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CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • April 9, 2014

Rangers' power play ends Canes' postseason chances

By IRA PODELL

AP Sports WriterApril 8, 2014 Updated 7 hours ago

NEW YORK — The New York Rangers' first game after they secured a playoff berth went a lot smoother than the two before they got in.

Brad Richards scored twice on New York's previously anemic power play, Martin St. Louis had three assists in his best game since joining the Rangers last month, and Henrik Lundqvist kept the Carolina Hurricanes at bay in a 4-1 victory on Tuesday night.

The Rangers qualified for the playoffs on Monday when New Jersey lost. New York was 0-1-1 in its previous two games after a 7-1 spurt vaulted them to second place in the Metropolitan Division.

If the Rangers, who have two games left, hold off Philadelphia and Columbus they will have home-ice advantage against one of those teams in the first round.

"You want to get good habits, and you want to play the game you want to play next week," said Lundqvist, who made 27 saves. "You can't take any shortcuts. You need to focus the same way and take each game as an important game.

"Who knows? It can play a huge part in the end."

Philadelphia and Columbus, third and fourth respectively in the Metropolitan, also won Tuesday. Philadelphia trails New York by two points, and Columbus is four points behind. Those clubs both have three games remaining.

"We talked before the game that we have been playing good hockey for a long time, and we want to go into the playoffs feeling good about our game," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "For the most part, that's what we did."

Richards scored in the first period to tie it and then stretched New York's lead to two goals in the second with his 20th of the season — the 10th time he has reached the mark in the NHL. Benoit Pouliot and Derek Stepan also scored as the Rangers beat the Hurricanes for the 11th time in 12 games.

Patrick Dwyer scored for Carolina, and Cam Ward made 32 saves in just his second start in seven games. The Hurricanes are out of the playoff picture.

"I thought three of the four goals that they scored were too easy," Ward said. "It was almost like we gave them to them."

Lundqvist kept the Rangers in the game during the first when each team had 10 shots and numerous scoring chances.

Carolina connected 3:22 in, after Ward made a big save. The Hurricanes dug the puck out of the corner to Lundqvist's left, and Brett Bellemore brought it behind the Rangers' net. He spotted Dwyer in front and fed a quick pass to him for his eighth goal.

Lundqvist was sharp the rest of the way, turning aside Alexander Semin's slow breakaway with 8 minutes left, catching Jeff Skinner's hard shot from the right circle after he knocked the puck up in the air with his glove with 6:33 remaining, and a shot and rebound in tight by defenseman Jay Harrison.

That allowed the Rangers to get even on Richards' first. Just 9 seconds after Semin went off for hooking, Richards took a pass in the left circle from St. Louis, paused for a moment, and then slapped a shot past Ward with 4:16 to go in the first.

New York had scored just four goals on its previous 47 power plays over 15 games.

The Rangers nearly went in front with 1:39 left in the period, but Mats Zuccarello banged the puck off the right post at the goal line, and then had the carom stopped by Harrison at the left post.

However, they wasted little time in grabbing the lead just 50 seconds into the middle period, making it 2-1 on Pouliot's 14th goal.

"We just weren't ready to go in the second period," Ward said. "The puck dropped and they immediately attacked us."

Zuccarello wound up for a big drive in the high slot, but instead of shooting the puck he slapped a pass to Pouliot, who cut in on left wing and scored.

The Rangers pushed the lead to 3-1 and made it 2 for 2 on the power play when Richards — in the middle of a triangle passing play with St. Louis and Dan Girardi — took a feed from Girardi and slapped another drive that eluded Ward with 6:24 left in the second.

"The turning point was getting scored on the first shift of the second period," Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said. "We just had a tough time getting things going after that."

Stepan finished the scoring 4:38 into the third when he steered a pass from St. Louis in at the left post for his 17th goal. St. Louis had just one goal and three assists before Tuesday in 17 games since joining the Rangers.


"I definitely have felt a lot better the past six or seven games," St. Louis said. "It's nice to get rewarded on so many plays. Just keep looking to build it up and keep getting better."

NOTES: Injured Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (shoulder) and forward Chris Kreider (hand) both participated

in the morning skate, but sat out the game. It isn't known if either will play in New York's final two regular-season games. ... It was Dwyer's first goal in 10 games.

Blog: Rangers take 4-1 win over Canes

Posted 5:30 p.m. yesterday Updated 9:28 p.m. yesterday

15:22 third period; Rangers 4, Hurricanes 1: Derek Stepan extends the Rangers lead to 4-1 in the third period.

6:24 second period; Rangers 3, Hurricanes 1: Brad Richards grabs his second goal of the game on a power play putting the Rangers up 3-1.

Canes defenseman Ron Hainsey took a puck high and is in the locker room.

19:10 second period; Rangers 2, Hurricanes 1: Rangers Benoit Pouliot wasted no time scoring a goal within the first minute of the second period.

4:16 first period; Hurricanes 1, Rangers 1: New York's Brad Richards tied things up 1-1, Martin St. Louis, Derek Stepan were on the assists.

16:38 first period; Hurricanes 1, Rangers 0: Canes Patrick Dwyer struck early on an assist from Brett Bellemore.

Cam Ward will start in net for the Hurricanes vs. Rangers. Canes Andrej Sekera will not play against the Rangers and likely not again for the remainder of the season, Hurricanes play-by-play caller John Forslund told Adam Gold and Joe Ovies on 99.9FM The Fan Tuesday.

Pregame: The New York Rangers didn't have to break a sweat to clinch a postseason berth Monday night, but the playoff-bound club will try to halt a two-game slide when it hosts the Carolina Hurricanes in Tuesday's clash at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers officially earned a spot in the 2014 playoffs thanks to New Jersey's regulation loss to Calgary on Monday night. New York could have locked up a postseason berth on its own by gaining a single point on Saturday, but dropped a 3-2 regulation decision against the visiting Ottawa Senators.

With 91 points through 79 games, the Rangers are currently second in the Metropolitan Division and two points ahead of the third-place Philadelphia Flyers.

The Rangers should feel good about facing tonight's opponent, as New York had won 10 straight in this series before the Hurricanes recorded a 3-1 home win on March 11. That was the first victory for Carolina in this matchup since another home win on Jan. 20, 2011.

New York still carries a five-game home winning streak against the Hurricanes.

After losing Thursday's 3-2 shootout decision to Colorado at the end of a four-game road trip, the Rangers returned home to lose to Ottawa in regulation. Senators goaltender Robin Lehner stopped 41 shots, including 13 in the third period, to frustrate New York in the 3-2 setback at MSG.

Mats Zuccarello netted both goals for the Rangers, while Henrik Lundqvist came up with 31 saves in the loss.

"It's obviously very disappointing," Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi said in reference to his club failing to lock up a postseason berth. "We are still in a good spot here. It's in our hands to get that win in our next game at home and hopefully secure home ice in the first round."

New York is playing the second test of a three-game homestand, which will end Thursday against Buffalo before the Blueshirts cap their regular season Saturday in Montreal. The Rangers are 18-17-4 as the host compared to an impressive 25-14-1 road record.

Sitting eight points out of a playoff spot with four games left, Carolina is on the brink of being officially eliminated from the playoffs. When the inevitable happens it will mark the Hurricanes' fifth consecutive year out of the postseason.

Carolina had won consecutive games and earned a point in five straight (3-0-2) before losing Saturday against visiting New Jersey, 3-1. Dainius Zubrus scored twice and Cory Schneider stopped 26 shots, as the Devils stayed relevant in the Eastern Conference playoff race while pushing the Hurricanes closer to the edge of elimination.

Jeff Skinner supplied Carolina's lone goal, while Anton Khudobin allowed two goals on 22 shots for the Hurricanes.


Skinner's goal was his 31st of the season, matching the career-best total he set as a rookie in 2010-11.

"I don't think we had our legs," Skinner admitted. "We couldn't really generate much, but I think that's just sort of ... we just need to work a little harder."

The Hurricanes will play three of their last four regular-season games on the road, where the club is 16-17-5 this season. Carolina will host Washington on Thursday before ending the campaign with stops in Detroit and Philadelphia this weekend.

Forslund: Karmanos gives Muller vote of confidence

Posted 7:28 p.m. yesterday Updated 7:50 p.m. yesterday

By Erin Summers

Despite the Carolina Hurricanes playoff chances being all but not, play-by-play caller John Forslund said that owner Peter Karmanos, Jr. gave head coach Kirk Muller a vote of confidence in an interview Tuesday.

"Now that can take a turn, we’ve seen that before. I asked him again at the end ‘As far as you’re concerned do you believe in these people?’ and he absolutely said that’s the message he wants out to the fans," Forslund said on 99.9FM The Fan Tuesday.

Forslund said Karmanos traveled to New York with the team and had dinner with the coaching staff Monday night.

"Maybe they are going to evaluate and put some onus on where I think it really needs to be pointed. People can say what they want about Kirk Muller and it’s easy to poke a coach when he’s not successful, but I believe that he has been successful in terms of turning the corner with many of these players," said Forslund.

"The younger players seem to have got the message, the older players have pushed back a little bit and that is the heart of the matter. I think the coaches here have exposed something with

the Hurricanes and if they can fortify will be better moving forward."

With president and general manager Jim Rutherford stepping down at the end of the season and new management unknown, the owner's sentiments may not be matched.

"If there’s a change in management, whoever it is, even if it’s Ron [Francis], he will have the opportunity, and maybe his opinion is far different than what I just heard, and he’ll be able to make that choice for the hockey department," said Forslund. "But as far as the owners concerned that’s what he said.

"I don’t know where it goes because again there’s another layer of management that needs to be factored in here before you get to that. And that’s kind of where it is as we speak here [Tuesday]. I think Muller has sweat this thing out. In my opinion I think he’s done a lot of really good things and I’ll stand behind that no matter what happens.”

Heading into Tuesday night's game against the New York Rangers the Hurricanes have not been mathematically eliminated but are eight points out of wildcard spot for the playoffs. The team is 34-33-11, notching 79 points.

Richards, St. Louis help Rangers finish Hurricanes

Wednesday, 04.09.2014 / 12:08 AM

Tal Pinchevsky - NHL.com Staff Writer

NEW YORK -- Brad Richards scored twice on the power play, Martin St. Louis had three assists, and the New York Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

Benoit Pouliot and Derek Stepan scored for the Rangers (44-31-5); Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves.

New York maintained its two-point lead over the Philadelphia Flyers for second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers, who have a game in hand, defeated the Florida Panthers 5-2.

Patrick Dwyer scored for the Hurricanes (34-34-11); Cam Ward stopped 32 of 36 shots. The loss eliminated Carolina from Stanley Cup Playoff contention.

Richards and St. Louis entered the game having combined for one goal in the past four games. St. Louis had four points in his first 17 games since being traded to the Rangers on March 5. He almost matched that total Tuesday.

"I thought tonight was probably his best game since he's been here," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "He was skating,


he looked real good tonight. Hopefully it's a sign of something that's going to continue for us."

St. Louis set up Richards' tying goal with Alexander Semin off for hooking. After St. Louis' first pass was blocked, he corralled a bouncing puck near the slot and made a spinning no-look pass that found Richards at the left circle. Richards took a wrist shot that beat Ward inside the left post with 4:16 left in the first period, snapping New York out of an 0-for-9 power-play slump.

"I was trying to get it to him earlier on my forehand," St. Louis said. "I got stuck in the battle and as soon as I got it I knew he was there."

That appeared to settle down the Rangers and sparked a run of four unanswered goals.

"Without a doubt it helped. Anytime you can score quickly, especially on your first power play, you get momentum," Vigneault said. "It backs off the other team a little bit physically."

Pouliot broke the 1-1 tie in the opening minute of the second period. Mats Zuccarello faked a slap shot from the point, freezing Carolina's defense, before feeding Pouliot on the left wing. With Ward cheating far out of the net, Pouliot tucked the puck into an open cage to give New York the lead 50 seconds in on his 14th goal.

Zuccarello drew an elbowing penalty on Jeff Skinner with 6:52 remaining in the period. New York needed 28 seconds on the man advantage for Richards to get his second. Dwyer's stick was broken by a St. Louis slap shot, leaving the penalty kill further shorthanded. From there, the Rangers worked the puck up to the point, where Richards fired a shot past Ward's blocker for his 20th of the season at 13:36.

"When the team has no stick, it's just a whole different feeling out there. You can set it up and do what you want," Richards said. "Whoever is in front of the guy without the stick, that's who you're trying to get the shot. That's why they passed it back to me. It gives you so much more lane to shoot at."

Stepan put the game out of reach 4:38 into the third period. St. Louis' initial pass off the rush was blocked, but the wing collected the loose puck before connecting with Stepan. Standing by the right post, the center simply had to tip the feed past a sprawling Ward for his 17th to give New York a 4-1 lead.

Dwyer opened the scoring shortly after Pouliot failed to work the puck up the left boards and out of the Rangers end. Brett Bellemore forced the turnover, pushed the puck deep into the zone and attempted to feed Dwyer in front. The pass went off the side of the net but slid between Kevin Klein's legs directly to the Hurricanes forward, who beat Lundqvist blocker side with a quick shot for his eighth of the year 3:22 into the game.

The Hurricanes were overmatched at times, particularly during the third period when they were outshot 15-7.

"We had a really good first period. We did a lot of good things," Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said. "I think the turning point was coming out and getting sored on on the first shift of the second period."

St. Louis' first multipoint game with the Rangers can be something to build on heading toward the postseason.

"You could tell he kind of had some weight off his shoulder as the game went. He was lighter and making plays," Richards said. "When something goes in, especially when nothing's gone in for him on home ice, it just helps. You feel a little bit lighter on your skates. You have the home crowd behind you and you just feel like you're part of it more."

Daily Primer April 9: Last chance for Sharks

Wednesday, 04.09.2014 / 3:00 AM / Drive to the Playoffs

NHL.com

The San Jose Sharks will get one last crack at a possible Pacific Division title in the finale of the NHL's five-game schedule Wednesday night.

San Jose (49-21-9) can move within a point of first place in the Pacific when it visits the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Anaheim (51-20-8) is three points ahead of the Sharks and each team has three games remaining.

The night gets underway with the Chicago Blackhawks seeking their fourth consecutive victory despite injuries to forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Chicago, which trails the

Colorado Avalanche for second place in the Central Division by four points with three games to go, hosts the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal resides in second place in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Detroit Red Wings, who hold the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, will visit the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center. Detroit is one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who will take on the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.

Here's a closer look at the action Wednesday:

Montreal Canadiens at Chicago Blackhawks (7:30 p.m. ET, RDS, TSN, CSN-CH)

Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins (8 p.m. ET, TSN2, NBCSN)


Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET, FS-O, FS-SW)

Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET, TSN, KCOP-13)

San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks (10:30 p.m. ET, TSN2, NBCSN)

The top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs. The remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference, based on regular-season points and regardless of division. It is possible for one division to send five teams to the postseason while the other sends just three.

Seeding of the wild-card teams within each divisional playoff will be determined on the basis of regular-season points. The division winner with the most points in the conference will be matched against the wild-card team with the fewest points; the division winner with the second-most points in the conference will play the wild-card team with the second-fewest points.

The teams finishing second and third in each division will play in the first round of the playoffs. There is no reseeding as the tournament moves to the second round and winners of that series advance to the conference championship series and the right to play in the Stanley Cup Final.

Never-say-die attitude among reasons Wild are back in playoffs


By Tal Pinchevsky - NHL.com Staff Writer

After going four seasons without qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Minnesota Wild are in the postseason for the second straight season. They clinched their spot after defeating the Boston Bruins 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday.

Last season the Wild made their first trip to the playoffs since 2008. The return was short-lived as Minnesota lost in five games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. One season later Minnesota is hoping to win a playoff series for the first time since 2003, when they lost to the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference Final.

The 2013-14 Minnesota Wild retained the core that led it back to the playoffs the previous season. But a number of other elements, including an infusion of youth, brought postseason hockey back to Minnesota.

Here are five reasons the Wild are headed back to the playoffs:

1. Best players played best

The signings of forward Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter in 2012 spearheaded a major change in the culture of the Wild. No longer would fans be waiting for their prized pool of prospects to mature. The time was now.

Suter and Parise made immediate impacts in their first season with the Wild, and they didn't disappoint this season. Parise

built on his reputation as one of the NHL's best all-round players despite a grueling season in which he captained the United States at the 2014 Sochi Olympics three weeks after returning from a broken left foot that forced him to miss 14 games.

Suter was an absolute picture of consistency. The workhorse defenseman leads the NHL in ice time with almost 30 minutes per game. He does everything for the Wild, and in Minnesota's final two games before the Sochi Olympics he played a combined 69:42. That wasn't even his highest total in consecutive games. In three straight games in early November he totaled 108:19 for an average of 36:06 per game.

