nhl`s daily clips - Philadelphia Flyers

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SPORT-SCAN
DAILY BRIEF
NHL 1/25/2013
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Kings are 0-2-1 to start the season It's payback time for Ducks center Daniel Winnik Ducks will need wins to step out of the shadows Larger Ducks store part of Honda Center expansion Ducks hoping to duplicate early road success at home Boston Bruins 652467
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Greetings from Ristuccia Arena B’s take break thanks to schedule Julien praises Rask Dougie Hamilton’s play is ‘outstanding’ Long layoff hasn’t hurt Nathan Horton Tuukka Rask firmly entrenched Bruins point to positives Bruins comeback falls short in OT Bruins fall to Rangers in OT Buffalo Sabres 652476
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’Canes break through on Sabres Sabres notebook: Single rooms lead to uneasy quiet time From the Sabres' dressing room following 6-3 loss to
Hurricanes Sabres' Grigorenko focused on next game, not five games Break offers chance for Amerks, Sabres to set rosters Calgary Flames 652482
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Johnson: Is this the year the Oilers pass the Flames? Emotional Hudler returns to Flames fold Cervenka ready to play on the ice, but Czech still faces
steep learning curve off the ice Baertschi settling in and learning the ropes with the big club Francis: Flames stats man sees plenty of overtime Hartley wanted veterans to shoot first Flames' Baertschi taking in teammates' wisdom Flames Hudler returns after death of his father Carolina Hurricanes 652490
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Live updates: Canes hosting the Sabres Canes beat Sabres 6-3 for first win of season Canes improvement enough ... for now Chicago Blackhawks 652493
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Blackhawks Game Day: Seeing Stars It's far too soon for Cup talk, but Hawks look good Mayers back in Hawks lineup after being healthy scratch Hossa’s one-timer in OT keeps the Blackhawks perfect at
4-0 Hossa, Kane do it again for Blackhawks Blackhawks' best look to keep rolling in Dallas Steve Konroyd's three keys to Blackhawks-Stars Blackhawks hoping Stars burn out on CSN Hossa the hero again as Blackhawks beat Stars Columbus Blue Jackets 652507
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Woeful trip: Jackets lose badly again Blue Jackets notebook: Not much support for Mason in loss
to Coyotes Blue Jackets buried by Avalanche Dallas Stars 652510
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Stars, Jamie Benn agree to five-year, $26.25 million contract
extension Stars, Blackhawks expected to roll four lines in tonight's
matchup Blackhawks at Stars, 7:30 p.m.; Chicago taking short season
seriously Stars add defenseman Carl Sneep for draft pick, send him to
minors Heika: Jamie Benn not holding out for more money says
something about Stars' future Heika: With Jamie Benn signed through 2017, the Stars
have their core Blackhawks break up second-period celebration, finish off
Stars in overtime Despite overtime loss, one Star earned the top star in OT
loss to Chicago Stars, Jamie Benn agree to five-year, $26.25 million contract
extension Stars sign C Jamie Benn to $26M, 5-year contract Blackhawks rally to nip Stars in overtime Detroit Red Wings 652521
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Red Wings goalie Tom McCollum's mask features Chris
Farley Red Wings split up Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg; some
players getting healthier Winging It in Motown: If Red Wings' season goes south, let's
see the young guys NHL roundup: Former Red Wing Marian Hossa scores in OT
as Blackhawks rally vs. Stars Ticker: Will Red Wings' defense drag them down? Valtteri Filppula still sore, leaves Wings' practice early Wings never figured in the Zach Parise-Ryan Suter drama Wings' Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg won't be paired Red Wings hope some line-juggling, return of a few injured
players will provide boost Red Wings' Mike Babcock says, 'We'll be just fine,' as
injuries mount and offense struggles Red Wings' Jonathan Ericsson, Jonas Gustavsson feeling
better; Todd Bertuzzi, Jakub Kindl ready to go Detroit Red Wings C Darren Helm ready for season debut Edmonton Oilers Colorado Avalanche 652533
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Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly returns to U.S. with injured
foot; Colorado talks sputtering Avalanche's Chuck Kobasew to help replace Steve Downie Unsigned Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly is back? Not so
fast Colorado Avalanche shuts out Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 Avs top Columbus 4-0 behind Duchene, Varlamov 652538
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MacKinnon: Oilers win wild affair by taking care of details Oilers rally to beat defending Stanley Cup champions Penner ‘too good of a player to be average’ Fistric to play his first game as an Oiler against Kings Ryan Whitney or Corey Potter or Mark Fistric? Who should
play? Who should sit? Tyler Pitlick out for year in OKCity Penner healthy scratch vs Oilers Fistric to play his first game as an Oiler against Kings Anything that could go wrong, did, in Oilers’ 2-1 win Last-minute Yakupov goal propels Edmonton Dustin Penner a healthy scratch for Los Angeles Kings game
against the Edmonton Oilers After losing their first two games of the season, Los Angeles
Kings feel pressure to start winning Edmonton Oilers seek redemption versus defending Stanley
Cup champion LA Kings Florida Panthers 652546
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Dany Heatley looks to thrive in second season with Wild Florida Panthers’ losing skid hits three after falling to
Senators Florida Panthers’ Stephen Weiss joins lengthy injured list PANTHERS NOTEBOOK: Stephen Weiss Out, Panthers
Limping ... Cats Practice Friday in Coral Springs at 11:30 ANDY DOES IT AGAIN: Senators Drop Panthers 3-1,
Florida Loses Third Straight Top-line center Stephen Weiss joins Versteeg on sidelines Panthers fall in double OT, lose series Los Angeles Kings 652554
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Kings are 0-2-1 to start the season Kings give up late goal in regulation, then fall in OT PREVIEW: Kings (0-2-0) at Edmonton Oilers (1-1-0) EDMONTON 2, KINGS 1: Kings suffer late loss Matt Greene Update Darryl Sutter Pre-Game Quotes Jake Muzzin Pre-Game Quotes Anze Kopitar Pre-Game Quotes Ryan Smyth Pre-Game Quotes Morning Notes Darryl Sutter Post-Game Quotes Jonathan Quick Post-Game Quotes Rob Scuderi Post-Game Quotes Kings 0 – Oilers 0 (10:31 Left In Second) Minnesota Wild 652568
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Sources: Jonas Brodin on his way to Minnesota to join Wild Wild rookie Brodin makes whirlwind trip to the top Preview: Wild at Detroit Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold, after NHL lockout:
'We've lived through the pain' Minnesota Wild: Jonas Brodin expects to make NHL debut
Friday Montreal Canadiens 652573
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Would the Habs really trade P.K. Subban? Canadiens game report: Jan. 24 Habs establishing an identity, Gionta says Canadiens roast Capitals 4-1 About last night … Nashville Predators 652578
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Nashville Predators lose by shutout to St. Louis Blues Nashville Predators notebook: St. Louis Blues score on
penalty shot Predators struggle to get shots, let alone goals in loss New Jersey Devils 652581
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Devils might just be a better team than they were last
season Devils' Martin Brodeur says he didn't embellish Wayne
Simmonds hit Devils: Mattias Tedenby replaces Dainius Zubrus on first line Defense gives Devils an edge Devils’ Zajac looks to step it up New York Islanders 652586
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Moulson, Grabner Rally Isles to Win Over Leafs Four-Goal Third Period Lifts Islanders Over Leafs New Jersey cop assaulted after last year’s ‘Winter Classic’
between Rangers and Flyers files suit against atta Matt Moulson, Michael Grabner lead Islanders' goalfest Itinerant Keith Aucoin hopes Isles can be home New York Rangers 652591
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Philadelphia Puts End to Domination by Rangers NY Rangers right back in loss column as previously winless
Philadelphia Flyers top Blueshirts 2-1 Rangers are flat in loss to Flyers Rangers’ Kreider Faces Questions About Development Rangers’ Asham Will Miss Second Consecutive Game A Night Later, the Rangers’ Struggles Resume Chris Kreider says he trusts organization has his best
interest in mind; NY Rangers swap AHLers with Pens; lin Sloppy Rangers fall to Flyers Rangers notes: Struggling Chris Kreider could be headed to
minors Chris Kreider candidate to be sent to Connecticut Whale Struggling Chris Kreider a healthy scratch against Flyers Official word on the Kolarik-Ferriero trade; new “Beginnings” Rangers-Flyers in review NHL 652606
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Social media sing with NHL lockout mood swing Flames forwards Hudler, Cervenka get back in the saddle Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini’s wine collection is the
star of his divorce hearing AHL alumni grateful for ‘head start’ to season Gary Bettman and the Oilers make a strange partnership Sochi Olympics next item of business for NHL Ottawa Senators 652612
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Senators complete Panther sweep Morning skate update: Senators look to pounce on tired
Panthers Senators prediction panel: Game 3 Dubnyk undaunted by Luongo rumours Gudbranson proves to be an excellent communicator ... Ottawa Senators NHL gameday vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Ottawa Senators drop Florida Panthers in back-to-back
games Florida Panthers forward George Parros happy to put NHL
CBA negotiations behind him Philadelphia Flyers 652620
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Broken foot will sideline Flyers' Scott Hartnell 4-8 weeks Hartnell will miss 4-8 weeks; Knuble returning Flyers waive Hovinen, create flexibility Depleted Flyers try to end skid(s) Mike Knuble returns to Flyers Hartnell out 4 to 6 weeks; Knuble returns Flyers earn big win over New York Rangers, 2-1 For Flyers, solid Bryz would go long way in short season Flyers hold off Rangers for first win Flyers turn to free agent Knuble for help Hartnell out 4 to 8 weeks with broken foot Schenn suspended for one game Hartnell to miss 4-8 weeks Flyers Notebook: Hartnell down, so Knuble is back Bounces, Bryzgalov go Flyers' way to end slide, post win
over Rangers McCAFFERY: At early pressure point, Flyers find a way to
win Flyers: Hartnell 'out indefinitely' Flyers: Coach's glass is half full, for now Top 5 places to watch a game in Wells Fargo Center Flyers get elusive first win by stopping Rangers Hartnell hurting, so Knuble's returning Flyers' faithful fans forgive Author tells tales of dad's former team Flyers defeat Rangers for first win of the season Flyers Notebook: Hartnell down, so Knuble is back PARENT: Flyers need to remain calm as losses mount Phoenix Coyotes 652647
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Phoenix Coyotes let 2-goal lead slip away in loss to San
Jose Sharks Coach, calendar have simple message for Phoenix Coyotes:
Better start playing with urgency Pittsburgh Penguins 652649
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Eaton returns to Penguins’ organization Penguins notebook: Malkin on verbal abuse: ‘It was my fault’ No suspension for Malkin After slow start, Tangradi demoted to 4th line Crosby, Canada work in progress Penguins make minor trades with Rangers, Stars Penguins lines are a-shifting Malkin offers apology of sorts for late-game tirade at officials San Jose Sharks 652657
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San Jose Sharks rally past Phoenix Coyotes An NHL opening night in late January has a strange feel to it San Jose Sharks fans return to root at the Tank -- and to
spend money downtown Marleau leads Sharks' rally past Coyotes Sharks notes: Sheppard returns; Burish ribs Pavelski Sharks set to host Coyotes in home opener Leaders cap perfect ending to an imperfect game Coyotes-Sharks at a glance Kurz's Instant Replay: Sharks 5, Coyotes 3 St Louis Blues 652666
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Blues get off to big start in TV ratings Blues updates: Redden starts tonight Hockey Guy: Former Blues reunite in Motown Redden makes his Blues debut Blues at home in 3-0 victory over Predators Blues give Redden another shot at NHL Tarasenko strikes again in Blues' victory over Nashville Tampa Bay Lightning 652673
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Lightning rookie Conacher takes NHL by storm Lightning open five-game homestand against Senators 1,000 games in, Lecavalier as happy as ever Tampa Bay Lightning's Cory Conacher as relentless as a
honey badger Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier to get silver stick from
team for 1,000th game Preview: Lightning vs. Senators Lightning rookie Cory Conacher a honey badger lover, too Toronto Maple Leafs 652680
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Maple Leafs start to try Randy Carlyle’s patience Islanders keep Leafs winless at home Leafs say Lupul will miss up to six weeks with broken arm New York Islanders rally to take down Maple Leafs Maple Leafs call up Matt Frattin with Joffrey Lupul sidelined
for at least six weeks Joffrey Lupul’s freak injury a big blow to Maple Leafs in
shortened NHL season: Cox NHL Western Conference: Who’s making an early splash? Toronto Maple Leafs defeat Penguins 5-2 in Pittsburgh Home, sweet home for local Islanders trio Lapse on key penalty kill dooms Leafs Roberto Luongo to Maple Leafs talk sure to heat up Leafs crumble against Isles Joffrey Lupul's layoff at least six weeks Ben Scrivens, Maple Leafs have no answers for Islanders
after building early lead Matt Frattin gets another chance with Leafs after Joffrey
Lupul injury Joffrey Lupul expected to miss up to six weeks with broken
forearm The Amazing Kreskin willing to lend Leafs his powers Maple Leafs cont'd
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Leafs’ James van Riemsdyk starting to prove Brian Burke’s
last move was a good one Leafs’ Joffrey Lupul out indefinitely after fracturing forearm in
win over Penguins Mix of grit and skill on Leafs’ wish list Leafs long for Jake Gardiner in lineup Vancouver Canucks 652701
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Canucks take to the air with Flair Canucks hit road hoping to get - and hold - leads Canucks (also) have to worry about Ducks’ third line. Lapierre absent from practice with sore groin before
Canucks head to California for first road trip; Schneider Canucks: Zack’s on track, but where are the twins? Zack Kassian more than just a physical presence in Canucks
win over Flames Washington Capitals 652707
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Open thread: Capitals vs. Canadiens Adam Oates looking for more from Marcus Johansson Mathieu Perreault: ‘I didn’t ask for a trade’ Wolski joins top line, Johansson to fourth line (updated) Capitals vs. Canadiens: Washington falls to 0-3, gets
trounced, 4-1 Capitals ‘outworked’ in 4-1 loss to Montreal Merit matters for Capitals as Adam Oates keeps shuffling Capitals notes: Mathieu Perreault says he didn’t ask for
trade Capitals fall to 0-3 after ugly loss to Canadiens Capitals' Mathieu Perreault vents about lack of playing time Canadiens crush Capitals, 4-1; Washington drops to 0-3 Capitals blown out by Canadiens, fall to 0-3 Websites 652731
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ESPN /Daniel Winnik not questioning fast start ESPN / Need to know: Good news, bad news night ESPN / Escrow rate to be 10 percent ESPN / Survival of the fittest in short season ESPN / Blackhawks are flying high again NBCSports.com / Try the popcorn: Penner a healthy scratch
in LA, Corvo in Carolina NBCSports.com / No suspension for Malkin after verbally
abusing official NBCSports.com / Gretzky shoots down Leafs rumors USA TODAY /Thursday preview: Season debut for goalies,
Redden YAHOO SPORTS / 3 Periods: Rick Nash powers up for the
New York Rangers Winnipeg Jets 652720
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Winnipeg Jets looking forward to seeing old friend Tanner
Glass Mark Scheifele's time with Winnipeg Jets growing short Crosby aware of 'exciting atmosphere' at MTS Centre jets-pens-lineup Glass returns to 'Peg as rival Crosby has history on MTS Centre ice Big Buff carrying HEAVY LOAD early in season for Jets Fearsome Pens a big test Winnipeg Jets team defence will be put to test by Crosby
and Co. Sidney Crosby making first visit to MTS Centre; Jets say
they’re ready Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Wellwood finds riding pine tough to
swallow SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129
652462
Anaheim Ducks
Kings are 0-2-1 to start the season
By Lisa Dillman
EDMONTON, Canada -- There was anger spraying everywhere from the
Kings, the Oilers and their fans on a wild night at Rexall Place on Thursday.
For the Kings, it was directed at the overmatched officials, a failure to
capitalize on one power-play opportunity after another, and finally, the
inability to protect a lead for the final five seconds of regulation.
The Kings were within 4.7 seconds of leaving Edmonton with their first
victory of the season but instead had to settle for a point. Dynamic rookie
Nail Yakupov batted in a rebound at the 19:55 mark of the third period,
knocking it out of midair, and Sam Gagner scored on the power play in
overtime to give the Oilers a 2-1 victory.
Game 3 of the season was memorable in all the wrong ways.
The Kings failed to capitalize on seven power plays, including 3 minutes
and 9 seconds with a five-on-three advantage. They are 0 for 18 this
season. Bizarre calls were made all night, including one on the Oilers for
smothering the puck and a 10-minute misconduct for starting a fight when
wearing a face shield. The Kings were hit with two bench minors, including
one giving the Oilers a power play, leading to the winning goal.
That's the briefest of summaries. But the most incendiary moment came
when Gagner's apparent tying goal with 1:05 left was waved off after it was
ruled he was in the goal crease. Replays showed Kings defenseman Rob
Scuderi pushing Gagner into goalie Jonathan Quick.
The fans went nuts and started throwing debris on the ice after the goal was
disallowed.
“It's kind of unlucky a guy comes and cross-checks me from behind,” Kings
defenseman Drew Doughty said of what happened just before the wavedoff goal. “That's 100% a penalty. But because they're down a man, down a
goal, usually not going to call it. We've got to definitely learn to finish it out.”
Kings Coach Darryl Sutter was at his sarcastic best.
“Gotta be a record for non five-on-five play. It's gotta be a record,” he said.
“They [the fans] bombed the ice with stuff. It was awesome because they're
all [hacked] off. ... I'm sure the league thinks it was a great-officiated game.”
Said Doughty: “I got some nacho cheese on my shoulder.”
Gagner didn't think he was guilty of wrongdoing on the disallowed goal, but
did acknowledge that he did bowl over two Kings just prior to that, “battling
for open ice.”
“It was obviously tough when they called off the goal, but then Nail scored
there — and it was a great feeling to win the game,” he said.
The wild finish hid the fact that the Kings and the Oilers got together and
combined to play one of those ragged games that you usually see in
September in preseason.
The lone Kings' goal came in the second period on a breakaway finished off
by forward Jeff Carter. Carter beat goalie Devan Dubnyk at 13:26 with a
backhander, taking a nice pass from left wing Kyle Clifford.
It was the first goal from one of the Kings' top six forwards this season. In
the opening two games, the fourth line led the way, sparked by Clifford's
three points.
Sutter benched the struggling Dustin Penner and moved Clifford to help
jump-start the likes of center Mike Richards and Carter. He also scratched
left wing Simon Gagne for the second straight game.
But the move with Penner stood out after the Stanley Cup champion Kings
lost their opening two games.
“It's one of those things that the guillotine has to fall somewhere when the
team underproduces and more time than not, it's fallen on me,” said
Penner. “… I wish could say I've played better. I haven't. It's on me.”
Sutter said that Penner, and others, have struggled with the pace of play.
LA Times: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652463
Anaheim Ducks
It's payback time for Ducks center Daniel Winnik
By Lance Pugmire
After Daniel Winnik was cast off by the San Jose Sharks, the Ducks signed
the center to a two-year, $3.6-million contract, primarily to assist in their
penalty-killing efforts.
Winnik, the Ducks' third-line center, scored a club-record four goals in the
first two games of the season, which is more than the Stanley Cupchampion Kings scored in their two games.
"What's Gretzky's record again?" Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau cracked
after practice Thursday with the team finalizing preparations for Friday's
home opener against the Vancouver Canucks. "I've told him, 'Don't think of
it as a fluke … keep it going.'"
Before last week's season opener, Boudreau singled out the effectiveness
of the third line as a vital element to the team's hopes of reaching the
playoffs.
So far so good. The Ducks signed Winnik as free agent in July. He was a
valued penalty killer who had languished on the free-agent market behind
the more premier available players, including Zach Parise and Olli
Jaukinen.
"He's always been a good player, a guy any team can use," said Andrew
Cogliano, Winnik's third-line mate with Saku Koivu, who also grew up in
Toronto. "A big forward, a good penalty killer who can chip in offensively. A
lot of teams need that guy, and we're lucky we have him."
San Jose moved quickly to effectively boot Winnik, signing Adam Burish to
a four-year, $7.4-million deal quickly after the free-agency period began.
Winnik sat and stewed until the Ducks finally called. Once he hit the ice,
there was no stopping him.
"I have no idea how to explain it, really," Winnik said. "They're all around
the crease. Coach says, 'Go to the net and you get rewarded,' and that's
been the case.
"Two deflections, and two lucky goals, one off the foot," to decide Monday's
5-4 Calgary victory," Winnik said. "That's a good start. I don't think anyone
expects to have four goals after the first two games of the season."
Winnik said he's been fueled by the slight during free agency.
"It's a big motivation," he said. "I sat for two weeks with not too many offers.
… I was hoping it would be done after the first day considering how so
many teams wanted me at the trade deadline.
"It's definitely something in the back of my mind to prove those other 29
teams wrong. It [ticks] you off."
With the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Winnik and the faster Koivu and Cogliano, the
Ducks' third line has embraced the philosophy of making its best defense a
strong offense.
"Any team that wins the Cup, it's always the third line that makes the
difference on top of the stars," Winnik said.
Selanne giveaway
For opening night, the Ducks will give away Teemu Selanne shirts to all
ticket holders and encourage fans to be in their seats by 6:45 p.m. for
player introductions. That follows a pregame outdoor lounge party starting
at 3:30 p.m. and a players' red-carpet arrival from 4 to 5 p.m.
Friday Night:
VANCOUVER at ANAHEIM
When: 7. Where: Honda Center.
On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830.
Record vs. Canucks: 1-0.
Update: Seventeen teams have lost their home openers.
652464
Anaheim Ducks
Ducks will need wins to step out of the shadows
Helene Elliott
While the Ducks were missing the playoffs last spring for the second time in
three seasons, the Kings were winning the Stanley Cup and captivating the
modest but passionate local hockey audience.
The Ducks were pushed to the brink of oblivion and they won't find it easy
to regain even a sliver of the spotlight. After ending their season in April and
being kept off the ice when a labor dispute delayed the start of this season,
they're facing a pivotal moment as a team and as a franchise.
They've made strides toward fixing their on-ice problems, at least. Notorious
for slow starts, they're 2-0-0 for only the second time in club history as they
prepare for their home opener against Vancouver on Friday at the Honda
Center.
Their biggest gain is the early success of Andrew Cogliano, Saku Koivu and
Daniel Winnik as the effective third line the Ducks have lacked since their
2007 Cup triumph. Depth will be precious in this hectic 48-game schedule,
and after years of questionable quality beyond their top five forwards and
instability on defense, the Ducks appear to have replenished their talent
and their resolve.
"It certainly didn't leave a good taste in our mouths after the season we had
last year. With the guys we have in here, we knew that we had a lot better,"
defenseman Cam Fowler said. "Coming into this season I think it's just a
different attitude, a different mentality."
Whether the Ducks can turn a good beginning into a playoff berth will be
crucial in determining whether they can become a major presence in a
sports-saturated market. Their 2011-12 attendance average of 14,754 was
the second-lowest in their last eight seasons, and their season-ticket base
has stayed flat at 9,800, balanced by lockout-driven cancellations and new
buyers.
"It's always critical out here just because we're not in a market where fans
are just going to come. We're not in a Canadian market. And I'm not
complaining," General Manager Bob Murray said Thursday about the
importance of this season.
"We have a certain amount of fans who are great fans and loyal fans. It's
pivotal in keeping those other people who have lots of opportunities to do
different things. Right now I'm sure we lost a bunch to the L.A. Kings, but
there's some out there for us to get back. In that way, it's always pivotal for
us to be competitive."
Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli continue to pump money into the
arena, which they manage but don't own. They've committed $20 million to
the Grand Terrace project, which will add a restaurant and expanded team
store this spring, and have spent $80 million on improvements since they
bought the Ducks from Disney in 2005.
Some of that went toward bringing the locker rooms up to NBA standards in
the now-failed hopes of luring the Sacramento Kings to Orange County.
The arena is profitable but the Ducks are not — Forbes pegged the team's
operating loss last season at $10.8 million — and the addition of an NBA
team could cushion the Samuelis' Ducks-related losses.
They got some relief when the new collective bargaining agreement
between the NHL and the players' association made the Ducks eligible for
revenue sharing for the first time, but the impact won't be clear until
revenues are calculated after the season.
The Samuelis declined interview requests, but Murray said Henry Samueli
"wants to build something good here. He's in it for the long haul. He's been
good this year. He's excited that we're playing." Murray added, "We truly
believe at some point in this CBA it will get to a level playing field, and that's
all we ask…. We're anxious for that day to come and we think it's around
the corner."
Their day of reckoning, though, might arrive sooner.
Elite forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry can become unrestricted free
agents this summer and Murray might not be able to fit both into a salary
cap that will go to $64.3 million in 2013-14. The issue will hang over the
team as long as it's unresolved, though both players have said they're
already tired of discussing it. Murray, too, is reluctant to say much.
"It's a priority from Henry and Susan for me to try my hardest to get them
signed," Murray said. "I've reached out to their representatives and at some
point in the near future they're coming to see me. And that's all I'm going to
say — that it's a priority."
The first order of business, though, is continuing their good start and giving
themselves a chance to win points and fans. "You've just got to get in the
playoffs. I believe anybody that gets in can win this year," Murray said. "I
don't care if it's one or if it's eight. Anything can happen."
652465
Anaheim Ducks
Larger Ducks store part of Honda Center expansion
By LISA LIDDANE
As the Ducks attempt to woo back fans after the NHL lockout, the Honda
Center also will try to attract people to spend more at a new team store
that's slated to debut midseason.
Called the Anaheim Ducks Team Store Powered by Reebok, the hockey
franchise's retail venture with the athletic shoe manufacturer is a $1 million
piece of the Grand Terrace project, an ongoing $20 million expansion that
began last year.
Features: An indoor/outdoor entertainment space with an 80-foot bar on the
upper level; an expanded store; a 250-seat full-service restaurant; and a
new entrance to the arena on the lower level
Cost: $20 million
Access on game days: The retail shop and restaurant are open to all
attendees. But membership and a home game ticket are required for
access to the Grand Terrace entertainment space on the upper level. A
membership costs $400 per season. All 1,000 initial memberships are sold
out during the presale and there are hundreds of names on the waiting list.
Access during events and concerts: Available to ticket holders
Status of naming rights: Anaheim Arena Management LLC, the
management company for the Honda Center, is in talks with various entities
about a formal name of the Grand Terrace area.
Source: Anaheim Arena Management LLC
When completed, the two-story Grand Terrace will add an indoor and
outdoor entertainment space that can be rented for events, a 250-seat fullservice restaurant, the new store and a new entrance visible from Katella
Avenue and the northbound 57.
"One of the main differences between the current store and the new one is
that we have enough space now to think about the shopping experience,"
Teats said. "In 1,800 square feet, we put as much product on the floor that
people can see and get. With the bigger size, we can ask questions like
what do we want the layout of the store to be and what sorts of things
provide the retail experience that all of our fans are going to love."
In addition to stocking logo-laden merchandise, the store needed features
that were "eye-catching and intriguing to look at that aren't for sale," he
said. A life-size model of a player dressed in full gear will be set up in one
area. Nearby, "a replica of the players' lockers will be stocked with gameuse merchandise to create a pseudo-locker environment," he said.
A section of the store will pay tribute to the Stanley Cup-winning 2007 team
in a nod to Ducks' history.
Some official team merchandise is readily available through the NHL
website, so the Ducks needed to give the fans reasons to buy items at the
team store. The additions include a custom jersey station in the middle of
the store and exclusive lifestyle clothing not sold online, Teats said.
Shoppers can put in customized jersey orders before a home game starts
and pick up finished jerseys a short time later. "It's immediate gratification
for fans who are thinking, 'I want to wear this during the game,'" Teats said.
The Ducks management also has developed Top Line Threads, a small but
upscale private label collection that includes long-sleeved T-shirts.
Because Reebok is a partner in this venture, Ducks-branded Reebok goods
will be featured prominently during the regular season and playoffs, Teats
said.
A small section of the store will be devoted to jerseys from other NHL
hockey teams, and the shop is designed to readily accommodate
merchandise for a possible local NBA team. Henry and Susan Samueli,
owners of the Ducks, have been actively looking for several years to bring
in an NBA franchise to the Honda Center.
The Ducks retail team batted around many ideas in conceptualizing the
store, but some – such as a radio studio and a video-centric man cave –
didn't make the final cut because they were not considered the best use of
valuable retail space, Teats said.
The retail pulse
With more than three times the space of the current store, the new 6,100square-foot temple to all things Ducks will carry a much broader and deeper
assortment in men's, women's and children's goods and exclusive items. It
also will debut some features designed to provide an interactive and
immersive shopping experience, said Aaron Teats, vice president and chief
marketing officer.
Providing jersey customization, giving fans a wide array of products and
making the shopping experience more interactive are key trends in National
Hockey League team stores, said Jim Haskins, NHL group vice president of
consumer products licensing. "So much of this is about fan engagement –
connecting with the fans," he said.
The store is an ambitious effort that may do well when fans keep cash
registers busy on home-game nights at the Honda Center, said Mark
Francis, professor of sports business at the UCLA Center for Managing
Enterprise in Media, Entertainment and Sports.
Broadening the assortment to include higher quality, streetwear and
accessories makes business sense for the Ducks, Haskins said. "The
Ducks have always had more upscale fans. They do demand better
products, such as use of better cotton, better-fitting garments and use of
trendy fabrics in the women's clothing side of the business."
But the true test of the concept's success is if a team store with a lot of
inventory and square footage to manage can generate enough revenue to
be profitable in between home games and during the offseason, Francis
said. This season, it's unclear whether some Ducks fans, already
disgruntled by the recently concluded league lockout, will express their
displeasure by cutting back on their spending on team merchandise, he
said.
A fresh start
On Tuesday, four days before the Anaheim Ducks' first home game of the
season, Adam and Rebecca Woods headed to Honda Center with 4-monthold son Dylan to get the family outfitted. After perusing the racks in the
1,800-square-foot team store, the Lake Elsinore couple decided on a cap
for Adam, a T-shirt for Rebecca and three bibs for Dylan, totaling $91.
The men's clothing and accessories selection was decent and the array of
women's merchandise, OK, Adam said.
"We were kind of disappointed with the baby sizes in the onesies," Rebecca
said, adding that the store didn't have one that fit Dylan.
The need for a deeper inventory across all categories – babies, kids,
women's and men's – is among many things the new store will address,
Teats said.
Building a team store from scratch gave Ducks management an opportunity
to consider new possibilities.
The alliance with Reebok is logical, Haskins said, given the brand's
longstanding ties to the NHL. Since 2007, the NHL has had its own store in
New York, which, like the Ducks store, is "powered by Reebok." That shop
serves as a veritable lab and de facto barometer to help the league gauge
which products, teams and players resonate with fans.
Will they come?
While the efforts to reinvent a team store and cater to fans is laudable,
making a large shop a revenue-generating year-round destination for Ducks
fans might be a "tough sell," in Orange County, Francis said. It's a common
challenge facing team stores in California and other regions outside of the
true winter states of the U.S. and Canada.
From a team store perspective, "it's hard to make a big impact in a relatively
smaller market," Francis said. "Hockey is not indigenous" to Southern
California.
The overhead to keep a team store open throughout the year is
considerable, Francis said.
It's unclear whether there's enough fan support in between home games
and during the offseason to sustain a larger retail operation, he said.
That's why great merchandise alone won't be enough, he said. "The store
should be made as interactive as possible," he said.
"A hall of fame, for example is one of the very popular features that other
team stores are integrating throughout their retail spaces, giving people a
reason to drop by."
Teats is optimistic that the new Ducks team store has the elements of a
successful retail concept – one that he hopes fans will repeatedly visit.
"Whether you buy anything or not, we just want you to love what you see,"
Teats said. "We certainly want you to buy, but we want you to enjoy the
experience."
Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652466
Anaheim Ducks
"We can do everything better," Boudreau said. "It's something I know we
take great pride in and we've worked hard at it in the video room. It just
hasn't transferred yet onto the ice.
Ducks hoping to duplicate early road success at home
"We practice it and we talk about it and we have meetings about it every
day. So it's something that I'm sure is going to get better."
By ERIC STEPHENS
ANAHEIM – Home is where the Ducks hope the victories will be, and they
must if the playoffs are an attainable goal.
Fresh off two road victories to open the season, the Ducks will see if they
can duplicate that success at Honda Center when they play host to
Vancouver in their sold-out home debut Friday night and Nashville on
Saturday in this odd lockout-condensed schedule.
It is nice to start with two victories away from home, but few teams are
dominant on the road, where break-even is often the desired outcome. If
the Ducks really want to do anything this season, they'll have to be far
better than the group that was quite pedestrian a year ago.
On the way to missing the 2012 postseason, the Ducks had a 21-18-2
home record. By contrast, they were 26-13-2 in the 2010-11 playoff season.
They won 65 percent of their games in front of their faithful between the
2005-06 and 2007-08 high-water period.
Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said he "wouldn't use the imperative word,"
but acknowledged the importance of making opposing teams work before
they leave town.
"I think every team wants to establish a dominance in their own building,"
Boudreau said. "It makes the fans more rabid. They're more part of it.
You're winning at home. Crowds get bigger. And it just snowballs into
everything.
"We'd love to have the best home record in the league. It's something that
we're going to try to achieve. Whether we achieve it or not, time will tell."
Making it all the more essential for a strong home record is that there are
only 24 dates this season as opposed to the usual 41. During the 48-game
1994-95 season, 12 teams had 14 or more home victories and all but one
made the postseason.
In other words, winning at home doesn't guarantee great success, but it can
only help your cause. Corey Perry said the condensed schedule makes it
more essential.
"Any building you go into, it's obviously a tough building to play in," Perry
said. "It doesn't matter where it is. That's how we want it to be here. We
want to play the same way we do on the road. Simple, boring hockey. And
get wins.
"It's nothing fancy. We're going out, playing our system and doing the things
we need to do. We need to be physical. We need to protect our building. If
you have a good home record, that's going to say a lot for the points
needed at the end of the season."
It starts against Vancouver, which absorbed a 7-3 beating by the Ducks in
the season opener for both teams Saturday. Many teams have struggled in
their first home games after being wrapped up in the festivities and
atmosphere before the first puck drop.
"We're very aware that 17 out of the 28 home teams so far have lost
opening night," Boudreau said. "It's not going to be easy."
PENALTY PROBLEM
A 2-0 start sure beats the alternative, but it doesn't mean every facet of the
Ducks' game is clicking.
One area that needs some serious work is the penalty kill. The Ducks have
allowed four power-play goals in the seven chances.
Part of the reason could be the combination of working in new personnel to
a system with just one week of practices and no exhibition games to work
out the kinks. It has been a particular focus during practice the past two
days.
Boudreau was blunt about where they can improve.
652467
Boston Bruins
Greetings from Ristuccia Arena
By Michael Vega, Globe Staff
WILMINGTON --- Greetings from Ristuccia Arena where the sheet of ice
remained in pristine condition after the Bruins opted not to skate following
Wednesday night's 4-3 overtime loss against the Rangers in New York.
The Bruins did their work off-ice in preparation for Friday night's game
against the visiting New York Islanders.
"There was some negative and some positive,'' Bruins coach Claude Julien
said Thursday when asked what was his initial takeaway from Wednesday's
night's loss in New York, where his team rallied from a 2-0 first-period deficit
to salvage a point,
"Our start was not necessarily the start that we wanted,'' Julien said. ``We
didn't execute very well and we didn't handle their desperation the way we
should have, but we did a great job of getting ourselves back into it and
getting a hard-earned point. I thought through the adversity we faced in the
early going that the guys redeemed themselves well.
"It was nice to see that nobody hung their head and we just dug in there.''
Juilen gave the team the day off from skating, but indicated that if the team
had practiced defensemen Dennis Seidenberg, who has sat out the last two
games with a lower-leg injury, would have likely skated with the team.
"Again, he's been a day-to-day situation and that hasn't changed,'' Julien
said. "You know if he's practicing you know he's that close [to returning], but
a lot of it at this time of year is about us making the right decision for the
long haul vs. the short term.''
Boston Globe LOADED: 01.25.2013
652468
Boston Bruins
B’s take break thanks to schedule
Julien raved about Milan Lucic’s early work.
“Really good,” said the coach. “He was a question mark at the beginning
because of not playing much. At the start of the season you wondered
where he’d be. But he’s been extremely good, probably one of our best
forwards.” .  .  .
Stephen Harris / Boston Herald
Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg said the ailment that’s forced him to miss
two games is not a groin problem, as guessed, and he could play if needed,
as in the playoffs.
WILMINGTON — The compacted 2013 NHL schedule is relatively gentle
on the Bruins for the first 11⁄2 months, which sets them up for a brutal final
two months.
“I feel good,” he said. “Definitely there’s a chance I’ll be playing (tonight).
We’ll see (this) morning at the pregame skate. .  .  . But just looking at the
schedule, with so many games coming up, we want to be smart about it and
not force it.”
In the first 41 days of the season, the B’s will play 18 games; in the final 58
days, they’ll play 30 games.
“We’ve got a schedule that allows us to have some days off,” said Bruins
coach Claude Julien yesterday after giving the players a day of rest in the
wake of their overtime loss Wednesday against the Rangers.
The B’s host the Islanders tonight at the Garden. They don’t play again until
Monday in Raleigh, N.C., against the Hurricanes, which could mean
another day off tomorrow.
“Next week we have three games in four nights,” said Julien. “It’s important
that we’re well rested.”
Because the schedule is somewhat lighter in the first half than most teams,
there will be a point in February when they have several fewer games than
other Eastern Conference contenders. So it’s important to pile up points
now.
“We’re going to be behind teams in games (played),” said Julien. “It’s
important for us to have a really good start, so that when we’re five games
behind we’re still in the pack.”
Backup awaits call
With No.  1 goalie Tuukka Rask playing the first three games, Julien
presumably plans to get backup Anton Khudobin into a game before too
much time goes by. Could it be tonight? Khudobin hopes so.
“Of course,” he said. “It would be great. I’m going to be ready. If they’re
going to tell me anything, I’m going to be happy.”
Julien, on the play of Rask, who has a 1.95 goals against and .926 save
percentage: “Tuukka’s been good. He’s given us exactly what we expected
of him. He’s been solid. If he can be consistent like that throughout the
whole year, we’ll be in good shape.”
Rask wasn’t happy with the B’s start in New York, where the desperate
Rangers swarmed to a 2-0 lead after one period. And he wasn’t thrilled to
give up the OT winner to Marian Gaborik. But he liked most of what has
happened.
“It was a rough start,” he said. “We talked about it before the game, about
starting off good and matching their intensity. Unfortunately we didn’t do
that, but we battled back. It was a good point. We’ve got five of six points.
You’ve got to be satisfied with that. Again, our start (in New York) wasn’t
good enough. We’ve got to be better than that.”
Power-play pop
The Bruins finally scored a power-play goal, as Brad Marchand tipped in a
Dougie Hamilton setup. The B’s are 1-for-14 (7.1 percent) in three games, a
rough start for a unit that’s dragged the B’s down for years.
“I think we’ve done a pretty good job this year on our power play,” said
Marchand, a view also expressed by Julien and other Bruins. “We’ve had a
lot of opportunities and could have a few more goals. It’s always good to get
that first one out of the way; now we can continue to build.”
If the power play numbers are weak, the penalty kill is the best in the
league, killing all 14 man-downs.
“We’ve been tested a lot, not just 5-on-4s, but 5-on-3s and 4-on-3s, and at
really crucial times,” said Julien. “They’ve responded well. We’ve made
some adjustments with our PKs this year. We really want to be a little more
aggressive and pro-active versus passive. It’s been really good.”
Looch earns salute
Boston Herald LOADED: 01.25.2013
652469
Boston Bruins
Julien praises Rask
Stephen Harris / Boston Herald
WILMINGTON -- With his club off to a strong 2-0-1 start, Bruins coach
Claude Julien had good things to say early this afternoon about new No. 1
goalie Tuukka Rask. The B's, after losing in overtime the night before in
New York vs. the Rangers, host the New York Islanders tomorrow night.
The team got a day off yesterday.
"Tuukka's been good," said Julien of Rask, who in three games has a 1.94
goals-against average and .926 save percentage. "I think he's given us
exactly what we expected of him. He's been solid. If he can be consistent
like this throughout the whole year, we'll be in good shape."
Rask is generally pleased with his play, and the team's. "I'm more happy
with the team," he said. "We've gotten five out of six points. You've got to
be satisfied with that."
Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, who has missed the last two games with
an undisclosed lower-body ailment, said he is feeling pretty good and could
play if he had to. He will skate in the pre-game workout before the Isles
game and a decision on him will be made then.
A big topic of discussion around the B's room was the power play goal
netted by Brad Marchand Wednesday in New York, the B's only PPG in 14
chances in the three games.
652470
Boston Bruins
Dougie Hamilton’s play is ‘outstanding’
Steve Conroy / Boston Herald
NEW YORK —The maturation of Dougie Hamilton continued last night in
Madison Square Garden, and the 19-year-old defenseman is showing he’s
more than willing to take his forward steps as quickly as he can.
Hamilton notched the first point of his career, an assist on the Bruins’ first
goal of the night, getting them back into the game they eventually lost 4-3 in
overtime. But perhaps more importantly, his poise with the puck at both
ends of the ice is becoming more and more evident.
Though he was on the ice for Marian Gaborik’s second goal of the night in
the first period, Hamilton moved the puck well, looked for his shot in the
offensive zone (a team-high four shots) and earned enough confidence
from Claude Julien that the coach had him on the ice in the final seconds of
regulation. Deep in his own end, Hamilton calmly lifted the puck high into
the air and out of the zone to kill the clock.
Julien heaped praise on the youngster after the game.
“Anybody who saw this game tonight had to see this guy was outstanding.
Not good. Outstanding,” Julien said. “He was so poised and confident. If
anyone thinks he can’t play in this league, they should watch this game.”
Hamilton didn’t take a lot of joy in his milestone.
“It was the first road game, pretty cool for it to be here and it was pretty nice
to get that (point). But it sucks losing,” he said.
McQuaid stirs it up
Adam McQuaid was angered when Brian Boyle hit him in the foot with a
slapshot after the whistle late in the first period. McQuaid went right after
Boyle and landed a few good blows and, somewhat unwittingly, ignited his
team.
“It was more of a reactionary kind of thing,” McQuaid said. “I guess at that
point with the way the period went, we just needed something to get us
going. But it was just a reaction. I thought it was a late shot.”
McQuaid was rather surprised to get the extra two minutes for roughing.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but they felt I overreacted,” said McQuaid.
Julien was unhappy with another penalty that McQuaid took, though he was
not upset with his defenseman. Julien believed the Rangers Dan Girardi
embellished a boarding hit on McQuaid, putting the B’s down two men early
in the period.
“That’s what we have to get out of the game,” Julien said.
A grip on hands-off policy
Centermen are used to doing whatever it takes to win a faceoff.
But thanks to a new NHL rule, they have to eliminate one tactic. No longer
are players allowed to use their glove to swipe the puck back to a
teammate, unless a third player touches the puck first.
Doing so results in a two-minute minor penalty.
Bruins center Gregory Campbell almost found himself in the box in
Monday’s holiday matinee against the Jets when he dropped to his knees
and very nearly put his hand on the puck, but he remembered in the nick of
time that he couldn’t do it.
“At the last second, it came into my mind that you can’t put your hand on it,”
Campbell said prior to last night’s loss, adding that the linesman later
warned him about the possible infraction. “I think it’s a good rule. As a
centerman, I can relate to using your hand, your skate, your mouth,
whatever to win the draws. It’s a battle. But when you use your hand, it’s
almost like using your foot to score a goal. There are certain things you
should be able to do in hockey. Faceoffs should be won with the stick. .  .  . It
was obviously a good tactic to use when it was allowed, but I think it’s a fair
rule.”
Still, for the crime it seems like a stiff penalty, one that Penguins center
Brandon Sutter had to pay Sunday against the Rangers, putting his team
down two men.
“It’s tough,” said Campbell. “It’s almost like shooting the puck over the
glass. That’s a borderline penalty, too, I feel. A lot of times guys don’t mean
to do it, but that’s the rule.” .  .  .
Though he skated in the morning, defenseman Dennis Seidenberg missed
his second straight game with a lower body injury. He’s considered day-today.
652471
Boston Bruins
Long layoff hasn’t hurt Nathan Horton
Dan Duggan
NEW YORK — For Bruins right winger Nathan Horton, the best sign early in
the season is that he hasn’t thought twice about giving or taking a hit.
It would be understandable for Horton to be hesitant to undertake physical
play. When he stepped on the Garden ice for the season opener last
Saturday against the New York Rangers, it had been almost a year since
he had played a game.
The 2011-12 season ended prematurely for Horton after he suffered a
concussion last Jan.  22. That followed a severe concussion that resulted
from a devastating hit by Vancouver’s Aaron Rome in Game 3 of the 2011
Stanley Cup Finals.
That’s a scary history, but one that Horton has been able to set aside during
his return.
“I haven’t even thought of it,” Horton said before last night’s 4-3 overtime
loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. “It’s a non-issue. Especially
when you feel good, you don’t really have to think about it.”
That attitude allowed Horton to seamlessly regain his place on the first line
alongside center David Krejci and left winger Milan Lucic.
“He’s been great,” Krejci said. “I know it’s not easy for him. He hasn’t played
a game in like a year, but I think he’s responded pretty well. He’s trying to
keep things simple. He’s laying his body on guys. I like what I’ve seen so
far.”
The layoff didn’t have a negative impact on the conditioning of the 229pound Horton.
“He looks even better,” Krejci said. “He looks like he’s in great shape. He’s
skating well, he’s shooting well. We’ve been creating lots of chances.”
Horton finally cashed in one of those chances at an opportune time last
night. With the Bruins trailing by a goal, Horton collected a deflected pass
from Gregory Campbell at the top of the left circle and uncorked a wrister
that made it through traffic and into the back of the net with 4:23 left in
regulation.
Horton’s first goal in a year and four days lifted a weight off his shoulders.
“It’s nice,” Horton said. “Not that I was thinking too much about it, but I think
anyone would say it’s nice to get it out of the way.”
“Where a guy like that could be a real question mark after not playing in a
year, I think he’s been a real pleasant surprise,” said B’s coach Claude
Julien. “He’s one of the reasons right now that I think we’re doing fairly well,
because he has stabilized all our lines.”
The lockout caused everyone to be rusty early in the season, but it has had
a greater impact on Horton. He didn’t play overseas during the lockout, so
his preparation was reduced to the Bruins’ abbreviated week-long training
camp. With each passing day, his comfort level is increasing.
“I’m starting to feel better,” Horton said. “It’s definitely nice to be back. It’s
tough jumping into games for everyone, but we’re just trying to make the
best of it.”
652472
Boston Bruins
Tuukka Rask firmly entrenched
B’s new No.  1 in net shows all he’s up for task
Dan Duggan
NEW YORK — The fact that the Rangers’ last shot of the night wound up in
the Bruins net did little to diminish the performance of goalie Tuukka Rask.
The Bruins lost, 4-3, in overtime at Madison Square Garden last night, but
the only reason they secured one point in the standings was Rask’s clutch
play late in regulation.
The score was tied at 3 with less than a minute left in the third period when
New York’s Rick Nash streaked down the right wing with the puck. Nash
toasted Milan Lucic with a strong move along the boards and skated in
alone on Rask.
Rask stoned Nash’s shot, and was able to cover up as Marian Gaborik
attempted to stuff in the rebound.
“I think Looch was playing defense there and Nash just came around and
shot a low blocker,” Rask said. “I just had to react to that and then the
rebound was laying there. I don’t know if Gaborik got a shot off or not, but I
was just doing snow angels at that point.”
Rask’s saves allowed the Bruins to reach overtime, salvaging a point on a
night when they came out flat and fell into a 2-0 hole on a pair of Gaborik
goals in the first seven minutes.
“It was huge,” Lucic said of Rask’s effort. “He’s played real solid for us
these first three games. We said it before, we’re not looking at the past,
we’re looking at the future with what Tuukka can bring to this team and he’s
showed that so far.”
In overtime, Rask nearly pulled the Bruins out of the fire again, but Gaborik
wouldn’t be denied in his hat trick bid. After Andrew Ference failed to
handle a pass from Chris Kelly at New York’s blue line, Gaborik raced down
the loose puck at center ice and saw nothing but a clean sheet of ice.
Rask made a kick save on Gaborik’s initial attempt, but the rebound floated
straight up in the air. The Rangers right winger smoothly batted the puck
past a helpless Rask for the game-winner.
“He’s got a quick snap-shot so I just closed my five-hole, and then he bats it
out of the air,” Rask said. “That’s why he scored (41) goals last year.”
As evidenced by Lucic’s unprompted reference to the past, the shadow of
Tim Thomas will hang over Rask, at least early this season. But Rask said
he doesn’t feel any added pressure as the unquestioned No.  1 goalie during
Thomas’ sabbatical, and his play so far supports his statement.
“Tuukka has been good for us,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “He made
some big saves at the end to help us get at least one point. He’s been really
good. If anybody had any doubts about Tuukka, hopefully they’re erased by
now because he’s been solid in every game he’s played.”
652473
Boston Bruins
Bruins point to positives
NEW YORK — There was a lot to take from the Rangers’ 4-3 overtime
victory against the Bruins last night at Madison Square Garden, but here is
one thought: A seven-game playoff series between the teams would be
awfully fun to watch.
In a rematch of the season opener, the Rangers and Bruins staged a game
with playoff-like intensity that produced some terrific plays by New York’s
abundantly talented first line, terrific goaltending from Tuukka Rask to steal
a point and a little moxie from the B’s after the Rangers came out of the
gate breathing fire.
Objectively speaking, the only disappointment was that it ended so quickly
in overtime when Marian Gaborik completed his hat trick just 27 seconds
into the extra session. A Chris Kelly pass bounced over Andrew Ference’s
stick at the Rangers blue line, effectively teeing it up for the speedy
Gaborik.
Rask, who had robbed Rick Nash and Gaborik on the same sequence in
the final minute of regulation to preserve the point, made the first stop on
Gaborik, only to see him bat the rebound home out of midair.
“You can’t do much when he hits it out of the air like that,” said defenseman
Johnny Boychuk, who was in hopeless pursuit of Gaborik. “He’s a good
player. Obviously, he showed that tonight.”
The Rangers top line of Gaborik, Nash and Brad Richards was a threeheaded beast, especially in the early going when it staked the Blueshirts to
a 2-0 lead in the first 6:49.
The first goal, coming off a set play, was a thing of beauty. Defenseman
Michael Del Zotto started the sequence with a crisp pass up the middle of
the ice to Richards, who made a touch pass to Nash on the left wing that
split Bruins defenders and created a 2-on-1. Nash fed it over to Gaborik,
who waited until Rask was on his belly before lifting it into the top shelf from
a tough angle.
Then Gaborik got his second goal at 6:49 off a rebound of a Del Zotto shot
and, before his team was run out of the building, B’s coach Claude Julien
utilized his timeout. That stopped the bleeding.
“We weren’t sharp. We weren’t ready to play. Everything we talked about
before the game wasn’t happening,” said Julien, whose team knew the
previously winless Rangers would be desperate. “We had to get our heads
into it. And once we started that, you saw what was happening. We were
spending a lot of time in their end and doing all the things we were
supposed to.”
Another turning point came at 17:31 of the first. A fraction of a second after
the whistle for an offsides, Brian Boyle let a slapper go that caught Adam
McQuaid on the foot. Infuriated, McQuaid went right after Boyle and the two
big men threw down, with McQuaid landing the meaningful blows.
“It definitely woke up the team,” said Nathan Horton, who’d help the B’s get
a point with his first goal late in the third period. “He’s such a good guy and
a great teammate. To see him do that, makes everyone get up and play a
little stronger.”
The B’s killed off the Rangers power play (McQuaid got an extra two for
roughing) by playing mostly in the enemy end and then, carried the
momentum into the second. The B’s scored their first power-play goal of the
season at 1:05 with Brad Marchand tipping home a Dougie Hamilton shot (it
was Hamilton’s first NHL point) and then Milan Lucic tied the game at 12:24
when he was left all alone to score on his own rebound.
The B’s, however, gave it right back 46 seconds later. Shawn Thornton’s
clear attempt went off the boards to Derek Stepan, who fired a shot that
Taylor Pyatt tipped. Rask made that save, but Pyatt scored on the rebound.
In the third period, the B’s had to kill an early 5-on-3 for 1:13, which they did
to keep the deficit at a goal. Then Horton tied the game again with 4:23 left
in regulation..
652474
Boston Bruins
Bruins comeback falls short in OT
NEW YORK--The good news for the Bruisn was that they showed enough
gumption to get back into a game that had all the markings of a blowout
loss. The bad news iwas that they showed up late for the game with highpowered Rangers and never really got out of chase mode.
Still, they managed to get a point from the game at Madison Square Garden
before Marian Gaborik scored 27 seconds int overtime to left the Rangers
to a 4-3 win.
The B's, who never led, had clawed back from a two-goal deficit and then a
late one-goal deficit to send it into the extra session.
"I'm happy with the way we reacted after the first 10 minutes," said coach
Claude Julien. "We came for two points and we leave with one. But if we
can keep getting points in every game without leaving any behind, we're
going to be OK."
The B's scored their first power-play goal -- coming on Dougie Hamilton's
first career point on Brad Marchand's goal -- and remained perfect on the
penalty kill (14-for-14) on the season, with a big 5-on-3 kill in the third as
well as a late kill on a Daniel Paille penalty wiht 3:50 left in regulation.
Tuukka Rask made 29 saves, several of them spectacular, including saves
on Rick Nash and Gaborik on the same sequence in the final minute of
regulation.
The B's also got goals from Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton, his first of the
year that caem with 4:23 left in regulation that tied it and sent it to OT.
652475
Boston Bruins
Bruins fall to Rangers in OT
NEW YORK — Marian Gaborik notched a hat trick with his third goal just 27
seconds into overtime, lifting the Rangers to a 4-3 win and spoiling a
spirited comeback by the Bruins.
Tuukka Rask stopped the original shot, but Gaborik batted home the
rebound out of midair.
The B’s went into the third period down 3-2, but tied it with 4:23 left in
regulation. Andrew Ference stole a puck alongh the left boards and fed it
down to Gregory Campbell, who in turn dished it up high to Nathan Horton.
Horton ripped a wrist shot past Henrik Lundqvist and the score was
deadlocked at 3-3.
Daniel Paille took a tripping penalty with 3:50 left, but the B’s killed that off
and then Rask made two great saves in the final minute on the same
sequence, robbing Rick Nash and then thwarting Gaborik on the rebound.
At times in the first period, it looked like the Bruins might get blown out, but
they
shook off an early two-goal deficit and headed into the third period very
much in the game.
The Rangers’ obvious skill level, which was not evident in the previous
meeting last Saturday, was in full bloom in the first period when Gaborik,
teamed on a line with Nash and Brad Richards, staked the Blueshirts to a 20 lead with a pair of quick goals, and he very easily could have had a third.
First, he had a chance to jam home a loose puck that Rask left in his
crease, though Rask was able to stretch his body across the goal line to
keep the puck out and a video review backed that up.
But just 20 seconds later, the line combined for a goal that was a thing of
beauty. Defenseman Michael Del Zotto started the play with a crisp pass up
the middle of the ice to Richards, who made a touch pass to Nash on the
left wing to split Bruins defenders and create a 2-on-1. Nash fed it over to
Gaborik, who waited until Rask was on his belly before lifting the puck into
the top shelf from a tough angle at 4:30.
Gaborik got his second goal at 6:49 off a rebound of a Del Zotto shot and,
before his team was run out of the building, B’s coach Claude Julien called
a timeout and started using the Patrice Bergeron line against the Nash unit.
That settled things down a little bit, but it couldn’t create any scoring
chances for the B’s, nor could two power plays later in the period.
They managed two shots on the first one and none on the second.
Things got testy with 2:29 left in the period when, a half-second after a
whistle for an offside, Ranger Brian Boyle teed up a slapper that went off
Adam McQuaid’s skate. Infuriated, McQuaid went straight for Boyle and the
two big men exchanged punches with the Bruin landing the more
meaningful ones.
The B’s carried the momentum into the second period and cut the lead in
half with their first power-play goal of the season.
Marc Staal took a hooking penalty on the first shift of the period and the B’s
made him pay at 1:05. Rookie Dougie Hamilton, showing some nice poise
with the puck, fired a shot that went off defenseman Dan Girardi and Brad
Marchand then tapped the puck home for his second goal of the year. It
was the first point of Hamilton’s career.
The B’s got another power play when Taylor Pyatt was called for tripping at
5:21 and they applied a lot of pressure during the delayed call, but couldn’t
get much on the actual man-advantage.
Milan Lucic did get the B’s even at 12:24, however, when he was left alone
in front of the net. Lunqvist robbed him on his first offering, but Lucic was
able to gather the puck and score on the backhand at 12:24.
652476
Buffalo Sabres
’Canes break through on Sabres
BY: John Vogl /
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Buffalo Sabres were too careless with and without
the puck to keep up with Carolina. They have their first loss to prove it.
“We made some ill-advised decisions, and a lot of different guys, too,”
coach Lindy Ruff said after a 6-3 loss to the Hurricanes.
It seemed everyone from captain Jason Pominville to 18-year-old rookie
Mikhail Grigorenko had moments to forget Thursday night, and it led to a
game to forget. Carolina, which totaled just one goal during its opening two
losses, repeatedly ran away from the Sabres as the typically loud crowd in
PNC Arena roared.
“It wasn’t our best game,” Sabres center Tyler Ennis said. “We didn’t do the
right things with the puck. I was guilty of that, for sure. It was tough. We’ve
got to bounce back and be better.”
The Sabres get an immediate chance at redemption. The teams meet at 7
tonight in First Niagara Center.
Carolina captain Eric Staal scored three times and former Rookie of the
Year Jeff Skinner added two to propel the Hurricanes. They offset the nowexpected contributions of Thomas Vanek, Pominville and Cody Hodgson,
who combined for three goals and two assists and have reached the score
sheet in every game.
That line was hardly immune from mistakes, though, as it was on the ice for
five of Carolina’s six goals.
“They made some great plays and have done the bulk of our scoring,” Ruff
said, “but at the same time they were on for quite a few.”
After a scoreless first period, the teams kept the scoreboard operator busy
with a six-pack in the second. Carolina scored four times, including the final
two in just nine seconds after Buffalo tied the game.
“It’s just unfortunate that it happens when we battle back,” Pominville said.
Skinner opened the scoring 1:02 into the period. The Hurricanes’ shorthanded unit doubled the lead three minutes later, stealing a pass from
Pominville. Defenseman Justin Faulk bolted out of his zone along the right
wall to start a three-on-one. He got all the way to the faceoff dot in Buffalo’s
end and fired a slap shot between the pads of Jhonas Enroth, who finished
with 32 saves in his first start of the season.
“I’m very disappointed in myself,” said Enroth, who is winless in 12
decisions dating to Nov. 26, 2011. “I felt a little bit lost. I wasn’t really in the
right position on a couple of shots.”
The Sabres answered with a pair of goals midway through the period.
Hodgson made it 2-1 with 11:11 left. Pominville tied it with 9:21 to go while
horizontal in the slot as he reached out his stick while falling to deflect
Christian Ehrhoff’s point shot.
The tie was short-lived. Carolina’s two-goal flurry left Buffalo and its top two
centers reeling.
Skinner stole the puck from Hodgson behind the net and skated out front to
tuck it home before Enroth could react to the turnover. While the red-clad
crowd of 18,081 was still roaring, Staal beat Ennis on the center-ice faceoff
and got behind the center to accept a breakaway pass by defenseman
Jamie McBain.
“They capitalized on what we gave them,” Hodgson said.
The Sabres clawed back again with 6:06 gone in the third as Vanek
continued his MVP performance. The winger skated through the slot and
dished a no-look backhand pass onto the tape of the driving Pominville,
who pointed with glee at Vanek after the easy goal.
That was the last time Buffalo smiled. Staal went top shelf with a cross-ice
pass with 10:34 to play, then added an empty-net goal with 1:28 to go to
bring hats from the crowd 18,081.
Grigorenko played just 2:19 in the second period after a shaky first. He
finished with a shot and a giveaway in 11:47.
“We didn’t do the right things with the puck against a desperate team,” said
Ennis, who is one of eight forwards without a goal while Pominville,
Hodgson and Vanek have eight of the Sabres’ 10 tallies so far. “It’s
frustrating. They did everything they could offensively to get us the win. We
need some secondary scoring, so our line’s overdue. We need to have a
good one.”
Buffalo News LOADED: 01.25.2013
652477
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres notebook: Single rooms lead to uneasy quiet time
BY: John Vogl / News Sports Reporter | @BuffNewsVogl
RALEIGH, N.C. — Patrick Kaleta admits he’s a little paranoid on the road
now. He no longer has a roommate because of a new rule in the collective
bargaining agreement, and he’s worried he’ll miss a meeting, team meal or
bus ride to the rink.
“The past two times I’ve had guys make sure that I’m up,” the Buffalo
Sabres forward said Thursday. “It’s just the paranoia of making sure you’re
up and not being able to rely on your roommate in case you do forget.”
The Sabres have taken two trips so far, and everyone’s shown up for their
assignments. But the CBA addition has changed the road dynamic.
“Fifty percent of me likes it, 50 percent of me wishes I had a roommate to
talk to and hang out with,” Kaleta said.
The players have traded camaraderie for privacy with the new rule, which
entitles every player who is past his entry-level contract to his own hotel
room. While guys no longer have to deal with heavy snorers or someone
who likes to sleep with the television on while they prefer silence, there’s
also an aspect of loneliness.
There is ample downtime on the road — especially after nighttime arrivals
and between the morning skates and games — and teammates typically
bonded during the breaks.
“Now it’s a lot of hours where you’re spending time alone,” coach Lindy Ruff
said. “You have nobody to talk to. We’ve even had one request where guys
want to room together still, so I think it’s funny when you’re offered
something and all of a sudden you’re rooming by yourself and think, ‘You
know, this isn’t as fun as it used to be.’
“In the history of the game, you had a roommate that you could sit there for
a couple hours with and kibitz, talk hockey. Now you’re sitting in a room all
by yourself for a couple hours, and I think that’s a lot different.”
The only Sabres on their entry-level contracts are forwards Cody Hodgson,
Marcus Foligno and Mikhail Grigorenko. The other 20 players are free to
have their own room, though Thomas Vanek and Andrej Sekera elected to
share a suite in Raleigh. The old rule for a room was 600 games or 10
years in the NHL; only defenseman Robyn Regehr (905 games) and
forward Jochen Hecht (789) met that criteria.
Regehr occasionally misses bonding with roommates and says players
need to take steps to ensure teams stay tight.
“When I really enjoyed them was after a game,” Regehr said. “You’re
traveling and you get into some other city, and it’s very hard to get to sleep
anyway because you’re wound up. We sit around, talk a little bit — we call it
the hot stove — so we just sit around and have a little hot stove. You talk
about whatever. Usually it is hockey, but you can just talk about whatever
you feel like. Usually, you get a chance to really get to know that person a
lot better.
“There is an element there that I think we’ll miss out on.”
...
Hall of Fame broadcaster Rick Jeanneret, who has not called a game this
season while recovering from an illness, is not expected to return to the
booth until Sunday in Washington at the earliest.
He didn’t make the trip to Carolina for Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the
Hurricanes, and he will miss the rematch tonight in First Niagara Center.
...
The Sabres have placed forward Ville Leino on injured reserve with a leg
injury. The move is retroactive to Sunday. Leino, who did not accompany
the Sabres to Carolina, is eligible to return after seven days.
The move cleared a roster spot for forward Nathan Gerbe, who was
activated from IR and made his season debut. Gerbe had a rough welcome
to the lineup. He dumped the puck into the Carolina zone midway through
the first period and was rudely crushed into the boards from behind by
winger Drayson Bowman.
Gerbe said Wednesday he was looking forward to the first test on his
surgically repaired back, but being the recipient of a boarding penalty was
obviously not what he had in mind. He angrily joined a scrum after the hit to
go after Bowman.
“That’s something that made me go in for the back surgery from the start,”
Gerbe said. “I’m expecting to be sore. Right now it’s not too bad, but I’m
sure [today] it’ll be a different story.”
...
The Sabres’ second annual “Bowl-A-Rama” will be held from 2 to 6 p.m.
Feb. 24 at Transit Lanes. Entry for a team of five bowlers, age 21 and over,
starts at $1,000 and features an opportunity to bowl with a Sabres player or
celebrity. See Sabres.com/bowling for details.
...
Buffalo fans had a record-setting response last week to the Sabres’ 50
percent off sale to welcome back the NHL. The Sabres sold nearly 50,000
pieces of merchandise, a total that eclipsed the entire 2010-11 season.
More than 8,000 jerseys and 9,000 hats were sold at the Sabres Store in
the arena.
email: [email protected]
652478
Buffalo Sabres
From the Sabres' dressing room following 6-3 loss to Hurricanes
By John Vogl
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Sabres were universal in saying what caused their 63 loss to Carolina on Thursday night.
"We didn’t do the right things with the puck," Tyler Ennis said.
"It comes down to being better with the puck," Jason Pominville added.
"We didn’t take very good care of the puck," coach Lindy Ruff said.
Cody Hodgson said it, too, but you get the point.
It doesn't help when the top line of Hodgson, Pominville and Thomas Vanek
is on the ice for five of six goals against. They also scored all three, with
Pominville (two) and Hodgson each running their totals to three for the
season. Vanek had two assists to bring his total to six.
"That line has played well for us," Ruff said. "They made some great plays
and have done the bulk of our scoring, but at the same time they were on
for quite a few."
Nathan Gerbe had a rough return from offseason back surgery. He got
boarded in the first period by Drayson Bowman.
"That’s something that made me go in for the back surgery from the start,"
sure tomorrow it’ll be a different story.”
Lindy Ruff
Tyler Ennis
652479
Buffalo Sabres
From the Sabres' dressing room following 6-3 loss to Hurricanes
By John Vogl
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Sabres were universal in saying what caused their 63 loss to Carolina on Thursday night.
"We didn’t do the right things with the puck," Tyler Ennis said.
"It comes down to being better with the puck," Jason Pominville added.
"We didn’t take very good care of the puck," coach Lindy Ruff said.
Cody Hodgson said it, too, but you get the point.
It doesn't help when the top line of Hodgson, Pominville and Thomas Vanek
is on the ice for five of six goals against. They also scored all three, with
Pominville (two) and Hodgson each running their totals to three for the
season. Vanek had two assists to bring his total to six.
"That line has played well for us," Ruff said. "They made some great plays
and have done the bulk of our scoring, but at the same time they were on
for quite a few."
Nathan Gerbe had a rough return from offseason back surgery. He got
boarded in the first period by Drayson Bowman.
"That’s something that made me go in for the back surgery from the start,"
sure tomorrow it’ll be a different story.”
Lindy Ruff
Tyler Ennis
652480
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres' Grigorenko focused on next game, not five games
By John Vogl
If Mikhail Grigorenko plays both games of the back-to-back set with
Carolina (the Sabres visit the Hurricanes tonight and host them Friday),
Grigorenko will have used up four games of his five-game tryout.
The Sabres say they’re still deciding whether to keep the 18-year-old or
return him to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Quebec coach
Patrick Roy told the Canadian Press he doesn’t expect the center to return.
Roy said he’s been impressed with Grigorenko’s defensive showing in the
NHL so far.
“We’ll really evaluate everything,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “What’s
the best for him? What’s the best to push him to the next level? Can he help
us win? Can he help us win in the role he’s at? All those things will go into
consideration.
“We want to do what’s the best for us to win hockey games.”
Said Grigorenko linemate Steve Ott: “Points are one thing, but the Buffalo
Sabres are 2-0. If they want to look at him individually that’s one thing, but
the consistency through the lineup I think is the most important thing.”
Grigorenko insists he’s not fazed by the rapidly dwindling tryout period and
the impending decision.
“I don’t really think about this,” he said. “I just come every day to the arena
and try to think about the present, just get ready for practice, get ready for
next game. I don’t think about what’s going to happen in one week, what’s
going to happen next weekend or something. For now, I’m just getting
ready for [today’s] game.
“I’ve adjusted to the speed. Now I’ve just need to bring my skill to this
lineup.”
652481
Buffalo Sabres
Break offers chance for Amerks, Sabres to set rosters
Kevin Oklobzija
Rochester Americans coach Ron Rolston won’t have any decisions to make
when it comes to determining his lineup Friday night.
He has just enough healthy players to fill the 18 spots: 12 at forward and six
on defense for the 7:05 p.m. home game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Penguins.
Because of injuries to Zemgus Girgensons (concussion) and Drew
Schiestel (knee), and with defenseman Matt MacKenzie
(concussion/personal leave) still unavailable, there are no extras.
The lack of flexibilty is hardly ideal for Rolston, but help could be on the way
next week following the American Hockey League All-Star break.
The Amerks play just the Friday game this weekend, then are idle again
until the following Friday when the Toronto Marlies come to town. They
begin the All-Star break following the game.
“It would be an issue if somebody gets hurt,” Rolston said. “but we’re at a
good spot where we have the break. A lot of things still have to be ironed
out in Buffalo.”
Indeed, NHL roster moves will eventually be necessary with the parent
Sabres. They already have two extra defensemen (T.J. Brennan and Mike
Weber haven’t been playing). When Ville Leino (lower body) and Cody
McCormick (hand) come off injured reserve, there will be two extra
forwards.
Leino went on IR Thursday, retroactive to Sunday, as Nathan Gerbe was
activated.
There also has not been a decision on what will be done long term with 18year-old rookie center Mikhail Grigorenko. He is eligible to return to his
junior team. If the Sabres keep him for more than five games, then the clock
starts counting down on his entry-level contract.
If the Sabres keep Grigorenko and don’t make a trade to alleviate their
logjam on defense, then they will need to expose players to waivers in order
to clear roster space.
That, of course, assumes they aren’t impacted by more injuries. But in the
shortened season, with 48 games jammed into a 97-day calendar template,
they fear that there will be more injuries than in a normal season.
All of which would impact the Amerks. Roslton said there have been
discussions on whether moves need to be made to fortify the AHL roster,
but that they are in more of a wait-and-see mode going into the All-Star
break.
In the meantime, goalie David Leggio just keeps playing. Friday will be his
13th consecutive start. With so few games on the schedule — just two each
of the past two weeks and just two in each of the next three weeks — it’s
impossible to keep two goalies sharp.
So Rolston has chosen make sure Leggio gets the necessary work. Rookie
Connor Knapp must make the most of practice time.
Leggio leads the AHL in wins (20), minutes played (2,001:30) and saves
(1,003). He has a 2.91 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.
[email protected]
Democrat and Chronicle LOADED: 01.25.2013
652482
Calgary Flames
reinvent itself; Edmonton, a team beginning to take shape and most
definitely on the rise.
Edmonton hasn’t had the jump on Calgary since 2002-2003 season
Worse, the Oilers play that brand of hockey that Calgary’s new headmaster
Bob Hartley daydreams of from his group. With style, speed and sass.
Panache and push. The Flames have injected Sven Baertschi on the big
team now, and have some interesting kids on the way, but Edmonton’s
young turks are miles ahead in the development department.
By GEORGE JOHNSON, Calgary Herald January 25, 2013 12:02 AM
At some point, and soon, odds are all that potential they’ve amassed will
translate into production.
Is this, finally, the year? The day of reckoning this town has secretly
dreaded, knew had to arrive someday, deep in its most insecure places. Is
that the northern wolf we hear clawing frantically at the door?
So with the first meeting of the shortened season between the despised
rivals set for Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, Hockey Night in
Canada coast-to-coast, no less, we’ll get some preliminary indications of
what’s in store over the next 45 games.
Johnson: Is this the year the Oilers pass the Flames?
If so, those nutty Mayans were right. Guilty, only, of being off by a few
months.
The end of the world as we know it.
A decade, all the way back to 2002-2003, has passed since the Edmonton
Oilers finished with more points in the National Hockey League standings
than the Calgary Flames.
So very long ago, do you think?
Well, back then, Jussi (Rebound) Markkanen and Tommy Salo were the
tandem tending twine for Edmonton. Current Oilers Ryan Smyth and Shawn
Horcoff were around in that era, believe it or not, and are actually old
enough to recount ancient history.
Ales Hemsky was an apple-cheeked rookie, the ever-quotable MacT was
behind the bench and the building just off Wayne Gretzky Drive still went by
Skyreach Centre.
That year, Miikka Kiprusoff continued to loiter without intent in San Jose as
a backup to Evgeni Nabokov, going 5-14 with an unprepossessing 3.25
GAA. The acidic Darryl Sutter was gonged in the Silicon Valley after a poor
start and then hired by the Flames to replace the ousted Greg Gilbert just
before New Year’s, revitalizing a franchise in the process.
So yes, it was a while ago. Or at least, sure seems that way.
In the intervening seasons, even as things began to erode here, as the
once seemingly-omnipotent Sutter regime cracked and broke, at least the
local citizenry had provincial superiority to cling to in otherwise troubled
times.
“Yeah,” you’d hear folks hereabouts sputter self-righteously, “but at least
we’re not as bad as, as ... the Oilers!?”
Three years orphaned from the playoffs? Pah! Child’s play! Edmonton’s run
on ineptitude is double that!
Why, even when the Oil went on one of those wildly improbable one-offs all
the way to the 2006 Stanley Cup finals (much as Calgary had only two
seasons before), the Flames had ’em over the 82 regular-season-game
haul, by eight points, topping the division.
Sanity, naturally, was quickly restored.
But even as the wisecracks about that out-of-date City of Champions relic
signage outside the Edmonton city limits continued unabated, the Oilers,
out of blind luck more than astute planning, were stockpiling more
diamonds than you’ll find in the most potent of Botswanan mines in South
Africa.
Jordan Eberle in 2008. Taylor Hall in 2010. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in 2011.
Dazzling, uncut gems. Just waiting for the right polish, a little refinement.
And now, having added yet another No. 1, Nail Yakupov, along with the de
facto most-sought-after free agent on the market last summer, Wisconsin
defenceman Justin Schultz, more and more people firmly believe the tide
has shifted, at least within the provincial borders.
Maybe, in the not too distant future, far, far outside them, as well.
Why, in his pre-season power rankings Adrian Dater of SI.com had the
audacity to pick the Oilers third, OVERALL, with the Flames a distant,
defeated 24th. That seems a bit of a stretch, given the thinness on the
Edmonton blueline and the lack of a game-swiping goaltender.
Still, head-to-head, Calgary is universally regarded as the group caught in
the arthritic throes of decline, only now in the early stages of trying to
Calgary has stumbled out of the gate, 0-2-1, as it adjusts to Hartley’s ways,
while the Oilers’ amazing comeback with 4.7 seconds left in regulation to
win in OT has them at 2-1, and three points ahead of the Flames.
So is this, finally, the year? Have we at least reached the day of reckoning
this town has secretly feared? Were the Mayans actually right, if off a little
in the actual timing?
Are Hall, Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins and the rest ready at last to end a decade
of provincial regular-season subservience?
And when they push, as they’ve shown every intention of doing to start this
season, how hard will the Flames push back?
Yes, that is the northern wolf clawing frantically at the door. And if it
somehow gets in, heaven only knows how long it’ll take to shoo the damn
thing out.
George Johnson is the Herald’s sports columnist. E-mail him at
[email protected]
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652483
Calgary Flames
Emotional Hudler returns to Flames fold
Veteran gets in a game of light-hearted shinny with Calgary coaches after
returning from father’s funeral
By KRISTEN ODLAND, Calgary Herald January 24, 2013
First, it was the coaches and three players.
“I sat with him (Thursday) morning,” Hartley said. “Obviously, we’ve all been
there at one point in our lives. It’s not something you want, but,
unfortunately, it’s part of life. He’s doing good. Like I told you, he had to
handle all of the business being an only child. It was tough.
“He’s here and he’s happy to be with us.”
Grief comes in many different forms and takes time to process — Hartley,
for one, understands it doesn’t happen overnight. Having lost his father at
age 18, he is sensitive to the fact that Hudler will be playing through pain.
“I told him I was sorry he didn’t make it on time to see his dad still alive,”
Hartley said. “I think you can draw motivation from this. I’m sure Jiri will play
this season in honour of his dad. I think that’s the way he would handle this
thing.
Then, Calgary Flames strength and conditioning coach Rich Hesketh joined
and strapped on a pair of goalie pads.
“We’re all different. But in situations like this, we’re all the same.”
But things really heated up when a Stanley Cup-replica trophy — OK, an
old pail and salad bowl wrapped in tin foil made by head boss Bob Hartley
earlier in the day — was trotted out, signalling something was on the line
during a quick four-on-four scrimmage to wrap up Thursday’s skate at the
Scotiabank Saddledome.
Hudler was thankful for the support of his new teammates, coaching staff,
and ownership group.
And breathe easy, folks. It was Jiri Hudler, Roman Cervenka, and Anton
Babchuk along with goalie coach Clint Malarchuk who came out on top
versus Hartley, Craig Conroy, and Flames’ assistant coaches Martin
Gelinas and Jacques Cloutier.
When the Flames learned of Hudler’s ailing father, who was only 50, the
organization understood his circumstances.
“They’ve been really good to me, same as the support from the Detroit Red
Wings,” he said. “I had a lot of calls from all of my friends and teammates
there and, as well, from the office and ownership.”
“I did take some time, but I cannot sit on my ass for the rest of the season
thinking about bad things.
“It looked fun at the end, but it was a really tough practice,” said Hudler,
cracking a smile. “I think they wanted to look like they’re in better shape
than us.
“We have to get back and get your mind on what you love the most and
that’s hockey.”
“Martin Gelinas probably is.”
And his evaluation of his new club’s 0-2-1 start?
Hartley, on the other hand, wasn’t as thrilled (“A big loss,” he joked)
however, like always, there was a method behind his madness.
“All three games have been tough,” said Hudler who had 25 goals and 25
assists in 81 games last season with Detroit. “The first game, I thought it
could be 4-0 the first period. We could have won all three. We’re going to
win at one point.
“Jacques and I had this going in Colorado and players always want to beat
the coaches,” Hartley explained. “At the same time, it was a great workout
before. We just want to show that we’re very demanding, but this game is
about fun.
“You want guys to come to the rink with a smile and that’s the culture we’re
trying to establish here.”
The practice was really the first day back at the office for all three players
who, before the scrimmage, were put through the paces by Hartley and Co.
And, truthfully, the boss felt an element of competition was important.
Babchuk has been skating, trying to recover from a shoulder injury, and so
has Cervenka who was dealing with a blood clot and was finally cleared
Tuesday after a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.
However, understandably, Hudler hasn’t hit the ice with the coaching staff
since he left during the Flames training camp when his father, Jiri Sr.,
passed away on Jan. 14 in the Czech Republic.
Thursday was also his first time addressing the media since he took a brief
bereavement leave and missed the first three games of the Flames’
salvaged 2012-13 NHL season.
“I didn’t skate once there, I didn’t have time,” said Hudler who arrived on
Tuesday and practised with the Calgary Hitmen on Wednesday. “But, I feel
a lot better than I did when I was leaving from training camp.”
And, for the time being, any form of hockey — or laughter — is a welcome
distraction.
“I don’t know if it makes it easier, but I know it’s a lot better for everyone,”
said an emotional Hudler. “I really appreciated the Flames organization for
letting me go home and spend some time there and take care of a lot of
stuff.
“Like I said, I’m excited to be back and playing hockey again.”
An only child who was raised by his dad and grandmother, the 29-year-old
native of Olomouc, Czech Republic, spent the majority of last week
preoccupied, although he did manage to catch all three of the Flames
games on the Internet.
Meanwhile in Calgary, Hudler, an off-season signing from the Detroit Red
Wings who is at the start of a four-year deal with the team, was in the
team’s thoughts.
“We’ve got to battle back.”
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Calgary Flames
Cervenka ready to play on the ice, but Czech still faces steep learning
curve off the ice
English mastery not there yet, but Hudler helping nicely with the transition
for new Flame
“Of course, it’s tough,” he said. “You live in some life at home. You’re used
to a lot of stuff. You come here and everything is new. People speak a
different language. You don’t understand. You don’t speak. You cannot tell
them how you feel. You cannot go for groceries. Little things like that. That’s
normal for everyone coming here from Europe. That’s what I’m here for. To
help him. The Flames organization is doing a great job of helping him with
that as well.
“That’s not going to be a problem.”
Cervenka, he says, gets it.
By KRISTEN ODLAND, Calgary Herald January 25, 2013 12:02 AM
The Calgary Flames are happy to report that Roman Cervenka is good to
go and his on-ice debut is drawing near.
But his conversational use of the English language? Still day-to-day.
The coaching staff and his teammates are still relying on fellow Czech Jiri
Hudler for translation for matters such as . . . well, everything. The 27-yearold Kontinental Hockey League star was cleared to return to practice on
Tuesday following an appointment with a specialist at the Mayo Clinic in
Phoenix.
He, along with defenceman Anton Babchuk and Hudler, skated with the
Hitmen on Wednesday and were put through the paces by the Flames
coaching staff Thursday upon their return from Vancouver.
“He’s real happy, coming back from Phoenix,” reported Hudler. “The doctor
told him he was cleared to play. That was his dream (to play in the NHL). I
told him, don’t be over-excited.
“Just play your game.”
Head coach Bob Hartley got a feel for the players’ progress on Thursday.
Following Friday’s practice, he’ll make the final call if they make their 201213 season debuts Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers on Hockey Night
in Canada.
“Those guys have travelled, especially Jiri (who was dealing with the death
of his father in the Czech Republic,” Hartley said. “I want to make sure
they’re comfortable with it. We’ll see (Friday) and sit later (Thursday) and
we’ll make plans. (Friday) we’ll practise and after we’ll decide on the Oilers.
“Whenever you have new players, we’re reviewing the entire system to
make sure they understand. Roman has been sitting in all of our meetings,
but (Friday) he’ll get a real feel.”
After Thursday’s skate, however, it was evident that his Kontinental Hockey
League stats (23 goals and 16 assists in 54 games last year and 31 goals
and 30 assists in 51 games during the 2010-11 season for Avangard Omsk)
weren’t made up. Hartley feels the five-foot-11 201 pound centreman is the
real deal.
“I think he’s going to be a real good hockey player,” he said. “I’ve talked to
many guys in Europe. They say he’s a gifted, gifted player. You saw him
shooting on the goalies. He knows what to do with the puck and he’s fairly
strong. If you see the frame he has on him, he puts in lots of hours in the
gym and he’s a good athlete. He wants to do good.
“It’s unfortunate what happened to him, but we all know that’s part of the
game.”
It’s hard to say where Cervenka will be pencilled in but there is natural
chemistry forming with Hudler. For one, the two can communicate to each
other.
However, at this point, Hartley and Cervenka (via translation, of course) are
open to ideas.
“Roman’s English is fairly good, but not that you can get a feel of what he
really wants,” Hartley said. “It might be a natural to try them together,
especially to start to ease the way with Roman. He’s a very open-minded
guy, he’s a fun guy. He smiles. He laughs. It’s his first time to North
America.”
Definitely an adjustment period.
Hudler, himself, made the transition during the 2003-04 season, playing 12
games with the Red Wings and spending time in the American Hockey
League. At the time, he was 19, trying to learn a foreign language in a
foreign country. So, Hudler feels for Cervenka’s growing pains off the ice.
“He’s just asking questions and I’m not coming to him every day,” Hudler
added. “He’s a grown man and really smart player. He’s going to figure it
out. Obviously we’re going to have meetings and he’s going to ask me
some questions and I’m going to be there. We’re just talking about hockey.
“There’s a lot of hockey on TV right now. It’s all hockey.”
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652485
Calgary Flames
Baertschi settling in and learning the ropes with the big club
“I think because it’s my strongest skill,” he continues. “You want to make
your strongest skill even better. So I’ve been working on that every day.
There’s certain guys that sometimes maybe ask for something — or look at
it — and try to do the same things.”
Calgary’s biggest hope for the future is ready to contribute now
He laughs.
“But I don’t think there’s too much they can take from me.”
By Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald January 25, 2013 12:02 AM
One thing that’s undeniable, Baertschi is enjoying his first elongated taste of
the NHL.
It is the royal treatment. Even more glamorous than expected.
Sven Baertschi was struck by something the other night.
Watching a telecast of the Edmonton Oilers’ home-opener, he noticed the
power play — specifically, the age of its participants.
“I looked one time and there was no one over 25 — kind of cool to see,”
Baertschi is saying in the Calgary Flames dressing room. “You know what?
It’s exciting for a club when they have that many young guys. Because they
didn’t do that well, they were able to get really high picks. You can tell
they’re rebuilding the whole thing. They’re fun to watch.
“Their whole lineup is pretty special.”
Which makes for a striking contrast in the Battle of Alberta (which, by the
way, is renewed Saturday at the Scotiabank Saddledome).
The Oilers’ high-profile plums are getting better together, growing up
together. One big, happy family.
Baertschi, meanwhile, is an only child of sorts.
The lone freshman in the Flames’ lineup, his seasoning is being provided in
a cauldron of old pros. In his eyes, though, that’s a good thing — plenty of
experience to rub off, plenty of know-how to absorb.
“You’re around guys that have played in this league for a long time — guys
that won Olympics, world championships,” says Baertschi, 20. “It’s
awesome to have these guys around. They’ve been through what I am
(going through) right now. It’s great to have them around to help you out
with everything. It makes it a little easier.
“I really try to watch what the guys do, try to figure out what they actually
want to do . . . so I’m trying to figure out my own way to do it. Hockey-wise
out on the ice, there’s certain things that they do a lot different than me. So
I’m trying to learn from everyone in the locker-room.”
In particular, from his next-stall neighbour Jarome Iginla.
“I look at him and his best things,” says Baertschi. “With his shot, his onetimer, all that stuff. I try to take these things out and watch what he does,
bring it into my own game. And there’s (Michael Cammalleri) and his wrist
shot — I can learn from these things. Everyone in here — you’ve got to
watch and take out the best things.”
What, wondered one interrogator, could the team’s old-timers learn from
him?
A gabby delight, Baertschi is nevertheless stumped. He stalls by taking a
big slug of blue Gatorade.
“Maybe you’ve got to ask somebody,” he then chuckles.
He decides to canvass the dressing room for suggestions. Nearest happens
to be Alex Tanguay.
“Tangs, what is something you can learn from me?”
Walking away, Tanguay chirps over his shoulder: “German.”
Baertschi gets a kick out of the quip.
Nevertheless, eager to please, the Swiss kid is determined to provide his
own response. Finally, he comes up with something he brings to the table
— skill. Not necessarily teaching the grown-ups how to play with finesse,
more like setting an example with his devotion to the finer points.
“I’ve been working on it for 10 years, every single day,” Baertschi says, “to
make my hands smoother. Go with the sandpaper and make them sharp,
make them smooth.”
It’s worth noting that this explanation comes with a demonstration.
While chatting, Baertschi actually pretends to sand his mitts.
“You’ve got a red carpet in front of you,” Baertschi says. “The food, the
plane, all that stuff. Like, there’s food at the rink all day. There’s somebody
cooking food all day for us. That’s something I didn’t think of. You don’t
have to worry about being hungry. It makes your life much easier.
“But you’ve got to be careful, because the food’s really good. It’s delicious.”
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Calgary Flames
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Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.25.2013
Francis: Flames stats man sees plenty of overtime
By Eric Francis
,Calgary Sun
Chris Snow is paid by the Calgary Flames to predict the future.
General manager Jay Feaster asked the Flames resident video and stat
guru weeks ago what could be expected from the hastily-organized season
and his answer is music to hockey fans' ears: More overtime, more
shootouts and more goals.
"The rate of overtime games when teams play out of conference is about
13%, which is half what it is when you play in conference where it's around
25%," said Snow, hired last year from Minnesota where he was Director of
Hockey Operations for the Wild.
"Because all games will be in conference, I think we'll see a lot of overtime
games, maybe as many as one out of three games."
His explanation for the increased number of tight games stems from the fact
teams know each other better in conference, and because points are at
such a premium in the shortened season, few teams will be willing to take
risks in the final minutes of a game. They'll get their one point and take their
chances in extra time.
Snow also believes, because no points can be lost to another conference,
the point totals needed to make the playoffs this year will be higher than
other years (pro-rated, of course).
"Pro-rated from last year, it was 55 or 56 points, but this year it will be
higher -- maybe 58 or 60," said Snow.
"When you play against an east team, two points could to go to other
conference or none, whereas if it's west-versus-west, the two outcomes are
three points or two.
The increased number of goals he projects stem from the mistakes teams
are prone to make thanks to a shortened camp and the fact video gurus like
himself have very little tape to analyze what the opposition's tendencies
are.
Now for more notes, quotes and anecdotes from a sports world so upset at
the lockout a season-opening record one million viewers tuned in for the
Flames season-opener on Sportsnet West.
AROUND THE HORN: All the talk about the Flames being one of the
smallest teams in the league can be backed up empirically. The Flames'
opening-night roster saw the team's average player weigh in at 195 lb., the
lightest in the league. The San Jose Sharks lead all clubs at 210 lb.,
followed by the defending champion L.A. Kings at 209. The Wild, the
Montreal Canadiens and the Dallas Stars are the only other teams
averaging under 200 lb. The Flames average age of 28.3-years-old ranks
them 14th. The Florida Panthers and the New Jersey Devils are the oldest
at 29.7 years, while the youngest squads are the Columbus Blue Jackets
(26.9), the Kings, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Carolina Hurricanes and the
Winnipeg Jets, which are all tied at 27.3 ... Can we please stop calling the
Vancouver Canucks' goaltending situation a "controversy" or "distraction."
Fact is, it's a luxury. The players and goalies have easily dealt with it for
well over a year now and GM Mike Gillis will trade Roberto Luongo only
when other teams' goalie problems mount and someone meets his high
asking price. Until then, the Canucks have one of the best tandems in the
league ... After years of broadcasting from the Toronto studio, Ron
MacLean and Don Cherry will do HNIC Saturday from the Saddledome.
PARTING GIFTS: Funny thing about the ATB Financial commercial that
sees Mark Giordano slam one of Vancouver's Green Men into the glass:
The real Green Men were asked to audition for the part but didn't get the
gig. "I heard about that!" said the Flames blueliner, laughing when asked if
it would have meant more to be able to hit one of the real dudes: "I think the
symbolism is still there." "¦ Interestingly, the Green Men have just come out
with a book called Behind the Green "¦ Coming soon to a TV near you: Fight
League, a specialty channel that goes against the golden rule of hockey
pools: No talking about your team to anyone outside your league. After all,
nobody cares. The channel will be devoted to fantasy sports, allowing
people to call in asking for advice or to discuss players with hosts or others
playing fantasy sports. In other words, TV has reached a new low.
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Calgary Flames
Hartley wanted veterans to shoot first
By WES GILBERTSON
,Calgary Sun
Acknowledging Thursday that “the second-guessing game is any easy one,”
the Calgary Flames head coach defended his decision to leave rookie Sven
Baertschi on the bench for Wednesday’s shootout against the Vancouver
Canucks.
“The first game, we felt we would go with the veterans,” Hartley explained.
“We were looking for our first win and we felt that we went with the guys
that were the best suited for this.”
Alex Tanguay was the Flames’ only successful shooter in Wednesday’s
skills-competition. Jarome Iginla, Michael Cammalleri, Lee Stempniak and
Curtis Glencross each failed on their attempts as the Canucks claimed a 32 victory on a smooth deke by Zack Kassian in the fifth round of the
showdown.
Baertschi scored once on three shootout attempts with the AHL’s
Abbotsford Heat during the lockout. For what it’s worth, the 20-year-old
winger didn’t have any shots on goal against the Canucks in Wednesday’s
tilt at Rogers Arena.
“I like to look at how the guy performs in the game also, if I feel he’s in the
game,” Hartley said. “It’s a little bit of a gut feeling. You have to go with who
you feel is going to get it.”
Hartley added that Jiri Hudler, who was 5-of-11 in the shootout last season
as a member of the Detroit Red Wings and will likely make his Flames
debut in Saturday’s faceoff with the Edmonton Oilers at the Saddledome,
would have been among his top choices.
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Calgary Flames
Defenceman Justin Schultz, 22, is expected to make a compelling case for
the Calder Trophy in his first season after leaving the University of
Wisconsin.
Flames' Baertschi taking in teammates' wisdom
The old man on the group is winger Jordan Eberle, also 22, a former worldjunior hero who already has made an NHL All-Star Game appearance.
By WES GILBERTSON
“I looked at their powerplay one time, and I think there was no one over 25,”
Baertschi marvelled.
,Calgary Sun
For a few moments, Calgary Flames rookie Sven Baertschi had been
rattling on about all the things he’s already learned since arriving at the
Saddledome.
That’s not the case in Calgary, where the average age of the top manadvantage unit — Tanguay, Michael Cammalleri (30), Curtis Glencross
(30), Jarome Iginla (35) and Dennis Wideman (29) — is north of 30.
On the ice.
While the Oilers already employ their youngsters as go-to guys (they don’t
have much choice), Baertschi is more like the little brother in Cowtown.
Off the ice.
Just watch and learn.
Lessons for the game of hockey and the game of life.
You’ll be in a starring role soon enough.
The 20-year-old left-winger was stumped, though, when asked what his
older teammates might be able to learn from him.
“It’s different (than the situation in Edmonton), but it also has its really good
parts because you’re around guys that have played in this league for a long
time. Guys that won Olympics, won world championships. That’s awesome
to have these guys around. They’ve been through what I am in right now,”
Baertschi said.
“I don’t know,” Baertschi responded. “I’ve maybe got to ask somebody.”
Almost on cue, Flames centre Alex Tanguay — with 885 regular-season
outings already on his resume and a few good seasons still under his
skates — wandered by en route to the team bus.
Piping up, Baertschi stopped his 33-year-old teammate in his tracks.
“Tangs, what would be something you could learn from me?”
“I really try to watch what the guys do, try to figure what they actually want
to do and try to figure out my own way to do it. Hockey-wise, out there on
the ice, there’s certain things that they do a lot different than me. I’m trying
to adjust to it. I’m trying to learn from everybody in the locker-room.
“German.”
“Like Jarome, I look at him and his best things. With his shot, with the onetimer and all that stuff, I try to take these things out and watch what he does
and bring it into my own game. There’s other guys here. Cammy, with his
wrist-shot. Everybody in here ...
The kid was immediately satisfied.
“You’ve just gotta watch and take out the best things all the time.”
“German! They could learn my language.”
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Baertschi’s English is not an issue.
A brief pause, a quizzical look and then ...
However, something about this scenario still feels a bit foreign around the
Saddledome — a young guy with oodles of offensive talent, an oddity for an
organization that hasn’t had a fab freshman in what seems like forever.
Baertschi didn’t have his finest performance in Wednesday’s 3-2 shootout
loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena, where he didn’t manage a
shot on goal in 11:57 of ice-time and failed to clear the puck out of the
defensive zone on a long shift in the third period.
Still, the Twitterverse erupted with questions about why Flames head coach
Bob Hartley didn’t use the Swiss star-in-the-making in a shootout that lasted
five rounds.
The young guy has smooth moves.
His teammates, without a doubt, have noticed.
“Maybe some guys ask me, skill-wise, things I do out there on the ice,
certain moves and all that stuff,” Baertschi said after Wednesday’s morning
skate in Vancouver, choosing his words carefully so he wouldn’t insult any
of the vets.
“But that’s just because I’ve been working on it for 10 years already, every
single day to make my hands smoother. Go with the sand-paper and, you
know, make ’em sharp, make ’em smooth. I think because it’s my strongest
skill, you want to make your strongest skill even better, and so I’ve been
working on it every day.”
Baertschi, who is still seeking his first point after three games of the
shortened season, remains a work in progress.
The Flames will entertain the Edmonton Oilers in Saturday’s Hockey Night
In Canada clash (8 p.m., CBC) at the Saddledome, giving the former
Portland Winterhawks standout — selected at No. 13 in the 2011 NHL Entry
Draft — an opportunity to measure up against some of the top young
talents in the league.
Oilers forwards Taylor Hall (21), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (19) and Nail
Yakupov (19) are the first-overall selections from the past three drafts,
respectively.
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Calgary Flames
Flames Hudler returns after death of his father
By RANDY SPORTAK
,Calgary Sun
Jiri Hudler’s eyes told the tale.
The Calgary Flames winger is still trying to come to grips with the death of
his father early last week.
But Hudler was back with his Flames family Thursday, skating at the
Saddledome for the first time since his dad died at the age of 50 and was
gearing up for the season, with the hopes of playing in Saturday’s clash
with the Edmonton Oilers.
“It’s been tough,” Hudler said with a brave face. “But I’m happy I’m back
and being around the guys and starting Saturday.
“I’m excited.”
Hudler buried his father, Jiri. Sr., last Friday in Czech Republic. An only
child, he had to deal with the legalities before returning to Calgary, which he
did Wednesday evening.
The next step will be to play games, and hopefully it can help the healing
process.
“I cannot sit on my ass for the rest of the season, thinking about bad
things,” said Hudler, one of the club’s prized free-agent acquisitions.
“You’ve got to get back and get your mind in what I love the most. That’s
hockey.”
The Flames could be looking at a double debut against the Oilers.
Centre Roman Cervenka received clearance from a specialist in Phoenix,
Ariz., and now that his blood clot issues appear a thing of the past, is
looking to play his first NHL game.
“He’s excited. This is his dream,” Hudler said of his fellow Czech
countryman. “I told him don’t be over-excited, just play your game.”
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652490
Carolina Hurricanes
Live updates: Canes hosting the Sabres
By Chip Alexander
RALEIGH -- The Canes aren't trailing after the first period this game -- a
first this season.
The Canes and Sabres, in the first of a back-to-back, home-and-home set,
are scoreless after the opening period at PNC Arena. The Canes had better
scoring chances but goalie Jhonas Enroth turned away all seven Canes
shots.
Eric Staal tested Enroth on his first shift, sweeping in from the right wing for
a quick wrister. Later, on the Canes' first power play of the period, Alex
Semin rifled a shot from the left side, the puck glancing off Enroth's glove
and sliding just wide of the post.
The penalty killers on both teams got the job done in the first. Buffalo had
three power plays in the period, managing just two shots, and the Canes
had two power plays.
Cam Ward, starting in goal for the Canes, faced six shots in the first. Enroth
is making his first start of the season after Ryan Miller -- who will be in net
for Buffalo in Friday's game -- played the first two games.
In Carolina first two games, the Canes trailed 4-0 after the first period
against the Florida Panthers and then 2-0 Tuesday against Tampa Bay in
the home opener.
