date against Montreal. Stone would end Game 5 in dramatic fashion, blocking a shot at one end and then breaking out for the game-winner when rifling a shot past Colorado goalie Philipp Grubauer. It came at 50 seconds into overtime and was his only shot on goal all night. Talk about making the most of it. This was never going to be easy, no matter how inept Colorado was at times during Games 3 and 4 losses at T-Mobile Arena. They entered 20- 0-1 in their last 21 home games. The Avalanche win here like the town is hit with snow flurries across December. It’s also true the Knights were beyond fortunate that it was only a 2-0 deficit after two periods. The forecheck that allowed them to smother Colorado in Las Vegas instead belonged to the Avalanche those first 40 minutes. But belief is a strong attitude to own and no team remaining in these playoffs is more confident in its ability than DeBoer’s side. Think about this: Alex Pietrangelo is a defenseman expected to do significant things, but when he has six shots to zero from your top line after two periods, something is amiss. It wasn’t at all the most productive of nights for Stone, Chandler Stephenson and Max Pacioretty. The trio combined for two shots on goal. Until, of course, it became the most productive of nights. “(Stone) was exhausted and then you saw how hard he skated all the way down the ice (in overtime),” said Knights forward Alex Tuch, whose third-period goal got his team to within 2-1. “He is the heart and soul of this team. He wears his character on his chest. He’s the captain that we have always wanted. “I think he was a little frustrated with himself at times during the game, but then he came up huge for us.” No player is more passionate than Stone. None wants to win more. None gets more excited when others succeed. It’s easy to suggest a team’s highest-paid player should be its finest leader. We know that not to always be true throughout sports. But it is with Stone. He does so in the most unpretentious of ways. Marc-Andre Fleury has been and continues to be the face of this franchise. But in naming Stone captain, the Knights continued evolving. It was an important sign of growth. “That was vintage Mark Stone,” DeBoer said of the game-winning play. “I think if there’s one sequence that kind of defines him, that would be it. Willing to do that grunt work and that dirty work around our net defensively and then the big-time play to win it for us.” So here comes the sports cliche of choice over the next 48 hours: That the toughest game to win in a best-of-seven is the one that clinches a series. The Knights will try and do so Thursday. 1189423 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights-Avalanche Game 5 recap

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal June 8, 2021 - 9:50 PM Updated June 8, 2021 - 11:23 PM

Series schedule Game 1 — Avalanche 7, Knights 1 Game 2 — Avalanche 3, Knights 2 (OT) Game 3 — Knights 3, Avalanche 2 Game 4 — Knights 5, Avalanche 1 Game 5 — Knights 3, Avalanche 2 (OT) Game 6 — 6 p.m. Thursday, T-Mobile Arena, NBCSN Game 7 — TBD Saturday, Denver* * If necessary RJ’s three stars 3. Knights left wing Jonathan Marchessault — His sixth goal of the playoffs was a crucial one, as he tied the game 2-2 early in the third period. He has four goals in his last two games. 2. Knights right wing Alex Tuch — He gave the Knights life after they were swamped for much of the second period. He scored 1:03 into the third to get his team back into the game. 1. Knights captain Mark Stone — His overtime winner gave the Knights their only lead. It came on his first shot on goal. The play showcased how much of a two-way player he is, as he blocked a shot before skating out of the defensive zone. Key play Tuch’s goal. The Knights trailed 2-0 entering the third period after getting handily outplayed in the second. Tuch’s line shifted the complexion of the game in a hurry. Left wing Mattias Janmark blocked a pass out of the zone by Avalanche left wing Andre Burakovsky, and center Nicolas Roy fought to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Roy threw the puck toward Tuch cutting toward the net, and the power forward deflected it to himself before batting it out of the air past Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer 1:03 into the period. Key stat 5-7 — The Knights’ all-time playoff overtime record. They were 0-4 in their last four overtime games before Stone’s winner. His goal, 50 seconds into the extra session, was the fastest goal to start an overtime by a Knights player.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.09.2021 Vegas Golden Knights Colorado shuffled its forward lines after its top line was neutralized in 1189424 Games 3 and 4, and the Knights had to withstand a strong start from Colorado that included Mikko Rantanen missing an open net six minutes into the first period. Mark Stone gives Golden Knights OT win, 3-2 series lead But all the Knights’ good work over the final half of the first was undone with 1.8 seconds remaining. By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal William Karlsson was knocked down from behind before he could get off a shot, and the Avalanche cleared the puck to Brandon Saad in the June 8, 2021 - 9:02 PM neutral zone. Updated June 8, 2021 - 10:59 PM He took a peek at the clock, faked a shot after crossing the blue line and sent a wrist shot on net from near the left-wing boards. Fleury reached across his body and tried to glove the puck but whiffed and was left DENVER — The Golden Knights hung around Tuesday like an unwanted shaking his head. guest at a house party. “I thought I could just catch it and play it around so the rebound wouldn’t While the music blasted and the guests at Ball Arena danced their way be on this side,” Fleury said. “I just felt stupid. I think maybe when I was through the first 40 minutes of Game 5, the Knights stayed in the corner, younger this would have maybe thrown me off a bit more. But I’ve been picking at the food tray and waiting for their moment to crash the around for a little bit. The guys had my back coming back to the locker festivities. room.” The strategy worked, and the Knights are in control of the West Division The Avalanche carried the momentum into the second, a period that had final as a result. been owned by the Knights this postseason. Before Tuesday, they outscored opponents 16-7 in the middle period and outshot them 140-84 Mark Stone’s goal 50 seconds into overtime capped an impressive in the postseason but were held without a shot on goal for more than 10 comeback and gave the Knights a 3-2 victory over Colorado. minutes. The Knights lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and can close out The nonstop pressure from the Avalanche paid off at 16:28, as Joonas Colorado in Game 6 on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena. Donskoi’s one-timer off a feed from rookie Alex Newhook doubled Colorado’s lead to 2-0. “We’ve been a team for four years. We’re resilient. We don’t sit back,” left wing Jonathan Marchessault said. “We knew that we had a chance if we “Normally we take a lot of pride in being really good in the second period. came out hard in the third period, and we did that. Good teams find a Get four lines rolling, hold onto pucks,” Marchessault said. “But tonight way to win a game.” they were the better team in the second period. They were really good. Marchessault and Alex Tuch scored in the third period to help erase a That was their push.” two-goal deficit. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury bounced back from a bad goal at the end of the first period and made a point-blank stop on Avalanche forward J.T. Compher’s rebound attempt 10 seconds into the overtime. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.09.2021 Soon after, Stone blocked a shot by defenseman Ryan Graves and bolted out of the zone once Max Pacioretty gained possession. Stone corralled a pass in the neutral zone, and with Graves and Nathan MacKinnon in hot pursuit, the Knights captain sent a shot past goalie Philipp Grubauer’s glove into the top corner for his fifth goal of the playoffs. The Knights had lost four straight in overtime in the postseason, including Game 2 against the Avalanche. “I think 20 seconds into overtime the game should’ve been over,” Stone said. “We probably should’ve been packing, thinking of going home, but (Fleury) made a huge save to keep us in it and give me the opportunity to end it.” The Knights trailed 2-0 entering the third period but scored two goals 3:04 apart to tie the game. Mattias Janmark, who returned after missing the past three games, forced a turnover, and Nicolas Roy was able to hold the puck in the offensive zone. Tuch drove to the net and batted the puck out of the air after initially bobbling the pass at 1:03 for his fourth goal. “I saw them get possession, and I just broke towards the net,” Tuch said. “(Roy) put it on a platter. Like I said, I got pretty lucky being able to bat that into the net.” The Knights’ second line continued its hot series and tied the score on a three-on-two. William Karlsson cut to the middle of the ice, waited and then found Marchessault hanging out at the post. He flipped a shot over Grubauer to extend his points streak to five games. Fleury finished with 28 saves and earned his 88th career postseason victory, tying Billy Smith and Ed Belfour for fourth place on the all-time list. The Knights snapped a three-game road losing streak and handed Colorado its first home loss since March 27. The Avalanche had won 13 straight and were 20-0-1 at home since March 10. “We knew there was going to be moments where we were going to have to weather the storm and bend but not break, and I thought we did that,” Knights coach Pete DeBoer said. “We’re here in this position with an opportunity to win this because of our depth and the ability to roll four lines and six defensemen and our goaltender, who was great tonight.” 1189425 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights make 2 lineup changes for Game 5 at Avalanche

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal June 8, 2021 - 5:50 PM Updated June 8, 2021 - 5:54 PM

DENVER — The Golden Knights are making two lineup changes for Game 5 of their second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday at Ball Arena. Left wing Mattias Janmark and defenseman Nick Holden are going in, and right wing Ryan Reaves and defenseman Nic Hague are going out. Janmark hasn’t played since Game 1, when he was hit late and high by Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves in the corner of the offensive zone. The trade-deadline acquisition has six points in eight playoff games. podcast Janmark will return to his spot on the third line and bump right wing Keegan Kolesar to the fourth line. Reaves will be a healthy scratch as a result for the first time in the playoffs since the Knights’ inaugural season. Reaves missed Games 2 and 3 of the series because of a two-game suspension roughing/unsportsmanlike conduct against Graves. Kolesar played well in his absence. The fourth line the Knights used without Reaves — left wing William Carrier, center Patrick Brown and Kolesar — had a 24-7 edge in shot attempts at five-on-five in two games. Holden is jumping back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch for Game 4. The veteran has provided a huge boost filling in during the postseason. He is tied for the most points on the team among defensemen in the playoffs with five in eight games. Hague has two points in nine games in his first NHL postseason. Coach Pete DeBoer praised how Hague and 24-year-old defenseman Zach Whitecloud were handling themselves Tuesday morning. “They paid their dues, came up the right way and have entered our group the right way,” DeBoer said. “They’ve worked on their defensive foundation. They both have offensive instincts, but they know to get on the ice here, to get trust, they had to be solid defensively, and they’ve both done that. They both have long careers (ahead of them) at this level.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189426 Vegas Golden Knights

Avalanche will be without Nazem Kadri for 2 more games

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal June 8, 2021 - 11:06 am Updated June 8, 2021 - 8:03 PM

