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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 1/18/2020 Chicago Blackhawks 1171556 Ducks work overtime to beat Hurricanes on Sam Steel’s 1171584 Brandon Saad on the cusp of returning to Blackhawks after the longest injury break of his career: ‘It’s tough 1171557 Ducks appreciate value of Derek Grant upon his return 1171585 Column: Enjoy the Blackhawks’ run at the playoffs, but with a tougher schedule ahead, brace yourself for more 1171586 Brandon Saad ‘ready to go,’ could return for Blackhawks 1171558 Defense falters as Arizona Coyotes fall to against Maple Leafs Canucks 1171587 Caggiula’s in-season training camp making him a 1171559 Coyotes assign G Ivan Prosvetov to Tucson as Antti better player after his concussion Raanta eyes return 1171588 Blackhawks star Patrick Kane’s legacy will live on forever 1171560 Coyotes score first, unable to again in loss to Canucks in London after jersey retirement 1171589 NHL.com names Blackhawks 'Franchise of the Decade' 1171590 Powers Points: Erik Gustafsson’s preference at the trade 1171561 This could be the end of the line for David Backes deadline, Dominik Kubalik’s next contract and more 1171562 Citing his concussion history, Bruins waive David Backes 1171563 Bruins defenseman Torey Krug in the middle of two sides Colorado Avalanche 1171564 Boston Bruins place David Backes on waivers 1171591 Philipp Grubauer’s first shutout of season comes at perfect 1171565 NHL trade targets: Four physical players Bruins could time for Avalanche pursue before deadline 1171592 The Tape: Proper kill 1171566 Torey Krug reacts to his fight with Patric Hornqvist that energized Bruins in 4-1 win 1171567 Bruins place veteran David Backes on waivers for AHL 1171593 Columbus Blue Jackets’ hot streak defies the numbers assignment 1171594 Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikens not 1171568 Bruins respond to latest challenge, take 'good first step to shy to play the puck getting back to who we are' 1171595 Michael Arace | Gerard Gallant dealt crooked hand by 1171569 Bruins' Brad Marchand roasts himself on Twitter amid goal Vegas Golden Knights scoring struggles 1171596 Blue Jackets 3, Hurricanes 2 | Nick Foligno’s late goal 1171570 ‘We love him here’: Sadness in Bruins locker room as gives Jackets unlikely win team says goodbye to David Backes 1171597 Blue Jackets 3, Hurricanes 2 | 3-2-1 breakdown 1171598 Inside the coaches office: How the Blue Jackets measure puck management 1171571 UPL makes debut for Amerks, who lose in shootout 1171572 Linus Ullmark not dwelling on mistakes in starter role for Sabres 1171599 Miro Heiskanen sustains upper body injury in loss to 1171573 Sabres cap 'evening of learning' by holding off Buffalo, listed as ‘day to day’ experienced Stars 1171600 Sports Sturm’s Friday Tweetbag: Cowboys construction, 1171574 ‘Like, life goes on’: Casey Mittelstadt takes his new Stars shake-ups and the Bone Collector? Rochester assignment in stride Flames 1171601 Jimmy Howard and Filip Zadina stand out in Red Wings' 1171575 Brady Tkachuk says brother Matthew ‘has the thickest 2-1 OT loss to Penguins skin I’ve ever seen’ 1171602 Penguins' stars come through in overtime, defeat Red 1171576 Duhatschek: David Rittich has proved his All-Star Wings 2-1 credentials. Plus, more observations from the Flames road 1171603 Red Wings’ Daley gets another shot to make impact; tr prospect Berggren out 1171577 LeBrun: Q&A with Brad Treliving on Matthew Tkachuk 1171604 Jimmy Howard stellar but Red Wings fall in overtime critics, Geoff Ward’s coaching and the Flames’ playoff 1171605 Red Wings, Jimmy Howard face another tough task with purs Sidney Crosby back 1171578 Hurricanes face difficult adjustment to life without Dougie 1171606 Taylor Hall happy to be in thick of playoff race with Arizona Hamilton Coyotes 1171579 Steel gives Ducks 2-1 overtime win over Hurricanes 1171607 Oilers can't get lulled into bye week slumber 1171580 Charlotte Checkers weekend series vs. Marlies 1171608 At trade deadline, if Oilers are in the playoff race, Holland has big-time feel to it will look to add 1171581 Canes defenseman Dougie Hamilton suffers broken fibula 1171582 Hurricanes feel absence of ‘No. 1 guy’ Dougie Hamilton Florida Panthers ‘all over the ice’ in overtime loss to Ducks 1171609 After big homestand, Panthers hope to make final 1171583 The Hurricanes lose Dougie Hamilton to a broken fibula standings push ahead of All-Star break and it’s unknown how long he’ll be sidelined Penguins 1171610 Kings’ Stadium Series jerseys honor aviation industry 1171642 Empty Thoughts: Penguins 2, Red Wings 1 (OT) 1171611 Kings rookie Matt Roy is a nice surprise in a predictable 1171643 Minor league report: Penguins fall to Stars, 4-3, in season shootout 1171612 Kings try to salvage final game of road trip in 1171644 Matt Murray shines in Penguins’ overtime win against Red 1171613 STADIUM SERIES JERSEYS INFLUENCED BY JET Wings CITY, EL SEGUNDO (PHOTOS + VIDEO) 1171645 Penguins to start Matt Murray against Red Wings 1171614 GOOD MORNING, PHILADELPHIA 1171646 Penguins pick up depth defenseman John Nyberg in trade with Dallas Minnesota Wild 1171647 Penguins are no strangers to midseason coaching 1171615 Wild vs. Dallas game preview changes 1171616 With solid foundation in place, Alex Stalock looks to 1171648 Sidney Crosby scores game-winning goal to beat Red continue strong play in Wild's net Wings in overtime 1171617 Wherever Wild winger Marcus Foligno goes, success 1171649 Brian Dumoulin 'making progress' but no timetable for his seems to follow return to the ice 1171650 Penguins-Red Wings: Game time, TV info and matchup notes 1171618 Vegas goalie Marc-André Fleury has link to Canadiens 1171651 Bryan Rust continues to replace Phil Kessel admirably as GM Marc Bergevin Penguins win in OT 1171619 Time with Habs taught Pacioretty how to maintain even 1171652 A couple of bad games in Boston or do these Penguins keel have a Bruins problem? 1171620 Hickey on hockey: Kovalchuk creates line puzzle when injured Habs return 1171621 What Melnick thinks: Claude Julien’s reckoning will come 1171653 Avalanche 4, Sharks 0: Bob Boughner airs his frustration only when the Canadiens have real expectations — “It’s time to man up” 1171654 NHL rumors: Doug Wilson won't disrupt Sharks' core at trade deadline 1171622 After another uninspiring loss, why are Predators ‘dead on 1171655 Mike Ricci opens up about his first month as Sharks the bench?' assistant coach 1171623 The aura of Bridgestone Arena is gone 1171656 Bob Boughner urges Sharks to 'man up' after shutout loss to Avalanche New Jersey Devils 1171657 Joe Thornton is responding well to his increased role since 1171624 Devils injury updates: Mackenzie Blackwood, Louis the Sharks’ coaching change Domingue both practice in Columbus 1171625 Devils’ Michael McLeod on crazy trip to NHL game, AHL St Louis Blues team’s winning streak 1171658 Gunnarsson will make return to the Blues lineup on 1171626 Devils notes: Does Pavel Zacha prefer center or left wing? Saturday Cory Schneider on new prospects 1171659 The Schenn trade 2½ years later: (Huge) advantage, 1171627 Why a fresh start with the Devils could unlock Nick Blues Merkley’s track to the pros 1171660 Blues continue to put up goose eggs in 5-on-3 play 1171661 St. Louis takes on MacKinnon and the Avalanche 1171628 Chris Kreider’s late goal lifts Rangers over Islanders 1171629 Isles must overcome power-play woes in Metropolitan 1171662 Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli gets first hat trick, Alex Killorn Division games reaches 20 goals in win over 1171663 Lightning put Luke Schenn on waivers, then lose Cedric Paquette against Jets 1171630 Chris Kreider’s late goal lifts Rangers over Islanders 1171664 ‘You only have one brain’: With Ryan McDonagh 1171631 Rangers’ specialty teams starting to get it done returning, ex-NHLers describe unknowns of concussion 1171632 Rangers look like ‘different’ team with deadline decisions recovery looming 1171633 No big homecoming for the Rangers' Adam Fox at 1171665 Auston Matthews is putting together one of the greatest 1171634 Mirtle: The Maple Leafs are interested in Alexandar seasons in Maple Leafs’ history Georgiev. But how much can they justify giving up? 1171666 To skate or not to skate? Maple Leafs young and old like to keep their options open Ottawa Senators 1171667 A Knight to remember — Patrick Kane follows London 1171635 Pageau questionable for Saturday's game against Calgary ceremony with shot at NHL milestone against Leafs 1171636 Respect in the air for the latest battle of Tkachuks 1171668 Game Day: Blackhawks at Maple Leafs 1171637 Too much respect for opponents, learning on the fly, 1171669 Leaf Snaps: Slow recovery for Johnsson Chlapik's flexibility and final words on Stone visit 1171670 Leafs need a win before break 1171671 Mirtle: The Maple Leafs are interested in Alexandar Georgiev. But how much can they justify giving up? 1171638 Flyers goaltender Alex Lyon relishing his latest chance in the NHL 1171639 Flyers trying to copy St. Louis Blues’ template for success 1171640 'You know that word that starts with B?' — Alain Vigneault makes his point after frustrating Flyers loss 1171641 Trimmed down Alex Lyon has ‘a little extra incentive’ in Flyers call-up 1171693 Patrick Johnston: Virtanen wasn't trying to 'murder' Jet, says collisions are inevitable 1171694 Canucks at 50: A Nedved-Harding wedding? Why, it was 'a natural' 1171695 Canucks Extra: Boring into the playoffs and contract updates 1171696 The Dayal Files: Bo Horvat’s rise, where Brock Boeser’s improved the most and Jake Virtanen’s two-way resurgen 1171697 The Armies: Stay hot Lou, Winnipeg fury, and the Lotto Line thing Vegas Golden Knights 1171672 Chandler Stephenson continues to impress with Golden Knights 1171673 Golden Knights practices at City National Arena to remain open 1171674 Have a cold one: Ryan Reaves looks to fit with Peter DeBoer 1171675 Peter DeBoer coaches first practice with Golden Knights 1171676 Mark Stone scores, makes memorable return to Ottawa in 4-2 win 1171677 Duhatschek Notebook: Bye week evolution, Vegas coaching shakeup and Ovechkin’s Gretzky chase Washington Capitals 1171678 Alex Ovechkin is nearing 700 goals. The Capitals are prepping the celebration. 1171679 Caps at Islanders: Ovechkin is in for final game before bye week 1171680 Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne believes Alex Ovechkin will catch Wayne Gretzky 1171681 Capitals Prospect Report: Washington's prospect pool remains thin Websites 1171698 The Athletic / Duhatschek Notebook: Bye week evolution, Vegas coaching shakeup and Ovechkin’s Gretzky chase 1171699 The Athletic / DGB Grab Bag: Brad Marchand excuses, my terrible predictions and old school Battle of Alberta 1171700 .ca / Tkachuk clan knows the game is better with more characters 1171701 Sportsnet.ca / 'Sometimes it’s tough love': Bond among Leafs' Kapanen, Keefe pays off 1171702 Sportsnet.ca / Q&A: Flames director of marketing on the return of the retro jerseys 1171703 Sportsnet.ca / Truth By Numbers: Is Patrik Laine becoming a playmaker? 1171704 Sportsnet.ca / Five players who raised their NHL Draft stock at Top Prospects Game 1171705 Sportsnet.ca / Ovechkin one goal behind Lemieux on all-time list: 'He's one of my idols' 1171706 Sportsnet.ca / Why Connor Hellebuyck is Winnipeg's X-Factor in push for playoff spot 1171707 TSN.CA / Leafs aim to spoil ‘slippery’ Kane’s big weekend 1171708 TSN.CA / Leafs looking to rest, regroup over lengthy break 1171709 TSN.CA / Friday Five: Ilya Samsonov squarely in Calder Trophy race Winnipeg Jets 1171682 Jets struck by Lightning 1171683 Blue-liner Bitetto's goal is not scoring goals, but still... 1171684 Jets need a lot more from Morrissey to keep playoff hopes alive 1171685 Perreault regrets outburst at NHL over dirty hits 1171686 Silence turns TSN Jets analyst Sawyer's blunder into big deal that isn't 1171687 Lightning embarrass Jets in lopsided loss 1171688 Jets broadcaster to explain controversial comments 1171689 Perreault walks back comments threatening violence over cheap shots 1171690 JETS GAMEDAY: Jets look to keep rolling against high-flying Lightning 1171691 ‘I came out of the womb yelling’: Jets defenceman has always had a personality 1171692 As the NHL’s coaching carousel spins, what would it take for the Jets to move on from Paul Maurice? SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1171556 Anaheim Ducks Sam Steel nets the OT game winner!!!@AnaheimDucks | #LetsGODucks pic.twitter.com/Y9yhGjRHOM

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) January 18, 2020 Ducks work overtime to beat Hurricanes on Sam Steel’s goal Take another look at the Gudbranson goal near the end of the 1st period!

Getzy showing that veteran vision on the ice @AnaheimDucks | By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: January 17, 2020 at 7:28 pm | #LetsGODucks pic.twitter.com/HJqzawJoeX UPDATED: January 17, 2020 at 8:53 PM — FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) January 18, 2020

Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.18.2020 RALEIGH, N.C. — Sam Steel had the game, a feel-good victory and another reason for optimism on his stick in the opening minutes of overtime Friday. Ducks teammate Jakob Silfverberg set him up for a breakaway with a pass from his own end of the ice into the neutral zone.

Steel raced ahead of the chasing Carolina Hurricanes and beat goaltender James Reimer with a shot past the blocker to give the Ducks a 2-1 victory at PNC Arena, their second win in as many nights going into a nine-day break for their bye week and the All-Star break.

Friday’s victory over the Hurricanes coupled with the Ducks’ 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday marked the first time they had won consecutive games since defeating the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 29 and the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 1. They completed their four-game trip 2-2- 0.

The Ducks’ victories enabled them to escape last place in the Western Conference and lift their spirits heading into the break. It didn’t erase their many pratfalls and belly flops, including during losses to the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues to start their trip.

But …

“We, for sure, wanted to go into the break with some momentum, get a couple of big wins and we did that,” Steel said after scoring his first career OT goal and his fourth overall this season. “It’s huge. At the same time, we’re aware of what the task is at hand.

“We played two pretty much 60-minute games. Two huge ones. These are games we can look back at and see what we did to get the wins. We had a lot of games where it just wasn’t there. Now, we have a lot of good stuff to look back on and know exactly what we have to do to win.”

Above all, the Ducks played a much more detailed game the past two nights than during the first two games on their trip, which extended their losing streak to four. The Ducks even managed to hold the Hurricanes to only 26 shots, including just 12 after the first period.

Carolina went into the game averaging nearly 37 shots per game, sixth- best in the 31-team NHL going into Friday. The Ducks’ best defense was a strong offensive push after they were deadlocked with the Hurricanes 1-1 to end the first period. The Ducks didn’t break the tie, but they created chances.

Plus, the Ducks put the Hurricanes on the defensive, which is what they did to the Predators.

“When you’re able to control the puck in certain parts of the rink, you’re going to have higher odds to win,” Ducks goalie Ryan Miller said. “I thought we played a real nice game in Nashville and we carried it over. We got through the first period here … just getting through that first period and playing strong, I thought that gave us confidence. It was good to see.”

Ryan Getzlaf set up Erik Gudbranson for the tying goal at 18:18 of the first period, after Sebastian Aho had given the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead with his team-leading 24th goal only 3:59 into the game. Aho was Carolina’s most dangerous player the rest of the game, but he didn’t score again.

“This should be the benchmark for what this team is,” Gudbranson said. “This is the standard we should hold ourselves to. If we can do that, you never know what can happen. We’re behind the 8-ball right now. We’re going to take this break and use it wisely, get some rest, spend some time with our families and try to keep this thing going.”

⚙️ Man of Steel ⚙️@AlysonLozoff talked over the game winner with the man himself!@AnaheimDucks | #LetsGoDucks pic.twitter.com/h3ZXIXzhu6

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) January 18, 2020

 THERE IT IS!  1171557 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks appreciate value of Derek Grant upon his return

Center scored a goal and played well in Thursday's win in Nashville after missing 12 games with a sprained shoulder

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: January 17, 2020 at 12:30 pm | UPDATED: January 17, 2020 at 12:30 PM

RALEIGH, N.C. — Derek Grant isn’t the Ducks’ best or most skillful player. He’s not the most experienced player in their lineup. He’s not their flashiest passer. He’s not their fastest skater. He doesn’t have the hardest shot. He isn’t a feared fighter. He isn’t their highest-paid player.

So much for what he isn’t.

Grant, 29, is among the Ducks’ most versatile and important players, however, a point he made clear in their 4-2 victory Thursday over the Nashville Predators. He scored a shorthanded goal, converting a breakaway in the third period that helped the Ducks end a four-game losing streak.

He centered their fourth line and was credited with a team-leading five shots on goal and eight wins in 12 faceoffs (67%) in a modest 11:39 of ice time in his first game since suffering a sprained shoulder Dec. 17 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

It was a reminder of all the Ducks missed while he was sidelined for 12 games.

After all, they were 3-8-1 while he was out of the lineup.

“It’s a long time,” Grant said of his layoff, the first games he’s missed this season. “Four weeks feels like forever when you’re not playing, so I was excited to get back. … It’s always nice to contribute, as well. (The injured shoulder) didn’t bother me too much at all, so that’s a good sign.

“It’s one of those things you don’t really know until you test it in a game.”

Grant’s goal against the Predators was his 10th this season, two shy of his career high set in 2017-18 during his first stint with the Ducks. He signed with the as a free agent for 2018-19, but the Ducks re-acquired him in a trade Jan. 16, 2019, and re-signed him for 2019-20.

His $700,000 salary for this season makes him a bargain.

“He is such a huge asset to this team,” Ducks defenseman Josh Manson said of Grant, who was reunited with left wing Nicolas Deslauriers and right wing Carter Rowney for Thursday’s game. “When he’s out of the lineup, you miss him.

“You see him on the penalty kill. His angles, stick placement, all those little things that maybe you don’t notice the first, but he gets the job done. Then he’s got that touch that you might not think he has, but he’s got the ability to score goals. That was a huge goal for us (Thursday).”

COMEBACKS (PART 2)

Right wing Jakob Silfverberg also returned to the Ducks’ lineup Thursday. Although he had been sidelined for only three games because of an unspecified upper-body injury, the Ducks were happy to have him back in their lineup and playing his customary steady game.

Silfverberg was scoreless and was not credited with a shot on goal in 18:06 of ice time, but he played on the power play and on the penalty kill. The Ducks were 0-3-0 while he was sidelined. They also lost a game last month when he was too ill to play.

“A little rusty and a little off with my timing, but I tried to work my way through it,” Silfverberg said. “I think as a line, we did a fairly good job and we were working hard out there. Obviously, I would liked to have one or two shots on net, but it was just all about finding that timing again.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171558 Arizona Coyotes Arizona G Antti Raanta (lower body) practiced Thursday and could play Saturday against Edmonton.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 01.18.2020 Defense falters as Arizona Coyotes fall to Vancouver Canucks

The Associated Press Published 4:07 a.m. MT Jan. 17, 2020 | Updated 4:09 a.m. MT Jan. 17, 2020

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Jake Virtanen borrowed a move from his days — and it helped lift the Vancouver Canucks to victory.

Virtanen scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period and Jacob Markstrom made 34 saves to lead the Canucks past the Arizona Coyotes 3-1 on Thursday night.

With the score tied at 1 and the puck on his stick with just under five minutes left in the period, Virtanen went to something that worked when he played with the Calgary Hitmen. He took a pass from J.T. Miller and swooped behind the Arizona net before backhanding a shot that hit goaltender Adin Hill's left skate and bounced into the net.

"I saw the goalie overcommit a little bit," said the right wing who scored his 14th goal of the season, one less than his career high set last year. "I took a took a quick glance up.

"In junior (league), I used to do that wraparound move. I thought I would try it out — and it worked."

Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet wasn't happy about the go-ahead goal.

"That goal was avoidable," he said. "It's just a nothing play. We had the puck and that was the difference in the game."

Bo Horvat also scored and Tanner Pearson had an empty-net goal for the Canucks, who won for the 10th time in 13 games.

Markstrom, who made his 16th start in 18 games, made a right-pad save on Jason Demers late in the third period to preserve the win.

Vancouver's victory made an already tight Pacific Division even closer. Arizona and Calgary are tied with 57 points, Vegas and Vancouver are next with 56, while Edmonton is one behind them.

"It's a game of inches right now in the standings and on the ice," said Horvat, who has 13 points with six goals and seven assists in his last nine games. "It's going to be like that from here on out. We have to keep winning hockey games if we are going to stay in it."

Christian Dvorak scored for the Coyotes, who are 1-3-1 over their last five games. Adin Hill, making his third straight start, made 22 saves.

Virtanen goal was his 14th of the season, one less than his career high set last year, but gave him a career-best 26 points in just 48 games this year. He had 25 in 70 games last season.

"It's nice, (but) I don't really look at it like that," he said. "I want to keep going and keep producing for our team. We want to make the playoffs, so whatever I can do."

A defensive miscue set up the Coyotes' opening goal at 7:59. When Vancouver defenseman Tyler Myers failed to clear a bouncing puck, Taylor Hall found Dvorak in front of the net. He scored his 12th of the season with a low shot to the far side.

Vancouver made it 1-1 on a power play at 15:01. Rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes boomed a shot from the blue line that Hill stopped only to have Horvat knock in the rebound. Horvat has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in the last eight games.

"I thought it was a pretty solid game here for us, but there's no moral victories, especially at this time of year," Dvorak said. "It's a tough one to lose.

Notes

Elias Pettersson had a pair of assists for the Canucks. ... Pearson's goal was the 100th of his career. ... The Canucks play 18 of their remaining 34 games at . Vancouver is 15-5-3 at home and 11-13-1 on the road. ... Brandon Sutter returned to Vancouver's lineup after missing four weeks with what he says was a back issue. ... The Canucks were outscored 22-14 while going 2-3-0 in their recent five-game road trip. ... 1171559 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes assign G Ivan Prosvetov to Tucson as Antti Raanta eyes return

BY MATT LAYMAN JANUARY 17, 2020 AT 11:04 AM

The Arizona Coyotes reassigned goaltender Ivan Prosvetov back to the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) on Friday, a likely sign that goaltender Antti Raanta is ready to return from a lower-body injury.

The team also recalled defenseman Kyle Capobianco. The Coyotes announced on Thursday that defenseman Jordan Oesterle is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Raanta missed a period of time with a lower-body injury once already this season and returned on Jan. 10, only to sustain another injury in his first game back and miss more time. Head coach Rick Tocchet said Wednesday that Raanta was possible to play on Saturday at Edmonton — the Coyotes’ last game before a 10-day break — and Prosvetov getting sent down supports that idea.

Adin Hill has been the Coyotes’ other goaltender while Darcy Kuemper is out with his own lower-body injury. Prosvetov did not see NHL action while he was with the Coyotes.

Capobianco comes up once again to add depth to the Coyotes’ blue line. He has played seven NHL games for Arizona this year, scoring his first NHL goal for his only point in that time. He’s played 10 total NHL games in his career, all with the Coyotes.

Ilya Lyubushkin was in the lineup on Thursday night at Vancouver as Oesterle was out.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171560 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes score first, unable to again in loss to Canucks

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS JANUARY 16, 2020 AT 11:13 PM

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Jake Virtanen scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period and Jacob Markstrom made 34 saves to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night.

Bo Horvat also scored and Tanner Pearson had an empty-net goal for the Canucks, who won for the 10th time in 13 games.

Markstrom, who made his 16th start in 18 games, made a right-pad save on Jason Demers late in the third period to preserve the win.

Vancouver’s victory made an already tight Pacific Division even closer. Arizona and Calgary are tied with 57 points, Vegas and Vancouver are next with 56, while Edmonton is one behind them.

Christian Dvorak scored for the Coyotes, who are 1-3-1 over their last five games. Adin Hill, making his third straight start, made 22 saves.

Virtanen scored the only goal of the second period, when the game was tied at 1. He took a pass from J.T. Miller and swooped behind the Arizona net before backhanding a shot that hit Hill’s left skate and bounced into the net. It was his 14th goal of the season, one less than his career high set last year, but gave him a career-best 26 points.

A defensive miscue set up the Coyotes’ opening goal at 7:59. When Vancouver defenseman Tyler Myers failed to clear a bouncing puck, Taylor Hall found Dvorak in front of the net. He scored his 12th of the season with a low shot to the far side.

Vancouver made it 1-1 on a power play at 15:01. Rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes boomed a shot from the blue line that Hill stopped only to have Horvat knock in the rebound. Horvat has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in the last eight games.

NOTES: Elias Pettersson had a pair of assists for the Canucks. … Pearson’s goal was the 100th of his career. … The Canucks play 18 of their remaining 34 games at Rogers Arena. Vancouver is 15-5-3 at home and 11-13-1 on the road. … Brandon Sutter returned to Vancouver’s lineup after missing four weeks with what he says was a back issue. … The Canucks were outscored 22-14 while going 2-3-0 in their recent five- game road trip. … Arizona G Antti Raanta (lower body) practiced Thursday and could play Saturday against Edmonton.

UP NEXT

Coyotes: at Edmonton on Saturday.

Canucks: host San Jose on Saturday night.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171561 Boston Bruins Backes came aboard here in July 2016 after a stellar 10-year run in St. Louis, half of those years as the Blues captain, for a five-year, $30 million UFA deal that far surpassed what the Blues cared to offer. St. Louis This could be the end of the line for David Backes management reportedly feared going that far out, with that kind of dollar outlay, for a guy it saw grind night-to-night for a decade.

In short, Blues bosses didn’t like the age/mileage risk, particularly in an By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,January 17, 2020, 5:52 p.m. NHL already addicted to speed. The Bruins, after losing Loui Eriksson to Vancouver the same day, were willing to assume the risk. The payoff fell

far short of expectations. While David Backes (right) was willling to fight battles for the Bruins, As today, Backes then was all about intelligence and size (6-3/215) and coach Bruce Cassidy was concerned he might damage his future heart. All good. All admirable. Traits often scarce in NHL 2020. But the neurological health. game always has been first and foremost about skating, and all the more His mind and heart still fully engaged, but his legs not up to minimal RPM in the current NHL, in which those even a tick off the pace look as if they requirements in today’s hockey, it appears David Backes has played his showed up at the senior prom expecting to square dance. last game for Boston and possibly is faced with the end of his NHL Cassidy’s concern for Backes’s neurological health won’t help the latter career. find work now and won’t aid Bruins general manager Don Sweeney in Backes, age 35 and with 1,026 games on his résumé, was placed on finding a trade partner. waivers Friday, some 24 hours after Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said the That’s not to blame Cassidy. In fact, bravo, he finally verbalized what veteran winger was given a “maintenance day” prior to the game some in the Boston media (hand up here) have commented on ever Thursday night vs. the Penguins at the Garden. since the spring of 2017 when Tampa’s T.J. Miller ended Backes’s That was hint No. 1 that things were about to collapse for Backes. He last postseason with a clean, crushing hit as Backes, head down, tried to suited up in Black and Gold Jan. 9 vs. Winnipeg and could be on his way advance the puck over the offensive blue line. to the minors Saturday afternoon, provided none of the league’s 30 other In 170 games since that hit, playoffs included, Backes scored 26 goals teams is willing to take on the remaining 1½ years of his five-year and put up 64 points over 2½ seasons. His most recent point, an assist, contract. came in a Dec. 5 OT loss to the Blackhawks. His last goal came four Efforts to reach both Backes and his agent, Wade Arnott, were nights earlier in a 3-1 win over the Canadiens. unsuccessful Friday, so there’s no telling whether the proud veteran, We’ll find out here in short order how the rest of this plays out for Backes among the most respected voices and well-liked players in the Bruins and the Bruins. It’s possible that rookie Anton Blidh will be filling his room and across the league, would accept the demotion or choose to Boston roster spot for Sunday’s matinee in Pittsburgh. It’s also possible, retire. though not probable, that Backes will be wearing Providence’s Spoked-P Keep in mind, it’s also possible the move to waive Backes will spark Saturday night when the WannaB’s play in Bridgeport. trade discussions — including with teams other than the eight he has It’s just a business, folks, one constructed around delirious highs and approved, per his contract language. If there is a trading partner willing to crushing lows. In David Backes’s 13½-season NHL run, Jan. 17, 2020, take on his $6 million cap hit through next season, and it’s a deal that was pegged toward the latter. Backes would accept, it likely would necessitate the Bruins building value into the deal, such as surrendering a draft pick or prospect as part of the Great guy. Great try. Somber finish. exchange. Boston Globe LOADED: 01.18.2020 The Bruins also could agree to retain a portion of the remaining $6 million — similar to what was required to unload Milan Lucic on the Kings in the summer of 2015.

Such is the painful cost of doing business around an aging, high-priced veteran, even one with Backes’s solid reputation and unremitting willingness to battle. Even as a graybeard, he remains a 10 in terms of his desire to compete and his instinctual impulse to stick up for teammates.

Nonetheless, his tools have worn down and his long history of concussions — including a handful sustained here in 3½ seasons — have made some, including the Boston coaching staff, wonder whether continuing to play will put his long-term neurological health at risk.

Bruce Cassidy, after initially noting the waiver move was made in the interest of “doing what’s best for the team,” also emphasized during Friday’s media scrum in Brighton that Backes’s history of concussions placed him in an uncomfortable position as a coach.

While noting that he admired Backes’s willingness to scrap, including a flurry of bouts over a short span last season, Cassidy said he also understood the inherent risk of a such a role for someone with a history of concussions.

“That affects your decisions as a coach when you put a human being on the ice,” said Cassidy. “We saw it a little bit last year when David tried to play a little bit of that role and found himself in two or three scraps. I don’t know if that’s the ideal role for him, but good for him to go out and try to carve a way to get back in the lineup.

“But as a coach, and I told some of the players, as a guy you know is a dad, who has two young girls, you always want to be careful that you aren’t pushing a guy to play a certain way — but now you’ve got a guy, who knows, might be one hit from having some damage. So you have to be very careful with that. I know it’s a business, but that is the human side of it.” 1171562 Boston Bruins great player in this league for a long time. So, again, unfortunately, that’s the business side of things.

“But he’s been an incredible teammate, I can’t say enough good things Citing his concussion history, Bruins waive David Backes about him. He’s just such a great person, a great friend, and he’s going to be missed in this room. We relied on him a lot on and off the ice and he carried a lot of weight with the guys.” By Frank Dell’Apa Globe correspondent,January 17, 2020, 12:19 p.m. Krejci day to day

David Krejci (upper body) missed practice and is “day to day,” Cassidy The Bruins’ decision to waive forward David Backes Friday was based on said . . . Goalie Dan Vladar was assigned to Providence but is expected his susceptibility to concussions, coach Bruce Cassidy said. to return for the Bruins’ visit to Pittsburgh Sunday. Vladar played in Providence’s 2-1 loss to Bridgeport Friday night . . . Bergeron said the Backes, 35, missed 13 games this season after sustaining a concussion Bruins matched the Penguins’ intensity in taking a 4-1 win Thursday. in a clash with Scott Sabourin during a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators “They’re very aggressive, they play hard, they compete,” Bergeron said. Nov. 2. He has sustained at least four concussions since joining the “Obviously, they’re very talented, so we’re going to need to bring the Bruins in 2016. same type of game we brought last night. Competing, being strong on “I have a lot of respect for David the person, as a human being, what he’s the puck, but also making assertive plays and having good layers accomplished in this league,” Cassidy said after practice at Warrior Ice defensively. And I thought everyone contributed and played a very strong Arena. “We brought him in to give us some of that bite. That’s been a game and brought what they needed to this team. And when we do that, subject around here for the last few days. And that’s something that we we play as a whole, as a team, it makes a tremendous difference.” hoped, and it was there for a while, and then some concussions came Boston Globe LOADED: 01.18.2020 into play.

“I think that affects your decision as a coach, when you put a human being on the ice. We saw a little bit last year, with David trying to play a little bit of that role — found himself in two or three scraps and don’t know if that’s the ideal role for him. But good for him, to go out and try to carve a way to get back in the lineup.

“But, as a coach, I told the players, as a guy that you know is a dad, that has two young girls . . . you’ve got a guy that, who knows, might be one hit away from having some damage. So you’ve got to very careful with that.

“I know it’s a business, but that is the human side of it. And when you’re around the players long enough — that was a bit of an issue for me to try to push him in that direction.”

Backes was 1-2—3 in 16 games this season.

Cassidy said the Bruins, who visit the Penguins Sunday, plan to emphasize youth with players such as Anton Blidh and Karson Kuhlman.

“End of the day, do what’s best for your team, what makes you the best team,” said Cassidy. “And, ultimately, Donny [Sweeney, general manager] put him on waivers, feeling that was the best thing.

“We just felt a guy like Kuhly or maybe Blidh, down the road, has more pace to his game to add. You’ve got a guy like [Chris] Wagner in the lineup that plays that banger role, fourth line. So [Backes] bumps into that. Bumped into [Brett] Ritchie third line. We felt other guys were a little ahead of him.

“I know David doesn’t agree with the situation. That’s the decision we’ve made for the good of the team. I respect David, like I said, as a person, as a player. But we just felt we had better options, and that’s how we’re going to go forward and see how it plays out.”

Several Bruins expressed regret about Backes.

“Quality player, he brings so much to the team,” captain Zdeno Chara said. “We all love David. It’s just very unfortunate there are decisions made and, as players, you have to go along with them, respect them. But David is obviously very much respected and loved by all of us.”

Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand noted Backes’s contributions as a leader.

“He meant a lot, the impact that he’s had ever since he got here, on and off the ice, his leadership,” Bergeron said. “His wife also, his family, have been doing tremendous work in the community. He was a big part of the mentality that we’ve built here, and wish him all the best. Obviously, we’re going to miss him.”

Said Marchand, “I feel bad for him. He’s been such a great teammate and a great friend and he’s had such a great career. So, this is the part of the business that really sucks, when you get into numbers games and you get into situations like this.

“You don’t ever want to see a guy treated in this kind of way, especially a guy that’s put his time in and earned his stripes, and has been such a 1171563 Boston Bruins

Bruins defenseman Torey Krug in the middle of two sides

By RICH THOMPSON | PUBLISHED: January 17, 2020 at 6:26 pm | UPDATED: January 17, 2020 at 7:17 PM

Defenseman Torey Krug is a middle-generation Boston Bruin that bridges the roster divide between the veterans of the 2011 title run and the newbies that went to the final for the first time in 2019.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy made that observation following Friday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.

Krug is in his seventh full season with Boston but was a valuable postseason addition to the Bruins’ trip to the Stanley Cup finals in 2013.

“He was here in ’13, and he didn’t get the same result as ’11, but he went through a lot of the same processes, the learning curve,” said Cassidy.

“He went through all that and now he understands a little better what it takes to win in April, May and June. That builds your credibility as a leader when you’ve been through that.

“He certainly bridges the gap and there were some other players here that for whatever reason were moved on. But he’s one of the few still here while the other middle-of-the-roaders moved on.”

Krejci uncertain

Second-line center David Krejci, one of the veterans of 2011, is questionable for Sunday’s rematch with the Penguins in Pittsburgh. Krejci suffered an upper body injury against Columbus on Tuesday and was scratched from Thursday night’s 4-1 victory over the Penguins at TD Garden.

Charlie Coyle assumed Krejci’s slot between wingers Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork. Par Lindholm took Coyle’s spot on the third line between Danton Heinen and Karson Kuhlman.

If Krejci is unavailable for the Penguins game, Cassidy may shut him down until after NHL’s winter vacation.

“He did not skate today, but he was here in the gym doing an off-ice workout,” said Cassidy. “I would list Krejci as day-to-day right now and then it becomes, if he doesn’t play Sunday, is he better off then taking the whole break off?

“Let’s see where he’s at and see if he can skate.”

Goalie for a day

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney assigned goaltender Dan Vladar to Providence and recalled Max Lagace for practice purposes only. Vladar will play one game for Providence before being recalled to back up Jaroslav Halak in Pittsburgh.

Vladar was summoned to the Garden on Thursday when All-Star goalie Tuukka Rask was placed on injured reserve with a concussion. Rask was injured early in the first period of Tuesday night’s 3-0 loss at Columbus.

“Vladar went back because they have a three (games) in three and it was just him and Max there,” said Cassidy. “He’ll come back on (Saturday) and back up Jaro on Sunday.

“It was more about managing their net down there than any reflection how he (Vladar) did or didn’t practice.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171564 Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins place David Backes on waivers

By RICH THOMPSON | PUBLISHED: January 17, 2020 at 2:14 pm | UPDATED: January 17, 2020 at 5:24 PM

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney announced a significant roster move while the team conducted a skills practice Friday morning at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.

The Bruins placed veteran forward David Backes on waivers, a transaction that fit management’s plans going forward, but was viewed unfavorably in the Bruins locker room.

If Backes is not claimed by noon Saturday, he will be assigned to Providence. The Bruins will likely call a player up from Providence for Sunday’s rematch against the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

“David doesn’t agree with the situation, but that was the decision we made for the good of the team,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. “I respect David as a person and as a player, but we felt we had better options going forward.”

Cassidy cited the “two sides” of the decision-making process that made Backes expendable. Backes’ departure was the second move in a mid- season house cleaning on players that were no longer deemed reliable enforcers or scorers.

Veteran right-wing Brett Ritchie, who was acquired as a free agent from Dallas in July, was placed on waivers Wednesday.

Backes, 35, was signed to a lucrative free-agent contract on July 1, 2016, to bring scoring and toughness to the roster. Backes earned a reputation with the St. Louis Blues as a goal scorer who would throw down when the situation demanded retribution. Backes has played in 944 NHL games and amassed 245 goals and 309 assists.

When the scoring didn’t materialize on a regular basis, Backes tried to reinvent himself as an enforcer, a risky proposition considering his history of concussions. Backes played in 16 games and had a goal and two assists this season.

“There are two sides to this and I have a lot of respect for the person and the human being and what he has accomplished in this game,” Cassidy said. “We brought him to give us some of that bite that has been a subject around here for the past few days. That was something we hoped for and was there for a while, but concussions came into play and that affects your decisions as a coach.”

The Bruins’ need for secondary scoring also factored into the decision. The Bruins recalled Karson Kuhlman from Providence to fill Ritchie’s roster spot in Thursday night’s 4-1 win over the Penguins. Cassidy said injured forward Anton Blidh was close to returning after successful shoulder surgery on Sept. 23.

“He went on waivers and it was something we had discussed internally with Donny,” said Cassidy. “We just felt there were guys coming healthy, as with Ritchie, in terms of Kuhlman, and Blidh is getting closer.

“We wanted to look at some younger guys and do what best or the team and what makes you a better team. Donny put him on waivers and that was the best thing.”

Backes was a popular clubhouse presence, a trait he exhibited with the Blues and brought to the Bruins. Putting an accomplished veteran on waivers reemphasized the NHL’s callous business side.

“It’s tough and I feel bad for him,” said Bruins first line left wing Brad Marchand. “He’s been such a great teammate and a great friend and he’s has such a great career, but this is a part of the business that really sucks. When you get into numbers games, you get into situations like this. You don’t never want to see a guy get treated in this kind of way, especially a guy that put his time in and earned his stripes and been such a great player in this league for long time.

“Unfortunately, that’s the business side of things … He’s been an exceptional teammate and I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171565 Boston Bruins Josh Manson, D, Anaheim Ducks

2019-20 stats: 28 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 39 SOG

NHL trade targets: Four physical players Bruins could pursue before Contract: $4.1 million cap hit through 2021-22, also a modified no-trade deadline clause

How tough is Manson? Well, he fought Milan Lucic during the preseason in 2015, a few weeks before his first full season with the Ducks. By Nick Goss January 17, 2020 12:57 PM Manson isn't going to provide a ton of offensive production, but his teams have established puck possession at a high rate most of his career. In The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 24, so there's a little more than a month four of his five pro seasons the Ducks have earned a Corsi-For for the Boston Bruins and other contenders to make roster upgrades for percentage above 50 at even strength, and in the 2019-20 campaign, the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. Anaheim has a plus-28 edge in shot attempts, a plus-10 advantage in shots on goal and a plus-15 margin in scoring chances at 5-on-5 when The Bruins enter the weekend leading the Atlantic Division and rank Manson has been on the ice. among the top Stanley Cup contenders in the league. Despite having a deep roster loaded with postseason experience, the Bruins could The 28-year-old defenseman also is fully capable of logging 20-plus certainly use a little more physicality in their lineup, particularly up front. minutes per night. He has experience filling a top-four role for Anaheim, The playoffs often are a grind, where the game slows down and physical but he probably would be a third-pairing defenseman on Boston's blue play can really wear on players over a seven-game series. line. Manson's willingness to block shots and go into the corner to fight for pucks also would make him a valuable penalty killer for the B's. He's With that theme in mind, here are four players the Bruins could target averaged 2:10 of shorthanded ice time per game for the Ducks this before the trade deadline to upgrade their physicality (All salary season. information via Cap Friendly, advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick). The Ducks have the worst record in the Western Conference entering Torey Krug reacts to his fight with Patric Hornqvist Friday. They should be sellers ahead of the deadline. Manson is not a rental, however, and he's on a pretty manageable contract for a 28-year- Chris Kreider, LW, New York Rangers old defenseman. There's no rush to trade him from Anaheim's 2019-20 stats: 46 GP, 16 G, 15 A, 111 SOG perspective, but he definitely is a good target for contenders that want to toughen up their blueline. Contract: $4.625 million salary cap hit, UFA after 2019-20, modified no- trade clause Side note: Manson already has an idea of Boston's hockey culture from his three seasons playing for . Kreider, in many ways, is the ideal target for the Bruins ahead of the trade deadline. He's a skilled offensive player, he plays a power forward Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.18.2020 kind of game, and he's a Massachusetts-born player who played at . Kreider has great hands, good speed, and plenty of effective dangles in front of the net. He's also not afraid to go to the dirty areas around the crease for rebound goals and to set screens. His offensive talents would upgrade Boston's power play, too.

The Rangers are six points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and must soon decide if they'll become sellers at the trade deadline. Kreider is able to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and if there's a chance New York could lose him, it makes sense to deal him to a contender. Kreider would give the Bruins' top-six or third line an injection of speed, offensive skill and impressive size (6- foot-3 and 215 pounds).

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Miles Wood, LW, New Jersey Devils

2019-20 stats: 46 GP, 7 G, 9 A, 94 SOG

Contract: $2.75 million cap hit through 2021-22

Wood is not a rental and signed through the 2021-22 campaign. The 24- year-old forward is capable of scoring between 25 and 30 points over a full season, while also throwing his weight around with a power forward- style of play. The best attribute of Wood's game is his fantastic speed, which would give the Bruins' bottom-six additional energy and another dimension for opponents to tackle.

Craig Smith, C, Nashville Predators

2019-20 stats: 46 GP, 10 G, 10 A, 123 SOG

Contract: $4.25 million cap hit, UFA after 2019-20

Smith would add depth down the middle for the Bruins and give them a physical player who loves battling in front of the net. The 30-year-old center has 10 goals this season, and eight of them have come in the last 14 games. Smith has played his entire nine-year career in Nashville, but if the Predators don't feel like they can (or want to) re-sign him as a free agent this summer, getting some value for him ahead of the trade deadline would be the smart move. The Predators enter Friday six points out of the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference standings.

Haggerty's NHL Power Rankings: Coaching changes shake up league 1171566 Boston Bruins

Torey Krug reacts to his fight with Patric Hornqvist that energized Bruins in 4-1 win

By Nick Goss January 17, 2020 11:39 AM

Torey Krug doesn't fight often, but the Boston Bruins defenseman isn't afraid to mix it up when the right opportunity arises.

Krug and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist exited the penalty box at the same time late in the second period of Thursday night's game at TD Garden, and almost instantly they dropped their gloves and started to throw down.

It was Krug's first fight since Nov. 8, 2018.

“Just tensions running high. I’ve been hit by him many, many times over the years,” Krug told reporters when asked about his fight. “So, just something that happens in hockey, came out of the box and we went. It was good. Hopefully, it energized our group a little bit.”

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The fight clearly energized the Bruins, who finished the game strong and emerged with a 4-1 victory over one of the NHL's hottest teams.

Krug is not the most physically imposing player on the Bruins, but pound- for-pound he's one of the team's toughest players. Whether it's a fight, a huge hit or just setting the tone with an overall physical style of play, Krug is often effective in firing up the home crowd and his teammates.

"I'd like to think that I can do it throughout a game with a big play, or even a hit at times," Krug told reporters. "Over the years, I haven't shied away from doing it in the past. Hopefully, it's a one-and-done thing for me this season, but you never know. I just hope it energized the group in way , shape or form, and it is what is is."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171567 Boston Bruins

Bruins place veteran David Backes on waivers for AHL assignment

By Joe Haggerty January 17, 2020 12:30 PM

The Bruins made a minor shockwave Wednesday when they placed Brett Ritchie on waivers in the wake of an embarrassing loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Now a much bigger move with more seismic shockwaves has arrived, as the Bruins have also placed David Backes on waivers for the purpose of sending him down to the AHL affiliate for assignment.

It’s a move that’s been a possibility since the summer, as the 35-year-old Backes holds a $6 million cap hit and is nowhere close to the player the Bruins expected to get when they signed him to a free agent contract three years ago.

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Backes has not been present at the Bruins practice facility for the last couple of days and had a curiously-termed a maintenance day Thursday even though he's barely played over the last few weeks.

Instead Backes has just one goal and three points in 16 games along with a minus-2 rating this season while averaging just 8:35 of ice time, and he’s understandably been a bit hesitant to play an overly physical game after he suffered another concussion earlier this season.

Bruce Cassidy referenced this along with Kevan Miller's injury to Kevan Miller as developments that have adversely impacted Boston’s ability to play the rugged, physical game that many expect the team to employ on a regular basis.

Haggerty: Bruins take good first step toward re-discovering identity

“We’ve tried to change our roster – that’s [general manager Don Sweeney] and I both – we’ve had discussions on who we’ve drafted,” said Cassidy, explaining the team’s mindset at building their roster with a mix of skill and toughness. “You draft skill guys like [Anders] Bjork, [Danton] Heinen, [Jake] DeBrusk and you can put [Pastrnak] in that mix too because he’s that type of a skill player and that’s the direction we’ve tried to go while keeping – obviously [Zdeno] Chara is more than tough – the Kevan Millers of the world. [He] happens to be injured and that’s a tough one. Connor Clifton is a guy that gives us some bite sometimes [but] he’s injured.

“We’ve tried to keep certain guys in the lineup. Chris Wagner is a physical player, [David] Backes had some of that in him, but he gets concussions a little bit and now we’re talking about what level is he going to be able to go for his personal health? I think we’ve tried to balance it. But if it’s out there [that there was a lack of response], people have a right to say it.”

Backes had just seven goals and 20 points in 70 games last season for the Bruins, and was a healthy scratch in the final three games of the Stanley Cup Final against his former St. Louis Blues team last June.

The move will remove roughly $1 million of his overall $6 million cap hit from the Bruins books once Backes has been dropped to Providence, and that will free the B’s up to make any number of roster moves ahead of the NHL trade deadline next month.

It’s expected that Backes is going to clear through waivers without being claimed and there’s a very distinct possibility that he’ll be bought out of the final year of a contract that really didn’t work out for the Bruins since his arrival in Boston.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171568 Boston Bruins feel we’re winners in that locker room, but you have to prepare to win, you have to compete to win and go through the process of winning. I thought today was a good first step to getting back to who we are.”

Bruins respond to latest challenge, take 'good first step to getting back to The good news for the Bruins is that throughout this identity crisis, who we are' malaise or cruise control session they have been mired in for the last couple of months, they are still eight points ahead of the Lightning and 11 points ahead of the Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division. Thursday night’s By Joe Haggerty January 17, 2020 12:17 PM win over a strong Penguins team was a reminder of how good the Bruins can be when they are playing the right way and actually inject some

urgency, effort and attitude into their game. BOSTON – The Bruins players heard the words from a disapproving Now the Bruins need to follow up on the win over the Penguins, finish up media, from an embarrassed fan base and from an angry management, strong in their final two games ahead of the bye week and NHL All-Star and they responded in tangible fashion in their very next chance to get on break, and then hit the ground running with these kinds of energized the ice. efforts in the second half of the season starting at the end of January. There may never be a frank admittance that the Bruins were way too soft They can’t allow last night’s formula to slip away again, or they would be in their response to Tuukka Rask getting butt-ended in the side of the in danger of embracing the same season-long malaise that ended up head and knocked out of Tuesday night’s loss in Columbus, but they dooming the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of last year’s were aware that everybody around them was in almost uniform playoffs. agreement that what they did in response simply wasn’t enough. The “It’s not about going out there and trying to run them out of the rink. Bruins harnessed those negative feelings and whatever deep-seeded Looking at our roster, we don’t have that kind of group anymore," said regret they may have been harboring, and they took it out on the Torey Krug. "But we talked about sticking together and competing harder Pittsburgh Penguins in a 4-1 win at TD Garden on Thursday night. and sacrificing a little more. That doesn’t mean putting a guy through the It’s never going to be the Pier Six brawl special that it was back with the glass, but it means going into the corner and having the willingness to get group that won the Stanley Cup in 2011, and it certainly isn’t going to be hit, or to hit somebody else, in order to come out of there with the puck. I the dirty, mean and nasty stuff that the 1970’s Bruins pulled off during the think that desperation was lost there for a few games, so hopefully this is wonderfully dark ages of the sport. But it was clear the Bruins wanted to a step in the right direction and we can kind of grasp that concept again. get back to being a hard team to play against after really losing their way It’s been part of our DNA for years, so as long as we can get back to that over the last few months, and evidence abounded that they were getting [we’ll be good].” back to their game. The Bruins lost their way for a while, but it didn’t end up costing them LIVE stream the Celtics all season and get the latest news and analysis anything to this point provided the wakeup call in Columbus continues to on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My serve as a reminder that the Bruins can be great if they actually want to Teams App. work for it, and for each other.

“I thought it was a great effort by everyone. We competed hard, Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.18.2020 supported each other well and I thought Jaro [Halak] made some excellent saves. So it felt like up and down our lineup everybody contributed, and it was a great effort,” said Patrice Bergeron. “We always want to be [a hard team to play against]. We weren’t really happy with our last two efforts, and you’re facing a team that’s playing good hockey [in Pittsburgh]. I thought we responded to the challenge well, but we have to carry that momentum on.

“It’s about getting better as a team. There are going to be stretches where you need to work harder to get the result. So we keep working on it and keep getting better, but the way we competed and the mindset up and down the lineup was great to see.”

A hit from behind on Chris Wagner in the corner drew every member of the Bruins in response early in the game, and Evgeni Malkin was tossed around in the corner by Zdeno Chara after a fairly innocent poke at Jaroslav Halak early in the game as well. Later it was Torey Krug responding to a cross-check to the back of Matt Grzelcyk in front of the Bruins bench, and Krug and Patric Hornqvist throwing down for a legit hockey fight after serving matching roughing penalties for their initial fracas.

Haggerty's Power Rankings: Coaching changes shaking up league

Chris Wagner was only credited with one hit, which was unintentionally humorous as he was throwing his body around with heavy physical play throughout the game, and clearly heeded the call from the Bruins coaching that some of their physical players needed to draw the team into fire a little more often than they had been doing.

Combine all that with rock solid goaltending from Jaroslav Halak, strong special teams play and secondary scoring to go along with Perfection Line excellence, and the Bruins finally again resembled the team that pushed out to such a big lead earlier in the season. Certainly they were again a difficult team to play against rather than the pushovers that showed up in Columbus a few nights ago, and that was the topic of the day from the coaching staff ahead of the game.

“We had a different meeting on some things we needed to do better as a group. It wasn’t necessarily a challenge, it was a reset on supporting one another all over the ice. You hope [that] if you do that to get pucks back, it’ll bleed into anything else that transpires — the physical play and everything else that goes with it,” said Bruce Cassidy. “I thought that part was good. We addressed the group about a little bit of our mentality. We 1171569 Boston Bruins

Bruins' Brad Marchand roasts himself on Twitter amid goal scoring struggles

By Nick Goss January 17, 2020 10:20 AM

Brad Marchand needs your help.

The Boston Bruins forward is having trouble finding his hands, and if you have any tips or leads (or if you actually find them), he tweeted Friday morning where you can send them.

ATTENTION...hands have been lost or stolen, if found please return to TD Garden...thanks

— Brad Marchand (@Bmarch63) January 17, 2020

Marchand is a pretty good social media follow. He's willing to dish it out, but he has no issues poking some fun at himself, too.

The veteran forward entered Thursday night's win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on a seven-game goalless drought, and he snapped that streak with an empty-net tally that sealed a 4-1 victory. It was just an empty- netter, but sometimes those goals have a funny way of building some positive momentum.

Marchand is still enjoying a fantastic 2019-20 season despite his recent goal-scoring trouble. He's tallied 64 points (21 goals, 43 assists) in 49 games, which is four behind linemate David Pastrnak for the team lead in scoring.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171570 Boston Bruins and Cassidy feels those players add more pace to the game and give the team a better chance to win.

“David doesn’t agree with the situation, but that’s the decision we made ‘We love him here’: Sadness in Bruins locker room as team says for the good of the team,” Cassidy said. “I respect David as a person, as goodbye to David Backes a player, but we felt we had better options and that’s how we’re going to go forward and see how it plays out.”

By Joe McDonald Jan 17, 2020 On Dec. 31, Backes discussed his playing status with The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa.

“There’s still some times that when you don’t see your name in the This situation seemed inevitable lineup, there’s a sour time. The competitive side in you certainly kicks in for that,” Backes said. “But there’s also, ‘OK, that’s just reality. What can I On Friday, the Bruins placed veteran forward David Backes on waivers get out of today to make myself better, try to change the situation I’m in?’ with the purpose of assignment to Providence of the AHL. The 35-year- That’s work my butt off in the skate, get some time in the weight room old has one season remaining on his five-year, $30 million contract. If he and be ready for the next opportunity I get to try to prove I should be in clears waivers and reports to Providence, the Bruins will receive $1.075 the lineup every night.” million in cap relief. It would be a surprise if another team claims his services at this point. Veteran defensive Torey Krug understands professional sports is a production-driven business, but it doesn’t make it any easier to see a The news, while not surprising, still did not go over well in the Bruins well-respected teammate going through this type of situation. locker room because Backes is one of the most well-respected players in the NHL. “On and off the ice he’s been great for us,” Krug said. “He came in and the first few years he was a stabilizing force, a guy we can count on. “It’s tough,” Brad Marchand said. “I feel bad for him. He’s been such a When he did get the call he would come in and do his job and we knew great teammate, a great friend and he’s had such a great career. This is what we would expect from him every night. Off the ice, he was a part of the business that really sucks. . . you don’t ever want to see a guy tremendous leader. He’s led a few things in this room that have gone a get treated in this kind of way, especially a guy who has put his time in long way. He’s opened up and been a big part of devoting 100 percent of and earned his stripes. himself and his heart to help this group get to the next level. He’s been a “He’s been such a great player in this league for a long time. Again, it’s big factor for us.” the business side of things that’s really shitty. He’s been an incredible Given Backes’ dedication and desire to play, it will be interesting to see if teammate. I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s such a great he accepts the assignment and plays for Providence this season, or person, a great friend and he’s going to be missed in this room. We relied given his history of concussions if he decides to retire. Either way, he’ll on him a lot on and off the ice. He carried a lot of weight with the guys, so handle it as a pro’s pro. we’re going to miss him – no question. We love him here.” “He was a big part of the mentality we’ve built here,” said Patrice As a coach, it hasn’t been an easy situation for Bruce Cassidy to handle. Bergeron. Both he and Backes have acted as true professionals through it all. It started late last season when Cassidy decided to keep Backes out of the The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 lineup as a healthy scratch, which is something the veteran forward never previously had to deal with during his impressive career.

As a result, the two met away from the rink during a road trip to Las Vegas to discuss the situation. When Backes returned to the lineup, he wanted to add an element of toughness and dropped the gloves a few times, which was concerning given his history with concussions.

Once the Stanley Cup playoffs began, he found himself in and out of the lineup, including when he missed Games 6 and 7 of the final against his former team. Understandably, it was a difficult situation for Backes to accept and it was also a tough decision for Cassidy to make with a championship on the line. The coach ultimately decided to insert rookie forward Karson Kuhlman into the lineup.

During the summer, Backes was motivated and wanted to make an impact in the new season. He even worked with a coach to improve his skating. Still, he was a healthy scratch for five of the first 13 games of the season until he suffered a concussion on Nov. 2 and missed the next 13 contests.

He returned to the lineup on Dec. 1 but was a healthy scratch for 15 of the next 23 games before general manager Don Sweeney decided to place Backes on waivers.

“I have a lot of respect for David as a person, a human being and what he’s accomplished in this league,” Cassidy said. “We brought him in to give us some of that bite. . . it was there for awhile and then some concussions came into play.”

Cassidy said Backes’ health and well-being became a deciding factor for the coach’s decision to keep him out of the lineup, or at least not wanting the veteran to think he had to play a certain way to remain in the game.

“As a guy that you know is a dad with two young girls, you always want to be careful if you’re pushing guys to play a certain way but now you’ve got a guy who might be one hit away from having some damage, so you’ve got to be very careful,” Cassidy said. “I know it’s a business, but that’s the human side of it. That was a bit of an issue for me to try to push him in that direction.”

With some of the younger players who had been injured, including Kuhlman and Anton Blidh, returning, it created some internal competition 1171571 Buffalo Sabres

UPL makes debut for Amerks, who lose in shootout

By Staff

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 23 saves in his season debut as Rochester was defeated in a shootout by Cleveland, 4-3, Friday night at the .

Luukkonen made several big saves, including a crucial stop in overtime when he lunged and kicked away a Monsters shot to preserve the tie.

Markus Hannikainen had the game-winner in the shootout for Cleveland. He faked Luukkonen out for the only goal.

Ryan MacInnis, Trey Fix-Wolansky and Kole Sherwood scored in regulation for the Monsters (18-19-1-2).

The Americans’ goals came courtesy of John Gilmour, Casey Mittelstadt and C.J. Smith.

Rochester has now lost five games in a row and nine of 12. They sit in third place in the North Division at 21-11-2-4.

Gilmour opened the scoring in the second period, taking the puck coast to coast unassisted and finishing with a wrist shot past Cleveland goalie Veini Vehvilainen.

MacInnis tied the game in the second period by sending a shot over Luukkonen’s shoulder.

The game remained tied at one until Mittelstadt scored off a rebound to put the Amerks up again by a goal.

It wouldn’t last long. The game was tied again just a minute later on Fix- Wolansky’s wrist shot.

Cleveland took the lead late in the second when Sherwood finished off an errant puck that took a bounce off the boards.

Smith tied the game with five minutes to spare but Rochester could not capitalize in overtime and did not score in the shootout.

The Amerks will be on the road Saturday when they travel to Allentown, Pa. to play Lehigh Valley.

Buffalo News LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171572 Buffalo Sabres Ullmark compared the experience to when he and Moa struggled to adjust to life in Rochester upon arriving from Sweden in 2015. He didn't feel completely comfortable there until his third season, when he had a Linus Ullmark not dwelling on mistakes in starter role for Sabres .922 save percentage in 44 regular-season games.

"Things off the ice are a lot more calm," Ullmark said. "That really helped me this year. There’s not a lot of stuff going on. It’s about being a dad By Lance Lysowski Published Fri, Jan 17, 2020|Updated Fri, Jan 17, every day. I try to be as good of a dad as possible. There hasn’t been a 2020 lot of uncertainties or question marks regarding different things off the ice. ... All that sort of stuff fell into place this year. Not that it was bad last

year, but it was a little different vibe to it. This year a lot of stuff has NASHVILLE – When a goal against during his time in Rochester left become better. It makes me feel more relaxed off the ice. If you’re Linus Ullmark seething, he entered the dressing room at the intermission relaxed off the ice it’s easier to come into the rink and try to perform and asked the Amerks' video coach, Kyle Smith, to show him a replay. every night because it’s stressful enough as it is."

Watching the sequence only added to Ullmark's frustration. There have been a few hiccups in Ullmark's play recently. He acknowledged Friday night that falling while attempting a glove save put "It was so unnecessary," Ullmark recalled following practice Friday him out of position on Jamie Benn's goal in the second period of a 4-1 afternoon in Bridgestone Arena. "I couldn’t change it. It was still going to win over the Dallas Stars. be a goal." Ullmark has also sprawled in and out of the crease during chaotic The moment opened Ullmark's eyes to the pitfalls of over-analyzing. scrambles around the net. He isn't agonizing over those mistakes, Ullmark, 26, rarely peers up at the scoreboard after allowing a goal for though. A blend of conversations and video study with Bales has allowed the Buffalo Sabres. Any video study is saved for the following day. He Ullmark to clean up any technical deficiencies. Freelancing has always has developed an ability to quickly forget about a mistake until it's time to been part of Ullmark's game, but he's also adopted more structure address any technical hiccup with his goaltending coach, Mike Bales. through experience.

Ullmark has always had the physical tools to be an NHL goalie. However, "I think Linus’ game is very much aligned with the team’s game," former achieving a strong grasp on the mental aspect of the position has NHL goalie Martin Biron, an analyst for MSG, said. "It’s not going to be a allowed Ullmark to solidify himself as the Sabres' starter. full, perfect 60 minutes. Sometimes you’ll revert to some old habits. I remember when he came in after the injury to Robin Lehner (in 2015-16) "Every game is a new experience," Ullmark added. "To be able to play all -- when Lehner had the high-ankle sprain -- and Linus was like a deer in these games has also been about getting experiences. Putting those in the headlights. He was diving all over the place. ... Now Linus is not that your toolbox and having them in your next game, trying to learn same goalie anymore. He’s much more structured. He plays a much something new from all these different situations. No game is the same. better game, but there are times where he ends up venturing out...... You can’t take anything from granted in this league, especially as a Obviously you’re always going to be nit-picking the details, but overall, I goalie. If you’re not humble before the game and during the game, think there’s a lot of good that’s happening there." they’re going to beat you a couple times extra. It’s about being patient and being focused through 60 minutes. So far it’s going pretty well." The Sabres entered Friday five points behind Columbus and Carolina for the second wild-card playoff spot. Ullmark has helped keep Buffalo in the The Sabres (22-19-7) are benefiting from Ullmark's maturation. Entering playoff chase while it awaits the return of Jeff Skinner and Victor Friday, Ullmark's .914 save percentage since Nov. 24 ranked third in the Olofsson. NHL behind Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy and Pittsburgh's Tristan Jarry. The heavy workload is unlikely to stop anytime soon. With the All-Star break looming and Carter Hutton struggling, Ullmark could start each of During that span, Ullmark led all NHL goalies in minutes played – almost the Sabres' next six games. They don't have another back-to-back until 42 more than Vasilevskiy – and allowed more than four goals only once. Feb. 6-7. Ullmark has started 21 of the Sabres' past 24 games, by far his largest NHL workload since he debuted with the team Oct. 24, 2015. Ullmark insisted he's not taking his responsibilities for granted, though. Hutton played a career-high 50 games for the Sabres last season, and Ullmark has played 64.3 percent of the Sabres' minutes this season – on coach Ralph Krueger has not hesitated to bench forwards or defensemen pace for the most by any Buffalo goalie since Robin Lehner (69 percent) following a difficult performance. in 2016-17 – including 74.2 percent since Nov. 1. For context, if Ullmark maintained the latter pace for the duration of the season, he would Ullmark is handling that challenge by ignoring the past and focusing on appear in 60 games. the present.

He's only six appearances away from matching the career-high 37 "You don’t have to analyze every second or situation or shot or play with games he played for the Sabres in 2018-19, a season in which he the puck," Ullmark said. "Take the good things and stick with it." admittedly struggled to handle the mental exhaustion that comes with chaotic NHL travel. Buffalo News LOADED: 01.18.2020

Ullmark went 1-9-1 with an .882 save percentage from Feb. 15 through March 21. One regrettable sequence hasn't spiraled into a difficult stretch this season. Since allowing five goals in a 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay on Dec. 31, Ullmark has a .929 save percentage while winning five of his last six starts. He allowed two or fewer goals in five of those games.

"He’s been playing great," Sabres winger Jimmy Vesey said of Ullmark. "I think he’s gaining confidence. Maybe he’s adjusting to the workload. He’s been strong as of late and definitely a big presence on our team right now."

Finding solace away from the rink has helped Ullmark flourish. Moments after stepping off the ice Friday, he revealed that less uncertainty in his personal life has made him more comfortable at work. He and his wife, Moa, found a preschool for their 1-year-old son, Harry, and the couple finally feels settled in Buffalo.

Ullmark enjoyed the city while visiting for development camps or during his 20 games with the Sabres in 2015-16. However, it wasn't until last season that he was finally able to learn and explore the area. His family also found a home and neighborhood they enjoy. 1171573 Buffalo Sabres Bishop stopped high-danger scoring chances by Michael Frolik and Lazar within the first seven minutes of the third period, a stretch in which the Sabres outshot the Stars, 5-1. Lazar then hit the post to continue to Sabres cap 'evening of learning' by holding off experienced Stars apply pressure on Dallas, which committed a number of turnovers in the neutral zone.

"It was pretty outstanding from us in the third period," Frolik said. "We By Lance Lysowski Published Fri, Jan 17, 2020|Updated Fri, Jan 17, were pretty good in the neutral zone and created some turnovers there. I 2020 think we had a couple of good shifts offensively. We hung on to the puck and had some good, heavy shifts there. ... Great effort tonight. Obviously

the second period really wasn’t our period, but when it came to the third DALLAS – While watching video in preparation for a final game against we were solid there. Big two points for sure." the Stars, Ralph Krueger quickly noticed the Buffalo Sabres were in for The Sabres' penalty kill, which entered Thursday ranked 28th in the NHL, one of their most difficult tests of the season. helped close out the win. The Stars pulled Bishop for an extra attacker The Stars used relentless pressure on the puck to allow the fewest goals with Lawrence Pilut in the penalty box, creating a 6-on-4 for Dallas. in the and won six of their previous eight games The Stars barely possessed the puck before Frolik scored an empty-net, entering Thursday. They had the second-most points in the Western shorthanded goal, his first as a Sabre, for a 3-1 lead. Zemgus Conference, despite turning to interim coach Rick Bowness following Jim Girgensons added another empty-netter with 9.9 seconds remaining. The Montgomery's dismissal last month. Sabres allowed only five shots on goal in the third period, and Linus Dallas was also far more experienced than the Sabres, who were without Ullmark finished with 28 saves. Jeff Skinner and Victor Olofsson. Yet Buffalo appeared to be the more "We’ve come to the point now where we play very strong in the third composed team in a 4-1 win over the Stars in American Airlines Center period," Dahlin said. "When there are like 10 minutes left, we tell on Thursday night. ourselves we don’t let them score. That’s the mindset we have." The Sabres, now 22-19-7 and winners in five of their last seven, scored a Unlike previous seasons, the Sabres have an identity. They illustrated pair of empty-net goals to improve to 18-1 when leading after two that fact in the first period. An offensive-zone forecheck led to Jack Eichel periods. This wasn't their most well-executed game of the season. making a centering pass to Sam Reinhart, whose no-look backhanded However, managing a lead against one of the top teams in the NHL pass set up Jimmy Vesey for a 1-0 lead at 7:01 into the game. showed they have potentially turned the corner with one game remaining before the All-Star break. The third period was a sign of significant growth, and the Sabres withstood the Stars' push to keep pace in the Eastern Conference. "It was a big night for us as far as really feeling the game we need to play against the top teams in the NHL," Krueger said. "We have so much "I was just really proud how the guys came out in the third and were respect for Dallas and what they’ve been doing. Watching them has been comfortable with the 2-1 lead once we had it and just managed it," a real treat for us coaches in how strong they’ve been playing and what a Krueger said. "In that one stretch I think we went seven or eight minutes good team they are and how we were able to beat them at their own without a whistle in just a really, really mature way. Playing against one game tonight for the points, which is something that our group – in a of the most experienced teams and mature teams in the National Hockey much bigger learning curve at the moment – will take a lot from." League. To do that to them, I thought, was just a really good evening of learning for us and growing and just pleased with the team effort that Managing third-period leads has been a problem for the Sabres at times happened here throughout the whole game." this season. They allowed five unanswered goals in a 6-4 loss to Tampa Bay on Dec. 31, capping a stretch in which Buffalo lost seven of eight Buffalo News LOADED: 01.18.2020 games. The Sabres have since beaten Edmonton, Florida, Detroit, Vegas and Dallas. Buffalo entered Thursday with a negative-six goal differential in the third period this season.

Krueger's players know how they need to play to win. Sticking to that plan has been a problem, though. The Sabres had that issue again in the second period Thursday night. They were outshot, 16-5, in the second period and allowed the tying goal when Jamie Benn capitalized on a puck that caromed off the end boards at 4:28.

The Sabres buckled under the Stars' puck pressure, resulting in turnovers and an inability to cycle in the offensive zone. Buffalo had only two second-period shots on net until a successful forecheck resulted in the go-ahead goal.

After the Sabres regained possession in the left corner, Kyle Okposo passed back to the blue line, where defenseman Henri Jokiharju bided time until Rasmus Dahlin was open with space. As Curtis Lazar screened Dallas goalie Ben Bishop, Dahlin flicked a wrist shot from the right circle through traffic and into the net for a 2-1 lead with 3:50 remaining in the second period.

"They were coming out strong in the second period there and kept going the whole period," Dahlin said. "We did a good job too there and kept them away from our goalie. They had a couple chances, but we figured that out."

Sabres forwards combined for only seven shots on goal through two periods, and their power play had zero shots on goal in two opportunities. Yet Dahlin recalled there was a sense of confidence in the dressing room. They weren't pleased with how they played in the previous 20 minutes, but there was an awareness of what was needed to close out a win.

Rather than attempting stretch passes through the neutral zone, Buffalo's forwards began to carry the puck toward the opposing blue line and dumped it into the offense zone. The Sabres then retrieved loose pucks and sustained pressure by forechecking. 1171574 Buffalo Sabres I mean, I think it’s life right? It feels normal to me, so it’s kind of how I spent my whole life. Yeah, it’s probably been a little chaotic and a few bumps along the road, but it’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it ‘Like, life goes on’: Casey Mittelstadt takes his new Rochester for sure. assignment in stride Has anyone taken you under their wing in Rochester?

You know, I don’t think it’s anyone in particular. I think the leadership By Joe Yerdon Jan 17, 2020 down here is so good and Ports (Americans captain Kevin Porter) and Reds (Zach Redmond) and those guys who have been around for a while, they did such a great job welcoming me in. And then I have guys like Borgs (William Borgen) and CJ (Smith) who live in Minnesota in the ROCHESTER, N.Y. — To those watching the Sabres from the outside, summer, I know them super well. So it’s nice to have that to walk in and Casey Mittelstadt’s departure to Rochester may have come as a shock. then know that you have at least a couple guys that you can hang But anyone following the team closely this season likely felt the move around. I don’t know if it’s one particular guy, I think everyone in the was overdue. After putting up 39 points in 114 NHL games, Mittelstadt locker room has done a great job. It’s a great group of guys and I’ve was sent to the , where he’s getting more really enjoyed it. minutes, more situations and more chances to get his game where he needs it to be to get back to Buffalo. You’re kind of unflappable about this whole thing. I have to ask you, how did you how did you take the news that they were sending you to the At 21 years old, the AHL isn’t a punishment so much as it’s a chance to AHL? learn from a group of veterans, play with a lot of familiar faces, and be part of a team that has aspirations. Through 11 games in Of course you don’t want to be sent down, right? I wasn’t happy with it. Rochester, he has six points. The Athletic spoke with Mittelstadt about I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t mad or rattled a little bit, but I think, like, life how things are going with the Americans, how he handled being sent goes on. You wake up the next day, sun comes up, and I think I didn’t down, and more. realize how good of a group of guys they have down here either. Like I came in and everyone was so welcoming right away and especially when What’s the adjustment been like for you to play here? I always ask guys you’re kind of the new guy in the situation you want to just be one of the about the step up from the AHL to the NHL, but what’s this been like? guys and hang around them. They’ve been so good and so welcoming — It’s a little bit different. I think more than anything, it’s just a little more the coaches have been the same way. So that’s been great. chaotic down here. More times than not you have two guys coming at They seem to have a lot of fun here in the mornings after practice – they you rather than one and things like that. I think it’s just more chaotic. still watching game shows together? After a few games I got used to it and feel pretty good now. Yeah, they’ve got a few things going on around here. We’ve been I guess the better question would be, is the timing a big change? watching Family Feud and they do a lot of crosswords and things like I think the soft spots are different. The room on the ice is different and in that. I’m not too good at crosswords, but I like watching Family Feud so I a lot of different areas here versus the NHL. It’s pretty consistent where can settle for that. you can go and find space. I think here it just depends on the play, Ha! All right… To be serious again for a moment: For you, what is going depends on who you’re playing. That’s been different that way, but like I to be your major accomplishment when you’re working here? Is it just to said, you adjust to it. It obviously takes few games, but you get used to it be recalled to Buffalo and not come back or is there more? and you start going. Everyone wants to be called up, right? That’s why they’re playing. But I What was the message from Jason Botterill? I don’t know if Ralph think it’s important to come and at least leave somewhat of an imprint. Krueger gave you the message too, but what was their feedback for you Win a few games and have some fun with the guys and I think the to come here to work on? biggest thing is just have a good attitude. I started my career there and Just go down and play. I wasn’t playing much in Buffalo, so just come then I get sent down here. It’s not how I wanted it to go, but coming here down here and play. I’ve played quite a bit down here, so it’s pretty fun. being one the guys, hanging around with them. I think that’s super That was pretty much the message. It’s been a good time. important because a lot of these guys are going to be teammates in Buffalo, hopefully one day, so I think that’s a big thing. Obviously, you They didn’t have any specific checklist to work on? don’t want to come down here and then be a bad guy. I think you approach it with a good attitude and everything works out. No, not really. It was just come down and play. It’s more minutes, it’s more touches and that was pretty much it. I know it took a little bit of an adjustment coming here, but do you feel like you’ve kind of gotten things, I don’t want to say figured out, but do you What was the difference between working under Phil Housley and feel like you’re in a good spot after that? working under Ralph? As far as hands on coaching and what they wanted to do with you? I think the first three games was a little tough. Even in Buffalo I hadn’t been playing so it had been a couple weeks since I even played and I I don’t know. Ralph’s a little bit more involved in the room, I think, more had to come down here and adjust to it. I feel the first three, four games involved with players, where with Phil I worked with the assistant after that I think I’ve been fine. I’m starting to find spots where there’s coaches a lot. I’m not saying I didn’t work with the assistant coaches with room and making plays with the puck I think so it’s been good. Ralph. I worked with Donny (Granato) and (Chris Taylor) a lot when Tayls was there. But Ralph’s a little more hands on. I think that if Phil This is a team that has made the playoffs and has Calder Cup talked to you it was a little bit bigger of a deal, if that makes sense, aspirations – do you get that feeling here? whether it’s good or bad – doesn’t need to be either one. But yeah, Ralph is just a little more involved in the room. I think that’s it more than Even though it’s been a bit of a rough patch and bad weekend for us last anything else. weekend, I think everyone is so confident. Even with one bad weekend, there’s such a quiet confidence in the room — like no panic, no worry. How important is it to have Taylor here after getting that time with him Everyone just keeps working and get better. I think it’s pretty fun to be during training camp and then in Buffalo? around.

Tayls is great. It was nice to have him up there and now I have a pretty The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 good relationship with him from that. He’s a great guy and he’s a great coach. I honestly can’t say enough good things about him, he’s been great.

Coming out of Minnesota and going right to the NHL, I know we’ve talked before about how that step up is big. You basically went from high school to college to the NHL in two years. What has this ride been like for you, because it seems like a lot to deal with? 1171575 “I wouldn’t say it bugs me,” Brady said of the bluster that has followed the latest Battle of Alberta. “I just think there are people that are complaining about kind of nothing. Because if they thought they were Brady Tkachuk says brother Matthew ‘has the thickest skin I’ve ever dangerous hits, the league would have suspended him. I just think seen’ people need to kind of relax a little bit.

“But Matthew will do anything to win, and he showed it that game and ended up being a crucial part for that fourth goal (on the power-play) that Wes Gilbertson ended up with Calgary winning the game and getting those two huge points and being at the top of their division.

“You can almost say it rekindled the Battle of Alberta,” he continued. “I OTTAWA — His son, he figured, was going to hear about this. think they’re just two teams that hate one another and I think that’s great “If I was a player out there and I saw my teammate’s dad doing for the game. It just shows how emotional, whether it’s Game 1 or Game interviews, I’d be giving it to him right now,” smiled Keith Tkachuk, retired 41 or Game 82, playoffs … Everybody is putting their heart and soul on power forward and proud father to two of the NHL’s rising stars. “That’s the line for one another and trying to get those crucial two points, what I would have done.” because they add up at the end.”

Indeed, while Keith chatted with reporters at Canadian Tire Centre, his There are two more points on the line in Saturday’s clash at Canadian youngest boy Brady was likely receiving an earful from the rest of the Tire Centre (2 p.m. MT, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), the final Ottawa Senators. outing for both the Flames and the Senators before the bye/all-star break. A couple hours later, when the Calgary Flames arrived at the rink, big brother Matthew may have been a popular target for chirps, too. Plus, of course, bragging rights between these brothers.

Then again, why bother? The Tkachuks have booked two suites. The split cheering section will be about 40 strong. “(Matthew) has the thickest skin I’ve ever seen,” Brady marvelled. “I just hope they’re not on the ice together,” Keith said of his boys. “As a That’s never been more obvious. dad, I want to see one play one shift and then I don’t want to wait three more shifts. So I’ll have to talk to the coaches and make sure they don’t Matthew Tkachuk has been the hottest topic in hockey for nearly a week match lines.” now, with every TV personality and Twitter user opining on his actions in the latest edition of the Battle of Alberta. MATTHEW WON’T TRASH-TALK HIS BRO

The Flames’ all-star winger laid a hat-trick of hits on Zack Kassian, but These sorts of chirps are apparently off-limits. irked the Edmonton Oilers tough guy — and everybody else in the 780 area code — by refusing to fight. Matthew Tkachuk doesn’t mind talking some trash, but he insists he never badgers his younger brother, Brady, about his perfect record in Amidst all the headlines, Matthew insisted he wasn’t paying any attention their three head-to-head showdowns so far at hockey’s highest level. to the uproar. The 22-year-old proved it Thursday, making highlights again by sniping the shootout winner as the Flames topped the Maple “They are fun games playing against each other, but they’re too serious,” Leafs 2-1 in Toronto. Matthew stressed. “It’s one thing to joke about stupid stuff, but this is our profession. We want these wins. So I don’t rub it in too much.” “He is so good at blocking stuff out like that,” said Brady, 20, who faces his older brother in Saturday’s showdown between the Flames and Brady, a sophomore stud for the Ottawa Senators, will be shooting for his Senators. “You’ve seen, his game is still top-end, even with all the first career victory against Matthew in Saturday’s brotherly battle at distractions recently. That just speaks about his mental game. Canadian Tire Centre (2 p.m. MT, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan). “I just know from personal experience, always being around him, that he doesn’t let stuff bother him. I think that’s huge. Sometimes, there’s a lot Both Tkachuks are key pieces for their respective clubs. of negativity towards somebody, so to block that out and still play your Matthew, 22, is tied for tops among Flames with 38 points this season. game, it’s pretty impressive.” Next weekend, he’ll be skating in the 2020 NHL All-Star Game in his There certainly has been no shortage of negativity, with some backing hometown of St. Louis. Kassian’s contention that Tkachuk needed to “answer the bell” after Brady, 20, is already a face-of-the-franchise sort for the Senators, who those wicked licks and others arguing those were dirty hits. firesaled Mark Stone, Matt Duchene and others at the trade deadline last Even notorious nice-guy Teemu Selanne picked a side — and not winter and are in rebuild mode. He has 25 points so far in his second Matthew’s. NHL campaign.

“That’s the world we live in now with social media,”said Keith Tkachuk, “I like what I’ve seen from him this year,” Matthew said of his kid brother. who racked up more than 1,000 points in his own NHL heyday, as the “He’s become a man and the way he plays, not many people can take Senators wrapped practice Friday. “When I first came in, probably half the puck off him. He’s not fun to play against, at all. So I’ve liked how far the league didn’t hear about a big body-check or a big fight, so it wasn’t a he’s come so far. big deal. “Especially with a bunch of those guys leaving, he’s had to take the “But it is what it is now. The game, probably for the last few years, has burden of what they have been missing. And I think he’s done a great lacked personality, and I think it’s starting to come back.” job. He’s such a well-liked guy. Every single person loves him on their team, that I know of. He’s loved in the city. He’s the future of this Indeed, guys like Matthew Tkachuk are good for business in the NHL. organization, and I don’t think it’s too hard to see that.”

Love him or hate him, everybody has opinion on the Flames’ first-liner, Matthew Tkachuk’s stats: fan favourite and alternate captain. Brady Tkachuk’s stats: “I’m the type of guy, I don’t listen to anything that anybody says,” Matthew reiterated after practice in Ottawa. In three career contests against Calgary, Brady has one goal.

His loved ones can confirm. Matthew has notched three points — one marker and a pair of assists — versus the Senators since his brother arrived. “Nothing rattles Matthew,” Keith said. “It might rattle his mom (Chantal) a little bit.” There will be many more showdowns between the two.

His siblings, too, likely find it tough to ignore the commotion and “He’s going to be a great player for a long, long time,” Matthew said of controversy. Brady. “From what I’ve seen this year, from how much he’s improved, it’s scary to think what he is going to be like in a few years.” Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171576 Calgary Flames Tkachuk, meanwhile, scored the only goal in the shootout, after Derek Ryan and William Nylander traded goals in regulation. The Flames are the first team to hold Toronto to under three goals since they turned the Duhatschek: David Rittich has proved his All-Star credentials. Plus, more same trick against the Leafs back in December. Now, 1-1 in the first two observations from the Flames road trip games of a trip that moves on to Ottawa for the second instalment this season of Tkachuk vs. Tkachuk, Matthew vs. Brady, the entire family planning to be in attendance, with a private box fully booked.