News Observer LOADED: 01.25.2013
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Carolina Hurricanes
“Huge goal,” Skinner said. “It kept the momentum for us and (Ward) had
some huge stops.”
Canes beat Sabres 6-3 for first win of season
Ward gave up eight goals on 38 shots in the first two games. But he had 30
saves against the Sabres, including a key stop on a Hodgson shot just after
Pominville’s second goal.
By Chip Alexander -
The two teams go at it again Friday in Buffalo to complete the home-andhome set. Miller will be back in net for the Sabres.
And Ward? Muller smiled when asked about his starter but didn’t commit.
RALEIGH -- It was easy to criticize the Carolina Hurricanes after the first
two games of the season, both losses.
The Canes weren’t scoring goals. They never had a lead. They had too
many turnovers, too many defensive breakdowns. Cam Ward was a little
too shaky in goal.
But there was little to complain about Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres.
Eric Staal had a hat trick, Jeff Skinner scored twice and Ward was solid
enough in net as the Hurricanes won 6-3 at PNC Arena for their first victory
of the season. Justin Faulk had a shorthanded goal, the defense was stout,
the penalty-killing flawless and the win well-earned against a team that had
gotten off to a 2-0 start.
Granted, Ryan Miller was not in goal for the Sabres as coach Lindy Ruff
gave backup goalie Jhonas Enroth his first start. But the Canes were flying
and could have given Miller — or anyone else — a test.
Jordan Staal, Zac Dalpe and Joni Pitkanen each had a pair of assists for
the Canes, who got goals from Skinner and Eric Staal nine seconds apart in
the second period and took a 4-2 lead after a scoreless first period.
“We challenged the guys (Wednesday), starting with Cam,” Canes coach
Kirk Muller said. “It was great to see how we responded. It’s tough for
goalies starting off the season (and) all the onus goes on them, but he had
a great game.
“The guys played really hard in front of him and our big boys came up with
big games.”
Eric Staal was without a point after the first two games, losses to the Florida
Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. He missed on several scoring chances
but didn’t get overly anxious.
The hat trick, capped by a late empty-netter, was the 13th of the captain’s
career.
“We liked some good things we did the first two games,” Staal said.
“Obviously we needed to get more physical in our end and more physical
one-on-one with our puck battles. We had a good practice (Wednesday)
and the guys were ready to play.
“We competed hard on pucks, ‘Wardo’ made some big saves for us and
‘Skins’ had some big goals early for us.”
Skinner had the only goal in the 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, scoring
on a backhander. His first goal Thursday was a near replay, giving the
Canes their first lead of the season.
“You could just see the tension kind of go away from our guys,” Muller said.
Added Eric Staal: “It let us play more aggressive, on our toes.”
Faulk’s shorthanded goal, on a bullet of a shot from the right wing, pushed
the lead to 2-0. But the Sabres answered with goals from Cody Hodgson
and Jason Pominville, causing Canes fans in the crowd of 18,081 to grow
uneasy.
Then Skinner struck again. Then Eric Staal, nine seconds later.
Skinner was on the ice and furious after Pominville’s goal, a tip of a
Christian Ehrhoff shot. On an ensuing shift, he grabbed the puck behind the
Buffalo net, wheeled past Hodgson and stuffed it past Enroth for a 3-2 lead.
“I was pretty fired up,” Skinner said.
Eric Staal won the next faceoff. Streaking into the Buffalo zone, he beat
Enroth with a backhand shot to make it 4-2 with 5 minutes, 55 seconds left
in the second.
Pominville scored again about six minutes into the third, but Eric Staal soon
picked up his second goal. After a Pitkanen takeaway and a well-executed
pass, Staal ripped a shot from the right circle to make it 5-3.
“We pushed the pace tonight,” Muller said. “Buffalo’s a good team and has
played well. We’ve got a group that has taken a couple of games to get our
legs and play the style that we want. We have to be a 60-minute team.”
This night, for 60 minutes, the Canes were a good team.
652492
Carolina Hurricanes
Canes improvement enough ... for now
By Luke DeCock
RALEIGH -- Well, all that’s left is the Stanley Cup now.
The way some Carolina Hurricanes fans were abandoning ship after the
two season-opening losses, Thursday’s win may provoke the same kind of
overreaction. The Canes looked awfully good in the 6-3 win over the Buffalo
Sabres, with Jeff Skinner scoring twice, Jordan Staal setting up a pair and
Eric Staal clinching his 13th career hat trick with an empty-netter.
Those names were expected to be on the scoresheet early and often this
season, and seeing them in so many spots Thursday offered some positive
reinforcement that the Hurricanes are on the right track.
The thing is, the Hurricanes were on the right track anyway. They didn’t
play drastically differently than they did in the two losses to open the
season. They finished the chances they created. They got the horrible
blunders out of their game. Cam Ward was much sharper.
Their improvement wasn’t dramatic. It was merely incremental. That was
enough to move from the wrong column to the right one. After getting
shelled in the first period of the first two games, it was scoreless at the first
intermission. The Hurricanes couldn’t have been happier with the way they
were playing, even before they broke through with four goals in the second.
“That was absolutely it,” Jordan Staal said. “Going into the second, we
knew we had a great first. We finally came out strong, strong enough to put
them on their heels and do the things that we need to do to create chances
to score goals.”
There is naturally still work to be done, and Buffalo’s first two goals
suggested the same areas for attention -- too many bodies in front of the
net, too many unobstructed shots from outside into that traffic -- but the
Hurricanes were largely able to avoid the ill-timed turnovers and defensive
gaffes that proved so damaging early in the first two games.
“We had some good stuff in the first couple games,” Hurricanes coach Kirk
Muller said. “I know we didn’t have the results and we didn’t deserve it. But
we knew if we could elevate our game and tighten things up and play better
defensively, the other stuff would take care of itself.”
Jamie McBain came into the lineup and played well, as did Bobby
Sanguinetti, who looked to be on his way out when Muller decided to sit Joe
Corvo instead. It was a curious, but thoughtful, decision on Muller’s part,
sending a message of accountability to the veterans while bolstering
Sanguinetti’s wounded confidence. Muller can also take partial credit for
Skinner’s performance, a second straight solid game after the coach
criticized his admittedly poor opening-night play.
It’s important to remember that in most years, the Hurricanes would be
halfway through the preseason right now. It’s just too soon to make any
kind of assessment about this team, positive or negative. The timing is still
a fraction of a second off, both for individuals and as a team. The older
players who weren’t playing competitively during the lockout were
surprisingly rusty, from the Staal brothers and Ward on down, but if
Thursday is any indication, they’re starting to round into form.
These two teams will go at it again Friday night in Buffalo, and after that
game it’ll be a little clearer what kind of team this really is. With each game,
the veil will lift a little bit, until the full picture is revealed, four, five, six
games from now. When that happens, the Hurricanes will hope it looks an
awful lot like this.
652493
Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks Game Day: Seeing Stars
By Chris Kuc
DALLAS -- With the NHL lockout shortening the regular season to 48
games, the race for the postseason race has already begun.
"It’s basically what it feels like," coach Joel Quenneville said prior to the
Chicago Blackhawks' game against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night at
American Airlines Center. "You’re looking at the standings, your division,
your conference, the upcoming games, their games (and) where they are
before they play you. It’s almost like we’re at that point. We have the
remainder (of the season) to position yourself to get in. I’m sure everybody
feels the same way. It’s going to be fun being a part of it."
The Hawks try to continue their fast start to the season as they face the
Stars. With a win, the Hawks would match the 1972-73 team that opened 40 and put them one victory away from tying the franchise mark of 5-0 to
start a season during the 1971-72 campaign.
"We've been playing really good these three games," defenseman Niklas
Hjalmarsson said. "It's great to have a good start. You can be a little bit
more calm, that's the difference (between) having an 0-3 start than 3-0.
We've been playing great and hopefully we can get another win (Thursday
night)."
Corey Crawford is in goal for the Hawks and is opposed by Kari Lehtonen
for the Stars (2-1-0).
Chicago Tribune LOADED: 01.25.2013
652494
Chicago Blackhawks
It's far too soon for Cup talk, but Hawks look good
Dan McNeil
I'm going to leave it to Joel Quenneville and his players to remind you "it's
still early" in this NHL season.
It's true the Blackhawks aren't going to win the Stanley Cup this month. And
they didn't get any closer to a title with their 3-2 overtime victory Thursday
night over the Stars in Dallas.
But as the Hawks took their fourth game in as many tries, the most telling
factor is the return — with a vengeance — of Marian Hossa.
The game-winning laser he blasted just inside the post to the left side of
Stars' goaltender Kari Lehtonen, who kept his team from getting run out of
the building, was the perfect punctuation to an often-times frustrating
evening for the Hawks.
To hell with pacing yourself. If you're a hockey fan, you spent more than
three months dreading the prospect of a puckless season. I say get silly
now and let your imagination run wild — before it becomes fashionable.
The Blackhawks have come out of the gate much more impressively than
expected.
Nothing is more encouraging than the manner in which Hossa has opened
the season. Thursday's game winner, set up by a sweet, back-handed
touch pass from Patrick Kane, was Hossa's fifth goal of the season.
It appears the concussion symptoms that vexed Hossa for a couple of
months after being drilled in last spring's playoff loss to the Coyotes, are
totally gone.
Hossa has had the most impact of the Hawks — by a long shot. And it isn't
just the goals the veteran winger has scored.
His relentless effort with the stick, keeping the puck alive in the attack zone
or taking it away from an opponent when short-handed, has set the tone for
a team that struggled to find an identity last season.
The Hawks look sharper and more confident taking the play across the
opponent's blue line. They have demonstrated patience. They have
forechecked well. They have killed penalties.
Jonathan Toews, who also was dealing with concussion issues last spring,
looks rejuvenated. Toews' second goal of the season tied the game at 2-2
late in the third period.
Kane has at least one point in all four games after assisting on Patrick
Sharp's power play goal at 15:57 of the second period, which cut the Dallas
lead to 2-1.
It's only four of 48 games, but all of those eight points have come against
elite competition.
If the Hawks are going deep into the playoffs, goaltender Corey Crawford
has to be decidedly more consistent than he was a year ago. Crawford
needs to author performances like Lehtonen's Thursday night.
He did Tuesday in the Hawks home opener, a 3-2 victory over the Blues.
Crawford stopped 32 shots, many of them quality chances in the third
period.
I'm not sold on Crawford but, in fairness, last season was the first as his
team's No. 1.
There are 44 games left on the schedule and it is a guarantee there will be
rough stretches. There will be injuries. Bad bounces.
Now, however, is a great time to embrace what's right in front of us — an
NHL season. One in which the Blackhawks quickly have made an
impression.
652495
Chicago Blackhawks
Mayers back in Hawks lineup after being healthy scratch
By Chris Kuc,
DALLAS — Being a healthy scratch in the first three games wasn't what
Jamal Mayers had in mind when he re-signed with the Blackhawks during
the summer.
"It's certainly not what I expected," said Mayers, who saw his first action
Thursday night against the Stars. "It's very difficult, but you have chances to
work on your game and preparing to stay ready."
After playing in 81 games last season, the veteran forward re-upped with
the Hawks for one year and $600,000. Instead of sliding back into his spot
on the fourth line, Mayers watched in street clothes as the Hawks won their
first three games.
"My focus is to be a good teammate and help out young guys when I can
and be ready when I get my chance," said Mayers, who was scratched for
the Hawks' final three playoff games last season. "You have to have a bigpicture perspective."
At 38, Mayers said he was able to handle the benching mentally but still
yearned to play.
"It gives you a different perspective, but certainly I'm as competitive as I
was when I was 22," he said. "You want to be out there."
Mayers got his wish against the Stars, replacing Brandon Bollig in the
lineup.
"Things change quickly in our business," coach Joel Quenneville said.
"What (Mayers) brings to our team is valuable. Whether he's playing or not,
he's going to be an important piece of our team."
Fight club: Bollig has 10 fighting majors in 21 career games, including two
this season as he fills the Hawks' enforcer role.
"That's obviously what got me here is doing that," Bollig said. "Getting
pucks into their zone and forechecking and putting pucks on the net and
keeping it simple is really my game. With that come big hits and stuff like
that and addressing things that need to be addressed with fights."
Fun fact: While a member of the Capitals, Quenneville played against Stars
forward Jaromir Jagr, now 40, during Jagr's NHL debut with the Penguins
on Oct. 5, 1990.
652496
Chicago Blackhawks
Hossa’s one-timer in OT keeps the Blackhawks perfect at 4-0
By MARK LAZERUS
DALLAS — Patrick Kane wanted to shoot. Joel Quenneville figured he’d pass to his left. But Marian Hossa has seen Kane pull off
enough magic tricks over the years to know better. So when Kane’s
shooting lane was blocked, and he turned his back to Hossa at the right
circle, Hossa stayed ready. For anything.
“He didn’t take a shot, so I knew right away he had something in his mind,”
Hossa said. “So I just had to be ready to unleash it.”
Kane faked out everyone but Hossa, spinning to his left and dropping a
behind-the-back pass to his waiting teammate, who fired it past seemingly
impassable Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen in overtime — wrapping up a
dramatic comeback, a 3-2 Blackhawks victory, and the franchise’s best start
in 40 years.
It continued the torrid start for Kane (seven points in four games), Hossa
(five goals in four games), the power play (3-for-7, at least one goal in each
game) and the Hawks in general (4-0 for the first time since the 1972-73
season).
“Kane is going,” Quenneville said. “He wants the puck, and what a play.
You can talk about that one for a long time. He had eyes behind his head.”
Well, almost.
“I was going to try to get a shot myself; I thought I’d be all alone,” Kane
said. “[The defenseman] ended up staying there, so I turned around and
saw [Hossa] out of the corner of my eye. It ended up working out.”
It was a stunning turn of events, even with the way the Hawks offense has
been rolling in the early going. Midway through the second period, Chicago
trailed 2-0 on a last-second shorthanded goal by Loui Eriksson in the first
period, and a roofed backhander by Ray Whitney in the second period.
Meanwhile, the Hawks were helpless against Lehtonen, who continued his
mastery over them.
For nearly 55 minutes, every Hawks shot was swallowed up by the surehanded Lehtonen, who entered the game with a .934 save percentage and
1.98 goals-against average against Chicago. Lehtonen finished with 38
saves, and the Stars blocked a whopping 24 more Hawks shots.
And it wasn’t as if the Hawks weren’t getting chances. Lehtonen just
stopped everything.
“It was almost fun to watch how good he was playing,” Kane said. “I know
that’s scary to say, but he was making acrobatic save after acrobatic save.”
Lehtonen finally gave one up on a power play late in the second period, but
it was his own teammate who beat him. A Patrick Sharp crossing pass to
Viktor Stalberg deflected of Dallas defenseman Trevor Daley’s stick and
past Lehtonen to cut the lead to 2-1.
Chicago finally broke through on its own on another power play with 5:53
left in the game, as Jonathan Toews — who was stoned by Lehtonen a few
times in the first period — drilled a Sharp pass into the back of the net to tie
the game at 2-2 and send it to overtime. After the Hawks killed off a power
play that spanned the third period and overtime, Brenden Morrow took an
interference penalty, and Kane and Hossa made the Stars pay.
Corey Crawford made 21 saves, including a penalty shot in the second
period and several big stops in the third. He also got a huge boost from
defenseman Duncan Keith, who swiped the puck off the goal line with less
than a second to go in the second period after it trickled through Crawford’s
pads.
“Our first big test coming from behind, and I think we did an excellent job,”
Hossa said. “We didn’t quit.”
Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 01.25.2013
652497
Chicago Blackhawks
Hossa, Kane do it again for Blackhawks
By Tim Sassone
The Blackhawks' best players continue to be their best players.
Marian Hossa's power-play goal in overtime Thursday night gave the
Hawks a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Dallas Stars for their fourth
straight victory to start the season.
It was Hossa's fifth goal in four games and was set up by Patrick Kane, who
has four straight multi-point games. The Hawks haven't won their first four
games since 1972-73.
All 3 goals by Hawks came on the power play, which was 3-for-7. Patrick
Sharp and Jonathan Toews also scored, while Duncan Keith saved a goal
with a nice play with time running out in the second period.
The Hawks spoiled the night for Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen, who stopped
38 of 40 shots in regulation.
"He was having a great game," said Hossa, who was frustrated at least
three times by Lehtonen. "I had so many chances, I passed by him and told
him hopefully I will get one, and I did at the end."
Hossa buried Kane's behind-the-back pass.
"As soon as he didn't take a shot, I tried to get open because he sees the
ice so well behind him," Hossa said. "I tried to get ready for a one-timer.
"Tonight was a great experience. We've been winning games with the lead,
but tonight we were behind. It's only four games, but we like where we are."
The pass from the left side to the right surprised the Stars and Hawks
coach Joel Quenneville.
"What a play; you can probably talk about that one for a long time,"
Quenneville told reporters. "It's like he had eyes behind his head. He saw
Hoss when everybody thought it was on the left side, including me, and he
pulls it off. And Hoss doesn't waste it, he buries it. It was a special ending."
The Hawks weren't very good on the power play in the first period and
allowed a crushing short-handed goal with 1.4 seconds left in the period
when Loui Eriksson got one through Corey Crawford.
Eriksson's shot found its way through Crawford and tricked over the goal
line as time wound down.
Lehtonen was at his best in the second period before a goal by Ray
Whitney following a turnover by Michal Rozsival made it 2-0.
Lehtonen stopped Marcus Kruger, Brandon Saad and Hossa, all in tight.
Later he made a save on Hossa came on a 3-on-1 then stopped Toews.
Crawford kept the Hawks in it with a save on Ryan Garbutt on a penalty
shot early in the period after a Brent Seabrook trip.
The Hawks finally got on the scoreboard at 15:57 on a power play when a
centering pass by Sharp intended for Viktor Stalberg eluded Lehtonen off
the stick of Stars defenseman Trevor Daley.
The Stars nearly had a last-second goal for the second period in a row. A
point shot by Alex Goligoski trickled through Crawford again and sat in the
crease, but Keith swept it away with seven-tenths of a second on the clock.
"I was just standing there and it was going in," Keith said. "I was lucky to get
my stick on it."
Quenneville adjusted his lineup slightly by inserting Jamal Mayers and
sitting Brandon Bollig. It was Mayers' first appearance of the season.
Everything else stayed the same, including on defense, where the second
pair of Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya and the third pairing of Nick
Leddy and Rozsival have eased the workload of Keith and Seabrook.
"We want to make sure with our schedule being so tight, especially this
week, that we use everybody and everybody can share some ice time,"
Quenneville said.
Daily Herald Times LOADED: 01.25.2013
652498
Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks' best look to keep rolling in Dallas
TRACEY MYERS
DALLAS – Dallas Stars coach Glen Gulutzan sees the Chicago
Blackhawks’ lineup and the threats among it. There are a few.
“We see their big guys are their best players,” Gulutzan said after the Stars’
morning skate. “And that’s dangerous, because there are a lot of them.”
The Blackhawks will be looking to get more out of their best – and everyone
else – when they take on the Stars tonight at the American Airlines Center.
For the Blackhawks, yes, the best have indeed been that. But a team effort
has gotten them off to a 3-0-0 start.
“That’s the biggest reason for our success: a lot of depth, a lot of
contributions from everywhere,” Patrick Kane said. “One of the things about
the core group is they want to be the guys to help carry the team. From the
top players, that’s where it starts, and the rest of the guys are following. But
it’s not just the top guys in here. Everyone’s going. So I’d say that’s the
scariest part.”
Coach Joel Quenneville has been happy with the four-line aspect.
“We’re getting good contributions across the board,” he said. “When your
best are your best, you’re going to be OK. We have balance in four lines.”
The Stars are off to a good start themselves, with just one loss to the
Minnesota Wild thus far. The Stars have gotten most of their production
from their most veteran guys, 40-year-olds Ray Whitney (1-2-3) and Jaromir
Jagr (2-2-4).
Corey Crawford gets the start for the Blackhawks, Kari Lehtonen for the
Stars. There are likely to be any other lineup changes for the Blackhawks.
Michal Rozsival looks to stay in among the defenseman. Jamal Mayers will
be a healthy scratch again. The veteran brought a great physical edge to
the Blackhawks when he signed on with them last season, and you can
never have enough of that presence. But Quenneville said Mayers will get
back into the lineup at some point.
“Everybody’s going to play and things change quickly,” he said. “We like his
experience, the leadership qualities and he brings intensity. What he brings
to our team is valuable. Whether he’s playing or not, he’s an important
piece to our team. But Jammer’s going to get in here before you know it.”
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.25.2013
652499
Chicago Blackhawks
Steve Konroyd's three keys to Blackhawks-Stars
STEVE KONROYD
Catch all of Steve Konroyd's analysis tonight as CSN's coverage of
Blackhawks-Stars begins at 7:00 p.m. with Blackhawks Pregame Live.
1. Beware the "Old Stars", they’re the "New Stars": Jaromir Jagr and Ray
Whitney are the second- and fourth-oldest players in the NHL but still lead
their team in points. Whitney always plays well against the Hawks.
2. Transition is the name of the game: Against the St. Louis Blues, the
Hawks had five odd man rushes in the first 10 minutes of the game. Each
one ended up in a great scoring chance for the Blackhawks. Good defense
leads to offense, and that’s where the transition game starts.
3. P.K. is better than O.K.: This year the Hawks have just allowed one goal
while being shorthanded, good for third in the NHL. I’m a firm believer in
your penalty kill being a reflection of your team defense, and so far so good
for Chicago. You have to keep this area of your game strong -- last year the
Hawks finished with the fourth-worst penalty kill percentage in the entire
NHL.
652500
Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks hoping Stars burn out on CSN
NINA FALCONE
After another impressive performance Tuesday night against the Blues, the
Blackhawks will push to continue their success tonight against the Stars in
Dallas tonight. Coverage begins at 7:00 with Blackhawks Pregame Live
only on Comcast SportsNet.
Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa continue to lead the undefeated
Blackhawks' roster with 5 points each as the team heads to Dallas for their
fourth game of the season.
After ending the Kings' Stanley Cup celebration with a 5-2 victory and
defeating the Coyotes -- who ended Chicago's postseason run in 2012 -- in
Glendale, the Blackhawks went into Tuesday's matchup against another 20 team in their home opener. As big as the Blackhawks/Blues rivalry has
become, St. Louis has struggled in the past in Chicago, winning only one of
their last 10 regular season matchups at the United Center. Tuesday was
no different.
"[The Blackhawks] came real hard in the first and got on top of our
defensemen early," Blues forward Andy McDonald told CSNChicago.com
after the game. "Even on our wingers coming out of the zone, they were
right on top of us."
The Blackhawks have created momentum early in their first three games,
and the strong balance between their four lines has already caused the
team to see a close resemblance to the 2010 championship squad.
Now the Hawks begin a two-game road trip in Dallas, facing a team that's
won two of its first three games this season. In his first season with the
Stars, NHL veteran Jaromir Jagr leads his team in points with two goals and
two assists while Ray Whitney -- who was acquired during the offseason
from the Coyotes -- is close behind with one goal and two assists.
Tonight marks the first of three matchups between the Blackhawks and
Stars during the course of the shortened 2013 campaign. Make sure to
catch all the action tonight on Comcast SportsNet and join the Blackhawks
conversation on Twitter by using #HawksTalk.
652501
Chicago Blackhawks
Hossa the hero again as Blackhawks beat Stars
TRACEY MYERS
DALLAS – Patrick Kane saw just enough of Marian Hossa out of the corner
of his eye. That apparently was all he needed to see. A quick behind-theback pass to an open Hossa, shot, score, and the Blackhawks kept their
great start intact.
Hossa had the power-play game-winner 1:41 into overtime, and Patrick
Sharp and Jonathan Toews also scored power-play goals in the
Blackhawks’ 3-2 victory on Thursday night. The Blackhawks, down 2-0
early, came back to improve to 4-0-0, their best start in 40 years.
Kane, who has been strong to start the season, chose pass over shot.
“(Hossa) made a nice pass in the slot and I wanted to fake the defenseman;
I was going to try to get a shot myself,” Kane said. “But he ended up just
staying there. I saw (Hossa) out of the corner of my eye and it worked out.”
Said Hossa, “this was our first really big test, coming from behind, and we
didn’t quit. It was huge.”
Yes it was definitely a test, and Kari Lehtonen was the man making life so
difficult for the Blackhawks. The Stars goaltender was tremendous on
Thursday, stymieing the Blackhawks and most of their 41 shots. But instead
of getting frustrated, the Blackhawks just kept playing. And shooting.
“It was almost fun to watch how good he was playing. I know it’s scary to
say,” Kane said. “He was just making acrobatic save after acrobatic save.”
Then the Blackhawks got a break when, on a second-period power play,
Sharp’s pass went off Stars defenseman Trevor Daley’s stick and past
Lehtonen. Toews tied the game with less than six minutes remaining. Then
in overtime, Kane’s dazzling pass to Hossa finished the comeback.
“We can talk about that one for a long time,” coach Joel Quenneville said of
Kane’s pass. “He had eyes behind his head because he saw Hoss.
Everybody thought it was on the left side, including me, and he pulls that
off. Hoss doesn’t waste it; he buries it. It’s a special ending.”
Hossa, who knows Lehtonen from their Atlanta days, shot where the
Blackhawks said they should target the goaltender.
“We were talking about going low blocker on him and it seems like
everyone went high glove,” said Hossa, who beat Lehtonen on the blocker
side. “But he played unbelievable and we were lucky to get this win.”
Corey Crawford stopped 21 of 23 for his third victory of the season,
including a penalty shot on Ryan Garbutt.
“He actually came in pretty quick, so I didn’t have a lot of time,” Crawford
said. “He went for the backhand and just quickly and tried to roof it. So I had
to do the splits there and I just got a piece of it.”
And Duncan Keith got a piece of another one. The Stars were looking to go
up 3-1 as seconds ticked away in the second period and Alex Goligoski’s
shot trickled through Crawford’s pads and toward the end. But Duncan
Keith shoved the puck out of the crease in time.
“It was just a quick play and happened to be in a spot where I could get it,”
Keith said. “They moved it around well and (the puck) snuck through Crow
there, but I was lucky to get my stick on it.”
A little luck never hurts, but the Blackhawks deserve credit for continuing
with what got them all those shot opportunities throughout the game. It
worked, and they’re off to a flying start.
“I think we had a lot of good chances out there, even though we were down
by two,” Keith said. “We stuck with it, kept playing. We were opportunistic.”
652502
Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly returns to U.S. with injured foot; Colorado
talks sputtering
By Adrian Dater
Colorado Avalanche fans probably, understandably, got excited when they
read Thursday morning that Ryan O'Reilly no longer has a contract with his
KHL team, Metallurg, and was coming back to North America immediately.
But O'Reilly, according to his agent Mark Guy, is coming back to North
America only to seek medical attention for a "minor injury", reportedly as a
foot problem.
That injury, plus transfer agreement rules of the KHL, made it a "mutual
agreement" between O'Reilly and the KHL -- whereby O'Reilly discontinued
his contract with the team, essentially so it can use his open roster spot to
sign someone new by the Jan. 31 roster freeze cutoff date in the KHL.
O'Reilly had a contract with his KHL team that allowed him to "opt out" at
any time, to come back to the NHL. So reports of him saying he had to
decide either-or on staying the full year beyond Jan. 31 are inaccurate.
But KHL teams have to freeze their rosters by Jan. 31, so it was always a
gamble for Metallurg to keep him beyond Jan. 31, because he could have
left them short a roster spot for the playoff run had he left beyond that date.
As it stands, O'Reilly and the Avs are seemingly no closer to a contract than
before. And while nobody has said anything much about the state of the
talks, it's possible they've gotten a little worse.
The Avs have retreated to the bunker somewhat in the O'Reilly situation.
They're usually quiet about player contracts, but even moreso in the past
few days about O'Reilly.
Now, O'Reilly has an injury on top of not having a contract with the
Avalanche.
Denver Post: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652503
Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche's Chuck Kobasew to help replace Steve Downie
By Mike Chambers
Avalanche coach Joe Sacco expects a team-wide effort to replace hardnosed skilled forward Steve Downie, who is scheduled to undergo seasonending knee surgery.
Winger Chuck Kobasew will be added to the lineup in Thursday's game
against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets and third-line center John
Mitchell will replace Downie on the power play.
Sacco wasn't sure where Kobasew might play at even strength, but it could
be at Downie's left-wing spot, with Mitchell and veteran right-winger Milan
Hejduk. The top two lines aren't expected to change, including center Matt
Duchene between Gabe Landeskog and P.A. Parenteau.
Duchene, who absorbed a puck to the chin in Monday's 3-1 home-opening
victory over the Los Angeles Kings, will face the Blue Jackets with no
equipment to protect the wound that required 11 stitches to close. He did
not suffer any broken bones or head trauma and said if the wound begins to
bleed again from contact, "I'll just get more stitches."
Downie had an assist in Colorado's first two games this season, before
suffering a serious injury to his right knee midway against the Kings.
"We talk a lot about doing your job, and that basically says, 'Go out there
and be the player that you are. Don't try to do someone else's job. Don't try
to be somebody that you're not. Bring what you bring and bring it all the
time,'" Sacco said after Thursday's morning skate at the Pepsi Center. "So I
think we have to make up for Downie's loss as a group. Whether it's
offensively. Whether's physically, because those are a couple elements he
brings to our team.
"We need everybody picking it up again, do it by committee. We've dealt
with injuries in the past. This is nothing different. We'll deal with it."
Downie, 25, was obtained late last season from Tampa Bay in the threeteam trade that sent defenseman Kyle Quincey to Detroit. Downie had 13
points (two goals) in 20 games for the Avs, but was slowed by a shoulder
injury that
required offseason surgery.
"Big blow to our team. He brings a lot of energy. He's a good player and
guys like having him around," Parenteau said of Downie. "Tough break for
us, but also a tough break for him. But I think we have a lot of depth, so
hopefully we'll be fine."
Kobasew was scratched in the first two games after missing most of the
abbreviated training camp with the flu.
Defenseman Matt Hunwick will make his season debut Thursday, replacing
second-year pro Tyson Barrie. Defenseman Shane O'Brien and forward
Brad Malone, who was called up Wednesday to fill Downie's roster spot, will
be scratched.
652504
Colorado Avalanche
Unsigned Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly is back? Not so fast
By Mike Chambers
It appeared to be great news for Avalanche fans early Thursday morning,
Russia time, when unsigned Colorado center Ryan O'Reilly and his
Kontinental Hockey League team, Metallurg, announced a mutual split.
O'Reilly, an NHL restricted free agent, was coming home.
The Avs' leading scorer last season is indeed returning to North America,
but likely to his native Ontario.
O'Reilly's agent, Mark Guy, told The Denver Post that O'Reilly is returning
only to seek medical treatment for his foot, which he recently injured in a
KHL game, and Metallurg said in a news release that O'Reilly might return
to Europe to finish the season.
O'Reilly was under contract with Metallurg for approximately $4 million U.S.,
prorated,
with an opt-out clause when/if the NHL lockout ended. The KHL's Jan. 31
roster freeze probably had something to do with the mutual split, given
O'Reilly's foot injury and his continuing negotiations with the Avalanche.
Metallurg has reason to doubt O'Reilly would be worth keeping past the
roster freeze.
But it doesn't mean O'Reilly and the Avs are any closer to coming to an
agreement.
"It really doesn't change anything," Guy wrote in a text messsage Thursday
night.
The Avs had no comment.
Watch your step. Defenseman Greg Zanon, who joined the Avs as a free
agent last summer, has quickly developed a reputation as a player to
watch. Or watch out for.
The big-bearded Zanon loses his mind when people step on the Avs' logo
etched in the middle of the team's locker-room floor at the Pepsi Center.
After Tuesday's home-opening, 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings,
Zanon raised his voice a handful of times when reporters walked through
the center of the room. Reporters who have regularly followed the Avs and
other NHL teams understand that stepping on carpet logos is ill- advised.
But Zanon would like it forbidden.
"Don't they understand? It's like stepping on a flag," Zanon said of the rule
that wasn't strictly enforced at the Pepsi Center before his arrival. "In
Minnesota we used to ban people from talking to us if they stepped on it."
Zanon, 32, played for the Wild for 2½ seasons, until he was traded to the
Boston Bruins late last season.
He was born in Joe Sakic's hometown — Burnaby, British Columbia — and
played four years of college hockey at Nebraska Omaha. His Canadian and
American hockey roots, blue-collar demeanor and caveman beard have
made him one of the Avs' most interesting players.
Particularly to patriotic fans.
Footnotes. Forward Chuck Kobasew and defenseman Matt Hunwick made
their season debuts Thursday. Kobasew replaced Steve Downie, who
suffered a season-ending knee injury Tuesday, and Hunwick got his first
chance to play among the top six D-corps, replacing second-year pro Tyson
Barrie. ... The healthy scratches were Barrie, defenseman Shane O'Brien
and forward Brad Malone, who was called up from the minors to replace
Downie on the 23-man roster.
652505
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche shuts out Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0
By Mike Chambers
The grind that is the NHL's lockout-shortened season favored the
Avalanche on Thursday night. After beating the defending Stanley Cup
champion Los Angeles Kings in Tuesday's home opener at the Pepsi
Center, the Avs welcomed a tired team coming off a four-goal loss at
Phoenix on Wednesday.
The Columbus Blue Jackets arrived in Denver in the wee hours Thursday
morning, and held a optional morning practice as the Avs had finished
theirs and were busy talking about how to take advantage of the situation.
"We all watched their game and we know it's not easy to play back to back
with traveling," Avs right winger P.A. Parenteau said of the Blue Jackets,
who began 1-0-1. "We're going to take advantage of that, come out and be
hungry
and not give them a chance to breathe."
Mission accomplished. The Avs won the chippy affair 4-0, their second
triumph in three games, and for the second straight time goalie Semyon
Varlamov and center Matt Duchene were the best players on the ice.
Varlamov had 23 saves through a fight-filled two periods, and Duchene had
one assist and two goals.
A Sidney Crosby-like skating-passing sequence by Duchene led to
Parenteau's goal at 51 seconds into the game, and Duchene scored his first
of the season at 12:25 on a rebound off a Chuck Kobasew shot.
"We talked about getting out of the gate hard and we were able to sneak in
a quick goal on the first shift and another soon thereafter. It was good.
Great win," Duchene said.
At the time of Duchene's first goal, third-line center John Mitchell was in the
trainer's room, receiving stitches after taking a shot off the forehead and
leaving a trail of blood to the bench.
The former New York Ranger, who was cleared of a possible concussion or
broken bones, returned to the ice in the second period and made it 3-0 by
beating Sergei Bobrovsky with a wrist shot 4:38 into the third period.
"I could see out of both eyes. I knew I was cut, obviously, but I could see,"
Mitchell said of his injury. "It's always nice when you have a significant
injury, you get stitched up and you come back. I just wanted to come back
and try and help the team out any way I could. Scoring a goal is obviously a
bonus."
Later, he clanged a shot off the left post on a semi-breakaway.
Mitchell joined the Avs as a free-agent signee last summer, after helping
lead the Rangers to the Eastern Conference finals last season. For those
who witnessed his horrific-looking misfortune and ensuing comeback, the
newcomer is now a crowd favorite.
Meanwhile, Avs coach Joe Sacco preached a good start at 5,280 feet.
"With their situation, yeah, it's no secret. They're going to try to find their
legs early on," Sacco said of the Blue Jackets before the game. "We want
to keep it simple for us, make their D work by going back for pucks and try
to establish some territory in the offensive zone by controlling it down there
as much as possible."
652506
Colorado Avalanche
Avs top Columbus 4-0 behind Duchene, Varlamov
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER • Matt Duchene’s offense helped put the Columbus Blue Jackets
in a hole. Semyon Varlamov’s goaltending kept them from climbing out.
Duchene scored two goals and set up another, Varlamov made 33 saves
and the Colorado Avalanche beat Columbus 4-0 on Thursday night.
“He was at his best tonight,” Duchene said of Varlamov. “He was our best
player. He’s just solid. He gives us confidence. That was an outstanding
effort by him.”
Varlamov preserved his ninth career shutout and first of the season when
he made a sprawling save on Nick Foligno’s shot late in the second period.
He followed that early in the third with a stop of Ryan Johansen’s shot from
in close by using his chest.
Varlamov also got an assist from the Avalanche’s penalty-killing unit, which
shut down all six power plays by the Blue Jackets.
The shutout was his first at home for the Avalanche after compiling four in
his first season with Colorado last year.
Duchene scored on a breakaway at 18:42 of the third. He also set up the
Avalanche’s opening score 51 seconds into the game with a cross-ice to
P.A. Parenteau, who wristed a shot from the left circle past goalie Sergei
Bobrovsky.
It was the second goal in two games for Parenteau, who joined the
Avalanche in the offseason as a free agent after playing for the New York
Islanders last season.
Later in the first, Duchene scored his first goal of the season to put the
Avalanche up 2-0. He put in a rebound after Bobrovsky blocked a shot by
Hejduk but could not control the loose puck.
“Getting a couple of goals, you put them in a hole right away,” Duchene
said.
Note
Unsigned free agent Ryan O’Reilly no longer has a contract with his
Russian team, Metallurg, and was coming to America to seek medical
attention for a “minor injury”, reportedly a foot problem, the Denver Post
said.
Colorado Springs Gazette: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652507
Columbus Blue Jackets
Woeful trip: Jackets lose badly again
By Shawn Mitchell
DENVER — The Blue Jackets, sullied by a disjointed performance against
Phoenix on Wednesday, hoped to clean things up at Colorado last night.
Instead, they played with grit that at times turned toward the thuggish, but
ultimately couldn’t match the skill of the faster, sleeker Avalanche and lost
4-0.
The Blue Jackets allowed another early goal, could not convert on six
power-play opportunities and were stymied by what is becoming a glaring
inability to finish scoring chances.
“We have to score some goals,” left winger Brandon Dubinsky said.
“There’s no doubt about that. We can sit here and say we had some
chances, but it’s a game of execution. We didn’t execute.”
That’s not to say Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov wasn’t a factor in
his ninth career shutout. He stopped 33 shots, including prime one-on-one
opportunities by Nick Foligno and Ryan Johansen.
Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky saved 24 shots. He was beaten in
the opening minute for the second time in three starts when P.A. Parenteau
buried a wrist shot 51 seconds after the opening faceoff.
Matt Duchene made it 2-0 later in the first when he buried an easy rebound
off the pad of Bobrovsky, who faced 11 shots in the first 10 minutes.
R.J. Umberger had a chance to cut the deficit in half late in the first, but he
missed an open net while Varlamov was sprawled on his belly.
Dubinsky roused the Blue Jackets in the final seconds of the period when
he went after Jamie McGinn, who delivered a thunderous hit on Artem
Anisimov that left the winger crumpled along the boards.
It was the second fighting major of the game — Jared Boll and 6-foot-6
Patrick Bordeleau tangled earlier — and preceded four Blue Jackets
roughing minors in the second period, three of which were served by Derek
Dorsett.
Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said he would “without question”
consider making more changes in all parts of the lineup after a 5-1 loss to
the Coyotes less than 24 hours before.
The Blue Jackets played without injured right winger Cam Atkinson and,
starved for goals, shuffled personnel on all four forward lines.
But the Jackets, despite their 33-28 shot advantage, did not score for the
first time this season.
“We got outscored 9-1 the last two games,” defenseman James Wisniewski
said. “I’d rather look like (crap) and gets some goals off some shin pads
than be zipping it around, getting shots left and right and peppering the
goalie. That doesn’t matter. We have to put the puck in the net.”
Atkinson did not play because of a lower-body injury and is considered dayto-day. He was the only player to miss any notable ice time during training
camp because of what also was called a lower-body injury.
Atkinson is the only Blue Jackets player to miss a game because of injury
this season.
Avalanche center John Mitchell was struck in the face by a puck early in the
first period.
He left the ice, gushing blood, but returned with bandages on his nose and
forehead and scored his second goal of the season with 15:22 remaining in
the third period.The game was delayed for several minutes to clean the ice
after Mitchell was struck.Duchene shredded the Jackets’ defense and
scored his second goal of the game with 1:18 left.
[email protected]
Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 01.25.2013
652508
Blue Jackets notebook: Not much support for Mason in loss to Coyotes
By Shawn Mitchell
DENVER — The Blue Jackets, scrappy point collectors in their first two
games, blew up in front of goaltender Steve Mason during a 5-1 loss
Wednesday night at the Phoenix Coyotes.
It was a mistake-filled performance made worse by poor timing. Mason
made the first start of what will likely be a make-or-break season for the
former Calder Trophy winner. He was hung out to dry in his initial attempt to
restore his rookie form, nearly four years past.
“We were terrible,” left winger R.J. Umberger said. “It didn’t matter who was
in net. If it was Patrick Roy, it didn’t matter. We were not good in front of
him. (Mason) played a good game. We just didn’t battle in front of him. It’s
disappointing. It’s unacceptable for this team.”
Mason saved 37 shots and looked far less sharp than Sergei Bobrovsky,
who started the first two games and helped the Blue Jackets earn three out
of a possible four points.
Even if Mason were better, it might not have mattered. Defenseman Fedor
Tyutin opened the scoring on a shot from the blue line in the second period,
but Phoenix answered with five goals.
Veteran Steve Sullivan had a hat trick, Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored twice,
and backup goalie Jason LaBarbera cruised to a victory after replacing
injured starter Mike Smith in the first period.
The Blue Jackets had three even-strength goals in three games, entering a
game last night at the Colorado Avalanche. They ranked tied for 22nd in
scoring (2.0 goals a game).
“We have to do more to create offense,” coach Todd Richards said. “But
our breakdowns that resulted in the goals were things that we’ve talked
about, we’ve covered and we’ve executed in the first two games.”
Mason’s increased fitness and focus was routinely noted by his teammates
and coaches before his debut. But Richards said he was more disappointed
for Mason than worried about the effects such an outing might have on his
psyche.
“Early on, and really the whole game, he looked sharp,” Richards said. “He
really did. So for me it was disappointing because of the way it turned out.
As a group, coaches included on this, we’re just disappointed for him. We
needed to better in front of him.”
Old hat
Sullivan, the standout in a dominating performance by previously winless
Phoenix, had his eighth career hat trick. The past two have come against
the Blue Jackets.
“Today was one of those examples where we got back to Coyotes hockey,
and by doing so, we played exactly the way we wanted,” Sullivan told the
Arizona Republic.
Sullivan spent 11 seasons in the Central Division with Chicago and
Nashville. He has 19 goals and 48 points in 48 games against Columbus.
Quick change
Smith left the ice because of a lower-body injury with nine minutes
remaining in the first period. LaBarbera had not played before Wednesday
and went in cold, but the Blue Jackets could not take advantage.
“You want to get to him as soon as you can,” Umberger said. “We just didn’t
do a good enough job. He just sat back and had a pretty easy night.”
[email protected]
652509
[email protected]
Blue Jackets buried by Avalanche
By Shawn Mitchell
DENVER — The Blue Jackets, sullied by a disjointed performance at
Phoenix on Wednesday, hoped to clean things up at Colorado tonight.
They instead played with grit that at times turned toward the thuggish but
ultimately couldn’t match the skill of the sleeker Avalanche and lost 4-0.
The Jackets allowed a shockingly quick goal, failed to convert on six powerplay opportunities and were stymied by what is becoming a glaring inability
to finish scoring chances.
That’s not to say Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov wasn’t a factor in his
ninth career shutout. He saved all 33 shots he faced, including prime oneon-one opportunities for Nick Foligno and Ryan Johansen.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves for the Jackets. He was beaten in the
opening minute for the second time in three starts when P.A. Parenteau
converted a wrist shot 51 seconds after the opening faceoff.
Matt Duchene made it 2-0 later in the first when he buried an easy rebound
off the pad of Bobrovsky, who faced 11 shots in the first 10 minutes.
R.J. Umberger had a chance to cut the lead in half late in the first but
missed an open net while Varlamov was sprawled on his belly.
Center Brandon Dubinsky roused the Jackets in the final seconds of the
first period by going after Jamie McGinn after a thunderous hit by the
Avalanche left winger left Dubinsky’s longtime linemate Artem Anisimov
crumpled along the boards.
It was the second fighting major of the game — Jared Boll and 6-foot-6
Patrick Bordeleau tangled earlier — and preceded four Blue Jackets
roughing minors in the second period, three of which were served by Derek
Dorsett.
Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said he would “without question”
consider making more changes in all parts of the lineup after a 5-1 loss to
the Coyotes that began less than 24 hours before.
The Blue Jackets played without injured right winger Cam Atkinson and,
starved for even-strength goals, shuffled personnel on all four forward lines.
Artem Anisimov started the game between wingers Foligno and Umberger.
None of the trio had played on a line together this season. The other three
lines had at least one new player.
But the Jackets, despite their shot advantage, failed to score for the first
time this season.
Dubinsky entered the game with no points, a minus-3 rating and three shots
on goal. Umberger had taken only two shots before last night. They
combined for three shots against the Avalanche.
Atkinson did not play because of a lower-body injury and is considered dayto-day. He was the only player to miss any notable ice time during training
camp because of what was also called a lower-body injury.
Blue Jackets right winger Colton Gillies and defenseman David Savard
were scratched for a fourth consecutive game. Gillies did not play during
the lockout and hasn’t played a professional game since April 7.
Atkinson is the Blue Jackets’ player to miss a game because of injury this
season.
Avalanche center John Mitchell was struck in the face by a puck early in the
first period.
He left the ice, gushing blood, but returned with bandages on his nose and
forehead and scored his second goal of the season with 15:22 remaining in
the third period.
Duchene shredded the Jackets’ defense and scored a second goal with
1:18 left.
The game was delayed for several minutes to clean the ice after Mitchell
was struck.
652510
Dallas Stars
Stars, Jamie Benn agree to five-year, $26.25 million contract extension
Mike Heika
The Stars just announced during the Blackhawks game that they have
signed center Jamie Benn to a five-year contract extension for an average
of $5.25 million per season.
More to come.
Dallas Morning News LOADED: 01.25.2013
652511
Dallas Stars
Stars, Blackhawks expected to roll four lines in tonight's matchup
Here is a nice little statistical tidbit from the PR department to send you on
your way.
LEHTONEN CAREER SV% VS. CENTRAL DIVISION TEAMS:
St. Louis: .947 SV% in 10 games
MIKE HEIKA
Columbus: .940 SV% in 9 games
Chicago: .934 SV% in 6 games
Here is Daryl Reaugh’s pregame video. It is tantalizing, as always.
Here is Cody Eastwood’s morning skate video. It really does make you feel
like you are there.
The Stars (2-0-1) and Blackahwks (3-0-0) each are off to quick starts, and
each credits good health, and the depth to roll four lines. Both teams are
expected to use the same lineups that were successful in wins on Tuesday
night.
The Stars will go with:
Loui Eriksson-Derek Roy-Jaromir Jagr
Ray Whitney-Cody Eakin-Michael Ryder
Brenden Morrow-Vern Fiddler-Eric Nystrom
Ryan Garbutt-Tom Wandell-Reilly Smith
Alex Goligoski-Stephane Robidas
Jordie Benn-Trevor Daley
Brenden Dillon-Philip Larsen
Kari Lehtonen
Chicago is expected to go with:
Brandon Saad-Jonathan Toews-Marian Hossa
Patrick Sharp-Dave Bolland-Patrick Kane
Bryan Bickell-Andrew Shaw-Viktor Stalberg
Brandon Bollig-Marcus Kruger-Michal Frolik
Duncan Keith-Brent Seabrook
Niklas Hjalmarsson-Johnny Oduya
Nick Leddy-Michal Rozsival
Corey Crawford
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said defenseman Aaron Rome is ready to go as
far as the health of his groin, but that he will not play tonight. Gulutzan said
he expects Rome to play Saturday, but we’ll see about that. If the pairs are
functioning well, Gulutzan might wait for the road back-to-back next week.
Here’s Gulutzan when asked about Chicago rolling four lines:
“We’re real comfortable rolling four,” he said. “We like to run 4 and 40 _ four
lines, 40 seconds (per shift).”
Gulutzan said these two home games against Chicago (tonight) and St.
Louis (Saturday) will be good for the team.
“This is a big test for us, two elite teams coming in here,” he said. “Tonight
is a big game.”
Asked about his team’s play, he said: “I liked our game in Detroit better than
the first two. But we need to decrease the number of shots we’re taking in
and we need to increase our shot production.”
A couple of interesting stats in that ares.
Dallas ranks 28th in shots against per game at 37.3, and 27.3 in shots on
goal. That a minus-10 shot differential is a nagging issue from last season,
and it’s caused mostly by the high shots against.
Interestingly, the Stars could have higher shots on goal nbersme, but they
rank second in the league in shots that miss the net at 43. That’s something
that could get fixed quickly with a little more focus.
Chicago ranks 27th in shots on goal at 26.7, and 12th in shots against at
28.0. The Blackhawks also rank fourth in blocking shots at 46.
Nashville: .929 SV% in 9 games
Detroit: .915 SV% in 9 games
Total: .932 SV% in 53 games
652512
Dallas Stars
Blackhawks at Stars, 7:30 p.m.; Chicago taking short season seriously
MIKE HEIKA
Since the young Chicago Blackhawks put everything together and won the
Stanley Cup in 2010, there has been thoughts of a dynasty.
After all, when the core of your team is under 25 and you win it all, people
talk that way.
But the ‘Hawks partied hard, were forced to make some tough business
decisions on key players like Dustin Byfuglien, Kris Versteeg and Antti
Niemi, and came back with serious Cup hangover the next season. They
only made the playoffs when the Stars lost to Minnesota on the last day of
the season, and then lost to Vancouver in the first round.
Last season, they stumbled down the stretch, finished sixth in the West and
lost to Phoenix in the first round. Again, major disappointment from a team
that touts Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook
and Marian Hossa.
And all of that narrative is necessary, because it appears the Blackhawks
did some serious soul-searching during the lockout and they came out of
the gate with noticeable intent for teh 48-game rush toward the playoffs.
They crushed defending Cup champion Los Angeles on opening day, 5-2,
outgunned Phoenix, 6-4, on Sunday, and then beat a very good St. Louis
team, 3-2, on Tuesday. So the Stars will be facing the hottest team in
hockey on Thursday at American Airlines Center.
Here are some of the early missives on the Blackhawks’ newfound
intensity.
Former Stars beat writer Tracey Myers opines on the new energy at CSN
Chicago here.
The Chicago Sun-Times digs into the topic here.
ESPN Chicago studies what’s happening here.
Here’s coach Joel Quenneville on the subject: “The 2010 team had four
lines we were rotating; everybody was going. That’s what we’re talking
about this season. I like how all our players are capable of playing together
and playing against anyone. Especially on the road, we trust everybody out
there. I like the depth; we’ll probably get challenged with it, but it’ll help us.”
The lines are impressive right now:
Brandon Saad-Jonathan Toews-Marian Hossa
Patrick Sharp-Dave Bolland-Patrick Kane
Bryan Bickell-Andrew Shaw-Viktor Stalberg
Brandon Bollig-Marcus Kruger-Michal Frolik
Duncan Keith-Brent Seabrook
Niklas Hjalmarsson-Johnny Oduya
Nick Leddy-Michal Rozsival
Corey Crawford
The team has speed and grit, and Crawford is slowly becoming a very
dependable goalie at age 28.
Crawford talks about his new approach to the game here.
But what everyone probably fears most is the goal-scoring talent. Marian
Hossa has four goals and is tied for the NHL lead through three games,
while the ‘Hawks rank third in scoring at 4.67 goals per game. Hossa, who
is a former junior linemate of Stars captain Brenden Morrow, has 21 points
(11G, 10A) in 24 games against the Stars.
The Stars have had a solid record against Chicago in recent years (7-4-0),
and Kari Lehtonen has been downright stingy (4-2-0, 1.98, .934), so the
Stars know what to expect.
Kane has 23 points (11G, 12A) in 19 career games against the Stars, while
Toews has 18 points (6G, 12A) in 17 games.
If you want to check out what the fans there are saying, check out Second
City Hockey here.
652513
Dallas Stars
Stars add defenseman Carl Sneep for draft pick, send him to minors
SportsDayDFW.com
From the Stars:
FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Stars announced today that they have
acquired defenseman Carl Sneep from the Pittsburgh Penguins in
exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in the 2013 NHL Entry
Draft. He has been assigned to the Texas Stars, Dallas’ primary affiliate in
the American Hockey League (AHL).
Sneep, 25, has skated in 29 games this season for the Wheeling Nailers,
Pittsburgh’s ECHL affiliate. In those 29 games, he has earned a plus-12
rating and 15 points (3G-12A) ranking third among all Nailers defensemen
in scoring. The St. Louis Park, Minn. native also skated in one AHL game
for the Hershey Bears and was Pittsburgh’s second-round selection (32nd
overall) in 2006.
The Dallas Stars faceoff against the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at 7:30
pm (TV: FOX Sports Southwest; Radio: 1310 The Ticket).
652514
Dallas Stars
Heika: Jamie Benn not holding out for more money says something about
Stars' future
And, quite possibly, for the players as well. And that’s a nice change from
previous seasons with the Stars.
Follow Mike Heika on Twitter at @MikeHeika.
Highest-paid Stars
Here are the Stars’ top five salaries for this season:
Mike Heika
Jamie Benn - $5,250,000
Alex Goligoski - $4,600,000
Kari Lehtonen has the eye of the tiger right now. The 29-year-old goalie
signed a five-year contract extension with the Stars in the summer and
cemented his future with the team.
Jaromir Jagr - $4,550,000
Reports are that Lehtonen was proactive in his negotiations and helpful in
getting the deal done, because he likes how the Stars have treated him and
he likes where this team is going.
Loui Eriksson - $4,250,000
Which brings us to Jamie Benn.
The 23-year-old center agreed to terms with the Stars Thursday on a fiveyear contract extension at an average of $5.25 million that could have him
in the lineup by Monday against Columbus. And all indications are he was
proactive in negotiations because he likes how the Stars have treated him
and he likes where the team is going.
And that should make Stars fans very happy.
With Benn now signed through 2016-17 at $5.25 million, Alex Goligoski
through 2015-16 at $4.6 million, Loui Eriksson through 2015-16 at $4.25
million, Trevor Daley through 2016-17 at $3.3 million, and Lehtonen through
2017-18 at $5.9 million, the Stars have their core. And they seem to have it
at a pretty reasonable rate.
“I’m really proud of the fact that we’re identifying a core group of players
that we think we can win with, and Jamie is definitely one of those players,”
Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk said. “To have Loui signed up, and Kari, and
Goligoski, and Trevor Daley … I think it just shows that guys want to be
here, and they’re committed and we’re headed in the right direction.”
And that’s where the Lehtonen comparison is important for Benn. These
negotiations had stalled at times, and it appears Benn and his agent, Rich
Evans, were the ones who moved. That’s a great sign. Yes, a five-year deal
at $5.25 million is nothing to sneeze at, but Benn could have held out for
more. The fact that he didn’t says something.
Lehtonen has completely remade himself as a player in Dallas, and he
really likes what he sees in the mirror these days. He could be a top-10
goalie for years to come, and he clearly is the team’s MVP right now. So
committing to the Stars for the long-term wasn’t a problem for him.
And you’d like to think the same thing of Benn, who was on a plane to
Dallas and not available for comment. He is expected to be at the practice
rink Friday but probably won’t be in the lineup until he has immigration and
work visa issues resolved.
Benn was taken by the Stars in the fifth round in the 2007 entry draft. He
has been nurtured by this team, and he has to like the fact that he can walk
in here and play with the likes of Eriksson, Jaromir Jagr, Ray Whitney,
Derek Roy, Brenden Morrow and Michael Ryder. You have to think he likes
the fact the new owner has rebuilt the structure of the franchise and wants
to get better. You have to think he likes the fact that the Stars are off to a
solid start and look like a possible playoff team
Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said it best last week: “We’re deeply committed
to having Jamie in a Dallas Stars jersey for a long, long time. He’s a key
part of our future.”
And Benn recognizes that.
That’s a huge chunk of the foundation that Nieuwendyk is trying to pour,
and it sets up a really nice base for this house.
Next up, the Derek Roy negotiations. The talented center who has been
taking top-line minutes in Benn’s absence can be an unrestricted free agent
at the end of the season. But the Stars hope they made him a motivated
negotiator when they recommended shoulder surgery in the summer and
paid him during the lockout while he recovered.
“We’ll start that soon,” Nieuwendyk said when asked about a Roy contract
extension. “He’s a smart, two-way player, and he’s only going to get better
as he gets to know our team. It’s a priority for us.”
Ray Whitney - $4,500, 000
652515
Dallas Stars
Heika: With Jamie Benn signed through 2017, the Stars have their core
Mike Heika
Here are some highlights from Mike Heika’s column following Thursday’s
game. You can read the full thing here.
With Benn now signed through 2016-17 at $5.25 million, Alex Goligoski
through 2015-16 at $4.6 million, Loui Eriksson through 2015-16 at $4.25
million, Trevor Daley through 2016-17 at $3.3 million, and Lehtonen through
2017-18 at $5.9 million, the Stars have their core.
And they seem to have it at a pretty reasonable rate.
“I’m really proud of the fact that we’re identifying a core group of players
that we think we can win with, and Jamie is definitely one of those players,”
Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk said. “To have Loui signed up, and Kari, and
Goligoski, and Trevor Daley … I think it just shows that guys want to be
here, and they’re committed and we’re headed in the right direction.”
These negotiations had stalled at times, and it appears Benn and his agent,
Rich Evans, were the ones who moved. That’s a great sign. Yes, a five-year
deal at $5.25 million is nothing to sneeze at, but Benn could have held out
for more. The fact that he didn’t says something.
Kari Lehtonen has completely remade himself as a player in Dallas, and he
really likes what he sees in the mirror these days. He could be a top-10
goalie for years to come, and he clearly is the team’s MVP right now. So
committing to the Stars for the long-term wasn’t a problem for him.
And you’d like to think the same thing of Benn, who was on a plane to
Dallas and not available for comment. He is expected to be at the practice
rink Friday but probably won’t be in the lineup until he has immigration and
work visa issues resolved.
652516
Dallas Stars
Blackhawks break up second-period celebration, finish off Stars in overtime
MIKE HEIKA
Not that Jamie Benn is sailing to the rescue of the Stars, but Dallas
probably needed the good news after blowing a two-goal lead Thursday
night en route to a 3-2 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Benn on Thursday agreed to terms a five-year contract extension at an
average of $5.25 million and could be available as soon as Monday’s game
at Columbus. He will miss Saturday’s home game against the St. Louis
Blues because of immigration and visa issues.
But the Stars sure could use his smiling face. They have endured a tough
stretch of four games in six days (including a plane malfunction that kept
them in Detroit on Wednesday) and have come out with a 2-1-1 record.
They are giving up almost 40 shots a game, and they once again allowed
Kari Lehtonen (38 saves on 41 shots) to sit in a shooting gallery against the
Blackhawks on Thursday.
That’s why it seemed unusual that Dallas was beating the hottest team in
hockey 2-0 halfway through the game. Loui Eriksson made a spectacular
drive to the net in the waning seconds of the first period to score a shorthanded goal to make it 1-0. Derek Roy sprung Eriksson for the breakaway,
and he fought through a check to muscle a puck under Chicago goalie
Corey Crawford for a 1-0 lead.
Dallas fans were then treated to the announcement of the Benn contract
extension in the arena, and then watched as Ray Whitney made it 2-0.
Whitney somehow found himself all alone in front of Crawford and did some
nifty stick manipulation before roofing a backhand shot.
With Benn signed and a 2-0 lead, what could go wrong?
Well, the Blackhawks could step on the gas. A tired and chasing Stars team
put Chicago on the power play seven times, and the Blackhawks scored
three man-advantage goals. Patrick Sharp got a little puck luck in the
second period, as his centering pass was accidentally knocked into the
Stars net by Stars defenseman Trevor Daley.
Chicago then tied the game when a weary Lehtonen couldn’t see a
Jonathan Toews one-timer at the 14:07 mark of the third period.
That led to overtime, and there Brenden Morrow was called for interference
to set up a Chicago power play. Marian Hossa scored his fifth goal of the
season at the 1:41 mark, and the Blackhawks had the win to go 4-0-0.
Dallas gets a point in the standings for the overtime loss.
Stars acquire minor league defenseman: The Stars on Thursday acquired
defenseman Carl Sneep from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a conditional
seventh-round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Sneep was assigned to the
Texas Stars, Dallas’ primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Sneep, 25, has skated in 29 games this season for the Wheeling Nailers,
Pittsburgh’s ECHL affiliate. In those 29 games, he has earned a plus-12
rating and 15 points (3G-12A), ranking third among all Nailers defensemen
in scoring. The St. Louis Park, Minn. native also skated in one AHL game
for the Hershey Bears and was Pittsburgh’s second-round selection (32nd
overall) in 2006.
The condition on the pick is Sneep has to play 10 NHL games for the
Penguins to receive the pick. Sneep is intended as help for the AHL team.
Briefly: The Stars recalled Tomas Vincour from the AHL and assigned
Colton Sceviour to the AHL. The move was designed to get Sceviour, who
was a healthy scratch in four games, some playing time. It also will give
Vincour some time on the big club. … Jaromir Jagr left the bench in the
third period and did not return. … Defenseman Aaron Rome was scratched
for the fourth game, but coach Glen Gulutzan said Rome has recovered
from a groin injury. Gulutzan said Rome might play Saturday against the
Blues.
652517
Dallas Stars
Despite overtime loss, one Star earned the top star in OT loss to Chicago
MIKE HEIKA
Chicago 3, Stars 2 (OT)
Three Stars:
1.Kari Lehtonen, Stars — Deserved better fate, but got the Stars a point.
2.Jonathan Toews, Chicago — Gritty game with big power play goal.
3.Marian Hossa, Chicago — Scores game-winning goal in OT.
First Period: Chicago dominated early in the game and finished the period
with a 12-6 advantage in shots on goal. However, the Stars were able to
score first when Loui Eriksson came up with a highlight reel goal. The Stars
were killing a penalty when Derek Roy sprung Eriksson on a breakaway
with a quick pass. Eriksson fought off a check, and pushed a puck through
the legs of Chicago goalie Corey Crawford with 1.4 seconds left on the
clock.
Stars 1, Chicago 0
Second Period: The Blackhawks again dominated the first 10 minutes.
Again, the Stars scored first. After Ryan Garbutt missed a penalty shot, Ray
Whitney found himself alone in front of the net, and he made a nifty move
and scored on a backhand shot to make it 2-0 at the 10:41 mark. The
Blackhawks then made it 2-1 on a Patrick Sharp power play goal at the
15:57 mark. Sharp was making a pass, and Trevor Daley accidentally
deflected the puck into the Stars’ net.
Stars 2, Chicago 1
Third period: The Blackhawks kept pushing, and tied the game at the 14:47
mark of the period. It deflated the building, as goalie Kari Lehtonen just
couldn’t come up with another miraculous save. Jonathan Toews pounded
a one-timer on the power play.
Stars 2, Chicago 2
Overtime: The Blackhawks got a power play when Brenden Morrow
knocked the stick out of Brent Seabrook’s hands. Marian Hossa scored his
fifth goal of the season at the 1:41 mark of overtime for the win.
Chicago 3, Stars 2 (OT)
652518
Dallas Stars
Stars, Jamie Benn agree to five-year, $26.25 million contract extension
Mike Heika
The Stars just announced during the Blackhawks game that they have
signed center Jamie Benn to a five-year contract extension for an average
of $5.25 million per season.
Benn boarded a plane to Dallas Thursday night. There are some
immigration issues that still need to be worked out, making him unavailable
for Saturday’s game against St. Louis. The Stars hope he’ll be ready to play
Monday when the team travels to Columbus.
Here are a couple of quotes from Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk:
“It’s really big. We know how important he is to our hockey club. It’s good
for our hockey club. It’s great for Jamie. He needs to be back in that locker
room with his teammates and tomorrow he will be.”
”Everybody wanted what was best for Jamie and for our hockey club and
that was to have him back with the guys. I couldn’t be happier. I see how
hard our team battles here in the first 3 1/2 games of the season, and to
add a player like him to the mix is going to be really good for our club.”
Here is the press release:
FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk
announced today that the club has agreed to terms with center Jamie Benn
to a five-year, $26.25 million contract ($5.25 million per year — the first year
of the deal is pro-rated).
Benn is entering his fourth NHL season, all as a member of the Stars. Last
season, the 23-year-old had a career year, setting personal bests in goals
(26), assists (37) and points (63). He led the club in game-winning goals
(7), multi-goal games (5) and was second in shots (203). Benn was also
selected to his first NHL All-Star Game, where he took home the accuracy
shooting title during the Superskills Competition.
“Jamie Benn has proven in his short, but very productive NHL career, that
he is not only this franchise’s cornerstone player, but also an emerging
superstar in the league,” said General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk. “We
believe that Jamie has the necessary tools to continue his growth and lead
this team into the next great era of Dallas Stars hockey.”
The Victoria, B.C. native enters 2012-13 having increased his point totals in
each of his first three seasons; earning 41, 56, and 63 points, respectively.
Among 2007 NHL draft picks, Benn is tied for the fifth-most career goals
(70), trailing only Chicago’s Patrick Kane (128), Edmonton’s Sam Gagner
(77) and St. Louis’ David Perron (74), and is the only player among that
group that wasn’t a top-30 pick that year (5th round, 129th overall). During
Benn’s first NHL season in 2009-10, he became just the second Stars
rookie to score over 20 goals and the 10th in franchise history. He also
earned the distinction as the only player in Dallas Stars history to earn 100
points before the age of 23 on Oct. 15, 2011 against Columbus.
In 2010, Benn helped lead Dallas’ AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, to the
Calder Cup Finals where he registered 14 goals, 12 assists in 24 games.
Those totals led Texas and were good for third-most in the entire Calder
Cup Playoffs.
Prior to the start his professional career, Benn played two seasons for the
Kelowna Rockets in the WHL from 2007-09. After posting a 65-point
campaign (33 goals, 32 assists) in his first season with the Rockets, he
followed that up with an 82-point season (46 goals, 36 assists) and was
named to the WHL West First All-Star Team. During the 2009 postseason,
he led Kelowna in playoff scoring with 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in
just 19 games, leading Kelowna to the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL
champions, and an appearance in the Memorial Cup Tournament.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound forward also has considerable experience at the
international stage. In 2009, he helped lead Team Canada to a gold medal
at the World Junior Championships, earning four goals and two assists in
six contests. He also represented Canada at the 2012 World
Championships.
652519
Dallas Stars
Stars sign C Jamie Benn to $26M, 5-year contract
The Associated Press
DALLAS — Jamie Benn and the Dallas Stars agreed to a $26.25 million,
five-year contract on Thursday night
The All-Star center gets $5.25 million each season, with the first year of the
deal pro-rated because of the NHL lockout. Dallas announced the move
during its game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The 23-year-old Benn was a restricted free agent who set career highs with
26 goals, 37 assists and 63 points for the Stars last season.
"We know how important he is to our hockey club and at the end of the day,
it's the right thing," Dallas general manager Joe Nieuwendyk said. "It's good
for our hockey club, it's great for Jamie."
Benn played 19 games for the Hamburg Freezers in Germany during the
lockout this season, compiling seven goals and 20 points before returning
home to British Columbia in December.
"Sometimes these things take a little time, and it's a process," said
Nieuwendyk, whose team opened 2-1-0. "I've seen how hard our team
battles here in the first 3 1/2 games of this season and to add a player like
him to the mix is going to be good for our club."
Benn is expected to arrive in Dallas early Friday morning, but he probably
won't be in uniform Saturday night against St. Louis. Nieuwendyk is hoping
Benn will be ready for the following game.
"He's on his way here (Thursday night). It's a matter of immigration and
getting a work visa, but we're hopeful he'll be ready for Monday in
Columbus," Nieuwendyk said. "He needs to be back in that locker room
with his teammates and (Friday) he will be."
Star-Telegram LOADED: 01.25.2013
652520
Dallas Stars
Blackhawks rally to nip Stars in overtime
fired a wrist shot that Crawford initially appeared to stop, but the puck came
loose and slid just over the goal line.
Garbutt was awarded his first career penalty shot early in the second when
he was pulled down from behind by Seabrook on a breakaway, but
Crawford made a glove save on his backhand attempt.
Staff
Following a turnover by Michal Rozsival, Whitney found himself alone in
front and his point-blank backhander over Crawford's shoulder gave Dallas
a two-goal lead at 10:41.
DALLAS — The Chicago Blackhawks are getting strong play from their best
players - and that's a big reason they are 4-0.
The Blackhawks finally solved Lehtonen on a power play at 15:57 when
Sharp attempted a pass through the crease that was inadvertently deflected
in by Dallas defender Trevor Daley.
Marian Hossa scored his NHL-leading fifth goal on a power play 1:41 into
overtime to give Chicago a 3-2 comeback victory over the Dallas Stars on
Thursday night.
Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews tied the score late in the third period,
and Patrick Sharp had a goal and two assists. Patrick Kane added two
assists, including a dazzling pass on Hossa's game-winner, to extend his
scoring streak to four games (two goals, five assists).
"First really big test coming from behind and I think we didn't quit," Hossa
said. "Huge goal by Toews at the end kept us in the game."
The Blackhawks, who matched the franchise's best start set during the
1972-73 season, overcame a 2-0 second-period deficit. Corey Crawford
made 21 saves and stopped Ryan Garbutt on a penalty shot.
"We just kept sticking to the same play, kept going, and our guys did a great
job not getting frustrated," Crawford said. "All the missed opportunities or
big saves sometimes gets to you. But tonight was great. We got some big
goals and an amazing play by Kaner at the end there."
With Dallas captain Brenden Morrow in the penalty box for interference,
Hossa fired a one-timer from the slot past goalie Kari Lehtonen after
receiving a nifty, behind-the-back pass from Kane.
"We'll talk about that one for a long time, like he had eyes behind his head,"
Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said of Kane's pass. "He saw Hoss and
everybody thought it was on the left side, including me, and then he pulls
that off and Hoss doesn't waste it and buries it. It was a special ending."
Chicago's high-powered offense, which racked up 14 goals in the previous
three games, needed the man-advantage to score all three Thursday night.
Part of that was due to an outstanding performance by Lehtonen, who
made 38 saves after coming within 3.4 seconds of a 39-save shutout
Tuesday in a 2-1 win at Detroit.
"If Kari isn't there, there is no game tonight," Dallas defenseman Stephane
Robidas said. "There's no chance we get a point. We just got lucky that we
hung in there for that long. We've just got to tighten up defensively. You
can't play like that all the time."
Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan was not happy with the performance of his
team, which was outshot 41-23 and fell to 2-1-1.
"Lost battles and turnovers," Gulutzan said. "If you lose one-on-one battles
all night, and if you turn the puck over all night, then you're going to be on
the wrong end of things, and that's what we did."
With Eric Nystrom in the penalty box for boarding, Toews tied it at 2 with
5:53 left in regulation on a wrist shot from the left circle that beat Lehtonen
over the blocker.
The Stars had a prime opportunity to win when Niklas Hjalmarsson's
tripping penalty with 1:18 left in regulation gave them a chance to end it on
the power play. But even though the man-advantage carried over into
overtime, they were unable to capitalize.
Ray Whitney's second goal of the season midway through the second
period gave Dallas a 2-0 lead, but the Stars continued to get into penalty
trouble, allowing three goals on their last four trips to the box.
"We didn't change too much of our approach," Quenneville said. "We didn't
get away from our game, just tried to get on the offensive side of things,
drew some penalties, and the power play cashed in. It was a real solid
game for us."
Loui Eriksson put the Stars up 1-0 with a short-handed goal on a
spectacular effort with 1.4 seconds remaining in the first period. He fought
his way around defenseman Brent Seabrook at the Chicago blue line and
"To us, it was almost fun to watch how good he was playing," Kane said of
Lehtonen. "Just making acrobatic save after acrobatic save."
Dallas forward Jaromir Jagr, who had two goals and two assists on opening
night but has been held off the scoresheet since, left with an undisclosed
injury late in the third period.
"I don't think it's anything big, but I haven't spoken to our training staff,"
Gulutzan said.
NOTES: During the game, the Stars announced that they signed restricted
free agent center Jamie Benn to a five-year contract worth $26.25 million. ...
The last time the Blackhawks opened the season with at least three straight
victories was back in 1972-73, when Hall of Famers Tony Esposito and
Stan Mikita led them to a 4-0 start en route to the Stanley Cup final. ...
Dallas has allowed just one goal during 5-on-5 play through its first four
games.
Star-Telegram LOADED: 01.25.2013
652521
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings goalie Tom McCollum's mask features Chris Farley
Posted by Brian Manzullo
We promise this isn't a slow news day -- we just found this to be a little
interesting.
That, and it gives us an excuse to embed a clip from the 1994 comedy
"Tommy Boy."
Detroit Red Wings backup goalie Tom McCollum, who was called up from
the Grand Rapids Griffins to fill in for an injured Jonas Gustavsson, has a
goalie mask that features a caricature of late actor Chris Farley in a Wings
jersey. You also can see the words "Tommy Boy" below:
Back of Tom McCollum's #RedWings mask has caricature of the late Chris
Farley, though it looks more like Meat Loaf. twitter.com/Bill_Roose/sta…
— The Wheel Deal (@Bill_Roose) January 24, 2013
It looks pretty cool, though we could argue that the caricature doesn't
resemble Farley as much as, say, the singer Meat Loaf (which the tweet
points out).
The Red Wings drafted McCollum 30th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
And now, without further ado, "Fat Guy in a Little Coat."
Detroit Free Press LOADED: 01.25.2013
652522
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings split up Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg; some players getting
healthier
By Carlos Monarrez
Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock split up Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik
Zetterberg on his top line during today’s practice, in an effort to spur the
team’s struggling offense.
Datsyuk moved off the wing of the first line and centered the second line
with Valtteri Filppula and Todd Bertuzzi. Zetterberg centered the first line
with Damien Brunner and Johan Franzen.
Babcock first broke up Datsyuk and Zetterberg at the end of Tuesday’s 2-1
loss to the visiting Dallas Stars. The Wings are tied for fourth-worst in the
NHL, with five goals scored.
“We haven’t scored, right?” Babcock said about the move. “You can’t just
keep doing things the same. So they played together here today on the
power play, they were apart on the regular shifts. We’ll see what happens
tomorrow.”
Mounting injuries certainly haven’t helped the Wings’ offensive output, and
Filppula left practice a little early with a sore right knee. But neither Filppula
nor Babcock seemed very concerned about the sprained MCL that Filppula
sustained in November while playing in Finland. Filppula said he thought he
would play Friday night against the Minnesota Wild at Joe Louis Arena.
“It’s been there a little bit, but it hasn’t been too bad,” he said of the
soreness. “But obviously, three games in four nights, that has something to
do with it, as well. So I just kind of hope it doesn’t get worse.”
Otherwise, the injury situation was status quo. Bertuzzi (flu), Darren Helm
(back) and Jakub Kindl (groin) practiced and are expected to play Friday.
“I’m hopeful of that,” Babcock said. “The trainers make that decision, but
they all skated today. I skated them all yesterday myself and then skated
them again here today and, obviously, now they’ve got to get ready to play.”
Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (shoulder) and goaltender Jonas
Gustavsson (groin) skated before practice but neither is expected to play
Friday.
652523
Detroit Red Wings
year. I understand the concept of overdeveloping players in Grand Rapids,
but that philosophy doesn't work if the NHL team isn't competitive.
Winging It in Motown: If Red Wings' season goes south, let's see the young
guys
We are entering a new era in this team's history, and with change, comes
uncertainty. If this team is unable to accomplish the goal of making the
playoffs, I hope the organization does what's best for the future and starts
to hand the team to the next generation.
By Graham Hathway
Stop me if you're heard this before: In a 48-game season, points are more
important at the beginning of the season because there is less time to make
up a deficit.
Now, that's not entirely true, of course. Part of it is that falling behind after,
say, 10 games only gives you 38 games to make up points, not 72, like
normal. At the same time, every team starts off with zero points, so it's not
like anyone got a head start.
The Wings have stumbled out of the gate, dropping two of their first three
games and generally not looking very good. Whether that's due to rust, lack
of chemistry or injuries remains to be seen. It's not worth getting panicked
about three games, but another week or two of the same play could be a
disturbing trend.
We fans are not used to seeing the team struggle like this, and we're
certainly not used to having this amount of anxiety about the Wings' place
in the NHL hierarchy. A third of the team is injured, the offense isn't scoring,
the defense has been porous and the goaltending has been inconsistent.
I thought this year would be a transitional one, as we exited the Lidstrom
Era and embarked on a new chapter in team history. This is going to
necessitate some of the younger players being brought up and given
significant roles on the team, but they instead are being kept in Grand
Rapids to gain experience and continue to develop.
I'm as optimistic as the next guy, but what if these early problems are
symptoms of deeper issues with the team? What if the defense doesn't step
up? What if the offense continues to have problems scoring? What if an
injury happens to a really important player, such as Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik
Zetterberg or Jimmy Howard? What if, and this is hard to say, this team
simply isn't that good?
Three games don't provide nearly enough evidence to answer these
questions. But at what point does the team pull the plug on the season?
And if that happens, what do the Wings do with all those young players in
Grand Rapids?
The general rule of thumb was that if a team was in a playoff spot around
Thanksgiving, the odds of making the playoffs increased dramatically.
However, since there was no hockey on Thanksgiving, we'll need a different
point of reference. Since the NHL adopted a 48-game schedule, we could
use the halfway point as our cut-off date.
The Wings will play their 24th game on March 7. The trade deadline is April
3rd. That should give management about a month to assess where the
team is in relation to a playoff spot and make a decision on how to play out
the rest of the season. If the Wings find themselves within striking distance,
the goal should be to do whatever they can to make the playoffs.
But how close will they need to be? Going back four years, of the 64 teams
that qualified for the playoffs, nine made it after being outside the top eight
of the conference with approximately 24 games left. Of those nine, only St.
Louis, Carolina and Pittsburgh in 2009 did so despite being more than four
points behind the eighth-place team. Last year, Washington was the only
team able to make up the difference, and it required a complete collapse of
the Toronto Maple Leafs to do so.
That means that when the Wings play that 24th game on March 7, we
should have an indication about whether this team can make the playoffs. If
the Wings are in the top eight or just a few points behind, they've got a shot.
But what if the injuries continue and the Wings are unable to ice a full team
for an extended period of time? What if that leads to inconsistent results
and Detroit falls further behind? What if they are 10 or more points behind
on March 7?
At that point, I don't see the harm in bringing up the kids and giving them
ice time to see what they can do. If the playoffs are gone, it should be
important to the team to give players such as Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar,
Brian Lashoff and Brendan Smith bigger roles, with an eye toward next
652524
Detroit Red Wings
NHL roundup: Former Red Wing Marian Hossa scores in OT as
Blackhawks rally vs. Stars
News Services
DALLAS -- Former Red Wing Marian Hossa scored his NHL-leading fifth
goal on a power play 1:41 into overtime to give the Chicago Blackhawks a
3-2 comeback victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
With Dallas captain Brenden Morrow in the penalty box for interference,
Hossa fired a one-timer from the slot past goalie Kari Lehtonen after
receiving a nifty, behind-the-back pass from Patrick Kane.
Chicago's high-powered offense, which racked up 14 goals in the previous
three wins, needed the man advantage to score all three Thursday night.
Part of that was due to an outstanding performance by Lehtonen, who
made 38 saves.
Carolina 6, Buffalo 3: Eric Staal scored three goals, and the host Hurricanes
earned their first victory of the season by handing the Sabres their first loss.
Colorado 4, Columbus 0: Matt Duchene scored two goals and set up
another, and Semyon Varlamov made 33 saves for the host Avalanche.
Montreal 4, Washington 1: Andrei Markov had a goal and an assist for the
visiting Canadiens. The Capitals are 0-3 for the first time in nearly two
decades.
N.Y. Islanders 7, Toronto 4: Matt Moulson and Michael Grabner scored two
goals each for the visiting Islanders.
Ottawa 3, Florida 1: Erik Karlsson scored the go-ahead goal midway
through the second period, and the visiting Senators won their third straight
game to start the season.
Philadelphia 2, N.Y. Rangers 1: Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek
scored to help the host Flyers win their first game. The Flyers not only
avoided their first 0-4 start in team history, they beat the Rangers for the
first time in two seasons.
St. Louis 3, Nashville 0: Patrik Berglund scored on a penalty shot and
goalie Jaroslav Halak made 13 save for the host Blues.
Notebook: Flyers forward Scott Hartnell will miss four to eight weeks with a
broken left foot. ... Toronto forward Joffrey Lupul will miss at least six weeks
with a broken forearm. ... Jamie Benn and the Stars have agreed to a
$26.25-million, five-year contract. The 23-year-old All-Star center was a
restricted free agent who set career highs with 26 goals, 37 assists and 63
points for Dallas last season. ... The Rangers acquired forward Benn
Ferriero from Pittsburgh for forward Chad Kolarik (Michigan). Both have
been in the AHL this season. ... Minnesota recalled defenseman Jonas
Brodin, 19, from its AHL affiliate, He is expected to make his NHL debut
against the Red Wings tonight.
652525
Detroit Red Wings
Ticker: Will Red Wings' defense drag them down?
By Steve Schrader
Is it too early to panic about the Red Wings? It's never too early for Wings
fans to panic.
But two CBSSports.com hockey writers, Adam Gretz and Brian Stubits,
debated that very subject. (They included the 0-3 Flyers, too, but we don't
care about them.)
Said Gretz: "The Red Wings' defense is a wasteland and is getting more
and more depleted by the day (soon they will be pulling people out of the
stands if they're wearing a Nicklas Lidstrom jersey). And like the Flyers,
they're also not scoring. And also like the Flyers, that's not going to
continue as the Red Wings are scoring on fewer than 5% of their shots.
That's not going to last. ...
"The Red Wings' defense is barely NHL quality at this point, and that's
going to close the door on them as a serious Stanley Cup contender. But
their offense is still good enough to get them in the playoffs and make them
competitive."
Stubits isn't so sure: "I believe the Wings are in a world of hurt this year and
not just literally. ... What worries me is if the offense will get going. You note
they are shooting a miserably low percentage, and I certainly would expect
that to come up. But they don't have a ton of offense coming from the back
end with the depleted defensive depth. Defensemen might not produce a lot
of points, but the puck-movers are a tremendous asset and help any
forward line out. ...
"I don't believe Ken Holland was just making lip service before the season
about his team maybe missing the postseason."
Quick • Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com: "Getting the sense Te'o still thinks this
Kekua thing could work out in the end."
Quick hits
• Pat White, who starred at quarterback for Rich Rodriguez, was making the
rounds at the Senior Bowl to let teams know he's interested in an NFL
comeback. He was asked about similarities between him and Denard
Robinson: "Other than running the same system, (there's) not much. I tie
my shoes, he doesn't."
• Charles Barkley, asked by Dan Patrick if he would heckle Manti Te'o if he
were playing against him: "Oh, yeah, you gotta heckle him. It's goodnatured heckling (from players). ... The fans are going to kill him. But you
know what, he did it."
• Lance Armstrong has turned down a chance to do "Dancing With the
Stars," sources tell Entertainment Weekly. But it has nothing to do with his
current predicament. ABC apparently asks every year and he says no every
year.
• NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., asked if he and Danica Patrick are
dating: "We've got a great relationship. Obviously, it started when she came
into the sport. We were both going to rookie meetings. ... I've felt like she
could come to me for advice. But, you know, I don't like to talk too much
about my personal life."
Compiled from staff reports and news services by STEVE SCHRADER,
652526
Detroit Red Wings
Valtteri Filppula still sore, leaves Wings' practice early
By Ted Kulfan
Detroit — Sure, the Red Wings' special teams have been disappointing
through three games, and their lack of offense is cause for concern.
But these injuries just won't let up.
Forward Valtteri Filppula left practice early Thursday to rest the sprained
right knee he suffered in mid-November while playing in Finland during the
lockout. Filppula admitted the knee continues to affect him.
"It's been bothering me for a little bit," said Filppula, who doesn't have a
point in three games and is minus-1. "I was expecting to be still feeling it
(because) it hasn't been that long (since the injury occurred). Hopefully it
goes away soon."
With a 48-game schedule, and every game being so important, Filppula
wanted to jump right into game action.
"You want to play; I hadn't been feeling too bad," Filppula said. "I was
expecting it to be a little sore. I don't think I came back too early.
"Obviously, the three games in four nights (to open the season) may have
something to do with it, as well. I just have to hope it doesn't get worse."
Filppula expects to be in the lineup Friday when the Red Wings host
Minnesota.
"That's the plan," Filppula said. "I expect to play."
Coach Mike Babcock expects to have forwards Darren Helm (back) and
Todd Bertuzzi (flu), and defenseman Jakub Kindl (groin), all ready to play
against the Wild.
"I'm hopeful of that; the trainers will make the decision," said Babcock,
adding the injured players skated Wednesday on their own, as well as
Thursday's full practice. "We have to be ready to play. We need the points."
Goalie Jonas Gustavsson (groin) and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (hip)
both are day to day but not likely to play against Minnesota.
Line changes
Babcock has split Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. It's not necessarily
permanent, but Datsyuk will likely center Filppula and Todd Bertuzzi, while
Zetterberg will skate with Johan Franzen and Damien Brunner.
"I did (separate them) the last game at the end; they haven't scored,"
Babcock said. "You just can't keep doing the same thing. They played
together on the power play today and apart in the drills, so we'll see what
happens tomorrow."
Datsyuk has three points (one goal) through three games, and Zetterberg
has two assists.
Detroit News LOADED: 01.25.2013
652527
Detroit Red Wings
Wings never figured in the Zach Parise-Ryan Suter drama
But when Parise then called his friend Suter, whose wife is from Minnesota,
whose farm is nearby in Wisconsin and who said he had talked with Parise
about playing together as early as 2010 when they played for the USA at
the Vancouver Olympics, the deals were done.
"It came down to where I felt my family would like to live," Suter said July 9.
"My wife's from Bloomington. That had a lot to do with it."
By Gregg Krupa
They signed to skate this season and for the next 12 with the Wild, but Zach
Parise and Ryan Suter are inextricably linked to the Red Wings transition
from perennial contenders over the past two decades to whatever the future
holds.
They were a fond hope for Wings fans during the summer of 2012, when
Nicklas Lidstrom retired and ended an era. But those grand expectations
emerged only as fantasy.
The numbers might have worked, somehow, for the resourceful Red Wings
brass. Even with salary caps of $70.2 million for this season and $64.3
million for next, there might have been a way to squeeze Parise and Suter
in there, despite the cap hits of $7.54 million each on their $98 million deals.
The Red Wings may well have found that their eventual offers for both
players would not be enough. But the fact of the matter is the great game
for Parise and Suter was over for Detroit almost before it began, and it had
nothing to do with the attractiveness of their offers or the ability of the
franchise to attract top talent.
Win some, lose some
The Red Wings have benefited from similar motivations of players in the
past.
Brian Rafalski signed for less money to play near his family and boyhood
home in Metro Detroit. There have been others, and there may well be
more.
The Red Wings will continue to push buttons.
That possibility increased, albeit seven months after they signed with the
Wild, when the new collective bargaining agreement included a provision
for two compensatory buyouts of existing contracts.
The fans may well boo Parise and Suter, tonight. It is what is traditionally
done in Detroit, when fans feel jilted in a town that gets more disrespect that
it deserves.
But, as it turned out, it was never about the money, if only because Parise
and Suter were always going to get huge deals from someone.
Just ask Sergei Fedorov.
It all turned on things like sentiment, going home and lifestyle.
When asked hypothetically if the two buyouts would have made the Red
Wings more driven to sign the gold dust twins, Ken Holland was matter-offact on Thursday, a day before the Wild visit Joe Louis Arena.
"We would not have done anything different," said Holland, the Red Wings
general manager who faces one of his toughest seasons and residual
questions about the two big stars.
Once Parise decided, for reasons of pure sentiment, he would return to
Minnesota, where he grew up, where his father J.P. Parise played for the
North Stars from 1967-75 and where his family still lives, the Red Wings
were dealt out of the game.
And to hear people close to the deal talk about it privately now, Parise
made his move early, without a lot of thought to playing in Detroit,
Philadelphia, Chicago or in any of the dozen or so other towns where NHL
clubs were preparing significant offers.
Sizable offer
The Red Wings offered Parise and Suter each the same deal that Henrik
Zetterberg enjoys, $73 million for 12 years, according to sources close to
the negotiations, who asked not to be identified, saying they were not
authorized to discuss it.
At the same time, the Wild offered Parise $104 million, and Suter $88
million.
The offers sat there for two days in early July, with the Red Wings making
clear it was their first and that they were open to expansive discussions.
It suggested the likelihood they were willing to exceed Zetterberg's contract,
as they had exceeded Steve Yzerman's in order to sign other players
critical to Stanley Cup wins.
But before the Red Wings could haggle, Parise's agent called them and
some other teams in the mix to say the coveted high-scoring, physical
forward of considerable character would sign with the Wild.
As the story goes, upon receiving the huge offer from the Wild, Parise flew
home to see his parents. A man of considerable emotion, he is said to have
wept with joy.
"My parents were so excited when they knew that I was considering coming
home," Parise said at the news conference on July 9, when the signings
were celebrated. "That played a big part.
"I grew up here, I love coming back here in the summers, and I thought,
'We enjoy it here so much, it would be great to be here year round.'"
Before the gargantuan offer, it was not at all clear Minnesota was a serious
player.
But the booing also is merely an alternative to what is really called for:
patience.
As the calendar turns, the Red Wings brass continues to evaluate their
situation after both Lidstrom's retirement and the failure to make the huge
splash with free agents in 2012. Holland and his associates are plainly
eyeing the future, when some provisions of the new collective bargaining
agreement may put a lot of NHL talent in play.
It is a season like few of recent years for the Red Wings. But there is ample
hope in both the amount of cap space they have now and can create in the
near future, and their willingness to maneuver.
Regardless, Parise and Suter in red and white still intrigues. But it was
never meant to be.
652528
Detroit Red Wings
Faceoff: 7:30 tonight, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
TV/radio: FSD+/1270
Wings' Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg won't be paired
By Ted Kulfan
Outlook: Minnesota earned four of six points in a season-opening threegame home stand. … LW Dany Heatley has three goals and LW Zach
Parise has one goal and three assists. … The Wild has allowed five goals in
three games.
Detroit — Four goals in three games.
That's just not going to win many games.
And Red Wings coach Mike Babcock knows that, and is reworking his lines
in the hopes of creating more offense.
Babcock likely will keep Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on separate
lines after breaking them up late during Monday's loss to Dallas. The two
played on the same line with Damien Brunner throughout training camp and
the first three games.
During Thursday's practice, Zetterberg worked with Brunner and Johan
Franzen, while Datsyuk skated with Valtteri Filppula and Todd Bertuzzi.
"You just can't keep doing the same thing," Babcock said. "They played
together on the power play (during practice) and apart in the drills, so we'll
see what happens (tonight vs. the Wild)."
Datsyuk has three points (one goal) and Zetterberg has two assists.
Brunner has one goal.
The second line, however, has been non-existent, with Franzen, Filppula,
Mikael Samuelsson and Gustav Nyquist (he replaced an injured
Samuelsson) combining for two points (assists).
"We just have to keep working hard and we'll get our goals," Zetterberg
said.
Filppula update
Filppula left practice early to rest the sprained right knee he hurt in midNovember while playing in Finland during the lockout.
"It's been bothering me for a little bit," said Filppula, who doesn't have a
point and is minus-1. "I was expecting to be still feeling it (because) it hasn't
been that long (since the injury occurred).
"Obviously, the three games in four nights (to open the season) may have
something to do with it, as well. I just have to hope it doesn't get worse."
Filppula expects to be in the lineup tonight.
Three on the way back?
Babcock expects to have forwards Darren Helm (back) and Todd Bertuzzi
(flu), and defenseman Jakub Kindl (groin) available tonight.
Helm missed the last 10 games last season because of a sprained knee,
and then severed tendons in his forearm during Game 1 of the playoffs.
"It's been a long time since I've been healthy," said Helm, who broke an
orbital bone during an informal workout in November and missed camp and
the start to the season with the back injury. "Less is more for me to start.
Just keep it simple and try not to do too much."
Game-time decision
Don't count defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (hip) out of tonight's game,
though he's listed as day to day.
"I felt better than I thought I would," Ericsson said after skating alone before
practice. "There's a chance (I'll play). You see the (defensemen) dropping
like flies and you want to go out there and help.
"But it might not be helping if you go out and the injury gets worse and
you're out another two, three weeks."
… The Red Wings are 0-for-15 on the power play. They went 0-for-18 to
start last season.
[email protected]
twitter.com/tkulfan
Wild at Red Wings
652529
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings hope some line-juggling, return of a few injured players will
provide boost
Ansar Khan
DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings hope a little line juggling and the return
of some healthy bodies Friday against Minnesota will get them headed in
the right direction following a sluggish start.
Coach Mike Babcock has split up stars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik
Zetterberg, who played together for most of the first three games, along
with Damien Brunner.
“You just can’t keep doing things the same,'' Babcock said. “They played
together today on the power play, they were apart on regular shifts, and
we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
Johan Franzen skated with Zetterberg and Brunner. Valtteri Filppula and
Todd Bertuzzi joined Datsyuk's line.
The Red Wings (1-2) have scored only four goals, just two by forwards and
none on the power play (0-for-15).
They will look for a boost from third-line center Darren Helm (back) and
Bertuzzi (flu), who anticipate making their season debut.
“We have a good team coming in and we need the points,'' Babcock said.
“It’s just crucial. So we have to play real well without the puck and have
energy.
“I felt we really lacked energy (in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Dallas). We tried
hard. I thought the mental mistakes in the second period really cost us. And
the first thing that always goes is your mind. So we had a day to freshen up
and we should be back at it.”
Helm can provide energy in spades. But, Babcock cautioned not to expect
too much too soon from a player who has had an assortment of injuries the
last 14 months and hasn't played a full game since March 14, 2012.
“It’s going to be tough,'' Helm said. “I kind of started off where everyone
else did, but two weeks late. The last four or five days I’ve been working
real hard to get back into that shape. It’s not the same unless you get out
there. Workout shape is a lot different than game shape. It’s going to take a
little bit of time, but I think I’ll be right back in there pretty quickly.''
Helm is not a big scorer, but his work ethic and hustle are contagious.
“He's one of those guys you look to when you want energy,'' defenseman
Niklas Kronwall said. “He gives everything he's got every shift. Other guys
feed off that. And he can go shift after shift after shift and it makes it really
hard on the other team night in and night out. Huge part of our team.''
Said Babcock: “Helmer hasn’t played hockey in eight months, so let’s have
a little perspective. It’s not like he had all training camp and got tweaked at
the end. So he’ll be a work-in-progress.”
On defense, Jakub Kindl (groin) will make his season debut.
Filppula left practice before sprint drills, still experiencing some discomfort
in his right knee, after suffering a sprained MCL on Nov. 13 while playing in
Finland. He expects to play Friday, however.
“I want to play and it hasn’t been feeling too bad,'' Filppula said. “I was
expecting it to be a little sore, so in that way I don’t think I came back too
early. … (Playing) three games in four nights, I’m sure it has something to
do with it as well. Just have to hope that it doesn’t get worse.”
The power play can't get much worse. The Red Wings have had the extra
man for 25 minutes and 36 seconds and registered only 20 shots.
“We got to shoot the puck a little bit more, get the puck to the net; we can't
just keep passing it around,'' Kronwall said. “Create some more movement.
Anytime you get to take the shot, there's going to be some traffic around the
net and people don't know where everyone is. Hopefully, that will break
their PK down a little bit.''
Babcock said the power play was too static and not in unison on Tuesday.
“We were too predictable,'' he said. “You can’t be predictable. We’re set up
with good players on our power play. We have to get organized and have to
generate great offense and momentum, and if nothing else, at least you get
momentum. But it can’t be counter-productive to the cause.”
Michigan Live LOADED: 01.25.2013
652530
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings' Mike Babcock says, 'We'll be just fine,' as injuries mount and
offense struggles
Ansar Khan
DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings are only three games into the season,
but there was an unmistakable sense of urgency in their new captain's
voice following Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars.
“It’s early, but we know it’s a shortened season,'' Henrik Zetterberg said.
“We have to win games. We can’t win one and lose two. If we keep doing
that, it won’t be fun here.''
Injuries are piling up, and they're having trouble scoring. With 15 of their
first 24 games at home during this 48-game season, the Red Wings need to
bank points early.
“When you're 1-2, it's a way different thing than when you start 2-1,'' coach
Mike Babcock said after Tuesday's game. “Tough one for us. We'll take a
day off (Wednesday), but the sun's going to come up tomorrow.
“I understood coming into this game what it might be like, so we'll regroup,
we'll get some bodies back for Friday and we'll get at it.''
Forwards Darren Helm and Todd Bertuzzi and defenseman Jakub Kindl are
expected to make their season debut Friday at home against the Minnesota
Wild. The problem is, the Red Wings keep losing players. The latest is
defenseman Ian White, out 2-3 weeks following surgery Wednesday to
repair a deep cut in his left leg.
He joins an injured list that includes forwards Mikael Samuelsson (groin)
and Jan Mursak (shoulder), defensemen Jonathan Ericsson (hip) and Carlo
Colaiacovo (shoulder) and goaltender Jonas Gustavsson (groin).
The Red Wings have scored only four goals in three games and their power
play is 0 for 15.
“We can’t get frustrated,'' goalie Jimmy Howard said. “We have to go out
there and keep working our hardest. It’s not because of (not) trying. We’re
putting the puck on net, doing some good things, but the puck just isn’t
going into the net right now for us. Six posts in the last two games, we’re
not getting much puck luck right now.''
Zetterberg and Babcock both offered words of encouragement following the
home-opener.
“We just have to keep working hard and we’ll get rewarded for it,''
Zetterberg said.
Said Babcock: “We're disappointed for our fans that we weren't able to get
things looked after. We're a team in flux right now. But, we're going to be
better. We'll be just fine.''
652531
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings' Jonathan Ericsson, Jonas Gustavsson feeling better; Todd
Bertuzzi, Jakub Kindl ready to go
Ansar Khan
DETROIT – Here is what some of the Detroit Red Wings' injured players
said Thursday about their status:
Todd Bertuzzi (flu): “As far as know (he is playing Friday). I felt pretty good,
got a couple of good skates in, which I needed big-time and looking forward
to it. Just timing, being patient, not forcing things. Keeping it simple is the
key. When you get a chance, shoot the puck and work hard in short shifts.''
Jakub Kindl (groin): “I’ve skated pretty hard lately. It feels good. It’s been a
while, so I’m really looking forward for (Friday). We’ve been skating pretty
hard lately. Obviously, it’s not fun when you’re out there skating with two or
three other guys skating back and forth on your own. They were good
conditioning skates, so I feel pretty good.
