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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEFNHL 10/6/2013

Anaheim Ducks719668 Ducks defeat Wild in overtime719669 Up next for the Ducks: Saturday at Minnesota719670 Selanne expected to be a Jet-setter tonight719671 Ducks' 20th Anniversary Team719672 Kariya leaves hole in the Ducks' scrapbook719673 Ducks win on Perreault's OT goal

Boston Bruins719674 Power’s on as Bruins beat Red Wings719675 Zdeno Chara thriving in his new special teams role719676 Brad Marchand makes his presence felt719677 Martin St. Louis only choice for Tampa captaincy719678 Game 2: Red Wings at Bruins719679 Caron takes advantage719680 B’s up for new rivalry719681 Chara helping change power outage719682 Patrice Bergeron: So far, so good for Sochi719683 Notebook: Blake Wheeler rises to task in Winnipeg719684 Bruins dump Red Wings, 4-1719685 Rask stops 25 shots; Bruins beat Red Wings 4-1719686 Bruins and Red Wings renew rivalry

Buffalo Sabres719687 Sabres overmatched in loss to Penguins719688 Miller won't dress against Penguins tonight; Sabres goalie

nursing sore groin, source says719689 Sabres' Hackett: 'I never seen getting called up after six

goals coming'719690 Sabres' Miller has 'not serious, very short term' lower-body

problem, Regier says719691 Hackett rejoins Sabres with Miller absent from morning skate

Calgary Flames719692 Flames notes: Centreman Colborne to make Saddledome

debut Saturday719693 Calgary Flames netminder Joey MacDonald to start against

Vancouver Canucks719694 Calgary Flames a work in progress719695 Dome sweet Dome for Joe Colborne with Calgary Flames719696 Seven storylines to follow in the NHL's new Pacific Division

Chicago Blackhawks719697 Kostka makes Blackhawks debut; Rozsival sits719698 Sweet start, sour ending for Hawks719699 Michael Kostka out to proves he belongs in the lineup719700 Blackhawks let it slip away in 3-2 loss719701 Ben Smith on permanent press setting719702 Blackhawks run into hot goalie in loss719703 Blackhawks' Sharp knows all about fitness719704 Hawks fall to Lightning in shootout 3-2719705 Lightning take late strike at Blackhawks719706 Crawford, Hawks fall to Lighting in shootout719707 Konroyd's keys against Lightning: Stay out of the box719708 Kostka set to make Blackhawks debut719709 Blackhawks return to CSN to host lightning at 6:30

Colorado Avalanche719710 Paul Stastny could be odd man out with Avalanche by

season's end719711 Avs' Nate MacKinnon looks like the real, super deal719712 Avalanche 2-0, but Patrick Roy not happy with power play

(or play of Tyson Barrie)719713 Steve Downie will not be suspended for his hit on Roman

Josi

Dallas Stars719714 New NHL rules limit fighting719715 Rich Peverley makes Stars debut after missing preseason

and opener719716 Heika: Rookie Alex Chiasson powering Stars' offense, leads

team to first win719717 Stars take on Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals as they try to

rebound from opening night loss719718 Scouting the enemy: Alex Ovechkin is in beast mode early in

the season719719 Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff: There's no excuse to give up

39 shots719720 There are no plans to shuffle line combinations, Dallas Stars

coach Lindy Ruff says719721 Stars defenseman Sergei Gonchar ranks all-time Russian

team; Zubov makes cut719722 Chiasson's goal lifts Stars over Capitals 2-1

Detroit Red Wings719723 Bruins 4, Red Wings 1: Why the Red Wings lost on Saturday

night719724 Boston 4, Detroit 1: 'It didn't look like us,' Red Wings' Daniel

Cleary says after loss719725 Boston 4, Detroit 1: Red Wings' offense sputters in loss to

Bruins719726 'Puck hound' Tomas Tatar gets call for Red Wings against

Bruins719727 Livonia's Torey Krug proves skeptics wrong as Bruins

defensive standout719728 Red Wings soundly outplayed in loss to Bruins719729 Wings' forward Tomas Tatar waiting for playing chance719730 Red Wings coach Mike Babcock debating on whether to put

Tomas Tatar in lineup tonight against Bruins719731 Detroit Red Wings Gameday: Will game in Boston show

what life in Eastern Conference will be like?719732 Red Wings had chance to compare themselves to Bruins

and came up short in effort and execution719733 Boston Bruins hand Red Wings 4-1 loss in early season

clash of Eastern Conference contenders719734 Blog recap: Boston Bruins snap four-game losing streak to

Detroit Red Wings

Edmonton Oilers719735 Canucks chase Dubnyk from Oilers net with five goals in 34

minutes719736 Taylor Hall has a night to forget against the Vancouver

Canucks719737 Dallas Eakins has a history with Ryan Kesler719738 Bounce-back time for Edmonton Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk719739 Edmonton Oilers leaky again in loss to Canucks

Florida Panthers719740 Florida Panthers routed by St. Louis Blues719741 Florida Panthers’ Marcel Goc fitting in on top line719742 Recap: St. Louis vs. Florida719743 Blues too much for Panthers 7-0719744 PANTHERS NOTEBOOK: Marcel Goc Digging New Role

Uptown ...719745 SMOKED IN ST. LOUIS: Panthers Beaten Down in 7-0 Loss

to719746 Panthers singing the Blues in 7-0 thumping719747 Panthers coach Dineen tinkers with lineup even after

season-opening win

Los Angeles Kings719748 Kings' forward Matt Frattin tries to get in line719749 KingsVision: We Are All Kings719750 Waking up with the Kings: October 5719751 October 4 postgame notes, highlights

Minnesota Wild719752 Russo's Sunday NHL Insider: First ugly fighting incident on

league's first night719753 Second game, same result: Wild loses to Anaheim in

overtime719754 Wild notes: Dumba makes NHL debut719755 Wild-Anaheim game recap719756 Postgame: Wild lose in OT and lose Coyle to lower-body

injury719757 Short takes: Roy's outburst planned719758 Dumba to make his NHL debut tonight against Anaheim719759 Wild fail to avoid the obvious in loss to Ducks719760 Ducks 4, Wild 3: Mathieu Perreault scores winner as OT

expires719761 Minnesota Wild: Another one-point night leads to frustration719762 Minnesota Wild: Stoner sits so coaches can evaluate719763 Wild's Mathew Dumba getting a chance to prove he belongs

Montreal Canadiens719764 Eller and Gallagher goals lift Canadiens past punchless

Flyers719765 About last night …

Nashville Predators719766 Nashville Predators' 0-2 record doesn't reflect improvement719767 Preds' scoreboard: no wins, few goals

New Jersey Devils719768 Devils fall to Islanders, 4-3, in shootout719769 Devils: Mark Fayne deals with being the odd man out on

defense719770 Devils score three goals, but can't nail down first victory of

season719771 Devils' Cory Schneider knows his return to Vancouver will be

'a pretty big deal'719772 Devils' Pete DeBoer: Three goals should be enough to win719773 Devils couldn't get one past Evgeni Nabokov in shootout719774 : A slimmer, hungrier Martin Brodeur in net; more line

changes719775 Devils hope to become united during long road trip719776 Devils notes: Goaltender Martin Brodeur on his relationship

with Cory Schneider

New York Islanders719777 Islanders fall to Blue Jackets on Cam Atkinson’s shootout

goal719778 Islanders blow 2-0 lead, fall to Blue Jackets719779 Islanders give up 2-goal lead and lose in shootout719780 There finally is continuity in the Islanders' universe719781 Jack Capuano shows confidence in rookie Brock Nelson719782 It wasn't Seventh Avenue, but Al Arbour put Islanders on

hockey map

New York Rangers719783 NY Rangers captain Ryan Callahan expected back in

Blueshirts lineup vs. LA Kings719784 Old defensive habits die hard for Rangers719785 Rangers’ Miller demoted to make room for ‘Fast’ rookie719786 NHL roundup: Islanders victimized by Blue Jackets' rally719787 Rangers' Ryan Callahan expected to play Monday719788 Former Ranger Marian Gaborik has moved on, in more ways

than one719789 Forward J.T. Miller sent down to AHL Hartford Wolf Pack719790 With Ryan Callahan ready to return, Rangers assign J.T.

Miller to Hartford

Ottawa Senators719791 MacArthur rips former coach Carlyle719792 Leafs charge back for shootout win over Sens719793 Clarkson came close to signing with Senators719794 Morning skate update: Corvo, Kassian in for Sens vs. Leafs719795 Senators prediction panel: Game 2719796 Sens blow lead lose in first Battle of Ontario719797 You hate Sens fans too? Here's why719798 MacArthur reveals he's got a bone to pick with former coach

Randy Carlyle719799 Da Costa healthy scratch in TO-Sens battle719800 Toronto Maple Leafs against rival Ottawa Senators in home

opener at Air Canada Centre

Philadelphia Flyers719801 Flyers: Too many penalties, too few goals719802 Flyers Notes: Schenn starts on top line, Voracek on third719803 Canadiens drop Flyers to 0-2719804 Hartnell eager to face 'feisty' Briere tonight719805 Flyers notes Voracek not worried about line status719806 Power play continues to sputter as Flyers fall in Montreal719807 Lecavalier gets star treatment from Montreal fans719808 Penalties lead to Flyers' unraveling in loss719809 Skate Update: Briere's billboard; Emery starts719810 Voracek not concerned with line combinations719811 Flyers-Canadiens: 5 things you need to know719812 Flyers keep searching for right combinations719813 Junior hockey aims to retain local talent719814 Flyers penalized 'way too much' in 4-1 loss to Canadiens719815 Penalties hurt Flyers in loss to Montreal

Phoenix Coyotes719816 Is Phoenix Coyotes wing Radim Vrbata streaky? Maybe not719817 Phoenix Coyotes fall to San Jose Sharks for their first loss of

season719818 Game Day: Coyotes at Sharks

Pittsburgh Penguins719819 Veteran Kobasew provides more offense in Pens' win over

Sabres719820 Penguins notebook: Letang resumes skating719821 Penguins notebook: Bennett expected to return to right wing719822 On the Penguins: Who can contend for the hardware?719823 Penguins top Buffalo Sabres, 4-1

San Jose Sharks719824 San Jose Sharks stay undefeated, down Phoenix Coyotes719825 Sharks seek breakthrough against Coyotes' Mike Smith719826 Tomas Hertl leads San Jose Sharks over Phoenix 4-1719827 Sharks, Hertl finally get to Coyotes' Smith719828 Instant Replay: Sharks bite early, beat Coyotes 4-1719829 Exclusive: Raffi Torres will return this season 'for sure'719830 Sharks must find a way to get to Smith719831 Coyotes-Sharks: In the Crease

St Louis Blues719832 Blues' light schedule allows club to roll with Halak719833 Blues’ penalty kill stops shot attempts in win over Florida719834 Blues declaw the Panthers719835 Blues will roll with Halak in net719836 Blues offense runs wild in big win over Panthers719837 Morrow proving to be welcome addition for Blues; Halak may

stay busy

Tampa Bay Lightning719838 Lightning recover, rally past Blackhawks719839 Bolts Beat: Not keeping Drouin was right move719840 Bolts Notes: Kostka looks back on Norfolk’s record run719841 Lightning beats Blackhawks in shootout719842 Lightning Nuts and Bolts719843 Lightning focuses on power-play faceoffs719844 Yzerman: Eject fighting players from games719845 Chicago's Mike Kostka says Lightning coach Cooper put him

on right path when both were with AHL Norfolk

Toronto Maple Leafs719846 Leafs rally from two down to beat Senators in shootout719847 Downtown Toronto awash with blue and white ahead of

Leafs home opener719848 Leafs’ winger Kulemin out two weeks after suffering ankle

injury in practice719849 Maple Leafs: Raymond’s spinarama shootout move leaves

Senators reeling719850 Maple Leafs win home opener, Jonathan Bernier stands tall:

Cox719851 Maple Leafs: Young D-man Rielly right at home in debut

outing: DiManno719852 Ex-Leaf MacArthur sounds off on Carlyle719853 Maple Leafs to go with James Reimer and three rookies in

home opener719854 You hate Sens fans too? Here's why719855 NHL debut leaves Maple Leafs' Rielly in stitches719856 Jonathan Bernier steals the show for Toronto Maple Leafs719857 Maple Leafs top Senators in shootout719858 Ankle takes out Leafs' Kulemin719859 Leafs coach Carlyle and Gardiner need to get on the same

page719860 Maple Leafs' blue line looks bright719861 Maple Leafs lose Nikolai Kulemin for two weeks719862 Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mason Raymond reveals you

can still do a spin-o-rama in the shootout719863 Jonathan Bernier shines in relief appearance as Toronto

Maple Leafs down Ottawa Senators in shootout719864 Maple Leafs’ Kulemin out two weeks with ankle injury,

Reimer gets start in home opener719865 Toronto Maple Leafs want Morgan Rielly to be himself in

NHL debut against Ottawa Senators

Vancouver Canucks719878 Burrows sidelined by foot injury ‘for couple of weeks’719879 Gallagher: Aggressive style looks like it will pay dividends719880 Canucks on song in 6-2 home opener victory over Edmonton

Oilers719881 The block talk stops here: Alex Burrows sidelined719882 Canucks Gameday: Tortorella show arrives home with

potentially retribution-minded Oilers in town719883 Gallagher: Get out with the ‘poor Cory’ story, he’ll do just fine719884 Dale Weise says “I’ll guess we will see what happens,” in

first meeting with Oilers since Hall hit719885 John Tortorella: ‘I know you’re probably going to ask about

15 questions about shot-blocking’719886 Canucks preview: Down goes Burrows, Down goes Burrows719887 Alex Burrows will be sidelined for a “couple of weeks,” with

shot-block injury, according to Tortorella719888 Sedins help Canucks rebound with convincing win over

Oilers719889 Tortorella defends strategy after Burrows becomes second

Canuck lost to shot-blocking injury

Washington Capitals719866 About the Capitals’ disallowed goal in Dallas719867 Catching up with former Caps prospect, Stars center Cody

Eakin719868 Joel Ward recounts being trapped in a hotel bathroom719869 Jack Hillen underwent successful surgery; Steve Oleksy to

face Stars

Winnipeg Jets719870 Finnish Flash finished? Jokinen not convinced719871 Venerable Flash needs his rest719872 You'll be a Jets legend forever719873 TaitSelannebythenumbers719874 With glowing heart719875 Teemu Selanne's top 5 moments719876 Jets avoid overconfidence while Scheifele gets more

comfortable719877 Selanne’s latest farewell tour stops in Winnipeg

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129

719668 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks defeat Wild in overtime

Associated Press

8:36 PM PDT, October 5, 2013

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Mathieu Perreault scored at 4 minutes 55 seconds of overtime to give the Ducks a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.

After losing their season opener, 6-1, Wednesday in Denver to the Avalanche, the Ducks came out looking to make amends. They needed less than two minutes to score against the Wild, and led 2-0 before the game was 6 minutes old.

“Any headline you read was about how bad we were, so the pride took over a little bit,” Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said. “It was a big factor in the game.”

BOX SCORE: Ducks 4, Minnesota 3 (OT)

Saku Koivu and Nick Bonino scored the Ducks' goals in the first period. Jakob Silfverberg scored his second goal of the season for the Ducks, assisted by Perreault and Dustin Penner, early in the second period.

Zach Parise scored two goals for the Wild, which lost its opener Thursday in a shootout to the Kings.

Perreault's game-winner came on a two-on-one break with Francois Beauchemin. He dumped the puck to a streaking Beauchemin, who gave it right back to Perreault, and the center flipped his shot past Niklas Backstrom.

“Nobody in that locker room was happy with the way we lost in the season opener,” said Beauchemin, who also assisted on Koivu's first-period goal.

“We wanted to get back to the way we can play. And even though we didn't play our best game tonight, I thought we came out pretty good.”

Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller had 30 saves; Backstrom finished with 26.

LA Times: LOADED: 10.06.2013


Up next for the Ducks: Saturday at Minnesota

The Ducks were 3-0 against the Wild in the 2012-13 season.

October 5, 2013—Lance Pugmire

AT MINNESOTA

When: 5 PDT.

Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul.

On the Air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830.

Record vs. Wild (2012-13): 3-0.

Update: Minnesota fell to the Kings in a shootout Thursday. Ducks goalie Viktor Fasth didn't grasp the opportunity he was given in a 6-1 loss at Colorado, where newcomer Jakob Silfverberg scored the team's lone goal.



Selanne expected to be a Jet-setter tonight

By ERIC STEPHENS / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Published: Oct. 5, 2013 Updated: 10:27 p.m.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Teemu Selanne was merely a spectator Saturday night but there isn’t a doubt that the winger will be the center of attention on Sunday.

Selanne will return to Winnipeg when the Ducks face the Jets and the 15,005-seat MTS Centre will again be jam-packed to witness his final game in the city where he began his momentous NHL career.

It isn’t the first time Selanne has been back but it will be the last. And the reception could be as stirring as the one given to him in the winter of 2011 when he played his first game there since the original Jets traded him to the Ducks in 1996.

“That was unbelievable,” Selanne said. “I don’t really know what to expect. The way how I left the first time in ’96, it happened so quickly and I didn’t really have a chance to say goodbye to the fans. That city was very important for me.”

Longtime Jets fans instantly fell in love with Selanne when the winger exploded onto the hockey scene by scoring 76 goals as a rookie, a mark that remains his career best and one that might stand for a while as a league record for a first-year player.

The love only intensified over time as the first incarnation moved to Phoenix and Winnipeg was without an NHL team until the new Jets relocated from Atlanta in 2011.

“That’s why it’s so special,” Selanne said. “I went there as a young kid and the whole city took me in like I was one of their own. It’s overwhelming. It’s hard to describe and understand really how everything happened there. It’s ‘Friendly Manitoba.’”

His teammates were also awed by the widespread outpouring of love. Selanne was cheered throughout the game and raised his stick during the first stoppage in play and after the game to acknowledge the sellout crowd that serenaded him.

“It was really cool for me to see that,” Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler said. “It was awesome. Just the buzz in the building. Every time he touched the puck, the way the crowd reacted. They booed us every time we had the puck.

“But it was pretty cool. I wish we could have got a win for him. It’s definitely something I remember.”

Selanne was a healthy scratch Saturday against Minnesota as the Ducks and he have a plan in place where he’ll sit one out when the team has to play games on consecutive nights.

Many Jets fans have begged him to come full circle and finish his career with the team but Selanne never seriously considered signing with the club and has created a legacy with the Ducks. He is firmly entrenched with his family in Southern California.

But the winger is planning on making the most of his last stop to where it all began.

“If somebody waits at 2 a.m. in minus-15 (temperature), they deserve to get an autograph,” Selanne said, recalling when fans met the team bus last time. “It just shows how big the hockey is there. It’s bigger than anything.

“That’s why you appreciate Canadians. How much they love hockey and how much passion they have. It’s very, very special.”

STILL RUSTY

Francois Beauchemin admits that his first two games coming off offseason ACL surgery have been nowhere near the form he showed during his career season a year ago.

Beauchemin did set up the play that led to Mathieu Perreault’s overtime goal to make the Ducks a winner Saturday night. But the leader of the

defense corps knows that there is still quite a bit of rust to knock off while he finds his game.

“Obviously I’m not where I’d like to be but it’s going to take some time,” said Beauchemin, who had a nightmarish opener in Colorado. “I have to be patient with the surgery I had. Sometimes it’s just frustrating that I’m not playing the way I’m capable of.

“I’m just going to keep working hard and try to keep things simple. It’s going to come back.”

PENNER PLAYS

Dustin Penner played in his first game with the Ducks since 2007 after signing as a free agent and being scratched for the opener. Penner played a shade over 10 minutes and got his first point, an assist on Jakob Silfverberg’s second-period goal.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 10.06.2013


Ducks' 20th Anniversary Team

By ERIC STEPHENS

2013-10-05 17:06:00

1. Teemu Selanne

Is there any doubt about this one? A superstar who first arrived to Anaheim in 1996, Selanne remarkably re-emerged as a top-flight NHL star at 35 after reconstructive surgery to fix his right knee. The Finnish Flash got his Stanley Cup in 2007 and has remained a big part of the Ducks into his 40s. With the Ducks have come 448 of his 675 goals, 513 of his 755 assists and 961 of his 1,430 points, all of which are the most in the club’s annals by far. Countless jerseys sold with his name on the back and tickets sold because of his presence.

2. Paul Kariya

Kariya will always be the Mighty Ducks’ first star. There were contentious contract issues that perked up during his nine seasons in Anaheim but there was not a better left wing in the game during the late 1990s. At the time of his departure in 2003, Kariya held club records with 300 goals, 369 assists and 669 points. His dramatic Game 6 goal in the Stanley Cup final after being laid out by New Jersey’s Scott Stevens is still one of the greatest moments to have ever taken place at Honda Center (nee Arrowhead Pond).

3. Scott Niedermayer

His 13 seasons and three Stanley Cups with New Jersey obviously stand out, but Niedermayer’s contributions in his five years with the Ducks are equally impressive. The biggest free-agent signing in the club’s history became their universally respected captain and leader, coming up with big momentum-changing plays during their 2006 and 2007 postseason runs. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in ’07 as the playoffs MVP in the Cup run and heads into the Hockey Hall of Fame this November. His No. 27 could wind up in the Honda Center rafters.

4. Corey Perry

No matter what he does from now on, Perry will always have his magical 2010-11 season where he put up 50 goals and 98 points in winning the Hart Trophy and becoming the first Ducks player to be selected as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player. But he’s been an elite right wing for a while, topping 30 goals two other times and averaging 35 over a five-season span from 2007-08 to 2011-12. That production got him an eight-year, $69-million contract extension.

5. Ryan Getzlaf

Now entrenched as the Ducks’ captain, Getzlaf is building his legacy after signing his own eight-year contract extension. The big center is already third on the club’s scoring list and responded to a poor 2011-12 campaign with one of his best – 15 goals, 34 assists in 44 games during the lockout-shortened 2012-13. Perry’s MVP campaign doesn’t happen if one of the NHL’s top playmakers isn’t getting him the puck.

6. Jean-Sebastien Giguere

Simply put, the Mighty Ducks’ inspirational 2003 run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final does not happen without Giguere. He became the fifth player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ MVP as part of the losing team. Four years later, “Jiggy” captured the Cup. He holds franchise goalie marks for victories (206), shutouts (32) and starts (431) while recording a more-than-credible 2.47 goals-against average.

7. Chris Pronger

Pronger is destined for the Hockey Hall of Fame and it’s a shame his career is effectively over because of post-concussion syndrome. He’s probably too far down on this list only because he played in just three seasons with the Ducks. But he was exactly what they needed in 2007, bringing elite-level talent and a mean streak to a team that was already on the rise. The star defenseman was the final piece to the 2007 Cup team.

8. Bobby Ryan

He’s in Ottawa now and played just five-plus years in a Ducks uniform, but the No. 2 pick in the 2005 draft scored 30 or more goals in four seasons. Few have provided more highlight-reel moments than the often-exciting Ryan. One of the most memorable Ducks’ playoff goals was by Ryan against Nashville in the 2011 playoffs. No player other than Selanne oozed more personality in recent years than the second No. 9.

9. Steve Rucchin

There’s no question that Rucchin benefitted from having Paul Kariya on his left side and Teemu Selanne on his right, but the popular center often did the dirty work and got the puck to his high-profile teammates, who could focus on scoring. And lest we forget that it was his overtime goal to cap a stunning first-round sweep of Detroit to start the magical 2003 playoff run.

10. Andy McDonald

The undrafted free agent out of Colgate battled concussion issues and missed the 2003 playoff run because of them but the speedy center formed a formidable partnership with a rejuvenated Teemu Selanne, putting up career highs of 34 goals and 85 points in 2005-06 and winning the Cup the next season. Longtime fans still lament former GM Brian Burke trading him to St. Louis for Doug Weight.

11. Francois Beauchemin

Beauchemin first endeared himself to Ducks fans with his TKO of Calgary’s Jarome Iginla in the 2006 playoffs, which proved to be the emotional turn in a first-round series they would win in seven games. Since then, he has left and returned to Anaheim, becoming the hard-hitting, minutes-eating bedrock of their defense corps and a player that could succeed without Scott Niedermayer.

12. Guy Hebert

The first player selected by the Mighty Ducks in the 1993 expansion draft, Hebert would have a losing record during his tenure. But he’s second in club history with 173 wins and 27 shutouts. He was the Ducks’ starting goalie for their first seven seasons, gave often-thin rosters a chance to win on many nights and backstopped them to the 1997 and 1999 playoffs.

13. Oleg Tverdovsky

Tverdovsky only played four-plus seasons over two stints in Anaheim and was the key piece to bring Selanne to Southern California. But the smooth-skating Ukrainian was undeniably talented and recorded back-to-back 50-point seasons with the Mighty Ducks in 1999-00 and 2000-01. He would win two Stanley Cups in New Jersey – against the Ducks – and Carolina.

14. Ruslan Salei

Salei was taken ninth overall in the 1996 draft and played the first nine of his 14 NHL seasons in Anaheim, becoming a rough-and-tumble cornerstone of the Mighty Ducks’ defense corps. His 594 games are still most for a defenseman in franchise history. Tragedy struck the affable “Rusty” in 2011 when he perished with 42 others in a plane crash that killed all but one player on the KHL’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team.

15. Samuel Pahlsson

Quiet and as unassuming a player in the franchise’s history, Pahlsson lined up against the opponent’s top centers for eight seasons in a Ducks sweater and often had success in stopping them. The tough Swede was at his peak in 2006-07 when he was a finalist for the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward and centered a feared shutdown line with Travis Moen and Rob Niedermayer in the club’s Stanley Cup run.

16. Jonas Hiller

The talented Hiller was so thought of by then-GM Brian Burke that he essentially gave up equally-talented goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. Hiller grabbed the starting job from Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2009 and starred in a first-round upset of top-seeded San Jose. He’s won 30 games once and 133 games for the Ducks in his six seasons, even with a mysterious case of vertigo that wrecked a potentially stellar 2010-11 season.

17. Chris Kunitz

Looking back, Bob Murray’s trade of Kunitz to Pittsburgh for defenseman Ryan Whitney rates as one of his worst moves. But we’ll just look at what the Ferris State product did for the Ducks, which was develop into a two-time, 20-goal scorer and key contributor in their 2005-08 heyday. The gritty left wing has topped 20 goals three more times with the Penguins and won a second Stanley Cup in 2009.

18. Fredrik Olausson

You have to be highly thought of in some way if you’re acquired by the same team three times. That is just what the Mighty Ducks did with Olausson, who returned the admiration with production and a healthy level of calm from the blue line. He had 16 goals and 56 points for the Ducks’ 1998-99 playoff squad. And 1,022 NHL games is nothing to sneeze at.

19. Matt Cullen

Cullen has forged a nice NHL career that’s going into its 17th year. Are there many that remember that the former St. Cloud State standout played his first six seasons with Anaheim? He was one of the better players for the Mighty Ducks during some lean years and missed out on their 2003 playoff run, becoming the key piece that landed defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh from Florida. Cullen got his Cup three years later with Carolina.

20. Petr Sykora/George Parros

Sykora only played in two full seasons with the Mighty Ducks and half of a third but his 34-goal, 59-point season in 2002-03 won’t be forgotten. Nor will his winning fifth-overtime Game 1 goal against Dallas in the second round. Parros never racked up many points but he had many victories in becoming one of the NHL’s top enforcers. The Mustachioed One remains one of the most popular players in the Ducks’ history.



Kariya leaves hole in the Ducks' scrapbook

By MARK WHICKER

2013-10-05 18:04:19

You didn’t go see the Mighty Ducks. You went to see Paul Kariya.

He kept the building full when the novelty disappeared. He gave the Ducks points when games seemed pointless. He was the face of the franchise when no one was using that tiresome phrase, although he was really the legs.

Then came the Cup and the Twins and the Hall of Fame defensemen and the annual playoff trips. Kariya missed all of that.

He retired in 2011, on terms dictated by the elbows of others. He is neither gone nor forgotten, but the essential Duck is now invisible.

Oh, you can catch him at a beach now and then, surfing. The concussions that robbed Kariya of a proper goodbye do not keep him out of the water. Scott Niedermayer joins him sometimes, watches him prepare and practice as if he were facing the Red Wings again.

“He has his little warmup, he works hard out on the water,” Niedermayer said. “For someone who isn’t a lifelong surfer, I would find it hard to believe someone could be better. He loves it. It’s fun to see. He’s having a lot of fun.”

“He reads the books about how to surf, he watches surfing videos,” Teemu Selanne said. “He wants to be as good as he can be. He’s out there every day. And he told me that once I’m done playing, we’ll play golf once a week.”

But Kariya will not ride a wave or a car or any other mode of transportation into Honda Center, and not because of any particular antipathy toward the Ducks, who have changed mightily since he left after the run to Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Final.

“He’s generous with the kids, and I was there one day when he gave away 10 pairs of skates and some sticks,” Selanne said. “I need to talk to him, find some way to get him back with the Ducks’ family. Obviously he was the No. 1 star here. He has a lot to give to this organization.

“They should retire his number. Absolutely. But he says, no, don’t ever talk to him about that. He’s still a little humble about that, for sure.”

Selanne senses Kariya is “bitter” about the way it all ended, about the fact that Kariya’s head became a piñata, and nobody seemed to care.

In 1997 he got his first concussion, from Montreal’s Mathieu Schneider. In 1998 he was pole-axed by Chicago’s Gary Suter and missed 28 games and the Nagano Olympics, where he would have been Canada’s best shootout weapon against Dominik Hasek.

In 2003 he took a head shot from New Jersey’s Scott Stevens in Game 6 of the Final. Carried off, he skated back and produced the most electric moment in 20 years of Ducks hockey: a massive slapper that zinged past Martin Brodeur.

In 2009, playing for St. Louis, Kariya came out of the penalty box just in time to take an elbow to the head from Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta.

Suter got a four-game suspension. Stevens and Kaleta were not suspended.

Doctors told Kariya his career was over in the summer of 2011, just as the Ducks, at Selanne’s urging, were trying to sign him.

Kariya suggested at the time that general managers should be fined and coaches suspended over illegal head shots.

“With a concussion, you walk into the dressing room and they say, ‘How are you doing? Are you OK to go tomorrow?’” Kariya said. “It’s totally backward. I’ve had two hip reconstructions and I’ll take that any day over a concussion.”

Niedermayer was on the ice when Stevens caught Kariya.

“The game was good to him but in other ways it was tough on him,” Niedermayer said. “We’re still learning about concussions but we’re much more aware of them now than 20 years ago. I’m sure he was expected to do things that wouldn’t happen today. That day he made a decision to come back. We’re entitled to that, as athletes. Everyone respected that.

“I can understand that he isn’t left with good memories. Hopefully over time he can focus on the good stuff. He told me he’s feeling good. That’s good, right? That’s what you hope for.”

Kariya turns 39 next month. With a clearer head, he could still be playing supersonic hockey with the 42-year-old Selanne, especially with the post-2006 rules against obstruction.

“It was magic when we played together,” said Selanne, who joined Kariya in February of 1996. “We didn’t have to look at each other to know where we were. Every day we practiced different things, and there was always a competition. Who could score more goals? That’s how we got better.

“Expectations were so high. He would make a bad pass and we’d go to the bench and I was just giving it to him so bad. Teammates would say, ‘Holy smokes, what’s he doing?’ He would do the same to me. Not very often can any player have that type of chemistry.”

Kariya scored 11 goals in 47 games his rookie year. The coaching staff told him to go home and work on his shot. “Pound the puck,” assistant coach Tim Army recalled. Kariya pounded the puck all summer. The next year he scored 50.

“What I remember is how he could accept the puck, no dribble or anything, and then buggy-whip it so fast,” said Army, now an assistant in Colorado. “You couldn’t hear the puck hit or leave the stick. Brett Hull could do that. Paul just did it through hard work.”

That’s how he gathered a rolling puck on slushy ice in Phoenix and fired an overtime goal to win Game 6 of the Ducks’ first playoff series, setting up a Game 7 victory.

Kariya skated against the best defenders every night. In ’97 he was plus-36 on a team that went 36-33-13. That was the year he led the NHL with 10 winning goals.

He ended his career with a symmetrical 989 points in 989 games, with 402 goals.

The rafters at Honda Center will never be complete without his No. 9. But first Kariya must emerge from the quiet room.



Ducks win on Perreault's OT goal

By ERIC STEPHENS / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Mathieu Perreault still needs to get to a comfort zone with the Ducks after being with his new team less than a week.

His impact Saturday night will be heartily welcomed by his teammates if there is more of it in store.

Perreault took an entry pass from Francois Beauchemin on a last-ditch shift in overtime and beat Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom to give the Ducks a 4-3 victory over the Wild at Xcel Energy Center.

The goal capped a wild sequence during four-on-four play in which Perreault was stopped on an odd-man rush but got another after Jonas Hiller foiled the Wild’s Kyle Brodziak on a two-on-one break up ice.

“Kind of got open there,” Perreault said. “A great pass by Beauch. Found a way to slide it through.”

Perreault didn’t need much time to leave a good impression after the Ducks didn’t give up much to acquire him from Washington on Sunday. The diminutive center also set up Jakob Silfverberg’s second-period goal in an effective night.

“We actually worked on that a little bit last practice,” Perreault said. “I was trying to give him a couple of passes in the slot to one-time it. Just kind of worked out the same way we kind of practiced it.”

The Ducks were far from perfect. They still struggled in their defensive zone and on the penalty kill with Zach Parise and Jason Pominville getting power-play goals to cut into their two-goal leads. Parise also tied it up early in the third.

But it was a far better showing that their opening-night debacle against Colorado. Saku Koivu and Nick Bonino got the Ducks (1-1-0) out to a quick 2-0 lead and Silfverberg made it 3-1 early in the second.

Hiller got his first start of the season and stopped 30 shots.

“We’re not perfect,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We’re not anywhere where we want to be in a week from now even. But as long as we can make positive strides every night, I think we’re sitting in good stead.”


719674 Boston Bruins

Power’s on as Bruins beat Red Wings

By Amalie Benjamin / Globe Staff / October 5, 2013

The Bruins spent the preseason working on a new-look power play, an attempt to conquer their man-advantage demons. They placed Zdeno Chara in front of the net, a big body in a big spot, hoping that the potential advantages would outweigh any injury concerns.

So far, the returns are good.

Boston scored twice on the power play Saturday night against the Red Wings, with both Torey Krug and Chara netting goals on the man advantage, as the Bruins beat their new Atlantic Division foe, 4-1, in front of a sellout crowd at TD Garden.

The first goal, scored by Krug worked exactly how Boston envisioned. Chara blocked goalie Jimmy Howard and Krug ripped a shot from the high slot putting the Bruins on the board. They came back again in the third, with Chara doing the honors, collecting a pass from Krug and putting a deke on Howard.

With the Red Wings playing on tired legs — Detroit was playing its third game in four nights and had played in Carolina Friday — they were outshot by the Bruins, 37-26.

Boston added two goals in the second period, one by Brad Marchand and one by Jordan Caron. Marchand scored just 36 seconds into the period, taking the puck down the right side and putting it on net. Caron’s goal made up for the one he should have had Thursday night that was erased by a quick whistle, and the resurgent left winger celebrated accordingly.

Marchand was later knocked down on a blindside hit by Justin Abdelkader that didn’t draw a whistle at 3:25 into the second. Marchand stayed down for a minute before skating off under his own power and heading to the dressing room. He only missed one shift.

Boston Globe LOADED: 10.06.2013


Zdeno Chara thriving in his new special teams role

By Fluto Shinzawa

| Globe Staff

October 06, 2013

Jimmy Howard enjoyed five full seasons of practicing with Tomas Holmstrom’s back end just about rubbing his nose. Perhaps Howard’s six-year, $31.75 million contract includes back hazard pay for suffering such punishment.

But practicing against one of the game’s best net-front men was not enough to steel Howard for what he faced Saturday night at TD Garden.

Zdeno Chara, the biggest and strongest man in the NHL, is now the down-low behemoth on the Bruins’ No. 1 power-play unit. On four power plays, Chara staked his claim to the ice in front of Howard. The Detroit goalie had less breathing room than inside a typical Allston apartment.

The power play went 2 for 4 — Chara screened Howard on Torey Krug’s goal in the first, and beat the goalie with a backhander in the third — to lead the Bruins to a 4-1 win.

“It’s not easy when there’s somebody who’s [6 feet 9 inches] standing in front of you,” Howard said. “It’s something you’ve got to figure out and find a way to try and find the puck. It’s extremely difficult with him in front.”

For most of his career, Chara has manned the blue line on the power play. Chara distributes the puck adequately and is also known for owning one of the league’s hardest shots.

But the competition he repeatedly claimed in one of those All-Star Game gimmicks is literally set up for the strongman. The puck lies flat on the ice like a Titleist waiting to be thwacked. Chara leans into his slapper and brings down the hammer on his triple-digit heater.

The next time a situation like that happens in a real game will be the first.

Chara was once asked how he’d prefer his stick, provided cost, technology, or any other variable were no object. Chara answered that his dream stick would put the puck wherever he wanted. In other words, even Chara acknowledged that his aim had the dependability of the Fung Wah bus. Last year, the Bruins hemmed and hawed about using Patrice Bergeron in front because of the danger of Chara’s shot.

The brief down-low glimpses of Chara in Boston and Ottawa showcased a defenseman with a surprisingly slick stick. Of course, Chara can blot out any goalie’s sightlines. But he’s nimble at retrieving pucks. Chara’s strength guarantees him a win in just about every puck race.

“I talked to [David Krejci] about it,” said Krug. “He said, ‘What should I do with the puck?’ I said, ‘I don’t know, just give it to Z, throw it in the corner for him.’ He’s going to win the battle nine out of 10 times.”

Deploying Chara as the net-front man is a setup that’s always intrigued the Bruins. In previous seasons, during six-on-five end-of-game situations, Chara rotated from the point to the front. Chara’s screen on James Reimer in Game 7 against Toronto last season helped Bergeron score the tying goal.

But the Bruins didn’t pull the trigger on the shift until now. They had secondary concerns regarding the pounding Chara would take down low. The position is a magnet for hurtling pucks. Claude Julien needed Chara taking friendly fire like he needed a puck to his own head.

The No. 1 issue, however, was the absence of better point options. The Bruins didn’t think they had a trustworthy point man who could run the power play and hammer pucks on goal.

Until now.

Krug is the No. 5 defenseman. But Krug’s primary job title is power-play quarterback for the first unit. Krug is everything a coach wants in his point man. Krug pushes the pace, sees the ice with panoramic vision, and puts shots on net.

At 9:11 of the first period, after taking a power-play pass from Milan Lucic, Krug had space at the top of circles. With Chara set up in front, Krug gripped and ripped a screamer into the net to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. It was Krug’s first regular-season goal.

In the third, the Bruins went on their fourth power play (Johan Franzen, interference). This time, Krug was on the dishing end. Krug spotted Chara swinging through center ice. Krug snapped the puck onto Chara’s tape. Chara gained the offensive zone and lifted a backhander over Howard at 12:17 to make it a 4-1 game.

During his time in Boston, Julien has never had a PP QB like Krug.

“Zdeno’s on the point because we felt we didn’t have a ton of other options,” Julien explained. “Now we do. You’ve added [Dougie] Hamilton and Krug. The mobility has increased back there. That allows us to move [Chara] to the position where we thought he’d be better suited for us.”

As the point man, Chara going back for a puck was slower than dial up. In a typical first period, by the time Chara had retrieved the puck, the concession stands were shutting off their taps.

Krug, on the other hand, is 4G-fast. Krug sprints back for the puck and races it back into offensive territory. Krug pushes the pace so briskly that penalty killers don’t have time to take a breath, much less execute a quick shift change.

While Krug is retrieving pucks, Chara is serving as the stretch man. Chara’s job is to hang loose at the offensive blue line as a long-distance threat. It is not a taxing task. The training staff could hand Chara a cup of coffee to sip before his grinding begins.

Chara’s real PP work is hard. It’s difficult to joust with defensemen and absorb slashes from goalies. Being the biggest man in the game, though, blunts some of that pain.



Brad Marchand makes his presence felt

By Amalie Benjamin

| Globe Staff

October 06, 2013

Brad Marchand had started slowly. He didn’t have the best training camp, and his line had struggled a bit to find chemistry, as he and Patrice Bergeron worked alongside new right wing Loui Eriksson. But it came together with the winning goal for Marchand in Saturday night’s 4-1 win over the Red Wings.

“I think [Marchand] was much better tonight,” coach Claude Julien said. “We know what he can do, and I think the biggest thing for him was to try and play more of a north-south type of game, and he responded extremely well.

“I saw that a little bit more in him tonight; just kind of stabilized his game a lot more. Before, he seemed to be on the left side one minute and the right side the next; he was a little bit all over, and sometimes when you try too hard it just makes it worse and simple sometimes is better. So I thought he did that tonight and it was nice to see him get a goal because of that.”

Marchand also sustained a serious hit in the game, being taken out by Justin Abdelkader 3:25 into the second period. The Detroit winger came full force at Marchand, who appeared to never see him coming. No penalty was called on the play.

Marchand remained face down on the ice as the trainer came out to take a look. He eventually skated off on his own power, and was helped into the dressing room.

Marchand, though, only missed a single shift — Reilly Smith stepped in for him — and finished the game with 13:15 of ice time.

Krug a regular guy, too

Torey Krug got his first goal of the season against Detroit, his hometown team. But it wasn’t just his first goal of this regular season, it was his first goal of any regular season.

Krug had four goals in 2012-2013, but all of them came during the playoffs. It was something he didn’t realize at first.

“I didn’t even think about it until [Milan Lucic] looked at me and goes, ‘Is that your first one?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I guess.’ ”

Krug said there wasn’t any extra excitement scoring it against the Red Wings, though he said, “It’s nice, obviously hometown team. When you’re out there, it’s another team in a different uniform.”

Art of goaltending

Chad Johnson had been sporting a mask in the wrong colors — Phoenix colors — for the entire preseason. It was sitting in his locker stall as recently as Friday. But before Saturday’s game, Johnson finally got his new paint job.

The backup goaltender went classic, with a big spoked-B on one side, a bear on the other, and claw prints on the top.

“Nice and simple,” he said. “Almost old-fashioned style.”

But where Johnson put his own mark was on the back of the mask.

There, Johnson has tributes to both Gerry Cheevers, No. 30, and to members of his family who have died. The initials of both grandfathers (Alex Laslo and Gilbert Johnson) and a pair of uncles (Kelly Johnson and Larry Johnson) are there, over a red maple leaf.

Meeting of minds

While Julien and Detroit coach Mike Babcock didn’t spend any time talking about the upcoming Olympics — Julien is on Babcock’s Team Canada staff — they did get a chance to talk about the five-on-three penalty kill. “If you want to stay on the top of your field, you have to continue to grow and get better,” Babcock said. “When you get to be around Claude and Lindy [Ruff] and Ken Holland and Steve Yzerman and Jacques Lemaire last time, Ken

Hitchcock. So when you’re around them, you’re going to learn a lot and they’re going to take something from you and you’re going to take something from them and in the end you probably don’t even know whose idea it was, as long as it’s a good idea.” . . . Carl Soderberg was not on the ice for morning skate as he tries to come back from an injured left ankle . . . . Matt Bartkowski was the healthy scratch for the second straight game . . . The last time the Bruins and Red Wings were in the same division was in the East in 1972-73 . . . The last shutout between these two teams? Way back in 1982, when the Bruins won, 7-0, Nov. 7.



Martin St. Louis only choice for Tampa captaincy

By Fluto Shinzawa

| Globe Staff

October 06, 2013

Steven Stamkos is the NHL’s most dangerous goal scorer. The center is Tampa Bay’s franchise player. Stamkos, bypassed by Team Canada for the 2010 Olympics, will be the team’s go-to shooter in Sochi next February. Stamkos is a friendly, engaging, and approachable young man. The 23-year-old represents his employer and his sport as well as any player in the league.

Stamkos, however, will have to wait to assume Tampa’s captaincy.

On Tuesday, the Lightning introduced Martin St. Louis as their new captain. The former University of Vermont star replaces Bolt buyout Vincent Lecavalier, who will be paid more than $32 million not to return to Tampa. The Lightning made the announcement at a fan event in St. Petersburg, Fla.

“You should have heard the roar Marty got from the fans,” said Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper. “It was amazing. We knew, obviously, he was going to be named captain before that. But that was just the exclamation point on the whole process.”

In other sports, team captaincy is an afterthought. For as many captains as an NFL team has, there are just as few on NBA and baseball rosters.

In hockey, being captain is different. It means something. The captain is the lead dog on the ice, on the bench, and in the dressing room. He is the conduit between players and coach. He talks to the referees. After he wins the Stanley Cup, he gets the “Price is Right” come-on-down wave from Gary Bettman when the commissioner requires a steward for the trophy. The “C” on his jersey is a seal of approval from the organization. Gone are the days of player votes.

“It’s more important in this sport than any other sport,” said Tampa alternate captain and ex-Bruin Nate Thompson, who was captain in Providence. “They’re leaned on the most. They take on the most responsibility.

“Most of all, to be a captain is a pretty special experience, because you’re the first guy who gets to hold the Stanley Cup. I think that’s a huge thing and a pretty special thing.”

Young captains are not an anomaly. Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, and Gabriel Landeskog were in their NHL diapers when they earned their captaincies.

But the responsibility can be overwhelming for others. Joe Thornton didn’t get it in Boston. Rick Nash’s Columbus captaincy ended when the Blue Jackets honored his request to leave town.

Stamkos wasn’t the only young player to be recently bypassed. Taylor Hall is Edmonton’s franchise player. Like Stamkos, Hall competes furiously. Hall, the first overall pick in the 2010 draft, is the future captain.

But the Oilers didn’t think the 21-year-old was the best current candidate. Instead, they tapped first-year Oiler and ex-Bruin Andrew Ference to replace Shawn Horcoff. The 34-year-old Ference, an Edmonton native, has three visits to the Cup Final and one ring. Experience always counts.

It was a similar situation in Tampa. Stamkos will be the next bearer of the “C.”

“I don’t think we’re opening eyes here saying that whenever that day comes that Marty hangs ’em up — which, hopefully, will be years and years from now — Stammer’s going to be the guy that’s extremely capable of taking over,” Cooper said.

Until then, the “C” will belong to St. Louis. In theory, the right wing was Lecavalier’s alternate. In practice, the roles had been reversed.

“It’s been his team for a while,” said Cooper, who replaced Guy Boucher last season. “Even in my limited time here last year, you could see it was his team.”

St. Louis, like former UVM teammate Tim Thomas, has a history of proving people wrong. Thirty teams passed on drafting the 5-foot-8-inch, 180-pound St. Louis. Calgary waived him. St. Louis responded by winning the Cup with Tampa in 2004. St. Louis was a point-per-game player in five of the last seven seasons.

Few are as competitive on the ice. Or even off it.

The last two summers, Torey Krug worked out with St. Louis in Darien, Conn., at Prentiss Hockey Performance. In the gym, St. Louis is the alpha male. St. Louis’s quads, which Krug classifies as tree trunks, are better placed in the Muir Woods than in an NHL rink. Summers shaping his body allow St. Louis to go nose-to-kneecap with Zdeno Chara in the NHL’s equivalents of dark alleys. St. Louis’s work ethic is more contagious than day-care sniffles.

“He’s intense. Very intense,” Krug said. “He’s one of a kind. When he’s in the gym or on the ice, he doesn’t like to lose. He absolutely hates losing more than he loves winning. That says a lot about him. The way he trains is like nobody I’ve ever seen. He’s a very focused individual. Very driven.”

Some captains lead by example. Others bark in the room. St. Louis is a mix of both. The smallest guy on the ice regularly mixes it up in the dirty areas. Between periods, St. Louis commands attention.

“Just bring what you bring,” said St. Louis, when asked how he intends to address his charges. “And have fun. This is a game we’re playing. Have fun doing it. Bring what brought you here.

“If you look at yourself in the mirror after every game and say, ‘I did everything I could,’ if everybody can do that at the end of the game, I like our chances.”

Captains like St. Louis convince their teammates to knock down walls. Especially when he’s the first one through.

ONLY MOVE

Kessel’s deal must for Leafs

Informal feedback around the NHL regarding Phil Kessel’s extension was uniform: The Maple Leafs gritted their teeth, held their noses, and signed the ex-Bruin to an eight-year, $64 million deal, which will become effective in 2014-15. They had no other choice.

Kessel’s company in the $8 million-per-year crowd: Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Corey Perry, Claude Giroux (starting in 2014-15), Eric Staal, and Ryan Getzlaf. Henrik Lundqvist, who will reach unrestricted free agency next season, will join that group with his next deal.

Does Kessel pass the smell test when mentioned in that group? Not entirely. Of the eight players in the $8 million club, five are captains (Ovechkin, Crosby, Giroux, Staal, and Getzlaf). Crosby, Malkin, Perry, Staal, and Getzlaf own Stanley Cup rings. The 26-year-old Kessel is not a rah-rah leader. His presence in the room is hardly considered dynamic.

In his final season as a Bruin, Kessel scored 36 quiet goals. Twenty-nine were against non-playoff teams. Kessel was a good, but not elite, offensive threat.

Now, Kessel is a different player and person than the one who forced his way out of Boston. Kessel is entering the sweet spot of his career.

Kessel was a point-per-game player the last two seasons.

During that time, only Stamkos (89-65—154), Malkin (59-83—142), and Giroux (41-99—140) scored more points than Kessel (57-77—134). By that metric alone, the market would have dictated a megabucks raise for Kessel.

Kessel really made his money, though, in the playoffs. Kessel and the Leafs lost to the Bruins in the opening round last season, but Kessel had four goals and two assists in the seven-game series. Even with the Bruins trying to match Zdeno Chara against Kessel, the right wing landed 29 shots on goal. Kessel missed on 10 other attempts.

Two things stood out about Kessel in the postseason: He was a difference-making offensive force. And he competed. The second might be more important than the first.

The new collective bargaining agreement set term limits on contracts. At a maximum, teams can extend their own players for eight years. If a player reaches the open market, he can sign with another club for seven years.

This structure has framed the deals of just about every high-end player. Malkin, Perry, Giroux, and Getzlaf all signed eight-year extensions after the

lockout lifted. So did the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron and Tuukka Rask. Before Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane become UFAs after the 2014-15 season, Chicago will lock them up for eight more years.

Kessel was guaranteed an eight-year re-up with Toronto. Had Kessel reached UFA status, he would have commanded a seven-year deal. If multiple teams bid for Kessel, his annual average value would have tickled $8.5 million.

Had the Leafs traded Kessel, they would have gotten back five pennies, or even less, for a nickel. They could have saved Kessel’s money and applied it elsewhere if they let him walk. But there would have been nobody on the open market next July who could offer offensive firepower in Kessel’s league.

Toronto had no other move.

ETC.

Let the players make the call

George Parros’s opening-night concussion, sustained in a scrap with ex-Bruin Colton Orr, is stirring the pot about the future of fighting. Respected general managers Ray Shero, Steve Yzerman, and Jim Rutherford expressed their reservations about fighting to TSN after Parros’s injury. But the players are the men bashing their knuckles, flattening their noses, and experiencing the mental strain of fighting — and failing — in front of thousands of fans. They should dictate its future. If they say no mas, who are we, as spectators, to say otherwise? But the next player I meet to declare fighting off limits will be my first. There are exceptions to fighting’s honor, John Scott chasing Phil Kessel being one of them. But for the most part, in what sounds like an oxymoron, fighters practice decorum. You ask others to fight. You don’t pick on non-fighters. You stick up for a teammate. You don’t punch once the fight is over. You don’t gloat upon victory. Hockey is a violent sport. Players get hurt, far more often in regular game play than fights. If players want to keep fighting, that should be good enough for its consumers.

Smart move at Garden

As popular as the NFL is now, the league and its teams are concerned about the in-game experience. The ubiquity of high-definition TV, combined with other drawbacks (traffic, weather, sightlines, the new clear-bag policy), has football fans thinking about staying home. It’s less of a worry in the NHL. The sport comes alive in person. But NHL arena operators acknowledge that one area where fans at the rink demand perfect service is with their smartphones. Fans want to take pictures and post them immediately to their social media accounts. To that end, the Bruins are planning improvements in TD Garden’s wireless access that should roll out in stages this season. “[The game] is what they’re coming for,” said Garden president Amy Latimer. “It’s our job to make sure that everything around it is top-notch — making sure they get the food they want, the items they want to purchase, making sure they can use their phones.”

Carey could be a keeper

The Avalanche are pleased with the development of Weymouth native Paul Carey. Carey made it deep into the preseason before Colorado assigned the second-year pro to Lake Erie. Carey, a four-year player at Boston College, had 19 goals and 22 assists in 72 games as a rookie last season in the AHL. Carey’s high-water mark at BC was during his senior season in 2011-12, when he had 18 goals and 12 assists. Carey, Colorado’s fifth-round pick in 2007, could become a better pro than collegian.

Haven’t seen last of Miller

On Wednesday, the day before their regular-season opener, the Bruins assigned Kevan Miller to Providence. Tough business for the former University of Vermont defenseman, who opened his bosses’ eyes by being the preseason’s final cut. The Bruins were especially pleased with Miller’s skating, which has improved since he turned pro in 2010-11. Miller projects to be a fifth or sixth NHL defenseman, but there is currently no room for Miller on the third pairing. The 25-year-old Miller could be a future replacement for Adam McQuaid, who will reach unrestricted status after the 2014-15 season. Both are surly right-shot stay-at-homers.

Phaneuf not in position

The Maple Leafs had to extend Kessel. They are under no such pressure to re-up Dion Phaneuf, whose contract expires after this season. Phaneuf is Toronto’s captain and its No. 1 defenseman. He regularly averages 25 minutes per game. The Leafs will have cap space, with Dave Bolland, Nikolai Kulemin, Jay McClement, Mason Raymond, Troy Bodie, Mark

Fraser, and Paul Ranger all scheduled to reach UFA status at year’s end. But Phaneuf will find it hard to replicate his current six-year, $39 million deal, which he signed with Calgary. The tread is wearing on the 28-year-old’s tires. Phaneuf plays a hard, heavy game — at times, not with smarts (see the missed hit on Nathan Horton in last season’s playoffs). If Phaneuf seeks the now-standard eight-year extension, he will be 37 by the conclusion of his deal. That’s not a kind age for physical defensemen. If Phaneuf wants to stay, he’ll most likely have to accept a shorter-term contract.

Loose pucks

So far, players in Colorado are glowing about the coaching style of Patrick Roy, specifically regarding his communication — although Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau (with whom Roy had a postgame shouting match) might differ. Roy has been blunt regarding expectations and how he will deploy his roster. It helps that Roy is coming from junior hockey. Younger players expect direction and feedback, whereas coaches from Roy’s playing days were slow with compliments . . . Nice debut for ex-Bruin Chuck Kobasew, who won a job in Pittsburgh following a camp invite. Kobasew, wearing Jarome Iginla’s No. 12, scored a goal and dished out four hits in Pittsburgh’s season-opening 3-0 blanking of New Jersey. The former Boston College forward is a good fit for Pittsburgh’s high-tempo, straight-line system . . . Thankfully, rumblings of American involvement in Syria have quieted, no doubt thanks to the hockey gods as well as deities of other denominations. However, the CBA includes language on what would happen if a state of war prompted the NHL to cease or reduce operations. According to Rule 17 of the standard contract, a player is due only salary up to the date of suspension of operations. We hope that is never exercised . . . Good to see that Lars Eller, knocked into oblivion by Ottawa’s Eric Gryba in the playoffs, is back and better. The Montreal forward played well in camp and even better in the season opener (goal, two assists). Eller could displace David Desharnais as a top-two center if he continues to perform . . . Word around Washington is that Congress recently studied game tape from the Bruins’ defensive throttling of Pittsburgh in last season’s Eastern Conference finals. A proper shutdown, it seems, requires optimal preparation.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeFluto. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.



Game 2: Red Wings at Bruins

Posted by Amalie Benjamin October 5, 2013 11:56 AM

Tonight's game marks the first meeting of two of the NHL's heavyweights, now slotted into the same division. The Red Wings are intent on making it back to the playoffs for a 23rd consecutive year, while the Bruins are trying to get back to the Stanley Cup Final for what would be the third time in four years.

Game on.

This is the first of four meetings between the clubs after they played each other twice in the preseason. Of course, those games didn't feature full lines or normal defensive pairings, so it's hard to take anything out of those. Detroit is handicapped a bit, with this game as their third in four days. They won last night in Carolina.

"It'll be fun," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "We look forward to it. Everything about today’s game for our team, it’s a real great opportunity because it’s three-in-four and it’s back-to-back. To me it’s about how mentally tough you are. It’s about ... sticking to your plan, doing it right.

"In every game someone gives in, you can’t give in today. You’ve just got to find a way. I don’t care if your legs are sore or any of that stuff or where we played. I want to see who’s mentally tough and who’s going to do it right. Tonight should be a good test for our team and we look forward to it."

Game time: 7 p.m.

TV/Radio: NHL Network/NESN/98.5 The Sports Hub

Records: Bruins 1-0-0, Red Wings 2-0-0

Projected lineups:

Lucic-Krejci-Iginla

Marchand-Bergeron-Eriksson

Caron-Kelly-Smith

Paille-Campbell-Thornton

Chara-Boychuk

Seidenberg-Hamilton

Krug-McQuaid

Tuukka Rask

Notes: This is the first meeting of the teams now that they're together in the Atlantic Division. ... Detroit and Boston did not face each other in the lockout shortened 2012-2013 season. ... The Red Wings have won the last four straight games against the Bruins. ... Brothers Reilly Smith and Brendan Smith will face each other in tonight's game. They played against each other in the preseason. ... The last time the Bruins and Red Wings were in the same division was in the East in 1972-1973. ... The last shutout between these two teams? Way back in 1982, when the Bruins won 7-0 on Nov. 7.



Caron takes advantage

Sunday, October 6, 2013

By: Steve Conroy, Bruins Notebook

Jordan Caron has had chances to win a spot in the Bruins lineup before and, for various reasons, he has not been able to do so.

But now, two games into the 2013-14 season, he appears to be clutching the third-line left wing spot for dear life.

After an impressive season opener in which he was robbed of a goal due to a quick whistle, Caron got himself on the board in the B’s 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings last night. In 12:56 of ice time, Caron scored, had three shots on net (he took five overall), drew a penalty that led to Zdeno Chara’s power-play goal in the third period, and was named the game’s third star.

On the goal, which came at 7:58 of the second period and gave the B’s a two-goal cushion, he took a great backhand feed from linemate Reilly Smith and beat Jimmy Howard from the right circle.

“There was a lot of emotion obviously. I was thinking a little bit about the one the last game. I thought it was a tough call. But today it counted, so everything is good,” said Caron, who gave a jubilant fist pump. “It was a great pass. He really took his time there. He could have shot it himself and he made a really nice play to send it back-door. It was a great pass.”

The last couple of years, Caron has underperformed at times and been the victim of bad luck at others. But after Carl Soderberg suffered an ankle injury in the last preseason game, Caron was inserted into the lineup and he’s making the most of it.

“It’s huge, especially early on in the season like this,” said Caron. “It’s going to be a long season but you’ve got to make sure you focus every game and make sure you’re positive for every game you play even when it’s not going the way you want it to. You just have to look forward and that’s what I’m trying to do right now.”

Caron has always been a player who did the little things well, but the B’s brass wanted to see some offensive production from him. He seems to be getting the message.

“I’m just trying to focus on the right things and make sure I create stuff offensively and being loose out there, especially when I have the puck in the O-zone,” said Caron. “I want to do some stuff offensively. I want to relax when I have the puck.”

With center Chris Kelly and Smith, Caron’s line has been the B’s best during the first two games. Last night the trio was matched up against Detroit’s solid grouping of Todd Bertuzzi, Dan Cleary and Joakim Andersson, and more than held its own.

“What I’ve liked about Jordan is, when I talked to him before we started the regular season, it was about what more can you bring besides being reliable?” said coach Claude Julien. “You have to start taking pucks to the net and you have to try and create some stuff down low, and he has and he’s responded well.”

Not perfect yet

When the Bruins obtained winger Loui Eriksson in the deal for Tyler Seguin, the prevailing thought was that Eriksson — a defensively conscious, three-time 70-plus point producer — would fit into the B’s system like a round peg into a round hole.

But Eriksson said yesterday morning that there’s one aspect to the transition that he’s still trying to master.

“One thing is I have a tendency to cut through the middle and be the slash guy a little bit. Here they want me to stay on side of the wing you’re on,” said Eriksson after the morning skate.

“I usually adjust to systems pretty well, but just the one thing I did in all my years in Dallas was cutting through the middle and supporting the other winger. But we’ve been practicing it every day and we’ll get better at it.”

Julien said some bumps in the road are to be expected.

“It’s the same adjustment as it was for (Jaromir Jagr),” said Julien. “There’s a lot of teams that continue to overload and yet our breakouts have been good in the past years because of the reason we don’t overload necessarily, and that’s our belief.”

Questionable hit

Justin Abdelkader could be getting a call from the league for a questionable hit on Brad Marchand in the second period when he left his feet to hit the Bruin up high behind the play. Marchand stayed down for a while before eventually skating off under his own power. He missed one shift.

Shawn Thornton had a few words for Abdelkader and Chara gave him some rough treatment in a puck battle, but no one dropped the gloves.

Julien said he didn’t get a good look at it and Marchand was not available for comment. . . .

Torey Krug’s first-period power-play goal was his first NHL regular-season goal, though he scored four playoff goals last year.

“I didn’t even think about it until (Milan Lucic) looked at me and goes, ‘Is that your first one?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I guess,’ ” said Krug.

Boston Herald LOADED: 10.06.2013


B’s up for new rivalry

Score Atlantic win against Red Wings


By: Steve Conroy

Life is pretty good for the Bruins right now.

Through two games on the new season, three of the four forward lines have scored. The power play, dormant for years, is showing signs it might be a real weapon. A first-round draft pick, given up as a bust in many observers’ minds, appears to be coming around. The third line, an Achilles’ heel the last two years, is playing as well as any unit. Defensively, they allowed just two goals in two games.

And it doesn’t seem like they’re close to hitting on all cylinders.

The Bruins received power-play goals from defensemen Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug, and a couple of more even-strength ones from Brad Marchand and Jordan Caron to beat the Detroit Red Wings, 4-1, at the Garden last night in the teams’ first meeting as Atlantic Division rivals. The Red Wings were on the second half of a back-to-back and playing the last of three games in four nights, but the win still represented a quality two points for the B’s.

“They controlled the whole game, from the drop of the puck to the end of the game,” said Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard, who saw 37 shots and refused to give fatigue as an excuse. “They pretty much dominated in every aspect.”

The Bruins didn’t allow the Red Wings to play their vaunted puck-possession game, which can look like a game of keep-away when it’s going well. Tuukka Rask faced 26 shots, allowing just one Henrik Zetterberg strike in the first period that tied the game briefly, but the B’s goalie didn’t see a lot of testers.

“We played such a good game as a team that I didn’t have to do a lot,” Rask said. “No back-door plays or anything like that, no odd-man rushing or anything, just one shot and trying to take care of that rebound; our guys took care of it. So that’s why it was a really, really good game for the second game of the season.”

Chara played a big role on both power-play goals. Krug scored his first NHL regular-season goal with the 6-foot-9 Chara screening Howard from his new net-front position for a 1-0 lead in the first. Chara then took a feed from Krug and beat Howard on a nifty backhand shot that made it 4-1 and salted the game away in the third.

After an uneven performance in limited opportunities in the season opener, the power-play units were able to gain better zone entries and win the important puck battles.

“If we can score four goals a game, that’d be great,” Rask said. “Our power play looked really good. Guys were moving the puck and creating shots. And when they have those opportunities, they’re taking the shots, which has not always been the case.”

After Zetterberg’s goal tied the game late in the first (a period in which the home team had a 14-5 advantage in shots), the B’s seized control in the second. On a 3-on-2 break-in 36 seconds into the period, Marchand beat Howard from his off wing with a great shot just inside the far post.

Caron, the aforementioned first-rounder subbing for an injured Carl Soderberg, continued his strong play. Caron converted a great backhand pass from Reilly Smith for a 3-1 lead.

“I thought every line played well,” coach Claude Julien said. “They had their scoring chances and I think the ‘D’ did a really good job tonight.”

And the B’s are still waiting for some offensive contributions from their two prized newcomers, Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson, which will surely be coming.

Yes, life is indeed good for the B’s.



Chara helping change power outage


By:Stephen Harris

In many a preview story about the approaching Bruins season, it was noted that the B’s had a new plan for their struggling power play — the team’s Achilles’ heel the last few seasons.

The new idea was typically summed up rather simply: “The Bruins are going to have Zdeno Chara stand in front on the power play.”

Were it truly that simple, it would make sense — having a 6-foot-9, 255-pound monster standing just outside the goal crease would make it pretty tough for enemy goaltenders to see much of anything beyond the No. 33 jersey.

Chara demonstrated last night he is one mighty effective screener of goaltenders. But he also showed that he’s far more than that during the B’s impressive 4-1 victory over the vaunted Detroit Red Wings.

“He brings a lot more than people see when they look at a 6-foot-9 player who we’re just going to put in front,” said Bruins coach Claude Julien.

Chara provided a very effective screen on Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard on the first of two Bruins power-play goals, a slapper from the left circle by Torey Krug.

But he also rapped a shot off a goal post on a later power play, and made a sweet goalmouth move — cutting in from the left with a Krug feed, feinting a forehander and then lifting in a backhander for the B’s second power-play goal of the night.

There was plenty of talent on the ice, including Detroit greats Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. But no one could have finished with any more panache or style.

“He’s not just a guy we put there to screen the goaltender,” said Julien again. “That’s one of his assets, but I’ve talked about how good he is at retrieving pucks. We saw that (last night). Not only that, he retrieves them and he puts them in areas where we get control of the puck again. He’s a smart player up front.”

As usual, Chara wasn’t terribly chatty about his goal or his screen. What he talked about mostly was just hard work, about how power plays succeed when the team with the advantage outworks the opponent.

“It doesn’t mean because you have a man-advantage that everything is just going to work for you,” Chara said. “You have to work really hard and try to win those battles and races for the puck. Detroit is one of the best teams in the league. We knew it would be a big challenge. They have a good team, a good system and very dangerous guys. So yeah, we wanted to have a strong game, and for the most part we did.

“I’m just trying to work hard — get into those battles and try to win them.”

Is he having fun playing up front on the power play?

“It’s always been the basis of my game to just work hard,” he said. “While you’re doing it, you might as well enjoy it. Whatever I’m designated to be, I’m just trying to do my job.”

On Krug’s goal, a slick pass from Milan Lucic set up the defenseman with the time and space to move in from the left point, and the extra split-second to tee up his shot. Wisely, Krug aimed it just past Chara at the goalmouth. Howard barely moved as the puck flew past.

“Obviously he couldn’t see anything with Z in front there,” said Patrice Bergeron.

The Bruins suddenly appear to have a viable power play again, with Krug at the point and Chara up front. Even if it may have taken the B’s captain a little while to embrace the idea.

“There was some thinking going on there, him saying, ‘Well, I’m not quite sure how I’m going to do there,’ ” said Julien. “He was certainly willing to try

it. I think with what we’ve seen in the preseason and in a couple of these games he (is) starting to enjoy it.”

Chara and the Bruins will enjoy it very much if the power play, a momentum-killer in recent years, becomes a strong weapon.

“Every team tries to improve things that are not as good and continue to do the things they did good,” said Chara. “Our power play was not as good as probably reflects the skill on this team. . . . We just want to work hard at it and get better at it.”

Sounds like a plan



Patrice Bergeron: So far, so good for Sochi

Olympic return seems realistic


By: Stephen Harris

Patrice Bergeron’s candidacy for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team has gotten off to a very strong start.

In the Bruins’ season opener Thursday, Bergeron delivered a solid, two-way performance in the 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was a plus-1, won nearly 60 percent of his faceoffs (16-for-27) and scored a lovely goal on a toe-drag to the middle and a snap past goalie Anders Lindback.

And maybe most significantly: With Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman — the executive director of Team Canada — looking on, Bergeron showed he is at full speed after suffering several serious injuries in June’s Stanley Cup finals.

“That’s a good audition,” said B’s general manager Peter Chiarelli, who will serve as an assistant GM for Team Canada. “He was skating well and he played a strong two-way game. He didn’t miss a beat from last year.”

In 2009 Bergeron wasn’t even included in Team Canada’s 46-player, pre-Olympic summer orientation camp, but played his way onto the 2010 team. Four years later, his reputation as a reliable two-way player — and a guy who makes big plays when big games are on the line — has skyrocketed.

“I would love to be on that team,” Bergeron said. “It’s something very special to play for your country. But I know there’s a lot of work to be done before even thinking about that. It’s all about worrying about the Bruins, doing a good job for this team and then see what happens.”

Bergeron and teammates Milan Lucic and Brad Marchand took part in the Canadian orientation camp this summer in Calgary. While a berth on the team is probably Bergeron’s to lose, the other two will have to have very special falls to have a shot at spots. The team is expected to be named in late December.

The corps of forwards for the defending gold medalists will likely again be dominated by centermen, many of them switching over to play on the wing at Sochi. Just look at the group of centers from which Yzerman & Co. must choose: Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Claude Giroux, Jonathan Toews, John Tavares, Eric Staal, Logan Couture, Joe Thornton, Mike Richards, Jamie Benn, Bergeron and many more.

In 2010 eight of Canada’s 13 forwards were natural centers. Bergeron played a small role on the team in Vancouver, averaging just 6:27 in ice time. He had one assist, a minus-2 and won 20-of-40 draws. But at the end, he got a gold medal draped around his neck.

“It was an amazing experience,” he said. “As a kid you do grow up dreaming about making it to the NHL and winning the Stanley Cup. But you watch the Olympics on TV and you know it’s the biggest sports event in the world. To be part of it was something very special.

“I just tried to accept my role and do the job that was expected of me — which was winning draws, killing penalties. I was just really excited to be there and be part of that team.”

Bergeron certainly isn’t assuming he’ll be on the 2014 squad. Nor was he worrying about it as the Bruins played their second game of the season last night vs. Detroit.

“There are so many great players who are Canadian,” said Bergeron. “You look at the 47 who were on the (orientation) list and there were many great players who were not on that list. They could play themselves into the picture. That’s the way I made it four years ago.

“I would love to be on the team. I’m going to work hard to make it. But we’ll just see what happens.”



Notebook: Blake Wheeler rises to task in Winnipeg


By: Steve Conroy

Boston is now far in the rearview mirror for Blake Wheeler. The lanky forward with terrific hands but inconsistent application of those skills while with the Bruins is now ensconced in Winnipeg.

After leading the Jets in goal-scoring and finishing second in scoring for the Jets with 19-22-41 totals, Wheeler was made the Jets’ top earner when he and genral manager Kevin Cheveldayoff avoided arbitration and came together on a six-year deal that will pay Wheeler an average of $5.6 million per season.

But, as the old biblical parable goes, to whom much is given, much is expected. And not only has Wheeler now been given a ton of money, he’s been blessed with a ton of skill and good size (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) that he hasn’t always used to his advantage. In fact, Bruins fans may never forgive him for not possessing a nasty streak to complement that frame.

Wheeler has, however, become a bona fide first-line player in Winnipeg after being dealt from the Bruins with Mark Stuart to the then-Atlanta Thrashers for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik in a deal that helped B’s win the Cup in 2011. Wheeler still may not have reached his potential, but he has definitely made strides since leaving his first NHL team.

“I think early in my career, I struggled with some things that young players go through. Sometimes it’s the mental aspect of the game, realizing what makes you successful,” the ever-affable Wheeler said before Bruins-Jets preseason game in Winnipeg last month. “When I was in Boston, I got a little bit lost with some of the things that make me a good player. I went into a little bit of a funk there and it just spirals down from there. You lose confidence as a player and you lose sight of what you’re good at.

“When I got traded, it forced me to look in the mirror and reassess what I was doing. . . . I think I’m getting there. I don’t think I’m a finished product by any means, but I’m getting there.”

Wheeler conceded that he had some maturity issues when he was a Bruin, and he didn’t always respond well.

“This is a man’s game and you’re forced to deal with adversity,” said Wheeler. “I was young, and instead of responding the right way, I kind of felt bad for myself. It was ‘woe is me.’ . . . I took things too personally, When you get demoted in the lineup, those things happen to everyone and you have to take it the right way. And I wasn’t there yet. I wasn’t there mentally and wasn’t ready to understand how things worked. Looking back, I would have done things differently, but ultimately I think I learned from it and I’ve grown as a person and a player.”

Wheeler is now one of a handful of players expected to lead the Jets over the hump and into the playoffs after a couple of near-misses in their first two seasons back in the ’Peg. Over the summer, Cheveldayoff committed some $93 million to Wheeler, his centerman Bryan Little and defenseman Zach Bogosian. Long-term commitments already were to Evander Kane, Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom.

“I think they believe in us players and as people,” said Wheeler. “They’ve identified the core group of people to get us over the hump. We’ve been close. We were close to being a playoff team last year. We’ve gone through some of the growing pains that come along with taking that next step and we’re hoping that we keep trending upwards. If we do that, we’ll be a playoff team and that’s our goal in here. We want to learn from our mistakes in the past.”

ROY ADDS TO AVALANCHE WITH A MAJOR ERUPTION UPON HIS REENTRY

Hopefully the boys in the Bull Gang are fortifying the glass partitions at the Garden this week because the Bruins’ next opponent will be Patrick Roy’s Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. The Canadiens legend, of course, made a hurricane-like reentry to the NHL Wednesday night when he blew a gasket over Anaheim’s Ben Lovejoy very questionable knee-on-knee hit on the Avs’ Nathan MacKinnon, the No. 1 overall pick in June’s draft.

Roy nearly pushed over the partition separating the teams’ benches and right on top of Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau, with whom he engaged in a shouting match.

Roy was whacked with a $10,000 fine and promptly apologized, in his own way. Which is to say that he really didn’t.

“This is the league policy and I understand it now, but at the same time I will always defend my players,” Roy told reporters. “Things happen. This is the way I dealt with this one. Would I deal with it differently next time? Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know.”

He then ripped Boudreau, saying the Anaheim coach’s accusations of Roy yelling at Duck players was untrue.

“What Boudreau said was all lies,” the Hall of Famer said. “I don’t talk to players; I respect all the players. I’m certainly not going to get too involved in this one, but when you talk about classless — when you’re lying, this is classless.”

Anyone who watched Roy throughout his career will tell you that his explosion was more than just a ploy to spark a Colorado team that hasn’t made the playoffs in three years. And although he went way over the top, he had every right to take exception to the Lovejoy hit on his prized youngster in a 6-0 game.

Roy at least established that the Avalanche will be a team that bears watching this season, for one reason or another.

ONE-TIMERS. . .

The Flyers’ opening-night loss to Toronto may already have put Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette on the hot seat, but it was hard not to be impressed with the way the Maple Leafs closed out the 3-1 victory in Philadelphia.

Nursing

a one-goal lead, the Leafs outnumbered the Flyers in pursuit of every loose puck, looking positively Bruin-esque in their shutdown of the Flyers attack.

The Leafs are still in the process of living down their monumental blown lead to the Bruins in Game 7 last spring. But if they can protect a lead like that, and James Reimer and newly acquired goalie Jonathan Bernier can continue to push each other, the Leafs will be a very real threat in the Eastern Conference. . . .

Tyler Seguin’s opening-night stat line against Tim Thomas’ Florida Panthers was forgettable. The Dallas Stars’ new franchise centerman was 0-0-0, minus-1 with two shots on net (five taken) and was 7-for-19 in the faceoff dot. Seguin also saw 1:02 of shorthanded time! . . .

Thomas, by the way, never looked more like himself in his Florida debut than when he jammed his stick blade into the gut of encroaching Antoine Roussel. Don’t bet against at least some level of success for Thomas. . . .

Final note: Tomorrow night’s “Back to Hockey — an Evening with Daniel Paille,” a benefit for the Jimmy Fund being held at Tresca, is completely sold out. That may be bad news for those looking for tickets, but good news for a great cause.



Bruins dump Red Wings, 4-1

Saturday, October 5, 2013

By: Steve Conroy

The Bruins improved to 2-0 with a solid 4-1 victory over an albeit tired Detroit Red Wings team at the Garden on Saturday.

Detroit was playing it's third game in four nights and were on the second half of a back-to-back but, while that surely played some factor, it couldn't have been the sole reason for the B's convincing victory. After an uneven performance in the season opening win over the Lightning, the B's played much better Saturday night, peppering Jimmy Howard with 37 seconds shots and giving little to the Red Wings offensively.

"I think it was important for (the Wings) to get off to a good start," said coach Claude Julien. "It was their third game in four nights so for teams like that, it’s important to get off to a good start and try to establish a lead. Because if the other team does, then you’re having to push the pace and it’s a little bit tougher for those kind of guys. But we were fortunate enough to open up the game with the first goal, and they tied it up but we just came back and kept plugging away here. Even in the third period where we knew they’d probably try and stretch things out a little bit and get their D’s activated a little bit more, I thought our guys did a good job through the neutral zone and then we pushed the puck the other way."

The B's clicked on the power-play, scoring two man-advantage goals, one from Torey Krug on a Zdeno Chara screen in front and the other on a nifty backhand move frmo Chara. The other goals were scored by Brad Marchand and Jordan Caron, who is making his case for being the regular third line left wing after Carl Soderberg suffered an ankle injury in the last preseason game.

The B's, who have nice October schedule, are off until Thursday when they play Patrick Roy's Colorado Avalanche.



Rask stops 25 shots; Bruins beat Red Wings 4-1


By: Associated Press

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins are having a little fun so far this season watching 6-foot-9 defenseman Zdeno Chara turn into a power forward on the power play.

Chara scored a power-play goal and helped set up Torey Krug's score with the man advantage by just standing in front of the net, leading the Bruins to a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.

"If you don't have a play, throw it down front to Z (Chara) and (Milan Lucic) and they'll battle," Krug said. "We have a good thing going so far. We're having fun."

Brad Marchand scored the tiebreaking goal 36 seconds into the second period and Tuukka Rask made 25 saves as the Bruins improved to 2-0.

Jordan Caron added an even-strength score for Boston, which won its season opener against Tampa Bay on Thursday.

"It's always been a basic part of my game to work hard," Chara said. "When I'm in there, I might as well enjoy it."

Henrik Zetterberg scored for the Red Wings, who are in the same division with the Bruins after the NHL realigned following last season.

Detroit's Jimmy Howard, playing his third straight game, made 33 saves. The Red Wings were playing consecutive road nights after beating Carolina 3-2 in overtime.

"It's not easy when there's somebody that's 6-foot-8 standing in front of you," Howard said. "It's something you've got to figure out and try and find a way to try and find the puck. But it's extremely difficult with him in front."

On the opening shift of the second period, Marchand broke in and fired a wrist shot that caromed into the net off the far post, pushing Boston ahead 2-1.

Caron's goal gave the Bruins a 3-1 edge midway into the second period. Reilly Smith backhanded a pass from the slot to Caron, who one-timed a shot past Howard from the top of the right faceoff circle.

Chara, playing in front of the net on the power play, collected a pass in front and looked like a polished goal scorer, shifting around Howard before tucking a shot inside the right post midway into the third. Krug collected an assist.

Krug unloaded a slap shot from the left point that gave Boston a 1-0 lead midway into the opening period. It came just 15 seconds after Niklas Kronwall was sent off for holding.

"In the second period that's something we talked about," Krug said of Chara's play in front. "I think I talked to Krej (David Krejci) about it, 'What should I do with the puck?' He said, 'Just give it to Z, he's going to win every battle.'"

The Red Wings tied it late in the period when Zetterberg collected a rebound in front and slipped a shot by Rask inside the right post. The score came after a pass along the boards appeared to hit a glove on Detroit's bench and dropped to the ice. The Bruins briefly stopped while the Red Wings broke out with the puck.

Rask made a nice sliding stop on Justin Abdelkader's bid from in close a few minutes before Zetterberg's goal.

Boston outshot the Red Wings 37-26.

"They won in every statistic tonight," Howard said. "Every battle. I'm not going to make that excuse that we were tired or anything like that because I kind of think it's pathetic."

Marchand took a hard hit and was face down on the ice for a while early in the second. He was leveled when Abdelkader left his feet and blind-sided

the winger. Marchand was helped to the bench, but returned later in the period.

NOTES: It was Krug's first regular season goal. He had four in his first five playoff games last spring. ... Bruins F Carl Soderberg was out with an injured ankle. ... Howard entered 3-0 with a 1.62 goals against in his career versus Boston. ... The Bruins and Red Wings meet in TD Garden again on Columbus Day. ... The Red Wings had killed off their first seven short-handed situations before Krug's goal. ... Boston F Lucic is two goals shy of 100 for his career. ... David Ortiz's second homer of the Red Sox-Rays ALDS game was shown on the Jumbotron late in the second period, drawing a huge roar from the TD Garden crowd. The final out was also shown, with a louder response. ... Boston's Smith played against his brother — Red Wings D Brendan Smith.



Bruins and Red Wings renew rivalry


By: Steve Conroy

The return of an old Original Six rivalry gets re-energized tonight when the Bruins host the Detroit Red Wing, who have been moved to the Eastern Conference in the NHL's new realignment. The Wings are 2-0 and coming off a come-from-behind overtime victory in Carolina last night.

Everyone knows how good the puck-possessing Wings have traditionally been the last two decades, but B's coach Claude Julien said they're underrated in one sense.

