sport-scan daily brief - nhl.comflyers.nhl.com/v2/ext/11.02.2011 nhlc.pdf · sport-scan daily brief...

SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 11/2/2011

Anaheim Ducks 586057 Ducks blow 3-0 lead and lose to Capitals, 5-4, in overtime 586058 Ducks blow 3-0 lead, lose to Capitals in OT 586059 Parros, Ducks face this together 586060 Selanne continues to lead by scoring 586061 Ducks go from surplus in D.C. to a loss Boston Bruins 586062 Fast improvement 586063 They're starting to look familiar 586064 Corvo coming up empty 586065 Bruins look like champs 586066 B’s score rare victory 586067 Fourth line first rate 586068 Bruins end skid with 5-3 win over Ottawa Buffalo Sabres 586069 It's smoother skating on Buffalo home ice 586070 Flyers will test revamped Sabres Calgary Flames 586071 Flames absorb Canuckle sandwich 586072 Game Story: Vancouver 5 Calgary 1 586073 Lapierre latches onto lifeline 586074 Start of a new month excites Iggy 586075 ‘I’m stuck for words’ — Brent Sutter 586076 Flames fail litmus test 586077 Flames fall flat against Canucks 586078 Burning Flames questions Carolina Hurricanes 586079 Carolina slams door on Tampa Bay rally 586080 Canes dodge trouble

Chicago Blackhawks 586081 Power outage 586082 Of new Blackhawks, Dan Carcillo grades out the best 586083 Blackhawks’ November schedule is full of tests 586084 Where will Blackhawks choose to play Carcillo? 586085 Blackhawks aren't concerned with power outage Colorado Avalanche 586086 Shane O'Brien matures into ultimate Avs' teammate 586087 NHL suspends Sutton five games for hit to Landeskog's head 586088 Avalanche starting Varlamov in net against Coyotes Columbus Blue Jackets 586089 Blue Jackets notebook: Defense getting key pieces back 586090 Johansen will stay with Blue Jackets 586091 Learning curve 586092 Season status report

Dallas Stars 586093 New coaching staff giving Stars players voice in improvement 586094 Tuesday practice update _ Steve Ott questionable for Friday 586095 Kari Lehtonen named NHL's second Star of the Month for October Detroit Red Wings 586096 Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist debuts on 2nd line with Johan Franzen, Todd Bertuzzi 586097 Minnesota 2, Detroit 1 (OT): Nicklas Lidstrom questions no-call on OT goal 586098 Red Wings notes and quotes from Tuesday's loss 586099 Minnesota 2, Detroit 1 (OT): Wild extends Wings' winless streak to 5

Red Wings Continued 586100 Wings' mistakes to blame for slide 586101 Gustav Nyquist earns spot in Wings' lineup 586102 Wild extends Red Wings' losing streak to five 586103 Wings' Jiri Hudler scratched as Gustav Nyquist joins lineup 586104 Dazed Red Wings' defenseman Niklas Kronwall will be re-

evaluated on Wednesday 586105 Red Wings squander lead late in third period, lose to Wild, 2-

1, in overtime 586106 Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist has good opportunity, playing on

No. 2 line and power play Edmonton Oilers 586107 Sutton served with a five-game suspension 586108 Road trips a whole different game for NHL rookie 586109 Sutton to sit five games 586110 Road adventure for Oilers' Nugent-Hopkins 586111 Road trip a real test for Oilers

Florida Panthers 586112 Florida Panthers get scoring punch from newcomer

Fleischmann 586113 Markstrom a big part of Panthers' future 586114 Panthers' Jason Garrison having a blast this season 586115 Florida Panthers' home to get yet another name 586116 Florida Panthers' home arena to get yet another name Los Angeles Kings 586117 Drew Doughty's performance evaluated after Kings'

weekend games 586118 Will move to Stoll’s line boost Penner? 586119 Positive step for Gagne 586120 Decision day nears on Fraser 586121 Doughty, and his `stache, looking for better 586122 Tuesday practice update 586123 Tuesday practice; Gagne returns

Minnesota Wild 586124 Powerless all game long, Wild flips the switch in OT 586125 Zidlicky dropped to No. 2 power play 586126 Game recap: Wild 2, Detroit 1 (OT) 586127 Zidlicky demoted to second power-play unit; Yeo unhappy;

More on Bulmer decision 586128 Bulmer headed back to juniors 586129 Struggling Marek Zidlicky isn't helping power play 586130 Wild 2, Red Wings 1: Mikko Koivu's goal forces overtime,

and Devin Setoguchi's goal wins it 586131 Mikko Koivu's clutch play lifts Wild to OT victory Nashville Predators 586132 Nashville Predators take no prisoners on penalty-kill 586133 Nashville Predators fall to Chicago Blackhawks in OT 586134 Metro could end Predators' lease but likely won't 586135 Patrick Kane again has Predators' number 586136 Kostitsyn and Fisher practice, probable for travel 586137 Thang reassigned to Milwaukee 586138 Postgame ponderings 586139 Predators start fast, can't hold leads in OT loss to Chicago New Jersey Devils 586140 Capitals, Off to Hot Start, Know That’s Not the Goal 586141 Devils' Patrik Elias: No cut to ankle after Anton Volchenkov

hit 586142 Devils' Martin Brodeur ready to play; wary of reinjuring

shoulder 586143 Devils: Patrik Elias hurt but returns to finish practice 586144 Devils' Brodeur ready when needed; Elias dodges injury 586145 Devils are struggling to score – again

Devils Continued 586146 Devils' Brodeur hopes to play Wednesday 586147 Devils center attention on Oilers' Gagner New York Islanders 586148 Niederreiter back at Islanders practice 586149 Islanders' slide doesn't seem like last season

New York Rangers 586150 Avery, Demoted Agitator, Is Poised to Rejoin Rangers 586151 Rangers Expect a Spark, but Not Too Much, From Avery’s

Return 586152 John Tortorella says Joe Thornton should ‘just shut up’ after

San Jose Sharks captain calls NY Rangers soft 586153 Sean Avery could return for Rangers on Thursday but coach

John Tortorella is not committing to him 586154 Tortorella answers back at Sharks star’s dig 586155 Rangers coach says 'classless' Thornton should 'shut up' 586156 Avery clears waivers, heading back to Rangers 586157 Avery rides again with Rangers 586158 Sean Avery brings feistiness back to Rangers Ottawa Senators 586159 Senators' win streak ends in Boston 586160 Senators go back to Anderson for Bruins tilt 586161 Cheapseats: Karlsson looks to pass 'stache test 586162 Spezza: 'Benchmark' game for Sens

Philadelphia Flyers 586163 LEINO FACES RUFF ROAD 586164 Sabres will hardly recognize Flyers 586165 Flyers call up two to replace Danny Briere and Matt Read 586166 Injuries force Flyers to call upon familiar faces 586167 Leino struggling to get adjusted in Buffalo 586168 Flyers-Penguins...Best of friends? 586169 Leino looks to find groove vs. old mates 586170 Pronger to IR; Walker to Phantoms Phoenix Coyotes 586171 Daymond Langkow's return from injury paying off for

Phoenix Coyotes 586172 Goalie grind: Tending to mental aspects of game is key for

Phoenix Coyotes goaltenders Mike Smith, Jason LaBar 586173 Phoenix Coyotes Q&A regarding the dynamics of the

goaltender position Pittsburgh Penguins 586174 Crosby finally can see the light 586175 Penguins coach expects Staal, Letang to play 586176 Penguins' Crosby endures some contact when push comes

to shove 586177 Missing goals frustrate Penguins' Sullivan San Jose Sharks 586178 Reaction to San Jose Sharks star Joe Thornton's comment

calling New York Rangers soft 586179 San Jose Sharks' trip ends with loss; Joe Thornton calls New

York Rangers 'softest team we played against' St Louis Blues 586180 Blues look to get their power play going 586181 Where to find Blues, MU telecasts Saturday 586182 Blues catch a 'break' with Huskins 586183 St. Louis power play ranks last in the league

Tampa Bay Lightning 586184 Malone cleared to play 586185 Road woes continue 586186 Lightning road woes continue against Carolina 586187 Tampa Bay Lightning seek answers after losing 4-2 to

Carolina Hurricanes 586188 Tampa Bay Lightning rookie Brett Connolly scores first NHL

goal

Lightning Continued 586189 LW Ryan Malone says he's "good to go" for the Tampa Bay

Lightning against the Hurricanes Toronto Maple Leafs 586190 Brodeur could make return against Leafs 586191 Joey Crabb recalled by Maple Leafs 586192 Phil Kessel named NHL's first star for October 586193 GAME DAY: Leafs at Devils Vancouver Canucks 586194 Canucks quickly put out Flames 586195 Canucks impressed with Sulzer's drive 586196 Game Day: Canucks happy to turn page on calendar, fired

up for Flames 586197 Canucks' Malhotra maintains faceoff dominance despite

injuries 586198 Canucks dominate Flames with 5-1 victory 586199 November's reign: Canucks have eye-popping record last

four seasons 586200 Canucks rev engines for November road trip 586201 Canucks' Malhotra worried about his game, not eye injury 586202 Canucks vs Flames gameday 586203 Pinizzotto endures waiting game with Canucks Washington Capitals 586204 Capitals vs. Ducks: Nicklas Backstrom scores twice late to

complete rally and 5-4 overtime win 586205 Bruce Boudreau benches Alex Ovechkin in final minute of

regulation 586206 Change is good for Capitals’ Ward-Laich-Chimera line 586207 Mike Green skates for first time since twisting ankle on Oct.

22 586208 D.J. King clears waivers; Jay Beagle designated as injured

non-roster player 586209 Erskine ready to resume rugged role on blue line 586210 Caps wear down tired Ducks for OT win 586211 Backstrom leads late comeback for Capitals 586212 Capitals rally to beat Ducks 5-4 in overtime

Websites 586217 CNN/Sports Illustrated / Lackluster Bruins look burned out 586218 ESPN / Daily Debate: Befuddling Blueshirts and waning

Wings 586219 ESPN / Kyle Turris trade talks heating up 586220 ESPN / Rant answers: The King goat, stealth Selke guy and

highway robbery 586221 ESPN / This is the intersection of Blink-182 and the NHL 586222 NBCSports.com / Backstrom the hero, but where was

Ovechkin? 586223 NBCSports.com / Tortorella on Thornton: “Joe hasn’t won a

g–damn thing in this league” 586224 NBCSports.com / Martin Brodeur says he’s ready to play,

but is New Jersey ready to play him? 586225 NBCSports.com / Do not anger Guy Boucher 586226 NBCSports.com / Backstrom the hero, but where was

Ovechkin? 586227 NBCSports.com / Note to Chicago power play: The season

started a month ago 586228 NBCSports.com / Landeskog: “I should have been more

aware” 586229 NBCSports.com / Linus Omark sent down to AHL, shootout

fans mourn 586230 NBCSports.com / Could Eric Staal’s sluggish start be related

to his hit on brother Marc? 586231 NBCSports.com / Did You Know? The Viking Award is tough

to win 586232 Sportsnet.ca / Model of consistency 586233 USA TODAY / San Jose Sharks captain calls NY Rangers

'soft'

Websites Continued 586234 USA TODAY / Oilers make noise in latest power rankings

vote 586235 USA TODAY / Oilers' Andy Sutton suspended five games 586236 USA TODAY / Dispute delays revenue-sharing payouts 586237 USA TODAY / Phoenix Coyotes winger Raffi Torres'

decision to go to a Halloween party Sunday as entertainer Jay

Winnipeg Jets 586213 Jets Report 586214 Taking peek at prospects 586215 Despite the flaws, Jets keep the faith 586216 Jets GM won't pull trigger SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129

586057 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks blow 3-0 lead and lose to Capitals, 5-4, in overtime

Associated Press

Nicklas Backstrom scored the tying goal with 42 seconds left in regulation, then added the game-winner at 2:18 of overtime to lift the Washington Capitals to a 5-4 comeback victory over the Ducks on Tuesday night.

The Capitals trailed 3-0 in the second period and 4-2 with 10:47 left in regulation before rallying. It was 4-3 when Washington pulled goaltender Tomas Vokoun in the final minute, and Backstrom hammered home the rebound of a shot by Jason Chimera to force the extra session.

In overtime, Backstrom was standing to the right of the net when Alex Ovechkin sent the puck toward goalie Jonas Hiller. Ducks defenseman Toni Lydman let the puck slip past his stick, and Backstrom scored easily to end it.

Washington improved to 6-0 at home and ended a two-game skid.

Teemu Selanne had two goals and two assists for the Ducks, who have lost three straight and six out of seven. Hiller stopped 35 shots.

Now in his 20th season, the 41-year-old Selanne leads the Ducks in goals (five) and assists (nine). He has three goals and eight assists in his last six games.

The Ducks were averaging two goals a game and had been held to one goal or fewer in five of their first 11 contests. The Ducks took only 15 shots, but more than a quarter of them made it past Vokoun. Washington had 40 shots on goal.

Joel Ward, Dennis Wideman and Troy Brouwer also scored for the Capitals, who remained unbeaten in the United States after losses at Edmonton and Vancouver.

The Ducks went up 1-0 at 9:05 of the first period when Selanne skated behind the goal and sent a centering pass to Saku Koivu, who eluded defenseman Roman Hamrlik and beat Vokoun from the left side.

Selanne and Koivu teamed again 4 1/2 minutes later to make it 2-0. Koivu corraled Lydman's shot off the back boards and sent it across the crease to Selanne, who scored from the left side of the net.

Selanne made it 3-0 with a slap shot at 8:59 of the second period, but the Capitals got back into it when Ward and Wideman scored just over three minutes apart. Ward drilled a wrist shot through the Hiller's pads, and Wideman scored after Hiller botched an attempt to clear a puck that was sent the length of the ice by Vokoun.

Corey Perry got a power-play goal for the Ducks at 9:13 of the third period for a 4-2 lead.

LA Times: LOADED: 11.02.2011


Ducks blow 3-0 lead, lose to Capitals in OT

By ERIC STEPHENS

WASHINGTON – Time after time, Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller has been there to save his teammates when they've bungled plays in front of him.

Who could imagine that Hiller would be the one with the mishaps Tuesday night and then just about everyone else following suit?

The Ducks ultimately melted down as Nicklas Backstrom scored goals at the end of regulation and in overtime to give the Washington Capitals a stunning 5-4 comeback victory at Verizon Center.

On a night when Teemu Selanne seemed set to snap his mates out of their collective offensive funk, the ageless winger was left to fire a water bottle in disgust as the Ducks (5-5-2) lost for the sixth time in seven games.

"How we could give up the opportunity to give up the extra point and the way we had played so well earlier in the game and then just basically started to self-destruct?" Ducks coach Randy Carlyle asked aloud.

"They're an offensive team that pounced on their chances, put pressure on us and we didn't react very well."

The Ducks blew leads of 3-0 and 4-2 to waste a two-goal, four-point night by Selanne along with scores by Saku Koivu and Corey Perry. Hiller's troubles began when he let in a soft goal by Joel Ward and then misplayed a puck that turned into a Dennis Wideman score.

Perry restored a two-goal lead, but Troy Brouwer scored when Hiller let his long shot kick off his glove into the air and into the net behind him.

"I'm sure some are just unlucky bounces," said Hiller, who made 35 saves. "In the end, I still can't be happy. Normally those things happen if you're not sharp enough."

With an extra attacker on the ice after pulling goalie Tomas Vokoun, Backstrom tied it at 4-4 with 42 seconds left when he fired in a rebound. The Capitals' playmaking center then won it when a bouncing puck scooted through three Ducks to him.

"You can't blame Hillsy," defenseman Luca Sbisa said. "He's been unbelievable for us. There's nights like this but we've got to help him out more."

Orange County Register: LOADED: 11.02.2011


Parros, Ducks face this together

By JEFF MILLER

In the history of natural fits, this one is only as obvious as the unions of peanut butter and jelly, 7 and Eleven, Cap'n and Crunch.

George Parros and the mustache. Not even the partnership of Parros and his fists is as widely celebrated.

The Ducks have the Finnish Flash, all right. But they also have the Splendid 'Stache.

"They kind of sought me out," the team's enforcer says. "They asked if I'd be interested in getting more involved. It was a no-brainer. I'm a fan of the duster anyway."

So the organizers of the Movember movement had one of their point men in Parros, who, exercising his will and his whiskers, convinced all the Ducks to become part of the annual campaign to raise awareness for men's health issues.

Each player has committed to growing a mustache — or, in cases like Corey Perry, at least attempting to — in November.

Goalie Jonas Hiller debuted a mask Tuesday against the Capitals featuring his teammates depicted with mustaches. The mask will be auctioned off for charity at the end of the month.

"There are just good character guys on this team, for sure," Parros says. "This is one way you see that. Everyone's heart is in the right place, and we're going to have some fun together with this."

Last season, Parros shaved — with TSN's cameras rolling, the footage eventually beamed across Canada like a fabulous Gretzky goal — to kick off Movember. This time, several of the Ducks joined him, shaving for the network Monday at an event in Washington, D.C.

Parros will serve as a "mustache correspondent" for TSN this month. He's also hosting a competition among the Ducks to see which one can sprout and cultivate the best facial shrub.

"I've been around for a little bit, so I think guys look up to me in certain situations," Parros says. "I think having full participation in this event this year is a good indicator of that. I'm definitely proud that these guys are willing to sacrifice their upper lips for a good cause and do it along side me."

Is this activity silly? Sure. Is this cause serious? Certainly. Is involvement really a sacrifice? Oh, yeah.

"The only thing is when you go pick up the kids at school, the teachers are looking at you like, 'What are you thinking?'" Ducks center Saku Koivu says. "And then you have to try to explain yourself. But it's fun."

Movember also continues a popular sports trend. It's more than just a game now; it's big bushiness. Today's athletes are choosing more and more to not savor the shaver.

There were moments during the World Series when it appeared that Abe Lincoln was pitching to one of the guys from ZZ Top, with Grizzly Adams on deck.

San Francisco Giants reliever Brian Wilson has a beard so famous that it has its own TV commercial and Facebook page. The beard's page is approaching 35,000 "likes."

Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel's beard has a Facebook page, too, and according to a recent post there, Keisel's growth was quoted as saying, "Sunday (Tom) Brady meets the beard!"

"It's something that's fun to talk about," Parros says. "You get to see a different side of a person when they grow it out. It's a form of self-expression. It's lighthearted. I think people really enjoy getting behind it."

Today is the second day of National Beard Month. There are milk mustaches, walrus mustaches and pencil-thin mustaches. There also is an event called Cinco De Mustache.

Last week in Chicago, Brewers closer John Axford was named the 2011 Mustached American of the Year by the American Mustache Institute.

Yes, there's an American Mustache Institute. According to its website, the group "is the bravest organization in the history of mankind behind only the U.S. Military and the post-Jim Henson Muppets."

Axford was honored after a season in which he created a video for a line of mustache sprays with the tagline, "One spritz and you look like (Mark) Spitz ..." He also convinced fellow reliever Francisco Rodriguez to wear a duct-tape mustache during a nationally televised game.

"There's definitely an aura around it," Parros says of the 'stache. "So many people are into sports and they like to see the personality of guys."

Personalities will be on display this month among the Ducks. With some of them, however, you'll just have to take our word for it.

"Toni Lydman's got a blond one, and it's kind of sparse," Parros says. "But God bless him for trying. I love those. If I could grow a blond one, I would. I just don't have it in me."

So, instead, Parros will show his true colors. So will each of his teammates. And for that, the Ducks should be saluted.



Selanne continues to lead by scoring

By ERIC STEPHENS

WASHINGTON – Teemu Selanne called upon his Ducks teammates two nights ago to not wait around for the player next to him to do something to jump-start the club on its winding trip.

Selanne certainly did his part to turn his team's fortunes around by factoring in on every goal Tuesday but his efforts that should have been the story in a victory over the Washington Capitals would be pushed aside in a 5-4 overtime loss.

The Ducks' all-time leading scorer only added to his career totals as his two goals give him 642 to push him into sole possession of 13th place on the all-time list ahead of Dave Andreychuk.

Selanne's two assists for a season-high four points give him 1,354 to move past Guy Lafleur into 25th place. Andrew Cogliano, who played on his line for the first time, marveled at the 41-year-old winger.

"I can't really explain," Cogliano said. "He's just impressive. I think that's the word. It seems like now you know why he's a future Hall of Famer. He scores so many goals, I think the puck just finds him. He thinks the game better than anyone out there."

Selanne has five goals and nine assists as his 14 points in 12 games easily top the Ducks in scoring. His four-point output is the biggest offensive night by any player to this point.

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle called on his teammates to lift their level of play to match.

"He's done his part and he continues to," Carlyle said. "Other people have got to step up. Simple situation is we can't accept that from this group."

To get his team out of an offensive funk, Carlyle moved Cogliano to the left wing on Selanne's line and it immediately paid off as the unit created chances all night. Saku Koivu also had a goal and an assist in the first period alone.

"I wanted to slow down the game a bit when I had the puck, which I did," Cogliano said. "Teemu, he supports so well and so does Saku that it's easy for me to hold onto the puck and make plays without even playing wing for a while. Or ever.

"For me to play with (Teemu), it worked well tonight. At the end of the day, we lost the game. But it was good that our line created offense."

Said Carlyle: "I thought it gave us a spark. He gave us some speed. They were a force all night."

NOTES

Rookie Devante Smith-Pelly played in his 10th game, which triggered the first year in his entry-level contract and effectively stated that the Ducks intend to keep the 19-year-old for a while and not send him back to his junior team. ... Nick Bonino made his season debut at center after being recalled from Syracuse of the AHL on Monday.



Ducks go from surplus in D.C. to a loss

By David Ginsburg

The Washington Capitals had pulled their goaltender and were pressing for the tying goal in the frantic final minute of regulation against the Ducks.

It was a perfect opportunity for two-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin to work his magic.

Except for the fact that he was on the bench.

Nicklas Backstrom scored the tying goal with 42 seconds left in regulation, then added the game-winner at 2:18 of overtime to lift the Capitals to a 5-4 victory Tuesday night.

Washington trailed 3-0 in the second period and 4-2 with 10:47 left in regulation before rallying. It was 4-3 when coach Bruce Boudreau pulled goaltender Tomas Vokoun, and Backstrom hammered home the rebound of a shot by Jason Chimera to force the extra session.

But where was Ovechkin?

"I thought other guys were better than him and there was just a chance other guys might score the goal," Boudreau said. "Ninety-nine percent of the time Alex is the guy I think is going to score the goal. I just didn't think he was going to score the goal at that time tonight. You go with your gut feeling. I got lucky."

Ovechkin got his chance in overtime. With Backstrom standing to the right of the net, Ovechkin sent the puck toward goalie Jonas Hiller. Anaheim defenseman Toni Lydman let the puck slip under his stick, and Backstrom scored easily to end it.


"We just stayed close enough," Boudreau said. "I thought

when they got the fourth goal it might be something, but it says a lot about the resiliency of the team."

Teemu Selanne had two goals and two assists for the Ducks, who have lost three straight. Hiller stopped 35 shots.

"We played so well earlier in the game, then we started to self-destruct," coach Randy Carlyle said. "They're an offensive team that pounced on their chances, put pressure on us and we didn't react very well."

Now in his 20 th season, the 41-year-old Selanne leads the Ducks in goals (five) and assists (nine). He has three goals and eight assists in his last six games.

"He's done his part and continues to," Carlyle said. "Other people have got to step up."

Anaheim was averaging two goals per game and had been held to one goal or fewer in five of its first 11 contests. The Ducks took only 15 shots, but more than a quarter of them made it past Vokoun.

"I thought he played well," Capitals defenseman Dennis Wideman said of Vokoun. "We didn't give up a whole lot of shots, but the shots that we gave up were quality scoring chances."

Wideman, Joel Ward and Troy Brouwer scored for the Capitals, who remained unbeaten in the United States following losses at Edmonton and Vancouver.


Selanne and Koivu teamed again 4½ minutes later to make it 2-0. Koivu corralled Lydman's shot off the back boards and sent it across the crease to Selanne, who scored from the left side of the net.

Selanne made it 3-0 with a slap shot at 8:59 of the second period, but the Capitals got back into it when Ward and Wideman scored just over three minutes apart. Ward drilled a wrist shot through Hiller's pads, and Wideman

scored after Hiller botched an attempt to clear a puck that was sent the length of the ice by Vokoun.

Corey Perry got a power-play goal for Anaheim at 9:13 of the third period for a 4-2 lead.

NOTES: It was the only game of the season between the teams. ... Capitals D Mike Green missed a third straight game because of a twisted right ankle, but D John Erskine made his season debut after being sidelined following shoulder surgery. ... The Capitals recalled C Cody Eakin from Hershey of the AHL and assigned D Sean Collins to the same club. ...

Anaheim still has two games left in a 13-day, seven-game road trip that ends Saturday in Detroit.

LA Daily News: LOADED: 11.02.2011

586062 Boston Bruins

Fast improvement

By Fluto Shinzawa

The most encouraging aspect of last night’s 5-3 win over Ottawa before 17,565 at TD Garden wasn’t the power play, which tied the game in the first period. It wasn’t the discipline the Bruins showed one game after blowing their tops in a 4-2 loss to Montreal. It wasn’t the offensive contributions they received from every line, which Daniel Paille capped with a breakaway goal at 7:18 of the third period.

It was that the Bruins finally submitted the type of defensive performance that was previously featured only on milk cartons.

“It starts in our zone,’’ said Patrice Bergeron. “We’re the type of team that’s got to play well in the D-zone, then go from there. I thought tonight was the perfect example.’’

Each of the three Ottawa goals featured a strange bounce. In the first, after Tim Thomas got his blocker on Stephane Da Costa’s shot, Nick Foligno followed the rebound and somehow tipped the puck in before the net came off its moorings.

Later in the first, just 14 seconds after Milan Lucic tied the game with a power-play goal, Ottawa grabbed the lead once more. A Chris Neil dump-in landed on Joe Corvo’s back and fell to the slot. Foligno sent a through-the-legs dish to Da Costa, who beat Thomas before the netminder could recover from the off-the-back carom.

In the third, Jared Cowen made it a 3-3 game. The defenseman’s point shot ticked off Dennis Seidenberg’s stick, sailed through a Neil screen, and fluttered past Thomas at 5:04.

Other than that, however, the Senators rarely put any heat on Thomas (23 saves). The Bruins limited Ottawa to one-and-done offensive rushes. At the other end, the Bruins wore down the Senators by playing their hard-hat game - driving pucks deep, establishing the forecheck, and grinding down their opponents.

“We didn’t give them much,’’ said coach Claude Julien. “I thought we competed and battled harder in our own end. Because of that, we were able to turn pucks over and go back on the attack. A lot of it was just straightforward. Taking the puck wide, taking it to the net.’’

Perhaps the best example came before Bergeron’s tying goal in the second. From deep in the defensive zone, Zdeno Chara won a puck battle against top-line forwards Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. Once Chara had possession, the Bruins went on the attack. Brad Marchand hit Tyler Seguin with speed. Seguin carried the puck wide right. Marchand drove far post to open up a seam. Seguin dished to Bergeron in the middle, and the center snapped the puck past Craig Anderson (36 saves) at 4:21 of the second to make it a 2-2 game.

Defense had turned to offense.

“We were more tight,’’ Chara said. “We were moving as a group of five up the ice. Backchecking in our zone, we were tight. We were not too spread out where we were opening the seams and the plays for the other team. It was easy to play in that structure the way we used to.’’

The primary bugaboo that had ailed the Bruins was their net-front play in the defensive zone. Forwards weren’t collapsing to the slot. Defensemen were running around. As a result, opponents were getting too many quality sniffs in front of the net.

Last night, the Bruins finally made it a do-not-enter area.

“I thought we collapsed well as forwards,’’ Bergeron said. “We all helped each other. We all read the play well. It’s key for us to win.’’

Mentally, the Bruins didn’t snap either. They suffered some humbling setbacks last night. For the eighth time this season, the Bruins gave up the first goal. Less than 30 seconds after tying the game in the first, they saw the Senators reclaim a one-goal lead.

For only the third time this year, the Bruins took a lead into the third period. After Rich Peverley whipped around the net and spotted Chris Kelly in the

high slot, Jordan Caron went to the front of the net and screened Anderson. With Caron taking away Anderson’s eyes, Kelly slapped the puck into the net at 18:00 of the second to give the Bruins a 3-2 advantage after 40 minutes.

Cowen rubbed out that lead with his tying goal at 5:04 of the third. This time, the Bruins didn’t wilt under the heat.

“You don’t want to see lucky bounces go in,’’ said Johnny Boychuk. “They did get some breaks. They happened to go in. But we didn’t let that bother us. We just kept pressing against them.’’

Following some strong board work by Peverley and Caron, the puck squirted to Kelly. The No. 3 center saw Boychuk loading up at the right point. After taking a pass from Kelly, Boychuk slapped the puck past Anderson at 6:41 for the winning goal.

Paille sealed the win after taking a chip from Shawn Thornton and going five-hole on Anderson for his second goal of the year.

“We needed to win,’’ said Thomas. “I don’t know if it was a must-win game, because there’s time left in the season. But we needed to win. We needed to start somewhere. We did that tonight.’’

Boston Globe LOADED: 11.02.2011


They're starting to look familiar

By Kevin Paul Dupont

Better, yes, by a long shot. The Bruins last night showed a lot more of what they were last spring, on both the hockey intelligence and skill sides of their game, in an impressive 5-3 victory over the Senators at the Garden.

Now, have they shaken their early-season morass, their month-long, self-hypnosis-induced hibernation? We’ll know more about that Saturday night when they take their humble one-game winning streak and their weak-ankled 4-7-0 season start into Toronto’s ACC to face Phil Kessel and friends. A bad 5-10 minutes against the Leafs, a team they beat handily last month at home, assuredly will have them back answering the long list of the hey-what’s-a-matta-with-you? questions that have dogged them since the first puck was dropped this season.

All of which means general manager Peter Chiarelli must remain in dogged pursuit of someone to upgrade his team’s offense. One win, even against a Senators team that arrived here on a six-game win streak, guarantees nothing more than the two points it delivered in the Eastern Conference standings.

This is still a team that desperately needs to upgrade its power play (1 for 5 last night), and one that has to do a far better job of finishing its scoring chances. A lot of that points to the soft starts of top-six forwards David Krejci and Nathan Horton, who, by the way, were the only two Black-and-Gold forwards not to contribute a point to last night’s scoresheet. Krejci took two shots, one of which made it to the net, during his 18:22 of ice time. Horton was a touch better, landing two of his three shots, but also went 0-0-0 across 16:15.

Will these two ever get it going? Horton is 2-3-5 and a minus-3 in 11 games, while Krejci is an even starker 1-0-1 and minus-6 in eight games. If they don’t come around, and soon, then getting back into the playoff hunt in the next 2-3 weeks likely will hinge on whether Chiarelli can chisel Mr. Right out of what currently is a very sparse trade market.

Keep in mind here, folks, the season only began Oct. 6. Right now, only the Bruins and the perpetually pathetic Blue Jackets are in desperation mode. Not everyone else in the Original 30 can be categorized as fat and happy, but none of the other 28 GMs is waking up each morning with the same dread fear of being rubbed out of this season’s playoffs before the butter is rubbed on the Thanksgiving (US version) turkey.

More clubs will become desperate, that’s a guarantee, but it likely won’t be for another 45-60 days before there’s enough critical mass among the have-nots for Chiarelli to work a deal of substance. By that point, if the Bruins are still wallowing in sub-.500 territory, it will be too late. The Blue Jackets have one huge asset in power forward Rick Nash, age 27 and a two-time 40-goal scorer, but he’s not going anywhere after eight seasons in red, white, and mostly blue. He is the franchise in Columbus, even more so than Joe Thornton was here when he was deported after seven-plus seasons.

The Blue Jackets could only entertain the idea of handing over Nash if someone offered GM Scott Howson a bonafide franchise goaltender, which is what they believed they had in Steve Mason. But like a lot of good young ’tenders, Mason has followed a sensational rookie year with two extraordinarily ordinary seasons, which in large part explains why the CBJs DNQ’d these last two seasons. Truth is, even if they swapped Nash for that franchise goalie, their offense would be so compromised without Nash that they might not make it to the playoffs even if their new goalie won the Vezina Trophy.

So nights like last night offer some hope for the much more talented Bruins. When they struck for two quick goals in the third, with Johnny Boychuk and Danny Paille connecting only 37 seconds apart, the energy in the building was palpable. It was reminiscent of last spring, when a team that hadn’t won the Cup in 39 years played with strength and passion and guile and purpose.

Boychuk connected on a steaming slapper that Chris Kelly set up with a short dish above the right circle. Simple play. Paille broke away from near his own blue line when an alert Shawn Thornton sprung him with a short-

yardage chip pass. Again, a simple play, one that started with strong work in their own end. Unlike so many good chances the past month, Paille potted it after racing straight down Broadway and nailing a forehander.

“It’s a 50-50 chance there,’’ said Paille, asked what he was thinking as he raced down with the potential closer, “so I’m just glad I finished it.’’

Finish has been the key missing ingredient, at least the most obvious one. When a team doesn’t convert on the power play, everyone talks about lost opportunity. When the Avalanche walked in here last month and walked out with a 1-0 win, the talk again was Boston’s inability to find a way to beat the goalie. But although finish has been short, their work ethic and second effort has been shorter. Last night, over the course of 60 minutes, much of that improved, and lo and behold, so did the scoring. Funny how all that goes hand in Cup.

“We played our north-south game,’’ said Kelly. “We chipped pucks in and got after them. We got back on defense. We were supporting and playing for one another. That’s more our brand of hockey. It was our style, not some fluky win. It was a lot more like we were in May and June.’’

Much better. But only a start, a full month into the 2011-12 calendar. Just as they cut it oh-so-close in the playoffs, forced to go to Game 7 in three series, they have started their repeat season by making narrow margins even narrower. We’ll see Saturday if they widened them ever so slightly.



Corvo coming up empty

By Fluto Shinzawa

Of the 79 NHL goals to Joe Corvo’s name, 36 have come on the power play.

Eleven games into his Black-and-Gold career, Corvo has none, in any category.

On July 5, shortly after Tomas Kaberle signed with the Hurricanes, the Bruins acquired Corvo from Carolina for a 2012 fourth-round pick.

In theory, Corvo projected to be an upgrade on the power play because of his shot. The right-shot defenseman has one of the league’s hardest and heaviest one-timers. The Bruins would have two of the NHL’s deadliest blasters on the power play: Corvo and Zdeno Chara. They could split up the two, spreading the wealth over two units, or pair them to cause matchup issues for opposing penalty-killers.

Corvo’s power-play acumen, however, hasn’t translated to his new employer for a simple reason. He hasn’t been showcasing his shot enough.

“I feel like I haven’t had any chances,’’ Corvo said before last night’s 5-3 win over the Senators at the Garden. “I’m getting the puck and I’m cutting off the middle, so I have to walk down the side and wrist them at the net. I’d really like to shoot much harder than that.’’

The primary issue could be the structural shortcomings of Boston’s power-play personnel. If the Bruins had a left-shot playmaker working the right-side half-boards - Marc Savard’s old office - Corvo would be in better position to open up for one-timers.

But the Bruins have a glut of right-shot forwards. Tyler Seguin, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, and Rich Peverley have rotated through the left-side half-wall position. When any of those forwards pass to Corvo at the blue line, the defenseman must turn to receive the puck. Corvo must then turn to his right and either rip a slapper or snap a wrist shot on goal. Corvo can’t one-time shots, and the turn-and-release motion gives shot-blockers extra time to fill the shooting lane.

Last night, Corvo was on the No. 2 power-play unit with Bergeron working the right point. Peverley, Seguin, and Brad Marchand were down low. Last night’s wrinkle was Corvo shifting from the right point to the left. That way, he was in better position for one-timers off cross-ice passes from Bergeron.

Corvo didn’t score. But he landed one power-play one-timer, and put another shot wide of the net.

“I’ve been cornered more on my right side,’’ Corvo said. “It’s difficult to get pucks from the middle from the point. Last couple days, we’ve been switching some things around, so hopefully I can get opened up more for one-timers.’’

The defensive mix

In Saturday night’s loss to Montreal, the coaching staff reunited Chara and Dennis Seidenberg for the first time this season. The two had served as the power defense pairing for most of last season’s playoff run.

But with the defense struggling and the Canadiens scoring two early goals, the pair was split up. Coach Claude Julien tried just about every other pairing in search of defensive chemistry.

“Everybody’s been playing with everybody,’’ said Johnny Boychuk. “It hasn’t been too bad chemistry-wise. We know we can play with each other. We’ve just got to make sure to know their tendencies. If you play with different guys, they have different tendencies.’’

Julien does not emphasize strict pairings. He prefers flexibility based on matchups, with Chara being the centerpiece of the system. Chara can be deployed in a shutdown role, while the coaches can rotate different partners with the captain. But with Chara yet to find the rhythm of his game, there is no telling how much longer the shuffle will continue.

“It would be better,’’ Boychuk said of having stable pairings. “But they’re just trying to mix things up. We haven’t been winning. So to switch up something is usual when you’re not winning.’’

Last night, Chara started with Corvo. But Chara took most of his shifts with Boychuk against the No. 1 line of Milan Michalek, Jason Spezza, and Colin Greening. Chara and Boychuk helped keep the first-liners off the scoresheet.

Two out

Benoit Pouliot and Steven Kampfer were the healthy scratches. Pouliot (eight games, 0-0-0) missed Saturday’s loss to Montreal because he was sick. Kampfer hasn’t played since Oct. 22 against San Jose. Kampfer has one assist in two games . . . The Senators were without Daniel Alfredsson (concussion). The Ottawa captain has four goals and three assists in 10 games . . . Though Zenon Konopka (49 penalty minutes) and Chris Neil (46) were most likely instructed by Ottawa coach Paul MacLean not to get involved with too much rough stuff last night, Konopka squared off with Shawn Thornton in the first period. “The one thing that’s pretty obvious that I can say publicly is that teams will not engage with us right now,’’ Julien said before the game. “They’re being told we feed off that. We’ve seen that. Right now, the minute we retaliate, we’re being penalized for that stuff. We have to be smarter. We have to find ways to get around that.’’ Thornton and Konopka, former teammates in the Anaheim system, engaged in a lively bout along the boards. “I just wanted to get the boys going. We were down, 1-0,’’ said Thornton, who’s fought in four of the last five games. “It’s not easy. Like the last two guys [Travis Moen and Jim Vandermeer], he’s an ex-teammate and an ex-linemate. It was a pretty good tilt. Kudos to him for stepping up and doing it, too.’’ . . . Zack Smith and Gregory Campbell also squared off in the third.



Bruins look like champs

By Stephen Harris

If you’re talking a mite or a millionaire pro, hockey, above all, is about confidence. And it’s amazing how when a team pots a couple of goals and takes a lead, that confidence soars.

So it was for the struggling Bruins at the Garden last night as the game wore on against the Ottawa Senators. At the start, there was more of the same for the B’s — missed scoring chances, sloppy breakouts, too much chaos and confusion.

But in stark contrast to so many of the team’s early-season flops, this time more and more good things happened: second-period goals by Patrice Bergeron and Chris Kelly that gave the B’s a 3-2 lead, and then a pair of goals just 37 seconds apart in the third period by Johnny Boychuk and Dan Paille that created a two-goal lead.

It held up for a desperately needed 5-3 victory over the streaking Senators.

After hunting for a month for their identity and their system, suddenly, poof, there it was. All the benchmarks of proper Bruins play were there: smart dump-ins, tenacious puck retrieval, an effective forecheck cycle, good back pressure and a sound neutral zone.

For one of the few times this season, the Bruins set the tone of play. They forced the turnovers, instead of giving the puck away time after time. Against a strong and aggressive opponent, the B’s bore at least a partial resemblance to the Stanley Cup champions.

“It was the whole way we played,” said center Chris Kelly, the game’s No. 1 star with his key goal and an assist on Boychuk’s bomb from the point.

“We were dumping the puck well, retrieving the puck well. You could tell we were getting better and better each shift that we did that. That confidence that we played with was slowly, shift after shift, coming back. For the most part that was the most consistent effort we’ve had this year. There were still times I thought we could have been a bit better, but for the most part, we played well.”

For one of the first times in 2011-12, the Bruins looked like the team of 2010-11.

“It felt like that,” said Kelly. “There wasn’t those constant turnovers, those easy plays (for the opposition), the passes to the middle that get picked off. It was for the most part a straight-lines, north-south game.”

The north-south speed of Rich Peverley created Kelly’s goal, as the winger flew down the right wing, carried around behind the cage and passed out to Kelly in the high slot. With Jordan Caron screening goalie Craig Anderson in front, Kelly banged a slapper that found the top right corner above Anderson’s glove.

“It was a great play by Pevs,” said Kelly. “I think everyone was kind of focused on him because he entered the zone with such speed. It was a great pass by him and I just happened to find that area up in the high slot. And it was a great job by Jordan to be in the front of the net.”

This was a very different post-game dressing room than for most B’s games this season. It felt as though a great weight had been lifted from the team’s shoulders, as if the Twilight Zone stuff was finally over and the real team was suddenly back.

Now we’ll see if the same team shows up in Toronto on Saturday night against the Leafs.

“It’s one game, but it’s definitely a stepping stone in the right direction,” said Kelly. “Hopefully we can build off this, have a couple of good practices before we head to Toronto. We know they’re playing well. Hopefully we can take what we did (last night) and bring it to that next game.”

Finally, the hangover may be over. Maybe.

Boston Herald LOADED: 11.02.2011


B’s score rare victory

By Steve Conroy

The victory may not have been perfect. There was still some indecision at times, a little overthinking here, some poor execution there.

But the Bruins have to start somewhere on the road back to respectability. A win against the hottest team in the NHL was a great place to start.

The B’s, starved for offense most of this season, got goals from each forward line and a defenseman — Johnny Boychuk’s game-winner in the third period — while 13 players found the scoresheet as they defeated the Ottawa Senators, 5-3, last night at the Garden. Defensively, the Bruins may have allowed three goals, but two came off bad bounces and the Senators’ scoring opportunities were scarce.

The B’s snapped a three-game losing streak while Senators had their six-game winning streak halted.

Overall, it was about as good as the Bruins could have hoped for, given the point to which their game had slipped.

“That’s the effort we need in order to win games,” Patrice Bergeron said. “If you play consistently for 60 minutes and go hard on the forecheck, you are going to get the results.”

While they missed some great scoring opportunities in the game and had to come back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits, the Bruins didn’t let their frustrations get the better of them this time around. The B’s pelted Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson with 41 shots and a handful more great scoring chances missed wide of the net. When the final results were tallied, the Bruins had put enough pucks in the net to win last night — and on most nights.

“Again, a lot of open nets that we missed, and that’s what you go through when you’re trying to find your way,” coach Claude Julien said. “But if you play like we did (last night) and you win hockey games, that confidence comes back and those end up being in the back of the net instead of missing it. It’s just a matter of powering our way through it and (last night) was a start and it has to carry over to the next game. We have to bring those kinds of efforts to the next game (Saturday against the Maple Leafs in Toronto), which is going to be as tough a team to play as any.”

While many Bruins contributed to the victory, the leaders stepped to the forefront. Bergeron scored to tie the game at 2 in the second period, but he also had a terrific tone-setting shift on an early penalty kill that seemed to energize the team. Defenseman Zdeno Chara also picked up a pair of assists and the captain did a good job shutting down the Jason Spezza line.

Chara felt the B’s were doing more of the little things that produce wins.

“We had guys really sacrificing, like blocking shots and taking hits before making plays,” Chara said. “We played really hard and for each other, and that’s what we have to do from now on. It’s early, but for us there are no second chances. We have to pick it up and move forward.”

Nick Foligno got Ottawa on the board first when his rebound went off defensman Adam McQuaid, but Milan Lucic answered with a power-play goal in the first period. But Stephane DaCosta’s goal pushed the Sens back up by one going into the first intermission.

The Bruins, however, started to feel it a little more in the second. Bergeron tied it up on a well-executed odd-man rush, taking a feed from Tyler Seguin and rifling it past Anderson from the high slot. Chris Kelly used a screen from Jordan Caron to give the B’s their first lead late in the second period.

The B’s started tentatively in the third period and paid the price. Jared Cowen tied it up at 5:04 when the defenseman’s shot went off blueliner Dennis Seidenberg’s leg out high and got past goalie Tim Thomas.

But the Bruins responded with two goals in 37 seconds. First, Boychuk matched Cowen’s seeing-eye goal with one at 6:41, past another Caron screen. Then Shawn Thornton sent Daniel Paille off on a breakaway for a shot that broke through Anderson for the insurance goal.

The B’s can, and most likely will, play better games in the future, but they certainly earned their ‘W’ last night.



Fourth line first rate

By Steve Conroy

The meal was your basic meat lover’s fare. Steak, asparagus and a Caesar salad.

Shawn Thornton joked it’s pretty much what he eats every night, but that’s the spread he put out for linemate Gregory Campbell on Monday night. It was something of a tradition last year, and this year they hadn’t had much of a chance to do it.

But in order to “break the jinx” that had been plaguing the fourth line this year, Thornton had Campbell over for eats. And it’s hard to argue with the results.

Each member of the line had a point in the B’s 5-3 win against the Ottawa Senators, as they all combined on Daniel Paille’s important insurance goal in the third period, with Thornton making the chip pass to send Paille away on the breakaway. Thornton also had a momentum-shifting fight in the first period against Zenon Konopka while Campbell later tussled with Zack Smith.

“We put pressure on ourselves obviously. We are older guys and we definitely want to be better,” said Thornton.

Thornton and Konopka, former minor league teammates, staged a tough, back-and-forth fight right after Nick Foligno scored what could have been a disheartening goal for the B’s. After the job was done, Thornton gave a little clap, went to the box and watched Milan Lucic tie the game.

“I just wanted to get the boys going,” said Thornton. “We were down 1-0. .?.?. It was a pretty good tilt. Kudos to (Konopka) for stepping up and doing it.”

Julien liked what he saw from the fourth line all night.

“I think their line was more of what we know them to be. I thought they did a great job of starting the game for us in Montreal the other night — got the puck in, and hemmed them in, and gave us some energy — and (last night) was the same thing,” said Julien. “We got a good first shift from that line. They set the tempo of the games a lot of times. They’re very good at that. .?.?. Good outing from that line and, again, rewarded with that goal from Paille.”

Boychuk wins it

Johnny Boychuk, like a few Bruins defensemen, has been having some trouble getting his shot blocked as well as missing the net, but he drilled the game-winner through a crowd at 6:41 of the third period.

“I was just thinking ‘hit the net’ because I kept missing the net before,” said Boychuk.

He had two shots blocked and two misses last night, but he had five more on net and finally got his first goal of the year.

“Obviously it feels a lot better. Getting that first one by you and now you don’t have to worry about it,” said Boychuk. “I think last year it took me until January, so I feel a little bit better.”

Caron back in

Jordan Caron was back in the lineup while Benoit Pouliot, having shaken the flu, was a healthy scratch. .?.?.

Though the B’s had a couple of fights, they showed better discipline while still playing a tough game, something they were focusing on.

“I think it was pretty obvious by the end of the game we had done exactly what we wanted to do. They were frustrated, they were retaliating, and it was because of our play, and that’s what we’d talked about,” said Julien. “I think we were going about it the wrong way earlier on, trying to entice people to engage with us, and we were caught retaliating.”



Bruins end skid with 5-3 win over Ottawa

By Associated Press

BOSTON - Johnny Boychuk and Daniel Paille scored 47 seconds apart to break open a tie game in the third period, and the Boston Bruins ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.

Chris Kelly had a goal and an assist, and Zdeno Chara had two assists for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who finished the first month of the season with the worst record in the Eastern Conference (3-7).

The Bruins also snapped the Senators’ six-game winning streak.

Boston outshot Ottawa 16-7 in the second period and took a 3-2 lead on goals by Patrice Bergeron and Chris Kelly, then put in two more after Ottawa’s Jared Cowen tied it at 3-all on his first NHL goal with 14:56 left.

Boychuk gave Boston a 4-3 lead with a slap shot from the point, and less than a minute later Paille scored on a breakaway to put the Bruins up by two.

That was a big enough cushion for Tim Thomas (4-4), who finished with 23 saves.

Craig Anderson (6-3) stopped 36 shots for Ottawa, which hadn’t lost since Oct. 18.

Nick Folingo finished with a goal and two assists, and Stephane DaCosta had a goal and an assist for Ottawa.

After getting outplayed in the second, the Senators grinded out the early part of the third and tied it when Folingo dropped a pass back to the point to Cowen, who fired a slap shot past a screen of players and Thomas’ right pad.

But Boychuk tied it on a blast from the point with 13:19 to go, and Paille took a pass from Shawn Thornton for a breakaway and scored on Anderson with 12:42 left.

Folingo gave Ottawa a 1-0 lead in the first period when he grabbed a loose puck and lofted a backhander off Thomas’ blocker. The puck dropped behind him, and Bobby Butler crashed the net for Ottawa, occupying Thomas and the Bruins as the puck trickled across the goal line.

Milan Lucic tied it with a power-play goal with 12:48 left in the first, lifting a rebound over Anderson, but Ottawa struck again barely a minute later.

Folingo pounced on a loose puck and slid a backward pass between his legs to Stephane DaCosta, who poked a shot past Thomas as the details of Lucic’s goal were being announced to the crowd.

NOTES: Ottawa hadn’t lost since falling to 1-5 with a 7-2 loss to Philadelphia. ... Bergeron’s goal in the second period extended his point streak to five games. ... Chara had his second multipoint game of the season. ... Bergeron tied it at 2-all early in the second on a wrist shot from the slot off a pass from Tyler Seguin during a 3-on-2 rush with Brad Marchand, who also got an assist. ... Shawn Thornton and Ottawa’s Zenon Konopka squared off in a long fight just after the opening goal. Neither player made much contact despite throwing numerous haymakers.


586069 Buffalo Sabres

It's smoother skating on Buffalo home ice

By John Vogl

Christian Ehrhoff spent the previous two seasons in Vancouver, which is lauded as having one of the best ice surfaces in the NHL. When the defenseman arrived in Buffalo for training camp, he was decidedly underwhelmed by a rink that hasn't always received high marks.

"In training camp here it was terrible," Ehrhoff said Tuesday. "Now it's actually pretty good. You can tell that they made some changes, and it's improved a lot."

Providing a better ice surface was among the main goals of Sabres ownership and management this offseason. They spent millions on a dehumidifier system, laser-guided Zambonis and ice-making equipment. They've also lowered the temperature in First Niagara Center to ranges that bring "igloo" and "meat locker" to mind.

Through four home games, it seems the changes are working. Game Five is tonight when the Sabres host Philadelphia.

"Overall the ice has been pretty good this year compared to previous years," said center Derek Roy, a vocal critic during past seasons. "It's good for our team, especially. We're a fast team, and we utilize our legs and our speed. To have good ice definitely helps move the puck up the ice and get your legs going."

Smooth ice should help Roy during his return to the Sabres' power play. The center, who has no points in five games, moved to the blue line on the top unit during Tuesday's practice. He worked the point alongside defenseman Tyler Myers, with holdovers Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville and Brad Boyes up front.

The second group featured Ville Leino, Luke Adam and Drew Stafford at forward, with Jordan Leopold and Ehrhoff on defense.

"It's always fun to be able to help the team, make plays and get scoring opportunities," Roy said. "We worked pretty good, and we've just got to take that into [tonight]."

Mike Weber noticed the shake-up on the Sabres' power play and realized it could result in his season debut. Coach Lindy Ruff bumped defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani from the man-advantage unit, and signs pointed to Weber finally getting a call after being scratched for the opening 10 games.

"Hopefully, I'll get in here and be able to take full advantage of it," Weber said. "It's tough for anyone to sit, but I worked hard, did what they asked me, watched the games, skated hard, things like that, so that when I got this chance I could take full advantage of it.

"I'm not too nervous. I played 58 [games] last year, so I'm just excited to get going here and start my season."

Ruff wouldn't say whether Gragnani's power-play absence would translate to a start by Weber.

"Not necessarily," Ruff said. "We'll see about that."

The Sabres started the season 5-1 but have since lost three of four. Poor decisions with the puck have contributed to the slide, according to Ruff.

"We're making plays we didn't make in the first three or four games, and I think that comes with success," the coach said. "You think, 'Ah, we're pretty good. I think we can be a little bit better. We can try a little bit of this and a little bit of that,' and a little bit of that turns into something in your own goal. We're trying to narrow that down and get it back to where we need to be."

Ruff said forward Jochen Hecht, who suffered a concussion-related setback this week, is out indefinitely. ... As of Tuesday evening, the Sabres had 600 tickets available for tonight's game. They also announced a "party bundle," which includes a 300 Level II ticket, admission to their tent party in the plaza and one beverage. The package is $55 for most games and $45 for three others. ... The annual Salvation Army kettle drive will begin tonight at the arena. Fans can also donate $10 to the cause by texting "BUFFALO" to 80888.

Ruff, who tortured the players with a grueling, profanity-laced practice Monday, conducted an easier, more light-hearted session Tuesday. He also got into the Halloween spirit when he ordered Stafford off the bench to fill in for Vanek, who briefly retreated to the dressing room.

"Staff," Ruff said, "dress up as a hockey player, take Van's spot on the power play."

Buffalo News LOADED: 11.02.2011

586070 Buffalo Sabres

Flyers will test revamped Sabres

By John Vogl

The Sabres know they didn't fool anyone during their last two games. Their effort just wasn't where it needed to be. They've stood in their dressing room and vowed to be better next game.

In case they needed any outside motivation, tonight's opponent should provide it.

The Philadelphia Flyers arrive in First Niagara Center tonight, their first appearance since shocking Buffalo in Game Six of the playoffs last spring and eliminating the Sabres in Game Seven. Meetings with the historic rival usually bring added intensity. The recent slump coupled with last year's result should add even more.

"It's a big game, especially since we want to focus on our game and pick it up a little bit," right wing Patrick Kaleta said Tuesday. "Our last couple efforts we haven't really been happy with, and there's no better team to face now than the team that knocked us out last year. It should be a fun game to play in and a big test for our team."

The Sabres enter in the midst of their first lull of the season. They have lost three of four, and they're just 1-3 in Buffalo.

The fans booed the team off the ice Saturday. The Sabres blew a lead with four minutes to go and lost to Florida, 3-2. They lost their poise along with the game, which featured long stretches of offensive ineptitude.

"We definitely need a little bit of an adjustment and focus to our attitude at home," said goaltender Ryan Miller, who is expected to start tonight. "There's going to be stretches where you have tough plays and mistakes over the course of a night, but we just have to be a little more consistent with things we can control. We have to definitely control how quickly we're making plays and how hard we are to play against."

The Sabres hope this week's tweak to their top lines will make things tough for the Flyers. Former Philly forward Ville Leino will center high-scoring wingers Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville, while Luke Adam's nine-point start moves alongside Derek Roy and Drew Stafford, who have been shut out during the past five games.

"It's going to be pretty fun playing against guys, a little bit nervous, too, since it's the first game," Leino said. "I'm sure it's going to be different playing on the other side of the ice against them."

He won't see all his former mates. Chris Pronger is out with an eye injury, while old friend Danny Briere will sit because of a rib ailment. The Flyers are 1-2 since losing Pronger and have given up 15 goals.

"They were going good when he was in there, and maybe they've struggled a bit with him out," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said of the 6-4-1 opponent. "He's been a good player in this league, and I think they miss him. I see the goals go up when he's out, and I see the goals go down when he's in."

The Flyers, though, continue to score even after a makeover that saw them ship captain Mike Richards and leading scorer Jeff Carter out of town. They're second in the NHL at 3.73 goals per game. Leino's old linemate, Scott Hartnell, has been hot with four goals and nine points in four games. He's skating with Claude Giroux (15 points) and future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr, who has five goals and seven points in the last four outings.

"I loved playing with Ville. It seemed like he would make plays out of nothing," Hartnell told Philly reporters. "With these guys it's a little bit different. Jagr is Jagr. He can score from anywhere, he's got a great shot and you try to get him the puck as much as possible."

Kaleta is among those who feel the appearance of the Flyers will inspire the Sabres. He missed Game Seven with a hand injury, but the memory of his team's elimination sticks with him. The sight of orange and black should drive the Blue and Gold.

"I had to sit there and watch that the whole time, and it's the worst feeling in the entire world," Kaleta said. "I'm looking forward to the game."

Buffalo News LOADED: 11.02.2011

586071 Calgary Flames

Flames absorb Canuckle sandwich

By John Down

Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff thwarts Vancouver Canucks forward Henrik Sedin during the first period of Tuesday night’s NHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Movember. A time for change, for starting the growth of whiskers under the nose in support of the fight against prostate cancer, and for elevating the game.

Jarome Iginla talked about it after Tuesday morning’s pre-game skate. The Calgary Flames captain was happy to put a so-so October (two goals, two assists) behind him and rush headlong into a month in which he has averaged at least one point per game during the past five seasons.

But an irritable and all-to familiar foe in the Vancouver Canucks put those plans on hold when they used two power-play goals in the first period to build a 3-0 lead and cruised to a 5-1 victory in National Hockey League action.

The West Coast gang hadn’t lost in the Scotiabank Saddledome since Oct. 16 of 2009 and, for that matter, held a record of 8-0-2 in their last 10 against their Western Conference rival.

Goaltender Roberto Luongo, allegedly struggling, had a lofty 9-0-2 record in his previous 11 starts against the redshirts and the Sedin twins, either Henrik or Daniel, hadn’t been held off a scoresheet in the last five years.

Some mountains, it seems, are still too high.

There were really no positives for the Flames.

“Right now I don’t see a ton,” said a much more sombre Iginla, following the exercise in futility. “It’s a game we’ll go over. We made mistakes and we’ll try to learn from it but we totally got outplayed tonight. They deserved that game.

“We’ve been building up, getting better . . . unfortunately tonight was a big letdown for us and I know it was for our fans, too.”

It was the Canucks fourth straight win against the Flames and their fifth in a row at the Saddledome.

Former Flame Chris Higgins started the blitz when he broke behind the defence and went backhand deke on Miikka Kiprusoff during the seventh minute. That came about 90 seconds after Brendan Morrison had cranked a feed from Alex Tanguay off Luongo’s short-side goalpost.

Alex Burrows followed up from his back in a goalmouth scramble less than six minutes later on the Canucks’ second power-play and Daniel Sedin made it 3-0 just 14 seconds after rookie Roman Horak had been sent off for slashing with just 33 seconds left in the opening 20 minutes.

Cody Hodgson and Alex Edler also scored for the victors, who had 12 players put their names on the game summary as the Canucks raised their record to 6-5-1. The Flames finished up a six-game homestand at 3-2-1 and saw their overall record fall to 4-5-1.

Tanguay ended Luongo’s shutout bid with a half-minute remaining to play on the team’s 29th and final shot.

The Flames take flight today for Detroit, where they’ll open a three-game road trip Thursday. It’ll continue through Buffalo and Denver.

If there was one, even two, instances that turned the tide in this game it or they came in the first period.

The first sting was Morrison’s shot hitting a post instead of twine and the second was Burrows’ snipe 11 seconds from the Flames being able to successfully kill off a 95-second, two-man shortage and then the final seconds of a 5-on-4.