Jonas Gustavsson (groin): “I was out there skating a little bit today (before
practice). We’re going to turn it up a bit (Friday). It’s day-by-day, but I’m
definitely getting better, so hopefully I can get back full soon. I feel way
better now than I did a couple of days ago. It’s going in the right direction,
that’s for sure.''
Jonathan Ericsson (hip): “It’s better today than it was yesterday. We’re
going to go day-by-day. I skated (Thursday) before the guys went out there.
Tomorrow is another day. There is a chance (he could play). You feel like
(defensemen) are dropping like flies and you just want to get in there and
help out. It might not be much helping out if you get injured worse and have
to wait another few weeks. You have to be smart about it, that’s why I’ve
got the doctors and trainers to help with that.''
652532
Detroit Red Wings
“I want to play and it hasn’t been feeling too bad,” Filppula said. “I was
expecting it to be a little sore, so in that way I don’t think I came back too
early.”
Detroit Red Wings C Darren Helm ready for season debut
Defenseman Jakub Kindl (groin) and forward Todd Bertuzzi (flu) both are
expected back Friday.
By Chuck Pleiness
Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (hip) and goalie Jonas Gustavsson (groin)
continue to be day-by-day.
DETROIT – If it seems as if you haven’t been Darren Helm on the ice for
quite some time for the Wings it’s because you haven’t.
But he’s ready to make his debut Friday night at Joe Louis Arena against
the Minnesota Wild.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been healthy,” Helm said after practice
Thursday. “From the end of last year to the lockout and even at the start of
this year I started out hurt. I’m anxious to get out there, excited and when
they give me the go ahead I’ll be even more excited.”
Helm has been on the wrong end of a rash of injuries of late.
He missed the Wings’ week-long training camp and the first three games of
the season with a back injury, which was the first of his playing career.
He hit by a puck on Nov. 2 during an informal skate in Troy, breaking an
orbital bone.
On March 17, he missed the final 10 regular season games with a sprained
MCL. Then, in his first game back, the playoff opener against Nashville, he
had tendons in his forearm sliced by a skate.
“I just have to do little, less is more,” Helm said. “For me, that first shift, the
first 10 minutes, whatever it is, keep it really simple, not try and do too much
because that’s when I’ll get in trouble. I feel like I will be tired out there so I
can’t be trying things outside my comfort zone.”
The Wings have missed Helm’s speed
“He’s one of those guys you look to when you want energy,” Niklas
Kronwall said. “He gives everything he’s got every shift of the game. Other
guys feed off that, there’s no doubt about that. And he can go for shift after
shift after shift and he makes it really hard on the other team night in and
night out. He’s a huge part of our team.”
Last season coach Mike Babcock called him the best third-line center in the
league.
“It’s always nice to hear compliments like that,” Helm said. “There are a lot
of good third-line centers out there in the league. To have my name up
there is pretty nice. I take my job pretty seriously. I want to be a
hardworking guy that competes every night. If other people notice it that’s
great, but I just have to keep doing my job.”
Z AND PAV BROKEN UP
Babcock broke up Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk off the Wings’ top
line.
Johan Franzen skated with Zetterberg and Damien Brunner, while Datsyuk
was paired with Todd Bertuzzi and Valtteri Filppula.
“Well, I did last game at the end,” Babcock said. “They haven’t scored,
right? You just can’t keep doing things the same. They played together here
today on the power play, they were apart on regular shifts, and we’ll see
what happens.”
Through three games, Datsyuk has a goal and two assists, Zetterberg has
two assists and Brunner has one goal.
INJURY FRONT
Valtteri Filppula left practice early because his right knee was bothering
him, the same knee he suffered an MCL injury to in Finland during the
lockout.
“It’s been bothering me for a little bit,” said Filppula, who expects to play
Friday against Minnesota. “I was expecting it and expected that I would still
be feeling it. It hasn’t been that long yet, so hopefully it goes away soon.”
Playing the three games in four nights probably didn’t help matters.
“You feel like (defensemen) are dropping like flies and you just want to get
in there and help out,” Ericsson said. “It might not be much helping out if
you get injured worse and have to wait another few weeks or whatever.”
Defensemen Ian White (leg laceration) and Carlo Colaiacovo (shoulder),
along with forwards Mikael Samuelsson (groin) and Jan Mursak
(collarbone) didn’t practice.
Macomb Daily LOADED: 01.25.2013
652533
Edmonton Oilers
MacKinnon: Oilers win wild affair by taking care of details
“There’s hitting in the game of hockey,” said Fistric, one of the NHL’s purest
practitioners of the open-ice hit. “I feel one of the best ways to retaliate is
when guys take runs at your players, you take numbers and you pick your
spots.
“I know he’s (Nolan) a big-body guy, and if I can assert myself on him early,
it usually keeps him at bay.”
By John MacKinnon, Edmonton Journal January 25, 2013 12:02 AM
EDMONTON - God is in the details, even in hockey, and especially in the
defensive zone.
Mind you, on a bizarre, penalty-filled, offensively challenged night at Rexall
Place, God had less to do with the outcome than referees Tom Kowall and
Greg Kimmerly.
The game details, in the end, were wildly dramatic, including a disallowed
Oilers goal, an improbable, baseball-swing in mid-air tying goal by Nail
Yakupov with five seconds left in the third period. Not to mention the
game’s only power-play marker by Sam Gagner, the game-winner in
Edmonton’s 2-1 first home victory of the season.
Still, none of the late-game heroics would have come off had the Oilers not
been close to airtight in their own zone, in sharp contrast to that nightmarish
six-goal first period in the 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks in the home
opener.
Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings, the Oilers dialed up their
attention to detail in their own end, with noticeable results.
They didn’t have much choice, either, not on a night Kowall and Kimmerly
opted to thumb through the rule book on the fly and whistle the Oilers for a
variety of obscure infractions.
They nailed poor Ladislav Smid for smothering the puck, for starters. Later,
they booked him for not only for instigating a fight with Jordan Nolan, but for
doing it while wearing a visor. All in, Smid incurred 23 minutes in penalties
by the midpoint of the first period, clearly the tone setter for a rules
refresher course for both teams.
“I didn’t know about the rule that you can’t push the puck,” Smid said. “I
thought you could just grab it and then hold it, but I guess that’s a new rule.
“It’s a tough lesson for me. On the visor thing, I was surprised I got the
instigator thing, actually. The guy (Nolan) dropped the gloves first. I asked
him if he wants to go and he said ‘Yes.’ He dropped his gloves but I still got
the instigator.
“Good lesson for me.”
Smid was hardly alone in learning some tough rules lessons Thursday
night.
The referees also caught Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for a weird faceoff violation,
and so it went.
The upshot was the Oilers had to kill seven penalties, including a pair of
five-on-threes.
On the other hand, they were zero-for-seven on their own five-on-four
power plays, zero-for one on their one five-on-three, but golden on their
four-on-three manpower advantage in overtime, when Gagner muscled the
puck past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick at 3:01 of the extra segment.
Practice, practice, practice, evidently.
With all that penalty killing, defensive-zone play mattered hugely and the
Oilers sure delivered.
Defenders like Jeff Petry and newcomer Mark Fistric were belting
opponents in front of the crease, for one thing, a rare sight in recent years.
Also, Fistric flattened Nolan with a clean, but ferocious bodycheck late in
the first period. That was a second instalment of the payment the Oilers
meted out to Nolan for an open-ice hit on Jordan Eberle.
Smid’s visor-wearing fight was the first, and it cost him more than it did
Nolan when the refs handed him a double minor, a fighting major and a 10minute misconduct.
Fistric’s approach — take the dastardly Nolan’s number and get even later
— seems the more effective way to go, actually. Just for good measure,
Fistric dished out another open-ice hit on Nolan in the second
If the Oilers are going to be harder to play against this season — and that’s
a stated goal — then Fistric’s contributions are going to be crucial.
So are Smid’s, when he stays out of the penalty box. He earned a big roar
from the fans when he emerged from his lengthy detention Thursday night.
Back he went to taking care of the little things.
During one of two five-on-three penalty kills, there was Smid, going
horizontal on the ice to block one centring pass, and another. And so it
went.
“Both sides were frustrated with all the penalties, there were lots of them,”
Smid said. “Thank God we got the final (power play) and we were able to
score on it.”
That final detail, of course, was the most important of all.
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652534
Edmonton Oilers
Oilers rally to beat defending Stanley Cup champions
Smid, who took 23 penalty minutes, hardly jumped Nolan. In fact, it looked
more like a mutual throw-down.
It was a bizarre game of penalty calls, with timekeeper Sandy Millar the
busiest man in the rink.
Edmonton’s Yakupov ties game in dying seconds, Gagner scores overtime
winner after officials disallowed RNH goal with 65 ticks on clock
The Oilers also got called for a faceoff infraction penalty because NugentHopkins didn’t put his stick on the ice in a draw with Jarret Stoll, swatting it
out of the air.
By Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal January 24, 2013 11:59 PM
It was the start of a second Oilers’ five-on-three for 20 seconds, just after
head coach Ralph Krueger had called a timeout to give his ‘A’ team of
power-play guys a breather.
EDMONTON - In a penalty-filled game, Edmonton Oilers rookie Nail
Yakupov stole the show with five seconds left on the clock.
Referees Tom Kowal and Greg Kimmerly had wiped out an Oilers goal
scored by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with 65 seconds left in the game on a sixon-four power play with goalie Devan Dubnyk pulled.
One minute later, Yakupov batted the puck out of the air after Los Angeles
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick had made a frantic arm save on Taylor Hall’s
10-footer after an Eric Belanger faceoff win.
The flashy Yakupov made like Theo Fleury in the old Battle of Alberta days,
sliding to centre on his knees after scoring his second NHL goal. He before
he buried his head in his hands as the two referees, who had called almost
everything in their 214-page rule book, didn’t call Yakupov.
“Happiest moment ever,” said Yakupov, who said this trumped his first NHL
goal Tuesday night in a 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks.
That time, Yakupov threw himself into the glass. In this one, he slid about
80 feet after beating Quick.
“I knew there was 10 seconds left and I was thinking, if we win the faceoff,
just go to the net and wait for the puck. Probably a little lucky.”
Yakupov’s celebration was spontaneous. It’s not in his bag of tricks. He said
it was the first time he’d done it.
“It just came to me. I didn’t understand what happened. I thought ‘what am I
doing?’ ” he said.
“I didn’t hear anybody because the fans were crazy.”
Then in overtime, Sam Gagner took a Nugent-Hopkins’ goalmouth pass on
a power play when the Kings were called for too many men on the ice. Mike
Richards was slow to the get to the Kings bench on a change, and the
Oilers made them pay for a 2-1 victory.
“I love Yak’s passion,” said Gagner, who had almost no trouble with the 18year-old’s knee slide.
“I might have done the same after my goal if Schultzie (Justin Schultz)
hadn’t tackled me.”
Jeff Carter had scored the L.A. goal in the second period on a breakaway
backhand after Kyle Clifford stole the puck from Nick Schultz. That was the
only five-on-five goal in the entire game.
The Oilers thought they had tied it in the last minute of the third when
Nugent-Hopkins shovelled the puck into the open net. But either Kowal or
Kimmerly wiped out the goal — well after the fact.
While both referees missed an obvious cross cross-check on Gagner by
Drew Doughty, Gagner had his left leg wrapped around Quick’s pad after
being shoved in by Rob Scuderi. Quick couldn’t get across the crease as
Nugent-Hopkins scored.
The referees and linesmen then conferred and wiped it out, saying Gagner
was in the crease when the goal was scored.
Quick had robbed Yakupov in the second period, point-blank, stopping the
kid’s backhand with his chest.
Oilers defenceman Ladislav Smid had six penalties in the wild first. There
was only 7:48 played five-on-five.
Smid’s penalty was for shovelling the puck with a closed hand rather than
the side of the glove — a new infraction this season.
He fought Jordan Nolan, who had dumped Oilers forward Jordan Eberle
with a hard, but clean hit. Smid got two for instigating, two for starting the
fight with a visor, then a major and misconduct.
652535
Edmonton Oilers
Penner ‘too good of a player to be average’
L.A. Kings power forward a healthy scratch against former Edmonton
teammates
By Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal January 24, 2013
Dustin Penner was a healthy scratch against his former club Thursday,
which is the ultimate tough-love from Los Angeles Kings head coach Darryl
Sutter ... a real what-have-you-done-for-me-lately guy.
The former Edmonton Oiler has two Stanley Cup rings — one with the
reigning Kings and the other from the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.
But the big guy, who had a love-hate relationship with Oilers fans, found
himself in the press box Thursday night.
The only positive for Penner was that there wasn’t a cacophony of boos,
which surely would have rained down from the rafters whenever he hit the
ice.
(Not to mention the attention of any fun-loving fans who might have thrown
a plastic Aunt Jemima’s syrup bottle onto the ice — a not-so-subtle dig at
Penner, who said he hurt his back eating pancakes last season.)
The winger was a standup guy Thursday morning, agreeing wholeheartedly
with Sutter’s decision to sit him. Obviously, not playing at Rexall Place did
sting more than, say, a scratch in Nashville, though.
“It would (have been) nice to play here, to see some familiar faces, none
more special than Joey Moss,” he said.
“I’ve had a lot of tough love. This is different and similar in a lot of aspects.
Obviously, I can be better. I have to be. As the coach said, ‘I’m too good of
a player to be average.’ I’ve been average the first two games.
“It’s almost there, but it’s not. Toward the end of the games, I have to be
able to sustain it,” said the accountable Penner, who scored the OT seriesclinching goal against the Phoenix Coyotes in the Western Conference final
last spring.
“We lost the first two games. We didn’t get enough goals from our third and
fourth lines and there has to be a shakeup.”
He had three goals and 11 points in the Kings’ 20-game march to their first
Stanley Cup. That made up for an awful 17-point effort in 65 regular-season
games.
“There’s no spite toward the people in Edmonton, the team, the
organization. A lot of them are happy for me,” he said.
“I’d never have thought I’d have two rings and a banner of myself hanging
back in the rink in Winkler. I’ve done all right.
“I’ve got both rings. I did give my dad the Ducks’ one for a year or two and
used it a lot for charity events. Now we’re able to get ... some pendants and
stuff that (my family) can keep for themselves and I’ll keep the big boy,”
added Penner, who doesn’t take his rings out of the house.
“Maybe I have them on, but in my house, in my underwear,” he said with a
laugh.
Penner joked that on his day with the Cup during the summer, he strapped
the silver mug “to the back of a golf cart and used up most of the golf balls
inside the Cup. I was really spraying it that day.”
Prospect Pitlick’s season over in OKC
Tyler Pitlick, one of the Oilers’ better prospects, tore knee ligaments last
week in Oklahoma City.
The second-round draft pick, who figures to be an NHL third-line winger
with his skating ability and aggressive style, is out for the rest of the AHL
season.
Pitlick’s injury is the reason the Oilers signed winger Jonathan Cheechoo to
a tryout. The former San Jose forward, who had 56 goals one year as Joe
Thornton’s triggerman, is in OKC on a game-to-game basis. He had an
assist in a loss to Grand Rapids on Wednesday.
Clark signing a strong depth move
The sharpest move the Oilers have made so far is signing veteran
defenceman Brett Clark to an AHL contract.
Clark has played more than 600 NHL games and is good insurance if there
are injuries with the NHL club. They could easily sign him to an NHL
contract and bring him up if needed.
Clark’s signing gives them nine NHL calibre D-men in the organization, with
Colten Teubert on the bubble as a regular NHLer.
Greene undergoes back surgery
Sutter opted to use broad strokes when asked about Penner.
Ex-Oilers defenceman Matt Greene had surgery Thursday to repair a
herniated disc in his back. It’s touch and go as to whether the Kings’
assistant captain will return during the regular season.
“Our left side has had trouble adjusting to the pace of play. Dustin is in that
group,” said Sutter, who has had trouble with his left wingers since he
joined the Kings last season, going so far as to move captain Dustin Brown
from the right side to the left.
“They say six weeks is the minimum and if it’s three months, you’re into the
end of the season. We said his target should be the middle of March and
(then) we’ll see where we’re at,” Sutter said.
“He has had good shifts and in others, he has really struggled. He’s no
different than three or four others, but we have to base this on how we’re
playing tonight, not how we did play or how we’re going to play. That’s what
a short schedule does for you.”
Sutter said conditioning has never been more important. You certainly can’t
play your way into shape during a 48-game sprint where you’re playing
every second day for three months.
“In the old days, it was rope and ride. Guys who were out of shape jumped
on another guy’s back. Now you can’t do that. The guys struggling now (to
keep up) are the ones who struggled with their commitment to training
(during the lockout).”
Penner didn’t play in Europe like some of his teammates. But the Winkler,
Man., native said that wasn’t the reason for his slow start.
“There was no drop-off from where I was last year at this time to now,” he
said. “The guilt has to fall somewhere for under-producing and more times
than not, it falls on me.”
Penner isn’t lording the Stanley Cup win over anybody here, either. He was
traded to the Kings for a first-round draft pick (the Oilers chose Oscar
Klefbom) and Colten Teubert, who is in Oklahoma City with the Barons, in
March 2010.
“He had the problem this summer, rested it and it came back. Truth is, he
probably hurt it again in the week before (camp) but played the first game.”
Mitchell close to returning
Another integral part of the Kings’ blue-line, the underrated Willie Mitchell, is
skating, but isn’t quite ready to play (knee). “He was scoped for some
cartilage. He pushed it a little too hard and had a setback. He’s close,”
Sutter said.
652536
Edmonton Oilers
Fistric to play his first game as an Oiler against Kings
Joanne Ireland
Pity the first of Los Angeles King who finds himself in the sights of Mark
Fistric.
The hard-hitting defenceman has spent two games waiting to get his
chance to not only slip into an Edmonton Oilers jersey for the first time, but
to also get back into an NHL game.
He’ll draw in tonight in place of Corey Potter when the defending Stanley
Cup champs attempt to snap their 0-2 start.
Fistric hasn’t played a game since April 5, 2012, back when he was a
member of the Dallas Stars. Credited with four hits in 16 shifts against the
Nashville Predators that night, he’s been waiting to get back into a game
since. He didn’t play during the lockout and was dealt to Edmonton on the
Jan. 14 for a third round draft pick.
“There will definitely be a lot of nerves putting on the jersey for the first
time,” said the Edmonton-born blue-liner, who will have his own cheering
section in Rexall Place tonight. The only other move will see Magnus
Paajarvi move up to play with Shawn Horcoff and Ryan Smyth while Teemu
Hartikainen plays with Eric Belanger and Lennart Petrell.
“I just need to use my physical play, be hard to play against. Make it hard
for the other team to get in front of the net,” Fistric, 26, continued. “I just
need to play a good solid simple game.
“With the shortened camp and no exhibition games, it was kind of hard for
me to come in and learn a new system in a few days so it was definitely
beneficial to sit and watch how the team plays.”
Having placed six seasons with the Stars, Fistric is quite familiar with the
Kings, a big heavy team with some skilled players who can also play a
physical game. In fact, he scored his first NHL goal against Jonathan Quick
in 2009.
With just three NHL goals on his resume he remembers each in crystal
clear detail. The goal against Quick was a slapshot that he said he fanned
on. His hits? That’s another story. Fistric has been credited with 772
through his career.
“It’s been a long time (since I’ve played),” he continued. “I’m really looking
forward to getting into a game. The grittier, the more physical play the
better. That just plays into my game.”
652537
Edmonton Oilers
Ryan Whitney or Corey Potter or Mark Fistric? Who should play? Who
should sit?
David Staples
Before the puck dropped on the new season, Edmonton Oilers fans were
already gripped with the first controversy of the new season: Who should be
the team’s sixth defencemen, Corey Potter or Mark Fistric?
A small matter, perhaps, but few matters are too small for Oilers fans not to
divide themselves into two warring camps, using invective, statistics and
hockey wisdom as their weapons of choice.
Those who believe the team needed a puck-mover went with Potter, while
the larger group that believes the much-desired “team toughness” is the key
sided with Fistric.
After the first two games, in which he had one or two ugly-looking human
pylon moments, Ryan Whitney’s name has been added to the debate by
some fans, most notably those who have never had much time for Whitney
since the day the Oilers traded the brilliant but error-prone Lubomir
Visnovsky to acquire the sore-footed defender.
Both Potter and Whitney had good and bad moments as Oilers during the
2011-12 season. Potter started strong against weak competition, then
finished weak against weak competition. Whitney started weak against
strong competition, then finished strong against weak competition. The
progress of both players had much to due with their level of health and
game readiness. Potter was healthy early but unhealthy late, while Whitney
was unhealthy earlier, but healthier late.
This season, presumably, both are somewhat healthy. As for Fistric, he
presents as a Strudwick-like, tough, unspectacular defenceman, who might
even be Don Jackson-like if things turn out well for the team, Jackson being
a stalwart of the early 1980s teams.
Tonight, as the Oilers ready to face off against the Los Angeles Kings, I’ve
little doubt the calls to see Fistric play will grow ever louder.
So who should play and who should sit?
What do the numbers say?
In two games of the 2013 season — with Potter and Whitney teamed up
generally together and generally against weak competition — Whitney has
contributed to three scoring chances for and made mistakes on five scoring
chances against at even strength.
At the same time, Potter has contributed to one scoring chance, while
making mistakes on five scoring chances against.
Whitney has also contributed to seven power play chances, quarterbacking
the hot second unit, but I don’t see Potter as an inferior power player to
Whitney at this point. The even strength numbers are more pertinent, and
there Whitney has a slight edge, even if he’s had a few very bad moments
where he’s been a major culprit on goals against.
Wisdom of the hockey crowd
All that said, I like what TSN’s Bob McKenzie tweeted out about judging
teams and players right now: “Wacky start to 2013 NHL season but even in
48 gamer my ‘rules’ (now I sound like @GMillerTSN) of what’s real or isn’t
don’t change. That is, pay zero attention to anything in 1st week, don’t read
too much into 2nd week but by week 4, with few exceptions, you can book
it.”
In other words, it’s important not to make too much of anything that
happens in these first few games. Some players are still rusty, so things are
going to look out of whack. Good thing to keep in mind.
My take?
The Oilers are playing a big, tough team in the Los Angeles Kings. It’s time
to see what Fistric can do, as he’s now had almost a week to settle in as an
Oiler. Whitney has a better track record than Potter, and also a somewhat
better even strength record than Potter so far this year.
It’s Potter who should sit.
652538
Edmonton Oilers
Tyler Pitlick out for year in OKCity
Jim Matheson
Tyler Pitlick, one of the Oilers’ better prospects, ripped ligaments in his
knee last week in Oklahoma City.
The second-round draft forward, who figures to be an NHL third line winger
with his skating ability and aggressive style (he has had very little offence
so far at the AHL level in two seasons in OKC), is out for the rest of the AHL
season.
Pitlick’s injury is the reason the Oilers signed winger Jonathan Cheechoo to
a professional tryout agreement. The former San Jose forward, who had 56
goals one year as Joe Thornton’s triggerman, is in OKCity on a game-togame basis. He had an assist in a loss to Grand Rapids Wednesday night.
The sharpest move the Oilers have made it signing veteran defenceman
Brett Clark to an AHL contract. Clark has played more than 600 NHL games
and will be very good insurance if there are injuries with the NHL club. They
could redo the contract and get him on an NHL contract, and bring him up.
Clark’s signing gives them nine NHL calibre D-men in the organization with
Colten Teubert on the bubble as a regular NHLer.
652539
Edmonton Oilers
Penner healthy scratch vs Oilers
“Maybe I have them on, but in my house, in my underwear,” he laughed.
Penner joked that on his day with the Cup, he’d strapped the silver mug “to
the back of a golf cart and used up most of the golf balls inside the Cup. I
was really spraying it that day.”
***
Posted by:
Jim Matheson
Dustin Penner will be a healthy scratch against his old Edmonton Oilers’
club Thursday night, which is the ultimate tough-love from Los Angeles
Kings’ coach Darryl Sutter who is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately guy.
Penner has two Stanley Cup rings–in LA last spring and in Anaheim in
2007–but the big guy, who had a love-hate relationship with the Oiler fans,
will be sitting in the press-box. The only positives to that seat for Penner?
He won’t have to hear the cacophony of boos from some fans at Rexall
Place every time he comes out for a shift. Plus any fun-loving fan who was
thinking of bringing, say, a plastic Aunt Jemima syrup bottle to throw onto
the ice–a not-so-subtle dig at Penner who said he hurt his back eating
pancakes last season–can leave it in the cupboard at home.
The big guy was a stand-up guy Thursday morning, agreeing wholeheartedly with Sutter’s decision to sit him. Obviously, not playing at Rexall
Place stings more than, say, a scratch in Nashville, though.
“It would be nice to play here, to see some familiar faces, none more
special than Joey Moss,” he said.
“”I’ve had a lot of tough love (in his career). This is different and similiar in a
lot of aspects. Obviously I can be better. I have to be. As the coach said ‘I’m
too good of a player to be average.’ I’ve been average the first two games.
There’s bits and pieces; it’s almost there, but it’s not. Towards the end of
the games, I have to be able to sustain it,” said the accountable Penner,
who scored the OT series-clinching win over the Phoenix Coyotes in the
Western Conference final last spring.
“We lost the first two games, we didn’t get enough goals from our third and
fourth lines and there has to be a shake-up.”
Sutter chose to use the collective when asked about Penner. “Our left side
has had trouble adjusting to the pace of play. Dustin is in that group. He’s
had good shifts and in others he’s really struggled. He’s no different than
three or four others but we have to base this on how we’re playing tonight,
not how we did play or how we’re going to play. That’s what a short
schedule does for you,” said Sutter, who has had trouble with his left side
since he came to the Kings last season, resorting to moving captain Dustin
Brown to LW.
Sutter says conditioning has never been more important. You certainly can’t
play your way into a 48-game season where you’re playing every second
day for three months. “In the old days it was rope and ride. Guys who were
out of shape jumped on another guy’s back. Now you can’t do that. The
guys struggling now (to keep up) are the ones who struggled with their
committment to training (lockout months).”
Does the lockout have anything to do with it? He didn’t play in Europe like
some of his Kings’ teammates?
“No. There was no drop-off from where I was last year at this time to now,”
he said. “The guilt has to fall somewhere for under-producing and more
times than not it falls on me.”
Penner isn’t lording the Stanley Cup win in LA over anybody here, either.
He was traded to the Kings for a first-round draft pick (the Oilers chose
Oscar Klefbom) and Colten Teubert, who is in Oklahoma City, in March of
2010. He had 11 points (three goals) in the Kings’ 20 game march to their
first Cup after an awful 17-point in 65 games regular season.
“There’s no spite towards the people in Edmonton, the team, the
organization. A lot of them are happy for me,” he said.
“I’d never have thought I’d have two rings and a banner of myself hanging
back in the rink in Winkler (hometown in Manitoba). I’ve done alright.”
“I’ve got both rings. I did give my dad the Ducks’ one for a year or two and
used it a lot for charity events. Now we’re able to get through Tiffany,
there’s a plug, some pendants and stuff that they (family) can keep for
themselves and I’ll keep the big boy,” said Penner, who isn’t taking his rings
out on the street.
Ex Oilers’ defenceman Matt Greene had surgery Thursday to repair a
herniated disc in his back. It’s tough and go to whether the LA assistant
captain will be back this regular-season. “They say six weeks is the
minimum and if it’s three months you’re into the end of the season. We
talked and we said his target should be the middle of March (two months)
and we’ll see where we’re at,” said Sutter. “He had the problem this
summer, rested it, and it came back. Truth is, he probably hurt it again in
the week before the season (camp) but played the first game.”
***
Another integral part of the Kings’ blueline, the underrated Willie Mitchell, is
skating, but isn’t quite ready to play (knee). “He was scoped for some
cartilage. He pushed it a little too hard and had a setback. He’s close,’ said
Sutter.
652540
Edmonton Oilers
Fistric to play his first game as an Oiler against Kings
Posted by:
Joanne Ireland
Pity the first of Los Angeles King who finds himself in the sights of Mark
Fistric.
The hard-hitting defenceman has spent two games waiting to get his
chance to not only slip into an Edmonton Oilers jersey for the first time, but
to also get back into an NHL game.
He’ll draw in tonight in place of Corey Potter when the defending Stanley
Cup champs attempt to snap their 0-2 start.
Fistric hasn’t played a game since April 5, 2012, back when he was a
member of the Dallas Stars. Credited with four hits in 16 shifts against the
Nashville Predators that night, he’s been waiting to get back into a game
since. He didn’t play during the lockout and was dealt to Edmonton on the
Jan. 14 for a third round draft pick.
“There will definitely be a lot of nerves putting on the jersey for the first
time,” said the Edmonton-born blue-liner, who will have his own cheering
section in Rexall Place tonight. The only other move will see Magnus
Paajarvi move up to play with Shawn Horcoff and Ryan Smyth while Teemu
Hartikainen plays with Eric Belanger and Lennart Petrell.
“I just need to use my physical play, be hard to play against. Make it hard
for the other team to get in front of the net,” Fistric, 26, continued. “I just
need to play a good solid simple game.
“With the shortened camp and no exhibition games, it was kind of hard for
me to come in and learn a new system in a few days so it was definitely
beneficial to sit and watch how the team plays.”
Having placed six seasons with the Stars, Fistric is quite familiar with the
Kings, a big heavy team with some skilled players who can also play a
physical game. In fact, he scored his first NHL goal against Jonathan Quick
in 2009.
With just three NHL goals on his resume he remembers each in crystal
clear detail. The goal against Quick was a slapshot that he said he fanned
on. His hits? That’s another story. Fistric has been credited with 772
through his career.
“It’s been a long time (since I’ve played),” he continued. “I’m really looking
forward to getting into a game. The grittier, the more physical play the
better. That just plays into my game.”
652541
Edmonton Oilers
“But what a perfect way to finish it up. That was exciting. In a game like
that, you almost have to separate yourself from the fun. It was so exciting. It
was really fun out there.”
Anything that could go wrong, did, in Oilers’ 2-1 win over L.A. Kings
Krueger called it “the strangest game.”
By Terry Jones
“It made for an interesting script but it is not the kind of script we want to
see in an NHL game. We’d like to see more of a fluid game with the odd
power player or penalty kill,” he said of there being 17 power plays and
penalty kills, with only one goal.
,Edmonton Sun
EDMONTON - Nail Yakupov had never watched a clip of Theo Fluery’s
slide, one of the most famous goal celebrations in hockey history, after
scoring the winner in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the
Edmonton Oilers.
But Yakupov reenacted it perfectly after he scored with 4.7 seconds left to
send the Oilers to overtime, which Sam Gagner won,against the Stanley
Cup champion Los Angeles Kings last night.
“To finish it off in overtime was a very mature step in a very difficult situation
emotionally. Overall it was a lot of fun.”
Not if you were Darryl Sutter, the coach of the Stanley Cup champions who
were 7-0-1 in their last eight games here.
“That’s got to be a record for the least five-on-five hockey ever played in a
game,” he said.
Yakupov, who played like his pants were on fire most of the night and was
robbed by Jonathan Quick in what may be the save of the season earlier,
was the human version of air coming out of a balloon as he went bananas
in the moment.
The officiating?
“It just came,” he said of his celebration.
Anybody ever been fined for a facial expression before?
“It was probably my greatest feeling. My happiest moment ever. The fans
was crazy. I’ve never seen that. It was my best night in the world. This is my
first time. I’ve never seen it before. I love having these fans go crazy. It was
better and better.”
Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.25.2013
Oilers’ coach Ralph Kruger said Yakupov’s celebration probably came from
growing up on the other side of the Atlantic.
“He watched a lot of soccer games,” he laughed.
Yakupov said he’s never been part of a game like this one before, but that
was probably true of all eight of the Oilers under the age of 23.
It was nuts.
“That was definitely a crazy night,” said Taylor Hall.
“It ranks up there with Sam Gagner’s eight-point night last year.
“When the fans want to get going they get going. And when you’re not
playing well, they have enough hockey knowledge to let you know.”
They let referees Tom Kowal and Greg Kimmerly, who had the kind of night
that would have made Hall of Fame play-by-play man Rod Phillips have a
coronary, know.
Other than having two players in the penalty box for a 5-on-3 by 3:47 of the
first period, this was how the fans expected the Oilers to come out and play
the home opener Tuesday against San Jose.
It was nuts.
The game featured what may have been the only 0-0 first period that should
have been 6-5 that these old eyes have ever witnessed.
With the referees trying to set some sort of record for tag-team whistle
blowing, the parade to the penalty box included 23 minutes of penalties to
Ladislav Smid by 9:54 of the first period, including double minors for
instigating and instigating with a face shield. There was a two-minute
faceoff violation penalty in the second. The Kings had two 5-on-3 penalties
for a total of 3:09 and the Oilers one for 1:48. In all, the Kings had 12:51 of
power play time and the Oilers 15:52.
It was 1-0 for the Stanley Cup champions after two, only because of a Nick
Schultz giveaway that gave Jeff Carter a breakaway on Devan Dubnyk.
It looked like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the equalizer with just over a
minute to play but Kimmerly called it off after Kowal signaled a goal.
The crowd went insane and threw so much stuff on the ice it looked like the
Oil Kings teddy bear toss.
“Once it started, it was like it was snowing,” said Dubnyk, the Oilers
netminder who bounced back from his six-goal first period in the home
opener against San Jose with a huge game.
“I actually wondered ‘Are we were going to be able to finish the game now?
It’s going to keep raining now!’
“The refereeing was great,” he said.
His facial expression to go with it said otherwise.
652542
Edmonton Oilers
“L.A. knows how to win these tight games,” said Gagner. “So to beat them
like this is pretty special.”
Last-minute Yakupov goal propels Edmonton Oilers to 2-1 win over L.A.
Kings
By Robert Tychkowski
,Edmonton Sun
EDMONTON - The Edmonton Oilers were as good as Tom Kowal and Greg
Kimmerly were bad.
And if you saw the dreadful train wreck of officiating Thursday night at
Rexall Place, that’s saying something.
On a night when the old Oilers might have thrown their arms up in
frustration at what many veteran observers called the most poorly officiated
game they’ve seen in years, the new Oilers didn’t.
They threw them up in celebration instead, after Nail Yakupov tied it with
4.7 seconds left in the third period and Sam Gagner won it in overtime,
giving them a wild-and-woolly 2-1 victory over the defending Stanley Cup
champion L.A. Kings.
“If we do end up making the season special, I think this is a night that we
can look back as being the start of it,” said Taylor Hall. “I know it’s only the
third game, but for us to show the wherewithal to stick with it was very
impressive.”
It was nuts. Kowal and Greg Kimmerly called everything, real or imagined.
Anything from faceoff violations to anything that resembled aggression was
deemed illegal, resulting in 20 of the first 40 minutes being played on
special teams.
They rang the teams up for 12 separate minors in the first 27 minutes
alone, giving Edmonton the worst of it.
The Oilers played shorthanded for 10 of the first 14 minutes.
And still they kept fighting back.
“I was surprised I got an instigator because (Jordan Nolan) dropped his
gloves first,” said Smid, who took 19 minutes in penalties for a mutuallyagreed upon bout. “I asked him if he wants to go and he said yes and
dropped his gloves. Both sides were really frustrated with the penalties. I’ve
never seen so many.”
Then there was the phantom goaltender interference penalty that wiped out
what would have been Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’s tying goal with 1:05 left in
regulation, resulting in a wave of half-priced litter on the ice at Rexall.
And still, there was no I in quit.
“We score with a minute left in the game and it’s waved off,” said Smid.
“Then we score again with 4.7 seconds left on the clock. It was a bizarre
night, honestly for both teams, but I’m glad we were able to come back and
win it.
“I think we showed lots of character.”
Gagner, who was pushed into Kings goalie Jonathan Quick on the
disallowed goal late in the third, loved the poetic justice at the end.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “For that goal to be called off and then to win it
in overtime is a great feeling. It’s a feeling we want more of in here.
“It was a short training camp, but that’s all we talked about in here, having
that winner’s mentality. There’s going to be adversity, things that happen,
but it’s how you deal with them. We did that tonight, we kept fighting. A
great win for us.”
It was just as bad on L.A.’s side, as they were flagged for nine minors,
including a game-deciding too-many-men call in overtime that led to
Gagner’s winner.
“For a while there I didn’t even want a power play,” said Hall. “I just wanted
to skate the puck up five on five and see what that was like.”
Despite never getting a chance to roll lines or generate any kind of rhythm,
the Oilers and Kings salvaged the night with their desperation. Both penalty
killing units were fantastic, as were goaltenders Devan Dubnyk for
Edmonton and Jonathan Quick for L.A.
LATE HITS... The Kings were without healthy scratches Dustin Penner and
Siman Gagne, and minus injured defencemen Matt Greene and Willie
Mitchell … The Oilers moved Magnus Paajarvi to the third line with Shawn
Horcoff and Ryan Smyth while Teemu Hartikainen dropped down to the
fourth with Eric Belanger and Lennart Petrell.
652543
Edmonton Oilers
Dustin Penner a healthy scratch for Los Angeles Kings game against the
Edmonton Oilers
,Edmonton Sun
There aren’t many people in hockey with a ring-to-scratch ratio like Dustin
Penner’s.
After all, how many players both good enough to win Stanley Cup
championships on two different teams and frustrating enough to have their
mail delivered to the doghouse?
He’s one of a kind, all right, which is why Darryl Sutter pulled him out of the
lineup Thursday in Edmonton, three games in into the LA Kings defence of
a title he helped win.
“We’ve been there before,” Penner said of his various public spankings in
Edmonton and Los Angeles. “It’s unfortunate. I wish I could say that I
played better, but I haven’t, it’s all on me. I have to play better.”
After watching Penner turn in a pair of mediocre games, Sutter didn’t give
him a chance to make it a third.
The timing is no accident. Sutter knows Penner wanted to make a
triumphant return to Edmonton, but the message seems to be: play hard
when we need it, not when you want it.
Being scratched anywhere is tough to swallow, but having to sit out a game
in Edmonton is worse.
“It is,” he said. “It would be nice to play here, see some familiar faces, none
more special than (equipment assistant) Joey Moss. But you don’t look at it
as one game, you look at it as a whole season. It’s what I have to do and
how I have to get better. I’m letting the team down by not being in the
lineup.
“As one of the coaches said, ‘You’re too good of a player to be average,’
and I’ve been average the last two games.”
He isn’t blaming the lockout for pushing him off schedule, either.
“There was no drop off from where I was last year at this time to now. It’s
just one of those things where the guillotine has to fall somewhere when the
team under-produces and more times than not, it’s fallen on me.”
Still, he does have rings from Anaheim and Los Angeles, which is pretty
cool for a guy who was never drafted.
“It is. I would have never thought I’d have two rings and a banner of myself
hanging in Winkler (Manitoba). I’ve done all right.”
He doesn’t travel with the rings, obviously. Doesn’t even wear them around
much in LA.
“Maybe around the house when I’m in my underwear.”
652544
Edmonton Oilers
With that, however, they’ll be getting their opponents’ best night in and night
out.
After losing their first two games of the season, Los Angeles Kings feel
pressure to start winning
“Yes, it’s out there, but it shouldn’t change our mindset and our focus,” Stoll
said. “It’s over and done with and this is a new season. That’s all behind us
now.
By Derek Van Diest ,Edmonton Sun
“We have to try and get back to playing our game and doing it for a full 60
minutes. We’ve had stretches where we’ve done it and stretches where we
haven’t. We all know that’s not going to win many games in this league, and
we have to get back to that.”
EDMONTON - The Los Angeles Kings threw themselves a huge party after
winning the Stanley Cup, but there’s little concern about a hangover
heading into this season.
Had the year begun in October, then maybe heads would still be a little
foggy.
But getting underway in mid-January, due to the NHL lockout, the Kings
have long since been ready to move on.
“You can’t make that excuse now,” said Kings centre Colin Fraser. “When
teams make that excuse, it’s because you only had two months to recover
in the summer, but now we don’t have that excuse at all, we’ve had five
months because of the lockout.
“Every team is in the same boat, every team had the same time off, and so
you can’t have any excuses going into the year.”
With their entire Stanley Cup roster back for this season, the Kings are
again expected to challenge for the title.
However, in a shortened campaign, they won’t have the time or luxury of
trying to find their game throughout the year and then peak at playoff time.
The Kings went into their contest against the Edmonton Oilers Thursday
having lost their first two games of the season.
“We talked about trying to get off to a good start and we have the
advantage of having the same team, but obviously after the first two games
we haven’t done that, so we have to change things pretty quickly,” said
Fraser. “Obviously we’ve proven we can win, we just have to find it again.
“I thought in our last game (in Colorado), we were good for 40 minutes but
we tailed off in the third period. We have to put 60 minutes together. But at
the same time, we have to try not to do too much. With all that time off, you
want to try and make something happen out there, but you just have to
keep it simple first. You have to get your legs and your hands going and
you get your timing back, then you can start making some plays.”
Due to their cup run, the Kings made hockey popular again in a town where
fame can be fleeting. The lockout hurt the momentum the Kings had built in
Los Angeles.
“It was a good buzz, it’s kind of unfortunate that we had the lockout when
we did, because of the momentum we created for the sport of hockey,” said
Fraser. “But that’s part of sports, that’s the business of sports.
“We just have to get winning again, that will get the buzz going again.
Obviously the ultimate goal is to win the cup again. But that’s a long ways
away and we have to find our game before we do that.”
The problem all teams face heading into the year, is that in a shortened 48game scheduled, taking five to 10 games to find your stride may be too
long.
By that time, teams could find themselves well back of the pack.
“That’s just it,” said Kings centre Jarret Stoll. “Whoever finds it the quickest
and whoever gets off to a good start is going to be ahead of the game.
That’s what everybody wants. We haven’t been able to find that and that
makes us pretty upset.
“It’s just a matter of trying to get your game back to where you want it to as
quickly as possible. It doesn’t matter what month it is, it’s more about what
game it is. Whether it’s Game 1, 2 or 3, you have to try and take advantage
of these opportunities, you can’t let games or weeks slip by.”
Everywhere they go this year, the Kings will always have the title of
defending Stanley Cup champions, which they admit has a nice ring to it.
652545
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers seek redemption versus defending Stanley Cup champion
LA Kings
,Edmonton Sun
It seems like a long time ago that the LA Kings won a game - the one that
clinched their Stanley Cup last spring - but it seems like only yesterday that
the Edmonton Oilers gave up six goals in the first period.
So motivation won't be a problem when the 0-2 Kings, still searching for
their first win of the season, take on an Oilers team eager to wash away the
taste of Tuesday’s 6-3 loss to San Jose.
“We talked about becoming a team that eliminates our losing streaks,
making sure we don’t lose two in a row, especially in a shortened season
like this,” said Oilers winger Taylor Hall. “For us to get back on the horse,
forget about the last game is going to be good.”
And what better test than the defending champions, who are in a snarly
mood after losing their first two starts of the season?
“They’re a great team,” said Hall. “I know they started off kind of slow. But
they still have all the members of the team last year that were key for them.
They’re still the same time, and any time you win the Cup you know that
teams are gunning for you and that’s no different tonight.”
The Kings know all about the early buzz around Edmonton and the Oilers
efforts to get back to the playoffs after a six year absence. And, frankly,
they’re not interested.
“The buzz has been here for a little while about the young guys,” said LA
captain Dustin Brown. “For us it’s about getting these two points. It’s just
about getting on track here.”
Same for Edmonton. The Oilers don’t want to be 1-2 and on a two-game
losing streak heading into Calgary for a Saturday game against the equallydesperate Flames (0-2-1).
“The best teams in this league bounce back from losses like San Jose,”
said centre Sam Gagner. “We want to change our attitude around here,
make sure we have a winning attitude, so it’s important that we bounce
back from those types of games and make sure they don’t happen again.”
Tonight marks the Oilers debut of big, hard-hitting defenceman Marc Fistric,
who’ll step in for Corey Potter.
“A lot of nerves playing for my home town team, the team I grew up
watching,” said the 6-foot-2, 233-pounder. “But it’s definitely going to be
exciting, a lot of emotions in putting in the jersey for the first time.”
He knows as well as anyone what the Oilers are up against tonight.
“Playing in Dallas I saw them a lot, and they’re a great measuring stick for
us,” he said. “They’re very hard to play against. They’re an in your face type
of team. Their skill guys are also some of their bigger guys. They compete
hard. I’m looking forward to it, the grittier and more physical play the better.
“Coming out in a rebound game against the defending Stanley Cup
champions is definitely exciting.”
LATE HITS ... Magnus Paajarvi moved up to the third lines with Ryan
Smyth and Shawn Horcoff while Teemu Hartikainen drops down to the
fourth with Eric Belanger and Lennart Petrell... Dustin Penner is a healthy
scratch for the Kings.
652546
Florida Panthers
Dany Heatley looks to thrive in second season with Wild
By MICHAEL RUSSO
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- As a Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach, Mike Yeo
saw the very best of Dany Heatley in an Ottawa Senators uniform.
During Yeo's first four years with Pittsburgh, Heatley scored 180 goals,
including 50 twice. So the Wild coach understood the type of goal-scoring
threat that he was receiving when the Wild and San Jose Sharks swapped
Martin Havlat for Heatley two Julys ago.
"You're scared to death of the guy when he's on the ice," Yeo said.
Still, Yeo had to be a little wary. After all, he didn't know Heatley personally,
and he was arriving with the baggage of previously asking out of two cities
(Atlanta and Ottawa) and refusing to be traded to another (Edmonton).
But after getting to know Heatley, after seeing how respected a fixture he is
in the Wild dressing room and how important of a leader he has become,
Yeo wants to alter Heatley's reputation among some fans and media
members.
"You hear these things that were said about him before coming here and it's
undeserving and it's something that I will definitely work to change because
it's not fair," Yeo said. "The guy is an unbelievable guy. He's a great pro,
he's a great teammate, he's extremely coachable, he comes to the rink with
a great attitude every day and he's a warrior."
Heatley, 32, has played 82 games in five of the past seven years and six
times in a 10-year career. He and Kyle Brodziak were the only members of
the Wild who played in all 82 games last season, and for "half a year, he
was doing it on one knee," Yeo said.
"There's injuries that'll keep you out and there's most of them that you can
play through," Heatley said. "I feel good now, and that's the bottom line."
Playing on a line with Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu, Heatley has scored
three goals in as many games to help lead the Wild to a 2-1 record.
He is getting up and down the ice much better after having offseason
arthroscopic knee surgery and looks stronger.
It's uncertain how many goals will be considered a quality year in a 48game season, but Heatley wants to rebound after scoring 24 last season the lowest full-season total of his career.
"I think I should have at least potted in 30 last year," Heatley said. "With the
way I've been getting chances the first three games, I should very easily
have five or six or seven right now. But as long as I'm getting chances, I'm
happy and I know I'm going to score eventually.
"I think last year I had stretches of one shot in three or four games. That's
just not going to do it for me."
Besides playing on a knee that limited his mobility, Heatley's game last
season was hurt by Koivu missing 27 games because of shoulder and knee
injuries and Pierre-Marc Bouchard missing the entire second half due to a
concussion.
No NHL player has scored more power-play goals than Heatley (138) since
he entered the league in 2001. But with those two gone, the Wild's power
play sunk to 27th.
So far, Heatley has been the great benefactor of Parise's arrival and Koivu
and Bouchard being healthy.
"Last year was an adjustment year and it was a weird year with all the
injuries," Heatley said. "I need the puck and I'm getting it now, whether it's
through passes or shots from Mikko and Zach, Butch (Bouchard) and Suts
(Ryan Suter). It creates so much when those guys shoot the puck."
Entering Wednesday, Parise led the NHL with 17 shots. Heatley was tied
for third with 14. Since he entered the league in 2001, he ranks eighth with
2,378 shots.
Heatley says the extra time off because of the lockout allowed his body to
heal. He also changed his training dramatically, working on his upper-body
strength and skating four days a week with the West Kelowna Warriors of
the British Columbia Hockey League. He also skated with his brother Mark's
team in Germany, the Bietigheim Steelers.
"Heater is spending a lot of time trying to keep healthy," said defenseman
and close friend Clayton Stoner, who lives five blocks from Heatley in
Kelowna. "He brought his trainer in the other day, he Skypes with him all
the time. He really works on injury prevention. He's just a pro's pro."
After scoring twice in Saturday's opener, Heatley said that he was smiling
the day the Wild signed Parise and Suter and still is. He looks happy and
relaxed in Minnesota - fair or not, the opposite of his preceding reputation.
"Fans are upset still (in Canada). I guess they're allowed to be," Heatley
said. "I'm past that. I don't care. I like being with my teammates here, the
fans here treat me well and I just want to help this team win."
Miami Herald LOADED: 01.25.2013
652547
Florida Panthers
— zipped a shot that found its way over Theodore’s shoulder midway
through the period.
Florida Panthers’ losing skid hits three after falling to Senators
That goal was set up by a poor crossing pass from Shawn Matthias that
was picked off by Karlsson.
By George Richards
Theodore also stopped a penalty shot taken by Guillaume Latendresse with
9:11 left after he was dragged down by Brian Campbell going unopposed to
the net.
When the Panthers’ game against Philadelphia ends on Saturday night, a
little over 10 percent of the season already will be finished.
If Florida doesn’t start winning some games, and soon, the 2013 season
may be over just as it starts.
The Panthers lost for the third time in a row Thursday night, dropping a 3-1
decision to Ottawa at BB&T Center. The Panthers have just two points in
the standings, courtesy of their rousing 5-1 win over Carolina on opening
night.
That game may have just been a few days ago, but seems like it happened
around the holidays. Florida (1-3-0) lost three in a row in regulation once
last season; that already happened four games into the abbreviated 2013
season.
“We have to be in desperation mode right now,” captain Ed Jovanovski
said. “We need a win, and we need one badly.”
On Thursday — for the second time in four nights — former Panthers goalie
Craig Anderson kept Florida’s sagging offense in check.
Anderson owns the Panthers as he won for the ninth time in 10 decisions
against his former team by making 25 saves. Ottawa beat the Panthers for
the 11th time in the past 12 meetings.
Despite playing without four of its top offensive forwards, Florida took its
first lead in a game since last Saturday’s season opener against Carolina in
the first period.
Tomas Fleischmann, the only remaining first-line player on the ice
Thursday, picked up his first goal of the season when he scored on a power
play 8:24 into Florida’s second home game of the young season.
Fleischmann was playing on an all new line Thursday as Stephen Weiss
joined Kris Versteeg on the sideline. That trio combined for 70 goals and
172 points last season; Fleischmann’s goal was the first of the season for
either he or Weiss. They had three points through the first three games.
When asked for comment afterward, Fleischmann said he had to go to the
medical room and pointed to a bloody spot on his foot. That’s just what the
Panthers need.
“There’s nothing I can do about it,’’ coach Kevin Dineen said when asked
about the injuries piling up. “I have other options. I have to take the 18 they
give me and move forward.’’
Goalie Jose Theodore has definitely been giving the Panthers value on their
financial investment this season as he was terrific again Thursday.
Theodore made 41 saves in last weekend’s opening win and kept the
Panthers in Monday’s loss in Ottawa. Thursday, Theodore made 35 saves
as Ottawa’s third goal went into a vacant net.
“I feel like I’m in midseason form, feel really good,’’ said Theodore, 1-2-0
this year.
“I’m trying to give my team a chance to win every night.’’
Ottawa tied the score three minutes after Fleischmann scored when Chris
Phillips scored on a long shot on an extended power-play chance. Florida
was down two skaters for 1:01 but survived that; Phillips’ goal came with 12
seconds left in Scottie Upshall’s hooking penalty.
Phillips’ goal came on Ottawa’s 15th shot of the game as the Senators were
outshooting Florida 15-3 at that point.
On Monday, the Senators outshot the Panthers 18-4 in the first period yet
led only 1-0 at the break, thanks to the play of Theodore. Thursday,
Ottawa’s shot advantage in the opening period ended up being just 16-7 as
the game was tied going into intermission.
The Senators broke the deadlock in the second when defenseman Erik
Karlsson — the reigning Norris Trophy winner as the league’s top blueliner
652548
Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers’ Stephen Weiss joins lengthy injured list
By George Richards
The health of the Panthers’ struggling offense is relative to the health of
their offensive players.
As Florida’s injury list grows, its offensive output has shrunk.
The Panthers added another to the injured list Thursday as Stephen Weiss
missed the game against Ottawa with what is called a lower-body injury.
With Weiss on the shelf, Florida — which scored one goal in its recent twogame road trip to Ottawa and Montreal — is missing four of its top forwards
as well as defenseman Erik Gudbranson.
The extent of Weiss’ injury is unknown as he took part in Thursday’s
morning skate but didn’t come out for warmups.
General manager Dale Tallon said Thursday that Weiss — Florida’s top line
center — is day-to-day and doesn’t plan on putting him on injured reserve.
“He just came off the ice,” Tallon said of Weiss at Thursday’s morning
skate.
Aside from Weiss, Florida is also missing Kris Versteeg and Marcel Goc
from the top two lines, as well as Sean Bergenheim.
Versteeg (groin) and Goc (ankle) could return in the coming days as both
skated before Thursday’s workout.
It doesn’t appear Bergenheim will be joining the Panthers as quickly.
Bergenheim, who scored a career-high 17 goals last season, was injured
while playing professionally in his hometown of Helsinki, Finland, early in
the lockout.
It was reported that Bergenheim injured his groin in Finland. Because the
injury happened in October — and he returned to South Florida but didn’t
skate with his teammates — it is believed to be much more serious than
that.
The Panthers aren’t commenting on Bergenheim’s status because he isn’t
being treated by the team’s medical staff.
“I don’t know where he is,” Tallon said.
Because Bergenheim is suspended from the team without pay as he was
injured playing for a team other than the Panthers, he can search out his
own medical treatment.
Goc and Gudbranson are also suspended but signed a waiver agreeing to
be treated by the team. Bergenheim has not.
All three players are suspended until cleared to play in games — not just
practice or rehabilitate an injury.
Because of the prorated salary because of games lost to the lockout,
Bergenheim was scheduled to make around $1.7 million this season.
Versteeg is eligible to come off the injured list in time for Saturday’s game
against the Flyers and is expected to fully participate in practice Friday
morning.
Versteeg was injured in Florida’s final practice of training camp last Friday
at BB&T Center.
Tight schedule
The Panthers will hold their first full practice since the season started Friday
morning at the Saveology.com Iceplex in Coral Springs.
With the abbreviated schedule, coach Kevin Dineen knew he would be
hard-pressed to get practices in — but Florida’s accelerated schedule has
taken those days away.
Thursday’s game was Florida’s fourth in six days. Wednesday was an off
day for the players as they arrived back in South Florida from Canada early
that morning.
652549
Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers’ Stephen Weiss joins lengthy injured list
By George Richards
The health of the Panthers’ struggling offense is relative to the health of
their offensive players.
As Florida’s injury list grows, its offensive output has shrunk.
missed the game against Ottawa with what is called a lower-body injury.
With Weiss on the shelf, Florida — which scored one goal in its recent twogame road trip to Ottawa and Montreal — is missing four of its top forwards
The extent of Weiss’ injury is unknown as he took part in Thursday’s
morning skate but didn’t come out for warmups.
General manager Dale Tallon said Thursday that Weiss — Florida’s top line
center — is day-to-day and doesn’t plan on putting him on injured reserve.
“He just came off the ice,” Tallon said of Weiss at Thursday’s morning
skate.
from the top two lines, as well as Sean Bergenheim.
skated before Thursday’s workout.
It doesn’t appear Bergenheim will be joining the Panthers as quickly.
Bergenheim, who scored a career-high 17 goals last season, was injured
while playing professionally in his hometown of Helsinki, Finland, early in
the lockout.
injury happened in October — and he returned to South Florida but didn’t
skate with his teammates — it is believed to be much more serious than
that.
The Panthers aren’t commenting on Bergenheim’s status because he isn’t
being treated by the team’s medical staff.
“I don’t know where he is,” Tallon said.
own medical treatment.
Goc and Gudbranson are also suspended but signed a waiver agreeing to
be treated by the team. Bergenheim has not.
All three players are suspended until cleared to play in games — not just
practice or rehabilitate an injury.
Because of the prorated salary because of games lost to the lockout,
Versteeg is eligible to come off the injured list in time for Saturday’s game
against the Flyers and is expected to fully participate in practice Friday
morning.
Versteeg was injured in Florida’s final practice of training camp last Friday
at BB&T Center.
Tight schedule
The Panthers will hold their first full practice since the season started Friday
morning at the Saveology.com Iceplex in Coral Springs.
With the abbreviated schedule, coach Kevin Dineen knew he would be
hard-pressed to get practices in — but Florida’s accelerated schedule has
taken those days away.
Thursday’s game was Florida’s fourth in six days. Wednesday was an off
that morning.
652550
Florida Panthers
PANTHERS NOTEBOOK: Stephen Weiss Out, Panthers Limping ... Cats
Practice Friday in Coral Springs at 11:30
TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards
The health of the Panthers struggling offense is relative to the health to their
offensive players.
As Florida's injury list grows, its offensive output has shrunk.
missed the game against Ottawa with what is called a lower body injury.
With Weiss on the shelf, Florida - which scored one goal in its recent twogame road trip to Ottawa and Montreal -- is missing four of its top forwards
The extent of Weiss' injury is unknown as he took part in Thursday's
morning skate but didn't come out for warmups.
General manager Dale Tallon said Thursday that Weiss -- Florida's top line
center -- is day-to-day and doesn't plan on putting him on injured reserve.
"He just came off the ice,'' Tallon said of Weiss at Thursday's morning
skate.
from the top two lines as well as Sean Bergenheim.
skated before Thursday's workout.
It doesn't appear Bergenheim will be joining the Panthers as quickly.
soon.
Bergenheim, who scored a career-high 17 goals last year, was hurt while
playing professionally in his hometown of Helsinki, Finland, early in the
lockout.
injury happened in October -- and he returned to South Florida but didn't
skate with his teammates -- it is believed to be much more serious than
that.
The Panthers aren't commenting on Bergenheim's status because he isn't
being treated by the team's medical staff. "I don't know where he is,'' Tallon
said.
own medical treatment. Goc and Gudbranson are also suspended but
signed a waiver agreeing to be treated by the team. Bergenheim has not.
All three players are suspended until cleared to play in games -- not just
practice or rehabilitate his injury.
Due to the prorated salary because of games lost to the lockout,
Versteeg is eligible to come off the injured list in time for Saturday's game
against the Flyers and is expected to fully participate in Florida's practice
Friday morning. Versteeg was hurt in Florida's final practice of training
camp last Friday at BB&T Center.
-- The Panthers will hold their first full practice since the season started on
Friday morning at the Saveology.com Iceplex in Coral Springs.
The workout starts at 11:30 a.m. and is open to the public.
With the abbreviated schedule, coach Kevin Dineen knew he would be hard
pressed to get practices in -- but Florida's accelerated schedule has
completely taken those days away.
Thursday's game was Florida's fourth in six days. Wednesday was an off
that morning.
Posted by George Richards at 10:42 PM
652551
Florida Panthers
That goal was set up by a poor crossing pass from Shawn Matthias that
was picked off by Karlsson.
ANDY DOES IT AGAIN: Senators Drop Panthers 3-1, Florida Loses Third
Straight
Theodore also stopped a penalty shot taken by Guillaume Latendresse with
9:11 left after he was dragged down by Brian Campbell going unopposed to
the net.
TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards
It could be argued Florida did more offensively in the second and third
periods Thursday than it did Monday or Tuesday in Canada. Anderson,
however, was spectacular when he needed to be.
When the Panthers game against Philadelphia is done come Saturday
night, a little over 10 percent of the season will already be finished.
If Florida doesn't start winning some games, and soon, the 2013 season
may be over just as it starts.
The Panthers lost for the third straight time Thursday night, dropping a 3-1
decision to Ottawa at BB&T Center. The Panthers have just two points in
the standings courtesy of their rousing 5-1 win over Carolina on opening
night.
That game may have just been a few days ago but seems like it happened
around the holidays. Florida (1-3-0) lost three straight in regulation once last
year; that already happened four games into the abbreviated 2013 season.
"We have to be in desperation mode right now,'' captain Ed Jovanovski
said. "We need a win and we need one badly.''
Soon after Karlsson's goal, Alex Kovalev -- who was booed every time he
touched the puck Monday after two uninspiring seasons in Ottawa -snapped on a loose puck after Phillips mishandled it in the corner.
Anderson had initially come out of his net to play the puck and got it to
Phillips. Anderson jumped back into position to make a spectacular play on
Kovalev.
Earlier in the period, Anderson stoned Jonathan Huberdeau from close
range after Florida's rookie winger got loose and broke toward the net.
Anderson also made a slick glove save on a Peter Mueller shot with 6:04
left.
Anderson is 9-0-1 against the Panthers in 11 career starts. His lone loss to
the Panthers came on Dec. 7, 2010, when Florida beat Anderson and the
Colorado Avs 4-3 in overtime as Weiss scored off a pass from David Booth
43 seconds into overtime.
On Thursday -- for the second time in four nights -- former Panthers goalie
Craig Anderson kept Florida's sagging offense in check.
Luckily for the Panthers, Ottawa -- and South Florida resident Anderson -doesn't return until April. Without some wins, Florida's playoff hopes could
be gone by then.
Anderson owns the Panthers as he won for the ninth time in 10 decisions
against his former team by making 25 saves as Ottawa beat the Panthers
for the 11th time in the past 12 meetings.
"This stings,'' Mueller said. "We all have to dig down a little deeper, bring
more to the table.''
Despite playing without four of its top offensive forwards, Florida took its
first lead in a game since last Saturday's season opener against Carolina in
the first period.
Tomas Fleischmann, the only remaining first line player on the ice
Thursday, picked up his first of the season when he scored on a power play
8:24 into Florida's second home game of the young season.
Fleischmann was playing on an all new line Thursday as Stephen Weiss
joined Kris Versteeg on the sideline. That trio combined for 70 goals and
172 points last season; Fleischmann's goal was the first of the season for
either he or Weiss. They had three points through the first three games.
When asked for comment afterward, Fleischmann said he had to go to the
medical room and pointed to a bloody spot on his foot. That's just what the
Panthers need.
"There's nothing I can do about it,'' coach Kevin Dineen said when asked
about the injuries piling up. "I have other options. I have to take the 18 they
give me and move forward.''
Goalie Jose Theodore has most definitely been giving the Panthers value
on their financial investment this season as he was terrific again Thursday.
Theodore made 41 saves in last weekend's opening win and kept the
Panthers in Monday's loss in Ottawa. Thursday, Theodore made 35 saves
as Ottawa's third goal went into a vacant net.
"I feel like I'm in midseason form, feel really good,'' said Theodore, 1-2-0
this year. "I'm trying to give my team a chance to win every night.''
Ottawa tied the score three minutes after Fleischmann scored when Chris
Phillips scored on a long shot on an extended power play chance. Florida
was down two skaters for 1:01 but survived that; Phillips' goal came with 12
seconds left in Scottie Upshall's hooking penalty.
Phillips' goal came on Ottawa's 15th shot of the game as the Senators were
outshooting Florida 15-3 at that point.
On Monday, the Senators outshot the Panthers 18-4 in the first period yet
only led 1-0 at the break thanks to the play of Theodore. Thursday,
Ottawa's shot advantage in the opening period ended up being just 16-7 as
the game was tied going into intermission.
The Senators broke the deadlock in the second when defenseman Erik
Karlsson -- the reigning Norris Trophy winner as the league's top blueliner -zipped a shot that found its way over Theodore's shoulder midway through
the period.
652552
Florida Panthers
Although rookie defenseman Michael Caruso certainly sustained a bad
break when he broke his wrist in just his second NHL game Tuesday, at
least he will benefit financially.
Top-line center Stephen Weiss joins Versteeg on sidelines
Caruso, who's on a two-way deal, will collect a prorated piece of his NHL
$600,000 instead of his AHL $75,000 deal until he recovers. …
By Harvey Fialkov
The Panthers are still up one defenseman so captain Ed Jovanovski, who
took a maintenance day off due to the back-to-back set, returned to the ice
and Tyson Strachan was scratched again.
The Panthers' top-line carousel continued to spin for the fourth time in four
games with the latest casualty, center Stephen Weiss, who was scratched
before Thursday's rematch with the Ottawa Senators at the BB&T Center.
Sun Sentinel LOADED: 01.25.2013
Panthers coach Kevin Dineen had placed skillful right wing Alex Kovalev on
the line with Weiss and left wing Tomas Fleischmann in the morning skate
in the hopes of generating offense after just two goals in two losses to
Montreal and Ottawa.
However, Weiss was unable to join his teammates in the pre-game skate
and was scratched with a lower-body injury. Weiss, the Panthers secondleading scorer last season with 57 points, and inarguably one of the most
valuable players on the team is off to a slow start with just one assist and a
minus-4.
He was replaced with Mike Santorelli, who was a healthy scratch in
Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Canadiens. Already, Santorelli, Scottie Upshall
and Tomas Kopecky have replaced injured right wing Kris Versteeg on the
top line without much success, although Kopecky did notch Florida's lone
goal and only power-play tally out of eight opportunities on Tuesday.
"It is different because you don't know what to expect but it's the NHL,''said
Fleischmann, who gave the Panthers an early 1-0 lead with a power-play
goal at 8:24 of the first period for his first of the season. "Nothing's really
changed, just try to do our best.''
However, Ottawa's Chris Phillips tied it 1-1 on a power-play goal of his own
at 11:25.
Dineen explained that without exhibition games to experiment and also
because of injuries, he's forced to find the right combinations in the early
stages of the season without the benefit of much practice time.
"A lot of bodies we're excited to have back in our lineup this year,
unfortunately if those guys aren't in, it's exciting for guys like [rookie] Drew
Shore to jump into our lineup,'' Dineen said. "It also makes for us to make
sure we're all on the same page and doing the things that we do
consistently as a team.''
Unless Shore has a breakout game, Dineen hinted that he will return to the
AHL in time for the All-Star Game on Monday.
Dineen also said that the two-game losing swing in Canada had something
to do with lack of conditioning because of the abbreviated training camp
and the rigors of the early schedule that had the Panthers playing four
games in six days.
"Call it conditioning, call it game-shape, the schedule has something to do
with it, but it gets down to we're looking for more pace and tempo to our
game which was lacking and something we're looking to correct,'' Dineen
said.
Dineen is looking forward to Friday morning at Saveology.com Iceplex to
hold his first long, instructional practice of the early season.
"Once we get on the ice and start working on some things maybe we can
shore up a few areas that have been concerns for us,'' Dineen said.
Injury updates
Versteeg skated on his own Thursday as did injured center Marcel Goc
(ankle).
Versteeg, who can come off IR on Friday is questionable for Saturday's
home game againt the Flyers, but he will accelerate his skating drills the
next two days with Tampa on Tuesday night a possiblity.
Dineen has already ruled out Goc for Tuesday, but he and defenseman Erik
Gudbranson are getting closer to a return, while injured forward Sean
Bergenheim remains out indefinitely.
Caruso cashes in
652553
Florida Panthers
Panthers fall in double OT, lose series
Staff Reports
Rats.
The Florida Panthers came back from a two-goal deficit in the third period
to force overtime against the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of their firstround series, Thursday night at BankAtlantic Center.
But it wasn't enough as Adam Henrique scored his second goal of the
game on the first shot of the second overtime to win it for New Jersey 3-2,
ending the season for the Panthers.
The goal was scored at 3:47 of the second OT.
The Panthers trailed 2-0 entering the final period but got power-play goals
from Stephen Weiss and Marcel Goc to force the extra period.
Goalie Jose Theodore, who sat out Game 6 with an undisclosed injury, was
beaten Henrique at 1:29 of the first period.
Stephen Gionta put New Jersey ahead 2-0 at 9:15 of the second period.
Palm Beach Post LOADED: 01.25.2013
652554
Los Angeles Kings
Kings are 0-2-1 to start the season
By Lisa Dillman
EDMONTON, Canada -- There was anger spraying everywhere from the
Kings, the Oilers and their fans on a wild night at Rexall Place on Thursday.
For the Kings, it was directed at the overmatched officials, a failure to
capitalize on one power-play opportunity after another, and finally, the
inability to protect a lead for the final five seconds of regulation.
The Kings were within 4.7 seconds of leaving Edmonton with their first
victory of the season but instead had to settle for a point. Dynamic rookie
Nail Yakupov batted in a rebound at the 19:55 mark of the third period,
knocking it out of midair, and Sam Gagner scored on the power play in
overtime to give the Oilers a 2-1 victory.
Game 3 of the season was memorable in all the wrong ways.
The Kings failed to capitalize on seven power plays, including 3 minutes
and 9 seconds with a five-on-three advantage. They are 0 for 18 this
season. Bizarre calls were made all night, including one on the Oilers for
smothering the puck and a 10-minute misconduct for starting a fight when
wearing a face shield. The Kings were hit with two bench minors, including
one giving the Oilers a power play, leading to the winning goal.
That's the briefest of summaries. But the most incendiary moment came
when Gagner's apparent tying goal with 1:05 left was waved off after it was
ruled he was in the goal crease. Replays showed Kings defenseman Rob
Scuderi pushing Gagner into goalie Jonathan Quick.
The fans went nuts and started throwing debris on the ice after the goal was
disallowed.
“It's kind of unlucky a guy comes and cross-checks me from behind,” Kings
defenseman Drew Doughty said of what happened just before the wavedoff goal. “That's 100% a penalty. But because they're down a man, down a
goal, usually not going to call it. We've got to definitely learn to finish it out.”
Kings Coach Darryl Sutter was at his sarcastic best.
“Gotta be a record for non five-on-five play. It's gotta be a record,” he said.
“They [the fans] bombed the ice with stuff. It was awesome because they're
all [hacked] off. ... I'm sure the league thinks it was a great-officiated game.”
Said Doughty: “I got some nacho cheese on my shoulder.”
Gagner didn't think he was guilty of wrongdoing on the disallowed goal, but
did acknowledge that he did bowl over two Kings just prior to that, “battling
for open ice.”
“It was obviously tough when they called off the goal, but then Nail scored
there — and it was a great feeling to win the game,” he said.
The wild finish hid the fact that the Kings and the Oilers got together and
combined to play one of those ragged games that you usually see in
September in preseason.
The lone Kings' goal came in the second period on a breakaway finished off
by forward Jeff Carter. Carter beat goalie Devan Dubnyk at 13:26 with a
backhander, taking a nice pass from left wing Kyle Clifford.
It was the first goal from one of the Kings' top six forwards this season. In
the opening two games, the fourth line led the way, sparked by Clifford's
three points.
Sutter benched the struggling Dustin Penner and moved Clifford to help
jump-start the likes of center Mike Richards and Carter. He also scratched
left wing Simon Gagne for the second straight game.
But the move with Penner stood out after the Stanley Cup champion Kings
lost their opening two games.
“It's one of those things that the guillotine has to fall somewhere when the
team underproduces and more time than not, it's fallen on me,” said
Penner. “… I wish could say I've played better. I haven't. It's on me.”
Sutter said that Penner, and others, have struggled with the pace of play.
652555
Los Angeles Kings
Kings give up late goal in regulation, then fall in OT
After weathering the storm, the Oilers were awarded a two-man power play
of their own. But they couldn't find the back of the net against Quick.
The shots favored Edmonton 14-8 in the scoreless first.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Oilers had a chance to get the game's first goal 6 minutes into the
second period on a two-on-one but Quick robbed Yakupov with a huge
glove save.
EDMONTON – Nail Yakupov slid right into the hearts of Edmonton Oilers
fans Thursday night.
Los Angeles finally broke the scoreless tie with 6½ minutes remaining in the
second period when a giveaway by Edmonton defender Nick Schultz
allowed Carter to get loose on a breakaway. He made the most of it,
beating Dubnyk high to the stick side for his first goal of the season.
The top pick in last summer's NHL entry draft scored with 4.7 seconds left
in the third period and Sam Gagner had the winner in overtime as
Edmonton rallied for a wild 2-1 victory over the winless Kings.
Article Tab: Kings goalie Jonathan Quick makes the save as the Oilers'
Ryan Smyth fights for a rebound during the second period Thursday.
Dubnyk earned the win with 30 saves, while Quick stopped 37 shots for the
Kings.
NOTES
Yakupov's celebration had Oilers coach Ralph Krueger smiling.
It was the first of three meetings between the teams this season. The clubs
split their four-game series in 2011-12. ... The Kings brought an eight-game
point streak in Edmonton into the game, having gone 7-0-1 in that span
since a regulation loss at Rexall Place on Feb. 28, 2008. ... The Oilers were
without forward Ben Eager, out indefinitely with a concussion. Also out for
Edmonton were Andy Sutton (knee), Theo Peckham (hip flexor), Ryan
Jones (eye) and Nikolai Khabibulin (hip). ... Kings defenseman Matt Greene
(back) was placed on injured reserve this week and will likely miss the
remainder of the season. Willie Mitchell (knee surgery) is also out, but he
practiced this week. ... Former Oiler Dustin Penner was a healthy scratch
for the Kings. Fellow forward Simon Gagne was also a healthy scratch for
Los Angeles as the Kings tried to send a message after a slow start to the
season. ... Edmonton native Mark Fistric made his debut on defense for the
Oilers after being acquired via trade from the Dallas Stars for a third-round
pick.
"He's watched a lot of soccer games," Krueger joked.
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick makes the save as the Oilers' Ryan Smyth
fights for a rebound during the second period Thursday.
JASON FRANSON, AP
Yakupov's exuberant celebration took him to center ice, where he dropped
to his knees and slid into Edmonton's defensive zone, screaming, as the
16,839 fans at Rexall Place cheered him on.
"The fans were crazy," Yakupov said. "It was probably my greatest feeling.
We showed our heart. It was the best night in the world. I've never seen
anything like this."
Krueger said the game brought out the best in his team.
"If we want passion and to be challenged, there was a lot of that tonight," he
said. "You have to love the compete in the group. ... The persistence at the
end of the game showed truly the character of this group. To finish it off in
overtime was a very mature step in a very difficult situation emotionally."
Gagner came through with a power-play goal 3:01 into overtime. He snuck
in from the point to score the winner after the defending Stanley Cup
champions were caught with too many men on the ice.
Jeff Carter scored for the Kings (0-2-1), winless after three games for the
first time since the 1985-86 season.
There were 17 power plays in the game. Edmonton went 1 for 9 and the
Kings dropped to 0 for 19 this season.
"That had to be a record for the least 5-on-5 play in a hockey game. The
referees were great," Kings coach Darryl Sutter deadpanned. "Both goalies
were pretty awesome."
There was a crazy finish to regulation, too.
Edmonton appeared to tie it with 1:05 left in the third on a goal by Ryan
Nugent-Hopkins, but after video review the officials ruled that Gagner was
in the crease and the goal was not allowed. Irate fans littered the ice with
debris — they thought Rob Scuderi had pushed Gagner into Los Angeles
goalie Jonathan Quick on the play.
However, the Oilers did pull even a minute later. Yakupov was able to bat
down a rebound at the side of the net for his second goal of the season,
with Edmonton goalie Devan Dubnyk on the bench for an extra attacker.
"We just couldn't finish it," Kings forward Jarret Stoll said. "We made a
couple of mistakes right at the end and they capitalized. It was a weird,
weird game. It was an odd one. We can't feel sorry for ourselves.
"We have to figure it out and find a way to get two points. We battled hard
tonight, but not enough."
The game started much slower than it ended. The Kings had a good
opportunity early with a two-man advantage for 2 minutes, but couldn't
capitalize despite twice hitting the post behind Dubnyk.
Los Angeles had plenty of power-play chances in the first half of the
opening frame, but went 0 for 5 with the man advantage.
652556
Los Angeles Kings
PREVIEW: Kings (0-2-0) at Edmonton Oilers (1-1-0)
Reuters
Where: Rexall Place
TV: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, FSN West
The Kings' Stanley Cup defense is off to a rough start as they lost the
season opener to Chicago at home and dropped a 3-1 decision on the road
against Colorado on Tuesday. Now the Kings head to Edmonton to face the
Oilers on Thursday in search of their first win of the season. Anze Kopitar
returned to Los Angeles' lineup against the Avalanche after missing the
opening game with a knee injury he suffered in Sweden during the lockout.
Kopitar, who was minus-1 in his first game, has led the Kings in scoring
each of the last five seasons.
The Oilers suffered a 6-3 loss to San Jose in their home opener on
Tuesday, allowing all six goals in the opening period to suggest the
defensive problems plaguing the club for the past several seasons are far
from being solved. Devan Dubnyk was pulled after stopping only 11 shots in
the first period. Rookies Justin Schultz and Nail Yakupov both scored their
first NHL goals in the loss. Both tallies came on the power play. Yakupov is
minus-4 in his first two games and is tied with Sam Gagner for the lowest
plus-minus on the team.
ABOUT THE KINGS (0-2-0): With Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan
Quick struggling (4.09 goals-against average, .849 save percentage) in his
first two starts, backup Jonathan Bernier is expected to get his first start of
the season against Edmonton. Bernier has a .910 save percentage and five
shutouts in 42 career starts. Kyle Clifford,
who has 29 points in 159 career games, leads all Kings skaters with three.
Linemate Jordan Nolan has two points.
ABOUT THE OILERS (1-1-0): Jordan Eberle, whose 51 points still lead the
American Hockey League, tops the Oilers with three. Backup goaltender
Yann Danis, who hasn't started an NHL game since the 2009-10 season,
relieved Dubnyk and made 14 saves against the Sharks. Edmonton allowed
three power-play goals versus San Jose but is converting on one-third of its
own man advantages. Ales Hemsky scored the game-tying goal against
Vancouver and added a shootout tally but was limited to one assist in the
loss to the Sharks.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles captain Dustin Brown, averaging 20 minutes of ice time in
his first two games, has five shots, no points and is minus-4.
2. With little confidence in either Dubnyk or Danis as a starter and Nikolai
Khabibulin out indefinitely with a hip injury, Edmonton reportedly is
shopping for more goaltending. Ben Bishop of the Ottawa Senators has
been mentioned as a possible target.
3. The Kings and Oilers split their season series in 2011-12.
PREDICTION: Kings 4, Oilers 2.
LA Daily News: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652557
Los Angeles Kings
EDMONTON 2, KINGS 1: Kings suffer late loss
By Reuters
EDMONTON, Alberta - Nail Yakupov tied the score in the final seconds of
the third period and Sam Gagner scored on a power play in overtime as the
Edmonton Oilers beat the defending champion Kings 2-1 Thursday night for
their first home win of the season.
Yakupov batted a rebound out of mid-air and past Jonathan Quick with 4.7
seconds remaining in regulation and Gagner tapped in a cross-crease pass
from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at 3:01 of overtime. Devan Dubnyk made 30
saves for the Oilers.
Quick stopped 37 shots, but couldn't hang on for his first shutout of the
season. Jeff Carter opened the scoring with 6:34 left in the second but was
serving a bench minor for too many men on the ice when Gagner got the
winner.
LA Daily News: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652558
Los Angeles Kings
Matt Greene Update
Posted by LAKings.com
Here is the statement from the Kings:
Matt Greene today underwent successful surgery to repair a herniated disc
in his back. Expected recovery time is a minimum of eight weeks.
LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652559
Los Angeles Kings
Darryl Sutter Pre-Game Quotes
On the Mike Richards line: “It’s getting Jeff [Carter] and [Mike Richards]
someone with them right now to get them going and sustain a pace of play.
That’s where their game is right now. That’s the hard part. You got to base
it on how they’re playing right now.
On Dustin Penner: “I think our left side has had trouble adjusting to the
pace of play. Dustin is in that. Quite honestly he’s had really good shifts
and had times where he’s struggled. And that’s strictly being able to
sustain pace of play. No different than the other guys. It’s a tough way to
be doing it, but you have to base it on how we are playing tonight, not how
we did play or how we are going to play because that’s what a shortened
schedule does.”
Sutter also discussed Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell. He said how they’re
both “locker room” guys and how their leadership is missed. And now it’s
up to the young guys on the back-end.
652560
Los Angeles Kings
Jake Muzzin Pre-Game Quotes
On getting into the lineup: “It felt pretty good. I had a good week of practice
going into it, so I’m feeling pretty confident. Unfortunately Greener got hurt,
so it gave me an opportunity to play. It’s good experience. I’m excited, I
thought I did pretty good, so I’m looking forward to tonight’s game.
On his role: “The coaches have gone over the same thing we always do
with all the D and in certain situations I’m going to be playing in. [They tell
me] just to play my game and keep it simple.”
652561
Los Angeles Kings
Anze Kopitar Pre-Game Quotes
On tonight’s game: “Well the first two games we didn’t get the outcome we
wanted. It’s an important game for us. We need to focus on our game,
come out and have a good start and go from there.”
On his knee: “Everything is good. I felt good and didn’t have any
problems.”
On his line trying to get started: “Every time you get off to a good start it’s
nice for your confidence. You get a boost and the chemistry with the line is
there right off the hop. But it’s a matter of focusing on our game tonight and
playing within the system. If we do that we should be fine.”
652562
Los Angeles Kings
Ryan Smyth Pre-Game Quotes
Posted by LAKings.com on
On seeing his former team win the Cup: “Obviously it was really nice to
see…and nice to see for the organization itself. The first time in franchise
history…there’s a lot of great players over there and the team made a lot of
great moves to push them over the top. It was awesome to see.”
On keys to playing the Kings tonight: “Well, it will certainly be a good
measuring stick for us. They won it last year, so we need to use our depth.
We need good energy and good legs tonight.”
652563
Los Angeles Kings
Morning Notes
The Kings are scheduled for their morning skate at Rexall Place at 10:30
a.m. (PT). Here’s a few notes to start the day:
-Don’t forget…There is now a 30-minute pre-game show prior to all games
televised on Fox Sports West. Tonight’s pre-game show starts at 6 p.m.
(PT).
-The Kings are 6-1-1 in their last eight games vs. the Oilers (since 12-2310)…The Kings are 7-0-1 in their last eight games in Edmonton (since 1126-08).
-The last time the Kings started a season 0-2-0 was in 2008-09.
-The Kings have only started a season 0-3-0 twice in franchise history
(1969-70 and 1985-86). During the shortened 48-game season in 1994-95
the Kings started 0-2-1.
652564
Los Angeles Kings
Darryl Sutter Post-Game Quotes
On all the penalties: “It’s got to be a record for no five-on-five play. That’s
got to be a record.”
On his team’s overall play: “Oh I thought we played well…we hit three
posts. It’s 1-0 and we had all those chances to make it 2-0…with all the
power plays. It’s tough to win on the road.”
652565
Los Angeles Kings
Jonathan Quick Post-Game Quotes
Game recap: “They catch a bounce there at the end and push it to
overtime…They get a power play. You give a team that many chances on
the power play soon or later they’re going to score on you. It ended up
biting us at the end.”
On Gagner’s disallowed goal: “He skated into me. I couldn’t make an
attempt to stop the puck. Pretty simple.”
652566
Los Angeles Kings
Rob Scuderi Post-Game Quotes
On team being frustrated: “If you’re going to regain your composure it’s ok
to be a little desperate, but not ok to panic. It hasn’t gone the way we’d like
certainly, but you have to try to bounce back. At least we got something out
of it tonight.”
652567
Los Angeles Kings
Kings 0 – Oilers 0 (10:31 Left In Second)
Power plays were the name of the game in the first period, but neither team
could capitalize. The Kings had five power plays in the opening frame,
including a full two-minute five-on-three advantage. Edmonton then had
three straight power play chances, including a two-man advantage for 1:48.
Goaltending match-up: Jonathan Quick vs. Devan Dubnyk
Scratches: Kings (Gagne, Penner and Bodnarchuk), Oilers (Hordichuk,
Potter)
Power Plays:
Kings: 0-for-5
Oilers: 0-for-5
652568
Minnesota Wild
Sources: Jonas Brodin on his way to Minnesota to join Wild
Posted by: Michael Russo
After only one game back in Houston's lineup, defenseman Jonas Brodin is
on his way to Minnesota, multiple sources tell me this morning. The 2011
first-round pick who helped lead Sweden to last year's gold at the world
junior championships should be here in time for this morning's practice.
Appears my gut feel on yesterday's blog was accurate.
While it's still uncertain that Brodin will make his NHL debut Friday in Detroit
(depends on Jared Spurgeon's health or if the Wild would scratch one of its
healthy D for him), I just got this sense that the Wild felt Brodin was so
close in training camp that he only needed the one trial test in the minors
before coming here officially.
Brodin, 19, broke his clavicle on Nov. 2 when nailed late in the game in
Oklahoma City by Taylor Hall. He subsequently underwent surgery. Last
night was his first game back for the Aeros -- a victory.
I watched the game on a very blurry AHL Live and he was his typical mobile
self, patient, moved the puck well, etc.
The big question now: what does this mean for Matt Dumba? Is he returned
to Red Deer of the Western Hockey League today or does he come on the
two-game road trip to Detroit and St. Louis to provide depth in case of
injury.
My guess is the Wild makes that decision after practice today. It would first
have to be sure Spurgeon is OK.
Marco Scandella may return to Houston's lineup tomorrow in Grand Rapids.
He hasn't played since Dec. 20 because of a groin injury. He is next on the
depth chart.
Star Tribune LOADED: 01.25.2013
652569
Minnesota Wild
Wild rookie Brodin makes whirlwind trip to the top
Article by: RACHEL BLOUNT
It didn't take long for Jonas Brodin to make his first rookie faux pas.
Standing at his locker after Thursday's practice, just hours after being called
up from Houston, the young Wild defenseman was being playfully scolded
by teammate Zenon Konopka for forgetting to bring him coffee.
That wasn't surprising, even for a wunderkind like Brodin. On Wednesday
night he returned to the lineup of the Wild's AHL affiliate after sitting out 11
weeks with a broken clavicle. On Thursday morning he was skating
alongside Clayton Stoner in the Wild's practice at Xcel Energy Center, then
packing his bag for the team's first road trip of the season.
Wild coach Mike Yeo said the odds are very good that Brodin, 19, will make
his NHL debut in Friday's game at Detroit. Defenseman Jared Spurgeon is
expected to make the trip, but on Thursday he missed his second practice
because of a sore foot. Matt Dumba, who had been the spare defenseman,
remains with the team, although indications are he'll return to his junior
team in Red Deer, Alberta, eventually.
Despite the whirlwind of the past two days, Konopka's neglected coffee
seemed to be the only misstep for Brodin. The Wild's top pick in the 2011
NHL draft appeared comfortable in practice -- if a bit shy when facing the
media crowding around his locker -- and impressed his new teammates
with his maturity. Though he had been concentrating on getting healthy and
getting back into the Houston lineup, Brodin was delighted at his sudden
elevation to the Wild roster.
"I'm glad to be here,'' said Brodin, who had two goals and two assists in
nine games with Houston this season. "I don't know if I'm going to play, but
if they say so, I'm ready.''
Strong history
Stoner seemed to think so, too, based on what he saw Thursday. Brodin is
an excellent skater and passer who can jump into the offense with ease.
Yet Stoner noted he also is a poised and intelligent player who knows his
position well, giving him the defensive soundness to be dependable on both
ends of the ice.
The Wild got a glimpse of Brodin's impressive skill set during training camp,
when he held his own against the likes of Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu. He
also played for Sweden in the 2012 world championships and for two
seasons in Sweden's elite league, gaining experience against older, highlevel players.
Brodin's skill set has been compared to that of Niklas Lidstrom, but Yeo
cautioned against unrealistic expectations. Brodin still is developing
physically, and he is adapting to the cultural changes of his first year in
North America, as well as to the escalation in the competition he is facing.
"The ceiling is very high,'' Yeo said of the 6-1, 180-pound Brodin. "When
you see the way he skates, his composure with the puck, he can do things
at a very, very high level. But this is a young player coming in, just coming
back off an injury. We have to give him enough time to get adjusted to the
league and the pace of the game and playing against the world's best
players.''
Ready to go
Brodin said that despite the long layoff because of his injury, his
conditioning was better than he expected in Wednesday's game with
Houston. Yeo doesn't expect fitness to be an issue if Brodin plays Friday,
but he mentioned that Brodin will be playing against stronger, better players
at a faster clip, which will be tiring. Brodin is likely to be paired with Stoner if
he plays.
As much as he hopes that will happen, Brodin said even Thursday's
practice felt like a dream. If he does make the lineup Friday, he said he
must focus on playing exactly as he did in Houston and in Sweden,
guarding against getting caught up in the enormity of his first NHL game.
Just as Konopka initiated Brodin in the locker room, Stoner did the same on
the ice Thursday, helping his young teammate understand the details of the
Wild system. Making Brodin feel welcome and comfortable will allow him to
perform at his best, Stoner said -- something he's excited to see.
"He's the total package,'' Stoner said. "He brings smarts, he can make plays
and he can play on the power play. He's also smart in the D-zone; I don't
think he will be overly aggressive, but I think he's going to be in the right
position at the right time.
"He's a very composed player, very mature for his age. I know he's going to
be a big part of this team, this year and in the future.''
652570
Minnesota Wild
Preview: Wild at Detroit
RACHEL BLOUNT
Preview: The Wild (2-1) begins a two-game road trip, its first of the season,
against a Red Wings team that has stumbled out of the gate. Detroit (1-2)
has been outscored 11-5, losing to St. Louis and Dallas and defeating
Columbus. The Red Wings have yet to score a power-play goal, going an
NHL-worst 0-for-15, and an injury-depleted defensive corps has left them
vulnerable. The Wild finishes the trip Sunday at St. Louis.
Players to watch: Wild G Josh Harding (1-0) will start; last season, he went
2-1-1 against Detroit, with a goals-against average of 2.60 and save
percentage of .930. Detroit C Damien Brunner, a former Swiss League star,
is an intriguing newcomer who has one goal on a team-high 15 shots.
Numbers: Wild F Pierre-Marc Bouchard needs one goal to reach 100 for his
career. Teammates Zach Parise (1-3--4) and Dany Heatley (3-1--4) have
scored in all three games this season.
Injuries: Out for Detroit are D Ian White (leg laceration), D Carlo Colaiacovo
(shoulder) and LW Jan Mursak (collarbone); D Jonathan Ericsson
(shoulder), G Jonas Gustavsson (strained groin) and RW Mikael
Samuelsson (groin) are listed as questionable. Wild D Jared Spurgeon
(sore foot) has missed two days of practice; he is on the trip, but his status
is uncertain.
652571
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold, after NHL lockout: 'We've lived
through the pain'
By Bruce Brothers
As stressful as the NHL lockout was for Craig Leipold, he never lost the
feeling of being both team owner and hockey fan.
So Leipold, the majority owner of the Wild who was a constant presence for
the owners during negotiations with the NHL Players Association, wore a
big smile when he walked into Minnesota's dressing room at the Xcel
Energy Center after the 119-day lockout ended.
And Wild players welcomed him.
"There were no hard feelings whatsoever," Liepold said by phone from
Exuma, an island in the Bahamas where he is taking a brief vacation.
"When I got in the locker room there were nothing but high-fives and bellybumps and big hugs. There was no question that this thing was behind
every player in the room and everybody was behind me.
"It was very evident that all they cared about now was playing hockey."
Leipold, who forked out contracts worth $196 million over 13 years to Zach
Parise and Ryan Suter during the offseason, said he's so excited about the
Wild's chances this season that he has zero concern about possibly losing
money during the shortened season.
"First of all, I'm just glad we got our 48-game season," he said. "You take
what you can get in this; there was a time when I really didn't think we'd get
any games in."
Leipold refused to categorize the collective bargaining agreement that was
ratified on Jan. 12.
"There were no winners in this thing," he said. "Not the owners, not the
players. Clearly the fans were the ones who probably
got the worst of it. I'm just thankful it's done."
Now, Leipold can again focus on hockey.
He's been eager to do that since the last July when he authorized general
manager Chuck Fletcher to sign Parise and Suter.
"I think Chuck has put together just an incredible team," Leipold said.
"We've never been this deep. We're going to be very competitive for awhile.
You see what we have on the ice, you see what's waiting in Houston, and it
seems like we're in a better position than we've ever been in."
Leipold is working with a five-year budget rather focusing on this season.
"We're fine financially," he said.
Shelling out bonuses of $10 million to Parise and Suter might have stung
during the lockout, but Leipold said he was rewarded because Wild fans
were as eager as he was to see the new product and the team could have
sold 25,000 tickets to its home opener on Jan. 19 against Colorado.
Two of the first three home games sold out and he says interest remains
high.
"Our hurts are already over with," Leipold said. "We've already lived through
the pain."
Leipold was champing at the bit during training camp and did not totally
relax until he opened the doors for the home opener.
"That was just a great moment when we dropped the puck," he said. "That
was the first time it hit me, that (the labor impasse) was over with. That first
shift we had both Parise and Suter on the ice. We were back to playing
hockey."
Leipold, who says that even in the Bahamas he makes sure to find TV
reception so he can watch every Minnesota game, offers praise for the
product he is putting on the ice because the new guys, especially Parise
and Suter, make the other players better.
Equally important, he says, is that the NHL signed a 10-year labor
agreement with an eight-year opt-out clause so players, owners and fans
won't have to face labor strife again for awhile.
"It's good for the game; it's good for our fans," Leipold said. "We'll have
collective bargaining harmony for at least the next eight years and more
than likely the next 10 years, so I think there are a lot of winners in that
deal."
Pioneer Press LOADED: 01.25.2013
652572
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild: Jonas Brodin expects to make NHL debut Friday
By Bruce Brothers
DETROIT -- The Wild recalled 2010 first-round draft pick Jonas Brodin from
the Houston Aeros on Thursday, Jan. 24, and are expected to drop him into
the lineup for his first NHL game Friday night against the Red Wings at Joe
Louis Arena.
"I'm ready to go," Brodin said after practicing with the Wild on Thursday
morning at the Xcel Energy Center.
Coach Mike Yeo, who said Josh Harding is scheduled to start in goal for
Minnesota, said Brodin likely will line up on defense with Clayton Stoner.
"The ceiling is very high," Yeo said of Brodin. "You see the way he skates
and see his composure with the puck. He can do things at a very, very high
level."
Brodin, 19, underwent surgery to repair a broken collarbone in November
and played his first game since recovering with the Aeros on Wednesday
night in Milwaukee, a 3-2 win for the Aeros over the Admirals.
"I've been out for 11 weeks," he said, "so the first period was pretty hard.
But it got better every shift. I think I played pretty good."
Brodin practiced Thursday with Stoner.
"He's kind of like the total package as far as a defenseman goes," Stoner
said. "He brings smarts and he can make plays and play on the power play,
so I think he's gifted offensively."
The 6-foot-1 defenseman from Sweden got three days of workouts during
Wild training camp before joining the Aeros to get a game behind him.
Defenseman Jared Spurgeon injured his foot in Minnesota's 4-2 loss to the
Nashville Predators on Tuesday,
but Yeo said Spurgeon also would make the trip to Detroit.
The Wild also have rookie Mathew Dumba available on defense.
In his one game in goal this season, Harding posted a shutout in a 1-0
victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday at the X. Harding was diagnosed in
October with multiple sclerosis.
Yeo's plan was to start the season giving both Harding and Niklas
Backstrom time in goal.
"We want to get into a little bit of a rotation and get both guys in and playing
well," he said.
Following the game in Detroit, the Wild play at 7 p.m. Sunday in St. Louis.
Pioneer Press LOADED: 01.25.2013
652573
Montreal Canadiens
Would the Habs really trade P.K. Subban?
past couple of seasons, Michel Therrien is no particular fan of Subban, but
does anyone seriously think Therrien's going to be the coach of this team in
three years?
Bergevin's contract says he'll be the GM until 2017.
But if he makes the wrong decision on Subban, that could change.
SEAN GORDON
Bottom line: if the rumours end up being true, it's because Bergevin was
presented with a deal so good he couldn't refuse.
As the stalemate over P.K. Subban's second NHL contract continues - the
team is said to want short term for modest dollars, Subban is said to want
long term for big dollars, no one is sure what the proposals actually are rumours are picking up steam that the Montreal Canadiens are considering
dealing the 23-year-old.
Globe And Mail LOADED: 01.25.2013
He has said publicly he will not, and this isn't a guy known for telling nosestretchers.
But circumstances do change.
Subban is a generational talent, and is in very exclusive company among
NHL defencemen when you consider his dynamic offensive skills, elite
defensive and special teams abilities and the fact he logged more minutes
against top players than all but a dozen rearguards in the league last
season. (If you want a statistical argument that buttresses the preceding,
the guys at habseyesontheprize.com got their math geek on here).
As Subban told the Montreal Gazette in a wide-ranging interview, he wants
to be paid what he's worth and isn't seeking to 'break the bank'; talking to
the papers wouldn't have held him in good stead under the previous
management, it will be interesting to see how Bergevin reacts. But even if
Subban has a high opinion of his worth, it's hard to argue his value isn't far
higher than that of 23-year-old peers like, say, Luke Schenn, whose cap hit
is $3.6-million - although Schenn made his NHL debut a year sooner and
had the good fortune of signing under the old CBA.
There is, of course, a strong case for trading Subban if you were able to get
a young forward with a 50-goal ceiling in return, like Taylor Hall (not going
to happen). Or if you could get hold of another top young defenceman who
is already signed long term, say Tyler Myers (never in a million years) or
Victor Hedman (ditto).
Bergevin is facing the biggest decision of his short tenure, and it's not hard
to see why he would play hardball.
The whole league is watching, not just because special attention is being
paid to curbing fat second contracts in the new world order, but because
Subban could set the market for elite young defencemen like Ryan
McDonagh and Alex Pietrangelo, whose entry-level deals come up next
summer.
Bergevin also has to consider his cap picture two and three years down the
road, when he could be negotiating second deals for a pile of players
including Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, Jarred Tinordi, Nathan
Beaulieu, Michael Bournival and Louis Leblanc.
Having dealt with the albatross that is Scott Gomez's contract, Bergevin has
cleared cap space to sign Subban and, if he gets a team-friendly deal, still
have some dosh left over to add pieces if the Habs suddenly become
contenders in the next couple of seasons, which isn't as far-fetched as it
sounds.
Bergevin has shown he's not afraid of making tough decisions, and that he
can be a slick negotiator (they should build a statue to him for Max
Pacioretty's contract extension alone).
That the rumours are spreading at a crucial point in the talks with Subban's
agent Don Meehan means the idea this is a negotiating tool has to be
considered - the strong early play of Raphael Diaz, another Meehan client,
may be emboldening the team.
Reputable analysts around these parts have suggested the team still isn't
completely sure Subban has the makeup to become an elite-level player
(even if he was after some early stumbles last year, one season does not a
career make).