2. Youngsters stepping up

For years Wild fans have been waiting for the emergence of what has been hailed as a bumper crop of prospects. This finally was the season when some of that potential appeared to be actualized.

It starts with the emergence of center Mikael Granlund. Minnesota's first-round pick (No. 9) in 2010 enjoyed a breakout season despite dealing with injuries. He started slow, with four points in his first 10 games. After that season-opening slump, he exploded for a five-game point streak in which he recorded seven points. By the end of the season Granlund was a fixture among the Wild's top six forwards.

Strong if occasionally streaky play from other young forwards such as Charlie Coyle, Justin Fontaine and Erik Haula helped solidify the forward units. On the back end defensemen Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon continued to develop into reliable two-way defenders.

3. Play at even strength

Parise, Suter and Mikko Koivu are the core of the Wild and each long been has known for his strong two-way play. That was reflected in Minnesota's exceptional 5-on-5 play. The Wild's special teams struggled this season, only magnifying the importance of its play at even strength.

The Wild's 5-on-5 goal differential consistently has been among the best in the League. During their current 5-0-1 streak, dominant 5-on-5 play has been on full display as Minnesota outscored their opponents 14-5 at even strength during that span. It was a run made even more impressive by the fact that it was accomplished against some of the League's best even-strength teams, including the Los Angeles Kings, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Bruins.

4. Rotating goalies

Few teams experienced more turmoil in the crease than the Wild. Minnesota has gone through four different regular goaltenders this season, each of whom has started at least 10 games. The Wild defense generally has played well in front of whoever is in the crease, but each goalie has delivered when called upon.

It started with Josh Harding, whose 1.65 goals-against average and .933 save percentage remain among the best in the League, but who has been out of the lineup since Dec. 31


because of the effects of multiple sclerosis. Backup Niklas Backstrom has been out since Jan. 30 and is done for the season following abdominal surgery.

Most teams' seasons might be doomed by the loss of both goaltenders in such a short span, but the Wild have persevered. Rookie Darcy Kuemper stepped in and become a workhorse for the Wild, starting 11 of Minnesota's first 14 games after the Sochi Olympics. Veteran Ilya Bryzgalov was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers on March 4 to stabilize the position but unexpectedly has emerged as Minnesota's top option in net. He has yet to lose in regulation since arriving in Minnesota, going 7-0-3 with a 1.78 GAA and .923 save percentage.

5. The third period

The Wild would like to have more offense in the first two periods; they rank in the bottom half of the League in first-period goals and are No. 29 in second-period goals. But when the game is on the line in the third, the Wild have a knack for being clutch. Their 78 third-period goals and plus-15 goal differential in the third are among the highest marks in the League.

Third-period productivity has served Minnesota well. It is tied for the League lead with eight wins when trailing after 40 minutes. The Wild also have the fourth-best win percentage when trailing after two periods at 22.9 percent. That ability to come back in the third directly led to them clinching Tuesday against Boston. Trailing 3-2, Suter tied the game with 65 seconds remaining to force overtime, and then Koivu scored the lone goal in the shootout to send Minnesota to the postseason. Minnesota has gone 3-0-1 in the past four games in which it has trailed in the third.

Chara's all-round efficiency makes him Norris choice

Wednesday, 04.09.2014 / 3:00 AM / Trophy Tracker

By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer

There are defensemen who contribute more on the score sheet than Zdeno Chara. There are defensemen who skate with the puck better than he does. All in all, there are defensemen who are just much flashier than the Boston Bruins' towering captain.

But this season there has not been a more effective defenseman in all areas of the ice than Chara, who should win the Norris Trophy for the second time in his career. He took over as the front runner for this award in March, when he helped the Bruins go 15-1-1.

Chara previously won the Norris Trophy in 2008-09, when he had 50 points, including a career-high 19 goals, in 80 games. He won't reach 50 points this season, but he has 17 goals, including a team-high 10 on the power play, and 397 points along with a plus-24 rating through 76 games, so his offense is hardly a concern for the Bruins.

He is contributing enough, especially with how balanced the Bruins are up front and how productive fellow defensemen Torey Krug (38 points), Dougie Hamilton (25 points) and Johnny Boychuk (23 points) have been.

Bruins coach Claude Julien took his slap shot off the point to get his big body in front of the net, and Chara has remained as effective as ever on the power play.

However, what makes Chara special are the things he does that can't be measured on the score sheet. He's a possession machine despite playing the majority of his shifts against the opposition's top line on a nightly basis and starting more than half of his shifts in the defensive zone. Simply put, when Chara is on the ice, the Bruins usually have the puck.

Patrice Bergeron is the only Bruins player who starts as many shifts in the defensive zone and plays against the same quality of competition on a nightly basis. Bergeron could win the Selke Trophy this season.

FINALISTS

Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks: Keith was the front runner for the Norris Trophy through the three-quarter mark of the season. He didn't necessarily do anything to lose that spot; Chara simply passed him with his superior play. Keith, though, should still be right in the thick of the race as a finalist for the season he's having in Chicago paired with Brent Seabrook.

Keith, who won the Norris Trophy in 2010, has the most assists among defensemen (54) this season and the second-most points (60) behind the Ottawa Senators' Erik Karlsson (72). He is plus-21.

Like Chara in Boston, Keith drives possession for the Blackhawks, except he starts the majority of his shifts in the offensive zone, as do most of the Blackhawks. Chicago coach Joel Quenneville uses his second pairing of Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya to start more shifts in the defensive zone than Keith and Seabrook.

Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings: Doughty, who was a finalist for the Norris Trophy in 2010, is having arguably the best season of his six-year NHL career. He's gone from being an elite point-producer to an elite all-round defender.

Doughty has been paired for most of the season with Jake Muzzin, another puck-moving defenseman, and together they have helped the Kings be the best possession team in the NHL, and therefore have the best goals-against average in the League too (2.05 per game).

Doughty's numbers are right around his career average (37 points through 78 games), but since he isn't playing with a stay-at-home defender he has had to take fewer risks in order to make sure the Kings aren't being burned by odd-man rushes when he's on the ice. They usually don't, which is a credit to Doughty and the awareness with which he's played this season.


Playoff Countdown: Five coaches with pedigree


By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer

The conclusion to 2013-14 NHL regular season is fast approaching. After game play Monday, the League is down to 52 games remaining on the schedule, with 10 to be played Tuesday. Yet, much remains to be decided in the frantic run to the finish line, including playoff qualification, playoff positioning and numerous individual accomplishments and milestones. To celebrate the six-day countdown to the end of the season April 13 and the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 16, NHL.com will provide a piece of playoff-related content each day.

The coaching profession offers no guarantees, unless you win the Stanley Cup. Do that and you're guaranteed a place in hockey history. Do that and your name will forever be etched on hockey's holy grail.

Nine active coaches have won the Stanley Cup. Six of them are expected to be in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Five are already in, and Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock has his team close to clinching a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Assuming the Red Wings get in, Babcock is on NHL.com's list of the top five coaches in the playoffs this season. Find out the other four and read about them all below:

Joel Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks

Stanley Cup championships: 2010, 2013

Stanley Cup Final appearances: 2010, 2013

Quenneville has the most wins among active coaches (705) and is third all-time behind Scotty Bowman and Al Arbour. More importantly, he is the only coach in the playoffs who has won the Stanley Cup twice (three times if you include his role as an assistant for the Colorado Avalanche in 1996).

What Quenneville has done since taking over behind Chicago's bench four games into the 2008-09 season is nothing short of remarkable and could get him into the Hall of Fame. In fact, judging by his career accomplishments since he became a coach with the St. Louis Blues in 1996, Quenneville should be a shoo-in for a Hall call at some point. Only one time in his 16 seasons as a coach has his team missed the playoffs.

He took the Blues to the playoffs in each of his first six seasons, winning the Presidents' Trophy in 1999-2000, before he was fired after 61 games in the 2003-04 season. Quenneville landed back in Colorado in 2005 and in three seasons got the Avalanche into the playoffs twice, losing in the Western Conference Semifinals both times.

Quenneville was fired after the 2007-08 season and became a pro scout with the Blackhawks in September 2008. He replaced Denis Savard as coach on Oct. 16. Chicago reached

the Western Conference Final in 2009 before winning the first of its two championships under Quenneville a year later.

Claude Julien, Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup championships: 2011

Stanley Cup Final appearances: 2011, 2013

The New Jersey Devils had 102 points through 79 games in the 2006-07 season. They were on their way to their seventh championship in the former Atlantic Division. It wasn't enough for Julien to keep his job. He was fired with three games left. It was a stunner, and it could have ruined Julien, who had already been fired by the Montreal Canadiens halfway through the 2005-06 season, his third in La Belle Province.

Clearly he wasn't deterred.

Julien landed on his feet a few months later when he was named the 27th coach in Bruins history. He took over a team that had the talent (Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, Marc Savard, Phil Kessel and Milan Lucic), but needed guidance.

The Bruins made the playoffs in each of Julien's first three seasons, including in 2008-09, when they won 53 games and Julien won the Jack Adams Award. But they couldn't get past the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and even had that infamous meltdown against the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010, when they blew a 3-0 series lead and lost in seven games.

However, the Bruins rebounded to win the Stanley Cup in 2011 behind Julien's leadership, Conn Smythe Trophy and Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas, and a balanced lineup that featured 12 players with 10 or more points in the playoffs. It was the Bruins' first championship since Bobby Orr led them to the Cup in 1972.

The Bruins returned to the Cup Final last season, losing in six games to the Blackhawks. This season, they lead in the Presidents' Trophy race with three games to play.

Mike Babcock, Detroit Red Wings


Stanley Cup Final appearances: 2003, 2008, 2009

Babcock has been to the Stanley Cup Final three times since 2002-03. He won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008. He has won two Olympic gold medals as Canada's coach (2010 and 2014), and gold at the IIHF World Championship in 2004 and at the 1997 World Junior Championship. He is the only coach in the IIHF's Triple Gold Club (Stanley Cup, Olympics, World Championship).

However, Babcock is doing perhaps his best coaching job this season. The fact he has the Red Wings on the verge of clinching a playoff spot is remarkable considering the injuries they've had and the inexperienced players they have infused into their lineup.

Everyone in Detroit knew this was going to be a transition year because many of the players who won the Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins were going to challenge for roster spots


in Detroit. But nobody expected the Red Wings to have to make the playoffs on the backs of some of those players.

That appears to be happening now. Forward Gustav Nyquist has been a revelation. Tomas Tatar, Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco have made up a formidable line. Defenseman Danny DeKeyser is having a breakout season. Luke Glendening has been rewarded for his play as a depth center with a three-year contract.

Babcock has been the steadying influence. He hasn't changed his approach or the team's direction because star forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk have had major injuries this season, or because forwards Johan Franzen, Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader and Daniel Alfredsson, defenseman Jonathan Ericsson and goalie Jimmy Howard have missed chunks of time as well.

Dan Bylsma, Pittsburgh Penguins


Stanley Cup Final appearances: 2009

Although he's proven so much, as Bylsma gets ready for his sixth straight appearance in the playoffs with the Penguins there is a bit of a show-me or prove-it feel around him and his team.

Bylsma won the Stanley Cup in 2009, less than four months after taking over for Michel Therrien behind the bench. He became the fastest coach in NHL history to reach 250 wins; he reached the milestone last week, in 396 games.

However, after the Penguins were swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference Final last season, scoring two goals in the four games, the conversation turned to questions about Bylsma's job security and if time was running out on him in Pittsburgh. He has staved off those questions this season with another fine coaching job in spite of adversity because of injury.

Pittsburgh has a League-high 506 man-games lost to injury, but it ran away with the Metropolitan Division and will finish with the second-most points in the Eastern Conference behind the Bruins.

The Penguins didn't have goalie Tomas Vokoun all season. Forward Pascal Dupuis sustained a season-ending knee injury in December. Defenseman Kris Letang was lost for the season in late January because of a stroke. Center Evgeni Malkin hasn't played since March 23 because of a foot injury. Forwards James Neal, Beau Bennett and Tanner Glass, and defensemen Brooks Orpik, Paul Martin and Rob Scuderi all missed chunks of time as well.

Orpik, Martin, Scuderi and Letang -- four of Pittsburgh's top six defensemen --- were out at the same time in mid-December.

However, center Sidney Crosby has posted his fifth-career 100-point season and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is two wins shy of his third 40-win season. Bylsma has mixed and matched his lineup, particularly his bottom-six group of forwards, for most of the season, and has found results.

Ken Hitchcock, St. Louis Blues


Stanley Cup Final appearances 1999, 2000

Hitchcock took the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons (1999, 2000), winning the championship in 1999. He got the Philadelphia Flyers to the Eastern Conference Final in 2004, brought the Columbus Blue Jackets to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 2009, and has the Blues in the playoffs for a third straight season.

This season, though, the Blues are thinking Stanley Cup or bust. Why else would they have traded for goaltender Ryan Miller?

St. Louis turned into a contender the moment Hitchcock took over early in the 2011-12 season. The Blues went 43-15-11 in 69 games under Hitchcock and reached the second round of the playoffs before bowing out to the Los Angeles Kings in four games. They went backward last season, losing to the Kings in a six-game, first-round series after winning the first two games.

The addition of Miller answered the Blues' questions in goal and primed them for a deep playoff run. Hitchcock has had all the answers since arriving in St. Louis, but he'll have to come up with more because the building is over in St. Louis; it's time for a championship.

Capitals' Ovechkin scores 50th goal of season

Wednesday, 04.09.2014 / 2:10 AM / News

By Louie Korac - NHL.com Correspondent

ST. LOUIS -- Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin scored his 50th goal of the season Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues.

Ovechkin's power-play goal with 2:06 remaining came on a one-timer from the left circle that got past goaltender Ryan Miller. It was Ovechkin's 23rd power-play goal of the season and started the Capitals on their way to a 4-1 victory.

It's Ovechkin's fifth 50-goal season but his first since 2009-10, when he scored 50. He leads the NHL by eight goals; Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks is next with 42.

"It means a lot," said Ovechkin, whose single-season high is 65 goals, set in 2007-08. "That's a big number, and it's going to be there my whole life."

Ovechkin joins Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito and Pavel Bure as players to have five 50-goal seasons. Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky lead the NHL with nine, followed by Marcel Dionne, Guy Lafleur and Mario Lemieux, each of whom had six.

Ovechkin has 421 goals in 676 NHL games.


Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop leaves with injury

Wednesday, 04.09.2014 / 2:05 AM / News

By Lonnie Herman - NHL.com Correspondent

TAMPA -- Goaltender Ben Bishop left the Tampa Bay Lightning's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night at 5:43 of the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return.

Bishop dove to make a glove save and hit the ice hard, landing awkwardly on his left wrist. He was helped off the ice and appeared to be in discomfort. Bishop made three saves before he was replaced by Anders Lindback, who stopped all 25 shots he faced in a 3-0 victory.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Bishop will not play Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, a game he was now slated to start.

"Let's just wait and see what happens here," Cooper said. "No sense in speculating. He's either going to be ready to go or

he's not. I'm really confident in what we have, especially after watching the performance tonight."

Cooper wasn't sure about the severity of Bishop's injury, but he expressed confidence in Lindback's ability to carry the team.

"When Bishop went down, nobody flinched," Cooper said. "Actually, I think we got up a little bit on the bench. There was no panic by our guys. They know how hard Lindback has worked. It's his turn."

Bishop, who was appearing in his 63rd game this season, has a 37-14-7 record in 62 games, with a 2.23 goals-against average and a save percentage of .924. However, he has lost three of his past four decisions.

Bishop was placed on injured reserve on Jan. 6, one day after spraining his right wrist in the first period of the Lightning's game against the Edmonton Oilers. He returned on Jan. 14, allowing one goal in a 2-1 victory against the New York Rangers.

NHL Three Stars: Ovechkin hits 50; Pominville leads Wild over Bruins

By Harrison Mooney 8 hours ago Puck Daddy

No. 1 Star: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Ovechkin had a three-point night, with 2 assists and a goal in the Capitals' 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. The goal was his 50th of the season, the 5th time he's reached the milestone, because he's pretty good:

No. 2 Star: Jason Pominville, Minnesota Wild

Pominville was in on every goal in the Wild's big 4-3 shootout win over the Boston Bruins, with 2 goals and an assist. He even set up Ryan Suter for a goal, which has been tough to do this season. The goal tied the game with just 65 seconds remaining:

No. 3 Star: Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators

Spezza had 2 goals and an assist for the Senators, who did their part in staving off playoff elimination with a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders. Unfortunately, they were eliminated anyway.

Honorable mention: Zemgus Girgensons scored twice in the Buffalo Sabres' 4-2 loss over the Detroit Red Wings, who bolstered their playoff hopes with the win... Victor Hedman had a three-point night as the Tampa Bay Lightning eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 3-0 win. Hedman had quietly been

amazing this season and doesn't get nearly enough credit for it... Ryan Johansen's goal was the overtime winner in a 4-3 win for the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Phoenix Coyotes...