“They do a really good job of defending, and I think sometimes we don't give that team enough credit for that,” said Julien. “The reason why they have the puck a lot is because they defend well. Watch tonight, they always have their players above ours and very seldom will we have outnumbered situations. You've got to be willing to fight for those pucks, get it by them and be willing to fight for it again. You're not going to get a run-and-and-gun type of game against that team because they defend so well.”

It was a regular mutual admiration society between Julien and Detroit coach Mike Babcock, with whom he'll coach the Canadian Olympic team in February (Babcock is returning as the head coach).

“Doing a pre-scout on Boston as a coach, it takes you about six minutes and I would think it's the same for Detroit,” said Babcock. “They're not trying to trick you. They're just trying to do it right – over and over and over again. And you see the same thing over and over again. The reason why they're successful is because they're organized. They've got people in good spots. They've obviously got good depth and good people in their lineup, but they do it right. To me, that's what good teams do. They do it right.”

The Bruins will go with the same lineup tonight against the Wings and it'll be Tuukka Rask versus Jimmy Howard, who played last night in Carolina...

Carl Soderberg (ankle) remained off the ice.


719687 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres overmatched in loss to Penguins

By John Vogl | News Sports Reporter | @BuffNewsVogl | Google+

on October 5, 2013 - 10:12 PM, updated October 6, 2013 at 12:18 AM

PITTSBURGH — When Darcy Regier was laying the groundwork for his next rebuild, he said the Sabres needed to bring more elite players to Buffalo. The general manager said they didn’t have enough talent to contend for the Stanley Cup.

That was evident from the moment Buffalo stepped on the ice in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins might win the Cup this season, while the Sabres might win the first overall draft pick. Their differences were clear throughout the Penguins’ 4-1 victory Saturday in Consol Energy Center.

“This league’s hard, and they have to expect that it’s going to be hard during the course of the year,” Sabres coach Ron Rolston said. “We’ve got to find a way.”

The Sabres have lost their opening three games in regulation for the first time in history. Their longest winless streak to start a season is seven games, “achieved” in 1990-91 (0-4-3) and 1999-2000 (0-5-2).

Both those teams rebounded to reach the postseason. This edition will need to learn how to score just to have a chance at one victory. The Sabres have only two goals in the opening three games, and they came 122 minutes, 30 seconds apart.

“Overall, it’s the same story,” center Cody Hodgson said. “We need to get ways to generate offense. One goal isn’t enough.”

The Penguins had a step or two on the Sabres from the moment the puck dropped. It took only 3:39 for that to translate into a 1-0 lead. Sidney Crosby slipped between two Buffalo defenders and put his own rebound past goaltender Jhonas Enroth.

The Sabres were in a 2-0 hole before the opening period expired as Chuck Kobasew tipped Brandon Sutter’s shot from the point.

The Penguins finished the first with just an 11-9 edge in shots, but that failed to tell the tale of zone time and quality chances. Pittsburgh dominated. The Penguins finished the game with a 35-21 shot advantage.

“We didn’t generate a lot,” Rolston said. “We just have to be a lot simpler than we are right now. We pass up a lot of opportunities when we do get them, and I thought they played really well.”

The Sabres went 0 for 2 on the power play during the second period, extending their scoreless streak to the opening 13 opportunities of the season.

“We didn’t score again,” Hodgson said. “We need to.”

Pittsburgh made it 3-0 with 9:51 left in the game when Chris Kunitz scored on a penalty shot. Thomas Vanek ended the shutout bid of Marc-Andre Fleury with 4:54 to play, but Craig Adams answered with an empty-net goal.

The Sabres have given up only 2.33 goals per game so far, but they are still minus-5 in goal differential, tied for worst in the Eastern Conference. The lack of offense is crushing.

“We need to score goals,” defenseman Mike Weber said. “Our goalies have been doing a heck of a job for us in the three games.”

The Sabres are scheduled to take today off, giving the coaching staff and players a chance to regroup. They’ll return to practice Monday and host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

“We lost three straight games,” Enroth said. “Obviously, we’re frustrated. We’ll take the day off, get back to work Monday and try and figure this out.”

Buffalo News LOADED: 10.06.2013


Miller won't dress against Penguins tonight; Sabres goalie nursing sore groin, source says

October 5, 2013 - 5:07 PM

By John Vogl

PITTSBURGH -- Ryan Miller will sit out the Sabres' third game of the season tonight, with the goaltender watching as Jhonas Enroth starts against the Penguins and emergency callup Matt Hackett dresses as the backup.

Buffalo coach Ron Rolston expects Miller to be back Tuesday when the Sabres host Tampa Bay. Miller is essentially being given a maintenance day to rest a sore groin, a source tells The News.

Henrik Tallinder, who suffered an upper-body injury during Friday's 1-0 loss to Ottawa, will miss a week, Rolston said. Jamie McBain will replace the defenseman and get power-play time.

Rolston wants more from his top forwards, including Cody Hodgson and Drew Stafford, tonight against the Penguins. The coach was disappointed in his so-called scoring lines Friday.

"Our top six have to be better," Rolston said this evening in Consol Energy Center. "That’s what this league is all about, you know, is your top six have to perform and they have to be your best players on a nightly basis. I know ours will rebound tonight."



Sabres' Hackett: 'I never seen getting called up after six goals coming'

October 5, 2013 - 12:47 PM

By John Vogl

PITTSBURGH -- The Amerks' season debut Friday was as forgettable as they come for the team and Matt Hackett -- until the goalie's phone rang.

About midnight, hours after getting torched for six goals in less than two periods of an 8-1 loss to Grand Rapids, Hackett was set to fall asleep. Instead, he hopped in his car and drove to Buffalo to possibly be the Sabres' backup tonight.

"I never seen getting called up after six goals coming," Hackett said today in Consol Energy Center.

The Sabres called up Hackett after learning that Ryan Miller has a lower-body problem and might not be available to dress against the Penguins. Hackett is on a goalie exemption and doesn't count against the roster, General Manager Darcy Regier said.

"I’m just here to back up tonight, I guess," said Hackett, who was driven to Pittsburgh this morning to join the team.

Hackett clearly wants to forget the Amerks' debut, which left him with a 9.84 goals-against average and .800 save percentage after he stopped 24 of 30 shots in 36:35.

"It was just one of those games," Hackett said. "We came out really flat. We’ve got some things to figure out down there, but we’re a confident group and we’ll get back and figure it out."



Sabres' Miller has 'not serious, very short term' lower-body problem, Regier says

October 5, 2013 - 12:10 PM

By John Vogl

PITTSBURGH -- Ryan Miller suffered a minor lower-body problem Friday night, putting his availability in doubt for tonight's game against the Penguins.

Miller skipped the Sabres' morning skate today, while Matt Hackett is up from Rochester on an emergency roster exemption. Miller is still eligible to play if he is healthy by puck drop.

General Manager Darcy Regier said he wasn't sure when Miller was hurt but deemed it "not serious, very short term in nature."



Hackett rejoins Sabres with Miller absent from morning skate

October 5, 2013 - 11:50 AM

By John Vogl

PITTSBURGH -- Ryan Miller is absent from the morning skate while Matt Hackett is present, continuing a whirlwind morning for the Sabres' goaltenders.

Buffalo has recalled Hackett from Rochester following a near-shutout by Miller and an implosion by Hackett and the Amerks. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported at 1 a.m. that Hackett was packing his bags and joining the Sabres for tonight's game in Pittsburgh despite getting torched for six goals in less than two periods in the Amerks' season opener.

Miller likely suffered an injury during the 1-0 loss to Ottawa, hence the need for Hackett.

Coach Ron Rolston, who is not on the ice for the optional morning skate, is expected to update the media shortly.

The Sabres' practice features only 10 skaters (John Scott, Mikhail Grigorenko, Jamie McBain, Brian Flynn, Mark Pysyk, Cody McCormick, Zemgus Girgensons, Rasmus Ristolainen, Johan Larsson and Alexander Sulzer, who was recalled to replace injured Henrik Tallinder) and the two backup goalies, Hackett and Jhonas Enroth.

Enroth was expected to start against the Penguins tonight regardless of Miller's status.


719692 Calgary Flames

Flames notes: Centreman Colborne to make Saddledome debut Saturday

Calgary HeraldOctober 5, 2013

Here's five points to ponder ahead of Saturday's game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Calgary Flames at the Saddledome.

So far so good for the Calgary Flames.

With a possible three of four points earned on the road in the team’s first two games to start the season, head coach Bob Hartley was encouraged by the strong start.

“They can taste the results,” he said following an optional skate Saturday at the WinSport facilities. “You look at the third period in Washington. We were flying out there.

“We might not be the deepest team in talent. We don’t have a Crosby or an Ovechkin. But we’re a team. We’re a family. Right now, the guys are on the same page. They worked hard. And, in the first two games, they got rewarded with three points out of four. For their confidence, for their mindset, it’s a big bonus. It’s a good sign.”

*****

Newcomer Joe Colborne made his debut with his new squad, registering a team-leading four hits in over 12 minutes and 14 seconds of icetime during Friday’s 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

And, for a guy who just arrived a week ago from the Toronto Maple Leafs, is picking up an entirely new system, and adjusting to life as part of his hometown National Hockey League team, Hartley felt the 23-year-old centreman did pretty well in the absence of C Matt Stajan.

“Hey, here’s a young guy who had what, five, six days with us compared to the other guys who had 48-games last year, a full summer,” Hartley said. “Each coach has a different way of working, a different way of teaching. Right now, Joe is on fast-forward mode.

“We’re trying to get him from Grade 3 to second-year university in five, six days.”

*****

News travels fast, especially when it carries a whiff of controversy.

So when former Flames winger Blake Comeau had been asked an innocent question about facing his old chums, maybe it should comes as no shock that he jumped in with a defence of Sven Baertschi (who, on Monday, had been roundly roasted by Brian Burke, president of hockey operations).

“I’m excited to see how Baertschi does this year,” Comeau, sitting in the Blue Jackets dressing room, said Friday morning. “I think he’s going to have a big year. I’ve read some comments about him lately ... I thought he was a great player when I was there, so I’m excited to see how he does.”

Comeau admits that Burke’s appraisal caught him off guard. “Those were comments that I don’t think any young player wants to hear,” he said. “That being said, I think he knows he’s a good player. He’s skilled and talented. It’s just my opinion that he’s going to be a really good professional.”

Baertschi, a 2011 first-round pick who turns 21 on Saturday, does have potential — easily tapped, according to Comeau. “It just comes down to him relaxing and playing,” he said. “He’s got all the skill in the world. I think he’s going to be very successful this year. He’s got really good hockey sense, hockey IQ, and that’s something you can’t teach. I think people forget how young he still is. He’s going to be good. He’s a great kid. He’s a great kid off the ice. I wish him nothing but the best.”

*****

Washington Capitals defenceman Jack Hillen underwent surgery on Friday to repair a fractured tibial plateau and is expected to miss four to six months.

Hillen had absorbed a hit from Flames forward Lance Bouma in the first period of Thursday’s season opener.

There is some unfortunate irony to the situation considering Bouma suffered a torn ACL and MCL only three games into last year’s American Hockey League campaign. He was limited to just three games with the Abbotsford Heat and spent the rest of the 2012-13 season rehabbing.

*****

The Vancouver Canucks were without Alex Burrows for their home opener on Saturday night against the Edmonton Oilers.

The first-line winger who plays with Henrik and Daniel Sedin, kills penalties and centres the team’s second power play unit, is out with a foot injury which he suffered blocking a shot in the team’s season-opening 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

“He’s a big part of our team and he plays in every situation so we’re going to miss him, for sure,” said Canucks captain Henrik Sedin. “I mean, he’s a really good player. But it’s a chance for other guys to step up and that’s what’s going to happen every time you get an injury.”

Canucks head coach John Tortorella indicated Burrows will be out for a few weeks. Because forward Zack Kassian is still suspended, likely Jannik Hansen and David Booth would replace Burrows on the top line.

THE FLAMES

Keep an eye on

C Joe Colborne: Having just joined the team a week ago from the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 23-year-old Calgarian made his debut in Friday’s 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets as a replacement for the injured Matt Stajan. Colborne is likely set to make his debut in the Scotiabank Saddledome which, no doubt, will light a fire under the six-foot-five centreman who’ll have plenty of family and friends watching.

The Lines

*C. Glencross-J. Colborne-D. Jones

*S. Baertschi-S. Monahan-L. Stempniak

*T.J. Galiardi-M. Backlund-J. Hudler

*L. Bouma-B. Street-B. McGrattan

The Pairings

*M. Giordano-T.J. Brodie

*K. Russell-D. Wideman

*C. Butler-S.O’Brien

The Goalies

*J. MacDonald

*K. Ramo

The Injuries

*C Matt Stajan (deep leg contusion)

*LW Michael Cammalleri (hand)

THE CANUCKS

Keep an eye on

RW Jannik Hansen: Without winger Alex Burrows, it’ll be up to the recently re-signed 27-year-old to help the twins produce on the top line. A good start to the season couldn’t hurt the energetic winger who is already in head coach John Tortorella’s good books as a “utility guy” who can play on the power play, penalty killing unit, and is speedy on the forecheck.

The Lines

*D. Sedin-H. Sedin-J. Hansen

*D. Booth-R. Kesler-C. Higgins

*D. Weise-B. Richardson-M. Santorelli

*T. Sestito-Z. Dalpe-Y. Weber

The Pairings

*D. Hamhuis-K. Bieksa

*A. Edler-J. Garrison

*C. Tanev -R. Stanton

The Goalies

*R. Luongo

*J. Cantata

The Injuries

*RW Alexandre Burrows (foot)

*C Jordan Schroeder (ankle fracture)

*Z. Kassian (suspended)

Kristen Odland, Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 10.06.2013


Calgary Flames netminder Joey MacDonald to start against Vancouver Canucks

By RANDY SPORTAK ,Calgary Sun

First posted: Saturday, October 05, 2013 06:11 PM MDT | Updated: Saturday, October 05, 2013 10:12 PM MDT

Win and you’re in.

That’s the early message for the goaltenders in the first week of the Calgary Flames season.

Head coach Bob Hartley said Joey MacDonald will be in the net when the Flames meet the Vancouver Canucks in Sunday’s home-opener at the Saddledome (6 p.m., Sportsnet West, Sportsnet FAN 960).

Karri Ramo was between the pipes for Thursday’s season-opening 5-4 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals, while MacDonald came up with 29-save performance in the 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets the next night.

In fact, no lineup changes are expected for the Flames, with forwards Michael Cammalleri (hand) and Matt Stajan (leg) on the shelf.

Cammalleri’s been sidelined since the first pre-season game, while Stajan was hurt in the season-opener, with no hard-and-fast return date for either having been set.

“Not for a few days, that’s for sure. I don’t expect to see Staje for a little while,” Hartley said. “But don’t trust me. I told you Cammy was a few days and it’s close to a month.”

Home Sweet Dome

The June flood that sent approximately 30-million gallons of water into the Saddledome and destroyed much of it — including the team’s dressing room, the ice plant, the kitchen and the big-screen control room — seems now in the past when you walk into it.

However, the quick rebuilding isn’t lost on the Flames as they ready for the home-opener.

“If we would have been all over the place during training camp, I can’t guarantee that we would have been this prepared at this time, with all the travelling and change rinks,” coach Bob Hartley said. “Thanks to those people, we were in our rink, in our facility — it’s fully functional with how the gym is set and the offices are set — so we have no excuses.”

Added forward TJ Galiardi: “We’re very grateful to be back at home and able to play in the Saddledome, and not have to start the year with a two-week road trip, so we’re going to play our hearts out.”

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 10.06.2013


Calgary Flames a work in progress

By WES GILBERTSON ,Calgary Sun


CALGARY - Just hours before the official start of this new season, head coach Bob Hartley took a not-so-subtle swipe at the Calgary Flames of old.

Responding after Thursday’s morning skate in Washington to a curiously-timed question about optional spins on game day, Hartley seized an opportunity to get something off his chest.

“There are no more options,” Hartley said. “The options when to work and when not to work are over. Last year, I did this with this group and, as a coaching staff, we felt it was a disaster. Some guys didn’t use it with common sense.

“We’re paid to play and we’re paid to love this game. And if you don’t love this game, maybe we don’t want you on this team.”

You don’t need a PHD in hockey to figure out Hartley’s blueprint for success for this rebuilding bunch.

No mornings off.

No nights off.

Not even the occasional slack shift.

And you know what? So far, it seems to be working.

Heading into Sunday’s home-opener against the Vancouver Canucks (6 p.m., Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Fan 960), the Flames own a 1-0-1 record.

They were frustrated about frittering away a three-goal lead in Thursday’s 5-4 shootout loss in Washington but, with the momentum the Capitals had on their side after two periods and with the firepower on their roster, just getting the game to overtime was no small feat.

Twenty-four hours later in Columbus, the Flames seldom showed any sign of let-up in a gutsy 4-3 victory over the well-rested Blue Jackets.

Read the reports out of both cities, and the common theme is the opposition was impressed by their work ethic.

“We talked about it before the year — we don’t have any quote-unquote superstar guys on our team, so we need to bring the work boots every game,” said Flames winger TJ Galiardi. “You can tell even in the few times when we let up or weren’t working our hardest or had mental lapses, that’s when other teams jumped all over us. That’s how this league works.”

Make no mistake, hard work won’t be enough for a victory every night.

On Thursday in D.C., the difference in the game was Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin, whose eye-popping stat-line against the Flames included two tallies on 11 shots, one assist, five hits and the winning goal in the shootout.

The Flames don’t have a one-man wrecking crew like Ovechkin. In fact, with Michael Cammalleri (hand) and Matt Stajan (leg) both injured, half of the forwards who were in Calgary’s lineup in Columbus — youngsters Sven Baertschi, Lance Bouma, Joe Colborne, Sean Monahan and Ben Street and tough-guy Brian McGrattan — have combined for fewer goals in their NHL careers (18) than Ovechkin had in the lockout-shortened season (32).

The Flames aren’t the NHL’s most talented outfit, but holy smokes — give me a break, it’s a PG-13 publication — do they work hard.

Three points so far is proof of it.

“To see results, that’s the easiest motivation that we can get,” Hartley said after Friday’s hard-fought victory over the Blue Jackets.

“We see that our conditioning is paying off. We see that our execution is paying off. And suddenly, it’s easier to learn, it’s easier to listen, it’s easier to show up the next day at work.

“Winning, in this business, there’s no better way.”



Dome sweet Dome for Joe Colborne with Calgary Flames

By RANDY SPORTAK ,Calgary Sun


Joe Colborne is learning an important word now that he’s part of the Calgary Flames.

No.

The centre, born and raised in the Stampede City and acquired by the team via trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on the eve of the season, had to eventually turn down ticket requests for Sunday’s home opener against the Vancouver Canucks.

“I finally capped it,” Colborne said after Saturday’s optional practice at WinSport. “I know a bunch of my friends and family are buying tickets, too, which is nice, so I don’t have to spend my entire paycheque on it.

“There will be a lot of people waiting for me after the game.”

It’s a big night for the Flames, who return home from a successful season-opening trip in which they beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 a night after dropping a 5-4 shootout clash with the Washington Capitals.

It’s a big night for Colborne, too. When the Flames meet the Canucks (6 p.m., Sportsnet West, Sportsnet FAN960), it will be the first time the 6-foot-5, 213-lb. centre has played a game at the Saddledome, other than while a tyke during the intermission of a Flames game many years ago.

“I had a lot of jitters and nerves (Friday in Columbus) because it was such a cool feeling to finally put the Flames jersey on for real,” Colborne said. “I was almost a little too pumped, and this game is going to be even crazier for me.

“It’s a dream come true and I’m going to have to spend the day calming myself down rather than getting hyped up like I usually have to do for games.”

Winger TJ Galiardi is also readying for his first hometown game as a Flame. Galiardi has all kinds of experience skating at the Dome – he played junior for the WHL Hitmen and has been a visitor on many occasions – but he, too, will have some extra emotion.

“I don’t think I’m nervous, just more excited and happy that it’s here,” Galiardi said.

Adding to Colborne’s state is the fact he’s still figuring out the club’s systems, while likely again skating on a line with Curtis Glencross and David Jones.

“I was really frustrated with the way I played the first couple of periods,” Colborne said of his Flames debut against the Blue Jackets. “I was thinking way too much and I was nervous. Gelly (assistant coach Martin Gelinas) just told me, ‘You don’t have to score a hat trick every game, just play your system.’ I felt as the third period came, I started to get my legs back and played my game.”

Head coach Bob Hartley said he figures Colborne will settle into the role he’s given.

“Here’s a young guy that had what with us, five or six days, compared to the other guys,” Hartley said. “Each coach has a different way of working and a different way of teaching. Right now, Joe is on fast-forward mode. We’re trying to get him from Grade 6 to second year of university in five or six days. That’s a big challenge, but I thought he did pretty good.”

As a Calgary kid, Colborne was well aware the pundits are saying the Flames will be much closer to the bottom of the standings than the top, but isn’t putting any stock into them.

“Last year, with the Leafs, I think they had us 13th or 14th in the Eastern Conference and Montreal to be ninth or 10th, both missing the playoffs, and we finished No. 2 and No. 5,” said Colborne, who spent most of the season in the minors but played a handful of games for the Leafs. “So, it comes

down to coaching, if the guys who are willing to buy into the system and how team’s gel.

“We don’t want to set high expectations we can’t match, but in the room we’re a positive group and confident with what we can do. Those two games were huge for our confidence.”

Confident enough they can send a message to the rest of the league that they’ll be a tough team to face, especially in the Sea of Red.

“It’s been that way in the past and we’ve got to get back to it,” Galiardi said. “I don’t think in the previous few years it was a tough place, somewhere you didn’t want to go, but we’re going to make it hard on teams to play us, especially at home.”



Seven storylines to follow in the NHL's new Pacific Division

By WES GILBERTSON ,Calgary Sun


From the Canadian Rockies to the California Coast, there’s no short of intrigue in the NHL’s new-look Pacific Division.

The Los Angeles Kings are among the favourites to finish atop the hockey mountain this spring.

Some figure the Calgary Flames will be swimming with the fishes at the bottom of the standings.

The Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks are all pegged for somewhere in between.

There are reasons for optimism in every city. And if you’re a glass-half-empty type, every squad has some cause for concern, too.

With the Flames welcoming the Canucks for their first inter-division clash of the season, here are seven storylines to follow in the Pacific in 2013-14:

Anaheim Ducks — Still together

The outsiders said it was impossible. Ducks GM Bob Murray proved them wrong. The Ducks were eliminated in the opening playoff round last spring, but the season should still be considered a success because Murray was able to re-sign centre Ryan Getzlaf and left-winger Corey Perry to lucrative long-term deals. Unfortunately, the Ducks couldn’t afford to keep sniper Bobby Ryan, trading him to the Ottawa Senators for a package that included skilled up-and-comer Jakob Silfverberg. With Getzlaf and Perry sticking around for eight more years, the Ducks should be a Pacific Division contender for the foreseeable future. Maybe Disneyland truly is the happiest place on Earth.

Calgary Flames — No kidding

The Flames weren’t fibbing when they admitted it was time for a rebuild. Having missed the playoffs in four straight seasons, the Flames will ice their youngest lineup in recent memory. Their sixth-overall pick, centre Sean Monahan, remains with the team, making him the only member of the 2013 NHL Draft class who’s getting an opportunity to skate in the Pacific Division this fall. There are really no established stars in Calgary now that Jay Bouwmeester, Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff are gone. Almost a third of the Flames’ current players will become unrestricted free agents this summer, so you can expect even more moves.

Edmonton Oilers — Waiting game

Now or never? That certainly wouldn’t be fair. It’s time, though, for the Oilers to take the next step as a team. Emerging superstars Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall have been employed in Edmonton for three full campaigns but have yet to skate in a post-season contest. As a matter of fact, it’s been seven years since the Oilers earned an invite to the spring dance. Their key free-agent addition was blueliner Andrew Ference, who had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup as a member of the Boston Bruins in 2011. Ference was named captain and will try to teach his winning ways.

Los Angeles Kings — Crease concern

The good news is they have arguably the best netminder in the world. Jonathan Quick is the biggest reason the Kings won the Stanley Cup in ’12, advanced to the conference finals last spring and are again being billed as a championship contender. The bad news is Quick is the leading candidate to stop pucks for Team USA at the ’14 Sochi Olympics. Only two starters from Vancouver ’10 — Russia’s Evgeni Nabokov and Slovakia’s Jaroslav Halak — had much playoff success that same season. Especially after trading backup Jonathan Bernier to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Kings can’t afford for their star goalie to get worn out.

Phoenix Coyotes — Going nowhere

For the first time in a long time, the Coyotes know where they’ll be playing next season. Seattle? No. Quebec City? Au contraire. The answer is

actually Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz., their home since ’03. The Desert Dogs have long been distracted by financial question marks and rumoured relocations. With a new ownership group in place and key pieces like captain Shane Doan, defenceman Keith Yandle, puck-stopper Mike Smith and head coach Dave Tippett still around, the Coyotes can finally focus on the on-ice issues. A bonus, being grouped in a division with three Canadian teams will bolster ticket sales to the snowbirds.

San Jose Sharks – Sinking feeling?

The scouting report on the Sharks hasn’t really changed. The window is closing. Has been for a few years. Still is. However, with a spirited seven-game series against the Kings in the second round last spring, the Sharks served notice they’re not over-the-hill just yet. This is 24-year-old Logan Couture’s team now, but 30-somethings Dan Boyle, Patrick Marleau, Brad Stuart and Joe Thornton are still capable of contributing in a big way. There is speculation this could be their final crack at a Stanley Cup before San Jose’s aging core is split apart. Then again, haven’t we been saying that for awhile?

Vancouver Canucks — Net gains?

The Canucks stunned the hockey world on draft day, shipping starting goalie Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils and giving Roberto Luongo — unwanted on the trade market due to his mega-contract that runs through 2021-22 — his old job back. Luongo is, without a doubt, the X-Factor for the Canucks this season. If the 34-year-old netminder finds the form he displayed as Canada’s starter at the ’10 Vancouver Olympics, the longtime leaders of the Northwest Division will, once again, be a playoff squad. If Luongo continues to surrender soft goals at bad times, incoming head coach John Tortorella will be fuming from October to April.


719697 Chicago Blackhawks

Kostka makes Blackhawks debut; Rozsival sits

By Chris Kuc

Tribune reporter

7:13 PM CDT, October 5, 2013

After emerging as the winner of a spirited training camp battle for the eighth defenseman spot on the Blackhawks’ roster, Michael Kostka didn’t have to wait long to make his debut with the team.

Kostka was in the Hawks’ lineup when they faced the Lightning on Saturday night at the United Center, replacing veteran Michal Rozsival, who is likely to be in and out of the lineup this season in an effort to keep him healthy.

"Coming into camp there were a lot of question marks," Kostka said before playing 16-plus minutes with two blocked shots in the Hawks 3-2 shootout loss. "There were no guarantees coming in and then being able to stick out of camp. I was excited for that. Now the next step is getting into games, given that there are eight defensemen here. I’m excited to get my opportunity."

Kostka beat out Ryan Stanton in camp for a roster spot, in part, because of his NHL experience. Kostka played 35 games for the Maple Leafs in 2013 before signing a free-agent contract with the Hawks on July 19.

“He can play offensively (and) defensively he’s involved,” coach Joel Quenneville said of Kostka. “He has some speed on the back end that can join in the attack. He has some good play recognition and a decent gap. It gives him a chance to get into the lineup early in the season.”

Shoot to thrill: As one of the NHL’s top goal-scorers, the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos relies on arguably the league’s most lethal one-timer to catch goaltenders out of position.

“It’s just something I’ve practiced since I was a little kid,” said Stamkos, who had 208 goals in 374 career games entering Saturday. “The goalies are so good these days that you can’t give them a chance to set. As soon as that puck gets to your stick it has to come off. They’re so athletic and quick.

“Now with the amount of video we do, people pick up on tendencies. Every year it’s kind of less and less the amount of goals I score on one-timers. You have to kind of reinvent your game, go to other areas of the ice to score. That’s something I’ve been aware of.”

Fitting in: Winger Joakim Nordstrom played his second NHL game for the Hawks when they faced the Lightning. The 21-year-old said he won’t relax now that he’s on the roster after securing a job in camp.

“I want to get better every day,” Nordstrom said. “I want to play here for the rest of my career. I just have to work hard every day and make sure I still have a spot on the team.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 10.06.2013


Sweet start, sour ending for Hawks

Lightning overcome 2-goal deficit in final 10 minutes to win 3-2 in shootout

By Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune reporter

11:33 PM CDT, October 5, 2013

At one end of the ice, Corey Crawford was solid. At the other, Ben Bishop was sensational.

That was the difference between one point and two for the Blackhawks as they fell to Bishop and the Lightning 3-2 in a shootout Saturday night at the United Center.

The Hawks did what they wanted throughout the game, including holding the Lightning without a shot during the first period. But in the end the Tampa Bay goaltender got the better of them after his teammates solved Crawford for two third-period scores and Valtteri Filppula's winner in the shootout.

"That was a pretty near perfect game for us," a dejected Crawford said afterward. "We put a lot of pucks on net, and we had a lot of chances. Their guy played unbelievable. It just wasn't good enough by me. I have to find a way to come up with one save at the end to shut it down. I didn't, and we lost."

Bishop finished with 37 saves in regulation and overtime and stopped Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa in the shootout. The Lightning improves to 1-1-0 on the season after facing the teams that squared off in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final — the Bruins and Hawks — on the road.

Martin St. Louis had a goal and an assist, and Teddy Purcell scored in regulation to provide the offense for the Lightning. Kane and Brandon Saad scored in regulation for the Hawks, but it wasn't enough as Crawford (14 saves) couldn't hold the lead in the final 10 minutes.

It was the first time the Hawks (1-0-1) had held an opponent without a shot on goal in a period since Dec. 4, 1946, when they did it against the Red Wings.

"We did what we wanted to do most of the night," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Sometimes you get a goalie win on the other side and you don't get a point."

The Lightning got their first shot on goal when Nate Thompson sent the puck harmlessly Crawford's way 1 minute, 21 seconds into the second period. Meanwhile, the Hawks grabbed the lead in the second period when Kane flicked a rebound of a Bryan Bickell stuff attempt over Bishop's left shoulder from a sharp angle.

Later in the second, the Hawks took advantage of a lucky bounce when Nick Leddy's dump-in caromed off the end boards and into the slot. Bishop had come out of the crease to play the puck, and Saad swooped in and batted the loose puck into the empty net.

The Lightning found life in the third when St. Louis knocked in a rebound with a backhander and Purcell later scored on a power play. Bishop took it from there.

"We needed Ben Bishop to stand tall if we had any chance of coming back, and he did," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "You get one, and then we were opportunistic on our power play and snuck out with a win.

"I was looking for the police when we left the locker room because I thought we'd get arrested for stealing."

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 10.06.2013


Michael Kostka out to proves he belongs in the lineup

BY MARK LAZERUS Staff Reporter October 6, 2013 12:27AM

Updated: October 6, 2013 2:40AM

Michael Kostka has no idea how often he’ll be in the lineup. So every time he’s out there, he knows the margin for error — if he wants to play — is minuscule.

“Sure, but I feel the stakes have always been kind of high,” said Kostka, who made his Hawks debut Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. “For me, it’s always been a bit of a proving ground. Especially when you have two other defensemen here who can play, it might make it feel a little more important that you go out and have a good showing.”

Kostka is in a three-way battle with Michal Rozsival and Sheldon Brookbank for the sixth defenseman spot. It’s really Rozsival’s job, but coach Joel Quenneville wants to limit the regular-season toll on the 35-year-old, meaning either Kostka or Brookbank — or both — will get plenty of chances.

Kostka, a 27-year-old blue-liner who played 35 games last season as a rookie for the Maple Leafs, caught Quenne-ville’s eye and earned a surprise roster spot in camp.

“He’s got some speed on the back end and can join in the attack,” Quenne-ville said. “He’s got good play recognition, he’s got a decent gap and [by giving] him a chance to get into the lineup early this season, we’ll get a better assessment.”

Kostka played on the power play in the American Hockey League and in Toronto, and might shake up the Hawks’ long-suffering unit. Kostka said he was more of a shooter on the power play in the AHL, but that he’s become more of a playmaker in the NHL since “there are guys here that have better shots than I.”

“That’s a part of the game that I enjoy playing, and I feel like it’s an asset I can bring,” Kostka said of the power play. “[But] obviously, there’s a depth of guys who can play in that role here.”

Kostka’s not expecting to secure an everyday spot right away, and certainly not based on a single game. He’s been in a platoon role for much of his career, and knows how to maintain his conditioning and timing.

“You learn to be professional and just stay on top of it,” he said. “Practices here are so quick and sharp, it’s about as close to a game as you’re going to get without contact.’’

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 10.06.2013


Blackhawks let it slip away in 3-2 loss

BY MARK LAZERUS October 5, 2013 11:06PM


Corey Crawford said it was a “pretty near perfect game for us.” Joel Quenneville said, “We did what we wanted to do.”

Sometimes, they said, the other guy’s just better.

Goalie Ben Bishop made 37 saves and stopped Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa in the shootout as the Hawks squandered a two-goal third-period lead and lost 3-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Longtime Detroit Red Wings forward Valtteri Filppula had the lone goal in the shootout, beating Crawford in the first round.

“It was one of those games where they’ve got a goalie winning the game,” Quenneville said. “We play like that, you’ll [usually] find a way to get two points. Sometimes you get a goalie win on the other side, and you don’t get a point. That’s a positive we take out of it.”

For the Hawks, it was a nightmare finish to a game that started out as a laugher. The Lightning didn’t put a single shot on goal in the first period — only the second time in Hawks’ history that they held an opponent without a shot for a full period.

It was a surreal period for Crawford, who didn’t have to make a save until 82 seconds into the second period. He shrugged off the idea that making only 14 saves in 65 minutes factored into the Lightning’s two third-period goals.

“Shouldn’t matter,” he said. “You’re trying to find a way to stay in the game, play the puck, talk to our guys. There’s always something to do when you’re not getting shots. It’s not an issue.”

And in the end, it didn’t matter. The Lightning made the most of the few shots they did have.

“We’re not playing to win periods,” winger Ben Smith said. “We’re playing to win games.”

After outshooting the Lightning 12-0 in the first period, but failing to score, the Hawks finally got on the board 59 seconds into the second, when Kane cleaned up a Bryan Bickell rebound after Niklas Hjalmarsson crashed the net from the side.

The Hawks made it 2-0 midway through the second on a fluky goal by Brandon Saad. Nick Leddy’s dump-in attempt hit the boards in the corner and skittered across the goalmouth, while Bishop was behind the net, waiting for the usual carom. Saad beat Bishop to the puck and flipped it into the open net for his second goal in as many games.

But the Lightning, after being thoroughly dominated for two periods, struck midway through the third period. Martin St. Louis’ backhander cut the lead to 2-1 at 10:08 of the third, and Teddy Purcell’s power-play goal tied it less than two minutes later.

“It’s about playing a full 60 minutes, and we might have had a little lull there,” Smith said. “But that’s just early in the year. Some things happen, and it’s important as long as we learn from it and move forward. Things will be all right.”

Purcell’s equalizer was the fourth power-play goal the Hawks have surrendered in seven chances, and sent the game into overtime despite the Hawks having a 37-14 edge in shots during regulation.

The Hawks certainly had their chances, peppering Bishop with eight shot on five power plays. There were a couple of sequences in the second and third periods in which the Hawks generated two, three, even four consecutive chances and a few wild flurries in Bishop’s crease. But they couldn’t bury a shot and put the Lightning away, and it cost them in the end.

“Their guy played unbelievable,” Crawford said. “I just wasn’t good enough. I need to find a way to come up with one save at the end to shut it down, and I didn’t. Lost the game.”



Ben Smith on permanent press setting

BY MARK LAZERUS Staff Reporter October 5, 2013 11:06PM


Ben Smith has his name on the Stanley Cup, but he doesn’t yet have a permanent spot in the Blackhawks lineup. He made his season debut Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, taking Jimmy Hayes’ spot at right wing on the third line.

Smith and Hayes sit next to each in the dressing room, but each player shrugged off the awkwardness.

“It’s part of the sport, part of the job,” Smith said. You’re always competing against a lot of guys, it’s not just going to be training camp. It’s going to continue well on through the year. We just have to play our best every day and hope that the opportunities keep coming.”

Said Hayes: “Nothing’s guaranteed here. We’re all fighting for the same thing.”

New faces

Five of the Hawks’ first six games this season are against Eastern Conference teams they haven’t seen since at least the 2011-12 season. After playing exclusively Western Conference teams during the lockout-shortened season, teams will play a home-and-home against every team from the other conference.

It had been nearly two years since the Hawks faced the Lightning, and coach Joel Quenneville said the new opponents could break up the monotony of a long season.

“I think players like playing some guy they don’t know much about and finding out as they go along,” he said.

Quenneville wasn’t concerned that the lack of familiarity could make things a little more difficult on the coaching staff.

“I think everybody plays comparably the same way,” he said. “It’s more important how we play.”

Handzus holding up

Michal Handzus, who missed part of Tuesday’s opener with an undisclosed injury, was in the lineup Saturday. Handzus played with a broken wrist and a torn MCL during the Stanley Cup Final, and playing through pain has become part of the process for the 37-year-old center.

“Honestly, I think it wasn’t that bad,” Handzus said of his playoff heroics. “It was such an exciting time for everyone from our team, so you don’t pay attention too much.”



Blackhawks run into hot goalie in loss

By Tim Sassone

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville called it a goalie win, and from watching Tampa Bay's Ben Bishop turn away chance after chance, it was tough to disagree.

Bishop made 37 saves through overtime and stopped all 3 shootout attempts as the Lightning rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the third period to defeat the Hawks 3-2 Saturday night at the United Center.

"I didn't mind the way we played," Quenneville said. "They got a goalie win out of the game. If we play like that we'll find a way to get 2 points. Sometimes you get a goalie win on the other side and you don't get a point, so I guess that was a positive. Certainly we did what we wanted to do tonight."

The win for Tampa Bay came after an opening-night loss in Boston.

"It's the first one of the season, so it's always big," Bishop said. "And then it's against the defending Stanley Cup champions, which is also big. A comeback win in this building says a lot about this team."

After going the first period without a shot, the Lightning got goals from Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell on a power play less than two minutes apart midway through the third period to force overtime.

"We weren't happy with the way we were playing, and we had 20 minutes to fix it and show as a team what we could do," Bishop said. "The first two periods wasn't really acceptable. We did a good job in the third."

The Hawks finished with a 39-16 advantage in shots.

"It was a near perfect game for us," Hawks goalie Corey Crawford said. "We put a lot of pucks on net and had a lot of chances, but their guy played unbelievable."

The Hawks took a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the second period on goals by Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad.

Kane got his second of the season 59 seconds into the period when he flipped a Bryan Bickell rebound over Bishop after Niklas Hjalmarsson took the puck hard to the net.

Saad's goal came on a power play at 9:14 and also was his second of the year. He will never have an easier one.

He had an open net to shoot at after Bishop came out to play Nick Leddy's dump-in that hit the glass funny and landed in the crease. Saad had the easy tap-in before Bishop could recover.

It was Bishop's only gaffe of the game.

"There's a reason they're the Stanley Cup champs, and they showed us for most of the game why they're the best team in the league," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "We needed Ben Bishop to stand tall if we had any chance of coming back, and he did.

"I was looking for the police when we left the locker room because I thought we'd get arrested for stealing."

Saad didn't think the Hawks got enough traffic to the net around Bishop.

"He played well, but we've got to get more guys to the net," Saad said. "There are a lot of great goaltenders in this league, so we just got to stick with it and keep battling. They just didn't go in for us tonight."

Steven Stamkos assisted on both Tampa Bay goals.

"They're not always pretty, especially against this team in this rink; they're going to take 2 points every night," Stamkos said. "We hung around and our goalie played very well tonight."

Bishop stopped Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa in the shootout while Valtteri Filppula scored Tampa's lone shootout goal.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 10.06.2013


Blackhawks' Sharp knows all about fitness

By Tim Sassone

It was a few years ago that Patrick Sharp decided to get serious about becoming fit, and the results have been noticeable.

Sharp won the annual fitness award at Blackhawks training camp and has been one of the best players on the ice through the preseason and opener against Washington. He credits Hawks strength and conditioning coach Paul Goodman with getting him started.

"I probably started when I was 25 or 26," Sharp said. "I got real serious about it, and it was kind of when the fitness craze came into the league. Now you see players training at 13 or 14 years old with personal trainers. That's definitely something I wasn't doing.

"When Paul Goodman came in we sat down and laid out a plan. He's on top of that kind of stuff. There's no question I improve every summer physically because of Paulie. I never had these high-performance trainers and supplements and protein shakes and all that stuff."

Sharp is on a mission to make the Canadian Olympic team, which would cap a pretty good year for him. The Hawks won their second Stanley Cup in June, and the Sharps have a second child due any day now.

"It's a pretty good time in my life, I can't argue that," Sharp said. "Playing for the Blackhawks has been pretty special. The way they take care of us and bring part of such a good team with a chance to win every year is more than I could ask for. I'm very lucky.

"I feel I'm in my prime and have a lot of years left."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville loves what he has seen from Sharp.

"He's skating as good as I've ever seen him skate," Quenneville said. "Every single time he hits the ice it seems he's at a different pace this year. We expect him to be producing at a real nice rate here."

Respecting Stamkos:

From one goal scorer to another, Marian Hossa has an appreciation for what Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos does.

"I think he works for his space," Hossa said. "It's not just the puck comes to him and he's got an unbelievable release. When you look at his game you have to be aware of where he is."

Lineup changes:

It turned out that Ben Smith wasn't the only lineup change for the Hawks on Saturday.

While Smith played right wing in the third line, Mike Kostka was inserted on defense in place of Michal Rozsival.

"He can play offensively and defensively," Joel Quenneville said. "He's involved, and he's got speed on the back end to join the attack. This gives him a chance to get in the lineup early in the season."

The only Hawks Quenneville hasn't used yet are defenseman Sheldon Brookbank and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.

View from Tampa:

When Lightning coach Jon Cooper got a look at his 2013-14 schedule and saw the first two games were at Boston and Chicago, he knew immediately it would be a challenge.

"When the schedule came out and we saw we played the two Stanley Cup finalists back to back, we said this will set the bar of where we're at," Cooper said before Saturday's game.

"Tonight we're playing the team that's won two of the last four Stanley Cups and many consider to be the best team in the league the last four or five years, so that's not much to go up against."



Hawks fall to Lightning in shootout 3-2

By Associated Press

Valtteri Filppula scored in the shootout and the Tampa Bay Lightning rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.

Ben Bishop made 37 saves in his first start this season for Tampa Bay, then denied each of Chicago's three shooters in the tiebreaker. Filppula beat Corey Crawford into the right side of the net in the first round.

Tampa Bay looked listless before Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell scored midway through the third period, tying it at 2. It was the first victory of the season for the Lightning, who opened with a 3-1 loss at Boston.

Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad scored in the second for Chicago, which outshot Tampa Bay 39-16 in the first game between the teams since the Lightning's 5-4 overtime victory on Nov. 4, 2011. Jonathan Toews, Kane and Marian Hossa each were unable to solve Bishop in the shootout.

The Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks were coming off a 6-4 victory over Washington in their season opener Tuesday. They set an NHL record by recording at least one point in each of their first 24 games a year ago, but they wasted an opportunity to earn two points against the Lightning.

Tampa Bay failed to register a shot on goal before Nate Thompson was stopped by Corey Crawford 1:22 into the second. It had only six shots at the end of the period, compared to 25 for the Blackhawks.

The scoreless first was the first time an NHL team had failed to register a shot on goal in a period since Edmonton on March 3 at Minnesota, according to STATS. It was the third such period for Tampa Bay in franchise history, and only the second time Chicago had pulled off the feat, including the first period of a scoreless tie against Detroit on Dec. 4, 1946.

The Blackhawks grabbed the lead when Kane jumped on a loose puck on the right side of the net and punched it in just 59 seconds into the second. Saad then made the most of a big break midway through the period.

With Tampa Bay center Alex Killorn in the penalty box for hooking, Blackhawks defenseman Nick Leddy tried to dump the puck in behind the Lightning net. Bishop went back to get it, but it took a weird bounce off the boards and slid toward the front of the goal.

Saad came in from the left side and knocked it in before Bishop could get into position, making it 2-0 at 9:14.

The two-goal advantage looked as if it would be more than enough before Tampa Bay suddenly woke up midway through the third.

First, St. Louis beat Crawford with a backhander on a rebound with 9:52 remaining. Then, Purcell sent a wrist shot over Crawford's right shoulder for a tying power-play goal just 1:43 after Tampa Bay's first score.

After beginning with the Stanley Cup finalists from a year ago, Tampa Bay is at Buffalo on Tuesday night before beginning its home schedule on Thursday against the Panthers.



Lightning take late strike at Blackhawks

October 5, 2013, 10:30 pm

Nina Falcone

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper had his team's plan laid out heading into Saturday's matchup: shoot and shoot often.

But once the puck dropped inside the United Center, the visiting team had a difficult time executing that plan. The Blackhawks held Tampa Bay to no shots on goal throughout the entire duration of the first period; it took 21:22 of ice time before goaltender Corey Crawford was called on to make a save.

But once the Lightning began shooting — although it wasn't often — it was enough to earn them their fourth consecutive win over the defending Stanley Cup champions.

"Got a little outplayed there (in the first period)," forward Valtteri Filppula said following his team's 3-2 shootout victory. "But (goaltender Ben) Bishop played great and we were able to get back in the third and in the shootout. Good result, not the best game."

It was a result no one expected to see. There wasn't much excitement from the start, but even once it picked up, the momentum on the ice remained with the Blackhawks as Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad gave their team a 2-0 lead.

"(The Blackhawks) skated a lot better than us," Filppula continued. "We didn't get the puck, we were always a little bit behind. But I gotta give it to them, they're a really good team and they played really well. The first two periods they didn't give us much — even in the third they didn't give us much but we played better to get the necessary goals."

It was Martin St. Louis who gave the Lightning the momentum they were searching for as he scored the first of Tampa Bay's two goals in regulation.

"It was a huge goal," Filppula said. "We didn't have a whole lot of scoring chances today. (The Blackhawks) played really well defensively and it was tough for us. But got that one and we were only one behind, so we knew we had a chance to come back."

The Lightning did just that, despite only taking 14 shots in regulation. The Blackhawks, on the other hand, fired 37 at Bishop.

"We weathered the storm," Steven Stamkos said. "Obviously it wasn't the best period (in the first) but our goalie made some big saves and kept us in the game.

"That's the way this league goes, you just keep going and you get a chance, you get a break, you get a power play, a big power play goal, a goal off the face-off — we stayed in the game. They're not always pretty, especially at this rink against this team; you're gonna take two points every night."

Despite the difficult start, the Lightning were pleased with the product they put out following that first 20 minutes of play as they went on to record their first win of the season.

"That's all you can ask for is a chance to stay in the game, especially when you start like that," Stamkos said. "We were able to hang around and we got the win."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.06.2013


Crawford, Hawks fall to Lighting in shootout

October 5, 2013, 9:30 pm

Tracey Myers

For two-and-a-half periods, the Chicago Blackhawks defense was its usual stellar and stymieing self. But for two critical minutes, the Tampa Bay Lightning got the breaks – and goals – that were so elusive to them through the first 50 minutes.

Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad each scored their second goal in as many games, but the Lightning scored twice in the third and Valtteri Filppula had the shootout winner in a 3-2 decision over the Blackhawks . The Blackhawks have points in their first two games out of the gate, but they were a tad frustrated in leaving that extra point on the table.

But some nights you just have to tip your hat to the opposing goalie, and it’s arguable that’s the case for Saturday night. Getting a shot on Tampa Bay goaltender Ben Bishop was easy. Getting one past him, not so much. Bishop was masterful in stopping 37-of-39 through regulation and overtime, as well as all three Blackhawks shootout attempts.

Smith played against Bishop when the two were in college, and in the American League, and he knows how tough the 6-foot-7 goaltender can be.

“He’s done well and played a great game tonight,” Smith said. “Those big, long legs, a lot of pucks hit him.”

While Smith said the Blackhawks had a lull during the Lightning’s comeback, Coach Joel Quenneville didn’t quite agree.

“I didn’t mind the way we played. It’s one of those games where they had a goalie win out of the game,” Quenneville said. “We did what we wanted to do most of the night. When we play like that, we’ll find a way to get two points. Sometimes you get a goalie win on the other side and you don’t get a point, so that’s the positive we’ll take out of it. But we certainly did what we were looking to do tonight.”

Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said his team stole one in Chicago.

“Let’s call a spade a spade: there’s a reason they’re the Stanley Cup champs and they showed us for most of the game why they’re the best team in the league,” he said. “We needed Ben Bishop to stand tall if we had any chance of coming back and he did. We just hung around. You get one and then we were opportunistic on our power play and snuck out with a win. I was looking for the police when we left the locker room because I thought we’d get arrested for stealing.”

Steven Stamkos had two assists for the Lightning. Corey Crawford, who didn’t see a shot on goal until early in the second period, allowed two on 16 shots.

Indeed, the Blackhawks did a lot of things right, from dictating the tempo to firing at well on Bishop to blanking the Lightning on shots on goal in the first period. It was the first time since Dec. 4, 1946 (against Detroit) that the Blackhawks didn’t allow a shot on goal in a period.

On the other side, the Blackhawks were suffocating in their offensive attack. Kane cleaned up when the Blackhawks had traffic around Bishop 59 seconds into the second period for a 1-0 lead. Then Saad capitalized when Bishop went behind the net to play the puck, but the puck took a weird carom and slid in front of the net for, essentially, an empty-net power-play goal and a 2-0 lead.

But the Lightning, few shots and all, weren’t done. Not long after winning a faceoff, the Bolts broke through when Martin St. Louis tallied his first of the season. Then Teddy Purcell scored 31 seconds into a power play against a Blackhawks penalty kill that’s suddenly looking very vulnerable.

The Blackhawks did a lot of things right, indeed. The penalty kill didn’t show well in its one chance, but otherwise the Blackhawks were cultivating opportunities and controlling the pace. Still, the Blackhawks would’ve liked to collect that second point – if only they could’ve found that third goal.

“We had quite a bit of chances,” Saad said. “It was a tough loss, for sure. There are a lot of great goaltenders in the league, but we have to stick with it and keep battling. Unfortunately, it didn’t go in enough for us tonight.”



Konroyd's keys against Lightning: Stay out of the box

October 5, 2013, 3:45 pm

Steve Konroyd

CSN Chicago Blackhawks pre/postgame analyst Steve Konroyd gives his three keys to a Blackhawks' victory in Saturday's game against the Lightning.

1. Stay out of the penalty box:

The Blackhawks took six minor penalties in their last game and it almost cost them. Washington was able to score on three of them, and it gave the Capitals a lot of confidence and momentum. A trademark of Joel Quenneville’s team since he’s been in Chicago is discipline. Yes, the Blackhawks had one of the best penalty killing units in the league last year, but they also took the third fewest penalties, having to kill off less than three penalties per game. Do not take needless penalties.

2. Watch out for the Stamkos–St. Louis Show

Steven Stamkos is an elite goal scorer in this league. Coming into this season he has scored 185 goals in the last four years, 33 more goals than any other player. And guess what? Martin St. Louis has assisted on almost half of them. They are especially dangerous on the power play, and the last time these two teams met in November of 2011, Stamkos had a hat trick for a Tampa Bay win.

3. Keep the Power Play Humming:

The power play went 1 for 4 against the Capitals on Tuesday night, and it gave the team some momentum when Brent Seabrook scored late in the 2nd period. That “shoot first” mentality instead of looking for the pretty play has to be on the top of the Hawks' minds. I’ve watched a lot of games so far in this young season, and the team that wins the special teams match usually wins the game.



Kostka set to make Blackhawks debut

October 5, 2013, 1:45 pm

Tracey Myers

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Mike Kostka got together with a few of his fellow former Norfolk Admirals teammates, now members of the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Friday.

It was a chance to remember the Admirals’ tremendous 2011-12 season, the one in which they rattled off 28 consecutive victories -- still a professional hockey record -- and capped it with a Calder Cup triumph over the Toronto Marlies. And, it was just a chance to get together for the Norfolk alums who have remained close friends.

“That team’s as close a team as I’ve ever been on, and Kostka was a big part of it,” Tampa center Tyler Johnson on Saturday afternoon. “We’ve kept in touch a lot. We’re family, and we’re always going to be.”

But family ties will take a backseat later tonight when Kostka, makes his debut in his new jersey when the Blackhawks host the Lightning at the United Center. For Kostka, getting into his first Blackhawks game is a treat, made that much sweeter in facing good friends and former teammates.

“I always like playing against old teammates. It’s a good time,” Kostka said after morning skate. “I don’t think I’ll ever be a part of something that incredible again, in terms of the record. We didn’t even know how it happened. You have different levels for goals and achievements, and I’m proud to make it (to the NHL). But you never forget what got you there, an experience like that, which really did help propel me forward.”

The Admirals went 55-18-3 that season en route to the title, and a good deal of those players have made it to the next level.

“We look back, nine guys are in the NHL from that team. That shows, if you win, teams are going to be looking for you,” said Lightning left wing Pierre-Cedric Labrie, who enjoyed the reunion with Kostka on Friday. “He’s an awesome dude, a really laid-back, funny guy. I have nothing bad to say about him.”

Kostka didn’t make the NHL with the Lightning. He signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs in July of 2012 and played 35 games for the Leafs last season. But there’ll always be Norfolk, the success the team had, the friendships built and the drive to make the NHL that season instilled in him.

“Maybe it didn’t work on the NHL level so there’s always a bit of a proving ground. That being said, I have nothing but good things to say about my time in that organization,” Kostka said. “But there’s always that part that drives you, and playing against guys you won a championship with, I’m excited.”



Blackhawks return to CSN to host lightning at 6:30

October 5, 2013, 9:45 am

Nina Falcone

After gutting out a thrilling 6-4 victory in their home opener, the Blackhawks are hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Catch all the action on Comcast SportsNet beginning at 6:30.

The banner is up and the first win is in the books.

The Blackhawks kicked off their season on Tuesday with a thrilling victory after conducting an emotional banner-raising ceremony to commemorate their Stanley Cup victory.

Now the Blackhawks will look to get another two points under their belt as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Lightning were not off to as strong of a start as the Blackhawks were as they suffered a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. For both Tampa Bay and the defending Stanley Cup champions, special teams will be important heading into tonight's game.

While the Blackhawks saw improvement on the power play Tuesday evening, their penalty kill suffered, allowing the Washington Capitals multiple power-play goals.

“Give them credit for their effectiveness on the power play and us maybe being too respectful,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We could’ve been more aggressive on some of those situations.”

The Lightning were 0-for-5 on the power play in their season opener after recording just 12.5 percent success rate with the man-advantage in 2013.

Looking at the numbers, the Lightning don't appear as much of a threat to the Blackhawks. Tampa Bay earned just 40 points in the lockout-shortened season, causing them to finish just slightly ahead of the Florida Panthers who came in dead last in the Eastern Conference.

But tonight won't be a walk in the park for the Blackhawks, who have dropped their last three matchups against Tampa Bay. Both teams will be taking a close look at their special teams play as the Blackhawks aim for a second consecutive victory inside the United Center.


719710 Colorado Avalanche

Paul Stastny could be odd man out with Avalanche by season's end

By Adrian Dater

The Denver Post

Posted: 10/06/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT

It may work out that the Avalanche can keep three very good centers beyond this season in Paul Stastny, Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon. But most everyone believes one of them will have to be traded before too long, and odds are that player will be Stastny.

It may be an uncomfortable topic for everyone around the dressing room, but it is reality. There are only so many minutes to go around for a team's top forwards, and anyone out of the top six more often than not stays slotted in a utility role.

Right now, the Avs have a 22-year-old center in Duchene who just signed a five-year, $30 million contract extension, and an 18-year-old No. 1 draft pick in MacKinnon who could be a superstar. They have a fourth-line center, John Mitchell, who probably deserves to be moved up another level.

Stastny, 27, is in the last year of his contract, which pays him $6.6 million this year, and is a potential unrestricted free agent. If the Avs sign Stastny to a new contract, that means Duchene and MacKinnon probably play fewer minutes and maybe see some of their growth stunted. If Stastny re-signs, he knows he probably is destined for fewer minutes to accommodate the younger players, and his growth is stunted as well.

If Stastny were to resign himself to being a third-line center and could be happy with that, then maybe there's still hope for him here. But he's too young and talented to accept that role. He shouldn't want to just be a third-line center.

The other part of the situation is that the Avs need help on defense, and Stastny would figure to be their best bargaining chip to get it. Some team almost certainly would give up a nice D-man or a top draft choice in a trade.

How well the Avs perform in the first two-thirds of the season is almost certain to determine what happens to Stastny. If the Avs are out of playoff contention, he becomes the perfect rental sell-off to a contender. If the Avs are in the playoff race, odds would be higher Stastny stays, but perhaps not too much. Maybe the Avs would feel an imported defenseman, maybe even a one-year rental, would be the missing piece to a possible strong playoff run and would use Stastny as the bargaining chip again.

The Avs got off to a great start Wednesday night against Anaheim, but for Stastny, the numbers were not great. He did not record a point in the 6-1 win and got only one shot on net. He also took two penalties, the second of which caused coach Patrick Roy to shake his head in disgust. Stastny wound up getting just 13:38 of playing time, below that of MacKinnon (15:31) and Duchene (17:50). MacKinnon wowed everyone with his talent.

The Avs probably worry just how well MacKinnon will fit into the league at such a young age. But the more he plays as he did in the season opener, the more the Avs won't feel the need to hedge their bets with a veteran such as Stastny ahead of him.

Stastny has been treated well by the Avs, and he has been a good soldier throughout lots of upheaval around him in recent years. His work ethic is beyond reproach. But business is business, and the Avs have to make a cost-benefit decision on his future.

The Avs don't have to worry about any of this right now. But the clock is ticking on a tough decision.

Denver Post: LOADED: 10.06.2013


Avs' Nate MacKinnon looks like the real, super deal

By Mark Kiszla

The Denver Post

Posted: 10/06/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT

No hockey player makes the Hall of Fame in two NHL games.

But believe this: Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has superstar written all over him.

Sure, MacKinnon is barely 18 years old. There will be bad nights, rough stretches and hard lessons.

MacKinnon, however, is a game changer.

He might not ever be as good as Joe Sakic or Peter Forsberg. But the long-suffering Avalanche should be in the race for a playoff berth all season long because the team was smart enough to select Mac Kinnon over Seth Jones, a defenseman with local ties, in the NHL draft.

"All I want from MacKinnon is so simple: Be himself," Avs coach Patrick Roy said. "There's going to be expectations. People will expect him to win the Calder Trophy. But that's the final product. The start is: Be who you are. Don't try to be the player anybody else expects. That's easy to say, but it's tough to do."

There are 10 technical aspects of MacKinnon's game that can cause you to shake your head in wonder. But what sold me is how a teenager responded to the attempt by Anaheim's Ben Lovejoy to intimidate MacKinnon during his first NHL game.

"I saw him drop the gloves first. So I dropped mine," MacKinnon told me. "I'm not going to run my mouth in this league. I'm not going to chirp. But, in this league, I think you earn your respect with your actions."

A superstar who takes care of himself on the ice?

Reminds you a little of Forsberg, doesn't it?

Peyton Manning owns Denver in 2013.

When Manning is ready to turn in the keys to the city in three years, we know where he can drop them:

In the hands of MacKinnon.



Avalanche 2-0, but Patrick Roy not happy with power play (or play of Tyson Barrie)

By Adrian Dater

The Denver Post

The only thing coach Patrick Roy said was a negative in Friday’s 3-1 win over Nashville was his team’s power play. Roy said the players did not “battle” hard enough for the puck, that Nashville won too many physical battles for it and that it must improve, “no doubt about it.”

Roy also had some criticism for the play of young Avs D-man Tyson Barrie:

“Tonight, I was not 100 percent happy with Barrie. That’s why I put Parenteau (at the point) sometimes there. Tyson needs to keep his game more simple. When he’s losing the puck at the blue line or he’s making a bad decision at the blue line, this is not what we’re looking for. I think he could be a little bit better in that area.”

Right now, Andre Benoit is the quarterback of the power play on the first unit, and I like the fact that he puts a lot of pucks on net. His slap shot isn’t overpowering, but it gets to the net and he gets rid of the puck quickly. Barrie has tended to hold on to the puck a little too long, but the kid will learn.



Steve Downie will not be suspended for his hit on Roman Josi

By Adrian Dater

The Denver Post

NHL director of player safety Brendan Shanahan took to his Twitter feed this morning to explain why Avalanche winger Steve Downie will face no supplemental discipline for his hit on Nashville’s Roman Josi Friday night.

Despite Nashville’s Barry Trotz predicting the league would suspend Downie, it won’t happen and Shananan explained why:

@nhlshanahan

@nhlshanahan

He added a second tweet and explanation as well:

@nhlshanahan

@nhlshanahan

Josi was injured on the play, and no doubt the Predators are ticked at a non-suspension. Preds player Paul Gaustad told The Tennessean: “”I take issue with that. He’s one of those players who looks for the crowd to cheer him on or something like that, I don’t know… it was a dumb hit and we know who did it. We play these guys several times this year.”

Yup, the next meeting between the teams is Nov. 6 at the Pepsi Center.


719714 Dallas Stars

New NHL rules limit fighting

MIKE HEIKA

Staff Writer

Published: 05 October 2013 11:33 PM

Updated: 05 October 2013 11:37 PM

The NHL has not decided to take fighting out of the game, but its rules will make it more difficult to fight this season.

The league has enacted rules that will penalize players two minutes each for removing their helmets before a fight. That's in addition to the five-minute penalty they get for fighting.

"It's certainly a message," Stars winger Lane MacDermid said. "You have to be careful how you do things. You were taught growing up that removing your helmet was the right thing to do. Now, it's not."

The rule is intended to protect players from a possible head-to-ice hit, but its effect goes beyond that. Last season, 73 percent of players wore visors. This season, players entering the league are required to wear a visor. Those already in the league can choose to play without one. There will be a time when every player has to have a visor, and if you can't take your helmet off in a fight, then fighters are hitting each other in the visor.

"It doesn't make sense to fight when you look at it that way," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "I mean, if you're just hitting each other in the helmet or the visor, it loses its impact."

Antoine Roussel wears a visor, and said he will work through the rule.

"I mean, it's still hockey and we'll still fight," he said. "It just happens."

Ruff said he still likes the impact a fight can have in changing momentum. But he said after Montreal's George Parros suffered a concussion opening night after hitting his chin on the ice that he understands the reason for the debate.

"I watched the Olympics, and it was great hockey, and there's no fighting there," he said. "I like a good fight, it's good entertainment. But the talent in the league is so good now that I can see why they might be leaning toward not needing it anymore."

The debate will continue, but it's clear that fights will be more difficult to come by.

"They change the rules for a reason," Ruff said.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 10.06.2013

719715 Dallas Stars

Rich Peverley makes Stars debut after missing preseason and opener

MIKE HEIKA

Staff Writer



Rich Peverley missed all of the preseason with an irregular heartbeat discovered in his precamp physical. However, he was cleared to return Friday and made his Stars debut Saturday.

Peverley is off blood thinners, but said he will have to keep up with the heart issue.

"I've never had it before, so it's something new," he said. "I felt bad before the season, so I knew there was something wrong. I feel great now, so I'll just have to keep an eye on it, and I'll react as necessary."


719716 Dallas Stars

Heika: Rookie Alex Chiasson powering Stars' offense, leads team to first win

Mike Heika

Staff Writer

[email protected]


Updated: 06 October 2013 12:17 AM

Alex Chiasson is a lot like the Stars right now. He has moments of brilliance and moments of “not so much.” But after the Stars’ 2-1 win over Washington on Saturday at American Airlines Center, the feeling is both Chiasson and his team have optimistic futures.

Chiasson scored his second goal in as many games this season and his eighth in nine NHL games, and the Stars rebounded from a disappointing season opener to even their record at 1-1-0.

“Huge,” Chiasson said when asked how important it was to get some confidence for the team and get back on the right track. “I thought the atmosphere in the locker room before the game was good. I thought we looked like a team tonight.”

Ironically, the Stars had a 2-1 lead in the season opener thanks to a goal from Chiasson and then buckled in the third period, allowing three goals on 15 shots en route to a 4-2 loss to Florida. The Stars allowed 39 shots for the game.

On Saturday, the Stars also got a 2-1 lead on a Chiasson goal, and then buckled down. A Washington team averaging 36.5 shots per game was held to 26 for the game and six in the third period. That was a statement that the team can address its issues.

“It was a real strong effort,” said veteran winger Erik Cole, who scored the Stars’ other goal. “We competed a lot harder than we did in the first game. That was one thing that was consistent with our games throughout the preseason — we brought the compete level and we brought the energy, and any time you outwork a team, chances are you will have success. Hopefully, we’ll continue to build on that.”

Dallas will have a five-day break without a game before heading out on a three-game trip. Stars coach Lindy Ruff said he liked the fact the team can now build on this performance.

“You go into a week like the one we have, and it makes for a real good atmosphere,” Ruff said. “I think when you start with how much work we put in, that’s really the place to begin.”

And that example was clear for Chiasson. The 22-year-old from Boston University hasn’t been a big goal scorer in college or the minors, but he caught fire last season in a seven-game call-up. He scored six goals in seven games while playing on a line with Ray Whitney.

This season, he’s back with Whitney and Cody Eakin, a Texas Stars teammate from last season, and he said he’s feeling the chemistry.

“For Ray, I feel he just knows where I am, and it seems I know where he is,” Chiasson said. “He’s been awesome for me.”

But not unlike the Stars, Chiasson also realizes he has work to do. While protecting a 2-1 lead late in the third period, Chiasson circled a puck back into his own end, and that resulted in a shift where the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin was able to fire a howitzer that just missed Kari Lehtonen’s head.

“Other than that shift in the third, I felt I played pretty good defensively tonight,” Chiasson said. “It all starts there, and good things happen the less time you spend in your zone. We played well tonight; we won a lot of battles.”

Chiasson said he will learn a lesson from his mistake Saturday, and his teammates also are hoping to build on the performance. Lehtonen said he enjoyed having a little less work in the third period.

“It was a good battle, especially in the third. We didn’t give them many chances,” Lehtonen said. “That’s always nice, especially when you’re up by one goal. That was huge. I was really fresh.”

And now the Stars will get the opportunity to freshen up for five days and see if they can continue to build.

“I’m still young and I’m trying to grow a game at a time,” Chiasson said, reflecting the opinion of the team. “I’m just trying to get better every day — that’s my mindset."


719717 Dallas Stars

Stars take on Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals as they try to rebound from opening night loss

MIKE HEIKA

Staff Writer



The new Stars' administration is one that is naturally calm.

Jim Nill has 20 years in administration and scouting.

Lindy Ruff has been coaching 20 years at the NHL level.

They both have been involved with Team Canada on the international level.

There's not a lot of panic there.

So it's not unexpected that the theme this morning was "stay the course."

Ruff didn't juggle his lines. He slipped in Rich Peverley (now healthy after missing the pre-season with an irregular heartbeat) and took out Chris Mueller. Otherwise, every player is in the same position he was in the season-opener, which did not go well for the Stars in a 4-2 loss where they were out-shot 39-27.

"That was disappointing," said defenseman Trevor Daley. "That wasn't us."

So, what do the Stars have to do about it?

"We just need to clean up a few things," Daley said. "A couple of bounces, change some momentum. We have to be better on our gap (between forwards and defensemen). We have to play better as a team. But, we put it behind us an move on to tonight."

Ruff has been big on gap control, and having his defensemen play an aggressive style that keeps the puck in the offensive end. To accomplish that, though, the defensemen have to have confidence that the forwards will track back and help out when the puck gets in the defensive zone. That was one of the reasons for the 39 shots against in the opener.

"Our support with our defense with the puck in our own end wasn't very good," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "We had a couple breakdowns obviously that cost us goals, breakdowns that we really hadn't seen. I think we got excited to get ahead of the play a few times. The biggest thing for me was our forwards were getting 50-60 feet ahead of our defensemen, and our attack wasn't coming together. If we come deep and we come together, we played really good hockey."

The Stars are going to have to be on their toes against Washington's high-end attack and a power play that has gone 5-for-9 in the first two games of the season.

"Part of that is we'd like to do a better job with the puck," Ruff said, explaining that if the Stars aren't chasing the opposition, they'll be less inclined to take penalties..

Calm, matter-of-fact, all part of the same solution.

Here are the expected lines for Dallas:

Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Erik Cole

Ray Whitney-Cody Eakin-Alex Chiasson

Shawn Horcoff-Vern Fiddler-Valeri Nichushkin

Antoine Roussel-Rich Peverley-Ryan Garbutt

Alex Goligoski-Sergei Gonchar

Brenden Dillon-Stephane Robidas

Trevor Daley-Jordie Benn

Kari Lehtonen


719718 Dallas Stars

Scouting the enemy: Alex Ovechkin is in beast mode early in the season

MIKE HEIKA

Staff Writer

Published: 05 October 2013 08:26 AM


There is much speculation that Alex Ovechkin is a motivated man

The reigning Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP is supposed to be a little lighter this year. Some speculate that it's because the 2014 Winter Olympics will be in Sochi, Russia in February, and that Ovechkin very much would like Russia to take the gold medal. Either way, the benefits are being seen early for the Washington Capitals, who will visit American Airlines Center Saturday at 7 p.m.

Ovechkin has three goals and two assists for five points in two games. He has taken 20 shots on net in those two games.

He had 11 shots on net Thursday in a 5-4 win over Calgary.

Here is Ovechkin talking about carrying the Olympic torch.

Here is the history of Ovechkin's mother Tatyana, who has two Olympic gold medals and is one of the greatest basketball players in the history of Russia.

The Capitals (1-1-0) are expected to throw out these lines: Marcus Johansson-Nicklas Backstrom-Alex Ovechkin Brooks Laich-Mikhail Grabovski-Troy Brouwer Jason Chimera-Eric Fehr-Joel Ward Martin Erat-Jay Beagle-Tom Wilson

Karl Alzner-Mike Green John Erskine-John Carlson Jack Hillen-Connor Carrick

Braden Holtby

Holtby was pulled last game after allowing four goals, but he is expected to get the start again tonight. He is trying to make adjustments to his game.


719719 Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff: There's no excuse to give up 39 shots

MIKE HEIKA

Staff Writer



One of the key stats for Dallas in recent seasons has been allowing too many shots on goal. So when the Stars allowed 39 in Game 1, tied for worst in the NHL, Ruff said he was concerned.

"I hate 39 shots," Ruff said. "For me, there's no excuse for that. Our puck management, some of the things we did with the puck, we didn't do even in camp. Some of the high-risk stuff, you're not going to win games playing like that. We know that. The good part is that the players know that. They're angry today, as well they should be."


719720 Dallas Stars

There are no plans to shuffle line combinations, Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff says

MIKE HEIKA

Staff Writer



Ruff said he does not plan to shuffle his line combinations after Thursday's 4-2 loss to Florida. Peverley will replace Chris Mueller, but the lines will otherwise stay the same.

Ruff said shuffling after the first game would be pretty early in the season, but he added that he's ready to change if Saturday's game doesn't go well.

"The patience is going to be at a minimum, I can tell you that," he said. "I expect more out of some of the players than the type of game they gave us [Thursday] night."


719721 Dallas Stars

Stars defenseman Sergei Gonchar ranks all-time Russian team; Zubov makes cut

Rick Gosselin



FRISCO — The eyes of Stars defenseman Sergei Gonchar provide a window to Russian hockey.

Gonchar grew up watching Vladislav Tretiak, Valeri Kharlamov and the KLM line win world championships and Olympic gold medals. Gonchar himself became a first-round NHL draft pick in the 1990s and went on to play against the next generation of Soviet greats: Pavel Bure, Sergei Zubov, Alexander Mogilny and the Russian Five in Detroit.

Gonchar, 39, has seen his countrymen enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He’s seen them capture league and playoff MVP honors. He’s seen them win NHL scoring titles and rookie of the year acclaim. Name a Russian great, and he’s in Gonchar’s mental Rolodex.

So I asked Gonchar the other day to pick his all-time Russian team. I gave him a list of a top five at each position and another list of the top 15 Russian scorers in the NHL.

“Wow,” Gonchar said, studying the lists. “Tough choices. They’re all great. You’d have to put together two units. How can you choose between … say a [Sergei] Fedorov and [Pavel] Datsyuk?

“And what about [Evgeni] Malkin? He’s just getting into his prime’ and he’s already a great player. How can you judge him now? Same with [Alexander] Ovechkin. It’s unfair to judge those guys because they are so young and haven’t achieved as much yet as, say, a Fedorov. They still have some great years ahead of them.”

But, when pressed, Gonchar did choose. He gave me his starting lineup, and he’ll be playing against one of them Saturday night — Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. Gonchar gave him the nod over Mogilny at right wing. Ovechkin was the NHL’s rookie of the year in 2006 and has won three league MVP awards and a scoring title.

“Great shot, great power,” Gonchar said. “He has an ability to go through a defense with his energy and power.”

Over at left wing, Gonchar chose Kharlamov over Ilya Kovalchuk, who ranks fifth all-time among Russian scorers with 417 goals and 816 points. Kharmalov never played in the NHL, but he is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was the best player on either side in the historic Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union in 1972.

“The guy could win games by himself,” Gonchar said. “He was doing things with the puck that no one else could do.”

Center was another tough call. Pittsburgh’s Malkin has been feted as the NHL’s rookie of the year, leading scorer, MVP and playoff MVP. And he didn’t even make Gonchar’s final two at the position.

Gonchar mulled a pair of legendary Red Wings, Fedorov and Datsyuk, because of both their offensive creativity and completeness of their games. Gonchar pondered this position the longest and then gave the nod to Fedorov, the NHL’s all-time leading Russian scorer and another former league MVP.

“He’s probably the best pure skater we’ve ever sent over here,” Gonchar said.

On defense, Gonchar talked himself through the merits of three players and wound up choosing Viacheslav Fetisov and former Star Sergei Zubov, leaving former Red Wing Vladimir Konstantinov behind. That was difficult because the “Vladinator” was the best defender of the group.

Fetisov also is in the Hockey Hall of Fame despite spending his prime in Russia. He didn’t arrive in the NHL until he was 31.

“Fetisov changed the game back home with the way he jumped in and created offense by joining the rush,” Gonchar said. “That was tough for him,

because not every coach liked that style from a defenseman. He was doing something different that people weren’t used to. You have to respect him for that. He belongs at the top of this list.”

Zubov is the second-highest scoring Russian defenseman in NHL history. Only Gonchar is ahead of him.

“Zubov controlled the puck on the breakouts and power play,” Gonchar said. “He had the rare ability not only to see everything but to control the pace of the game. He could slow it down or speed it up. That’s not easy to do, especially at this level.”

There was only one choice in nets — Tretiak, another member of the Hockey Hall of Fame despite never having played in the NHL. The first Russian so honored, in fact.

“I’m told he was one of the game’s greatest workers and one of its greatest students — plus that natural talent,” Gonchar said. “Put those three things together, and you’ve got a great mix.”

Even though Gonchar is the only Russian defenseman to score 200 goals in the NHL, he declined to assign himself a place on this team.

“We’ll talk about it in a few more years,” he said.

Honors to Russians

Hall of Fame: G Vladislav Tretiak, RW Valeri Kharlamov, C Igor Larionov, D Viacheslav Fetisov, RW Pavel Bure

MVP: C Sergei Fedorov (1994), RW Alexander Ovechkin (2008, 2009, 2013), C Evgeni Malkin (2012)

Playoff MVP: Malkin (2009)

Scoring champion: Ovechkin (2008), Malkin (2009, 2012).

Vezina Trophy (top goalie): Sergei Bobrovsky (2013)

Rookie of the Year: RW Sergei Makarov (1990), Bure (1992), LW Sergei Samsonov (1998), G Evgeni Nabokov (2001), Ovechkin (2006), Malkin (2007)

TOP RUSSIAN SCORERS

The top 15 Russian scorers in NHL history:

Rank, Player

Seasons

Pts

G

A

1, Sergei Federov

1990-2009

1,179

483

696

2, Alexander Mogilny

1989-2006

1,032

473

559

3, Alexei Kovalev

1992-2013

1,029

430

599

4, Slava Kozlov

1992-2010

853

356

497

5, Ilya Kovalchuk

2001-2013

816

417

399

6, Alexei Yashin

1993-2007

781

337

444

7, Pavel Bure

1991-2003

779

437

342

8, Sergei Gonchar

1994-2013

775

217

558

9, Sergei Zubov

1992-2009

771

152

619

10, Pavel Datsyuk

2001-2013

767

255

512

11, Alexander Ovechkin

2005-2013

735

371

364

12, Alexei Zhamnov

1992-2006

719

249

470

13, Igor Larionov

1989-2004

644

169

475

14, Sergei Samsonov

1997-2011

571

235

336

15, Evgeni Malkin

2006-2013

560

217

343

2013-14 games not included

With the Stars

Defenseman Sergei Gonchar is the third all-time Russian great to play for the Stars. Defenseman Sergei Zubov played 12 seasons for the Stars between 1996-97 and 2008-09. Sergei Makarov, who was a member of Russia’s famed KLM line with Igor Larionov and Vladimir Krutov, played four games with Dallas in 1996-97.


719722 Dallas Stars

Chiasson's goal lifts Stars over Capitals 2-1

Posted Saturday, Oct. 05, 2013

The Associated Press

DALLAS — Alex Chiasson is off to a fast start in the NHL.

Chiasson scored the tiebreaking goal at 12:07 of the second period, and Dallas defeated the Washington Capitals 2-1 on Saturday night to give Lindy Ruff his first victory as coach of the Stars.

It was the second goal this season for Chiasson, who has eight in nine career games. Still, the 23-year-old right wing said he doesn't think much about scoring goals.

"I just play my game. That's my main focus. As long as the team wins, that's all I care about," he said.

Kari Lehtonen made 25 saves for Dallas, which stopped a Capitals flurry on a power play as the game ended.

Alex Ovechkin scored in the first period for Washington. Erik Cole tied it 3:35 later.

"We had lots of chances — lots of crossbars and posts," Ovechkin said.

Midway through the second, the Stars skated in 3-on-2 against goalie Braden Holtby. Cody Eakin took a shot and the rebound went out to Chiasson as he skated down the slot and beat Holtby.

Before joining the Stars last April, Chiasson had 36 goals in 109 games at Boston University and 14 in 66 American Hockey League games. Dallas said he became the first NHL player to score eight or more goals through his first nine games since Rob Gaudreau in 1992-93, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The only other active player who started as well was Anaheim's Teemu Selanne.

"He finds the right place," Ruff said. "He needs a little of that magic to rub off on the other guys."

Ovechkin's goal came on a power play 4:26 into the game when he took a pass from Mike Green in the left circle and one-timed the puck past Lehtonen.

It was the fourth goal in three games this season for Ovechkin, who entered tied with teammate Mikhail Grabovski for the NHL scoring lead.

The Capitals came in with a league-best 56 percent success rate (5 for 9) on power plays. They were 1 for 3 against the Stars.

"I thought we did a nice job on their power play," Ruff said. "Ovechkin just did what he does. He took a shot from a tough angle and he found a hole."

About 3½ minutes after that, Jamie Benn kept the puck in the Capitals end by shooting it around the boards behind the net. Tyler Seguin backhanded the puck behind him into the slot, where Cole beat Holtby.

"I thought we looked really good in our zone, breaking out the puck and in the neutral zone coming back," Chiasson said.

Seguin's assist was part of an early payoff from the July trade that brought him and center Rich Peverley to Dallas from the Boston Bruins.

Peverley played for the first time since missing the preseason. He was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.

But while he wasn't skating, he was watching.

"I got to go through training camp and see (Ruff's) style. I think it fits this team well. He's a puck-possession type of coach," Peverley said.

The Stars did much better at possessing the puck than they had in their opening game against Florida on Thursday. They led 2-1 in the third period that night, but allowed 39 shots on Lehtonen and lost 4-2.

The best chance for the Capitals came when they appeared to have a goal with 12 minutes left in the second period. The puck popped up behind Lehtonen and went into the net when Nicklas Backstrom made contact with the goalie. The play was ruled no goal on review because of goaltender interference.

"I thought once the puck goes in there, you're allowed to go after it," Capitals coach Adam Oates said. And I didn't think (Backstrom) interfered with him. I think he touched the puck first and then the goalie."

In the third period, Dallas allowed only five shots on goal.

"That's part of the deal," Oates said. "You've got to try to wear them out, wait for your turn. We get a power play and you get a chance."

Washington's final power play lasted 36 seconds after Seguin was called for delay of game at 19:24.

"We really didn't sit on (the puck). We had some great zone time, and didn't do anything foolish that would lose the game," Ruff said.

NOTES: Peverley missed a chance for a power-play goal in the third period. He poked a rebound behind Holtby but off the left post. ... Capitals wing Joel Ward found himself unable to open the door of a men's room stall at the team hotel Saturday morning. He tweeted, "Stuck in the washroom ... someone help?" According to the Washington Post, teammates Karl Alzner and John Carlson found a ladder and helped Ward climb over the top of the door.