“We killed that 5-on-3 off and it could have been a momentum changer for us and they score with what, six or seven seconds left in the 5-on-4 and that’s where you really need to bear down and get the rest of that killed off,” said coach Brent Sutter. “Instead of coming out of that down one, you’re

down two and they obviously gained some momentum off that and put us on our heels.”

The Canucks did little more than go through the motions in the second period and still scored twice . . . on three shots! And the boos began. The closest they came to beating Luongo was a dinged crossbar by Olli Jokinen late in a very strange period in which the Flames rung up a 12-4 shots on goal advantage.

Edler, for instance, upped the count to 5-0 during the 11th minute to count his third point of the game. Kiprusoff, again, had no chance on the fully-screened shot.

There was no relief, either, as Sutter elected to have his No. 1 stopper sweat it out until the end of the period, finally giving the nod to Henrik Karlsson to finish off the final 20 minutes.

THIS AND THAT: Flames F Curtis Glencross marked his 300th career game, while D Jay Bouwmeester extended his NHL-leading ironman streak to 516 games. His nearest pursuer, Henrik Sedin, checked in for his 501st . . . Flames D Scott Hannan was on for four of the first five goals, two of them power-play strikes . . . The Flames were skunked on six power-play chances while the Canucks went two-for-six.

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 11.02.2011


Game Story: Vancouver 5 Calgary 1

By Scott Cruickshank,

The Herald’s Three Stars

1. Vancouver D Alexander Edler — Large defender piles up three points, one goal and two assists, in the whitewash.

2. Vancouver C Henrik Sedin — Beautiful pass to his brother makes it 3-0 in final minute of first period. Game over.

3. Vancouver G Roberto Luongo — It’s no masterpiece. Nevertheless, a near-clean sheet in the face of a feeble attack.

Why the Flames Lost

Because they are overwhelmed early — scoring chances are 13-3 for the guests in the opening period. And quietly into the night, they go.

Because the locals’ first line offers nearly nothing. D Cory Sarich collects more shots than any of the Flames’ top-six forwards. Enough said.

Because the Canucks have their number. The Left Coasters are 9-0-2 in their last 11 meetings with the Flames.

Flames Lines

A. Tanguay, B. Morrison, J. Iginla

R. Bourque, O. Jokinen, D. Moss

N. Hagman, R. Horak, L. Stempniak

T. Kostopoulos, M. Stajan, T. Jackman

Flames Pairings

C. Butler, J. Bouwmeester

M. Giordano, S. Hannan

D. Smith, C. Sarich

Flames Goalies

M. Kiprusoff (starter)

H.Karlsson

Canucks Lines

D. Sedin, H. Sedin, A. Burrows

D. Booth, R. Kesler, C. Hodgson

C.Higgins, M. Malhotra, J. Hansen

A. Volpatti, M. Lapierre, D. Weise

Canucks Pairings

D. Hamhuis, K. Bieksa

A. Edler, S. Salo

K. Ballard, A. Sulzer

Canucks Goalies

R. Luongo (starter)

C. Schneider

Scratches

Calgary — D Anton Babchuk, LW Niklas Hagman, RW Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, D Brett Carson (back), C Mikael Backlund (finger). Man-games lost: 30

Vancouver — D Andrew Alberts, C Andrew Ebbett, D Aaron Rome (thumb), LW Mason Raymond (back), RW Steve Pinizzotto (shoulder), RW Byron Bitz (lower body). Man-games lost: 71

Up Next

The Flames depart today for a three-game junket, starting Thursday against Ian White and the Detroit Red Wings (5:30 p.m., SN 960, Sportsnet West).



Lapierre latches onto lifeline

By IAIN MACINTYRE

"I don't think it was my last chance, but it was a wake-up call," Maxim Lapierre says of his trade to the Canucks in February.

Until he Vcame to the Vancouver Canucks, Max Lapierre didn't need a costume for Halloween because he could always go out as a clown.

That's harsh and a little unfair. But that was Lapierre's reputation: an agitator who expended his energy after whistles, and in his incessant desire to incite, was about as likely to disrupt his own team as his opponents.

Playing that way and getting dealt twice in two months, Lapierre had become a caricature of himself by the time the Canucks tossed his National Hockey League career a lifeline with a deadline trade in February.

"I don't think it was my last chance, but it was a wake-up call," Lapierre said Monday before the Canucks travelled to Calgary for a game Tuesday night. "I had to play the way I can play. And this is the way I can play when I'm confident. At this stage of my career, I want to take a step forward and be better."

Lapierre was among the best two or three Canucks in October, which was partly a reflection of how many teammates higher up the depth chart struggled, but mostly how the 26-year-old has refocused on being a player again. Lapierre still yaps at opponents and probably remains one of the most hated players in the National Hockey League. But he picks his spots and saves his energy for when the puck is in play.

He has regained his confidence and some respect because he has played far better and more consistently than almost anyone expected. Through 11 games, Lapierre had three goals and an assist and was plus-3. He's skating better than he ever has and making plays with the puck. And he's averaging 11: 32 of ice time.

"I'm a big Montreal Canadiens fan, so I'd seen him play on TV and stuff and I'd heard his reputation," Canucks linemate Dale Weise said.

"But I didn't know what kind of player he was. He's not your typical fourth-line player. He's got some big-league skill. He can skate and play, and I'm learning a lot from him."

Added Canucks coach Alain Vigneault: "He just goes out and works and makes things happen on the ice. I knew Max when we picked him up because I'd coached him in junior. I knew what we were getting: an honest, hard-working young man who wants to win. For whatever reason, it didn't work out on his two previous teams."

Less than half a season after Lapierre had been a significant, but distracting, contributor to the Canadiens' long 2010 playoff run, Montreal traded him to the Ducks last New Year's Eve. He went 0-for-Anaheim, failing to score a goal for the Ducks and managing just three assists in 21 games.

Vigneault and general manager Mike Gillis made sure upon Lapierre's arrival that he became a model citizen on the Canucks. But he was still far from a model player, managing just a single point in the final 19 regular-season games with Vancouver. He finished with just one goal and four points in his final 46 games.

"Last year was tough," Lapierre said. "I had a slow start and then you start thinking too much, and that makes you play worse. It's a vicious cycle. There's so much going through your head. At one point, I was basically telling my dad: 'I can't play hockey anymore the way I want to play hockey. I just can't play good and don't know what to do.' He said to keep going, sometimes you have a slump.

"But a slump is 10 games; I had 46 games without a point, I think. All I could do was tell myself: 'I'll be better tomorrow.' Then I'd come to the rink and it would be worse. It was crazy. But I think it built character and I was a better player at the end."

Lapierre said things changed in Vancouver when he was able to stop thinking and just play for fun again. He got caught up in the Canucks' drive

to the Stanley Cup final - who didn't? - and played his best hockey in the playoffs.

He fell off the behavioural wagon in the final when he offered his fingers as an appetizer to Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, who had been dined on the previous game when he stuck his fingers near the mouth of Canucks forward Alex Burrows.

Still, Lapierre had an excellent spring. His autumn has been even better. "It's always nice to prove people wrong," Burrows said of Lapierre. "For Max, the way he's been playing, I think he's opening a lot of eyes around the league that he's a player who can really play when he is put in a position to succeed. He's fighting, he's scoring goals, getting in on the forecheck, killing penalties. He's doing everything for us."

Like Lapierre, Burrows knows what it's like to overcome negative perceptions. Like Burrows, Lapierre says he doesn't really care what people outside the Canucks think of him.

That's probably not entirely true. Everyone wants to be respected by peers, to be regarded as decent and conscientious. Everyone in the NHL wants to be known as a player, not a clown. And Lapierre has been a pretty darn good player this season.



Start of a new month excites Iggy

John Down

It’s a new month and Jarome Iginla is excited. Not about getting a one-day jump on his Movember mustache but possibly cranking up the offensive numbers.

The Flames captain, who missed the pre-season with back issues, is off to another slow start with just two goals and as many helpers in nine games.

Disappointing? Yes. But it’s a new day, as they say.

“I’d have to be lying if I wasn’t,” said Iginla when asked if he was excited about the start of November. “Coming out as a team, we’re playing better, feeling better so it’s kind of a nice end to October.”

Iginla, who didn’t take part in Tuesday morning’s optional pre-game skate, readily admitted his play improves as the season goes along.

“I’d love it if it was from Day 1,” he said. “I’d love to be consistent all the time, score every game but unfortunately that’s not the case. I’ll just keep working through it and try to help the team

“I’m confident and positive it’s going to improve. For some reason I always like the start of new months . . . that it’s going to be better and different.”

The Flames haven’t defeated the Vancouver Canucks in Calgary since Oct. 16, 2009.

“The guys who have been here know a little bit of the history,” said Iginla, “but I didn’t know it went back so far so we’re due for a change.

“That’s the fun part of it. You can try to change it. From our point of view, especially from the start of the year, it’s a new team.”

The Flames, meanwhile, won’t roll the dice with their 7-11 (seven defencemen, 11 forwards) attack.

“We are going to dress 12 forwards tonight so Matt’s (Stajan) going to play centre ice for us. We need Matt to come in, bring some juice and be a real solid, competitive player for us. I’m not putting a lot of expectations on him, I just want him to come in and play well.”

Stajan will rejoin fourth line wingers Tim Jackman and Tom Kostopoulos.

Odd men out figure to be winger Niklas Hagman, for a second straight game and three out of the last four, and defenceman Anton Babchuk.



‘I’m stuck for words’ — Brent Sutter

Scott Cruickshank

Brent Sutter did make the effort.

But after two minutes of post-game anguish — trying to pinpoint what happened in Tuesday’s laugher of a 5-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, trying to determine where it all went wrong — the Calgary Flames coach came clean.

“Hey, you guys, I don’t know — I’m stuck for words up here,” Sutter told the assembled members of the press, “because it was not a good hockey game on our part, bottom line.”

Of that, there are no quibbles.

The Flames were run out of the rink — their own rink — against a team that was playing only as hard as it had to.

“Our focus, our execution, and our determination in the first period were evident right off the hop,” said Canucks skipper Alain Vigneault. “We knew we wanted to come here and have a really strong start and we did. We carried the play and were able to beat a goaltender off some great quality chances.”

The Sedins had only one point apiece. Same with Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows.

However, it didn’t matter. It didn’t even matter that Roberto Luongo was at his adventurous best — or worst, depending on your point of view — throughout most of the night.

“We made it easy for them,” Sutter said of the Canucks. “Hey, they’re a very good hockey team. We allowed it to be an easy game.

“I thought we started the game fine. But I thought the game got away from us after the first 10 minutes. We had a lot of guys not play well tonight.”

The 4-5-1 Flames — 14th in the Western Conference and bound Wednesday for a sticky three-game road trip — had no answers.

Not when the Canucks opened the scoring at 7:57 of the first period.

Not when the Canucks rifled home a pair of power-play goals late in the first period. (“It’s funny,” said Sutter. “We killed that (95-second) five-on-three off — it could’ve been a momentum-changer for us — and they scored with six seconds left on the five-on-four . . . That’s when you really need to bear down and get the rest of that killed off.”)

Not when the Canucks made it 4-0 early in the second.

Not at any part of the game did the Flames rise up.

“The momentum seemed to just stay the course,” said Sutter. “They got that fourth goal . . . you obviously need to have a push-back at that point.”



Flames fail litmus test

By ERIC FRANCIS, QMI Agency

CALGARY - This was supposed to be one of those benchmark games.

An acid test, set to determine where the Flames sat and whether the Flames modest two-game win streak was a sign the club was actually turning things around.

Facing off against a division rival that has had uncharacteristic struggles of its own of late, it was a chance to not only climb above the .500 mark but to gain a little confidence for the road.

In net for the visiting Canucks was the most-maligned player in the NHL — a man so controversial you couldn’t even tell if he was being booed or Lou-ed when he first touched the puck in the opening minute.

No one was sure whether Flames fans were cheering or jeering the sight of Roberto Luongo or whether Canucks faithful were supportive or full of spite.

It seemed like the perfect opportunity for the slow-starting Flames to make a statement, continue the progression and get two points.

Instead, it’s the Flames who make for Motown today with their tails between their legs.

Oh my.

That shaky goalie everyone’s been talking about left with one of the easier wins of his career, giving him a shot of adrenaline he has so sorely needed.

By night’s end the score sat at a humbling 5-1.

(Cue Count Floyd’s “scaaary” video from the SCTV archives.)

No less than 12 Canucks had points by the end of the second and Alex Edler looked like Paul Coffey.

Humiliating.

Very little emotion from the redshirts and no sign of fight.

The only highlight came in the final minute when Tim Jackman picked a long overdue fight and Alex Tanguay scored.

There was no doubt those “Lou’s” were definitely “boos” at the end of the second and third periods when the Flames left the ice to clear the cobwebs.

The low point came midway through the game when the Flames top line — Jarome Iginla, Brendan Morrison and Tanguay — was pinned in its own zone for the better part of a minute. The casual fans must’ve been sure it was a Vancouver powerplay as the Sedins toyed with the puck around the perimeter while the Flames stars looked like the younger brothers in a pond hockey gathering.

Lost, unable to keep up.

Bet they wished their moms would’ve whistle them in for dinner as their body language spoke volumes during their long, defeated skate to the bench.

When the ever-frustrating Rene Bourque narrowly missed converting a net-side pass early in the third he was booed, setting the tone for a listless third littered with catcalls, Bronx cheers and raspberries.

Call them what you will, the fans left pissed off.

The players even more so.

Miikka Kiprusoff, who took a little abuse from the fans after surrendering five goals in the first two periods, was mercifully yanked before the third.

On a night Flames faithful should have been ecstatic over the opening of Dusty’s Tunnel — connecting Stampede Park to the downtown core — they instead raced through the neon thoroughfare as fast as they could to distance themselves from the Dome’s newfound stench.

Given the vitriol sure to dominate talk of the Flames the next few days, perhaps the timing of their biggest stinker in recent memory is good given they’ll fly east.

Then again, their next test is against the Detroit Red Wings, followed by the surging Sabres.

Maybe this humble reality check is what the Flames needed.

Or maybe this team really isn’t very good, as most pundits suggested all summer.

It’s far too early to tell for sure, but last night’s display must have even the heartiest of fans worried.

Yes, this one was supposed to tell us plenty about the Flames.

If so, the message is scarier than anything seen a night earlier around town.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 11.02.2011


Flames fall flat against Canucks

By STEVE MACFARLANE, QMI Agency

When Vancouver Canucks netminder Roberto Luongo first touched the puck, you couldn’t decipher the boos from the Lous.

Just seconds into Tuesday night’s contest, it was impossible to tell whether the mock cheers for the easy stop were coming from Calgary Flames fans or the beleaguered Canucks faithful.

By the end of the first period, the same could be said for the reception given the Flames as they walked to the dressing room for the intermission.

With the score 3-0 in favour of the visitors, a spatter of boos rained down from the Saddledome crowd.

Another 20 minutes later, Flames fans couldn’t even muster up enough care to bother booing. They just headed for the exits early to beat traffic.

Appropriate, since the team they came to watch didn’t care enough to put up a fight against their previously struggling division rival.

With the Canucks and Flames both eager to get above the .500 mark on the season, only the Canucks looked desperate enough in their 5-1 victory to accomplish it.

Granted, the hole got pretty deep fairly quickly after a decent start by the hosts. Chris Higgins killed the momentum with a breakaway move that made Miikka Kiprusoff look like he was stuck in cement around the eight-minute mark.

But the Flames picked up shovels and helped dig with three penalties resulting in a pair of power play goals for the Canucks to take a stranglehold before the first intermission, with Alex Burrows and Daniel Sedin burying their chances.

By the time it was 5-0 Canucks late in the second period, it was Kiprusoff hearing the Bronx Cheers from Canucks fans for the simple saves — not that he did anything to deserve it.

Luckily for Kiprusoff, he didn’t have to endure another 20 minutes of lopsided action on the ice, although his view from the bench offered an even better view of the scoreboard.

The game wasn’t supposed to be about the rivalry — although many expected a much more energetic display because of that history — it was about the record, with both teams attempting to prove they were better than they were playing to start the season.

After that stinker, it might be tough for the Flames to convince anyone of that fact right now.

The Canucks, meanwhile, looked every bit the contender, giving credence to the idea the west coast club was just getting over their hangover after making it to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup final a few months ago.

Their stars performed, with the Sedin twins making plays and potting points, along with Burrows and top defenceman Alex Edler — who had a three-point night.

But they also got contributions from their supporting cast. Only a half-dozen skaters came away with no points.

The Flames, tragically, were led by their secondary scorers, only without the scoring.

Their shots leader through the first 40 minutes was ... Cory Sarich.

The defenceman’s four were as many as the top line combined, right up until Alex Tanguay deflected Tom Kostopoulos’ pass past Luongo in the dying seconds.

You’re not going to win many games when that happens.

The Flames won’t win any games playing the way they did in that one.



Burning Flames questions

By RANDY SPORTAK, QMI Agency

CALGARY - Since they're in 14th place in the NHL's Western Conference, the Calgary Flames have to make up ground in a hurry, even while holding a game or two in hand on those clubs ahead of them.

Sure, there are still 73 games to go for the Flames, so time is on their side, but they don’t want to fall behind the pack of clubs in and around the eight playoff teams.

The Flames are staring at their chance to make up ground. After playing just twice in nine days and only five games in 15 days, the schedule starts to get hot and heavy.

Starting with Tuesday’s home clash against the Vancouver Canucks to kick off November, the Flames play three games in four nights, five games in eight nights and seven times in 12 days.

It’s a golden chance to push into that collection of squads which begins around sixth place.

The alternative, however, is to really be on the outside.

Here are five questions we have as we look ahead.

Will Iginla break out in the month of November?

With just two goals and four points in the nine games during October, it was another slow start for Jarome Iginla.

He said the back issue which kept him out of the pre-season schedule is not a factor.

So everybody is wondering whether Iginla can have yet another November to remember.

Iginla has been at a point-per-game or better during November in each of the last six seasons and reached double-digit in points during eight of 10 seasons, including a 13-goal, 20-point month in 2009-10.

The Flames are treading water without their leader scoring at will.

They’re best chance at climbing is with him in high gear.

Can Kiprusoff’s goaltending heroics continue?

Since the season-opening 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff has been very, very good.

In each of the club’s last three victories, he’s been the biggest difference-maker.

Flames head coach Brent Sutter insisted Henrik Karlsson will see action in the next week, but Kiprusoff may be in the pipes for the next three games.

If he can duplicate his last six starts — 4-2-0 record, 1.68 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage — the club’s chance of stringing together more wins improves immensely.

Can The Flames beat playoff squads?

Last year’s Flames team posted a horrible 9-16-9 record against the Western Conference teams which made the playoffs.

Their record was 4-4-1 against the top eight from the Eastern Conference

This week, the Flames will face three teams which made the playoffs last season — the Canucks, the Detroit Red Wings and the Buffalo Sabres — and another which is off to a strong start with all kinds of young talent in the Colorado Avalanche.

To be among the best, you have to beat the best, and the Flames must do a better job of it.

They still must make hay against lesser-light teams.

But it can’t be a surprise upset every time you beat a top-flight club.

Can the fourth line keep it going?

The Canucks benefit from yet another strong offensive season from the Sedins. Both Henrik and Daniel have 13 points in nine outings.

However, the Canucks get big production from their bottom lines.

Chris Higgins has five goals already, while Maxim Lapierre has three markers.

To their end, the Flames fourth-liners — right now, it’s only wingers Tim Jackman and Tom Kostopoulos because the club has been dressing only 11 forwards — have been very good of late.

Kostopoulos scored in the last game, while Jackman had two helpers.

Morever, Jackman led the Flames in scoring against the Canucks last season, with four goals in six games.

“That’s what I’m thinking about now,” Jackman said. “I had success against these guys, and I know how I like to play against them. I’m looking forward to it.”

Is it Horak or Score-Rak?

Everybody has to be surprised at the offensive output from Flames rookie Roman Horak. He has five points in seven games, including a goal and an assist in each of the last two outings.

It’s even more incredible when you remember Horak didn’t collect a single point in the pre-season yet made the opening-day roster.

The 20-year-old, who was a fifth-round draft pick in 2009, remains a strong defensive player but would garner more attention around the league if he keeps it going.


586079 Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina slams door on Tampa Bay rally

By CHIP ALEXANDER

The Tampa Bay Lightning was becoming a persistent problem for the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Lightning beat the Canes in the final game last season, keeping Carolina out of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Lightning beat the Canes again to begin this season and had won three straight at the RBC Center.

As forward Brandon Sutter put it, "It seems like they've had our number."

But the Canes found a way to win 4-2 Tuesday to move past the Lightning in the Eastern Conference.

Jeff Skinner scored two goals. Chad LaRose did the same.

The Hurricanes, during the game's most pivotal two minutes, killed off a 5-on-3 power play by the Lightning, which had won four of its past five games.

Sutter, Bryan Allen and Tim Gleason did the brunt of the work on the kill and goaltender Cam Ward stopped three shots by Vincent Lecavalier.

Ward had 28 saves and was at his best with those three defenders in front of him during that 5-on-3 penalty kill, and against some of the top skill players in the NHL.

"To come up with a big kill like that is a game-changer and a big momentum boost," Ward said.

LaRose's first goal came on a power play late in the first period, tying the score 1-1. The Canes outshot Tampa Bay 19-7 in the period but trailed before goaltender Dwayne Roloson was called for tripping and LaRose knocked in the rebound off a Jay Harrison shot.

"To come in tied up and to have some energy and emotion was big," LaRose said.

His second goal was just as critical.

It came with 4:50 left in regulation and less than a minute after Brett Connolly's first NHL goal had pulled Tampa Bay within 3-2.

Skinner scored 22 seconds into the second period on a goal that was equal parts skill and determination. He gathered in a loose puck near the boards, maneuvered around 6-foot-6, 229-pound defenseman Victor Hedman to beat Roloson with a forehand.

"It takes incredible balance and strength to be able to handle some of those big guys and still control the puck and change directions," Canes coach Paul Maurice said. "It's a skill and an ability few people have."

Skinner pushed the Canes ahead 2-1, but Eric Staal's tripping penalty, followed by a hooking call against LaRose gave the Lightning the 5-on-3 at 4:58 of the second.

"You try not to think it's two minutes," Allen said, smiling. "You take it moment by moment and try to limit their best options. It's whatever it takes. Cam (Ward) was the best of the four of us."

Skinner picked up his second goal off a Jussi Jokinen pass at 10:38 of the second for a 3-1 lead. It was the sixth two-goal game of Skinner's young career, and he nearly picked up his first hat trick before the period ended.

One downer for the Canes was that Jokinen left the game early in the third after twisting his left leg.

Jokinen did not return, and Maurice said his status is "day-to-day," noting the injury was "nothing catastrophic."

The game was the first of 10 at home for the Canes (5-4-3) this month. They were determined to not let Tampa Bay be the spoiler again.

"I think coming off last year, that first game (against Tampa Bay) we almost wanted it too much," Skinner said. "We came off it five minutes in the third and they buried us (5-1).

"You don't want to think about the team you're playing and the situation ... but you can't help but sort of know the situation. It's good to come out here and get a win here."

News Observer LOADED: 11.02.2011

586080 Carolina Hurricanes

Canes dodge trouble

By LUKE DECOCK

The challenge for the Carolina Hurricanes this season hasn't been playing well. At times, they've played very well. The challenge has been playing well for an entire game.

There have been precious few of those, which is why the Hurricanes went into Tuesday's game padding along at .500 and fourth in the Southeast Division.

So when the Tampa Bay Lightning scored late in the third period to pull within a goal, as the Lightning piled on the pressure, there was plenty of reason for concern.

It took less than a minute for Chad LaRose to answer with his second goal of the night, locking down a 4-2 win for the Hurricanes.

"It felt good," LaRose said. "We've been a little fragile sometimes, so when they scored that second goal it was nice to get another one quick. We played a good game all 60 minutes, everybody top to bottom."

Twice on Tuesday, the Hurricanes found themselves in dangerous positions. After dominating the first period, they were up 2-1 in the second when the Lightning had two full minutes of two-man advantage.

The Hurricanes then spent much of the third period pinned in their own end, and Brett Connolly's goal with five minutes to go cut Carolina's lead to one.

The Hurricanes have come undone under less pressure this season, but in each case Tuesday, they responded - with a big penalty-kill and a Jeff Skinner goal not long after in the second period, and with LaRose's second goal of the night in the third.

Even the first period offered its challenges. The Hurricanes were down 1-0 despite their dominance before LaRose scored on a power play.

"Not worried about it," LaRose said. "When we're playing like that, it's a good sign. We're not always going to get the bounces or the goals aren't always going to go in, but when you're taking it to a team like that you can't be worried."

The Hurricanes were rolling along in the second, up a goal, outshooting the Lightning by a two-to-one margin, when simultaneous penalties to Eric Staal and LaRose gave the Lightning two full minutes of five-on-three power play.

Few teams in the NHL can muster the kind of five-on-three firepower the Lightning can. Throw Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos and two garbage cans out on the ice, and odds are they'll get a goal or two.

Yeoman work from three players made the difference. Bryan Allen and Tim Gleason were out for all but 11 seconds of the power play, Brandon Sutter for about 20 seconds less. That trio dove to deny shooting lanes, blocked a shot and kept the Lightning to the outside, with the best opportunities coming on shots Cam Ward saw clearly and saved easily.

"That was maybe a game-changer," Gleason said. "They score that goal, they tie it up at that point. They have tons of skill. We just tried to get in the shooting lanes and 'Wardo' came up with a couple big saves."

Even after Skinner's goal made it 3-1, there were still 29 minutes to go. This was the real test: Maintaining that level of play to the end, particularly as the Lightning went all out for offense.

It was a narrow escape on a night the Hurricanes faced potential disaster and emerged unharmed.

News Observer LOADED: 11.02.2011

586081 Chicago Blackhawks

Power outage

By Chris Kuc

The numbers are becoming cringe-worthy.

After an 0-for-7 performance on the power play during their 5-4 overtime victory over the Predators on Monday night, the Blackhawks are now an astonishing 4-for-45 this season with a man advantage for—brace yourself—an 8.9 percent success rate. That ranks 29th in the NHL entering Tuesday's games, only ahead of the Blues' 8.3 percent.

So how is it possible a unit that features offensive talents the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa can't find the back of the net while up a man?

"That's a good question," Sharp said. "We have coaches and players that are talking about that and we're going to try new things. It just comes down to putting the puck in the net and capitalizing on your chances. We have players who work hard and draw those penalties and it's important we go out there and cash in."

Coach Joel Quenneville has tinkered with the personnel and the positioning of the two units but they have come up empty in four consecutive games (18 opportunities).

"We're not really frustrated right now because we know we're doing lots of good things," Hossa said. "It's just about the timing. When the first puck goes in (then) I think they're going to come in bunches. We just have to stay patient."

It's easier to stay patient considering the Hawks, who are 7-2-2 this season, are piling up points in the standings while their power play sputters.

"It's nice to see where we are in the standings as a team despite our power play not being where we'd like it to be," Sharp said. "We'd like to think if we could shore it up we'll be even better."

Knock out: The Hawks' postgame dressing room has some new hardware. Since March of 2010, players have passed to the top player in a victory a championship belt that defenseman Brent Seabrook purchased during a road trip in Glendale, Ariz. A piece of masking tape with the player's name was affixed to it and it traveled wherever the Hawks went.

That rather cheesy-looking belt has been replaced by a new, authentic leather belt with silver medallions featuring the Hawks logos on it. Every player has a metal nameplate and if selected, it's put on after the game.

"The last one was more of a heavyweight belt—this one is more of Chicago Blackhawks belt," Kane said. "The organization got it for us; thanks to them."

Viktor Stalberg, who scored the game-winning goal against the Predators, is the current holder of the belt. He got it from Swedish countryman Marcus Kruger, who received it from Kane.

"I think we're just going to pass it around the Swedes now," Stalberg said with a laugh. "I don't think anyone else is going to see it."

Confidence game: With game-winning goals in the Hawks' last two games, Stalberg is brimming with confidence.

"Last year I was a little worried at times that I wasn't going to get much playing time if I made one mistake," Stalberg said. "I have to play to my strengths and that's holding the puck and skating with it. I have to keep doing that and if I do, I'm sure I'll be pretty successful."

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 11.02.2011


Of new Blackhawks, Dan Carcillo grades out the best

By Adam L. Jahns

Of course, there are still things left for the Blackhawks to improve, starting with their power play. Coach Joel Quenneville will tell you that any day.

But at 7-2-2, including a 5-0-2 record at the United Center, the Hawks had the successful opening month they needed, with a rough road schedule looming in November.

‘‘We haven’t gotten to the level to where we have to be,’’ Quenneville said. ‘‘There have been some good signs. We’re more consistent in our team game. There are areas in all our games to get better. There’s still a higher level of pace we can get at.”

The Hawks’ stars are leading the way, but their new guys have played roles in the team’s success.

Still, some of them need to improve, too.

Here’s a breakdown of how the new guys in town have fared:

F Andrew Brunette

Stats: 11 games,

2 goals, 5 points, minus-3 rating, 15 shots.

Back check: Brunette would be the first to tell you he could be better. He recently admitted that he still was trying to connect with his new teammates on the ice. He was brought in partly to help the power play, which didn’t produce in the opening month. His two power-play goals, which he scored in the first three games, lead the team.

Grade: C.

F Daniel Carcillo

Stats: 7 games, 2 assists, plus-5 rating, 2 penalty minutes, 25 hits.

Back check: He’s proving to be more than the rowdy fighter he’s often billed as. He’s driving to the net, causing traffic and even making nifty passes to linemates Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. Carcillo also has been physical without the penalty trouble. He leads the Hawks in hits despite sitting out four games because of suspensions.

Grade: A.

<<< G Ray Emery

Stats: 2-0-0 in 2 starts, .915 save per-

centage, 2.50 goals-against average.

Back check: He has shaken off an average preseason with two victories in his first two starts. Emery’s rebound control could be better, but Quenneville has been very pleased with his performance. It’s hard to argue against him.

Grade: B.

D Sami Lepisto

Stats: 3 games, plus-1 rating,

1 shot.

Back check: The Hawks’ system definitely fits him, but the team has enough puck-movers. Still, he remains a solid depth signing and had sound outings in place of veteran Sean O’Donnell the last two games.

Grade: Incomplete.

F Jamal Mayers

Stats: 11 games, 2 goals, 3 points, minus-1 rating, 17 penalty minutes, 12 shots, 15 hits, faceoff winning percentage of 60.

Back check: He has done what he was signed for, fighting three times, but he has done more. Mayers has helped kill penalties, has done well in the

faceoff circle and has been a calm presence in the locker room. Any scoring he provides is a bonus.

Grade: B-plus.

D Steve Montador

Stats: 11 games, 1 assist, plus-3 rating, 2 penalty minutes, 11 shots, 10 blocks.

Back check: Montador deserves credit for overcoming a bad camp and a rough debut in which he saw shifts on the fourth line. Now he’s playing like the solid fifth defenseman the Hawks hoped he’d be when they traded for him. He’s scrappy around the net, and he even has shown a knack for offensive creativity.

Grade: B.

D Sean O’Donnell

Stats: 9 games, 3 assists, even rating, 4 penalty minutes, 5 shots, 11 blocks, 11 hits.

Back check: There’s not much to complain about if O’Donnell is the sixth defenseman and he continues his reliable play. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for with smarts. He’s averaging two minutes per game on the penalty kill, giving others a much-needed breather. It looks as though Quenneville will give him some games off, but you know what to expect when he’s in the lineup.

Grade: B-plus.

F Rostislav Olesz

Stats: 2 games, 0 points, minus-1 rating, 2 penalty minutes, 1 shot.

Back check: With a salary-cap hit of more than $3 million, Olesz has turned into the most expensive regular scratch in the league. The Hawks call it a numbers game, saying it’s hard to change a lineup when things are going well. But when defenseman John Scott gets the first nod at wing against two division opponents, that says a lot more.

Grade: Incomplete.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 11.02.2011


Blackhawks’ November schedule is full of tests

By Tim Sassone

After the first month of the season, we still don’t know everything we will about the Blackhawks.

We can expect to know a lot more by the end of November, a month that promises to be one of the most challenging of the season.

The Hawks play 10 of 14 games on the road this month starting with a two-game swing through Florida. Lurking ahead, of course, is the six-game circus trip to Western Canada and California in two weeks.

“We’ve had a nice schedule here at home, but if you look at our month of November, our travel and some of the buildings we’re going into, we have some tough tests,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

The Hawks went 7-2-2 in October, capping the month with Monday’s gutty 5-4 win over Nashville in overtime. They are 5-0-2 at the United Center, where they have found a way to get points by digging down deep late in games.

“We’ve got little more swagger this year,” Viktor Stalberg said. “We feel like we’re going get out there and get that goal instead of sitting back like last year when we found ways to give up those late goals.”

“It hasn’t been perfect,” Jonathan Toews said of the Hawks’ start. “We’ve had some games already where we haven’t played our best hockey but found ways to win. Sometimes that’s what it’s all about. We know we can do that now with some of the tight games we’ve had.”

The power play remains a problem, although there was a noticeable improvement the last two games even though it went 0-for-12.

There are also defensive lapses in games that need to be ironed out.

“It’s been OK,” Quenneville said of his team’s start. “We haven’t got to the level we have to be, but there are some good signs. We’re more consistent in our team game, but there still is room for all areas of our game to be better. I still think there’s a higher level of pace we could be at.”

The power play has dropped to 29th out of 30 in the NHL rankings after Monday’s 0-for-7 performance, but the Hawks really did have some good chances against the Predators and goalie Pekka Rinne.

“It’s only a matter of time before we get something,” Patrick Kane said.

“It’s been frustrating,” Quenneville said. “The number of chances we had on the power play (Monday), something’s got to give. We were generating, which is what we’re looking for, but we need production. I think that’s what we measure and that’s what we’re looking to attain.”

Around the NHL the month of November is viewed as a time when teams begin to separate themselves in the standings, which is what the Hawks are looking to accomplish.

“You want to get off to a good start, get some numbers, get things going in the right direction,” Toews said. “We want to keep playing well and not waste time. We want to play the way we can.

“I think that adjustment period is over and it’s time to play our best hockey. We have great chemistry in different lines, everyone knows their roles. Whether we’re playing at home or on the road, we have a lot of important games coming up.”

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 11.02.2011


Where will Blackhawks choose to play Carcillo?

By Tim Sassone

When Daniel Carcillo returns from his two-game suspension on Thursday, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville will have a decision to make for the game with the Florida Panthers.

Does Quenneville return Carcillo to the second line with Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa, bumping Patrick Sharp back up to the first line with Jonathan Toews and Andrew Brunette?

Or does Quenneville leave red-hot Viktor Stalberg on the top line with Toews and Brunette, keep Sharp with Kane and Hossa, and plug Carcillo into the fourth line with Marcus Kruger and Jamal Mayers?

With 3 goals in the last two games, including 2 game-winners, Stalberg probably deserves a chance to stay with Toews.

“I feel more confident this year,” Stalberg said. “I'm not as afraid to make a mistake. Last year I was worried at times about not getting playing time if I made one mistake.”

Stalberg understands his game changes should he go back to the fourth line.

“It's a lot tougher to play the puck possession game when you play eight or 10 minutes a game. The past few games I've almost been double shifting. For me, I can keep my game going a little better when I'm out thee more.”

Come on, dad:

The players were looking forward to having their dads with them on the two-game road trip to Florida.

The dads will fly on the charters, eat at team meals and basically see what life is like for their kids on the road.

“When you can share some quality time like that with your father, it's going to be fun,” Patrick Sharp said. “I know my dad had a great time the last time.”

The last dads trip was two years ago. Last season the players brought their moms on a trip to California.

“My dad really enjoys it,” Patrick Kane said. “It's nice for the organization to let us do it for them to see what it's like on the road. It's a fun time, especially going to Florida. We'll be right on the water and the beach there. It's one of the perks about being with the Blackhawks.”

Hello, this is Peggy:

Discover Card launched a new national television ad Tuesday featuring Hawks star Patrick Kane and its popular “Peggy” character.

Kane's 30-second spot dealt with his frustration when calling the competition card's customer service department and getting Peggy.

In the ad, Kane is having issues with his credit card and phones “Peggy,” who provides absolutely no help as an employee for the fictitious U.S.A. Prime Credit Company. Instead, Kane ends up explaining some of his moves on the ice, thus helping “Peggy” score a goal in a game of table hockey he is playing in his one-room office in the middle of nowhere.

Boston goalie Tim Thomas stars in his own Discover commercial as well.

Here is a link to Kane's commercial.

Wait and see:

The Hawks were calling Duncan Keith day-to-day Tuesday with an upper body injury.

Keith was hurt early in the second period against the Predators and didn't return. He did make the trip to Florida.

Keith hasn't missed a game since the 2008-09 season and has missed only six in seven years in the NHL.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 11.02.2011


Blackhawks aren't concerned with power outage

Staff

Patrick Sharp can't finish off a pass from Jonathan Toews on the power play Monday vs. Nashville.

Marian Hossa said frustration isn’t there right now.

Hossa has been out there on that Blackhawks power play, which is mired in a definite early-season slump. He’s taken his shots and watched his teammates do the same. But no matter the game, the opposing goaltender or the number of chances, the Blackhawks just can’t connect on a power-play goal. Zip, zilch, nothing. And on Monday night against Nashville it was 0-for-7 nothing.

But Hossa isn’t worried.

“We’re not really frustrated right now because we do a lot of good things. We’re moving,” he said. “Just about the time when the first puck goes in, then it’ll come in bunches.”

It’s an optimistic attitude for a power play that hasn’t had many positives. Yes, the opportunities have been there, and in the last two games so have the more choice shots. It didn’t help on Monday that Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne was not in a very giving mood on the Blackhawks’ power plays. But the power play remains anemic nonetheless, as the Blackhawks have capitalized just four times on 45 advantages this season.

The Blackhawks’ last power-play goal came Oct. 22 against the Colorado Avalanche; they’ve gone 0 for 18 in their last four games. They’re converting just 8.9 percent of the time, which puts them 29th in the league – only St. Louis’ power play is more futile (8.3 percent). Contrast that with their penalty kill, which has scored just one less goal (three) than their power play.

There’s your random stat for the day.

And as much as power-play chances and shots have improved, coach Joel Quenneville said those positives only go so far.

“With the number of chances we’ve had, something’s got to give,” he said. “We’re generating but we need production. That’s what we measure and that’s what we’re looking to attain.”

Quenneville loves to switch forward lines and defensive pairings when things aren’t going right, and he’s done the same with the power play. The new combinations have yielded better scoring chances. But the Blackhawks could still shoot more: they had nine shots on seven power plays on Monday, including just two on a 5 on 3 that lasted one minute, 35 seconds.

When the Blackhawks had early shootout issues several players said this group was too talented for that to last. They were right. The mini-drought didn’t last and the same is likely for the power play.

The Blackhawks have weathered power-play woes with good work elsewhere: strong goaltending and their ability to pile up goals on even strength among them. They also benefit from a stellar penalty kill, which is third in the NHL (91.7 percent). They probably win some games more handily if the power play’s working, but they’re a strong 7-2-2 nonetheless.

Hockey’s a game of ups and downs. The power play is decidedly down right now but the Blackhawks say it’s only a matter of time before it starts producing.

“We’re doing everything except putting it in the net,” Patrick Kane said. “Everything else is looking pretty good as far as movement. Breakouts were good tonight and there was good movement on the 5 on 3 and 5 on 4. We just have to score goals.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.02.2011

586086 Colorado Avalanche

Shane O'Brien matures into ultimate Avs' teammate

By Adrian Dater

The Denver Post

Posted: 11/02/2011 01:00:00 AM MDT

It hasn't taken Shane O'Brien long to become one of the most-liked teammates on the Avalanche. From his outgoing nature to his willingness to stand up for a teammate on the ice, O'Brien is considered the epitome of a team guy. Which is what makes what happened to him as a member of the Vancouver Canucks seem ironic.

Things are going well for O'Brien on and off the ice, but near the end of the 2009-10 season with the Canucks, his reputation as a team- first guy took a big hit. He was benched for three games for disciplinary reasons. There were reports of O'Brien spending late nights at a local nightclub, which may have contributed to him being late to practice. He was labeled by some as a party boy who was more interested in having a good time than playing hockey.

While expressing contrition after the Canucks benched him and saying he learned from the episode, O'Brien now says Vancouver's treatment of him was a bit over the top.

"Looking back on it, maybe they could have done a better job of sweeping it under the rug or maybe protecting me a little bit," O'Brien said. "But the coach (Alain Vigneault) obviously was trying to send a message. I don't agree with the way he did it, but he did it the way he wanted to do it."

Not that O'Brien, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound defenseman, absolves himself.

"You live and learn. Obviously, playing in that hockey market with the media attention they get, it got a little blown out of proportion. But at the same time, I put myself in that situation and definitely learned from it," he said. "The lesson is, to be a professional. There's a time and a place to have fun and blow off a little bit of steam, but we get paid a really good living and you've got to be responsible not only to yourself but your teammates."

Avalanche coach Joe Sacco, a stickler for discipline and not afraid to put players on the bench for not working hard, was aware of the episode in Vancouver, but he and the Avs weren't dissuaded from signing O'Brien this summer as a free agent. They are happy they did now.

"He's been a real nice addition to our lineup. He plays hard and plays within himself," Sacco said. "Shane's a little bit older now (28), a little bit wiser. I had a good talk with him at the start of the year, and he just wants to play hockey now. Every player at the start of their career probably does something they wish they could take back. I don't even know all the stuff that happened there, but you hear stuff. He's been great here, and I see no issues as far as that side."

Avs defenseman Ryan O'Byrne has nothing but good things to say about his new teammate — and not just because they're both Irish.

"He's been great for us. He's really stepped in and helped our D. He's a vocal guy in the room and on the bench, and I think we needed that," O'Byrne said. "We were a little quiet last year. He's a guy that's always talking, always getting guys going. He's played (390) games in this league, so he's got a lot of respect around the league. He's been a big part of our success so far. He's an old-school kind of guy, just comes to the rink every day with a smile on his face."

O'Brien earned more respect in the room Friday night against Edmonton when he immediately fought 6-6 Oilers defenseman Andy Sutton for a hit to the head of Avs rookie Gabriel Landeskog, which earned Sutton a five-game suspension from the NHL on Tuesday.

"I told him thanks, that I appreciated it," Landeskog said. "Those are the things that build team chemistry."

That, ultimately, is what O'Brien wants to be known for — adding positives to the team mix.

"We've got a young team here, and I want to be a leader and set a good example," he said.

Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or [email protected]

Phoenix at Colorado

7:30 p.m. today, ALT, 950 AM

Avalanche: Semyon Varlamov will start in goal for Colorado. . . . There were no line changes at Tuesday's practice. . . . Avs rookie Gabriel Landeskog, victimized by an elbow to the head from Edmonton's Andy Sutton on Friday that resulted in Sutton's five-game suspension from the NHL, took the high road when asked about the hit. "I should have been more aware of what was coming," Landeskog said.

Coyotes: Phoenix recently acquired Cal O'Reilly, the brother of Avs center Ryan O'Reilly, for a fourth-round draft pick from Nashville. Cal O'Reilly currently is sidelined with a groin injury. . . . Phoenix has killed 34 of the last 37 power plays it has faced. . . . Former Av Radim Vrbata broke a seven-game scoring drought with two goals in Phoenix's last victory, over Los Angeles. Adrian Dater, The Denver Post

Spotlight on Shane Doan: One of the NHL's most respected players, the longtime captain of the Coyotes is still playing well at age 35. He entered Tuesday with 10 points for a Coyotes team that remains difficult to play against.

Denver Post: LOADED: 11.02.2011


NHL suspends Sutton five games for hit to Landeskog's head

The Associated Press

Posted: 11/02/2011 01:00:00 AM MDT

NEW YORK — Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andy Sutton was suspended five games Tuesday for elbowing Avalanche rookie forward Gabriel Landeskog.

The suspension was announced by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan.

Sutton delivered an elbow to the head of Landeskog early in the third period of Edmonton's 3-1 victory Friday.

Sutton was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing on the play.

"At the moment of impact, it's clear that the head is the principal point of contact and has been recklessly targeted," Shanahan said in a video on NHL.com that explains the suspension. "Landeskog is looking back for the pass and rotates his head, but the position of his head does not dramatically change."

Shanahan and the department of player safety examined Sutton's disciplinary history while making its decision.

"We've also taken into consideration that although Sutton has played a physical game over his 14 years, he's been fined and suspended for various illegal checks," Shanahan said.

Sutton sat out Sunday's 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues while the NHL made its decision.

"I have been informed of and understand the league's decision. However, I had no intention of delivering an illegal check," Sutton said. "For 14 years, I've always played the game with respect and integrity, and I will continue to do so when I return."

Sutton will forfeit more than $57,000 in salary.



Avalanche starting Varlamov in net against Coyotes

By Adrian Dater

The Denver Post

Posted: 11/01/2011 02:21:33 PM MDT

Updated: 11/01/2011 02:27:23 PM MDT

Semyon Varlamov will start again in net Wednesday night night when the Avalanche hosts the Phoenix Coyotes at the Pepsi Center, coach Joe Sacco announced today.

"Varly has been real solid for us," Sacco said. "We're going to stay with him."

The Avalanche spent most of today's practice working on special teams, especially penalty killing. There were no changes to any of the lines from the previous game, with TJ Galiardi skating on a line still with Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk.


586089 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets notebook: Defense getting key pieces back

By Shawn Mitchell

An eight-game suspension to top defenseman James Wisniewski stunned the Blue Jackets’ blue line before the season began.

It was followed by injuries to Radek Martinek (concussion) and Marc Methot (broken thumb) on Oct. 21.

Three of the Jackets’ four best defenders have been out of the lineup for long stretches.

The results have been predictable: The Jackets rank 27th in scoring defense and have allowed 3.25 goals per game.

“We were playing with a pretty young ‘D’ corps and you don’t see that much in the league, so many young guys playing,” defenseman Kris Russell said.

The return of Wisniewski four games ago was the first step toward plugging some leaks.

The second has been the eye-opening play of emerging rookie John Moore, who logged 22 minutes, 47 seconds in a win over Anaheim on Sunday, more than double the average of his first four games this season.

Methot might be the third. He said he is “ready to roll” after missing five games.

Might some order be restored to a struggling defense in time for a game against visiting Toronto on Thursday?

“(Methot) plays big minutes and it slots people back where they’re supposed to be,” said Jackets coach Scott Arniel, who said many of his defensemen “were probably playing way too much” in recent games.

“If we can get Martinek back it does the same thing,” Arniel said. “It allows people to play more within their comfort zone, not having to do things when they’re under fatigue and being put in situations they haven’t dealt with before in their careers.”

Wisniewski has borne a heavy burden since his return. He leads the NHL in average ice time (28:20).

“I don’t want to play Wiz 30 minutes a game, but Johnny eating up more and Meth coming in and eating up more will help that,” Arniel said.

Net progress

Goaltender Mark Dekanich (high-ankle sprain) joined the Jackets in Chicago last weekend and continues to practice with the team.

His workload increased yesterday. He participated in most of practice. He is scheduled to begin a rehab stint with minor-league Springfield next week.

“It’s progressing,” said Dekanich, who suffered the injury in the preseason opener. “I’m just glad to be back on the ice with the guys. I’d like to be able do everything this week and get back into game shape.”

Dekanich was held out of drills involving rough stuff in front of the net.

“He didn’t get too much into the contact stuff in case somebody fell on top of him,” Arniel said. “But he’s getting closer.”

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 11.02.2011


Johansen will stay with Blue Jackets

By Shawn Mitchell

Ryan Johansen has scored two goals in his nine-game NHL career.

But both were game-winners, putting the baby-faced Blue Jackets rookie into some elite company. Only four NHL players have scored more winning goals this season.

It is not a coincidence that Johansen, 19, had his stay in the NHL extended yesterday afternoon.

The Blue Jackets announced that the former first-round draft pick will remain with the team and not be immediately returned to the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.

When Johansen plays his 10th game, likely on Thursday against visiting Toronto, the first year of his entry-level contract will engage and he will earn the right to become a restricted free agent after 2013-14.

If he played nine games or fewer, his contract would have expired at the end of 2014-15. Johansen can still be sent to Portland but it is unlikely, especially in the short-term. NHL rules prohibit him from being sent to minor-league Springfield until he is 20.

“I thought I’ve given a good effort and really tried my best to adjust to this level,” Johansen said. “I feel confident up here and I feel like I can play up here.”

The Blue Jackets, guilty of rushing prospects to the big club in the past, feel the same. Johansen — and no one else — was going to determine when he was ready, development coach Tyler Wright said this summer. That time is now.

“I think he can help us win some games,” general manager Scott Howson said. “He’s shown he can certainly contribute at this level. He hasn’t done it consistently yet, but that’s not uncommon for players at this age.

“He has earned the opportunity to stay beyond the 10th game by his play. I don’t feel like we’re pushing him into a role where he is going to fail.”

Johansen’s first days in the NHL have been among the few positive developments during the Jackets’ 2-9-1 start, mainly because of his play since moving from center to right wing five games ago.

All of his points — two goals and two assists — have come in the past five games, during which he is plus-one and has increased his ice time by five minutes per game.

Johansen scored the winner in a three-goal victory over Detroit on Oct. 25. He beat Anaheim goalie Dan Ellis with a sublime backhand on Sunday. Both were the second goals scored by the Jackets in wins in which they held their opponent to one goal.

“I guess that’s a pretty good stat,” Johansen said. “Both games were great team games and I just happened to get the second goal in those games. It’s a good feeling.”

Johansen continues to gain strength, and he is beginning to put his 6-foot-3, 209-pound body in the right places away from the puck.

That has caught his teammates’ attention.

“He has used his size in recent games and given some glimpses of what is to come,” forward R.J. Umberger said. “He is playing in hard areas with and without the puck. He is making it tougher for defensemen to stop him.”

The Jackets hope to eventually move Johansen back to center, where he has traditionally played.

The No.?4 overall pick in the 2010 draft had 92 points in 63 games for Portland last season. He had 13 goals and 15 assists in 21 playoff games and led the Winterhawks to the WHL finals.

Similar consistency with the Jackets has eluded him, but Johansen is wise enough to know he is still very much a work in progress.

“If I thought I was going to have a great game every night I would be crazy,” Johansen said. “Obviously, there are still going to be some teaching points.”



Learning curve

Staff

Blue Jackets forward and seventh-year veteran R.J. Umberger said it might take some time for rookie forward Ryan Johansen to learn the daily demands of the NHL. Umberger said it took multiple seasons for him to feel like he truly belonged in the league. “Consistency is something all players battle, not just rookies,” Umberger said. “I think the light bulb truly went (on) at the end of my third year.”



Season status report

Staff

2: Points needed by Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash to become the 404th NHL player to reach 500 career points. Nash has 263 goals and 235 assists in 604 games. He has scored four times and has six assists in 12 games this season.


586093 Dallas Stars

New coaching staff giving Stars players voice in improvement

By MIKE HEIKA

Staff Writer

[email protected]

Published: 01 November 2011 05:28 AM

The Stars really have embraced the phrase “hard to play against” as their slogan this season.

But what does that mean?

Is it the “hard to play against” that won the Stanley Cup for the Bruins with physical play, fights and battles in front of the net? Is it the “hard to play against” of the Red Wings, in which they have the puck all of the time and frustrate opponents with their skill? Or is it the “hard to play against” of Vancouver, which sends wave after wave of speedy lines at teams and forces them to react?

No, the Stars are trying to find their own identity based on defensive play, consistent attention to details and trying to make sure that goaltender Kari Lehtonen doesn’t have to face 40 shots every game — something that certainly will cost the team over an 82-game season.

“To us, it’s the details, it’s the structure and the team play,” said Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk. “It’s your skilled guys taking chances, but still getting back to play hard on defense, it’s your third or fourth line getting in hard and taking the body, it’s your defensemen being bigger and meaner, it’s Kari coming up with that big save at the right time of the game. All of that is hard to play against, and all of that is going to help you win.”

Yet, the 8-3-0 Stars won early when they were giving up 40 shots against, when the skilled players weren’t getting back all of the time, and when the defense might not have been so mean. And that’s why the coaches and players believe they still have room for improvement.

“It is a work in progress, and we feel we’re moving forward,” said Stars coach Glen Gulutzan. “Every game, we’re learning about our players and they’re learning about us.”

A good example of how Gulutzan works is how the team dealt with a problem concerning entries on the power play. The Stars struggled to keep the puck in the offensive zone early in the season, thus allowing no momentum with the man advantage, so Gulutzan had meetings with the players and they came up with a solution as a group.

“Two of the things we’re doing right now, the guys came up with themselves,” Gulutzan said. “I think that’s the kind of environment you want.”

Defenseman Alex Goligoski said he enjoyed the give and take between the players and the coaches, and said there is a strong energy in the room to get better every game and every practice.

“We have a lot of new faces, so you’re learning every day,” Goligoski said. “But I like the fact that we have conversations and we solve problems together.”

It’s that kind of attitude that allows the players to stay invested. Now, you’d hope players would be giving a new coaching staff every advantage no matter what, but Gulutzan, 40, had just two years in the American Hockey League to get ready for this promotion. If he and his coaching staff hadn’t carried themselves so well in training camp and the early season, there might have been some push back.

For example, centers Mike Ribeiro and Jamie Benn each were determined to drive the offense early, and took far too many risky chances. The team addressed it, and the Stars are a better team because of it. In fact, Benn has found a great deal more offensive opportunities when he plays his game out of a strong defensive base.

“That is what we have to be, and what we want to be,” said Benn’s linemate, Steve Ott. “We are going to generate offensive chances out of good defensive play. We’re getting better at that.”

In fact, Ott believes they are getting better at everything. They started the season in the mid-40s in winning percentage on faceoffs, but have pushed that total to 50.5 percent. They allowed an average of 37.5 shots against in the first four games, but have allowed 29.8 since.

“You ask what our personality is, and I think it is hard to play against,” Ott said. “We’re a team that’s going to keep structure and concentrate on details and play together as a team. I think that’s hard to play against. And the thing is, I really do think we’re getting better. We are where we are in the standings, and I think we all believe we haven’t played our best games yet.”

And that just feeds even more belief in the system.

“We know this is a process and we have to keep pushing every day,” Nieuwendyk said. “You can see that the good teams in this league are getting better, and we want to be in that group of good teams. The level of play is only going to go up, and we have to keep pushing hard to raise our game.”

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 11.02.2011

586094 Dallas Stars

Tuesday practice update _ Steve Ott questionable for Friday

Mike Heika / Reporter

12:59 PM on Tue., Nov. 1, 2011

The Stars are in the middle of a five-day break between games, and returned to the practice ice after two days off. Steve Ott and Jamie Benn both missed practice. Benn had taken a shot to reduce swelling and pain in his wrist, and should be fine (Sheldon Souray did this recently). Ott, however, could be out longer after getting cut on the hip by a skate.

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said Ott took some pain-killing shots to get through Saturday's 3-1 win over New Jersey, but said the Stars have to address this issue now and allow Ott to get some rest.

There were no real lines in practice today, so we're not sure how they will address it.

``Otter, he's going to be questionable for Friday,'' Gulutzan said. ``His hip has been bugging him, He bucked up for us Saturday and took a couple of shots, but we can't keep doing that. You have to let it heal for a bit.''

Nicklas Grossman was on the ice. He received 60 stitches in his cheek after being cut by a skate Saturday. He was wearing a full cage, but said he does not expect to keep it on for very long.


586095 Dallas Stars

Kari Lehtonen named NHL's second Star of the Month for October

Mike Heika / Reporter

[email protected] | Bio

9:24 PM on Tue., Nov. 1, 2011

FRISCO -- Kari Lehtonen has been one of the hardest working players on the Stars for the last two seasons, and that work is paying off.

Lehtonen was named the second Star of the Month for October by the NHL, joining Toronto's Phil Kessel and Edmonton's Nikolai Khabibulin as the top three players honored.

Lehtonen went 8-1-0 last month with a 1.75 GAA and a .947 save percentage. He improved his overall record with the Stars to 48-29-11.

"Of course, it feels good," Lehtonen said. "When you do a lot of work and you're able to help the team win some games, that's what every goalie wants.

"So far, it's been going well, and when I've been having a tough time, they've been helping me out. It's been fun so far, and hopefully we can keep it going."

Lehtonen also credited goalie coach Mike Valley with helping him find his game.

The second overall pick in 2002, Lehtonen had struggled with injuries in Atlanta. However, the Stars acquired him in 2010, and he has been steadily improving.

"It's been the biggest change for me," Lehtonen said of Valley's guidance. "He used to play in Europe, too, so he kind of knows what I've been doing ever since I was 5 years old, and we've been trying to bring those things back every day we go out on the ice. I think that's been a huge help."

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said Lehtonen's work ethic has been the main reason for his success.

"He's putting in the work, and lo and behold, he's getting the results," Gulutzan said.

"He's a focused guy, he's got a great family, and he comes to the rink ready to work. He's going to prove to be one of the elite."


586096 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist debuts on 2nd line with Johan Franzen, Todd Bertuzzi

By HELENE ST. JAMES

DETROIT

What stood out about Gustav Nyquist during training camp was how smart he played.

Physical strength can be gained, and stickhandling can be worked on, but good hockey sense is innate. The Wings saw that in Nyquist two months ago, and that's why they called him up from the minors and had him play just over 11 minutes during Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss to Minnesota at Joe Louis Arena.

After the game, coach Mike Babcock said Nyquist "was fine, and yet we'll talk about that and go from there."

Before the loss, Babcock was more effusive, saying, "What I like about him is, he generates offense, he seems to be calm with the puck, and he doesn't make you scared to death that he's out there making 'hope' plays. We think he's an NHL player."

Babcock used Nyquist on a newly formed second line, with Johan Franzen and Todd Bertuzzi, as well as on the power play.

"I'm super excited to get the opportunity here," Nyquist said of his NHL debut. "I just have to play my game. They're a puck-possession team up here, and I like to have the puck, too. So it's a great system. It's just a dream come true."

Franzen was impressed by Nyquist after playing with him during the exhibition season. "He's a smart player," Franzen said. "One of those guys where the puck is going to follow him around. He's got that skill where he can both shoot it and find passes and still be responsible defensively. You either have hockey sense or you don't, pretty much. So that's a big thing."

The Wings selected Nyquist, 22, in the fourth round in the 2008 draft, then watched with satisfaction as he became a standout player at Maine before turning pro last spring.

He attended training camp with the Wings in September and was impressive, but he didn't make the team for two reasons: There wasn't room on the 23-man roster without trading somebody, and the Wings prefer to let young players mature in the minors.

Nyquist had nine points in nine games in the AHL.

"I kind of knew going into camp that that's how the organization works, and I think that's why they're so successful, also, with their prospects, because they know when they're ready," Nyquist said. "I just went down there and worked hard and had a blast."

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 11.02.2011


Minnesota 2, Detroit 1 (OT): Nicklas Lidstrom questions no-call on OT goal

By HELENE ST. JAMES

DETROIT

Not one to speak harshly most of the time, Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom was terse and to the point after his team lost for the fifth straight time Tuesday night.

Lidstrom acknowledged the Wings were careless with some of the nine penalties they took in the 2-1 overtime loss to Minnesota at Joe Louis Arena, but he didn't like what happened on the winning play.

Mikko Koivu smacked Niklas Kronwall up high, knocking his helmet back and sending Kronwall falling to the ice as Koivu got the puck to Devin Setoguchi for the winner. The Wings said Kronwall will be evaluated today.