DENVER — Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri’s eight-game suspension was upheld by an independent arbitrator Wednesday. Kadri will not play in the next two games of the West Division final against the Golden Knights and is not eligible to return unless there is a Game 7 on Saturday. Kadri was suspended May 21 for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis defenseman Justin Faulk in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs. He previously appealed to commissioner Gary Bettman, who upheld the NHL Department of Player Safety’s ruling and said it was “supported by clear and convincing evidence.” Kadri then appealed to independent arbitrator Shyam Das, but had his case denied in a binding ruling. “I don’t think our game plan changes whether he’s in the lineup or not,” Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. “We have to continue to build off our game and what we do well.” Kadri centered the Avalanche’s No. 2 line during the regular season and had 11 goals and 21 assists in 56 games. He had one assist in two games before the suspension. Without Kadri in the lineup, the Knights’ second line has controlled its matchup in the series. William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith produced seven of the team’s 11 goals through the first four games. “He’s been a big part of our team all year,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said Saturday. “We can rely on him to play against lines like the Karlsson line. … No question that we miss a guy like (Kadri) in a series like this playing against a deep team with a deep group of forwards.” Lineup changes Forward Mattias Janmark returned after missing the past three games, and forward Ryan Reaves was a healthy scratch in favor of Keegan Kolesar. Janmark, who had a hat trick in the Game 7 win over Minnesota, was injured during the series opener when he absorbed a hard check from Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves, who was penalized for interference. Reaves was suspended two games for retaliating on Graves, but returned for Game 4 and had an assist and seven hits in 10:18 of ice time. This was the first time he was a healthy scratch in the playoffs since the inaugural season. Defenseman Nick Holden also was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch Sunday for the first time in eight games. Nic Hague sat for the third time in the postseason.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.09.2021 Vegas Golden Knights The Golden Knights had trouble sustaining offense low in the zone all 1189427 period, evidenced by who was taking the shots. Eleven of the Golden Knights' 14 shots have come from the sticks of defensemen, and until Alex Tuch put a backhand on net with 1:10 left in the second, Chandler Blog: Stone wins Game 5 for Golden Knights in OT; Vegas one win from Stephenson was the only forward with a shot. advancing Vegas mustered just five shots on goal in the second period, and trailed 21-14 for the game. By Justin Emerson (contact) The Golden Knights and Avalanche played the first period of Game 5 like boxers feeling each other round, readying for a long bout. Colorado just Published Tuesday, June 8, 2021 | 3 p.m. snuck in one body blow before the round ended. Updated Tuesday, June 8, 2021 | 10:08 p.m. Brandon Saad scored with 1.8 seconds remaining in the first period for the Avalanche, and put Vegas in a 1-0 hole at Ball Arena on Tuesday. DENVER The chess match started immediately. As the road team, Vegas declares its starting lineup first, and when it sent out the top line of Max Pacioretty, The Golden Knights rallied back from a 2-0 deficit, both in the series and Chandler Stephenson and Mark Stone, the Avalanche countered not with in tonight's game against the Colorado Avalanche. They won 3-2 on their own top line, but a newly formed second line of Gabriel Landeskog, Tuesday at Ball Arena and lead the series by the same margin. J.T. Compher and Valeri Nichushkin. Colorado's top line has struggled the last few games, mostly against that Golden Knights top line, and the Vegas erased a multiple-goal lead in the third period to force overtime Avalanche started the game by showing they were going to hunt for more and that's when Mark Stone won it, connecting on a breakaway 50 favorable matchups. seconds into the extra frame and sending the Golden Knights to a Game 5 victory. Early on, it worked. Nathan MacKinnon and his line of Mikko Rantanen and Brandon Saad pounced on Vegas' second unit, creating the first The Golden Knights will have the chance to eliminate the Avalanche at 6 great scoring chance of the game but Rantanen couldn't finish against an p.m. Thursday at T-Mobile Arena. open net. He took a penalty moments later to send Vegas to the first power play of the game, but the Golden Knights did not get a shot on Colorado scored with 1.8 seconds remaining in the first period, then goal. again in the second after a frame of relentless pressure. The Avalanche led 2-0, their first multiple-goal lead since their Game 1 victory. In the first period, MacKinnon spent a grand total of 13 seconds on the ice with Stone. He played most of his time against Jonathan But Vegas wasn't done yet. Alex Tuch scored 1:03 into the third to chip away at the lead, then Jonathan Marchessault tied it just over three Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith, a line against which his minutes later. own line had lots of success in Game 1. Then in overtime, Max Pacioretty and Alex Pietrangelo worked the puck The Avalanche caught a break at the end of the period, and it led to the to Stone and he did the rest, roofing it past Philipp Grubauer for the only goal of the frame. Saad motored down the wing and flung a shot on winner. net that even he couldn't have thought was going in. Marc-Andre Fleury saw it, stuck his glove across his body to nab it and missed, allowing the The Golden Knights looked dead in the water in the second period and puck to sneak through in the final two seconds. trailed 2-0. They needed a great response to keep the game alive and they did just that. It was Saad's fourth of the series, and the fourth time Colorado scored first in a game. The Golden Knights scored twice 4:07 into the third period Tuesday, erasing the Avalanche lead and sending Game 5 to overtime at Ball Shots were even 10-10 after a period. Arena. The Golden Knights are pleased with their two victories at home in Games 3 and 4 to even up the second round at two games apiece, but It's the second overtime game of the series. The Avalanche won Game 2 they know it's a new series now. by a 3-2 score. The Golden Knights also realize the importance of getting home and Whatever Vegas said in the dressing room during second intermission mentally resetting after two losses, doing just that last week. The best-of- worked, because the Golden Knights came out like a brand new team to seven series has come down to a best-of-three, with two games at Ball start the final regulation period. Arena in Denver, statistically one of the hardest buildings in the league to Nicolas Roy generated a turnover in the first minute and fed Alex Tuch, win in this year. Vegas will have to win here at least once to advance and who was charging to the the net. He batted the puck out of the air and by will get its first chance at 6 p.m. in Game 5 against the Colorado goalie Philipp Grubauer at 1:07 and Vegas had life. Avalanche. The next goal came off a textbook Vegas rush. Colorado got aggressive "We've won in this building before," Vegas forward William Carrier said. in the offensive zone, and it turned into a 3-on-2 the other way. William "We've just got to play a smart game." Karlsson cut to the center of the ice and fed Jonathan Marchessault, just keeping the puck clear from the stick of the sliding Samuel Girard. Colorado went 22-4-2 at home in the regular season, though one of Marchessault roofed it, and the game was tied at 4:07. those credited "home" games came at Lake Tahoe. Still, six losses all year at home is impressive, and then the Avalanche went and won their The Golden Knights even killed off Colorado's only power play of first four home games of the postseason. regulation after Shea Theodore flipped the puck over the glass for a As Carrier mentioned, though, the Golden Knights were alright at Ball delay of game. They did not allow a shot while killing it off. Arena in the regular season. They went 2-1 in this building and outplayed Colorado finished regulation with a 28-24 lead in shots on goal. Colorado in a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 2. As good as the Golden Knights have looked for the past couple of Since that Game 2, the Golden Knights have steamrolled the Avalanche games, the Avalanche turned that right back around on them in the in terms of puck possession then saw those numbers manifest into a second period of Game 5. Game 4 blowout. For eight periods of hockey, the Golden Knights have been the far better team, but getting home might be just what gets the Even if the first-period goal was a little goofy, the second-period one Avalanche back on track. Vegas is preparing for it. wasn't. It was the result of a period's worth of pressure, and the Avalanche extended their lead to 2-0 after two at Ball Arena on Tuesday. "They're going to make adjustments obviously — we've played well the last two games — so we're going to have make adjustments to their Colorado was relentless all period, firing seven of the first 10 shots of the adjustments. It's just how the games go," defenseman Alex Pietrangelo frame and holding the zone for a majority of period. They had just about said. "You want to take the positives, but I think the important part for this every scoring chance, including a partial breakaway by Tyson Jost and group is taking time to learn, even in these games that we've played well, an Alex Newhook wrap-around try that Reilly Smith darted in to and what we can do better and the adjustments that we can make to continue sticked it away. to get better." Finally at 16:28 of the period, the dam broke. Newhook found Joonas Based on morning skate, it appears the Golden Knights will be making Donskoi alone in the slot, and Donskoi one-timed it over Marc-Andre some lineup changes ahead of Game 5, including the potential of a Fleury's shoulder to put the Avalanche up 2-0. surprise scratch. Forward Mattias Janmark returned to the ice this morning for the first time since he left Game 1 of this series with an injury, and defenseman Nick Holden did not remain on the ice with the extras after practice. Both are indicators they could return to the lineup. Skating with the extras were Nicolas Hague — who looks in line to sit for Holden — and Ryan Reaves, who has not been scratched from a playoff game since 2018. He's missed four playoff games in the last three years: three to suspension and one to the league's COVID list. He returned for Game 5 after a two-game suspension and could be looking at his first healthy scratch under coach Pete DeBoer. Lineups will be confirmed during warmups tonight. Janmark's return will be a boost to Vegas, which acquired him at the trade deadline and saw him lead the team six points in the first round against the Wild, including a Game 7 hat trick. Though the Golden Knights did not take line rushes during their optional morning skate, if Janmark plays, he is expected to return to the third line with Nicolas Roy and Alex Tuch. With Reaves a potential scratch, that would set up a fourth line of William Carrier, Patrick Brown and Keegan Kolesar. Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to start in net. He has played every game of the postseason except for Game 1 against the Avalanche and has registered a 6-4 record with a .924 save percentage and league-best 1.79 goals-against average. The Golden Knights have only ever played one Game 5 with the series tied, and they defeated the Sharks in 2018 and won the series in six games. They are 3-5 all-time in Game 5 of a series.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 06.09.2021 Vegas Golden Knights that it’s happened just three times over the team’s past 89 games. To 1189428 even do it once to this team is remarkable. Vegas just did it three times in a row. Despite the series being tied, it’s the Golden Knights who have been It’s crazy enough that the Golden Knights are doing this against dominating the Avalanche Colorado, but the fact of the matter is that it’s crazy they’re doing it all. In the playoffs, it’s very rare for one team to be that dominant over another. There are obvious mismatches and lopsided games every postseason, but those performances are still relatively rare given the many By Dom Luszczyszyn adjustments made in-series to counter big blows. Colorado hasn’t had an Jun 8, 2021 answer for Vegas. Of the 2,470 playoff games since 2007-08, two of the games (Games 3 and 4) were comfortably inside the top 100 most lopsided at five-on-five, It’s difficult to fathom just how quickly and dramatically the balance of while the other (Game 2) was just outside. All three landed in the 95th power has shifted in the West, a series between two heavyweight teams percentile or higher with Game 3 being the most absurd. On a per-60 that’s looked anything but. basis, only two other playoff games had a more lopsided expected goal differential than what Vegas was able to earn against Colorado in Game On the surface, it seems tight with the series knotted at two games 3. apiece and only two total goals separating the clubs. But anyone who’s watched the series will tell you it’s been bafflingly one-sided. After getting Funny enough, the game at the top was one Vegas played last season blown out in the opener, Vegas has owned Colorado, making the against Vancouver in the bubble and one right below is one Colorado league’s top team look like it doesn’t even belong in the same rink. played against Arizona. And that’s exactly what’s meant by Vegas making Colorado look like it doesn’t belong in the same rink: The That it happened after a demoralizing 7-1 loss, where Vegas looked like Avalanche are getting dominated to the same extent as two non-playoff- the team that didn’t belong, makes it all the more perplexing. It was caliber teams were last year against actual contenders. difficult for anyone to see Game 1 coming, but after it happened, many figured Vegas would be in a tough spot going forward. Very tough. The degree is bad enough, but it’s the consistency too: Three straight Instead, the Golden Knights have put on an absolute clinic since, games of pure domination does not happen often during the postseason. completely capturing all the momentum of the series. It’s now getting Teams usually trade blows or find a way to adjust in-series — it’s very difficult to imagine Colorado crafting a worthy response with the way extremely rare for one team to seem like it has completely solved another Vegas seemingly has an answer to everything the Avalanche throw at it. from a scoring chance perspective. There’s game-to-game variability, but Can the Avalanche shift the momentum back in their favor, or were the that hasn’t been the case here where Vegas and Colorado have followed past three games a sign of things to come? a similar script for three straight games. It’s helpful to examine just how much the Golden Knights dominated the Since 2007-08, there have been nearly 1,600 distinct three-game Avalanche and how other teams managed after similar beatdowns. stretches (distinct means games can overlap, so Games 1 to 3 and 2 to 4 would both be distinct even though they share two games) of playoff Colorado entered the postseason as a heavy Stanley Cup favorite as a hockey. Only 54 (3.3 percent) saw a team average minus-1 expected result of an absurdly dominant regular season. The Avalanche owned the goal difference of worse. Only eight (0.5 percent) managed it in three puck like no team before them, earning a 61 percent expected goals rate straight games. This is extremely rarified air. at five-on-five during the regular season. The previous high since 2007- 08 was 58 percent by the 2014 Sharks. Colorado annihilated the To Colorado’s credit, four of the seven other instances were also against previous best, imposing its will on any team that stood in its way. That Vegas, all last year in the bubble. The Golden Knights did the same thing includes Vegas and it’s why the Avalanche were also relatively heavy to Chicago in Games 2, 3 and 4 and then completely ran roughshod over favorites in this series. Vancouver, doing it in Games 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (and also Game 1 too). Perhaps the scoring chance dominance says more about Vegas than it Over the past three games, it hasn’t played out that way with Vegas flat does about whoever its opponent is, but there should be a very out dominating Colorado at even strength. It hasn’t even been close meaningful difference between Colorado and last year’s brutal since the Game 1 debacle with Vegas at least doubling up Colorado in Blackhawks and Canucks teams, right? Colorado hasn’t shown that over expected goals in each of the past three games, earning an expected the past three games of the series, and that’s the scary part. goal difference north of one in three straight games. It’s not just that Vegas has made the Avalanche look like the lowly Game 2 Canucks or Blackhawks, it’s that the Golden Knights have made them 2.2-0.9 Vegas (+1.3) look worse. In Chicago’s worst three-game stretch against Vegas last season, the Blackhawks had an average expected goal differential of Game 3 minus-1.37. Vancouver was even worse at minus-1.89, with another stretch at minus-1.8. Those two Canucks three-game sets were the worst 4.0-1.2 Vegas (+2.8) three-game sets since 2007-08 … until now. That honor now, somehow, belongs to Colorado. Game 4 Let me just repeat that as I’m still not sure many can grasp what we just 3.1-1.5 Vegas (+1.6) witnessed in the previous three games of this series. In total, the expected goals in those three games were 9.3 to 3.6 in favor The Colorado Avalanche, owners of the best expected goals percentage of Vegas, almost perfectly mirroring the actual goal total of 8-3. in the analytics era, just had the worst three-game playoff stretch by Expectations met reality, and the series is tied as a result. expected goals in the analytics era. It absolutely boggles the mind and in Even the best teams get outplayed every once in a while and it’s a postseason where a lot of things haven’t made much sense, this is by especially common against Vegas in particular — but not Colorado, not far the most nonsensical thing to happen. Vegas deserves every ounce in this fashion, and not by this much. It’s an extreme rarity in more ways of credit for this performance. Dominant doesn’t justify it. than one. Based on data since 2007-08, what we just witnessed was So, what now for the Avalanche? Have the Golden Knights found their relatively unprecedented for any team let alone the Avalanche, who kryptonite or can Colorado take back the momentum of this series? looked like the pinnacle of puck possession for the entire season. The series is far from over. In fact, it’s tied at two. The sky hasn’t fallen The key cutoff line used here is an expected goal differential of one. Yes, yet, even if it really feels like it based on just how completely outclassed it’s arbitrary, but it’s also tidy and makes for a decent measuring stick of Colorado has been over the past three games. But those results are dominant or not. One extra expected goal worth of chances is usually obviously far from encouraging. There’s an adage that momentum more than enough to have a significant edge in a game. doesn’t carry over from game to game in the postseason, but it obviously This season, the Avalanche had 21 games where they out-chanced hasn’t felt like it here, and in extreme cases, it is generally very difficult to opponents by at least one expected goal. They won 20 of those games. come back from. That’s 38 percent of their season when they owned the puck and they In looking into every three-game set from the past decade-plus in the made it count in the standings. Possessing the puck and dominating the playoffs, I also looked into what happened in the next game: Did the scoring chance share is their bread and butter. dominance continue or was the other team able to flip the switch? The What’s rare is Colorado being on the other side of that: This season, it results weren’t very promising for Colorado. happened just twice. Jan. 13 and April 12. That’s it, two months ago and Of the 54 teams to average minus-1 expected goal difference or worse three months apart. The last time before that was Feb. 8, 2020, meaning over a three-game stretch, 31 played another game after. Of those 31, only 20 percent ended up winning the series and only 32 percent had a positive expected goal differential in the next game. It means continuation is likely and it usually means the end of a team’s playoffs, too. The degree of lopsidedness is lessened though and that gives some room for hope as those 31 teams went from an average of minus-1.25 to an average of minus-0.4. The next game might be bad in terms of scoring chance share, but it shouldn’t be nearly as bad — though the sheer volume of series losses is striking (even with a few double-ups from the same series). That the Golden Knights are on here seven times is also not encouraging. The change in expected goal differential is a 68 percent decrease, which falls almost exactly in line with the plotted relationship between the two variables. The relationship itself is very weak, but there’s still enough of one where getting dominated over three games usually means that the next game will also likely be a losing battle in terms of expected goals, albeit a smaller one. It might not mean much in a close series, but at the extremes, it can be telling and that’s easy to see given two-thirds of past lopsided series stayed on that side of the ledger in the following game. Based on the relationship, expect a team to retain roughly 31 percent of its prior three-game dominance in the following game. That’s not a great sign for the Avalanche, who would wind up all the way to the left on the above chart where there are very few peers and very few teams that found a way to flip the switch. The reason for that is most of the teams getting outplayed were poor teams. We know enough about the Avalanche from the 61 prior games to know they’re anything but. They have a gear they haven’t been able to show yet in this series, and eight games against the Golden Knights during the season series showed the team is just as capable of tilting the ice the other way. In that vein, it might be more apt to look at exceptions to the rule and one in particular really sticks out: The 2014 Kings-Sharks series, an opening- round bout between two Stanley Cup contenders. We all remember how the first three games went for San Jose, taking a 3-0 lead with some lopsided results, but the underlying numbers were just as stark. The Sharks averaged a plus-0.94 expected goal difference against the Kings over the first three games. The Kings looked done from the outside, but they had other ideas. Los Angeles actually lost the expected goals battle again in Game 4, but the 6-3 score was more than telling. That’s when the Kings found their extra gear with their best five-on-five game of the series in Game 5 and two narrow edges in their favor to close out the series. They averaged a minus-0.9 expected goal differential through the first four games and plus-0.5 through the final three. That’s the kind of energy Colorado needs in the final three games of the series, and lucky for the Avalanche, they don’t have to win four straight, just two of the final three. It’s more than possible, but it starts with some in-series adjustments toward figuring out what Vegas is doing to stifle them and how to counter it. Colorado has a very strong team and some sharp minds behind it. There are some big-game players too who are more than capable of rising to the occasion. While the odds of a turnaround aren’t in their favor based on how past series have transpired, it’s feasible to expect an elite contender to have a strong counterpunch after getting their teeth knocked in for three straight games. The Avs have the capability to be an exception to the rule, and I’d expect much better in Game 5. Their season depends on it.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189429 Vegas Golden Knights Stone: “I just took off. I was fortunate to end the game.” VGK coach Pete DeBoer on Stone: “That was vintage Mark Stone

because he blocked a shot in our end of the ice first, then got the Golden Knights Look To Knock Out Avalanche At T-Mobile Arena breakaway and stuck it in the net with a perfect shot. If there’s one Thursday After Rallying To Beat Colorado, 3-2, In Overtime In Game 5 In sequence of plays that defines him, that would be it.” Denver Tuesday

LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 06.09.2021 June 8, 2021 By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

Just the facts: Vegas 3 Colorado 2 in overtime in Game 5, Ball Arena, Denver VGK scorers: Alex Tuch, Jonathan Marchessault, Mark Stone (game- winner, 50 seconds into OT) Series: VGK lead 3-2 Quote: Fleury on Marchessault: “Don’t tell him he’s a small guy. He has a big heart.” Quote II: Alex Tuch on Mark Stone: “He’s the heart and soul of this team. He wears his character on his chest. He’s the captain that we’ve always wanted.” Bottom line: Vegas seeks to clinch series 6PM Thursday at T-Mobile Arena before 18,000+ fans in Game 6 to play Montreal in NHL semifinals. The Colorado Avalanche came out with a jump in their skating, before the Vegas Golden Knights responded midway through period one in the pivotal Game 5 in Denver Tuesday. But it was the way the Avs ended the first period that drew everyone’s attention. The Avs’ Brandon Saad threw a puck at VGK netminder Marc-Andre Fleury with two second left in the opening period. It looked like a harmless shot off the stick of Saad from the left boards. But Fleury tried to catch the puck in his glove by reaching across his body and he whiffed. The Flower mistake cost the Knights a goal and Colorado led 1-0 after the first 20 minutes. Fleury could have simply punched it away with his blocker. The VGK have struggled in the first period in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Knights have given up 12 goals in the first period in the postseason and are a minus seven in the playoffs in those first 20 minutes. The Golden Knights had Mattias Janmark on the third line with Nic Roy and Alex Tuch and a fourth line of Patrick Brown flanked by Keegan Kolesar and Will Carrier. Ryan Reaves was out of the lineup. On defense, Nick Holden was back in the lineup, paired with Zach Whitecloud. Just when you thought Vegas was gaining control of the series, Colorado was a step quicker than the Golden Knights in period two. The pressure eventually yielded a goal for the Avs as Joonas Donskoi notched the sole tally of the middle period with 3:32 left in the stanza. Colorado outshot Vegas, 13-6, in the period. After two periods: Colorado 2 Vegas 0 “We gotta get better on the forecheck,” VGK forward Alex Tuch said on the radio after period two. “We gotta get more shots on net. The chances will come.” Tuch acted on his words. He scored only 1:03 into the third period. Then it was that man Jonathan Marchessault, fresh off a hat trick two night ago. the feisty VGK forward scored about four minutes into the final period and just like that it was a brand new game: Vegas 2 Colorado 2. The Golden Knights scored on two of their first three shots in the third period. It was Marchessault’s fifth goal of the COL/VGK series after he scored only once in the first round against Minnesota. It took only 50 seconds for Mark Stone to beat Philipp Grubauer in OT and the Knights came away with a 3-2 comeback win and now seek to wrap up the Best-of-7 series at home on Thursday in front of 18,000 plus insane, crazy, and very loud fans. 1189430 Vegas Golden Knights

Marc-Andre Fleury Gets Past First Period Flub For Historic Win

Published 3 hours ago on June 8, 2021 By Tom Callahan Marc-Andre Fleury Vegas Golden Knights

“So he’s human after all.” That line is from the 1989 Batman movie when after shooting the caped crusader two thugs check him over while he plays dead. Then, Batman takes care of some business after taking the bad guys by surprise. His armor is bulletproof of course. It ran through my head as I watched Marc-Andre Fleury reach up, and then across his body, a little farther across… and miss the puck. Instead, it snuck in just under the crossbar, high and tight to the near side of the net. As Brandon Saad celebrated his amazing seventh goal of the playoffs for the Colorado Avalanche, the clock said just over one second until intermission. Time of the goal: 19:58. 1-0 Avalanche heading into the intermission. Marc-Andre Fleury is indeed human after all. His reaction following the goal was as upset as I’ve seen him get in a long time. He knows he should have had that puck. He admitted after the game he misjudged the pace of the shot, and maybe even his tracking thereof. When it went in his body language said everything, from the head flipping back to him waving his stick in annoyance at himself for a puck he should have had, and a goal that his team couldn’t afford to give up. But after his teammates picked him up in the locker room, he picked himself up too. And when it came to the start of overtime, he made two big saves just 10 seconds in to allow Mark Stone to race down the ice and score the game-winner just 40 seconds after that. “I saw it real good,” Fleury laughed after the game. You could tell he was still upset, but now he was able to shrug it off a bit easier after a win. “I felt stupid.” “You knew he would (respond),” said head coach Pete DeBoer. “And you knew the group would play for him. He’s bailed us out on a number of occasions this year when we’ve made mistakes. I had no doubt after that that he was going to be lights out and our group was going to be lights out for him.” “It could have been four or five to nothing after the second period, but Flower kept us in it,” Mark Stone said. “He’s bailed us out time and time again. He’s a Vezina candidate for a reason… (the game) should have been over after two (periods), and then again 20 seconds into overtime.” Instead of letting it get to him, Fleury played some of his best hockey of the series in the second period, shutting down several prime Avs scoring chances and allowing his team to come back and tie the game in the third period. When Mark Stone scored the game-winning goal at 50 seconds into overtime, Fleury was once again all smiles. “The guys had my back,” said Fleury of that first intermission. “It felt nice. I was trying to do my best to keep the game close. (We) always believe with this group that we can come back in games, and we did in a big way tonight.” With the win, Marc-Andre Fleury has now moved into a tie for fourth place all-time in playoff wins with Ed Belfour and Billy Smith at 88.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189431 Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights Push Avalanche to the Edge With OT Win