That doesn't jibe with what the team has been saying publicly, but it could
be true.
People will talk about Subban's personality and character and whether he
fits with the current roster and the organization's vision, but that's mostly a
red herring. On the strength of what he's said as a television analyst in the
652574
Montreal Canadiens
Canadiens game report: Jan. 24
By Pat Hickey, The Gazette January 25, 2013
The skinny: The power play came through for the Canadiens as they broke
a 0-0 deadlock with two power-play goals in the second period and went to
crush the winless Washington Capitals 4-1.
Markov powers PP: The Canadiens’ power play went 2-for-6 and has
scored five times in 17 opportunities. Andrei Markov has been a key reason
for the early season turnaround of what was one of the worst power plays in
the NHL last season. Markov corralled the rebound of a Raphael Diaz shot
and set up Tomas Plekanec for the Canadiens’ first goal at 3:47 of the
second period. He capitalized on the rebound of a shot by Max Pacioretty to
make it 2-0 with another power-play goal at 4:42
Diaz steps up: Raise your hand if you thought Diaz would be the
Canadiens’ leading scorer after three games - not to mention that he’s the
top-scoring defenceman in the NHL. On the Canadiens’ third goal, Diaz
blocked two shots before pushing the puck out of the Montreal zone. Rene
Bourque ran down the puck in the corner and found Brian Gionta in front for
the goal. While Diaz was credited with an assist, he didn’t receive a plus on
the play because he had left the ice on a line change before Gionta scored.
Killer defence: The Canadiens’ other special team, the penalty kill, didn’t
allow a goal in the Capitals’ four power-play opportunities.
Carey, Carey: Goaltender Carey Price made 30 saves and had a shutout
unil Joey Crabb scored at 17:37 of the final period. He has given up only
four goals in his three starts.
The Kiddie Korner: Coach Michel Therrien used youngsters Alex
Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher sparingly in the first period but
increased their ice time as the game progressed. Gallagher played 13:18
and Galchenyuk logged 12:33. They each had one shot on goal.
Still undefeated: Brandon Prust had his second fight and second decision of
the season when he responded to a hit on Francis Bouillon and challenged
Matt Hendricks midway through the second period.
The invisible man: Washington’s Alex Ovechkin continues to be a super
disappointment. Ovechkin, who has one assist on the season, played
22:36. He managed three shots on goal but had two shots blocked and was
off target on three others. He was a minus-1 on the night.
Matter of timing: Markov, who missed most of the past two seasons with leg
and knee injuries, continues to be the team leader in ice time with 24:09.
Alexei Emelin, Diaz and Josh Gorges also topped 20 minutes on defence
where there’s no sign that the team is missing P.K. Subban.
What’s next: The Canadiens are back home to meet the New Jersey Devils
in a rare Sunday game (6 p.m., RDS, TSN-690 Radio).
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.25.2013
652575
Montreal Canadiens
Therrien continued to try to give rookies Alex Galcheyuk and Brendan
Gallagher the best chance to succeed. He used them sparingly in the first
period and increased their ice time after the Canadiens took the lead.
Habs establishing an identity, Gionta says
“I don’t have the last change and I didn’t want to have them matched
against the Backstrom line,” Therrien said. “I want to put them in positions
where they can develop their confidence.”
WASHINGTON — The season is young, but Canadiens captain Brian
Gionta believes the team has taken giant strides toward establishing an
identity.
“That’s what we want our identity to be, blocking shots and making those
sacrifices that go with a full team effort,” Gionta said after the Canadiens
defeated the Washington Capitals 4-1 Thursday night at the Verizon
Center.
“We had a couple of big penalty kills and (defencemen Alexei Emelin) had a
couple of big blocks on those kills, so that’s what we want our identity to
be.”
Blocked shots played a major role in the Canadiens’ second consecutive
win. There were the blocks when the Capitals had the man advantage and
there were also two key blocks by Raphael Diaz when Capitals were
pressing to get on the scoresheet after falling behind 2-0 in the second
period.
“After the blocks, I was on the boards and I saw Gio going down the ice and
I just wanted to chip the puck out,” Diaz said. “It had been a long shift for
(Josh Gorges) and me and we going were going off the ice for a change but
(Rene Bourque) used his speed to get the puck and get it to Gio.”
Bourque, who was a disappointment last season after he was acquired from
Calgary in a trade for Michael Cammalleri, has been a different player this
season and he showed his determination in running down the loose puck.
“That’s the difference this year, the little things like (Bourque) just powering
through the guy and winning the battle,” Gionta said. “The good thing is that
we’re playing on our toes and we’re forcing them. When we gave (the
Capitals) a little bit, we started to back off, but we’re trying to work toward
that 60-minute effort. The last two games, we’ve done a pretty good job of
that.”
“We see on the ice that we are supporting each other, offensively and
defensively,” said Diaz, who could laugh at the fact that he’s the team’s
leading scorer with five assists. “It’s a lot of fun to play like that. The
forwards are coming back to help and that makes it easy for us on defence.
Pricey played a hell of a game again.”
Carey Price is reclaiming his spot as one of the NHL’s elite goaltenders. He
has allowed only four goals in three games and has erased any concerns
that he would be rusty after not seeing any meaningful action during the
lockout.
“He’s been phenomenal since Day One and he reported, first of all, in great
shape,” coach Michel Therrien said. “He gives us a huge chance every
night to win the hockey game and he’s playing terrific.”
Diaz, who is in his second season in the NHL, said the players are
determined not to repeat last season, when the Canadiens were dead last
in the Eastern Conference.
“I think we learned a lot from last year,” Diaz said. “We stick to the system
and we play from period to period. There’s still a long way to go, but we’ve
improved from game to game.”
There were also questions about Andrei Markov’s health after missing most
of the past two seasons, but he said: “I’ve never felt better.”
His play on the ice reflects that. He had a goal and an assist on the power
play and has three goals in the past two games.
“It’s good to score, but more importantly it’s another team win,” Markov
said.
Therrien is a great believer that special teams win games and he was
happy to see the two power-play goals in the second period.
“We were also pretty solid 5-on-5 and at the time we needed the penalty
kills, guys sacrificed themselves to kill those penalties so it was a good
team effort," he said.
652576
Montreal Canadiens
Canadiens roast Capitals 4-1
WASHINGTON — The Canadiens broke open a scoreless game with two
power-play goals early in the second period and went on to defeat the
Washington Capitals 4-1 Thursday night at the Verizon Center.
The win boosted the Canadiens' record to 2-1; the Capitals are winless in
three games.
The Canadiens were enjoying a 5-on-3 advantage when Tomas Plekanec
opened the scoring at 3:47. Michal Neuvirth left a long rebound on a shot by
Raphael Diaz. Andrei Markov corralled the loose puck in the slot and found
Plekanec to the left of the goalie.
Markov took advantage of another rebound to make it 2-0 with his third goal
of the season at 4:44. Neuvirth stopped Max Pacioretty's shot but failed to
control the rebound.
Brian Gionta upped the count to 3-0 at 8:39 on a sequence which began
with a stellar defensive performance by Raphael Diaz. The Swiss
defenceman blocked two shots and then cleared the puck out of the
Montreal zone. Rene Bourque chased the puck into the corner and found
Gionta in front.
The second period ended with Josh Gorges beating Neuvirth with a shot
from the point at 18:41.
Carey Price made 30 saves but lost his shutout bid when Joey Crabb
scored with 2:23 remaining in the third period. He has allowed only three
goals in his three starts.
Both goaltenders came up big while playing shorthanded in the scoreless
first period. Mathieu Perreault took a tripping penalty in the first period and
Neuvirth had to make five saves, including one on rookie Alex Galchenyuk.
The Canadiens found themselves a man short when Ryan White was called
for holding at 16:15 and Price stopped drives by Alex Ovechkin and Mike
Green.
652577
Montreal Canadiens
About last night …
Posted by Mike Boone
An early season math problem:
nit-pick at what we’ve seen in two wins, White’s penalties have not been
wise and might prove costly against teams more dangerous than Florida
and Washington.
Man, the Caps are a mess. Winless in three starts, a woeful D corps, Alex
Ovechkin looking lost. We should have known something, apart from
Republicans, was rotten in Washington when Dale Hunter decided he
preferred London …. Ontario.
The Canadiens lost all four games to the Caps a year ago. They were shut
out twice and scored a grand total of three goals.
If PP-P.K.=5g, how many $$$ for the MIA D?
This season’s Habs pumped four past Michal Neuvirth in 15 minutes. And
this despite a top line that is off to a slow start.
For the second consecutive game, the Canadiens power play scored goals
in 5-on-3 and 5-on-4 situations.
David Desharnais, Erik Cole and Max Pacioretty carried the Canadiens last
season. It’s early, but they are overdue for a breakout game.
In neither case – nor during any of the man advantages that did not
produce goals – was P.K. Subban notable by his absence.
If the lethargy persists, Therrien the tinkerer may be tempted to switch
Pacioretty and Bourque, mainly as a way to get Max-Pac off the schneid.
It’s only three games.
The coach has another decision to make on his third line. Brandon Prust
has been terrific, and I like the way he jumped on Matt Hendricks. Brendan
Gallagher should be around for a while, but the Canadiens have two more
games before they have to make a decision on Alex Galchenyuk.
But your Montreal Canadiens are doing just fine without their holdout.
For now – and maybe for a while – the pressure is off rookie general
manager Marc Bergevin.
Public opinion in Montreal has turned against Subban – largely because the
Canadiens are playing solid team hockey under a coach who has done a
superb job, so far, of fine-tuning his team.
Example: In the season-opening loss to the Leafs, Tomas Kaberle played
20 minutes, including 6:25 on a power-play that was ineffectual. Against
Washington, Kaberle’s ToI was 14:40. His time with a man-advantage was
3:55, and Kaberle was not on for power-play goals scored by Tomas
Plekanec and Andrei Markov.
One game was enough for Therrien to realize that Markov and Kaberle
were not working as a point combination on the power-play. Enter Raphael
Diaz, who came to camp as the Canadiens’ sixth defenceman … and the
Swiss sophomore would have been seventh on the depth chart if Subban
had showed up.
Diaz played 14:49 against Toronto, 18:06 in the win over Florida and 20:28
against the Capitals. His steady performance at the point and ability to
deliver accurate shots toward the net have freed up Markov to become the
kind of power-play weapon he was before his knee surgeries. On
L’Antichambre, Mario Tremblay compared Diaz to Brian Rafalski.
So credit Therrien 2.0 with running a fluid meritocracy in which ability and
hard work are rewarded with ice time.
It took the coach two periods against Toronto to realize that Alex
Galchenyuk was not the ideal left winger on the Plekanec-Gionta line. Enter
Rene Bourque, whose physical presence and non-stop motor (the latter is
something we didn’t see last season) have turned the trio into the team’s
best line.
It’s early, but I sense the players are buying into the Therrien system. The
Canadiens look happy, cohesive and confident – in contrast to a year ago,
when injuries, blown leads and a ceaseless off-ice Gong Show sapped the
team’s morale.
A new season – and a revival of the Markov of old – has brought improved
special teams. And the 2013 campaign was two games and almost 58
minutes of a third before the Canadiens surrendered an even-strength goal.
Carey Price was superb again with 30 saves against the Caps. He is being
well protected by six defencemen who hit, block shots, clear the zone
efficiently and regularly join the rush.
Markov has been a revelation and Diaz a surprise, but the Canadiens are
also getting superb work from Josh Gorges (10 blocked shots through three
games), Francis Bouillon and Alexei Emelin, who is blossoming in his
pairing with Markov.
Now if P.K. signs …
That would send Kaberle to the pressbox, where he can keep Lars Eller
company.
When New Jersey visits the Bell Centre on Sunday, I wonder if Therrien will
be tempted to bring Eller back, sticking him on the fourth line while Ryan
White takes an evening off from residency in the penalty box. If you want to
I think the kid is a can’t miss prospect, and we’ve seen flashes of the talent
that’s going to make him a star. But Galchenyuk played 12:33 in
Washington. He may need more ToI to develop.
On the other hand, the kid has logged more minutes this season than that
guy sitting at home in Toronto.
652578
Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators lose by shutout to St. Louis Blues
Josh Cooper
ST. LOUIS — Predators coach Barry Trotz warned of the impending “battle”
Thursday night at the Scottrade Center the morning before Nashville’s
game at the Blues.
“You have to put the war paint,” Trotz said.
The Blues heeded Trotz advice with sound and physical defense and
opportunistic offense. The Predators lacked the punch necessary to fight
back in a 3-0 loss.
The defeat for Nashville (1-1-2) was the Predators’ first in regulation of the
regular season. The game was Nashville’s second of a seven-game 15-day
roadtrip. The Predators are 1-1-0 in this stretch. Nashville will head to
Anaheim next for the start of the West Coast part of the trip before finishing
it off here on Feb. 5. The Blues beat Nashville in a shootout Monday.
Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne made 21 saves in the loss. St. Louis
netminder Jaroslav Halak made 13 stops in the victory.
It was the second dominating win for the Blues at home against a Central
Division foe. In their opener, they allowed just 14 shots on goal to the
Detroit Red Wings in a shut out. Last season, St. Louis defeated Nashville
just once in six games.
Blues rookie forward Vladimir Tarasenko put an exclamation point on the
win when he snuck in off a change and fired a shot past Rinne with 10:56
left in the third. This made it 3-0. Nashville had a pair of power plays at the
start of the frame but couldn’t convert.
The Blues padded their lead in the second period on a penalty shot.
Forward Patrik Berglund came in on a breakaway and was impeded by
Predators center Mike Fisher. The referee called a penalty shot, and on the
ensuing play Berglund wristed a forehand high, stick side on Rinne. This
put the score at 2-0 in favor of the Blues with 10:34 left in the second.
Blues forward T.J. Oshie put St. Louis ahead near the end of the first
period. Oshie scored off a scrum in front of the Nashville net to give St.
Louis a 1-0 lead with 7:01 left in the frame.
Tennessean LOADED: 01.25.2013
652579
Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators notebook: St. Louis Blues score on penalty shot
Josh Cooper
BLUES 3, PREDATORS 0
JOSH COOPER’S THREE STARS
1. Patrik Berglund, Blues, F: Scored a goal, added an assist.
2. T.J. Oshie, Blues, F: Scored an important first period goal.
3. Jaroslav Halak, Blues, G: Made 13 saves in a shutout.
SCRATCHES
Predators: D Jonathon Blum, F Brian McGrattan, F Paul Gaustad
Blues: F Jamie Langenbrunner, D Ian Cole, F Matt D’Agostini
ST. LOUIS – Patrik Berglund’s second period penalty shot goal didn’t
change any momentum in the Blues’ favor.
Despite being up only 1-0, St. Louis was dominating the Predators at that
point. If anything, the Blues forward’s score put the game even more out of
reach for Nashville at 2-0.
“It was one of those things, I have to make the save to keep us in the
game,” goaltender Pekka Rinne said. “It would have been 1-0 going into the
third without that. It was disappointing, he just got it past me.”
On the play that caused the penalty shot, Berglund raced in on Rinne with
Predators forward Mike Fisher on the backcheck. Fisher tried to swipe at
the puck, which knocked Berglund off balance, enough for the referee to
give Berglund the penalty shot opportunity.
“I did get a piece of the puck, I think he just tripped up himself,” Fisher said.
“It didn’t look like I got enough of him, but that’s the way it goes. That’s a
tough one for the ref to make. That didn’t make the whole game but would
have held us in a little longer.”
On the penalty shot, Berglund wristed the puck high to Rinne’s stick side.
Redden returns: Blues defenseman Wade Redden made his return to the
NHL on Thursday after a two-year AHL banishment. Redden played 17:23
and took a penalty.
The Blues signed Redden, 35, to a one-year pro-rated $800,000 contract
last week in hopes the former NHL All-Star could rediscover his game.
Redden played the last two seasons with the New York Rangers’ AHL
affiliate so New York wouldn’t have to be responsible for his massive salary
cap hit. In 2008, the Rangers signed Redden to a six-year, $39 million
contract. He never scored more than three goals in a season with New
York.
“I was pretty happy, obviously, with the game,” Redden said. “We played a
pretty solid one, it was a nice one to mix in to and be a part of. It's been a
long time coming so it was nice to get one under my belt and get a win.”
Another shutout: The Blues shutout of Nashville was their second straight
on home ice – dating back to last season. St. Louis shut out Nashville 3-0 at
the Scottrade Center on March 27, 2012 in their last game here.
Gaustad out: Predators forward Paul Gaustad missed his third straight
game with an “upper body” injury. Trotz said Gaustad was “probable” for
Nashville’s Saturday game at Anaheim.
Long trip: The Predators will practice in St. Louis on Friday before traveling
to Anaheim later in the day. Nashville’s game against the Ducks on
Saturday is at 9:30 p.m. central time.
Tennessean LOADED: 01.25.2013
652580
Nashville Predators
Predators struggle to get shots, let alone goals in loss
Staff reports
The Nashville Predators had a hard enough time creating any shots for
themselves Thursday.
The last thing they needed to do, therefore, was to give the St. Louis Blues
a free one. Yet that is exactly what they did.
Blues center Patrik Berglund scored on a second-period penalty shot and
the Predators were outshot 24-13 in a 3-0 defeat at St. Louis.
It was the first time Nashville was held scoreless since March 27, 2012 —
also at St. Louis and the lowest shot total since it had 12 at Edmonton on
Oct. 17, 2011, the fifth game of last season.
Mike Fisher registered the first shot of the contest, 12 seconds after the
opening faceoff, but it was more than 16 minutes before the Predators (1-12) got another. In between the Blues got six to the Nashville net, the last of
which was from T.J. Oshie and became the game’s first goal at 12:59 of the
opening period.
The shots were 9-3 in favor of St. Louis after one period and 20-7 through
two.
No Nashville player finished with more than two shots on goal.
Berglund, who had an assist on Oshie’s goal, made it 2-0 with his penalty
shot after Fisher hooked him at 9:26 of the second period, and Vladimir
Tarasenko closed out the scoring with a power play goal at 9:04 of the third
period, his second goal in as many games against the Predators this
season.
Nashville continues its seven-game road trip, which started Tuesday at
Minnesota, on Saturday at Anaheim (9:30 p.m., Fox Sports-Tennessee).
Nashville City Paper LOADED: 01.25.2013
652581
New Jersey Devils
“Every team has great ‘D’ men,” Salvador said. “If you’re in the NHL, you
can play the game. What we see on our team is the chemistry we have with
each other. Half the battle is being comfortable with your role.”
Devils might just be a better team than they were last season
4. A taste often wets the appetite: Coming two wins away from the Cup is a
motivating factor for this team.
Rich Chere/
“We haven’t even played our best hockey. We’ve found ways to win early
on,” Zajac said. “It helps that this group of guys was together last year.
Also, we didn’t end the season the way we wanted, but it was a successful
season. It gave us a taste of the Finals. You realize how exciting it is and
you want to get there again.”
Prognosticators did not give the Devils much respect heading into this
lockout-shortened season.
Their trip to the Stanley Cup Finals last year, you’d be led to believe, was
either a fluke or Zach Parise took all the magic with him when he left for
Minnesota.
But perhaps this Devils team was shortchanged by the experts. While it is
far too early to tell, there are some who believe it may be better than last
season’s squad, and that’s saying a lot.
The Devils have a chance to open a season with a 3-0 record for the first
time since 2002-03 and for only the second time in 16 seasons if they can
emerge with a victory over Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals
tomorrow night at the Prudential Center.
“I don’t see a reason why we couldn’t get to the level of last season,” goalie
Martin Brodeur said. “We have most of the same guys and a similar system.
We’ve made a minor tweak here or there. I think everybody is on the same
page.
“We’ve played two teams—one young team and one that is tough to play—
and we were able to handle them pretty good. It’s early to tell because we
didn’t face everybody yet but I think we feel comfortable playing against
anybody.”
Here are five good reasons why these Devils might be better than the 201112 version:
1. A second season under Pete DeBoer: The players are familiar with his
system and they believe what he says.
“I think experiencing the success we did last year put some confidence in
everyone,” captain Bryce Salvador said. “If we play the game plan we can
have success with it. Whatever that success is, we’ll see. The most
important (lesson) from last year was when we all stuck to the system we
got rewarded.
“It doesn’t matter what system you play. It could be the best system or the
worst system. When everyone buys in and you have success with it, it
becomes the best system.”
As in the lockout-shortened 1995 season.
“Think about it,” Brodeur pointed out. “In 1993-94 we had a season to learn
the system under Jacques Lemaire. The next year we were used to it and
we were able to do what we did. This is a similar situation. We just learned
a system and now most of the guys are used to it. It’s good, I think,
especially in a short season.”
2. Travis Zajac: Sure, Parise is gone. But Zajac (two goals in two games) is
healthy and signed to a new long-term contract extension.
“He’s been great,” DeBoer said. “We missed him last year when he was out
for the entire season. He’s a motivated guy. Contracts don’t motivate
Travis. He loves to play. He really missed the game, I think, last year.”
There is a reason he’s the first-line center.
“He’s a really good player. Lou (Lamoriello) is a hockey guy. You don’t
reward a guy here on a gamble,” Brodeur suggested. “The best players on
your team, the smartest players to a certain extent, are the guys who play
center. So when you are missing a guy like that with a big body, knows how
to do things well and wins faceoffs, it’s a big advantage to have him back.
“Last year we played without him for a long time. When he came back, it’s
funny how we were so steady. Wingers do have responsibilities, but the
centerman is the guy who really carries the load offensively and
defensively. If he doesn’t win that draw to start the play, we’re playing
defense.”
3. A deep, experienced corps of defensemen: They look better on the ice
than on paper. One key is that Marek Zidlicky, acquired late last season, is
here all year.
5. The restless GM: Lamoriello often makes a key trade at the deadline and
this year will be no different. But that’s April 3. Right now the Devils are
looking for a start that will disprove the non-believers.
“I felt I knew what we had,” DeBoer said of this squad. “There were some
intangibles there that I didn’t have a handle on: How good condition we
were going to be in? How quickly could we get up to game speed?
“With the number of returning players and the buy-in to the system I knew
was going to be there. To these guys’ credit, they came back in fantastic
shape and really have answered all those questions. We have gotten
ourselves, I think, on track as quickly or quicker than a lot of teams. That’s
why we’ve been successful early.”
Star Ledger LOADED: 01.25.2013
652582
New Jersey Devils
Devils' Martin Brodeur says he didn't embellish Wayne Simmonds hit
Rich Chere/
Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said he didn't embellish the goalie interference
penalty called against Wayne Simmonds Tuesday night and disputes
suggestions by the Flyers forward that he did.
“No. I’m on my knees and the guy hits me. He looks at me and crosschecks me," Brodeur told The Star-Ledger today. "It’s funny how he was
prepared when everyone jumped at him. If I embellished it, why was he
worried about getting his butt kicked?"
Simmonds was quoted as saying: "I didn't hit him too hard. I just kind of
gave him a little push. I thought he over-exaggerated it. I was trying to get a
little scrum going there. It worked.
"He's one of the best goalies who ever played. I think he can do whatever
he wants in this league."
Brodeur said there was no acting on his part.
“For sure when they show it on super slow-motion it doesn’t look too good.
Even I think that," the goalie said. "But he actually hit me right under my
arm. As a goalie, I never expect to get hit, so when I do get hit, most of the
time I’ll lose my balance or fall because I don’t expect people to touch me.”
*Coach Pete DeBoer tweaked his lines today, moving Mattias Tedenby up
to left wing on the first line and dropped Dainius Zubrus to the second unit.
“We did that today. I’m not sure what we’ll go with tomorrow, so that’s
definitely not in stone,” DeBoer insisted.
What does he expect from Tedenby if he stays alongside Travis Zajac and
Ilya Kovalchuk?
“That’s the question,” DeBoer said. “I guess what I’m looking for is
consistency in his game. His effort is always there. You never get a B-level
effort out of him. But you’re looking for that consistency at both ends of the
rink where a coach trusts putting you on the ice on a regular basis.”
Kovalchuk said: “Teddy is an unpredictable player. He’s quick, fun to play
with. I played a little with him and J.J. (Jacob Josefson) last year and I think
we did pretty good. New blood is always good. He’ll bring some creativity.
Defensively we just have to talk and make sure we don’t give up anything.”
Tedenby knows this would be a good opportunity.
“Of course. Two skilled, top players. Of course it’s a good thing. I’m happy
to play with Kovy and Trav,” he said.
Does he feel a breakout is near?
“I don’t think about it,”he said. “I just try to play my best every game. I don’t
try to do something special. Just play easy and play my game. If I make a
mark, I make a mark.”
*Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov feels the the NHL got it right by
suspending Flyers forward Brayden Schenn one game for his nonpenalized hit during the second period Tuesday night.
“It was probably the right suspension,” Volchenkov said. “At first I thought it
was a pretty good body check, but after I saw it (on a replay) I saw him
jump. There are rules.”
Schenn was suspended after a telephone hearing with Brendan Shanahan
yesterday.
*Capitals coach Adam Oates has been experimenting with Alex Ovechkin at
right wing. It brings to mind the Devils’ moving Ilya Kovalchuk from left wing
to the right side.
“Stealing our ideas,” DeBoer joked. “I think moving Kovy was partially his
idea here last year. A big part was his idea.”
Why did the Devils move Kovy?
“When you’re playing your proper side, you’re back isn’t to the play in all
zones. You’re facing the play defensively and offensively a lot more than
when you’re playing on your off-side.
“And this is a league where coaches find tendencies. If you do the same
thing, or score from the same area year after year, eventually those things
get closed down. You see it every year. (Steven) Stamkos had 25 goals on
the power play 3-4 years ago and mostly from one spot. A year later you’re
at 12 or 15. That’s what the coaching at this level does. You have to get
creative with your best players and find different ways to get looks at the
net.”
DeBoer never considered moving Kovalchuk back to left wing.
“No. We went to the Stanley Cup Finals and he was fifth in the league in
scoring. Why would we mess with that?”
DeBoer said of Oates: "I got a great deal of stuff from Oatsie last year. How
we play is a combination of all the coaches we had here last year. We
tweaked things throughout the year based on different opinions, whether it
was Larry (Robinson), Oatsie or Dave Barr. What we ended up with,
worked. I anticipate we'll see a lot of similar things (with the Capitals under
Oates)."
*Krys Barch skated on the fourth line in place of Cam Janssen.
“He might (play),” DeBoer said. “We’ve won two in a row, so any changes
you make you’re not going to make lightly. I still have to get to know Barch
as a player. (Janssen and Barch) play similar styles. They’re energy guys,
good team guys and they both bring that physical element. I think they’re
similar players.”
Barch was signed as a free agent July 10 after splitting last season with
Dallas and Florida. He has 304 career NHL games, mostly with the Stars.
“I don’t make assumptions but I’m in (a fourth-line jersey), I guess,” Barch
said. “You prepare the same way. You want to help the team continue their
ways of getting two points every night.
“It is special when you play for a new team. You kind of want to start that
sacrifice for the guy beside you. That’s on;y experienced through time. You
have to put that time in and gain your teammate’s trust and the
organization’s trust. You don’t want to get over-excited.”
652583
New Jersey Devils
Devils: Mattias Tedenby replaces Dainius Zubrus on first line
Rich Chere
Mattias Tedenby was moved up to the first line with Travis Zajac and Ilya
Kovalchuk today for Devils practice in the AmeriHealth Pavilion.
Dainius Zubrus took Tedenby's spot on the second line with Patrik Elias and
David Clarkson.
Krys Barch stepped in on the fourth line in place of Cam Janssen.
Everyone skated today. Adam Henrique continues to skate on his own
before practices.
LInes:
Tedenby-Zajac-Kovalchuk
Zubrus-Elias-Clarkson
Ryan Carter- Stephen Gionta- Steve Bernier
Stefan Matteau-Jacob Josefson-Barch
Extras: Mathieu Darche- Janssen
Defense:
Bryce Salvador- Marek Zidlicky
Andy Greene- Mark Fayne
Henrik Tallinder- Anton Volchenkov
Adam Larsson- Peter Harrold
652584
New Jersey Devils
Defense gives Devils an edge
By TOM GULITTI
NEWARK – Two wins in two games, even in a lockout-shortened, 48-game
schedule, is still way too small a sample for the Devils to feel too good
about themselves.
They know there are obstacles to overcome as they continue to ease their
way into the season tonight against the Washington Capitals at Prudential
Center. But, as they shake off the rust following the four-month work
stoppage and get used to life without Zach Parise, they have a foundation
to fall back on that they believe gives them an advantage.
Although scoring goals might still prove to be struggle, their defense from
the team that went to the Stanley Cup Finals last season is intact. And only
one player – 18-year-old rookie Stefan Matteau – came to camp not already
well-schooled in the more aggressive, forechecking system that coach Pete
DeBoer installed last season.
That continuity is probably the biggest reason they have a chance tonight to
open a season 3-0-0 for the first time since 2002-03. It’s also a big factor —
combined with the stellar goaltending of the ageless Martin Brodeur — in
them allowing only one goal in their first two games.
"Last year to start with was a new coach, new system, it took us a while to
get it and now we just jump right into it because everybody knows it,"
defenseman Henrik Tallinder said. "So, it should – should – be an
advantage for us."
For a team that had the same head coach in consecutive seasons only
once between the 2004-05 lockout and this season’s work stoppage, the
stability could not have come at a better time. Having needed about three
months to get comfortable with DeBoer’s system last season, they can’t
imagine what it would be like to have to do that in this season with only 48
instead of 82 games to work with.
The Capitals are experiencing that under their first-year coach Adam Oates
— a Devils assistant the last two seasons. With Oates making changes to
their system, the Capitals are 0-3-0 after a 4-1 loss to the Canadiens on
Thursday.
After years of playing a more passive system, particularly with their
defensemen, Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador doesn’t believe the team
would have been able to make the adjustment to DeBoer’s system in a
shortened season like this one.
"You couldn’t do it," Salvador said. "It takes a good 15, 20 games just for
everyone to get onboard with that. … If you’re a team that’s just trying to do
it and, 15, 20 games in, if you haven’t figured it out or you’re not executing
or having everyone buy in or you have a little bit of doubt, then you’re in
trouble."
The Devils may never match the quality of the defense they boasted from
1999-2000 through 2002-03, when they went to the Stanley Cup Finals
three times in four seasons and won twice. Those teams had Hall of Famer
Scott Stevens (now a Devils assistant coach), future Hall of Famer Scott
Niedermayer, Brian Rafalski, Ken Daneyko and Colin White in their
defensive corps.
As Brodeur notes, for the first time since that run, the Devils have stability
on their defense. All eight defensemen on the roster – Salvador, Tallinder,
Marek Zidlicky, Anton Volchenkov, Andy Greene, Mark Fayne, Adam
Larsson and Peter Harrold – played for the team last season. Five of the six
who played in the first two games are in at least their third consecutive
season in New Jersey.
"You just feel more comfortable when you’re used to them," Brodeur said.
"Regardless of the quality of the guy, for me it’s just tendencies that help
me read plays. So, you feel a lot more comfortable when you know a lot
more about them."
Bergen Record LOADED: 01.25.2013
652585
New Jersey Devils
Devils’ Zajac looks to step it up
By ZACH BRAZILLER
One big contract and suddenly Travis Zajac is a big talker.
“I’m just trying to, maybe, take my game to another level,” he said after
practice Thursday.
For the Devils soft-spoken first-line center, that’s akin to guaranteeing the
Stanley Cup.
Zajac is unassuming and humble. He refused to single himself out for the
team’s high hopes or his big postseason last spring, pointing to all the
winning teammates surrounding him.
The eight-year, $46 million deal he recently inked was a relief because it
has let him focus solely on hockey and not have to worry about one day
joining the legion of young Devils stars who left for big paydays.
Zajac, 27, has gotten off to a fast start, with goals in each of the Devils’ first
two games, both wins, promising production for New Jersey after losing top
scorer Zach Parise to Minnesota. The Devils play host to the Capitals
Friday night [7 p.m., MSG. WBBR (1130 AM)]
Zajac’s strength always has been his all-around play as a two-way pivot, his
strength on the penalty kill as much as his ability to set up his linemates and
beat opposing goaltenders.
Thus far, in a tiny sample size, he’s doing it all at a high level.
“He’s always been good defensively, his compete level is always good, the
next level for him is a true No. 1 center in the NHL,” Devils coach Pete
DeBoer said. “There’s probably only a dozen to 15 of those guys. That’s the
elite level I think that’s he’s looking to get to, and I don’t see any reason he
can’t get to that group.”
Zajac said he is thrilled just playing full time after missing all but 15 regularseason games last winter with a torn Achilles tendon. He enjoyed a
breakout postseason, with seven goals and seven assists, during the
Devils’ run to the Stanley Cup.
Parise’s departure to Minnesota has cast more of a light on Zajac, which he
has accepted, in his own way.
“I’m still going to play the same way, not going to change anything,” he said.
“I know what I have to do to be successful.”Tonight’s game will be a reunion
when former Devils assistant coach Adam Oates, now the Capitals’ head
coach after three years in New Jersey, returns to the Prudential Center.
Like the Devils did with Ilya Kovalchuk last season, Oates has toyed with
moving sniper Alex Ovechkin from left wing to right wing to create more
scoring chances. “He’s stealing our moves,” DeBoer said with a smile. “I
anticipate we’ll se a lot of similar things.” DeBoer made some alterations to
his top lines during practice, flipping left wing Danius Zubris to the second
line and replacing the veteran with 22-year-old Swede Mattias Teddenby on
the first line alongside Kovalchuk and Zajac. Also, free agent pickup Krys
Barch, a healthy scratch in the team’s first two games, skated on the fourth
line in place of Cam Janssen. DeBoer wouldn’t commit to those changes,
however, for Friday night.
New York Post LOADED: 01.25.2013
652586
New York Islanders
Moulson, Grabner Rally Isles to Win Over Leafs
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TORONTO (AP) — Matt Moulson and the New York Islanders needed a
little time to get up to full speed.
The forward scored twice in his 248th straight NHL game, helping the
Islanders overcome an early two-goal deficit in a 7-4 victory over the
Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.
"I had a bunch of chances the last couple of games, but couldn't get
anything to go in," Moulson said. "I just have to keep whacking away in front
of the net. A lot of credit to my linemates for working hard and creating
chances for me."
Moulson, in his fifth NHL season and fourth with the Islanders, has yet to
miss a game with New York. Only Billy Harris (576 games), Bob Nystrom
(301) and Denis Potvin (262) have played in more consecutive contests in
club history.
New York (2-1) trailed 3-1 after the first period, but gained momentum by
killing off a late two-man disadvantage. After tying it with two goals in the
second, the Islanders took control by scoring four times in the third in the
opener of a five-game, eight-day trip.
"Killing that (5-on-3) penalty when we were down 3-1 late in the first period,
you could look at that as a turning point for us," said Islanders forward Brad
Boyes, who had a goal against his former team. "If they get one there, it's
probably a much different game."
Toronto (2-2) fell to 0-2 on home ice this season and returned to the Air
Canada Centre following a solid 5-2 road victory in Pittsburgh on
Wednesday night. But that didn't impress some among the ACC gathering
of 19,125 who began chanting "Let's go Blue Jays!" with 2:40 remaining.
"I think we saw one team last night and a totally different team tonight,"
Toronto coach Randy Carlyle said. "We were out of it, we were out of sync.
"I thought the first period was more a shinny period of hockey. We were
skating but we weren't really engaged in the game. We managed to get a 31 lead out of it but really the last 7, 8 minutes of the first period was the start
of the way we finished the game."
Toronto was 0 for 5 on the power play, going 0 for 2 with two-man
advantages for a combined 52 seconds.
"It's huge, it usually comes back to haunt you," Carlyle said. "It you don't
score on your 5-on-3 at some point in the game usually momentum is going
to turn in favor of the opposition.
"They get life from it and it sucks life from you."
Michael Grabner also had two goals for New York, and Mark Streit and
Keith Aucoin added goals.
Carl Gunnarsson, Nazem Kadri, Mikhail Grabovski and Matt Frattin scored
for Toronto.
Grabner gave New York a 4-3 lead at 3:27 of the third, firing a wrist shot
past Ben Scrivens for his second of the season before Aucoin scored his
first just 1:08 later to put the Islanders ahead 5-3. That was it for Scrivens,
who allowed five goals on 20 shots in his third start of the season.
"I was seeing the puck well and in good position," Scrivens said.
"Sometimes those things happen.
"You just have to focus on the process and keep playing games the way I
feel I can and should play. It's a journey ... it's the only way you can look at
it. It's another learning experience and it's a tough one to swallow but I'll
take what I can from it."
Scrivens was replaced by James Reimer, who got the win in Pittsburgh. But
Reimer was beaten cleanly by Moulson on a wrist shot at 11:20 for his
second.
The Islanders were playing for the first time since beating Tampa Bay 4-3
on Monday night.
NOTES: Frattin had eight goals and seven assists in 58 games for Toronto
last season. ... The Islanders are in Boston on Friday night for the first of
their seven back-to-back sets this season.
New York Times LOADED: 01.25.2013
652587
New York Islanders
Four-Goal Third Period Lifts Islanders Over Leafs
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Matt Moulson and Michael Grabner scored two goals each, helping the
Islanders rally for a 7-4 road victory Thursday over the Toronto Maple
Leafs.
Moulson had one of four third-period goals for the Islanders (2-1), who
overcame a 3-1 first-period deficit. Grabner scored both of his goals in the
third, including a short-handed, empty-net one at 18 minutes 50 seconds.
Toronto (2-2) fell to 0-2 at home. Frustrated fans chanted “Let’s go, Blue
Jays” with 2:40 remaining.
With the score tied, 3-3, Grabner gave the Islanders a lead at 3:23 of the
third, firing a wrist shot past Ben Scrivens for his second goal of the season.
Keith Aucoin scored his first about a minute later to put the Islanders ahead,
5-3.
Matt Frattin had a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs, hours after he
was recalled from the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.
BLACKHAWKS 3, STARS 2 Marian Hossa scored his league-leading fifth
goal 1:41 into overtime, giving Chicago (4-0) a comeback victory over host
Dallas (2-1-1).
With the Blackhawks on a power play, Hossa fired a one-timer from the slot
past goalie Kari Lehtonen.
CANADIENS 4, CAPITALS 1 Andrei Markov continued his resurgence with
a goal and an assist, helping Montreal beat host Washington. The Capitals
are 0-3 for the first time in nearly two decades.
Finally healthy after twice tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right
knee, Markov was part of a four-goal spree by the Canadiens (2-1) in the
second period.
HURRICANES 6, SABRES 3 Eric Staal scored three goals, Jeff Skinner
added two, and host Carolina (1-2) beat Buffalo (2-1).
SENATORS 3, PANTHERS 1 Erik Karlsson scored the go-ahead goal
midway through the second period, helping Ottawa (3-0) defeat host Florida
(1-3).
BLUES 3, PREDATORS 0 Patrik Berglund scored on a penalty shot as host
St. Louis (3-1) shut out Nashville (1-1-2).
AVALANCHE 4, BLUE JACKETS 0 Matt Duchene scored two goals and set
up another, Semyon Varlamov made 33 saves, and host Colorado (2-1)
routed Columbus (1-2-1).
LEAFS’ LUPUL BREAKS FOREARM Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul will
miss at least six weeks because of a broken forearm.
Lupul was injured Wednesday during Toronto’s 5-2 win at Pittsburgh. He
was in front of the net during a power play when he was hit by a slap shot.
652588
New York Islanders
New Jersey cop assaulted after last year’s ‘Winter Classic’ between
Rangers and Flyers files suit against attacker
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
The New Jersey police officer who was assaulted in front of a Philadelphia
steak joint following last year’s “Winter Classic” between the Rangers and
Flyers filed a civil suit Thursday against one of his attackers.
Neal Auricchio Jr., 31, who works in Woodbridge New Jersey, filed the sixcount complaint against Dennis Veteri, who was sentenced to house arrest
and probation, according to The Star-Ledger.
In a news conference, Auricchi said he was “angry and upset about the
sentencing. The main goal today is justice.”
Auricchio not only suing Veteri, he’s also going after the South Philly Bar
and Grill, which is where Veteri watched the hockey game and paid a bar
bill of over $200 20 minutes for the attack.
Auricchio is seeking damages of more than $50,000 from Veteri and the
bar, which he claims violated Pennsylvania’s liquor laws by serving Veteri
after he was visibly drunk.
A Marine veteran who was shot in Iraq, Auricchio and his friend, Michael
Janocko — who were both wearing Rangers jerseys — went to the game
and then headed to Geno’s Steaks.
A cellphone video captured three men in Flyers jersey beating Auricchi and
Janocko and surfaced on the Internet.
“All I simply wanted to do was enjoy a hockey game and some cheese
steaks that day,” Auricchi said Wednesday.
Neither Veteri’s attorney nor the owners of the South Philly Bar and Grill
returned calls seeking comment.
— With the Associated Press
New York Daily News LOADED: 01.25.2013
652589
New York Islanders
Matt Moulson, Michael Grabner lead Islanders' goalfest
By ARTHUR STAPLE
TORONTO -- The Islanders gave up plenty in the first period last night -plenty of space, plenty of rebounds and plenty of goals to the Leafs.
They got it all back and then some, scoring five straight goals to kick off
their road trip with a 7-4 win over the Leafs.
A lousy first and a better second sent the Isles into the third period tied 3-3,
and they quickly untied it on a couple of goals that Leafs goaltender Ben
Scrivens would have wanted back.
Michael Grabner snapped a wrist shot from 35 feet, barely screened, that
gave the Isles their first lead at 3:23 of the third; Keith Aucoin scored his
first as an Islander 1:12 later from the high slot, sending Scrivens to the
bench.
Matt Moulson scored his first two goals of the season, Brad Boyes had a
goal and two assists, John Tavares had two assists for the second straight
game and Evgeni Nabokov rebounded from a sluggish first to make 40
saves.
The Isles got a big scare in the third, when Dion Phaneuf crunched Tavares
into the end boards with a clean hit that left the Isles star moving slowly.
Moulson deposited his second of the game as Matt Carkner and Kyle
Okposo both grabbed for Phaneuf, and Tavares got to the bench under his
own power.
The Leafs cut it to 6-4 and then nearly got within a goal with two minutes to
go, but Aucoin swept the puck off the goal line. Grabner scored into an
empty net shorthanded with 1:10 left for the seventh goal.
After a first period in which the Islanders looked sluggish, they were able to
turn the tables in the second and take advantage of the Leafs, who played,
and won, in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
A rare power play was the reason. Jack Capuano and his team surely recall
a home-and-home with the Leafs around this time last season when the
Isles went two games plus an overtime without getting a man advantage.
They were already halfway through last night's game without one when
Mikhail Grabovski went off for a new infraction this season, using his glove
to move the puck after a faceoff.
The Leafs dangled in the Isles' zone during the penalty kill, generating a
couple of chances, but a turnover gave the Isles a four-on-two that Mark
Streit finished off after a patient feed from Boyes along the wing. That goal
cut the deficit to 3-2 at 11:44 of the second, and marked a power-play goal
in all three games for the Islanders.
Just 1:26 later, Boyes tied it with his first goal as an Islander, a tip in front
from a feed by Frans Nielsen -- that goal came after the Leafs had won a
draw in their own zone, but Nielsen and Grabner dug around the side wall
to outwork three Leafs.
That efficient second period erased an awful first, from Nabokov on out.
The Leafs scored on their first shot of the night. Carl Gunnarsson's point
shot got by Nabokov as Joe Finley failed to keep Tyler Bozak from the top
of the crease.
Moulson tied it at 8:39, a gift goal after Scrivens and Phaneuf fumbled a
handoff, but the Leafs took the lead right back 1:05 later on Nazem Kadri's
goal from in front. At 12:48, Grabovski scored with a wrist shot when given
far too much room near the blue line.
Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652590
New York Islanders
Itinerant Keith Aucoin hopes Isles can be home
By ARTHUR STAPLE
TORONTO -- Keith Aucoin hasn't really had a permanent home in his
career -- the Islanders are the 12th pro team he's played for -- but when he
heard he was claimed on waivers by the Isles a week ago from the Leafs'
AHL affiliate here, he knew he finally might have the chance he's waited for.
"I know Jack [Capuano] from playing against his team a lot in the minors,
and I played with [assistant coach] Brent Thompson during the last lockout
[in 2004-05]," Aucoin said before Thursday night's game. "When you're in
my shoes, you wait for this kind of chance, to start a season with a team
and show what you can do."
Aucoin, 34, spent that full-season lockout with the Providence Bruins,
playing with Thompson, a veteran defenseman, and current Islander Brad
Boyes. The coach? Former Islanders coach Scott Gordon, now an assistant
with the Leafs.
Aucoin piled up points, as he usually does, for the Marlies of the AHL during
this season's lockout. He had 10 goals and 37 points in 34 games but
wasn't part of the Leafs' youth movement coming out of camp. He said it
was a bit strange to be right back in Toronto. But he did score his first goal
for the Islanders Thursday.
"This isn't really something I've had in my career either," said Aucoin, who
was named to the AHL All-Star Game but voluntarily stepped aside to give
a Marlies teammate a spot.
DiPietro's turn?
With the quick turnaround to face the Bruins in Boston Friday night, Rick
DiPietro almost certainly will make his season debut in goal. He hasn't won
in his hometown in five starts there dating to Jan. 11, 2007.
652591
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Puts End to Domination by Rangers
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
PHILADELPHIA — After one night’s respite, the Rangers are back in a
funk. They lost here Thursday to the Flyers, a team that entered the
evening missing three of its key players and was without a win in three
games this season.
The score was 2-1, and the Rangers’ record dropped to 1-3. They had
beaten the Flyers eight times in a row, dating to March 6, 2011.
The Rangers were listless through the first two periods and fell behind, 2-0,
after goals from Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek. They drew within
one when Taylor Pyatt buried a setup from Marian Gaborik on a power play
1 minute 39 seconds into the third period, Pyatt’s third goal in three games.
But they could not connect on a five-on-three advantage that lasted 1
minute 45 seconds midway through the period. Gone was the magic the
Rangers’ first line provided at Madison Square Garden in a 4-3 overtime
win over Boston on Wednesday, when Gaborik scored a hat trick and Brad
Richards and Rick Nash shredded the Bruins’ defense.
On Thursday in Philadelphia, those three managed only three shots on
Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. Henrik Lundqvist was the Rangers’ best
player, preventing a blowout as the Rangers were outshot, 33-19.
The Flyers were without the injured Scott Hartnell — out four to eight weeks
with a broken left foot — and Danny Briere, and the suspended Brayden
Schenn.
Rangers forward Chris Kreider was not part of the defeat after being
scratched from the lineup by Coach John Tortorella. Kris Newbury, called
up from Connecticut of the A.H.L., played in his place. Newbury started a
second-period fight that gave the Flyers a power play and led to Voracek’s
goal.
Last spring Kreider was on top of the world, signed by the Rangers fresh off
a second N.C.A.A. championship with Boston College. He scored five goals
in the Rangers’ run to the conference finals — all before playing a regularseason game in the N.H.L.
But just three games into his first N.H.L. regular season, Kreider stands on
the brink of demotion to the A.H.L., called out as an object of concern by his
coach.
“I trust the organization,” Kreider, 21, said after the morning skate Thursday
before the Flyers game. “I trust all the decisions that they make. I hope
they’ll make the right decision and will have my best interest in mind.”
Before the game, Tortorella said: “This is a situation where he wants to
help, and we want to help him. I think he understands where he’s at. He’s
just a kid, hasn’t even gone through an N.H.L. camp. The regular season is
a whole different ballgame as far as what you have to do.”
In three games this season, Kreider, a 6-foot-3 winger, has no points and a
minus-2 differential. But more discouraging was what Tortorella said about
Kreider’s performance in his postgame remarks Wednesday.
“He just hasn’t played well — I don’t know what the reason is,” Tortorella
said. Asked if he might send Kreider down to the A.H.L., Tortorella minced
no words.
“Sure, and it shouldn’t be a shock,” he said. “I’ve seen players ruined
because you put them in a situation and they just struggled and they don’t
succeed and they never come out of it. They’re done. They’re out of the
game. I do not want to see that happen to him.”
Kreider scored more playoff goals than any player in N.H.L. history who had
yet to make his regular-season debut. All through that storybook run,
Kreider emphasized that he assumed nothing about a permanent status
with the Rangers, that he was simply a rookie trying to keep a spot with the
big club.
With the N.H.L. lockout on, Kreider started this season in Connecticut and
did not look great: 5 goals, 12 points and a minus-6 mark in 33 games. His
problems have continued with the Rangers.
“He’s a good kid,” Tortorella said Thursday. “But there’s been some
struggles there, especially away from the puck. That’s how young players,
at least with this coach, are able to get on the ice, is to understand that part
of the game.”
Kreider said: “I don’t think the spotlight, really, has anything to do with it. It’s
the level of play and the speed of the play itself — it makes for completely
different reads, different reaction time. Obviously, that makes it more
difficult. I’m trying to pick it up.
“It’s the best league in the world. That makes it more challenging. It’s
definitely more challenging.”
SLAP SHOTS
Arron Asham missed a second straight game with a groin pull he sustained
in Sunday’s 6-3 loss against Pittsburgh. He said he expected to be back for
the Rangers’ next game, Saturday against Toronto at Madison Square
Garden.
652592
New York Rangers
NY Rangers right back in loss column as previously winless Philadelphia
Flyers top Blueshirts 2-1
By Pat Leonard
PHILADELPHIA – Mistakes have led to Rangers losses early this season,
but on Thursday night in the second half of a back-to-back, they just looked
tired.
The Blueshirts got pushed around by a previously-winless Flyers club in the
opening periods and fell, 2-1, at Wells Fargo Center, dropping to 1-3-0 on
the season. It happened despite the Blueshirts’ third-period energy, Taylor
Pyatt’s third goal in three games and Henrik Lundqvist being on his game
(31 saves).
Falling to a Philadelphia team without two of its top forwards in Scott
Hartnell (foot) and Brayden Schenn (suspension) deflated a New York club
that had managed its first win of the season on Wednesday night in a 4-3
overtime victory over the Boston Bruins.
The Flyers (1-3-0) got second-period goals from Wayne Simmonds and
Jake Voracek on the power play to beat the Rangers for the first time in
their last nine meetings, dating back to a 7-0 whooping at the Garden on
March 6, 2011. Ilya Bryzgalov made 18 saves.
The Rangers’ power play continued to fail them when they needed it most.
For the fourth straight game to open the season, New York went on a fiveon-three man advantage, but they are now just 1-for-4 on the season in
those situations, coming up empty midway through the third period trailing
2-1 against a division rival.
Pyatt, an imposing winger acquired this offseason as a free agent out of
Phoenix, scored on the power play 1:39 into the third period off a smart
pass by Marian Gaborik from the slot to the side of the net. That helped the
Blueshirts carry momentum all the way up until their 5-on-3 advantage 9:39
into the final frame, but they managed just three shots on the two-man
advantage and the ensuing two-minute power play from a double-minor
high sticking penalty by the Flyers’ Tye McGinn.
The Blueshirts went 1-for-4 on the power play in the game to fall to 2-for-18
on the season (11.11%).
The Rangers played without Chris Kreider, was scratched from the lineup
and replaced by callup forward Kris Newbury. Kreider may be precocious,
but he doesn’t have much of an ego. The Rangers’ rookie winger is willing
to return to the AHL to work on his defense if John Tortorella feels that is
the most prudent path for last year’s postseason wunderkind.
“I trust the organization,” Kreider, 21, said Thursday morning. “I trust all the
decisions that they make, and I know they’ll make the right decision and
have my best interest in mind.”
Tortorella, who had said during training camp that Kreider “is still fighting for
a spot” on the Rangers’ roster, got impatient with Kreider’s defensive-zone
play during Wednesday night’s 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins at
the Garden.
The coach played Kreider for just seven minutes, 21 seconds, including two
shifts in the final two periods, and afterwards Tortorella said the
organization has to make a decision about “what’s best for Chris and us.”
Kreider remained with the Rangers Thursday but watched their game from
the press box.
Kreider, who had five goals and seven points in his first NHL action during
last year’s playoffs, backed up his coach’s assessment that certain aspects
of the game at this level have overwhelmed him.
"There are so many good players in this league, they’re constantly making
plays, which in my case forces me to do things I’m not used to in the
defensive zone,” Kreider said. “I’m not used to playing that kind of
competition, but every game’s a learning experience.”
“There are so many good players in this league, they’re constantly making
plays, which in my case forces me to do things I’m not used to in the
defensive zone,” Kreider said. “I’m not used to playing that kind of
competition, but every game’s a learning experience.”
652593
New York Rangers
Rangers are flat in loss to Flyers
By STEVE ZIPAY
PHILADELPHIA -- With a flat performance for two periods that seemed to
resemble a preseason game in front of plenty of vacant seats at Wells
Fargo Center, the Rangers came up empty against the banged-up,
previously winless Flyers Thursday night, and lost, 2-1.
After an emotional 4-3 overtime win at home over the Bruins on
Wednesday, the Rangers managed only 13 shots on Ilya Bryzgalov in the
first two periods and were down 2-0. The Flyers, meanwhile, fired 28 shots
at Henrik Lundqvist in the first 40 minutes.
In the third, when urgency was really necessary, the Rangers halved the
lead early while on the power play. Marian Gaborik got his own rebound in
the high slot, and passed to Taylor Pyatt on the right side for his third goal
of the season at 1:39.
Next came the turning point. The Rangers were awarded a huge powerplay opportunity when Tye McGinn was given a double-minor for highsticking Michael Del Zotto at 9:24, which turned into a five-on-three when
Niklas Grossman hooked Gaborik at 9:39. Bryzgalov robbed both Ryan
Callahan and Rick Nash during the power play, and the crowd was finally
on its feet.
Lundqvist, who made 31 saves, was pulled for an extra skater with about
1:25 left, and the Rangers still had a shot at grabbing a much-needed point,
but the Flyers kept icing the puck until the final horn.
The Flyers were without Brayden Schenn (suspended), Daniel Briere (wrist)
and Scott Hartnell (broken foot), but Callahan was wary before the match.
"They are in the same situation [winless] we were Wednesday night," he
said. As for last season's 6-0 record against Philadelphia, Callahan
suggested: Throw that away. "All the games were close, they could've went
either way."
At 11:53 of the second, Grossman's wrister from the left point hit Brad
Richards in the knee and deflected off Wayne Simmonds' foot past
Lundqvist for a 1-0 lead. The Flyers had found some scarce momentum
and when McGinn piled into the scrum in front of Lundqvist, the Rangers'
Kris Newbury started punching, but McGinn recovered and landed several
blows in a row.
Both players went off for fighting but Newbury was assessed a roughing
minor as well, and the Flyers capitalized on the power play. Ryan
McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Brian Boyle and Callahan were flopping around in
front as Simmonds jabbed at the puck and the rebound was poked in by
Jacob Voracek at 15:54 to extend the Flyers' lead to 2-0.
In a scoreless first period devoid of desperation on either side, Lundqvist
stopped 11 shots and the sluggish Rangers managed only five on
Bryzgalov. Stu Bickel took exception to a hit on Jeff Halpern and dropped
the gloves with Tom Sestito at 2:37, but neither team seemed to derive any
spark from the tussle. Grossman crashed Gaborik into the Flyers' bench at
6:49, yet the Rangers' sniper didn't miss a shift.
Before the game, Callahan said Pyatt's addition to his line with Derek
Stepan was a plus. "Pie-sy is a big body, he helped us with pucks down
low. I think it's something that our line needed, just to create some offensive
zone time and he ends up coming up with a pretty big goal Wednesday at
the end for us.
"I think that's going to be the strength of our line, if we stay together, just
holding on to pucks down low, creating a cycle, and try to bring pucks to the
net."
But Pyatt's goal wasn't enough Thursday night.
652594
New York Rangers
Rangers’ Kreider Faces Questions About Development
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
PHILADELPHIA — Last spring Chris Kreider was on top of the world,
signed by the Rangers fresh off a second N.C.A.A. championship with
Boston College, scorer of five goals in the Rangers’ run to the conference
finals – all before playing a regular-season game in the N.H.L.
But now the midnight bells are chiming. Just three games into his first
N.H.L. regular season, he stands on the brink of demotion to the American
Hockey League, called out as an object of concern by Coach John
Tortorella.
ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Flyers. “I trust all the decisions
that they make. I hope they’ll make the right decision and will have my best
interest in mind.”
Kreider had a third straight poor game in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime victory
at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers’ first win of the season. He skated
just 7 minutes 21 seconds and was demoted from the second line, his place
alongside Ryan Callahan and Derek Stepan taken by Taylor Pyatt, who
scored his second goal of the season.
In three games this season, Kreider has no points and a minus-2 mark. But
far more discouraging were the words Tortorella used to describe Kreider’s
performance after Wednesday’s game.
“He just hasn’t played well,” Tortorella said. “I don’t know what the reason
is. He just hasn’t played well. That’s something we really have to talk about
as an organization, because I still think he needs to go through the process,
and that’s something that we have to — what’s best for Chris and us — we
have to make a decision here. I don’t want him in a situation here with the
scrutiny on this club.”
Tortorella was reluctant to overpraise Kreider last spring, when Kreider
scored more playoff goals than any other N.H.L. player who had yet to
make his regular-season debut. Tortorella reminded reporters of that after
Wednesday’s game.
“I told you guys this last year, he did some really good things and did some
not so good,” Tortorella said. “We need to be really careful with how we’re
dealing with a kid with a number of assets to make sure that the process is
correct for him. So those are discussions we’re going to have.”
With the N.H.L. lockout on, he started this season with the Rangers’ A.H.L.
affiliate in Connecticut and did not look great: 5 goals, 12 points and a
minus-6 mark in 33 games. Tortorella was asked if he could send Kreider
back down to the A.H.L.
game. I do not want to see that happen to him. He has too many assets,
and he has not played well, and he knows that.”
All through his storybook run last spring, and amid all the eager attention
paid him by fans and reporters, Kreider emphasized that he assumed
nothing about a permanent status with the Rangers, that he was simply a
rookie trying to keep a spot with the big club. Tortorella said that without a
proper N.H.L. training camp, Kreider missed a lot of learning – especially on
the defensive side of his game.
“I have to do something to improve every single game defensively,” Kreider
said Thursday. “There are so many good players in this league, they’ve
forced me to do things I’m not used to in the defensive zone. There’s a lot
of reads and a lot of stuff that’s different than what I’m used to, and I’m just
trying to pick it up.”
He said he learned a lot in the A.H.L., but “there are some things you just
can’t pick up there, that you have to learn the hard way.”
Ryan Callahan, the Rangers’ captain, said: “You’ve got to remember he’s
young. He was great in the playoffs he had, but he’s till young, still learning.
You can see how good he’s going to be — he’s got a lot of size, speed, a
shot. You just have to be patient and realize that he’s still learning the
game, still learning the speed of it. He’s going to be good.”
Kreider faced the questions straight on Thursday morning. He was asked
whether the spotlight of playing with the Rangers was the reason for his
struggles.
“I don’t think the spotlight, really, has anything to do with it,” Kreider said.
“It’s the level of play and the speed of the play itself – it makes for
completely different reads, different reaction time. Obviously that makes it
more difficult. I’m trying to pick it up.
652595
New York Rangers
Rangers’ Asham Will Miss Second Consecutive Game
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
PHILADELPHIA — Rangers forward Arron Asham, who missed
Wednesday’s game against the Bruins with a groin pull, said he was “day to
day” but expected to return Saturday against Toronto at the Garden. He
said he sustained the injury in the first period of Sunday’s 6-3 loss to
Pittsburgh, but he did not know if it happened in the fight he had with
Tanner Glass two seconds after the opening face-off or later in the period.
Asham played only 5 minutes 53 seconds in that game.
“I have a mind-set of playing Saturday,” Asham said after taking a regular
turn in the morning skate here Thursday. “Hopefully my body agrees with
my mind.”
Kris Newbury was called up from Connecticut of the A.H.L. to take Asham’s
place as a robust forward, hockey parlance for someone who will fight.
Newbury, 30, has 4 goals, 4 assists and 18 fights in 66 N.H.L. games. In
the minor leagues, he has fought 73 times in 535 games.
Newbury said he hoped to “bring a lot of energy” and “do whatever I can do
to help the team.” His last appearance was Jan. 12, 2011, a 4-1 loss at
Montreal in which he went minus-3 in a little more than six minutes of ice
time.
It was expected that the Rangers would need to load up on fighters against
the Flyers, who entered Thursday’s game 0-3, injury riddled and frustrated
— a recipe for mayhem if they fell behind during the first half of the game.
The Flyers were expected to be without Scott Hartnell and Danny Briere,
both injured, and Brayden Schenn, who was serving a one-game
suspension for an illegal hit on the Devils’ Anton Vokchenkov.
652596
New York Rangers
“These games are hard to lose,” Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi said.
“We knew they were going to be desperate, looking for their first win, and
we had to match that. We didn’t.”
A Night Later, the Rangers’ Struggles Resume
To be fair, Bryzgalov made two great stops on the five-on-three — one on
Derek Stepan and one on Nash.
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
But Tortorella called the failure to finish “the frustrating part — we may have
been able to steal a point anyway, if we get something happening there.”
PHILADELPHIA — After one night’s respite, the Rangers are back in a
funk. They lost here Thursday to the Flyers, a team that was winless in
three games this season and that entered the evening missing three of its
key players.
The score was 2-1, the Rangers’ record dropped to 1-3 and their eightgame winning streak against the Flyers, which dated to March 6, 2011, was
stopped.
No surprise, then, that Coach John Tortorella was irritated.
“That’s a stupid question,” Tortorella snapped when asked if the Rangers
were in good shape. “This team is in shape as far as what we’ve started
with here, as far as how it’s happened with the lockout. That’s just a dumb
question.”
The Rangers were listless through the first two periods and fell behind, 2-0,
after goals by Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek. They drew within one
when Taylor Pyatt buried a setup from Marian Gaborik on a power play 1
minute 39 seconds into the third period. It was Pyatt’s third goal in as many
games.
But they could not connect on a five-on-three advantage that lasted 1:59
midway through the third period, or on an additional one-man advantage for
the two minutes immediately after.
Gone was the magic the Rangers’ first line provided at Madison Square
Garden in a 4-3 overtime win over Boston on Wednesday, when Gaborik
had a hat trick and Brad Richards and Rick Nash shredded the Bruins’
defense.
On Thursday in Philadelphia, those three players managed only three shots
on Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. Henrik Lundqvist was the Rangers’ best
player, preventing a blowout as the Rangers were outshot by 33-19.
Lundqvist said it was the best game he had played this season, but he
added, “In the end you want to get the win to feel good about yourself.”
Tortorella was definitely not feeling good about his team Thursday night.
“We’re certainly not getting enough big plays from our top guys in that
situation,” Tortorella said about the failure to score on the five-on-three, and
about the game in general. “Our top line simply didn’t play well tonight,
Gaby, Richie and Nasher.”
Tortorella said the Rangers’ problem on the failed power play was that they
were “too deliberate.”
Defenseman Michael Del Zotto, who plays the point on the first power-play
unit, amplified his coach’s comment.
“It’s almost as if we make our setup, and we’re stuck there,” he said. “We’re
not giving each other any outs. We’re just hanging each other out to dry.”
Ryan Callahan, the team captain, called the Rangers’ effort spotty.
Tortorella agreed. “We can’t bring anybody up from Hartford,” the coach
said. “We have just got to decide, consistently as a group, how we’re going
to play. So I guess you have to appeal to that.”
The Rangers did call up Kris Newbury from Connecticut, their American
Hockey League club, and he got into one of the game’s two fights. Newbury
received an extra minor penalty in his fight, which gave the Flyers a power
play that led to Voracek’s goal. That turned out to be the game-winner.
Chris Kreider, who scored five goals in the playoffs last season after joining
the Rangers straight out of Boston College, did not dress for the game.
Tortorella said before the game that Kreider was a “good kid” who would be
watching from the press box for at least a while.
The Flyers were without Scott Hartnell, who is out four to eight weeks with a
fractured bone in his foot, and another key forward, Danny Briere, who is
expected back soon from a wrist injury. They were also without forward
Brayden Schenn, who was suspended one game for an illegal hit.
With the season shortened because of the lockout, the Rangers are trying
not to feel pressure from their slow start.
“We’re not paying attention to the schedule — we’re just in the season
now,” Lundqvist said. “I thought after that Boston game at home, we had
some good energy. We had a chance to tie it up tonight, but they defended
real well.”
SLAP SHOTS
Arron Asham missed a second straight game with a groin pull he sustained
in Sunday’s 6-3 loss against Pittsburgh. He said he expected to be back for
the Rangers’ next game, Saturday against Toronto at Madison Square
Garden.
652597
New York Rangers
Rangers’ Kreider Faces Questions About Development
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
PHILADELPHIA — Last spring Chris Kreider was on top of the world,
signed by the Rangers fresh off a second N.C.A.A. championship with
Boston College, scorer of five goals in the Rangers’ run to the conference
finals – all before playing a regular-season game in the N.H.L.
But now the midnight bells are chiming. Just three games into his first
N.H.L. regular season, he stands on the brink of demotion to the American
Hockey League, called out as an object of concern by Coach John
Tortorella.
ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Flyers. “I trust all the decisions
that they make. I hope they’ll make the right decision and will have my best
interest in mind.”
Kreider had a third straight poor game in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime victory
at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers’ first win of the season. He skated
just 7 minutes 21 seconds and was demoted from the second line, his place
alongside Ryan Callahan and Derek Stepan taken by Taylor Pyatt, who
scored his second goal of the season.
In three games this season, Kreider has no points and a minus-2 mark. But
far more discouraging were the words Tortorella used to describe Kreider’s
performance after Wednesday’s game.
“He just hasn’t played well,” Tortorella said. “I don’t know what the reason
is. He just hasn’t played well. That’s something we really have to talk about
as an organization, because I still think he needs to go through the process,
and that’s something that we have to — what’s best for Chris and us — we
have to make a decision here. I don’t want him in a situation here with the
scrutiny on this club.”
Tortorella was reluctant to overpraise Kreider last spring, when Kreider
scored more playoff goals than any other N.H.L. player who had yet to
make his regular-season debut. Tortorella reminded reporters of that after
Wednesday’s game.
“I told you guys this last year, he did some really good things and did some
not so good,” Tortorella said. “We need to be really careful with how we’re
dealing with a kid with a number of assets to make sure that the process is
correct for him. So those are discussions we’re going to have.”
With the N.H.L. lockout on, he started this season with the Rangers’ A.H.L.
affiliate in Connecticut and did not look great: 5 goals, 12 points and a
minus-6 mark in 33 games. Tortorella was asked if he could send Kreider
back down to the A.H.L.
game. I do not want to see that happen to him. He has too many assets,
and he has not played well, and he knows that.”
All through his storybook run last spring, and amid all the eager attention
paid him by fans and reporters, Kreider emphasized that he assumed
nothing about a permanent status with the Rangers, that he was simply a
rookie trying to keep a spot with the big club. Tortorella said that without a
proper N.H.L. training camp, Kreider missed a lot of learning – especially on
the defensive side of his game.
“I have to do something to improve every single game defensively,” Kreider
said Thursday. “There are so many good players in this league, they’ve
forced me to do things I’m not used to in the defensive zone. There’s a lot
of reads and a lot of stuff that’s different than what I’m used to, and I’m just
trying to pick it up.”
He said he learned a lot in the A.H.L., but “there are some things you just
can’t pick up there, that you have to learn the hard way.”
Ryan Callahan, the Rangers’ captain, said: “You’ve got to remember he’s
young. He was great in the playoffs he had, but he’s till young, still learning.
You can see how good he’s going to be — he’s got a lot of size, speed, a
shot. You just have to be patient and realize that he’s still learning the
game, still learning the speed of it. He’s going to be good.”
Kreider faced the questions straight on Thursday morning. He was asked
whether the spotlight of playing with the Rangers was the reason for his
struggles.
“I don’t think the spotlight, really, has anything to do with it,” Kreider said.
“It’s the level of play and the speed of the play itself – it makes for
completely different reads, different reaction time. Obviously that makes it
more difficult. I’m trying to pick it up.
652598
New York Rangers
Rangers’ Asham Will Miss Second Consecutive Game
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
PHILADELPHIA — Rangers forward Arron Asham, who missed
Wednesday’s game against the Bruins with a groin pull, said he was “day to
day” but expected to return Saturday against Toronto at the Garden. He
said he sustained the injury in the first period of Sunday’s 6-3 loss to
Pittsburgh, but he did not know if it happened in the fight he had with
Tanner Glass two seconds after the opening face-off or later in the period.
Asham played only 5 minutes 53 seconds in that game.
“I have a mind-set of playing Saturday,” Asham said after taking a regular
turn in the morning skate here Thursday. “Hopefully my body agrees with
my mind.”
Kris Newbury was called up from Connecticut of the A.H.L. to take Asham’s
place as a robust forward, hockey parlance for someone who will fight.
Newbury, 30, has 4 goals, 4 assists and 18 fights in 66 N.H.L. games. In
the minor leagues, he has fought 73 times in 535 games.
Newbury said he hoped to “bring a lot of energy” and “do whatever I can do
to help the team.” His last appearance was Jan. 12, 2011, a 4-1 loss at
Montreal in which he went minus-3 in a little more than six minutes of ice
time.
It was expected that the Rangers would need to load up on fighters against
the Flyers, who entered Thursday’s game 0-3, injury riddled and frustrated
— a recipe for mayhem if they fell behind during the first half of the game.
The Flyers were expected to be without Scott Hartnell and Danny Briere,
both injured, and Brayden Schenn, who was serving a one-game
suspension for an illegal hit on the Devils’ Anton Vokchenkov.
652599
New York Rangers
my case forces me to do things I’m not used to in the defensive zone. I’m
not used to playing that kind of competition, but every game’s a learning
experience.”
Chris Kreider says he trusts organization has his best interest in mind; NY
Rangers swap AHLers with Pens; lineup vs. Flyers
On what exactly is different:“There’s a lot of reads and a lot of stuff that’s
different from what I’m used to. Guys are starting to pick it up and I’m
looking forward to continue to improve.”
By Pat Leonard
On what he picked up in AHL: “I think there were a bunch of little things that
I picked up, but there are a bunch of things you can’t pick up there that you
have to learn the hard way.”
PHILADELPHIA – Chris Kreider does not hide from the fact that he has a
lot to learn.
On difference between learning in AHL and NHL: “They do a really good job
in the AHL of instituting a very a similar defensive zone system if not the
exact same system, but obviously here it’s much more detail-oriented.”
The Rangers rookie winger admitted after Thursday morning’s optional
skate at Wells Fargo Center that the high speed of the NHL game “forces
me to do things I’m not used to in the defensive zone,” but he’s confident
he’s learning more every game he plays.
He may not learn as much Thursday night, then. Call-up forward Kris
Newbury said he’s preparing as if he will be in the lineup against the Flyers
(0-3-0), and Kreider stayed on the ice a long time during the pre-game
skate with defensive scratch Matt Gilroy.
GABORIK'S HAT TRICK, PYATT'S ANSWER LIFT RANGERS OVER
BRUINS IN OT, 4-3
Henrik Lundqvist did not skate in the morning, meaning he likely will make
his fourth straight start for the Rangers (1-2-0) and try to build on
Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins at the Garden.
Arron Asham (minor groin strain) will not suit up against his former Flyers
club, though he skated in the morning and said his hope is to recover in
time for Saturday night’s home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Kreider faced questions about his benching in Wednesday’s win, after
which coach John Tortorella said the struggling former Boston College
standout could benefit more in his development by returning to the AHL to
play more with the Connecticut Whale.
NHL POWER RANKINGS: PENGUINS THE TEAM TO BEAT EARLY
Kreider was asked whether he would prefer to learn while playing in the
NHL or the AHL.
“I trust the organization,” he said. “I trust all the decisions that they make,
and I know they’ll make the right decision and have my best interest in
mind.”
Veteran winger Mike Rupp, who played a few more late shifts than he
normally would Wednesday partially due to Kreider’s benching, said the
rookie has faced some unique circumstances in the past year and has
handled it well.
“He’s got all the tools,” Rupp said. “Sometimes it just takes a little bit of
learning, and he was in a position last year, too, where he was just kind of
thrown into it and you’ve got to find your way. But he took it really well and
took it in stride, and he’s one that he’ll come and work at it.”
TORTORELLA CONSIDERS SENDING STRUGGLING KREIDER TO
WHALE
Newbury, who is playing his first game with the Rangers in more than a
year, said he is focused on “staying responsible defensively” against the
Flyers. That’s a good idea, considering in his last appearance on Jan. 15 in
a 4-1 loss in Montreal, he was minus-three in 6:19 of ice time and nine
shifts.
“I tried to get in better shape and obviously with the lockout I was able to
play with in American League and keep skating down there, so that helped
me,” Newbury said. “The defensive game is big for me. So I’ll just keep
working on that.”
When asked about whether learning in the AHL would be easier for a young
player like Kreider, Newbury said of his former Whale teammate: “With his
talent level it’s obviously going to be easier to learn down there if he does it
right, so in that case yeah, it could be good for him.”
Here is the full Kreider transcript from his locker room interview in
Philadelphia Thursday morning:
On what he can learn from Wednesday’s game/experience:“Several things
defensively. I think you learn something every game defensively. There’s so
many good players in this league, they’re constantly making plays, in which
On whether the NHL/Rangers spotlight affects the way he learns at this
level:“I don’t think the spotlight has anything to do with it. I think it’s just got
to do with the level of the play and the speed of the play itself. It makes for
completely different reads, different reaction time, so it makes it difficult. It’s
the best league in the world but I’m quickly starting to pick it up and feeling
positive going forward and (trying to) improve in the defensive zone.”
On whether playing in the NHL is different mentally:“Yeah. It’s the best
league in the world. You have to react quicker and everthing’s more
challenging … I don’t think you mentally change the way you prepare for
the game … At the AHL level you’re not just showing up and playing.
They’re professionals there, too.”
On whether he missed out not having an NHL training camp:“I really don’t
know what an NHL training camp’s like so I really can’t speak to that. I have
no experience in an NHL training camp. Obviously it would benefit me,
everybody says it would benefit me, but my only experience is with a
shortened camp so I can’t speak to that.”
On whether he’d prefer to keep learning in NHL or learn in AHL:“I trust the
organization. I trust all the decisions that they make and I know they’ll make
the right decision and have my best interest in mind.”
MINOR SWAP
The Rangers made a slightly surprising trade Thursday morning, sending
AHL forward Chad Kolarik, 26, to the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Benn
Ferriero, 25. It was surprising because Kolarik was considered one of the
organization’s more favored forwards on its Connecticut Whale roster.
Kolarik had torn his left ACL last year and missed the entire season but was
back playing for the Whale this season.
More notes on Ferriero from the Rangers’ release: Ferriero has registered
four goals and 14 assists for 18 points, along with 14 penalty minutes in 34
games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey
League (AHL) this season. He ranks third on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in
assists, is tied for fifth on the team in points and ranks second in shots on
goal (97). The Boston, Massachusetts native tallied six assists in a sevengame span from October 19 at Springfield to November 2 at Manchester,
and registered 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in a 10-game span
from November 10 against Portland to December 7 against Hershey.
The 5-11, 195-pounder has skated in 155 career AHL contests over four
seasons with the Worcester Sharks and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins,
registering 48 goals and 73 assists for 121 points, along with 68 penalty
minutes. He established career-highs in games played (58), goals (19),
assists (31), points (50), shots on goal (164) and penalty minutes (20) as a
rookie during the 2009-10 season.
Originally selected by the Phoenix Coyotes as a seventh round choice
(196th overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Ferriero signed as a free agent
with the San Jose Sharks on August 23, 2009. He has registered 14 goals
and eight assists for 22 points in 92 career NHL contests over three
seasons with San Jose. He established a career-high with seven goals in
35 games last season. He made his NHL debut with San Jose on October
1, 2009, at Colorado, and registered his first career point with a goal two
days later at Anaheim. Ferriero has also notched one goal in eight career
playoff contests with the Sharks.
652600
New York Rangers
Sloppy Rangers fall to Flyers
By BRETT CYRGALIS
PHILADELPHIA — There was no superhero line to come to the rescue, so
now the morbid narrative can return in full.
Behind a slew of errors and a severe exposure of their lack of depth, the
Rangers lost last night for the third time in their first four games, this one to
the Flyers, 2-1, at the sold-out Wells Fargo Center.
“Our top line simply didn’t play well,” coach John Tortorella said, one night
after his star trio of Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards and Rick Nash carried
them off the schneid in a 4-3 overtime win over the Bruins.
“So we had to change up then, but we still had an opportunity.”
OVERTHROWING THE KING! Wayne Simmonds and Claude Giroux
celebrate after Simmons beat Henrik Lundqvist for the first goal of the game
in the Rangers’ 2-1 loss to the Flyers last night.
Neil Miller
OVERTHROWING THE KING! Wayne Simmonds and Claude Giroux
celebrate after Simmons beat Henrik Lundqvist for the first goal of the game
in the Rangers’ 2-1 loss to the Flyers last night.
That opportunity came with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game,
and the Rangers having just cut the Flyers’ lead to 2-1. After a double-minor
high-sticking call on Tye McGinn, followed by a hooking call on Nicklas
Grossman, the Rangers had four full minutes of power-play time, starting
with a two-minute 5-on-3.
The best chances they got — when they finally could corral the puck and
enter the zone cleanly — came from close wrist shots by Derek Stepan and
Rick Nash, both denied by Ilya Bryzgalov, whose 18 saves weren’t
outstanding until he was needed most.
“We’re close, we just have to score a goal,” said Stepan, who played as
good a game as he has had all season, just missing another scoring
chance early in the second period when Bryzgalov denied him on the
doorstep.
“That’s the biggest thing, you get those chances 5-on-3, you have to score.
That’s obviously the difference in the game.”
Through the first period, the Rangers were being thoroughly outplayed and
were able to get away unscathed because of Henrik Lundqvist’s brilliance in
making 11 of his 31 saves.
Tortorella was doing what he could to try and back up his top line, but as it
was mostly contained by the Flyers’ shutdown pair of Grossman and
Braydon Coburn, the momentum created against the Bruins could not be
replicated.
“I tried to early,” Tortorella said about rolling more than two lines. “But as
you end up down 2-0, you shortened it up, you change the lines.”
The Rangers got down 2-0 in the second period because of a goal off of
Wayne Simmonds’ skate, and by a power-play stuff-in by Jakub Voracek.
Somehow, Taylor Pyatt managed to score his third goal in the first four
games as a Ranger to make it 2-1 early in the third, but that’s as close as
the Rangers would get on this night to making it seem like last season’s run
to the Eastern Conference Finals wasn’t a pipe dream.
“We knew they were going to be desperate,” defenseman Dan Girardi said
about the previously winless Flyers, who were without star forwards Scott
Hartnell (foot), Daniel Briere (wrist) and Brayden Shenn (suspension). “We
had to match that, and at some points we did and some points we didn’t.
That’s why we didn’t win.”
As opposed to the first two games of the season, the Rangers were not
physically pushed around and they were even moments away from stealing
an overtime point. But it can be assured that if they don’t find a sense of
confidence somewhere along the side of New Jersey Turnpike, the malaise
eventually will catch up to them in this 48-game season.
“We just have to decide, consistently as a group, how we’re going to play,”
Tortorella said. “So I guess you have to appeal to that.”
New York Post LOADED: 01.25.2013
652601
New York Rangers
Rangers notes: Struggling Chris Kreider could be headed to minors
Andrew Gross
Kreider trusting
A day after Rangers coach John Tortorella said the organization would
have to consider whether reassigning Chris Kreider to Connecticut (AHL)
would be best for his development, the rookie was a healthy scratch for the
first time since joining the team’s lineup last season for Game 3 of their firstround playoff series against Ottawa.
"I trust the organization," Kreider, 21, said. "Ultimately they’ll make the right
decision and have my best interests in mind."
Kreider played just 7:21 in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Bruins
and struggled defensively.
Getting there
One positive for the Rangers is that goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is
regaining his form. He said before the season it would take three to four
games before he started feeling comfortable again.
"I felt like my positioning was pretty good and I was reading the game
better," said Lundqvist, now 1-3-0 with a 3.46 goals-against average after
winning his first Vezina Trophy last season. "You want to get a win to really
feel good about yourself, [but] it’s definitely a step in the right direction.’’
Minor swap
The Rangers acquired 5-foot-11, 185-pound right wing Benn Ferriero, 25,
from the Penguins for Chad Kolarik in a swap of minor league forwards.
Ferriero, who had 14 goals and eight assists in 92 NHL games for the
Sharks, was assigned to Connecticut.
Briefs
Arron Asham (groin) missed his second straight game but, after
participating in the morning optional skate, said he hopes to play Saturday.
… Fourth-liner Kris Newbury, 30, played 5:24 after being recalled from
Connecticut late Wednesday.
Bergen Record LOADED: 01.25.2013
652602
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider candidate to be sent to Connecticut Whale
By STEVE ZIPAY
Could Chris Kreider, the rookie out of Boston College who crashed the
playoff party with five goals last spring, be headed back to the AHL for finetuning?
Rangers coach John Tortorella raised the possibility after the Rangers
edged the Bruins, 4-3, in overtime Wednesday night for their first win.
Kreider was benched for almost all of the second and third periods, playing
just 7:31.
Tortorella acknowledged that his club played sloppy at times Wednesday
night, and he wasn't comfortable playing all four lines, but singled out
Kreider.
"He just hasn't played well," he said. "That's something we're really going to
have to talk about because I still think he needs to go through the process.
What's best for Chris and us, we have to make a decision there . . .
because I don't want a situation here, as far as the scrutiny on this club, to
hurt him. We need to be really careful how we deal with a kid with a number
of assets to make sure that the process is correct for him."
Without a training camp to help his development, Tortorella said, sending
Kreider to the Connecticut Whale "shouldn't be a shock . . . I've seen
players ruined because you put them in a situation and they just struggle
and don't succeed, and they never come out of it and they're done, they're
out of the game. I don't want to see that happen to him. But he has not
played well and he knows that. He's not the only one who's struggled, but
tonight was a battle for him, as far as understanding the positioning of the
defense we play . . . that's a lot to ask of him as we start the season. ''
652603
New York Rangers
Struggling Chris Kreider a healthy scratch against Flyers
By STEVE ZIPAY
PHILADELPHIA -- Rookie Chris Kreider, who has struggled at the start of
the season, was a healthy scratch for the first time in his short career.
The 21-year-old, who scored five playoff goals last season but then had
defensive lapses in his first three career regular-season games, took it in
stride.
"There's so many good players in this league," he said. "It forces me to do
things I'm not used to [defensively] . . . I'm starting to pick it up [the system].
"I don't think the spotlight has anything to do with it. It's just the level of play
and the speed. It makes for completely different reads and reaction time."
Asked if returning to the AHL would help his development, he said: "I trust
the organization. I trust all the decisions they make."
Newbury plays
Kris Newbury arrived from Hartford and subbed for Arron Asham (groin
strain) on the fourth line. Newbury, who was pointless in seven games last
season with the Rangers, was the Whale's top scorer with 15 goals and 21
assists in 40 games. He had 94 penalty minutes.
Asham, who strained his groin against the Penguins on Sunday and didn't
play Wednesday, skated and hopes to play Saturday against Toronto at
home. "I don't want to get in there early and do even more damage and be
out even longer," he said. "I'll skate again [Friday] and have my mind set on
playing Saturday."
Blue notes
Matt Gilroy was scratched for the fourth straight game . . . The Rangers
acquired Benn Ferriero, Brian Boyle's teammate at Boston College, from
Pittsburgh for Chad Kolarik, who had 35 points for the Whale and was
named an All-Star. Ferriero was 14-8-22 in 92 games with the Sharks.
652604
New York Rangers
Official word on the Kolarik-Ferriero trade; new “Beginnings”
Posted by: Carp –
NEW YORK, January 24, 2013 – New York Rangers President and General
Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired forward
Benn Ferriero from Pittsburgh in exchange for forward Chad Kolarik.
Ferriero, 25, has registered four goals and 14 assists for 18 points, along
with 14 penalty minutes in 34 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season. He ranks
third on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in assists, is tied for fifth on the team in
points and ranks second in shots on goal (97). The Boston, Massachusetts
native tallied six assists in a seven-game span from October 19 at
Springfield to November 2 at Manchester, and registered 10 points (three
goals, seven assists) in a 10-game span from November 10 against
Portland to December 7 against Hershey.
The 5-11, 195-pounder has skated in 155 career AHL contests over four
seasons with the Worcester Sharks and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins,
registering 48 goals and 73 assists for 121 points, along with 68 penalty
minutes. He established career-highs in games played (58), goals (19),
assists (31), points (50), shots on goal (164) and penalty minutes (20) as a
rookie during the 2009-10 season.
Originally selected by the Phoenix Coyotes as a seventh round choice
(196th overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Ferriero signed as a free agent
with the San Jose Sharks on August 23, 2009. He has registered 14 goals
and eight assists for 22 points in 92 career NHL contests over three
seasons with San Jose. He established a career-high with seven goals in
35 games last season. He made his NHL debut with San Jose on October
1, 2009, at Colorado, and registered his first career point with a goal two
days later at Anaheim. Ferriero has also notched one goal in eight career
playoff contests with the Sharks.
Kolarik, 26, has registered 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points, along with
38 penalty minutes in 41 games with the Connecticut Whale (AHL) this
season. The Abington, Pennsylvania native was acquired by the Rangers
from Columbus in exchange for forward Dane Byers on November 11,
2010. He was originally selected by the Phoenix Coyotes as a seventh
round choice (199th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652605
New York Rangers
Here’s MSG’s link to the presser.
My Three Rangers Stars:
Rangers-Flyers in review
1. Henrik Lundqvist.
2. Marian Gaborik.
Posted by: Carp –
3. Stu Bickel.
Dore33’s Three Rangers Stars:
Thoughts:
1) Look at the guys who played important roles and/or played really well at
times, or for most of last season, who have played poorly through all four,
or parts of all four games this year: Brian Boyle, Derek Stepan, Carl
Hagelin, Brad Richards to a degree; Marc Staal, even Dan Girardi and
Ryan McDonagh at times, and Henrik Lundqvist, who hasn’t played poorly,
but except for the first period last night, hasn’t been great. So 1-3? Can’t be
shocking. Could be 0-4, really.
2. Marc Staal.
2) The Rangers’ supposed depth up front … that was all based on Chris
Kreider and Hagelin being able to play top-nine minutes, and one of them
playing top six. So far they haven’t. I think it’s going to be a problem if
Taylor Pyatt plays on the second line and Rupp on the third. A problem.
3) Statistically, the Rangers were much better at faceoffs. But when they
needed to win one, on power plays, and especially in that final minute when
the Flyers kept icing the puck, they couldn’t buy one. And I still maintain that
faceoffs are about concentration and bearing down. More about will than
skill.
4) The 5-on-3 wasn’t as pathetic as some of the others, but you’ve got to be
able to move it quickly to the guy on his off-wing for the one-timer, and that
means players have to move. Creativity is what’s needed, and not
happening. Geez, watch a video of the Penguins or the Red Wings, and
how easy they make it look. It should be easy.
5) And while we’re at it, until he starts playing better, it might be time to get
Richards off the power play point, IMHO.
6) I had no idea Rick Nash was so good in his own end.
7) That Stu Bickel pummeling of Tostitos Sestito (worst player in the
league), that’s the kind of fight I want to see in the NHL … action/reaction.
Not this stupid staged bullcrap. Have the Rangers had anybody who hasn’t
fought that clown the last two years?
8) John Tortorella started the second period with two lines. There’s some
risk there, on the second night of back-to-backs, especially when the first
night was a three-line game. It worked for a bit. The Rangers got some
offensive zone time, forced an icing, forced the Flyers to burn their timeout
and Tortorella got his No. 1 line out against the Flyers thugs. But there was
no payoff.
9) I don’t know how a guy like Kris Newbury gets called up, sent down,
called up, sent down, still has it in him to fight for his team …. knowing he’s
going right back down and he will never have a chance to stay. I guess you
do it for the shot to play in the NHL, and for the bigger paycheck, but, man,
that’s a tough way to make a living.
10) In the final 50 seconds, I don’t get why Marian Gaborik is stationed at
the point, 55 feet away from the net. Worse, when the clock starts ticking
down to 6 … 5 … 4 … why is he still at the point and not crashing the net.
At that point, it doesn’t matter if the puck comes out, or if the Flyers have a
breakaway or score into the empty net.
11) Do all teams have so many fans who hate so many of their players?
And it cracks me up when all the anti-Tortorella (pro-Avery) jackwagons
come crawling out like cockroaches at the smallest sign of adversity. They
can’t wait for their team to lose.
12) I can’t believe I’m even going to type these words: Ilya Bryzgalov was
actually pretty good. I had to work harder than he did, but he was pretty
good.
13) Wait, did MSG Network really cut short—very short—the post-game
show for the Dan Girardi “Beginnings” episode. Those things are really well
done. Great watches. But seriously, leaping out of the post-game of
Rangers-Flyers, no less? Honestly? Really? Wow. … Then, as if that wasn’t
bad enough, they come back after “Beginnings” (which was fabulous) and
Bill Pidto and Ron Duguay are saying the same things they said earlier, but
they showed just two answers from Tortorella’s press conference. What a
joke of a decision.
3. Taylor Pyatt.
Josh Thomson, 26’s Three Rangers Stars:
1. Taylor Pyatt.
3. Marc Staal.
Your poll vote for the Three Rangers Stars:
1. Henrik Lundqvist (25.41 %).
2. Taylor Pyatt (23.76 %).
3. Rick Nash (9.38 %).
Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652606
NHL
coverage. Stellick previously co-hosted The Fan 590 morning show with
Don Landry.
Social media sing with NHL lockout mood swing
It represents a move into Stellick’s comfort zone, as the former Toronto
general manager can wallow in all things Maple Leaf, his strong suit.
BRUCE DOWBIGGIN
No job posting has emerged yet at HNIC Radio (why rush, it’s only middle
of the season) for a replacement. In the meantime, Elliotte Friedman will
have to curtail his Fan 590 appearances to be the temporary host, paired
with analyst Kelly Hrudey.
In the era of instant feedback, no one brought more immediate and visceral
response to the NHL lockout than the purveyors of social media.
Depending on the day, hockey fans on Twitter were either outraged, very
outraged or about to require sedation over the 119-day delay to the 201213 season.
But impressions are fleeting things in Twitter’s aggregated communities.
Like minds tend to bond, oblivious to other factors. (Such as imaginary
online girlfriends … but that’s for another column.)
Getting a clear-eyed picture of opinion can be coloured by the bias of
limited networks. But the cumulative Twitter opinion is easy to measure,
Jesse Hirsh, president of Metaviews Media Management Ltd., said in an email.
“It’s silly for the media to speculate on what fan response will be, or conduct
silly polls, when the data exists via social media,” Hirsh said. “This go-round
they could measure fan interest, they could measure that geographically,
and they could project how much market or audience they’re losing and
thus how hard it will be to get it back to the numbers they need.”
Ottawa-based Mediamiser is one of the firm doing exactly that, scraping
and analyzing the approximately 1.3 million hockey tweets produced since
the latest NHL lockout began on Sept. 15, 2012. Mediamiser’s findings
show the difference in opinion between negative and positive tweets was
remarkably close.
Approximately 16 per cent of the messages recorded about hockey till the
Jan. 6, 2013, settlement were negative towards the league and players
versus 12-per-cent positive. (Tweets sharing other information were
considered neutral in the study.)
Not surprisingly, the negativity grew over the course of the lockout, said Jim
Donnelly, director of data for Mediamiser. By last October, the tweets were
21-per-cent negative and 14-per-cent positive.
“The increase in positive tweets can be attributed to users indicating they
missed hockey and wanted it back ASAP,” Donnelly said in a e-mail.
By January, however, with a settlement imminent, opinion flipped. The
breakdown was 22-per-cent positive and 16-per-cent negative.
“News of the lockout’s end caused a 155-per-cent spike in NHL-related
tweets from Jan. 4 to Jan. 6,” Donnelly said. “Positive sentiment on that day
[Jan. 6] toward the league was close to 30 per cent.”
Two of the top 10 hashtags in January’s NHL tweets, were #finally and
#endthelockout.
Credit team-brand loyalty, Donnelly said. “We even found that, of those fans
who said they were still upset with the league, they were also very explicit in
saying they would still go out of their way to support their favourite team.”
One thing that did not move the needle, however, was NHL commissioner
Gary Bettman’s apology to fans in early January for all the damage the
labour dispute had caused.
Donnelly believes the value in analyzing social media is only beginning.
“Generally, as more people use Twitter to voice their opinions or feelings on
various issues, its data has become more valuable to those looking to
gauge what people are saying/feeling/thinking about an issue,” he said.
“Twitter and other social media are emotional medias, where people log on
to speak their minds. We feel it’s very appropriate for an issue such as this,
which has inspired passionate commentary from fans on all sides of the
issue.”
Spin the dial
Gord Stellick has left SiriusXM satellite’s Hockey Night in Canada Radio to
return to Sportsnet Radio The Fan 590 as host for its Toronto Maple Leafs
HNIC Radio does a fine job in its weekday, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern) slot
on NHL Network Radio. Getting Wayne Gretzky amidst Wednesday’s
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. rumours was a coup for producer
Jeff Domet.
Unfortunately, the show has been hurt by being pinwheeled from various
sites on the Sirius dial the past few years. It resides (for now) at 207.
Speaking of HNIC, hopefully someone will have told TV host/reporter Andi
Petrillo by now that there’s no such person as “Dick Irving” in the show’s
past. If HNIC is going to invest in her future, perhaps she might get up to
date on its storied past.
652607
NHL
Flames forwards Hudler, Cervenka get back in the saddle
ALLAN MAKI
Jiri Hudler and Roman Cervenka finally played a game for the Calgary
Flames.
All right, so it wasn’t really a game – just a four-on-four Thursday
scrimmage against head coach Bob Hartley and his assistants, with the
team’s strength and conditioning coach in one net and retired goalie Tyler
Moss in the other.
Still, for a team that has yet to record a win this NHL season, having Hudler
and Cervenka on the ice, one stride closer to actually being in the lineup,
was a welcome bit of news. Until this week, both forwards had been starcrossed and humbled.
Hudler, the former Detroit Red Wing, had only been at the Flames’ 2013
training camp a day when he was informed his father had taken ill in the
Czech Republic. By the time Hudler made it to his homeland, his dad, Jiri
Sr., had died. He was 50.
Cervenka, a native of Prague, arrived in Calgary for his first NHL camp with
a leg injury he suffered after being hit by a puck while playing in the
Continental Hockey League. Doctors discovered a blood clot and gave him
blood-thinning medication. He was recently examined at the Mayo Clinic in
Phoenix and is now cleared to practise and play.
Together, Hudler and Cervenka represented two of the Flames’ pivotal offseason acquisitions (defenceman Dennis Wideman was the other) and
were being counted on to improve the team’s skill level. Both could have
played a role in Calgary’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks on
Wednesday. In that game, the Flames got one goal (Alex Tanguay) on five
shootout chances, which left Hartley’s decision-making open to debate.
“It’s a gut feeling,” Hartley said of the players he selected as shooters.
“[Hudler] would have been in the top three for sure.”
Hudler, who is expected to play Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers, was
signed to a four-year, $16-million (all currency U.S.) contract by the Flames,
who envisioned him as a top-six winger capable to repeating the 25 goals
he scored for Detroit last season. He’s a proved commodity who won a
Stanley Cup as a crucial role player with the Red Wings.
What the Flames don’t know is how Hudler responds emotionally so soon
after his father’s death. What they’ve viewed and heard to this point has
them encouraged.
“I told him we were with him,” Hartley said. “I told him I was sorry that he
didn’t make it on time [to see his] dad alive. I think you can draw motivation
from this. I’m sure Jiri will play this season in honour of his dad. We’re all
different but in a situation like this I think we’re all the same.”
Hudler met with the media Thursday for the first time since his return to
Calgary and insisted he was keen to connect with his new team and the
game he’s played for much of his life.
“I did take some time but I cannot sit on my ass for the rest of the season
thinking about bad things,” he explained. “You have to get back and not
think about bad things – get your mind on what I love the most, and that’s
hockey.”
Cervenka will have his own adjustments. At 27, he’s never played in the
NHL, rarely played on North American-size ice surfaces and speaks little
English. As soon as he was signed to a one-year, $3.775-million deal, the
Flames pictured him as a No.1 centre between Tanguay and Jarome Iginla.
Now, the team just wants him as ready as possible, perhaps for a Saturday
night debut.
“I think he’s going to be a real good hockey player,” Hartley projected. “I
talked to many guys in Europe. They say he’s a gifted player. He knows
what to do with the puck ... We’re going to sit with Jiri and Roman to get a
good sense what those two guys want. It’s natural to put them together [on
a line].”
Especially after they played so well together in beating the coaches during
their four-on-four scrimmage.
“He’s excited,” Hudler said of Cervenka. “I told him, ‘Don’t be over-excited;
just play the game.’”
652608
NHL
Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini’s wine collection is the star of his
divorce hearing
Erin Valois | Jan 24, 2013 10:05 AM ET
VANCOUVER — One of the owners of the Vancouver Canucks says he
shouldn’t have to sell a wine collection worth $615,000 to pay for his
estranged wife’s bills.
Justice Nathan Smith has yet to decide what should be done with the
1,900-bottle collection of wine that has been the subject of arguments this
week in B.C. Supreme Court between lawyers acting for Francesco Aquilini
and Taliah Aquilini.
Legal action began early last year after mediation efforts between the
couple collapsed, and now pre-trial divorce hearings are under way.
Taliah Aquilini has alleged in previous court documents that her husband
“engaged in public adulterous conduct in his private life.”
Taliah’s lawyer, Paul Daltrop, said Wednesday that his client was a stay-athome mom for more than 20 years and has no income other than money
given to her by the Aquilini family.
In contrast, he said Francesco has had access to an investment fund worth
more than $1-million and also secured a personal line of credit worth $2million.
Daltrop said it’s a “puzzle” why assets from the sale of the wine would not
be available to his client, noting the sale would “level the playing field.”
But Karen Shirley-Paterson, the lawyer for Francesco Aquilini, said her
client had to use money from investments to pay off debt and buy a
residence, while Taliah remains in the family’s multi-million dollar home.
“It’s not money that’s gone,” she said.
Smith did not rule on the wine sale but ordered two more days of pre-trial
hearings, starting Friday, noting the proceedings would not discuss alleged
adultery.
Daltrop said the trial is expected to begin in September.