Brad Richards scored twice, and Martin St. Louis had 3 assists for the New York Rangers in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes... Erik Johnson and Nathan MacKinnon had two-point nights for the Colorado Avalanche as they triumphed 4-1 over the Edmonton Oilers... Claude Giroux scored twice for the Philadelphia Flyers in a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers... Gabriel Bourque scored twice, but the Nashville Predators were eliminated from playoff contention with a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars, who bolstered their own playoff hopes with the win.

Did you know? Don't look now, but the Avalanche are only two points behind the Blues, with three games to go and the ROW tiebreaker.

Dishonorable mention: Canada. Today your Maple Leafs and your Senators were eliminated from playoff contention, and your Canucks fired their General Manager. Get it together, nation of hockey. You're bad at your own thing.

Father, daughter use Whalers' Brass Bonanza for wedding dance (Video)

By Sean Leahy 16 hours ago Puck Daddy


It was 17 years this coming Sunday that the Hartford Whalers played their final game. A month later, they were officially on their way to Raleigh, North Carolina and NHL hockey was gone, likely to never return.

The love for the Whale and "Brass Bonanza" has not died all these years later. Everytime you hear those horns at the beginning, you can't help but hum along.

During a wedding in Connecticut this past fall, the father-daughter dance -- a tradition that always makes grandma cry -- took a different turn. Instead of a sappy, heartwarming song, this dad and his daughter decided to use an old classic.

I had no idea there was an official dance to "Brass Bonanza," so from here on out whenever I hear the song, I will do exactly what that awesome dad did there. Grandma may not be crying. Whalers fans, on the other hand...

We know the kind of affection the Whale have on hockey fans. Everywhere you go you see people wearing some sort of Whalers gear. Grantland's Jonah Keri was in Dallas Monday night for the NCAA men's basketball title game and reported seeing a number of people sporting some.

From gear to theme weddings, there's nothing that can stop the love of the Whale.

Quick surprises fan; Tennessee jock tax to go; Vokoun to AHL for conditioning (Puck Headlines)

By Sean Leahy 17 hours ago Puck Daddy

• Here's Jonathan Quick surprising a young piano prodigy and LA Kings fan on the Ellen show. [Ellen]

• The Tennessee jock tax, which sees NHL players pay $2,500 up to $7,500 when they play a game in the state, is a signature from the governor away from being abolished. Under this recent NHL CBA, owners have been picking up the tab. [Tennessean]

• Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart top NHL Central Scouting's list of draft-eligible North American skaters. [NHL.com]

• Legendary photographer Bruce Bennett will work his 5,000th NHL game tonight. [Getty]

• Jason Chimera on the recent fortunes of the Washington Capitals: "If you had told me then that two, three or four years down the road we wouldn’t have a Stanley Cup by know I would have said, ‘You’re [bleeping] kidding me.’ That’s how good those teams were." [Capitals]

• Lambert on why any talk of trading Alexander Ovechkin is silly. [Backhand Shelf]

• Why the Vancouver Canucks should hire Mark Messier as team president instead of Trevor Linden. Why sully a legend? [Pass it to Bulis]

• After their brawl Sunday afternoon, no members of the NYPD of FDNY will be disciplined. [NY Daily News]

• Down Goes Brown took a closer look at all 11 shootout losses by the New Jersey Devils. Pray for him. [Grantland]

• Great read from David Pollak on San Jose Sharks forward Matt Nieto and his mom's fight with breast cancer. [Mercury News]

• Brooks Orpik on his return from a concussion: "I think in hindsight, I probably came back way too quick from it. I felt a lot of pressure because of the Olympics coming up. Looking back on it, it was probably not the smartest thing with a brain injury." [Empty Netters]

• Evgeni Malkin has been cleared to skate, while Tomas Vokoun has been sent to Wilkes-Barre for a conditioning assignment. [Tribune-Review]

• Sam Gagner's days in Edmonton seem numbered. What would a deal involving him potentially look like? [Oilers Nation]

• How big is football at the University of Alabama? Their annual revenue surpasses that of every single NHL team. [CBS Sports]

• Josh Ho-Sang was suspended 15 games by the OHL for a shoving that led to a broken leg for Zach Bell. [Buzzing the Net]

• Jaro Spacek has joined the staff of the Czech national team. [IIHF]

• Finally, here's some of the NHL's best hair on display:


Shaya's 10 Thoughts: April 8

Created: April 8, 2014 - 1:27 pm

Written by Jason Shaya

Checkers broadcaster Jason Shaya checks in each week with his 10 Thoughts - a series of observations about the team and the hockey world in general. This week: Sunday's stunning loss that capped a tough weekend and more. 1) I’ve called several hundred games in my career and after enough time you believe you’re prepared for whatever transpires on the ice. After this Sunday’s loss to Oklahoma City in stunning fashion, I was at a loss for words. To see a comeback by the Checkers end in the last minute of the third period in a tie game was difficult to watch and try to comprehend or explain. 2) It should be noted that while the Checkers played three games in three nights with horrendous travel, the Barons were rested at home waiting for the Checkers to get to town. Plans to use a “sleeper bus” which has enough bunks for players to lie down and sleep through the night fell through when the bus broke down. It took about 45 minutes to get a coach bus replacement and after three stops, the team made it to the hotel at 7:15 a.m. 3) This previous weekend marked the first time in team history that it had ever gone 0-3 in a three-in-three series.4) Looking back on Saturday and Sunday the worst part of all of it was the unnecessary penalty trouble. Giving OKC two five-on-three opportunities in one game was one of the nails in the coffin. The Barons had 12 power plays in two games and scored four times. There is no good excuse for being undisciplined against one of the top power-play teams in the league. 5) When the Hurricanes told Chris Terry and Zach Boychuk they were being sent down to Charlotte, both men had the chance to skip the Checkers'' Friday night game against San Antonio and fly directly to Oklahoma City. Instead, both requested to play Friday because they knew the importance of that game for Charlotte. They both went on to play four games in four nights. Things like that speak volumes about their character. 6) The Checkers have three players in the top 15 in scoring in the AHL (Boychuk, Terry, Palushaj), the second-ranked power play and a goalie who has a terrific save percentage (John Muse, .918%). It will be very hard to explain if the Checkers

miss the postseason. They have to salvage the year with four wins in regulation in the last four games for a chance to make the playoffs. 7) Is there any doubt that the Grand Rapids Griffins’ head coach, Jeff Blashill, will win the honors for coach of the year in the AHL this season? Winning a Calder Cup in his rookie season behind the bench last year was an incredible achievement. This year the Griffins have been plagued with call-ups to the Detroit Red Wings and yet they manage to be amongst the best teams in the league and are vying for the top seed in the Western Conference. It’s hard to imagine that Blashill isn’t an NHL head coach soon. Blashill and the Griffins will be in Charlotte this Thursday and Sunday at Time Warner Cable Arena. 8) Learned today that Tennessee will abolish the so called “jock tax.” Under this law, professional athletes, except for pro football players, are to be taxed $2,500 when they play in Tennessee and no more than $7,500. Under the most recent CBA, it was the owners who paid the tax for their players, not the athletes themselves. 9) Congrats to Anaheim/Norfolk goaltender, and perhaps the future of American goaltending, John Gibson, for winning his first NHL game in fine fashion with a shutout victory over Vancouver last night. We saw Gibson a lot this season and he struggled against the Checkers all year, so we didn’t really get to see him at his best. He has an incredibly bright future. 10) If the Red Wings make the playoffs, is anyone considering Gustav Nyquist for the Hart Trophy? With Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg out, he carried Detroit on his back for months. If he played the entire year in the NHL, he could’ve scored 50 goals. He may be the next Pavel Bure with his hands, speed and ability to raise his game when needed most. In 2008, the Wings won the Stanley Cup and drafted Nyquist in the 4th round. Not a bad summer. 11) Matthew Ford, who was a teammate of Sean Dolan at the University of Wisconsin, started his pro career right here in Charlotte in the ECHL. He has become an incredible force for Oklahoma City this season. He’s a great kid and one of the hardest working players on the ice every night. He’s scored


over 20 goals again this season ... it’s just a shame that so many have come against the Checkers this year.

TODAY’S LINKS http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/04/08/3768696/richards-2-power-play-goals-lift.html?sp=/99/103/400/120/

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/play-off-bound-rangers-host-hurricanes/13551435/ http://www.wralsportsfan.com/forslund-karmanos-gives-muller-vote-of-confidence/13551674/

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2013021182&navid=DL|CAR|home http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=713551 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=713615 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=713379 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=713325 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=713470 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=713502

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/nhl-three-stars--ovechkin-hits-50-044447050.html http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/father--daughter-use-whalers--brass-bonanza-for-wedding-dance--video-174317045.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/quick-surprises-fan--tennessee-jock-tax-to-go--vokoun-to-ahl-for-conditioning--puck-headlines-183342043.html

http://gocheckers.com/articles/687-shaya-s-10-thoughts-april-8.html

732769 Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin records his 50th goal of the season

By Katie Carrera | April 9 at 12:56 am

ST. LOUIS – The Capitals’ first power play Tuesday night here was strange. In the first minute, Troy Brouwer was rattled on a big hit by Barret Jackman and then collided with Marcus Johansson on the way to the bench.

After the injury scares the NHL’s second-best man-advantage couldn’t seem to find a flow until, well, Alex Ovechkin did what he does best.

Off a broken play where Evgeny Kuznetsov’s pass hit Joel Ward’s skate in the slot and sent the puck on to the point, John Carlson sent it smoothly over to the left circle. Ovechkin cranked up his one-timer and sent the puck in above Ryan Miller’s left shoulder for a 1-0 lead 17:56 into the first period of Washington’s eventual 4-1 win over the Blues.

“A huge goal, a goal out of nowhere on the play,” Coach Adam Oates said. “That particular power play, we didn’t really have much going on and it goes to show you what a weapon he is. It’s part of our team in terms of it got us going on the road — it was huge.”

It was an important goal in what amounted to an elimination game for Washington, but it also made Ovechkin the first, and likely the only, player to reach the 50-goal plateau this season. He’s just the 11th player in NHL history to record five, 50-goal seasons. The other 10? A cast of Hall of Famers: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Marcel Dionne, Guy Lafleur, Phil Esposito, Bobby Hull, Brett Hull, Pavel Bure and Steve Yzerman.

“It means a lot. It’s big number and it’s going to be in history for my whole life,” Oechkin said. “I’m pretty sure my family happy, the guys happy for me, I appreciate all players who give me opportunities, and coaches, to be in right position and find the right spot.”

But given the situation the Capitals are in with their chances of making the playoffs now at 2 percent, Ovechkin was focused less on the individual milestone and more on the team’s predicament.

“We understand the situation right now and unfortunately Columbus win but we still have chances and we’re going to fight through it,” Ovechkin said. “If

we going to make it we going to make it. If not, we just have to finish on the right note.”

Washington Post LOADED: 04.09.2014


Braden Holtby to face Blues; Jaroslav Halak not ‘comfortable’ facing former team

By Katie Carrera

April 8 at 3:26 pm

ST. LOUIS – A little over a month after he was traded by the Blues to the Buffalo Sabres, Jaroslav Halak returns to the city he played in for the past three and a half years. But he won’t start tonight against St. Louis.

Braden Holtby will start as the Capitals attempt to keep their slim postseason hopes alive because Halak wouldn’t be “comfortable” facing his former team, according to coach Adam Oates, who discussed the decision with goaltending coach Olie Kolzig.

“We know the feelings when you go into your old stomping ground and it’s not always easy and you’re not always comfortable, at least the first time,” Oates said. “We talked to [Halak] and he just wasn’t 100 percent comfortable. Unfortunately this time of year and where we’re at, we can’t afford that and Holts has played great lately. We feel really good about that and Holts is playing.”

As he was walking out of Scottrade Center following the morning skate, Halak confirmed Oates’s comments, stating that the trade was still “fresh” and he didn’t want that to impact his performance in the game.

Holtby faced the Blues in the teams’ only other meeting this season, recording 46 saves in a 4-1 win at Verizon Center on Nov. 17.

>> Dustin Penner will be back in the lineup after sitting out Saturday’s game against the Islanders with an undisclosed upper-body injury.

>> Brooks Laich (groin) made the trip to St. Louis with the team and worked out with the scratches and assistant coaches. Laich isn’t expected to be ready to play prior to the end of the regular season.


>> Blues leading goal scorer Alexander Steen is expected to return to the lineup tonight after missing the past three games with an upper-body injury.

>> Projected lineups for both teams:

Capitals

Grabovski-Backstrom-Ovechkin

Kuznetsov-Johansson-Brouwer

Chimera-Fehr-Ward

Penner-Beagle-Wilson

Alzner-Carlson

Brouillette-Strachan

Orlov-Carrick

Holtby, Halak.

Blues

Alexander Steen-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

Derek Roy-Patrik Berglund-Jaden Schwartz

Brenden Morrow-Vladimir Sobotka-Steve Ott

Chris Porter/Magnus Paajarvi-Maxim Lapierre-Ryan Reaves

Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo

Barret Jackman-Roman Polak

Carlo Colaiacovo-Kevin Shattenkirk

Ryan Miller will start, Brian Elliott will back up.

Washington Post LOADED: 04.09.2014


Ovechkin gets 50th goal, Capitals top Blues 4-1

By Associated Press

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Alex Ovechkin took his place in the NHL record book and helped the Washington Capitals keep pace in the playoff race.

Ovechkin became the 11th player in NHL history to score 50 more goals in a season five times and added two assists as the Capitals beat the slumping St. Louis Blues 4-1 on Tuesday night. The two points gave the Capitals 85, four behind Columbus for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Both the Blue Jackets and Capitals have three games left.

“We talked this morning about all we can do is control our situation,” Washington coach Adam Oates said. “Try and focus on tonight, get a win and see what happens tomorrow.”

The Blues clinched a playoff spot in the Western Conference a while ago, but their hopes of a President’s Trophy are fading.

Maxim Lapierre had the only goal for St. Louis, which has lost a season-high three straight. The Blues have been outscored 12-3 during the losing streak. St. Louis has scored two or fewer goals in nine of its last 11 games.

“I thought the first period we were really good,” St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock said. “When we got down 3-1, we just seemed to lose our energy.”

Hitchcock said the Blues‘ scoring problems are more than just the top lines not delivering.

“I think it’s across the board,” Hitchcock said. “When you’re not scoring, you need to shoot, but it’s more the execution after we got down.”

Nicklas Backstrom scored twice and Mikhail Grabovski added another goal for the Capitals. Braden Holtby made 28 saves after he started over Jaroslav Halak, who played 40 games and recorded 24 wins for the Blues this season. Holtby also beat the Blues 4-1 on Nov. 17.

“We got fortunate in some places, a broken stick on a wide-open shot and a few others where they just missed, but I think that was a credit to us pressuring them on those scoring chances,” Holtby said. “It’s a game of those little things and tonight we did that.”

Holtby said the Capitals have done what they had to do the last few games.

“I think we’ve done a pretty good job of staying calm and just playing our game the last couple,” Holtby said. “It’s hard, it’s a tough thing, but we can only control what we can control now.”

Ovechkin, who added an assist, beat Ryan Miller with a one-timer from the left circle at 17:54 of the first period for his 50th goal overall and 23rd on the power play, both league highs.

It is Ovechkin’s first 50-goal campaign since 2009-10 when he scored 50. His single-season high is 65 in the 2007-08 season.

“It means a lot,” Ovechkin said. “That’s a big number, and it’s going to be there my whole life.”

After Lapierre tied the game at 2:39 of the second period, Grabovski gave the Capitals the lead for good when he beat Miller with a slap shot from the left circle at 8:52 of the period.

Ovechkin then gave Washington some insurance when he broke in down the right wing and fed Backstrom in the slot. Backstrom put it past Miller with 1:10 left in the second period to make it 3-1.

“It was a great feed again,” Backstrom said. “That was a seam pass there and that defenseman gave me a little room, so you have to take advantage of that.”

Washington began the third period on a power play and Backstrom put the game out of reach when he scored 16 seconds into the period.

NOTES: Ovechkin is tied with Pavel Bure, Phil Esposito, Bobby Hull, Brett Hull and Steve Yzerman with five seasons of 50 or more goals. Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky accomplished that nine times, and Marcel Dionne, Guy Lafleur and Mario Lemieux had six such seasons. … Alexander Steen returned to the Blues‘ lineup after missing the last three games. … Tuesday marked the first time the Capitals have been in St. Louis since Dec. 1, 2010, when they also beat the Blues 4-1.