Star-Telegram LOADED: 10.06.2013

719723 Detroit Red Wings

Bruins 4, Red Wings 1: Why the Red Wings lost on Saturday night

October 6, 2013 |

By Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

At TD Garden, Boston

■ In the first period: The teams played pretty evenly until Niklas Kronwall was called for holding Loui Eriksson at 8:56, sending Boston onto a power play. The penalty killers that had looked so great against Buffalo and solid at Carolina were put on their heels within the opening seconds of the man advantage. Milan Lucic maneuvered the puck around and found Torey Krug, who ripped a slap shot past Jimmy Howard at 9:11. The Bruins kept the momentum going, buzzing around Howard while the Wings barely got near Tuukka Rask, registering just two shots after 12 minutes. Eight minutes passed before Justin Abdelkader got a deflection near Rassk. Henrik Zetterberg tied it up at 16:49, firing a shot in from the left circle after Justin Abdelkader had done the dirty work to clear space. That was only Detroit's fourth shot. They were outshot, 14-5.

In the second period: The Bruins re-established a lead 36 seconds into the period when Brad Marchand scored off a rush. Marchand skated off the ice with a little help from teammates minutes later after contact from Abdelkader knocked Marchand to the ice. Jordan Caron put Detroit into a 3-1 hole at 7:58, scoring after outworking the Wings down low. Reilly Smith, Brendan Smith’s brother, assisted on the play. Marchand was back out late in the period. The Wings got a power play at 13:45, but still fell to 0-for-7 after lackluster chances. Despite 15 shots in the period, the Wings were still outshot, 27-20 after the second

In the third period: The Wings seemed out of energy after 40 minutes, barely getting near Rask while Howard had to do acrobatics to keep his teammates in the game. Two straight penalties didn’t help spur anything offensively, and then Zdeno Chara took a pass from Krug, leaned forward and poked the puck in at 12:17 on a power play, giving Boston a 4-1 lead. The Wings had put two shots on net after 10 minutes, another one after 15 minutes. They were outshot, 37-26.

Quotable: Jimmy Howard on having Chara in front of the crease: “It’s not easy when there’s someone that’s 6-foot-9 standing in front of you. It’s something that you’ve got to figure out. It’s extremely difficult with him in front.” ... Tuukka Rask on how the Bruins played: “I thought we played a great game right from the start. We played such a good game as a team that I didn’t have to do a lot of back-door plays, no odd-man rushing. They have a lot of skill, so you just have to be on your toes all the time.”

Up next: Thursday against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 10.06.2013


Boston 4, Detroit 1: 'It didn't look like us,' Red Wings' Daniel Cleary says after loss

October 6, 2013 |

By Helene St. James


BOSTON — The Red Wings come back to TD Garden inside of 10 days, a date that gained significance after the first trip to Boston went so badly.

A 4-1 loss to the Bruins on Saturday night sat so badly that Wings players echoed one another in disappointment.

“We didn’t play, at all,” defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “They did a good job, and we didn’t. We weren’t even there. It felt like we were a step behind the whole game. We didn’t give ourselves a chance.”

Jimmy Howard was the only reason the Wings could maintain hopes of a rally until late in the third period, turning away 33 shots. The Bruins, he said, “controlled the whole game, from the drop of the puck to the end of the game; they pretty much dominated in every aspect.”

Captain Henrik Zetterberg had the sole goal, scoring on a broken play that allowed the Wings to exit the first period with a tie score despite having just five shots on Tuukka Rask.

Torey Krug had scored 15 seconds into Boston’s first power play, and Zdeno Chara used his lengthy stick to bookend another power-play goal late in the third period. Brad Marchand and Jordan Caron had the other goals.

The Wings finished with 26 shots, 15 of them stemming from the second period. They had two shots for much of the third period.

“We never got on the inside,” coach Mike Babcock said. “We were on the outside too much. I didn’t think we were good tonight. Making an assessment after a game you didn’t play very well is probably not a healthy thing to do.”

The Wings came into the game on a two-game winning streak to open the season, but they hadn’t faced anyone of Boston’s caliber. The Wings did come in playing their third game in four nights after having spent Friday at Carolina, while the Bruins had fresh legs.

“We realized the fact that that was their third game in four nights and we wanted to put the pressure on their D and keep the puck in their end,” Rask said, “and I think we managed to do that the full 60 minutes.”

The Bruins pressured on power plays, collapsed around Rask on penalty kills and used their depth to force the Wings back into their zone time and again.

“We played slow,” Daniel Cleary said. “It didn’t look like us.”

Krug, a Livonia product who spoke in the morning of the thrill of seeing the Wings win the Stanley Cup in 1997, dealt the first blow at 9:11, blasting a slap shot past his hometown team.

The Wings had just three shots on goal after 15 minutes, but one good shift in hockey can make an uneven game even. Justin Abdelkader did a terrific job down low clearing space, allowing Zetterberg to score, snapping a shot from the left circle. The Wings still left the period badly outshot — 14-5 — but with a 1-1 score.

By the end of the night, the Wings had just 26 shots, three of them on two-man advantages that dropped the power play to scoreless through three games and eight opportunities.

The Wings get a second shot at Boston a week from Monday.



Boston 4, Detroit 1: Red Wings' offense sputters in loss to Bruins

8:08 PM, October 5, 2013 |

By Helene St. James

BOSTON -- Faced with their first elite opponent of the season, the Red Wings came up short.

Their offense sputtered and their penalty kill stumbled and their defense was run through by the Bruins, who took an early lead and built it into a 4-1 victory Saturday at TD Garden, ending Detroit's season-starting winning streak at two.

The brightest spot was the goaltending of Jimmy Howard; he faced 37 shots and two of the goals allowed came on power plays. Henrik Zetterberg had Detroit's goal.

The Wings did come in playing their third game in four nights after having spent Friday at Carolina, while the Bruins had fresh legs.

The only fresh legs in the Wings lineup belonged to Tomas Tatar, who replaced veteran Mikael Samuelsson in the lineup as Mike Babcock followed through on making personnel changes. The only other change was on the power plays, where Daniel Cleary and Johan Franzen flip-flopped spots in the rotation. Those groups, though, didn't see much action, getting just two opportunities.

One night after rallying from a 2-0 deficit to win in overtime against the Hurricanes, the Wings were the ones outshot and outplayed in the first period, and the ones who still got a goal. The Bruins went up 1-0 at 9:11, 15 seconds into a power play, when Livonia's Torey Krug blasted a slap shot behind Howard. The Bruins looked like they continued to have a man advantage for several minutes afterwards, peppering Howard with shots while Tuukka Rask grew glassy-eyed.

The Wings had just three shots on goal after 15 minutes, but one good shift in hockey can make an uneven game, even. Justin Abdelkader did a terrific job down low clearing space, allowing Henrik Zetterberg - hero of Friday's game after tying that one up in the last minute of regulation - to score, snapping a shot from the left circle. The Wings still left the period badly outshot - 14-5 - but with a 1-1 score.

Despite a better second period, the Wings weren't able to get a handle on the game. Brad Marchand stymied them when he scored off a rush in the opening minute, and the Bruins' third liners combined to make it 3-1 by eight minutes in, with Jordan Caron scoring on a wrist shot.

As the Wings ran out of time to dent Rask again, Franzen was move up to Pavel Datsyuk's line to start the third period, and Abdelkader was put with Stephen Weiss and Daniel Alfredsson. Attempts at pulling off a second straight rally weren't helped when Danny DeKeyser was called for interference and the penalty killers had to come on for a third shift, just as the period neared its midpoint. Ten minutes in, the Wings had two shots on Rask. The Wings faced another penalty just past the 10-minute mark, and Zdeno Chara made them pay, using his enormously long stick to poke a puck in for a three-goal lead, too much for the Wings to overcome against so good an opponent.



'Puck hound' Tomas Tatar gets call for Red Wings against Bruins

7:13 PM, October 5, 2013 |

By Helene St. James


BOSTON — Tomas Tatar has impressed the Red Wings with his craftiness, his puck instincts, his unwavering optimism.

His offensive skill is why he got into the lineup Saturday at TD Garden, as the Wings sought to show more toughness in the offensive zone against one of the best teams in the NHL. Tatar didn’t play badly through 10 minutes, he even had a little breakaway though he pulled up short, but the Wings suffered their first loss of the season after falling, 4-1.

“Normally I don’t change a winning lineup,” coach Mike Babcock said. “I just was looking for more, and I didn't get it.”

Tatar, 22, had sat out as a healthy scratch through the first two games, but he showed in appearances last season with the Wings just what kind of potential he has got. Tatar isn’t a big guy, but he’s sneaky, hard-nosed and fearless.

“He’s one of those guys that the puck follows him around,” Johan Franzen said. “He’s not afraid to make plays, either.”

Daniel Cleary described Tatar as “a puck hound.”

Tatar delivered seven points in 18 games with Detroit last season, before being sent to the minors. He was named AHL playoff MVP after helping the Griffins to the Calder Cup last spring with 21 points in 24 games.

"Going to the Calder Cup final and winning the thing and being the leading scorer, is a real positive for him in his career,” Babcock said. “Now, obviously, now he's got to do it every day in the National Hockey League.”

Mikael Samuelsson was scratched in Tatar’s place.

Tatar made the Detroit roster out of training camp because he can’t be sent down without being exposed on waivers. More than that, though, he’s clearly ready for the NHL. He brings to mind former Wing Jiri Hudler, another undersized winger with a knack for scoring. Hudler worked his way up from grunt to top-six forward in a matter of seasons. Tatar is a better skater, and better defensively, than Hudler, and will get more chances to show he belongs in the lineup, even if that doesn’t continue right away with the next game.

“There’s going to be lots of games this season,” Tatar said. “It’s 82 games. There’s going to be lots of changes to the lineup. Just, be patient and I’m sure the chances are coming.”



Livonia's Torey Krug proves skeptics wrong as Bruins defensive standout

Ted Kulfan

The Detroit News

October 5, 2013 at 11:24 pm

Boston — Bruins defenseman Torey Krug said after the morning skate Saturday his family and friends were likely going to forego the Tigers game to watch him play against the Red Wings.

“Maybe switch channels,” said Krug, a Livonia native who attended Livonia Churchill and Michigan State, and is starring on the Bruins’ blue line.

Krug, 22, was named the game’s first star, and it was difficult to argue, after he scored a power-play goal and had an assist in the Bruins’ 4-1 victory over the Red Wings.

The goal was actually Krug’s first regular-season goal. He scored four after joining the Bruins in the playoffs last season after injuries hit the Boston defense.

Considered too small (5-foot-9, 180 pounds) to be an effective NHL defenseman Krug, who skated for Belle Tire and Honeybaked as a youth player, is firmly smashing those predictions.

“Just the fact the opportunity presented itself was pretty special,” said Krug on the way he capitalized on his chance in the playoffs. “Things might not have happened if they (the Bruins) had lost to Toronto (in the first round of the playoffs), but the opportunity presented itself and the coaching staff showed confidence in me.”

Krug’s ability to get the puck on net has ignited the Bruins’ power play.

“It’s great, he’s creating a lot just by his size and the way he retrieves the puck, finding that loose puck,” Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron said. “That’s what keeps the play going.”

Krug’s family and friends were as excited as he was when NHL realignment was announced and the Bruins and Red Wings became division rivals.

“I got a few texts saying they were going to see more quite a bit more,” Krug said. “It’s going to be cool playing in that building.”

Tatar debuts

Forward Tomas Tatar made his regular-season debut Saturday, playing 9 minutes, 8 seconds on 16 shifts in the loss to the Bruins.

With Tatar in the lineup, Mikael Samuelsson was a healthy scratch.

“I’ve been waiting for a chance. Coach said to be ready,” said Tatar, who scored four goals in 18 games with the Red Wings last season and then starred during Grand Rapids’ run to the Calder Cup championship.

Coach Mike Babcock has always liked Tatar’s instincts offensively and his willingness to go into tough areas.

“He likes the puck, and he’s not scared of it, he goes gets it,” Babcock said. “He can score from in tight. He’s a kid going in the right direction and he brings enthusiasm.

“Obviously he has to do it every game in the NHL.”

Bruins dominate on special teams

The Red Wings clearly lost the special teams battle against the Bruins.

Boston scored two power-play goals (on four attempts) while killing both Red Wings power-play chances.

The Red Wings are 0-for-8 on the power play this season through three games.

“It wasn’t good tonight,” said Babcock of the power play. “They were better on the penalty kill and the power play than us. They were harder on it. They were more efficient. They won way more battles than we did.

“It looked like their energy level was high and it looked like ours wasn’t.”

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131005/SPORTS0103/310050085#ixzz2gvmO8vT1

Detroit News LOADED: 10.06.2013


Red Wings soundly outplayed in loss to Bruins

Ted Kulfan

The Detroit News


Boston — The Red Wings learned the hard way Saturday the road through the Eastern Conference goes through Boston.

The defending Eastern Conference champions look utterly capable of getting at least that far again.

They sure did against the Red Wings, defeating Detroit 4-1.

"They won in every statistic tonight, every battle," goalie Jimmy Howard said. "I'm not going to to make that excuse that we're tired or anything like that. But we need a better effort out of all of us."

The Red Wings ended 2-1 in a season-opening three-games-in-four-nights stretch.

This was expected to easily be the most difficult opponent and it was.

The Bruins didn’t let the Red Wings venture close to goalie Tuukka Rask, using their size and physicality, and outworking the Red Wings.

"We weren't very good," coach Mike Babcock said. "We didn't play hard enough, trust each other enough, or do what we're supposed to do.

"They were better than us."

Henrik Zetterberg scored the Red Wings goal, his second in two games.

Torey Krug (Livonia, Michigan State), Brad Marchand, Jordan Caron and Zdeno Chara had the other Bruins goals, both Krug and Chara scoring on the power play.

Krug opened the scoring with a power-play goal.

Milan Lucic found Krug alone at the top of the slot, and with 6-foot-9 Chara screening goalie Jimmy Howard, Krug fired a shot that beat Howard cleanly at 9:11.

"It's not easy when there's someone that's 6-foot-9 standing in front of you," Howard said. "It's something that you've got to figure out and find a way to try and find the puck. But it's extremely difficult with him in front."

It was Krug's first NHL regular season goal, after scoring four goals when joining the Bruins in the playoffs last season.

The Red Wings answered, thanks to Zetterberg.

Justin Abdelkader fired a shot on goalie Tuukka Rask that was saved, but the rebound went to the hash marks.

Zetterberg fired the puck past Rask at 16:49, tying the game 1-1.

It was Zetterberg's 265th career goal, passing Nicklas Lidstrom (264) and tying John Ogrodnick for eighth place on the Red Wings' all-time list.

"They play a good structure and we had a lot of turnovers," Zetterberg said. "You play a good team like that you have to have structure and we didn't. Playing a back-to-back you have to keep it simple and stick to your game plan and we didn't do that."

Zetterberg's goal seemed to temporarily spark the Red Wings, but the momentum ended quickly at the start of the second period.

Marchand beat Howard from the dot on a rush just 36 seconds into the second period.

Slowly taking control of the game, the Bruins extended the lead to 3-1 on Caron's first goal.

Reilly Smith gathered a blocked shot and found Caron open just inside the circle, and Caron one-timed the puck past Howard at 7:58.

Krug set up Chara for the Bruins' final goal, on the power play, at 12:17 of the third period.

Krug corraled a loose puck along the boards and fed Chara alone in front, who backhanded a shot past Howard.

"Detroit is one of the best teams in the league and I knew it would be a challenge," Chara said. "They always give you a challenge. They've always had a good team, good system and they're very dangerous guys.

"We wanted to have a strong game and for the most part I thought we did."

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131005/SPORTS0103/310050081#ixzz2gvmXB6Bp



Wings' forward Tomas Tatar waiting for playing chance

Ted Kulfan

The Detroit News


Boston — Is forward Tomas Tatar in the lineup tonight against Boston?

Tatar doesn't know. Coach Mike Babcock said he doesn't know yet, although Babcock may have slipped while doing his pre-game press conference.

"He's going to get in tonight," said Babcock, while ending a thought on how young players like Tatar have to wait their turn.

Babcock later said he was still deciding whether to use Tatar, the lone Red Wings forward yet to play in this opening three-game in four-night stretch.

Tatar is staying patient, either way.

"I'm not sure if I'm in or not," said Tatar, who had four goals in 18 games with the Red Wings last season before starring for Grand Rapids during its Calder Cup championship run. "I've been waiting for a chance. Coach said to be ready tonight, he's still thinking about it.

"We'll see. I'm ready to go. If I get in, I'll try to play my best."

There would be no other changes to the Red Wings lineup.

This will be the first of four games between the two teams who generally are considered the top in the Atlantic Division.

Bruins coach Claude Julien believes the Red Wings team defense doesn’t get the credit it deserves.

"They do a really good job of defending where I think sometimes we don’t give that team enough credit," Julien said. "The reason they have the puck a lot is because they defend well. You’ll watch tonight – they always have their players above ours. And very seldom do you get outnumbered situations and you have to be willing to fight for those pucks and you have to be willing to get it by them and go after it again.

"You’re not going to get a run-and-gun type game against that team because they defend so well."

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131005/SPORTS0103/310050050#ixzz2gvmdb17h



Red Wings coach Mike Babcock debating on whether to put Tomas Tatar in lineup tonight against Bruins

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

on October 05, 2013 at 12:51 PM, updated October 05, 2013 at 12:57 PM

BOSTON – Tomas Tatar might make his season debut tonight for the Detroit Red Wings. Or maybe he won’t.

Coach Mike Babcock seems to be debating whether to put the small but skilled forward in the lineup against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit, NHL Network).

After Saturday’s optional skate, Babcock said he would decide on lineup changes tonight. Then he said Tatar would be in. Then he said he hadn’t decided.

Tatar said he hasn’t been told, but he’s anxious to play.

“For sure, I’ve been waiting for a chance,’’ Tatar said. “Coach said be ready tonight. I’m not sure if I’m in or not. He’s thinking about it. I’m ready to go.’’

Babcock said everybody who played in Friday’s 3-2 overtime win at Carolina is available tonight. That includes right wing Mikael Samuelsson, who played only two shifts early in the third period before apparently getting hurt.

Babcock also said there will be no changes on defense, so Brian Lashoff will be a healthy scratch again.

Tatar is only spare healthy forward. Babcock seems anxious to get him into a game, but also appears hesitant to change a winning lineup.

“He likes the puck, he’s not scared of it, he goes to get it, he scores in tight,’’ Babcock said. “He’s not a big man (5-10, 186), he plays heavy on (the puck).You need that in your lineup. I like him as a player.’’

But, he added, “We always have ties with veteran players. It’s not like he couldn’t have had a spot in Game 1, but we give our veterans the first opportunity. He’s going to get in tonight.’’

He later backtracked on that last statement about playing tonight, saying he’ll decide later.

Tatar said he is patiently waiting for his opportunity. He’d enjoy the challenge of playing one of the biggest and best teams in the league.

“I like the challenge,’’ Tatar said. “I don’t really care if they are big or play physical. It’s just a part of the game. I have to expect that.’’

If he plays tonight.

Babcock said Jimmy Howard will start in goal for the 2-0 Red Wings. The Bruins are coming off a 3-1 season-opening win over Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.06.2013


Detroit Red Wings Gameday: Will game in Boston show what life in Eastern Conference will be like?

By Brendan Savage | [email protected]


GAME INFORMATION

• Who: Detroit Red Wings (2-0) vs. Boston Bruins (1-0)

• Faceoff: 7 p.m. at TD Garden

• Live coverage: Join the MLive conversation at 6 p.m. ET and follow Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) and Brendan Savage (@BrendanSavage) on Twitter.

• TV: Fox Sports Detroit, NHL Network

• WXYT-AM (1270) and the Red Wings Radio Network

• Latest line: Bruins -1.5 (5.5)

THE STORYLINE

Much has been made about the Detroit Red Wings move to the Eastern Conference after spending the last 19 seasons in the West.

One of the biggest questions is how a skilled team like the Red Wings will fare against the supposedly tougher teams that reside in the East.

Tonight, they might get an indication.

The Red Wings visit the Boston Bruins in the first of two games in nine days between the teams. The Bruins have not only been one of the NHL's top teams in the last several years, they've also been one of the most physical.

Boston won the Stanley Cup in 2011 and lost to Chicago in last year's Finals. During that span, the Burins finished among the top 10 in penalty minutes every season.

They were eighth in PIM and tied for second in majors in 2010-11, third in PIM and tied for first in majors in 2011-12 and 10th in PIM and fourth in majors last season.

The Bruins obviously aren't shy about mixing it up while the Red Wings are considered one of the more skilled teams in the NHL.

So with all that in mind, how much will the Red Wings learn about the supposedly more rugged Eastern Conference tonight?

HISTORY

The Red Wings lead the all-time series with Boston 249-234-95-1. They've earned 594 points to the Bruins' 568. The 579 games Detroit has played against Boston rank third in Red Wings history behind Chicago (725) and Toronto (644).

Their most recent meeting was on Nov. 25, 2011, when the Red Wings won 3-2 in a shootout at TD Garden. Pavel Datsyuk scored in regulation and the shootout as the Red Wings snapped Boston's 10-game winning streak.

The Red Wings have won four straight over Boston dating back to 2009-10.

Oh yeah, they also split a pair of preseason games for anyone who puts stock in that stuff. The Red Wings won 8-2 in Boston and lost 2-0 at Joe Louis Arena.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Henrik Zetterberg is always somebody opponents have to keep an eye on but the Red Wings captain has been especially involved in the offense this season. He already has 14 shots on goal in two games after getting 10 in Friday's 3-2 overtime win in Carolina.

Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall is plus-5 in two games.

When playing Boston, it's always wise to know where captain Zdeno Chara is on the ice. Hey, the guy is not only a former Norris Trophy winner (2008-09), he's also 6-foot-9 and stands 7 feet tall on skates.



Red Wings had chance to compare themselves to Bruins and came up short in effort and execution


on October 05, 2013 at 11:25 PM, updated October 06, 2013 at 12:41 AM

BOSTON – This was one of those so-called measuring stick games that are talked about so often in sports.

The traditionally strong Detroit Red Wings came into Boston Saturday night to play the big and talented Bruins and show the hockey world, and themselves, how they stack up against last season’s Eastern Conference champions, their new Atlantic Division rivals.

The Red Wings can only hope this wasn’t a true test of how they compare to one of the NHL’s elite teams.

The Bruins got a goal and an assist from Torey Krug, a strong performance from 6-foot-9 defenseman Zdeno Chara and 25 saves from Tuukka Rask in a 4-1 victory at the TD Garden.

The Bruins controlled the game pretty much from start to finish with their skating and defense.

It was the Red Wings’ first loss after two wins, and even though it’s early in the season, they didn’t simply brush it aside. Players were genuinely upset about their effort and execution.

Defenseman Niklas Kronwall said their collective brain “wasn’t really working,’’ causing them to be a step behind the whole night.

“We didn’t play at all,’’ Kronwall said. “We weren’t even there. Felt like we were a step behind the whole game.

“Give them credit, they’re a good team, they played well tonight but we didn’t give ourselves a chance.’’

The Bruins (2-0) got power-play goals to open the scoring at 9:11 of the first period (Krug) and wrap it up at 12:17 of the third (Chara). They took control in the second goal on goals by Brad Marchand (36 seconds) and Jordan Caron (7:58).

“We didn’t play at all. We weren’t even there. Felt like we were a step behind the whole game.'' -- Niklas Kronwall

Boston had a 37-26 edge in shots and the score would have been much worse if not for Jimmy Howard’s play.

What did the Bruins do so well tonight?

“What didn’t they do?’’ Howard said. “They controlled the whole game pretty much. They pretty much dominated in every aspect.’’

That includes special teams. The Red Wings went 0-for-2 on the power play, with is 0-for-8 in three games.

“If you’re going to win against a team like Boston you got to have good special teams,’’ Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “They kept us outside, we couldn’t find a way to get in for rebounds and second chances.’’

Zetterberg's goal at 16:49 of the first tied it at 1-1.

The Red Wings played the night before in Carolina, winning 3-2 in overtime, while the Bruins were off. But players never use that as an excuse.

“We played slow. We didn’t play fast, we didn’t have our legs,’’ forward Daniel Cleary said. “They’re a good team. We just didn’t play well tonight. We’re a way better team than that.’’

They’ll have another opportunity to show it on Oct. 14, when they visit Boston again due to a quirk in the schedule.

“I just thought they had way more energy than we did,’’ Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “We didn’t execute good enough.’’

Babcock called three of the Bruins’ goals gifts.

“I’m not trying to take away from their effort,’’ Babcock said. “I thought they were better than us from the start to the end.

“Was that because we didn’t have enough energy, stick-to- itiveness or what? But we didn’t play hard enough, trust each other enough or do what we’re supposed to do.’’



Boston Bruins hand Red Wings 4-1 loss in early season clash of Eastern Conference contenders



BOSTON – The Boston Bruins showed the newcomers in the Eastern Conference why they are widely regarded as the favorite to win the Atlantic Division, if not repeat as conference champion.

The Bruins got goals from Brad Marchand and Jordan Caron in the second period to snap a tie, and Tuukka Rask made 25 saves Saturday in a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at the TD Garden.

Henrik Zetterberg scored the lone goal for the Red Wings, who are 2-1-0 despite scoring only six goals in three games, below their average of 2.54 last season.

The Bruins (2-0-0) were quick on transition and opportunistic. They converted on two-of-four power plays and outshot the Red Wings 37-26.

The Red Wings had won four in a row against the Bruins, whose last win in this series came on Nov. 29, 2008 (4-1 at Boston). The teams hadn’t met since Nov. 25, 2011 (Red Wings won 3-2 in a shootout at Boston).

This is another Original Six rivalry rekindled with realignment. It figures to be a good one. The teams meet again in Boston on Oct. 14. They’ll meet twice in Detroit, Nov. 27 and April 2.

After a sluggish first period, the Red Wings skated better in the second, outshooting the Bruins 15-13, but they lost ground. Boston scored two unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead.

Marchand snapped a 1-1 tie by snapping in a wrist shot from the right wing just 36 seconds into the period during a three-on-two rush.

The Red Wings were sloppy and got running around in their own zone, leading to Caron’s goal at 7:58. He took a pass from Riley Smith and fired in a shot from just above the crease.

Zdeno Chara pretty much sealed the outcome by scoring on the power play at 12:17 of the third period, making it 4-1. The Red Wings coughed up the puck in their own zone and allowed Chara to slip in alone and flip in a backhand shot.

The Red Wings, having played the night before in Carolina, clearly didn’t have their legs in the first period against the rested Bruins. Boston outskated and outplayed Detroit by a significant margin, holding a 14-5 edge in shots.

Jimmy Howard, playing on back-to-back nights, saved his club from falling into a deep hole.

The Red Wings were fortunate to come away tied 1-1 after Zetterberg scored his second goal in as many nights at 16:49. Following a neutral-zone turnover, Justin Abdelkader led the rush into the zone and got off the initial shot. The long rebound came to Zetterberg, who buried it.

Torey Krug, a Livonia native who grew up a Red Wings fans and played at Michigan State, scored his first career regular season goal to put the Bruins ahead 1-0 at 9:11 of the first period. Krug blasted in a shot from the high slot just 15 seconds into a power play, while the 6-foot-9 Chara was parked in front of Howard.



Blog recap: Boston Bruins snap four-game losing streak to Detroit Red Wings

By Brendan Savage | [email protected]


FINAL

Bruins 4, Red Wings 1 (0:00 remaining): Bruins score twice on the power play and outshoot Detroit 37-26 in snapping four-game losing streak to the Red Wings.

Bruins 4, Red Wings 1 (3:53 remaining): Krejci goes off for tripping Datsyuk. Power play for the Red Wings.

Bruins 4, Red Wings 1 (7:43 remaining): Red Wings are in serious trouble now; Chara scores Boston's second power-play goal of the game.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (9:31 remaining): Franzen goes off for interfering with Iginla. Bruins back on the power play.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (9:41 remaining): Only eight shots so far this period, five by Boston. Red Wings are quickly running out of time.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (13:27 remaining): DeKeyser goes off for interfering with Caron. Bruins back on the power play.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (19:59 remaining): Final period is underway at TD Garden.

SECOND PERIOD

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (0:00 remaining): Red Wings outshoot Boston 15-13 in the second but Bruins hold 27-20 edge for the game.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (1:20 remaining): Red Wings kill the penalty. Need to do something in the final 80 seconds here.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (3:47 remaining): Boston kills the Krejci penalty and gets a power play of its own when Bertuzzi goes off for hooking Lucic.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (6:15 remaining): Red Wings get first power play when Krejci goes off for hooking Anderson.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (7:56 remaining): Red Wings outshooting Boston 12-7 in the second with nothing to show for it.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (12:02 remaining): Caron buries a one-timer from the bottom of the right faceoff circle to put the Red Wings two goals down for the second straight night.

Bruins 2, Red Wings 1 (14:03 remaining): Marchand apparently taken to the training room to be examined.

Bruins 2, Red Wings 1 (16:30 remaining): Datsyuk goes down hard when his legs are taken out from behind him (accidentally). But he's OK. Marchand needs to be helped off the ice, however. Appears OK, too.

Bruins 2, Red Wings 1 (19:24 remaining): Well, that didn't take long. Marchand bangs Boston's first shot of the period off the far post and past Howard.

Red Wings 1, Bruins 1 (19:59 remaining): Boston wins the draw and they're underway again at TD Garden.

FIRST PERIOD

Red Wings 1, Bruins 1 (0:00 remaining): End of one. Red Wings probably fortunate to be tied after 20 minutes as Boston outshot them 14-5.

Red Wings 1, Bruins 1 (3:11 remaining): Henrik Zetterberg continues hot start by banging home the rebound of an Abdelkader shot to tie it. Datsyuk with the other assist.

Bruins 1, Red Wings 0 (4:00 remaining): Krug has three shots on goal. Red Wings? Two.

'Bruins 1, Red Wings 0 (8:54 remaining): Detroit getting outshot 8-2.

Bruins 1, Red Wings 0 (10:49 remaining): Rookie Torey Krug, a Livonia native, scores his first regular-season NHL goal on the power play.

Red Wings 0, Bruins 0 (11:04 remaining): Boston gets first power play when Kronwall goes off for holding Eriksson.

Red Wings 0, Bruins 0 (13:21 remaining): Tatar in for Samuelsson. That's the only lineup change for the Red Wings.

Red Wings 0, Bruins 0 (19:59 remaining): Datsyuk wins the draw and they're underway at TD Garden in Boston.

PREGAME

The Detroit Red Wings have a 2-0 record after opening the season with victories over the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes.

They beat Buffalo 2-1 Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena before scoring three unanswered goals in Friday's 3-2 overtime victory against the Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

But the Sabres and Hurricanes aren't as strong as tonight's opponent.

Tonight, the Red Wings will get their stiffest test of the young season as they visit the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. The Bruins are not only one of the more physical teams in the NHL, they reached the Stanley Cup Finals last season after winning the championship in 2011.

While the Red Wings might be dragging by the third period rolls around tonight, the Bruins (1-0) should be well-rested since they were idle Friday.

Boston opened the season Thursday with a 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay at TD Garden.


719735 Edmonton Oilers

Canucks chase Dubnyk from Oilers net with five goals in 34 minutes

By Jim Matheson, Edmonton JournalOctober 6, 2013 1:00 AM

VANCOUVER— The game puck for Dallas Eakins’ first NHL coaching victory is still on hold.

The Vancouver Canucks toyed with the Edmonton Oilers 6-2 on Saturday, driving goaltender Devan Dubnyk from the net after 31 shots in 34 minutes and picking on No. 1 centre Taylor Hall, who was minus-four, as Edmonton started the season 0-2.

Eakins considered starting backup Jason LaBarbera after Dubnyk struggled in the home opener, a 5-4 loss to Winnipeg Jets, but listened when the Oilers’ No. 1 goalie steadfastly said he wanted to climb back on the horse against the Canucks.

Unfortunately, Dubnyk didn’t have a bounce-back game, giving up a knuckler to Dan Hamhuis from 60 feet late in the first period. He was basically a pinata from start to finish and trudged to the bench after giving up five goals.

He’s surrendered 10 goals in his 59 shots over 94 minutes this season.

Was it a mercy pull?

“Yeah, 31 shots ... I thought that was enough. Poor kid. It was like the goalie in Slap Shot, ‘my hallergies to the fans,’ ” said a joking Eakins.

“It was craziness there for the poor kid. He’s in there battling as hard as he can and we’re giving him absolutely no support.”

Dubnyk, as he always is, was a stand-up guy after the game.

“I let in five goals in half a game,” he said.

Hamhuis’s shot that went off Jeff Petry’s stick (Petry scored the Oilers’ first goal on the first shot on Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo) was a knife to Dubnyk’s gut.

“I guess I have to start living cleaner. That’s two,” said Dubnyk, also referring to Jacob Trouba’s 40-footer in the Jets’ comeback on Tuesday.

“The puck dropped about two feet, but you have to find a way to get in front of it.”

Dubnyk had defiantly told Eakins after his bad performance against the Jets that he wanted some redemption.

“There was fire in his voice,” said the coach.

Unfortunately, the Canucks torched Dubnyk, basically running over the Oilers like a cement truck against a tricycle.

The Sedins were especially dangerous. Henrik had three assists while Daniel had a goal on six shots and an assist. They threw the puck around uncontested.

“We know all about the Sedins ... you give them some space, they’ll pop it around,” said Dubnyk, who got a condolences message from Eakins.

“He said we have to be better in front of you, but I have to be the same. I have to do my part, too,” said Dubnyk, who faced 22 shots in the first 20 minutes.

“I felt good tonight ... I thought I’d made a good move on the breakaway (Brad Richardson short-handed goal). I held my feet, but he tucked it five-hole. Like I said, felt good in the net. I guess I shouldn’t be saying that the way the game went,” he said with a soft laugh.

Eakins thought the Oilers had their noses rubbed in it.

“This is a heavy league and I don’t care what system you play ... if you’re not going to battle and compete like every shift is your last one in this league, you won’t win in his league,” said Eakins. “Sometimes you can sit a couple of guys on the bench, but I have to send five guys out there to play. It was a tough one for me to flex my muscles in the game today. I can talk and coddle and kick and scream, but it has to come within the dressing room.”

Hall, meanwhile, was on for goals by Richardson, Hamhuis, Jannik Hansen and Ryan Kesler and was in the penalty box for boarding Dale Weise when Daniel Sedin cashed in off an incredible behind-the-back feed from brother. Henrik was playing his 631st consecutive game, the sixth-longest streak in NHL history.

Jason Garrison got the last Vancouver goal into an empty net, with LaBarbera on the bench.

Was Hall’s bad statistical night deserved?

“Minus-four is minus-four,” said Eakins.

“You get the first goal in a building like this and you want to build off it, but we certainly didn’t. They scored right after that (Richardson) and we kind of fell off the wagon. No excuses. It’s not like it was at the end of a long road trip,” said Hall.

“This has to come from within. Every guy has to figure out what he’s doing right and correct the things you’re doing wrong. I’m a big part of that.”

Boyd Gordon scored the other goal for the Oilers, who have given up 11 goals in two games, with New Jersey Devils coming into Rexall Place on Monday.

“It’s a long season. We’re going to go through hills and valleys. We just have to make sure (the losing streak) is as short as possible,” said Hall.

ON THE BENCH: Oilers

associate

coach Keith Acton and Canucks head coach John Tortorella were yapping at each other after Kesler (nine shots) fought Acton’s son, Will ... Oilers winger Jesse Joensuu, who had a sore back but wanted to play, didn’t come out for the third period after playing just 1:43 in the middle period and 6 1/2 minutes on the night. Joensuu’s problem necessitated a recall of Ryan Hamilton from Oklahoma City on Friday. “We didn’t want to be caught with our pants down,” said Eakins. Hamilton took the warmup but didn’t dress for the game ... Canucks winger Alex Burrows was scratched with a suspected broken right foot after he stopped a shot killing a five-on-three penalty in San Jose on Thursday. He’s out at least two weeks. Hansen took his spot with the Sedins ... It was Ryan Smyth’s 1,200th NHL game, 901 with the Oilers. He was minus-three in the first period, as was Ales Hemsky ... Centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins took the pre-game warmup, but won’t play until Monday ... Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish watched the game with owner Daryl Katz.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 10.06.2013


Taylor Hall has a night to forget against the Vancouver Canucks

October 6, 2013. 12:16 am

Posted by:

Jim Matheson

VANCOUVER – This was not Taylor Hall’s finest hour, folks.

The Edmonton Oilers star forward is a heckuva talent, but even the best of talents lose their way sometimes.

On for Brad Richardson’s shorthanded goal, Dan Hamhuis’s long one that went off Jeff Petry’s stick and past goalie Devan Dubnyk, a giveaway to the Sedins to set up Jannik Hansen’s slam shot by the Edmonton Oilers’ netminder, in the penalty box for boarding Dale Weise when Henrik made an all-world, no look, behind the back pass to twin Danny, then on the ice for Ryan Kesler’s screened shot.

The kid had one of those nights against the Vancouver Canucks where he probably wanted to bang his head against the wall, hopefully with his helmet on.

Hall played 20 minutes and won 10 of 16 face-offs, but he was minus 4. As his coach Dallas Eakins said after the 6-2 butt-kicking, when asked if the stats story told an accurate tale said “minus 4 is minus 4. I’m not saying he was responsible for all the goals, but we need everybody on the plus ledger if we’re going to win games.”

Hall wasn’t the only one who was minus 4, mind you.

So was Ryan Smyth, Hall’s linemate who played just 11-1/2 minutes and — considering the Oilers are 0-2 and you generally shake up a losing hand — who might find himself with a different centre Monday when the New Jersey Devils visit Rexall Place on Monday.

Smyth has a big heart, and nobody tries harder than the 37-year-old. but there’s no way to sugar-coat it: he’s minus 5 on the season, as is Hall, who was seconded to play centre with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins out, but RNH will play his first game against the Devils.

So we’ll see if he stays there or goes back to left-wing.

“Coach’s decision,” said Hall when asked about centre and his normal left-wing spot.

Hall certainly knows he was culpable in the Canucks’ laugher when they poured 44 shots at Dubnyk and his reliever Jason LaBarbera. Last year, their season high was 41 shots and, really, they could have had 50-plus but called off the dogs, a bit, up 5-2.

“I’ve never been minus four before,” said Hall, “but like I said before, it’s a long season and I’m playing a position that I’m not 100 percent comfortable with. That’s not an excuse, but it’s a long year, and there are going to be lots of times where you have to soul-search and make sure you wake up tomorrow positive and regroup.

“There are a lot of things I have to do better.

“I know when I have the puck on my stick I’m in full control of the game. That’s what I have to improve on,” Hall said.

“But it’s not like I’m going to be sent down or it’s the worst part of my career. I have another game to make up for it and it comes quick (Monday). I have to regroup and make sure I know what I’m doing wrong and correct it on the first shift next game.”

Hall said the team, as a whole, lost way to battles with the Canucks. It has nothing to do with not figuring out Eakins’ way of playing as the new coach. “It’s not we were out to dinner (as a team) last night and we were talking and saying ‘we have no idea what we’re doing.’ Everyone is on the same page (with Eakins’ system. We lost a lot of battles tonight and that has nothing to do with systems. It’s those half seconds when it’s a 50-50 puck battle. You either win them or you don’t and that’s what really decides this game,” said Hall.

*

Oilers associate coach Keith Acton, a fiery player in his 1000-plus NHL games, and Canucks head knock John Tortorella exchanged words at the bench, maybe discussing Ryan Kesler’s fight with Acton’s son Will. “I didn’t think much about it, there was a lot of chatter going on from the ice to the bench and from the bench to the ice. Whatever. Two tiny guys ready to fight,” he said.

**

Eakins had no problem with Hamhuis’ long one to make it 2-1, saying it hadn’t deflated his team late in the first period. “We were already been pushed around. It was just one more kick to the face,” he said. “We spent 65-70 percent of the game in our zone.”



Dallas Eakins has a history with Ryan Kesler

October 5, 2013. 4:12

Posted by:

Jim Matheson

Edmonton Oilers’ coach Dallas Eakins was the captain of the Manitoba Moose 10 years ago when a right-out-of-college centre named Ryan Kesler was sent to the AHL farm by the Vancouver Canucks. “Mr. Kesler, how are you?” said Eakins, before starting a media scrum at Rogers Arena Saturday morning. Kesler, who always seems to have his game-face on, kept walking.

Maybe he didn’t hear Eakins or maybe that’s just Kesler, the NHL’s Scowlmaster.

Eakins certainly remembers Kesler, the kid, though. His first pro season after leaving Ohio State

“He was 18 or 19 years old. He looked like a coyote who hadn’t eaten in about three years. He was really skinny and bony,” said Eakins.

Kesler, now 29, is 6’2″ and 202 pounds today. He’s flexed his muscles, around being hurt a lot the last few years, for 579 NHL games.

“That was my last year (pro). I knew I was done. I was 36,” said Eakins, who was at Canucks’ camp for one fall in 2003.

“Before that last year, Burkie (then Vancouver GM Brian Burke) said there would be a job for me, whatever they had. Then Burkie got fired,” said Eakins, laughing softly. He wound up taking an assistant coaching job with the Toronto Marlies. Fast forward to a gig as the Maple Leafs’ assistant coach to Paul Maurice, a head job with the Marlies, and now he’s in the NHL with the Oilers, trying to match wits with “Mr. Kesler.”

Eakins never played for the Canucks. He was a “call-up guy” but never got a call that 2003-2004 season.

Kesler played 33 games for the Moose when the defenceman Eakins was captain there and 28 in Vancouver. He was with the Moose the whole year in 2004-2005 because of the NHL lockout.



Bounce-back time for Edmonton Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk

October 5, 2013. 3:37

Posted by:

Jim Matheson

Starting Edmonton Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk knows he’s under the gun the size of a bazooka after the Winnipeg Jets left him bloodied in the home-opener loss Tuesday.

He knows it’s time to stand in and stand tall, not hide in a foxhole, against the Vancouver Canucks Saturday to not only win a game but win back the confidence of his coach Dallas Eakins.

“I had a short conversation with Devan after the first game (two or three goals he would like back) and I said ‘I assume that was not your best game.,”’ said Eakins. “I told him that immediately I wanted to go with the other guy (Jason LaBarbera in Vancouver) but I wanted to know if he wanted another shot and he was adamant…he had fire in his voice. He wanted the chance to bounce back.”

That was all Eakins wanted to hear. “Some guys would say ‘well, that’s your call coach, that’s your job.’ But Devan didn’t do that. He said he wanted to fight back and that meant a lot to me,” said Eakins.

Dubnyk has a recent history of strong work against the Canucks, beating Roberto Luongo 3-2 in a shootout in Vancouver in the Oilers’ first game after the lockout ended last January. He was 3-0-1 on the season against Vancouver with a 1.68 avg and .943 save percentage. But the game against the Jets really stung–big stage, home opener, HNIC audience. It’s somewhere in his brain, but he refuses to let it eat at him. Short-term amnesia. “You have to forget about it or you can’t begin to play well in the next game but you have to also understand that a game like the one against Winnipeg is unacceptable and make sure it hurts enough so it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Dubnyk is at his best when he’s quiet in the net, feet firmly planted, square to every shooter, side to side, minimal movement. But he had a case of happy feet against the Jets on the first two goals by Mark Scheifele and Bryan Little. He overplayed both shots.

“The first goal (high under the crossbar) I had one shuffle too many and he made me pay. On the second, I was leaning a little too much to my left when he shot it (low right). Felt great after that except that goal (Trouba, 40-footer) I’d really like back,” he said.

**

The Canucks won’t have the Sedins’ linemate Alex Burrows, who was at the rink Saturday in a walking boot to protect his right foot after he blocked a San Jose shot Thursday night on a Sharks’ powerplay. It could be broken. “He’s probably out for a couple of weeks,” said coach John Tortorella, who already has young centre Jordan Schroeder on the shelf with a busted left ankle after an Oiler shot rang off his foot in an exhibition game at Rexall Place.

Tortorella, who preaches getting all manner of body parts in front of shots (his mantra when he was Rangers coach), also sagging down low to protect your goaltender, has taken some heat for this practice. But he defended the Burrows’ injury. “You’re probably going to ask about 15 questions regarding shot-blocking. Alex made the right play. If he doesn’t make that play, he probably doesn’t kill a 5-on-3 again here. Don’t turn it into that. Injuries happen in a lot of different ways,” said Tortorella.

“Shot-blocking has always been part of the game,” said Henrik Sedin, killing penalties this season after former coach Alain Vigneault refused Henrik and twin Daniel’s entreaties to get out there. “Just because he’s re-emphasing it, doesn’t mean we didn’t do it before. It’s bad luck.”

Henrik will play his 631st straight game against the Oilers, passing Andy Hebenton for sixth all-time. He hasn’t missed a game since the 2003-2004 season. “Just lucky, I guess,” said Henrik. St. Louis defenceman Jay Bouweester is fifth with 635. Doug Jarvis is No. 1 at 914.

ON THE BENCH–Ryan Nugent-Hopkins took the pre-game warmup but won’t play until Monday night against the Jersey Devils, maybe the last time we see Marty Brodeur provided the 40-year-old plays and not Cory Schneider. The natural inclination would be to play Schneider in Vancouver Tuesday against Roberto Luongo but maybe they don’t want that circus…Taylor Hall was non-commital on whether he wanted to stay at centre or move back to LW when RNH returns. “Coach’s decision,” he said…Ryan Smyth played his 1200th game Saturday night…Eakins said they recalled winger Ryan Hamilton from Oklahoma City (he was in the warmup too) because one of the forwards was banged up. He wouldn’t say who the hobbled guy was but he was good enough to play against the Canucks. “We didn’t want to get caught with our pants down,” said Eakins….Ryan Jones and Philip Larsen got the goals for the AHL Barons Friday against Charlotte, OKCity’s opener. Jones was on a second line with C.J. Stretch at centre. The first line was Anton Lander, who was hurt (lower body) in the opener, Linus Omark and Derek Nesbitt.



Edmonton Oilers leaky again in loss to Canucks

By Robert Tychkowski ,Edmonton Sun


VANCOUVER - VANCOUVER - If Saturday night’s nationally televised debacle taught us anything, it taught us that the Edmonton Oilers aren’t even in the same league as the Vancouver Canucks right now.

Unfortunately for them, they’re still in the same division. And if they can’t figure out a way to compete with a longtime rival that isn’t even the toughest test in the Pacific, it’s going to be a long year.

“This is a heavy league... and if you’re not going to battle and win battles and compete like every shift is your last one, you’re not going to win in this league, and that was very evident tonight,” said head coach Dallas Eakins, after a rather humiliating bit of business at Rogers Arena, in which the Canucks not only cleaned Edmonton’s clock, but turned it back six months to when the constantly-rebuilding franchise was 24th in the league. “I thought we made it too easy when it came to the battles on the puck. We spent maybe 65 or 70 per cent of the game in our own zone.”

They looked worse than 24th in Saturday’s 6-2 slap in the mouth. After turning in a fairly decent game in a season-opening 5-4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, the Oilers collapsed in what it hoped would stand up as a statement game for Oiler progress.

This team looked as bad as it’s ever looked, and that’s saying something given that we’re talking about the Oilers here.

“Old habits die hard,” said Eakins. “I was encouraged with certain things going through the pre-season, and more encouraged even when we let that game get away from us in Winnipeg. Tonight we were back to square one.”

The Canucks outshot them 22-8 in the first period and were up 5-1 on the scoreboard and 31-12 on the shot clock when Devan Dubnyk got the hook midway through the second.

Even the Edmonton Eskimos couldn’t watch this one.

“They just took it to us and we couldn’t recover.” said Taylor Hall, who was minus four in the loss. “There’s a lot of things we have to improve on. We just kind of fell off the wagon there. There’s not really a whole lot of excuses at this time of the year. Everybody has to correct the things that they’re doing wrong and I’m a big part of that.

“I’m playing a position I’m not 100 per cent comfortable with. That’s not really an excuse but... it’s a long year.”

Hard to believe Edmonton actually led this game, but they were up 1-0 when Jeff Petry scored on their first shot of the game at 1:58.

It was all downhill after that.

After giving up a breakaway goal 3:42 into the first period Devan Dubnyk was rock solid after that, keeping Edmonton alive in a game they had no business being alive in.

Then came the bad one. A long shot from Dan Hamhuis (shades of the tying goal against Winnipeg) somehow eluded Dubnyk with 1:33 left in the period.

“We were already getting kicked and pushed around by then,” said Eakins. “We were still on our feet but it was another punch to the face.”

Moments later, Jannik Hansen was left alone in the slot with the time and space to make it 3-1. And suddenly, just like that, the Oilers were getting what they deserved.

The second period was more of the same, only worse, as Vancouver ran up the score.

Dubnyk got the hook, but he wasn’t the worst guy on the team by a damn stretch.

“I thought 31 shots was enough,” said Eakins. “Poor kid. He was like the goalie in Slap Shot, ‘My hallergies to these fans...’ It was craziness for the poor kid. He’s in there battling as hard as he can and we’re giving him absolutely no support.”

Eakins told Dubnyk as much on the bench.

“He said we have to be better in front of you,” said Dubnyk. “But I have to do the same. I have to do my part, too.”

3 STARS

Henrik Sedin - A three assist night as the brilliant Swede led the Vancouver rout

Daniel Sedin - When one brother has big game, the other isn’t far behind.

Jannik Hansen - Had a strong, fiesty game. Tough guy to play against.

OIL GRADES

game F

off F

Def F

GT F

PP F

PK F

Toughness B

Effort C

WHY THEY LOST

Why didn’t they lose? Edmonton didn’t much of anything right in a game where they were hoplessly outclassed in just about every aspect of the game

HALL PASS

Taylor Hall had a miserable first 40 minutes. He was minus 4, on the ice for all but one of the first five Vancouver goals. He was in the penalty box for the other one. Hard to believe the experiment at centre will continue.

JESSE’S OUT

Jesse Joensuu, one of Edmonton’s better players in the first two games, played just a couple of shifts in the second period and didn’t return for the third.

DROP ‘EM

Luke Gadzic extended his consecutive game fight streak to two games, dropping the gloves with Vancouver’s Tim Sestito in the third period.

UP Next:

Monday vs New JerseyIf Saturday night’s nationally televised debacle taught us anything, it taught us that the Edmonton Oilers aren’t even in the same league as the Vancouver Canucks right now.

Unfortunately for them, they’re still in the same division. And if they can’t figure out a way to compete with a longtime rival that isn’t even the toughest test in the Pacific, it’s going to be a long year.

In a rather humiliating bit of business at Rogers Arena, the Canucks not only cleaned Edmonton’s clock, they turned it back six months to when the constantly-rebuilding franchise was 24th in the league.

They looked worse than that in Saturday’s 6-2 loss. After turning in a fairly decent game in a season-opening 5-4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, the Oilers regressed considerably in what they were hoping would stand up as a statement game for Oiler progress.

Nope.

This team looked as bad as it’s ever looked, and that’s saying something given that we’re talking about the Oilers here.

The Canucks outshot them 22-8 in the first period and were up 31-12 on the shot clock when Devan Dubnyk got the hook when it was 5-1 midway through the second.

Even the Edmonton Eskimos couldn’t watch this one.

Hard to believe Edmonton actually led this game, but they were up 1-0 when Jeff Petry scored on their first shot of the game at 1:58.

It was all downhill after that.

Dubnyk had a microcosm game in the Oiler net. After giving up a breakaway goal 3:42 into the first period he was rock solid after that, keeping Edmonton alive in a game where they were either shorthanded or badly outplayed, or both.

Edmonton almost escaped the first period with a 1-1 tie thanks to his work, but then came the bad one. A long shot from Dan Hamhuis hit an Oilers stick a few steps inside the blueline (shades of the tying goal against Winnipeg) and somehow eluded Dubnyk with 1:33 left in the period. Yes, it was deflected, but he had plenty of time to pick it up.

Moments later, Jannik Hansen was left alone in the slot with the time and space to make it 3-1.

And suddenly, just like that, the Oilers were getting what they deserved

The second period was more of the same, only worse Daniel Sedin made it 4-1 on a tic-tac-toe passing play on a Vancouver power play and Ryan Kesler made it 5-1 a few minutes later, sending Dubnyk to she showers (the Oilers were being outshot 31-12 at the time).

He let in the bad one, but he wasn’t the worst guy on the team by a damn stretch.

Boyd Gordon cut the lead to 5-2 late in the second. Vancouver scored into an empty net with 1:45 to go in the third when Dallas Eakins pulled his goalie on a power play for a 6-on-4.

LATE HITS: It was Taylor Hall’s first game against the Canucks since Dale Weise put the headshot on him in the pre-season. “Its partly my fault, I have to keep my head up,” said Weise. “But at the same time you never want to go into a guy elbow first.” Hall took two for boarding when he slammed Weise into the wall in the second period... Edmonton called up Ryan Hamilton before the game because one of their forwards was banged up a little and they weren’t sure if he would make it to the gate. Eakins wouldn’t say which one, but Jesse Joensuu left after the second period and didn’t return... The Canucks are 22-16-5 in home openers. It’s the first time the Oilers have been Vancouver’s home opening guest since 1992-93, when Pavel Bure had two points.

THREE STARS

Henrik Sedin - A three assist night as the brilliant Swede led the Vancouver rout

Daniel Sedin - When one brother has big game, the other isn’t far behind.

Jannik Hansen - Had a strong, fiesty game. Tough guy to play against.

OIL GRADES

Game, F

Off, F

Def, F

GT, F

PP, F

PK, F

Toughness, B

Effort, C

WHY THEY LOST

Why didn’t they lose? Edmonton didn’t much of anything right in a game where they were hoplessly outclassed in just about every aspect of the game

HALL PASS

Taylor Hall had a miserable first 40 minutes. He was minus 4, on the ice for all but one of the first five Vancouver goals. He was in the penalty box for the other one. Hard to believe the experiment at centre will continue.

JESSE’S OUT

Jesse Joensuu, one of Edmonton’s better players in the first two games, played just a couple of shifts in the second period and didn’t return for the third.

DROP ‘EM

Luke Gadzic extended his consecutive game fight streak to two games, dropping the gloves with Vancouver’s Tim Sestito in the third period.

UP NEXT

Monday vs New Jersey

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 10.06.2013

719740 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers routed by St. Louis Blues

BY GEORGE RICHARDS

Posted on Sun, Oct. 06, 2013

The Panthers had to feel extremely fortunate to escape the first period of Saturday night’s game down just one goal.

Their fortune changed for the worse in the second as things got so bad all the team wanted to do was flee the scene of this accident.

St. Louis tore open a once-close game by scoring four times within a span of seven minutes to blow the Panthers out of Scottrade Center 7-0.

Soon after the Blues scored twice in the opening 4:09 of the third, fights began breaking out all over the ice.

A total of 15 infractions involving 12 players were called with most of the players given penalties with more time on them then on the clock. Those players would be considered the lucky ones as they got to head to the locker room early and avoid watching the end of this dreadful contest.

A few vocal fans near the Florida bench and tunnel were also sent home early by the authorities. Again, they would be considered fortunate.

“We were hanging on for dear life and got outplayed in every aspect of the game,” coach Kevin Dineen said. “We didn’t rise to the occasion.”

Florida was outplayed by the Blues from the start of the night with Tim Thomas keeping his new team in it.

Thomas made 13 saves in the opening period although he couldn’t find a shot from Brenden Morrow with 6:02 left in the period.

Florida had deftly killed off a 5-on-3 power play chance with Scott Gomez and Shawn Matthias in the box, yet with seven ticks left on the Matthias penalty, Morrow followed a shot from Derek Roy and put it into the back of the net for the lone score of the period.

“You don’t like to se a 7-0 score and it’s all our fault,” Jonathan Huberdeau said. “We had a few scores like that last year and we don’t want any of that this year. We’re better than this. We just have to work harder. It was only 1-0 in the first and into the second. We didn’t have a good start or a good game. We need to step up.”

The Panthers came out in the second and things looked markedly different, as Florida began dictating the flow of the game.

The Panthers’ biggest scoring chance come with 12:45 left when Brad Boyes and Aleksander Barkov charged goalie Jaroslav Halak on a rush with Boyes keeping the shot. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Boyes’ wrister rang off the right post and the Blues kept their one-goal advantage.

Instead of the score being tied, the Panthers suddenly found themselves sliding downhill. A few minutes after Boyes’ shot, Vladimir Tarasenko took advantage of a three-Panther pileup in front of the cage and put the puck through for a 2-0 advantage.

Less than three minutes later it was 3-0 after Florida’s Tom Gilbert gave up the puck behind his net. St. Louis’ Vlad Sobotka fired it to Jaden Schwartz, who flicked it past Thomas for a 3-0 advantage.

Roy made it 4-0 with 3:48 left in the period with Alex Steen polishing things off by scoring on a penalty shot with 57 seconds remaining after being dragged to the ice on a break by Alex Gudbranson.

“It went downhill and snowballed quick,” Thomas said. “As a team you have to find a way to break that momentum and we weren’t able to do it for a long period of time. It wasn’t just a couple minutes.”

Although Thomas (23 saves on 28 shots) stayed in through the end of the second, he didn’t make it past that. Jacob Markstrom came in to start the third but couldn’t staunch the bleeding.

The Blues scored twice off their first four shots to open the third and turn a rout into a true laugher.

Markstrom ended with four saves on six shots in the final 20 minutes of play. The NHL, unfortunately, doesn’t have a mercy rule and allow a running clock in situations Florida found itself in Saturday night.

“We have to be better,” Dineen said. “There is still work to do.

“There was ugliness here [Saturday].”

Miami Herald LOADED: 10.06.2013


Florida Panthers’ Marcel Goc fitting in on top line

BY GEORGE RICHARDS

Posted on Sun, Oct. 06, 2013

Much was made of how the Panthers would replace Stephen Weiss as top-line center when Weiss left to chase the Stanley Cup in Detroit over the summer.

It turns out Weiss’ replacement might have been here all along.

With a lineup beset with injuries last year, Marcel Goc found himself in a different position as he was centering one of the top two lines. Goc has made a living as a grinding third line defensive player, although the Panthers liked the chemistry he seemed to have with Tomas Fleischmann.

When Florida kicked off Thursday in Dallas, Goc found himself a No. 1 center to start a season for the first time in his nine-year NHL career.

Goc, who still prides himself on his defensive play despite the playmakers surrounding him, scored two goals in Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Stars.

Goc’s first goal was the game-winner as he trailed the play and buried a beautiful feed from Fleischmann. His second came in the final minutes and went into an empty net.

“Last year, I moved up and down the lines because of the injuries,” said Goc, who had scored twice in a game only once before and not in his previous two seasons with the Panthers.

“I play the way I play and I try to do the same things every night. But now I have to keep up with the offensive stuff, but I still have to be responsible defensively. But no question, playing with these guys is fun.”

Fleischmann said he and Kris Versteeg appreciate the defensive prowess Goc brings to their line, one formerly centered by Weiss. Two seasons ago, the Weiss/Fleischmann/Versteeg trio was the most productive line in the league.

Last year, Weiss and Versteeg missed most of the season because of serious injuries.

“He’s a similar player to me, he sees the ice very well and that may be why we play well together,” Fleischmann said. “Last year, we finished playing together and we find each other on the ice. I kind of know where he is and he knows where his wingers are.”

DAY 2 CHANGES

Coach Kevin Dineen is expected to continue tinkering with his lines in this early going of the season. Saturday saw some minor tweaking, with Krys Barch replacing Drew Shore on the fourth line.

Barch played after sitting out Thursday in Dallas. Matt Gilroy and Joey Crabb joined Shore on the scratch line.

“It’s early in the season and we’ve been blessed with the gift of extra bodies,” Dineen said. “We’re going to take advantage of it. This continues to be a work in progress in trying to find some symmetry. We’ll go from there.”

A day off

The Panthers stayed in St. Louis after Saturday’s game and plan on having an off day in the city Sunday. The team will charter a flight to Philadelphia on Monday morning and practice at the University of Pennsylvania later that day.



Recap: St. Louis vs. Florida

By Sports Network

St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Jaroslav Halak stopped all 19 shots he faced to set a new franchise record, as the St. Louis Blues blitzed the Florida Panthers, 7-0, at Scottrade Center.

Halak earned his first shutout of the season and 17th career whitewash with the Blues, eclipsing the mark of 16 previously held by Hall of Fame netminder Glenn Hall from 1968-71.

Brenden Morrow got the Blues going with an early power-play goal and the home team tacked on four more in the second period. Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz and Derek Roy all netted goals within a span of 3:41, while Alex Steen backhanded home a penalty shot late in the period for a 5-0 margin.

Ryan Reaves and Patrik Berglund scored early in the third to produce the final margin.

"We probably don't have that superstar talent, but it's a grinding team that is solid throughout," Morrow said. "Anyone can be the hero any given night."

Tim Thomas, who signed with Florida just prior to the start of the regular season after taking all of last year off, allowed five goals on 28 shots in defeat. Jacob Markstrom took over between the pipes and gave up a pair of goals on six shots.

"We just never did anything to break their momentum once they finally got it," Thomas said.

Morrow led St. Louis down the ice towards the end of a first period power play and dropped the puck off the boards for Chris Stewart, who directed it on net. Derek Roy got a stick on the puck before Morrow sprinted towards Thomas to tap it home at 13:58.

The score remained 1-0 until the 12:31 mark of the second when Tarasenko's tip-in in traffic beat Thomas. Tom Gilbert then turned the puck over in Florida's zone, which led to Schwartz's goal on a feed from Vladimir Sobotka at 15:07.

Only 65 seconds later, Roy found space in front of the Panthers' goal and got off a clean wrister for a 4-0 game, then Steen broke free and got tangled up near goal to earn a penalty shot with 57 seconds remaining.

Steen went to his backhand on the penalty shot and put it past Thomas, chasing him from the contest.

Reaves skated uncontested down the right wing and snuck a wrist shot past Markstrom, who anticipated a centering pass, for a 6-0 edge at 2:44 of the third. Just over a minute later, Berglund tapped in a weak shot by Tarasenko after Schwartz worked hard behind the net to secure the puck for St. Louis.



Blues too much for Panthers 7-0

By STEVE OVERBEY

Posted on Sat, Oct. 05, 2013

Jaroslav Halak knows his hockey history.

He is well aware of the legacy left by former St. Louis goalie Glen Hall.

Halak passed Hall with his franchise-record 17th shutout and Alex Steen scored on a penalty shot to lead the Blues to a 7-0 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday.

Halak made 19 saves in moving into the No. 1 spot on the Blues' career shutout list.

Hall had 16 shutouts for St. Louis from 1967-1971.

"He was a great goaltender and he's in the Hall of Fame," Halak said. "It's a special feeling. I'm glad I was able to pass him, but I couldn't have done it without my teammates."

Halak posted his 26th career shutout and improved to 8-1 lifetime against the Panthers.

"He made five or six quality saves in the first period," St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock said. "He was feeling strong."

Newcomers Brenden Morrow and Derek Roy scored their first goals of the season for St. Louis, which received goals from seven different players. The Blues have outscored their opponents 11-2 with 10 different players scoring goals this season.

Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz also converted against Florida goalie Tim Thomas, who was pulled after the second period. He allowed five goals on 28 shots.

The Blues' seven-goal outburst was their largest since they won at Detroit 10-3 on March 30, 2011.

Florida, which beat Dallas 4-2 in its opener, was looking to start the season 2-0 for the first time in eight years.

Schwartz added two assists and also received a fighting major in the third period to record a "Gordie Howe hat trick," a goal, assist and a fighting major in the same game named after the former Detroit Red Wings great.

The mild-mannered Schwartz joked that his last fight came at Colorado College as a 17-year-old.

He stood toe-to-toe with Kris Versteeg late in the third period. His teammates placed a piece of tape with "Gordie" above his locker after the game.

"I wasn't expecting this to happen," Schwartz said.

Morrow and Roy were signed as free agents in the offseason to add offensive punch. They have also added depth to the attack in the first two games.

"We knew all along that we probably don't have that superstar talent, but we're a grinding team that's solid throughout," Morrow said. "Anyone can be the hero any given night. That makes us really hard to defend."

Schwartz agreed, "Coming in, we knew we had a deep team," he said. "We're not going to have just one line carry us."

Morrow scored his 250th career goal off a pass from Roy to give St. Louis a 1-0 lead in the first period.

The Blues then broke the game open with four goals in a 6:32 span in the second period. Tarasenko scored off a pass from Schwartz, who converted from close range less than three minutes later to make it 3-0.

Steen beat Thomas on a backhand in the closing minute of the second period to record the Blues' first regular-season penalty shot goal since Patrik Berglund scored on Jan. 24, 2013, in a 3-0 win over Nashville.

Florida managed just six shots in each of the first two periods.

Thomas, who made 25 stops in the win over Dallas, played well in the first period, but struggled in the second period.

"When it started to go downhill, it snowballed quickly," Thomas said. "That's a lesson. That can happen in this league. I was kind of waiting for the momentum to switch over to us, but it never did.

Florida coach Kevin Dineen was disappointed in the effort of his team.

"It was a man's game and we didn't rise to the occasion tonight," he said. "We got outplayed in every aspect of the game."

Notes: St. Louis improved to 10-3-1 at home against Florida, outscoring the Panthers 40-18. ... Florida began the season with four successive road games for the first time in franchise history. ... St. Louis played host to an Eastern Conference opponent for the first time since facing Boston on Feb. 22, 2012. ...The Blues have killed off all 11 penalties this season.



PANTHERS NOTEBOOK: Marcel Goc Digging New Role Uptown ...

Posted by George Richards at 10:13 PM

ST. LOUIS -- Much was made of how the Panthers would replace Stephen Weiss as top line center when Weiss left to chase the Stanley Cup in Detroit over the summer.

It turns out Weiss' replacement may have been here all along.

With a lineup beset with injuries last year, Marcel Goc found himself in a different position as he was centering one of the top two lines. Goc has made a living as a grinding third line defensive player, although the Panthers liked the chemistry he seemed to have with Tomas Fleischmann.

When Florida kicked off Thursday in Dallas, Goc found himself a No. 1 center to start a season for the first time in his nine-year NHL career.

Goc, who still prides himself on his defensive play despite the playmakers surrounding him, scored two goals in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Stars.

Goc's first goal was the game-winner as he trailed the play and buried a beautiful feed from Fleischmann. His second came in the final minutes and went into an empty net.

"Last year I moved up and down the lines because of the injuries,'' said Goc, who had scored twice in a game only once before and not in his previous two seasons with the Panthers.

"I play the way I play and I try to do the same things every night. But now I have to keep up with the offensive stuff but I still have to be responsible defensively. But no question playing with these guys is fun.''

Fleischmann said he and Kris Versteeg appreciate the defensive prowess Goc brings to their line, one formerly centered by Weiss. Two seasons ago, the Weiss/Fleischmann/Versteeg trio was the most productive line in the league.

Last year, Weiss and Versteeg missed most of the season due to serious injuries.

"He's a similar player to me, he sees the ice very well and that may be why we play well together,'' Fleischmann said. "Last year we finished playing together and we find each other on the ice. I kind of know where he is and he knows where his wingers are.''

DAY 2 CHANGES

Coach Kevin Dineen is expected to continue tinkering with his lines in this early going of the season. Saturday saw some minor tweaking with Krys Barch replacing Drew Shore on the fourth line.

Barch played after sitting out Thursday in Dallas. Matt Gilroy and Joey Crabb joined Shore on the scratch line.

"It's early in the season and we've been blessed with the gift of extra bodies,'' Dineen said. "We're going to take advantage of it. This continues to be a work in progress in trying to find some symmetry. We'll go from there.''

-- The Panthers stayed in St. Louis after Saturday's game and plan on having an off day in the city on Sunday. The team will charter to Philadelphia on Monday morning and practice at the University of Pennsylvania later that day.



SMOKED IN ST. LOUIS: Panthers Beaten Down in 7-0 Loss to

Posted by George Richards at 10:10 PM

ST. LOUIS -- The Panthers had to feel extremely fortunate to escape the first period of Saturday night's game down just one goal.

Their fortune changed for the worse in the second as things got so bad all the team wanted to do was flee the scene of this accident.

St. Louis tore open a once close game by scoring four times within a span of seven minutes to blow the Panthers out of the Scottrade Center 7-0.

Soon after the Blues scored twice in the opening 4:09 of the third, fights began breaking out all over the ice.

A total of 15 infractions involving 12 players were called with most of the players given penalties with more time on them then on the clock. Those players would be considered the lucky ones as they got to head to the locker room early and avoid watching the end of this dreadful contest.

A few vocal fans near the Florida bench and tunnel were also sent home early by the authorities. Again, they would be considered fortunate.

"We were hanging on for dear life and got outplayed in every aspect of the game,'' coach Kevin Dineen said. "We didn't rise to the occassion.''

Florida was outplayed by the Blues from the start of the night with Tim Thomas keeping his new team in it.

Thomas made 13 saves in the opening period although he couldn't find a shot from Brenden Morrow with 6:02 left in the period.

Florida had deftly killed off a 5-on-3 power play chance with Scott Gomez and Shawn Matthias in the box, yet with seven ticks left on the Matthias penalty, Morrow followed up a shot from Derek Roy and put it into the back of the net for the lone score of the period.

"You don't like to se a 7-0 score and it's all our fault,'' Jonathan Huberdeau said. "We had a few scores like that last year and we don't want any of that this year. We're better than this. We just have to work harder. It was only 1-0 in the first and into the second. We didn't have a good start or a good game. We need to step up.''

The Panthers came out in the second and things looked markedly different. Florida began dictating the flow of the game.

The Panthers' biggest scoring chance come with 12:45 left when Brad Boyes and Aleksander Barkov charged goalie Jaroslav Halak on a rush with Boyes keeping the shot. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Boyes' wrister rang off the right post and the Blues kept their one goal advantage.

Instead of being in a tie game, the Panthers suddenly found themselves sliding downhill. A few minutes after Boyes' shot, Vladimir Tarasenko took advantage of a three-Panther pileup in front of the cage and put the puck through for a 2-0 lead.

Less than three minutes later it was 3-0 after Florida's Tom Gilbert gave up the puck behind his net. St. Louis' Vlad Sobotka fired it to Jaden Schwartz who flicked it past Thomas for a 3-0 advantage.

Derek Roy made it 4-0 with 3:48 left in the period with Alex Steen polishing things off by scoring on a penalty shot with 57 seconds remaining after being dragged to the ice on a break by Alex Gudbranson.

"It went downhill and snowballed quick,'' Thomas said. "As a team you have to find a way to break that momentum and we weren't able to do it for a long period of time. It wasn't just a couple minutes.''

Although Thomas (23 saves on 28 shots) stayed in through the end of the second, he didn't make it past that. Jacob Markstrom came in to start the third but couldn't staunch the bleeding.

The Blues scored twice off their first four shots to open the third and turn a rout into a true laugher.

Markstrom ended with four saves on six shots in the final 20 minutes of play. The NHL, unfortunately, doesn't have a mercy rule and allow a running clock in situations Florida found itself in Saturday night.

"We have to be better,'' Dineen said. "There is still work to do. There was ugliness here [Saturday].''



Panthers singing the Blues in 7-0 thumping

By Harvey Fialkov, Sun Sentinel

11:06 p.m. EDT, October 5, 2013

ST. LOUIS — —

Well, the Panthers will not go undefeated this season and they certainly won't enjoy the St. Louis Rams-Jacksonville Jaguars game on their day off as much as they had hoped for.

Unable to gain any momentum against the Blues' smothering penalty-kill units or solve long-time net nemisis Jaroslav Halak, the Panthers were thumped 7-0 Saturday night in the Scottrade Center.

Frustration spilled over in a chippy, fight-filled third period that included an overzealous Blues' fan and three Panthers getting tossed via 10-minute misconducts.

While the 1-1 Panthers showed progress on their power-play units, they were 0-for-3 with a man advantage in the opening period and 0-for-7 overall (0-for-11 after two games).

"Our power play was a downer for us tonight,'' said Panthers coach Kevin Dineen. "We were hanging on for dear life and got outplayed in every aspect of the game.

"I'd rather win some puck battles and board battles instead of fighting for pride at the end. …You move forward hang out as a team and get ready for the next one. …

"You balance out the character and effort we showed in game one and the ugliness that was part of tonight.''

The 2-0 Blues, who boasted the second best defense in the NHL last season, have now killed off 28 straight penalties against the Panthers. Florida hasn't notched a power-play goal in St. Louis since March 27, 2003.

After the Panthers thwarted a short two-man advantage, longtime Stars winger Brendan Morrow batted in a rebound of a Derek Roy shot with seven seconds left in the power play at 13:38 for a 1-0 Blues' lead after one. It was Morrow's 250th career goal.

That would be all the help Halak would need, as he made19 saves while improving to 8-1 with a sub-1.80 goals-against-average versus the Panthers, dating back to his days in Montreal.

With the game still tight, former Blues winger Brad Boyes, who enjoyed his best seasons here with 106 of his 168 goals, had two huge scoring opportunites, with the first thwarted by Halak but the second kept out by the left goal-post. Halak robbed Scott Gomez in the third to preserve his 26th career shutout and a franchise-record 17.

Then the Panthers were granted another power play in which they held the puck for nearly the entire two minutes, but too many passes and not enough shots had them still seeking their first PPG of the young season.

Just 28 seconds later, botched clearing attempts by defenseman Erik Gudbranson and Marcel Goc ended up on the stick of 2010 first-rounder Vladimir Tarasenko, who snuck up from behind to slip it past Tim Thomas. Thomas gave up five goals with 23 saves saves in his first loss and hook as a Panther.

"It started to go downhill and snowballed real quick. That's a lesson you have to learn in this league and we didn't do it for quite a long time,'' Thomas said. "I couldn't continue to keep it closer for us to come back. The game got out of hand.''

Jacob Markstrom started the third period and immediately gave up two goals on the first four shots he faced, including a non-screened wrister by Ryan Reaves and a snap-shot by Patrik Berglund to complete the rout.

Anyone for Scott Clemmensen? The Panthers third goalie had his first rehabilitation start in San Antonio Saturday.

The floodgates opened with three more Blues' second-period goals in a span of 3:56, as a turnover by defenseman Tom Gilbert led to point-blank

wrister by Jaden Schwartz over Thomas' glove at 15:07. Just 65 seconds later, Chris Stewart roamed behind the Panthers' net before setting up Roy, as the former Sabres star scored his first goal for St. Louis.

With the Panthers desperately cheating up ice, Blues left-wing Alexander Steen broke away but was tripped behind by a diving Gudbranson for a penalty shot that he would convert with a clever deke and backhander over a frustrated Thomas at 19:03.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 10.06.2013


Panthers coach Dineen tinkers with lineup even after season-opening win

By Harvey Fialkov, Sun Sentinel

8:38 p.m. EDT, October 5, 2013

ST. LOUIS —

Panthers coach Kevin Dineen generally doesn't change his lineup after a win, but despite coming off a well-balanced 4-2 season-opening victory over the Dallas Stars, he tinkered with his third line in preparation for the tough St. Louis Blues Saturday night.

Dineen recalled the last time the Panthers came into St. Louis on Nov. 17, 2011, when they were also coming off a win in Dallas (6-0) and had won three of four, however, they took a 4-1 pounding that felt more lopsided than that.

"I expect an extremely tough game,'' Dineen said after morning skate at Scottrade Center. "I thought we were playing pretty good hockey when we came in here a couple of years ago and they dealt us a pretty nasty blow. That's a team that's a good measuring stick for us at this stage.''

So he replaced right wing Drew Shore with a more physical Krys Barch on a line with Scottie Upshall and center Scott Gomez, who scored a goal in his first game as a Panther and in the first game of the season for the first time in his 14-year career. Center Shawn Matthias remained with Tomas Kopecky and Jesse Winchester.

"I've been given the extra healthy bodies so we'll take advantage of it and it continues to be a work in progress to find a mix, symmetry, whatever the word is we're looking for,'' Dineen said. "Barch is an honest guy, an honest player and he can skate. We like to use our speed and he can add to us.''

Forward Joey Crabb and defenseman Matt Gilroy were again healthy scratches, and Tim Thomas was back in the net after turning aside 25 shots Thursday to notch his first victory since April 22, 2012 or since his self-imposed 17-month hiatus.

Barch was reacquired last week in a trade with the Devils to bring his physical prowess to a team that lacked an enforcer-type since trading George Parros to the Canadiens in the offseason.

"They're a big team, they play heavy, the crowds are always into it. I played here a lot when I was with Dallas,'' said Barch, who played with Dallas from 2006-11 and for the Panthers in 2011-12 before joining the Devils.

"They come hard at you, they've got a veteran lineup; [coach Ken] Hitchcock runs a structured system so you know what you're getting. You're going to have to earn everything.''

Panthers' recently signed right wing Brad Boyes returned to his favorite building where he notched back-to-back seasons of 43 and 33 goals in 2007-08 and 2008-09, but hasn't topped 17 since. He credits his former linemates Paul Kariya and Keith Tkachuk with setting him up for glory.

"I felt like I could score every game, it was crazy,'' said Boyes, who played here from 2006-11. "I didn't have any hat tricks so it's almost like I did score every game. When you play with one of the best passers whose played you know you're going to get the puck and he's not looking for it back, and one of the best power forwards, you just go to the net.

"It was a great mesh and every game I knew I'd get chances. I'm working on doing that here. The more we play together the more you realize how guys work. We don't have a Boston team whose been together for five years, so we're trying to get better.''

Even though the Blues were 25-6-5 against the Eastern Conference since 2011, Hitchcock was impressed with the Panthers' collective skating speed in Thursday's win over the Stars.

"I know Dallas is fast but they got outskated [by Florida], and that was really surprising to me,'' Hitchcock said after morning skate. "When you look at the Panthers' personnel and the way they've built the team their forwards are quick. They transition the puck really quickly and they've got speed.''

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 10.06.2013

719748 Los Angeles Kings

Kings' forward Matt Frattin tries to get in line

By Lisa Dillman

October 6, 2013

WINNIPEG, Canada

— Kings forwards Jeff Carter and Mike Richards know their lines, take their cues from one another and usually not much goes wrong if they feel like improvising.

The rest of the cast, at times, seems a little lost.

Left wing Matt Frattin is the latest forward trying to figure out the script with Richards and Carter. In two games, Frattin has two assists, one at even strength, the other on the power play.

It's a tough assignment, but there have been moments of understanding on the two-game trip, a win and a loss. The Kings were off Saturday and their home opener is Monday.

"It's the one constant we've had in camp,"Coach Darryl Sutter said of Frattin-Carter-Richards. "So it's an adjustment, that's a hole that we've had. We feel [Frattin] can play that, play with Mike and Jeff. Quite honest, there's times where Jeff is center, Mike is left [wing] and Frattin is right."

Carter might be listed as a right wing. At times, that's in name only.

"That's where they line up," Sutter said. "Mike and Jeff interchange a lot in a game. That's probably what Matt has to learn the most is those guys play together. It's who is going to play with them."

Sutter has spent most of his time as Kings coach trying to solve the problem on the left side, looking for the right fit for Richards and Carter. He tried Dustin Penner, Dwight King and Kyle Clifford, among others.

"We've had two-, three-goal scorers play there the past two years. Dustin was a two-, three-goal scorer that was in and out of the lineup," Sutter said of Penner, who is now with the Ducks. "We've had kids in there.

"We've moved Mike over, moved Jeff to center. It's been a big hole in our lineup."

On the draw

Kings center Anze Kopitar had an assist in Thursday's season opener and scored in the shootout at Minnesota. But he had an unusually difficult night in the faceoff circle and brought it up, unprompted.

"We took a beating on the faceoff, I personally did. Big time," said Kopitar, who won only five of 19 draws. "There's always stuff you can work on."

Kopitar obviously took the issue to heart. His effectivness went from 26% in the faceoff circle at Minnesota to 62% in the Kings' 5-3 loss at Winnipeg on Friday. His ice time against the Jets, by the way, was 22 minutes 37 seconds, second to Kings defenseman Drew Doughty's 27:08.



KingsVision: We Are All Kings

One year after producing the excellent and well-received Stanley Cup Moments series, the creative minds at KingsVision have debuted a new feature in which a player from the team is joined with an influential member of the team’s fanbase. It is called We Are All Kings, and several videos have already been posted at LAKings.com.

As Los Angeles is a world center of creative influence, there are many prominent members of the team’s following eager to converse with the players. These conversations represent a natural union between those who have made an impact off the ice, and those whose on-ice artistry fits within the sports culture of a city in which teams generate attention through winning and entertaining.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 10.06.2013


Waking up with the Kings: October 5

-There will be those questioning why Jonathan Quick was chosen to start the second game of a back-to-back with travel involved, and looking at the results – he hasn’t won starts on consecutive days since early in the 2011-12 season – it’s not exactly an obscure conclusion to reach. But while Quick wasn’t as brilliant as he was in Thursday’s season opener, he didn’t receive the help he has been accustomed to receiving, and through the first 125 minutes of the season it’s becoming clear that the Kings still have some work to do defensively. This appears to be a common theme around the league, though it is still slightly disconcerting to see a team that averaged 25 shots against per game in 2012-13 allow 29 and 33 shots through the first two games of the new season.

-For 20 minutes, Los Angeles played to a T the style of possession-dominant hockey that has become its hallmark. 24 hours after Minnesota carried much of the play, it was almost difficult to find a moment in the first period when the puck was on a Winnipeg player’s stick at even strength. Justin Williams, among the best possession forwards in the National Hockey League, was playing keep away from the Jets defenders through several impressive shifts early in the game. Ondrej Pavelec was as dominant in the first period as Jonathan Quick was through nearly the entirety of the Minnesota game, and there may have been some whispers of trouble in the first intermission after the Kings generated 18 shots on goal and a bevy of Grade A and B scoring opportunities yet remained locked up facing the remaining 40 minutes on the second night of a back-to-back set. Los Angeles appeared to record as many scoring chances in the first period as they did through regulation Thursday night, and had they faced a goaltender that wasn’t as strong as Pavelec was, there very well could have been a “2” or a “3” on the scoreboard after 20 minutes.