Kronwall was battling for the puck when it happened. No penalty was called.

"I think it's a penalty," Lidstrom said. "Especially when we've seen it get called against us on a few different occasions, especially (Todd) Bertuzzi has been doing pretty much the same thing, and we've been getting the calls against us. We didn't get that call tonight."

The Wings were killing off an eighth power play when Setoguchi converted his own rebound to leave the Wings with one point gained since Oct. 21 after four outright losses. Goalie Jimmy Howard called the latest outing "unfortunate. I thought we were the better team, and we deserved the win."

They didn't help themselves with a lack of discipline, highlighted by Drew Miller's blatant charging of goaltender Josh Harding 36 seconds after Bertuzzi had been sent to the box in the third period. It took a terrific effort by Howard for the Wings to emerge unscathed, still protecting the 1-0 lead provided by Lidstrom in the first period.

"We were in the box a lot, and that gave them a lot of momentum," Lidstrom said. "We couldn't get our lines going. I thought we were in the box a couple too many times tonight."

Coach Mike Babcock complimented the penalty killers and cautioned against some of the penalties, especially Miller's. "It's ridiculous, right?" Babcock said. "There were a number of penalties that didn't need to be. Even the too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty, when the puck is coming to your bench and you're on a change. That happens all the time. You can't touch it.

"We're not being good enough. We're going to have to fix it. With a minute left we had the puck going in the offensive zone. All we had to do was put it behind them. We didn't. Then we had the puck coming up the wall. All we had to do was get it out. We didn't. I mean, the bottom line is, we're not winning."



Red Wings notes and quotes from Tuesday's loss

By HELENE ST. JAMES

DETROIT

What happened: The Wings took a 1-0 lead when they scored a second after a power play expired. Pavel Datsyuk skated the puck to the goal line before firing through traffic and finding Henrik Zetterberg inside the right circle. Nicklas Lidstrom tipped Zetterberg's shot. The Wings outshot the Wild, 12-4, in the opening period.

Jimmy Howard had his finest stretch of the game just under 5 minutes into the third period, after an ill-advised penalty by Drew Miller left the Wings down two skaters for 1:24. While killing off a penalty to Todd Bertuzzi, Miller skated behind Minnesota's net and ran into goalie Josh Harding, drawing a charging call. Thanks especially to Howard, the Wings emerged unscathed.

Danny Cleary had a great chance to end the game in the opening minute of overtime, but when Johan Franzen went off for interference, Devin Setoguchi converted when he got his own rebound. The Wild had eight power plays.

Overheard: Coach Mike Babcock, on the game, "I thought it was a tough night, but we've got to take responsibility for what we did. ... I think we believe we're a good team, but you've got to play for 60 minutes. I thought we got off to a real good start tonight, but you've got to give Harding a lot of credit."

Holmstrom promoted/Hudler demoted: Tomas Holmstrom was back playing alongside Datsyuk and Zetterberg after starting the year on the fourth line. "I like Tommy's approach," Babcock said. "Tommy started the year on the fourth line and all he's done is work hard. And to me by doing that, you force the coach's hand." Jiri Hudler, on the other hand, was scratched after going without a point five straight games and without a shot for four. "Well, I never, like, was a shooter," Hudler said. "Obviously they want me to shoot, but I'm still looking for extra pass there."

Our three stars: 1. Mikko Koivu; 2. Howard; 3. Setoguchi.

Up next: Thursday against the Flames.



Minnesota 2, Detroit 1 (OT): Wild extends Wings' winless streak to 5

By HELENE ST. JAMES

DETROIT

The Detroit Red Wings gained a point tonight but couldn't overcome having to kill off eight Minnesota power plays.

They ended up losing, 2-1 in overtime, at Joe Louis Arena, extending their winless streak to five straight games. Devin Setoguchi scored with 3:27 left in OT during a power play, one of many that defined the game.

A power play goal and solid goaltending from Jimmy Howard had the Wings protecting a tender lead when they found themselves short two skaters after Drew Miller blatantly charged into Minnesota goaltender Josh Harding 36 seconds after Todd Bertuzzi had been sent to the penalty box.

Howard responded with several great saves, including a close-in attempt by Mikko Koivu after Matt Cullen's shot spurted out to the right side of the crease. The Wild got five straight power plays during the game.

It took pulling Harding for them to finally break Howard, when Koivu tipped Justin Falk's shot to force overtime.

A second before the four-minute mark the Wings already had racked up a 6-0 shot advantage. They earned a power play when Marek Zidlicky tripped Henrik Zetterberg, and scored a second after it expired, when Zetterberg's shot went in off Lidstrom's stick.

The Wings then killed off two straight Minnesota power plays so well that Jimmy Howard hardly saw any pucks, as guys like Brad Stuart stepped in to block an attempt from Koivu. The Wings outshot the Wild, 12-4, in the period, despite winning just 42% of the face-offs.

Those two penalties quieted the momentum with which the Wings had begun the game, but they picked it up again in the second period, spurred by a big hit from Stuart on Justin Falk.

They had forced almost 10 saves from Josh Harding by the time the Wild got its third power play of the game, just past the halfway point, but then got sidetracked again having to kill another pair of back-to-back Minnesota man advantages. Howard came through with a dozen saves to help the Wings keep the lead going into the third period.



Wings' mistakes to blame for slide

Detroit -- Every year since the NHL lockout, the gap between Ken Holland's thumb and index finger gets smaller. It's to the point now that it's barely a sliver when the subject turns to parity in the NHL and the Red Wings' general manager turns to visual aids.

"Everybody's thisclose," he'll say, pinching for effect.

And these days, his head coach, Mike Babcock, a guy who treats excuses like land mines, finds himself using the same sign language, even when he's not happy with his own team's body language.

"When you come off it, there's not much between us," Babcock said Tuesday morning, as the Wings prepared to face the Minnesota Wild. "We're all the same."

And when you come off it the way the Wings did Tuesday night, coughing up a last-minute lead in regulation and losing, 2-1, in overtime to the Wild at Joe Louis Arena, well, you see what they mean. Even if you don't like what you see, especially from the referees.

The overtime whistles notwithstanding — and the Wings sure looked like they had a legitimate gripe with the referees at the end — Tuesday's game looked a lot like Detroit's season to date.

Boxed in

The Wings started fast and looked furious right out of the gate, cycling and skating and putting the first eight shots on net, trying to end a four-game skid. When Nick Lidstrom redirected a power-play shot from Henrik Zetterberg — off a pretty cross-ice feed from Pavel Datsyuk — past Minnesota goalie Josh Harding for a 1-0 lead at 6:00 of the first period, the Wings looked to be on again.

But then they came off it, and the Wings started a conga line to the penalty box, and before you knew it, that momentum had vanished, as had whatever edge the home team felt it had.

"We believe we've got a good team," Babcock said afterward. "The bottom line is you've got to play like you're a good team. And you have to play for 60 minutes."

Tuesday night, the Wings didn't come close to that. They didn't play an awful game. In fact, they've really only played one of those this season, last week at Columbus. But they've scored five goals in their last five games — all losses — and as Lidstrom said, yes, "It's a concern when you're not scoring goals."

But forget the calls in overtime for a minute. Forget about Johan Franzen's out-of-the-crease goaltender interference and Niklas Kronwall's — ahem— collision with Mikko Koivu that left the door open for Devin Setoguchi's point-blank winner. Instead, try to remember the calls that came earlier.

Red-handed

Todd Bertuzzi got whistled twice in the second period — once for a retaliatory cross-check after the whistle and later for a slash that broke a stick in front of the bench. The Wings drew a silly bench minor for too many men on the ice. And then Drew Miller went barreling into Harding as the goalie played the puck behind his net, earning an obvious interference call.

"Well, I mean, it's ridiculous, right?" Babcock said, clearly annoyed as he looked at the stat sheet and saw eight power plays for the Wild to only four for his team. "There were a number of penalties tonight that didn't need to be. Obviously, we're not helping ourselves right now."

As a result, they find themselves sitting at .500, only five games after a 5-0 start. This is the Wings' first five-game losing skid since January 2009, and as Babcock, whose team nearly survived Tuesday thanks to Jimmy Howard and the penalty-killing units, pointed out earlier in the day, that "was when we had half the team injured, it wasn't when we had all hands on deck."

"I mean, we got a point tonight, but the reality is we're not being good enough," the coach said. "So we're gonna have to fix it. … The bottom line is we're not winning."

And in case you hadn't noticed it, in today's NHL, it's a fine line from top to bottom. That's something the Wings, sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference, have no choice but to realize — and soon.

Detroit News LOADED: 11.02.2011


Gustav Nyquist earns spot in Wings' lineup

By Ted Kulfan The Detroit News

Detroit— Gustav Nyquist joined the Red Wings lineup Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, meaning someone else had to watch.

Hello, Jiri Hudler.

Scoreless his last five games and without a shot his last four, Hudler was scratched Tuesday.

"Every time you go out of the lineup, you're not happy about it," Hudler said. "I have to keep working hard is what I have to do."

Nyquist wound up on a line with Todd Bertuzzi and Johan Franzen.

While Hudler was the player benched, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock was quick to point out there were other candidates considered.

"Huds might be thinking, 'Why me?'" Babcock said. "The reality is there are other guys who can join him."

Said Hudler, who has two goals in nine games: "I never was a shooter. They want me to shoot, but I'm looking for (an) extra pass. I've got to think about it (shoot the puck). I have to stay loose and (play) my game."

Nyquist, a 2008 fourth-round pick, was a Hobey Baker finalist (college hockey MVP) at Maine last season (51 points, 36 games) before turning pro and joining Grand Rapids (four points, eight games).

Nyquist played 11 minutes, 7 seconds in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss to Minnesota on 13 shifts. He had no shots on goal.

"We brought this kid here to give him an opportunity," Babcock said of Nyquist, who had nine points in nine games at Grand Rapids this season. "If you don't give him an opportunity then you can't find out."

There were expectations Nyquist would be called up later this season, maybe even next season, after a full year of seasoning.

But his early-season struggles, combined with Nyquist's torrid play in Grand Rapids, changed those plans.

"I went down there (to Grand Rapids) and tried to do my best," Nyquist said. "I kind of knew coming into camp that's (how) the organization works and that's why they're so successful with their prospects. They know when they're ready (to contribute)."

Holmstrom moves up

Babcock shuffled his lines for the Tuesday's game, reuniting Tomas Holmstrom with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg .

Holmstrom began the season on the fourth line, but has moved to the top line.

"I like Tommy's approach," Babcock said.



Wild extends Red Wings' losing streak to five

Ted Kulfan/ The Detroit News

Detroit — A minute away Tuesday from ending a losing streak, the Red Wings instead find themselves today simply trying to still win a game.

They're not helping themselves these days.

They're making it tougher each time out.

Minnesota's Devin Setoguchi — who used to torment the Wings in San Jose the past several years — scored a power-play goal at 1 minute, 33 seconds into overtime Tuesday to send the Wild to a 2-1 overtime victory over the Red Wings.

The loss stretched the Wings' winless streak to five games (0-4-1), the longest such streak since 2009.

They've only scored five goals in those five losses.

"We're not helping ourselves right now," coach Mike Babcock said. "We earned a point but the reality is we weren't good enough.

"We have to fix it. The bottom line is we aren't winning."

The Wings had nine penalties leading to eight Minnesota power plays.

The Wild scored on that eighth attempt in overtime, when Johan Franzen was whistled for interference on Wild goalie Josh Harding.

But the winning goal had controversy.

Wild forward Mikko Koivu bounced Niklas Kronwall off the puck in the corner with an elbow to the head.

Koivu worked the puck to the middle, then found Setoguchi at the side of the net while Kronwall was still trying to get up in the corner.

Setoguchi was stopped by goalie Jimmy Howard on his first attempt, but scored on the rebound.

Kronwall didn't talk to reporters after the game.

The Wings said he'll be re-evaluated today.

Babcock wasn't pleased with the fact the Wings were continually putting themselves in the box.

"You have to take responsibility on what you do on the ice and putting your team short-handed," Babcock said. "Eventually they have good players too and they'll score.

When Kronwall was dinged, we were really short-handed."

Said Nicklas Lidstrom, who scored the lone Wings goal, on the undisciplined penalties: "It's been hurting us. Guys are trying to score and trying their best to get the offense, but we get frustrated and we've been taking penalties and it's been hurting us."

Still, the Wings were in position to win the game but Koivu tied the game and forced overtime with a minute left in regulation.

Koivu deflected a shot from defenseman Justin Falk past Howard.

"It's frustrating, I felt we were the better team and deserved to win," said Howard, who made 25 saves. "But it just didn't happen."

Lidstrom scored for the Wings at the six-minute mark of the first period.

With a Wings power play just expiring, Lidstrom redirected a pass from Henrik Zetterberg near the hashmarks past Wild goalie Josh Harding.

Zetterberg and Datsyuk drew assists

But beginning in the second period, the Wings began an assembly line into the penalty box.

Eventually, it came back to haunt them.

"We couldn't get any rhythm with our lines," Lidstrom said. "Sometimes you're pressing hard and trying to score but we were in the penalty box a few too many times."



Wings' Jiri Hudler scratched as Gustav Nyquist joins lineup

Ted Kulfan/ The Detroit News

Detroit — Someone had to sit with Gustav Nyquist joining the Red Wings lineup Tuesday, and that someone will be Jiri Hudler.

Coach Mike Babcock will scratch Hudler and Cory Emmerton (along with defenseman Mike Commodore, who has yet to play this season) Tuesday night as the Wings host the Minnesota Wild.

Hudler doesn't have a point in the last four games, nor a shot on goal. But Babcock made sure to emphasize Hudler isn't the only Red Wing slumping.

"Huds might be thinking, 'Why me?'" Babcock said. "The reality is there are other guys who can join him."

Hudler said he doesn't like not playing, but will do what he can to return to the lineup.

"I have to keep working hard is what I have to do," Hudler said. "Obviously they want me to shoot. I have to stay loose and (play) my game."

Nyquist will skate with Todd Bertuzzi and Johan Franzen, and will see time on the power play.

The Wings have scored four goals during their current four-game losing streak and hope Nyquist can inject a spark into a sleepy offense.

"This is a huge day for me, something I've been dreaming about since I was a little kid," Nyquist said. "I'm just having fun right now. Everything happens so fast here, but I'm excited to get an opportunity here and now I have to show them I want to be out there."



Dazed Red Wings' defenseman Niklas Kronwall will be re-evaluated on Wednesday

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings did not provide an update on the condition of defenseman Niklas Kronwall following Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild at Joe Louis Arena, saying he'll be further evaluated on Wednesday.

Kronwall was shaken up and struggled to get to his feet after Mikko Koivu drove his shoulder or elbow into the defenseman's head as they raced for the puck in overtime. Seconds later, Koivu set up Devin Setoguchi for the winning goal.

The Red Wings already were shorthanded on the play. A dazed Kronwall could not get back on his feet, let alone back into the play. He was helped off the ice.

Kronwall was playing his first game after signing a seven-year, $33.25 million contract extension on Monday.

Michigan Live LOADED: 11.02.2011


Red Wings squander lead late in third period, lose to Wild, 2-1, in overtime

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings were undisciplined all night, taking one foolish penalty after another.

They nearly got away with it, but then they took one bad penalty too many, and it cost them.

Devin Setoguchi scored a power-play goal at 1:33 of overtime and Josh Harding made 36 saves Tuesday to lift the Minnesota Wild past the Red Wings 2-1 at Joe Louis Arena, extending Detroit’s winless streak to five games (0-4-1).

The Red Wings continue to struggle offensively. They have scored five goals in five games.

Mikko Koivu tied it with one minute remaining in regulation. Then, with Johan Franzen in the penalty box for goaltender interference, Koivu skated the puck into the slot and passed to the side of the net to Setoguchi, who whacked the puck past Jimmy Howard.

Koivu leveled Niklas Kronwall seconds earlier, driving his shoulder or elbow into the defenseman’s head, but no penalty was called. Kronwall was dazed and struggled to get to his feet, needing to be helped off by the trainer after the goal. The club said he will be re-evaluated today.

"I think it’s a penalty, especially since we’ve seen it called against us on a few different occasions with (Todd) Bertuzzi doing pretty much the same thing," Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "That’s why they scored, too."

Detroit coach Mike Babcock declined to comment on the no-call, except to say, "We have to take responsibility for our part and you got league guys that evaluate the officials. And if they don’t like what they did they’ll tell them."

Howard was visibly upset after the goal. Asked if he felt he was interfered with by Setoguchi, Howard said, "I don’t know. It’s ref’s discretion, and apparently not. Setoguchi and I were tangled up there in front. It’s unfortunate.

"It’s frustrating. I thought we were the better team and deserved to win again tonight."

The Red Wings, who started a six-game homestand, were short-handed eight times, the Wild four times.

"Whether you like what the referee called or didn’t call, you got to take responsibility for what you do on the ice and putting your team short-handed," Babcock said. "They got good players, too, eventually they’re going to score. And when Kronwall got dinged in the corner we were really short-staffed."

Babcock called some of the penalties "ridiculous" to take, especially the one Drew Miller took for charging Harding behind the net early in the third period. It gave the Wild a five-on-three for 1:24.

"There’s a number of penalties we didn’t need, even the too many men on the ice penalty," Babcock said. "We’re not helping ourselves right now. We got off to a good start, we’ve lost five games in a row. We got a point tonight, but the reality is we’re not being good enough."

The Red Wings had a 1-0 lead for 54 minutes, before Koivu scored after the Wild pulled Harding for the extra skater. Koivu tipped in Justin Falk’s shot from the point.

"With a minute left, we had the puck going in the offensive zone. All we had to do was put it behind them. We didn’t," Babcock said. "Then we had the puck coming up the wall, all we had to do was get it out and we didn’t."

The Red Wings started strong and Lidstrom scored at the six-minute mark of the first period, skating into the slot and redirecting a pass from Henrik Zetterberg past Harding. It came just one second after a penalty to Marek Zidlicky expired.

The Red Wings had their share of chances -- Harding stopped Patrick Eaves and Justin Abdelkader on partial breakaways in the third period. They thought they deserved a better fate.

"It’s a tough loss, especially being up for pretty much the whole game," Lidstrom said.

Once again, the opposing goalie was the star.

"We think we got a good team, but the bottom line is we got to play like we got a good team and you got to play for 60 minutes," Babcock said. "You got to give Harding a lot of credit, he’s played well against us, stood on his head. You got to stay with it, find ways to win games."



Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist has good opportunity, playing on No. 2 line and power play

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings rookie forward Gustav Nyquist is being put in a good position to succeed tonight in his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild at Joe Louis Arena (7:30, Fox Sports Net Detroit).

Nyquist will play on the second line, with Johan Franzen and Todd Bertuzzi. The highly skilled forward also will play on the second power-play unit. He is replacing slumping Jiri Hudler in the lineup as Detroit (5-4) looks to snap a four-game losing streak.

"When you're in a situation like we're in when you haven't scored much in four games (four goals) ... you can continue to go the way you're going or you can change things,'' coach Mike Babcock said after today's morning skate. "We moved our lines around a little bit. There's nothing wrong with our last two games, but we're not winning.

"You just got to be a little more patient. The team we're playing against was real patient last time we played them (1-0 loss Saturday). Their goaltender (Josh Harding) was outstanding. I'm a big believer in that you can't let the goaltender be outstanding. You got to get at them and get some second chances and that's going to be our focus tonight.''

Nyquist flourished on a line with Franzen and Bertuzzi during the final preseason game, a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh on Oct. 2.

“It was an exhibition game and yet I went off that because they played against (Jordan) Staal and (Chris) Kunitz and (Tyler) Kennedy and key NHL D-men and I thought he played well,'' Babcock said.

Here are tonight's lines:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Nyquist-Franzen-Bertuzzi

Cleary-Filppula-Abdelkader

Miller-Helm-Eaves

Lidstrom-White

Kronwall-Kindl

Ericsson-Stuart

Howard (starting)

Conklin

Scratched: Emmerton, Hudler, Commodore.

Danny Cleary, who has no points in the last seven games was replaced by Tomas Holmstrom on the top line.

“They're not scoring, so Tommy's been working hard,'' Babcock said. "I like Tommy's approach. Tommy started the year on the fourth line and all he's done is work hard. By doing that you force the coach's hand. That's what he's done and good for him.''

Hudler has no points in his past five games and no shots in the last four.

“He's had no shots the last four games? There you go,'' Babcock said.

He added, “I wanted the other guys in on the penalty kill. I wanted Nyquist to play in that spot. So if I had Huds and Nyquist in the game maybe (Nyquist) doesn't get that opportunity. We brought this kid here to give him an opportunity. If you don't give him an opportunity then you can't find out.''

Nyquist, 23, said his family will be staying up late to watch tonight's game from Sweden.

"It's a huge day for me. Something I've been dreaming about since I was a little kid,'' Nyquist said. "I'm super excited to get the opportunity. They've given me a chance, and now I've got to show them I want to be up here.''


586107 Edmonton Oilers

Sutton served with a five-game suspension

By Jim Matheson

EDMONTON - When the NHL's lord of discipline, Brendan Shanahan, finally put the gavel down on Andy Sutton, he smacked the Edmonton Oilers defenceman with a five-game sentence on Tuesday.

Sutton, who hit Colorado Avalanche rookie winger Gabriel Landeskog in the head with a hefty shoulder check last Friday night, took his medicine begrudgingly.

"I understand the league's decision, but I had no intention to deliver an illegal check," he said. "For 14 years, I've always played the game with respect and integrity and will do so when I return."

Sutton skated with the Oilers on Tuesday morning at Millennium Place in Sherwood Park prior to the ruling coming down from Shanahan, with the subsequent video explanation on nhl.com. It's expected he'll be able to practise but not play for the next 10 days.

Sutton missed Sunday's win over the St. Louis Blues and will watch the Oilers in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Montreal and Boston during their six-game road trip, which starts Thursday.

He can return to the lineup on Nov. 11 at Detroit.

Sutton will get to see his wife, Natalie, and baby girl, Keseniya, at their southern California home for a short time - the little girl isn't allowed to travel yet to join him in Edmonton until later this month - but there will be no games.

He wasn't deemed a repeat offender because he was outside the 18-month window, having been suspended for two games for hitting the Pittsburgh Penguins' Pascal Dupuis from behind while playing with the New York Islanders in January 2010.

That means he will only be docked pay for the number of days he'll be out, rather than the games, as it pertains to his $2.5-million salary. He's losing $57,432 in pay.

The Oilers don't keep track of suspensions, but they haven't kept the dispensers of justice busy over the years. This might be the first suspension since defenceman Igor Ulanov got two games in December 2000 for cross-checking Dallas Stars forward Brenden Morrow. Defenceman Tom Gilbert got fined $2,500 last October for a blindside hit to the head of Calgary Flames' Matt Stajan.

In his video explanation, Shanahan basically said Sutton didn't avoid the hit to Landeskog's head as he waited for a pass just outside the Oilers blue-line early in the third period last Friday. The 18-year-old Landeskog, the second player picked in last June's draft, bounced back to his feet and played two nights later against Los Angeles. But, regardless whether the rookie was hurt or not, Shanahan didn't like what he saw. It wasn't an elbow as much as a shoulder hit as the six-foot-six, 245-pound Sutton closed in on the winger Landeskog.

Sutton said there was an absence of malice in his thought process, but Shanahan ruled on the hit that connected with the kid's head.

"The video shows as Landeskog looks back to receive a pass in the neutral zone, Sutton steps up in anticipation of delivering a blow. But Sutton takes an improper route to Landeskog and does not deliver a full body check. The head is targeted recklessly and the principal point of contact," Shanahan said in his video explanation. "He's played a physical game for 14 years, but he's been fined or suspended for various illegal checks (in the past)."

Landeskog told the Denver Post that he holds no ill will towards Sutton. In fact, he felt he put himself in harm's way.

"I should have been more aware," Landeskog said.

The Oilers will miss Sutton's defensive play. He's a big body, blocks shots and clears traffic. He's averaged 16:21 a game in the first month, mostly playing with Cam Barker, who is nursing a sore shoulder. The Oilers haven't called up Colten Teubert from their Oklahoma City farm team yet, but will

likely do so now that Sutton is out and Barker is iffy to play Thursday in Los Angeles because he didn't skate Tuesday.

Teubert was drafted by the Kings and traded to Edmonton for Dustin Penner last February. He's never played an NHL game.

EXTRA SHOTS: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Oilers' back-to-back wins over the Washington Capitals and the Avalanche last week marked the first time in almost 37 years that a team has had fewer than 20 shots and at least 35 shots against on consecutive nights and won both games. The last team to accomplish that feat was the Los Angeles Kings on Jan. 8-9, 1975. The Oilers were outshot 35-19 by Washington on Thursday and 41-19 by Colorado on Friday, winning 2-1 and 3-1, respectively, behind the sparkling play of goaltenders Nikolai Khabibulin and Devan Dubnyk ... Khabibulin, by the way, finished third in voting for October's NHL player of the month behind Toronto Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel and Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 11.02.2011


Road trips a whole different game for NHL rookie

By Jim Matheson

Apart from the fact that teenager Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has to look the part of an NHLer when he goes on the road now, there's the matter of pocket money.

"I got $80 every two weeks when I played in Red Deer. I think per diem in the NHL is $98 a day. I don't think I've touched much of that yet," said the 18-year-old Edmonton Oilers centre.

Nugent-Hopkins gets more money for dinner and cabs in the National Hockey League than he got paid to play with the junior Rebels as one of the Western Hockey League's marquee draws, and the buses go from the hotel to the rink, not down the highway to Prince Albert, Sask., or Cranbrook, B.C., in the dead of winter.

"The bus in Red Deer was a nice-looking bus, but it's sometimes eight hours on the road and you have to play the next day," said Nugent-Hopkins, who will be heading out on his first extended NHL road trip on Wednesday.

The Oilers will play in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Montreal, Boston, Detroit and Chicago.

"A plane is still, uh, better than a bus," he said.

Also, nobody's yelling at him to do his homework.

"Exactly," said Nugent-Hopkins, whose education is now on the ice, not the classroom.

"It's going to be interesting for me to see different buildings."

The Oilers have had only three road games at St. Paul, Minn., Calgary and Denver. Nugent-Hopkins was drafted first overall at St. Paul, so he's been there, done that. Calgary? He's played there lots in junior. No big deal. He was in Denver for about 20 hours. There was no time for sight-seeing; barely enough time to see the retired jerseys of Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg in the rafters.

He did get to see Steve Tambellini's hotel suite, though, when the Oilers general manager had Nugent-Hopkins come up to tell him he was staying with the NHL club and not going back to Red Deer. So, Denver will always have a soft spot in his heart. The JW Marriott, especially.

"I've noticed the hotels are probably a little nicer in the NHL than junior," Nugent-Hopkins said with a laugh.

Now, he's going to four of the Original Six cities. Will he sit in the seats at Montreal's Bell Centre before the game and eat a couple of chien chauds? Will he be looking for the octopus on the ice at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit? Is he keen on looking up, way up, to see Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara? How's he going to do against Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews if he's matched up against the Canadian Olympic hero?

It's always interesting for young players on the road in their first NHL season, especially ones like Nugent-Hopkins. He's taking part in the team's "Movember" campaign, hoping to get a worthy moustache going to help raise money for prostate cancer, but he'lll probably find it easier to stickhandle past Chara than grow any hair on his lip.

"I'm hoping I have one by the time we get back from the road (on Nov. 14)," he said optimistically.

Nugent-Hopkins can expect a full-court press of media on the road since he's in the top 10 in NHL scoring. He's a point-a-game guy with 11 in 11 games.

But, the Oilers, as a team, have caught the fancy of the public and the media after getting absolutely no notice the last two years. That happens when you're 7-2-2, of course, having a cadre of youngsters, Ryan Smyth back and scoring, and the best goaltending in the NHL.

"Sports Illustrated's calling, The Hockey News, NHL Live, the NHL Network, ESPN ... that's great for us," said Oilers public relations director J.J. Hebert.

"I'm happy that the fans of Edmonton can be proud of their team at home or on the road ... that's a huge part of all of this," said coach Tom Renney. "I'm happy we have good stories to talk about with other media people around the league. I'm happy, too, that our opponents might have to pay particular attention to what might be a threat, that they'll have to battle for two points.

"It's a continuation of a work in progress and I hope the story continues."

This is an acid-test month for the Oilers, who've had eight of their 11 games so far at Rexall Place. Not only do they have this six-game road trip, but 10 of their 14 games in November are on the road. Generally, about 80 per cent of the teams that are in the playoffs (the top eight in each conference) on the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend in late November are there in April, too.

"I honestly don't know if I thought we'd have these results (in October), but I did know we'd have the effort, that there was some continuity from last season," said Renney. "There's all sorts of ebbs and flows in a season, though, and there will be on this road trip. I'm sure of that.

"We have to embrace this upcoming trip as an opportunity to see if we can sustain our work habits."

And to keep the wins coming.

It took the Oilers until Nov. 29 to win seven games last year, 23 games into the season.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 11.02.2011


Sutton to sit five games

By ROBERT TYCHKOWSKI, QMI Agency

EDMONTON - The long and rather inconsistent arm of the NHL law came down hard on Andy Sutton - hitting the Oilers defenceman with a five-game suspension for his open-ice check last Friday on Gabriel Landeskog. There was no injury on the play and Sutton had his elbow down, but because he caught the Colorado rookie's head he's out for five.

Sutton, who already served one game while waiting for NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan to decide the length of the suspension, will miss the first four games of Edmonton's six-game road trip.

He'll also lose $57,432 is salary.

The Oilers refused to comment on the suspension, but did issue a press release attributed to Sutton:

"I have been informed of and understand the League's decision, however, I had no intention of delivering an illegal check. For 14 years, I've always played the game with respect and integrity and I will continue to do so when I return."

Shanahan decided that Sutton took an "improper route" to Landeskog and "did not deliver a full body check. Instead, he picks Landeskog's head."

"As Landeskog looks back to receive a pass in the neutral zone, Sutton steps up in anticipation of delivering a hit," Shanahan explained in his video release. "Sutton takes an improper route to Landeskog and does not deliver a full body check. Instead, he picks Landeskog's head.

"At the moment of impact, it's clear that the head is the principle point of contact and has been recklessly targeted. Regardless of whether there is brushing of Landeskog's shoulder, the head is the principal point of contact."

Sutton is 6-foot-6, Landeskog is 6-foot-1.

The ruling comes a day after Shanahan ruled that New York Rangers forward Wojtek Wolski's elbow on the jaw of Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson 20 feet away from the puck Saturday, a hit that knocked Alfredsson out with a concussion, didn't warrant any supplemental discipline.

Again, players are wondering what you can and can't do out there, which is going to dilute an already watered-down physical element in the league.

As defenceman Theo Peckham said on Sunday, if bang-bang, open-ice hits with the elbow down get you five games, why risk hitting anyone hard?

"That's the thing," said Theo Peckham. "You're costing the team, you're costing yourself. You don't want to take away that edge, but if guys are skating down the ice with their knees bent, their heads are going to be forward and if you try and hit them, chances are you're going to hit him in the head if he has his head down. It's tough.

"As a defensive defenceman who likes to hit, there's almost nothing you can do."

Shanahan, who's already under criticism for some wild mood swings in NHL justice, will be hard-pressed to explain why Sutton's hit warrants five games and other equally dangerous head shots escaped further discipline.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 11.02.2011


Road adventure for Oilers' Nugent-Hopkins

By Terry Jones, QMI Agency

SpongeBob Squarepants sat there talking about the adventure ahead.

Two spots down, The Green Men were laughing about the Oilers Halloween party.

"Four years ago I was trick or treating," said Green Man No. 1, Taylor Hall.

"I think it was the same for me," said Green Man No. 2, Jordan Eberle.

"I think I was 13 or 14," said Sponge Bob, a.k.a., 18-year-old Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

"I can't remember what I dressed up as, but I'm pretty sure I was somebody real scary," said The Nuge.

"I think everybody got a laugh at me as SpongeBob," said the kid who looks like he's about 12 without the costume.

A picture of him in the costume singing Karaoke and another of Hall and Eberle in their Green Men costumes were tweeted by the players.

"My costume selection was at the last minute. It was the best I could get," said Nugent-Hopkins, who Wednesday will appear on Off The Record with Michael Landsberg on TSN.

"My favourite was Cam Barker. He went as Chewbakka. Nobody had any idea who he was," The Nuge said of the Star Wars character.

It took a while to get back to the original topic - the kid going on his first real NHL road trip.

Somebody wanted a clip on his signing up to grow a Movember mustache.

"I doubt if it will even be visible by the end of the month. Maybe after two months," said the smooth-skinned kid who was pimple-free this day.

He was asked how many times a week he shaved.

"Maybe once," he said.

Sitting in a corner in a post-practice dressing room at Milleneum Place in Sherwood Park, Nugent-Hopkins, Hall and Eberle finally turned back to the original conversation.

They were speaking of the excitement of 10 games on the road this month, visiting places Hoppy, as they used to call him in Red Deer, has never been before while Hall and Eberle talked about being the experienced world travellers now, able to show their rookie linemate around.

"It's going to be fun watching Anton Lander and Nuge," said Eberle of the two rookies.

"But, to be honest, we're still excited to go, too. We're still essentially at the same stage as they are," he added.

"We're living pretty fun lives right now," said Hall.

"As an 18- or 19-year-old player, one of the best parts of your first year in the NHL is going to places like Chicago and Boston. I got to go to Boston in my draft year and it's the nicest city I've ever been. We didn't play there last year. Now we're going to play there on this trip."

While the team has had three one-game trips in the division this year, this is the first full fledged road trip as the Oilers visit Los Angeles, Phoenix, Montreal, Boston, Detroit and Chicago, come back home for two and then head right back out to Dallas, Nashville, Minnesota and Colorado.

"I've never been to California before," said Burnaby, B.C. boy RNH of the line some are now calling the Diaper Snipers.

"I've never really been anywhere before. I haven't traveled much," added the kid from a split family who spent his holidays on Vancouver Island with relatives.

"I went to Quebec once for the pee wee tournament. Pretty much everywhere I've been has been with hockey.

"This is my first chance to see all the different buildings and play in them all."

The one he's most looking forward to?

"Probably Montreal," he said.

"I've always watched games from Montreal and how crazy it is there.

"The guys talk about how great it is to play in Chicago."

Ryan Smyth takes it all in, thinking back to 1994 when he was the Oilers rookie.

"My first away game was in Los Angeles against Wayne Gretzky," he said.

"Those guys talk about the buildings and the cities, but it's about the other guys on the ice, too. Some of them used to be your favourite player growing up. Now you're going into their building and they're out there in their home uniform."

Smyth took in all the Halloween talk.

"They talk about it being just the other day they were out trick or treating and I was out taking my kids, who are eight, six and three now, from door to door doing that this year. I didn't wear a costume."



Road trip a real test for Oilers

By Robert Tychkowski, QMI Agency

With 10 of their next 12 games on the road, this is where the Edmonton Oilers find out if they're for real.

It's been an out-of-this-world start for the two-time cellar dwellers, but with eight of their first 11 at home, it's hard to suggest that all of the evidence is in.

These next 12, however, will tell the tale.

"I think so," said defenceman Tom Gilbert, as the Oilers readied themselves for a six-game, 12-day road trip, followed by a two-game homestand, followed by four road games in six days.

"We have some young guys who haven't experienced this kind of schedule before and we're playing some challenging teams in their buildings. It's going to be a pretty tough stretch.

"And based on how we do, how we play, how we compete in other people's buildings, it's going to be a deciding factor in how we finish this year."

If they make it through this stretch with a winning record, they should start booking those playoff dates. And that's not an optimistic overstatement - since 1993, 77.5% of teams that held a playoff spot at U.S. Thanksgiving (Nov. 24) ended up making the playoffs at the end of the season.

"This is a big run for us. This road trip might make or break our season," said winger Taylor Hall. "And by the end of November we're playing 14 games in 27 days; it doesn't get any easier."

It's an important proving ground not just for the team, but for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who'll be making his first extended road swing of the year.

So far he's had a pretty easy go of it, with head coach Tom Renney picking and choosing his spots. That will be less of an option on the road, where opposition coaches will sic their biggest and best defenders on him.

"It's my first big road trip ever in the NHL, so it's going to be key for me to try and get in there and just keep playing my game," said the 18-year-old. "I'm going to see some different defencemen that I've never played against before and in some buildings that I've never played in before.

"When you're at home the fans are all for you. On the road it's completely different - they get the last change, the atmospheres of the rinks will be a lot different. I'll have to prepare myself for that.

"It's going to be a really big month for us."

Last change, last into the face-off dots, travel schedule - all of the things Edmonton had in its corner for eight of the first 11 are working for the other side now. But the emotion in the buildings might be the toughest thing for a young emotional team to overcome.

"Fans do play a huge role," said Tom Gilbert, looking ahead to rowdy venues like Montreal, Boston and Chicago. "It's funny how sports works - if a team gets momentum at home the ball just seems to keep rolling for them and things just seem to go their way.

"It's like an adrenaline rush sometimes. If you can balance that when you're playing on the road, block the crowd out, just go out there and focus on your game, it just gives you a better chance."

Nugent-Hopkins says he's most looking forward to Montreal.

"You watch the games and see how crazy it is in there," he said. "It's going to be pretty fun going there and playing in that atmosphere."

As for the last-change stuff, Hall says Edmonton's balance might make that less of an issue than it's been in the past.

"Horc and Smytty are playing great and Hemmer is coming back soon," he said. "This isn't a one-line team by any stretch. Our team is getting a lot of respect in a lot of different categories for a lot of good reasons."


586112 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers get scoring punch from newcomer Fleischmann

By GEORGE RICHARDS

Tomas Fleischmann says playing hockey these days makes him “feel like a little kid.’’

And it’s the Panthers who are reaping the benefits.

“I basically got my mojo back,’’ he said.

Fleischmann has been one of Florida’s biggest offensive threats of late — in addition to the surprising and surging Jason Garrison — as he has four goals and three assists in a five-game scoring streak and is tied for third on the team with 10 points through the first 11 games this season.

On Monday, Fleischmann brought the Panthers back with a pair of third-period goals. Had it not been for a controversial late goal by the visiting Jets, Fleischmann’s goals might have been enough to lift Florida to its seventh win to start the season.

“I’m playing to win the games,’’ Fleischmann said. “Playing on the first line, you expect the points from us.

“This is how I played in junior, the American league. I haven’t played like this all the time, but now I’m up on the first line and it always goes like that. Hopefully it keeps going like this.’’

His start is in direct contrast to the beginning of the 2010-11 season with the Washington Capitals. Fleischmann was expected to be a big part of the Capitals offense last season, but both he and the Caps got off to a slow start. Coach Bruce Boudreau wasn’t a big fan of Fleischmann’s play and his ice time dwindled.

Last Nov. 30, Fleischmann was traded to Colorado. The move west rejuvenated Fleischmann’s game as he scored 21 points in 22 games for the Avs. Then, on Jan. 20, Fleischmann’s season came to an end as blood clots were discovered in both his lungs. Fleischmann had a similar scare the year before when he suffered from deep vein thrombosis.

After missing the last three months of the season, Fleischmann became a free agent and signed a four-year deal with the Panthers.

Florida is confident Fleischmann’s condition is under control; he has been cleared by numerous medical specialists. Since leaving Washington, Fleischmann has scored 31 points in his past 33 games with the Avs and Panthers.

Fleischmann is enjoying himself with the new-look Panthers and looks right at home playing alongside linemates Stephen Weiss and Kris Versteeg. Florida’s top line has played together since the final week of training camp and is Florida’s top power-play line as well.

The trio has combined for half of Florida’s 28 goals.

Kopecky hurt

Winger Tomas Kopecky left Monday’s game after taking a hit to the knee by Winnipeg’s Zach Bogosian at the end of overtime. Bogosian was assessed two minutes for kneeing, but the Panthers didn’t get the late power play because time had expired.

Kopecky missed Tuesday’s practice and might miss Thursday’s reunion game against the Blackhawks. Sean Bergenheim, out for the past two weeks, worked out Tuesday and could take Kopecky’s slot in the lineup.

Garrison, who has three goals in the past three games, also missed Tuesday’s practice but is expected to be back Wednesday.

• The Panthers arena is due for another name change after it was announced North Carolina-based BB&T purchased Fort Lauderdale’s BankAtlantic for between $300 million and $316 million. The naming rights to the BankAtlantic Center were part of the deal.

It appears the BankAtlantic name will cease to exist, with the arena taking on the new name upon completion of the purchase.

This will be the arena’s fourth name since its opening in 1998. The arena is expected to be renamed BB&T Center.

Miami Herald LOADED: 11.02.2011


Markstrom a big part of Panthers' future

At 6-6, Swedish goalie showing he can play

Dave Hyde

Sun Sentinel Columnist

8:19 PM EDT, November 1, 2011

He

Is

A

Tall

Tale.

"You know how people say, 'Why not just get a big [goaltender] who can fill up the whole net?" Panthers coach Kevin Dineen says. "I know guys who tried to eat their way to doing that. This guy almost covers the net naturally."

He

Is

A

Very

Tall

Tale.

"A shooter looks up on most [goalies] and sees a lot of net to hit,'' Panthers goaltender coach Robb Tallas said. "They get upset if they don't hit those big holes. With Jacob, there are small holes. Shooters might try to shoot harder or be perfect with their shot."

Jacob Markstrom is 6-foot-6, an inch from being the tallest goalie in NHL history, a fact that neither surprises nor impresses him.

"If it was just size, you'd get basketball players to be goalies," he said. "You've got to be quick. You've got to be able to move."

He moves. He saves. He wins. And here's the other impressive number: Markstrom is 21. He flipped the future calendar of the Panthers forward with his play last week. He shut down the New York Islanders on 18 third-period shots when pressed into emergency action.

He won in Montreal, 2-1, before losing in the final seconds against Ottawa. It was the kind of curtain-opening act to a career the Panthers haven't had in years, the kind that says if this first glimpse is lasting they will be relevant in a way they haven't been for so long.

Since he's in the premier position of goalie, since he's so young, since 35-year-old Jose Theodore is playing well, the Panthers face a crossroad decision on how best to raise Markstrom.

Do they trade Scott Clemmensen, the backup who was injured last week, to make room for Markstrom to play spot duty and grow accustomed to the NHL life? Or do they return him to the minors to continue playing every game?

Markstrom, who arrived from Sweden a season ago, has a carpe diem approach to it all.

"I'm here right now," he said. "I'm working."

And tomorrow? Next week?

"The only thing I can do is my part," he said. "I'm trying to make the best of it. I can't affect anything else."

Markstrom doesn't just bring the look of tomorrow to today's Panthers. He brings it to the goalie position as well. In a league where the average goalie stands 6-2, where Boston's 5-11 Tim Thomas won the Stanley Cup, giants are cropping up on rosters.

There's 6-7 St. Louis back-up Ben Bishop, the tallest goalie ever to play in the NHL. There's 6-6 Anders Lindback of Nashville, a fellow Swede. Now there's Markstrom, who Dineen says is doing all the requisite off-ice work. Meetings. Videos. Studying.

"Everyone likes how he's handling himself," Dineen said.

He's a louder, funnier presence in the locker room than the other Panthers goalies. No one dared look at John Vanbiesbrouck on his starts. Roberto Luongo was a friendly but reserved presence. On Tuesday, Markstrom sat at his locker, joking with teammates about the size of each others' heads.

He comes from goalie stock. His father was a professional soccer goalie in Sweden. His brother is a soccer goalkeeper. Asked who shot at them for practice, he answered, "My sister."

See? He can make jokes. But the first thing you notice is he's a tall tale. A big story. A giant piece to the Panthers future at the position every team needs a beast.

"It's a position where the wear and tear of a season can affect you," Talas said. "If a small goalie is 90 percent, he has a chance to win. If he's 85 percent, he can win or lose.

"A big guy like Jacob might be 85 percent on a given night and win. They're going to get hit with the puck."

Markstrom shrugs and says, "All I know is how to play big. I don't know what it's like to be small."

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 11.02.2011


Panthers' Jason Garrison having a blast this season

By Ira Winderman

South Florida Sun Sentinel


CORAL SPRINGS, Fla.

Call him Tiger Woods or call him Zdeno Chara, because he's been putting the driver into NHL overdrive.

Or simply call him Brian Campbell's new best friend.

No matter the description, one undeniable aspect of this young NHL season is that Florida Panthers defenseman Jason Garrison is having a blast.

"He's got the big driver," coach Kevin Dineen said after Tuesday's practice. "It's a hokey way to explain it, but it just seems his teammates realize he's cracking the thing pretty good right now, and they're putting it in his wheelhouse and he's doing what he does best, which is hitting the puck hard."

How hard?

Hard enough that 11 games into the season he already has five goals, matching his total in 2010-11, his first full NHL season.

Hard enough that his five goals not only led all NHL defensemen entering Tuesday's play, but put him two ahead of any other player at his position.

Hard enough that Campbell, his defensive partner, has taken more than a passing fancy.

Campbell not only has assisted on all five of Garrison's goals this season, but has the first assist on four of them. The upshot is that entering Tuesday's play, Campbell stood second in assists among NHL defensemen with 11, behind only Ottawa's Erik Karlsson.

"I feel like he's got a heavy shot. I don't know how hard it is or what it is. It's heavy," Campbell said. "But the biggest thing is there are a lot of guys that have heavy shots, but where are you putting it, is it on net? He tends to hit the net quite a bit, which is great. He's finding the net."

Yet how he is finding the net is unique even for a player with a heavy shot. This is not the Bruins' Chara firing through traffic, as is his wont. This has been accuracy so dead-on that it has been more a case of powering fastballs through the strike zone.

"You want traffic," Garrison said, "but, at the same time, you want to make sure it gets through. So if there's no traffic, you probably tend to wait a little bit, but if the situation occurs and you can't wait, you just got to shoot it."

The blasts, virtually all one-timers, might not top out at Chara's 105 mph or even equate with the rockets of Shea Weber or Dustin Byfuglien, but they've been heavy enough, to the point where Campbell agrees it would not be out of the question to consider Garrison for the hardest-shot competition during All-Star Weekend.

But when it comes to taking measure, Garrison, who turns 27 on Nov. 13, prefers to leave that to others.

"I have no idea how hard it is," he said with a smile. "The last time it was measured was in juniors, but that was like 10 years ago. I think I hit 90."

Taking day off

Garrison and right wing Tomas Kopecky were held out of Tuesday's practice at Saveology.com Iceplex. Dineen said Garrison had "core soreness" but would return for Wednesday's practice, in advance of Thursday's home game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Kopecky took a hard hit late in Monday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Jets, resulting what Dineen described as "a knee right to the charley horse." Dineen said Kopecky will "be evaluated on a day-to-day basis."



Florida Panthers' home to get yet another name

By Craig Davis, Staff Writer


Get ready to get used to another new venue name as the purchase of BankAtlantic by BB&T brings yet another moniker for the Panthers' home.

Michael Yormark, CCO of the Panthers and the arena, said it could take several months before the BankAtlantic Center becomes the "BB&T Center or BB&T Arena or whatever they decide."

The arena, which opened as the National Car Rental Center in 1998 and was the Office Depot Center from 2002-05, still has a way to go to catch Sun Life Stadium, now on its seventh name.

BB&T's burgundy color scheme will blend in with the Panthers' emphasis on red. Cross-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning will soon have their arena change from St. Pete Times Forum to Tampa Times Forum.

BankAtlantic reportedly paid $20 million for a 10-year naming rights deal in 2005.

"It's a great name. Unfortuntately we're taking off a great name, but we understand this happens with mergers and acquisitions. We're looking forward to working with BB&T and making them proud to have their name on our building," Yormark said.



Florida Panthers' home arena to get yet another name

By CRAIG DAVIS

Sun-Sentinel

Posted: 6:12 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011

Get ready to get used to another new venue name as the purchase of BankAtlantic by BB&T brings yet another moniker for the Panthers' home.

Michael Yormark, CCO of the Panthers and the arena, said it could take several months before the BankAtlantic Center becomes the "BB&T Center or BB&T Arena or whatever they decide."

The arena, which opened as the National Car Rental Center in 1998 and was the Office Depot Center from 2002-05, still has a way to go to catch Sun Life Stadium, now on its seventh name.

BB&T's burgundy color scheme will blend in with the Panthers' emphasis on red. Cross-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning will soon have their arena change from St. Pete Times Forum to Tampa Times Forum.

BankAtlantic reportedly paid $20 million for a 10-year naming rights deal in 2005.

"It's a great name. Unfortuntately we're taking off a great name, but we understand this happens with mergers and acquisitions. We're looking forward to working with BB&T and making them proud to have their name on our building," Yormark said.

Palm Beach Post LOADED: 11.02.2011

586117 Los Angeles Kings

Drew Doughty's performance evaluated after Kings' weekend games

By Lisa Dillman

5:13 PM PDT, November 1, 2011

For Drew Doughty, the weekend reviews were almost as expected after having missed two weeks because of an injured right shoulder.

The defenseman played at Phoenix on Saturday and at Colorado the following day and was a minus-two and had one assist in the Kings' loss to the Avalanche.

"Drew has played with a great deal of 'I-want-to-do-it,' '' Coach Terry Murray said after practice Tuesday. "And he wants to make a difference every time he is on the ice every shift, and sometimes you can get yourself into a little bit of a jackpot when you go into that with that attitude.

"I understand where he's coming from: the importance of him having the puck and trying to do a lot of good things with it. But when you come back from being out for a little while, it is better sometimes to do less. Advance the puck, get it off your stick, get it up to the forwards, let them screw up instead of you."

Said Doughty: "I thought I wasn't my best in the first game. Struggled, tried to do too much, but in the second game I thought I played well. … I know I'm going to improve with time. It takes a little while to get back into the game after being injured."

He was hurt at Philadelphia on Oct. 15, so Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers will be his regular-season debut at Staples Center. Another home debut, if you will.

"I guess I played in two home games but they were overseas, so they really weren't home games at all. I'm really excited to play in front of the home crowd," Doughty said.

Gagne improves

There was more good news on the injury front. Left wing Simon Gagne, who missed the weekend games because of an undisclosed injury, was able to get through practice successfully on Tuesday.

Murray planned to talk to Gagne afterward for an assessment but expected he would be ready to play against the Oilers. That means Murray plans to keep Dustin Penner on the third line with Jarret Stoll and Brad Richardson.

LA Times: LOADED: 11.02.2011


Will move to Stoll’s line boost Penner?

Posted by Rich Hammond on 1 November 2011, 4:48 pm

Will a return to the third line get Dustin Penner’s production going? Penner spent the previous two games in a first-line look, with Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams, and the result was one shot on goal, one minor penalty and a minus-2 rating. So, the Kings will try something different. With first-line winger Simon Gagne expected to return Thursday, Penner will return to the third line, alongside Jarret Stoll and Brad Richardson. That’s a role in which Penner seemed to have his best game of the season, last week in Dallas, so Terry Murray will give it another look Thursday. Penner has one point, an assist, in nine games this season.

MURRAY: “I don’t know if it was the fact that he started to play with Stoll and Richardson, or exactly what it was, but there seemed to be a little more work involved on his part of the game. I think there was more movement in the offensive zone, using his size. I liked the way he got involved in the physical part of the game, in several of those looks in the offensive zone in the past couple games. But I still feel that he is sometimes looking for the perfect play to shoot the puck. Get back to that movement, get back to cycling, get back to reading off each other, with a little better spacing in the offensive zone. When you work at that part of it, I think the offensive part falls in place much easier.

“His overall effort is good. His work is good. He started to show me that when I put him with Stoll and Richardson. So I just said, `I liked it.’ He liked it. I talked to him on the plane, on the flight to Dallas. We reviewed all of his shifts from the previous game. When you put it under the microscope, and watch the first period when he was with Kopi, and then the second and third periods when he was with Stoll, there was a lot of offensive-zone time. In fact, every shift that he was on the ice with Stoll and Richardson in the second and third periods, it was in the offensive zone. So when we watched it, clearly that jumps out at you, and he said, `Yeah, that looks pretty good. It felt good, too.’ That’s why I’m going to leave him with Stoll and Richardson. Keep bringing that work ethic to the game, most importantly, and the other parts of things will fall in place for him.’’

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 11.02.2011


Positive step for Gagne


The Kings got some good news today, when first-line winger Simon Gagne returned to practice. Gagne didn’t practice Friday, then missed the two weekend games with what Terry Murray described only as a “middle-body injury.’’ Gagne returned to his first-line role with center Anze Kopitar and right winger Justin Williams and is expected to play Thursday against Edmonton. Gagne had three goals and four assists in his first five games but now has played four consecutive games without recording a point.

MURRAY: “Gagne got through the practice. He felt good coming in this morning. I’ll check in before he gets away here today, but I hope everything was fine and he is back on the ice to get ready for the game against Edmonton.’’



Decision day nears on Fraser


There are a couple interesting subplots heading into Thursday’s game against Edmonton, a red-hot team with a 7-2-2 record and five consecutive wins. First, Kings fans, you might remember a guy named Colin Fraser… It’s tough not to have empathy for Fraser, who, through no fault of his own, has been put in the middle of a couple difficult spots.

First, Fraser got traded to the Kings, in the deal that sent Ryan Smyth to Edmonton after Smyth requested to play closer to home. The trade initially involved Gilbert Brule, but Fraser was substituted after the Kings objected to Brule’s health status. Then, after the deal, the Kings were irate after they determined that Fraser needed foot surgery and would miss the start of the season. The Kings filed a grievance against the Oilers with the league, and general manager Dean Lombardi said that a hearing about that greievance is scheduled to take place in two weeks, after the next general managers’ meetings in Toronto.

Then, there’s Fraser himself. A good-natured, good-character guy, Fraser has been skating and skating and skating for six weeks without getting into a game. Soon, the Kings will have to make a choice on Fraser. He has yet to be officially cleared to play, but that will likely happen before the end of this homestand, at which point — if everyone else remains healthy — the Kings would have to decide whether to put him on the active roster, in place or a current player, or put him through waivers. Fraser has value as a third- or fourth-line complementary player, but will he get a chance with the Kings?



Doughty, and his `stache, looking for better


Ladies and gentlemen, the Drew Doughty mustache is back. Doughty is one of many players around the league who grow out a mustache for “Movember,’’ the movement that attempts to raise awareness about prostate cancer and other diseases. On the ice, Doughty is hoping for a better look as well. After returning from injury, Doughty played back-to-back games this weekend and was uneven at best against Phoenix and Colorado.

DOUGHTY: “I thought I wasn’t my best in the first game. I struggled a little bit, maybe tried to do too much. But in the second game, I thought I played well. I felt a lot better in that second game. I’ve still got a lot of room to improve and get better, and I know I’m just going to get better with time. It takes a while to get back into the game after being injured, so I’ll be fine and I’ll get a lot better.’’

Doughty will play Thursday against Edmonton in what will technically be his home debut, since he missed the first three games at Staples Center with the injury.

DOUGHTY: “I’m really looking forward to playing at Staples and having that home crowd. I guess I played in two home games, but they were overseas so really they weren’t home games at all. So I’m really excited to play in front of the home crowd. It was tough missing that home opener, especially because everyone was fired up in there. It was a tough game to miss, but I’m looking forward to Thursday.’’

Terry Murray was measured in his response when asked to give his assessment of Doughty’s last two games.

MURRAY: “Drew has played with a great deal of `I want to do it’ (attitude). He wants to make a difference every time he’s on the ice, every shift. Sometimes you can get yourself into a little bit of a jackpot [trouble] when you go in with that attitude. I understand where he’s coming from, with the importance of him having the puck and trying to do a lot of good things with it, but when you come back after being out for a little while, it’s better sometimes to do less. Advance the puck, get it off your stick, get it to the forwards and let them screw up, instead of you. [smiles] But he’s got a couple games under his belt now. They were fast-paced games. They were back-to-back. At the end of the day, for me, his conditioning was really good. He feels confident battling along the boards. He has no hesitation whatsoever. I know his game is going to get to the level that we have seen in the past. We’ll just keep pushing here in practice and get ready for the next game. He’s ready to do good things for us.’’



Tuesday practice update


Simon Gagne made it through the full practice without any issues, an Terry Murray said Gagne is on track to play Thursday. Look for today’s practice lines to stay intact, as Murray said he has been pleased with Scott Parse’s game and said he likes the look of Dustin Penner with Jarret Stoll and Brad Richardson. More notes and quotes to come, including some self-analysis from Drew Doughty and a look ahead to the Edmonton Oilers…



Tuesday practice; Gagne returns

Posted by Rich Hammond on 1 November 2011, 11:09 am

Simon Gagne is back on the ice for practice this morning, in his regular spot on the first line. Here’s how the forwards are lined up…

Gagne-Kopitar-Williams

Parse-Richards-Brown

Penner-Stoll-Richardson

Clifford-Lewis-Moreau

Hunter-Fraser-Westgarth


586124 Minnesota Wild

Powerless all game long, Wild flips the switch in OT

MICHAEL RUSSO

DETROIT - Moments after the Wild failed to score on a long two-man advantage in the third period Tuesday night, Mike Yeo had a brief conversation with referee Dave Jackson.

The Wild coach might have been asking -- no, absolutely pleading -- for no more power plays.

Every time the Wild built some level of momentum against the Detroit Red Wings, every time the Wild seemed oh-so-close to tying the score, the zebras had the nerve to hand the Wild another power play.

Wild power plays have been as useless as an appendix this season. But shockingly, after failing to score on seven power plays, the Wild rallied for an out-of-nowhere 2-1 victory when it forced overtime with an extra attacker, then won it on an eighth and final power play awarded by, yes, Jackson.

Mikko Koivu ended a 19-game goalless drought dating to last season at the 19-minute mark to the third period, then Mr. Overtime, Devin Setoguchi, proved he doesn't only score playoff overtime winners.

Setoguchi, who scored three playoff overtime goals for San Jose, scored his first career regular-season overtime goal 1:33 in after a relentless effort, then setup by Koivu.

"We needed a goal. We needed to score there," Setoguchi said.

After not scoring seven previous times, including on a 1:24 two-man advantage, the Wild earned an eighth when Johan Franzen fell over the top of Josh Harding while he was out of his crease. On the 4-on-3 drawn up by assistant Darryl Sydor, Koivu's shot was blocked. He skated to the corner, protected the puck while knocking powerful defenseman Niklas Kronwall to the ice with a shoulder to the face.

Koivu skated between the circles and fed Setoguchi, who had been fighting for position with goalie Jimmy Howard. Setoguchi followed up his own shot for the winner.

"It could have been a much different story," Yeo said. "We don't get that power play in overtime or we don't get to overtime, and here we are talking about a lot of negatives. But the fact of the matter is the power play won us the game. They got the game-winner. We have to start building off that."

The improbable comeback came after what Yeo called a "complete disaster" of a first period. The Red Wings came out roaring, taking the game's first eight shots and scoring on a Nicklas Lidstrom deflection.

But from there, the Wild found its game, especially at even strength. But the power play kept hopping the boards to douse momentum.

Harding was sensational for a third consecutive start of the season against the Red Wings. He made 36 saves, including a slew of clutch ones late on two late penalty kills. He has stopped 110 of 114 shots against the Red Wings this season (a .965 save percentage).

"He was phenomenal. He looks in control while he's doing it," Yeo said. "I mean, when your goalie is playing like that, you have a chance to win every game."