Washington Times LOADED: 04.09.2014


Caps’ Ovechkin reaches 50-goal mark

By Associated Press

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin became the 11th player in NHL history to score at least 50 goals in a season five times when he tallied on a power play in the first period Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues.

Ovechkin beat Blues goalie Ryan Miller with a one-timer from the left circle at 17:54 for his 50th goal overall and 23rd on the power play, both league highs.

This is Ovechkin’s first 50-goal season since 2009-10 when he scored 50. His single-season high is 65 in the 2007-08 season.

The Washington winger is tied with Pavel Bure, Phil Esposito, Bobby Hull, Brett Hull and Steve Yzerman with five seasons of 50 or more goals.

Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky accomplished that nine times, and Marcel Dionne, Guy Lafleur and Mario Lemieux did it six times.

Washington Times LOADED: 04.09.2014


732620 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit 4, Buffalo 2: Red Wings now just one point away from playoff spot

By Helene St. James

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Detroit Red Wings are one point from securing a 23rd straight trip to the NHL playoffs.

They edged within a breath after beating Buffalo, 4-2, tonight at First Niagara Center, reducing the so-called magic number to one. It can be achieved as early as Wednesday, when the Wings at are Pittsburgh. The victory kept the Wings in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference -- ironically enough setting them on a collision course with the Penguins when the playoffs arrive next week.

• BOX SCORE

Brendan Smith scored a tying goal during a second period that was otherwise highlighted by recent returnee Pavel Datsyuk helping to kill off a 5-on-3 Sabres power play, including making a save on a potential rebound goal. Darren Helm scored in the third period, shortly after the Wings had run up to 0-for-5 with the power play. David Legwand also scored in the third period, shortly before Zemgus Girgensons contributed his second goal of the night. Datsyuk found the back of an empty net with seconds to go.

There can be a tendency for teams to take games against opponents as challenged as the Sabres as easy victories, but the Wings started just fine, jamming pucks at Matt Hackett, the same guy who stymied them last week in Detroit. Power plays early and late led to numerous good chances, like a deflection from Gustav Nyquist and a terrific shot from Johan Franzen from the right circle, unfortunately no one was in position for what would have been an easy tip-in. The Sabres rattled almost as hard in Detroit's end, calling on Jimmy Howard for nine saves in the first period.

The Wings fell behind, 1-0, 2 minutes into the second period, after Mike Weber corralled a bouncing puck and sent it to the paint, where Girgensons got a piece of the puck before Danny DeKeyser could clear him. Smith scored his fifth goal of the season just past the midpoint, lifting a shot behind Hackett off a cross-ice pass from Franzen while Daniel Alfredsson hovered by the net. Immediately after that the Wings endured a dicey stretch as DeKeyser and Justin Abdelkader went to the penalty box nine seconds apart. Datsyuk was out for the second shift of that nearly 2-minute two-man Sabres advantage, a significant indication he feels good three games into a comeback from a left-knee injury that's nagged since December.

As good as the Wings were killing penalties, their power play squandered five chances to make a difference, including two stretches early in the third period. Buffalo's Johan Larsson had the best chance when he got in on a breakaway, sending a low slider Howard's way.

The Wings steadfastly worked away, and took a lead after Kyle Quincey sent a shot on net. Hackett made the save, but Helm hustled to get to the loose puck, turning it into his 12th goal of the season. Legwand scored at 15:46, giving the Wings some breathing room after Girgensons pulled a nifty move to make it 3-2 2 minutes later.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.09.2014


Mike Babcock cautions 'these games aren't easy to win' as Detroit Red Wings take on Buffalo Sabres

1:01 PM, April 8, 2014 | By Helene St. James

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Detroit Red Wings are taking a little cue from the Devils as the playoff finish line is within sight.

The Wings take on the Buffalo Sabres tonight at First Niagara Center (7 p.m., FSD). Detroit's magic number to make the playoffs for a 23rd straight season dropped to three after New Jersey lost Monday, so the Wings can clinch Wednesday at Pittsburgh if they get at least three points out of the next two games.

That Devils' game should sound a little warning bell, because had New Jersey beat Calgary, the Devils would have been within a point of the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Instead they lost, 1-0 to an opponent that's out of the playoff picture - just like the Sabres are.

"All you have to do is look around the league," Babcock said after the morning skate. "You watch Calgary and New Jersey, or you watch Anaheim go into Edmonton (Sunday) - these games aren't easy to win. They never are. They're NHL players on an NHL team with pride that you're playing against, and you've got to dig in and play well.

"The biggest thing is, you've got to be playing well this time of year any way to have any success, so we have to be focused on us and having energy and doing things right."

The Wings beat the Sabres, 3-2, last Friday in Detroit.

The Wings are nursing a one-point lead on Columbus for the first wild-card spot in the East. The Blue Jackets host Phoenix tonight.

Babcock is making one personnel change against the Sabres, with Jimmy Howard starting in net. Up front, Pavel Datsyuk will play between Johan Franzen and Justin Abdelkader, with Gustav Nyquist moving to Riley Sheahan's line with Tomas Tatar.

This allows for a new third line with Darren Helm centering Tomas Jurco and Daniel Alfredsson, a line with speed, forechecking and significant scoring potential. David Legwand has dropped to the fourth line, with Luke Glendening and Drew Miller. Todd Bertuzzi and Joakim Andersson are healthy scratches.

What's left on the schedule after tonight: At Pittsburgh, hosting the Hurricanes, at St. Louis.



Detroit 4, Buffalo 2: Mike Babcock becomes winningest Red Wings coach as playoffs now just one point away

April 9, 2014 | By Helene St. James

BUFFALO, N.Y. — There’s no panic, no pressing, just the drive to keep playing.

The Red Wings are just one point from ensuring they’ll do so again for a 23rd straight season when the playoffs begin next week, banking a 4-2 victory Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. The scoring was spread out, the goaltending was solid, the penalty kill was outstanding and the power play dangerous even if it didn’t deliver a goal. That enables the Wings to clinch a playoff spot tonight at Pittsburgh — against an opponent they’re likely to play in the first round.

The Sabres took an early lead and got some strong goaltending themselves, but the Wings just kept threatening and eventually a tying goal from Brendan Smith turned into a two-goal lead thanks to Darren Helm and David Legwand. Then Pavel Datsyuk iced it with an empty-net goal.

“We’ve just got to keep playing, keep doing things right and get ready for the playoffs,” Johan Franzen said. “We talk about that a lot — just be patient and keep grinding and doing all the small things right out there. It’s been giving us some good results.”

Contrast the Wings with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who sat in second place in the Atlantic Division a month ago and then crashed so hard they were eliminated Tuesday. The Wings have been without Datsyuk for long stretches and without Henrik Zetterberg for long stretches — and still they are standing.

“It’s one good step in the right direction,” Wings goalie Jimmy Howard said. “We just have to find a way to keep it rolling because we want to find a way to feel good going into the playoffs.”

The only Buffalo player to beat Howard was Zemgus Girgensons, who did it once from in front of the net and then again after stepping around Niklas Kronwall. The Sabres have lost 49 times this season and will finish with the


NHL’s worst record, but they’ve given Detroit two good tests over the past week, forcing the Wings to show resolve.

“This time of year when you’re out, you play with house money and you can just roll,” coach Mike Babcock said. “We had a huge 5-on-3 kill where we could have been down two, that would have been a big hill to climb.”

The victory was Babcock’s 414th with the Wings, making him the all-time winningest Detroit coach. “I’m thrilled,” Babcock said. “In order to do it, you’ve got to be there a long time. For me to be in my ninth year, what it tells me is that my kids got to go to high school in the same town, and that doesn’t happen to an NHL coach very often, so I’m thankful.”

There was thanks among the Wings that Datsyuk is three games into a comeback from a knee injury and seemingly on steady feet, because it made him available when a nearly 2-minute long two-man Buffalo power play emerged shortly after Smith’s goal. Datsyuk was out for the second segment, winning face-offs and swiping away rebounds while regular penalty killers Danny DeKeyser and Justin Abdelkader sat in the box.

The Wings have three games left, and while nothing is certain, it’s hard to think they won’t get at least one point. This is a team that 10 games ago was looking up at the playoff picture — and now looks poised to pounce.



Detroit Red Wings' new third line features speedsters Darren Helm, Tomas Jurco, veteran Daniel Alfredsson


BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Red Wings debuted a new third line, one that could develop into a considerable threat given the talent the trio has.

Darren Helm centered Daniel Alfredsson and Tomas Jurco during Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over the Sabres at First Niagara Center. The group has speed, skill and forechecking ability — and since coach Mike Babcock said he “liked them,” that means that barring injuries, they should make a repeat appearance tonight at Pittsburgh.

“They’re fast,” Babcock said. “Jurcs has good speed and Alfie knows how to play. Give Alfie a couple guys that can really fly, he’s a better player. I thought that was a good group for us.”

Though Jurco — who at 21 is two decades younger than Alfredsson — is new to the group, Helm and Alfredsson have played together on and off this season.

“We had some good shifts out there, some early chemistry, and hopefully that continues,” Helm said. “We’ve got to find ways to be effective against other teams and stick together and score some goals. I’ve played with Alfie for a lot of the time that I’ve played, so I’m pretty comfortable with him. I’d like to be able to do more with him as skilled as he is, but I’ve got to play to my potential and things will happen.”

Helm score his 12th goal of the season when he picked up a rebound, got to an open spot and went high on Matt Hackett. Helm went 10-for-10 in the face-off circle.

A third line can be a huge difference-maker in the playoffs; a year ago, Joakim Andersson, Gustav Nyquist and Damien Brunner often made things difficult for Anaheim and Chicago. Helm, Jurco and Alfredsson might be this year’s third line playoff ace.

■ Q FACTOR: Kyle Quincey set up Helm’s goal, continuing what has been an improved second half of the season. “He’s been steady for us,” Babcock said. “He’s ultra-competitive in games. He’s a heavy body. We need him to be good. Him and (Danny) DeKeyser have been a good pair for us that we’ve been able to play against the best unit.” Quincey has shored up his play especially since gaining DeKeyser as a partner after Jonathan Ericsson was sidelined by a broken finger a month ago.

“All I try to focus on throughout the year is consistency,” Quincey said. “I just want Babs to know every game that he knows what he’s going to get

with me — nothing flashy, I’ll jump in when I can, get my shots through on first good passes and try to win my battles.”



Detroit 4, Buffalo 2: Why the Red Wings won Tuesday


At First Niagara Center, Buffalo, N.Y.

■

IN THE FIRST PERIOD: The Wings got a power play 1:34 into the game when Mike Weber went for delay of game. Gustav Nyquist had a tip-in attempt among several good chances. Darren Helm went for goalie interference at 3:57, and the Sabres got their first shots on Jimmy Howard. That jump-started the Sabres, with Torrey Mitchell sending a wrist shot on Howard and then picking up the rebound. Tomas Tatar had a sudden chance with about 5 minutes to play, whipping a short shot on Matt Hackett sliding through the hash marks. Shots were 12-9 to Detroit.

■

IN THE SECOND PERIOD: The Sabres took a 1-0 lead at 1:31, when Mike Weber sent a bouncing puck in from the boards. Zemgus Girgensons was battling Danny DeKeyser in front of Detroit’s net but managed to get a piece of the puck for the goal. The Wings got a third power play at 5:37 after a nasty hit by Weber on Nyquist, but weren’t as dangerous on this man advantage. The Wings tied it up at 12:28, when Brendan Smith waited just long enough to send a nice pass from Johan Franzen behind Hackett while Daniel Alfredsson went to the front to create a distraction. DeKeyser went to the penalty box at 12:47 and Justin Abdelkader at 12:56, but the Wings didn’t let the Sabres have much chance with the puck. Shots were 25-18 to Detroit.

■

IN THE THIRD PERIOD: The Wings began with 36 seconds left over on a power play — and got a fifth power play at 1:11. They didn’t make a dent — but then Darren Helm provided a 2-1 lead at 3:33 when he picked up Kyle Quincey’s rebound and waited till Hackett was down to put the puck in the net. David Legwand scored on a wrist shot at 15:46, but Girgensons went around Niklas Kronwall to make it 3-2. Pavel Datsyuk scored into an empty net from center ice with 5 seconds remaining.

UP NEXT: Tonight at Pittsburgh.



Red Wings' Kyle Quincey trying to win the give-and-take game

Ted Kulfan

Buffalo — The small batch of reporters around Kyle Quincey caught him off guard.

Quincey is a defenseman who doesn't attract much attention from the media, and if he does, it's usually a bad thing.

"If I'm not noticed, that's a good thing," said Quincey, who along with Danny DeKeyser have evolved into a steady defensive tandem. "Stay under the radar, play good defense, and let the forwards do their job and score some goals, and we should be fine."

After an uneven start, Quincey's season has turned for the better — especially in that hazy plus-minus statistic (on the ice for a goal, versus on the ice for an opponent's goal).

Quincey — who along with Drew Miller is on course to play every game this regular season — was at minus-nine in the early weeks of the season, as coach Mike Babcock was quick to point out Tuesday morning. But Quincey has worked his way downward since (he was at minus-6 entering Tuesday's game).


"He dug himself a hole, he was dash-nine right from the get-go; I don't know the reason for that, but he's been steady for us," Babcock said. "He's ultracompetitive in games, he's a heavy body and we need him to be good.

"He's playing on our top four, and he and (Danny) DeKeyser have been a good pair that we've been able to play against the best units."

The plus-minus statistic doesn't always tell the entire story, in Quincey's estimation.

"It's one of those stats that comes and goes," Quincey said. "You can have some games where I feel like I didn't have a great game and I'm plus-two, and if I feel I've had a great game, I'm minus-three.

"All you can control is your one-on-one battles and there's a lot of intangibles that go into that (statistic). When your team is winning, we had a great stretch there for a while, and my plus-minus was good, it's one of those things.

"I try to focus on consistency throughout the year. I want Babs (Babcock) to know every game what he's going to get from me. Nothing flashy, I'll jump in (to the play) when I can and get shots through and make good first passes, and win battles.

"That's my game now."

Brand new season

There’s been talk about how the Red Wings can take something from last year’s playoff run, when they won four games the final week of the season to qualify for the playoffs.

But Babcock, who headed into Tuesday’s game tied atop the Red Wings career victories list with 413, doesn’t entirely buy that way of thinking.

“It’s about this year and we have a game here tonight and we have to be prepared,” Babcock said. “All you have to do is look around the league and see these games aren’t easy to win. They never are. These are NHL players with a lot of pride, so you have to dig in and play well.”

Ice chips

Babcock is using the same lineup he did Saturday in Montreal, the only change being Jimmy Howard goaltending instead of Jonas Gustavsson.

…There's been talk about how the Red Wings can take something from last year's playoff run, when they won four games the final week of the season to qualify for the playoffs, into this season

But Babcock doesn't entirely buy that way of thinking.

"It's about this year and we have a game here tonight and we have to be prepared," Babcock said. "All you have to do is look around the league and see these games aren't easy to win. They never are. These are NHL players with a lot of pride, so you have to dig in and play well."

…Sabres coach Ted Nolan credited Red Wings general manager Ken Holland as a key reason for the Red Wings' annual success.

"They have a great scouting staff that keeps finding these guys somewhere," Nolan said. "I don't think it happens by accident. They have a great plan, great structure and obviously great method to their success."

Detroit News LOADED: 04.09.2014


Red Wings defeat Sabres, need one point to clinch playoff spot

Ted Kulfan

Buffalo, N.Y. — Mike Babcock has achieved much in his coaching career already, but Tuesday's milestone was yet another one.

Babcock passed Jack Adams for first place in career wins with the Red Wings with victory No. 414 as the Red Wings defeated Buffalo 4-2.

Along with Babcock's achievement, the victory moved the Red Wings (38-27-14) to within a point of clinching a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They have an opportunity to do that Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

The Red Wings defeated Buffalo for the eighth consecutive time.

Darren Helm broke a 1-1 tie with his 12th goal, at 3:33 of the third period.

Helm dug out a big rebound by Sabres goalie Matt Hackett in the slot, patiently took a stride to his right, and fired into an open net, Hackett leaning the other way.

David Legwand made it 3-1, scoring his 14th at 15:46.

Sabres forward Rasmus Girgensons cut the lead 3-2 with just over two minutes left, but Pavel Datsyuk's empty-net goal with 4.2 seconds left clinched the victory.

Brendan Smith scored in the second period on a nice, cross-ice feed from Johan Franzen, tying the score at 1 at 12:28.

Smith's goal, his fifth, came just moments after the Sabres botched a rush on the other end, the puck rolling off the stick of forward Tyler Ennis, with goalie Jimmy Howard leaning to a side.

Girgensons gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 1:31 of the second period.

Howard was particularly crucial during a five-on-three penalty kill that lasted 1:51 midway in the second period.