-Though Darryl Sutter referenced his turnover that led to Olli Jokinen’s 300th career goal, I agree with his assessment that Mike Richards was among the Kings’ best skaters early. One of the most intuitive and positionally sound players on the Los Angeles roster, there are often nights when Richards’ consistent contributions aren’t sharply defined upon a live glance. Friday night wasn’t one of those games. He was competitive throughout – as he always is – and provided a key screen on Matt Greene’s goal.

-As the game evolved, and as the scoring chances began to even out, the Kings were challenged at times to keep up with the speed of the Jets’ top players. It was hard not to be impressed with Evander Kane’s performance, which included a Gordie Howe Hat Trick. The player selected fourth overall in 2009 – one spot before Los Angeles took Brayden Schenn – was the most dangerous player on the ice and combined his usual net-driving and competitive power forward attributes with a sharp release and an impressive top speed. Having cut his teeth in the Eastern Conference for the first four years of the career, could he be on the cusp of a breakthrough season in the more rugged Western Conference?



October 4 postgame notes, highlights

-Los Angeles fell to 8-3-4 all-time against the Winnipeg franchise. the On the road, the Kings are 3-3-2 against Winnipeg / Atlanta.

-With his third period goal, Justin Williams recorded the 499th point of his career.

-The Kings won 40-of-63 faceoffs. Amongst the regulars, Anze Kopitar finishing 13-of-21, Colin Fraser won 9-of-13, Jaret Stoll won 8-of-12, Jeff Carter won 6-of-8, and Mike Richards won 4-of-8.

-Wilie Mitchell and Matt Greene led all skaters with four blocked shots.

-After logging 24:28 in the season opener, Willie Mitchell logged 19:52 in the second game of the back-to-back set.

-Drew Doughty logged a game-high 27:08 of ice time.

-The last time Jonathan Quick won starts on back-to-back nights was November 16 and 17, 2011. He stopped 23-of-24 shots in a 2-1 shootout win over Anaheim at Staples Center before stopping 35-of-38 shots in a 5-3 win at Honda Center the following night.

-Olli Jokinen’s second period goal was the 300th goal of his career.

-Evander Kane recorded three points (1-2=3), a game-high plus-3 rating, a game-high seven shots, and a game-high five hits in 14:38 of ice time.

Saturday, October 5 is an off-day for the Kings. The team’s next practice will take place at TSC at 10:00 a.m. Sunday.


719752 Minnesota Wild

Russo's Sunday NHL Insider: First ugly fighting incident on league's first night

Article by: Michael Russo

Star Tribune

October 5, 2013 - 3:39 PM

Every season, there always is that one incident that gets the armchair anti-fighting crusaders to voice their stance loudly.

“It’s a little earlier this year than others,” the Wild’s resident bruiser, Zenon Konopka, said.

That’s because this year’s first ugly incident came on the first day of the NHL season, in longtime enforcer George Parros’ first game as a Montreal Canadien. In a fight with fellow Toronto tough guy Colton Orr, the two swung for the fences. Orr lost his footing, had a fist full of Parros’ sweater and pulled the big man down. In a scary scene, Parros crashed to the ice mustache-first, was removed on a stretcher and hospitalized because of a concussion.

The anti-fighting media crusaders took to Twitter. The difference now was the next day, when actual influential hockey folks echoed that it’s time to examine if there’s a place for fighting in the NHL.

After all, the Olympics don’t have it, nor college. There’s less in the NHL playoffs, which offer some pretty good hockey to watch.

General Managers Ray Shero (Pittsburgh), Jim Rutherford (Carolina) and Steve Yzerman (Tampa Bay) were all quoted by TSN, with Yzerman saying, “We penalize and suspend players for making contact with the head while checking, in an effort to reduce head injuries, yet we still allow fighting.”

With a general managers’ meeting set for November, you know this debate will be added to the agenda, although NHL exec Colin Campbell told ESPN “there is not an appetite to change the rules with respect to fighting.”

Konopka says the Parros incident was a fluky “accident” that could happen at any point in a game.

“People at factories get injured all the time,” Konopka said. “Does anybody want that to happen? No. They’re not going to close the plant either. The key is learning from casualties and moving forward. Us tough guys need to learn about leverage in fights. What happened there can’t happen.”

Konopka is a fascinating guy, as most fighters are when they rationalize their jobs.

Konopka is big into “Stop Concussions.” Some proceeds from his wine label, ZK28, go to the charity. During last year’s NHL lockout, he went to Boston University, where they study chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degenerative disease that occurs in people with a history of head trauma. The brain of the late Derek Boogaard was found to have CTE, and as of now, it can only be discovered postmortem.

“I feel like I’ve got a vested interest in it,” Konopka said. “Nobody’s fought more than me in the last four years, so if anyone’s got it, I’m a good candidate. They told me they think they’re a year out from being able to diagnose it in a living person.

“So I feel I better help work on the science part and raise some money so they can figure out how to fix you if there is something wrong with you down the line.”

So, how can Konopka justify such a dangerous job when he thinks there’s a chance he has the beginning a brain illness that can affect him later in life?

“You go into an automobile? There are crashes and fatalities all the time,” Konopka said. “You put your seat belt on, you follow the rules. You’re not going to stop driving. Driving is part of your everyday living.

“This is part of my everyday living. I grew up with hockey. It’s part of me. You take hockey away from me, it would be a crushing blow, and hockey needs policing.”

In Thursday’s Wild opener, Keith Ballard stood up for himself by fighting Colin Fraser after the Kings forward hit Ballard from behind. In the same game, Konopka sought out and fought Kyle Clifford two shifts after he boarded defenseman Jonas Brodin.

Pro-fighting crusaders say this is why fighting is necessary.

“A lot of times it keeps everything in check,” the Wild’s Zach Parise said. “You can’t just run around and know you’re being protected by the rules and protected by the officials.”

And as long as cheering fans stand in droves whenever two combatants drop the gloves, fighting’s probably going nowhere.

NHL Short Takes: Roy’s outburst planned?

It’ll be entertaining watching Patrick Roy as a rookie head coach in Colorado. The Hall of Fame goalie and fiery coach in juniors received a $10,000 fine by the NHL for his exchange with Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau opening night.

Roy, upset that Ben Lovejoy kneed No. 1 overall pick Nathan MacKinnon earlier in the game, twice pushed the alarmingly flimsy glass partition toward Boudreau.

Boudreau said Roy’s antics were “bush league” and said it would be a long year for Roy if he keeps yelling at refs and opposing players.

“What Boudreau said was all lies,” Roy said the next day.

Regardless, you can bet this was calculated. Avs fans loved it, as did his players, who you know will work hard for a coach that 1) defends them, and 2) has a fiery temper that could one day be aimed at them.

Ugly tie back on bench

Longtime NHL journeyman Dallas Eakins made his coaching debut for the Oilers and in honor of his former Florida coach, Roger Neilson, wore one of the old coach’s hideous jungle ties. Neilson died of cancer in 2003.

“Roger was known for his horrible ties and I was saving this one for a long time,” Eakins said.

WILD’S WEEK AHEAD

Tuesday: at Nashville, 7 p.m. (FSN)

Thursday: vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m. (FSN)

Saturday: at Dallas, 7 p.m. (FSN)

Player to watch: Matt Cullen, Nashville

The Minnesota native who played for the Wild the previous three seasons will make his home debut as a Nashville Predator on Tuesday.

VOICES

“He’s got farmer’s strength.” - Wild left wing Zach Parise on defenseman Ryan Suter

Star Tribune LOADED: 10.06.2013


Second game, same result: Wild loses to Anaheim in overtime


Star Tribune

October 6, 2013 - 12:18 AM

Wild coach Mike Yeo expected a “grumpy” Anaheim Ducks team Saturday night after the squad had two off days to simmer following its opening-night beatdown in Colorado.

Surly the Ducks were, as they jumped to a two-goal lead before the Wild found a way to match Anaheim’s desperation.

The Wild rallied to force overtime but ended up losing 4-3 exactly 4.9 seconds before what could have been a shootout on Mathieu Perreault’s breakaway goal.

“Very disappointing, but that’s what happens when you come out on your heels and passive,” said Zach Parise, who scored twice, including the tying goal 75 seconds into the third period. “That’s what happens. We found ourselves just trying to get back into the game, which we did a good job of.

“But you start out with two games at home and come out without a win, that’s not the way we drew it up.”

After Kyle Brodziak was denied by Jonas Hiller on a 2-on-1, the Perreault winner came off a give and go with defenseman Francois Beauchemin. Marco Scandella went down on one knee to try to block the pass. He didn’t, giving Perreault a free avenue to Niklas Backstrom.

Scandella was on the ice for all four goals, partner Jared Spurgeon three.

“Things didn’t go the way we wanted and we’re going to have to be better than that,” Scandella said.

This came after the Wild’s top line carried it back into the game. Jason Pominville also scored a power-play goal, but the Wild is 0-0-2.

“It’s a tough one to accept,” Pominville said.

The Wild lost second-line center Charlie Coyle with a lower-body injury midway through the second period. Late in his shift, Coyle was checked in the neutral zone by Andrew Cogliano and landed awkwardly. He tried to return late in the second but returned to the locker room after testing his injury. He could be seen in the runway with team orthopedist Joel Boyd.

Yeo said he doesn’t think Coyle’s injury is “gravely serious,” but it’s a stretch to expect him to play Tuesday in Nashville. If he misses time, the Wild would likely move Mikael Granlund to center and call up a winger from Iowa.

Jason Zucker is down there but coming off a groin injury.

After a one-sided second period in which the Wild was only able to pull within one on Pominville’s power-play goal, Parise tied the score at 3-3. Jonas Brodin sent a puck to Keith Ballard at the point, Ballard fired in net and Parise tucked home the rebound for his second of the game.

Ballard, the Baudette native and former Gophers standout, recorded his first point with the Wild.

The Wild drew a power play soon after, but Dany Heatley’s stab at a go-ahead goal was cranked loudly off the post.

The start couldn’t have been worse for the Wild. The Ducks struck just 1:40 in, then again by the 5:43 mark.

“We can’t play with the starts we have,” Pominville said. “You’re not going to win many games when you have to battle back through the course of the game.

The top line and second line started the game with back-to-back shifts pinned in the Wild end, with the second shift proving painful.

After Scandella failed to check Saku Koivu in the corner, the veteran center sprung free, fed Beauchemin at the point and tipped his little wrist shot from the top of the circles past Backstrom.

Then, after a Granlund hooking penalty, Nick Bonino scored a power-play goal on Corey Perry’s rebound with Scandella caught between in the crease defending nobody and Backstrom slow to get over.

But Matt Cooke showed why his value goes beyond physicality. He’s known for drawing penalties and he drew two on this night; both resulted in power-play goals.

“We battled back to get a point, but we’re not happy about this one,” Yeo said.



Wild notes: Dumba makes NHL debut


Star Tribune

October 5, 2013 - 11:58 PM

In a cool scene, teammates thrust Matt Dumba to the center of the circle Saturday morning to lead the Wild’s stretch after practice.

“They’re going to be happy in Red Deer tonight,” teammates told Dumba, he said.

That’s because Dumba made his long-anticipated NHL debut later that night in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The 2012 first-round pick stayed a week into last season, but he played no games before returning to Red Deer of the Western Hockey League.

This time, two months and 10 days after his 19th birthday, Dumba skated alongside veteran Keith Ballard in a bona fide regular-season NHL contest. He logged 10:22, wasn’t on for a goal and had a shot with his parents, Treena and Charlie, in the crowd.

“I’m just thankful that my opportunity has come along,” Dumba said. “It was everything I dream of, but I know I have a lot of work ahead of me.”

Dumba is a wild stallion. He’s got a big shot, loves to hit and often skates … everywhere. Ballard said it’s important to read off each other and just make sure that if one defenseman decides to go, “it’s not both of us.”

“Matt’s got a lot of skill,” Ballard said before the game. “An important part of his career as he goes forward is learning when to use that and learning when to just get it out of trouble, make the smart play, play kind of a boring game.

“It’s just a matter of finding the times to use it. For me as his partner, it’s being in the right spot and talking so no matter what he’s doing or where he is, he knows that I’m going to be in my position as a safety valve.”

It feels like just yesterday when Ballard, 30, was the young pup. His mentor in Phoenix early in his career was defenseman Derek Morris.

“I don’t think I had quite the skill Matt has, but my first couple years, I was also just up and down the ice and had no thought of, ‘This could lead to an odd-man rush, or this is a bad idea or we’re up one goal late in the game, don’t do this,’ ” he said. “It took me a bit of time to play my position more.”

Still, while the Wild knows Dumba may make mistakes early, it also wants him to play his game. He offers a dimension the Wild lacks.

“He had some really good moments,” coach Mike Yeo said. “He gave you glimpses of what he can do. He’s going to be a pretty electric player. He’s going to be a guy that creates offense.”

Veteran Clayton Stoner had a strong opener Thursday but was scratched for Dumba.

Yeo said his message to Stoner is: “We’ve got a lot of quality players. It’s early in the season. Things have a way of sorting themselves out. You just got to hang in there.”

Koivus together again

Wild captain Mikko Koivu is beginning his ninth season in the NHL, and it was only his 17th meeting against his older brother, Saku, the Anaheim Ducks center who used to captain Montreal.

So during the season, they don’t see each other much. But by good fortune, the Ducks were the Wild’s second game, meaning it didn’t take long for Saku to meet his new niece, Sofie, who was born Sept. 24.

Saku came over to Mikko’s house Friday night.

“He has two kids, but he was more nervous than I thought he’d be holding her,” Mikko Koivu said. “It meant a lot to get together.”

Saku said Mikko has asked for some fatherhood tips.

“He’s been close to my kids and spends a lot of time with them in the summertime, [but] obviously there’s a few questions,” Saku said. “You’re always worried when you’re expecting your first one. You don’t know what to expect and what’s ahead of you.”

“As a new parent, you learn new things pretty much daily. … I think he’s been doing great.

‘‘I don’t think there’s a lot of sleep right now but other than that, it’s been good.”



Wild-Anaheim game recap

MICHAEL RUSSO

October 5, 2013 - 11:19 PM

game recap

three stars

1. Zach Parise, Wild: Effort off the charts and scored two goals for his 30th multi-goal game, fifth with the Wild. Took six shots after taking eight on opening night.

2. Jonas Hiller, Ducks: Severely under fire in the second period, he made 16 of his 30 saves then.

3. Matt Cooke, Wild: Drew two power plays that led to Parise and Jason Pominville power-play goals.

By the numbers

7 Points for Saku Koivu in 17 meetings vs. Mikko (10-3-4 record).

11 Points for Mikko Koivu in 17 meetings vs. Saku (7-9-1 record).

146 Power-play points for Mikko, first in franchise history.



Postgame: Wild lose in OT and lose Coyle to lower-body injury

Blog Post by: Michael Russo

October 5, 2013 - 11:48 PM

There was a point back in the 90s in the NHL when you could theoretically go 0-0-82 and make the playoffs. Not anymore.

Not panic time, but 0-0-2 doesn’t exactly look pretty in the standings after a two-game homestand to open the season. The Wild needs to get some W’s after tonight’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

Just five seconds from a shootout tonight, Mathieu Perreault tucked a breakaway between Niklas Backstrom’s wickets after Jared Spurgeon toppled inside the blue line and Marco Scandella went down on one knee in an attempt to block Francois Beauchemin’s pass to Perreault.

Didn’t work.

It was the end to an up and down, exciting overtime (great, entertaining game in fact).

“I don’t want to see it, but it sure is good for hockey,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said of OT. “They could show that last minute in the highlights all day long and I think people would say, ‘hey, I’ve got to see that sport.’ The average fan’s not looking at how many dumb mistakes there were.”

Scandella was on for all four goals, Spurgeon for three, but Yeo said while there’s no doubt they weren’t at the level they were at during the Kings’ opener Thursday, it’s too early to make rash decisions. Prior to that last goal, I actually thought Scandella recovered pretty well and played a factor in tonight’s comeback, but this has always been the MO with Scandella.

He’s the epitome of inconsistent.

Before I get into the game more, the big bad news of the night is second-line center Charlie Coyle was lost with 8:54 left in the second period with a lower-body injury. Coach Mike Yeo said he doesn’t think it’s “gravely serious,” but it’s a stretch to think he’d be able to play in the Predators’ home opener Tuesday in Nashville.

Hold your breath with this one folks because the Wild cannot afford to lose Coyle for an extended period. Plain and simple. I don’t like to normally guess on injuries, but it could be a knee since I saw orthopedist Joel Boyd checking him out in the runway between the bench and the locker room.

Coyle was checked by Andrew Cogliano very late in a shift near center ice and just landed funny.

If Coyle’s out Tuesday, the Wild will need a callup. Most likely, Mikael Granlund moves to center and the Wild calls up a winger.

As you know, Jason Zucker is down in Iowa. He’s been dealing with the lingering effects of the training camp groin injury, but he did play in Friday’s 2-1 overtime win over Milwaukee in a preseason scrimmage.

Another option may be to just move Torrey Mitchell to third line and call up Carson McMillan for the fourth. Unless they’re moving Nino Niederreiter down in the lineup, it may not be Zucker. But I’ll say this: I didn’t think Niederreiter played particularly well tonight.

Mike Rupp, I don’t think is close. He’s skating with the team, but this morning, it still really looked like his knee is a big issue. He just wasn’t skating well, especially his first couple strides. So it won’t be him.

Me? If he’s healthy, I’ll jump on to the Zucker bandwagon. The second unit looked lost without Coyle and Zucker proved in the AHL last year that he can put the puck in the power-play basket. I also think Zucker-Granlund would bring chemistry because they played together in Houston.

Like I said, Niederreiter concerned me tonight. He just seemed to be confused system-wise a few times glaringly tonight. There was one forecheck in the first period where he could have easily made it a 2-on-1 if he had supported Dany Heatley down low. He stopped, turned and skated back to the circle like he was supposed to be the third man high. But Coyle was already back there as third man high. Maybe I’m reading what I saw

wrong, but to me, Niederreiter should have been down there forechecking with Heatley to outman the Anaheim defenseman.

Either way, this isn’t good as the Wild head into Nashville, which coincidentally possesses last year’s Wild second-line center, Matt Cullen.

As for the game, awful start for the Wild, falling down by two goals and having to chase the game from the very opening seconds.

First goal occurs because Scandella doesn’t check Saku Koivu in the corner. Second goal, I thought Backstrom was slow to get over on a rebound, but Scandella again was caught in the middle of the crease defending nobody.

Matt Cooke drew two penalties that led to power-play goals by Zach Parise and Jason Pominville.

Unfortunately, after the Wild cut the deficit to 2-1 on Parise’s goal, the Wild first allowed the Ducks to score a simple one 1:19 into the second. Kyle Brodziak looked like he lost Jakob Silfverberg, the key piece in the Bobby Ryan trade with Ottawa, and he roofed it. Again, Scandella and Spurgeon playing starring roles.

The Wild absolutely dominated the second, at one point outshooting the Ducks 15-4. But Minnesota could only get the Pominville score by Jonas Hiller.

Parise tied it 1:15 into the third, and a key moment came when Dany Heatley rang the post on a power play. The Wild had other close calls to win it but couldn’t put it home. Right before the Perreault winner, Brodziak was denied by Hiller on a 2-on-1.

Yeo took the positives tonight, although obviously not happy. He raved about the leaders (the top line carried the Wild back into the game), he was happy with the fourth line of Justin Fontaine, Zenon Konopka and Mitchell, and of course, the power play connected twice.

But again, the Wild didn’t win and hasn’t won in two games while Colorado, Winnipeg and St. Louis are 2-0 in the division.

Check out the gamer for the quotes. I liked Matt Dumba’s game tonight. I am concerned with Backstrom. He made some great saves but does look like he’s been slow to get over laterally all preseason and the first two games. Yeo wouldn’t go there and wasn’t about to be critical of anybody in the postgame, saying all that talk will be behind closed doors with his staff.

The Wild has the day off Sunday and will practice in Minnesota on Monday morning before flying to Nashville. So, we may not get news of the callup Sunday, and we likely won’t get a Coyle update until at least Monday.

Have a good night.



Short takes: Roy's outburst planned

Roy’s outburst planned

It’ll be entertaining watching Patrick Roy as a rookie head coach in Colorado. The Hall of Fame goalie and fiery coach in juniors received a $10,000 fine by the NHL for his exchange with Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau opening night.

Roy, upset that Ben Lovejoy kneed No. 1 overall pick Nathan MacKinnon earlier in the game, twice pushed the alarmingly flimsy glass partition toward Boudreau.

Boudreau said Roy’s antics were “bush league” and said it would be a long year for Roy if he keeps yelling at refs and opposing players.

“What Boudreau said was all lies,” Roy said the next day.

Regardless, you can bet this was calculated. Avs fans loved it, as did his players, who you know will work hard for a coach that 1) defends them, and 2) has a fiery temper that could one day be aimed at them.

Ugly tie back on bench

Longtime NHL journeyman Dallas Eakins made his coaching debut for the Oilers and in honor of his former Florida coach, Roger Neilson, wore one of the old coach’s hideous jungle ties. Neilson died of cancer in 2003.

“Roger was known for his horrible ties and I was saving this one for a long time,” Eakins said.

Eakins, by the way, replaced the media’s donut breakfast during training camp with daily fruit and yogurt. Eakins is a fitness buff. Most of the media? They’re not.



Dumba to make his NHL debut tonight against Anaheim

Blog Post by: Michael Russo

October 5, 2013 - 12:37 PM

The Wild expects a “grumpy, desperate” Anaheim Ducks team at the X tonight. The Ducks lost 6-1 in its opener Wednesday in Denver and as Wild coach Mike Yeo predicted, Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau made clear this morning that “It’s a big night for us. We have to redeem ourselves.”

“The message was pretty simple this morning [to the Wild]. We’ve got two teams searching for their first win,” Yeo said. “There should be a high level of determination coming into this game tonight.”

Despite a strong game by Clayton Stoner in the opener, rookie Matt Dumba will make his NHL debut tonight. The 2012 first-round pick will be paired with Keith Ballard, who will move to the left side after playing the right on Thursday.

I believe Dumba is the youngest defenseman to debut in Wild history. Brent Burns debuted at age 18, but I think he played forward his rookie year (I didn't cover the team). Dumba and Jonas Brodin is/was 19, and Dumba’s got a July 25 birthday, Brodin a July 12 birthdate.

Knowing me and the way I do math, I’ll probably be back later to correct this! Like

Dumba’s folks, Treena and Charlie, will be in the house tonight to watch their oldest son debut. Dumba led the center-ice team stretch after the morning skate in a neat scene.

Teammates joked with him that they’ll be happy in Red Deer tonight.

“They’ve all been great,” Dumba said, adding teammates told him to “just go out and play my game and just have fun. I’ve been playing this game since I was little and just relax and be myself out there.”

Dumba said, “I’m just thankful that my opportunity has come along. Now I’m just going to go out there and work my hardest and do whatever it takes to stay around.”

He said he’d try not to put on “extra pressures and nerves. Just another game. Looking back afterward, hopefully it a good one.”

Yeo said, “I’m excited for him. This guy’s a big part of our future. He’s had a really strong camp, so I’m excited to get him there and see how he goes out and performs at this time of year. We’ve seen it. We saw it Game 1 for us, the pace of play, the intensity picks up right now, so you want to see how he handles that.”

Asked if assistant coach Rick Wilson, who changes the D, will manage his ice time, Yeo said, “It’s important to get him out there early and get him into the feel of the game. And then every game you manage the game. But it’s important that we show him the faith and confidence in him to get him involved in the game.”

Yeo wouldn’t say if Dumba would play the power play, but Yeo indicated yesterday that it would tough taking Brodin off after playing so well Thursday and scoring a power-play goal.

Jonas Hiller vs. Niklas Backstrom tonight.

Dustin Penner gets in for Anaheim as Teemu Selanne sits in anticipation for another return to Winnipeg tomorrow.

The Ducks’ Emerson Etem (lower body), Luca Sbisa (ankle) and Sheldon Souray (wrist) are out. For some reason, I forgot to add them to my injury report in today’s paper.

What else? Saku Koivu got to meet his niece last night. I’ve got some cool quotes from Mikko that I’ll toss into tomorrow’s paper.

Yeo also was impressed Charlie Coyle took a leap onto the knife in today’s paper regarding his mistake on the tying goal against L.A. in the opener.

“That’s the kind of accountability that we like around here,” Yeo said. “He had a solid game. He had a really solid game. He was close to a great

game. What he did with the puck all night and what he did without puck the puck most of the night, he had a really strong game.”

But Coyle told Yeo yesterday that he couldn’t sleep after the game because of not defending Jeff Carter on the tying goal. Yeo said, “I said, ‘you’ve got to learn from it and you’ve got to move on from it and focus on the things you did well and just correct that stuff.’”



Wild fail to avoid the obvious in loss to Ducks

Pioneer Press

Posted: 10/06/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated: 10/06/2013 12:20:04 AM CDT

If you know there's a tornado coming, why not go into the storm cellar? At the very least, why not cover your head?

The Wild knew exactly what was coming Saturday night. We all did. The Anaheim Ducks had been humiliated in their opener, 6-1, by the Colorado Avalanche. Worse, their coach, Bruce Boudreau, was verbally assaulted by Avs coach Patrick Roy. The volatile Roy probably would have physically assaulted their rotund, little coach, too, but he couldn't break down the stanchion separating the benches -- even though he tried.

So there was a real storm brewing.

"We watched their practice yesterday," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "We saw it coming. We knew they were going to start hard. They were a focused group."

And yet... the Wild stumbled out of the dressing room and fell behind by two goals in the first six minutes. After that, they played as well as I've seen them play. Great pace, won all the individual battles, really controlled the play. The fans got their $50 worth, or whatever it costs to watch the Wild play these days.

OK, maybe not $50 worth. That's a lot. But the contest was very entertaining. In today's NHL, however, a two-goal deficit usually is too much to overcome, especially for a team that generates scoring chances but not goals. So the Wild fell in overtime. That's their second straight one-point home game. They've pretty much fizzled at Xcel during the NHL's grand opening week.

"We played a good 45, 50 minutes," defenseman Keith Ballard said. "We lost the game because we started poorly. That start just killed us."

As the game moved along, there wasn't any question about which team was better. It wasn't even close. Had the Wild just survived those early minutes, it likely would have resulted in a rout in their favor. Yet they just sort of belly-flopped onto the ice to start the game. And I can't figure out why. Neither can Yeo, who said he wasn't very happy at the turn of events.

"We talked about a number of things tactically before the game," he said. "The two words that were underlined were determination and preparation. We didn't have enough of either of those things."

Why? It was Game 2 in front of a fired-up home crowd on a Saturday night. It wasn't Game 68 on a Wednesday night against Florida. So what we have here is an early-season mystery.

"Tough start," said Jason Pominville. "I mean, you're right. We're at home and we want to come out strong. We want to establish ourselves as a tough team to play against at home. It's unfortunate that we weren't able to do that tonight right off the bat. But I think as the game went on, we played more our style and took over."

The defeat just seemed so preventable. They knew what was coming. The Ducks' feathers were ruffled. The first few minutes were going to be critical. Yet they didn't handle it well at all.

Yeo said the loss hurt, and I believe him because his expression appeared to indicate that he was experiencing a sharp pain. But he didn't want to dwell on it.

"For us, personally, what I'd like to focus on tonight is that there were some positives," he said. "I thought the play of our leaders was something we should be talking about. The play of our fourth line was something we should be talking about tonight. The power play is something we should be talking about, too."

If he means he and his coaches should be talking about that stuff, fine. If he means, like, this is what should be written in the newspaper, then uh-uh. I'm

more mesmerized by the lackadaisical start in the second game of the season.

He's right that the power play was good, though. The top line and the top defense pairing were good, too. The defense pairing of Marco Scandella and Jared Spurgeon was leaky, though. And on this night, Nik Backstrom was no better than OK in goal.

But, as everybody pointed out, it's ridiculously early. There is plenty of time to iron out these wrinkles. A couple of months from now, we probably won't remember this scruffy start. And that will be good because in these first couple of games the Wild have played just well enough to lose.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 10.06.2013


Ducks 4, Wild 3: Mathieu Perreault scores winner as OT expires

-- Chad Graff

Posted: 10/05/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated: 10/05/2013 11:50:18 PM CDT

RECAP: Mathieu Perreault scored a breakaway goal as time expired in overtime for the Ducks to drop the Wild to 0-0-2 this season.

Zach Parise tied the game 3-3 at 18:45 of the third period with his second goal of the night, but Perreault ended a back-and-fourth overtime session by slipping a shot through Niklas Backstrom's 5 hole on a breakaway in front of 18,213 fans at Xcel Energy Center.

Jason Pominville added an unassisted power-play goal for Minnesota, and Saku Koivu and Nick Bonino added goals for the Ducks.

MEANING: The Wild were arguably the better team in each of their first games but settled for a point in each. They lost their opener to Los Angeles in a shootout.

ETC.: In their 17th NHL game against each other, Mikko Koivu and older brother Saku each recorded points. Saku improved to 10-3-4 against his sibling. ... Charlie Coyle left the game in the second period with a lower body injury and did not return. ... The Wild outshot the Ducks 17-8 in the second period.



Minnesota Wild: Another one-point night leads to frustration

By Chad Graff

[email protected]

Posted: 10/06/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated: 10/06/2013 12:05:15 AM CDT

Before his team faced a desperate Anaheim Ducks squad on Saturday night, coach Mike Yeo went through the usual rundown with players in the locker room.

He talked to them about tactical adjustments special for Anaheim, and about defensemen jumping into the rush.

Then Yeo underlined two words on the whiteboard for his squad to remember: determination and preparation. The coach felt they were the keys to the Wild picking up their first win of the 2013-14 season.

Instead, the Wild opened with a brutally sluggish first period, fell behind 2-0 in the first six minutes and never recovered in a 4-3 overtime loss at Xcel Energy Center.

"Judging by the first period and the way we started the game, we didn't have enough of either of those," Yeo said of his underlined words.

The Wild lost for the second time in as many games this young season, the first coming Thursday in a season-opening shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The Wild walked away from that one with some optimism, but they felt they gave one away on Saturday.

"It's a completely different feeling," defenseman Keith Ballard said. "We played like s**t to start the game and that's why we lost."

Rather than sitting atop the conference with four points after two home games, the Wild settled for a point each in games they felt they could have won.

The team's top wingers, Zach Parise and Jason Pominville, accounted for all three goals, two of them on power plays.

"There were some positives for sure," Yeo said. "But I would say this is not similar to L.A. I cannot sit here and say that we played the type of game, top-to-bottom, that we wanted to bring. This was different."

Different takeaway, different feeling, same result.

It took into the third period for the Wild to catch up from their slow start. Parise scored twice, including the game-tying goal in the third period. But neither team was able to come up with much after that until a back-and-forth overtime. Mathieu Perreault ended it with 4.9 seconds remaining on a breakaway against vulnerable Niklas Backstrom.

The team also lost second-line center Charlie Coyle to a lower body injury in the second period; he'll likely miss the team's next game Tuesday, Yeo said

As well as the top line played, there were big holes in the Wild's game, starting with the second defensive pairing of Jared Spurgeon and Marco Scandella. Scandella finished a minus-4 and was the main player at fault for a Nick Bonino goal that gave the Ducks a 2-0, first-period lead.

"I'm not going to say anything bad about anybody right now," Yeo said. "We're two games into the season. I'm not going to sit here and paint a pretty picture or anything. I'm not going to try to do that. But there were positives in the game, and right now is the time to point to those, and anything that needs to get picked up will get picked up behind closed doors."

But after the Wild let another win slip by, there wasn't much to do other than point to the slow start.

"We knew they were going to come out strong and we didn't respond early enough and we got behind two goals," Scandella said. "I mean, we didn't start well and that didn't help our cause."

And it didn't help the general feeling surrounding the team. After the first one, there was still plenty of optimism; after Saturday's, that optimism was replaced by frustration.

"This one has a different feeling," Yeo said. "Hopefully we use this to start our next game similarly to what (Anaheim) did tonight."



Minnesota Wild: Stoner sits so coaches can evaluate

By Chad Graff

[email protected]

Posted: 10/06/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated: 10/06/2013 12:04:08 AM CDT

Toward the end of Saturday's morning skate -- the final tune-up before he makes his NHL debut -- 19-year-old Mathew Dumba was called to center ice to lead the team through stretches.

The players wished their youngest teammate luck, and gave him a stick tap.

Just 15 months after the Wild that started when the team chose him with the seventh overall selection in the 2012 NHL entry-level draft, Dumba was set to make his NHL debut in Saturday night's game against the Anaheim Ducks at Xcel Energy Center.

"It's a pretty exciting day for me," Dumba said. "I just want to go out there and play my game and just have fun. I've been playing this game since I was little. I just need to relax and be myself out there."

Dumba was in line to skate with veteran Keith Ballard, who will switch from the right side, where he played Thursday with Clayton Stoner, to the left.

Both Dumba and Ballard enjoy jumping into the offensive rush in coach Mike Yeo's new system. They played together through training camp and said communication is key so that both defensemen don't jump into the same rush.

"With two guys that both like to get up in the play, we've got to read off each other," Ballard said. "And we've talked about that every time we've played with each other -- just making sure it's one of us, not both of us. We have to talk and communicate to do that and make sure it's not both of us."

Dumba's strength is as a puck-moving, offensive defenseman. He has a hard shot and skates well.

Throughout training camp he was slotted on the blue line of the second power play unit with Jared Spurgeon. But when Dumba didn't play in the season-opener Thursday -- partly because he looked "jittery" in practice, according to Yeo -- Jonas Brodin took his spot and scored a power-play goal.

Yeo wouldn't say whether Dumba would see any time on the power play, but stressed that Dumba earned his debut.

"He's played really well; simple as that," Yeo said. "He's got ability. It doesn't take long to sit up there in practice and watch him in warmups and see his skating ability, see his shot. But you get him out in the game and the way he executed (in preseason), the way he defended, he deserves this opportunity."

Before the game Saturday, Yeo called Dumba "a big part of our future."

The Wild have nine games to decide whether Dumba will remain with the team for the rest of the season or send him back to juniors in Red Deer, Alberta. Under NHL and major junior hockey rules, he's 19-year-olds are not eligible to play in the AHL, and the Wild will have to make a decision during this short window.

Dumba understands this season with the Wild isn't guaranteed. He was with the Wild for five games last and was a healthy scratch each time before being sent back to juniors.

He could be back there before too long, but at least this time he's getting a chance to prove himself in a game.

"It's all part of the process, and I know that," Dumba said. "I'm just thankful that my opportunity has come. I'm just going to go out there and work my hardest and do whatever it takes. I'm hoping it's just like any other game. I'm not going to put any extra pressure on myself."

Conscious pangs

Charlie Coyle told Yeo Friday that he didn't sleep after the team's shootout loss Thursday. Coyle played well for most of the game, but left Jeff Carter open in the third and Carter scored the game-tying goal to force overtime.

"I said, 'You have to learn from it, but you have to move on too, and you have to focus on the things that you did well and just correct that stuff,' " Yeo said. "I respect that a lot about Charlie. And that's how you're going to improve -- that recognition of, 'I had a good game, but that one play ...'

"When you recognize that, then you're quicker to correct that mistake and strong games turn into great games. He was close to a great game."

Briefly

Clayton Stoner was a healthy scratch Saturday against the Ducks so that Dumba could make his NHL debut. "We have a lot of quality players," Yeo said. "It's early in the season. Things have a way of sorting themselves out."



Wild's Mathew Dumba getting a chance to prove he belongs

By Chad Graff

[email protected]

Posted: 10/05/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated: 10/05/2013 09:47:22 PM CDT

Toward the end of Saturday's morning skate -- the final tune-up before he makes his NHL debut -- 19-year-old Mathew Dumba was called to center ice to lead the team through stretches.

The players wished their youngest teammate luck, and gave him a stick tap.

Just 15 months after the Wild chose him with the seventh overall selection in the 2012 NHL entry-level draft, Dumba was set to make his NHL debut in Saturday night's game against the Anaheim Ducks at Xcel Energy Center.

"It's a pretty exciting day for me," Dumba said. "I just want to go out there and play my game and just have fun. I've been playing this game since I was little. I just need to relax and be myself out there."

Dumba was in line to skate with veteran Keith Ballard, who will switch from the right side, where he played Thursday with Clayton Stoner, to the left.

Both Dumba and Ballard enjoy jumping into the offensive rush in coach Mike Yeo's new system. They played together through training camp and said communication is key so that both defensemen don't jump into the same rush.

"With two guys that both like to get up in the play, we've got to read off each other," Ballard said. "And we've talked about that every time we've played with each other -- just making sure it's one of us, not both of us. We have to talk and communicate to do that and make sure it's not both of us."

Dumba's strength is as a puck-moving, offensive defenseman. He has a hard shot and skates well.

Throughout training camp he was slotted on the blue line of the second power play unit with Jared Spurgeon. But when Dumba didn't play in the season-opener Thursday -- partly because he looked "jittery" in practice, according to Yeo -- Jonas Brodin took his spot and scored a power-play goal.

Yeo wouldn't say whether Dumba would see any time on the power play, but stressed that Dumba earned his debut.

"He's played really well; simple as that," Yeo said. "He's got ability. It doesn't take long to sit up there in practice and watch him in warmups and see his skating ability, see his shot. But you get him out in the game and the way he executed (in preseason), the way he defended, he deserves this opportunity."

Before the game Saturday, Yeo called Dumba "a big part of our future."

The Wild have nine games to decide whether Dumba will remain with the team for the rest of the season or send him back to juniors in Red Deer, Alberta. Under NHL and major junior hockey rules, he's 19-year-olds are not eligible to play in the AHL, and the Wild will have to make a decision during this short window.

Dumba understands this season with the Wild isn't guaranteed. He was with the Wild for five games last and was a healthy scratch each time before being sent back to juniors.

He could be back there before too long, but at least this time he's getting a chance to prove himself in a game.

"It's all part of the process, and I know that," Dumba said. "I'm just thankful that my opportunity has come. I'm just going to go out there and work my hardest and do whatever it takes. I'm hoping it's just like any other game. I'm not going to put any extra pressure on myself."


719764 Montreal Canadiens

Eller and Gallagher goals lift Canadiens past punchless Flyers

Bill Beacon

MONTREAL — The Canadian Press

Published Saturday, Oct. 05 2013, 10:15 PM EDT

Last updated Saturday, Oct. 05 2013, 11:36 PM EDT

The young guns are hot for the Montreal Canadiens to start the NHL season.

Centre Lars Eller had a goal and an assist as his line with Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk clicked twice in the Canadiens 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night.

The 24-year-old Eller has five points in Montreal’s opening two games of the campaign, while Gallagher has two goals and Galchenyuk has four assists.

“I got off on the right foot,” said Eller. “The whole line has been playing great. We’re creating space for each other. If you create chances, the goals are going to come.”

Gallagher picked up his second goal of the season and veteran Brian Gionta and his linemate Rene Bourque added goals for Montreal (1-1-0). The Eller line produced all three goals in a season-opening 4-3 loss to Toronto on Tuesday.

Vincent Lecavalier, the Montreal native who was booed each time he touched the puck, scored for Philadelphia (0-2-0), which plays again Sunday night at Carolina.

Many in the Bell Centre crowd of 21,273 were on Lecavalier’s case because he passed up Montreal to sign as a free agent with the Flyers this summer. The booing didn’t seem to faze him.

“I just wanted to help my team win the game,” he said. “It’s always special playing in Montreal and it was the same thing tonight.”

Gallagher and Galchenyuk are each coming off impressive rookie seasons and have picked a good time to get hot. The team’s top line is struggling with winger Max Pacioretty out with a wrist injury. Now the youngsters are getting more ice time, especially on the power play, than they got last season.

“That’s our strength — the depth of our scoring,” said Gionta, who added that Eller is “a young kid who has grown. You can see how he’s matured as a player.”

Special teams were the big factor in a game dotted with minor penalties. Montreal went 2-for-9 with the man advantage and the Flyers were 1-for-5.

“It’s tough to score when you’re in the box,” said Flyers forward Max Talbot. “You have to look at discipline. We’d start getting momentum and then we’d have to kill two minutes, so we have to clean that up.”

Montreal had a 34-23 shot advantage.

Philadelphia, which was beaten 3-1 by Toronto in its season opener on Wednesday night, has not scored an even-strength goal in it’s first two games.

Tomas Plekanec won a faceoff in the Flyers’ zone and Bourque slipped a pass across the crease for Gionta to bang past Ray Emery for the opening goal 8:10 into the game.

The Flyers were victims of a quick whistle when Price lost a puck at his feet and Matt Read knocked it in, but it was ruled no goal. Coach Peter Laviolette said it was not a major factor in the game because the score was still only 1-0 going into the third period and the Flyers still had a chance to win.

“After they scored at the start of the third, we lost our composure a bit,” he said. “We’re not going to win a lot of hockey games if we go to the box as much as we did tonight.”

Eller backhanded in the rebound of a Gallagher shot that missed the net only 12 seconds into the third frame.

A P.K. Subban shot looked to have gone in during a third-period 5-on-3 but video review found it went in the side netting. Only 18 seconds after play resumed, Subban faked a shot and passed to Galchenyuk, who slipped it to Gallagher for a 3-0 lead at the 5:00 mark.

Lecavalier was at the side of the net to lift the rebound of Mark Streit’s point shot past Carey Price on a power play 9:13 into the third. Bourque added a power-play goal in the final minute.

It was Daniel Briere’s first game against Philadelphia since the Flyers bought him out, but it was a quiet night for the veteran forward, other than taking two minor penalties.

Next up for the Canadiens is a western road trip to Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg beginning Wednesday.

Notes: Pacioretty, who jammed a wrist in the season opener, did not dress. Brandon Prust started in his spot on the top line and Michael Bournival made his NHL debut on the fourth unit. With George Parros out (concussion), Ryan White dressed. . . Plekanec played his 600th NHL game and defenceman Josh Gorges played his 400th, while the Flyers’ Zac Rinaldo played his 100th. . . Nathan Beaulieu, called up Friday, did not dress. . . The Flyers scratched Erik Gustafsson, Kris Newbury and Hal Gill.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 10.06.2013

719765 Montreal Canadiens

About last night …

Posted by Mike Boone

Of course, it’s too early to call Lars Eller the Danish Jean Béliveau.

But on a night when Jaroslav Halak was posting a 19-save shutout for St. Louis, Eller – the Blues’ first-round draft choice in 2007 – put on a Gros Billesque display of strength down the middle in the Canadiens’ 4-1 win.

Eller scored a goal, his third of the season, and added two assists. He topped all Canadiens centres with 18:43 of ice time. This included 4:53 on the power play and 1:22 on the penalty kill.

Numbers don’t tell the full story. Eller had a so-so night in the faceoff circle (won 11, lost 10), but he was a dominant player in all three zones. Through two games, Eller and his sophomore linemates – Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk – have scored five of the Canadiens eight goals. The EGG line has collected 12 points.

They young line is playing with confidence. And with the exception of a penalty Eller took in the opener against Toronto (during which James van Riemsdyk opened the scoring), they’re not making mistakes.

It’s fun to watch – not least because barring injury, these kids are just going to get better.

How long they’ll stay together is problematic because Galchenyuk is going to end up playing centre. So let’s enjoy it while we can – and look forward to the team bolstered by a great one-two punch at the key forward position.

Add a Norris Trophy defenceman, a goaltender who looked great (but, let’s be honest: not First Star great) against the Flyers, a power forward who scores when he’s healthy …

Hey, maybe the Canadiens have the makings of something interesting.

Eller & Associates were not the only shining stars against Philadelphia.

• P.K. Subban played 28:31 and skated circles – sometimes literally – around any Flyer who tried to forecheck him.

• Travis Moen contributed another solid physical effort – and he’s 2-0 in fights this season.

• The Tomas Plekanec line had two goals and five points. Brian Gionta opened the scoring with one of his classic sweet-hands efforts from close in. And Rene Bourque skated hard, played responsible D, notched a goal and has looked good in both games the team has played.

• Playing against the kind of big, tough team that might be expected to trouble him, Raphael Diaz played a solid, error-free 17:35. His partner, Andrei Markov, played 25:40 and contributed flashes of vintage Markov. The legs have been ravaged by injuries, but Markov still sees the ice and thinks the game as well as anyone in the league.

• The power-play has four goals through two games. The penalty kill was excellent until that Lecavalier guy cashed with Josh Gorges in the box.

• Michaël Bournival played only 6:09 but had a shot, a hit, went 2-2 on draws and didn’t do anything that might consign him to Michel Therrien’s Reserved-for-Rookies doghouse.

• Brandon Prust had a Prustian game: two shots, two hits, almost eight minutes on the PK and useful contributions to three different lines.

• Jarred Tinordi played 10:47 – four minutes less than he did against the Leafs. But he contributed a solid 6:50 on the PK and had a couple hits.

It was not a great night for former Flyer Daniel Brière – two penalties, one of which nullified a power-play, and 3-7 in the faceoff circle. His linemate, David Desharnais, was 4-7 on draws.

And, hallelujah, DD played almost five fewer minutes than the centre who is seven inches taller than he is.

It’s early in the season, but this was an important win for your Montreal Canadiens.

On Wednesday night in Calgary, they begin a a four-game road trip across western Canada. It includes an Alberta back-to-back and tough challenges in Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Heading out there winless would not be the best way to start a hockey season.

Especially when the Leafs and Bruins are undefeated.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.06.2013

719766 Nashville Predators

Nashville Predators' 0-2 record doesn't reflect improvement

Defense is playing tougher, but goals remain problem

Oct. 6, 2013 |

Written by

Josh Cooper

DENVER — There are a couple of ways to look at the Predators’ first two games.

One is the optimist’s view. Nashville didn’t play all that poorly and in some ways outplayed its two opponents — St. Louis and Colorado.

The pessimist’s view would be that a team with a bevy of offensive questions before the season scored only three goals and is winless.

If the Predators play like they did the first two games, they’ll definitely win at a higher clip than they did during their horrible 2013 lockout-shortened season. They were feistier on the puck, had a lot of scoring chances and overall were the “hard to play against” unit that is their trademark.

But offense remains the main question. Chances don’t count on the scoreboard, and the Predators don’t have a lot of finishers — especially with forwards Filip Forsberg and Viktor Stalberg out of the lineup with injuries. Also, the more the Predators lose, the longer the sour taste from last season will linger.

Here are three takeaways from the first two games.

Seth Jones doesn’t just belong in the NHL, but he also already might be a top-pairing blueliner. Although the 19-year-old rookie was held pointless through his first two games, he showed NHL-ready ability far beyond his age. He’s probably the best passer on the team. He has uncommon mobility and instincts for a rookie.

He was rewarded with 25:46 of ice time on Friday against the Avalanche.

With Roman Josi possibly out for some time with an upper-body injury, it might not be a bad idea for Jones to take Josi’s place on Shea Weber’s left side. Although Jones is a natural right defenseman, this group has the potential to grow into an imposing pair for the next several years.

Losing Stalberg and Forsberg hurts the offense, but the Predators need more from their skill players. The hope was forward Colin Wilson would be a leader in scoring. At least through two games, Wilson, a 2008 first-round pick, has no points and just three shots on goal.

A year ago, he was almost a point-per-game player. He also hasn’t played longer than 13:26, a low number for a guy expected to produce. He had surgery on both his shoulders in the offseason. It’s unclear whether it’s bothering him or there’s some other issue.

But he’s not the only one who hasn’t produced. Gabriel Bourque, Patric Hornqvist, Craig Smith and Matt Cullen have yet to score goals, too.

Forward Paul Gaustad is probably worth his four-year, $13 million contract. He has never scored more than 12 goals in a season, but his value goes beyond goals and assists. Gaustad has won 77.8 percent of his faceoffs and has anchored the grind line with Rich Clune and Matt Hendricks.

This trio provides a tough matchup for opponents and enables Nashville to roll four lines. The trio might not show dividends through two games, but by the midpoint of the season, when teams that don’t have a four-line luxury start to get tired, the Gaustad-Clune-Hendricks line is likely to provide a boost.

Tennessean LOADED: 10.06.2013

719767 Nashville Predators

Preds' scoreboard: no wins, few goals

Nashville starts season with consecutive losses

DENVER — The question asked about the Predators before the season was simple: Can they score enough goals to win?

Nashville had solid defense and goaltending, but it didn’t seem to have enough finishers up front. Through two games, that question seems to have been justified.

Nashville simply hasn’t had enough offense to pick up any points, and it showed again Friday night in the Predators’ second straight loss — a 3-1 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.

Through two games, the Predators (0-2-0) have scored a total of three goals. The team’s skill players, such as Matt Cullen, Colin Wilson, Craig Smith, Gabriel Bourque and Patric Hornqvist, have yet to find the back of the net.

“I don’t know if I can get them going. It’s up to them to get them going,” coach Barry Trotz said of his forwards, without naming names. “There’s no magic dust I can throw over them and say you have to produce. They need to produce. That’s part of their role on this team, so they have to produce.”

The Predators’ lone goal came when forward Mike Fisher found Paul Gaustad in front of the Colorado net. Gaustad fired a shot high over the goalie’s glove to make the score 2-1 in favor of Colorado with 5:50 left in the second period.

The Predators had several other scoring chances, including a close opportunity by rookie Seth Jones in the last two minutes. Jones fired the puck wide, and Colorado then scored on the empty net on the ensuing rush.

Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne made 32 saves on 35 shots one day after being pulled. In the previous game, Rinne allowed three goals on six shots by the St. Louis Blues.

“We’ve had some chances in both games,” Gaustad said. “I don’t know the solution for scoring. I’m not the guy that’s a pure sniper, but I think one of the things is if we keep getting pucks at the net and getting guys driving in and over time pucks will go in that way. I think for a lot of guys that’s the recipe and we have to stick with it.”

The Predators now head home for a five-game homestand without anything to show for their two road games against divisional opponents St. Louis and Colorado. Next up is Minnesota at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Tennessean LOADED: 10.06.2013

719768 New Jersey Devils

Devils fall to Islanders, 4-3, in shootout

By Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger


Devils coach Pete DeBoer saw something in Martin Brodeur before the 41-year-old goaltender strapped on his pads, emerged from the Zamboni entrance during player introductions and started his 19th consecutive home opener.

"He’s in the best shape I think he’s been in conditioning-wise and weight-wise in a long time," DeBoer said. "He looks hungry and ready."

Brodeur wasn’t perfect, but he came through with several vintage-type saves as the Devils picked up their first point of the new season in a 4-3 six-round shootout loss to the Islanders Friday night before a non-sellout crowd of 16,624 at Prudential Center.

"I haven’t played a game in two weeks, let alone an NHL game that counts," said Brodeur, who made 23 saves and stopped the first five shots he faced in the shootout before Matt Moulson became the first player to score.

"So for me it was good. I enjoyed the way I played. I’d like to get one goal back. I think I made the right decision on the first goal (by Michael Grabner), but I just didn’t get lucky there, and the puck slipped through my pad."

Grabner scored two goals and assisted on one by Frans Nielsen.

"The first one I surprised him. I think he just lost the puck and it went through me," Brodeur said. "The second one he kind of made a seeing-eye shot through my legs. I’d like to get that one back. It’s amazing how many breakaways that guy gets. We said it before the game, and he still got three or four of them."

There was reason for optimism from the Devils, who saw Swiss winger Damien Brunner make his debut with the team by scoring a pair of goals.

"It’s good when you get some goals early in the season. It gives you confidence," Brunner said.

Michael Ryder, another free-agent signing, also scored his first goal for the Devils.

"You don’t want to wait too long and feel pressure," Ryder said, "but it would be better if we’d come up on the winning side and got two points."

Brunner’s second goal tied the score, 3-3, at 7:34 of the third period. Seconds after a Devils power play had ended, Anton Volchenkov’s shot was tipped in front by Ryane Clowe and the puck dropped for Brunner, who lifted it over goalie Evgeni Nabokov’s right pad.

The Devils needed Brodeur to send it into overtime and then the shootout.

Grabner, looking for a hat trick, skated in alone at 9:12 of the third but was robbed by Brodeur. Then, with 6:28 left, he made a save on Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who was in the clear.

In OT, Brodeur’s big save came on John Tavares.

"That’s a big point. We have to start somewhere," Brodeur said. "A lot of new guys. You could tell a little bit with the shuffling and in the shootout. New face after new face. It’s going to take a little bit of time. We need to give ourselves some time. I think it’s a great thing we’re going on the road. Get to know each other.

"It’s a slow process. I think everybody wants it to be a fast process, but the fact is it’s a lot of new players learning a lot of different things about our system and jelling as lines and teammates. This was not a bad game whatsoever. It would’ve been a lot more fun to get two points. It didn’t happen. We’ve got to move on to the road and get some points over there."

Although the Devils were unable to get two points, it was a memorable home opener.

"It was pretty cool. It’s a real nice arena and the fans can get loud," Brunner said. "It was cool with the team presentation. It was definitely something special."

Particularly when new owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer dropped the ceremonial pucks. Blitzer wore a Brodeur jersey.

"I kind of noticed that," Brodeur said. "I have to ask for a job. I met one right after the game. They’re a class act."

He doesn’t need to ask for a job just yet.

New York Times LOADED: 10.06.2013


Devils: Mark Fayne deals with being the odd man out on defense



Sixteen months ago Mark Fayne was one of two Devils defenseman who played in all 82 regular-season games prior to figuring prominently in the club’s run to the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals.

Captain Bryce Salvador was the other.

But as the Devils opened their 31st season, Fayne was the odd man out on defense. He was scratched from Thursday night’s season-opening 3-0 loss in Pittsburgh and isn’t in the lineup again for tonight’s home opener at Prudential Center.

“We’ve got seven capable D and a few more down in the minors right now. I don’t think any spots are solid,” Fayne said after a grueling morning practice with assistant coach Mike Foligno. “I think I’m going to have to earn a spot through practice and these conditioning skates and try to get back out there.

“I know that once I get in there my job is to not come out. Right now I just have to have the mindset of just getting back into a game. You can’t worry about too much or look down the line because that will just get in your head and ruin your confidence. Right now I have to think back on the Stanley Cup run and all the other good memories I’ve had playing and draw from those.”

Fayne, 26, seemed to be on the verge of a steady spot in the lineup as one of the Devils’ top defensemen. But last season he dealt with a couple of injuries while appearing in 31 of 48 games.

The coaching staff seemed to lose a little faith in the Nashua, N.H., native.

“I got hurt at the end of last year, so I was out for the last eight games or so. I think that is what they were going off (coming into training camp). Then they made decisions off what they saw in camp. I just have to deal with it and fix it,” Fayne said.

“I think I had a solid camp, but I think everyone did. I think it was very competitive all the way to the end having (Alex) Urbom staying up and having (Eric) Gelinas and (Jon) Merrill sent down at the very end. With the number of D we had, it was very close. That’s what you want in camp. You want everbody pushing each other. I don’t think there is much separation from the top to bottom. As a team that’s what you want. As an individual it makes everybody stay on top of their game.”

Fayne said he is “perfectly” healthy now.

Interestingly, the Devils kept eight defensemen after training camp. To clear enough roster space they had to put Urbom on waivers with the hope of slipping him through and sending him back to Albany (AHL).

But the Washington Capitals claimed Urbom on Thursday. He will have a spot on coach Adam Oates’ club for at least a month.

Fayne could have viewed the loss of Urbom as a plus for himself, but he was happier for the 22-year-old Swede.

“To be honest, I was happy for him because that means he has to stay up for a month. I don’t think he’s really had that opportunity yet of being with a team for a full month,” Fayne said. “I think that’s going to give him an opportunity to show what he has. I know Oatsie liked him back when he was here. I think it’s good he’s goingto get a legitimate 30-day trial. I’m confident he’s going to stay all year.”

The Devils will begin a five-game Canadian road trip Monday night in Edmonton. Fayne would figure to get back into the lineup at some point during the trip, with a chance to reclaim his spot as a regular.

Star Ledger LOADED: 10.06.2013


Devils score three goals, but can't nail down first victory of season



Devils coach Pete DeBoer saw something in Martin Brodeur before the 41-year-old goaltender strapped on his pads, emerged from the Zamboni entrance during player introductions and started his 19th consecutive home opener.

“He’s in the best shape I think he’s been in conditioning-wise and weight-wise in a long time,” DeBoer said. “He looks hungry and ready.”

Brodeur wasn’t perfect, but he came through with several vintage-type saves as the Devils picked up their first point of the new season in a 4-3 six-round shootout loss to the Islanders Friday night before a non-sellout crowd of 16,624 at Prudential Center.

“I haven’t played a game in two weeks, let alone an NHL game that counts,” said Brodeur, who made 23 saves and stopped the first five shots he faced in the shootout before Matt Moulson became the first player to score.

“So for me it was good. I enjoyed the way I played. I’d like to get one goal back. I think I made the right decision on the first goal (by Michael Grabner), but I just didn’t get lucky there and the puck slipped through my pad.”

Grabner scored two goals and assisted on one by Frans Nielsen.

“The first one I surprised him. I think he just lost the puck and it went through me,” Brodeur noted. “The second one he kind of made a seeing-eye shot through my legs. I’d like to get that one back. It’s amazing how many breakaways that guy gets. We said it before the game and he still got three or four of them.”

There was reason for optimism from the Devils, who saw Swiss winger Damien Brunner open his account with the team by scoring a pair of goals.

“It’s good when you get some goals early in the season. It gives you confidence,” Brunner said.

Michael Ryder, another free agent signing, also scored his first goal for the Devils.

“You don’t want to wait too long and feel pressure,” Ryder said, “but it would be better if we’d come up on the winning side and got two points.”

Brunner's second goal tied the score, 3-3, at 7:34 of the third period. Seconds after a Devils power play had ended, Anton Volchenkov’s shot was tipped in front by Ryane Clowe and the puck dropped for Brunner, who lifted it over goalie Evgeni Nabokov's right pad.

The Devils needed Brodeur to send it into overtime and then the shootout.

Grabner, looking for his hat trick, skated in alone at 9:12 of the third but was robbed by Brodeur. Then, with 6:28 left, he made a save on Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who was in the clear.

In OT, Brodeur’ big save came on John Tavares.

“That’s a big point. We have to start somewhere,” Brodeur said. “A lot of new guys. You could tell a little bit with the shuffling and in the shootout. New face after new face. It’s going to take a little bit of time. We need to give ourselves some time. I think it’s a great thing we’re going on the road. Get to know each other.

“It’s a slow process. I think everybody wants it to be a fast process but the fact is it’s a lot of new players learning a lot of different things about our system and jelling as lines and teammates. This was not a bad game whatsoever. It would’ve been a lot more fun to get two points. It didn’t happen. We’ve got to move on to the road and get some points over there.”

Although the Devils were unable to get two points, it was a memorable home opener.

“It was pretty cool. It’s a real nice arena and the fans can get loud,” Brunner said. “It was cool with the team presentation. It was definitely something special.”

Particularly when new owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer dropped the ceremonial pucks. Blitzer wore a Brodeur jersey.

“I kind of noticed that,” Brodeur said. “I have to ask for a job. I met one right after the game. They’re a class act.”

He doesn’t need to ask for a job just yet.



Devils' Cory Schneider knows his return to Vancouver will be 'a pretty big deal'



As road trips go, this is a monster for the Devils, who aren’t happy about short bus rides into Manhattan when there is heavy traffic at the Lincoln Tunnel.

They will fly 8,000 miles in a span of 13 days to play games in five cities. All but the finale in Ottawa will be stops in western Canada.

There is one game, however, that figures to be far more intriguing than the rest. That will come Tuesday night in Vancouver when Cory Schneider returns to that city and where signs point to the likelihood of him starting in goal against the Canucks and former goalie partner Roberto Luongo.

“I’m sure it will be a pretty big deal there with what went on for the last year or two years,” said Schneider, who shared the playing time with Luongo. “It really got blown out of proportion. I’m sure they’ll be excited to welcome me back and compare and see what’s going on.

“For me, it’s a great city and a great hockey town. It was a privilege to have played there but I’ve moved on. I’m enjoying my time and teammates here.”

In five seasons, Schneider appeared in 98 games for the Canucks and went 55-26-8. Luongo played 257 games over that period and was 151-70-29.

But a controversy developed when Luongo played poorly in the sixth and seventh games of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals against the Bruins. Canucks GM Mike Gillis shopped Luongo during the lengthy offseason, but did not trade either goalie.

When the lockout ended last January, Schneider was the starter but was pulled on opening night. Ultimately, Schneider isn’t sure if he was the good guy or bad guy in the eyes of Canucks fans during the ongoing controversy.

“I don’t really know how I was perceived,” Schneider said. “It just seemed that whether it was me or Roberto, people seemed to pick sides, which I never understood because we were teammates.

“We were trying to play well for the team and everyone kind of made it ‘either him or the other guy.’ Both he and I never really understood that. We generally like each other, still get along and have talked to each other up to now. We also supported each other no matter who was playing. Unfortunately not everyone saw it that way.”

Schneider was traded to the Devils on draft day-- June 30—for a first-round pick that was the ninth overall selection. Vancouver took Bo Horvat.

Now comes Schneider’s return in a Devils sweater.

“There’s going to be a lot of attention and coverage,” he said. “I felt I had pretty good relationship there with most of the media. I did my best to answer the questions and be accountable and upright. They were pretty fair to me. They judge you and critique you, and that’s fine.

“That’s part of the job. You have to play well. But that’s one of the things that makes it unique. It was a privilege to play in a Canadian hockey city like that where it’s kind of the big deal in town. You learn to deal with it and you can make it more fun sometimes.

“It will be interesting to be on the other side of it, but at the end of the day it’s another important hockey game for us. We need to win, so all that stuff will be short-lived and we’ll have to get down to playing hockey.”

Martin Brodeur, who said he will lean on Schneider for knowledge of Western Conference teams, admits this will be a difficult trip and will be the first indication of what can be expected of this Devils club.

“Definitely. Western Canada, there are some good hockey teams that we’re not used to seeing,” Brodeur said. “That’s a young team in Edmonton, a new coach in Vancouver, maybe a new style of play in Winnipeg. Who knows? It will be interesting in Calgary. Last year we didn’t have to play against any of these teams, so it’s a little bit of the unknown.”

They know what’s coming in Vancouver.

“It’ll be exciting. I have a lot of fond memories there and a lot of former teammates who are still friends of mine,” Schneider said. “It’s just another game we need to win. Whoever is in the net has to play really well because they’re a good team. You want to compare yourself to some of the elite teams in the other conference, so this will be a big game.”

* * *

The Devils did not practice today. They are flying to Edmonton this afternoon.



Devils' Pete DeBoer: Three goals should be enough to win



Although the Devils scored three goals in their home opener, they had to settle for one point in their shootout loss to the Islanders.

"Three goals for us should mean a win,” coach Pete DeBoer said.

Forward Patrik Elias felt the Devils took a slight step backwards, even though they were shut out Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

“To be honest, I thought we played a better game in Pittsburgh, especially in the last two periods, than we did the whole game tonight,” Elias said. “We did some good things in the second period and some good things in the third. But, again, we gave them so many opportunities. We have to get that down.”

How did DeBoer feel?

“I probably would agree with that,” the coach said.

He was disapointed with the defensive breakdowns and did some juggling with his defense pairings.

“I didn’t like what we were seeing. We were a little loose defensively tonight. A small byproduct of that is probably the back-to-backs a little bit. At the same time, we have enough of these back-to-backs (this was the first of 22) we have to learn to play a little bit smarter game in these situations because these are going to be critical points moving forward.

“I thought our defensive zone coverage was pretty good. Our neutral zone a little loose and sloppy. It aws pretty good in Pittsburgh, especially in the second and third. It didn’t carry into tonight. Some credit to them. They throw a lot of speed at you.”

Goalie Martin Brodeur agreed.

“A lot of good things we have to build on,” Brodeur said. “Definitely we didn’t play as tight as we’d like in our own zone but offensively we again created good chances. The last two periods in Pittsburgh were pretty good but I thought most of the game today was good. We were looser defensively than we were in Pittsburgh.”

* * *

DeBoer said he was happy to see the three goals—two from Damien Brunner and one from Michael Ryder.

“I’m sure we’re going to be able to score goals,” DeBoer said. “The guys we have and the chances we created—even in Pittsburgh when we got shut out—we were creating chances. We’re going to score some goals. We have to get some of the other parts of the ice cleaned up.”

* * *

Jaromir Jagr, 41, played in both games of the back-to-backs.

He had 23 shifts for 15:40 of iec time in Pittsburgh and 18 shifts for 14:30 against the Islanders. Jagr had one shot on goal in each game.

“He didn’t play in any exhibition games. He missed training camp. Tough spot to throw him into. He gave us some good shifts in overtime down the stretch,” DeBoer said.



Devils couldn't get one past Evgeni Nabokov in shootout



When Damien Brunner, Ryane Clowe, Patrik Elias, Travis Zajac, Michael Ryder and Jaromir Jagr all failed to score in the Devils’ first shootout of the season, coach Pete DeBoer hoped it would continue into a seventh round.

“We still had a few options,” DeBoer said. “There were still some guys who didn’t get a chance to shoot. (Adam) Henrique was the next guy. We have some depth of options. We were hoping someone would end it.”

Someone did, but it was Matt Moulson of the Islanders. The Devils couldn’t get one past goalie Evgeni Nabokov.

“No one could score for some reason,” Ryder said after the 4-3 loss.

Brunner was the first shooter and was stopped.

“I still had time maybe to lift it up. Sometimes when the poke check comes fast you’re not thinking,” Brunner said. “When I shot low I knew it was not going in,” Brunner said.

Elias had the same trouble.

“I made the right move. I had him lying on his stomach,” Elias said. “I just didn’t put it high.”



: A slimmer, hungrier Martin Brodeur in net; more line changes



Devils coach Pete DeBoer said goalie Martin Brodeur is ready for the team’s home opener against the Islanders.

It will be Brodeur’s 19th consecutive home opener and the coach says he is slimmer and hungrier.

“I think he’s good. He skated this morning and he’s ready,” DeBoer said. “He’s in the best shape I think he’s been in conditioning-wise and weight-wise in a long time. He looks hungry and ready.”

DeBoer wasn’t thrilled by his team’s performance in a 3-0 loss to the Penguins.

“Any coach will tell you this time of year there are a lot of areas you want to clean up,” he said. “To put it in a little box for you: I thought we did some things very well, some areas we were good, the handful of mistakes we made they capitalized on.

“They’re that kind of team and so is the team we’re playing tonight. We have to be prepared for that. You make mistakes against teams with Malkin, Crosby, Tavares it’s going to cost you.”

DeBoer did some line tinkering in Pittsburgh and will shake things up again tonight.

“We’re going to flip some more things around today,” the coach revealed. “We kind of juggled the lines again and we’re going to keep doing that until we get some type of chemistry that we like.”

Travis Zajac won’t be skating on the same line with Jaromir Jagr.

“I thought they had some good moments together,” DeBoer said. “But we didn’t score a goal as a group. There wasn’t one combination there that really blew me away.”

Other than Brodeur instead of Cory Schneider, there will be no other lineup changes for the Devils. Jacob Josefson, Mark Fayne and Mattias Tedenby will be scratches.

The Devils will introduce their new slogan before the game: "We are Jersey."

* * *

Andy Greene will wear the second 'A' in tonight's game. Zajac said he doesn't know if it will be a strict policy where he wears the letter for road games and Greene has it for home games.

"I don't know. If I have one on in the next game (in Winnipeg), I'll tell you," Zajac said. "I don't see it as being a big deal to either of us."



Devils hope to become united during long road trip


BY TOM GULITTI

STAFF WRITER

Still trying to establish their team identity, the Devils hopped on a flight to Western Canada on Saturday afternoon hoping the road will bring them together on and off the ice.

After not skating Saturday, they’ll practice in Edmonton this afternoon in preparation for Monday’s game there, which begins a five-game trek through Canada.

The Devils also will play in Vancouver on Tuesday (with goaltender Cory Schneider expected to face his former Canucks teammates), Calgary on Friday and Winnipeg next Sunday before returning home for a couple of days and then flying to Ottawa for a game Oct. 17.

Off to a 0-1-1 start – losing 3-0 in Pittsburgh on Thursday and falling, 4-3, in a shootout to the Islanders on Friday night at Prudential Center – the Devils know this will be a pivotal trip for them.

"I think it’s an important road trip for us," said right wing Damien Brunner, who scored two goals Friday. "We’re going to Canada. Obviously, we have to get some wins to set ourselves up for a good season."

Brunner, who signed a two-year contract with the Devils on Sept. 24 after a brief training camp tryout, is one of several new faces on the team. The Devils also added forwards Ryane Clowe, Michael Ryder, Jaromir Jagr and Rostislav Olesz through free agency and traded for Schneider on June 30.

Getting them all to learn and play comfortably within the team’s system might take some time, but perhaps some bonding on the road will help speed that process along.

"It’s a little slow process," said goaltender Martin Brodeur, who is expected to start in Edmonton. "I think everybody wants it to be a fast process. The fact is [there’s] a lot of new players learning a lot of different things about our system and jelling as lines and as teammates, sometimes it takes a little time. … It’s going to be a good team-building thing for us to get on the road and play teams that we can just do our thing and not worry too much about the opposition."

Bergen Record LOADED: 10.06.2013


Devils notes: Goaltender Martin Brodeur on his relationship with Cory Schneider


The Record— Tom Gulitti

Budding friendship

Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur said his relationship with Cory Schneider, who was acquired from Vancouver on June 30 to be his eventual successor, is still forming.

Because neither dressed for the preseason games the other played in and they often ended up in different practice groups, they didn’t really spend that much time together during training camp.

"I think it’s going to come naturally as we get to know each other," Brodeur said. "I don’t know him. Maybe he doesn’t want me to tell him something about [Sidney] Crosby. Maybe he doesn’t feel comfortable asking me. You get to know the guy and the next thing you know you build a relationship. I just met the guy three weeks ago. These are things that will grow."

New owners drop by

New Devils’ owners Josh Harris and David Blizter dropped the puck for the ceremonial opening faceoff. Harris and Blizter completed the purchase of the team from Jeff Vanderbeek on Aug. 15.

Blitzer wore a No. 30 Brodeur jersey for the ceremonial faceoff.

"I kind of noticed that. I’m going to have to ask for a job," Brodeur joked. "I met one [of the owners] right after the game. They’re just a class act. It’s been a great transition from the old ownership to the new one."

Line juggling

Other than Brodeur in net, the Devils played the same lineup as Thursday, scratching defenseman Mark Fayne, center Jacob Josefson, left wing Rostislav Olesz and right wing Mattias Tedenby (suspected groin strain). Coach Pete DeBoer juggled his line combinations throughout, though.

DeBoer began the game with his two Czech stars, center Patrik Elias and right wing Jaromir Jagr, on the same line, but by the end of the game Jagr has been dropped to the fourth line.

"We kind of juggled the lines again and we’re going to keep doing that until we get some type of chemistry that we like," DeBoer said.


719777 New York Islanders

Islanders fall to Blue Jackets on Cam Atkinson’s shootout goal

By Stephen Lorenzo / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Updated: Sunday, October 6, 2013, 2:42 AM

BLUE JACKETS 3, ISLANDERS 2 (SO)

The Islanders looked to have their second win of the young season in hand in their home opener Saturday night at the Coliseum. But the hosts faltered in the third period, surrendering two unanswered goals to the Blue Jackets to tie a game the Isles would eventually lose, 3-2, on a decisive shootout goal by winger Cam Atkinson.

“I’m a little disappointed in the third,” said Isles coach Jack Capuano, whose team has had its first two games of the season decided in a shootout. The Isles beat the Devils in Newark on Friday. “I think we played well and obviously they ramped it up and we didn’t respond. … The third period we were too much on the perimeter. I thought their goaltender had it pretty easy in the third.”

Down 2-0 after two periods, Columbus pulled within one 7:45 into the third on a power-play goal by center Mark Letestu. The Isles (1-0-1) blocked two shots but failed to clear the puck, allowing Letestu to take advantage during a scrum in front of the net. Less than five minutes later, Ryan Johansen tied it by tapping in a rebound through Isles goaltender Evgeni Nabokov (27 saves). After being outshot 19-12 through the first two periods, the Blue Jackets (1-1-0) responded by outshooting the Isles 17-11 over the third period and overtime.

“I think we came out pretty hard tonight,” said John Tavares, who finished with two assists, one of them on a highlight-reel no-look pass that resulted in a Matt Moulson goal to make it 2-0 at 14:01 of the second. “I thought for most of the game we really didn’t give them a whole lot, we did a good job in front of Nabby, he made some great saves when he had to, but we cleared a lot of guys out. … We hit the post a couple of times late, had a couple chances on that power play and overtime. We just didn’t capitalize especially late there when we needed to.”

With 2:42 to play in regulation, the Jackets went on the power play again on a phantom holding call by Lubomir Visnovsky. This time the Isles’ penalty kill came through, and they drew a penalty on Columbus defenseman Jack Johnson to go on the man advantage for the final 40 seconds of regulation and into overtime. They got two great chances from Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen, but neither could convert.

As the Isles saw on Saturday, two-goal leads can be fleeting in the NHL, but Capuano hopes this loss can serve as a teachable moment for his young club when it comes to holding a lead.

“You can always learn from anything,” he said. “To me it was more offensively we didn’t do what we had to do … We’ve got to get to those hard areas. We have to learn, no matter what the score is, that you can’t be out on the perimeter.”

New York Daily News LOADED: 10.06.2013


Islanders blow 2-0 lead, fall to Blue Jackets

By Brett Cyrgalis

October 5, 2013 | 10:28pm

This point, this one doesn’t exactly feel good.

The Islanders spent the majority of Saturday night delighting their 16,170 fans at the sold-out Coliseum, using the home opener as a showcase for the possibilities of what could come with outstanding goaltending from Evgeni Nabokov and transcendent play from star center John Tavares.

Yet reality cracked the hopeful veneer, and a 2-0 third-period lead for the Islanders quickly morphed into 3-2 shootout loss to the Blue Jackets, leaving the mournful refrain of moral victory to resonate into the humid Long Island evening.

“It’s a real piss off, to be honest,” said defenseman Travis Hamonic, who close-call high-sticking penalty with 6:03 gone by in the third allowed Mark Letestu cut the Isles lead to 2-1 with his power play wrist shot, giving the Blue Jackets life.

“I thought we played a really good game, and we’re not going to let the things that haunted us the last couple years creep up on us. We’re going to learn right now how to play these games and how to put a team away.”

The storyline of this season inevitably will be about the Islanders chance to back up their postseason breakthrough last season with another. In the first game of the season, Friday night in Newark, they managed to claw back against the Devils and win in a shootout. This one went exactly the opposite way, and shows the ground they stand on is far from being solid, shaken by Cam Atikinson’s winning tally in the fourth round of the skills competition.

“This league is so evenly matched up, you’re never going to dominate anyone for 60 minutes,” said Nabokov, who was outstanding for the second straight night in making 27 saves, the majority of them sterling. “You have to play well for 60 minutes. I thought we played really well for most of the game, and I think they got a little bit lucky on the second goal, and now we’re talking about a loss. It’s those little things that can cost you a game.”

That second goal was off the stick of Ryan Johansen, who drove hard to the net and managed just to get a stick on it as Islanders forward Peter Regin slid into Nabokov and the puck bounded over the goal line. The Blue Jackets celebrated enthusiastically behind the goal, and the crowd began to murmur as it had in years past, years when all the things that could go wrong always seemed to happen.

“We didn’t do enough in the third,” said coach Jack Capuano, whose team was staked to it’s 2-0 lead by second-period goals from Lubomir Visnovsky (a rifle shot on the power play) and Matt Moulson, who netted an all-world, no-look pass from John Tavares.

“Can we learn from the 2-0 lead? Yeah, I’m sure we’ll learn,” Capuano said. “We have to learn that no matter what the score is, you can’t be on the perimeter.”

Both teams had chances in the overtime, with the Islanders actually playing the first 1:19 over the extra frame with a 4-on-3 advantage. But Blue Jackets goalie and reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky stood tall, and the game was determined by the skills competition.

“Three out of four points,” Capuano said about his team’s opening two games. “Something that we have to learn from and get better at.”

***

Capuano inferred rugged forward Cal Clutterbuck (leg laceration) could be ready for the team’s next game, Tuesday at the Coliseum against the Coyotes. If not then, they likely either Friday in Chicago or Saturday in Nashville.

New York Post LOADED: 10.06.2013


Islanders give up 2-goal lead and lose in shootout

Originally published: October 5, 2013 10:28 PM

Updated: October 5, 2013 11:59 PM

By ARTHUR STAPLE [email protected]

As John Tavares noted after an off-kilter opening weekend came to an end for the Islanders, "It's funny how it works sometimes."

After opening night Friday, when the Islanders were a bit sloppy but still emerged with a shootout win over the Devils, they carried the play for the better part of 45 minutes in their home opener against the Blue Jackets Saturday night.

But being the better team for longer guarantees nothing. And the Isles came out on the short end of a shootout, a 3-2 defeat that stung after the Isles coughed up a 2-0 lead with less than 13 minutes to play.

"I don't think we were bad," said Frans Nielsen, who was denied twice by Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky in the final 30 seconds of regulation with the score tied 2-2. "We were maybe a little too open, trading chances, when we should have been tighter with the lead."

There was little to dislike in those opening two-plus periods. Evgeni Nabokov had to make only four first-period saves, but they were all Grade-A chances. Playing on consecutive nights, Nabokov was especially sharp, stopping 27 of 29 shots in the game.

After keeping things scoreless through a period, Nabokov got some help in the second. Lubomir Visnovsky blasted home a one-timed shot off a feed from Nielsen to open the scoring on the power play at 8:17 of the second.

At 14:01, Tavares whipped a no-look backhand pass off the side boards right to Matt Moulson, who deked Bobrovsky and scored on the backhand from in close for a two-goal lead.

"It was a pretty good game for us to start the year off at home," said Tavares, who also received an assist on Visnovsky's goal.

But in the third, the Blue Jackets started to push the pace and drive the net harder, and the Isles did not play with the "heavy sticks" that Jack Capuano preaches in the defensive zone. Travis Hamonic was whistled for a high stick on Marian Gaborik and, after shot blocks by Casey Cizikas and Matt Donovan but no successful clears of the zone, Marc Letestu pounced on a loose puck to cut the Isles' lead to one at 7:45.

"We were doing the right things, blocking some shots and all," Nielsen said, "but we have to get the puck out when we can."

Nick Foligno dribbled the tying goal behind Nabokov after a strong drive to the net by R.J. Umberger -- Donovan failed to tie up Foligno's stick in close -- and the sellout Nassau Coliseum crowd of 16,170 sagged back with 8:06 to go.

They were enraged, as Visnovsky was, when the Isles defenseman was whistled for holding Brandon Dubinsky with 2:42 left in the third, a ticky-tack call in Visnovsky's view. The Isles killed that off and got a power play with 40.6 seconds left. Nielsen's two golden chances wouldn't go in, and they got three more good shots in overtime, but failed to convert.

Cam Atkinson's goal in the fourth round of the shootout left the Isles with three points on their opening weekend. That was perhaps what they deserved after a spotty opener in Newark and a more forceful, complete game at home, but the way they earned those points is a reminder that the full three periods is what's needed to be a top-tier team.

"This league is so evenly matched up," Nabokov said. "It's not much difference between winning and losing."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 10.06.2013


There finally is continuity in the Islanders' universe

October 5, 2013 11:42 PM By MARK HERRMANN

The one conspicuous difference in the Islanders Saturday night was the "C" on John Tavares' jersey.

He made his home debut as captain at Nassau Coliseum, with mostly the same teammates who finished a nice try against the Penguins May 11.

As far as the franchise and its best player are concerned, the "C" does not stand for change. They take that as a compliment.

"I really don't feel a difference," Tavares said about his new responsibility. "Everyone is so familiar with everyone else in our locker room. Not much changed. Obviously there are a few new guys, but they're guys [we] knew from past experiences and teams.''

In fact, the beauty in the boisterous sold-out home opener against the Blue Jackets was the comfortable sameness, the déjà vu. The vibrant, tailgating atmosphere for the Islanders' 3-2 shootout loss was a reminder of the playoffs.

In the Islanders' universe, "C" stands for continuity. They want to pick up where they left off when they were a goal away from taking the star-driven Penguins back to Pittsburgh for Game 7.

They want to just keep going, knowing that "nice try" doesn't cut it anymore. It is high time for the Islanders to win a playoff series for the first time in 21 years. Players expect it, fans deserve it. The question is whether there is enough improvement to do it with a roster that did not add much.

Mark Streit, the previous captain, was allowed to leave through free agency -- a pool into which the Islanders did not dip deeply. Their plan is to allow their own prospects to flourish and not mess with the chemistry -- another "C" word -- that is their second-greatest strength (after Tavares).

Coach Jack Capuano described the blueprint this way: "Every guy needs to give a little bit more, every coach needs to give a little bit more, everybody in our organization needs to give a little bit more. The one thing that guys should know here is that we've got some eager guys who would like to play for the New York Islanders."

Who knows if this season is the next phase in a canny youth movement, letting rookies Brock Nelson and Matt Donovan make their way? Or is this a case of frugal management having held back until the team moves to Brooklyn the year after next?

For now, the Islanders are generating more excitement than they have in a decade. Thanks to the run that ended with overtime in Game 6 nearly five months ago, the Islanders matter again. The buzz Saturday night was palpable.

Having one of the top players in the world doesn't hurt. Tavares is renowned for building on his successes, coming into a season better than he was when he finished the previous one.

During pregame introductions Saturday night, he was announced last as the new captain and received the loudest roar. Then he assisted on Lubomir Visnovsky's power-play goal at 8:17 of the second and made a strong pass to set up Matt Moulson's goal less than six minutes later.