National Post LOADED: 01.25.2013
652609
NHL
AHL alumni grateful for ‘head start’ to season
Michael Traikos | Jan 24, 2013 9:30 AM ET | Last Updated: Jan 24, 2013
9:54 AM ET
He is 5-foot-8. Went undrafted by both the OHL and NHL. Has diabetes.
But for once, Cory Conacher has the advantage. The Tampa Bay Lightning
forward is currently tied for the rookie scoring lead with five points in three
games. And he said he owes part of his success to staying busy during the
lockout.
While many players sat at home during the work stoppage, the reigning
AHL MVP continued putting up points in the minors. So when the league
reopened its doors last week and the Lightning needed someone to play on
its top line, a 23-year-old with zero NHL experience had no trouble fitting in.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired James van Riemsdyk from the
Philadelphia Flyers in the summer, they knew what they were getting.
“He’s not a big banger,” former general manager Brian Burke said at the
time of the trade. “He’s not the kind of player who’s going to put guys
through the glass. He’s not a plow horse. This is a thoroughbred.”
It was a nice way of saying that the 6-foot-3 and 200-pound winger played
smaller than his big frame would suggest.
Randy Carlyle plans to change that.
“We have a plan for van Riemsdyk,” said the Leafs head coach, who moved
the 23-year-old to a line with Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin in
Tuesday’s practice.
“It definitely gave me a boost at the start of the season,” Conacher said of
playing in the AHL. “Guys are still getting used to game speed, so it’s going
to get harder as the season continues. But it’s nice to get that head start.”
Conacher is not the only one who has jumped out of seemingly nowhere
and made an impact. According to the AHL, 126 players who spent time in
the minors during the lockout were on opening night rosters.
In Edmonton, Justin Schultz (who still leads AHL defenceman with 48
points) picked up his first goal in a 6-3 loss on Tuesday. Ottawa’s Jakob
Silfverberg and Detroit’s Brian Lashoff also scored their first goals this
week. And Toronto defenceman Mike Kostka headed into Wednesday
night’s game with two assists and averaging 25 minutes of ice time playing
on the top pair with Dion Phaneuf.
“It’s been a long journey to get to this point,” the 27-year-old Kostka said. “I
think it was a good process to play in the AHL because I was able to hone
my skills at that level where I now feel confident in abilities. But on the other
hand, I hadn’t got an opportunity were the timing was right.”
The timing of the lockout provided that opportunity. With everyone from
Edmonton’s Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle to Carolina’s Justin Faulk and
Buffalo’s Cody Hodgson playing in the minors, the AHL was transformed
into the best league in North America. For 3½ months, the spotlight was
theirs. And it provided coaches and general managers, who normally did
not have time to attend games during the NHL season, a chance to see
first-hand what scouts had been saying about players such as Conacher
and Kostka, who won a Calder Cup together with the Norfolk Admirals, the
Lightning’s affiliate, last season.
National Post LOADED 01.25.2013
652610
NHL
Gary Bettman and the Oilers make a strange partnership
Cam Cole | Jan 24, 2013 8:00 AM ET | Last Updated: Jan 24, 2013 8:21
AM ET
EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers are getting a new downtown arena.
He has parachuted in several times to put out fires and keep talks going —
from the 1990s when he was facilitating the transfer of the Oilers from
Pocklington to the Edmonton Investors Group (ovation) … to the team’s
short-lived on-ice renaissance following the 2005 lockout, when the CBA’s
New Deal led to the Oilers’ acquisitions of Chris Pronger and Mike Peca
and, out of nowhere, a trip to the Stanley Cup final (two ovations) … to last
Friday, when he engineered the closing of the hole in the ozone layer, the
completion of an environmentally friendly pipeline from the Alberta Oil
Sands directly to George W. Bush’s ranch in Texas and, in his spare time,
brokered peace in the Middle East.
OK, we made that last one up.
The NHL team and city councillors agreed Wednesday to resurrect a
previous deal that collapsed three months ago when Oilers owner Daryl
Katz demanded $6 million more a year from taxpayers.
He did, however, fly in Friday and get Oiler owner Daryl Katz and Edmonton
mayor Stephen Mandel and the city manager together, give them all
noogies, and tell them to smarten up and make a deal on construction of a
new downtown arena that would benefit both sides.
“It’s 100 per cent. A deal is done. Council has approved it. All the other
stuff is just going through some steps,” Mandel told reporters after the 10-3
decision by councillors.
And mostly, to quit kidding themselves that further delaying the project
would somehow save one party or the other a few bucks.
“I’m absolutely confident that we will go ahead, and at some point in time all
of us will go to a new arena with great pride.
But Edmontonians (or Edmonites, as the boxing impresario Don King once
called them) … oh, there are no height restrictions on the object of their
gratitude. The Little Prince (careful with the spelling) is their man
Read more …
“There is a National Hockey League city in Canada where Gary Bettman
can get a standing ovation any time he wants one.”
And lo and behold, city council Wednesday voted 10-3 to approve the same
basic deal that was proposed, and okayed, 15 months ago, before the Katz
group tried the old fast shuffle, leading council to withdraw from the project.
Crazy, right? Impossible.
This is not to say everyone left Tuesday’s meeting happy.
What self-respecting constituency in a hockey-mad nation would rise from
its collective seat to applaud the NHL commissioner who has presided over
three lockouts in the last 18 years, wiping out the equivalent of nearly two
full seasons?
Heck, some were unhappy when they got there. Oilers players Taylor Hall,
Jordan Eberle, Nick Schultz, Ryan Smyth and Shawn Horcoff were in
attendance, leading the mayor to tell them it must be their punishment for
giving up six goals in the first period of a 6-3 loss to San Jose the night
before.
What assembly of hockey fans — whose three dozen part-owners fought
arm-in-arm with the soulless fat cats of Boston and Philadelphia and
Toronto in 2004-05 to get a US$39-million salary cap, only to see it balloon
to US$64-million within seven years — would salute the man who called
that 2005 CBA a victory for the little guy?
Answer: Edmonton’s.
Believe it or not.
Oh, Winnipeg got all warm and fuzzy for about five minutes, the night the
Jets returned to the NHL in October of 2011 and, in a blood-rushing-to-thehead moment of giddiness, gave Bettman a nice hand for pushing along the
franchise’s relocation from Atlanta. But Winnipeggers will have gotten over
it by now.
Montrealers wouldn’t do it. They still haven’t forgiven the NHL for the time
Clarence Campbell suspended The Rocket, let alone Zdeno Chara’s
unpunished attempted beheading of Max Pacioretty. Torontonians last
cheered anything in 2003 when Ol’ 93, Doug Gilmour, was re-acquired by
the Leafs. Alas, he skated onto the ice and tore his ACL on his second shift
in an innocent collision with Calgary’s Dave Lowry, and that was it for Killer
and, pretty much, excitement at Air Canada Centre.
Ottawans are skeptical of all slippery politicians, from decades of close
proximity to them, so that’s out. Vancouverites showed Bettman their
sentiments when they rained garbage down on him as he was attempting to
present the 2011 Stanley Cup to the Boston Bruins.
The Canadian Press/City of Edmonton
And Calgarians are on the fence — until the province of Alberta coughs up
some money for the Edmonton arena project, they won’t know whether
they’ll be getting theirs — so they are withholding their applause.
But Edmontonians (or Edmonites, as the boxing impresario Don King once
called them) … oh, there are no height restrictions on the object of their
gratitude. The Little Prince (careful with the spelling) is their man.
And you know what? He probably should be.
It’s not going to figure in a legacy that will be overshadowed by ill-advised
expansion markets and lockouts — and there may always be the suspicion
that Bettman put his old NBA crony, Houston Rockets’ Les Alexander, up to
bidding on the Oilers (a charade, as it turned out) when Peter Pocklington
was trying to put pressure on the city. But on balance, taking the good with
the bad, Bettman has been a godsend to the Alberta capital.
In fact, everyone leaves a little bit unhappy, and those citizens who oppose
the city’s $219-million contribution to the now $601-million project will be
furious at the thought of tax hikes to come.
But hockey fans are delighted, because shovels may now go into the
ground, probably in August, with completion of a project that hopes to
revitalize a struggling downtown core scheduled for 2016. By then, only
Madison Square Garden will be older than Rexall Place, among NHL
buildings.
The former Edmonton Coliseum, operated by the Northlands exhibition
association that sponsors Klondike Days, or whatever it’s called this week,
and livestock shows and the Canadian Finals Rodeo, will be 42 years old,
and out to pasture.
And when the new building opens, we’re guessing Gary Bettman will take
time out of his busy schedule to show up for those rarest of occurrences:
the royal wave, followed by the standing O.
652611
NHL
Sochi Olympics next item of business for NHL
Sean Fitz-Gerald | Jan 23, 2013 9:43 PM ET | Last Updated: Jan 24, 2013
9:52 AM ET
TORONTO — Discussions regarding the National Hockey League’s
potential participation at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games are
expected to heat up within the coming weeks as officials from the league,
the NHL Players’ Association and international stakeholders make a case
for what has become a showcase event.
The issue remains in doubt, after the NHL and the NHLPA did not include
an answer to the question of the Olympics in their drawn-out collective
bargaining discussions. It had been included as an item in the previous
collective agreement.
All sides have indicated meetings will begin soon.
“No dates have been set yet,” Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson
said Wednesday. “The NHL certainly got the season up and going, and that
was their first [priority] after the collective bargaining. And now, we’ll get [the
Olympics] on the agenda and try to move this as quickly as possible.”
The NHL sent its best to the Winter Games for the first time in 1998, in
Japan. Canada ended its 50-year title drought with a gold medal win four
years later, in Salt Lake City, and won again three years ago, in Vancouver.
In an email sent Wednesday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the
question was “something we will have to address jointly with Players’
Association and IOC and IIHF in the relative near term.”
Daly said participation in the Olympics does not have to be enshrined in the
CBA.
For their part, players have indicated a strong desire to maintain their role in
the Olympic Games. Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin has
confirmed his attendance — which is good, since he has reportedly been
named a torchbearer for the build-up to the Games. (He has already been
named a “Sochi 2014 Ambassador.”)
“I’m very excited,” he said last week, in The Washington Post. “It’s a big
thing in Russia and it’s a very good thing … I’m very proud I’m one of the
guy who is going to have torch. I’m very happy and it means a lot to me.”
There is also a benefit for players who are not named to represent their
countries on the ice: The NHL’s mid-season shutdown gives them a
quadrennial winter vacation.
“I hope we’ll be able to show the NHL how this is good for them in the
future, in building their fan base,” Nicholson said. “They’re one of the only
sports that stop mid-season to go to the Olympics. And hopefully, we can
use that in a positive way.”
The NHL has a number of concerns, including access to its players during
the Olympics, and the question of how its brand benefits by shutting down
in the middle of a season. A question about television viewership was
partially answered earlier this month, though, when TSN’s coverage of the
world junior hockey championship in Ufa, Russia, delivered surprisingly
healthy viewership numbers in Canada despite the time difference.
“I think there’s an opportunity here now that’s really positive — we should
look at the game and how we build the game,” said Nicholson, who was
named vice president of the International Ice Hockey Federation in
September. “A big part of that is the Olympic Games.”
652612
Ottawa Senators
Senators complete Panther sweep
Karlsson leads the way in second win over Florida this week
By Senators 3, Panthers 1, KEn WARREN January 24, 2013
SUNRISE, Fla. — Erik Karlsson delivered a loud statement to his critics
Thursday.
The Ottawa Senators’ star defenceman did what he does best, flashing a
piece of offensive magic to break a 1-1 second period tie here against the
Florida Panthers.
From there, the Senators hung on for a nail-biting 3-1 win — Jason Spezza
scored into an empty net with 1:16 remaining — extending their perfect
record to 3-0.
If they can defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning Friday, they’ll return home to
the cold as the hottest team in the Eastern Conference to start the season.
Karlsson, stationed one stride outside the Panthers’ blueline, intercepted a
poor clearing attempt by Florida defenceman Shawn Matthias. Karlsson
then waited, and waited some more, as Marc Méthot raced from inside the
blueline to prevent an offside.
At that point, Karlsson raced towards the Panthers net on a partial
breakaway, ripping a wrist shot over the trapper of Panthers goaltender
Jose Theodore.
It was only one goal — Karlsson’s second of the season — but it was an
answer to the many critics who believe he faces an impossible task in trying
to live up to his Norris Trophy-winning season in 2011-12.
In short, Karlsson’s goal was a thing of beauty, a play only a scarce few
NHL players can make.
As impressive as it was, the Senators shouldn’t get too carried away with
themselves.
Following a quick start to the game, they also had far too many moments of
sloppiness, especially in the second period. Time and again, goaltender
Craig Anderson bailed them out of trouble.
The Panthers outshot the Senators 13-9 in the second period and Florida
players were buzzing in and around the net in the final few minutes of the
middle period. The Panthers also fanned on other glorious chances. Scott
Upshall will be having nightmares about missing a perfect setup from Alex
Kovalev.
Anderson also put himself in trouble at times due to his own careless play
outside the net. After a communication breakdown with Chris Phillips,
Anderson was forced to make a diving stop off Kovalev to save a goal.
The Senators also failed to bury the Panthers when they had the chance.
Guillaume Latendresse could have put the game out of reach on a third
period penalty shot, but his deke attempt was easily stopped by Theodore.
With seven minutes left in the game, Jakob Silfverberg rang a shot off the
post behind Theodore.
Seconds after that, Anderson saved the day, robbing Peter Mueller with an
outstanding trapper save.
At the outset, it was deja-vu all over again.
Just like in the Senators’ 4-0 win at Scotiabank Place Monday, Panthers
goaltender Jose Theodore was outstanding in the early going. The
Senators peppered him with shots from everywhere, but Theodore was at
his acrobatic best to keep the game scoreless.
The clubs then exchanged power play goals — Tomas Fleischmann scored
for Florida and Phillips for Ottawa — ending the first period deadlocked 1-1.
Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 01.25.2013
652613
Ottawa Senators
Morning skate update: Senators look to pounce on tired Panthers
The Ottawa Senators are hoping to take advantage of a fatigued Florida
Panthers team to extend their early-season winning streak to three games.
by Ken Warren
SUNRISE, Florida — The Ottawa Senators are hoping to take advantage of
a fatigued Florida Panthers team to extend their early-season winning
streak to three games.
While the Senators haven’t played since Monday’s 4-0 win over Florida, the
Panthers are playing their third game in four nights. They lost 4-1 in
Montreal Tuesday.
The Senators will make no lineup changes and goalie Craig Anderson (2-0,
0.50 goals against average) will look to extend his hot early season play.
Senators coach Paul MacLean says Anderson has benefitted from hisa
defence clearing away rebounds, limiting second and third chances.
At the same time, MacLean is stressing more consistency from his team.
Jose Theodore, the 36-year-old veteran, will draw the start in goal for the
injury-depleted Panthers.
652614
Ottawa Senators
Senators prediction panel: Game 3
The Ottawa Senators head to Florida for a rematch against the Panthers.
Which team will come out on top? Our prediction panel weighs in.
With a good chance to go 3-0 to start the year, you can bet Ottawa is ready
to do a repeat dance on the stumbling Panthers tonight. If Spezza and Alfie
can get uncorked — and chances are one of them will — it should be two
points in the bank for the visitors.
Record: 2-0
Exact scores predicted: 0
by James Gordon
Senators 3, Panthers 1
Andy’s in? Sens win.
Record: 2-0
Exact scored predicted: 0
Wayne Scanlan (@HockeyScanner), Citizen Hockey Columnist
If it ain’t broke …
Record: 2-0
Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes), Sportnet.ca Senators reporter and blogger
and defending prediction panel champion
I’m now determined to make sure I correctly predict the Sens’ first loss of
the season.
Record: 0-2
Graeme Nichols (@6thSens), writer/editor, The Sixth Sens blog and
podcast
Craig Anderson is 8-0-1 in his career against Florida and will get the start
tonight? Good enough for me. I’m starting to believe that when Eugene
Melnyk says, “We are the envy…”, he is referring to the team’s soft
schedule to start the season.
Record: 1-1
Steve Lloyd (@Steve_Lloyd), host, In the Box on Team 1200
You can only play the games that are on the schedule, but having said that,
the schedule is pretty soft for the Sens to start this season. They take
advantage of that again here.
Record: 1-1
Peter Raaymakers (@silversevensens), writer/editor, Silver Seven Sens
blog
Although I don’t think this game will be as one-sided as the last matchup
between these two teams, there’s no reason the Senators shouldn’t walk
away with another win. The Panthers were just abysmal last game, virtually
top to bottom, and I don’t see where the answers to their problems will
come from in the short term (obligatory Kovalev reference).
Record: 1-1
Jeremy Milks (@BlackAcesOttawa), writer/editor, Black Aces blog
652615
Ottawa Senators
Dubnyk undaunted by Luongo rumours
Oilers goalie remains confident in ability
By Jim Matheson, Postmedia News January 24, 2013
As an NHL goal-tender, you're paid to stop everything that comes your way.
If only it was that easy when it comes to trade rumours.
Devan Dubnyk admits he has heard all the talk about the possibility of
Vancouver Canucks' goalie Roberto Luongo being shipped to his Edmonton
Oilers, and a rough outing against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night Dubnyk was pulled after the first period after allowing six goals on 17 shots
- certainly didn't help his case for keeping the starter's job in Edmonton.
"It's certainly frustrating at times, but I've always said I'm confident I can do
this job," said the 26-year-old Dubnyk. "I feel like my teammates feel the
same way and so does the organization."
The Oilers are the alleged mystery team in the running for Luongo, even
though it makes little sense to be bringing in a 33-year-old with nine years
left on his contract, especially when they haven't given a legitimate
opportunity to Dubnyk, a goalie in which they've invested 8½ years. The
Canucks are also apparently targeting centre Sam Gagner as part of the
package.
So has Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini told Dubnyk the Luongo
rumours are just that?
"I think Tamby knows me well enough he doesn't have to pull me aside to
tell me not to worry about it," said Dubnyk.
So in other words, Tambel-lini hasn't done it? "No, he hasn't," said Dub-nyk,
with a broad grin. "That's okay. It's not my spot to worry about."
"Last year I went through the trade talk and that was tougher. It was the first
time I'd been through it," said Ga-gner, whose father, longtime NHLer Dave
Gagner, works for Vancouver.
"Now? I know what I have to focus on. That's playing my game, helping the
Oilers win. We've got a good group and it's exciting to be part of this."
Dubnyk is expected to play about 40 of the 48 games in this lockoutshortened sea-son, depending on when Nikolai Khabibulin's hip gets
healthy enough for him to back up.
652616
Ottawa Senators
Gudbranson proves to be an excellent communicator ...
Panthers employ defence duo with deep Ottawa ties ... Oilers interested in
Bishop, but he’s not going anywhere yet
By Bruce Garrioch
,Ottawa Sun
SUNRISE, Fla. — Erik Gudbranson wasn’t going to keep a secret from his
team or, more importantly, his teammates.
After injuring his shoulder in a wakeboarding accident before what was
supposed to be the start of camp in September, the Florida Panthers
defenceman called each of his teammates to apologize for not being
careful.
“These are the guys that I work with,” said Gudbranson Thursday before the
Senators faced the Panthers. “I’m not going to lie to them. I think I’m a
reasonably respected guy in this room and I’m an honest person.
“The first person I called was (GM) Dale Tallon and told him what
happened. There’s no point in lying to guys like this. You expect that they’ll
have your back and I expect nothing less from any of them. It gave them all
respect to tell them all what happened and give them a personal call and to
talk to them in person. I think it went a long way.”
Gudbranson, an Orléans native, was a first-round pick of the Panthers in
2010. He is currently suspended without pay as a result of the incident and
is rehabbing to try to get back to playing as soon as possible. He said being
back in two weeks isn’t out of the question.
“It’s not there yet. but it’s moving along every day and making
improvements,” said Gudbranson.
Gudbranson spent part of the lockout working with a personal trainer at
Louis Riel high school in Orléans and skated after Christmas with the GeeGees.
Yes, Gudbranson lived in his parents’ basement.
“I live two minutes from the gym and that’s exactly where I need to be,” said
Gudbranson. “Staying at home, and having your parents on top of you, as
childish as it sounds, it’s good to have your dad there saying, ‘Get up and
go to the gym.’
“That was never a problem, but it was good to have them around to do that
and it certainly really helped.”
AROUND THE BOARDS
Former 67’s D Brian Campbell has enjoyed playing with former Senators D
Filip Kuba in Florida. The duo has been together since Day 1, but Campbell
admits it has been an adjustment after spending most of the last season
with Jason Garrison. “So far so good,” said Campbell. “It’s a little different
when you don’t play any pre-season games with a new guy. Overall, for me
at least, I know where’s he’s going to be. There’s a lot of communication. I
know Kuba isn’t the loudest guy, but I can hear him on the ice. How big? It’s
definitely an adjustment. Everybody wants to have the same partner if
things are going good. Jason and I were a good tandem last year. I
definitely like what I’ve seen in Kuba.” ... LW Colin Greening was left
shaking his head after getting turned away by a great pad stop from Florida
G Jose Theodore in the first. Gotta bury those ones as they don’t come
along often.
MAKES YOU GO HMMM
Coach Paul MacLean couldn’t fully explain why G Craig Anderson went into
Thursday’s game with an 8-0-1 lifetime record vs. the Panthers, but he feels
confidence matters. “I had goalies I always used to love to play against
because I knew I’d score a goal,” said MacLean. “Then, there’s other ones
you didn’t want to play against because (he’d think), ‘I’m not getting
anything tonight.’ It’s kind of a mindset a little bit for players as they go
along. The biggest thing about Craig is he’s consistent.” MacLean wouldn’t
comment on what goalies he had success against. “It would still hurt their
feelings,” he said ... The Senators passed on St. Louis D Jeff Woywitka on
waivers Thursday because he isn’t an upgrade ... NHL ice guru Dan Craig
was in Florida to make sure the conditions at the BB&T Center are decent.
He and his crew have hit the road early in this shortened season to make
sure ice is acceptable ... Florida C Stephen Weiss was a late scratch with
what was being called a lower body injury ... Could have sworn I saw
Florida’s Alexei Kovalev trying once. Nah, must have been seeing things ...
If Ottawa RW Jakob Silfverberg keeps improving, he’ll be a candidate for
the rookie of the year.
OFF THE GLASS
The Edmonton Oilers have interest in backup G Ben Bishop, but the
Senators aren’t ready to make a move. They want to see how Bishop
performs once he starts playing — which could be as early as Friday vs.
Tampa Bay — and if the market increases once Vancouver Canucks G
Roberto Luongo is dealt ... Ottawa D Chris Phillips scored at the end of a
power play in the first. That’s only his 16th goal with the man advantage in
his 1,028-game career.
THE LAST WORD
Nice to see Florida mascot Stanley C. Panther back in action. The
Panthers’ top cheerleader was one of the unfortunate victims of the lockout
and was laid off. Stanley is still the second-best cat mascot in the NHL
behind Spartacat, of course.
Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.25.2013
652617
Ottawa Senators
Defence
Eric Brewer-Matt Carle
Ottawa Senators NHL gameday vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Victor Hedman-Sami Salo
Brian Lee-M.A. Bergeron
By Bruce Garrioch
,Ottawa Sun
Goalies
Anders Lindback
Ottawa Senators (2-0-0) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2-1-0)
Mathieu Garon
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Tampa Bay Times Forum
Ottawa
TV: Sportsnet, Radio: Team 1200
Forwards
SPECIAL TEAMS
Milan Michalek-Jason Spezza-Jakob Silfverberg
OTT: PP 33.3% No. 7; PK 88.9% No. 6
Guillaume Latendresse-Kyle Turris-Daniel Alfredsson
TBL: PP 25% No. 13; PK 81.2% No. 14
Colin Greening-Zack Smith-Chris Neil
LAST FIVE
Peter Regin-Jim O'Brien-Erik Condra
Ottawa
Defence
OTT 4, WPG 1
Erik Karlsson-Marc Methot
OTT 4, FLA 0
Sergei Gonchar-Chris Phillips
OTT @ FLA
Andre Benoit-Patrick Wiercioch
OTT @ TBL
Goalies
PIT @ OTT
Craig Anderson
Tampa
Ben Bishop
TBL 6, WAS 3
PLUS: The Senators are 47-22-2-3 all-time against the Bolts after they
swept the season series in 2011-12. The 47 victories vs. Tampa are the
most by Ottawa against any non-division opponent ... The Senators have
one victory in Tampa in nine of the last 10 seasons ... C Kyle Turris scored
his first goal in an Ottawa uniform in a 4-1 victory over the Bolts Jan. 5,
2012 at home ... C Jason Spezza had the fourth hat trick of his career Feb.
14 in Tampa ... Goalie Ben Bishop scored his first win with Ottawa vs.
Tampa on March 6 -- a 7-3 victory.
NYI 4, TBL 3
TBL 4, CAR 1
OTT @ TBL
PHI @ TBL
SIZING UP THE SIDES
Forwards: OTT
The Senators have more balanced scoring than Bolts
Defence: OTT
Senators defence has been surprisingly good early
Goaltending: OTT
Not sure Anders Lindback will steady the Bolts
Power play: EVEN
MINUS: This will be the first of eight sets of back-to-back games the
Senators will play in this shortened schedule. Ottawa was 7-8-2 in the first
half of back-to-backs last season and 9-5-3 in the second game ... The
Senators will have to endure another pre-game ceremony -- the club's third
this week. The Bolts will honour Vinny Lecavalier for his 1,000th NHL game
played Monday on the road vs. the New York Islanders. Still a nice
milestone for Lecavalier, isn't it? .. Senators dealt D Brian Lee to Tampa
last year at trade deadline for D Matt Gilroy.
INJURIES
SENS: D Jared Cowen (hip); D Mike Lundin (thumb)
Both teams have plenty of firepower if they get chances
Lightning: RW J.T. Brown (shoulder); D Mattias Ohlund (knee); D Matt
Taormina (undisclosed).
Penalty killing: EVEN
Hard to say who has the advantage here. Nobody.
Coaching: OTT
Let's just say Guy Boucher has pressure to win ... now
Overall: OTT
Senators need to keep getting these points early.
ROSTERS
Tampa Bay
Forwards
Martin St. Louis-Steven Stamkos-Ryan Malone
Cory Conacher-Vincent Lecavalier-Teddy Purcell
Nate Thompson-Adam Hall-B.J. Crombeen
J.T. Wyman-Tom Pyatt-Brett Connolly
652618
Ottawa Senators
“Especially when it’s sometimes a lot of games before the next one comes.
Everyone feels really good,” Phillips said.
Ottawa Senators drop Florida Panthers in back-to-back games
Holding a two-man advantage for a stretch of 1:01, Ottawa didn’t get many
shots, but did have opportunities. Latendresse wasn’t able to beat
Theodore with a deke and Karlsson followed up by missing the net.
By Bruce Garrioch
The Senators outshot the Panthers 16-7 in the first, however, Theodore
pretty much stood his ground.
,Ottawa Sun
SUNRISE, Fla. — Don’t ever accuse Craig Anderson of not being able to
stand the heat.
The Senators’ top goalie scored his second straight victory over the Florida
Panthers this week Thursday night. Chris Phillips, Erik Karlsson and Jason
Spezza chipped in with goals at the BB&T Center as the Senators remained
unbeaten following a 3-1 victory.
The Senators have won three straight to open the season for the first time
since 2007-08. Anderson made 25 saves, improving his lifetime record to 90-1 vs. the Panthers.
Anderson, who makes his off-season home in nearby Coral Springs and
spent three years with Florida from 2006-09, returned to one of his old
haunts and continued to make life difficult for the struggling Panthers.
“I’m just trying to give you guys stuff to write about,” Anderson said with a
smile. “Overall, we did what we had to do to get the win. We take this one
game at a time.”
After shutting out the Panthers with 31 stops Monday in Ottawa, Anderson
didn’t give Florida an inch. Only Tomas Fleischmann was able to score for
Florida in the first period before he and the Senators completely shut the
door.
There were plenty of doubters after Anderson didn’t play during the lockout.
He was expected to be challenged by either Ben Bishop or Robin Lehner
for playing time, but the veteran has shown why he’s the No. 1.
The Senators could have put this away midway through third when
Guillaume Latendresse was awarded a penalty shot after being taken down
by Florida’s Brian Campbell. But Latendresse couldn’t even get a shot off
on Jose Theodore.
“You’ve got to score on those,” Latendresse said.
Fortunately, it didn’t hurt in the end.
Coach Paul MacLean was pleased with the effort.
“We feel fortunate to come out with the win,” he said. “We stuck to it. We
didn’t get frustrated when things didn’t go our way. We found a way to get
momentum back on our side. I thought we established our game in the third
and that made a big difference.”
The Senators started strong, but they took their foot off the pedal in the
second period and had to rely on Anderson to make the kind of stops he’s
been making through this season. His best came after a giveaway by
Phillips in his own zone.
When the puck slid off Phillips’ stick and went to former Senators winger
Alexei Kovalev’s in the Ottawa zone, Anderson had to hustle to get back
across his crease to make a save on the ex- Ottawa underachiever.
Florida pulled out to a 1-0 lead with Fleischmann’s first of the season at
8:24. He fired a shot through Anderson’s five-hole, which had to leave the
Panthers breathing a sigh of relief on their bench after getting shut out
Monday in Ottawa.
The Senators close out this road trip Friday by travelling across the state to
face the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Gamebox:
FIRST PERIOD: Theodore big pad stop on Greening rebound alone in front
... Theodore glove stop on Methot ... On the PP, Fleischmann beats
Anderson five-hole ... Latendresse can put it home in alone on 5-on-3 ...
Phillips stick side goal Theodore on the PP ... Good glove stop by Anderson
on Kovalev.
SHOTS: OTT 16, FLA 7
SECOND PERIOD: Anderson glove stop on Kuba ... Anderson stops
Huberdeau in alone and then halts Santorelli on the follow-up with a pad on
PP ... Theodore halts Methot in deep and then Karlsson picks corner stick
side ... Anderson slides across to halt Kovalev ... Theodore stops
Latendresse in front.
THIRD PERIOD: Gonchar’s shot from the point is halted by Theodore ...
Latendresse taken down and penalty shot awarded. He doesn’t get shot off
chance ... Silfverberg hits post ... Anderson makes glove stop on Mueller ...
Spezza is able to put this away with the Panthers’ net empty.
THREE STARS
Craig Anderson, OTT: People were actually worried he wasn’t going to be
sharp after the lockout? Please.
Erik Karlsson, OTT: He keeps this up and he’s going to be a repeat winner
of the Norris Trophy in a shortened season.
Jose Theodore, FLA: He had to hold his Panthers’ teammates in there with
plenty of injuries.
THUMBS UP
Chris Phillips doesn’t get a lot of goals but he was able to get a shot
through on Jose Theodore.
THUMBS DOWN
Guillaume Letendresse has a penalty shot in the third period and he doesn’t
even get a shot off.
TURNING POINT
That wasn’t the only good stop Anderson made. His best may have been on
Peter Mueller with his glove with six minutes left in the game. It’s no wonder
the Senators have won 11 of their last 13 games against the Panthers.
Erik Karlsson picks up the puck at the blueline and beats Jose Theodore
high on the stick side in the second.
The Senators were outshot 13-9 in the second, but they were ahead on the
scoreboard 2-1. Karlsson’s second of the season at 8:28 of the second beat
Theodore on the stick side and he never stood a chance.
Just moments after Theodore had made huge back-to-back stops with
Peter Regin and Marc Methot crashing the crease, Karlsson fired a seeingeye shot into the top corner that was a bullet for the Super Swede’s fourth
point in three games.
The club’s first two goals came from the blueline.
Phillips, who so rarely scores, tied it up with his first since March 24 on the
power play. He fired it by Theodore on the stick side at 11:25 of the first to
tie it up 1-1 after the Senators had missed brilliant chances on a 5-on-3.
Phillips was happy to contribute.
[email protected]
652619
Ottawa Senators
Florida Panthers forward George Parros happy to put NHL CBA
negotiations behind him
By Bruce Garrioch
,Ottawa Sun
SUNRISE, Fla. — After being on the front lines for the battle between the
NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, George Parros is happy to be on
the fourth line with the Florida Panthers.
Signed as a UFA by the Panthers in the off-season, Parros, 33, who was on
the union’s bargaining committee and sat in on several meetings, admitted
Thursday he wondered if there was going to be any hockey at all this
season.
“Certainly there was (times he didn’t think they’d play),” said Parros. “There
was a lot of times I thought we were wasting our time and we weren’t
getting anywhere. There was little and long stretches of times where it was
pretty discouraging.
“It wasn’t what we would have hoped for, but we’re back on the ice
anyway.”
Part of the inner circle with NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr and
many of the players that regularly attended the sessions, Parros said
several bargaining sessions were pointless.
“There were a lot of days spent having philosophical discussions on where
the game was,” said Parros. “There were plenty of times where I flew
across the country for meetings that didn’t have to take place because
nothing was really accomplished. That was the frustrating part.”
Parros felt NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s plan was to try to hurt the
union financially and force the players to give in long before the lockout
stretched into mid-January.
“It was certainly the NHL’s plan to do a lockout first and squeeze us a little
bit,” said Parros. “That was their option of first resort. I don’t think their plan
all along was to take it this far. I think their plan was to lock us out, show
some pressure and we’d cave well before this time.
“They were willing to push us the distance and we found out what their
threshold was and got things done at the end.”
He said the players’ resolve forced Bettman to make a deal to save the
season earlier this month.
“It was just a time issue for the NHL. They had a timeline that they knew
they had to get something done by,” said Parros. “Their plan all along was
to lock us out, make us feel pressure and hope that we’d cave before that
timeline. At the end of the day, they weren’t willing to lose the season and
we just found that point (where the NHL wanted to play).”
The players are happy to see full buildings and record TV ratings in the first
week.
“It’s unfortunate the lockout happened, but the fact there was so much
outcry just shows the passion of the fans,” said Parros. “We’re happy to
have them back. We’re glad the game hasn’t taken a total hit to the chin.
“Maybe it will going forward, but the signs are good early on that we’ve
rebounded. I hope they forgive us. It’s hard to forget. We’re just happy to be
back playing.”
652620
Philadelphia Flyers
Broken foot will sideline Flyers' Scott Hartnell 4-8 weeks
The Flyers put 6-7 goalie Niko Hovinen on unconditional waivers after he
had a 3.14 goals-against average and .889 save percentage for Trenton in
the ECHL. Each team is allowed to have 50 players on its roster, and the
Flyers are at 49 with Knuble. Scott Laughton will be the 50th if he plays in a
sixth game.
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.25.2013
Sam Carchidi,
Flyers winger Scott Hartnell will miss four to eight weeks with a broken
bone in his left foot, general manager Paul Holmgren announced in a grim
tone before Thursday's game against the New York Rangers.
About an hour later, he was more upbeat, announcing that the Flyers were
bringing back 40-year-old winger Mike Knuble, an unrestricted free agent,
to fill Hartnell's roster spot.
Hartnell, who led the Flyers with a career-high 37 goals last season,
suffered the injury when inadvertently hit by a shot taken by teammate
Kimmo Timonen in New Jersey on Tuesday.
"He's a big loss because of how he plays the game," said Holmgren, who
said the medical staff was still deciding if surgery was needed. "A month or
two months is a tough pill to swallow."
Especially in a shortened season.
The Flyers reacted quickly, agreeing to sign Knuble, who had six goals in
72 games with Washington last season. Knuble, a Flyer from 2005-06 to
2008-08, was playing for AHL Grand Rapids on a 25-game tryout contract.
Knuble, a classy man regarded as one of the game's best leaders,
averaged 28.5 goals per season during his four years with the Flyers. He
will officially sign Friday after he has a physical, Holmgren said.
"Obviously we're familiar with Mike. He was here for a few years, and he's a
good guy. A good, big, and heavy player," Holmgren said. "We think he's a
good guy to throw in the mix right now."
Knuble played one game with Grand Rapids, the Detroit Red Wings' AHL
affiliate. He had an assist in Wednesday's contest.
"He's excited to come back," Holmgren said. "He's familiar with some of our
players. There's still a few guys left here from when he last played. . . . He'll
be an excellent role model to our young guys."
Holmgren said Knuble "isn't a 20-minute player like he used to be, but he
can certainly give us a fair amount of minutes in certain situations. I think he
still knows how to play the game. With Washington last year, at the end of
the year and in the playoffs, he was playing on a fairly regular basis for
them.
"It's a real good addition for us."
Other free-agent forwards are still on the market, including Jason Arnott,
Marco Sturm, and Petr Sykora.
As for Hartnell's injury, Holmgren was asked if more players should wear
protective skate guards.
"It hinders guys a little bit," he said. "You don't want to mess with a player's
skates. . . . Obviously it's an issue. I think in the last five years we've had
[Simon] Gagne, Brayden Schenn, Jeff Carter, [Chris] Pronger, and Scotty
now with similar injuries from blocking shots."
Briere update
Danny Briere, sidelined all season with a hairline fracture of his left wrist,
continues to make progress, and Holmgren said there was a "50/50"
chance he could play this weekend.
Sestito debut
Flyers winger Tom Sestito, trying to regain his form after groin surgery last
February, was excelling in England during the lockout - until he was stricken
with the mumps.
"It's been a down time, but no team better than to go back at it than the
Rangers," Sestito said before making his season debut.
It didn't take long for Sestito to get involved. He got into a fight with Stu
Bickel 2 minutes, 37 seconds into the game.
Roster shuffle
652621
Philadelphia Flyers
Hartnell will miss 4-8 weeks; Knuble returning
Sam Carchidi,
Flyers winger Scott Hartnell, who scored a career-high 37 goals last
season, will miss four to eight weeks with a broken bone in his left foot, GM
Paul Holmgren said on Thursday.
The loss is more crippling than normal because of the shortened 48-game
season.
Former Flyer Mike Knuble will return to the team, a source sad. He will play
this weekend in Florida and Tampa Bay. He was with AHL Grand Rapids,
the Red Wings' affiliate.
Holmgren will also explore the trade market.
As for unrestricted free agent forwards still available, the list includes Marco
Sturm, Jason Arnott and Petr Sykora.
652622
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers waive Hovinen, create flexibility
Staff
The Flyers have placed goaltender Niko Hovinen, who has spent the
season with the Trenton Titans, on unconditional waivers with the intent of
mutual termination of his contract.
Hovinen, a 6-foot-7 monster in net, did not impress in Phantoms training
camp in September and was assigned to the ECHL. In Trenton, Hovinen
sported an unsightly 3.14 goals against-average and .889 save percentage.
There were whispers that the organization did not appreciate his lacking
work ethic.
The deal works for both sides. Hovinen, it seems, would much rather go
back and play in his native Finland, and the Flyers have a glut of
goaltenders (3) in Adirondack: Scott Munroe, Cal Heeter and Brian
Boucher.
Why does this matter for the Flyers?
If (or once, since it seems likely at this point with injuries) rookie Scott
Laughton plays his 6th game with the Flyers, his contract will no longer
“slide” on the NHL register and this shortened campaign will count as oneyear on his entry-level contract.
Why does that matter for the Flyers?
Once Laughton’s contract counts, they will be at the 50-contract limit, as
imposed by the NHL.
Hence, the Flyers will have no maneuverability to sign a free agent or
accept multiple players in a deal. With Scott Hartnell (left foot) potentially
out for an extended period of time, and Danny Briere (wrist) and Zac
Rinaldo (leg laceration) already on the shelf, the Flyers need bodies.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has significantly more wiggle room
with only 49 contracts on the books, aside from the fact that this move also
clears a logjam of netminders.
Hovinen's contract can be terminated as soon as he clears waivers on
Friday at noon. Stay tuned.
652623
Philadelphia Flyers
Depleted Flyers try to end skid(s)
Sam Carchidi,
The New York Rangers have owned the Flyers in recent seasons, and that
domination is expected to continue Thursday night at the Wells Fargo
Center.
Since late in the 2010-11 season, the Rangers have won eight straight in
the rivalry, outscoring the Flyers by a combined 34-13.
The Flyers have lost three straight to start the season, and they have
dropped seven in a row if you include last year's playoffs.
Trying to avoid their first 0-4 start in franchise history, the Flyers will be
missing four regular forwards _ Scott Hartnell (foot injury), Danny Briere
(wrist), Zac Rinaldo (leg) and Brayden Schenn (one-game suspension).
Thus, Peter Laviolette will have to scramble the lines. If he goes with a bigbody player to replace Hartnell, Tye McGinn could move to the top line with
Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek. Or he might move Wayne Simmonds
onto that unit.
There are many possibilities for the lines; assuming no one is recalled from
the Phantoms, here are some of them:
Giroux centering McGinn and Voracek.
Sean Couturier centering Ruslan Fedotenko and Matt Read. (This was a
unit Tuesday in New Jersey).
Scott Laughton centering Simmonds and Max Talbot.
Eric Wellwood centering Tom Sestito and Jody Shelley.
652624
Philadelphia Flyers
Mike Knuble returns to Flyers
Sam Carchidi,
By agreeing to terms with unrestricted free-agent Mike Knuble on Thursday,
the Flyers are getting an unquestioned leader and someone who can cause
havoc in front, especially on the power play.
The move was made because Scott Hartnell has a broken foot and will be
sidelined for four to eight weeks.
Knuble, 40, will sign a one-year, $750,000 deal and have a physical
performed Friday. It’s safe to assume he’ll pass, since he was playing for
the Detroit Red Wings’ AHL team, Grand Rapids, on Wednesday.
“He’s a big, strong forward, a quality person in the locker room,” coach
Peter Laviolette said after the shorthanded Flyers outlasted the visiting New
York Rangers, 2-1, for their first win of the year Thursday. “I think that can
be real helpful. Our group of forwards is young….and to have a guy like that
with his leadership and experience is important.”
In four seasons with the Flyers from 2005-06 to 2008-09, Knuble averaged
28.5 goals per year. He’s not the same player he was back then, but he DID
play well for Washington in last year’s playoffs. That followed a regular
season in which he managed just six goals in limited time.
Knuble,a 6-foot-3, 230-pound right winger, has 274 career goals, and he is
immensely respected by his peers.
“He’s played a long time in this league. He’s a good player and has great
presence,” said winger Wayne Simmonds, who had a goal and six shots
Thursday. “I think I can learn a lot from him. “
“He’s a big guy in front,” forward Max Talbot said. “He tips a lot of pucks
and is a dangerous weapon in front of the net. We always need a guy like
that.”
Talbot acknowledged that Hartnell, who led the Flyers with a career-high 37
goals last year is a “tough guy to replace….but Mike is going to bring a lot
and I am excited to have him.”
Meszaros injured. Andrej Meszaros, arguably the Flyers’ best defenseman
in the early going, was injured when hit by the Rangers’ Ryan Callahan late
in second period and did not play in the final period. He appeared to injure
his left shoulder, and he had his arm in a sling after the game.
GM Paul Holmgren said Meszaros, who had Achilles surgery in the offseason, would be re-evaluated on Friday.
Breakaways. With Hartnell sidelined, Braydon Coburn was one of the
alternate captains Thursday…..Because of the compressed schedule, the
Flyers are being given a lot of days off. They will not practice Friday and will
play in Florida on Saturday……Nick Grossmann (five blocks, tone-setting
check on Marian Gaborik) had his best game of the season……The line of
Tye McGinn (22 years old), Sean Couturier (20) and Scott Laughton (18)
has an average age of 20 years, four months….The top line Thursday had
Claude Giroux centering Simmonds and Matt Read, and they combined for
11 shots. The Flyers outshot the Rangers, 33-19.
652625
Philadelphia Flyers
Hartnell out 4 to 6 weeks; Knuble returns
FRANK SERAVALLI,
SCOTT HARTNELL sat out Thursday night with an injury for the first time
since joining the Flyers six seasons ago. It was just the fourth game he has
missed overall - two due to suspension and one due to illness.
Turns out, there's a good reason: Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren
revealed Hartnell fractured a left metatarsal bone in his foot, which may end
up needing surgery. He suffered the injury with 6:53 to play in Tuesday's
loss to New Jersey.
The Flyers' leading goal scorer from last season could miss anywhere from
4 to 6 weeks, depending on a possible surgery. Holmgren said he would
confer with team doctors and make a decision soon.
"Basically, it's his big toe," Holmgren said. "I think, when I saw it, it looked
like it hit him on the [skate] laces."
With Hartnell out and Brayden Schenn suspended, the Flyers were forced
to dress extra forwards Jody Shelley and Tom Sestito. But they may have
reinforcements coming soon.
Holmgren said that Danny Briere, who has not played since sustaining a
hairline fracture in his wrist on Dec. 28 in Germany, is a "50/50" shot to play
this weekend. He also announced the return of Mike Knuble, who signed a
1-year, pro-rated contract for $750,000.
Knuble, 40, failed to earn a contract with Detroit as a training-camp invite.
He signed a 25-game contract with his hometown Grand Rapids (Mich.)
Griffins of the AHL, where he made his first and only appearance of the
season on Wednesday.
Knuble was drafted into the NHL in 1991, before his new teammates Scott
Laughton, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier were born.
Holmgren said the Flyers signed Knuble sight unseen; they did not have a
scout in Grand Rapids and he did not seek an evaluation from Red Wings
GM Kenny Holland. Knuble played four seasons with the Flyers, from 2005
to 2009, racking up 221 points in 310 games.
"We believe he's a good guy to throw in the mix," Holmgren said. "Mike's
been around a long time. He will be a tremendous role model for our young
players, he's a guy who shows up for work. I don't think he's a 20-minute a
night player like he used to be, but he knows what he needs to do."
Knuble could play as soon as this weekend in Florida. He will arrive in
Philadelphia on Friday morning to undergo a physical with team doctors
before signing a contract and participating in practice.
Knuble had a tough season last year under coach Dale Hunter in
Washington, where he was buried mostly on the fourth line, which may
have cost him a contract this year. After netting 40 points in 2011-12,
Knuble produced his lowest offensive totals (six goals, 18 points) in a
decade and was a minus-15.
Messages left for Knuble seeking comment on his cell phone went
unreturned.
"I talked to Mike multiple times today, he's excited to come back," Holmgren
said. "Being familiar with the team and some of the players and the
organization was one of the things that attracted him to coming back."
Abuse of power?
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said Wednesday that he was looking for
"clarity" from the NHL regarding the two "abuse of official" penalties his
team was whistled for Tuesday night in New Jersey.
Both Laviolette and captain Claude Giroux were called for separate, 2minute minor offenses, which were explained to the crowd as
"unsportsmanlike conduct."
"It's a new interpretation of what's allowed and what's not allowed,"
Laviolette said. "It's a difficult thing. I just want clarity, because we can't
afford to take them and we need to give direction to our team on it."
Through a league spokesman, NHL vice president and director of officiating
Terry Gregson told the Daily News on Thursday that he has given his
referees "no such directive" for a change in enforcement of the penalty. It
seems to just be a change in how the penalty is documented on the
scoresheet.
The NHL said a total of four "abuse of official" penalties were called last
season. There have been three handed out in the first week of this
shortened season, including the Flyers' two.
Giroux admitted that it was an "emotional" moment of the game, with his
team trailing the Devils, 3-0.
"I just yelled at him that I wasn't happy with the call," Giroux said. "I'm an
emotional guy and I was yelling and he didn't like it, so he called it."
652626
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers earn big win over New York Rangers, 2-1
Officially, the Flyers say Meszaros has an upper-body injury and will be
evaluated on Friday. Meszaros exited the building wearing a left-shoulder
sling to immobilize the area. He underwent surgery on March 3, 2009, while
with Tampa Bay, to repair a torn labrum in the same shoulder. He missed
nearly 6 months of action.
Slap shots
FRANK SERAVALLI,
FLYERS ROOKIE Tye McGinn could barely sit still in the penalty box.
Three days into his first cup of coffee in the NHL, McGinn was on the hook.
An innocuous high-stick, as he was scrambling for a puck in the corner,
drew blood for a 4-minute, potentially game-changing penalty.
Teammate Nicklas Grossmann joined him in the box 15 seconds later.
Somehow clinging to a one-goal lead with 10 minutes to play, the Flyers
were already without Scott Hartnell, Brayden Schenn, Danny Briere and
Zac Rinaldo. Their penalty kill entered the night an atrocious 10-for-16 (63
percent). Oh, and the Flyers were winless - both this season and against
the Rangers in their last eight tries.
A five-on-three advantage for a full 2 minutes was the open door the
Rangers needed to crawl back into a contest in which they had been
dominated. New York had already scored once on the power play early in
the period.
"It was pretty nerve-racking, I'm not going to lie," McGinn said. "I was on the
edge of the bench the entire time, hoping that my teammates would find a
way to bail me out."
For the remaining 3 minutes and 45 seconds of his stay in the box, Max
Talbot, Ruslan Fedotenko, Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux took turns
relentlessly diving and swatting loose pucks deep into the Rangers' end.
With each subsequent lofting of the puck back toward Henrik Lundqvist,
roars from the 19,956 jammed into the Wells Fargo Center grew louder until
McGinn was sprung free.
The Flyers rode the momentum from a supposedly energy-sapping kill to a
2-1 victory over New York, exorcising a long-lingering demon that has been
the Rangers.
"With the game on the line, I think guys did a tremendous job," said Ilya
Bryzgalov, who stopped 18 of 19 shots. "We beat a great team today. Most
importantly, we played great hockey. Guys played unbelievable. The team
looked sharp [in the] crease. It was a great sacrifice guys made, blocking
shots. Nobody cheated."
It was the Flyers' first win over the Rangers since Feb. 20, 2011, back when
just five players in Thursday night's lineup still played for the team. In doing
so, the Flyers picked up their first win of the season (1-3-0) and avoided
their worst start in franchise history.
In many ways, Thursday's victory was a cure-all. Lundqvist was beaten
twice by rebound goals, a product of the Flyers' oft-preached more-traffic-infront, and both special teams righted their early-season wrongs.
"We needed a game like that," Talbot said. "It gives us confidence since it's
the beginning of the year. The power play, PK and special teams haven't
been as good as we wanted them to be. We built a lot from tonight's game.
I think we played solid for the most part of the game. We can take this with
us and keep building."
Collectively, for 1 day at least, the Flyers could exhale. Even with their
mounting injuries, they awoke on Friday just two points out of first place in
the Eastern Conference.
"Nobody wanted to be in the position that we were in," coach Peter
Laviolette said. "If we were playing Pittsburgh tonight and we got our first
win against Pittsburgh, we'd be a happy team. It's one win in the column
and we can move forward. The fact that it's a division game, it gets us on
the board and two points closer to playoff spots. You start to work back and
digging out of that little bit of a hole."
Meszaros hurt
Defenseman Andrej Meszaros hobbled off the ice at the end of the second
period clutching his left shoulder, just a few seconds after being crunched
by Rangers forward Ryan Callahan.
The Flyers' current 1-3-0 record matches their start in the 1994-95 lockout
shortened season . . . New York traded Abington native Chad Kolarik to
Pittsburgh early on Thursday . . . Brayden Schenn served his one-game
suspension for charging. He is eligible to return to the lineup Saturday in
Florida . . . The Flyers unconditionally waived goaltender Niko Hovinen with
the intent to terminate his contract. Terminating Hovinen's deal, coupled
with the signing of Mike Knuble on Friday, will leave the Flyers at 49
contracts toward the limit of 50. Rookie Scott Laughton's sixth game on
Sunday would put them at the limit.
652627
Philadelphia Flyers
For Flyers, solid Bryz would go long way in short season
ahead, and the most important thing is not so much to be in the lead on the
first turn as it is to not put yourself in an untenable position.
Which, again, is why Bryzgalov's early play has been so significant.
Because as long as he is good, this thing has a long way yet to run.
Rich Hofmann,
THE FLYERS were oh-for-three this season and playing against a Rangers
team against whom they were seemingly oh-for-forever - and so, of course,
they played great. Desperation can be your best friend sometimes.
And after it was over, goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, the philosopher king, said
this:
"We beat a great team today and, most importantly, we played great hockey
. . . If we continue to play like that, we'll probably get lots of wins."
What he said was as simple as it was truthful. There are no great
conclusions to be drawn here, not yet. The Flyers were not in danger of
anything on Thursday night, not really, not unless you consider death-bysmall-sample-size to be a legitimate concern.
It really is early still. The biggest issue is the injuries that multiply by the
hour, it seems. They should be getting Danny Briere back for the weekend,
which is the good news. But Scott Hartnell has a broken foot and could be
out for 2 months - and the signing of Mike Knuble will not fill those minutes.
And now defenseman Andrej Meszaros might have a shoulder injury, an
oft-troubled area for him.
That all of this is not good is obvious enough. But what it does, more than
anything, is place increasing importance on the play of No. 30 in the Flyers'
net. That Bryzgalov's play has gone largely unnoticed and uncommented
upon through the first four games might be the best news the Flyers have
received.
We all know the roller-coaster history of Flyers goaltenders in general and
this goaltender in particular. With the team around him, and especially the
special teams, trying to get their legs under them, the Flyers cannot
possibly deal with a wild ride here from Bryzgalov. And what they have
gotten is solid, dependable, focused play.
The game against the Rangers turned in the third period during a 4-minute
Rangers power play - with 2 of the minutes being a five-on-three power
play. A lot of players did a lot of simple, clutch things during that stretch,
which ended with the building playoff-loud and the Flyers obviously
confident - but Bryzgalov led them. Again, it was simple and focused,
draining the emotion out of a tense moment.
"It was huge," Bryzgalov said. "With the game on the line, I think guys did a
tremendous job."
He said he hoped it would be a confidence builder for the team going
forward - but, really, who knows? Because that is the thing about this bunch
of Flyers. While they are not offensively challenged, it isn't as if the goals
are going to arrive for these guys in an avalanche. This is going to have to
be a persistent, hard-working operation over the long haul.
That was the kind of game this was - a lot of hitting, a couple of fights, the
classic organizational mix. A questioner wondered if Bryzgalov thought this
game exemplified "Flyers hockey."
This was his reply:
"I don't know exactly what this means, 'Flyers hockey.' But I like the way the
team played tonight and I think we deserved the win tonight because guys
played unbelievable. The team looked sharp and crisp. There was a great
sacrifice made, guys blocking shots. Nobody cheats. I can't say enough
words - it was just a great game tonight."
The Rangers had been their most persistent nemesis; the Flyers had not
beaten them since the 2011 season. Picked by many to make a strong run
at the Stanley Cup in this lockout-shortened season, both deep and
defensively responsible - and with Henrik Lundqvist in goal - the Rangers
also have stumbled out of the chute. Which means, well, nothing.
Because we still have a long way to go, even if it is a short season. The first
couple of weeks here really are like the cavalry charge out of the starting
gate at the Kentucky Derby. On the one hand, amid all of this initial jostling,
early positioning does matter somewhat. But there is a lot of racetrack
652628
Philadelphia Flyers
another power play. The boys did a great job on PK and I think that was a
big part of why we won the game.’’
Flyers hold off Rangers for first win
Ilya Bryzgalov kept the Rangers off the board until the opening minutes of
the third. Braydon Coburn went to the penalty box and Taylor Pyatt slid a
puck inside the right post at 1:39.
Wayne Fish
Later in the third, Bryzgalov made a strong save on Nash during the
aforementioned five-on-three power play.
PHILADELPHIA -- In jeopardy of starting their season without a win through
four games for the first time in history, the Flyers needed a spark.
“That (kill) was huge,’’ Bryzgalov said. “With the game on the line, I think
guys do tremendous job. If we keep playing like we did tonight, we get lots
of wins.’’
They got one in the form of a penalty kill -- two minutes of five on three, plus
two more of five on four -- midway through the third period that spelled the
difference in Thursday night’s 2-1 win over the New York Rangers at the
Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers’ first victory of the season.
The Rangers had been haunting the Flyers since the last Philadelphia win
in February, 2011, outscoring the Flyers by a 34-13 margin in eight straight
victories, including a 3-2 vexing decision in the 2012 Winter Classic at
Citizens Bank Park.
The Flyers took a 2-0 lead into the third period but the Rangers scored once
and were threatening to do so again when Sean Couturier, Max Talbot &
Co. took over.
Meszaros out
They kept the Rangers’ big guns like Marian Gaborik and Rick Nash off the
board.
It was a sweet win for the Flyers over a team that had driven them crazy
last season with a 6-0 whacking in the season series.
Coach Peter Laviolette concurred that the third-period penalty kill was a
turning point.
“You never want to deal with five on threes, certainly not for two minutes,
but the guys did a really good job of executing and blocking shots,’’
Laviolette said. “And we had some good saves when we needed them. It
was a big part of the win tonight. They came out and scored on the power
play in the third (and were threatening again). I think it was a significant part
of the win.’’
Meanwhile, a pair of fights involving Tom Sestito (against Stu Bickel) and
Tye McGinn (against Kris Newbury) energized the crowd.
Sestito needed just over two minutes to make his season debut a
memorable one. He took on Bickel and Bickel wound up on the short end,
at least as far as penalties went, receiving a 10-minute misconduct penalty.
Although the Flyers didn’t get immediate dividends from that tussle, they did
get their first goal at 11:53 of the second period, with Wayne Simmonds
doing the honors. Simmonds managed to get a piece of Nick Grossmann’s
point shot past Henrik Lundqvist.
Then, after McGinn put a pretty good beating on Newbury at 14:44, the
Flyers connected on the ensuing power play after Newbury got the extra
minor for roughing.
This time, Jake Voracek was left unguarded at the right post for a short
backhander, with Simmonds getting one of the assists for his second point
of the game at 15:54.
Simmonds played with a purpose in this game, no doubt benefiting from a
promotion to the first line due to the absence of Scott Hartnell (broken foot).
“It’s a little bit of a relief,’’ Simmonds said of his first goal.
He was one of several players who called the penalty kill special, especially
when considering the Flyers had given up seven power-play goals in threeplus games going into the rough stretch.
“(The penalty kills) were the reason we won the game,’’ he said.
One play in particular by Couturier set the tone. He raced the length of the
ice off a forecheck, then dove to block the puck. That caught Talbot’s eye.
“That’s huge,’’ Talbot said. “That’s what killing penalties is all about. We
definitely have the character here to do it and tonight it showed.
“The power play, PK, and special teams haven’t been as good as we
wanted them to be so I think that it’s great for our confidence to kill that five
on three and to get goals on the power play as well.’’
Voracek also expressed admiration for the work of players like Couturier
and Kimmo Timonen.
“(The kill) was great, it was probably the game-changer,’’ Voracek said. “If
they score five on three then you say, ‘Here we go again,’ and then they got
Defenseman Andrej Meszaros left the game in the second period with an
upper body injury. He did not return. General manager Paul Holmgren said
Meszaros will be evaluated by team doctors Friday.
Burlington County Times LOADED: 01.25.2013
652629
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers turn to free agent Knuble for help
By Wayne Fish
PHILADELPHIA — To fill the void left by the injury to Scott Hartnell, the
Flyers turned to an old friend Thursday night.
Less than an hour after announcing Hartnell will be out a minimum of a
month with a broken foot, the Flyers revealed they have signed free-agent
forward Mike Knuble.
The deal is for 1 year and $750,000.
Knuble, 40, played with the Flyers from 2005-09. In those four seasons, he
totaled 310 games, 114 goals, 107 assists for 221 points.
He’s also played for Detroit (where he won the Stanley Cup), the New York
Rangers and Boston.
General manager Paul Holmgren said he signed Knuble for several
reasons.
“He’s been around the game for a long time,’’ Holmgren said. “He’s a good,
solid person.’’
Knuble reportedly had a tryout with the Detroit Red Wings and then
accepted an assignment to the American Hockey League with the Red
Wings’ affiliate in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The Flyers supposedly reached an agreement with Knuble on Thursday
morning.
Knuble struggled through last year’s regular season in Washington but
came alive in the playoffs, connecting for a pair of goals and three assists in
11 games.
Some of Knuble’s best work with the Flyers came on the power play, so
look for him to see some time on that unit again.
“Obviously, he played on the power play before ... and he’s capable of
playing on front of the net on the power play,” Holmgren said. “I think he’s
excited to come back here. There are still a few guys left here from when he
last played ... one of the attractions with him is that he played here.’’
652630
Philadelphia Flyers
Hartnell out 4 to 8 weeks with broken foot
By Wayne Fish
feel good at the end of the season, so hopefully I can go and take up where
I was.’’
Someone asked if he had to Google the mumps to find out what they are.
“Honestly, I had no idea. I thought I was playing ‘Oregon Trail’ (a video
game) ... I saw them get it, it’s an old game. I know I had gotten a vaccine
shot and a booster ... I don’t know how I got it.’’
Coach Peter Laviolette said the best way for Sestito to get up to speed is
working as much as possible on the ice.
PHILADELPHIA — As if they didn’t have enough trouble already, the Flyers
now will be without one of their best players for at least a month.
Scott Hartnell suffered a broken bone in his left foot during Tuesday night’s
3-0 loss at New Jersey and general manager Paul Holmgren said the player
will miss four to eight weeks.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,’’ Holmgren said prior to Thursday night’s game
against the New York Rangers.
The Flyers are waiting for the results of more tests before considering
surgery on Hartnell’s foot.
“He’s got a broken first metatarsal (above the big toe),’’ Holmgren said.
“Right now we’re trying to decide what with ... talking to the doctor, what the
best way to proceed is, in terms of how to approach this.
“I can’t give you a timeframe. It’s probably between four to eight weeks.
Obviously, it’s a significant injury.’’
Hartnell is coming off a career year in which he scored a team-high 37
goals. Before the NHL lockout, he signed a new six-year, $25.2 million
contract.
The injury to Hartnell leaves Claude Giroux without his two linemates from
last year. Jaromir Jagr signed as a free agent with Dallas in the offseason.
Several Flyers, including ex-Flyer Simon Gagne, ex-Flyer Jeff Carter, Chris
Pronger and Brayden Schenn have suffered similar injuries in recent years
but Holmgren said many players are loathe to wear the cumbersome plastic
shields to prevent such injuries.
“It hinders (skating),’’ Holmgren said. “You don’t want to mess with a
player’s skates. Whether it makes them heavier or when you go to make a
turn, you slip. So it’s a little bit of an issue. It’s just one of those things. It’s a
superstition.
“Whether they can make these protective devices smaller or lighter, I don’t
know. We haven’t found the right one.’’
Holmgren said he expects to explore the trade market in Hartnell’s
absence. In this shortened season, the Flyers can’t afford to be too
hamstrung for any length of time.
“We’re looking,’’ Holmgren said. “Scott is a big loss because of how he
plays the game. To have him out any length of time is difficult.’’
‘Mumpy’ road for Sestito
There have been some strange things that have sidelined hockey players
over the years but not much stranger than what happened to Tom Sestito
during the lockout.
Sestito apparently contracted a case of the mumps while playing in
England.
He’s just now getting back to 100 percent and made his season debut
Thursday night.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I got them in England,’’ said Sestito, who was
sidelined for about a month. “A couple of guys on the team over there
ended up with them, too. I don’t know anyone in the U.S. that’s had it.
“I was pretty sick for about a month. It wasn’t easy. Everything I got
(conditioning-wise) over in England I probably lost. But I feel good now and
I’m ready to go.
“I went to the emergency room around Dec. 12. Right when camp started, I
started feeling better.’’
Sestito said it doesn’t take a lot of time to reset his game once the
conditioning kicked in.
“My game doesn’t change much, from the minors to up here,’’ he said. “I’m
just going to play my game. It was frustrating but those things happen. I did
“I think when you get shut down like that with an illness like that, there’s
always a comeback period,’’ Laviolette said. “It takes some time. We’re
trying to get him back through practice and off-ice workouts. Probably the
best way to get back in there is to take the full dose of games and
practices.’’
652631
Philadelphia Flyers
“Last year was last year, this year we have a new team. We’re going to play
our kind of hockey this year.’’
Schenn suspended for one game
Coach Peter Laviolette seems to be taking a calm but somewhat urgent
approach to the situation.
By Wayne Fish
“We have a lot of confidence in the players in here,’’ he said. “Practice was
great. Lots of energy, lots of hard work.
VOORHEES — Did the Flyers break a mirror, walk under a ladder, step on
a black cat or what?
“They (the Rangers) got the best of us for sure last year. Certainly we would
like to fix that this year. Things change. We need to get back on track,
whether it’s the Rangers, the Devils, the Penguins or the Bruins, it doesn’t
matter. We need to prepare — a record last year doesn’t factor either way.’’
Bad enough they haven’t gotten a lucky bounce in their season-opening
three-game losing streak.
Laviolette said he didn’t address the Ranger record with the team. But he
knows they are formidable foe.
Now they have to contend with a one-game suspension to one of their
promising future stars, Brayden Schenn.
“They’re a tough team, period,’’ he said. “They play a good game and have
to be prepared.’’
And don’t look for any reinforcements. Danny Briere (fractured left wrist)
says he still hasn’t been cleared for contact yet.
What: New York Rangers at Flyers
Schenn found out Wednesday night that he will have to take a seat for one
game for his hit on Anton Volchenkov at 12:37 of the second period of
Tuesday night’s 3-0 loss at New Jersey.
NHL discipline chief Brendan Shanahan said, in making the ruling that he
took into account that Schenn has no previous suspensions, Volchenkov
was not injured but that there was clearly charging on the play.
Earlier in the day, Schenn acted surprised that he was under consideration
for a suspension.
After watching the replay a bunch of times, Schenn insisted the hit on
Volchenkov was not revenge for a hit the Russian defenseman put on him
in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last year.
“No penalty was called on the play,’’ he said. “It’s not a revenge play at all.
It’s just him having his head down and me coming over the bench. It’s not a
revenge play at all, I don’t think.’’
When he got the call from general manager Paul Holmgren that the “play
was under review,’’ he was caught a little off-guard.
“Yeah, I got a call from Homer on the bus last night. I wasn’t sure of the
reason. Maybe a little bit surprised.’’
To make matters worse, Scott Hartnell took a shot off his skate late in the
game, played to the finish but was walking around with an ice bag on the
wounded foot after the game. He did not participate in Wednesday’s
practice at the Skate Zone.
“Scott will be out indefinitely with a left foot injury,’’ Holmgren said. “We will
know more on this within a day or two as we await results of tests.”
So it looks like the Flyers may have to go with journeymen like Jody Shelley
and Tom Sestito for Thursday night’s crucial game against the New York
Rangers.
The Flyers enter the contest with an 0-3 start, their first of that kind since
1994-95 and just the third time it’s happened in their history.
Also, they have never started a season 0-4.
Even with a full lineup, the Flyers didn’t expect to have an easy time of it
against the Rangers, who hung a 6-0 whitewash on them in last season’s
series.
“We had some good battles,’’ Wayne Simmonds said. “I think that’s in the
backs of our minds that we didn’t get a win against them so we have to go
out and prove we’re a good team here.’’
Simmonds is calling this a must-win game.
“We’re not panicking here, but we would like to get the win,’’ Simmonds
said. “We’re 0-3 and every game is crucial. We need to get two points any
way we can.’’
Claude Giroux doesn’t put too much stock in those Ranger numbers from
last year.
“Last year we weren’t too happy with the results but we have to stay with it,’’
Giroux said. “I’m not worried that we’re going to show up tomorrow.
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Wells Fargo Center
TV/Radio: CSN/97.5 FM
Season series: First meeting
What to watch: The Rangers will be playing the second half of a back-toback so the Flyers will have the rest advantage. New York picked up Rick
Nash, the biggest offseason free agent, but started the season 0-2 going
into Wednesday’s game against Boston. The Flyers have allowed six
power-play goals and scored only one of their own in 15 attempts this
season.
652632
Philadelphia Flyers
Hartnell to miss 4-8 weeks
posted by Rob Parent
As feared, Scott Hartnell's injury is as bad as it could be. GM Paul
Holmgren just announced Hartnell has a fracture of his first metatarsal bone
in his left foot, and preliminary indications are that Hartnell will miss
anywhere from four to eight weeks.
Surgery is still a possibility, which would impact the length of Hartnell's
absence.
Holmgren said he would be looking to make a possible trade to replace
Hartnell, who was the Flyers' leading goal scorer last season and was a
fixture on the top line with Claude Giroux. More to come.
Delaware County Times LOADED: 01.25.2013
652633
Philadelphia Flyers
Sestito found out later he’d been vaccinated when he was an infant for
mumps. Regardless, he was diagnosed upon a visit to an emergency room
of a British hospital Dec. 12.
Flyers Notebook: Hartnell down, so Knuble is back
“It’s about a month since I’ve played,” Sestito said. “But my game doesn’t
change much, from the minors to up here.”
By ROB PARENT
NOTES: Danny Briere (wrist fracture) was being re-evaluated during the
game. With Hartnell’s loss, it might be more of a push to bring Briere back
sooner rather than later.
PHILADELPHIA - Through five seasons of ups and downs and stops and
starts, Scott Hartnell had grown from a forceful if too reckless power
forward to the Flyers’ best goal scorer, and was rewarded handsomely for it
in the offseason.
“He’s getting better,” Holmgren said. “I would say he’s maybe 50-50 on the
weekend. I’ll know better after the game.” ... The Flyers cut ties with 2011
free agent signee Niko Hovinan, who was unhappy with his demotion from
the Phantoms to the Trenton Thunder last fall. With his departure, the
Flyers sent Cal Heeter from the Phantoms to Trenton, giving free agent
Brian Boucher and Scott Munroe more time to work together in Adirondack.
What set Hartnell apart, however, was his durability - only three games
missed in those five years. Now Hartnell faces an absence of at least a
month and perhaps twice that long with a broken first metatarsal bone in his
left foot.
What the Flyers face is the monumental task of losing some early season
shakes without the multi-faceted benefits Hartnell brings to the team.
For starters, they’ve brought back veteran Mike Knuble, who failed a tryout
with the Red Wings this month but played one game for their AHL affiliate in
Grand Rapids Wednesday night before getting a call from Flyers general
manager Paul Holmgren Thursday morning.
They’ve reached an agreement on a free agent contract that will be
finalized today if and when Knuble passes a physical.
“He’s a good guy,” Holmgren said of Knuble, “a good, big heavy player.”
It’s not that Knuble has put on a ton of weight since he played for the Flyers
a few seasons back, it’s just the way Knuble still plays, even at the age of
40.
After a regular season in which he was limited to 72 games, Knuble was
asked by coach Dale Hunter to log some heavy minutes in the playoffs last
spring, and he responded, scoring two goals and three points in 11 games.
“Obviously, he played on the power play before ... he’s capable of playing in
front of the net on the power play,” said Holmgren, not adding that filling
that spot - which used to be a Hartnell hangout - would be Knuble’s primary
mission.
“I think he’s excited to come back here,” Holmgren added. “There are still a
few guys left from when he last played here. ... One of the attractions with
him is that he played here.
“Let’s face it. He’s been around the game a long time; a good solid player.
... He isn’t a 20-minute player like he used to be, but he can certainly give
us a fair amount of minutes in certain situations. I think he still knows how to
play the game. With Washington last year, at the end of the year and in the
playoffs, he was playing on a fairly regular basis for them. So it a real good
addition for us.”
While playing for the Flyers from 2005-09, Knuble scored 114 goals and
221 points in 310 games. His presence certainly will help on the power play;
it won’t replace the missing scoring power of Hartnell, who logged 37 of
them last season.
“Scott, he’s a big loss, because of how he plays the game,” Holmgren said.
“And to have him out at any length of time is difficult. Whether it’s a month
to two months, it’s a tough pill to swallow. But we’ll see what we can do.”
Tom Sestito and Jody Shelley were both in the lineup against the Rangers
with Hartnell down and Brayden Schenn serving a one-game suspension
for a hit he put on Anton Volchenkov in New Jersey Tuesday. They didn’t
play a whole lot, but Sestito wasn’t going to miss out on any opportunities less than three minutes into the game he engaged in a fight with New
York’s Stu Bickle.
Sestito is trying to regain his form after fighting a weird case of the mumps
he came up with in mid-December while playing hockey in England.
“A couple of guys on the team over there ended up with them too. I don’t
know anyone in the U.S. that’s had it,” said Sestito, who apparently wasn’t
alive in the 1960s. “I was pretty sick for about a month. It wasn’t easy.
Everything I got (conditioning-wise) over in England I probably lost. But I
feel good now and I’m ready to go.
652634
Philadelphia Flyers
Bounces, Bryzgalov go Flyers' way to end slide, post win over Rangers
By ROB PARENT
PHILADELPHIA — It’s not like the sky was going to fall, or the owner was
going to pay a house call ... which could have amounted to the same thing.
Instead, patience after a six-day training camp and a three-game losing
streak to start the season should and would rule the day for the Flyers.
Of course, on the heels of a gritty, 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers
Thursday night, that was an easy thing to say.
“I wouldn’t say it was pressure,” Jake Voracek said. “It was more a bad
feeling. No one expected us to go 0-3, and we didn’t play well, but we didn’t
play that badly. We knew if we kept playing hard, bounces would go our
way and that’s exactly what happened.”
The bounces that went into the net were supplied by Voracek on a rebound
and before that, by Wayne Simmonds’ properly pointed skate. No kicking
motion with that goal, just the right foot in the right place at the right time.
It added up to a payoff for the Flyers (1-3), who had dominated the Rangers
over the first two periods and then counted on their penalty killers, goalie
and the gods to hang on for not only their first victory of the season, but
their first win over the Rangers in nearly two years.
Since Feb. 20, 2011, the hated Blueshirts had beaten the Flyers eight
consecutive times. So considering the home team was facing the prospect
of its worst start to a season — or half-season — in franchise history, and
since Scott Hartnell (fractured foot, out 4-8 weeks), Danny Briere (wrist
fracture) and Brayden Schenn (suspension) were out of the lineup, logic
said they were staring at a ninth loss that might have meant their season
lives.
Or not.
“We played good hockey tonight,” goalie Ilya Bryzgalov noted while making
the mandatory 18 saves. “We continue to play like this, we’ll get lots of
wins.”
They continue to play under the gun like this, they might not last the short
year.
But for this first victorious evening, a youthful and undergunned Flyers team
played the only way it knew it had to — with attention to defensive detail.
That included a couple of heartwarming fights waged by rookie callups Tom
Sestito and Tye McGinn, an outstanding two-way performance by Claude
Giroux and consistent stinginess by the defense and by Bryzgalov.
In all, it was a real “Flyers Hockey” kind of win, yes?
“I don’t know exactly what it means to say ‘Flyers hockey,’ but I like the way
the team played tonight,” Bryzgalov said.
It probably helped that the Rangers, also 1-3, had played into overtime
Wednesday night before beating Boston at Madison Square Garden. But
the Flyers were dominant in the opening period, though scoreless. The
breakthrough finally came at 11:53 of the second, and after a wave of
Flyers pressure finally wore on goalie Henrik Lundqvist (31 saves).
Matt Read dug a puck out of the corner and threw it to the point, where Nick
Grossmann caught it, moved right then wristed it netward. It hit Rangers
center Brad Richards and deflected off Simmonds’ skate and in for 1-0.
Four minutes later, the Flyers cashed in on the power play. A Giroux bullet
went wide, but bounced back into play. Sean Couturier chipped it toward
the net, and it bounced off the post to Voracek, who slid home the rebound
for all the goals the Flyers would need.
You know, since they had their fingers collectively crossed.
“Nobody wanted to be in the position that we were in,” coach Peter
Laviolette said. “The only way we were going to get out of it is if we go to
work and try to fix things and continue to work and chip away.”
They had to in the third period, which Braydon Coburn opened with a
highsticking infraction, and the Rangers quickly took advantage.
Marian Gaborik gained the zone and slid a shot slotward. It was blocked in
front, but Gaborik leaped on a rebound and found Taylor Pyatt alone at the
corner of the net. A pass and Pyatt tap-in later, the Rangers had halved the
lead.
That was followed by a questionable call on McGinn, whose stick went up
while falling to the ice ... and he was whistled for a four-minute double minor
penalty. Almost immediately, it went from bad to worse, as Grossmann was
called for hooking.
That created a two-minute, two-man Rangers advantage in the middle of
four minutes of Rangers power play. But the Broadway All-Stars would only
manage one terrific scoring chance. On that, Bryzgalov was very fast in
kicking away a point-blank one-timer by Rick Nash, preserving the lead.
Back in control, the Flyers protected well, especially after Lundqvist was
pulled for the final minute. They did this without the services of defenseman
Andrej Meszaros, who didn’t play the final period due to an upper body
injury that may be a re-do of his shoulder trouble.
Either way, the Flyers were left to scramble at the end, but held on.
“You saw how important (Giroux) is there, you know?” Voracek said. “He
won four straight faceoffs then.”
Now Giroux is facing a long-term loss of his top-line sidekick Hartnell. For
starters, 40-year-old free agent Mike Knuble signed a 1-year, $750,000 deal
to replace Hartnell’s head-on presence on the power play.
How much that will help the Flyers is anybody’s guess, but amid a 48-game
scramble, no one has any time to ponder such answers.
652635
Philadelphia Flyers
McCAFFERY: At early pressure point, Flyers find a way to win
By JACK McCAFFERY
PHILADELPHIA — The Flyers were shoved out of the last postseason by
the New Jersey Devils, losing their last four games, seldom generating
good shots. Their offense, and their program, was heading in the wrong
direction. Their chairman, as it later was revealed, was a little sideways,
too.
“We couldn’t adjust to New Jersey when they were bringing all their men
back,” Ed Snider said. “We had three forwards on five players, and it is hard
to score. So we have to adjust accordingly to make sure we’re up to date
with what is going on around the league.”
Snider said that at the end of an offseason that lasted 113 days too long,
tucking it into a pre-training-camp address to the press. He’d just turned 80,
but that had nothing to do with his mood. He had little patience for coaches
and players and rosters not maintaining the highest NHL standards when
he was 79 or 50 or 42, which is how old he was the last time the Flyers won
a Stanley Cup.
Since Snider’s comment was more accurate than accusatory and more
analytical than antagonistic, it slid by, kind of like an iced puck late in a
lopsided game. But it was out there, and it would stay out there. And it was
out there Thursday when his Flyers rolled into the Wells Fargo Center on a
seven-game losing streak, that trouble against the Devils included. An 0-3
start to the 2013 mini-season already had them going through the standard
theater of promising not to point fingers. Once that happens, one of two
things will happen: The healing will begin … or somebody will be poked in
the eye.
“It was a bad feeling,” Jakub Voracek said. “It was a tough start for us.
Nobody expected us to go 0-3. We didn’t play well. But we knew we had to
stick with it.”
The Flyers stuck with it early, late and then very late, defeating the New
York Rangers, 2-1. They survived a 3-on-5 disadvantage, enjoyed crisp
goaltending and made just enough shots to win at a time when they were
running out of options.
The night began with Paul Holmgren revealing that Scott Hartnell would be
out for up to eight weeks, and then with the general manager reacquiring
Mike Knuble, 40, who’d scored six times in 72 games last season in
Washington. Hey, Shea Weber still isn’t available. Neither is Danny Briere,
who has a broken wrist.
“We’re looking around,” Holmgren said. “It’s a big loss because of how
Scott plays the game. And to have him out any length of time --- to be
looking at a month, two months --- it is a tough pill to swallow. But we’ll see
what we can do.”
There is less time this season to look-and-see, which is why every game is
important, every shift, too. The Flyers still haven’t scored in a first period,
continuing a two-year habit of gulping early. But they held up strongly in
front of Ilya Bryzgalov, who did what a max-contact goalie is supposed to
do in a crisis --- win the team a game, not simply keep it in one.
“The guys played unbelievable,” Bryzgalov said. “The team looked sharp.
The guys made sacrifices, blocking the shots. Nobody was cheating. I can’t
say enough words. It was a great game tonight.”
With Briere most likely out for at least another weekend, and with Hartnell
gone, too, it’s the way the Flyers are going to have to play, protecting their
net from the goalie out.
“I’m not concerned,” Snider said of Bryzgalov, before the season. “I think a
lot of his problems have had to do with the different style we played as
opposed to Phoenix. I really believe that we’ll tighten up a little bit to help
him out and I think he’s a good goalie.”
That’s how it looked on a night when the Flyers sneered at the prospect of
an 0-4 record, picked some fights, won at least one and improved to 1-3.
Some old Flyers hockey, and some new. Just another night of keeping up
with what is going on around the league.
652636
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers: Hartnell 'out indefinitely'
Randy Miller
VOORHEES — Flyers top-line left wing Scott Hartnell, the team’s top goal
scorer last season, is “out indefinitely” with a left foot injury that wasn’t
termed a break or bruise.
If Hartnell’s foot is broken, he could miss 4 to 6 weeks.
“We will know more on this within a day or two as we await results of tests,”
GM Paul Holmgren said.
Hartnell was injured 6:53 into the third period Tuesday when he was struck
in the left foot on a shot by Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen.
Teammate Kurtis Foster, who has had injuries like this during his career,
felt for Hartnell
“It’s horrible,” said Foster, a veteran blueliner who was signed by the Flyers
on the first day of training camp. “It’s one of those things where your foot
goes numb right away, then usually you can walk it off and finish the game.
But then when you take that boot off and the swelling starts to come and
get bigger and bigger, it gets really painful and you can’t move it.
“Hopefully, you get the swelling down quick and you don’t miss too much
time.”
Foster, by the way, is available to play tonight after sitting out Tuesday’s
game due to an undisclosed minor injury.
• Schenn suspended: Flyers forward Brayden Schenn leveled New Jersey
Devils blueliner Anton Volchenkov with a big hit Tuesday night that wasn’t
penalized, then immediately received a compliment from the victim.
“Volchenkov told me, ‘Nice, clean check,’ ” Schenn said Wednesday.
Brendan Shanahan, the NHL’s vice president of player safety, disagreed.
Schenn was ordered into an afternoon hearing, then suspended for
tonight’s game against the New York Rangers.
“Rather than delivering a legal body check, Schenn launches up off the ice
prior to conduct and into Volchenkov’s head,” Shanahan said in an
NHL.com video explaining his decision. “While we recognize that
sometimes a player’s skates sometimes come off the ice simply due to
momentum or the impact of the hit, we don’t believe this is one of these
instances.”
Schenn ran Volchenkov 12:37 into the second period of the Flyers’ 3-0 loss,
just after hopping onto the ice during a shift change.
"I saw it in real time," Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn said. "I thought it
was OK. Obviously, there was no penalty called on the play."
• Briere update: It’s now looking like center Danny Briere’s season debut
may occur next Tuesday in a road game against the Rangers instead of this
Saturday in Florida or Sunday in Tampa Bay.
Sidelined with a wrist injury that occurred while he was playing in Germany
during the NHL lockout, Briere still feels discomfort shooting pucks and he
hasn’t yet been cleared for contact, the latter of which could occur after he’s
re-examined today.
“Looking from two, three, four days ago, it’s night and day,” Briere said.
“That’s what gives me hope that I’m almost over the hump. It's tough
(missing games) when the team is not winning, but at the same time you
have to be smart about it where you don't set it back another three, four
weeks."
Courier-Post LOADED: 01.25.2013
652637
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers: Coach's glass is half full, for now
Randy Miller
"Anytime that your record is not where you want it to be, there's urgency on
the game," the coach said. "So if that's (Simmonds') wording or terminology
to put urgency on a game, he's probably right in saying that.
"But we've got to win a lot of games. Whether we win (tonight) or lose, it
doesn't guarantee us anything. We need to play a brand of hockey that's
successfully going to allow us to move forward. We need to do that
consistently."
VOORHEES — The head coach of the 0-3 Flyers provided a thoughtful 10sentence answer when a TV reporter asked how tough it is staying positive
in times like these.
Four questions later, the same reporter prefaced another question to Peter
Laviolette by mentioning how the previous Flyers team to lose its first three
went on to play in the 1994-95 Eastern Conference Finals.
“I answered your question on the gloom side, now you’re going to the
positive side of it,” Laviolette said with a hint of a smile the day after a 3-0
road loss to the New Jersey Devils. “I like that better.”
Despite what the record shows, Laviolette painted a glass half-full picture
during a post-practice interview Wednesday ... but by evening, his Flyers
were dealing with more serious issues.
All-Star left wing Scott Hartnell, absent from practice after taking a Kimmo
Timonen shot to the foot during Tuesday’s game, is out indefinitely, and
forward Brayden Schenn received a one-game suspension from the league
for “charging” Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov.
“You’re not going to get the ho-hum story from me,” Laviolette said. “We
had a good practice (Wednesday). We tried to look at things and there were
a lot of good things that we did (Tuesday) night and there were some tough
bounces that came our way again.
“There are things that we can do better, too. We try to work on that through
video and we try to work on that in practice. We’ll try to take that next step.”
Still, the Flyers’ situation is so bad that rehabbing center Danny Briere took
Hartnell’s spot as first-line left wing for Wednesday’s practice even though
he’ll probably miss at least three more games recovering from a wrist injury.
All that and the Flyers will be home tonight against the New York Rangers,
an old nemesis that has beaten them eight times in a row.
“We have a long way to go and a lot of games,” Laviolette said. “It would be
great if the record was the other way around. It’s not and we’re the only
ones that can change that.”
Without Hartnell and Schenn, the Flyers will look to create scoring chances
against the Rangers by crashing the net.
The Flyers have just three goals in three games and their power play is a
dreadful 1-for-15.
“We have the talent to score goals, which we haven’t yet,” defenseman
Kurtis Foster said. “We worked on it (Wednesday) and talked about it as a
team that we need to get to the net and score some dirty goals. I think when
a couple go in and guys start to regain confidence, it’ll start to turn around.”
It won’t be easy against the Rangers, who added star winger Rick Nash to a
team that had an Eastern Conference-best 109 points last season.
"They got the best of us for sure last year, and certainly we'd like to fix that,"
Laviolette said. "I think every year things change. We need to get back on
track, whether it's the Rangers or the Devils or the Penguins or the Bruins, it
doesn't matter. We need to prepare to win a hockey game. I don't think
necessarily a record from last year holds weight either way. We'll have to
show up and play a hard-fought game."
The new captain is confident.
"I'm not worried," Claude Giroux said. "The guys are going to show up. Last
year is last year. We have a new team this year. We're going to play our
kind of hockey this year."
Following Tuesday's loss, right wing Wayne Simmonds called tonight's
game a "must win."
Laviolette liked hearing that.
652638
Philadelphia Flyers
Top 5 places to watch a game in Wells Fargo Center
Dave Isaac
1. Lower level, center ice
If you’re willing to shell out the extra coin to see the Flyers up close, believe
it or not, you won’t want to sit too close. If you’re up against the glass, you
might have a hard time following the play — especially if you’re in the
corner. A few rows back will give you a better perspective of the whole ice
surface. Also, you’re in prime position for some free pucks if they get shot
over the glass.
2. Upper level, center ice
We know, we know, you probably won’t catch an errant puck all the way up
there. It’s OK, the T-shirt launcher still reaches up there. We rank this the
second-best place to watch the game because it’s easier to watch the play
develop. It’s almost as if the game slows down to a more manageable
speed for your viewing pleasure.
3. Club box
It doesn’t really matter where around the rink you are if you’re getting
hooked up with food and drink and don’t have to wait in line for the
bathroom. Although the sight lines aren’t the best, nothing beats feeling like
royalty while you watch the game.
4. Lower level, behind the benches
When you sit right behind the bench, you’re really about two rows higher
than the folks who are up against the glass in the corners. You get the
same view as the coaches and you can probably hear them screaming, too.
5. Lower level, behind the net
Here, you’re right underneath the folks in the club boxes. We actually
recommend the top rows of this section because the sight lines are better
than if you’re sitting close to the glass. You contend with the netting a little
bit, but the higher you are, the easier it is to see what’s going on at the
other end of the ice.
652639
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers get elusive first win by stopping Rangers
Kevin Callahan
PHILADELPHIA — The Flyers appeared as if they would lock themselves
out of the regular season, facing the possibility of the worst start in
franchise history, learning their top scorer would be shelved for up to two
months even before the puck dropped and playing a team they couldn’t
beat last season indoors or outside.
Staring at a possible 0-4 start for the first time ever, missing Scott Hartnell
to a broken foot and playing the Rangers, who whipped them in all six
games last year, including the showcase Winter Classic matchup, the
Flyers fought back with resolution and resiliency Thursday night to make
even the Broad Street Bullies proud.
Consequently, the Flyers might have just saved their season, delighting
themselves and 19,596 fans at the Wells Fargo Center, with a grinding and
much-needed 2-1 win over their New York nemesis.
In a game Wayne Simmonds called a “must win” after dropping to 0-3
Tuesday night against the Devils, Simmonds gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead
midway through the second period and Jakub Voracek padded the spread
four minutes later.
Ilya Bryzgalov was solid in the net and the penalty kill was superb during a
5-3 power play for the Rangers in the third period.
As a result, and to the relief of everyone in the organization, the Flyers
aren’t packing their bags to play golf this weekend in Florida. Instead, they
have meaningful games against the Panthers and Lightning which could
suddenly launch them to .500 after six games.
And, the Flyers can compare their recent 0-3 start to the 1994-95 season
when they also started 0-3 in a lockout-shortened season and won the
division.
“It was a great team win,” Voracek said, “we played really well.”
The victory also snapped the disturbing losing streak to the Rangers, who
outscored the Flyers 24-11 in six games last season.
“It is a big win, last year we know we had some trouble winning against the
Rangers, getting a big win like this in a defensive-minded game is huge,”
center Max Talbot said after some stellar penalty killing.
Meanwhile, the Rangers, who lost their first two games before beating
Boston in overtime, 4-3, Wednesday night, fell to 1-3.
The Flyers, though, enjoy a different feel to their 1-3 record. They were not
only without Hartnell, but Danny Briere is out with a hairline left wrist
fracture and Brayden Schenn sat out a one-game suspension for a hit
Tuesday night on New Jersey defenseman Anton Volchenkov.
Help is on the way for the Hartnell loss as Mike Knuble signed a one-year
deal with the Flyers. He should be ready this weekend. Briere also is a
possibility to play, while Schenn will definitely be back.
Still, while the offense struggles, the defense delivered against the
Rangers, especially down two men in the third period.
Bryzgalov, who came into the game 1-5-0 with a 3.92 and .873 save
percentage lifetime against the Rangers, allowed one goal on 19 shots.
“We beat a great team, most importantly we played great hockey,”
Bryzgalov said. “If we continue to play like that, we will probably get lots of
wins.”
Simmonds scored with just over eight minutes left in the second period on
assists by Nick Grossmann and Matt Read for a 1-0 lead. Four minutes
later, Voracek scored for a 2-0 lead on assists by Sean Couturier and
Simmonds on the power play.
“I think we played solid hockey as a team offensively and defensively,”
Voracek said. “It is good to get a win.”
652640
Philadelphia Flyers
Hartnell hurting, so Knuble's returning
Kevin Callahan
PHILADELPHIA — As if losing the first three games wasn’t troubling and
trying enough, the Flyers learned before Thursday night’s game against the
Rangers that forward Scott Hartnell will miss the next four to eight weeks
with a broken foot.
But less than an hour after general manager Paul Holmgren said “it was a
tough pill to swallow,” losing the team’s leading goal scorer from last
season, former Flyers right winger Mike Knuble joined the club. Knuble, 40,
is expected to play this weekend in Saturday’s game against the Panthers
and Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Knuble, an unrestricted free agent who was a fan favorite in Philadelphia
from 2006 to 2009, played the last three seasons in Washington. He was
playing with Detroit’s American Hockey League affiliate when the Flyers
called. He had one assist in one game for Grand Rapids.
The 6-foot-3 Knuble, a rugged presence in front of the net, scored 114
goals in four seasons with the Flyers before going to the Capitals, where he
collected 59 goals and 52 assists in three seasons. He scored only six
goals last year in Washington, however.
Hartnell, who netted 37 goals last season, suffered the break above his left
big toe Tuesday night in the 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils when he was
hit by a Kimmo Timonen shot in the laces of his skate.
Holmgren said the Flyers and doctors are deciding if Hartnell’s broken
metatarsal will require surgery.
Before acquiring Knuble, Holmgren acknowledged exploring a trade, which
is certainly still an option if Hartnell will miss closer to the full two months. If
Hartnell is able to play in four weeks, he will still miss 15 games in this
condensed season with a return date of Feb. 21 at home game against
Florida. If the return is eight weeks, Hartnell, will miss 26 of the 48 games,
not returning until a road game at Pittsburgh on March 24.
The Flyers, who came into the game with just three goals in three games,
were already shorthanded offensively before the loss of Hartnell since
Danny Briere is out with a hairline left wrist fracture and has yet to play.
Holmgren said Briere would have more X-rays. He could possibly be
available this weekend in Florida.
In addition, center Brayden Schenn sat out against the Rangers with a onegame suspension for leaving the ice to hit New Jersey defenseman Anton
Volchenkov Tuesday night. Forward Zac Rinaldo is out indefinitely with a
lacerated right foot. But help is on the way with the return of Knuble.
• Empty-netters: Defenseman Andrej Meszaros suffered an apparent
shoulder injury and didn’t return. ... Defenseman Kurtis Foster didn’t dress,
instead Bruno Gervais was the sixth defenseman against the Rangers. ...
Winger Tom Sestito, who missed the first three games recovering from the
mumps, fought on his first shift against Stu Bickel, and got the worse of it
against the Rangers defenseman.
652641
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers' faithful fans forgive
Rich Stahler, 32, of West Deptford, has been a Flyers season ticket holder
for the last nine years with his brother, Bob, 28. They, too, tailgated
Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center two hours before the opener
waiting for the puck to drop this season.
“This is part of our culture. It is in our blood,” Rich Stahler said. “I’ve been
coming here forever and can’t give it up.”
Kevin Callahan
PHILADELPHIA — Ashley Kelley would sooner remove the hidden Flyers
tattoo on her left buttock than erase her loyalty to the Orange and Black,
even after the recent four-month lockout.
Kelley, not surprisingly, sides with the players in this latest labor dispute
that robbed the fans of almost half the schedule.
“If they didn’t want to play, they wouldn’t have gone overseas to play,”
Kelley said while sitting in a chair tailgating two hours before the home
opener on Saturday afternoon.
Kelley, 24, of Marlton also boasts a No. 68 tattoo — but on her right foot.
This tat honors Jaromir Jagr, who played with the Flyers just one season
last year before signing with Dallas as a free agent before the lockout. Still,
Kelley doesn’t plan to remove this tattoo, either, even though Jagr is now
the enemy. Kelley is just flat-out loyal to her Flyers past and present.
She attended the delayed season opener against Pittsburgh, a 3-1 loss, at
the Wells Fargo Center with five close friends from Marlton — Vanessa
Wheeler, Brynn Fortino, Tim Brill, Scott Woodmansee and Greg Mele. They
all remain loyal to the Flyers even though the lockout lasted 113 days.
But, like tattoos, their devotion won’t fade away.
Mele, 25, has a No. 48 tattoo on his left foot, honoring Danny Briere.
“I have been playing hockey since I can remember, my dad (Dennis) grew
up in South Philadelphia, and there was always Flyers games on in the
house,” said Mele, explaining his unwavering support. “I will never not
watch a Flyers game, at my house, in a bar, at a friends’ house.
“Hockey season is the best time.”
Mele explained that a Flyers game was more than just three periods of
hockey. He said it brings “everyone together.”
So, he attends games with similar Flyers friends for more than the final
score, although that matters dearly, too.
“I grew up watching the Flyers and I always loved hockey,” said Brill, 22. “I
am a die-hard fan for this team.”
Like Mele and Brill, Woodmansee, 21, also was raised on the Orange and
Black in his living room.
“I’ve been playing hockey since I was 6 years old and, since about that
time, my dad (Ronald) has had season tickets to games,” Woodmansee
said, “so I take after my dad.”
The boys weren’t the only ones influenced by their Flyers-loving fathers.
Vanessa Wheeler, 21, who wore a No. 28 orange Claude Giroux jersey to
the opener, said her dad, Bill also took her to games and events with
players. She recalled going to a charity softball game in 1998 when the
Voorhees police played the Flyers.
“(Mark) Recchi hit a home run and my dad got the ball, and afterwards he
signed it,” Wheeler said. “I still have the ball. It is memories like that.”
Brynn Fortino, 21, wore a No. 10 Brayden Schenn jersey to the opener. She
and her sisters, Jaime and Jenna, watched Flyers hockey growing up with
their dad, Stephen.
“I have been watching games forever,” she said.
And she won’t stop.
“This is the City of Brotherly love, and I just love it,” Fortino said.
Indeed, memories like an autographed softball and the legacy of watching
games with their dads all ignite the passion for Flyers fans. But the game
itself draws them, too.
“I waited eight months to watch hockey,” Wheeler said.
With the Eagles and Phillies both missing the playoffs and the Sixers
struggling, the Flyers are Philly’s best hope for excitement. And, that is just
fine with Flyers loyalists.
“The Flyers fan base is the smallest of the four,” Bob Stahler said, “but it is
the most loyal.”
Jay Bratton, 28, also of West Deptford, wore the No. 28 Claude Giroux
jersey and professed his passion for the team and his fellow fans, saying:
“There is one team in this town with diehard fans.”
Fans who even get the Flyers’ logo strategically tattooed like Ashley Kelley.
“Every other sport is horrible,” Kelley said. “They are all a joke.”
She wasn’t kidding, either. If you get a Flyers tattoo, you are a serious fan.
652642
Philadelphia Flyers
Author tells tales of dad's former team
Kevin Callahan
Jakki Clarke, daughter of legendary Flyers captain Bob Clarke, didn’t even
know herself about many of the inside stories and behind-the-scenes tales
of some of her favorite Flyers.
So, Clarke, who also writes fiction, hoping to publish two mystery novels,
penned a unique sports book on a wide range of players from different eras,
too, who wore the Orange and Black over the years.
“I tried to find as many untold stories as I could,” Clarke said. “I tried to find
the funny locker room stories and the funny road trip stories. I did ask the
players to keep them PG, though.”
Clarke is the author of “Flyers Lives: Philadelphia Hockey Greats Share
Their Personal Stories.” The book was published last October. She began
writing the 208-page book in the summer of 2011.
“I asked players to pick the pivotal years of their lives and talk about also
what was going on in Philly and in pop culture, too,” said Clarke, a resident
of Haddonfield. “So, when the players went down memory lane, so do the
readers.
“I loved hearing all the stories. I just couldn’t print them all.”
Now 34, she is the third of Bob and Sandy Clarke’s four children. She said
she was nervous interviewing her famous father. She also said she learned
some aspects of her dad she didn’t know before.
“I asked him what he was most proud of,” she said. “I knew he could care
less about trophies and awards. When we were moving once, my mom
asked him what to do with some of the trophies and he said to just throw
them away. But he was most proud of an award that was voted on by the
players and for winning the best defensive forward award because he said
it meant he was a team player.”