Published 4 hours ago on June 8, 2021 By Tom Callahan Mark Stone Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights scored three unanswered goals to hand the Colorado Avalanche its first home loss of the 2021 playoffs on Tuesday night, a 3-2 overtime win that now puts the VGK one win away from the final four of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Mark Stone scored the overtime winner, his third career playoff game- winning goal, on a breakaway at :50 after Alex Pietrangelo blocked a shot in the Vegas zone. Max Pacioretty hit Stone in stride with a stretch pass and he wristed the puck glove side on Philipp Grubauer, just nicking the underside of the crossbar. The game almost ended as soon as overtime began. Marc-Andre Fleury had to make two big stops just 10 seconds into the extra session, more than making up for a first-period gaffe that ended up in the back of his net at 19:58 of the first period. Right at the end of the first period, Colorado’s Brandon Saad broke in on the left wing and threw a wrist shot at the net from the boards. Fleury reached across his body to catch it… and missed. 1-0 Avs less than two seconds before the first intermission. “I saw it pretty good,” Fleury laughed after the game. “I feel bad. Maybe when I was younger it would have thrown me off a big more but I’ve been around… the guys in the locker room had my back.” Fleury finished with 28 saves for the win. The Takeaways: At this point, I’m willing to say this is what Colorado had in the tank. They threw everything at the Vegas Golden Knights and pushed the VGK back for different parts of the game, especially the second period. They built a 2-0 lead. And then when Vegas scored the first goal, you could see them tighten up a bit. When the second goal went in, there was a definite pucker factor increase. And when Stone ended the game in OT, it’s as if someone burst the balloon and all the air was sucked out of the city of Denver. The series isn’t over. Colorado is a very good hockey team. But as I said earlier, they’re a one-line team. All due respect to Brandon Saad and his seven goals, if the top line isn’t producing the Avs are in trouble. After Game Three they said they needed to be better. In Game Four they were held to five shots. Tonight in Game Five? One assist (Rantanen), combined minus-2 rating, four shots. Nathan MacKinnon was held off the sheet again with two of those four shots. Marc-Andre Fleury was the face of the franchise again tonight in a major way, showing a resilient nature in bouncing back from that bad goal. Everyone knows it was a bad goal, but that’s the thing about the Golden Knights. This team knows for a fact they’re never out of a game, and they love Flower and love playing for him. You bet they wanted to win for him as much as each other. A rare mistake with terrible timing, but the VGK bounced back together. There might not be a hotter ticket than Game Six on Thursday night at T- Mobile Arena. Colorado has not shown it can handle the craziness of 18,000-plus screaming Golden Knights fans, and Thursday should be another notch up the scale. Of his OT game-winner, Mark Stone says he saw the shot block and “I just took off”. What will be overlooked in this play is the pass from Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty swung a fast stretch out to Stone in one fluid motion on his backhand to spring the breakaway. Pacioretty displayed a sixth sense about where Stone would be and his handling of the puck that had just ricocheted off a teammate is amazing. Watch the replays, and if you can find one at full speed you’ll be amazed at the deft touch.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189432 Vegas Golden Knights

Do The Vegas Golden Knights Hold All The Cards In Game Five?

Published 9 hours ago on June 8, 2021 By Tom Callahan Vegas Golden Knights

It’s no secret I haven’t been in the coronation train for the Colorado Avalanche this season, and not just because I cover the Vegas Golden Knights. I wasn’t ready to simply hand a championship to a team that hadn’t quite proved its depth, had yet to show me consistent goaltending, and most importantly, shown that they can still win without massive possession numbers. There’s no secret to the Avalanche game. It’s based on speed, time of possession and offense as defense. Even the team’s defensive corps is pointed towards offense, starting with Cale Makar (who can also play his own end capably) and guys like Samuel Girard. The new NHL’s model of small, mobile and able to move the puck fast. Here’s the rub for the Avalanche: Vegas has suddenly negated the advantage in possession numbers by jamming up the neutral zone where the Avalanche likes to fly through with touch passes to beat defense sets, and by pressuring Colorado constantly when they do make the offensive zone. Many teams tend to drop back and play a little more cautious in the D- zone, allowing pucks to be sent to the point and preferring to lightly pressure the puck carrier up top. The Vegas Golden Knights has flipped the switch and is going all-out at the puck in the defensive zone, taking away not only the time and space the Avs require down low but up top as well. It became especially obvious in Game Four watching the Vegas wingers pressure the Avs defense up top. They were forcing mistakes and turnovers because in every possible instance the Avalanche were rushed. It also helped Vegas that with home-ice advantage the Golden Knights could match lines, putting Mark Stone – Chandler Stephenson – Max Pacioretty against the Avs top line, even forcing a switch at one point when Avs coach Jared Bednar moved Gabriel Landeskog off the unit in favor of Andre Burakovsky for the third period of Game Three. Heading back to Denver, Colorado may get more favorable matchups for that line. No matter how you slice it, the Avalanche has a big problem: they’re essentially a one-line team. Even Philipp Grubauer playing out of his mind has not been enough to stem the tide of the Golden Wave Vegas is drowning the Avalanche with. Nathan MacKinnon is one of the game’s most dominant players when he has time to operate in the zone and move the puck. He needs very little time to either find a target or shoot the puck. But Vegas has been smothering after a sobering Game One, and in reality, this series could easily be 3-1 and not 2-2. With a lack of depth scoring outside of that top line, the Avalanche are in serious trouble. Even if Nazem Kadri were playing (his suspension was upheld earlier today), he still doesn’t contribute enough offensively to make a difference. Vegas has solved the equation, knowing full well that if they delete the combined 16 goals of the top line, Colorado has only generated 17 goals the rest of the lineup combined. Heading into tonight’s Game Five, it’s clear the Vegas Golden Knights hold all the cards. They deal them too, and the Avalanche have to play a tough hand. If Colorado’s top line doesn’t produce – and it only generated five shots in Game Four – this could be over in six.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.09.2021 Washington Capitals The Caps are not naive to the challenges that lie ahead for this team and 1189433 MacLellan acknowledged that a rebuild will be necessary...just not yet.

"The rebuild would be a little premature," MacLellan said. "I do realize Capitals not ready to commit to a rebuild that it's coming, but right now we're just looking to incorporate a few more younger players in our lineup and we feel that we have a couple coming."

BY J.J. REGAN Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.09.2021

After three straight first-round exits for a team built around a 35-year-old superstar, the inevitable question of whether it is time for the Capitals to rebuild now has to be asked. Washington was dispatched in five games by the Boston Bruins and, though they had a much better showing than last year's series against the New York Islanders, the results were still the same. Five games and out. The players clearly believe the Stanley Cup window remains open for the team, but they ultimately are not the decision-makers. That responsibility lies largely with general manager Brian MacLellan and head coach Peter Laviolette who are now tasked with deciding if it is time to tear it all down. As the Caps enter the offseason pondering the future, it is clear that the team is not yet ready to commit to a rebuild. "I don't know that we're at that stage where we need to rebuild," MacLellan said at the team's final media availability of the season. "We made the decision here to bring back [Nicklas Backstrom] and to bring back [Alex Ovechkin], I don't think that's a rebuild situation when you're doing that." Backstrom, 33, has another four years left on his contract at $9.2 million while Ovechkin just finished the last year of his contract. He will turn 36 in September and is expected to sign a new deal in the offseason for more than his previous $9.5 million cap hit. It's hard to rebuild when you have that much cap room committed to two players in their mid-30s. But the worst place to be in the NHL is in the middle. When a team is no longer good enough to compete for the Cup, but is not bad enough to be in the running for high draft picks it can easily get stuck in a no man's land of mediocrity that can be hard to dig out of. The Caps, however, do not think they are accepting that fate in the name of remaining loyal to Backstrom and Ovechkin. To them, there is plenty of talent still within the organization to compete for a championship. "I believe that this team can still win," Laviolette said. "I believe that we can win rounds in the playoffs. That’s what’s disappointing and frustrating for us, is that we didn’t get it done. We had an opportunity playing the Bruins, and the Bruins are still playing and we’re not. So everybody’s frustrated about that. "There’s still a core here, you look at the production from some of the players, like T.J. Oshie had a really good year from a production standpoint, Nick Backstrom is still able to produce, John Carlson had a good year. Right through the lineup there was a lot of players, not all, but there was a lot of players who produced well.” On the one hand, Laviolette is right in that the core players all had productive seasons. The problem is that each of the players Laviolette listed, as well as Ovechkin, is over 30 and their prolonged production is a question mark. Laviolette, however, believes there are enough young players on the team to bolster the rest of the lineup and keep the Caps' window open. “I think that there are some young pieces that are here now, I think that there may be some young pieces that come into play next year," Laviolette said. That may be wishful thinking considering the Caps' current prospect pool frequently ranks near the bottom of the league. Players like Connor McMichael, Martin Fehervary and Alex Alexeyev may be able to compete for ice time next season, but there likely are not any other impact players who will be able to contribute much right away. But the team insists there is enough left in the cupboard left to restock the roster, at least in the short term. While every team in the NHL would love to be able to both compete for a championship and stockpile future talent for a seamless transition from championship window to championship window, that rarely ever happens. Teams competing for a championship just are not consistently able to get the volume of stars needed to rebuild around thanks to trading off assets. MacLellan knows this is the case in Washington as well. Winnipeg Jets "The defensive side of the game is always something I took seriously but 1189434 at the pro level it's just so much harder. I learned a lot and I felt like I'm a much better 200-foot player now, focusing on the D-side of things and how important it is." Perfetti brings home the gold Perfetti worked out at his gym in mom and dad's basement Tuesday and then played his first golf game of the season, a not-so-shabby 86 at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club. The leftie plans to play a lot in the coming Jason Bell weeks, and will resume skating around the July long weekend. 8-10 minutes 6/9/2021 He is already pumped for Winnipeg's annual rookie camp, followed by a seemingly guaranteed invite to main camp. There was Winnipeg Jets prized forward prospect Cole Perfetti on "I'm really excited for the fall. I'm glad I'm home right now, and I'm going Sunday night, still just a teen but knee deep in the hoopla with a bunch of to take this summer to really spend a lot of time in the gym," he said. NHL veterans at a hotel lounge in Latvia. "That's my mindset, and, hopefully, September or whenever I go back to Winnipeg for camp, everything I've done will help me crack the lineup." All with gold medals draped around their necks. Jets head coach Paul Maurice was asked Monday afternoon for his take "Amazing night, just unbelievable. One of those nights you'll never on how a hectic but productive 2021 schedule was a blessing for the forget," Perfetti mused during a chat Tuesday afternoon with the Free talented teen. Press. "It was ridiculous, just so much fun. We didn't really go to bed that night. We had an early flight, anyway. We just hung around with the "To win a world championship, if you go back 16 months for that young trophy all night. When I had it, I couldn't let go of it." man he couldn’t have predicted what he would end up doing," said Maurice, prior to Game 4 of the NHL's North Division final between Props to the Jets' 2020 first-round draft pick and his teammates on a Winnipeg and the Montreal Canadiens. Canadian squad that prevailed at the IIHF world men's hockey championship. Tyler Toffoli's goal just 93 seconds into overtime lifted the home-town Habs to a 3-2 triumph and a sweep of the best-of-seven series and end Despite a brutal 0-3 start in the tournament, the Canadians won three of the Jets season. their next four games to squeeze into the playoff and then disposed of ROC (Russia) and the United States to reach the final against Finland. "(Perfetti) developed in (the AHL) and that was good for him," added Maurice. "He learned a lot, he got stronger as it went on and he gets an Ottawa forward Connor Brown set up his Senators teammate, Nick Paul, opportunity to play with some pretty darn good players at the world for the overtime winner as Canada earned a 3-2 victory. championship and win a medal, that’s great for him." Only months before, Perfetti was part of a Canadian crew that felt the searing pain of losing the world junior final 2-0 to the U.S. in the Edmonton bubble. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 06.09.2021 "That's my first gold medal. To win a world men's (title) before a world junior or a Hlinka (under-18 tournament) is kind of crazy. I've never been so nervous in a final," Perfetti said. "I know what it feels like to lose the gold and that's the lowest of the lows. It sucks. "Winning is hard to explain, I still can't believe it. I can't stop looking at the medal." Perfetti suited up for all 10 contests for Canada, although he played just a few minutes in each of the semifinal and championship tilts. He wasn't a major contributor but scored goals in victories over Italy and Kazakhstan, and gained a mound of experience. "They were all such great guys. Some of the guys have played a long time in the NHL and some were fresh, first-year guys. Every guy was different, every guy you could learn from," Perfetti said. "I played pro in the (American Hockey League) this year, but this was my first time experiencing kind of that NHL lifestyle and what it's like, and it's pretty cool." It's just the latest accomplishment in a season to savour for the 19-year- old from Whitby, Ont., who was selected 10th overall by Winnipeg in the NHL Draft in October. Under normal circumstances, Perfetti would have been a driving force the Saginaw Spirit for a third consecutive Ontario Hockey League season. He's already compiled back-to-back 37-goal seasons, while finishing second in points (111) in 61 games in his draft year. But the junior loop didn't stage a single game, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. That opened the door for him to suit up with the Jets' AHL affilaite, the Manitoba Moose, and work closely with the organization’s coaches while management monitored his development. In 32 outings, he posted 26 points (9G, 17A) to finish second behind Nathan Todd (12G, 20A) in point production with Manitoba. Perfetti admitted spending a year under coach Pascal Vincent and competing at the pro level was far more beneficial to his development than another year dominating in junior. "I feel so much better on the ice and so much more confident after the season (with Manitoba). (The coaches) are so great and really cared about me and my growth as a player. They wanted me to get better, spending a lot of extra time with me on the ice and in video," he said. "The big part for me is speed and strength, which, obviously, will be an important part for a long time to come. Winnipeg Jets There's probably still a spot here in the bottom-six for you, provided the 1189435 price is right. But I'll leave that to your agent and Chevy to work out."