Capuano said that other than making him a touch more vocal, the "C" has not changed Tavares at all. He still has the same humble personality. This captain's overwhelming importance to his team is reminiscent of a former Coliseum performer, Julius Erving, whose two ABA title banners reappeared in the building's rafters.

"We still have a lot to prove. We've only been to the first round," Tavares said. "For sure, we take a lot of pride in playing for the Islanders and representing the community here. A lot of people are believing in us. We believe in ourselves. But there's a long way to go."

A little change might not hurt. They squandered a two-goal lead Saturday night, as they did occasionally in the previous two seasons. "A few guys played it safe," Capuano said.

He wants the whole team to be more consistent, to compete more on every shift. Those are baby steps toward the ultimate "C," the Cup.

First things first. Can these Islanders continue to late spring? We'll see.



Jack Capuano shows confidence in rookie Brock Nelson




Jack Capuano was perhaps most pleased with the opening-night play of his two rookies, Brock Nelson and Matt Donovan.

He publicly and privately had told both players not to play it safe in the game, and both took that advice to heart Friday night in Newark.

"It definitely helps," said Nelson, who played a smart game and made a terrific cross-ice feed to Pierre-Marc Bouchard that required a big save from Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur. "You hear that from your coach and you can play with confidence. He's been saying it to me since camp began, and I feel like the last few games I've been able to do more of that."

Donovan felt good about his game, which included his first NHL point after his feed to Michael Grabner led to Frans Nielsen's go-ahead goal early in the third.

"[Capuano] put that into my head that we needed to play fast and jump up when we could, and I think I did that," Donovan said.

The 23-year-old defenseman played the final three games during the 2011-12 season after the Isles had been eliminated from playoff contention. Earning a spot out of training camp this season was a much different experience.

"There's more of a feeling that I know I can play with these guys," he said. "I'm still not comfortable and I have to keep earning my spot, but I felt a lot more confident."

Nabokov gets call againCapuano kept his lineup the same from Friday's opening shootout victory, giving Evgeni Nabokov starts on consecutive nights.

"Talking with [goaltending coach Mike Dunham], Nabby feels good, he feels strong," Capuano said. "We'll monitor the situation as we go."



It wasn't Seventh Avenue, but Al Arbour put Islanders on hockey map



By GERALD ESKENAZI. Special to Newsday

Forty years ago this week, the Islanders were girding for greatness.

Oh, they didn't know it, of course. They were winding up their first training camp under Al Arbour, a guy with glasses known variously as "Radar," for "M*A*S*H" character Radar O'Reilly, and "Barney Google," a banjo-eyed comic strip character. And they were practicing in Peterborough -- you know, in Ontario.

Arbour brought in 91 -- count 'em, 91 -- players. He didn't know who the heck they were. In fact, he pinned their names on pieces of paper on the backs of their jerseys so he'd have a smidgen of an idea who they were.

But then again, when your team, a second-year expansion club, is coming off the worst season in National Hockey League history, winning 12 of 78 games, it's out with the old and in with the new.

Arbour spoke funny. He actually used the word "playoffs," saying he had never missed one in 19 years as a player and coach and that he expected to make it with this team.

Well, they didn't quite. But Arbour, who was hired to replace Earl Ingarfield, who had replaced Phil Goyette, set a tone, demanding accountability and effort and, above all, results.

"I don't want to hear about yesterday," he told the players. "I want to hear about today, tomorrow and the future."

The rest is history. In a way, it's also somewhat sad as the Islanders' nostalgia ship takes off on its next-to-last season before moving to Brooklyn.

Still, I had no idea back then. How could anyone? Why, when the Rangers played at the Coliseum, the cheers for the Rangers drowned out the suburbanite fans.

Arbour was not your usual hockey strategist. Hockey still was a sport from another era. The coach oversaw everything and everyone -- from the trainer's room to the goalie to the defensemen to the forwards.

One day during that first summer, Arbour invited me to a meeting he was having with Jets coach Weeb Ewbank. The Jets trained nearby in Hempstead. Arbour also brought with him a rookie named Denis Potvin, a husky guy who smoked a Sherlock Holmes meerschaum pipe and was all of 19 years old -- and the most acclaimed young player in the hockey world since Bobby Orr.

"I want to know how football teams use films and their conditioning methods," Arbour explained. "I want to know how they coach the different positions."

This was a radical thought back then. He was going to look at new and innovative ways to produce a winner.

Ewbank, for his part, said he was surprised at how small hockey players looked in person. And he virtually admonished Arbour and Potvin at the size of Potvin's contract -- $300,000 for three years. "Hockey will suffer if they don't stop those big contracts," said the parsimonious Ewbank, who also was the Jets' general manager.

After the meeting, Potvin asked me, "Excuse my ignorance, but who was that man Weeb we were talking to?"

When Isles general manager Bill Torrey heard about Potvin's question, he told the rookie, "Lookit, Denis, if you want to be a New Yorker, you better know who the Super Bowl coach of the Jets was."

It's funny how naive, in a way, it all seems now. Arbour told me that when he was first contacted by Torrey, he turned him down. Why?

"I thought I'd be living on Seventh Avenue," Arbour said. He didn't realize the Islanders were not playing in midtown Manhattan but in the suburbs.

This time Torrey actually showed him Long Island. They went for a ride on the North Shore. Arbour liked what he saw.

Meanwhile, a lot of his players had in fact been living in Manhattan and commuting to the Island. Others left their families back in Ontario or Alberta, where their young kids were in school. Now, in their second season, they were looking to rent on the Island and become part of the community.

"We seem to know where we're going now," said the Islanders' insightful defenseman, Gerry Hart.

Well, they didn't win much in Arbour's first season, but they made the playoffs the next year (1974-75) and every year after until 1988.

That first playoff series victory changed the mind-set of the players and the fans. For it came against, of all teams, the Rangers. It meant that these suburban rubes actually were better than the Manhattanites. And to me, that is the essence of what makes a great rivalry: an underdog against an establishment type. It was the essence of the Dodgers against the Yankees, the Jets against the Giants and the Islanders against the Rangers.

Before we know it, these Islanders, the legacy of that collection of mostly unknowns in Peterborough, Ontario, will be playing in downtown Brooklyn -- at least near an LIRR station. And I wonder whether they will remember those years on Long Island, the only major-league team the place had for so long, and a coach and a player who brought it greatness, finally learning where Uniondale was.

Gerald Eskenazi covered the Islanders and Rangers among his 8,000 bylines in The New York Times. He was present at the creation of the Islanders and the Coliseum. In addition, he has written 16 books and lectures on sports and the news media. He lived in Roslyn for 35 years before moving to New York City.


719783 New York Rangers

NY Rangers captain Ryan Callahan expected back in Blueshirts lineup vs. LA Kings

By Pat Leonard / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Saturday, October 5, 2013, 9:42 AM

LOS ANGELES – The Rangers need to steer their early-season road trip onto the right track in a hurry. What better way to do that than to welcome back the Captain?

Ryan Callahan, whose offseason shoulder surgery once threatened to keep him out until the end of October, will return to the Blueshirts’ lineup for their second game of the season, Monday night in Los Angeles, barring any setback in the next few days while the team practices at the Kings’ facility in El Segundo, Calif.

“If it would have been up to him, he would have played (in Thursday’s 4-1 loss in Phoenix),” coach Alain Vigneault said after Friday afternoon’s one-hour practice at the Toyota Center. “But this gives him almost four days, two days of contact in practices. He’s ready to go. He’s cleared to play.”

Callahan was reluctant to guarantee he’d play but acknowledged that dressing against the Kings is “my target.” The Rangers have off on Saturday, so Callahan said he will monitor how his left shoulder takes contact in Sunday’s final practice to make sure nothing unexpected nags him. Once he returns, the Rangers will be closer to full strength for the rest of this five-game road trip: Monday in L.A, Tuesday in San Jose, Thursday in Anaheim and Saturday in St. Louis.

On Friday, Callahan went full steam, replacing rookie Jesper Fast on the third-line right wing alongside left wing Taylor Pyatt and center Brian Boyle. He may not be on top of his game immediately, given that the May surgery on his left shoulder required significant rest to heal. But Callahan can augment the Rangers’ efforts in areas they struggled against Phoenix, including his ability to, as Boyle said, “attack the net.”

“He brings, first of all, that physical element. He brings the lead-by-example element,” Boyle told the Daily News. “Then he gets those shots, he brings them to the net, and he gets you those second, third, fourth opportunities just because that’s how he plays – with his tenacity and everything he does. He can make things happen when it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot there. He’s going to be a huge lift for us.”

Vigneault said he intends to start Callahan on the third line, in “not as much of an offensive role” as a top-six slot, to let the captain play his way into game shape.

“He missed time, even in the summer, because he had to rest and recover,” Boyle said. “But knowing Cally, he’s going to come out and try to run through a wall. He looks great. He’s been working his butt off.”

Friday, so were the Rangers. Vigneault drilled his club specifically on their shortcomings in Thursday’s disappointing defeat to the Coyotes: defensive coverage, forward backchecking and support, forechecking, shots on net, traffic in front, four-on-four situations, and defensive draws.

“This was a tough practice,” Boyle said. “But that’s good. We practice like this, guys are in shape. We should be able to sustain up-tempo play for long periods of time.”

The practice’s defensive emphasis – combined with the six stitches on Ryan McDonagh’s chin from blocking a Radim Vrbata shot Thursday night – was a reminder that while Vigneault’s system is more open than that of former coach John Tortorella, it is not asking the Rangers to abandon any sense of responsibility in their own end.

“It’s part of my game, and it’s part of a lot of guys on our team’s games,” McDonagh said. “It’s not gonna change. It’s just not being mentioned a lot maybe by our staff or whatever, but still, it’s got to be part of our game. It’s going to save us from giving up goals, for sure.”

Prioritizing toughness, though, depends on the player. Though Vigneault approved of Rick Nash’s seventh-career fight Thursday night in defense of Derek Stepan “as far as (earning) team respect and team awareness,” the coach called for his power forward to speak more with his skill than his fists.

“I think it’s real good (he defended Stepan),” Vigneault said. “I need Rick, though, to play like Rick Nash. And he will. His work ethic and his attitude are real good. He’s trying hard, and he’s like the rest of our team. We’re gonna put it together.”

New York Daily News LOADED: 10.06.2013


Old defensive habits die hard for Rangers

By Larry Brooks

October 5, 2013 | 4:11pm

LOS ANGELES — There was Ryan McDonagh, taking a puck on the jaw before the three-minute mark of the first period of the first game. There was Brian Boyle, twice sliding in front of power-play blasts after losing his stick in the second period in Phoenix, and there were the Rangers blocking a total of 19 shots in their season-opening 4-1 defeat to the Coyotes Thursday night.

A total, by the way, that exceeded the team average of 16.1 blocked shots per match both last year and over the past three years, when that part of the game became inextricably linked with their identity and John Tortorella’s coaching philosophy.

“It’s not only part of my game but for all of our guys,” McDonagh, who had a team-high four blocks, said following Friday’s practice. “It’s kind of instinctive.

“That’s not going to change. Maybe it’s not going to be mentioned a lot by the staff, but it’s part of our game. It’s going to save us from giving up goals, for sure.”

The Rangers, who face the Kings on Monday, were given Saturday off by the coaching staff, which believes a day of rest would prove more beneficial than practice to the already travel-weary club. The team will get back to work on Sunday.

Coach Alain Vigneault’s Vancouver teams were not as zealous in blocking shots, averaging just under 12 last season and 12.5 blocks per over the past three years. But the coach believes that’s an integral part of the game, even if he does not broadcast that philosophy on a daily basis.

“Not one of the 30 teams in the NHL can play a game without defending extremely well,” Vigneault said, “and part of defending extremely well is obviously your one-on-one battles, stick on stick, but part of that is also blocking shots. Players have to get in lanes and have to be in those lanes, and if the puck hits you, it hits you.

“It’s the same thing on our penalty killing. You have to get in those lanes so the puck can’t get through. Right now I don’t think we’re consistently doing that enough, and that’s why the other teams are getting a little bit of momentum on the penalty killings we’ve had so far.”

In a move that was surprising and even abrupt, the Blueshirts on Saturday assigned J.T. Miller to the AHL Wolf Pack in anticipation of Ryan Callahan’s return to the lineup on Monday.

The second-year pro, who missed the first week of training camp with a hamstring issue, had a difficult time of it in Thursday’s opening 4-1 defeat in Phoenix while playing on a line with Dominic Moore and Derek Dorsett, but had plenty of company in that department.

Miller played 11:58, including 3:21 on the power play unit that featured Brad Richards, Rick Nash, Derek Stepan and Marc Staal. But with Miller’s spot on that unit soon to be assumed by Callahan, the coaching staff and management made the decision that the winger will be better served by getting major minutes in Hartford rather than being a scratch or fourth-liner with the Blueshirts.

Callahan is slated to replace Jesper Fast on the third line with Brian Boyle and Taylor Pyatt. Fast or Arron Asham will take Miller’s spot on the fourth line.

The abruptness of the move is surprising given Miller’s very strong finish to camp and the fact the demotion leaves the Blueshirts with just one spare forward with three games in four nights — Monday; Tuesday in San Jose; Thursday in Anaheim — on the California horizon.

Assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson has been engaging in a number of one-on-one conversations with defensemen on the ice during and after practice, as well as on the bench during games.

“System-wise, he’s not changing the game,” Michael Del Zotto told The Post. “But he’s very positive, very supportive and he’s great helping to build you up.

“Ulf understands that mistakes are going to happen. When they do, he pats you on the back and sends you back out there to do better.”



Rangers’ Miller demoted to make room for ‘Fast’ rookie

By Larry Brooks

October 5, 2013 | 12:44pm

LOS ANGELES — Not so Fast about Jesper coming out of the Rangers’ lineup to accommodate Ryan Callahan’s expected return on Monday here against the Kings.

For rather than scratch the 21-year-old rookie, the Blueshirts have assigned 20-year-old winger J.T. Miller to the AHL Wolf Pack.

Miller, who played 26 games with the Rangers last year, had a difficult time of it in Thursday’s opening 4-1 defeat in Phoenix while playing on a line with Dominic Moore and Derek Dorsett.

He played 11:58, including 3:21 on the power play unit that featured Brad Richards, Rick Nash, Derek Stepan and Marc Staal. But with Miller’s power-play spot soon to be assumed by Callahan, the coaching staff and management made the decision that the second-year pro will be better served by getting major minutes in Hartford rather than being a scratch or fourth-liner with the Blueshirts.

Callahan is slated to replace Fast on the third line with Brian Boyle and Taylor Pyatt. Either Fast or veteran Arron Asham, a scratch on Thursday, will join the fourth line against the big, brawny Kings.



NHL roundup: Islanders victimized by Blue Jackets' rally


STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Cam Atkinson scored in the fourth round of a shootout, and Columbus rallied from two goals down in the third period to spoil the Islanders' home opener with a 3-2 win Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum.

The Islanders and goalie Evgeni Nabokov seemed to be in complete control before Mark Letestu and Nick Foligno scored 4:19 apart to get even at 2-2 after the Blue Jackets managed only 12 shots in the first two periods.

The Isles built their lead in the second on a power-play goal by Lubomir Visnovsky and an even-strength tally by Matt Moulson.

BRUINS 4, RED WINGS 1 (at Boston) — Brad Marchand scored the tiebreaking goal 36 seconds into the second, and Tuukka Rask made 25 saves, lifting Boston. Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara each scored power-play goals for the Bruins.

CANADIENS 4, FLYERS 1 (at Montreal) — Lars Eller scored his third goal in two games and Brendan Gallagher got his second to help Montreal beat Philadelphia.

Carey Price stopped 22 shots and Brian Gionta and Rene Bourque added goals for Montreal.

PENGUINS 4, SABRES 1 (at Pittsburgh) — Sidney Crosby and Chuck Kobasew each scored his second goal of the season and Marc-Andre Fleury was nearly perfect again, making 20 saves to lead Pittsburgh over Buffalo.

MAPLE LEAFS 5, SENATORS 4, SO (at Toronto) — Mason Raymond and Tyler Bozak scored shootout goals to give Toronto a victory over Ottawa.

Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier, outstanding in relief of James Reimer, pulled after allowing four goals on 21 shots, stopped Milan Michalek and Jason Spezza in the shootout.

STARS 2, CAPITALS 1 (at Dallas) — Alex Chiasson scored the tiebreaking goal at 12:07 of the second period and Dallas beat Washington, stopping a Capitals flurry on a power play as the game ended. Alex Ovechkin scored in the first period for Washington. Erik Cole tied it at 8:01 of the first.

LIGHTNING 3, BLACKHAWKS 2, SO (at Chicago) — Valtteri Filppula scored in the shootout and Tampa Bay rallied for a victory over Chicago. Ben Bishop made 37 saves in his first start for the season for Tampa Bay, and then denied each of Chicago's three shooters in the tiebreaker.

BLUES 7, PANTHERS 0 (at St. Louis) — Jaroslav Halak set a franchise record with his 17th shutout and Alex Steen scored on a penalty shot to lead the St. Louis past Florida. Panthers' Tim Thomas was pulled after the second, allowing five goals on 28 shots.

DUCKS 4, WILD 3, OT (at St. Paul, Minn.) — Mathieu Perreault scored at 4:55 of overtime to give Anaheim a victory over Minnesota, despite two goals by Zach Parise.

MILLER SENT DOWN: The Rangers on Saturday re-assigned left wing J.T. Miller, their first-round pick in 2011, to Hartford (AHL) with captain Ryan Callahan due back in the lineup Monday at Los Angeles. Miller, who had two goals and two assists in 26 games last season, played 3:21 of his 11:58 ice time in Thursday night's season-opening 4-1 loss at Phoenix on the power play, but Callahan will take his spot on the first unit.



Rangers' Ryan Callahan expected to play Monday


BY ANDREW GROSS

STAFF WRITER

Ryan Callahan’s absence from the Rangers’ lineup at the start of the season will not be a long one.

Coach Alain Vigneault told the media Friday in Los Angeles the plan is for the captain to be back in the Rangers’ lineup for their next game, Monday against the Kings. Callahan underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder on May 31 and was expected to miss four to five months. He was cleared for contact on Sept. 26 but sat out Thursday’s season-opening 4-1 loss at Phoenix.

"If it would have been up to him he would’ve played but this gives him almost an extra four days, including two days of contact in practice," Vigneault told the media. "He’s ready to go. He’s cleared to play."

Vigneault placed Callahan on Brian Boyle’s third line with Taylor Pyatt at Friday’s practice with rookie Jesper Fast appearing to be the odd man out of the lineup.



Former Ranger Marian Gaborik has moved on, in more ways than one

Published: October 6, 2013 2:30 AM


Marian Gaborik hasn't made it all the way back to Madison Square Garden just yet -- that comes on Dec. 12 -- but he is back in the Eastern Conference after the deadline trade from the Rangers to the Blue Jackets last April that ended his productive but tumultuous four-year run with the Rangers.

"I haven't really had a chance to think about it," Gaborik said of going back to the Garden after Columbus' 3-2 shootout win over the Islanders on Saturday night. "When the time comes, it's going to be a little different, a little special. But I don't really think about it now."

Gaborik and John Tortorella had an interesting relationship during their time with the Rangers. Gaborik scored 114 goals in 255 games, including a pair of 40-plus seasons, but his star status left him open to some of Tortorella's very public criticisms.

Then Gaborik was dealt -- and Tortorella was fired two months later.

"That was their decision to make some changes," Gaborik said. "A lot of teams made changes. I spent four years under him. As a team we had some success, some ups and downs. Everybody moves forward."

Now Gaborik is a star on a much more low-wattage team. Columbus missed the playoffs by a point last season in the Western Conference. Now in the familiar confines of the Eastern Conference -- he has 22 goals in 31 career games against the Islanders and had three solid chances turned aside by Evgeni Nabokov on Saturday night -- Gaborik knows things are very different now than during his time in New York.

"It's a young team, a good learning experience for us last year," he said. "This is a different year. It's going to be a process. We can't look at the big picture. We have to play the way we did last year, game at a time."



Forward J.T. Miller sent down to AHL Hartford Wolf Pack



By STEVE ZIPAY [email protected]

LOS ANGELES - It may have been inevitable, but the timing was a little strange.

Forward J.T. Miller, 20, who made the Rangers' opening-night roster with Swedish rookie Jesper Fast, was assigned to AHL Hartford Saturday.

A Rangers spokesman said management wanted Miller to get more ice time with the Wolf Pack, which opened its regular season Saturday night. With captain Ryan Callahan (offseason shoulder surgery) returning for the second game of the regular season Monday night, Miller wouldn't have gotten as much ice time as he will get in Hartford.

Miller, who scored twice in three preseason games, played 11:58 Thursday against the Coyotes in the Rangers' season-opening 4-1 loss, including 3:21 on the power play, and had one shot on goal and two attempts blocked.

Callahan, a right wing who is expected to begin his comeback on the third line, will jump right into the power play and penalty kill. But the somewhat surprising move leaves the Rangers with only one spare forward for the next four games out West.

The move to send Miller down to the minors indicates that Fast, who was replaced by Callahan on a line with Brian Boyle and Taylor Pyatt during Friday's practice in El Segundo, Calif., will drop to the fourth line, centered by Dominic Moore. Derek Dorsett and Arron Asham are the other right wings available on that trio, but Fast also is a righty.

Miller, the 15th overall pick in the 2011 draft, played 26 games last season and was 2-2-4. He missed part of training camp with a sore hamstring but sealed a roster spot with a high-quality effort in Las Vegas against the Kings, whom the Rangers face in a game that counts Monday.

On Wednesday, coach Alain Vigneault said of Miller: "I see potential in that young man. Real solid skill set. Like any other young player, he needs to get better every day and have the right attitude to push him to become the best player he can be. There is upside there, and it's our job as a staff and his job as a player to work on him being the best he can be."

Notes & quotes: When Rick Nash dropped the gloves with Martin Hanzal after the Phoenix forward crushed Derek Stepan along the boards late in Thursday's game, eyebrows were raised because the power forward is known more for scoring than scraps. He had three fighting majors with Columbus in 2010, including a preseason one with Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, and in 2007, he went toe-to-toe with Chicago's Jim Vandermeer. "That's something that means a lot to me," said Stepan, who thought Hanzal's hit was clean. "[Nash has] been around the league a lot longer than I have and he felt it was necessary. I'm grateful for it." But Vigneault prefers a different Nash. "As far as team respect and team awareness, I think it's real good. I need Rick, though, to play like Rick Nash, and he will. His work ethic and his attitude are real good. He's like the rest of our team; we've got to put it together."



With Ryan Callahan ready to return, Rangers assign J.T. Miller to Hartford

05 October 2013, 12:09 pm by Carp in Hockey New York Rangers NHL Rangers Report - 138 Comments

NEW YORK, October 5, 2013 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has assigned forward J.T. Miller to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Miller, 20, registered one shot on goal, was credited with one hit and one blocked shot, and logged 11:58 of ice time in the Rangers’ season opener on Thursday at Phoenix. He has recorded two goals and two assists in 27 career regular season games with the Rangers. Last season, Miller made his NHL debut on February 5 at New Jersey, and became the first Ranger to post a multi-goal game as a teenager since 1992 with a two-goal performance in his second NHL appearance on February 7 against the NY Islanders.

The 6-1, 205-pounder returns to Hartford where he registered eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points, along with 29 penalty minutes in 42 games last season. Miller ranked third among team rookies in goals and assists, and tied for fourth in points. He was selected to represent the Eastern Conference at the 2013 AHL All-Star Game on January 28.

The East Palestine, Ohio native was originally selected by the Rangers as a first round choice, 15th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 10.06.2013

719791 Ottawa Senators

MacArthur rips former coach Carlyle

Bobby Ryan was slightly more subtle about it.

by Wayne Scanlan

on October 5, 2013

TORONTO — Bobby Ryan was slightly more subtle about it.

But he and Clarke MacArthur agree on one thing – they wouldn’t say hello to their former head coach, Randy Carlyle, if they passed him in the hallway.

“No,” MacArthur said from the visitors dressing room at the Air Canada Centre Saturday. “I’m going to go with no on that one.”

MacArthur, of course, played for Carlyle with the Maple Leafs last season, while Ryan had the hardline coach in Anaheim, where Carlyle directed his Ducks team to a 2007 Stanley Cup win over the Ottawa Senators. Both know the feeling of being benched, and made a healthy scratch.

Ryan and MacArthur are both Senators now, and surely have swapped some interesting stories about playing for no-nonsense Randy. Ryan and MacArthur were both facing their former coach for the first time in a regular season game as the Battle of Ontario, 2013 version, resumed Saturday.

“I didn’t have a relationship with him, and not many guys do,” MacArthur said, of Carlyle.

“He runs the show there, and everyone knows that, and that’s the way it is,” MacArthur added. “It’s worked for him in the past, he’s got a Cup from that, but at the same time there’s other ways to do things, too.”

A seven-year pro, MacArthur has been with four NHL clubs – Buffalo, Atlanta, Toronto and now Ottawa – but has never had a tougher coach than Carlyle, “not to that extent,” MacArthur says.

Carlyle might take pride in administering tough love, but there isn’t a lot of player love going back his way.

“Some guys are good with it. Some guys are good with the criticism, but they don’t want to hear it every single shift they come off the ice,” MacArthur says. “You’re old enough to know ‘I made a mistake,’ you don’t need to hear it every five seconds.”

“It weighs differently on different people, it was just — some long days.”

Nobody called out Carlyle more than former Leaf Mikhail Grabovski, on his way out the door this summer after five seasons in Toronto.

“I play in the [expletive] Russian KHL, I make lots of [expletive] points and what’s going to happen? He make me [expletive] play on the fourth line and he put me in the playoffs on the fourth line and third line again,” Grabovski told TSN.ca. “Yeah, I don’t score goals. I need to work more about that. I know that. But if you feel support from your coach [you'll find success]. I don’t feel any support from this [expletive] idiot.”

“He said it all right there,” MacArthur says. “He certainly didn’t have a tight lip about it. That was something to see. He was frustrated. He was a guy who had 30 goals and two years of 55 or whatever points (58 and 51) and Randy came in, it just didn’t work out, he turned him into a checker.

“Look at him now, four points in his first game, three goals. Who was right there? I know who’s right.”

After two games with the Washington Capitals, Grabovski has five points.

MacArthur knew he was gone from the Leafs long before his final game in Toronto. The stylish winger was livid over being made a healthy scratch for Games 2 and 3 of the Eastern Quarterfinal playoff series against the Boston Bruins last spring. MacArthur still managed to score two goals and an assist in the series.

“It was tough the way it ended,” he says. “Getting scratched in the playoffs, that was it for me. I came back and scored some goals, did what I could for the team, but I was done here after that. The game of hockey – I wasn’t excited coming in any more. It was time to move on.”

Signing with divisional-rival Ottawa wasn’t based on a revenge motive, MacArthur says. But no one would be happier to score against the Leafs.

Say hello, to a revamped Battle of Ontario.

Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 10.06.2013


Leafs charge back for shootout win over Sens

Ah, the Battle of Ontario.

by Wayne Scanlan

on October 5, 2013

TORONTO – Ah, the Battle of Ontario.

Each chapter with its own twists and turns.

And someone going home feeling ill. This time it was the Senators after blowing a 4-2 lead and falling in the shootout, 5-4 to the Leafs.

Tyler Bozak and Mason Raymond, on a controversial spin move, scored for Toronto while Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek missed.

The shootout loss nevertheless took the shine off James Reimer’s magic against the Senators, as he was knocked out of the net. Ottawa fell to 1-0-1 and the Leafs improved to 3-0.

The Leafs finally defeated Ottawa in a home opener, in six tries. Prior to Saturday’s loss, the Leafs had a record of 0-3-0-2 in five home openers with the Senators as special guests. They two haven’t met in an ACC opener since Oct. 3, 2007, when the Senators won 4-3 in overtime.

The Leafs won three of four meetings last season but in the two previous seasons combined, the clubs each won six and lost six. The Senators carried a 4-3 lead into the third period but a goal by James Van Riemsdyk tied in the third period

“The pressure is on us,” Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle had said. “The pressure is on the home team to put on a show.”

Oddly enough, Carlyle made his Leafs debut at a home opener 37 years ago to the day, at Maple Leaf Gardens. He remembers being a wide-eyed kid from tiny Azilda, On., neary Sudbury, taking it all in. Now, here he was presiding over three rookies, Morgan Rielly, Jamie Devane and Spencer Abbot making their NHL debut in a Toronto opener. (Winger Carter Ashton was expected to play but was a late scratch in favour of tough guy Devane).

The Leafs did put on a show in the early minutes, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Mason Raymond, who converted a backhand pass from Dave Bolland at 4:21 of the first period.

That got fans at the ACC excited until, but only three minutes later there was a collective groan as a Kyle Turris shot from the slot leaked through James Reimer to tie the game at 1-1. Turris was the Senators best player, carrying a goal and two assists into the third period.

Turris started the play for the next goal, drifting a shot toward the Leafs net as all hell broke loose. Cody Franson had the puck, but Cory Conacher bumped the Leafs defenceman and jammed a shot past Reimer for the 2-1 Ottawa lead. The third member of the second line, Clarke MacArthur, had a ton of chances but could not find the goal he so badly wanted against his former club.

Concacher’s goal didn’t hold up, as the Leafs closed out the period with the tying goal on a power play. Nazem Kadri had nothing but net after receiving a pass from Raymond.

Remember all those goal-less minutes in Buffalo? Well, that was then.

Spezza scored his first goal as captain of the Senators to give Ottawa a 4-2 lead in the middle of the second period and knocked Reimer out of the game, in favor of Jonathan Bernier. Things were looking great for the visitors but the Leafs scored late, on a Joffrey Lupul goal with 16 seconds remaining to make the third period worth watching.

Coming into the game, Reimer downplayed his flashy

8-1-1 career record against Ottawa , with a 1.69 goals-against and three shutouts in 10 games.

“Honestly, I don’t really have an answer for it,” Reimer said. “I think it’s just a rivalry and you get up for rivalries. Although you try to get up for every

game, it just means a little more playing against an opponent like this. They’re fun games to play.”

Really, Reimer said, he’s just been along for the ride.

“Our team has played well against them, and as a goalie you reap the statistical benefit.”

Reimer recalls the game two years ago when he survived, barely, an 11-goal game with Ottawa.

“We won 6-5 (Oct. 8, 2011),” Reimer said. “It’s not like I stood on my head and really helped the team there.”

“There’s games where they’ve lit me up, too. Anything can happen on any given night, whether you’ve won 10 in a row against a team or lost 10 in a row. You take every game as a separate, single game.”

Sounded like an omen for a night that was not going to be kind to him. We wonder if Bernier just took over the right to be called the Leafs No. 1 – for this week, anyway.



Clarkson came close to signing with Senators

by Wayne Scanlan

on October 5, 2013

TORONTO — David Clarkson is best known today as the player suspended 10 games to start the season by jumping over the boards during a fight.

But just a few months ago, Clarkson was a free agent considering becoming an Ottawa Senator.

“It was probably the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my career,” Clarkson said, saying he was impressed by Ottawa’s ownership, management and coaching.

“I liked the vibe there, but the more I thought about it, the chance to come home and be near family and friends – that was part of the decision we made.”

Clarkson grew up in Toronto and his father is such a huge Leafs fan, he had a vanity Leafs licence plate on his car long before his son joined the organization.

So, no, Clarkson doesn’t regret signing a monster contract with the Maple Leafs, but he regrets leaping over the boards to help Phil Kessel in a tussle with big John Scott of the Buffalo Sabres.

“I always explain to everyone, it was like a friend or a brother in trouble and you didn’t know what the outcome would be . . . you react and go after it.

“Unless you’ve got my skates on, it’s tough to say what you would do,” Clarkson said. “I’m not here to fight or be a sideshow, I’m here to put the puck in the net and also be a team guy and be a leader. I feel bad that I hurt the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“It sucks – not only the bag skating part of things, it sucks not being able to get out there. Especially sitting up there in the press box with you guys, as nice as it is up there, I’d rather be on the ice.”



Morning skate update: Corvo, Kassian in for Sens vs. Leafs

by Wayne Scanlan

on October 5, 2013

TORONTO – Hockey coaches are famous for sticking with a winning lineup.

Why fix what ain’t broke?

And yet the Battle of Ontario always has the Senators making adjustments based on the physical style of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

So it is that after beating the Buffalo Sabres 1-0 on Friday, the Senators made a couple of lineup changes, inserting enforcer Matt Kassian for Stephane Da Costa, despite Da Costa’s strong play in Buffalo.

Also, defenceman Eric Gryba, who struggled at times against the Sabres, is replaced by veteran Joe Corvo.

Head coach Paul MacLean said there was nothing Da Costa could have done better.

“That’s what Steph has to continue to do is make it hard for us (to take him out), and make us play him,” MacLean said. “Depending on who we play, our opponent, the lineup is going to change and he could be one of the guys who changes.

“We don’t want him to lose any confidence, but it’s now about he’s playing, it’s who we’re playing.”

As for Gryba, who was injured much of training camp, MacLean said “he didn’t skate the way we needed him to, where we feel it should be, and we want to get Joe in, too.”

Off his brilliant shutout in Buffalo, Craig Anderson returns in net for Ottawa, against James Reimer and his 8-1-1 record against the Senators.

Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle said he would have to be “crazy” not to consider Reimer’s record against the Senators when he chooses his goalies. Jonathan Bernier was brough in from Los Angeles to shore up Toronto’s goaltending, yet Reimer will be getting his second start in three games.

The Leafs are 2-0, having won on the road in Montreal and Philadelphia.

Toronto could have as many as three rookies in the lineup, with Ashton Carter, Morgan Rielly and Spencer Abbott. Abbott replaces winger Kikolai Kulemin, who chipped his ankle by blocking a shot in practice on Friday.



Senators prediction panel: Game 2

by James Gordon

on October 5, 2013

The Ottawa Senators get right back to work in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. Which team will come out on top? Our prediction panel weighs in.

Ottawa Senators (1-0-0) at Toronto Maple Leafs (2-0-0)

James Gordon (@SensReporter), Citizen Sports/SenatorsExtra Editor

Senators 3, Leafs 2

Normally a divisional match-up on the road to close out a back-to-back would be something to worry about. But we’re talking about Day 2 of the Senators’ season. Also, #fancystats.

Record: 1-0

Exact scored predicted: 0

Wayne Scanlan (@HockeyScanner), Citizen Hockey Columnist and defending panel champion

Senators 2, Leafs 3

Leafs eke out a close one at home. Maybe.

Record: 1-0

Exact scores predicted: 0

Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes), TSN 1200 The Drive host

Senators 2, Leafs 3

Everyone is undefeated heading into this game: The Leafs. The Sens. And everyone in this prediction panel. That will change on Saturday.

Record: 1-0


Graeme Nichols (@6thSens), writer/editor, The 6th Sens blog and podcast

Senators 2, Leafs 5

As much as I’d love to see Clarke MacArthur light up his former teammates, Ottawa can’t play as sloppily as it did last night against a Toronto team that already has two games under its belt.

Record: 1-0


Steve Lloyd (@TSNSteveLloyd), host, In the Box on TSN 1200

Senators 2, Leafs 0

After the Sabres game I’m making this pick thinking two things won’t happen. Lehner won’t start against the Leafs, and Anderson won’t allow another goal…ever. Sure. Sens ride Anderson to a 2-0 win.

Record: 1-0


Peter Raaymakers (@silversevensens), writer/editor, Silver Seven Sens blog

Senators 3, Leafs 1

There’s going to be a letdown in Toronto, and it would be oh-so-perfect if that came against Ottawa. Considering how impressive Ottawa’s second line was in their season debut, I don’t see how Toronto can defend against the Sens’ full attack.

Record: 1-0


Jeremy Milks (@BlackAcesOtt), writer/editor, Black Aces blog

Senators 2, Leafs 4

Ottawa rarely has their best game in Toronto on Hockey Night In Canada, and at this point it seems like a curse. The Leafs are even more improved over the team that beat the Senators four times last season.

Record: 1-0


Eric Doty (@BonksMullet), writer/editor, BonksMullet.com and founder of SensMOTB

Senators 3, Leafs 1

Given that Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer are not American, I feel fairly confident in saying that they are likely to allow at least one goal on Saturday night. The Sens win 3-1 after an hour long pre-game ceremony to honour the storied history of the new Atlantic Division.

Record: 1-0




Sens blow lead lose in first Battle of Ontario

By Don Brennan ,Ottawa Sun

First posted: Saturday, October 05, 2013 10:24 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, October 06, 2013 01:25 AM EDT

TORONTO - The Senators took care of their James Reimer issue just fine Saturday night.

They did, however, have far more difficulty with the rest of the Maple Leafs.

After threatening to run away and hide with the two points, the Senators blew a two-goal lead in the second period then went on to lose 5-4 in a shootout to Toronto in front of 19,552 fans at the Air Canada Centre.

Mason Raymond and Tyler Bozak both beat Craig Anderson in the shootout, with Raymond using a spinarama move that had the Senators questioning its legality.

Senators coach Paul MacLean said he was on a conference call with all the other coaches in the league at the start of the year and at that time was informed such a spinarama move in a shootout would be “seriously reviewed” with the possibility that a goal off it would be disallowed.

“We informed our players of that,” he said. “We don’t do that.”

For Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle, “it was news to me” that the league was cracking down on such moves.

Milan Michalek hit the crossbar and Jason Spezza was turned aside on the Senators two chances.

The result was a disappointing one for the Senators, although it did give them three of four points on their two-game road trip.

The Sens head out on a four-game swing to California and Arizona Tuesday.

Goals by Jared Cowen and Spezza 15 seconds apart midway through the second period broke a 2-2 tie and chased Reimer, who at that point had been beaten four times on 21 shots.

The Leafs made things interesting with their second powerplay goal, this one by Joffrey Lupul, with 17 seconds left in the second period. They then tied the game early in the third off an odd man rush, with Marc Methot caught at the Ottawa blue line, when Phil Kessel set up James van Riemsdyk on Craig Anderson’s doorstep.

Paul Ranger almost won the game late in the third when he beat Erik Karlsson, who had a subpar game, only to rip a shot off the post.

Cowen hooked Dave Boland to the ice on a breakaway in the last minute of overtime but was just given a minor penalty when a penalty shot call looked very possible.

Reimer entered the night with a dominant 8-1-1 career record (as well as a .949 save percentage and 1.69 goals against average) against the Senators.

Carlyle took the numbers into account when deciding on whether to start Reimer or Jonathan Bernier, who stopped all 15 shots he faced.

Following the game, Spezza said, “Bernier was very good, but when we have a two-goal lead, we have to win the game. It’s plain and simple.”

Reimer had no answers for his success against Ottawa when asked about it after the morning skate.

“It’s just one of those things where it’s a rivalry and you get up for rivalries,” he said. “You try to get up for every game, but I guess it just means a little more playing against an opponent like this. They’re just fun games to play.”

While Spezza scored and Bobby Ryan registered his first point as a Senator, the visitors were carried by the second line in the first two periods.

Kyle Turris was the spearhead of the attack with a goal and two assists. Cory Conacher had the other goal.

Mason Raymond had a goal and two assists for the Leafs. Nazem Kadri had the other.

Entering their home opener on the wave of a 2-0 record, the Leafs had heat on them to win this one, according to Carlyle.

“The pressure is on us,” he said at his morning press conference. “The reality is, the pressure is on the whole team to put a show on.”

THREE STARS

M. Raymond: A goal each in regulation & shootout

K. Turris: Three-point night for Sens

J. Bernier: Keeps Leafs in it after replacing Reimer

TURNING POINT:

Jared Cowen and Jason Spezza goals 15 seconds apart broke a 2-2 tie and chased James Reimer from the Leafs net.

THUMBS UP:

Cowen was beaten behind the net on the play that led to the first Leafs goal, but a little over three minutes penetrated the Leafs zone and set up Kyle Turris for the equalizer.

THUMBS DOWN:

Ottawa’s penalty killing specialists, who were so good last season, failed to survive two shorthanded situations.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 10.06.2013


You hate Sens fans too? Here's why

By Mike Strobel ,Toronto Sun

First posted: Saturday, October 05, 2013 07:29 PM EDT | Updated: Saturday, October 05, 2013 10:03 PM EDT

TORONTO - I try to hate Senators fans, I really do.

But why? It makes no sense. Hating Ottawa Senators’ supporters is like hating plankton or tree moss or nitrogen dioxide.

Sure, it is possible to dislike them, but what’s the point? There is none of the joy, the delicious tingle, that a deep distaste for Habs fans brings you.

Senators fans seem too vague and quiet to hate. Look at them closely. They are actually slightly out of focus. As if they’re stuck in Casablanca in 1942.

Senators fan: You despise me, don’t you?

Humphrey Bogart: If I gave you any thought I probably would.

Likely, your feeling toward Sens fans has been akin to a dull headache or a stone in your shoe. Annoying, not infuriating.

Battle of Ontario? Marketing hooey.

But a chart in Thursday’s Sun finally pointed the way to a good, healthy revulsion.

It showed the median income of families in 33 Canadian metropolitan areas.

Ottawa-Gatineau topped the list at $93,440. Toronto trailed badly, at a meager $69,740, and every burg from Victoria to St. John’s floundered in the national capital’s wake.

Surprise, surprise. The city where the taxman lives, the city that demands an obscene cut of our sweat-stained wages, is home to the wealthiest citizens in the land. Worse, they become so by suckling at the teats of the nation, including your teat, your family’s teat, your friends’ teat, and your dog’s teat.

And they are Sens fans.

So that explains our subconscious loathing of them. But there’s more, if you bother to think about it.

For one thing, Ottawans, are getting uppity lately.

When I lived there for a spell in the 1970s, the locals were embarrassed about their city, and rightly so.

“The best thing about Ottawa,” outsiders used to say, “is it’s only two hours to Pembroke.”

Now, Ottawans gloat when a

University

of Toronto think-tank says their city is tops in the world’s “creative” economy. Seattle and Oslo are second and third and Toronto is 25th.

“Look at us!” they gush. “We beat Oslo!”

Big deal. “Creative economy?” It just means Ottawa is infested with nerds, bohemians and women in sensible shoes, many of whom can be found snoozing in the stands of Canadian Tire Centre at Senators games, presumably waiting to collect their play money and go home to their basements.

Mind you, the Air Canada Centre is not exactly Thrillsville on hockey night, either. But at least it’s blue and white.

That’s the thing. The thrill at Canadian Tire Centre is created by fans of the opposing team.

When the Leafs visit Ottawa, Sundin, Gilmour and Kessel jerseys outnumber the Alfredssons and Spezzas. With Les Canadiens in town, Lafleur or Price sweaters dominate.

It got so bad last season, the Senators offered discounts on tickets if purchasers promised not to re-sell them to rival fans.

“Any seats being re-sold will be subject to cancellation and loss of privileges,” the front office warned. (Tough talk in a town that hasn’t won a Stanley Cup since Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion was six. She was 46 when Toronto last had one.)

Ushers at the Ottawa rink have been known to order Leafs fans to sit down and shut up. Habs and Bruins fans often commandeer the parking lot.

At home, the Senators strive desperately to score first, so as to take the crowd out of the game.

See what I mean? Sens’ fans aren’t the “seventh man,” they’re the Invisible Man.

You only notice them if they sit right behind the bench and are dead-ringers for coach Paul MacLean, which was the high point of Senators fandom last year.

But who can blame them? If you suckled freely at the public bosom and had a job for life, you’d keep a low profile, too.



MacArthur reveals he's got a bone to pick with former coach Randy Carlyle



TORONTO - Clarke MacArthur could remain diplomatic for only so long.

On Saturday morning, hours before the Senators took the ACC ice, the veteran winger revealed his true feelings about Leafs coach Randy Carlyle.

"If you pass him in the hallway, will you say hi?," MacArthur -- who moved from Toronto to Ottawa as a free agent in the summer -- was asked after the morning skates.

"No," he said. "I'm going to go with no on that one."

MacArthur was naturally angry and embarrassed when Carlyle made him a scratch in the playoffs last spring. But there's more to his bitterness than that.

"It's well known Bobby Ryan didn't have a great relationship with Carlyle (when the two were in Anaheim)," MacArthur was reminded. "How about you?"

"I didn't have a relationship (with him)," said MacArthur. "Not many guys do.

"It's one of those things where he runs the show there, and everyone knows that. That's the way it is. It's worked for him in the past. He's got a Cup from that. But at the same time there's other ways to do things too.

"Some guys are good with the criticism and some guys, they don't want to hear it every single shift you come off the ice. I'm old enough to know I made a mistake. You don't need to hear it every five seconds.

"It weighs differently on different people. For me, it was just some long days."

MacArthur is not the first ex-Leaf to speak out about Carlyle. When the Leafs bought Mikahail Grabovski out over the summer, he had some harsh words about him too.

"(Grabovski) was obviously frustrated and he certainly didn't have a tight lip about it," said MacArthur. "That was something to see that. But he was frustrated. He was a guy who had 30 goals, two years of 55 or whatever points, and then Randy came in and it just didn't work out. They turned him into a checker, and look at him now. Four points his first game (with the Capitals). Three goals. I mean, who's right there? I don't know."

Yes you do, MacArthur was told.

"I know who's right," he said.

MacArthur said there was never talk about him re-signing with the Leafs.

"It was a tough way to end it," he said. "Just getting scratched in the playoffs, that was it for me. I came back and scored some goals, they were good for the team. But I was done here after that. That was it. The game of hockey, I wasn't excited coming in anymore. It was time to move on."

It's something of a new twist to the Battle of Ontario, where before it was just the players who didn't like each other. Now, players don't like coaches. But the way the departed are talking, you have to wonder how many of the current Leafs are fond of Carlyle.

And if guys don't like the man behind the bench, well, sometimes they just stop playing for him.

BETWEEN PERIODS

Sounds like suspended Leaf David Clarkson was closer to signing with the Senators in the offseason than we may have fully realized. "There were four or five teams, but Ottawa just impressed me so much with their ownership, their management, Mr. (Bryan) Murray, and the coach," Clarkson, who wound up inking a deal with in his hometown, said Saturday morning. "I got to meet with everybody, and when me and my wife walked out of their and came home "¦ I don't know if you noticed, but I didn't announce where I was going until 3 p.m. "¦ I didn't announce at 12 because I didn't really know. In

my heart, Ottawa was somewhere I just liked the vibe there. I liked the coach, I liked a lot about it, but at the end of the day, the more I thought about it, getting the chance to come home near family and friends, that was part of the decision we made."

STARTS AND STOPS

Jared Cowen was on ice for all four first period goals -- two for and two against "¦ Binghamton captain Mark Borowiecki and winger Mark Stone were injured in the first period of the B-Sens first game Saturday "¦ The Senators weren't worried about a delayed start to Saturday's game because of drawn out opening ceremonies. "I don't think it makes a difference," he said early in the day. "I'm just going to have another coffee." How many do you usually have before a game? "Usually just one," he said, "Maybe two today though." "¦ The loudest and most irritating autograph "seeker" ever screamed at "Erik" for an autograph outside the team hotel, but Karlsson ignored him. "I thought it was Gryba he was yelling at," smiled Erik Karlsson.



Da Costa healthy scratch in TO-Sens battle



TORONTO - Stephane Da Costa was singled out by his coach as one of the team's better forwards in the season opener. But he still wound up in the pressbox for Game 2.

Against the Sabres, Da Costa played a little more than 12 minutes, had three shots on goal and was 67% in the circles -- the best success rate of the all the Senators centres.

He was a healthy scratch for Saturday's game in Toronto only because Paul MacLean wanted to muscle up against the burly Leafs.

Still, the decision to take Da Costa out was not an easy one.

"That's what Steph has to do, continue to make it hard for us, and make us play him," MacLean said Saturday morning. "At this point, depending on who we play and our opponent, the line-up is going to change, and he could be one of the guys who changes.

"We don't want him to lose any confidence. It's not the way he played. It's who we're playing (Saturday). That's all it's about: the opponent."

MacLean said Da Costa was "competitive, good in the circle, good defensively.

"I thought his game was fine," he said.

Defenceman Eric Grya was taken out for Joe Corvo in Ottawa's other roster switch.

"I thought that Gryba didn't skate as good as we need him to," said MacLean. "His game wasn't where we feel it should be.

"We don't want to leave a veteran player (Corvo) sitting there for a long time, either."

— Don Brennan



Toronto Maple Leafs against rival Ottawa Senators in home opener at Air Canada Centre

By Terry Koshan ,Toronto Sun

First posted: Saturday, October 05, 2013 06:12 AM EDT | Updated: Saturday, October 05, 2013 06:27 AM EDT

TORONTO - The Maple Leafs play host to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night as the Battle of Ontario resumes for the 2013-14 season.

The Leafs will be going for their third consecutive win to start the season while the Sens are coming off their season opener, a shut-out victory in Buffalo on Friday night against the Sabres.


719801 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers: Too many penalties, too few goals

Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: Saturday, October 5, 2013, 11:47 PM

MONTREAL _ The Flyers have not scored an even-strength goal in the season’s first two games, which is why they are 0-2 and the coach’s hot seat is getting warmer by the shift.

They dropped a 4-1 decision in Montreal on Saturday night, a game in which they inexplicably were shorthanded for 14:07. Montreal was 2 for 9 on the power play.

“We’re not going to win many hockey games if we go to the box as much as we did tonight,” coach Peter Laviolette said.

Nor are they going to win many games when they manage just 12 even-strength shots. Twelve.

The Flyers have scored a total of two goals _ both on the power play _ while losing to Toronto and Montreal. They play in Carolina on Sunday at 5 p.m. and will try to avoid starting 0-3 for the second straight season.

Former Flyer Danny Briere, who is in his first year in Montreal, was held scoreless, but was smiling after the game.

"This was for bragging rights,” he said. “I got them tonight, but I know there will be other games down the road.”

Vinny Lecavalier scored his first goal as a Flyer. He was booed mercilessly every time he touched the puck. Montreal fans apparently think any French-Canadian who is a free agent should sign with the Habs.

"I felt sorry for Vinny, but I've been that guy,” Briere cracked.

Breakaways. Zac Rinaldo had six hits in 5:15….The Flyers were outshot, 34-23, including a 16-8 third-period margin….Ray Emery was the loser in his first start this season…..The Flyers won 51 percent of the faceoffs and outhit Montreal, 29-20…Lecavalier, Brayden Schenn and Mark Streit each have two points. All the other Flyers have zero.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 10.06.2013


Flyers Notes: Schenn starts on top line, Voracek on third


Posted: Sunday, October 6, 2013, 2:02 AM

MONTREAL - For the second straight game, Brayden Schenn started on the Flyers' top line and Jake Voracek was on the third unit.

Schenn was with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell as the Flyers faced Montreal on Saturday night, while Voracek - a top-line winger for most of last season - was with Sean Couturier and Max Talbot.

"They're two totally different players, obviously," said Hartnell, comparing Schenn and Voracek. "No offense to Brayden, but Jake is quicker, he gets to loose pucks. Brayden's good in the corners, and he's great in front of the net and going to the net. Not having many games with him, I think we can do better - obviously get more chemistry and hopefully it comes down the road."

With about 13 minutes left in the second period, and the Flyers offense scuffling, Voracek was reunited with Giroux and Hartnell.

Breakaways

The Flyers play in Carolina on Sunday at 5 p.m., and Laviolette gets to choose between goalies who have excelled against the Hurricanes. Ray Emery is 5-0 with two shutouts and has a 0.73 goals-against average vs. Carolina, and Steve Mason is 5-0 with a 1.80 GAA. . . . Hartnell on Ilya Bryzgalov's signing a tryout contract with Las Vegas in the ECHL: "Good for him. . . . I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up somewhere [in the NHL] this year."



Canadiens drop Flyers to 0-2


Posted: Sunday, October 6, 2013, 2:02 AM

MONTREAL - A quick whistle negated Matt Read's first-period goal Saturday night at the reverberating Bell Centre, but the Flyers can't point fingers at the referees after dropping a 4-1 decision to Danny Briere and the Montreal Canadiens.

Blame their anemic offense.

The Flyers, now 0-2 and without an even-strength goal, did not generate nearly as many chances as they did in the opener, and their attack looked feeble until Vinny Lecavalier scored a power-play goal midway through the third period.

"We didn't play a good game," captain Claude Giroux said. "We'll look at the video, and it has to change."

Every time the Flyers had some momentum, they seemed to take a penalty. Montreal was 2 for 9 on the power play.

"We're not going to win the game from the penalty box," winger Brayden Schenn said. "We have to be way more composed."

Lecavalier was booed loudly every time he touched the puck. Montreal fans, who booed Briere when he was a Flyer, apparently believe every French-Canadian who is a free agent should sign with the bleu, blanc, et rouge.

"I felt sorry for Vinny, but I've been that guy," Briere said.

Before Lecavalier scored on a rebound, the Flyers were 0 for 4 on the power play and 1 for 11 on the season.

Montreal took a 1-0 lead as Brian Gionta got position on defenseman Mark Streit and knocked a shot past Ray Emery from the doorstep with 11 minutes, 50 seconds left in the first period.

The Flyers appeared to tie it with about four minutes left in the opening period when Read converted a rebound of Streit's blast. But the refs thought goalie Carey Price had control of the puck and didn't realize it had gotten away from him.

Twelve seconds into the third period, the Canadiens made it 2-0 when Lars Eller deposited a backhander after retrieving a shot off the backboards. The Canadiens gained control at center ice - and took control in the offensive zone - after Wayne Simmonds slipped.

Brendan Gallagher scored on a five-on-three power play with 15 minutes left to increase the lead to 3-0.

The game marked the first time Briere faced his ex-teammates since the Flyers bought out his contract in the summer.

Briere, who turns 36 on Sunday, was in the Flyers' faces - and vice versa - on Saturday night.

The Flyers did a nice job containing Briere, who went to the penalty box in the first period for hooking his former Haddonfield housemate, Giroux. The Flyers could not convert the ensuing power play.

With Montreal on a power play late in the second period, Sean Couturier, another player who used to live with Briere, stole the puck from his ex-teammate and helped kill the advantage. In fact, it was the Flyers who had the best scoring chance, as Giroux made a slick move and broke in on Carey Price, who turned aside his backhander with 1:05 to go in the period.

Briere also was called for hooking Jake Voracek early in the third period. Again, the Flyers' power play stumbled. They had two shots in their first power play and none in their next three.

In two games, the Flyers have scored a total of two goals; they will try to rebound Sunday in Carolina. Another loss would make Peter Laviolette's team 0-3 for the second straight season.



Hartnell eager to face 'feisty' Briere tonight


Posted: Saturday, October 5, 2013, 2:00 PM

MONTREAL _ Shortly after the Flyers arrived in Montreal on Friday, left winger Scott Hartnell said, one of the first things he saw was a huge billboard of his ex-teammate, Montreal’s Danny Briere.

“So he’s in your face,” Hartnell cracked on Saturday morning.

Briere, who turns 36 on Sunday, will be in the Flyers’ faces _ and vice versa _ on Saturday night when his Canadiens host the Flyers. The teams are 0-1, with each losing to Toronto.

Hartnell said he exchanged texts with Briere on Friday night.

“We miss Danny B. I’ve been playing with him for years and there was a great chemistry that he and I had,” Hartnell said. “…It’s going to be different seeing him in a Canadiens uniform, but after the first couple shifts, I’m sure it’s going to just be a regular game. When he has the puck, you’re going to finish your check and try to get him off the puck.”

Hartnell was asked if he expected to get into a scrum with Briere.

“I don’t know if I want to tangle with him or he doesn’t want to tangle with me,” said Hartnell, laughing. “He is a feisty little guy. He definitely goes to the hard areas to score goals…and we have to make sure when he’s on the ice, we’re aware of what he can do.”

In the season-opening 3-2 loss to Toronto on Wednesday, Brayden Schenn was on the top line instead of Jake Voracek. The line also includes Claude Giroux and Hartnell.

“They’re two totally different players, obviously,” said Hartnell, comparing Schenn and Voracek. “No offense to Brayden, but Jake is quicker, he gets to loose pucks. Brayden’s good in the corners, and he’s great in front of the net and going to the net. Not having many games with him, I think we can do better _ obviously get more chemistry and hopefully it comes down the road.”

Emery in goal. Goalie Ray Emery will make his season debut Saturday. Playing for the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks last season, he was 17-1 with a 1.94 GAA and finished seventh in the Vezina Trophy voting.

Trivia. In franchise history, the Flyers are 68-76-30-4 against Montreal. In franchise history, Montreal and Boston are the only teams that the Flyers have a losing record against.

According to the Flyers’ public-relations department, the Flyers have a losing record against the New Jersey Devils and the incarnation of Winnipeg Jets, but only in the time since those franchises moved to their respective locations.

Breakaways. Through a team spokesperson, coach Peter Laviolette said he would only talk about hockey issues; he is suing Bank of America for fraud and seeking at least $3 million……Zac Rinaldo will play his 100th career game Saturday……The Flyers play in Carolina on Sunday at 5 p.m., and Laviolette said his goalie starter for that game is not set in stone…..Hartnell on Ilya Bryzgalov signing a tryout contract with Las Vegas in the ECHL: “Good for him….I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up somewhere (in the NHL) this year.”



Flyers notes Voracek not worried about line status

MONTREAL -- After all the success Jake Voracek had with claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell on the top line last season, he's been replaced for now by Brayden Schenn.

The move might be only temporary but it certainly has gotten everyone’s attention on the Flyers.

Voracek had a career-high 22 goals last season in just a 48-game season but coach Peter Laviolette might be trying this to light a fire under Schenn, who responded with a goal on opening night.

“They’re two totally different players, obviously,” Hartnell said. “No offense to Brayden, but Jake is quicker, he gets to loose pucks. Brayden’s good in the corners, and he’s great in front of the net and going to the net.

“Not having many games with him, I think we can do better _ obviously get more chemistry and hopefully it comes down the road.”

Speaking of roads, Voracek is taking the high road on this one.

“(It’s) not disappointing,’’ Voracek said. “I don’t care if I play with G (Giroux) or Sean (Couturier). They are both great players. It’s not up to me where I’m going to be in the lineup. I’m not disappointed at all. I’m excited to be here. I want to help the team to win, whether it’s on G’s line, Vinny’s (Lecavalier) line or Sean’s line.

Facing an old friend

At the morning skate, Hartnell also said he was looking forward to playing against his old pal, Danny Briere.

“We miss Danny B. I’ve been playing with him for years and there was a great chemistry that he and I had,” Hartnell said. “It’s going to be different seeing him in a Canadiens uniform, but after the first couple shifts, I’m sure it’s going to just be a regular game. When he has the puck, you’re going to finish your check and try to get him off the puck.”

As for the old “no friends once the puck drops,’’ Hartnell laughed.

“I don’t know if I want to tangle with him or he doesn’t want to tangle with me,” Hartnell said. “He is a feisty little guy. He definitely goes to the hard areas to score goals . . . and we have to make sure when he’s on the ice, we’re aware of what he can do.”

Short shots

Ray Emery made his season debut in goal for the Flyers. . . . Hartnell on former Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov signing with Las Vegas of the ECHL: “Good for him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up somewhere in the NHL this year.’’ . . . Zac Rinaldo played in his 100th NHL career game.

Burlington County Times LOADED: 10.06.2013


Power play continues to sputter as Flyers fall in Montreal

By Rob Parent, Delaware County Daily Times

Posted: 10/05/13, 10:27 PM EDT | Updated: 4 hrs ago

MONTREAL — Pieces. Stretches. Maybe even a whole period here and there.

The Flyers have played some cohesive, spirited hockey through the season’s first two games, but that effort has come in stale stops and starts rather than a gathering gust of fresh air.

Feeling the breeze of the faster Canadiens for much of Saturday night, the Flyers found a way to occasionally catch up, but eventually fell, 4-1, at Bell Centre.

Third-period goals by Lars Eller — just 12 seconds into the period — and Brendan Gallagher spelled doom for starting goalie Ray Emery and the Flyers, who fall to 0-2 and showed more signs of power-play dysfunction as they face a critical test Sunday in Carolina.

Yes, already.

“It’s a big game for us and a quick turnaround, but we have to be ready,” Brayden Schenn said. “We have to go up there and focus on winning, obviously.”

Maybe they should start by narrowing their focus on actually scoring an even-strength goal. That lofty goal hasn’t been achieved as yet.

“We competed, that’s for sure,” still upbeat Claude Giroux said. “But at the end of the day we need to make the plays better. Obviously, we’ll look at a lot of video. We’re not very happy with our game right now. It has to change.”

On this night, what didn’t go right stopped and started with penalties. Specifically, 11 minors called on the Flyers, translating to nine power play chances for the grateful Canadiens.

“Way too many,” Giroux said. “I guess we put ourselves in that situation. We have to be more disciplined.”

Yes, there’s that. There’s also the rather glaring suspicion that a Flyers team so frequently a step behind often had little choice but get caught cheating a bit.

“We know we can’t be taking nine, 10 or 11 penalties a game,” Schenn said. “You’re not going to win if you’re in the penalty box. We have to be way more disciplined and way more composed. That’s the main thing.”

Vinny Lecavalier, who would briefly give the Flyers third-period life with his first goal for the club, seemed to agree the Flyers were caught chasing the game a bit too much. Just not enough to set off the referees’ whistles so often.

“We had times in the game where we had good shifts or a good sequence, then we’d get a penalty,” Lecavalier said. “Obviously we have to eliminate a few, and a few maybe weren’t great calls. But it’s part of the game.”

Meanwhile, the somewhat unspecial Flyers scored once on five power-play chances. Lecavalier’s goal came at the 9:13 mark and cut the Habs’ lead to two. But the Flyers weren’t done taking penalties so the Canadiens cruised from there.

Emery stopped 30 shots and was generally competent all game, but was undone by Flyers coverage mistakes as usual.

The Habs, faster off the draw and in open ice from the start, jumped into the lead 8:10 into the game when Brian Gionta slipped away from defenseman Mark Streit and jammed a loose puck past Emery.

The Flyers righted themselves late in the first period, and almost tied the game when a Matt Read shot seemed to escape Carey Price’s scrambling clutches. But the refs ruled a whistle had blown to stop play.

Couldn’t shut those dang things off for one reason or another.

“It seemed like the first two periods, every time we got going 5-on-5 it would last two to three minutes and then the penalty killers went back on the ice,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “And after they scored that goal at the start of the third period ... we lost our composure a little bit.”

The Flyers had drawn some momentum and played even-up for much of the second period with the Habs, managing to slow the game down in the process. But that effort went for naught right off the opening drop of the third.

Wayne Simmonds fell down, leading to a rush and scoring chance for Gallagher. His shot went to the backboards, but crafty Eller jumped on the rebound and scored 12 ticks in for 2-0. The Habs then made it 3-0 at the five-minute mark on a Gallagher wrist shot.

Rene Bourque’s power play goal in the final minute closed out the scoring, and left new Canadiens forward Danny Briere feeling somewhat satisfied.

“This was for bragging rights,” Briere said. “I got them tonight, but I know there will be other games down the road.”

Delaware County Times LOADED: 10.06.2013


Lecavalier gets star treatment from Montreal fans

By Rob Parent, Delaware County Daily Times

Posted: 10/05/13, 12:56 PM EDT | Updated: 9 hrs ago

MONTREAL — Over and over again Saturday night, Vinny Lecavalier was welcomed back by his hometown fans in a special way. He was booed every time he touched the puck.

This treatment by Canadiens fans isn’t unusual, but it’s often reserved for those elite players from Quebec who commit the awful crime of not wanting to sign as a free agent with their precious Habs. Lecavalier, who hails from the river island area of Ile Bizard, just west of downtown Montreal, might have done just that last summer after spending 14 seasons in Tampa Bay.

Instead, he chose to replace Danny Briere as the second-line center in Philadelphia, and not long after Briere signed a two-year, $8 million free agent contract with the Canadiens.

So it was not a surprise that the Montreal fans, lovey-dovey these days with Briere, gave Lecavalier the business all game with their well-timed catcalls. Yes, the same song that Briere heard in essentially every visit to Montreal after spurning an offer from the Habs to sign with the Flyers back in 2007.

Fan reaction isn’t anything that should greatly impact the average NHL star player, even those that grow up as Canadiens fans. But there’s no doubt the scrutiny French-Canadian players get as visible stars playing in the blue, white and red sweaters in these parts is more intense than anywhere else.

“Everyone is different with that,” Briere said Friday. “There are players out there (where) it doesn’t affect them. The media pressure just won’t affect them. Other guys would rather stay away from it. They’d rather play in a quiet place and do their job and not be bothered.”

As a gifted goal-scorer who happens to hail from Quebec, Briere said playing in Montreal “works for certain guys and doesn’t work as well for other guys. I really believe it is easier as you get older and get to know yourself better.”

Of course, in those times that a game isn’t going on, hockey fans in Montreal are still interested in how Lecavalier does. So the interest in him leading up to the Flyers’ game Saturday night was high.

That also may have had something to do with Lecavalier’s history against the team he grew up following: In 42 career games against Montreal while with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Lecavalier scored 19 goals and registered 23 assists.

“I think that’s great for Vinny if that’s the case,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “I think everybody likes coming to Montreal. It’s a great building, it’s a great atmosphere for hockey. And with my French name from Massachusetts, I enjoy coming here as well. A U.S. kid doesn’t mind coming here. ... Our guys are always excited to play here.”

Coming in, the Flyers had won their last two games against the Habs, including a 7-3 victory in Montreal last April 15. Having Lecavalier with them now only ramps up the thrill level.

“From the first time I met him in the summer to every day at practice and the games, he certainly brings a veteran presence and leadership,” Laviolette said. “He works hard in practice. I really liked his line in the last game. I think we’ll see results from that at some point. We would have liked to see some more goals last game, but that didn’t happen. I’d like to see them continue to build and develop on the ice. But he’s been terrific for us.”

In another nearby part of the hockey world, there have been legitimate Jaromir Jagr sightings. The ex-Flyer and ex-so many other teams forward, a kid at 41, is now with the Devils and after a preseason wiped out by what he called “general body soreness,” he’s ready to go. How surprising.

“I heard a lot of rumors about how the Devils run their organization,” Jagr said. “I knew there were strict rules everybody has to follow. I don’t mind that at all. Maybe it would be different for me 15 years ago, but I agree with (them).

“I think you’re more selfish when you’re younger. There is more pressure on you. You have to produce. You want to be treated differently. At least that’s the way I was, I guess. Now I see I was wrong.”

NOTES: Ray Emery made his first start of the season against the Habs. ... Laviolette on keeping Jake Voracek on the third line: “I think we’d like to find a balance throughout our lineup. Nothing is set in stone. There are shifts that were given to Jake up with (Claude Giroux) the other night and that will probably be the same thing. We’ll move it around and see if we can find chemistry.”

Delaware County Times LOADED: 10.06.2013


Penalties lead to Flyers' unraveling in loss

MONTREAL -- Initially, it was a tight, competitive game in which every ounce of energy seemed spent on puck battles.

No matter how defensively sound you were, there was nothing tangible to see on the scoreboard that showed any kind of reward after two periods.

Goals were again nowhere to be found for the Flyers.

Yet, instead of a climatic final period at Bell Centre against the Canadiens, the entire game disintegrated inside of 12 seconds amid what would be a penalty-filled stanza that turned something positive for the Flyers into a 4-1 Canadiens rout.

Already trailing 1-0, the Flyers were dealt a crushing blow winning a neutral zone faceoff, then Wayne Simmonds falling and losing the puck.

Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher fired a shot wide of the net and the carom came off the back boards at a weird angle right onto Lars Eller’s stick for a backhander in which goalie Ray Emery didn’t have a chance.

That made it 2-0. The goal rattled the Flyers because the game fell apart immediately after.

“They came out 3-on-2 right off the hop and that shouldn’t happen,” defenseman Nick Grossmann said. “Then [the puck] bounced off the wall and bad rebound. Just bad execution off the faceoff. It shouldn’t happen.”

Added Vinny Lecavalier, who was also on the ice for that goal: “It was a big goal for them. But we were on the ice a lot and it broke our momentum from the beginning.”

Minutes later, Gallagher made it 3-0 during a two-man Habs power-play advantage.

Game over.

Lecavalier, who to that point had the Flyers' only decent power-play chances -- let alone shots -- got it back on the power play with a rebound off a Mark Streit shot, but it wasn’t enough.

So, the Flyers, who talked about the importance of getting off to a quick start this season, are 0-2 going into Sunday afternoon’s game in Carolina.

Is it too early to call Game No. 3 a “must-win" for coach Peter Laviolette’s club?

“We gotta relax a little bit; every game is important,” Max Talbot said. “[Sunday] is a big game, but it is just three games into the season. Two games played already. Let’s just focus on [Carolina].”

What impaled the Flyers in this one was 13 penalties for 32 minutes, of which seven came in the decisive third period.

“It seemed the first two periods, every time we got going 5-on-5 it lasted about two to three minutes and then the penalty killers went back on the ice,” Laviolette said. “After they scored the goal to start the third, the penalties happened and we lost our composure.

“It unraveled from there. We’re not going to win a lot of hockey games if we go to the box as much as we did tonight.”

All that penalty killing sapped the Flyers' energy to do anything even strength.

“We’re taking too many of them, losing momentum and guys don’t get into the game and I have myself to blame for taking a couple bad ones (two stick penalties),” Grossmann said.

Eight calls were obstruction or stick fouls.

Meanwhile, the Flyers power play, which was third best in the NHL last season, is just 2 for 12. Lecavalier has the club’s only power-play goal (1 for 5) while the Flyers don’t have an even-strength goal yet.

“You look at the first game, we had a lot of chances and couldn’t score,” Lecavalier said. “Tonight a lot of penalties and tough to get that flow. We lost our momentum. We want to eliminate a few [of these].

“Maybe a few weren’t great calls, but it’s part of the game. Same thing the other way. We have to stay more disciplined with stick penalties. Get more momentum and more 5-on-5 chances.”

Unlike the season opener against Toronto, the Flyers got off to a very ragged, sloppy start and had to kill off consecutive penalties, including five seconds of a Habs 5-on-3 power play.

How ironic then that Montreal’s only goal in the first period came shortly after at even strength on a nice play at the net from Rene Bourque.

Luke Schenn was caught chasing the puck behind the Flyers' net when Bourque slid a perfect pass through the goal crease to the waiting Brian Gionta for an easy tip-in past Emery at 8:10.

Schenn’s partner, Streit, was late covering in the slot on Gionta at the post.

The second period saw most of it played in the Flyers' own end and directly in front of Emery.

It's hard to say which team was worse at finding the net -- the Flyers or Canadiens? There were too many shots high or wide on both sides, and several 4-on-4 situations, as well.

Before it was over, the Flyers were back on the penalty kill with Claude Giroux making a fancy between-the-legs move on a semi-breakaway to get a shorthanded chance on Price with 65 ticks left in the period.

Hands down, that was the Flyers' best chance. How apropos they were shorthanded, too.

“At the end of two periods, it was pretty tight defensively,” Laviolette said. “I just think if we play a cleaner game, we can roll the lines a little more, keep the flow and not wear out the penalty killers, and have certain guys sitting so long on the bench.

“Eventually, if you get enough opportunities on the power play, you will score.”



Skate Update: Briere's billboard; Emery starts

Briere: 'There's no extra friction' after buyout

MONTREAL -- The billboards are scattered throughout the Province of Quebec, but especially in the downtown area of Montreal.

“Le Club du Hockey,” they say with a picture of the Canadiens' logo and a player’s face.

One of those faces adorning the billboards from Trudeau Airport along Hwy. 20 into city centre belongs to … Danny Briere.

It caught the attention of the Flyers on Friday afternoon when they were stuck in traffic getting into the city.

“We’re driving on the highway and there’s the big billboard of Danny B,” Scott Hartnell said. “We were in the city not even two minutes and we saw his face all over the place.

“I texted him about that. We had a few texts back and forth. He’s liking it and enjoying it up here.

“He was a linemate of mine for probably four, five of the six years he was in Philly and I’m going to miss him, but tonight, it’s us against them. Both teams didn’t want the starts they had with losing the first game but we have to come out hard and try to get a win on the road.”

Emery starts

Ray Emery makes his second Flyers debut tonight at Bell Centre. The last time being during the 2009-10 season.

This is the first back-to-back situation the Flyers face this season with Sunday afternoon’s game in Carolina to follow.

Flyers coach Peter Laviolette usually has his goalie rotation mapped out for such things but admits it is always subject to change.

Next weekend, the Flyers play back-to-back, as well with Phoenix and Detroit. It’s entirely possible Emery works both games this weekend so the staff can see how he handles it.

“There’s always thoughts going into something,” Laviolette said. “I’m not going to make it set in stone. I think we have thoughts on the way things should go or who might get into the lineup where or what goaltender might play.

“Everything is always open for change. But yeah, I have thoughts [on weekend] but I would not say it is set in stone.”

Vinny’s numbers

Because it was an optional skate, not every Flyer attended the morning session at Bell Centre.

Among the missing was center Vinny Lecavalier, a real downer for the French-speaking media who gravitate to him much like they did to Briere when he came here as a Flyer.

Lecavalier goes into tonight’s game with impressive numbers against Les Canadiens – 19 goals, 42 points in 53 career games.

“I really liked his line and the game they played [against Toronto],” Laviolette said. “We'll see results from that at some point.”

Told about Lecavalier’s numbers, he replied, “That’s good news. That’s great for Vinny and the Flyers if that’s the case. I think everybody loves to come to Montreal. It’s a great building, a great atmosphere for hockey.

“Even with my French name from Massachusetts, I enjoy coming here, as well. A U.S. kid doesn’t mind it. A lot of our guys feel like that about coming here.”

Lecavalier, who had a power-play assist in the season opener against Toronto, needs eight more assists to join the 500 club (lifetime).



Voracek not concerned with line combinations

Flyers pleased with effort but want better results

MONTREAL – When Peter Laviolette changed up his top line this week, he wanted to spread out the offense more and give the Flyers' lineup more scoring balance.

That’s why Jakub Voracek moved off Claude Giroux’s unit with Scott Hartnell down to Sean Couturier’s line with Max Talbot.

No one fully bought that was the entire reason, if only because of the obvious offensive chemistry exhibited between Giroux and Voracek last season. Both these players finished first and second in leading the Flyers in scoring with 48 and 46 points, respectively.

Part of the reason for the switch, as it turns out, was more obvious: Voracek hadn’t skated daily with the team because of a lower-back injury suffered in the final week of preseason. Voracek wasn’t quite up to the skating necessary with the top line.

Laviolette figured a move would reduce his minutes a bit, but because of the Flyers' seven power plays in their opening night loss to Toronto, Voracek still ended up with 16:36 in ice time and 7:11 of power-play time.

“He’s just coming back off that injury,” Laviolette said. “It’s a little of both. There’s a lot of success with Jake and Sean and Max when they played together a couple of years ago.

“It gives us a little more [offensive] balance. Nothing is set in stone. We’re looking at things. Like I said, the other night we generated plenty of offensive chances. We got to get it to drop.”

Voracek did take third-period shifts back with his old linemates. Tonight, he could return there for good, but on Friday, it seemed like Laviolette was going to keep him on Couturier’s line against the Canadiens.

If that’s the case, Voracek isn’t concerned.

“[Couturier] is a great player,” Voracek said. “Look at him. He’s been in the league just three years. He’s 20 years old. It’s just, the first games are always kind of rough. All the emotions, lots of waiting and the first game it’s kinda, especially, at home, a lot of expectations.

“But it’s fun [playing] with Coots and Max. I’m excited about this game, too. I’m sure we’re going to contribute.”

The one advantage to playing down on a third line, he said, was you don’t go up against the other team’s shutdown defensemen. You draw a better – easier – defensive pair.

“Claude is always going to play against the better defensemen, the shutdown defensemen,” Voracek said. “It should be an advantage for me.

“I don’t want to say I am playing against worst players, but obviously, not going against their top defensemen. I just have to take advantage of that. That is what Lavy is pointing out – spread out their lineup and try to get the offense going for all three lines.”

The Flyers' scoring woes in preseason followed them into the regular season opener – just one goal against the Maple Leafs. How about a hat trick against Montreal?

“Hat trick?” Voracek asked. “Lets’ start with a ‘W’. If I get a hat trick, that’s gravy. We get two points in a tough building, that’s [better].”



Flyers-Canadiens: 5 things you need to know

The familiar No. 48 that Flyers fans have grown accustomed to won’t be on an orange and black sweater Saturday evening.

Danny Briere will face the Flyers (0-1-0) for the first time as a member of the Montreal Canadiens (0-1-0) when the puck drops at 7 p.m. at Bell Centre. The game will be televised on CSN.

With both clubs searching for its first win of the 2013-14 campaign, here are five things you need to know about Saturday’s contest:

1) A familiar face

It’s going to be an emotional night for Briere, who was bought out by the Flyers this past offseason before signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Habs.

When Briere became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2007, it was widely speculated that Briere would return to his home province and play for Montreal. Instead, he inked an eight-year, $52 million contract with the Flyers.

In six seasons with the orange and black, Briere potted 124 goals and collected 159 assists in 364 regular-season games. But it was the playoffs where Briere really made a difference. He compiled 72 points in 68 playoff contests as a Flyer.

Briere on Friday discussed competing against his former teammates for the first time this season (see story).

“It’s never easy when you face ex-teammates," Briere said. "I remember my first few games facing Buffalo with the Flyers, they were always tough games, mentally to get ready for and also on the ice. You have to shut off the fact they’re you buddies and try to move on for that three-hour span.”

2) Fresh legs

Both the Flyers and Canadiens are coming off season-opening losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs, so the two clubs should be fresh for Saturday’s matchup.

The Canadiens fell to the Leafs, 4-3, in a fight-filled contest on Tuesday. Lars Eller led Montreal offensively, scoring two goals and assisting Brendan Gallagher’s first-period tally.

In a scary moment during the third period, Canadiens enforcer George Parros was carried off the ice on a stretcher after he fell on his face during a bought against Leafs tough guy Colton Orr.

Parros sustained a concussion and won’t be available against the Flyers. Defensemen Douglas Murray (upper body), Davis Drewiske (shoulder) and wingers Steven Quailer (undisclosed) and Christian Thomas (undisclosed) are also out for Montreal.

The Leafs spoiled the Flyers’ home opener on Wednesday by handing the orange and black a 3-1 defeat. Toronto netminder Jonathan Bernier gave the Flyers fits the entire night, turning aside 31 shots. Brayden Schenn netted the Flyers’ lone goal -- a power-play marker assisted by newcomers Vinny Lecavalier and Mark Streit.

3) Get even

A contributing factor to the Flyers’ loss in the opener was the 1-for-7 display on the man advantage. The power-play units, however, did generate 13 shots and plenty of chances and looked good overall.

A bigger concern for the Flyers was their 5-on-5 play. After controlling the tempo for the first half of the game, the Flyers struggled to win battles along the boards and couldn’t get much going in their offensive zone for much of the second period and parts of the third.

The Flyers’ special-teams units were towards the top of the NHL in the lockout-shortened season last year, but it was their even-strength play that was a sizable reason why the club failed to make the postseason. It’s something worth keeping an eye on.

4) Other connections

Briere is the only player on Montreal’s roster that has spent time with the Flyers. Prior to signing in Philly, the soon-to-be 36-year-old faced off against the orange and black 16 times in his career during the regular season. He had nine goals, nine assists and was minus-2 in those games.

The Flyers have a pair of defensemen that used to suit up for the Canadiens -- Streit and Hal Gill. Streit was drafted by Montreal in the 2004 NHL draft with the 262nd pick. He spent three seasons with the Habs before joining the New York Islanders as a free agent in 2008.

Gill, who is expected to be a healthy scratch Saturday, spent parts of three seasons in Montreal. He was dealt to the Nashville Predators on Feb. 17, 2012, in exchange for Blake Geoffrion, Robert Slaney and a second-round pick in 2012.

5) This and that

• The Flyers took two of three meetings against the Canadiens last season, outscoring Montreal 13-10 in the process. The two clubs will square off three times in 2013-14.

• Jakub Voracek had the Canadiens’ number last season. In three games, Voracek had two goals and four assists while averaging over 17 minutes a contest. Claude Giroux had a goal and three assists in the season series.

• The Flyers had trouble containing Max Pacioretty in 2013. The Canadiens’ forward had a goal and assisted five more in three games. David Desharnais and Brendan Gallagher combined for four goals and two assists, as well.

• As it turns out, the Flyers won't have to deal with Pacioretty on Saturday. He is sidelined with a wrist injury.

• Ray Emery will make his first start of the season for the Flyers.



Flyers keep searching for right combinations

Voracek still recovering from injury

Oct. 6, 2013 |

Written by

Dave Isaac

MONTREAL — Jake Voracek felt something was off in the Flyers’ opening game Wednesday. He lost a half step of speed and — to him — it was extremely noticeable.

“You have more time to think if you’re ahead of other players,” said the 24-year-old winger who missed a week of practice in the preseason after crashing into the New Jersey Devils’ net in a preseason game. “I didn’t have it last game, but it’s like that every season. I played two games in the preseason so that’s basically two games in six months. Obviously everything goes on and I’m gonna feel better and better.”

Voracek, usually the top line right wing, was on the Flyers’ third line in the opener and against Montreal, although it had just as much to do with trying to get the Flyers’ other lines scoring as it did the injury.

Two seasons ago, the Flyers were second in the league with 3.17 goals per game. Last year, they dipped to 2.75 goals per game.

Coach Peter Laviolette is trying to tap back into 2012-13’s chemistry by reuniting Voracek with center Sean Couturier.

The two played together in a playoff series against Pittsburgh.

“Jake had a good year,” Laviolette said. “Sean had a good year. Max Talbot had a good year. I think we’d like to find a balance throughout our lineup. Nothing is set in stone.”