By Eric Duhatschek Jan 17, 2020 Tkachuk can’t seem to ever stay out of the spotlight. When the question was broached again post-game – how does he stay focused when the

entire league seems to be piling on at the moment – he answered: “Just Matthew Tkachuk was speaking again Thursday, but not about Zack normal. Just a normal five days for me. I don’t listen to anything.” Kassian, the Battle of Alberta or what may happen the next time the Said coach Geoff Ward: “Real good focus by him – to keep out the noise Calgary Flames play the Edmonton Oilers, soon after the NHL All-Star and stay focused on what he had to do. Made a good move. Shot five- break. hole. It’s in the net.” Instead, Tkachuk’s focus was on the task immediately at hand, a game Five further thoughts and observations from the events of Thursday: against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that includes his former junior linemate, Mitch Marner, and his close friend from the USA hockey ranks, 1. Rittich was still getting used to the idea of going to the All-Star Game Auston Matthews. Together, Marner and Matthews have been putting on and thus hadn’t had a chance to speak to any of his teammates about an offensive clinic on behalf of the surging Maple Leafs, two dangerous what to expect. However, he did note that he’d texted the San Jose players who can be difference makers on any given Thursday. Sharks’ Tomas Hertl “to talk about how he’s going to do. It’s going to be great to get another Czech guy on the team, right?” Hertl is a Of course, saying you need to stop Matthews and Marner is one thing. replacement for injured San Jose teammate Logan Couture; Rittich’s Actually, getting it done is quite another. partner in goal will be the Canucks’ Jacob Markstrom, who was added to the team to replace Marc-Andre Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights. Ultimately, the task primarily fell to David Rittich Thursday night. Rittich, named to the Pacific Division All-Star team as a replacement for the Barring any further changes, Calgary and Vancouver will each have three injured Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper on Wednesday players on the Pacific All-Star team, while Edmonton has two (Connor morning, turned out to be the difference maker one night later in the McDavid and Leon Draisaitl). Since Jakob Silfverberg of the Ducks Flames’ 2-1 shootout victory over Toronto. withdrew for personal reasons, for the moment anyway, Anaheim does not have a representative in the game. Rick Tocchet of Arizona was Rittich will be joined at the All-Star game by Tkachuk and team captain named to replace Gerard Gallant as coach after Gallant was fired this Mark Giordano. The Flames will have three representatives in all, which week by Vegas. Giordano and Canucks rookie Quinn Hughes are the is high for a team that’s just slowly starting to turn the corner after a only two defencemen on the Pacific Division roster. sluggish first half of the season. 2. It was a sort of homecoming for Giordano these three days, a chance But if Rittich needed to prove to anyone that he had All-Star credentials, to visit with family and friends and his parents in the midst of the trip. this was as good an opportunity as any to send the message — in front Giordano grew up in Toronto, and throughout his professional life, of a full house at the , breaking the hearts of Leafs maintained a residence there. Or he did until last summer, when he, wife Nation. Toronto’s high-octane attack produced 36 shots. Matthews Lauren and their two children, Jack and Reese, picked up stakes and managed nine all on his own. moved permanently to Calgary.

Rittich stopped them all and then he stopped Matthews again in the So, Thursday night’s game was a little different than all the previous shootout to make it a perfect 10. In an era when the difference between times Giordano’s played in his hometown throughout his NHL career. making and missing the playoffs is success or failure in the shootout, According to Giordano, there were a number of factors that led to the Rittich is now 5-0 in the penalty-shot contest on the season — one of the decision to move permanently to Calgary from Toronto, but it was main reasons the Flames are still contending for top spot in the Pacific primarily driven by family concerns. Division. “Our son is in school now, Grade 1, and along with school comes As it happens, Rittich was originally planning to go on a Mexican holiday activities – hockey now, in the summer, sports like that,” said in the sun with his wife once the Flames’ road trip wraps up on Saturday Giordano. “So, it’s hard on them, moving them around. He’s developed a in Ottawa. Now, he’s detouring to St. Louis. Unlike some players who’ve circle of friends here. So that’s first. decided to give the All-Star Game a pass, Rittich’s excitement level was palpable. As he pointed out, from where he came — undrafted free agent “The other thing is too, we’ll still get back to Toronto to visit family and — to where he is now — solidifying a spot as an NHL starter, and now friends of course, but the old back-and-forth, it wears on you. For my wife playing in an All-Star Game — it’s been quite an extraordinary journey. and I having two children now, having a chance to just be able to relax and settle in, in the summer, it goes a long way.” “Honestly, who’s going to say that — four or five years ago, I was in the second Czech league and I was never thinking about the NHL,” said At 36, at a time when a lot of veteran players playing the sort of minutes Rittich. “Here we go, five years later, I got an opportunity to be on the All- that Giordano does might give the All-Star Game a pass, he is fully Star Game, with the best players in the world. committed to going again this year. This is his third appearance – previously, he went in 2015 (to Columbus) and 2016 to Nashville. “For sure, I was watching those games. It’s super nice. You could see the Despite playing 139 games in the AHL and spending a full year in the players walking on the red carpet. It looked like a lot of fun. It’s KHL (2007-08), where he played for Moscow Dynamo, Giordano is awesome.” approaching the 900-game NHL milestone. If he remains healthy, he’ll get there in March. He is second only to Jarome Iginla on the all-time Rating Rittich’s saves was a popular post-game pastime, but one on Flames’ games-played list. Matthews late in the third, another on Kasperi Kapanen in the OT and one earlier against Andreas Johansson rated as 10-bell saves on the “I like them,” he said. “I think they’re great events. And you know what? night. The new (three-on-three) format? I’ve played in both formats and to be honest, I really enjoy the three-on-three – a little tournament that’s way “You want to do everything in your power to reward him,” said Tkachuk of more competitive and I like it.” Rittich’s performance. “He was our best player tonight — easily. For us to reward him, that was definitely on my mind, and on the rest of the guys’ 3. According to Giordano, the other major difference this time around is minds – that we had to play solid in front of him. We got it to OT. I’d say that son Jack is a little older and thus may get more out of the we had way more looks in OT than they did — which is hard to do experience. against all their offensive stars. “When he came the first time, he was like a year-and-a-half and the “But we can play with anybody. We were committed defensively — and second time, he was just turning three, so now, for him, being six, he’ll Ritter was fantastic.” understand a lot more – and get a lot more out of it,” said Giordano. “To be honest, that’s what I’m most excited about. “But also, it’s important to represent the Flames. I get it with Ovie (the Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin, who has opted out for a second consecutive year). Ovie’s done everything he can to promote hockey and to promote the NHL, so he gets a pass for sure. For some of us who haven’t been there as much, we’ve got to look at it, almost as an obligation to promote our game.

“I remember when I was a kid, growing up, the All-Star Game was huge. That’s who we’re appealing to in this event – the young kids, who love watching the skills and love watching the All-Star Game. It should be an obligation for most guys. If a guy’s been there 10 years in a row, and has been to every international event, you can see where he needs some rest.”

4. Rittich did get help on one pivotal play from defenceman Noah Hanifin, who got his stick on a shot from the Leafs’ John Tavares to deflect it harmlessly away from a wide-open net. Hanifin said afterward that he got the back of his stick blade on the puck as he pivoted to try and block the shot. Hanifin and Giordano were each credited with four official shot blocks on the night.

“Playing a team like Toronto, they’re a powerhouse with their offensive ability,” said Hanifin. “They have a lot of superstar players. So, our game was to keep their players on the perimeter, and I thought we did that pretty well tonight.

“They’ve got a lot of motion in the O-zone. Their D are active and they keep moving around. Sometimes, if you chase them too much, they expose you — so I thought we did a good job of staying tight and keeping them on the outside.”

5. Rittich’s lateral movement – and his anticipation – are clearly the twin strengths of his overall game and they were particularly evident because of the way the Leafs created outmanned scoring opportunities.

Part of Rittich’s success has to do with his sheer athleticism, according to Ward, but the other half involves his preparation.

“I think he’s been at the craft long enough to understand what’s happening,” said Ward. “He does a good job of preparing himself for the shooters, so he knows what their tendencies are – if they’re passers, or shoot-first guys. I think that’s all involved in becoming a good anticipator. He’s absolutely a student of the game. Both our guys are.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171577 Calgary Flames rudder approach is one that had served us well. He’s done a good job, our team has responded, and really since the end of November we’ve played some pretty good hockey.

LeBrun: Q&A with Brad Treliving on Matthew Tkachuk critics, Geoff Now, if you’re going to nitpick, this is a team that was tied for second in Ward’s coaching and the Flames’ playoff pursuit scoring in the NHL last season, and is currently 26th in goals per game as of this morning (Thursday). It’s got to be a bit surprising, no? It’s not to say you should be second overall again in scoring, the league is close By Pierre LeBrun Jan 17, 2020 40 and a lot happens, but 26th is below where you need these guys to be, right?

Yeah, certainly. I think more recently we’ve seen more contributions from TORONTO — Brad Treliving is in Year 6 as GM of the Calgary Flames, more people. That was sort of a calling card for us last year, and you his club during that time routinely competitive, coming off a Pacific need it to have success. You need your top players, but you need Division title, but yearning for that deep playoff run his passionate fan scoring from more than one or two people. The teams that have success, base is clamouring for. you see there’s depth scoring, there’s scoring in multiple areas. So we’ve And so there is certainly some pressure to see the Flames do just that had a little bit of a … our top guys, if you look at their numbers this year this spring. But they have to first get into the playoffs in the mad scramble as opposed to the same spot last year, they’re down. Our defence in that is the very tight Pacific Division. general hasn’t put up the same type of numbers as they did last year. But again, for the most part, arrows are up across the board. It’s the nature of I like their chances of getting in. After that? Who the hell knows in the the beast, you need to score to win. We still need to have more National Parity League. production throughout our lineup. Not just our top guys producing more, but we need more from throughout our lineup. And encouragingly, I’ve I sat down Thursday morning with Treliving for the latest in my series of seen that here in the last few weeks. Q&A interviews with NHL GMs. You guys had your (amateur) scouting meetings in Niagara Falls this Well there’s an obvious place to start, and I’m sure you’re tired of this week. I don’t want to say you tipped your hand, but you created some story already, but it keeps getting juice all week long; the Battle of Alberta cap space ($4.3 million) when you traded Michael Frolik to Buffalo. No is alive and well. A lot was said from each side, what’s your sense of one is blind to that. So are we to put two and two together that if the what played out last Saturday night? Obviously it cost Zack Kassian of opportunity is there, that perhaps you will try to add some scoring before the Oilers a two-game suspension. the trade deadline? Well, you’re right, it’s getting lots of talk right now. We lost a little focus Yeah, I mean, two things for us, Pierre, No. 1 we wanted to create some going into Monday (2-0 loss at Montreal). An emotional game Saturday (salary cap) flexibility. We’d been looking at that for a while. Michael is a night, and then with all the stuff surrounding it, I think we weren’t in the really good pro, he was a good player for us. With the emergence of right headspace for Montreal. We’ve got a big game here tonight, we’ve some of our younger players, specifically (Andrew) Mangiapane and got another in Ottawa and then we come out of the break against St. (Dillon) Dube, there was a little bit of redundancy there. We got a lot of Louis. We got to focus on those things. After that we play Edmonton left shots. So it gave Michael hopefully a better opportunity. And it gave more (Jan. 29 and Feb. 1) and I’m sure there will be lots talked about. I us some flexibility. Our hope is that we can find a productive way to use guess a couple of things, it’s good that we’ve got the rivalry, that’s a good it. If we can find the right fit, and I wouldn’t say anything is imminent at thing. You take some things with a grain of salt. But some of the this point, but we’re certainly open to try and make our team better and if comments coming out, obviously No. 1 I’m going to stand up for our guy we can find — as you said — find somebody that can help us or continue in Matthew (Tkachuk). It’s been bothersome with some of the comments. to look at ways to generate more offence and more goals, that’s certainly I get it with some of the stuff, but there’s been some commentary around something we’d like to do. which I think has gone over the line with Matthew. When I sat down for a similar interview with (Oilers GM) Ken Holland last (Me interrupting) In terms of circling the next game and that kind of stuff? week, he confirmed he had inquired about Taylor Hall earlier this season, Yeah, and just comments about him. This is a guy that’s a unique player it was very public that he was a player that was on the trade market, I in my opinion, is a special player, is a top scorer for us, does so many believe you guys did as well (inquire). Is that just a specific situation things for us, a leader for us. And some of the critiques and some of the where guys like him don’t often come around? As opposed to reading comments that were made about him obviously doesn’t sit well with me. into it that you were wanting to shake your team up? And you’re right, when you start saying somebody is going to get I don’t like to comment on players from other teams, but when you’re somebody the next game, you certainly hope something doesn’t happen talking about a player of that nature, certainly they’re not moved very after there’s some intent or words spoken about it. But like I said, our often. I don’t think you’re in need of a shakeup, but your job is that focus is on our next game here, the points are so important right now, whenever there’s opportunities which can make you better, that’s the job you got to focus on what’s in front of us. We’ll worry about the next game of a manager that you’re a) aware of it and b) if you can, you’re in that with Edmonton when we get to the next game in Edmonton. game. So we’ve tried to do that whenever we can if there’s players we There couldn’t be more of a dog fight than what the Pacific Division is feel that can help us. Not for cosmetic reasons, not for shakeup reasons, right now. One team even fired their coach this week in the midst of all but hopefully to make the team better, we definitely have in the past and this. It tells you I guess about the pressure that is there. Now, you guys will in the future see if we can be involved in those. Sometimes, for had a coaching change for different reasons earlier this season but your various reasons, it doesn’t happen. But we’re going to continue to look. team has responded to Geoff Ward, that’s for sure. What do you like that You have a couple of veteran defencemen that are up at the end of the you see that Geoff has brought? season in Travis Hamonic and T.J. Brodie. Which in itself, at times, has Well, I think he’s done a real good job, no question Pierre. We had an sparked speculation solely based on people reading into the fact it’s the inconsistent start (to the season) is how I would put it, but I did think we end of a contract, right? And you can set me straight right or wrong here, were starting to be arrows up prior to the coaching change. A lot of the but if you’re a team that’s going for it this season, it doesn’t really matter things we look at in our game were starting to move forward and that their deals are up, right? stabilizing and playing a lot better. Geoff is unique in that he was here. No, those are two good players, veteran players, they’ve been important It’s not like you’re bringing someone from the outside. His job here was players for us. A lot gets read into what you said Pierre, there’s a contract really to do a lot of one-on-one stuff with the players as an associate deadline coming up, may we sign one or both or none? Potentially. But coach. He came in with the benefit of a really close relationship with the that doesn’t mean anything really in the here and now. Also, I think as players. He probably spent the most time going over individual game things evolve and change, and I think there’s great validity to this, for plans, obviously worked the power play, but spent a lot of one-on-one years you’d get to the trade deadline and you’d either sign guys or trade working on guys’ games. So there was a trust factor there, a relationship. guys because you don’t want guys necessarily walking for free. I think Real smart guy. But what I found more than anything, just real steady at you’re going to see more and more, and I could be wrong, but more and the wheel. There’s a real consistency to him, you know win, lose or draw, more players where you’re using them as your own rentals and then it’s the same guy the next day, there’s not too much (gestures his hand trying to get something done at the end of the year. Once the (trade) waving up and down), which I think is good for our group. We’ve got deadline passes, you’re not prohibited from signing your own guys. And some experience but we’ve got some youth and I think that steady on the again, it’s still a function of the cap and getting a better sense of the cap each and every year. But I think you’re going to see guys, and we’ve seen it before, you back to Tampa years ago where Steven Stamkos you take it to the end of the line and the player re-signs; I’m not opposed to that, either. I’m not opposed to, hey, we can’t get something done now, if we can get something done post-deadline or in June or whenever, I’m not opposed to that, either.

And the flip side is, if you’re not able to sign one or both, you have more cap space and that’s another asset in this system, right?

You’re exactly right. And I think that sometimes gets overlooked. You look back at the Frolik decision. You’re always looking ‘OK what’s your return in a potential move?’, and we added some draft capital in a fourth- round pick. But the key element is cap space, that is a massive asset in today’s environment where there’s so little of it and there’s been little growth in the cap in the past year. So yeah, we’ll monitor those situations (Hamonic/Brodie) and as we approach the deadline, hopefully make the best decision we can.

Now you do a lot of travelling, of course, and I try to remember to ask this question, but in that downtime, when you’re picking up a book, what have been some of your favourite or most influential for you to read over the years which has helped shape your philosophy?

Yeah, I’m a big reader, I do a lot of that. I don’t know if there’s just one book I’d say, but probably three: “Good to Great” (by James C. Collins) is an all-time favourite of mine. It’s the difference between good companies and great companies. And then the late Bill Walsh, “The Score Takes Care of Itself.” It’s one of my all-time favourites. I’d read it a while back and read it recently again. And another book I gave to my scouting staff a while back, is “Thinking, Fast and Slow” (by Daniel Kahneman). It’s a harder read, but it’s a real cerebral look at problem-solving and maybe looking at things differently. So those are probably three that come to mind. But you’re right, lots of airplanes and lots of time to catch up with a good book and I enjoy to read.

Last question Brad. First-round exit last year, you were the top seed — same thing happened in both conferences — do you believe more and more that it’s just about getting in? Obviously home ice is great. But the idea that just getting in is all that matters?

Yeah, you have to get in. You’re so tight now. Everybody can talk about winning this and winning that, the ultimate prize is everybody’s goal, but you can only get there if you’re in the tournament. And I know it sounds cliche-ish, and motherhood-ish, but the parity now … if you’re not good each night, and your goaltender is the second-best goaltender on the ice, and you’re not prepared to play, you’re going to lose and I don’t care who you’re playing against. So, the league has never been tighter. And it’s hard. You’re right, the No. 1 goal is to get in and once you’re in, those 16 teams, I don’t think it’s ever been tighter than it is now. Sure, there are some teams over the course of 82 games who have separated themselves and are elite teams, but that all goes away when you get to the tournament. So that’s our goal, to continue to hopefully move forward here in the second half and give ourselves the best chance. But you got to get in, you got to get in.

All right, thanks for your time, Brad.

Thanks, Pierre.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171578 Carolina Hurricanes The opportunity is there for Jake Gardiner to fill some of that gap, if he’s capable of doing so in a season that hasn’t gone the way Gardiner or the Hurricanes expected when they signed the free agent in September. This was the most ice time — almost 22 minutes — he has played in his 48 Hurricanes face difficult adjustment to life without Dougie Hamilton games with the Hurricanes, and he had the puck on his stick as the Hurricanes pressed at the end of regulation. He was also on the ice for

Anaheim’s winner, although he was helpless after Andrei Svechnikov BY LUKE DECOCK JANUARY 17, 2020 10:53 PM turned it over.

No team can lose a player the caliber of Hamilton and move on without a hitch. His absence wasn’t the reason the Hurricanes lost Friday, but they RALEIGH-When Dougie Hamilton went down Thursday night with his left unquestionably missed his creativity and unpredictability. Someone has leg twisted underneath him, the healthiest team in the NHL lost that to expand their game to fill the void, whether that’s from within or without. distinction in about as damaging a way as possible. Hamilton won’t be easy to replace, but the Hurricanes will have to do better than this. One of the handful of players on the Carolina Hurricanes’ roster whose loss would be potentially catastrophic is now out indefinitely after surgery News Observer LOADED: 01.18.2020 Friday to repair a broken leg, and suddenly the previously pressing concerns about whether Nino Niederreiter will ever get back on track or when Justin Williams will make his delayed debut — he’s got two games left before Mr. Game 7 becomes Mr. February — don’t seem quite as important.

A little perspective, that. Too much perspective.

Injury-riddled teams keep close track of how many man-games they have lost to injury, reminded as all the new faces shuffle in and out of the lineup. The team with the fewest injuries doesn’t even really pay much attention, rolling along blissfully oblivious until something like this happens and reality intrudes. Hamilton’s injury was essentially the same one Jordan Staal suffered five years ago, and losing Staal for the first three months submarined that entire season.

There’s no replacing Hamilton, who picked up where he left off last season as an offensive dynamo, not only creating chances for others but finishing them himself, and doing a far more credible job in his own end at the same time. Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce were already shouldering a heavy load as part of the defensive foundation with Hamilton; their nights aren’t going to get any shorter. Slavin played 25:23, third-most this season, in Friday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Pesce played 25:34, second-most for him.

That’s the new normal for both in the post-Hamilton reality. The Hurricanes are hoping the way they played isn’t. Hamilton’s absence alone doesn’t excuse a dismal performance against a Western Conference bottom-feeder after Sebastian Aho staked the Hurricanes to the lead in the first four minutes.

“That’s a huge part of our team missing,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “But we have a lot of guys in there. I don’t think we were sharp. That was clearly evident.”

The Hurricanes were in the market for a top-four capable defenseman before Hamilton went down, but that quest was upgraded from “if possible” to “by all means necessary.” Unfortunately for them, everyone else in the NHL knows it. Whatever the prices they saw before were, they just went up. Fortunately, they have the salary-cap space to do it, and maybe even add a veteran depth guy as well. Ideally sooner rather than later.

Hamilton’s injury does pave the way for Slavin to get some belatedly deserved recognition at the All-Star Game at the end of the month, not the way Slavin would have wanted to get there but sometimes that’s the only way a defenseman like Slavin can get there. The All-Star selections are always slanted toward offense even on defense, which skews things toward the Sandis Ozolinsh end of the spectrum. The polished smoothness of Slavin’s two-way game doesn’t jump off the stat sheet the same way, which is how Noah Hanifin somehow ended up there two years ago instead, like a guy who got on the wrong bus and woke up in another state.

Hamilton qualified on both fronts, but this is good for Slavin, who the hockey community has been slow to recognize as the elite defenseman he is. His playoff performance moved the needle. This will too.

By next weekend, Slavin may have preferred the weekend off. Any recipe for replacing Hamilton will require these heavy minutes for Slavin and Pesce, maybe even Adrian Aucoin circa-2003 minutes if straits are dire enough. (Peter Laviolette, then the coach of the New York Islanders, routinely played Aucoin more than half the game, sometimes more than 40 minutes, even.) 1171579 Carolina Hurricanes “We couldn’t get out of our own way,” Brind’Amour said. “We spent too much time in our end. We spent too much time trying to defend.”

News Observer LOADED: 01.18.2020 Steel gives Ducks 2-1 overtime win over Hurricanes

BY CHIP ALEXANDER JANUARY 17, 2020 10:14 PM

RALEIGH-The Carolina Hurricanes’ first game without Dougie Hamilton did not go well for the home team.

Sam Steel’s goal at 1:36 of overtime gave the Anaheim Ducks a 2-1 victory at PNC Arena, handing the Canes a third consecutive loss.

Sebastian Aho, back at center, scored for the Canes in the first period, his 24th of the season but his first in eight games. But defenseman Erik Gudbranson countered for the Ducks (19-24-5) late in the opening period and it was 1-1 into overtime.

By then it had become a standoff between the starting goalies, James Reimer of the Canes and Ryan Miller of the Ducks, who had 36 saves. Steel finally ended it in the three-on-three OT after the Canes’ Andrei Svechnikov could not corral a rolling puck, Steel breaking in to beat Reimer.

It will take time for the Canes (27-18-3) to fully adjust to playing without Hamilton, who fractured a fibula in Thursday’s road loss against Columbus and had surgery Friday in Raleigh. The Canes will miss the play of the big, versatile defenseman. Emotionally, they also must recover from losing a popular teammate, likely for the rest of the regular season.

“That’s a huge part of our team that’s missing,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “But I don’t think we were sharp. That was clearly evident.”

Aho was moved to the wing for the Columbus game but was back at center Friday. He played with energy and extra pace, attacking in the offensive zone while making some sound defensive-zone work.

“He was working, he was dynamic,” Brind’Amour said.

Centering a line with Teuvo Teravainen and Warren Foegele, Aho scored after first winning a faceoff in the offensive zone. He drifted to the low slot, redirecting a shot by defenseman Joel Edmundson for his first score in 2020 — his last goal was in the Dec. 31 game against Montreal.

Aho nearly scored another goal shorthanded in the second, his shot glancing off the pad of Miller and hitting the post.

A defensive breakdown late in the first by the Canes allowed the Ducks to tie the score. Gudbranson was able to sneak in unchecked in the slot, beating Reimer with a low shot through the pads.

With Hamilton sidelined, Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said he might mix-and-match his defensive pairs and did. Edmundson moved into the top pairing with Jaccob Slavin while Brett Pesce was paired with Jake Gardiner. Haydn Fleury, back in the lineup, and Trevor van Riemsdyk made up the third pairing, but Brind’Amour moved the D-men around during the game.

“He’s a heck of a player and any time he’s out we’re going to miss him,” Slavin said of Hamilton. “The power play, I think Dougie makes that a lot better. Then some of the offensive plays ... he’s a shooter, he’s a great passer. So his presence was missed all over the ice.”

Brind’Amour also tweaked the forward lines again after some wholesale shuffling for the Columbus game.

The key move was moving Aho back to center. Jordan Staal centered a line with Svechnikov and Brock McGinn, Erik Haula centered Ryan Dzingel and Martin Necas, and Lucas Wallmark was at center with Nino Niederreiter and Jordan Martinook.

The Ducks came into PNC Arena off a 3-1 road win Thursday against the Nashville Predators. Playing their last game before their bye week and the All-Star Game break, they used a heavy forechecking game to try and wear down the Canes’ defense.

The Canes had success against the Blue Jackets, albeit in a 3-2 loss, in quickly getting pucks out of their zone. It was a tougher go against the Ducks, who ended a four-game losing streak with the Nashville victory. 1171580 Carolina Hurricanes Standings: Charlotte is third in the AHL Atlantic, despite playing the fewest games of anyone in the division. The Checkers are four points behind second-place Hershey and seven in back of first-place Hartford.

Charlotte Checkers weekend series vs. Toronto Marlies has big-time feel News Observer LOADED: 01.18.2020 to it

BY STEVE LYTTLE CORRESPONDENT JANUARY 17, 2020 01:15 PM

It’s a third-place team facing a fourth-place club, but this weekend’s two- game series in Charlotte between the Checkers and the Toronto Marlies has a big-time feel to it.

The Checkers and Marlies face off at 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Bojangles Coliseum. It comes in the middle of a six-game homestand for Charlotte.

The Checkers have climbed from eighth place in the American Hockey League’s Atlantic Division to third. Charlotte has won nine of its last 10 games and is 13-3 since Dec. 7.

The Marlies are on a different trajectory. After being in contention for the AHL North lead early in the season, they are 3-7 in their last 10 games and have slipped to fourth.

But it is a meeting of the AHL’s last two champions. Toronto won the Calder Cup in 2018 and Charlotte captured the cup last June.

The Marlies provided Charlotte with its toughest test in the playoffs, pushing the Checkers to six games.

What’s more, the two teams’ NHL parent clubs — the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes — have two of the league’s strongest farm systems. The Marlies got off to a slow start last season but rallied down the stretch.

The Checkers swept a two-game home series earlier this week off second-place Hershey, beating the Bears, 4-1, on Tuesday night before a sellout crowd at Bojangles Coliseum, then edging the Bears, 5-4, on Wednesday.

Charlotte coach Ryan Warsofsky gave the team a day off Thursday.

“We’ve just got to take a deep breath here,” Warsofsky said after Wednesday’s victory. “We need to catch ourselves, take a step back, and realize we won two hockey games. We’ve got a good team coming in, and we have to learn from what just happened. (Almost blowing a 5-1 lead)”

But Checkers’ forward Steven Lorentz said his team made a statement against Hershey.

“We just beat one of the best teams in the league,” he said. “For confidence’s sake, that’s huge for us. Moving forward, I think that’s kind of a message not to sleep on us.”

Here is a review of the past week for the Checkers, and what lies ahead:

Last Friday: Charlotte’s six-game winning streak ended with a 6-3 loss to AHL Atlantic leader Hartford. The game was tied 3-3 after the first period. Checkers defenseman Jake Bean notching two assists.

Last Saturday: The Checkers got back on the winning track, downing Bridgeport 5-2 in a game that ended Charlotte’s seven-game road trip. Max McCormick scored three goals.

Tuesday: Oliwer Kaski scored two goals and goalkeeper Anton Forsberg made 26 saves in Charlotte’s 4-1 romp over Hershey. The game drew 8,359 fans to Bojangles Coliseum.

Wednesday: Before a home crowd of 4,426, the Checkers held off Hershey 5-4. Five different Charlotte players scored goals, Janne Kuokkanen had three assists, and goalkeeper Alex Nedeljkovic notched his fifth straight victory.

What’s ahead: The Checkers host Toronto at 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. The Bojangles Coliseum homestand ends next weekend with home games against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Penguins (7 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday). That series will mark the return to Charlotte of Penguins’ coach Mike Vellucci, who directed the Checkers to the AHL championship last season. 1171581 Carolina Hurricanes

Canes defenseman Dougie Hamilton suffers broken fibula

BY CHIP ALEXANDER JANUARY 17, 2020 12:24 PM

RALEIGH-The news was not good Friday for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Defenseman Dougie Hamilton, injured Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, has a broken left fibula, the team announced. Surgery was performed Friday by Dr. Kevin Logel at Raleigh Orthopaedic, but Hamilton’s return is indefinite.

“It’s a huge loss, obviously,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Friday. “He’s arguably our No. 1 guy on everything. He plays every situation and we count on him quite a bit. It’s a big loss but all teams go through this at some point and we’ll see how we respond.”

Hamilton, a potential Norris Trophy candidate this season, was chosen to to compete for the Metropolitan Division team in the 2020 NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis later this month. With Hamilton sidelined, the NHL announced Friday that Hamilton would be replaced by Canes defenseman Jaccob Slavin.

Canes center Jordan Staal suffered a similar injury in a preseason exhibition game in September 2014 against the Buffalo Sabres. Staal underwent surgery to repair a broken fibula and had an estimated recovery time of three to four months.

Staal returned to the lineup in late-December 2014, a little more than three months after surgery.

The Canes, who held the first wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, hosted the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. Brind’Amour said that might be a plus in that the players, while glum about Hamilton’s loss, must quickly refocus on the task at hand: winning a game.

“He’s a brother in there,” Brind’Amour said. “We all know how much he means to us. He’s been a real good team player in that locker room. I think it’s good we’ve got a game right away to go through and we’ll see what we’ve got.”

Defenseman Haydn Fleury, a healthy scratch the past few games, went back into the lineup. But Brind’Amour said he was not sure about the D- man pairings leading up to the All-Star Game and bye-week break -- the Canes host the New York Islanders on Sunday and Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.

“That will probably be a work in progress,” Brind’Amour said. “I think that will juggle around quite a bit. ... There might be a lot of mix and match.”

Hamilton was injured Thursday with 16.4 seconds left in the second period. Hamilton and Columbus’ Kevin Stenlund were chasing after the puck when they had their legs tangle, Hamilton falling backward and bending his left leg under him.

“It’s an unfortunate injury but I’m sure he’ll be back at some point, whether it’s this year or next year, as good as new,” Brind’Amour said.

News Observer LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171582 Carolina Hurricanes guy on everything,” it was no empty platitude. You felt that void on defense first, when the Canes couldn’t escape the first period with the lead.

Hurricanes feel absence of ‘No. 1 guy’ Dougie Hamilton ‘all over the ice’ TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE GUDBRANSON GOAL NEAR THE in overtime loss to Ducks END OF THE 1ST PERIOD! GETZY SHOWING THAT VETERAN VISION ON THE ICE @ANAHEIMDUCKS | #LETSGODUCKS PIC.TWITTER.COM/ZLNAFM0GNT

By Sara Civian Jan 17, 2020 — FOX SPORTS SAN DIEGO (@FOXSPORTSSD) JANUARY 18, 2020

Then you felt the void on offense. The Hurricanes defended fine for the Dougie Hamilton looked like he was going to hurl. next two periods in front of a sturdy James Reimer, but basically everyone not named Aho shot aimlessly around and above the net. It was a few hours after we’d witnessed Andrei Svechnikov, a teenager Hamilton had grown to consider a “brother,” lying limp on the PNC Arena “He’s obviously a heck of a player, and anytime he’s out, we’re going to ice last April. miss him,” said Jaccob Slavin, who replaced Hamilton on the first power- play unit. “Obviously, Dougie makes the power play a heck of a lot better. The rarely disputed loudest playoff barn in the NHL went silent as Some of the plays he has, he’s an offensive player. He’s a shooter. His Svechnikov’s countryman and childhood idol, Alexander Ovechkin, presence is missed all over the ice.” knocked out the budding star in a few punches. Often typecast as a loner, bad teammate, you name it, Hamilton immediately responded with You felt the void worst in overtime. Hamilton leads the Hurricanes and is a two-goal performance in the 5-0, Game 3 win. tied for fourth in the NHL with two overtime goals. Last time he did it, he looked like a Hall of Famer among ECHLers: “It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through on the ice,” he told The Athletic after the game. “I don’t really even know what to say. I DOUGIE HAMILTON'S SHIFT IN OVERTIME WAS PHENOMENAL. AN just kept thinking of him the whole game. I just hated seeing that. I hated ALL-STAR CALIBER EFFORT FOR HIS 14TH GOAL OF THE SEASON, the whole part of it. I just feel so bad for him. Hopefully, he gets better THE GAME-WINNING GOAL IN A MUST-WIN DIVISIONAL GAME. soon. The game doesn’t really matter when something like that happens. PIC.TWITTER.COM/L6SH56TXZ0 You just can’t get that out of your head. I just hope he’s OK.” — BRETT FINGER (@BRETT_FINGER) JANUARY 8, 2020

Hamilton looked like he was going to hurl again Thursday. The defensive pairings shook out like so in Hamilton’s absence:

It was the second period of a deflating 3-2 loss at Columbus, and • Slavin (25:23 TOI) – Edmundson *doing just fine on his offside* (19:27 unfortunately, he accurately predicted his fate. TOI)

“I think I broke my leg,” he said, writhing in pain on the ice after his skate • Jake Gardiner *on a scale of 1-to-not-his-fault, not his fault* (21:51 TOI) tangled with Blue Jackets forward Kevin Stenlund’s leg in the neutral – Brett Pesce (25:34 TOI) zone. • Haydn Fleury (12:01 TOI) – Trevor van Riemsdyk (13:05 TOI) After evaluations, Hamilton underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured fibula in his left leg. According to Hurricanes coach Rod It was mostly fine, to be honest. A regulation point is a start these days. Brind’Amour, it’s similar to the injury Jordan Staal suffered during the But fine isn’t good enough when you’re on the playoff bubble in the 2014-15 preseason. toughest division in the league. And fine is certainly not going to cut it without Hamilton. Staal missed 35 games, and the captain could guide Hamilton through a similar experience if anyone can. “That’s a brother in there; we all know how much he means to us,” Brind’Amour said before the game. “He’s been a real good team player in “He’s got a road. We’ve got some good people around here who are that locker room. Stuff you see on the ice is a huge loss, but there’s going to help him get back quick, but it’s going to take some time,” Staal another aspect that we’re going to miss with Dougie.” said after the game. “… It’s unfortunate, obviously. It’s a big hole. Everyone is going to have to find ways to fill that one.” Just about everyone looked like they were going to hurl after that one.

Is there anything Staal can say to console Hamilton? The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020

“(I’d say) injuries are injuries; everyone has gone through them,” he offered. “It’s just sticking with it day by day and being there for your teammates. When you get that opportunity to come back, make sure that you prepare yourself the best you can. That’s all you can do.”

Though there’s no specific recovery timetable yet, Hamilton will be “out indefinitely” — that includes the All-Star Game next week, which he was slated to attend for the first time in his career.

“It’s a huge loss, obviously. He’s arguably our No. 1 guy on everything,” Brind’Amour said before Friday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Ducks. “It’s a big loss, but all teams go through this, and we’ll see how we respond. … I think it’s good that we’ve actually got a game right away; we can kinda go out there and see what we’ve got.”

After yet another game in which the Hurricanes surrendered an early goal, one more sacred Joel Edmundson point streak, activated on an assist that helped end Sebastian Aho’s seven-game goal drought 3:59 into the first period, was a good sign.

SEBASTIAN AHO WINS THE FACE OFF, GOES TO THE NET, AND DEFLECTS HOME A JOEL EDMUNDSON POINT SHOT TO GIVE THE HURRICANES AN EARLY 1-0 LEAD OVER THE DUCKS. PIC.TWITTER.COM/ZKBKHGNZQP

— BRETT FINGER (@BRETT_FINGER) JANUARY 18, 2020

But I’ve noticed Brind’Amour is particularly careful with the way he talks about his players, and he’s been critical of Hamilton’s defensive performance in the past. So when he referred to Hamilton as the “No. 1 1171583 Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes lose Dougie Hamilton to a broken fibula and it’s unknown how long he’ll be sidelined

By Sara Civian Jan 17, 2020

A week before what was almost Dougie Hamilton’s first All-Star appearance of his eight-season NHL career, just as the 26-year-old was on pace for a career season in goals, points and plus/minus, the Hurricanes defenseman suffered a broken left fibula in Carolina’s 3-2 loss at Columbus on Thursday.

DOUGIE HAMILTON TANGLES WITH KEVIN STENLUND. THE #HURRICANES DEFENSEMAN NEEDED HELP OFF THE ICE. #CBJ PIC.TWITTER.COM/2QNO3AVT8V

— ALISON (@ALISONL) JANUARY 17, 2020

It was somewhat of a freak accident, as Hamilton’s skate tangled with Blue Jackets forward Kevin Stenlund’s leg in the neutral zone in the second period.

Of course this injury could have happened at any time in any parallel universe, but the fact that the referees appeared to have missed a too many men penalty on Columbus seconds before stings. Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella was recently fined $20,000 for speaking out against the referees when Columbus lost goaltender Joonas Korpisalo in a similar situation.

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour discussed the state of inconsistent officiating in the NHL with The Athletic just a few days ago in Washington.

“That’s the league now, right?” he said. “It kind of feels that way (they’re calling everything then they’re calling nothing) every night, to be honest with you.”

Through 47 games this season, Hamilton has accrued 14 goals (third on the Hurricanes behind Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov), and 26 assists (second behind Teuvo Teravainen). He’s fourth in the league in defenseman points (40), and his plus-30 rating is second among all NHL skaters. No doubt this is a huge blow to the Hurricanes.

“Arguably one of our best players this year. He’s our All-Star. It shook everybody up seeing that happen,” alternate captain Jordan Martinook told reporters Thursday night. “It’s the cliché hockey next-man-up type thing, but that’s a lot of big minutes to find. Guys will have to step up, and hopefully we can get him back sooner rather than later.”

Sources tell The Athletic that the Hurricanes have been sniffing around the league for a defenseman as it is, and you have to think the interest has heightened. Sources have tossed out Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin as a potential target, and The Athletic’s Michael Russo has reported the same. There will be much more to come on that front as the extent of Hamilton’s injury and recovery time become known. Hamilton is still undergoing tests.

Per the Hurricanes, the recovery timeline is currently unknown and Hamilton could undergo a procedure as early as Friday. The Canes will provide updates later Friday.

Hamilton’s partner on the top pairing, Jaccob Slavin, will replace him at the NHL All-Star Game.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171584 Chicago Blackhawks Hawks called him up from Rockford, and Colliton said “it’s possible” Hagel, 21, will make his NHL debut Saturday against the Maple Leafs.

“It’s been crazy ups and downs in my career,” Hagel said. “But I finally Brandon Saad on the cusp of returning to Blackhawks after the longest got here and I’ve just got to roll with it.” injury break of his career: ‘It’s tough sitting and watching from home’ Hagel has a team-high 13 goals for the IceHogs, but he won’t be asked to take on a scoring role when he gets in a game with the Hawks.

By JIMMY GREENFIELD CHICAGO TRIBUNE |JAN 17, 2020 | 4:43 PM “He brings something similar to (Matthew) Highmore in his work ethic,” Colliton said. “He’s a great skater, he wins races, he plays with a little edge. He does have some skill. He showed he can produce in the Western (Hockey) League last year (with 102 points). We like that ETOBICOKE, -When Brandon Saad hurt his right ankle Dec. mentality in our team: relentless, hard to play against. 19, the Blackhawks were nursing a one-goal lead against the Jets and reeling from what seemed to be the latest in a season’s worth of “He’s got a little bit of rat in him, and we like that. When he gets in, I don’t destructive injuries. know exactly, but (we) definitely brought him here with the intention that he would get in at some point.” So what did the Hawks do without Saad? They finished off a 4-1 win over the Jets and, including that victory, have gone 9-4 to save their season Chicago Tribune LOADED: 01.18.2020 from ruin.

With Dominik Kubalik emerging, Jonathan Toews playing his best hockey of the season, Patrick Kane as good as ever and four lines rolling as strong as they have all season, what do you do with Saad?

You get him back in as fast as you can.

“It’s not like we don’t want to touch the lineup,” coach Jeremy Colliton said after practice Friday at the Ford Performance Center outside Toronto. “It’s just whether he’s ready to play or not. Then we’ve got the back-to-back as well, so that’s something we’ll consider.”

Saad skated well during practice and is in line to return against the Maple Leafs on Saturday after missing 12 games, the most he has lost to injury in his career. Since 2012-13, his first full season, Saad had missed a total of 12 games and never more than four in a season.

Until getting hurt, Saad had been the Hawks’ best all-around player. He was a fierce penalty killer, playing a tireless 200-foot game, and his 11 goals were second on the team at the time of his injury.

Despite a strong record while Saad has been out, the Hawks missed him. And he missed them.

“It’s tough sitting and watching from home,” Saad said. “Mentally, the biggest thing is staying in the season because you’re (not) going to the rink every day. You’re doing your rehab, you’re away from the guys. It almost feels like you’re in summer training or the season’s over. But there’s still lots of hockey to be played, and the biggest thing is staying mentally focused.”

Saad has moved all over the lineup this season, and the way Kubalik has blossomed while playing with Toews — especially when Kane has jumped on their line during games — it doesn’t seem likely Colliton would break up that combo.

“Whoever (Saad) plays with, he seems to help them,” Colliton said. “So it’s a good piece to move around.”

Saad said he’ll be happy anywhere as long as he’s playing again.

“I don’t really have too many expectations,” he said. “I just want to come in and, wherever they slot me, play your best and help the team win.

“They have that chemistry right now, they’re producing, and it’s not like you take offense to anywhere you’re going. The team’s winning, so you want to contribute and help continue that trend.”

While Saad likely will be activated this weekend, Colliton said Dylan Strome (right ankle) is “very questionable” to return before the All-Star break begins Tuesday.

Brandon Hagel could make NHL debut

It was a little more than a year ago that forward Brandon Hagel became a free agent after going unsigned by the Sabres, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2018, and he started to wonder what might come next after hockey.

It wasn’t like he was ready to quit the game, but having a backup plan is never a bad thing. So he started to look at classes and wonder where he might go to college.

That was a smart move, but it turns out he can hold off on his education for a bit. On Thursday, less than 15 months after signing Hagel, the 1171585 Chicago Blackhawks Brent Seabrook and Calvin de Haan. Last week, general manager Stan Bowman said no trades were close, but that can change in an instant.

The question will be whether Bowman is willing to part with anything Column: Enjoy the Blackhawks’ run at the playoffs, but with a tougher resembling a short-term asset to try to drag the Hawks into the playoffs. schedule ahead, brace yourself for more disappointment Would it be worth giving up a decent prospect or a second-round draft pick — don’t worry, Bowman isn’t trading a first-round pick — just to get blown out in the first round?

By JIMMY GREENFIELD CHICAGO TRIBUNE |JAN 17, 2020 | 8:00 AM Yes, it would. Not because of a first-round loss but because with Robin Lehner in goal the Hawks would have a chance to steal any playoff

series. To be clear, the Hawks aren’t in the same situation as last season TORONTO-Go ahead and embrace the latest Blackhawks revival. when the Blues went from worst to first and won the Stanley Cup.

Don’t just stick your toe in and test the waters. Dive right in and enjoy the The Hawks haven’t been underachievers. They’re an average team that fact that the Hawks are in the playoff hunt. There’s no reason not to. has dealt with a bunch of injuries. That’s who they are.

Because chances are it will all be over soon enough. Chicago Tribune Sports Newsletter

The Hawks did exactly what they needed to do in their last three games Weekdays in beating the mediocre Ducks, the lowly Senators and the how-sad-is-it- A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning that-this-Original-Six-franchise-is-rarely-any-good Canadiens. commute. They did all they could in taking all six points that were available to them. And to the “Let’s Tank For A Better Shot At The No. 1 Overall Pick” Now they have to be a whole lot better, and that’s the problem. crowd, did you learn nothing from last year’s draft? Put that opinion away [Most read in Sports] Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish now wonders: Was he and don’t ever take it out again. tipping pitches for the Dodgers against the Astros in the 2017 World Even the worst team in the league only has an 18.5% chance of winning Series, or were they cheating? » the top pick in the draft, which next year appears to be Canadian forward Nearly 50 games worth of evidence is in and nothing about the Hawks Alexis Lafreniere. He looks like a franchise player, but is he a indicates they will be able to rip off a bunch of wins in a row against the generational talent like Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid? No, he NHL’s better teams. And, to be sure, those teams are out there hungrily seems more in the mold of a Kane or Nathan MacKinnon. awaiting them. The Hawks would love to have Lafreniere, but sacrificing whole seasons Remember how you looked at the schedule and salivated at the thought and angering your fan base just to slightly increase your chances at of the Red Wings, Ducks, Senators and Canadiens on the horizon? Well, getting him is a ridiculous way to run a franchise. that tender piece of meat is what the Hawks are to the Bruins, Oilers, One thing you can count: The Hawks aren’t going to stop trying to get to Blues and Lightning, just a few of the teams they’ll face over the next few the playoffs. Kane, Jonathan Toews and want to return to weeks. what seemed to be their birthright, and Connor Murphy, Alex DeBrincat, That doesn’t mean the Hawks can’t win some of those games, but they Dylan Strome and others desperately want to experience the postseason aren’t in a position to just win a select few. They have to win a ridiculous for the first time. amount of their remaining 34 games. It still could happen, which is why these next few games — starting To get to 95 points, the likely magic number to get into the playoffs, the Saturday against the Maple Leafs — are so important. Hawks need another 45 points. So even with their three-game winning So buckle up and enjoy the ride — but keep a box of hankies handy. streak, the Hawks need to go 20-9-5 just to get the minimum point total You’re going to need them sooner or later. the postseason likely will require. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 01.18.2020 Being just four games out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot, which is where the Hawks stood heading into Thursday’s games, is dandy, but it’s also fool’s gold. They still have to jump two teams, not including the Predators, who have a better points percentage than the Hawks despite having fewer points.

The Maple Leafs are next up Saturday in what should be an incredibly entertaining game. The last seven meetings have been decided by one goal with five ending in overtime or a shootout. In their last three games against each other, they’ve combined for 31 goals.

So prepare for a slugfest and expect Patrick Kane to get the two points he needs to hit 1,000 for his career. With his jersey being retired Friday night in a ceremony being held by his junior team, the , this could be a memorable weekend for Kane.

Go inside the locker room after Corey Crawford and the #Blackhawks defeated the Canadiens in Montreal.#CHIvsMTL pic.twitter.com/R8pvWSwRQ0

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 16, 2020

Brandon Saad and Dylan Strome have been sidelined by right ankle injuries. Saad could return Saturday, but Strome was placed on injured reserve Thursday. For those expecting them to give the Hawks a boost when they return, consider that they are 7-4 since losing Saad and 3-1 since losing Strome.

They’re good players the Hawks will gladly welcome back. But they aren’t the difference-makers the Hawks need to go on a sustained run over the next 2½ months.

There is a wild card to the Hawks’ bid for a wild-card berth, and that’s the roughly $11 million in cap space created by season-ending injuries to 1171586 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 01.18.2020

Brandon Saad ‘ready to go,’ could return for Blackhawks against Maple Leafs

Saad has missed almost a month with an ankle injury, and his return would make a big difference for the already-surging Hawks.

By Ben Pope Jan 17, 2020, 4:03pm CST

TORONTO — Almost a month after his ugly-looking ankle injury Dec. 19 in Winnipeg, winger Brandon Saad returned to full practice Friday.

He could rejoin the Blackhawks’ lineup Saturday against the Maple Leafs.

“I’m in good shape and ready to go,” Saad said.

Coach Jeremy Colliton said a decision hadn’t been made but implied it’s highly likely he’ll play in at least one of the three games before the All- Star break.

Saad, 27, had never missed more than four games in any of his seven previous NHL seasons, so the 12-game-and-counting absence proved to be an unfamiliar — and not particularly pleasant — experience.

“It’s tough, sitting and watching from home,” he said. “Mentally, the biggest thing is staying in the season. You’re going to the rink every day, you’re doing your rehab [and] you’re away from the guys, so it almost feels like you’re in summer training or the season’s over. But there’s still lots of hockey to be played.”

The Hawks fared well without him, winning eight of those 12 games. Saad was the other wing for the first weeks of the Jonathan Toews- Dominik Kubalik first line, too, and that duo has erupted even more — into one of the hottest in the league — without him.

Nevertheless, the Hawks clearly will benefit from Saad’s return. He arguably had been the team’s most reliable puck-carrier and chance- generator through the first two months.

Saad still leads Hawks forwards in on-ice shot-attempt ratio and ranks second (behind Kubalik) in on-ice scoring-chance ratio.

“He’s been great all year,” Colliton said. “Really strong on the puck, and he can carry it from zone to zone. It’s a big benefit to us defensively, just because when he does get it anywhere above the dots — in ‘D’ zone typically — it [always] does enter their end somehow. That really helps us, and he’s been producing. No matter who he plays with, he produces.”

That last point is important because it seems unlikely that Saad will rejoin the first line. Colliton, in fact, called him “a good piece to move around.”

The third-line wing alongside Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat, which has been occupied quietly by traditional center David Kampf, is one logical landing spot.

Drake Caggiula, who missed two months with his concussion, said his time off helped him work on his game in a way that he wouldn’t have had time for if healthy. Saad didn’t enjoy as lengthy a period of practicing as Caggiula did, but he was able to work on his upper-body strength.

“You really don’t have that much time during the season — it’s more maintenance — so I feel strong, I feel good,” Saad said. “And then getting back out on the ice, you’re working with the skills coach and that aspect of the game. So it is different avenues; you just try to improve what you can.”

The impact on team morale that Saad’s return will have might be just as big as the tangible effect.

“We’ve made some great strides as a team,” Toews said. “When we start getting some of our key guys back in the lineup — [Saad] being one of them — it’s only going to give us another boost.”

Note: The Hawks recalled rookie forward Brandon Hagel, 21, from the AHL on Thursday. He could make his NHL debut before the break.

“[We] definitely brought him here with the intention that he would get in at some point,” Colliton said. 1171587 Chicago Blackhawks And Caggiula traces all this success back to his several patient days of practice while the rest of the team played every other night.

“I’m not feeling passive out there,” he said. “I feel like I’m taking control Drake Caggiula’s in-season training camp making him a better player and making plays.” after his concussion Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 01.18.2020 Caggiula fine-tuned his skills during five weeks of practice in December and early January, allowing him to return to the Blackhawks’ lineup and make an immediate impact.

By Ben Pope Jan 17, 2020, 6:55am CST

MONTREAL — Drake Caggiula gathered a loose puck along the boards, fended off a defender, made a slick move through two more, cut to the high slot and hit the post on a blazing wrist shot.

As soon as his shift ended, Caggiula sat on the bench Tuesday in Ottawa and thought back to his two months out with a concussion, much of which he spent practicing while waiting for his symptoms to fully fade.

“[That play] reminded me exactly of a drill that we did in practice,” Caggiula said Wednesday. “It’s funny how it works out like that.”

Indeed, the concussion that earlier nearly ended Caggiula’s season has now indirectly made its remaining three months even better.

The many weeks of practice throughout December turned into what was essentially a midseason training camp for the 25-year-old winger.

“In the offseason, there’s some things you may not necessarily think of that you need to work on,” he said. “As the season comes around, you start to recognize, ‘OK, this is where I need some work.’ It’s hard to get that time and that practice in during the season.”

“But being injured, I was able to watch a lot of individual film and find areas of the game that I can work on and improve on, and practice that for about five, six weeks. Now that I’m in those scenarios and those situations on the ice, I feel way more confident.”

And what did he work on?

“Puck protection’s probably the biggest thing,” he said. “Anywhere on the rink, finding ways to control the puck and protect the puck from other guys’ sticks. And then I worked on a lot of skills around the net — just getting pucks on the net from tight areas, bad angles — and creating opportunities off the boards.”

Caggiula’s never been a star scorer in the NHL, but he has two attributes that make him important to the Hawks.

First, he’s versatile enough to function well in any role. He and Andrew Shaw were supposed to be the Hawks’ two Swiss Army knives this year; with Shaw still concussed, Caggiula’s return has made coach Jeremy Colliton’s job a lot easier.

Caggiula has started on the first line with Jonathan Toews and Dominik Kubalik, but also filled in on the Alex Nylander-Ryan Carpenter second line and Matthew Highmore-Zack Smith fourth line when Patrick Kane has doubled-shifted with Toews.

“[Caggiula] just gives us a little different look,” Colliton said Wednesday. “When we flip those two guys, Kaner and Jules, all of a sudden the Carpenter line looks a little different.”

And second, he has enough athleticism and sneaky creativity to create his own shot — and others’ shots — in the offensive zone, rather than exclusively off the rush.

He demonstrated that ability during the aforementioned play against the Senators, and he did so again twice Wednesday in Montreal — he forced a behind-the-net turnover by Canadiens goalie Charlie Lindgren and set up Smith for the opening goal, then ripped a shot past Lindgren on a solo counterattack later on.

His advanced stats have been off the charts in his four games since returning from injury.

He has been on the ice for 64 of the Hawks’ shot attempts, versus just 37 by opponents. His scoring-chance ratio was a lowly 42.1 percent before his concussion, but since then it has improved to 64.6 percent. 1171588 Chicago Blackhawks “That’s what it’s all about right there,” Kane said. “I remember being a little kid and looking up to certain hockey players too and wanting to be just like them, so if that’s the way this younger generation looks at me, that’s what it’s all about for me. I enjoy that. That excites me, that makes Blackhawks star Patrick Kane’s legacy will live on forever in London after me happy.” jersey retirement Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.18.2020

By Charlie Roumeliotis January 17, 2020 11:20 PM

LONDON, Ont. — Patrick Kane will forever be linked to the London Knights after having his No. 88 jersey retired on Friday in a special pregame ceremony. And it was an emotional moment for the Blackhawks superstar, which doesn’t happen often.

“I didn’t really expect that,” Kane told NBC Sports Chicago. “I didn’t know what to expect, to be honest with you. I spent one year here. It was a great year. It felt like more than one year with all the memories I made here and all the friends and relationships I have today.

"The video was pretty special. Obviously with the things that happened in London but even more-so maybe the things that happened in Chicago and everything coming together. You’re just standing there and that’s your career over 13 years, so I think that started hitting me.”

Kane became the ninth player in Knights history to have his number retired, but the first to receive the honor after playing just one season. It’s because it was a historic one.

As a 17-year-old, Kane registered 62 goals and 83 assists for a league- leading 145 points in 58 games during the 2006-07 campaign and was named the Canadian Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year. He went on to post 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 16 playoff games before falling short in the Conference finals.

But before he committed to the Knights, Kane wasn't drawing as much attention as he would've thought. Draft experts projected him to go in the third round and Kane wasn't buying it.

“I couldn't believe it to be honest with you,” Kane said. “I thought I was a lot better than that."

Did he ever prove them wrong.

Kane quickly started to separate himself from the pack in London, and after a strong performance at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, his name was now being discussed for No. 1 overall. And that's exactly what happened.

“Just coming here, not really worrying about that stuff,” Kane said of the draft hype. “I mean, obviously there's outside noise when it's your draft year but I always said the ice rink is my sanctuary out there. That's what I love to do the most and feel the most comfortable, is being on the ice and playing hockey, making plays and trying to score goals.”

Back in London, Kane got a chance to reflect on how far he's come since his days with the Knights. He's a three-time Stanley Cup champion and a former Hart Trophy winner who's still at the top of his game at age 31.

But touring his old locker room — which he said "looks the exact same" — was a reminder for Kane on how quickly his hockey career has flown by.

"It's crazy to think I'm in my 13th year now," Kane said. "We were just looking for our team picture in the room and I was way too far from the recent teams to where I should've been looking. A little bit of time has passed."

A lot of time has passed, but Kane's impact on the organization and community is everlasting.

Screaming young fans in No. 88 Blackhawks jerseys were in awe that Kane was within reaching distance. He signed autographs, took pictures with as many as he could, shook the hand of longtime faculty members and arena workers that he recognized from his playing days in London and smiled his way around the — which Kane knows as The John Labatt Centre.

Kane even gave the Knights a pep talk in the locker room before the game. Even though he didn't play in London very long, it says something about your legacy when aspiring players are choosing to play for the Knights because they look up to No. 88. 1171589 Chicago Blackhawks

NHL.com names Blackhawks 'Franchise of the Decade'

By Scott King January 17, 2020 1:14 PM

We all knew the 2010s were good to the Hawks and their fans, this salute is just the cherry on the sundae. There's no arguing that with three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013, 2015) in six seasons, they're incredibly deserving of the title.

Chicago ended a 49-year Stanley Cup drought in 2010 and captured first place in the Central Division in 2010, 2013 and 2016. The Hawks also won the President's Trophy awarded to the team with the most points in the NHL in 2013 after starting the season 21-0-3.

Who can forgot moments like beating the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 of the 2013 Western Conference Semifinal after trailing the series 3-1, Kane's Game 6 overtime goal in 2010 to snag the cup, 17 seconds and winning it on home ice in 2015.

"It's been special," Jonathan Toews told NHL.com. "At the end of the day it's not easy, it's a lot of hard work. A lot of teammates and friends have come through this locker room and left to play for other teams or retire -- there's always a different scenario -- but I'm pretty thankful for what I've been able to be a part of. For me, Chicago has become a home. You're around the city, people are thanking you for the championships and that will never get old. Great memories and obviously a pretty special time when were able to make those Cup runs."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171590 Chicago Blackhawks Slater Koekkoek has been helping solidify the third defenseman pairing. (James Guillory / USA Today)

3. One of the reasons for the Blackhawks’ recent success is the third Powers Points: Erik Gustafsson’s preference at the trade deadline, defensive pairing of Maatta and Koekkoek, which has helped stabilize the Dominik Kubalik’s next contract and more lineup. The third pairing, especially when Dennis Gilbert and Maatta were together, had been a weakness.

Over their last five games together, Maatta and Gilbert were on the ice By Scott Powers Jan 17, 2020 for 31 shot attempts for and 58 against for a 34.83 Corsi percentage, 19 shots on goal for and 30 against and four goals for and two goals

against. MONTREAL — Erik Gustafsson isn’t oblivious to all the trade rumors. Since Koekkoek replaced Gilbert in the lineup, the Maatta-Koekkoek He has no idea where he’ll be once the NHL tradeline comes and goes pairing has been on the ice for 64 shot attempts for and 36 against for a next month. He hopes to still be a Blackhawk, but he wouldn’t bank his 64.0 Corsi percentage, 29 shots on goal for and 24 against and four salary on it. goals for and one against.

“I try to not think about it,” Gustafsson said before the Blackhawks’ game “They’ve been good,” Colliton said of the pairing before Wednesday’s in Montreal on Wednesday. “It’s not too long to when the trade deadline game. “I think Koekkoek since he came back into the lineup has played is coming up. Of course, you’re thinking about it a little bit, but I try not to. at a higher level, and that’s helped us. Olli, the same thing since he’s If something happens, it’s something to deal with then. It’s not something came back in the lineup after sitting out he’s been really good, so that’s I can do or change. It’s something that comes with it. I just have to play helped us a lot. Hopefully they can continue that. That’s a big part of why good now and try to show them I want to stay here. But if it happens, it we’re playing a little better.” happens.” 4. The penalty kill has also been key lately. The Blackhawks have killed Gustafsson, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the off 14 consecutive penalties. season, has clearly stated his preference in the past and did so again on With three more kills against the Canadiens on Wednesday, the Wednesday. Blackhawks moved into a tie for seventh in the league with an 83.0 “I’d like to stay here,” he said. percentage. It can’t be stated enough how much better the Blackhawks are on the penalty kill from last season, when they were last in the league Gustafsson was then asked if he’d have any contract talks with the with a 72.7 percentage. Blackhawks. With that improved kill has also come more offensive shorthanded “You can talk with them,” he said. “I’m not going to say anything.” chances. Zack Smith scored the Blackhawks’ fifth shorthanded goal of the season on Wednesday. Only eight more teams have more than that. Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman declined to talk about The Blackhawks had six last season. Gustafsson or any other upcoming free agents when he met with the media recently. 5. It also can’t be overstated how much Ryan Carpenter has boosted the penalty kill. In Evolving-Hockey’s statistical model, Carpenter ranks as 1. What we do know is the Blackhawks have talked with other NHL the second-best shorthanded defender in the league. Only the teams about Gustafsson. One league source said Wednesday the Washington Capitals’ Garnet Hathaway has a higher rating. Carpenter Blackhawks have had some preliminary talks with teams and were leads the Blackhawks in shorthanded ice time at 112:08. testing the market. The Blackhawks inquired mostly about prospects, the source said. Here’s a clip from Wednesday’s game of Carpenter pressuring the Canadiens’ power play on the forecheck and setting up Jonathan Toews “I think they’re checking value and may circle back between now and the for a chance: deadline,” the source said. 6. Kubalik’s offensive surge is another obvious reason for the How the Blackhawks fare over the coming weeks and whether they’re Blackhawks’ success. His goal streak ended at five games on clearly in or out of the playoff race may determine what Bowman does Wednesday, but he’s still having an impressive month with seven goals with Gustafsson as well. and three assists in seven games. Even if the Blackhawks wanted to re-sign Gustafsson, it would be With his play this season and the fact he’s on a one-year deal after difficult. They don’t have a lot of money coming off the books, and they coming over from Europe, it will be interesting to see what he gets on his have already pledged $6.4 million to Alex DeBrincat next season and second contract. He’ll be 25 when his next contract begins. also have Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford hitting unrestricted free agency and Dylan Strome, Drake Caggiula and Dominik Kubalik Talking with a league source and doing some research, two years with a becoming restricted free agents. Something will have to give. $2 million cap hit might be a fair deal for Kubalik.

2. The Blackhawks have needed at least one left-handed defenseman to Let’s look at some comparables for Kubalik, who currently has 18 goals play on their offside for much of the season. Lately, Jeremy Colliton has and 10 assists in 45 games. Below are some recent deals, including their chosen to put Gustafsson back on his left side next to right-handed shot term, cap hit, cap percentage and career numbers from when the Connor Murphy and put Slater Koekkoek on his weak side beside lefty contract was signed. Olli Maatta. Cap hit Cap hit % Length Goals Assists Games “I think it’s easier when you get the puck,” Gustafsson said of the left side. “But the same time, I think I’ve been used to having the gap playing Ryan Donato $1.9 mil 2.33 2 15 19 on the right side, swinging it in and stuff like that. It’s been more easy. I 68 think I got a longer reach when I go on the right side because I’m a lefty. Zach Aston-Reese $1 mil 1.23 2 12 11 Same time, I played the left side my whole career since before I came 59 over here. It’s taken a little time (to get used to), but when you get the puck, you see the play more open. I think it’s easier to start skating right Sven Andrighetto $1.4 mil 1.87 2 16 28 away instead of just kind of looking back up on the play when you play on 102 the right side. I think it’s taken a little time, but I like to play left too.” Sven Baertschi $1.85 mil 2.53 2 25 33 Koekkoek said he’s felt comfortable on his right side. 138

“A lot of pucks on my backhand, but I think I move the puck pretty well,” Pavel Buchnevich $3.25 mil 3.99 2 43 58 Koekkoek said after Wednesday’s game. “Opening up is fairly simple. 179 And then in the O-zone, I get a lot of one-timer options. Tonight not so much, but last night in Ottawa I had maybe three one-timer chances. I Ryan Dzingel $1.8 mil 2.4 2 17 24 like that. It’s lucky for me and Olli’s been putting the puck on my tape.” 111 Drake Caggiula $1.5 mil 2 2 20 18 “He said I got one more thing, I just want to … and then he gave me the 127 news he’d be retiring my number in London. Yeah, it was one of those moments I got chills. It’s happened a few times to me on the ice, but to Zachary Sanford $1.5 mil 1.84 2 12 16 have it happen on a phone call and a situation like that was a pretty cool 99 experience. Yeah, I’ll never forget that call. I’ll never forget when he told Jimmy Vesey $2.275 mil 2.86 2 33 22 me. It’s going to be a special night.” 159 The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 If Kubalik continues to put up numbers as he has in the last few weeks and gets closer to 30 goals, he can probably push for closer to $3 million. The additional upside for the Blackhawks if they can get him to sign a two-year deal is he’d still be a restricted free agent at the end of it.

Patrick Kane played just one season in London. (Courtesy of the London Knights)

7. This could end up being one of the more memorable weeks of Patrick Kane’s career. He’s now two points shy of 1,000 career NHL points and could hit that against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. He’ll also have his number retired by the London Knights of the OHL on Friday.

Kane played just one year for the Knights, but it was some season. During the 2006-07 season, Kane led the OHL with 145 points. John Tavares was second with 134 points. Kane finished with 62 goals and 83 assists.

“It was a great year for me,” Kane said recently. “I felt like I was there more than a year. I have a lot of memories from that one season. Played from some great players, got to learn from Dale (Hunter) and Mark (Hunter). Going into that season, I was probably second or maybe third round. That’s where my ranking was in the upcoming draft. By Christmas, they were talking about me possibly going first overall. Got them to thank for a lot of my career. It was an amazing year.

“I didn’t get off to the best start. Still playing pretty good, but didn’t get off to the best start. All of a sudden, things kind of took off. It was fun hockey, you know. Got to play with Sam Gagner and Sergei Kostitsyn, two highly-skilled offensive players. You know we had a lot of fun together and really enjoyed playing together.”

8. And they played absurd minutes together.

“As a forward, there’s times you’re playing you know 35, 36 minutes,” Kane said. “I remember one game we had like 14 power plays. They play you the full two minutes of the power play there. It’s like an offensive guy’s dream.

“Actually, I still remember a story. Rob Schremp was back on his all-star break. He came back to London. We played like 38 minutes that night, and he came in laughing, saying he played 44 one night or something. Yeah, it was an offensive player’s dream to play there.”

Kane took full advantage of those minutes. His greatest game that season was a seven-point performance — four goals and three assists — against the late in the season. He did have an incentive to continue producing.

“I think I might have been tied going into that weekend with Tavares,” Kane said. “I think he might have ended up with 134. I don’t know if he played or not those last two games or what happened. The last two games I had seven the first one and four the second one, both against Erie. You’re tied with two games left and you end up winning by 11.”

9. Kane had a good laugh thinking about how he’d react after games when he had just a few points.

His greatest stretch of that season was when he scored a goal in 13 consecutive games. In the 14th game, he didn’t score, but he had zero assists.

“I just remember games where you’d have a goal and an assist and you’d be pissed off after the game,” Kane said. “I remember I scored 13 or 14 games in a row, like I actually had a goal. The next game I had like three or four assists, and I remember driving home and I was so pissed off I didn’t score that game. It was fun hockey. I really enjoyed my time there.”

10. When Kane was told he’d have his No. 88 retired by the Knights, it was a phone call he won’t soon forget.

“I think it was something I ever really thought of to be honest with you,” he said. “Mark (Hunter) wanted to call me this summer, and I thought we were just kind of talking, just kind of chatting about hockey and hockey players. Fifteen minutes went by, and I figured we were going to be hanging up soon. 1171591 Colorado Avalanche

Philipp Grubauer’s first shutout of season comes at perfect time for Avalanche

By JAKE SHAPIRO | PUBLISHED: January 17, 2020 at 4:15 pm | UPDATED: January 17, 2020 at 5:08 PM

It took a little more than half the season, but Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer finally got his first shutout Thursday night.

After battling through a lower-body injury on and off during the opening months, Grubauer reasserted his position as the team’s first option in goal with a 27-save effort in the Avs’ 4-0 win over San Jose. It was just Colorado’s fifth win in its last 15 games, but it was a promising showing for Grubauer, who is 13-10-4 with a 2.81 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.

“I look at his positioning and I want to make sure that they’re battling when there’s traffic in front of the net,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said after practice Friday. “Staying in good position, staying strong down low in the scrums around the front of the net, gobbling up as many rebounds. When I look at that over the last couple of games I think he’s been pretty good.”

Bednar hinted Grubauer may be back in net when the Avs host St. Louis at 1 p.m. Saturday.

“Anytime you go through a little bit of a stretch that we’ve gone through and filled with those injuries, to come out in any game where we needed to get a win, it’s big for us, it’s big for him,” Bednar said. “He looked solid, focused and in control the whole night..This tells you what he’s capable of.”

Backup Pavel Francouz has gone through a rough patch of his own recently, allowing 10 goals in his last three games with a 0-2-1 record. So Grubauer’s performance was a welcome relief.

“We’re fighting for two points and we need the points,” Grubauer said. “It doesn’t help us when we say we played great but you didn’t win. Yesterday was a good step in the right direction.”

The Avs have two games left on their current homestand before an 11- day break. They will embark on a five-game road trip after the All-Star break.

For Grubauer, the key is staying healthy. This is his first time since junior hockey 10 years ago that he’s dealt with injury issues, he said.

“I felt like I was letting the guys down, but it’s not in my control basically,” Grubauer said of his time out of the lineup. “It was a little bit challenging because it was the first time I’ve dealt with this, but now it’s done and now it’s over so learn from it and it’s not like it’s in my head.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171592 Colorado Avalanche

The Tape: Proper penalty kill

BY NATHAN RUDOLPH JANUARY 17, 2020

The Avs penalty kill has been a mess lately but you wouldn’t know it from the Sharks game. The Avs have a bottom ten PK in the NHL but managed to suppress San Jose effectively through four minutes of 5 on 4 play. While some of that can certainly be credited to the Sharks ineptitude the Avs can use this as a building block. On this iteration of The Tape, we look at what worked on the Avs penalty kill.

1. Make saves. The Avs did a fantastic job limiting the Sharks shots to the perimeter throughout the game but at the end of the day, your goaltender needs to be your best penalty killer. By default, someone is always going to be open when a team is down a man so when a pass inevitably gives someone some open space the goalie is going to have to make a stop. Here Grubauer tracks the pass across and gets fully square to Burns as he is walking in leaving little to shoot at and then control the rebound and push it safely to the corner.

2. Clean clears. Even against the Sharks, this was one the Avs struggled to do consistently but the contrast of when the Avs get possession and can send the puck the length of the ice compared to a failed clear is night and day. It’s a difference of 20 wasted seconds. Three clean clears and half of the kill is spent without any danger at all. On both examples, you’ll notice two key factors: elevating the puck and sending it up the middle. Rimming the puck around the boards on the ice is both too predictable and too easy to stop. Creativity is encouraged in getting the puck out of the zone.

3. Strong blue line. You’ll start to notice that the best penalty kill is one that never lets the offense get set up in the first place. The Avs like to run one forechecking forward on the PK that forces action out of the other team. When you combine this with stacking the other three killers on the blue line it can create a log jam that is tough to break. By slowing the offense down through the neutral zone you don’t need to sag off and surrender the blue line for free. A smart step up can force a team to reset their breakout entirely or in some cases even lead to a shorthanded break.

4. Puck management. While sending the puck down the ice is never the wrong decision on the PK, when you have the time and space to hang on to it a bit longer it is usually a good idea. A player can take another 10-15 seconds off the clock and allow his teammates to get a clean change simply by skating a lap with the puck. In the clip below Calvert is in a 2 on 2 situation where odds of a quality opportunity coming to fruition are low. He opts to just carry the puck in behind the net and eat it, killing time instead of giving up a potential turnover.

5. Keeping the puck to the perimeter. When the opposing team inevitably gets into the zone and set up the main goal is to limit the quality of the opportunity. The Avs have struggled a lot with letting pucks through the center of the ice but against the Sharks, it wasn’t happening. The clip below showcases some of the Avs issues with clearing the puck but they make up for it by preventing the Sharks from getting off the edges of the offensive zone.

6. Faceoffs. One nitpick here, on a night where the Avs dominated the faceoff circle even leading to multiple goals, they lost every single one on the penalty kill. Winning the initial faceoff regularly leads to an immediate clear and takes a bunch of time off the clock right away. No clip for this one since the Avs failed to accomplish it.

BSN DENVER LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171593 Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets’ hot streak defies the numbers

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Jan 17, 2020 at 8:52 PM

It hasn’t made a lot of sense, statistically speaking.

Despite a remarkable 13-2-4 run in their past 19 games, clawing their way from 11 points out of a playoff spot into the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, the Blue Jackets haven’t exactly done it conventionally.

They lost more than half their regular lineup to injuries and got unexpected lifts out of a few guys recalled from the Cleveland Monsters. They have relied heavily on 25-year-old goalies Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins, who have excelled when the Jackets have needed them most.

And if you break this season into two parts, between games ending Dec. 7 and starting Dec. 9, you find a tale of two starkly different teams.

The first was highly successful dictating play and pressuring opponents with a relentless forecheck and cycle game, despite going just 11-14-4 while backsliding down the Metropolitan Division standings. The second dipped significantly in a number of measures, including shots for and against, but figured out a way to boost its win total. And that, ultimately, is all that matters.

That team, the second one, is rolling right now.

This iteration of the Blue Jackets doesn't have the puck as much as they did the first two-plus months, and still doesn't have seven injured regulars. But they've boosted their confidence with stellar defensive play, clutch goaltending and a lot of moxie — as proved Thursday night with a gutsy 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena.

It was the third straight win for the Jackets, who were outshot 34-18, allowed 42 more attempted shots (73-31) and still won on 26 blocked shots, 32 saves by Merzlikins and a late goal by captain Nick Foligno.

“I like the way we’re doing it as a team,” said coach John Tortorella, who feels that game was more anomaly than example of a concerning trend. “I’ll give you this ... if we don’t forecheck, we’re a lousy hockey team, because that’s a big part of our identity. And (Thursday) night we chased them around and just tried to catch up to them, and we couldn’t.”

Stick taps to the Hurricanes are merited for the effort, which Tortorella made sure to do after practice Friday.

"Maybe give (the Hurricanes) a little credit," he said. "You talk about analytics, as far as their offensive stuff, it’s off the charts as far as how they play. They’re fast, they’re quick, they pressure … sometimes you’ve just got to give respect to the other team. There are some pretty good teams here, and that’s one of them.”

The Jackets are another one, clearly, but that game wasn’t just a one-off statistically.

They’ve now been outshot 5-on-5 in eight of the past 12 games, including the past seven in a row, have allowed more attempts than they’ve generated in 12 straight games — often by a wide margin — and now rank 31st in the percentage measure of attempts (Corsi), dropping from 12th in the first 29 games (50.8%) to dead last over their past 19 (44.9%).

There are other examples to further the point, but no apology is required for winning, which the Jackets have certainly done the past month. The numbers, however, are interesting and could eventually catch up to the Jackets if they continue to defend more than dictate.

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Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikens not shy to play the puck

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Jan 17, 2020 at 8:52 PM

Having a pair of young goaltenders has put Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella in a unique spot this season.

Normally, Tortorella is quick to say he doesn’t mess with the world of goaltending, leaving it up to his goalie coach and the netminders, but this time it’s a little different. The Blue Jackets didn’t acquire a veteran to replace Sergei Bobrovsky and decided to let a pair of talented 25-year- olds — Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins — run with it, which Tortorella has quietly observed at arm’s length.

Korpisalo proved to the Jackets coach that he could handle the pressure of being a No. 1 goalie, earning an invitation to the NHL All-Star Game before suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee Dec. 29 against Chicago. Merzlikins has proved the same while starting nine straight games since Korpisalo went down, but his aggressive nature playing pucks is something Tortorella is monitoring.

It cost the Blue Jackets a likely point Nov. 23 at Winnipeg, when Merzlikins’ late turnover led directly to Andrew Copp’s winner. But Tortorella knows the young netminder’s skill in that area could one day become a weapon of good.

“Those are the things I watch,” said Tortorella, who checks in with goaltending coach Manny Legace on both players. “(Merzlikins) is an active guy, and I don’t want to take his activity away. I think that’s a big part of his game. It’s a plus now for us, because I think he has gotten us out of our end zone a number of times in playing the puck. But I need to keep my eye on that.”

Bjorkstrand close

The Jackets welcomed Cam Atkinson back Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, and now it looks like Oliver Bjorkstrand isn’t far behind.

The goal-scoring winger has missed nearly four weeks with rib and oblique injuries that happened on a crosscheck Dec. 21 against New Jersey — matching the initial four-to-six week recovery timeline.

Bjorkstrand had five goals and two assists in four games prior to the injury. He began skating last week and practiced Friday, so his return could be imminent.

Tough break

Carolina lost 3-2 on Thursday, but sustained a bigger loss when Dougie Hamilton — its top defenseman — suffered a fractured left fibula after falling awkward on it late in the second period.

Hamilton, who got tangled with Blue Jackets rookie Kevin Stenlund during the fall, has 14 goals, 26 assists and 40 points to lead Hurricanes defensemen. Hamilton, who’d been selected to the All-Star Game, had surgery Friday and is out indefinitely.

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Michael Arace | Gerard Gallant dealt crooked hand by Vegas Golden Knights

Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch Jan 17, 2020 at 12:01 AM

Gerard Gallant, who was fired as coach of the Vegas Golden Knights earlier this week, minces one word every 10 years. Maybe. His honesty has a purity that is anachronistic.

It was a shame, then, that Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon didn’t have much of an explanation when he handed Gallant a pink slip. McCrimmon said he "felt" it was time for a change. So much for advanced analytics. "Turk" deserved better.

Gallant’s NHL coaching career began in Columbus as one of the original assistants in 2000. Maybe he wasn’t quite ready for the daunting task when he was promoted to Blue Jackets coach in 2003 — who could have been, with that team, at that point? He picked himself up and resumed climbing.

Gallant had a 103-point season in Florida before he was fired over the phone by a silly owner in 2016. The next season, he led the Golden Knights on one of the greatest rides, ever, in their first year of existence: 109 points and an incredible run to the Stanley Cup finals.

He has twice been a finalist for the Jack Adams Award and once won it. He put two divisional titles and a conference title in different rafters.

He was fired a week after the Knights slipped out of first place in the Pacific. What a business. He was the seventh NHL coach to be fired this season, the fifth for on-ice reasons.

"I immediately try to get in touch with (fired coaches), just to lend some support," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said Thursday. "Always do, whether I know him or not. At the end of the day, you want to beat their team every night — but when the season’s over and you get together, you try to help one another. Because no one (else) is going to help us."

Tortorella has only been fired three times. It seems like more, I know. Such is the business of big-time sports. As William Munny said in "Unforgiven," "Deserve’s got nothing to do with it." Sometimes, the GM feels something. Or maybe the president of hockey operations is having a bad day, or the owner’s shih tzu made a no-no on the living room carpet. And there goes the trigger.

"I think if you go into it trying to keep your job, you make wrong decisions," Tortorella said. "I’m going to coach the team the way I think is best and go from there. And if people aren’t happy with it, they show you the door. And I’ve been shown the door."

Tortorella, hired in October 2015, is now the league’s fourth-longest tenured coach behind Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper, Winnipeg’s Paul Maurice and Detroit’s Jeff Blashill.

Tortorella, speaking of his relationship with general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, said, "The thing with Jarmo and me — no matter how heated or ugly it gets sometimes — at the end of the day, we talk it out. We’re on the same page. One thing about him: He’ll come to me. I’m not going to hear it from two other channels, which is chicken (guano)."

Kekalainen gave a recent example: He and Tortorella picked a bone for two hours when the Jackets were in Vegas over the weekend. They rejoined the discussion for 45 minutes the next day, and for 15 minutes the day after that.

"We talk, we reflect and then re-reflect and then re-re-reflect," Kekalainen said with a laugh. "If you don’t have the guts to say something to someone’s face, then don’t say it. That’s kind of a life principle for me. Maybe that’s why I don’t have so many friends — but the friends I have are good ones."

And what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

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Blue Jackets 3, Hurricanes 2 | Nick Foligno’s late goal gives Jackets unlikely win

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Jan 16, 2020 at 10:45 PM

Sometimes ugly can be beautiful.

Just ask the Blue Jackets, who somehow came out of a game dominated by the Carolina Hurricanes with a 3-2 victory Thursday night at Nationwide Arena.

Despite being outshot 34-18 and despite the Hurricanes finishing with a 73-31 edge in attempted shots, the Jackets got 32 saves from goalie Elvis Merzlikins, blocked 26 shots and got the winning goal by captain Nick Foligno with just 1:41 left in the third period.

"They’re a really good team," Foligno said of the Hurricanes, who are now tied with the Jackets at 56 points in one fewer game played. "They don’t give you a lot of time and space. Elvis played outstanding again, guys were blocking shots — our (defensemen), our forwards — it was a grind, but we got it done."

Foligno’s goal was his first since Nov. 29 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, ending a dry spell of 22 games. After Eric Robinson’s work in the offensive zone produced a loose puck in the slot, Foligno got to it first and sent a wrist shot past Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek past the glove.

It broke a 2-2 tie and stood up for the winner, lifting the Jackets to an unlikely win after how things went in the first 40 minutes.

Despite taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Emil Bemstrom 1:07 after the puck dropped, the Blue Jackets were dominated in the first two periods. The Hurricanes (27-18-2) held a 24-11 edge in shots, a 55-20 advantage in attempted shots and had pinned the puck in the Jackets zone for most of the second period.

What the Hurricanes didn’t do was take the lead, which was sort of a big deal considering how thoroughly they controlled things. Martin Necas’ breakaway goal tied it at 1 in the second, ending Merzlikins’ shutout streak at 166 minutes, 29 seconds, but the score was still tied entering the third.

That was one of the few bright spots for the Blue Jackets, along with getting Cam Atkinson back from an injured ankle that kept him out 12 games.

Atkinson provided the primary assist on Bemstrom’s goal and then gave the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead with his 10th goal of the season at 4:51 of the third — rifling a wrist shot past Mrazek for his third multipoint game of the season.