Yeo also praised Koivu, calling him a "beast out there." With an extra attacker on, Koivu deflected Justin Falk's shot for the tying goal and his first since March 20, with a minute left.

"Sometimes a dirty one like that just goes in," Koivu said. "Five minutes before I had an empty net and [Howard's] hand comes from somewhere."

The comeback, at least temporarily, takes pressure off the Wild's 6-for-48 power play. But Yeo vowed to "look at our power play from all aspects, to the personnel we have, to even the scheme we're doing out there."

"We have a little bit of that right now where we're taking the results of the last power play into the next one with us," Yeo added. "You have to be able to hit the reset button."

Star Tribune LOADED: 11.02.2011


Zidlicky dropped to No. 2 power play

MICHAEL RUSSO , Star Tribune

DETROIT - Marek Zidlicky is the ultimate high-risk, high-reward defenseman. So far this season, the veteran has been high risk with very little reward.

All those "Oh My" moments that have caused Wild fans to hold their breath the past few weeks finally landed the struggling blue-liner on the second power-play unit for the first time in his Wild career Tuesday night against the Red Wings.

Zidlicky might be a power-play specialist, but coach Mike Yeo feels most his turnovers of late have been a result of "forcing a lot of plays."

"He's almost been putting it on his shoulders to try to get our power play going," Yeo said, referring to a Wild power play that is fifth worst in the NHL (6-for-48, 12.5 percent).

"[Zidlicky] has to stay true to what makes him successful as a player. First and foremost, the guy's a shooter. His shot is going to open up a lot more time and space for [our] ability to make plays."

Of Zidlicky's 60 career goals, 42 have come on the power play (70 percent). Of his 226 assists, 116 have come on the power play (51.3 percent). In 11 games, he has two assists -- one on the power play -- and only 11 shots (1 a game).

Zidlicky also has been inconsistent in his own zone, but Yeo said he felt Zidlicky played one of his best even-strength games in terms of "moving his feet," retrieving pucks and coming out of the zone during the Wild's 1-0 victory over the Red Wings on Saturday.

Yeo wants Zidlicky to activate more coming out of his own end and "support attacks."

"His battle level has been there. It's just whether it's the new system or trying to get used to what we're doing, the execution is what we have to bring along with that now," Yeo said.

Bulmer fallout

Yeo discussed further Tuesday the Wild's decision the day before to return 19-year-old Brett Bulmer to his Western Hockey League team, Kelowna, and specifically the Wild's reasoning for telling fans, the media and Bulmer that they should read nothing into Saturday's scratch.

Yeo went as far to tell reporters on Saturday that he had told Bulmer not to fret.

"We hadn't made up our mind yet, and we wanted to see how we did in the Detroit game," Yeo said, referring mostly to injuries. "We're also not going to point him in the direction of 'you're probably going back' just in case if he is going to get in the lineup next game, he has to have the right mind frame."

Yeo said big picture-wise, it was simply imperative for the Wild to return Bulmer to a situation where he would play big minutes in key situations.

"It just makes no sense keeping him on fourth line playing eight minutes a game. It's just going to hurt him in the long run," Yeo said.

Etc.

• The Wild's original top two lines to start the season -- Devin Setoguchi-Mikko Koivu-Dany Heatley and Guillaume Latendresse-Matt Cullen-Pierre-Marc Bouchard -- were reunited against the Red Wings on Tuesday, but Yeo said, "we're not done experimenting" as he tries to jump-start the NHL's 30th-ranked offense (1.9 goals per game).

"We have to continue to try to find solutions and the right mixes here," Yeo said.

He wasn't kidding. By the third period, Latendresse was back on the top line and Setoguchi down to the second.

• For the third time, the Wild will participate in "Movember'' by growing mustaches to raise awareness about prostate cancer. Fans can register and donate to the Wild Mo Bros by visiting wild.com/movember. Fans that join and raise a minimum of $150 will receive a Buy One, Get One Free voucher for a Wild home game.



Game recap: Wild 2, Detroit 1 (OT)

MICHAEL RUSSO

Three stars from Tuesday's Wild-Red Wings game:

GAME RECAP

STAR TRIBUNE'S THREE STARS

1. Mikko Koivu, Wild: Captain stopped a 19-game goal drought with a minute left and assisted on Devin Setoguchi's overtime winner.

2. Josh Harding, Wild: Stopped 36 of 37 shots, robbed Nicklas Lidstrom and Justin Abdelkader late and has made 110 of 114 saves against Detroit in three starts.

3. Nicklas Lidstrom, Red Wings: Ageless captain scored Detroit's only goal and had five shots.



Zidlicky demoted to second power-play unit; Yeo unhappy; More on Bulmer decision

Michael Russo

DETROIT -- Trust everybody had a grand 'ol time with me out of the loop.

The players certainly did as I got chirped from every area of the visitors locker room this morning for going on "vacation" during the hockey season. Hey, every day is a vacation for me. Life is grand.

Guillaume Latendresse was particularly funny, noting how they beat Detroit with me gone and the moment I come back into the fold and the players see me lurking in the stands, they had one of the crummiest skates of the season.

Latendresse was referring to a morning skate where coach Mike Yeo wasn't a happy camper. Yeo twice huddled the players over and laid into them.

"We have plenty of time to correct it if we take the steps and do the things that we need to to make sure we're prepared the right way to play this game," Yeo told the media regarding a skate that lacked crispness. "We just needed to hear that we weren't good and that we need to be better, and that we're going to have to be pretty sharp to have a chance to win this hockey game tonight. We earned that win last game, but we're going to have to earn every inch that we take on this ice tonight. So the game doesn't start when the puck is dropped. The game starts in your preparation -- mentally and physically -- and it doesn't just happen when you show up at the rink for gametime. I can't wait to see how we play tonight."

Also, struggling Wild defenseman Marek Zidlicky will start tonight's game at Detroit on the No. 2 power-play unit, Yeo said.

Yeo feels Zidlicky has been "forcing a lot of plays" and needs to get back to his bread and butter -- shooting the puck.

Marco Scandella, Nate Prosser, Justin Falk and Spurgeon all played more even-strength minutes than last game's pair of veterans Nick Schultz and Zidlicky.

Yeo said he was happy with Zidlicky's 5-on-5 play last game. "It looked like Zid was starting to come last game." He's been happy with his battle level (which is never a problem with Zidlicky), but he hasn't been happy with his execution this season (i.e. incredibly unbelievable turnovers).

Yeo said he will continue to experiment with lines even though he's reunited the first two lines tonight. He wasn't sure yet of tonight's "net front presence" guys on the No. 2 PP tonight.

Couple other things:

1. The Wild had its NHLPA meeting last night at the hotel with Executive Director Donald Fehr as he does his annual team-by-team tour around the NHL. Player rep Nick Schultz said a lot of the conversation stemmed around CBA talk and the plan going forward regarding the expiration of the agreement next September, rules and myriad other issues, including the use of painkillers and the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program and some changes that could be made to the problem in light of the offseason deaths of Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien (who had been in the program), and Wade Belak.

2. Regarding Brett Bulmer, I asked Yeo why all the charades the last few days. In other words, the team coming out and saying they told Bulmer not to worry or read anything into the scratch last game, how they wanted to play Brad Staubitz more, etc., etc. As Kent can attest, when Bulmer was scratched the other night and the Wild came up with a bunch of reasons why, I texted Kent and said, "I call," uh, baloney, and I guarantee they're evaluating the situation and Yeo was told to pull him out.

Yeo said: "We hadn't made up our mind yet, and we wanted to see how we did in the Detroit game (i.e. injuries, outcome). ... We're also not going to point him in the direction of you're probably going back just in case if he is going to get in the lineup next game, he has to have the right mind frame."

Basically, the Wild's saying Bulmer was going to be scratched the next few games if the team continued to be healthy and it refused to have a 19-year-old with promise relegated to the fourth line or press box. And with that third

line playing well (Clutterbuck, Brodziak, Johnson) and the Wild healthy right now, fourth line or press box is where Bulmer was going to wind up.

Regarding the 10-game rule and the fact the Wild's claimed the past several weeks that it would actually be a benefit to have Bulmer burn a year of his deal with so many youngsters on the horizon potentially starting their 3-year contracts at the same time, the Wild claims the 10-game rule had nothing to do with this decision, that the timing was mere coincidence. In other words, he was sent down because he wasn't going to be making a regular contribution and the Wild didn't want to hinder his development (i.e. James Sheppard, Colton Gillies decisions of the past).

I don't know: I get deception if it's to get a competitive advantage. In this case, I don't know why the Wild couldn't simply say we're evaluating the situation and that's why we're pulling him from the lineup. To me, the scratch was an obvious sign of that.



Bulmer headed back to juniors

KENT YOUNGBLOOD

The Wild decided that Brett Bulmer needed big minutes and the opportunity to play in big situations, and his playing time in the NHL was decreasing.

On Saturday, Wild coach Mike Yeo suggested fans not read too much into Brett Bulmer being a healthy scratch. By Monday, Bulmer was headed back to his junior team.

The 6-3, 185-pound right winger played in the Wild's first nine games, posting three assists and a plus-1 rating. Had he appeared in a 10th game, this would have counted as the first year of his three-year contract.

The Wild decided that Bulmer needed big minutes and the opportunity to play in big situations, and his playing time in the NHL was decreasing.

"As I've said from Day 1, you look at a couple things," Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher said. "Is he contributing to the team? And is he developing? His role has diminished a bit the last few days, and it just doesn't make sense to keep a 19-year-old player around an NHL team when he's not playing regularly."

Bulmer was not available to comment before leaving to rejoin his Western Hockey League team in Kelowna, British Columbia, but he was interviewed for the team's website.

"I did a lot of good things here that I'm really proud of," he said. "But, for me, being 19, they want me play a lot. Going back to juniors will only benefit me. It's hard to understand right now, but it's probably good in the long run, I guess."

Because he is younger than 20 and has junior eligibility remaining, Bulmer is not allowed by NHL rules to play in the AHL. He either has to play in the NHL or for his junior team.

Bulmer was one of the biggest surprises of training camp. His physical and confident play won him a spot in the opening night lineup, but he was destined to be a third- or fourth-liner.

"We have to make sure he's getting significant minutes," Yeo said. "He'll have that opportunity now. Everything about this should be positive. He came out of camp, earned his way onto this team. He really showed some things. Now he has a chance to go back to juniors and take that with him and build off that."

While Bulmer and Nick Johnson weren't in direct competition, it's clear Johnson's strong play helped the Wild make this decision.

Yeo said Bulmer was disappointed.

"The thing is, it's not like his door is closing," Yeo said. "It's an opportunity to go back and continue to develop and prepare himself so that next time he gets up here, he gets a chance to put on a Minnesota Wild jersey, he's going to be here for good."

Injury update

Defenseman Mike Lundin, who has been out because of back spasms since training camp began, took another step in his return by skating on his own before Wild practice Monday. "He has progressed a lot in the last few weeks," Fletcher said. But as far as Lundin rejoining the Wild at practice? Fletcher said there was "nothing imminent."

Cody Almond, who also has missed every game because of a back injury, should be cleared to return to the ice by next weekend, Fletcher said. His return will come with the AHL's Houston Aeros. Fletcher said Almond would be sent there after receiving final medical clearance.

Defenseman Clayton Stoner (finger) didn't skate Monday and won't travel to Detroit for Tuesday's game. Defenseman Greg Zanon (groin) continues to skate on his own but has not yet returned to practice with the team.

Etc.

• Yeo reunited the top line of center Mikko Koivu with Dany Heatley at right wing and Devin Setoguchi at left wing. That put Guillaume Latendresse on the second line with center Matt Cullen and winger Pierre-Marc Bouchard.



Struggling Marek Zidlicky isn't helping power play

By Bruce Brothers

DETROIT - Until his team jells, coach Mike Yeo says, expect the Wild lineup to remain fluid.

After scoring only 19 goals through the team's first 10 games, Minnesota's offense ranked third from the bottom of the NHL going into Tuesday's game against the Red Wings.

Worst was the power play: Through regulation time Tuesday, the Wild were 5 for 46 and near the bottom of the NHL.

But the winning goal by Devin Setoguchi in overtime on the power play left Yeo smiling.

"I think we have to build off the fact that we scored a power-play goal here to win a hockey game," he said. "It could have been a much different story. We don't get that power play in overtime or we don't get to overtime, and here we are, talking about a lot of negatives. But the fact of the matter is, the power play won us the game."

Yeo reinstated his top two lines from the beginning of the season. He started the game with Mikko Koivu centering Dany Heatley and Setoguchi, and Matt Cullen centering Guillaume Latendresse and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. However, by the third period Latendresse was back with Koivu and Heatley.

"It doesn't matter," said Setoguchi, who scored the winning goal. "We're trying to find chemistry."

Yeo said the experimenting will continue until he's satisfied.

Yeo had Cal Clutterbuck instead of Setoguchi on the top line with Koivu and Heatley for most of one game, then tried Latendresse in that spot in Minnesota's 1-0 win over the Red Wings on Saturday at the Xcel

Energy Center.

"It doesn't change much," Heatley said. "I'm comfortable with Seto, and I was comfortable with the other two wingers we played with the last few nights."

Zidlicky shifted: Marek Zidlicky has no goals, two assists and is a minus-two in his first 11 games.

Counted on to be one of the Wild's offensive leaders from the blue line since Brent Burns was traded away, Zidlicky had been so disappointing that Yeo dropped him to the second power-play unit and moved Jared Spurgeon up for Tuesday's game.

Yeo said Zidlicky has perhaps been trying to do too much to help Minnesota's power play, a unit that ranked 26th in the league going into Tuesday's games, by passing too often.

"First and foremost, he's a shooter," Yeo said.

Bothered by turnovers this season, Zidlicky had three giveaways Saturday against the Red Wings, but Yeo said the 34-year-old from the Czech Republic played his best game of the season that night.

Zidlicky played 20 minutes, 12 seconds Tuesday with one penalty and one hit.

Briefly: Forward Matt Kassian was Minnesota's healthy scratch. Defensemen Greg Zanon and Clayton Stoner did not travel to Detroit because of injuries.

-- Goalie Josh Harding's past four starts have been against Detroit, dating to last season.

-- After sitting out the Wild's first seven games, defenseman Justin Falk averaged 21 minutes a game, blocked 11 shots and made nine hits in his first three games of the season. Tuesday, he had two hits and an assist on Koivu's tying goal in 16:40 on the ice.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 11.02.2011


Wild 2, Red Wings 1: Mikko Koivu's goal forces overtime, and Devin Setoguchi's goal wins it

Bruce Brothers

RECAP: Mikko Koivu's goal after goaltender Josh Harding was pulled for an extra attacker forced overtime, and the Wild rallied to beat Detroit on Devin Setoguchi's power-play goal 1:33 into the extra period.

The Wild went 0 for 6 on their power play, including not scoring with a five-on-three advantage for 1:24 in the third period, before a goaltender interference call gave them one more chance in overtime.

Harding drew the penalty, his second of the game, and racked up 34 saves for the win.

MEANING: That's two one-goal wins in a row for Minnesota over the Red Wings after Harding shut them out 1-0 Saturday. Detroit has lost five in a row and trails the Wild by two points, although the Wings have played one fewer game.

ETC.: Koivu's goal was his first since March 20 last season, a span of 19 games.

QUOTE: "I'm pretty impressed with the character of our group, to come back and win this game." - Wild coach Mike Yeo

UP NEXT: vs. Canucks, 7 p.m. Thursday, FSN, KFXN-FM 100.3



Mikko Koivu's clutch play lifts Wild to OT victory

By Bruce Brothers

Mikko Koivu has heard all the knocks.

He hasn't been scoring goals, and he knows it.

But he showed he's still the same catalyst Tuesday night when he scored the tying goal with 1:00 left in the third period, then set up the winning goal in overtime as the Wild scrambled from behind to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 at Joe Louis Arena.

It was Koivu's first goal in 20 games, dating to last season.

"Obviously, you always want to score some goals," he said. "But I think as long as you're creating chances ..."

Well, we've heard this before.

Get chances, goals will follow.

"Five minutes before, I had an empty net and his hand comes from nowhere," Koivu said of Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard. "That's the way it goes."

Koivu is the master at passing around the credit, at making the politically correct statement after a game. To the Wild captain, it's all about team, it's all about effort.

To Koivu, who comes through in the clutch is irrelevant.

Leave it to coach Mike Yeo to express the relevance of Koivu's evening, an evening that included nearly 23 minutes of ice time, eight shots, including four that were blocked by the Detroit defense, one hit and one takeaway.

Yeo was heaping praise on goaltender Josh Harding, who produced 36 saves including several magnificent ones on third-period Detroit power plays, before he turned his attention to the Finnish forward who delivers...well, let Yeo have the floor.

"Mikko. I thought, was

just an absolute horse; he was a beast out there.

"The thing that I feel good about, the thing that I'd like to say is, he's a guy everybody's been talking about. Obviously it's been well documented that he hasn't got the points that everybody was hoping for, but he's giving us a chance to win every night. He's playing against top players. He's going out there, he's shutting these guys down. He kills penalties for us. He plays in every key situation.

"He does all the little things right,

Minnesota Wild right wing Dany Heatley (15) celebrates teammate right wing Devin Setoguchi's goal in overtime to defeat the Detroit Red Wings, 2-1 in an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011. At left is Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart (23). (Associated Press: Carlos Osorio)

and every game we have a chance to win, because this guy's going out and doing the right things.

"There is absolutely no 'cheat' in his game. I have to say how important that is: There's no cheat in his game. A lot of guys, they'd be focused on themselves in these situations, they'd be cheating, they'd be circling, they'd be forcing plays that aren't there, they'd be turning over pucks, but he hasn't done that once.

"His focus is all about the team, and his focus is all about what we have to do to win games."

Yeo wasn't finished.

Koivu's goal, scored with 60 seconds remaining after Yeo pulled Harding for an extra attacker, came on the deflection of a shot from the point by Justin Falk.

It was Koivu's first goal of the season.

"He deserved it," Yeo said.

Devin Setoguchi's winning goal was also a credit to Koivu, who got into a jostling match with Detroit's Niklas Kronwall in the corner, came away with the puck on a play that had Red Wings players and fans screaming for a penalty, then sent a pass in front.

Credit Koivu, Yeo said.

"You see him going in the corner, you know he's going to come out with it," he said. "There's a lot more than size and strength and speed to win those battles; that comes from something inside. That's something that you can't teach."

The result left 20,066 spectators wondering what hit the Red Wings. This was a Red Wings team that had lost four in a row, including a 1-0 decision to Minnesota on Saturday night, and it came out intent on turning things around. The Wings got the first eight shots of the game, claimed a 1-0 lead and then ran into Harding.

Although the Wild's power play sputtered and stuttered through 60 minutes, it came alive in overtime when Johan Franzen ran into Harding and was called for goaltender interference.

A questionable penalty, Red Wings partisans hollered. They also screamed for an even-up call when Koivu's elbow caught Kronwall as the Wild captain freed space for himself on the ensuing power play.

There was no call. Just Koivu's pass, Setoguchi's shot and then the rebound that Setoguchi buried.

Koivu smiled about it.

"It's good," he said, "that it went through."


586132 Nashville Predators

Nashville Predators take no prisoners on penalty-kill

Mike Organ

While the Predators are still working out some kinks in their game, the penalty-kill is one area that has remained strong.

Going into Tuesday’s games, Nashville was sixth in the NHL in penalty kill at 87.5 percent. Last season, the Predators finished fifth at 85.0 percent.

Coach Barry Trotz said his team has remained as effective as ever because many of the key players who made the Predators so good last year are still around.

“Players like a Jerred Smithson who take a lot of pride in the penalty kill,” Trotz said.

It was the penalty kill that helped Nashville take Chicago into overtime before losing 5-4 on Monday in the Windy City. The Blackhawks were 0-for-7 on power plays, including two five-on-three advantages.

Assistant coach Lane Lambert, the former Milwaukee Admirals head coach, is handling the penalty-kill team this season.

Excelling is all about attitude, Smithson said.

“You’ve got to go out there and want to be better than those five guys out there,” Smithson said. “You’ve got to take pride in yourself that you’re going to go out there and win the faceoff, block the shot and do whatever it takes to win that battle.”

A tenacious attitude is good to have, but having a top-notch goalie is even more important.

Pekke Rinne is one of the few goalies in the NHL capable of stopping as many shots as he did in the disadvantage against Chicago, Trotz said.

“When it was all said and done, our best penalty killer was our goaltender,” Trotz said. “You can take all the components, all the coaches out; it starts with your goaltender, and he’s been pretty good. Our goaltending’s been pretty good the last couple of years; therefore, you should have a pretty good penalty kill. They cover up a lot of your mistakes.”

The Predators returned to Nashville after Monday’s game to prepare for a four-game Western swing that begins Thursday in Phoenix.

Forwards Mike Fisher (recovering from blindside hit) and Sergei Kostitsyn (lower-body muscle issue) did not play Monday but practiced Tuesday.

“I don’t have the final decision on where we are yet,” Trotz said. “They’re going to see the doctors and get evaluated, and so we’ll have a better idea after practice (Wednesday). But they’re tracking in the right direction. I expect both of them to make the trip.”

Tennessean LOADED: 11.02.2011


Nashville Predators fall to Chicago Blackhawks in OT

Josh Cooper

The Nashville Predators’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday had all the hallmarks of the type of game Coach Barry Trotz likes:

“The DNA, the work ethic, the resiliency, good goaltending, all those things. We got a power-play goal. The penalty-kill was able to keep them from scoring tonight…”

Then Trotz paused.

“But we made it hard on ourselves, and that to me frustrated me.”

Trotz could have been referring to the parade of Predators into the penalty box in the third period. The Predators took four penalties in the final period, and though the Blackhawks failed to score on their seven total power plays, the penalty-kill tired the Predators (5-4-2) to where they had little left in overtime. Then Viktor Stalberg broke through to score the winner on a three-on-two odd-man rush in overtime.

“We killed ourselves,” Predators defenseman Shea Weber said. “We continually took penalties and left (goaltender Pekka Rinne) out to dry. Without him, we wouldn’t have had one point. We have to stop taking so many penalties.”

Despite earning a point, there was a sense of loss in the Predators’ locker room.

“We just mismanaged a lot of the game,” Trotz said. “The momentum swings, we gave it right back to them too many times today.”



Metro could end Predators' lease but likely won't

Nate Rau

Metro could halt its $7.8 million in annual incentive payments for the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena by giving notice before the end of the year, but both parties say an extension of the lease agreement is more likely.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Karl Dean’s office said the city has discussed the incentives package with the Predators ownership group, which is led by Chairman Tom Cigarran, but formal negotiations have not begun.

Predators President and Chief Operating Officer Sean Henry said the club believed the current arrangement was working and he would be shocked if it was terminated.

“I would be shocked, and I haven’t thought much about it because the incentives are working,” Henry said. “The building is the fourth busiest (arena in the nation) through three quarters.”

Dean spokeswoman Bonna Johnson said the mayor’s office talks “all the time” to the Predators because of the business partnership at the arena. Johnson said the mayor’s office anticipates both parties wanting to make changes to the lease agreement, but she did not offer specifics.

“The Predators have been good for Nashville, and we look forward to continuing to partner with them,” Johnson said.

The Metro Sports Authority, landlord at the arena, may terminate the agreement on June 30 provided it gives the Predators ownership group 180 days’ notice. Such a move would give the Sports Authority until Dec. 31 to terminate the lease.

The board had planned to discuss the termination of the incentives at its Nov. 7 meeting, according to an initial agenda released to the public last week. A subsequent agenda did not include the item. Sports Authority Chairman J.D. Elliott said last week that a termination was unlikely.

“It’s mainly on the agenda so if any member of the authority feels we need to discuss,” Elliott said, adding that the discussion could take place next month.

Extension is option

According to figures from the Metro Department of Finance, the city has doled out $38.6 million in subsidies and incentives to the Predators since the new arrangement was put in place in 2008. The lease deal, which was one of Dean’s first acts as mayor, was retroactive to 2007.

The agreement, which lets the Predators recoup some of their operating loss at the arena and gives them cash in exchange for bringing more non-hockey events, was designed to sunset in 2012.

One change for Metro is the incentives are now paid out of its general fund instead of by tourism taxes and fees, which covered the cost until 2010. Revenue from those fees and taxes now goes to pay the debt service for the new convention center.

Elliott said one option would be for the authority to extend the deal another year past its potential June 30, 2012, expiration, and allow both parties to renegotiate. Metro Councilman Charlie Tygard, who is chairman of the council committee overseeing the arena operations, said he hoped the city’s legislative body would be able to review how the lease agreement has worked over the past four years before the authority decides on a one-year extension.

“I think most citizens look to the council for oversight of funding and taxpayer protection and financial matters,” Tygard said.

Since he was hired last year, Henry has been vocal about the need for technical changes to the lease agreement, such as the deadline for when the team provides a certificate of its net worth. The team has been out of compliance with that requirement in the past. Henry said it was because the disclosure date of July 1 was illogical because end-of-the-year fiscal audits are not complete by that time.



Patrick Kane again has Predators' number

Josh Cooper

It’s probably too early in Patrick Kane’s career to label him a “Predator killer.” But it seems like in the past two seasons, Kane has figured out different ways to lead the Blackhawks to victories over their division rival.

Heading into Monday’s game, Kane had 22 points in 25 career games against the Predators.

Make that 25 in 26.

Kane scored two goals and added an assist en route to being named the game’s No. 1 star in Chicago’s 5-4 overtime victory Monday.

It was also Kane who scored one of the most heartbreaking goals in Predators history, a shorthanded, game-tying tally with 13.6 seconds remaining in Game 5 of the first-round of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.

“I thought (Patrick Kane) was special tonight for sure,” Blackhawks Coach Joel Quenneville said. “I don’t know how many shots he missed, but he was a threat, had the puck on his stick for a length of time that I’d like to know what that time is.”

Although Kane was on his game, the Predators thought there were ways to stop him.

“We gave him way too much time and space,” Predators defenseman Shea Weber said. “Everyone knows how good he is, and we gave him too much time and space. Good players are going to make plays.”

Thang’s call-up: Predators forward Ryan Thang made his NHL debut in his hometown of Chicago. He got the call Monday afternoon and played 8:32, including 57 shorthanded seconds.

“It was kind of iffy if I was going to be in the lineup or called up,” Thang said. “But whenever you get that call, you’re excited for it to work out. This is really special being in Chicago. Everything was just great, except for the loss in OT.”

He was called up to replace forward Nick Spaling (lower body), who was put on injured reserve. Predators Coach Barry Trotz said Spaling was hurt midway through Saturday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Other injuries: After the morning skate at United Center, Sergei Kostitsyn (lower body muscle issue) said he wouldn’t play against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night.

“I was hoping it would be better; probably next game,” Kostitsyn said.

Forward Mike Fisher already skipped the trip to recover from his upper-body injury suffered Saturday against the Ducks. But Trotz said Fisher worked out Sunday, and the coach sounded optimistic that Fisher could make the upcoming four-game West Coast trip.

Rookie forward Craig Smith slid into Fisher’s spot at center.

Big assist: Goaltender Pekka Rinne displayed a rare feat Monday. On Patric Hornqvist’s goal in the second period, Rinne notched a secondary assist. It was Rinne’s second career assist.

His first was Nov. 28, 2008. It was also Nashville’s first goaltender assist since former Predator Dan Ellis had one Nov. 28, 2009.

Hawks mightier: The Blackhawks team the Predators played Monday night was somewhat different than the one they saw last season – and more similar to the team that won the 2010 Stanley Cup.

During the summer, General Manager Stan Bowman added a tougher, more veteran presence to his group with former Predator Andrew Brunette, forward Jamal Mayers and defenseman Sean O’Donnell.

“Their grit factor is a little higher. They brought some good character people in. I thought they filled their holes in,” Trotz said. “They’ve always had the top end of their roster; they added some real good character on the bottom end of the roster.

Scene of the crime: Predators defenseman Francis Bouillon played his first game at the United Center since Jan. 16, when he suffered a concussion that knocked him out for the 2010-11 season.



Kostitsyn and Fisher practice, probable for travel

by JOSH COOPER

This news comes from Mike Organ, who went to today’s Predators practice. Sergei Kostitsyn (lower body muscle issue) and Mike Fisher (upper body) are expected to make Nashville’s four-game West Coast swing.

“I don’t have the final decision on where we are yet,” Coach Barry Trotz said. “They’re going to see the doctors and get evaluated and so we’ll have a better idea after practice tomorrow. But they’re tracking in the right direction. I expect both of them to make the trip.”

The fact that Fisher wasn’t put on injured reserve following the high, hard hit by Anaheim’s Francois Beauchemin last Saturday would probably be a good sign in his recovery.



Thang reassigned to Milwaukee

by JOSH COOPER,

Here’s the press release from the Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (November 1, 2011) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has reassigned forward Ryan Thang to Milwaukee (AHL).

Thang, 24 (5/11/87), made his NHL debut in his hometown of Chicago last night against the Blackhawks, logging 8:32.

Nashville’s second of five straight road games comes Thursday night at Jobing.com Arena when it takes on the Phoenix Coyotes (9 p.m., FOX Sports Tennessee and 102.5 The Game). The Predators then head to California for games against San Jose (Saturday), Los Angeles (Nov. 8) and Anaheim (Nov. 9). The club’s next home game will also be the 1,000th regular-season game in franchise history on Nov. 12 against the Montreal Canadiens (6 p.m. CT). Tickets are still available for the Montreal game, as well as for rare visits by the Washington Capitals (Nov. 15) and Toronto Maple Leafs (Nov. 17). To purchase tickets, visit nashvillepredators.com, ticketmaster.com or call 615-770-PUCK (7825).



Postgame ponderings

by JOSH COOPER

CHICAGO If there was anything positive to take from the Predators’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Blackhawks on Monday, it would be Nashville’s postgame reaction. With Mike Fisher, Sergei Kostitsyn and Nick Spaling out, the Predators could have used every built-in excuse. But they didn’t. Shea Weber seemed upset. Barry Trotz, even when prodded about how he probably should be happy that his team at least got a point against a tough opponent without three of his top forwards, discussed Nashville’s mistakes. It’s this type of “not satisfied” attitude that helped the Predators to their first playoff series win in franchise history. Also, with this depleted roster, the Predators desperately needed the point, and they got it.

Here are your ponderings …

You never want to use fatigue as an excuse, but the Predators wore down as the game went on. Mike Fisher normally plays 18-20 minutes. Sergei Kostitsyn averages close to 17 minutes per game. Taking them out of the lineup meant other players needed to extend themselves. David Legwand played 24:37. Jerred Smithson played 19:19. Martin Erat, in just his third game of the season played 19:42. There was a good reason why Chicago out-shot the Predators 18-8 in the third period.

Pekka Rinne has been the team’s MVP so far this season. But you have to wonder if he will tire out if he continues to play this grueling schedule. In his 11 starts, Rinne has faced 30 or more shots six times. One start he was pulled after one period. Rinne thrives on extra work. But even the best of goaltenders sometimes need a breather. I wouldn’t be shocked if we saw Anders Lindback at least once this week on the West Coast.

Niclas Bergfors has one goal and one assist in five games. He averages 7:19 per game. I still think the Predators are trying to get him to round into a complete player who can be effective on offense and defense. But you have to wonder why he has played such a small role so far.

Craig Smith continues to show he’s not a normal rookie. He didn’t have as complete a game tonight as he did during Nashville’s homestand. But he still scored a goal. Smith is tied with Buffalo’s Luke Adam for second in rookie scoring. Both are behind super freshman Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Smith is quickly turning into a typical, under-the-radar, Predators find.

Chicago’s resurgence could make for a tougher path to the postseason. Last season Chicago swooned, and the Predators finished second in the Central Division, got the No. 5 seed and drew the Anaheim Ducks. This season, with the Hawks back in top form, it may be tougher for Nashville to gain a higher seed going into the posteason. It’s not exactly a coincidence that the Predators advanced past the first round for the first time with a more favorable ranking.

This entry was posted in Analysis, Team News and tagged Craig Smith, David Legwand, Martin Erat, mike fisher, nick spaling, Niclas Bergfors, Pekka Rinne, Sergei Kostitsyn, Shea Weber. Bookmark the permalink.



Predators start fast, can't hold leads in OT loss to Chicago

Staff reports

Patric Hornqvist scored in the opening minute for the second straight game and later added a power-play goal, but the Nashville Predators fell 5-4 in overtime to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday at the start of a five-game road trip — all against Western Conference competition.

Viktor Stalberg scored the game-winner with 2:18 to play in the extra period as the Predators fell to 0-1-1 in overtime games this season. They were outshot 35-28 overall, 3-0 in the 2:42 of four-on-four play following regulation.

Nashville led three different times but needed a third-period goal from David Legwand to tie it 4-4 with 5:11 to go. Legwand scored 1:41 after the Blackhawks went ahead for the first time.

“We’ll take the point," coach Barry Trotz said. "I liked our resiliency. ... We fell down, they got the lead, we came right back with a strong shift and scored.

"We just mismanaged a lot of the game. The momentum swings, we gave it right back to them too many times . And they’re too good a team [for that]."

Hornqvist got things started with his goal 26 seconds into the contest and made it 3-2 with 1:12 to play in the second period when he converted with the man-advantage. In between, rookie Craig Smith gave the Predators a 2-1 lead at 6:00 of the second.

Hornqvist, who scored 14 seconds into Saturday’s victory over Anaheim, now has four goals in the last three games.

He and Smith share the team lead with four goals each. Legwand and Sergei Kostitsyn, who missed his second straight game with an injury, have three apiece.

Patrick Kane scored twice and had an assist for Chicago. He tied it 1-1 in the final minute of the opening period and evened things at 3-3 nearly five minutes into the third. Marian Hossa assisted on each of the Blackhawks’ first three scores.

Ryan Thang, a third-round draft choice in 2007 and a Chicago native, was recalled earlier in the day and made his NHL debut. He did not have a shot in 8:32 of ice time.

In connection with Thang’s recall, forward Nick Spaling was placed on injured reserve with a lower body injury.

“It was kind of iffy whether I was going to be in the lineup, or be called up, but whenever you get that call you’re obviously excited," Thang said. "For it to work out like this is really special, to be here in Chicago. Everything was great except for the loss here in overtime."

The road trip continues Thursday at Phoenix and eventually takes Nashville to San Jose (Saturday), Los Angeles (Tuesday) and Anaheim (Nov. 9).

Nashville City Paper LOADED: 11.02.2011

586140 New Jersey Devils

Capitals, Off to Hot Start, Know That’s Not the Goal

By TIM WENDEL

WASHINGTON — For the past week, visitors to the Madame Tussauds here have lined up to have their pictures taken with a newly unveiled gap-toothed wax figure wearing a gaudy red hockey sweater. No matter that the real Alex Ovechkin plays three blocks away at Verizon Center. In the nation’s capital, there is no bigger sports celebrity than Ovechkin.

Alex Ovechkin posing in front of his wax figure at Madame Tussauds in Washington.

Once again, he and the Washington Capitals are red hot at the beginning of the season. Before two losses on a recent trip to western Canada, the Capitals had won seven straight games to begin the season, the fastest start in franchise history. Even with losses at Edmonton and at Vancouver, Washington enjoyed the best October winning percentage in its 37 years.

But Ovechkin and Company have been down this road before, enjoying great success during the regular season only to falter in the playoffs. Last season, the Capitals captured the Southeast Division for the fourth consecutive year and earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the second straight season, only to be swept in the conference semifinals by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“I call some of their guys magicians because when it comes to the playoffs they disappear,” said Don Cherry, whose popular “Coach’s Corner” segment airs weekly on “Hockey Night in Canada.”

With an eye toward a longer run in the playoffs this season, Capitals General Manager George McPhee retooled his lineup in the off-season. Fan favorites like forward Matt Bradley and goalie Semyon Varlamov were sent packing. In their place, McPhee brought in veterans who often had more experience in winning and built up four lines to enhance the team’s depth.

After having a stellar postseason with Nashville, forward Joel Ward joined the checking line. Jeff Halpern returned to Washington, where he played from 1999 to 2006, to center the fourth line and to lend a hand with face-offs, an area in which the Capitals sometimes struggle. Along the blue line, the veteran Roman Hamrlik has often been paired with Mike Green, the Capitals’ top rushing defenseman.

“We felt that we needed to craft four strong lines,” said Ted Leonsis, who has owned the team since 1999. “Then we’d be fresher come the playoffs, because that’s what it is all about this year: the playoffs.”

Early on, the Capitals have used four lines to take pressure off the top line that features Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, often wearing down teams with their depth.

“It will save you more energy and more power,” Ovechkin said of playing four lines.

McPhee also signed the 35-year-old Tomas Vokoun to a one-year deal, reportedly worth $1.5 million, and he quickly established himself when Michal Neuvirth, the No. 1 goalie last year, was sidelined with a foot injury. Vokoun, who is tied for the best save percentage in the league over the past six years, has a 6-1 record and 2.15 goals against average, heading into the Capitals’ home game Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks.

Another addition was Troy Brouwer, a gritty forward who won a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. When he played against the Capitals in the past, Brouwer said, they were lackluster defensively.

“But the situation now reminds of what we had going in Chicago,” he said. “This club has two good goalies in Vokoun and Neuvirth. They’re competing against each other, and we’ve got good depth on the forward lines and defensive combinations, too.”

Despite the new faces, the Capitals’ nucleus remains Ovechkin, defenseman Green and forwards Backstrom and Alexander Semin. As a group, they have yet to advance past the second round in the playoffs.

Leonsis said that core had matured. “They know how important success in the playoffs is — that it is time for the group and the franchise to step up,” he said.

Coach Bruce Boudreau has backed up this message with rigorous workouts, beginning on the first day of training camp.

“Boudreau seems to be more strict, more in charge,” Cherry said. “There’s no fooling around with them this year. Believe it or not, we see Ovie back-checking.”

In talking about his team, Boudreau recently said: “One year, we had good offense. One year, we had good defense. Hopefully, this year, we can have both.”

Gary Green, an analyst with the NHL Network and a former Capitals coach, picked Washington to make the Stanley Cup finals. Green, who was only 26 when he became coach of the Capitals early in the 1979-80 season, said he understood what Boudreau had gone through with the team’s unevenness in the past.

“It’s the kind of thing that can drive you nuts as a coach,” Green said. “You get one end propped up, and something else falls off the back end. The key is to have it all going your way once you hit the playoffs.”

If the Capitals do not have a long run in the playoffs this spring, Cherry said, they will have little choice but to clean house. But he says he does not think that will happen.

“The guys who can really make them go — Ovechkin, Green, Backstrom, Semin — they’re at the age where they realize this season is going to be one of their last shots,” Cherry said. “The good ones don’t let that slip away.”

New York Times LOADED: 11.02.2011


Devils' Patrik Elias: No cut to ankle after Anton Volchenkov hit

Rich Chere

Devils center Patrik Elias suffered a bruised, but not cut, left ankle when teammate Anton Volchenkov stepped on him.

Devils coach Pete DeBoer could only cringe when he saw Patrik Elias go down in the corner after a collision with teammate Anton Volchenkov.

As Elias needed some support to leave the ice late in practice, DeBoer feared the worst.

"My life flashed before my eyes," the coach said. "Obviously with what we've dealt with before (serious injuries to centers Travis Zajac and Jacob Josefson), you don't want to see that."

As it turned out, Volchenkov had stepped on Elias's left ankle. After going to the dressing room, he returned to finish practice.

"I was just milking it," Elias joked. "The Russian bear just bear-hugged me. He walked right over me. He kind of stepped right on my ankle, but it's good. I have cut-proof socks on."

Volchenkov couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.

"It's hockey. Contact sport," the 6-1, 225-pound defenseman said. "It was just an accident in practice. I didn't try to crush or kill him or anything."

Elias said: "I'm fine. Just a little bruise. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't cut there."

DeBoer said Ryan Carter, claimed on waivers from the Florida Panthers, has not disappointed.

"I think he's come as advertised," DeBoer said. "I knew him. He's given us exactly what I thought he would give us. He's a big-bodied guy that plays with some speed, finishes his hits, is defensively reliable and cam kill some penalties. Those are valuable people in the depth to your lineup and I think he's delivered on that."

Star Ledger LOADED: 11.02.2011


Devils' Martin Brodeur ready to play; wary of reinjuring shoulder

Rich Chere

Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said he is ready to play after missing almost three weeks with a right shoulder injury.

Devils goalie Martin Brodeur is ready to go.

If the team's medical staff is convinced, the 39-year-old veteran will likely be in the net for Wednesday night's home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I felt really good today. I told (goalie coach Chris Terreri) if they need me tomorrow, I'll be OK to play," Brodeur said after practice. "The practice today was probably the hardest as far as reaction wise and competing wise that I was able to do. It was a really good sign for me.

"I've felt good for a week now without much trouble, so you eventually have to make a decision on saying I'm OK. So I told him. I told him I felt good, so I should be playing then. I'm OK to go. After that, they have to make the right decision with back-to-back games also. It's a benefit to everybody we have two goalies (ready)."

Coach Pete DeBoer said he would make his decision after talking to Brodeur and the trainers.

"We're going to have a meeting on that," DeBoer said. "We have to talk to the trainers. So possibly. There is medical clearance stuff that we have to discuss."

Brodeur admitted there is the risk of re-injuring his right shoulder, which he hurt while making a diving save on Oct. 13.

"Oh yeah. There's no doubt about that. I tweaked my shoulder. It was an old injury that I tweaked again and it could happen again," he said. "We'll stay on top of it and hopefully I won't have to go through that again, but it's a possibility. I rehabbed it. I didn't fix it."

He said he hoped he wouldn't require surgery on it at some point in the future.

"I hope not. I don't want to lose a summer of golf," he joked.

Until he feels 100 percent for an extended period, Brodeur won't rest easily.

"I need to push it to the extent of not thinking about it," he explained. "Day after day I was getting better. It took a while to get to the point of almost where I was when I left three weeks ago. I'm happy with the way it's feeling and the way I've been able to react. It was a lot of hard work. Going on the road (with the team) was really a big benefit."

Brodeur was completely honest in admitting age has been a factor in his injuries the past few seasons-- a torn biceps tendon, bruised elbow, sprained knee and injured shoulder.

"It is. I was fortunate for a lot of years to play without any issues. These are coming later on in my career," he noted. "I think with the wear and tear of playing so many games and playing at a high level every year it's going to happen to everybody. It's just the way it is.

"You want to hold back a little more and take care of it a little better, but it seems the more I take care of it the worse it gets. I might go back to what I was doing at 21. That's nothing."

His days of playing 70 games are gone.

"Definitely. It's going the other way. I'm going to be playing a lot less games than I used to," Brodeur said. "I'm getting older and the league is tougher than it used to be. It's not by choice. It's because I've been getting injured lately."

But he has no regrets.

"I wouldn't trade anything I did in my prime to try to get better now, that's for sure," Brodeur stressed. "I won Stanley Cups and did a lot of great things, so it is what it is. One day I won't be playing anymore."

Asked about his work load, Brodeur said: "I have to take my time with this. I'm coming back but I don't want to come back for a couple of games. I want to come back for the rest of the year. Whatever they want me to play, I'll play. We've got 70-some games and I have one game played (actually, two). So it will probably be around 60 games."

Three weeks is a along time between games.

"It is for me. For anybody, I think. We were fortunate to have about five days off during those three weeks, but it's a lot of games and a lot of time to miss," Brodeur said. "You want to be part of the team. Every time you're injured they kind of put you aside, to a certain extent. It's kind of nice to be back this week practicing with the guys."

DeBoer has been pleased with Johan Hedberg's play, but said Brodeur's return could be an emotional boost to the team.

"I'm sure it gives you a lift. He's maybe the best goaltender of all-time and one of the leaders in the dressing room," the coach said. "I think just having him healthy, whether he's playing or on the bench, can definitely help. Having said that, he can't score goals for us or run the point on the power play. Those are things we have to fix."

Winger Eric Boulton (right hand) said he is ready to play.

Boulton skated on the fourth line, but DeBoer said there is also a matter of medical clearance for him.



Devils: Patrik Elias hurt but returns to finish practice

Rich Chere

Devils winger Eric Boulton is back from a hand injury to skate on the fourth line.

Already shorthanded because of injuries at center, the Devils watched as Patrik Elias needed help to leave the ice when he was injured late in practice today.

Elias went down in the right corner and had trouble getting up. He appeared to be unable to put weight on his leg.

After being helped to the bench, Elias was taken to the dressing room by assistant coach Larry Robinson and the team's trainer. Fortunately, he returned to practice several minutes later and appeared to be OK.

Rod Pelley and Brad Mills were the Devils' extra forwards as they practiced.

Devils lines

Petr Sykora- Patrik Elias- Dainius Zubrus

Ilya Kovalchuk- Zach Parise- David Clarkson

Mattias Tedenby

Adam Henrique- Nick Palmieri

Eric Boulton- Ryan Carter- Cam Janssen

Extras: Pelley, Mills

Defense

Henrik Tallinder-Adam Larsson

Andy Greene-Mark Fayne

Bryce Salvador-Anton Volchenkov

Extra: Mark Fraser

Martin Brodeur and Johan Hedberg were the goalies. Keith Kinkaid remained in Albany (AHL).



Devils' Brodeur ready when needed; Elias dodges injury

By TOM GULITTI

Even on the day his team’s future Hall of Fame goaltender declared himself ready to return from a nearly three-week-long layoff, Devils coach Pete DeBoer couldn’t get through practice without one moment that nearly caused his heart to stop.

While battling for the puck in the corner, Anton Volchenkov accidently stepped on the outside of center Patrik Elias’ left ankle.

The Devils already have lost centers Travis Zajac (torn left Achilles’ tendon) and Jacob Josefson (fractured right clavicle) to long-term injuries, so, as Elias limped to the locker room with medical trainer Rich Stinziano, DeBoer had to be wondering how he was going to piece together a lineup for tonight’s game against Toronto without his top three centers.

“My life flashed before my eyes,” DeBoer said. “With what we’ve dealt with so far, it’s not a sight you want to see.”

Fortunately for DeBoer and the Devils, Elias returned to the ice only a few minutes later and finished practice with no apparent problems.

“I was just milking it,” Elias joked later.

Elias said he went to the locker room just to check if he had been cut by Volchenkov’s skate blade.

“He just kind of stepped right on my ankle, but it’s good,” he said. “I’ve got cut-proof socks on.”

Volchenkov said it was “just an accident.”

“It’s hockey,” he said. “I didn’t try to crush him or anything. I just stepped on his skate.”

With that near-crisis averted, the focus returned to goaltender Martin Brodeur, who has been out since Oct. 13 with a right shoulder bruise. After practicing hard for the second day in a row, Brodeur told goalie coach Chris Terreri he’s ready to play.

“I told Chris if they need me [tonight], I’ll be OK to play,” Brodeur said. “So, we’ll see what they decide.”

DeBoer said Brodeur “possibly” will start tonight, but planned to talk it over first with Brodeur and the medical staff Tuesday afternoon. Although DeBoer said Monday that it will be Brodeur’s decision when he comes back, he changed his tune a little Tuesday, saying, “We have to talk to the trainers. There’s medical clearance stuff we have to discuss.”

Even with backup goaltender Johan Hedberg playing well in the six games Brodeur has missed, the Devils have lost four of their last five (one in a shootout) to fall to 4-4-1 for the season. With tonight’s game beginning a stretch of three in four nights, DeBoer believes Brodeur’s return could provide a boost.

“He may be the best goaltender of all time and one of the leaders in the dressing room,” DeBoer said. “I think just having him healthy, whether he’s playing or on the bench, can definitely help. Having said that, he can’t score goals for us or run the point on the power play, so those are things we have to fix.”

Left wing Eric Boulton also said he is ready to play after missing the last four games with a sore right hand.

Bergen Record LOADED: 11.02.2011


Devils are struggling to score -- again

By MARK EVERSON

The likely return of Martin Brodeur is always important, an injury scare to their all-time points leader another good angle, but it’s the Devils’ trademark annual failing that is their nemesis again.

They don’t score enough goals.

“[Brodeur] can’t score goals for us or run the point on the power play,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “Those are the things we have to fix,”

The Devils before last night had scored the second-fewest goals in the NHL, behind only the Islanders, as they play host to the shocking Maple Leafs tonight in Newark.

Four goals is a one-time thing for this team, five a realm still uncharted.

It’s just nine games, but 20 goals, including shootout credit, is a pace for 182, barely better than last season’s team-record low 174.

The Devils and the Blues have scored three power play goals this season. The Senators, Flyers and Penguins each have four times that many.

To that end, the Devils have a new plan -- an old one starring Petr Sykora as Phil Esposito, setting up shop in the slot.

“We have to change it up,” Sykora said. “When the puck goes to Ilya Kovalchuk, he has options because [opponents] overplay his one-timer so much. I just have to be there when one of those rebounds come through.”

It remains famous, 40 years later. “Jesus Saves! And Espo gets the rebound.”

“Because everybody wants to give me one-timers? I don’t think I’ve had more than one one-timer in any of the last few games,” Kovalchuk said. “It’s good if teams think that’s one of our options. We’ve got others, like with Sykora in the middle.”

One additional factor is the Devils have enjoyed the fewest power plays in the league, yet another frequent feature of this franchise.

“As a team we have to do a better job at generating power-play opportunities and that means moving your feet, holding on to the puck, attacking holes. That’s where you draw those penalties,” DeBoer said.

Failure to score was the undoing of John MacLean’s team last season. It’s threatening to repeat.

Patrik Elias gave the franchise a scare when he fell in the corner and Anton Volchenkov’s skate sliced his left sock. Elias was helped off the ice as the brass sweated adding Elias to an injured center corps that includes Travis Zajac and Jacob Josefson. Elias quickly returned to practice after determining he wasn’t cut open.

Brodeur said he told goalie coach Chris Terreri he’s ready to play after missing six games with a right shoulder injury. ... The Devils have won once in last five (1-3-1), and went 1-3 on road trip. They are 2-1-1 at home.

New York Post LOADED: 11.02.2011


Devils' Brodeur hopes to play Wednesday

Associated Press

Martin Brodeur said Tuesday he is healthy and ready to return. When he actually does, though, is still to be determined.

The Devils goaltender, who suffered a bruised shoulder three weeks ago, could be between the pipes Wednesday when the team faces the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I felt real good today and if they need me tomorrow, I'll be ready," Brodeur said. "It's the hardest I've gone as far as reaction and competing and I was fine."

Devils coach Pete DeBoer would not predict whether Brodeur, 39, would get the start or would he continue to lean on reserve Johan Hedberg for a seventh straight game.

"We have to get medical clearance first," said DeBoer, who on Monday said it would be up to Brodeur when he would return to the lineup. "We'll talk to the trainers first."

DeBoer said he realized having the 10-time All-Star back on the ice would be a boost to his squad. Brodeur, after all, holds most of the NHL's records for goaltenders, including wins, shutouts and games played

"Sure, it gives you a lift," DeBoer said. "He's probably the best goalkeeper of all time. He would give us a lift on the ice and in the dressing room. Just having him with us on the road recently was a positive."

Brodeur told goaltending coach Chris Terreri, his former teammate, he was fine after practice. He planned on speaking with DeBoer sometime Tuesday.

"It's up to them to make the right decision," Brodeur said. "I don't think playing back-to-back games (the Devils face the Flyers in Philadelphia on Thursday) should matter. I was able to push it to the extent where I don't have to worry about it. I felt like I did when I got hurt."

Brodeur injured his right shoulder when he went down to the ice to make a save against the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 13. He has missed the past six games, a span in which Hedberg has gone 3-3.

Brodeur underwent extensive therapy over the three weeks and began to skate again when the Devils were on the road.

"Being on the road was a big benefit to me, to keep up with it," Brodeur said. "It's been a lot for me to miss the games and being away from the team, but it was nice to be back and be part of the team."

Brodeur said he realizes the injury is a sign of aging. He's endured three injuries (groin, torn bicep muscle that required surgery, shoulder) over the past four years, missing significant time.

"It's different for me," Brodeur said. "I was fortunate for a lot of years to stay healthy and play with no major issues. I've endured a lot of wear and tear playing at a high level. It's bound to happen to everyone. It is what it is. Someday, I won't be able to play anymore. I know that. I wouldn't change anything that I did in my prime. We did a lot of great things."

Brodeur is grateful to have a proven backup in Hedberg, who is 4-3-1 with a 2.28 goals-against average.

"It's important to have a solid goalie tandem," Brodeur said. "I'm not coming back because the team needs. I'm coming back because I feel good and I want to play. I know I'm not going to play the same amount of games I used to play. I know I've been getting injured lately, but when I'm healthy, I'm going to be out there."

DeBoer also addressed other key issues.

"It's nice to have him back," he said, "but he can't score goals for us or play the point in the power play."

Patrik Elias, who leads the Devils in scoring with eight points (four goals, four assists) in nine games, went down hard in practice after colliding with Anton Volchenkov.

"My life flashed before my eyes with what we've dealt with already," DeBoer said. "It was not a sight I wanted to see."

Elias picked himself up after a brief moment and said he was fine.

"I had a little problem with my ankle," Elias said. "It's just a little bruise. We all have to get back on track and take advantage of our chances. We're not going to win too many games with just one goal. I'd be concerned if we weren't getting scoring chances. But once we get our chances, we have to connect. We have to relax a little. We're too antsy and too nervous.

"We have to let it come to us."



Devils center attention on Oilers' Gagner

By MARK EVERSON

Wait, or win? The Devils may have the chance to solidify their patched-up center position, and might have already asked the Oilers about 22-year-old Sam Gagner.

The patience route was tangibly encouraged by Travis Zajac’s visit to practice yesterday, after having already started light solitary skating. It was reminder the Devils’ No. 1 center -- the missing righty -- could be back by Christmas, although how good he’ll be this season is an open question.

But by keeping top draftee Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Oilers have a glut of centers and have shifted Gagner, the 2007 sixth-overall pick, to wing after he returned from one of those difficult high ankle sprains.

The chances for a deal for the righty Gagner depended on the Oilers keeping Nugent-Hopkins. That shot likely now is stalled with Tom Renney’s team on a five-game winning streak.

It was said the Oilers would want young defensive prospects from New Jersey, probably defenseman Matt Taormina, whose No. 20 is now worn by Ryan Carter, and huge Alexander Urbom, both currently in Albany. It would seem they probably also would require a roster winger and draft pick.

Gagner piled up 118 points in 53 games in his lone season in the Ontario league, but was rushed to the NHL and had 49, 41, 41 and 42 points in his four seasons with the Oilers. He’s a gamble, but that’s how a 22-year-old choice draftee comes along.

The sight of Zach Parise shifted to center to play with Ilya Kovalchuk should have Lou Lamoriello besieging Steve Tambellini for Gagner. Parise hasn’t been used to best effect this season, most notably on the power play, as a set-up and rebound man rather than a primary shooter. Using Parise in a secondary role only will push him towards another team -- for free -- next summer. Meanwhile, Kovalchuk hasn’t managed much.

When Zajac (left Achilles tendon surgery) and Jacob Josefson (shoulder surgery) return, the Devils would have a wealth of skill down the middle, and Parise and Kovalchuk each would have a righty center. The question then would be what to do with Patrik Elias.

Pete DeBoer said using Martin Brodeur tomorrow against the Leafs in Newark is a possibility, but he didn’t sound as if he was planning on it.

Brodeur was removed from the injured reserve list and backup Keith Kincaid returned to Albany yesterday. Brodeur reinjured his right shoulder Oct. 13 and has missed the last six games. DeBoer said the decision would rest with Brodeur.

Zajac said he skated Thursday and expects to skate again when he returns to Winnipeg this week.

“Just fooling around and getting used to being on skates. Baby steps,” Zajac said of skating. “About a half-hour. It’s easier than walking. Being in boots, you’re locked up and don’t use your Achilles that much.”


586148 New York Islanders

Niederreiter back at Islanders practice

By BRETT CYRGALIS

What was supposed to be a couple of days turned into a full month, but yesterday the news was finally good for Nino Niederreiter, as the 19-year-old skated in a full-team Islanders practice for the first time since injuring his groin in a preseason game against the Devils on Sept. 30.

Niederreiter was the team's first-round pick last year (No. 5 overall). He played nine games last season before being returned to his junior team in the WHL. In training camp, he skated on the top line with John Tavares and Matt Moulson, and yesterday he was with Moulson, with P.A. Parenteau in the middle, because Tavares was given a day off for maintenance.

“It’s obviously good to have him out there,” head coach Jack Capuano said. “Nino’s a big-bodied guy that’s going to create space and he gets to the net and shoots the puck pretty well. So if you do those things, you have a chance to score some goals.”

Niederreiter was hurt on a hit into the boards when a piece of his equipment lodged into his right groin and his leg became weak.

“Personally, I didn’t expect it to be that long,” Niederreiter said. “Obviously it took a while but I’d rather wait than never come back.”

It’s doubtful Niederreiter will be ready for Thursday’s home game against the Jets, but Saturday’s home game against the Capitals or the following week’s three-game road trip are possibilities. Who will sit when he enters the lineup is all still to be determined.

“I think it’s good to have a healthy competition,” captain and fellow Swiss native Mark Streit said. “He goes to the front of the net and you can never have enough of that.”

A team source said there has been no contact from the league concerning Saturday’s overtime delay-of-game penalty on Travis Hamonic. The call came when Hamonic lifted the puck and it clearly nicked the glass before going into the crowd, with the Sharks scoring on the ensuing power play to win the game, 3-2. It was indicated NHL head of officiating Terry Gregson was alerted of the team’s displeasure. ... Enforcer Trevor Gillies was waived yesterday, and if he clears by noon today he will be assigned.


586149 New York Islanders

Islanders' slide doesn't seem like last season

By ARTHUR STAPLE

It's not as if the Islanders have to remind themselves they haven't won a game since Oct. 15 -- they've gone 0-3-2 since that 4-2 win over the Rangers and a quick check of the standings shows them in 14th place in the Eastern Conference entering Tuesday's games.

But there isn't much thought about last season's 1-17-3 slide, a run of futility that lasted from Oct. 23, 2010 until Dec. 16.

"I don't feel like there's a need to be in panic mode, by any means," Jack Capuano said after the Islanders had an hourlong practice at IceWorks in Syosset Tuesday. "The last couple weeks doesn't feel like [last year]. I think we've played pretty well, especially the last couple games, we just haven't had the results."

Capuano admitted there were times last season when he felt his team was overmatched or a bit lost -- he took over on Nov. 15 and the team won only one of his first 11 games. But with a power play and penalty kill that are working well and a team in decent health, this doesn't feel like last season. Not even when some players glance at the standings.

"It's too early to find any conclusions from that," Mark Streit said. "To me, it's way more important the way we play, the mood in the room, and both of those things have been good. Our game is improving."

Capuano has generally stuck to the same line combinations since opening night, and the third line of Josh Bailey centering Blake Comeau and Brian Rolston had its first solid, full-game effort in Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Sharks.

Bailey and Comeau still have no points this season and Rolston has two assists.

"There are some guys we need to get going here, and Brian is one of them," Capuano said. "I'm not looking to change lines, but you may see a center here or a winger there change around in a game. Rolston's one of those guys I have to help get going."

With the struggling Jets coming to the Coliseum tomorrow, it's a chance for every Islander to get going, or risk having those standings begin to mean something.