Laviolette said that putting Voracek down on the third line was to help Couturier, arguably the Flyers’ best player in the preseason, get going.

“I don’t need any motivation,” Couturier said. “I know I can produce offensively. Whether or not people think what they think, it doesn’t really matter to me. I know I can produce. I’ve just got to be patient and it will come.”

By the same token, Voracek doesn’t look at the line change as a demotion. He was on the Flyers’ top line with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell last season and took a few shifts there in the first two games this season.

“I don’t care if I play with G or Sean,” Voracek said.

“They are both great players. It’s not up to me where I’m going to be in the lineup. I’m not disappointed at all. I’m excited to be here. I want to help the team to win, whether it’s on G’s line, Vinny (Lecavalier)’s line, Sean’s line, whoever’s line.”

• Briere settling in: Just how much is Danny Briere part of the Montreal Canadiens already?

When the Flyers’ plane landed in Quebec and the team bus drove into town, they passed a billboard featuring the former Flyer in his new colors.

“We weren’t in the city two minutes and you see his face all over the place,” Scott Hartnell said with a laugh. “I texted him that. We had a few texts back and forth and he’s enjoying it up here.”

When he was a Flyer, Briere was booed every time he touched the puck in Montreal.

Lecavalier apparently took over for Briere in that area in addition to his spot on the second line. Every time No. 40 in white touched the puck, Canadiens fans let him have it.

• Carolina cooking: Today’s game against Carolina is the tail end of the first of 14 back-to-backs for the Flyers this season. On the road, the Flyers have a 34-15-9-1 record against the Hurricanes. They’ve also enjoyed four or more goals in 10 of the last 16 meetings against Carolina.

Courier-Post LOADED: 10.06.2013


Junior hockey aims to retain local talent

Oct. 6, 2013 |

Written by

Dave Isaac

IF YOU GO

• Where: Voorhees Skate Zone

• When: 1:20 p.m. today

• Tickets: $5 at USPHLFlyers.com

It’s a familiar storyline — Philadelphia being an expansion hockey market. The first time it happened, the Philadelphia Flyers were a championship franchise in less than 10 years.

The Philadelphia Flyers Junior Hockey Team is hoping for similar success.

Starting this year, there’s a new hockey franchise in the United States Premier Hockey League, which branched off the Eastern Junior Hockey League. The Skate Zone in Voorhees is home to a bunch of 19-, 20- and 21-year-old players that represent the ninth franchise in the most-competitive division.

“For the typical non-hockey fan, they don’t understand why (players) haven’t gone to college yet,” said Pat Ferrill, vice president of rink management for the Flyers’ four Skate Zone properties in the area. “Our goal with providing this level is to give our players the opportunity to play the highest level of junior hockey they can here on the East Coast before they’re ready to play NCAA Division I hockey.”

Most times if a player is good enough, he leaves home before he finishes high school to play in a more competitive league. There are junior leagues in the Canadian Hockey League attracting these players before they can really develop.

Troy Henley, a Paulsboro native, left the area to play major-midget hockey in Oakville, Ont., two years ago. The 16-year-old defenseman was a second-round pick in the OHL draft this year and will play for the Ottawa 67’s.

The level of competition in the USPHL isn’t as strong as Canadian alternatives yet, Henley said, but one day the league hopes to keep prospects like him in the area.

“We’ve built a model here in South Jersey where players don’t have to go away,” Ferrill said. “They don’t have to go to Canada. They don’t have to go to prep school. They can stay here, graduate high school, then before they would move on to play in some of the other junior leagues around the country, now, by adding this level they could, if they choose to, stay right here to the point where they’re ready to play in the NCAA.”

Of the 25 players on the Flyers Junior Team roster, 13 are from the Philadelphia region, including captain Ryan Badger, a native of Hainesport and graduate of Holy Cross High School.

Part of what feeds the Flyers Junior roster is Team Comcast, an organization that has been on the rise in the area over the last 10 years. NCAA recruiters were already aware of Team Comcast, which over the last five years has had 38 current or former players make Division I hockey commitments.

Nine players on the first Flyers Junior Team roster used to play for Team Comcast.

“Our track record as a youth program, our success both on the ice and in developing players is something that was very attractive to the founding members of the USPHL,” said Ferrill, who oversees Team Comcast as well. “We just look at the junior program as an extension, so players at Team Comcast can graduate into the junior program.”

The season kicked off for the Flyers Junior Team last month. After a showcase in Marlboro, Mass., two weeks ago, the team is 4-5-1 overall and

1-4-1 in league play entering this weekend. Games Saturday and today against the South Shore Kings open the team’s home schedule.



Flyers penalized 'way too much' in 4-1 loss to Canadiens

Oct. 6, 2013 |

Written by

Dave Isaac

MONTREAL — It didn’t take long in the third period for the person controlling the speakers at Bell Centre to pick an apt song for the Flyers.

It was “Imperial March” from Star Wars fame, only the Flyers’ night seemed longer than the trilogy.

The march was to the penalty box for one of “way too many” penalties, in Claude Giroux’s words, assessed to the Flyers in a 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

In all, there were 11 minor penalties against the Flyers and the Montreal power play was 2-for-9.

Approaching the midway point of the first period, the Flyers killed off back-to-back Montreal power plays. For their efforts, they fell behind 1-0 at even strength.

Captain Brian Gionta touched a pass from Rene Bourque, but Flyers defenseman Mark Streit tied up his stick. On a second effort, Gionta beat Ray Emery in his first start of the season at 8:10.

When the march wasn’t on, the Flyers effectively slowed down a speedy Montreal team. The only problem was the march seemed to go on and on.

“It seemed like the first two periods, every time we got going 5-on-5, it lasted about two or three minutes and then the penalty killers went back on the ice,” coach Peter Laviolette said.

With time winding down in the first period, the Flyers nearly tied it. The whistle blew when Montreal goalie Carey Price brought his glove to his chest, thinking he had trapped a shot into the logo on his jersey.

So did the official, but the puck trickled out and Matt Read put it in the net. Since the whistle was blown, the goal was negated.

Only 12 seconds into the third period, the Canadiens doubled their lead. Brendan Gallagher fired a shot from the left point. It bounced off the back boards, drawing everyone to the right side of the net except for Lars Eller, who backhanded the rebound behind Emery.

“After they scored the goal to start the third period, the penalties started to happen and we lost our composure in the game,” Laviolette said. “It unraveled from there. We’re not gonna win a lot of hockey games when we’re in the box as much as we were tonight.”

A Montreal a two-man advantage led to their third goal at 5:00 of the third period when Alex Galchenyuk fed Gallagher in the slot.

The Flyers finally got on the board when Vinny Lecavalier, who was booed every time he touched the puck, scored at 9:13 of the final stanza.

It was a power-play goal when he put home the rebound of a Streit shot. That made the power play 1-for-5 on the night.

It was the only time the Flyers beat Price, who had 22 saves.

“We didn’t play a good game. We competed, that’s for sure,” Giroux said. “At the end of the day, we had to just make the play that’s there and obviously we’ll do a lot of video and I think we’re not very happy with our game and it’s got to change.”

They won’t have much time to think about it as the puck drops against the Carolina Hurricanes at 5 p.m. today.

With all the special teams play Saturday, the Flyers still don’t have a goal at even strength through two games. This season may not be lockout-shortened, but the pressure can still mount quickly.

So far, the Flyers aren’t pressing the panic button.



Penalties hurt Flyers in loss to Montreal

Oct. 5, 2013 |

Written by

Dave Isaac

MONTREAL — Not five minutes into the third period, the speakers at Bell Centre played the “Imperial March” made famous by Star Wars.

Yet another Flyer was marching to the penalty box.

On the night, the Flyers took 12 trips to the sin bin and although they held the Montreal Canadiens’ power play at bay for a while, they had nothing to fight back with in a 4-1 loss.

Before the game the Flyers talked about their own power play, feeling that they’d eventually figure it out after going 1-for-7 in the season opener. Two games into the season and the special teams issue wasn’t their own power play. It was giving the Canadiens too many opportunities on the man advantage.

The march to the penalty box started early, only 3:43 into the game when defenseman Braydon Coburn went off for holding. Then came another one when Luke Schenn went off for boarding.

Back-to-back, the Flyers killed off the Montreal penalties. For their efforts, they fell behind 1-0 at even strength. Brian Gionta touched a pass from Rene Bourque, but Flyers defenseman Mark Streit tied up his stick. On a second effort, Gionta beat Ray Emery in his first start of the season at 8:10 of the first period.

When the march wasn’t on, the Flyers effectively slowed down a speedy Montreal team.

With time winding down in the first period, the Flyers nearly tied it. Referee Eric Furlatt blew the whistle when Montreal goalie Carey Price brought his glove to his chest, thinking he had trapped a shot into the logo on his jersey.

So did Furlatt.

The puck trickled out and Matt Read put it in the net, but Furlatt had blown the whistle, negating the goal.

The Flyers took three more marches to the box in the second period, including one by Emery for diving when Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher was also called for goalie interference.

Only 12 seconds into the third period, the Canadiens doubled their lead. Brendan Gallagher fired a shot from the left point. It bounced off the back boards, drawing everyone to the right side of the net except for Lars Eller, who backhanded the rebound behind Emery.

At 5:00 of the third period, the Montreal power play finally struck when they were ahead two men. Marches to the box by Kimmo Timonen and Max Talbot gave Montreal a two-man advantage when Alex Galchenyuk fed Gallagher for the Canadiens’ third goal.

The Flyers finally got on the board when Vinny Lecavalier, who was booed every time he touched the puck, scored at 9:13 of the final stanza. It was a power-play goal for the Flyers when he put home the rebound of a Streit shot. That made the power play 1-for-5 on the night.

It was the only time the Flyers beat Price, who stopped all but one of the 23 shots he faced.

With 7:55 left, the red light went on behind Emery again when a Travis Moen shot found its way through. Luckily for the Flyers, the goal was disallowed as the officials blew the whistle, just like they had on Read’s shot in the first period.

All in all, there were five minor penalties assessed to the Flyers in the third period, in addition to a pair of fights: holding, a faceoff violation, slashing, cross-checking and high-sticking.

Most of them were because a Flyer was trying to catch up to a man in a red uniform. By the end of the night, the Canadiens’ power play was 2-for-9. Rene Bourque added the second with 57 seconds left.


719816 Phoenix Coyotes

Is Phoenix Coyotes wing Radim Vrbata streaky? Maybe not

By Sarah McLellan azcentral sports Sat Oct 5, 2013 11:21 PM

SAN JOSE - The streaky label seems to stick to some players more than others.

In Coyotes wing Radim Vrbata’s case, it’s super-glued to him.

But why?

“Consistency would be if everybody scored 82 goals in 82 games,” Vrbata said.

Last season, Vrbata’s longest stretch of games without a goal was seven. He scored in consecutive games twice.

In 2011-12, he went 12 games without a goal but only went one game between goals seven times. He scored in back-to-back games four times and in three consecutive games three times.

“I don’t think it’s just me,” he said. “It’s everybody. If there’s a guy who scores one goal in one game and another in the next one, he feels good about himself. In the season, you will go through stretches where it seems like everything is going in and then you will have games where you have chances where you should score and it doesn’t go in.”

This is an important season for Vrbata, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. His camp and the Coyotes discussed an extension during training camp but weren’t able to reach an agreement.

“From our side, I think we did everything we could to get it done before the season opener,” Vrbata said.

The expectation is negotiations will pick back up after the season.

“It doesn’t mean you can’t have conversations,” General Manager Don Maloney said.

And Vrbata said: “If they come to us, we will listen.”

Vrbata definitely seems in line for a raise from the $3 million he earned annually on his current contract.

Wing Jason Pominville recently grabbed a five-year, $28 million extension from the Minnesota Wild.

Pominville will be 31 in November (Vrbata is 32) and has reached the 20-goal plateau in each full-length season all but once in his career. He has more career points (465) than Vrbata (416) in fewer games, but both have posted similar goal totals the past three seasons.

“If that contract gives you an indication of where the market is,” Vrbata’s agent, Rich Evans, said, “we’ll see when we get there.”

First fight

Wing Chris Brown played only 5:27 in Thursday’s opener, but he still managed to make an impression.

Brown fought Rangers tough guy Derek Dorsett after Dorsett tripped up goalie Mike Smith late in the third period.

“I think it’s part of everyone’s role,” Brown said. “It’s kind of the identity of the team. Everyone’s going to stick up for everyone when the time’s needed.”

Ice chip

Defenseman Rusty Klesla (concussion) has been cleared for contact. He skated in the Valley on Saturday with wing Paul Bissonnette, who has one game remaining on his three-game suspension.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 10.06.2013


Phoenix Coyotes fall to San Jose Sharks for their first loss of season

By Sarah McLellan azcentral sports Sat Oct 5, 2013 10:12 PM

SAN JOSE – It’ll be another 10 days before the Coyotes get reacquainted with Jobing.com Arena as they’re in the midst of their longest stretch of road games of the season.

But they didn’t forget to pack their welcome mat for this five-game trip.

They laid that in front of their crease Saturday against the Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose, giving up 51 shots and falling 4-1 to the Sharks in front of a sellout crowd of 17,562.

“I just was trying to tell myself, ‘Make as many saves as you can and maybe we can figure it out,’” goalie Mike Smith said.

A flurry of bodies and pucks regularly crowded the blue paint in front of Smith, who limited the onslaught by making a handful of difficult saves.

At one point early in the third period, he had six players either sprawled in his crease or hovering over it while he was pushed back into the net after making a double-pad save on Sharks winger John McCarthy.

“The battle level wasn’t near where it needed to be, including in front of our net,” Smith said.

He finished with 47 saves while Sharks goalie Antti Niemi was barely challenged on the 22 saves he made.

The area on the ice that the Coyotes attempt to protect the most, the middle of their defensive zone, was the one spot left most vulnerable.

Only 46 seconds into the first period, Sharks rookie Tomas Hertl caught a stretch pass on a bad Coyotes line change and split the defense to go in alone and slip a shot five-hole on Smith.

“I’m thinking it’s going to be one of these games,” Smith said.

It was Hertl’s first NHL goal in only his second game, and it didn’t take long for an encore once center Kyle Chipchura was whistled for high-sticking.

“It was downhill from there,” coach Dave Tippett said.

On the power play, Hertl redirected a point shot from defenseman Matt Irwin at 7:23 to put the Sharks up 2-0.

Another power play goal 5:07 later made it 3-0. Smith made the initial save on center Joe Pavelski, but Marc-Edouard Vlasic picked up the rebound and found center Patrick Marleau for the one-timer at the top of Smith’s crease.

The Sharks outshot the Coyotes 18-8 in the first period, erasing any warm and fuzzy feelings that might have lingered from Thursday’s winning debut against the New York Rangers.

“We didn’t execute well and we got out-battled on loose pucks and when you don’t have the puck ever, you’re chasing the game,” Tippett said.

The Coyotes weren’t able to generate much of anything in the offensive zone. Their only goal, from Oliver Ekman-Larsson at 16:47 of the second period, was an individual effort from the defenseman. Ekman-Larsson skated the puck up from the Coyotes zone, pivoted to avoid a check in the neutral zone and then wired a shot off the rush that handcuffed Niemi.

Center Logan Couture iced it in the third by roofing a shot into an empty net with 25 seconds left.

This is a retooled offense. The addition of center Mike Ribeiro has changed up most of the lines from last season, and it’s likely to take time for chemistry to develop.

Their four-goal outburst against the Rangers was mostly a hat trick from an opportunistic Radim Vrbata and not a result of tic-tac-toe set-ups from cohesive lines.

But it isn’t as easy to forgive the defensive lapses. The top-two pairs returned from last season, and the Coyotes had a month of

training

camp as a refresher course of their style.

“It’s just one of those games nothing was clean,” Smith said. “Every pass seemed like it hit one of their sticks. Every time we tried to get a shot, it was blocked. We just couldn’t get anything going.”

What didn’t help was playing shorthanded. Defenseman Derek Morris left in the second period with an upper-body injury and didn’t return.

Tippett didn’t have an update on his status after the game.

The Coyotes hope this isn’t a sign of what’s to come on the road. Last season, they went 7-10-7 away from Jobing.com Arena and named that showing as one of the culprits for a non-playoff finish.

They’ll have time to make some adjustments before their road adventure continues. The Coyotes returned to the Valley after the game and won’t depart for the rest of their trip until Monday.

“We weren’t on the forecheck,” Smith said. “We were watching and waiting for something to happen instead of making something happen. Hopefully we’ll learn a huge lesson from this game.”

Sharks 4, Coyotes 1

Key player: Sharks rookie Tomas Hertl continues to impress. The center scored the first two goals of his NHL career against Coyotes goalie Mike Smith, who previously had dominated the Sharks.

Key moment: A brief 46 seconds into the first period, Hertl split the Coyotes defense and beat Smith five-hole. The Coyotes weren’t able to rebound after that.

Key number: 18 First-period shots for the Sharks. The Coyotes managed only eight.

Why the Coyotes lost: The Coyotes weren’t able to alleviate the pressure put on them by the Sharks offense, and they struggled to find their own quality chances. The Sharks had a feeding-frenzy in front of Smith’s net, regularly finding shots and setting screens. At the other end of the ice, the Coyotes had trouble planting bodies in front of goalie Antti Niemi to make his stops more difficult.

View from the press box: His off-season price tag was too steep for the Coyotes, but what they lacked against the Sharks was the presence of a Boyd Gordon. The center was a penalty-killing pest because of his active stick and ability to get into shooting lanes and absorb shots with his body. The Coyotes weren’t able to apply that type of forecheck to the Sharks and gave up two power-play goals. The penalty kill, it seems, is still a work in progress.

UP NEXT:

Who: Coyotes at Islanders.

When: Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

TV/radio: KTAR-AM 620.



Game Day: Coyotes at Sharks

Posted on October 5, 2013 3:48 pm by Sarah McLellan

Coyotes (1-0-0) at Sharks (1-0-0)

Puck drop: 7:30 p.m.

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-FM (92.3).

Possible Coyotes lines:

Boedker-Ribeiro-Doan

Korpikoski-Hanzal-Vrbata

Lessio-Vermette-Moss

Klinkhammer-Chipchura-Brown

Ekman-Larsson-Michalek

Yandle-Morris

Schlemko-Rundblad

Smith

Potential scratches: Bissonnette, Stone and Summers.

Injury update: Defenseman Rusty Klesla (concussion). Klesla has been cleared for contact, but he is not with the team in San Jose.

Possible Sharks lines:

Hertl-Thornton-Burns

Kennedy-Couture-Marleau

Nieto-Pavelski-Wingels

Sheppard-Desjardins-McCarthy

Vlasic-Braun

Irwin-Boyle

Demers-Hannan

Niemi

Potential scratches: Defenseman Brad Stuart and winger Adam Burish.

Injury update: Stuart (lower-body), Burish (lower-body), winger Martin Havlat is on injured reserve (pelvis) and winger Raffi Torres is out for three to five months with a torn ACL.

On the Sharks:

“We’re striving to become that really good team on a consistent basis,” coach Dave Tippett said. “I would say the Sharks mirror that, also. They’re a team that does a lot of little things right.”

Why the optional morning skate:

“You read your team everyday, where you think they are,” Tippett said. “After a good opening game, we had a pretty spirited practice yesterday. So we came in this morning, (and) we had some guys that wanted to stay off the ice. It’s whatever we have to do to maximize our energy for the game is what we’ll do. We’ll just manage that day-by-day.”

On the start of a five-game road trip:

“The way our schedule’s set up we knew how important that first game was at home,” Tippett said. “Now we go on the road for five games, and it’s going to be a challenge. It’ll be a hard go here, but I think it’ll be a great character builder for our team.”

-Goaltender Mike Smith has a 7-3-1 career record against the Sharks with a 2.01 goals-against-average and a .945 save percentage. He registered a 2-0-0 record with a

0.48 goals-against average, a .985 save percentage and a shutout in two starts vs. the Sharks a season ago.

-The Coyotes are 6-3-2 against the Sharks the past two seasons.

-Defenseman Keith Yandle is one of seven players to finish in the top-25 in NHL defensemen scoring in each of the last three seasons.

-Winger Lauri Korpikoski is one point shy of recording 100 with the Coyotes.

-The Sharks had two player make their NHL debuts Thursday: forwards Tomas Hertl and Matt Nieto. Both became the first two Sharks players born after the franchise’s first game (Oct. 4, 1991) to appear in a regular-season contest for the Sharks.

-Since 2010-11, goalie Antti Niemi ranks tied-for-third in the NHL in wins (94).


719819 Pittsburgh Penguins

Veteran Kobasew provides more offense in Pens' win over Sabres

By Rob Rossi

Updated 6 hours ago

Chuck Kobasew wasn't even supposed to be here.

He arrived in Pittsburgh a day before training camp opened and worked on a professional tryout contract until Wednesday, when he signed for the veteran minimum.

The Penguins have received maximum value from that deal at the start of the NHL season.

Kobasew scored again Saturday night, giving him two goals in as many games, and the Penguins defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 4-1, at Consol Energy Center.

Kobasew has gone to the net to tie forward Craig Adams and captain Sidney Crosby for the Penguins' goal lead.

“That's where you have to go to score in this league,” Kobasew said. “Some goals are scored off the rush, but most are not.”

Most opportunities did not interest Kobasew, three times a former 20-goal scorer, before the Penguins invited him to camp in mid-September.

General manager Ray Shero liked Kobasew's blend of skill, speed and grit — and the scouting report provided by Crosby, who worked out with Kobasew during the lockout and this past summer.

“Ray asked me about him,” Crosby said. “He's a good player. And obviously he had a really good camp.”

Kobasew has had an even better start to the season with two goals and consistent work on a third line.

Crosby, left winger Chris Kunitz (penalty shot) and Adams also scored Saturday for the Penguins (2-0-0, 4 points), who next face Carolina at home on Tuesday night.

Crosby won 24 of 41 faceoffs, and the Penguins and Sabres combined for 75 draws — a number Crosby attributed to “all the whistles,” a reference, in part, to the hybrid-icing rule adopted for this season.

The Penguins have not adopted a new attention to defense, even though they are credited for 39 blocked shots through two games.

“Probably not as much last year,” Crosby said of talk among players about tightening up in their own end.

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who waived a jolly roger flag to support the Pirates' playoff run when announced as the No. 2 star after the game, described as the play in front of him as “great.”

He stopped 20 shots, coming within a goal by Buffalo winger Thomas Vanek of his 25th shutout.

Fleury has never posted back-to-back shutouts in the NHL.

Kobasew said he never sets an objective for the number of goals he would need to score to have a successful season.

He has not hit double-digits in goals since 2008-09, his second of consecutive campaigns with 20-plus markers.

The Penguins are not counting on him to lead their offensive charge, though they could use some help because of injuries to right winger James Neal (upper body) and defenseman Kris Letang (lower body).

Neal is the set marksman for center Evgeni Malkin, who attempted eight shots — four found their way on net — after not taking one in the opening win over New Jersey.

Letang, the only point-per-game defenseman in the NHL last season, is the catalyst from the backend.

With Letang out, defenseman Matt Niskanen has assumed a top-four role on defense, paired with free-agent returnee Rob Scuderi. Niskanen has produced three assists and a plus-4 rating.

There was a time in August when the consensus among those outside the Penguins organization was that Niskanen would be traded for salary-cap relief.

There was a time in August when Kobasew was not sure whether he would land work in a league dealing with a salary-cap decrease for the first time.

He always had his eye on the Penguins.

“I watched this team a lot the last couple of seasons because of all their games on national TV,” Kobasew said. “I had a pretty good idea of what they do and what I could do for them.

“I picked them for a reason. I didn't know how it would work out, but so far it's been really good.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 10.06.2013


Penguins notebook: Letang resumes skating

By Rob Rossi

Kris Letang skated on his own Saturday.

For a defenseman with Norris Trophy aspirations, that might not seem like much, but it is progress.

Letang had not skated since Sept. 27, when he practiced with Penguins teammates in West Point, N.Y.

He remains out indefinitely with an undisclosed lower-body injury, although coach Dan Bylsma seemed to be encouraged by where Letang is with his recovery.

“I don't have an exact timetable on when he will return to practice for sure, but he's progressing real well,” Bylsma said.

Letang is eligible to be removed from the injured reserve list Tuesday.

Letang's absence has opened a spot on the roster — and playing time — for Olli Maatta, the 22nd pick at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Maatta again was paired with Robert Bortuzzo for the Penguins' game against Buffalo at Consol Energy Center on Saturday.

Because he still is eligible for junior hockey, Maatta, 19, must play with the Penguins or his junior club (London). He can play nine NHL games before this season would count as the first on his entry-level deal.

Although a permanent stay for Maatta remains unlikely because of contractual reasons, Bylsma has not ruled out that possibility.

“There are hypothetical (situations, such as injuries and/or trades) that could happen,” he said.

Injuries Part 2

Winger Matt D'Agostini also is out with a lower-body injury, although there is a clearer picture for his return. He could practice Oct. 16 or 18, Bylsma said. The Penguins play at Philadelphia in between.

Right winger James Neal (upper body) is out indefinitely. He has not practiced since Monday, although he played sparingly Thursday against New Jersey at home.

Goalie Tomas Vokoun (blood clot) is out until at least January.

Love in

A sellout crowd provided a standing ovation to members of the Pirates, led by Andrew McCutchen in an Evgeni Malkin jersey, who watched the Penguins-Sabres game from a luxury suite.

The players were shown on the video board late in the first period. An “MVP” chant followed the ovation as McCutchen made a face at the camera. A jolly roger flag hangs from the ceiling inside the Penguins' home dressing room.

Duck soup

Anaheim, which is in the market for a defenseman, had a scout at Consol. Philadelphia, Phoenix and Minnesota also had scouts in attendance.

View from atop

Three assistant coaches are one too many for behind the bench.

The plan remains for one of the Penguins' assistants — Tony Granato, Todd Reirden and Jacques Martin — to work from the media level during games. That coach communicates with another assistant via a headset. Former goalie coach Gilles Meloche used to hold that responsibility.

Granato, not behind the bench Thursday, replaced Martin there Saturday.

Around the boards

Cassidy Wolf, the reigning Miss Teen USA, said on Twitter that she attended Saturday's game and that it was her first NHL contest. … The

Mario Lemieux Foundation's Penguins 6.6K Run/Walk starts at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, with registration at 7 a.m. Many members of the Penguins organization are expected to be on hand for the inaugural event.

Tribune Review LOADED: 10.06.2013


Penguins notebook: Bennett expected to return to right wing

October 6, 2013 12:15 am

By Shelly Anderson / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

For weeks, Beau Bennett was asked ad nauseam about switching from his natural position, right wing, to the left side, where he was expected to play for the Penguins alongside Evgeni Malkin or Brandon Sutter.

He insisted it doesn't really matter.

Now it really, really doesn't matter.

With James Neal out of the lineup for potentially an extended amount of time because of an unspecified upper-body injury, Bennett, 21, is expected to be one player, if not the main player, to fill in on Malkin's right wing. Jussi Jokinen on the left side, Malkin and Bennett was the combination primarily used on that second line Saturday night against Buffalo at Consol Energy Center.

"I've been playing left for a while now, so it's just kind of getting back in the swing of things on the right side," Bennett, a right-handed shot, said. "There's really not that much difference, especially with a smart guy like Jussi.

"When we come back in the zone, if he's on my side, I'll stay on his and whatnot. We're kind of all over the place, reading off of each other. For the most part, it's pretty much the same."

Playing with an elite, creative player such as Malkin has its challenges, regardless of which side a winger is stationed. Malkin and Neal have developed a strong rapport.

"When you see [Neal] playing on that side, they're always supporting each other no matter where it is on the ice," Bennett said. "You want to develop that chemistry, that trust, and it will only get better with time."

Bennett and Jokinen have often played on the second power-play unit and already know each others' tendencies.

"We talk quite a bit," Bennett said. "He's a smart guy. You just have to read and react to what he's doing."

There was no update on Neal, who is out on a week-to-week basis.

Letang skating again

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang skated on his own briefly before the team's game-day skate, his first time on the ice since he got what is believed to be a knee injury Sept. 27 in practice.

"I don't have an exact timetable on when he would return to practice for sure, but he's progressed real well," coach Dan Bylsma said. "I hope [his return to practice] is in the near future."

Letang is eligible to come off of injured reserve in time to play Tuesday against Carolina, but there is no indication of whether he will be ready for that game.

Winger Matt D'Agostini, who is on long-term injured reserve because of an unspecified injury, could be back to practice in less than two weeks.

"I'm looking for Matt probably about the 16th or the 18th -- we play [at Philadelphia] on the 17th," Bylsma said.

Sabres summon goalie

Around midnight Friday night, goaltender Matt Hackett was decompressing from a rough outing with the Rochester Americans, when he gave up six goals on 30 shots in an 8-1, season-opening loss to defending American Hockey League champion Grand Rapids.

"I was home, about to pass out," Hackett, 23, said.

He didn't expect his phone to ring, and especially not the call he got: The Sabres were summoning him to Pittsburgh because goalie Ryan Miller came out of a 1-0 loss to Ottawa that night with a minor injury.

"I never saw being called up after giving up six goals coming," Hackett said.

He drove from Rochester to Buffalo, and a driver brought him to Consol Energy Center in time for a Sabres optional morning skate.

"It's been a crazy night," he said after the skate.

Hackett dressed as Jhonas Enroth's backup against the Penguins. Miller reportedly had a sore groin, and coach Ron Rolston said his No. 1 goalie is expected to be back quickly.

Quick hits

The Penguins' only healthy scratch was defenseman Deryk Engelland. ... Defenseman Henrik Tallinder did not play. He was injured in the Ottawa game and could miss about a week, Rolston said. ... The Sabres are splitting their captaincy this season, with center Steve Ott wearing the "C" on the road and winger Thomas Vanek wearing it for home games.

Post Gazette LOADED: 10.06.2013


On the Penguins: Who can contend for the hardware?

October 6, 2013 12:14 am

By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This game, at its heart, is really all about just one trophy.

Stands nearly three feet tall, weighs 341/2 pounds. Has a bit of a glow to it.

Over the decades, it has held everything from champagne to dog food, along with the dreams of countless players and fans.

Heck, it single-handedly has made the name Stanley cool.

But the Stanley Cup is not the NHL's only piece of hardware, as evidenced by the bounty of Art Ross trophies -- 14, at last count -- the Penguins have collected since the late 1980s.

Some individual awards, like the Calder and the Vezina, are infused with the game's heritage; others, such as the Mark Messier Leadership Award, haven't been around long enough to collect more than a thin layer of dust while resting on their recipients' mantels.

Here's a look at trophies for which Penguins players are expected to contend in 2013-14.

Hart (League MVP)

Candidates: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin.

What it will take: Expectations, as usual, are high for the Penguins, and if the team lives up to them, voters are likely to recognize the contributions of Crosby and/or Malkin, assuming they play a major role in the group's success.

Why it might not happen: There are lots of terrific talents in the league, including Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in Chicago, and if a high-profile player -- say, Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos -- carries his club to a better-than-anticipated season, he would be a worthy contender for the Hart.

Early-season favorite: Crosby.

Art Ross (Scoring champion)

Candidates: Crosby, Malkin.

What it will take: For Crosby, output like he had before a broken jaw forced him to miss the final quarter of last season probably would suffice. For Malkin, matching -- or exceeding -- the kind of production he generated en route to two previous Rosses could do it.

Why it might not happen: Crosby has proven capable of doing just about everything in recent seasons -- except staying healthy. If he can pull that off, however, Malkin might be hard-pressed to match his pace.

Early-season favorite: Crosby.

Norris (Best defenseman)

Candidate: Kris Letang.

What it will take: Keeping his offensive game at its current level, or even raising it, while exorcising some of his defensive-zone flaws.

Why it might not happen: Starting the season on injured-reserve when there are so many Norris-worthy defensemen in the league doesn't bode well for his chances.

Early-season favorite: Ryan Suter (Minnesota).

Rocket Richard (Goal-scoring champion)

Candidate: Malkin.

What it will take: Malkin already has a 50-goal season to his credit and losing linemate James Neal, a darkhorse Richard possibility before an unspecified injury forced him out of the lineup indefinitely, might actually pad Malkin's total by prompting him to shoot in some situations when he might otherwise have tried to set up Neal.

Why it might not happen: Although Malkin is a accomplished goal-scorer, there are a few other guys, Alex Ovechkin of Washington and Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos prominent among them, who generally find the net even more often than he does.

Early-season favorite: Ovechkin.

Selke (Top defensive forward)

Candidate: Pascal Dupuis.

What it will take: Something just shy of divine intervention. Not because there are any soft spots in Dupuis' defensive work, including his strong penalty-killing, but because there's a group of perennial contenders for the award, and he's not one of them. Still, people whose attention is caught by his offensive numbers might look closely enough to notice the rest of his game.

Why it might not happen: Guys generally have to be Selke-worthy for about three years before they actually win the award, and that statute of limitations still is running for Dupuis.

Early-season favorite: Patrice Bergeron (Boston).

The week ahead

Tuesday: Carolina ... The Penguins didn't see former teammate Jordan Staal until the final game of the 2013 regular season. They won't have to wait nearly that long this time.

Friday: at Florida ... Seems like a waste to travel to south Florida at a time when the weather in Western Pennsylvania still is quite pleasant.

Saturday: at Tampa Bay ... Games against the Lightning just won't be the same after the departure of its captain and franchise cornerstone, Vincent Lecavalier.



Penguins top Buffalo Sabres, 4-1

October 5, 2013 9:49 pm

By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Chances are the Penguins won't put in a rush order for a new banner to celebrate this accomplishment.

It's not likely to take away any luster from the Stanley Cup, the conference championships and division titles they've earned in the past 18 years, either.

Nonetheless, the Penguins' 4-1 victory against Buffalo Saturday night at Consol Energy Center did have some historical significance: It marked the first time they have won their first two home games in a season since 1995.

"No way," goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said. "I didn't know that."

Not many people did. Or would have guessed, for that matter.

"With all the [good] teams we've had here, that's surprising," Fleury said. "Feels good, though."

It should, because the Penguins have earned their two victories with pretty solid, responsible efforts.

"There's no doubt we can improve and execute a little bit better," center Sidney Crosby said. "But I think our work ethic and our commitment to playing defense has been there, and that's allowed us to win some games."

And nearly made it possible for Fleury and his teammates to carve out another niche in the franchise record book.

For while they have not opened a season with consecutive shutouts since entering the NHL in 1967, that nearly changed Saturday.

Fleury, who recorded a 3-0 shutout against New Jersey in the opener last Thursday, looked as if he would hold the Sabres goal-less, as well, until Thomas Vanek knocked a puck out of the air and past him at 15:06 of the third period.

"It's a little bit [disappointing]," Fleury said. "I don't think I've had two straight shutouts, either, so it would have been nice to get those, but you can't be selfish."

The Sabres, who have played three times in four days, have put together a few striking numbers of their own in the first week of the season. None are positive.

Buffalo has started a season with three regulation losses in a row for the first time, has failed to convert any of 13 power plays and has manufactured a total of two -- count 'em, two -- goals in 180 minutes.

Pretty tough to win when you're averaging two-thirds of a goal per game. Almost as difficult as it is to lose when you're allowing an average of one-half per game.

But even though the Sabres didn't manufacture many shots, Fleury had to make a few quality stops, including a couple when the outcome wasn't certain.

At 4:10 of the first period, he denied Cory Hodgson on a redirection and then, with 70 seconds to go before the intermission, rejected a turning shot in front by Drew Stafford.

The Penguins played without defenseman Kris Letang and right winger James Neal, and the Sabres were missing a big name, too, as goalie Ryan Miller did not dress because of an undisclosed injury.

Whether Miller could have had an impact on the outcome is debatable, though, because Sabres goaltender Jhonas Enroth played well and made several excellent stops to prevent the Penguins, who spent much of the game in the Buffalo zone, from putting the game out of reach long before it ended.

"When we put our mind to playing in their end, you could see that we can keep them in there for long stretches, and obviously that's a good place to play," right winger Craig Adams said.

Still, Enroth could not stop them from building a two-goal advantage in the opening period.

Crosby gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead with his second goal of the season at 3:39 of the first, as he punched his own rebound past Enroth from the front lip of the crease.

At this point in his career, Crosby must enjoy seeing the Sabres even more than some of their most dedicated fans, considering he has at least one point in each of his past 15 games against them.

Chuck Kobasew deflected a Brandon Sutter shot by Enroth at 13:43 for his second goal in two games.

Enroth prevented Kobasew -- and everyone else -- from adding to the Penguins' lead until 10:09 of the third, when Chris Kunitz scored on a penalty shot to make it 3-0 and, after Vanek spoiled Fleury's shutout, Adams hit an empty net at 18:15 to give the Penguins their margin of victory.

And the 2-0 start on home ice that has eluded them for nearly two decades.

"We want to be really good here and make it tough on other teams," Crosby said. "Defensively, the way we're playing, I think we've frustrated a couple of teams here. That's what we wanted to do."


719824 San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks stay undefeated, down Phoenix Coyotes

By David Pollak

[email protected]

Posted: 10/05/2013 10:18:20 PM PDT

Updated: 10/06/2013 12:00:41 AM PDT

SAN JOSE -- Somebody forgot to tell rookie Tomas Hertl that Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith owns the Sharks. Or maybe it was the language barrier.

Either way, two goals by the 19-year-old forward from the Czech Republic early in the first period sparked San Jose to a 4-1 victory Saturday night over the Coyotes to keep the Sharks undefeated in this young season.

"Language barrier maybe," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said of what may have helped Hertl beat Smith. "But to score on the first shot against him, that kind of gives him a little more confidence that you can beat him. He certainly had our number so we're happy with that."

Patrick Marleau added his second goal of the season shortly after Hertl's pair to stake the Sharks to a 3-0 lead that held up until Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson beat San Jose goalie Antti Niemi late in the second period. Logan Couture scored into an empty net for the final Sharks goal with 24.6 seconds remaining in the game.

Hertl has a perpetual smile on his face, and it was even wider after the game. That might have been because the goals came on his girlfriend's birthday and she, along with the rookie's mother, had traveled from the Czech Republic to see him play.

That was his girlfriend, in fact, that Hertl was pointing to in the crowd after he scored.

"It's crazy, I'm very happy," Hertl said in his limited English.

Hertl has shown quickly why the Sharks used the 17th overall pick to make him their first-round choice in the 2012 draft.

That his two goals came against Smith gave them added weight. The Coyotes netminder was 6-0-1 in his past seven starts against the Sharks and had a .985 save percentage in two games against them last season.

English skills aside, it didn't take Hertl long to communicate that he wasn't cowed by Smith's reputation as the rookie's first goal came on his first shot just 46 seconds into the game.

The play developed as defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic stopped a Coyotes rush through the neutral zone, then delivered the puck to Hertl as he was about to cross into the Phoenix zone.

"He was completely open," Vlasic said. "Their d-men changed, so I gave it up right away. Good things happen when you do that."

Hertl headed straight to the net before the Coyotes defense could recover, then shoveled a backhand shot past Smith.

The rookie's second goal came on a Sharks power play that came to life with two goals Saturday night after going 0 for 8 in San Jose's opening game.

This time, Hertl was simply in the right place at the right time, stationed in the slot where he could deflect Matt Irwin's shot from the blue line over Smith's glove at 7:23.

About five minutes later, the Sharks were on their second power play when the rebound of a shot by Joe Pavelski caromed to Vlasic, who put it on Marleau's stick just outside the crease.

"He was square right in front of me," Vlasic said of Marleau. "Patty scores 40 goals a year. I might as well give it to him, right?"

San Jose continued to dominate play in the second period before the Coyotes took advantage of a lapse that let an unchecked Ekman-Larsson fire a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that beat Niemi at 16:47.

But the Sharks defense stiffened, allowing Phoenix just six shots in the third period while San Jose threw 17 pucks at Smith. The Sharks outshot the Coyotes for the game 51-23.

McLellan made one change in the lineup that won San Jose's season opener against the Vancouver Canucks, inserting John McCarthy at right wing on the fourth line in place of Matt Pelech.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 10.06.2013


Sharks seek breakthrough against Coyotes' Mike Smith

By David Pollak

[email protected]

Posted: 10/05/2013 12:24:00 PM PDT

Updated: 10/05/2013 12:24:03 PM PDT

SAN JOSE -- The Sharks are going to have to beat a goaltender who has had their number in recent years Saturday night if they're going to start the season 2-0 with a win over the Phoenix Coyotes.

At one time they did have some success against Mike Smith, going 3-1 in their first four games against him. But San Jose is 0-6-1 against Smith the last seven times they faced him and his stats last year alone were a staggeringly good 2-0-0 with a .985 save percentage and a 0.48 goals against average.

So does coach Todd McLellan worry about Smith's past success getting inside his players' heads?

"If we over-hype a goaltender because he's played well against us, it isn't going to do us any good. We've got to try and help our group and find ways to beat him," McLellan said. "He feels good playing against us. It's our job to try and turn the tide a little bit."

Players say that while they'll factor in Smith's tendencies, the best way to beat him is the same as the best way to beat any goalie: Get traffic in front of the net and multiple shots in succession.

"Any goalie can make the first or second stop," Logan Couture said. "You get the third shot, you're probably going to score.

Smith provides an extra challenge as the NHL's best puck-handling goalie, often serving as a third defenseman to get the Coyote offense going. That means the Sharks have to be extra careful about where they dump the puck in the Phoenix zone.

"We have to keep it away from him," Couture said.

But Joe Pavelski saw Smith's style of play as something that could generate scoring chances for San Jose.

"So if he's playing it in the corners, that's fine because he's out roaming and there's more of a chance to make a mistake," Pavelski said. "But we've got to place it well."

McLellan planned one lineup change with John McCarthy replacing Matt Pelech on the fourth line. That means veteran defenseman Brad Stuart will miss his second game as he recovers from an offseason injury.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 10.06.2013


Tomas Hertl leads San Jose Sharks over Phoenix 4-1

Ross McKeon

Updated 11:34 pm, Saturday, October 5, 2013

Tomas Hertl introduced himself to the NHL in a big way Saturday night.

San Jose's 19-year-old rookie sensation scored his first two career goals, celebrating each with sincere youthful enthusiasm, to lead the Sharks past the Phoenix Coyotes 4-1.

"He's probably dreamed about playing in the NHL since he was 5 or 6 years old," captain Joe Thornton said. "You can see him smiling from ear to ear. We love it."

Leave it to the talented Czech to solve a goalie who has given the Sharks fits of late. Phoenix's Mike Smith was 6-0-1 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .971 save percentage and four shutouts in his previous seven decisions against San Jose. Big, quick and good with his stick, Smith was definitely in Sharks shooters' heads.

But Hertl wasted no time in taking down San Jose's nemesis, making good a breakaway in the game's opening minute and recording his team's first power-play goal of the season shortly thereafter.

The Sharks (2-0) took advantage of a slow Phoenix change when defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic's outlet pass sprung Hertl, who split Coyotes blue liners Oliver Eckman-Larsson and John Morris on his way to beating Smith between the pads with a backhand shot 46 seconds after the opening face-off.

After Larsson held Logan Couture at 6:34, the Sharks snapped an 0-for-8 start on the power play 48 seconds into the advantage. With his back to the goal, Hertl redirected a midair drive by defenseman Matt Irwin from the right point past Smith at 7:23.

"You can see how he's having fun with it, and he's smiling so much," Patrick Marleau said. "He brings a lot of energy to us and it's fun to see."

After each goal, Hertl flashed a big smile while skating quickly away from the goal with his hands high in the air. He pointed toward his mother and girlfriend, who was celebrating a birthday, after his first goal.

"It's crazy, and to win, I'm very happy," Hertl said.

The Sharks' opening-period domination continued when Phoenix's Kyle Chipchura high-sticked Thornton at 10:35 and the hosts put a whopping eight shots on goal in converting a second straight power play. Marleau's 406th career goal - tying him with Rod Gilbert and John Leclair for 84th on the NHL's all-time list - came on a tap-in to cap a three-shot sequence in close at 12:30. Smith made saves on Joe Pavelski and Vlasic, but the puck popped free to an unmarked Marleau.

The Coyotes finally broke through late when Larsson used Vlasic as a screen to beat San Jose goalie Antti Niemi with a drive from the right circle at 16:47 of the second period on Phoenix's 14th shot of the game.

Couture closed the scoring with an empty-net goal with 24.6 seconds left.

Niemi stopped 22 shotsas the Sharks finished with a 51-23 edge in shots.

Briefly: Defenseman Brad Stuart is getting close, but missed his second straight game due to a lower-body injury that sidelined him for all preseason games. ... Phoenix backup goalie and ex-Shark Thomas Greiss was given a warm ovation when shown on the video board in the first period.

San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 10.06.2013


Sharks, Hertl finally get to Coyotes' Smith

Kevin Kurz

October 5, 2013, 11:15 pm

SAN JOSE – First two career NHL goals aside, Sharks rookie Tomas Hertl’s timing is impeccable.

Against a goaltender that has quite simply owned the Sharks over the last two years, it took Hertl less than a minute to flip a breakaway backhander past Mike Smith in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Phoenix at SAP Center.

After leaping into the air in joyous celebration, he pointed towards the stands to his mother and girlfriend, the latter of which just happened to be celebrating her birthday.

Hertl scored again less than seven minutes later on the power play, and the Sharks skated to their second win in as many tries in a game in which they were never really in danger. San Jose outshot the Coyotes 51-23, also getting goals from Patrick Marleau (power play) and Logan Couture (empty net). Antti Niemi made 22 saves and has allowed just two goals in two games.

But the evening belonged to Hertl, and on several occasions in the game, sections of the sellout crowd at the Shark Tank were heard chanting the 19-year-old Czech native’s name.

“It’s a big night for him, an exciting night, and one that he’ll remember for a long time. And, one that we’ll all remember as well,” Todd McLellan said. “We were part of his first goal, and second win. More importantly, the group played really, really well.”

Getting that early marker against Smith, who had a 6-0-1 record, 1.00 goals-against average and .971 save percentage in his last seven starts against the Sharks, was key. Adding a second and a third before the first period was over was even better.

Joe Thornton said: “You know he’s a world-class goalie. You’ve just got to make your shots count. Early on we got to him a little bit, and if you can get a couple quick goals on him, it definitely helps.”

“To score on the first shot against [Smith], that kind of gives you a little more confidence that you can beat him,” McLellan said. “He’s certainly had our number, so we’re happy with that.”

Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic earned the primary assist on Hertl’s first goal and again on Marleau’s power play goal with a couple of slick feeds. Vlasic spotted Hertl behind the Coyotes’ defense in the neutral zone and fed him with a perfect tape-to-tape pass from behind the blue line, and later gobbled up the rebound of a Joe Pavelski shot and slid it to Marleau for a slam dunk on a power play at 12:30 of the first period.

Vlasic said: “Patty scores 40 goals a year. Might as well give it to him, right?”

The goal was Marleau’s second in as many games, while Vlasic has three assists on the young season.

The Coyotes finally showed signs to life late in the second period, when Oliver Ekman-Larsson used Vlasic as a screen to make it 3-1 at 16:47 of the second period. Phoenix took some momentum from the goal, but the Sharks got to the second intermission with their two-goal cushion unharmed.

The third period saw San Jose outshoot Phoenix, 17-6.

“We probably had them for a period and a half, they score that goal and you kind of feel it shift a little bit,” Thornton said of the momentum. “It was nice to come in here and relax, get focused, come back and play well in the third.”

McLellan said: “We were on our heels a little bit there [late in the second]. After that, we reestablished our play, and went after them.”

Hertl, though, was the one that gave the home team the momentum in the first place, becoming the youngest Sharks player since Marleau in 1999 to record a two-goal night.

“You can see how he’s having fun out there, smiling a lot,” Marleau said. “He brings a lot of energy to this group, and it’s fun to see.”

SHARKS NOTES

The Sharks registered 50 shots on goal for the ninth time in franchise history. Eight of those have come under McLellan. … Marleau had a game-high eight shots on goal. … Pavelski had two assists.



Instant Replay: Sharks bite early, beat Coyotes 4-1

October 5, 2013, 10:00 pm

Kevin Kurz

SAN JOSE – Coyotes goalie Mike Smith had four shutouts in his last seven starts against the San Jose Sharks.

But, he had never faced Tomas Hertl.

The 19-year-old Sharks rookie sensation scored his first NHL goal just 46 seconds into the game, added another less than seven minutes later, and the Sharks skated to a 4-1 win over Phoenix on Saturday night at SAP Center.

On the first goal, Hertl got a step behind the Phoenix defense and received a perfect tape-to-tape pass in the neutral zone from Marc-Edouard Vlasic. His backhander snuck through Smith to give San Jose the early lead.

Hertl’s impressive deflection of a Matt Irwin saucer from the point at 7:23 made it 2-0 on a Sharks power play. Patrick Marleau’s second goal in as many games increased it to 3-0, again with a man advantage, when Vlasic fed him a rebound of a Joe Pavelski shot for an easy tap-in at 12:30.

The Sharks controlled the pace of play for most of the first two periods, at one point holding a 31-10 advantage in shots on goal. The Coyotes got on the board at 16:47 of the second, though, when Oliver Ekman-Larsson used Vlasic as a screen and flung one past Antti Niemi.

Phoenix had momentum for the remainder of the second, but the Sharks regrouped to start the third and were never really in danger. Logan Couture’s first goal of the season into an empty net in the final minute sealed the win.

San Jose outshot the Coyotes for the game, 51-23.

The Sharks improved to 2-0-0, while Phoenix fell to 1-1-0.

Herl became the youngest Sharks player to record two goals in one game since 19-year-old Patrick Marleau did it on March 17, 1999.

Special teams

After taking an ugly 0-for-8 on Thursday, the Sharks converted on two of four power play chances.

San Jose was shorthanded just once, on a delay of game faceoff violation on Andrew Desjardins in the first period. The Coyotes did not capitalize.

In goal

Smith settled in and made some strong saves after the first period, stopping a John McCarthy rebound attempt in the second period by stacking his pads, and a Marleau shot from the circle on a Sharks power play in the third. He finished with 47 saves.

Niemi improved to 2-0 with 22 saves, and has allowed just two goals in two games.

Lineup

The Sharks made just one change to their lineup from Thursday night’s season opener, inserting McCarthy on the fourth line for Matt Pelech, who was since reassigned to Worcester.

Brad Stuart (lower body) and Adam Burish (lower body) remain out.

The Coyotes were missing defenseman Rusty Klesla (concussion) and forward Paul Bissonnette (suspension).

Up next

The Sharks conclude their three-game homestand on Tuesday night against the New York Rangers. After that, eight of the next 10 games will be on the road, starting with a visit to Vancouver on Thursday.



Exclusive: Raffi Torres will return this season 'for sure'

October 5, 2013, 8:45 pm

Kevin Kurz

SAN JOSE – Raffi Torres was emphatically clear when asked if he would return this season from a torn right ACL, suffered in a preseason game on Sep. 20.

“Oh yeah. For sure,” Torres told CSNCalifornia.com in an exclusive interview on Saturday night, just before the Sharks-Coyotes game. The Sharks winger, who signed a three-year, $6 million contract extension in the offseason, was hurt when he collided with the Anaheim Ducks’ Emerson Etem just over two weeks ago.

Torres, who had surgery to repair the knee on Sep. 26, has been down this road before.

While playing for Edmonton, he suffered the same injury on Dec. 15, 2007 against Detroit, and missed the rest of the season. He didn’t return until nearly 11 months later on Nov. 1, 2008, moving on to Columbus that offseason.

Although he said this most recent surgery – which involves replacing the damaged ligament with that of a cadaver – was the same as the procedure he underwent in 2007, he seems to be ahead of schedule. Torres is walking around with a slight limp now and has even started light rehab, while last time it took him three weeks to put any weight on the knee.

“From the way it feels right now compared to the first surgery, it’s night and day,” said the 31-year-old.

He also experienced a setback after his first knee surgery, saying that he needed an additional surgery seven months later after some discomfort. That could be why Torres doesn’t want to predict a date for his return, although general manager Doug Wilson told Yahoo! Sports Talk Live’s Jim Kozimor that Torres is expected back “right around the Olympic break” in February, or “just after.” San Jose’s first game after the break is on Feb. 27 at Philadelphia.

Slow and steady will be how Torres approaches his rehab.

“The main thing is to have good days every day. We want to take it slow and do the right stuff, because with the knees if you take a step back, it could set you back if you don’t take it slow,” he said.

As for the play in which he was hurt, Torres doesn’t blame anyone but himself, after he ran into Etem from behind. The Anaheim forward hesitated at the blue line to remain onside just before the two violently collided.

“I didn’t realize Etem had pulled up. It’s totally not his fault, I’ve got to be aware what’s going on with the play. Next thing I know I’m doing a 360 on the ice and saying, ‘what just happened?’ … Big mistake on my part.”

Torres is naturally disappointed that he’s going to have to wait to play another game with the Sharks. He hasn’t seen any real action since Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs against Los Angeles, when he was controversially suspended for the remainder of that series for hitting the Kings’ Jarret Stoll.

“I was looking forward to a fresh start with these guys, so it’s tough,” Torres said. “Those are things I can’t dwell on. Mentally, if I start thinking about that stuff, it’s going to do nothing positive for me.”

Torres, who fit in well with his teammates on the ice and in the dressing room after an April trade with Phoenix last season, has plenty of support.

“This room is so light and upbeat and so loose, it’s great being here. It takes your mind off of the negative things,” he said.



Sharks must find a way to get to Smith

Kevin Kurz

October 5, 2013, 12:00 pm

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

- The Sharks are 16-2-3 in their last 21 home games against the Coyotes. San Jose has won via the shootout in four of their last nine home wins in the series.

- In their 4-1 season-opening win over the Rangers, Radim Vrbata scored the franchise's first hat trick in a season opener since Igor Korolev on October 7, 1995 against Dallas. Vrbata also had three goals in last season's finale against Anaheim.

- The Coyotes begin a season-long five-game road trip Saturday in San Jose. They finished up strong away from home last season, earning at least a point in five of their last six of the season (3-1-2).

- Last night, Shane Doan played his 1247th career game, all with the Coyotes franchise. It's the most games played by any active NHL player for one organization.

- After sweeping the Canucks in the 2013 playoffs, San Jose defeated them again in the season opener 4-1. Including postseason, the Sharks have won eight straight games over Vancouver.

- Last night, Tomas Hertl, 19, and Matt Nieto, 20, made their NHL debuts for San Jose, becoming the first two Sharks born after the franchise's first game on October 4, 1991. Hertl got his first career point with an assist.

“The biggest thing was the energy we brought. We can’t have a letdown now.”— Joe Pavelski

SAN JOSE -- When Mike Smith signed a six-year, $34 million contract extension with the Phoenix Coyotes this offseason, he probably had an urge to send a thank you note to the Sharks organization.

The goaltender’s recent numbers against San Jose are downright scary. In his last seven starts, he’s 6-0-1 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .971 save percentage and four shutouts. He’ll try and backstop his club to its second straight win to start the season on Saturday night at SAP Center.

The Sharks will try and improve to 2-0 themselves, after Thursday’s 4-1 home win against Vancouver. Smith and the Coyotes figure to provide a tough test after they, too, started the season with a 4-1 victory against New York.

“They’re very disciplined. They play a hard game,” Logan Couture said. “They may not have the biggest names on that team, but they’re going to come in and they’re going to work. They win games by outworking teams.”

Todd McLellan said: “Their game management is exceptional, maybe the best in the league as far as not turning pucks over, penalties, shift length. You’ll never really see Phoenix beat themselves.”

San Jose isn’t overly focused on the Coyotes so early in the season; rather, it would like to make sure its own house is in order. McLellan said 70 percent of his game preparation for Saturday was on his Sharks, while 30 percent is about what he expects the Coyotes to do.

One player that could make Phoenix a more dangerous offensive team than the one that finished 21st in the league last year is Mike Ribeiro. Washington’s second-leading scorer in 2013, the 33-year-old offseason addition centers the Coyotes’ top line with Shane Doan and Mikkel Boedker.

“He’s been a dominant player in our league for a long time,” McLellan said. “If somebody asked me to describe Mike Ribeiro, he can hold onto it and hold onto it and make plays. … It fits this team very well, because they activate their D all the time.”

Thursday’s win was encouraging in that the Sharks got goals from three different lines, one from a defenseman, and goaltender Antti Niemi picked up right where he left off after the best season of his career in 2013.

“We’re never going to be mistake free, so there’s some areas we need to work on, but the results were good,” McLellan said. “I felt like all of the players that dressed had a positive impact in some way or another.”

Joe Pavelski said: “I think the biggest thing was the energy we brought. We can’t have a letdown now.”

In order to prevent that letdown, getting to Smith is paramount.

“If we over-hype a goaltender because he’s played well against us, it isn’t going to do us any good,” Pavelski said. “We have to try and help our group, and find ways to beat him. He feels good playing against us, it’s our job to kind of turn the tide a little bit.”

* * *

John McCarthy will make his season debut in place of Matt Pelech, who was reassigned on Friday. It’s the only lineup change, as defenseman Brad Stuart and forward Adam Burish remain out.

Niemi, of course, will start in net. Last season against the Coyotes, he was 3-0-1 with a 1.20 GAA and .958 SP.



Coyotes-Sharks: In the Crease

October 5, 2013, 9:45 am

Kevin Kurz

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

- The Sharks are 16-2-3 in their last 21 home games against the Coyotes. San Jose has won via the shootout in four of their last nine home wins in the series.

- In their 4-1 season-opening win over the Rangers, Radim Vrbata scored the franchise's first hat trick in a season opener since Igor Korolev on October 7, 1995 against Dallas. Vrbata also had three goals in last season's finale against Anaheim.

- The Coyotes begin a season-long five-game road trip Saturday in San Jose. They finished up strong away from home last season, earning at least a point in five of their last six of the season (3-1-2).

- Last night, Shane Doan played his 1247th career game, all with the Coyotes franchise. It's the most games played by any active NHL player for one organization.

- After sweeping the Canucks in the 2013 playoffs, San Jose defeated them again in the season opener 4-1. Including postseason, the Sharks have won eight straight games over Vancouver.

- Last night, Tomas Hertl, 19, and Matt Nieto, 20, made their NHL debuts for San Jose, becoming the first two Sharks born after the franchise's first game on October 4, 1991. Hertl got his first career point with an assist.

Programming note: Sharks-Coyotes coverage gets underway today at 7 p.m. with Sharks Pregame Live, only on Comcast SportsNet California

Where they stand

Sharks: 1-0-0, 3rd Pacific Division, 5th Western Conference

Coyotes: 1-0-0, 2nd Pacific Division, 4th Western Conference

Vitals

Sharks

Goals per game: 4.00 (T, 4th)

Goals-against per game: 1.00 (T, 3rd)

Power play: 0.0 percent (T, 17th)

Penalty kill: 83.3 percent (18th)

Coyotes

Goals per game: 4.00 (T, 4th)

Goals-against per game: 1.00 (T, 3rd)

Power play: 33.3 percent (T, 5th)

Penalty kill: 75.0 percent (T, 22nd)

Probable lines

Sharks

Tomas Hertl – Joe Thornton – Brent Burns

Tyler Kennedy – Logan Couture – Patrick Marleau

Matt Nieto – Joe Pavelski – Tommy Wingels

James Sheppard – Andrew Desjardins – John McCarthy

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Justin Braun

Matt Irwin – Dan Boyle

Jason Demers – Scott Hannan

Antti Niemi

Alex Stalock

Coyotes

Mikkel Boedker – Mike Ribeiro – Shane Doan

Lauri Korpikoski – Martin Hanzal – Radim Vrbata

Lucas Lessio – Antoine Vermette – David Moss

Rob Kilnkhammer – Kyle Chipchura – Chris Brown

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Zbynek Michalek

Keith Yandle – Derek Morris

David Schlemko – David Rundblad

Mike Smith

Thomas Greiss

Last game

Sharks: Justin Braun broke a 1-1 tie with a late second period marker, and the Sharks pulled away late from Vancouver in a 4-1 win at SAP Center on Thursday. Brent Burns, Patrick Marleau and Tommy Wingels each scored, and Logan Couture registered two assists. Antti Niemi made 21 saves in what was the Sharks’ fourth straight win in a season opener.

Coyotes: Radim Vrbata’s hat trick led the Coyotes to a 4-1 win at home over the New York Rangers. Kyle Chipchura also scored, and Mike Smith turned away 23 of 24 shots in goal.

Keep an eye on…

Sharks: Logan Couture. The Sharks’ center was the only player to record multiple points on Thursday, and his assist on Patrick Marleau’s third period insurance goal was perhaps the play of the game. He has seven goals in 17 career games against the Coyotes.

Coyotes: Mike Ribeiro. Phoenix’s big offseason addition takes over the top line center role for a team that had trouble scoring last season. The second-leading scorer for Washington last season, Ribeiro has 34 points in 45 career games against San Jose.

Injuries

Sharks: Raffi Torres (right ACL surgery), Marty Havlat (offseason pelvic surgery), and Adam Burish (lower body) are out. Brad Stuart (lower body) is questionable.

Coyotes: Rusty Klesla (concussion) and Paul Bissonnette (suspension) are out.

Season series

This is the first of five meetings between the Sharks and Coyotes. Phoenix returns to the Bay Area on Nov. 2.

The Sharks are 58-46-7-8 all-time against the Phoenix/Winnipeg franchise.

Quoteable

“Of course, that’s a huge thing. It was a tight game until the end, so it’s great to get the points and get the first win in the first game.” – Antti Niemi, on the Sharks’ season opening 4-1 win on Thursday over Vancouver

Burning question

What is the biggest strength of the Sharks this season? Leave your response in the comments section below.


719832 St Louis Blues

Blues' light schedule allows club to roll with Halak

4 hours ago • By Jeremy Rutherford [email protected] 314-444-7135

The plan entering the 2013-14 season was to give goaltender Jaroslav Halak the bulk of the starts in net. With as light as the schedule is early, the Blues will roll with Halak for the foreseeable future.

Halak backstopped the Blues again Saturday against Florida, and it’s possible that he may receive the first six assignments of the season.

After Saturday’s game, the club will have three days off before hosting Chicago Wednesday, two days off before playing the New York Rangers next Saturday and two rest days before facing San Jose Oct. 15.

“There’s such a big break between games,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. “We’ll go with Jaro tonight and then see how it goes ... with all these breaks between games there’s no reason one guy can’t play to start the season. You’re looking probably on back-to-backs and three (games) in four nights we’re going to certainly make the move then. Brian’s last two days have been the best we’ve ever seen from him this year, so he looks like he’s ready to go.”

Following the homestand, the first road trip features games on back-to-back nights in Chicago and Winnipeg Oct. 17-18. Brian Elliott would likely draw the Jets’ game.

“We’re kind of just focused on one day at a time and seeing how Jaro feels,” Hitchcock said. “He played very well in Game 1 and we just want to keep going with it.”

whitney returns

Defenseman Ryan Whitney was released from his tryout with the Blues on Sept. 27, but he was back on the ice at Scottrade Center Saturday.

Whitney signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with Florida and was in the Panthers’ starting lineup against the Blues.

“I knew going in it was going to be real tough (to make the Blues’ roster),” Whitney said. “A lot of it was I needed to play exhibition games and happened to be seen by (Florida). I knew it was important that I make a good impression. I made some friends in (St. Louis) in a couple weeks, which is cool. It’s a group that’s easy to be a part of over there. After tonight, I wish them luck.”

bluenotes

• Captain David Backes entered Saturday with five goals in six career games against Florida.

• Forward Alexander Steen had two teeth replaced by Dr. Ron Sherstoff Friday. Steen was high-sticked in Thursday’s season opener by Nashville’s Victor Bartley, who received a double-minor.

• Healthy scratches Saturday were forwards Magnus Paajarvi and Adam Cracknell and defenseman Ian Cole.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.06.2013


Blues’ penalty kill stops shot attempts in win over Florida

4 hours ago • By TOM TIMMERMANN [email protected] 314-340-8190

The goal of any penalty killing unit is pretty simple.

“Kill them all,” said Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.

The Blues almost took that to the next step on Saturday night. Late in the third period, as the penalties kept piling up on both teams, Florida had had a man advantage for more than nine minutes and not only had it not scored, it hadn’t even had a shot on goal. It took the Panthers 9:46 worth of having an extra man on the ice before Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak finally had to stop a puck, on a shot that went straight into Halak’s midsection. Or, basically, which had no chance of going in.

Simply, the Blues’ PK has been A-OK in the season’s first two games. On Thursday, they killed all four of Nashville’s power plays, allowing just three shots in eight minutes, and on Saturday, they killed all seven of Florida’s power plays and allowed just two shots in 12:21 as the Blues throttled the Panthers 7-0. Through two games, the Blues are a perfect 0 for 11 on the penalty kill, covering 20:21 and allowing a grand total of five shots. Going back to the end of last regular season, when the Blues finished seventh in the NHL in penalty killing at 84.7 percent, they have killed 21 straight power plays.

“I think early on it was maybe the sharpest part of our game,” said associate head coach Brad Shaw, who’s in charge of the penalty kill. “Then maybe there was a level of frustration that built into their power play and our confidence level has been growing. With every kill it seems to get bigger. That’s part of the momentum of the game.”

“I think it’s one of those things where you gain momentum from it,” Bouwmeester said. “We were good the last game, we had a lot of practice tonight, had a couple pretty early and from that you gain confidence, get the other team back in their heels. It makes it tough.”

The Blues’ penalty kill wasn’t at its best in the exhibition season, but Shaw and the coaches saw the group making progress as the team’s new players have learned their roles.

“We’ve done a good job of getting in shot lanes and sticks on puck so they don’t get through,” Shaw said. “You go through some stretches where you kill pretty well and you give up shots. It just happens in the first two games that we’ve minimized the zone time that power plays have had against us so they haven’t had that chance to set things up and establish their game. We’ve sort of stayed ahead of the curve a little bit that way and it’s showed up in those stats.

“We were giving goals up (in the preseason) but we were liking how it was developing and how some off the newer guys – (Maxim) Lapierre for example, we want him to be a big part of it. It’s a bit of a learning curve there. We do things a little bit different there and ask guys to do things a little different way. He’s been outstanding. We’re trying to give (Vladimir) Sobotka a little bit more of a prominent role and he’s really grasped that as well. We’ve got a lot of guys who contribute and it’s kind of a reflection of our pride in our defensive game and that’s sort of where it manifests.”

“Penalty killing is just hard work,” Bouwmeester said. “The way everyone tries to kill penalties now you try to pressure teams on the entry and not give them time to set up and try to create some chaos.”

The penalty kill may have turned the game early in the second period. With the Blues up 1-0, Florida had a power play when Barret Jackman went off for two minutes for tripping. Florida was, not surprisingly, stymied, and then just 28 seconds after the power play ended, Vladimir Tarasenko jammed in a rebound of a shot by Jaden Schwartz and a chance for the game to be tied was quickly transformed into a 2-0 lead that the Blues quickly extended to 5-0 by period’s end with four goals in 6 minutes, 32 seconds.

“I think every time you kill a penalty you gain a bit of momentum,” Shaw said. “Sometimes you gain more than other times. That certainly was a key time to have a kill. Whenever we go a man down, if we have confidence we can kill it off, it always gives you a much better chance to win.”

On Saturday, it gave them a great chance.



Blues declaw the Panthers


The skeptics wanted proof. They’re getting it.

After back-to-back playoff exits, there remains a percentage of Blues’ fans who understandably would like the team to give them a reason to believe that expectations should be any different in 2013-14.

It’s only two games — please note that the Blues started 6-1 last season — but the reasons are plentiful through the first two games of the season. Really the only problem is picking a place to start.

The Blues manhandled Florida 7-0 Saturday at Scottrade Center, a game in which goaltender Jaroslav Halak put his name in the record books, breaking Glenn Hall’s franchise record for career shutouts with his 17th.

The club improved to 2-0 and will have a few days off before continuing its five-game homestand Wednesday against Chicago.

Ken Hitchcock will find some shortcomings to work on in the coming days, and there are some if you look hard, but after 120 minutes of hockey, the offense is clicking, special teams are humming, and the goaltending is back to blanking opponents.

“I thought it was a really good team effort,” said Jaden Schwartz, who had the Gordie Howe hat-trick with one goal, two assists and a late-game fight, as the lopsided affair turned ugly with a combined 100 penalty minutes. “All four lines were playing well. Defense ... Jaro was kicking again. It’s a fun locker room to come into after a game like that. Everyone is energized and we’re working hard, so it’s fun.”

Almost everyone is scoring.

Seven players helped put a touchdown on the board for the Blues Saturday: Schwartz, Brenden Morrow, Vladimir Tarasenko, Derek Roy, Alexander Steen, Ryan Reaves and Patrik Berglund. Each of the team’s four lines contributed a goal.

The club has repeatedly said production would be a group effort and so far it’s played out precisely that way. The team has netted 11 goals in two games and they’ve been scored by 10 players, with Steen as the only one with two.

“We’re going to do it by committee,” forward Chris Stewart said. “It’s going to be a different guy every night. There’s no one on this team that comes in here after the game and looks at a stat sheet and says, ‘I got a couple of goals tonight.’”

For as lopsided as the score was Saturday, though, the game was tight through 32½ minutes. The difference between the teams at that point was a first-period power-play goal by Brenden Morrow, who beat Florida starter Tim Thomas with his 250th career goal.

The Blues were clinging to that 1-0 lead. In fact, if not for three saves by Halak early in the game, and another on former Blue Brad Boyes five minutes into the second period, the game could have been a lot different.

“He made three good saves on the first shift (of the game),” Hitchcock said. “They were hammering away there, trying to push him into the net. He made five or six quality saves in the first period, just to get us to the power play to score.”

The Blues broke the game open beginning with Tarasenko’s goal with 7:29 left in the middle frame. He cleaned up a rebound, providing a 2-0 lead with his first goal of the season.

A player’s “first goal of the season” has become a common phrase and it continued moments later.

Schwartz netted his first 2:19 after Tarasenko, a brilliant wrist shot that capped off a solid sequence. Vladimir Sobotka stole a puck behind the net and fed Schwartz in front for a 3-0 lead, one which the Blues would have been happy with had it stayed that way.

But before the teams headed to the locker room for the second intermission, Roy and Steen got in on the action.

With the Blues again working behind the net, Stewart fed Roy in front for his first goal of the year, handing the Blues a 4-0 lead.

Then with under one minute to play in the period, Steen had a clear-cut breakaway and was tugged on by Florida defenseman Erik Gudbranson, leading to a penalty shot. Steen made the shot with a backhanded move, giving the Blues four goals in a span of 6 minutes, 32 seconds.

Steen’s conversion was the Blues’ third straight successful penalty shot for the club, which has also made seven of its last eight.

So instead, the club went into the intermission with a commanding 5-0 lead.

The Panthers replaced Thomas with backup Jacob Markstrom to start the third period and he allowed two goals. Reaves had a 2-on-1 with Sobotka and elected to shoot himself, beating Markstrom with a rooftop shot.

“I was thinking he already had (an assist) ... it was my turn to get a snipe,” Reaves said, laughing.

Berglund later scored a tap-in in front of the net, and Halak closed out the victory with 19 saves and surpassed Hall for the team’s shutout record.

“I know he was a great goaltender and a Hall of Famer,” Halak said. “It’s a special feeling, but it’s only the start of the season. We’ve got two wins, I’ve got one shutout. But I wouldn’t be able to do it without my teammates.”

The Blues are looking strong, but as Schwartz reminded everyone, it’s still early.

“We don’t want to get too high when we’re playing well,” he said. “We want to be happy with our performance, and we should be good about it, but we’ve got to come to work tomorrow and make sure we’re doing the things we’re doing and improve on the things we can.”



Blues will roll with Halak in net


The plan entering the 2013-14 season was to give goaltender Jaroslav Halak the bulk of the starts in net. With as light as the schedule is early, the Blues will roll with Halak for the foreseeable future.

Halak will backstop the Blues again tonight when the club faces the Florida Panthers at Scottrade Center at 7 p.m.

It's possible that backup Brian Elliott may not see a start until the Blues play back-to-back games in the middle of the month. After tonight's game, the club will have three days off before hosting Chicago Wednesday and two days off between games against the New York Rangers Oct. 12 and San Jose Oct. 15.

"There's such a big break between games," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We'll go with Jaro tonight and then see how it goes...with all these breaks between games there's no reason one guy can't play to start the season. You're looking probably on back-to-backs and three (games) in four nights we're going to certainly make the move then. Brian's last two days have been the best we've ever seen from him this year, so he looks like he's ready to go."

Halak, who made 28 saves in Thursday's 4-2 win over Nashville, is 7-1 in his career against Florida with a 1.86 goals-against average and a .940 save-percentage.

"Jaro had a strong outing," Hitchcock said. "We're kind of just focused on one day at a time and seeing how Jaro feels. He played very well in Game 1 and we just want to keep going with it."

***

TONIGHT'S PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards

Alexander Steen-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

Brenden Morrow-Derek Roy-Chris Stewart

Jaden Schwartz-Patrik Berglund-Vladimir Tarasenko

Vladimir Sobotka-Maxim Lapierre-Ryan Reaves

Defensemen

Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo

Jordan Leopold-Kevin Shattenkirk

Barret Jackman-Roman Polak

Goalie

Jaroslav Halak

***

FLORIDA'S PROJECTED LINEUP

Forward

Tomas Fleischmann-Marcel Goc-Kris Versteeg

Jonathan Huberdeau-Aleksander Barkov-Brad Boyes

Jesse Winchester-Scott Gomez-Tomas Kopecky

Scottie Upshall-Shawn Matthias-Krys Barch

Defensemen

Tom Gilbert-Brian Campbell

Dmitry Kulikov-Mike Weaver

Ryan Whitney-Erik Gudbranson

Goalie

Tim Thomas

***

STEEN RETURNS

Alexander Steen was back at practice today and will be in the lineup tonight.

Steen was high-sticked by Nashville's Victor Bartley in Thursday's opener. He missed Friday's practice while visiting the dentist, where he had two new teeth inserted on the bottom row.

"It's nothing," said Steen, who wanted to talk more about his white Chuck Taylor converse shoes than his new white teeth.

***

MORROW'S ICE TIME

Brenden Morrow had a whirlwind day Thursday, flying back to St. Louis from Detroit, where he resolved his visa issues.

For that reason, Hitchcock monitored Morrow's ice time, which wound up at 11 minutes, 32 seconds. With a day of rest, Morrow can expect to see increased playing time tonight against Florida.

"We watched that closely, managed it," Hitchcock said. "Some days, that's what it's going to be. It's going to be 11 (minutes), it's going to be 15...some days when we're chasing games it's going to be 17. Depends how he looks too."

Hitchcock said that Morrow, who didn't sign with the Blues until a couple of weeks into camp, is quickly catching up to speed.

"He's probably 75-80 percent where he's going to be at, but getting better everyday," Hitchcock said. "Hands are catching up to the feet now."

***

EQUIPMENT INVENTORY

In last week's chat, a reader asked me a question about how much equipment players go through during the course of an 82-game regular season.

I didn't have a solid answer at the time, but I checked into it and here's what I found out:

The average skater goes through ...

• 4-5 pairs of gloves

• 2-4 pairs of skates

• 60-80 sticks

• 2 pairs of pants

The average goalie goes through...

• 3 sets of gloves

• 3 sets of pads

***

ODDS & ENDS

• Tonight's game is the Blues' first against an Eastern Conference team in the regular season since March 17, 2012. Click here for my story this morning on facing the East again.

• The Florida Panthers will be in St. Louis for a total of four days. Some attended the Cardinals' playoff game Friday and there are plans to take in the Rams' game Sunday.

• Florida rookie Aleksander Barkov, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the NHL draft last June, made history with his goal Thursday against Dallas. He is the eighth-youngest player in NHL history to score his first NHL goal, according to Elias, and he became the youngest player (18 years, 31 days) to score in the league in 70 years.

• Blues captain David Backes has five goals in six career games against Florida.


Blues offense runs wild in big win over Panthers

Published: October 5, 2013 Updated 5 hours ago

By NORM SANDERS — News-Democrat

ST. LOUIS — Four-goal eruptions in one period by the St. Louis Blues aren't exactly a common occurrence at Scottrade Center -- or any other NHL arena for that matter.

But the Blues ran the Florida Panthers right out of the building Saturday with a torrid four-goal blitz in the second period on their way to a 7-0 victory.

Of the Blues' 11 goals this season, 10 are by different scorers. Alexander Steen, who scored on a penalty shot Saturday, is the only one with two.

"We've known all along that we probably don't have that superstar talent," said Blues winger Brenden Morrow, who had a goal and assist. "But it's a grinding team that is solid throughout and anyone can be the hero any given night. Tonight we put seven in and I think it was spread out throughout the lineup.

"That makes it really hard to defend and compete against when you've got all cylinders pumping."

The shutout was Jaroslav Halak's record 17th with the Blues, breaking the previous franchise standard of 16 set by Hall of Fame goalie Glenn Hall.

"I know he was a great goaltender and in the Hall of Fame," said Halak, who has 26 shutouts in his career. "I'm glad I passed him with shutouts but I wouldn't be able to do it without my teammates. They were great again tonight, especially on the PK (penalty kill)."

The Blues killed off seven Florida power plays and through two games are a perfect 11-for-11.

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock pointed to an early stretch of hot goaltending by Halak that set the stage for the win.

"He made three good saves on the first shift," Hitchcock said. "They were hammering away there trying to push him into the net. He made five or six quality saves in the first period just to get us to the power play to score.

"It was pretty furious at the start of the game there."

Then the furious attack on the Florida net began.

In a span of less that seven minutes, the Blues got second-period goals by Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz and Derek Roy before Steen added a fourth one on a penalty shot.

The seven goals by the Blues (2-0) is the highest total by the club since a 10-3 victory over Detroit on March 30, 2011.

"It's by committee, it's a different guy every night," Blues winger Chris Stewart said. "There's no one on this team that comes out here after the game and looks at the stat sheet."

When Jacob Markstrom replaced Panthers starting goaltender Tim Thomas in net at the start of the third period, it marked the second straight game the suddenly goal-hungry Blues had chased a starter from the game.

Markstrom fared no better as Blues' fourth-liner Ryan Reaves beat him cleanly with a sizzling wrist shot at 2:44 of the third period to make it 6-0.

The crowd had barely settled into their seats when Patrik Berglund racked up another goal to make it 7-0. Berglund became the 10th different Blue to score a goal.

Just as they did Thursday in the season opener, the Blues broke on top early.

After killing off three quick penalties, the Blues finally found themselves on the power play and took the lead on a goal by Morrow.

The veteran winger scored his first goal with the Blues and 250th of his career by lifting a backhander past Thomas on the rebound of a shot by Derek Roy.

Halak robbed former Blues winger Brad Boyes on a sprawling save early in the period, then Boyes hit the goalpost.

Halak got a little help from the goalpost midway through the third period with Scott Gomez hammering away, but stood his ground and kept the puck out.

After Florida was held without a shot during a power-play -- the Blues' eighth straight successful kill this season -- the Blues began their assault on Thomas.

Some nice work by Schwartz along the boards allowed him to snag the puck and he set up Tarasenko in front. That ended a 16-game goal drought for Tarasenko, who hadn't scored since March 28, 2013.

Vladimir Sobotka threw a seeing-eye pass from behind the net right onto the stick of Schwartz, who buried a shot from the slot for his first goal of the year.

Schwartz had a goal, two assists and a fight to record a "Gordie Howe hat trick." --hockey parlance for a player getting a goal, assist and into a fight on the same night.

Schwartz dropped the gloves with Florida's Kris Versteeg with 3:32 remaining.

"I wasn't really expecting it," said Schwartz, who said his last fight came when he was 17. "There was a tap, then he dropped (the gloves) and just started throwing them. It caught me a little bit off guard but I tried to recover."

Roy became the eighth different Blues scorer on the team's first eight goals this season when he was set up by Stewart from behind the net.

The Stewart-Roy-Morrow line combined for two goals and six points.

That made it 4-0, but there was still enough time left in the period for another Blues goal.

Steen was pulled down from behind by Florida's Erik Gudbranson on a partial breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot.

Steen used a slick backhand move to beat Thomas for his second goal of the season, pushing the lead to 5-0. It was the Blues' third straight successful penalty shot and seventh on their last eight tries dating back to the 2007-08 season.

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 10.06.2013


Morrow proving to be welcome addition for Blues; Halak may stay busy

Published: October 5, 2013 Updated 5 hours ago

By NORM SANDERS — News-Democrat

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock was impressed with veteran winger Brenden Morrow's debut on Thursday, most notably for a reverse shoulder check that Morrow dropped on Nashville's Mike Fisher.

Morrow made an impact again Saturday but this time it was on the scoreboard. He netted his first Blues goal on the rebound of a shot by Derek Roy at 14:58 of the first period, beating Florida goalie Tim Thomas and later added an assist on a goal by Roy.

"It always feels good to contribute that way," said Morrow, the former captain of the Dallas Stars. "I learned early on in my career not to judge my game on statistics, but it's rewarding and it feels good to be able to contribute goals and assists and making plays around the net."

The 34-year-old Morrow did not sign with the Blues until late September. Even though he was working out hard on his own, it's tough to replicate game conditions in the NHL.

"I would say he's probably 75 or 80 percent where he's going to be at, getting better every day," Hitchcock said. "The hands are catching up to the feet now; the feet were way ahead of the hands."

Morrow's hands looked just fine as he expertly lifted a backhander past Thomas to put the Blues in front.

"He's just a competitor," Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong said. "If you were in a foxhole, you'd like to have him beside you and not on the other side."