To Andrew Copp: "Playoff hockey is a different animal, isn't it? All that Uncomfortable truths: If the Free Press conducted the Jets end-of- room you had in the regular-season when you put up career-highs in season interviews goals, assists and points sure disappeared fast. Frankly, we could have used a bit more from you in the playoffs, but not for a lack of effort. You sure were snake-bitten. You should get a nice new contract this summer as a restricted free agent. If it goes to arbitration, try not to take it Mike McIntyre personally. Or do, actually. You seem to play best when there's a bit of a 11-14 minutes 6/9/2021 chip on your shoulder." To Paul Stastny: "The sequel is usually never as good as the original, and it's too bad we couldn't get to the Final Four again. But you've been a It's an event that likely ranks somewhere between getting a root canal great soldier for us, and it was a pleasure getting to see you play your and a colonoscopy. Necessary, yes. Enjoyable? Heck no. 1,000th game while wearing our jersey. Not sure where this summer will take you as a free agent — we probably have to make some room Oh sure, there will be as much positive reinforcement as possible, and around here, both with regards to the salary cap and for some of the kids the tone will vary depending on who's sitting in the chair. But what good in the pipeline — but you've been a consummate pro." would these exit interviews be if the elephant in the room wasn't addressed — specifically, what needs to be done individually and To Mason Appleton: "Opportunity came knocking this season — and you collectively to get the hockey club over the proverbial hump? kicked the door down. Now the key is to not get comfortable. You're capable of even more than you've shown, but it's largely on you to make With that in mind, here's what we'd be saying to the regulars following a that happen. Of course, whether that happens here remains to be seen. second-round sweep at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens that Chevy is probably going to leave you unprotected in the expansion draft, brought an abrupt end to their season Monday night at Bell Centre. and no doubt Seattle will be giving you a long look. Hope to see you back here in September." To Connor Hellebuyck: "It's not you. It's us. Sorry we couldn't give you a little more goal support. Get some rest this summer. You certainly earned To Nate Thompson: "You were a good citizen and solid placeholder on it. We'll try to do better in front of you next year. Pinky-swear." the fourth-line, but this wasn't meant to be a long-term relationship. We've got young centres like David Gustafsson and Cole Perfetti pushing To Laurent Brossoit: "You've been the ideal backup for Bucky, and I for work. Thanks for your service." wouldn't mind you doing it one more time next season if you're willing? I know you're an unrestricted free agent who will probably have some To Trevor Lewis: "One of the best thing I can say is that I never worried options, but why mess with the good thing we have going here?" much when you were on the ice. Solid, responsible play in your own end, To Mark Scheifele: "I hate to kick you when you're down, Mark, but what some solid contributions on the penalty kill and your years of experience in the world were you thinking? You're one of our most important players, were all valuable. But like I just told Nate, your linemate, we're going to and that split-second decision to blow up Jake Evans in Game 1 cost us go in a different direction here, especially with wingers such as Kristian dearly. That said, you have a chance to right the wrong starting in the fall. Vesalainen and Jansen Harkins waiting for more of a shot." The next chapter in your story is up to you." To Josh Morrissey: "It was an up-and-down season, that's for sure. And To Blake Wheeler: "You're our fearless leader, no doubt. But things are just when you were starting to look comfortable here in the playoffs — going to have to change around here if we want to reach the promised sorry about waiting so long to move Dylan DeMelo up with you, by the land. That might mean a lesser-role going forward. Fewer minutes, way — he goes and gets hurt. We're probably going to go back to that next year. It seems like the best fit, doesn't it? And hey, maybe Chevy will playing lower in the lineup, that sort of thing. Don't take it personally. It's throw you guys a bone and go out and find another top-end guy to lighten for the best, really. Father Time remains undefeated." the load. Fingers-crossed." To Nikolaj Ehlers: "You were one of the few bright spots for us against To Neal Pionk: "Where would we have been without you? Putting up big Montreal, even if the finish wasn't there. But there's no question you give points, throwing huge hits — you did a bit of everything. You're probably a damn. We sure missed you down the regular-season stretch. Don't tell the rest of the guys, but you are arguably our most important forward, going to take us to the cleaners on your next contract this summer as a doing things nobody else on this roster can. And hey, what would you restricted free agent with arbitration rights, but you will have earned every think about a promotion to the top power play unit next season?" penny. Boy, that Trouba trade worked out pretty well for us, didn't it?" To Pierre-Luc Dubois: "Where do we even start? How about we pretend To Derek Forbort: "You were everything we'd hoped for, and then some. I this season didn't really happen, take a few months to catch our breath probably played you too much, at times, and it started to show as the and come back for training camp and start all over again. I know many season wore on. With young guys like Ville Heinola and Dylan Samberg are ready to write you off, but I still believe in you, kid. You're only 22. waiting in the wings, it's probably best we move on given your UFA Scheifele was still getting his feet wet when he was your age, and look at status. But you definitely made an impact." him now. Keep your head up, block out as much of the noise as you can To Dylan DeMelo: "From coach's porn to the third-pairing, seemingly in and work your tail off this summer. To better days ahead." the blink of an eye. My bad. But you definitely were playing your best hockey of the year when you got injured just 29 seconds into Game 1 To Pierre-Luc Dubois: "How about we pretend this season didn't really against Montreal, and no question that hurt us dearly. Let's build off that happen, take a few months to catch our breath and come back for going forward." training camp and start all over again." To Tucker Poolman: "You're a solid third-pairing guy on this team. To Pierre-Luc Dubois: "How about we pretend this season didn't really Unfortunately, I often had you miscast on the top-pair, which probably happen, take a few months to catch our breath and come back for wasn't fair to you. As a pending UFA, I'm not sure what's in the cards, but training camp and start all over again." I'd welcome you back in a more sheltered role." To Adam Lowry: "Happy to have you locked up for the long-term, big guy. Along with Nikky, you were one of the few forwards who was really To Logan Stanley: "Sniper! Seriously, what's your secret? Nobody else noticeable against Montreal, hitting everything that moves and scoring a could score on Price, and you made it look so easy. No question the big shorthanded goal. A little more touch around the net, along with some biggest surprise of the season — I mean that figuratively and literally — puck luck, and there's no reason you can't be knocking on the door of 20 and I'm excited to see where we can take this. Considering we likely can next year." only protect Morrissey, Pionk and DeMelo pending some kind of side deal, I just hope it isn't to Seattle." To Kyle Connor: "Look, there's no doubt you can do some special things in the offensive zone. But there's still plenty of room for improvement in your own end, as we were reminded of with costly giveaways that led to Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 06.09.2021 goals in Game 2 and Game 3. Spend as much, if not more, time working on that part of your game. We need you to become a better two-way player." To Mathieu Perreault: "Time sure flies. Hard to believe it's been seven years here. If that's it for your time in Winnipeg, you can leave with your head held high. Heck of a season, considering we tried to give you away for nothing on waivers to start. Good luck in free agency this summer. Winnipeg Jets They knew they were beaten. They knew the game plan wasn’t working. 1189436 And they knew there would be no creative solutions coming.

Recall what Maurice said going into the series: that whichever team FRIESEN: Jets seem to have reached their peak under Maurice, played its own game the best would win. Cheveldayoff “They were as good as I’ve seen them be in the game that they play,” the coach said after the carnage of Monday’s Game 4. “And then they had the addition of their goalie. Carey Price got to that elite level that he’s at. Paul Friesen That combination, in terms of style, is a big challenge for us.” Publishing date: Jun 08, 2021 This wasn’t about the goalies, but what was immediately in front of them. “Their forecheck was very, very quick on our D,” Maurice continued. “And that was a place that we struggled with, clearly. And then, they have Nothing says happy anniversary like a postmortem. those top four guys… that made it very difficult to get to the net. It was Fresh off their 10th season, the Winnipeg Jets will start parading players the tough match, which I still think we had a chance to win but it would through the Zoom Room at 8:30, Wednesday morning. For some, it’ll be have been difficult. When you lost Mark, that was a difficult problem.” the last time we see them as members of the Jets. Does anyone really think Scheifele’s absence was the difference? They’ll talk about their season, the reasons it ended prematurely and As Maurice noted, his defence was unable to handle the Habs’ pressure. their futures. The blue line was Winnipeg’s No. 1 concern going into the season and They’ll direct all kinds of credit in the direction of the Montreal Canadiens proved to be its Achilles heel on the way out. and maybe take a bit of solace from their unexpected first-round sweep of Edmonton. Enter the GM, who failed to adequately address the problem not only at the trade deadline but over the last two years. None of them will say they’re satisfied, though. The goal, after all, is to be the last team standing. To get their names engraved on the Cup, for What kind of defenceman could Cheveldayoff have acquired for Patrik posterity. Laine and Jack Roslovic, we wonder. A day or two after the players will come the head coach and the general But let’s not throw the trade for Pierre-Luc Dubois into the equation, just manager. The men responsible for the bigger picture. yet. What looks like a lose-lose deal right now still has a lot of time to prove somebody right. Paul Maurice has been running the bench the last seven and a half seasons, while Kevin Cheveldayoff has run the show for all 10. This isn’t about one trade, one series or even one season. A decade of drafting, developing, signing and trading has brought the It’s a look at a franchise 10 years in the making. A look at where it’s Jets to this very moment. been, and where it’s going. Which is what, exactly? I’m not sure Jets fans are satisfied with the former. Are the Jets a young team just coming into its own, a bitter playoff loss Or confident in the latter. the fuel it’ll need to take the next step in 12 months?

No, that would seem to better describe the team of three years ago, when it finished second, overall, and shocked top-seeded Nashville to Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.09.2021 reach the Western Conference final. That moment seems to have been the peak for this group. The contending window was thrust open that spring, but it’s been gradually sliding shut ever since. The team’s core talent up front appears to have absorbed as much as it can about how to pay the price in the post-season. Three straight early summers slam the point home. Getting that message to take root is Maurice’s job. He did it masterfully in the first round, getting his team to “one brain” as it buckled down on Edmonton. Having dispatched of the mighty Oilers, the coach noted how a second- round matchup with Toronto would be a continuation of the same theme: success would start with shutting down two high-end stars. A funny thing happened on the way to a Jets-Leafs series: the Canadiens. Quebec’s darlings coupled their tenacious checking with the goaltending of a rejuvenated Carey Price, coming back from a 3-1 series deficit to shock the Centre of the Universe. So Maurice’s plan was moot. He cobbled together another for the Habs, and it failed miserably. If we are to praise the coach for the way his strategy worked in Round 1, then we must park the bus of blame squarely in his spot for how it was exposed against Montreal. For how he simply had no answer, with or without Mark Scheifele. How his special teams were a disaster. How he failed to try to inject youthful energy into the lineup, even as we watched the Habs suck the energy from it. The Jets didn’t get the least bit better as the series wore on. They hit rock-bottom in the final game, a bowing out so meek and without objection only a fool would say they weren’t resigned to their fate. Winnipeg Jets How does Maurice think that Nate Thompson is better than David 1189437 Gustafsson or Jansen Harkins?

Why was Blake Wheeler still playing on the top line when his game took BILLECK: Jets playoff tailspin shouldn't be a surprise to anyone a dip this year? And beyond that, how does general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff just watch it happen? Scott Billeck How long are the Jets going to watch other teams deploy younger Publishing date: Jun 08, 2021 players (Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield come to mind most recently) while they keep trotting out guys in the twilight of their career to try to match it? When a team gets dumped out of the playoffs or misses them altogether, Maurice and his coaching staff take the brunt of the blame there, but there’s an old adage in the sports world that goes something like this: Cheveldayoff owns some of it, too. There’s always next year. Yes, he’s drafted well, made shrewd moves when it comes to signing Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice was quick to pull it out of the home-grown players like Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers to great contracts, bag following his team’s atrocious Game 4 performance where they lost but the draft-and-develop model has only gotten this team so far. Name 3-2 in overtime to the Montreal Canadiens. one team that’s won solely off this model? I’ll save you some time: there From sweeping the Edmonton Oilers to getting swept out of the second isn’t one. round by the Habs, the Jets mustered just 16 shots in a do-or-die game. This year’s trade deadline was an unmitigated failure by Cheveldayoff. A It led to Maurice grasping for the rescue club following the game. team that needed a top-four defenceman and acquired Benn instead. “It’s a good team. And it’s going to get better. Like, it’s just coming into its This is a team that found a diamond in the rough for Patrik Laine in Paul prime. So I don’t feel that we saw this game happen very much at all in Stastny at the 2018 trade deadline, and then waved as he signed with recent memory,” he said. Vegas that offseason. Cheveldayoff never did go out and get a permanent centre for Laine and now Laine is gone. Ah, yes. The proverbial can is getting kicked down the road once again. When the defence fell apart after the 2018-19 season, nothing was done Maurice may be selling hope, but who’s buying at this point given the to fix it. The Jets kicked the can down the road some more, now waiting past two-and-a-half years? on guys like Ville Heinola and Dylan Samberg. While Maurice feels Monday’s game is an outlier, the simple truth is this: Neither played large parts this past season. Logan Stanley, who it wasn’t. emerged as one of Winnipeg’s best defencemen when he played, was then told he would be part of a three-way audition down the stretch for a The Jets began falling from grace somewhere around the time the roster spot for the playoffs. calendar flipped to 2019. In the second half of the 2018-19 season, they went from one of the best expected-goals teams to the second-worst in a Instead, Maurice went much of the season trying to make a Josh matter of a few months. On April 20 of that year, the Jets managed just Morrissey-Tucker Poolman pairing work. It didn’t. 20 shots in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of their first-round series. Morrissey’s best game during the 56-game campaign came beside Heinola. Dylan DeMelo played most of the season on the third pairing A team many felt was heading to the Stanley Cup on the heels of a despite being rock-solid defensively and Morrissey’s best partner when Western Conference Final appearance a year earlier, was instead he was healthy during the playoffs. beginning a downward trend that has yet to rebound. But let’s face it: a top-four d-man wasn’t going to fix all the systemic The Jets are continually one of the worst possession teams in the NHL. issues that exist. The current coaching staff doesn’t appear to be able to They are continually one of the worst when it comes to expected goals. do that either. While these analytics aren’t the be-all, end-all — the Jets swept their first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers despite getting outplayed So Maurice can continue to do his best snake-oil salesman routine, but — they eventually catch up with a team. the fact of the matter is the Jets prime is already here, and the organization is squandering away the moment. Montreal made sure of that with a 66.7% expected goals share in the series, the highest of any playoff team in a series since the stat began to You can keep kicking the can down the road, pointing to the next get tracked in 2008. prospect who’s a season away still. So while the team can hide behind the fact they own one of the best But one thing remains true: In 10 seasons since returning to Winnipeg, goalies in the world, even Connor Hellebuyck couldn’t shoulder the the Jets have three playoff series wins to show for all the drafting and burden of a team that simply gave him no chance. Hellebuyck stole the developing they’ve done. first round, but when his deltoids couldn’t produce another Herculean That’s simply not good enough anymore. performance, Winnipeg’s world imploded.