It began an exciting sequence that included a disallowed goal by Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski at 7:34 — overturned on a coach’s challenge that caught Foligno barely offside — and ultimately ended with the score tied at 2 on a goal by Jordan Staal at 7:05.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171597 Columbus Blue Jackets Want to talk scoring chances? According to the same stat site, Carolina finished with a 35-14 edge in

total chances (71.4 percent) and 77.8 percent of the high-danger Blue Jackets 3, Hurricanes 2 | 3-2-1 breakdown chances that happened outside of power plays (7-2).

It was ugly for the Blue Jackets most of the game, but they kept it tight with 26 blocked shots, got some huge saves by Merzlikins – who Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Jan 17, 2020 at 5:31 AM improved to 7-2-0 since Joonas Korpisalo went down with a torn meniscus Dec. 29 against Chicago – and got just enough scoring to win.

The third period was slightly better than the first two, but still wasn’t close Goals by Bemstrom, Atkinson and Foligno plus another strong game for to the way the Blue Jackets are capable of playing. They finished enough goalie Elvis Merzlikins paved the way for an improbable victory. scoring chances, though, and "found a way" to win yet again. When it comes to equilibrium, there are two types. "The first period, the chances were 3-3," Tortorella said, citing stats kept You've got your static equilibrium and dynamic equilibrium, and both by his coaching staff. "The third period, the chances were 3-3. The were on display in the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 victory against the Carolina second period was a gong show, as far as chances – I think 11-2 or Hurricanes on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena. something like that. We blocked 26 shots. I told them, ‘I don’t know what to tell you. You’re blocking shots well, but all we’re doing is defending.’" The Hurricanes were mostly dynamic, dominating the Jackets in nearly every way imaginable, while Columbus was largely static. In fact, you 2) Atkinson still rolling could argue the Blue Jackets had no business winning this game at all. Two years ago, Atkinson got off to a frustrating start to his season, broke They were outskated, out-hustled and beaten to pucks too often. They his foot on a shot by Seth Jones during a power play in the game before were overpowered, out-muscled and outdone in any way you want to say Christmas break and didn’t return until the end of January. it. He used the down time as a "reset button," of sorts and was an entirely The Hurricanes are one of the NHL’s fastest teams, so it wasn’t all on the different player when he returned – lighting up the scoreboard in the final Jackets’ lethargy, but there were points during the second period when it two months while forming one of the NHL’s most dangerous lines with felt like the Columbus bench should hold up a large photo of a puck that Pierre-Luc Dubois and former left wing Artemi Panarin. said: "YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THIS!" This season, there was no need for a "reset button" when Atkinson left a That’s how rough this game got for the Blue Jackets at certain points, but game Dec. 19 against the Los Angeles Kings with a high-ankle sprain. let’s not forget something else about equilibrium and its relationship with He’d scored five goals and added an assist for six points in eight games . There is a certain balance attached to an 82-game season, before the injury, so the hope was to pick up where he left off. and for it to be achieved it takes equal numbers of odd occurrences to That’s exactly what happened, as Atkinson posted his third multi-point cancel each other out. game of the season with a goal and assist after missing 12 straight For instance, how many times this season have the Blue Jackets lost a games. The assist was a backhand feed to Bemstrom on his first shift of one-goal game despite feeling like the better team? How many times did the game, setting the rookie up with a wrist shot that turned into a 1-0 they skate away from wrenching losses shaking their heads in disbelief? lead 1:07 into the game, and the goal put the Jackets up briefly, 2-1, early in the third. It happened a number of times and was one reason the Jackets tumbled down the Metropolitan Division standings. Well, this is what it looks like Atkinson said the ankle injury might nag him the rest of the season, but when hockey balances out. the good news for the Blue Jackets is that he looked good in his return – skating 15:33 and finishing with a team-high four shots to go with his goal It’s manifested in victories that probably should’ve been losses and and assist. sometimes there’s just no explanation – which the Blue Jackets will gladly accept after enduring some real gut punches between October "It was nice to get the first assist on the first shift," he said. "It settles your and mid-December. nerves a little bit. Then it was just a feeling-out process, as far as battling and 50/50 battles, knowing when I could take a chance in the corner or Emil Bemstrom, Cam Atkinson and Nick Foligno scored the Jackets’ not. But I thought, overall, I played pretty confidently." goals, all three big for different reasons, while rookie Elvis Merzlikins made 32 more saves for his seventh win in the past nine games. His Tortorella agreed. shutout streak ended at two games, going 166 minutes, 29 seconds "First play of the game, first shift, first play he makes on the goal is just a between goals allowed, but coach John Tortorella still notched his 200th great pass," Tortorella said. "Then he winds up scoring a goal … a lot of victory with Columbus. people have asked me, ‘Do you stay with the lineup?’ I am not keeping "I can’t explain it, but it’s a ‘find a way’ league," Tortorella said. "I thought Cam Atkinson out of the lineup. He’s just too valuable for a team starving we played a better third period, Elvis gives us a chance and I’m certainly for goals. He gave us some juice tonight." not going to apologize for the win. We’ve had a few go the other way. 3) Captain clutch We’ve played really well and lost, so we’ll just go and get ready to play our next game." Tortorella recently put out a call for more offensive production from Foligno, saying the Jackets needed more scoring from their captain. Here is the 3-2-1 … three takeaways, two questions and one more thing: In the past two games, the veteran forward has answered with his winner Three Takeaways against the Hurricanes plus a big primary assist on Kevin Stenlund’s 1) Surviving the ‘Gong show’ power-play goal in a 3-0 victory Tuesday against the Boston Bruins.

Suffice to say this wasn’t one of the Blue Jackets’ better games and Foligno now has five goals, 14 assists and 19 points in 45 games and that’s putting it kindly. hopes to keep inflating those numbers in the second half of the season.

Despite allowing a goal by Emil Bemstrom 1:07 into the game, the "I don’t want to sacrifice other areas, but I know I’m relied upon in that Hurricanes hounded the puck all night and dominated puck-possession area," said Foligno, who hadn’t scored since tallying twice Nov. 19 with an impressive combination of size, skating and skill. They outshot against the Pittsburgh Penguins (22 games). "I’m not going to cheat to the Blue Jackets 9-4 in the first period, 15-7 in the second, 10-7 in the get offense, because I know how that goes, but at the same time I know third and 34-18 for the game, also finishing with a commanding edge in how important it is to provide that punch – especially when we’re hurt and total attempted shots (73-31). trying to find ways (to win). Tonight, I was happy I could do that for the club and hopefully there’s more chances to come." According to naturalstattrick.com, a stat-tracking site, the Hurricanes also finished with 69.8 percent of the game’s even-strength attempts (67-29), Foligno buried this particular chance, hopping on a loose puck in the slot 66.6 percent of the unblocked attempts (43-22) and 64 percent of the and firing a hard wrist shot past goalie Petr Mrazek on the glove side. It even-strength shots (32-18). was his fifth goal of the season and first winner, but the captain gave much of the credit to rookie Eric Robinson – whose fight for the puck As it stands, Werenski has a one-goal lead among NHL defensemen, against Staal sent the puck into the slot. edging Nashville’s Roman Josi and Carolina’s Dougie Hamilton – who each have 14. Hamilton, it should be noted, sustained a leg injury in the "It was just Robbie, actually," Foligno said. "I mean, he’s by himself final minute of the second period and didn’t return. wreaking havoc down in the corner. I’ve got to give him more credit than anything, just stirring up (stuff). Last-ditch effort, I saw Staal try to poke it Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 01.18.2020 to the center and I was able to jump on it and make good on it."

It was redemption for Foligno, as well.

He’d been found to be offside on a video review earlier in the third that negated a goal by Zach Werenski, which prevented the Jackets from taking a 3-2 lead earlier.

"It felt really good to get that one for the guys, especially with the offside," Foligno said. "I was kind of the culprit and I didn’t realize it, so it’s nice to be able to pay them back."

Two Questions

1) What did the victory do for the Blue Jackets?

Combined with the Philadelphia Flyers’ 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the two points earned moved Columbus into the second wild- card spot in the Eastern Conference via tiebreaker.

The win also pushed the Blue Jackets into a tie at 56 points with the Hurricanes, who hold the first wild-card spot because they’ve played one less game than Columbus.

The Blue Jackets also moved to 24-16-8 and 13-2-4 in their past 19 games, a torrid run amid a slew of injuries that vaulted them from 11 points back of the second wild-card spot into that spot waking up Friday.

There are still 34 games left plus a long break at the end of this month, but the Jackets’ resilient run is nothing short of remarkable.

"I don’t think we’re ever surprised," Atkinson said. "You just have to expect to win. It’s just that culture that we’ve built. Especially with the personnel, you (didn’t know) what was going to happen, but guys stepped up bigtime for us. It’s a credit to the organization and the guys that they draft and the guys they pick up. It’s good for us."

2) How was Werenski able to return so quickly?

Staal launched a slap shot at 8:42 of the first period that sent the puck straight into the inside of Werenski’s right skate, causing him to drop to one knee and then struggle to get off the ice.

Werenski stayed on the bench for a few moments, then headed down the tunnel toward the locker room with help from an athletic trainer. He was unable to put weight on the leg, which didn’t look good, but then wound up not missing a shift.

Scott Harrington picked up a tripping penalty 3:02 later and Werenski returned for the start of the ensuing penalty-kill.

How did he pull it off?

Well, chalk one up to good fortune, which the Blue Jackets’ haven’t gotten much of with injuries this season.

"It was one of those that was just, like, a stinger, kind of like the lower half of your leg kind of goes numb a little bit," Werenski said. "I knew I was fine. I just needed to walk it off for a little (bit). I wasn’t worried at all."

That's good, because his teammates, coaches, the Jackets’ front office and fans did plenty of worrying for him, watching him hobble off.

One More Thing

Werenski has 15 goals, which still leads all NHL defensemen more than halfway through the regular season.

He could have 17 if it weren’t for a couple of disallowed goals that were invalid because of a timekeeping error Dec. 29 against the Chicago Blackhawks – which negated a potential overtime winner – and the review by the Hurricanes that negated his goal in the third period Thursday night.

Had that goal withstood the challenge, it would’ve tied Werenski’s own single-season franchise record for goals by a defenseman (16), which he set in 2017-18 along with defense partner Seth Jones. Had both of his non-goals counted, Werenski could’ve set a new franchise mark just three games before the NHL All-Star weekend arrives next week. 1171598 Columbus Blue Jackets and then, because it’s a goal, an additional two points are added for a total of four points to Nash for that one event.

Positive and negative events are summed as “positive touch” and Inside the coaches office: How the Blue Jackets measure puck “negative touch” totals, and then the overall differential is the player’s management final score.

Totals are then summed by line and pairings.

By Alison Lukan Jan 17, 2020 A sample player’s game might look like this. (Click to enlarge)

After every game, hockey operations assistant Aron Augustitus tracks the game and records the results for every player that was in the specific There’s a lot of statistics out there. So many that you can get lost in game. The entire process usually takes 1-1.5 hours, and the coaching them, or reference one that is misleading. Just ask John Tortorella. staff has the final results usually the next morning.

“I think there’s a lot of stats that are overrated in the game,” Tortorella The coaching staff can then use this data to evaluate a game as a whole said. “I think the plus-minus stat is probably one of the most overrated (a good game usually includes a team total of 200-plus points and/or a stats in the game. There are so many more things that go into play.” differential of 100-plus points between positive and negative touches). They can also look at the contributions of an individual player, line, or So what is valuable to measure? Tortorella likes a few metrics, including pairing in terms of puck management and transitional play — something time spent in each zone of the ice, but he’s also always shown an that doesn’t show up in a box score. appreciation for transitional play. Two years ago, he asked the Blue Jackets to track “north-south” play, and this year, he’s started Shaw says many players fall within a specific range and it’s when they implementing a tool developed by one of his assistant coaches, Brad fall outside that scope, he can highlight strong play, or talk about what Shaw, called the “puck touch sheet.” needs to be better.

Columbus is a team that has always thrived on its forecheck. This year “Gavrikov, for instance, I thought his first touch in Vegas was more than ever, keeping opponents out of the Blue Jackets’ zone, exceptional,” Shaw said. “He kept it really simple, advanced it. Found pushing play north and creating offense, as a result, has been the guys in transition and his sheet showed that. He had a really good mantra. When the coaches have talked game plan in recent weeks, number, right with (Seth) Jonesy. I said that to him, that’s exactly what phrases like “gaining zones” and “D-zone coverage” are what’s we need, that no-nonsense kind of transition where we can just go and emphasized. build the momentum we need to build.

As the saying goes, what gets measured, gets done. So when it came to “There are other ones where maybe it’s ‘hey, you weren’t moving your looking at all the elements that go into moving the puck up the ice — D- feet, you had so many neutral or offensive zone turnovers, so you have zone coverage, support, first touches, decision making — Shaw brought to get going again.’” back a tool he’s used in the past to see how the Blue Jackets are doing in terms of puck management. Not the end-all, be-all

What is the puck touch sheet? Shaw is certain to emphasize that the puck touch sheet doesn’t tell the whole story of a player’s game, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. He points The sheet was first conceived when Shaw was an associate coach, who out that behaviors such as puck possession and defensive play don’t worked with the defense and penalty kill, with the St. Louis Blues. show on the puck touch sheet.

“It (used to be) much simpler,” Shaw said with a smile. “It started with “For some guys, this really doesn’t measure some of your worst or best one or two columns and then I’d think, ‘oh we could track this while we’re assets,” Shaw said. “This is made for Jonesy, he’s going to have a good doing it, and oh, we should do it by period,’ so we did it by period. (Then night every game. Certain guys will show up consistently, some guys St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock) loved that stuff. He wanted as much of fluctuate.” that stuff as he could get. He (would say) ‘hey Shawsy, could you do this for that?’ and I’d say ‘yeah, probably’ so the tracking sheet was He also wants to be sure information stays relevant and doesn’t just constantly changing.” become “a pile of numbers.”

When Shaw came to Columbus, the chart stayed in his desk, but this What comes next? season, after one specific game, he wanted to see how the players rated Tortorella is cautious about information overload when it comes to his out in terms of puck management. He charted the game on his puck players, but he’s decided that the puck touch sheet is going to start going touch sheet and then shared the results with Tortorella. up in the room along with other postgame measures including scoring “Let’s talk about Brad Shaw because he is full of information,” Tortorella chances. Players are in no way required to look at it, but it’s there if they said. “He is one of the most intelligent coaches that I’ve ever met. I think are curious. that sheet is really good. It touches all three zones, some good stuff, “Most guys wouldn’t know (these numbers),” Shaw said. “They’d have a some bad stuff. good track of their turnovers, but they wouldn’t know how many times “For me, I am a layman as far as all the numbers, I’m still trying to learn they carried it over the blue line, or how many times they put it in deep. all about that stuff. When I looked at that sheet, I said ‘oh my God.’ When It’s not something you keep track of as a player. Some of them might be I saw how he tabulated it, how it came to a value, what it did … I wanted interested to see what their impact is in those areas.” to see it as far as lines and pairs, also. That’s when I said, ‘I want to get Shaw also wants to explore how to accurately capture other aspects of this every game.’” the game. He has a method for tracking the penalty kill, he’d like to So how does the chart work? investigate measuring defensive impact, as well.

This is what the puck touch sheet looks like. (Click to enlarge) “Is there the exact other side of the game as far as play without the puck? I know there is,” Shaw said. “I’m just not sure how to measure it. Every player gets a row, white columns are “positive” events, red When I measure loose puck recovering on the PK, a lot of times the guy columns are “negative.” The columns progress left to right in terms of D- that is setting the angle, or has a good stick to create the turnover, (isn’t) zone events (clear, touch, carry, chance, D-zone turnover, chance the guy who touches the puck. So I’m not really rewarding the guy who against, offside) to offensive zone events (puck deep, touch, possession, was 90-percent of the play, I’m rewarding the guy who at least skated in chance, neutral zone turnover, offensive-zone turnover, chance against). support and read it to get to the puck.”

The number of each event for every player is tallied and then multiplied Shaw also wants to start breaking tracking down by period to look at by the weight that is listed below the column header. consistency throughout a game, and then at a higher level by compiling data into 20-game segments. He acknowledges season-level summaries This carry by Riley Nash leads to Eric Robinson’s goal in Anaheim. Nash could hold value, as well. But he likes the puck touch sheet as a start — gets credit for the carry and is awarded two points (1 carry x weight of 2) in his opinion, it tells the story of the game in a relevant way that can help him evaluate and coach his players. “Brad Shaw … I’ve learned a lot from him,” Tortorella said. “The numbers? I think they’re important … you have to mix with that with your gut and the eye test. ‘Shawsy’ has some really unique ways of doing things that are very interesting and I think help determine a lot of things within the game.

“(The puck touch sheet) is a really good sheet that determines individual stuff as far as puck touches in a game. In a world of an unbelievable amount of numbers that are out there, that’s a really good sheet.”

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Miro Heiskanen sustains upper body injury in loss to Buffalo, listed as ‘day to day’

By Matthew DeFranks5:28 AM on Jan 17, 2020

Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen left Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Buffalo with an upper-body injury after a collision in the corner during the second period. After the game, interim head coach Rick Bowness labeled Heiskanen “day to day” and did not specify whether he was in concussion protocol.

The Stars play in Minnesota on Saturday night in their final game before the All-Star break. They don’t play again until Jan. 27.

With 14:40 left in the second period, Heiskanen tried to retrieve a puck in the corner of the defensive zone when Sabres forward Rasmus Asplund appeared to cross-check Heiskanen then knee him in the head as he was falling down.

Heiskanen was slow to get up before skating to the bench. He skated two more shifts before missing the final 29:47 of the game. Heiskanen was officially ruled out of the game during the second intermission.

“We all know what he does for us,” Bowness said. “Our breakouts are a lot better, he joins the rush and he’s a danger on that offensive blue line. Take him out of there, and that’s a big hole. There’s just no getting around that. Injuries happen, and got to keep playing. Got to overcome them.”

Heiskanen has not missed a game since he started playing in the NHL last season and entered Thursday leading the Stars by playing 24:24 a game. Before he exited, Heiskanen picked up an assist when his point shot went wide and caromed off the boards right to Jamie Benn, who scored his 12th goal of the season.

If the injury is concussion-related, Heiskanen does have a history. He missed training camp in 2017 because he suffered a concussion in Finland.

Without Heiskanen, normal partner Jamie Oleksiak rotated with John Klingberg (5:12 at 5 on 5) and Andrej Sekera (3:52).

“He’s an elite player on this team, so anytime you lose one of those guys, it doesn’t matter who it is, it’s going to hurt,” goaltender Ben Bishop said. “Obviously, we’re down a goal there, we rely on those guys.”

Behind again: For the 11th time in the last 14 games, the Stars allowed the first goal Thursday night, when Jimmy Vesey scored 7:01 into the game. Dallas has been one of the league’s best teams at erasing deficits this league (eight wins when trailing after two periods leads the league) but couldn’t do it Thursday.

“We need to figure out our starts,” forward Tyler Seguin said. “It’s obviously nice to have the resilience that we do and being able to come back in games, but we’re flirting with fire and we got burned tonight.”

Defenseman John Klingberg said, “The effort is there. We bring it every night, and like you see, we’ve been coming back in a lot of games, too. Obviously, you want to have a fast start, but there’s nothing I can point at right now.”

And Bowness said, “You’re not going to win every game coming back in this league. There’s no chance. The other team is too good. We’ve won eight coming back. You just can’t, there’s no chance we’re going to keep doing that all the time.”

The Stars are 9-13-2 when trailing first.

Strong second: The Stars controlled the play in the second period, outshooting the Sabres 16-5 in the middle period, but gave up a critical goal with 3:50 left in the period when Rasmus Dahlin shot a screened point shot past Bishop.

“We needed something to get us going, give us an extra boost in the third and we started running around a little bit too much and trying to do much by ourselves,” Bowness said. “The team game kind of disappeared for a while there and lost the flow.” 1171600 Dallas Stars — ZACH B. (@THEREGOESZB) JANUARY 17, 2020 It is somewhat surprising to me until we think it through a little bit. Back

on December 31st, I wrote a very long piece on this matter, and it Sports Sturm’s Friday Tweetbag: Cowboys construction, Stars shake-ups appears McCarthy might have come to the same conclusions I did about and the Bone Collector? the 2019 Cowboys offense. Perhaps it needs some adjustments in certain regards, but the actual design appeared to be quite sound and effective.

By Bob Sturm Jan 17, 2020 Here is a brief visual aid and an excerpt from that piece that I recommend when you have the time:

First, let’s start with something we can all relate to with regards to our Good morning, sports friends. This weekend will decide who personal jobs and careers: the dreaded “year over year” performance accompanies the thousands of media types to Miami for Super Bowl 54, review. How much better were you in this calendar year versus the last? which is now a mere 16 days away. This particular playoff has had its Here are the league rankings: share of twists and turns, but the certainty with which both of these Championship Games are being viewed — that the home teams should The Cowboys’ point production is way up. Their yardage output is be overwhelming favorites in these Sunday games and then meet in through the roof. The rushing game has improved, and the passing game Miami — tells us we should probably remember these last two weeks has shot to the top of the league. Turnovers have fallen slightly, but their both contained a fair amount of shocking results. third-down conversion rate has shot up as well. Their red-zone offense went from awful to league-average. Big plays have multiplied and the I do remember those upsets and still don’t believe it will affect my picks sacks have diminished to almost nothing. Time of possession has that the Super Bowl will be a very compelling Joe Montana Bowl between dropped, but again, as we have said in the past, there is a direct the Chiefs and the 49ers. I’m not sure if I would lay a few touchdowns on relationship to time of possession and the lack of ability to find big plays. each, but it will be tough for either road team to advance. In other words, if you are good at creating explosive plays, you don’t use Before we get to your mailbag — or tweetbag, as it were — I wanted to as much clock. This should mean that time of possession may not be share with you the latest on the Cowboys new coaching staff under Mike terribly important, but rather serves as an indicator of a team’s McCarthy. They are coming closer and closer to a full staff, but I believe personality. there are a few positions left, including a wide receivers coach to replace Either way, I hope this makes intuitive sense. The Cowboys were up Sanjay Lal. Over the last few decades — possibly since Jimmy Johnson nearly a full touchdown from 2018 to 2019. They did everything came to town — the Cowboys have never brought in so many new exceedingly better. They went from “bottom 10” in the league in many coaches at the same time. We wanted Mike McCarthy to pick and categories to the top of the league nearly overnight. They turned the ball choose his own coaching staff, and it seems pretty clear here that this over more, but what did that mean? It means they went from 17 entire team of coaches will have a new look to it. Kellen Moore stays, and giveaways to 18. Doug Nussmeier moves from TE coach to QB coach, which is probably much more of a natural fit, but beyond that, the 2020 group is all new. What is my overall point here? When analyzing a frustrating team, it is important to not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Here you can see the last five years at some key positions on the staff: I won’t flatter myself into believing the Cowboys read that entire study — 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 including the stunning conclusion that I won’t spoil if you missed it — but Head Coach Mike McCarthy Garrett Garrett Garrett it doesn’t take a genius to see that the initial stages of the Year 1 build Garrett were successful enough to continue down the path. Especially given that the Cowboys could return 11 of 11 starters if they so choose. Continuity Off Coord Kellen Moore Moore Linehan Linehan Linehan is key, and with this much change, do you try to at least maintain the structure of your build that is useable? QB Coach Doug Nussmeier Kitna Moore Wilson Wilson I think McCarthy could change the overall disposition — think the RB Coach Skip Peete Brown Brown Brown Brown aggression throttle — of each game plan and in-game decisions, but the WR Coach Lal Lal Dooley Dooley design was pretty good. So while it can evolve, I would agree with his initial views rather than nuking the whole thing and starting again. TE Coach Lunda Wells Nussmeier Nussmeier Loney Pope BOB. HOCKEY LEADER. GALANT FEELS LIKE AN ABSOLUTE NO OL Coach Joe Philbin Colombo Alexander/Colombo Pollack BRAINER IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT FOR EVEN A MINUTE. Pollack AM I WRONG/CRAZY? HTTPS://T.CO/MJEQCLTCAN

Def Coord Mike Nolan Marinelli/Richard Marinelli/Richard — TED (@ZIM_THEODORE) JANUARY 15, 2020 Marinelli Marinelli Ted, this is a massive question in the Stars organization right now, and it DL Coach Jim Tomsula Marinelli Marinelli Marinelli was certainly unforeseen. A little more than a month ago, Jim Bloom/Lett Montgomery was fired, and it had nothing to do with the product on the LB Coach Scott McCurley Bloom Bloom Eberflus Eberflus ice. Rick Bowness and the remaining staff have done a fine job keeping this ship above the waterline, and not only has it not sunk, but it has DB Coach Linguist/Harris Richard Richard Baker Baker racked up precious points. The Stars are in wonderful position; according to various playoff probability formulas and simulations, it appears Dallas ST Coach John Fassel O’Quinn O’Quinn Bisaccia is very close to 100-percent certain to be in the post-season this year. Bisaccia That is great news. There is plenty to figure out, and the Cowboys will certainly enjoy an element of surprise on the league in 2020 if they do less talking now, so But it doesn’t erase two things that should be carefully considered. One, we should all anticipate learning as we go this year on Bowness is still the interim coach, and as a man 22 seasons removed style/scheme/philosophies. That is OK. It is a season of Cowboys football from his last full-time head coach in the NHL, it’s fair to say he isn’t a that is clearly going to be “under new management,” and optimism name people around the league were scrambling to hire at that position should soar in the short term. Whether it signifies anything will be up to when they have vacancies. He is very well-respected … as a lead how they answer many questions that face them. assistant. Think Rod Marinelli. He’s an excellent coordinator, but the days of being a head coach had most likely past. Speaking of facing questions … 60 minutes on the clock for me … GO! The second motivating factor here is the sudden firing of Gerard Gallant WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON MCCARTHY ALLOWING KELLEN by Vegas. The availability of a coach of his stature is generally rare, but MOORE TO CONTINUE CALLING THE PLAYS? HOW WILL MIKE’S when he is available, many scramble to grab him quickly. The Stars’ front INFLUENCE BE DIFFERENT THAN GARRETT WHEN IT COMES TO office — Jim Nill and Jim Lites — in particular, have strong Detroit ties to OFFENSIVE GAME PLAN IN THAT REGARD? Gallant and probably had him high atop their coaching wishlist for years, but the timing has never worked out very well. Guess what? It matches think all of the analytics talk of the last few weeks and months about how up now. he is one with that community is real? Not really. I think there is a difference between A) exposing and educating yourself on developments I understand the Stars management team is very concerned about in statistical and analytical studies and how it can be applied to gaining tossing another grenade into the room, and they should be. This roster is an edge in this football world and B) agreeing with all of it and allowing its resilient and has withstood an awful lot of chaos recently. But, aside from findings to dictate your every move as a head coach. the initial news cycle, isn’t this the opposite of chaos? Isn’t this introducing a new and proven era? Perhaps during the All-Star break? I believe a lot of people long for “B” in their next coaching hero, but McCarthy and nearly every football coach who is successful in the NFL I know they have said they aren’t doing it, but the underlying numbers of right now are in the “A” grouping. That is why I would suggest that I am the Stars’ attack recently suggests that while the results and standings an analytics centrist — I read as much as I can, learn as much as I can, look good, Dallas might be in trouble this season if they can’t solve the but also cross-reference it with knowledge gained from many other real scoring issues that they are dealing with. Any team in the playoff components of the football world and apply it in appropriate doses — and race that doesn’t have a goal scorer ranked in the top 60 league-wide is I assume most coaches are, too. Jason Garrett’s stance seemed far less probably not sniffing a Stanley Cup, regardless of how good their open to newer findings — which did not seem like a centrist, but rather goaltending is. one who is not receptive to it at all. I doubt that is true, but it is pretty In other words, I would give this some serious consideration even though much how he expressed himself. it would raise eyebrows. If they wait until this summer, Gallant may be off ROBERT O. @SPORTSSTURM ARE YOU THE BONE COLLECTOR? the market. — MATT (@MFULLS) JANUARY 17, 2020 WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE MIKE NOLAN HIRE? IT’S OBVIOUSLY CRITICAL THAT THE COWBOYS TURN THEIR DEFENSE AROUND I am not. I, Robert Sturm, thought I might have been, but by the end of SO IS HE THE GUY TO PHILOSOPHICALLY CHANGE FOR THE the pilot episode, I found I very much was not, in fact, the Bone Collector. BETTER THEIR STYLE OF PLAY & TO GET THE MOST OUT OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SORT OF FRACTURED UNIT? I am sure that answer is confusing to most, but hopefully insightful to a few. — JASON LUSTIG (@JLUSTIG22) JANUARY 15, 2020 Have a great weekend! Jason, this is a great question and one I want to focus on next week in a larger piece about a defensive overhaul. I hesitate to suggest just what The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 Nolan’s hiring means to the philosophies of the Cowboys defense, but I have definitely been told that this was a massive priority long before they decided on a head coach. They knew they had invested a ton of capital in their defense and still had a mediocre unit overall.

So, what does Mike Nolan believe in? What are his principal attributes as a defensive mastermind? Well, like McCarthy on offense, we know what he has done, but we also know the body of work is such that he did different things in different years, and each time it was personnel- dependent. If you have these players, you try this scheme. But, if you don’t, you go with that one. The last time he appears to have called defense on a play-by-play basis might be with the 2012-14 Atlanta Falcons (and even that was under a defensive head coach in Mike Smith). No disrespect to anyone on that front, but the game has evolved plenty since then, so even that won’t likely apply to what he will do in 2020.

I think the Cowboys have some very pressing concerns defensively, so let me make that a priority for a long piece next week.

STARS TRADE ? OR RIDE IT OUT?

— JASCOU (@JASCOUP) JANUARY 17, 2020

This one is easy: I think they have to add another scorer. It gets expensive, but you rarely see yourself as a heavyweight with only a team or two looking more set up in your entire conference this late in the season. This is doable if they get it right and stay healthy. I would absolutely push the chips in this year. My shopping list right now is dependent on the market, but this is one of those years where rentals would be fine.

ARE NOLAN AND TOMSULA GOING TO LOOK FOR MORE 300 LB GUYS FOR THE DEFENSIVE LINE

— DEANDRE AYTON'S COUSIN (@SMEXYMITCH) JANUARY 15, 2020

I believe the answer is yes, if we are referring to an early-down run- stopping defensive tackle. That said, I am not sure Antwaun Woods was anywhere close to a big problem this year inside in those situations. So if Dallas can get a franchise-altering DT, great. This team should strongly consider one in Round 1, where the steak is premium. If they wait much longer, Woods might be just as effective as the Day 3 options.

MIKE MCCARTHY TALKING ANALYTICS. HOT NOISE OR SUBSTANCE?

— AUSTIN (@OSCARVANGER11) JANUARY 16, 2020

I believe McCarthy is a far more aggressive and forward-thinking offensive mind than Jason Garrett and spent all sorts of time on that with regards to my huge piece on McCarthy from a few weeks back. But do I 1171601 Detroit Red Wings

Jimmy Howard and Filip Zadina stand out in Red Wings' 2-1 OT loss to Penguins

Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 10:25 p.m. ET Jan. 17, 2020 | Updated 10:50 p.m. ET Jan. 17, 2020

The Detroit Red Wings played competitively and Jimmy Howard came through with save after save.

That made for an entertaining matchup Friday at Little Caesars Arena against the Pittsburgh Penguins, one that lasted until the Penguins won in overtime, 2-1 on Sidney Crosby's goal.

The Wings played fast and physical and earned a 1-0 lead on a Filip Zadina power-play goal in the second period that stood until Bryan Rust converted a Penguins man advantage 3:36 into the third period.

It was Howard’s best outing since opening night in Nashville; among the highlights was a sliding save on Dominik Kahun to cap a 10-save second period. Howard made 32 saves through regulation.

Zadina hounds puck

Filip Zadina had a particularly good shift late in the first period. Luke Glendening was behind the net and passed the puck to Zadina, who immediately fired a shot on Matt Murray from just outside the left goal post. When it didn’t go in, Zadina dug in for the rebound. On the same shift, Zadina pounced on Filip Hronek’s rebound and fired a shot from just outside the crease. Zadina has shown tremendous growth in working down low, and in showing off his quick release, two aspects that were missing from his game at the NHL level as recently as the exhibition season.

Wings convert

Zadina was moved off the top power-play unit and replaced with Mike Green, who joined Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, Robby Fabbri and Filip Hronek. That was the unit that was out for the first minute and change when Zach Aston-Reese was called for holding Justin Abdelkader 1:59 into the second period. Larkin was the only one on that unit who put the puck on net. Zadina came on with Frans Nielsen, Valtteri Filppula, Givani Smith and Trevor Daley. Nielsen won a faceoff against Jared McCann and a few seconds later found Zadina, who fired a shot through traffic while Smith screened Murray, giving the Wings a 1-0 lead. Zadina lined up for another scoring chance on the second power play of the period, but his stick broke.

Feelings linger

The Wings-Penguins rivalry isn’t what it was a decade ago when the teams met in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, and Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk used to battle Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. But fans remember: They cheered in delight when Crosby was called for tripping Glendening, wiping out all but five seconds of a would-be Penguins power play in the first period.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171602 Detroit Red Wings

Penguins' stars come through in overtime, defeat Red Wings 2-1

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 10:15 p.m. ET Jan. 17, 2020 | Updated 11:13 p.m. ET Jan. 17, 2020

Detroit — The Red Wings kept it close for most of the night, but ultimately Pittsburgh's stars came through.

Sidney Crosby redirected a pass from Evgeni Malkin on the power play Friday and gave the Penguins a 2-1 overtime victory.

A Luke Glendening interference penalty led to the Penguins' man advantage, and Pittsburgh took advantage at 1:33 of overtime.

“When you give skilled players like that constant looks on the power play, they’re going to make you pay, it’s as simple as that,” said goaltender Jimmy Howard, who kept the Wings close with 35 saves.

In a season that’s been the roughest and most disappointing of his career, Howard had, arguably, one of his best games of the season.

On the heels of being pulled Tuesday on Long Island in less than eight minutes, Howard kept the dangerous Penguins offense off the scoreboard until the third period.

“He was awesome,” said forward Filip Zadina, who scored the lone Wings’ goal. “He was the best player from our team, for sure. He was outstanding. It was great, but we have to go and score more than one goal and help him.”

Coach Jeff Blashill was hopeful Howard’s play could be the start of a positive streak for the veteran goaltender.

“I know he wants to go out and wants to play at a level he’s proven capable of (playing),” Blashill said. “He certainly did that tonight and hopefully he can build on that and start rolling.”

Pittsburgh's Matt Murray made 28 saves. Troy native Bryan Rust (Birmingham Brother Rice) tied the score 1-1 at 3:36 of the third period on the power play.

Quick, crisp passing by the Penguins was capped with Rust taking a pass from Malkin, going down to the hash marks, and beating Howard for his 20th goal.

The Penguins converted on the power play again in overtime, with the Penguins enjoying a 4-on-3 advantage, which plays to the strengths of Crosby and Malkin.

“I don’t think 4-on-3s are super, super dangerous lots of time but when you have Crosby around the net, it gets way more dangerous,” Blashill said. “Jimmy made a good tip save (earlier) and then the next one is real tough because you have Malkin looking like he’s going to shoot so you have to honor the shot and there’s no way to get over there (to other side).

“That definitely is not a team you want to down 4-on-3 in overtime.”

Zadina scored the lone goal, his sixth, on the power play in the second period.

Zadina got control of the puck, settled it, then slapped at it with the puck getting through the screened Murray, who couldn’t see around Givani Smith.

“The goalie never saw the shot,” Blashill said. “The puck doesn’t go in if Givani isn’t standing in front.”

The Wings return to Little Caesars Arena Saturday to host Florida in a rare home back-to-back.

“After a game like tonight, you want to play as soon as possible and the way we played tonight, we can repeat it tomorrow,” forward Dylan Larkin said.

Detroit News LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171603 Detroit Red Wings Goaltender Jonathan Bernier (lower body) isn't going to return before next week's All-Star break, said Blashill.

... Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (facial injury) is practicing, skating Red Wings’ Daley gets another shot to make impact; prospect Berggren regularly, and is close to returning. Ericsson hasn't played since Dec. 15, out when he broke his nose.

... Dylan Larkin's next goal will be the 100th of his career. Larkin (23 years, 5 months) would be just the sixth Red Wings player in the last 40 Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 2:21 p.m. ET Jan. 17, 2020 years to score 100 goals prior to age 24 and the youngest to do so since Steve Yzerman (21 years, 8 months).

... Valtteri Filppula is six games from 1,000 games in his career. Detroit – With Pittsburgh in town, Trevor Daley had to flash back for a moment to his time with the Penguins. Panthers at Red Wings

Daley spent two seasons with the Penguins – and won Stanley Cups Faceoff: 7 p.m. Saturday, Little Caesars Arena both years – 2015-16 and 2016-17. TV/radio: FSD/97.1 FM “It’s hard not to,” said Daley, of thinking about those two playoff runs. “It was a great run. They’re playing well now, too, so you can’t reminisce too Outlook: The Panthers (25-16-5) are in the thick of the playoff chase and much.” have won three consecutive games to strengthen their position. ... They have the fifth-best power play (24.3 percent) in the NHL. ... LW Jonathan Daley was scheduled to return to the lineup Friday night after missing the Huberdeau (44 assists, 62 points) and C Aleksander Barkov (50 points) last four games with an injury. lead the offensive attack, while goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (16-12-4, 3.29 GAA, .896 SVS) hasn't completely solved the goaltending issue yet as a Injuries have plagued the veteran defenseman for the last two seasons, high-priced free-agent signing. which has bothered Daley as much as the Wings’ losing. Detroit News LOADED: 01.18.2020 “Losing, dealing with the injuries for the last two years – it’s not ideal,” Daley said. “But there’s an opportunity now and you have to run with it.”

Daley, 36, has been limited to 22 games this season, with no goals and one assist. He only played in 44 games last season, after appearing in 77 his first season with the Wings.

Daley is in the final year of a $9.5 million, three-year free-agent contract he signed with the Wings.

“Trevor has been a real good defensemen in this league, a real good piece of the Pittsburgh team that won the Cups recently,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “He’s a good skating defenseman who gets the puck out of your end and plays with moxie and confidence.

“It’s been real hard, when you’ve had as many injuries as he’s faced, and you get older. It’s real hard, he’s creeping up there, but he still has good hockey left in him.

“But he has to stay healthy.”

Blashill has been encouraged by the way Daley has looked in practice, the mobility he’s showing, and the poise on the ice.

“We’re hoping he can get through this next stretch and stay healthy,” Blashill said. “He’s looked good in practice in terms of the jump in his step.”

Prospect Berggren out

It’s just not the Red Wings who have been dealing with injuries this season – so have their prospects.

Forward Jonatan Berggren had shoulder surgery Friday, according to his Swedish team Skelleftea.

Jonatan Berggren

Berggren was a 2018 second-round draft pick who was limited last season with back injuries.

Berggren only played in 24 games this season in Sweden, with 12 points (two goals, 10 assists). Berggren played in seven games for Sweden in the recent world junior championships, with five points (one goal, four assists).

The Wings trumpeted Berggren as a dynamic two-way forward, something along the lines of Nashville’s Viktor Arvidsson, but staying on the ice has become a difficult thing to do.

There is no timetable for a return to action for Berggren.

Ice chips

With Jimmy Howard expected to get the start Friday, goaltender Calvin Pickard was likely to get the start Saturday against Florida. It would be Pickard's second start for the Wings. 1171604 Detroit Red Wings

Jimmy Howard stellar but Red Wings fall in overtime

Updated 10:58 PM;Today 10:06 PM

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT – Jimmy Howard turned in the kind of performance Friday that was once typical from him but has been rare this season.

He played well enough to win, but the Detroit Red Wings didn’t provide enough offense for him.

Sidney Crosby scored on the power play at 1:33 of overtime and the Pittsburgh Penguins prevailed 2-1 at Little Caesars Arena.

Crosby tipped in a shot by Evgeni Malkin while Luke Glendening was off for interference.

Howard (2-16-2) made 35 saves but saw his personal losing streak extended to 13 games (0-11-2). Hasn’t won since Oct. 29 (3-1 vs. Edmonton).

Howard entered the game with a 4.26 goals-against average and .876 save percentage, by far the worst statistics of his career. He ordinarily wouldn’t be playing much but Jonathan Bernier is out until after the All- Star break due to a lower-body injury and Howard is a better option that Calvin Pickard, who is up from AHL Grand Rapids.

The Red Wings (12-32-4) rebounded with a solid effort following Tuesday’s disastrous 8-2 loss at the Islanders. They had lost their past two games by a combined margin of 13-3.

Filip Zadina opened the scoring at 3:29 of the second period, on the power play. He fired in a shot from his sweet spot – around the faceoff circle to the left of the goalie. Givani Smith didn’t assist on the goal by provided a net presence and it initially appeared he might have tipped it. But it was Zadina’s sixth goal in 23 games.

Bryan Rust answered on the power play for the Penguins at 3:36 of the third period. With Darren Helm off for tripping Crosby, Rust snapped a wrist shot that deflected in off Howard’s glove. Howard had stopped the first 20 shots he faced.

It was Crosby has a goal in each of his three games since returning from a two-month absence due to a core injury (six points).

The Penguins (30-13-5) are 16-4-1 in their past 21.

Michigan Live LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171605 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings, Jimmy Howard face another tough task with Sidney Crosby back

Updated Jan 17, 2020;Posted Jan 17, 2020

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT – Sidney Crosby missed 28 games due to a core muscle injury and promptly tallied five points in his first two games back.

He’ll present another challenge to the Detroit Red Wings and goaltender Jimmy Howard tonight when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit Little Caesars Arena (7:30, Fox Sports Detroit).

“Obviously, it’s maybe the best player in the world back in their lineup,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “They got two guys that can make an argument for that, maybe him and (Evgeni) Malkin.

“They’ve been able to win without (Crosby), which is a credit to their team. They’re a team that generally plays pretty hard, wins a lot of puck races and puck battles, so you got to make sure you’re winning more puck races and puck battles than them.”

The Penguins (29-13-5) went 18-6-4 without Crosby, who has seven goals and 15 assists in 19 games.

The Red Wings (12-32-3) are coming off an 8-2 loss Tuesday at the Islanders, when Howard was pulled 7:58 into the game after allowing three goals on seven shots.

Howard (2-16-1, 4.26 goals-against average, .876 save percentage) has lost 12 games in a row (0-11-1) since beating Edmonton on Oct. 29.

“It’s been a tough year for the team, it’s been a tough year for him,” Blashill said. “We have to make sure we do our job by limiting scoring chances, limiting the Grade A’s. He’s got to do his job by stopping the shots he’s supposed to stop and then making big saves in big moments.

“I think confidence is a huge deal. If he can come out of a game having played real well, he gets the ball rolling. Part of that is on the team. We don’t look at any player and single that person out. It’s a team effort, winning and losing.”

Red Wings prospect lost for season

Center Jonatan Berggren, the Red Wings’ third pick in the 2018 draft, is done for the season, needing shoulder surgery, his Swedish League club, Skelleftea, announced.

Berggren, selected 33rd overall, had two goals and 10 assists in 24 games. He played for Sweden in the recent World Junior Championships (one goal, four assists in seven games).

It has been a rough couple seasons for the 5-10, 181-pound skilled center with slick stick-handling ability. He was limited to 16 games last season due to a back injury.

Michigan Live LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171606 Edmonton Oilers “It almost feels like cheating, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Hall said of his latest move. “Not to talk bad about anyone, but it’s been a while since I’ve played important games like this. To come out for a game and know that it’s a four-point game and know that it’s a team you’re really battling Taylor Hall happy to be in thick of playoff race with Arizona Coyotes in the standings has been a lot of fun and that’s really what hockey is about and you forget about that sometimes.

“When you’re playing on a team that’s at the bottom of the standings, it’s Derek Van Diest not difficult to get up for games, but with these games the magnitude of Published:January 18, 2020 them, it makes your blood boil pretty naturally and that’s a lot of fun.”

Updated:January 18, 2020 2:12 AM MST NO GOAL IN HALL’S FUTURE

Hall is a skilled player, so he has admiration for players like Filip Forsberg and Andrei Svechnikov, who have pulled off the lacrosse goal Taylor Hall is growing accustomed to his new surroundings with the in the NHL. Arizona Coyotes, so it would have been understandable had he bothered by the deep freeze on his latest return to Edmonton. Forsberg did it for the Predators against the Oilers on Tuesday and Svechnikov has done it twice for the Carolina Hurricanes. Yet for Hall, every visit to Alberta is special and he is looking forward to the important divisional encounter against the Edmonton Oilers on “It’s definitely interesting, but above all, it’s a good way to score a goal,” Saturday (1 p.m.) at Rogers Place, regardless of the weather. Hall said. “At the end of the day, it’s a great move and there is a lot of flash to it. But there seems to be a trend that it’s hard to defend. “It’s always fun and I’ll say this for the rest of my career; when you come back here you see the buildings that you lived in and the stores and “When players get the puck behind the net it’s always pretty dangerous restaurants that you went into, things like that, it does get you very and you have to watch. Usually the case is that the guy behind the net is nostalgic,” Hall said on Friday. “Alberta is a place where I spent a lot of the least dangerous guy on the ice, because he can’t score from there years of my life and it’s always special to me and it’s always a game that but that’s really changed with the guys doing that move. It’s great for I look forward to, see some friends in town. And when the weather is like hockey, it’s not a showboat move anymore, it’s a move that’s effective this, you know it’s hockey season. Some people bristle at it, but I always and you’re going to be seeing a lot more of it.” enjoyed that.” Don’t expect Hall to try the move, however. Fortunately for Hall, he only has to be here for a couple of days and then “No. My curve doesn’t really go well with that,” he said. “You won’t see he can return to Arizona where it was a balmy 18C on Friday. me doing that anytime soon.” Hall has fit in well with the Coyotes having been traded by the New Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.18.2020 Jersey Devils on Dec. 16, for a small ransom — a deal that included two draft picks and three prospects.

In 15 games with his new club, Hall has six goals and 14 points. He picked up an assists in a 3-1 loss, on the road, against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

“It’s been a really good experience so far, I think I’ve gotten use to my surroundings a lot easier than I thought I would,” Hall said. “Our record isn’t as great as I’d want it to be, but I think we’re playing some good hockey and we’re right in the thick of it so it’s a lot of fun to be playing these games.”

Hall had been in limbo a month ago when it became evident the Devils were going to move the pending unrestricted free agent after struggling through another disappointing season.

New Jersey completely botched the situation and had Hall sit out a pair of games while they tried to work out the details of a trade.

The Devils have since fired head coach John Hynes and general manager Ray Shero. Hynes was hired by the Nashville Predators, who were in town Tuesday, losing 4-2 to the Oilers.

Fortunately for Hall, Shero was able to complete the trade before he was fired and well prior to the Feb. 24th NHL trade deadline.

“In hindsight, when I was scratched for those two games and waiting for a trade, that was a pretty stressful time and really wondering where I was going to go,” Hall said. “Getting used to my new teammates and staff and everything well before the deadline and well before the playoffs has been really helpful.

“I feel like I’ve been kind of hitting my stride lately and it takes a bit to get used to everything. Once you’re comfortable off the ice, the on-ice part becomes easy and that’s what I’m feeling right now.”

The Coyotes took a gamble on Hall, hoping he can lead them into the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Even if the Coyotes qualify for the post-season, there is no guarantee Hall will stick around as he is in the last year of a seven-year, $6-million per-season contract signed when he was with the Oilers.

Hall, the 2018 NHL MVP, could command upwards of $10-million a season next year, which might be too rich for Arizona.

Regardless, he is enjoying the moment being in the thick of a playoff race. Between his six seasons in Edmonton and over three in New Jersey, Hall has played a grand total of five playoff games in his career. 1171607 Edmonton Oilers

Oilers can't get lulled into bye week slumber

Robert Tychkowski

Published:January 17, 2020

Updated:January 17, 2020 6:02 PM MST

How hard do you work on the Friday afternoon before your vacation?

If you’re like most people, the answer is not very. Your brain is already on the beach and it’s counting down the hours until the body can join it.

That’s a trap the Edmonton Oilers say they aren’t worried about falling into when they host the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday in the last game before their bye week.

A lot of the players will be bound for sunny destinations Sunday morning, but with an important Pacific Division opponent in town, they promise there is no danger of losing focus.

“That’s part of being a professional and an NHL player,” said Oscar Klefbom. “If you are having trouble staying motivated for a game like this one, you shouldn’t be in the league.”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171608 Edmonton Oilers Holland says everybody is in a holding pattern at this point. While the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues took a

runaway 10-point lead into games last night, eight teams in the Western At trade deadline, if Oilers are in the playoff race, Holland will look to add Conference standings were five points apart. And another pack of four teams were bunched together not far off the pace.

If it were a horse race heading into the final turn prior to going down the Terry Jones stretch, the race announcer would be severely stressed.

Published:January 17, 2020 “The first thing I have to say is that I’m thrilled to be in the middle of the race,” said Holland of his hockey team that scrambled back into Updated:January 17, 2020 10:13 AM MST contention with a 5-1-1 record since New Year’s Eve.

“When the season starts, you’re hoping. Now we’re 48 games in and five When it comes to the trade deadline, Ken Holland has a philosophy. of the teams in the Pacific Division are within two or three points. Then you factor in some teams from the other side. And it’s going to be a real “When your team plays at a high level to put themselves in a position to race to make the playoffs. get into the playoffs, as the general manager I want to help out. “When it comes to the trade deadline, I think it’s still another eight to 10 “I like to make a move that sends a message to your team, a message games needs to be played before anything happens. I want to see what that says ‘You guys have played great to get us to this point, I’m going to happens over the next 10 games leading to the trade deadline. try to help out.’ ” “Right now, there’s a little chatter. But there’s not much chatter. Very few In a one-on-one interview with your correspondent Thursday, Holland teams are out of it. It’s a 31-team league and probably 22 or 23 teams revealed his intent to be a player at the trade deadline if his hockey club think they have a chance today. When I call another general manager, keeps itself in position to warrant it. they’re saying, ‘I’m two points in or two points out. I’m still evaluating.’ ”

Having taken over the job as Edmonton Oilers GM with the team in “We got off to a great start. In the first 10 games we were 7-2-1. And then salary cap jail, all Holland could do was sign a bunch of low dollar one- we played the next 30 at one game below .500. We sort of hung in the year deals with veteran European and North American players, hoping a race based on the first 10 games. But then we brought up Kailer few of them would help build a bridge to next year. Yamamoto and Caleb Jones and went on a really difficult road trip to start January and our guys dug in. Holland has been more than clear that his priority and focus here are very much big-picture in his first year on the job. But he says there’s so “We sort of played our way back into the race. On that road trip we could much parity in the NHL that you have to be willing to spend futures when have gone 1-4 and played our way out. But we went 3-1-1 and came you get a chance to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And if the Oilers home and won a huge game over the Predators. keep themselves in position to play in the postseason, he’s not likely to be a spectator on the sidelines deadline day, no matter how big-picture “You’re going to have adversity. In 2008 when we won the Cup in Detroit his plans may be. we had a whole bunch of injuries in February we had, I think, a nine- or 10-game losing streak. This team had its adversity in December. “If you can get into the playoffs, you’ve got a chance,” he said. “The regular season now means a ton because only half the teams make it “At that point you didn’t know which way we were going to go. But the and half the teams miss. But once the regular season is over, there’s no players dug in on a really tough road trip. What it has done for us is put carryover. us back in the mix.

“I look at last year where the two No. 1 teams, Tampa and Calgary, won “But now Arizona is coming in here before the All-Star break and when one playoff game combined. we get back, it’s Calgary, St. Louis, Calgary and Arizona.

“I look at 2006 when the Red Wings had 126 regular-season points and “The games are going to get bigger and bigger and bigger. If you’re going we played the Edmonton Oilers in the first round and they knocked us to be a playoff team, you have to win big games. It’s a huge game out. It’s a brand new season when the playoffs start in today’s NHL. against Arizona on Saturday. And we want big games for our players and for our fans.” “So if I get to the trade deadline and I can do something and live with the price, I’ll do something.” During the All-Star break Holland will travel to Tucson to watch the farm club play a pair of games and will then head to The trade deadline is 14 games away, on Feb. 24. And if the Oilers Palm Springs for two and a half days and the pro scouts for two and a continue to play like they did in the last six, Holland hopes to do what he half days. can to give them a missing link or two. It’s the meetings with the pro scouts that will be of special interest to “For me, right now, we have some huge games. Arizona. Calgary. St. Holland heading to the trade dealing. Louis. Calgary. Arizona. Those are huge games. It’s getting tougher and tougher and tougher. ‘PLAY WITH DISCIPLINE’

“You get these regular-season tests and if you keep passing them, then Ken Holland wants to deliver a message to Zack Kassian and his as a manager you just work the phones a little harder to try to find that Edmonton Oilers teammates as they prepare to head to the All-Star move that’s going to make your team a little better, a little deeper.” break and return to play their Jan. 29 and Feb. 1 games against the Calgary Flames. Holland says that’s in keeping with his history, not swerving away from it. He has historically traded second, third and fourth-round draft choices on “We have to make sure we play with discipline, that we play hard and the deadline to upgrade his hockey team. that we play physical and do whatever we have to do to win,” said the new Edmonton Oilers general manager. “There are three ways to go at the trade deadline. Buyer. Seller. Or stand pat. “But we can’t take undisciplined, foolish penalties losing sight of the most important thing which is the end result. “Barring a collapse, I don’t see us being a seller. “You don’t want to have your players getting suspended. “So, are we going to be a buyer? Or are we going to stand pat? “We need our players in the lineup.” “When you add players at the deadline, you’re giving up futures. You’re paying a price. But we don’t win the Stanley Cup in 2008 if we don’t do Kassian took two minor penalties in rag-dolling a turtling Tkachuk and the the deal for Brad Stuart. He gave us our fourth defenceman to go with Flames scored the winner on the power play. Niklas Kronwall,” he said of giving up a second- and fourth-round draft Holland said he loves the revival of the rivalry that he witnessed when he pick for the Rocky Mountain House product. was a goaltender with the and when he was based “We won the Cup in 2008 and went to Game 7 in 2009.” there as a scout. “I lived it eight years ago with Detroit-Colorado,” he said of the rivalry that came the closest to the Battle of Alberta in his 22-year run as general manager of the Detroit Red Wings.

Clearly, especially with the furor involving the perceived predatory hits on Edmonton’s Zack Kassian by Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk and the two- game suspension currently being served by Kassian, it’s back.

And with threats of retribution out there, the Edmonton Oilers general manager has his own message to deliver to Kassian who he spent time with for his hearing Monday.

“I’m excited as a general manager because they’re big games and in between we have St. Louis and they’re the defending champions and in first place in the Western Conference.

“That’s Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. That’s going to be an emotional time. In those two games against Calgary we have to play hard, we have to play physical and we have to play intensely. But we have to play smart and we have to play disciplined.”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171609 Florida Panthers FAST STARTS The Panthers have made some big comebacks this season, most notably

their pair of four-goal, third-period rallies against the Boston Bruins and After big homestand, Panthers hope to make final standings push ahead Anaheim Ducks. of All-Star break But as of late, Florida has taken a more simplified, more proven approach to secure a win.

BY JORDAN MCPHERSON Score first. Take the lead early. Play from ahead as much as possible.

JANUARY 17, 2020 01:21 PM The Panthers scored five of their 17 goals over their three-game win streak in the opening 10 minutes of regulation. Ten of their goals have come in the first five minutes of a period.

The Florida Panthers can see the pieces coming together. “It just gives you momentum right away,” forward Frank Vatrano said. “Sometimes we’ve been chasing and we’ve had some good comebacks, The Panthers have themselves in the thick of the playoff race as they but that’s not a recipe for success.” approach the All-Star Break after winning 10 of their past 14 games, including closing out their most recent homestand with consecutive wins MULTIPLE CONTRIBUTIONS over the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings. Even more important than scoring in bunches — the Panthers do lead the league with an average of 3.63 goals per game — Florida is getting In this stretch, which started with a 6-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on contributions from all over the lineup. Dec. 16, Florida has outscored opponents 73-47. While the likes of Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov are going Florida entered Friday with 55 points on the season. That pus them one to ignite the offense most nights, Quenneville has been able to get behind the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers for the production regardless of what line is on the ice. Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot and two behind the Maple Leafs for third place in the Atlantic Division with two games in hand on all Vatrano and Mike Hoffman have been heating up on a third line centered three teams. by Dominic Toninato. Vatrano has goals in four of his past seven games, while Hoffman is on a season-high seven-game point streak. “It seems like one day you’re in the playoffs and the next day, you’re not. It’s been a grind to stay in the pack,” forward Brett Connolly said. “We’ve Noel Acciari, with 17 goals on just 70 shot attempts, has flourished since done a good job of responding when we haven’t played our best. Every moving up to the second line and being paired with Vincent Trocheck and game is so important.” Connolly.

The Panthers have a chance to make one more statement as they And the fourth line, centered by Brian Boyle and generally including embark on a three-game road trip before the All-Star break. Florida final wingers Colton Sceviour and Mark Pysyk, has produced gritty goals at three opponents before a 10-day break: times while limiting opponent’s chances on the other end of the ice.

The 12-32-3 Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. “We all have our own roles,” Boyle said. “... If you can contribute on offense, every coach, every teammate is going to happy with that. We’ve The 21-20-6 Minnesota Wild on Monday. got world-class guys up front that are sometimes carrying the load for us a lot of times, but if the third and fourth line can chip in, get some goals And the 22-20-6 Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday — a homecoming for from the back end lately too, it’s huge.” Panthers coach Joel Quenneville, who will return to face the team he won three Stanley Cups with and coached for 10-plus years before being Miami Herald LOADED: 01.18.2020 fired 15 games into the 2018-19 season.

Should the Panthers sweep the road trip, a plausible though not guaranteed task, they would head into the All-Star break on a six-game win streak and with 61 points. That puts them on pace for 101 points at season’s end.

“The value of those points is going to be huge for us in determining a lot at the end,” Quenneville said.

Here are three things to watch as the Panthers prepare for their next stretch of games.

GOALTENDER SITUATION

The Panthers have quickly become thin in front of the net.

Sergei Bobrovsky was scratched the past two games with an upper-body injury, and backup Chris Driedger left Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Kings in the first period with a lower-body injury after stretching out to block a shot.

That left Sam Montembeault, recalled from the club’s AHL affiliate Springfield (Massachusetts) Thunderbirds on emergency conditions, to handle goaltending duties without a backup on Thursday.

He held his own, stopping 23 of 26 shots in the win, but how the club handles the position over the next few days needs to be monitored.

Quenneville said postgame Thursday that “right now,” he did not anticipate having to call up another goaltender but that Driedger “might need some time” to recover.

That points to Bobrovsky making a return to the lineup, even if it’s in a backup capacity, on Saturday against Detroit.

“We’re going to say that’s something we’ll have to gauge,” Quenneville said about Bobrovsky, “but he’s close.” 1171610 Los Angeles Kings The franchise is aiming to replicate that experience next month, hopeful their symbolic jerseys will add another memorable layer to the event.

“We’re honored to have the chance to wear that and tell that story,” Kings’ Stadium Series jerseys honor aviation industry Cheeseman said. “Because it’s really about the servicemen and women who created, manufactured and flew the plane.”

LA Times: LOADED: 01.18.2020 By JACK HARRIS

JAN. 17, 2020 4:21 PM

After a morning practice earlier this season, a curious Kings player stopped a team equipment manager in the locker room.

With the Kings’ Stadium Series outdoor game against the Colorado Avalanche approaching, the player wanted to know what color helmets the team would wear when it took the ice at the Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium on Feb. 15.

He was surprised by the answer.

“Chrome,” the staffer said.

“Chrome?” the player parroted back, sounding slightly unsure at the extremely unconventional palette choice.

Indeed, when the team officially unveiled its Stadium Series uniforms Friday, shiny chrome helmets adorned the black-and-white Adidas- manufactured uniforms that were inspired by the historic P-51 Mustang fighter jets once built in Southern California factories.

“It’s one of the most iconic planes to have an impact on our nation,” Kings and AEG Sports Chief Operating Officer Kelly Cheeseman said in a release. “We wanted to draw an inspiration around the P-51 Mustang with Adidas as we designed the jersey.

“Our fanbase is incredibly connected to the aviation industry. The state of California and the city of Los Angeles have a rich heritage related to the industry. From Howard Hughes to some of the first test pilot planes created here in L.A. We wanted to tap into that.”

The Kings’ meeting with the Avalanche in Colorado Springs, Colo., will be its fourth outdoor game in franchise history, and the 33rd in league history.

In addition to the chrome helmets, the team will wear half-white, half- black jersey with the block letters “LA” horizontally-spelled out across the front; black breezer pants; white gloves; black, silver and white socks; and jersey numbers with military-style horizontal slants.

“That was important to us, to make it different and cool,” Kings President Luc Robitaille said. “We like it if our players like it, that’s No. 1. But on this one, Adidas and the league wanted to go a little bit [different]. You have the ski-mountain, almost snowboarder look. We like the military look, that’s what you have on the numbers. You try to do something that your fans will enjoy, either getting it or seeing it.”

The uniform reveal — the helmets especially — received mixed reactions on social media from fans, typical for the edgy designs that accompany most outdoor game outfits.

In their previous Stadium Series games, in 2014 at Dodger Stadium and 2015 at Levi’s Stadium, the Kings wore predominately silver-based jerseys.

This time, they picked the white-black look from a list of templates provided by the league and Adidas, then provided tweaks of their own. The numbers were one such example. So were the chrome helmets.

“They liked the Air Force [style] and streamline of an airplane,” Robitaille said. “That was the idea of getting the helmet that way, so it would be like the nose of an airplane.”

The last time the Kings played an outdoor game outside of California was in 1991, when they met the New York Rangers for a preseason meeting outside of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The league didn’t hold another outdoor game in the United States until 2008.

“Selling it out in Vegas, it felt like one of the biggest boxing matches,” said Robitaille, who was a player in that 1991 game and called it a highlight of his career. “To go play outdoors at Caesars Palace, it was incredible.” 1171611 Los Angeles Kings going to capitalize. I found that out pretty quick. It’s attention to detail, bearing down on every opportunity. It’s been filled with up and downs, but I just keep chugging away.”

Kings rookie Matt Roy is a nice surprise in a predictable season On the same weekend last February, Roy made his NHL debut with L.A. as Michigan Tech teammate Joel L’Esperance was doing the same in Dallas. L’Esperance wasn’t drafted at all.

By MARK WHICKER | PUBLISHED: January 17, 2020 at 4:56 pm | Only 30 seventh-round picks in the past eight drafts have put a skate UPDATED: January 17, 2020 at 4:56 PM blade on an NHL rink. Ondrej Palat, Ryan Dzingel and Anaheim’s Ondrej Kase are the most successful. Roy is one of only two from 2015.

“We would give him one thing to do and he’d learn it, and then he’d ask On hockey nights, Staples Center is a quiet sanctuary of low for the next thing and he’d learn that, too,” Emerson said. “You never expectations. The fans weren’t expecting much from the Kings. They worried about him. He was a coach’s dream. I think it’s one of those aren’t getting much. great stories.” Goals are cherished surprises. Wins are like money you find in the street. For Kings’ fans, it passes the time. The lions of 2012 and 2014 are still around, reminders of the rapture. Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.18.2020 They’re either too old or too rich to get traded. The coach, Todd McLellan, is new, so he’s not a target. The executives, Luc Robitaille and Rob Blake, have taken pains to explain what they’re doing, and why the salary cap has made them do it.

There is pain and resignation, but not much anger. Besides, the Ducks are in the dumper, too.

So they keep up with the prospects on the horizon, and they look for strands of light. Matt Roy is serving that purpose. The Kings wanted a young guy who could handle himself in the defensive end. They just never thought it was him.

“The whole time, whether it was a development camp or when he was playing in Ontario, Matt has been the same,” said Nelson Emerson, the Kings’ player personnel director. “After a game, we’d all sit around and say, ‘Well, Matt played good again.’’’

Roy is 24 years old and was a seventh-round draft pick in 2015. There are only seven rounds in the draft.

“I thought it would be 50-50 that I’d get picked,” he said.

He and Ben Hutton have played together on the back end for 12 seconds short of 300 minutes. They have given up 12 goals in 5-on-5 play and been on the ice for 14 goals by the Kings. Of pairs who have played that often this season, Roy-Hutton rank third in the league in Corsi, the stat that measures how many shots on goal your team gets when you’re on the ice, weighed against how many it surrenders.

According to NaturalStatTrick.com, Roy-Hutton’s Corsi ratio is 57.12%, behind only Dougie Hamilton-Jaccob Slavin of Carolina and Shea Theodore-Nicolas Hague of Vegas. Roy is plus-2. No other King is, except rookie center Blake Lizotte.

“His first two or three games were rocky,” McLellan said. “We had a conversation, he adjusted, and since then he’s been Steady Eddie. Decison-making, game management, understanding structure, risk- reward, getting his shot through from the point, all those things are solid. I really underestimated what his value would be to the group.”

Roy is from Canton, Mich., outside Detroit, played junior hockey in the U.S. Hockey League, and then attended Michigan Tech. That’s in Houghton, in the Upper Peninsula, where hockey is the one and only pastime.

“I knew I had to get bigger, faster, stronger,” Roy said, and it happened there. Coach Joe Shawhan said Roy made his mark as a banger, with 74 penalty minutes in 42 games his junior year, but Roy was also all- conference, in a program that repeatedly plays above its weight. On Dec. 30 and 31, Michigan Tech went to Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena and beat Michigan State and Michigan.

Nineteen Huskies have played 100 or more games in the NHL, including Hall of Fame goaltender Tony Esposito.

Still, the 194th pick in the draft has to keep his dreams aligned with reality.

“When I came to my first development camp here, I gained some confidence,” Roy said. “There’s a lot of hype around the guys who get picked high. That can be intimidating, it can get into your head. Once you step on the ice, you get the feeling you can compete.

“The Kings’ staff always treated me well. They told me what I had to do to get better. In this league, you turn the puck over, the other guys are 1171612 Los Angeles Kings

Kings try to salvage final game of road trip in Philadelphia

By ANDREW KNOLL |PUBLISHED: January 17, 2020 at 3:58 pm | UPDATED: January 17, 2020 at 3:58 PM

While the crowd wolfs down soft pretzels, cheesesteaks and water ice, the Kings will look to avoid the bitter taste of defeat in Philadelphia against the Flyers Saturday.

A win in Philly would help salvage the road trip, as the Kings have gone 1-2-1 thus far on this five-game swing prior to the all-star break. They have lost six of their last seven games overall.

In their last game, they sank into an 0-4 hole against the Florida Panthers. It would have been a five-goal deficit if not for a nimble, desperate play by center Nikolai Prohorkin on the goal line that kept the puck out of the net by mere centimeters.

They surrendered two power-play goals, a tally in transition and another following a failed clearing attempt.

The Kings would push back in the third period, scoring three goals in less than six minutes. They nearly netted a fourth when defenseman Drew Doughty, who started the rally with a shot deflected in by left wing Alex Iafallo, beat goalie Samuel Montembeault but smacked the post with a slap shot.

In the end, the Kings had zero points to show for their effort, as games last 60 minutes rather than six.

“The comeback part is in our DNA,” Kings coach Todd McLellan told reporters. “That part, I tip my hat to the guys. But everything else that went into the game, I’m really disappointed.”

McLellan excoriated his team’s lack of attention to detail and mental errors, even comparing their effort unfavorably to a much-maligned 4-1 loss to Nashville on Jan. 4.

“We’re professionals. We should be able to show up,” McLellan told reporters. “Let’s have a good skate tomorrow and let’s play the way we can in Philly.”

The Kings worked the Flyers early in their previous meeting, Dec. 31 at Staples Center. They mounted a 4-0 advantage as Philadelphia meandered through a brutal first period. Ultimately, the Kings prevailed 5- 3.

The rest of the Flyers’ road trip was largely listless as they went 1-4-1.

The Flyers most recently lost to the Montreal Canadiens, when former Kings wing Ilya Kovalchuk potted two goals in a 4-1 victory. Prior to that, they had beaten the league’s top three teams–the Blues in St. Louis as well as the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins in Philadelphia–and dropped a 1-0 game to the NHL’s hottest team, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Center Sean Couturier leads the Flyers in points, 41 in 47 games, and plus-minus rating, +15. He was a finalist for the Selke Trophy for the league’s best defensive forward two seasons ago. Travis Konecny has enjoyed a breakout season with 40 points in three fewer games than Couturier.

In consecutive years, the Flyers signed big-ticket forwards in free agency. They’ve had yielded mixed results, both in total and in recent weeks. Left wing James van Riemsdyk and center Kevin Hayes combined for 22 points in 13 December games, but just four so far in six January outings.

Kings at Philadelphia

When: 4 p.m. Saturday

Where: Wells Fargo Center

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West/iHeartRadio

Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171613 Los Angeles Kings

STADIUM SERIES JERSEYS INFLUENCED BY JET CITY, EL SEGUNDO (PHOTOS + VIDEO)

JON ROSENJANUARY 17, 2020

For as much as the city of Los Angeles is associated with celebrity and glitz amidst the visuals of a worldwide center of entertainment and creativity, the backbone of the city – and of the country’s aerial World War II campaign – traces back to Jet City, El Segundo.

As Los Angeles grew and spread, so did the country’s aerospace muscle. And as film studios sprouted up in Culver City, in Studio City, in Universal City and in Burbank, so too did the companies that would become pioneers in flight and defense. Raytheon, Northrop Corporation and Douglas are all part of El Segundo’s history – a city fueled literally by jet fuel.

The Douglas-built dive bombers that helped turn the Battle of Midway first took flight in the salty El Segundo air in which they were manufactured. The massive oil refinery around which the city grew still provides jet fuel for LAX, and, as emblematic of both the jet age and fossil fuel reliance, a portion of the gasoline used by cars throughout the region. Los Angeles Air Force Base is on land that was previously the Douglas Aircraft Plant.

It’s appropriate that the LA Kings saw their Stadium Series jerseys as a tribute to El Segundo, home of their practice rink and hockey and business operations offices. “We liked this jersey because it represented the Air Force,” LA Kings President Luc Robitaille said.

“I think what was important was to find something that was meaningful to us, and then when we found out that so many planes were built in El Segundo during the war, so we thought, ‘we’ve got to make that match. It’s where we are every day, it’s part of our community.”

And just as El Segundo represented the builders and workers and muscle amidst a city whose stigma aligns towards the aesthetic and material, Kings fans too are a more blue-collar bunch than the fanbases of other L.A. teams. Their championship teams were the blue-collar championship teams of their era. And when they take the Falcon Stadium ice on February 15 at the United States Air Force Academy, they’ll do so representing worldwide contributions made to flight and aerospace from their own back yard.

The slanted emblem is inspired by a plane taking off, incorporating “a sleek, futuristic design” that “pulls inspiration from the Air Force Academy’s angular architecture and aircraft,” via Adidas.

“We pushed the military-style numbers,” Robitaille said. “You’ll see the way they look, that military look. There were three models, and the others were more traditional.”

The uniform and chrome helmets will make their on-ice debut on Saturday, Feb. 15, when the Kings take on the Colorado Avalanche outdoors at the Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They’ll be available online at adidas.com, NHLShop.com, and at the TEAM LA Store at Staples Center beginning Monday, January 20. Click here for the Avs’ jerseys.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171614 Los Angeles Kings

GOOD MORNING, PHILADELPHIA

JON ROSENJANUARY 17, 2020

Good morning, Insiders, and good morning, Philly.

After five days in Florida, the LA Kings’ 2020 Hot Trip took a frosty detour to America’s most charming and restrained medium-sized burgh, Philadelphia. Requests to move this game to Orlando’s Amway Arena were denied, so it will be continue as scheduled at Wells Fargo Center. You are welcome for this update.

Coincidentally, the LA Kings had a very difficult morning in Philadelphia 26 years ago today. They’d played the Flyers on the 16th, stayed overnight, and before boarding a charter to Dallas woke up to the news that the San Fernando Valley – where a number of Kings families lived at the time – had been struck by a very powerful earthquake.

The ground shook during a bumpy approach into PHL early this morning, sending our stomachs into our throats for a good 30 seconds before our fine Delta pilots gently brought our coach unto this earth with the velveteen touch of a dandy fop. But weather is coming in, and in advance of an inch or two of snow in the city tomorrow (and perhaps double that in surrounding areas), the powerful winds that welcomed us to the city are expected to keep the windchill low and inhospitable today. It was chilly deplaning at 1:45 a.m., as one would expect in Philly in January, and by the time we arrived at our hotel some 20 minutes later, a warm, comfortable bed beckoned us. There would be no going out and looking for trouble.

The LA Kings will practice at 1pm on campus at Penn, where they’d last skated in the 2016-17 season. The Stadium Series jersey reveal will take place then, as will the next rousing edition of WUWTK. Thanks as always for checking in, Insiders. Talk soon.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171615 Minnesota Wild

Wild vs. Dallas game preview

JANUARY 17, 2020 — 7:43PM

Rachel Blount

8 p.m. vs. Dallas • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, 100.3-FM

Stars hot in series

Preview: The Wild continues a seven-game homestand, its longest of the season, looking to win consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 23-27. Dallas has seven victories in its past nine games and is 6-1-1 in its past eight against the Wild. The Stars are 1-0-1 against the Wild this season, with a 6-3 victory in Dallas and a 3-2 shootout loss in St. Paul.

Players to WATCH: Wild F Zach Parise has three goals in his past two games and leads the team with 17 goals this season. Dallas F Tyler Seguin has multiple points in four of his past five games against the Wild; since joining the Stars in 2013-14, he has 15 goals and 22 assists in the series.

Numbers: The Wild has points in 13 of its past 16 home games vs. the Stars … Seguin, who leads the Stars with 36 points and 25 assists, earned his 500th point with Dallas in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Buffalo.

Injuries: Stars F Martin Hanzal (back) is out; F Mattias Janmark (illness), F Radek Faksa (upper body), D Miro Heiskanen (upper body) and D Stephen Johns (post-traumatic headaches) are day-to-day.

Star Tribune LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171616 Minnesota Wild

With solid foundation in place, Alex Stalock looks to continue strong play in Wild's net

By Rachel Blount Star Tribune JANUARY 18, 2020 — 12:14AM

For Alex Stalock, everything starts with his feet. When the Wild goalie is playing well, he is comfortable and solid on his skates, which enables him to establish his position and move with speed and agility.

Those feet have carried Stalock to superb performances in his past two games, including a 3-2 victory Thursday over Tampa Bay. He helped to hoist the Wild out of a serious funk, stopping 18 of 20 shots as the team ended a four-game winless streak. It was his first game since Jan. 9, when he turned away 35 of 37 shots in a 2-1 loss at Calgary.

Thursday night, Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said “we’ll have to talk about it” when asked whether Stalock might start Saturday vs. Dallas at Xcel Energy Center. He wouldn’t elaborate Friday, either, after a practice at Tria Rink. Whenever that next appearance comes, Stalock plans to put his best foot forward.

“The foundation for me is, I have to have good feet,” said Stalock, who is 10-7 this season. “I have to be set, and I have to be quick and strong.

“When that gets lazy and sloppy, that’s when my game starts not being sharp. That’s one thing I got back to really focusing on, being crisp and staying with it. Having that strong base I’ve worked on, it’s given me a chance every night.”

Stalock’s 21 starts and 1,276 minutes are the second-highest season totals of his career. He leads the Wild with 10 victories, a goals-against average of 2.96 and save percentage of .903.

With 35 games remaining, Stalock could surpass his career highs of 23 starts and 1,495 minutes, set with the Wild in 2017-18.

Hockey Day is here

Boudreau won’t be watching the high school and college games during Saturday’s Hockey Day Minnesota, but he has an appreciation for the unofficial holiday. He considers it “a big deal,” and he made sure the players were aware of that.

“We take pride in Minnesota, of our hockey roots, our hockey heritage and the amount of people that play the game up here,” Boudreau said. “When it’s Hockey Day in Minnesota, you take pride in it. And hopefully, they will again tomorrow.”

The Wild-Stars game is the last of five to be played as part of Saturday’s Hockey Day menu. All the games will be televised on FSN or FSN Plus.

Etc.

• Boudreau thought giving his team a day off Wednesday made a difference in its play Thursday. He thought about granting players another rest day Friday, but when the Wild chose to cancel Saturday’s morning skate because of weather concerns, he decided to hold a brief practice.

Though the Wild has only three games remaining before the NHL All-Star break and its bye week, Boudreau said managing his team’s workload will continue to be important.

“No matter what happens, you want to make sure they’re at their best at game time,” he said. “Not at their best at practice time, or in the afternoon of practice time, but right at game time. So that’s what we’re trying to manage: to get them ready for game time to play.”

• Defenseman Brad Hunt, unavailable to play Thursday because of illness, did not practice Friday. Hunt came out on the ice, but Boudreau noticed him coughing and sent him off. “The last thing we need to do is give it to other people,” the coach said.

Star Tribune LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171617 Minnesota Wild

Wherever Wild winger Marcus Foligno goes, success seems to follow

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: January 17, 2020 at 2:37 pm | UPDATED: January 17, 2020 at 2:38 PM

As well as the Wild played in Thursday’s win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, they desperately needed a jolt of life midway through the game. Who better to provide it than Marcus Foligno?

The hard-nosed winger has inarguably been the team’s best player over the past few weeks.

Foligno threw his 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame into the corner with reckless abandon, pilfered the puck and dished to winger Luke Kunin, who quickly found center Joel Eriksson Ek in the slot for what proved to be the game- winning goal at 12:32 of the second period.

“We were usually out there against their top guys, and that’s the line we want to be,” Foligno said. “To also be rewarded with a point each and get a crucial goal to kind of get us back on top was great.”

Typically known as a big body who happily does the dirty work, Foligno has six points over his past six games and has brought a shot of energy to whatever line coach Bruce Boudreau has asked him to play on.

In 37 games, Foligno has nine goals and 10 assists and is a plus-6.

After a well-deserved promotion a couple of weeks ago, Foligno has found his niche on the checking line alongside Eriksson Ek and opposite Kunin. Not only has that trio worked tirelessly to shut down the opposing team’s top line — as they did against the Lightning — the line become emerged as a viable scoring threat.

“They are playing really well,” Boudreau said. “I just don’t want to give them too much credit because sometimes then it goes the other way. They have been scoring at a goal-per-game pace. That’s much more than we anticipated.”

Ask any of them and they would agree it starts in the defensive zone. Scoring is the cherry on top.

“We just try to do our thing and help in any way possible,” Eriksson Ek said. “We work hard, talk to each other, and of course when we get a few goals together we start to build some chemistry. Hopefully, we can keep playing well and help the team the best way we can. We have to keep doing the right things.”

As much praise as the checking line has gotten as of late, Foligno knows it means nothing if they don’t continue to grow together.

“Don’t jinx us yet,” he said. “We’ve still got a long way to go.”

Nonetheless, everyone involved is enjoying the ride.

“I’m very close with both of them, and that helps,” Foligno said. “We have fun with each other and keep it light. We know how to push each other’s buttons and at the same time, we know how to encourage each other, too. We are always talking and definitely liking the honeymoon phase.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171618 Montreal Canadiens

Vegas goalie Marc-André Fleury has link to Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 17, 2020

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-André Fleury was only 19 when he started his NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick at the 2003 NHL Draft.

His first roommate was 38-year-old Marc Bergevin, who was in his 20th and final season as an NHL defenceman.

“My first time with the team, him and Mario (Lemieux) took me for lunch in Pittsburgh,” Fleury recalled after the Golden Knights practised at the Friday afternoon in preparation for Saturday’s game against the Canadiens (7 p.m., SNE, Citytv, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

“He was a fun roommate,” Fleury added about Bergevin, who is now general manager of the Canadiens. “He made me laugh a lot. He liked to play jokes on me … I can’t really say what they were. He was awesome and a good model for me.

“He always had little jokes and pranks he would play,” Fleury added with a huge smile. “I bought him a book once and I left it on the nightstand … something about sex. And then when you open it it gives you a shock. So I got him, right?”

Bergevin had a reputation as one of the best pranksters and jokers in the NHL long before he became GM of the Canadiens in 2012. He was a great teammate, and that’s part of what kept him in the league so long after being selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round (59th overall) of the 1983 NHL Draft. Bergevin played for eight teams — Chicago, the New York Islanders, Hartford Whalers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh and the Vancouver Canucks — and finished his career with 36 goals and 145 assists for 181 points in 1,191 career games, along with 1,090 penalty minutes.

The Penguins weren’t a good team during Fleury’s rookie season, finishing with a 23-47-12 record. Fleury played 22 games and had a 4- 14-2 record with a 3.64 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage. Bergevin had 1-8-9 totals in 52 games before getting traded to the Canucks for a seventh-round draft pick.

“We had a tough year,” recalled Fleury, who would go on to win three Stanley Cups with the Penguins. “We were losing a lot and he was trying to keep my spirits up through it all. You don’t know what the NHL is going to be when you first come in the league. You take it so seriously, but it’s a long season. He was good at doing little daily things to keep you smiling and keep you happy. Sometimes you’d get back to the hotel and you’re just mad. But he’d have a little talk with me to reassure me and calm me, help me try to forget about the loss quickly and move on. It’s a long season, so you need to just get ready for the next game.

“He was a good role model for taking care of his body with the gym and vitamins,” Fleury added. “He was always proactive with that and it was a good lesson.”

Fleury said he was “definitely happy” when Bergevin became GM of the Canadiens.

“It doesn’t feel that long ago,” Fleury, now 35, said about his rookie season. “It’s been 16 years, but time flies. It’s crazy. I can still remember those days.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171619 Montreal Canadiens “I’ve learned a lot and I think if you can stay level-headed in Montreal, you can stay level-headed anywhere,” he said. “Making sure you don’t get too high or too low. Stuff that everyone says but, I mean, you go through a little bit of a rough patch in Vegas and it feels like there’s much Time with Habs taught Pacioretty how to maintain even keel less emphasis on it. As everybody knows, I’m stating the obvious, much less emphasis on it and much less overreaction internally and externally.

I think my experience here has allowed me to kind of focus on what I can STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 17, 2020 control, and going to the rink and working hard is really all that I can do in my power. And … I have four kids now. So even if I wanted to stress about things away from the rink, I don’t really have that option to do so.”

There are things Max Pacioretty misses about Montreal, but winter isn’t Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.18.2020 one of them.

“No. Not at all,” Pacioretty said with a smile after the Vegas Golden Knights practised Friday at the Bell Centre.

The temperature outside was minus-17C with the wind chill making it feel like minus-27C. Back at Pacioretty’s home in Las Vegas, it was 14C and sunny.