Notes & quotes: RW Nino Niederreiter (groin) was sent to Bridgeport on a conditioning assignment and will play Wednesday for the Sound Tigers. Niederreiter can stay at Bridgeport for up to two weeks. LW Trevor Gillies cleared waivers and also reported to Bridgeport . . . G Evgeni Nabokov (lower body) skated for the first time since he was injured in Pittsburgh last Thursday, taking a few shots on goal before practice.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 11.02.2011

586150 New York Rangers

Avery, Demoted Agitator, Is Poised to Rejoin Rangers

By JEFF Z. KLEIN

Sean Avery’s career with the Rangers, thought to be finished not long ago, has resumed.

Avery cleared waivers at noon Tuesday, opening the way for his return after being demoted to their American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford, the Connecticut Whale, at the start of the season.

Avery, 31, could have been claimed by any other club after the Rangers recalled him Monday. Avery, a Ranger for two seasons beginning in 2006-7 and again from March 2009 through last season, is expected to rejoin the club at Wednesday’s practice in preparation for Thursday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks at Madison Square Garden.

While fans have been vocal in calling for Avery’s return, Coach John Tortorella said Monday that he was not sure Avery would suit up Thursday, given the club’s impressive performance Monday in a 5-2 victory against the San Jose Sharks.

Tortorella had sounded a note of finality when Avery was demoted Oct. 5.

“I think we have better players than Sean Avery,” Tortorella told reporters at the time. “I don’t want to throw dirt on the guy,” but, he added, “we are a better club now.”

In Connecticut, Avery told reporters he did not expect to play for the Rangers again.

The Rangers, though, looked listless in their first nine games, so General Manager Glen Sather recalled Avery, an effective forechecker and skater, and a player widely disliked by opponents for his continual agitating.

Tortorella said Monday that if Avery played, he would probably be used on the third or fourth line, replacing Mike Rupp, a rugged 6-foot-5 forward who is out with a knee injury.

“This is the right decision,” Tortorella said of Avery’s return. “It’s the right hockey decision now; it was the right hockey decision when we sent Sean down.”

Avery played two games with Connecticut after missing the Whale’s first seven with a shoulder injury. He scored an empty-net goal and the winning goal in a shootout and was in one fight.

In 249 games with the Rangers, he has 42 goals, 78 assists and 580 penalty minutes.



Rangers Expect a Spark, but Not Too Much, From Avery’s Return

By CHRISTOPHER BOTTA

Sean Avery will receive a hero’s welcome from the majority of the Madison Square Garden crowd when he makes his expected return to the Rangers’ lineup Thursday. There will be a detectable buzz in the arena and jump in the Rangers’ step, and for good reason. The feisty shift disturber has an undeniably charismatic presence, whether anyone likes it or not.

But the faithful might want to keep their expectations in check. The Avery effect will be welcome for the home team, which – perhaps not coincidentally – played its best game of the season Monday, a 5-2 win over San Jose. However, the impact could have a short shelf life. Unless the 31-year-old wing provides a consistent spark and avoids taking bad penalties, Avery could end up back in the minors, a mere understudy for the Broadway Blueshirts.

His return to the Rangers’ roster, assuming he clears re-entry waivers Tuesday, has ignited quite the hoopla for a player who scored 3 goals in 76 games last season. At the team’s home opener last Thursday, a large pro-Avery banner, created by fans and extending three sections of the 400 seating level at the Garden, was unfurled before the singing of the national anthem. (It stayed there until the middle of the first period, when it was taken down at the encouragement of management). When the Rangers fell behind, 4-1, in the third period to Toronto, thousands of fans chanted their requested roster transaction: “We want Avery”!

They’re getting him, even as Rangers brass refuses to concede the move was because they need Avery’s edgy play or was a response to the power of the people. They will recall Avery from their minor league affiliate in Hartford, Conn., because, simply, Michael Rupp – a fourth-line grinding wing whom opponents also don’t enjoy skating near – has a knee injury.

“This is the right hockey decision now,” Coach John Tortorella said Monday, “and it was the right hockey decision when we sent Sean down.”

Avery was Tortorella’s final cut of training camp among the forwards, an NHL veteran suffering the indignity of having to leave the team on its season-opening European trip to join the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League. After taking some time to recover from a shoulder injury, Avery played for the Whale in a pair of wins this weekend. “He was great to the guys, great with me,” said Andre Deveaux, who made his Rangers debut Monday on the fourth line after spending the opening month of the season in Connecticut. “I’m glad he is on my team.”

It took the Rangers 10 games, but they proved against the Sharks – Western Conference contenders unbeaten in five straight on the road until Monday – that they can play passionate, physical, winning hockey without Avery. They outshot their opponents for the first time this season and young second-liners Derek Stepan and Artem Anisimov scored their first goals of the season. The team has scored six power-play goals over its last four games. The victory was good news for Tortorella, who won’t have to answer any more questions this week about the Rangers needing Avery. There is little doubt he can help, which is all they need Thursday against Anaheim as they try to win two in a row.

“Sean’s biggest strength is his legs,” said Tortorella. “He is a terrific skater, and a big part of his game is his forecheck and his play underneath the hashmarks. We want him to play to his strengths and also work on the other parts of the game away from the puck. We want him to help us win a hockey game.”



John Tortorella says Joe Thornton should ‘just shut up’ after San Jose Sharks captain calls NY Rangers soft

By Pat Leonard

John Tortorella did not appreciate Sharks captain Joe Thornton calling the Rangers soft after the Blueshirts defeated San Jose, 5-2, Monday night. Not one bit.

“Yeah it caught me off guard when it was brought up after the game,” the coach said at the team’s Greenburgh practice facility Tuesday morning. “It surprised me, and I’ve never heard a player say that. Joe’s a heck of a player, but here’s a player popping off about our team, and Joe hasn’t won a g--damn thing in this league. He could go down as a player, being one of the better players in our league never to win anything. So what he should do is just shut up. It was uncalled for, it was classless, and I’ve never had it happen like that before.”

Thornton told CSNBayArea.com the Blueshirts “were probably the softest team we played against” on San Jose’s early season six-game road trip. “We played some good teams, and I think we probably should have beat these guys, to be honest with you,” Thornton said while New York media members interviewed Rangers players in their locker room.

Thornton reportedly backed off his comments on Tuesday slightly before Tortorella spoke, telling TSN’s Darren Dreger that “soft” was not the correct word to describe the Rangers.

All Tortorella said after the game was, “Joe said that? Wonderful,” until he could confirm Thornton’s comments, which were relayed to him by a reporter. Thornton, 32, has 1,010 points in 1,005 career NHL games but has never won a Stanley Cup in his 13 seasons with the Bruins and the Sharks.

Thornton certainly chose an odd time to call out an opponent. In Monday’s loss to the Rangers, he was credited with zero hits. San Jose (6-4-0) almost swept its road trip with wins over the Devils, Bruins, Predators, Red Wings and Islanders.

New York Daily News LOADED: 11.02.2011


Sean Avery could return for Rangers on Thursday but coach John Tortorella is not committing to him

By Pat Leonard

The Growing concern about Mike Rupp’s left knee led the Rangers to place Sean Avery on re-entry waivers, with the intention of bringing him back from the Connecticut Whale to the Rangers, John Tortorella said before Monday night's game against the Sharks.

“We’re concerned with Rupper,” Tortorella said of the 6-5, 243-pound winger, who saw a doctor at 3 p.m. Monday. “This has gone on to be a little bit of a chronic thing.”

The 29 other teams have an opportunity to put in a claim for Avery before noon Tuesday. If they do not, he will clear waivers and be eligible to play Thursday at the Garden against Anaheim.

The Rangers assigned Avery to the AHL on Oct. 4, just days before their season opener in Sweden. "As all teams are, we're banged up. We're down to the minimum as far as forwards," Tortorella said. "And when a guy like Rupper goes out, to me it's the right call with Sean, in this situation here, because he fills that role we bring in Rupper in for during the offseason as far as free agency."

New York Daily News LOADED: 11.02.2011


Tortorella answers back at Sharks star’s dig

By MARC BERMAN

The Rangers won’t face the Sharks anymore in the regular season, but coach John Tortorella got in his blows yesterday at San Jose center Joe Thornton for calling the Blueshirts “soft.’’

An incensed Tortorella branded the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Thornton as a “classless’’ individual who’s never won anything and should keep his trap shut.

Tortorella’s blowup yesterday after he participated in a “Garden of Dreams” kids’ charity event even overshadowed Sean Avery officially clearing re-entry waivers yesterday, prompting his promotion to the club from Hartford of the AHL.

Monday night at the Garden, Tortorella had called Thornton’s soft remark “wonderful,’’ but with more time to think about it, he exploded yesterday.

“It caught me off guard when Stan [Fischler] brought it up after the game,’’ Tortorella said. “It surprised me. I never heard a player say that. Joe’s a heckuva player. But here’s a player popping off about our team.

“Joe hasn’t won a damned thing in this league. He could go down as one of the better players in our league never to win anything. So what he should do is just shut up. It was uncalled for. It was classless. I’ve never had it happen like that before.’’

Thornton, 32, made his comment after the Rangers thrashed San Jose, 5-2, leaving the Sharks 5-1 on their trip.

“To be honest with you, they were probably the softest team we played against on this road trip and we should have had the two points,” the Sharks captain said. “We played some good teams and I think we should have beaten these guys.”

One of the Sharks’ five wins on the trip came against the Islanders.

Thornton, 32, has never competed in the Stanley Cup Finals during a 13-year career. His Sharks were bounced two straight years in the Western Finals. The Bruins, with whom Thornton spent his first eight seasons, won the Cup last spring to break their dry spell.

Maybe Tortorella was also in a bad mood because he’ll soon have to see Avery, whom he unceremoniously banished to the minors on Oct. 5 when the club was in Europe and with whom he has had a love-hate relationship.

Nevertheless, Tortorella wanted Avery back in Manhattan because he fears a lack of depth with Michael Rupp’s left-knee injury possibly being a long-term issue.

Tortorella gave no guarantees about Avery’s ice time or if he’ll dress for tomorrow’s game against the Ducks. If Avery doesn’t play, that won’t sit well with the Garden patrons who have chanted the agitator’s name and brandished signs supporting him during the team’s first three home games.

“We have a bare minimum of 12 [forwards]. Sean comes up and he gives us some depth,’’ Tortorella said. “I’m not sure what the lineup is going to be.’’



Rangers coach says 'classless' Thornton should 'shut up'

By MARC BERMAN

Rangers coach John Tortorella wasn’t feeling so “wonderful” about Joe Thornton’s “softest team” comments on Tuesday.

The Sharks center called out the Rangers on Monday night after San Jose lost to them 5-2 at the Garden. Asked about it postgame Monday night, Tortorella responded, “Wonderful,” but after sleeping on it had stronger words for Thornton.

“It caught me off guard when Stan (Fischler) brought it up after the game,” Tortorella said Tuesday after coaching 8-10-year-olds in a Garden of Dreams charity event at the practice site.

“It surprised me. I never heard a player say that. Joe’s a heckuva player. But here’s a player popping off about our team. Joe hasn’t won a God damned thing in this league. He could go down as a player, one of the better players in our league who has never to win anything. So what he should do is just shut up. It was uncalled for. It was classless. I’ve never had it happen like that before.’’

It was ironic, too.

“To be honest with you, they were probably the softest team we played against on this road trip and we should have had the two points,” the Sharks captain said, according to the San Jose Mercury News. “We played some good teams and I think we should have beaten these guys.”

On the six-game road trip Thornton referred to, the Sharks were 5-0 with wins over the Devils, Bruins, Predators, Red Wings and Islanders before falling to the Rangers.



Avery clears waivers, heading back to Rangers

By LARRY BROOKS

The stage is set for Sean Avery’s return to the Rangers after the winger this afternoon cleared re-entry waivers.

John Tortorella on Monday endorsed the Rangers’ move to reinstate Avery, the coach saying before last night’s 5-2 Garden victory over the Sharks, “It’s the right decision.”

He elaborated on Tuesday, saying he hopes Avery can bring energy to the Rangers.

“That’s a big part of what he needs to do to help us here,’’ said Tortorella, who has yet to speak to Avery.

After the game, Tortorella would not guarantee Avery a spot in the lineup Thursday against the Ducks, saying, “I don’t know what the lineup is going to be next game … I’m going to force-feed anything.”

Avery was officially sent down to Connecticut on Oct. 5 while the Rangers were in Europe.

Avery didn’t make his debut with Connecticut until last Friday at Adirondack, where he scored an empty-net goal, because of a shoulder injury. He followed that with the shootout winner over Worcester in Hartford on Saturday.

Fans chanted Avery's name and brought signs in his support during the Rangers' first three home games.

Tortorella on Monday confirmed that the decision to recall Avery — or at least to make the effort — was tied to Mike Rupp’s ailing left knee that seems likely to sideline the winger for an indefinite period.

“Rupper has a lot to do with this,” Tortorella said Monday. “I’m not sure about that situation, whether Rupper will be able to play, plus there are a couple of other things that go along with that, but it’s the right hockey decision now just like it was the right hockey decision when we sent Sean down.

“When Rupp goes out, to me it’s the right call to bring Sean back because he fills that role. Sean’s best strength are his legs, he’s a terrific skater, and a big part of his game is forechecking and playing below the hash marks.

“We want him to play to his strengths and work on his play away from that, but that’s not different than any player we might call up at any time,” the coach said. “It’s not that convoluted. We want guys to do the best they can to help us win a hockey game.”

Rupp, who has missed the past three matches, visited another doctor yesterday. Tortorella said no decision has been made how to deal with the injury. The coach has neither ruled surgery in or out as a possible course of action.

“This is how it’s gone all year for him,” Tortorella said of Rupp, who signed a three-year, $4.5 million free agent contract out of Pittsburgh to essentially replace Avery on the line with Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust. “He hasn’t gotten off the ground.

“A big man needs be able to practice. It’s been a little bit of a chronic thing.”

San Jose’s Joe Thornton, who did not have much of a game, said following the match that the Rangers were the “softest team” the Sharks had played on their six-game road trip even though they had won the first five.

“Wonderful,” Tortorella responded when told of the comment.

Following yesterday’s morning skate, Artem Anisimov said he had lost consciousness, “for a couple of seconds” when asked if he had been knocked out after hitting his head on the glass on the check delivered by Zenon Konopka at 4:05 of the second period of Saturday’s 5-4 shootout defeat to Ottawa.

The Rangers, however, said Anisimov, who returned to the match within five minutes, did not understand the question and did not at any time lose consciousness.

Anisimov scored his first goal last night, converting a backhand in close after taking a nifty feed from Erik Christensen.

“I don’t know how to explain in English,” Anisimov said after the match. “[I had] too much pressure on my shoulders. When I see the goal go in, the pressure flies away. I feel free.”

Derek Stepan also scored his first of the year, going to the net to convert a Brandon Dubinsky feed on a power play to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Ryan McDonagh got his third of year.

The Rangers were not shorthanded until Brian Boyle was called for high-sticking at 19:56 of the second. They were 1-for-5 on the power play, also scoring the moment one expired. Penalty killers snuffed all three Sharks man-advantages.

Though the Rangers held a three-goal lead entering the third period at 5-2, just as they held a three-goal lead in the third period at 4-1 against Ottawa on Saturday before blowing it, circumstances were completely different.

Saturday, the Rangers had the lead despite long stretches of faulty play. Last night the Rangers built the lead off a solid foundation.

“There was really no need to talk about it after the second period,” Marty Biron said. “We knew to keep going the way we had been playing.

“We were shorthanded going into the third, so our focus between periods was to kill the penalty.”

Regarding Christensen, who had a pair of assists, Tortorella said, “He shows you those glimpses and you want it to happen every night but the consistency isn’t there. It’s a mental block for Erik.”

The Rangers outshot an opponent for the first time this season (31-26), also out-attempting a foe for the first time (55-54). The Rangers blocked 16 shots, paced by Boyle’s four.

With TIm Bontemps and Marc Berman



Avery rides again with Rangers

By ANDREW GROSS

Sean Avery is a Ranger. Yet again.

The Grate One cleared re-entry waivers Tuesday and was recalled from Connecticut (AHL) because of long-term concerns over Mike Rupp’s injured left knee.

Avery, 31, is expected to be at practice today and in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Ducks at Madison Square Garden, though coach John Tortorella cautioned after Monday’s impressive 5-2 win over the Sharks, he didn’t want to "force-feed" his lineup and preferred sticking with the same personnel after good performances.

"When a guy like Rupper goes out, it’s the right call for Sean in this situation," Tortorella said. "It fills that role that you bring Rupper in for during the off-season."

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Rupp was playing left wing on the fourth line and had one goal and 14 penalty minutes, including two fights, in seven games. But he’s missed the last three games and gone for more medical testing this week. The Rangers are considering their options, and surgery and a stint on injured reserve are possibilities.

Avery was assigned to Connecticut on Oct. 5 after clearing waivers. The prevailing thought was his second tenure with the Rangers had ended. Tortorella said at that time the Rangers simply had "better players" than Avery. Avery himself didn’t think the Rangers would risk putting him on re-entry waivers and possibly having dead space count against their salary cap.

Avery initially was acquired from the Kings in 2006-07 but signed a four-year, $15.5 million deal with the Stars for the 2008-09 season. However, he lasted just 23 games in Dallas before running afoul of both team management and the league. The Rangers claimed him on re-entry waivers for the final 18 games of that season.

However, Avery’s role has steadily diminished under Tortorella.

"We want him to play to his strengths," Tortorella said. "When we call a guy up, we want him to help us win a hockey game. It’s not that convoluted in my thinking."

BRIEF: Tortorella, who muted his response to the assertion by Joe Thornton of the Sharks after the Rangers’ 5-2 win on Monday that they were the "softest" team San Jose played on its six-game road trip, did not hold back Tuesday.

"It surprised me and I’ve never heard a player say that," Tortorella told the Daily News. "Joe’s a heck of a player but here’s a player popping off about our team and Joe hasn’t won a damn thing in this league. He could go down as one of the better players in our league never to win anything. So what he should do is just shut up. It was uncalled for. It was classless and I’ve never had it happen like that before."

Bergen Record LOADED: 11.02.2011


Sean Avery brings feistiness back to Rangers

By ANTHONY RIEBER

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Sean Avery, who brings feistiness to the Rangers, is back with the team after clearing re-entry waivers at noon Tuesday. He will practice with the team Wednesday and could play Thursday against the Ducks.

Coach John Tortorella doesn't need anyone to add to his own feistiness. It was on display Tuesday when Tortorella blasted San Jose Sharks captain Joe Thornton for calling the Rangers soft after the Sharks' 5-2 loss at the Garden on Monday.

"It surprised me, and I've never heard a player say that," Tortorella said. "Joe's a heck of a player, but here's a player popping off about our team, and Joe hasn't won a ---- thing in this league. He could go down as a player, being one of the better players in our league never to win anything. So what he should do is just shut up. It was uncalled for, it was classless, and I've never had it happen like that before."

Thornton, a 14-year NHL veteran, said the Rangers "were probably the softest team we played against . . . we played some good teams, and I think we probably should have beat these guys, to be honest with you."

Tortorella only would say "wonderful" when told of the comments Monday night after the game. After checking to make sure Thornton really did say it, Tortorella let fly following a "Garden of Dreams" charity event with Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni at the MSG Training Center. The Rangers do not face the Sharks again this season.

Avery, 31, was assigned to Connecticut of the AHL before the season opened. He played in two games for the Whale after rehabbing a shoulder injury and had an empty-net goal and shootout goal.

Avery was added to the Rangers' roster only after the other 29 NHL teams passed on claiming him. With Mike Rupp sidelined with a left knee injury, the Rangers felt now was the time to see if the Garden fan favorite can help them. Some fans chanted, "We want Avery," as the Rangers lost to Toronto last week.

"Sean comes up and gives us some depth," Tortorella said. "I'm not sure what the lineup's going to be. Just like any time we call up a guy, we'll figure out a lineup as we prepare for Thursday."

Asked about the energy Avery can bring to the team, Tortorella said: "I think that's a big part of what he needs to do to help us here. Again, we'll go about our business and get Sean back in practice with us and we'll make our decisions as far as a lineup on Thursday."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 11.02.2011

586159 Ottawa Senators

Senators' win streak ends in Boston

By Allen Panzeri

BOSTON - They took the lead, gave it up, and fought back to make it a game.

But in the end there wasn't enough magic to get the Ottawa Senators over the top and out of Boston with a win.

The Bruins scored two goals within 37 seconds of each other in the third period to break a 3-3 tie and get just their fourth win of the season, 5-3.

The loss ended Ottawa's six-game winning streak.

Jared Cowen had just tied the game 1:37 before the Boston outburst with his first NHL goal. But Craig Anderson, who kept his team in the game until that point, unluckily coughed up goals to Johnny Boychuk and Daniel Paille.

Milan Lucic, Patrice Bergeron, and Chris Kelly, who also had an assist, scored Boston's other goals.

For the Senators, Nick Foligno had a goal and two assists, a career high for points in a game, while Stephane Da Costa had a goal and an assist.

"I think the Stanley Cup champions came to play," said coach Paul MacLean.

"Obviously with all the reports of their demise, they responded real well. I didn't think they really gave us much of an opportunity to play."

Anderson faced 41 shots while Tim Thomas faced 26.

Ordinarily, Cowen would have been happy with his first NHL goal but he wasn't on this night.

"It was nice to get my first goal, but hopefully the next time I get a goal it will matter more," he said.

Anderson kept his team in the game until Boston's fourth and fifth goals.

On Boychuk's he was screened, on Paille's he only got a piece.

"You want to limit the odd-man rushes in this game," said Anderson.

"That's what's going to kill you. When you start giving up three-on-twos, two-on-ones, and breakaways, you can make a few saves, but those are good players you're playing against, and eventually they're going to score."

In a wild first period of lucky bounces, the Senators emerged with a 2-1 lead.

Foligno got his third of the season when the puck went up and off Adam McQuaid, just before the net was dislodged.

The play was reviewed but the NHL's Situation Room confirmed that the net was completely on its mooring when the puck crossed the goal line.

The Bruins tied the game during a power play two minutes later when the puck fell to Lucic at the right post.

Erik Karlsson was there, and he tried, but he was out-manned by the 6-4, 220-pound Lucic. No shame there. Most NHL defenceman would have been out-manned.

Lucic lifted a backhander over Anderson.

However, the Bruins didn't even get a chance to get an emotional lift off this goal. Just 16 seconds later, Da Costa got his third of the season that started with another lucky bounce, this time off Joe Corvo's back.

The puck fell to Foligno and he tapped a pass to Da Costa, who buried it.

The second period was not one that will find its way onto Ottawa highlight films.

The Bruins not only outshot the Senators 15-7, they got goals from Bergeron and and Kelly to take a 3-2 lead.

Bergeron took a neat pass from Tyler Seguin and beat Anderson from the slot, while Kelly beat Anderson with a slap shot from the high slot.

WHY SENS LOST: They lost control of the game in the second period, got it back in the third, but in the end didn't get the saves they needed from Anderson.

DUD: After a couple of good games, David Rundblad wasn't very good and finished minus-2.

STUD: Nick Foligno. Even in a losing effort, Nick Foligno was a force with a goal and two assists, a career high for points in a game.

PENALTY KILLING TROUBLE: With Boston's first-period power-play goal, the Senators have now allowed at least one power-play in five of their last six games. They came into the game 29th at penalty killing.

Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 11.02.2011


Senators go back to Anderson for Bruins tilt

By Allen Panzeri

BOSTON - Craig Anderson will be back in net tonight at the Ottawa Senators try to extend their six-game winning streak against the struggling Boston Bruins.

"This is a benchmark game, for sure," said Jason Spezza.

"I don"t care what the standings say. This is one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference."

With Daniel Alfredsson (concussion) out and Kaspars Daugavins in Binghamton having his wisdom teeth removed, both Nikita Filatov and Zenon Konopka will be in up front.

Brian Lee will be the healthy scratch on defence, for the seventh game in a row.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins are off to a 3-7-0 start and searching for answers.

"We've got to come out and play with some energy," Boston coach Claude Julien said this morning.

"The team we're playing has lots of it."

Julien doesn't announce his goalie until game time but it's expected to be Tim Thomas, who has a history of great success against the Senators.

The Senators have been helped by the league's No. 1 power play (31 per cent) but they still need to be better at killing penalties.

They're 29th in the league at 71.9 per cent.

The Bruins are 25th on the power play (12.8 per cent) but 12th at killing penalties (85.4 per cent).

Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 11.02.2011


Cheapseats: Karlsson looks to pass 'stache test

By DON BRENNAN, QMI Agency

BOSTON - Erik Karlsson has more assists than anybody in the NHL and leads all defencemen in points, but as clear as the nose on his face is one category in which he struggles.

It's in the department of growing facial hair.

That, however, hasn't stopped the 21-year-old Ottawa blueliner from once again taking part in Movember, a moustache-growing money-raiser in support of the fight against prostate cancer.

Karlsson, Zenon Konopka and Matt Carkner are the three Senators who have vowed not to drag a razor between their top lip and snout for a month. You can sponsor the players by going to the Movember Canada website.

"Karlsson's the darkhorse, for sure," said coach Paul MacLean - the wearer of one of the greatest moustaches the NHL has ever seen - when asked to assess which guy would sprout the best 'stache. "I think Konopka's probably got the inside track, but we need to make sure we have a proper difference in fertilizer."

Konopka says he's never really grown one before.

"A couple of times I tried it, then I'd even it up on each side, but by the time I'd be finished there's no moustache," said Konopka, who also revealed he has a friendly side bet with Karlsson. "If Karl has a thicker moustache than me, I give him my paycheque. If I've got a thicker moustache than him, he buys me a coffee. I thought it was a fair bet. I like my odds of beating him. I want Starbucks."

Karlsson sheepishly admits he's in over his head.

"I just have to give it some time and hopefully you can see it on TV, not only in close," he said on the first morning of the contest. "I'm just doing it for the cause. I don't look very good in it. My fiancee isn't very happy about it. But you've got to do what you've got to do.

"I'm going to have to be extra nice to her this month."

At least Karlsson looked great in October.

STARTS AND STOPS

For a guy whose two greatest skills are his passing and vision, it's surprising that Stephane Da Costa's assist on Nick Foligno's goal was the first of his now 17-game NHL career ... Jason Spezza looked to be doing most of the talking in a 30-second huddle of the power play near the centre-ice dot before Ottawa's first power play. The Senators didn't take advantage of that particular man advantage ... Tyler Seguin totally undressed Karlsson to have a clear path to the net, then passed the puck away ... Shawn Thornton was clapping after his first-period fight with Konopka. I thought the winner was everybody who likes a hockey fight ... Brian Lee, who was a healthy scratch 25 games in a row last season, has now had a seat in the press box for seven straight (and nine overall) under MacLean. "I've thought about it the last three games, about playing Brian Lee," said MacLean. "Somehow it's easier to change the fourth line. The defensive pairs have been playing so well. We just feel like we can't do it at this point." ... The Senators will have to do something when Carkner returns from knee surgery, probably around the middle of the month. "Big Country" skated for the first time Monday.

STUFF I THINK I THUNK

John says Boston is a hockey town, not a baseball town. On Monday night we visit Clarke's at Faneuil Hall, an Irish pub that has been around since 1974. I order a Samuel Adams Octoberfest. John, the bartender whose grandfather was the original owner of the bar, asks Marc Brassard what he'd like, just as the Le Droit sports editor is headed to the can. Over his shoulder as he walks away, Marc mumbles his order, as Marc does. "He says he wants the same thing," I tell John, who looked confused. "But he said it in French." Said John: "Okay, I was wondering. I thought he was speaking Tikkanese." The reference was to Esa Tikkanen, a mumbling winger who retired in 1999 after playing with seven NHL teams -- none of them the Bruins. Good recall, John ... On the topic of baseball, former

Ottawa Lynx manager Pete Mackanin was the first candidate interviewed for Terry Francona's old job as skipper of the Red Sox. The meeting with Sox brass was described as an "all-day audition," after which the likable Mackanin was grilled for 25 minutes by local baseball media. Not sure we've ever heard of reporters getting 25 minutes with a candidate, or a daylong interview for a job. Are you sure it's a hockey town, John?

BETWEEN PERIODS

Before the game, Cheaps tried to pick the brain of a "smart player", Chris Kelly. "Claude (Julien) gonna match you up against Spezza tonight?" the former Senator was asked. "I don't think so. I don't know. I have no idea what Claude is going to do," said Kelly, who then couldn't resist taking a playful jab at his good pal. "Hopefully for Spetzie, I don't get matched up against him. I'm gonna run him all night." (Later, we told Spezza of Kelly's quip. "What?" asked No. 19, before laughing. "He won't even be on the ice at the same time!" Spezza then brought up a fight Kelly was recently in with Carolina's Brett Sutter and joked that he better give him some space. Kelly dummied the son of Darryl). On a more serious note, Kelly shrugged off the notion that knowing Spezza so well could be an advantage in throwing him off his game. "He's not a mental midget," said Kelly. "He's playing extremely well. I hate to give Spezz credit AT ALL, but he's playing well."

HMMMMM ...

A few of the closest people to Foligno recognized his 24th birthday Monday. "I got a nice pair of boots from my wife," he said, clarifying that Janelle actually gave him some footwear, not the boot one of my buddies was given by his girlfriend on his birthday years ago. "Shoe boots, not like walking-in-the-tundra boots. Nice, classy, brown, leather." Daniel Alfredsson might have a concussion, but he thought of young Nick, too. "Alfie bought breakfast for me and the boys bought me dinner (in Boston)," beamed Foligno. "It was really good." Cool. Did anybody call you? "No, no, I didn't get a call," Nick said, feigning huge disappointment. "I'm actually kinda sad now, that I think about it. I didn't get called by anybody." It's not too late for a belated wish, folks. Give Nick a shout.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 11.02.2011


Spezza: 'Benchmark' game for Sens

By DON BRENNAN, QMI Agency

BOSTON - Coach Claude Julien admitted he's getting tired of the questions.

Where are the breakdowns occuring for his Boston Bruins?

"Everywhere," said Julien.

The Bruins are going to have to match the energy and work ethic of the Senators when the two teams meet at TD Garden Tuesday night, Julien added after his team's optional morning skate.

While the Senators will be looking for their seventh straight win, the defending Cup champs are in a funk. They're last in the East. They've won just once in their past five games. And they've only scored more than two goals in two of their 10 games thus far.

Still, their lineup is very similar to the one that outlasted the Vancouver Canucks in a seven-game final last spring.

"We're not as good as we think we are," said Julien. "And we're not as bad as we seem."

The Senators haven't won seven in a row since a franchise-best 11 game run from Jan. 14-Feb. 4, 2010.

Facing the Bruins in Boston is a big deal to them.

"It's a benchmark game for sure," Jason Spezza said in the visitors dressing room. "We think they're one of the best teams in the East. I don't care what the standings say. They're Stanley Cup champions. They have some great players. Three deep lines. Six real good defencemen and one of the best goalies in the league. This isn't a team you take lightly. This is an arena that's hard come to play in. They clog things up and make it hard on you. For us, we have to make sure we're at the top of our game or else they can make it a long night for you."

The goaltending matchup will see Craig Anderson facing Tim Thomas.

Brian Lee will miss his eighth game as a healthy scratch, with coach Paul MacLean reluctant to break up defence pairings that are now working well.

The Senators line combos at the morning skate were as follows:

Colin Greening-Jason Spezza-Milan Michalek

Nick Foligno-Stephane Da Costa-Bobby Butler

Erik Condra-Zack Smith-Chris Neil

Zenon Konopka-Jesse Winchester-Nikita Filatov.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 11.02.2011

586163 Philadelphia Flyers

LEINO FACES RUFF ROAD

By FRANK SERAVALLI

BUFFALO - Ville Leino and his agent waited and waited last June - even checking back in with Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren hours before the start of free agency at noon on July 1 - until they just could not wait anymore.

Leino had even decided to table contract extensions with the Flyers during last season in order to give the team the salary-cap flexibility to bring in high-priced acquisitions like Kris Versteeg. He didn't want to have to start over, in a new town, with a new coach, in a new system.

Leino wanted to stay in Philadelphia. And Holmgren wanted to keep him in a Flyers uniform - but not at the price of $27 million.

So Leino ended up signing with Buffalo and is now knee-deep in the same exhausting process, this time under the iron fist of Sabres coach Lindy Ruff.

Under Ruff, who became the second-longest tenured coach in pro sports behind the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich on Monday when Cardinals manager Tony La Russa retired, Leino has already dangerously flirted with sitting out as a healthy scratch.

Tonight, Leino will face his former team - even if it now bears little semblance to the one he played for less than 6 months ago - for the first time since inking a 6-year, $27 million deal.

"It's been a tough start to the season, to say the least," Leino told the Daily News yesterday. "For sure, things haven't exactly gone the way that I would have hoped. I have a lot of work to do to prove that I am a better player than what I have shown."

How bad has it been? Leino's only highlight so far was opening the season with the rest of his teammates in his native Finland, as part of the NHL Premiere. Leino is one of Finland's biggest names.

"It was definitely a unique way to start a season," Leino said. "It was pretty nice. I had a ton of friends and family there to watch me, who made their way down . Other than that, it's pretty much been a blur. It's been frustrating."

Leino, 28, spent much of Saturday's loss to Florida on the bench. He played a little more than 2 minutes, 30 seconds in each of the second and third periods. Leino's total ice time was 9:35, the third lowest on the team that game. Yet, he is the third highest-paid player on a traditionally small-market Buffalo team, which under new owner Terry Pegula, is suddenly spending as much as the Flyers.

Though his salary cap hit is just $4.5 million, Leino will earn $11 million this season, paying him more money than every forward in the league except Brad Richards and Steven Stamkos.

This season, Leino has seen time on the fourth line, the first line and everywhere in between - including the bench.

Leino has just one goal and one assist in 10 games. He has a total of five shots on goal, tying him with Matt Ellis for the least on the Sabres - and Ellis has played seven less games.

Really, it's no surprise. Leino has struggled to find himself in each of the three NHL markets he has played. In search of cap space in 2009 season, the Red Wings let him go for scrapheap defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen after just a 55-game audition.

With the Flyers, Leino cracked Peter Laviolette's lineup just 13 times in his first 26 games with the team. He sat out the first four playoff games in 2010 as a healthy scratch before going on to tie an NHL record for points by a rookie in a single playoff season (21 points) as he led the Flyers to within two wins of a Stanley Cup parade.

We visited Leino at his house in April, learning what makes him tick. He is an interesting character, one who doesn't easily adapt to set standards and practices.

"I can't play in the simple way that others can," Leino said in April. "If I fail, I'll fail as myself and the player I've developed and the player I've always been - not the player that tried to please somebody.

"Before, I tried to do things that made coaches happy. That's the Finn in me. Because I don't want to [tick] anyone off or give a bad impression. But that's not what I am - I decided I wasn't going to change for anyone else."

Therein lies Leino's clash with Ruff, a rigid man who squeezes every last ounce of talent out of his players with a unified system. Nonconformists don't often last on Ruff's teams.

Soon, perhaps even tonight - when Leino skates on the first line for the first time all season with Jason Pominville and Tomas Vanek, who have already combined for 29 points - Ruff will find what makes Leino's silky-smooth game so unique.

Unfortunately for Leino, it's something that Laviolette had already figured out.

"I really liked it in Philly," Leino said, his voice trailing off. "We tried to make it work. Now, I'm going to keep working hard to turn this thing around."

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 11.02.2011


Sabres will hardly recognize Flyers

By FRANK SERAVALLI

BUFFALO - Over the weekend, one Sabres player said that facing the Flyers tonight "might as well be like facing a Western Conference team" with all of their changes.

It seems like last spring's tension-filled, seven-game playoff circus, err series, with Buffalo was a decade ago instead of one that wrapped up on April 26.

Heck, tonight's Flyers lineup at the First Niagara Center will be a shell of the one they put on the ice less than a month ago on Opening Night. Decimated by injuries, the Flyers will skate without Danny Briere, Matt Read and Chris Pronger.

That means just seven of the Flyers' 18 players from last season's first-round matchup will be on the ice this time around.

"It's our turn right now, I guess," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "We're confident with the players we can put in the lineup. We think they'll do a good job for us."

To help replace Briere and Read, the Flyers recalled forwards Harry Zolnierczyk and Ben Holmstrom from Adirondack yesterday. Both players joined the team at practice before departing for Western New York.

Zolnierczyk said it was probably his "ridiculously high shooting percentage" that made him so attractive to the coaching staff. Two weeks ago, Zolnierczyk netted his first NHL goal on what remains his only shot in his only game.

Holmgren said it was a "tough conversation" with Zolnierczyk - one of eight players in team history to have a record 11 letters in his last name - when he told Zolnierczyk he was being sent back to the Phantoms the day after scoring a highlight-reel goal in his debut.

"He played well," Holmgren said. "You could even make the case that he deserved to be here [to begin the season]. He had a good camp. The coaches were always talking about him and the energy he brings. He's a tenacious player."

Holmstrom, a UMass-Lowell product, is expected to center Jody Shelley and Zac Rinaldo on the fourth line tonight. Andreas Nodl, who was a healthy scratch for the last three games, could play on the right side with Max Talbot and Zolnierczyk.

Pronger update

To make room for Holmstrom and Zolnierczyk under the salary cap, the Flyers relegated defenseman Matt Walker and his $1.7 million salary to Adirondack. To make room for those two players on the 23-man roster, Chris Pronger was formally placed on the injured reserve list.

But that doesn't mean he won't be back on the ice soon.

Pronger, who took a stick in the eye on Oct. 24 against Toronto, visited an eye specialist yesterday.

"I'm hoping that he can get on the ice by himself [today] to push it a little harder," Paul Holmgren said. "Hopefully by the end of the week, he'll be able to get on the ice with the team. But he's got to get back with the team before we can start worrying about [a return]."

According to Holmgren, the pupil in Pronger's right eye has been dilated almost continually since the accident to try to alleviate pressure behind the eye. Though he is slowly being weaned off the medication, it has caused blurriness in the eye, which has slowed down the process.

Scouting trip?

Representatives from the Flyers were spotted in Washington at last night's Capitals-Anaheim Ducks game.

The Flyers' top pro scout, Al Hill, and director of player personnel, Dave Brown, were in attendance.

Paul Holmgren has swung a deal with Ducks GM Bob Murray in each of the last 3 years, most notably when he nabbed Chris Pronger in '09. The Flyers could be in the market for a depth defenseman.

Slap shots

Danny Briere, who is nursing an upper-body ailment that is believed to be a rib injury, skated by himself yesterday. He flew with the team to Buffalo. Paul Holmgren said Briere is "possible" for tomorrow night's game against New Jersey . . . Matt Read, also dealing with an upper-body injury, is likely to miss both tonight and tomorrow night's games . . . The Flyers are 4-0-2 in their last six regular-season games at First Niagara Center.



Flyers call up two to replace Danny Briere and Matt Read

By Sam Carchidi

The Flyers made a handful of roster moves and gave an encouraging update on defenseman Chris Pronger's status Tuesday.

The moves were made because of injuries to forwards Danny Briere and Matt Read, each of whom will miss Wednesday's game in Buffalo. It will be the teams' first meeting since the Flyers won a grueling, opening-round playoff series in seven games last season.

As replacements for Briere and Read, the Flyers recalled Harry Zolnierczyk, who scored a goal against Ottawa in his first and only NHL game on Oct. 18, and Ben Holmstrom from the AHL Phantoms.

At Tuesday's practice in Voorhees, Holmstrom centered wingers Zolniercyk and Zac Rinaldo on an Adirondack-like fourth line.

"Injuries are a part of the game. When someone goes down, someone has to assume those minutes and contribute," coach Peter Laviolette said after practice.

In addition, the Flyers sent defenseman Matt Walker ($1.7 million cap hit) to the Phantoms. The Flyers have about $392,000 in cap space.

Rookie Sean Couturier centered James van Riemsdyk and Jakub Voracek on the second line Tuesday, and the third line had Max Talbot between Wayne Simmonds and Andreas Nodl.

Only the sizzling first unit - Claude Giroux centering Scott Hartnell and Jaromir Jagr - remained intact.

Couturier, playing mostly on the third and fourth lines and being used as one of the team's top penalty killers, has two goals and two assists. He figures to get a lot more ice time Wednesday.

"He hasn't been utilized in that [offensive] role," general manager Paul Holmgren said, "so this will be a good opportunity to see what he can do at that end."

"I don't think we've tagged him as a defensive player, but we just said he's responsible defensively," Laviolette said. "His numbers in junior were very impressive, especially after . . . coming back from mono last year."

If moved to the No. 2 line, Couturier said he won't change the way he plays, that he would "just try to take care of details and do what I do best."

The new-look lineup will try to make up for a lack of firepower with youthful energy.

"It's a great opportunity for everyone," Talbot said. You've got young guys being called up. Everyone wants to prove themselves, and it gives the team a little boost at the same time."

Zolnierczyk, who had five goals in his 10 games with the Phantoms this season, said he tries to play "in people's faces" and that he attempted to impress the Flyers during camp because "you want to put yourself in that position to be the first guy back up."

As for Pronger, he continues to make progress from an injury to his right eye, and there is a chance he will skate on his own in Voorhees on Wednesday, Holmgren said. The earliest Pronger could skate with the team would be at Friday's practice, the GM added.

Pronger was injured on Oct. 24, and the Flyers said he would miss at least two weeks.

Holmgren said there is a chance Briere, believed to be sidelined by a rib problem, can play Thursday against New Jersey, but that Read will miss that game. Holmgren will only say that the players have upper-body injuries.

Breakaways. The Flyers and Penguins are upset with an NHL realignment proposal that would leave the rivals playing only a home-and-home series next season. Realignment could be announced at league meetings Dec. 2 and 3. . . . Wednesday's game will match struggling, marquee goalies: Ilya Bryzgalov (1-4, 4.22 GAA in last five games) and Buffalo's Ryan Miller (3.04 GAA in three straight losses). . ...In an attempt to get former Flyer Ville

Leino (one goal) untracked, the Sabres have moved him to the top line with Thomas Vanek (eight goals, seven assists) and Jason Pominville (five goals, nine assists). . . . The Flyers are 3-1 on the road, while Buffalo is just 1-3 at home.



Injuries force Flyers to call upon familiar faces

JAY GREENBERG

Danny Briere, whose bruised ribs likely will keep him out of Wednesday night's game in Buffalo, was not available after practice Tuesday to explain whether he desperately will miss his standard Western New York booing. But Peter Laviolette was very clear on whether the Flyers should desperately miss Briere.

"Injuries are part of the game," said the coach. "A lot of these players had good camps, and we had touch decisions about them.

"They went down and played well and we had an opportunity to bring them back."

Up from Adirondack comes Harry Zolnierczyk and Ben Holmstrom. Down goes Matt Walker and onto the IR goes Chris Pronger to clear room for the additions, no reflection on any change in the expected recovery time by the captain from his eight-day-old eye injury. The IR is retroactive to the day Pronger suffered his injury. And he can return whenever ready.

"I didn't want to use the word 'danger' but I can't think of another word, so he was out of danger Friday," said GM Paul Holmgren.

"Medicine in his eye was keeping his pupils dilated and there was an issue for his vision. It's going down now, his pupil is getting back to normal. Hopefully tomorrow and Thursday he can skate on his own, then maybe he can skate with the team on Friday.

"That's the hope. We'll see how that goes."

Holmgren said Briere possibly could play Tuesday night at home against the Devils. Matt Read, listed like Briere with an upper body injury, will not play before Saturday against Columbus. So Harry Z, last seen one-handing in a remarkable goal to finish off an Oct. 18 rout in Ottawa, returns with his consecutive game goal streak (one) in jeopardy.

"My perfect shooting percentage (1.000) too," laughed Zolnierczyk, who was on the fourth line at practice with Holmstrom and Zac Rinaldo, while Max Talbot centered Andrea Nodl and Wayne Simmonds and Sean Couturier was between James van Riemsdyk and Jake Voracek.

The sizzling first line of Claude Giroux, Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell will stay intact, as Laviolette hopes for his team's defensive effort. The Flyers quickly turned Thursday night's 9-8 mess of loss to Winnipeg into a neat 5-1 victory Saturday over Carolina.

Laviolette insisted Tuesday the defensive zone coverage against Winnipeg was not so bad that the coach felt the need to gag. Instead, he tried to gag Ilya Bryzgalov, a grown 31-year-old man, who said all the right things about his bad goaltending against the Jets, albeit pretty dramatically.

All seemed better Saturday, including Bryzgalov. And in revisionist history, the coach didn't think the Winnipeg loss was as bad as it looked either.

"There were a lot of fluky things that went on in that game," said the coach. "We had some bad breaks, I think it was four caroms went into the net.

"It was not like we had to reinvent the wheel. From the Montreal [5-1 loss] we tightened up the turnovers but there were still times we should have made better decisions."

Against the Hurricanes, good decisions seemed to come easier than Holmgren's to demote Zolnierczyk after he had made like Evgeni Malkin.

"After training camp he was a tough send down, too," said the GM. "Coaches would always talk about the energy and speed he brings.

"He's a tenacious player who came up and played a pretty good game in Ottawa, scored a highlight-film goal and next day got sent down again. It was tough."

Even tougher have been Walkers shifts. And we don't mean that in a good way, either. Erik Gustafsson has shown enough over the last two games to play himself onto the team until Pronger comes back.

Meanwhile, the Flyers showed enough against Carolina to engender trust that they can play that way without their most essential player. A better Buffalo team will next tell us whether this can last.



Leino struggling to get adjusted in Buffalo

Tim Panaccio

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- This isn't how Ville Leino envisioned it would be after leaving Philadelphia ... but that's life in sports.

A month into the NHL season, the Buffalo Sabres' high-priced free agent has all of two points (one goal, one assist) as he preps to meet his former Flyer teammates on Wednesday at First Niagara Center.

After the Sabres lost for the third time this season at home, a 3-2 decision to Florida this week, coach Lindy Ruff moved Leino back to center from wing.

He had played seven games at center, didn't like it, requested a move to wing and got it, but now he's back in the middle.

Ruff wants his six-year, $27 million forward between Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville against the Flyers.

"We got to get more goals, we got to create," Leino told the Olean Times Herald. "There can't be only one line scoring. You can't win games like that. We got good players, but we just got to find the right combination." (Read more about Leino's time in Buffalo thus far.)

Leino, 28, played the right side on Danny Briere's line with Scott Hartnell for most of his two-years as a Flyer. He's a pretty creative player, but still, the center spot doesn't sit well with him.

"I know he wanted to go back to the wing for a little bit, but I think that's normal when you're struggling to get on the score sheet," Ruff said. "You think, 'Well, it'd be better if I went over there.' I think he'd be tickled pink to go over there right now and give that a try."

Leino says he's become too defensive-conscious at wing.

"A lot of the times when you wanted to go you were kind of thinking you're not supposed to go," Leino said. "You just want to play it safe and be on the defensive side. I think I played pretty solid defensively, but offense, that's actually my game."

Hard to think he's going to get comfortable there going up against his former buddies.

"It's going to be fun, kind of a new start," Leino said. "We'll try to make things work."



Flyers-Penguins...Best of friends?

Staff

There has been a lot of talk about NHL realignment for the 2012-13 season in order to accommodate the reborn Winnipeg Jets. Among these discussions and proposals is fear - fear that some forms of realignment would destroy natural rivalries.

"The Penguins," author Greg Wyshynski writes, "would be separated from their Atlantic Division - and old Patrick Division - rivals"

Pittsburgh, understandably, is upset with this ... and the Flyers are, too.

Wait a second. The Flyers agree? With the Penguins?

"We are in 100 percent agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins" Flyers President Peter Luukko said in an article from Anthony SanFilippo of the Times Herald referenced on the post.

It seems like for once, in the long history of the two franchises, that the Flyers and Penguins are united for a common purpose: The goal of wanting to beat each other up six times a year.



Leino looks to find groove vs. old mates

BOB MATUSZAK

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Former Flyers winger Ville Leino may have hit the wealth jackpot when he signed a big free-agent contract with Buffalo this summer, but early on his erratic play has been anything but prosperous for him and the Sabres, who host the Flyers Wednesday night.

Hopes were high when the 28-year-old signed a six-year, $27 million deal with the Sabres on the opening day of NHL free agency. But four months after the ink dried, Leino's offensive production has yet to surface.

After scoring in Buffalo's first game of the season against Anaheim in his native Finland, Leino hasn't found the back of the net since, and has registered just a pair of points through the team's first 10 games.

Ordinary numbers from a player the Sabres expected extraordinary things from.

"There's a lot of things we can do better, and I can do better," Leino said following Monday's practice. "Obviously you're a little bit worried or whatever, and you're not feeling as comfortable as you want to. You just have to work hard every day and get back at it. Once you've got the confidence and got your game going, it's a whole different game."

Lacking depth in the middle, the Sabres envisioned Leino as a center as soon as they signed him, and he began the year in the pivot between wingers Brad Boyes and Tyler Ennis. The results were immediate, as Leino scored a first-period goal against the Ducks, and finished with what is still a season-high 16:59 of ice time.

"I think we have a lot of skill and a lot of good players," Leino said after the game. "It looks good so far."

But things began going south for Leino when the team finished its European trip and headed back east. When he went after a loose puck he'd be a step behind, and on the occasions he did reach the puck first, he'd quickly turn it over.

After a few games he was shifted to the wing and down to the fourth line before moving back up to the second line with center Derek Roy and right wing Drew Stafford.

His short tenure in Buffalo hit rock bottom in the Sabres' 3-2 loss to Florida on Saturday night when he was benched by coach Lindy Ruff for the majority of the game. He played 9 1/2 minutes, but just 5:07 over the final two periods.

The ice time was the second-lowest on the Sabres that night, trailing little-used tough-guy Cody McCormick's 7:02 TOI. Leino averaged more than 16 minutes last year with the Flyers.

"I tried to go down to three lines to get things going, and to that point he didn't have too much going on," Ruff said. "Starting Wednesday, we'll just start fresh again."

On Monday, in an attempt to jump-start Leino, Ruff slid him back to center, but between red-hot top wingers Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek. Pominville and Vanek have combined for 13 goals and 29 points.

"Ville's going to be a big part of this team," Pominville said. "He's a talented player offensively. Obviously he's had a little bit of a tough go, but hopefully by adding him with me and Thomas we'll be able to help him out and get him going because we need him to get some points on the board."

Leino agreed that the shift to the top line may be just the tonic he needs to shake out of his playmaking doldrums.

"They're really good players and they're playing well right now," he said. "They make a lot of plays and they are huge goal scorers. So those are the kind of players you want to be playing with."

Leino enjoyed plenty of success last year with the Flyers on a line with Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell. He finished with career highs in goals (19), assists (34), and points (53). His overtime tally in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals broke the Sabres' backs, and helped the Flyers

get to a deciding Game 7 in which they dismantled the Sabres, 5-2. Leino finished with three goals in the series.

Leino's plight is similar to the Sabres as a group. After a lightning-quick start in which it won four of its first five, Buffalo has cooled considerably. The Sabres will enter Wednesday's meeting with the Flyers having lost three of their last four, with two of those losses coming at home.

"We weren't working as hard as we should, we weren't winning many battles, and we weren't fast enough," Leino said. "I don't know if we're thinking too much or whatever, but the work ethic wasn't there. It's tough to win games when you do that."

"I think that you can go five or six minutes and play really well, but we've done some things that have kind of shot ourselves and hurt ourselves," Ruff added following a grueling Monday morning practice. "I don't think we've been the team we were that started the year. What we've done at home isn't good enough. That might have been one of toughest practices in couple years. I said the other night it wasn't acceptable, and if you're going to play like that we'll practice even harder.

The game against the Flyers could work in two completely different ways for the 6-4-0 Sabres. A win could help them shrug-off the early season-struggles, but a loss could send them into a deeper funk. For Leino, he's thinking about the former rather than the latter for both himself and his teammates.

"It's going to be fun playing against the guys," Leino said about facing Briere the Flyers. "I'm a little bit nervous. I'm sure it's going to be a little bit different playing on the other side of the ice against them. Usually you want to show against your old team that you're a good player. It's going to give me a little extra boost."



Pronger to IR; Walker to Phantoms

Staff

It's not exactly a setback, but Chris Pronger isn't yet ready to return to the Flyers after the scary eye injury he suffered last week.

Instead, the Flyers have placed their captain on seven-day injured reserve, retroactive to last Tuesday - yes, that means Pronger could come off IR today, he's just not yet ready to.

Moving Pronger to IR means the Flyers gain a roster spot. By sending defenseman Matt Walker to the Adirondack Phantoms, which they also did, the Flyers created close to $400,000 in cap space.

General manager Paul Holmgren said he doesn't expect Danny Briere or Matt Read to play Wednesday in Buffalo. Both are day-to-day with upper-body injuries. Briere could play Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, Holmgren said.

The Flyers recalled Harry Zolneirczyk and Ben Holmstrom from the Phantoms. Both were both on the ice at practice Tuesday morning.


586171 Phoenix Coyotes

Daymond Langkow's return from injury paying off for Phoenix Coyotes

By Sarah McLellan

Coyotes forward Daymond Langkow doesn't want to talk about the injury that limited him to four games last season.

"That happened a year ago," he said. "A long time ago."

But it's an injury that had Langkow's career at a crossroads. He could have closed the book on a solid career or battled back from a debilitating setback to keep connected to the game.

Langkow chose the latter, and the Coyotes have been reaping the benefits.

"There's a lot of things that he does in the game that are very subtle, kind of nondescript, but they're solid, veteran things that he does," coach Dave Tippett said.

The noticeable contributions - two goals and five assists entering Wednesday night's meeting with the Colorado Avalanche in Denver - have been appreciated, as well. Whether or not he's pegged as the No. 1 center in a system that doesn't rely on a pecking order, Langkow undoubtedly has taken on the responsibility of providing that offensive punch up the middle.

"Each game I feel better," he said.

That's quite remarkable considering Langkow's career was in jeopardy after he took a slap shot in the neck during a game against the Minnesota Wild in March 2010. As he sat out in the summer and through most of last season, many wondered whether he would return to hockey. But he persevered and, after his neck healed, worked his way back into hockey shape and played four games at the end of last season.

There doesn't seem to be any lingering rust as he begins his second stint with the Coyotes.

"That's a testament to who he is," captain Shane Doan said. "When people ask me, 'Is he going to be OK? He didn't play last year," full on, I expected him to have a longer time period to get into it. But I had no worries about whether or not he'd be able to do it. I never expected him to be as good as he's been for us right off the hop. He's been great for us."

As a veteran of the game, Langkow also adds a leadership element to the Coyotes. He's not necessarily a constant voice in the locker room or in the media, but the youngsters notice his approach to the game.

"He doesn't want fanfare," Doan said. "He loves playing the game. I'm sure he doesn't mind when people talk about how great he is, but it's not like he ever does anything for that reason. He's just a genuinely good man, and I think people gravitate toward that."

Arizona Republic LOADED: 11.02.2011


Goalie grind: Tending to mental aspects of game is key for Phoenix Coyotes goaltenders Mike Smith, Jason LaBarbera

By Jim Gintonio

Younger brothers can serve a lot of useful purposes.

So when Brad Smith and his buddies got together for a little pickup hockey - the fun, of course, came from scoring goals - they needed a target to shoot at. And they had Mike.

"I was the one who had to put the pads on and get hit by the frozen hockey ball when I was a kid," said Smith, who chuckled as he reminisced about his genesis as a goaltender. "I was fortunate to have an older brother that made me go in net when I was young. He's the reason I'm here."

Smith, who joined the Coyotes this season, might have been inadvertently thrust into the goaltender's mode, but his backup, Jason LaBarbera, could see his future unfolding from a young age.

"It was just one of those things I was drawn toward, and something I just kind of naturally came to, I think," LaBarbera said. "Right from the get-go, it was one of those things where you see guys on TV - I'd always played hockey by myself with a mini-stick and an apple crate, and take shots on myself. I did it all the time."

What both of them also began to figure out at an early age was that the mental part of the game is the toughest to grasp. For some, leaving a bad game at the rink is not easy.

Coyotes goaltending coach Sean Burke tries to instill an even-keeled attitude, but he knows from experience that it can be difficult.

"It's not a tangible thing, winning, losing," said Burke, who played parts of 18 seasons in the NHL, including 1999-2004 with the Coyotes. "You've got to do the things that are tangible. Attention to detail is real important for a goalie. Mentally, it's very draining to have that approach, so if you're going to come to the rink every day and be extremely focused and pay attention to the details, you want to leave that at the rink. You don't want to take that home with you."

Older, wiser

Earlier in his career, Smith did not always find that a simple task. Maturity has given him perspective.

"The older you get, now I have a family, I'm married, and have a kid, I think it's easier now to do than it has been in the past," he said. "I think growing up and coming up through the pros you maybe get disappointed in a bad start or things happen in the rink and let it affect you in your ongoing life.

"But now when I get home I'm so happy to see my kid (3-month old son Aksel) and my wife that . . . goals here and there that would bother me more so back when I was younger. Now I'm learning how to mature and to leave it at the rink."

LaBarbera, who has two sons - Ryder, 2 1/2, and Easton, 6 months - does not let anything affect his family dynamic but admits that he sometimes plays mind games with himself.

And like all backup goalies, LaBarbera usually has a lot of time off between starts to dwell on things.

"I keep that stuff more in my head," he said. "Maybe I should probably talk about it more, might make things a little bit easier sometimes, but I internalize a lot of things.

"Especially for a guy like me, when you don't play a whole lot, when you have a loss or don't have a great game, you've got a week or two or whatever to stew on it."

"It gets to be a little much and you overthink things a little bit, and you try and work as hard as you can in practice, but sometimes maybe you do too much and that's the hardest part, sitting there have to stew on a game like that."

Goaltender mind-bender

A goaltending coach usually has to morph into an amateur psychologist, Burke said. As a result, even though he is similar in stature to Smith and LaBarbera, he said he does not try to mold them: "It's not a factory."

Goalies have strengths and weaknesses. Enjoying the game, competing hard and instilling confidence in the team are three key elements to Burke's approach.

"When you have veteran guys, they know when they've played well," he said. "I'm not going to try to ever B.S. them or sugarcoat it, but on the other hand, we're trying to find a formula that works for everybody, and you tinker with that sometimes.

"At the end of the day, if your goalies are confident, and they believe in themselves, and they know you believe in them, then they're going to play better. . . . They have to know that you care about them, and I do, I care about the goalies. I want them to be successful.

"I want our team to know that's the least of their worries, and in order to do that, your guys have to believe in themselves, and that to me is what you try to do day in and day out: make sure that when they leave here and go home every day that they feel good about their game."

Hockey can be very humbling, and Burke lets his goalies know that the important thing is consistency and "to not let yourself off the hook" when things are not going well. Even when goalies are on a hot streak, he wants them to work twice as hard as they did the day before.

For all goaltenders, short-term memory is an asset. Smith said a big part of the learning curve is to quickly erase negatives.

"Every day you come to the rink, you're only as good as your last game, and you have to look at it like that," he said. "If something bad happens, you got to quickly get it out of your mind and worry about the next shot."

That "memory loss" can sometimes carry over into family life. LaBarbera joked: "Your wife might tell you something, and you kind of forget because you're trained to be like that, right?"

The goalies' view

Quick assessments by the Coyotes goaltenders on their relationship with position coach Sean Burke:

- Mike Smith: "It's going really good. I was telling my wife the other day I think I've learned more this year already than I have in as many years as I've played pro. So he's been a huge help. I've learned a whole lot about my game already, and if this keeps up, I think we're going to have a great year."