Howard made several key saves, the best on defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen which could have regained the lead for Buffalo.



Pavel Datsyuk is closing in on 'typical' game for Red Wings

Ted Kulfan

Buffalo, N.Y. — Is Pavel Datsyuk getting closer to being the Pavel Datsyuk the NHL is accustomed to?

Possibly, if Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over the Sabres was any indication.

Datsyuk, in his third game back from an inflamed knee, played 20 minutes, 18 seconds on 26 shifts, scored an empty-net goal, was plus-2, won 14 of 20 faceoffs, and was on the ice during a key five-on-three Red Wings penalty kill in the second period.

“It feels better,” Datsyuk said of his knee, which limited him to four NHL games and four Winter Olympic games since Jan. 1. “Mentally it’s a little bit tough not (having) played a lot of games. It’s tough. But when games start, it’s easy to come back.

“Every game it’s better and better.”

Coach Mike Babcock believes Datsyuk is getting closer to breaking out.

“Before he breaks through he’s doing good things with the puck but not quite as quick as normal,” Babcock said. “Pretty soon he’ll start pulling away from people.”

Datsyuk’s line with Johan Franzen and Justin Abdelkader got stronger as the game went on Tuesday.

Franzen thinks Datsyuk is getting close to being the dangerous Datsyuk the NHL has seen before.

“He’s only going to get better,” Franzen said. “He’s been good from the start but you always get more comfortable the more you play.”



Red Wings 4, Sabres 2: David Legwand scores winner as Detroit needs one point to clinch playoff berth


Ansar Khan | April 08, 2014

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock warned his team Tuesday morning that the Buffalo Sabres could be dangerous, despite their record.

He was right.

The Red Wings were far from their best, but all that matters is that they found a way to grind out a 4-2 victory at the First Niagara Center.

As a result, the Red Wings are on the verge of clinching their 23rd consecutive playoff appearance.

With 90 points, the Red Wings (38-27-14) need to earn just one point in their final three games to reach the postseason. They could secure a spot as soon as Wednesday, when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins in a potential first-round playoff preview (8 p.m., NBC Sports Network).

Darren Helm scored at 3:33 of the third period to snap a 1-1 tie but David Legwand's goal with 4:14 remaining proved to be the difference after Zemgus Girgensons scored his second goal of the game with 2:11 to play.

Pavel Datsyuk sealed it with an empty-net goal with 4.2 seconds left.

It was Babcock's 414th win as Red Wings coach, moving him past Jack Adams as the franchise's all-time leader. Babcock is 414-197-90 during nine seasons in Detroit.

The Red Wings swept their four-game season series from the Sabres, who have the worst record in the NHL (21-49-9, 51 points). They have defeated Buffalo seven times in a row and are 12-1-1 in their past 14 vs. the Sabres.

Jimmy Howard made 25 saves for his season-high fourth consecutive win and is 6-0-0 lifetime vs. Buffalo.

Helm banged in a loose puck past goaltender Matt Hackett for his 12th goal of the season, in just 39 games. He has five goals in his past six games.

The goal came after the Red Wings failed to generate much during their fifth power play of the game (they went 0-for-5).

Legwand scored his 14th goal at 15:46. It looked to be an insurance tally before Girgensons made a great move around Niklas Kronwall to score his second of the game.

The Red Wings were fortunate to be tied 1-1 after two periods against the injury-riddled Sabres.

Killing a five-on-three power play that lasted 1:51 was pivotal for the Red Wings, who held Buffalo to just one shot and did a good job of clearing the zone. Datsyuk, in just his third game since returning from a knee injury, led the penalty-killing effort.

After a subpar first period, the Red Wings were listless the first half of the second period, before Smith sparked them with his fifth goal of the season.

Smith joined the rush, took a cross-ice pass from Johan Franzen, and fired a shot past Hackett at 12:28 while Daniel Alfredsson, who also drew an assist, was at the net front.

The Sabres struck first, when Girgensons redirected a pass along the boards by Cody Hodgson at 1:31. Girgensons was battling with Danny DeKeyser in front of the net.

The Red Wings pressed during an early power play and came on strong late. In between, the Sabres, playing loose, with nothing to lose, generated some chances and had a good amount of offensive-zone time.

Michigan Live LOADED: 04.09.2014


Olympia picks general contractor for new $450 million Detroit Red Wings arena

David Muller | April 08, 2014

DETROIT, MI – Olympia Development of Michigan has picked Barton Malow-Hunt-White as the general contractor for a $450 million, 18,000-seat arena the company plans to build for the Detroit Red Wings in the Lower Cass Corridor.

Olympia, the development arm of Ilitch Holdings, which also owns the Detroit Tigers and the Fox Theatre, submitted its pick to Detroit’s Downtown Development Authority for review. The DDA is scheduled to vote on the recommendation Wednesday at 3 p.m.

The staff of Barton Malow-Hunt-White, a combination of two Metro Detroit-based companies and an Indianapolis firm, has had its hand in projects such as Ford Field, Comerica Park and the expansion of Michigan Football Stadium in Ann Arbor. Hunt Construction Group, the firm based in Indianapolis, oversaw construction of the Marlins Park baseball field in Miami, the Amway Center in Orlando and the Barclays Center Brooklyn.

According to Olympia, construction of the 650,000-square-foot arena in Detroit will create about 5,500 jobs. It’s part of a larger, $650 million project that encompasses a 45-block area between Midtown and downtown, where the company said it is developing an entertainment district with mixed-use developments.

The project was revealed in greater detail last June at a DDA meeting, as the quasi-government body needed to expand its district because Olympia seeks DDA money to help finance the project.

The entire project will create about 8,300 jobs and have about a $1.8 billion economic impact, according to Olympia. As the proposed development made its way through City Council, several council members said they would sign off on it so long as Detroiters would reap employment from it.

Olympia said more than half of the construction jobs for the new arena will be filled by Detroit residents, with more than $100 million paid to Detroit workers. City Council has approved property transfers and other measures allowing the project to move forward, despite concern for the use of public money.

The arena and accompanying entertainment district would be funded with a mix of $365.5 million in private investment and an estimated public investment of $284.5 million.

Olympia would contribute $11.5 million annually for 30 years toward the construction debt for the arena. The DDA would contribute $2 million a year. And another $12.8 to $15 million a year would come from property taxes paid within the city's downtown development district.

It’s not immediately clear when construction will begin, but Olympia says the arena will be ready for the 2016 NHL hockey season. When the Detroit Red Wings vacate the Joe Louis Arena, their current home ice, the city will demolish the arena with the intention of redeveloping the riverfront land. On that front, the state has agreed to lend the city $6 million up front to help with demolition costs. The city would have to repay the money through tax increment financing with a new development at the riverfront site near the Cobo Center.



Red Wings guard against letdown vs. cellar-dwelling Sabres; Mike Babcock looks to pass Jack Adams


BUFFALO, N.Y. – The injury-riddled Buffalo Sabres have by far the worst record in the NHL, and the Detroit Red Wings have dominated them in recent years.

But Red Wings coach Mike Babcock issued a warning heading into tonight’s game at First Niagara Center (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit): It’s not going to be easy.

“We have to be prepared for tonight,” Babcock said after an optional morning skate. “If you watched Calgary and New Jersey last night (Flames won 1-0), or Anaheim go into Edmonton (Oilers won 4-2 Sunday), these games aren’t easy to win. They never are.


“They’re NHL players and an NHL team with pride that you’re playing against. You got to dig in and you got to play well.”

The Red Wings will try to rebound from Saturday’s 5-3 loss at Montreal and inch closer to clinching a playoff berth. Their magic number is three (any combination of three points earned by Detroit or lose by New Jersey).

Babcock, with 413 wins as Red Wings coach, can pass Jack Adams for first on the franchise’s all-time list. The Red Wings will attempt to sweep their four-game season series from the Sabres. They have won six in a row against Buffalo and are 11-1-1 in their past 13 vs. Buffalo.

Babcock said the only lineup change from Saturday’s game sees Jimmy Howard starting in goal. He is 5-0-0 lifetime vs. Buffalo and is seeking his season-high fourth consecutive win.

“You got to play well without the puck, you got to be committed to details and doing things right and our group has to work harder than the other team if we’re going to win,” Babcock said. “I thought in Montreal we lost F-3 (third forward high) too many times and the next thing you know the puck’s in our net. We worked hard, did lots of good things but we can’t have the puck in our net all the time. We need goaltending out of Howie and we just got to keep focused on the details and our work ethic.”

Here are the Red Wings’ anticipated lines and defense pairs:

Johan Franzen-Pavel Datsyuk-Justin Abdelkader

Tomas Tatar-Riley Sheahan-Gustav Nyquist

Darren Helm-David Legwand-Daniel Alfredsson

Drew Miller-Luke Glendening-Tomas Jurco

Joakim Andersson and Todd Bertuzzi (healthy scratches)

Brendan Smith-Niklas Kronwall

Kyle Quincey-Danny DeKeyser

Brian Lashoff-Jakub Kindl

Jimmy Howard (starting)

Jonas Gustavsson



As Red Wings inch closer to clinching playoff berth they look to finish regular season with strong push


DETROIT – Here they are again. It’s the last week of the regular season and the Detroit Red Wings, with four games remaining, are battling to make the playoffs.

This time they have some margin for error. They don’t need to win all four games to make it, like they did a year ago.

But that’s now how the Red Wings are approaching their task of reaching the playoffs for the 23rd consecutive season. They feel urgency to win every game, starting Tuesday in Buffalo (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit). They would prefer not to be in a must-win situation Sunday in their season finale at St. Louis.

“We’re close but we’re not there yet,” forward Justin Abdelkader said. “There are important games coming up.

“We don’t want to be waiting until the last game, hoping teams are losing; that’s not a fun position to be in. We can take care of our own business; that would be the best way to do it.”

The Red Wings got some help Monday night when the Calgary Flames defeated New Jersey 1-0. It reduced Detroit’s magic number for clinching a playoff spot to three points (any combination of three points earned by the Red Wings or lost by the Devils).

“I think we’re in a good spot right now,” forward Drew Miller said. “We have to win some games. Our mindset is to continue playing well and make the playoffs. That’s our goal and we want to continue playing well when we get in the playoffs.”

The Red Wings, with 88 points, are sitting in the top wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who also have four games remaining and own the first tie-breaker over Detroit (most regulation/overtime wins).

The Toronto Maple Leafs (84 points, three games left) and Washington Capitals (83 points, four games remaining) are teetering on the brink of elimination.

“We have to win our games and we can’t expect other teams to lose,” Detroit’s Daniel Alfredsson said. “We got to expect that everybody is going to win their games to close the season. It’s obviously better to be in a position where you control your own destiny and that’s what we want to do.”

The Red Wings are 4-1-0 in their past five and 8-4-1 in their past 13.

“I think the way we’ve been playing for the last -- it seems like this whole year -- it’s been big games every night with a lot of pressure every night,” Alfredsson said. “I think as a group we’ve embraced it and done the most of it.

“Coming into the playoffs we just have to continue what we’re doing. I think we’ve built a real good foundation where we trust in each other as a group. We just have to make sure that we keep it going this week and we’ll be looking pretty good.”

The Red Wings are 3-0 against the Sabres (51 points), who have the worst record in the NHL, but all three games have been close and low-scoring (2-1, 3-1, 3-2).

The Penguins are locked into the No. 2 spot in the East, so Wednesday’s game has no significance for them in the standings.

The Red Wings on Friday host a Carolina club that is all but out of the playoff picture. And Sunday’s game might not have any relevance for the Western Conference-leading Blues.

The Red Wings have overcome a multitude of injuries, including several to their best players, to give themselves an opportunity to reach the postseason. The growth of young players like Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Riley Sheahan, Tomas Jurco, Luke Glendening and Danny DeKeyser has been a key.

“We’ve done a lot of good things this season, we’ve had a lot of fun doing it,” coach Mike Babcock said. “The kids have really grown. We feel we’ve gotten better as a team. The reality is what’s going to be measured is what happens over these last four games.”



Babcock not taking any team lightly this time of year

By Chuck Pleiness, Posted: 04/08/14, 5:21 PM EDT

Despite playing the league’s worst team tonight, the Buffalo Sabres, Wings coach Mike Babcock isn’t taking anything for granted.

“We have to be prepared for tonight,” Babcock told reporters after the morning skate in Buffalo. “All you have to do is ... if you watched Calgary and New Jersey (Monday) night, or Anaheim go into Edmonton, these games aren’t easy to win. They never are. They’re NHL players and an NHL team with pride that you’re playing against. You’ve got to dig in and you’ve got to play well. The biggest thing is you have to be playing well this time of year to have success anyway.”

Thanks for a 1-0 win by the Flames over the Devils on Monday, Detroit’s magic number is now three. That number is reduced by any combination of points the Wings gain or lost points by New Jersey, which has three games left on their schedule.


The Sabres have a league-worst 51 points, 14 fewer than Edmonton, which has the second-lowest point total.

“You always want to get better,” Babcock said. “I think our team has gotten better all year long and our kids are understanding more what it takes. I liked our power play entries the last game, I thought we got in the zone real well and the game before. I liked our penalty kill. I thought we could have executed better from the back end a few times in two games, so we got to do better in that area. We can’t lose F-3, F-3 can’t be impatient and dive in and give up odd-man rushes against.”

Jimmy Howard will start in goal against the Sabres, while Joakim Andersson and Todd Bertuzzi will be the healthy scratches.

The Wings are looking to extend their streak to qualifying for the playoffs for 23 consecutive seasons.

“The biggest thing to me is we have good players and then there’s been a culture created and a demand and expectation for success,” Babcock said. “Ideally, our young players are getting that. I’m a big believer that when you get a young player, and four or five years later, if he isn’t a good pro, it’s on your watch. It’s your responsibility. If they don’t have enough personal drive to become a good one, then make sure they’re in someone else’s organization. But the ones that stay in yours have to be pros, have to be every-dayers, have to be consistent in their effort. Your performance isn’t always what you want it to be but your effort and your professionalism has to be and that’s something you can control and we really try to focus on those areas.

“I keep hearing about how it’s passed on and then I tell these guys I don’t believe a whole bunch of stuff is passed on,” Babcock continued. “You’ve got to re-establish it each and every year. If you think it’s there just because you put your sweater on that’s not the way it works. It’s maintaining, it’s an accountability process that goes from year to year.”

Macomb Daily LOADED: 04.09.2014


Red Wings reduce playoff magic number to 1

By JOHN WAWROW, Posted: 04/08/14, 9:48 PM EDT

BUFFALO, N.Y. >> Red Wings coach Mike Babcock will enjoy the win more than the milestone for now.

As special as it was to pass Jack Adams’ franchise win total, making the playoffs is the more immediate priority.

Darren Helm scored the go-ahead goal 3:33 into the third period to spark a three-goal outburst and inch Detroit to the cusp of clinching a playoff berth following a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.

“The win tonight is way more important than that,” Babcock said, when asked about the significance of earning his 414th career victory, one more than Adams.

“But what I would say to you is these are things you think about the summer. And I’m thrilled.”

Babcock then shifted his attention to his team’s next test. The Red Wings (38-27-14) travel to play Pittsburgh on Wednesday needing only one point to secure one of the Eastern Conference’s two wild-card playoff spots, and extend the team’s run of postseason berths to 23 straight seasons.

“I know we’ve got a game in Pittsburgh tomorrow. We’re going to enjoy this tonight,” Babcock said, noting the game at Pittsburgh could potentially be a first-round playoff preview. “The reality is, it’s an important game tomorrow.”

Brendan Smith, David Legwand and Pavel Datsyuk, into an empty net, also scored for the Red Wings. Jimmy Howard made 25 saves in a game the Red Wings rallied back after spotting the Sabres a 1-0 lead.

Zemgus Girgensons scored both goals for the Sabres (21-49-9), who are already guaranteed of finishing in last place once the season ends on Sunday.

The Red Wings continued their domination of Buffalo. They’ve won eight straight since a 6-2 loss on Oct. 13, 2009, and improved to 23-2-1-1 against Buffalo since March 27, 1996, according to STATS.

“It’s one good step in the right direction,” Howard said. “We’ve got to find a way to get a point or two points there tomorrow and keep it rolling, because you want to feel good going into the playoffs.”

Howard did his part in stopping several shots to keep the game tied at 1 during a Sabres’ two-man advantage that spanned 1:51 in the second period.

His best stops came on bang-bang chances. After turning aside Cody Hodgson’s hard shot from the left circle, Howard kicked out his right pad to foil Rasmus Ristolainen’s attempt to convert the rebound.

Sabres coach Ted Nolan said coming up empty on the power play changed the game’s momentum.

“When you play a good team like Detroit, they know how to close deals. We have a 5-on-3 with a chance to go ahead, we don’t do it, and that’s what happens,” Nolan said. “You look at the things we didn’t do right.”