Clarke, a graduate of Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., played sports
growing up. She played field hockey and lacrosse as a kid in Moorestown,
played soccer and did cross-country skiing during high school in Minnesota
and played tennis while in college. So she enlists a broad background in
sports as the daughter of a famous athlete and an accomplished athlete
herself.
This wide perspective allowed Clarke to interview the 21 players featured in
the book as more than a fan. In the book, she did ask every player the one
same question: What advice would they give to parents of young athletes?
“They all said not to put pressure on their kids,” said Clarke, the mother of 2
1/2-old twin boys.
Clarke relayed what Danny Briere said about the kids he played with who
were pressured by their parents.
“He said when he thinks back to the kids who had parents who yelled and
screamed, how most of them certainly didn’t play in the NHL, but don’t even
play in men’s leagues,” she said. “They just burned out.”
Clarke said she was “very surprised how so many of them overcame so
much adversity,” saying how guys such as Briere and Dave Poulin were
always told they were “too small” at each level of hockey.
And Clarke humorously talked about how Hall of Famer Bernie Parent
became a goalie.
“He told me his family only had one pair of skates and he was the youngest,
so he didn’t skate until he was 11 years old,” Clarke said, smiling. “So,
when he finally put on the skates, the coach saw him and said: ‘You are the
goal tender.’”
Jakki Clarke has proven she is more than the daughter of a famous father,
but also an accomplished writer and story teller.
652643
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers defeat Rangers for first win of the season
Sam Carchidi,
Playing with more physicality than at any time during the young season, the
Flyers overcame a depleted lineup - and recent history - as they jolted the
New York Rangers, 2-1, before a raucous sellout crowd at the Wells Fargo
Center on Thursday night.
With the win, the Flyers (1-3) avoided their first 0-4 start in franchise history.
They also ended an eight-game losing streak against the Rangers, who had
outscored the Flyers, 34-13, during that span.
A sensational penalty-kill late in the game drew a standing ovation and
preserved the victory.
The Flyers, clinging to a 2-1 lead, killed off a double-minor to Tye McGinn
and a two-minute, five-on-three disadvantage. Max Talbot, Sean Couturier,
Braydon Coburn, Claude Giroux, Matt Read, and Ruslan Fedotenko did
most of the PK work, and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov made huge stops on Rick
Nash from the right circle and Derek Stepan from the left circle.
Second-period goals by Wayne Simmonds and Jake Voracek (power play)
propelled the Flyers.
Defenseman Nick Grossmann, who triggered the Flyers' first goal, set the
tone with a crunching check on Marian Gaborik early in the first period,
igniting the crowd. The Flyers controlled the first period, outshooting the
Rangers, 11-5, but goalie Henrik Ludqvist was his usual stellar self.
With 8:07 left in the second period, Grossmann's point drive deflected off
the Rangers' Brad Richards and then off Simmonds' skate and past
Lundqvist, giving the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
About four minutes later, after Couturier's shot caromed off the left post,
Voracek tapped in a rebound from the crease, increasing the lead to 2-0.
The Flyers played without four regular forwards: Danny Briere (fractured
wrist), Scott Hartnell (broken foot), Zac Rinaldo (leg laceration) and
Brayden Schenn (one-game suspension).
In addition, defenseman Andrej Meszaros was injured in the second period
and did not return for the third.
The Rangers (1-3), looking tired in the first two periods after a draining
overtime win over Boston on Wednesday, got to within 2-1 on Taylor Pyatt's
power-play goal with 18:21 left in the third period.
But the Flyers survived, recording their first win over the Rangers since
Feb. 20, 2011. They also ended an overall seven-game losing streak,
including last year's four playoff losses to the Devils.
652644
Philadelphia Flyers
By ROB PARENT
in the offseason.
left foot.
40.
mission.
addition for us.”
them last season.
652645
Philadelphia Flyers
By ROB PARENT
in the offseason.
left foot.
40.
mission.
addition for us.”
them last season.
652646
Philadelphia Flyers
PARENT: Flyers need to remain calm as losses mount
By ROB PARENT
VOORHEES, N.J. — This is what a shortened, labor-toasted season feels
like. Almost half the amount of games, twice the amount of pressure.
Into this, Flyers young-man-in-the-middle Claude Giroux has taken his first
few not-so tentative steps as a team captain.
Giroux, just turned 25 and certainly one of the league’s best two-way
forwards, is three losing games into this shortened season and his
captaincy. Already, explanations of things gone wrong appear to have
turned into a boring chore.
“I’m just going to play my game,” Giroux said.
His point was such that it’s only been three games. But 0-3 in a shortened
season, that’s almost like 0-5. Of course, it’s too soon to push any
proverbial panic buttons, too silly — yes, in the NHL, even in Philadelphia
— to think that the bosses are going to be pushing any eject buttons.
What Claude Giroux sees is the need for calm in the face of a storm, and
one may be coming in tonight in the form of the New York Rangers. Seems
like the perfect time for Giroux and his teammates to finally start exhibiting a
better sense of cool and calm.
Giroux leads by example. The Flyers can take a cue from his tenacity. What
they did in New Jersey was take a Giroux cue of frustration and run with it.
There’s only one reason the Flyers were out of their game against the
Devils early, and it wasn’t the three goals the Devils scored early. Rather, it
was the Flyers’ reaction to those three goals and to subsequent calls, and
what they perceived as non-calls, by the officials.
“Right now, there’s a little bit of frustration,” sidelined forward Danny Briere
said Wednesday. “There’s a little lack of confidence. We’re forcing plays a
little too much. ... Where you saw it was yesterday. We started pressing a
little bit.”
Pressing offensively (because they can’t score), not pressing defensively
(because they haven’t been able to) and worst of all, pressing the issue with
the refs.
Against the Sabres Sunday, the Flyers took five straight minors over the
course of 12 minutes and change in the second period and were whistled
for three of the four minor penalties called in the third period.
Against the Devils, after falling behind by three goals before three minutes
had gone in the second period, the Flyers reacted with frustration rather
than desperation.
That led to a bevy of whistles as referees Brad Watson and Jean Hebert
fought to maintain control of the game. But the calls on Flyers weren’t born
of acts of necessity. Instead, there was Wayne Simmonds interfering with
goalie Martin Brodeur with a combo love tap/cross check that served no
purpose.
There was Brayden Schenn coming off the bench on a line change,
sprinting up the side boards then leveling Devils defender Anton
Volchenkov. Great hit ... except for the way Schenn left his feet to get it. So
Schenn was summarily slapped with a one-game suspension from
slumbering lord of discipline Brendan Shanahan for a charge that wasn’t
called during the game by the refs.
Amid the flurry of penalties in those final two periods in New Jersey were
two “abuse of officials” calls. The first came 15:56 of the second period,
given to the Flyers’ bench. The second came at 6:49 of the third period, and
that one was credited as a solo act to Giroux. Abuse of officials by the
leader?
“I don’t know what to say about that,” Giroux said. “It’s just an emotional
game. I didn’t talk to (the referee) after that. ... I just yelled at him that I
wasn’t happy with the call. I’m an emotional guy and I was yelling and he
didn’t like it so he called (the penalty).”
“Abuse of officials” dictates that any player or coach “shall not challenge or
dispute the rulings of an official.” Especially when a captain is doing the
talking.
“I’m trying to sift through that myself today,” coach Peter Laviolette said.
“It’s just a new interpretation of what’s allowed and not allowed. We
certainly don’t want to take those penalties and we’re trying to get an
answer or an idea of what it is, exactly. ... It’s a difficult thing.”
Yes, it’s difficult to maintain control in an emotional game. For a young
captain like Giroux, perhaps that’s a hard lesson to learn, especially given
the shortened time frame he’s working on.
652647
Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes let 2-goal lead slip away in loss to San Jose Sharks
By Josh Dubow Associated Press
SAN JOSE — Sharks coach Todd McLellan’s decision to start the season
with familiar lines from a year ago is paying early dividends for San Jose.
Patrick Marleau scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:53 remaining for his third
straight two-goal game, helping the Sharks rally from a two-goal deficit to
beat the Phoenix Coyotes 5-3 in their home opener Thursday night.
Joe Thornton added three assists — getting one on each of Marleau’s
scores — and an empty-net goal as San Jose’s two biggest stars appear in
midseason form already. Marleau has six goals and two assists and
Thornton has one goal and eight assists as the Sharks have opened the
season with three straight wins for the first time since 2008-09.
“They’re clicking,” McLellan said. “They had big nights tonight. Teams are
going to count on their big guys to get the job done. Ours are producing
right now.”
Logan Couture and Marty Havlat also scored for San Jose. Antti Niemi
made 32 saves.
Steve Sullivan, Antoine Vermette and Lauri Korpikoski scored for the
Coyotes, unable to hold onto a 3-1 lead in the third period on the back end
of a back-to-back.
“It’s a shame because we played so well for most of the game,” coach Dave
Tippett said. “In the third period we make a couple of errors and it cost us.
It’s hard to stomach. We have no time for learning. We need people to get
in there and get the job done. We need to finish and we’ll have to find
people who can do that. That’s a point wasted for sure.”
Marleau started San Jose’s comeback with a goal midway through the third
and then beat Jason LaBarbera for the game-winner. Thornton started the
play with a sharp up-ice pass to Joe Pavelski, who fed Marleau for the wrist
shot.
“Joe made a great play coming back,” Marleau said. “He picked up a loose
puck, and I kind of just took off, and he found Pav, and Pav was able to
slide it over to me. I just tried to get it away as quick as possible.”
The Coyotes seemed to take control with two goals in a span of 2:27 of the
third to take a 3-1 lead. The outburst started when Sullivan came out of the
penalty box to start a 15-second power play that Phoenix capitalized on.
Sullivan’s shot was blocked but Vermette knocked the rebound past Niemi,
who was off-balance after Shane Doan was knocked into him by a Sharks
defender.
While Niemi had little chance to stop that shot, he did a poor job on
Phoenix’s next goal when Korpikoski beat him to the short side from a bad
angle to give the Coyotes a two-goal edge.
“Once we get down, there’s still belief in this team where we can come back
from deficits like that because we know the skill and talent we have and the
offensive capabilities of the players on this team that we can score goals in
bunches,” Couture said.
That proved to be true as Marleau took a pass from Thornton in the slot and
beat LaBarbera to make it 3-2. Havlat then got the equalizer when he
knocked in a rebound with 6:54 remaining, and Marleau provided the gamewinner.
“We had the game under control and we just gave it away,” Doan said.
After beating Calgary and Edmonton in their home openers to begin the
season, the Sharks got their long-awaited chance to play before their own
fans for the first time in more than nine months because of the four-month
NHL lockout.
San Jose got a break when Phoenix goalie Mike Smith was scratched with
a lower-body injury. Smith, who became the first goalie to shut out the
Sharks three times in one season a year ago, left Wednesday’s win over
Columbus in the first period with the injury.
LaBarbera was up to the task early as the Sharks used the energy from the
crowd to get off to a fast start. San Jose took 12 of the game’s first 13
shots, including seven during a 2:39 stretch on the power play that included
1:22 of 5-on-3 time.
San Jose took advantage of its next power-play chance when Derek Morris
was sent off in the final minute of the period for cross-checking Justin
Braun. Thornton won a faceoff from Boyd Gordon and got the puck to
Pavelski at the point. Pavelski’s shot was tipped by Couture into the net for
the Sharks’ sixth power-play goal of the season.
The Coyotes equalized in the second period when Sullivan scored 1:48 into
the two-man advantage for his fourth goal in two nights.
NOTES: The Sharks played a video tribute to the team’s original owner,
George Gund III, who died this month from cancer. … Matthew Irwin got his
first career point with an assist on Marleau’s first goal. … F Scott Gomez,
signed Wednesday by San Jose, did not dress. … Coyotes C Matthew
Lombardi left in the second period with an upper-body injury.
Arizona Republic LOADED: 01.25.2013
652648
Phoenix Coyotes
Coach, calendar have simple message for Phoenix Coyotes: Better start
playing with urgency
By Sarah McLellan
As soon as the Coyotes fell into their familiar pattern of practices, morning
skates and game nights, their sensory memory was rekindled.
And it told them it wasn’t the end of January.
“I feel like it’s Game 3 in October,” defenseman Zbynek Michalek said.
From a conditioning standpoint, that’s encouraging. Players feel energized
and ready to withstand a heavy workload in a condensed season. Coach
Dave Tippett hasn’t noticed any stragglers when it comes to that.
But the drawback of having their internal clocks lag behind is it’s now a
challenge to capture the intensity that hovers over the ice in February,
March and into the playoff months when their bodies currently feel like
they’re gearing up for an 82-game trek.
“Show them the calendar,” Tippett suggested. “We’re not October. We’re
February. They should treat it like February.”
Maybe so but when athletes have been hardwired to worship repetition and
routine, a change like this isn’t always so easy to reconcile.
“It’s a different feeling,” center Antoine Vermette said. “It’s not playoffs, but
it’s not regular season. It’s a strange feeling because you’re aware of the
urgency with the short season … but it seems like it’s not a sprint. But it’s
not a marathon, as well.”
If the Coyotes played to the calendar, this abbreviated schedule would
seem to be a clear-cut advantage. A year ago today, the Coyotes were 2220-8 entering the All-Star break. When they returned a week later, they
finished the regular season 20-7-5 to win the Pacific Division and earn the
third seed in the Western Conference.
The season before that, they went 18-9-4 after the break. In 2010, once the
NHL resumed games after the Winter Olympics, the Coyotes finished the
season 13-4-2.
As a second-half team, the Coyotes should thrive in a season that,
essentially, starts in January — if they ignore what their bodies are telling
them.
“That’s what we’re missing right now, that urgency, that drive, give it all,”
Michalek said. “That’s what we’re lacking right now. Maybe that’s part of it
because it’s just the beginning of the season but in reality, this is it. We only
have 45 games left. There is not much time for making up the points.”
That seems to be the one time element that is accurate. The opportunity to
remain in the playoff chase is narrower, and a rough start could dispel any
hopes of having meaningful games in April.
“We’re going to have to pick it up and play better games because it could
be too late if we don’t,” Michalek said. “We better pick it up. We know we
can do it. We have the talent in the room and we know how we have to
play, so we just have to do it on the ice.”
So perhaps it’s not a matter of playing tricks on the body to play catch-up
but rather a decision to duplicate the method of success that’s enabled the
Coyotes to — at least in recent history — rack up wins at the most crucial
juncture of the season.
And that, the Coyotes say, has nothing to do with mind games and
everything to do with heart.
“We’ve got a group of guys that are pretty competitive guys, that are overall
just competitive,” captain Shane Doan said. “Not overly skilled but really
competitive. That’s the difference when it comes down to it.”
Arizona Republic LOADED: 01.25.2013
652649
Pittsburgh Penguins
Eaton returns to Penguins’ organization
By Jonathan Bombulie
WILKES-BARRE — On the ground floor of the Mohegan Sun Arena in
Wilkes-Barre, on the wall between the home locker room and head coach’s
office, hangs a 5-by-10-foot photo collage. It features members of the 2009
Penguins’ Stanley Cup team who at one time played for the Baby Pens.
Move over Brooks Orpik and Marc-Andre Fleury, and make room for
another picture on the poster.
Mark Eaton, a key shutdown defender for the 2009 title team, signed a 25game tryout contract with the Baby Pens and is expected to play his first
AHL game in almost eight years Friday night in Rochester, N.Y.
Under normal circumstances, the 35-year-old Eaton probably would have
drawn interest from NHL teams last summer after his two-year deal with the
New York Islanders expired. At the very least, he would have been invited
to training camp.
The lockout changed the landscape, however, and Eaton’s phone never
rang. He needed a place to get into game shape and show NHL teams he
was still an effective player. The Penguins offered him a spot in WilkesBarre, and he jumped at the chance.
“I know the system here, so it seemed like a logical fit,” Eaton said.
Looking deeper, there are a few more layers to the story.
For one thing, it indicates the Penguins realize a 48-game season is no
time for prospects to be learning on the job. Joe Morrow and Brian
Dumoulin are talented young defensemen, but they’ve played zero NHL
games. Eaton has played 627.
“I think it does put an onus on experience,” Eaton said. “There are basically
two sets of playoffs. Forty-eight games is almost like a playoffs, then you
get to the actual playoffs.”
It also gives the Penguins flexibility to move defensive assets to shore up
other areas of the roster, whether it’s a small move involving a depth player
like Ben Lovejoy or a big one involving a top prospect like Simon Despres.
Baby Pens coach John Hynes said he wouldn’t be surprised if a deal like
that went down.
“It could, particularly based on need, what Pittsburgh needs and what other
teams in the National Hockey League need and Pittsburgh has,” Hynes
said.
The Eaton signing was one of several moves the Penguins made in the
past two days as they tinkered with the middle of their depth chart.
On Wednesday, they signed 34-year-old winger Tom Kostopoulos to an
AHL tryout. The Penguins’ seventh-round pick in the 1999 draft,
Kostopoulos played most of his first five pro seasons with the Baby Pens
and is the team’s all-time leading scorer. For the past seven seasons, he’s
been a fourth-line grinder in the NHL with Los Angeles, Montreal, Carolina
and Calgary.
“The goal would be to impress Pittsburgh and try to get there,” Kostopoulos
said. “If that doesn’t work out, hopefully someone else sees. In the
meantime, just try to play hard and help this team win a championship.”
On Thursday, the Penguins made two minor trades. First, they sent forward
Benn Ferriero to the New York Rangers for winger Chad Kolarik.
Ferriero, 25, signed with the Penguins in July after three promising seasons
as a San Jose prospect but managed just four goals in 30 games with the
Baby Pens. Kolarik, a 26-year-old Michigan grad, is a winger who has
topped 20 goals in all three of his AHL seasons.
“Speedy player, gritty player, has some good offensive talent,” Hynes said.
The Penguins also traded defenseman Carl Sneep to Dallas for a
conditional draft pick. Sneep, a 2006 second-round pick out of Boston
College, tumbled down the depth chart as the Penguins’ top defensive
prospects began to turn pro this season.
“He’s a good kid,” Hynes said. “He needed a little bit of a change and a
different opportunity.”
Tribune Review LOADED: 01.25.2013
652650
Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins notebook: Malkin on verbal abuse: ‘It was my fault’
By Rob Rossi
Center Evgeni Malkin is taking ownership of his unprofessional behavior at
the end of the Penguins’ 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Consol
Energy Center on Wednesday.
Malkin was tagged with a game misconduct penalty after the game for
verbally abusing an on-ice official. He was not suspended for the incident.
“Of course I tried to talk to him in English,” Malkin said, jokingly, Thursday
after the Penguins practiced at Consol Energy Center.
“I’m really mad at a couple (of) calls, but … I lose control. It was bad
emotion. It was my fault.”
The Penguins were penalized 10 times against Toronto, including Malkin’s
misconduct and an unsportsmanlike conduct minor for captain Sidney
Crosby.
• Wednesday marked another big day of support by Penguins fans. The
game between the Penguins and Maple Leafs registered a 15.12 Nielsen
rating for Root Sports Pittsburgh, translating to approximately 453,000
viewers throughout the region. It was the third most-watched regularseason game in Penguins history. Games last weekend at Philadelphia
(NBC) and New York (Root) were watched by about 950,000, Nielsen
reported.
• Also on Wednesday, the Penguins reported around $500,000 in
merchandise sales at the PensGear stores at Consol Energy Center and
SouthSide Works. Merchandise was sold at a 50-percent discount. That will
continue on days of the next three home games.
• Coach Dan Bylsma on his decision to select LW Chris Kunitz as an
alternate captain for home games: “He’s a guy who has emerged on our
team as a leader. With how he plays, he’s a respected guy in that dressing
room. He’s not a real vocal guy, but he does speak and he does carry a lot
of weight in our room. He certainly carries a lot of weight on the ice.” Kunitz
(home) and D Brooks Orpik (road) will share alternate captain duties.
652651
Pittsburgh Penguins
No suspension for Malkin
By Rob Rossi
Penguins center Evgeni Malkin will not be suspended for mouthing off to
on-ice officials Wednesday night in the Penguins‘ 5-2 loss to the Toronto
Maple Leafs at Consol Energy Center.
Malkin received a 10-minute game misconduct penalty after the game
because for verbal abuse of an official.
He was one of several Penguins frustrated by the high number of penalties
that turned their home opener into a contested dictated by special teams.
“Of course I tried to talk to him in English,” Malkin said, jokingly, Thursday
after the Penguins practiced at Consol Energy Center.
“I‘m really mad at a couple (of) calls, but … I lose control. It was bad
emotion. It was my fault.”
The Penguins were penalized 10 times against Toronto, including Malkin‘s
misconduct and an unsportsmanlike conduct minor for captain Sidney
Crosby.
The loss Wednesday was the first for the Penguins (2-1-0, 4 points). They
will play at Winnipeg on Friday night.
Right winger Tyler Kennedy worked the left side on a line with Malkin and
right winger James Neal at practice Thursday. Kennedy‘s third-line spot
was filled by left winger Tanner Glass, whose spot on the fourth line was
taken by left winger Eric Tangradi.
Tangradi played four minutes and 27 seconds against Toronto.
General manager Ray Shero made a couple of trades Thursday.
Defenseman Carl Sneep, the last remaining player in the organization from
Shero‘s original 2006 draft class, was shipped to Dallas for a conditional
pick. Also, the Penguins swapped right winger Benn Ferriero for right
winger Chad Kolarik of the New York Rangers system.
Ferriero and Kolarik are AHL players.
Sneep was playing in the ECHL, a lower-tier in the minors.
The Penguins have eight NHL defensemen on the NHL roster, but Shero is
fielding offers for Ben Lovejoy, who has yet to play this season.
Former defenseman Mark Eaton, a regular on the 2008 and 2009 Cup
Finalist squads, had a tryout for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday. The
Penguins are considering bringing in Eaton, 35, who played the last two
seasons with the New York Islanders.
652652
Pittsburgh Penguins
After slow start, Tangradi demoted to 4th line
By Josh Yohe
Eric Tangradi could be angry at the Penguins’ coaching staff for removing
him from Evgeni Malkin’s line after only 25 minutes, 23 seconds of ice time
in three games.
He also could be angry with a portion of the Penguins’ fan base that
pointedly denounces him daily on various social media outlets.
Instead, Tangradi has retained his ever-present smile and blames only
himself for a slow start. He has been demoted to the fourth line for Friday’s
game in Winnipeg, as playing alongside Malkin clearly is something a
player must earn.
“I’m not mad at anyone,” Tangradi said. “I’m not frustrated, really. If I get
back to playing my game and playing the right way, (playing with Malkin)
might be an opportunity that arises in the future. I need to be better. I know
that.”
For now, winger Tyler Kennedy will play on the second line with Malkin and
James Neal.
Tangradi worked on the fourth line during Thursday’s practice with Joe
Vitale and Craig Adams.
Quiet during the first two games of the season, Tangradi committed two
errors against Toronto that led to his reduced role.
He committed a turnover in the second period that led to Clarke
MacArthur’s goal. Earlier, Tangradi found himself on a 2-on-1 with Malkin.
The problem was, Tangradi didn’t immediately recognize the odd-man rush,
and by the time he did, a scoring opportunity was wasted.
His inability to create chemistry with Malkin and Neal has been evident.
“I obviously didn’t play my game against Toronto,” said Tangradi, who saw
six shifts in just 4:27 of ice time. “I had some untimely turnovers, and I know
I just can’t do that. I wasn’t physical enough, either. Not a real strong game
for me.”
While public perception of Tangradi’s work may not be positive, his
teammates remain confident in the 23-year-old.
Neal believes Tangradi is on the verge of becoming a good NHL player.
“It’s not always easy being a young guy and coming into the league,” Neal
said. “You might see hesitation in certain things that he does, and
sometimes nerves can affect you. But I think he looks more comfortable
than he did.”
In addition to his struggles, Tangradi has trouble finding ice time because
he doesn’t play special teams. The Penguins were short-handed eight times
against Toronto.
“The thing about him is that he can help us in different roles,” Neal said.
“He’ll give the third and fourth lines some energy.”
Kennedy saw work on the Malkin line in the final two periods against the
Maple Leafs. Coach Dan Bylsma said Kennedy gave the line “more jump
than Eric was providing.”
Kennedy, known for his tendency to shoot when the opportunity presents
itself, might see plenty of scoring chances playing with Malkin and Neal, two
of hockey’s most feared forwards.
“I hope I can make the most of it,” Kennedy said.
Tangradi knows the feeling.
“I’ve learned to be ready to hop over the boards whenever I get the
opportunity,” he said. “I’m just going to keep working.”
652653
Pittsburgh Penguins
There’s a definite like there, but love feels like it’s still on the horizon, at
best.
Crosby, Canada work in progress
One explanation Lawless offers is that “Gretzky did all his winning for a
Canadian team. Crosby has helped keep the Cup out of Canada.” He
means Gretzky’s famed Oilers.
By Dejan Kovacevic
Hard to argue that.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Ever stepped into minus-27 degrees?
“Also, Sid’s dominance is more subtle. He’s never been far and away the
best, having Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin to contend with. When 99
was the best, it wasn’t close. Same for 66 when he took over the stage. But
that being said, I think Sid’s about to enter a new stage of his career and
take his rightful place in Canadian hockey royalty.”
If not, here’s a tip: Don’t.
No matter how well you think you’re clothed, it doesn’t take a minute before
your skin tingles, your fingers clench, your eyeballs feel like they’re
calcifying and ... OK, I’ll come clean: That pretty much sums up my 3.5block walk from the hotel to a coffeeshop late Thursday afternoon.
Be sure that would matter to at least one guy.
The cab ride back wasn’t nearly as bad.
“Yeah,” he answered. “I’m Canadian. A proud Canadian. And I definitely
appreciate, if I hear cheers on the road or things like that, it’s nice.”
It’s a cold place, Winnipeg. Coldest big city in the world, actually, with a
population of about 700,000 hardy souls and an average winter temp that’s
a mathematical match for all the tourism revenue it reels in.
And yet, it’s also one of the warmest places.
“These are some of the friendliest people you’ll find anywhere,” Tanner
Glass, the Penguins’ newest winger, was saying. He should know. He was
raised in neighboring Saskatchewan and spent last season with the Jets.
“They’re tremendous hockey fans, too.”
Sounds like an ideal mix for Sidney Crosby’s debut in this city Friday night,
right?
A packed house of good-hearted, passionate Canadian hockey fans
welcoming a favorite son on home soil?
It does to me, anyway, but ...
Glass: “Honestly, I have no clue how they’ll be with Sid.”
Brandy Ellerbrock, a Jets season-ticket holder: “We’re all excited to finally
see him, but I’m not sure if he’ll get the typical Winnipeg boos for the other
team’s best player or cheers.”
Gary Lawless, veteran columnist at the Winnipeg Free Press: “They’ll cheer
him early, then get on him.”
No one seems to have a firm feel for it.
And maybe that’s telling in and or itself.
We’re almost three years to the month since Crosby’s crowning
achievement as a Canadian, the golden overtime goal to beat the United
States at the Vancouver Olympics. It was celebrated unlike any event I’ve
ever covered, inside and outside that throbbing building.
And Crosby, the pride of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was king of Canada.
For about a week.
Before long, he was booed in Ottawa, taunted in Toronto and, really, he still
hasn’t been elevated anywhere near the status once enjoyed by Wayne
Gretzky or, later, Mario Lemieux.
Why?
Much of it, I’ll tell you, is the Canadian sports media’s love affair with
Gretzky that lingers still. No one can ever touch the Great One in their eyes.
Not even Lemieux. Mario had three strikes: He was a French speaker,
wasn’t nearly as fond of cameras, and his ascent past Gretzky didn’t sit well
with those who’d already done the anointing.
Still, Lemieux was mostly treated with respect in his home country,
especially after his own national triumphs in the Canada Cup and Olympics.
With Crosby ... it’s just not the same.
He’s the consensus best player in the game, as those two were. But it’s far
more difficult to detect that same glow out of Canada. Not in the press, not
in endorsements and not in crowd adulation, the area that’s easiest to
quantify.
I asked Crosby, with the Penguins’ trip taking them here and on to Ottawa,
if he finds it important to be embraced by Canada.
Maybe he will Friday at the MTS Centre, loudest building in the league. It
should be fascinating to find out.
Might be fun, too. The fans here make a game of teasing opponents’ stars.
Sometimes they boo with each touch. Other times, they’ll chant that a
comparable player is better. When the Hurricanes’ Eric Staal visited, they’d
chant, “Jor-dan’s bet-ter!” Did that for Ovechkin, too, with a “Cros-by’s better!”
What if now it’s Malkin being “bet-ter?”
“Hey, that’s OK,” Crosby came back with a grin. “At least they’ll be on our
side.”
All politics is local, eh?
652654
Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins make minor trades with Rangers, Stars
By Shelly Anderson
The Penguins have made two minor trades, acquiring forward Chad Kolarik
from the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Benn Ferriero and
getting a conditional draft pick from the Dallas Stars for defenseman Carl
Sneep.
Kolarik, 26, was a seventh-round draft pick by Phoenix in 2004. He has
been assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
He had 16 goals, 36 points in 41 games with Connecticut of the AHL this
season after missing all of last season because of a knee injury.
Ferriero was signed as a free agent last February and has spent his time
with the organization with Wilkes-Barre.
Sneep, 25, was a Penguins second-round draft pick in 2006 but had fallen
far down the organizational depth chart. He has spent most of this season
with Wheeling of the ECHL.
Post Gazette LOADED: 01.25.2013
652655
Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins lines are a-shifting
By Shelly Anderson
The experiment, if that's what it is, is taking on a new element.
Tyler Kennedy will get a look on a line with Evgeni Malkin and James Neal
tonight when the Penguins play in Winnipeg. He'll even do it on the left
wing.
"[Neal] likes the right side, so I'll try the left side and see how it goes,"
Kennedy, usually a right winger, said Thursday after coach Dan Bylsma
shuffled three of his four forward lines in practice at Consol Energy Center.
"I don't think I've ever played on the left side. I know if I go in focused, it
shouldn't be too bad [a transition]."
One of the burning questions for the Penguins entering this lockoutshortened season was who would fill the spot on the left side next to Malkin.
Chris Kunitz played there last season -- when Malkin won the NHL scoring
title and Neal piled up 40 goals -- but he was shifted back to Sidney
Crosby's line now that Crosby is healthy.
A shortened training camp with no preseason games didn't allow for much
in the way of auditions. For the first two games and at least for the start of
the home opener Wednesday against Toronto, it was budding power
forward Eric Tangradi, 23, who joined Malkin and Neal.
After two road wins, the 5-2 loss against the Maple Leafs, had the Penguins
scrambling. There was a lot of special-teams activity and the Penguins
played from behind most of the game. In an effort to spark his team, Bylsma
used many forward-line combinations.
He used Malkin and Crosby together and, at times, put Kennedy or Tanner
Glass with Malkin and Neal.
Tangradi, though, nearly became a nonfactor. He played 2 minutes, 25
seconds in the first period, 0:36 in the second and 0:26 in the third.
Early in the game, Tangradi had the puck along the boards as Malkin flew
down the slot with a Maple Leafs player on his heels. It looked like a perfect
setup, but Tangradi's pass was behind Malkin, and the play dissolved.
"We were having some trouble creating offense, so they were trying to
make some adjustments," Tangradi said. "How the game was going and
playing from behind had a lot to do with it."
By practice Thursday, Tangradi was on the left wing of the fourth line with
center Joe Vitale and right winger Craig Adams. Glass moved up from the
fourth line to Kennedy's former spot on the third line with left winger Matt
Cooke and center Brandon Sutter.
Only Crosby's line, with Kunitz and right winger Pascal Dupuis, remained
intact.
Tangradi, who has no points in three games, is willing to ride things out.
"I'm not frustrated," he said. "I know that if I get back to playing my game
and playing the right way, there may be an opportunity that may arise in the
future."
Bylsma confirmed as much, noting that Kennedy and Glass already have
gotten spot work on Malkin's line and such maneuvers could happen again
depending on game situations.
Kennedy, 26, has been something of a fixture on the third line with Cooke.
Before this season, that line was centered by Jordan Staal. Now, it is
centered by Sutter, who came over as part of the Staal trade to Carolina in
June.
Malkin is willing to give Kennedy a look.
"He's a really good skater and moves the puck," Malkin said." He can score.
I think now he has lots of confidence. We'll see. We've never played
together for a long time, but he's a good guy."
Kennedy, 5 feet 11 and 183 pounds, is a noticeably different left winger
than Tangradi, who is 6-4, 221. Kennedy likes to fly down the wing and let
loose shots, although he will have a lot of responsibilities playing on
Malkin's line.
"They create a lot of offense," Kennedy said of his two new linemates. "I
know I've got to get on pucks hard and be very good defensively. Skating,
shooting pucks, trying to get to the net. Both of them are shooters, so I've
got to try to get to the net and jam in some rebounds.
"It's a great opportunity, and I hope I make the best of it."
Tangradi's skating -- something he has worked on since coming to the
Penguins in a trade with Anaheim in February 2009 -- might have held him
back in terms of landing a permanent spot alongside Malkin. That shouldn't
be a problem for Kennedy.
"Tyler provides some speed and someone who can flat-out shoot the puck,
a guy who can hunt down pucks for that group," Bylsma said. "He certainly
can keep up with them speed-wise."
652656
Pittsburgh Penguins
Malkin offers apology of sorts for late-game tirade at officials
There was a time when Sneep, from Boston College, and Brian Strait, from
Boston University, were considered strong prospects to play defense for the
Penguins. Strait was a third-rounder in 2006. Now both are gone. Strait was
plucked off of waivers by the New York Islanders last week.
By Shelly Anderson
Frustrated with losing, with his team being short-handed for the equivalent
of more than half of a period, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin let loose with
unflattering language toward the officials at the end of the 5-2 loss
Wednesday night against Toronto.
He was assessed a 10-minute misconduct penalty.
By Thursday, Malkin was calm and ready to shoulder responsibility for his
outburst.
"I lost control," he said after practice at Consol Energy Center. "We lost,
and I was really mad. It's my fault."
Malkin was one of several Penguins who were puzzled by some of the
minor penalties called. The Maple Leafs had eight power plays, for a total of
11 minutes, 40 seconds.
"Every year, they change the rules," Malkin said. "It's tough to play
sometimes. But we'll just play how we can."
A chilly reception?
It was far from toasty when the Penguins landed Thursday in Winnipeg in
advance of their game tonight against the Jets. According to forecasts, it
might barely get above 0 degrees Fahrenheit during their stay.
"I'm looking forward to getting up there and waking up in that cold,"
Penguins winger Tanner Glass said. "I like the cold. I'm from up there. It's
beautiful. That lets you know you're alive."
Glass, from Regina, Saskatchewan, spent last season with the Jets -- a
season that saw the NHL return to Winnipeg.
"It was awesome," Glass said of the team's reception in Winnipeg. "It was
like a playoff game every day."
Glass was part of the so-called GST line with Jim Slater and former
Penguin Chris Thorburn. The GST is a Canadian tax.
Jets fans often single out an opposing player and come up with a clever
heckle. Glass isn't sure if he might be targeted as someone who signed
elsewhere and is making his return in another uniform.
"They love their team," he said. "I don't know what to expect."
A more likely mark is Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby, who will
be making his NHL debut in MTS Centre. He missed the teams' two games
there last season because of health issues and wasn't in the league when
the city had a team that eventually became the Phoenix Coyotes. This team
is formerly the Atlanta Thrashers.
"It's an exciting atmosphere," Crosby said of the building. "I played there in
world juniors."
As for taunts designed for him, Crosby said: "Sometimes, I hear them [in
road buildings]; sometimes I don't. I guess I'll have to let you know after the
game. They've definitely had a couple of good ones over the years."
2 minor league trades
The Penguins acquired forward Chad Kolarik from the New York Rangers in
exchange for forward Benn Ferriero and received a conditional draft pick
from Dallas for defenseman Carl Sneep.
Kolarik, 26, was a seventh-round draft pick by Phoenix in 2004. He was
assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. He
had 16 goals, 36 points in 41 games with Connecticut of the AHL this
season after missing all last season because of a knee injury.
Ferriero was signed as a free agent in July and spent his time with the
organization in Wilkes-Barre.
Sneep, 25, was a second-round draft pick in 2006 but had fallen far down
the organizational depth chart. He has spent most of this season with
Wheeling of the ECHL.
652657
San Jose Sharks
"Still inconsistencies throughout the night, but there are a lot of teams in the
league that are like that," McLellan said. "It's our job to clean that up quicker
than the others."
San Jose Sharks rally past Phoenix Coyotes
Overall, though, the emphasis in the locker room afterward was on the two
points gained.
By David Pollak
"A good character win," Couture said. "You get down two goals in the third
period, fight back and find a way to win."
SAN JOSE -- Patrick Marleau made sure Thursday night that the Phoenix
Coyotes weren't going to ruin the Sharks' home opener in this lockoutshortened season.
Two third-period goals by Marleau sandwiched around one by Marty Havlat
gave the Sharks a 5-3 victory over the Coyotes in the first NHL game at HP
Pavilion in nine months.
It was Marleau's third consecutive two-goal performance and gave San
Jose a perfect 3-0 record so far.
The Sharks were trailing 3-1 with less than 11 minutes left when the
comeback began.
"There was still a lot of game left then, and we knew that," said Marleau,
whose six goals lead the NHL. "We wanted to go down there and get
pressure on them. We let that go away from our game."
Marleau's game-winner came with 1:53 to play with linemates Joe Pavelski
and Joe Thornton getting the assists. Thornton's four-point night gave him
the NHL scoring lead with nine points.
Thornton "made a great play coming back, picked up a loose puck,"
Marleau said. "I kind of just took off. He found Pav, and Pav was able to
slide it over to me. I just tried to get it away as quick as possible, and it
found a way in."
Logan Couture scored the Sharks' first goal and a power-play empty netter
by Thornton with 2.8 seconds left wrapped up the scoring. Steve Sullivan,
Antoine Vermette and Lauri Korpikoski tallied for Phoenix.
The Sharks were after the two points, but they also were mindful of the
bigger picture after
a 119-day lockout that forced the NHL to play an abbreviated 48-game
schedule.
"It's also about rewarding our fans for a long patient wait," coach Todd
McLellan said before the game.
The Sharks were the first team on the scoreboard at 19:22 when Couture
deflected a shot by Pavelski past Coyotes goalie Jason LaBarbera for a
power-play goal.
Earlier in the period, the Sharks failed to score on 1:39 of a two-man
advantage, but the Coyotes managed to tie things up in the second period
when they had the 5-on-3 edge. The Sharks killed 1:49 of the full two
minutes, but Sullivan beat Antti Niemi from a harsh angle at 7:11.
It stayed that way until 5:01 of the third period when Coyotes captain Shane
Doan appeared to knock Niemi off balance while Phoenix was on the power
play. No penalty was called, and Vermette was able to get off a shot before
the Sharks goalie recovered, and San Jose trailed 2-1.
"Somebody fell over and hit me," Niemi said. "I kind of fell, too, and the stick
got caught somewhere on my leg. I didn't see the puck. When I saw it, it
was already coming."
Did Niemi expect a penalty against Doan on the play?
"I hoped at best there would not be a goal because I couldn't do anything
about it," Niemi said.
Korpikoski scored at 7:28 of the third to make it 3-1, but that only set the
stage for the Sharks' four unanswered goals.
The first came when Thornton slid the puck into the slot, and Marleau
hammered it home at 9:15. Less than four minutes after that, San Jose tied
it when LaBarbera couldn't control a shot by Ryane Clowe and Havlat deftly
worked the puck free and into the net.
Despite the win, the Sharks showed there was still work to do on the
penalty kill team, which gave up two goals on six chances, and other areas
such as shift lengths.
The Sharks' top two marquee forwards over the past five years are off to a
hot start. McLellan wanted to capitalize on familiarity in setting his lines at
the start of this shortened season, and it has worked so far with San Jose's
current captain and his predecessor.
"He's been playing, so he's got his game down," Marleau said of Thornton,
who played in Switzerland during the lockout. "I'm just still trying to play
catch-up a little bit, but I've been able to find some spots, and he's been
able to put it on my tape."
Added Thornton: "I know what he likes to do, he knows what I like to do. It
doesn't matter if we were playing together during this lockout or not, we're
still going to have good chemistry."
The home opener drew a crowd of 17,562 -- the Sharks' 130th consecutive
sellout at HP Pavilion (regular season and playoffs).
Before the game, there was a video-board apology from players, general
manager Doug Wilson and executive vice president Malcolm Bordelon.
Someone held up a "Fan on Strike" sign midway in the first period, but other
than that, the emphasis all night was on the present and not the past.
Look for Scott Gomez to make his debut as a Shark at home this weekend,
either Saturday against Colorado or Sunday against Vancouver. "We're
waiting one more night," McLellan said before the game. "We'll get one
more good practice in tomorrow and then we'll see Saturday what we do
with him."
Gomez held court with the media after the morning skate and showed a
quick sense of humor. Here's his deadpan response when asked what he's
learned about his new teammates: "A couple guys use extra lite Ranch.
One guy likes his steak really, really cooked. Little stuff like that you don't
expect."
San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652658
San Jose Sharks
An NHL opening night in late January has a strange feel to it
By Mark Purdy
SAN JOSE -- Such a weird vibe. Hockey opening night? In late January?
Here was HP Pavilion on Thursday night, finally open for puck business.
Here was the teal tribe of customers parading through the doors and filling
up most every seat, ready for the Sharks' home opener. And here were the
players on the blue line, lining up for pregame introductions in the spotlight.
Usually, that's all in October. So odd.
Especially when you consider that just 12 days earlier, there was no
National Hockey League at all.
"It's been only 12 days?" asked Joe Pavelski before Thursday's opening
faceoff.
Yes. Only 12 days. The NHL lockout was settled early on the morning of
Jan. 13. The Sharks held a
fast-food-drive-through version of training camp and played their first game
last Saturday in Calgary. They played another in Edmonton on Tuesday
night, thereby completing one-twelfth of their entire road schedule in a
truncated 48-game season.
Then they came home for Thursday's first home game. Twelve days.
"I'm still trying to play catch-up a little bit," said Patrick Marleau.
As is the entire hockey universe, it seems. But we know this much: The
Sharks have no time to sit and ponder the meaning of it all. They badly
need to prove themselves early.
Amid the frenzied eagerness of the quick run-up to the first faceoff, it has
been easy to overlook one important fact: Our beloved Los Tiburones were
far from being a
fantastic, or awesome, team last season. They finished seventh in the
Western Conference. They exited quickly in the first playoff round to St.
Louis. And few changes have been made to their roster.
From here, this looks like a team that will again reach the Stanley Cup
playoffs because of its top-two-line strength and power play prowess ... but
will once more struggle to go deep in the postseason because of depth
issues and uncertainty on defense.
The Sharks are no longer a trendy pick to win the Cup. That's for sure. In
fact, the ESPN.com website's power rankings put the Sharks as the 23rd
best team in the league. The Hockey News is kinder, slotting them sixth in
the Western Conference -- but in the magazine's annual preseason
rankings of the NHL's top 50 players, no Sharks are listed among the top
30. Logan Couture is highest on the list at No. 35.
Essentially, the Sharks are being called out for no longer being an elite
team.
Inside the Sharks' dressing room, the response is about what you'd expect.
"We put a lot of pressure on ourselves, so it doesn't matter," said captain
Joe Thornton.
"We probably deserve it after what happened last year," said Pavelski. "We
feel like we underachieved. We know what we have in here and what we're
capable of. We just have to do it."
"We still know what we have in here," Marleau said.
But more than ever, knowing needs to become showing. It was encouraging
to see the Sharks win those first two games in Canada. Thursday's energy
inside the Tank was good. But at any point over the next month, a three- or
four-game losing streak could send a team out of a top-eight spot in the
conference and lead to two months of trying to claw back.
Before Thursday's faceoff, Shark coach Todd McLellan was asked to name
two things he had learned about his team in those two games. McLellan
first listed the Shark's tendency to be inconsistent from period to period,
which needs to be fixed. Secondly, he noted that the continuity in the first
two forward lines -- from retaining so many key players -- has been paying
off to this point.
McLellan was then asked to name two things that are still Shark question
marks. He named the penalty kill, which remains troublesome, and the
chemistry on the third and fourth forward lines, which is a work in progress.
You have to believe that Shark general manager Doug Wilson will also
keep an eye on those last two lines, with an eye toward upgrading before
the trade deadline if the "chemistry" isn't there. This week's signing of Scott
Gomez, dropped by Montreal because his production no longer matched
his salary, could be the first step. It's funny how better chemistry often
coincides with better talent.
For now, it's a pretty peculiar deal. Thornton stands in the dressing room
there with nicks and scrapes on his face, the residue of his games in
Switzerland during the lockout. Marleau has a so-far-unscarred mug after
just three games because he chose to stay in the South Bay and work out
with several other teammates. Pavelski, who played in Russia, is among
the Sharks who look fresh and fast. Others look slower and not yet 100
percent. McLellan is trying to figure out the formula, in terms of handing out
minutes.
So discombobulating. The players notice. Last Saturday night in Calgary,
Thornton found himself gathered in a teammate's hotel room with a group
of other Sharks to watch the season openers for other teams.
"That's kind of strange," Thornton said. "That really never happens on the
road normally, unless maybe it's before the first game of the playoffs."
But maybe that tells us something. This time around, the regular season
and the playoffs are one and the same. The Sharks can't mess around.
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San Jose Sharks fans return to root at the Tank -- and to spend money
downtown
By Eric Kurhi
SAN JOSE -- For many of the teal-clad fin fans who returned to the Tank for
their team's season debut on home ice Thursday night, the past four
months is a time best forgotten -- if not entirely forgiven.
With two wins already under their belt in a season halved by a labor dispute
between owners and players, the Sharks came back to HP Pavilion to play
the Phoenix Coyotes for the first game there since April. And, more
significantly for the local economy, their followers reappeared in downtown
San Jose, coming from all over the greater Bay Area to root at the stadium
as well as eat, drink and make merry at surrounding bars, restaurants and
nightspots.
"We were joking when we came down that we almost got lost coming here,
it's been so long," said Brian Peterson, 23, who journeyed from Novato with
two friends who, through eager teamwork, had just demolished a 120ounce "beer tower" at Britannia Arms in downtown San Jose. And it was still
hours before the enormous red-eyed shark head would drop to the ice. "It is
so good to be back."
While posters in online forums are still fuming about the lockout and the
word "boycott" is still tapped out by fans who feel they've been taken for
granted, the sentiment among many who geared up and hit Santa Clara
Street on Thursday ran one of two ways.
There's the "it's over; let's move on" crowd, just happy to get half a season
and hope a showstopping labor dispute doesn't happen again.
Then there
are those who acknowledge some bitterness remains, although they've let
enough of it go that it doesn't mess with their enjoyment of the game.
"Last time it happened, I didn't watch the whole next season -- I was really
hurt by it," said Chris Dong Placencia of San Francisco, referring to the
complete loss of the 2004-05 season due to a labor impasse. "I feel like
they say the fans are important, but for (an impasse) to happen again so
quickly, it doesn't show how important they think we are."
He said there's definitely some ill feelings, but "it's difficult to find an
appropriate way to express it."
"We want to support the community, the Tank, and its workers," said
Placencia, adding that not attending games affects more people than the
team's owners and players. "You have to think about what would be the
best way to express it without hurting anyone."
Restaurateurs certainly appreciate the sentiment. Some reported sales
halved or worse because of the loss of Sharks fans.
At the Poor House Bistro, one of the venues closest to the Shark Tank,
owner Jay Meduri said the business took a 25 to 35 percent hit. He
depends on fans headed to the game -- the old New Orleans-theme
restaurant doesn't have televisions and on Thursday a blues band was
entertaining a sea of teal and black.
"I've heard people with season tickets say they'll sit out the first game to
make a statement, while others are ready to go," he said. "It will be
interesting to see if there are any empty seats."
Longtime fans Rich Hartnett and Harry Elkins of Redwood City, who were
among the growing crowd of fans headed down Santa Clara Street about
an hour before showtime, are season ticket holders of the latter variety.
"The problem with a shortened season is that it's going to be hard to make
it every night when you have all those games in a row," Elkins said. "But
one of us will be here. They're not going to go to waste."
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Marleau leads Sharks' rally past Coyotes
Ross McKeon
Patrick Marleau didn't take his game overseas during the NHL lockout.
Instead, he took a couple local trips, attended a camp and worked on
individual skills he doesn't usually get to focus on during the grind of an 82game season.
If three games is any indication, his homework is paying off big time.
"It feels good, I won't lie," Marleau said. "It's been a good three games, but
there's a lot more to go."
Marleau scored two goals for the third straight game to start the truncated
campaign - this pair in most dramatic fashion - to lead the Sharks to a 5-3
win over the shell-shocked Phoenix Coyotes before a sellout crowd in
Thursday night's home opener.
"I tell everyone I come in contact with that Patty Marleau is the most skilled
player I've ever practiced and played with," Sharks center Logan Couture
said.
Marleau broke a 3-3 tie by beating Phoenix goalie Jason LaBarbera with a
shot from the bottom of the right circle off of a pass from Joe Pavelski.
"We'll try to build off of it and keep going," Marleau said. "We're not perfect,
that's for sure. We're still making some mistakes, we need to learn from
them and get better."
The Coyotes, surprise winners of the Pacific Division last year when they
went 4-1-1 against San Jose, appeared in control earlier in the period
despite playing for the second time in as many nights against a rested host.
Antoine Vermette broke a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal at 5:01 of the third
period, and Lauri Korpikoski beat a rattled Antti Niemi at 7:28 to quiet the
building.
But down 3-1, the Sharks struck right back. Marleau scored 9:15 into the
third and Martin Havlat tied it 13:06 in after pouncing on a puck that
teammate Ryane Clowe rang off of the near post moments earlier.
"We're a mature group," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "Most of them
have been through this many times already. They understand where we are
in the season, and the urgency that's needed. It's also about rewarding our
fans for a patient wait."
Phoenix took advantage of a listless San Jose effort in the second period
and tied the game 1-1. The Sharks managed only two shots in the middle
session and went to the box three times themselves.
The Sharks scored the lone goal in the first period on a power-play strike by
Couture, who fended off Phoenix defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to
redirect a drive from Pavelski at the blue line.
Briefly: Joe Thornton moved into 58th place on the NHL's all-time scoring
list (1,084 points) with an assist on San Jose's first-period goal. ... Recently
signed forward Scott Gomez did not dress, but will likely make his Sharks'
debut Saturday.
San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 01.25.2013
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San Jose Sharks
Sharks notes: Sheppard returns; Burish ribs Pavelski
"I told him not to think, 'This isn’t supposed to happen,'" Boudreau said. "I
said, 'Keep pushing the envelope.'"
The Sharks host Winnik and the Ducks on Jan. 29, and visit the Honda
Center in their next road game on Feb. 4.
Kennedy clears
Staff
SAN JOSE – When James Sheppard played for the Minnesota Wild in their
game in Calgary on April 8, 2010, he had no reason to think it might be the
last game of his pro career.
Although things hadn't gone as swimmingly as he had probably hoped
when he was a first round pick by the Wild in 2006, Sheppard still suited up
for 64 games in that 2009-10 season, with two goals and four assists. His
career to that point was a case of how-not-to-develop-a-prospect as the
WIld rushed him into the NHL at age 19, but the team still likely had high
hopes for Sheppard’s career.
In September 2010, though, an ATV accident in Vail, CO, tore Sheppard’s
left knee apart. He spent the 2010-11 season rehabbing with the Wild while
suspended by the team, was traded to the Sharks in the summer of 2011,
and spent his first year in San Jose still trying to get right. He played in
three games for Worcester in late February/early March, but still wasn’t
completely healthy.
It was nearly three years when Sheppard finally reappeared in an NHL
game, on Tuesday night in Edmonton.
“It was great. It was a lot of fun and it was exciting. I was pretty nervous out
there and more nervous than when I played a couple years ago because it
was so much faster, and a different game,” Sheppard said on Wednesday.
He got a bit emotional talking about his long road back.
“I always knew it would come, but it was just more of when and how it
would come,” he said. “I didn’t know it was going to take this long. It’s done
with now, so I don’t care about it now I’m just happy to be where I am.”
Sheppard played just over eight minutes against the Oilers, and was
credited with one shot on goal and one hit.
“There were a couple times where I wanted to make a couple different
plays. It’s not that I didn’t have the confidence, I just didn’t have the
[cojones], really,” he said, bluntly. “I just wanted to make sure I was making
the right plays and give the best chance for me to stay on the ice.”
Burish reflects on first career goal
Adam Burish wanted to make it clear – his first career goal, coming at HP
Pavilion on Jan. 22, 2008 while a member of the Blackhawks, involved his
good buddy and former teammate at the University of Wisconsin, Joe
Pavelski.
“My first goal was a minus for Joe Pavelski. That felt pretty good,” Burish
said with a smile, within earshot of his now teammate.
It came in a 3-2 Sharks win, though, so Pavelski had the last laugh. In fact,
Pavelski had a shorthanded goal in the game, which ended a four-game
losing streak for the Sharks.
Winnik surging
There’s no more surprising name among the early league leaders than that
of former Sharks forward and current Anaheim Duck, Daniel Winnik. The
27-year-old has posted back-to-back two goal games, and is tied with
Patrick Marleau and Marian Hossa for the league lead with four. The Ducks
and Sharks are tied atop the Pacific Division standings at 2-0-0.
Winnik has been skating on the Ducks’ third line with Andrew Cogliano and
Saku Koivu.
“I don’t think I expected to get out to this start," Winnik told ESPN.com. "I
don’t think anyone did."
Winnik, if you’ll remember, was part of a Sharks trade with Colorado,
acquired with TJ Galiardi in exchange for forward Jamie McGinn. In 21
games with the Sharks, Winnik had just three goals total. He went 43
straight games without a goal, from Dec. 17 – March 22 last season.
Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau is hoping that Winnik is a late-bloomer,
along the lines of a Mike Knuble.
Worcester Sharks forward Tim Kennedy has cleared waivers and will
remain with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate. Kennedy signed a one-year, two-way
contract with San Jose on Thursday.
It’s been a productive season for the forward in the AHL, with 30 points
(12g, 18a) in 31 games. Kennedy would likely have been in Sharks training
camp had he not gotten hurt just before the end of the lockout.
Worcester has lost its last five games (0-4-1), scoring just six goals over
that span and is in fourth place in the Atlantic Division (19-17-1-3, 42
points).
Ferriero traded
Former Sharks forward Benn Ferriero is on the move, as the Pittsburgh
Penguins traded him to the New York Rangers for forward Chad Kolarik.
Ferriero signed in the offseason with Pittsburgh after he was not tendered
an offer from San Jose. In 34 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Penguins this season, Ferriero had 18 points (4g, 14a).
He’ll have at least one friend on his new team, the AHL’s Connecticut
Whale, as the Sharks recently traded tough guy Brandon Mashinter there.
652662
San Jose Sharks
Sharks set to host Coyotes in home opener
Staff
that made a decision and commitment to each other, to play the way they
were last year.”
Burish, Irwin ready for home debuts
Burish has been skating on the fourth line wing with the Sharks, playing
more than eight minutes a night. He’s especially excited for one aspect of
tonight’s home opener.
“As a kid, you always watch these guys skate out of the big Shark mouth,
and I always thought that was pretty cool. It will be fun to do that,” he said.
SAN JOSE – It’s been more than nine months since Sharks fans got to
cheer on their team at HP Pavilion. That will finally change tonight, when
the 2-0-0 Sharks welcome the Phoenix Coyotes for their home opener (7:30
p.m., CSN California).
Rookie defenseman Matt Irwin will also be playing in his first home opener.
Paired with Dan Boyle, the 25-year-old has played well in his first two NHL
games.
“It’s still fun. It’s still great,” Patrick Marleau said. “You always get up and
get those chills when you head out there and the fans are going crazy.”
“It helped to play the visiting team role for two home openers up in
Canada,” Irwin said. “I’m excited to be cheered for and not against tonight.
Obviously, the first one is going to be something to remember.”
Adam Burish will be playing in his first-ever home opener with the Sharks.
He said: “As an opponent here, it was always a loud building at the start.
Other teams I’ve been on, the focal point going into the game was, let’s try
to have a good start to slow the Sharks down, because they come out
blazing with this building rocking.”
The Sharks have taken part in two home openers already, spoiling the
parties for Calgary on Sunday and Edmonton on Tuesday. The defending
Pacific Division champion Coyotes (1-2-0) will try and do the same thing to
the Sharks that the Sharks did to the Flames and Oilers.
“We’ve got a mature group,” Todd McLellan said. “Most of them have been
through this many times already. They understand where we are in the
season, and the urgency that’s needed. It’s also about rewarding our fans
for a patient wait.”
Joe Thornton said: “It’s a good feeling spoiling ceremonies like opening
night, so we have to make sure it doesn’t happen to us tonight.”
The Sharks' previous home game was on April 19, 2011, a Game 4 loss in
the first round to St. Louis.
Gomez not playing
Scott Gomez has been around the Sharks since last Saturday when he
boarded the team charter to Calgary. The unrestricted free agent officially
signed on Wednesday, but he won’t be playing against the Coyotes.
“The lineup that’s played the first two nights deserves an opportunity to play
again, and we’ll give them that chance again tonight,” McLellan said.
There’s been speculation that Gomez will be slotted onto the third line
between Tommy Wingels and TJ Galiardi where Michal Handzus currently
skates, but that’s all it is – speculation. McLellan praised Handzus for his
play on Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s goal in Edmonton for setting a screen in
front of goaltender Devan Dubnyk.
“He was elite in front of the net as far as a screen goes on Vlasic’s goal,”
McLellan said.
As for the fourth line, it’s unclear whether it will be Frazer McLaren or
James Sheppard. In fact, they don’t even know, as McLellan wants them to
both prepare as if they will be playing.
Antti Niemi (2-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .934 SP) will start in net.
Smith questionable for Coyotes
Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith is questionable for the game tonight after
suffering a lower body injury last night against Columbus. Jason LaBarbara
picked up in the win in relief of Smith in a 5-1 home win, the Coyotes’ first of
the season.
That’s good news for the Sharks. In six games against San Jose last
season, the 30-year-old was 4-1-1 with a 1.98 GAA and .948 SP. Oh, and
he pitched three shutouts.
McLellan mentioned Smith’s puck-handling skills as being especially good.
“You’re often facing three defenseman versus two,” he said.
The Coyotes were led on Wednesday by newcomer Steve Sullivan’s hat
trick.
“There wasn’t an area of the game they lost, from faceoffs to special
teams,” McLellan said. “They played extremely well and looked like a team
Practicing at HP
The Sharks skated at HP Pavilion on Wednesday, mostly for the benefit of
a couple new faces – Burish and associate coach Larry Robinson.
“Those two hadn’t even experienced our locker room yet. They walked in
yesterday, got familiar with what was going on, we were able to skate, and
they got a sense of the boards, the glass, the bench. But, it is relatively new
for some guys.”
Early word is the Sharks are leaning towards skating here on Friday, too,
before a pair of back-to-back home games against Colorado and
Vancouver this weekend.
652663
San Jose Sharks
score goals in bunches like the other night in the first and tonight in the
third.”
Leaders cap perfect ending to an imperfect game
Marleau was glad the team could pick up Niemi, whose effort in Calgary
was the biggest reason that San Jose started its season with a W.
Kevin Kurz
“He’s held us in there all the time, and the very first game this year if it
wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have won,” Marleau said. “You’ve got to take
those opportunities when we get a bad bounce like that, to try and get him
the win and play well in front of him.”
SAN JOSE – It wasn’t always pretty, but it sure was exhilarating.
Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau vaulted to the top of the NHL
leaderboard in points and goals, respectively, pacing a furious comeback in
which the Sharks scored four times in the third period to beat Phoenix, 5-3.
The Sharks trailed 3-1 with 10:45 to go in regulation after giving up a pair of
quick third period goals, but stormed back to improve to 3-0-0 and grab first
place in the Pacific Division in the first NHL game at HP Pavilion in more
than nine months.
You want to win back the fans back after a senseless labor stoppage? This
was better than even the most sincere apology video, or that free soda with
your hot dog and chicken fingers.
Marleau was the hero, scoring the Sharks’ second goal to make it a 3-2
deficit, and then putting them ahead to stay with a wrist shot past Jason
LaBarbera with less than two minutes to go.
“I was trying to get it off as quick as possible, and it found its way in,”
Marleau said of the game-winner, his sixth goal overall.
It was Marleau’s third straight multi-goal game to start the season, and he’s
the first player since Peter Stastny in 1982-83 to achieve that feat.
Thornton’s empty net goal was his first of the season to go along with eight
assists, including three more on Thursday.
“We definitely didn’t want it to go to 3-1, but we battled back and competed
and ended up winning,” Thornton said. “It wasn’t a good first half of the
third, but we finished strong.”
Now for the not-so-good. The Sharks looked lethargic and uninspired after
a strong first half of the first period, and only managed two shots on goal in
the second. Logan Couture’s power play marker on a deflection late in the
first staked them to a 1-0 lead, but Phoenix held the Sharks’ offensive
attack at bay from the middle of the first to the middle of the third.
Oh, and the Sharks’ penalty-killing unit allowed another two goals, and has
already surrendered five this season. To be fair, the Coyotes’ tying goal in
the second period came on a full two-minute five-on-three, after Michal
Handzus, Brad Stuart and Douglas Murray nearly killed it off with a
magnificent effort.
Phoenix’s power play goal in the third came on a questionable non-call,
when Antonie Vermette deposited a loose puck after Shane Doan barreled
into Antti Niemi, who got his right pad caught inside the net.
“Our goaltender was taken out on the second one,” McLellan said.
Niether Niemi or McLellan could blame anyone on Phoenix’s third goal,
though. A shot from Lauri Korpikoski from a sharp angle had no business
beating the goaltender at 7:28 of the third period to give the Coyotes a 3-1
advantage.
“That’s a tough play. I’ve got to watch it on tape. I think he shot it on the ice
to the side of the net, and it just bounced there,” Niemi said.
The Sharks didn’t let it get them down, though. Marleau’s second goal on a
pass from Thornton brought the 111th straight regular season sellout crowd
to life, and the Sharks completed the comeback in regulation with Marty
Havlat's tying goal and Marleau's winner. It’s important in that they denied a
division rival the extra point for reaching overtime, as every division game in
a shortened season is critical.
“Initially, I think there was a little fall-off [after the Coyotes’ third goal], you
could feel it, but then guys started to pick themselves up and get going,”
MeLellan said. “The second goal was huge. It gave us some hope and
momentum. The fact [Phoenix] played the night before and they were a little
worn out by the end of the night, we took advantage of that and it worked in
our favor.”
Couture said: “Once we get down, there’s still a belief in this team where we
can come back from deficits like that. We know the skill and the talent we
have and the offensive capabilities of players on this team that we can
Despite the noticeable momentum swings and continuing struggles in
certain areas of their game, the Sharks are one of just five NHL teams
without a loss. The two biggest reasons for that are the men who have been
the faces of the franchise for several years running.
McLellan said: “Teams are going to count on their big guys to get the job
done, and ours have been producing right now.”
Sharks Notes
The Sharks were 36-26 in the faceoff circle. … Matt Irwin recorded his first
NHL point with an assist on Marleau’s first goal. … Joe Pavelski had three
assists, and now has seven on the season, good for second in the league
behind Thornton. He’s still looking for his first goal. … Pavelski and Logan
Couture are tied for fourth in the league in scoring with seven points.
Marleau is second with eight (6g, 2a), trailing only Thornton … Couture and
Shane Doan had a game-high six shots. … Doan was a -3. … Steve
Sullivan was the only multiple-point player for Phoenix, with a goal and an
assist. He had a hat trick the night before against Columbus.
652664
San Jose Sharks
Coyotes-Sharks at a glance
Staff
Programming note: Coyotes-Sharks coverage gets underway tonight at 7
p.m. with Sharks Pregame Live, only on Comcast SportsNet California
had three assists, while Joe Pavelski and TJ Galiardi were credited with two
helpers each. Antti Niemi got the win in net with 26 saves.
Coyotes: Steve Sullivan’s hat trick powered the Coyotes’ first win of the
season, 5-1 over Columbus on Wednesday night. Oliver Ekman-Larsson
added two goals from the blue line, and Mikael Boedker had two assists.
Goaltender Mike Smith, who led Phoenix to the Western Conference Finals
last season, left the game with a lower body injury just nine minutes into the
game, and Jason LaBarbera picked up the win in relief with 21 saves.
Season series
Where they stand
This is the first of five meetings between the Sharks and Coyotes. Phoenix
will return to HP Pavilion on Feb. 9 and March 30. The Sharks don’t visit
Glendale until April 15 and April 24.
Sharks: 2-0-0, 4 pts., T –1st Pacific Division, T – 2nd Western Conference
Quoteable
Coyotes: 1-2-0, 2 pts., 4th Pacific Division, T – 12th Western Conference
‘We’ve still got to work on some things, but tonight showed that teams will
pay if they go in the penalty box against us.” – Joe Thornton on the Sharks’
power play, which has five goals through two games.
Probable lines
Sharks
Marleau – Thornton – Pavelski
Sound off
Havlat – Couture – Clowe
Now that Scott Gomez is signed, how would you put together the Sharks’
bottom two lines?
Wingels – Handzus – Galiardi
Sheppard – Desjardins – Burish
Vlasic – Stuart
Irwin – Boyle
Murray – Braun
Niemi
Greiss
Coyotes
Sullivan – Vermette – Doan
Boedker – Lombardi – Vrbata
Korpikoski – Gordon – Moss
Bissonnette – Bolduc – Chipchura
Ekman-Larsson – Michalek
Yandle – Morris
Stone – Schlemko
LaBarbera
Smith
Keep an eye on…
Sharks: Patrick Marleau. The Sharks’ top line winger already has as many
goals in two games (4) than he had in the final 27 combined regular season
and playoff games last season. The chemistry between Marleau and Joe
Thornton, both at even strength and on the power play, may have been the
biggest reason the Sharks cruised to victories in their first two games in
Alberta. Marleau is tied with Marian Hossa and Daniel Winnik for the league
lead in goals. “It’s good to be off to a good start, and I’ll try and build off of
it,” Marleau said after Tuesday’s win.
Coyotes: Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The former first round pick (6th overall) in
2009 is in his third season on the Coyotes’ blue line, and the 21-year-old is
one of the top young defensemen in hockey. He’s paired with Zbynek
Michalek, in his second tour of duty with Phoenix after an offseason trade
with Pittsburgh. “He can do it all and at such a young age, it's pretty
amazing the kind of player he is,” Michalek recently told the Arizona
Republic.
Last game
Sharks: The Sharks used six first period goals, including three on the power
play, to win their second game of the season in as many tries on Tuesday
in Edmonton, 6-3. Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture scored two each,
while Dan Boyle and Marc-Edouard Vlasic also had goals. Joe Thornton
652665
San Jose Sharks
Kurz's Instant Replay: Sharks 5, Coyotes 3
Kevin Kurz
LaBarbera kept the Coyotes in it early, as the Sharks generated 12 of the
game’s first 13 shots. The goalie snagged Dan Boyle’s wrist shot just 90
seconds into the game, and later robbed Pavelski alone in front of the net
after the Sharks won an offensive zone faceoff. He turned aside a few
strong attempts during San Jose’s long first period power play, too.
LaBarbera finished with 30 saves on 34 shots to record the loss.
Niemi picked up the win, his third, with 32 saves.
Lineup
Marleau scored two goals for the third straight game, including the gamewinner with less than two minutes in regulation to break a 3-3 tie, to lead
San Jose to a 5-3 victory. Thornton finished with four points, including an
empty-net goal and three assists. Marleau's six goals and Thornton's nine
points lead the NHL.
The Sharks improved to 3-0-0 on the young season after winning their first
two games on the road.
On the deciding goal, Thornton threw the puck towards the offensive zone
from center ice. Joe Pavelski got it ahead to an open Marleau, who sent a
wrist shot past Jason LaBarbera with 1:53 to go. It capped an impressive
comeback in which the Sharks trailed 3-1 midway through the third.
The game was tied 1-1 to start the third, and the Coyotes jumped ahead on
a controversial goal. Shane Doan barreled into goalie Antti Niemi, and
Antoine Vermette deposited the loose puck at 5:01 on the power play to
give Phoenix its first lead of the night.
It got worse for Niemi, who allowed Lauri Korpikoski to score from an
impossible angle at 7:28, on a shot that he should have routinely stopped.
The Sharks, who had been dormant since the middle of the first period on,
finally came alive again at that point. Less than two minutes after the
Korpikoski goal, Thornton had the puck alone in the faceoff circle. He got
LaBarbera to commit before finding Marleau alone in the slot for an easy
goal at 9:15, bringing the Sharks back to within 3-2.
Marty Havlat tucked in a Ryane Clowe rebound at 13:06 to tie it at 3-3
before Marleau eventually sent the sellout crowd home happy. Thornton
capped the scoring with an empty-net goal, his first, to go along with the
eight assists he's already compiled in three games.
The teams combined for six goals in the third period.
The Sharks opened the scoring on the power play, when Logan Couture
tipped in a shot from Pavelski at 19:22. The goal was Couture’s third.
Phoenix was fortunate to not be down by that point already, as the Sharks
outshot the Coyotes 12-1 over the first eight-plus minutes of the game,
including numerous prime scoring chances. They managed just seven
shots from then until the end of the second period, only registering two in
the middle frame.
Phoenix tied the game on a two-man advantage, when Steve Sullivan,
coming off of a hat trick the night before, wristed in a shot from the circle
before Niemi had a chance to cover the near post at 7:11 of the second.
The game remained tied at 1-1 after two periods.
The Sharks held a moment of silence before the game for former owner
George Gund III, who passes away from cancer earlier this month. The
Sharks are wearing a patch on their jerseys in Gund’s honor this season.
Special teams
The Sharks went down two men for a full two minutes on a pair of highsticking calls in the second period. TJ Galiardi was issued a double-minor
for getting Korpikoski up high, and a little more than a minute later, Andrew
Desjardins whacked Derek Morris in the helmet. San Jose nearly had the
two-man advantage killed off thanks to Douglas Murray, Michal Handzus
and Brad Stuart, but Sullivan converted with just 12 seconds to go before
Desjardins’ penalty expired.
The Sharks scored on the power play for the third straight game, and all
seven of their man-advantage goals have come from the top unit. They did,
however, squander 1:22 of two-man advantage time of their own in the first
period.
The Coyotes were 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Sharks finished 1for-7. The Sharks have allowed five power play goals in three games.
In goal
James Sheppard got the call over Frazer McLaren on the fourth line wing.
Jason Demers (wrist) and Brent Burns (lower body) remained out.
Phoenix goalie Mike Smith suffered a lower body injury on Wednesday
night against Columbus, and did not suit up for the game. The club recalled
Chad Johnson to act as LaBarbera’s backup.
Matthew Lombardi left the game with an upper body injury and did not
return for the Coyotes.
Up next
The Sharks continue their six-game homestand on Saturday when they
host Jamie McGinn and the Colorado Avalanche at 1 p.m. Vancouver visits
on Sunday (5 p.m.).
652666
St Louis Blues
Blues get off to big start in TV ratings
Dan Caesar •
The Blues got off to a fast start in the lockout-shortened NHL season,
winning their first two games and coming up just short with a rally in their
third contest. And St. Louis TV viewers have come on board in a
resounding way.
Their opener, in which they routed Detroit 6-0 on Saturday night, was seen
in 6 percent of homes with a TV in the market, according to The Nielsen
Co., making it the highest-rated Blues season opener or home opener that
has been show on Fox Sports Midwest — and it was fifth-highest rated
regular season Blues game ever on FSM. Plus it was the best-rated
program on prime-time TV in St. Louis that night.
Things got even better for the Blues and FSM for Game 2, a 4-3 overtime
victory for the Note on Monday in Nashville. The rating then was 7.4,
making it FSM’s highest-rated regular season Blues game ever.
Although there was a dip on Tuesday for their 3-2 loss in Chicago, the
rating (6.2) was the third-best for an FSM Blues regular-season game.
Ratings for Thursday’s game are not yet available, but the trend though
three games is strong. The average rating for the those games was 6.5,
more than triple the 2.0 figure at the same point last season.
In contrast, the first three Blues telecasts in the 2005-06 season – the first
after the last lockout ended – had an average rating of 2.2.
Radio rumblings • Don’t be surprised if Bob Ramsey and Brian McKenna
end up in the late-afternoon slot at KFNS (590 AM) that was occupied by
Kevin Slaten before he was dumped last fall. Ramsey’s contract recently
was not renewed at WXOS (101.1 FM). McKenna currently is on in the
afternoon slot at KFNS sister station KXFN (1380). And don’t be surprised if
Slaten ends up back in the sports-talk business soon, although maybe not
in a traditional format — an internet-based platform is possible. Slaten,
meanwhile, missed a court date this week in Webster Groves to address an
assault charge he received for his actions after he was ousted at KFNS.
The case was continued until Feb. 27.
On the move • Reporter Rachel Nichols is moving from ESPN to Turner
Broadcasting, for which she will anchor a weekend sports program on CNN
that is to begin later this year as well as serving as a sports reporter for
CNN and Turner Sports. She is to be involved in the networks’ coverage of
the NBA and Major League Baseball and also report from big events,
including the Olympics for CNN. She begins by covering the Super Bowl
next week.
St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.25.2013
652667
St Louis Blues
Blues updates: Redden starts tonight
By Dan O'Neill
No rest — or excuses — as Blues search for consistency
Blues, Nashville play tonight for second time in four days as part of
compacted schedule. Read more
Wade Redden will be in the starting lineup for the Blues when they host the
Nashville Predators tonight.
That is noteworthy for the Blues and their followers, but it's especially
significant for Redden. The 35-year old defenseman, once a foundation
piece in Ottawa, will be appearing in an NHL game for the first time in
nearly three years.
“It's been a while, but I've obviously been playing still," said Redden, whose
last points in the NHL came against the Blues. He had a goal and assist as
the Rangers lost 4-3 to St. Louis in New York on March 18, 2010. Since
then, all of Redden's points have been of the American Hockey League
variety.
“The AHL is not the same level, but it's still a pretty good league,” Redden
added. “It's obviously a lot different atmosphere and I'm looking forward to
being a part of it tonight again.”
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Redden has 13 years of NHL time, which includes
994 games, 106 goals and 450 points. He signed a one-year, $800,000
contract with the Blues last week. Redden's last NHL shift was with the
Rangers in April 2010.
He has been banished to the Rangers' minor league system since, playing
with the Connecticut Whale, where his $6.5 million in salary was dispersed
over 12 goals and 50 assists in 119 AHL games. Tonight, he will play with
one of the bright new stars in the league, Alex Pietrangelo.
“He has experience, a veteran presence, a calming effect in the dressing
room,” Pietrangelo said. “He's a guy who's been through everything in this
league. It's going to be good to have him in here. You can never have too
many veteran guys that have a presence on the ice as well.”
Blues coach Ken Hitchcock, a coach and a fan of the game, is happy for
Redden.
“I'm proud of him, that he stayed with it, proud of him that he's getting a
second opportunity like this,” Hitchcock said. “He was a very good player, a
very dependable player. He played with arguably one of the best
defensemen ever in the game in (Zdeno) Chara.
“They were a great pair, they were great on the power play, they were
dynamic for a number of years. Both guys kind of went in different
directions.”
Chara is now in Boston, where he has won a Stanley Cup. Redden is
dreaming of the same in St. Louis.
“It's a chance to come back and show I can play and just be a part of the
team,” Redden said of the Blues. “We've got a good team here. I'll try and
help the team win and have some success."
As expected, defenseman Ian Cole officially was returned to the Blues'
roster, after a paper day with Peoria. Defenseman Jeff Woywitka cleared
waivers and was sent to Peoria. But Redden will step in for Cole tonight.
Otherwise, Hitchcock will come back with his Opening Night lineup, with
Jaroslav Halak in goal and with a fourth line of Scott Nichol, Vlad Sobotka
and Ryan Reaves.
652668
St Louis Blues
Hockey Guy: Former Blues reunite in Motown
BY JEFF GORDON
Well here is a familiar scenario: Defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo suffered a
shoulder injury that will sideline him for a month and Kent Huskins stepped
in to replace him.
This is not a Blues story line from last season. This happened in Detroit this
season as these two former Blues reprised familiar roles for the Red Wings.
Colaiacovo is a solid NHL performer when healthy. The “when” part of that
was a problem in St. Louis, so general manager Doug Armstrong allowed
him to depart as a free agent. Eventually Wade Redden arrived to take his
place.
Landing in Detroit was a great outcome for Colaiacovo, since the Red
Wings are regrouping after Nicklas Lidstrom’s retirement. But then Carlo got
hurt again, joining fellow Red Wings defensemen Jonathan Ericsson
(shoulder) and Jakub Kindl (groin) on the injured list.
That prompted the call to Huskins, who also left the Blues as a free agent
after filling the seventh defenseman role last season. Huskins, 33, spent the
lockout playing for Norfolk of the American Hockey League to stay ready in
case a NHL team developed a need.
“It's been a long summer waiting to see what would happen,” Huskins told
the Detroit Free-Press. “Then an extra few months during the lockout. It
definitely hasn't seemed like an overnight thing, overall, but then it
happened so quickly. It's been great.”
Colaiacovo’s misfortune helped Huskins get a one-way contract for
$750,000 and jump right into the Detroit lineup. “Kent's a veteran,” Red
Wings general manger Ken Holland told the newspaper. “He can penalty
kill, he's safe, he's steady.”
His value further increased when Red Wings defenseman Ian White
suffered a leg laceration that will sideline him for two to three weeks.
Fortunately for nervous Detroit fans, the depleted Wings are getting Kindl
back to action this weekend.
NHL CASUALTIES MOUNT
Here are additional key injuries suffered in the NHL during the season’s first
week:
Kings defenseman Matt Greene could miss the rest of the season after
hurting his back. That is a major blow to the defending Stanley Cup
champions.
Avalanche winger Steve Downie is sidelined until next season after
suffering a major knee injury. That should inspire Colorado to step its efforts
to re-sign free agent Ryan O'Reilly, who is currently playing in Russia.
Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul is out indefinitely after suffering a broken
forearm. Given Lupul's offensive chemistry with Toronto star Phil Kessel,
his weeks' long absence will be a major blow.
Flyers power forward Scott Hartnell is out indefinitely after suffering a foot
injury. On the plus side, Daniel Briere is about to return from his broken
wrist.
Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith left Wednesday night’s game with a “lower
body” injury that didn't seem serious. "Trainer came to me after warm-up
(and) said, 'Smitty’s a little tight. You might want to keep an eye on him,’"
coach Dave Tippett told the Arizona Republic. "And then a little tight turned
into can’t play."
Blackhawks winger Daniel Carcillo will be sidelined for a month by a knee
injury.
Canucks winger David Booth could miss a few more weeks after suffering a
groin muscle injury during fitness testing. Vancouver is scrambling to create
supplemental scoring lines as a result.
Nobody said it would be easy for the NHL to rush back to work after the
months-long lockout.
AROUND THE RINKS: Blues goaltending prospect Jake Allen stopped 27
shots to blank Chicago 2-0 Wednesday afternoon in Peoria. Andrew Murray
and Brett Sonne scored for the Rivermen . . . Blues defenseman Alex
Pietrangelo is watching the P.S. Subban negotiations closely. Subban, a
restricted free agent, is holding out for a big payday from the Canadiens.
Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin, a former Blues defenseman, is
trying to hold the line in the new, post-lockout NHL. What Subban signs for
will help set the parameters for Pietrangelo's next deal in St. Louis . . . If you
watched the outstanding Bruins-Rangers game last night, you saw a
glimmer of what Boston rookie Dougie Hamilton can do on the blue line.
This kid will be special . . . Also dazzling last night was Coyotes
defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who has a lot of Pietrangelo in him.
652669
St Louis Blues
Redden makes his Blues debut
By DAN O’NEILL
Wade Redden made his Blues debut on Thursday night, which is
noteworthy for those who follow the team. But it especially was meaningful
for Redden.
Redden played 17 minutes 23 seconds in the 3-0 win.
“I was pretty happy, obviously, with the game,” Reddens said. “We played a
pretty solid one, it was a nice one to mix into and be a part of. It’s been a
long time coming so it was nice to get one under my belt and get a win.”
Redden admitted to a slight case of nerves before the game.
“Oh yeah,” Redden said. “Even at the best of times, there’s always a little
bit of butterfiles. That’s what you play for and in a lot of ways, the
excitement is a different environment than what I’ve been used to, so it was
a lot of fun.”
Redden scored his last points in the NHL against the Blues. He had a goal
and assist as the Rangers lost 4-3 to St. Louis in New York on March 18,
2010. .
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Redden has 13 years to his credit in the NHL,
which includes 994 games, 106 goals and 450 points. Not long after that
two-point night against the Blues, he was banished to the American Hockey
League and the Rangers’ affiliate in Connecticut.
Over the next three years, his $6.5-million salary was dispersed over 12
goals, 50 assists and 119 AHL games.
“The AHL is not the same level, but it’s still a pretty good league,” Redden
added. “It’s obviously a lot different atmosphere, and I’m looking forward to
being a part of it tonight again.”
The atmosphere he experienced in New York was hostile. After leaving
Ottawa to sign a big free-agent contract with the Rangers in 2008, the
former All-Star failed to impress his new employers. He soon became
portrayed as the NHL’s poster boy for bad contracts.
When expectations don’t get met in large media markets, the contract
baggage gets heavy. Redden was ready to move on.
“I don’t hold any grudge or anything like that. The Rangers are a class
organization, and sometimes things don’t work out. They had expectations
of me, I had expectations to do well. It didn’t happen, and they went another
way. Obviously, in New York, they don’t have a lot of time to be real patient
in certain situations.”
Redden was the captain of the Connecticut Whale in Hartford, Conn., this
season. He signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Blues last week.
On Thursday, he skated alongside Alex Pietrangelo, Redden’s first NHL
shift since April, 2010.
“He has experience, a veteran presence, a calming effect in the dressing
room,” Pietrangelo said. “He’s a guy who’s been through everything in this
league.”
A student and fan of the game as much as he is a coach, the Blues’ Ken
Hitchcock has contacts in Connecticut. The Whale is coached by Ken
Gernander, managed by former NHL player and coach Jim Schoenfeld.
Hitchcock is aware of how hard Redden has been working to get back.
“I’m proud of him, that he stayed with it, proud of him that he’s getting a
second opportunity like this,” Hitchcock said. “He played with arguably one
of the best defensemen ever in the game in (Zdeno) Chara (in Ottawa). ...
Both guys kind of went in different directions.”
Chara went to Boston, where he has won a Stanley Cup. Maybe Redden
can do the same in St. Louis.
“It’s a chance to come back and show I can play and just be a part of the
team,” Redden said of the Blues. “We’ve got a good team here. I’ll try and
help the team win and have some success.”
Cole scratched
Redden replaced defenseman Ian Cole in the starting lineup. Cole spent a
paper day with Peoria, allowing defenseman Jeff Woywitka to clear waivers
and be assigned to the Rivermen. The logistics of it all made Cole a healthy
scratch.
Otherwise, Hitchcock came back with the same lineup he started in
Nashville on Monday. Jaroslav Halak was in goal and the fourth line
consisted of Scott Nichol, Vlad Sobotka and Ryan Reaves. Forwards Jamie
Langenbrunner and Matt D’Agostini joined Cole as scratch-offs.
Halak was pulled from his start in Nashville on Monday, but he has a 1.86
career goals-against average against the Predators. The last time Halak
was relieved in a start (Feb. 9, 2012, against New Jersey), he responded
with a 10-1-1 record, 1.36 GAA and .950 save percentage over his next 12
starts.
Tarasenko, join the club
Talk about exclusive company. When Vladimir Tarasenko scored three
points against Nashville on Monday, he became one of six Blues players
who have had three-point nights against the Predators. The list includes
Pierre Turgeon, Pavol Dimitra, Chris Pronger, Mark Rycroft … and Kelly
Chase.
No, seriously, Kelly Chase.
652670
St Louis Blues
Blues at home in 3-0 victory over Predators
Halak saw 14 shots in a shutout over Detroit last Saturday and has faced
27 shots in his two shutouts. Limited shots, work ethic: They are the
building blocks of home-ice success.
By Dan O’Neill
“Last year, we talked about putting work in ahead of skill, and that took
some convincing,” Hitchcock said. “Looking back on it, we won against
Chicago and Detroit with that attitude, and I think it reinforced how we had
to play the game.”
Remember when the Blues were vulnerable at home? It’s getting harder
and harder to picture.
All that remained was a Tarasenko highlight. That came midway through
the third after hard work by the fourth line. Vladimir Sobotka kept the puck
deep as his line changed. Steen controlled in the corner as a late-arriving
Tarasenko entered through the backdoor.
But it’s true. Three seasons ago, the Blues were 18-18-5 at Scottrade
Center. That is, they won less than half the time in their own building. There
are snow-cone stands less generous with their ice. Need a road win, step
right up. What flavor would you like?
Times – and coaches – have changed. Andy Murray skippered that 20092010 ship and, in part because of the home deficiency, was replaced by
Davis Payne. But since Ken Hitchcock became master of the house early
last season, Scottrade has become a desolate place for traveling hockey
teams.
After beating the Nashville Predators 3-0 in front of 16,047 on Thursday, the
Blues have a 32-6-5 record in town over the past two seasons; that’s the
best home cooking in the league. They have outscored the opposition 12869 in that time, a plus-59 differential.
When the house is a rockin’, visiting teams best not come a knockin.’
This time, the Blues got goals from T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund and Vladimir
Tarasenko, and shutout goaltending from Jaroslav Halak.
“I think it’s a confidence thing,” said defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, part of
the effort to limit Nashville to 13 shots. “‘Hitch’ came in and I think we kind
of had a long homestand when he did, beat Chicago the first game, and I
think we just got a lot of mojo out of that.
“From then on, we fed off the energy. We don’t get very discouraged when
we’re on the wrong side of it. We’re pretty resilient at home, I think, more
than anything.”
The texture of the game in the first period was much like the economy.
Checking was tight, and numerous people were taking hits. But the Blues
got a second crack at a manpower advantage with slightly more than seven
minutes remaining in the first, and they converted.
David Perron took aim from the left boards as David Backes took up
residence in front of netminder Pekka Rinne. The puck dropped at Rinne’s
doorstep, and Oshie raked it in for his third goal of the season.
The goal was the seventh in 11 power-play chances for the Blues. Sevencome-11 pays the line at every casino in town.
The second period was more of the same, as the similar teams mirrored
each other. But midway through, Berglund was tripped from behind by Mike
Fisher and a penalty shot was called. The lanky Swede shaked, baked and
beat Rinne for his second goal of the season.
Counting shootout goals by Oshie and Alex Steen on Monday, the Blues
are 3-0 on breakaways this season – all against the historically
impenetrable Rinne. Even more weird, Berglund also scored on a penalty
shot at Scottrade one year ago to the day. The Blues tied Pittsburgh 3-3
and lost in an overtime shootout that night.
Berglund had two goals in that game and now has four points over the last
two Jan. 24s. Mark your 2014 calendar.
“They are the only penalty shots I’ve scored on pretty much in my life,”
Berglund said. “I can’t score in the shootouts to save my life. So, hopefully, I
get more on this day. It’s my lucky day, I guess. I’m going to have to mark
the calendar.”
By the time Berglund scored, the Blues were spending more time in the
Nashville end and out-shooting the Predators 18-4. They would out-shoot
them 24-13 for the game, extending a home shutout hex on their Central
Division rivals.
The Blues blanked the Preds 3-0 behind Brian Elliott in Nashville’s final visit
last season (March 27). With Halak closing the deal Thursday, they have a
Scottrade string of 182 minutes 44 seconds of whitewash over Nashville.
He took Steen’s pinpoint pass and beat Rinne through the legs for his teamleading fourth goal. The assist was the fourth for Steen.
Scottrade has become quite the comfortable home for the Blues. And in
2013, home is where the Russian is.
652671
St Louis Blues
Blues give Redden another shot at NHL
By NORM SANDERS
ST. LOUIS — Wade Redden never stopped playing hockey the past two
seasons, but the veteran defenseman wasn't skating in the NHL.
Banished to Connecticut in the American Hockey League, Redden bided
his time and waited for another opportunity.
It came when NHL rules changes allowed the New York Rangers to buy out
the final portion of his six-year, $39 million contract. The Blues also took
part in the process by securing Redden with a one-year, pro-rated deal
worth $800,000.
The 35-year-old Redden was expected to make his first NHL appearance
since April 11, 2010 on Thursday night when the Blues played host to the
Nashville Predators.
"There was a little tension, waiting through the lockout and hoping to get an
opportunity to get out of my situation," Redden said. "I was happy that it
came and then to come to St. Louis, I was obviously excited about that.
Now it's time to play."
Redden expected a lot of emotions Thursday for a variety of reasons. But
the biggest one was because he was back where he felt he belonged.
"It's the best league in the world," Redden said. "It's not a right to be playing
in it, you've got to appreciate it. It's a privilege to be here."
Sent to the AHL as a way to help the Rangers avoid his salary cap hit under
the NHL's previous collective bargaining agreement, Redden swallowed
hard and went to work.
"What do you do?" he said. "I tried to go about business the way I always
did, come to the rink every day and try to do my best. Wherever you are,
that's the idea you want to have.
"I wasn't ashamed, it was nothing to hang my head about. Obviously it
wasn't a great situation."
Blues coach Ken Hitchcock felt Redden was definitely worth a chance.
"He fell out of favor there in New York, maybe expectations were higher
than his game was being played at, and then it kind of went south from
there," Hitchcock said. "It's nice to see him get a chance to get it back."
Hitchcock isn't the only one rooting for Redden's comeback story. The
second overall pick in the 1995 and native of Saskatchewan is in his 14th
NHL season.
"I think everybody in hockey, especially in Canada, knows the story (and) is
really proud of him," Hitchcock said. "I'm proud of him; I'm proud that he
stayed with it and I'm proud of him that he's getting a second opportunity
like this."
The Blues weren't the only team interested in signing Redden. However, his
previous experience playing under Blues coach Ken Hitchcock with Team
Canada was a heavy factor in the decision.
"I'm happy to be here now," Redden said. "That's definitely a comfort factor
I guess. I know what (Hitchcock) expects from me, he's laid it out. With the
way that his teams play, it's a system I'm familiar with so I think it will work
out good."
Redden was among the top defensemen in the Eastern Conference when
paired with Zdeno Chara while both were with the Ottawa Senators.
Chara moved on to Boston and became an even bigger star, while
Redden's star quickly faded after he signed with the Rangers.
"He was a very good player and a very dependable player," Hitchcock said
of Redden. "He played with probably, arguably one of the best defensemen
in the game in Chara. They were a great pair, they were great on the power
play.
"They were dynamic for a number of years, then both guys kind of went
different directions."
Redden isn't coming in to be a star-level talent. He wants to fit in and make
a difference on defense.
"It's going to play itself out, I just want to get out there and get playing," he
said. "With all the games coming and the schedule the way it is, we're going
to need a lot of guys. I'm going to have to do a good job, fill my role, play
hard, make some plays and try to help the team."
Around the rink
The Blues will start Jaroslav Halak in net against Nashville and are
expected to return to their opening-night lineup with one change. That
would be Redden in for Ian Cole, who was recalled from the minors after
defenseman Jeff Woywitka cleared waivers Thursday and was assigned to
Peoria.
That also means that forwards Ryan Reaves and Scott Nichol are back in,
replacing forwards Jamie Langenbrunner and Matt D'Agostini.
Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 01.25.2013
652672
St Louis Blues
Tarasenko strikes again in Blues' victory over Nashville
That type of effort is a big reason the Blues are 32-6-5 in their last 43 home
games, the NHL's best home record during that span.
Berglund was awarded a penalty shot 9 minutes, 26 seconds into the
second period after being interfered with from behind by Mike Fisher during
a partial breakaway.
By NORM SANDERS
Berglund celebrated the one-year anniversary of his last penalty shot goal
(Jan. 24, 2012 vs. Pittsburgh) by using a quick fake and then beating Rinne
with a shot high to his stick side.
ST. LOUIS — Following virtually the same formula Thursday they used on
opening night, the St. Louis Blues hung their second straight shutout on a
Scottrade Center visitor.
"I can't really believe it, but I guess that's the only day I can score on a
shootout," joked Berglund, who has been successful on two of his three
career penalty shots. "Hopefully it comes up more often. I've been thinking
a whole lot on what I'm going to do and then I never score on it, so I just
went in there and faked it once and shot it."
Rookie Vladimir Tarasenko extended his Scottrade Center magic with his
third goal in two home games and fourth in four games this season in a 3-0
victory over the Nashville Predators.
The Blues (3-1) slammed Detroit 6-0 in last Saturday's home opener,
getting two goals from Tarasenko in his NHL debut, then split two road
games before returning to St. Louis.
The Blues struggled early in a 3-2 loss at Chicago on Tuesday. But they
quickly returned to a winning formula two days later, as they have posted
two shutouts at home to open the season for the first time in franchise
history.
"Knowing Nashville and the way they play, and how hard they play, gets
your attention," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "If you take out the first 8
1/2 minutes in Chicago we played really well there, too.
"We've played really eight minutes of poor hockey in four games now, so all
in all we've played pretty consistent."
With the Blues already leading 2-0 in the third period, Alex Steen spied
Tarasenko streaking toward the net and put the puck right onto Tarasenko's
stick.
Tarasenko slid the puck quickly past Predators goalie Pekka Rinne to
continue what has been a dazzling NHL debut. Hitchcock said Tarasenko's
linemates, Steen and Andy McDonald, are helping ease the Russian
rookie's transition.
Steen already has four assists and McDonald has two goals and two
assists.
"It's a really interesting line because it's a throwback line," Hitchcock said.
"It's a line that I think the hockey purists ... anybody you talked to that saw
the game back in the '80s or '90s would really appreciate this line."
That's because the line has speed, skill and, so far, an eye-catching
finisher.
"It's a puck possession line, a line that has three guys with the innate ability
to find open space on the ice," Hitchcock said. "In a game that has no
space, they find space. They find room to make plays.
"They find open people. They see the ice. It's a fun line to watch from the
bench."
The teams were meeting for the second time in four days, the Blues having
come from behind to win 4-3 in a shootout on Monday in Nashville.
The Blues' sizzling power play, which led the NHL coming into the game,
heated up again in the first period as T.J. Oshie scored off a rebound in
front.
Oshie gave the Blues their seventh power-play goal in their first 11
opportunities this season.
David Perron took the original shot from the left side and players from both
sides fought for the puck before it came to Oshie, who guided it past Rinne.
It was the third goal in four games for Oshie, who tied David Backes for the
team-scoring lead last season.
Goalie Jaroslav Halak, who was pulled from the Blues' game against the
Predators on Monday after allowing three goals on 11 shots, was back in
net Thursday.
He was hardly tested in the first period as the Blues allowed three shots
and had a span of 16 minutes, 10 seconds where they did not allow a shot.
Halak turned aside 13 shots, but was rarely tested thanks to the Blues'
lockdown defensive effort.
Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 01.25.2013
652673
Tampa Bay Lightning
continue to move my feet, drive the net and use my speed to my
advantage.''
Lightning rookie Conacher takes NHL by storm
Where Conacher excels is not just through the speed of his skates, but in
how quickly he thinks.
By ERIK ERLENDSSON
"Last year I saw him work hard, and that was impressive, but to me it's how
fast he can decide things,'' Boucher said. "His speed of execution is
unbelievable. That's where he thinks and reacts so fast.
Rookies with bigger names and more impressive hockey résumés than
Cory Conacher entered this abbreviated NHL season.
Those at the top of Calder Trophy lists heading into the season were top
draft picks such as Nail Yakupov and Justin Schultz of Edmonton, Jaden
Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko of St. Louis and Jonathan Huberdeau of
Florida.
Judging from the first week, however, Conacher deserves to be in the
conversation for most impressive first-year player. After three games, the
undrafted 23-year-old is tied atop the rookie scoring race with five points on
two goals and three assists — the only player in Lightning franchise history
to score points in his first three games.
The quick start does not surprise Lightning coach Guy Boucher, who saw in
training camp a year ago that Conacher had an NHL-caliber game and had
no qualms about putting the rookie into a scoring-line role.
"I've been saying since the beginning, I strongly believe that he was not a
project — he's just ready,'' Boucher said. "And he's showing it right now that
he's ready.''
Conacher has played primarily with captain Vinny Lecavalier and Teddy
Purcell, but he's also taken shifts with Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis.
The rookie has fit right in, even if he still doesn't believe he's lining up with
such high-caliber players.
"It's just really been a dream start,'' Conacher said. "I have to give a lot of
credit to my teammates and the coaching and management side of it for
giving me the chance to be on this team. It's really incredible.''
Conacher didn't arrive in the NHL with the sort of credentials that had
scouts knocking down his door. He played college hockey at unheralded
Canisius College, a Jesuit school in Buffalo, N.Y. He set or matched 12
career, single-season or single-game school records, including recording 53
points and 33 assists in 35 games his junior season.
Yet, the 5-foot-8, 179-pound winger didn't receive much attention from NHL
clubs.
After completing his four years at Canisius, he signed tryout contracts with
three minor league teams – Rochester and Milwaukee in the American
Hockey League and Cincinnati in the East Coast Hockey League – to close
out the 2010-11 season. But despite scoring nine goals and 13 points in 10
combined games among the three teams, no NHL franchise inked him to a
deal.
But a connection between Tampa Bay assistant general manager Pat
Verbeek and Canisius College volunteer assistant coach David Smith –
Smith was the strength and conditioning coach with the Rangers when
Verbeek played for New York – led to a deal with the Lightning's minor
league team.
When Conacher caught the eye of former Tampa Bay pro scout Mike
Butters during the 2010-11 playoffs, Verbeek reached out to Conacher, who
had interest from a few other teams at the time.
Verbeek was able to recruit the free agent to the Lightning.
"It's been a great fit for both Cory and us,'' Verbeek said. "It turned out even
better. Cory has done tremendous. He was a talent, and it was just one of
those deals that you just get lucky.''
Conacher nearly made the team out of training camp last season, but there
was hesitation in having him jump from college to the NHL. By the end of
his first pro season, he was named AHL Rookie of the Year as well as
MVP. Making the jump to the NHL this season has been a smooth transition
to this point.
"It's all about the players you play with, and there are guys on this team that
I've had some good chemistry with pretty quick,'' Conacher said. "It's
definitely a little faster out there (than in the AHL). …I'll get used to the
speed a little more as time goes on, but right now all I'm trying to do is just
"You have to think so fast in the NHL, because the play happens so fast
and there's no space out there – and he's got that.''