- Jason LaBarbera: "He's awesome. He's such a calming influence, such a good communicator, and the biggest thing is he keeps it simple. You don't have to change your game a whole lot. For me, it's been good because it's kind of gotten back to my identity as a goalie. He doesn't over do it, doesn't make you think too much."

Pang's perspective

TV analyst and former goaltender Darren Pang offers his view of the Coyotes goaltenders:

- "Mike Smith has all the ability in the world. He is athletic, combative and a great puck-handler. He has a terrific goalie coach in Sean Burke. With his size and the fact Burke emphasizes a more efficient system, it should be a win-win."

- "Jason (LaBarbera) is the ultimate team player. A truly great backup. He wants to play, works his tail off, and his teammates work hard for him. His size is intimidating, not much net behind him."



Phoenix Coyotes Q&A regarding the dynamics of the goaltender position

By Jim Gintonio

Question: How do you view the relationship between Sean Burke and goaltenders?

Answer: (Coach Dave Tippett): I think it's a great relationship. First of all, the two goalies have both come in and played well. Sean has a great demeanor with them. I think both the goaltenders respect him because he had an excellent career and played a similar style as those guys, so the relationship between the three of them is very good. It's a unique situation. They have a job that they have to make sure gets taken care of for our group to be as good as we can be. Sean and both the goaltenders take the responsibility for that, prepare accordingly, and our goaltending's been solid so far.

Q: How difficult is it for goaltenders to not have a fragile ego?

A: (Burke): The game's very humbling. I don't think it matters who you are, how long you've played, how successful you are, you're going to be humbled at times, and that's a good think because it'll make you come back the next day and realize that no matter what kind of streak you're on, no matter how well you're playing, it's a fleeting thing, and you can't let it slip.

Q: Do you ever meet with the goaltenders during a game?

A: (Burke): I've never talked to a goalie in between periods in the years I've done it. The reason is that I feel once the game starts, they know what they need to do. We've already prepared, we've talked about it . . . I think at that point I want them to know that we're prepared. Their job now is to go out, compete hard and have fun. If they're struggling, they'll find their way out of it, and if not, we'll work on it the next day or at practice when we can actually do something tangible about it. . . . I observe, and we watch video and do things like that after the games, but during a game there's very little contact at all.

Q: Are goalies a bit quirky or off-center?

A: (Jason LaBarbera): Yeah, I think a little bit. You kind of have to be. It's such a completely different mind-set that you have to have. You think about it, you stand there for three hours by yourself, so and it's an all-day process, getting yourself focused for a game . . . Everyone has their quirks and everyone has their different routines and stuff that they do. Some guys are a little bit more quirky than others, and some guys s are a little bit more normal than others. I always wondered what it would be like to be a player and see what kind of mental approach they take, compared to how I take it. It would be kind of interesting to see how that would go.

A: (Mike Smith): No, I don't think that at all. I think we're the normal ones, and the players are the weird ones. You know, the players always say goalies are weird, but I think we're normal. I think I'm a pretty normal person, normal guy, but I have been around some goalies that are a little bit different and have their superstitions and routines that they go through that are a little strange, but for the most, I think I'm a pretty normal guy.


586174 Pittsburgh Penguins

Crosby finally can see the light

By Dejan Kovacevic

It's coming soon.

You can see it in the way the Kid is whizzing about the ice.

You can read it in his soft, self-assured smile.

You can hear it with the upbeat vibe in his voice.

Sidney Crosby will be playing again for the Penguins, probably very soon.

And whether that's next week or the week after, when he comes full circle from a career-threatening concussion, when Pittsburgh again can applaud one of the most amazing athletes in our city's history, when the NHL again has a face to go with the name, I can promise you after our conversation Tuesday at Southpointe that no one will savor the moment more than No. 87 himself.

He already has, in a way.

"I've thought a lot about that first game, tried to imagine what it will be like," Crosby said, still soaked at his stall from an exhaustive 85-minute practice. "And whenever I picture it in my mind, it's not just one situation. It's probably 10 or 15 that I've visualized."

He paused and smiled slightly.

"It starts with being in the room with the guys before the game. There's always a different feeling you have before it starts. You're lacing up your skates, you're looking around at your teammates, you're chattering a little. It's something you feel regularly when you're healthy, but when you haven't been out there a long time ... yeah, you can really look forward to it."

'I'm going to get hit'

It's been 17 days since Crosby has been cleared for contact, but the memo apparently hasn't circulated down to ice level. Time and again yesterday, the Penguins had a chance to hit Crosby but passed.

Even when Deryk Engelland shoved Crosby with enough force to knock him on his backside - maybe the hardest contact yet - the rugged defenseman said it was "not something I meant to do."

Crosby bounced right back up, and both players laughed.

"I think he embellished it a bit," Engelland teased later.

"He didn't get me that hard. I was off-balance," Crosby said. "Hopefully, I'll get a few more like that as time goes on."

Hopefully, that's soon. The Penguins aren't doing Crosby any favors by avoiding him.

At the same time, there's a reason the process as a whole has taken this long: Crosby isn't Mario Lemieux.

Which is to say, Crosby isn't about to reinvent himself to adjust for injury or illness, as Lemieux did with his many comebacks. When Lemieux would return, particularly from back trouble, he generally would stay on the perimeter, avoid traffic, slow things down.

Crosby's genes comes with one gear.

"Personally, I don't like to slow things down," he said. "There are a few guys who can do that. A guy like Pavel Datsyuk, he seems to have that knack."

Datsyuk, Detroit's brilliant forward, can go zero to 60 to zero on the same shift.

"I think I can do that in spurts. There are games where I feel the need to do that," Crosby continued. "But to say that I want to mold my game that way or to change it, no, that's not it. Over a 60-minute game, I'm not going to have as much success if I'm not attacking, being aggressive, creating turnovers and going after loose pucks."

That's Crosby's game. And that's one reason it's heartening to see Dan Bylsma keep Crosby with usual linemates Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis

in practice. The more familiarity, the better. The last thing Crosby needs is to be put in a vulnerable position by a bad pass from an unfamiliar linemate.

Everything needs to be as normal as possible. Crosby needs to bump along the boards. He needs to carry the puck at top speed through the neutral zone. He needs to drive to the slot for the deflections he had only begun to master before the injury.

"It's going to take a little bit to get my timing, but my approach is going to be the same," Crosby said. "I'm going to be the player I've always been. That's my goal. That's why it's important that I'm 100 percent when I do come back. I'm going to get hit again. I know that. That's part of how I play. And hopefully, I'm going to give hits more than I take."

The scariest visual is Crosby being hit in open ice - think Eric Lindros and Paul Kariya - but Crosby shrugs that off, too, with good reason.

"Knock on wood, I've been OK at that to this point in my career," he said. "If I ever get caught with my head down in the middle of the ice, I'm going to pay for it. And that's true whether I had a concussion prior to that or not. If I'm in a dangerous area like that, that's my fault. Hopefully, that will be second nature for me, like it's always been."

I've heard grumbling about how long Crosby is taking to return. It's nonsense.

I loved how Kunitz put it yesterday: "When Sid comes back, we're all going to be relieved because we know he's going to be all the way back."

Crosby's getting there. His rushes up ice, tape-to-tape passes and top-shelf shots yesterday would have been breathtaking, except that it was him.

'A hard 10 months'

One part of Crosby will change: He'll embrace what he has more than ever.

When he scored Canada's golden goal at the Vancouver Olympics two winters ago, I had a feeling it might be the pinnacle of his career. I was wrong. He went on in the winter of 2010 to reach a level with the Penguins so extraordinary that Lemieux was moved to call Crosby's play better than that of his prime.

And then, it all came crashing down with those two head shots in January.

We all watched Crosby's ascent, but none of us saw the fall. None of us can know or appreciate what it must have been like. This is a kid who had known precious little adversity in life, whose love for hockey bordered on obsession, suddenly confined to dark rooms, dizzy spells and legitimate doubts that he would ever play again.

Crosby doesn't like to talk about the darker times, but he acknowledged yesterday, "It was a hard 10 months, no question. And you learn from it. It's the reason I'm so happy to be in the position I'm in now, so grateful for it, so excited about it."

He still isn't committing to a firm date. He'll accompany the Penguins today on their two-game West Coast swing, and there are five blank spots on the calendar before the Nov. 11 home game against Dallas.

Could that be the one?

The 11-11-11 date might hit a little close to home for the superstitious Crosby, whose first head shot came 1-1-11. So maybe Nov. 15 against Colorado is a better guess.

I asked Crosby what, beyond that pregame locker room scene, he has visualized for his return game.

"Just about everything," he said, smiling again. "Going to the bench with the guys. Hearing all the chatter. Having your hometown crowd behind you. Maybe, if it's a close game, feeling that intensity again. All of that. Every bit of it. It's going to be a lot of fun."

Soon.

Tribune Review LOADED: 11.02.2011


Penguins coach expects Staal, Letang to play

By Josh Yohe

Penguins center Jordan Staal and defenseman Kris Letang missed practice for a second consecutive day at Southpointe on Tuesday, but Penguins coach Dan Bylsma emphasized that he believes both will play in San Jose and Los Angeles later this week. Staal missed Saturday's game against Toronto with a lower-body injury.

"Continued maintenance recovering from bumps and bruises," Bylsma said.

Staal skated before practice for a second straight day.

The nature of Letang's injury is unknown, though Letang and Staal were seen at Southpointe walking without limps.

Bylsma feels optimistic that two of his more important players will be available starting Thursday against the Sharks.

"I still do at this point in time," he said.

>> Defenseman Ben Lovejoy took a scary fall at practice after colliding with right wing Craig Adams and rushed off the ice while holding his face. However, Lovejoy emerged from the locker room about 15 minutes later in good spirits. Bylsma described his injury as a superficial cut to the chin and said Lovejoy will be fine to play against the Sharks.

>> Right wing Tyler Kennedy remains out and has not been seen at practice since being diagnosed Oct. 16 with concussion symptoms. Also not practicing were defensemen Zbynek Michalek (broken finger) and Brian Strait (wrist injury), both of whom are expected to miss a few more weeks.

>> The Penguins held one of their longest practices of the season, skating for almost 90 minutes at Southpointe. They will leave for San Jose this morning and practice in California later Wednesday.

Tribune Review LOADED: 11.02.2011


Penguins' Crosby endures some contact when push comes to shove

By Dave Molinari,

Sidney Crosby has been cleared for contact.

His coaches know it. His teammates know it. Heck, most of the planet seems to know it.

And now that guys are allowed to hit Crosby, it's only a matter of time until someone does.

Probably.

Crosby, recovering from a concussion, got bumped and jostled a few times in practice Tuesday at Southpointe, but his most significant contact was a shove from defenseman Deryk Engelland. It likely wasn't intended to send Crosby sliding across the ice, but that's what happened.

"I was just making a move," Crosby said. "I was kind of standing up straight, and he didn't even get me that hard, but I was off-balance. I went for a bit of a ride there."

Engelland, for his part, joked that "I think he might have embellished it a bit."

Crosby acknowledged that teammates haven't exactly been targeting him for bodychecks -- "As I get more comfortable, as guys get more comfortable kind of battling against me, it will become more and more [like] normal," he said -- and coach Dan Bylsma suggested he's trying to arrange personnel matchups during practice to make that happen a little more often.

"There are players on our team who are more apt to hit a person in practice and play that way," Bylsma said. "You put certain colors against certain colors because you know that is the case.

"Paul Martin is going to go stick-on-puck [to defend], but Deryk Engelland is probably more apt to give Sid something in the corners.

"[We're] trying to create those scenarios within a three-on-three drill, or whatever, and try to set those matchups up, so those situations happen more."

Staal, Letang don't practice

Center Jordan Staal, who appears to be dealing with a leg injury, and defenseman Kris Letang, who has an undisclosed physical issue, sat out practice for the second consecutive day.

Bylsma said both are "recovering from bumps and bruises," and spoke optimistically of having them in the lineup for a two-game swing through California that begins with a 10:38 p.m. visit Thursday to San Jose.

"I still do [expect them to play], at this point in time," Bylsma said.

He added that Staal, who did not play in the 4-3 loss Saturday in Toronto, skated on his own before practice Tuesday.

Chin up, Lovejoy

Defenseman Ben Lovejoy, who likely has the most prominent chin on the team, slammed into the boards in a drill late in practice and quickly adjourned to the locker room.

It was evident immediately that he had gone in chin-first, prompting some joking speculation among his teammates that his injury might be career-threatening.

Lovejoy, though, came away with nothing more serious than a gash or two.

"Other than a facial, superficial cut to the chin -- he's going to get some stitches --he'll be fine," Bylsma said.

Valabik on waivers

The Penguins placed defenseman Boris Valabik, who has been out since before the start of training camp because of a knee injury, on waivers Tuesday.

If Valabik is not claimed by another club by noon today, he can be assigned to the Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre, although they are not compelled to do so.

Valabik, late of the Atlanta Thrashers, was signed as a free agent in July.

Tip-ins

Most of the Penguins underwent unannounced drug-screening tests, per the collective bargaining agreement, before practice Monday, although a few injured players did it during the workout. Players are subject to random testing up to four times per year. ... The Penguins are scheduled to fly to San Jose this morning and practice there in the afternoon.

Post Gazette LOADED: 11.02.2011


Missing goals frustrate Penguins' Sullivan

By Shelly Anderson,

There were a few concerns about Steve Sullivan when the Penguins signed him to a one-year contract on the first day of free agency, July 1.

He turned 37 less than a week after signing. At 5 feet 8, 161 pounds, there were some questions about his size and durability, especially given his injury history. He missed the 2007-08 season and 40 games the next season because of back problems. He was limited to 44 last season because of a sports hernia, and a knee injury knocked him out of the playoffs.

The upside was that the guy can score.

He had 266 goals, including two seasons with more than 30 and six more with at least 20. A veteran who can play either wing and complement any of the Penguins' top three centers seemed like a natural and a bargain at $1.5 million.

Through 13 games going into the contest Thursday at San Jose, Sullivan has been healthy. He has used his speed and savvy to fit in, playing on a top line with Evgeni Malkin and James Neal when Malkin has been healthy. He has three assists, three hits, one blocked shot.

But nary a goal.

Not a pretty one. Not a bang-bang lucky one. His career meter is stuck at 266.

"I'd take anything right now," Sullivan said. "If someone wants to give me one, I'd take it."

Sullivan can joke about it and his teammates can get on him about it -- a little -- because perhaps as many as half of his 24 shots have been golden chances.

In the most recent game, a 4-3 loss Saturday at Toronto, he had one of those. He moved across the slot with the puck, left to right, holding the puck, being patient until he had an opening inside the post to score, but somehow Maple Leafs goaltender Jonas Gustavsson slid over and nabbed the puck with his glove.

"It seems like right now the goaltenders around the league are making their unbelievable saves on him," winger Pascal Dupuis said.

Dupuis also has had some prime chances, and he has converted three of them. He sees no difference, essentially, in what he's doing and what Sullivan is doing.

"He's not struggling. He's getting the opportunities," Dupuis said. "The hockey gods will turn the other way. It will change."

That can't happen soon enough for Sullivan.

"I'd love to score goals," he said. "No one wants to score goals more than I do right now, but I think I've got to make sure I keep doing everything else around my game, make sure I'm doing those things right and trying to make a contribution everywhere.

"I think the goals will come. If I get 12, 13 scoring chances like I have had in the next 12 or 13 games, hopefully, I'll have four or five goals by then.

"I'm getting a lot of scoring chances."

Dupuis, listening in, interjected, "a lot of chances."

Sullivan couldn't argue that.

"Yeah, I'm getting a lot of chances," he said.

"I've just got to stay positive. There's no use dwelling over not scoring. I've got to stay positive about it and keep doing what I'm doing."

On offense, he means.

He's not looking to add a lot of new tricks to other parts of his game, such as backchecking. Not after he pulled off such a stellar move against Toronto.

Backtracking while the Tyler Bozak carried the puck down the right side and into the Penguins zone, Sullivan bent over and executed a perfect hip check, an old-time move that was a specialty of former Penguins defenseman Randy Hillier.

It not only separated Bozak from the puck but also sent him sprawling to the ice.

"You're playing defense and you're trying to read the play," Sullivan said. "He was wide, and I don't think I could have turned and taken him to the net, so I decided that that was my last-ditch effort. It worked out really good."

But don't look for it to become a habit for someone pushing 40 with a history of back trouble.

"Definitely not," Sullivan said. "That's not going in the old toolbox. It was spur of the moment."

Not like scoring, something ingrained in Sullivan.

"Hopefully, I didn't forget how to score goals over the summer," he said. "I think I'm going to the right areas and getting the puck in the right places.

"Sometimes, they just don't go in."

Post Gazette LOADED: 11.02.2011

586178 San Jose Sharks

Reaction to San Jose Sharks star Joe Thornton's comment calling New York Rangers soft

By David Pollak

San Jose Mercury News

Posted: 11/01/2011 08:07:41 AM PDT

Updated: 11/01/2011 08:15:11 AM PDT

Sharks captain Joe Thornton, as you may have read, was pretty critical of his own team, then took a shot at the New York Rangers after San Jose's 5-2 loss at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

“To be honest with you, they were probably the softest team we played against on this road trip and we should have had the two points,” Thornton said. “We played some good teams and I think we should have beaten these guys.”

First the two coaches responded to Thornton's comments:

“Joe said that?” Rangers coach John Tortorella said. “Wonderful.”

Todd McLellan tried not to get involved: “That's his opinion and he's entitled to it.”

And you know the media/blog world wasn't going to ignore what Thornton had to say. Here's a small sampling:

Yahoo's Puck Daddy: In the last two years, Joe Thornton has worked hard to shake the reputation he's earned in the NHL as a passive player. He's been tougher, more aggressive and more assertive. Joe Thornton has been clutch, which is something a lot of us probably thought we'd never associate with Joe Thornton.

And yet, Joe Thornton calling someone or something else “soft” is like Tony Romo questioning another quarterback's late-game mental fortitude. It's like Jay Leno calling another comedian “stale.”

To be fair: It's the last game of a road trip that began on Oct. 21, and a game that cost the Sharks

a perfect six-game swing. Jumbo got his snark on here, trying to score more points in the post-game than he did in regulation (one assist, and a minus-1).

And to be fair: Thornton is saying the Rangers are softer than the Devils, the Bruins, the Predators, the Red Wings and the Islanders … which, given the teams in his sample size, really isn't as outlandish as outright calling the Rangers “soft” without a basis for comparison. Those are some gritty teams right there.

Still … to claim the Rangers are a soft team is sort of mindboggling. They have tenacious, physical forwards who forecheck like crazy. They average 24.3 hits per game; San Jose averages 17.7 They block more shots than a prophylactic factory. As NHL.com's Dave Lozo said: “The Rangers are a lot of things, but soft isn't one of them. It's a really odd comment.”

Seriously, a player from a California team calling a New York team “soft”? This is how hip-hop wars start …

NHL HotStove: Who knows what Thornton was thinking by berating a team the Sharks will not play again this season; perhaps frustration set in. How many hits has Jumbo Joe laid down on the team's opponents this season? Three. Last season he registered 56 checks which matches Mats Zuccarello‘s total over 42 games. Fifteen members of the Rangers out-hit Thornton, maybe he simply thought he was still playing their 2005-2006 rendition. . .

. . . The quote, or misquote, likely was misconstrued by local media as it comes after a somewhat shocking performance. Not all of us have to deal with cameras and tape recorders rolling while frustration sets in. The captain likely remembers that their five-game win streak came pretty tough and they expected to defeat a struggling club.

His comments could actually be a roundabout way of holding the team accountable for the loss, opposed to saying they were outplayed. All part of

the growing pains of a winning team — one that continues to learn that they simply will not win on paper.

NYRangersblog: …what? The Sharks lone loss during their six game road trip was against the Blueshirts and they're somehow the softest team?

… I guess Thornton knows a thing or two about being soft since his Sharks usually play that way in the post season every year. He's a real tough guy too, knowing the Sharks don't face the Rangers again this season, unless of course the teams match-up in the Cup finals.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 11.02.2011

586179 San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks' trip ends with loss; Joe Thornton calls New York Rangers 'softest team we played against'

By David Pollak

[email protected]

Posted: 10/31/2011 06:57:46 PM PDT

Updated: 11/01/2011 07:53:44 AM PDT

NEW YORK -- Maybe at some point the Sharks will be able to look back at the fact they won five of six games on their just-completed 13-night trip and take pride in it.

But Monday night they were too busy beating themselves up for the lackluster play and bad penalties that enabled the New York Rangers to skate away with a 5-2 victory at Madison Square Garden.

"We just didn't play well from the start. Just lack of concentration," Sharks captain Joe Thornton said. "We were looking to win six in a row, but we just didn't have our head in it. It's just unacceptable."

The Rangers were officially credited with only one power play goal, but two others came shortly after the Sharks had survived the two minutes short-handed, and Thornton called the penalties "definitely avoidable" and "sloppy."

But Thornton wasn't just critical of his own team and took an uncharacteristic shot at the Rangers as well that sent the New York media into a mini-frenzy.

"To be honest with you, they were probably the softest team we played against on this road trip and we should have had the two points," the Sharks captain said of the Rangers. "We played some good teams, and I think we should have beaten these guys."

Perhaps, but not the way the Sharks played Monday night as they fell short of setting a franchise record for consecutive wins on the same trip.

The Sharks fell behind early on Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh's even-strength goal at

4:46 of the first period and Derek Stepan's power-play tap-in about 10 minutes later.

But San Jose cut that lead in half when a shot by Douglas Murray hit both posts before ending up on Joe Pavelski's stick, and he scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season with 2:10 left in the first.

The Sharks seemed to be turning things around midway through the second period. In less than two minutes, San Jose fired nine shots at Rangers backup goalie Martin Biron -- three were on net, four went just wide, and two others were blocked.

The Sharks even tied the score at 11:03 of the second period when a Logan Couture one-timer found the back of the Rangers' net.

Whatever momentum the Sharks were gaining died 57 seconds later when Colin White tried to clear the puck out of his own end, and the puck sailed into the crowd for a delay-of--game penalty.

"I just swatted at it, tried to bump it by (Brandon) Dubinsky, and it ended up going over the glass," White said. "It was just rolling. That's a tough rule. As a 'D,' you're just swatting at it, trying to chip it by him. I got under it a little, and it was unfortunate."

Less than one second after White was out of the penalty box, Rangers captain Ryan Callahan buried a cross-crease pass to score his first of two goals, and things only went downhill from there as New York scored three times over a span of 5:12. Before the second period ended, Rangers center Artem Anisimov had lifted a quick backhand over Sharks goalie Antti Niemi at 16:42, and Callahan poked in a rebound at 19:12.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan said he didn't like his team's performance from the very beginning and rattled off a laundry list of problems.

"Too many men on the ice, we had very few forechecks, we turned outnumbered rushes of our own into 2-on-1s and 3-on-1s for them. Our game management was poor. We got spread out in line changes," he said. "Things that we do well when we're playing well weren't happening."

McLellan looked at the loss as something that changes the whole tone of the trip.

"If you were told you'd go home with 10 points, you'd be ecstatic with that, especially in some of the buildings and the teams we played against," he said. "But what happens now is we'll have this taste in our mouth until we play on Thursday again, and we'll carry it throughout the week.

"And," he continued, "we don't go home on a winning streak, we go home with a loss in our pockets. That's how important that game Thursday becomes."

That game Thursday is against the Eastern Conference-leading Pittsburgh Penguins.

Rangers coach John Tortorella expressed a little disbelief when told that Thornton called his team the softest of any the Sharks played on the trip.

"Joe said that?" Tortorella said. "Wonderful."

Thornton's own coach tried not to get involved.

"That's his opinion and he's entitled to it," McLellan said.

The game was only seven seconds old when Ryane Clowe and Rangers right wing Brandon Prust dropped the gloves for a spirited bout.

For the most part, Niemi was the victim of screens and cross-ice passes that left one side of the Sharks goal totally uncovered.

But the one he said he should have played differently was the one by Anisimov that gave the Rangers a 4-2 lead.

"I should have been further out and challenged more," Niemi said. "I was a little bit too deep. A good backhander to the roof surprised me a little bit."

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 11.02.2011

586180 St Louis Blues

Blues look to get their power play going

By DAN O'NEILL

Posted: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 12:15 am

There's no denying the Blues have had some less-than-inspiring moments during their 5-6 start to a new season. But things might be significantly better if the team had some kind, any kind, of power play.

In the NHL's 30-team conglomeration, the guys with the Note on their chests rank ninth in standard scoring efficiency. In situations where both teams have five skaters on the ice, the Blues are getting 2.54 goals per game. Remarkably, the same team, and sometimes the same five skaters, are considerably less proficient when the other team has fewer skaters on the ice.

The Blues rank 30th, as in bottom of the barrel, as in dead dad-gum last, in power-play efficiency. In the first 11 games, the team's power-play units had three goals in 36 chances, a success rate of 8.3 percent.

If we were talking earthquake and Richter scale, a reading of 8.3 would be formidable. On a power-play scale, it doesn't even move the needle. The Blues score better than a goal per game (1.17) more than the opposition when the "vacancy" signs are up on the penalty box suites. On the flip side, they have been outscored 10-3 in power-play situations.

Short of refusing the penalties, coach Davis Payne has tried about everything in terms of personnel moves. He even has tried forgoing a power-play unit, per se, by employing lines intact rather than splicing forwards and defenders specifically for power play duty. Still, no pulse.

But Payne has seen signs of late, indications of better plays ahead. There is, after all, a basement floor in this NHL high rise and the Blues have just about reached it.

"We've kind of run the gamut on things that could go wrong with the power play," Payne said.

Still, the Blues got a power-play goal in the third period of their 4-2 loss at Edmonton. And Payne has been encouraged by the last few chances in terms of establishing territory and possessing the puck. The Blues are in the neighborhood; now they have to deliver the goods.

"Now you see teams really coming at us because they know we haven't scored a lot of power-play goals," Payne said. "I think the guys are gaining an understanding of how we're going to counteract that and how we're going to stick with it."

Alex Steen leads the club in goals (6) and points (9) and has been part of the power play on and off. He'd like to be part of a solution, not part of a problem. Hockey can be a game of premeditated spontaneity. He who hesitates is lost and the Blues have looked a little lost with the man advantage.

"Right now, we're over-thinking it," Steen said. "We're hesitant. We're not quick enough. It's just a tad too slow with the reads, the reactions, the passes and support. I think the last couple of games we've been a little bit better and it feels like we're starting to gel. It's chemistry between the five guys on the ice, that's what makes it happen."

Ah yes, chemistry, science, the processes whereby various elements form composites. The Blues appear to have all the right chemicals. Losing shifty Andy McDonald to a head injury put a dent in the skill supplies, but there remains ample acumen and scoring pedigree for an effective power play.

It could be the missing component has nothing to do with chemistry. It could be the Blues need less artwork and more ditch-digging to get the job done.

"We need to simplify things and just put pucks to the net," defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. Pietrangelo got credit for stuffing home a third period power play goal at Edmonton on Sunday, after it initially was credited to Chris Stewart.

"Look at the goal we scored in the third period; it was an ugly goal, but that's what it takes," Pietrangelo added. "We need to get back to basics. We have to try to communicate better, try to get on the same page. I think

we've done a lot of good things at times. ... But we need it to be more consistent."

Former NHL coach Mike Keenan used to say that a successful team should strive to have a 5 percent to 10 percent difference between its success rate on the power play and its failure rate on the penalty kill. With opposing teams scoring 33.3 percent of the time against the Blues penalty-kill unit, the team currently has a 25 percent gap between power-play success and penalty-kill failure.

Those numbers might be disastrous if this was March or April. But this is November. and when the Blues play host to the Vancouver Canucks on Friday, the best thing the power play will have going for it is 71 more games to find religion.

Success and failure on penalty team units can be a season-long pox or a cyclical issue. Steen has no doubt that, in this case, the latter situation applies.

"If we had the answer we'd be No 1 in the league, but we're not," Steen said. "We need to work our way through it; it will come. Everybody outside is making it a big deal out of it, but it's not a big deal. ... It's basically just hard work, get through it and start popping some pucks in the net."

HUSKINS HAS BRUISE

The Blues got a break, or avoided one, where defenseman Kent Huskins is concerned. Upon initial examination, it was thought Huskins suffered a broken bone in his left ankle during a loss at Calgary on Thursday.

Further examinations in St. Louis have shown Huskins has a deep bone bruise in the left ankle, rather than a fracture. He will not go on injured reserve, and as he continues to get treatment he is listed as day to day in terms of a return.

Huskins has been a bright spot in an otherwise dull start. He has two goals, two assists and a plus-6 rating in nine games.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.02.2011


Where to find Blues, MU telecasts Saturday

Posted: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 12:10 am

Fox Sports Midwest has the television rights to the Blues and Missouri football games on Saturday, and because the contests will overlap FSM will use an additional channel it calls Fox Sports Midwest Plus to accommodate both events:

MIZZOU

MU's contest, at Baylor, begins at 6 p.m. and is to be available at the following locations:

• AT&T U-verse 691 (HD 1691); DirecTV 675 (HD 675-1); Dish 444 (HD 9514).

• Cable America (Ch. 12).

• Charter-St. Louis (Ch. 3, 8 or 21).

• Consolidated (Ch. 181).

• Fidelity-Sullivan (Ch. 95).

• HomeTel (Ch. 3).

• Madison (Ch. 8).

• The normal FSM spot for cable companies in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Indiana, central and western Missouri.

BLUES

The Blues' contest, at Minnesota, starts at 7 p.m. and is to be available at the following locations:

• The normal FSM spot on cable companies in St. Louis and Illinois.

• The normal FSM spot on AT&T U-verse (748); DirecTV (671); Dish Network (418).

• Charter-Cape Girardeau (Ch. 11 or 164).

• Mediacom-Columbia, Springfield (Ch. 126).

• New Wave (Ch. 21).

• Poplar Bluff (Ch.2).

• Suddenlink (18).

More systems outside the Post-Dispatch coverage area can be found at www.foxsportsmidwest.com



Blues catch a 'break' with Huskins

DAN O'NEILL | Posted: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 1:50 pm

The Blues caught a break, or dodged one, with some good news on Tuesday. Turns out defenseman Kent Huskins does not have a broken bone in his ankle.

Further examination revealed Huskins suffered a deep bone bruise during the team's 3-1 loss to Calgary on Thursday. The original diagnosis was made in Calgary and determined Huskins would be out indefinitely with a fracture in his left ankle. He is now listed as day to day.

Huskins has been a bright spot during an otherwise dull start. The defenseman has two goals, two assists and a plus-6 rating in nine games.

***

The Blues skated at the St. Louis Mills practice facility this morning, working on a number of things. Center Jason Arnott was absent because of “family issues.” David Perron continued to skate with the team, wearing a red “no contact” jersey. Perron said he is feeling fine, but is not ready to put a timetable on a return.

“It's only been a week since I started skating, so it's too soon to know,” Perron said.

Coach Davis Payne added: “He might be in a little better condition, that's the only update.”

***

Among the changes at practice was forward Evgeny “Jenny, Jenny, Who Can I Turn To” Grachev on a line with Patrik Berglund and Chris Stewart.



St. Louis power play ranks last in the league

By NORM SANDERS - News-Democrat

ST. LOUIS -- With their power play mired in a season-long slump, the St. Louis Blues may have stumbled on a new formula for producing results.

Blanked on their first two man-advantage opportunities Sunday in Edmonton, the Blues crashed the net and finally got something past Oilers goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin.

Chris Stewart and Alex Pietrangelo attacked the rebound of a shot by Carlo Colaiacovo, with Pietrangelo eventually jamming it home.

But even with that goal, the Blues' power play still ranks at the bottom of the NHL at 3-for-36 (8.3 percent) through 11 games.

"We got a dirty power play goal at the end of our last attempt in Edmonton, so that's something to build on," Blues captain David Backes said Tuesday. "We had three guys in the crease banging that one in and there's no secret to success o the power play, it's shots, rebounds and traffic.

"We'll just keep driving that home until we build that power play back up to where it's winning games rather than costing us a couple."

The Blues (5-6) aren't lacking for effort when it comes to fixing an ailing power play. They've devoted extra time in practice and film study, switched players in and out of the unit and tried various formations and attack plans.

Not much has worked.

"If we had the answer, we'd be No. 1 on the power play," Blues winger Alex Steen said. "We're not right now, we need to work our way through it. It'll come. Everybody outside is making it a big deal, but it's not. We just need to get back to basics and work our way through it."

Steen was asked to pinpoint some deficiencies holding the power play back.

"Right now we're overthinking it," Steen said. "We're hesitant, not quick enough, like it's just a tad too slow, the reads and the reactions and the passes, support. The last couple games it's actually been a little bit better, and it feels like we're starting to gel. It's chemistry between the five guys on the ice, that's what makes it happen."

Having forward Andy McDonald out with a concussion hasn't helped, either. But the Blues continue to get bogged down in their own zone.

When the Blues do get set up in their opponent's zone, opposing teams typically force them to stay on the perimeter by aggressively checking the point men.

"Now you see teams really coming at us because they know we haven't scored many power-play goals," Blues coach Davis Payne said. "I think the guys are gaining an understanding of how we're going to counter-act that and how we're going to stick with it. That last power play worked out well for us. I think the guys are too good to be held off too long."

Patrik Berglund led the Blues last season with eight-power play goals. Stewart had seven in just 26 games after coming over from Colorado in a trade, while Matt D'Agostini had six.

The power-play assist Sunday ended a seven-game scoring drought by Stewart.

Payne said there hasn't really been one specific problem area.

"When you get your power play to where it is now, we've kind of run the gamut on things that haven't gone right for us," he said. "We'll continue to clean those up."

It's easier said than done, especially on a team with few elite goal scorers. Backes said the important thing is staying positive and trying to come up with solutions, rather than harping on the down side of a slump.

"I'm not a psychologist," Backes said, "but I think things like a losing streak or something that's slumping in your game, the more you think about it and

the more you dwell on it, the more you sit there and let it consume you, the worse it's going to be."

Making pretty plays and pinpoint passes works, but the Blues finally got something in the other night by physically overpowering the Oilers in front.

"If you're banging a couple in like that, all of a sudden teams have to collapse to the paint," Backes said. "Then they've got to deal with the other seams and shots from outside."

Huskins update

Payne said Tuesday that defenseman Kent Huskins, originally diagnosed with a broken bone in his left ankle, instead has a deep bone bruise.

"It's still very, very sore and he's unable to put it in a skate," Payne said. "But the good news is it's not fractured."

With Huskins out, Pietrangelo was paired with Carlo Colaiacovo on defense.

One of Payne's line changes at practice Tuesday saw him working newcomer Evgeny Grachev on a line with Berglund and Stewart.

Contact reporter Norm Sanders at [email protected] or 239-2454.

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 11.02.2011

586184 Tampa Bay Lightning

Malone cleared to play

By TBO.COM

Published: November 02, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. --

The Lightning may have caught a break, as LW Ryan Malone didn't suffer any kind of a break. Or strain. Or tear.

After missing practice to have an X-ray and an MRI on Monday, Malone was given the green light and was in the lineup for Tampa Bay's division battle against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night at RBC Center. Malone was one of the first players on the ice for the morning skate and said he has no limitations despite suffering an undisclosed upper-body injury during Saturday's home victory against Winnipeg.

"We just wanted to look at an injury that is OK,'' Malone said Tuesday morning. "We did an MRI just to check things out and everything is good. I'm ready to play.''

The mystery injury is not related to a surgically repaired shoulder — stemming from a separated shoulder suffered in the first round of the playoffs — that kept him away from contact for the first two weeks of training camp. But whatever the injury is, it won't be enough to keep him out of the lineup.

One change Lightning coach Guy Boucher did make for the game was inserting LW Mattias Ritola into the lineup while taking out C Tom Pyatt as the coaching staff continues to tackle the challenge of not letting players sit for too long. Ritola appeared in four of the first 11 games and had not played since the home opener on Oct. 17.

"It's not because Pyatt isn't playing well, I just don't want to lose Rito,'' Boucher said. "Rito hasn't played in a while and in the games he's played he's played really well. We all know that we have a bunch of extra forwards since we kept (rookie Brett) Connolly, and at this point of the year I don't want to lose any guys.''

It has been a slow start for Ritola, who enjoyed a strong preseason, but he has been part of the rotation among the bottom forwards vying for playing time.

"I feel that I can play in this league, but I just have to figure some things out and that's what I'm doing every day,'' Ritola said. "I have to do the right things all the time, and for three periods instead of two, and do it every game instead of every other game.''

Boucher said he is also trying to find a way to fit D Bruno Gervais into the lineup. Gervais has not played since Oct. 13, serving as a healthy scratch for eight consecutive games as Matt Gilroy has shown improvement from the beginning of the season.

"I want to put him in, it's just that I don't have anybody to take out,'' Boucher said of Gervais. "Very soon I want to put him in, definitely, he played really well the two games he played. It was a flip of the coin between him and Gilroy, but Gilroy doesn't want to be taken out, so that's good, I guess.''

Keeping it up

Despite only playing 10 minutes, 34 seconds on Saturday, and only taking two shifts in the third period, Connolly's level of play has not dropped off, according to Boucher.

Connolly remains in a top-six role, currently playing with C Vinny Lecavalier and RW Marty St. Louis. The rookie got his first goal Tuesday night, he has three assists and his plus-3 rating entering Tuesday was tied for second on the team.

"There's no two ways about it, he's an NHL player," Boucher said. "He has speed, he's smart enough and has great vision (on the ice). He's got grit, a lot of grit actually. All these make for a player who can play on our top two lines right now.''

Scoring prowess

D Marc-Andre Bergeron finished October with a team-high 12 points on two goals and 10 assists. The 12 points mark the third-highest point total in a month for a defenseman in franchise history.

The record of 15 is held by Doug Crossman (Nov., 1992) and Dan Boyle (Nov., 2005). Boyle also had 13 points in Dec. 2006, and 12 points in Dec. 2002. Roman Hamrlik (Nov. 1995) and Shawn Chambers (March 1994) also registered 13-point months by a defensemen.

Bergeron picked up another assist on Tuesday on Teddy Purcell's first-period goal.

Nuts and Bolts

The first-period power-play goal allowed by Tampa Bay was the first given up to a team other than the Florida Panthers this season. … Somebody had fun with video coach Nigel Kirwan as a giant shower curtain appeared with Kirwan's picture across the entire length of the curtain. … The 19 shots allowed by the Lightning in the first period was not a season high. That would be 20 given up to Washington on Oct. 10.

Erik Erlendsson

Tampa Tribune LOADED: 11.02.2011


Road woes continue

By Erik Erlendsson

Lightning coach Guy Boucher would be remiss if he allowed talk of Tampa Bay's missed chances and misfortune to dominate the postgame conversations on Tuesday.

After falling 4-2 to Carolina in front of an announced crowd of 13,374 at RBC Center — which spoiled the first career goal from rookie Brett Connolly — Boucher didn't want to hear about a wasted 5-on-3 power play, shots off the post or a broken stick leading to a Hurricanes goal.

"Soft, not ready to play, not ready to battle, same as we have seen in other games on the road, we play one period and we don't deserve the game,'' Boucher said.

In other words, Tampa Bay played its way into those bad breaks while failing to pick up a victory for the sixth time in the past seven road games, dropping to 2-4-2 away from home this season. During the seven-game stretch of road games since winning in Carolina on opening night, Tampa Bay has allowed three or more goals in six of those games. That's a stark contrast to how the Lightning have been at home, where they have allowed one goal in the past three games.

"Except for the third period, we didn't earn anything and they did . . . we should have just come out for the third period,'' Boucher said. "We started that way and were the same in the first and second, and in the third period we all of a sudden come out to fight and battle. If we don't fight and battle we will lose against every single team in this league. And if you are waiting for the power play to save you because you don't battle hard enough, you are in trouble.''

The Lightning should have been in bigger trouble than they were after the first period. Despite being outshot 19-7 by a Hurricanes team that stormed out of the gates, Tampa Bay managed to open the scoring on Teddy Purcell's fourth goal of the season at 15:14. But Carolina pulled even with a late power-play goal — the first the Lightning have allowed this season to a team other than the Florida Panthers — with 1:39 left to pull even. Chad LaRose scored his first of two by pushing in a loose puck that sat in the crease after Dwayne Roloson, coming off a shutout victory Saturday, made the initial save.

Jeff Skinner increased the lead to 2-1 just 22 seconds into the second, but the tide really shifted after the Lightning had a full two-minute, two-man-advantage power play at 4:58 after Eric Staal was called for tripping and LaRose for hooking. Tampa Bay managed three shots on goal — all three by Vinny Lecavalier — with five forwards on the ice for almost the entire two minutes. Only a shot from the slot that hit the knob of Cam Ward's goalie stick registered as a quality scoring chance.

"If I'm a betting man, I would have bet we score there, that's what we usually do,'' left wing Ryan Malone said. "Tonight, we didn't do that. It's a little kick in the (gut), but you still have the rest of the game. Obviously it was a good opportunity for us to get another goal, but we didn't.''

Minutes after the failed power play, Tampa Bay was generating some time in the Carolina zone, still trailing by a goal, when defenseman Eric Brewer stepped into a slap shot at the left point. His stick split in half, allowing the Hurricanes to break back the other way, and Jussi Jokinen fed Skinner on a give-and-go for his second goal of the period at 10:38.

"We had a real good shift going, made some plays and got some looks, had lots of zone time and . . . then stuff happens,'' Brewer said. "You play yourself into a good game, but you can also play yourself into a mediocre game. . . . When we are a very methodical team and just try to see our way through the game, you end up with a game like we had tonight.''

Connolly made it 3-2 with 5:44 left, whipping around the net to take a feed from Marty St. Louis, but LaRose finished off a 2-on-1 just 54 seconds later to finish off the game.



Lightning road woes continue against Carolina

By Erik Erlendsson

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Lightning coach Guy Boucher would be remiss if he allowed talk of Tampa Bay’s missed chances and misfortune to dominate the postgame conversations on Tuesday.

After falling 4-2 to Carolina in front of an announced crowd of 13,374 at RBC Center — which spoiled the first career goal from rookie Brett Connolly — Boucher didn’t want to hear about a wasted 5-on-3 power play, shots off the post or a broken stick leading to a Hurricanes goal.

“Soft, not ready to play, not ready to battle, same as we have seen in other games on the road, we play one period and we don’t deserve the game,’’ Boucher said.

In other words, Tampa Bay played its way into those bad breaks while failing to pick up a victory for the sixth time in the past seven road games, dropping to 2-4-2 away from home this season. During the seven-game stretch of road games since winning in Carolina on opening night, Tampa Bay has allowed three or more goals in six of those games. That’s a stark contrast to how the Lightning have been at home, where they have allowed one goal in the past three games.

“Except for the third period, we didn’t earn anything and they did . . . we should have just come out for the third period,’’ Boucher said. “We started that way and were the same in the first and second, and in the third period we all of a sudden come out to fight and battle. If we don’t fight and battle we will lose against every single team in this league. And if you are waiting for the power play to save you because you don’t battle hard enough, you are in trouble.’’

The Lightning should have been in bigger trouble than they were after the first period. Despite being outshot 19-7 by a Hurricanes team that stormed out of the gates, Tampa Bay managed to open the scoring on Teddy Purcell’s fourth goal of the season at 15:14. But Carolina pulled even with a late power-play goal — the first the Lightning have allowed this season to a team other than the Florida Panthers — with 1:39 left to pull even. Chad LaRose scored his first of two by pushing in a loose puck that sat in the crease after Dwayne Roloson, coming off a shutout victory Saturday, made the initial save.

Jeff Skinner increased the lead to 2-1 just 22 seconds into the second, but the tide really shifted after the Lightning had a full two-minute, two-man-advantage power play at 4:58 after Eric Staal was called for tripping and LaRose for hooking. Tampa Bay managed three shots on goal — all three by Vinny Lecavalier — with five forwards on the ice for almost the entire two minutes. Only a shot from the slot that hit the knob of Cam Ward’s goalie stick registered as a quality scoring chance.

“If I’m a betting man, I would have bet we score there, that’s what we usually do,’’ left wing Ryan Malone said. “Tonight, we didn’t do that. It’s a little kick in the (gut), but you still have the rest of the game. Obviously it was a good opportunity for us to get another goal, but we didn’t.’’

Minutes after the failed power play, Tampa Bay was generating some time in the Carolina zone, still trailing by a goal, when defenseman Eric Brewer stepped into a slap shot at the left point. His stick split in half, allowing the Hurricanes to break back the other way, and Jussi Jokinen fed Skinner on a give-and-go for his second goal of the period at 10:38.

“We had a real good shift going, made some plays and got some looks, had lots of zone time and . . . then stuff happens,’’ Brewer said. “You play yourself into a good game, but you can also play yourself into a mediocre game. . . . When we are a very methodical team and just try to see our way through the game, you end up with a game like we had tonight.’’

Connolly made it 3-2 with 5:44 left, whipping around the net to take a feed from Marty St. Louis, but LaRose finished off a 2-on-1 just 54 seconds later to finish off the game.

[email protected] (813) 259-7835



Tampa Bay Lightning seek answers after losing 4-2 to Carolina Hurricanes

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. - Lightning coach Guy Boucher was clear to his players how disappointed he was in Tuesday night's 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes at the RBC Center.

Today, he said, he will act on his dismay.

Boucher did not divulge his practice plan, but based on his unusually short and tight-lipped postgame comments, it could be interesting.

"I don't wait for things to change," Boucher said. "We'll make them change."

Rookie Brett Connolly's first NHL goal with 5:44 left made the score 3-2. But 54 seconds later, a bad offensive pinch by defenseman Pavel Kubina created a two-on-one that ended with Chad LaRose's goal that restored the two-goal edge.

What most bugged Boucher, though, was another slow start on the road.

The Lightning, 5-5-2 but 2-4-2 away from home, has been outscored 13-8 in the first period. Boucher emphasized a better start. Instead, Carolina dominated the first with a 19-7 shot advantage.

Thanks to goaltender Dwayne Roloson, the Lightning escaped 1-1. But two Jeff Skinner goals put Carolina up 3-1 in the second with a 27-17 shot advantage.

"We're not shooting the puck enough," defenseman Eric Brewer said. "We're a team that needs to get a little bit of zone time, get some scramble plays to get the guys going. We're very methodical and just trying to see our way through a game. It doesn't happen."

It didn't help that defenseman Victor Hedman, who was minus-3, was outhustled by Skinner, who scored 22 seconds into the second for a 2-1 lead. Or that the Lightning failed to tie the score on a two-minute, five-on-three.

And when Brewer's stick snapped as he shot from the Carolina blue line, the play quickly went the other way and Skinner made it 3-1 with 9:22 left in the second.

"Just one of those nights," said Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier, who had a game-best seven shots, including one off the post and one, during the five-on-three, off the stick shaft of goalie Cam Ward.

If only it looked more like the third period, when Tampa Bay had a 13-4 shot advantage to cut its overall deficit to 31-30.

"We were more desperate," Lecavalier said. "If we came out like that in the first it would have been a different game."

"It bothers the guys," Brewer said. "No one is trying to do it the wrong way. Guys just have to focus on what they need to do and stop thinking their way through the game and just get to it."

That is what Boucher will address today.

"If we don't fight and battle," he said, "we're going to lose against every single team in this league."

Hurricanes 1 2 1 4

Lightning 1 0 1 2

First Period-1, Tampa Bay, Purcell 4 (Bergeron, Malone), 15:14. 2, Carolina, LaRose 2 (Harrison, Ponikarovsky), 18:21 (pp). Penalties-Shannon, TB (holding), 12:51; Roloson, TB, served by Purcell (tripping), 16:23.

Second Period-3, Carolina, Skinner 5 (Pitkanen), :22. 4, Carolina, Skinner 6 (Jokinen), 10:38. Penalties-LaRose, Car (hooking), 4:58; E.Staal, Car (tripping), 4:58.

Third Period-5, Tampa Bay, Connolly 1 (St. Louis, Lecavalier), 14:16. 6, Carolina, LaRose 3 (Tlusty), 15:10. Penalties-Harrison, Car (cross-checking), 20:00. Shots on Goal-Tampa Bay 7-10-13-30. Carolina 19-8-4-

31. Power-play opportunities-Tampa Bay 0 of 2; Carolina 1 of 2. Goalies-Tampa Bay, Roloson 2-3-1 (31 shots-27 saves). Carolina, Ward 5-2-2 (30-28). A-13,374 (18,680). T-2:24. Referees-Greg Kimmerly, Stephen Walkom. Linesmen-David Brisebois, Ryan Galloway.

Hurricanes 4

Lightning 2

St. Petersburg Times LOADED: 11.02.2011


Tampa Bay Lightning rookie Brett Connolly scores first NHL goal

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. - Brett Connolly said he always will remember his first NHL goal, but it would have been better in a victory.

"Absolutely," the Lightning rookie said after Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes. "You always want to win."

The goal, scored from the side of the net with 5:44 left in the third period, made the score 3-2. It was a nice addition to a game in which Connolly needed to re-establish himself after being benched for most of the third period of Saturday's 1-0 win over the Jets after two turnovers.

"I want to be a guy who is reliable the last few minutes of the game," Connolly, 19, said before facing Carolina. "I have to show them they can put me on the ice at any time. I'm looking forward to proving that."

While coach Guy Boucher said Connolly played like his teammates against the Hurricanes - "One goal was good but we needed more before (the third period) just like we needed more from everybody else" - he said before the game the right wing's misstep Saturday seemed a blip in his development.

"He's been reliable 98 percent of the time," Boucher said. "That two percent is experience and it's normal."

"I want to be a complete player," Connolly said. "To do that I have to be good in the defensive zone."

MALONE OKAY: LW Ryan Malone played after what he said was Monday's negative MRI exam on an upper-body injury.

"They were just looking at an injury that is okay," said Malone, who was hurt Saturday but didn't leave the game.

He played 16:05 against the Hurricanes and had an assist.

RITOLA IN: After being scratched in five straight games, RW Mattias Ritola played with what he said was little worry he lost an edge sitting on the sideline since Oct. 17.

"I've been working hard," he said. "I feel like I'm still into it, so no worries."

Ritola, who had two shots in 8:47 of ice time, said, "I feel I can play in this league," but acknowledged, "I have to figure some things out."

He said staying calm in games, making the right decisions and consistency are "what I'm working on every day."

PYATT OUT: Despite earning praise from Boucher and teaming with C Nate Thompson and RW Adam Hall on an effective fourth line, Tom Pyatt was scratched so Ritola could play.

"It's not because Pyatt is not playing well," Boucher said. "It's because I don't want to lose (Ritola)."

Chalk it up to another consequence of carrying 14 forwards with two being scratched per game.

"It's tough with a lot of extra guys but that's the way it is right now," Pyatt said.

STILL WAITING: Boucher has a similar situation with D Bruno Gervais, who was scratched for the eighth straight game.

"Very soon," Boucher said about when Gervais will play.

ODDS AND ENDS: C Steven Stamkos' six-game points streak ended. … The Lightning's winning streak at Caroline ended at three. … Jeff Skinner has six goals and nine points in eight career games against Tampa Bay. … The Lightning's penalty-kill streak ended at 15.

View Damian Cristodero's blog at blogs/tampabay.com/lightning.



LW Ryan Malone says he's "good to go" for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Hurricanes

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ryan Malone said his MRI exam on Monday on his undisclosed upper-body injury was negative, and he is expected to play Tuesday night against the Hurricanes. Malone missed Monday's practice and needed an X-ray after Saturday's win over the Jets during which Malone acknowledged he was hurt.

Malone didn't have much to say about the injury except that "everything is good," he is going to play and "that's about it."

Other stuff from the morning skate: As expected, Dwayne Roloson gets the start in net. ... The only change in the lineup is wing Mattias Ritola being in for Tom Pyatt. This is another of those moves made simply because the Lightning still has 14 forwards on the roster. Coach Guy Boucher said Pyatt has done nothing wrong but he doesn't want to "lose" Ritola, who has been scratched five straight games. ... Rookie Brett Connolly said he learned "you can't take a period off or a shift off" after his third-period benching during the victory over the Jets. Connolly made two turnovers in the first 10 minutes of a 1-0 game. "For me, I want to be a guy who is reliable the last five minutes of the game," Connolly said. "I have to show them that they can put me on the ice at any time. I'm looking forward to proving that." ... That said, Boucher has been impressed with Connolly, who he said has maintained his intensity at an NHL level. "There's no two-ways about it, he's an NHL player," Boucher said. "He has speed, he's smart enough and has great vision (on the ice). He's got grit, a lot of grit actually. All these make for a player who can play on our top two lines right now." ... Boucher has a similar problem with defenseman Bruno Gervais who tonight will be a healthy scratch for his eighth straight game. Boucher said Gervais will get in a game "soon." ... The Lightning has league highs of eight goals and 27 points from ts defensemen. Boucher said the blue-liners are benefiting from the team's good play five-on-five (it entered Tuesday tied for second with 25 five-on-five goals) and that they aren't forcing the play. "Your game is solid defensively. It's simple and on the blue line you make it happen, not everywhere else trying to pinch and take yourself out and force things that aren't there," Boucher said of the mind set.


586190 Toronto Maple Leafs

Brodeur could make return against Leafs

Reuters

The New Jersey Devils should have netminder Martin Brodeur back in the fold Wednesday - just in time to face the NHL's leading scorer. Phil Kessel brings his offensive exploits to the Garden State as he leads the Toronto Maple Leafs against Brodeur and the Devils. New Jersey should be buoyed by the return of Brodeur, who is practising with the club after missing all but four periods this season with a shoulder injury. The Devils haven't announced whether Brodeur or backup Johan Hedberg, who made every start in Brodeur's absence, will tend the net Wednesday. Toronto has its own goaltending situation to sort out, with incumbent James Reimer off of injury reserve as he deals with concussion-type symptoms. The Maple Leafs haven't said whether he or Jonas Gustavsson will play.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (7-3-1): Toronto's top line needs little introduction, with the Kessel-Joffrey Lupul-Tim Connolly trio looking like it's in midseason form. But it was the second line that shone in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Clarke MacArthur scored both goals for Toronto and is starting to excel alongside Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski - arguably Toronto's most consistent unit a season ago. The Maple Leafs have struggled away from Toronto, posting a pedestrian 2-3-0 road mark to date.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (4-4-1): It isn't quite the doom-and-gloom start New Jersey endured last season, but the club would like to begin climbing up the Eastern Conference standings as soon as possible. Goal scoring is an annual concern with the Devils, and 2011-12 is no exception in the early going as New Jersey has managed just 20 goals through the first nine games. One saving grace: The club is a tidy 2-1-1 in four home games so far.

OVERTIME:

1. Brodeur admits he's still a little tentative. "I don't feel any limitation or anything, but mentally knowing I hurt my shoulder, I'm hesitant to do certain things," he told the team's website.

2. The teams split four head-to-head meetings a season ago, with the Devils prevailing in the final two contests.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 4, Devils 2. The way Toronto's offense is rolling at the moment - particularly its top two lines - it won't matter who New Jersey puts in net Wednesday night.

Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 11.02.2011


Joey Crabb recalled by Maple Leafs

TORONTO- The Canadian Press

The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled forward Joey Crabb while re-assigning forward Matt Frattin to the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Tuesday.

Crabb had seven goals and eight assists in nine games with the Marlies. He is tied for third in AHL scoring behind Toronto teammate Joe Colborne and Hershey's Keith Aucoin.

The right-winger had three goals and 12 assists in 48 games with the Leafs last season.

Frattin had an assist in 11 regular-season games this season with Toronto.



Phil Kessel named NHL's first star for October

NEW YORK- The Canadian Press

Goaltenders Kari Lehtonen of the Dallas Stars and Nikolai Khabibulin of the Edmonton Oilers as well as forward Phil Kessel of the Toronto Maple Leafs were named the NHL's Three Stars for the month of October on Tuesday.

Kessel was selected the first star for being the NHL's scoring leader. He had 10 goals and eight assists in 11 games as the Maple Leafs (7-3-1) topped the Northeast Division.

He had five multiple-point performances and three game-winning goals in October.

Lehtonen was the second star for helping Dallas (8-3-0) move atop the Pacific Division. Lehtonen won eight-of-nine starts with a 1.75 goals-against average and .947 save percentage.

Khabibulin was named the third star after winning five games and not posting a regulation loss in seven starts. He had a league-best 1.12 GAA and .960 save percentage to lead Edmonton (7-2-2) into first place in the Northwest Division.



GAME DAY: Leafs at Devils

Staff

PRUDENTIAL CENTER

FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m.

TV: TSN

RADIO: AM 640

WEB: Join the Star's live game blog Wednesday at TheStar.com LEAFS INJURIES

• James Reimer (head/neck)

• LW Colby Armstrong (ankle)

• D Jake Gardiner (foot)

DEVILS INJURIES

• G Martin Brodeur (shoulder)

• LW Eric Boulton (hand)

• C Jacob Josefson (clavicle)

• C Travis Zajac (achilles)

SCOUTING REPORT

The Devils are averaging just two goals a game, fourth fewest in the NHL.... They've scored just three on the power-play in nine games.... $6-million man Ilya Kovalchuk has just two goals.

Toronto Star LOADED: 11.02.2011

586194 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks quickly put out Flames

By Brad Ziemer,

CALGARY - Like Kim Kardashian's marriage, this one was over early.

But it wasn't nearly as messy.

The Vancouver Canucks were downright clinical Tuesday night as they picked apart the Calgary Flames and skated to a lopsided 5-1 decision at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

It seems to happen every season. The calendar flips from October to November and the Canucks start to play their best, or at least better.

This season, it happened a couple of days early. A 7-4 win Saturday night over the Washington Capitals was clearly a boost of confidence for the Canucks and it carried over here Tuesday night.

That's 12 goals in two games and defenceman Alex Edler has been in on half of them. Edler had his second straight three-point night, with a goal and a two assists, and now has 12 points in 12 games.

It's become clear that Edler is willing and able to pick up the offensive slack left by the off-season departure of Christian Ehrhoff, who had 50 points last season for the Canucks.

"I don't know, sometimes you are lucky, I guess," Edler said when asked where all his offence is coming from.

Coach Alain Vigneault thinks it's a lot more than luck.

"We have said all along that we think Alex is a premiere defenceman in this league," Vigneault said after the game. "He's got that skill level and that physical frame to be on the best defencemen in the league and he is getting the opportunity to play in different roles. And obviously he has been doing a real good job for us."

Tuesday night, most of the Canucks did a real good job. Especially in the first half of the game.

The Canucks played perhaps their best first period of the season, scoring three times to basically wrap up things early.

"Our focus and our execution and our determination in the first period was evident right off the hop," Vigneault said. "We knew we wanted to come here and have a real strong start and we did."

The Saddledome seems to have become a comfortable home away from home for the Canucks. They have now won five straight games in Calgary and are 9-0-2 in their last 11 games against the Flames. What used to be a terrific rivalry has become more than a little one-sided in recent years.

About the only downer Tuesday night was the fact that Roberto Luongo, who really could have used a shutout, lost his with just 32 seconds left in the third period when Alex Tanguay tipped a shot past him.

"What are you going to do," said Luongo, who faced 29 shots. "At this point we are just happy to get the win. Points are what are important. Obviously it would have been nice, but stuff happens."

Luongo clearly likes what he has seen in front of him the last two games.