Pacioretty will play his second game at the Bell Centre on Saturday (7 p.m., SNE, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) since the Canadiens traded their former captain to the Golden Knights on Sept. 10, 2018. In his first game back last season, Pacioretty was held pointless and had a minus-2 rating in a 5-4 loss and he finished the year with 22- 18-40 totals, along with a minus-13, while limited to 66 games because of injury. This season, Pacioretty leads the Golden Knights in scoring with 20-26-46 totals while playing in all 50 games and is plus-9.

GM Marc Bergevin appeared to make Pacioretty a scapegoat for the Canadiens’ problems two seasons ago after they finished 28th in the overall NHL standings. It wasn’t right the way Canadiens management treated Pacioretty before he was eventually traded, but it’s nice to see he’s happy in Las Vegas and performing well on the ice.

“It’s just another game like last year,” Pacioretty said about facing the Canadiens again. “A lot will be made out of it — not as much as last year. But the dust has kind of settled now and it’s just another hockey game. Two very important points for two teams right before the break, so a lot at stake tomorrow and it’s going to be a lot of fun playing here.”

The Golden Knights arrived in Montreal late Thursday night after beating the Senators 4-2 in Ottawa and Pacioretty was looking forward to having dinner Friday night with friends from Montreal at one of his favourite restaurants.

Pacioretty was always a class act during his time in Montreal and that hasn’t changed. On Friday, he spent 10 minutes answering questions thoughtfully in front of a large media group, something he did on a daily basis as captain of the Canadiens — whether the team was winning or losing.

“This would be probably more media than you’d see in an entire week in Vegas,” Pacioretty said. “It is much different, but not to say one’s better or worse. It’s just the way of the business and different markets. Obviously, there’s some things that you have to do differently. But it doesn’t mean I like or don’t like one scenario more or less than the other.

“I play for a really great organization and I have some really great teammates,” he added. “It’s a privilege to play in the NHL, so I never want to look back and say anything was negative. I enjoyed my time here a lot. Even when you guys thought things were going really bad, it wasn’t the case in my mind living out my dream being a professional hockey player. So I don’t want to take away anything special that happened here, but I’m very happy with where I’m at.”

So is Pacioretty’s wife, Katia, and their four young boys. The two oldest — age 6 and 4 — are playing on the same youth hockey team in Las Vegas and Pacioretty said the sport is booming there at the grassroots level.

“It’s a great lifestyle in Vegas … it’s not what you think at all,” Pacioretty said. “I think when I first got traded there, I had much different expectations. I thought you lived on the strip … I thought they walked through a casino to go everywhere. It’s just not the case at all. We all live in the suburbs. Really quiet, slower-paced lifestyle, great schools for the kids. I met a lot of great friends already outside of hockey and the rink, which has been awesome.”

Pacioretty experienced highs and lows during his time with the Canadiens, leading the team in scoring for six straight seasons, starting in 2011-12, and scoring at least 30 goals five times. 1171620 Montreal Canadiens Kovalchuk has expressed his gratitude to the Canadiens for allowing him to resurrect his career and that might play into the equation if the Canadiens decide they want to keep Kovalchuk. But, as we learned a few years go with Alexander Radulov, gratitude only goes so far. Hickey on hockey: Kovalchuk creates line puzzle when injured Habs return Armia doesn’t miss a step: When a player has been on the sidelines for 11 games, there’s a tendency to ease him back into the lineup with a lighter than usual workload.

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 17, 2020 That wasn’t the case with Armia on Thursday.

Armia was fortunate he has was out with a hand injury and he was able to continue skating and maintain his cardiovascular conditioning. He The acquisition of Ilya Kovalchuk was designed to be a simple, short- needed that against the Flyers. term deal based on mutual need. Armia played 29 shifts, matching Danault for the most in the game. He With four of their top nine forwards on the injured-reserve list when the was on the power play, killed penalties and was on the ice for 20:49. The Russian was signed on Jan. 3, the Canadiens desperately needed help only forward with more ice time was Danault at 21:21. Armia didn’t pick up front. up a point, but he made an impact with five shots on goal, three hits, two After being cut loose by the Los Angeles Kings, Kovalchuk needed to takeaways and a blocked shot. prove he was still capable of playing in the National Hockey League. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.18.2020 It was a classic short-term rental with little risk for the Canadiens. If he helped the team, that was good. If he was, indeed, washed up, it was costing the team a mere US$700,000.

Seven games into his tenure, the Kovalchuk experiment is a qualified success. He has moved seamlessly into the lineup and scored two goals in Thursday’s 4-1 win over the Flyers in Philadelphia. That gives him three goals and four assists — a point-a-game pace — and he has been embraced by his new teammates. He’s happy in Montreal, although he said Thursday his goal was to help the Canadiens win and he noted the team’s record since his arrival is three wins and four losses.

“There’s work to be done,” Kovalchuk said.

And that brings us to the big question: What’s in store for Kovalchuk in Montreal?

For starters, we have to look at the immediate future. When the Canadiens emerge from the bye week and the all-star break, they should have a full complement of healthy bodies. Joel Armia returned Thursday and Jonathan Drouin is scheduled to be back after the break. And we can hope Brendan Gallagher has recovered from his headaches, which, the Canadiens insisted, are not a by-product of the concussion he suffered on New Year’s Eve in Carolina.

When everyone is healthy, the dilemma facing Claude Julien is how to fit all the pieces into the puzzle.

Kovalchuk has been playing on the top line with Phil Danault and Tomas Tatar. That’s normally Gallagher’s spot and presumably Julien would want him back there chasing a third consecutive 30-goal season.

The second line features rookie Nick Suzuki between Max Domi and Armia. There will have to be an adjustment when Drouin moves into one of the top wing positions. Suzuki’s development should be the key here. He has to remain in the middle and that means Domi, Drouin, Armia and Kovalchuk are all in the mix for second-line duty on the wings.

Julien could move Armia to the third line and resurrect the Finnish Connection with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and the hard-working Artturi Lehkonen. This is a potentially dangerous third line, but Julien still has to find room for whoever is left over from the second-line juggling act.

As for the fourth line, the Canadiens should look to the future and install Ryan Poehling at centre between Nate Thompson and a player to be determined later. Thompson would be available to take the important draws, while Poehling would have the opportunity to work on the other responsibilities that go with the position.

That’s the short-term situation.

After describing himself as a soldier Thursday night, Kovalchuk was asked if he was interested in re-enlisting.

He certainly seemed open to the idea about returning next season. He talked about liking Montreal and meeting team owner Geoff Molson. At 36, he doesn’t fit into Marc Bergevin’s youth movement, but his younger teammates have talked about his willingness to share his experience and knowledge and he would be valuable as a teacher for Suzuki and Kotkaniemi.

The key — and this will also the case for Tatar — will be to find the right money and the right term to satisfy both parties. 1171621 Montreal Canadiens But didn’t it just happen a year ago, they say, when the St. Lous Blues went all the way from last place in January to their first Stanley Cup in June? And didn’t it happen here in 1986 and 1971? Couldn’t Carey Price carry a team the way a rookie goalie like Jordan Binnington did for St. What Melnick thinks: Claude Julien’s reckoning will come only when the Louis or Patrick Roy did in ‘86 or Ken Dryden in ’71? Isn’t Price paid to Canadiens have real expectations potentially carry a team all the way to the Cup?

If you added Ryan O’Reilly to the current edition of the Canadiens you could at least start to think about it. Or Bobby Smith and Guy By Mitch Melnick Jan 17, 2020 Carbonneau from the ’86 Habs. Or, if you really want to get silly with the Price-Roy-Dryden comparables, try adding Jean Béliveau and Henri Richard (and Pete Mahovlich and Jacques Lemaire) from the remarkable I think if the people who run the Montreal Canadiens really thought they ’71 Cup winner. Oh yeah, almost forgot about 1993 with Kirk Muller and had a legit chance to get into the playoffs and make a run, then Claude Carbonneau and 30-goal scorer Stéphan Lebeau. Julien would no longer be their head coach. Until Bergevin, or his successor (but Bergevin is not going anywhere Who says life is fair? either), can feature a proven, top shelf and sturdy number one centre, the 2020 Montreal Canadiens will not be adding to the “anything can happen” With their playoff chances on the line – mathematically anyway – the lore of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Canadiens stepped onto their own ice surface Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks and proceeded to play like it was an exhibition They simply need more time to get there. game in September. Like nobody wanted to get hurt and possibly spoil their upcoming week-long holiday. Maybe they had a deep sea dive on But weren’t you at least tempted to hit the fast forward button when 19- their minds, which is pretty much what their season looks like. year old Jesperi Kotkaniemi tattooed Flyers’ defenceman Robert Hagg with a barrage of punches after Hagg had driven Ryan Poehling into the The Habs’ injury-riddled roster is thin. Yeah, we know that. But they got boards Thursday night in Philadlephia? The tall, gangly centre showed beat – rather easily – by a Chicago team that was missing five regulars off some of his added bulk, and an enormous reach advantage. Imagine and had played the night before. Kotkaniemi in a couple of years.

The same issues that have dogged them all season reappeared as if to And when Carey Price makes 40 saves in one of the toughest buildings spotlight the classic definition of insanity (widely attributed to Einstein but in the NHL and Shea Weber turns back time and Phillip Danault plays who really knows? You won’t find him saying it on YouTube). like O’Reilly and Tomas Tatar is the best left winger on the ice and Ilya Kovalchuk (is it already time to give him Gallagher’s ‘A’?) makes • terrible start believers out of every non-believer from Los Angeles to New York, well, • no finish then, I’ll play along and pretend. Just as long as I can keep my finger on rewind whenever I see the 36-year old Kovalchuk hit the ice. • bad penalties Pass the popcorn. • poor special teams The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 • home ice loss

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Maybe the Habs didn’t want to see Charlie Lindgren in goal while one of six teams they’re chasing, the Flyers, played the same night in St. Louis. Or maybe, subconsciously, they were thinking about Gerard Gallant.

“Claude Julien’s job was saved by a Russian,” is how a plugged-in NHL type put it to me via text after Ilya Kovalchuk’s overtime goal in Ottawa last Saturday. There was a sense around the league that Julien was indeed fighting for his job after Montreal’s second eight-game losing streak in less than two months. The irony that it was a Russian star who ended the skid was not lost on those who believe that Julien and Russian players mix about as well as a single malt whiskey and anything but a dash of water.

“He’s a superstar coach,” is how Marc Bergevin described Julien when he hired him to replace Michel Therrien deep into the 2016-17 season. Bergevin had also mentioned Gallant, who had been dumped by the then analytics-run hockey department in Florida, as a possible candidate to take over for Therrien. Julien remains highly respected as a coach, but that’s hardly what matters most. It wouldn’t have been surprising, but it certainly would have been distasteful had Bergevin actually pulled the plug on Julien if the most recent losing streak had reached nine games or following the fiasco of an out-of-focus (Julien’s words) loss at home to Chicago.

Bergevin’s retool-on-the-fly includes a playoff push. But his own inability, through no fault of anybody’s, to sign a high-profile free agent, coupled with the continuing issue of finding a capable backup goaltender (even Peter Budaj would look great right now) and a rash of injuries puts his team, for this year, in no-man’s land.

Julien can be stubborn and old school. And apparently has an addiction to defensive forwards who can’t score. But to fire him now would serve what purpose, exactly? Is he really keeping his team out of contention for the Cup?

I think anybody who is still clinging to the belief that the Canadiens can suddenly get hot and roll right into the playoffs and then “anything can happen” are much too willing to suspend disbelief. 1171622 Nashville Predators He added that will come through preparation. "That's our task moving forward, is getting this group mentally focused."

That, perhaps, would be the wake-up the Predators desperately need. After another uninspiring loss, why are Predators ‘dead on the bench?' Tennessean LOADED: 01.18.2020

Paul Skrbina, Nashville TennesseanPublished 2:00 p.m. CT Jan. 17, 2020

Over and again the Predators have referred to defeats as "wakeup calls."

But waking up can be difficult when you're in a coma.

That's where the Predators seem to be at times this season. The latest example was a sleepy 4-2 loss to the lowly Ducks, the worst team in the Western Conference, one that had lost four in a row and seven of eight going into Thursday.

No Predators used that term in describing this loss, though.

Instead, Rocco Grimaldi took the first step in solving a problem — admitting there is one.

REMEMBER THE TITANS? PREDS DO: Predators rooting hard for Titans during playoffs

"I don't know," Grimaldi began. "It feels like when we go down 1-0 or 2-0 it seems like we kind of just like are dead on the bench. That's something we have to take out of our game. It's gonna happen, down by a couple goals.

"But we can't just sit and be like, 'Oh, here we go again.' That's sometimes how the mindset is on the bench — gets quiet when we get down 1 or 2-0. If we can clean that up ... we'll be better off."

Grimaldi said he wasn't sure when that mentality began to take hold, saying "maybe when we went on a decent losing streak."

The Predators went on a 1-6-2 stretch beginning with a 6-5, overtime loss to the Flames on Halloween. The Predators lost six in a row during that time.

Woe-is-me wont take this team far, though, and they know that.

But it's there. It was there under Peter Laviolette. It's there for new coach John Hynes to try to clean up. He's addressed the importance of mentality several times since he's been here.

"Kind of wondering what we have to do to win games and why does every goalie come in here and steal the show? ... It seems like we've lost in a lot of different ways, whether it's hot goalies or special teams or whatever. It's almost like, 'Man, what are we going to do to get two points?'"

Goalie Pekka Rinne shared similar concerns recently, saying "sometimes the dark side of your mind takes over" during such disastrous stretches. He said the team was "in trouble" not long before that, after the Winter Classic.

"Mental toughness," Hynes said. "You have to have some fortitude to be able to push through things."

The Predators have lacked that more often than they'd have liked this season. At 21-18-7, they are one point out of last place in the Central Division and six points and three teams out of the second wild-card spot.

Hynes then went into detail about the details — how there has to be more attention to it, how that can help solve the mind games the Predators seem to keep losing.

"They have to be addressed," he continued. "I have to do a better job making sure our attention to detail and execution — key points in the game — are there.

"You earn your confidence. No one's going to give a group confidence. You play the game the right way, sticking together as a group, have a pushback in your game. That's an area that needs to get better."

How does he plan to coach that?

"You have to hold guys accountable when there's mental errors or mental mistakes. It's a big part of getting this group up and running." 1171623 Nashville Predators just sit and be like, ‘Here we go again.’ I feel like that’s sometimes how the mindset is on the bench. It gets quiet when we start getting down 1-0 or 2-0.”

The aura of Bridgestone Arena is gone That feeling has seeped into the stands. It’s as if the fans are resigned to the fact that nothing they do will snap the Predators out of their malaise.

The aura of Bridgestone Arena is gone. By Adam Vingan Jan 17, 2020 The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020

There aren’t many teams worse than the Predators this season. The Anaheim Ducks are one of them, but that didn’t matter Thursday, when they beat the Predators for the second time in less than two weeks. (Those are the Ducks’ only two wins in their past nine games.)

As the Predators’ season continues to slip away, so does the team’s invulnerability at Bridgestone Arena. It’s been that way for a while, actually.

The Predators’ 10-9-4 home record this season is tied for 26th in the NHL. Since winning 14 of 19 at Bridgestone Arena to start last season, they are 21-18-6 there during the regular season, which ranks 23rd over that span.

“It’s one of those things we always talk about,” Predators captain Roman Josi said. “We’ve got the best crowd in the league, and for some reason, we can’t find a way to win games at home. Every time we step on the ice at Bridgestone, we should be flying right away (and getting) the crowd into it. We should be dominating other teams. It’s not happening right now, and it’s definitely something we talk about.”

It didn’t used to be like that. The Predators once seemed invincible on home ice, winning 103 of their 164 regular-season games between the 2014-15 and 2017-18 seasons. More impressively, they were 18-9 in the playoffs, including 9-2 during their run to the Stanley Cup final in 2017, which broadcast Bridgestone Arena’s incredible atmosphere to the world and put Nashville on the map as a hockey city.

Now, though, the previously ear-splitting crowd is hushed. The unique chants aren’t as loud or frequent, and for good reason. The fans can’t be blamed for the relative silence; the Predators have given them little to cheer about lately.

Despite that, attendance remains strong. The loss to the Ducks on Thursday was the 176th consecutive sellout at Bridgestone Arena, according to the Predators. The average paid attendance was 17,101 through 21 home games this season, according to figures provided to the Metro Sports Authority by the team. (The average total attendance was 17,383.)

Still, there are patches of empty seats that weren’t as prevalent in previous seasons. The only thing worse than fan anger is fan apathy.

Team Marketing Report’s “Fan Cost Index” (FCI) measures the cost for a family of four to attend a game, factoring in tickets, parking, souvenirs, food and beverages. The average price to attend a Predators game this season is $425.74, just above the league average of $424.62. (By comparison, the New York Rangers lead the league with an average cost of $619.20.)

The Predators’ FCI, however, has increased by 6.2 percent from last season, the second-largest bump in the league behind the Tampa Bay Lightning. Granted, it’s not a significant increase — roughly $25 — but it’s becoming more expensive to attend games, even with the various promotions that the team offers. (Thursday, for example, was “Fan Foodie Night,” where all food and soft drinks were discounted by 50 percent.)

If it hasn’t already, it will become harder for fans to justify the cost of attending a game to watch an inferior product. Predators fans still care; an estimated 20,000 traveled to Dallas for the Winter Classic earlier this month. But the team, which is at risk of missing the playoffs for the first time in six years, hasn’t made it easy.

After the loss to the worst team in the Western Conference on Thursday, Predators forward Rocco Grimaldi was candid about the team’s mental state.

“It feels like when we go down 1-0 or 2-0, it seems like we are just dead on the bench,” he said. “That’s something we’ve got to take out of our game. We’re going to get down in games. It’s going to happen. We’re going to get down by a couple goals. It’s going to happen. But we can’t 1171624 New Jersey Devils

Devils injury updates: Mackenzie Blackwood, Louis Domingue both practice in Columbus

Updated Jan 17, 2020;Posted Jan 17, 2020

By Chris Ryan

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With Mackenzie Blackwood sidelined with an injury and Louis Domingue hurt in Thursday’s loss to the Washington Capitals, there was a question regarding who would join Cory Schneider on the ice for Devils practice on Friday.

It turned out to the be both Blackwood and Domingue.

Blackwood flew from New Jersey to meet the team at Nationwide Arena for Friday’s on-ice session, and Domingue was healthy enough to practice less than 24 hours after his lower-body injury. The two shared a net while Schneider took the other at practice.

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Kevin Rooney, who missed Thursday’s game due to illness, was on the ice for practice. Michael McLeod, who was a late recall from the AHL for the game, remained with the team.

Defenseman Mirco Mueller did not play Thursday, and he took a maintenance day on Friday.

Here’s how the Devils lined up when they ran lines.

FORWARDS

Jesper Bratt - Nico Hischier - Wayne Simmonds

Blake Coleman - Travis Zajac - Nikita Gusev

Pavel Zacha - Jack Hughes - Miles Wood

Jesper Boqvist - Kevin Rooney - John Hayden

Michael McLeod

DEFENSEMEN

Andy Greene - P.K. Subban

Damon Severson - Sami Vatanen

Will Butcher - Connor Carrick

GOALIES

Cory Schneider/Mackenzie Blackwood/Louis Domingue

The Devils did do some special teams work, and it involved an interesting tweak on the power play. The Coleman-Zajac-Gusev line went together with the second power-play unit. Here’s how the two groups looked.

PP1: Subban-Butcher-Hischier-Hughes-Simmonds

PP2: Vatanen-Severson-Zajac-Gusev-Coleman

Star Ledger LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171625 New Jersey Devils

Devils’ Michael McLeod on crazy trip to NHL game, AHL team’s winning streak

Updated Jan 17, 2020;Posted Jan 17, 2020

By Chris Ryan

WASHINGTON -- Michael McLeod stepped on the ice for practice in Binghamton, New York, on Thursday morning. He’d played in a game the previous night and was getting ready for two more on Friday and Saturday.

Then he got word he was needed elsewhere.

With Devils forward Kevin Rooney ill, the NHL team needed him for Thursday’s game against the Washington Capitals. So the 21-year-old forward raced home and threw some stuff in a bag. A car picked him up for the five-hour drive to Capital One Arena.

McLeod arrived just after 5 p.m., giving him just enough time to grab a pregame meal and warmup for the Devils’ 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.

Capital One Arena was the site of McLeod’s NHL debut in December of 2018. He played in that game on short notice as well, not practicing with the Devils before stepping on NHL ice for the first time. After a long stint with the big club last season and again earlier in 2019-20, Thursday’s appearance had a bit of a different feel.

“It was awesome playing here my first game last year and a memory you always kind of remember,” McLeod said. “Coming back here, it’s a tough rink to play in so it’s a battle coming here and it’s fun.”

McLeod went scoreless Thursday after having a pair of assists in a four- game stretch with the Devils in December before returning to Binghamton. But once McLeod went back to the AHL, the minor-league team started heating up.

Wednesday’s victory against the Cleveland Monsters marked the team’s eighth win in a row. Like the NHL team, the AHL squad got off to a rocky start to the season, but the surge pushed them back to a .500 record.

“Guys are just gaining confidence in our game,” McLeod said. “When we’re tied, we all know we’re going to win the game. We all have that mindset and I think everyone’s kind of playing for each other now that we have that little win streak. It’s fun coming to the rink every day.”

McLeod is still looking for his chance to carve out a full-time role with the Devils in the NHL, and after going back to the AHL in December, he returned with the same mindset he had when he nearly made the team out of training camp in September.

“Going down, continue to develop and work on the little details of the game,” McLeod said. “Work in the d-zone and stuff like that, so that’s what’s been my main focus.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171626 New Jersey Devils But even if Palmieri became ready to play Saturday, moving him to IR was the right move.

Say Palmieri kept making progress and practiced Friday and/or played Devils notes: Does Pavel Zacha prefer center or left wing? Cory Saturday. That would be excellent news for the Devils, except the right Schneider on new prospects winger has already been ruled out of playing in next weekend’s All-Star Game, with Nico Hischier taking his place.

For a player to skip the All-Star Game, for an injury or personal reasons, Updated Jan 17, 2020;Posted Jan 17, 2020 he has to sit out at least one regular-season game — either the team’s final game before the All-Star break or the team’s first game following it. By Chris Ryan So even though Palmieri would have already sat out three games with

the injury, he would have still needed to miss at least one more in order WASHINGTON -- The Devils dropped the second game of their road trip, to skip All-Star weekend. falling 5-2 to the Washington Capitals on Thursday at Capital One Arena. If he played Saturday against the Blue Jackets, the Devils would have As the Devils head to Columbus to end their road trip prior to the bye had to sit him for a road game against the Ottawa Senators on Monday, week and NHL All-Star break, here are some odds and ends from around Jan. 27. the team, including Pavel Zacha’s positional preference, Cory Schneider But since Palmieri is dealing with an injury, it made much more sense for on the prospects acquired in the Taylor Hall trade and the predicament the Devils to eliminate any chance of him playing on Saturday. He’ll now the Devils are in regarding Kyle Palmieri’s return as it relates to the NHL have the full bye week and All-Star break to fully recover, and he can be All-Star Game. 100 percent for the second half of the season. Does Pavel Zacha prefer center or left wing? Star Ledger LOADED: 01.18.2020 Pavel Zacha has served as the Devils’ Swiss Army Knife throughout the 2019-20 season, jumping between center and left wing, depending on lineup needs. He’s played on every line in some fashion while also adding some power-play time to his usual penalty kill work.

But what does Zacha prefer? He was drafted as a center and primarily played there during his first three NHL seasons.

“Still preference for me would be center, just because I’m played my whole life and I kind of know where to be a little bit. It just depends," Zacha told NJ Advance Media. "You get a little more chance to play, a little more ice time with the players you play with. At this point this year I’ve played half and half almost. But if I could choose, center is where I feel most comfortable.”

Zacha was back at left wing on Thursday night against the Capitals. With Nico Hischier, Travis Zajac and Jack Hughes all healthy, Zacha has usually ended up on the wing, with Kevin Rooney taking the fourth-line center spot. With Rooney out due to illness, the Devils recalled Michael McLeod to play in his spot while Zacha stayed at wing.

Cory Schneider on Nick Merkley, Nate Schnarr

When the Devils traded Taylor Hall in December, Cory Schneider was already in the AHL, so he didn’t feel the full impact on the Devils’ roster. He did, however, see how it changed Binghamton.

The trade brought forwards Nick Merkley and Nate Schnarr to the Devils’ organization, and the pair joined Binghamton’s AHL roster.

Schneider struck up a quick relationship with Schnarr, often getting lunch with him the past few weeks. Schneider played behind both for a handful of games before being recalled to the NHL.

“(Schnarr’s) young, only 20, but very, very nice, poised, polite, like he’s a good kid," Schneider said "And Nick’s seemed great. Just sort of laid back, kind of easygoing. On the ice, sort of different. Nick’s a little bit smaller, but he’s quick and skilled. He’s got good vision and hands. He’s not the best shot but he uses it well. He can pick spots and can sneak one by you if you’re not keeping honest.

“I think they’re both settling in a little bit, like Nick’s played better as a late and that makes sense. Nate’s pretty intriguing. He’s a big guy, s6-3, kind of lanky, but he’s got a heavy shot and he thinks the game pretty well. He plays center, he plays penalty kill already. So if he can fill out, and he seems like a good skater, maybe not a great one yet, but if you can improve that aspect and get stronger, I think he could fill a role or be an intriguing guy going forward.”

What Kyle Palmieri’s IR move means

Prior to Thursday’s game, Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine said forward Kyle Palmieri wasn’t an option against the Capitals due to his left foot injury, but he left the door open for Palmieri to be ready for Saturday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. That door closed when the Devils placed Palmieri on IR Thursday to recall Michael McLeod. 1171627 New Jersey Devils strong side. That allowed us to move (Anderson) around and it makes us a little deeper.

“If you look at the first third of the season, that line of Street, Seney and Why a fresh start with the Devils could unlock Nick Merkley’s track to the Anderson did most of our scoring so we became pretty one-dimensional. pros Being able to pop Nick in there is good for us and he’s done a pretty good job.”

Merkley’s credentials as a slick playmaker are verified. He had 70 assists By Corey Masisak Jan 17, 2020 as a 17-year-old in the WHL, a big part of what made him a first-round pick. During a power player in the first period last weekend against

Bridgeport, Merkley nearly collected a highlight-reel assist when he found BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Every player who was selected in the first round Anderson’s stick near the far post with a pass through a mass of bodies, of the 2015 NHL draft has played in the league. but Anderson directed it inches wide of the net.

The 30th pick of that deep, talented class is currently 30th among the “He’s an amazing hockey player,” Schnarr said. “I think what he does on group, having just one NHL game on his resume. Injuries have derailed a the ice sometimes gets overlooked, but he’s one of the best playmakers potentially fast track for new Devils prospect Nick Merkley, but he’s I’ve ever seen. He just thinks the game so well, and I think he deserves a determined not to let them define his career. lot of credit for that.”

“It was a battle,” Merkley said. “The first one was six months and then the Schnarr and Merkley have gotten to know each other over the past second one was nine months, so it’s a lot of time off from hockey. couple of seasons at Arizona development camps and training camps, Mentally it was pretty draining, but I stayed with it and I’m kind of back to and then they were teammates for the first time this year with Tucson. full-tilt. I kind of enjoy it more now, and I don’t take any shift for granted.” Now that they’ve moved together to a new home, they are becoming even closer. The “first one” and “second one” were serious knee injuries, torn ACLs that torpedoed Merkley’s first post-draft season in the Western Hockey Both of them began their time with Binghamton in temporary housing at a League and complicated an otherwise promising start to his pro career. hotel near the arena, but they are going to be real roommates in the near He also dealt with two pretty serious shoulder injuries. future.

As a result, he’s played 45 games or fewer in three of the four seasons “He’s awesome. I think everyone here loves him,” Schnarr said. “He’s a since the Coyotes made him the No. 30 pick in 2015. Merkley’s character. He’s a funny guy, a vocal guy. He jokes around constantly. comeback story now gets a fresh reboot after Arizona included him in a Living with him (at the hotel) is hilarious. It’s been a good time so far.” trade package of prospects and draft picks for Taylor Hall, the 2018 Hart Schnarr isn’t the only person in their new organization who knows Trophy winner. Merkley well. Damon Severson was one of the veteran leaders on the “He was a high-profile kid in his draft year,” Devils interim general Kelowna Rockets when Merkley was a rookie in the WHL. manager Tom Fitzgerald said. “He’s had some injuries that may have “He actually texted me and said, ‘Welcome to the organization. If you hurt his skating, but with a lot of these guys it is that extra step that they need anything, I’m here for you.’ So that was pretty cool to know might be missing that could separate them from the next person. These someone in the organization,” Merkley said. “He’s great player up there, two kids in particular (Merkley and Nate Schnarr), they do have skill and too, so that’s kind of nice. Hopefully we can connect at some point up they can think the game well. Can they continue to improve their there. movement and quickness and give themselves a chance to get to more pucks to make those plays?” “We were on the same power play, so I definitely looked up to him then.”

When Merkley was able to play during those four seasons, he was Merkley has also joined the NHL workout group in Kelowna at different certainly productive. He had 18 goals and 39 points in 38 games as an points during the offseason, so they’ve played some pickup shinny AHL rookie, before the second ACL injury. Even after the lengthy games together. recovery period, he returned for Tucson last season and put up 10 goals and 34 points in 45 games. “I loved (playing with him). I thought he was a really good player,” Severson said. “I haven’t seen him play a lot since then. He’s had a The points have not flowed as planned for Merkley this season. He had couple injuries. I think he can be a great player, and I really like him as a three goals and 16 points in 26 games before the trade. guy. He skated with us a couple times this summer in Kelowna. Always a happy guy, always has a smile on his face. As a player, he’s got a ton of “I’m obviously not getting the production that I have in the past,” he said. skill and can skate like the wind when he really wants to. “My first year I had a good year, and then last year I came off the ACL injury and I thought I had decent numbers and obviously this year it’s a “He was a guy that I really liked to for when we were on the ice together little bit of a drop. But I think I’m playing good hockey, playing big minutes in Kelowna. When I saw we traded for him, I said, ‘That’s a guy who for the team. I think the points are going to come. I’m still getting a lot of wasn’t just a throw-in to a trade. He’s a really good player.’ I hope he chances. It’s just kind of bearing down when I do get those chances. I starts playing well down there and has a good first impression with the think sometimes in hockey you get those bounces, and sometimes you organization and he can show what he’s got because I’m a big fan of don’t.” his.”

To his point, Merkley — who has earned a reputation as a playmaker first Pair Merkley’s strong playmaking skills with the skating ability that makes and a shooter second — is still second among Tucson players in shots future NHL defensemen take notice, and that’s a recipe for becoming a per game (he had 69 in 26 games). Any player, but certainly one with high-profile prospect. Of course, the knee injuries will make scouts and Merkley’s skill level, is not going to shoot 4.3 percent without a significant executives question whether Merkley can still move at an impact level. amount of bad luck involved. That’s part of where Merkley will need to prove with his new organization. Merkley had just one goal and three points in his first eight games with Were it not for the injuries, Merkley might be a regular in the NHL by Binghamton, but he’s collected two goals and five points in the past two. now. He doesn’t turn 23 until after the season ends, so there is plenty of He’s also averaging nearly three shots on goal per game (29 in 10 time for those injuries to become a footnote along his journey. contests). “I think it’s just the little details,” Merkley said. “It’s not all about numbers Binghamton coach Mark Dennehy did not wait very long to give Merkley to get up there. You see guys get up there all the time that are not even a big role on the team. close to points per game, so yeah I think it’s those little details, especially at the next level and obviously you’re not going to come in and be on the “(Joey Anderson) got sick because the flu bug has been going around power play up there and be a first-line guy, so being able to play in that everywhere,” Dennehy said. “He happened to get it before Christmas, third-, fourth-line role is huge. When you do get the chance, getting to the and we were able to pop (Merkley) in there with (Ben Street) and (Brett net, getting to the dirty areas to try and create are going to be the big Seney) and he fit right in. He can make a play. He knows what the next things. play is. He’s got a real good sense on the power play, especially on his “(Being part of the Hall trade) is a pretty special feeling. Obviously you want to produce after that, and he’s doing well (with Arizona), so I think it just pushes you to do even more and try and get better every day and obviously try to get up to the big club.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171628 New York Islanders The Islanders outshot the Rangers 22-6 in the first, including a 16-1 margin over the final 10 1/2 minutes.

"We knew they were going to come out hard in the first period and they Chris Kreider’s late goal lifts Rangers over Islanders put the heat on us and got up 1-0," Quinn said. "Really thought we got back to the way we're playing in the second period. Our special teams were huge, we got two power-play goals, our penalty-kill was immense."

By VIN A. CHERWOO Late in the first, Tom Kuhnhackl chased the puck into the right corner, took it away from Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba and passed in ASSOCIATED PRESS | front to Ross Johnston. He sent it to Bailey at the top of the right circle JAN 17, 2020 | 12:57 AM and the veteran forward fired it past Georgiev for his 10th goal with 51 seconds remaining.

New York Daily News LOADED: 01.18.2020 Chris Kreider and the New York Rangers like they way they’ve been playing lately. Beating the rival New York Islanders for the second time in four days was a big confidence boost, too.

Kreider scored a power-play goal with 25 seconds left to give the Rangers their fourth win in five games, 3-2 over the Islanders on Thursday night.

"As the season's going we've started to do a lot of the little things that have given us opportunities to win games and be in games," Kreider said. "We've had a stretch here where we've definitely done a better job of that."

With the Islanders' Derick Brassard off for cross-checking earlier in the final minute, Kreider was at the right side of the net and knocked in the rebound of Mika Zibanejad's shot for the tiebreaking goal.

"Mika got a good shot off and it just sat there for me," Kreider said.

Zibanejad and Tony DeAngelo also scored as the Rangers beat the Islanders for the fourth time in the last five meetings after losing 12 of the previous 13 matchups. Alexandar Georgiev stopped 38 shots to improve to 4-1-0 against the Islanders, who faced the Rangers at Nassau Coliseum for the first time in nearly five years.

The Rangers also won 6-2 at home Monday night in the teams' first meeting of the season.

"They test your mettle, they test your mental toughness, they test your physical toughness," Rangers coach David Quinn said of the Islanders. "To come in here and get two points certainly is a great sign for growth."

Josh Bailey and Anthony Beauvillier scored for the Islanders, and Semyon Varlamov finished with 25 saves.

"I thought we played well for the most part," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "We made a poor decision at the end and they capitalized on it."

With the score tied 1-all and the Islanders on a power play, Jordan Eberle hit the crossbar 4:08 into the third period.

Seconds later, DeAngelo came out of the penalty box, grabbed a loose puck and skated up the left side on a 2-on-1 rush. DeAngelo beat Varlamov high to the blocker side for his 12th goal, giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 4:16.

The teams were skating 4-on-4 when Beauvillier tied it with 7:20 left. He fired the puck off the end boards, chased down a lively rebound and backhanded it past Georgiev for his 12th.

After getting outplayed in the opening period, the Rangers turned it around and outshot the Islanders 12-5 in the second, holding them without a shot on goal for more than 14 minutes to start the period.

"A little like a roller-coaster," said Georgiev, who made 21 saves in the first period. "I got warm in the first period and then when we were playing great hockey in the second, I just knew that whenever they had the chance I had to stay sharp."

With the Rangers on their third power play, DeAngelo's shot was stopped by Varlamov and knocked up in the air before it fell to the ice behind him. Ryan Pulock swooped in and attempted to keep the puck out of the net, with Zibanejad coming in from the left side and whacking at it.

Play continued for more than a minute until a stoppage. A review then determined Zibanejad did knock the puck across the plane of the goal line with 7:14 left in the second, tying the score with his 18th.

The Islanders' Leo Komarov hit the right post with 1:19 remaining in the second. 1171629 New York Islanders

Isles must overcome power-play woes in Metropolitan Division games

By Andrew Gross

Updated January 17, 2020 9:23 PM

The Islanders need to do better in division games. They need to do better on the power play.

Those are not separate issues.

The third-place Islanders will continue a stretch of four straight games against Metropolitan Division opponents when they face the first-place Capitals on Saturday afternoon to conclude a three-game homestand at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. They will visit the fourth-place Hurricanes on Sunday.

On Thursday night, they went 0-for-5 on the power play in a 3-2 loss to the Rangers as Chris Kreider scored the man-advantage winner with 24.6 seconds to go after Derick Brassard cross-checked Jesper Fast with 53.5 seconds remaining. The teams will play for the third time in nine days on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden after the Rangers won, 6-2, at the Garden on Monday night.

“My biggest concern right now is we can’t look back,” coach Barry Trotz said. “We’ve got to look forward the whole time. We’ve got a big test coming up. We’ve got Washington here and then Carolina. Those are two pretty good opponents. So it’s a tough stretch, a lot of divisional stuff. A lot of points on the line.”

The Islanders are 8-6-1 against division opponents, not a horrible record among a strong group of eight teams.

But they are 1-for-22 on the power play in their last 12 games and have gone 5-6-1 in that stretch. That includes losing four of six games to division opponents and going 1-for-13 with the man advantage in those six games.

The Islanders took 40 shots Thursday night but managed only eight on net in 10 minutes of power-play time. Jordan Eberle did whack one off the crossbar from close range at 4:08 of the third period, eight seconds before defenseman Tony DeAngelo sprung out of the penalty box and gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead.

“I think we had some chances,” Trotz said. “I thought when we had our best chances, their goaltender [Alexandar Georgiev] stepped up, and those guys become your best penalty-killers. We’ll look at it thoroughly and reassess it again, as we always do.”

So far, it’s hard to say that any changes the Islanders tried to implement on the power play after parting ways with assistant coach Scott Gomez and bringing in Jim Hiller from Toronto to run the man advantage have been overly effective.

The Islanders ranked 29th in the NHL on the power play at 14.5% last season and have improved to 21st this season at 18.3%.

Too often, they spend too much time passing the puck around the perimeter and not getting shots on net. Getting more from the power play will be crucial to a playoff push.

Said Anders Lee, “We’ve got a great division and it’s going to be tight the whole way out.”

Notes & quotes: Center Otto Koivula was reassigned to Bridgeport.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171630 New York Rangers The Islanders outshot the Rangers 22-6 in the first, including a 16-1 margin over the final 10 1/2 minutes.

"We knew they were going to come out hard in the first period and they Chris Kreider’s late goal lifts Rangers over Islanders put the heat on us and got up 1-0," Quinn said. "Really thought we got back to the way we're playing in the second period. Our special teams were huge, we got two power-play goals, our penalty-kill was immense."

By VIN A. CHERWOO Late in the first, Tom Kuhnhackl chased the puck into the right corner, took it away from Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba and passed in ASSOCIATED PRESS | front to Ross Johnston. He sent it to Bailey at the top of the right circle JAN 17, 2020 | 12:57 AM and the veteran forward fired it past Georgiev for his 10th goal with 51 seconds remaining.

New York Daily News LOADED: 01.18.2020 Chris Kreider and the New York Rangers like they way they’ve been playing lately. Beating the rival New York Islanders for the second time in four days was a big confidence boost, too.

Kreider scored a power-play goal with 25 seconds left to give the Rangers their fourth win in five games, 3-2 over the Islanders on Thursday night.

"As the season's going we've started to do a lot of the little things that have given us opportunities to win games and be in games," Kreider said. "We've had a stretch here where we've definitely done a better job of that."

With the Islanders' Derick Brassard off for cross-checking earlier in the final minute, Kreider was at the right side of the net and knocked in the rebound of Mika Zibanejad's shot for the tiebreaking goal.

"Mika got a good shot off and it just sat there for me," Kreider said.

Zibanejad and Tony DeAngelo also scored as the Rangers beat the Islanders for the fourth time in the last five meetings after losing 12 of the previous 13 matchups. Alexandar Georgiev stopped 38 shots to improve to 4-1-0 against the Islanders, who faced the Rangers at Nassau Coliseum for the first time in nearly five years.

The Rangers also won 6-2 at home Monday night in the teams' first meeting of the season.

"They test your mettle, they test your mental toughness, they test your physical toughness," Rangers coach David Quinn said of the Islanders. "To come in here and get two points certainly is a great sign for growth."

Josh Bailey and Anthony Beauvillier scored for the Islanders, and Semyon Varlamov finished with 25 saves.

"I thought we played well for the most part," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "We made a poor decision at the end and they capitalized on it."

With the score tied 1-all and the Islanders on a power play, Jordan Eberle hit the crossbar 4:08 into the third period.

Seconds later, DeAngelo came out of the penalty box, grabbed a loose puck and skated up the left side on a 2-on-1 rush. DeAngelo beat Varlamov high to the blocker side for his 12th goal, giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 4:16.

The teams were skating 4-on-4 when Beauvillier tied it with 7:20 left. He fired the puck off the end boards, chased down a lively rebound and backhanded it past Georgiev for his 12th.

After getting outplayed in the opening period, the Rangers turned it around and outshot the Islanders 12-5 in the second, holding them without a shot on goal for more than 14 minutes to start the period.

"A little like a roller-coaster," said Georgiev, who made 21 saves in the first period. "I got warm in the first period and then when we were playing great hockey in the second, I just knew that whenever they had the chance I had to stay sharp."

With the Rangers on their third power play, DeAngelo's shot was stopped by Varlamov and knocked up in the air before it fell to the ice behind him. Ryan Pulock swooped in and attempted to keep the puck out of the net, with Zibanejad coming in from the left side and whacking at it.

Play continued for more than a minute until a stoppage. A review then determined Zibanejad did knock the puck across the plane of the goal line with 7:14 left in the second, tying the score with his 18th.

The Islanders' Leo Komarov hit the right post with 1:19 remaining in the second. 1171631 New York Rangers

Rangers’ specialty teams starting to get it done

By Brett CyrgalisJanuary 18, 2020 | 2:38am

It was one of the Rangers’ better penalty kills of the season, and it showed how their man-down group is starting to come together.

After Tony DeAngelo took a frustrating interference penalty early in the third period of the 3-2 win over the Islanders on Thursday, the Blueshirts put together a rather inspired kill. It was two full groups: Mika Zibanejad- Ryan Strome starting up front, with Brady Skjei and Jacob Trouba on the back end. When it went to Brett Howden and Jesper Fast along with Marc Staal and Ryan Lindgren, Fast blocked a shot followed by two blocks from Lindgren.

When DeAngelo got out of the box, he started an odd-man rush that he finished himself to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead.

“Immense,” is how coach David Quinn described it. “Lindgren and Fast, and Mika and Strome, Staalsy, Brady and Howden — those guys really did a great job.”

The Rangers’ penalty kill went 5-for-5 Thursday and has been 19-of-21 since the debacle in Edmonton on New Year’s Eve, when they allowed three power-play goals. For the season, the kill is ranked 19th in the league at 79.3 percent.

The power play is also coming on, scoring twice against the Islanders, and is now 8-for-23 (34.8 percent) in the past seven games and 10-for-29 (34.5 percent) in the past 10. The Rangers are ranked 11th in the league at 21 percent and are 17-5-2 when registering at least one power-play goal in a game this season.

After getting Friday off, the Rangers will return to practice Saturday, when it should become clearer whom the starting goalie will be for Sunday night’s Garden match against the Blue Jackets.

It seems possible Igor Shesterkin will get back in after not having played since Jan. 9, when he recorded his second straight win to start his NHL career. Henrik Lundqvist has played just once, Jan. 11 in St. Louis, since Shesterkin was called up on Jan. 6. Alex Georgiev has received both of the past two starts., adding to his terrific numbers against the Islanders (4-1 with a 1.40 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage).

New York Post LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171632 New York Rangers

Rangers look like ‘different’ team with deadline decisions looming

By Brett CyrgalisJanuary 17, 2020 | 11:47PM

David Quinn looked directly at a few members of the media who have followed his Rangers all season, and the coach succinctly made his point.

“You guys have watched — we do look different, right?” he said. “We do look different.”

This was immediately after Quinn’s club beat the Islanders for a second straight time, a 3-2 victory at the Coliseum on Thursday that came by way of a last-minute power-play goal from Chris Kreider. But it was more than just that goal that secured the win. The Blueshirts played doggedly from corner to corner and matched the Islanders’ physical intensity.

It gave the Rangers their fourth win in the past five games, and Quinn still goes back to the first intermission of the game on Jan. 2 in Calgary to find the moment when they made a conscious effort to dedicate themselves to playing better defense — even if they lost that game and the following one, at Vancouver.

But grinding away is just what Quinn wants this team to do, and just what the Rangers need to do if they want to keep their postseason dream alive. There is another big one in the standings coming when the Blue Jackets roll into the Garden on Sunday, with Columbus currently holding the second wild-card spot, six points up on the Rangers. And after that, the third installment of the midseason miniseries with the Islanders comes back to Broadway on Tuesday night, with Barry Trotz’s team needing some traction after going 6-6-2 in their previous 14.

But if the Rangers want to make a point to the front office before the Feb. 24 trade deadline, then it’s really more about them continuing to play the way they have over the past two weeks.

“I think as the season has gone on, we’ve started to do a lot of the little things that give us opportunities to win games and be in games,” Kreider said. “We’ve had a stretch here where we’ve definitely done a better job of that. There is still a long way to go and a lot of things to improve on.”

Earlier in the season, the way the Islanders play could have easily frustrated the Rangers. By clogging up the neutral zone, there is little space to gain speed and be creative. The Islanders force opponents to play simply and then try to outwork them — which isn’t easy to do.

But rather than get upset and try to force offense with all of their dynamic skill up front, the Rangers took what was there — they chipped it in, chased it down and worked their tails off.

“We obviously love picking up speed and making plays through the neutral zone, but they muddied it up,” Kreider said. “We started to have success when we were able to get pucks behind them and spend some time in their zone.”

Quinn seemed to be most satisfied with the way the club responded after a first period when he thought they were “curious” about what the atmosphere was going to be like and allowed goalie Alex Georgiev to be peppered with 22 shots, with only one getting by him. But, according to Quinn, “once that period ended and we dusted ourselves off, we got back to doing what we’ve been doing — and you saw what happened.”

Even though the playoffs are the stated goal, there is still a lot that can happen between now and the end of the regular season. The organization has to figure out how it wants to approach the trade deadline, with an untenable three-goalie situation and Kreider as arguably the most attractive rental on the market.

But for now, hope remains alive because of performances like Thursday’s — the type of effort that has defined these new-look Rangers, at least for the past few weeks.

New York Post LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171633 New York Rangers

No big Long Island homecoming for the Rangers' Adam Fox at Nassau Coliseum

By Colin Stephenson

Updated January 17, 2020 11:48 PM

Adam Fox is not a very excitable guy. Yes, the rookie defenseman from Jericho thought it was cool to play at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum — minutes away from where he grew up — for the first time as a Ranger, but when pressed about how much of a thrill it was, he insisted it wasn’t that big a deal.

“I think fans and media people probably think it’s a little more for me than it is right now, just because I try and treat every game like the same,’’ Fox said Thursday night after the Rangers beat the Islanders, 3-2.

Fox had only a few moments to talk because he had to shower, dress and go see his family, which was at the game. His parents, brother and friends are able to watch him play at Madison Square Garden all the time, so for Fox, coming home to Long Island wasn’t a major event.

Fox, who lives in Manhattan, didn’t make the trip out to the Island after Wednesday’s practice to have dinner with his parents the night before the game.

“I see my family all the time, which is great for me,’’ he said. “It’s not like I’m treating it like a vacation coming back on Long Island and going home for dinner. We came down [Thursday] from the city.’’

For Fox and the Rangers, the important thing was to take two points from a division rival. The top contenders for the Eastern Conference’s two wild cards are Carolina with 57 points and Columbus and Philadelphia with 56 each. The Rangers have 50 and have two games in hand on each of those teams.

The Rangers (23-19-4) will play Columbus (24-16-8) on Sunday and will face the Islanders on Tuesday at the Garden.

What coach David Quinn will do with his goaltending the next two games is the big question. Alexandar Georgiev started the last two games — both against the Islanders — and was brilliant, stopping 70 of 74 shots (.946 save percentage). Georgiev is 4-1 in five career appearances against the Islanders, with a 1.40 goals-against average and .955 save percentage.

Though he insists he doesn’t get any special excitement playing against the Islanders — “I like playing against every single team in this league,’’ he said — the temptation will be high to play him Tuesday.

But with the Rangers carrying three goaltenders, who will face Columbus? Will Quinn consider riding a hot Georgiev for a third straight start? Will he turn to Igor Shesterkin, who started and won the first two games after his Jan. 6 call-up from AHL Hartford? Or will it be Henrik Lundqvist, who started and lost against St. Louis on Jan. 11?

Shesterkin (2-0, 3.01 GAA) hasn’t played since Jan. 9. Lundqvist (9-10-3, 3.18) has played once since Jan. 2.

Notes & quotes: The Rangers’ Ryan Lindgren was fined $2,486.56 by the NHL for his hit on the Islanders’ Jordan Eberle that drew a cross- checking penalty.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171634 New York Rangers It’s way early to try and forecast that Georgiev could replace Andersen, but he would at least give Toronto a viable option to fill some of the void in net if they opt not to re-sign their No. 1 of the past four seasons.

Mirtle: The Maple Leafs are interested in Alexandar Georgiev. But how Georgiev is also gaining a reputation around the league as someone much can they justify giving up? worth making an educated bet on.

“He’s intriguing,” said one executive with another team that is monitoring the situation. By James Mirtle Jan 17, 2020 What hurts Georgiev’s value for a lot of GMs is the pending Seattle expansion draft in the summer of 2021. Teams will only be permitted to protect one goaltender, which makes a young backup a luxury few clubs The Maple Leafs have quietly put out feelers and investigated options for want to give up an established player for. Goalies could be in abundance an upgrade at their backup goalie position over the past few weeks. on the trade market in advance of the expansion draft, too, as teams How serious those endeavours have been – and will be in the lead up to attempt to get assets for players they’d otherwise lose for nothing. the Feb. 24 trade deadline – remains to be seen. It’s also still unclear what Georgiev’s ceiling is, especially compared to But what’s clear is Toronto has inquired multiple times this season about players like Kapanen and Johnsson, who both had 20 goals last season New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, a 23-year-old who and have spent a lot of time playing in Toronto’s top six the past two has quickly gone from undrafted free agent in 2017 to a promising years. prospect at the NHL level. My guess is that the Rangers struggle to get anyone to meet their current To date, the Rangers’ asking price has been high. They want a quality asking price, which will leave them contemplating either carrying three young player who can play now, not a pick or a prospect, for the young goalies the rest of the season or accepting more of a futures package. Russian netminder. If they alter their asking price in the coming weeks, Toronto becomes a The result is a bit of a stalemate, as the Leafs (and other suitors) haven’t much more likely destination. been willing to meet that price for a goalie who has only started 60 NHL If a potential deal doesn’t subtract from their current roster, the Leafs games. may well bite on an upgrade at a position that’s been an unwelcome Under normal circumstances, a rebuilding team like New York wouldn’t headache the last two seasons. want to deal someone like Georgiev. But with 37-year-old franchise icon The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 Henrik Lundqvist still with a year remaining on his contract, and prized prospect Igor Shesterkin putting up sparkling numbers in the AHL and NHL, the Rangers have been carrying three goaltenders closing in on nearly two weeks now.

It’s not a tenable situation long term. Carrying three goalies can be difficult logistically – even when it comes to practices, never mind finding enough starts in games.

And despite a run of strong play of late – and a solid .914 save percentage on the season – Georgiev is obviously the odd-man-out given Lundqvist’s stature in the organization and Shesterkin’s promise as a future No. 1.

Both teams have kept trade talks quiet, so specifics are somewhat lacking. But it’s believed that the Leafs are willing to part with futures – including someone like AHLer Jeremy Bracco – in order to land Georgiev. The Rangers, however, are asking for more established players, presumably, the likes of Leafs forwards Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson or Alexander Kerfoot.

That’s going to be a no-go for Toronto, especially in a 1-for-1 scenario. While the Leafs would potentially move a forward like that to upgrade on their blue line in the coming weeks, it doesn’t make much sense for them to give up one of their primary trade chips for a goaltender who may only play a handful of games for them the rest of the season.

That said, there’s still plenty of time for the negotiation to expand to include more pieces, given the Leafs will probably be buying and the Rangers will likely be selling.

The Leafs definitely want to keep starter Frederik Andersen’s workload reasonable, but with few back-to-back games remaining on their schedule, it’s not out of the question he plays 28 of their remaining 34 games as they battle to lock down a playoff spot.

Backup Michael Hutchinson has struggled this season, without question. But he has played better of late, lessening the urgency to get Andersen immediate help.

Where adding Georgiev makes the most sense is as insurance for the future. The Leafs badly need an upgrade at the backup position next season and could also use an alternate option to giving Andersen a massive contract when he becomes a free agent at the end of 2020-21.

Given Toronto’s cap constraints, meeting Andersen’s asking price may not be wise. And he will be 32 years old by the start of the 2021-22 season, when a big new UFA deal would kick in. 1171635 Ottawa Senators

Pageau questionable for Saturday's game against Calgary

Ken Warren

With the NHL trade deadline only six weeks away, the Ottawa Senators have received a snapshot of what life without Jean-Gabriel Pageau might look like.

Pageau was a late scratch for Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights due to an undisclosed upper-body injury and he’s questionable for Saturday’s matinée against the Calgary Flames.

“(The trainers) worked on him (Friday),” coach D.J. Smith said. “He will be a game-time decision. I didn’t find out until right before warmup (Thursday). We knew there was a possibility, but we thought he would play. He’s a tough kid, but certainly he couldn’t go or we weren’t going to put him into a spot where he could (further) injure himself.”

The loss of Pageau resulted in the flipping and flopping of the forward combinations, with centre Artem Anisimov stepping in on a top line with Brady Tkachuk and Anthony Duclair.

Pageau, who has scored 19 goals — one shy of his career high — and 12 assists, is the Senators’ top shutdown centre. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent and if the Senators can’t sign him to an extension he’ll be a hot commodity leading up to the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171636 Ottawa Senators “He has become a man,” said Matthew. “The way he plays, not many people can take the puck off him. He’s not fun to play against at all. He always had a great shot, but he’s making sick plays, too.”

Respect in the air for the latest battle of Tkachuks He also says his younger brother has been impressive in how he has tried to fill the leadership vacuum following the loss of Mark Stone last season.

Ken Warren “From what I’ve seen this year in how much he’s improved, it’s scary to think what he’s going to be like in a couple of years.”

When Matthew heads to the NHL All-Star Game in their hometown of St. If Keith Tkachuk had his way, his feisty, highly competitive hockey- Louis next week, Brady will also be there to soak it all in with his brother. playing sons Matthew and Brady would never play an NHL shift against One day, the two could very well play in an all-star game together. each other. As for Saturday’s game, though, Brady says he can’t think of anything It’s not so much about the potential that one could injure the other better than going head-to-head with his brother, regardless of what his because they both play so close to the edge. Rather, it’s for his own parents want to see. viewing pleasure in watching what they can do separately. “I looked up to him so much,” he said. “Being able to play against him “I’m so happy for those two and they’re going to have a lot of fun playing head-to-head, it’s a lot of fun. It must sting for my parents. They want to against each other,” Keith said of Tkachuk versus Tkachuk IV, which will support us. It just kind of puts them in an awkward position if one of us play out Saturday afternoon at the Canadian Tire Centre. “I just don’t like scores.” when they’re on the ice together because, as a dad, I want to see one of them play one shift and then the other one the next. I don’t want to wait Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.18.2020 three more shifts. Maybe I have to talk to the coaches to make sure they don’t match lines.”

Those talks aren’t going to happen, but there has been endless intriguing discussion in the leadup to the clash between Matthew’s Flames and Brady’s Senators.

While Keith and his wife, Chantal, have been in Ottawa for several days awaiting the matchup, a trail of controversy has followed Matthew during the eastern Canadian road trip that has also included stops in Montreal and Toronto. His punishing open-ice hits on Edmonton’s Zack Kassian last Saturday, followed by Kassian’s flurry of punches to Matthew’s head in response, have served to heat up The Battle of Alberta and reignite a loud debate about what’s acceptable under hockey’s unwritten code of behaviour. Matthew has been criticized for turning away when Kassian tried to engage him in a fight, a play that resulted in Calgary earning a power play that resulted in the game-winning goal.

“Nothing rattles Matthew,” Keith said of the reaction. “It might rattle his mom a little bit, but we just enjoy watching our kids play, and whatever happens, happens. It’s an emotional game, so there are a lot of ups and downs.”

We’re guessing that before Brady’s career is over, he’ll also find himself in the middle of a physical controversy or two hundred. In describing his “mean” game Friday, Senators coach D.J. Smith says the 20-year-old “gets in on the forecheck and he’s climbing on the goalie and he drives us into the battle emotionally.”

Keith laughs at the fact Brady smiles his way through it all, whether it’s in practice or games.

“Brady is just living the dream,” he said, watching the Senators practice Friday. “Look, he’s just a goofy son of a (gun) out there. He still thinks he’s that kid going around getting autographs, when he was tagging along (behind me) at the rink. Nothing bothers Matthew, but Brady is just living the life.”

Naturally, Brady was asked for his opinions on the incident involving his 22-year-old brother.

“I’m always on his side,” he said. “I’m just going to try and stay out of it myself. The message for (Calgary) is for them to block it out and wait for the home game (against Edmonton) to come (Jan. 29). I’m still seeing highlights of it every single day. That’s a great rivalry and Matthew will do anything to win. That game was a matter of first place and they came out on top.”

The mutual respect between the brothers was forged from their own intense childhood competitive squabbles, where blood was often spilled.

“We both learned from one another,” said Brady. “We were both so competitive growing up, whether it was sports or other stuff around the house. Whenever you win, it’s a good feeling because you know it’s a very good battle.”

In turn, Matthew can’t say enough about Brady’s development with the Senators. 1171637 Ottawa Senators “I’m pretty close with Nick so I know what he’s been through,” Chlapik said. “That’s what he did this year, came here, did his job and it worked out for him.”

Too much respect for opponents, learning on the fly, Chlapik's flexibility BACK TO BELLEVILLE? Chlapik isn’t thinking beyond Saturday’s game and final words on Stone visit against Calgary, but if he’s sent back to Belleville during the break — Drake Batherson, Rudolfs Balcers and Marcus Hogberg could also be sent to the AHL — he would understand the rationale.

Ken Warren “The guys have nine days off and I would be surprised if they kept us here for nine days,” he said. “Whatever happens is fine with me. If I do

get a couple of days off, my girlfriend and I will figure something out, but With the prospect of a 10-game losing streak staring the Ottawa for now, it’s day by day.” Senators in the face, defenceman Dylan DeMelo says the goal against Thank you Ottawa fans and the @Senators for this in my first game back the Calgary Flames on Saturday afternoon should be simple. in Ottawa.. Will remember last night for the rest of my life.. Following the game, the Senators will head their separate ways for an https://t.co/bHCXDstl82 eight-day bye week/all-star break, and he says there’s no room for — Mark Stone (@MStoner61) January 17, 2020 excuses about a sub-par effort. THE STONE COLD TRUTH: Ron Hainsey has never played with Mark “We have to empty the tank, for sure,” DeMelo said. “Let’s be aggressive Stone, but he couldn’t say enough about the former Senators star, who and go after teams. We have nothing to lose. Everybody outside of this scored a goal and an assist in the Golden Knights’ 4-2 win over Ottawa. dressing room probably expects us to lose every game. “His impact is in every game,” said Hainsey. “I don’t know where you “For us, we just have to say, ‘Screw it, let’s go after these guys and see would rate him, but he’s among the top couple of wingers in the league. what happens.’ And we just can’t play scared.” His stick is great, he’s dangerous around the net and you saw the wraparound (goal).” Lost in the background of Stone’s return was the fact DeMelo says there have been good moments during the current nine- Connor Brown scored a goal and an assist while playing in his 300th game slide — four of the losses came in extra time — but he also career game. “You score a goal and you lose 4-2, it’s not a big deal or recognizes they’ve lost their edge for too many extended periods. He anything,” he said. “But 300 games, I feel that’s something to be proud suggests the Senators may have allowed themselves to become of. I’ve worked hard and I will continue to work hard to try and put intimidated early in Thursday’s 4-2 loss against the Vegas Golden together 300 more, and hopefully then some.” Knights, putting themselves in an early hole they couldn’t dig out of. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.18.2020 “For whatever reason, we gave Washington too much respect (a 6-1 loss on Jan. 7). And we gave Vegas too much respect. At the end of the day, we all put our shoes on the same way and all that stuff, and we’ve just got to go after teams and not be scared. If we make a mistake, be aggressive about it.”

Naturally, that’s all easier said than done. The experience gap between the loaded Washington and Vegas lineups and the Senators is big enough to drive a fleet of Zambonis through.

As difficult as it for Senators fans to stomach, coach D.J. Smith insists that going head-to-head against clubs that could win the Stanley Cup this season will pay off in the long run.

“I know that the experience that these young guys are learning, every day when you get an NHL game and you see what kind of shape you have to be in or how much stronger you have to get or how much better you have to get (in order) to get to the level of a (Mark) Stone or (Max) Pacioretty, or (Alex) Pietrangelo and the top end guys in this league, is invaluable,” Smith said.

DeMelo says there’s no other way to understand what it’s all about except to experience it first-hand.

“You learn as you go,” he said. “It’s something you acquire. Very few people get it right away. You learn through trial and tribulation.”

NEW OPPORTUNITY: One of the players receiving that on-the-job training is Filip Chlapik.

When Jean-Gabriel Pageau was a last-minute scratch Saturday due to an undisclosed upper-body injury, the lineup shuffle saw Chlapik move to centre from the wing. It’s not a big deal for him. It’s his natural position and the spot he was playing in Belleville before being recalled on Jan. 10.

“I don’t mind playing winger, but it’s pretty fun to play centre at the NHL level, which I never had a chance to do in the past.”

While with Belleville, he was taking most of the key faceoffs while skating on a line with Logan Brown.

“I’ve got a different role down there, taking the faceoffs in the defensive zone, playing on the penalty kill and the power play, playing the big minutes, important minutes.”

Chlapik has effectively replaced the injured Nick Paul, which is fitting. Both have played centre and wing, and both have had to learn to be grinders in the NHL after being offensive leaders in Belleville. 1171638 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers goaltender Alex Lyon relishing his latest chance in the NHL

by Ed Barkowitz,

Don’t believe Alex Lyon when he says his brain fell asleep for that three- minute span Thursday when the Canadiens scored three goals on the Flyers to seize control. Lyon graduated from Yale in political science and did his senior thesis on global nuclear war. This guy’s brain doesn’t fall asleep.

That excuse was just his way of covering for his teammates. Two of the goals came with Montreal having too much room to operate, and the third was off a scrum during a power play.

After a loss, most NHL players can move their focus to the next game. We’ll get 'em next time. Got to win more of the battles. That kind of thing. Lyon, doesn’t have that luxury. In fact, there’s a chance -- given the upcoming schedule -- that Thursday could have been his last start for the Flyers.

Veteran Brian Elliott is expected to get the call Saturday against Los Angeles and probably again Tuesday against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. After that, the Flyers are off for nine days. Carter Hart (groin) is expected to be back by then, which would send Lyon, 27, back to Lehigh Valley in the AHL.

“Being in the NHL is so awesome,” said Lyon, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2016. “I’ve worked my whole life to get here. Just being up for these couple of days has been a thrill. I just want to continue to do my best.”

Thursday’s game marked Lyon’s first NHL start in more than a year and just his ninth since making his NHL debut three seasons ago. He is a free agent at the end of the season.

“The nature of the business is that you want to play well, make more money, and do better,” said Lyon, who carries a modest $750,000 cap hit. “That’s what professional sports is all about. The one thing I’m focusing a lot on this year is staying healthy and just enjoying it.”

Lyon’s most notable professional moment was making 94 saves for the Phantoms in a 2018 playoff game that went five overtimes.

Flyers coach Alain Vigneault noted Thursday that Lyon was having a solid season in Lehigh Valley (2.56 GAA, .916 save percentage), which included a 37-save shutout against Laval in his most recent outing last Saturday.

“He deserves a chance to play,” the coach said. Lyon then stopped 36 of the Canadiens’ shots, but the Flyers got only one past Montreal’s Carey Price in the 4-1 loss.

Since he doesn’t know when his next NHL game will be, Lyon’s plan is to just stay ready and avoid Ben & Jerry’s.

“I pride myself on hard work," he said, "but there’s a difference between working hard and doing everything possible in your power to do things the right way.”

Example?

“It’s Friday night,” he continued, “and you have a glass of wine. You can either eat the whole pint of ice cream, or you can have a little bit. You can either feel good about yourself the next day. Or you can put yourself in a food coma for the rest of the weekend. It sounds stupid and simple, but I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life. I feel very at ease. I’m just trying to enjoy it and eat good meals up here in the NHL.”

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171639 Philadelphia Flyers Berube, who will accept the Team of the Year award from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association at a banquet Monday at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill, was asked if he thought he could have worked the same magic in Philadelphia that he did in St. Louis if given Flyers trying to copy St. Louis Blues’ template for success more time.

“I don’t know. That’s hard to say,” said the man who spent 18 years in the Flyers organization as a coach or player. “You’ve got to have the right by Sam Carchidi, team, and it all has to click. I would have liked to have had more of an opportunity there to get to a certain point, but, hey, that’s how it goes.”

You look at the Flyers and you see a little bit of the St. Louis Blues in Schenn, traded to St. Louis in 2017 for a package that featured draft them. picks that turned out to be Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, has blossomed into one of the Blues’ top scorers. St. Louis has been good for That’s not to say the Flyers are going to end a 45-year drought and win Schenn, who became an All-Star, a Stanley Cup champion, and the the Stanley Cup this season. Heck, with all the parity in the Eastern owner of an eight-year, $52 million contract extension. Conference, they will have to huff and puff just to make the playoffs. “I’m very happy to be a part of this organization. I [like] what they’ve built This is a team that can look like an also-ran (see its holiday road trip) one in this room, whether it’s guys like Steener or Petro or Vlady or the list of week, and like a serious contender the next week (see its wins over [other] guys who have been here a long time ” Schenn said, referring to powerhouses Washington, Boston, and St. Louis). Alexander Steen, Pietrangelo, and the injured Vladimir Tarasenko. “They built a heck of a culture here, a winning culture, and it’s fun to be a part “They’re a tough team to play against,” St. Louis coach of.” said before the Flyers outhit the defending Stanley Cup-champion Blues and dictated the pace in the last two-plus periods, emerging with a 4-3 The longtime Flyers — Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, and Sean overtime win Wednesday. Couturier, for instance — haven’t won a playoff series since 2012.

Coach Craig Berube carried the Stanley Cup after the Blues defeated the Has that lack of a winning culture held back the Flyers? Boston Bruins in Game 7 last June. Berube led them from dead last in the standings in January to their first Cup. “I think they have good pieces, good guys there, guys who lead the way,” Schenn said. “Guys like G and Jake and Coots. They do a good job of After beating the powerful Blues on the road, the Flyers returned home leading the guys on the right path. It’s a combination of everything. It’s and lost to struggling Montreal the next night. not just culture, right? You need the pieces and stuff like that, too.

Teams with Cup aspirations aren’t as inconsistent as the Flyers, "They’ve had good teams there. They’ve been to the Stanley Cup Finals especially on the road. They are tougher mentally, and more focused. not too many years ago [actually, it was in 2010], so I think the culture is Like the Blues. very good in Philadelphia. It’s only a matter of time, I’m sure, before they’re real, real good.” Consider: St. Louis has had four winning streaks of three or more games — including seven- and eight-game runs — and just one three-game The Flyers’ blueprint, which has been adjusted because of major medical losing streak in which it failed to pick up a point via a shootout or problems being confronted by Lindblom and Patrick, might cause overtime defeat. Fletcher to make a trade. Still, the goal is to put together a team in the Blues mold: strong defense and goaltending, and four lines that are hard Conversely, the Flyers, perhaps because their young defense and goalie to play against. are still maturing and seem lost on the road, have had four winning streaks of three or more games and three losing streaks of three games The pieces aren’t all there yet, but as they showed by recently beating in which they collected zero points. the NHL’s three top teams, the Flyers are making strides.

Still, there are signs, positive signs, that something is growing here and Now they have to find a way to maintain that consistency, that urgency, that the Flyers are using the Blues’ blueprint for success. that the Blues have shown by avoiding a Stanley Cup hangover.

Defense and goaltending carried the Blues to the franchise’s first Stanley Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.18.2020 Cup last season. That, and the accountability Berube demands from his players.

Similar plan

General manager Chuck Fletcher is using a similar plan. Like the Blues with Jordan Binnington, he has an inexperienced goalie, Carter Hart, with the potential to carry a team when healthy. And in the offseason, Fletcher upgraded the defense — calling it his No. 1 priority — and hired a coach, Alain Vigneault, with a winning resume and no-nonsense approach.

Like the Blues with Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko, the Flyers have two defensemen (Ivan Provorov and Travis Sanheim) who could be All- Stars in the making. Like the Blues, the Flyers have a defense that can become their identity.

“They have a good group of young defensemen who get into the play offensively, jump into the play a lot,” Berube said about the Flyers, his former team. “They’re an aggressive team. Alain Vigneault’s teams are always aggressive, and they put pressure on you.”

Former Flyer Brayden Schenn said another reason the Blues have been so consistent is that they have great balance among their four lines. That’s another area Vigneault has tried to emulate, spreading the talent among his lines, though it has become more challenging with Oskar Lindblom and Nolan Patrick sidelined.

Could he have won a Cup in Philly?

The Flyers had lots of holes on the team when Berube was fired by then- GM Ron Hextall after going 31-33-18 and missing the playoffs in 2014- 15. He was replaced by Dave Hakstol. 1171640 Philadelphia Flyers

'You know that word that starts with B?' — Alain Vigneault makes his point after frustrating Flyers loss

By Jordan Hall January 17, 2020 12:55 AM

Every so often, ever since training camp in mid-September, Alain Vigneault will remind everyone he wasn't here last year or the years prior.

He'll do so amicably when questions arise about a past season or trend with the club he now coaches. Vigneault likes to focus on the present and what's ahead.

After all, he doesn't want to act as if he's openly criticizing what happened before him.

"It's the start of a new era, a new group," he said Sept. 13, Day 1 of training camp.

If he didn't know, the type of loss the Flyers suffered Thursday night has become a recurring theme in recent years, the kind that drives the fan base up a wall. One night, the Flyers will look like world-beaters against the NHL's elite. Another night, they'll lose a game that had victory written all over it, leaving fans scratching their heads.

Except, Flyers fans are no longer dumbfounded by those types of losses because, quite frankly, their team has tended to suffer them predictably.

On Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers lost, 4-1, to the Canadiens, who are on the outside looking in at the playoff picture and had lost nine of their previous 11 games. What made the defeat particularly maddening was that the Flyers had just made a significant statement by beating the league's three best teams — the Capitals, Bruins and Blues — in the past four games.

The win over defending champion St. Louis came Wednesday night on the road. So on Thursday night, the Flyers were facing the second game of a back-to-back set, coming off the high of beating the champs in their building, and playing without either of their regular two goalies (see observations).

When "emotional letdown" was brought up at his postgame press conference, Vigneault wouldn't even tiptoe the line.

“You know that word that starts with B?" Vigneault asked.

Begins with bull and ends in ... ?

"I mean, these are big games," Vigneault said. "There’s almost nothing separating teams. And tonight, it’s a couple plays. I understand emotionally, but points are the same. This game was worth two. Last game was worth two. You’ve got to get up for it, you’ve got to get yourself ready, it’s going to be a battle.

"You do know the word I’m talking about, right?”

Sure do.

And his Flyers know those losses can't become a theme.

Vigneault will call out that bulls--t if he sees it.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171641 Philadelphia Flyers general manager) Chuck Fletcher is an extremely good guy and I just want to play my hardest for the organization and I’ll be a free agent (at the end of this season) so it adds a little extra incentive.”

Trimmed down Alex Lyon has ‘a little extra incentive’ in Flyers call-up Courier-Post LOADED: 01.18.2020

Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 11:43 a.m. ET Jan. 17, 2020

PHILADELPHIA — Last year was a circus between the pipes for the Flyers and their NHL-record eight goalies. Alex Lyon only got two games, in part due to injury.

He and Michal Neuvirth both suffered groin injuries in training camp so the Flyers had to pick up Cal Pickard on waivers. There were several other opportunities throughout the year due to further re-injuries to Neuvirth and Brian Elliott and Anthony Stolarz and a new ailment for Carter Hart. But Lyon was re-injured as well.

He shed 11 pounds over the summer and reported to camp leaner than ever since signing with the Flyers out of Yale University in 2016.

“For whatever reason, I don’t know if it was anything I could have done, but in my mind it’s like, ‘You’re not doing enough,’” he said Thursday night, after his first NHL action since December of 2018. “I feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. As long as I can hit my head on the pillow and be happy, that’s all I really care about at this point.”

He’s split the net with Jean-François Bérubé for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season and been one of the rare bright spots for the team that sits seventh in its division. Lyon’s .916 save percentage ranks 11th among AHL goalies. It’s a big year for Lyon as the 27-year-old backstop is set to hit unrestricted free agency for the first time.

He’s put in the work and it’s paying off with the Phantoms. Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens it wasn’t as great. He allowed four goals on 40 shots, but was hardly the reason the Flyers lost 4-1. He was much more efficient in his movement since the last time he was up in the NHL and acknowledged he felt, “significantly more at ease.”

Alain Vigneault had no complaints, although Lyon wanted back at least one of the two goals Montreal scored in a span of 11 seconds when his “brain fell asleep a little bit.”

“He did what you want a goaltender to do. He gave us a chance,” Vigneault said. “He made some good saves early. Unfortunately execution wise, we weren’t as good.”

Lyon is up because Hart is out with a lower right abdominal strain. A two- to three-week timetable comes at a good time for the Flyers because of the All-Star break and bye week. If it’s on the shorter end of that spectrum, Hart may miss as few as four games and half of them are already in the rear view mirror.

The flip side of that is less time for Lyon to prove himself at this level. He has played only 14 NHL games across three seasons and has a .894 save percentage. There are no back-to-back scenarios in Hart’s two- week window, so it’s possible that Elliott plays the remaining games until Hart returns. If he needs more time, then perhaps Elliott and Lyon split a back-to-back Jan. 31 at Pittsburgh and February 1 at home against the Colorado Avalanche.

In a free agent class of goalies this summer that currently includes Anton Khudobin, Braden Holtby, Corey Crawford, Robin Lehner, Jaroslav Halák, Thomas Greiss and Jacob Markström, Lyon has a lot of teams to audition for. The Flyers may still be one of them, considering Elliott is part of that class as well and will be 36 when his contract expires.

“The nature of the business is you want to play well so you can make more money and do better,” Lyon said when asked if his contract year had any effect on his preparation. “That’s what professional sports is all about. In that sense, yes, I want to do well but I’m learning as I go and trying to get smarter and appreciate every day and try to stay healthy. I think that’s one thing I’m really focusing a lot on this year and just enjoying it. Being in the NHL is just so awesome and I’ve worked my whole life to get here, so just being up for these couple days has been a thrill and I want to keep doing my best.

“That’s what I’m trying to learn is that it doesn’t matter where you are, doesn’t matter what they want to do. I have faith in the management that they’re going to make good decisions. I think (Flyers president and 1171642 Pittsburgh Penguins • Letang led the game with 28:36 of ice time on 29 shifts. • Defenseman Filip Hronek led the Red Wings with 26:05 of ice time on

32 shifts. Empty Thoughts: Penguins 2, Red Wings 1 (OT) • The Penguins had a 27-23 advantage in faceoffs (54 percent).

• Crosby was 14 for 22 (64 percent). SETH RORABAUGH | Saturday, January 18, 2020 4:13 a.m. • Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin was 6 for 9 (67 percent).

• Red Wings defenseman Patrik Nemeth led the game with five blocked DETROIT — It just sounds cool. shots.

“He’s a 20-goal scorer.” • Letang and defenseman Marcus Pettersson each led the Penguins with two blocked shots. For whatever reason, that number validates a player’s status as a goal scorer. Historically speaking

It can also get a player paid. • The Penguins’ last overtime win against the Red Wings was a 7-6 victory at Joe Louis Arena, Nov. 11, 2008. Penguins forward Jordan Former Penguins forwards Conor Sheary and Tyler Kennedy have Staal had a hat trick and a great strip of Red Wings forward Pavel received multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts for hitting that plateau Datsyuk to set up forward Ruslan Fedotenko’s game-winner. just once. • Rust (156 points) surpassed Tomas Sandstrom (155) and Bob If you’re a 20-goal scorer, you’re just a different class of player, almost “Battleship” Kelly (154) for 57th place on the franchise’s career scoring seemingly for the remainder of your career. list.

Hit that 20-goal mark 11 years ago? You’re still a 20-goal scorer. • Nielsen recorded his 300th career assist.

Plus … it’s just cool. Randomly speaking

Don’t take our word for it. Ask a 20-goal scorer. • In his past six games, Murray has a 5-1-0 record along with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. During his previous “It’s pretty cool,” said Penguins forward Bryan Rust, a hour or so after he six games before this stretch, he was 0-2-3 with a 3.99 goals-against hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career near his hometown of average and an .852 save percentage. Troy, Mich.” It’s kind of one of those ‘milestone’ things that once you get closer and closer, you kind of look at as somewhere where you want to • The Penguins’ power play was 2 for 4. Over their past four games, they be. Over the past few years, I’ve gotten close. Whether it’s injuries or not are 6 for 15 (40.0 percent). being able to put a few more in the net, I haven’t been able to do it. It’s pretty special to be able to do it, and especially to be able to do it here.” • Malkin has gone three games without a penalty. Considering he had penalties in eight of his previous nine games, he’s trending in the right Beyond being cool, Rust has been pretty important for the Penguins this direction. season. His goal on Friday got his team on the scoreboard against a limited but hard-working Red Wings team. Publicly speaking

“(Rust) has played extremely well for us,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan • Sullivan on Rust’s presence on the power play: said. “He’s playing in all situations. We use him on the penalty kill. We “He’s been really good on it. He supports the puck so well. His offensive use him on the power play, on the first power-play (unit). His confidence game has really evolved. He’s hanging onto pucks. He’s seeing the ice is at an all-time high, as it should be. He’s playing extremely well. It’s not extremely well. But he supports the puck so well, he plays that pocket easy to score 20 goals in this league.” really well. When the flanks are under pressure, he comes to the puck. Plus, it’s cool. He provides that release that a lot of times, beats the pressure. He’s really playing well right now. You’ve got to give (Rust) so much credit for What happened the work that he’s put in. His mindset is where it should be, he’s hungry, he’s confident and he’s playing the best hockey I think since I’ve been Taking a cross-ice pass from Red Wings forward Frans Nielsen, Red coaching him.” Wings forward Filip Zadina settled a puck in the top of the left circle and hurried a wrister as Penguins defenseman Jack Johnson approached • Rust on the power play’s success as of late: with a stick-check attempt. Red Wings forward Givani Smith was positioned above the crease as a screen, allowing the puck to go “We’re all working together well. We all are moving around. We aren’t between his legs and through Murray’s five hole for his sixth goal of the trying to make things too cute. And I don’t think we’re getting stagnant season. Assists went to Nielsen and former Penguins defenseman out there. The more motion we have and the more pucks we’re getting to Trevor Daley. the net, that just makes us more dangerous.”

The Penguins tied the score 3:36 into the third period with a power-play • Sullivan on Murray’s improved play as of late: goal of their own. Spinning off a check from Red Wings forward Luke “It appears to me like he’s just seeing it. When Matt’s at his best, he Glendening and controlling a puck at the left point, Penguins forward makes difficult saves look routine. I think it’s because of his ability to read Sidney Crosby fed a pass to center point for Kris Letang, who one- plays. He squares up to the puck. His depth in the crease is really good. touched it to forward Evgeni Malkin on the left half wall. Malkin Pucks tend to hit him or they miss the net because of his depth in the immediately fed a cross-ice pass to Rust in the right circle. From there, crease whether he’s at the top of the paint or he’s in the middle of the Rust lifted a wrister which clinked off the near post and into the net past paint or whether he’s going to play deeper if there’s a backdoor option or goaltender Jimmy Howard’s glove. Malkin and Letang netted assists. whatever it may be. He’s making good reads. He’s tracking the puck well. At 1:33 of overtime, the Penguins claimed the win. Working on a four-on- He’s finding the puck through the traffic. And he’s swallowing pucks so three power-play opportunity, Malkin controlled the puck on the right half that next-play opportunity isn’t there for our opponents.” wall and chopped a shot-pass to the Crosby, positioned above the • Rust on Murray’s approach to his job over the past two months while crease. Crosby tapped the puck past Howard’s right skate for his eighth losing starts to Tristan Jarry: goal. Assists went to Malkin and Rust. “He’s been the ultimate professional. I’m not sure he’s too happy about it Statistically speaking but he comes to work every day, doesn’t scowl, doesn’t sulk. He comes • The Penguins controlled shots, 37-29. in, works hard, has fun, does his job and just waits for his time. That’s what he’s been doing and he’s been playing great for us lately.” • Malkin led the game with six shots. • Sullivan spoke about his team’s better effort in puck battles after lacking • Smith led the Red Wings with four shots. in that area the night before in Boston: “We had the puck a lot. We had a lot of zone time. We were hanging onto pucks in that offensive zone. That’s when our team is at our best. We stayed close and offered that support when there were 50-50 puck battles. Those are the kind of details that are important. But you’ve got to work for one another to support those types of plays. I thought we did a much better job of working together tonight.”

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Minor league report: Penguins fall to Stars, 4-3, in shootout

SETH RORABAUGH | Saturday, January 18, 2020 12:03 a.m.

Forward Kevin Roy had a regulation goal and two assists for the Wilkes- Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 4-3 road shootout loss to the Texas Stars at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas on Friday.

Goaltender Emil Larmi made 24 saves for the Penguins (18-16-3-4) who have lost seven of their past eight games. Forward Adam Johnson netted a regulation goal and an assist for the Penguins.

Highlights:

The Penguins’ next game is on the road against the San Antonio Rampage at the AT&T Center in San Antonio on Saturday, 8 p.m.

Forwards Justin Almeida, a fifth-round pick of the Penguins, and Cam Brown each had a goal and an assist for the Wheeling Nailers in a 5-4 road loss to the Kalamazoo Wings at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Goaltender Alex D’Orio made 24 saves for the Nailers (17-17-4-0) who have lost five out of their past six games.