Hitchcock also liked what he saw Thursday from one of the Blues' youngest wingers, 20-year-old Vladimir Tarasenko. Hitchcock wants Tarasenko and fellow youngster Jaden Schwartz to work on getting more shots, but Tarasenko showed a little more physical side to his game against Nashville.

"He really was dominant on the cycle," Hitchcock said. "If you cycle the puck like that, you're going to end up with a lot of scoring chances and a lot of shooting opportunities."

Halak the workhorse?

With a relatively light schedule the first few weeks of the season, Blues fans could be seeing a lot of goaltender Jaroslav Halak. The Blues have at least two days off before each of their next three games and won't encounter their first back-to-back games until Oct. 19-20 (Chicago and Winnipeg).

"There's such a big break between games," Hitchcock said Saturday before Halak blanked Florida 7-0 for his record 17th shutout with the Blues. "We'll go with Jaro (Saturday) and see how it goes, but with all these big breaks between games, there's no reason one guy can't play to start the season."

Hitchcock said goaltender Brian Elliott will get his chance soon enough.

"I think you're looking probably on back-to-backs and three in four nights, we're probably going to certainly make the move then," Hitchcock said. "Brian's last two days were the best we've ever seen from him this year, so that's been great. (Halak) played very well in Game 1 and we just want to keep going with it."

Old days, good times

Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester literally grew up with the Florida Panthers.

He was the third overall pick in the 2002 draft and broke into the NHL as a 19-year-old with the Panthers that year under former Blues coach Mike Keenan.

Bouwmeester played for Florida from 2002 to 2009 but the Panthers never made the playoffs, not even during a 93-point season his final year there in 2008-09.

"Team-wise we really didn't have whole lot of success so that part of it was tough," said Bouwmeester, the top iron man in major professional sports after playing in his 637th straight game Saturday. "But personally, that's where I started and got an opportunity to play at a pretty young age."

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 10.06.2013

719838 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning recover, rally past Blackhawks

By Erik Erlendsson | Tribune Staff

Published: October 5, 2013

CHICAGO — Facing the two Stanley Cup finalists from last season in the first two games of this season figured to be quite a test for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After two games, Tampa Bay needs to do a bit more reviewing. But for one night, SparkNotes proved enough of a study guide for the Lightning to pass the exam.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks took the Lightning to school for two periods Saturday, before Tampa Bay rallied for a 3-2 shootout victory in front of an announced sellout crowd of 21,563 at the United Center.

Chicago dominated puck possession and it showed with a 39-15 shot advantage. The Blackhawks also held the Lightning without a shot on goal in the first period, the third time in franchise history Tampa Bay has been held without a shot in a period.

But Marty St. Louis and Teddy Purcell scored in the third period to key a Lightning comeback that was completed when Valtteri Filppula notched the only shootout goal.

Ben Bishop, who stopped 37 shots in regulation, denied Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa in the shootout to allow Tampa Bay to escape with a victory.

“Let’s call a spade a spade. There is a reason they are defending Stanley Cup champs and they showed us for most of the game why they are the best team in the league,’’ Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.

“We needed Ben Bishop to stand tall if we had any chance of coming back, and he did. ... We snuck out with a win. We were looking for the police when we walked out of the locker room because I thought we might get arrested for stealing, because we stole two points.’’

Kane and Brandon Saad scored second-period goals to lead the Blackhawks, who captured a second Stanley Cup championship in four years in June. Chicago defeated Boston, Tampa Bay’s opponent in Thursday’s season opener, to win the title.

Tampa Bay improved to 1-1, and it did so by hanging around and getting some saves from Bishop in his season debut.

“You just try to make some saves to keep the team in the game,’’ Bishop said. “A comeback win in this building says a lot about this team. We know we have a lot to work on. We can always play better than that, but it’s always good to get two points on the road.’’

The shot clock showed a lopsided affair, and Chicago’s stifling defense snuffed any Lightning attack with effective poke checks to disrupt any chance at a transition game.

And when Tampa Bay was able to get the puck in deep, the Blackhawks were able to quickly exit the zone and push the puck up ice.

Despite the lack of an offensive attack, Tampa Bay escaped the first period in a scoreless affair despite an 11-0 shot disparity.

“They blocked a lot of shots well and we missed some nets, so I don’t think it looked as bad as the stat looked, but obviously we need to put pucks to the net more,’’ Filppula said of the first period. “They were skating better than us and we didn’t get to pucks and always a little bit behind.’’

In the second, the Blackhawks got on the board in the opening minute as both Bryan Bickell and Kane were alone at the right post where Kane was able to lift a loose puck off a rebound over Bishop 59 seconds into the game for a 1-0 lead.

A fortunate home bounce helped Chicago grab a two-goal lead when Nick Leddy threw a puck into the far corner boards that caromed back to the front of the net as Bishop went back to play the puck. Saad was able to get to the free puck first for a power-play goal and a 2-0 lead at 9:14.

Tampa Bay, which only had six shots through two periods, woke up somewhat in the third and found a way back into the game.

Off an icing call on Chicago, Nate Thompson won a faceoff back to the point, where Matt Carle fired a puck on goal before St. Louis backhanded a rebound over Corey Crawford at 10:08 to cut the deficit to one.

Purcell then found the tying goal with Tampa Bay on its first power play of the game as Toews was off for high sticking. Purcell was at the right circle where he took a pass and wristed a shot to the top far corner at 11:51, the Lightning’s 11th shot of the game.

“It was a good third period,’’ St. Louis said. “Bishop was huge. It’s a very important position in this league and he played it at a high level tonight.’’

The penalty kill was then put to the test when Filppula was whistled for high sticking at 12:26 for Chicago’s fourth power play. But Bishop held down the fort to keep the game tied.

Tampa Tribune LOADED: 10.06.2013


Bolts Beat: Not keeping Drouin was right move

By Erik Erlendsson | Tribune Staff


CHICAGO — The Lightning have a problem.

No, I’m not talking about the goaltending — this time.

In fact, the problem Tampa Bay has on its hands is of the good variety. There’s an abundance of young, up-and-coming talent in the organization.

In Thursday’s season opener against Boston, the Lightning put six rookies on the ice: forwards Tyler Johnson, Richard Panik and Ondrej Palat, and defensemen Radko Gudas, Andrej Sustr and Mark Barberio. That group doesn’t include Alex Killorn, who appeared in too many games last season to be classified as a rookie but had only 38 games of experience heading into this season.

Because of that, the likes of Brett Connolly and J.T. Brown were sent to Syracuse of the American Hockey League to continue developing.

That brings us to Jonathan Drouin, the No. 3 overall pick who was sent back to Halifax in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he will play for the rest of this season.

Many outside of the Lightning were surprised, some were even shocked, that the talented 18-year-old did not make the team.

That kind of thinking might stem from years of futility in the Lightning farm system. Drafting and developing has not exactly been a strength of this organization through the years, particularly in the 10-year span between the 1998 draft that produced Vinny Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Dmitry Afanasenkov and the 2008 draft that landed Steven Stamkos.

During a good portion of those years, the third overall pick in the draft would have been a virtual lock to make the roster out of training camp, whether that was because of the lack of talent at the NHL level or for the purpose of trying to sell tickets.

But since Steve Yzerman took control of the organization and implemented the draft-and-develop philosophy, the Lightning thought process is different.

Drouin is going to be one of the top players in a Tampa Bay uniform when he gets to this level. He’s just not there yet.

In his short career, Drouin has shown the ability to adapt quickly to whatever level he is playing. Less than two years ago, he was still playing midget level in Quebec before getting the call up to Halifax, where he quickly adapted to the better competition. He was considered a long shot to make Team Canada for the World Junior Championships as an under-aged player but he wound up in a top-six role.

The jump to the NHL level this year would have been much greater than any he had been able to adapt to up to this point.

With the more experienced young talent ready to make the jump to the NHL, the decision was made to send Drouin back for another year of play at the junior level. While there, he will be the key player for the Mooseheads, and he should log heavy minutes for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships.

So if all goes according to plan, by the time training camp comes around next season, Drouin will be ready to make the jump to the NHL.

It’s similar to the path the Florida Panthers took with Jonathan Huberdeau, the third overall pick in 2011. Huberdeau was sent back to juniors for another year of development, came back a year later and won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.

So it might seem like the Lightning are doing the 18-year-old Drouin wrong, when if fact they are going about it right.



Bolts Notes: Kostka looks back on Norfolk’s record run

By ERIC ERLENDSSON

Tribune staff


CHICAGO — Mike Kostka never played a game with the Lightning, but he is part of the team’s lore.

The 28-year-old defenseman, who will make his debut for Chicago on Saturday, was part of Tampa Bay’s minor league team record run in 2011-12 while with Norfolk in the American Hockey League. Acquired from Florida in a trade midway through the season, Kostka was a mainstay on the blue line as the Admirals won a North American team record 28 consecutive wins on the way to a Calder Cup championship.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be a part of something like that, it was that incredible in terms of the record, the way that that was going it was something that we didn’t even know how it happened,’’ Kostka said. “When the season ending it was like “Holy (cow)”. You have different levels of goals and achievements and my goal was to make it to the NHL and play here, which I’m very proud of, but at the same time you never forget about an experience like that which really did help propel me forward.’’

Kostka played last season with Toronto following the end of the lockout and landed a spot with Chicago this season. Many of the players which Kostka played with in Norfolk - Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Richard Panik, Keith Aulie, Mark Barberio, Alex Killorn - are now on the Lightning roster while the head coach of that team, Jon Cooper is now behind the Tampa Bay bench.

“I was really fortunate to be traded in that organization a few years ago and be a part of that special team in Norfolk,’’ Kostka said. Cooper “is a really knowledgeable guy, he knows the game. He can be pretty strict at times but he also knows how to have fun with the guys so he has a really good balance with that, especially with the group that we had there, a lot of young guys.

“I can’t say a bad word about them as much as I would like to.’’

Good to go

Lightning D Sami Salo will return to the lineup after missing the season opening game in Boston on Thursday with an undisclosed upper-body injury.

Salo was a late scratch on Thursday after he took part in the morning skate. The veteran defenseman also missed practice on Friday to undergo some testing, which all came back negative.

“It’s just something that came up in the last couple of days, we don’t know where, so for precautionary reasons we stayed off,’’ Salo said. “Everything got checked out so it’s all good.’’

Nuts and Bolts

C Nate Thompson celebrated his 29th birthday on Saturday. A message on the team’s white board in the Lightning locker room stated “Happy Birthday Nate’’... C Tom Pyatt, Barberio and Aulie are scheduled to be scratched on Saturday. ... G Ben Bishop will make his first start in net after Anders Lindback started Thursday in Boston.



Lightning beats Blackhawks in shootout

Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer

Saturday, October 5, 2013 11:24pm

CHICAGO — Lightning coach Jon Cooper never misses a chance at a one-liner.

After Saturday night's improbable 3-2 shootout victory over the Blackhawks, he looked back and forth as if he was being watched and almost whispered, "I was looking for the police when we left the locker room, because I thought we'd get arrested for stealing."

Indeed, Tampa Bay stole two points at the United Center.

Down 2-0 in the third period, the Lightning got goals in 103 seconds by Marty St. Louis and Teddy Purcell to tie the score with 8:09 left.

Goaltender Ben Bishop, stellar with 37 saves as Tampa Bay was outshot 39-16, made three more stops in the shootout. Valtteri Filppula scored and Tampa Bay (1-1-0) stunned last season's Stanley Cup champions despite not getting a shot in the first period, the third time in its history the team failed to get a shot in a period.

"These are the wins you build on," center Nate Thompson said. "To come out with two points here is huge."

None of it would have been possible without Bishop, who, as Thompson said, "saved our bacon."

"Unbelievable," Filppula said. "The reason we won was him."

Bishop allowed Tampa Bay to hang around, even as it was being outshot 12-0 in the first period, even as it fell behind 2-0 after the second period, when the shots were 25-6.

One of those goals was a gift. Brendan Saad scored after Nick Reddy's dump-in to the corner deflected off the glass to the front of an empty net as Bishop was out to play the puck.

"You just try to make some saves to keep your team in the game," Bishop said.

The message going into the third period was, he said, "We're only two shots away."

St. Louis got the first when he backhanded a rebound of Matt Carle's shot. Purcell, during Tampa Bay's only power play, tied it with a zippy wrist shot from the right faceoff circle.

Still, there were those first two periods.

St. Louis said he believes Chicago "overwhelmed us with their speed and puck possession."

Even so, Cooper said, "I don't think we gave up a ton of scoring chances. They had some time of possession and were zipping around, but the chances were not that drastic. They just had the puck more than we did."

Which makes it kind of tough to win. But Tampa Bay did.

"A comeback win in this building says a lot about this team," Bishop said. "We know we have a lot to work on. We know we can play better than that."

But they'll take the victory, literally.

Lightning 0 0 2 0 3

Blackhawks 0 2 0 0 2

Lightning wins shootout 1-0

Lightning 0 0 2 0 3

Blackhawks 0 2 0 0 2

Lightning wins shootout 1-0

First Period—None. Penalties—Hedman, TB (holding), 16:15.

Second Period—1, Chicago, Kane 2 (Bickell, Hjalmarsson), :59. 2, Chicago, Saad 2 (Leddy, Crawford), 9:14 (pp). Penalties—Malone, TB (hooking), 3:05; Killorn, TB (hooking), 7:25; Brewer, TB (cross-checking), 20:00.

Third Period—3, Tampa Bay, St. Louis 1 (Stamkos, Carle), 10:08. 4, Tampa Bay, Purcell 1 (St. Louis, Stamkos), 11:51 (pp). Penalties—Toews, Chi (high-sticking), 11:20; Filppula, TB (high-sticking), 12:26.

Overtime—None. Penalties—None.

Shootout—Tampa Bay 1 (Filppula G, Hedman NG), Chicago 0 (Toews NG, Kane NG, Hossa NG). Shots on Goal—Tampa Bay 0-6-8-2—16. Chicago 12-13-12-2—39. Power-play opportunities—Tampa Bay 1 of 1; Chicago 1 of 5. Goalies—Tampa Bay, Bishop 1-0-0 (39 shots-37 saves). Chicago, Crawford 1-0-1 (16-14). A—21,563 (19,717). T—2:42. Referees—Frederick L'Ecuyer, Wes McCauley. Linesmen—Mark Shewchyk, Don Henderson.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 10.06.2013


Lightning Nuts and Bolts



30 seconds with … Wing Alex Killorn

Someone you'd like to interview:

(Patriots quarterback) Tom Brady

TV show you are embarrassed you like:

Sometimes when I'm at home I watch Keeping up with the Kardashians with my sister, but I don't really enjoy it. I have to watch it because they watch it.

Late night snack:

Trail mix, nuts

A skill you wish you had:

To be a really good public speaker

Celebrity crush:

Jennifer Aniston

Driven to distraction

The running gag on Tuesday, while coach Jon Cooper introduced his players at an event at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, was that RW Richard Panik is a bad driver.

But is he? Or did some of his teammates pull a prank?

Here's the story: Before the introductions, Cooper got from each player something "no one else would know about you" that he could say. Four players — defensemen Andrej Sustr, Radko Gudas and Mark Barberio, and left wing Ondrej Palat — submitted some variation of "I am terrified when Richard Panik drives."

Sustr was introduced right before Panik, so when Panik walked onstage, Cooper said, "Speak of the devil."

But Sustr admitted later the players colluded to punk their friend. Not that they believe Panik is a good driver.

"Kind of crazy; gas, break all the time, all over the place," Sustr said. "You definitely want to sit in the back when he's driving."

Panik laughed but defended his skills behind the wheel.

"No, no, I'm a really good driver," he said.

Palat, next to Panik in the locker room Thursday at TD Garden in Boston, shook his head and mouthed "no."

Fight club

There has been a lot of talk lately about banning fighting in the NHL. Left wing P.C. Labrie is not on board.

"I like it," he said. "I don't like to get punched — nobody would like that — but it's such a high. It's not even comparable to a goal.

"When you're fighting, the adrenaline, you're in there for a minute just battling to survive. When you're done, you're shaking. It's an amazing feeling. When the game is done, I'm going to miss fighting, for sure."

"We're the little team everybody is going to try to come in and kick around. We've got other ideas."

Coach Jon Cooper

Number of the day

16 Overtime or shootout games the Lightning has played against the Bruins without a victory (0-7-9)



Lightning focuses on power-play faceoffs



CHICAGO — Amid all the hand-wringing about how the Lightning didn't shoot enough against the Bruins on the power play and didn't react well when primary plays were taken away, there is this:

Tampa Bay won only 4 of 13 (31 percent) power-play faceoffs, meaning 69 percent of the time it had to waste time gaining possession of the puck.

"You've got to go back and get it; no guarantee you're getting right back in (the offensive zone)," coach Jon Cooper said. "All of a sudden you look up, 30 seconds is gone on the power play and you're not even in synch. Your players are a little bit tired. It has a huge effect."

The lack of initial puck possession helped Tampa Bay go 0-for-5 against the Bruins on the power play, including two five-on-threes.

It was something the Lightning addressed for Saturday's game with the Blackhawks, and not just with the centers. Faceoff wins are also about wings controlling loose pucks.

As C Steven Stamkos, who lost 16 of 25 draws against Boston, said, "If you're not winning them clean, your job is to at least create a battle to give your wingers a chance to get in there.

"They know I'm going to try my best to win it clean every time. If not, it's a group thing."

Not that it did much immediate good. In a first period against Chicago in which the Lightning was outshot 12-0, it lost 12 of 18 faceoffs.

SALO RETURNS: D Sami Salo played after missing the Bruins game and Friday's practice with what the team said was an upper-body injury.

The issue is not serious, Salo said, and he was held out only as a precaution.

"These guys are conditioned athletes, but sometimes things pop up," Cooper said.

KEEP THE FAITH: Blackhawks D Mike Kostka couldn't say enough about how Cooper helped his career while both were with AHL Norfolk — then the Lightning's affiliate — during the 2011-12 season.

"He knows the game," Kostka said. "He can be strict at times, but he also knows how to have fun with the guys. He was a good balance for us."

Kostka, 27, had seven goals, 32 points and was plus-28 in 52 games for the Admirals, who won 28 straight to end the regular season and then won the Calder Cup.

He signed that summer with Toronto as a free agent and Saturday made his Chicago debut.

"My goal was to make it to the NHL," Kostka said. "At the same time, you never forget the things that got you there, and an experience like that helped propel me forward."

THUMBS UP: Marty St. Louis was the right choice for Lightning captain, said Blackhawks backup G Nik Khabibulin, St. Louis' teammate during Tampa Bay's 2004 Stanley Cup run.

"He's always been the motor, the engine of that team," Khabibulin said. "He's also got so much respect from his teammates for what he's done over his career and how he started and had to battle through and what he has become. It's a logical choice."

ODDS AND ENDS: C Nate Thompson turned 29 on Saturday. Asked what he got for his birthday, he said, "A shaving cream (pie) in the face." … Defensemen Keith Aulie and Mark Barberio, and F Tom Pyatt were scratched.



Yzerman: Eject fighting players from games



The debate about whether to abolish fighting in the NHL has heated up again thanks to the concussion sustained Tuesday by Montreal's George Parros during a fight with Toronto's Colton Orr.

Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman contributed to it by saying it is time the league considered game misconduct penalties for players who brawl.

"We are at a stage now where we should consider ejecting players from the game much like every other sport does," Yzerman told the Tampa Bay Times.

But Yzerman's objection to fighting goes beyond his belief it is an unnecessary part of the game. Yzerman also believes that to allow fighting contradicts the much-publicized steps taken by the league and players association to reduce head injuries.

As he told the Times: "It's my understanding everyone wants to reduce head injuries in hockey. We've taken steps by changing rules to make them more penalizing for any player making contact with a player's head on body checking. Yet, we allow fighting, which is obviously a direct blow to the head and which is directly contradictory to what the league is trying to do."

That's tough to argue against, except many players still believe fighting has its place, and Tampa Bay right wing B.J. Crombeen, who led the league last season with 14 fights, is one of them.

There are plenty of reasons to fight, Crombeen said, whether it is to stick up for a teammate or "to make a point or set a tone."

Crombeen agrees that what he called "staged, unnecessary fights" should be eliminated. "But most guys who have played the game understand the role fighting plays," he said. "I don't ever think it will be out of the game."

Said Lightning coach Jon Cooper: "I believe intimidation, if you will, is still part of the game. Intimidation comes in so many different forms. It can come in fighting. It can come in being physical. It can come in a team's ability to score. It can come in a team's ability to hit. There's just different variables in it, and fighting is one of them. … It's within the rules, and I don't see anything wrong with it."

Fighting advocates also point out that Parros was hurt when his chin smashed into the ice after Orr slipped and pulled him down. Crombeen called it "a fluke play."

Yzerman called it a byproduct of a hole in the league's program to reduce head injuries.

"We're stuck in the middle and need to decide what kind of sport we want to be," Yzerman told Canada's TSN TV network. "Either anything goes and we except the consequences or (we) take the next step and eliminate fighting."



Chicago's Mike Kostka says Lightning coach Cooper put him on right path when both were with AHL Norfolk



Blackhawks defenseman Michael Kostka knows a lot about Lightning coach Jon Cooper. Both were with AHL Norfolk during the 2011-12 season, when the Admirals went on their remarkable run to the Calder Cup title.

Kostka, who makes his Blackhawks debut tonight, not only gives Cooper credit with helping mold his game, he gives him as much credit for molding Norfolk’s players into the cohesive unit that won 28 straight to end the regular season.

“He was awesome,” said Kostka, who signed with the Maple Leafs as a free agent after playing with Norfolk. “He’s a knowledgeable guy and knows the game. He can be strict at times but he also knows how to have fun with the guys. He was a really good balance for us. I can’t say a bad word about him as much as I’d like to.”

Tonight’s game between the Lightning and Blackhawks will be quite a reunion for Kostka as he not only faces Cooper but five players with whom he was teammates at Norfolk – Tyler Johnson, Richard Panik, Ondrej Palat, Mark Barberio and Radko Gudas -- though Barberio is a healthy scratch.

Kostka, 27, who had seven goals, 32 points and was plus-28 in 52 regular season games after he was traded to Norfolk in December, said that championship season is something he never will forget.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be a part of something that was that incredible in terms of the record,” he said. “The way that was going, it was something that we didn’t even know how it happened. The season ended and we were like, ‘Oh, crap.’”

“You have different levels of goals and achievements,” added Kostka, who said he still keeps in touch with about 10 of his former teammates. “My goal was to make it to the NHL and play here, which I’m very proud of. But at the same time, you never forget the things that got you there, and an experience like that really did help propel me forward.”

As did Cooper.

“We understood everyone had each other’s backs. That’s the cornerstone of how he likes to build his team,” Kostka said. “It takes time. I got traded there in December and it wasn’t like that yet. But throughout the season, you plant the seed early, and it’s something guys kind of grow into.”

Other stuff from the morning skate: Defenseman Sami Salo skated with the team and is good to go against Chicago. Salo missed the season-opener Thursday at Boston and Friday’s practice with what the team said was an upper-body injury. Salo said he sat out the game with the Bruins as a precaution and that a check-up on Friday (he said he did not have an MRI exam) revealed nothing serious. He also said he has no limitations. … Ben Bishop gets the start in net. Cooper said the plan all along was for Bishop and Lindback to split the first two games. A decision on Tuesday’s started at Buffalo will be made after that. … With Salo back in, Mark Barberio is scratched along with forward Tom Pyatt and defenseman Keith Aulie. … Former Lightning goaltender Nik Khabibuilin, the Blackhawks’ backup, said he is happy to see Marty St. Louis is Tampa Bay’s captain. “He’s always been the motor, the engine of that team. It’s good for him,” Khabibulin said. “He’s also got, at least I hope so, so much respect from his teammates for what he’s done over his career and how he started and had to battle through and what he’s become. I think it is a very logical choice.” … One aspect of the power play Cooper acknowledged has to get better is Tampa Bay’s performance on faceoffs. The Lightning won just four of 17 power-play faceoffs against the Bruins. “If you count it, starting with possession, you got to go back and get (the puck); no guarantee you’re getting right back in,” Cooper said. “All of a sudden, you look up, 30 seconds are gone on the power play and you’re not even in synch. Your players are a little bit more tired. It has a huge effect.” … Defenseman Eric Brewer, whose rush down right wing set up Valtteri Filppula’s goal against the Bruins, got big ups from Cooper for playing an “exceptional” game against Boston. “He played both ends of the ice,” Cooper said. “He was moving his feet. He kept

up with the pace and jumped into plays. Brewer had two hits, a blocked shot and was plus-1. But the key might have been his 16:23 of ice time, much less than the 20:30 he averaged last season. “We’re playing with a lot of pace,” Cooper said. “He’s upped his game in that department. He came in extremely good condition when he came into camp and he hasn’t tailed off. I think there’s still a lot of youth left in his legs.” … Center Nate Thompson turned 29 todau. Asked if he got anything, he said, “Shaving cream in the face.”


719846 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs rally from two down to beat Senators in shootout

JAMES MIRTLE

TORONTO — The Globe and Mail


Last updated Sunday, Oct. 06 2013, 1:26 AM EDT

We’ll take it.

That was coach Randy Carlyle’s message after the Toronto Maple Leafs eked out their third straight win, taking the home opener 5-4 in a shootout over the Ottawa Senators.

The game was hardly won in pretty fashion, as the Senators took 2-1 and then 4-2 leads, chasing Leafs starter James Reimer by the midway point in favour of Jonathan Bernier.

But with Ottawa taking seven minor penalties (to just two for Toronto), the Leafs capitalized twice on the power play and got shootout tallies from Mason Raymond and Tyler Bozak to improve to 3-0-0 to start the season.

“We hadn’t played very well in the hockey game,” Carlyle said of the game’s turning point, which he pegged as when winger Joffrey Lupul pulled his team to within one late in the second period. “Coaches aren’t here to cut up wins. Let’s not overanalyze. We didn’t play to the level we’re capable of playing. It’s more of a hockey game we played in parts and were sloppy throughout it but we still found a way to get two points.”

There were plenty of areas to be critical of for both teams.

Ottawa blew a two-goal lead, spent far too much time in the box and had a hard time containing Toronto’s top players in close. The Leafs made several key turnovers (with defenceman Cody Franson particularly guilty) and didn’t get enough saves as Reimer allowed four goals on just 21 shots.

On the flip side, Sens centre Kyle Turris and Raymond both had three-point nights as part of what was an offensive showcase right from the start.

In all, the game had 78 shots (42-36 for the Leafs) and several key momentum swings, with what Carlyle called “sloppy” hockey proving to be terrifically entertaining for the sold out Air Canada Centre crowd.

“Bernier was very good, but we have a two-goal lead, we have to win the game, plain and simple,” said Sens captain Jason Spezza, who had his first of the season on the goal that chased Reimer in the second period. “A two-goal lead is one we have to take home if we want to be a good hockey club.”

Even so, the man behind the winning bench was hardly doing backflips in his postgame press conference.

“When you play as sloppy as we did tonight, there’s a long list,” Carlyle said of improvements he wants to see defensively. “Obviously we’ve got to play a tighter brand of hockey. And we know that.”

Leafs additions come up big

Overall, however, it was a good night for Leafs GM Dave Nonis’s roster makeover.

With three regulars out of the lineup due to suspensions (David Clarkson) or injuries (Nikolai Kulemin and Mark Fraser), Toronto’s depth forwards like Raymond and linemate David Bolland had excellent games, showing strong chemistry and earning big time minutes.

Add in Bernier’s strong showing in relief, and it was a glimpse of what Nonis and Co. had been hoping to bring in over the summer.

Former combatants in the Vancouver-Chicago rivalry, Raymond and Bolland were probably the biggest revelation and, in the small sample size so far this year, appear poised to have rebound seasons in their new home.

The Leafs outshot the Sens 12-6 at even strength and had a 58 per cent Corsi rating with Raymond and Bolland on the ice, putting them first and second on the team on the night.

“He’s a heckuva player,” Raymond said of Bolland. “He’s won two Cups and he’s done it all. It’s showing on the ice right now in how well he’s playing. It’s enjoyable to play with him.”

Raymond capped his big night with the shootout winner, as his slow motion spinorama fooled Sens netminder Craig Anderson.

The NHL had toyed with the idea of nixing the move in shootouts in the offseason but ultimately couldn’t get approval from players to make the change and so they’ve remained.

Even so, the Senators offered a small protest on the ice after Raymond scored what was ultimately the winning goal for an extra point that could be big come April.

“I think it’s a very unfair play for the goaltender for the guy to come in and blow snow on him,” Sens coach Paul MacLean said. “To me, he came to a full stop and the puck came backwards and came forwards. But that’s me. I’m only the fisherman from Nova Scotia so I don’t know nothing from nothing.”

“At the end of the day, I’m going out there doing my move,” Raymond said. “I’ve done it in the past and I’ve been successful with it. It raises some eyebrows, but so far, I haven’t had anything go wrong with it.”

Carlyle didn’t see what all the fuss was about.

“It went in the net,” Carlyle said when one reporter asked about the goal being controversial. “Where didn’t you understand?”

Rookies debut

The three absent Leafs opened holes for three different rookies to make their NHL debut on Saturday, with Morgan Rielly, Spence Abbott and Jamie Devane all drawing in.

Abbott and Devane played sparingly (less than seven minutes), but Rielly was given a regular shift, logging more than 18 minutes alongside Cody Franson.

The pair was on the ice for three of Ottawa’s goals, but that was more a fault of Rielly’s veteran partner, who had a tough night all around.

“I thought as the game went on he got better,” Carlyle said. “You got to see more of what he’s about… he’s a young kid that’s got skill and he earned [the ice time]. You can see he can separate himself with his skating ability, he can read plays. He just needs to get the speed under him at the NHL level.”

“It was a pretty cool feeling,” Rielly said of his debut, which he made in front of parents Andy and Shirley, who flew in from Vancouver. “It was pretty heated obviously… I think it was obviously a change of pace but once I got used to that I was pretty comfortable.”



Downtown Toronto awash with blue and white ahead of Leafs home opener

GEORGE HALIM

TORONTO — The Globe and Mail



The 2013-2014 Toronto Maple Leafs season has finally arrived in Toronto, with a sea of blue and white flooding Maple Leaf Square for this year’s tailgate party.

A DJ, giveaways, a jumbo television and bar tables scattered around the square make for a party Leafs fans have been waiting for since last season’s crumbling finish at the hands of the Boston Bruins.

One fan is here for the party, but chooses to sport a Bruins jersey. A choir of boos follows him wherever he goes.

The tailgate party, running until the conclusion of the game, is attracting fans, not only from every corner of the GTA, but a few provinces over as well.

Draped in a Maple Leafs poncho, Tony Merritt made the trek from Alberta, just to see his beloved Maple Leafs play, saying it’s like a ritual for him.

“I’ve been coming here from Calgary for the home opener, banner raisings and other special events for the last 11 years,” said Merritt, a die-hard Maple Leafs fan since the sixties. “I used to watch with my father and grandfather every Saturday night. I just have the passion for the game.”

Hundreds of fans are showcasing the love for their hockey team despite brisk conditions that are expected to continue cooling as the game draws closer.

Regardless, it doesn’t stop these fans wearing helmets, boots and sporting face paint, who have been anxiously waiting for home opener since last season.

Andrew Teodoro woke up at 8 a.m., –nearly 12 hours prior to game time– to line up five hours before the gates were set to open.

“This is what we live for, there’s blue and white running through our blood,” said Teodoro, amid a booming, but frequent, ‘Go Leafs Go’ chant. “We’re here to have fun, we’re here to support our team and this is what we cherish in this city.”

The Ottawa Senators are in town for the battle of Ontario with puck drop slated for just after 7 p.m. at a sold out Air Canada Centre.



Leafs’ winger Kulemin out two weeks after suffering ankle injury in practice

Stephen Whyno

TORONTO — The Canadian Press



Already missing David Clarkson, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have to get through at least the next two weeks without Nikolai Kulemin, as well.

Kulemin is out with a bone chip in his ankle suffered when he blocked a shot in practice Friday.

“It’s just a small bone broken in the ankle,” coach Randy Carlyle said. “To say it’s not a significant injury would be incorrect. It’s one of those things.”

The 27-year-old right-winger could have played on the injured ankle for a month because it wasn’t a displaced fracture, Carlyle said, but the team and doctors decided not to talk that chance. Kulemin is wearing a walking boot to immobilize the ankle.

The Leafs called up Spencer Abbott from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies to take Kulemin’s spot alongside Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri beginning with Saturday night’s home opener against the Ottawa Senators.

“He had a strong training camp for us and when he went back to the Marlies in the two exhibition games, from their coaching staff’s advice, he was clearly the best player on the ice,” Carlyle said. “So in our minds, that’s what we asked for: Who was the best player in the situation when we lost Kulemin and we need a player that’s going to come in and play higher in our lineup than what we have here, so we’ve done that.”

A couple of weeks ago it looked like the Leafs wouldn’t have any shortage of options. Clarkson was slated to play big minutes on the right side, but the free-agent acquisition won’t be available to play until Oct. 25 at the Columbus Blue Jackets after being suspended for the first 10 regular-season games for leaving the bench to enter an altercation in the pre-season.

Toronto traded Joe Colborne, who would have likely been the top option to replace Kulemin, to the Calgary Flames for a fourth-round pick. The cap-strapped Leafs would have had to put the 23-year-old through waivers and risk losing him for nothing if they kept him around but he did not remain on the NHL roster.

But those moves put the team in even more of a bind with Kulemin shelved. His spot on the penalty kill will have to be filled by committee, with Carlyle mentioning James van Riemsdyk, Dave Bolland, Mason Raymond, Carter Ashton, Troy Bodie and even Tyler Bozak as options.

“We’re going to need other people to step up and fill those minutes because as far as our first penalty-killing [forward] pair it was Kulemin and [Jay] McClement, so now we have to have somebody else step into that role,” the Leafs’ coach said.

Kulemin had two assists in the Leafs’ first two games of the season.



Maple Leafs: Raymond’s spinarama shootout move leaves Senators reeling

By: Kevin McGran Sports Reporter, Published on Sun Oct 06 2013

The secret’s out.

Mason Raymond has a spinarama shootout move. And because of it — plus a three-point performance from the former Vancouver Canuck — the Maple Leafs are off to a 3-0-0 start.

Raymond’s controversial spinarama held up as the winner as the Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-4 on Saturday night in their home opener.

“I’ve been in the West for six years,” said Raymond, who signed a one-year deal with the Leafs in training camp. “Do they know it in the East as much? Maybe not. We’re in this market now. I’m sure that move will be the subject of a little bit of talk. It spreads quick.”

The Senators didn’t like the move at all. Senators coach Paul MacLean hated it and was screaming at the officials after it was allowed.

“I was on a conference call at the start of the year with all the other coaches and was informed at that time, I was with Bryan Murray, that that play would be seriously reviewed and you’re taking a chance that it would be an illegal play and the goal would be disallowed in the spinarama move,” said MacLean.

“And we informed our players of that, and we don’t do that. I think it’s a very unfair play for the goaltender for the guy to come in and blow snow on him. To me, he came to a full stop and the puck went backwards and came forwards, but that’s me. I’m only a fisherman from Nova Scotia, so I don’t know nothin’ about nothin’.

Raymond said it’s his go-to move.

“What I like most about it is I’ve been successful at it. It’s one that seems to raise some debate. It’s been successful, why not?” said Raymond. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. From my standpoint, I don’t know why I can’t keep using it.

“I’ve been stopped a few times on it, too. It’s not a move you can use every day.”

The Leafs went 0-5 in the shootout last year and are a team historically bad at the novelty tiebreak.

“It went in the net,” said Leafs coach Randy Carlyle. “Which word didn’t you understand?”

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.06.2013


Maple Leafs win home opener, Jonathan Bernier stands tall: Cox

By: Damien Cox Sports Columnist, Published on Sat Oct 05 2013

It’s been about the hockey future for so long in these parts that one surely wondered if we would be able to recognize the hockey present when it arrived.

Apparently, however, it has.

The long nightmare of Maple Leaf Nation that began a decade ago and included season after painful season of waffling ownership, questionable management, inconsistent coaching and lots and lots of bad players may finally be over.

You can say that not just because the Leafs won their first two games of the 2013-14 season on the road, and then followed up on Saturday night in their 96th home opener with a thrill-a-minute, come-from-behind 5-4 shootout triumph over the Ottawa Senators that showed how entertaining the sport can be some nights.

It’s not about just three games, and it’s not just about a new goaltending hero in town in 25-year-old Jonathan Bernier, who surely made a lot of believers in a fabulous relief performance against the Senators.

No, you can say the nightmare appears to finally be over because for the first time in a decade, the Leafs appear to have their house in order.

They not only are saying they want to win. They seem to know how to go about it, and are trying to do it properly and patiently.

There’s a recognizable scent of, yes, competence in the air.

Finally, after all kinds of turmoil and errors, this is an organization that is emphasizing the right things and making good, solid hockey decisions. It’s a young team that sometimes (like for much of Saturday night) looks not-quite-ready-for-prime-time, but is growing together and making its better players, like Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak, want to stay and be part of it.

The serious rebuilding of this franchise started five years ago when Brian Burke — who was in the building Saturday night — brought a new level of focus and ambition to town, which should be a reference point for other franchises, and the Leafs.

It takes that long, and lots and lots of losing, to fix a mess if you make one.

As of today, the Leafs aren’t world beaters or Stanley Cup contenders, but they’re no longer laughingstocks and they’re absolutely nobody’s punching bag.

Three games into an 82-game schedule, GM Dave Nonis, who succeeded Burke last January, is looking as though he had as good an off-season as any hockey GM. David Bolland, picked up from the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, scored two goals Wednesday in the road victory in Philadelphia, and Mason Raymond, signed to a tryout six weeks ago, was outstanding on Saturday night with a goal, two assists and a spectacular spin-a-rama score for the shootout winner.

Bernier, picked up from L.A. in a big summer trade, delighted the more prehistoric Leaf fans in the pre-season by getting into one of those goofy goalie fights, and on Saturday night made ACC patrons happy a more conventional way.

He took over for a struggling James Reimer partway through with the Leafs trailing 4-2, stopped 15 shots without error and ultimately helped push the game to a shootout.

He faced two shooters and neither could score, leaving new CEO Tim Leiweke — also an L.A. import — pumping his fist and hugging other fans in the plush platinum seats while a packed Maple Leaf Square outside went berserk.

So that’s how the week in Leafland ended, a week that began with the signing of Kessel to an eight-year, $64 million contract, the richest in Leaf history.

The Leafs then walked into Montreal on Tuesday and stole a win, wrecking the Habs home opener, then did the same in Philly the next night.

Suddenly, a 10-game suspension to expensive free agent David Clarkson during the exhibition season doesn’t seem quite as devastating a blow.

The absence of Clarkson and other regulars due to injuries created a void, and the Leafs filled it with three young players making their NHL debuts on the biggest hockey stage in North America.

Morgan Rielly, 19, was Toronto’s first-round pick in 2012. He had a difficult first period, but by overtime head coach Randy Carlyle was turning to him like a trusted veteran.

Wingers Spencer Abbott and Jamie Devane, the long and short of it, didn’t play as much, but both represent interesting elements in the Toronto rebuild.

The six-foot-five Devane was drafted four years ago, one of Burke’s first picks as he began remodelling the team into a big, intimidating unit. The 25-year-old Abbott was regarded as too small to be a serious pro prospect and was never drafted, but caught the eye of the Leafs two years ago while putting up big offensive numbers at the University of Maine.

Both were trained last season by Toronto’s farm operation, as was Rielly in the AHL playoffs last spring.

Teaching and training players. What a concept.

These are all small pieces in a big, complicated puzzle that seems to be coming into focus for the Leafs after a painful process that at times seemed to be leading the team nowhere.

The Cup? That’s still a distant dream.

But dreams are at least possibly now that the nightmare is over.



Maple Leafs: Young D-man Rielly right at home in debut outing: DiManno

By: Rosie DiManno Columnist, Published on Sat Oct 05 2013

Now playing: I Was a Teenage Maple Leaf Defenceman.

Traditionally, this would be a horror movie — the kid who opens the creaky door at the top of the NHL staircase while audiences are screaming at management DON’T DO IT! The Leaf landscape is littered with bodies of baby-faced naïfs, most tragically greenhorn rearguards rushed into the big team’s lineup, only to be buzz-sawed in the first reel or axed in the head before the closing credits.

Morgan Rielly may be the exception, a 19-year-old who not only survives the slasher gore but gets the pretty girl at the end. Or, in this kid’s case, a Labrador called Maggie, the pet pooch left behind in Vancouver and kennelled Saturday morning by Rielly’s parents as they rushed to make a Toronto flight, arriving in time to witness their son’s NHL debut in the Leafs’ Air Canada Centre curtain-raiser against Ottawa, and, golly, a shootout 5-4 win at that.

Repeat: A shootout win. There were zero (0) of those last season, which was actually this year, in the lockout-truncated schedule.

If Rielly sticks, Maggie gets a ticket to the centre of the universe too, where the Leafs are now savouring their 3-0 start out of the chute.

He is a stud, the highest-drafted Leaf in 23 years, which speaks as much to Rielly’s innate talent as to the franchise’s ruinous habit of trading away draft picks.

First time out, though, he got a bit bloodied, drawn into the dark side of turnovers and giveaways by his D-duo partner Cody Franson while the eye-popping heroics were served up by free-agent acquisition Mason Raymond: a goal to start things (second as a Leaf), two assists and (gotta say) a helluva cheesy shootout spinarama trick that earned a tick in the scoring column and went down as da winnah! on the game.

“Things are going well so far,” Raymond understated.

As it turned out, it was The Nightmare on Bay Street for Toronto starter James Reimer instead, fright night between the pipes — ah yes, there’s the puck-handling conniption we all remember so well — yanked halfway through the second, by which point the Senators had pumped a rubber quartet past him, No. 3 and No. 4 only 15 seconds apart, Toronto trailing by a pair. Coach Randy Carlyle, no slouch with the hook, propelled Jonathan Bernier over the boards for his ad lib initiation as Leafgoalie@home. He gave up nothing in regulation and was the eventual SO victor.

A bit tough to watch for the hoisted Reimer? “I’m not going to sit on the bench and hope my teammate plays bad,” the stopper-interruptus said afterwards to a TV reporter who’d asked a very dumb question. “That’s not your mindset. I know what kind of team we have in here and I knew we were going to come back. I was disappointed getting pulled because I have a good feeling about this group and I know we can come back. I kind of figured we would.”

Three Leaf scrubeenies launched their NHL careers in this up-down-sideways-tied-OT-shootout encounter: Rielly, Spencer Abbott and Jamie Devane. But “Morgs” — as he’s known in the dressing room, diminutive further evidence of his comer status — is the most beguiling, a training camp hotshot who’s earned the guarded trust of the coaching staff, at least temporarily, including a bench boss who well remembers the heebie-jeebies of crashing into the league as a Leaf, which he did 37 autumns ago. “It’s like you were seen but not heard. Shut up and do what you’re told.”

It was hardly Rielly’s fault that he went into the dressing room after 40 minutes a minus-3 on the scoresheet. “You know, on paper it’s probably not the greatest game I’ve ever played but I’m pretty happy with how it went. I felt like I improved as I kept playing.”

Hours earlier, he’d admitted having a fantasy about how his first NHL game would unfold, though he wouldn’t share. “I don’t want to jinx it.”

Rielly was partnered with Franson, arguably the best defenceman in Toronto’s first three games. Unforeseen by everybody was that it would be

Franson dragging Reilly down in their initial outing, two giveaways in a row equalling two goals for the Senators. So Reilly was really a standby casualty, more often bailing out his older half, and unscathed by his own worst-moment turnover in the third, just before just before James van Riemsdyk tied things 4-4.

It should be noted that Carlyle stuck with Rielly all evening, despite some blunders, denying him no regular shifts and sending him out on the power play early in the second, plus-minus statistics be damned.

“It was pretty heated,” Rielly said of the game, adding elliptically: “To have the game be as heated as it was, that was pretty cool.”

Franson had spoken highly of his tenderfoot D-mate earlier in the day, struck by Rielly’s apparent composure. “What’s impressive about him is that he feels totally normal. He walks around here totally confident. He’s just having a lot of fun with it.”

It couldn’t possibly have been any more nerve-wracking for the sturdy six-footer with the barely there chin stubble — a soft blond bristle — and pale blue eyes that dilated with excitement when his inclusion on the manifest was confirmed. “Toronto Maple Leaf home opener against Ottawa. That’s a good place to start.”

A first-round draft pick, fifth overall just a year ago, Rielly had been planted in the pressbox for Toronto’s first two games. The youngster’s opening arrived with a knee injury to Mark Fraser, who was placed on injured reserve Friday.

The Leafs get to keep Rielly around for a maximum of nine games, lineup dressed, without triggering the first year of his entry-level contract. Nine games and back to the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL — or, alternatively, stay with the parent club, which he might very well merit.

The advice had come fast and furious and Rielly was trying to absorb it all. “Just play your game, play with confidence. That’s been a pretty constant theme. I’m going to try to concentrate on the game and not be too worried about everything else that’s going on, with it being the home opener.”

By the time this sucker went into overtime, three hours after the opening-night festivities got off to a pipe-swirling start, Rielly probably had forgotten all about the game’s special aspects. And Coach Carlyle had him out on the first OT shift. In that extra frame, Rielly very nearly won it for Toronto. For a split-second, it was almost a dream come true, as fantasized, with Rielly believing he would bury the puck behind Craig Anderson. “I did. I did. I thought I had him. I think I just hit his pants there in front.”

This teen, methinks, isn’t going west, young man. And Maggie should be getting on a jet plane soon.



Ex-Leaf MacArthur sounds off on Carlyle

By: Kevin McGran Sports Reporter, Published on Sat Oct 05 2013

First Mikhail Grabovski sounded off about Randy Carlyle. Now Clarke MacArthur has done the same thing.

The Ottawa Senators forward sounded like a bitter ex-Maple Leaf, saying that being a healthy scratch in the post-season by Carlyle sucked the fun out of the game for him.

“It was a tough way to end it,” MacArthur told Sportsnet. “Just getting scratched in the playoffs, that was it for me. I came back and I scored some goals that were good for the team, but I was done here after that. That was it, the game of hockey, it wasn’t exciting coming in any more. It was time to move on.”

Carlyle shrugged off MacArthur’s comments Saturday night.

“How could they say something unkind about me?” said Carlyle. “When players are gone, we don’t throw any dirt. We thank them for their effort and we hold them with highest esteem.

“If he has something negative to say, that’s up to him. I choose to ignore (it). I’ve got a new set of players. I wish him all the luck in the world.”

MacArthur, whose role with the Leafs diminished under Carlyle, signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal with Ottawa over the summer. His former Leaf linemate, Grabovski, was bought out.

MacArthur had eight goals and 20 assists last year, playing in 40 of 48 games in the lockout-shortened season. He scored one goal in the last 18 games in which he was healthy.

Grabovksi called Carlyle an “idiot” in an expletive-filled interview with TSN after the buyout. Grabovski, too, saw his ice time shrink under Carlyle. Now he’s a second-line centre again with the Washington Capitals.

“He was a guy who had 30 goals and two years of 55 or whatever points, and then Randy came in and it just didn’t work out,” MacArthur was quoted as saying of Grabovski. “They turned him into a checker and look at him now — four points in his first game (with Washington), three goals.

“Who is right there? I don’t know.”

MacArthur acknowledged Carlyle won the 2007 Stanley Cup in Anaheim with the same gruff style.

“It’s one of those things where he runs the show there and everyone knows that and that’s the way it is,” said MacArthur. “It’s worked for him in the past, he’s got a (Stanley) Cup from that, but at the same time there’s other ways to do things, too.”

MacArthur said he didn’t have a working relationship with Carlyle, that the only time they spoke was when the coach criticized his play.

“Some guys are good with the criticism and some guys don’t want to hear it every single shift you come off the ice,” MacArthur said. “You’re old enough to know (you) made a mistake. You don’t need to hear it every five seconds.

“It weighs differently on different people and, for me, it was some long days.”



Maple Leafs to go with James Reimer and three rookies in home opener

By: Kevin McGran Sports Reporter, Published on Sat Oct 05 2013

There will be more than just Morgan Rielly making his NHL debut in the Maple Leafs home opener Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators.

Forward Spencer Abbott is also expected to play his first game for the Maple Leafs, replacing Nikolai Kulemin, who is out at least two weeks with a chipped bone in his ankle.

Abbott skated with Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul in a spot that was supposed to be for David Clarkson, highly paid free agent winger who is serving a 10-game suspension for coming off the bench in a pre-season fight.

It was Marlies coach Steve Spott who phoned Abbott on Friday, waking him up, to tell him the news.

“It’s what you dream of as a kid, playing in the NHL,” said Abbott. “It’s one of the best moments in my life. It’s pretty special.”

The Leafs signed Abbott, now 25, as a free agent after he finished his career at the University of Maine. The Hamilton native will have an entourage of family and friends in for the game.

“He had a strong training camp for us,” Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said of Abbott. “When he went back to the Marlies, in their two exhibition games, he was clearly the best player on the ice. We need a player who can play higher in our lineup than what we have here.”

While Abbott’s arrival is a surprise, Rielly’s was more anticipated. The highly touted defenceman is replacing the injured Mark Fraser.

“I’m pretty excited. It’s a pretty cool opportunity,” said Rielly after the Saturday morning skate.

James Reimer, who is 8-1-1 against Ottawa in his career, will start in net for the Leafs.

In addition to Rielly and Abbott, the Leafs will have a third rookie in their lineup — Carter Ashton. A fourth, Jamie Devane, is expected to be a healthy scratch.

This many rookies is not exactly how Carlyle mapped out the beginning of the season. But the hole created by Clarkson’s suspension — which was a factor in the team trading Joe Colborne — has gotten bigger and bigger.

“We look at it as an opportunity” said Carlyle. “You’re going to have to add young players to your lineup. Every team does it. You add them through them outcompeting veterans, through sickness, through injuries.

“Now we’re getting young players vying for the opportunity to make it to the big club.”



You hate Sens fans too? Here's why

By Mike Strobel ,Toronto Sun


TORONTO - I try to hate Senators fans, I really do.

But why? It makes no sense. Hating Ottawa Senators’ supporters is like hating plankton or tree moss or nitrogen dioxide.

Sure, it is possible to dislike them, but what’s the point? There is none of the joy, the delicious tingle, that a deep distaste for Habs fans brings you.

Senators fans seem too vague and quiet to hate. Look at them closely. They are actually slightly out of focus. As if they’re stuck in Casablanca in 1942.

Senators fan: You despise me, don’t you?

Humphrey Bogart: If I gave you any thought I probably would.

Likely, your feeling toward Sens fans has been akin to a dull headache or a stone in your shoe. Annoying, not infuriating.

Battle of Ontario? Marketing hooey.

But a chart in Thursday’s Sun finally pointed the way to a good, healthy revulsion.

It showed the median income of families in 33 Canadian metropolitan areas.

Ottawa-Gatineau topped the list at $93,440. Toronto trailed badly, at a meager $69,740, and every burg from Victoria to St. John’s floundered in the national capital’s wake.

Surprise, surprise. The city where the taxman lives, the city that demands an obscene cut of our sweat-stained wages, is home to the wealthiest citizens in the land. Worse, they become so by suckling at the teats of the nation, including your teat, your family’s teat, your friends’ teat, and your dog’s teat.

And they are Sens fans.

So that explains our subconscious loathing of them. But there’s more, if you bother to think about it.

For one thing, Ottawans, are getting uppity lately.

When I lived there for a spell in the 1970s, the locals were embarrassed about their city, and rightly so.

“The best thing about Ottawa,” outsiders used to say, “is it’s only two hours to Pembroke.”

Now, Ottawans gloat when a University of Toronto think-tank says their city is tops in the world’s “creative” economy. Seattle and Oslo are second and third and Toronto is 25th.

“Look at us!” they gush. “We beat Oslo!”

Big deal. “Creative economy?” It just means Ottawa is infested with nerds, bohemians and women in sensible shoes, many of whom can be found snoozing in the stands of Canadian Tire Centre at Senators games, presumably waiting to collect their play money and go home to their basements.

Mind you, the Air Canada Centre is not exactly Thrillsville on hockey night, either. But at least it’s blue and white.

That’s the thing. The thrill at Canadian Tire Centre is created by fans of the opposing team.

When the Leafs visit Ottawa, Sundin, Gilmour and Kessel jerseys outnumber the Alfredssons and Spezzas. With Les Canadiens in town, Lafleur or Price sweaters dominate.

It got so bad last season, the Senators offered discounts on tickets if purchasers promised not to re-sell them to rival fans.

“Any seats being re-sold will be subject to cancellation and loss of privileges,” the front office warned. (Tough talk in a town that hasn’t won a Stanley Cup since Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion was six. She was 46 when Toronto last had one.)

Ushers at the Ottawa rink have been known to order Leafs fans to sit down and shut up. Habs and Bruins fans often commandeer the parking lot.

At home, the Senators strive desperately to score first, so as to take the crowd out of the game.

See what I mean? Sens’ fans aren’t the “seventh man,” they’re the Invisible Man.

You only notice them if they sit right behind the bench and are dead-ringers for coach Paul MacLean, which was the high point of Senators fandom last year.

But who can blame them? If you suckled freely at the public bosom and had a job for life, you’d keep a low profile, too.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.06.2013


NHL debut leaves Maple Leafs' Rielly in stitches

By Terry Koshan ,Toronto Sun

First posted: Sunday, October 06, 2013 12:03 AM EDT | Updated: Sunday, October 06, 2013 12:06 AM EDT

Morgan Rielly won’t forget his first National Hockey League game.

But chances are good that the 19-year-old Maple Leafs defenceman won’t frame a copy of the game sheet and gaze at it longingly years after his professional career is done.

“You know, on paper it’s probably not the greatest game ever played, but I am pretty happy with how it went,” Rielly said after the Leafs beat the visiting Ottawa Senators 5-4 in a shootout at the Air Canada Centre.

“I felt like I improved as I kept playing.”

The devil usually is in the details, and the written word was not pretty. Rielly, paired for the most part with Cody Franson, played 18 minutes seven seconds, was minus-3 and was charged with four giveaways.

But as his parents, Andy and Shirley, watched from the seats after flying across the country from Vancouver on Saturday, Rielly kept getting the tap on his shoulder from Leafs coach Randy Carlyle.

There were several shifts for Rielly late in the third period after James van Riemsdyk had tied the game 4-4, and two more in overtime, during which Rielly nearly won the game with a shot from the slot that was deflected wide.

“He’s a young kid who has skill and he earned it,” Carlyle said of the shifts in the crucial situations.

“You can see he can separate himself with his skating ability, he can read plays, he just needs to get his feet underneath him at the NHL level.

“We’re making a tough decision on the future of a young player.”

The window for that decision is down to eight games, now that Rielly has played in one. He can play in nine before the Leafs have to determine whether he stays or heads back to Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League. If Rielly steps on to the ice for a 10th game, he is going to stay.

With Mark Fraser nursing a knee injury that will keep him out for an extended period, it appears that Rielly will have every opportunity to demonstrate he is a capable NHL regular.

Franson was steady through the Leafs’ first two games, also victories, but struggled alongside Rielly on Saturday night. It wasn’t the kind of guiding hand Rielly needed, and the pair was on the ice for the first three Senators goals. On the third, Rielly got tangled up with goalie James Reimer, leaving Jared Cowen with an open net from 20 feet.

On the whole, the Leafs defence was not great, and certainly Rielly was not the only one who was part of some breakdowns. And it’s worth remembering that Rielly had not played in a game in a week, going back to the Leafs’ final pre-season game versus Detroit.

“I thought Rielly played well ... as the game went on he got better,” Carlyle said. “We got to see more of what he is about. I think he made some mistakes like we all do, and in the game, specifically in the first half, I don’t think he got a lot of support from his teammates.”

What was most important was the victory, the Leafs’ third of the season in as many games. Rielly had a physical souvenir in the form of several stitches on the bridge of his nose, courtesy of his visor.

There’s no question Rielly, the fifth pick overall in the 2012 draft by the Leafs, has long and successful NHL career in his future.

But they say you never forget your first.

“It was pretty heated, and it got down to it there at the end,” Rielly said. “It’s always cool to be in a game like that. There was a change of pace, but once I got used to it I was pretty comfortable.”



Jonathan Bernier steals the show for Toronto Maple Leafs

By Rob Longley ,Toronto Sun


Four words was all it took for Randy Carlyle to describe the current state of his team’s goaltending competition.

“It makes it easier,” the Leafs coach said when asked if the performance of James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier on Saturday night affects his decision-making process on the crowded crease.

That it does.

All Bernier did in a crazy 5-4 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators was steal the show, a victory and perhaps the incumbent’s shot at retaining the No. 1 spot in the Toronto net.

Premature or not, Bernier will be the talk of the town on Sunday for the poise he showed in the Leafs net in second-period relief of Reimer as the team climbed out of a 4-2 hole for an unlikely third win of the season.

Of the 15 Bernier saves, at least half a dozen were huge, the biggest arguably the last when he stymied Senators captain Jason Spezza in the shootout.

“It was just one of those games where (Reimer) got those unlucky bounces,” said Bernier, who had just one shootout win in five previous tries. “(The move) was more to get the guys into the game and react from that.”

We’re thinking it was a little more than that. The goalie competition may still be in its early stages, but whatever loyalty Carlyle had to Reimer can now be rinsed from the coach’s decision-making process.

Reimer let four get by him in 21 shots, including two in 15-second blitz in the second period that sent him to the bench. Bernier made big save after big save, had fans chanting his name during a third-period time out and on their feet after the kick-save on Spezza for the win.

In the 29:45 he played (plus shootout) Bernier earned his second consecutive star of the game performance and quite possibly the leading man in the Leafs rotation.

Game On

Reimer is growing weary of the competition questions. “If we’re winning games, that’s a good thing,” Reimer said. “I’m not going to sit on the bench and hope my teammate plays bad because then we’re probably going to lose.” ... Fair to say that the Leafs are 0-3 in good defensive efforts and 3-0 in the standings? “Coaches aren’t here to cut up wins,” Carlyle said afterwards ... Joffrey Lupul’s power-play goal with 17 seconds left in the second at least got the Leafs back into it. By that point, Carlyle had moved Lupul on to a line with on-fire David Bolland and Mason Raymond, the new Leafs who are paying off big early in this season, even more with the injury bug hitting the team ... The defensive giveaways didn’t exactly disappear once Bernier got in net. Jake Gardiner’s gift set up of Zack Smith midway through the third was just one example, but unlike Reimer, Bernier made a number of big saves and earned Carlyle’s praise for stellar rebound control ... As unpopular as it was, the refs got it right giving Jared Cowan a penalty and not a penalty shot when he hauled down Bolland with 42 seconds left.

Mac Attack

Prior to his inability to bury a number of good scoring opportunities on Bernier, former Leaf Clarke MacArthur let it be known he’s no fan of Carlyle. And he sounded as though he couldn’t get out of town fast enough after being benched for a pair of games in the playoffs.

“I didn’t have a relationship (with Carlyle),” MacArthur told Ottawa Sun colleague Don Brennan on Saturday morning. “Not many guys do. It’s one of those things where he runs the show here and everybody knows that.”

“Some guy don’t want to hear it every single shift you come off the ice. I’m old enough to know I made a mistake. You don’t need to hear it every five seconds.”

Carlyle took the high road when asked to respond post game. “We don’t throw dirt any which way,” the coach said. “When a player leaves the organization we thank them for their effort. If he has something negative to say, that’s up to him. I’ve got a new set of players and I wish him all the luck in the world.”



Maple Leafs top Senators in shootout

By Lance Hornby ,Toronto Sun


TORONTO - The Maple Leafs' first troika of games can be compared to Mason Raymond’s controversial shootout goal on Saturday night.

The end result was achieved, but no one is quite sure of the route there. Despite vital cog David Clarkson suspended, four players injured, the first two games played back-to-back on the road and then pulling the starting goalie down 4-2 in the home opener, the Leafs woke up Sunday morning leading the Eastern Conference.

Raymond is tied for the team’s scoring lead after three points and a goal in the 5-4 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators, but Saturday’s first star was reliever Jonathan Bernier.

He stopped the final 15 of Ottawa’s 36 shots, two more in the shootout and unlike James Reimer, was able to clean up his share of the Leafs’ whopping 33 giveways.

“Coaches aren’t here to cut up wins,” Randy Carlyle said in wrapping up an eventful opening week. “Let’s not over analyze. We didn’t play to the level we’re capable. But we found a way to get two points so we’ll move on.

“The one thing you notice about Bernie when he went in is that there weren’t a lot of rebounds hanging around. The puck was either in his glove or he controlled the rebound which allowed us to box out and stop any wild scrambles.”

Such maddening moments plagued Reimer, though the defence pairing of Cody Franson and NHL neophyte Morgan Rielly weren’t helping. They ended minus three, though Rielly played better at the end.

Raymond and David Bolland were the glue for the Leafs many times in Montreal, Philadelphia and against the Sens. Raymond scored Saturday’s first goal, sent a sweet pass to Nazem Kadri with the Leafs down one and set up Joffrey Lupul on the power play after Bernier bumped Reimer.

“There has been a lot to (adjust) to here,” the former Canuck said of trying out at camp and getting a contract. “The more I’m on the ice, the more confident I get.”

And in a situation that would have fazed many players, a shootout chance on Hockey Night In Canada in his first home game, Raymond zigged, zagged, braked and back-handed in the only goal the Leafs would need. That had Ottawa coach Paul MacLean going crazy on the bench, claiming Raymond had forfeited by stopping.

MacLean said he was on a conference call with all coaches at the start of the year when the league said the spinnerama shootout move would be ‘seriously reviewed’ and possibly disallowed.

“We informed our players of that,” MacLean said. “I think it’s a very unfair play for the goaltender, for the guy to come in and blow snow on him. To me, he came to a full stop and the puck went backwards and came forwards. But that’s me. I’m only a fisherman from Nova Scotia, so I don’t know nothin’ about nothin’.”

Carlyle said such a crackdown was “news to me”, while Raymond said he’s used that move for years without censure from the league and only busted it Saturday because he thought an Eastern Conference goalie such as Craig Anderson would not be wise to him.

Mason, with Bolland on the wing and Troy Bodie on the right side, was an effective line. Bolland and Kadri once again rotated between second- and third-line duty at centre.

“Mason has world-class feet and world-class skills,” Carlyle said. “I coached against a lot of games when I was in Anaheim and have a leg up on watching him. With Bolland, in my previous job with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, (Chicago coach) Joel Quenneville always chose to have Bolland or Jonathan Toews match up against them. So a little light goes on

and you remember those things, the respect Dave earned from Joel and those two Stanley Cups.”

The Leafs overcame the home opener curse of the Sens, who had beaten them five straight times at the ACC, twice in extra time.

With almost 80 shots in regulation and overtime, the Leafs finally got some timely power play goals when foiled at even strength and are now 11-for-12 so far when down a man.

In the morning, Carlyle was asked about all those projected lineup jottings he made on napkins at summer barbeques, now crumpled up and tossed because of early-season injuries and other unforseen events.

Such plans rarely survive to October he said as he surveyed a lineup that included unknowns Spencer Abbott and Jamie Devane. Abbott was a late replacement for Nikolai Kulemin (fractured ankle) and Devane in for Carter Ashton in case there was a yen for fighting.

Reimer’s stellar record of 8-1-1 against the Sens dissolved, including two goals in a terrible 15-second span of the middle period. Bernier likely gets the start Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche.

How that one rolls is anyone’s guess.



Ankle takes out Leafs' Kulemin

By Ian Shantz ,Toronto Sun


TORONTO - Already missing off-season acquisition David Clarkson to a 10-game suspension, the Maple Leafs' depth up front took another hit when it was revealed Saturday following the morning skate that top-six forward Nikolai Kulemin will be on the shelf for at least two weeks because of an ankle injury.

According to head coach Randy Carlyle, Kulemin, who didn't take part in the game-day skate Saturday, suffered a chipped bone in his ankle Friday when he was hit by a puck during practice.

"It's just a small bone broken in the ankle," the coach said before adding, "To say it's not a significant injury would be incorrect."

To fill the hole Saturday prior to the home opener against the Senators, the Leafs summoned forward Spencer Abbott from the Marlies to go along with towering winger Jamie Devane, who was recalled a day earlier.

Abbott, an undrafted 25-year-old Hamilton native with exactly zero NHL games on his resume prior to Saturday, appears to be in the big club's plans for the duration of Kulemin's recovery.

"We needed a player who is going to come in and play higher in our lineup than what we have here," Caryle said.

Abbott, who played his junior-aged hockey with the University of Maine program, is thrilled to oblige.

"I wasn't really expecting it," the 5-foot-9, 170-pound forward said. "I've had to fight for everything I've got in hockey. It's taken awhile, but I'm finally here."

Abbott had 13 goals and 33 points in 55 games with the Marlies last season.

Devane, a 22-year-old Mississauga native, had two goals and 41 penalty minutes in 22 games with the Marlies last season.

RIELLY RILED UP

Blue-chip prospect Morgan Rielly, who made his NHL debut on the Leafs' blue line on Saturday, was asked prior to the game about any comparisons he draws between his junior team in Moose Jaw, Sask., and his current team in Toronto.

"In Moose Jaw, everybody knows you," the 19-year-old said. "But it's not quite on this scale."

That seems like a fair assessment considering 3,506 fans packed into Mosaic Place on Friday to see Rielly's Warriors beat the Red Deer Rebels. Following Saturday's morning skate, it might have felt like 3,000 reporters were in the Leafs dressing room.

"It's a huge pro hockey town. It's obviously a big change."

MAC COMES BACK

Returning for the first time to the place he called home for two seasons, former Maple Leafs winger Clarke MacArthur was well-prepared for life on the other side of the Battle of Ontario on Saturday.

"We used to have battles with these guys when I was with Toronto," said MacArthur, who signed as a free agent with the Senators in the summer. "It was my choice to come to Ottawa and have to come back and face the music. I'm looking forward to that."

MacArthur, who started his career with the Sabres before joining the Leafs, started his revenge tour off well on Friday, setting up the game-winning goal for his Senators in Buffalo.

DION'S A GOOD SLEEPER

In a recently published ESPN poll, Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf was voted the most overrated player in the NHL by his peers. It's not the first time a poll has shed an undesirable light on the defenceman.

If it bugs Phaneuf, he hides it well.

"To be completely honest with you, I don't lose too much sleep over it," Phaneuf said when the topic was brought up Saturday following the game-day skate. "It's an anonymous poll and I don't pay too much attention to it."

LOOSE LEAFS

Phil Kessel has more goals (21, entering play Saturday) and points (39) against the Senators than against any other team in his career. Ditto for Nazem Kadri, who has six goals and eight points against the Sens ... Saturday was the 96th home opener in Leafs history. The team came into the game 44-33-15-3 over that span, including a 0-3-0-2 record in home openers against the Sens.



Leafs coach Carlyle and Gardiner need to get on the same page

By Steve Simmons ,Toronto Sun


TORONTO - Of all the challenges Randy Carlyle faces as coach of the Maple Leafs, none may be more difficult than finding a common ground between coach and the immensely talented defenceman, Jake Gardiner.

In a way, it is like having a race horse who needs to be tamed and disciplined.

But without breaking spirit along the way.

An NHL scout, who watched the Leafs first two games in Montreal and Philadelphia called Gardiner’s play erratic through the pre-season and start of the regular season. In the report he filed to his team, he referred to his style of play as “shinny.”

The challenge is both for Carlyle and Gardiner and the trust that needs to be built between them.

Carlyle has to believe in Gardiner to give him more freedom and thus more ice time. Gardiner has to think the game better and adapt more to what the coaching staff wants of him. All this being reminiscent of a great Harry Neale line: “He has to play better to play more or he has to play more to play better.”

It is an unintentional tug of war, but one that needs to be settled for both parties to eventually succeed. The Leafs don’t want to waste Gardiner’s gifts, but there has to be some give and take here.

And if it all works out, the big winner in the end is the hockey club. But there is doubt whether it can work out.

THIS AND THAT

The smartest thing the Leafs could do during the season: Signing Cody Franson long term. He sure looks like a player on the rise ... Quick question: Name the past three cities to host the NBA all-star game? Next question: Name the MVPs of the past three all-star games? That’s how important the NBA all-star game is in the big picture ... PS: What did hosting the MLB all-star game do for Toronto in 1991? If you don’t remember, you’re not alone ... I’m certain that MLSE wouldn’t have housed the NBA all-star game if not for the $500,000 kicked in by the Ontario government. That’s bottom-roster player money for MLSE but it does make them look terrible here, doesn’t it? ... My three stars Thursday night in Philadelphia: 1. Jonathan Bernier; 2. David Bolland. 3. Carlyle. The coach had a masterful night behind the bench, manipulating his lineup, winning matchups on the road, something he doesn’t get enough credit for being able to pull off ... Welcome to the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Eakins. That 4-2 lead ended up as a 5-4 defeat on opening night. Old Oilers habits don’t die easily ... There is a tension around the Philadelphia Flyers that belies the early schedule. When they lost their home opener to the Leafs in a game they had no business losing, there was a sense around their dressing room and management staff that there is already deep concern about this group.

HEAR AND THERE

Leo Cahill, who has moved from Sarnia to Atlanta, won’t make his way to Toronto later this month to be inducted in the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. His health prevents him from travelling. He still isn’t in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and may never be, which remains a great injustice ... Is there anything more boring than the daily conversations that have already begun: Will he get suspended? Will there be a hearing? Will there be a phone call? Ahhhhhhh ... The $10 million Phil Kessel will be paid next season is the highest single-season salary in Leafs history. The previous high: Mats Sundin at $9 million. Kessel’s salary-cap hit comes in at $8 million beginning next season ... For those who keep track of such important matters, Kessel will be paid $40,650 per period next season. If he plays all 82 games, that is ... The day after the frightening George Parros incident in Montreal, the NHL sent out a memo to teams asking them to de-emphasize fighting on their arena scoreboards. The tone of the memo: Let’s try and tone things down, people ... The Blue Jays can’t play but they sure

can broadcast. Buck Martinez is doing post-season colour on television, Dirk Hayhust is doing studio and Mark DeRosa, who has a long post-season history as a player, is doing panel work.

SCENE AND HEARD

Years ago, when Robert Baker surrounded me — along with other receivers in the Argos locker room — in an attempt to intimidate, one of the Argos PR people whispered in my ear afterwards that he was the wrong person to pick a fight with. I took the advice. “He’s the kind of guy who could be carrying a gun at any time,” an Argos voice told me then. Not surprised this week to learn that Baker, who had previously done time in prison, stands to spend considerable time in jail after pleading guilty to trafficking heroin and gun charges in Georgia ... Some thing never change: Mike Komisarek was a healthy scratch in his first game with the Carolina Hurricanes ... Two words to describe Patrick Roy as of Saturday afternoon: Undefeated and unapologetic. Roy is in Toronto on Tuesday night with the Avalanche ... Bolland will get his Stanley Cup ring in two weeks when the Leafs play the Blackhawks in Chicago ... Ex-Leaf Mike Kostka made his debut with the Hawks on Saturday night, taking the place of Michal Rozsival. Rozsival isn’t hurt, but Hawks wants to see what Kostka can add while at the same time limiting Rozsival’s playing time ... Reason No. 4,538 why believing in backup quarterbacks as starters is dangerous business: Matt Flynn. For reason No. 4,537 see Kevin Kolb ... A question for Scott Milanovich: Why do the Argos have so many lousy first halves? Why aren’t they ready to play at the beginning of games? ... As things turned out, maybe the Buffalo Bills should have kept quarterback Tarvaris Jackson after giving him a $500,000 signing bonus in the winter before letting him go?

AND ANOTHER THING

If you watched Thursday night’s football game in a bar, without sound, you would have had difficulty identifying who made the terrific Cleveland punt returns. The reason: Travis Benjamin’s hair is so long and bushy it covers up the name on the back of his jersey. Normally, I could care less how long anyone’s hair is. But in this case, a scissors might have been appropriate ... Maybe it’s an optical illusion, but doesn’t it look like the inside receivers in the CFL are just a tiny bit offside on almost every play? ... Strange start to the post-season with baseball scores like 12-2, 9-1, 7-1, 6-1, 6-2. And in between a close game or three ... Will Ricky Romero ever pitch for the Blue Jays again? My bet is no ... Why are the owners of sporting teams always referred to as Mr. As is Mr. Illitch or Mr. Steinbrenner. The commissioner isn’t Mr. Selig or Mr. Bettman. The general managers and players are called by their names. But it’s always Mr. Kraft or Mr. Wilson ... Happy birthday yesterday to Mario Lemieux and Patrick Roy. Happy birthday today to Bruno Sammartino (78), Nazem Kadri (23), Pokey Reddick (49), Darren Oliver (43), Daniel Briere (36), Kenny Jonsson (39) and Tony Dungy (58) ... And hey, whatever became of Homer Bush?

PAN AMS A WASTE OF MONEY

What if they held the Toronto International Film Festival next September and not a single star showed up? Not an actor you’d heard of? Not a director or producer of consequence?

Would you go to see movies you weren’t sure about, acted and directed by those you weren’t familiar with?

And if that was the case, what would happen to one of the great Toronto events on the calendar?

TIFF would become the Pan-American Games, a hugely expensive, taxpayer-funded, basically unwanted event, demanded really by no one. And as we’ve found out this week — and will continue to find out for the next two years — the spending historically on these kind of events borders on the out of control.

The Pan-Am Games is a 100-metre race without Usain Bolt, a swim meet without Michael Phelps, a triathlon without Simon Whitfield. A sporting festival without recognizable sporting stars.

STEVIE Y NO HYPOCRITE

I don’t believe Steve Yzerman is being hypocritical regarding his view on fighting in the National Hockey League. I believe he is being progressive in his thinking.

It isn’t at all uncommon for former athletes to view their jobs and their professions differently upon retirement than they did when they played. Ask most athletes about coaches when they played for them and then ask them again years later and the answers will in now be similar.

That isn’t hypocritical of them: It’s growing up, finding perspective, seeing there is more than one side to any story.

When Yzerman calls for change regarding fighting in hockey, he is not slighting the late Bob Probert or forgetting where he came from and was made available to him with the Detroit Red Wings. He is looking at the game, through a different prism, at a more advanced age, but as general manager of Tampa Bay as one of the game’s caretakers. In this case, he and Ray Shero and Jim Rutherford should be listened to, if only to get meaningful discussion going on the place of fighting in hockey and where the game goes from here.

AINGE NO FAN OF WIGGINS

Without mentioning Andrew Wiggins, Boston general manager Danny Ainge made it clear that he doesn’t believe the Canadian will be the next great star in the NBA. In fact, he went out of his way, without naming Wiggins (which he isn’t allowed) to distance himself from the apparent No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA Draft.

“If Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was out there to change your franchise forever, or Tim Duncan was going to change your franchise for 15 years? That might be a different story,” Ainge said when asked about tanking the season, which appears to be the Celtics strategy. “I don’t see that player out there.”

Ainge is right about one thing, but it may not be Wiggins. He is right about the difficulty of tanking. And a lot of that depends on the year. His Celtics could end up with the worst record in the NBA and because of the lottery system, still not end up with first pick.

That way you’ve tossed the season away and the first pick. There are NBA people, though, whose view on Wiggins is different than Ainge’s. He may not be a big man a la Abdul-Jabbar or Duncan, but there are those who see him as a franchise-changer. It will be intersting to see what happens should Boston wind up with first pick next June: Wonder what Ainge will say then?



Maple Leafs' blue line looks bright

By Steve Buffery ,Toronto Sun


Dave Poulin, the Maple Leafs VP of hockey operations, was approached at the MasterCard Centre this week and asked about some of the talented young defencemen in the Leafs system.

“You’ve got two with the Leafs in Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly,” he was told. “And guys like Stuart Percy and Jesse Blacker with the Marlies.”

“Keep going,” Poulin interjected. “There’s Andrew MacWilliam, Petter Granberg, Matt Finn ... and two that you don’t know (as much) about as well, Viktor Loov and Tom Nilsson in Sweden.”

The fact is, the Leafs have more quality young defencemen — many with tremendous offensive upside — in their system than they’ve had in years. In Toronto’s opener against their Battle of Ontario rivals Ottawa on Saturday night, Leafs fans got to see two of the more advanced youngsters, Gardiner and Rielly, both of whom have a chance to become special players in the NHL.Rielly got off to a shaky start (was a minus-3 against the Senators) mostly because the sub-par play of his partner, the normally steady Cody Franson. But it’s obvious that he has an exceptional skill-set.

“You can never have enough defencemen. Ever,” said Poulin. “(Leafs pro scout) Mike Penny told me that my first year working with the Marlies. It seems they’re always the most sought-after commodity.”

How the Leafs came to stockpile so much blueline talent is simple. If there was a quality D-man on the board when it was Toronto’s turn to draft, they were delighted to oblige. As it was, Poulin said the best player available in recent years when it was Toronto’s time to pick was a defenceman. And with quality scouting, the Leafs are drenched in young blueline talent. Of the players mentioned above, only Gardiner is older than 22 and wasn’t drafted by the Leafs (acquired in the Francois Beauchemin trade from Anaheim).

“Not a conscious decision (to go after defencemen), best player available,” Poulin added. “But from a stand point of the puck-moving part of it, there has been a focus on that as the game has become really mobile. (Director of amateur scouting) Dave Morrison’s group has done a great job of identifying puck-moving guys. You’ve got to be able to move the puck.”

Poulin said at the end of the day, no matter how much talent players like Rielly and Gardiner possess, if they don’t learn how to look after their own end of the ice, they won’t spend much time in the NHL. That’s the challenge. Poulin said none of the young D-men will be rushed and all will have to learn to be responsible defensively. Rielly may end up back in junior when Mark Fraser returns from injury. As of now, Granberg, MacWilliam, Blacker and Percy are with the Marlies. Finn is back with the Guelph Storm of the OHL while Loov and Nilsson are both playing in Sweden. The Leafs also have a couple of quality D-men in the their mid-20s with the Marlies in T.J. Brennan, who scored a hat trick in the Marlies’ opener Saturday, and Korbinian Holzer. Pretty well all their young D-men have good size and though many were late picks, all have been developing nicely. Nilsson, for instance, was picked 100th overall in 2011 but was considered the best defenceman on a quality Swedish team at the 2013 world juniors.

“From a development stage of it, there’s not a definitive time limit on these guys,” said Poulin. “MacWilliam was a four-year college player. Granberg was two years in Europe, plus a year in Europe burning a year of contract playing in an Elite league. Tommy Nilsson is doing the same thing right now. You’ve got some options for how long these guys can develop before you accelerate them into your own system.”

As for Gardiner and Rielly, they certainly have the right coach in Randy Carlyle, a former Norris Trophy winner. Carlyle understands how tough it is for young defencemen, no matter how much talent they have, to learn how to play at the NHL level.

“The No. 1 thing that has to happen with any young defenceman is the confidence,” said Carlyle. “If you’re confident that you can go back and retrieve that puck, find the man and make the right play, you start to build

confidence out there. And the game’s dramatically different now with the no-hooking and holding and no-interference, the hold ups ... all that stuff has changed, so it’s even more difficult for the youngsters.

“I look at it along the lines as don’t put them in situations that they have a chance to fail. Put them in situations where they have the best chance for success,” he said. “The defence are the ones who transfer the puck to your forwards and they handle it more often, and they’re under pressure with it more often.

“But generally I think defencemen are smarter hockey players,” added Carlyle, with a laugh.



Maple Leafs lose Nikolai Kulemin for two weeks

By Ian Shantz ,Toronto Sun

First posted: Saturday, October 05, 2013 04:58 AM EDT | Updated: Saturday, October 05, 2013 01:13 PM EDT

It's a game of give and take for the Maple Leafs, who will debut some promising future and do without a prominent forward in the team's home opener tonight against the Ottawa Senators.

While touted prospect Morgan Rielly and forward Spencer Abbott will be making their respective NHL debuts with the Blue and White, winger Nikolai Kulemin won't play. The second-line player is expected to be shelved two weeks with an ankle injury sustained during Friday's practice.

"To say it's not a significant injury would be incorrect," Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle said following his team's morning skate leading up to the season's first installment of the Battle of Ontario. "Other people have to step up."

One of those players is Abbott, a 25-year-old Hamilton native who was recalled on Saturday morning and will potentially play on the second line alongside Dave Bolland and Joffrey Lupul as the Leafs aim to go 3-0 to start the season.

"I wasn't really expecting it," Abbott said of the promotion from the Marlies. "It's taken awhile, but I'm finally here."

Still, all eyes will undoubtedly be on defenceman Rielly, picked fifth overall by Toronto in the 2012 draft and seen as a potential future cornerstone.

He was the first player on the ice for Saturday's skate and the last player off — and admittedly the bundle of nerves you'd expect from a 19-year-old about to step onto one of the world's biggest professional sports stages.

"I have a chance to play in the Toronto Maple Leafs home opener against Ottawa. That's a pretty good place to start," Rielly said following the morning session. "It's a pretty cool opportunity. I'm just pretty anxious to get the game going.

"Obviously, pretty nervous about it, but I've just got to play my game, play with confidence and hopefully it goes well."

It has gone well for James Reimer against the Senators in the past. The Leafs goaltender brings an 8-1-1 record and .949 save percentage against the hated rivals into the game, his second start of the season.

"You prepare the same for every team, regardless of whether you've had success, or the opposite" Reimer said. "It's a big game for us in the sense that it's your home opener and you want to come out and play well. It's just fitting that we play obviously one of our biggest rivals."

Towering forward Jamie Devane, recalled from the Marlies, is not likely to draw into the lineup, while it's expected Carter Ashton, wearing a full face-mask following an injury, will play on the fourth line with Jay McClement and Colton Orr.