Tampa Tribune LOADED: 01.25.2013
652674
Tampa Bay Lightning
That starts tonight.
LIGHTNING VS. SENATORS
Lightning open five-game homestand against Senators
WHERE: The Forum, Tampa
WHEN: Tonight, 7:30 p.m.
Erik Erlendson
The big-picture view shows Tampa Bay starting a five-game homestand
today.
In a shortened season, however, there is no time to take that sort of a bigpicture view.
Sure, in looking at the five games, starting with Ottawa tonight, it's easy to
see this season-long stretch on home ice as a golden opportunity. Added to
their two wins in the opening three games, a strong homestand could go a
long way toward setting up the Lightning for success, particularly with
Philadelphia, Florida, Winnipeg and the New York Rangers also coming to
town during a nine-day span.
"We took the second half of that back-to-back (Tuesday in Carolina), and it
was huge," captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "Now we've got to take
advantage of these five games here, some pretty tough teams, but let's
take advantage of this home stretch, for sure."
For a team with a 50-25-7 home record under coach Guy Boucher, five
consecutive games at home would seem to be an advantage. But Tampa
Bay would rather put on blinders and zero in on the first foe.
"We always have success at home," right wing Teddy Purcell said. "We
always like playing here. For whatever reason, it's easy to get jacked up in
front of our fans. But a short season, you don't want to look too far ahead.
You don't want to get too excited, because every game is so important.
"We know we have a five-game homestand that we have to take advantage
of, but our focus is on Ottawa right now.''
At various times during the season, Boucher likes to break down the
schedule into five-game segments — to take bigger elements and make
them seem smaller. That's not the case now, however, because of the
uniqueness of playing a 48-game schedule instead of a full 82-game
season.
Everything is already broken down into small segments. That's why the
team is taking this stretch one game at a time.
"It's not a five-game homestand, because if you look at that you fall into a
little bit of a comfort zone; you feel good because you're home,'' Boucher
said. "But every game is going to be a war.
"(Today) it's the first war, it's the first 20 minutes that we are worried about.
The rest we don't think of, the rest we have to take care of tomorrow."
After opening the season with three games in four days, the team took
Wednesday off. Players returned to the ice Thursday for their first full
practice in nearly a week. The task of staying focused on the next game on
the schedule, instead of the next five, began in the first morning meeting.
"We've already talked about that as a team, and that's one of those things
that we want out of our minds," center Adam Hall said. "We want to stay as
focused as possible just on this next game and what we need to do.
"We know it's early in the season and we are still working to come together
and perfect the way we play as a team and our chemistry. So, we're only
focusing on what we're doing for this next game. That is where our minds
are at right now.''
As expected, the first three games were a mish-mash of mistakes and
successes. What went well in the first game fell apart in the second, only to
be corrected for the third. With only six days of training camp, the coaching
staff did not focus much on system work.
Those elements will be worked in over time, which is why the focus has to
be so narrow, particularly on the team's biggest area of weakness last
season — defense.
"We need a defensive transformation, and that's a whole-team thing,''
Boucher said. "We have new players, that's fine. So, we are better because
of the new players we've got, but as a whole-team mentality and the
philosophy that we want to progress with now, it's clear it's got to be our
defense first.''
TV/RADIO: Sun Sports/970 AM
INJURIES: Lightning — D Mattias Ohlund (knee), out. Senators — D Jared
Cowen (hip), D Mike Lundin (finger), out.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Tampa Bay is 25-42-7
NEED TO KNOW: The Lightning were 0-4 against Ottawa last season,
outscored 19-6. …Ottawa, which played at Florida on Thursday night, was
9-5-3 in the second half of back-to-back games last season. …Of Tampa
Bay's 13 goals in the opening three games, eight came in the third period.
…G Anders Lindback is scheduled to start, head coach Guy Boucher said.
…The Senators allowed one goal in their opening two games. …A pregame
ceremony will honor C Vinny Lecavalier for playing in his 1,000th career
game. Lecavalier, who reached the milestone on Monday, will receive an
engraved silver stick from the league and gifts from his teammates and the
team. …As of Friday afternoon, tickets were still available, but team officials
expect a sellout.
652675
Tampa Bay Lightning
1,000 games in, Lecavalier as happy as ever
"Like taking a nap with my kids," Lecavalier said.
No, these aren't his Ferrari days, on the ice or off, nothing as flashy. But
here is Vinny, going on 1,001, wide awake, his battery charged. He grinned
again.
"I'm still 32, I'm not 45."
By MARTIN FENNELLY
TAMPA A thousand games ago, he was a skinny Lightning rookie, the next
big thing, top draft pick, No. 1 overall, happy as could be. I can still picture
him back then, a kid in his brand new Ferrari, doing doughnuts in the arena
parking lot.
Fifteen years later. He's a husband. He's a father of two, soon to be three.
He has grown up before our eyes. These days, he drives a truck. Mind you,
he still owns a Ferrari. The other day, he went to start it.
"The battery was dead," Vinny Lecavalier said with a smile. "I hadn't used it
in a month."
Times have changed. One thing hasn't:
Vincent Lecavalier, 32, exactly 1,000 games into his NHL career, remains
as happy as could be.
"I feel young," he said. "I really do."
Tonight, before No. 1,001, before the game with Ottawa at the Forum, the
Lightning will honor Lecavalier. The league will present him with a silver
stick. There will be other gifts, before family and friends, before teammates
past and present. It's no small milestone, more so since Vinny has done it
all right here, every game, for this one team.
He has traveled every road you can as a professional. He is on his fourth
Lightning owner and sixth Lightning coach. Scores of teammates have
come and gone. Here is Vinny, still.
Vinny has lived all the hockey lives you can live. He has been good, great
and not very great at all. Everything has been said or written about him. He
has been a 50-goal scorer, a Richard Trophy winner — and he has been
trade bait. Over the years, Vinny has been exhilarating. Over the years,
Vinny has been exasperating.
And he has been a Stanley Cup champion.
Vinny was Lightning captain when he had no business being captain, and
he's been a Lightning captain and truly played like it — like right now, for
instance, like the other night in Game 1,000, a win at Carolina.
"He's doing it all right now," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "For me,
I've been here three years now, this is by far the best training camp I've
ever seen him in, the best shape I've ever seen him in with me, and
dedicated to the winning things, not the flashy things. It's very noticeable for
everybody."
He remains loyal to the Lightning cause, and other causes. He has walked
the walk of a good and decent man in this, his adopted town, with millions in
donations and work in the name of children battling cancer, the firefighter's
son to the rescue. That's Vinny, too.
And here he is now, reinventing himself, rededicating himself, all signs of
maturity. His 40-goal days might be behind him (don't tell him that), but he
is trying to find new ways to deliver.
"You try to adjust your game." Lecavalier said. "… I had a great summer of
training. I wanted to make sure I was ready physically and mentally. It's only
three games in, but I'm happy with the way I'm skating, so let's keep it
going."
Boucher thinks Vinny is faster than he was last season.
"I don't know if I'm faster or not, but, energywise, I feel really good,"
Lecavalier said. "I'm focused. If you're ready mentally, sometimes physically
it happens. I feel like I'm still 22 years old. I still have that mindset. I'm at a
different stage of my career. Now it's to lead … not just me, but all the
veterans … try to bring the team to another level."
The rest of his life is already at another level. Lecavalier and his wife,
Caroline, have their babies, 2-year-old Victoria, and 1-year-old Gabriel.
There's another girl on the way. Life comes at you different as you get
older, new thrills, blessed moments, simpler treasure.
652676
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning's Cory Conacher as relentless as a honey badger
By Damian Cristodero
The thing Cory Conacher enjoys most about that You Tube video that
extols the virtues of the honey badger is the animal is portrayed as such a
relentlessly fierce beast.
"A honey badger kind of does whatever it wants," Conacher said, "It's a
gritty creature."
In other words, the Lightning's rookie left wing embraces the nickname
given him last season at AHL Norfolk.
"Definitely a compliment," said Jon Cooper, Conacher's coach with the
Admirals. "If you ever watch the video, the honey badger takes what it
wants."
And that is Conacher, 23, whose goal was to play in the NHL and who (in
fewer than two years) has gone from college star to minor-league sensation
to a player some believe could compete for rookie of the year.
Conacher's five points, on two goals and three assists, entered Thursday
tied for the league lead among first-year players and tied for second among
all players.
He not only is getting power-play time, he is on a line with Vinny Lecavalier
and getting spot duty with Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis.
"A dream start," the former undrafted free agent said.
"Playing with guys you idolized your whole hockey career is pretty
amazing," Conacher added. "I'll probably tear up in the summer when I
actually realize I played in the NHL."
There is no reason to believe Conacher's start is a fluke.
The Burlington, Ontario, native — a distant relative of NHL Hall of Famers
Charlie, Roy and Lionel Conacher — has a sense for being in the right
place at the right time. During Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the Hurricanes, he
followed Lecavalier to the net and scored on a rebound.
He is fast, too, and coach Guy Boucher said Conacher, averaging 14:41 of
ice time, actually has led Stamkos and St. Louis on the rush.
"He pushes the pace for them," Boucher said. "That's hard to do."
Most important, though, is how quickly Conacher reads plays and reacts.
During Monday's 4-3 loss to the Islanders, his perfect pass to Stamkos in
front of the net was so quick and precise it left no time for the defense or
goalie to react before Stamkos scored.
"I even do a little visualization before the game," Conacher said. "I visualize
certain circumstances on the ice, so if they do happen I'm ready for it. I've
already gone through my head what is the right play to make."
"The kid has unbelievable instincts," said Cooper, now coaching AHL
Syracuse. "It's crazy. I don't know how to describe it. He can make passes
through opponents that are impossible. That's why we call him Honey
Badger. He can adapt to what's going on and play at a high rate of speed."
And he does it despite being a Type I diabetic and an undersized — by
NHL standards — 5 feet 8, 179 pounds.
Conacher's lack of size certainly contributed to him being undrafted as his
skills never were an issue.
As a Canisius College junior, Conacher, with 20 goals, 53 points, was the
Atlantic Hockey Association's 2009-10 player of the year. In 2011-12, after
finishing school and being signed by the Lightning the previous July,
Conacher, with 39 goals, 80 points was AHL rookie of the year and MVP.
"He's such a smart player," Lecavalier said. "He skates hard. He skates in
the corners. He does the little things right, and it's paying off for him."
With a honey of a nickname.
Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 01.25.2013
652677
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier to get silver stick from team for 1,000th
game
Staff
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier played his 1,000th NHL
game Monday in Uniondale, N.Y., against the Islanders. In fact, when
Lecavalier faces the Senators Friday at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, he
will be playing game 1,002.
The Lightning will use the team's first home game since Lecavalier reached
his milestone to honor him with a traditional inscribed silver stick to be
presented before the game in an eight-minute ceremony in which
Lecavalier also will receive gifts from teammates.
Seems right as Lecavalier, the No. 1 overall pick of the 1998 draft, has
played all his games with Tampa Bay. The center is one of only five No. 1
picks to reach 1,000 games with their drafting club. The others are Mike
Modano (Minnesota/Dallas) with 1,459; Gil Perreault (Buffalo) with 1,191;
Denis Potvin (Islanders) with 1,060; and Chris Phillips (Ottawa) with 1,020.
"I like the fact that it's the same organization," coach Guy Boucher said of
Lecavalier's 1,000 games. "To be able to stay in our organization, it says a
lot about loyalty to the people and how important they can be to the
community and the team. It's about more than playing 1,000 games. It's
about playing here, committing here as a hockey player. I hope people will
give it back to him because he's done it all here. It's impressive."
Lecavalier, 32, in his 14th season, has started fast with a goal and four
points in his first three games. More importantly, he has fully committed on
defense and has increased his physical play. At 6 feet 4, 220 pounds, he
also is simply stronger thanks to a revamped summer workout program that
focused on lower back, glutes and hamstrings, and increasing his vertical
leap (which team trainer Mark Lambert said helps increase speed.
See that story here:
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/lightnings-vinnylecavalier-set-to-play-1000th-nhl-game-monday/1271544
"He's doing it all right now," Boucher said. "For me, and I've been here
three years, he had the best training camp I've ever seen. He's the most inshape he's been with me and dedicated to the winning things, not the flashy
things. It's very noticeable for everybody. He's leading as a captain."
As for Lecavalier, reaching 1,000 with the Lightning -- he lives more than
half the year in Tampa and has relocated his parents there -- is most
special.
"I tell everybody, I feel Tampa is my home now," Lecavalier said. "I want to
be here forever."
Other news and notes from today's practice: Anders Lindback will start in
net Friday against the Senators. "We have a young goalie who needs to
see some ice," Boucher said. ... Boucher sometimes likes to split the
season into five-game segments. But the coach said that is not the plan
with the five-game homestand that begins against Ottawa. "I want to focus
on one game. That's my first words this morning in my speeches. It's not a
five-game homestand. If you look at it like that you fall into a little comfort
zone and feel good. We don't think of the rest. We have to take care of
(Friday). Keep it small." ... For those who think the path take by Cory
Conacher and Marty St. Louis was similar because both are undersized
players, think again, Boucher said. "They're different guys," he said. "As
smaller guys they had to have incredible character to battle through all the
adversity you can imagine to get here and stay here. But the two eras are
different. I don't want to take anything away from Cory, but Marty St. Louis
did it in an era when almost no smaller guys made it. What he's done then
was unreal. The rules have changed now. That's why you see more smaller
guys. The can opener we used to cal it, the stick between the legs, you
couldn't do anything. I played in that era. The guy is coming at you and he
has your jersey and his stick between your legs and no penalty. So, Marty
had to play through that back then and not be himself in terms of offense
and slowly build that up. Cory comes in and he can be himself. I'm not
saying it's easy, but what Marty did back then was almost unreal."
652678
Tampa Bay Lightning
Preview: Lightning vs. Senators
By Damian Cristodero,
Tonight
Lightning vs. Senators
When/where: 7:30; Tampa Bay Times Forum
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 970-AM
Key stats: Lightning G Anders Lindback never has faced the Senators. …
Ottawa G Craig Anderson entered Thursday with a league-best .983 save
percentage (one goal allowed on 59 shots) and tied for the league lead with
a 0.50 goals-against average. … Anderson is 6-1-0 in 10 games against the
Lightning with a 1.24 goals-against average, a .955 save percentage and
three shutouts. … Tampa Bay has lost two straight to the Senators at the
Times Forum and has been outscored 11-3.
652679
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning rookie Cory Conacher a honey badger lover, too
By Damian Cristodero
The thing Cory Conacher enjoys most about that YouTube video that extols
the virtues of the honey badger is the animal is portrayed as such a
relentlessly fierce beast.
"A honey badger kind of does whatever it wants," Conacher said. "It's a
gritty creature."
In other words, the Lightning's rookie left wing embraces the nickname
given him last season at AHL Norfolk.
"Definitely a compliment," said Jon Cooper, Conacher's coach with the
Admirals. "If you ever watch the video, the honey badger takes what it
wants."
And that is Conacher, 23, whose goal was to play in the NHL and who (in
fewer than two years) has gone from college star to minor-league sensation
to a player some believe could compete for rookie of the year.
Conacher's five points, on two goals and three assists, entered Thursday
tied for the league lead among first-year players and tied for second among
all players.
He not only is getting power-play time, he is on a line with Vinny Lecavalier
and getting spot duty with Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis.
"A dream start," the former undrafted free agent said.
"Playing with guys you idolized your whole hockey career is pretty amazing.
I'll probably tear up in the summer when I actually realize I played in the
NHL."
There is no reason to believe Conacher's start is a fluke.
The Burlington, Ontario, native — he is a distant relative of NHL Hall of
Famers Charlie, Roy and Lionel Conacher — has a sense for being in the
right place at the right time. During Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the
Hurricanes, he followed Lecavalier to the net and scored on a rebound.
He is fast, too, and coach Guy Boucher said Conacher, averaging 14:41 of
ice time, actually has led Stamkos and St. Louis on the rush.
"He pushes the pace for them," Boucher said. "That's hard to do."
Most important, though, is how quickly Conacher reads plays and reacts.
During Monday's 4-3 loss to the Islanders, his perfect pass to Stamkos in
front of the net was so quick and precise, it left no time for the defense or
goalie to react before Stamkos scored.
"I even do a little visualization before the game," Conacher said. "I visualize
certain circumstances on the ice so if they do happen, I'm ready for it. I've
already gone through my head what is the right play to make."
"The kid has unbelievable instincts," said Cooper, now coaching AHL
Syracuse, the Lightning's new affiliate. "It's crazy. I don't know how to
describe it. He can make passes through opponents that are impossible.
That's why we call him 'Honey Badger.' He can adapt to what's going on
and play at a high rate of speed."
And he does it despite being a Type I diabetic and an undersized — by
NHL standards — 5 feet 8, 179 pounds.
Conacher's lack of size certainly contributed to him being undrafted. His
skills never were an issue.
As a Canisius College junior, Conacher, with 20 goals and 53 points, was
the Atlantic Hockey Association's 2009-10 player of the year. In 2011-12,
after finishing school and being signed by the Lightning the previous July,
Conacher, with 39 goals and 80 points, was AHL rookie of the year and
MVP.
"He's such a smart player," Lecavalier said. "He skates hard. He skates in
the corners. He does the little things right, and it's paying off for him."
With a honey of a nickname.
652680
Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs start to try Randy Carlyle’s patience
JEFF BLAIR
By now there would have been at least one smart-ass remark about not
erecting statues to Nazem Kadri, delivered with that arrogant half-smile. Or
perhaps Ben Scrivens would have been the subject of an aside from Ron
Wilson: the man uncomfortable with praise even when someone else was
delivering it for him.
Four games into the NHL season – when the schedule is 48 games, we can
pretty much drop the “it’s just four games in” disclaimer, no? – and ahead of
Thursday night’s blown 3-1 lead the most noticeable difference between the
Dave Nonis-Randy Carlyle duo was the lack of drama. Seriously. Nobody’s
boldly predicted that this player or that player is going to be acquired.
Carlyle may have felt it necessary on Thursday to poke the local media for
the portrayal of his gentle nudging of James van Riemsdyk ahead of
Wednesday’s win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but on the Wilsonian scale
of manufactured anger and turning up the crisis thermostat, saying, “One
thing in this market: when you say something, it’s painted 15 ways,” barely
registers.
Of course, this can all change. Let’s see if Carlyle chalks up the 7-4 loss to
the New Islanders and the disappearance of the Leafs legs during the first
intermission as the product of back-to-back nights after a shortened training
camp. Let’s see if it’s a one-time pass. “I don’t have an explanation,” Carlyle
said evenly after Thursday’s implosion. “My message is we accept
responsibility, and that we will be judged by how we play Saturday.”
Carlyle had his moments with the Anaheim Ducks, and a few more second
periods such as Thursday’s, when the Leafs allowed two goals in 1:24, the
second of which came with Carl Gunnarson coming up small in front of the
net against Brad Boyes, will surely try his patience. Scrivens flailed and
missed at the fourth and fifth Islanders goals. That’s something, and Phil
Kessel’s lack of goal-scoring is destined to be a popular off-day topic.
Yet so far, those who predicted that Carlyle’s defensive philosophy would
be a toxic mix with this group of players have been wrong. Instead, what
has happened is Carlyle and his coaches have mostly got it right with their
defence rotation, starting with the decision to pair Mark Kostka with Dion
Phaneuf. Moving van Reimsdyk onto a line with Mikhail Grabvoski and
Nikolai Kulemin kick-started all three players in the 5-2 win over the
Penguins in a season where a win is a win is a win. Following their lead, the
Leafs attacked the area in front of the Penguins net.
Kadri, meanwhile, has been a regular contributor and has been noticeable
at crucial times. Mostly, he’s been coached and otherwise left alone, just
like any other player. Matt Frattin was told in training camp by Carlyle that
more was expected of him. Joffrey Lupul’s injury saw him called up, and he
had three points on Thursday. And even those of us who aren’t fans of
Colton Orr’s talents can at least see where Carlyle’s going when he says
the players ice-time is a reward for the fact that Orr did what he was asked
to do in the off-season. That’s right and proper.
As for the goaltending? Carlyle decided to not leave well enough alone and
started James Reimer in Pittsburgh after Scrivens made it through his first
two games without being a storyline. Reimer won; Carlyle flipped off the
concept of ‘the hot hand’ once again and went back to Scrivens against the
Islanders. The result was not what he needed, but those Roberto Luongo
rumours seem to be on life-support. Perhaps Nonis is just being quiet. All
Carlyle said was that he pulled Scrivens after the fifth goal because “Ben
didn’t have it … but then I don’t think any of our players had it.”
So let’s see where this goes; the Leafs play the New York Rangers at
Madison Square Garden on Saturday, then have two days off before
heading down the QEW to Buffalo. Carlyle must now deal with the first
lousy performance of the season, including an empty-net goal allowed on a
6-on-4 power play and a 5-on-3 power-play late in the first period that could
have left the Islanders done and dusted. Say, did we mention that Phil
Kessel has failed to score a goal? Wonder how Ron Wilson would handle it.
Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 01.25.2013
652681
Toronto Maple Leafs
Islanders keep Leafs winless at home
David Shoalts
One of the worst side effects of the NHL lockout came home to roost for
Toronto Maple Leafs fans on Thursday night.
The compressed 48-game schedule and its murderous lineup of back-toback, road-and-home games bit the Leafs where it hurts, as they came
home from their best outing of the season against the mighty Pittsburgh
Penguins to fall 7-4 to the woeful New York Islanders on Thursday night.
The Leafs have nine back-to-back sets this season and seven are like this
one, with them on the road the first night while the opposition is lying in wait
in Toronto.
“That’s the worst game we played,” Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle said.
“We saw one team last night and a totally different team tonight.”
By the end of the second period, as boos wafted down from the stands in
the Air Canada Centre, the evils of the schedule were evident. The Leafs,
who looked so good on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh in a 5-2 win over the
Penguins and started strong Thursday night, were struggling to stay even
with the Islanders.
The Leafs let a 3-1 lead slip away in the second period by coughing up two
goals in 1 minute 26 seconds to Mark Streit and Brad Boyes. Then the
Islanders took their first and final lead at 3:23 of the third period on a goal
by Michael Grabner. Also scoring for the Islanders were Matt Moulson, with
two unassisted goals, and Keith Aucoin, who was claimed on waivers from
the Leafs last week.
In the players’ view, though, calling it a lockout game rang of an excuse.
“It’s not a time to make excuses,” Leaf defenceman John-Michael Liles
said. “Everybody is in the same situation. It’s something we’ve got to learn.
You have to simplify your game in the second game of back-to-backs.”
Only it wasn’t quite the same for the Islanders. Thanks to the quirky lockout
schedule they had not played since Monday and were resting in their
Toronto hotel beds Wednesday night while the Leafs were flying home from
Pittsburgh.
“You have to concern yourself,” Carlyle said earlier in the day about trying
to keep a team rested, alert and healthy with that kind of schedule. “You
can’t expect your players to give you 110 per cent if they don’t have the
proper rest and nutrition. The body has to heal and it heals in various ways
from bumps and bruises.”
Another excuse for the Leafs is the loss of last season’s second-leading
scorer, Joffrey Lupul, for six weeks with a broken arm suffered in
Pittsburgh. But Liles wasn’t having any of that, either. “It’s never easy to
lose a guy like that but it presents an opportunity.”
Lupul’s spot on the top line was taken by Clarke MacArthur. The player who
received the opportunity by getting called up from the farm team, forward
Matt Frattin, almost stole the show.
Frattin, who was put on the third line with centre Nazem Kadri and left
winger Leo Komarov, drew assists on both goals when Kadri and Mikhail
Grabovski scored three minutes apart midway through the first period to put
the Leafs ahead 3-1.
He came back to score late in the third period to inject a little life in the ACC
as the Isles’ lead was cut to 6-4. The Leafs pulled their goaltender and went
with an extra skater for almost the final two minutes of the third period but
Grabner spoiled the fun with an empty-net goal.
Carlyle made Thursday’s game-day skate optional for his players after they
flew home from Pittsburgh. It didn’t seem to do much for them but the coach
plans to follow that routine most of the time. He also expects most other
NHL teams to do so as well.
“There are things post-game we try to implement that we never did back
when Mark Osborne was playing,” Carlyle said with a grin as he looked
over at the former Leaf-turned-broadcaster. “There wouldn’t have been
flush [bike] rides or lifts taking place after a game. There would have been
one area in the trainers’ room where there was a six-pack so players could
have a beer. Now it’s a lot different.”
Well, as they say about the best-laid plans, by the middle of the third period
the Leafs were seriously awry. James Reimer, one of the heroes of the
Pittsburgh win, was sent in to replace starting goaltender Ben Scrivens
early in the third period but failed to rouse the Leafs.
652682
Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs say Lupul will miss up to six weeks with broken arm
DAVID SHOALTS
This being the age of social media, there should be no surprise about how
Matt Frattin found out his life was about to change.
“I found out he got hurt on Twitter,” the newest Toronto Maple Leaf said
about his unfortunate teammate Joffrey Lupul, who will be out of the lineup
for up to six weeks with a broken arm after he was hit by a shot from Leaf
captain Dion Phaneuf during Wednesday night’s 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh
Penguins.
“You find out everything on Twitter,” Frattin said with a smile.
Frattin was in Cleveland with the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday night, as
they were preparing to play the Lake Erie Monsters in an American Hockey
League game. A few hours after Frattin saw the tweet about Lupul, Marlies
head coach Dallas Eakins told him he was headed to the big club and the
NHL.
So, instead of suiting up with the Marlies on Thursday, Frattin caught a
morning flight to Toronto where he will take his place with the Leafs for
Thursday’s game at the Air Canada Centre against the New York Islanders.
After the Leafs’ optional game-day skate Thursday, Frattin still did not know
which line he will play on or even which wing but those were not big
concerns. Not when you just landed your dream job after being one of the
last two cuts by the Leafs when training camp ended last Friday.
“I like playing both sides,” Frattin, 25, said. “Wherever they need filled in is
fine with me.”
A week ago, it looked like Frattin was close to nailing down a job with the
Leafs. He appeared to be playing well and was coming off a strong playoff
showing last spring with the Marlies, which ended with a knee injury.
However, Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle issued a warning a day before
the NHL roster deadline when he praised the play of centre Nazem Kadri
and said Frattin’s play was inconsistent.
Frattin still isn’t sure why he did not have a solid training camp but he is
sure it had nothing to do with any residual effects from last spring’s knee
injury. “I think my left leg is stronger than my right leg,” he said.
As for training camp, “I was mentally strong,” Frattin said. “I felt really good
through camp. But to earn a spot at this level you have to be strong every
day.”
Carlyle was not clear after the morning skate about Frattin’s place in the
lineup. “He’s an offensive player,” Carlyle said, which could mean he would
simply take Lupul’s place on the top line with Phil Kessel and centre Tyler
Bozak, although that would be quite a stretch for a young player coming
from the AHL.
Since this is the second of back-to-back, road and home games, goaltender
James Reimer will get a rest after Wednesday’s fine performance against
the Penguins and Ben Scrivens will get his third start of the season against
the 1-1 Islanders.
The game will be a reunion of sorts for Frattin, Scrivens, Kadri and a couple
of other Leafs who played with forward Keith Aucoin on the Marlies this
season. The veteran was brought in this season to work with the AHL
youngsters and was the Marlies leading scorer this season with 37 points in
34 games. But he was lost on waivers last week when the Islanders
claimed him.
Scrivens and the other Leafs were happy to see Aucoin, 34, get another
shot at the NHL.
“He’s a great guy,” Scrivens said. “Toronto only brings in quality people and
having a veteran guy like him help on the Marlies was great.”
652683
Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Islanders rally to take down Maple Leafs
The Canadian Press
Matt Moulson and Michael Grabner had two goals each as the New York
Islanders rallied for a 7-4 win over the Maple Leafs on Thursday night at the
Air Canada Centre.
Moulson had one of three third-period goals for the Islanders (2-1), who
overcame a 3-1 first-period deficit to earn the win before crowd of 19,125.
Grabner, with two, and former Leaf Keith Aucoin also scored in the third for
New York.
The Leafs (2-2) fell to 0-2 on home ice this season and returned to the ACC
following a solid 5-2 road victory in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night. But that
didn’t impress some Leafs fans, who began to chant “Let’s go Blue Jays”
with 2:40 remaining.
Grabner gave New York a 4-3 lead at 3:27 of the third, firing a wicked wrist
shot past Ben Scrivens for his second of the season before Aucoin scored
his first just 1:08 later to put the Islanders ahead 5-3. That was it for
Scrivens, who allowed five goals on 20 shots in his third start of the season.
Scrivens was replaced by James Reimer, who got the win in Pittsburgh.
Matt Frattin’s goal at 17:47 made it 6-4 and gave the Leafs’ forward three
points after being recalled from the AHL Marlies earlier Thursday.
Mark Streit and former Leaf Brad Boyes had the other goals for the
Islanders.
Carl Gunnarsson, Nazem Kadri and Mikhail Grabovski also scored for
Toronto.
Toronto Star LOADED: 01.25.2013
652684
Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs call up Matt Frattin with Joffrey Lupul sidelined for at least six
weeks
Bob Mitchell
Sports Reporter
Matt Frattin is getting a second chance to show he belongs with the Maple
Leafs.
The 25-year-old winger will play Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre
against the visiting New York Islanders after being called up from the
Marlies to replace injured Joffrey Lupul.
Lupul is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks after fracturing a
forearm in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Frattin was expected to make the Leafs out of training camp but the former
North Dakota star didn’t impress coach Randy Carlyle enough and was
returned to the Marlies before last Saturday’s season opener in Montreal.
He played one game, firing a shootout winner against the Hamilton
Bulldogs.
“I guess I didn’t play to my potential to earn a spot a training camp but now I
have another opportunity,” Frattin said after the game-day optional skate at
the ACC.
“Unfortunately, Lupul got injured but it’s given me an opportunity to show
what I can do in games. Now I have to run with it.
“I was mentally strong at camp. I felt really strong. But I guess I took a
couple of days off and they (coaches) spotted it. You have to be going
every day to earn a spot. It’s a business and just like any job, if you don’t
give it 110 per cent, there’s going to be somebody doing the job that’s
needed for the team.”
Frattin could play on the top line with Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak.
“Frattin is an offensive player. He hadn’t performed to the level we thought
he was capable of (at camp) and now he’s getting another opportunity,”
Carlyle said. “
After getting a win in Pittsburgh, it appears as if goalie James Reimer will
give way to Ben Scrivens, who looks to make his third start of the season
against the Islanders.
Frattin underwent knee surgery in the offseason after getting injured during
his strong Calder Cup playoff run with the Marlies in the AHL. Before being
injured he scored 14 goals in 23 regular season games with the Marlies and
then fired another 10 in 13 playoff games before injuring his knee.
With the Leafs last season he had eight goals and seven assists in 58
games.
But after a strong start to this season with the Marlies during the NHL
lockout, his play tailed off and he didn’t have the jump during the Leafs sixday training camp. He’ll get an extended look with Lupul being sidelined.
Frattin learned about Lupul’s injury via Twitter on Wednesday night in
Cleveland where the Marlies were to play the Lake Erie Monsters on
Thursday night. After the Leafs game, coach Dallas Eakins called him and
told him he was heading back to Toronto.
He caught an early-morning flight to Toronto and was on the ice for the
optional morning skate along with several other players, including both
goalies.
“Injuries are part of the game but we have depth in this organization and
people can step in and out and give this team a chance to win,” Frattin said.
“They want me to bring some energy, play the body, finish checks, getting
on the forecheck and keep my legs moving and use my shot to create some
offence for myself.
“I know I’m going to have to give 100 per cent in every practice and game
because there’s always somebody coming up who can take your spot.”
652685
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joffrey Lupul’s freak injury a big blow to Maple Leafs in shortened NHL
season: Cox
By Damien Cox Sports Columnist
Tomas Vanek may lead the way in NHL scoring in the early days of this
shortened NHL season, but you won’t find what promises to be the most
important stat this season among the goals and assists and goaltending
numbers.
It’s injuries, and man-games lost to injuries. Lose a guy for a month during
an 82-game campaign and that’s one thing. But that lineup deletion means
a lot more when the season only stretches from mid-January to the end of
April.
Already, key injuries are being felt, no surprise, you might argue, given the
brief training camp.
The defending champion L.A. Kings have lost hardnosed blueliner Matt
Greene for the season. Colorado winger Steve Downie is apparently gone
for the campaign with a knee problem. Phoenix goalie Mike Smith, the be
all and end all with that hockey club, left in the first period with a “lower
body” injury Wednesday night, and the seriousness of that hurt isn’t yet
known.
The Leafs, meanwhile, welcomed back blueliner Jake Gardiner from a
neck/concussion injury on Wednesday night only to lose winger Joffrey
Lupul to a fractured forearm after being struck by a Dion Phaneuf shot.
This is lousy timing for the 2-1 Leafs, but even more so for Lupul who
signed a five-year, $26.5 million contract extension.
He’ll get paid, of course. But his reputation in some eyes as a little brittle
won’t be helped, unfair as that is given that this was totally a freak injury.
Lupul misses almost all of 2010 with complications from back surgery. Last
year, he suffered a shoulder injury that ruined what was a career season.
He was so intent on making this season a good one he decided not to join
Canada at the world championships, preferring instead to rehab his
shoulder.
He reluctantly went to Russia during the lockout to get his game going, and
according to GM Dave Nonis, came to camp in “excellent” shape.
Now this. Hey, that’s hockey. The Leafs, at least, have some depth on the
wing they can call upon if necessary, with Matt Frattin just a call away with
the Marlies. Wednesday night’s game saw the first offensive flashes from
James Van Riemsdyk, and Phil Kessel’s sure getting lots of quality
chances, isn’t he?
But at the same time, the Leafs aren’t the deepest team in hockey, and the
loss of a player like Lupul will be felt, as much or more as Greene or
Downie or Smith. Heck, the Detroit Red Wings seem to be losing a
defenceman a day, and Vancouver has yet to see Ryan Kesler or David
Booth.
Keep your eye on the injury lists, folks. That’s where this NHL season may
be won or lost.
652686
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL Western Conference: Who’s making an early splash?
Bob Mitchell
Sports Reporter
With the Maple Leafs playing only Eastern Conference opponents in this
shortened 48-game NHL season, here’s a snapshot of what’s been
happening in the Western Conference:
HOT KIDS
Led by St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko, the West has produced
some of the top early Calder Trophy favourites. The 21-year-old budding
star, the 16th pick in the 2010 draft, has scored three goals and two assists
in his first two games.
But the player everybody could be talking about by the time the season
ends is Edmonton rookie defenceman Justin Shultz. The prized free agent
catch dominated the AHL during the lockout and is expected to become a
big-time player with the Oilers. Edmonton’s No. 1 draft pick, Nail Yakupov,
who like Schultz scored his first NHL goal in the Oilers’ 6-3 loss to San
Jose, could also make a run for the NHL’s top rookie prize.
LET’S MAKE A DEAL
Sooner or later, goalie Roberto Luongo will be traded from the Canucks.
Vancouver GM Mike Gillis stirred the pot this week when he suggested he
had a deal in place — if he wanted to make the trade right now — with a
team nobody has mentioned.
But Cory Schneider didn’t look very good in his first start, allowing five goals
on 14 shots before being yanked and replaced by Luongo in their 7-3 loss
to Anaheim. Luongo started Game 2, but lost 3-2 in a shootout to Edmonton
after the Canucks blew a 2-0 lead. Schneider was expected to be back in
goal for Wednesday night’s game with Calgary.
SURPRISING STARTS
After back-to-back first-round playoff exits, the Chicago Blackhawks have
opened the season with three straight wins, including a 5-2 victory over the
defending Stanley Cup champion Kings in Los Angeles in their season
opener, followed by a 6-3 win over the defending Pacific Division champion
Phoenix Coyotes, and their 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues, a team
many predict will be the West’s Stanley Cup representative.
It’s the Hawks first 3-0 start since the 1972-73 season. Goalie Corey
Crawford has been sharp in his two wins, while Ray Emery got the job done
in the other. Chicago has been getting strong performances from its top
players, with Marian Hossa scoring four goals and five points with Patrick
Kane also notching five points.
Another team off to a hot start is the San Jose Sharks. They took a 2-0
record into their home opener on Thursday against Phoenix after matching
a franchise-record six goals in the first period of a 6-3 win over Edmonton.
San Jose has scored 10 goals in its first two games, having also spoiled
Calgary’s home opener with a 4-1 win. Like the Hawks, their stars have
been on fire. Joe Thornton has yet to score but has set up five goals;
Patrick Marleau has four goals and five points, while Logan Couture also
has five points.
CAN THE OILERS WIN WITH YOUTH?
With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Nail Yakupov, Dave
Gagner and Justin Shultz, Edmonton has the potential to be one of the
West’s most exciting and explosive teams. But coach Ralph Krueger could
sure use some veteran help on defence. Without it, his young guns might
still not be enough to get them into the playoffs.
The Oilers gave up six goals in the first period in their 6-3 loss to the
Sharks. Starter Devan Dubnyk got pulled after giving up all six goals in a
horrific first period. The Oilers haven’t made the playoffs since 2006, but
with the last three No.1 draft picks in their lineup, fans expect them to make
a run this season.
HOCKEY TOWN BLUES
It hasn’t been a great start to the season for the Detroit Red Wings. Playing
for the first time in 20 years without all-star defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom,
the Wings dropped two of their first three games, including a 6-0 blowout to
St. Louis on opening night. The Wings miss their retired blue liner on their
power play, which has failed to score in 15 man-advantage situations.
Grinder Tomas Homstrom also retired before Detroit’s home owner and
they miss his goal-mouth tenacity.
The injury bug has also bitten the Wings hard. Already undermanned, they
lost defenceman Ian White with a nasty knee gash in their loss to Dallas.
White is expected to miss up to three weeks. The Wings have now lost
three of their projected top six defenceman — Jakub Kindl (groin), Jonathan
Ericsson (hip) and Carlo Colaiacovo (shoulder).
NEW LOOK IN MINNY
With the NHL lockout making most of the news, it was easy to forget that
the biggest off-ice story heading into this season was the free agent
signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter in Minnesota. The Wild signed
each to matching $98 million, 13-year contracts. Nothing less than a playoff
spot and an extended post-season run will be good enough.
The Wild is off to a 2-1 start. Shooter Dany Heatley could be in for a big
season playing with Parise. He and Parise lead the team with four points
each. The Wild has also been getting solid goaltending from Niklas
Backstrom and Josh Harding, who earned a 24-save, 1-0 shutout in his
start and is showing no signs of being hampered after being diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis during the lockout.
STANLEY CUP HANGOVER
Last season, the Boston Bruins took more than a month to get rolling. But
with just 48 games, Los Angeles needs to get off to a faster start. The
champs opened the season with two straight losses, including an
embarrassing banner-raising 5-2 loss to Chicago. They followed that with a
3-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings led 1-0 in that one and it
was the first time they had lost a regular-season game when leading after
two periods since April 2, 2009, against Phoenix, a stretch of going 86-0-9
in 95 games.
Goalie Jonathan Quick, who had off-season back surgery, won 51 games
last season but hasn’t found his groove yet, in giving up eight goals. The
Kings haven’t scored a power play goal in 11 chances. If Quick doesn’t find
his touch soon, the big news in L.A. could come from the resurgent
Anaheim Ducks, who are off to a 2-0 start.
TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE IN CALGARY?
Jarome Iginla has yet to score and goalie Miikka Kiprusoff has given up
nine goals in the Flames’ two opening losses. Father time is clicking on
these two warriors. If Calgary is to turn this season around — and its
immediate future — the time is now for GM Jay Feaster to find a trading
partner that can inject some younger talent into the organization.
GAME CHANGERS HEAD TO FREE AGENCY
Some of the biggest decisions this season will be made by Western GMs as
to whether to resign their pending free agents.
Anaheim GM Bob Murray has a double decision to make. Stars Corey Perry
and Ryan Getzlaf will hit the open market this summer. Unless he can sign
these big-ticket players to contracts under a $64-million cap, Murray will
have to trade them or risk getting nothing.
Perry, 27, scored 37 goals last season after getting 50 the year before. He
is making $5.3 million and is likely going to want more. Getzlaf, 27,
struggled last season but remains one of the most sought-after forwards.
Murray might be able to sign one of them, but it’s unlikely he’ll be able to
keep both.
652687
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs defeat Penguins 5-2 in Pittsburgh
By Dave Feschuk Sports Columnist
PITTSBURGH—Under normal 82-game circumstances, maybe the eve of
the third game of the NHL season might not have been the ideal time for a
coach to begin issuing public callouts of players not performing to his liking.
Maybe Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle was being a bit rash insisting that
Mikhail Grabovski, his Belarusian forward with a reputation for diligent
hustle, required “more fire” in his game. Maybe Carlyle was a touch quick
on the trigger by offering a for-the-record lecture about the merits of
wreaking havoc in front of opposing goaltenders — and for pointedly
demanding that James van Riemsdyk, his six-foot-three winger, stand in
front of the net or sit quietly on the other side of the boards.
Or maybe Carlyle’s words hit precisely the right notes in preparing the Leafs
for their finest performance of a season not yet a week old.
We know this much — the Leafs beat the Pittsburgh Penguins on
Wednesday night by a resounding score of 5-2. And certainly there’ll be
those heralding Carlyle for his player-prodding masterstrokes.
Sure, it could have been a coincidence that van Riemsdyk scored his first
two goals as a Maple Leaf, including the winner. If the player bristled a bit
after he heard about Carlyle’s front-of-the-net direction in the wake of
Tuesday’s practice — van Riemsdyk informed reporters he can score from
a variety of locales, the goalmouth being but one — it’s worth noting that
one of his markers came as his skates veered into the blue ice that marks
the Pittsburgh goal crease.
Let’s call that a message received.
And maybe Grabovski would have notched the goal that gave the Leafs a
4-2 advantage no matter what the coach told the media after Wednesday’s
morning skate.
But “more fire” was Carlyle’s demand, and even if Grabovski had turned up
his nose when it was relayed to him — “More fire? I think I have enough
fire,” he said — you could almost see the flames coming off the blast
Grabovski buried behind Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.
Let’s call that a button successfully pushed.
Whatever you call it, what’s undeniable is that three games into a lockoutshortened 48-game schedule that leaves far less room for early hiccups
than the usual 82-game odyssey, the Maple Leafs have two victories.
Wednesday night’s happened to be an especially impressive dubya that
handed a talent-loaded Pittsburgh squad its first loss of the campaign.
“We got a response from (van Riemsdyk) and (Grabovski),” Carlyle said
after it was over, taking something of a well-deserved victory lap as he
swilled a celebratory bottle of mineral water. “It’s not done specifically to
criticize a player — it’s to motivate the player and help him.”
For the visitors, it wasn’t all back-patting and glory around the post-game
pizza tray. The Maple Leafs took an important loss in the victory, as Joffrey
Lupul left the game during the second period and did not return. Carlyle
said Lupul had been diagnosed with a fractured forearm caused by a Dion
Phaneuf slapshot. He’ll presumably be out a while.
“I hit him right in a spot where he didn’t have any padding,” said Phaneuf.
Lupul’s absence won’t be easy to overcome.
“It’s a big hole to fill,” said Clarke MacArthur, whose first goal of the season
made it 1-1. “But we’ve got no choice.”
Another bad sign on Wednesday was Toronto’s power play, which was 0for-7 before Tyler Bozak banged in Toronto’s final marker with about a
minute left. The unit looked, in Carlyle’s assessment, “horrific.” The coach
compared Toronto’s work with the man advantage to “men’s league
hockey.”
The game’s early going saw Toronto’s Colton Orr and Pittsburgh’s Deryk
Engelland engaged in an exchange of punches that extended some 70
seconds. It was a cardio workout with possibly matching concussions, and it
elicited obligatory taps of appreciative sticks from the teammates.
Carlyle called the fight “big motivation for us.” So it was either the fight or
the headline-grabbing coachspeak. Or maybe it was the opponent —
matching up with the Penguins has been known to snap a team or two to
attention. Pittsburgh had begun the season with convincing back-to-back
wins over the Rangers and Flyers — no less than the teams most likely to
be their chief competition in the battle for the Eastern Conference
championship.
Carlyle had spoken about the need for the Leafs to create more offence
than the three total goals they’d managed in their opening two games.
In the morning skate, the coach put his forwards through their drills in newfangled line combinations, apparently toying with the idea of separating
Lupul and Phil Kessel before sticking with the status quo to begin the game.
Was the shakeup yet another psychological ploy by the man behind the
bench?
Carlyle didn’t say.
Certainly van Riemsdyk discounted the effect of his coach’s urgings.
“I don’t read into too much of that media stuff,” he said.
But on a night that also saw the long-awaited return to action of James
Reimer, the goaltender who played his first NHL game in precisely 10
months, and Jake Gardiner, the defenceman who made his season debut in
the wake of a concussion he’d suffered in an AHL game in early December,
there were those willing to give some credit to the coach while also
dispersing plenty to the men on the ice.
“Randy’s doing a good job educating us and teaching us,” said Reimer.
“And we’re a smart bunch of guys — we’ve really bought in.”
652688
Toronto Maple Leafs
Moulson now has nine goals in 13 career games versus the Leafs. Tavares,
meanwhile, has 13 points in 13 games against his hometown team.
Home, sweet home for local Islanders trio
You can bet those numbers were music to the ears of those people waiting
after the game in Section 117.
By Mike Zeisberger ,Toronto Sun
AUCOIN DIGGING CHANGE
You knew it was going to happen.
About 30 minutes after the final horn had sounded on a disastrous earlyseason collapse by the Maple Leafs, there was plenty of hooting and
hollering going on in Section 117 of the Air Canada Centre.
You just knew that Keith Aucoin, who notched 37 points in 34 games for the
Marlies this season, would have plenty of incentive facing the Leafs on
Thursday night.
Between the Boyes family from Mississauga, the Tavares clan out of
Oakville and the Moulson entourage from North York, reasons to celebrate
were everywhere you looked.
Placed on waivers by the Toronto organization after the lockout in order to
keep him on the farm, Aucoin, 34, was snapped up by the Islanders. And,
fittingly, he scored his first goal as an Islanders in their 7-4 victory over the
Leafs, a reminder of what might have been.
Section 117 is where friends and acquaintances of visiting players
congregate after games to wait for them to come out and engage in postgame greetings. And if ensuing chatter revolves around beating the home
town Maple Leafs, well, it sucks to be in blue and white on those particular
nights.
Like Thursday night.
Thanks largely in part to local boys Brad Boyes, John Tavares and Matt
Moulson.
Much to the glee of those in Section 117, the Islanders Terrific Toronto Trio
combined for three goals and seven points en route to a 7-4 victory over a
shocked Maple Leafs team that had held a 3-1 lead through 31 minutes of
play.
“You’ve got all those people in the stands cheering you on as an opposing
player, you don’t want to let them down,” Boyes said. “Hey, you’ve paid for
all those tickets and they want to see you win.”
Whether it was players from the GTA or those with former Leaf
connections, the present Toronto team was haunted by these guys.
Boyes, if you’ll recall, was a first-round pick of the Leafs back in 2000. Isles
coach Jack Capuano was also a Leaf draft pick, plucked 88th overall in the
1984 entry draft.
Then there’s the story of Keith Aucoin, who scored his first goal as an
Islander at 4:35 of the third period to put the Isles up 5-3.
Having scored 10 goals and added 27 assists in 34 games with the Marlies
this season, the Leafs organization had to put Aucoin on waivers once the
lockout ended in order to keep him on the farm. He immediately was
claimed by the Isles, who have looked to the 34-year-old vet for leadership.
Given all these Toronto ties in the Isles dressing room, you can understand
why this win carried a little more spice than usual for the victors.
“This is the capital of the hockey world,” Tavares said of Toronto. “This is
where a lot of us grew up cheering for the Leafs. When you step out onto
that ice, you just want to do well.”
Mission accomplished.
“You are playing against the Leafs, the team we watched for our entire lives
since we were kids,” Moulson said. “You grew up watching them at the
Gardens or the ACC hoping that one day you would be playing in these
venues as well.
“It’s like a dream come true to play here.”
If so, just imagine how thrilled Moulson, the kid from North York, actually felt
when he was announced as the game’s first star, allowing him to do the
honourary skate while acknowledging his friends and family with a wave of
his stick.
Ditto for Boyes, the Mississauga native who was selected the second star.
The third star? Michael Grabner. He’s from Villach. Sorry, that’s in Austria,
not Ontario.
The Isles were outshot, outskated and outclassed for the first half of the
game and found themselves trailing by two, But goals by Mark Streit and
Boyes within 86 seconds of each other knotted the game at 3-3 and set the
table for a third period in which the Isles outscored the Leafs 4-1.
“He’s been great for us,” Isles coach Jack Capuano said. “I can play him on
any line, I can have him kill penalties, he’s just so flexible in what we can do
with him.
“He’s been a great leader, too. We are happy to have him.”
Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.25.2013
652689
Toronto Maple Leafs
Lapse on key penalty kill dooms Leafs
By Dave Hilson
,Toronto Sun
Scrivens, who took over James Reimer’s spot as the No. 1 goalie out of
training camp, had been motoring along very nice until that Streit goal in the
second. Not that any of the first three could be blamed on Scrivens alone,
but the two that the Islanders opened the third period with? Well they had to
cause some handwringing among the Leafs higher-ups.
And the one that beat Reimer? What was he doing on his knees so quickly
on Matt Moulson’s wrister? It was a good hard shot, but still.
KEITH’S OKAY
TORONTO - It all started to fall apart for the Maple Leafs on Thursday night
at the Air Canada Centre, just when everything seemed to be going so well.
Toronto was up 3-1 against the New York Islanders and looked to be
pushing for more when a lapse on the penalty kill turned into an Islanders
goal and a huge shift in momentum.
There was a bad pass in the neutral zone, a 4-on-2 rush that resulted in a
goal, and then, boom, lights out, the Leafs folded like a cheap suit.
Was it youthful inexperience? No gas after having played for the second
night in a row? Hard to say, but Toronto’s collapse was palpable.
Mikhail Grabovski had been given a penalty at 10:30 of the second period
for covering the puck with his hand in the faceoff circle. The Leafs were
doing well on the penalty kill until Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov got caught
deep in the offensive zone going on the attack. The puck got turned over on
a bad pass and the Islanders took it into Toronto’s end with the ensuing
rush resulting in a goal by captain Mark Streit. A minute and a half later
Mississauga native Brad Boyes had tied the game.
The Leafs looked gassed, and three goals later it was all over but the
crying.
It didn’t help any that Ben Scrivens, who had been playing fairly well up to
that point, let in a couple of stoppable goals early in the third period to
completely take the wind out of Toronto’s sails.
KADRI A BRIGHT SPOT
There were a couple of positives to come out of the 7-4 loss, though.
The biggest of them was the continued development of Nazem Kadri.
It’s looking more and more like the 22-year-old from London, Ont., isn’t
going to get anywhere close to the Marlies this year. Kadri, the seventh
overall pick in the 2009 draft, picked up a goal and an assist in the loss and
was one of the few Leafs to consistently make things happen.
Kadri is looking more confident and creative with every shift and on the goal
he did a great job of banging a loose puck past Islanders goaltender Evgeni
Nabokov from about 15 feet out. It was his first even-strength goal of the
season, and he now leads the Leafs with three. He also picked up an assist
on Matt Frattin’s goal late in the game.
It looks like coach Randy Carlyle is gaining confidence in Kadri, too. He had
the young gun out on the Leafs’ first power play with Phil Kessel and Bozak
toward the end of the opening period and kept him out there when it turned
into a two-man advantage. Though Toronto failed to score, it was another
positive step in Kadri’s maturation.
The only knock against Kadri, who is now playing at his natural centre
position, so far has been his lack of success in the faceoff circle. He had
won only 37% of his draws coming into last night’s contest. But that’s
something he can work on to improve.
FRATTIN GOOD, TOO
Speaking of Frattin, not a bad start for the Marlies call-up. Along with his
late goal, Frattin also assisted on Kadri’s marker and on Grabovski’s
second of the season in the first period, and threw his body around a bit.
Frattin, who failed to make the Leafs opening-day roster, got word early
Thursday that he would be playing after Joffrey Lupul went down with a
fractured arm in the second period of Wednesday night’s win in Pittsburgh.
In the end Frattin, who lined up alongside fellow Marlies graduates Kadri
and Leo Komarov to start the game, logged 11:49 minutes of ice, picked up
three points and was a plus-2. That’s gotta make the Leafs smile.
HOLE IN THE NET
It didn’t take very long — just four games in — for that old worry of the
Leafs goaltending not being good enough to rear its ugly head.
You wouldn’t expect a guy who couldn’t make the Maple Leafs’ opening day
roster to have such an impact on the game but Keith Aucoin did. The former
Marlie, claimed off waivers by the Islanders, not only scored one, a wrist
shot from 38 feet out that beat Scrivens and chased him from the net, but
he also saved one late in the third period by clearing the puck off the
Islanders’ goal line with the Leafs pressing.
QUICK HITS
Grabovski showed what a potent wrist shot he has when he put the Leafs
up 3-1. He also showed he has pretty good wheels. He sped down the left
side and backed off the Islanders defenceman, then rung a shot off the far
goal post and in from the top of the left faceoff circle … Defenceman John
Michael-Liles made an excellent play to break up an Islanders 2-on-1 in the
first half of the second period … Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk saved
a goal early in the first when he pulled a puck out from behind Scrivens and
cleared it as it made its way toward the empty net … Good work by Bozak
causing traffic in front of Nabokov on Carl Gunnarsson’s first goal of the
season, at 2:12 of the opening frame.
652690
Toronto Maple Leafs
Roberto Luongo to Maple Leafs talk sure to heat up
By Steve Simmons
,Toronto Sun
TORONTO - The conversation begins again. It has to. It has to because
with any kind of goaltending the Maple Leafs don’t lose to the New York
Islanders Thursday night.
The conversation begins again, because there were boos instead of Lous at
the Air Canada Centre. And the more there are boos, ask Ron Wilson about
that, the more calls there will be calls for Roberto Luongo in the Maple
Leafs net, because over two nights, one a win, one a loss for Toronto, the
number of weak goals given up is five.
And the Leafs have only relinquished 11 goals against, not counting into an
empty net, in this condensed season. They have played reasonably sound
team defence over 12 periods, except for about 30 minutes of brainless,
listless play against the Islanders.
You can’t give up 40-foot wrist shots for goals the way the rookie Ben
Scrivens did. You can’t follow that up by allowing Keith Aucoin’s shot
between the legs. If Scrivens’ stick is on the ice, he stops it. Same with an
earlier goal. Those are basics.
When he was pulled — after giving up just three goals against in his first
two starts — Scrivens slammed his stick on the bench, then he slammed
his mask to the ground — he knew this way no way of turning victory and
his No. 1 standing in goal into questionable status again. That 1.50 goals
against average he entered the game with is now a thing of the past.
So it’s regroup time already — or at least re-think time four games into the
season. Scrivens had the better training camp and earned the opening start
and all that followed. Then James Reimer made his first start in Pittsburgh,
which hardly seemed fair but was the right call by Randy Carlyle. That he
allowed a pair of dubious goals and still wound up the winner was as much
about how well the Leafs played as it was about terrific goaltending.
Sooner or later, Vancouver has to move Luongo. They can’t wait forever
and the longer they go without making a move the more the drums will
bang. Eventually, Canucks GM Mike Gillis will have to compromise
somewhat. Eventually, the market will shrink and the price will drop on the
veteran goalie. The Leafs were not the team Gillis referenced the other day
when he said he thought he had an agreement in place for a deal, should
that team make another mystery move of some kind. But that doesn’t mean
the Leafs weren’t in touch — and they will have to get more in touch should
their goaltending not be of “NHL quality”.
You see, there is plenty of evidence this team is getting better, even if the
score Thursday night doesn’t give that kind of impression. Carlyle has
gotten a good deal out of this team in the early going. They are playing a
smarter, more responsible game than they ever did when Wilson was
coaching. Before the Islanders game they were among the best in the
league in goals against and in penalty killing, two of the areas that kept this
group near the bottom half of the standings the past four years.
There are reasons to like this team, believe in it even, when it plays the
game Carlyle is urging, when you see what Nazem Kadri has brought to
this offence, when you see how hard Phil Kessel is working, when you see
the little things Leo Komarov adds, when you see Dion Phaneuf taking
fewer gambles and thinking the game better.
And it’s hard not to like what Carlyle has done, with four different lineups in
four games to date, with his line combinations, and the coach with little
patience had to be steaming when the Leafs led 3-1 in the first period, Isles
goalie Evgeni Nabokov was having one of those nights and with that lead,
the Leafs had a 5-on-3 powerplay. If they score there, it’s probably night
over for the Islanders. But they didn’t, and now the Leafs are 0-and-2 on
home ice, and Carlyle was adamant before the season that for the Leafs to
have any chance at making the playoffs, they had to do better at home.
They even had a 6-on-4 late, trailing 6-4, with an off chance to come back,
and again, no goals.
It’s early, but this really was a must win, and an opportunity lost. This team
is too delicate, too much on the upswing, to be undermined by its
goaltending and by players running around. But the goaltending needs to
be better — and when in a position to win, so does this hockey team.
652691
Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs crumble against Isles
The Leafs have joined the NHL trend of doing well on the road (2-0) and
struggling at home (0-2).
“It could be that outlying teams are rearing up and that will eventually
regress,” Scrivens said. “But four games isn’t enough data to go on.”
Toronto’s next two are on the road, which might be a good thing.
By Lance Hornby
,Toronto Sun
TORONTO - Joffrey Lupul is out of the lineup six weeks, but that’s no
excuse for the whole team to be out of the loop.
Coach Randy Carlyle had a more harsh description of how the Maple Leafs
fared Thursday in their first test of playing back-to-back, without their top
forward. The Leafs turned a 3-1 lead into a 7-4 stinker against the visiting
New York Islanders, undoing many of the good deeds they’d worked on
during a week of camp and through three generally positive games.
“We were out of it, brain- dead,” Carlyle said after the Leafs upset
Pittsburgh the night before. “We accept responsibility for how we played
tonight and we’ll (ultimately) be judged on how we perform Saturday
(against the Rangers). But we just can’t wipe this off the slate.”
The Leafs seized the lead, but Carlyle and some vets could already sense
danger as play opened up against the well-rested, dynamic Isles. A wasted
5-on-3 late in the period proved costly and sluggish breakouts eventually
produced shots that a shaky Ben Scrivens kept flubbing.
“Ben didn’t have it,” said Carlyle, who turned to James Reimer after five
goals on 25 shots. “But I don’t think a lot of our players had it tonight.”
Scrivens and goalie coach Rick St. Croix were huddling when the dressing
room doors opened. Scrivens said Michael Grabner’s high go-ahead goal
was “a knuckleball” that seemed to make a six-inch arc as it sailed towards
him. Ex-Marlies teammate Keith Aucoin rattled one through his pads a
minute later. In both instances, and a couple of others, the Leafs gave up
the puck too easily. The 19,125 at the Air Canada Centre gave it to the
home team loud and clear, complete with a Blue Jays chant to rub it in.
“The lesson is to simplify,” defenceman John-Michael Liles said. “We got
away with stuff in the first period (resulting in goals by Carl Gunnarsson,
Nazem Kadri and Mikhail Grabovski) that we shouldn’t have. We have to
stick to our identity, move the puck quickly.”
With Lupul gone with a broken forearm, Clarke MacArthur was given first
chance on the top line with Tyler Bozak and the still goalless Phil Kessel.
“You won’t replace a 6-foot-3 power forward with really good hands,” Liles
said. “But you make up for that with energy and with those who are given
an opportunity.”
That was Matt Frattin, called up from the Marlies and collecting three points
on a line with Kadri, who has points in all of his starts. James van
Riemsdyk, with two goals the night before, stays in MacArthur’s old spot
with Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin, another top six forward yet to score.
“You can’t dramatically re-vamp what we had as line combinations,” Carlyle
said of what experiments might be ahead to plug the huge hole Lupul
leaves.
Though the Leafs had the adrenalin to get past Sidney Crosby and the
Pens, Thursday’s 0-for-5 power play was crying out for some Lupul-like
finish.
“You don’t score on a 5-on-3, and usually the momentum will turn,” Carlyle
said. “They get life. Your group gets life sucked out.”
From now until the end of February, the Leafs have just three more back-tobacks. Last year’s record was 2-8-1 in consecutive nights when the foe had
not played the night before.
“You have to be realistic about (fatigue) in the second part of a back-toback,” Carlyle said. “But we have nine back-to-backs and seven are (like)
tonight, with the opposition waiting while we’re playing on the road. You
don’t make an excuse, but when you do get a lead, you stick to the game
plan and make the simple play, not play the exchange-chances game.”
Grabner and Matt Moulson had two-goal games for the Isles, while
Grabovski’s was his 84th as a Leaf to break a tie with Tomas Kaberle,
Bryan McCabe, Gary Roberts, Terry Martin and Howie Meeker in the Leafs
record book. He is now tied for 60th place with Tie Domi and Mike Walton.
652692
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joffrey Lupul's layoff at least six weeks
By Dave Hilson
,Toronto Sun
TORONTO - It looks like the Maple Leafs won’t be getting first-line winger
Joffrey Lupul back any time soon.
Coach Randy Carlyle said after an optional team skate on Thursday
morning that he expects Lupul to be out for six weeks because of a
fractured right forearm.
“Usually in these situations, the assessment has to be whether it’s a
displaced fracture or a non-displaced fracture. I think you’re looking at I’d
say six weeks,” Carlyle said.
The Leafs went a step further in a press release later in the day, stating that
the Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., native will miss a minimum of six weeks.
Lupul was supposed to be a key cog in the lineup, instead he was forced to
watch last night’s home game against the New York Islanders from the
wings as forward Matt Frattin was inserted into the lineup.
Frattin was called up from the Marlies early Thursday after Lupul went down
in the Leafs’ 5-2 victory over the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Wednesday
night.
Lupul’s right forearm was fractured after being hit by a Dion Phaneuf shot
from the point, just four days after Lupul signed a five-year, $26.5 million
contract extension.
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Tough guy Colton Orr is certainly earning his keep after being given a
second lease on life by the Maple Leafs. Orr, who played in only five games
for Toronto last season before being sent down to the Marlies in January,
has been in two spirited bust-ups in the first three games and is averaging
just under five minutes of ice time per game.
“It felt good (getting those fights under his belt) but I think the best feeling is
just being up here. Being back with the Leafs has been amazing,” Orr said.
Orr took on Buffalo Sabres tough guy John Scott at the Air Canada Centre
on Monday night, dropping the 6-foot-8, 270-pound giant with a solid right,
and then earned a draw in a protracted battle with Deryk Engelland at the
Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.
“It was a long off-season, so it was good to get back into it and just be back
out there,” Orr said of his first fight.
GLAD FOR AUCOIN
Keith Aucoin, who was picked up off waivers by the Islanders after failing to
make the Leafs’ opening-day roster, got a glowing review from his former
Marlies teammate Ben Scrivens.
“Toronto only brings quality people into this organization, at any level,”
Scrivens said. “Having him come in and help a young team like the Marlies
so much, be a veteran leader. The guy is 34 years old and he’s working out
in the gym harder than a lot of us other guys. That’s the stuff you look up to
… I was extremely happy for him when he was picked up off waivers by the
Islanders because if anybody deserves a chance it’s him.”
Aucoin, who has bounced around between various NHL and AHL teams for
close to a decade now, led the Marlies with 10 goals and 37 points in 34
games before being placed on waivers.
LOOSE LEAFS
Frattin said he learned of Lupul’s injury via Twitter. “You can find everything
on there now,” he said. The Edmonton native was in Cleveland on
Wednesday night preparing for a Marlies-Lake Erie Monsters game and did
not see the Leafs-Penguins game on TV … With the win in Pittsburgh, the
Leafs ran their streak of not giving up more than two goals in a contest to
three games, something they did not accomplish all last season … Last
night’s game was the first of three meetings between the Leafs and the
Islanders this year … Both Cody Franson and James van Riemsdyk played
in their 200th career NHL game last night … Nikolai Kulemin’s three-assist
night against the Penguins was a career high.
652693
Toronto Maple Leafs
Frattin, who was recalled from the Toronto Marlies because Joffrey Lupul is
out with a fractured forearm suffered against Pittsburgh, scored a goal and
added two assists in his season debut with the Leafs.
Ben Scrivens, Maple Leafs have no answers for Islanders after building
early lead
Kadri, who has recorded a point in all four games this season, scored his
team-leading third goal and added an assist. He is tied for fifth in league
scoring with five points.
Michael Traikos | Jan 24, 2013 9:59 PM ET | Last Updated: Jan 25, 2013
5:21 AM ET
“On any team, you kind of want the third and fourth lines as the difference
makers,” said Frattin, who played alongside ex-Marlies Kadri and Leo
Komarov. “If you look at playoff teams, the third line is always scoring.”
TORONTO — There was a mix of cheers and boos as James Reimer
donned his mask and headed onto the ice with three-quarters remaining in
the third period on Thursday.
The cheers were because the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender was finally
getting in the game. The boos were because of why.
Moments earlier, Ben Scrivens had allowed his fifth goal — and second in a
span of 72 seconds — as the Leafs blew a two-goal lead in a 7-4 loss to the
New York Islanders. And so, after four games of relatively incident-free
goaltending, Toronto finally had its first meltdown.
“Ben didn’t have it,” said head coach Randy Carlyle, who pulled the goalie
after allowing five goals on 25 shots. “But I don’t think a lot of the players
had it.”
For the first 20 minutes, the opposite had been true. Having defeated the
Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on the road on Wednesday, the Leafs returned
home and carried the previous night’s momentum to a 3-1 lead against the
Islanders. Even then, the cracks had already started to show. Scrivens
treated a bouncing puck like a hot potato and gift-wrapped a goal to Matt
Moulson in the first. And at the end of the period, Toronto managed nothing
on a 5-on-3 power play.
It’s always the goalie who gets the hook. It was kind of a mercy pull from
the standpoint of … the five-hole goals were deflating for the individual
From there, the Leafs continued to slide off the rails, giving up five
unanswered goals in what Carlyle described as “obviously the worst game
we played” so far this season.
“I think the thing is we saw one team last night and a totally different team
tonight,” he said. “We were out of it, out of sync, brain dead, whatever word
you want to describe. It was like after a certain period in the game, we
stopped.”
Part of the reason they stopped playing was likely due to fatigue from
playing the night before. The other part might have been due to Scrivens.
That is not to place all the blame on the goalie, but the goals he allowed in
the third period should have been routine stops.
Instead, they seemed to suck the energy out of the Leafs.
With the score tied early in the third period, Michael Grabner scored on a
long-range wrist shot to which Scrivens was slow to react. Fewer than two
minutes later, Keith Aucoin, a player the Leafs placed on waivers at the
start of the season, beat Scrivens through the legs on a one-timer.
“They were finding ways to score goals on different looks,” said Scrivens.
Reimer came in and allowed a goal on eight shots — Aucoin added another
with Toronto’s net empty — but the game was already over by then.
“It’s always the goalie who gets the hook,” said Carlyle. “It was kind of a
mercy pull from the standpoint of … the five-hole goals were deflating for
the individual and you want to spare him as you would any other goalie
because they don’t deserve that.”
When asked whether this changes how he thinks about Scrivens, who
started three of the first four games but will likely be on the bench against
the New York Rangers on Saturday, Carlyle refused to single out one
player for the loss.
“The goaltending wasn’t any different than any other part of our team,” said
Carlyle. “They just were on the line with the way we played.”
The loss took away from what had been a big offensive game from Matt
Frattin and Nazem Kadri, who combined for two goals and five points.
“It doesn’t matter how many lines are scoring goals,” said Kadri. “If you’re
giving up seven, then your chances at winning aren’t good.”
652694
Toronto Maple Leafs
Matt Frattin gets another chance with Leafs after Joffrey Lupul injury
Sean Fitz-Gerald | Jan 24, 2013 1:48 PM ET | Last Updated: Jan 24, 2013
9:30 PM ET
TORONTO — They could not find the game on television in Cleveland, so
Matt Frattin found out online: “Twitter — you can find everything on there
now.”
That was where he learned that, midway through the second period of
Wednesday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple
Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul was hit by a shot. Lupul left the ice, which meant
Frattin was leaving Cleveland for a second shot at the National Hockey
League this season.
“Obviously, you don’t want to see any guys getting injured, but it’s a part of
the game,” Frattin said. “He might be out for a little while, and it kind of
gives me an opportunity.”
Obviously, you don’t want to see any guys getting injured, but it’s a part of
the game
The 25-year-old winger was one of the last players the Leafs released from
their lockout-shortened training camp earlier this month. General manager
Dave Nonis offered a blunt assessment of Frattin’s performance after
sending him down, saying he had just not been as good on the ice as they
wanted.
“We’re still very, very high on Matt Frattin,” Nonis said, the day of the
demotion. “He’s going to be a good player in this league.”
Frattin flew to Toronto from Cleveland early Thursday morning, touching
down around 8 a.m. He was on the ice with a handful of teammates for an
optional on-ice workout hours before the Leafs hosted the New York
Islanders at Air Canada Centre.
He drew an assist in his first game back in the AHL, scoring the winning
goal in a shootout against the Hamilton Bulldogs. He is averaging 0.81
points a game with the Marlies, with 17 points in 21 games.
It was not immediately clear where Leafs coach Randy Carlyle planned to
place Frattin in the lineup. It does seem clearer that, with Lupul expected to
miss up to six weeks with a broken forearm, he will get his chance to prove
himself in the NHL.
Frattin scored eight goals in 56 games with the Leafs last season, his first
full season as a professional. He finished with 15 points. His shooting
percentage (8.7%) was among the lowest of any Toronto forward who
scored a goal.
“Matt is an offensive player,” Carlyle said. “We talked about him about a
week ago, that he hadn’t performed to the level that we thought he was
capable of. And now he’s getting another opportunity.”
Frattin, who was invited to the Western Conference AHL All-Star Classic
hours before his promotion on Wednesday, spent the off-season recovering
from a torn knee ligament suffered during during the AHL playoffs last
spring. He said the knee has not been an issue in the AHL, adding: “In the
first game I was with the Marlies, I knew I was 100%.”
We talked about him about a week ago, that he hadn’t performed to the
level that we thought he was capable of. And now he’s getting another
opportunity
The adjustment should be minimized by the fact the Marlies have adopted
many of the same systems the Leafs now employ. It was by design. Carlyle
said special teams play and breakout schemes vary between the two
teams, but the core defensive systems are essentially the same.
And, according to Frattin, so is the mentality among those along the fringes
of the roster.
“Even down there, have guys fighting for jobs,” he said. “We pulled a couple
guys up from the [ECHL] who should have been playing [in the AHL] the
whole time, but just with the lockout, there was a domino effect that just
pushed people back. But they’ve got fights down there for jobs, and we’ve
got fights up here for jobs.”
652695
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joffrey Lupul expected to miss up to six weeks with broken forearm
More from Sean Fitz-Gerald | @SeanFitz_Gerald
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul is expected to miss up to six
weeks with a broken forearm, coach Randy Carlyle said on Thursday, as
the team recalled forward Matt Frattin from its American Hockey League
affiliate.
Lupul suffered a broken forearm when a Dion Phaneuf shot hit him in the
second period of a 5-2 win in Pittsburgh on Wednesday
“Matt is an offensive player,” Carlyle said. “We talked about him about a
week ago, that he hadn’t performed to the level that we thought he was
capable of. And now he’s getting another opportunity.”
Carlyle did not tip his hand about how he might tweak his lineup in Lupul’s
absence. The Leafs host the New York Islanders on Thursday night.
“That was one of the things that we explained to our players — with the
shortened season and the condensed schedule, we’re going to have to
utilize everybody,” Carlyle said. “It’s important that they remain focused and
committed to that type of situation.”
Toronto held an optional morning skate on Thursday. Lupul was not
available for comment.
“He’s a guy who obviously goes to those hard areas on the ice,” Leafs
forward James van Riemsdyk said. “When you go there, sometimes things
like that happen. It’s unfortunate, but he was doing the right thing in the
right place. Just kind of a freak accident.”
652696
Toronto Maple Leafs
“Ever again?” Kreskin said, repeating the question. “Oh, of course they will.”
Will it happen this year?
The Amazing Kreskin willing to lend Leafs his powers
Sean Fitz-Gerald | Jan 24, 2013 9:00 AM ET | Last Updated: Jan 24, 2013
9:55 AM ET
TORONTO — Two games into the season and Toronto Maple Leafs head
coach Randy Carlyle is compiling quite the list of things he wants to see out
of the .500 hockey team.
Where to begin? Well, he wants the forwards to start crashing the net,
taking up permanent residence in the opposition’s crease. He wants offseason addition James van Riemsdyk to come out of his shell and start
using his size. He wants the so-called offensive studs to make the most of
their ice time and opportunities.
Mostly, though, Carlyle wants to see Jake Gardiner in the lineup.
That is not to put pressure on the young defenceman, who is almost fully
recovered from a concussion he suffered while playing for the Toronto
Marlies during the lockout. Rather, it might speak to the Leafs’ trouble
generating any offence off the rush in even-strength situations.
Read more …
Kreskin, 78, is familiar with our hockey passion, having spent 10 weeks a
year in Canada filming his self-titled television show, The Amazing World of
Kreskin, during its heyday in the 1970s. He is aware the Leafs have been
struggling, and has offered his services.
“I’m very serious,” Kreskin said Wednesday. “I’m not joking in my offer.
They would have to pay me, just as they’d pay all their trainers. I wouldn’t
be coming in there to do a performance. I would be coming in there to work
with them and condition them mentally.”
He said he would need two sessions, with a two- or three-day buffer in
between. Kreskin said his would focus on the “unconscious mind,”
suggesting it can be trained and conditioned. That training, he said, would
help a player improve their reflexes on the ice.
The Leafs have not won the Stanley Cup since 1967. The Leafs have not
qualified for the playoffs since 2004, the longest active drought in the NHL.
“Much of the success of sport is not just in the physical acumen, but in the
mental as well,” he said. “And this is a negative impact — day after day,
coming in and being reminded of this, not only by management … this is an
oncoming negative thing.”
A spokesperson with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment politely declined
comment on the offer.
Kreskin said he made a similar offer before the NHL lockout began last fall.
“With all the negative failures they’ve had — and I’m not joking — I really
feel that if I met with the team, not gesturing hypnotically, but spent an hour
with them on two different occasions, with no trainers, no management in
the room … I would like to try to condition their minds to do a turnaround in
their thinking,” Kreskin said. “And maybe this could be helpful to them.”
Kreskin has maintained a busy schedule, claiming to have logged more
than three million miles in air travel over the course of his career. He was a
frequent guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and has also
been on the Late Show with David Letterman, as well as Late Night with
Jimmy Fallon. He recently published a book, Conversations with Kreskin.
I would like to try to condition their minds to do a turnaround in their
thinking. And maybe this could be helpful to them
The Leafs opened their lockout-condensed schedule with a win against the
rival Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, but followed it with a loss at home to
the Buffalo Sabres Monday night. On Wednesday, they were in Pittsburgh
to face the high-flying Penguins.
Toronto has questions in goal, where the team is rolling the dice on two
goaltenders with limited starting experience. There are also questions about
depth along the blue line, and the long-standing need for an established
first-line centre.
Will the Leafs ever make the playoffs again?
“It depends,” he said with a laugh. “I haven’t been called in yet to work with
them.”
652697
Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs’ James van Riemsdyk starting to prove Brian Burke’s last move was a
good one
Michael Traikos | Jan 23, 2013 10:54 PM ET | Last Updated: Jan 24, 2013
8:11 AM ET
That might be the question we are asking this year — and for the next five
years — in regards to James van Riemsdyk, who the Leafs acquired from
the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenceman Luke Schenn last
summer.
Three games into the season, the jury is obviously still out. But Thursday
night’s 5-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins provided some optimism for
the future. And it is a long future, considering the 23-year-old forward is
signed until 2018.
Van Riemsdyk, who was invisible in his first two games with the Leafs,
came out of his shell and scored twice in the second period. The first goal
showcased his size, the second his skill. It was the type of all-around
offensive performance that explained why the 23-year-old winger was a No.
2 draft pick six years ago. And with top-line winger Joffrey Lupul now
sidelined after fracturing his forearm on Wednesday night, it was the type of
performance the Leafs are going to need more of.
Now, if he can find some sort of consistency and Schenn continues to look
average on Philadelphia’s blue line (he has no points and is a plus-1),
Burke might actually have some bragging rights.
Either way, van Riemsdyk has provided his new team with a window into
his potential. It is up to head coach Randy Carlyle to continue to coax that
out of him.
It is no secret that the Leafs want to develop van Riemsdyk into a
prototypical power forward. It is the same desire that Philadelphia once had.
But after years of prodding and pleading him to play more physical, the
Flyers ultimately realized that van Riemsdyk was essentially a 6-foot-3 and
200-pound teddy bear who was never going to be Milan Lucic.
The Leafs also seem realize this — “He’s not a big banger,” Burke said last
summer. “He’s not the kind of player who’s going to put guys through the
glass.” — but they also believe that van Riemsdyk, who scored 21 goals
two years ago, can develop into something along the lines of Corey Perry.
After Tuesday’s practice, Carlyle had said that he had spoken to van
Riemsdyk about going into the so-called “dirty areas.” He wanted him to
drive the net, to crowd the crease and make life very uncomfortable for
Marc-Andre Fleury. “Take away his eyes,” said Carlyle. It was the same
message he delivered to the entire team.
It’s always nice when you have a conversation with a player and he comes
out and scores two goals
A day later, van Riemsdyk and the Leafs did just that.
“It’s always nice when you have a conversation with a player and he comes
out and scores two goals,” Carlyle told reporters after the game.
Bumped up to the second line alongside Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai
Kulemin, van Riemsdyk plowed his way to the front of the net just as Carlyle
had instructed and one-timed a pass from Kulemin that gave Toronto a 2-1
lead.
Pittsburgh answered back less than a minute later on a breakaway goal
from Sidney Crosby. But with the game tied, van Riemsdyk scored again.
This time, he intercepted a pass from Evgeni Malkin and in one continuous
motion snapped a shot from the top of the faceoff circle that burned a hole
through Fleury’s glove.
It was the game-winner. Now, if he can keep it up, van Riemsdyk might just
provide his former boss with one last win as well.
652698
Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs’ Joffrey Lupul out indefinitely after fracturing forearm in win over
Penguins
Associated Press | Jan 23, 2013 10:29 PM ET | Last Updated: Jan 24, 2013
12:15 AM ET
PITTSBURGH — James van Riemsdyk could feel the pressure increasing
when the Toronto Maple Leafs forward went scoreless his first two games
with his new club.
The Pittsburgh Penguins did their best to ease van Riemsdyk’s load. The
speedy forward scored twice and added an assist in Toronto’s surprisingly
easy 5-2 win over the Penguins on Wednesday.
“Both those goals, I really didn’t have to do too much,” van Riemsdyk said.
Not the way the sloppy Penguins were handling the puck.
Van Riemsdyk gave Toronto the lead for good late in the second period
when a weak clearing pass by Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin ended up right on
van Riemsdyk’s stick at the top of the left circle. The quick shot that
followed whizzed over Marc-Andre Fleury’s glove and highlighted a night
that sent the Penguins crashing back to earth after rousing opening
weekend road wins in Philadelphia and New York.
Clarke MacArthur, Mikhail Grabovski and Tyler Bozak also scored for the
Maple Leafs. Nikolai Kulemin added three assists and James Reimer
stopped 28 shots in his first start of the season.
“I think we’ve showed we can play the rugged defensive game and tonight
we have the ability to score as well,” MacArthur said. “If we can find a way
to use both things every night, you’ve got a good team and a good chance
every night.”
The victory took some of the sting out of losing forward Joffrey Lupul to a
fractured forearm in the second period.
The 29-year-old Lupul was in front of the net during a power play midway
through the second period when a slapshot from teammate Dion Phaneuf
smashed into his arm. Lupul left the game immediately and did not return.
Coach Randy Carlyle said Lupul will be re-evaluated on Thursday before
Toronto returns home to face the New York Islanders.
Lupul signed a five-year contract extension with the Maple Leafs on
Sunday. He led Toronto with 25 goals and 42 assists last season and made
his first All-Star team. Lupul had yet to score for the Maple Leafs this
season at the time of the injury.
“It’s tough but what can you do, you’ve got to move on,” MacArthur said.
Something the Penguins are only too happy to do when hockey’s festive
return following a nine-month absence quickly turned sour.
Sidney Crosby and Malkin — the league’s reigning MVP — scored their first
goals of the season for Pittsburgh, but the Penguins struggled with
Toronto’s quickness and failed to play with the kind of discipline. The two
superstars picked up misconduct penalties in the final minutes with things
out of hand.
Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 19 shots for the Penguins but Pittsburgh
couldn’t get off to its first 3-0 start in 18 years.
“There just wasn’t enough execution with the puck and management of the
puck to play where we needed to play,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said.
The Penguins rolled through the first weekend of the truncated 48-game
season, drilling the Flyers and Rangers and doing little to dampen
expectations about Pittsburgh being an early Stanley Cup favourite.
And that was without Crosby or Malkin finding the back of the net.
Malkin ended his drought — such as it is for a player who scored 23 goals
while playing in Russia as the lockout dragged on — late in the first period
when he stuffed a pass from Crosby in between Reimer’s legs to give
Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead.
For the first time this season, it didn’t hold up.
Bylsma spoke openly about the problems Toronto’s quickness provides,
saying his team gave the Maple Leafs a little too much room to operate last
season.
Any attempts by the Penguins to tighten up, however, came up woefully
short. Even with Bylsma experimenting with his lines — on a couple of
occasions he paired Crosby and Malkin in even-strength situations —
Pittsburgh looked a step behind.
“We didn’t get to our game consistently enough, that’s for sure,” Crosby
said. “We didn’t have enough shifts in their end, we didn’t execute and
make passes thru the neutral zone as good as we could have. Definitely not
our best game, that’s for sure.”
Toronto scored twice early in the second period to jump in front, including
van Riemsdyk’s first goal for Toronto after being acquired in an off-season
trade with the Flyers. Crosby needed just 25 seconds to tie it, beating
Reimer between the legs on a breakaway for his first goal in 280 days.
The speedy Maple Leafs just kept coming, with van Riemsdyk collecting his
second goal of the night — and his 101st career point — happily accepting
Malkin’s miscue and beating Fleury with ease.
The Maple Leafs weren’t done. Another breakdown deep in Pittsburgh’s
end led to Grabovski standing all alone on the doorstep. He slipped the
puck past Fleury to give Toronto a 4-2 lead and send the largest crowd in
the brief history of Consol Energy Center heading for the exits a little early.
“They have our number for some reason,” Pittsburgh forward Chris Kunitz
said.
NOTES: The Maple Leafs scratched defencemen Cody Franson and Mark
Fraser and centre David Steckel. Defencemen Ben Lovejoy, Robert
Bortuzzo and centre Dustin Jeffrey were scratched by Pittsburgh … Toronto
hosts the New York Islanders on Thursday night. The Penguins travel to
Winnipeg on Friday … Pittsburgh offered free food and half off merchandise
to all fans as an apology following the 119-day lockout.
652699
Toronto Maple Leafs
Mix of grit and skill on Leafs’ wish list
Michael Traikos | Jan 23, 2013 12:58 PM ET
TORONTO — When the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired James van
Riemsdyk from the Philadelphia Flyers in the summer, they knew what they
were getting.
Leafs long for Jake Gardiner in lineup
Two games into the season and Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Randy
Carlyle is compiling quite the list of things he wants to see out of the .500
hockey team.
Where to begin? Well, he wants the forwards to start crashing the net,
taking up permanent residence in the opposition’s crease. He wants offseason addition James van Riemsdyk to come out of his shell and start
using his size. He wants the so-called offensive studs to make the most of
their ice time and opportunities.
“He’s not a big banger,” former general manager Brian Burke said at the
time of the trade. “He’s not the kind of player who’s going to put guys
through the glass. He’s not a plow horse. This is a thoroughbred.”
It was a nice way of saying that the 6-foot-3 and 200-pound winger played
smaller than his big frame would suggest.
Randy Carlyle plans to change that.
“We have a plan for van Riemsdyk,” said the Leafs head coach, who moved
the 23-year-old to a line with Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin in
Tuesday’s practice.
“There are some things that we’d like him to change, and we’re going to
make sure he’s well aware of those things. He’s got to go into the dirty
areas … and that’s one of the things that we’re going to ask him. He’s a big
man that can go to the front of the net. He’s got soft hands around the net.
“We want to see him drive that puck to that area, push people off the puck. I
wouldn’t say he’s an overly aggressive player from a body standpoint, but
he’s got a big body and skill and he can score goals.”
Using his size to his advantage has long been a criticism of van Riemsdyk
and might have been a reason — along with his inconsistency and injury
problems — why the Flyers finally traded him, the No. 2 overall pick in the
2007 draft, to the Leafs for defenceman Luke Schenn (himself the No. 5
overall pick in 2008).
Being in front of the net is one of them. I know I’ve been around the net a lot
in the last couple of games. I don’t necessarily think bounces have been
there for me
The New Jersey native is aware of this. And with no points and three shots
in two games, he said he has no problems with Carlyle’s directions.
“I think I can score in a lot of different ways,” said van Riemsdyk, who
scored 21 goals two years ago. “Being in front of the net is one of them. I
know I’ve been around the net a lot in the last couple of games. I don’t
necessarily think bounces have been there for me, where a puck sits there
for you and you get a stick on it. But I’ve been there in that area because
that’s where you’re going to score all your goals.”
It is not just van Riemsdyk that Carlyle wants to see planted at the edge of
the crease. After managing just one goal on 35 shots in a 2-1 loss to the
Buffalo Sabres on Monday — in which the Leafs were 1 for 7 on the power
play — Carlyle said every forward has to be willing to do whatever is
necessary to make life difficult for the opposing goalie.
“It can be a war zone at some times,” he said. “This group, we’ve asked
them to go there more often, we stressed that from day one. And we went
there last night, but I don’t think we stayed there often enough or arrived at
the right time.”
652700
Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs long for Jake Gardiner in lineup
Michael Traikos | Jan 23, 2013 9:49 AM ET | Last Updated: Jan 23, 2013
12:36 PM ET
MONTREAL — What was that about needing to trade for a goaltender?
The first game of the year can be a misleading window to look through —
even in a 48-game shortened season — but there was a lot the Toronto
Maple Leafs could take away from Saturday night’s 2-1 win against the
Montreal Canadiens.
For one, their young — and not-so-young — prospects might finally be
ready to contribute at the NHL level. Secondly, the players might have
bought into head coach Randy Carlyle’s defensive system.
And finally, the goaltending might not be the bottomless black hole that
others have made it out to be.
That last point certainly stood out on a night where Toronto’s Ben Scrivens
stopped 21 of 22 shots for his fifth career win, while in Vancouver Cory
Schneider was being yanked after giving up five goals on 14 shots in a 7-3
loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Read more …
Mostly, though, Carlyle wants to see Jake Gardiner in the lineup.
That is not to put pressure on the young defenceman, who is almost fully
recovered from a concussion he suffered while playing for the Toronto
Marlies during the lockout. Rather, it might speak to the Leafs’ trouble
generating any offence off the rush in even-strength situations.
“We could use his offensive and puck-carrying ability,” Carlyle said. “He’s a
special player. When he tells us he’s ready, I would say we’re probably
going to find a spot for him in the lineup.”
Gardiner, who had been skating for the past week, took part in his first fullcontact practice on Tuesday. He said he felt fine afterwards, but was to
meet with a team doctor for an evaluation; the doctor would then decide
whether Gardiner is fit to play against the Penguins on Wednesday.
“It’s just a matter of time,” Gardiner said.
“We know he’s feeling better,” Carlyle said. “We want to make sure we’re
not putting him in any situation that he can’t have success in. That’s always
the mandate with players coming off injuries. Again, when you’re dealing
with concussions and those types of head injuries, you want to make sure
you’re extra careful.”
Extra careful also seems to be the message that Carlyle is preaching to all
the players. So far, this has been a very defensive-minded team. The Leafs
allowed only 22 shots in a 2-1 win in Montreal on Saturday and another 20
in a 2-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
If Carlyle has a criticism — and he has plenty — it is that the attention to
defence has come at a cost to the offence.
In two games, Toronto has scored three goals. All have come on the power
play.
While it can be difficult to read much into the small sample, the ability to
transition from defence to offence is something that the Leafs appear to
lack. Toronto’s defenders had no difficulty stripping Buffalo’s forwards of the
puck on Monday. But rather than make a quick outlet pass and start an
odd-man rush the other way, too many times the defence would simply
“slap the puck away,” Carlyle said after Monday’s game.
We could use his offensive and puck-carrying ability
That is where Gardiner comes in. He is described as a puck-moving
defenceman, but unlike John-Michael Liles or Mike Kostka, it might be more
accurate to call the 22-year-old a puck-skating defenceman. Often, his legs
do most of the work.
Gardiner can hang onto the puck and wait for forwards to become open. He
can shake off a body check and rush up the ice by himself. He can do what
no one else on the team can do: slow the game down.
“You always have to go back to his skating,” Liles said. “It’s something
that’s going to make him a regular in this league for a long time. It gets him
out of trouble. I think it’s a very strong point in his game.”
In his first pro season, Gardiner scored seven goals and 30 points in 75
games and was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team. He followed it up by
joining the Marlies for their run to the Calder Cup final (scoring 11 points in
17 games) and had 17 points in 22 games this season before a blindside hit
took him out on Dec. 8.
The Leafs hope Gardiner can get healthy and build on those numbers. If he
does, those other things Carlyle had grumbled about — the lack of net
presence, the untapped potential of van Riemsdyk, the missed chances
from his top scorers — might have a way of taking care of themselves.
652701
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks take to the air with Flair
By Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun January 24, 2013
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks have cut ties with Air Canada and
signed on with a new airline for their charter travel.
When the Canucks departed the South Terminal at Vancouver International
Airport on Thursday afternoon, it was on a plane operated by Kelownabased Flair Air.
The Canucks made the change after only recently learning that Air Canada
had reconfigured most of its Jetz charter fleet during the lockout and only
one of the planes would have first-class seating throughout the cabin.
Flair Air operates three Boeing 737-400 aircraft. The aircraft that took the
Canucks to Los Angeles on Thursday has a 76-seat VIP (business class)
configuration.
Earlier this week, Canuck assistant general manager Laurence Gilman
indicated the team was exploring its options with regards to its contract with
Air Canada.
"It is a private agreement that our company has executed with Air Canada,"
Gilman said. "We are in discussion with them about how they will fulfill their
obligations to us. At the same time we are exploring our options. That's
really all I want to say about it."
Air Canada has refused to comment on the matter. It had charter contracts
with all seven Canadian NHL teams, as well a few U.S.-based NHL teams
and the NBA's Toronto Raptors.
Air Canada does remain a corporate partner of the Canucks.
MAX MISSING: Centre Maxim Lapierre missed Thursday's practice with
what coach Alain Vigneault said was a minor groin issue.
"He tweaked his groin a little bit during the game," Vigneault said Thursday
"He'll skate tomorrow morning and they think he'll be fine for tomorrow
night."
The Canucks begin a three-game California road trip Friday night in
Anaheim in what will be the home-opener for the Ducks.
Vigneault said Cory Schneider will start in Anaheim. With back-to-back
games Sunday night in San Jose and Monday in Los Angeles, it is likely
that Roberto Luongo will start one of those final two games.
SO LONG SIMON: Alex Burrows is a huge CFL fan and knows how many
B.C. Lions fans are feeling about the trade that sent wide receiver Geroy
Simon to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
"I feel bad for the B.C. Lions fans, that's for sure," Burrows said. "I still
remember when (former Montreal Alouette) Ben Cahoun left and he only
retired. So now that he is going to Saskatchewan it is a big loss. It's tough
because he has been so good for many years."
Burrows, meanwhile, seems to be settling into his new role of second-line
centre. After losing his first two faceoffs in Wednesday night's 3-2 shootout
win over Calgary. Burrows won his final five draws.
"Well, I got some help from my wingers," Burrows said. "I think Jannik
(Hansen) won one for me when it was 50-50. It's just about timing and
making sure I get in there and battle and be strong. As long as I keep
working on it I think I will be all right."
DUCK CALL: The Ducks head into Friday night's game with a 2-0 record.
After beating the Canucks 7-3 in Saturday night's opener for both teams,
Anaheim went into Calgary and beat the Flames 5-4.
"I saw a team that jumped on the other team's mistake and made them
pay," Vigneault said of the Ducks. "Obviously, we need to do a good job
against their skill players. Their skill players can find the back of the net, we
need to be on top of that and we'll be ready for tomorrow night. "
[email protected]; twitter.com/bradziemer
Winnipeg Sun LOADED: 01.25.2013
652702
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks hit road hoping to get - and hold - leads
By Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun January 24, 2013
VANCOUVER - Bleacher seating for next weekend's Davis Cup tie between
Canada and Spain was being installed as the Vancouver Canucks practised
Thursday at UBC's Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
That tennis backdrop seemed apropos because the Canucks have had
more than a little trouble holding serve so far this season.
As good as Wednesday night's 3-2 shootout victory over the Calgary
Flames felt for a team that was growing desperate for its first win, it was
more difficult than it needed to be.
For the second straight game, the Canucks built a 2-0 lead and couldn't
hang on. It was a near carbon copy of Sunday night, when they also
coughed up a 2-0 lead to the Edmonton Oilers and ended up losing 3-2 in a
shootout.
The Canucks have clearly not found that killer instinct in the early going of
this short NHL season. They need someone to make like Novak Djokovic
and deliver a clutch ace or two at crucial times. Too often in the early going,
the Canucks have served up double-faults when leading.
"We have been good in the past at doing that, being able to close out teams
and not give them a sniff if we are up by a couple of goals," forward Alex
Burrows said Thursday before the Canucks headed south for a three-game
California road trip that starts Friday night in Anaheim.
"We are usually a good team, when we get the lead we're tough to play
against," added Daniel Sedin. "And that hasn't been the case so far. That's
getting pucks deep, forechecking the right way, and having guys in the right
positions and we've been kind of off in that department. That's also a work
in progress and we'll be better every game."
The fact the Canucks have faded badly in the second half of games has
raised questions about fitness. The Canucks had fewer players head
overseas to play than most teams and there was concern that could hurt
them in the early going.
The players insist that's not a problem, although coach Alain Vigneault did
end Thursday's practice with a conditioning skate.
"I sure hope not because we have been off for eight months," Burrows said.
"The gas tank should be full right now. It's just a matter of getting that
urgency and knowing that these points are really important. I know we have
the group that knows what it takes and we're going to go out there and
prove it and make sure we are better in the last 30 minutes. In all three
games we weren't very good in the second half, so we have to be much
better on the road."
Team captain Henrik Sedin also dismissed the suggestion that the Canucks
have been running on empty late in games.
"I don't think so," he said. "We made the wrong plays, we stopped doing the
things we had to do. It's about getting pucks deep and keeping our shifts
shorter is a big thing, too. We are staying on the ice an extra 10 or 15
seconds when they are changing and they get the puck and all of a sudden
we are in their end for another 10, 15 or 20 seconds. It makes us look tired,
I think, as a team. We should be the team that is keeping the shifts short
and being fresh."
After outshooting the Flames 25-9 in the first half of Wednesday's game,
Calgary turned the tables and outshot Vancouver 27-11 the rest of the way.
Vigneault think a timely power play would have made the difference against
both the Oilers and Flames.
"The last two games in the third period our power play has the opportunity
to win us those games," Vigneault said. "Those are pressure moments,
those are our top players, they have done it for us in continuous fashion
and I am confident they can keep doing doing it for us."
By top players, Vigneault especially means the Sedins. He semi called out
the twins after Wednesday night's win over the Flames. Asked in his postgame session with reporters how he liked the play of the Sedins and new
linemate Zack Kassian, Vigneault responded: "I liked Zack. I think Danny
and Hank are obviously trying to find their rhythm right now. They haven’t
played until a week ago while Zack has been playing since September. I
believe, without a doubt, that both Danny and Hank have a lot more to give
and they will."
A day later, the Sedins weren't exactly reeling from the criticism from their
coach.
"I heard about it this morning, but he's usually right when he says those
things and we know we have to be better," Daniel said. "He has called us
worse."
Moments earlier, Henrik had said the same thing: "He's called us out worse
than that, so that's not a problem. We know we have to be better."
See, they are identical twins.
Vigneault has proven over the past six seasons that he knows when to
push players' buttons. And he didn't back down on Thursday.
"I don't think I was hard on them yesterday at all, other than the fact they
(the media) asked me about that line and I said I liked Zack," Vigneault
said. "That being said I do think the twins do have a lot more to give. They
are our top players and I am more demanding on them than I am on
anybody else on our team. That should be the case because they are our
top players. They know that, they know how I am, they know my moods and
they'll deal with it."
[email protected]; twitter.com/bradziemer
Winnipeg Sun LOADED: 01.25.2013
652703
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks (also) have to worry about Ducks’ third line.
Jim Jamieson
Cory Schneider gets the start in goal on Friday in Anaheim and clearly
hopes to redeem himself for a tough start to the season in which he
surrendered five goals on 14 shots before being pulled in the second period
in an eventual 7-3 loss to the Ducks.
While the romp for the Ducks wasn’t pretty, the Canucks – and Schneider –
can take some (OK, just a little) in the fact the Ducks have scored 12 goals
in their first two games. No surprise the Ducks lead the league in goals
scored per game, very early on, of course.
That compares to the Canucks, who’ve scored just seven goals in three
games – a goals per game average that puts them 20th in the NHL.
The obvious difference? Secondary scoring – which is beginning to become
an issue with the Canucks, as the Sedins’ mediocre start to the season
continues.
The Ducks? They’re getting scoring from all three lines. In fact, their
nominal third line has been phenomenal. In two games, the trio of Saku
Koivu, Andrew Cogliano and Daniel Winnik have combined for 14 points (59). Koivu four assists and a goal, Cogliano four assists, while Winnik had
four goals and added an assist. Not bad for a free agent signing last
summer by the Ducks.
Against the Canucks, the trio combined for six points, Winnik leading the
way with two goals – which you can be sure will be part of Vancouver’s
scouting report.
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.25.2013
652704
Vancouver Canucks
Lapierre absent from practice with sore groin before Canucks head to
California for first road trip; Schneider to start in Anaheim
Posted by:
Jim Jamieson
Fourth line centre Max Lapierre was absent from Canucks practice with a
sore groin at UBC on Thursday. Following practice, the team departed for
Anaheim, where they play the Ducks on Friday, to kick off a three-game
road trip that continues in San Jose on Sunday and finishes in Los Angeles
on Monday. Lapierre’s groin soreness isn’t considered serious and he’ll test
it at Friday morning’s skate in Anaheim and likely play that night.