Highlights:

The Nailers’ next game is against the Indy Fuel at the Indiana Famers Coliseum in Indianapolis on Saturday, 7:05 p.m.

Tribune Review LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171644 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins improved their record to 10-5 in games decided in overtime, and Murray improved his overall record to 14-6-4.

Starter or otherwise, his play is trending in a positive direction. Matt Murray shines in Penguins’ overtime win against Red Wings “He’s been the ultimate professional,” Rust said. “I’m not sure he’s too happy about (not playing as much), but he comes to work every day, doesn’t scowl, doesn’t sulk. He comes in, works hard, has fun, does his SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, January 17, 2020 10:09 p.m. job and just waits for his time. That’s what he’s been doing, and he’s been playing great for us lately.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 01.18.2020 DETROIT — Over the past two months, Mike Sullivan repeatedly has stopped short of saying if he has an unquestioned No. 1 goaltender.

He just happens to have one who starts most of the time and recently was named to the NHL’s All-Star Game event.

The other is Matt Murray.

Murray made 28 saves for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 2-1 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings Friday at Little Caesars Arena. It was his fourth consecutive win.

Since late November, Murray virtually has been the backup to Tristan Jarry. Sullivan has suggested that role, even if undeclared by coaches or management, has allowed Murray to fine-tune his game by spending extra time with goaltending coach Mike Buckley.

“It appears to me like he’s just seeing it,” Sullivan said. “When Matt’s at his best, he makes difficult saves look routine. I think it’s because of his ability to read plays. He squares up to the puck. His depth in the crease is really good. Pucks tend to hit him or they miss the net because of his depth in the crease, whether he’s at the top of the paint or he’s in the middle of the paint or whether he’s going to play deeper if there’s a backdoor option or whatever it may be.

“He’s making good reads. He’s tracking the puck well. He’s finding the puck through the traffic. And he’s swallowing pucks so that next-play opportunity isn’t there for our opponents.”

In his past six games, Murray has a 5-1-0 record along with a 2.82 goals- against average and a .904 save percentage.

Those numbers aren’t exactly All-Star caliber or even worthy of being named the NHL’s third star of the week, but they represent a considerable improvement from his six games before this stretch in which he went 0-2-3 with a 3.99 goals-against average and an .852 save percentage.

“The last couple games, I’ve felt like I’m getting a little bit better and better each time,” Murray said. “I felt pretty good again out there today. So I just try to keep building today.”

Following a languid first period for both teams, the Red Wings opened the scoring at 3 minutes, 29 seconds of the second period with a power- play goal.

Taking a cross-ice pass from Red Wings forward Frans Nielsen, Red Wings forward Filip Zadina settled a puck in the top of the left circle and hurried a wrister as Penguins defenseman Jack Johnson approached with a stick-check attempt. Red Wings forward Givani Smith was positioned above the crease as a screen, allowing the puck to go between his legs and through Murray’s five hole for his sixth goal of the season.

The Penguins tied the score 3:36 into the third period with a power-play goal of their own. Spinning off a check from Red Wings forward Luke Glendening and controlling a puck at the left point, Penguins forward Sidney Crosby fed a pass to center point for Kris Letang, who one- touched it to forward Evgeni Malkin on the left half wall.

Malkin immediately fed a cross-ice pass to forward Bryan Rust in the right circle. From there, Rust, a native of Pontiac, Mich., lifted a wrister which clinked off the near post and into the net past goaltender Jimmy Howard’s glove. It was Rust’s 20th goal of the season, the first time in his six-year career he has reached that plateau.

At 1:33 of overtime, the Penguins claimed the win. Working on a four-on- three power-play opportunity, Malkin controlled the puck on the right half wall and chopped a shot-pass to the Crosby, positioned above the crease. Crosby tapped the puck past Howard’s right skate for his eighth goal. 1171645 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins to start Matt Murray against Red Wings

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, January 17, 2020 6:13 p.m.

DETROIT — The Penguins are expected to start goaltender Matt Murray for Friday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings in Little Caesars Arena, according to coach Mike Sullivan.

In 25 games this season, Murray has a 13-6-4, a 2.91 goals against average, an .896 save percentage and one shutout.

Having been virtually supplanted as the starting goaltender by Tristan Jarry over the past two months, Murray has had the benefit of working more extensively with goaltending coach Mike Buckley.

Sullivan suggested the finer points of Murray’s skill set have improved due to that extended one-on-one time with Buckley.

“A lot of it has,” Sullivan said. “His complete overall game has. His positioning in the crease is sharper. As a result, I think his game is getting better with every start he has. We really like the direction he’s going.”

Earlier this week, Sullivan lauded Murray’s attitude while Jarry has taken over.

“I think Matt’s been a great pro,” Sullivan said. “He has a certain maturity about him. I think he understands the business. He controls what he can. He’s got a great work ethic, a great approach. I think he’s handled the adversity extremely well.”

Notes:

• Sullivan offered an update of sorts on injured defenseman Brian Dumoulin, sidelined since Nov. 30 due to a left ankle injury.

“I can’t give you time frames at this point where he’s at with respect to when he’s going on the ice,” Sullivan said. “I do know that he’s making progress.”

On Friday, Dumoulin was spotted walking by the dressing room of the team’s facility in Cranberry without the assistance of crutches.

• After losing, 4-1, on the road to the Boston Bruins on Thursday, the Penguins did not stage a morning skate Friday.

• Former Penguins defenseman Trevor Daley will return to the Red Wings’ lineup after missing four games due to an undisclosed injury. Various ailments have limited him to 22 games and one assist this season.

• The Red Wings are expected to start goaltender Jimmy Howard. In 19 games this season, Howard has a 2-16-1 record along with a 4.26 goals against average and an .876 goals against average.

• In in his two games since returning from a core muscle injury which sidelined him for two-plus months, Penguins forward Sidney Crosby has five points (two goals, three assists).

One person not surprised by that production is Daley. A member of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup teams in 2016 and 2017, Daley saw first-hand what Crosby is capable of.

“It’s kind of normal for him,” Daley said to Detroit reporters. “That’s why he’s so great. He can do stuff like that.”

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Penguins pick up depth defenseman John Nyberg in trade with Dallas

Tribune-Review TRIBUNE-REVIEW | Friday, January 17, 2020 2:24 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Penguins made a minor league trade Friday, sending center Oula Palve to the Dallas Stars for defenseman John Nyberg.

Nyberg, 23, is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound two-way defender who was picked in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. He is playing his second season in North America, recording two goals, six points and an even plus-minus rating in 19 games with Dallas’ AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars.

Nyberg is in the last year of an entry level contract that pays him $745,000 when in the NHL. He will report to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Penguins signed the 27-year-old Palve to some fanfare in April, as he was coming off a 16-goal, 51-point season in Finland’s top league. He was seen as a player who could challenge for a bottom-six center position on the NHL roster.

He hasn’t fared well in Wilkes-Barre, recording a goal, eight points and a minus-20 rating in 37 games.

Tribune Review LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171647 Pittsburgh Penguins wasn’t that strange because I just had (former coach Joel) Quenneville for 13 games or how long it took. For the rest of the team, they had him for 10 years.”

Penguins are no strangers to midseason coaching changes Kris Letang: “It’s another kind of wake-up call for the guys. Something is not clear, and obviously it’s easier to change one coach than (23 players). Usually it’s a shock, but, at the same time, it kind of creates a new challenge for everybody in the room and a chance to prove what you SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, January 17, 2020 12:25 p.m. can do for a new coach. Maybe he sees differently than the old coach. It’s always a shock, but it’s always a new start, also. It’s usually exciting for the guys.” On Wednesday, the Vegas Golden Knights did something they had never done before. Chad Ruhwedel: “It can be tough. Some guys prefer certain coaches. But usually a coaching change is for the best, and the team rallies around. … They fired their coach. It’s typically a feeling-out process. But from the few times I’ve experienced it, they hire from within so you’re already familiar with the Granted, Gerard Gallant was the first coach in that franchise’s history, guy.” but it was a milestone of sorts for the franchise. Justin Schultz: “It’s shocking. It’s really weird. Most situations, it has It also kept them en vogue with much of the league this season. something to do with the players, so you feel responsible. It brings an Gallant, who performed well enough to be selected as the coach for the energy boost to the team sometimes. Sometimes, it’s good to get a new Pacific Division in this month’s All-Star Game, was the seventh coach face back there, but it’s definitely tough. … Just a new guy in there, it’s fired in 2019-20. weird and different. They usually have different strategies and different ways to go about their business. It definitely takes some time to get used In most cases, a lack of success — or in Gallant’s case, enough success to.” — led to a change. And for a few teams, such as the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars, a coach’s personal behavior was the cause for dismissal. And what is that change like for the coach himself?

Two coaches were fired and hired by another team in a matter of weeks. Sullivan: “It’s a challenge. It’s not like you can come right in and change everything. My experience was I tried to prioritize how I could effect some John Hynes was fired by the Devils on Dec. 3, then hired by the Nashville change and where I could effect some change. Then slowly implement Predators on Jan. 7. Gallant’s successor, Peter DeBoer, was dismissed the strategies that I felt were best suited for the group of personnel that by the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 11. you have. I guess all coaches are different. You probably get different “It’s a reality of how competitive the business is,” said Pittsburgh answers if you ask coaches around the league that question, but that’s Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, the NHL’s fifth-most tenured coach who just my experience.” was promoted from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in December 2015 to replace Tribune Review LOADED: 01.18.2020 Mike Johnston. “There’s pressure to win in every city. So it just seems in today’s game, there’s an elevated form of pressure on everybody that’s involved in the business, whether it be managers, scouts, coaches, players. That’s the nature of the business and how it’s evolved.

“These guys are all real good coaches. They’re well prepared. I know how invested they are in trying to help their teams win. I know some of them personally. I don’t know others as much. But I know from coaching against these guys they’re all good coaches. It’s an indication of how high the stakes are and the pressure that’s involved with winning with every respective city in the league.”

A handful of recent Stanley Cup champions such as the 2016 Penguins and the ’19 St. Louis Blues have claimed the championship after a midseason change with their coach.

Obviously, that change is profound to the coaches involved. But what it is like for players getting a new coach in the middle of the season?

Members of the Penguins who have been on teams where an in-season change was made recently were asked that question.

Sidney Crosby: “As a player, you don’t feel good about it. Then you have to turn the page and focus on what it is the new coach wants to focus on. Everyone’s got to kind of prove themselves all over again. There’s kind of a feeling-out process there. You see St. Louis that did it last year, and they ended up winning. They were able to do that pretty quickly. It’s never an easy thing to go through, though.”

Alex Galchenyuk: “It was actually weird because it was the bye week, and it was the first time I think (the NHL had) a bye week. You have a lot of time off, then something huge like that happens. It was new for me. It was the first time in my career that it happened. You come in, you want to see what the new coach is like. A new voice, new systems and all of that.”

Jack Johnson: “Changes are made, and you’ve got to adapt to the changes and get in sync as a team. … We all understand it’s pro sports. It’s usually because the team is not performing, and you feel responsible, you feel guilty. And you feel for the coach. He’s got a family, too, and everything. In most cases, it’s because the team is not performing. In that way, you feel responsible.”

Dominik Kahun: “Lots of times, you get new energy, maybe new tactics. But last year in Chicago, we didn’t change much. Because (Blackhawks coach Jeremy) Collition was (with the Blackhawks AHL affiliate previously), they did the same stuff as (the NHL team). … For me, it 1171648 Pittsburgh Penguins In OT, the Penguins converted on another power play, this one 4-on-3. Malkin aimed a slapshot toward the stick of Crosby, who steered it past Howard to give the Penguins a win and a happy ending to their annual “Dad’s trip.” Sidney Crosby scores game-winning goal to beat Red Wings in overtime “I just put my stick on the ice and Geno put it right on my blade,” he said.

After going 0-for-3 in Boston, the Penguins went 2-for-4 on the power MATT VENSEL Pittsburgh Post-Gazette JAN 18, 2020 3:18 AM play in Detroit. They’re 4-for-11 in three games with Crosby back in the lineup.

“They made great decisions with the puck. They made great plays. Both DETROIT — The Penguins have plowed through myriad obstacles while goals they got were great goals,” Sullivan said. “I think it’s just a matter of posting one of the NHL’s top records since the start of December. guys being locked in and executing. I think that’s what it boiled down to.” They’ve marched on without important players. They’ve dug out of deep deficits. They’ve shrugged off unfortunate breaks. And they’ve stared Crosby totaled three goals and three assists in his first three games back down formidable opponents. from sports hernia surgery. Friday was the team’s third game in four days. The captain logged more than 20 minutes of ice time in each game During this torrid stretch, they have also been remarkably consistent on a of this back-to-back. game-to-game basis. They hadn’t had two sluggish games in a row. “It’s very impressive. It’s hard for guys to come back off of injuries. That changed Friday against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Usually there’s an adjustment process of getting used to the timing and Arena. intensity of the NHL game,” Sullivan said. “I just think that the fact that One night after they were outclassed in a clash of two of the Eastern he’s been able to have the impact that he’s had in the first few games is Conference’s top teams, they barely beat the league’s worst team. It took amazing.” a power-play goal in overtime from Sidney Crosby to eke out a 2-1 win. With 28 saves, Murray had another solid performance between the pipes, But a win is a win, and the Penguins still have not lost consecutive making it four in a row for the disposed starting goalie. The Penguins games since late November. were pretty sound defensively, limiting the number of high-danger “We didn’t like the way we played [Thursday] night,” Bryan Rust said, chances he had to shut down. He tracked the puck well and held his referencing their 4-1 loss to the Bruins in Boston. “We got outworked. ground on a few scrambles in front. And then to be able to come back here tonight, work hard in a tough “He was awesome tonight,” Rust said. “He made some really big saves situation, was big for us.” for us at key times. They pushed hard and had some moments in the The Red Wings entered Friday with just 12 wins and were last in the NHL game where he stood tall and made some big saves, and I think that in both scoring and goals against. The light at the end of the tunnel this gave everyone else life.” summer could be Alexis Lafreniere, the Rimouski star expected to be The Penguins now have eight wins in their last 10 road games. drafted first overall. They will play host to the Bruins at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday. The Red Wings weren’t the “tough” opponent. Their travel schedule was. Post Gazette LOADED: 01.18.2020 After taking a physical and metaphorical pounding at TD Garden on Thursday, the Penguins and dozens of dads didn’t land in Detroit until around 2 a.m. Friday. The 7:30 p.m. start time bought them a little bit of time. But they still looked sleepy, showing fatigue towards the end of a stretch of 11 games in 20 days.

“This game was a hard game physically. It was a tough travel night. We got in extremely late. And those are never easy starts,” Mike Sullivan said. “Our players did a good job. They managed the game properly. They didn’t force things that weren’t there. We had some opportunities in the first. I thought we were fine.”

After an uneventful first period, the Red Wings scored on a power play to take a 1-0 lead 3:29 into the second period. With Givani Smith posted up just outside the crease, Filip Zadina’s shot from the point made it through Matt Murray.

The Penguins started to show signs of life in the second period, especially near its end. It carried over into the third, and their power play put them over the top.

Sidney Crosby scores early, but Bruins dominate Penguins the rest of the night

Early in that period, they patiently picked apart the Red Wings with simple passes. Evgeni Malkin slipped the final one through a crease in the penalty-kill alignment to Rust, who beat Howard glove-side for his 20th of the season.

This is the first 20-goal season for Rust, the 27-year-old Michigan native.

With the Penguins looking to shed salary this summer, Rust’s name came up in trade rumors. He tuned out the chatter and grinded away, working to become a more consistent offensive player. He missed the first three weeks of the season with an injury but has arguably played at an All-Star level ever since.

“He’s really playing well right now,” Sullivan said. “You’ve got to give Rusty so much credit for the work that he’s put in. But his mindset is where it should be. He’s hungry. He’s confident. And he’s playing the best hockey, I think, since I’ve been coaching him – and that’s quite a while now.” 1171649 Pittsburgh Penguins For Murray, it was just his fourth start since the NHL’s Christmas break. Before Friday, his game appeared to be on the upswing despite a couple of goofy goals against. In his three previous starts, he went 3-0-0 with a .916 save percentage. Brian Dumoulin 'making progress' but no timetable for his return to the ice Sullivan believes the extra work that the 25-year-old has been getting in recent practices with goalie coach Mike Buckley is starting to pay dividends.

MATT VENSEL Pittsburgh Post-Gazette JAN 18, 2020 12:27 AM “I think his complete overall game has [improved],” Sullivan said. “I think his positioning in the crease is sharper, and I think as a result his game is

getting better with every start he has. So, we really like the direction he’s DETROIT — Coach Mike Sullivan said Friday that the Penguins still don’t going.” have a timetable for when injured defenseman Brian Dumoulin will return Around the boards to the ice. The Penguins began Friday night with the same forward lines and “I can’t give you time frames at this point [for] where he’s at with respect defensive pairs they used a night earlier in Boston. ... Sidney Crosby’s to when he’s going on the ice,” he said before they played the Detroit goal 24 seconds into the loss against the Bruins marked the 12th time in Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. “All I can tell you is that I do know his career he scored in the first minute of a game. Only Mark Messier, he’s making progress.” with 13 such goals, has more in NHL history. ... Jack Johnson picked up Sunday marks seven weeks since Dumoulin had surgery to repair his 300th career point Thursday. lacerated tendons in his left ankle. He suffered his injury in the first period Post Gazette LOADED: 01.18.2020 of their Nov. 30 loss in St. Louis. He had surgery the next morning at UPMC Presbyterian. The Penguins said then that he would be out at least eight weeks.

Dumoulin arguably was their best defensive defenseman before the injury. At that point, the 6-foot-4, 207-pound blue-liner led the Penguins with a plus-17 rating, ranked third in blocked shots and was seventh in hits. He was a trusted penalty-killer. And he chipped in with 1 goal and 6 assists in 23 games.

The Penguins have continued to play well without Dumoulin and another of their top defensemen, Justin Schultz. But the play of Dumoulin’s partner, Kris Letang, has been up and down since Dumoulin was injured. Letang has recorded 3 goals and 13 points with a plus-3 rating in 20 games without Dumoulin. But in five of those games, he had a minus-2 rating.

Letang again skated with Jack Johnson Friday night in the game against the Red Wings in Detroit.

The Penguins are currently in a stretch of seven road games in 10 games overall, which means Dumoulin has been pretty isolated from his teammates and the coaching staff as he rehabilitates his injury at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Sullivan said the Penguins will look to reintegrate him as his return nears.

“We have people back in Pittsburgh that work with him on a daily basis as far as the rehab process is concerned,” Sullivan said. “And as he starts to get a little closer to playing, we’ll get him involved in more meetings and things of that nature so that he’s tuned in to all the details of our team game.”

Minor deal

The Penguins completed a swap of minor leaguers Friday with the Dallas Stars, acquiring defenseman John Nyberg in exchange for forward Oula Palve. Nyberg reported to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

Nyberg, 23, played 19 games this season for the Texas Stars of the AHL and recorded two goals and six points. He has 12 points in 63 career AHL games. The 6-3, 195-pound blue-liner was a sixth-round pick of the Stars in 2014.

Can Sidney Crosby's return spark the Penguins' struggling power play?

The Penguins signed Palve out of Finland’s top pro league last summer in the hopes he would compete for a NHL roster spot in training camp. But the 27-year-old failed to make an impression and was sent to the AHL club.

In 37 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he had just 1 goal with 7 assists and a minus-20 rating. Palve was a healthy scratch in the team’s previous three games prior to being traded to the Stars, their opponent Friday night.

Another start for Murray

Matt Murray got the nod in goal Friday with the Penguins in the second half of their back-to-back. Tristan Jarry started the 4-1 loss against the Bruins Thursday night in Boston. 1171650 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins-Red Wings: Game time, TV info and matchup notes

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

The Penguins face the Red Wings tonight in Detroit. Here’s everything you need to know about this impending matchup:

Who: Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

Sidney Crosby pours a drink for his dad, Troy, after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, June 12, 2009, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Mike DeFabo

Penguins kick off annual Dads' Trip in Boston

Look, listen: AT&T SportsNet, NHL Network (subject to blackout); WXDX-FM (105.9), PittsburghPenguins.com

Noteworthy: Friday marks the second of three meetings between the Detroit Red Wings and Penguins. The Penguins won the first meeting (Dec. 7) of the season, 5-3. ... Friday marks the Penguins’ 11th back-to- back of the season. In the previous 10, the Penguins are 6-4 in the second half of such games. ... After playing arguably one of the best teams in the NHL Thursday night in Boston, the Penguins will face without question the worst team in the NHL Friday. The Red Wings (12- 32-3) have just 27 points this season and are the only NHL team with fewer than 40 points. ... LW Tyler Bertuzzi leads the Red Wings with 34 points, followed by C Dylan Larkin (31), D Filip Hronek (26) and RW Anthony Mantha (24).

Did you know: Penguins G Matt Murray is likely to get the nod in net in the second half of this back-to-back. He currently is one shutout from surpassing Les Binkley for sole possession of the third-most shutouts in club history with 12.

Post Gazette LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171651 Pittsburgh Penguins know, I paid attention a lot over the years to what those guys were doing on the top unit. I paid attention in meetings. And I’m just trying to make the most of it now.”

Bryan Rust continues to replace Phil Kessel admirably as Penguins win The Penguins very likely will acquire a winger in an attempt to replace in OT the injured Guentzel in the top six. Rust, however, already has a spot in the top six and, if he keeps performing at this level, figures to remain on that top power-play unit.

By Josh Yohe Jan 17, 2020 “He’s really good on it,” Sullivan said. “He supports the puck so well. His offensive game has really evolved. He’s hanging onto pucks. He’s seeing

the ice extremely well. He supports it so well. He plays the pocket really DETROIT — The Penguins relied heavily on Phil Kessel to well. When the flanks are under pressure, he comes to the puck. He their power play during his four years in Pittsburgh. He did so brilliantly, provides that release that beats the pressure.” and the power play hasn’t been the same without him. In other words, Rust’s feel for the power play is at a particularly high It seems they have found another answer, however. Like in every other level. facet of their game this season, the answer is very simply Bryan Rust. “I give Rusty so much credit for the work he’s put in,” Sullivan said. “His The Michigan native scored a professional goal in Detroit for the first time mindset is where it should be. He’s hungry. He’s confident. He’s playing in his career, burying his career-high 20th of the season and helping the the best hockey he’s played since I’ve been coaching him, and it’s been Penguins to a 2-1 overtime victory. Sidney Crosby finished off the game quite a while now.” with the overtime tally. He’s playing so well, he even scored a goal in his hometown in front of Of course, the Penguins made their way into overtime only because Rust 27 friends and family members. evened the score with a third-period power-play goal. Rust now has four “It was definitely cool to get a milestone goal here,” he said. “I never play goals and 10 points while playing on the top power play. well here. Ever.” “He’s been really good on it,” Mike Sullivan said. He’s playing at an exceptional level this season wherever he plays. Rust has never really had the chance to play on the top power-play unit. Even on the power play. In fact, there have been occasions when the Penguins didn’t use him on the second power-play grouping. Ten postgame observations

While Rust long ago became a household name in Pittsburgh because of • High marks to Matt Murray, who stopped 28 of 29 shots. He was his impressive two-way play and postseason heroics, he’s always been a screened on Detroit’s only goal but acknowledged — accurately — that player who is exclusively effective while in motion. His speed and he should have reacted more quickly to the puck. Nonetheless, it was tenacity made him a good NHL player. Attributes commonly associated another solid performance from Murray, who seems to be finding himself. with thriving on the power play — patience, puck distribution, vision — No, the Red Wings aren’t the ’85 Oilers or anything, but Murray was have never been attached to him. square to the puck all evening and looked very much in control. Consider these numbers: Murray has won four consecutive starts (and five of six), Not until now, anyway. Sullivan often refers to it as the “evolution of his save percentage has exceeded .900 in four consecutive outings, and Rusty’s game,” and it’s been something to see. for the season, the Penguins are 15-7-4 when Murray starts. I realize “I was actually pretty decent on the power play in college and in the wins and losses aren’t often a fair way to gauge goaltenders, but that’s ,” Rust said. “But you see the personnel we’ve had here still a 107-point pace for the Penguins in games started by Murray. on the power play. It’s pretty hard to argue with it.” Tristan Jarry has been the best goalie in the NHL during the past two months and absolutely deserves to be receiving the bulk of the starts. Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guentzel were always going to be on This is indisputable. But it’s only a good thing if Murray finds his form. He the power play this season. Kris Letang runs the show at the point. Justin appears to be doing so. Schultz can give the Penguins a two-defensemen look. Patric Hornqvist is arguably the best net-front power-play presence of his generation. • Speaking of finding one’s form, Crosby has been sensational in his three games back. I thought he played better against the Red Wings than With Guentzel out, Rust has answered the bell in a big way. On the he did against the Bruins, though it probably helps that Patrice Bergeron winning goal Friday, he patiently executed a perfect, cross-rink pass to isn’t employed by Detroit. Still, what Crosby has done is pretty special. Malkin, who then found Crosby for the winner. Crosby has six points in three games since returning and a goal in each game. We probably take it for granted because of Crosby’s historical “He’s done a great job,” Crosby said. “He’s playing at a really high level greatness, but we shouldn’t. He’s playing without the team’s best winger, in every situation. Power play, shorthanded, even strength. And he looks has to be rusty even if it doesn’t show and just had to play back-to-back really comfortable on the power play to me.” nights and three times in four nights. The All-Star break will be good for Rust buried a shot from the right circle to even the score with a power- him. Consider this stretch of games a mere test drive for Crosby. So far, play tally in the third period. This was noteworthy, Crosby explained, so good. He’s been outstanding. Crosby doesn’t quite seem to have his because for all of Kessel’s greatness on the power play, he was pretty stamina all the way back, as I noticed he was a bit fatigued toward the stationary on the left-wing half wall. Rust is used in many roles, end of some shifts in the past two games. But it will come back. The rest theoretically making it more difficult for penalty killers to account for him. of his game looks quite good.

“He plays in so many different spots,” Crosby said. “Phil was really, really • I didn’t think Malkin enjoyed a real strong game in Boston. He’s human good on the half wall. That was his office, basically. With Rusty, he’s and looked a bit off. But he bounced back very nicely against the Red moving around out there. He can play on the half wall and is good there, Wings. On a night when the Penguins didn’t have much in the way of and he’s really good in the middle of the ice. He’s just such a versatile energy — more on that in a moment — you could see Crosby and Malkin player now, and he’s really showing it.” willing them back into the game. Both enjoyed superb shifts immediately after Detroit took the lead. Malkin’s numbers can’t be ignored. From the When Rust arrived in Pittsburgh in 2014, he occasionally infuriated the time Crosby departed the lineup in December until now, Malkin has team’s centers because of his general lack of interest in distributing the played in 29 games. He’s produced 13 goals and 30 assists — good for puck. He would collect the puck, use his blazing speed to create 43 points — in those games. That’s a tidy 1.48 points per game. During separation from defenders and shoot. It wasn’t a bad formula but not the stretch, he’s played MVP-caliber hockey, and only now is he starting necessarily one that endears one to world-class centers. to pick up power-play points. That unit has been dismal at times without Five seasons later, Rust is a supremely different and better player. A little Crosby. bit of attentiveness off the ice has helped him grow into a power-play • It’s easy to be down on the Penguins because they had to scratch and weapon. claw their way to a victory against the NHL’s worst team. And it’s true, “Obviously it’s always been hard getting on the power play with this team they didn’t play their best game. Sullivan referred to their performance as because of all the great players we always have,” he said. “But, you “fine” after the game, and that’s about right. Let’s consider that the Penguins did play the night before, that the Red Wings played about as well as they’re capable of playing, and that the Penguins’ team plane didn’t touch down in Detroit until after 2 a.m. Players probably weren’t asleep until after 3 a.m., making this the most difficult back-to-back stretch of the season, logistically speaking. Are you as sharp at your job when you’re up until 3 or 4 in the morning the night before? Probably not, so I’ll give them a pass for not being overly sharp. They got better as the game went on, they played hard and didn’t sustain too many defensive breakdowns. They just didn’t have a ton of energy. It’s two points. Not so bad.

• I’ve said it before, and I’m going to say it again: Chad Ruhwedel and Juuso Riikola are doing a really nice job. If those are your No. 7 and No. 8 defensemen, you’re doing something right. They’re a perfectly steady pair, and in Riikola, I still see some serious upside. I think he can be an NHL defenseman for a long time. I don’t know if it will be in Pittsburgh because the Penguins are pretty deep on the blue line, but he’s showing me something.

• Marcus Pettersson is a little off his game now. He hasn’t been horrible, but he hasn’t seemed real sharp for about 20 games. He lost a couple of puck battles Friday based on some lackluster body positioning. He’s a good player but struggles at some of the small things right now. I don’t think it’s cause for concern, but rather, I just think it’s a reminder that he’s still young. It’s also a reminder that the Penguins miss Brian Dumoulin and Justin Schultz. They especially miss Dumoulin because of his ability to play with Letang and because of his ability to log big minutes. When he returns, some stress will be removed from Jack Johnson and Pettersson, and I bet you’ll see them improve.

• It was startling to see how bad the Penguins looked on the power play in Boston. Granted, the Bruins showcase some of hockey’s finest penalty killers in Bergeron, Brad Marchand and Zdeno Chara. Still, the Penguins were a mess. One night later, the power play looked spectacular. It scored twice and actually looked its best on an occasion when it didn’t score. Sullivan just laughed when asked about the power play, acknowledging that it’s been an adventure this season. It sure has. Still, it’s looked very good in two of three games since Crosby’s return, so that’s a point of encouragement.

• In what is a consistent theme, the Teddy Blueger line was really good again. Blueger and Zach Aston-Reese combined for six shots and Brandon Tanev was his typical disruptive self. Aston-Reese nearly put the Penguins ahead in the third period, but his shot glanced off Jimmy Howard and then off the crossbar. He’s been snakebit at times this season but, in my opinion, is playing the best hockey of his NHL career. That line continues to be an invaluable weapon for the Penguins.

• Kudos to the good people of Detroit for continuing to fill this arena despite having to watch the NHL’s worst team. Great hockey town, great arena. But my goodness do the Red Wings stink. They played really hard Friday and probably as well as they’re capable of playing, but there’s just so little talent on display.

• The Penguins return to action Sunday afternoon against the Bruins. The Penguins are tired, but I suspect they’ll be ready for that one. In my view, the Bruins were the first team this season that attempted to bully the Penguins. To some extent, the plan was successful. The Penguins got off their game, took some bad penalties and didn’t look like themselves. I sense that Thursday’s loss left a bad taste in the Penguins’ mouths and that they’ll be ready for the Sunday matinee. Should be a good one.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171652 Pittsburgh Penguins Certainly, the Bruins have revealed potential flaws. Especially at five-on- five play, where the Penguins have dominated this season — except against these Bruins.

A couple of bad games in Boston or do these Penguins have a Bruins Again, two suboptimal results against an opponent that came within a win problem? of the Cup last season is no reason for general manager Jim Rutherford to decide major changes — or any changes — are necessary for the Penguins. It’s quite possible that by Sunday night, after these teams play in Pittsburgh, the narrative will be about home ice really mattering in this By Rob Rossi Jan 17, 2020 matchup or the Penguins having learned from their mistakes in two previous losses, or both, if not other things entirely.

BOSTON — A couple of games in November and January does not a What the Penguins must avoid Sunday afternoon at PPG Paints Arena is Stanley Cup playoffs series make. Or so the Penguins can only hope, falling into the bear trap the Bruins set for them in Boston. anyway. Allowing these Bruins, who dating to last postseason have produced in Otherwise, the Boston Bruins might prove themselves the accordance with the great power plays in modern history, four uncompromising editor to this storybook season being authored in opportunities on the man advantage is akin to writing a thesis in support Pittsburgh. of The Big Dig.

On Thursday night, the Penguins’ latest loss in Boston — this one by a Terrible idea. Ridiculous premise. score of 4-1, compared to the 6-4 defeat at TD Garden on Nov. 4 — A better idea would be touring Fenway Park on a windy winter day. showed that captain Sidney Crosby being in the lineup doesn’t mean much when an opponent imposes its will. (Actually, Penguins players’ fathers took that tour Thursday afternoon, and by all accounts, it was the highlight of a miserable offseason for To be clear, nobody with the Penguins said the Bruins imposed their will Boston’s beloved Red Sox.) Thursday night.

But that’s what happened. WE LOVE HAPPY DADS!  PIC.TWITTER.COM/CTPIGK9RZS

It began on the shift that followed Crosby’s grip-and-rip goal 24 seconds — PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (@PENGUINS) JANUARY 17, 2020 into the game. That score, Crosby’s second in as many games since The Bruins did not score on any of their power plays. That’s not the point. missing 28 in a row because of sports hernia/core surgery, was one of few moments in which the Penguins looked like themselves against the They went on the advantage 52 seconds after Crosby’s goal, when Bruins. winger Zach Aston-Reese was called for roughing. Seven seconds after killing that penalty, the Penguins were again short-handed because of a AN ABSOLUTE LASER. PIC.TWITTER.COM/1NAGKEEALZ boarding penalty taken by rookie defenseman John Marino.

— PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (@PENGUINS) JANUARY 17, 2020 “It’s hard,” Sullivan said. “Like, I couldn’t get guys on the ice. You know, There were a few others. Mostly, those came in the form of several sharp when there’s that much special teams in the first half of the game, you saves by goalie Tristan Jarry through the first 40 minutes. couldn’t really establish any sort of flow.”

However, even Jarry — arguably the Penguins’ most valuable player to Not unless flow is, say … this point in an injury-plagued season — was made to look bad by the • Evgeni Malkin jostling with Bruins captain Zdeno Chara along the Bruins. He might have stopped a shot from Bruins center Patrice boards, behind the net and almost any place where their paths crossed; Bergeron early in the third period but instead was admittedly thinking about Bergeron and winger Brad Marchand. Or, as Jarry described them, • Patric Hornqvist and Torey Krug getting into a fight as soon as they hit “two guys who were making a lot of backdoor passes.” the ice after taking respective roughing minors in the second period;

.@PASTRNAK96 ➡️ BERGY  DECENT CONNECTION @TOREYKRUG PIC.TWITTER.COM/ZV0FR70OQF PATRICE BERGERON'S 20TH OF THE SEASON OFF A SLICK FEED FROM DAVID PASTRNAK IS TONIGHT'S @JAGERMEISTERUSA — SPITTIN' CHICLETS (@SPITTINCHICLETS) JANUARY 17, 2020 SHOT OF THE GAME.#NHLBRUINS • Aston-Reese, Marino and just about everybody other than Crosby being PIC.TWITTER.COM/6XQWLW8D0K noticeably agitated by winger Chris Wagner. — BOSTON BRUINS (@NHLBRUINS) JANUARY 17, 2020 Official scorers credited Wagner with only three hits. Granted, few duos are more dangerous in transition than Bergeron and No way. No how. Marchand. Still, playing the goaltender position at any level, let alone in the NHL, comes with at least one unbreakable rule. He surely delivered at least one hit on each of his 17 shifts.

Play. The. Shooter. If the Bruins had only 23 hits on the Penguins, then Alex Galchenyuk will finish the season with 30 goals. But since this is the real world, let’s just Jarry did not. He was deep in the crease when Bergeron released his go ahead and presume the Bruins were bigger and badder than their hit shot. statistics Thursday night. Just like that, what felt as though it was an insurmountable one-goal Sullivan downplayed the physical nature of the Bruins, which made deficit became a two-goal hole from which the Penguins — despite a sense. The last thing he will want is for the Penguins to make good on lineup that featured seven players who have scored at least 10 goals — Aston-Reese’s plan the next time an opponent plays it rough and tough. were not going to escape. “Playing physical is always frustrating to play against — and, you know, So ended a four-game winning streak. Which is not the end of the world. we just got away from our game,” Aston-Reese said. Or even much of a reason to be alarmed. “We can’t shy away from it. Off the start, we’ve got to be physical. We’ve Even the best hockey clubs are humbled a handful of times over the got guys that are capable — myself and I think my whole line is capable course of 82 games. Heck, a Cup champion can lose 12 games over four of being physical. We’ve got some physical (defensemen). I think just postseason rounds. being able to respond — Horny dropping the gloves (Thursday night) — By almost any measure, these Penguins are one of the NHL’s best clubs maybe it’s just a matter of someone dropping the gloves early on and and among a handful of legitimate contenders for the Cup. Yet they are settling down the game.” not flawless. Or, the Penguins could manage the puck better, as Sullivan stressed after the loss. “I don’t think that was the difference in the game,” Sullivan said of the Bruins’ physicality. He went on to add that the Penguins were “plenty physical.” Sullivan also repeated his long-held belief that “you can define physicality and toughness different ways.”

His definition?

“Getting your nose over pucks and winning puck battles,” Sullivan said. “That’s when we’re at our best, when our compete level’s high and we’re winning puck battles all over the rink.”

The Penguins weren’t at their best Thursday night. They weren’t at their best early in November against the Bruins, either. In each loss, their goalies’ save percentage was closer to sub-.800 than it was near-.900.

Whoever is in net Sunday afternoon will need to be closer to the latter than the former.

And although Sullivan said Jarry was “good” against the Bruins, there has to be at least a chance Matt Murray can play his way into starting Sunday afternoon if his recent improved performances carry over into a game against the Red Wings in Detroit on Friday night.

When speaking to colleague Josh Yohe earlier this week, Murray sounded like a two-time Cup winner who was waiting for the chance to reclaim his role as the Penguins’ No. 1 goalie.

Just as two losses in Boston won’t doom the Penguins to a fateful experience against the Bruins in the playoffs, a spotty goal surrendered to Bergeron on Thursday night shouldn’t send Jarry back to the backup position.

He has cooled off since the NHL’s Christmas break. Perhaps a goalie as hot as Jarry was could only cool, but six games is not a small sample size for somebody who has played in 24 games.

Murray didn’t get much more than a six-game chill before Jarry was given his opportunity to shine. Friday night might loom large for his hopes of coaches warming to the idea of him again being between the pipes regularly for the Penguins.

Things change fast in this league. Big stories become subplots. Surging teams peak early. Plans change. The unexpected becomes status quo. And so on.

Hey, it wasn’t all that long ago the Penguins swept the Bruins in a regular season, only to be swept by them in the conference final.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171653 San Jose Sharks Whatever happens from now until early April, the Sharks have to come up with a long term plan for Jones, who is under contract for four more seasons past this one. The prospect of a buyout is an unsavory one at best. Avalanche 4, Sharks 0: Bob Boughner airs his frustration — “It’s time to man up” “I want to play, but I’m just trying to take advantage of this time that I have in practice now,” Jones said. “Try and make sure I’m improving my game here.”

By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: January 17, 2020 at 5:01 am | 2. An identity disappears: The Sharks may have allowed more odd man UPDATED: January 17, 2020 at 1:25 PM rushes Thursday than they have in the last two weeks combined. The Avalanche feasted on the Sharks’ disastrous puck management, forcing

Jones to make a handful of quality stops just to keep the game from DENVER — Sure, the Sharks’ game against the Vancouver Canucks on getting totally out of hand. Saturday is important in terms of the Western Conference standings. But The only way the Sharks were going to stay with the speedy Avalanche with the Sharks now nine points out of a playoff spot with 31 games left was if they could force their players to come 200 feet and work for to play, getting back into postseason contention at this stage doesn’t chances. Instead, the Sharks’ fed into that rush almost all game. seem realistic. “We had some things in mind we talked about this morning that we It is vital, though, for the Sharks to play well in their last game before the wanted to implement in our game plan, and it went opposite on us,” bye week and reestablish some of the identity they had started to form Boughner said. “A lot of chances in the first period were from under interim coach Bob Boughner in recent weeks. outnumbered rushes. Not a lot came off the d-zone. It was from If they can’t, then who knows how bad things will get over the final two- outnumbered rushes, and that means we’re not doing the job up the ice.” plus months. 3. A speed gap: The Sharks fell victim to some tentativeness on the “I think it’s crucial for us,” Boughner said Thursday after the Sharks’ 4-0 offensive end, not wanting to make mistakes against a dangerous Avs loss to the Colorado Avalanche. “Obviously, Vancouver, a team that’s team, but still doing so because they didn’t have enough jump in the ahead of us, but just to get into this break and end it off on the right note. early going.

“We felt really good about ourselves and about our team and the way we “It’s a vicious cycle,” Sharks defensemen Brent Burns said. “Getting were playing before this trip. Things haven’t gone our way for the first two behind and trying not to make mistakes, not helping the next guy. It’s games. It’s time to man up. We have too many guys that are not on the tough to play when you’re maybe nervous about making a mistake, same page right now in the last two games, and we’re not a good enough thinking about it. The support, the battle. It’s an unacceptable game.” team to do that. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 01.18.2020 “We’ve proved that we can play with the best teams if we play the right way and we got all 20 guys going and sticking to the plan. But when we don’t, we’re very average at best.”

The Sharks (21-24-4) beat the Columbus Blue Jackets and Dallas Stars by 3-1 and 2-1 scores, respectively, at home last week. But the attention to detail and the commitment to defend has disappeared on this road trip, which started with a 6-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.

It’s hard to explain, given the desperation level the team needs to play with if they want to somehow become relevant again before the NHL’s trade deadline. They had found a formula for success, even without leading scorer Logan Couture, but haven’t been able to stay with it away from home.

The Canucks moved into third place in the Pacific Division with a 3-1 win over the Coyotes on Thursday, and are now 15-5-3 at home this season.

“We’ve got one more game left on this road trip against a divisional opponent who’s ahead of us in the standings,” Sharks winger Evander Kane said. “It’s an opportunity to get back some of the ground we’ve lost in these last two games. We’ve got to take that opportunity and run with it. We’ve got to be a lot better than we were (Thursday).”

Takeaways from Thursday.

1. Martin Jones’ game: Boughner wanted to give Jones a chance to play Thursday since it had already been 11 days since his last start — a 5-4 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Jan. 5 in which the Sharks blew a two-goal lead with under a minute left to play.

Thursday’s game wasn’t much easier, as Jones allowed a goal on the first shot he faced and two more on shots from inside the blue line. Cale Makar’s goal was especially tough to give up, as it came with three seconds left in the first period and put the Sharks in a 2-0 hole.

“That was too bad. Unlucky bounce there,” said Jones, adding that Makar’s shot had glanced off a body in front. “It puts you in a tough spot down 2-0, but we weren’t out of the game by any means. We could have come out and had a strong second. We just didn’t.”

Jones finished with 34 saves, including 27 in the first two periods.

“Tough when we don’t have a lot of support there and we don’t score a goal,” Boughner said. “We’re down two and we’re not generating a lot.”

In terms of the length of time in between starts, Jones really hasn’t had a season like this since 2014-15 when he was backing up Jonathan Quick in Los Angeles. His start Thursday was just his fifth in the last 15 games. 1171654 San Jose Sharks

NHL rumors: Doug Wilson won't disrupt Sharks' core at trade deadline

By Ali Thanawalla January 17, 2020 2:57 PM

If you're in favor of the Sharks making a splashy move to shake things up ahead of the Feb. 24 NHL trade deadline, we've got bad news for you.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this week that Sharks general manager Doug Wilson "has let it be known he is not interested in disrupting his core."

That presumably means players like Logan Couture, Evander Kane, Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl, Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic are staying put.

But Friedman notes that there will be interest in Melker Karlsson and Brenden Dillon, who are both unrestricted free agents after this season.

With the playoffs looking less and less likely for San Jose, it would make sense for Wilson to try to get something for Karlsson and Dillon.

The Sharks don't have a first, fourth or sixth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, so it would be wise for Wilson to recoup some of the assets he traded away in recent years.

After losing in the Western Conference final to the St. Louis Blues, the Sharks have fallen on hard times. They enter Saturday's game against Vancouver with a 21-24-4 record and sit nine points out of a wild-card spot. On Thursday night, they were shutout by the Avalanche in Colorado and interim head coach Bob Boughner urged his players to "man up."

At the moment, the Sharks are close to the upper limit of the NHL salary cap, but they will have roughly $18 million coming off the books this summer, according to Cap Friendly, so as Friedman notes, Wilson will have the flexibility to make moves in the offseason.

The Sharks are in desperate need of a wake-up call. But it sounds like it won't come in February.

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Mike Ricci opens up about his first month as Sharks assistant coach

By Brodie Brazil January 17, 2020 11:29 PM

It’s not just a safe assumption. It’s entirely accurate that Mike Ricci, as a hockey player, never thought he’d become a coach.

“Not back then for sure,” Ricci said recently. “Not even maybe two and a half weeks ago.”

The former Sharks forward was caught off guard by being named as an assistant on interim head coach Bob Boughner’s staff in mid-December.

“It was like boom, told to come to a meeting,” Ricci recalled.

But there was no reservation in accepting the position.

“When a friend asks, and a boss asks, you’ve got to do it,” said Ricci. “Just going in and trying to do whatever I can to help this team win.”

All of this is a total change of scenery for Ricci – who after 1,099 NHL games as a player -- still hasn’t acclimated to his brand new perch behind the bench.

“If I’m going to be honest, I really haven’t had time to think about it,” Ricci admitted.

The move was so fresh, and came with so much transition, Sharks equipment manager Mike Aldrich even had to double check that regular game duties would include a presence behind the players. To which Ricci responded: “I think so…?”

As if the Sharks' need to turn things around wasn’t pressing enough, there’s also the challenge of Ricci learning the ropes of being an assistant coach for the very first time.

“You’ve got to find what makes everybody click,” Ricci said after less than a month of experiences. “Some guys like to see it. Some guys like to hear it. Some guys like it drawn on a board.”

One thing benefitting Ricci, goaltending coach Evgeni Nabokov, and associate coach Roy Sommer is their familiarity and unquestioned dedication to the franchise. Each have been sporting teal for more than a decade, in one capacity or another.

Ricci said there’s already a built-in level of trust when the coaching staff has to be critical of players, in trying to reverse the team’s struggles.

“I try to be myself, more than anything. It doesn’t matter how much I know, it matters how much I can get to a player.”

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Bob Boughner urges Sharks to 'man up' after shutout loss to Avalanche

By Ali Thanawalla January 16, 2020 9:36 PM

Just when you think the Sharks have figured things out, they drop a couple of games in a row and look really bad in the process.

After beating the Columbus Blue Jackets and Dallas Stars at home last week, San Jose headed to Arizona and lost to the Coyotes 6-3. Two days later, it got even worse for Bob Boughner's club as the Colorado Avalanche shut out the Sharks 4-0 on Thursday night.

San Jose heads to Vancouver to face the Canucks on Saturday before getting eight days off due to the NHL All-Star break.

For Boughner, it's time for his club to put up or shut up.

"I think it's crucial for us," Boughner told reporters in Colorado. "I think Vancouver, a team that's in the division and ahead of us, before we get into this break and end it off on the right note, we felt really good about ourselves and the way we were playing before this trip and things haven't gone our way for the first two games.

"I think it's time to man up. We've got too many guys that are not on the same page right now in the last two games and we're not a good enough team to do that. We proved that we can play with the best teams if we play the right way and we've got all 20 guys going and stick to the plan. But when we don't, we're average at best."

Boughner on the Sharks road trip performance. pic.twitter.com/di73FT2kz1

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) January 17, 2020

The Sharks are in danger of missing the playoffs for just the second time since the 2003-04 season, and Brenden Dillon understands every game the rest of the way is vitally important.

"Yeah, it's a division game, it's a team we're chasing and I think all these games we've got to have that playoff mindset of do-or-die mentality going in and show some desperation," Dillon told reporters. "A lot of these teams are battling, whether that's for playoff spots or home-ice or whatever it is in the division. But especially against Vancouver, a good team that's going well, so we've got to finish on a high."

After the loss to the Avs, the Sharks sit at 21-24-4 with 33 games remaining. They are nine points out of a wild-card spot, but every loss chips away at their margin for error.

If they don't turn things around in a hurry, it will be a long summer in San Jose.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171657 San Jose Sharks “He’s like a diesel engine, takes a while to warm up but once it’s going, it’s humming,” DeBoer said through a chuckle. “Does it make sense? I don’t know. That’s been my history with him. Every year he’s kind of got into the groove and got going and got better.” Joe Thornton is responding well to his increased role since the Sharks’ coaching change Thornton doesn’t seem to have an answer for it, either.

“I don’t know, I really don’t. I feel like my game just kind of gets better as the year goes on, and January comes, February and March. I don’t know, By Kevin Kurz Jan 17, 2020 I’m just set that way for some reason right now.”

Hertl said: “He got through a lot of (injury) stuff, so (he’s) kind of maybe slowing down, but the hockey IQ and just managing puck — he’s one of DENVER — Joe Thornton played in his 1,615th career NHL game on the best, still. He’s still a real good player for us.” Thursday in Colorado, officially breaking into the top-10 all-time in that category. The Sharks’ game in Vancouver on Saturday will move him Part of the reason Thornton is having more of an impact lately, including ahead of Larry Murphy, with whom he is currently tied. a stretch of seven points (2g, 5a) in eight games from Dec. 27 to Jan. 9, is the power play. That’s an area of the game that the Sharks have Further, Thornton is just three points away from becoming the 14th struggled with for much of the season, but it’s gotten better lately. Since player in NHL history to record 1,500 career points. Jan. 1, the Sharks are tied for fifth in the NHL with a 33.3 percent power- It goes without saying that an athlete who is able to achieve such play percentage, going 6-for-18 over the past eight games. remarkable milestones is a genetic freak. Thornton has been on the ice for all six of the power-play goals, scoring So perhaps it shouldn’t be all that surprising that even at age 40, one himself and assisting on two others. The Sharks’ top unit currently Thornton has been playing better hockey as the season has progressed. consists of Thornton, Erik Karlsson, Evander Kane, Timo Meier and It was a dreadful start for the future Hall of Famer, who posted just four Barclay Goodrow. assists in his first 15 games and didn’t score his first goal of the season “It’s been going good. They’ve been trusting that unit a little bit more now, until Dec. 27. Lately, though, he’s responded well to increased ice time and we’ve been productive so they have to, I guess,” Thornton said. “I under interim head coach Bob Boughner, who, instead of trying to reduce think Goodie has to get a lot of credit, too. He’s playing good net-front. Thornton’s workload, has piled on more responsibility. That’s maybe what was lacking in the previous little bit was good net- And that’s just fine from Thornton’s perspective. front, and I think he’s brought a good net-front and is good at screening the goalie.” “I like playing a little bit more. It kind of keeps you in the game,” Thornton said earlier this week. “I feel fine, I really do. I’ve had no setbacks at all, Still, the Sharks are having trouble winning games, and after losing the and the injuries in the past are in the past now. I think I can handle a big first two of a three-game road trip before the All-Star break, it doesn’t workload, and am looking forward to it.” appear that they’ll be able to make the kind of run necessary to get back into playoff position. Boughner said: “I think that everybody thinks he’s 40 and he needs this kind of rest — it’s almost the opposite with Jumbo. He needs to keep That’s not something Thornton is used to, as the Sharks have made it to going, he needs to play. The more rest he gets, the more he sits around, the playoffs in all but one of his 14 seasons in San Jose. he’s not used to that. I think his body, he’s better with those minutes. “It’s been a grind, but I’ve always said I like the ups and downs,” he said. He’s having fun. At the beginning of the season I think there was days he “It’s a challenge, and every year, every month, every game it’s a different came in here and he wasn’t feeling great about his game, and I think now challenge.” he’s found that different level. I think he’s coming in and has a ton of energy. He’s like a 20-year-old kid again. And that’s infectious, I think the The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 guys feed off that and that’s the way he’s playing. It’s good to see, because he’s still got some hockey left in him, for sure.”

Prior to the coaching change, Thornton was averaging 14:31 of ice time under Pete DeBoer, with no goals, 10 assists and a minus-8 goal- differential at 5-on-5 in 33 games.

Since Boughner took over, Thornton’s ice time has increased to 15:33 on average over the last 16 games, and he’s responded with two goals and seven assists for nine points and a +1 goal-differential at 5-on-5. His 54.9 shot-attempt percentage is second on the team over that span.

In the 4-0 loss to the Avalanche on Thursday, Thornton played just 13:47, as Boughner likely didn’t want to tax him any more than was necessary in what was a blowout defeat. But in the five games prior to that, Thornton exceeded 16 minutes in all of them, including 17:56 of ice time in Arizona on Tuesday. That’s likely to be the norm for at least the next little while, as Logan Couture recovers from a fractured ankle.

“I’ve felt fine. I assume it’s going to keep going that way,” Thornton said.

There’s reason to believe it will. Thornton having better second halves has become routine.

In 2015-16, Thornton posted 56 points after Christmas — second in the NHL only to Sidney Crosby’s 63 points. The following two seasons, 2016- 17 and 2017-18, were cut short by knee injuries. But last season, Thornton centered what was the Sharks’ most effective line after the All- Star break with Kevin Labanc and Marcus Sorensen. From Feb. 1 through the end of the regular season, Thornton had 26 points, tied for third on the Sharks and just three behind leader Tomas Hertl’s 29.

Just four days before he was fired on Dec. 11, DeBoer offered up one of his more humorous lines in his pregame media availability in Tampa Bay, when asked about Thornton’s ability to get better as the season moved along. 1171658 St Louis Blues Dunn-Pietrangelo Bouwmeester-Faulk

Gunnarsson-Bortuzzo Gunnarsson will make return to the Blues lineup on Saturday St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.18.2020

Tom Timmermann

After missing 15 games -- mostly to injury but also to the play of rookie Niko Mikkola -- Carl Gunnarsson will be back in the Blues lineup for their game Saturday at Colorado.

Gunnarsson had been out with an upper-body injury, but for the last few games, coach Craig Berube said Gunnarsson was good to go but he was sticking with rookie Niko Mikkola.

"It's been a while and now I've been sitting around waiting," Gunnarsson said. "It will be fun."

Gunnarsson has been no stranger to sitting and watching. He missed much of last season with a wrist injury and when he was healthy, he and Robert Bortuzzo were trading off the sixth defenseman spot. In practice on Friday before the team flew to Denver, he skated with Bortuzzo.

"It's what it is," Gunnarsson said. "The team's playing well and we're winning. That's the nature of it. So just sitting and waiting for your time and it's coming."

"Up to this point, he hasn't played a lot of hockey this year," Berube said. "It's unfortunate. He's ready to go now which is good."

Gunnarsson has played in just 17 games this season, the most recent on Dec. 12. He's played in just four games since Nov. 15.

As for Mikkola being out, Berube said: "Gunny needs to get in there. Mikkola did a great job and is going to be a good player for us going forward."

BOSTON WAIVES BACKES

Former Blues captain David Backes was put on waivers by the Bruins so they could send him to Providence of the AHL as the veteran's run with the team looks over.

Backes has played just 16 games for the Bruins this season, with one goal and two assists and no longer is in the Bruins plans.

"He's been an incredible teammate," Boston's Brad Marchand said. "I can't say enough good things about him. He is just such a great person, great friend ,and he's going to be missed in this room. We relied him a lot on and off the ice. ... We're going to miss him here, no question"

"I have a lot of respect for the person, as a human being, what he's accomplished in the league," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We brought him in to give us some of that bite. That's been a subject around here the last few days, and that's something we hoped for and it was there for a while and then some concussions came into play. That affects your decision as a coach, when to put a human being on the ice. We saw it a little bit last year with David trying to play a little bit of that role and found himself in two or three scraps. I don't know if that's the ideal role for him, but good for him to go out and try to carve a way to get back in the lineup. (He's) a guy that you know is a dad who has two young girls, you always want to be careful that you're pushing guys to play a certain way. But now you've got a guy that -- who knows -- might be one hit away from having some damage. You've got to be really careful with that."

LINES

Despite coming off a loss, Berube didn't change the forwards at all.

Forwards:

Schwartz-Schenn-Sundqvist

Sanford-O'Reilly-Perron

Steen-Thomas-Bozak

MacEachern-de la Rose-Barbashev

Defensemen: 1171659 St Louis Blues After tearing up junior hockey with 100-points seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19 for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the , Frost has split his time between the NHL and AHL this season.

The Schenn trade 2½ years later: (Huge) advantage, Blues In 18 games with the Flyers, Frost had two goals, five assists and was minus-4. He’s currently with the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate in Lehigh Valley (Allentown, Pa.) and has eight goals, nine assists and is plus-1 in 18 games. He scored twice against Syracuse on Wednesday for Jim Thomas his first two-goal game in pro hockey.

Farabee has spent the majority of this season as a teenager in the NHL. Through the wider lens of time, who knows how hockey history will view In 37 games for Philadelphia as of Wednesday, he had three goals, nine the Brayden Schenn trade with Philadelphia. But as of right now? assists and is minus-1. The former star and member of the U.S. National Development Team has played only four games for Slam-dunk, Blues. Lehigh Valley.

Schenn couldn’t be happier with the Blues, and the feeling is mutual. The Blues have played the Flyers five times since the trade, and for a while it looked like Wednesday might be Schenn’s first time playing Since the NHL draft weekend trade that brought him to St. Louis on June against one of the prospects he was traded for. But the Flyers had to do 23, 2017, Schenn made the All-Star Game his first season with the some roster juggling when starting goalie Carter Hart was injured, and Blues. He went on to post career highs in goals (28), assists (42) and Farabee was sent down to Lehigh Valley for just one day. points (70). Farabee was recalled Thursday and in the lineup for Philly against In season No. 2 with the Blues, he won a Stanley Cup. Montreal and scored in the first period for his fourth goal of the season. And at the start of season No. 3, he signed an eight-year, $52 million “Like I said, I don’t really worry about the trade and stuff like that too contract extension. much anymore,” Schenn said. “A lot of guys get traded throughout their “Yeah, definitely very happy,” Schenn said. “Very happy to be a part of career and I happened to be a part of that one.” this organization. In five years, when Schenn’s career might be starting to wind down, “Whether it’s guys like Steener (Alexander Steen), Vladi (Vladimir perhaps Frost and Farabee will be fixtures in the Flyers’ lineup. Maybe Tarasenko) or Petro (Alex Pietrangelo) — the list of guys that have been even stars. here for a long time — they’ve built a heck of a culture here. A winning But right now the scoreboard reads as follows: In the 2 ½ seasons since culture and it’s fun to be a part of. the trade, Lehtera, Frost and Farabee have combined for 10 goals and “I was given the opportunity from Day 1 to try and be a top player here for 21 assists for Philadelphia. St. Louis. And (they) put me with good players and have given me a Schenn has 62 goals, 103 assists for the Blues. And a Cup. good opportunity. So very thankful for that.” After a hot start, Schenn has been stuck on 17 goals since scoring twice It began with head coach Mike Yeo, who’s now an assistant with the against the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 23 — a drought of 10 games. But Philadelphia Flyers. Under Yeo, Schenn was put on a line with two of the he’s piling up assists, with seven over his past five games. team’s top players — Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz. That’s prime real estate. “He’s been a real good player all year,” Berube said. “Goal-scorers are going to be streaky at times, all of them. Maybe not (Alex) Ovechkin, but “I owe (Yeo) a lot,” Schenn said. most of them. He’s still making plays, creating for us . . . so he’s doing a Then Yeo was replaced by Craig Berube, who once coached Schenn in good job all around.” Philadelphia. (Small world, this hockey.) And Berube helped get St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.18.2020 Schenn’s name inscribed on the Stanley Cup.

Schenn said playing his old team — Philadelphia — was still meaningful. But maybe not as meaningful as it was a couple of years ago.

“It’s always fun playing friends and former teammates,” Schenn said. “But it’s been three years now and I enjoy playing in St. Louis. I don’t really think about Philadelphia too much anymore.”

To be precise, 2 ½ years ago. Philadelphia got the best of the Blues, 4-3 in overtime Wednesday at Enterprise Center. And Schenn has yet to play against the two first-round draft picks the Blues gave up in the summer of 2017.

“At the time, it was just (Jori) Lehtera and a couple picks, and it worked out to be a couple good prospects, good pieces that they got in return,” Schenn said. “Those kids seem like they’re gonna be good players in this league.”

Lehtera also was part of the Blues’ trade package. He scored 14 goals for St. Louis during the 2014-15 season, but never followed up on that promise. In 89 games for the Flyers after the trade in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, he scored four goals with seven assists and was minus-15.

At age 32, he is now playing for SKA Saint Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League.

The two prospects turned out to be forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee. Frost, 20, was taken 27th overall in 2017; Farabee, 19, went 14th overall in the 2018 draft.

In the NHL, it’s usually a slow play when it comes to the development of prospects. For Frost and Farabee, this is their first year of pro hockey. 1171660 St Louis Blues championship. He was drafted in the second round, No. 45 overall, by the Blues in 2018.

McGing has two goals and 12 assists in 19 games for Western Michigan. Blues continue to put up goose eggs in 5-on-3 play He was a fifth-round pick, No. 138 overall, by the Blues in 2018.

Recent winners of the Hobey Baker are Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames, Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres and Cale Makar of the Jim Thomas Colorado Avalanche.

Blue notes

St. Louis Blues' David Perron reacts to a call during the second period as • The Blues are 6-8 in overtime/shootout games this season. They won the Blues face off against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, Jan. five consecutive overtime games (over a seven-game stretch) from Oct. 15, 2020 at Enterprise Center. The Blues were defeated 4-3 in overtime, 27 at Detroit through Nov. 9 at Calgary. Since then, they are 1-5 in extra ending their nine-game home winning streak. time, with three OT losses and two shootout defeats.

The results have been impressive with new assistant coach Marc Savard • Call it the Mike “Doc” Emrick jinx. The Blues are only 1-3-2 this season running the Blues’ power play this season. in games televised in St. Louis by NBCSN.

They ranked fourth overall in the NHL in power play efficiency (25.7 • Wednesday’s overtime loss snapped a seven-game home winning percent) entering Thursday’s games. They’re even better on the road, streak for goalie Jordan Binnington. ranking first at 29.2 percent. • The Blues don’t play again at Enterprise Center until Feb. 4 against As for 5-on-3 play, uh, not so good. Carolina. They’re at Colorado on Saturday, then comes the All-Star/bye break, followed by a four-game western Canada trip. The Blues generated only one shot — and no goals — in one minute, 41 seconds of a 5-on-3 power play in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.18.2020 Philadelphia Flyers. That put the Blues at 0-for-6 when they have the two-man advantage this season.

It adds up to 8:22 worth of 5-on-3 advantage, with 14 shots on goal. In five of those six instances, the Blues had 1:20 or more of 5-on-3 — plenty of time to get something going. The only exception was Nov. 25 against Nashville, when the Blues had only 19 seconds with the two-man advantage.

Also, put an asterisk next to the 5-on-3 failure Nov. 27 in Tampa Bay. In that 4-3 victory, the Blues didn’t score during 1:44 of 5-on-3 play. But five seconds after Alex Killorn’s slashing penalty ended for Tampa Bay, Brayden Schenn scored a 5-on-4 power play goal.

Even so, the Blues seem to lack directness and urgency in 5-on-3 play, floating around the perimeter, not launching many shots. And not getting the opposing defense or goaltender moving around.

“I feel just for myself, sometimes you get locked into that structure,” Ryan O’Reilly said. “I think myself, you gotta be creative. That’s just trusting my ability. We have two extra bodies there.

“It’s just playing fast and everyone being ready. You could see (against Philadelphia), we had some decent looks but it wasn’t — there could’ve been more looks for sure.”

For comparison’s sake, opposing teams have scored twice in seven 5- on-3 opportunities against the Blues. And four of those seven chances featured only 26 seconds or less of a two-man advantage.

Balanced scoring

Eleven of the 31 NHL teams did not have a single player with 40 or more points entering Thursday’s games.

The Blues had four such players, which tied for the league lead with Carolina, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg:

• David Perron 47 (20 goals, 27 assists)

• Brayden Schenn 41 (17 goals, 24 assists)

• Ryan O’Reilly 41 (nine goals, 32 assists)

• Jaden Schwartz 40 (16 goals, 24 assists).

And the Blues are just shy of a fifth because Alex Pietrangelo has 38 points on 12 goals and 26 assists.

Prospect watch

Two Blues prospects have made the initial 78-person candidate list for the 2020 Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the top player in college hockey: forward Hugh McGing of Western Michigan and defenseman Scott Perunovich of Minnesota-Duluth.

Perunovich has three goals and 22 assists in 20 games for eighth-ranked Minnesota-Duluth, which is seeking its third straight NCAA Division I 1171661 St Louis Blues

St. Louis takes on MacKinnon and the Avalanche

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS JANUARY 17, 2020 02:21 AM

St. Louis Blues (30-10-8, first in the Central Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (26-15-6, second in the Central Division)

Denver; Saturday, 3 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Nathan MacKinnon and Colorado take on St. Louis. MacKinnon ranks fourth in the NHL with 68 points, scoring 27 goals and totaling 41 assists.

The Avalanche have gone 7-8-2 against division opponents. Colorado is fourth in the NHL recording 9.5 points per game, averaging 3.6 goals and 5.9 assists.

The Blues are 10-2-1 against the rest of their division. St. Louis ranks seventh in the NHL shooting 10.6% and averaging 3.2 goals on 30.4 shots per game.

In their last meeting on Jan. 2, Colorado won 7-3. Nazem Kadri scored two goals for the Avalanche.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Graves leads the Avalanche with a plus-31 in 46 games played this season. MacKinnon has scored six goals over the last 10 games for Colorado.

Vince Dunn leads the Blues with a plus-14 in 48 games played this season. Tyler Bozak has six goals and three assists over the last 10 games for St. Louis.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blues: 6-2-2, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.2 assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while allowing 2.9 goals per game with a .893 save percentage.

Avalanche: 3-4-3, averaging 3.4 goals, 5.3 assists, 3.4 penalties and 9.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game with a .904 save percentage.

INJURIES: Avalanche: Joonas Donskoi: day to day (concussion).

Blues: None listed.

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171662 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli gets first hat trick, Alex Killorn reaches 20 goals in win over Winnipeg Jets

By Diana C. Nearhos

WINNIPEG — Anthony Cirelli wiped shaving cream out of his hair, and his ear, courtesy of a first-hat-trick facial.

Steven Stamkos whooped in the background about Alex Killorn hitting 20 goals for the first time.

When a team scores seven goals in a game, it’s bound to see a couple of milestones. That was the case in the Lightning’s 7-1 win against the Jets on Friday at Bell MTS Place.

Cirelli’s third goal, near the midway point of the third period, had more than a little puck luck. Cirelli looked to be passing to Tyler Johnson at the post, and the puck deflected off defenseman Dmitry Kulikov’s stick and into the net.

“I’ll take it,” said Cirelli, in his second full Lightning season. “(Hat tricks) don’t come around very often.”

Cirelli’s first two goals, both scored in the first period, were all him.

On the first, Ondrej Palat made his way down the slot battling two Jets, then passed back to Cirelli, who was trailing behind him. Cirelli flung the puck past Connor Hellebuyck for the first goal for the Lightning (29-15-4) midway through the period.

The second goal came in the final minute. Mikhail Sergachev started the play in the defensive end with a hit on Mark Scheifele to separate him from the puck. Cirelli picked up the puck and passed to Palat, who sent it back to Cirelli.

Three minutes after Cirelli finished off the hat trick, Killorn notched his 20th goal. Mitchell Stephens took the original shot, and Laurent Brossoit, who replaced Hellebuyck midway through the second period, made the save. Killorn jumped on the rebound and put a quick shot into the net.

“Guys have been joking around. It seems like I’ve been hovering around (20 goals) my entire career,” Killorn said. “It’s nice to get it, and so early in the season.”

Killorn has hovered just under 20 goals for most of his career. His previous high was 19 in 2017. There are 34 games left in the regular season.

Lightning 3-2-2—7

Jets 0-1-0—1

First Period—1, Tampa Bay, Cirelli 10 (Palat, Johnson), 9:27. 2, Tampa Bay, Kucherov 21 (Stamkos, Point), 12:21. 3, Tampa Bay, Cirelli 11 (Palat), 19:07. Penalties—None.

Second Period—4, Tampa Bay, Kucherov 22 (Point, Stamkos), 7:21. 5, Tampa Bay, Verhaeghe 6 (McDonagh), 11:10. 6, Winnipeg, Roslovic 9 (Perreault), 11:44. Penalties—Rutta, TB (Holding), 0:51; Stamkos, TB (Cross Checking), 19:49.

Third Period—7, Tampa Bay, Cirelli 12 (Palat), 7:48. 8, Tampa Bay, Killorn 20 (Sergachev, Stephens), 10:45. Penalties—Kulikov, Win (Delay of Game), 2:47.

Shots on Goal—Tampa Bay 7-9-10_26. Winnipeg 5-18-8_31. Power-play opportunities—Tampa Bay 0 of 1; Winnipeg 0 of 2. Goalies—Tampa Bay, Vasilevskiy 24-9-2 (31 shots-30 saves). Winnipeg, Hellebuyck 21-14-4 (12-7), Winnipeg, Brossoit 4-5-0 (14-12). A—15,325 (15,321). T—2:22. Referees—Steve Kozari, Brad Meier. Linesmen—Ryan Daisy, Greg Devorski.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171663 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning put Luke Schenn on waivers, then lose Cedric Paquette against Jets

Tampa Bay also reassigned Alex Volkov to AHL Syracuse as Pat Maroon returned to the lineup.

By Diana C. Nearhos

WINNIPEG — The Lightning prepared for their nine-day break that begins Saturday with roster moves. They put Luke Schenn on waivers and reassigned Alex Volkov to AHL Syracuse.

Volkov’s return to the AHL corresponded with Pat Maroon’s return to the lineup Friday for a 7-1 win against the Jets after missing three games following a slide into the boards on his right shoulder against the Flyers a week ago.

Volkov was recalled when Ondrej Palat got hurt and stayed when Maroon followed. He looked more confident in his second NHL stint than he did in his first one. He recorded his first point, an assist, but also took a couple of penalties.

Those moves were made before Cedric Paquette was hurt against the Jets. He blocked a shot off a foot, left the game and didn’t return. With nine days before their next game, the Lightning don’t need to make a corresponding move right away.

With Ryan McDonagh back and the Lightning finally fully healthy, they were back to eight defensemen. That’s a lot of defensemen — two scratches each game.

Before the season started, general manager Julien BriseBois said he was comfortable carrying eight defensemen. But then the Lightning sent Schenn to the AHL to start the season. He returned to the Lightning on Oct. 30 after Victor Hedman was hurt.

Schenn has played a total of 15 games since then, and only three of the Lightning’s past 20. Assuming he clears waivers and is reassigned to Syracuse, he’ll be a valuable edition to a back end that could use help.

RELATED: How the Lightning were penalized by an accurate challenge and why it has to do with time travel

Without Schenn, the Lightning will have 21 players on the roster, just one healthy scratch on defense. They have carried 22 players, one fewer than the maximum, to create salary cap space.

If Paquette is healthy by the end of the break, the Lightning could carry 21 players. They also could decide to bring a forward back up to have an extra healthy skater at each position.

For now, it makes sense development-wise and cap-wise to keep forwards, including Volkov, in the AHL.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171664 Tampa Bay Lightning “They ask you basic questions, ‘Read this sentence. What about this?'” Bradley said. “If you don’t remember certain things, they’ll catch you on it. It’s not five minutes, it’s like a half-hour. And the tests aren’t the same ones. You can’t cheat or memorize it. ‘You only have one brain’: With Ryan McDonagh returning, ex-NHLers describe unknowns of concussion recovery “I thought I did well one time, and they said, ‘No, you failed. Not even close.’ … Time heals it, but don’t come back too soon.”

McDonagh said a key was not spending hours staring at a screen — like By Joe Smith Jan 17, 2020 his phone or TV — and staying active even if he was not working out or skating with the team at the start. “You have to listen to your body,”

McDonagh said. “You have to actively get out for walks, spend time TAMPA, Fla. — Ryan McDonagh didn’t see it coming. outside instead of hunkering down. Try to stay active and keep your body moving.” When the veteran Lightning defenseman went toward the boards to retrieve the puck during a penalty kill midway through the first period of a McDonagh finally got back on the ice last weekend on his own in Tampa game in Ottawa on Jan. 4, he figured a Senators player might try to while the Lightning were on the road in Philadelphia and New Jersey. It thwart his clearing attempt. was a process to even build up to that.

That’s when forward Brady Tkachuk delivered a big hit, smashing “You can go on a machine and think you’re doing good,” Bradley said. McDonagh’s head into the boards. McDonagh left the game and didn’t “You ride the bike for 10-15 minutes and your head is spinning, feel like return. it’s going to pop off. You feel nauseous. Not a good feeling.”

“It’s a legal check,” McDonagh said. “You don’t usually see those kinds of Both DiMaio, 51, and Bradley, 54, are still working in hockey. Bradley, hits while you’re PKing. A lot of times they’re working to keep the puck in. the former Lightning All-Star, is now a community ambassador with the I didn’t see him coming, so I wasn’t able to brace myself for it.” organization. DiMaio has been scouting for a dozen years. Both have grown children. Those long-term concerns over concussions are ones McDonagh said he was never officially diagnosed with a concussion, but they have about current players today. “At the end, it’s about the rest of he experienced symptoms following that play that sidelined him the past your life,” DiMaio said. “You play the game and when you retire, you’re couple weeks. He went through the necessary protocols, getting an still a young person.” independent test done Tuesday, before finally returning to the lineup Thursday against the Wild in his hometown of St. Paul, Minn. As for when it is time to return? Those are decisions best made by team doctors and the players together. “You just have to be honest with them For McDonagh, 30, a veteran player and father of two, these types of — and yourself,” McDonagh said. injuries can be unsettling. He has one previous documented concussion during his time with the Rangers, and he knows what the recovery is like. “I wish they could take a picture of your brain and tell you, ‘This is how long you’ll be out,'” DiMaio said. “They can’t do that.” “It’s a tricky thing,” McDonagh said. “You can’t be too careful — it’s your head.” Bradley is an advocate of being conservative when it comes to the timetable for returning from head injuries. This hit by the Kings’ Philippe Just ask Rob DiMaio and Brian Bradley. The two retired Lightning Boucher ended his career back in the 1997-98 season. forwards both saw their careers ended by concussions, and they were both able to offer some insight on what it’s like to try to come back from Bradley didn’t know the specifics of McDonagh’s injury but suggested it them. wouldn’t have been a bad thing to rest him through next week’s bye week and All-Star break. “The word I use is ‘frustrating,'” said DiMaio, who played 17 years in the NHL and is now the director of player personnel for the Blues. “There’s Players obviously want to play, though, and a three-week absence from so many unknowns to it. You go through it and feel like you’re OK, but game action is a difficult challenge in itself. then you don’t. For me, when I was around loud noises or bright lights or “In the grand scheme of things, there are still points on the line,” my kids were loud, I had to remove myself. I could deal with it, but I had a McDonagh said Tuesday. “As a player, if you’re feeling good, you want to tough time. It took a year and a half or two years before I started to feel play. This is a situation where if I needed a break, it was there. Would be normal after my career ended.” great. But I hope, in this case, it progresses and I can come back.” DiMaio said he doesn’t remember how many concussions he had since McDonagh did on Thursday against the Wild, playing with usual partner he “had so many.” There were 10 documented ones, he said, but he Erik Cernak. It’s good news for the Lightning. Even though they entered played in an era before the concussion spotters and protocols became the game having won 10 of their last 11, McDonagh is one of their best commonplace. His final concussion stemmed from a hit in a preseason defensemen. It was good for McDonagh, too, who was itching to get game in Montreal. back. “You got your bell rung and it was, ‘OK, take an Advil and go play,'” Bradley gets it. He just knows from experience how serious any head DiMaio said. “Things have changed for the better. But it was a frustrating injury is. process. You want to feel normal, but you just don’t. That was the hardest part for me.” “You only have one brain,” Bradley said. “You can rebuild everything else in your body. You can rebuild your arm, leg, wrist, hand. Everything. So Our Aaron Portzline wrote an in-depth piece on the details of the gray you can’t take it lightly.” area of the concussion protocols, and The Athletic’s concussion project shed a ton of light on the issue. But as DiMaio and Bradley can attest, Game notes the experiences are different for each player. — The Lightning got off to a slow start Thursday and ended up losing to In February of 2016, McDonagh missed a few games following the the Wild 3-2 to open a back-to-back. concussion he suffered due to a sucker punch from Wayne Simmonds. Tampa Bay doesn’t play well in the Twin Cities and this was no different. When he left the game in Ottawa several weeks ago, McDonagh knew They played a desperate Minnesota team and got beat. he shouldn’t come back too quickly. #TBLIGHTNING FALL TO 2-10-2 ALL-TIME IN MINNESOTA (NO WINS “You have to be very careful not to push it too hard to come back in the HERE SINCE 2011). THEIR .214 POINTS PCT IS WORST ROAD PTS game,” McDonagh said. “I wanted to come back and push through the PCT VS. ANY NHL TEAM. SOFT FLORIDIANS CAN’T HANDLE A game, and maybe I could have, but it’s good to be safe there and make LITTLE COLD  sure it’s not something long-term.” STALOCK (18 SAVES), SUTER GWG The concussion protocol involves answering test questions that are then compared to the baseline answers players give before each season. — MICHAEL RUSSO (@RUSSOHOCKEY) JANUARY 17, 2020 Bradley said they didn’t have baseline tests when he was playing. — Curtis McElhinney started in goal and stopped 20 of 23 shots. The first goal was by Zach Parise on a power play, the next came off a defensive- zone turnover and the third was a deflected shot from the point. This loss isn’t really on him. There were some uncharacteristic mistakes, like Ondrej Palat’s turnover on the wall in his own zone that led to the second goal, and the recently resurgent penalty kill gave up a goal. Nikita Kucherov said the team “got away from our game” with turnovers and it cost them.

— While McDonagh returned — and played more than 18 minutes, four of which came on the penalty kill — veteran wing Pat Maroon remained sidelined with an upper-body injury. Maroon did participate in the morning skate, and coach Jon Cooper said he might be a game-time decision Friday in Winnipeg, the last game before the break.

— That could mean that rookie Alex Volkov played his last game this most recent callup. Volkov, whom we profiled on Wednesday, had a rough night with zero shots and another two penalty minutes. Volkov took two penalties Tuesday (one of which Cooper gave him a pass for), but after Thursday’s second-period hooking penalty, he played just one shift in the third period (7:28 in all).

— Nikita Kucherov is heating up. The Hart Trophy winner scored twice Thursday to give him a team-high 20 goals, his second coming from his office, the top of the right circle. Kucherov has been terrific the past few weeks, delivering the type of difference-making moments like Tuesday’s game-tying goal to force overtime. The superstar wing has bounced back from his mid-December benching and has been strong at both ends of the ice. It’s no coincidence that Tampa Bay’s recent run — winning 11 out of its last 13 games — came with Kucherov and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stepping up.

— Vasilevskiy will be going for his 10th consecutive win Friday in Winnipeg, which would be one shy of the club record set by Louis Domingue last season.

— I think it’s time to give some props to defenseman Jan Rutta, who has been one of the pleasant surprises for the Lightning this season. He started as a healthy scratch then stepped into the top pair and has been an ideal partner for All-Star Victor Hedman.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171665 Toronto Maple Leafs "He works very diligently in the off-season to master his craft and takes a very serious approach to his off-ice preparation, and that is starting to manifest itself. I think the number of goals he is scoring is a byproduct of that.” Auston Matthews is putting together one of the greatest seasons in Maple Leafs’ history Last February, Matthews signed a five-year contract at an annual average of $US11.6-million. Until then, he was making the maximum of $925,000 under his three-year rookie deal. In three-plus seasons, he has averaged more than one point a game – 262 in 260 – and won the MARTY KLINKENBERG Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in his first year.

Matthews is polite and introverted. He is similar to McDavid, a fellow No. Auston Matthews celebrates his game-tying goal against the Winnipeg 1 draft pick, in that he finds it difficult to explain what he actually does Jets during a game at Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 8, 2020, in Toronto. that makes him outstanding.

In person, Auston Matthews is much bigger than one would expect: tall “I try the same every night to be as consistent as I can,” he says, and muscular with thick legs and an ample posterior. seemingly puzzled.

“He’s got that -type of body going on,” his teammate, When asked to identify the one area he thinks needs the most Tyson Barrie, says. improvement, he pauses for a short time and then defers.

He lacks the speed and lo-co-motion Connor McDavid employs to “I am not really sure how to answer that,” he says. hornswoggle goalies, but makes up for it with a razor-sharp shot that is It is not impudence or effrontery. It is like asking Picasso to describe his arguably the best in hockey after Alexander Ovechkin’s. brush strokes. “It just keeps getting better and better, and that’s hard to believe,” says “What goes most unappreciated about him is how hard he works,” says John Tavares, the Maple Leafs captain. “When you see it on a daily Jason Spezza, 36, and Matthews’s teammate for the first time. "I knew basis, it’s very impressive." about his shot because I had marvelled at it from afar. Toronto’s 22-year-old centre is in the midst of a season for the ages, “The way he is playing now is going to become his norm. He is reaching perhaps the greatest the century-old organization has seen. He has 34 his prime." goals through 48 games, and is on a pace to surpass the franchise record of 54 in a season. Matthews was only the seventh American chosen with the No. 1 pick, and he was the first in the modern era of the NHL to score four goals in It is improbable, but he could even get 50 on home ice before the season his debut. So what’s happening now isn’t a surprise. The significant ends. He heads into Saturday’s engagement with the Chicago improvement he has shown on defence is. Blackhawks with 27 in 24 games at Scotiabank Arena. It is the team’s final match before the all-star game, to which Matthews has been invited “The biggest thing I have learned about him is that he is a very good for a fourth consecutive time. The Leafs will have 16 more home games player defensively away from the puck,” says Sheldon Keefe, who took after the break. over as head coach from the ousted Mike Babcock. “He is always engaged and never stops tracking." “He is unbelievable right now,” Calgary’s forward Matthew Tkachuk, also an all-star, said this week. Both grew up in Scottsdale, Ariz. "We have Offence is his calling card and always will be. seen him put the puck in the net throughout his career, but not like this. It seems like he scores every game. “If he doesn’t get 55 goals this season, I’d be shocked,” says Rick Vaive, who in 1981-82 became the first Toronto player to score 50. He shares "He is in the top tier of the league, not just from his goal-scoring but as a the franchise record of 54 with Dave Andreychuk, who did it in 1992-93. total offensive player. You have to have multiple guys and layers ready to "I talked to him recently and told him that I hope I am there that night to take him on, and you don’t want to allow him to get in a one-on-one congratulate him. situation with anybody. He is that good and that gifted.” “It is not easy to score 50, no matter what decade you are talking about A season that began with the disclosure of an embarrassing off-season and no matter what the level. I don’t think people understand how difficult incident has turned into something sublime. it is. It’s like a 50-home-run season in baseball.”