"All four lines are going right now," Luongo said. "It's nice to watch. Even the fourth line, I think has been one of our best lines. We have been creating some chances on the power play as well. It's nice to get the goal support."

Chris Higgins, who now leads the team with six goals, opened scoring at 7:57 of the first when he was sent in alone on Miikka Kiprusoff by linemate Jannik Hansen. He beat the Calgary goaltender with a nifty deke to his backhand.

"We scored the first goal and then the power play took over," Higgins said. "Those guys can whip it around pretty good. It was fun to watch from the bench."

Alex Burrows and Daniel Sedin scored those power-play goals later in the first.

And for a change, the Canucks didn't let up in the second, which has been their worst period of the season so far.

Max Lapierre did a wonderful job in the corner, where he outbattled Tom Kostopoulos and then fed a perfect cross-ice pass to Cody Hodgson, who had the whole net to shoot at.

"I'll take those any day," Hodgson said of his third goal of the season, which came at 3:47 of the second. "That was an unbelievable play by Max to suck everybody over and then throw it to me."

After Edler floated a shot through traffic at 11:43 of the second to make it 5-0, the Canucks seemed content to sit on their lead.

They had a couple of power-play opportunities in the third and had the likes of Aaron Volpatti, Dale Weise and Alexander Sulzer out on the ice.

No one can accuse the Canucks of trying to run up the score. They only had seven shots after the first period.

"We could have possibly got a few more in the third there but just decided to give a few players a chance to play in situations that they don't play normally," Vigneault said.

Henrik Karlsson replaced Kiprusoff, who surrendered five goals on 18 shots, to start the third period.

The Canucks improved to 6-5-1. Calgary is now 4-5-1.

ICE CHIPS: The Canucks will practise today in Calgary before heading to Minnesota, where they meet the Wild on Thursday night. Minnesota beat the Red Wings 2-1 in overtime in Detroit on Tuesday night. .The Canucks are now 4-0 when scoring first this season. . .Daniel Sedin is now tied with Pavel Bure for fourth spot on the Canucks' all-time goals list with 254.

Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 11.02.2011


Canucks impressed with Sulzer's drive

By Brad Ziemer

They lost a BMW and replaced it with a Volkswagen Beetle.

Actually, Alexander Sulzer wasn't signed to replace fellow German Christian Ehrhoff, who bolted to Buffalo for big bucks after a 50-point season with the Vancouver Canucks.

Sulzer was signed, just a few days after Ehrhoff departed, to be a depth defencemen. And while it's still early, he is making a favourable impression.

A spectator to start the season, Sulzer was set to play his third straight game with the Canucks on Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames.

Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault was singing the praises of Sulzer before that game.

"I like the way he competes one-on-one and I like the way he moves the puck," Vigneault said. "As a D, when you are dependable and the coach knows what you are going to do on the ice, then there's confidence and trust and with him so far we've definitely got that."

Sulzer has been a member of Vancouver's third defensive pair with Keith Ballard. He acknowledged before the game it has been difficult watching and waiting for an opportunity to play. But he knew when he signed his two-way contract with the Canucks that the lineup would not be an easy one to crack.

"I think it's going pretty good so far," Sulzer said. "Its always tough not to play for a long time and come in with a little rust on. I'm getting into the game rhythm here and I am really excited about it.

"I knew when I signed here there were a lot of good defencemen and it's not going to be easy to first, make the team out of camp, and then to play. I am just trying to do what I can do, play solid, make that good first pass and be good defensively."

Sulzer, a third-round pick of Nashville in 2003, had played 62 NHL games with the Predators and Florida Panthers before signing with the Canucks this summer. His contract pays him $700,000 at the NHL level.

His play has created something of a dilemma for Vigneault, who has said injured defenceman Aaron Rome will likely return to play on the team's current six-game road trip. When Rome does play, most figured it would come at Sulzer's expense. But Ballard has struggled in the early going -- he entered Tuesday night's game as a team-worst minus-nine -- so he could be the guy who makes way for Rome.

MIXING THINGS UP: Defencemen Kevin Bieksa isn't paying much attention to the talk about realignment in the NHL.

The CBC reported on the weekend that there is growing support for a proposal calling for a two-conference, four-division realignment. Vancouver would play in an eight-team division with Edmonton, Calgary, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Phoenix and Colorado.

Each team would play teams outside their division home and away. All other games would be against divisional opponents and teams would have to play their way out of their division in the playoffs.

"Just tell me where we play next, that's all I care about," Bieksa said.

Realignment is scheduled to be a hot topic -- along with 18 holes of golf, of course -- when the board of governors meet in early December at Pebble Beach on California's Monterey Peninsula.

Any realignment proposal would require support from 20 of the 30 board of governors. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are on record as being strongly opposed, as the latest proposal has them playing in different divisions and would see the two Pennsylvania rivals playing only twice a year.

POINTS PLEASE: He's winning more than his share of faceoffs, but Flames centre and former Canuck Brendan Morrison hasn't exactly been piling up the points since returning from off-season knee surgery.

Morrison entered Tuesday night's game with the second best faceoff percentage in the NHL (61.4 per cent) but with no points in the five games he has played.

"My leg feels strong, but I'm not quite where I want to be," Morrison said. "Obviously my production hasn't been there at all yet this year and as a line we haven't been very good . . .the positive is we've found ways to win a couple of games here and that has bought us some time to get going.

"We understand that we have to produce if we want to win consistently and that's what we are trying to do."

Morrison is centering Calgary's top line with Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay. Iginla is traditionally a slow starter and he's lived up to that reputation so far this season. He entered Tuesday's game with just two goals and four points.

"October, the last few years, hasn't been as good," Iginla said. "But coming out of it as a team we have been playing better and feeling better. It was kind of a nice end to October and we want to keep that going in November."



Game Day: Canucks happy to turn page on calendar, fired up for Flames

By Brad Ziemer,

CALGARY - After an October they'd like to forget, the Vancouver Canucks are hoping to begin another November to remember tonight when they meet the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome (6:30 p.m., TSN, Team 1040).

As indifferent as the Canucks have been during the month of October in recent years, they have absolutely owned November. Over the last four years, Vancouver has gone 32-14-5 in November.

The Canucks were obviously pleased to flip the calendar this morning, but as defenceman Kevin Bieksa noted after today's game-day skate, a new month won't mean anything unless the team starts playing more consistently.

"I don't really think it matters to us," he said. "I don't think we look at it like October's over and now it's our time in November. I think for whatever reason the first 10 games were kind of back and forth and inconsistent and usually it takes a while to find our legs.

"We had a good game on Saturday (a 7-4 win over the Washington Capitals) and hopefully we can build off of that and start this road trip off well and get on a roll."

The Saddledome seems as good a place to start as any. The Canucks have not lost in regulation to the Flames in their last 10 meetings, going 8-0-2 in that stretch. The Canucks have won four straight games at the Saddledome.

While the rivalry has been a lopsided one of late, Bieksa insists it is still there.

"I think it is," Bieksa said. "There have been some changes - (Robyn) Regehr is gone, (Dion) Phaneuf is gone, but you still have a lot of familiar faces and I think both teams want to beat each other more than anything.

"They are usually heated games, always physical, they are always fun regardless of how one-sided they have been. They have always felt like real close games and for whatever reason we have been on the right side of it. We need to get rolling and what better way than to play these guys the first game."

Tonight's game is the first of a six-game road trip for the Canucks that also makes stops in Minnesota, St. Louis, Chicago, Anaheim and Los Angeles.

The Canucks (5-5-1) and Flames (4-4-1) both finished October at .500. The Flames enter tonight's game, which ends a six-game homestand, with a modest two-game winning streak.

The Flames aren't scoring a lot of goals and are looking for their top line of captain Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay and Brendan Morrison to get going. Iginla is traditionally a slow starter and he's lived up to that reputation so far this season. He enters tonight's game with just two goals and four points.

"October, the last few years, hasn't been as good," Iginla said this morning. "But coming out of it as a team we have been playing better and feeling better. It was kind of a nice end to October and we want to keep that going in November."

Morrison, who missed the team's first four games following off-season knee surgery, doesn't have a point in the five games he's played.

"My leg feels strong, but I'm not quite where I want to be," Morrison said. "Obviously my production hasn't been there at all yet this year and as a line we haven't been very good ... the positive is we've found ways to win a couple of games here and that has bought us some time to get going.

"We understand that we have to produce if we want to win consistently and that's what we are trying to do."

The Canucks do not plan to make any lineup changes tonight. That means defenceman Alexander Sulzer will play his third straight game.

Coach Alain Vigneault has been pleased with the play of the 27-year-old German.

"I like the way he competes one-on-one and I like the way he moves the puck," Vigneault said. "As a D, when you are dependable and the coach knows what you are going to do on the ice, then there's confidence and trust and with him so far we've definitely got that."

Centre Matt Stajan, who has been parked in the press box the past two games as a healthy scratch, will return to the Calgary lineup tonight. He is expected to skate on the fourth line with Tom Kostopoulos and Tim Jackman.

Calgary's other two forward lines will feature Olli Jokinen between Curtis Glencross and David Moss, and Roman Horak between Rene Bourque and Lee Stempniak.

INJURIES: Defenceman Brett Carson (back) and forwards Mikael Backlund (finger) and Raitis Ivanans (concussion) are out for the Flames.

The Canucks are without winger Mason Raymond (back), defenceman Aaron Rome (hand) and winger Steve Pinizzotto (shoulder).

ICE CHIPS: The Canucks were 5-0-1 vs. the Flames last season and outscored Calgary 24-14 ... Morrison is second in the NHL with a faceoff percentage of 61.4 ... Miikka Kiprusoff and Roberto Luongo will start in goal.



Canucks' Malhotra maintains faceoff dominance despite injuries

By Ben Kuzma

The Vancouver Canucks centre has come to symbolize the long trek to NHL supremacy on an individual and collective basis. The first to admit his game isn't where it needs to be after two offseason procedures on his injured left eye curtailed training to just three weeks, Malhotra has struggled to keep pace and battle, struggled to score and is struggling with a minus-6 rating following a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

However, the fact that Malhotra has maintained dominance in the faceoff circle - he was ranked fifth overall after 11 games with a 60.1 cent proficiency despite obvious visual and conditioning challenges - has resonated with his teammates and the coaching staff. Malhotra's leadership in the room hasn't wavered. Neither has his work ethic. And that's where the centre gets cut some slack because you could argue that Maxim Lapierre has played more like a third-line centre than a fourth-line fixture. Alain Vigneault has even admitted as much.

"One thing that makes this team good is that we have that internal competition," said Malhotra, who was a plus-1 against the Flames with an assist while winning 12 of 19 draws. "It's not so much I'm competing with Max, it's wanting to contribute more and being able to get back to my game. In the course of a shift you have to get out of the gate. Without that training and extra sessions in the summer, you lag behind a bit and it wasn't until the beginning of training camp where I was able to exert myself.

"I feel I'm catching up to where I would normally be but it's a work in progress. If I'm getting to the position, that helps create a lot defensively by being in position and offensively being able to forecheck and create stuff."

The March 16 accident in which he was struck by a deflected puck could have been career threatening for the 31-year-old Malhotra and has been galvanizing the Canucks. With another season remaining on a three-year, $7.5 million US contract, the former first-round draft choice was signed to help take accountability to the next level. And when sidelined by the injury and surgeries, he became part coach and full-time cheerleader.

"If there's one individual who I'm going to have a lot of patience with it's him," said Vigneault. "He's such a quality individual and doesn't look for any excuses. He's aware of the situation he's in right now and he's trying to put his best foot forward every day. I've got a lot of time for that and our management has got a lot of time for that. We're definitely going to work with him."

The rope for Malhotra is longer for obvious reasons. Some of it is patience. Some of it is purposeful by the example he's setting in trying to be a leader rather than a liability. Playing in back-to-back games this week might be a challenge because Vigneault still wants to monitor his minutes that are averaging 13:39. He has yet to score and had but 10 shots through 12 games. Against the Flames, he was shotless in 14:20.

"I kind of feel for him because I'm going through the same thing a bit right now," said centre Ryan Kesler. "I don't think people understand how hard he is working to get back. I don't think he's too far off. I take draws against him in practice and can barely beat him and he's an artist when it comes to that.

"And he's a real mature leader. He speaks up and leads by example. It's the person and the player he is. I respect a guy who goes out and takes his licks and even more coming back from the surgeries and it just shows you the will he has."

Malhotra doesn't doesn't require any further procedures on his injured eye and doesn't dwell on the accident or the challenges surgeries have presented on and off the ice.

"I'm past that point," he said. "I'm over worrying about it or being concerned. It's about playing the game and as far as changing my game, I don't have that luxury."

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 11.02.2011


Canucks dominate Flames with 5-1 victory

By Ben Kuzma,

They didn't flip out. They just needed a flip of the calendar.

At a loss to explain why the Vancouver Canucks walked through another October and have sprinted through so many Novembers, coach Alain Vigneault reasoned that all that practice in opening month of the season would eventually pay off. How about on the first day of November?

In a dominant 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday to open a six-game road trip, the Canucks were far from the plodding and hesitant bunch that stumbled to a 5-5-1 mark in October. In building off a 7-4 victory over the Washington Capitals to close out last month, they once again didn't over-think situations. They acted on instinct, they owned the boards and took it to the Flames in every conceivable category by building a 3-0 cushion in the first period. Alex Edler had a goal and two assists and has amassed 11 points in his last six games.

"It's good when you get the points and good for confidence," said Edler. "But it starts with playing good defence all over the ice - not just in our zone - and being on them with the forecheck in the neutral zone to create turnovers. The forwards are doing a great job beating guys, winning battles and getting the puck."

In making it five-straight Saddledome victories - and outscoring the Flames 24-9 in the process - the highlight reel should include a sequence that proved how the Canucks can play when the spirit moves them as they pushed their dominant run over the Flames to 9-0-2.

Instead of sitting on a 3-0 lead after one period, a shift by Maxim Lapierre showed how the Canucks can shift into overdrive when desire matches ability. In a sprint to a loose puck in the Flames zone, the centre beat Tom Kostopoulos to the puck on the sideboards before spinning and snapping a laser-like pass across the slot right on to the stick of Cody Hodgson. All he had to do was snap it into a yawning net to make it a four-goal bulge.

"I'll take those any day," said Hodgson. "That was an unbelievable play by Max to suck everyone over and throw it to me. That's all I need, an open net. You don't even have to raise it. It was a pretty solid full team effort."

That was just one dimension on display. There was a breakaway goal by Chris Higgins. There was Alex Burrows burying a power-play chance while being cross-checked to the ice by Jay Bouwmeester. There was Daniel Sedin snapping a shot from a sharp angle after a dominant power-play shift from the top unit and Edler finding the net again. They chased Miikka Kiprusoff from the crease following 40 minutes in favour of Henrik Karlsson after the starter allowed five goals on 18 shots.

Roberto Luongo looked like October was a mirage and that the real starter had arrived with 28 saves to nearly record his first shutout of the season before Alex Tanguay tipped a shot with just 32 seconds remaining. In fact, one of the toughest saves he had to make was when Rene Bourque barrelled into him with a right shoulder when he dove out to corral a loose puck in the third period. He then had his stick knocked loose by a Mark Giordano shot that just drifted over the net.

More importantly, the Canucks are continuing a pleasing trend. They have amassed an eye-popping 32-14-5 record in November the previous four seasons and Luongo has gone 24-10-4 in the same time span.

Despite Brendan Morrison hitting a crossbar early and Olli Jokinen doing the same in the second period, there were indications in the first period that this was going to be the Canucks' night.

The Flames were flat-footed when Jannik Hansen sprung Higgins between Giordano and Scott Hannan for a breakaway. The winger calmly faked a forehand and went to a backhand deke for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

"It was a great pass by Jannik," said Higgins. "We haven't been satisfied with the way we played early in the year and it was no time to let our guard down. We're doing all the little things behind the goals, playing a little bit more simple through the neutral zone and more simple at offensive blueline. I've said all along the talent is there."

The Canucks tried to thread the perfect 5-on-3 goal before Burrows was credited with a power-play marker by crashing the crease. The Sedins then calmly went to work again on another power play. With Henrik allowed to work out of the corner, he threaded a pass through Morrison and right on to the tape of Daniel. From a sharp angle, he found the top of the net to make it 3-0. After Hodgson's marker in second period, Edler's point shot found a body and then the net to put the game far out of reach.

"Our focus and execution and determination was evident right off the hop," said Vigneault. "We knew we wanted a strong start and carried the play."

It must be November.



November's reign: Canucks have eye-popping record last four seasons

By Ben Kuzma,

CALGARY - Still scratching his head over another inconsistent October that spawned a troublesome 5-5-1 record, Alain Vigneault was doing the same Tuesday when asked to explain so many Novembers to remember.

A flip of the calendar has meant a flip in fortunes for the Vancouver Canucks. They have amassed an eye-popping 32-14-5 record in the month the previous four NHL seasons and Roberto Luongo - a lightning rod for criticism who attracts shocking strikes of sarcasm - has gone 24-10-4 in the same time span. Another tell-tale statistic that bodes well to open a six-game road trip is the Canucks have won their last four meetings in Calgary and have outscored the Flames 19-8.

Add it all up and you'd think Vigneault would come to some sort of conclusion on how to hit the gas pedal earlier, instead of grinding the gears in October. The last five seasons, the Canucks have stumbled out of the month with a cumulative record of 27-27-3.

"I'm not quite sure," chuckled the Canucks coach. "I've been looking for the answers for the month of October, but I do think what happens in October is we put a lot of emphasis on practice in what we need to do, on video, individuals and line work and maybe all the work that we do pays off down the stretch. From November on our months have been pretty good."

While the Canucks are coming off an encouraging 7-4 victory over the Washington Capitals, the Flames have gone 3-1-1 on their current homestead but clearly need a big push from their top line tonight if they're going to improve on their 4-4-1 mark. Brendan Morrison has been slow to round into form after offseason knee surgery and is pointless in his five games, but ranks second in league face-off efficiency at 61.4 per cent. Alex Tanguay leads the club in scoring with eight points (1-7) but has been held to just one assist in his last three outings. And Jarome Iginla is off to another slow start with four points (2-2) and a minus-3 rating. He said a back injury that kept him out of the preseason isn't the reason he's been slow to hit stride.

"After the first few games, it wasn't really an issue and feels as good as it did last year," said Iginla. "Overall, I feel my play gets better as the season goes on. I'd love it if it was from Day 1 and I'd love to be consistent all the time and score every game. I've just got to keep working through it."

The Flames captain has been a point-per-game player the last six seasons and has struck for double digits in eight of 10 seasons. He also had 13 goals and 20 points in November of 2009 and has good reason to welcome Nov. 1

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," added Iginla who finished with 43 goals last season. "October hasn't been as good. I haven't felt great in too many games and some have felt alright. But I've been through it before and I'm confident and positive that it's going to improve. I like that start of a new months thinking it's going to be better and different."

As for beating the Canucks? "We're due," he added.

For Morrison, not skating until late August didn't help his fitness level or his timing.

"My leg feels strong, but I'm not quite where I want to be and my production hasn't been there at all this year," he admitted. "We've found ways to win and it's bought us some time to get going. I've been very cautious on the ice not wanting to get caught too much and chasing guys all over. I need to be more involved offensively and getting down low, rather than being conservative and the high guy and playing it safe.

"We've played some periods where we've come out and been non-existent. If you want to compete with a team like Vancouver, you better play 60 minutes or you're not going to be in the game."

The Canucks will ice the same lineup that defeated the Capitals, while the Flames will revert back to four lines after playing 11 forwards and seven defencemen. Matt Stajan, who has just one assist in seven games, gets back into the lineup after a wake-up call and will centre the fourth line.

"I've been pretty happy with my game but if I'm doing the little things, the rest will come," said Stajan. "I've got to make sure I'm not turning the puck over. I'd by lying if I said I'm not frustrated or happy with the situation because you want to play."

Even though Vigneault didn't want to provide bulletin-board material, the writing will be on the wall for the Flames if they don't match the intensity and finish the Canucks showed against the Capitals.

"In my mind, they're a real strong team with great goaltending and real strong leadership," Vigneault said of the Flames. "All our games against Calgary have been emotional and physical and I expect the same tonight."



Canucks rev engines for November road trip

By Jim Jamieson

Yes, the Canucks have had a consistent history of mediocrity in October under head coach Alain Vigneault's watch beginning six seasons ago.

But does that - or the 7-4 win over Washington on Saturday - necessarily mean they'll bounce back in November as they have in seasons past under the current coach?

Clearly, the upcoming six-games-in-11-days road trip and a schedule that sees Vancouver playing only four times at home this month will play a big part in determining that.

Will the early-season struggles of goaltender Roberto Luongo - who starts tonight in Calgary to kick off the trip - be shown to be just the usual slow start or something more concerning?

Can the team's uneven and incomplete performances at times be simply the remnants of a long and ultimately disappointing playoff run? The upcoming trip will provide some insight.

Vigneault had no answers as to why the trend is so entrenched here, but cautioned that no one should count on history necessarily repeating itself.

"I'm lost for words, considering the way this group prepares and put in the time and effort in training camp, why we get off the starts that we do," he said.

"We did play hockey a little later than some other teams, but we adjusted our training camp.

"We've gone through our ups and downs that have happened since I've been here. Today is the last day of October, but a switch is not going to turn on where we automatically start winning in November. We're going to have to work hard. Those are the key ingredients."

Clearly, part of the Canucks' slow start was not having Ryan Kesler in the lineup for the first five games. Kesler was impressive his first three games back, but has fallen off in the last three.

That's not a surprise for a player who had hip surgery on July 25 and missed all of training camp - and Vigneault said as much following Monday's practice.

Even after the hoped-for jump start from the recent David Booth acquisition, the second line still is not producing much even-strength.

"I'd say it's a work in progress," said Vigneault of the Kesler-Booth chemistry.

"Ryan's not where he can be and David's coming into a new environment, a new way of doing things. I see a lot of upside there, but it's not where it's going to be. I expect them to be a lot better."

Booth got his first point as a Canuck on Saturday against the Caps - a second assist on Chris Higgins' power play goal. It was his third game with the Canucks and his best, but high expectations came along with the former 31-goal scorer from Florida.

"It's still October, so you can't get down," said Booth, who's still looking for his first of the season. "I know it's been a while. You'd like to get that first one, and hopefully they'll start going in.

"We were moving the puck good and not giving up too much defensively. There's no need to panic right now. You just play your role and things will come."

Kesler played youth hockey and at the national junior level with fellow Detroit native Booth and says the chemistry is improving.

"It's going well," said Kesler. "Obviously, I haven't played with him for a couple of years, so it's going to take some time. But I thought last game we were generating chances and he was driving the net hard."



Canucks' Malhotra worried about his game, not eye injury

By Ben Kuzma

CALGARY - If he was just another player, Manny Malhotra might be sitting out rather than suiting up.

The Vancouver Canucks centre has come to symbolize the quest for NHL supremacy on an individual and collective basis. The first to admit his game isn't where it needs to be after two offseason procedures on his injured left eye curtailed training to just three weeks, Malhotra has struggled to keep pace and battle, struggled to score and struggled with a minus-7 ranking heading into Tuesday's meeting with the Calgary Flames.

However, the fact that Malhotra has maintained dominance if the faceoff circle - he was ranked fifth overall after 11 games with a 60.1 per cent proficiency despite vision and conditioning challenges - has resonated with his teammates and the coaching staff. Malhotra's leadership in the room hasn't wavered. Either has his work ethic. And that's where the centre gets cut some slack because you could argue that Maxim Lapierre has played more like a third-line centre than a fourth-line fixture. Alain Vigneault has even admitted as much.

"One thing that makes this team good is that we have that internal competition," said Malhotra. "It's not so much I'm competing with Max, it's wanting to contribute more and being able to get back to my game. In the course of a shift you have to get out of the gate and without that training and extra sessions in the summer, you lag behind a bit. It wasn't until the beginning of training camp where I was able to exert myself.

"I feel I'm catching up to where I would normally be but it's a work in progress. If I'm getting to the position, that helps create a lot defensively by being in position and offensively being able to forecheck and create stuff."

Being struck by a deflected puck on March 16 could have been career threatening for the 31-year-old Malhotra but his comeback galvanized the Canucks. With another season left on a three-year, $7.5 million US contract, the former first-round draft choice knew he was signed to help take accountability to the next level. And when sidelined by the injury and surgeries, he became part coach and full-time cheerleader.

"If there's one individual who I'm going to have a lot of patience with it's him," said Vigneault. "He's such a quality individual and doesn't look for any excuses. He's aware of the situation he's in right now and he's trying to put his best foot forward every day. I've got a lot of time for that and our management has got a lot of time for that. We're definitely going to work with him."

The rope for Malhotra is longer for obvious reasons. Some of it is patience. Some of it is purposeful by the example he's setting in trying to be a leader rather than a liability. Playing in back-to-back games this week might be a challenge because Vigneault still wants to monitor his minutes that are averaging 13:39 per outing. Malhotra has yet to score and had but 10 shots through 11 games.

"I kind of feel for him because I'm going through the same thing a bit right now," said centre Ryan Kesler. "I don't think people understand how hard he is working to get back. I don't think he's too far off. I take draws against him in practice and can barely beat him and he's an artist when it comes to that.

"And he's a real mature leader. He speaks up and leads by example. It's the person and the player he is. I respect a guy who goes out and takes his licks and even more so coming back from the surgeries. It just shows you the will he has."

Malhotra doesn't doesn't require any further procedures on his injured eye and doesn't dwell on the accident or the challenges surgeries have presented on and off the ice.

"I'm past that point," he said. "I'm over worrying about it or being concerned. It's about playing the game and as far as changing my game, I don't have that luxury."



Canucks vs Flames gameday

By Gord mcintyre,

CANUCKS (5-5-1) at FLAMEs (4-4-1),

6: 30 p.m., SCOTIABANK SADDLEDOME

TV: TSN, Radio: TEAM 1040

THE SETUP

The Canucks:

Good thing for the Canucks, the Flames are floundering, too, otherwise the Canucks would be in last place in the Northwest. As it is, a Calgary win in regulation would give the Flames a better winning percentage.

The Flames:

Calgary won its last two games, over St. Louis and Colorado, but hasn't played since Friday. This is the last game of a six-game homestand for the Flames.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1 Roberto Luongo's treatment at the hands of Canucks fans has even opponents feeling for him. "It's unfair," said Calgary's Olli Jokinen, a onetime Luongo teammate who works with the same Florida trainer in the summer. "The time and effort this guy puts in to make sure he plays that 70-plus games every year, it's unfair to see, very unfair."

2 Brendan Morrison chimed in: "In all my years in Vancouver there wasn't one goalie who didn't get booed at one time or another. For years and years, they were asking for a top-notch goalie, and they finally got one. Everyone automatically assumes he, single-handedly, should carry the team on his back, which is completely unrealistic."

3 Ryan Kesler is still looking to find his groove after offseason hip surgery and missing the first five games of the season. He has one goal in six games, scored on a 5-on-3 power play, three assists and is minus-1. Kesler scored his first NHL goal against Calgary eight years ago and would love to kick-start his scoring knack again tonight.

By THE NUMBERS

9: Alex Edler is making it easier to forget the loss of Christian Ehrhoff. Edler is 2-7-9 after 11 games, Ehrhoff 1-6-7 after 10. It took Ehrhoff 15 games to get to 2-7-9 last season.

LEADERBOARD

vancouver canucks

GOALS 5 HIGGINS

assists 9 H/D SEDIN

POINTS 13 H/D SEDIN

PIM 23 BIEKSA

IN NET 3-3-1 LUONGO

3.54 GAA / .869 SV%

CALGARY FLAMES

GOALS 5 BOURQUE

assists 7 TANGUAY

POINTS 8 TANGUAY

PIM 17 SANICH

IN NET 4-3-0 KIPRUSOFF

2.02 GAA / .930 SV%

INJURIES

CANUCKS: LW Mason Raymond (back surgery), out indefinitely; D Aaron Rome (broken hand), 2-3 weeks

FLAMES: D Brett Carson (back), out indefinitely; C Mikael Backlund (broken finger), two weeks



Pinizzotto endures waiting game with Canucks

By Jim Jamieson,

It looked like winger Steve Pinizzotto was finally going to get a chance to play his first NHL game on the upcoming six-game road trip, but the feisty fourth-liner had a setback in practice on Monday and didn't accompany the Canucks on their flight to Calgary where they face the Flames tonight.

Pinizzotto, a summer free agent signing, was in his first practice with the Canucks since injuring his left shoulder attempting a shoulder check against San Jose defenceman Douglas Murray in a preseason game on Sept. 25. He appeared to reinjure the shoulder when Ca nucks D - man A n d re w Alberts took him into the end boards, but head coach Alain Vigneault said that hit didn't cause the setback.

"I don't think it was the hit," said Vigneault. "He sort of reached out for a puck on a oneon-one [drill] and didn't feel the shoulder was responding the way it should have."

Pinizzotto had been having a strong training camp when he injured the shoulder five weeks ago.

Because defenceman Aaron Rome (broken hand) has also been cleared to play and is expected to get into the lineup during the current road trip, the Canucks would have had to make a roster move if Pinizzotto hadn't tweaked his shoulder, as they would have had 24 healthy players - one over the roster limit.

"It's part of the game, you just stay on an even keel and look at the positives," shrugged Rome. "I've just looked at it as an extra month of preparation for the season."

NEW SPOT FOR BURROWS

Winger Alex Burrows saw his first action on the point on the second-unit power play in Saturday's wild 7-4 win over Washington.

Burrows, who's played that spot in the minors but never at the NHL level, appeared a little nervous his first couple of shifts there.

At one point, he failed to keep a bouncing puck in at the Caps' blueline and watched Washington get an oddmanned chance the other way. But Burrows was on the ice for the No. 2 unit's power-play goal by Chris Higgins midway through the first period.

"I thought I was just subbing for Aaron Rome, because he's close to getting back," quipped Burrows. "I'll try to make it work. Whatever the coach asks me to do to help the team win."

Vigneault clearly intends to continue the experiment. The coach apparently prefers having a forward back there with Dan Hamhuis on the second unit instead of Kevin Bieksa.

"They didn't have a lot of time on it but they did come up with a goal," said Vigneault. "Other than when the puck bounced off his stick and it led to an outnumbered situation I thought he looked pretty comfortable. I'm confident with him there, I've done it before. Alex has a tremendous amount of hockey sense, he can play more than one position."

MANNY'S CHALLENGE

Manny Malhotra, like a few other Canucks, has had a tough start to the season. He has a very good excuse - two eye procedures in the summer that seriously limited his ability to train.

Vigneault said the team is prepared to wait for the third-line centre and key faceoff and penalty killer to work his way back to the level he's accustomed to.

"The tough part for Manny was him not getting overly frustrated or disappointed with himself," said Vigneault.

"He knows the game he's putting on the ice is not the one he wants. With everything that happened with him in the summer, he maybe worked out 50 or 60 per cent for three weeks. When you've got to get up to par and you've got to play at the same time, it's a challenge."


586204 Washington Capitals

Capitals vs. Ducks: Nicklas Backstrom scores twice late to complete rally and 5-4 overtime win

By Katie Carrera, Published: November 1

With 62 seconds remaining in regulation on Tuesday night, the Washington Capitals pulled their goaltender for one last gasp to try to force overtime against the Anaheim Ducks and prevent a third consecutive defeat.

Instead of Alex Ovechkin and the full complement of offensive firepower, though, Coach Bruce Boudreau used his third line of Brooks Laich, Jason Chimera and Joel Ward, and Nicklas Backstrom as the forwards of the six players on the ice, and it proved to be the right move for the Capitals. Backstrom scored the tying goal with 42 seconds left to force overtime then added the game-winner 2 minutes 18 seconds into extra time to clinch a 5-4 win at Verizon Center that snapped Washington’s two-game losing skid.

“It was a weird game,” said Backstrom, who recorded his first multi-goal game of the season and leads Washington with 14 points. “The first half of the game didn’t feel as emotional, but second half the game we did better. Brooksie, Wardo, Chimmer got us in the game again they did a great job tonight. I think overall it’s a little shocking that we won I think but big points for us.”

Backstrom’s pair of goals marked the completion of Washington’s rally after spotting the Ducks, who have lost three straight, a 3-0 lead. Despite the come-from-behind victory, though, the Capitals outshot Anaheim, 40-15, and with all but nine of their shots on all-star netminder Jonas Hiller (35 saves) coming after the first period.

In addition to Backstrom’s clutch showing, Ward, Dennis Wideman and Troy Brouwer each recorded goals for the Capitals. The third line of Ward, Laich and Chimera finished with seven points and was a collective plus-9. It wasn’t the best night statistically for Tomas Vokoun, who made 11 saves in his start, but the goaltender was also victimized by several defensive lapses that allowed Anaheim’s dangerous second line to rack up a trio of early goals.

It was Anaheim’s second line of aging yet still sharp superstars Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu, and young speedster Andrew Cogliano, that did the most of the damage against the Capitals, accounting for three of the Ducks’ four goals.

Washington seemed lost in its own end early on, giving the puck away and allowing the Ducks to slip through to open ice unnoticed. Koivu’s goal, which gave Anaheim a 1-0 lead shortly after nine minutes elapsed, was the eventual result of a turnover by Wideman behind the net to Selanne.

Less than four minutes later, another defensive mistake made it 2-0 Ducks, this time with Selanne scoring and Koivu setting the table. Roman Hamrlik got turned around on the play and Koivu managed to send a feed from below the goal line through Wideman’s legs, as the defenseman stood at the top of the crease, to a wide-open Selanne.

“It’s really difficult to keep up the pace that they kept up in the first 30 minutes,” Boudreau said of the Ducks. “They were like ‘Whoa, are they fast’ but we just stayed close enough.”

Selanne’s second goal of the night put Anaheim up 3-0 at 8:59 of the second period on just 10 shots but slowly, the Capitals started to chip away as they rolled through four lines to their opponents’ three.

On Washington’s 18th shot of the game it ended Hiller’s shutout bid. Ward had pulled the puck wide to the right and shot five-hole on Hiller through traffic to finally put the Capitals on the scoreboard and give them some momentum. It was the first of three goals while the third line was on the ice.

“I think that’s what we’re counted upon [for] is to give some energy, try to relieve some of the pressure off the bigger guys up front,” Ward said. “Just working hard and try to create space. If we can do that and wear teams down slowly, we know it’s a long game. So if we can do that, opportunities will be created for everybody.”

A blast from the point by Wideman on a fluky play that started with a long outlet pass by Vokoun, who caught the Ducks on a change, brought the Capitals to 3-2 with less than four minutes left in the second period. In the

third, the teams exchanged goals by Corey Perry and Brouwer, making it 4-3 heading into the final minute of play.

That’s when Boudreau pulled Vokoun in favor of an extra attacker and rewarded Backstrom and the third line for their strong play up to that point.

“I think it’s a nice reward for our hard work for whatever reason things were clicking for our line tonight,” Laich said. “But I didn’t think the last two games Edmonton and Vancouver that we played particularly well. We wanted to rebound, have a better night tonight, you’re rewarded an opportunity like that you want to make the most of it. You throw in Nicky with us, we get a little bit lucky and get a goal.”

Capitals note: Brouwer didn’t play the final 2:16 of regulation or appear in overtime after being hit by Anaheim’s Toni Lydman and suffering what appeared to be a right shoulder injury. Brouwer underwent offseason surgery to repair his right shoulder this past summer.

Washington Post LOADED: 11.02.2011


Bruce Boudreau benches Alex Ovechkin in final minute of regulation

By Katie Carrera

With 62 seconds remaining in regulation in a one-goal game it’s rather unusual for the Washington Capitals to try to force overtime without Alex Ovechkin on the ice. Tuesday night en route to a 5-4 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks, though, that’s precisely what happened.

When play resumed after the puck went into the benches, Coach Bruce Boudreau sent out defenseman John Carlson and Dennis Wideman along with forwards Jason Chimera, Brooks Laich, Joel Ward and Nicklas Backstrom, who eventually scored the tying goal. It was a reflection on who was playing well in the game, Boudreau said afterward.

Boudreau was asked specifically why he didn’t use Ovechkin, the coach didn’t pull any punches.

“I thought other guys were better than him and I thought there was just a chance that other guys might score the goal,” Boudreau said. “I’ve got to put out the guys that I think are going to score the goal and 99 percent of the time Alex is the guy I think is going to score the goal. I just didn’t think Alex was going to score the goal at that time tonight. You go with your gut feeling, thinking that line is going pretty good and I got lucky.”

Ovechkin was on the ice and earned the primary assist for Backstrom’s game-winner in overtime, but it still wasn’t the greatest outing for the star left wing. He finished with that lone assist and an even rating on the night as he was on the ice for Anaheim’s third goal as well. Ovechkin played 17 minutes 51 seconds and finished with four shots on goal, along with two attempts that were blocked and three that missed the net.

Ovechkin did not speak to reporters after the game but during his post-game interview, on the bench with Versus, he had this to say: “Brooks Laich line play unbelievable. They dominate them. Again they deserved to be there when important moments coming.”

Boudreau said he couldn’t put a finger on what was wrong exactly with Ovechkin. “I don’t know,” Boudreau said. “It just wasn’t working for him.”

But another video clip that was part of the national broadcast of Tuesday’s game, showed Ovechkin on the bench during the timeout the Capitals called during the stoppage in play with 1:02 remaining where the star left wing looked displeased and mutters what appears to be an expletive.

You can see the video clip and judge for yourself here. The instance on the bench begins at the 53 second mark of the video.

— In other news, Troy Brouwer didn’t play the final 2:16 of regulation and did not appear in overtime after suffering an apparent right shoulder injury when he was hit by Anaheim’s Toni Lydman. Brouwer underwent surgery in the offseason to repair his right shoulder. Boudreau didn’t offer an update on the winger saying “I don’t know.”



Change is good for Capitals’ Ward-Laich-Chimera line

By Neil Greenberg

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS | When the Capitals signed Joel Ward in the offseason, they added a winger adept at keeping the opposition’s top talent off the scoresheet while driving play in Washington’s favor.

Ward faced, by far, the toughest quality of competition on the Predators last season, had the second most difficult zone starts and had the top Corsi relative to his quality of competition. In other words, despite taking more draws in the defensive zone against the opposition’s top lines, the puck spent more time in the offensive zone during even strength when Ward was on the ice.

Adding him to a line with Brooks Laich and Jason Chimera appeared to give Coach Bruce Boudreau a solid option for generating offense down low and creating plays along the boards and in the corners, all while limiting the opposition’s best from doing the same.

At least, it did on paper.

So far this season they aren’t driving play as anticipated, either individually or as a unit.

The three are dead last on the team in terms of scoring chance percentage during even strength. Scoring percentage is the ratio of chances that go in Washington’s favor when that player is on the ice. More scoring chances = more goals = more wins. Conversely, keeping the other team out of the offensive zone limits their ability to score and, ultimately, win.

As expected, the “meat and potatoes” line hasn’t fared any better:

Line combo EV SC%

Halpern – Perreault - Hendricks 78.6%

Brouwer- Backstrom - Ovechkin 50.0%

Semin - Johansson - Knuble 50.0%

Ward – Laich - Chimera 41.2%

Even if we remove the score effects and look at even-strength performance when the score is tied, the trio is still underwater at 42.8 percent.

Sure, the line is keeping the opposition off the scoreboard (only one even-strength goal against), but that has more to do with the performance of Tomas Vokoun and the level of competition the trio has faced, which is the weakest on the team.

Boudreau is starting to experiment with his line combos again, and it looks like Matt Hendricks will replace Jason Chimera on the third line. Perhaps he can help tilt the ice in Washington’s favor. If not, things will get dicey when the third line starts to face stiffer competition.



Mike Green skates for first time since twisting ankle on Oct. 22

By Katie Carrera

Mike Green skated for the first time since Oct. 22 Tuesday after twisting his right ankle against the Detroit Red Wings. The defenseman said he felt good but that there’s still no timetable for his return.

“Felt good. Day to day here but today was a good day for me. I finally got out there, so hopefully be back soon,” said Green, who was asked if he might be ready for this weekend’s back-to-back games against Carolina and the Islanders. “If I feel good enough to play, I’ll play. There’s no date set yet, I want to make sure I take care of it.”

Green suffered the injury with 2 minutes and 57 seconds remaining in the first period of Washington’s 7-1 win over Detroit, when he was hit in the jaw by the puck and contorted his body, including his right ankle, when he fell to the ice.

When Green took his skate off after the game, his ankle swelled and he wasn’t able to put a skate back on his foot until Tuesday. Green skated briefly without pads before the main group of Capitals took the ice for the morning skate, but he returned as players headed to the dressing room and got in some work in full gear and pads for roughly 15 minutes.

Green will miss a third consecutive game tonight because of the twisted right ankle but it sound like he will return soon.

“He felt a lot better,” Coach Bruce Boudreau said. “From all accounts he’ll be at practice tomorrow.”

Green said he didn’t think he’d need much practice time to get back in the swing of things but that it’s more important for him to get involved in games as quickly as possible.

“I think I’ll need one good practice — I don’t want to be bag skating too long,” Green said. “One good practice, I think I’ll be fine it’s more about the game, the speed of the game. The quicker I can get into that situation the better I’ll be in the long run.

“It’s tough watching,” Green added. “You want to be out there but it’s good because you can see what’s going on and the areas we need to fix — you’re aware of it watching upstairs. It’s not always a bad thing but I’d rather be out on the ice.”



D.J. King clears waivers; Jay Beagle designated as injured non-roster player

By Katie Carrera

Enforcer D.J. King cleared waivers Tuesday afternoon as every other team in the NHL passed on the forward’s services.

King asked to be placed on waivers in an effort to get more game time with another club and the Capitals obliged. But because he cleared waivers, King remains on Washington’s roster.

Here’s what Coach Bruce Boudreau had to say about the situation before King cleared.

“You feel for him. D.J.’s one great guy,” Boudreau said. “We don’t know what we’re going to do yet.”

Keeping King on the active roster meant Washington had 24 players, one above the league maximum.

To trim the number of players on the active roster, Jay Beagle (concussion) has been designated as injured-non roster, according to a team spokesman. That means Beagle won’t count against the 23-man roster limit but the team doesn’t get any relief under the salary cap for his absence.

Beagle has missed six games and hasn’t taken part in the team’s last 16 practices since he was knocked out by Pittsburgh’s Arron Asham on Oct. 13.



Erskine ready to resume rugged role on blue line

By Stephen Whyno

The Washington Times

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Just when it looked as if the Washington Capitals were struggling on defense, reinforcements are either on the way or already here.

Big defenseman John Erskine made his season debut Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks after recovering from shoulder surgery, and All-Star Mike Green skated for the first time since suffering a right ankle injury Oct. 22.

Erskine's gap-toothed smile said all that was needed about the relief of finally getting back into game action.

"I had surgery back after playoffs last year," he said. "It's kind of been a long road, and it's good to be back."

Coach Bruce Boudreau wasn't concerned about Erskine shying away from contact, which is a big part of his style as a stay-at-home, physical defenseman. The 31-year-old maintained being cleared for contact eliminates any need for hesitation when going at opponents.

"It's definitely part of my game, and I'm not going to change it just because of injury," Erskine said. "I think that's what kind of held me out is I didn't feel comfortable going in, and I didn't think the strength was there. I feel comfortable now; my confidence is there. I can't go in second-guessing myself - I'll get hurt again."

Green wasn't good enough to go Tuesday night at Verizon Center, but the 26-year-old skating for about 25 minutes around the team's morning workout counts as progress. It marked the first day since twisting his ankle that Green could even get his right foot into a skate.

Green was optimistic, and Boudreau said he expected the defenseman to take part in practice Wednesday.

"[Tuesday] was a good day for me, and I finally got out there," Green said. "It's fine, honestly, and I'll be ready to go soon."

The coach originally said he was hopeful Green could return by this weekend, but there's no timetable.

"If I feel good enough to play, I'll play," Green said. "I want to make sure I take care of it."

Eakin recalled

Cody Eakin got the unexpected word Monday, while in a movie theater, that the Capitals were calling him up. It was only fitting that he was watching "In Time," because Tuesday marked Eakin's time to make his NHL debut.

"I'm pretty happy. It's obviously exciting to get an opportunity to play my first game," Eakin said. "I definitely didn't expect a call, but I'm happy I got it."

Eakin played his first regular-season game replacing veteran Jeff Halpern in the lineup.

Boudreau did not want to use the word "message" when addressing Halpern being a healthy scratch.

"We've got 13 forwards right now and we wanted to take a look at Cody," Boudreau said. "That's the way it works out."

Ice chips

Enforcer D.J. King, who was placed on waivers at his camp's request, cleared Tuesday at noon but was kept on the roster.

• To make room for Eakin, the club placed Jay Beagle (concussion) on the injured list, which opens a roster spot. His agent, Wade Arnott, said Beagle's symptoms are "minor" and that he's doing better.

Washington Times LOADED: 11.02.2011


Caps wear down tired Ducks for OT win

Backstrom scores twice as third line dominates

By Stephen Whyno

The Washington Times

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

It figured to reason that the Capitals could wear down the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks were playing their fifth of a seven games in 13 days road trip, and they rely for the most part on just two lines.

So even an early deficit for the Caps wasn’t as bad as it appeared.

Slowly, the Caps’ third line of Jason Chimera, Brooks Laich and Joel Ward – with some cameos by others – took on Anaheim’s top players and won the battles. Eventually, the Caps tied the score on a Nicklas Backstrom goal with 42 seconds left, and the Swedish center scored again in overtime to complete a 5-4 comeback victory Tuesday at Verizon Center.

That tying goal late in the third was set up by Chimera, Laich and Ward, whom coach Bruce Boudreau chose to put on the ice trailing by one with his net empty.

“I think it’s a nice reward for hard work. For whatever reason, things were clicking for our line tonight,” Laich said. “When you’re rewarded an opportunity like that, you want to make the most of it.”

Much of the conversation moving forward will center on Boudreau not putting captain Alex Ovechkin on the ice with a chance to tie the score, but the coach went with his “gut” and Backstrom, and did reward the third line for a tough night of aggressive attack.

“They were playing good and other guys, not so much,” Boudreau said of tossing his checking line out there in a six-on-five situation instead of Ovechkin‘s. “I’ve got to put out the guys that I think are going to score the goal. And 99 percent of the time, Alex is the guy I think is going to score the goal. I just didn’t think he was going to score the goal at that time tonight.”

But the third line’s production was more than just an opportunistic goal in the final minute. Laich, Chimera and Ward were responsible for three of the Caps’ five goals Tuesday.

Throughout the game, Boudreau took every chance he could to put that trio out against the Ducks’ dangerous top line of Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan. That line only scored on the power play, and it was tired by the end of the game.

“They get counted on for a lot of minutes, so that was the goal, anyways, as best we could is to slow them down as much as we can,” said Ward, who talked about wanting to own up for a bad game in Vancouver. “If we can kind of keep them off the score sheet, it gives you an opportunity.”

The Caps pounced on the opportunity, getting a fluky goal or two and grinding down an exhausted Anaheim group. It may have looked like they stole two points, but the Caps kept plugging away and got rewarded.

“It was a great comeback win,” Chimera said. “We stuck with it all night and we had some bang-bang goals it seemed like it just kind of went in. It was one of those nights.”

Washington Times LOADED: 11.02.2011


Backstrom leads late comeback for Capitals

By: Brian McNally | 11/01/11 8:05 PM

Center's two late goals lead Caps to victory

When the Capitals needed a goal, Nicklas Backstrom answered ... twice.

With goalie Tomas Vokoun pulled from his net, Backstrom scored with 42 seconds remaining to tie the game and eventually set up his own game-winner at 2:18 of overtime for a thrilling 5-4 Washington victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night at Verizon Center.

"I thought [Backstrom] was going to do something," Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said. "I didn't know about the overtime thing. ... I don't think Nicky's going to change his [pass-first] game. But when he gets those opportunities the one thing we can keep reminding him is how good a shot he has."

The Ducks led for most the night and one line in particular gave the Capitals problems.

No, it wasn't the fearsome top unit led by Corey Perry, the NHL's 2010-11 most valuable player, along with Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan. Instead, it was a pair of ageless wonders from Finland that tried to sink Washington.

Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu -- combined age of 77 -- each scored a goal in the first period while assisting on the other's tally. In the second, they were on the ice again as Selanne slammed home a cross-ice feed from defenseman Cam Fowler to make it 3-0 Ducks.

Koivu scored first at 9:05. Dennis Wideman thought he was guiding a puck to teammate Roman Hamrlik behind the Washington goal. Unfortunately at the last minute Hamrlik cut to the front of the goal to protect that area. Instead, the puck went to Selanne, who fed Koivu for an easy shot past a scrambling Vokoun.

At 13:39 of the first, Koivu was in perfect position to play a wide shot off the boards behind the Caps' goal. He slipped a nifty pass across the crease to a waiting Selanne for the tap-in. That made it 2-0 Ducks. And their line connected again at 8:59 of the second period. Anaheim used a passing clinic to set-up Selanne's one-timer from the left circle to make it 3-0.

It looked like the Caps were outclassed -- a difficult proposition considering Anaheim is on a seven-game road trip and playing its fifth game in eight days. But Washington (8-2-0, 16 points) found a way to claw back into the contest.

Joel Ward and Wideman each scored a goal later in the second as the Caps tilted the ice. In the end, they outshot Anaheim 40-15.

Moments after a second-period power play expired, the third line put together a critical shift against the Ducks' top line. Ward sent a bad-angle shot through Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller's legs at 13:23. Vokoun then made a heads up play with a long pass down ice. Hiller couldn't play the puck in the trapezoid zone behind his goal without taking a penalty. That allowed Brooks Laich to catch up to the play, take the puck from Hiller, bang a shot off defenseman Sheldon Brookbank in the crease and then send the rebound across the ice to Wideman, who slammed home the second goal. Troy Brouwer added a third goal at 11:42 of the third period when his seemingly harmless shot popped off Hiller, straight up into the air and landed behind him before sliding into the net.

Washington Examiner LOADED: 11.02.2011


Capitals rally to beat Ducks 5-4 in overtime

By: DAVID GINSBURG | 11/01/11 10:30 PM

AP Sports Writer

The Washington Capitals had pulled their goaltender and were pressing for the tying goal in the frantic final minute of regulation against the Anaheim Ducks.

It was a perfect opportunity for two-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin to work his magic.

Except for the fact that he was on the bench.

Nicklas Backstrom scored the tying goal with 42 seconds left in regulation, then added the game-winner at 2:18 of overtime to lift the Capitals to a 5-4 victory Tuesday night.

Washington trailed 3-0 in the second period and 4-2 with 10:47 left in regulation before rallying. It was 4-3 when coach Bruce Boudreau pulled goaltender Tomas Vokoun, and Backstrom hammered home the rebound of a shot by Jason Chimera to force the extra session.

But where was Ovechkin?

"I thought other guys were better than him and there was just a chance other guys might score the goal," Boudreau said. "Ninety-nine percent of the time Alex is the guy I think is going to score the goal. I just didn't think he was going to score the goal at that time tonight. You go with your gut feeling. I got lucky."

Ovechkin got his chance in overtime. With Backstrom standing to the right of the net, Ovechkin sent the puck toward goalie Jonas Hiller. Anaheim defenseman Toni Lydman let the puck slip under his stick, and Backstrom scored easily to end it.


"We just stayed close enough," Boudreau said. "I thought when they got the fourth goal it might be something, but it says a lot about the resiliency of the team."

Teemu Selanne had two goals and two assists for the Ducks, who have lost three straight. Hiller stopped 35 shots.

"We played so well earlier in the game, then we started to self-destruct," coach Randy Carlyle said. "They're an offensive team that pounced on their chances, put pressure on us and we didn't react very well."

Now in his 20th season, the 41-year-old Selanne leads the Ducks in goals (five) and assists (nine). He has three goals and eight assists in his last six games.

"He's done his part and continues to," Carlyle said. "Other people have got to step up."

Anaheim was averaging two goals per game and had been held to one goal or fewer in five of its first 11 contests. The Ducks took only 15 shots, but more than a quarter of them made it past Vokoun.

"I thought he played well," Capitals defenseman Dennis Wideman said of Vokoun. "We didn't give up a whole lot of shots, but the shots that we gave up were quality scoring chances."

Wideman, Joel Ward and Troy Brouwer scored for the Capitals, who remained unbeaten in the United States following losses at Edmonton and Vancouver.


Selanne and Koivu teamed again 4½ minutes later to make it 2-0. Koivu corralled Lydman's shot off the back boards and sent it across the crease to Selanne, who scored from the left side of the net.

Selanne made it 3-0 with a slap shot at 8:59 of the second period, but the Capitals got back into it when Ward and Wideman scored just over three

minutes apart. Ward drilled a wrist shot through Hiller's pads, and Wideman scored after Hiller botched an attempt to clear a puck that was sent the length of the ice by Vokoun.

Corey Perry got a power-play goal for Anaheim at 9:13 of the third period for a 4-2 lead.

NOTES: It was the only game of the season between the teams. ... Capitals D Mike Green missed a third straight game because of a twisted right ankle, but D John Erskine made his season debut after being sidelined following shoulder surgery. ... The Capitals recalled C Cody Eakin from Hershey of the AHL and assigned D Sean Collins to the same club. ... Anaheim still has two games left in a 13-day, seven-game road trip that ends Saturday in Detroit.

Washington Examiner LOADED: 11.02.2011

586213 Winnipeg Jets

Jets Report

By: Staff Writer

Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec was yanked after five shots against Carolina and gave up seven goals vs. the Flyers. But in his last two games he has stopped 65 of 69 shots.

Toby no go

The NHL will not review the hit by Panthers forward Jack Skille on Jets D-man Tobias Enstrom. Enstrom left the game and the club said no determination had been made on his status.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 11.02.2011


Taking peek at prospects

With Jets idle for a spell, what better time to track players' progress so far?

By: Ed Tait

UNIONDALE, NY -- It has been said a gazillion times that the long, gruelling NHL season is a marathon, not a sprint. And that, in part, explains why the Winnipeg Jets opted to pit stop in south Florida on Tuesday during their longest road trip of the season before heading north for New York/New Jersey.

Recharge, regroup, reload and all that jazz.

(It also begs the question that if the shinny season is akin to a 26-mile run and not a 100-yard dash, then why don't more NHL GMs scout Kenyan distance runners for talent? But we digress...)

Now, with all that in mind we thought we'd take this opportunity while the Jets take a mental and physical maintenance day to check in on some of their prospects down on the farm and in junior hockey. Call this our Jets Farm Report, which we will serve up periodically during the season...

THE AFFILIATE

St. John's IceCaps (AHL)

Record: 5-2-3; 13 pts (heading into Tuesday's game against Worcester); first in Atlantic Division

Notable: The IceCaps had dropped two straight OT games before Tuesday and have set up atop the Atlantic without a single player in the AHL Top 20 scorers.

Bad News First

-- St. John's is last in the AHL on the power play.

-- Veteran netminder David Aebischer's numbers: a 2-3 record, 3.18 goals against average and so-so .881 save percentage.

The Good Stuff

-- Defenceman Paul Postma, who impressed during Jets' camp with his offensive skill set, leads the IceCaps in scoring with two goals and six assists in nine games.

-- LW Carl Klingberg leads the team in goals with six in 10 games and is a +3.

-- D Zach Redmond is a solid +6 and has four assists in 10 games.

-- G Peter Mannino (called up to Jets) had a 2.47 GAA and .902 save percentage and is 2-2 before joining the big club.

THE 2011 Draft Picks

(Heading into Tuesday games)

C Mark Scheifele, Barrie Colts: Has lit it up since returning to Barrie with two goals and six assists for eight points in just three games. Already he is fourth in Colts' scoring. Hoping to have a big role for Canada at the WJC.

LW Adam Lowry, Swift Current Broncos: The big winger is playing with some oomph -- leads the Broncos in penalty minutes, but is also second on the team in scoring with five goals and 16 assists in 16 games.

D Brennan Serville, University of Michigan: Has three assists in seven games in his first season with the Wolverines.

D Zach Yuen, Tri-City Americans: Three goals, six assists for nine points and a solid +12 in 16 games. Is seeing significant time on the power-play and penalty-kill units.

RW Austen Brassard, Belleville Bulls: Has five goals, seven assists in 14 GP; tied for team lead in scoring.

G Jason Kasdorf, Des Moines (USHL): Has posted a 1-3-1 record with a 4.26 goals against average and .854 save percentage for a squad that has struggled to open the season.

D Aaron Harstad, Colorado College: A freshman with the Tigers after playing in the USHL. Has one assist in two games so far this season.

FIVE WORTH TRACKING

C Ivan Telegin, Barrie Colts: The 2010 fourth-round draft pick has three assists in six games.

G Fredrik Petterson-Wentzel: Considered the best goaltender prospect in the Jets system, Petterson-Wentzel is the No. 2 netminder for Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League and has appeared in four games this year with a 3.44 GAA and .875 save percentage).

D Will O'Neill, University of Maine: This seventh-round pick from 2006 is now a senior and has one goal and four assists in six games to lead all Maine D-men in scoring.

D Cody Sol, Kitchener Rangers: Big dude (6-6, 242) who showed something at Jets' camp and is back in the OHL.

RW Vinny Saponari, Northeastern University: Punted from Boston University after helping lead the school to a national title for 'rules violations' -- for which Saponari defended himself -- he spent last year in the USHL and is now tied for the team lead in scoring.

[email protected] Twitter:@WFPEdTait

HOCKEY'SFUTURE.COM JETS TOP PROSPECTS

(As of Oct. 26, 2011)

1. Mark Scheifele, C, Barrie Colts

2. Carl Klingberg, LW, St. John's IceCaps

3. Patrice Cormier, C, St. John's IceCaps

4. Paul Postma, D, St. John's IceCaps

5. Jason Gregoire, LW, St. John's IceCaps

6. Ivan Telegin, C, Barrie Colts

7. Eric O'Dell, C, St. John's IceCaps

8. Ben Maxwell, C, Winnipeg Jets

9. Spencer Machacek, RW, St. John's IceCaps

10. Arturs Kulda, D, St. John's IceCaps

11. Zach Redmond, D, St. John's IceCaps

12. Vinny Saponari, RW, Northeastern University

13. Julian Melchiori, D, Kitchener Rangers

14. Fredrik Pettersson-Wentzel, G, Farjestad

15. Daultan Leveille, C, Michigan State

16. Adam Lowry, LW, Swift Current Broncos

17. Brennan Serville, D, Univeristy of Michigan

18. Jordan Samuels-Thomas, LW, (Transferred from Bowling Green to Quinnipiac University; eligible to return in 2012-13)

19. John Albert, C, St. John's IceCaps

20. Zachary Yuen, D, Tri-Ciy Americans.



Despite the flaws, Jets keep the faith

By: Gary Lawless

There's lots not to like about the Winnipeg Jets in their current form, but the team's willingness to fight for one another and for wins is a sign this group may evolve into something much better than it is today.

Sitting at 4-6-1 and near the bottom of the standings in the NHL is reason to ask lots of questions about the Jets. The team's lack of scoring punch and undisciplined defensive approach are at the top of the list of negatives, but the Jets don't quit in games no matter the circumstance. Combined with some superior goaltending, this powerful self-esteem will cover up a lot of ugly until the rest of the team's game catches up.

Coach Claude Noel has been looking for ways to handle this team and he's gone from overconfident to standing on his chair with a whip, before settling into the patient professor role he's recently adopted and his charges are responding to.