It’s hard to wrap your head around this team being a step away from its prime after that nightmare, and that’s before you factor in that Winnipeg’s Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.09.2021 problems extend much further than the broom that ushered them to the offseason. Systematically, the Jets short-circuited. Zone exits consisted mainly of hopes and prayers. Zone entries weren’t much different. Most of the time, the Jets would simply turn over the puck by dumping it in, not winning the race to it, and losing most of the board battles if their prayers weren’t answered. Winnipeg’s power play? It conceded three goals while scoring none of its own. In a life-or-death scenario in Game 4, the Jets allowed Montreal to play with the puck for 39 minutes in their own zone, more than double the amount of time (17 minutes) the Jets played in Montreal’s end of the rink. But again, this extends further. For a team that loves to say they draft and develop, it also prefers veterans over the players it’s nurtured. How do Maurice and defence coach Charlie Huddy justify playing Jordie Benn over Ville Heinola? Winnipeg Jets trade with the Canadiens to land Max Pacioretty. Both of those teams are 1189438 still alive in the playoffs, and both of those players are playing crucial roles in their teams’ success. The Winnipeg Jets’ 10 biggest offseason priorities as an important 3. Assert Winnipeg’s right to cap space summer begins I’m not saying Winnipeg will be a major player in the UFA market or make another blockbuster trade but winning in the salary-cap era is an efficiency contest that requires tremendous vigilance. By Murat Ates Cheveldayoff doesn’t have as much of a salary cap juggling act to Jun 8, 2021 perform this summer as we’ve been used to in recent years. The Jets have two notable raises to hand out — one each to Pionk and Copp — but, without Patrik Laine to sign, Cheveldayoff’s work is a little easier. It’s been less than 24 hours since Winnipeg’s four-game sweep at the Depending on 2022 RFA Pierre-Luc Dubois’ ability to rebound next hands of the Montreal Canadiens, but it’s already time to look ahead. season, next summer may not be as big of a reckoning as we’ve The Jets enter the 2021 offseason with key contracts to sign, an projected, either. expansion draft to prepare for, a prospect pipeline to replenish and a But this isn’t a good problem to dodge. defence to completely retool. Teams want their players to play so well that cap consternation is an So rather than wasting any more time dwelling on the heartbreak of the expected, deserved consequence of success. second-round exit, let’s look at what the Jets can learn from it and how they can improve this offseason to be in a better position for a 2021-22 Meanwhile, Paul Stastny and Mathieu Perreault occupied a combined run. We’ll dig deeper into each of these in the coming weeks but for now, $10.625 million worth of cap space this season. Both are UFAs and both here are the Jets’ 10 biggest offseason priorities: still valuable NHL players — just not at those prices. All of Nate Thompson, Trevor Lewis, Derek Forbort, Tucker Poolman, Jordie Benn, 1. Upgrade the defence Laurent Brossoit and Dominic Toninato are unrestricted free agents. I’m not sure if it’s fair to expect a team to lose Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Bryan Little has three years left on his contract but his future is still Trouba, Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot in one offseason and then have its unknown. defence solved the following year. The Jets are loaded to the brim with fourth-line forwards and bottom- What is a reasonable timeline for these things? Without being a fly on pairing defencemen and have young players ready to win jobs. Whether Kevin Cheveldayoff’s office wall, it’s impossible to know. they re-sign their own UFAs or look to improve the team elsewhere, they need to stay vigilant with their cap. Whatever a fair timeline may be to find solutions, one thing I am certain of is that the Jets have not found them. 4. Moneypuck the 2021 NHL Draft As I wrote last night, Winnipeg’s lack of quality in its top four has been After Cole Perfetti, Heinola and Samberg, Winnipeg’s prospect pool is discussed ad nauseam. The Jets’ defence, particularly without the injured not rich in players projected to become top-six forwards or top-four Dylan DeMelo, looked no better against Montreal than the one that defencemen. struggled through so much of 2019-20. It may be a shock, then, to be reminded the Jets have just four picks in Only DeMelo, Josh Morrissey, Nathan Beaulieu, Ville Heinola, Dylan the 2021 draft. Samberg, Sami Niku and Nelson Nogier are under contract for next Winnipeg’s fourth-round pick belongs to Vegas after the Jets’ 2020 season. Neal Pionk, likely the Jets’ most valuable defenceman, and 23- deadline acquisition of Cody Eakin. year-old rookie Logan Stanley, whose performance was such a pleasant surprise, will be re-signed as restricted free agents. Winnipeg’s sixth-round pick belongs to Vancouver in exchange for 2021 deadline acquisition Jordie Benn. The expansion draft also looms large, but the Jets need help even if they keep 100 percent of their current players. And Winnipeg’s seventh-round pick belongs to the Florida Panthers in exchange for 2019-deadline-acquisition Bogdan Kiselevich. (Remember Heinola and Samberg do represent viable long-term options in the Jets’ him? He was acquired as insurance from Florida during the Jets’ much- top four, but Winnipeg has been hesitant to give big minutes to young maligned, injury-riddled second half of 2018-19 but did not suit up in a defencemen. single game. I did run into Kiselevich, along with former Jets assistant So what is the solution? Can the Jets make a run at Dougie Hamilton (an coach Todd Woodcroft, in a St. Louis elevator one time. We said hello unrestricted free agent), Seth Jones (likely to be traded), or — more and then the two of them spoke Russian, which is clearly beside the realistically — David Savard (UFA)? Will they trust the cavalry of youth, point.) with Heinola at the helm, that appears to be on the way? The truth here is that Winnipeg has traded away a lot of draft capital in Because one season of disorganization following the 2019 exodus made recent seasons and is starting to pay the price. sense. A second season was also defensible. Whether it’s trading a first- or second-round pick for multiple lower picks But every year the problem lasts is not only a wasted opportunity — it or finding the next Perfetti, the Jets need to address their shallow becomes a harder and harder situation for Winnipeg to defend. Pun prospect pool and head into the draft without much capital to do it with. intended. 5. Sign Pionk to a long-term extension 2. Finalize the expansion draft protection list Pionk’s two-year, $3 million average annual value contract has come to The most obvious seven forwards to protect are Nik Ehlers, Mark an end. He’s been the Jets’ most valuable defenceman since his arrival, Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Kyle Connor, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Copp which reflects his strong play, Byfuglien’s departure and Morrissey’s and Adam Lowry, but that would leave Mason Appleton exposed. decline. Appleton scored at a 37-point pace this season and his corner-turning, Now that Pionk is a top-four defenceman with a pair of big offensive net-driving skill set is unique on the Jets roster. seasons under his belt, a long-term contract extension could approach The most obvious three defencemen to protect are Pionk, Morrissey and Morrissey’s own $6.25 million AAV. DeMelo, although Stanley surprised so many observers with a strong I’d set the range at between $5.5 million and $6.5 million, but make no rookie season that Winnipeg’s decision is more complicated now than it mistake: Pionk is headed for a massive raise. He’s earned it. was heading into the year. The bigger question may be term. We’ll deep-dive Winnipeg’s Seattle options one more time, including the full depth chart, eligibility list and decision tree very soon. 6. Do the same with Copp — or prepare for arbitration Just remember that “make a side deal with Seattle” comes with its own Copp has spent the past two seasons taking a more and more prominent consequences. Toby Enstrom was a big part of the Jets’ dominant 2017- role with the Jets leadership group. He is perhaps Winnipeg’s best 18 but Winnipeg swapped first-round picks with Vegas to protect him. defensive forward and enjoyed a career year offensively, with 39 points The move made sense at the time and looked good until the Western in 55 games. That’s a 58-point pace for a player known better for his Conference final. Now it comes with a little bit of sting: Vegas took Nick work on defence and, while it is just a one-year explosion as opposed to Suzuki with Winnipeg’s first-round pick in 2017, later packaging him in a a career-long body of work, Copp has earned a big raise from his $2.28 Given the aforementioned lack of draft capital and the fact that 2019-20 million arbitration award. was more of the same, with Sbisa, Anthony Bitetto, Carl Dahlstrom et al taking minutes from players in Winnipeg’s long-term plans, the Jets Oh, yeah. The A-word. appear to have shorted themselves valuable development time for two Copp called arbitration a “war” in 2019 and shared his detailed straight seasons. experiences with The Athletic in its aftermath. A sober evaluation of this — with distance from the Jets’ four-game, There was worry at the time that, like his good friend Trouba before him, Round 2 exit — may be needed to re-establish the “draft and develop” he was preparing himself for a UFA payday — and therefore a departure team identity. from Winnipeg — as early as possible. 10. Assess Cheveldayoff and Paul Maurice Copp quelled that concern, saying, “I’m logical enough to know that if this Whether Cheveldayoff didn’t provide Maurice with the horses or Maurice is a good fit over the next two years and I see a spot that I’d like to be in. didn’t race them the right way, the difference in quality of play between I like my role. I like my value. It’s definitely a place where I’d be willing to Winnipeg and Montreal was obvious for all to see. stay and sign another deal.” Was the defence exposed because Cheveldayoff failed to augment it, With arbitration rights once again, a career year behind him and UFA whether at or before the trade deadline, or was it because Maurice eligibility coming up as soon as the end of next season, we’re about to couldn’t find a game plan to overcome Montreal’s dogged forecheck? Did find out how valued Copp really feels. they both do a terrific version of their jobs, with the sweep being taken 7. Sign Paul Stastny — or don’t out of their control by injury to DeMelo and suspension to Scheifele? When Winnipeg tried and failed to sign Stastny following its spectacular Hours after Winnipeg’s playoffs exit, it’s a little bit early to project either of 2018 playoff run, he was one of the best second-line centres in the NHL their futures with certainty. Maurice is under contract for one more and bordering on a top-line talent. season with a club option on an extension. I am uncertain as to Cheveldayoff’s contract situation. Had the Jets been able to run Stastny and Scheifele together, giving all of Ehlers, Connor, Wheeler and Laine a top centre to play with, it seems Any assessment of Winnipeg’s shortcomings in recent seasons must likely the Jets would not have spent assets on Kevin Hayes, Eakin or the include a look at each of their roles. The big question, for me, is about return of Stastny himself. each man’s plan to pull Winnipeg out of the NHL’s mushy middle — too flawed for a Cup, too good for a lottery pick — and bring it back to Cup It’s even possible that Laine would still be a Jet. contention. Are they on the same page? Do they believe in the same style of play and the same types of players? A good plan from a poor But that’s an alternate universe, not the reality Winnipeg must face this starting point strikes me as more valuable than a poor plan from a good summer. one. It is important that these two men are on the same page and can make a reasonable assessment of Winnipeg’s path forward — otherwise, With Laine gone, Stastny didn’t post gaudy numbers this season, it’s time to move on. meaning that his next contract will probably be a significant pay cut from the $6.5 million AAV he earned for the past three years. As I wrote off the hop, we’ll dig deeper into all 10 of these topics in the coming weeks. He’s clearly a vital part of any team’s leadership group, respected by teammates and coaches alike. He’s also 35, on the back nine of his career, and — if I had to guess — sees Stanley Cup contention as the single biggest priority he has left. The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 Can Winnipeg promise him that? If so, can he provide Winnipeg with a palatable price point? Stastny has tremendous value as a person and as a player, but that’s no guarantee a contract is best for everyone involved. 8. Choose Connor Hellebuyck’s backup Laurent Brossoit has backed up Connor Hellebuyck for three seasons, winning 25 out of 54 games while posting a .913 save percentage. Mikhail Berdin is still waivers-exempt, meaning he can be sent to Manitoba without the risk of losing him like the Jets lost Eric Comrie. Comrie, meanwhile, is an unrestricted free agent. The backup job to a perennial Vezina Trophy candidate isn’t glamorous work. It’s probably more ideal for the Jets if Brossoit comes back into the fold for another year than if Berdin must be called up. The only other goaltenders under contract right now are Altona’s Cole Kehler and Sweden’s Arvid Holm, who has put together a strong resume for Farjestads BK Karlstad. 9. Re-evaluate the commitment to development I think that Winnipeg will look back at the handling of its taxi squad with some level of regret now that the season is over. While injuries (and Luca Sbisa’s waiver claim) opened the door for Stanley to stand out, players like Heinola, David Gustafsson, Samberg and Jansen Harkins received less NHL playing time than Beaulieu, Forbort, Poolman, Benn, Thompson and Lewis. Whereas Beaulieu has one year left on his contract, the rest of those players are now unrestricted free agents. Meanwhile, Thompson gave the puck away leading to Montreal’s first goal in Game 4. Forbort’s man scored Montreal’s second goal. Poolman was part of the defensive zone schmozzle that led to Tyler Toffoli’s overtime winner. The Jets will need to zoom out of that single performance in their evaluation of these players. Still, it’s important to note that any lessons those players learned this season will now impact the UFA market and not necessarily help the future Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg Jets So if you’re the Montreal Canadiens gaining the zone at will, generating 1189439 turnovers at will, stuffing breakouts and maintaining possession in the offensive zone, then yes: You go to the net because the puck is coming, too. The heartbreak only hope can give: How the Winnipeg Jets crashed and burned so badly in Round 2 The Jets, whether in terms of their personnel or their coaching staff, found themselves beaten to Montreal’s dump-ins time and time again. They found themselves shut down in transition or outnumbered at the Canadiens’ line. Whereas Montreal won puck after puck that they rimmed By Murat Ates around the boards to the far corner, Winnipeg’s dump-ins were met with Jun 8, 2021 simple clears. It was a style of play that Winnipeg never found the answer for. In the end, the Winnipeg Jets never won a game or even held a lead “Their forecheck was very, very quick on our D and that was a place that against Montreal. we struggled with, clearly,” said Maurice. “And then, they have those top four guys, minus (Petry) tonight, that made it very difficult to get to the They didn’t score early or often. They didn’t drive to the blue paint in front net.” of Carey Price. They seldom had the opportunity to drive to the blue paint because they so seldom got into the offensive zone with control of the Winnipeg’s lack of quality in its top-four has been discussed ad nauseum. puck. The Jets’ defence, particularly without the injured DeMelo, looked no better than the one that struggled through so much of 2019-20. So, they were swept away. Only DeMelo, Josh Morrissey, Nathan Beaulieu, Ville Heinola, Dylan Six days after Winnipeg’s Round 2 series began, so full of hope at Bell Samberg, Sami Niku, and Nelson Nogier are under contract for next MTS Place in front of 500 fans, the Jets’ pandemic-transformed 2021 season. Neal Pionk, likely the Jets’ most valuable defenceman, and 23- season is over. year-old rookie Logan Stanley, whose performance was such a pleasant surprise, will be re-signed as restricted free agents. Despite the hope Winnipeg created by sweeping Edmonton in Round 1, despite the devastation of being beaten 3-2 in overtime, and despite the The expansion draft also looms large but the Jets need help even if they disappointment of being outshot 41-16 in an elimination game, Blake keep 100 percent of their current players. Wheeler said the most painful part of losing was letting people down. And, while Heinola and Samberg represent viable long-term options in “After those Edmonton games, coming out of the rink and seeing our fans the Jets’ top four, Winnipeg has been hesitant to give big minutes to honking their horns and lighting up the city was… I mean, that was one of young defencemen. Heinola, who recently turned 20, was an option the highlights of this whole season and honestly the whole last 18 largely unexplored by the Jets despite a long stretch of time on the NHL months,” Wheeler said. “It kind of gave you life again, to want to do this roster. Samberg put together a strong year in the AHL, alongside other for Winnipeg and put on a show for them and keep giving them prospects like Declan Chisholm, Johnathan Kovacevic, and Leon something to watch.” Gawanke. Game 1 in Winnipeg started painfully with an injury to top-pairing But we’ve seen all of Anthony Bitetto, Luca Sbisa, Nathan Beaulieu, defenceman Dylan DeMelo on the game’s first shift. It ended brutally, Jordie Benn, and Carl Dahlstrom take minutes from young players in with Mark Scheifele — a player without a track record of malice — recent seasons. Stanley’s 6-foot-7, throwback approach seems to have delivering a devastating check to Canadiens forward Jake Evans. The broken that mold this season, albeit in a sheltered, third-pairing role. game was already lost but Evans’ injury and Scheifele’s ensuing four- game suspension immediately changed the tone of the series. Are Maurice and defence coach Charlie Huddy really going to play a 20- year-old Heinola in their top four while also finding room for Stanley and And make no mistake: Winnipeg had already been outplayed in its Game Samberg next season? 1 loss with Scheifele in the lineup. The rest of the series showed just how much worse things could get. Similarly, it’s worth noting the sad poetry of 36-year-old good human Nate Thompson giving the puck away before Montreal’s 1-0 goal, The Jets scored just four times from that point forward. Their power play combined with the performances Montreal got from Nick Suzuki (21), was outscored 3-0 by the Canadiens’ penalty kill. To judge the series by Cole Caufield (20), and Jesperi Kotkaniemi (20). It’s impossible to pin Evolving Hockey’s expected goals model, it was the single most Winnipeg’s failure on a fourth-line, PK player, but Thompson is a pending dominant sweep in the 14 seasons for which shot locations have been UFA — as is fellow fourth-line, PK forward Trevor Lewis. tracked. If a fourth-line player is going to make a crucial error on a PK clear in In Game 4, before Tyler Toffoli scored the one-timer blast that sent Winnipeg’s biggest game of the season, why not have it be someone like Winnipeg home, Sportsnet displayed a stat on the screen. David Gustafsson or Jansen Harkins — that is, players still under contract next season who can give the organization a return on the Heading into overtime, the Jets had spent 17 minutes in the Canadiens’ investment into their playing time? end of the rink. Montreal had spent 39 minutes in the Jets zone — more than twice as much as the other way around — in the single most I don’t think this is what Maurice meant in saying, “It’s a good team. And important game of Winnipeg’s season. This is the stuff of outright it’s going to get better. Like, it’s just coming into its prime.” dominance and it showed just how powerless Paul Maurice and his players were against Montreal’s fast and heavy forecheck. The most personal, one-on-one conversation Wheeler and I have ever had took place in Winnipeg’s dressing room last season. Heading into Monday night’s game, Maurice had billed the series as a battle for the blue paint. We were talking about the Jets’ six-game loss to St. Louis in the 2019 playoffs and Wheeler’s frustration with the way that it was handled by the It was quite simple, he said. Montreal was getting to the patch of ice in media — particularly when it came to Scheifele’s exit interview that front of Connor Hellebuyck while Winnipeg was failing to do the same spring. against Price. “There were some things that were said that were just blatantly There is a truth to that. As a rule, the Jets did fail to get to the most incorrect,” Wheeler told me. “That’s what made me mad. Just blast us dangerous areas from which to score. about how we played. We didn’t play well in game six and we lost. Write 10 articles about that and you’d be right. We didn’t show up. I don’t think There is also a crucial link between getting to the paint and how each that’s a character flaw — I just think we ran out of juice.” team plays in transition. When Artturi Lehkonen scored to put Montreal up 2-0, his goal was the tail end of a play started by the Canadiens The idea that “losing is not a character flaw” has stuck with me. stuffing Winnipeg’s breakout attempt. Yes, Lehkonen got his goal right in front of Hellebuyck but he was only justified in driving the net because I don’t think that Winnipeg’s utter dominance at the hands of Montreal Montreal had possession of the puck. reflects some kind of moral failure on the part of the Jets. I don’t think criticism of the Jets’ performance is unwarranted, either, given that It’s one thing to say the Jets needed to get traffic in front of Price. dominance. But players can’t go to the net blindly: They need solid possession in the And when Maurice talks about his team coming into its prime, I think of offensive zone plus the reasonable expectation the puck will get there 34-year-old Wheeler — the player who would play through cracked ribs if too. he thought it would help his team win. Wheeler’s 46-point, 50-game season was hampered by injury — this much is clear. But Wheeler was fifth in 5-on-5 points per minute on the Jets this season, trailing Nik Ehlers, Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Adam Lowry. The Jets captain continues to be at the heart of Winnipeg’s leadership efforts but, after a long career of being one of the best 5-on-5 players on the planet, his production rate is falling. So the idea of his coach talking about Winnipeg’s prime as the future — while still playing Wheeler like a top line winger — shows insight into the team’s current strengths. Ehlers, Scheifele, and Connor are in their mid-20’s, the age at which players’ production tends to already be at its peak. They may yet improve as individuals but they are in the heart of their career by any publicly available aging curve. Their prime, statistically speaking, is right now. So Maurice can sell hope. But the truth is every year that GM Kevin Cheveldayoff fails to provide a viable top-four defence while Winnipeg’s forwards are in their prime is a year of wasted opportunity. And, if Cheveldayoff has in fact provided that defence — be it Heinola, Samberg, Stanley, or whomever — then every year Maurice and Huddy choose to play veterans like Beaulieu and Forbort over their youth is a wasted opportunity. Pinpointing the disconnect is difficult to do but, with so much young talent on the way, it’s clear that Winnipeg will need to change its approach to make the most out of its current window. Because, in the end, a lack of success is never quite as painful as a lack of success paired with genuine promise. Without hope, there is no heartbreak. And that brings us back to the Jets’ performance in Round 2. After giving their fans so much to look forward to with a stunning, astonishingly close sweep of the Edmonton Oilers, the Jets crashed and burned early, putting an instant end to those same hopes. “I think that’s one of the most disappointing things,’ said Wheeler. “People had nothing to do and we were giving them something to do and so we feel bad about that.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 Vancouver Canucks something, just do it. How he handled it, conducted himself and the 1189440 standard he held himself to, I was impressed.

“It was the poise and the trust we earned for them (coaches) to play us Troy Stecher puts golden exclamation mark on year of struggles, sorrow as much as they did. The first game, he played two minutes and in the end 27. He’s not overly offensive or defensive, he’s just a good two-way player. When he matures, he’s going to be one of the top defencemen. Ben Kuzma “To see him flourish this early was pretty incredible.” Publishing date: Jun 08, 2021 Gallant, a former Jack Adams Trophy winner who has already interviewed with the New York Rangers, was just as impressive.

“If he snapped at you on the bench it wasn’t that he was going to bury Canada's Troy Stecher speaks to a referee during a game June 1. He set you or sit you for the rest of the game,” said Stecher. “He was going to up the overtime winner against Russia on Thursday. give you an opportunity to make up for your mistake. And having the However, when Team Canada general manager Roberto Luongo offered young team we did, it helped a lot of guys to keep playing. the former Vancouver Canucks defenceman a roster spot for the 2021 “He’s an awesome coach and will be back in the league next year for world championship tournament in Riga, Latvia, he didn’t think twice sure.” about representing his country and helping it rally to capture gold.