The Sens are coming off a 1-0 win to open the season at Buffalo on Friday night. Eric Karlsson scored late in that contest after being set up by Clark MacArthur, who returns to the Air Canada Centre wearing an Ottawa uniform after signing with the Sens as a free agent this past summer.



Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mason Raymond reveals you can still do a spin-o-rama in the shootout

Noah Love | 05/10/13 | Last Updated: 05/10/13 11:40 PM ET

Mason Raymond of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Rumours of the spin-o-rama shootout goal’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Toronto’s Mason Raymond used the move, as he had done in the past as a member of the Vancouver Canucks, and beat Ottawa’s Craig Anderson in the Maple Leafs’ 5-4 shootout win over the Senators. After the game, Ottawa head coach expressed some confusion as to why the goal was a) allowed to count and b) not reviewed.

“I was on a conference call at the start of the year with all the other coaches and was informed at that time, with Bryan Murray, that that play would be seriously reviewed, and that you’d be taking a chance if you used the spin-o-rama move,” MacLean said. “And we informed our players of that. I think it’s a very unfair play for the goaltender, to come in and blow snow on him. The puck went backwards and came forwards.

“But that’s me, I’m just a fisherman from Nova Scotia so I don’t know nuthin’ about nuthin’.”

In fact, the league did move to eliminate the spin-o-rama move in June, but the rule change was never enacted because the NHL Players’ Association wanted it to stay.

Raymond, who last scored using the move in a March shootout against Columbus, said he’ll keep using it until someone tells him he can’t.

“I’ve been successful with it in the past,” he said. “I know it raises some eyebrows, but I haven’t had any problems with it. … It’s [a move] that has raised some debate and I’m sure there’ll be a little more over it, but why not?”

Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier first joked that he didn’t mind the spin-o-rama.

“If he does it on the other goalie, I don’t,” he said with a laugh. He then clarified that he didn’t actually like the move that much and had been scored on by a player using it.

“Tough move for the goalie, and a tough debate. He’s stopping at the same time the the puck’s still moving. It’s up to the league.”

Leafs coach Randy Carlyle, meanwhile, was a bit more blunt.

“The puck went in the net,” he said. “Which part didn’t you understand?”

National Post LOADED: 10.06.2013


Jonathan Bernier shines in relief appearance as Toronto Maple Leafs down Ottawa Senators in shootout

Michael Traikos | 05/10/13 | Last Updated: 05/10/13 11:53 PM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier, right, replaced James Reimer midway through the second period and led the Maple Leafs with 15 saves – and two in the shootout — in a 5-4 win over the Ottawa Senators.

The goalie debate in Toronto just got a little interesting, if not more one-sided.

After Toronto Maple Leafs demotion, John-Michael Liles takes on minor-league duties with healthy dose of professionalism and hope

For the first two games of the season, James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier took turns in net for the Maple Leafs. Both won their games, leaving head coach Randy Carlyle no choice but to continue the rotation.

Reimer started the home opener against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, and the thinking was that Bernier would be in net for the following game. But those plans likely changed when Reimer was pulled midway through the second period and Bernier was named the first star in a 5-4 shootout win.

When asked if Bernier’s performance changed how he viewed his goaltenders moving forward, Carlyle was honest.

“It makes it easier,” he said.

And yet, Bernier does not see it that way. The goaltender, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the summer, knows there is an opportunity to seize the No. 1 job. But he also is aware that both he and Reimer will get their fair share of starts.

“It’s still a long season,” said Bernier, who was perfect on all 15 shots he faced, not including the two he stopped in the shootout. “You know, our main focus for me and Reimer is to win games and that’s the only thing we’re going to focus on. We’re not going to worry about who’s going to play. We’re just going to support each other.”

Mason Raymond, who along with Tyler Bozak scored in the shootout, had a goal two assists; Nazem Kadri, Joffrey Lupul and James van Riemsdyk also scored for Toronto. But it was Bernier who saved the game after the Leafs were down 4-2 in the second period.

“The one that you noticed when he went in is there wasn’t a lot of extra rebounds,” Carlyle said of Bernier. “When he made the save, the puck was either in his glove or he was able to freeze it. He controlled the puck, which allowed us to box out. There wasn’t so much of the wild scrambles around the net. So hat’s off to him.”

“Bernier had the opportunity to get in there and he played great,” said Reimer. “He made some big saves, so it’s never a bad thing when you’re winning games.”

It was a sloppy game. Not just from Reimer, who allowed four goals on 21 shots, but from the entire defence. Part of the reason for that is the bodies that were missing from the lineup.

With David Clarkson suspended and three other regulars on long-term injury reserve (Nikolai Kulemin, Mark Fraser and Frazer McLaren), the Leafs had three rookies (Morgan Rielly, Spencer Abbott and Jamie Devane) making their NHL debut.

As such, both goalies saw a lot of action.

Reimer, who allowed four goals on 21 shots before getting pulled in the second period, was solid in the first game of the regular season. But despite past success against the Senators — he entered the game with a career record of 8-1-1, with a 1.69 goals-against average and .949 save percentage — he struggled to keep the puck out of the net.

“It was a tough one,” said Reimer. “I felt like I was hanging in there and making some good saves. But a couple of pucks slipped by somehow. It felt like some bad luck maybe, but at the same time as a goaltender you’re a

last line of defence and you need to be there and find a way to keep the puck out of the net.”

Still, it was difficult to blame Reimer for all the goals.

Ottawa’s Cory Conacher made it 2-1 when Toronto defenceman Cody Franson bobbled a puck in front of the crease. With the score tied 2-2, Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly accidentally bowled Reimer over and essentially gave defenceman Jared Cowen a wide open net to shoot at.

When Jason Spezza scored on the very next shot, Carlyle decided to make a change for perhaps no other reason than to give his team a different look.

With Bernier in the game, the Leafs seemed a bit more settled. Joffrey Lupul scored made it a one-goal game by scoring a power play goal with 17 seconds remaining in the second period. And in the third, James van Riemsdyk tied the game 4-4 when he converted a pass from Phil Kessel.

Bernier, who was spectacular in a 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, had the crowd chanting his name in the third period. Even Reimer was impressed by the effort.

“If we’re winning game, that’s a good thing,” he said. “I’m not going to sit on the bench and hope my teammate plays bad … obviously you don’t want to get pulled. But I know what kind of team we have in here, so I knew we were going to come back.”



Maple Leafs’ Kulemin out two weeks with ankle injury, Reimer gets start in home opener

Michael Traikos | 05/10/13 1:35 PM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs' Nikolai Kulemin collides with Philadelphia Flyer Maxime Talbot on Oct. 2, 2013. Kulemin will out for at least two weeks with a chipped bone in his ankle.

The goalie rotation continues.

Leafs want Morgan Rielly to be himself in NHL debut against Senators

James Reimer, who won the regular season opener and then sat for Game 2, will be back in net when the Toronto Maple Leafs play their home opener against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.

It is a decision based on numbers as much as it is equality.

Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press

Reimer, who stopped 34 of 37 shots in a 4-3 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, has a career record of 8-1-1 with a 1.69 goals-against average and .949 save percentage against the Senators.

“As a coach, it has some bearing on the decision-making process,” Carlyle said of Reimer’s success against Ottawa. “It’s not 100% based upon that, but I would tell you I was crazy if I didn’t look at it. Or you guys would be telling me.”

Ottawa began its season on the road on Friday, with a 1-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres. Craig Anderson stopped 35 shots and defenceman Erik Karlsson had the only goal.

Reimer said the rivalry against the Senators was probably the reason for his success.

“It’s always an exciting game when we play them and you get up for it. All the guys get up for it,” he said. “When you have success as a goaltender, it has more to do with how your team plays than how you play personally.

With Reimer getting the start for Game 3, expect Jonathan Bernier to be back in net when the Leafs play the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

* * *

Morgan Rielly, who was paired with Cody Franson in the morning skate, will play his first NHL game on Saturday. But he is not the only Leaf player making his debut.

Spencer Abbott was recalled on Saturday to replace injured winger Nikolai Kulemin, who Carlyle said is out for at least two weeks with a chipped bone in his ankle.

“He got a shot in his foot yesterday at practice,” Carlyle said of Kulemin. “It’s not a displaced fracture, so he might have been playing on it for a month or so and then if it displaces then you have a longer healing process. We felt in consultation with our doctors the best thing to do was to mobilize it now. He has a walking boot.

“It’s just a small bone broken on his ankle. To say it’s not a significant injury would be incorrect.”

Abbott, a Hobey Baker finalist with the University of Maine whom the Leafs signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011, scored 13 goals and 33 points in 55 games as a rookie last season in the minors.



Toronto Maple Leafs want Morgan Rielly to be himself in NHL debut against Ottawa Senators

Michael Traikos | 05/10/13 | Last Updated: 04/10/13 7:20 PM ET

TORONTO — From barstools to the backs of cabs, everyone seems to have an opinion on whether Morgan Rielly should stick with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, something that the 19-year-old witnessed for himself the other day as he walked back to his hotel from the arena.

Toronto Maple Leafs’ first two games: What we have learned so far

“The two people behind me were asking each other about what the team will do with me. I heard my name but I didn’t want to say anything to them, so I just kind of kept to myself,” Rielly said. “The one guy said he thinks the team should put me back in junior, so that kind of hurt my confidence a little bit.”

Lucky for Rielly, the Leafs are the ones making the decision. Not that it makes it any easier.

With Mark Fraser out with a lower-body injury, Rielly will get an opportunity to make his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. From there, it gets a bit complicated. Rielly, who was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the season, can play nine games before the Leafs decide whether to keep him or send him back to junior.

At the same time, Fraser’s long-term injury reserve status means he has to miss at least 10 games or 24 days, which could benefit Rielly’s situation.

“I can see how [Fraser’s injury status] could be an opportunity,” Rielly said, “but I also know that we have some pretty good players in the AHL, like John-Michael Liles, [Korbinian] Holzer, T.J. Brennan.”

Those players might not be able to match Rielly’s speed, puck-moving ability or offensive instincts. But they all have him beat in the experience, which is why the Leafs are trying to be patient with the young defenceman.

No one doubts that the fifth-overall pick has the potential to become a special player in this league. But he is still a teenager.

“What are my expectations? Just go out and play,” head coach Randy Carlyle said. “Do your thing. He’s a talented young hockey player … I think you have to play to your strengths. I don’t want Morgan Rielly to be just a defensive defenceman. I want him to move the puck and skate. That’s his game.”

No one is expecting perfection from Rielly. If his teammates’ debuts are anything to go by, plan for a few mistakes and at least one welcome to the NHL-type moment.

In his first game, Nazem Kadri had his stick knocked clean from his hands off the opening faceoff. Jake Gardiner received multiple stitches after taking a puck in the face on his first shift. And Cody Franson remembers getting caught on a line change and being left alone on a one-on-one against Alex Ovechkin.

“It’s a little nerve-wrecking,” Gardiner said of his NHL debut.

Rielly said he is trying not to look too far ahead, which is not exactly a cliché. He does not know how many opportunities he will get or how long he will be here. He lives in a hotel because it means he can check out anytime. And lately he has not been taking advantage of the hotel’s laundry service, because it takes 48 hours to get it back “and I don’t know if I’ll still be around then.”

In other words, he is literally taking it one day at a time.

“I don’t know what the next two weeks is going to bring,” Rielly said. “It’s kind of a weird experience, one I’ve never had before. I think I just have to keep working hard every day, just keep having a positive attitude. If I get a chance to play, it’s pretty important and I’ve got to make the most of it.”

Who knows, maybe the next time he overhears two fans discussing his future, Rielly might get the answer he desires. If that happens, he might actually stop and introduce himself.

“If he had have said, ‘He’s having a great pre-season, he looks good, I think he should play all year,’ I would have said, ‘I appreciate that. I’m Morgan, nice to meet you.’

“But no, he made fun of me.”


719866 Washington Capitals

About the Capitals’ disallowed goal in Dallas

By Katie Carrera, Published: October 6 at 12:39 am

As Nicklas Backstrom crashed the net and bunted the puck past Dallas netminder Kari Lehtonen with 8 minutes 1 second gone in the second period, it appeared as though the Washington Capitals had pulled ahead of the Stars on Saturday night.

But rather than adding an even-strength goal to the scoreboard at American Airlines Center, the tally was waved off because as Backstrom made the motion to knock the puck into the net his stick hit the Lehtonen’s mask

According to the explanation from the NHL’s situation room:

“Referee Mike Leggo determined that Nicklas Backstrom made incidental contact with goalie Kari Lehtonen and prevented Lehtonen from doing his job in the crease — no goal, no penalty. This play is the referee’s call on the ice and is not reviewable.”

Backstrom was unsurprisingly frustrated. “What I saw was the puck and I touched the puck before I touched the mask,” he said. “But I don’t know, it’s typical.”

Said Lehtonen: “I knew that I got hit pretty hard. I tried to tell that to the linesman. I think he saw it too and he went to tell them. It was a weird play. Sometimes they are able to see it and sometimes not. I’m just lucky they waved it off.”

Here’s the video of the play:

Who knows what might have transpired in the game if that tally would have stood. Even-strength goals have been elusive for the Capitals so far this season and one at that particular juncture would have forced Dallas to play a more open style of game.

But Coach Adam Oates didn’t want to dwell too much on would-haves and could-haves.

“I thought once the puck goes in there you’re allowed to go after it and I didn’t think Backy interfered with him. I thought he touched the puck first and then the goalie. Obviously the goalie embellished a little,” Oates said. The officials “do their best, the guy thought he was interfered with. You’ve got to be able to survive that stuff. Tough time, you want the goal but it happens. Hopefully in the course of the season it goes the same for everybody.”

Five thoughts on the Capitals’ 2-1 loss to Dallas to follow Sunday morning.

Washington Post LOADED: 10.06.2013


Catching up with former Caps prospect, Stars center Cody Eakin

By Katie Carrera, Published: October 5 at 5:00 pm

On June 22, 2012, the day of the NHL draft, Cody Eakin was caught by surprise when the Washington Capitals traded him and a second-round pick that year to the Dallas Stars in exchange for veteran center Mike Ribeiro.

It was a move that gave the Capitals the playmaking second-line center they had long sought — for a year, anyway. And it gave Eakin an opportunity to move up the depth chart that likely wasn’t available in Washington.

“At first I was a little shocked but they traded a heck of a player to Washington so I knew there was going to be an opportunity for me to get some ice time,” Eakin said Saturday morning in Dallas. “I came down here, got comfortable in the American league last year for the first half and then last season was able to make the transition pretty smoothly.”

Eakin played 35 games for the AHL’s Texas Stars last year during the lockout and then skated in all 48 of Dallas’s contests once the shortened NHL regular season began.

He recorded seven goals, 17 assists and averaged 15:05 of ice time per night as the Stars’ usual third-line center last season. He’ll line up at second-line center tonight in his first game against the Capitals since the trade, skating with Ray Whitney and Alex Chiasson.

“I thought through camp he was one of our better players,” Stars Coach Lindy Ruff said. “I thought his puck movement was real good, his defense against some of the top players in his own zone was good.”

Even if Eakin doesn’t stick on the second line in Dallas, he’s become a consistent part of the team’s lineup and wants to make the most of the chances he’s receiving to be more of an impact player.

“This season I’m getting more of an opportunity, more minutes and hopefully I can take advantage of that,” Eakin said. “I worked hard this offseason and can hopefully I can be able to handle that workload.”



Joel Ward recounts being trapped in a hotel bathroom

By Katie Carrera, Updated: October 5, 2013

What started out as a normal game-day morning wound up becoming quite the adventure for Joel Ward.

The Capitals winger went through his usual routine, got some coffee, read the paper and was in the midst of having breakfast with his teammates at the restaurant at the Omni hotel in Dallas. But when he excused himself to go to the bathroom, things took a turn for the worse.

Ward got trapped in the bathroom stall. A dilemma he and his teammates documented quite well on Twitter.

“I tried to come out and I flipped the switch a little bit but it wasn’t really coming undone,” said Ward, who after a morning of being teased mercilessly by his teammates took the whole experience in stride. “I’m in panic mode because I realized the door wasn’t going to open on me. I texted Karl [Alzner] to see if he was still around.”

Alzner and several other teammates came in to assess the situation, had a good laugh and a few waited for backup to arrive. But even when hotel staff showed up, they couldn’t get the door to open, either.

“Basically we had the whole Dallas SWAT team come in and still couldn’t open the door,” Ward said, exaggerating just a bit. “The latch on the inside where I was would turn but the bolt wouldn’t move, I think it was stripped. The bolt was just chilling.”

The space underneath the door was too small for Ward to slide through, so eventuallly a ladder was retrieved so he could climb over the door. All told it took about 44 minutes for Ward to escape the bathroom so he could make the bus ride over to American Airlines Center.

“They got a ladder and Karl and Carly [John Carlson] pretty much carried me like a log,” Ward said. “I sat there for 40 minutes, listening to toilet flushes all morning.”



Jack Hillen underwent successful surgery; Steve Oleksy to face Stars

By Katie Carrera, Published: October 5 at 1:58 pm

Greetings from American Airlines Center in Dallas, where the Capitals just wrapped up their morning skate.

One of the best parts about realignment, in my opinion, is that every team will play the league’s 29 other clubs both home and away. It makes for a better picture of the NHL as a whole and this year it will see the Capitals travel to several cities they haven’t visited in a number of seasons.

Saturday’s tilt is the Capitals’ first visit to Dallas since Dec. 2, 2010. The squad then coached by Bruce Boudreau lost that game, 2-1, after a would-be tying goal by John Carlson in the final seconds of regulation was waved off because Alex Ovechkin was in the crease. Brandon Segal, now with the Hershey Bears, scored the game-winner for the Stars.

A lot has changed since then, and Saturday night the Capitals will get a look at the revamped Stars. Lindy Ruff is in his first year as coach in Dallas, which added Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley as part of a seven-player trade with Boston this summer. The Stars also brought in veteran defenseman Sergei Gonchar (two years, $10 million) as a free agent in the offseason.

>>Defenseman Jack Hillen underwent a successful surgery Friday to repair a fractured tibial plateau, which is the top part of the tibia that lies under the knee, after suffering the injury against the Flames Oct. 3. Hillen is expected to miss four to six months. While surgery was required to reattach the fractured part of Hillen’s bone with screws and a metal plate, there was no ligament damage.

>>With Hillen out, Steve Oleksy will make his season debut tonight against the Stars. Coach Adam Oates’s preference for players skating on their strong side is well known and he considers this a quick fix for the time being, but Oleksy is looking to make the most of his return.

“It’s never an easy situation but it’s part of the game. I have to do my best to still be a positive guy in the locker room, be a good team guy,” Oleksy said. “I just have to do my best tonight and contribute any way you can.”

Here are the projected lineups for both the Capitals and Stars.

Capitals

Johansson-Backstrom-Ovechkin

Laich-Grabovski-Brouwer

Chimera-Fehr-Ward

Erat-Beagle-Wilson

Alzner-Green

Erskine-Carlson

Oleksy-Carrick

Holtby, Neuvirth.

Stars

Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Erik Cole

Ray Whitney-Cody Eakin-Alex Chiasson

Shawn Horcoff-Vernon Fiddler-Valeri Nichushkin

Antoine Roussel-Rich Peverley-Ryan Garbutt

Alex Goligoski-Sergei Gonchar

Trevor Daley-Stephane Robidas

Brenden Dillon-Jordie Benn

Kari Lehtonen is expected to start.


719870 Winnipeg Jets

Finnish Flash finished? Jokinen not convinced

By: Ed Tait

Posted: 10/5/2013 2:01 PM | Comments: 1 | Last Modified: 10/5/2013 4:10 PM | Updates

Teemu Selanne is one of Winnipeg’s hockey royalty and the red carpet will be rolled out for the Finnish Flash when his Anaheim Ducks arrive in town for Sunday’s match-up with the Jets.

But even though the 43-year-old Selanne has indicated this will be his final season before retirement, fellow Finn Olli Jokinen isn’t quite convinced his second return to the place where his storied NHL career began will be the last.

"I’ll believe it when I see it that he’s done," said Jokinen with a grin after Jets’ practice Saturday. "He’s been saying this for seven-eight years now that it’s going to be his last season.

"He’s the type of guy that loves the game and is still able to play at a high level so why not keep playing?"

Selanne isn’t expected to be in the lineup tonight in Minnesota when the Ducks face the Wild as head coach Bruce Boudreau is attempting to pace his star during the course of the 82-game season. But he will play against the Jets and if the night is even half as electric as his first visit back in the fall of 2011, then it will be special.

"I wasn’t here for that, but that’s what Teemu’s wife was saying," said Jokinen. "Sirpa (Selanne’s wife) was here as well with the kids and it was good for his kids to actually see where he started playing and how much the people here really love him.

"But like I said, this could be the last regular-season game, but there’s a possibility we’ll see him in the playoffs. And," added Jokinen with a smirk, "there’s a possibility he could still play five more years."

The Jets will attempt to push their record to 3-0 to open the season against the Ducks while, at the same time, soak up some of the atmosphere that comes with Selanne’s return.

"It's kind of cool. He's one of those guys that I watched when I was really young and he's still in the league and still a pretty good player," said Bryan Little. "It's always fun playing against guys you looked up to and you watched as a kid. It should be fun and I'm sure the fans are going to make him feel at home out there, too."

"He's been such a dominant player and had such an impact here in Winnipeg... he's a guy that has made a big contribution to not only the NHL, but the NHL here in Winnipeg," added head coach Claude Noel "His numbers both internationally and in the National Hockey League speak volumes for the player. This is a guy that performs. You watch him play at his age... it's just a marvel. For me it's always been a pleasure to watch him play but even to continue to play at this level like he does is something else.

"I just hope we win the game as we marvel."

Of note at Jets practice, defenceman Grant Clitsome was back on the ice but Toby Enstrom was absent. Noel said Enstrom missed the workout because of maintenance and listed him as day-to-day but expected he’d play on Sunday. Clitsome, Noel said, will be evaluated again Sunday and "may be a player as well."

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 10.06.2013


Venerable Flash needs his rest

Cautious Ducks will give Selanne plenty of it

By: Ed Tait

Posted: 10/6/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

It's not like Teemu Selanne will need a team of masseuses and the aid of a walker to get him ready for tonight's game against the Winnipeg Jets.

But the Anaheim Ducks are being cautious about how they use the 43-year-old this season. That's why he was to sit out Saturday night's game in Minnesota against the Wild and why head coach Bruce Boudreau plans to rest Selanne in at least one of the Ducks' 12 back-to-back games this year.

"Winnipeg might be a pretty big night for him," Boudreau told NHL.com. "They love him there and rightfully so. They should love him."

Earlier this week Selanne, in an interview with Scott Burnside of ESPN, spoke of what will be a season of goodbyes and farewells.

"This time when I announced right away (he was retiring) it almost felt like a big thing in my chest just disappeared," said Selanne. "You can just enjoy every day and have approach that you don't get this day back anymore.

"In the past, I tried to live the same way and I think that really helped me. By the same hand, you were still thinking, 'when is going to be the last one?' But right now, I have a really good feeling."

QUOTABLE: "I doubt I'll keep that pace... Maybe if half of them are empty-netters." -- Jets' centre Bryan Little when it was noted that with two goals in the first two games, he is currently on pace for an 82-goal campaign.

NOTABLE: Olli Jokinen's goal against Los Angeles Friday night was the 300th of his NHL career.

"It means I've been playing a long time," said Jokinen. "I've been playing with really good players. But at the end of the day it's just a number. Any time you score it's all about your linemates and the people around you. I think it just shows that I've been blessed to have good linemates through my career."

FYI: The last time the Jets opened a season 2-0 was 2009-10 as the Atlanta Thrashers. In 2006-07 the Thrashers opened with a shootout loss before banging out three straight wins, but never in the franchise's history have they piled up three straight victories at the start of a campaign.

"There's a lot of confidence in here right now, but we've got a lot of work to do," said Little.

Added Noel:

"There's a couple of things I've liked. We've played two different teams with two different styles. We had a fairly long way to go from the first game... there were a lot of breakdowns because of a lot of different factors. The second game was a way different game. L.A. plays in straight lines and more physical and I thought we responded well with the way we played. We did some things way better from a breakout and support-the-puck standpoint. We adjusted in getting more shots to the net and made some adjustments that we got rewarded for.

"But I liked the fact that we tried to change our body of work foundation-wise. And that would be trying to become a hard team to play against. We're a ways to go yet, but we've taken some steps."

OUCH REPORT: D-man Toby Enstrom did not skate on Saturday -- Noel called it a "maintenance" day -- but it's expected he'll be good to go against the Ducks. Meanwhile, defenceman Grant Clitsome returned to work on Saturday and will be evaluated again today.



You'll be a Jets legend forever

By: Ed Tait


Teemu SELANNE will always be hockey royalty in Winnipeg, right up there on the Jets' Mount Rushmore alongside Hull, Hawerchuk, Hedberg and Nilsson.

So, yeah, Olli Jokinen -- a fellow Finn who has trained, skated against and with Selanne during his own long NHL and international career -- is cranked up a bit for the return of the Finnish Flash tonight.

He's just not sure it will be Selanne's final farewell, though.

"I'll believe it when I see it that he's done," said Jokinen after Jets practice Saturday. "He's been saying this for seven, eight years now that it's going to be his last season.

"He's the type of guy that loves the game and is still able to play at a high level so why not keep playing? This could be the last regular-season game (here), but there's a possibility we'll see him in the playoffs.

"And," added Jokinen, with a grin, "there's a possibility he could still play five more years."

Not likely, although hockey fans have seen this script before. It was in late August when Selanne, now 43, announced he would return for his 22nd and final NHL season -- a career that began with the Jets in 1992-93.

His first visit to Winnipeg in the Jets' rebirth, back on Dec. 17, 2011, had fans lining up in the middle of the night to greet the Ducks' bus when it arrived at the team hotel. Selanne got a standing ovation in the warm-up and was cheered every time he touched the puck during the game, won by the Jets 5-3.

In a season that was all about comebacks and reconnections, Selanne's return ranked among the most memorable nights on a calendar full of them.

"That's what Teemu's wife was saying," said Jokinen, then a member of the Calgary Flames. "Sirpa was here with the kids. It was good for his kids to actually see where he started playing and how much the people here really love him."

Selanne's skills have been on display for over two decades in the NHL, and even longer to fans in Finland. But what Jokinen sees as the secret to his longevity is his zest for life and his pure love of the game. That approach, as Winnipeggers well know, is infectious.

"He's the player that any player can learn from every day. He never has bad days," said Jokinen. "He truly loves the game. Being 43 years old and playing this level... that's pretty amazing.

"The one thing he has is a passion about the game. Whatever happens the night before, he comes with a big smile on his face to the rink the next day. His attitude is whatever happened in the past doesn't really matter any more. It's a new day. That's probably one of the reasons he's still able to play.

"The last five, six, seven years I haven't really been to Finland that much, but the summers before he was always the guy -- and still is -- who organizes the skates back home. He's the one who starts sending you text messages the first week in July... 'Let's start skating.' It tells a lot that he wants to get better.

"Anyone who has been playing that long, you have to love the game, you have to have the passion. It's not rocket science... once you lose that you're not going to be able to compete. He wants to win."

Selanne sat out Saturday night's game against the Minnesota Wild.

THREE JET TAKES ON SELANNE'S RETURN

"It's kind of cool. He's one of those guys that I watched when I was really young and he's still in the league and still a pretty good player. It's always fun playing against guys you looked up to and you watched as a kid. It

should be fun and I'm sure the fans are going to make him feel at home out there, too." -- Bryan Little

"I'm not trying to be mean but me, personally, I couldn't care less about that now to be honest. It was kinda cool when he came back two years ago. But that means absolutely nothing to me now. It's about us winning the hockey game and playing well and getting the two points." -- Evander Kane

"He's been such a dominant player and had such an impact here in Winnipeg... he's a guy that has made a big contribution to not only the NHL, but the NHL here in Winnipeg. His numbers both internationally and in the National Hockey League speak volumes for the player. This is a guy that performs. You watch him play at his age... it's just a marvel. For me it's always been a pleasure to watch him play but even to continue to play at this level like he does it something else.

"I just hope we win the game as we marvel." -- Claude Noel



TaitSelannebythenumbers

By: Staff Writer


1,430 -- Career points, 15th all-time.

3 -- Seasons leading NHL in goals.

4 -- NHL teams played for: Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks.

10 -- Appearances in the NHL All-Star Game: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007.

22 -- Age when he joined the Jets following his required military service in the Finnish army.

8 -- Number of NHL players, including Selanne, who have scored 70 or more goals in one NHL season. The others: Wayne Gretzky (92 in 1981-82; 87 in 83-84; 73 in 84-85; 71 in 82-83); Brett Hull (86 in 90-91; 72 in 89-90; 70 in 91-92), Mario Lemieux (85 in 88-89; 70 in 87-88); Phil Esposito (76 in 70-71); Alexander Mogilny (76 in 92-93); Jari Kurri (71 in 84-85); Bernie Nicholls (70 in 88-89).

22 -- Career hat-tricks, most among active players.

132 -- Point total (76 G, 56A) as a rookie, good for a tie for just fifth in the NHL scoring race that season with Pierre Turgeon (NYI) and behind Mario Lemieux, Pitt. (160); Pat Lafontaine, Buf. (148); Adam Oates, Bos. (142) and Steve Yzerman, Det. (137).

SELANNE'S HARDWARE

Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year), NHL All-Rookie Team, 1993

NHL First All-Star Team, 1992-93; 1996-97

NHL Second All-Star Team, 1997-98; 1998-99

NHL All-Star Game MVP, 1998

Bill Masterton Trophy (perseverance, dedication, sportsmanship), 2006

Finnish ice hockey player of the year, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006

Stanley Cup champion (Anaheim), 2006-07

Olympic silver medallist, 2006

Olympic bronze medallist, 1998, 2010

IIHF world championship tournament all-star team, 1999

IIHF world championship tournament MVP, 1999

2006 Winter Olympics all-star team

2006 Winter Olympics, best forward

THE SELANNE TIMELINE

Some key moments in Selanne's career:

July 3, 1970: Teemu Ilmari Selanne is born in Helsinki, Finland to Liisa Viitanen and Ilmari Selanne.

June 11, 1988: Drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, 10th overall.

Oct. 6, 1992: Selanne plays first NHL game against Detroit in a 4-1 Jets' win.

Oct. 8, 1992: Selanne scores first goal against Jeff Hackett and the San Jose Sharks.

March 2, 1993: Tips a puck past Quebec Nordiques goalie Stephane Fiset for his 54th goal of the season to eclipse Mike Bossy's rookie record.

Feb. 7, 1996: Traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim with Marc Chouinard and a fourth-round pick in the 1996 NHL entry draft (Kim Staal) for Chad Kilger, Oleg Tverdovsky and a third-round pick in 1996 (Per-Anton Lundstrom).

March 5, 2001: Traded to the San Jose Sharks for Jeff Friesen, Steve Shields and a second-round pick in 2003 (Vojtech Polak).

July 3, 2003: Signed by the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent.

Aug. 22, 2005: Signed by the Mighty Ducks as a free agent.

January 30, 2006: Recorded his 1,000th NHL point against the Los Angeles Kings, becoming the 70th player and seventh European player to do so.

Feb. 19, 2010: Became the all-time leading scorer in Olympic men's hockey in a game against Germany (20 goals, 17 assists in 31 career games), surpassing Valeri Kharlamov (Soviet Union), Vlastimil Bubnik (former Czechoslovakia) and Harry Watson (Canada).

March 29, 2010: Is honoured in Anaheim for scoring his 600th goal and his No. 8 jersey is raised to the rafters, the first in club history.

Oct. 8, 2011: Scores twice and adds two assists in a win over Washington, becoming the oldest NHL player to collect four points in a game since Tim Horton had four assists Jan. 15, 1972.

Dec. 11, 2011: Returns to Winnipeg for the first time since the Jets' rebirth and receives a standing ovation and loud cheers every time he touches the puck. Finishes the night with two assists as the Jets win 5-3.

Feb. 19, 2012: In a 2-0 win over Florida, becomes the oldest NHL player to collect 20 goals in one season since Johnny Bucyk during the 1976-77 campaign with the Boston Bruins.

July 12, 2012: Signs a one-year contract with the Ducks worth $4.5 million.

Aug. 30, 2013: Signs a one-year contract with the Ducks worth $2 million, and announces he will retire at the end of the 2013-14 NHL season. He makes the announcement official by posting a funny video on You Tube: http://youtu.be/429SNIHJE7Q

-- compiled by Ed Tait



With glowing heart

Stacey Nattrass went from small jazzy coffee houses to lead the loudest anthem choir in the land

By: David Sanderson

Posted: 10/5/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 10/5/2013 7:05 PM | Updates

On June 23, Taylor Swift played for 33,000 people at Investors Group Field. Two months later, Paul McCartney drew 31,200 fans to the same venue. Impressive numbers, for sure, but if you're wondering who has performed in front of the most Winnipeggers this year, the answer is Stacey Nattrass.

Nattrass is the anthem singer for the Winnipeg Jets. Since January, she has appeared at 28 National Hockey League games, including Friday night's home opener versus the Los Angeles Kings. With sellout crowds of 15,004 per tilt, that adds up to a combined, live audience of 420,112 -- more if you include players, coaches and Dancing Gabe.

Nattrass with her husband, Damian, four-year-old Max and Jackson, 1.

Just don't let those gaudy totals trick you into thinking the married mother of two is leading a lifestyle befitting a country diva or ex-Beatle.

An hour before a recent, pre-season match between the Jets and visiting Edmonton Oilers, Nattrass is scrambling around her kitchen, trying to get dinner on the table for her sons, Max, 4, and Jackson, 1. After wolfing down a few forkfuls of chicken and broccoli, Nattrass fetches her purse, reaches for her car keys -- no limo waiting outside AGAIN -- and rushes downtown in a bid to get to the MTS Centre 30 minutes ahead of the opening faceoff.

"I suppose there's some notoriety associated with singing the anthem," says Nattrass, who in her "real" life teaches choir at Garden City Collegiate. "Sometimes when I'm out shopping for groceries a person will come up to me and say, 'Good job last night,' which is really sweet. But for the most part, I live pretty anonymously."

Sixteen years ago, Nattrass, 36, was studying music at the University of Manitoba. On weekends, she handled lead vocals for a smallish, jazz ensemble that performed in lounges and coffee shops around town. One evening, the group -- minus Nattrass -- was booked for a show in support of the Manitoba Moose's Yearling Foundation. Between sets, a person associated with the then-IHL squad approached the band. He said the team was in the market for a regular anthem singer and asked if they knew anybody who might fit the bill.

A couple of weeks later, Nattrass was standing at centre ice at the old Winnipeg Arena, belting out O Canada for a half-dozen interested on-lookers.

"They didn't really say too much but they seemed to like it," Nattrass says.

True that: within days, Nattrass was summoned to sing the anthem for a Moose game. One turned into two, two became three, and so on and so forth.

Nattrass sang for the Moose for 14 years. Twenty-six days after her last appearance on May 6, 2011, Mark Chipman announced that True North Sports and Entertainment had purchased the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers, with the intent of moving the team, hook, line and Slater, to Manitoba. Like every other hockey fan around these parts, Nattrass was thrilled by the news. Within a week or so, though, she started to wonder how the switch to the bigs would affect her personally.

"I never assumed but I hoped," Nattrass says. "By mid-summer, I was contemplating emailing my contact and saying, 'So what are you thinking?' But luckily they beat me to it." (In August 2011, Nattrass topped a poll that asked "Who do you think should sing the anthem at Jets games?" Among the nominees she beat out were Burton Cummings, Maria Aragon and the Weakerthans' John K. Samson.)

"Stacey had been with us for years and she deserved the gig," says Kyle Balharry, True North's director of event production. "I think the best thing about Stacey is that she sings the anthem the way everybody in the crowd

sings it themselves. What I mean is, she's not out there trying to change it up with all these weird parts, or going all operatic. Stacey sings it exactly how we all learned it in school."

That said, it's a safe bet nobody who attends Jets games nowadays -- not Second World War veteran Len Kropioski, not the fellows dressed like Don Cherry, not the "Queen" -- grew up yelling "True North" at the top of their lungs, during O Canada's second verse.

"The first time that happened was at the very first exhibition game against Columbus," Balharry says, referring to the now-famous shout-out. "A few of us looked at each other and said, 'What was that?' The second game it got a little bit louder and by the time opening night rolled around, it was thunderous. Now it's become a part of the whole brand."

Balharry gets calls and emails on an almost daily basis from people who are interested in singing the anthem prior to a Jets game. He has a couple of back-ups in case Nattrass is unavailable -- or adds to her family. Two seasons ago, Nattrass sang the anthem on Dec. 9, gave birth to Jackson on Dec. 14 and was back at the rink on Dec. 31 -- a feat that earned her a spot on Ace Burpee's 2011 list of outstanding Manitobans.

"There are always a couple of times during the year when we do a special anthem. This month, for example, we have a Kenyan boys' choir coming in as part of We Day," Balharry says. "But I'm not a big fan -- and I know our ownership's not a big fan -- of having different singers every time out."

For her part, Nattrass is willing to sing at Jets games for "as long as they'll have me." Sure, she'd love to get back on stage one day: in the past she has worked with Danny Schur in Strike!, performed at Rainbow Stage umpteen times and was called upon by filmmaker Guy Maddin for a live version of his feature Brand upon the Brain! at the 2008 New Music Festival. (Better still: when Nattrass was a member of the Winnipeg Youth Chorus, she sang on a trio of Fred Penner records: Happy Feet, The Season and Fred Penner's Place.)

But until Nattrass lands her dream role -- that would be Elphaba from Wicked -- singing for the Jets is as perfect a fit as the aviator-blue jersey she sports on game-night.

"I realized just how much singing the anthem meant to me during last year's lockout," says Nattrass, whose aunt is opera singer Tracy Dahl and whose brother is actor/singer Carson Nattrass.

"Don't get me wrong: I have a busy life with two little ones at home. Plus I absolutely love being a teacher. But deep down I'm a performer. And if I wasn't performing somehow, somewhere, I think I would really miss it."



Teemu Selanne's top 5 moments

By Ted Wyman ,Winnipeg Sun

First posted: Saturday, October 05, 2013 05:45 PM CDT

In those three seasons, Teemu Selanne captured the hearts of the city's sports fans, setting a rookie scoring record that still stands today and showing a combination of skill and speed that few hockey observers had seen before.

After being traded in a colossal blunder by the soon-to-relocate Jets in 1996, Selanne went on to a brilliant career with the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche and represented his country in five Olympic hockey tournaments.

He finally returned to a hero's welcome with the Ducks two years ago and will make his Winnipeg swan song Sunday night at MTS Centre. Selanne, 43, says he is finally retiring after this season, and, at least in Winnipeg, that means a goodbye of Mariano Rivera-like proportion.

Here's a look at some of Selanne's greatest moments and achievements in hockey:

1. LIFTING STANLEY

Selanne was playing his 15th season in the NHL and was already one of the most popular players in league history when the Anaheim Ducks went on a great playoff run and won the Stanley Cup in 2007. After a great season, during which he scored 48 goals and 94 points, Selanne scored five goals and 15 points in 21 playoff games and got a chance to lift Lord Stanley's Cup over his head when the Ducks beat the Ottawa Senators in five games. He talked about retiring after that moment, but has kept on playing for another seven years.

2. GREATEST ROOKIE

Selanne's first season with the Winnipeg Jets in 1992-93 was magical. He obliterated all of the NHL's rookie scoring records, scoring his 54th goal to pass Mike Bossy on March 2, 1993. He went on to score 76 goals and 132 points, records which will almost certainly never be broken unless the NHL changes its rules. Since that season, no NHL players has scored as many as 70 goals and only Mario Lemieux, Pavel Bure, Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos have scored as many as 60.

3. MEDAL MAN

Selanne has played in five Olympic Games and has won two bronze medals (1998, 2010) and a silver (2006). He is the all-time leading scorer in Olympic tournaments with 37 points. Selanne could become just the second player to compete in six men's Olympic hockey tournaments if he plays for Finland in February.

4. THE RETURN

On Dec. 17, 2011, Selanne and the Anaheim Ducks paid a visit to the recently revived Winnipeg Jets and it was a special night. Winnipeg fans poured on the love for the former Jets superstar, cheering each and every time he touched the puck and standing for repeated ovations. An emotional Selanne seemed to not want to leave the ice after the Jets won 5-3 and called it one of the most memorable nights of his career.

5. LOCKOUT LONGEVITY

While hockey fans lamented the loss of the 2004-05 season to a prolonged labour dispute between players and owners, Selanne took the year off to recover from knee injuries that made him a marginal player in his won forgettable season with the Colorado Avalanche. Selanne came back refreshed after the lockout and proceeded to score 40 goals and 90 points with the Ducks. He continues to be a productive player well into his 40s and entered this season as the 15th leading scorer in NHL history with 1,430 points. He needs 25 goals to become the seventh player in NHL history to record 700 goals. The others are Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Brett Hull, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito and Mike Gartner. Yup, he's in elite company.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 10.06.2013


Jets avoid overconfidence while Scheifele gets more comfortable


First posted: Saturday, October 05, 2013 03:31 PM CDT | Updated: Saturday, October 05, 2013 03:37 PM CDT

The 2-0 record has everyone around the Winnipeg Jets smiling, but doing so with words of caution.

“In this league I’ve learned over my six years that you have to stay as level-headed as you possibly can,” Jets right-winger Devin Setoguchi said. “The second you get overconfident is when things start going wrong.”

Jets coach Claude Noel said he liked the fact the Jets have beaten two very different teams in the first two games.

“We had a fairly long ways to go from the first game, but the second game was a way different game and I thought we responded well,” he said. “We made some adjustments that we got rewarded for.”

Defenceman Toby Enstrom did not participate in practice Saturday, though Noel said it was just a maintenance day and expects him to play Sunday. Grant Clitsome, who started the season on injured reserve, skated Saturday and could return to the lineup Sunday.

SCHEIFELE SHINING

Rookie centre Mark Scheifele picked up his first career assist Friday, to go along with the goal he scored Tuesday in Edmonton.

“Every game I get more confident and more comfortable,” Scheifele said. “I thought I played well. I thought I was in position, I thought I was reliable and I thought it was a good all-around game.”

Noel liked what he saw as well.

“Mark is playing more straight lines, more of a pro game right now, starting to understand,” Noel said. “He’s a very good student of the game and he reads of our centres and he watches and he’s very coachable that way.”



Selanne’s latest farewell tour stops in Winnipeg


First posted: Saturday, October 05, 2013 01:20 PM CDT | Updated: Saturday, October 05, 2013 03:29 PM CDT

When Teemu Selanne comes to town Sunday for his latest final NHL appearance in Winnipeg, fans will not be the only ones in awe of one of hockey’s all-time great players and ambassadors.

Quite possibly the most popular athlete ever to play in this town, Selanne is just as highly thought of among players and coaches in the league.

“I just hope we win the game, while we marvel,” Jets coach Claude Noel said after the team practised Saturday at MTS Centre.

The Jets have rocketed out of the gate and have a 2-0 record going into Sunday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks, but for many Winnipeggers, the attraction of this game is a chance to say goodbye to a player who scored 76 goals here as a rookie and went on to a 20-year, surefire Hall of Fame career with Anaheim, San Jose and Colorado.

Playing what he has said is his final season in the NHL at age 43, Selanne is just starting a farewell tour that will surely be celebrated on every one of the Ducks stops.

“He’s been such a dominant player and had such a big impact here in Winnipeg,” Noel said. “He’s made a huge contribution to the NHL. His numbers both internationally and in the National Hockey League speak volumes for the player and this is a guy that performs — you watch him play at his age, it’s just a marvel. For me, it’s always been a pleasure to watch him play and continue to play at this level like he does.”

Selanne’s Finnish countryman, Jets centre Olli Jokinen, says he’ll believe it when he sees it, but if this is indeed the last appearance in Winnipeg, it will be special.

“This could be the last regular season game, but there’s a possibility we could play in the playoffs or that he’ll still play five more years,” Jokinen said.

“He’s a guy that loves the game and enjoys the game and is able to play at a high level so why not keep playing?”

Selanne was not expected to play Saturday night in Minnesota as Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau plans to limit his games this season, but he will suit up Sunday in his first game in Winnipeg since his magical return on Dec. 17, 2011, when the Jets beat the Ducks 5-3.

“He’s the player that any player can learn from every day,” Jokinen said. “He never has bad days. He truly loves the game. Being 43 years old and playing this level is pretty amazing. I think the one thing that he has is a passion for the game. Whatever happens the night before he comes with a big smile on his face to the rink the next day. His attitude is, whatever happened in the past, it doesn’t really matter anymore.”

Jokinen said Selanne has become one of the greatest sports heroes in Finnish history.

“Probably No. 1, No. 2 … top 3 for sure,” said Jokinen, pointing out Selanne has played in five Olympics for Finland and won three medals. “We have a few Formula One drivers and Jari Kurri. But Teemu’s right there. Hopefully he’ll play one more Olympics too, which would be six for him, which is pretty amazing.”

Jokinen said what has always impressed him most about Selanne is his dedication.

“In the summers he’s always the guy that organizes the skates back home. He starts sending text messages at the beginning of July saying, ‘Let’s start skating.’ Anyone who has been playing for that long, has to love the game. You have to have a passion because it’s not rocket science. Once you lose that, you are not going to be able to compete.”

Jets on Selanne:

MARK SCHEIFELE:

“Obviously he’s an unbelievable player and has had an unbelievable career. I haven’t heard one bad word about him. For a guy that I grew up watching, it will be a pretty big honour to have a chance to play against him.”

DEVIN SETOGUCHI:

“I actually got a chance to skate with him during the lockout and he was in better shape than three-quarters of the guys that were on the ice and, for his age, that’s incredible.”

OLLI JOKINEN:

“He’s a great player, one of the greatest of all time.”

SETOGUCHI AGAIN:

“He’s got this energy around him and he’s always got a positive attitude about things. He still skates faster than I do so for his age, that’s incredible.”

BRYAN LITTLE:

“It’s always fun playing against guys you looked up to and watched as a kid and I’m sure the fans here are going to make him feel welcome out there too.”


719878 Vancouver Canucks

Burrows sidelined by foot injury ‘for couple of weeks’

October 5, 2013. 12:14

Posted by:

elliottpap

The Canucks will attempt to win their first game of the new National Hockey League season Saturday night without one of their most valuable players. Winger Alex Burrows, who skates on the first line with the Sedin twins, kills penalties and centres the second power-play unit, is out with a foot injury, suffered when he blocked a shot against the San Jose Sharks in Thursday’s season-opening 4-1 loss.

Canuck head coach John Tortorella wouldn’t admit that Burrows has a fracture in his right foot but the player was seen wearing a ‘moon boot’ and on crutches in a Rogers Arena hallway this morning. The Canucks meet the Edmonton Oilers tonight at The Rog. Both teams lost their first game.

“Alex Burrows is out and he’s probably going to be out for a couple of weeks,” Tortorella said. “I know you’re probably going to ask about 15 questions about shot blocking. Alex Burrows made the right play and if he doesn’t make that play, he’ll probably never kill a 5-on-3 again here. So don’t turn it into that. It was the right play to be made. Injuries happen in a lot of different ways. So we’ll continue to play defence, not just shot block, the way you are supposed to.”

Asked specifically about a fracture in Burrows’ foot, Tortorella replied: “I just don’t think we need to give out that information. He’s going to be out for a couple of weeks and that’s the way we’re going to leave it for right now.”

Burrows was not made available for interviews.

The Canucks didn’t have a full morning skate so it was impossible to determine who might play alongside Daniel and Henrik Sedin tonight. The most logical candidates are Jannik Hansen and David Booth.

With Zack Kassian still suspended, Tortorella doesn’t have any extra forwards either and will have to dress a seventh defenceman to round out his 18 skaters. Yannick Weber and Andrew Alberts are the only ones available and Weber is expected to get the call.

“I played some shifts at forward when I was in Montreal,” said the ex-Canadien.

Henrik Sedin, meanwhile, conceded the Canucks will miss Burrows. “He’s a big part of our team and he plays in every situation so we’re going to miss him, for sure,” said the captain. “I mean, he’s a really good player. But it’s a chance for other guys to step up and that’s what’s going to happen every time you get an injury. We’ll see who plays with us. I don’t think (Tortorella) is afraid to move players around. He did it in the first game and I’m sure that’s going to happen again.”

Henrik attempted to downplay the shot-blocking angle that has been a trademark of Tortorella-coached teams. Burrows is the second Canuck to suffer a foot injury blocking a shot. Centre Jordan Schroeder fractured his left ankle during a pre-season game two weeks ago.

“Shot blocking has always been part of the game,” Henrik said. “Just because he is re-emphasizing it doesn’t mean we didn’t do it before. It’s bad luck.”

Henrik has had nothing but good fortune himself when it comes to injuries. His ironman streak will reach 631 games tonight, passing Andy Hebenton for sixth longest streak in NHL history behind Doug Jarvis (964), Garry Unger (914), Steve Larmer (884), Craig Ramsay (776) and Jay Bouwmeester (635). Henrik hasn’t missed a game since the 2003-04 season.

“Just lucky, I guess,” he said with a smile while looking for a place to knock on wood.

Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 10.06.2013


Gallagher: Aggressive style looks like it will pay dividends

Strong forecheck befuddled the Oilers, and could be the Canucks’ calling card this year

By Tony Gallagher, The Province October 5, 2013 11:00 PM

Every team in the NHL tends to play better at home than on the road, but in the case of the Vancouver Canucks this season, that trend is apt to be accentuated.

While most home games won’t be as easy as Saturday night’s win over the young and confused Edmonton Oilers, who looked like they’d never seen a team forecheck in such a way before, there’s no question it will be a considerable advantage for coach John Tortorella to be here getting the last change.

That will be an advantage that will better allow him to protect his highly questionable third and fourth lines — the ones he doesn’t seem to want to use unless he can choose the players they play against and his team boasts a comfortable lead.

On the road, of course, as soon as he puts his third or fourth line out, the opposing coach is going to counter with three of his top six if the game in San Jose was any indication, and sadly, we saw the results of that against one of the strongest teams in the West.

There will be another immediate test of this theory tonight in Calgary when this team plays the first of its 17 back-to-back games, an inordinate number brought on by the Olympics, and evidently something of a brain lapse on the part of the front office which permitted such a schedule for a team as old as the Canucks. Carolina has 22 such back-to-backs, but it’s a lot easier in the East than out here.

To be sure, the locals were very much on their game Saturday, however, which after Thursday night, had to be a relief for the Canuck faithful. But then they almost always are at Rogers Arena when the Oil comes calling, the Sedin twins particularly enjoying the arrival of this team without a great back end. Led by the 18 points of Henrik, the Canucks are 10-1-1 in their last 12 at home over the past four plus seasons against this team — which everyone keeps predicting will get better, although signs of that happening have been markedly absent. And leave it to the Oil to get Daniel out of his scoring slump, the veteran winger bagging his first goal of the season and adding an assist to bring his career total to 13 goals and 11 assists in 19 career home tilts against Edmonton which hasn’t been a playoff since the twins became superstars.

At times last night the only thing missing was the Sweet Georgia Brown theme music used by basketball’s Globetrotters, such was Vancouver’s control of the puck and dominance of the game. Tortorella’s idea of hounding the puck all over the ice certainly produced the turnovers this team is looking for against a learning back end the Oilers have, the question being whether they can achieve this type of success against the better teams in the league when it matters.

“It’s nice to see that after they scored the first goal we were able to come back and get three before the end of the first period,” said Henrik. “That’s the way we want to play and we came close to playing 60 minutes that way. Maybe we weren’t going after them as much as we normally would if we weren’t up but our reads are really easy this way. We put a lot of pressure on their Ds and we didn’t really play this way for the past couple of years. We sat back a little bit more and played a bit more on the safe side. That’s what you get when you are aggressive, you turn pucks over and you get those second chances.”

“That’s the way we want to play, we kept coming at them, coming at them, and we shot a lot tonight and when you shoot that much you’re going to get six goals,” said Ryan Kesler who added he thought it wore down the Oiler goaltenders.

“I think it’s the way we play, we’re aggressive and it’s turning pucks over,” said Daniel Sedin of he and his brother dominating in such a fashion, something that had been absent for too long and certainly welcome relief for a team looking to extend the contract of the twins.

“Our reads are really easy in this system and you saw glimpses of it in San Jose for 30 or 35 minutes. It wasn’t our forecheck which stopped working, it was all the turnovers that we made which hurt us.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 10.06.2013


Canucks on song in 6-2 home opener victory over Edmonton Oilers

By Jason Botchford, The Province October 5, 2013 11:34 PM

It could have been better, maybe, if the Rolling Stones showed up and played in the second intermission.

It could have been improved, possibly, by an impromptu Louis CK set or the Black Keys playing Vancouver’s goal song live six times.

Save that, you weren’t enhancing John Tortorella’s fireworks-like home debut behind Vancouver’s bench.

Consider just a few of the things that went down Saturday. Tom Sestito nearly scored. Twice.

Brad Richardson scored on a shorthanded breakaway, his first as a Canuck. Dan Hamhuis scored on an airball from the blueline. Ryan Kesler fought Will Acton.

Then, on the bench, Tortorella unloaded verbally on Acton’s dad, Keith, an Edmonton assistant coach.

Then, on Hockey Night in Canada, Glenn Healy tore into Tortorella, saying the Canucks coach needs to shut up. Always the Canucks fault, right?

That, Canucks fans, was all in the first period.

You probably could have gone weeks last year without getting this kind of entertainment.

Oh yeah, it was fun to watch hockey again throughout a 6-2 Canucks win. And it was fun, too, after the game when Tortorella dismissed the CBC.

“I don’t care what CBC says, or what anyone says quite honestly,” Tortorella said. “They don’t know what happened. I don’t really give a s--t what they say.”

Keep up with that and he’ll fit right in here.

How impressive all of this was depends on your thoughts about the quality of the Oilers. They sure haven’t convinced anyone they’re a playoff team yet, but they were without two of their top players, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Sam Gagner.

The Canucks dominated the depleted squad and did it without Alex Burrows, unofficially listed a victim of Vancouver’s blocked shots era. Burrows hurt his leg in the San Jose game and Tortorella suggested Saturday he’ll be out 2-3 weeks.

For one game, he wasn’t missed. Henrik Sedin had three assists and Jannik Hansen scored a goal, taking Burrows spot on the top line.

The Canucks jumped out to a three-goal lead midway through the second, but did not let up. Even the third line was forechecking with three forwards willing to dip below Edmonton’s goal line.

“It was great,” Roberto Luongo said. “It wasn’t my best game. I was fighting the puck.

“Maybe in prior years we come out flat in the second and they get back in the game. We just stayed on them and got a couple more goals.

“It was pretty to watch.”

Henrik was asked if it was fun.

“I think so, it was very easy reads for the forwards,” he said. “We’re not sitting back.

“In the past, when we lost the puck we tend to skate backwards into our own end, giving up too much room. That’s a big difference this year.

“We didn’t really play this way for the past couple of years. We’d sit back more.”

If there’s a team in the conference Tortorella’s hard, aggressive forechecking is built to exploit, it’s a team like the Oilers, who make building a defence look like developing a search engine to overtake Google.

In the scope of a season, beating the Oilers can hardly be deemed a big game. But it was a significant one. It managed to run questions lingering from a disappointing loss in San Jose out of the rink, right along with the Oilers.

The Canucks had 44 shots to the Oilers’ 23.

Vancouver spotted Edmonton the first goal. Defenceman Jeff Petry played “Run around Eddie,” blowing by Alex Edler before sliding a sharp angle shot under Roberto Luongo. It was a bad goal and it was on Edmonton’s first shot 1:58 into the game.

Hamhuis scored a softie 18:27 into the first, when he launched a floater which deflected off Petry before it drifted into the net by a bewildered Devan Dubnyk. Hansen’s goal was just 18 seconds later.

What followed was the beauty of the night. With the Sedins having their way with Edmonton, Henrik pulled off one of his blind, spin passes through the slot. Daniel one-timed it in for his first goal of the game.

If you were looking for an exclamation point, that was it.



The block talk stops here: Alex Burrows sidelined

Canucks forward sits out Saturday, will miss ‘a couple of weeks’ after getting injured blocking a shot

By Steve Ewen, The Province October 5, 2013

John Tortorella did his best to block the shot-block brouhaha.

“I know you’re probably going to ask about 15 questions about shot-blocking,” the Vancouver Canucks coach told the assembled media Saturday morning after announcing that Alex Burrows would be joining fellow forward Jordan Schroeder on the sidelines as the result of stepping in front an opponent’s attempt at goal.

“Alex Burrows made the right play. If he’s doesn’t make that play, he’d probably never kill a 5-on-3 here again. So don’t turn it into that. It was the right play to be made. Injuries happen in a lot of different ways. We’ll continue to try to play defence — not just shot block.”

Here’s betting we all haven’t heard the last of that.

Blocking shots was a major talking point the second Tortorella signed on with the Canucks this season. He answered questions about it readily to start. Much has been made of the fact that his old team, the New York Rangers, came in sixth in the NHL in that category last season, compared to 27th for Canucks.

Oddly enough, according to www.mangameslost.com, a website that claims to track such things, Vancouver was seventh in the NHL last season in games lost to injury, with 159. The Rangers were 11th, at 132.

Schroeder, a centre, suffered a hairline fracture in his foot stepping in front of an Edmonton Oiler shot in a Sept. 21 pre-season game. There’s no word on when he might be back.

Burrows was hurt Thursday in the regular-season opener versus the San Jose Sharks, seemingly while diving to knock down a shot with San Jose on a two-man power play in the second period. He finished the game, playing 11 minutes, 18 seconds, but he didn’t skate Friday at practice and there were reports Saturday that he was spotted wearing a walking cast on his right foot.

Tortorella wouldn’t elaborate on the injury, only saying that Burrows would miss a “couple of weeks.”

“I don’t think we need to give out that information,” said Tortorella. “So that’s where we’re going to leave it for right now.”

When he was the one noted absence on Friday, Tortorella called it a “body maintenance day,” and said that he thought he’d be ready to go Saturday, although he also admitted he needed to speak with team medical staff. Suspended winger Zack Kassian skated with Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Burrows’ usual top-line spot, on Friday, and it’s safe to suggest that Tortorella would have used someone eligible to play in that spot if he was certain that Burrows would be sidelined.

Vancouver’s morning skate Saturday was an optional, so there were no hints about their line-up against Edmonton.

Tortorella would say that Vancouver hadn’t called up another forward for the game against the Oilers in Saturday’s home opener, meaning that they would dress seven defencemen instead.

He wouldn’t divulge who would line up with the Sedins. David Booth skated there some in the third period against San Jose and Jannik Hansen has been used there in the past.

“We’re used to switching around the lines,” said Hansen. “We’ve been doing that for a long time here.”

It’s hard to guess what move the Canucks might make on the roster. Centre Zach Hamill was recalled from AHL’s Utica Comets when Kassian and fellow winger Dale Weise were suspended after that Sept. 21 Oiler game. Hamill was shipped back a few days later.

Kassian is suspended for three more games after Saturday night.

Burrows’ biggest loss could be on the penalty kill. Among returning forwards, he was second in ice time with the man short last season, at 2:01 per game. Only Hansen, at 2:10, was greater.

Some of that could go to the Sedins, who are getting a chance to penalty kill under Tortorella after not being used in that capacity by former bench boss Alain Vigneault.

Burrows in the line-up has been a constant during his time in Vancouver. Over the previous seven seasons, he’s missed a mere 14 games.

“He brings a lot of energy and can do a lot of good things on the ice,” said defenceman Jason Garrison. “He brings a lot of different aspects. But we’ve got guys who want to play his role. Hopefully they can step up and do it.”

Weise added: “He’s kind of been the straw that stirs the drink for us up front. He helps the twins. He PKs. He’s a huge leader for us.”



Canucks Gameday: Tortorella show arrives home with potentially retribution-minded Oilers in town

By JASON BOTCHFORD, The Province October 5, 2013

EDMONTON OILERS AT VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Saturday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m., Rogers Arena

TV: CBC; Radio: TEAM 1040 AM

- - - - - -

THE STORYLINE:

It will be some time before the Canucks play a “big game,” but this will be a significant one.

It’s the home opener for John Tortorella’s re-imagined Vancouver Canucks.

After looking overmatched in 4-1 loss to San Jose, the Canucks are out to show that was more about how stacked the Sharks are, rather than their own inadequacies.

The Canucks were nothing if not entertaining versus San Jose, sometimes for the wrong reasons.

Without question, they are still struggling with Tortorella’s new systems and demands to be aggressive, especially when they are under stress.

“We’re confident we can learn this style and excel at it,” Kevin Bieksa said.

“If it’s difficult (learning it) or not, that’s what we’re faced with.

“You can’t think it will be perfected in the first week of the season. It’s going to take some time. We showed some good strides.

“We were happy with the way we played at times. Other times, we’d like to play differently.

“We understand where we want to be, but I think at different times in the game, you’re tired, you’re at the end of a shift, maybe you took a puck off your foot and you’re hurt. When you’re not thinking clearly, you revert to old habits.

“That’s going to take some time to get it where it’s second nature.”

THE CANUCKS’ BIG STORY:

Down goes Burrows.

The Canucks will be trying to win this one without Alex Burrows, who blocked a shot with his leg during a Sharks two-man advantage Thursday.

Burrows could be out a couple of weeks.

Along with Jordan Schroeder, that’s two Canucks players lost to blocking a shot.

That’s just one game into the Tortorella era.

THE LINEUP:

Without a callup and with Zack Kassian suspended, the Canucks likely will play a defenceman on their fourth line.

It probably makes sense to bump David Booth up with the Sedins, and Dale Weise to the third line.

THE OILERS’ BIG STORY:

After a preseason game in which Zack Kassian’s stick broke Sam Gagner’s jaw and Dale Weise hit Taylor Hall with his elbow, the Oilers vowed retribution.

The Oilers quickly claimed super heavyweight Steve MacIntyre, seemingly in preparation for games like this.

Ben Eager then essentially threatened the Canucks’ skilled players.

But Eager was put on waivers and MacIntyre was injured.

Edmonton head coach Dallas Eakins has been saying the page was turned when the league handled it. Weise and Kassian were suspended and Eakins said that negated any desire for retribution.

We’ll see.



Gallagher: Get out with the ‘poor Cory’ story, he’ll do just fine

By Tony Gallagher, The Province October 3, 2013

It’s nice to see Cory Schneider get the opportunity to start the season for the New Jersey Devils Thursday night for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is this endless chorus of ‘poor Cory’ we’ve been hearing ever since he was traded by the Vancouver Canucks.

It has been felt that because he was moved to this location, he was somehow unfortunate because he was once again behind a great goalie, this time the greatest of all time to date in Martin Brodeur. And the wailing on his behalf only increased a couple of weeks back when it was announced the Devils would stick with tradition in their opener and go with their living legend.

But step back and look at the fortunate situation in which Schneider has landed. He lands with a team with a tremendous defensive tradition and he’s now pretty much neck and neck with a fellow whose time really has passed.

Virtually nobody in the game plays goal the way Marty does anymore, new and better techniques being developed and advanced by the more modern practitioners.

And consider what happens when Brodeur retires, which is entirely likely to be at the end of this season.

Schneider will have one year to establish that he can in fact be a very strong starter in this league, something that is right now unknown although strongly suspected to be the case.

At that point, he will be an unrestricted free agent, which will mean a massive windfall of money for our poor downtrodden Marblehead Red Sox fan, at the very latest.

In all probability after this season,the Devils will come cap in hand to him with the intention of extending his contract, Phil Kessel style or better, as he enters his final year before becoming unrestricted.

After all, this will be a somewhat desperate franchise which, for as long as anyone can remember, relies to a massive degree on goaltending to backstop their approach to the game.

The Devils without great goaltending is like the Habs without a great atmosphere at home or the Leafs without their jerseys. It’s become one of the sport’s most established traditions thanks to Brodeur.

This is a team that not only can’t consistently keep its star players when they gain the capacity to free themselves, it can’t even keep the players they have under contract as the Ilya Kovalchuk experience underlines.

If Schneider says no thanks to their offers at this time next year, the Devils will have very little option but to increase the numbers on what will be a maximum eight-year offer because to see him walk away is not an option. It would be the essence of the franchise’s approach walking away, and that’s without even considering the waste of a very high (for New Jersey) first round draft pick they gave up to get him.

Again assuming Schneider is able to play at roughly the same level we have seen him perform so far, there’s a good chance he’ll sign when the Devils do indeed come out of their financial boots. But if he really dislikes the place — a strong possibility given the number of stars who have bailed on the Lou Lamoriello regime — there could be any number of takers, albeit the CBA restricting them to seven-year offers.

Consider Philadelphia will still be looking for a goalie and may have saved up enough cap room by then to make another big money stab at scratching the franchise itch.

Henrik Lundqvist is finishing up his deal in New York this season and the Pens will be free of the $5 million they are paying Marc Andre Fleury by then.

Calgary has no goalie at the moment at least, and acres of cap room going forward just like Colorado, which could step up in class at this position,

Patrick Roy not terribly likely to be patient for long with what management has furnished.

It goes on and on really, with no real way of predicting that far down the road other than to suggest Schneider appears to have the potential to be a franchise-altering player.

So if the man who is still rightfully so loved and respected in this town really is as good as he seems to be, there will be no need for sympathy.



Dale Weise says “I’ll guess we will see what happens,” in first meeting with Oilers since Hall hit

October 5, 2013. 1:19 pm

Posted by:

Steve Ewen

Dale Weise said after the morning skate that he wasn’t sure whether he’d get extra attention from the Edmonton Oilers in the Vancouver Canucks’ home opener Saturday.

Weise was suspended for the final three preseason games for his hit to the head on Edmonton star Taylor Hall in a Sept. 21 exhibition encounter. He received a minor penalty on the play. He fought Mike Brown later in that game.

That was the same night that Zack Kassian broke Sam Gagner’s jaw with an errant yet reckless high stick. Kassian was suspended the three preseason games and the first five of the regular season.

“I don’t know. I don’t know,” Weise said when asked whether he was going to be targeted by the Oilers. “I guess we will see what happens. I’m going to go out and play the same way. Regardless of whether it’s Taylor Hall or someone else, I’m going to finish that check every time.

“If I have to answer the bell, it’s part of the game.”

Edmonton coach Dallas Eakins told the Edmonton Journal that he feels the league has dealt with it, saying, “We’ve instructed our guys to play hard ever night and every shift but we’re not going to look for guys who have made dumb plays. The league handled it and we’re good with it.”

After that game, though, the Oilers claimed tough guy winger Steve MacIntyre off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins. When he hurt his knee, they added another physical customer in winger Luke Gazdic, plucking him off the waiver wire from the Dallas Stars.

“It’s not a matter of head hunting guys,” said Gazdic. “If there is an opportunity for me to finish a clean check on any player, I am going to take it, whether it is Henrik Sedin or Dale Weise. It doesn’t matter. If I have somebody lined up, I am going o finish the check because that’s the way I play.

“I’m not going to slow up for different guys or head hunt for different guys. I just play 100 per cent all the time. It’s the only way I know.”



John Tortorella: ‘I know you’re probably going to ask about 15 questions about shot-blocking’

October 5, 2013. 12:53 pm

Posted by:

Steve Ewen

John Tortorella did his best to block the shot-block brouhaha.

“I know you’re probably going to ask about 15 questions about shot blocking,” the Vancouver Canucks coach told the assembled media Saturday morning after announcing that Alex Burrows would be joining fellow forward Jordan Schroeder on the sidelines as the result of stepping in front an opponents’ attempt at goal.

“Alex Burrows made the right play. If he doesn’t make that play, he’d probably never kill a 5-on-3 here again. So don’t turn it into that. It was the right play to be made. Injuries happen in a lot of different ways. We’ll continue to try to play defence — not just shot block.”

Here’s betting we all haven’t heard the last of that.

Blocking shots was a major talking point the second Tortorella signed on with the Canucks this season. He wasn’t shy about it. Much has been made of the fact that his old team, the New York Rangers, came in sixth in the NHL in that category last season, compared to 27th for Canucks.

Oddly enough, according to www.mangameslost.com<http://www.mangameslost.com>, a web site that claims to track such things, Vancouver was seventh in the NHL last season in games lost to injury, with 159. The Rangers were 11th, at 132.

Schroeder, a centre, suffered a hairline fracture in his foot stepping in front of an Edmonton Oiler shot in a Sept. 21 preseason game. There’s no word on when he might be back.

Burrows, a winger, was hurt Thursday in the regular season opener versus the San Jose Sharks, seemingly while diving to knock down a shot with San Jose on a two-man power play in the second period. He finished the game, playing 11 minutes, 18 seconds, but he didn’t skate Friday at practice and there were reports Saturday that he was spotted wearing a walking cast on his right foot.

Tortorella wouldn’t elaborate on the injury, only saying that Burrows would miss a “couple of weeks.”

“I don’t think we need to give out that information,” said Tortorella. “So that’s where we’re going to leave it for right now.”

When Burrows was the one noted absence on Friday, Tortorella called it a “body maintenance day,” and said that he thought he’d be ready to go Saturday, although he also admitted he needed to speak with team medical staff. Suspended winger Zack Kassian skated with Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Burrows’ usual top-line spot, on Friday, and it’s safe to suggest that Tortorella would have used someone eligible to play in that spot if he was certain that Burrows would be sidelined.

Vancouver’s morning skate Saturday was an optional, so there were no hints then about their line-up against Edmonton.

Tortorella would say that Vancouver hadn’t called up another forward for the game against the Oilers in Saturday’s home opener, meaning that they would dress seven defencemen instead.

He wouldn’t divulge who would line up with the Sedins. David Booth skated there some in the third period against San Jose and Jannik Hansen has been used there in the past.

“We’re used to switching around the lines,” said Hansen. “We’ve been doing that for a long time here.”

It’s hard to guess what move the Canucks might make on the roster. Centre Zach Hamill was recalled from AHL’s Utica Comets when Kassian and fellow winger Dale Weise were suspended after that Sept. 21 Oiler game. Hamill was shipped back a few days later.

Kassian is suspended for three more games after Saturday night.

Burrows’ biggest loss could be on the penalty kill. Among returning forwards, he was second in ice time with the man short last season, at 2:01 per game. Only Hansen, at 2:10, was greater.

Some of that could go to the Sedins, who are getting a chance to penalty kill under Tortorella after not being used in that capacity by former bench boss Alain Vigneault.

Burrows in the line-up has been a constant during his time in Vancouver. Over the previous seven seasons, he’s missed a mere 14 games.

“He brings a lot of energy and can do a lot of good things on the ice,” said defenceman Jason Garrison. “He brings a lot of different aspects. But we’ve got guys who want to play his role. Hopefully they can step up and do it.”

Weise added: “He’s kind of been the straw that stirs the drink for us up front. He helps the twins. He PKs. He’s a huge leader for us.”



Canucks preview: Down goes Burrows, Down goes Burrows

October 5, 2013. 11:45 am

Posted by:

Jason Botchford

It’s the home opener for John Tortorella’s re-imagined Vancouver Canucks.

After looking overmatched in 4-1 loss to San Jose, the Canucks are out to show that was more about how stacked the Sharks, rather than their own inadequacies.

The Canuucks were nothing if not entertaining versus San Jose, sometimes for the wrong reasons.

Without question, they are still struggling with Tortorella’s new systems and demands to be aggressive, especially when they are under stress.

“We’re confident we can learn this style and excel at it,” Kevin Bieksa said.

“If it’s difficult (learning it) or not, that’s what we’re faced with.

“You can’t think it will be perfected in the first week of the season. It’s going to take some time. We showed some good strides.

“We were happy with the way we played at times. Other times, we’d like to play differently.

“We understand where we want to be, but I think at different times in the game, you’re tired, you’re at the end of a shift, maybe you took a puck off your foot an you’re hurt. When you’re not thinking clearly, you revert to old habits.

“That’s going to take some time to get it where it’s second nature.”

The Canucks main story: Down goes Burrows.

The Canucks will be trying to win this one without Alex Burrows who blocked a shot with his leg during a Sharks two-man advantage Thursday.

Burrows could be out a couple of weeks.

Along with Jordan Schroeder, that’s two Canucks lost to blocking a shots.

That’s just one game in to the Tortorella era.

The lineup: Without a callup and with Zack Kassian suspended, the Canucks likely will play a defenceman on their fourth line.

It probably makes sense to bump David Booth up with the Sedins, and Dale Weise to the third line.

The Oilers main story: After a preseason game in which Zack Kassian’s stick broke Sam Gagner’s jaw and Dale Weise hit Taylor Hall with his elbow, the Oilers vowed retribution.

The Oilers quickly claimed super heavyweight Steve MacIntyre, seemingly in preparation games like this.

Ben Eager then essentially threatened the Canucks skilled players.

But Eager was put on waivers and MacIntyre was injured.

Edmonton head coach Dallas Eakins has been saying the page was turned when the league handled it. Weise and Kassian were suspended and Eakins said that negated any desire for retribution.

We’ll see.



Alex Burrows will be sidelined for a “couple of weeks,” with shot-block injury, according to Tortorella

October 5, 2013. 11:07

Posted by:

Steve Ewen

Alex Burrows’ “body maintenance day,” is turning into a week or two apparently.

Burrows, who seemed Friday to be getting practice off to rest up, is “going to be out for a couple of weeks,” Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella admitted Saturday. Burrows suffered a shot-block injury against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Vancouver plays their home opener against the Edmonton Oilers tonight. Tortorella wouldn’t say who was coming into the line-up. With Zack Kassian suspended, Tortorella doesn’t have an extra forward to play, so he’ll use seven defencemen.

He admitted that Burrows was hurt blocking a shot on 5-on-3 penalty kill against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, but he wasn’t keen on elaborating. Global TV’s Squire Barnes reported Friday that Burrows had been spotted at the rink in a walking cast.

Much has been made about Tortorella expecting the Canucks to block more shots this season, and centre Jordan Schroeder is already out with a hairline fracture in his foot from such a play.

“I know you are probably going to ask about 15 questions about shot blocking,” Tortorella said. “Alex Burrows made the right play and if he doesn’t make that play, he’d probably never play a 5-on-3 again here. So don’t turn it into that. It was the right play to be made, and injuries happen in a lot of different ways, so we’ll continue to try to play defense – not just shot block.”



Sedins help Canucks rebound with convincing win over Oilers

DAVID EBNER

VANCOUVER — The Globe and Mail

Published Sunday, Oct. 06 2013, 12:53 AM EDT

Last updated Sunday, Oct. 06 2013, 1:11 AM EDT

For a moment, it looked ugly for the home side. Edmonton Oilers defenceman Jeff Petry, early on Saturday night, drove into the Vancouver Canucks end, powered past Alex Edler, and whipped a puck at Roberto Luongo. The shot, seemingly harmless, zipped right through the goaltender’s five hole: 1-0 visitors, not even two minutes in.

The veteran Canucks, facing a potential piling-on from the upstart Oilers, quickly reassembled themselves, piling back themselves, wresting the nascent momentum and holding it tight on the way to a rout. A short-handed goal minutes later, by Brad Richardson on a breakaway, sparked the push and by the end of the first period the Canucks were up 3-1 and had 22 shots – as many in 20 minutes as the Canucks managed all game during their season-opening loss in San Jose.

Saturday was an evening where everything that went wrong for the Vancouver Canucks last year went right – and, likewise, everything that went wrong for the Edmonton Oilers last year went, again, wrong. The final tally was 6-2 Canucks, evening up the team’s record at 1-1 as Vancouver jets to Calgary for a Sunday tilt, while the Oilers are, again, in a familiar position, struggling, 0-2 and last place in their division.

"We just stayed on them," said Luongo after the game. "It was pretty to watch."

The Canucks did what they did not do against the Sharks – stealing back momentum when they had lost it, and never letting go, and it showed on the forecheck, banging for pucks, and the same along the boards up and down the ice. At night’s end the team had tallied 74 pucks at the net (44 shots on goal), a peppering that was hardly ever seen last season when Vancouver was among the teams that struggled to get pucks on the net, at even-strength and on the power play. Remedying that impotency has been a primary focus in the past three weeks -- and Saturday, at least for one night, it clicked.

“Winning and losing in this league comes on surges,” said coach John Tortorella before the game, “how to keep the surges on your side and when they’re not on your side how to get them back.”

For Edmonton, the start of the season – even if it’s just two games in – has to be disheartening. They do not in any way appear ready for prime time.

"We can't be losing one game after the other," said Oilers defenceman Ladislav Smid. "We all have to wake up."

The team on Tuesday night blew a 4-2 lead at home against the Winnipeg Jets and the three days off didn’t seem to give the team any sort of jet-fuel boost, as players such as Taylor Hall seemed to float around the ice without much of an impact. Hall was minus-four and in the second period his sloppy boarding penalty led to a Vancouver goal. In another example, Nail Yakupov – who didn’t deliver himself or anyone a birthday present, as the second-year forward turns 20 on Sunday – managed one shot. The team as a whole could only generate about half the shots the Canucks recorded.

“This is the time of year you want to get a jump,” said Edmonton winger Mike Brown before the game.

Most obviously concerning for a team that has missed the playoffs seven consecutive years is the situation in net. Devan Dubnyk gave up five goals on 28 shots against Winnipeg and against Vancouver was driven from the net, yanked about midway through the game, giving up another five goals on 31 shots – and did not look good at any point.

Late in the first, with the game tied at one, he yielded a bad one, as Vancouver defenceman Dan Hamhuis, barely in the offensive zone, clapped a slapper, which was slightly deflected, but Dubnyk had a good long look at it and the puck beat him blocker side anyway.

Eighteen seconds later, he didn’t have much chance. A Canucks tic-tac-toe produced another fast goal as the team pushed relentlessly, Henrik Sedin feeding his brother Daniel in front, who immediately popped it back to Jannik Hansen, whose one-timer easily beat Dubnyk.

For the Sedins, it was a sterling night, a throwback to the recent years in which they were dominant. The two ended the night with five points – one goals and four assists, and their power-play marker about seven minutes into the second was particularly beautiful, old-school Sedinery. A puck popped out to Henrik in the faceoff circle, off a rebound, and he sent a no-look backhand pass to his brother in the other circle and the one-timer, Dubnyk with little hope, lit the red light.

Luongo, meanwhile, was a non-story Saturday in his official return to Rogers Arena. The first goal came on the first shot but he was thereafter steady in the face of not-much pressure. He had a bit of luck, too, such as early in the third when Edmonton defenceman Justin Schultz beat him high on the blocker side but the puck clipped the post.

The Oilers, coached by rookie skip Dallas Eakins, will have a lot to think about and, at least, they can take some solace that on Monday, when they take on New Jersey back in Edmonton, they’ll have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back from injury. He skated on Saturday before the Canucks and seems poised for his return.

Saturday night ended, for Edmonton, in potent imagery. Near the conclusion of a power play late in the game, the Oilers had pulled their goalie, and Vancouver’s Jason Garrison popped a puck down the ice, off the boards. It slowly slid towards the empty net. Schultz rushed back after it but could not reach it, the puck sliding in, the red light going on, again, and Schultz sliding into the net too, looking helpless, defeated.



Tortorella defends strategy after Burrows becomes second Canuck lost to shot-blocking injury

DAVID EBNER

VANCOUVER — The Globe and Mail



Alex Burrows will be out for a couple weeks, after he was injured blocking a shot on opening night, the second Vancouver Canucks forward to be lost to such an ailment in the past month.

It is not even the second game of the year and Vancouver, for various reasons, is already dealing with significant holes in their lineup. Burrows, alongside the suspended Zack Kassian, marks the second top-six forward to be lost.

Burrows dove to block a slap shot on Thursday night in San Jose when the Sharks, in the second period, were on a five-on-three. He limped off the ice and on Friday there was the suggestion he could play for the Canucks Saturday in the home opener against the Edmonton Oilers but on Saturday morning coach John Tortorella announced the winger was out.

In the preseason, centre Jordan Schroeder was also injured blocking a shot, a hairline fracture in his foot. Burrows’s exact injury was not disclosed but he was seen at Rogers Arena in a plastic walking boot on his right foot.

To see two players go down blocking shots, as Tortorella aims to install such a regime in Vancouver when it was mostly absent in recent years, obviously stokes the question of whether the injuries were unnecessary. However, Tortorella insisted such a view is a red herring and that Burrows’s move on the five-on-three was an essential part of killing two-man disadvantages.

“You’re probably going to ask about 15 questions about shot blocking,” said Tortorella Saturday morning. “Alex Burrows made the right play and if he doesn’t make that play, we probably never kill another five-on-three here. Don’t turn it into that. It was the right play to be made. Injuries happen in a lot of different ways. So we’ll continue to try to play defence – not just shot blocking, play defence – the way you’re supposed to.”

The team will dress only 11 forwards, as the Canucks chose not to recall a player from the minors. Seven defenceman will dress. The injury will probably push Tortorella to relay at least somewhat more on his fourth line, which barely played during Thursday’s loss, some three minutes.

Saturday morning’s game-day skate was optional and Tortorella declined to say who would play with the Sedin twins, in Burrows’s absence. Winger David Booth, who played several shifts with the Sedins in the third period on Thursday, is an option.

Both the Canucks and Oilers enter Saturday night at 0-1, with pressure to avoid starting the year with two losses. Tortorella was asked if there would be some bad blood between the teams, after Kassian broke the jaw of Edmonton’s Sam Gagner in the pre-season with a wild high stick. Tortorella insisted the focus was on the game.

“The other stuff, I’m not even going to get involved with,” he said. “We’re going to try to play the right way and try to win.”


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