He is the first Maple Leafs player to score 30 goals in each of his first Vaive says it will become more difficult for Matthews in the second half of four seasons, and the first U.S.-born player to do the same. His name the season. has begun to pop up in conversations about the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the player deemed most valuable to his team, and “Once you become a known goal-scorer, it gets hard," he says. “Teams rightly so. Toronto is 16-3-5 in games, in which he has scored and it is 9- understand that you score from certain areas and they take them away 13-2 when he hasn’t. from you.”

His 19 multiple-goal games are the most in the league, and he has four There are other things to know about Auston Matthews. He has become game-winning goals and 10 that tied games. Only David Pastrnak of pals with Justin Bieber and has tattoos that cover both arms. Boston has more goals, with 36. “I got the first when I was 17,” he says with a sheepish grin. “I didn’t tell “The thing I think everybody has noticed is that Auston has a bit of a flair my parents I was getting it. Eventually, I had to show them." for big goals late in games,” says Kyle Dubas, the Toronto general He wears a moustache that charitably can be described as not his best manager. “I don’t attribute that to somebody who is able to step up in big physical feature. Kids love it, though. They tape a fake one above their moments. I attribute it to someone who, when the pressure is high and upper lips and stand by the glass at Scotiabank Arena for him to see. everyone else is losing their heads, is able to remain calm and focused and be who he is. That is a major area of growth.” “It is pretty awesome,” Matthews says. “It has become like a thing now, I guess." He has scored 15 times and has eight assists over the past 14 games. During that span, Toronto is 9-2-3. When he was shut down by the He has a kind and nurturing nature. Even before he played his first game Flames on Thursday, it was the first time he had not scored in a home for the Maple Leafs, he visited patients with cystic fibrosis at Toronto’s game since Dec. 4. Hospital for Sick Children. He still does it quietly, partially in memory of his Uncle Billy, who died from the disease when Auston was just three. “I think he has had a great season for us, and I think if you asked him, he would be and should be proud,” Dubas says. "I think he would also tell “I go because of that, and because the organization has such a good you, and we would agree, that he still has a lot more to [improve] his relationship with the hospital,” he says. “It’s a combination of a little bit of game at different levels. That’s what makes it the most exciting for both.” everybody. He has a self-deprecating sense of humour. After scoring four goals in his NHL debut on Oct. 12, 2016, he didn’t have another hat trick until Tuesday night, when he scored three in a lopsided win over the New Jersey Devils.

He played 258 games between his first hat trick and the next. On 27 occasions, he scored two goals in a game but was unable to ring up a third.

“Sooner or later, I figured I’d get one,” Matthews says.

Teammates admire him.

Michael Hutchinson, the Maple Leafs backup goalie, has a rink-side seat from which to watch him on most nights.

“When he is on the ice, you expect something special to happen,” Hutchinson says. 'We have so much confidence in him and his abilities."

Hutchinson played against him only once, when he was with the Winnipeg Jets.

“We won in overtime,” Hutchinson says. “He came in on a breakaway and tried to shoot between my legs and I closed the door. I am sure that is the only time I will ever get the best of him.”

He gives Tyson Barrie a ride to the airport every time the team travels. Then they sit side by side on the plane.

“He has a good sense of humour, and we have similar taste in music," Barrie says. "For a guy who is such a big superstar, he’s humble and pretty down to earth.

“He is a good dude.”

Globe And Mail LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171666 Toronto Maple Leafs Andersen laughed when he got to the part about “circus act,” but he thinks long and hard about the details of his daily routine. Manning a goal crease, he said, isn’t like running a marathon. Sometimes it’s about endurance, sure, but mostly it’s about skill. And in the interest of keeping To skate or not to skate? Maple Leafs young and old like to keep their his skills sharp, Andersen opted for 40 minutes on the ice on Friday. He options open said playing under Keefe, who has scaled back practice time and occasionally ditched game-day skates, has meant an adjustment to his

routine. By Dave Feschuk “It’s a fine line between staying sharp enough and staying fresh,” Andersen said. “You’ve got to be able to feel, you’ve got to be able to think and read and react to plays. And that’s probably been the biggest The night before, John Tavares had put in more than 26 minutes of work challenge for me — to have less time in game-like situations in practice. all told — 26:23 by the game sheet. And that’s something I have to adapt to as well.”

According to Hockey-Reference.com, in 792 NHL games he’d been given Spezza, for his part, is going through the same adjustment. While the more ice time just once — back when he logged 26:46 as a 19-year-old team’s sports science staff has encouraged him to take more days off, Islanders rookie. The distance between the two highest workload games getting on the ice is a big part of his daily lifeblood. So while various of his career amounted to a lifetime for the 29-year-old captain of the Leafs remained in street clothes Friday — among them Auston Maple Leafs, now a married father of a four-month-old son. So the Matthews, Mitch Marner and Tyson Barrie — Spezza was among those reasonable question on Friday afternoon, when the Maple Leafs held an who skated. optional skills session at their Etobicoke practice facility, went something like this. Why on earth didn’t Tavares take the option and take the day “I just want to stay sharp,” he said. off? There was a time, not long ago, when the choice wasn’t the player’s. “I just felt like I had some good energy today,” Tavares was saying. “I Spezza, Ottawa’s second overall pick in the 2001 draft, said when he didn’t feel like sitting around not doing a whole lot was for my benefit.” broke into the league it wasn’t uncommon for practices to run 80 or 90 minutes. And only the most esteemed of veterans ever contemplated These are the calculations being made daily in the Sheldon Keefe era in skipping a day. Leafland, where practices are shorter (and more often optional) and game-day skates are going the way of the wooden stick. Players, both “Daniel Alfredsson was the first teammate I had who started taking veterans and youngsters, are often being given an existential choice: to practices off. It seemed bizarre — like, how are you going to stay sharp?” skate or not to skate? And even though we’re living in the load- Spezza said. “But now, everybody takes practices off.” management era, where it’s become a go-to assumption that rest is a Everybody does, but not every time it’s green-lighted. Tavares, for his weapon and high-priced pro athletes ought to be bubble-wrapped part, said that after conferring with the team’s medical and sports science between gaps in the schedule, there are those who often opt to skate. staff about the best plan for Friday’s work day, he opted to don his skates “It was only optional for a very select group of guys. Most of our guys, we — albeit only for a 10-minute on-ice session concentrating on “a little bit wanted to have out there,” Keefe, the head coach, clarified. “For a of acceleration,” as he accurately described it. segment of our team, we wanted to make sure we’re giving them the “It’s always about the quality,” Tavares said. “If you’re going to do proper rest to be prepared for tomorrow. For others, we wanted to make something that’s going to take you an hour, but there’s not a whole lot of sure to continue to work with them to get them touches and get them purpose or intent or detail, the effect is very minimal. Where if I’m going reps so we can work to get better.” to put in 10 good minutes on whatever I’m trying to focus on or Still, the idea of making the optional practice commonplace, as Keefe has accomplish, I give it my full attention and full ability, I feel like the benefit done, is a relatively new NHL innovation. Frederik Andersen, the 30- is much greater.” year-old goaltender, glanced across the room at the locker stall of 36- NHL alumni who grinded through 90-minute bag skates might scoff at the year-old teammate Jason Spezza and laughed at the memory of an NHL notion of a 10-minute skills session, but that’s where science has brought ruled by a wholly different philosophy. us. Whether or not it’s for the best — well, everyone has the option of “Not to age (Spezza) too much, but he’s of the old school where you disagreeing. skated every day with very few options,” Andersen said. “Now you’ve got “Now there’s lots of people thinking about this stuff. Whereas before it guys coming in playing one or two games and taking options. You’d was the head coach figuring it out himself,” Spezza said. “And if he came never see that before. Even when I came into the league, that was to the rink pissed off at you, you were going to practice for an hour and unheard of. Maybe if you had the Patty Marleau over-37 card you could 20 minutes … It’s evolved quite a bit. And probably for the better, play it once in a while. But those were the only guys.” truthfully.” Speaking of Andersen, given how no NHL goaltender started more Toronto Star LOADED: 01.18.2020 games since he arrived in Toronto in 2016 — and seeing how he’s on pace for another 65 outings this season — you might have assumed he’d sit out Friday’s skate in favour of a day of rest, preferably in a hyperbaric chamber while sipping from the best legal fountain of youth science can concoct.

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The more rest the better, right? The answer, Andersen was saying, is that he’s still trying to figure out the answer. As much as the Leafs believe in the merits of sport science, Andersen said there’s not yet a science that guarantees a stellar performance in the next game. And given that the Leafs still have a game to play on Saturday — a home date against the Blackhawks, after which they’ll embark on a bye-week, all-star-break vacation that will see them freed from the NHL schedule for nine consecutive days — Andersen felt a day off Friday would be to his detriment.

“I get the point that you need some rest. But you also need to do the work to feel confident in your game,” he said. “There’s a reason we got to where we got as players. That’s by working and by honing our skills. Now it’s almost like we’re a circus act — Saturday nights and Tuesday nights, that’s when you can see us. Like that’s all we do now. “ 1171667 Toronto Maple Leafs

A Knight to remember — Patrick Kane follows London ceremony with shot at NHL milestone against Leafs

By Mark Zwolinski

Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks will put the Maple Leafs’ defence to the test in their final game before the all-star break.

In addition to the excitement that’s stirred up whenever Kane faces the Leafs’ Auston Matthews in a matchup of American-born stars — both selected for next weekend’s all-star game in St. Louis — Kane is closing in on a major statistical milestone.

The 31-year-old Blackhawks forward, now in his 13th season, is just two points shy of 1,000 heading into Saturday night’s game at Scotiabank Arena.

“He just seems to get better and better every year,” Matthews said of Kane, who leads the Blackhawks with 24 goals and 60 points. “Despite (his age), you look at what he does and it’s impressive — what he can accomplish year in and year out.

“He’s always at the top of the leaderboard for points. When you play Edmonton, it’s (Connor) McDavid who’s highlighted. When you play Pittsburgh, it’s (Sidney) Crosby and (Evgeni) Malkin … It’s the same way when you play Chicago. The (scouting reports) centre around 88 (Kane’s number).”

The Buffalo-born Kane has 380 goals in 951 career games and has feasted on the Leafs over the years — 14 goals and 15 assists in 18 meetings. Now he’s poised to become the 90th NHLer to reach the 1,000-point mark.

“It’s one of those things that’s pretty special,” Kane told NHL.com earlier this week. “We’ll see what happens and when it happens, but it’ll be a pretty cool milestone.”

Kane spent Friday night in London, Ont. — where he played a memorable season with the OHL’s Knights, amassing 62 goals and 145 points in 2006-07. He added 10 goals and 21 assists in the playoffs, one of just a handful of OHLers to ever lead the post-season in scoring without winning the championship. He was also voted CHL rookie of the year before going first overall in the NHL draft and joining the Blackhawks.

The Knights held a jersey retirement ceremony in Kane’s honour, the ninth in franchise history. He has been hailed as one of the reasons why so many top junior talents have gone through London since then. Leafs forward Mitch Marner, for one, turned in a memorable 2015-16 season with the Knights.

Kane was chosen in the 2004 OHL draft, but honoured a commitment to the U.S. national development program for the next two years before reporting to London. He left as the program’s all-time leading scorer — a record broken by Matthews in 2015.

“There’s a lot of guys — like Seth Jones and (former Leaf James van Riemsdyk) — who went through the program and had a lot of success,” Matthews said. “For myself, I look up to (Kane) and a lot of the other guys, too.”

Kane rifled two goals the last time the Leafs and Blackhawks met on Nov. 10 in Chicago. The Leafs lost 5-4 despite a 57-34 edge in shots.

Matthews, meanwhile, is up to second in the NHL in goals with 34, two behind Boston’s David Pastrnak. The Toronto centre knows what the Leafs need to do defensively against Kane — and that it’s easier said than done.

“You have to make sure you’re on top of him,” Matthews said. “You can’t give him any space.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171668 Toronto Maple Leafs Frederik Andersen Michael Hutchinson

SICK BAY Game Day: Blackhawks at Maple Leafs D Jake Muzzin (foot)

D Morgan Rielly (foot) Lance Hornby LW Trevor Moore (concussion)

RW/LW Ilya Mikheyev (wrist) CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS BLACKHAWKS GAME DAY LINES Saturday, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena LW C RW TV: CBC, ; Radio: 590 AM Dominik Kubalik Jonathan Toews Drake Caggiula THE BIG MATCHUP Alex Nylander Ryan Carpenter Patrick Kane RW Patrick Kane vs. C Auston Matthews Alex DeBrincat David Kampf Kirby Dach These two always put on a scoring show, with a couple of memorable one-goal games at the United Center in Toronto’s past two visits. With 29 Bradon Saad/Dylan Sikura Zack Smith Matthew Highmore points in 18 games against the Leafs, just about his best numbers against any non-conference opponent, Kane can also expect some DEFENCE PAIRS family and friends to slide up from Buffalo. Toronto’s best home-ice Duncan Keith Adam Boqvist sniper, Matthews was denied Thursday against Calgary, but only once this season has he not scored in the next SBA match. Erik Gustafsson Connor Murphy

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Olli Maatta Slater Koekkoek

The new Dominator? GOALIES

Winger Dominik Kubalik came around at the right time for the Hawks, Corey Crawford giving them a nice bookend with Alex DeBrincat for secondary scoring. Before being blanked in Montreal, he had six points in four games, Robin Lehner making it 24 in 46 for the 24-year-old Czech, an ex-member of the INJURIES . The Hawks also have signed WHL star forward Brandon Hagel and could get him in this game. D Brent Seabrook (shoulder, hips)

Second helping D Calvin de Haan (shoulder)

Toronto has been at its best offensively in the middle period, with 59 RW Brandon Saad (ankle) goals, tied with Tampa Bay for fourth-most in the NHL. That’s almost double what Chicago has produced in the second. RW Andrew Shaw (concussion)

Power through RW Dylan Strome (ankle)

The Leafs keep generating quality power play chances with their SPECIAL TEAMS impressive weaponry and should have managed at least one more goal Power Play on Thursday against Calgary in four chances. But they are up against the seventh-best PK in the league and must be wary of giving up rushes the Toronto 24.1% (6th) other way. Chicago 15.7% (27th) Stretch that defence Penalty killing Defencemen Travis Dermott and Rasmus Sandin are getting plenty of ice Toronto 76.1% (25th) time with the injuries to Jake Muzzin and Morgan Rielly. Both showed poise on Thursday as the Flames pressured them, while this is another Chicago 83.0% (7th) chance for one-time Blackhawk second-round draft pick Justin Holl to really show the Hawks what they missed. Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.18.2020

Face it

The Leafs have had some great numbers on the draw of late at home and had into this one ranked third in the league.

MAPLE LEAFS GAME DAY LINES

LW C RW

Zach Hyman Auston Matthews Mitch Marner

William Nylander John Tavares Pierre Engvall

Andreas Johnsson Alex Kerfoot Kasperi Kapanen

Brooks/Timashov Jason Spezza Frederik Gauthier

Defence pairings

Travis Dermott Justin Holl

Martin Marincin Tyson Barrie

Rasmus Sandin Cody Ceci

GOALIES 1171669 Toronto Maple Leafs Milstein promises a formal announcement is coming shortly. Mikheyev’s love of soup and yearning to see more of it served since moving to North America from Russia in the summer led to the ad campaign.

Leaf Snaps: Slow recovery for Johnsson LOOSE LEAFS

Those who did a double take when Matt Martin was announced Thursday as the Alumni player in the nightly Salute To The Troops spot — and Lance Hornby noted it was not the belligerent winger who went back to the Islanders — will recall there were two Matt Martins, the first an American defenceman

who played in the Pat Burns era … Frederik Andersen and Michael Andreas Johnsson scowled when a team trainer stopped him taking off Huthchinson were doing an interesting core drill Friday with goalie coach his equipment after Friday’s practice to say he was required back on the Steve Briere, holding nothing but a while they raised and ice for a few minutes more of 1-on-1 skating drills. dropped their pads into butterfly position to stop shots. Of course they couldn’t resist dribbling the ball on the ice during a break, Hutchinson a Getting back in shape from a five-week layoff with a broken foot is cager of note in his Barrie high school district, being more than six feet proving quite arduous for the Swedish right winger. It came on the heels tall when he was in Grade 9 … Former Leaf Ed Olczyk will be signing of a busy game on Thursday, where coach Sheldon Keefe moved him up copies of his book Beating The Odds in Hockey and in Life at 1 p.m. with top guns Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in the hopes of Saturday at the Eaton Centre’s Indigo store. sparking him with a point or goal, as well as getting the club’s leading scorers rolling in a low-scoring affair against Calgary. Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.18.2020

“I just didn’t feel like we had much going and for the Matthews line (with Zach Hyman on left wing). It was the one day where much wasn’t happening, so I tried to change the chemistry a bit,” Keefe said.

But you know Matthews and Marner will be cooking soon enough, where Johnsson is a point of concern.

“I did see (jump) at times from him, but it’s very apparent he’s behind in terms of conditioning,” Keefe said of last year’s 20-goal scorer, which netted a new contract.

“His shifts are really short. He gathers his energy, has a burst and then he’s pretty gassed afterwards. I saw him a number of times coming back to the bench tired. He’ll have to work his way through and we’ll help him do that.”

He has no points in the three games back, having been playing with two of the quickest skaters on the team, Alex Kerfoot and Kasperi Kapanen. Johnsson did come close to scoring against the Flames, but November had been a pretty dry month before the injury.

“I don’t know … I felt good yesterday,” said a reserved Johnsson. “It’s more timing and stuff to work on.”

Which will likely keep him close to Toronto during the coming bye week and all-star break.

LONG REHABS AHEAD

If Johnsson is taking awhile to come around after the cast came off his leg, the Leafs could be looking for an even longer adjustment period as Jake Muzzin slowly works back to skating after his foot was also cracked by a shot block. When Toronto resumes playing on Jan. 27 in Nashville, he’ll have been out a month. Muzzin will be doing some rehab work near home during the break. Morgan Rielly (broken foot) and forward Ilya Mikheyev (artery surgery) are a couple of months away from returning.

MAKE IT FAST

Kasperi Kapanen was about 3 1/2 when his father Sami first won the NHL’s fastest skater competition at the NHL all-star game, in 2000 in Toronto and then 2002 in Florida. It’s a subject bound to come up in father-son conversations as the 2020 skills contest happens this Friday in St. Louis.

“I’ve seen it a couple of times on YouTube, it’s a pretty special thing,” Kasperi said. “To be called the fastest skater in the NHL (Sami’s 13.649- second lap of the Air Canada Centre was a touch quicker than Florida), that’s pretty cool.

“He’ll bring it up and try to brag about it, but I’d like to think I could beat him in my time.”

Three-time defending champion Connor McDavid has yet to beat the time of 13.103 by Jonathan Drouin.

SOUP’S ON

Mikheyev is up and around after his delicate surgery and according to a tweet from agent Dan Milstein, filming TV ad material for “an undisclosed major soup company which would also feature his mom, Natalia.” 1171670 Toronto Maple Leafs vacation flights, winger Trevor Moore found he’ll be staying around the Marlies a bit.

After he mentioned Friday after practice he’d like to go home to California Leafs need a win before break to visit family, the Leafs announced he’s going on a conditioning stint. He badly needs some game-action after a shoulder injury followed by a concussion saw him play just once since Nov. 15. It’s possible Moore still gets the league’s mandated mini-break amid a four-game assignment as Lance Hornby the Marlies play twice this weekend in Charlotte, then are off four days before heading to Cleveland for a game on Jan. 24.

The Maple Leafs are looking for a clean break. Keefe only spared players such as Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner from Friday’s practice as they were in 25-minute territory the night before As in a win on Saturday night against Chicago to enter the long NHL all- in the shootout loss to Calgary. It’s unlike the Leafs hold a full skate star hiatus with more solid playoff positioning, rather than stew about Saturday morning, so it’s hard to confirm if the changes made on right giving further hope to four fellow Eastern Conference teams sitting right wing in the third period, which saw Hyman, Andreas Johnsson and Pierre behind them. It will also end a stretch of six home games since Jan. 4, of Engvall all shifting around, will hold. which the Leafs have won just two to date, though they did squeeze out a couple of overtime points. Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.18.2020

The Leafs were no doubt hoping to kick back by this Sunday morning with at least 60 points in the bank, making the playoff math easy. Win 19 of their remaining 32 games for at least 98 points in total, considered a magic number.

But lose in regulation to Chicago and the Leafs are at 57, opening the door for the conference race to get even tighter via a group of teams with games remaining after the Leafs start their hiatus.

“That would be a longer (sour) taste,” agreed winger Zach Hyman as the Leafs worked out Friday at a west-end multi-pad while the Blackhawks set up next door. “In the regular season, you lose a game, you usually play right after. This is a little different.”

Much was made of getting some traction at Scotiabank Arena in January, after the Leafs settled in following five straight road victories over New Year’s. But a loss Saturday drops Sheldon Keefe’s team below .500 at home (currently 12-5-7). While they haven’t put in many clunkers on Bay St., nor do they need extra worries about a slump, once most of them scatter to sunny climes for a week, returning to practice Jan. 25 in Nashville before facing the Predators and Dallas Stars.

Defenceman Tyson Barrie said whatever happens, the Leafs need the time off, both their built-in bye week and the ensuing break for the all-star skills contest and the game itself in St. Louis next weekend.

“I’ve always been a fan of stepping away for a week, regroup and get ready for a big push,” said Barrie. “The league usually takes a step up after this break and then again for playoffs.”

The remaining 33 games are condensed into 69 days, with five road trips of at least two games’ duration, including the long distance California trek the first week in March.

“Every time you’re going into a break, you want to finish off on a high note,” said Keefe. “It gives everyone a little better feeling leaving the rink. We also just want to finish our week on a positive note. We’ve been able to get three of four points after a tough week previous. We want to be on the right side of it.”

When the break concludes, the Leafs should have a better idea about their long list of injuries. Jake Muzzin has been spotted around the press box with few signs of discomfort from a broken toe/foot suffered Dec. 27 in New Jersey. He’s expected to stay near Toronto and skate to accelerate recovery. But Morgan Rielly likely won’t be back from a similar injury until late March.

The Hawks have also had recent misfortune with injuries, but are hanging around for wild-card contention and began their road trip with wins in Montreal and Ottawa. Saturday sets up another showdown between leading scorers Auston Matthews and Patrick Kane, as well as the Nylander brothers, William of the Leafs and Alex of the Hawks. Former NHLer Michael Nylander was at practice Friday.

“Every time we play these guys, it makes for a pretty exciting game, high scoring,” forecasted Matthews. “(Kane) seems to get better and better every year despite (being aged 31). Year in, year out he’s up at the top of the leaderboard. A lot of the pre-scouting is centred around 88 (Kane).”

MOORE-D IN TORONTO

As the Maple Leafs kept one eye on the weather reports regarding storms across the northern part of the continent interfering with Sunday 1171671 Toronto Maple Leafs It’s way early to try and forecast that Georgiev could replace Andersen, but he would at least give Toronto a viable option to fill some of the void in net if they opt not to re-sign their No. 1 of the past four seasons.

Mirtle: The Maple Leafs are interested in Alexandar Georgiev. But how Georgiev is also gaining a reputation around the league as someone much can they justify giving up? worth making an educated bet on.

“He’s intriguing,” said one executive with another team that is monitoring the situation. By James Mirtle Jan 17, 2020 What hurts Georgiev’s value for a lot of GMs is the pending Seattle expansion draft in the summer of 2021. Teams will only be permitted to protect one goaltender, which makes a young backup a luxury few clubs The Maple Leafs have quietly put out feelers and investigated options for want to give up an established player for. Goalies could be in abundance an upgrade at their backup goalie position over the past few weeks. on the trade market in advance of the expansion draft, too, as teams How serious those endeavours have been – and will be in the lead up to attempt to get assets for players they’d otherwise lose for nothing. the Feb. 24 trade deadline – remains to be seen. It’s also still unclear what Georgiev’s ceiling is, especially compared to But what’s clear is Toronto has inquired multiple times this season about players like Kapanen and Johnsson, who both had 20 goals last season New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, a 23-year-old who and have spent a lot of time playing in Toronto’s top six the past two has quickly gone from undrafted free agent in 2017 to a promising years. prospect at the NHL level. My guess is that the Rangers struggle to get anyone to meet their current To date, the Rangers’ asking price has been high. They want a quality asking price, which will leave them contemplating either carrying three young player who can play now, not a pick or a prospect, for the young goalies the rest of the season or accepting more of a futures package. Russian netminder. If they alter their asking price in the coming weeks, Toronto becomes a The result is a bit of a stalemate, as the Leafs (and other suitors) haven’t much more likely destination. been willing to meet that price for a goalie who has only started 60 NHL If a potential deal doesn’t subtract from their current roster, the Leafs games. may well bite on an upgrade at a position that’s been an unwelcome Under normal circumstances, a rebuilding team like New York wouldn’t headache the last two seasons. want to deal someone like Georgiev. But with 37-year-old franchise icon The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 Henrik Lundqvist still with a year remaining on his contract, and prized prospect Igor Shesterkin putting up sparkling numbers in the AHL and NHL, the Rangers have been carrying three goaltenders closing in on nearly two weeks now.

It’s not a tenable situation long term. Carrying three goalies can be difficult logistically – even when it comes to practices, never mind finding enough starts in games.

And despite a run of strong play of late – and a solid .914 save percentage on the season – Georgiev is obviously the odd-man-out given Lundqvist’s stature in the organization and Shesterkin’s promise as a future No. 1.

Both teams have kept trade talks quiet, so specifics are somewhat lacking. But it’s believed that the Leafs are willing to part with futures – including someone like AHLer Jeremy Bracco – in order to land Georgiev. The Rangers, however, are asking for more established players, presumably, the likes of Leafs forwards Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson or Alexander Kerfoot.

That’s going to be a no-go for Toronto, especially in a 1-for-1 scenario. While the Leafs would potentially move a forward like that to upgrade on their blue line in the coming weeks, it doesn’t make much sense for them to give up one of their primary trade chips for a goaltender who may only play a handful of games for them the rest of the season.

That said, there’s still plenty of time for the negotiation to expand to include more pieces, given the Leafs will probably be buying and the Rangers will likely be selling.

The Leafs definitely want to keep starter Frederik Andersen’s workload reasonable, but with few back-to-back games remaining on their schedule, it’s not out of the question he plays 28 of their remaining 34 games as they battle to lock down a playoff spot.

Backup Michael Hutchinson has struggled this season, without question. But he has played better of late, lessening the urgency to get Andersen immediate help.

Where adding Georgiev makes the most sense is as insurance for the future. The Leafs badly need an upgrade at the backup position next season and could also use an alternate option to giving Andersen a massive contract when he becomes a free agent at the end of 2020-21.

Given Toronto’s cap constraints, meeting Andersen’s asking price may not be wise. And he will be 32 years old by the start of the 2021-22 season, when a big new UFA deal would kick in. 1171672 Vegas Golden Knights

Chandler Stephenson continues to impress with Golden Knights

By David Schoen

January 17, 2020 - 7:46 PM

MONTREAL — The theme of Chandler Stephenson’s brief time in a Golden Knights uniform has been taking advantage of his opportunity.

With center William Karlsson sidelined, Stephenson is being handed an even larger role.

The speedy forward stepped into Karlsson’s spot on the top line and continues to impress since being acquired from Washington last month.

“Obviously you never want to see your top center go down. He’s a huge part of the team and our success,” Stephenson said after practice Friday at Bell Centre. “To have that trust from the coaching staff, it makes life easy. It makes you feel really comfortable. The group, as well, has been awesome. It’s been a pretty smooth and easy transition with everybody and how everything’s been going.”

Karlsson sustained an upper-body injury during Tuesday’s loss at Buffalo and is listed as week to week. He remained with the team on the road trip rather than returning to Las Vegas, and new coach Peter DeBoer provided an optimistic prognosis for Karlsson’s return.

“He’ll miss the entire road trip and then we’ve got the break (until Jan. 30). I would think he’d be real close after that,” DeBoer said. “It’s an opportunity for somebody else. I thought Stephenson went in and did a real good job.”

Stephenson, 25, skated almost exclusively on the third or fourth line during his two full seasons with the Capitals and was unable to crack one of the NHL’s top-six forward groups unless there was an injury or other circumstance that created a temporary opening.

After landing with the Knights on Dec. 2 for a 2021 fifth-round pick, former Knights coach Gerard Gallant used Stephenson up and down the lineup.

He centered the second line between leading scorers Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone and also saw time at left wing on the first line when Jonathan Marchessault missed the first five games of 2020 with a lower-body injury.

“He fits really well. He plays a fast game. He’s super skilled,” Marchessault said. “He’s a guy who takes a lot of pride playing well defensively, as well. That’s a hell of an addition. We go and get a guy on our top nine like that for not much.”

Stephenson logged his second game-winning goal in the past six games Thursday against Ottawa when he intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and scored on a short-handed breakaway in the third period.

Entering Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, Stephenson has six goals and 12 points with the Knights, which matches his previous career high for goals in only 21 games.

Overall, he has nine goals and 16 points in 45 games with the Knights and Capitals, two points shy of his career best set in 2017-18 when he helped Washington raise the Stanley Cup.

And after an initial period of adjustment, Stephenson also has started to show more of his personality inside the locker room.

”He’s definitely more of a quieter guy to begin with, but he’s definitely a little bit more comfortable now,” said defenseman Brayden McNabb, who works out with Stephenson in the summer in their native Saskatchewan. “He’s added that element of speed, and he’s very good defensively. He’s a winner, and he understands the game and how to play it the right way.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171673 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights practices at City National Arena to remain open

By Rochelle Richards

January 17, 2020 - 5:55 PM

Golden Knights practices at City National Arena will remain open to the public, a team spokesman told the Review-Journal on Friday.

Team practices are a management policy and are not specific to the coach, the Knights said.

The announcement came after Peter DeBoer was named head coach Wednesday, following the firing of head coach Gerard Gallant and assistant Mike Kelly.

Practice schedules can be found on City National Arena’s website, or on the Knights’ Twitter account the morning of practice.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171674 Vegas Golden Knights It was Reaves who scored against the Senators on Thursday and then presented DeBoer with the puck from the victory, after which the player offered his coach a celebratory hug.

Have a cold one: Ryan Reaves looks to fit with Peter DeBoer “I had to,” Reaves said. “I didn’t know where we stood.”

DeBoer politely declined his sweat-soaked fourth liner.

By Ed Graney Enjoying a beer

January 17, 2020 - 5:45 PM Perhaps there is another way for the two to break any lingering proverbial ice from those intense, emotionally filled games between Vegas and San Jose.

MONTREAL — Maybe this will prove the perfect situation for Ryan What if Reaves and DeBoer shared some of the best beer from the Reaves, his greatest rival’s former coach now directing the Golden player’s 7FiveBrewing company? Knights. “No hugs, but I will take that,” DeBoer said. I mean, who would have more inside information on Evander Kane than Peter DeBoer? Mostly, this is just sports. Be it a player or coach or even general manager, new faces almost always mean change. Those from DeBoer Few in the Vegas room would have had similar thoughts as Reaves will likely begin as small. Vegas certainly isn’t a team in need of any when it was announced that DeBoer would be replacing the fired Gerard major overhaul. Gallant this week, that instant our body’s electricity is short circuited. And down on the fourth line, a guy who didn’t miss a chance to needle “I think my heart stopped,” Reaves said. and challenge any and all San Jose Sharks in recent times — especially one named Kane — wonders if the coach now in charge of the Knights One of hockey’s better antagonistic duos the last few seasons has been has put any hard feelings behind him. Reaves against Kane of the San Jose Sharks, the team from which DeBoer was fired as coach in December. “I would hope so,” Reaves said. “I would assume so. I’ve played with guys that I’ve had beefs with on the ice and gone out for beers with guys Twitter taunts. Playoff tussles. I’ve fought. It’s just part of the game, especially when it’s a rivalry.” Taking shots while officiating a wedding. Come on. Pour ol’ DeBoer a cold one from the 7Five. Do you know the Muffin Man? Nothing says newfound friendship like that. Reaves-Kane had been building for years. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.18.2020 It eventually took off in the most entertaining of ways.

Strange days

Hockey needs more of it, these back-and-forth skirmishes of words and fists between players, but how DeBoer would respond to the one who most successfully got into the head of his top line forward in San Jose was anyone’s guess.

Talk about a bizarre switching of sides.

“Things get heated with a rivalry and you tend to hate that team a little bit more and you hate everyone in that organization a little bit more,” Reaves said. “But (DeBoer) is not there any more. He’s a Vegas Golden Knight now. He’s the captain of the ship and we’ll follow him.”

Vegas opened the DeBoer Era by beating Ottawa 4-2 and now face the Canadiens on Saturday night at Bell Centre, where the Knights practiced for the first time under their coach Friday.

There were new drills to master and more board work than seen at a Knights practice in some time, DeBoer learning his team and it him.

Do you remember the scene in “Miracle,” when Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks was drawing plays on the glass, his rapid speech talking about things like boom, boom, boom and opening up options and having four of them on one play?

And then one kid turns to the other and says, “What is he talking about?”

And his teammate responds, “No clue.”

It wasn’t like that Friday, but it was a whole lot of fresh ideas.

One thing that likely won’t change is DeBoer’s fondness for a heavy fourth line, which he seemingly always had in San Jose and Reaves at a forward has helped anchor since being traded to Vegas during its expansion season.

“I love the fourth line identity of this team and what those guys in particular bring down there,” DeBoer said. “Every year, they have gotten better. Ryan is a very good player. Underrated.

“That’s playoff hockey. You have to have depth that can beat you a bunch of different ways, with a goal or to set the table physically for the next line going over the boards. It’s a great option for me to have as coach.” 1171675 Vegas Golden Knights

Peter DeBoer coaches first practice with Golden Knights

By David Schoen

January 17, 2020 - 3:50 PM

MONTREAL — Peter DeBoer blew his whistle and hollered “Over here!” to gather the Golden Knights around the whiteboard so he could draw up the first drill.

The line rushes that previously marked the beginning of every practice were a thing of the past.

DeBoer ran his first practice as Knights coach Friday at Bell Centre, and the 45-minute workout was yet another reminder of the sweeping changes that took place this week.

“I thought they were great today,” DeBoer said. “We threw a bunch of different stuff at them. They were dialed in. They executed.”

DeBoer, hired Wednesday after the Knights fired Gerard Gallant, was not part of the optional skate that day and arrived in Ottawa following Thursday’s morning skate.

The differences in his practice were noticeable immediately, from the line rushes taking place midway through to the various drills that the Knights skated.

“I think he’s just implementing some new things,” forward Chandler Stephenson said. “There’s obviously not much time to practice or to really do those things. Just trying to get it embedded in us and just trying some new things.”

DeBoer emphasized two areas on which the Knights spent a significant portion of their time.

The first was cleaning up the defensive-zone coverage when an opposing player carries the puck behind the net.

That was followed by extensive work on the penalty kill, which included defending zone entries.

“He wants a good pace, but he also wants that everybody’s on the same page. Make sure there’s no blank spots or anything like that,” Jonathan Marchessault said. “It’s about buying in now as a group, and we’re going to get through it together. It was a good practice.”

Fleury suspension TBD

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will serve a one-game suspension for not appearing in the All-Star Game, but said the organization has not determined when that will take place. By rule, Fleury must sit out the game preceding or following the All-Star break.

The Knights play at Boston on Tuesday in their final game before the break and are at Carolina on Jan. 31 for the start of another four-game road trip.

“I talked to (goaltender coach) Dave (Prior) a little bit, but we haven’t decided,” Fleury said. “I guess it will be up to management what they want to do, when it’s easier to call up someone, which game.”

Puff, puff, pass

DeBoer was caught on camera taking a whiff of smelling salts handed to him by William Carrier during Thursday’s game at Ottawa.

The move might have helped ingratiate the new coach with his players, but DeBoer joked he just needed to clear his head after a whirlwind 48 hours.

“I needed to get the names right,” he said. “I had 40 names swimming around in my head between San Jose and Vegas. They suggested I take a puff and make sure I clear things. I was all right with that.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171676 Vegas Golden Knights Stone set up Paul Stastny for the opening goal 34 seconds into the first period and added his 17th goal late in the second period when he picked up a rebound and stuffed a wraparound past Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson. Mark Stone scores, makes memorable return to Ottawa in 4-2 win His 45 points are second on the team behind linemate Max Pacioretty (46 points).

By David Schoen Stone also helped save a goal about five minutes into the second period when he tied up Connor Brown’s stick to prevent the Senators’ forward January 17, 2020 - 6:27 am from scoring into an open net.

“It was weird obviously coming in as a visitor and staying at a hotel. That OTTAWA, Ontario — At a local Canadian Tire store not far from the wasn’t something that’s normal,” Stone said. “Once I got back to my Ottawa Senators’ home rink, two massive ads were displayed in the place and saw Brady (Tkachuk) there, and saw him mum and dad and sporting goods aisles. met with (Thomas) Chabot, I was comfortable. I felt comfortable from the second we landed.” One was of former captain Erik Karlsson, who was traded to San Jose in September 2018. The other was of Mark Stone. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.18.2020

Nearly a year after being traded from Ottawa to the Golden Knights, Stone remains a popular figure in the nation’s capital. He was cheered each time his name was announced during Thursday’s 4-2 victory over the Senators.

“It was weird, for sure,” Stone said. “They took a chance on me from day one. I was no shoo-in to be an NHL hockey player, and this team helped me develop and helped mold me into the player I am today.

“It was unfortunate that I wasn’t able to end my career here, but at the time, Vegas has become home and it’s now the place that I want to play the rest of my career.”

1 goal, 1 assist

Stone registered a goal and an assist in his first game back at Canadian Tire Centre and made one of his trademark defensive plays to help the Knights win in Peter DeBoer’s debut as coach and snap a four-game losing skid.

The Senators’ former alternate captain was honored during the first break with a video tribute that featured several of his trademark “Expressive Mark Stone” goal celebrations.

“Those were the good times. I was fortunate enough to be part of two great runs here. One regular-season run (in 2015) and one awesome playoff run (in 2017),” Stone said. “Met a ton of good people. Still communicate with a lot of those people. A lot of guys spend their summers in Ottawa. It’s an awesome place to live, it’s an awesome place to have a family, it’s an awesome place to play hockey.

“With that being said, unfortunately a rebuild wasn’t something that was on my mind. I wanted to play playoff hockey. I want to be in the prime of my career with a chance to win the Stanley Cup. This is a team I felt I could do it.”

Stone was a sixth-round pick by Ottawa in 2010 and debuted for the Senators during the 2012 postseason.

As an NHL rookie in 2014-15, he had 26 goals and 38 assists and finished second in Calder Trophy voting behind Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

Stone helped the Senators reach the Eastern Conference final in 2017, but Ottawa missed the playoffs the following season.

Karlsson was traded away in the first major step of the Senators’ rebuild, and when Stone decided against signing a long-term contract extension before becoming an unrestricted free agent, he was dealt to the Knights in February for defense prospect Erik Brannstrom, forward Oscar Lindberg and a 2020 second-round draft.

Was tough to leave Ottawa

Soon after, the Knights signed Stone to an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $9.5 million.

“I made a lot of close friends. I still talk to a lot of friends through golf, a lot of friends through public appearances, restaurant owners. Tons of awesome people in this city,” Stone said. “It’s tough to leave. I think you can ask (Kyle) Turris, Karlsson, (Marc) Methot, all the guys who’ve gone in the past two-odd years. We all come back here. We all enjoy it here. Just unfortunate the team was looking to go in a different direction and rebuild.” 1171677 Vegas Golden Knights not as many as usual, but enough to keep the national broadcast rights holders happy.

The season resumes again with a limited number of games following the Duhatschek Notebook: Bye week evolution, Vegas coaching shakeup All-Star break and then the schedule fully ramps up on the first Saturday and Ovechkin’s Gretzky chase of February with 14 games on the docket.

The way it was the past two seasons, explained Holland, the breaks were too short for most players to turn it into a genuine vacation. By Eric Duhatschek Jan 17, 2020 “If a player wasn’t an All-Star, he knew he had a five-day break and a four-day break there in January, but if you live in a cold place and you want to go someplace, it takes you a day to go down and a day to come The NHL introduced bye weeks for the first time four seasons ago and it back,” said Holland. “So, it’s really a three-day break. By putting them was a bit of a disaster. The byes were spread out over a nine-week together, it makes it worthwhile – for the player and his family – to go period – the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders were first away.” out of the gate on Jan. 1 and the byes didn’t wrap until the Anaheim Ducks had theirs at the end of February spilling into March. The Minnesota Wild’s Zach Parise is planning to take his family to Disney World during the bye week. As a veteran player, though, he’s a little on Constantly, throughout that nine-week period, teams coming off their the fence when it comes to the bye week scheduling. byes would play teams that were humming along at regular season pace. The end result was predictable: A whole lot of one-sided games – and a “I think the break is nice,” said Parise. “The only downfall is, they jam you whole lot of unhappy coaches, managers and players. Teams coming off up pretty good with games in March. a bye won only 10 of the 30 games. It was so unanimously panned across the board that the NHL even considered pulling the plug on the “It was a little weird at first – going on vacation in the middle of the experiment if it didn’t fare any better the next time out. season. But I think guys are getting more used to it.”

Thankfully, it did. Minnesota has 14 games scheduled in February and 16 in March.

The byes were compressed in Year 2 – all of them unfolding in a 12-day Would Parise prefer to skip the bye weeks and have the games more span between Jan. 7 and 19. The overall record of teams coming off a spread out over the final third of the season? He thought about the break improved to 15-11-5 (Vegas was now in the league), but a lot of question for a few seconds before responding. teams didn’t love the fact that they were off for a period of time in the first “I think right now I would say, games more spread out,” said Parise, “But half of January and then they took another break at the All-Star Game when you’re in the warm weather, that’s pretty nice, so I do like the bye (Jan. 27-28 in Tampa). week too.” Last year, it was more of the same: The break went from Jan. 7 to 19 and According to Oilers defenceman Oscar Klefbom, for NHL players, the then the All-Star Game was held in San Jose on Jan. 26. An mental break is even more important than the physical break. improvement over Year 1, but still not perfect. Too much stop-and-start. For NHL players used to a routine, two separate breaks so soon after the “Obviously, it’s tough to play 82 games physically, but it’s even tougher to Christmas break affected timing, rhythm, sync. play 82 games mentally,” said Klefbom. “To be there every night … you can have a great night or you can have a bad night, but you have to be Accordingly, this season, for Year 4, the system’s been tweaked again – ready to play the next night again. So … bye week is a really good time and this time, it looks as if they’ve hit on a better compromise. to think about everything else except for hockey.” All the bye weeks are scheduled around the 2020 All-Star break – which Oilers coach Dave Tippett had a two-year hiatus from coaching before takes place Jan. 24-25 in St. Louis. joining Edmonton this year, but he was behind the Arizona bench in the Seventeen teams will have their bye weeks going into the All-Star first year they introduced the bye week and didn’t like the effect it had on weekend and 14 teams will have their bye weeks coming out of it. his club.

Tampa and Anaheim play their final games before the break this Friday “The first time we had it, we had seven days off,” said Tippett. “Then we (Jan. 17). Most teams have either seven or eight days off. Colorado has practised at 4 o’clock the day before we played and then played back-to- the longest stretch without games. After playing Detroit at home on Jan. back games against teams that had still been playing. 20, the Avalanche don’t play against until Feb. 1, when they start a five- “It would be like going into training camp and then scheduling an game road trip in Philadelphia. For reasons we’ll get to in a minute, the exhibition game the next day. The whole purpose of the exercise is to get bye week could be most valuable for the Vegas Golden Knights, who will guys some rest and to avoid injuries. The way it was, you were creating get an opportunity to integrate new coach Peter DeBoer into the mix. the risk of injuries with the way it was.” Ultimately, the NHL traded off bye weeks to the players’ association in This year, the Oilers finish up with a home game against Arizona on Jan. exchange for switching the All-Star format to a 3-on-3 competition – a 18 – a critical date in the race for first place – and then resume the rare time when a completed negotiation between the two parties could be schedule at home again on Jan. 29 against Calgary, another team that fairly described as a win-win. they’re jockeying with for positioning in the standings. According to Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland, it took the But Tippett says he’s OK with how this year’s schedule looks, heading in league time to get the bye-week scheduling correct, but he believes the and out of the byes. new, revised schedule is “perfect” – because it maximizes the benefits to players and staff, but minimizes the disruption to the NHL regular season “We’ve got almost 10 days off, but they’re giving us an extra day to schedule. practice,” said Tippett. “We’ve got three days of practice before we play because we can practice on that Sunday after the All-Star Game. Your “It’s trial and error,” said Holland. “When we went into those first manager All-Star players won’t practice, but your team will. So, I think there’s more meetings (to discuss how to implement bye weeks), I looked at those thought given to the preparation period, coming out of the break. Olympic years, when everybody had 10 or 11 days off, and everyone seemed to enjoy a 10-day mid-winter vacation. If you were in the “And if you think about it, it’s not just a break for players. It’s for trainers. Olympics, you loved being part of the tournament. If you didn’t play, you It’s for coaches. It helps everyone. I like it because when you come back, loved taking a break. But everyone was on a level playing field. then you’re ready for the stretch drive. You’re fresh and I would say it gives everybody the energy they need for the stretch drive.” “To the credit of the schedule maker and the people at the league, they came up with this idea of, half the league shuts down pre-All Star and According to Holland, the idea – that players may need a mental break half the league shuts down after. So, you continue to have games – from the day-to-day grind even more than they need a physical break – because it’s important to have the league on TV on an every-night basis.” influenced the general managers’ thinking, when they kept tweaking the bye-week formula until they got it right. To Holland’s point, there are still 13 regular season games scheduled, starting this Sunday, which will carry the league into the All-Star break – “Without a doubt,” said Holland. “Because of the competitive balance in postgame press conference that he will bring a different personal style to the league, every game matters and every point matters. The race to the the mix. playoffs starts on Oct. 5. Gallant is old-school. I like that about him. Whenever you’d ask players “There used to be a disparity, pre-2005, in the league, where you knew what they liked about his approach, the answer was usually some before the season started, if there were 16 teams that make the playoffs, version of – with Gallant, you always knew where you stood. He could be everybody knew who the first 12 teams were going to be – and the rest of demanding, but he also had the ability to move on when a player made a the league played for four spots. Those days are over. It’s a playoff game mistake, instead of constantly dwelling on that mistake, which sometimes every day. So, the players are under a lot of stress, on an everyday can get into the head of a player. basis. Then, with the world we’re in, you factor in the social media, which puts them under the spotlight even more. But you rarely saw a sly, humorous side from Gallant. He wasn’t Jon Cooper or Paul Maurice. He was all-business: Try to win tonight; make “And I would also say to you, the talent pool is so much deeper. So now the players better; let’s go to work. you’re facing the pressure of someone in the American League maybe taking your job. Every day you go to work, you’re looking over your DeBoer has all those qualities too, but he will also inject a bit of laughter shoulder a little bit. Then the analysis that goes on, pre and postgame, into the equation, as he did Thursday, when noting how, after Ryan the players are under a lot more scrutiny and pressure than they were 10 Reaves offered to give him a sweaty congratulatory hug postgame, he or 12 or more years ago. So, it’s an opportunity for them to go away and respectfully declined. He also gave the players permission to give him a get their batteries recharged. Then you come out of that break and swift kick in the butt if he accidentally addressed one of them as Jumbo there’s 25-30 games left to go and it’s a race to the finish – and to qualify (Joe Thornton) or Burnzie (Brent Burns). It wasn’t necessary. He got all for the playoffs.” the names right.

Gallant watch Probably no team can make a more effective use of the bye week than Vegas. They are one of the 14 teams that get their bye after the All-Star Just about everyone in the industry had the same reaction to the news break. It means, from Ottawa, they moved on to play Montreal on that the Vegas Golden Knights fired Gerard Gallant as their head coach Saturday, then Boston on Tuesday and then they’re off until a Jan. 31 this past week. First, shock – that the Golden Knights would make a date on the road, with the Hurricanes in Carolina. coaching change, considering how effective Gallant had been for most of his tenure with the team; and second, the quick conclusion that Gallant As a result, the players will now get three games to learn something wouldn’t be out of work long and that his landing spot in the NHL would about DeBoer and DeBoer gets three games to learn something about almost certainly be the Detroit Red Wings. them. DeBoer can also deal with the logistics of finding a temporary place to live in Vegas during the break – valuable on a personal level. The only area in which there wasn’t a consensus is when that might take place – in the near term, or once the 2019-20 season had ended. Once the bye week ends, he’ll have a few valuable days of practice to tweak whatever he thinks needs tweaking. On the one hand, this is a lost season in Detroit and trending toward being historically bad; so, there is a school of thought that suggests It’ll be interesting on one level to see how he manages Vegas’ defence, there’s no point in trying to salvage anything, but just let it continue to go which is the biggest single change from the team he had in San Jose, off the rails and then reassess in the offseason. where the right side was stacked (with Burns and Erik Karlsson, who have both won the Norris Trophy). The dilemma there is, if you wait until summer to make a change, then your new hire starts from scratch at training camp in September. It takes Vegas’ two best defencemen are Shea Theodore and Nate Schmidt, and time for a new coach to get to know his players. It takes time for a new this season, they’ve trended in opposite directions – Theodore showing coach to introduce his system. It takes time for players to adjust to a new signs of getting to the new level in his overall development, Schmidt voice and a new set of expectations. seeming to fall back from the exceptional season he produced for Vegas in their inaugural campaign. Maybe you believe if you’re Detroit that you have time because it’s going to take time to fully execute a turnaround and get the younger players On paper, the high-end talent level on the Golden Knights’ blue line and prospects in your system fully integrated into the lineup. doesn’t match the Sharks. On the ice, there’s nothing to prevent GM Kelly McCrimmon from adding a reinforcement or two at the trade The advantage of bringing in a new coach, even if it is just for the final 25 deadline, because there will be right-shot defencemen available on the or 30 games of the season, is you get the introductory part of the rental market. equation over right away. Now, your new coach has the final third of the season to get to know his players and the players get to learn something One of the advantages DeBoer has is that his Sharks had two playoff about the new coach. It may well be valuable for that new coach to learn battles against the Golden Knights over the last two springs – which is who is still digging in, even if it’s garbage time in a lost season, because when you can really glean an insight into which players bring it when the that may tell you something about their character and commitment that’s stakes are high and which don’t. valuable to know going forward. That intel will likely serve him well.

Either way, once September rolls around, you can then hit the ground DeBoer told our Jesse Granger: “This is my kind of team. These are my running. The learning curve is less steep. All the introductions have kind of guys.” I like the confidence in that messaging. Given DeBoer’s already been made. There are no guarantees that your team is any ability to have a meaningful immediate impact as a new coach in his better – because coaches aren’t miracle workers and they can only do so previous NHL stops, Vegas suddenly jumped to the top of my list of dark- much with a limited lineup. But at least there’s none of the tentativeness horse Stanley Cup contenders. associated with teams as they adjust to a new regime. The style that they’ll want you to play should become instinctive far sooner. Ovie watch

Gallant and Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman have a Milestones come and go for NHL players, some more remarkable than decades-long history. It’s easy to see a fit there – both in terms of others, but the Washington Capitals’ relentless, reliable Alex Ovechkin philosophy and personality. occasionally forces you to look up and pay attention when he reaches another career mark on the goal-scoring front. It’s just too bad that Seattle isn’t coming into the NHL as the 32nd team this June instead of next year, because that could throw a wrinkle into the Consider what happened Thursday: Three more goals in a 5-2 win over discussion. When you consider what he accomplished in Vegas during its the New Jersey Devils, his 25th career hat trick, which ties him for ninth expansion year, Gallant might be the perfect candidate in Seattle to turn on the all-time hat tricks list with the great Cy Denneny. all their disparate incoming pieces into a cohesive whole. But it doesn’t That’s 15 years in a row with 30 or more goals for Ovechkin, making him seem likely that he’ll linger on the unemployment rolls that long. the only player other than Mike Gartner to score 30 in each of his first 15 DeBoer and Vegas NHL seasons.

DeBoer won his first game behind the bench for Vegas, a 4-2 decision There’s still a third of the season left to play and Ovechkin is still in the over Ottawa on Thursday night, and you were immediately struck in the thick of the Rocket Richard Trophy race, which he’s won eight times. For his career, that’s now 689 goals, which is currently the 11th highest goals total of all-time, one shy of Mario Lemieux (690), three back of Steve Yzerman (692) and five behind Mark Messier (694). Ovechkin recently passed Teemu Selanne – so this is legends row essentially, all Hall of Famers, some of the greatest scoring machines the NHL has ever produced.

Ovechkin needs 11 to get to 700, and 18 to catch Gartner at 708, which – based on his current production and assuming he stays healthy – seems eminently doable before the end of the regular season.

From there, Ovechkin would need another nine goals to reel in Phil Esposito (at 717). Again, assuming no major injuries, by the end of next year, Ovechkin could reasonably pass Marcel Dionne (731) and Brett Hull (741), which would move him to fourth place overall.

Then come the biggest hurdles: Jaromir Jagr (third at 766), Gordie Howe (second at 801) and of course Wayne Gretzky leading the way at 894.

Ovechkin is 34 – his 35th birthday comes in September, just before training camps open.

He is signed through the end of next year, at which point he becomes a free agent.

All indications are that he’ll want to stay in the NHL once his current contract expires; sign on again with Washington, because he’ll want to finish his career with the Capitals; and in the meantime, try to win a few more championships so he can have a few more legendary celebrations.

Nicklas Backstrom, Ovechkin’s longtime centre, just signed a five-year contract extension a few days ago.

If Ovechkin times his next contract with the expiration of Backstrom’s, that means he’d play five more seasons after this one – one on the final year of the current contract, four more on the extension that I’m prepared to grant him here as owner Ted Leonsis’s proxy.

Goal scorers generally see their effectiveness diminish over time. But it’s hard to imagine Ovechkin diminishing so much that he cannot catch Howe at No. 2.

It would take just another 112 goals to do that – a challenge for some, but probably not for Ovechkin.

Then comes the discussion that will heat up as he inches ever closer to the top of the goal-scoring charts, and the chase for Gretzky’s all-time record.

Can the Great 8 catch the Great One?

Fascinating, right?

I posed the question originally in a lookahead piece last fall that imagined where hockey would be in 2030 and if, by then, Ovechkin would be the all-time leader in goals. In a perfect world order, it seems doable.

He needs to stay healthy, motivated and minimize as much as humanly possible, the effects of advancing age. But the closer Ovechkin inches toward 700, the more I believe getting to 900 is a genuine possibility.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171678 Washington Capitals “I’m happy for him,” Robitaille said of Ovechkin passing him on the all- time list. “I knew it was going to happen. I didn’t lose any sleep over it. I just more so enjoy watching him and I think he is a very special player. I get a kick out of watching him. There are few teams where you know you Alex Ovechkin is nearing 700 goals. The Capitals are prepping the miss a game and say, ‘I’ll watch Washington tonight because he’s fun to celebration. watch and one of those players you want to pay to watch play.’ ”

For a handful of Ovechkin’s teammates, watching the captain catch and pass NHL legends — Ovechkin is a goal from tying Mario •Lemieux for Samantha Pell 10th on the career list — has become almost routine. January 17, 2020 at 2:54 PM EST “It seems like every week at least that he’s breaking someone’s record,” defenseman John Carlson said. “And they’re not cupcake records, either, which is real impressive. I’ve said this before: I don’t think that as a As Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin rapidly gets closer to 700 teammate you realize what’s happening. It kind of becomes maybe a little career goals, the celebration planning continues. more normal than if you’re in a different job or on a different team even.”

Ovechkin, 34, sits 11 goals away from a threshold just seven other Washington Post LOADED: 01.18.2020 players have cleared, and he appears to have the pedal down, scoring five goals over his past two games.

The question for the Capitals, the only team Ovechkin has played for during his 15-year NHL career: How do you properly honor a historic achievement for a player who seems to reach a new milestone every few months?

“It is important to make it a special night for the player, because for them it is something that they will always remember. But it is also an important milestone, important event for our fan base, for our organization and the player’s teammates, so you just want to make sure everything gets done the right way,” said Sergey Kocharov, the Capitals’ vice president of •communications.

Ovechkin reaches new career plateaus seemingly every game, most recently with his 140th career multi-goal game and 25th career hat trick Thursday night. But ceremonies for the big milestones take months of planning.

“Obviously we don’t think the chase is over — hopefully Ovi [will hit] 800 that we have to plan for. But at the same time, knowing full well that nothing is guaranteed, we just want to make sure that we recognize him appropriately,” Kocharov said.

The Capitals have honored Ovechkin for 500 goals, 600 goals and 1,000 games, and they have held a combined ceremony for Ovechkin and center Nicklas Backstrom for a culmination of milestones. Each ceremony has been planned meticulously by all facets of the organization, and each has differed slightly.

Gifts are important as well. It’s a long-standing tradition to give the player a silver stick for his 1,000th game. For 500 goals, the Capitals worked with Heritage Stick Co. to give Ovechkin a golden stick, wanting something special for a player who collects so many sticks. For 600 goals, the Capitals worked with an artist to create a portrait of Ovechkin in three different jerseys.

The plan for 700 goals remains a surprise. The ceremony will take place before the first home game after Ovechkin reaches the mark.

“We certainly don’t take it for granted, but sometimes it is hard not to,” Capitals President Dick Patrick said. “He’s just been so good for so long. You can rely on him; he comes through every year.”

The team will have a video tribute that will run during the pregame ceremony and determine whom Ovechkin would like to have in attendance. Because of his father’s health, Ovechkin’s parents will not be able to attend, but this is Ovechkin’s first major milestone since the birth of his son, Sergei, so the Capitals want him to be involved somehow.

Teammates have to be recorded as part of the video tributes, and no one has done more such interviews than Backstrom, who quipped earlier in the season that he has to do a video message for Ovechkin “at least once a month.”

“I think we are used to that, too, and I think no one loves it more than him. . . . He deserves it, too, like no one else, so I think I feel like all the guys are happy for him and happy to do those videos,” Backstrom said. “We are excited about that. It’s awesome.”

In late October, Ovechkin scored the 668th and 669th goals of his career, pushing him past Luc Robitaille, who is now president of the Los Angeles Kings, for 12th place on the career list. Robitaille said Ovechkin has been great for the league. 1171679 Washington Capitals

Caps at Islanders: Ovechkin is in for final game before bye week

By J.J. Regan January 17, 2020 3:16 PM

The Capitals (32-11-5) head to Long Island to take on the New York Islanders (28-14-4) in the last game before the bye week. Tune in to NBC Sports Washington for all the action! Pregame coverage starts at 12 p.m. with Caps FaceOff Live followed by Caps Pregame Live bringing you up to the 1 p.m. puck drop. Stick with NBC Sports Washington after the game for postgame coverage with Caps Postgame Live and Caps Overtime Live.

Here is what you need to know for Saturday's game.

Ovechkin is in

By skipping the All-Star Game, Alex Ovechkin is subject to a one-game suspension. He must serve that suspension in either the last game before the bye week or the first game back. Todd Reirden said following Thursday's game that Ovechkin will play on Saturday meaning he will miss the Jan. 27 game against the Montreal Canadiens. This should come as no surprise considering the Islanders game is a division game and the Montreal game is not.

Here are the lines based on Friday's practice:

Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Tom Wilson

Jakub Vrana - Evgeny Kuznetsov - T.J. Oshie

Carl Hagelin - Lars Eller - Richard Panik

Brendan Leipsic - Nic Dowd - Garnet Hathaway

Michal Kempny - John Carlson

Dmitry Orlov - Nick Jensen

Jonas Siegenthaler - Radko Gudas

Ovechkin is red-hot

It is a good thing Ovechkin is playing Saturday because he is red-hot right now. He has five goals in just the past two games and sits one behind Mario Lemieux for 10th all-time in goals.

Holtby starts

Ilya Samsonov started the last two games and played well, but with the bye week upcoming, Reirden felt it important to get Braden Holtby back in. He confirmed Friday that Holtby will be the starter.

Holtby has not registered a save percentage above .900 in six straight starts and he sits at .899 for the season. He has still managed a 18-9-4 record for the season, however. Reirden said the last two games for Samsonov allowed Holtby the chance to "reset." HIs last game was on Jan. 11 against the New Jersey Devils.

When last we met

With Holtby in net, he will have a chance to rebound after this last start against the Islanders, a tough 4-3 loss at home on New Year's Eve. He allowed four goals on 22 shots in that game.

It was a very sloppy affair, not what we are used to seeing from the typically buttoned-up Islanders defense and turnovers were a problem for both sides. Semyon Varlamov closed the door in the period, stopping a whopping 17 shots as Washington poured it on looking to tie it.

Here's a recap of the game.

Washington is 1-1-0 against the Islanders this season with the final matchup coming on Feb. 10.

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Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne believes Alex Ovechkin will catch Wayne Gretzky

By Julia Karron January 17, 2020 11:43 AM

During the Caps big win over the Carolina Hurricanes Monday night, Alex Ovechkin passed Finnish great Teemu Selanne on the all-time goal list, bringing him to 11th overall. He currently stands at 689 goals and his next target on the list is Pittsburgh Penguins star Mario Lemieux at 690.

With Ovechkin closing in on yet another goal-scorer, Selanne took to Twitter to say that he believes Ovechkin will be the one to pass Wayne Gretzky's mark of 894 goals.

Selanne isn't the only one who believes the Great Eight can catch up to the Great One. Nicklas Backstrom thinks his captain can do it, Sidney Crosby agrees with that assessment, and the Great One himself said that Ovi has elevated the way the game has been played with his goal- scoring pursuit.

Ovi's take on it all? That if he's able to complete the feat he'll retire immediately. Ovi needs 205 more goals to reach that mark.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171681 Washington Capitals a bit more difficult for him. At 6-foot-4, 201 pounds, he is a big guy. In juniors, Leason was usually the biggest or one of the biggest players on the ice every time he played. Now he has to get used to playing grown men in a very physical AHL where is not the biggest player on the ice. He Capitals Prospect Report: Washington's prospect pool remains thin was always going to be a project.

Wheeler has come to the same conclusion I have regarding Lucas Johansen as he writes, "Johansen's NHL opportunity won't ever come in By J.J. Regan January 17, 2020 6:00 AM Washington."

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby is a confusing player, as reflected by Wheeler who Winning is the goal for every NHL team, but it comes at a cost and the ranks him 10th among the team's prospects. "Every organization has that Capitals prospect pool has been paying for the team's success for one player who just skates really, really fast, never stops moving, several years. Success in the regular season means lower draft picks. provides constant energy, isn’t particularly talented and fashions out a Looking for impact players in trades costs prospects and draft picks. role regardless. Jonsson-Fjallby is that player in the Capitals’ system." Present success often comes at the expense of the future and that is Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. He falls off the radar, then scores six certainly reflected in The Athletic's prospect pool rankings from prospect goals and eight points in 11 playoff games in the SHL. He lasts only a expert Scott Wheeler. few weeks in Hershey in 2018, then puts together another strong postseason in Sweden, this time with seven goals and 12 points in 19 Wheeler ranks the Caps' prospect pool 29th out of 31 teams saying, games. He looks awful at the Prospects Showcase tournament and at "There’s an easy case to make for the Capitals having the thinnest Caps' training camp, but has 10 goals and six assists for the Hershey prospect pool in hockey. ... All told, though, you’re looking at a pool that Bears this season. There's a chance Jonsson-Fjallby can develop into a runs four or five prospects deep, with a steep drop-off from there. " Carl Hagelin type player -- a speedy, bottom-six winger -- or maybe he doesn't. It is really hard to get a good read on him. If you want the optimistic view of this, Corey Pronman ranked the Caps 30th in August so at least that's progress. Just as significant as who did make the top 15 and where they were ranked are the players who did not make the list at all. Among the As part of Wheeler's commentary, he ranks the team's top 15 prospects. players who did not make the cut, the three most notable are Shane Not surprisingly, Connor McMichael tops the list. Gersich, Joe Snively and Vitek Vanecek. Nos. 11-15 seem pretty McMichael began the world juniors on Canada’s fourth line, and then he interchangeable and I don't see much separation between any of them did what he has always done: He scored, and he scored some more, and and Gersich, Snively or Vanecek. The point, however, is that an NHL he worked his way up into a prominent role. He’s one of the better goal future for any of those players is far from guaranteed which I don't think scorers in the 2019 draft class, he has been borderline unstoppable in many fans realize. the OHL and his play off the puck has always made him a dependable A lot of rankings this week. Prospect expert Corey Pronman released his defensive player. For a little while, I saw him as a kid who was going to 2019-20 midseason NHL prospect rankings on Wednesday. McMichael be able to impact the game as a middle-six forward and doesn’t drive a came in ranked No. 21 landing in Pronman's tier of "High-End/Very good line but can play with a variety of player types. Now I see him as more Bubble." There are concerns over his skating and size, but McMichael is than that. I think he’s got a real chance to be a line-driving forward, showing all the doubters that he is a high-end prospect. Writes Pronman, whether at center or the wing, while still playing a sound positional game "I still have minor concerns over his average skating and size, but it’s that’s above the puck. While I wouldn’t rave about his puck skills, he’s become clear watching him this season that his vision and finishing perfectly fine playing a bit of a give-and-go style because of his finishing ability are going to lead to NHL goals. He’s got an elite brain and makes touch. If he can continue to improve his skating, he’ll make waves in the unique plays frequently. He also shows a shot that allows him to finish NHL. plays from long-distance frequently." McMichael is the only top tier player in the system according to Wheeler Protas is No. 62 in Pronman's rankings which puts him among the "Very with Alex Alexeyev, Aliaksei Protas, Brett Leason and Martin Fehervary Good NHL Prospects." The issue is his skating. He showed in the rounding out the top five and all ranked a tier below. preseason that he has NHL talent and NHL instincts, but boy is he an Everyone below the top five he calls "long shots." awkward skater. At 6-foot-6, however, that can happen to bigger players and it is something that can be improved on over time. What I will say is "I think there are three clear divisions between players, with a significant that while it may have looked ugly watching him get from Point A to Point gap between McMichael and everyone else," Wheeler writes, "As well as B, he still was able to get there fairly quickly. I don' think his skating is to a pronounced drop after No. 5 into a group of players who I would the point where there should be concern over whether he can eventually describe as long shots." play in the NHL.

Other prospect notes Moving on, the Caps need to improve defensively if they hope to win a Wheeler is effusive in his praise of Alexeyev and writes, "He's got Cup, specifically they need a top-four right defenseman. Why not try second-pairing complimentary defenceman written all over him." Most Fehervary? He is a lefty, but he has been playing on the right in Hershey. likely he is a second pair guy, but I do think he has the potential to I would be intrigued to see how he handles that type of role. Maybe it is exceed expectations. Having spoken with him and watched him, this is a too much too soon, maybe he is not ready for the NHL, but if this is an player where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. He has option the team should try it sooner rather than later to get him outstanding confidence and maturity and raises his level of play to the comfortable at the NHL level. Plus the trade deadline is just over one competition. A concussion prevented him from playing in the preseason, month away and the team needs to know if there is a solution on defense but I really want to get a look at him practicing with NHL players and see in-house or not. how he looks. Christian Djoos leads all Hershey defensemen in points with 18 despite The biggest surprise for me from Wheeler? Goalie prospect Mitchell playing in only 27 of Hershey's 41 games. Gibson at No. 6. Gibson was pretty unremarkable the few times I have Eric Florchuk was involved in a trade at the WHL level as he we sent seen him and his numbers in the USHL weren't great, but he has been from the Saskatoon Blades to the Vancouver Giants, joining fellow Caps' fantastic in his first collegiate season at Harvard with a .932 save prospect, Alex Kannok-Leipert. A trade at the junior level has no bearing percentage and 2.21 GAA. Writes Wheeler, "He’s one of those goalies on who owns his NHL rights. He recorded three assists in his first two who is a student of the game, studies his positioning and angles, and games with Vancouver. reads the play well. Though he’s a little twitchy in the net, he has done a better job this season staying compact and aggressive." There may be Martin Hugo Has elected to come to North America where his junior more to his potential than previously thought which is good news for a rights were held by the in the OHL. The Battalion Caps' team whose goalie prospect depth has suddenly been depleted by immediately flipped him to the , but that is good news. Ilya Samsonov's graduation to the NHL. North Bay currently sits dead last in the OHL standings, but Guelph is in third place in the Midwest Division and in the thick of the playoff hunt. Surprised Leason made Wheeler's top five? Don't be. It is way too early The move to Guelph will ensure Has plays in some meaningful games. to close the book on him. One goal and eight assists in 37 games is not He made his OHL debut on Jan. 11. great for his first professional season, but I knew the transition would be Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171682 Winnipeg Jets Verhaeghe ended Hellebuyck’s night at 11:10 of the middle frame when he scored on a shot the No. 1 netminder would surely want back.

"We are just not defensively competitive enough in that game to win. We Jets struck by Lightning gave up six shots in the first and three ended up in the back of the net. First, third, fourth, fifth goal, we should be fairly even strength at times in those plays. And they either outskated us or beat us to the net hard," said Maurice. Mike McIntyre "First goal we’re there. Third one as well we’ve got body position. Fourth Posted: 01/17/2020 9:47 PM | Last Modified: 01/17/2020 11:40 PM | one and the fifth one, we’ve got to win those battles. It’s not about how Updates | Comments: 32 many goals you score in this league. It’s the final score that matters."

Jack Roslovic gave the crowd something to finally cheer about when he You snooze, you lose. And the sleepy Winnipeg Jets got exactly what scored his ninth of the year 34 seconds later, finishing off a nice pass they deserved Friday night, turning in a dreadful effort against what from Mathieu Perreault. should have been a tired opponent. Cirelli, who began the night with nine goals on the season, finished off his The end result was a 7-1 rout at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning at first NHL hat trick at 7:48 of the third period, once again on an odd-man Bell MTS Place, their seventh defeat in the past eight home games. It rush. He actually banked the puck in off the stick of Jets defenceman was a sloppy, head-scratching follow-up to a relatively neat and tidy 4-0 Dmitry Kulikov. And then Alex Killorn got in on the scoring party, victory over the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night that finally stopped converting the touchdown at 10:45 to make it even more of a laugher. the bleeding at the downtown rink. Nikolaj Ehlers looked to have scored a second goal for Winnipeg, but "Nobody was any good tonight. Coach included," Jets head coach Paul officials ruled Nick Shore interfered with Lightning starter Andrei Maurice said in his post-game availability. Vasilevskiy. The Jets could have challenged — and may have had a strong case that Shore was shoved into the goalie — but Maurice opted A solid sound bite. But how about some actual substance in terms of not to. what went wrong, especially for the soldout crowd that paid good money to watch such a putrid performance? "Because it’s a 7-1 game and I’ve got very little faith that it’s going to go my way. You’ve got to overturn those. And the last thing we need is "I don’t have an explanation for you. I think we were moving right and another guy breaking another bone killing a penalty (if the challenge was then got to 2-0 and now we’re waiting for the puck to come to us. That’s unsuccessful) at the end of a 7-1 game and I don’t give a rat’s ass that the best explanation I can give you. I don’t know," said Maurice. we made it 7-2," said Maurice.

Winnipeg falls to 25-19-4, blowing a chance to jump back into a Western Vasilevskiy stopped 30 shots. Conference playoff spot and looking nothing at all like an actual contender for anything but a top draft pick. Tampa improves to 29-15-4. Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Luca Sbisa all finished the night minus-four, while Patrik Laine and Anthony Bitetto were minus-three. Great scores "When this team’s had success, it’s looked a certain way. We’ve had to on the golf course. Dreadful numbers when you’re talking plus/minus in a battle extremely hard to get to a certain point. You know, it could be just hockey game. losing sight of some of those little details, but I feel like the mindset’s right. It feels like the effort’s there, it feels like the mentality’s there, it "We’ll look at it on video, wash that one off and get ready for Chicago. It’s feels like we’re connected on the ice. But with all that being said, at the out of our control now. We had a stinker, and we’ve got to move on," said end of the day, 7-1 at home, that’s not going to get the job done. There’s Scheifele. definitely some things to figure out," said captain Blake Wheeler. Winnipeg now hits the road for three straight games heading into next You’d think the well-rested Jets would have been ready to pounce on a weekend’s all-star break. They begin Sunday in Chicago, followed by Lightning club that played 24 hours earlier in St. Paul, falling 3-2 to the stops Tuesday in Carolina and Wednesday in Columbus. Minnesota Wild. You’d be wrong. "You never want to have a crappy one like that. We know we have a big The visitors scored early and often, taking a 3-0 lead before the first game, we know we only have one day in between, we’ve got to get ready intermission and increasing that to 5-0 just past the game’s midway for a big Central Division matchup. We’ve got to fix what didn’t go well, mark. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who had no help from his teammates, go over it on video, have a hard practice (today) and prepare for another was chased after giving up five goals on 12 shots. Laurent Brossoit tough one." mopped up, giving up two goals on 14 shots. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 01.18.2020 You can’t pin this one on a single player, line or defence pairing. There was plenty of blame to go around, with the Jets seemingly all infected by the same malaise.

"It’s tough to say. We thought we came out right. Had a few good chances early. They turned it around and buried a few on us. It just went downhill from there," said centre Mark Scheifele. "It’s a good hockey league. It’s tough to get wins. You’ve got to be on the ball for 60 minutes. When you come up against a good team like Tampa, you’ve got to be on your toes at all times."

Anthony Cirelli opened the scoring at 9:27 of the first period, taking a drop pass from Ondrej Palat and blasting a shot past Hellebuyck. The Jets essentially collapsed in front of their net and left Cirelli wide open. That would become a recurring theme.

Then came an egregious giveaway from Jets forward Andrew Copp that handed Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov a two-on-none. That went about how you’d expect, with the two stars exchanging passes before Kucherov finished it off at 12:21.

Cirelli struck against at 19:07, blowing by a seemingly disinterested Scheifele to get open on the rush, take a feed from Palat and beat Hellebuyck once again.

If Maurice read his troops the riot act during the intermission, it didn’t work. Kucherov scored his second of the game at 7:21, and then Carter 1171683 Winnipeg Jets Bitetto had two bigger offensive years with AHL Milwaukee but getting a promotion to the NHL required an adjustment.

"I was more offensive in college and I came out of college and stayed in Blue-liner Bitetto's goal is not scoring goals, but still... that game," said Bitetto. "The coach at the time was Dean Evason and he thought I was good on the power play and it worked. Played a lot of minutes.

Mike Sawatzky "When I got to the NHL and Nashville, there were four pretty top D — we had Shea Weber, Seth Jones, (Ryan) Ellis and (Roman) Josi — so I had Posted: 01/17/2020 4:15 PM to adapt my game. It took me a while to understand that."

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 01.18.2020 In 169 regular-season NHL games before Friday night, Anthony Bitetto had two goals.

A third, originally credited to the 29-year-old Winnipeg Jets defenceman Tuesday night, would have ended a 97-game drought. Alas, it was not to be — disallowed when officials used video review to determine that teammate Nikolaj Ehlers had been offside seconds earlier.

"I mean, they got the call right," said Bitetto prior to the Jets game with the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning. "It's unfortunate.... Obviously it's a bummer; you want to score and hopefully it counts but obviously, it was offside."

Truth be known, when Bitetto wants to satisfy his desire for the adrenalin rush of scoring, he knows just the place and time. Summer days in a local league near his home in Island Park, N.Y., on Long Island are perfect antidote to his goal-starved existence in the NHL.

"I score a lot of goals in men's league (on Long Island)," said Bitetto. "It's a pretty good league but it's just for fun. I play forward, actually. I bust up and down the walls and score goals."

Bitetto prefers to keep the details of his summer scoring exploits private but the role he has carved out for himself in the NHL is basic, easy to understand. He's been a depth player, usually on the third pairing, who concentrates on defending, blocking shots and transitioning the puck quickly to the forwards.

In addition, as he new teammates have found, his brash, loquacious personality has allowed him to bond quickly since signing as a free agent in the off-season.

"Everybody loves him — I think that's a good way to put it, for sure," said veteran forward Andrew Copp. "He doesn't shut up too often but it's always positive, it's always at the right times. It's never distracting attention away from the game. It's never selfish, it's very selfless, to be honest with you. It's very genuine.

"He's a guy who comes to the rink every day in the best mood possible."

Whether he's hollering encouragement on the bench or on the ice, Bitetto has kept his game basic and his attitude genuine.

"I try to be a good teammate," he said. "I like to have fun. Playing in the NHL is special and I don't want to take it for granted. So I enjoy every day that I'm here."

When injuries have created roster chaos for head coach Paul Maurice, Bitetto has been there and his importance to the club has grown.

More recently, he's been paired with Luca Sbisa on the back end of the club's top penalty-killing unit.

"Bitetto's done a great job," said Jets assistant coach Charlie Huddy. "I think our penalty kill's gotten better the last bunch of games and I think he's a big part of it. The thing with him and Sbisa is they're both battlers, not afraid to get in the shooting lanes and I think they both take pride when they're out on the penalty kill to get it shut down...

"Everybody's looking for a solid defenceman that can defend and block shots — a very simple game — and it can keep you in the league a long time."

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Despite putting up only four assists in 37 games, Bitetto is content with the stay-at-home role he first learned to accept with the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild. 1171684 Winnipeg Jets These changes are all significant and, in my opinion, they’re all related. Interestingly, Morrissey has dramatically increased the rate at which he uses his stick to check as opposed to engaging physically. Morrissey’s involvement in puck battles has dropped by more than 25 per cent and Jets need a lot more from Morrissey to keep playoff hopes alive his use of his stick to check opponents is up by more than 20 per cent.

We can’t write off the lower level of performance as entirely Morrissey’s fault. All of these plays have one thing in common; you need to have trust Andrew Berkshire in your partner in order to take the risks involved to make them. Posted: 01/17/2020 2:15 PM Engaging physically draws you out of safe defending position; you need to trust that your defence partner can cover for you in case you get beat until you can recover. Blocking passes requires a more aggressive It’s no secret that among the positive surprises on the Jets this season, physical posture than simply being in the lanes and playing it safe. It’s Josh Morrissey hasn’t been one of them. Losing both his defence partner about forcing mistakes and making yourself big. If the puck gets through Jacob Trouba and the defensive depth that supported the Jets’ top you though, you’re in a worse position, so you have to trust your partner. pairing from last season, Morrissey has seemed crushed under the weight and pressure of being the lynchpin of the Jets’ defence for much Just like playing physically, carrying the puck carries an intrinsic of the season. positional risk if you make a mistake and turn the puck over. If you’re going to carry the puck out of the defensive zone, especially as a The emergence of Neal Pionk has been a bright spot that has allowed defenceman, you have to be confident in the last man back to cover for the Jets to remain competitive for a playoff spot on the back of a brilliant any potential mistakes. season from Connor Hellebuyck, but if the Jets hope to be anything more than an easy out in Round 1, they’re going to need a lot more out of Note that the only defenceman who has been beaten up in the inner slot Morrissey. more than Morrissey this season is Poolman, who has been his partner most often. Looking at what he was able to accomplish last season, it’s a bit startling how much he’s struggled this season — or at least how much the Jets Together, Morrissey and Poolman have an expected goals-for have struggled with him on the ice. percentage of just 41.3 per cent at even-strength by SPORTLOGiQ’s metrics, which is worse than their actual performance of 47.7 per cent. Morrissey’s on-ice differentials are worse in every area. He’s only That means things could look even worse than they already do. managed to stem the bleeding a fair amount in terms of slot passes, but the shot-based metrics are rough. Last season with Trouba, Morrissey posted an expected goals-for percentage of 54.7 per cent, and it’s not like that was Trouba carrying The biggest area of struggle has been the inner-slot shot differential, things, because he’s floating between a 43 per cent and 44 per cent where he has gone from posting the top numbers of any Jets expected goal rate with the Rangers this season as well. Both players defenceman last season to the second-worst this now, after Tucker are struggling without the other. Poolman. The Jets clearly don’t have another Trouba waiting in the wings to Losing Trouba has made Morrissey’s job much more difficult this season. complement Morrissey and let him fly, but what we do know is that Losing Dustin Byfuglien has made it much more difficult too, because Poolman just does not work there. His injury has forced a change, so it having a second pairing that can share in some of the tough assignments will be interesting to see if Morrissey can find another gear with a new is another kind of insulation he no longer has. However, not everything partner. can be placed at the feet of the situation he’s been put in, can it? Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 01.18.2020 How has Morrissey’s performance changed year over year to account for such a massive change?

For starters, separating the biggest problem area into offensive and defensive performance will give us a better idea of where the struggles are centred and, as it turns out, both offence and defence have been problematic.

With Morrissey on the ice this season, the Jets are getting 30.7 per cent fewer inner-slot shots compared to last season and are allowing 20.1 per cent more inner-slot shots against.

Morrissey’s dropoff has mainly come in two areas: his transition play and his physical play.

In transition, he’s commanding the zones far less than he was last season when he was the Jets’ premier zone-exit defenceman and an above-average skater to join the rush and enter the offensive zone. Being able to carry the puck is a luxury for a defenceman in today’s game, since most coaches prefer either a pass or a rim off the glass and out, and it was a big part of Morrissey’s game last season.

Morrissey is an aggressive player by nature, and that trait holds for his physicality. Last season he was a highly engaged player at defending passes, blocking more per 20 minutes than almost every other defenceman in the league at even-strength. This year, he’s fallen of by a wide margin and is now closer to the 70th percentile.

Winning puck battles was also huge for him last season. He engaged more than 85 per cent of the rest of the league did and he won a solid 40.1 per cent of the battles he was in. While you might think winning less than 50 per cent is low, there are three outcomes of a puck battle; winning, losing and a tie, where neither team gains immediate possession.

This season, his win percentage is way down to 28.8 per cent, which is in the bottom 20 per cent of the league. 1171685 Winnipeg Jets

Perreault regrets outburst at NHL over dirty hits

Mike Sawatzky

Posted: 01/17/2020 12:37 PM

Mathieu Perreault's fury after being on the receiving end of an unpenalized elbow to the head from Vancouver's Jake Virtanen Tuesday night was more subdued Friday morning.

The veteran Winnipeg Jets forward said he regretted a Thursday outburst in which he said, in part: "Now I've got to take matters into my own hands. Next time this happens, I get to swing my stick across his forehead and I shouldn't get suspended."

Perreault was originally responding to a decision by the department of NHL player safety to allow Virtanen to go unpunished.