And in a year where the Richmond native was rocked by the sudden death of his father, Peter, endured the disappointment of not being Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.09.2021 retained by his hometown club and then slogged through a COVID- challenging and difficult season with the struggling Detroit Red Wings, he wasn’t going into hiding. That’s not Stecher. Never was and never will be. He won silver with Team Canada at the 2019 world championship in Slovakia and his latest adventure started with a simple ‘yes’, and ended in elation. “It was automatic for me and an experience I’ll never forget,” the jet- lagged Stecher said Tuesday from his off-season Vancouver home. “There were multiple reasons. One was not interrupting representing your country every single time. I was never even considered for the World Juniors and never got a phone call. “I should probably say never say never, but I’m not going to get a call for the Olympic team (2022) and when you see a Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) number call you and it’s Roberto Luongo, it’s hard to say no. And knowing I’d be stuck in quarantine when I came back to Vancouver after the season, it was an opportunity to keep playing. “It’s what I’ve always known and still love to do. And it’s understanding who I am as a player and a person to try and prolong my NHL carer as long as I can and adding to my resume.” Stecher cherished an alternate captain’s role and pairing with Owen Power, the consensus first-overall selection for the NHL draft on July 23- 24. He marvelled at the resolve of veteran NHL coach Gerard Gallant and willingness of teammates to rally from a 0-3 start to claim gold with a 3-2 overtime victory over Finland on Sunday. Stecher, who logged a game-high 27:46 minutes and had four shots in the tourney finale, started the scoring sequence that led to Nick Paul’s winner. That effort would have resonated with his late father, who was his coach, mentor and tough taskmaster. “He would have been proud,” said the 27-year-old Stecher, who has a year left on his Wings’ contract that pays US$2.2 million in total salary. “It was just the way he raised me. Blue collar. Keep your mouth shut and work for everything you’re given. Good things happen to good people and that’s what I try to pride myself on — being a good teammate and lead by example with my work ethic.” Stecher also set up a 2-1 overtime victory over Russia to advance to the semifinals with a highlight-reel effort. His toe-drag and slipping the puck between his skates froze a defender in the high slot before he slipped a cross-crease backhander to Andrew Mangiapane for the winner. “I tried it in practice the day before and (assistant GM) Shane Doan grabbed me at dinner and told me to pull off that move, but I said I’m not one of those guys in the NHL,” recalled Stecher. “I don’t have the confidence to do it. I kind of blacked out when I did it and it was a very cool feeling.” Stecher was buoyed by how his pro peers prepared themselves and by not only seeing the present, but also the game’s future. “Owen Power is going to be the first-overall pick,” Stecher said of the 6- foot-5, 211 pound Mississauga, Ont., native, who had 16 points (3-13) in 26 games as an NCAA rookie with the University of Michigan. “He would ask me questions on the bench and for me it would be: ‘Dude, you’re arguably better than me now and you’re going to be better than me next year.’ “I told him to just do your thing. I’m going to be your eyes and yell at you to pass the puck or go quick up. And if you have the confidence to do Websites History: The 2019 and 2020 series lasted a total of nine games, with 1189441 Boston winning eight of them. They have two other meetings in the Hurricanes era, which they’ve split, plus two more from the Whalers days. The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Every possible Stanley Cup playoff matchup we could see in the last two rounds, ranked Worth considering: The 2019 series was a bust, with Boston outscoring Carolina 17-5. Last year was better with four one-goal games. But, for some reason, these two teams don’t seem to click when it comes to classic playoff excitement. Third time’s the charm? By Sean McIndoe Overall rating: C+. Honestly, this wouldn’t be awful. If it’s the second- Jun 8, 2021 worst matchup to look forward to, we’re in decent shape. 16: Canadiens vs. Lightning We’re making our way through the second round of the playoffs and, it’s The matchup: The defending champs face the postseason’s best probably fair to say it’s been a mixed bag so far. Some of the games, underdog story. especially in the West and Central, have been a relentless adrenaline rush of high-octane hockey. Other games, especially in the North, have Or as we’d call it: The rematch of the series that gave us the stupid awful been, uh, not that. But that’s OK, because the beauty of the first two no-good offside review. rounds of the playoffs is that there’s always something for everybody. When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. Great. What’s next? Best-case scenario: Can a team with a top goalie and a commitment to Within days, we’ll be moving forward to the next round, and that’s where defense shut down an opponent with arguably the most firepower in the the spotlight gets brightest. We won’t have multiple games a night to entire league? Sigh, let’s pretend we don’t already know the answer is choose from. No more flipping back and forth, or abandoning a boring yes. game for a more interesting one. Once we get to the third round and beyond, you can’t push any matchup to the background. They’re all front- History: They’ve faced off in the playoffs three times, including back-to- and-center, all of the time. So they’d better be good. back meetings in 2014 and 2015, the latter of which still haunts us to this day. Habs fans might also recognize Ryan McDonagh and Mikhail Will this year’s matchups be good? We don’t know exactly what they’ll be Sergachev, so that’s fun. yet, but the possibilities are narrowing. With last night’s elimination of the Jets, we’re down to seven teams. If you run the combinations, that gives Worth considering: These two teams are normally in the same division, us six potential round three pairings that are still in play, and a dozen and the Lightning are 10-1-1 against Montreal over their last three more in the Stanley Cup Final, for 18 possible matchups that could be in seasons. our future. Overall rating: C+. Am I holding a grudge over the offside thing? Only three of those will actually happen, but I believe in being prepared. Absolutely, thanks for noticing. So today, let’s look at each potential matchup that’s still on the table, and 15: Islanders vs. Hurricanes rank them from the least appetizing to the ones we should all be rooting for. Will you agree with each and every ranking? (Checks list.) Yeah The matchup: A rematch of the 2019 second-round series that, uh, actually, you will, I think I pretty much nailed it. wasn’t good. A quick spoiler alert: Most of these are actually really good. We could be Or as we’d call it: The Sebastian Aho “There Can Be Only One” in for a really fun final month. Let’s start getting ahead of ourselves… Showdown. 18: Canadiens vs. Islanders When it could happen: Third round. The matchup: An Islanders team with the reputation for trying to grind out Best-case scenario: This would absolutely have the potential to be the boring 2-1 wins that put everyone to sleep faces off with a team that “Holy crap both of these fan bases are having a contest to see who can actually does that. be the most insane at their home games” series of the playoffs. Or as we’d call it: The Pierre Turgeon Cup. History: The 2019 matchup was their only one, even dating back to the Whalers era. When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. Worth considering: Here’s my big concern. If this series happens, it Best-case scenario: This matchup doesn’t happen. means that the Islanders survived a war against the Bruins and the History: They’ve faced each other in the postseason four times, most Hurricanes fought back from down 3-1 to the Lightning. Would either recently in the 1993 conference finals that nobody remembers. That’s team have anything left? weird, right? Those Habs were a team of destiny and the Islanders were Overall rating: B-. You could have some fun with a storyline of a Barry a classic underdog story and they met in the conference final, and I have Trotz team trying to shut down a high-powered offense. But if you’re into zero recollection of any of it. This might be a me problem. that, the Islanders may have better opponents than the Hurricanes Worth considering: Look, a win is a win and we know that defense is lurking. what works in the playoffs. And it’s not like either of these teams plays a 14. Bruins vs. Golden Knights boring, passive trap. They forecheck relentlessly and battle for every inch of the ice, and on a certain level that’s brilliant hockey to watch. Maybe if The matchup: Two teams with recent Cup Final losses, one of which you millennials didn’t grow up on video games and need the instant would get another one. gratification of “goals” and “scoring chances” and “entertainment”, you could actually appreciate real hockey. Or as we’d call it: The Battle of the Black and Gold? I don’t know, these can’t all be winners. But yeah, this would be completely unwatchable. When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. Overall rating: C-. The odds of us getting this as a Final are roughly 90 percent, by the way. Best-case scenario: The Bruins went full neon for a game at a ski resort, imagine what they’d do for a Cup Final in Las Vegas. Oh, the games 17: Hurricanes vs. Bruins would probably be good too. The matchup: A matchup that’s great on paper but hasn’t been very good History: They’ve played each other six times ever, I’m not sure what to in reality gets a third straight chance to live up to the hype. tell you. Or as we’d call it: The Glen Wesley Cup. No? Dougie Hamilton maybe? Worth considering: The Bruins were rumored to be in on Alex Pietrangelo before he chose Vegas in the offseason, while the Knights apparently When it could happen: Third round. dropped in on the Taylor Hall bidding at the last minute at the deadline. Best-case scenario: After having their season ended by the Bruins in Overall rating: B. I’m not saying I want to see the Vegas pre-game knight short series in each of the last two years, Carolina shows that they’ve fight a live bear, I’m saying I need to see it. learned something and show up ready to give Boston a tougher fight. 13. Islanders vs. Lightning The matchup: Arguably the two best coaches in the league, and the 9. Avalanche vs. Bruins teams that play pretty much exactly how they want them to. The matchup: Two teams that realized it’s a lot easier to build a Cup Or as we’d call it: A rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference finals. contender when your all-world players are willing to play for a cap hit of $6 million. When it could happen: Third round. Or as we’d call it: Winner Gets Custody of Ray Bourque’s Retired Best-case scenario: Last year’s matchup wasn’t great — remember that Number weird 8-2 opener? — but it got good near the end, with a pair of overtime decisions to close it out. When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. History: Apart from last year’s meeting, they’ve had two other playoff Best-case scenario: I feel like some fans might be a little disappointed series. The Lightning have won them all. that we weren’t getting a Central vs. West Final, but this series could be great. The Bruins have been to the Final three times in the last decade Worth considering: It would be fun for Islanders fans to squint at the and they’ve all been classics. Lightning blue-and-white uniforms, pretend they’re the Leafs, and just boo the crap out of Steven Stamkos. History: None to speak of apart from the Bourque trade, although the Bruins did once kick an old coach to Colorado. Overall rating: B. This one’s a lot like a few other Islanders matchups we’ll meet, but those would come in the Final so we’ll nudge this one Worth considering: Nazem Kadri vs. the Bruins. (shudders) down a few slots. Overall rating: B+. Also, some of us have been doing the “Taylor Hall to 12. Golden Knights vs. Canadiens Colorado” bit for like three years now with no luck, so him scoring the Cup-winning goal to beat the Avs would be a nice touch. The matchup: The league’s oldest team against its newest. (Settle down Kraken fans, you don’t count yet.) 8. Hurricanes vs. Avalanche Or as we’d call it: The Max Pacioretty/Nick Suzuki Revenge Series The matchup: Two pretty fantastic teams. We don’t have to overthink all of these. When it could happen: Third round. Or as we’d call it: Nordiques vs. Whalers in the 1986 Adams Division Best-case scenario: Like a few of these matchups, this one would be the semi-final. Habs trying to shut down a team with lots of offensive firepower. That’s an interesting angle, but what would really drive the narratives here When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. would be Pacioretty and Suzuki, who were traded for each other in 2018. Plus it would be cute when Tomas Tatar tried to tell us he was in that Best-case scenario: This could be so much fun. Both teams can fly, deal too but nobody noticed. there’s a ton of offensive skill, and both coaches seem like they’re one bad week from flipping a table during a post-game zoom meeting. History: Nothing apart from that trade. History: Nothing much, although they were a game away from meeting Worth considering: Rough series for the “you need an established stud for the 2002 Cup. center to win” crowd. Worth considering: It would be fun to hear Pierre McGuire explain how Overall rating: B. Bonus points for Carey Price trying to get to his first these two teams playing in the Final somehow proves that analytics don’t Final by beating the best French-Canadian goalie of his generation. work. 11. Golden Knights vs. Islanders Overall rating: A-. We’re into the A-tier, where you could move any series up or down a few spots and nobody would argue with you. The matchup: A fan base that saw a dynasty and then decades of irrelevance faces one that hasn’t tasted either extreme. 7. Canadiens vs. Avalanche Or as we’d call it: Barry Trotz vs. The Golden Knights for the Cup, the The matchup: A clash of styles, and probably a big mismatch according rematch to the oddsmakers, who are never wrong. When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. Or as we’d call it: The Patrick Roy Cup. Best-case scenario: Like a lot of these potential Islanders matchups, it When it could happen: Third round. involves them trying to shut down their opponent, not quite being able to, and then New York saying “OK, we can score too” and unleashing Best-case scenario: Roy himself shows up, slips behind the Montreal Mathew Barzal and friends. bench as if he’s the coach, yells at all the Avs young players for celebrating wrong, tries to fight both goalies, and gets thrown out of the History: None for the teams, although Trotz having beaten the Knights in building before the anthem. Not once, I mean that all happens before the Final just three years ago would add a bit of spice. every game. Worth considering: There’s also the Robin Lehner factor, although we’d History: The Habs and Avs have never met in the playoffs, but in a need him to get back into the starter’s net for that to have much impact. different era they had one of the most brutal rivalries in NHL history. Overall rating: B. Let’s address the elephant in the room: This is turning Worth considering: A reader suggested that the Avalanche show up for into a rough column for Islanders fans. I’m sorry guys, I didn’t plan it this Game 3 in Montreal wearing their Nordiques throwbacks and now I can’t way. There just aren’t any matchups on the Islanders’ horizon that really think of anything else. stand out. If it’s any consolation, the hockey gods hate me so this basically guarantees your team is going to win the Cup in an all-time Overall rating: A-. By the way, this would be the Avs’ first trip to the classic everyone will love. But yeah, might as well get the last one out of conference finals/semi-final in 20 years, which seems like it can’t be right the way while we’re at it … but is. 10. Avalanche vs. Islanders 6. Lightning vs. Bruins The matchup: Lou Lamoriello gets his rematch from the 2001 Cup Final. The matchup: Hello old friends. Or as we’d call it: The Semyon Varlamov Revenge Series. Unless he’s Or as we’d call it: The Atlantic Division championship. not playing, in which case I guess it’s the Devon Toews Revenge Series. When it could happen: Third round. When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. Best-case scenario: Remember last season, when these were the two Best-case scenario: See Islanders/Golden Knights. best teams in the league and some of you were hyperventilating about it in your weekly power rankings right before the league shut down? A lot History: Uh … Dale Hunter was once on the Avalanche? I got nothing. like that, minus the shutdown part. We hope. Worth considering: Varlamov is the key here since the idea of a goalie History: The Bruins won a seven-game conference finals classic in 2011. facing the team that let him walk with a Cup on the line is hard to resist. They’ve had two more meetings since, including last year, with the Lightning winning both in five games. Overall rating: B+. Drop it down a few spots if Ilya Sorokin shows up to ruin our narrative. Worth considering: Boston won the opener last year, then had a shot at a 2-0 series lead in overtime of Game 2. Tampa got the winner and swept the rest of the way, but it was that close to getting very interesting. And History: Oh, just a bit. These two teams almost always deliver something remember, Boston didn’t have Tuukka Rask for that series. memorable, whether it’s a Game 7 overtime or just some old-fashioned bad blood. They’ve met in the playoffs 34 times, including one stretch of Overall rating: A. This one would have the potential to be great, and it’s nine straight years in the 1980s and 90s. But they haven’t met in a Final kind of a shame it can’t happen in the Final. since the 1970s Habs dynasty, and with the current playoff format, this is 5. Canadiens vs. Hurricanes the only year it could ever happen. The matchup: The team that always positions themselves as gritty Worth considering: Also, every Leafs fan you know would be even more underdogs against the team that actually is one. despondent than they are right now. So that’s a plus. Or as we’d call it: The Team Chaos dream matchup Overall rating: A+. I don’t even care if it’s not a great matchup on paper, the history here would make this amazing. When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. 1. Avalanche vs. Lightning Best-case scenario: Pretty much what I laid out in that Team Chaos post, maybe minus the Storm Surge stuff depending on how much of a The matchup: They’re good. stomach you have for outrage. (We absolutely need them to do the Or as we’d call it: The “Just Hook It Into My Veins” Final. Storm Surge stuff.) When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. History: More than you’d think, including a bitter 2006 matchup and the more recent Aho offer sheet weirdness. Best-case scenario: Millions of sports fans around the globe who think hockey is boring tune in for five minutes, get hooked on how much fun Worth considering: Goaltending would be a cool subplot, as we’d get a hockey can be and become fans for life. team that went relatively cheap on the position and has started an unheralded rookie for some of its run facing a team with the most History: None between these two teams, so instead let’s point out that expensive goalie in the league, one who gains spooky superpowers as we’ve never had a Final matchup between the reigning Presidents’ games get more important. Trophy winner and the defending Cup champs. Overall rating: A. Bring the chaos. Worth considering: Yes, I know it would inevitably end up being a sweep where every game was 3-0, look just let me have this. 4. Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes Overall rating: A+. Please hockey gods, just one time. The matchup: Two very good teams that would have had to claw back from a two-game deficit in their second-round series. Or as we’d call it: Every Annoying Traditionalist Canadian’s Worst The Athletic LOADED: 06.09.2021 Nightmare When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. Best-case scenario: Both teams try to play a smart, structured style, but every now and then you see them go “Screw it, you want to go, let’s go” and unleash turbo mode. It would be cool to see that for seven straight games. History: Absolutely none, which would be half the fun of it. Worth considering: You know that annoying thing the media does for every non-traditional market where they go “Wow, this building is so loud in the playoffs, how impressive?” This time it would actually be true. Overall rating: A. Seriously, a lot of the potential Stanley Cup Final matchups are really good. I feel weird even mentioning this. Is this like a no-hitter in progress where we should all just shut up? Editors, please delete this post. 3. Lightning vs. Golden Knights The matchup: Do you like super-good hockey teams? Oh cool, you’re in luck. Or as we’d call it: The Salary Cap’s Worst Nightmare. When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. Best-case scenario: Remember when the Lightning played that first game against the Panthers and it was so good that everyone lost their minds? Imagine that, but for seven games and the Panthers are way better. History: This was one game away from being the 2018 Cup Final, but alas. Worth considering: Seriously, one of these teams used injured reserve to skirt the cap all season long and it was totally fine, the other had games in the last week where they had to play one line and two subs like they were a beer league team on Labor Day. This league is weird. Overall rating: A. The fact that this isn’t a slam dunk number one pick is kind of crazy. The next two rounds could be really, really good. 2. Canadiens vs. Bruins The matchup: Only the single most enduring rivalry in the modern era. Or as we’d call it: Don Cherry’s Revenge When it could happen: Stanley Cup Final. Best-case scenario: I’m not completely sure, but it probably involves one team taking a crucial too-many-men penalty. 1189442 Websites And the Avalanche found a way to lose it. I know, it sounds like we’re not giving enough credit to Vegas, and they

deserve plenty. But teams that have regular-season success like Sportsnet.ca / Golden Knights’ experience advantage has Avalanche on Colorado had, and then cough up third-period leads in the playoffs, are brink flawed. Now, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, this Avalanche team has to prove that they are not flawed beyond repair. Mark Spector @sportsnetspec That they can be more like Vegas. June 9, 2021, 1:36 AM “We’ve been a team for four years, we’re resilient,” said Vegas winger Jonathan Marchessault, a true gamer. “We don’t sit back. We knew we’d have a chance if we came out hard in the third period. Good teams find a The Colorado Avalanche are on the clock. way to win a game.” On the clock to prove they’re not just a roster full of regular season And team that finds a way to lose this game? danglers. On the clock to prove they are not a bunch of “morning glories,” as Pat Quinn used to say, describing players who were fantastic at the What is it we say about them? morning skate but not nearly as effective come crunch time.