The Red Wings found their groove to start the third.

Helm started the play that led to his go-ahead goal by winning a faceoff to the left of the Sabres net. He drew the puck back to Kyle Quincey, whose shot from the left point was deflected on its way to the net.

Matt Hackett made the initial stop, but was unable to control the rebound, which squirted through a crowd of players in front. Helm gathered up the loose puck and took a few steps to his right, where he snapped it into the open side before Hackett had time to recover.

Legwand then made it 3-1 to seal the win by beating Hackett through the legs with 4:14 remaining.

Girgensons made it close 2:03 later by capping a great individual rush, in which he got between two defenders and roofed a shot over Howard’s right shoulder.

NOTES: The Sabres called up G Andrey Makarov from AHL Rochester to serve as the backup. He became the eighth goalie to dress for at least one game this season, including Ryan Vinz, a Sabres HarborCenter employee who backed up Jhonas Enroth the day Ryan Miller was traded to St. Louis. ... Red Wings RW Daniel Alfredsson’s assist on Smith’s goal upped career total to 712, tying him with Jean Beliveau and Scott Stevens for 48th on NHL list. ... Sabres RW Chris Stewart returned after missing 16 games with a lower body injury, while D Christian Ehrhoff — nicknamed “Ear-Hoff” by his teammates — played two days after requiring numerous stitches to close a gash in his right ear, which was struck by a puck.

Macomb Daily LOADED: 04.09.2014

732703 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers can clinch tonight

Frank Seravalli Posted: Tuesday, April 8, 2014, 10:56 AM

SUNRISE, Fla. -- 190 down, 5 days to go.

For the Flyers, extending their season at least another four games beyond 82 has come down to just two points.

The Flyers can clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center in Game No. 79 - thanks to New Jersey’s stunning loss to Calgary last night.

The Flyers clinched a playoff spot on April 7, 2009 with a win over the Panthers. Marty Biron was in net for that game; Jeff Carter scored the game-winning goal.

This Florida team has picked up just 4 out of their last 20 possible points - but they did register a comeback win on Sunday over Dallas to dampen the Stars’ playoff chances a bit. Roberto Luongo has been strong in net for the ‘Cats since being acquired from Vancouver.


“These games are the hardest to play,” Jake Voracek said after the Flyers' morning skate. “Those teams don’t have anything to play for on paper, but they have a lot of young guys that want to fight for a spot on the team. It’s going to be a hard game. We’ve got to work hard against them.”

This sojourn to South Florida’s warm, tropical air is more about the Flyers.

They were swept by the Panthers and Lightning on Nov. 25 and Nov. 27 this season - just the fourth time that’s happened in a two-game swing through Florida in franchise history. The other dates they didn’t garner at least one point: Feb. 24-26, 1999; Oct. 19-20, 2006; Oct. 24-25, 2007.

“This is a great opportunity for the hockey team tonight,” Craig Berube said. “We all know what's at stake and what we've got to do here. We need to go out and trust our system and play hard, be competitive.”

Berube says he has a different team now than the one that made this trip five months ago. For him, though, it’s all about mindset.

“I watched (Florida on Sunday) before our game, they were on TV, they’re a dangerous team right now,” Berube said. “They play with a lot of confidence, they move the puck well. They got a lot of young players that are skating and playing well so we’ve got to expect a real tough game. I think if we do that and if we go in there with the right mindset we’ll be OK.”

With the right mindset, the Flyers will be playoff bound. No more algorithms or percentages. Imagine that.

The Flyers remain two points back of the Rangers (with one game in-hand) for second place in the Metropolitan division and home-ice in the first round of the playoffs. New York hosts Carolina tonight. With a Rangers loss, the Flyers would take over home-ice in a tie, by virtue of the game in-hand. However, if the two teams are tied through the end of the season, the Rangers would hold the tiebreaker for regulation and overtime wins.

That means the Flyers still face an uphill battle to earn home-ice in the first round - but they do have their sights set on home-ice, if possible, considering they haven't won at Madison Square Garden since 2011.

"We're right there," Voracek said.

For one game, though, the focus is on the Flyers. Not anyone else. There need be no scoreboard watching.

"We want to focus on how we play," Claude Giroux said, "After tonight, we want to be a better team than when we were this morning."

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.09.2014


Flyers rout Panthers and clinch playoff spot

Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer

SUNRISE, Fla. - The team that had the worst start in franchise history clinched a playoff berth Tuesday night at the BB&T Center.

Captain Claude Giroux, who guaranteed the Flyers would make the playoffs when they had a 1-7 record, scored a pair of goals, sparking a 5-2 victory over lowly Florida and assuring that they will be playing in the postseason after being spectators last year.

"I just believed in this team," Giroux said of his early-season prediction. "Last year, not making the playoffs was unacceptable."

Vinny Lecavalier became the seventh Flyer to reach the 20-goal mark, opening the scoring early in the second period. The Flyers have the most 20-goal scorers in the NHL, and it marked the sixth time in franchise history they have had seven 20-goal scorers.

"We've been through a very tough start, and a lot of people didn't believe in us, but I think we believe in each other in the room," said Lecavalier, who centered the fourth line and set up Tye McGinn's goal, making it 5-2 with 4 minutes, 54 seconds left. "There's a lot of character. We never stopped even when we were 1-7. I still thought we were playing hard, but we weren't really in sync on the ice, and when we started playing better as a team, the results got there."

With the victory, the Flyers remained two points behind the second-place New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers, who are battling through some key injuries, have two games remaining (Buffalo and Montreal), while the Flyers have three (Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Carolina).

The Flyers, who are 40-22-9 since their 1-7 start, also remained two points ahead of fourth-place Columbus.

It seemed as if more fans cheering were for the Flyers than the Panthers. The sparse crowd erupted into chants of "Giroux" and "Let's Go Flyers" after Giroux took a stretch pass from Nick Grossmann and scored from the top of the right circle, ending a five-game stretch without a goal and giving his team a 2-0 lead with 13:31 left in the second.

Giroux beat backup goalie Dan Ellis, who was an emergency starter after Roberto Luongo suffered an undisclosed injury during warm-ups.

About 21/2 minutes later, Giroux converted a slick pass from Mark Streit, one-timing a shot past Ellis from the slot for his team-leading 27th goal - one more than Wayne Simmonds.

Florida cut it to 4-2 with 14:22 remaining in the third period, getting goals from Erik Gudbranson (screen shot from the point) and 19-year-old Jonathan Huberdeau (deflected off Streit).

But the Flyers, who have been awful in the third period recently, held on for their second straight win.

After a listless first period in which they failed to score on a ragged five-on-three power play that lasted 1:40, the Flyers regrouped and scored four second-period goals - two by Giroux - to take command. The period included Sean Couturier's first goal in 18 games.

It was coach Craig Berube's second milestone win against the Panthers. In his first game after he replaced Peter Laviolette, the Flyers defeated the Panthers, 2-1, on Oct. 8.

After the morning skate, Berube talked about what a "great opportunity" the Flyers would have later in the night. Midway through the first period, however, Berube read his team the riot act during a TV timeout. The Flyers were in the midst of an uninspired first period, and Berube - who is usually stoic behind the bench - was more animated than perhaps any time this season.

Berube undoubtedly had some choice words between the first and second periods, and the Flyers responded in the middle period.

As for the second-place hunt, the Flyers will slip past the Rangers if they go 2-0-1 while New York splits its two remaining games.

"We want to finish as high as possible; obviously home ice would be nice in the first round," said winger Scott Hartnell, aware that the Flyers have lost eight straight at Madison Square Garden since 2011.

"We all know what's at stake and what we have to do here," said Berube, whose team has a difficult game at Tampa Bay on Thursday. "Just trust your system and go out and play hard."



Flyers Notes: Downie 'back in the groove' for Flyers

Sam Carchidi, Posted: Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 3:01 AM

SUNRISE, Fla. - Winger Steve Downie returned to the lineup Tuesday night and tried to help the Flyers defeat Florida and clinch a playoff spot.

Downie, who missed the last eight games with a head injury, replaced the suspended Zac Rinaldo. He played on the third line with Sean Couturier and Matt Read. When healthy, Downie has been on that line most of the season.

"It's definitely exciting to be back in the groove of things," Downie said before the game. He added, "It might take a couple shifts to get the legs going, but hopefully the timing is there."


In 60 games entering Tuesday, Downie had four goals, 24 points, 106 penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating.

"I feel good now, and I'm ready to go," he said. "I'm looking forward, not backwards here."

Rinaldo played on the third line the previous two games. He received a four-game suspension from the NHL for an illegal check against Buffalo on Sunday.

"He brings the skating element and the physical element, and he's hard on the forecheck," coach Craig Berube said of Rinaldo. "He's a loss, for sure. He's a good player for us, and we're definitely going to miss him."

Downie had said he was ready to play about a week ago, but Berube was cautious to put him back in the lineup.

"He definitely got a little more skating in. We would have liked to get even a little bit more in than he did, but with the loss of Zac, we need him," Berube said.

McGinn returns

Left winger Tye McGinn also returned to the lineup, replacing Jay Rosehill.

McGinn, a healthy scratch the previous two games, was on a line with Vinny Lecavalier and Adam Hall.

Luongo injured

The Flyers caught a break when talented Florida goalie Roberto Luongo, Tuesday's projected starter, suffered an upper-body injury during warm-ups and could not play.

Instead, Florida used Dan Ellis, who took shabby numbers into the game: a 5-10 record, a 3.54 goals-against average, and an .883 save percentage.

Breakaways

Former Flyer Scottie Upshall, who plays wing on Florida's second line, went into the game leading the Panthers with 36 points. . . . Florida center Scott Gomez, who had been playing on the top line, was a healthy scratch. . . . Rinaldo on his suspension: "It sucks; it's the last thing I wanted to happen."



Downie returns; Flyers can clinch playoff spot

Sam Carchidi, Posted: Tuesday, April 8, 2014, 1:05 PM

SUNRISE, Fla. _ Winger Steve Downie will return to the lineup Tuesday night and try to help the Flyers defeat Florida and clinch a playoff spot.

"It's a great opportunity for the hockey team tonight," coach Craig Berube said after the morning skate at the BB&T Center in South Florida.

"We want to make sure we get a win tonight, but I think we need to focus more on how we play," said center Claude Giroux, who is goal-less in his last five games. "After tonight's game, we want to be a better team than we are this morning."

Vinny Lecavalier said the Flyers' focus is to "catch the teams in front of you."

They are two points behind the second-place Rangers in the Metropolitan Division; the Flyers have four games left _ one more than New York.

"I think we're in a great position to make the playoffs, and that's not our only goal tonight _ to clinch. We want to get the two points, but like I said, we want to catch the teams ahead of us," Lecavalier said."We have to finish strong."

After a 1-7 start, the Flyers have gone 39-22-9.

"We've been through a very tough start, and a lot of people didn't believe in us, but I think we beleive in each other in the room," Lecavalier said. "There's a lot of character; we never stopped even when we were 1-7. I still

thought we were playing hard, but we weren't really in sync on the ice, and when we started playing better as a team, the results got there."

Downie, who has missed the last eight games with a head injury, will replace the suspended Zac Rinaldo; he will play on the third line with Sean Couturier and Matt Read.

"It's definitely exciting to be back in the groove of things," said Downie, who, when healthy, has played primarily on a line with Couturier and Read. "...It might take a couple shifts to get the legs going, but hopefully the timing is there."

In 60 games, Downie has four goals, 24 points, 106 penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating.

"I feel good now and I'm ready to go," he said. "I'm looking forward, not backwards here."

Rinaldo had been playing on the third line the previous two games. He received a four-game suspension from the NHL for an illegal check against Buffalo on Sunday.

"He brings the skating element and the physical element, and he's hard on the forecheck," Berube said of Rinaldo. "He's a loss, for sure. He's a good player for us and we're definitely going to miss him."

Downie had said he was ready to play about a week ago, but Berube was cautious to put him back in the lineup.

"He defintely got a little more skating in; we would have liked to get even a little bit more in than he did, but with the loss of Zac, we need him," Berube said.

Berube said Tye McGinn will also return to the lineup Tuesday and that Jay Rosehill will be a healthy scratch.

McGinn is expected to be on a line with Vinny Lecavalier and Adam Hall.

The Flyers are trying to catch the Rangers and hold off fourth-place Columbus.

"We want to finish as high as possible; obviously home ice would be nice in the first round," winger Scott Hartnell said.

"We all know what's at stake and what we have to do here," Berube said. "Just trust your system and go out and play hard."

Breakaways. Steve Mason (2.52 GAA, .916 save percentage) will oppose Florida's Roberto Luongo (2.40, .919)...Former Flyer Scottie Upshall, who plays wing on Florida's second line, leads the Panthers with 36 points....Center Scott Gomez, who had been playing on the top line, will be a healthy scratch for Florida....Rinaldo on his suspension: "It sucks; it's the last thing I wanted to happen."



Flyers' Mason: "One goal achieved, and now we have bigger one'

Sam Carchidi, Posted: Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 3:47 AM

SUNRISE, Fla. _ It was an inartistic 5-2 win over sad-sack Florida on Tuesday night, but it assured the Flyers of a playoff spot after a one-year absence _ and that was the reason for all the hugs and fist bumps in the visitors’ locker room.

The team that got its coach fired after three games and started the season 1-7, had every right to feel good about itself.

“It’s a great accomplishment, but I think within this organization, it’s something to be expected,” said goalie Steve Mason, who made 38 saves in Tuesday’s victory. “It’s one goal that was achieved, and now we have a bigger one.”

Since their 1-7 start, the Flyers are 40-22-9. The turning point, coach Craig Berube said, was when the Flyers went on a six-game road trip Dec. 28 to


Jan. 7, traveling to Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Colorado, Phoenix and New Jersey.

The only loss was to Colorado, 2-1.

“We went with a purpose on that road trip,” Berube said. “We came out with five wins out of six. That’s pretty good. That made believers out of our team more than anything, and it put us in a good situation.”

“It’s about a process and slowly getting everybody together,” captain Claude Giroux said “When we play as a team, that’s when we’re dangerous. For example, tonight in the third period we didn’t play as a team, and that’s when we get in trouble.”

The Flyers still aren’t playing consistently enough. They still have too many defensive lapses, and they outplayed lowly Florida in just one of the three periods Tuesday.

They need the last three games to build momentum going into a likely first-round playoff matchup with the New York Rangers.

Mason has only been in the playoffs once _ in 2008-09, his rookie season with Columbus.

“Five years is a long time ago and I’m not even going to think about it,” Mason said. “It’s something that’s new and everybody’s really looking forward to it.”

Giroux, who led Tuesday’s win with two goals (see story), said the Flyers disappointed not only themselves, but their fans, by failing to make the playoffs last season.

“You see what the Flyers fan base brings every single game, and it’s an exciting thing to be a part of,” Mason said. “I haven’t been a part of a playoff series with this team, but watching on TV there’s a great atmosphere within the Wells Fargo Center, and I’m sure come the first game of the playoffs, it’ll be rocking.”

The Flyers are two points behind the second-place Rangers and have a game in hand. If New York splits its two remaining games (Buffalo, Montreal), the Flyers would take second place by going 2-0-1 against Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and Carolina.

“Regardless of what happens, we just have to make sure _ whether we’re starting on the road or at home _ we’re ready,” Mason said.

Looking ahead. The Flyers may not have to face standout Lightning goalie Ben Bishop Thursday in Tampa Bay. He was injured Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Florida goalie Roberto Luongo was injured in warmups and unable to face the Flyers, who shelled a shaky Dan Ellis.

Breakaways. The Flyers qualified for the playoffs for the 37th time in their 45-season history _ and 17th time in the last 19 seasons. They are Cup-less since 1975….Flyers’ first-round home playoff tickets are available at 215-218-PUCK, or online on the team’s website….In their last four games, the Flyers have been outscored, 8-2, in the third period. They were outscored, 2-1, and outshot, 16-3, in Tuesday’s third period. “We took our foot off the gas,” Giroux said. Said Mason: “Our third period was terrible. We all know it and we addressed it after the game. Come playoff time, we’re going to have to be better with that.”…The Flyers have seven 20-goal scorers for the first time since 1989-90…The Flyers have killed 20 straight penalties on the road, and they haven’t allowed a road power-play goal since Feb. 3 in San Jose….Adam Hall had two assists _ his 14th career two-point game and first as a Flyer….The Flyers are now 20-2-1 when Giroux scores a goal…..Nick Grossmann was plus-4…..The Flyers are 2 for 15 on five-on-three power plays (25th in the NHL) after failing to connect Tuesday.



Frozen Four: Will Gaudreau's dominance translate to the NHL?

Phil Anastasia, Posted: Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 1:08 AM

Sometimes, Guy Gaudreau would put the nets back-to-back at center ice.