"First of all I'd like to say my emotion got a little high there," Perreault told reporters before Friday's matchup with the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning at Bell MTS Place. "I obviously wouldn't slash anybody in the face. That's not who I am, I've never done anything like that in my career.

"So yeah, that was probably too much for me to say. I've always played a hard game between the whistles, within the rules, and never done anything to anybody really. I wouldn't do anything like that — I'd like to take that back for sure."

Perreault said he had spoken to representatives of the league on the matter but hadn't changed his mind on the ruling.

"I still don't agree with the decision," added Perreault. "I feel like any kind of hit to the head should be out of this game. It doesn't matter what kind of force goes into it or whatnot. I still don't agree with that and I obviously won't do anything stupid out there."

NOTEWORTHY: Jets head coach Paul Maurice said forward Gabriel Bourque will draw back into the lineup with Jansen Harkins coming out. Defenceman Dmitry Kulikov, out one game due to the flu, returns in place of an injured Carl Dahlstrom. The club also recalled blue-liner Cameron Schilling from the AHL's Manitoba Moose to bolster the club in preparation for a three-game road trip that begins Sunday in Chicago.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 01.18.2020 1171686 Winnipeg Jets Sawyer has been off the air this past week as the Jets played three straight games at Bell MTS Place. Some have taken that as a sign he's been suspended or even fired. In fact, this was a regularly scheduled week off, with working all three Jets games on TSN3, as he Silence turns TSN Jets analyst Sawyer's blunder into big deal that isn't does when his busy schedule allows. Sunday's game in Chicago is a Sportsnet telecast.

Jared Spurgeon, now a member of the Minnesota Wild, has declined to By: Mike McIntyre | Posted: 01/17/2020 7:00 PM | Comments: 6 | Last comment on the incident. Modified: 01/17/2020 9:49 PM | Updates Jared Spurgeon, now a member of the Minnesota Wild, has declined to

comment on the incident. It was haphazardly presented on live television as a humorous anecdote Sawyer didn't want to get into the details of what he's planning to say on about a personal experience with a former player, but almost immediately the broadcast. after Kevin Sawyer shared his tale, some were painting it as a grotesque abuse of power. "I want this story to come out of my mouth first. That's really, really important to me," he said. "Favourite story of Jared Spurgeon," Sawyer began on the Jan. 4 TSN broadcast, when the Winnipeg Jets were playing a matinee against Fair enough, but I'd argue the delay means plenty of damage has already Spurgeon's Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. been done, even if the only thing Sawyer appears guilty of here is butchering the way he told a story and causing a massive "He was a 15-year-old. Two months into the season we Saran-Wrapped misunderstanding that has been allowed to rage out of control. him to a pillar in the arena, about six feet up in the air. He was tiny. He looked like he was 12." "I want this story to come out of my mouth first. That's really, really important to me." Spurgeon was a rookie defenceman at the time with the of the Western Hockey League back in 2005. Sawyer, then 31 and a – Kevin Sawyer couple of years removed from his NHL career ending, was an assistant coach with the club. And given the current climate in the hockey world, I'm told by several sources that Sawyer hoped to address the issue the optics of what Sawyer shared with his audience were not good. earlier, but was advised to hold off. That's wrong, as it's his reputation that has been taking a hit in the process. And, for the record, his It certainly sounded like a hazing, especially when applied with a modern employer is Bell Media, not True North. Although he does travel on the filter, not to mention the latest example of hockey's toxic culture rearing team charter, along with the other broadcasters, he's not paid by the its ugly head. team.

But here's the things, folks: it wasn't. In speaking with people connected By declining to say anything, TSN has hung Sawyer out to dry in this to the incident over the last couple of weeks, I can tell you with 100 per case. They should have to answer for that, especially since they would cent certainty this whole episode was much different — and much more be the first to jump all over someone else's wrongdoing. A touch innocent — than the way Sawyer told it. hypocritical, wouldn't you say?

“He was a 15-year-old. Two months into the season we Saran-Wrapped The Jets organization isn't without blame, either. They know the true him to a pillar in the arena, about six feet up in the air. He was tiny. He story and should have come to Sawyer's defence, especially since they looked like he was 12.” were, by extension, being vilified in all this. A quick, clarifying statement would have put it all to bed, but, like is always the case with this – Kevin Sawyer during Jan. 4 TSN broadcast organization, they opted to say nothing. That's only made the situation That may not fit the narrative, or even the agenda, that some clearly have worse. in this case, but it's the truth. Any thought this might quickly blow over has quickly been proven wrong. It was Spurgeon's 16th birthday. It was his teenage peers on the team, Former NHLer Daniel Carcillo, who has helped lead the charge for and not any adults, who hoisted him up and suspended him, fully clothed, improved mental-health care for players, tweeted about it to his nearly in the foyer before practice. Everyone gathered around to sing Happy 100,000 followers. Akim Aliu, who was the victim of a racist tirade from Birthday, including Sawyer and other team staff. And that was it. Many ex-coach Bill Peters, condemned Sawyer. laughs were had. Spurgeon, who was the most popular kid on the team, And the firestorm kicked into even higher gear given that Peters was the was a willing participant and it's something he still chuckles about to this head coach of that Spokane club. Where there's smoke, there must be day. fire, some people concluded. Would such an incident be acceptable here in 2020? That's debatable, as Only, one thing has nothing to do with the other, here. times have certainly changed, and for the better. But in 2005, when this occurred, it wouldn't have caused even the smallest ripple. Folks have a right to their opinion, of course, but in this case, there are many misinformed opinions. Although there's been some great work Spurgeon, for the record, has declined a request made through the Wild done in advancing important causes and creating an environment where to speak about the matter, but multiple sources have been clear in saying players are comfortable sharing their past experiences, it's important not this was not a hazing, but rather a fun-filled celebration. to get into a mob-mentality, rush-to-judgment mindset without knowing all Of course, that's not exactly how Sawyer portrayed it as he spoke that the facts. day with play-by-play man Dennis Beyak, which is where all the trouble Of course, that hasn't exactly been helped here by the cone of silence began. But rather than immediately fix the verbal faux pas and set the over all of this. There is plenty of blame to go around, not to mention record straight, the issue has been allowed to fester, now going on two important lessons to be learned, on how a molehill quickly turned into a full weeks. mountain. Sawyer, his employer and even the Jets themselves have stayed quiet, Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 01.18.2020 even as this blew up on social media, and that's created the impression there's something to hide, something nefarious going on behind the scenes.

Public relations 101 would tell you this is the absolute wrong way to handle such a situation, but here we are.

Naturally, I sought out Sawyer for comment, tracking him down this week at his home in Vancouver.

"They're going to let me address this on the air Tuesday," he said. That would be next Tuesday, when Sawyer returns to the airwaves as part of the broadcast of the Jets game in Carolina. 1171687 Winnipeg Jets Carter Verhaeghe would add his name under the goal scorer’s column, taking advantage of a poor clearing attempt from Sbisa at 11:10.

It was Laurent Brossoit’s turn for a beating. Lightning embarrass Jets in lopsided loss Before that, Jack Roslovic ended Andrei Vasilevskiy’s shutout bid with his ninth of the season at 11:44. It’d be Tampa’s only blemish of the night. Scott Billeck Cirelli’s hat trick was completed when his attempt at a cross-ice pass Published:January 17, 2020 took a diversion of Dmitry Kulikov’s stick and behind Brossoit to make it 6-1 at 7:48 of the final frame. Updated:January 17, 2020 10:40 PM CST Alex Killorn rubbed further salt in the wound at 10:45 to make it 7-1.

“When this team’s had success, it’s looked a certain way,” Wheeler said. How do you follow up one of your better performances in recent “We’ve had to battle extremely hard to get to a certain point. It could be memory? Getting embarrassed on the same ice a few nights later just losing sight of some of those little details, but I feel like the mindset’s shouldn’t have been the answer. right. It feels like the effort’s there, it feels like the mentality’s there, it And despite being one of the hottest teams in the NHL in recent memory, feels like we’re connected on the ice. the Tampa Bay Lightning shouldn’t have scored a touchdown and “But with all that being said, at the end of the day, 7-1 at home, that’s not converted the extra point in a 7-1 win at Bell MTS Place on Friday — going to get the job done. There’s definitely some things to figure out.” especially after playing 24 hours earlier. Nikolaj Ehlers appeared to score late on in the third, a goal that would “Nobody was any good tonight, coach included,” Jets head coach Paul have made it 7-2 and one Maurice didn’t care to challenge after it was Maurice said, foreshadowing what you’re about to read. waved off for goaltender interference. Winnipeg’s 4-0 shutout win against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday “Because it’s a 7-1 game and I’ve got very little faith that it’s going to go was an excellent blueprint on how to win a game. my way,” Maurice said of his reasoning at the time. “You’ve got to Friday’s effort was not that, leading to Winnipeg’s sixth loss in their past overturn those. And the last thing we need is another guy breaking seven at home. another bone killing a penalty at the end of a 7-1 game and I don’t give a rat’s ass that we made it 7-2.” “We had a stinker, and we’ve got to move on,” said Mark Scheifele, who was on the ice for four of Tampa’s seven goals. “You never want to have While some players talked about brushing it off after the game, Maurice a crappy one like that.” was less inclined to simply flush.

For a guy who doesn’t swear, that’s as close as Scheifele will come to “We’re going to look at one idea only tomorrow and that’s some of our uttering a four-letter word or two that would have been highly appropriate single-gap competitiveness when the game was one-on-one and we for this game. weren’t able to at least stop them,” Maurice said. “First goal we’re there. Third one as well we’ve got body position. Fourth one and the fifth one, Based on the rest for the home team, and the fatigue of playing 24 hours we’ve got to win those battles. It’s not about how many goals you score earlier for the visitors, you’d expect one team (Winnipeg) to be ready for in this league. It’s the final score that matters.” battle and the other (Tampa) just hoping to merely survive. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.18.2020 Conventional wisdom like this doesn’t always make sense.

“I don’t have an explanation for you,” Maurice said. “I think we were moving right and then got to 2-0 and now we’re waiting for the puck to come to us. That’s the best explanation I can give you. I don’t know.”

Spotting the visitors a 3-0 lead after the first period and a 5-0 lead just after the midway point of the game might be something to avoid in the future.

Sprinkle in uninspired play, questionable effort from nearly everyone and a goalie that couldn’t be superhuman for the umpteenth time this season.

Indeed, even Connor Hellebuyck couldn’t save Winnipeg’s blushes on this night. And after allowing five on 12 shots, his night was done to no real fault of his own.

Inside 10 minutes beginning at the 9:27 mark of the first period, the Lightning would hop aboard Winnipeg’s blunder bus and for three stops.

Stop 1: Anthony Cirelli’s first of his eventual hat trick came when he was left unmarked as the trailer at 9:27.

Stop 2: Nikita Kucherov’s first of two came when the Jets allowed him and Steven Stamkos a 2-on-0.

Stop 3: Cirelli’s second came when he powered past Scheifele at 19:07.

Three goals on seven shots in the first period for Tampa, ensuring some boo birds would take flight as the Jets descended down the tunnel for the intermission.

“It just wasn’t a good night for us,” captain Blake Wheeler said. “It wasn’t a good night.”

It’d only get worse.

Kucherov’s second came at 7:21 of the second period. Stamkos drilled Luca Sbisa along the boards, taking him out of the play, and the puck would get worked to Kucherov who was parked at the back door. 1171688 Winnipeg Jets On Tuesday, former player Akim Aliu, who sparked the investigation into Peters with the revelation he’d been racially targeted, then demoted, expressed shock at what Sawyer told viewers.

Jets broadcaster to explain controversial comments “As someone who’s been through hazing, what was talked about on the broadcast isn’t a laughing matter,” Aliu told the Sun. “It was sickening to hear, and it has no place in the game.”

Paul Friesen The ensuing silence only made things worse.

Published:January 17, 2020 “What he was implying was pretty egregious stuff,” Aliu said. “The sad part is even when it’s out there, there’s light on it, people don’t want to Updated:January 17, 2020 10:40 PM CST talk about it. They end it. How are we going to put a stop to it if this isn’t on the forefront and people aren’t talking and expressing their views on it? More than two weeks after his controversial comments that made light of an apparent hazing incident in junior hockey, Winnipeg Jets TV analyst The problem isn’t that incidents like this used to happen. They were Kevin Sawyer is planning to explain himself. commonplace.

The Jets revealed Sawyer’s intentions via Twitter on Friday, before But they’re being erased from the game in order to make it more hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. inclusive and respectful. If anything, rookies need more positive reinforcement than others, not ridicule. At any level, but particularly at 15. “And for those persistently inquiring about the situation surrounding Kevin Sawyer. Kevin will be addressing it directly himself in short order,” Jets It doesn’t matter if it was a birthday prank or a rookie prank, either. director of communications Scott Brown posted. “It seems like you’re belittling somebody,” Aliu said. “It seems like you’re The Jets wouldn’t say when Sawyer will finally address the issue, but bullying … you’re singled out. I don’t really see any sort of excuse for TSN, in a reply to an email on Friday night, did: On his next broadcast, that.” Tuesday night in Carolina. To say Spurgeon hadn’t complained about the incident and therefore it Sawyer’s controversial comments came during the broadcast of the Jan. wasn’t serious is a moot point. 4 game between the Jets and Minnesota Wild. A 15-year-old away from home for the first time being ridiculed by adults Wild defenceman Jared Spurgeon was a rookie with the Spokane Chiefs from a team that he needs to advance his career isn’t likely to speak out of the Western Hockey League during the 2005-06 season, with Sawyer if he feels threatened or intimidated. as his assistant coach, causing Sawyer to do some fond reminiscing. We’ve learned that the hard way. “Favourite story of Jared Spurgeon,” Sawyer began. “He was a 15-year- Viewers of that Jets game were rightfully offended by the message old. Two months into the season we saran-wrapped him to a pillar in the Sawyer’s story sent to the kids watching. arena, about six feet up in the air … he was tiny. He looked like he was 12.” There was nothing funny about it. There never is when people are singled out to be mocked. Sawyer’s cavalier description of a 15-year-old WHL rookie being taped to a pillar flew in the face of the changing climate and efforts to remove Hockey’s culture has been poisoned by bad behaviour for years. bullying and other forms of abuse from the game. We’re smarter than that now. More respectful. The strong reaction on social media included former Winnipeg Jet Scott Campbell immediately calling the comments “jaw-dropping” via his Better to learn that a little late than not to learn it at all. Twitter account. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.18.2020 The Wild say Sawyer called Spurgeon to apologize the same night, but a more public acknowledgment of his lapse in judgment wasn’t as forthcoming.

The Sun approached Sawyer in the days following his comments, but he said TSN wouldn’t allow him to speak to the matter.

Someone close to Sawyer suggested to me last week the whole thing was simply a birthday prank which Spurgeon laughed about.

If true, we’re glad to hear it. But why not explain that to viewers who may have got a completely different impression?

Repeated requests for comment from Sawyer and the network were rebuffed last week and again this week.

That didn’t squash the issue, though.

On Monday, former NHLer Daniel Carcillo, an outspoken advocate for concussion awareness and players’ mental health, weighed in, via Twitter.

“Who was the announcer who thought it would be a good idea to brag about abuse of a minor during an NHL hockey game?” Carcillo tweeted, with an attached video of Sawyer’s comments.

Casting more shade on the incident: The head coach of Spokane at the time was Bill Peters.

Peters last month resigned as head coach of the Calgary Flames after reports surfaced of his mistreatment of players in previous stops, where he’d made racist comments to a player and punched and kicked others on the bench. 1171689 Winnipeg Jets Bourque played the previous two games prior to Tuesday’s game and it was Harkins who had to take a seat.

Maurice said it’s less about matchups and more about what each player Perreault walks back comments threatening violence over cheap shots brings with their own game (this sounds like it’s about the matchup.)

“You never know what you’re getting,” Maurice said. “We felt we were going into Boston (and it was going to be) a really heavy, hard Scott Billeck forechecking game and it wasn’t.”

Published:January 17, 2020 Maurice said he doesn’t want either player sitting for too long, but especially Harkins. Updated:January 17, 2020 7:43 PM CST “If a guy has big night or scores a goal, really is involved, I’ll probably

give him another one,” he said. “Harkins isn’t going to sit here and watch Mathieu Perreault has walked back on a couple of his explosive hockey games, he has to play. But I’ve liked what he’s done enough that comments made on Thursday relating to a headshot that went neglected he deserves to stay here and play for a while, too.” by the National Hockey League. SCHILLING RECALLED Perreault said he never should have threatened to use his stick as a The Jets have recalled defenceman Cam Schilling for the team’s weapon the next time someone takes a cheap shot against him during a upcoming three-game road trip. game. Schilling was recalled Friday, a day after it was announced that Carl “My emotions got a little high there, I obviously wouldn’t slash anyone in Dahlstrom was the latest to enter in the infirmary. the face, that’s just not who I am,” Perreault said after Friday morning’s optional skate. “That was probably a little too much for me to say… I’d Dahlstrom is expected to miss at least six weeks with a broken hand like to take that back, for sure.” suffered in Winnipeg’s 4-0 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Tucker Poolman is also out at the moment as he nurses a Perreault’s mea culpa comes 48 hours after he took an elbow to the head lower-body injury he picked up in a 1-0 loss to the Nashville Predators from Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen. two days earlier. Perreault had hoped the NHL’s Department of Player Safety would step Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.18.2020 in and hand down a suspension to Virtanen after the cheap shot was missed by the referees at the time of the infraction.

But the league chose not to hold a hearing with Virtanen, and they didn’t fine him either.

The decision didn’t sit well with the 32-year-old, who was already the victim of a vicious hit earlier in the season that forced him out of the lineup with a concussion.

“Player safety, my ass,” Perreault said Thursday after the Jets took Wednesday off. “This is literally an elbow to the face of a guy that didn’t have the puck.

“I can’t really protect myself if the league’s not going to protect me. I’m the smallest guy in the ice so I can’t really fight anybody. The only thing I can do to defend myself is use my stick so the next guy that does that to me is gonna get my stick. And I better not get suspended for it.”

Perreault, who revealed that he heard from the league after his brazen comments, said while he regrets part of what he said, he still doesn’t agree with the DoPS’s decision.

“I feel like any type of hit to the head should be out of this game,” Perreault said. “It doesn’t matter what type of force goes into it or whatnot, I still don’t agree with that.”

Perreault said the DoPS gave them their view of why the hit wasn’t a suspension. When asked for details, Perreault declined.

“I don’t agree, but the decision has been made and we’re going to move on,” Perreault said.

Virtanen spoke on Perreault’s comments after the game, telling the Vancouver Province that he has no hard feelings against Perreault and that he wasn’t trying to hit him.

“He’s a good player and I’ve nothing bad to say about him,” Virtanen said after Vancouvers 3-1 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. “I wasn’t trying to just go out and murder a guy and it could have been a lot worse if I really hit him. He’s a good player and I honestly didn’t even mean to do that and you know, it is what it is. He can be frustrated, I mean, I think anyone would kind of be frustrated at that point. He’s a good player and that’s about it.”

BOURQUE IN, HARKINS OUT

Gabriel Bourque returned to the lineup on Friday after sitting out Tuesday’s win.

He replaced Jansen Harkins in what has been a bit of a carousel when it comes to the fourth-line, left-wing spot lately. 1171690 Winnipeg Jets Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Patrik Laine Nikolaj Ehlers-Blake Wheeler-Andrew Copp

Mathieu Perreault-Adam Lowry-Jack Roslovic JETS GAMEDAY: Jets look to keep rolling against high-flying Lightning Jansen Harkins-Nick Shore-Mason Appleton

Defence Ted Wyman Josh Morrissey-Dmitry Kulikov Published:January 17, 2020 Sami Niku-Neal Pionk Updated:January 17, 2020 3:00 AM CST Anthony Bitetto-Luca Sbisa

Goalies TV: TSN3; Radio: TSN 1290 Connor Hellebuyck THE BIG MATCHUP Laurent Brossoit Lightning power play vs. Jets penalty-killing Tampa Bay Lightning The Lightning has the second-best power play in the league and a wealth of talent that includes Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Forwards Alex Killorn, and Victor Hedman on its top unit. The Jets actually have improved at penalty killing in recent weeks but still sit 29th in the NHL at Ondrej Palat-Brayden Point-Nikita Kucherov just 74.2%. With the Lightning on a back-to-back — playing in Minnesota Steven Stamkos-Anthony Cirelli-Tyler Johnson on Thursday — the Jets won’t want to let them get any easy ones on their potent power play. Staying out of the box would be the best Alexander Volkov-Cedric Paquette-Alex Killorn preventative medicine. Carter Verhaeghe-Mitchell Stephens-Yanni Gourde FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Defence Staying hot Victor Hedman-Jan Rutta Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 41 saves for his fourth shutout of the season on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. It seems likely Ryan McDonagh-Erik Cernak the Lightning are going to put a lot of shots his way as well, but Mikhail Sergachev-Kevin Shattenkirk Hellebuyck has been great in January and he usually gives the Jets a chance to win. It’s expected the Jets will see No. 1 goalie Andrei Goalies Vasilevskiy in net for the Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy Musical D-men Curtis McElhinney Injuries have forced the Jets to change up their defence pairings on a regular basis and they’ll have a different look again on Friday. Josh Injuries Morrissey will be reunited with Dmitry Kulikov, who missed one game Lightning: F Pat Maroon due to illness, Neal Pionk will skate with Sami Niku, and Luca Sbisa will play the right side next to Anthony Bitetto. Two of the Jets three right-side Jets: F Mark Letestu, F Bryan Little, D Nathan Beaulieu, D Tucker D-men will be on their wrong sides and it could be a challenge to handle Poolman, D Carl Dahlstrom, D Dustin Byfuglien (suspended) Tampa Bay’s speedy forwards. Special Teams Bouncing back POWER PLAY After rolling to an incredible 62-16-4 record and first overall in the NHL Lightning: 27.4% (2nd) last season, before bowing out in four straight games in the playoffs, the Lightning has had a less dominant season so far. But after a slow start, it Jets: 21.2% (10th) looks like Tampa Bay is starting to build toward an April crescendo. The Lightning was 9-1 in its last 10 heading into its game Thursday in PENALTY KILLING Minnesota and was in second place in the Atlantic Division with 60 Lightning: 83.1% (5th) points. Jets: 74.2% (29th) Star power Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.18.2020 On the Winnipeg side you have Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Blake Wheeler and on the Tampa Bay side you have Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Alex Killorn, and Victor Hedman. All those players are lethal scorers and that means Winnipeg fans should be in for a treat. It’s hard to imagine a low-scoring game between two teams with this much firepower.

Jacked up

After getting demoted to the third line for Tuesday’s game, winger Jack Roslovic responded by scoring a beautiful breakaway after a setup by centre Adam Lowry. The Jets need all the secondary scoring they can get and having Roslovic get his eighth of the year — and first in 13 games — was a big boost. The Jets would like to see more where that came from after Roslovic failed to produce despite playing next to Wheeler and Ehlers on the second line.

GAME DAY LINEUPS

Winnipeg Jets

Forwards 1171691 Winnipeg Jets Going into Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Bitetto had chipped in four assists in 37 games while averaging 15:15 of ice time, which is just over two minutes higher than his career average.

‘I came out of the womb yelling’: Jets defenceman Anthony Bitetto has What makes the Bitetto story all the more impressive was that while he always had a personality got into hockey at a young age, he briefly stepped away from the sport as a teenager.

It wasn’t that he was burned out, but his priorities had shifted. By Ken Wiebe Jan 17, 2020 “When I was 13, I actually quit playing for about six months,” said Bitetto, noting he was a huge New York Rangers fan growing up and wears No. 2 because of Hall of Famer Brian Leetch. “It was at a time where I was The Long Island accent stands out, though not in a nails-on-the- focused on playing baseball and I was doing other things. I was working chalkboard kind of way. in the pro shop there and (his former team) needed someone for a game. When Anthony Bitetto is in the room, it’s impossible not to notice him. So, I came back and I was like ‘Wow, I miss it.’ So I started playing again.” The Winnipeg Jets defenceman is filled with energy, an infectious quality that helped endear him to a new batch of teammates. Does Bitetto ever wonder how different things might have turned out if he wasn’t pressed into duty that day? Jets head coach Paul Maurice joked earlier this year that Bitetto hasn’t shut up since he arrived after signing as an unheralded free agent in July “You could always say ‘What if’ about anything,” said Bitetto. “It was just — and he meant it in the most positive way possible. the right timing to get me back into the game. It could have been a week later that I realized that I missed it. When I got back into it, I had a really “I was born with that. I think I came out of the womb yelling,” Bitetto said good year.” this week. “I don’t know, it just stuck.” Even after getting back into hockey full-time, Bitteto’s career goals didn’t Bitetto is loud and proud. include chasing an NHL dream.

That’s who he is and he doesn’t apologize for it, nor should he. “I was going to be an electrician,” said Bitetto. “I did that when I was 14, with my uncle. Every summer I would go to him and we would work “He’s a really caring guy. He’s got a good relationship with every guy in together. I found a liking to it. I liked the business aspect of it and the the room,” said Jets forward Andrew Copp. “He’s a guy that keeps the work. He had a group of guys that was good. I always liked that room really light. He’s a jokester and is always in a good mood and ready atmosphere and the camaraderie.” to laugh. So, it’s great to have a guy on the team like that – especially because we have some serious guys on here – that can elevate the As it turns out, Bitetto’s big break was unexpected. mood of the room, depending on the situation. Playing Tier II hockey with the New York Apple Core, Bitetto left the rink “I’ve had guys like that who don’t shut up ever – and he’s definitely one of one day, only to be called back by his head coach, Chris Cosentino. them. But it’s never at the wrong time. He knows when to keep the room light and if something bad happens, he’s not joking around and being an News that he had been traded to the Indiana Ice of the USHL was idiot. He’s a great guy to have on the team and he has the temperature of difficult to process. the room. He’s such an important guy on our team.” “What the hell is in Indiana? I was completely confused,” said Bitetto. “I What’s the biggest thing Bitetto has brought to this group? wasn’t planning on playing college hockey. It was something I was having fun with and then I was going to go and work. “Just great vibes. A great guy to have around,” said Jets forward Mathieu Perreault. “He’s always upbeat. Before games, in the room, he’s a guy “(Cosentino) felt that I had a future. He traded me for the right reasons. that’s always talking. On the road, he’s a guy that will set up dinner for His quote was, ‘Do what you do and do it well.’ That’s stuck with me for the boys to get together and stuff like that. This year has been a lot of fun my whole career so far.” and part of it was because he’s been around. That trade ended up changing the course of history for Bitetto. “On the ice, he plays hard. He’s blocking shots and doing all of the right “I went to Indiana and my coach there at the time was Jeff Blashill,” said things for the team to be successful.” Bitetto, referring to the current coach of the Detroit Red Wings. “We In an age where most things can be measured, the value of a glue guy wound up winning the whole thing and things opened up from there. It remains. kind of escalated. It propelled my career, I guess.”

“I don’t know how you quantify it. I can just tell you from being behind the Blashill had a big impact on Bitetto’s maturity and growth, both as a bench there are people that bring your bench up and bring your room player and a person. together and get you more wired to play,” said Maurice. “He’s done that But the player also had an impact on the coach and the team he joined. all year, but his game has solidified here. “Great person, great personality!” Blashill said in an email. “When we “He’s got a good thing going on there. He’s heavy, he moves the puck, traded for him, Anthony was a very strong, tough D-man with good hands he’s bringing an awful lot of energy every night. He’s been very but very raw. He needed to work on his skating, balance, and learn how consistent.” to play defence at a high level. Prior to this season, finding a consistent spot in the lineup had been a “Anthony instantaneously became a big piece of our team. He brought a challenge for Bitetto, who worked his way onto the Nashville Predators great ‘it’ factor. His fun-loving, high energy and positivity, as well as his but struggled to keep his place in the lineup, stuck on the depth chart physicality and toughness, were needed elements for our team. We behind the likes of Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm and P.K. made a few trades that year that were extremely important to us winning. Subban. Certainly trading for Anthony was one of them. He is simply a great Joining a Jets club that has endured a high volume of turnover among person and teammate. I loved coaching him and enjoy his friendship to the defence corps ended up being a bonus for Bitetto, who joined the this day.” organization as a depth guy who had an opportunity in front of him but Following a second season with Indiana in the USHL, Bitetto earned a had no guarantees of being on the opening-day roster. scholarship at Northeastern University and was chosen by the Predators “It was easy for him to find his voice, certainly on a team that didn’t have in the sixth round of the 2010 NHL Draft. a strata, we didn’t have a caste system here,” said Maurice. “There “Tough kid, really tough. Fearless,” said Greg Cronin, who coached weren’t five veterans that were eating up 25 minutes (of ice time) and Bitetto during his freshman season and is now the bench boss of the there weren’t Norris Trophy winners where when you would sit down, you AHL’s Colorado Eagles. “That’s the first thing that I noticed, he had a were allowed three words a day on your plan. So, he came in and presence about him. He was mature and he was a real transparent figured, ‘Hey, I’m as good as most of you, so let’s get after it.’” person. That translated in terms of the way that he played the game and also the way he was off the ice. He was very reliable. And he’s a very likeable kid. A very strong leader. He checked all of the boxes for character.”

At that stage of his career, Bitetto wasn’t just a physical presence. He put up 35 points over two seasons.

“He tried to be tough to play against and defend with an edge. He had enough hockey sense offensively to be an efficient puck distributor and he was obviously good on the power play,” said Cronin. “I knew that he could play at some level. I didn’t know if it was going to be as a one-way NHL defenceman or a call-up guy or whatever. I didn’t think he would be a top-four guy, but I knew he would have a role as a 6-7.”

Bitetto left Northeastern after his sophomore season, joining the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL for the playoffs while getting a quick taste of the pro lifestyle.

He’d get reintroduced to the business side of hockey that fall after arriving for his first pro training camp with the Admirals.

With the NHL lockout in full effect, the trickle down meant Bitetto was demoted to the ECHL for 21 games.

Following parts of five seasons with the Predators, Bitetto was placed on waivers last January and claimed by the Minnesota Wild — whose GM, Paul Fenton, was quite familiar with the blue liner from his time as Nashville’s assistant GM.

Bitetto became an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and chose to sign a two-way deal with the Jets, making it three teams in roughly six months.

“When I was a free agent this summer, we went back and forth with the Jets and felt it was a good fit,” said Bitetto. “I didn’t know what to expect coming to Winnipeg. I just wanted to come and be myself. I just came in with the mentality of not trying to do too much. I was just going to compete hard, play hard. Just be a first-pass guy and compete. To be a PK guy, block shots and be physical and stuff like that. I try to have fun as much as possible.

“I’ve always been a team guy. It wasn’t really a challenge for me to fit in. That’s just how I am. I don’t think it’s something you can fake, if that makes sense.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171692 Winnipeg Jets Remember this poll, from The Athletic’s season preview prediction spectacular?

I did not vote Maurice, nor did I particularly entertain the idea when asked As the NHL’s coaching carousel spins, what would it take for the Jets to on talk radio. Such was my understanding of his status within the Jets move on from Paul Maurice? organization. (Knock me off that high horse, though; I voted for Bruce Boudreau who is still gainfully employed with the Minnesota Wild. Clearly there is only one city in which I know what I’m talking about.)

By Murat Ates Jan 17, 2020 In some ways, Maurice is in an opposite situation today than Gerard Gallant was in as coach of the Golden Knights.

Vegas dominated flow of play and controlled shots, scoring chances, and Paul Maurice knows exactly how much it hurts to be cut free from a job expected goals in an elite fashion under Gallant. They were top three in you love. the NHL by all of shot attempts, shots, scoring chances, and expected He’s been fired as a head coach three times — in Carolina, Toronto, and goals, according to Natural Stat Trick. Their power play was top 10. Their then Carolina again — and now, as the second longest tenured coach in PK was middle tier. They just couldn’t get a save. the NHL, he has developed some wisdom on the subject. In contrast, Connor Hellebuyck has saved more goals compared to “It’s a very personal — yet very public experience,” Maurice said after expectation than any other goalie in the NHL. If you could magically slap Jets practice on Thursday. Marc-André Fleury’s .906 save percentage onto the Jets in place of Hellebuyck’s .923, the conversation in Winnipeg would change from He then paused, sizing up how best to explain the pain of being fired as staying in the playoff fight to the draft lottery vis-a-vis Alexis Lafrenière. an NHL coach to the reporters in the room. (Where was Fleury’s fallibility in 2018, one might ask? There is much about the world I do not know, I might respond.) “This is the best analogy,” he said. “You’re in a marriage. You love the woman but it’s getting a little bit rocky. And then you come home one day Another way in which Maurice is in an opposite situation today to and she says, ‘Paul we’re going in a different direction and there’s going Gallant’s in Vegas is that he has the support of his management. to be a press conference in three hours and we’re going to talk about how great the new husband’s going to be.'” Hockey is not a thought experiment. Satisfaction is a function of expectations and how they compare to results. In Vegas, expectations Ouch. No wonder so many fired coaches go into radio silence for a while. were likely set by the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup final appearance, by their subsequent poaching of Paul Stastny, and their acquisition of Mark The most recent case of post-firing silence turned regret-filled Stone. This season was supposed to be (and could still become) the best introspection is that of Mike Yeo. You’ll recall that Yeo was let go by the in Vegas’ short history. Blues on Nov. 19. You will also recall that the Blues replaced Yeo with Craig Berube, finished the regular season as the hottest team in hockey, In Winnipeg, expectations have been deflated by Dustin Byfuglien and by beat the Jets in six games and won the Stanley Cup. a string of injuries to the decimated defence so surreal that they border on (dark) comedy. The Jets have suffered the fourth most man games Maurice’s post-divorce press conference analogy holds up, by the way. lost to injury in the NHL — before Byfuglien’s lost season is considered. Berube’s post-Yeo press conference came less than twelve hours after Yeo was fired. It’s this kind of pain — going from 60 miles per hour to Yes, the Jets themselves will tell you that playoffs are the goal. Blake zero in a heartbeat — that makes getting fired such an emotional shock Wheeler is still driving results and Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Nik to the system. Ehlers, Kyle Connor, Andrew Copp, and so many more are still in their prime. Defensive issues excepted, this season is still supposed to be part The NHL’s most recent coaching casualty, Gerard Gallant, will be going of the window. through that shock now. But Winnipeg is stuck in an awkward balance between trying to respect The “great new husband” in this case is Peter DeBoer, fired barely over Byfuglien’s wishes (and thus accepting the limitations they face regarding one month ago, whose San Jose Sharks actually beat Vegas in a his cap space) while trying to make good on Hellebuyck’s Vezina calibre controversial game seven last spring. DeBoer, of course, also happens to year and such gutsy performances by so many of its veterans. There is be a good friend of Paul Maurice. no guarantee this ends well. It’s this kind of league-wide coaching carousel that has some observers There are also compelling “human reasons” for the organization’s wondering if NHL head coaching hires will forever and always come from ongoing endorsement of its head coach. the same group of established NHL men. There have been seven firings so far this season — DeBoer, Gallant, Peter Laviolette, Jim Montgomery, Maurice is more than clever lines about failing marriages and emotional John Hynes, Bill Peters, and Mike Babcock. Hynes (fired by New Jersey, press conferences. He’s a genuinely good communicator whose troops hired by Nashville) and DeBoer (fired by San Jose, hired by Vegas) are continue to say good things about him whenever prompted (and already back in the game. unprompted, too.) You can argue the X’s and O’s of Winnipeg’s lack of offensive zone aggression (and commitment to protecting the Jets’ The reasons vary, but the carousel seems to spin ever round. defensive blue line) — there’s a chance it would be much better for this Personally, I wonder if Vegas’ goaltending this season has sewered an group of players to play offence first instead — but his players are, in otherwise impressive performance by Gallant’s Golden Knights: fact, making the adaptations that he asks.

This unique situation brings us back to Paul Maurice and the Winnipeg And consider Maurice’s pitch-perfect: “This is my home. I love this place. Jets. I’m not looking to go anywhere.” when colleague Ken Wiebe asked about the Seattle rumours. Maurice has coached the sixth most games in NHL history and is on pace to climb to fourth by the end of this season. He is in the final year of Good PR doesn’t win hockey games but, as we have seen this season, an extension signed in September 2017 and his job status has already bad human relations can in fact cost coaches their jobs. Maurice isn’t been the subject of speculation. When asked about Maurice’s job running that risk. security this season, Kevin Cheveldayoff has simply responded that he I have one final thought on coaching in Winnipeg, lest this column of doesn’t talk about contracts. opinions turn into a proper deep dive. “What happens in the future, that’ll be done behind the scenes and at Change for the sake of change doesn’t make sense to me. I have never some point you’ll all know,” Cheveldayoff told reporters in December. made the argument that Maurice should be fired just to bring in some If that’s true, it’s possible that Maurice already has a long-term future in generic new coach. I also consider many of the most common arguments Winnipeg — one which will simply be announced at the end of the for his firing on social media to be superficial. I don’t think it’s fair to season. It’s also possible that this season is an audition — Maurice measure a coach based on wins and losses. I think it’s fair to measure asked to adjust to difficult times on defence and judged by his results. him (or her) based on wins and losses compared to what’s reasonable With the organization so deliberately tight-lipped, it is difficult to be sure. based on roster quality and then, once that roster quality is factored in, a healthy dose of realism based on circumstance. I don’t think Gallant is the reason Fleury is struggling this season. Similarly, I don’t think Maurice is to blame for the struggles of Arturs Irbe, Kevin Weekes, Andrew Raycroft, Cam Ward, or Ondrej Pavelec. You wouldn’t blame a pitcher for his team failing to generate runs.

So while I believe Winnipeg is in the playoff chase because of its goaltending, I also think that’s unique for Maurice’s career.

We started with an analogy, via Maurice. We’ll end with an analogy too — this time, about him.

Consider your cell phone. Maybe you like the camera but sometimes an app will load a little bit slower than you feel it should. Facebook works, Twitter works, and you’ve never had a problem liking a cute cat or dog photograph on Instagram.

New models come out each and every year, of course, but most of that is just marketing. A new phone that runs your exact same apps the exact same way and calls and texts your contacts the exact same way… well there’s not much point to that, is there. Plus if you’re going to switch from Apple to Google or Google to Apple that’s an awful lot of hassle to go through just to do the same things you’ve already been doing. So, for the most part, it doesn’t matter what shows up on the market — why bother?

Coaches are not iPhones. In fact, the same coach can learn and improve — just as Maurice has done since he took his job. My point isn’t that time will make an upgrade inevitable.

My point is that there have been so many firings in the NHL — and there are so many coaches outside of the NHL — that someday, there will be an upgrade so clear it’s worth the hassle. I’m not sure that Gerard Gallant or Peter Laviolette could do more with these Winnipeg Jets than Maurice can. But someday, somewhere, whether groomed by True North as Pascal Vincent has been or found in the carousel, that coach will have to exist. The status quo will need to change.

“Paul we’re going in a different direction and there’s going to be a press conference in three hours and we’re going to talk about how great the new husband’s going to be.”

Just not today.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171693 Vancouver Canucks injured on the play but the league still wanted to send a message about intent.

The Perreault incident came a week after Virtanen threw a borderline hit Patrick Johnston: Virtanen wasn't trying to 'murder' Jet, says collisions against the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Ondrej Palat, late in the Canucks’ are inevitable embarrassing 9-2 loss in Florida. Palat wasn’t injured but he might have been, and you’d think the league would have seen an easy opportunity to maintain a line against reckless contact, as they did in the Polak case.

PATRICK JOHNSTON But the NHL didn’t.

Published:January 17, 2020 While the game seems to have moved away from the reckless type of hits thrown by the oft-suspended and now retired Raffi Torres, Tkachuk’s Updated:January 17, 2020 5:15 PM PST hits weren’t far off from those Torres hits. But Kassian was still suspended for his response.

You can understand why Mathieu Perreault is frustrated. There’s now plenty of animosity between the Flames and Oilers, so NHL player safety boss George Parros is set to be in attendance at their next When you get elbowed in the head in today’s NHL, the officials are meeting (Jan. 29 in Edmonton). Will the presence of the former pugilist supposed to do something about it. be enough of a deterrent for the Battle of Alberta rematch?

During Tuesday’s 4-0 win for Perreault’s Winnipeg Jets against the For Virtanen to find himself in the middle of such a discussion is a major visiting Canucks, the checking centre was on the receiving end of an distraction. He’s in the midst of a fine season, on pace to shatter his elbow to the head from Vancouver’s Jake Virtanen. previous best marks for goals and points. He was skating on the Canucks’ top line in Thursday’s 3-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes. No penalty was called on the play and the league opted not to discipline Virtanen after the fact. (Meanwhile, the NHL has been doling out fines for Perreault hasn’t forgotten the Virtanen elbow, but stopped short of talking diving to Nashville’s Viktor Arvidsson and for interference to the Rangers’ about payback. The teams meet again March 15 in Vancouver. Ryan Lindgren. That’ll teach ’em, right?) Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.18.2020 After Tuesday’s game, Perreault — who was forced to miss six games less than a month ago because of a concussion — was livid. He remained angry on Thursday, declaring: “Player safety, my ass … now I’ve got to take matters into my own hands the next time this happens. I get to swing my stick across his forehead and I shouldn’t get suspended then.”

A day later, he appeared somewhat calmer.

“My emotions got a little high there. I obviously wouldn’t slash anybody in the face. That’s just not who I am,” he said Friday.

That there was no suspension on the Virtanen play is surprising in a league that you’d think by now would be extra sensitive to checks around the head area.

But coming on the heels of the Zack Kassian-Matthew Tkachuk fracas, where Tkachuk went unpunished for throwing a pair of dangerous- looking hits but Kassian was suspended for his response, you wonder what the league defines as crossing the line.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the reason the NHL didn’t dish out any discipline against Virtanen was it had doubts about the force of the play in question as well as the actual point of contact.

It was an interesting report in light of what Virtanen had to say about the situation after the game, the first time he’d faced the media about Perreault’s comments. (He wasn’t available after the Canucks’ morning skate.)

“I wasn’t trying to just go out and murder the guy. It could have been a lot worse if I really hit him,” Virtanen said.

When you watch the video, you notice that Virtanen realizes a collision is imminent and he appears to hold up. Nonetheless, he struck Perreault’s head and neck area with his elbow.

“He’s (Perreault) a good player, I have nothing bad to say about him. … He’s a good player, I honestly didn’t even mean to do that. It is what it is. He can be frustrated, I think anyone would kind of be frustrated at that point,” he said.

“It’s not going to be flowers and roses all the time, you know, where everything is clean. It’s hockey and things move fast out there, and sometimes it’s, you know, whatever, and I didn’t even mean to do it, so it is what it is.”

Yes, hockey is a tough and fast game. Collisions happen. Sometimes players are injured in those collisions. But there are also moments when players can show more concern for their vulnerable opponents.

And while the league has generally tried not to hand out suspensions for plays that don’t result in injury, there are exceptions when the NHL has come down hard on reckless play. Virtanen was suspended four years ago for a late, pointless hit on the Sharks’ Roman Polak. Polak wasn’t 1171694 Vancouver Canucks possibly AWOL Jeff Brown. From an entertainment package standpoint, we’re talking major-movie silly.

There are, of course, a few complications, not the least of which is that Canucks at 50: A Nedved-Harding wedding? Why, it was 'a natural' the two have never met. But fate has a way of taking care of such things. Some day soon, as surely as Frankie kept tripping over Annette in those beach-blanket movies, Petr will tumble over Tonya, possibly clutching his knee. They’ll look into each other’s eyes. He’ll lend her one of his skate STAFF REPORTER laces. Published:January 17, 2020 ”You’re the prettiest thing since Wayne Gretzky,” he’ll say tenderly. Updated:January 17, 2020 4:00 PM PST ”You’re kinda cute yourself,” she’ll reply. ”I’d give you sixes across the board for artistic impression. Wanna go somewhere and show me your technical program?” Province pundit Jim Taylor had some fun spit-balling a union of two big sports personalities of interest (at least to Vancouver fans) in the spring They’ll walk off into the sunset, a starry-eyed Tonya staring worshipfully of '94 up at his 99 earring while she absent-mindedly swats away autograph seekers with her equipment bag. When fans look back at the magical 1994 Stanley Cup run, they can examine the key roles that Jeff Brown, and Nathan While the newlyweds honeymoon, the sports world will settle back into its Lafayette played in the playoff push. But understand the skill of GM Pat normal orbit, dealing with everyday things like contract-breaking, Quinn in making the trade at the deadline that year that brought them to steroids, drug abuse, salary caps, player strikes and Stanley Cup Vancouver. The Canucks had 1990’s second overall pick Petr Nedved, playoffs that last only slightly longer than the Hundred Years War. Until who didn’t want to stay in Vancouver. He signed with St. Louis and as Oprah offers: ”Jock or Tu-Tu? The Dilemma of Two-Skate Families.” compensation the Canucks were awarded , who also did Spectator sport. It’s my life. not want to play in Vancouver. So Quinn worked out a deal to bring the In The Vancouver Sun, Iain Macintyre wrote: three to town, but that was met with Brown refusing to report. This was all great fodder for sports columnists. Province columnist Jim Taylor wrote: DALLAS — From the Vancouver Canucks’ war room atop their downtown hotel, general manager Pat Quinn could look out Monday into Next to the battle between Geraldo and Oprah over the split-personality a cloudless powder-blue Texas sky and see forever. The only thing he cross-dresser who argues with himself over what to wear, my current couldn’t see was the future. very fave news story is the one about the upcoming wedding of Tonya Harding and Petr Nedved. Quinn, after an exhausting weekend of phone calls, cigars and room- service food, made the trade Monday he knew would draw criticism with You probably haven’t heard about it. Come to think of it, neither have I. a team he’d rather not have turned to. But anyone who watches the soaps and talk shows will tell you it has to happen. Once two storylines reach a certain level of absurdity, the Smooth centre Craig Janney, who becomes an asterisk in Canuck central characters either clash and shoot each other, or collide with such history, was returned to the St. Louis Blues for skilled defencemen Jeff ferocity and determination that one of them winds up pregnant. That Brown and Bret Hedican and rookie Nathan Lafayette shortly before the makes a Tonya-Petr wedding a natural. National Hockey League’s trading deadline.

Picture it: Janney, awarded to the Canucks seven days earlier as equalization for the Blues’ signing of Vancouver free agent Petr Nedved, refused to Petr waiting next to the minister, resplendent in his personally- report and now returns to the club he felt betrayed him. autographed Wayne Gretzky jersey, pants, skates, helmet, socks and underwear, his big line (”Me and Wayne do!”) written on the shaft of his ”It’s a grade B movie plot,” Quinn said moments after the dealing polished Wayne Gretzky Easton aluminum hockey stick. Tonya, tacky- deadline, looking tired in bare feet and a golf shirt. ”We weren’t presented chic in her lovely world championships figure-skating outfit, the now- with the best scenario, but we have acquired a quality defenceman in famous broken skate lace wrapped tastefully around a parasol with Brown and up-and-coming young players. retractable steel shaft. The choir singing the old Beatles classic, Bang Bang, Tonya’s Lillehammer. ”We didn’t have Petr and we didn’t have Craig, but we do have some players that can come in and help us now.” I tell you, there wouldn’t be a dry eye in the house. It could be the biggest wedding since Tiny Tim wed Miss Vicki live on the Johnny Carson show. It appears, however, Brown won’t be helping the Canucks when they play And what with Johnny gone and David fighting Jay who’s fighting Wednesday in Los Angeles against the Kings, Brown was bitter with the Arsenio, who knows how high the bidding could go? trade and considering not immediately reporting.

Not every wedding would be a hit on TV. But these two have that special ”In light of all that had happened, it was tough to make that call,” Quinn quality that reaches to the very heart of soap opera. Like the garlic on said. ”We had talked to Craig several times and we could never get a firm your lips after pigging out on escargot, they just never go away. You can answer whether he would report. Always the answer was he’d like a burn the newspapers, shut off the radio and TV, stay away from hockey trade. We talked to a lot of teams and decided the best way to make this games, figure skating and any social activity that requires speaking or happen was to go back to St. Louis. listening to other people. It matters not. The next day, they’ll be back ”It certainly would have been a gamble had we not traded him.” stronger than ever. ”We have increased our mobility on defence for sure,” Quinn said. In the past week, Tonya has had a $2-million offer from a Japanese ”We’ve got some extra players and there will be some players who can’t promoter who wants her to become a professional wrestler, struck a plea play on certain nights and feelings will be hurt. We’re going to ice the bargain that protects her from further prosecution in the Skategate affair, best lineup we can.” and learned that she didn’t cop the plea a moment too soon, because the grand jury wanted to indict her claiming she was so in on the plot to make As the Canucks celebrate their 50th season, we’re looking back at the Nancy Kerrigan rich by smacking her in the knee. moments that stand out as the biggest in franchise history on the ice and off, good, and a few bad. We’re highlighting the top moments from the Embattled U.S. figure skating star Tonya Harding, at the height of her 1970s through November, the ’80s in December, the ’90s in January, the infamy in early 1994, around the time of the Lillehammer Winter ’00s in February and the ’10s in March. Olympics. PNG news services files Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.18.2020 Meanwhile, Petr has continued to play for the St. Louis Blues while the Vancouver Canucks, having written him off as a third-line centre, suddenly decided during arbitration hearings that he was a star of highest quality for which they must be compensated in kind. He has also become the innocentvictim (for soap operas, the very best kind) while the Canucks lost Craig Janney and must now deal with a reluctant and 1171695 Vancouver Canucks Asked about the situation earlier on Thursday by Winnipeg reporters, he pulled no punches.

“Player safety, my ass. This was literally an elbow to the face to a guy Canucks Extra: Boring into the playoffs and contract updates that didn’t have the puck,” he said. “I see him coming, I brace for a hit. It’s a late hit, I didn’t have the puck and he flicks his elbow in my face.”

“If they’re not going to do anything about it, I’m going to take matters into PATRICK JOHNSTON my own hands, next time this happens: I get to swing my stick across his forehead and I shouldn’t get suspended.” Published:January 17, 2020 “I can’t really protect myself there if the league’s not going to protect me. Updated:January 17, 2020 1:58 PM PST I’m the smallest guy on the ice so I can’t really fight anybody. The only thing I can do to defend myself is use my stick, so the next guy that comes at me like that is going to get my f—ing stick. And I’d better not The Canucks keep picking up points in places they need to. Meanwhile, get suspended for it.” there are still roster questions to consider. Virtanen wasn’t around for the morning skate so it wasn’t until after the God forbid we should have to see the Canucks face the Coyotes in the game the media was able to quiz him about the incident. playoffs. The winger said he’d heard Perreault’s comments but said he didn’t think Coming into today’s play, the Canucks held a 64-per-cent chance of there was an issue with the hit. What he heard was frustration. making the big dance. “He’s a good player and I’ve nothing bad to say about him. I wasn’t trying (Needless to say, this win will up their chances.) to just go out and murder a guy, and I could have been a lot worse if I really hit him. He’s a good player and I honestly didn’t even mean to do Who they could face in the playoffs remains very much up in the air. that and you know, it is what it is. He can be frustrated, I mean, I think Credit the dog’s breakfast that is the Western Conference wild-card race anyone would kind of be frustrated at that point. He’s a good player and as well as the Pacific Division. that’s about it. Their most likely opponent, at a measly 12 per cent, is, yes, these same “… Stuff’s going to happen and it’s not going to be flowers and roses all Coyotes. the time, where everything is clean. It’s hockey and things move fast out Rick Tocchet’s team plays a trap. They trap better than just about anyone there and sometimes it’s, you know, whatever, and I didn’t even mean to in the league. And they’ve had very good goaltending behind that do it, so it is one of those.” defensive shell. Between player safety passing on disciplining Matthew Tkachuk for The Canucks did enough Thursday to take a grinding win away from predatory hits on Zack Kassian — if it were Raffi Torres, would it still be a Arizona. pass? — and now Virtanen going unpunished for his head blow, who knows what the league is looking to punish these days. And sure, there’s every reason to think they could do that four times come April. And sure, this town is desperate to see playoff hockey again. A contract to consider

In other words, we’ll take it if we have to, but it would be so much nicer to Troy Stecher, you may have heard, needs a new contract. He’s proven to see an opponent that is looking to go run and gun against the Canucks, be a dependable defender, a guy who can play on a shutdown pair, who even if that would make for two coaches pulling their hair out. can dish the puck pretty well, who is also perfectly fine on your third pairing. LISTEN: In this week’s snow-delayed White Towel podcast, Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to talk about the Canucks heading into the All-Star He generally makes every partner he’s with better. But in a world where break. the Canucks can only keep one of him or Chris Tanev, one where Brogan Rafferty and his one-way 2020-21 contract are waiting in the Among the topics discussed, how do the Canucks match up in the wings, it’s a hard read to determine what his future role on the club might stacked Pacific Division? In a playoff series, which team would actually be. be the best? Are the Canucks using Jacob Markstrom effectively? Ed and Paul also revisit the old Patcast and remember some great Jeff Asked last week whether he’s had contract talks with either Stecher or Paterson and Jason Botchford travel stories, and revisit the 1990s Jake Virtanen’s camp, GM Jim Benning said they hadn’t. Canucks and Pat Quinn’s skill as a general manager. And, finally, Ed “For the most part, you know, we’ll wait and see how they perform over talks about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations and tries to the course of the year and try to get those guys signed in the summer,” compare bands to great NHLers. he replied, essentially drawing in the bulk of the pending free agents on Listen and subscribe to our podcast from your mobile device: his docket into his answer. (That would also include Chris Tanev, Jacob Markstrom, Josh Leivo, Tyler Motte, Adam Gaudette, Zack MacEwen Random Jake facts and Oscar Fantenberg.)

Jake Virtanen is tied with Elias Pettersson with five game-winning goals, He also added that he had his pro scouting meetings coming up — the best on the Canucks, also ninth in the league. Canucks’ quartet of pro scouts are actually in town as we speak — to That said, his goal on Thursday night was the first time anyone has build the final picture of Benning’s strategy for the months ahead. scored a goal while he’s on the ice with Pettersson and Miller. They’ve Stecher is a sharp guy. He knows the ins and outs of NHL roster been a line several times this season. That’s not a good rate of construction. So it wasn’t really a surprise that he didn’t shy away production for a line that, with Brock Boeser, has been one of the Thursday when I asked him if he’s been thinking about his contract at all. league’s best. It would have been an easy out to say he hadn’t been. But that’s never All this said, Virtanen has been producing. He’s well aware of how slow the way with Stecher. He considers his thoughts. He puts forward, often, things went for him in the second half last season. a lesson he’s learned.

His answer on how to avoid hitting the skids again was blunt. And that’s what he did.

“I want to make sure that I’m working my ass off, to keep working hard “I did early on,” he began. “I’d definitely be lying to you if I said I wasn’t, and doing what I’m doing,” he said. but in the early months I did and it kind of dwelled on me and I think it affected my play.” Hot words But then it hit him to not think about it. He even went so far as to not talk Mathieu Perreault was not pleased that Virtanen went unpunished for the to his agent Eustace King. It’s been a couple months since they’ve elbow the Canucks winger threw at his head on Tuesday night. spoken, in fact. Whether that was because it was obvious to him that contract talks weren’t going to be forthcoming anytime soon, given the game of Tetris building next year’s squad is so obviously going to be, it is clear that focusing on what he can do has helped him in his play, at least view challenges, like their cap constraints next season, and weighing that in his own mind. against the chance of at least recouping a pick or a prospect for one of his to-depart quality defencemen. “I don’t think my minutes have gone up that much, but I feel like my play on ice as an individual has increased and I’m giving our team good Ilya who? quality minutes.” Me, aloud, to no one in particular: Who is Ilya Lyubushkin? He then had some interesting things to say about plus/minus, a stat he knows is flawed but also one that does have a great deal of importance Drancer, replying to me: the ultimate no-name NHLer. I only know about in contract negotiations. Stecher is currently +5, tied for second on the him because I didn’t before and looked him up. team. Loui’s line

“People have their opinions on their plus/minus but it’s something I try to Loui Eriksson joined the Bo Horvat line just before Christmas, a forced pride myself on, especially playing in the third pairing, with the minutes move because Josh Leivo shattered his kneecap. As we know, Horvat I’m getting. I don’t want to be a minus player because it’s just an excuse and Tanner Pearson have been producing since, and they’re getting lots for them to take me out. I want to make sure I’m doing something where of chances offensively too. I’m helping the team, that shows that I’m not affecting us in a negative way.” Eriksson, it can’t be denied, has had a positive effect.

Plus/minus’s greatest flaw as a stat is that it credits or assigns blame to But it is rather hilarious how much of the production has been because of the whole lineup when a goal against could be about one player’s gaffe their late-game presence defending against opposition who have pulled or simple bad luck in timing. Luck has a lot to do with the stat. their goalie.

There’s an existential truth to his focus. He doesn’t want to be on the ice It all adds up to some fantastic online humour. for goals against. He wants to be making decisions on the ice, whether Did you spot him? that’s in his own zone, looking to stop the opposition or in the neutral zone, forcing turnovers, or in the offensive zone, looking to make a smart The Canucks hosted a Canucks media alumni night and also recognized pinch and help create a scoring opportunity for his mates. Jim Robson’s birthday (it’s tomorrow).

When you’re playing on the third pairing, you don’t get a lot of chances When they put the great broadcaster up on the screen, we all couldn’t but you want to make them all count was his message. help but notice a blur at the bottom of the screen.

“After my first year, I think every single year I’ve started on that third That was, we realized, Elliott Pap. pairing. My first year I got cut and then my second year I started with Hutty on the third pair. It’s just been that way every year and with injuries Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.18.2020 I’ve been given some different opportunities. This year, thankfully, we’ve been really healthy, and with that we’ve had a better record as a group. I think I learned that at an early age that it’s a privilege to play in this league and you can be out of it pretty quick, so no matter how much I’m playing I always want to make sure that I’m not giving anybody a reason to even contemplate taking me out of the lineup.”

The cap question

Which brings us to the next thought: What about Stecher vs. Tanev? The cap is going to be a tight situation next year. If Jacob Markstrom is re- signed — Benning has made it clear that’s his preference — he’ll be earning a raise of some kind. He won’t be the only one after a raise, either.

Jake Virtanen is also building himself quite the arbitration case, given how excellent his even-strength production has been.

But I digress: this is a strange goalie market this summer. There are going to be some intriguing alternatives available for less than what Markstrom is surely after. And there will be the Bobrovsky mess hanging over everyone. The late-blooming Markstrom certainly doesn’t have the popular reputation that Bobrovsky carried into the summer of 2019.

He can still point to contracts like Martin Jones’s ($5.75m x five years) or Robin Lehner’s ($5m this year) or Mikko Koskinen’s ($4.5m x three years) and say “that’s my value.” He’s clearly got a case to be paid more than that trio.

Equally, the Canucks can look at some of the other good young goalies who will be looking for a new team — Alexandar Georgiev, say — and note that this market may not be the best situation for a goalie, aged 30, looking to chase a big-ticket contract.

Even so, if he’s retained, that will mean less money to spend on Tanev and Stecher.

Plus Brogan Rafferty has a one-way contract next season, meaning that if he’s re-assigned to Utica, he’ll be making his full salary, not a reduced amount like it is this year. There’s no reason to think he’d be able to replace Stecher or Tanev on the defensive end, but his scoring talents are obvious, even if he is a 24-year-old cleaning up on players who are four years younger.

It all adds up to the reality that the Canucks should recoup some sort of value from one of the defencemen. Call it the Trade ____ Club.

There’s going to plenty of pressure on Jim Benning to both satisfy the short-term desires of making the playoffs while also recognizing the long- 1171696 Vancouver Canucks Miller, Josh Leivo, Tanner Pearson and Micheal Ferland are all very good at hunting down pucks on the forecheck and winning battles along the boards.

The Dayal Files: Bo Horvat’s rise, where Brock Boeser’s improved the It might not be natural for Brock Boeser, but he’s among the Canucks most and Jake Virtanen’s two-way resurgence players who’ve worked hard to improve in this area.

“Those are the things you work on,” said Boeser. “The little details defensively, moving your feet and getting around the play is essential. I By Harman Dayal Jan 17, 2020 think when I’m dialled in there is when I play my best. That’s the type of player you need to be in order for me, personally to help this team each

and every night even when I’m not scoring.” Bo Horvat hasn’t had it easy the past couple of seasons. Being active away from the puck is far easier said than done, however, The story from last year is well documented — he was tasked with as a young player’s body often succumbs to the physical and mental toll arguably the toughest minutes of any NHL centre, dragging a rotating of a gruelling 82-game schedule. cast of mediocre wingers while matching up against the opposition’s best “Personally, I take care of my body better than I did during my first year,” players. said Boeser. “In your first year, you get mentally tired a lot and it’s kinda Offseason additions were supposed to ease Horvat’s workload, but the hard, you really don’t go through that in college. I learned from that and I 24-year-old has been doing just as much as last season. The matchups think my consistency has come a long way.” and minutes he faces as the team’s shutdown centre are just as tough, “The goal scoring is great and we all know that, but there’s also so many so he’s had to sacrifice J.T. Miller to the Lotto Line, and for as good as other parts of the game that go into winning that I think he’s learned to Loui Eriksson’s been, he’s far from a credible top-six forward. take pride in and wants to be better in,” added Travis Green. “This goes Add the responsibilities that accompany being captain in a Canadian back to last year, at the end of the year we saw a Boeser that was market and you have the context for some of his early-season struggles. forechecking and stripping pucks, backchecking and getting sticks in But now? Horvat’s playing the best hockey of his season as he leads the lanes.” charge for the Canucks. His offensive production is the obvious indicator, Arguably the biggest area of improvement we’ve seen from Boeser has although a resurgence in that department was to be expected. been on the forecheck. A lot of those strides are evident when examining In late November, I laid out the case for Horvat’s strong underlying profile the microdata I tracked last season. and said he was due for a bounce-back. Since then, he’s tied with Miller Boeser was behind only Eriksson and Tim Schaller in terms of how with a team-leading 24 points in 25 games and is two up on Elias frequently he broke plays up in the offensive zone in 2018-19. I was Pettersson with 16 5-on-5 points. After a slow start, Horvat has climbed really impressed with how well Boeser functioned as the second to 40 points in 47 games, with 70 points seeming like a realistic forechecker (F2) last season and that’s carried over. Good F2 possibility. forecheckers make smart reads to anticipate breakout options and Equally important, however, is how much better he’s been at driving play Boeser’s always seemed to do a great job of sealing off the boards over the team’s most recent games. Horvat’s defensive results were well whenever the opposing team rims the puck around the boards. below his standard for most of the season, but since the Christmas Here’s an example where that leads to a goal — Boeser forcing a break, he’s rebounded in a big way in that area as well. turnover as the F2 on an attempted rim around the boards. Horvat leads Canucks forwards with both a 52.6 percent Corsi for and There’s still room for Boeser to improve as a two-way player, but growth 54.9 percent expected goal share — outscoring opponents 9-6 while on in the details of his game such as the forecheck are reasons why the the ice. These are excellent results considering how often his line has narrative of him maturing as an all-round player is accurate. been leaned on against the opposition’s best players. Some praise should be doled out to Eriksson, who’s been a positive contributor since Virtanen’s defensive resurgence joining Horvat’s line, but I also wonder if Horvat benefitted from the break. Speaking of forwards whose two-way profiles are looking much better of late, Jake Virtanen’s recent trends are positive. That’s in contrast to As I theorized in December, the root of Horvat’s waning defensive results Virtanen’s atrophying play-driving ability over his career, which I explored seemed to be coming from plays where he looked lethargic moving his during the preseason. feet and was half a step late in taking time and space away in all three zones. Take the second goal against in a game against Vegas on Dec. RAPM data courtesy Evolving Hockey 19, for instance. The big, right-shot forward entered the league as a rookie who could Horvat is stationary right off the faceoff loss and when William Karlsson push play up the ice and consistently help his line outshoot and picks up the puck from behind the net, Horvat is slow to check him and outchance the opposition. Those tangible qualities took a dip in his weak in the battle and Karlsson is able to make a pass right in front second and third seasons — to the point where he was a decisively despite being pinned. below average two-way player. In other words, as his point totals improved, it came with the caveat of worsening play-driving results. Horvat looked like a player who was trudging through the wear and tear of a heavy workload. But now he looks refreshed and it appears as if he’s Virtanen was continuing that trend this season as he’s already notched gotten his jump back since the four-day rest over the holidays. 25 points in 47 games despite concerning defensive results. While his torrid offensive pace is unlikely to last, it comes with the silver lining that Horvat’s lighting it up offensively and is in the midst of one of the best his overall play has legitimately been impressive over the past couple of two-way stretches of his career. months or so — more specifically on the defensive side of the ice.

Boeser’s evolution as a forechecker Through the first two months of the season, Virtanen was at the bottom when it came to virtually every defensive stat, whether it was shots, Time and space are the most important factors in trying to create offence. scoring chances or goals against. The best offensive players will burn opponents if they have room to operate. And when it isn’t there, they can manufacture it for themselves Since the start of December, however, Virtanen is behind only the Lotto or their linemates. Line in terms of 5-on-5 shot suppression. Account for the quality of the chances against and you’ll note that his expected goals against number Inversely, there’s a reason why teams always preach taking away time is third-best among forwards during this span. Overall, it’s encouraging to and space defensively. One of the most important areas in this respect is see that the 23-year-old’s only been on the ice for a team-leading six the forecheck. Teams like Carolina and Vegas use a combination of goals against. speed, smart sticks and strength on the puck to come at the opposition in waves and can make it a nightmare to try and break out the puck. This is especially important because most forwards in the bottom six have been shelled during these last 20 games. If we use Jay Beagle as a The Canucks are trying to build a similar identity for their team. Just look proxy for the fourth line, you’ll note that they’ve been outscored 10-2 at some of the forwards they’ve acquired over the last 12 months or so — while controlling less than 33 percent of shot attempts and scoring chances. They’ve had more difficult deployment than a typical fourth line, but the Beagle group is currently one of the worst lines in hockey.

Adam Gaudette’s line has had a pretty tough time in the territorial battle as well — with a 44.3 percent shot and 38 percent scoring chance share.

So while the bottom six has been getting crushed since late November, Virtanen’s mostly bucked the trend.

The only question now is if he can keep up this tightened defensive play for the long haul.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171697 Vancouver Canucks And despite it being the ugliest scoring line in hockey, they are turning into an absolute blast to watch.

Peaking in high school The Armies: Stay hot Lou, Winnipeg fury, and the Lotto Line thing The Coyotes’ lone goal on the night came off a turnover along the boards where the much-maligned pairing of Tyler Myers and Oscar Fantenberg continued in their race to see who the internet could get angrier at. Do By Thomas Drance and Wyatt Arndt Jan 17, 2020 you get mad at Myers for having his clearing attempt blocked, or do you get mad at Fantenberg utilizing dome hockey defense, where he just kind

of twirls in place on a metal rod but his stick just isn’t long enough to Like an episode of “Love Island,” a new boy arrived at the island and the reach the puck. couples were tested. And while going down 1-0 to the Coyotes can often be a death sentence Yes, Brandon Sutter, “Callin’ Baton Rouge” himself, finally returned and due to the way they like to lock down hockey games, luckily the Canucks his impact was felt throughout the Canucks’ lineup. know the best way to unlock something you can’t open is to pour a bunch of grease on it. Lotto Line? Gone. The people who always yell “Shoot!” on the power play were vindicated, GiVeR Line? Gone. as the Canucks finally listened to them and just started blasting away, resulting in two posts before finally netting a goal. The power play, which Fourth-line-who-gets-out-shot-really-badly-and-has-been-struggling Line? has come under fire from the fans as of late due to their inability to score Gone. goals, is not something that worries Quinn Hughes, an NHL All-Star. Jake Virtanen took Brock Boeser’s place on the Lotto Line, Boeser “I’ve never really gotten too high or low on the power play, and that goes played with Roussel and Gaudette, and Sutter took Tim Schaller’s spot along with my entire game … We know it’s going to come, we got good on the wing on the fourth line with Jay Beagle and Tyler Motte. players out there, not just our unit, the second unit too.” This means, in the year 2020, the only line not to be punished and Quinn Hughes’ Maverick-like ability to excel in dangerous situations shaken up after a loss against Winnipeg was the greasy Big Mac line of continued later in the game, when he decided to hit the deke button on Bo Horvat, Tanner Pearson and Loui Eriksson. Even weirder, it felt like his controller and left Taylor Hall trying to sneak out the back door like he the right call. was stuck in New Jersey again: For a line that goes out and just scores some of the ugliest goals you’ll For a player who was constantly questioned whether or not his skill set see, they’re gaining a cult following in this city. Horvat was always would translate to the NHL, All-Star Quinn Hughes had this All-Star beloved, but now Pearson has fans cheering him on. Even crazier, response about why he’s able to do these All-Star moves. Eriksson, once the biggest heel in the city, has turned babyface and is now stiff-arming guys to the ice as he chases down empty net glory. “I think it’s kind of easier and easier for me every game, you know I told people in April last year, I think my game is just going to continue to grow Never forget, the previous high point for Eriksson was a standing ovation and I think it has. You know continue to learn how to make things easier for beating out an icing call. Little did we know, that was just practice for for myself and Tanny, and again, Tanny makes it easy for me.” empty netter time. For the record, Hughes consistently mentioned Chris Tanev as a huge There is an actual buzz in the building when the Canucks hold a small reason as to why his game has continued to grow, which makes re- lead late in the third period because everyone knows the Big Mac line is signing Tanev perhaps all the more important for this club. We will wait about to get greasy. And they were greasy again Thursday, playing a for Harman Dayal to inform the Canucks how they can best accomplish huge part in the Canucks 3-1 win over the visiting Phoenix Arizona this. Coyotes. You can understand what Green is getting at, flipping Boeser and Eriksson refused to hype up his play as of late, but he did admit Virtanen onto different lines. postgame that things have been going pretty well for him since he became the thousand island dressing to the meat and buns of Horvat Virtanen does change the dynamic of the first line. He makes them and Pearson. lightning fast and large on the walls when forechecking.

“It’s been going really well since I joined those two guys. It’s fun right On Thursday night, it worked, sort of. While Vancouver’s first line was now, it’s a tough challenge every game to play against their top lines, so outshot at five-on-five by the Coyotes, the line manufactured the game- it’s a big challenge for us and I think we’ve been doing a great job winning goal. preventing them from scoring, and we’ve been scoring a couple of big goals as well.” “I liked it,” Green said postgame. “Everyone talks about Jake getting a chance, but I also liked Brock’s game with Gaudette and Roussel.” Of course, why listen to us hype up Eriksson when Travis Green, the man who hypes up hype men, can tell you all about it. In your mind’s eye, it makes sense. Perhaps Boeser can feast against the tertiary competition, while Virtanen adds an element of speed and “He was good tonight. Ever since we put him with Bo’s line that lines size to the first line. been sharp, their two-way game has been spot on. I’ve said it from day one, when Bo’s playing that game, the rest of his game falls into order. Here’s the issue: this is the solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. Give Loui credit, he’s been playing well.” The following are lines in the entire National Hockey League with a better That wasn’t just one “good.” It was a “playing well” also. on-ice goal differential at five-on-five as a trio than J.T. Miller-Elias Pettersson-Boeser: David Pastrnak-Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand. Eriksson is on fire. That’s it. That’s the end of the list.

Green is correct, though, in pointing out how well the line continues to As for the Miller-Pettersson-Virtanen trio, I’m curious to see it get more play. Used in a match-up role once again, the Big Mac line led the run. In just about 50 minutes of work on the ice together now, the Canucks forwards in the Corsi Wars. Canucks have recorded 78 shot attempts while their opponents have managed just 36. That’s a 68 percent shot attempt share, which is Eriksson got 30 seconds more ice time than Boeser and it was only due downright mouthwatering. Otherworldly. to his huge effort that the third goal was scored. It’s worth seeing what sort of baseline of control that trio is able to exert Pearson traded in his long-range sniping skills for a more execution-style at evens as the sample expands. If it regresses somewhat (and it will), goal, but he continues to score. but still ends up in the low 60s, then that’s as good as any line in the Horvat continued to play well at both ends of the rink and is now scoring NHL. on home ice. Here’s the other thing to note though: as good as the underlying profile of the trio is, Virtanen’s second-period goal was the Miller-Pettersson- Virtanen line’s first on-ice goal as a trio in about 50 minutes of work. Our old friend Jason Botchford hated watching Eriksson shoot the puck. Either way. Nothing would rile him up more than watching Eriksson shoot on net, seeing that muffin sail into the goalie’s chest. So while the Lotto line is +12 on the season in 380 minutes, the trio with Virtanen in Boeser’s spot is just +1 — following Thursday night’s game — Well, that was old Loui. in about 50 minutes. New Loui? New Loui slaps. Control is good and all, but if you’re altering the composition of the line that’s been the second-best in the sport at outscoring opponents at five- Speed on-five, there really has to be a more robust bottom line. Pop quiz, hot shot. Hockey game, puck in the slot. The goalie is Super Trooper screened. You’re 50 feet away. What do you do? WHAT DO YOU DO?

Two things. SHOOT THE PUCK.

1. Jason Brough deserves a part of Virtanen’s merchandise sales for Hey, Troy Stecher grew up watching Hank Sedin, perhaps it’s only fitting creating Shotgun Jake. Honestly, if you’re a maligned player in any that he pay tribute to the man. Canadian city, get a local sports person to start a meme about you, and Working for the weekend watch your popularity skyrocket. At this point Virtanen could rifle home three goals on his own net and people would just happily shotgun three This was a great play from Gaudette to work the puck out of his own beers and people would just be complimenting him on his finishing ability. zone, earning the obligatory “ohhh should he be doing that?” any time a player crosses in front of their own net with the puck. 2. Tommy continues to knock it out of the park with his editing and surprise liquids/solids he shotguns for our entertainment. At this point we Friend! Car friend! get more excited about Tommy’s next video than we do about the actual Old friends Michael Chaput and Michael Grabner actually had goal itself. themselves solid games, at times causing havoc inside the Canucks Big Mac Time defensive zone. It’s awkward to see Chaput because he brings up memories of Willie Desjardins’ time in Vancouver, which inevitably brings Was there ever any doubt about who would be on the ice with the goalie up memories of Jayson Megna on the power play which inevitably ends pulled? Even Green had to know, as he put out the fourth line with up with you eating a bucket of fried chicken alone in the dark so you can around three minutes left, because he knew the empty net prime time “gather your thoughts.” had to be saved for this crew. One of the most notable plays, however, was Virtanen crushing Chaput Yes, that’s Eriksson, looking like George Costanza trying to escape a in a foot race, and then flexing on him by kicking the puck off his skate, fire, shoving a guy out of the way and literally running along the ice to get as if the screen prompted him with “Fatality!” and Virtanen just couldn’t to the puck first. I could watch this on loop for days. resist:

“I felt like I had a step on the guy there, and then when I got the puck I And Grabner was the second guy in on the Coyotes best chance to tie had time to look up, and I saw Pearse all alone. It was nice to find him, the game up (notice the time, 9:11): and get that big goal and win the game.” Eriksson told The Armies postgame. “I think we’ve been really solid. Haven’t given them too many We’ve gotten to the point where a 34 save, 1 goal against performance chances, like big chances for them, and then when we’ve been able to from Jacob Markstrom is too pedestrian for him to make it into the top score as well … it’s obviously nice to get some bounces like that.” half of The Armies.

Oscar-worthy goal It’s like when you’re a kid and you get for first A and your parents are proud of you, but then they expect As every time, and it crushes your While we would love to laugh about how this was so horribly offside we self-esteem and self-worth always chasing after a bar that keeps getting have no idea why the Canucks even celebrated, we live in a world where higher. Matt Duchene scored an even worse goal, and it counted. Anyways. So go ahead Beagle, fake it until you make it. And to be fair, it was a really nice tipped goal. The Swedest Touch

Stick Wars: Rise of the Bauer Vapor Flylite Every once in a while Alex Edler likes to crush someone just to remind them that he can, in fact, end people if he wants to. Despite it being a game between the usual tepid Coyotes, this game did have a rather abnormal amount of odd and quirky moments. That looks like Stepan didn’t notice the sliding glass door was closed and just ran headfirst into it. Like Motte having his stick flung into space: Edler, of course, will never play up his hitting prowess. He, in fact, played The proper beer league etiquette here is to have Motte complain to the it down, as is his way. ref while Jakob Chychrun politely informs Motte to hold onto his stick tighter next time. “I was kind of pinching down on the guy down low, but I saw him going to the middle so I was kind of in trouble there, lucky I got a piece of him.” Dirty Bo Dangles Letter to the officials Eriksson, who understands what the Big Mac line is all about, starts this play off properly; by committing what should have been a penalty but Dear NHL Officials, getting away with it. That’s the perfect amount of grease. If Quinn Hughes falls down like this, we can assure you, he was hooked. Now, despite Eriksson doing everything correctly, it’s Horvat who fumbles Quinn Hughes does not fail behind the net with the puck. it up. Instead of shoving the puck on net and scoring on the fifth or sixth whack of the puck before being shoved onto the goalie, setting off A crime was committed this day. several fights, he tries to get fancy by going between his legs. Captain Swear Pants That is not what Big Macs do. Biggest fail Horvat, however, defended himself postgame on his decision to do his dekes. If you can’t return a high five to celebrate an empty-net goal from Pearson then you need to re-evaluate your life choices. “Yeah I mean, I’ve been in that position before and my backhander didn’t work, so I thought I might have caught him off guard a little bit … if I got it Challenge Extended up a little bit higher, it might have gone in … might as well try it.” Best jersey Botch Stay hot Lou The shot-blocking OG, on a jersey he never used. Greg Hawgood only played a season and a bit in Vancouver, but he did score five goals one year.

Sadly, all evidence of the “he shall who not be named” years has been scrubbed from the internet, so I have no video evidence of it.

Shinkaruk jersey, now that’s a player we have evidence of. Never forget his preseason snipe show.

Loui jerseys are back in fashion!

Best fight memories

The year? 2016.

The day? Dec. 22.

The incident? Mathieu Perrault landing a late knee on knee hit on Janik Hansen that took Hansen out of the lineup for 4-6 weeks.

Hansen offering to dance, motioning with both hands, reminds us of just what a badass Hansen was.

But never forget that Perrault is no stranger to throwing a late hit or two.

As for Virtanen, the man in the middle of it all, Brendan Batchelor (he sets the lines for the Canucks) tracked him down to get his take on it.

“Yeah I’ve seen that. I think just frustration. He’s a good player, I have nothing bad to say about him. I wasn’t trying to just, go out and murder the guy. It could have been a lot worse if I really hit him. He’s a good player, I honestly didn’t even mean to do that. It is what it is. He can be frustrated, I think anyone would kind of be frustrated at that point … it’s not going to be flowers and roses all the time, you know, where everything is clean. It’s hockey and things move fast out there, and sometimes it’s you know, whatever, and I didn’t even mean to do it, so it is what it is.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171698 Websites not as many as usual, but enough to keep the national broadcast rights holders happy.

The season resumes again with a limited number of games following the The Athletic / Duhatschek Notebook: Bye week evolution, Vegas All-Star break and then the schedule fully ramps up on the first Saturday coaching shakeup and Ovechkin’s Gretzky chase of February with 14 games on the docket.

The way it was the past two seasons, explained Holland, the breaks were too short for most players to turn it into a genuine vacation. By Eric Duhatschek Jan 17, 2020 “If a player wasn’t an All-Star, he knew he had a five-day break and a four-day break there in January, but if you live in a cold place and you want to go someplace, it takes you a day to go down and a day to come The NHL introduced bye weeks for the first time four seasons ago and it back,” said Holland. “So, it’s really a three-day break. By putting them was a bit of a disaster. The byes were spread out over a nine-week together, it makes it worthwhile – for the player and his family – to go period – the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders were first away.” out of the gate on Jan. 1 and the byes didn’t wrap until the Anaheim Ducks had theirs at the end of February spilling into March. The Minnesota Wild’s Zach Parise is planning to take his family to Disney World during the bye week. As a veteran player, though, he’s a little on Constantly, throughout that nine-week period, teams coming off their the fence when it comes to the bye week scheduling. byes would play teams that were humming along at regular season pace. The end result was predictable: A whole lot of one-sided games – and a “I think the break is nice,” said Parise. “The only downfall is, they jam you whole lot of unhappy coaches, managers and players. Teams coming off up pretty good with games in March. a bye won only 10 of the 30 games. It was so unanimously panned across the board that the NHL even considered pulling the plug on the “It was a little weird at first – going on vacation in the middle of the experiment if it didn’t fare any better the next time out. season. But I think guys are getting more used to it.”

Thankfully, it did. Minnesota has 14 games scheduled in February and 16 in March.

The byes were compressed in Year 2 – all of them unfolding in a 12-day Would Parise prefer to skip the bye weeks and have the games more span between Jan. 7 and 19. The overall record of teams coming off a spread out over the final third of the season? He thought about the break improved to 15-11-5 (Vegas was now in the league), but a lot of question for a few seconds before responding. teams didn’t love the fact that they were off for a period of time in the first “I think right now I would say, games more spread out,” said Parise, “But half of January and then they took another break at the All-Star Game when you’re in the warm weather, that’s pretty nice, so I do like the bye (Jan. 27-28 in Tampa). week too.” Last year, it was more of the same: The break went from Jan. 7 to 19 and According to Oilers defenceman Oscar Klefbom, for NHL players, the then the All-Star Game was held in San Jose on Jan. 26. An mental break is even more important than the physical break. improvement over Year 1, but still not perfect. Too much stop-and-start. For NHL players used to a routine, two separate breaks so soon after the “Obviously, it’s tough to play 82 games physically, but it’s even tougher to Christmas break affected timing, rhythm, sync. play 82 games mentally,” said Klefbom. “To be there every night … you can have a great night or you can have a bad night, but you have to be Accordingly, this season, for Year 4, the system’s been tweaked again – ready to play the next night again. So … bye week is a really good time and this time, it looks as if they’ve hit on a better compromise. to think about everything else except for hockey.” All the bye weeks are scheduled around the 2020 All-Star break – which Oilers coach Dave Tippett had a two-year hiatus from coaching before takes place Jan. 24-25 in St. Louis. joining Edmonton this year, but he was behind the Arizona bench in the Seventeen teams will have their bye weeks going into the All-Star first year they introduced the bye week and didn’t like the effect it had on weekend and 14 teams will have their bye weeks coming out of it. his club.