Colorado has all the skill and superstar nameplates, but not enough of what Vegas has right now. The Avs are great when the going is light, Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.09.2021 when the free-flow game is zipping up and down the ice. When it comes time to win, however, they aren’t ready. Not like the Vegas Golden Knights are. The Golden Knights know what it takes, and how to get it done. They have a goalie who makes sure he is the best guardian on the ice when the chips are down — even after letting in a softy Tuesday — and a roster full of players who don’t make the fatal mistake that Colorado made three times in losing Game 5 Colorado? They wish they had what Vegas has, a savvy feeling of experience that helped them to erase a 2-0 deficit after two periods, and win Game 5 in overtime on Mark Stone’s goal. “Let’s be honest — that game should have been over after two,” admitted Stone, whose team hung around just in case Colorado felt like tossing it away, and were in perfect position to accept the opportunities when the Avalanche did just that. A giveaway by Andre Burakovsky on the kind of play that should never be made when you’re up 2-0 early in the third. Alex Tuch made it 2-1. Then Gabriel Landeskog — the captain, for Pete’s sake — makes a lateral pass on a four-on-two break that is behind Ryan Graves, hits his heel and goes the other way for a three-on-two goal. In a game of inches, Landeskog gave the Golden Knights a few feet. Maybe a few yards. It was the kind of pass that experienced, winning captains do not make — can not make — but he made it, and his team is now on the brink. In the opening minute of overtime Graves had a shot blocked, then made the brutal mistake of reloading and failing once again to get the puck through. Next thing he knew he had a front-row seat for Stone’s top shelf wrister, yet another goal that came seconds after an Avalanche player had full control of the puck with a reasonable amount of time to make the right decision. Inexcusable? If it is, head coach Jared Bednar considers his leaders too fragile to say so. “I would say, I loved the way we played tonight. I loved it,” said Bednar, who got zero results out of challenging his top players after Game 3, so clearly has chosen to stroke them instead. “We were aggressive, on our toes, playing to win the game. To our identity. “I didn’t think we had a lot of turnovers tonight. But we had three and they led to our goals against.” Colorado was 31-1-1 when leading after two periods in the regular season. They were 3-0 in the playoffs. But they choked on Tuesday night. With due respect to Vegas, the Avs choked on this game big time. “We’re here in this position because of our depth,” said Vegas coach Pete DeBoer. “The ability to play four lines, six defencemen, and our goaltender was outstanding tonight. “You’re coming into a building where this team hasn’t lost (in regulation) in 20-something games. That’s two-and-a-half months of hockey. We knew there would be moments we’d have to weather the storm. To bend but don’t break. It was a great road game, and we found a way to win in overtime.” Websites Forty seconds later, the puck was in the back of Carolina’s cage, 1189443 courtesy of a nifty backhand-to-forehand-to-backhand move by Point in tight. Sportsnet.ca / Lightning prevail on grind, experience in tough series vs. “The power play was huge for us in these playoffs and sometimes Hurricanes mistakes are going to happen and that was one of them,” said Vasilevskiy of the game-changing minute. “I just tried to get across as fast as possible. (Trochek) made a good shot and I tried to react. It was a knuckleball and I got it with my glove. After that save we scored – we Eric Francis @EricFrancis helped each other.” June 8, 2021, 11:37 PM That’s what these Bolts do – they work as a unit that allows the big boys to take charge with impressive regularity, while also being able to rely on their depth charges on other nights. Their coach knows what a luxury that To suggest he was relieved would be inaccurate, because he knows is, while others refer to it as downright daunting. there’s still plenty of work to be done. With crowds theoretically becoming more and more a factor in these But ask Jon Cooper about the latest test his club just passed and the playoffs, the Lightning are now 5-1 in hostile environs. Tampa Bay Lightning coach is quick to point out its magnitude. “The road is a tough place to win, you’ve got to tip your hat to the guys – “I’ve been very fortunate to coach in a few playoffs now and those are they won three games in this building and that’s not easy,” said Cooper. two of the toughest rounds we’ve ever faced,” said Cooper following a five-game series win over the Central division-leading Carolina “It’s leadership, but I think the big thing is experience. We’ve been down Hurricanes, capped off by a 2-0 road victory on Tuesday. this road. There’s a formula in place and you need the players to execute it. I’m proud of their effort.” “It was a hell of a grind to get out of this division.”

On paper, the Lightning sure didn’t make it look that way. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.09.2021 After finishing off their upstart state rivals Florida Panthers in six, they made quick work of the league’s third-place finisher with three road wins in a building that witnessed just three regulation setbacks all season long. Remaining Time -2:56 Lightning exchange handshakes with Hurricanes after five-game series But don’t be fooled – every game against Carolina was a grind. Every game could have gone either way, but it was the defending champs whose experience, depth and poise wound up being the difference. Throw in world-class netminding and a power play operating at 41 per cent, and it’s easy to see why the Lightning are heavy favourites to roll past the winner of the Bruins/Islanders series next. This team has come an awful long way since an opening-round sweep by Columbus made the 2019 Presidents’ Trophy champions a punching bag during that summer’s NHL Awards show. They haven’t lost a series since, and when you look at how they’re constructed, one wonders how they can possibly be stopped from repeating. “We’ve got a lot of confidence in our group,” said Brayden Point, whose game-winning goal was his eighth of the playoffs, putting him on pace to eclipse his tourney-leading 14 from a year earlier. “I think we had a pretty good regular season where we were kind of building to this. We got some guys back in the lineup that definitely helped. It’s just a belief in our group. We’ve got four lines, solid defence and great goaltending. But this is not the end goal – there’s still so much work to be done. We can’t be too high here.” Remaining Time -1:08 Point fakes out Nedeljkovic, roofs it on the backhand Those players who returned to the lineup in time for the playoffs just so happen to be a former Hart Trophy winner (Nikita Kucherov) and a former Rocket Richard Trophy winner (Steven Stamkos). It meant a former top-six fixture like Tyler Johnson was suddenly a fourth-line luxury alongside Pat Maroon, who’s gunning for his third- straight Cup. On Tuesday, they took their turn being difference-makers with a solid game, capped by a third-period insurance marker from rookie linemate Ross Colton. Earlier, Maroon drew the penalty that led to Point’s opening goal. Fresh off completing his fourth-straight season atop the NHL wins column, Andrei Vasilevskiy made 29 saves in the shutout, marking the third-straight series he’s clinched with a goose egg. His brilliance was on full display early in the second period of a scoreless game when a spectacular glove save robbed Vincent Trochek on a 2-on-1 while the Canes were short-handed. 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 active on Canucks Twitter, which knows Stecher as “Troy from 1189444 Richmond.”

“I actually missed his call when I was having breakfast in Detroit, but I got Sportsnet.ca / Troy Stecher guided by divine hand en route to gold with a text from the same Fort Lauderdale number,” Stecher said. “When I Canada called him back, I said, ‘Is this Roberto Luongo?’ He said: ‘Yeah, is this Troy from Richmond?’ We had a good laugh. Obviously, he’s got a big personality on Twitter so (the conversation) kind of flourished right away from there we just kind of got down to business. Iain MacIntyre @imacSportsnet “Just Lou being Lou, I couldn’t say no. As everybody knows, I was a June 8, 2021, 8:35 PM diehard Canucks fan so that was such a unique experience to be able to converse with him and get an invitation from him. At the same time, I knew how big an honour it is to represent Canada.” VANCOUVER – In the final words to his son, discovered in a letter written before he died suddenly last Father’s Day, Peter Stecher told his Stecher was part of the previous Canadian team at the worlds, in 2019, youngest boy, Troy, how proud he was about his son making the NHL, which lost the final 3-1 to Finland in Slovakia. He and Adam Henrique of but that there would be more obstacles to overcome. the Anaheim Ducks were the only returning players from that team. “How there’s no straight road in this world,” Troy Stecher shared with Unable by COVID restrictions to leave their hotel in Riga except for Sportsnet last summer. “There are always going to be bumps and practices and games, the Canadians spent hours getting to know each bruises and you just keep going through it.” other in the players’ lounge, Stecher said. That advice has carried Stecher through the 12 months since then. He became especially close with Mangiapane, the Calgary Flame who surprised everyone but Stecher in the Canadian contingent by calling him Think you know how this year's playoffs will unfold? Before every round, “Tony.” from Round 1 to the Stanley Cup Final, predict the winners and number of games for each series and answer a few prop questions. That little-known nickname from the Canucks originated from Stecher’s pro hockey debut with the Utica Comets in 2016. The Toronto Marlies’ It was with him last fall when the Vancouver Canucks surprisingly balked game sheet that night erroneously listed him as Tony Strecher. Utica at re-signing their home-town defenceman and Stecher, 27, chose to be assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner began calling him Tony, and the part of a Steve Yzerman’s rebuilding Detroit Red Wings team that nickname moved to the Canucks with Stecher when he was promoted to finished 27th in the NHL the previous season. the NHL after only four games in the minors. And Peter’s words resonated at the world championships in Latvia, Mangiapane learned the nickname from Flames Jacob Markstrom, Chris where Troy was one of the leaders on a largely anonymous Canadian Tanev and Josh Leivo, all ex-Canucks. To pass time in the bubble, team that lost its first three games before incredibly roaring to the world Stecher said he and Mangiapane FaceTimed Tanev and Milan Lucic, the title. Team Canada upset Russia, the United States and Finland in its Flame who trains with Stecher in the summer. final three games, twice winning in overtime and claiming a spectacularly improbable gold medal on Sunday. “I’ve definitely made a new friend for life,” he said of Mangiapane. “It was awesome that we could connect there for a game-winning goal — a guy I “It’s been very difficult mentally,” Stecher said of the last year. “(But) just used to hate playing against when I was in Vancouver. to win right before Father’s Day — we’re coming up on a year now since my dad’s passing — I really couldn’t imagine a better ending to the “It’s just funny with hockey players, you hate each other on the ice and season. Being able to represent my country and the winning goal, then you get traded or you come together on a team like Canada. . . and coming from behind, you can kind of break down every single instance it’s like you kind of forget about the hatred that you had and become where it felt like there was something tragic or not going positively and really good friends. That’s the thing I’ll remember most — the then it all ended up working out. You could say that about the relationships I’ve built with those guys, and then capping it off with gold.” tournament, you could say that about my season. More than anything, I’ve learned a lot about myself as an individual.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.09.2021 Stecher has started working with renowned sports psychologist Saul Miller, talking to him about hockey and his dad, who died suddenly of complications from diabetes at age 65. “I talked to my brother and sister right after (the gold-medal game) and they were saying how proud Dad would be,” Troy said. “I don’t know spiritually if he was there or not, but for my own personal sake, I imagine he was and that’s all the comfort I need.” There certainly seemed to be a divine hand guiding Stecher in the quarterfinals against Russia when the defenceman from Richmond, B.C., brilliantly set up Andrew Mangiapane’s winner in overtime by pulling the puck between his own skates to embarrass Ivan Morozov, then badly fooling defenceman Nikita Nesterov before passing across the goalmouth. Until they lost to Canada, the Russians had looked untouchable. Stecher pulled off the same drag move at practice the day before and Team Canada assistant general manager Shane Doan urged him to try it in a game. Nobody figured it would be the next day, in overtime, to beat Russia. “It’s amazing how many thoughts go through your mind at that moment,” Stecher said. “It seems like it’s going so fast, but it’s really like kind of slow motion. The game before against Finland, I was in the situation Mangiapane was in (with the puck on the rush), and I hit Maxime Comtois late as the trailer and he got his shot blocked. So when I got the puck (as the trailer) from Mangiapane, I knew that their forward was going to sell out just to block the shot because you’re in a desperate situation. Once I froze him, then the Shane Doan thought came into my head, and then the instincts kicked in and I pulled it off and just kind of blacked out from there. I’ve thought about it a little bit since then. That will for sure go down as my nicest highlight when my hockey career is over.” An ardent Canucks’ fan growing up, Stecher was invited to the worlds by former Vancouver star Roberto Luongo, Team Canada’s GM. Both are Websites Connor Brown’s breakthrough has been just as dramatic. Though he was 1189445 appreciated by those in the know with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015-19, he was let go via trade with Ottawa in 2019 because of Toronto’s salary cap issues. That trade, which brought the RW Brown Sportsnet.ca / Senators’ Brown, Paul hope to bring golden-goal magic to and defenceman Nikita Zaitsev to the Senators for Codi Ceci and Ben Ottawa next season Harpur, as the main names in the deal, may go down as one of Ottawa’s best. The Leafs, meanwhile, could have used Brown’s will and firepower in a first-round playoff loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Wayne Scanlan When the Senators didn’t make the playoffs, Brown, Paul and JBD said June 8, 2021, 1:46 PM yes to Canada and made the most of what was a challenging experience. Brown said there were times when the hotel lockdown was tough on players’ mental health, especially when Canada started the tournament Connor Brown had his hands all over Canada’s gold-medal win at the 0-3 and needed help to qualify for the medal round. world hockey championships. “We thought we had the best team in the medal round, but we needed Brown set up all three goals in a 3-2 victory over Finland, but his that opportunity,” Brown said in an interview with Sportsnet. resounding tweet was about his partner in crime. Canada followed a hard road, through Russia, USA and Finland to win it “Nick Paul does it all,” Brown tweeted to the world, following Sunday’s all. overtime win. All Brown did was lead the tournament in scoring with 16 points while That saying, we are discovering, was born in the Ottawa Senators establishing an all-time Canadian record at the worlds with 14 assists. dressing room this spring and made it all the way to Latvia for the worlds. Not bad for a “defensive forward.” It was Senators teammates Brown and Chris Tierney who started the “Paul does it all” mantra. At times, Paul is simply called ‘Does it All,’ for To paraphrase Bobby Ryan, Brown came in hot to Latvia. his all-round play up and down Ottawa’s lineup. With the Senators, Brown, 27, exploded out of his defensive duties to If Paul “Does it All,” Brown predicted it all. As Brown and Paul were lead Ottawa in goals with a career-high 21 in 56 games. He was second warming up for the finale, Brown told Paul about this “crazy feeling” he in points with 35. His 17.1 shooting percentage was second only to Josh had. “This game is going to overtime and I’m passing you the winner,” Norris. Brown said. Five of Brown’s goals came shorthanded, the most in the NHL. Brown Paul replied: “That sounds great, but let’s try to get it done before then so and Paul were a regular PK tandem and Brown led the team in we don’t have to get the nerves going.” shorthanded time on ice. Being opportunistic while a man short is a mindset, Brown says. “It ended up happening, which is crazy,” Paul said in an interview Tuesday. “When we don’t have the puck we are playing our spots and when we get it we think, ‘Go!’” Brown says. “You often get into situations with a You know how it played out because you’ve watched the replay a forward back on defence or an odd-numbered rush, two on one, it really hundred times — Paul and Brown breaking up ice during the 3-on-3 OT, is an opportunity.” the lefty Paul passing to the right-handed shooting Brown on the left; Brown using his skate to control the puck before sliding a forehand pass “Not only that, it puts them on their heels and makes them think about us. through the crease to Paul. Paul tapped home the Golden Goal. “With the PK, you think about kill percentages but if we score five to 10 Madness ensued. shorties as a group in a given year that brings that percentage up. I think “He told me I was getting the winner, so I had to put it in his skates, so it it’s an underrated part of the kill.” would follow through, right?” Paul laughs. “If I had given him a good pass From late March to early April, Brown’s Sherwood Code V stick was so it might not have worked out.” hot at even strength and while shorthanded, it’s a wonder it wasn’t Though Brown was usually lined up with Adam Henrique and Andrew declared illegal. Once renowned for missing on breakaway opportunities, Mangiapane, to form an explosive line for Canada, Gerard Gallant and he was pouring pucks into the net — setting a Senators record with goals his staff used Brown and Paul as one of the OT forward pairs because in eight straight games. Shades of his 45-goal, 128-point season with the they knew the two had chemistry as teammates and as a penalty-killing OHL Erie Otters in 2013-14. tandem. They were also in on eight of Canada’s nine playoff goals. Considering he started most of his shifts in the defensive zone, his “We read off each other so well, we communicate,” Paul says. “When the offensive turnaround was all the more remarkable. coach called the pairings and we were together, we kind of looked at Brown says he put so much emphasis on the defensive side of his game each other and knew we were going to get it done. Brownie is an early in his career to earn the trust of his coaches that it took away from amazing player with amazing skill, he’s fast — and on that big ice, we his scoring. were excited. We wanted to be out there and we wanted to be the difference.” “I’m starting to learn that being a good defensive player doesn’t actually take anything away from your offence — just play with the puck a little It was a surreal finish for two under-appreciated players who grew up in more. Confidence is a big thing as well.” Toronto’s west end. Paul, 26, was up and down between AHL Binghamton/Belleville and Ottawa so many times between 2015-19 he This is a big summer for Brown. In August, he is getting married, and only wishes he could have claimed air miles instead of road miles. He hopes it will be a semi-normal wedding event as Ontario starts to open cleared waivers several times before finding a regular spot as a glue-guy up from the pandemic. forward in 2019-20 — his perseverance paying off in the Senators’ 2020- 21 nomination for the Masterton Trophy. He produced 20 points and was A rest is certainly in order, for Brown and Paul and their world rock solid as a defensive winger and centre. championship colleagues. “Being up and down in the ‘A’ for five years and to keep pushing and Team Canada will want to keep these two in mind for future fixtures, pushing, and to have a year like I did this year was just unbelievable… perhaps even an Olympic spot as one of the worker bees. going over and winning gold and scoring the game winner — I’m going to Brown says he hopes he gets to suit up for Canada again. Paul, of need a bit of time to take it all in.” course, was a world junior player for Canada in 2015. On Monday, back home, Paul had a pinch-me moment. “I think I proved myself a little bit and hope to get another opportunity, at “Getting all the messages from family and friends and all the hype behind a worlds or other events,” Brown says. it… I was unpacking and I took out my gold medal and I’m like — this is Playing with Anaheim’s Henrique and Mangiapane of the Calgary crazy. This is such an amazing moment. And to share it with all these Flames, Brown says he took on “the role of feeder and the line just Ottawa guys, like Connor and JBD (defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker) clicked.” and all the support staff is amazing.” Mangiapane was named tournament MVP. As the leading IIHF scorer, That massive Senators contingent included team doctor Tim Cregan, Brown could just as easily have won that award. equipment manager John Forget, assistant equipment man Alex Menezes and athletic therapist Dom Nicoletta. On a young team, wearing an ‘A’ for Canada, Brown took on a big role, including half-wall duty on the power play. It’s something he hopes to pick up on when he suits up for the Senators in the fall. He had just one power-play goal for Ottawa this year, but has the potential to score more. “I think it’s going to be great, I’m looking forward to it,” Brown says of the upcoming season with a Senators team that surged in April and May. “I’m looking to expand my offensive game to be honest. And hopefully find some new levels.” Brimming with newfound confidence, Brown and Paul can’t wait to get the party started in Ottawa this fall.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.09.2021 Websites been taken to the woodshed. Colorado’s middle-six forwards in particular 1189446 have spent the entire series in the defensive zone, and the non-Cale Makar blueline pairings have too. Which third-round matchup should Montreal want? All this to say: If Colorado doesn’t have the puck, they look a lot less lethal. We weren’t sure if any team could slow them down, but the Golden Knights have done just that. And if you are Montreal – a very strong even-strength team in their own right – that’s intriguing. By Travis Yost Vegas may not have the most talented roster, but they certainly appear Travis Yost to be the most structured and disciplined team left. We’re seeing what that sort of combination can do to talent – even talent as great as Colorado’s. The biggest story in the National Hockey League is easy. It’s the Montreal Canadiens and their Cinderella run through the North Division. You didn’t forget about this game, did you? Their effort has been remarkable; their goaltending even better. The Golden Knights may have looked the better of the two sides in this What makes Cinderella stories so captivating? They usually burn out second-round matchup, but there is plenty to fear about playing the over time, the result of teams having to face increasingly difficult Avalanche. Chief among those components: Colorado’s star power can competition. be overwhelming, and Vegas has a history now of struggling to find scoring in the postseason. That is what makes the Canadiens so fascinating. However bullish or bearish you are on the Toronto Maple Leafs, they were a clear favourite The first point is rather straightforward. The MacKinnon line – save in Round 1 after finishing 48 goals better than the Habs in the regular- maybe the Connor McDavid line in Edmonton – has been the most season standings. electric scoring trio in the league for some time. Colorado doesn’t even have to be playing particularly well for MacKinnon’s line (he’s generally Toronto’s stars didn’t show up in the first-round series, and the defensive played with Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog) to explode. mistakes were there in spades. Montreal applied the requisite pressure – and capitalized on the opportunities they had – en route to the upset. It Offensively, they really are without comparison. Consider their offensive was a total team accomplishment. production as a unit over the league relative to league averages at even strength: Then the Canadiens improved upon that, sweeping the Winnipeg Jets in stunning fashion. Finding a team equipped to handle that level of offensive volume is rather difficult. It usually relies on an elite possession team with strong Montreal deserves immense credit. They also are going to have a goaltending behind it, and nothing less than that. serious jump in competition in the next round. Whether it’s the Colorado Avalanche or Vegas Golden Knights, it’s likely Montreal will be facing the The other obvious component of concern playing the Avalanche: their best team remaining. power play is absolutely terrifying. They have twisted the penalty kills of St. Louis and Vegas into pretzels, scoring on a whopping 41 per cent of Colorado (+64) and Vegas (+67) led regular-season goal differentials by their opportunities this postseason. a considerable margin. There are no weaknesses on either roster, and their series deadlock at two games apiece seemed inevitable. I’ve said it Of course, this is a carry-over from the regular season, where the before, but the pace of this series is unlike anything we have seen in Avalanche were one of the most productive teams up a man – a stark recent history. contrast from Vegas’ mediocrity there: It is a fascinating thought exercise to consider which matchup makes There is too much speed and shooting talent on the Avs power play to more sense for the Canadiens. Styles make fights. So, if you are a close down all attacking options, and even if you had the personnel to Montreal Canadiens fan eager to see your team through to the Stanley effectively rotate in the defensive third, the puck movement is too fast. Cup, which of the two would you most want to play? Ultimately you get an Avalanche power-play unit that is generating heaps The upside of playing Colorado of shots against overburdened goaltenders, with plenty of those shots coming from the circles and the low slot area (via HockeyViz): Since we are really talking in relative terms, it’s impossible to ignore what Vegas has done to Colorado in this series. Despite the series being tied, Every team would be fearful of Colorado’s prowess here, but perhaps Vegas has absolutely pulverized the Avalanche at even strength – a core doubly so for Montreal – the Canadiens finished just 25th in the league competency of the Canadiens. on the penalty kill, conceding 8.1 goals per 60 minutes there. Said another way: Montreal’s penalty kill seems capable of handling a I’ve shown this graph a couple of times, but the Avalanche are in the middling Vegas power-play unit, but Colorado is another story. middle of a beating the team hasn’t seen in years: In many ways, selecting the preferred opponent for Montreal may be an What has been true about Colorado for a couple of seasons now – exercise in splitting hairs. The Canadiens will be a considerable unwavering dominance at even strength – has run into a wall. underdog in either series, but with all four lines clicking and a future Hall- of-Fame goaltender in net, the Canadiens have a puncher’s chance. The Avalanche have employed a punishing degree of speed, complementing their star power up front, to pummel teams in the The question is: Which of these two teams do you want in the ring? offensive zone.