Sometimes, he would put each net in the corner, facing the boards, and have his players go three-on-three in a pie slice of the rink.

"We did this at the end of every practice for years and years," said Mike Green, the head coach at Bishop Eustace Prep and a longtime assistant to Guy Gaudreau for a series of South Jersey travel teams that featured Gaudreau's son, Johnny.

On Thursday night, Johnny Gaudreau will lead Boston College against Union College in the NCAA Frozen Four in the Wells Fargo Center. Minnesota plays North Dakota in the other national semifinal, with the title game set for Saturday night.

A junior left winger, Gaudreau is widely regarded as college hockey's best player, its most creative player, and its most intriguing player. That's his latest hat trick.

Gaudreau, who leads the nation with 77 points (35 goals, 42 assists) in 39 games and set an NCAA record this season by scoring in 31 consecutive games, is the heavy favorite to win the Hobey Baker Award, college ice hockey's equivalent to college football's Heisman Trophy. The winner will be announced Friday.

Gaudreau has defied conventional wisdom since he was a 5-year-old dazzling his coaches and teammates with his skating, stick skills, and surreal vision in those unorthodox three-on-three games.

But what was true then remains true today: Gaudreau is both celebrated for his uncanny knack for dominating hockey games as the smallest player on the ice and surrounded by skepticism about his ability to continue his success at the next level.

And the next level, at long last, is the NHL.

"It's a man's game," an NHL scouting director who asked not to be identified said in discussing Gaudreau as an NHL prospect. "He's a special guy. Maybe he'll be one of the little guys who beats the odds. But the odds are not in his favor."

The 5-foot-8, 159-pound Gaudreau has a tough decision ahead of him. When this season is over, Gaudreau must choose whether to sign with the Calgary Flames, who made him a fourth-round draft pick in 2011, or return to Boston College for his senior season.

Although he's focused on helping his team to its second national title in three years, Gaudreau admits the decision has weighed on his mind - and created a difference of opinion within his family.

Gaudreau said his mother, Jane, wants him to return to Boston College; earn his degree in communications; and spend another season playing with his brother Matt, an Eagles' freshman.

Guy Gaudreau, the rink manager at Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, sees things from a different angle.

"As a hockey person, not as a father, I think he needs another level to play at," Guy Gaudreau said. "As his mom and dad, we think it's very important that he get his education."

Johnny Gaudreau admits he has been wrestling with his decision.

"It's tough," Johnny Gaudreau said. "My mom really wants me to stay, and I want her to be comfortable with my decision. I feel like either will be a good decision for me."

Gaudreau played three years at Gloucester Catholic High School with his father as the coach. He was a magician on the ice, once scoring 10 points (five goals, five assists) in a game against Green's Bishop Eustace team.

"I knew him, and we couldn't stop him," Green said. "He was just smiling at me the whole time."

Gaudreau skipped his senior year at Gloucester Catholic - another reason his mother wants him to experience his senior year in college - to play in Iowa for the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League.


He was 17 years old, stood about 5-foot-7, and weighed about 140 pounds. He scored 72 points (36 goals, 36 assists) in 60 games and was named the league's rookie of the year.

His coach at Dubuque was former Flyer Jim Montgomery, who is now the head coach at the University of Denver. In the regional semifinals two weeks ago, Gaudreau scored six points - three goals, three assists - in a 6-2 win over Denver, the second-highest total in an NCAA hockey tournament game.

"Montgomery knew him, knew he had to stop him, and Johnny goes out and does that," Green said.

Gaudreau chose Boston College in part because of veteran coach Jerry York's experience in developing smaller players. Gaudreau scored 44 points (21 goals, 23 assists) in 44 games as a freshman, was named the MVP of both the Beanpot Tournament and the Hockey East conference tournament, and helped the Eagles to the national title.

Gaudreau has improved each season, according to his coach.

"He's a dominant, dominant player at our level," York said.

Quiet and unassuming, Gaudreau is hockey's version of a basketball gym rat.

"If the Flames told him he had to play for nothing, he would do it," Guy Gaudreau said. "He's happiest when he's on the ice."

Gaudreau said he is motivated by skeptics who question his ability to play in the NHL because of his size.

"I've heard that my whole career, and it's always motivated me," Gaudreau said. "It still pushes me to prove people wrong."

On the ice, Gaudreau is like a basketball point guard with a feel for creating and identifying opportunities for himself and his teammates. He plays the game with flair, favoring no-look passes and seeing angles and openings that few other players can imagine.

When Gaudreau was a freshman, ESPN analyst Barry Melrose referred to the athlete's "three-dimensional vision" and compared him in that regard to Wayne Gretzky.

Green believes much of Gaudreau's sense of anticipation is an innate talent. But he also believes Guy Gaudreau brought out qualities in his son with those unusual three-on-three games at the end of every practice.

"Guy let him be that creative," Green said. "It was like they were playing in the schoolyard, just having fun and using their imaginations.

"Johnny learned to see everything on the ice. He always knows where everybody is on the ice because he knows they could be anywhere."



Giroux's prediction comes true for Flyers

FRANK SERAVALLI, Posted: Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 12:17 AM

SUNRISE, Fla. - Plastered above the rolls of tape, chewing gum and the dock that controls their music selections, a conspicuous sign appeared yesterday in the Flyers' locker room in the humid BB & T Center.

It read: "Discipline - Desire - Dedication," not an unusual slogan to join the Flyers on the road under Craig Berube this season.

The only difference was the background, which featured Lord Stanley's chalice to go along with the Philadelphia skyline. It was perhaps the first mention of the Stanley Cup at any point this season.

Now, after a 4-10-1 start that left them seemingly dead in the water, the Flyers can officially turn their focus toward reclaiming that trophy that has proved so elusive for each of the past 37 seasons.

The Flyers clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs last night by virtue of a topsy-turvy, 5-2 win over the Panthers in Game 79 of this amazing slog.

Their celebration was short-lived, with their 2010 victory anthem - Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" - playing in a buzzing locker room. The playoffs, after all, are expected in Philadelphia. Berube needed a minute to pause and reflect with his players. He delivered a rare postgame address to remind them of the significance.

Yes, this is the Flyers' 37th time advancing to the playoffs in 46 seasons of play, but they were one of 14 teams watching sports' best tournament go on without them last season. The playoffs aren't a given anymore in the NHL.

"I told the guys they should be proud of themselves. They went through a lot," Berube said. "They battled hard all year. They're a good group of guys, good character, and they deserve a lot of credit for making the playoffs."

They started 1-7-0, collecting just two out of a possible 16 points. Claude Giroux promised then, on Oct. 21, that he would get the Flyers there. To get them there, the Flyers would require 90 or 92 additional points from that moment - meaning they would need to play at a 102-point pace for the rest of the season.

Giroux delivered. The Flyers are 40-22-9 in the 71 games since his promise - a 103-point pace over a full 82-game season.

"[People] looked at me with crazy eyes when I said that. I just believed in our team," Giroux said. "It was only eight games. Eight-two games is a lot of games. We had to believe in ourselves. When we started believing how good we were, we started winning games.

"It didn't come after one night, after one game, after one practice. It was slow, about everyone coming together. We have four lines rolling. We have eight 'D' that can play a lot of minutes. And we had two good goaltenders."

Inside that locker room - with the motivational posters and the '80s music - this group of Flyers is an exceptionally cohesive one, molded together with the help of Giroux, a veteran leadership group, some newcomers and a couple of happy rookies.

They began the year as a fragile and fractured group - something that was an unfortunate staple not only last season, but even prior, as star players were jettisoned for a disinterest in team unity. Where the Flyers are now is a testament to their bond.

"The chemistry among us was there, but we found a way to get the chemistry [going] on the ice," Giroux said. "When we started doing that, we started winning games. Our confidence came back."

Berube pointed to the Flyers' post-Christmas trip to the West Coast as the turning point. The Flyers collected wins over Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary and Phoenix before returning East with a win in New Jersey.

"We went there with a purpose, we came out with five wins out of six on that road trip. That's pretty good," Berube said. "That made believers out of our team more than anything and put us in a good situation."

With last night's win, the Flyers avoided being swept in South Florida for the fourth time in franchise history. They played a sleepy first period, scored four times in the second, and hung goaltender Steve Mason out to dry in the third.

On a clinching night with two goals, Giroux seemed to relax a bit and return to his jovial self - but not without a teaching moment.

"The third period was terrible," Giroux said. "We let Mason play by himself. It's not acceptable, even if it's 4-0. We only have three games where we can work on our game and be ready for the playoffs."

It was ugly, but it earned the Flyers their coveted berth with games to spare. Trailing by two points with one game in hand, they still have a chance to catch the Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Who would have thought?


"It's a great accomplishment," Mason said. "But it's something in this organization that is expected. This is one goal that was achieved. Now, we have a bigger one."

Slap shots

Steve Mason (33-18-7) matched his career high in wins for a season . . . The Flyers also clinched a playoff spot with a win over Florida on April 7, 2009 . . . Vinny Lecavalier became the Flyers' league-high seventh 20-goal scorer of the season . . . Tampa Bay goaltender Ben Bishop left last night's game vs. Toronto with an apparent shoulder injury. The Flyers visit the Lightning tomorrow night.



What role will Tye McGinn serve for Flyers?

FRANK SERAVALLI, Posted: Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 3:01 AM

SUNRISE, Fla. - Winger Tye McGinn skated in his seventh straight game with the Flyers since being called up from the Phantoms. With Zac Rinaldo suspended for the remainder of the regular season, McGinn likely will plug his spot on the fourth line for the next three games.

Whether McGinn sees any ice time in the Stanley Cup playoffs likely will depend on two things: injuries and Downie's level of play.

As it stands now, McGinn is likely to be the odd man out once Rinaldo returns. McGinn has averaged just a shade under 9:30 in ice time per game during this call-up.

He played 11:14 last night and scored a third-period goal.

"A lot of times, coming from the minors, he played maybe 18 minutes and he's not going to get that here," Berube said. "He needs to do what we need him to do in the ice time he gets. It's a change for him. Sometimes, it takes a little time for him to get used to."

Berube would seemingly opt for other frequent call-up Chris VandeVelde in a playoff situation if he's available. VandeVelde, unfazed by the lack of minutes, hasn't played for the Phantoms since March 15 because of a leg injury. VandeVelde is targeting a return before the Phantoms' regular season ends.



Downie returns to help fill Rinaldo role

Wayne Fish Staff writer

SUNRISE, Fla. – Steve Downie returned to the Flyers’ lineup on Tuesday night for the first time since March 22, partly because Zac Rinaldo has been suspended for the last four games of the regular season.

Downie has been dealing with a neck problem, but there was also the matter of getting into proper condition before he could participate in game action.

Coach Craig Berube said Downie could help fill some of the role left by Rinaldo’s absence.

Downie was reunited with old pals Sean Couturier and Matt Read on the third line.

"It's definitely exciting to be back in the groove of things," said Downie at the morning skate. "It might take a couple shifts to get the legs going, but hopefully the timing is there."

With the Flyers looking to clinch a playoff spot, Berube wanted Downie to bring some energy to the contest.

Downie might have used a few more days of conditioning but time is running out on this season so it’s all hands on deck.

“He definitely got a little more skating in; we would have liked to get even a little bit more in than he did,’’ Berube said, “but with the loss of Zac, we need him.’’

/n

Still trying for second: While the Flyers were hoping to secure a postseason berth, several players say they still have their eye on second place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Flyers began Tuesday night two points behind the Rangers with a game in hand. New York played host to Carolina.

"I think we're in a great position to make the playoffs, and that's not our only goal tonight, to clinch,’’ Vinny Lecavalier said before the game. “We want to get the two points, but we want to catch the teams ahead of us. We have to finish strong."

Since that awful start in October, the Flyers have won 39 games (going into Tuesday night action) while losing only 22 in regulation time. Quite an achievement and one that’s made believers out of a lot of people in the hockey world.

"We've been through a very tough start, and a lot of people didn't believe in us, but I think we believe in each other in the room," Lecavalier said.

"There's a lot of character; we never stopped even when we were 1-7. I still thought we were playing hard, but we weren't really in sync on the ice, and when we started playing better as a team, the results got there."

Captain Claude Giroux still emphasized the Flyers wanted to continue to improve as a team as they head into the postseason.

"We want to make sure we get a win tonight, but I think we need to focus more on how we play," he said. "After tonight's game, we want to be a better team than we are this morning."

Luongo out: Goaltender Roberto Luongo was scheduled to start the game for the Panthers but was a late scratch when he suffered an upper body injury in warm-ups. Dan Ellis filled in.

Short shots: Lecavalier’s 20th goal gives the Flyers seven 20-goal scorers. No other team has more than five.

Burlington County Times LOADED: 04.09.2014


Downie back in time for possible clincher


SUNRISE, Fla. – While it would be nice to clinch a playoff spot Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers, the Flyers are keeping their eyes on a bigger prize, namely second place in the Metropolitan Division.

A win at BB&T Center puts the Flyers in the postseason for the 38th time since joining the NHL for the 1967-68 season.

But the Flyers can also stay in the hunt for second place (and home-ice advantage) by toppling the Panthers. The Flyers trail the New York Rangers (who play Carolina) by two points with a game in hand.

At the morning skate, Vinny Lecavalier said the Flyers want to finish as high as possible.

The objective, he said, is to “catch the teams in front of you.’’

While the Flyers will be without Zac Rinaldo, who is suspended for the remainder of the regular season (four games) for his head hit on Chad Ruhwedel on Sunday night, they will get winger Steve Downie back in the lineup.

Downie has been sidelined since March 22 with an upper-body injury (a neck problem, to be specific), and should add an infusion of energy.

Coach Craig Berube, who has done a magnificent job of getting this team to the brink of playoff participation after a 1-7 start this year, said he was looking forward to a top effort from his club.


"It's a great opportunity for the hockey team tonight," Berube said.

Lecavalier reiterated the Flyers are looking to accrue as many points as possible in their last four games, three of which are on the road.

"I think we're in a great position to make the playoffs, and that's not our only goal tonight, to clinch. We want to get the two points, but like I said, we want to catch the teams ahead of us," he said. "We have to finish strong."

Captain Claude Giroux, goal-less in his last five games, still emphasizes the Flyers want to continue to improve as a team as they head into the postseason.

"We want to make sure we get a win tonight, but I think we need to focus more on how we play," he said. "After tonight's game, we want to be a better team than we are this morning."

Since that awful start in October, the Flyers have won 39 games while losing only 22 in regulation time. Quite an achievement and one that’s made believers out of a lot of people in the hockey world.

"We've been through a very tough start, and a lot of people didn't believe in us, but I think we believe in each other in the room," Lecavalier said.

"There's a lot of character; we never stopped even when we were 1-7. I still thought we were playing hard, but we weren't really in sync on the ice, and when we started playing better as a team, the results got there."

Meanwhile, Downie is being reunited with old pals Sean Couturier and Matt Read on the third line.

"It's definitely exciting to be back in the groove of things," said Downie. "It might take a couple shifts to get the legs going, but hopefully the timing is there."

Downie’s physical style should help make up for the loss of Rinaldo.

The only question of Downie’s availability was his conditioning. “He definitely got a little more skating in; we would have liked to get even a little bit more in than he did, but with the loss of Zac, we need him," Berube said.



'This one's for you,' Flyers tell their fans


SUNRISE, Fla. -- Don’t think for a moment the Flyers’ players don’t know how passionate their fans are.

The team’s been in business for 47 years and there have been few empty seats, both at the old Spectrum and the current Wells Fargo Center.

And those seats are filled with some of the most loyal fans in hockey.

So when the Flyers failed to make the Stanley Cup playoffs last year for just the ninth time in franchise history, the disappointment could be felt throughout the city of Philadelphia.

In a way, the Flyers said “this one’s for you!’’ Tuesday night when they downed the Florida Panthers 5-2 at BB&T Center to make the playoffs again.

“You see what the Flyers’ fan base brings to every single game,’’ goaltender Steve Mason said. “It’s an exciting thing to be a part of.

“I haven’t been a part of a playoff series with this team yet but watching on TV, there’s a great atmosphere in the Wells Fargo Center.

“I’m sure, come the first game of the playoffs, it’s going to be rockin’.’’

Captain Claude Giroux says the fans always have a high expectation level for their team and perhaps that helps bring out the best in the players.

“Obviously, not making the playoffs last year, in Philadelphia, it’s unacceptable,’’ Giroux said. “We’re aware of that.

“For us to be in the playoffs this year, especially with the start we had, we have to be proud of ourselves.’’

Downie comes back

Steve Downie returned to the Flyers’ lineup Tuesday night for the first time since March 22, partly because Zac Rinaldo has been suspended for the last four games of the regular season.

Downie has been dealing with a neck problem, but there was also the matter of getting into proper condition before he could participate in game action.