Two late-game comeback wins and a 1-0 loss on this road trip are evidence the Jets are beginning to believe in themselves and Noel's message.

Lost in the carnage of last week's 9-8 win over the Philadelphia Flyers was the team's resilience. Blowing a pair of four-goal leads before charging back with a pair of goals in the dying minutes left Noel both exasperated and hopeful.

Distaster

The goals against were a disaster but the willingness to keep pushing and working for a win gave him a nugget of positivity to build on.

Next game out they held the potent Tampa Bay Lightning to just one goal and despite the loss their was even more to feel good about.

Monday's 4-3 shootout win over the resurgent Florida Panthers was another step in the right direction. Sure there were too many penalties and rather than blow a lead and have to claw back for the win, it would be nice to see the Jets close out a game in smoother fashion.

But that's not Winnipeg's reality at this stage and they're more aware of their flaws than anyone else. They have to watch the video each morning after.

But still they believe in themselves and fight on. That's encouraging.

There's no question the Jets have talent, with youngsters Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian and Alexander Burmistrov getting better each game. Meanwhile, veterans Mark Stuart, Jim Slater, Tanner Glass, Andrew Ladd, Nik Antropov and Kyle Wellwood are solid NHLers.

Together they're forming a team and while there will be lots of long nights this season and many growing pains to witness, the will in the Jets room is obvious and beginning to assert itself.

Losing is a disease and, if allowed to infect a team, can ruin it. Only the players can keep the disease at bay and it comes down to self-confidence.

Maybe the Jets are a little deluded to believe as much in themselves as they do, but they do and it's helping. So if they want to look in the mirror and see a 10 instead of 5, so be it.

Who knows, maybe they'll be right sooner than we think.

[email protected] Twitter: @garylawless

Today's Jets Report C3



Jets GM won't pull trigger

No panic trades from Cheveldayoff

By KEN WIEBE, QMI Agency

WINNIPEG - Kevin Cheveldayoff might be a first-year NHL general manager but that doesn't mean he's itching to pull the trigger on a trade to shake things up.

So while the Winnipeg Jets are off to a 4-6-1 start and working their way out of the basement in the Southeast Division, the general manager isn't really looking to change things up at this time.

"Each and every team in this league is trying to get stronger in their own mind," said Cheveldayoff. "But at the end of the day, you spend more time worrying about yourself and worrying about your own individual team and them getting better. That's the formula for success, rather than trying to say we need this or we need that."

So don't look for Cheveldayoff to complete a blockbuster deal anytime soon.

"Trades only happen when there are two willing parties but at the same time, trades are something that have to be done for a purpose. I'm definitely not a believer in trading just for the sake of trading. If there's something there that is going to help this franchise in the short term and the long term, then it's something we'll look at.

"This shouldn't be a group of guys that should have to pick up the paper every day and see the general manager is looking for this or the general manager is looking for that. They should just go and play the game, enjoy the opportunity to play at the NHL level. It's important they understand that management and coaching is willing to do whatever it takes for the long-term success of this franchise and we would love each and every player that's around here to be part of that long-term success."

After the Jets regrouped for a 4-3 shootout victory over the Florida Panthers on Monday night, Jets head coach Claude Noel gave his team that day off and they'll be back in action Thursday against the New York Islanders.

Jets coaches and management have said frequently that the early part of the 2011-12 NHL season has been used for evaluation.

So what does the GM think about how things have gone so far?

"You've seen some things you like and some things you'd like to improve upon, but that's the same for any other team at this point and lots of guys we're still kind of getting to know. Some guys are injured and don't get to play as much, but that creates other opportunities for some other guys to play. Obviously, we're still waiting on a guy like Eric Fehr to get into the lineup."

And what about the 4-6-1 record?

"I didn't really set any goals with respect to where we'd be number-wise," said Cheveldayoff. "As a group, we continue to strive to improve each and every day. If you asked the players, they would say that. The coaches would say that and as a manager I'm saying that as well.

"You're never satisfied. You're learning about each other, you're learning about each and every team that you're playing against.

"Through the ups-and-the-downs, there's been great camaraderie. It is a young group and the young players are continuing to grow. It's a group that is constantly going to evolve as we go forward. We'll see where it all falls. It's a long season and there's lots of room for improvement."

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 11.02.2011

586217 Websites

CNN/Sports Illustrated / Lackluster Bruins look burned out

Darren Eliot

The Boston Bruins knew that they were in for a tough challenge turning their Stanley Cup championship into a strong start to the 2011-12 regular season. Proof of the unfortunately dubbed "Stanley Cup Hangover" was staring at them in form of the 2010 Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks who struggled all of last season before making the playoffs on the final day when the Dallas Stars lost. So the awareness was there for the coaching staff and the Bruins organization as a whole.

Right now, though, seeing the external signs and dealing with the internal realities are proving vastly different for a team that finds itself dead last in the Eastern Conference.

Power Rankings:B's near rock bottom

As of this writing, the Bruins have lost three straight including back-to-back defeats by hated rival Montreal. The Canadiens home-and-home series was supposed to "jump start" Boston's season. No manufacturing of emotion required. Patrice Bergeron told me, "Emotion will be a part of these games by nature. We have to make sure we can sustain it after the weekend."

Instead, the Bruins are scrambling to find a semblance of themselves from last spring. Unlike the Blackhawks, who had to rip their Cup-winning group apart due to salary cap constraints, the Bruins returned largely intact. And factoring in the fine early start of Tyler Seguin, as projected in my SI.com season predictions ("The most improved player will be... Tyler Seguin as an impact player for the Boston Bruins as they look to defend their Stanley Cup title. He will play more and get time in critical situations and the Bruins will need that infusion of exuberance and skill that Seguin can supply..."), Boston look primed to be a power again in the East, right?

Well, on paper, yes. But the Bruins are living what other recent winners have found out: the celebration lives far beyond the Stanley Cup winning goal.

Dater:Coaches say Cup hangover is inevitable

The entire experience of winning the world's most famous trophy has outgrown the simple, organic feeling of having the Cup for a day during the summer, returning to hometowns to share it with family, friends and everyone else who may be close to the players. What was once intimate and private has become material for coverage -- footage for full-length television features. The aftermath of winning has turned into an NHL reality series, with the organization that holds the Cup taking center stage.

It doesn't stop there, either. The Stanley Cup makes appearances in the city of celebration right through training camp, preseason games and on into the regular season. The NHL markets the Cup's special allure more so than ever before. That "bringing the chalice to the masses" mantra sets up one appearance after another.

The Cup didn't leave Boston until October 23, after the team had hoisted it high once more, this time in front of a sellout New England Patriots' crowd. The once quaint tradition of players spending a day with the chalice has morphed into people having some one-on-one time with it down the organization's chart to the administrative level. After all, what's one more appearance, right?

It means that even with good intentions and a plan to separate the business of selling the game and the need to get back to playing it, finding the right focus is elusive. I spoke to Bruins president Cam Neely and he proudly beamed that the franchise's first Cup since 1972 "was great for the fans and the city." But he knowingly added, "It's time to put that behind us and move forward."

That was part of a passing conversation prior to the team's first meeting with the Canadiens. GM Peter Chiarelli's face after that 2-1 home ice loss understandably had the look of a concerned executive. He has set the team up as well as anyone could hope for in order to be ready and able to take a run at repeating. A sluggish start was probably projected, but a 3-7-0 stumble is jarring.

It is especially so when you look at the Bruins' style of play. It requires a lot of physical exertion -- from the goal on out. There are no easy goals readily available because they rely on 5-on-5 dominance while grinding for goals. Their power play remains a mystery, which puts even more pressure on their even-strength performance.

The Bruins won last season by having just enough resolve and a heavy dose of Tim Thomas heroics in goal to play above the offensive break-even line. That takes a lot of fortitude, both mentally and physically. Having dug themselves such a deep October hole, the question is: Will the group have the energy reserves to draw on after a long, laborious and fruitful spring followed by a short summer filled with a long procession of Stanley Cup showings and celebrations?

We're a long way from the final answer, true, but we're further away at this point from the Bruins looking poised to repeat as champs.

CNN/Sports Illustrated LOADED: 11.02.2011

586218 Websites

ESPN / Daily Debate: Befuddling Blueshirts and waning Wings

By Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun

Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun discuss the ramifications of the Rangers’ win Monday night and what the Red Wings can do to snap out of their funk.

Burnside: Well, my friend, it takes only one night in the NHL to put a completely different complexion on things, no? Take the New York Rangers. The Blueshirts arrived home from a record-breaking road trip to start the season and were waxed by the Leafs, and then they blew a 4-1 lead against Ottawa on Saturday in refurbished Madison Square Garden. You'd think facing the red-hot San Jose Sharks, winners of five straight, Monday night would be a spooky proposition (sorry, had to get the obligatory Halloween reference in there). Instead the Rangers, behind backup Martin Biron, came up large in a 5-2 win. Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky, who had combined for just six points total in their first nine games, led the way with two goals and three assists Monday night, with Callahan breaking through with a pair and adding an assist. Those guys are so important for a Rangers club whose identity was forged last season with a real blue-collar mentality. That mentality has been missing for the most part in this early season. One game doesn't necessarily mean a corner has been turned, but this was definitely one of those significant early moments for a team most people had penciled into their playoff bracket in the Eastern Conference.

LeBrun: The Sharks looked a little tired to me at the end of a long road trip, being outshot, which is rare for them. But given the miles around the globe the Rangers have traversed in the opening month of the season, you won't see any violins out for San Jose. A critical, early-season victory for the Blueshirts in my opinion, especially after Saturday's meltdown at home to the Ottawa Senators. Callahan, in particular, was really noticeable to me. He's the engine, the heart of this club. The rest of the team feeds off the captain. And I give credit to head coach John Tortorella for starting his backup goalie despite the quality of the visiting team, a Stanley Cup contender in San Jose. Biron was solid and is now 2-0-0 on the season. The Rangers can't overtax Henrik Lundqvist; they need quality minutes from Biron, and so far they've got it from the former Sabres netminder.

Burnside: Yes, it's been a weird start for the Rangers, and Lundqvist hasn't been his typically heroic self early on, which made Monday's strong performance from Biron so important. Things are going to continue to be interesting for the Rangers, though, as they may be rejoined by Sean Avery, one of the most polarizing figures in the game. The Rangers winger was sent to the minors and then recalled by the team. He has to pass through re-waivers, but if no other team claims him, it will be curious to see how, or even if, Tortorella uses him. The Rangers have three more games on this homestand against Anaheim, Montreal and Winnipeg. We'll see if this marks the start of something positive for the up-and-down Rangers.

Speaking of up and down, it's been mostly down for the Detroit Red Wings, who will try to stop a four-game slide against Minnesota on Tuesday night. The Wild blanked the Wings on Saturday 1-0, as the Wings cannot get anything going offensively now. They've been outscored 16-4 during this slide, and they have only one player, Johan Franzen, who has more than two goals. Do the Wings miss Brian Rafalski this much?

LeBrun: Scotty, I had a chance to chat with Wings GM Ken Holland on Monday and asked him about his team's recent slide. ”We’re not scoring the way we hoped," Holland told ESPN.com. “But I would say to you that if you look at the games, we probably maybe won a game or two in the five that we didn’t play well, and we probably might have won a game or two in this four-game losing streak. But it’s the league, it’s close. We’re not humming on all cylinders right now. And if you don’t have everybody going, you don’t win." Still, Holland pointed to some positives in the opening month.

“Jimmy Howard’s been a good story for us early on. We like the way [Jonathan] Ericsson and [Jakub] Kindl are playing; we think [Ian] White’s been a good addition. Up front, we have a lot of people not producing at the levels they have in the past.’’

Of late, the big guys haven't played up to their usual levels. Take star center Pavel Datsyuk. He's minus-8 in the past six games. Can you remember anytime -- ever -- in Datsyuk's career that he was minus-8 in a six-game span? We're talking about Mr. Selke Trophy here. So you know

that's going to turn around. Just like Henrik Zetterberg is going to step it up a notch, too.

I wouldn't be too worried if I were a Wings fan, but with the understanding that these aren't the good ol' days, and the Wings don't have the kind of talent gap on the rest of the conference like they used to. This system doesn't allow it. All you know in Detroit is that you have a playoff-bound team.

Burnside: Funny how it goes, though. The past couple of years as Jimmy Howard was emerging as the starter (he still should have won rookie of the year if it weren't for the fact voters punished him for being an “older” rookie), it was the Wings' defense that looked like it was off-kilter when the team wasn't going well. Now they're getting good goaltending -- at least from Howard -- and it's the offense that's gone south. Agreed that guys like Datsyuk and Zetterberg are too good to keep playing at this level. Dan Cleary's off to a slow start, too, but I wonder about the supporting cast; Todd Bertuzzi has just one goal and the “next” generation hasn't exactly stepped forward. Jiri Hudler shows flashes but has just two goals, Darren Helm has one and Justin Abdelkader has one. The Wings always have counted on finding diamonds in the rough because they never draft high enough to get a sure thing. Some of those other players need to step up not just to help the Wings out of this slide, but if they're going to be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup threat next spring.

LeBrun: Remember one important thing about the Red Wings: They have cap room. As in more than $5 million in cap room this season. They've usually been so tight against the cap over the past seven years that it's been difficult to make big moves. But they've got big-time flexibility. Right now, there's nothing imminent too early in the season. But closer to the Feb. 27 trade deadline, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Wings quite active. Looking even more down the road, even with the extension signed by Niklas Kronwall, the Wings have more than $23 million in cap room for next summer. So whether it's the trade route or free agency, the game's top GM has more cap space to play with than he ever has under this system. So if you're right, Scotty, in your analysis of the Wings' supporting cast, you can bet Holland has the tools to fix it.

Until tomorrow, my friend

ESPN LOADED: 11.02.2011

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ESPN / Kyle Turris trade talks heating up

By Pierre LeBrun

The Calgary Flames have been rumored as a potential suitor for Kyle Turris, but perhaps not quite clear is just how serious they are in their interest.

Well, consider the Flames very, very interested in the unsigned Phoenix Coyotes center. You can take that to the bank.

The Flames, a source told ESPN.com on Tuesday, have kept weekly tabs on the Turris situation, holding numerous discussions with both the Phoenix Coyotes and the Turris camp led by agent Kurt Overhardt.

The Flames also fully understand the message they’re currently getting from Coyotes GM Don Maloney: That Phoenix is adamant it won’t deal him while he remains unsigned.

If and when that stance changes, the Flames are determined to be in the mix. They view Turris as a potential No. 1 center, and that’s an obvious area of concern on their squad.

It should also be mentioned as a point of practicality that the Flames can’t sign Turris to an offer sheet because they currently don’t have their second-round pick for next June’s draft.

Another club that has serious interest in Turris, according to my TSN colleague Bob McKenzie, is the Ottawa Senators. McKenzie reported Tuesday night during our Insider Trading segment on TSN that the Senators have also had several discussions with the Coyotes, but like the Flames, they have been told by Phoenix that Turris won’t be dealt while he remains unsigned.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have also checked in with Phoenix on Turris, although their interest doesn’t appear to be quite as strong as their fellow Canadian clubs.

Leafs Trade Talks

The trade calls are heating up in Toronto, a source told ESPN.com Tuesday, with the New York Rangers among the clubs that have redialed the 416 area code of late.

As we reported last week, blueliner Cody Franson is available in Toronto.

Here’s the quandary, however, for the Leafs according to the same source: Do you make a deal now and risk alienating the equilibrium you’ve got in a dressing room that’s surprised everyone in the opening month? Perhaps you wait until later in the season to deal away a defenseman from that surplus you’ve got in Toronto. That’s the debate inside the Leafs’ front office.

Predators’ Big Three

Neil Sheehy, the agent for Ryan Suter, told ESPN.com on Tuesday that he’s slated to be in Nashville in two weeks’ time to resume contract talks with the Predators. Suter, of course, is slated for unrestricted free agency July 1, just like star goalie Pekka Rinne.

Preds GM David Poile told ESPN.com on Tuesday that he chatted, once again, with Rinne’s agent, Jay Grossman, on Monday.

The clock keeps ticking and the Preds have made it a priority to keep the lines of communication open with all three camps.

“I know these guys all want to sign here,’’ Poile said. “But it’s just a matter of getting it done. The better we do on the ice, I think the better chance we have of signing them.’’

Jarrett Bousquet, one of Shea Weber’s agents from Titan Sports Management, told ESPN.com that there have not been any real contract talks with the Preds since last summer’s arbitration decision. As per the CBA, Weber would not be able to sign a new deal until Jan. 1 at the earliest in any case, but that doesn’t preclude teams and agents from keeping the lines open -- and certainly Poile and Bousquet actually chatted the other day. At this point, it would appear Weber’s camp wants to let things marinate a little after last summer’s drama.

From this vantage point, it looks like Weber -- a restricted free agent July 1 -- wants to see what unfolds with Rinne and Suter before he makes his move.

If one of those two blueliners becomes available, there won’t be a shortage of teams willing to move in on him, but keep a close eye on the Detroit Red Wings, especially if Nick Lidstrom retires. The Wings have the most cap room they’ve ever had entering the offseason, more than $23 million if Lidstrom retires and still north of $17 million if he comes back at around the same salary. If Suter or Weber is available, you can bet the Wings will try to be in on it.


586220 Websites

ESPN / Rant answers: The King goat, stealth Selke guy and highway robbery

By Pierre LeBrun

When it comes to ranting, you puck heads never disappoint. Let’s take a look this week:

harry2299:: Pierre, being a Kings fan I can't have too much to gripe about as they've looked pretty strong to start the season, but there are two things I need to vent about. First, I've watched every game and Dustin Penner has been INVISIBLE. I make a point to watch him when he's on the ice and he seems to be skating aimlessly at the blue line in the defensive zone or turning the puck over when it happens to find him. I read before the season he was devoted to being in shape for this season after Lombardi called him out is he a lost cause? Also, what is it gonna take for Slava Voynov to earn a spot in the Kings lineup? He tore it up in Manchester last season and in his brief call up this year looked poised and ready for the NHL. Thanks. Less

The Wings will need Pavel Datsyuk to turn it on if they hope to win the West again.

kingscrash23: Pierre, is there or has there ever been a bigger waste of space then Dustin Penner?? He should never, EVER cash one of his checks. He doesn't earn a dime of his money. His complete lack of effort and intensity is painful to watch. He plainly just doesn't care. Jonathan Bernier?? Man, he has been overrated since day one. … gotta be the dumbest goalie in the league. He's been playing how long and still can't figure out don't kick rebounds into the slot, stop swimmin outta control and get pucks to the corner if ya don't stop em!! Penner, Bernier, Drewiski and a pick to CBJ for Carter and Mason and bring back Slava. … what's the kid gotta do to stay??

My take:Two Penner rants! With one assist in nine games, Penner is off to the worst kind of start. It is indeed tough to figure this guy out. If there’s ever a season you’d look for him to bounce back, it’s this one: He actually devoted himself more to working out this summer under the watchful eye of the Kings. He’s in a contract year, eligible to be an unrestricted free agent July 1, and coach Terry Murray handed him the keys to success by starting Penner on a line with Anze Kopitar to begin the season. And even that didn’t help. It really is a head-scratcher because Penner loves living in SoCal, so you would think he would be doing anything he can to stay there. It’s only a month into the season, but so far the results aren’t promising. I don’t see the Kings keeping him around past this season unless there’s a drastic turnaround in his play.

Still, the Kings see a player who wants to improve and has the potential to help the team.

“He's working through some injuries but is learning to work,'' Murray told ESPN.com via text Tuesday. “He needs to get closer to the net; he's looking to pass the puck into it.''

tj703: It is really hard to actually complain with the last 20 years the Wings have given me as a fan. However, the compete level has been pretty embarrassing in this four-game losing streak. The call up of Nyquist is a good sign; I hope Tatar shows up in Detroit soon as well. This letting guys come along slowly makes sense when people are working hard for their jobs. Bertuzzi, Holmstrom and Hudler aren't really doing that. They also need to sit Cleary, his upper body injury is hampering him. It wouldn't be terrible to see Holland pull a trade or two and shake up the locker room again. It might help Mike Babcock get his message across.

My take: Wings fans have high standards after two-plus decades of being the NHL’s model franchise. This is still a very good team, but gone are the days of being that much better than the rest. The NHL’s salary-cap system has achieved what it wanted seven years ago -- evening out the talent bases across the league. Look at the standings today; they’re so close. It’s a total crapshoot. Wings fans don’t want to hear that, but it’s the truth. All you can hope for is to get into the playoffs again, which the Wings will, and then take your chances from there.

Having said all that, the Wings can play much better than they have of late. No better poster boy for that than the incredibly talented Pavel Datsyuk --

who is minus-8 in his past six games. You know that trend isn’t going to continue. His name isn’t on the Selke Trophy three times for no reason. Take a deep breath, Wings fans. Your team isn’t this bad.

xcirclex: So Dave Bolland is back from a preseason injury and has racked up 5 goals and leads the league with 2 short-handers. The question is: Why is his name never mentioned when Selke trophy conversations take place? I have a hard time thinking of a forward who has been more in the limelight when defensive play becomes critical (i.e., the playoffs).

Especially after Henrik Sedin's legendary "just another player" remarks prior to the 7-2 drubbing in Game 4 last year. A series where post-Bolland, the Sedin's racked up a combined 5 points and a -13 +/-, while Bolland finished with 6 points and a +6. You can go back to the year prior for more of the same.

My take: I’m a huge Dave Bolland fan (you may remember I chose him for my daily video blog during 2010 Stanley Cup finals). Probably the biggest reason Bolland hasn’t garnered Selke attention in previous seasons is because Jonathan Toews is on his team. You saw what Toews did at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. There are few better two-way players in the entire NHL than Toews. And that right there is what hurts Bolland’s chances. But perhaps if he keeps this up he’ll get more recognition this season. He certainly deserves it. He’s a courageous shot-blocker and a tenacious puck-battler and drives the opposition batty. One of my favorite players in the NHL -- bar none.

Alpamayo91: Pierre, normally your highest-paid player should be your last concern in terms of performance. However, what to do with Scott Gomez? Plekanec-Desharnaies-Eller-Nokelainen have definitely given life to the Montreal forwards. Can you buy back such contract? Can you send him to Hamilton? Or do you keep him for the sake of depth (MTL has no other center should one of those above get injured) and risk ruining the chemistry? Can you play such contract on a 3rd or 4th line?

My take: An NHL scout recently told me about Scott Gomez: “You know, if that guy made $2 million, they’d love him in Montreal.’’ That’s because Gomez does hustle. He works his butt off. Problem is, his cap hit is $7.35 million, and there’s two more seasons after this year on that deal (in real life, his salary dips to $5.5 million next season and $4.5 million in the final year). His production has never lived up to that monster contract. I see two options for the Habs: 1) Next summer a team finds itself desperate to get to the cap floor and needs a contract with a big cap hit but not a big salary. As I mentioned above, Gomez’s salary actually dips next season, even though his cap hit remains high. 2) In the new collective bargaining agreement next year, the NHL possibly allows once again for a one-time buyout window, where it doesn’t count against the salary cap. Bingo.

joedirt113: Fire the coach, trade Lucic, Marshand needs to go, Krejci overperformed, Chiarelli traded out best prospect for that bum Kaberle, Pouliot aka "the biggest disappointment in league history", they drafted Seguin with a congenial hip what the heck? and McQuaid is a pylon. Those are all the words of wisdom in the office today. Rewind back to game 70 of the 2010-2011 season to replay panic...prior to winning the cup. Hmmm the lifecycle of a Boston sports fan. Julien has gone from goat to hero, to goat in a period of 4 months.

My take: Yes, I do agree B’s fans need to take a deep breath. Look at Montreal last week. Habs fans were ready to burn down the city before three straight wins calmed everyone down. The Bruins do have some issues. I think some of their players did not come ready for this season, but overall I still believe in the Cup champs and their ability to make the playoffs and contend this season. If this doesn’t turn around soon, the GM has cap room and flexibility to force change. He won’t sit on his hands, believe me.

JanneyShanny: What in the world happened to Jaroslav Halak? More importantly, why have the St. Louis Blues not put a solid goalie between the pipes for a full season since Grant Fuhr? With the inevitability of Brian Elliott not keeping up this pace; it looks like the Blues are in for another year of mediocre goaltending, which usually leads to a disappointing spot in the standings.

My take: I still think Halak will bounce back, but I will share this with you: When the Montreal Canadiens decided to trade Halak and keep Carey Price -- a decision that was highly criticized and polarizing in hockey-made Montreal -- a source told me that the Habs’ front office had zero hesitation in its decision. It was Price all the way, without a moment’s hesitation, despite Halak’s heroic 2010 playoffs. The feeling was that though Halak was a very good goalie, Price had the potential to be a great one. So far that decision by the Habs has been spot on.

kevin23610: Winter Classic ISSUE; I'm tired if people pushing this event down our throats as something that "promotes" the game. If they're doing this to promote the game then why does it cost SO much to go to? It cost an AVERAGE Flyers season ticket holder (and I'm sure It’s VERY comparable to the other places it’s been held) $502 dollars just to get mediocre seats. It would cost Joe Blow, on average, about $400 a ticket just to see the game. I don't think this is even in the realm of a reasonable price. This will only get people with high disposable incomes and (already) hardcore avid fans to the games, NOT newcomers. This is just another hockey game on TV to the "on the fence" fans. If you put aside the GREED and made it affordable enough then the on the fence fans might actually come out and have the game mean something to them. Seems to me this is more for the pocket-lining of team owners and TV advertising revenues than it is for the fans.

My take: The NHL views the Winter Classic as its Super Bowl experience. Hence, the ticket prices. Let’s be honest, the moment the outdoor game became a huge hit in Buffalo you knew the league was going to maximize its potential and rake in everything it could before the event got stale (which will happen one day). So yes, the average fan is getting gouged. No surprise there.


586221 Websites

ESPN / This is the intersection of Blink-182 and the NHL

Mark Hoppus

Mark Hoppus and Blink-182 have a new album, so John Buccigross takes their songs on an NHL tour.

They are very much like a productive hockey line -- three men with different skill sets, contrasting and complementing a fluid situation.

Mark Hoppus (clever two-way center), Tom DeLonge (yapping scoring winger) and Travis Barker (sauciest hands of the bunch) are Blink-182.

Formed in the same year as the San Jose Sharks (1992) and close to age as "NHL 2Night" (1995), Blink-182 is very much a "hockey" band, the band I most associate with the old ESPN2 and our ESPN2 hockey show because of the band's age (the average age of the guys and girls who worked on "NHL 2Night" was Blink's average age, despite the dusty and ancient Barry Melrose). And after living my 20s in poverty, the newness of everything covering the NHL at ESPN on a daily basis was like being back in high school, except I no longer had Wheat Thin-sized acne. Every day was a "Rock Show."

Blink-182 is fast, ferocious, funny, profound, profane, vulgar, touching, honest, insecure, self-effacing, violent and fun. If there is a band that shares adult North American hockey's true DNA, it is this one. There is little difference between a Blink mosh pit and a game-ending hockey scrum in front of the net in a one-goal game.

All three members of Blink-182 (just "Blink" to their followers) are Southern California-bred. Hoppus' and DeLonge's parents divorced as kids, while Barker's mother died of cancer the day before the drummer entered high school. Fertile and liberating ground for artistic and outcast teenagers. For Blink., there is no holding back; there is no fear of what Mom or Dad or Coach would think. They just play. This is not a cone-and-whistle practice, this is pond hockey.


586222 Websites

NBCSports.com / Backstrom the hero, but where was Ovechkin?

Matt Reitz

Nov 1, 2011, 11:00 PM EDT

After falling behind 3-0, the Washington Capitals stormed back for a thrilling 5-4 win in the nation’s capital. Things didn’t start out well for the Caps as Selanne set up a Saku Koivu for the first goal, then scored a pair of his own to help the Ducks jump out to their big lead. But some shaky defense and equally shaky goaltending proved that no lead was insurmountable on Tuesday night.

Despite Selanne scoring his fourth point of the night, Nicklas Backstrom was able to cash in the game-tying goal with only 42 seconds left in the game. As if that wasn’t enough, Backstrom topped the last minute goal with the OT game-winner halfway through the 4-on-4 overtime period. All’s well that ends well for Caps fans, right?

For most of the night, it looked like the story of game would be Teemu Selanne drinking gallons from the fountain of youth. The struggling Ducks needed a good start in Washington—and the strong first period was just what the doctor ordered. Or so we thought.

The Ducks are going to wonder what happened as they continue their brutal 7-game road trip. They jumped out to a big lead and only sloppy play allowed the Caps back in the game. The loss drops them to 1-5-1 in their last 7; a far cry from the team that was coming off a 4-game winning streak.

One of the big stories after the game may not be the guys who contributed to the game-tying goal at the end of the game, but the guy who was not on the ice. When the Caps desperately needed a goal to tie the game, they pulled their goaltender for an extra skater. Even with six guys on the ice to create offense, Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau didn’t have Alex Ovechkin on the ice.

When OT started, again Ovechkin was not on the ice to start the extra frame causing even more questions to be asked. But that game-winning goal? It was Ovechkin who kicked the puck over to his teammate. So it wasn’t all bad for the Russian sniper.

Fans should be happy with the late, comeback win. But what’s up with their captain and the head coach?

NBCSports.com / LOADED: 11.02.2011

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NBCSports.com / Tortorella on Thornton: “Joe hasn’t won a g–damn thing in this league”

Mike Halford

Nov 1, 2011, 3:32 PM EDT

You knew this was coming.

A day after Joe Thornton called the Rangers “probably the softest team we played against” following San Jose’s 5-2 loss at MSG, New York head coach John Tortorella went on the offensive.

From the NY Daily News:

It surprised me, and I’ve never heard a player say that. Joe’s a heck of a player, but here’s a player popping off about our team, and Joe hasn’t won a g–damn thing in this league. He could go down as a player, being one of the better players in our league never to win anything. So what he should do is just shut up. It was uncalled for, it was classless, and I’ve never had it happen like that before.

Aaaand…scene!

It’s still unclear why Thornton started this flame war — San Jose had an otherwise successful road trip, winning five of six, and the Rangers really aren’t a soft team. (As Greg Wyshynski pointed out last night, the Rangers average 24.3 hits per game to San Jose’s 17.7.) Jumbo also had to know saying something about a Tortorella-coached team is like waving a red flag at a bull. Then poking the bull with a hot iron. Then saying something derogatory about the bull’s mother.

[NB: Thornton has since backed off the comments, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.]

Torts was obviously going to respond, but maybe that’s the whole point. It’s November, the season is young, the games don’t mean as much (especially against non-conference opponents) and let’s be real — boredom occasionally slips in. You’re more at liberty to speak your mind than you would be later in the year or the playoffs. It’s not like the comments are going to come back and bite Thornton, either. The Sharks don’t play the Rangers again this year, unless they meet in the Stanley Cup final (stop laughing.) Jumbo Joe blows off some steam, Torts blows it right back. There’s gotta be a better way to say that.

And hey, who doesn’t love a good soundbite war? Everybody knows hockey can always use a good ol’ fashioned war of words. Remember when Sean Avery tried to start one with Dion Phaneuf?

Okay, bad example.


586224 Websites

NBCSports.com / Martin Brodeur says he’s ready to play, but is New Jersey ready to play him?

Mike Halford

Nov 1, 2011, 12:59 PM EDT

New Jersey Devils G Martin Brodeur spoke to the media today about coming off IR and the state of his injured shoulder. According to Tom Gulitti of NorthJersey.com, Brodeur told Devils goalie coach Chris Terreri that “if they need me tomorrow, I’ll be okay to play.”

Which leaves the decision of when to get Brodeur back into action with head coach Peter DeBoer. (The future Hall-of-Famer has been out since Oct. 13 and played just 80 minutes all told this season.)

So, when should Marty play?

At first glance, the answer is right away — 38-year-old backup Johan Hedberg has started seven consecutive games. He began strongly with two straight wins, but has fallen back to earth lately by going 1-3-1 over his last five while allowing seven goals in his last two outings.

Yet when asked if Brodeur would play Wednesday in Toronto, DeBoer was non-committal. “He’ll make that call,” DeBoer said. “This guy knows his body better than anybody. There’s nothing that I can look at out there and decide what he knows. He knows his body. We just don’t want to rush him to get in there.”

While it’s probably true the organization doesn’t want to rush Brodeur back, you have to wonder about what Rich Chere of the New Jersey Star-Ledger wrote this week. Chere posed the question — “Will Johan Hedberg split workload when Martin Brodeur returns?” — an always uncomfortable topic in New Jersey. Brodeur’s a living legend and one of the greatest to ever play the position; asking if he should be splitting time with a career journeyman can be dicey.

But Hedberg’s shown he can be a viable option in goal. In addition to his stellar work this year (4-3-1, .924 GAA, 2.28 save percentage), he was equally impressive last year, going 15-12-2 (.912, 2.38) while Brodeur missed time with elbow and knee injuries.

We’re also at a time where coaches are apt to ride hot hands in net. Davis Payne has used Brian Elliott extensively in St. Louis and Guy Boucher has turned to Mathieu Garon in Tampa, and both have been rewarded in the win column.

Throw in the fact New Jersey wants back in the playoffs after missing last season, and you have a team where playing time might be dictated by performance — not by reputation.


586225 Websites

NBCSports.com / Do not anger Guy Boucher

Matt Reitz

Nov 2, 2011, 12:07 AM EDT

Does Guy Boucher look like the kind of guy that you’d want to make angry? He looks like a James Bond villain—only with crazier eyes. Unfortunately for the 20 players in the Tampa Bay locker room, Tuesday night’s effort against the Carolina Hurricanes is the type of effort that did not please their leader. After the game, Boucher insisted that “if we don’t fight and battle, we’re going to lose against every team in this league.”

Not good for a team that neither fought, nor battled for the majority of their 4-2 defeat.


586226 Websites

NBCSports.com / Backstrom the hero, but where was Ovechkin?

Matt Reitz

Nov 1, 2011, 11:00 PM EDT

After falling behind 3-0, the Washington Capitals stormed back for a thrilling 5-4 win in the nation’s capital. Things didn’t start out well for the Caps as Selanne set up a Saku Koivu for the first goal, then scored a pair of his own to help the Ducks jump out to their big lead. But some shaky defense and equally shaky goaltending proved that no lead was insurmountable on Tuesday night.

Despite Selanne scoring his fourth point of the night, Nicklas Backstrom was able to cash in the game-tying goal with only 42 seconds left in the game. As if that wasn’t enough, Backstrom topped the last minute goal with the OT game-winner halfway through the 4-on-4 overtime period. All’s well that ends well for Caps fans, right?

For most of the night, it looked like the story of game would be Teemu Selanne drinking gallons from the fountain of youth. The struggling Ducks needed a good start in Washington—and the strong first period was just what the doctor ordered. Or so we thought.

The Ducks are going to wonder what happened as they continue their brutal 7-game road trip. They jumped out to a big lead and only sloppy play allowed the Caps back in the game. The loss drops them to 1-5-1 in their last 7; a far cry from the team that was coming off a 4-game winning streak.

One of the big stories after the game may not be the guys who contributed to the game-tying goal at the end of the game, but the guy who was not on the ice. When the Caps desperately needed a goal to tie the game, they pulled their goaltender for an extra skater. Even with six guys on the ice to create offense, Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau didn’t have Alex Ovechkin on the ice.

When OT started, again Ovechkin was not on the ice to start the extra frame causing even more questions to be asked. But that game-winning goal? It was Ovechkin who kicked the puck over to his teammate. So it wasn’t all bad for the Russian sniper.

Fans should be happy with the late, comeback win. But what’s up with their captain and the head coach?


586227 Websites

NBCSports.com / Note to Chicago power play: The season started a month ago

Matt Reitz

Nov 1, 2011, 9:48 PM EDT

Just imagine if the Blackhawks power play knew how to find the net. As of today, they’re sitting on top of the Western Conference standings due in large part to the best offense in the West. They’re keeping the puck out of their own net and their penalty kill is among the best in the league. Yet still, the weak power play keeps people wondering: how good can this team be?

The numbers on the power play have been ugly. The Hawks have only scored four power play goals after a month (in 45 chances). It’s shocking considering names like Hossa, Kane, Toews, Sharp, and Keith spend time on the man-advantage. That doesn’t sound like a power play that would struggle. But the fact remains that they haven’t scored a power play goal since October 22.

The players don’t sound too worried. It’s one thing to be unproductive, but it’s another thing to be ineffective. The Hawks think they’re getting their chances. Patrick Kane said, “We’re doing everything except putting it in the net.” Marian Hossa said they aren’t frustrated because they’re doing a lot of good things. So that’s the good news: they’re moving the puck around and creating prime scoring chances.

Still, it comes back to productivity. A team with the as much talent as the Blackhawks shouldn’t be rocking the 29th ranked power play in the league. Head coach Joel Quenneville understands that it’s nice to create chances, but at some point they need to start putting the puck in the net. “We’re generating but we need production,” Quenneville said. “That’s what we measure and that’s what we’re looking to attain.”

Let’s get this straight: this is a team that thinks they aren’t producing the way they think they should. If they figure it out any time soon, the people at United Center might need another copy of Chelsea Dagger. The other one might be worn out before the season’s over.


586228 Websites

NBCSports.com / Landeskog: “I should have been more aware”

Matt Reitz

Nov 1, 2011, 8:49 PM EDT

Avalanche rookie Gabriel Landeskog talked to the media after Avs practice this morning and answered some questions about the suspension-worthy hit he took from Edmonton defenseman Andy Sutton. Instead of blasting Sutton for delivering a dangerous hit to his face, Landeskog chose to take the high road and took some of the responsibility for the hit.

Word around the league before the draft was that Landeskog was the most mature guy in the draft and had the potential to be one of the best leaders in the league. Now we see what they were talking about. It would have been easy to say something along the lines of “those are the type of hits we are trying to get out of the game,” because they are the type of hits that have no place in the game. Instead, he talked about how he should have been more aware about his place on the ice.

Note that he never said that Sutton shouldn’t be punished—he said that suspensions were up to other people to decide. He simply said that he should have been more aware of where he was at on the ice. In a way, he’s right. Players have always been taught to be aware of all players on the ice to avoid any physical punishment. Yet still, it doesn’t change the fact that the onus is now on the offending player to make sure the principle point of contact isn’t the head. If Sutton destroyed Landeskog with a clean body check, it would have been 100% on the Avs rookie for not protecting himself. The problem wasn’t that Sutton hit Landeskog with a hard it—it was that he hit him in the head.

Regardless, it’s nice to see a young player have some accountability for any actions on the ice (even if wasn’t his fault). If this is what he’s like at 18, we can only wonder the wisdom he’ll show later this month when he turns 19.


586229 Websites

NBCSports.com / Linus Omark sent down to AHL, shootout fans mourn

Matt Reitz

Nov 1, 2011, 8:29 PM EDT

Unless you’re an avid fan of the shootout or hockey clips that end up on YouTube, you may not know Linus Omark. But if you pay attention to those types of things, you may know that Omark has one of the best highlight to ice-time ratios in the entire league (yes, that will be an official stat). He may not do much on a given night—but when he does something, usually people take note.

The problem is that he hasn’t done much on the ice recently. Why? Because he’s been a healthy scratch for the last five games in Edmonton. It’s not like the Oilers have been struggling either—the young Oilers are 5-0 in the five games he’s missed. The word is that he’ll be sent down to Oklahoma City (AHL) to get a little more ice-time. The good news is that he will report to the Barons and won’t opt-out to play back home in Sweden.

In the meantime, we can continue to enjoy the YouTube highlights that we still have. Hopefully someone has bootlegging capabilities in Oklahoma City; we wouldn’t want to miss out on any of this stuff.


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NBCSports.com / Could Eric Staal’s sluggish start be related to his hit on brother Marc?

Matt Reitz

Nov 1, 2011, 8:05 PM EDT

Eric Staal has been the unquestioned leader on the Carolina Hurricanes since the day Rod Brind’Amour hung ‘em up. He wears the “C,” he’s annually among their top scorers, and sets the tone for his team in all three zones. But while the Hurricanes have gotten off to an average start, Staal has been a disappointment.

Pierre McGuire wondered one NHL Live this evening if there was more to his poor start. “I’m worried about Eric Staal,” McGuire said. “He’s a minus 13, he’s kind of mired in a huge slump… the ‘go-to’ guy on this team right now is Jeffrey Skinner and he’s 19 years of age. The second ‘go-to’ guy is Brandon Sutter. They need more from the captain—and I love the player.”

Mike Milbury asked the question that a lot of people are wondering. Is Eric Staal’s slow start related to the hit that he threw that knocked his brother (Marc) out with a concussion since last season? McGuire agreed that that the Carolina captain hasn’t been right in the early going. “There’s something wrong,” he said. “He’s not the same player.”

Staal’s numbers were alright in October. But the Hurricanes need him to be better than a 20 goal, 50 point player if they want to succeed this season. And that plus/minus rating? People can argue about the validity of the stat, but minus 13 is unacceptable for a guy that is supposed to be the leader. Is he shying away from the physical side of the game because of last year’s results? Only Staal can answer that question.

Going into tonight’s game against the Lightning, the Hurricanes are right about where a lot of people thought they’d be. They’re sitting a point out of the 8th spot with a record hovering right around .500. They’re average. Not an elite team, but not a cellar-dweller. They’re a team that has the potential to fight for one of the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference—but they’ll need to maximize every bit of potential if they want to make it to the postseason this year.

Remember, they were the team that missed the playoffs on the last game of the regular season in April. If anyone knows the importance of every single point, it’s the Hurricanes. Getting Staal back on track will go a long way towards Carolina taking the next step.


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NBCSports.com / Did You Know? The Viking Award is tough to win

Mike Halford

Nov 1, 2011, 7:45 PM EDT

The “Did You Know?” series ties in the news of the day with some little-known hockey factoids and/or trivia. It’ll be fun. Trust me.

Tonight, the two most recent winners of the Viking Award — awarded annually to the best Swedish hockey player in North America — will take to the ice. Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin (who won it in 2009-10) and Daniel Sedin (who won it last year) will face the Flames in Calgary, where fellow Swede Henrik Karlsson (who has never won it) will back up Miikka Kiprusoff in goal.

The Viking Award isn’t entirely unique. There are similar awards honoring different nationalities — the Kharlamov Trophy is awarded to the best Russian NHLer, the Golden Hockey Stick to the top Czech player — but the Viking Award is special. For one, it’s voted on by the players themselves.

And two, the annual competition is fierce. Mats Sundin is the only player to win it four times; Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund and Borje Salming have won it thrice.

What makes the award impressive, though, is the list of those that haven’t won it. Daniel Alfredsson, the third-leading Swedish scorer of all time, has never won it. Henrik Lundqvist, the winningest Swedish goalie of all time, has never won it. Michael Nylander, who scored 679 career points, has never won it. Tomas Holmstrom, Ulf Dahlen, Tommy Salo and Fredrik Olausson have never won it. It’s a tough one to get.

And this year, the Viking race is as tight as ever. The Sedins are making a strong push — they both have 13 points each through 11 games — while Nicklas Backstrom (who won in 2008-09) is lighting it up for the Capitals.

Yet there’s a new wave of Swedes making their marks. Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson leads all NHL defensemen in points while Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog is one of the top rookie scorers. Marcus Johansson has five goals in eight games for Washington while Loui Eriksson and the surprising Alexander Steen lead all Swedes with six tallies each. Other players garnering consideration include Alex Edler, Johan Franzen, Tobias Enstrom and Jacob Markstrom.

Oh yeah, let’s not forget two-time winners Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg are also in the mix.

The Viking Award. Like I said earlier, it’s a tough one to get.


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Sportsnet.ca / Model of consistency

Mike Brophy | November 1, 2011, 7:34 pm

Dion Phaneuf has been receiving many accolades this season and rightly so. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain is off to a wonderful start - a big reason why the team has found early success.

But behind every good defenceman is, well, his defensive partner. Ladies and gentleman, may we introduce you to Carl Gunnarsson. You've probably heard the name before, but what do you really know about the man?

"He's been our secret weapon," said Leafs assistant coach Scott Gordon. "He has been very consistent. I'd say he's only played one game that was just average. And even that game, by other players' standards, was pretty good."

The 24-year-old Swede often goes unnoticed on the ice. At 6-foot-2 and a little under 200 pounds, he's not overly large; he doesn't shoot the puck particularly hard and he's certainly not the most physically punishing defender around. Sometimes not being noticed in the NHL is a good thing - it means you aren't making mistakes. In fact, being a safe player just may be what defines Gunnarsson.

"I've said it before about Gunner; he sees the ice really well, moves the puck well and he's a real good shot-blocker," Phaneuf said. "I think he's one of the most underrated D-men in the league, if you want my honest opinion. He's been great to play with. He does a lot of the little things right and it makes it easy to play with a guy like that.

"He's just very consistent. As soon as we got paired together we fit well and worked well together. We talk a lot and I think that helps chemistry. He doesn't sound like a very vocal guy off the ice, but on the ice he's always talking and that really helps. On the ice he communicates very well and that makes the game easier for the guys you are playing with."

Gunnarsson played 68 games with the Maple Leafs last season, scoring four goals and 20 points. You would think he would feel perfectly entrenched as a regular, but with the team failing to make the playoffs once again and having eight NHL-caliber defenceman at training camp this year, it had him a little worried.

"I tried not to think about it too much," Gunnarsson said of the stiff competition to be one of the top six. "Last year I changed the way I played and I wasn't happy with my game. I decided no matter how many defenceman they had, I need to play the way I have always played. I try to play a safe, simple game. Obviously Dion is more offensive than me, but I try to get up there on the rush, too, when the time is right and try to get some scoring chances."

Gunnarsson doesn't get a lot of publicity, but those who pay close attention to details appreciate what he brings to the table. While some of the more high-profile Toronto defenders struggle to bring consistency to their game, Gunnarsson has that aspect of his game down pat.

"He's played very well," said coach Ron Wilson. "In fact he's played very well since halfway through last season. For some reason he struggled a little early and he's picked his play up. He's one of the better defenceman, one of the unheralded guys that a coach and other coaches would appreciate for the subtle little things he does. He's not a really physical guy, but he' first on pucks in the corner and he manages to keep pucks alive … strips people of the puck and head-mans it pretty quickly. He's also a pretty good penalty-killer, too. He's a shot-blocker."

Wilson said Gunnarsson and Phaneuf are feeding off one another and that is one reason why both are finding success. Phaneuf is tied for third in scoring amongst NHL defencemen with two goals and 11 points while Gunnarsson has four assists and is plus-4.

"The two things go hand-in-hand," Wilson said. "Carl is playing with confidence because of how well Dion is playing and likewise, Dion knows his partner will get him out of trouble. We're asking Dion to be a big part of our offence so he's going to get caught up the ice once in a while. You feel pretty good when Gunner is backing him up."

Wilson said Gunnarsson is something of a throwback for Phaneuf who played with Roman Hamrlik when he broke into the NHL with the Calgary Flames in 2005.

"He has a good relationship with his partner and that really helps," Wilson said. "In the past Dion has told me that he liked playing with Hamrlik because Hamrlik just told him to go and I'm always going to be back. Those were his two best years offensively, playing with Hamrlik, and he feels he's got a similar partner to play with in Gunnarsson."

THE PAIN OF SUCCESS: Maple Leafs left winger Phil Kessel is proud to be the NHL's first star for the month of October, and why wouldn't he be?

Kessel was the league's leading scorer with 10 goals and 18 points in 11 games and his Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a flying start. But if you gave the 24-year-old the choice between talking about the honour with the media or having a root canal, he'd likely opt for the dentist's chair.

As Kessel entered the dressing room to meet with the media, he noticed the announcement was written in blue ink on the announcement board.

"Aw, don't write that on the board," he said, rubbing it off with his bare arm. Then he turned and faced the pack.

"It's a team effort," Kessel predictably said - he hates talking about himself. "Obviously you can't do it without your teammates. Without my linemates, I can't score goals, right? They gave me great passes and (my shots) went in the first month. We've got to keep it going; you can't just have one good month in this league. We're going to try to keep it rolling and hopefully have another good month."

NOTES: Rookie right winger Matt Frattin was sent to the Marlies of the American League. Frattin, who had five goals in the pre-season, had no goals and three assists in Toronto's first 11 games and was minus-1. That said, he played well, but just couldn't find the net. "You don't want a young player who is used to scoring," Wilson said. "It's tough for him to come here and not score." Wilson said the decision to send him down had to do with building up the player's confidence … Rookie defenceman Jake Gardiner blocked a shot in the last game against Ottawa and has an injured right foot. He left practice early Tuesday and will be a game-time decision for Wednesday when the Leafs play in New Jersey …Goalie James Reimer remained on the injured reserve list. Wilson said he'll also be a game-time decision Wednesday.

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca for the 2011/12 season.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.02.2011

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USA TODAY / San Jose Sharks captain calls NY Rangers 'soft'

By Mike Brehm, USA TODAY

The one advantage of an East-West NHL matchup is that the teams usually meet only once a year.

So if someone provides bulletin-board material, it will require a long memory.

San Jose Sharks captain Joe Thornton did so after Monday night's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers, saying, according to the San Jose Mercury News:

"To be honest with you, they were probably the softest team we played against on this road trip and we should have had the two points. We played some good teams and I think we should have beaten these guys."

The Sharks had been 5-for-5 on the trip, beating the New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders, before falling to the Rangers.

Added Sharks teammate Joe Pavelski, according to the Associated Press:

"These points are big. Other teams have gotten them against New York and we wanted them."

Granted, the Rangers had been struggling before putting their game together Monday night. They had one win in their previous four games and blew a 4-1, third-period lead in a loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon.

Also, physical forward Mike Rupp is out with a knee injury, which necessitated calling up agitator Sean Avery from the minors. He could make his season debut Thursday.

Informed of Thornton's comments by New York reporters after the game, sometimes-fiery Rangers coach John Tortorella took it in stride.

"Joe said that?" he asked. "Wonderful."

At the team's practice site Tuesday, though, he had much more to say.

"Joe's a heck of a player, but here's a player popping off about our team, and Joe hasn't won a thing in this league," he said, according to the New York Daily News. "He could go down as a player, being one of the better players in our league never to win anything. So what he should do is just shut up. It was uncalled for, it was classless, and I've never had it happen like that before."

USA TODAY LOADED: 11.02.2011

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USA TODAY / Oilers make noise in latest power rankings vote

By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY

The Edmonton Oilers are considered a young, up-and-coming team and yet it has been a 38-year-old goalie and a 35-year-old winger that have helped them become the talk of the NHL.

Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, 38, has allowed eight goals in seven games.

Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who was drafted the year before Edmonton prize rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was born, has given up eight goals in first seven appearances. Ryan Smyth, 35, has 10 points in 11 games to lead the Oilers to an unexpected 7-2-2 start and a fiftth-place ranking in USA TODAY's second power rankings. That's a jump of 15 places from two weeks ago.

"We knew we had some talented young players," Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini said. "But from a development standpoint, you need veteran players that know what to expect. When things are good, we want them to keep a level head and when things are tough, we want guys who show that resiliency that it takes to be a good pro in the NHL."

The Oilers will take a five-game winning streak into Thursday's game at Los Angeles, where they will be tested more severely because they might have three regular defensemen out of the lineup.

Defenseman Andy Sutton (five-game NHL suspension) and Ryan Whitney (injured) are definitely out, and Cam Barker is iffy because of a shoulder injury.

"We feel we are OK with our depth," Tambellini said.

Khabibulin's .968 save percentage seemingly has given the team improved confidence. He is first in USA TODAY's goalie rankings. Edmonton's cast of young players is represented in the power rankings by first-place rookie Nugent-Hopkins. The skinny No. 1 overall pick leads the Oilers in scoring with 11 points in 11 games.

"His game is predicated on being quick and that's in his head, hands and feet," said NHL Network analyst Craig Button. "You don't need a lot of bulk and girth to play in all areas. He knows what's happening out there."

Three of Edmonton's top four scorers are 21 and under. Jordan Eberle, 21, has three goals and 10 points and Taylor Hall, 19, has three goals and nine points.

But the offseason addition of players such as NHL veteran Belanger and minor league veteran Corey Potter that have also helped.

"You can't have enough leadership," Tambellini said.

About the power rankings

The power rankings were voted on this week by six USA TODAY staffers —Kevin Allen, Mike Brehm, Gary Graves, Mark Hayes, Chad Leistikow and Brad Windsor — plus Winnipeg Free Press reporter Tim Campbell, Windsor (Ontario) Star columnist Bob Duff, and Detroit Free Press reporter Helene St. James . First-place teams get 30 points down to one point for a 30th-place team. Players get five points for a first-place vote down to one point for a fifth-place vote. Voting occurs every two weeks.

Team rankings

Rank

Team

2011-12 record (through Oct. 31)

Total

2 weeks ago

1

Pittsburgh (5)

8-3-2

265

7

2

Chicago (1)

7-2-2

256

9

3

Washington (3)

7-2-0

250

1

4

Dallas

8-3-0

242

4

5

Edmonton

7-2-2

236

20

6

Toronto

7-3-1

223

10

7

Los Angeles

6-3-2

216

11

8

Colorado

7-4-0

204

5

9

Philadelphia

6-4-1

193

3

10

San Jose

6-4-0

188

23

11

Buffalo

6-4-0

177

6

12

Ottawa

7-5-0

168

29

13

Florida

6-4-1

156

16

14

Phoenix

5-3-2

152

18

15

Tampa Bay

5-4-2

138

23

16

Nashville

5-4-2

130

19

17

Detroit

5-4-0

123

2

18

N.Y. Rangers

4-3-3

122

21

19

Vancouver

5-5-1

115

17

20

Minnesota

4-3-3

113

15

21

Anahehim

5-5-1

86

8

22

Carolina

4-4-3

79

14

23

Calgary

4-4-1

65

26

24

St. Louis

5-6-0

62

23

23

Montreal

4-5-2

61

27

26

New Jersey

4-4-1

58

58

27

Boston

3-7-0

38

22

28

N.Y. Islanders

3-4-2

31

13

29

Winnipeg

4-6-1

29

28

30

Columbus

2-9-1

9

29


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USA TODAY / Oilers' Andy Sutton suspended five games

By Mike Brehm, USA TODAY

The NHL suspended Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andy Sutton five games Tuesday for his hit on Colorado Avalanche rookie Gabriel Landeskog.

Sutton had already served one of those games while awaiting a Monday hearing with NHL senior vice president Brendan Shanahan.

"The video shows that as Landeskog looks back to receive the pass in the neutral zone, Sutton steps up in anticipation of delivering a hit," Shanahan said in his explanatory video. "Sutton takes an improper route to Landeskog and does not deliver a full-body check. Instead, he picks Landeskog's head."

Landeskog got up right after the hit and teammate Shane O'Brien went after Sutton and fought him.

"I have been informed of and understand the league's decision, however, I had no intention of delivering an illegal check," Sutton said in a statement released by the Oilers. "For 14 years, I've always played the game with respect and integrity and I will continue to do so when I return."

Sutton previously was suspended and fined by the league, but the most recent incident (for boarding) had fallen outside the 18-month period that would make him a repeat offender. As a result, his lost pay was based on the number of days in the season rather than the number of games. He will forfeit $57,432.45.

Shanahan said he factored Sutton's disciplinary history in his decision.

Sutton will be eligible to return Nov. 11 at Detroit.

Around the rinks: The Columbus Blue Jackets said 2010 first-round pick Ryan Johansen will stick around this season, meaning the first year of his entry-level contract will kick in. Johansen has both of the Blue Jackets' game-winning goals this season. … The New York Islanders loaned forward Nino Niederreiter to their affiliate in Bridgeport, Conn. Tough guy Trevor Gillies cleared waivers and also was sent there. … Because the sponsoring St. Petersburg Times newspaper is changing its masthead, the Tampa Bay Lightning's arena will be known as the Tampa Bay Times Forum, starting Jan. 1.


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USA TODAY / Dispute delays revenue-sharing payouts

By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY

Revenue-sharing payments to NHL teams and the refunding of player escrow overpayments are delayed indefinitely because the league and the NHL Players Association haven't agreed on hockey-related revenue figures for 2010-11.

This marks the first time since the salary cap was introduced six years ago that checks weren't issued by the end of October.

"As a practical matter, we are already beyond the finalization dates contemplated by the CBA," said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. "But, that, by itself is not particularly unusual and has happened in various other years since we entered into this CBA. Obviously, if we do not reach an agreement, and issues remain to be arbitrated, we will be in new territory in terms of timing."

There have always been disputes over what counts as hockey-related revenue, but this squabble is drawing more notice because it has taken more time and involved a larger amount of money. Also early next year, the NHL and the NHLPA will begin negotiations on a new-collective bargaining agreement.

Although there are disagreements on a handful of revenue issues, the biggest one is whether the city of Glendale's $25 million guarantee against the Phoenix Coyotes' losses should count as revenue. The negotiations between the two sides are ongoing.

The money involved is substantial because the league collected roughly $200 million (12.4% of each contract's face value) from players, and probably three-quarters of that money will be returned to players.

Ten teams qualify for revenue sharing, based on market size and their yearly revenue.

Player agent Steve Bartlett said he has fielded calls from some of his clients about when money will be distributed, but he doesn't think there is major concern. Players receive interest on the money held by the league.

"The original (hockey-related revenue) number was pretty favorable, and this dispute can only make it better," Bartlett said. "It can't make it worse."

The NHLPA wanted the NHL to make a partial refund to players, based on the revenue that is not disputed, but the NHL declined that request. It doesn't want to disburse any funds until the final number is determined.

If the matter goes to arbitration, it theoretically could delay matters 45 to 90 days. But the NHLPA likely would request an expedited arbitration process.


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USA TODAY / Phoenix Coyotes winger Raffi Torres' decision to go to a Halloween party Sunday as entertainer Jay-Z sparked an eruption across the Internet.

By Kelley L Cox, US Presswire

Raffi Torres went to a Halloween party as Jay-Z because he's a big fan of the entertainer, the Coyotes said.

Some bloggers were upset that Torres, a light-skinned Hispanic, darkened his skin for the costume. His wife went as Beyonce Knowles.

"Blackface has a particular, bigoted history that makes its usage beyond the pale in polite society," wrote Thomas Drance, blogger for CanucksArmy.com. "Even if Raffi's Halloween costume bears little resemblance to the blackface of minstrel shows, the subject is too loaded to be a source of humor. It's off limits."

MORE: Link to the costume The controversy comes at a time when an Ohio University group, Students Teaching Against Racism, has put out a poster campaign against culturally insensitive Halloween costumes.

"Raffi had no idea that this was something that would have undercurrents to it," said Torres' agent, Eustace King. "If he did, he probably would not have worn that type of costume. He is just a Jay-Z fan. He listens to him before the game and in his social life. …

"I do understand that for some people it is controversial. I could understand if Raffi's intent had been malicious. But this is a guy who is a good character hockey player and is known throughout the locker room as a good person."

The photo was originally tweeted by teammate Paul Bissonnette, one of the NHL's most prolific users of Twitter, as part of a series showing off the Halloween costumes at the party.

Bissonnette, who pointed out that his mother was half black, defended Torres' choice as complaints were registered on his Twitter account.

"For someone to dress up as one of the most successful couples of our generation on Halloween isn't racism," he tweeted.

Tweeted former player Georges Laraque, who's black: "It's so stupid for some people to even consider that a racist move, I know Raffi and I can honestly say he's not."


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