This season alone they finished a jaw-dropping 868 shots better than their opponents – Montreal (+449) and Vegas (+359) were also in the top TSN.CA LOADED: 06.09.2021 five, if you want to understand just how extraordinary that accomplishment was. That volume turned into goals more often than not, with the Avalanche scoring 139 even-strength goals (second in the league). Few considered the possibility of a team being able to neutralize Colorado’s speed, but Vegas has in considerable fashion. The Avalanche blueline has been unable to deal with the Golden Knights’ forecheck. This does not look like the same team that was 868 shots better than their opponents in 56 regular-season games. I pay specific attention to the Nathan MacKinnon line, which has had a difficult time against the Mark Stone line. In 33 head-to-head minutes, the Avs’ big line has fought to break-even, and has yet to score a single goal against Vegas’ top line. Colorado does have the requisite depth to overcome a top line’s struggles, but not in a matchup against Vegas. While the MacKinnon line has had very limited success at even strength (some positive minutes there against the Jonathan Marchessault group), the rest of the team has Websites developing the sport in Kenya. It allows participants to dream big, not just 1189447 in sports but also in other areas of their lives.

“The players just see the world differently when they start playing,” he Kylington, Oduya helping to grow hockey in Africa said. “The world now is no longer just Nairobi. It’s not where they live. All of a sudden, they have a chance to go somewhere internationally…at least you have the opportunity to think that way now.” By Salim Valji Chances are Kylington, Oduya and Colby will find themselves together on that same parking lot in Nairobi for puck drop again in the near future.

While their first voyage to Kenya was short, Oduya and Kylington plan to On the same weekend the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was return in a year to bring even more gear, play more games, and further being played in North America, a different hockey game featuring NHL integrate into the culture. talent was taking place in a large parking lot on the streets of Nairobi, Kenya. Their ultimate goal is to introduce Africans to hockey, both for exercise and as a tool for social mobility. Twenty-four-year-old Calgary Flames defenceman Oliver Kylington and 39-year-old Johnny Oduya, who played 850 games in the NHL from “It’s a way for them to come to the rink, stay out of trouble, and do 2006-18, were in the East African country playing roller hockey with positive things,” Oduya said. locals and the Kenya Ice Lions, the nation’s only team playing organized hockey. For both of them, it has meant even more than that. The pair of defencemen also donated equipment through sponsors, “I would say it’s been the best trip of my life so far,” Kylington said. visited neighbourhoods and met with locals. “I’m taking a lot with me. It’s been amazing. It’s so hard to put into words. To plan the weekend, Kylington and Oduya collaborated with the Ice For me as a grown-up now, coming back to Africa, you understand more Lions, who play in a country that has just one ice hockey rink. It’s located about stuff in life. You’re seeing what people really fight for and how in a hotel but has been shut down for more than a year due to the hockey can bring joy to them. It’s amazing and unbelievable to see that COVID-19 pandemic. passion…just them loving the game.” Comprised of mainly adult males, the Ice Lions compete in intrasquad “You get touched emotionally in a different way when you’re there,” games and bring in guest players to participate as well. Oduya said. “In some ways it’s challenging to visit, but there’s so much enthusiasm from them. The kids we met have the mindset of possibility.” “We brought these plastic pucks and they were shooting and guys were going down, blocking shots with no equipment,” Kylington said from Nairobi. “I would never see a Swedish kid do that. We’re like, ‘What is TSN.CA LOADED: 06.09.2021 going on here?’” “It’s almost like watching a Stanley Cup Final,” said Oduya, who was born in Stockholm and won Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015. “They’re playing on the street on a Sunday for three hours. It’s fascinating.’” Kylington and Oduya have known each other since Kylington’s father introduced them when he was around eight years old. Oduya became a big brother to Kylington, someone with many shared experiences as a fellow hockey-playing Swede with African heritage. Kylington’s mother is from the Eastern African country of Eritrea, while Oduya’s father is from the Luo tribe of Kenya. After meeting, they've gone on to train and vacation together over the years. Now, they are trying to grow the sport together on the continent of their ancestors. “It’s been mind-blowing meeting people and seeing that passion for hockey in their eyes,” Kylington said. This was the first time he’d been to Africa since he was 10. “It’s been really humbling to see where the kids playing here have grown up,” he said. “You get a lot of perspective. You realize quickly not to take things for granted.” Recently, Oduya created a sports performance brand called Atunya, a word from the Luo tribe which means relentless. “So, like the action of the lion,” Oduya said, “I wanted to tie it in and try to open up quite a segregated game, which hockey is.” Three years ago, the Ice Lions were flown to Toronto to play their first organized games and met Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Colorado Avalanche star centre Nathan MacKinnon. A video documenting that trip went viral. Now, the NHLers are coming to them. “They put on a huge show,” Ice Lions coach Tim Colby, a Canadian diplomat, said. “They brought tons of gear and jerseys. Things like that are really inspiring for the team.” He was also impressed with how Oduya and Kylington genuinely wanted to learn about the country’s life and culture. Kylington did much of the legwork in terms of arranging donations and organizing logistics. “Oliver asked tons of questions about life here,” Colby said. “Neither of them wanted to leave.” Colby has witnessed firsthand the power of hockey in shaping lives and the influence of having the likes of Kylington and Oduya involved in 1189448 Websites

USA TODAY / Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 for ripping refs, calling Islanders 'New York Saints'

Scooby Axson USA TODAY

Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy ripped the officials after their Game 5 Eastern Conference playoff loss Monday to the New York Islanders, saying the refs are getting tricked into thinking the Islanders don't commit penalties. "This is my take on it: We're playing a team that has a very well- respected management and coaching staff. But I think they sell a narrative over there that it's more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders," Cassidy said. "They play hard and they play the right way, but I feel we're the same way. And the exact calls that get called on us do not get called on them, and I don't know why." The NHL fined Cassidy $25,000 for his comments on Tuesday. The Bruins lost the game 5-4 and trail in the best-of-seven series three games to two. Game 6 is Wednesday in New York. Boston was whistled for four penalties in Game 5, three of which were converted into power play goals by the Islanders. "They've done a great job selling that narrative that they're clean," Cassidy said. "They play a hard brand of hockey. But they commit as many infractions as we do. Trust me. It's [just] a matter of calling them." Islanders head coach Barry Trotz was asked about Cassidy’s comments and didn't have much to say about it. "You’ll have to ask him about that," Trotz said. "Just look where we wound up during the year, we were one of the least penalized teams in the whole league. So, I don’t know what he means by that, you’ll have to ask him."

USA TODAY LOADED: 06.09.2021 1189449 Websites USA TODAY LOADED: 06.09.2021

USA TODAY / How Canadiens, on brink of elimination in Round 1, are now hottest team in NHL playoffs

MIKE BREHM | USA TODAY

The Montreal Canadiens were one of the busiest teams during the 2020 offseason and the key theme was acquiring former Stanley Cup winners. Tyler Toffoli was brought in for a top-six forward role. Joel Edmundson bolstered the defense. Corey Perry was added for the taxi squad and eventually the fourth line. Goalie Jake Allen provided solid backup for Carey Price during a compressed season. But it took time to come together. The Canadiens had to make a coaching change. They had to take a break because of COVID-19 protocol. They had no fans in their arena until Game 6 of the first round. They were the last to clinch a playoff spot. They were on the verge of elimination, down 3-1 in the first round to the Toronto Maple Leafs, whom they finished 18 points behind. But now they're the first team to reach the semifinals after rallying past Toronto and sweeping the Winnipeg Jets for a seven-game winning streak in which they have never trailed, a span of nearly 438 minutes. How the Canadiens reached the third round for the first time since 2014: Considering Price's strong play, it's easy to forget he struggled early in the season. His save percentage was .898 in January and .880 in February. About a week after the Canadiens replaced head coach Claude Julien with Dominique Ducharme, they fired longtime goalie coach Stephane Waite and promoted Sean Burke to director of goaltending in early March. The moves worked as Price had a 1.87 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in March before he suffered a concussion in April that kept him out until the playoffs. Price upset the Pittsburgh Penguins last season in the qualifying round and has been a force again this postseason with a 1.97 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. "With the goaltending that they have, any breakdowns, he's putting out those fires," Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. "We just couldn't get the first goal, and that plays into their hands." Good mix of players Rookie Cole Caufield didn't make the postseason lineup until the third game. But the 2021 Hobey Baker Award winner kept Montreal alive in Game 5 by picking off a pass and starting a 2-on-0 break that led to Nick Suzuki's overtime goal. He assisted on Suzuki's power-play goal in Game 3 against the Jets and set up Toffoli's series-clinching overtime goal in Game 4. "He’s just a great player," Toffoli said. "Every time the puck is on his stick, something good happens." Caufield and fellow 20-year-old Jesperi Kotkaniemi (four goals) give the Canadiens impressive youngsters to go with their veterans. The Canadiens can roll four lines and get contributions from everyone. "We’ve got a tight group and we’ve been playing our best hockey when everyone’s doing his own role," said shutdown center Phillip Danault. GM Marc Bergevin's moves pay off Toffoli had 28 goals in the regular season and has four goals and 10 points in the playoffs. Perry is part of an effective line with trade deadline acquisition Eric Staal. Those two and Joel Armia have combined for eight goals and 20 points. “That line has been one of the best lines in the playoffs, heavy and grinding and big for us,” captain Shea Weber said. Edmundson has played about 22 minutes a game and defenseman Erik Gustafsson, picked up at the trade deadline, scored the opening goal Monday night. “We’re all playing our best hockey at the right time and we just have to keep going," Toffoli said.