Tampa and Anaheim play their final games before the break this Friday “The first time we had it, we had seven days off,” said Tippett. “Then we (Jan. 17). Most teams have either seven or eight days off. Colorado has practised at 4 o’clock the day before we played and then played back-to- the longest stretch without games. After playing Detroit at home on Jan. back games against teams that had still been playing. 20, the Avalanche don’t play against until Feb. 1, when they start a five- “It would be like going into training camp and then scheduling an game road trip in Philadelphia. For reasons we’ll get to in a minute, the exhibition game the next day. The whole purpose of the exercise is to get bye week could be most valuable for the Vegas Golden Knights, who will guys some rest and to avoid injuries. The way it was, you were creating get an opportunity to integrate new coach Peter DeBoer into the mix. the risk of injuries with the way it was.” Ultimately, the NHL traded off bye weeks to the players’ association in This year, the Oilers finish up with a home game against Arizona on Jan. exchange for switching the All-Star format to a 3-on-3 competition – a 18 – a critical date in the race for first place – and then resume the rare time when a completed negotiation between the two parties could be schedule at home again on Jan. 29 against Calgary, another team that fairly described as a win-win. they’re jockeying with for positioning in the standings. According to Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland, it took the But Tippett says he’s OK with how this year’s schedule looks, heading in league time to get the bye-week scheduling correct, but he believes the and out of the byes. new, revised schedule is “perfect” – because it maximizes the benefits to players and staff, but minimizes the disruption to the NHL regular season “We’ve got almost 10 days off, but they’re giving us an extra day to schedule. practice,” said Tippett. “We’ve got three days of practice before we play because we can practice on that Sunday after the All-Star Game. Your “It’s trial and error,” said Holland. “When we went into those first manager All-Star players won’t practice, but your team will. So, I think there’s more meetings (to discuss how to implement bye weeks), I looked at those thought given to the preparation period, coming out of the break. Olympic years, when everybody had 10 or 11 days off, and everyone seemed to enjoy a 10-day mid-winter vacation. If you were in the “And if you think about it, it’s not just a break for players. It’s for trainers. Olympics, you loved being part of the tournament. If you didn’t play, you It’s for coaches. It helps everyone. I like it because when you come back, loved taking a break. But everyone was on a level playing field. then you’re ready for the stretch drive. You’re fresh and I would say it gives everybody the energy they need for the stretch drive.” “To the credit of the schedule maker and the people at the league, they came up with this idea of, half the league shuts down pre-All Star and According to Holland, the idea – that players may need a mental break half the league shuts down after. So, you continue to have games – from the day-to-day grind even more than they need a physical break – because it’s important to have the league on TV on an every-night basis.” influenced the general managers’ thinking, when they kept tweaking the bye-week formula until they got it right. To Holland’s point, there are still 13 regular season games scheduled, starting this Sunday, which will carry the league into the All-Star break – “Without a doubt,” said Holland. “Because of the competitive balance in postgame press conference that he will bring a different personal style to the league, every game matters and every point matters. The race to the the mix. playoffs starts on Oct. 5. Gallant is old-school. I like that about him. Whenever you’d ask players “There used to be a disparity, pre-2005, in the league, where you knew what they liked about his approach, the answer was usually some before the season started, if there were 16 teams that make the playoffs, version of – with Gallant, you always knew where you stood. He could be everybody knew who the first 12 teams were going to be – and the rest of demanding, but he also had the ability to move on when a player made a the league played for four spots. Those days are over. It’s a playoff game mistake, instead of constantly dwelling on that mistake, which sometimes every day. So, the players are under a lot of stress, on an everyday can get into the head of a player. basis. Then, with the world we’re in, you factor in the social media, which puts them under the spotlight even more. But you rarely saw a sly, humorous side from Gallant. He wasn’t Jon Cooper or Paul Maurice. He was all-business: Try to win tonight; make “And I would also say to you, the talent pool is so much deeper. So now the players better; let’s go to work. you’re facing the pressure of someone in the American League maybe taking your job. Every day you go to work, you’re looking over your DeBoer has all those qualities too, but he will also inject a bit of laughter shoulder a little bit. Then the analysis that goes on, pre and postgame, into the equation, as he did Thursday, when noting how, after Ryan the players are under a lot more scrutiny and pressure than they were 10 Reaves offered to give him a sweaty congratulatory hug postgame, he or 12 or more years ago. So, it’s an opportunity for them to go away and respectfully declined. He also gave the players permission to give him a get their batteries recharged. Then you come out of that break and swift kick in the butt if he accidentally addressed one of them as Jumbo there’s 25-30 games left to go and it’s a race to the finish – and to qualify (Joe Thornton) or Burnzie (Brent Burns). It wasn’t necessary. He got all for the playoffs.” the names right.

Gallant watch Probably no team can make a more effective use of the bye week than Vegas. They are one of the 14 teams that get their bye after the All-Star Just about everyone in the industry had the same reaction to the news break. It means, from Ottawa, they moved on to play Montreal on that the Vegas Golden Knights fired Gerard Gallant as their head coach Saturday, then Boston on Tuesday and then they’re off until a Jan. 31 this past week. First, shock – that the Golden Knights would make a date on the road, with the Hurricanes in Carolina. coaching change, considering how effective Gallant had been for most of his tenure with the team; and second, the quick conclusion that Gallant As a result, the players will now get three games to learn something wouldn’t be out of work long and that his landing spot in the NHL would about DeBoer and DeBoer gets three games to learn something about almost certainly be the Detroit Red Wings. them. DeBoer can also deal with the logistics of finding a temporary place to live in Vegas during the break – valuable on a personal level. The only area in which there wasn’t a consensus is when that might take place – in the near term, or once the 2019-20 season had ended. Once the bye week ends, he’ll have a few valuable days of practice to tweak whatever he thinks needs tweaking. On the one hand, this is a lost season in Detroit and trending toward being historically bad; so, there is a school of thought that suggests It’ll be interesting on one level to see how he manages Vegas’ defence, there’s no point in trying to salvage anything, but just let it continue to go which is the biggest single change from the team he had in San Jose, off the rails and then reassess in the offseason. where the right side was stacked (with Burns and Erik Karlsson, who have both won the Norris Trophy). The dilemma there is, if you wait until summer to make a change, then your new hire starts from scratch at training camp in September. It takes Vegas’ two best defencemen are Shea Theodore and Nate Schmidt, and time for a new coach to get to know his players. It takes time for a new this season, they’ve trended in opposite directions – Theodore showing coach to introduce his system. It takes time for players to adjust to a new signs of getting to the new level in his overall development, Schmidt voice and a new set of expectations. seeming to fall back from the exceptional season he produced for Vegas in their inaugural campaign. Maybe you believe if you’re Detroit that you have time because it’s going to take time to fully execute a turnaround and get the younger players On paper, the high-end talent level on the Golden Knights’ blue line and prospects in your system fully integrated into the lineup. doesn’t match the Sharks. On the ice, there’s nothing to prevent GM Kelly McCrimmon from adding a reinforcement or two at the trade The advantage of bringing in a new coach, even if it is just for the final 25 deadline, because there will be right-shot defencemen available on the or 30 games of the season, is you get the introductory part of the rental market. equation over right away. Now, your new coach has the final third of the season to get to know his players and the players get to learn something One of the advantages DeBoer has is that his Sharks had two playoff about the new coach. It may well be valuable for that new coach to learn battles against the Golden Knights over the last two springs – which is who is still digging in, even if it’s garbage time in a lost season, because when you can really glean an insight into which players bring it when the that may tell you something about their character and commitment that’s stakes are high and which don’t. valuable to know going forward. That intel will likely serve him well.

Either way, once September rolls around, you can then hit the ground DeBoer told our Jesse Granger: “This is my kind of team. These are my running. The learning curve is less steep. All the introductions have kind of guys.” I like the confidence in that messaging. Given DeBoer’s already been made. There are no guarantees that your team is any ability to have a meaningful immediate impact as a new coach in his better – because coaches aren’t miracle workers and they can only do so previous NHL stops, Vegas suddenly jumped to the top of my list of dark- much with a limited lineup. But at least there’s none of the tentativeness horse Stanley Cup contenders. associated with teams as they adjust to a new regime. The style that they’ll want you to play should become instinctive far sooner. Ovie watch

Gallant and Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman have a Milestones come and go for NHL players, some more remarkable than decades-long history. It’s easy to see a fit there – both in terms of others, but the Washington Capitals’ relentless, reliable Alex Ovechkin philosophy and personality. occasionally forces you to look up and pay attention when he reaches another career mark on the goal-scoring front. It’s just too bad that Seattle isn’t coming into the NHL as the 32nd team this June instead of next year, because that could throw a wrinkle into the Consider what happened Thursday: Three more goals in a 5-2 win over discussion. When you consider what he accomplished in Vegas during its the New Jersey Devils, his 25th career hat trick, which ties him for ninth expansion year, Gallant might be the perfect candidate in Seattle to turn on the all-time hat tricks list with the great Cy Denneny. all their disparate incoming pieces into a cohesive whole. But it doesn’t That’s 15 years in a row with 30 or more goals for Ovechkin, making him seem likely that he’ll linger on the unemployment rolls that long. the only player other than Mike Gartner to score 30 in each of his first 15 DeBoer and Vegas NHL seasons.

DeBoer won his first game behind the bench for Vegas, a 4-2 decision There’s still a third of the season left to play and Ovechkin is still in the over Ottawa on Thursday night, and you were immediately struck in the thick of the Rocket Richard Trophy race, which he’s won eight times. For his career, that’s now 689 goals, which is currently the 11th highest goals total of all-time, one shy of Mario Lemieux (690), three back of Steve Yzerman (692) and five behind Mark Messier (694). Ovechkin recently passed Teemu Selanne – so this is legends row essentially, all Hall of Famers, some of the greatest scoring machines the NHL has ever produced.

Ovechkin needs 11 to get to 700, and 18 to catch Gartner at 708, which – based on his current production and assuming he stays healthy – seems eminently doable before the end of the regular season.

From there, Ovechkin would need another nine goals to reel in Phil Esposito (at 717). Again, assuming no major injuries, by the end of next year, Ovechkin could reasonably pass Marcel Dionne (731) and Brett Hull (741), which would move him to fourth place overall.

Then come the biggest hurdles: Jaromir Jagr (third at 766), Gordie Howe (second at 801) and of course Wayne Gretzky leading the way at 894.

Ovechkin is 34 – his 35th birthday comes in September, just before training camps open.

He is signed through the end of next year, at which point he becomes a free agent.

All indications are that he’ll want to stay in the NHL once his current contract expires; sign on again with Washington, because he’ll want to finish his career with the Capitals; and in the meantime, try to win a few more championships so he can have a few more legendary celebrations.

Nicklas Backstrom, Ovechkin’s longtime centre, just signed a five-year contract extension a few days ago.

If Ovechkin times his next contract with the expiration of Backstrom’s, that means he’d play five more seasons after this one – one on the final year of the current contract, four more on the extension that I’m prepared to grant him here as owner Ted Leonsis’s proxy.

Goal scorers generally see their effectiveness diminish over time. But it’s hard to imagine Ovechkin diminishing so much that he cannot catch Howe at No. 2.

It would take just another 112 goals to do that – a challenge for some, but probably not for Ovechkin.

Then comes the discussion that will heat up as he inches ever closer to the top of the goal-scoring charts, and the chase for Gretzky’s all-time record.

Can the Great 8 catch the Great One?

Fascinating, right?

I posed the question originally in a lookahead piece last fall that imagined where hockey would be in 2030 and if, by then, Ovechkin would be the all-time leader in goals. In a perfect world order, it seems doable.

He needs to stay healthy, motivated and minimize as much as humanly possible, the effects of advancing age. But the closer Ovechkin inches toward 700, the more I believe getting to 900 is a genuine possibility.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171699 Websites There’s a recent trend on The Athletic’s hockey pages where writers take a look back at prediction posts that they made months ago and re- evaluate them based on what’s happened since. It’s all good fun, and gives the writer a chance to pat themselves on the back for all the ones The Athletic / DGB Grab Bag: Brad Marchand excuses, my terrible they got right while eating a little crow for anything that went wrong. predictions and old school Battle of Alberta I really did not want to participate in this. But after the events of this week, I really have no choice. So let’s revisit the post I wrote in September in which I tried to figure out which five coaches and which five By Sean McIndoe Jan 17, 2020 GMs were definitely not getting fired this year. How’d I do?

The short answer: Not great! From the headlines The longer answer starts with an ugly number: three. That’s how many of Brad Marchand made highlight reels around the world this week, thanks the 10 definitely safe jobs have already changed hands. That includes to what instantly became the most memorable shootout attempt in NHL Ray Shero, who was fired on Sunday. I put some qualifiers on that one, history. The Bruins and Flyers were locked in a tight duel, and Marchand noting that I didn’t love the pick and that he could lose his job “if the needed to score to prolong the game. He skated out to center ice, waited season was an absolute debacle.” But I didn’t think it would happen, so for the referee’s whistle … and then this happened: he scraped in as my last GM pick. Stee-rike one.

Um … what? How does that happen to a professional hockey player, let You know who didn’t scrape by? Gerard Gallant, who I happily grabbed alone one of the most productive forwards in the league? as my top pick among coaches. I mean, come on – there was absolutely no way he was getting fired, right? He’d won the Jack Adams and gone I’ve been asking the same question. But after reaching out to my spies to the final in Year 1 and followed that with another excellent season embedded in and around the Bruins room, I’ve been able to come up marred only by one of the most controversial first-round exits ever. Even with some answers. So today, I can share this top secret list of Brad if the Knights were awful, which they wouldn’t be, he’d get by on sheer Marchand shootout excuses. loyalty alone. He was – what’s that term I used? – “a lock.”

In hindsight, that adorable little kid in the front row frantically waving the Stee-rike two. “Brad Marchand Fan” sign probably meant it as a description and not a request. There’s actually a strike three, although it comes with an asterisk. I listed Bill Peters as being safe, and while he was fired, it wasn’t primarily While it sounded good on paper, it may have been the wrong time to because of the job he was doing in Calgary. Anyone is vulnerable to an break out his patented “Wayne Gretzky at the Olympics” move. off-ice scandal, so I should get some leeway here. But even then, the Flames slow start had Peters showing up on a handful of “hot seat” lists, Was intimidated by Carter Hart yelling “Stay away, I am a Philadephia so I’m not completely off the hook. Flyers goaltender in the 2000s so something terrible is inevitably going to happen!” Believe it or not, it’s possible that none of those were even my worst pick. My second safest GM was Doug Wilson, who I called “the very best GM Dude, those pucks are a lot smaller than they look. in the league today” and who’d built a Sharks team so good that “it’s hard Recently subscribed to The Athletic and read a great article by a to imagine them having a bad year.” I’d have more to say about this but handsome writer who made a lot of good points about boycotting the I’m too busy trying to build a time machine that will let me go back to shootout, and decided to give that a try. September and hit myself in the head with a crescent wrench.

His idiot friend always makes him use that one old controller that they So yeah, three guys already fired and one on much shakier ground than I spilled a drink on and now the “actually touch the puck” button doesn’t imagined. And here’s the worst part: The post was for guys who’d get always work. fired in the next year, meaning we were counting the 2020 offseason. There’s still lots of time for a few more names to join the list. Hell, the According to most Bruins fans, this is all somehow Tuukka Rask’s fault. way things are going this year, there’s still time for Shero or Gallant to get Just wanted to be responsible for the first loss in Bruins’ history that Jack hired somewhere else and then fired again. Really twist the knife, you Edwards couldn’t blame on the referees. know?

Is still feeling pretty broken up about Matthew Tkachuk passing him as So be it resolved that we can learn three things from all of this: the league’s most-despised dirtbag. – I’m an idiot and nobody should listen to me about anything, ever.

Honestly not even sure what people are complaining about, since that – This has been a ridiculous season in terms of NHL job security, which was pretty much the most successful shootout the Bruins have had all is awful if you happen to hold one of those jobs but kind of fascinating if season. you’re a fan, at least in that car crash sort of way.

Be patient, this is all going to make his eventual Game 7 overtime – The parity era is getting increasingly impossible to project with any penalty shot goal to eliminate the Maple Leafs way more hilarious. accuracy, and everyone should have to put their predictions on paper (or The puck was sitting on the center red line, but Philadelphia’s ice has screen) before each season just so you can look back at them and laugh one of those alternating red-and-white-patterns instead of one solid color at the idea that you were ever even close to knowing anything at all. like it is in Boston, and Marchand has always had a tough time with OK, back to work. Somebody hand me my wrench. changing lines. Obscure former player of the week The third star: Steve Barton – You have to give the linesman credit for staying focused on the job. In last week’s column, we took a look at the Sharks’ historic two-goal comeback from April 4, 2004. But that wasn’t the only piece of hockey The second star: Carly Zucker – She’s the wife of Wild forward Jason history that happened that day. So this week, let’s tell that story by Zucker, who returned to the lineup this week after an injury. To mark the bestowing Obscure Player honors on Brad Fast. occasion, she paid for an inspiring message from former teammate Charlie Coyle. Fast was a Canadian defenseman with a good shot and, yes, decent speed. He put up big numbers in junior out in B.C. and was chosen by The first star: Brad Marchand’s shootout attempt – OK, we tried to leave the Hurricanes in the third round of the 1999 draft, going one spot after him out, but come on. This has now officially replaced Bobby Orr’s flying Niclas Havelid. He didn’t sign, instead heading off to four years of college goal as the greatest moment in Bruins history. with the . He played well enough to earn a pro Ah well, at least Marchand is handling it with his typical class and good contract with Carolina in 2003, and spent most of the 2003-04 season humor. gaining experience in the AHL. His shot at the big leagues came at the end of the year, as the Hurricanes put him in the lineup for their last Be It Resolved game of the season, a road game in Florida. It wasn’t much of a matchup on paper, but if you were there that night from the benches emptying, and in a rare case of the cameras being at then you certainly got your money’s worth. The Hurricanes jumped out to the right place at the right time, we’re even going to see it happen live. a 4-0 lead in the first period against Roberto Luongo, but the Panthers mounted a comeback with three goals in the second and three more to And there it is, as we cut to the benches as players … um … well, they start the third. Down 6-4, the Hurricanes pulled within one on an Eric just kind of casually wander off. Seriously, I’ve seen my kids get ready for Staal goal, setting the stage for some late-game heroics from good old school in the morning with more urgency. Maybe it’s a good thing that we Brad Fast. didn’t usually get to see this part.

OK, heroics might be overdoing it. But he did score a goal with two It all turns into a big mess, with Lowe still in the middle of it. Everyone is minutes left to make it 6-6. And that’s where the history comes in, tied up with someone else, including one guy who’s pulling Mike because that score held up. It was the last day of what would turn out to Krushelnyski’s jersey so hard that you can actually read his whole name be the last season before the league adopted the shootout, making this for a change. Meanwhile, the fans start chanting “Oilers suck,” so either the last tie game in NHL history. And that means that Brad Fast was the this game is in Calgary or we’ve suddenly switched the audio over to any last player to ever be credited with a game-tying goal. game in Edmonton in the last decade.

Fast would make history in another way, although probably not the way “I am rather amazed to see Kevin Lowe behaving in the manner he is he would have liked. That game turned out to be the only one of his NHL behaving.” Wait until somebody offers to rent him a barn, Ed. career, making him one of just four players at the time to finish their We’re three minutes in, which is always the time in an old school brawl career with exactly one game played and one goal scored. (Former Avs where everyone is still mad at each other but are too tired to actually do prospect Samuel Henley has since joined that club.) Fast would go on to anything. That means things are either about to awkwardly break up or play in Europe and even Korea, before hanging up his skates in 2011. somebody is going to get a second wind and do something stupid. This is As an added bonus, that one historic game also had an impact on Kevin the Battle of Alberta so of course we get option B. Weekes. That story’s kind of a fun one, and he and Fast tell it here. “He’s involved with Billy Carroll from the New York Islanders.” You know, Classic YouTube clip breakdown you can call me a wimp if you want, but I don’t think it was right that completely new teams could randomly join 1980s NHL brawls. When they’re not randomly firing people, the hockey world is still buzzing over last weekend’s heated game between the Flames and Oilers. That By the way, am I the only one who’s way too amused by the Moog-Loob one saw Matthew Tkachuk take several big runs at Edmonton’s Zack pairing? That’s fun to say. Try it out loud right now, you’ll enjoy it. Also, Kassian, who eventually snapped and rag-dolled the Flames’ youngster, somebody is injured and bleeding on the ice. Heh heh. “Moog-Loob.” earning himself a two-game suspension. “You just hate to see it.” Oh great, now they’re doing 2019 Twitter And just like that, we were told, the Battle of Alberta was back on. The memes. I’m waiting for them to show Jamie Macoun’s moustache and legendary rivalry has been dormant for years, partly because both teams say “I’m going to tell my kids this is Auston Matthews”. have mostly been awful, and partly because the shifting nature of the And that’s pretty much it, as we’ve reached the point where things have sport doesn’t leave room for as much bad blood as it used to. calmed down enough for whoever recorded this on their parents’ VCR to Will Tkachuk and Kassian help change that? We’ll see. But in the tape over the rest of it. The Flames went on to win 6-2; you can FIND meantime, let’s look back at a time when the rivalry was in full swing. And THE BOX SCORE HERE, and a brief New York Times recap here. The full slash. And full knee. two teams would renew hostilities as the year went on, including yet another Semenko knee. The Battle of Alberta: The rivalry where you It’s Nov. 15, 1984, and the Flames and Oiler are facing off for the second could say “Hey remember the game where the tough guy tried to knee a time on the season. That first game was relatively tame, but now the dude in the face?” and the answer is “Be more specific”. defending champion Oilers are on their first losing streak of the year, are losing ground to Calgary in the Smythe and are trailing this game 6-1. There is a happy ending though: everyone learned their lessons, and They might be a little cranky, is what I’m saying. apart from those two isolated incidents and also this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this and this, nothing like this ever happened again except for We join the action late in the third. It’s been a chippy game so far, with all the times that it did. several fights and a full line brawl earlier in the period. More recently, Edmonton’s Kevin Lowe has been given a rare spearing major, but The Athletic LOADED: 01.18.2020 wasn’t ejected. That was roughly (checks watch) five minutes ago. Don’t worry, I’m sure none of that will turn out to be important.

Lowe’s first shift after his penalty ends with him getting mixed up with Calgary’s Carey Wilson, and off we go. We cut right to the action, as Lowe is wailing away as everyone else is kind of just kind of milling around. By the way, did anyone ever “mill around” other than hockey players during fights? I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard that phrase used anywhere else. We need to bring that back.

But yeah, this was back when players could just kind of hang around while a fight happened. Years later, somebody would have the bright idea of forcing everyone to clear out and head to the bench when the gloves came off. But we’re not there yet, and that means things are about to unfold about as you’d probably expect.

Lowe is getting the upper hand, which brings in Steve Konroyd as third- man-in, which bring in Dave Semenko, which brings in everyone on the ice. Well, almost everyone – if you watch closely, you can catch a few glimpses of Wayne Gretzky doing his patented “grab a guy and don’t make eye contact” move. He and were the Maris and Mantle of that strategy.

“Welp, everyone on the ice is going at it again.” This is Ed Whelan, by the way. If he sounds kind of bored by what he’s seeing, well, let’s just say Ed saved his emotion for when it really mattered.

Everyone pairs off, and we get the obligatory reference to Dr. . But things get really ugly at the 0:43 mark, as Semenko tries to sneak in a knee-lift to Konroyd’s face. He’d earn a match penalty for that, and it seems to crank up the temperature. In fact, we’re seconds away 1171700 Websites “He has the thickest skin I’ve ever seen,” said Brady. “He is so good at blocking stuff out like that, and all the negativity. You’ve

seen it, his game is still top-end, even with all the distractions recently. Sportsnet.ca / Tkachuk clan knows the game is better with more That just speaks about his mental game, as well. characters “I just know from personal experience, always being around him, that he doesn’t let stuff bother him. I think that’s something that is huge. Sometimes, there’s a lot of negativity toward somebody, so to block that Eric Francis | January 17, 2020, 5:47 PM out and still play your game, it’s pretty impressive.”

Is Brady bothered by the “turtle” tag and heat affixed to Matthew for refusing to be drawn into a fight with Kassian? OTTAWA – It’s not exactly headline material that two members of Matthew Tkachuk’s family went on the record Friday as staunch “I wouldn’t say it bugs me,” said Brady, who Matthew praised as the defenders of his controversial approach to the game. “future of the franchise” on Friday.

However, what is significant was a point made by his father, Keith, who “I just think that there are people that are complaining about kind of knows a thing or two about character. nothing. Because if they thought they were dangerous hits (on Kassian), the league would have suspended him. I just think people need to kind of About entertainment. relax a little bit. But like I said, Matthew will do anything to win and he About selling the game. showed it that game and ended up being a crucial part for that fourth goal that ended up with Calgary winning the game and getting those two huge Shrugging off the noise that has followed his son’s role in last weekend’s points and being at the top of their division.” brouhaha, Keith took a wide-lense view of what it really is that has everyone talking about the Battle of Alberta again. As someone who has looked up to Matthew his whole life, Brady’s allegiance runs deep. Obviously. “The game, probably for the last few years, lacked personality,” said Keith, who logged 500 goals and 2200 penalty minutes over 18 NHL Brady is also a highly competitive talent, who will be joining his brother at seasons. all-star games in the very near future. The six-foot-four power forward has one less goal than big brother’s 15, but more penalty minutes since “And I think it’s starting to come back.” joining the loop last year.

Amen. “We were always so competitive growing up, whether it was sports or other things around the house,” said Brady. “When I first came in, probably half the league didn’t hear about a big body check or a big fight, so it wasn’t a big deal. But it is what it is now. “I think that’s something we both share and something we kind of learned That’s the world we live in now with social media.” from one another.

Everyone’s a critic. “I think he did a great job that game. He’s one of those guys that with a big stage he’s usually the best player. That’s just the type of guy he is. In And in this case, everyone has an opinion on Zack Kassian and Matthew, a matter of first-place games, he’s going to show up.” who singlehandedly resurrected the provincial war by playing the game with an edge. The hockey world needs more Tkachuks.

With passion. It needs more characters.

With fury. “I would agree with that,” said Flames GM Brad Treliving.

Who, if anyone, was out of line, still has the hockey world abuzz. “Look back in time and there were the villains. We’ve sanitized it a bit. There’s nothing wrong with emotion. It says plenty that at the tail end of the Calgary Flames-Toronto Maple Leafs shootout Thursday at Scotiabank Arena, Matthew was the only I love how he plays with emotion and it gets our team engaged. We player booed as he skated in from centre ice before scoring the game- certainly don’t want him changing. He’s a throwback.” winner. Just like dear ol’ Dad. The villain wins again. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.18.2020 In the entertainment world Matthew thrives in, we need more leaders who are confident, smart enough and skilled enough to wear the black hat.

To draw people in.

To drum up interest.

Yes, the game needs more personality.

“I think so, yeah,” agreed Matthew’s younger brother, Brady, a budding character himself, whose Senators will host the Flames on Saturday in front of 40 friends and family members.

“You can almost say it rekindled the Battle of Alberta and stuff like that. I think they’re just two teams that hate one another and I think that’s great for the game. It just shows how emotional, whether it’s Game 1 or Game 41 or Game 82, playoffs … everybody is putting their heart and soul on the line for one another and trying to get those crucial two points, because they add up at the end. It just shows how both those cities are so passionate, with the fans. It’s definitely great that it rekindled that and other rivalries.”

Dad shrugs off the intense heat his eldest son has attracted of late, praising Matthew’s thick skin and maturity for making him one of the most skilled, calculating and polarizing players today.

(Admittedly, the vitriol hasn’t been quite as easy for mom to stomach.)

If anyone knows just how hard it is to get the best of Matthew, it’s his little bro. 1171701 Websites The past with Keefe, warts and all, comes with benefits. A coach still adjusting to life in the NHL already knows what buttons to push. And he’s seen Kapanen quietly put together a productive stretch with nine points to show for his last 10 games. Sportsnet.ca / 'Sometimes it’s tough love': Bond among Leafs' Kapanen, Keefe pays off “There’s a history there. There’s, I hope, some trust in it,” Keefe said. “But also you have information — you’re not filling as many gaps in terms of what a player’s been through and what their personality might be and what they might respond to.” Chris Johnston | January 17, 2020, 5:10 PM Kapanen made a noticeable impact during Thursday’s 2-1 shootout loss

to Calgary by pushing the pace and matching his season high with four TORONTO — Kasperi Kapanen has said some things. shots on goal. His legs felt good and he nearly ended the game in overtime before getting denied on the doorstep by Flames goalie David We all have, of course, but as the 23-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs Rittich. winger reflects back on his days as an aspiring NHLer he acknowledges that he may have occasionally spoken out of turn with his coach in the He also finished a couple checks, which is a point of continued American Hockey League. emphasis. The Leafs aren’t a particularly physical team but Kapanen sees that as one of the key elements to his own game. You know, the same coach who now stands behind the Leafs’ bench: Sheldon Keefe. “This season I haven’t been using my body as much as I should maybe. So, I’m kind of finding it right now,” he said. “I think I just need to get a “I should have just shut my mouth sometimes,” Kapanen said in a recent little pissed off — get a little pissed off and throw the body around.” interview. “During the game the emotions are high and I might have said something back sometimes.” As for what fuels that competitive edge?

He’s quick to point out that it never went too far. He tries to summon it from within, rather than, say, looking to take a hit from an opponent. That in those moments where the heat was turned up highest it was always two fiery guys who were chasing the same outcome, rather than “It’s mostly probably me just not scoring or just not making any good two people locked in an adversarial relationship. plays,” Kapanen said. “That’s usually what gets me upset.”

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey And, with time, he’s learned not to send any of that extra emotion in the world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what direction of his coach. they think about it. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.18.2020 The word “stubborn” comes to mind — especially as it relates to the 2014 first-round draft pick who endured three seasons of yo-yoing between the AHL and NHL before finally establishing himself as a full-time Maple Leaf.

“We certainly weren’t shy about telling each other how we felt,” Kapanen said. “Sometimes I might have kind of stepped over the line a bit, but I think it just shows how comfortable we were with each other and we could kind of tell each other anything. Sometimes it’s tough love.

“We’ve both got some strong personalities, but that’s in the past and we’re doing good now.”

In Keefe’s eyes, there’s been some natural maturation from the player but also a dramatic change in his working conditions.

Most of the friction derived from Kapanen’s desire to reach the NHL as soon as possible, and that decision was not in either man’s hands. All Keefe could do was try to help grow Kapanen’s game to the point where he forced the organization’s hand — which he eventually did in the second half of the 2017-18 season.

“A big part of it, first of all, is that nobody really likes to play in the American League,” Keefe said. “Particularly players of that calibre and that talent. That pedigree. They want to be in the NHL fast so when it’s not happening you’re not always getting the best version of that player when they come to the rink every day.

“That’s a big challenge and that was one for Kappy.”

What he sees now is a player who consistently exudes good energy and works diligently at his craft. He’s a bit of a high-quality utility man that can help plug holes up and down the Leafs lineup, as evidenced by the fact he’s already topped 100 minutes at 5-on-5 this season with four different forwards: Alexander Kerfoot (187:57), John Tavares (160:15), Jason Spezza (156:01) and Pierre Engvall (103:51).

Kapanen can also contribute on both specialty teams and has elite speed, which is why he would be extremely difficult to part with if the Leafs decided to deal from their surplus of forward depth in order to acquire defensive help or a backup goaltender ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

Home of the Maple Leafs

Stream 56 Maple Leafs games this season with Sportsnet NOW. Get over 500 NHL games, blackout-free, including Hockey Night in Canada, all outdoor games, the All-Star Game, 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and more. 1171702 Websites Sportsnet: Take us through the process a team goes through if they want to change their primary Home and Away jerseys over to a new design.

Ryan Popowich: I wish it was a really quick and easy process — some Sportsnet.ca / Q&A: Flames director of marketing on the return of the people probably think we just flip a switch and say, ‘Well we’ve decided retro jerseys we’re going to wear these now’ — but it’s not. There’s definitely a process to it, and obviously when you’re in a league you have to adhere to certain policies and procedures. No team can just decide they’re going to change their name and colours or whatever they want to do. Sonny Sachdeva | January 17, 2020, 3:27 PM As for the process, we’re constantly evolving, taking note of what our

brand is, what we look like, how the fans are resonating with that. And TORONTO — Every rink around the NHL is a world unto itself. Each with what the fans’ feedback is, because we get that constantly — especially its own rich history, its own traditions, its own inimitable energy. Spend in this day and age, you hear from fans consistently about what they one night in the Saddledome, and that becomes abundantly clear. want for their team. So the process is always ongoing when you want to change something — but it really starts with discussions internally of, The atmosphere in which the Calgary Flames take the ice in their home ‘What do we think the feedback is? What direction do we want to go?’ threads is a point of pride for the Albertan faithful that fill the arena’s stands 41 times a year. Key among the reasons why is those fans While we’re doing that, our jersey partner in the league, Adidas, they’re themselves — the droves of locals packing the ‘Dome’s seats, who for coming forward to us all the time with concepts and ideas. We wait for years have all been clad in the same particular jersey, as if attendance that, and then when they present those programs, like the third jerseys required a mandatory uniform to gain entry. and things like that, then we can apply all the stuff we’ve been thinking about. So if we want to change a jersey at any time, the process really is, It’s the sweater the club brought into circulation right before the most ‘OK, we have an idea, we’re ready to do that,’ and then when programs memorable few months’ stretch of the past three decades in Calgary, come along from Adidas, that’s where the process really starts. when Jarome Iginla led the team within one win of a Stanley Cup championship. It was one year prior, in 2003, when the Flames upended SN: How much of a role does the league play — I assume you have to franchise tradition with the introduction of the ‘black C’ jersey — red coordinate a jersey change with other teams’ changes or a league-wide threads stamped with the club’s flaming ‘C’ logo rendered in black, after shift. How much does that come into play in terms of the timing, even if 23 years in only red or white, giving the impression the crest had been something does get approved, of when that can be rolled out? burned into the front of the sweater. Popowich: Yeah, there’s quite a bit of process and rules to it. All the Calgarians emptied shelves of them immediately, returning to the ‘Dome teams in the league are limited to a certain number of jerseys in terms of with their new jerseys proudly in tow for that 2004 march to the Cup what the programs are. They’re also limited to a certain timeline in terms Final, the image of nearly 20,000 fans decked out in the exact same of adding a jersey or changing one of the jerseys that we already have. sweater giving life to the still-standing nickname for the Saddledome So, the league’s very involved. crowd: the ‘C of Red.’ It’s pretty structured. The way it is nowadays in terms of jerseys with Fifteen years on, the passion for the team’s aesthetic has only fans, in the other leagues you see that everyone else is really intensified, and while many a fanbase around the NHL is constantly experimenting with sort of non-traditional takes on how many jerseys consumed with their team’s look, the in-house identity of the Flames they have. Obviously the NBA’s doing a more evolutionary thing with the faithful grants Calgarians’ jersey obsession a novel spin. amount of jerseys they have — they don’t even think about Home and Away jerseys anymore. Our league, we’re still pretty traditional in terms “It’s kind of a unique situation for us, because our fanbase is iconic in of the concept of what the jersey is — you get your Home and Away, and terms of how they’re presented in the building and what they wear,” says then you get your third jersey, and then deviating from that would require Flames director of marketing, Ryan Popowich. “They’re identified as the a special program that’s really a directive from the league in terms of C of Red, and that’s very much a reflection of the jersey itself. We’ve had additional jerseys or a special-instance jersey. comments all the time from other teams, administration staff come here and they view a game and they’re like, ‘Wow, did you guys hand out all So when we have our outdoor games — we just recently had the these jerseys?’” Heritage Classic — that’s a directive from the league saying, ‘You now can have a new jersey for that specifically.’ So we sort of have to wait for It isn’t just about the visuals, though. For Calgary, it’s also the sense of the league to designate times and windows where we can change our unifying against the opponent entering the barn each night. And about jersey or add new jerseys. celebrating the nostalgia of the team’s better days — the best years of the 16 that Iginla spent as a Flame, and that miracle playoff stretch that SN: Every league looks to learn from other leagues to a certain extent, nearly saw him lift silver. and play off each other — is that something you’d be interested in, one day getting to a point where you have more freedom to experiment with It all started with a simple decision back in ’03, after the league instructed other jerseys like the NBA does? its clubs to begin using dark uniforms at home. The Flames opted to introduce the home reds, and every branding decision for the nearly two Popowich: Me personally, for sure. As a league, I would love to see us decades since has been affected. evolve that way, because I just think that’s where it’s going. In terms of the fanbase and the audience reaction and the next generation, that’s “The C of Red doesn’t exist without a red jersey. Even back in the what they’re used to — they’re less tied to the sort of traditional structure original days in the ’80s, the C of Red was always around, it was a thing, of the Home and Away jersey. But there’s still that thread of what a jersey but it really came alive in 2004,” says Popowich. “… From that point on is to a fan, it really is the first sort of branding and representation of your it’s been synonymous with the fanbase. That jersey really got solidified team and that’s a real connection point for people. as what you identify with, not only for the team but for the fanbase itself. They’re really invested in what the jersey looks like — if we change it, In hockey, we’re definitely more traditional — it’s not that we’re stuck in we’re changing their identity, so we have to be very cognizant and very our ways, but we’ll probably be the last in terms of evolving to stuff like mindful of what they want and what they’re expecting.” the NBA’s doing, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. I think we’ll do it at our own sort of pace. But I’m looking forward to the day With Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk ushering when we’re a little bit more fluid with what we’re doing. We’re getting that in a new era in Flames hockey, the fanbase has finally moved on, with way. I think we’re going at the right pace. Since we brought Adidas on, many clamouring for a permanent switch to the red-and-yellow retro they’re a very forward-thinking manufacturing brand — that’s one of the jerseys that have taken hold as the team’s alternates. Popowich spoke to reasons they were brought on, to move the evolutionary process of the Sportsnet to break down the complicated process NHL clubs go through jerseys along. to enact a permanent jersey switch, whether Flames fans will one day see a return of the cult-classic Blasty jersey, and what the evolution of You can see that in terms of the programs they’re doing with third branding in sports means for the Flames and the NHL. jerseys, and there’s more programs coming with Adidas and the league here in the next couple seasons that we’re going to launch that are really This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. exciting. So you’re going to see more and more flexibility with the jerseys going forward. And you see that also with a lot of teams, with warmup jerseys and things like that, we’re experimenting with unique one-off C’ or the retros — ‘When’s that coming back? When are we changing jersey concepts and things like that. over?’ So it’s great, and the passion is fantastic.

So it’s coming, it’s going to get even more and more, but I don’t know if SN: Even among our office, there’s been divided opinions on Blasty. I’m we’ll ever get to the extreme of being like what the NBA’s doing. They’ll personally a big fan of it — where do you land on the Blasty jersey and probably be a bit ahead of us, but it’s a different mindset of that particular what’s the thinking on that potentially coming back in the future, given it’s sport — I think the jersey itself with hockey is a little bit more tied in that become a cult classic in a way? traditional sense to how the game’s represented. It’s a little more like a piece of equipment versus some of the other sports where it’s more the Popowich: That’s the great thing about this day and age too, everything uniform you wear, so just a bit of a different scenario in our world. But I has now become a cult classic. I love that the retro now is everything that like how it’s moving for sure. I like the opportunities we’ve had recently was made fun of back in the day. It’s now super cool again. To be frank, and that we’re going to have in the future. internally, when we had that jersey we were really excited about it when it first got launched — I wasn’t part of the club, but being in the city, people SN: There’s plenty of interest in Calgary in making the switch to the retro were excited when it first came out. But then the backlash was sort of 50- jerseys permanently as the primary Home and Away — is that a change 50, it was sort of a mixed reaction and as it grew, people fell out of favour the team’s planning to make? with it.

Popowich: Obviously it’s been something in discussion — it’s not really a The horse-head jersey — initially it was actually designated The Stallion, secret that we’ve thought about it for a while. We’ve introduced the retro but then everyone called it the horse-head, and then it got its real jersey as a third jersey for a number of years now, so it’s been in place moniker, Ol’ Blasty. We had it for a long time. People forget, it’s sort of here, and we’ve been toying with hit. Obviously we use it more and more. synonymous with the height of Jarome Iginla’s run and era. It’s But again, there is a process — flipping your actual primary Home and synonymous with him. There was a debate here even internally in terms Away jerseys takes a bit of time in terms of process, if you’re going to go of some of the imagery we were going to use on his jersey retirement down that road. night, on how much Blasty should be a part of that. So that’s the cool thing now — you saw that with Phoenix with their jersey, stuff that had So we’re thinking about it. We constantly get fan feedback, so that’s on mixed reviews in the past or people didn’t like, is now super trendy, the agenda — that’s what the fans have indicated to us. The retro jerseys because it’s nostalgic. resonate really well with everyone, and we were really excited this year when the opportunity came, with the Heritage Classic, to do the retro So, I love Blasty for that very reason — I think more about it in terms version of our original Home and original Away jersey, the white version. of Iginla and those teams, and that’s very iconic with our fanbase. So Ol’ It seems like all the pieces are falling into place now that we have the Blasty definitely has its place. But one of the issues like I said is that the Heritage Classic jersey and our third-jersey retros in red. It’s a really C of Red is an identifying factor. The red jersey really has solidified as good path we’re going down and we’ll see what the future holds. It’s the number-one thing that we need to have, in terms of our primary definitely something we’re thinking about. representation on our jerseys. We can’t really have a primary jersey without red now. SN: How much input do the players have in swaying which direction the team goes jersey-wise as they get to test some of these out with the Even when we were introducing the white jerseys for the Heritage thirds and the outdoor games? Classic, people loved it and this year they’re wearing it in the ‘Dome and you see a smattering of white now in the C of Red — it just sort of breaks Popowich: A lot actually. They’re the guys that have to wear them, so you it up. We’re cognizant of that. We know the fans like a black jersey and it know — look good, feel good, perform good, all that stuff. That’s the would be cool to have, but it would affect the C of Red. But I have an reality. Funny enough, hockey ops is very involved in terms the total affinity for it and a lot of people do — Blasty needs a place in our history, process of any jersey development. So, I’ll just take you back through the in our team, in our organization, so we’ve been working hard on ways of first steps we were talking about in the jersey process — so, Adidas will introducing Blasty back into the fold, brought back some apparel and come to us and have concepts of jerseys, then all the stakeholders some hats. We have a couple things being released here in a few weeks involved internally here will get involved with those concepts. Generally with our apparel, evolving Blasty. speaking, the stakeholders that we have are marketing, from my perspective, and then retail is probably the next biggest stakeholder, so I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Blasty, let’s just say that. our director of retail, Brent Gibbs, he’s very involved as well. We’re probably the primary boots-on-the-ground stakeholders, in terms of the SN: A few years back before the retros, there was the other third-jersey jersey concepts. But senior management has a very, very big stake in it design with ‘Calgary’ across the chest — what went into that design and take on it, and then hockey ops as well. process?

So those two and us and various other departments all get a look and Popowich: The Western jersey — that’s how we classified the scripted input into it. But once Brent and I think we have a winning concept, senior jersey, the ‘Western’ jersey — initial concepts were brought to all the management and hockey ops get the final say. So they’re very involved. stakeholders involved internally, and again it’s just a process of ‘These And the great thing is they trust us in terms of the marketing perspective are the ones we like, a little bit of this, a little bit of that.’ And sometimes and the retail perspective, because they know we’re the connection to it’s a compromise — some stakeholders may feel really strongly about the fans. It’s always fan-first — if the fans really want this and they think it one concept, and one group of stakeholders may feel strongly about looks good, then the players are happy with it as well. another concept, and then we sort of have to come together and figure out what’s best. We know when we’re on a bit of a win in terms of our concept — a really good example of that would be our third jersey, our retro jersey. I know the Western jersey, that third jersey, in the end was probably a bit Because just recently in the playoffs last year — every team has the of a compromise in terms of what our total concept look was, and that’s opportunity to designate which jersey they want to wear for the playoffs, what we were happy with. And again, when we launched that jersey it and we submitted to wear our third jerseys. And obviously the fans’ came out with mixed reviews just like Ol’ Blasty, so I have a funny feeling reaction to that was fantastic, people were really excited about that news. probably 10-20 years from now, people will be clamouring to have that But really that request came from hockey ops — they wanted to wear jersey back like they did for Ol’ Blasty. But for now it’s retired officially those retro jerseys, so they asked us if we could submit the third jersey and you won’t see it for a while, at least. as the jersey of choice. SN: What are some of the most interesting jersey concept ideas that So they like wearing it, the fans really like it, it was kind of a no-brainer. you’ve seen that were considered behind the scenes but never made it to So we know we have a winning concept with that jersey. the light of day?

SN: There’s such a strong passion in Calgary for the jerseys — you think Popowich: We get concepts and then the next stage of the process is we of the Blasty jersey, I remember when the ‘black C’ first came into the actually get prototypes, and then we usually get to keep the prototypes. mix. I don’t know if every fanbase across the league is quite as invested So one of the cool things about my job is I’ve got a closet full of these in the jerseys in that way — what does that say for you guys about the prototypes — I keep them under lock and key because some of them are passion of the fanbase? pretty cool. One of my favourites was from when we were reintroducing the third jersey, the Adizero version of the Adidas jersey just recently. Popowich: Yeah it’s cool, it’s like if I say anything about a jersey on Twitter, it turns into a hundred-thread discussion on Blasty or the ‘black We opted to go with the retro jersey again, and it looked pretty much exactly like what we’d done previously. But we did go through some concepts and prototypes of modernizing the retro jersey, had some there anything the others do marketing-wise that the NHL or the Flames different looks at it, and a couple of the concepts I have I really, really fell could learn from? in love with. Really modern takes on what the current retro jersey looks like. So, I get to show people once in a while what could’ve been. But in Popowich: To me, the NBA is probably at the forefront in terms of the the end we thought it was best not to fix what wasn’t broken, so that’s future of branding and engagement with players and the actual league, why the retro jersey looks the way it does now, very close to the classic where the league’s not as big as the actual product itself. I just think version of it. Maybe one day we’ll see something out of these prototypes that’s the way to do it. But again, it’s not the same for every league, and — that’s why we keep them, as ideas for the future. that’s one of the things to consider.

SN: Stepping back and looking at how you guys market the team in So in terms of ‘What do you want to do like other leagues,’ it’s also, general, there’s been a call from fans at times for the league to do a ‘What do you want to do for your league that works?’ Maybe the NBA’s better job of marketing its stars, especially with so many talented, young got a really good model in terms of what they do for their players and players in the NHL right now. You guys have one of the best in the game their branding and their engagement, but you can’t just cookie-cutter it in Johnny Gaudreau — what’s the thinking behind marketing him and and add it to any league. It wouldn’t work for baseball or even football to raising his profile in the sport? a certain degree. Each major league has its own nuances, so you have to sort of work within that structure. Popowich: I mean, obviously with the age of the NHL now and the stars we have, your core players now are very much more closer in age to I like to look at what every league’s doing, but I like to look more at what your actual fanbase, a good portion of it demographic-wise. So when each market is doing, because every market is different, too. So what you’re listening to your fanbase, you’re probably in line with the players in other similar markets are doing, whatever the sports team is — every terms of what they like and how they want to be represented. As a team team has a different evolution in terms of what they’re doing in the a lot of the discussions we’ve had internally, and what we want to do as a market. league going forward, is really connect with the next generation of fans. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.18.2020 That’s the great thing about our sport — it’s very traditional in terms of also being passed down from a fan point of view. Your dad was a fan of a team, your mom was a fan of a team, so you are a fan of that team.

So I think it’s just a really unique opportunity that I don’t think we’ve ever had before as a league, a lot of our players being the age that they are, they’re so much closer to that next generation. It’s just so much easier to have those guys speak and be representative of the team, because they speak the language and they’re closer to the fans now, the ones that we really want to capture and nurture and grow.

The thing that we want our players on board for is putting them out front and interacting with the community as much as they can, on a platform that that fanbase really acknowledges and wants to be a part of. Social media is a big part of that obviously, but there’s other platforms in the future too, in terms of what we’re doing with eSports and video games and things like that. There’s new levels and new platforms coming out and new ways of engagement — they’re moving at light-speed and evolving, so the players are going to be a big part of that. Guys like Johnny are going to be a big part of that, because that’s their world. That’s what they grew up in.

So things like what your brand looks like and how we interact with and engage with fans with the players we have, it’s going to be very different than it has been in the past 20 years, even 10 years.

SN: There’s been a shift among today’s generation of young stars as well in terms of being a bit more open with their personalities, being a bit more individualistic. Looking at Matthew Tkachuk, he’s become a big name in the game not only for the way he plays but because he’s got an engaging personality too, and he’s not afraid to show it. How does that affect the work you do?

Popowich: I think it would be a disservice to rein in anybody’s personality, anybody who has those platforms and are willing to be out there in terms of what they want to say and how they want to be perceived.

The players now, they’re their own brands within a brand. You see that with other leagues — with basketball, they’re at the forefront of that. Their players are literally brands within a brand. So obviously that can evolve here as well. Because of this day and age and the platforms that are available, what the players can do and how they can engage with the fanbase, they’re going to become their own brands within a brand. I’m all for that. And I think all teams are really all for that because like we discussed, they really are the future in terms of how we market our brand and our teams going forward.

So, they should have personalities when they have them, and they should be allowed to flourish and nourish as much as they want to. I think that’s all part of the business.

Home of the Flames

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SN: We talked a bit about the NBA, how they handle their jerseys and marketing their stars — looking at the other major leagues in general, is 1171703 Websites Sorry to tell you Steve, but Reimer has not, in fact, outperformed Andersen this season. There’s no doubt Andersen hasn’t been great, but he’s posted league average numbers from the inner slot, and strong numbers from the high slot, which is actually the Leafs’ biggest defensive Sportsnet.ca / Truth By Numbers: Is Patrik Laine becoming a playmaker? weakness.

Reimer’s been strong from the high slot too, but significantly below league average from the inner slot. Andrew Berkshire Most of the strength in Reimer’s game so far this season has been in not

allowing goals from the perimeter — he’s allowed just a single goal from It’s a strange situation when a 20-year-old winger in the NHL scores 30 there at 5-on-5 this season. That’s in strong contrast to Andersen, who goals and their season is considered a disappointment, but that’s where has given up 10 from the perimeter and he’s posting a below average last season ended for Patrik Laine. It was an odd season to say the least, save percentage from that spot, though keep in mind Andersen has also with his goals coming in bunches to an extreme degree, punctuated by faced more than twice as many shots as Reimer from that area. long droughts where the weaknesses in the other areas of his game took Those goals from far out can sap the energy from a team, so you might over the headlines. be tempted to trade the poor results from the inner slot for no weak goals The underwhelming scoring season he had relative to expectations led to allowed, but it’s extremely important to know that the perimeter brings the a lingering uncertainty about what kind of value Laine had when he was most variability in terms of performance. True talent is very rarely an RFA last summer, when he went through a tough negotiation. represented on those shots. Poor performance from Andersen in that area has more to do with random variance than him being bad, and In the end he and the Jets settled on a relatively rich bridge deal that Reimer’s performance there is likely the opposite kind of variance. saves the team cap space in the near term, with Laine earning $6.75 million per season this year and next. Right now, that’s looking like a The Leafs wouldn’t be better served by turning back the clock in goal. good bet from Laine, but not for the reason many expected. QUICK HITS SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCE • Since the calendar turned to 2020, the top goaltenders in the NHL are Based on the first two seasons of his career, Laine is once again having Andrei Vasilevskiy (.964), Carey Price (.942), and… Elvis Merzlikins a disappointing season from a goal scoring perspective; he’s on pace for (.948). If you’re trying to figure out how the Blue Jackets are appearing to just 27 over 82 games this season and the lowest shooting percentage of be resurgent, look no further than the young Latvian who put up back-to- his career at just a flat 10 per cent. back shutouts against two powerhouse teams in Vegas and Boston.

The big surface change from last season that has led to plenty of praise • Price on the other hand… the Canadiens can’t seem to figure out in for Laine is that through 45 games he’s already tied his career high in season if they’re good or bad. This streakiness and uncertainty perfectly assists with 28. Only Mark Scheifele’s 20 assists at 5-on-5 outpace mirrors the direction of the organization as a whole. If he keeps playing Laine’s 16, and overall at even strength, Laine leads the Jets with 22. like this, they probably can’t tank hard enough to get a good pick. If he struggles again, they won’t make the playoffs. That straddling of the So what gives? Has Laine changed up his game in order to add more middle is the worst place to be. playmaking and become a more rounded offensive threat in the process? We can look back at his even strength tendencies over his career and • 5-on-5 scoring chance leaders in 2020 so far: Anders Lee, Auston see how much has changed. Matthews, Bryan Rust (seriously?), and Nikita Kucherov. The right players for Tampa Bay are getting hot right now. Every team should be Looking at the first four seasons of Laine’s career compared to this one, afraid. his shots from the slot are coming from slightly closer to the net on average, and after dropping his perimeter shots last season, he’s back • The top-three players in Corsi in 2020 are all on the same line: Paul up to where he was in the first two seasons of his career. But the goals Stastny, Mark Stone, and Max Pacioretty. They control 65 per cent of haven’t come at an expected rate. shot attempts, but that’s not even their biggest strength; they control 79 per cent of slot passes, too. Completely absurd line, one that makes an Early in his career, most of the playmaking Laine did was in attempting instant Stanley Cup contender. Peter DeBoer is very lucky. long East-West passes through the middle of the ice, either to the opposite winger or to a pinching defenceman. Those types of passes Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.18.2020 have a place, but they usually have to come from a bit high in the zone at 5-on-5 to be considered truly dangerous.

This season the big passing change with Laine has been his ability to get the puck into the middle of the ice instead of through it. He’s increased his completed slot passes per 20 minutes by a staggering 52 per cent over his career average at even strength.

That’s a huge change for Laine and, at least compared to last season, it hasn’t come at the expense of his ability to take shots. Playing with talented shooters like Scheifele and Kyle Connor, it makes sense that Laine has to play as more than just a triggerman in order for that line to function offensively, and so far he’s stepping up.

THE QUESTION

This week Steve Dangle was feeling a little nostalgic, so he asked a question that was a little bit spicy…

“Freddy Andersen struggled early, and he’s struggled lately, so my question is: has James Reimer been better than Andersen this season overall?”

First of all, wow. That’s a loaded question, Steve. This is the part where I act all surprised and not like we came up with this together. How dare you.

Reimer has a better overall save percentage at .917 to Andersen’s .912, and at 5-on-5 at .921 to Andersen’s .919. But as we know raw save percentages don’t tell the whole story. So, let’s break it down by area of the ice. 1171704 Websites The Finnish defenceman, listed at six feet and 185 pounds, had some solid stick play and was able to use a long reach to knock pucks away on the opposition’s scoring opportunities.

Sportsnet.ca / Five players who raised their NHL Draft stock at Top Puutio is a stay at home defenceman who was just traded to the Everett Prospects Game Silvertips from Swift Current.

Tyson Foerster, RW, — Rank: No. 41

Ryan McKenna | January 17, 2020, 11:33 AM Foerster calls his shot his greatest strength and it was evident during this game, scoring two goals and adding an assist.

Both goals featured his nice shot, with the first one placed perfectly under HAMILTON — The Top 40 draft eligible players from the CHL for June’s goaltender Brock Gould’s blocker and the second one going top corner NHL Draft descended in Hamilton over the last few days and wrapped up after a nice passing play. with the Top Prospects Game on Thursday night. His third period assist on defenceman Braden Schneider’s goal was a NHL Central Scouting released its midterm rankings earlier in the week, nice one and any time you can put up points in these types of games, it which laid the groundwork for where each player was at entering the will only help you in the eyes of scouts. game. Foerster will now go back to a Barrie team that recently traded star While Alexis Lafreniere of the Rimouski Oceanic is a very firm No. 1 on forward Ryan Suzuki, so Foerster — the team’s leading scoring — will be the list, there were several players at FirstOntario Centre who were leading the charge. looking to raise their draft stock with NHL scouts and executives on hand. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.18.2020 With that in mind, here’s five players who were able to do so, and where Central Scouting ranked them among North Americans at the mid-way point of the season.

Jack Quinn, RW, Ottawa 67’s — Rank: No. 9

Quinn displayed a strong two-way game and earned player of the game honours for Team Red after scoring its second goal of the game late in the first period.

His strong positioning in front of the net led to the goal and he showed poise throughout the game by holding onto the puck to create more scoring opportunities.

The 18-year-old from Cobden, Ont., had a nice deke on defenceman Jamie Drysdale (ranked No. 3) in the second period.

Quinn’s backcheck and strength on the puck were also impressive.

He’s picked up his game over the past month and a strong performance Thursday could help jump start an even better second half.

Jeremie Poirier, D, Saint John Sea Dogs — Rank: No. 16

Paired with Drysdale, Poirier looked comfortable on the left side and showed good puck control off the opening faceoff.

Jumping into the play and carrying the puck are part of his game and he showed plenty of it throughout the match. It led to a first period goal as he came down from the point to wire a slap shot into the back of the net.

Poirier took a big hit in the second, but bounced right back up and also had a nice dangle to open the third before being stopped by goaltender Dylan Garand. He led the game with five shots.

Currently third in defencemen scoring in the QMJHL, Poirier’s nice offensive touch could help him going forward.

Connor Zary, C, — Rank: No. 12

Zary showed he’s more than just a sniper on Thursday with three beautiful assists for Team White.

Not only was his vision really good, but he also had a few scoring opportunities and was 9-of-13 in the face-off circle.

His performance was just another positive step forward after some good showings earlier this season in the spotlight, most notably in the Canada- Russia Series. It helped him get a late invite to Canada’s world junior camp although he was later cut.

Playing on a strong Kamloops Blazers team, Zary will only have more chances to shine going forward.

Kasper Puutio, D, Everett Silvertips — Rank: No. 84

The second-lowest ranked player participating at the Top Prospects Game was able to stand out by using his strength.

He wasn’t afraid to throw his body around and had a pair of big hits and some nice defensive stops. 1171705 Websites With each passing season and incredible performance, it’s starting to look more likely he does it than not.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.18.2020 Sportsnet.ca / Ovechkin one goal behind Lemieux on all-time list: 'He's one of my idols'

Rory Boylen | January 17, 2020, 11:21 AM

Alex Ovechkin continues to build his resume as the greatest goal scorer of all-time.

Adjusted for era, that may already be true, but the 34-year-old Russian is far from a fading star. After another hat trick on Thursday night, the 25th of his career, Ovechkin sits third in the NHL with 31 goals in 48 games. That’s an average of .645 goals per game — or roughly a 53-goal pace.

The trio of markers also landed the Washington Capitals winger at 689 goals for his career. That’s one back of Mario Lemieux for 10th all-time. Ovechkin is expected to play Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders and serve his one-game suspension for missing the All-Star Game against Montreal on Jan. 27, so he could eclipse ‘Le Magnifique’ as early as this weekend.

“It’s great. He’s one of my idols when I’m growing up,” Ovechkin said of being one goal behind Lemieux. “I get lucky. I have a time to play against him, was on the ice with him a couple times. Those names, they’re legends and to be close to those guys, it’s pretty impressive.”

For every great name Ovechkin passes on the all-time goal list, the question around whether or not he can also topple Wayne Gretzky’s all- time record of 894 will be magnified. After Lemieux, Ovechkin could soon also pass Steve Yzerman (692) and Mark Messier (694).

Ovechkin’s goal-scoring ability has been the driving force in getting here, but he’s also been remarkably healthy and consistent. He has reached 30 goals every season of his career, even including a lockout-shortened 48-game season in 2012-13, and hasn’t missed more than four games in a season since 2009-10 when he missed a career-high 10 games. Had he not had his rookie reason wiped out by the 2004-05 lockout, his chances at reaching Gretzky would be even greater.

But let’s just pause for a moment and again consider what kind of road is ahead of Ovechkin if he’s to get to 895 career goals. For argument’s sake, let’s say Ovechkin slows his pace this season (and that seems unlikely) to finish with 44 goals. That would leave him at 702 heading into his age 35 season and mean he would need to average 38.6 goals a season over the next five years to surpass Gretzky. That’s a big ask for any ageing player, even a generation’s best sniper, but it’s less daunting when you consider he’s finished with fewer goals than that in a full season only once in his career.

So if Ovechkin wraps up this season with 44 goals, this is one mock up of a goal pace he’d need to attain to pass Gretzky at age 39:

“If you want to continue to play good in this league, because the game has changed the goalies have changed, you have to continue to work and continue to get better,” Ovechkin said Thursday night. “Without your teammates, without trust from your coaching staff, it’s not possible. I’m lucky I’m here and I have one more year.”

The interesting wrinkle of all this is that Ovechkin’s 13-year contract expires at the end of next season and, at this rate and within a rising salary cap, we have to wonder if he’ll come out of it as the league’s highest-paid player at age 36. If he were to sign through his age 39 season, that deal would expire at the same time as Nicklas Backstrom’s new contract signed this week, as well as Evgeny Kuznetsov and TJ Oshie. And, perhaps, if an injury hits or his goal pace slows, he can look at the landscape at that time and decide whether or not to return at age 40 to chase down Gretzky.

Hearing Ovechkin talk about it, he’s not likely to be one who limps across the finish line though.

“The most important thing is (to be) healthy. If you’re healthy, you can still play the game the way you want to play,” Ovechkin said on 31 Thoughts: The Podcast back in September. “Of course (the record) matters, but like I said, I’m not going to score 300 goals in two years. It’s going to take five or six years. I have to be healthy enough to do that.” 1171706 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Why Connor Hellebuyck is Winnipeg's X-Factor in push for playoff spot

Sean Reynolds January 17, 2020, 12:36 PM

You won’t find anyone willing to blame Connor Hellebuyck for a loss like the one the Jets suffered January 12, a 1-0 defeat to the Nashville Predators. Unless, of course, you ask Hellebuyck himself.

“I think last game I was good. Not good enough,” he said.

Hellebuyck is one of those athletes who’s satisfied with nothing less than perfection. And don’t give him that stuff about his team needing to score more to help him win games.

“We win games where I’m not perfect,” he noted.

Though not perfect, Hellebuyck is intent on chasing that impossible goal. And the results show it. He is a darling of the analytics community.

Back in December, statistician Sean Tierney tweeted Hellebuyck was the “lone reason” the Jets were enjoying positive results in the standings. Hellebuyck had seen the same tweet. While flattered, he took exception to the suggestion.

“The guys in front of me are making my life less stressful,” he said. “Even though it’s a really good chance I completely trust that they’re covering the back door to the best of my ability.”

That give and take relationship may explain Hellebuyck’s success this season despite a bombardment of high quality chances. Yes, the Jets give opponents a lot of premium scoring attempts — more than any team besides Chicago and the Rangers — but both he a backup Laurent Brossoit say they can confidently turn their full focus to the shooter and trust teammates will take away the pass.

That faith goes both ways.

“Let’s say they trust me. That they know I’m going to stop it,” Hellebuyck said. “That’s the chemistry part of goaltending and defencemen. We kind of had to build that at the beginning of the year. Guys want to know what they’re expected to do and I want to know what’s expected of me.”

The fact of the matter is the Jets are expecting a lot from Hellebuyck. And the idea their season rests on his shoulders isn’t a stretch. The Jets cruised through most of December as Hellebuyck’s save percentage surged to .947. But when he stumbled in mid-December, posting an .887 save percentage over his last eight games of the month, the Jets looked like a team without answers. The losses piled up and their comfortable spot in a playoff position evaporated, leaving them where they are now: riding the playoff bubble.

Fortunately for the Jets, Hellebuyck has reawakened of late, allowing just six goals over his past four games and posting a .951 save percentage. In Hellebuyck’s mind, there’s a clear reason for the turnaround.

“It all started in practice. I’ve been battling hard and trying to identify what is going wrong and how to make it better,” he said following his shutout Tuesday over the Vancouver Canucks. “I got back to my practice habits. I didn’t even realize they were kind of slipping on me. It’s such a small difference. It’s just me battling in practice everyday.

Jets coach Paul Maurice sees it as a lesson in stardom. The kind of realization that hits players on their way to the next level.

“I thought he pushed real hard in his last couple practices,” the coach said. “We went real short but he wasn’t fooling around. He was really working at it. And that’s just maturity, awareness of what a great player needs to stay great.”

For the Jets’ sake, it’s a lesson they are hoping their star goalie has locked down. Because Hellebuyck staying great is the surest, and maybe only path to the post season.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171707 Websites "Kaner's really realized more and more how much of a leader he is in the locker room," noted Toews, "especially with some of these young guys who have watched him and tried to model their game after him for so many years. I think he's come into his own as a leader in the locker TSN.CA / Leafs aim to spoil ‘slippery’ Kane’s big weekend room."

Leafs keying in on 'world-class' Kane: 'He can make you look pretty stupid' Mark Masters Patrick Kane is having another stellar season, leading the Blackhawks in

goals and assists while needing just two more points to reach 1,000 on TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes his career. The Leafs discuss Kane's impressive consistency over the on the Maple Leafs, who held a skills practice at Ford Performance years and compliment his puck skills and 'world-class' ability to create Centre on Friday ahead of Saturday night’s game against the Chicago space on the ice for himself and his teammates. Blackhawks. William Nylander grew up admiring Kane and now wears No. 88 for the John Tavares had 134 points for the during the 2006- Leafs. Has he asked brother Alexander Nylander what it's like to play 07 season, his highest total in the OHL, but it was still 11 points behind with Kane? Patrick Kane, who won the scoring title. Chasing down the elusive winger "Yeah, of course," Alexander, in his first year with the Blackhawks, said hasn’t gotten any easier in subsequent years. with a smile. "I tell him how it is. Obviously, we were watching him "It was the first time I had really seen him and it's just the same type of growing up and he was one of the best players in the league if not the thing now, 'How does this guy do this?' He just finds a way to create so best. It's awesome playing on a wing with him so I've been telling him much ice and be as slippery as he is," Tavares said. "Obviously, you see how amazing it is. Getting the opportunity there is unreal." the skill when he gets the puck on his stick, but his ability to get it in good The elder Nylander brother is heating up of late with 10 goals in the last areas of the ice just tells you about his intelligence of the game. He 13 games. On Thursday night the Leafs winger struck for his 21st goal of probably had the puck 60 to 70 per cent of the game in junior, I mean, the season, a tap-in on the power play from the edge of the crease. It just that dominant." was his 17th tally from the inner-slot area which, according to analyst The London Knights raised No. 88 to the rafters of Budweiser Gardens Mike Kelly, is tied for the league lead with Carolina's Sebastian Aho. on Friday night. Kane played just one season for the team, but it was an "This year he's really gotten to that area," Marner said. "He's been a incredible tour de force: 62 goals and 83 assists. menace around the net, I guess you could say, and he's not missing his Mitch Marner, who won a Memorial Cup with the Knights in 2016, says opportunities when he gets around there, which is huge for him and our Kane left a "massive" legacy in London. Despite hearing regularly about team." Kane's exploits during his junior days, nothing prepared Marner for what Tavares, Nylander's linemate, sees this as a natural evolution for the 23- it was like to face the Blackhawks dynamo in the NHL. year-old. "Seeing him on TV, you don’t see how fast he does it," Marner marvelled. "It's just continuing the growth of his game," Tavares said. "That’s where "I'd say that’s the difference, just how much faster it seems in real life the goals are scored is in the interior of the ice and around the net. The when he has it with hands, with his playmaking ability, with his vision, it puck has to go there. I know for myself that was a learning process for a just comes a lot faster and just comes so natural to him and just really long time so it’s just continuing to figure that out and then consistently do impressive." that. And it's not easy, that's obviously the highest priority for teams to How do you stop him? defend so then it's about finding ways to break the opponent down and create time and space or getting yourself open and having good timing, "That's a good question," Tavares said with a chuckle. being in the right areas, getting your stick available and then finishing."

The Leafs certainly didn't have an answer on Nov. 10 at the United That's exactly what happened against the Flames as Tavares fed Center when Kane potted a pair of goals and added an assist in a 5-4 Nylander and the slick Swede knocked it just past red-hot goalie David Chicago win. Rittich. Nylander, who usually plays on the flank or bumper on the man advantage, is now getting a look in front of the net on Toronto's stacked "Kaner's always a tricky one," said defenceman Tyson Barrie. "He's so top unit. good coming through the neutral zone and creating space for other guys. He's a world-class player." "He's not your typical big, net-front guy," Barrie noted. "But he's an intelligent guy. He knows when he's got to get the screen on the goalie Kane arrives in Toronto just two points shy of a major milestone: 1,000 and he’s got, obviously, incredible stick skills so he can tip pucks. The points. Kane had plenty of friends and family in London tonight and no goal last night, you can see he knows when it's time to slide off to the doubt many will also make the two-hour trip down the road to Scotiabank backdoor." Arena for Saturday's game. It's a quasi homecoming for Kane, who hails from nearby Buffalo. "He's got really good hands," said Matthews, "he's smart. With him there on the power play, it's good. He's an option for Mitch to pass to and he "He seems to get better and better every year," observed Auston has really good hands, really good edges down low so he can get into Matthews, who is hoping to play internationally with Kane on Team USA open areas, be elusive and create plays." one day soon. "It's pretty impressive what he can accomplish. Every single year, year in year out, he's at the top of the leaderboard for William Nylander isn't known for his huge net-front presence, but is tied points." for the league-lead in goals from the inner slot at even strength and has been effectively occupying that spot on the power play of late. John Kane posted a career-high 110 points last season (third overall) and with Tavares, Mitch Marner, Tyson Barrie and Auston Matthews discuss what 60 points in 48 games this year is once again on pace to break the has made Nylander so successful in-tight this season. century mark. Jason Spezza played the 1,100th game in his NHL career on Tuesday "He doesn't really have off nights," said long-time teammate Jonathan and that morning he was one of the few Leaf regulars to hit the ice for an Toews. "And on his off nights he still finds ways to create offence and get optional skate. on the board and I think over the years that definitely adds up. Pretty cool he's made it this far and I'm sure if you ask him he's not planning on "I just like to get out and get moving and I have things I like to do on stopping any time soon." game days," Spezza explained. "A lot of it is just habit. This year I’ve skated less than other years because they’ve convinced me it's better Kane didn't speak to reporters in Toronto after Friday's practice, because energy-wise." he had to catch a flight to London for the festivities. But the 31-year-old is becoming more vocal inside Chicago's dressing room as the franchise The person doing the convincing is Rich Rotenberg, Toronto's director of goes through a transitional phase. high performance. Spezza says they've cut down on his ice time when there's a lot of travel in the schedule. But it's a balancing act. "Just try to manage him," said head coach Sheldon Keefe. "We like guys who are hungry and want to be out there and it’s really good for our younger people to see that. He's not just out there messing around, he’s out there with very purposeful drills and working to get better and at his age and with what he's accomplished in the league, it sets a really good example for our team."

Spezza was one of the last players on the ice during Friday's skills practice, which featured most of the team.

"It was only optional for a very select group of guys," said Keefe. "Most of our guys, we wanted to have out there."

TSN's Kristen Shilton has more on how the Leafs will use the upcoming bye week and all-star break to re-energize here.

Toronto hosts the surging Blackhawks Saturday in their last game before their bye week. The Maple Leafs speak about the importance of heading into their week off on a high note and discuss the benefits of the added rest before the playoff race heats up.

Andreas Johnsson had a couple close calls on Thursday night. He set up Matthews with a nice feed on a two-on-one rush, but Rittich denied the Leafs sniper with his blocker.

"When I see Matty get the shot I think he's going to score for sure, but I saw the replay and amazing save by the goalie," Johnsson said after the game.

In the second period, Johnsson was in perfect position to put home a rebound off a Kasperi Kapanen shot, but again Rittich was equal to the task. As he was skating away, Johnsson turned back and said something to the Flames goalie. What was it?

Keefe wasn't smiling when asked about Johnsson's energetic night. The coach doesn't believe the left winger is back to top form after missing time with a broken ankle.

"It was very apparent that he's behind in terms of his conditioning," Keefe noted. "His shifts are real short, he gathers his energy and goes out and has bursts, but then he’s pretty gassed after that. I saw him a number of times coming back to the bench tired so that’s something he’s going to have to work his way through and we’ll help him do that."

Johnsson has failed to hit the scoresheet in three games since returning from the 38-day layoff.

TSN.CA LOADED: 01.18.2020 1171708 Websites “I think it's nice to just have your body rest and get some time off,” Marner said. “I think it's really great for us right now, with all the injuries we have, for guys to just get some rest, get the treatment if they need it and hopefully we get a couple guys back after this break.” TSN.CA / Leafs looking to rest, regroup over lengthy break There will be only 33 regular-season games remaining on the other side for Toronto, and from where the team stands now, every single one could help determine their spring plans. Kristen Shilton The Leafs currently have a tenuous hold on third place in the Atlantic,

just two points ahead of Florida. But the Panthers have two games in TORONTO – Most of the Maple Leafs have just one game against the hand, setting up a potential mad dash to the finish line. Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday standing between them and a full “The season definitely ramps up emotionally,” Dermott said. “It's exciting. seven days off to enjoy their bye week and the All-Star break. At the start of the season, you're trying to set yourself up to not really It’s a long time to be away, especially in the middle of a season, but the have to panic too hard in the second half and just focus on feeling good mental benefits it offers far outweigh concerns over the team returning to and playing well together. But after the break, it’s like, ‘Okay, [show time a tight playoff race feeling rusty. is] here,’ and we want to make sure we're playing the right way before the really important games come.” “I think that you come back and you're really excited,” said Zach Hyman after the Leafs’ optional skills practice on Friday. “You miss it; you want TSN.CA LOADED: 01.18.2020 to get back to playing hockey. The season is long, so it can get tiring at times on your body and that week [off] for your body is good. But for your mind, just being able to refresh and come back, and it's like, 'Oh man, this is the final two-month sprint. This is it. It's go time.’”

Securing a win over the Blackhawks is Toronto's first priority though, if only so players don’t have to spend their coveted down time distracted by a poor performance. Most are planning to chase the sun to warmer locales or simply get out of town, including Hyman and Tyson Barrie, who is also looking forward to the long reprieve.

“I like it; I've always been a fan,” Barrie said. “It's nice at this point of the year just to step away for a week and regroup and get some rest and get ready for a big push. The importance of every game [after] is clear and you can see the standings shaping up and you're fighting for position and spots. You think [the league is] fast now, but it takes another little step up after the break.”

Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe has never gone through an NHL bye week before, but he was a major proponent of taking multiple days off when coaching the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies. Keefe said he would design breaks for his team of three or four consecutive days when the schedule allowed, and felt players reaped the rewards.

“The mental benefit I think is really the biggest one,” Keefe said. “The physical benefit is that you get the rest and all that kind of stuff, but it also does take its toll on your execution and your details. But the mental part of it is what's most important, just to have that break, come back, and feel refreshed.”

For Toronto, the seven days will also involve trying to get healthy. Defenceman Jake Muzzin has been progressing from a fractured foot injury suffered on Dec. 28 with daily on-ice sessions this past week, and the Leafs are hopeful he’ll be in the lineup for their first game back against Nashville on Jan. 27. Trevor Moore has also been making his way back from a concussion since Dec. 27.

And for anyone else dealing with nagging injuries, a period of forced relaxation can’t hurt.

“The game gets pretty stressful sometimes – mentally and physically,” admitted Travis Dermott. “Your body takes a toll, so it's nice to let it recuperate, and you always come back feeling pretty refreshed. It's a nice little split between the first half of the season and the second, right when the hard work starts and all the important games start to get really predominant in your mind.”

That being said, not everyone in the Leafs’ room is a fan of so much time off, at least not all at once.

“I'm probably in the minority; I don't love it,” Jason Spezza admitted on Thursday. “I'd prefer to kind of sprinkle the 10 days throughout the season and have some longer gaps, knowing we could practise a little bit. But guys seem to like it. [It] seems to be a popular thing, so I'll take it and use the rest but I'd prefer not to have it. That's just my own take.”

Mitch Marner is firmly in the opposite camp, but he won’t have as much time as the veteran to embrace the layoff. Along with Auston Matthews and Frederik Andersen, Marner will be representing the Atlantic Division in St. Louis at the All-Star Game, leaving only a few days available beforehand to unwind. 1171709 Websites So that got us thinking: Should the NHL have some sort of length of service waiver? For example: Ovechkin has attended seven previous All- Star weekends. How many should he have to attend before he is free and clear to take off without penalty? TSN.CA / Friday Five: Ilya Samsonov squarely in Calder Trophy race It doesn’t make sense to continue to penalize fans – let alone impact the competitiveness of a regular-season game – to have a star like Ovechkin sit out for one game before or after the All-Star break just because he’d Frank Seravalli like to rest when he’s been a mostly faithful servant.

Before 2019, Ovechkin only missed twice in his career, once for injury Welcome back for another edition of the Friday Five, where we point out (2016) and once because he was suspended (2012). quirks, quips and questions that pop up throughout the week in the NHL The idea of a waiver is at least up for consideration. season. “I don’t know what we will do yet, if anything,” Daly said via email Friday. Let’s go: “No need to rush any decisions. We have time.” 1. Samsonov squarely in the Calder Trophy race It’s a sticky situation – one that I see from both sides. Fans and sponsors Barely one month ago, Cale Makar seemed poised to be the runaway pay big money to see the best of the best at All-Star. Players are well- winner of the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. compensated – each player receives a $25,000 stipend for attending – and this is one weekend in a schedule that has 186 duty days and a five- That was before the Colorado Avalanche defenceman went down with day bye week that provides additional rest. injury – and before Ilya Samsonov began to take over the Washington Capitals’ crease. By the way, Rask declared on Jan. 13 that he was he declining his invite to All-Star to rest. He went down with a concussion on Tuesday in The Professional Hockey Writers Association is voting on Midseason Columbus. If he remains injured, Daly said he will not have to sit out an Awards this week and Samsonov has made it an interesting race. extra game.

Samsonov became just the 10th different rookie netminder to earn a win “The obligation is to sit out a game either going into the break or coming in nine consecutive decisions on Thursday night, matching the run out of the break,” Daly said. “If his injury forces him to do that, there is no Jordan Binnington had for the St. Louis Blues last season. ‘suspension’ per se.”

Samsonov is 9-0-0 with a .939 save percentage and 1.66 goals against- 3. ‘Big Save Dave’ stars in the shootout average since Nov. 30. The 22-year-old Russian is turning the cap- strapped Caps’ conundrum with pending free agent Braden Holtby into a One player who is excited to be at All-Star weekend is Calgary Flames rather easy decision. In 16 starts, Samsonov is 14-2-1 with a .926 save goaltender David Rittich. percentage and league-leading 2.10 goals against-average. Rittich stopped all three Maple Leafs shooters in the shootout on The big question in Samsonov’s candidacy will be his workload: How Thursday night to cap off an excellent performance in net. Rittich has many appearances is enough to warrant Calder consideration? certainly earned his “Big Save Dave” nickname when it comes to the shootout. Binnington helped supply a framework to that answer last season. He didn’t make his first NHL start until Jan. 7. He made 30 starts and also The league-wide save percentage for goaltenders in the shootout is .686 led the league in GAA, earning a second-place finish in Calder voting and this season. the fifth spot on Vezina ballots. Rittich has an impressive .889 save percentage in the skills competition, Given that Samsonov has been on the roster all season, he probably good for third in the NHL among goalies who have seen 10 shots. needs to be approaching 40 appearances by the end of the year to Best: topple what has been a monster season from Makar. Martin Jones, Sharks - 10/10 - 1.000 That’s why Makar is still currently at the top of my ballot. Makar, 21, opened the season with 28 points in 28 games as a defenceman. He Tristan Jarry, Penguins - 10/11 - .917 hasn’t produced quite as much (five points in nine games) after his three- week absence, but he hasn’t exactly gone quiet. David Rittich, Flames - 16/18 - .889

Here is my Calder Trophy ballot if votes were due today: Braden Holtby, Capitals - 9/12 - .800

1. Cale Makar, D, Avalanche. Fun fact: Makar went the first 40 games of Worst: his career (including playoffs) without taking a penalty. Robin Lehner, Blackhawks - 3/10 - .300 2. Ilya Samsonov, G, Capitals. Samsonov is starting to push aside a Tuukka Rask, Bruins - 6/11 - .545 Vezina winner in Holtby. Alex Stalock, Wild - 7/11 - .636 3. Quinn Hughes, D, Canucks. Hughes has lived up to the hype in Vancouver with 33 points in 47 games while playing 21:35 per night. Frederik Andersen, Maple Leafs - 13/20 - .650

4. Victor Olofsson, RW, Sabres. Olofsson went down with injury on Jan. If only all of Jones’ shots faced were breakaways. He is the best shootout 2, but he posted 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points in his first 42 goalie in the league, but ranks 54th in save percentage (.890), which is games of the season. second-worst among all goalies with at least 15 appearances this year. Lehner has struggled his entire career in the shootout, with the worst all- 5. Dominik Kubalik, LW, Blackhawks. Kubalik has quietly inserted himself time save percentage among goalies who have faced 90 shots (.515). into the conversation with 18 goals and 10 assists for 28 points in 46 games for the Hawks, who remain in the playoff chase. Frederik Andersen was great, but David Rittich was even better stopping 35 of 36 pucks that came his way, which also included some premium 2. Should NHL veterans be given an All-Star waiver? chances from Toronto. The TSN Hockey panel discusses a spectacular The NHL has a little bit of an attendance problem when it comes to All- goaltender's duel in Toronto. Star weekend. Alex Ovechkin opted for rest and bailed for a second year 4. Midseason transaction check-up in a row. This time, goaltender Tuukka Rask and Marc-Andre Fleury joined him. The ‘Bread Man’ has done the very difficult: Artemi Panarin has lived up to every dollar of that $81.5 million contract so far on Broadway. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly admitted in a recent podcast with colleague Pierre LeBrun that their absences are “concerning.” Panarin, 28, leads the NHL in even-strength points (52) by a sizable margin over Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (44). Both players have been forced to do a lot of the heavy lifting themselves – MacKinnon in Colorado because of injury, and Panarin, well, because he plays for the Rangers.

The Arizona Coyotes have struggled acclimating to new forward Taylor Hall. It’s been Hall who has been just fine, collecting 14 points in his first 15 games with the Yotes. The Coyotes were 19-12-4 before Hall arrived from New Jersey; Arizona is just 7-7-1 since.

5. Case of the yips?

The yips are a notorious baseball and golf ailment, but there was a curious sequence on Thursday night in Boston that made you wonder if there is a hockey version.

Three nights after overskating a shootout attempt and ending a game in Philadelphia, Bruins winger Brad Marchand failed to get a shot off on a clear breakaway against the Penguins.

To be fair, Marchand did collect his 21st goal of the season later in the game. But if nothing else, at least Marchand has a sense of humour:

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