“He tweaked his groin a little bit yesterday the game,” said Canucks head
coach Alain Vigneault. “Burnie (athletic trainer Mike Burnstein), talking with
him, thought the best thing to do was to keep him off today. He’ll skate
tomorrow morning and they think he’ll be fine for tomorrow night.”
Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault said Cory Schneider will get his
second consecutive start, after finding his game in 3-2 shootout win over
Calgary on Wednesday. Schneider was pulled after allowing five goals on
14 shots in the season opener against the Ducks on Saturday in a 7-3 loss
at Rogers Arena.
In Lapierre’s absence, Andrew Ebbett, who was a healthy scratch for
Wednesday’s win over Calgary, filled in on the fourth line, playing on the
wing with centre Manny Malhotra and winger Aaron Volpatti. The Canucks
worked extensively on their power play, in both five on four and five on
three situations.
Other than the absence of Lapierre, the Canucks lines and defence pairs
didn’t change. They were:
D.Sedin-H.Sedin-Kassian
Higgins-Burrows-Hansen
Raymond-Schroeder-Weise
Volpatti-Malhotra-Ebbett
Hamhuis-Bieksa
Garrison-Edler
Ballard-Tanev
652705
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks: Zack’s on track, but where are the twins?
By Jason Botchford, The Province January 24, 2013
It wasn’t even the Sedins brushing off a poke from Alain Vigneault. The
coach essentially said he liked Kassian and that’s about it from his top line.
He said he needs more from his twin stars. And he’s right.
“He wants to know what’s going on,” Daniel said. “It’s a lot of fun to be
around him. I’m surprised he’s showed so much confidence and poise with
the puck.”
What was most remarkable was the way Kassian created offence on his
own. His goal was unassisted, and in maybe his most impressive play of
the night, he shook off two defenders along the wall, before getting a
wicked backhand shot on goalie Miikka Kiprusoff.
We may not see a game like it from Kassian for weeks. You do wonder how
it would look if he ever played like that and the Sedins were on top of their
game.
But how long is that going to take?
“He’s called us worse than that, so it’s not a problem,” Henrik said. “We
know we have to be better.”
“I think we’ve been playing better every game which is a good sign,” Daniel
said.
The best news, actually, was on the ice with the university team, not the
Canucks. There, Ryan Kesler took line rushes and even a couple of
controlled slap shots. He still seems weeks away from playing. But it’s a
start.
“We’ll be better.”
If you were wondering how much Kesler has been missed, the answer is a
lot. Without him, the Canucks have blown leads in each of their first three
games. They had given up the most power-play goals (five) in the NHL, as
of Thursday. They have Alex Burrows playing centre, and they failed to get
a scoring chance in the second half of the game against the Flames. Yes,
that team from Calgary with Jay Bouwmeester.
Without Kesler, the Canucks are missing speed, a shutdown centre and a
lead dog on their power play. And it’s all slapped some significant pressure
directly on the Sedin twins, who are trying to balance it all while awkwardly
finding their footing in a bizarre, shortened season.
“We have to be sharper when we get those chances,” Henrik explained.
“We’re still trying to find a little bit more rhythm and get to the open ice to
make the plays that we know we can.
“But it’s not as bad as it looks sometimes.”
The Sedins had a couple of terrific shifts Wednesday. One even whipped
up the often staid crowd in Rogers Arena, as the twins pinned the Flames
for a minute and a half. But they couldn’t sustain it.
A Canucks team with the rep for taking over games late wilted instead. The
Sedins, having not played during the lockout, struggled to give-and-go their
way to the net. When it came time to push back for the final 20 minutes and
overtime, the Sedins had none. They looked out of gas, and needed
Kassian to drag them to the finish line.
“I don’t think (we were out of gas), I think we made the wrong plays,” Henrik
said. “We stopped doing the things we have to do. Getting the pucks deep
and keeping our shifts shorter, that is a big thing too.
“We’re staying on the ice an extra 10-15 seconds when they are changing.
All of a sudden, they get the puck and we’re on there for another 10-15
seconds. It makes us look tired as a team.
“We need a push back. We need to show we’re a better team. (Calgary)
took over the game in the third and that can’t happen.”
It’s possible Kesler could be skating with the Canucks in a week. But
banking on him to be in the lineup any time soon would be like counting on
Kassian to maintain the level of play he showcased against Flames.
Oh, that was tantalizing. The kid is a throwback. His face looks peeled from
a 1970s hockey card. He has the wild, curly hair, a body that resembles a
large river rock and an unshaven face.
“It’s like he just stepped in from Slapshot,” Henrik joked.
He’s the type of player the Canucks haven’t had in years, and one they
weren’t convinced they needed until they got manhandled by the Boston
Bruins in the Stanley Cup final.
“I think every team needs a guy like that,” Daniel said. “And they’re hard to
come by. I think we’re lucky to have him. He’s still young and he’s only
played a few games so I don’t think we should ask too much of him. He’s
shown what he can do and if he can show up and play close to that on a lot
of nights, we’re going to be happy.”
Kassian is the team’s youngest player and it shows. He’s full of awe and
questions.
twitter.com/@botchford
Read more:
http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Canucks+Zack+track+where+twins/786
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652706
Vancouver Canucks
Zack Kassian more than just a physical presence in Canucks win over
Flames
DAVID EBNER
The highlight of the night was indeed his goal to open the scoring in the
second period – a play on which he showed patience, tenacity, and skill –
and was buoyed by some luck. Kassian, at the side of the net, first showed
patience beside Kiprusoff before darting behind the net, one step ahead of
the veteran goalie, and nearly scored on a backhand wraparound, jamming
the puck on the precipice of the post. Kassian got the puck back and shot,
which was blocked, and got it back again and then he blew a wrist shot
from the slot by Kiprusoff, the goal unassisted, his linemates – the Sedins –
spectators for the impressive showing.
“The puck kept coming back to me,” said Kassian.
On the night before his 22nd birthday, in his 46th game in the National
Hockey League, Zack Kassian was a force from beginning to end and along
the way achieved something tough to pull off in Vancouver – distract at
least some attention from the question of the team’s goaltending.
Kassian, in 43 games in his rookie year, had four goals. In three games this
year, he has two.
Vancouver pulled out its first win of the year in its third game at home,
carried in large part by Kassian and the impressive goaltending of Cory
Schneider, who achieved the redemption he sought after a disastrous start
to the season last Saturday against Anaheim. Kassian opened the scoring
and then scored what was the winner in the shootout.
There are still big questions for the 1-1-1 Canucks as they tramp down to
California to play three games in four nights, San Jose, Anaheim and then a
showdown with the Los Angeles Kings, who ejected Vancouver from the
playoffs last spring. An issue is Vancouver’s ability to deliver a 60-minute
performance, having blown three leads in three games, and on Wednesday
against Calgary fading in the third period, outshot 14-7. It was enough for
coach Alain Vigneault to mildly call out the Sedins, a rare thing, saying after
the game that the 32-year-olds are “trying to find their rhythm.”
Kassian, however, is quickly emerging to be the player general manager
Mike Gillis has advertised since Gillis shipped budding young star Cody
Hodgson to Buffalo last year for the 6-foot-3, 214-pound forward. On an
evening Kassian had been elevated to the first line with the Sedin twins, the
highlights were his impressive multiple-shot effort to notch the first goal of
the night and his move in the shootout to beat Calgary’s Miikka Kiprusoff for
the winning goal.
But the performance was much more, underscored by several episodes in
the first period. Early in the game, Kassian battled veteran defenceman Jay
Bouwmeester behind the Flames net and came away with the puck,
whipping it back out to Danile Sedin at the blue line, who pushed it over to
defenceman Kevin Bieksa, whose slap shot was a good scoring opportunity
for the Canucks. A couple minutes later, Kassian sent a pinpoint backhand
pass – Sedin-like – across the offensive zone from the right faceoff circle
over to Bieksa, who popped it back to D-man Dan Hamhuis, who rifled in a
shot for another reasonable scoring opportunity.
At night’s end, Kassian had 19:14 of ice time, the most of any Vancouver
forward except for the Sedins, scored a goal, had three shots on net, and
four hits – the physical presence is something the Canucks really need. The
goal Wednesday night adds to a cracker of a goal against Edmonton
Sunday. This is all from a player who, last spring in the playoffs against the
Kings, saw a maximum ice time of six minutes in Game 2 and was not even
dressed for the decisive Game 5.
Off-season fitness work has paid off, including sticking around town to train
with the Sedins, well-known fitness freaks. Along with the physical work,
there was the establishment of a bond.
“You see their workout ethic and you talk to them and go for lunch with
them and whatnot and just get comfortable,” said Kassian in the locker
room after the Wednesday night win.
It is probably a safe bet Kassian remains on the first line with the Sedins, a
position long held by Alex Burrows, who has been moved from the first-line
wing to centre a second line with Jannik Hansen and Chris Higgins on the
wings. It’s a lot of juggling by Vigneault, with the second-line in tatters due
to injury, centre Ryan Kesler still out, as is David Booth. Kesler – Gillis has
said – could be skating with his teammates early next week, but the
informed smart money would bet that a real return to game action will be
later than sooner. And Booth’s strained groin leaves him out until at least
mid-February, so composing the lineup is somewhat filling gaps – and
Kassian shows he fits well on the first line, even if the soft-spoken young
man is modest about shining with the Sedins: “Anyone on the team
basically can go in there and do the job.”
The goal also relieved him of having to rue the near goal on the
wraparound.
“If the one a little later didn’t go in, yeah, I’d probably be kicking myself in
the head, yeah.”
As for the evening, Kassian resisted any declarations. It may well be a
demarcation point in his young career.
“It felt good. It’s all you can really say. It’s only the third game in the season.
Obviously there’s a lot of players in this league that have great starts and
then fall off. To me it’s about consistency. That’s been the big thing for me.”
652707
Washington Capitals
Open thread: Capitals vs. Canadiens
Posted by Katie Carrera
Coach Adam Oates tinkered with the lines ahead of Thursday’s game
against Montreal, hoping to find more of a spark on the top unit by adding
Wojtek Wolski to the left side. That move send Matt Hendricks to the
second line and Marcus Johansson, who struggled in the first two games of
the season, down to the fourth.
Meanwhile, Michal Neuvirth will get the nod in net. But regardless of all the
lineup alterations, the Capitals can’t forget about the fundamentals as they
look to move forward as colleague Barry Svrluga wrote.
Also, keep an eye on Mathieu Perreault to see how he performs after
requesting more ice time in a conversation with Oates and General
Manager George McPhee. Follow along and discuss the game in the
comment section below.
Faceoff: 7 p.m., Verizon Center | TV: CSN | Radio: 106.7
Here’s what the lineup should look like:
Forwards
Wolski-Backstrom-Ovechkin
Hendricks-Ribeiro-Brouwer
Chimera-Beagle-Ward
Johansson-Perreault-Crabb
Defense
Alzner-Carlson
Poti-Green
Hamrlik-Kundratek
Goal: Neuvirth, Holtby
Scratches: Eric Fehr, Jeff Schultz and John Erskine.
Washington Post LOADED: 01.25.2013
652708
Washington Capitals
Adam Oates looking for more from Marcus Johansson
After two games on the left side of the Capitals’ top line, Marcus Johansson
was demoted to the fourth unit for Thursday’s game against the Montreal
Canadiens.
It’s far from a surprise, considering that the third-year forward was
ineffective and turnover prone while skating with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas
Backstrom, trends that resulted in his skating just one shift (50 seconds) in
the third period of Washington’s 4-2 loss to Winnipeg earlier this week.
While Coach Adam Oates wants more out of the 22-year-old Swede, he
knows the importance of working with Johansson so he can improve.
“He’s a young kid, he’s still learning the game, there’s little things,” Oates
said. “He’s a natural center; we’ve got him on wing, so I’m sure some of his
reads and decisions are based on that. We showed him a lot of video
yesterday and just moved him today with [Mathieu Perreault] to see if they
can get a little spark and help him out.”
Johansson, who is a minus-3 with one shot on goal in 28 minutes of ice
time over two games, was critical of his lackluster start to the season.
“I think I got on my heels a little bit [against Winnipeg], and I don’t know
what it is, whether it’s the new system, or whether it’s playing the left side,”
Johansson said Wednesday. “I don’t know, but I didn’t play good [against
Winnipeg] and I didn’t get better. That’s the main thing. I didn’t play good.”
Johansson’s speed is his strongest asset and the one that can be a true
game-changer for the Capitals, but he’ll need to find his footing within
Oates’s framework to make an impact and work his way back up to the top
six. Matt Hendricks, who sits next to Johansson in the dressing room in
Arlington, isn’t worried about his teammate bouncing back.
“Marcus is a big boy. He knows what he needs to do,” Hendricks said. “You
could see [Wednesday] in practice, he was out there working hard, getting
back to basics, moving his feet, pushing the pace. That’s how you get off
stuff like that.”
652709
Washington Capitals
Mathieu Perreault: ‘I didn’t ask for a trade’
On the day two French reports detailed his unhappiness with a lack of ice
time, Mathieu Perreault said he did not request a trade from the Capitals
but that he simply wants more of an opportunity to play.
“I didn’t ask for a trade,” Perreault said Thursday morning. “Obviously I like
it here, been around for four years, all my chums are [here]. I don’t wanna
go anywhere. All I want is a little bit more ice time, and I talked to Adam
Oates and [General Manager] George [McPhee] today about it. All I want is
to play. I wanna be here. I don’t wanna go anywhere. If you guys read the
article in French it doesn’t say that I asked for a trade. Never.”
Slotted as the Capitals’ fourth-line center, Perreault played just 3 minutes,
52 seconds in the season opener and 4:58 against Winnipeg and in
separate interviews on different days with reporters from La Presse and Le
Journal de Montreal he expressed his discontent about receiving so little ice
time.
According to Marc-Antoine Godin from La Presse, Perreault said he didn’t
know whether he was in Washington’s long-term plans but if not then the
team should trade him.
Perreault said he had a “good talk” with Oates and McPhee before
Thursday’s morning skate to clear the air and express his concerns. What
the 25-year-old Quebec native wants is nothing more than a chance to
show his new coach he can make a difference.
“I’m obviously not too happy. No one would be happy to be playing that
much minutes,” Perreault said. “I want to show [Oates] what I can do but
I’ve gotta get a little bit more minutes to show what I can do, because it’s
hard to show what you can do with such little minutes. I’ve talked to them
and they’re gonna try to work it. I’m looking forward to tonight’s game.”
Oates understands Perreault’s complaint and stressed that he’s still getting
to know the 5-10, 185-pound forward’s game. The first-year bench boss
said he apologized to Perreault following a shift against Tampa Bay for not
finding a way to get him more involved in the game.
“I’m still learning my players, they’re still learning me. I obviously want to get
that guy more ice time,” Oates said. “But he’s going to get his chance and
basically the point is, if you’ve got a beef, no problem. Let’s just talk about
it.”
Perreault recorded career highs in goals (16), assists (14) and points (30)
last season and the production earned him a two-year, $2.1 million contract
during the summer as a restricted free agent.
When he signed the deal in early July, Perreault said the Capitals told him
he was “part of the elite forwards on the team” and that he expected to see
top-six minutes.
Perreault’s skill-set is that of an offensive playmaker rather than a grinder or
shut-down role, but with Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Ribeiro cemented on
the top two lines and the offseason addition of Wojtek Wolski on the wing,
he dropped down the depth chart. Earlier in the week, Oates said it was his
fault that Perreault wasn’t seeing much ice time, but acknowledged the
realities of the talent at the top of the lineup.
“You also got to look at the guys in front of him. I can’t put him in front of
Mike Ribeiro or Nick Backstrom,” Oates said Wednesday. “So he’s gonna
have to wait his turn and do the little things and keep improving his game.
But if I can find minutes, I will definitely do that.”
Said Perreault: “I’m fine with a third- and fourth-line role. Obviously I’m not
happy with the amount of minute I get. I’d like to get a little bit more, which
is normal, no one would want to play that kind of minutes. It’s early in the
season, it’s only two games in, so I’m staying positive and looking forward
for the next few games here.”
652710
Washington Capitals
Wolski joins top line, Johansson to fourth line (updated)
Coach Adam Oates was coy Wednesday when asked if he intended to alter
his line combinations for Thursday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens,
but from the looks of the morning skate there will certainly be some
changes.
Wojtek Wolski, who recorded a goal in the season opener against Tampa
Bay, has been promoted to the top line left wing, with Alex Ovechkin on the
right side and Nicklas Backstrom at center.
“I think I’m working hard, I’m moving my feet,” Wolski said. “I’m getting up in
the play and creating opportunities, turnovers. I think that’s going to give
Nicky and Ovi the opportunity to get some scoring chances.”
Said Ovechkin: “Just more creativity, I think. He’s a skilled guy who can
control the puck…We’ll see how it works.”
Meanwhile, Marcus Johansson has been demoted to the fourth line. It’s not
a surprising, move given that the Swedish center has been ineffective on
the top line and was benched for all but 50 seconds of the third period of
the 4-2 loss to Winnipeg Tuesday.
Matt Hendricks, who was the Capitals’ best player on the ice against the
Jets earlier this week, has shifted to second line left wing alongside Mike
Ribeiro and Troy Brouwer.
Here are what the lines should look like:
Wolski-Backstrom-Ovechkin
Hendricks-Ribeiro-Brouwer
Chimera-Beagle-Ward
Johansson-Perreault-Crabb
Defense:
Alzner-Carlson
Poti-Green
Hamrlik-Kundratek
Goal: Neuvirth, Holtby
652711
Washington Capitals
Capitals vs. Canadiens: Washington falls to 0-3, gets trounced, 4-1
By Katie Carrera,
The first game full of errors, poor defensive coverage and careless
penalties could easily be shrugged off as growing pains for a team with a
new coach and new system. Maybe even the second, too.
But as the Washington Capitals foundered for a third straight game, stricken
with a familiar brand of self-inflicted calamity, the question became not
when they would put everything together, but if.
Undone once more by a plethora of untimely penalties, inept special teams
play and a downright lack of cohesion, the Capitals lost 4-1 to the Montreal
Canadiens at Verizon Center on Thursday night, dropping to 0-3 on the
year.
Washington is now the only team in the Eastern Conference without a point
and winless in its first three games for the first time since the 1993-94
season. Through three games, the Capitals have been outscored 14-6, led
for only 2 minutes 32 seconds (all against Winnipeg on Tuesday), are 2 for
12 (16.6 percent) on the power play and have been successful 11 of 18
(61.1 percent) times on the penalty kill.
“I would say some of our mistakes are pure effort. It’s very upsetting. Not
pushing the panic button, but obviously it’s upsetting,” Capitals Coach
Adam Oates said. “I’m not a believer in the Knute Rockne speech. I’m not.
We’re pros. You got to be a pro and you got to do your job. It’s not always
gonna go your way. And you gotta show up for work.”
For the third consecutive game, the Capitals top players looked like
shadows of themselves. Oates tried three different wingers alongside Alex
Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom over the course of the night but neither
sparked any more life in the top line than the last.
“I think it’s embarrassing the way we played,” Nicklas Backstrom said.
“We’ve really got to regroup and talk about this and play the way we
should.”
After the Capitals most reliable defensive duo was on the ice for all four
Montreal goals, Karl Alzner suggested to the coaching staff that he and
usual blue-line partner John Carlson should be split up for the third period
because they weren’t contributing as a unit.
“You can’t have two guys where things aren’t going their way together,” said
Alzner, who couldn’t pinpoint why seemingly routine plays had become
impossible to execute. “It’s everything. It’s one of those things where it’s
everything. It’s not just one. It’s making plays at the right time, it’s dumping
the puck, even, the right way. It’s not having your stick in the right lane. It’s
a bunch of things that’s not going right for us.”
The Capitals played arguably their strongest period of the young season in
the first against Montreal, but the start of the second brought derailment in
the form of penalties.
Ovechkin was whistled for interference less than two minutes in and while
on the penalty kill, Troy Brouwer shot the puck over the glass earning a
delay of game call and handing Montreal a two-man advantage for 1
minute, 35 seconds. Tomas Plekanec scored with four seconds left in the 5on-3 to make it 1-0.
Thwarting the remaining time proved of little use because the moment
Washington returned to even strength, Matt Hendricks went off for
goaltender interference. Andrei Markov needed just 12 seconds of that
power play to make it 2-0 and send the Capitals reeling.
“I think we were playing really well and when they got those couple powerplay goals it took the wind out of our sails,” said Joey Crabb, who scored
the Capitals’ lone goal with less than three minutes left in the game. “When
things aren’t quite going your way and then something like that happens,
then sometimes it’s hard to get going and keep your momentum going.”
Roughly four minutes later, blocked shots at one end for Washington
resulted in a quick rush the other way as Rene Bourque blazed past
Carlson to lead the play up ice. Alzner left his side of the ice and attempted
to prevent Bourque’s pass but failed and a wide-open Brian Gionta made it
3-0. At 18:21 of the second, un-checked Josh Gorges blasted a shot past
Michal Neuvirth (18 saves) before the Capitals were back in position.
By that point, although a full third period remained, fans began streaming
toward the exits. Those that remained expressed their displeasure the only
way they can, with a full chorus of boos as the team left the ice and headed
into the dressing room.
“Embarrassing is almost the right term right now. Pathetic is probably a
better one,” Brouwer said. “You know, I feel bad for the fans. I’d like to finish
a game with at least 50 percent of the fans still in the stands. Their reaction
is completely warranted — booing us. We haven’t earned any respect. We
haven’t earned any of their passion, their ambition. We’ve got to turn
something around, and we’ve got to do it fast.”
652712
Washington Capitals
Capitals ‘outworked’ in 4-1 loss to Montreal
By Katie Carrera ,
As the Capitals searched for answers following another ugly, disjointed
defeat — 4-1 to the Canadiens on Thursday night — players consistently
pointed to an attribute that they, and they alone, control: work ethic. It’s how
they correct mistakes, how they prevent penalties and what should drive
their games.
“If I had to say one thing, I’d say work ethic,” Troy Brower said when asked
what’s going wrong. “We’re not out of shape. That’s an excuse right now.
Guys are professionals here. They came into camp in shape, ready to go,
and it’s not — you know, fitness. It’s work ethic. We’re getting outworked.
We’ve been outworked three times. We’ve lost three games.”
The Capitals are the only team in the Eastern Conference without a point
and every game that passes without any traction drops them further behind
their foes. That alone should be enough to light a fire within a team, but at
this stage Washington has yet to shift into gear. So what can they do for
motivation?
“I don’t know, you got any ideas? I’m out of ‘em right now. Otherwise, we’d
be working a little harder,” Brouwer said. “I think guys have got to take it
upon themselves to really pick their game up. You know, we don’t need a
rah-rah coach right now. We don’t need guys to yell and scream. We need
guys to be professional and play hard, tough hockey.”
It’s a good thing Brouwer doesn’t believe he and his teammates need a
rousing speech from the staff because Coach Adam Oates isn’t the type to
deliver them. He believes it is a player’s responsibility to be prepared every
day, he’s not going to hold their hand through the process.
“I’m not a believer in the Knute Rockne speech. I’m not. We’re pros. You
got to be a pro and you got to do your job. It’s not always gonna go your
way. And you gotta show up for work.
“At times it’s effort. You got to want it,” Oates added. “You got to realize that
the team on the other side, they want it, too. And you got to fight through
stuff. You got to really want to do it.”
The majority of the errors, players said, can be traced back to work ethic.
While there’s a few who are clearly working every shift and scraping to try
and establish some momentum, the group isn’t working as a whole.
“Some of those little breakdowns that we’ve had are not really working or
paying attention to getting into the right spot,” Joey Crabb said. “We’ve got
a lot of skill on this team and that’s something that you can’t control on a lot
of teams, but what you can control is your work ethic and how hard you
play. Obviously we know what we got to do.”
So how can they fix and eliminate the self-inflicted damage?
“It’s up to us. We’re playing. Even if we got a new system, it’s not such a big
difference from the other system,” Nicklas Backstrom said. “It’s just a matter
of work and make the right decisions at the right time. It’s all about that and
right now we’re not doing that.”
652713
Washington Capitals
Merit matters for Capitals as Adam Oates keeps shuffling
By Stephen Whyno
Some players don’t care about that.
“To be honest with you, I’m not really worried about that. I want to start
winning hockey games,” center Jay Beagle said. “If you could you would
want to play the whole game just because I love to play. I’m never thinking
about, ‘Oh, I want to move up in the lines’ or something like that. I just go
out there and I play my game and if I get more ice I’ll work my butt off to try
to win the hockey game.”
But the idea is that success will come from guys earning their spots.
The beneficiary of perfect, tic-tac-toe passing from Alex Ovechkin to Nicklas
Backstrom to him, Matt Hendricks just had to make sure he didn’t miss the
net.
But it wasn’t because of a long shift and it wasn’t by accident that Hendricks
found himself on the ice with the cornerstones of the Washington Capitals‘
franchise.
“That was called,” Hendricks said. “Adam called for that.”
Call that a smart hunch by coach Adam Oates that resulted in a Hendricks
goal, but it’s not an isolated incident. Oates made it well-known to his
players when he arrived that the Caps were a team of opportunity.
“He’s an honest coach. He said that from Day One that hard work’s going to
pay off around here,” Hendricks said. “Do the systems correctly, work hard
at what you do and you’ll be rewarded.”
Spots in the lineup aren’t etched in stone. Far from it.
That’s how Hendricks was able to earn a spot on the second line for
Thursday night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. That’s how Wojtek
Wolski replaced Marcus Johansson on the top line. And that’s how Mathieu
Perreault has a chance to thrive even after he expressed unhappiness over
a lack of ice time.
Oates knows Ovechkin is a first-line talent and that Backstrom and Mike
Ribeiro will be his top two centers when they’re both healthy. So he’s not
going to shake up the lineup just for the sake of it.
But the first-year NHL head coach has shown early on that he fosters
competition by the way he rewards players based on performance.
“Every player should want that,” he said. “Every player should want to
improve and want more minutes. That’s your job.”
Oates said any professional athlete should want that, “always want a little
more.”
Hendricks is the best example. In Tuesday night’s loss to the Winnipeg
Jets, not only did Hendricks score a goal, he fought twice to try to fire up the
Verizon Center crowd and his teammates.
Getting bumped up to the second line shortly after that will likely only fire
Hendricks up more. The 30-year-old grinder can’t help but love the
competition.
“I think it’s important. I think it’s important because that’s what we work for,
that’s what players want,” he said. “You’re competitive against your
opponents every day, but you’re competitive in your own right as well where
you want to perform, you want to get more ice time, more opportunity.”
Wolski, who earned a shot playing on the top line with Ovechkin and
Backstrom, signed in Washington because of opportunity. The left wing
made $4 million last season; his pro-rated salary for 2013 is $600,000.
It didn’t take long for Wolski to make an impact; he scored in his Caps
debut Saturday and impressed coaches and teammates.
“He’s a skilled guy and he’s kind of sneaky out there,” Backstrom said.
“He’s a good player to hold the puck.”
Perreault showed he could play well when given the opportunity during part
of Backstrom’s 40-game concussion absence last season. He finished with
16 goals, tied for fifth on the team with Brooks Laich.
“I thought I had a decent year last year with numbers and stuff,” Perreault
said. “I want to show [Oates] what I can do but I’ve got to get a little bit more
minutes to show what I can do.”
Oates said he’ll try to find more minutes for Perreault, and, really anyone
who earns it. Hendricks began the season on the fourth line alongside
Perreault, so his promotion was further evidence that upward mobility is
available.
“That’s the best thing about hockey, is that you play for each other, but you
push each other every day as well,” Hendricks said.
And the added benefit of lineup fluidity is that, over the course of the regular
season and playoffs, guys will get used to playing with each other.
“It doesn’t really matter who I play with,” Ribeiro said. “I don’t really care
about that. It’s the way they play. If they play the right way, then it should be
easy to play with anyone if everyone does the right thing.”
Washington Times LOADED: 01.25.2013
652714
Washington Capitals
Capitals notes: Mathieu Perreault says he didn’t ask for trade
“I need to get better,” he said. “That’s the main thing: I didn’t play good
enough.”
Ice chips
• Michal Neuvirth started in net against Montreal, his first game in a Caps
uniform since April 5, when he injured his hip.
By Stephen Whyno
Mathieu Perreault is not happy about his ice time, but the forward said
Thursday he’s not asking for a trade from the Washington Capitals.
Perreault, 25, told Le Journal de Montreal and La Presse, two Frenchlanguage newspapers in his native province of Quebec, that he could not
be patient for the remainder of his two-year contract with the Caps and that
if he wasn’t in the team’s plans, it should trade him.
He attempted to clarify what he meant in English after Thursday’s morning
skate.
“I didn’t ask for a trade,” Perrault said. “Obviously I like it here, been around
for four years, all my chums are [here]. I don’t want to go anywhere. All I
want is a little bit more ice time and I talked to Adam Oates and George
[McPhee] today about it.
“All I want is to play. I want to be here. I don’t want to go anywhere. If you
guys read the article in French it doesn’t say that I asked for a trade.
Never.”
There is a difference between desiring a bigger role and formally asking to
be traded.
Perreault did express dissatisfaction with his ice time through two games
under Oates, his third coach in Washington. He played 4:58 in Tuesday’s
loss to the Winnipeg Jets and 3:52 in Saturday’s loss to the Tampa Bay
Lightning.
Oates said he apologized to Perreault after a shift in the Tampa Bay game
because he didn’t have a chance to play him more.
“I’m still learning my players they’re still learning me,” Oates said. “I
obviously want to get that guy more ice time and the other night was kind of
no different. We were behind so I wanted to get the other guys to produce
before him. But he’s going to get his chance and basically the point is, if
you’ve got a beef no problem. Let’s just talk about it.”
Listed at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Perreault isn’t a checking-line center
and is better in the middle than on one of the wings. Perreault said he was
told when signing a two-year, $2.1 million contract as a restricted free agent
in July that he would be a top-six forward.
“You also got to look at the guys in front of him. I can’t put him in front of
Mike Ribeiro or Nick Backstrom,” Oates said Wednesday. “So he’s going to
have to wait his turn and do the little things and keep improving his game.”
Perreault had 16 goals and 14 assists last season, easily career highs in
both categories. To be able to produce with that kind of efficiency again, he
just wants a chance.
“I work hard every day in practice, in games. When I go out there I go a
hundred percent,” Perreault said. “Just waiting for a little bit more time and
see what I can do with it.”
Johansson down to 4th line
Marcus Johansson was given the first chance to play alongside Alex
Ovechkin and Backstrom, but after being benched for all but 50 seconds
Tuesday for not skating he was demoted to the fourth line to start the Caps’
game against the Montreal Canadiens.
“He’s a young kid he’s still learning the game, there’s little things,” Oates
said. “He’s a natural center we’ve got him on wing so I’m sure some of his
reads and decisions are based on that. We showed him a lot of video
[Wednesday] and just moved him today with [Perreault] to see if they can
get a little spark and help him out.”
Oates said Johansson wasn’t using his strength, skating, well enough
against the Jets. That’s what earned him a seat for the game’s final 50
minutes.
Johansson, to his credit, was self-critical.
• Brooks Laich (groin) did not skate with his teammates Wednesday. The
team has not revealed any time frame for the forward to return to game
action.
652715
Washington Capitals
Capitals fall to 0-3 after ugly loss to Canadiens
Brian McNally
The boos rained down from the stands hard and fierce as the Capitals left
the ice after the second period. They turned to angry grumblings as the final
horn sounded.
Any hope for a decent start to the 2013 season vanished in the wake of a 41 drubbing by the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night, and the Verizon
Center crowd wasn't happy. Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Markov scored
nearly identical power-play goals, and Brian Gionta and defenseman Josh
Gorges added even-strength tallies in a dominant second period.
That was all Montreal goalie Carey Price would need. He was on his game
with 30 saves on 31 Washington shots. The Caps fell to 0-3-0 for the first
time since the start of the 1993-94 season. In a lockout-shortened 48-game
campaign, that is a much bigger deal than normal.
"Embarrassing is almost the right term right now. Pathetic is probably a
better one," forward Troy Brouwer said. "I feel bad for the fans. I'd like to
finish a game with at least 50 percent of the fans still in the stands. Their
reaction is completely warranted -- booing us. We haven't earned any
respect. We haven't earned any of their passion, their ambition. We've got
to turn something around, and we've got to do it fast."
The penalty kill has allowed seven goals in 18 short-handed chances (61.1
percent) over three games, and Washington has held an honest-togoodness lead for just 2 minutes, 32 seconds total. It has also been
outscored 14-6 so far and is already all alone in last place in the Eastern
Conference. Every other conference team has at least one point. The
power play is an abysmal 2-for-12 so far.
"We've got to find each other better, and obviously we need to get a better
forecheck, too," center Nicklas Backstrom said. "We're just not good right
now. I think it's embarrassing the way we played. We've really got to
regroup and talk about this and play the way we should [Friday]."
Indeed, the Caps won't have a practice to fix things. They flew to Newark
after the game to play the New Jersey Devils on Friday and have a game
Sunday at home against the Buffalo Sabres.
After a scoreless first period, Montreal (2-1-0, four points) took complete
control. An interference penalty on Alex Ovechkin was quickly followed by
Brouwer's delay-of-game penalty. With just four seconds left on the five-onthree, Plekanec slammed home a rebound past Michal Neuvirth.
Another penalty on Matt Hendricks led to Markov also scoring on a long
rebound to make it 2-0. Gionta took advantage of a defensive breakdown
by defensemen John Carlson and Karl Alzner and was left alone in front of
the net before chipping a pass past Neuvirth (18 saves, 22 shots). The
goalie would have liked to have done better on a low, glove-side point shot
by Gorges at 18:21 of the second period that put the game away.
"I felt good in the first," Neuvirth said. "I thought I made big, key saves. But
a tough start in the second period, give up early two goals. That second
period was just a nightmare."
Washington Examiner LOADED: 01.25.2013
652716
Washington Capitals
Capitals' Mathieu Perreault vents about lack of playing time
Brian McNally
One day after a pair of French-language reports surfaced about
unhappiness with his role on the team, Capitals center Mathieu Perreault
expounded upon remarks in those stories Thursday.
Perreault has centered the fourth line each of the first three games for
Washington, including Thursday's contest against Montreal, but his ice time
Saturday against Tampa Bay was a paltry 3:52. On Tuesday against
Winnipeg it was just 4:58.
With top centers Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Ribeiro in front of him,
Perreault has said he understands a top-six position isn't in the cards right
now. But Perreault essentially told both La Presse and Le Journal de
Montreal in separate interviews this week that if he isn't in the Caps' longterm plans, then they should trade him. Perreault wanted that distinction
made clear: He hasn't specifically asked general manager George McPhee
for a trade but said playing less than five minutes a night is also untenable.
"I wouldn't say frustrated. I'm obviously not too happy. No one would be
happy to be playing that much minutes," Perreault said.
And so Perreault, who was a restricted free agent last summer and signed
a two-year, $2.1 million deal with Washington, had a brief chat with coach
Adam Oates and McPhee on Thursday.
"I'm still learning my players. They're still learning me. I obviously want to
get [Perreault] more ice time, and [Tuesday] was kind of no different," Oates
said. "We were behind, so I wanted to get the other guys to produce before
him. But he's going to get his chance, and basically the point is if you've got
a beef, no problem. Let's just talk about it."
652717
Washington Capitals
Canadiens crush Capitals, 4-1; Washington drops to 0-3
By Katie Carrera,
The first game full of errors, poor defensive coverage and careless
penalties could easily be shrugged off as growing pains for a team with a
new coach and new system. Maybe even the second, too.
But as the Washington Capitals foundered for a third straight game, stricken
with a familiar brand of self-inflicted calamity, the question became not
when they would put everything together but if.
Undone once more by a plethora of untimely penalties, inept special teams
play and a downright lack of cohesion, the Capitals lost 4-1 to the Montreal
Canadiens at Verizon Center Thursday night dropping to 0-3 on the year.
Washington is now the only team in the Eastern Conference without a point
and winless in its first three games for the first time since the 1993-94
season. Through three games, the Capitals have been outscored 14-6, led
for only 2 minutes 32 seconds (all against Winnipeg on Tuesday), are 2 for
12 (16.6 percent) on the power play and have been successful 11 of 18
(61.1 percent) times on the penalty kill.
“I would say some of our mistakes are pure effort. It’s very upsetting. Not
pushing the panic button, but obviously it’s upsetting,” Capitals Coach
Adam Oates said. “I’m not a believer in the Knute Rockne speech. I’m not.
We’re pros. You got to be a pro and you got to do your job. It’s not always
gonna go your way. And you gotta show up for work.”
For the third consecutive game, the Capitals top players looked like
shadows of themselves. Oates tried three different wingers alongside Alex
Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom over the course of the night but neither
sparked any more life in the top line than the last.
“I think it’s embarrassing the way we played,” Nicklas Backstrom said.
“We’ve really got to regroup and talk about this and play the way we
should.”
After the Capitals most reliable defensive duo was on the ice for all four
Montreal goals, Karl Alzner suggested to the coaching staff that he and
usual blueline partner John Carlson should be split up for the third period
because they weren’t contributing as a unit.
“You can’t have two guys where things aren’t going their way together,” said
Alzner, who couldn’t pinpoint why seemingly routine plays had become
impossible to execute. “It’s everything. It’s one of those things where it’s
everything. It’s not just one. It’s making plays at the right time, it’s dumping
the puck, even, the right way. It’s not having your stick in the right lane. It’s
a bunch of things that’s not going right for us.”
The Capitals played arguably their strongest period of the young season in
the first against Montreal, but the start of the second brought derailment in
the form of penalties.
Ovechkin was whistled for interference less than two minutes in and while
on the penalty kill, Troy Brouwer shot the puck over the glass earning a
delay of game call and handing Montreal a two-man advantage for 1
minute, 35 seconds. Tomas Plekanec scored with four seconds left in the 5on-3 to make it 1-0.
Thwarting the remaining time proved of little use because the moment
Washington returned to even strength, Matt Hendricks went off for
goaltender interference. Andrei Markov needed just 12 seconds of that
power play to make it 2-0 and send the Capitals reeling.
“I think we were playing really well and when they got those couple powerplay goals it took the wind out of our sails,” said Joey Crabb, who scored
the Capitals’ lone goal with less than three minutes left in regulation. “When
things aren’t quite going your way and then something like that happens,
then sometimes it’s hard to get going and keep your momentum going.”
Roughly four minutes later, blocked shots at one end for Washington
resulted in a quick rush the other way as Rene Bourque blazed past
Carlson to lead the play up ice. Alzner left his side of the ice and attempted
to prevent Bourque’s pass but failed and a wide-open Brian Gionta made it
3-0. At 18:21 of the second, un-checked Josh Georges blasted a shot past
Michal Neuvirth (18 saves) before the Capitals were back in position.
By that point, although a full third period remained fans began streaming
toward the exits. Those that remained expressed their displeasure the only
way they can, with a full chorus of boos as the team left the ice and headed
in to the dressing room.
“Embarrassing is almost the right term right now. Pathetic is probably a
better one,” Brouwer said. “You know, I feel bad for the fans. I’d like to finish
a game with at least 50 percent of the fans still in the stands. Their reaction
is completely warranted – booing us. We haven’t earned any respect. We
haven’t earned any of their passion, their ambition. We’ve got to turn
something around, and we’ve got to do it fast.”
652718
Washington Capitals
Capitals blown out by Canadiens, fall to 0-3
By Stephen Whyno
Adam Oates tinkered with his lines. He gave Michal Neuvirth a chance in
goal. Washington Capitals players talked of “desperation” after two losses.
Nothing worked.
What transpired Thursday night in a 4-1 blowout defeat at the hands of the
Montreal Canadiens was so bad that the excuse of learning a new system
wasn’t close to valid.
Instead, everything went wrong for the Caps. They were outworked by a
less-talented opponent; they took a series of penalties and were gashed on
the kill. They had defensive breakdowns and couldn’t get much, if any,
quality offense going.
To call it a mess would be a total understatement. Boos rained down from
the crowd at Verizon Center at the start of the second intermission, with
fans frustrated about the franchise’s first 0-3-0 start since 1993-94.
After a scoreless first period, the Caps unraveled in a fashion that has
become all too familiar early in this season, by taking penalties. Three of
them within the first five minutes led to two Canadiens goals.
It’s a very bad combination to be undisciplined and ineffective on the
penalty kill at the same time. The Caps are 11-for-18 this season, or 61.1
percent.
“Well, we have too much separation between the forwards and the ‘D.’ So
they scored their second goal last game,” Karl Alzner said Thursday
morning when asked about the penalty kill. “We’re playing half of what we
were doing last year and half of what we were doing this year. And it’s not
the right halves. They’re not meshing with each other at all.
“And I’m definitely a culprit for remembering the right time to pressure now.
Last year the right time to pressure was all the time. And this year it has to
be at a certain moment. And so I think that’s where we’ve faltered a fair bit.”
Alzner and defense partner John Carlson were on the ice for all four
Montreal goals. Oates split them up for the third period.
He tried everything midgame to get his team going. Joey Crabb replaced
Wojtek Wolski alongside Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, and then it
was back to Marcus Johansson.
Mixing and matching may prove beneficial in the near future, but it did not
pay dividends on Thursday night. Fans began streaming to the exits with
just under 10 minutes left.
Joey Crabb managed to break up Carey Price’s shutout in garbage time,
but that didn’t make up for the fact that the Caps are now 2-for-12 this
season on the power play.
Perhaps the worst part for the Caps is that there isn’t much time to make
the adjustments necessary to fix systemic problems. They were set to fly
late Thursday night to Newark, N.J., where they’ll play the Devils on Friday
night.
652719
Washington Capitals
Capitals' Mathieu Perreault vents about lack of playing time
Brian McNally
One day after a pair of French-language reports surfaced about
unhappiness with his role on the team, Capitals center Mathieu Perreault
expounded upon remarks in those stories Thursday.
Perreault has centered the fourth line each of the first three games for
Washington, including Thursday's contest against Montreal, but his ice time
Saturday against Tampa Bay was a paltry 3:52. On Tuesday against
Winnipeg it was just 4:58.
With top centers Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Ribeiro in front of him,
Perreault has said he understands a top-six position isn't in the cards right
now. But Perreault essentially told both La Presse and Le Journal de
Montreal in separate interviews this week that if he isn't in the Caps' longterm plans, then they should trade him. Perreault wanted that distinction
made clear: He hasn't specifically asked general manager George McPhee
for a trade but said playing less than five minutes a night is also untenable.
"I wouldn't say frustrated. I'm obviously not too happy. No one would be
happy to be playing that much minutes," Perreault said.
And so Perreault, who was a restricted free agent last summer and signed
a two-year, $2.1 million deal with Washington, had a brief chat with coach
Adam Oates and McPhee on Thursday.
"I'm still learning my players. They're still learning me. I obviously want to
get [Perreault] more ice time, and [Tuesday] was kind of no different," Oates
said. "We were behind, so I wanted to get the other guys to produce before
him. But he's going to get his chance, and basically the point is if you've got
a beef, no problem. Let's just talk about it."
652720
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets looking forward to seeing old friend Tanner Glass
By Kirk Penton
The GST line is getting back together on Friday night.
Well, sort of, but not really.
Tanner Glass signed with the Penguins in July after spending last season
with the Jets and will make his return to MTS Centre on Friday. He was the
G of the GST line that also consisted of Slater (Jim) and Thorburn (Chris).
“He’s a guy I got along good with,” Thorburn said. “I mean, everyone did.
It’s going to be kind of strange facing off against him, but you do that
throughout your career a lot of times.”
Neither Glass nor Thorburn is afraid to drop the mitts, but it’s unlikely they’d
fight one another. Then again, Thorburn once fought his old roommate,
Doug Janik.
“I lived with him,” Thorburn said. “I played with him three years in
Rochester. He was probably my closest friend that I fought. Some people
say it was a fake fight, but we were battling pretty hard.
“He got a couple lucky punches in, but I still feel I won the fight.”
Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.25.2013
652721
Winnipeg Jets
Mark Scheifele's time with Winnipeg Jets growing short
of the weight and down-low play. We’ll see where that thing plays out. I
know people are in a rush. But I’m not.”
GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, even less so.
The only one in a hurry is the teenager.
By Paul Friesen
“You have no idea how bad I want it,” Scheifele said. “Every day I think
about how bad I want to be here. I’m going to do whatever it takes to stay
here.”
WINNIPEG - If you see Mark Scheifele around town this weekend, you
might want to say good-bye.
Sorry, kid. There’s nothing you could have done.
Because first thing Monday morning, after he plays his fifth game of the
season for the Winnipeg Jets against the Islanders, Sunday night, the 19year-old will likely be on a plane back to his junior team in Barrie, Ont..
All the signs are there. The decision’s been made.
Chances are it was made before training camp even began.
The truth is Scheifele didn’t stand a chance of fulfilling his NHL dream in
this lockout-shortened season, because the Jets haven’t really given him
one.
Not a fair one, anyway.
Playing the first two games on the fourth line, on the wing, no less, along
with bangers Jim Slater and Chris Thorburn, then one game with Alexander
Burmistrov at centre (Scheifele’s natural position), sealed his fate.
Only a miraculous offensive outburst in that role, a stretch without any preseason games as a tuneup even in a top-six spot, would have caused the
Jets to reconsider.
The first player to have his name called on draft day by the new Jets —
seventh overall in 2011 — Scheifele is pointless going into Friday’s game
against the Penguins.
And his ice time has dipped from just under 12 minutes in the opener to
less than nine minutes in Boston and Washington.
After two more games the Jets must make it official, because keeping
Scheifele longer burns the entire first year of his entry-level contract.
Asked Thursday if he’s had a fair shot, Scheifele for a few moments was at
a loss for words.
“Uh, you know,” he began, then paused and smiled. “You know, it’s
whatever the management thinks. It’s part of the process.”
The process, in this case, involves another full year of junior hockey.
Through no fault of the kid’s, either.
The deck was simply stacked against him.
No pre-season games to get up to NHL speed, like he did a year ago, and
the Jets felt they didn’t have the luxury to throw him into an offensive role
to see if he’d sink or swim.
Wins are at a premium. And new centre Olli Jokinen needed to be broken
into the lineup quickly.
Could Scheifele have supplanted Nik Antropov, now playing centre between
Andrew Ladd and and Bryan Little, on the Jets 1-A line?
Maybe.
But he never got the chance, and the Jets make no apologies for it.
“If you want to get in the top-six, you try to earn those minutes and that
space,” head coach Claude Noel said. “He’s been reasonably good. But we
try to make an assessment, in all fairness to Mark, on the big picture.”
It’s clear the Jets don’t feel he’s ready.
“This isn’t a race to five games for us,” Noel said. “It’s a time we’ve got to
help him grow, help him feel comfortable. Our situation doesn’t lend itself
too great for him.”
Saying Scheifele isn’t quite strong enough on the puck, Noel says moving
him to the wing wasn’t only out of necessity.
“The simplicity of the game would help him on the right side. Yeah, he’d be
comfortable at centre as well, but he might get exposed at centre because
Other than become Superman, maybe.
652722
Winnipeg Jets
Crosby aware of 'exciting atmosphere' at MTS Centre
By: Tim Campbell
WINNIPEG — His first NHL game in Winnipeg is already elevated to event
status.
And it sounds like Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby knows what
he’s in for in his 439th career NHL regular-season game when his team
meets the Winnipeg Jets Friday night at the MTS Centre (7 p.m. CT, TSN,
TSN1290).
"It’s an exciting atmosphere," Crosby told pittsburghpenguins.com today
after the team’s practice at home. "We know they play well there. I played
World Junior there for a couple games. It’s exciting. It’s a good building.
They’re excited to have hockey there."
Crosby, before he was selected first overall in the 2005 entry draft, was part
of the gold-medal-winning Team Canada that trained here and played two
exhibition games in the MTS Centre prior to the World Junior in Grand
Forks, N.D.
Last season because of the symptoms of concussion, Crosby missed all
four games the Penguins played against the Jets.
The final two of those were in the season’s second half in Pittsburgh, when
the Jets were trounced twice, 8-5 and 8-4.
"I hadn’t remembered until now," said Jets defenceman Ron Hainsey,
feigning some amnesia today. "I pretended like they didn’t exist anymore.
"Obviously you know who’s coming at you from the other side. Those
scores, however unfortunate, don’t shock me. There’s no break with their
team, we know that. (Evgeni) Malkin won the MVP and Crosby’s recognized
as the greatest player in the world. It’s as big a challenge as we’ll face from
a D standpoint, with top forwards coming at you, no question."
The Penguins are off to a 2-1 start this season and come to Winnipeg on
the heels of their 5-2 home-opener loss against Toronto on Wednesday.
Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 01.25.2013
652723
Winnipeg Jets
9 Pascal Dupuis
10 Tanner Glass
jets-pens-lineup
14 Chris Kunitz
15 Dustin Jeffrey
By: Staff Writer
16 Brandon Sutter
18 James Neal
Were the victims of the relocated Winnipeg franchise's first win last season,
2-1 on Oct. 17, 2011, but then won the final three games of that season
against the Jets.
24 Matt Cooke
A goal and five points put Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh's scoring lead
through three games (2-1-0) this season.
27 Craig Adams
The Penguins have five power-play goals already this season in three
games, four of those power-play goals in two games on the road.
44 Brooks Orpik
James Neal, briefly a member of the Manitoba Moose, has played seven
career games against the Jets franchise and has seven goals. He had a hat
trick in an 8-5 win last March 20 in Pittsburgh.
Here's something the Jets can dream about -- Pittsburgh has scored 70
road victories since the start of the 2010-11 season, tying for the most in
the NHL in that period.
WINNIPEG JETS
31 Ondrej Pavelec
35 Al Montoya
4 Paul Postma
5 Mark Stuart
6 Ron Hainsey
8 Alexander Burmistrov
9 Evander Kane
12 Olli Jokinen
13 Kyle Wellwood
14 Anthony Peluso
16 Andrew Ladd
17 James Wright
18 Bryan Little
19 Jim Slater
22 Chris Thorburn
23 Alexei Ponikarovsky
24 Grant Clitsome
25 Zach Redmond
26 Blake Wheeler
33 Dustin Byfuglien
39 Tobias Enstrom
55 Mark Scheifele
80 Nik Antropov
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
29 Marc-Andre Fleury
92 Tomas Vokoun
2 Matt Niskanen
5 Deryk Engelland
6 Ben Lovejoy
7 Paul Martin
25 Eric Tangradi
41 Robert Bortuzzo
46 Joe Vitale
47 Simon Despres
48 Tyler Kennedy
58 Kris Letang
71 Evgeni Malkin
87 Sidney Crosby
(Lineups subject to change)
-- Campbell
652724
Winnipeg Jets
Glass returns to 'Peg as rival
By: Tim Campbell
NO hard feelings, Jets fans. Left-winger Tanner Glass loved sharing the
return of the Winnipeg Jets with you last season but he's back to try to send
you home disappointed.
Glass and his new team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, meet the Jets tonight at
the MTS Centre in the first of three Pittsburgh-Winnipeg games this season.
The 29-year-old Regina product said Thursday he's thrilled to be back in
Winnipeg where he gave the Jets five goals and 16 points last season.
When free agency rolled around in July, the Penguins scooped him up with
a two-year deal and a raise from $700,000 to $1.1 million per year.
The Jets did not chase the number but Glass said it's nothing to be
bothered about.
"No, not at all; it's business," he said. "Life's too short to worry about that
stuff. I made some great friends in this organization, players, management
and everything, so no hard feelings at all and I'm happy to be back and
playing here."
Before he came to Winnipeg, Glass played two seasons with the Canucks
in hockey-mad Vancouver, so he was well-prepared for the fishbowl and
euphoria in the Manitoba capital.
"It's hockey in a Canadian city," he said. "I really enjoyed playing here. I'd
come back here in second. It's a great place to play for players and I think
that's pretty universally known around the league. The guys that play here
really enjoy it and I was one of them."
His one season with the Jets included being part of a popular, named
forward combination, the GST Line with Jim Slater and Chris Thorburn.
"I don't know if I'll ever have a named line again or one with as good a
name as that, one that stuck so well," Glass said.
Joining the highly touted Penguins has added a small bit of anonymity to
Glass's life.
"It's definitely more anonymous," he said. "For myself, it's just my first few
weeks but there are other big sports in Pittsburgh. It's a middle-American
city and there are some people who wouldn't recognize me from a hole in
the ground, which is nice sometimes."
Glass has moved to a team with some superstar talent, in particular Pens
captain Sidney Crosby.
And what has he learned about Crosby from the inside?
"I'd say he's a little bit superstitious," Glass chuckled. "He does the same
pre-game routine every day, the same things. around the rink with his sticks
and even throwing the tape into his stall. More noticeable than most guys."
652725
Winnipeg Jets
Crosby has history on MTS Centre ice
By: Tim Campbell and Ed Tait
HIS first NHL game in Winnipeg is already elevated to event status.
And it sounds like Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby knows what
he's in for in his 439th career NHL regular-season game tonight. The Pens
meet the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre.
"It's an exciting atmosphere," Crosby told pittsburghpenguins.com Thursday
after the team's practice at home. "We know they play well there. I played
world junior there for a couple games. It's exciting. It's a good building.
They're excited to have hockey there."
Crosby, before he was selected first overall in the 2005 entry draft, was part
of the gold-medal-winning Team Canada that trained here and played two
exhibition games in the MTS Centre prior to the world junior in Grand Forks,
N.D. Last season because of the symptoms of concussion, Crosby missed
three of four games the Penguins played against the Jets.
BIG FAN OF THE BIG MAN: Claude Noel on the play of veteran Nik
Antropov through the first three games:
"I've been really happy with Antropov. He's a really good player. He's good
in the room, he's good with his teammates. He's one of those guys that
when you coach you get to appreciate. You think you'd say that about all
players, but some players you have to coach them to see how they really
are. For example, (assistant coach) Perry (Pearn) said he thought he was a
quite a bit better player than he (thought). He's a detail guy. He's an easy
guy to play with because he protects the puck, he knows where you are and
he's really intelligent."
RIDING THE HOT HAND: Ondrej Pavelec figures to get the start in goal
again for the Jets. As to when Al Montoya might make his debut, Noel isn't
tipping his hand.
"No, I don't have a plan that way yet," said Noel. "The plan is for us to win
and ride whatever it is we have and go with what we have."
SCHEDULE CHANGE: Winnipeg's Feb. 17 home game against the Boston
Bruins has been moved to a 5 p.m. start time.
652726
Winnipeg Jets
Big Buff carrying HEAVY LOAD early in season for Jets
By: Tim Campbell
He likes it so low-key that sometimes any expression or emotion at all
causes Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien to be noticed.
Even things like a wide-eyed look or a smirk when something happens on
the ice. Or a laugh in the dressing room when he can bear a room full of
reporters.
The point being that try as he may, the big man with the big game might
blend in only in a forest of redwoods.
So far early in this NHL season, the 6-4, 257-pound (listed) blue-liner has
stood pretty tall and as sturdy for a team trying to find its way to
respectability.
And another of those can't-help-but-notice moments came Thursday when
in conversation about how the first three games have gone for him and the
1-1-1 Jets, Byfuglien revealed -- at least a little -- about just how much and
how badly he wants to play.
Byfuglien already leads the Jets in average ice time this season, 27 minutes
9 seconds per game. Across the entire NHL, only Columbus's Jack
Johnson and Nashville's Shea Weber exceed that, and only by a few
seconds.
The total is higher than Byfuglien's average for 2011-12, which was 24:06
and may show a little how the load for injured defenceman Zach Bogosian
is being spread around, even to the team's top pairing.
But the weight the Jets put on Byfuglien's broad shoulders is substantial.
For instance, last season, Andrew Ladd led the team in raw minutes played,
1,604. Byfuglien played just 13 fewer total minutes in 16 fewer games
played.
So the question was asked of Byfuglien how head coach Claude Noel and
assistant and former NHL defenceman Charlie Huddy will know, while he's
taking a breather on the bench, just how much he wants to get back on the
ice.
"Do you say anything, maybe make eye contact to let them know?"
Byfuglien was asked.
"I'm sure I do at times," he smiled. "It depends on things. I'm usually off and
the next group will go and I'm usually right back, so it doesn't really seem
like you sit that long.
"If we're killing penalties (which Byfuglien rarely does), if you end up going
back to back, maybe then, but I guess by the end, I'm going, '(Bleep) it, put
me out there. Get me going here.'
"But most of the time, you don't really think about it, you just play."
That qualifies as a Byfuglien outburst.
He soft-shoed the balance of Thursday's questions, including about the
amount he actually does play.
"I guess I really don't think about it," he said. "You just go with the game.
You're feeling good and you've just got to play.
"You don't really have a choice either way."
Wednesday, Noel was throwing numerous compliments in Byfuglien's
direction -- even a little praise about his conditioning.
"We're happy with him being able to log the minutes he's getting," Noel
said. "It's always a question mark but it hasn't been and he's answered that.
I think the thing that's important with Byfuglien is that it's not so much the
minutes, it's the consistency in his play and I think he's been fabulous in the
way he's played as far as consistency."
Byfuglien doesn't seem to mind that even his coach said he's known to be
an on-ice gunslinger, but now one that is more reined-in.
"Yeah, I feel it's a lot of hockey but it's something where you're not going to
be able to be up in the rush and still put that many minutes in and play as
much as you'd want, more or less," Byfuglien said. "Sometimes you have to
sit back and let it come to you and you'll still get the opportunities. You just
have to pick and choose your spots."
So with a goal and three points in the first three games, Game No. 4 would
appear to be more of the same, another night against an opponent with elite
talent.
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins are the visitors.
"They're just another player, players, out there," Byfuglien said of the next
assignment. "There's nothing different. You play it the same.
"You know they're going to be tricky and it's a matter of having a good gap
and not letting them have much room. I think everyone knows who they are
when they're out there. I think most of the time you're aware on the ice and
how to play them."
652727
Winnipeg Jets
Fearsome Pens a big test
Game 1, Oct. 17, 2011 @ Winnipeg: Jets 2, Penguins 1
The Jets win their first in their rebirth. Kyle Wellwood scores eight seconds
in, Tanner Glass scores the winner and Ondrej Pavelec seals the deal
against a Pens side missing both Crosby and Malkin.
Game 2, Dec. 23, 2011 @ Winnipeg: Penguins 4, Jets 1
By: Ed Tait
If you put your ear to the ground and listen closely, you can hear the march
of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the distance, closing like an approaching army
ready to conquer and pillage.
And it's likely a force in an ornery mood after falling 5-2 to the Toronto
Maple Leafs at home Wednesday night.
So, naturally the Winnipeg Jets -- even fresh from a solid road trip in which
they picked up three of a possible four points -- were hit upside the head
after practice Thursday with questions about this being a measuring-stick
game, about how to stop the Pens' star-studded cast that includes Sidney
Crosby and Evgeni Malkin while being reminded of the pair of spankings
they felt late last year in 8-4 and 8-5 losses.
"I hadn't remembered until now," said Jets defenceman Ron Hainsey. "I
pretended like (the two losses) didn't exist anymore.
"(Tonight) is probably the biggest challenge. If (Crosby and Malkin) are not
the two greatest centres in the world, they're in the conversation for top
three. I assume our work will be cut out for us because they keep coming at
you in waves. It's not just one line. It's the reigning MVP and the reigning
greatest player in the world who has been injured coming at you.
"(Last night is) a good night to get a good night's rest."
Still, let's not paint the picture of a Jets squad quivering in their skates here,
either. The Jets did drop three of four against the Pens last year, but also
picked up their first home win of their rebirth way back on Oct. 17, 2011.
More importantly, the recent road trip through Boston and Washington has
the Jets believing they have uncovered their road map to a playoff spot, the
key signposts being collective team defence and rolling four lines.
And that will apply whether they are on the road or at home, playing the
talent-rich Pens or the Columbus Blue Jackets.
"Everybody likes to talk about home and road and all this stuff," said Jets
captain Andrew Ladd. "We're just focused on winning every single game,
whether it's at home on the road. We know we get a lot of energy from this
building and it's a lot of fun playing here and we've got to use that to our
advantage, but the focus still has to be on building from the last game.
"We feel that we have a way we need to play to be successful and give
ourselves a chance to win hockey games. We've been building on that. The
first game was very mediocre, the second one we did a lot of good things
and we thought our best game was our last one in Washington."
Ladd also pointed out this: Those two spankings in Pittsburgh aside, the
Jets did generally elevate their game against the NHL's elite last year. The
problem was...
"We didn't play so well against the weaker teams," said Ladd. "A lot of times
that's in between the ears. That's focusing less on the other team and more
on what you've got to do."
That was the message head coach Claude Noel tried to hammer home with
the media after practice on Thursday -- and undoubtedly to his troops.
Namely, play your game, not the one the Penguins want.
"They abused us on the scoresheet (in the last two losses)," said Noel. "But
I look at that a different way. We allowed them to abuse us. We were really
poor in the games we played, we gave up eight goals twice in the games
against them.
"We played out of control. We played like we thought WE were the
Penguins and we got spanked because of that attitude.
"That's something we're going to stay away from."
[email protected] Twitter: WFPEdTait
A WIN... AND THREE SPANKINGS
The Jets vs. The Pens, 2011-12
The two sides are knotted at 1-1 after 40 minutes before the Pens
overwhelm the home side with three goals inside the first five minutes of the
third.
Game 3, Feb. 11, 2012 @ Pittsburgh: Penguins 8, Jets 5
The Jets score the first two and then get steamrolled as Malkin scores once
and adds four assists.
Game 4, March 20, 2012 @ Pittsburgh: Penguins 8, Jets 4
James Neal notches three, but Malkin chews up the Jets with two goals and
three assists for another five points while Crosby adds four helpers.
652728
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets team defence will be put to test by Crosby and Co.
By Kirk Penton
The Jets played great team defence on their two-game road trip earlier this
week, and on Friday night they will really put that newfound discipline to the
test against the Penguins.
Pittsburgh is a popular choice to win the Stanley Cup this season, and they
boast two of the game’s best in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Jets
head coach Claude Noel said he doesn’t stay up all night trying to come up
with a special defensive plan for the dynamic duo, though.
“You have to play them as a team,” Noel said. “The advantage you have a
little bit is you have the last change, but they put them together and they do
different things that can give you some grief.
“We’ll pay attention to them, but we have a game to win, and at the end of
the day it is a team game.”
The Jets are 1-1-1 after a shootout loss in Boston and a 4-2 win in
Washington earlier this week. It’s way too early to call this a statement
game, but the Jets might have a few more believers if they can turn in a
repeat performance of the Caps game against the Pens.
“We have to play better if you want to beat a team like Pittsburgh. It’s a
great team. We’ll see,” goaltender Ondrej Pavelec said.
“It’s a huge game. We get better and better, so now it’s time. If we’re going
to play better than the last game, we have a good chance to win the game.”
652729
Winnipeg Jets
Sidney Crosby making first visit to MTS Centre; Jets say they’re ready
By Kirk Penton
Sidney Crosby will finally make his long-awaited appearance at MTS Centre
on Friday night as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sid the Kid missed both games in Winnipeg last season due to his
concussion/neck problem that forced him to sit out most of the campaign.
There will no doubt be an extra buzz in the building because of No. 87’s
presence on the Winnipeg ice, which hasn’t happened since he took part in
the Canadian junior men’s hockey team camp in 2004.
Jets fans shouldn’t get too excited about Friday’s contest, however,
because Mr. Crosby, who has now been in the NHL for a whopping eight
years, has made dominating the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise one of his
favourite pastimes.
In fact, against teams he has played more than four times in his career,
Crosby enjoys greater success against only the New York Islanders than
against the Thrashers/Jets. He is averaging 1.77 points per game against
the team now known as the Jets.
All you need to do is look at Crosby’s last four games against the franchise
to know how much he enjoys snacking on them.
Crosby played against the Jets last March in Pittsburgh, and he had four
assists in his team’s 8-5 victory. The last time he played Atlanta was in
December 2010, and he had two goals and an assist in Pittsburgh’s 6-3
triumph.
His last hat trick, coincidentally enough, came against the Thrashers earlier
in December 2010. It was also the first and only natural hat trick of his
career, and it was all Pittsburgh needed in a 3-2 victory.
If you don’t believe us yet, Crosby had a goal and two assists against the
Thrashers in a November 2010 game that resulted in a 4-2 Penguins
victory.
The poor goalie between the pipes in all four of those games was none
other than Ondrej Pavelec, who didn’t seem to have any recollection of
those events. It’s probably a good thing he’s wiped them from his memory.
“There’s so many good players in the league,” Pavelec said. “He’s one of
the best, and the whole team’s pretty good. It’s a good team. It’s a tough
team to play against, and it’s going to be a big game for us (Friday).
“Be aware who’s on the ice and try to stop the puck. That’s all that I can
do.”
Pavelec insists he doesn’t have nightmares when the Penguins appear on
the schedule, but he probably should. He’s 1-10 in 11 career starts against
the Pens, which is his work mark against any opponent — by a mile. Since
the start of the 2008 season the Thrashers/Jets are 2-13-1 versus the
Penguins, whether they’ve had Crosby in the lineup or not. The Penguins
put eight goals on the board in both of their home games against the Jets
last season.
“We allowed them to abuse us,” Jets head coach Claude Noel said
Thursday. “We were really poor in the games that we played. We played
out of control. We played like we thought we were the Penguins, and we got
spanked because of that attitude. So it’s something we’re going to stay
away from.”
Jets captain Andrew Ladd, who played with Crosby on the Canadian junior
team in 2004-05, said defending the Cole Harbour, N.S., product can’t be a
one-line endeavour. Besides, if you shut down Crosby then you only have
to worry about the defending Hart Trophy winner in Evgeni Malkin.
“That’s a team thing, and a lot of it has to do with speed,” he said. “We gotta
be skating. Their whole team plays with such speed that you gotta be
skating and on top of them, taking away time and space. And try and play in
their end. The less they have the puck, the better it is for us.”
That’s a good plan, because when Crosby gets the puck against this
franchise, it usually ends up in the back of the net.
652730
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Wellwood finds riding pine tough to swallow
By Paul Friesen
At this stage of his career, the last itch Kyle Wellwood needs is the one
created by being a healthy scratch.
Wellwood missed the Jets’ last game in Washington when head coach
Claude Noel decided he wanted more speed in the lineup.
As of Thursday morning. Wellwood didn’t know whether he’d miss a second
straight game, against the high-flying Penguins, Friday.
But at 29, he knows how he feels about it.
“Yeah, it’s hard to swallow,” Wellwood said. “It’s not something you want to
do, especially at the start of the season when you want to get off to a good
start, like everybody does. It’s tough.”
Noel originally said Wellwood looked tired, raising questions about his
conditioning.
Later, the coach said his decision was based more on Wellwood’s lack of
speed and his performance in back-to-back games last season.
“Not so much tired — he feels good,” Noel said. “The back-to-backs I
remember last season was an issue a little bit with him. I don’t want to play
more into that (than is) there.”
Pointless and with an even plus-minus rating in two games, Wellwood says
his conditioning is fine — he’ll just have to adjust.
“It comes down to we didn’t win the first couple of games, and I didn’t
execute on a couple of chances I had,” he said. “Certainly they want to get
speed in the lineup and play a fast game, and they weren’t sure if I was up
to that.
“That’s the biggest challenge, especially for skill players, to keep your
speed into the game, somehow, and forechecking... instead of playing just
a skill game. It’s a tough fit sometimes.”
Coming off a career-high 47-point season and rewarded with a $1.6 million
salary, Wellwood says he’ll try to remove all doubt in the coach’s mind by
simplifying things when he does get back in.
“Be a little more aggresive on things like the forecheck,” he said. “Make
sure you’re showing the things maybe they thought you were lacking.”
Noel says he’ll try to get him back in “shortly.”
“He’s too good a player,” the coach said. “There’s not many guys in the
league who can play top-6, bottom-6. He creates a lot. He’s become a very
dependable, reliable checking forward if that’s what you need him to be.”
652731
Websites
ESPN /Daniel Winnik not questioning fast start
By Scott Burnside
When I catch up with unlikely scoring sensation Daniel Winnik by phone, he
is buying towels and sheets for his new beachfront apartment. No word on
whether he’s searching for a motif that shows a man with his arms raised in
celebration over his head. If such a design were available, it would be
apropos.
As the Anaheim Ducks prepare for a sold-out home opener Friday night at
the Honda Center against Vancouver, they are looking to equal a franchise
record with a third straight win to start the season. The only other time they
managed to go 3-0 out of the gate was in 2006-07, when they went on to
win the Stanley Cup.
The fact the Ducks opened this shortened season with two road wins was
because, in no small part, of the contributions from the gritty Winnik and
new linemates Andrew Cogliano and Saku Koivu.
For a team desperate for a good start, the production from its third line has
been a godsend.
"It’s the most important thing," Boudreau said. Any successful team, let
alone a championship team, has at least three lines that can hurt an
opponent offensively. "It puts so much pressure on the other teams’
coaching staffs to match."
So now what?
Yes, everyone is a bit surprised at Winnik’s production, but Boudreau told
him this week not to think of it as luck, a fluke or something that has to end.
"I told him not to think, 'This isn’t supposed to happen,'" Boudreau said. "I
said, 'Keep pushing the envelope.'"
He told Winnik about players who find their scoring groove later in their
careers and never give it up.
"Once they get it, it stays part of your DNA," the coach said.
Boudreau had a player like that in Washington named Mike Knuble, who,
after struggling early in his career, recorded eight straight seasons of 20
goals or more.
"I think of a guy like Charlie Simmer," Boudreau said of the former Kings
great. "I bet if we keep throwing out names we’ll come up with lots of guys."
From the moment coach Bruce Boudreau threw the three together in an
abbreviated training camp, they began to score. Didn’t matter whether it
was line rushes or scrimmages, they clicked.
Daniel Winnik?
"It was just instant chemistry," Winnik told ESPN.com amid trying to furnish
his new digs.
ESPN LOADED: 01.25.2013
The result has been a veritable fountain of offense for Winnik, who has four
goals and an assist on the season, putting him among the league leaders in
goals and points. The trio, meanwhile, has combined for five goals, nine
assists and a plus-15.
Winnik bounced between Phoenix, which drafted him 265th overall in 2004,
Colorado and San Jose the past three years before signing a two-year deal
with the Ducks in the offseason.
When the offer was first made, Winnik said he felt there was going to be a
good fit with the Ducks.
The Mississauga, Ontario, native has known Cogliano for years. The two
share an agent, Pat Morris, and work out together in Toronto in the
offseason. When Winnik was playing at the University of New Hampshire
and Cogliano was at the University of Michigan, the two kept in regular
touch, so there is a level of comfort between them on and off the ice.
Longtime NHL netminder Brian Hayward, now a broadcast analyst for the
Ducks, said he thinks Winnik is the perfect complement to what Cogliano
and Koivu bring to the mix. While Cogliano has great outside speed and
Koivu uses lateral movement to buy himself time in the offensive zone,
Winnik has been a straight-line-to-the-net presence.
"It’s exactly what they need. He’s a powerful skater," Hayward told
ESPN.com. "He’s making really good plays. If he continues to go to the net
with the aggressiveness he’s shown in the first two games he’s going to
continue to get points."
Two of Winnik’s goals have been beauties, Hayward said while another
went in off a defenseman’s butt and another off his foot. But that’s what
happens when you’re in the right part of the ice.
Still, Winnik admitted the early goal production has done wonders for his
confidence.
“I’ve had some years where it’s taken a while to score and the weight of not
scoring starts to build,” he said.
Last season, for instance, it took Winnik 31 games to get his fourth goal, a
stretch that included a 17-game goal-less drought.
“I don’t think I expected to get out to this start," Winnik said. "I don’t think
anyone did."
Boudreau said the reason for the trio’s success isn’t much of a mystery.
"I knew Daniel’s reputation, and I knew that he was mostly a defensive
forward but they worked so hard together," Boudreau told ESPN.com.
"They’re outworking their opponents."
We’re about to find out.
652732
Websites
ESPN / Need to know: Good news, bad news night
By Scott Burnside
--It was a night of triumph and pain for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they
thumped the previously undefeated Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 Wednesday
night, ruining the Pens’ home opener. James van Riemsdyk, a key
offseason acquisition, scored his first two goals of the season for the 2-1
Leafs but they lost Joffrey Lupul indefinitely to a broken forearm, courtesy of
an errant Dion Phaneuf shot. Also noteworthy for the Leafs, who were
coming off a tough 2-1 loss to Buffalo, was the play of James Reimer, who
got his first start in goal and first win of the season.
--The big boys finally got it together for the New York Rangers as Marian
Gaborik netted a hat trick, including the overtime winner as the Rangers
collected their first win of the season, 4-3 over the Boston Bruins, who had
spanked the Rangers in the season opener in Boston on Saturday. Rangers
coach John Tortorella, looking for a spark after his team started 0-2, threw
Gaborik together with newcomer Rick Nash and Brad Richards. The trio
combined for three goals and two assists and Gaborik’s winner was a thing
of beauty, as he batted his rebound out of the air past Tuukka Rask just 27
seconds into extra play.
--Another triumph mixed with concern dynamic at play, this time in Phoenix,
where the Coyotes earned their first win of the season thanks in large part
to a Steve Sullivan hat trick, as the Yotes whipped Columbus 5-1. But the
Coyotes lost the services of starting netminder Mike Smith, who left the
game during a commercial break after playing just 11 minutes. Smith -- who
is listed as day-to-day with what was termed by a team official to
ESPN.com as a "minor" injury -- was replaced by Jason LaBarbera, who
got the win. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson had two goals and an
assist for Phoenix. Former rookie of the year Steve Mason took the loss in
his first start of the season for the 1-1-1 Blue Jackets, giving up five goals
on 42 shots.
--Vancouver fans are breathing a little easier after Cory Schneider
rebounded from a ghastly opening-night performance to backstop the
Canucks (1-1-1) to their first win of the season, 3-2 in a shootout over the
Calgary Flames. Schneider, the heir to the Canucks' goaltending throne,
was solid, stopping 34 of 36 shots and then blocking four of five shootout
attempts. The 0-2-1 Flames, meanwhile, continue to struggle, although the
shootout loss did represent the team’s first point of the season.
652733
Websites
ESPN / Escrow rate to be 10 percent
By Pierre LeBrun
The NHL and NHL Players' Association have set this season's escrow rate
at 10 percent, both sides confirmed to ESPN.com on Thursday.
That means players will fork over 10 percent of every paycheck into an
escrow fund until both the league and NHLPA figure out the final numbers
next summer or next fall in terms of hockey related revenue.
If players' compensation does not go more than their 50 percent HRR
allotment for the season, they will get refunded the escrow payments with
interest.
However, if the players' compensation exceeds the 50 percent share, the
owners will be paid the escrow money.
The sides will continue to review revenues and revenue projections
throughout the season to determine whether or not the escrow percentage
coming off player checks needs to be changed.
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ESPN / Survival of the fittest in short season
By Pierre LeBrun
Injuries to Scott Hartnell and others have made this season a pain early on
for the Flyers.
The action has already been breathtaking with so many games every night.
The injury news has come fast and furious. Toronto first-line winger Joffrey
Lupul suffered a fractured forearm Wednesday night, a huge blow for the
Maple Leafs. On the same night, last spring's playoff stud Mike Smith left
his goalie crease in Phoenix (although his injury is not considered serious).
The Stanley Cup champions in Los Angeles are on the phone looking for
help on defense after losing Matt Greene long term and while waiting for
Willie Mitchell's return from knee surgery. The Colorado Avalanche lost an
important player for the season in Steve Downie. The Vancouver Canucks
opened the season without two-thirds of their second line (David Booth,
Ryan Kesler). The Florida Panthers are without Kris Versteeg, Erik
Gudbranson, Marcel Goc, Sean Bergenheim and Michael Caruso.
There's more, but you get the point.
When you're trying to squeeze 48 games into 99 days, that's what you're
going to get. And hockey fans are in for a treat right to the finish.
"We're going to have to rely on first-year pros to fill the holes and that's
tough, especially early in the year," Panthers GM Dale Tallon told
ESPN.com on Thursday.
What you're also going to get is a lot of injuries. With less time to recover
between games and not much time to prepare before the season started,
it's a strong possibility.
"But I think it's going to be cyclical around the league, different teams will go
through this at different times. There's no excuses, you just try to get
through it."
And let's not start pointing fingers here. Both owners and players were on
board with this framework of a schedule, well aware of the pros and cons.
But in the end, the need to maximize hockey-related revenue, which both
sides share equally, won out.
No team has the right to complain more than Detroit, where Red Wings
have fallen like flies.
Nobody is getting caught off guard here. Injuries are part of the game in any
season, and certainly everyone involved knew that would be the case
cramming these games in. But with such a compacted schedule and likely
very little separating teams in the standings over a shortened season, the
dominant storyline all season long, without question, will be injuries and
teams' ability to survive them.
Schedule Math
NHL Just how much more compressed is this season's 48-game schedule?
Perhaps not as much as we all first thought.
According to the league, if you compare the last 14 weeks of the original
2012-13 schedule (which was scrapped because of the lockout) to the 14
weeks of this shortened season, teams are playing one additional game
every 12 weeks.
In other words, teams will play an average of 3.39 games per week this
season compared to 3.32 games per week they would have played in the
last 14 weeks of the original 2012-13 schedule.
The biggest difference? For sure it is the five-day training camp. Usually
teams have nearly three weeks and a number of preseason games. The
shorter preparation time without question has led to some early-season
injuries.
"Player safety and player injuries are obviously something that we and the
PA were very, very focused on," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told
ESPN.com via email. "That's why we extended the regular season to the
end of April, and why we maintained schedule compression as similar as
possible to what it is in a normal NHL season.
"In terms of what we've seen to this point, I think it's hard to draw any
meaningful conclusions. It's only been five days of games. It's an extremely
small sample size."
An NHLPA spokesman said the union wants to see the season play out
more before commenting on the situation.
Depth will be the key word of the season. Teams with it will outlast teams
without it.
"The teams that have depth of skill more than anything," Philadelphia GM
Paul Holmgren told ESPN.com on Thursday.
His Flyers are already being tested. At 0-3 to start the season heading into
a huge game against the Rangers on Thursday night, Holmgren's squad
was going to be without Scott Hartnell (foot), Danny Briere (wrist), Zac
Rinaldo (lacerated right leg) and Brayden Schenn (one-game suspension).
"We've got eight guys out in the AHL too; I was on the phone this morning
trying to find two guys just to fill in down there," he said with a faint chuckle.
"We don't have enough players."
That too will bear monitoring, the attrition on AHL clubs as the NHL comes
calling for reinforcements.
Brian Lashoff and Kent Huskins are slated to play defense again for Detroit
on Friday night, the Nos. 8 and 9 blueliners on the organization's depth
chart. I repeat, the Wings have already gone through nine defensemen one
week into the NHL season.
To wit, Detroit's injury list:
Jakub Kindl -- groin
Carlo Colaiacovo -- shoulder
Joey MacDonald -- back
Mikael Samuelsson -- groin
Jan Mursak -- shoulder
Todd Bertuzzi -- flu
Darren Helm -- back
Jonas Gustavsson -- groin
Jonathan Ericsson -- upper body
Ian White -- laceration on left leg
Detroit had nine players in suits on the bench for their home opener
Tuesday night. Quite the sight, indeed.
The Wings do hope to have Kindl, Bertuzzi and Helm back as early as
Friday against Minnesota, if the hockey gods show enough mercy.
Some of it is bad luck, of course, and would happen in any other season.
On the other hand, a five-day camp with no preseason games doesn't help
the situation. At least in normal years, when there are seven or eight
preseason games, players have time to work themselves into game shape
and recover from minor ailments before the real hockey starts.
"Five days to prepare training-camp-wise and then we started with three
games in four nights ... she's jammed together," Red Wings head coach
Mike Babcock told ESPN.com on Thursday.
"Normally what we do is we play eight preseason games. Now we don't
have any preseason games to get started, which means our players haven't
been run over before it starts. Guys are pushing it and trying to go and
they've prepared real hard, but it's not the same. So you get the groin pulls.
Your depth gets tested, for sure."
So be it, Babcock said; it's going to be like that for everyone.
"This is how I look at it from a coaching perspective: opportunity," Babcock
said. "Lashoff? I would never [have] believed he would have played for us
this year, but he's played great for us in two games. Listen, we're a work in
progress, but we'll figure this out. This is what we've got. Let's find a way to
win games. That's the way I look at it."
Teams are already trying to bulk up on defense. Several NHL GMs I spoke
with over the past week are scouring the market looking for more depth on
the blue line. Akin to pitching in baseball, defense never seems deep
enough for NHL teams. But in a year with a compacted schedule, that
carries even more weight.
And without a doubt, when a team hoists the Stanley Cup come late June,
the story will not just be how well that club played to reach its glory, but how
many players were healthy enough to get there.
"It is what it is and it's all predictable," Kings GM Dean Lombardi told
ESPN.com Thursday. "We all knew there would be injuries. You look at
NFL teams and how they manage their rosters and injuries, they do it all the
time. It's part of being a good team, how you deal with injuries and
adversity. That's reality."
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ESPN / Blackhawks are flying high again
Staff
The Chicago Blackhawks haven't won a playoff series since their Stanley
Cup victory three years ago.
Early impressions indicate that could change this spring.
The club's first 3-0 start since the fall of 1972 has fans in Chicago a little
giddy. And it's not just any kind of 3-0 start. We're talking about a win in Los
Angeles on Cup-banner day, a win in Phoenix against the Western
Conference finalists who eliminated the Blackhawks in the first round last
spring and a thrilling victory -- for my money the game of the young season
-- over the Central Division rival St. Louis Blues, a sexy pick by some to go
the finals this season.
Nice tidy little start for the Blackhawks, I’d say. But yes, too early to start
making comparisons to the 2009-10 Blackhawks.
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NBCSports.com / Try the popcorn: Penner a healthy scratch in LA, Corvo in
Carolina
Mike Halford
Two veteran NHLers will be yanked from their respective lineups on
Thursday night.
In Los Angeles, Dustin Penner has been made a healthy scratch by head
coach Daryl Sutter for a road date in Edmonton.
The 30-year-old winger has struggled to start the season — minus-2, four
PIM, zero shots on goal last game vs. Colorado — and owned up to playing
poorly.
“I wish I could say that I played better, but I haven’t,” he said prior to
tonight’s contest. “It’s all on me.”
Penner took no issue with Sutter for dropping him just two games into a
shortened season — one that was preceded by a brief training camp.
“[Sutter] has the best intentions for me,” he explained. “I’ve had a lot of
tough love. And this is different and similar in a lot of aspects.”
Simon Gagne will draw back in for the Kings, while Kyle Clifford will move
up and fill Penner’s spot on the Mike Richards-Jeff Carter line.
Elsewhere, ‘Canes blueliner Joe Corvo will be parked tonight when his club
takes on the Sabres in Carolina.
The 35-year-old’s had a rough start to the year. He’s minus-2, and saw his
ice time drop from 20:12 in the season opening loss to Florida to 15:23 in
Tuesday’s defeat to Tampa Bay.
Jamie McBain will replace Corvo in the lineup, making his season debut.
Carolina coach Kirk Muller hopes McBain will help keep the ‘Canes from
falling behind early.
(They trailed Florida 4-0 after the first and Tampa Bay 2-0 after one.)
“When you trail in six periods it’s a different game,” Muller told the Raleigh
News and Observer. “How you use your bench, which guys you use. But
we need better first periods. We come out tentative for some reason.
“We have to come out hard tonight and just play simple and have a good
first period.”
Update
ESPN New York’s Katie Strang says Kreider is a healthy scratch tonight for
the Rangers.
Not a huge surprise, given Kreider was called out by head coach John
Tortorella recently and is potentially facing demotion to AHL Connecticut.
NBCSports.com / LOADED: 01.25.2013
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NBCSports.com / No suspension for Malkin after verbally abusing official
Mike Halford
Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin won’t face any additional discipline for
getting in the face of officials after a 5-2 loss to Toronto on Wednesday
night.
Rob Rossi of the Tribune-Review reports Malkin has escaped suspension
after receiving a game misconduct for verbal abuse of an official, called
after the final horn blew.
Malkin was furious with a series of calls from the crew of referees Ghislain
Hebert and Kelly Sutherland, and linesmen David Brisebois and Shane
Heyer.
Pittsburgh was whistled for 10 penalties, including a stretch in the second
period where the Pens were dinged four times in the first 12 minutes.
“I‘m really mad at a couple [of] calls,” Malkin said on Thursday. “But…I lose
control. It was bad emotion. It was my fault.”
Pens captain Sidney Crosby also got in on the critique, earning himself an
unsportsmanlike conduct penalty with two minutes left in the game. Toronto
scored on the ensuring power play.
It’s not overly surprising that Hebert was at the center of an officiating
controversy, given his history:
– Last December, Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville called Hebert’s
work in a game vs. LA “tough to watch.”
– In February, interim Canadiens coach Randy Cunneyworth said Hebert
missing a hooking call on Erik Cole was “a little beyond comprehension for
me.”
– Hebert was one of the referees working the infamous Bruins-Sabres
game when Milan Lucic ran over Ryan Miller.
Notes:
– Malkin also got dinged for an abuse of officials misconduct while playing
in the KHL during the lockout.
– No word yet if a fine will be levied against Malkin. Last season, NHL
discipline czar Brendan Shanahan seemed to hand out fines for comments
made after (or, before) games, rather than in the heat of the moment.
Also, almost all the fines for criticizing officials were levied against coaches.
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NBCSports.com / Gretzky shoots down Leafs rumors
Mike Halford
After rumors started making the rounds this week — some right here on
PHT! — Wayne Gretzky went on Hockey Night in Canada Radio
Wednesday and cleared the air, saying there was no truth to reports he
could be the next president of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“It was news to me,” Gretzky explained.
The Great One hasn’t worked for an NHL club since resigning from his post
as Phoenix head coach in 2009.
While he’s been tied to the Leafs for what feels like forever — last year, he
was approached by a number of parties interested in buying MLSE before
Rogers and Bell made the deal — Gretzky the only team that’s actually
contacted him about returning in a working capacity was the Los Angeles
Kings.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with people in the [Maple Leafs] organization, but
not one time has there even been any direct contact,” he explained. “Really,
the only team I’ve talked to about being involved is [general manager] Dean
Lombardi and the L.A. Kings.”
And there you have it.
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USA TODAY /Thursday preview: Season debut for goalies, Redden
Mike Brehm,
Things to know about Thursday night's games:
-Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth will get his first start of the
season against the Montreal Canadiens. The Capitals, seeking their first
win, have shut out the Canadiens three times in their last five meetings.
Neuvirth has one of them. Braden Holtby had one, too.
-Buffalo Sabres backup goalie Jhonas Enroth will get his first start against
the Carolina Hurricanes, the team said. He had shut them out last season.
Hurricanes starting goalie Cam Ward has a 6.00 goals-against average.
Sabres forward Nathan Gerbe (back) will make his season debut.
-A shakeup in lines helped the New York Rangers as Marian Gaborik
scored a hat trick. Their opponent, the Philadelphia Flyers, will have to
shake up lines out of necessity. Brayden Schenn is suspended for the
game and Scott Hartnell (foot) is hurt. The Flyers, still seeking their first win,
have lost eight in a row to the Rangers.
-St. Louis Blues defenseman Wade Redden is expected to make his
season debut against the Nashville Predators. He signed this week after
being bought out by the Rangers and was activated on Wednesday. The
Blues sent down defenseman Jeff Woywitka and recalled Ian Cole.
-The Toronto Maple Leafs, playing the New York Islanders, will be without
Joffrey Lupul (broken arm) for at least six weeks. Matt Frattin was recalled
to take his roster spot.
-The Phoenix Coyotes, facing the San Jose Sharks, say goalie Mike Smith
is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and it isn't considered serious.
Backup Jason LaBarbera, who filled in for Smith after he left the game at
the 11-minute mark, made three consecutive appearances for the Coyotes
in December 2012. Chad Johnson was recalled to back him up.
-The Los Angeles Kings, still seeking their first win, are making Dustin
Penner a healthy scratch in his return to Edmonton. "It's on me. And I've
gotta play better," he told the Los Angeles Times.
USA TODAY LOADED: 01.25.2013
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YAHOO SPORTS / 3 Periods: Rick Nash powers up for the New York
Rangers
Staff
Look, Martin struggled last season. He will be the first one to admit that.
Still, the criticism of him seemed excessive. It was as if when things went
wrong, people looked down the Penguins' lineup, couldn't find fault with all
the superstars and settled on him as a scapegoat. Then people piled on.
Martin will tell you he didn't care about the criticism. But he will also tell you
the lockout was good for him, because he had never gone through a
season like that before – "a lot of negativity" – and the time away from
Pittsburgh allowed him to clear his head. He worked out at home in
Minnesota and worried about what really mattered – how to improve. His
main goal: more consistency.
Nicholas J. Cotsonika's weekly 3 Periods column will appear on Thursdays.
This week's topics include Rick Nash's arrival in New York; Paul Martin's
quest for a superior sequel in Pittsburgh; Tomas Holmstrom retirement fun;
and, what the Canadiens should do about unsigned free agent P.K.
Subban.
"I feel a lot better this year than I did last year," Martin said. "I think as a
player if you have people telling you that you're not playing well, eventually
you're going to believe it. I know what type of player I am and what I bring
to the table, and so as long as I stay focused and work on my game, it
doesn't matter what they say."
FIRST PERIOD: Rick Nash, the Rangers’ dangerous big man
Coach Dan Bylsma started out by putting Martin with Brooks Orpik, a
steady, reliable partner. Martin should know where Orpik is going to be all
the time. That should make life easier in the defensive zone.
Rick Nash (R) gives the Rangers a big-time power forward presence. (USA
Today)John Tortorella doesn't gush much. So when the coach famous for
the NHL's snappiest press conferences gushes about a guy amid two
sloppy season-opening losses ("I thought he played pretty well") and a
dramatic off-the-schneid victory ("he's really exciting to me"), then you know
the New York Rangers have got something special.
Rick Nash is Torts' type of player, and he gives the Rangers a dimension
they didn't have when they went to the Eastern Conference final last
season – an elite power forward who can drive to the net and create
offense. Even through the team's early struggles, Nash showed what he
could do and why he helped make the Rangers the sexy Stanley Cup pick
for 2013.
"You can see how strong he is with the puck," Tortorella said. "He's going to
be a really good player for us. We can see that."
At 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, Nash makes full use of his big body, long reach
and considerable skill. He barrels down the wall. He pulls up and shoots.
He goes hard to the net. He uses his great hands.
We saw all this with the Columbus Blue Jackets, for whom Nash scored at
least 30 goals seven times and 40 twice with a weak supporting cast. But
this is more like when he played for Team Canada in the Olympics. He's a
big star on a big stage, and he will be expected to contribute to a winner,
but he doesn't have to carry the team. He can be what he should be ideally
– an excellent complementary player.
Nash was the face of the franchise in Columbus, but he's a quiet guy and
doesn't have to be out front in New York with goaltender Henrik Lundqvist,
captain Ryan Callahan, center Brad Richards, winger Marian Gaborik and
so many others drawing so much attention. His Team Canada coaches
loved him because he was content to blend in and do whatever he was
asked. Torts should love him for the same reason.
In the sloppy season-opening losses – 3-1 at Boston, 6-3 to Pittsburgh –
Nash was the Rangers' best player. It wasn't the goal and assist, but the
way he threw hits, attacked defenders, used his body to shield the puck and
made things happen. One scout said he would be scarier once the Rangers
got into a flow and he established some give-and-go chemistry with
teammates.
Then Tortorella put together a line of Gaborik, Richards and Nash in
Wednesday night's 4-3 overtime victory over the Bruins. Gaborik had a hat
trick, including the winner, while Richards and Nash each had an assist. All
three played more than 20 minutes. That is some line. Tortorella will
continue to mix and match as the season goes on, no doubt, but Nash
gives him better options at even strength and on the power play.
"He's the full package," Tortorella said. "I don't think he's bashful at all
about trying a lot of different things, and that's what we're looking for."
SECOND PERIOD: Second chance for Penguins’ Paul Martin
Paul Martin is in a better position to succeed in his second season with the
Penguins. (Getty)The Pittsburgh Penguins lost their home opener
Wednesday night to the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-2. Must've been Paul
Martin's fault.
But wait. Look at the scoresheet, and though Martin had no points, he also
was on the ice for no goals in 24:49 of ice time. Maybe it's time to cut the
guy some slack. Maybe it's time to give him a fresh start.
"Every single time he goes back for a puck, there needs to be a way out,"
said Kris Letang, one of Martin's former partners. "I think he's going to get
his chance offensively. He's a really good passer, so I think transition-wise,
he's good. I think it's in his zone that he needs to keep doing hard work, and
I think the rest of the game is going to take care of itself."
THIRD PERIOD: NHLers getting up to speed on the fly
The Stars' Stephane Robidas said re-adjusting to NHL's speed and style of
play has been difficult. (USA Today)To understand the adjustment players
are making now, put yourself in their skates. Imagine playing shinny at a
local rink or hockey in another league, then joining your NHL team, going
through a five-day training camp, playing zero preseason games and
hopping right into regular-season action. It's about more than conditioning.
It's about habits.
Forwards: When they skated at local rinks, players simply tried to maintain
their conditioning and skills. They skated in loops. They didn't hit each
other. In Europe, it was competitive but a different style on a larger ice
surface. They still skated in loops. They didn't hit like they do here. Now
coaches are barking at them to stop and start, sprint back defensively, and
drill defensemen on the forecheck.
Defensemen: Consider a guy like Dallas Stars vet Stephane Robidas. He
played in Finland for a couple of months, but came back in early December.
A month of shinny was enough to get used to making plays comfortably. He
faced only token pressure. Now he has to turn and retrieve the puck in the
corner under real pressure, with a forechecker coming to hit him. "That's a
big difference," he said. "You've got to get in game situations. That's the
only way you're going to replicate that." One other thing: Defensemen don't
shoot much playing shinny for the same reason guys don't hit – they don't
want to hurt anyone. Now they need to get the puck through to the net. "I'm
still a little bit in that mentality where you try to make that pretty play,"
Robidas said. "That's not how it works at this level."
Goaltenders: If they played in Europe, they have to get used to the angles
on the smaller ice surface and the increased traffic in front of the net. If they
only practiced, they have to get used to not only the speed of an NHL
game, but the mental grind. There is a reason goalies do eye exercises and
concentration drills in the off-season, but it is not the same as tracking the
puck for 60 minutes or more.
OVERTIME: Tomas Holmstrom leaves ’em laughing
Tomas Holmstrom's retirement speech was as entertaining as the Wings
player's goofy, gutsy career. (Getty)One night in the early 2000s, the Detroit
Red Wings held a rookie dinner at a Vancouver steakhouse. They made the
youngsters give speeches. They also made Tomas Holmstrom speak –
even though he had broken into the NHL years before. He was hilarious for
what he said and how he said it in "Swenglish," his own personal dialect, a
combination of Swedish and English. Both Swedes and North Americans
struggled to understand him. "Translator!" they'd yell.
So you knew Holmstrom's retirement speech would be entertaining on
Tuesday. As he thanked everyone from scout Hakan Andersson ("good job,
Hakan") and Zamboni driver Al Sobotka ("best octopus swinger") for his
remarkable career, he left everyone in tears of laugher. As former
teammate Kris Draper told reporters: "That press conference right there, I
mean, we lived that for 15 years."
Just two highlights that reflected a goofy, gutsy 10th-round pick who played
1,000 NHL games and won four Stanley Cups: Holmstrom, who made a
career of posting up in front of the net on the power play, used a flat blade
to deflect pucks. Luc Robitaille once suggested he try a curve – and coach
Scotty Bowman did not like the result. "I did it one day, and I almost got
traded," Holmstrom said. "I was like, 'Scotty, seriously, it was Luc's idea.' "
As for his inability to skate at an NHL level, well, he blamed longtime
equipment man Paul Boyer. "I could never get the glide I wanted," he said.
SHOOTOUT: Last shots from around the NHL
If you ever ripped the owners for failing to control themselves, then don't
blame them for holding the line on restricted free agents – the Montreal
Canadiens with P.K. Subban, the Dallas Stars with Jamie Benn and the
Colorado Avalanche with Ryan O'Reilly.
Habs GM Marc Bergevin should be reluctant to give Subban a rich, longterm deal. Still too many questions about Subban, and Bergevin, a rookie
GM, needs to set a strong precedent. But he also should be reluctant to
trade him. If and when Subban matures as a person and player and all that
skill is harnessed, look out.
How about Marian Hossa and the Chicago Blackhawks? Hossa came back
from a concussion with four goals and five points as the 'Hawks started 3-00. They beat the Stanley Cup champions (Los Angeles Kings) and Pacific
Division champions (Phoenix Coyotes) on the road, then the Western
Conference media darlings (St. Louis Blues) at home.
With all due respect for Gaborik-Richards-Nash, the scariest line in the NHL
is Evgeni Malkin-Sidney Crosby-James Neal. Bylsma has all three available
at once, for a change, and likes to put them out together after a penalty kill.
Doesn't matter that they're all lefties.
Sorry, but skeptical of the Anaheim Ducks' start. They have scored 12 goals
and are 2-0-0. But is this just Bruce Boudreau firewagon hockey flourishing
in the sloppy early going? They have been great 5-on-5 but poor on the PK.
Losing Joffrey Lupul to a broken arm is an obvious blow. But an
encouraging sign for Randy Carlyle's Leafs: five goals against in their first
three games – at a time when the league is playing loose, when they had to
play in Pittsburgh's home opener. Did not pick them to be the first to beat
the Pens, let alone by a 5-2 score.
The impatience in Vancouver is understandable, and maybe Canucks GM
Mike Gillis has overplayed his hand. But let's face it: Roberto Luongo has
10 years and more than $45 million left on his contract, plus a no-trade
clause. Gillis is not exactly dealing from a position of strength, and Luongo
is being classy. If there is no urgent need to dump salary now, why not wait
for the right deal?
Dislike staged fights. Think fights should be sparked by something that
happens in the game, not used as a tool to spark something. But cannot
deny they are an effective tool. Anti-fighting arguments continue to be
drowned out by crowd noise.
Talked to Jaromir Jagr about his weighted vest. Patted my stomach and
smiled. "You got same thing, but you cannot take it off," he said with a
laugh. Well, I could take it off if I trained like him.
YAHOO.COM LOADED: 01.25.2013

nhl`s daily clips - Philadelphia Flyers

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