Coach Craig Berube said Downie could help fill some of the role left by Rinaldo’s absence.

Downie was reunited with old pals Sean Couturier and Matt Read on the third line.

"It's definitely exciting to be back in the groove of things," said Downie at the morning skate. "It might take a couple shifts to get the legs going, but hopefully the timing is there."

With the Flyers looking to clinch a playoff spot, Berube wanted Downie to bring some energy to the contest.

Downie might have used a few more days of conditioning but time is running out on this season so it’s all hands on deck.

“He definitely got a little more skating in; we would have liked to get even a little bit more in than he did,’’ Berube said, “but with the loss of Zac, we need him.’’

Still trying for second

While the Flyers were hoping to secure a postseason berth, several players say they still have their eye on second place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Flyers began Tuesday night two points behind the Rangers with a game in hand. New York played host to Carolina and won that game, so the margin remains the same.

"I think we're in a great position to make the playoffs, and that's not our only goal tonight, to clinch,’’ Vinny Lecavalier said before the game. “We want to get the two points, but we want to catch the teams ahead of us. We have to finish strong."

Short shots

Lecavalier’s 20th goal gives the Flyers seven 20-goal scorers. No other team has more than five.



Flyers clinch playoff berth with 5-2 win


SUNRISE, Fla. -- Back in the dark days of October, a dime would have gotten you a dollar that the Flyers would make the playoffs.

But it turns out that would have been a wise bet because Tuesday night those same Flyers, who were 1-7 a few weeks into the season, clinched a playoff berth with a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center.

Claude Giroux and Vinny Lecavalier each scored twice and Sean Couturier ended a 16-game goal drought to pace the Flyers.

With his first goal, Lecavalier reached the 20-goal mark for the 13th time in his career as the Flyers reached the 91-point mark, good enough to eliminate ninth-place New Jersey from catching them in the standings.

It's the 38th time the Flyers have qualified for postseason play since joining the NHL in 1967-68 and sends them back to the playoffs after missing last year in a lockout-shortened season.


Just about every Flyer interviewed in the postgame locker room said coming back from that horrific start made qualifying for the playoffs all the more satisfying.

“We started winning games (in November) and the confidence started coming back,’’ Giroux said after a brief celebration behind closed doors. “We believed in ourselves and started having fun.

“Eighty-two games is a lot of games and that was only eight games, so I think we had to believe in ourselves. When I said that (the Flyers would make the playoffs) a reporter looked at me with crazy eyes. So it’s great to be in the playoffs.’’

Across the room, Lecavalier was acting like the veteran he is. He won a Stanley Cup in Tampa and has been to the playoffs countless times with the Lightning.

Still, this was a proud moment.

“What we’ve accomplished -- from the start we got, the first 10 games of the year -- we have to be proud of what we’ve done,’’ he said. “Obviously, we have to finish strong and as high as we can.’’

The Flyers received a break before the game even began when starting goaltender Roberto Luongo suffered an upper-body injury in pregame warm-ups. He was replaced by Dan Ellis, who allowed four Flyer goals in the first two periods.

The Panthers rallied with a pair of goals early in the third period but Flyers coach Craig Berube called a timeout after the second Florida goal and Philadelphia settled down from there.

Mason admitted the Flyers did not play a good third period but they held off the Panthers down the stretch when it mattered most.

“Our third period was terrible,’’ he said. “We all know it, we addressed it after the game. Come playoff time, we’re going to have to be better.’’

Lecavalier opened the scoring at 2:02 of the second. He gave credit to linemate Adam Hall for doing most of the work.

"I was just coming off the bench and I saw Hall going to the net,'' Lecavalier said. "Hall made the defenseman cough up the puck and he attacked the net. I went in for the rebound, but it was all Hall."

Giroux made it 2-0 at 6:29, with an assist from Nick Grossmann. Then Giroux scored again at 8:50, this time finishing off a nice rush by Mark Streit for a one-timer past Ellis.

Couturier capped off the burst by banging home the rebound of a Braydon Coburn point shot.

The Panthers rallied in the third on goals by Erik Gudbranson at 1:14 and Jonathan Huberdeau at 5:38. But the Flyers tightened things up after that, got another goal from Lecavalier at 15:06 and came away with the win.

Berube wasn’t crazy about the Flyers’ first period in which they squandered a five-on-three opportunity for 1:40 as well as three successive power plays.

But all was forgiven at the final horn.

“We made it closer than it should have been,’’ the coach said. Then he added, “I told the guys they should be proud of themselves. They went through a lot. They battled hard all year. They’re a good group of guys, they have a lot of character and deserve a lot of credit for making the playoffs.’’

Short shots

The Flyers stayed two points behind the second-place Rangers and two points ahead of Columbus in the race for third. The Flyers and Blue Jackets have three games remaining, the Rangers two.



Rinaldo full of regret as Flyers aim to clinch playoff spot

By Rob Parent, Delaware County Daily Times

SUNRISE, Fla. — It took a conference call “hearing” Monday evening with NHL cops, and it didn’t alter the inevitable sentencing that was deemed “harsh” by Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. Either way, Zac Rinaldo essentially got what he wanted.

The Flyers’ buzzsaw winger was handed a four-game suspension then from the league’s lords of discipline for his elbow-first, let-’er-fly check on Buffalo’s Chad Ruhwedel in Sunday’s 5-2 victory over the Sabres.

“How frustrating? It sucks,” Rinaldo said after a Tuesday morning practice at the BB&C Center, where the Flyers will be trying to clinch a playoff spot tonight against the Florida Panthers. “It’s the last thing I wanted to happen.”

But the first thing Rinaldo wanted to make happen in his disciplinary hearing was for league vice-president Brendan Shanahan and his junior officers to understand ... that Zac didn’t really mean it.

Even if he does understand it.

“I’m a repeat offender, it looked bad on video,” Rinaldo said. “Just as long as the league knows my intent to injure wasn’t there. That’s what I was concerned about the most. I don’t want to hit anyone, I don’t want to hurt anyone. ... That’s the first thing I wanted to make clear. I’m not playing hockey to hurt anybody. I’m not that type of person off the ice or on the ice. I just wanted the league to know that.”

So Rinaldo will sit for the last four regular season games, including one in South Florida that the Flyers fully expect to end with a brief playoff clinching celebration in the locker room.

“I was in a good groove and I felt really good out there,” Rinaldo said. “I was playing some of my best hockey and it sucks that I can’t be part of the last four-game push here. But I’ll learn from it. I’m just going to build off it and stay positive.”

Meanwhile, head coach Craig Berube will exercise Plan B tonight in the form of Steve Downie, who has missed the last eight games due to a concussion and neck strain injury.

“I’m ready to go,” Downie said today. Of course, he’s said that just about every day for the past week or so. “It might take a couple of shifts to get the legs going but I think the timing’s there. There were a couple of issues there but I feel good now.”

Berube said Downie will start back with his old third-line mates Sean Couturier and Matt Read. Also back will be Tye McGinn, a healthy scratch the past two games who will go on the fourth line while Jay Rosehill goes back to the bench.

No matter how they line up, the Flyers can thank a surprising Devils loss to the Calgary Flames Monday night for the chance tonight to assure themselves of postseason play for the first time in two years. That chance comes against a Panthers team that is coming off a home victory Sunday against the Dallas Stars, which broke a Panthers streak of eight losses in their previous nine games.

Delaware County Times LOADED: 04.09.2014


Flyers searching for cure for late-season blues

By Rob Parent, Delaware County Daily Times

SUNRISE, Fla. — First, the Flyers lost a game at home March 24 to the Los Angeles Kings. Then they went to Madison Square Garden, where they hadn’t won seemingly in a generation, and lost again.

They rebounded for a victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, then lost in a shootout to the streaking Boston Bruins and followed that with another shootout loss in St. Louis.

Nothing embarrassing about that, a few close losses here and there to very good teams, especially since they had been on a 12-2-1 run prior to that Kings loss.


But then the Flyers fell flat at home to Columbus, and were essentially blown out in the third period in Boston. They did win at home against the worst team in the league, the Buffalo Sabres, but they started a little slowly there and let’s face it, the Phantoms could beat that team.

Cut to Tuesday in South Florida, the Flyers kicking through an early practice staring back at a stretch drive slide of two wins in their prior eight games and looking forward to a game against the lowly Panthers — one the Flyers were sure could end with them clinching a playoff spot.

Try as they might to not say it openly, you can bet there’s the least little bit of concern creeping in that the Flyers are not playing like the team that tore through February and March looking like a Cup contender.

“There’s a lot of games in a short period of time and sometimes ... mentally you’re a little bit tired and you make mistakes out there,” Mark Streit said. “But you have to really bear down and make sure you play well defensively and be patient. You play the top teams, they play well defensively; they’re really smart and take advantage of their chances. If you play teams that are out of the playoff picture, they’ll just play. So there’s no easy games. But it’s the last week of the regular season, we need to make the playoffs and we need to play a certain way — the right way.”

Part of the problem for the Flyers is that their power play has really gone south. That bit them again in the first period in Florida Tuesday night, as first a four-minute highsticking call, followed closely by a slashing penalty to Florida’s Scott Upshall that gave the Flyers a two-man advantage for 1:41, all went for naught.

With the playoffs drawing near, the timing of this trouble for that particular part of the Flyers’ game is ... troubling.

“There’s a lot of things we need to work on,” Claude Giroux said. “We’re aware of that. The last month (April) our game was not as good as we want it to be. But a good part of it is we have four more games to work on it and practice. It’s going to be a good couple of weeks here.”

So the captain is confident the Flyers can get back to the way they were playing, as long as they kept working and looking forward. But he did take a moment to look back at a season that began with seven losses in the first eight games.

“The start here was really tough on us,” Giroux said, “and for us to battle back and be in the position we’re in right now I think we have to be proud of that.”

• • •

Zac Rinaldo, handed a four-game suspension Monday for his elbow-first, let-’er-fly check on Buffalo’s Chad Ruhwedel in Sunday’s 5-2 victory over the Sabres, is traveling and practicing with the club and had no problem talking about how he felt these days.

“How frustrating? It sucks,” Rinaldo said. “It’s the last thing I wanted to happen.”

But the first thing Rinaldo wanted to make happen in his league disciplinary hearing was for discipline dean Brendan Shanahan and his boys to understand: He didn’t really mean it.

Even if he does understand it.

“I’m a repeat offender, it looked bad on video,” Rinaldo said. “Just as long as the league knows my intent to injure wasn’t there. That’s what I was concerned about the most. I don’t want to hurt anyone. That’s the first thing I wanted to make clear. I’m not playing hockey to hurt anybody. I’m not that type of person off the ice or on the ice. I just wanted the league to know that.”

• • •

NOTES: Steve Downie returned after an eight-game absence with a head and neck injury. He went in for Rinaldo. Tye McGinn returned after a two-game healthy scratch, replacing Jay Rosehill. ... Flyers next play in Tampa Bay Thursday night.



Second-period onslaught books Flyers a playoff spot

By Rob Parent, Posted: 04/08/14, 10:19 PM EDT

SUNRISE, Fla. — Blessed with a long-sought breather in an otherwise unforgiving schedule stretch drive, the Flyers put together their best period in more than a week, bunching four goals in the second period Tuesday night en route to a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center.

Vinny Lecavalier and Sean Couturier sandwiched goals around a pair of them by a rejuvenated Claude Giroux in that period, as the Flyers fought back from a slow start, then fought off a hard-charging Panthers effort in the third period to finally clinch a spot in the NHL’s postseason party.

After Lecavalier scored at 2:02 of the second period, Giroux cranked up his 26th and 27th goals of the season in a span of 2:31 to post a 3-zip lead. Then Couturier converted on a rebound left in a chaotic Panthers defensive zone, and it was suddenly almost time hold a clinching party.

“Sometimes (the Panthers) over backcheck,” said Couturier, who ended a 17-game scoring drought. “Up top was open and (Braydon Coburn) took a good shot and I just jumped on the rebound.”

But the Panthers came out of the second intermission and stunned the Flyers on goals by Erik Gudbranson and Jonathan Huberdeau in the first 5:38 of the third. The Panthers (28-44-8, 64 points) then had a power play opportunity, and finally the Flyers seemed to stiffen, throwing a stingy penalty kill at them and settling their own game down.

Shortly thereafter, Lecavalier set up Tye McGinn for a goal at 15:06, finally putting the Panthers down.

Though a playoff spot is now ensured, the Flyers (41-29-9, 91 points) are still fighting off the Columbus Blue Jackets (89 points), who had to go to overtime to beat the Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday night. The Flyers remain two points behind the Rangers (93 points), but have a game in hand over New York in the Metropolitan Division race.



With win, Flyers can clinch playoff spot tonight

Staff

SUNRISE, Fla. -- It’s pretty simple, really.

With a win tonight, the Flyers are in the playoffs. Win in regulation, overtime or shootout, it doesn’t matter.

‘Just win, baby’, as Al Davis used to say.

“It’s a special time for us,” said Flyers captain Claude Giroux. “We want to make sure we get in tonight. We need to focus on how we play. After tonight’s game, we want to be a better team than before.”

The Flyers remain third in the Metro Division with 89 points, two points behind the New York Rangers. The Columbus Blue Jackets are fourth in the division, just two points behind the Flyers, and holding down the conference's final wild-card spot.

“Any time you can get home-ice advantage, especially, when you are the Flyers and can play at home where the fans are pretty nuts, it kinda gives us a little more motivation,” Giroux said.

The Panthers are primed to ruin the Flyers’ plans (see story).

“We just want to have a great game tonight and it’s a big stretch of games for us,” Scott Hartnell said. “We want to finish as high as possible. Home ice would nice that first round. You have to be playing some of your best hockey going into the playoffs.

“We don’t want to take this night off or have a few passengers tonight. We want to have everyone going with four lines.”


Coach Craig Berube said there’s no reason to mention the obvious to his team. They know what is on the line here.

“It’s a great opportunity for the hockey team tonight,” Berube said. “They’ve been in this situation for a while. We all know what is at stake. What we gotta do here. Just go out and trust your system, play hard and be competitive.”

Vinny Lecavalier said the goal hasn’t changed: catch the Rangers and claim second place.

“Let’s have a really good week and catch the team ahead of us,” he said. “We need to have that [extra jump]. We’re in great position to make the playoffs. That’s not our only goal – to clinch. We also want to catch the team ahead of us.”

The Rangers and Blue Jackets also play tonight.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.09.2014


Skate Update: Downie returns to Flyers' lineup

Staff

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Steve Downie said a week ago he felt ready to play. His coach, Craig Berube, said that wasn't quite the case.

They’re now both on the same page, however, as Downie will re-enter the Flyers' lineup tonight against the Florida Panthers after an eight-game absence with whiplash and a concussion.

The Flyers can clinch a playoff berth with a victory.

“He got more skating in and I would have liked to get him even more skating in, but with the loss of Zac [Rinaldo], we need him,” Berube said. “A lot of players just want to come back and play. For me, is it going to be beneficial to the team or himself? At that time, I didn’t think so. I made a decision I wanted to keep giving him some extra work and extra time.”

Downie will go back on Sean Couturier’s line with Matt Read.

“They’ve played together a lot,” Berube said, adding he wants to see competitiveness and intensity on the ice from Downie, moreso than worrying about his ice time.”

Downie said it might take him a few shifts to get his legs going.

“I feel good now and I’m ready to go,” Downie said. “I’m looking forward and not backwards here.”

On Rinaldo

He will skate with the team during his four-game suspension that concludes after the regular season ends.

“He brings skating and the hard forecheck; he’s a loss and we’re definitely going to miss him,” Berube said.

Rinaldo said he was playing some of his “best hockey” when he launched a hit on Buffalo’s Chad Ruhwedel in last Sunday’s game. Ruhwedel was concussed.

“It sucks that I can’t be part of this last push here, but I’ll learn from it and stay positive,” Rinaldo said.

Asked about the length of the suspension, Rinaldo said, “I’m a repeat offender and it looked bad. The league knows my intent to injure wasn’t there. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”



Panthers out to play the role of spoiler vs. Flyers

April 8, 2014, 11:45 am Staff

SUNRISE, Fla. -- With just three games left to play, Peter Horachek’s Florida Panthers may not be headed to the playoffs or have much to care about except making a final impression on management heading into the offseason.

Tonight’s matchup at BB&T Center with the Flyers, however, affords his Panthers a chance to play the role of spoiler.

A Flyers victory of any sort will clinch a playoff spot for Craig Berube’s club. In Horachek’s mind, that’s reason enough to give the Flyers a game of it.

“They are going to come out, and we have to be at our very best,” Horachek said. “We want to be competitively strong. We expect them to be at their best. We know where they are for the playoffs. And how important every point is for them positionally. They’re going to be desperate. We have to accommodate and play a strong game. It’s a great test for some of our young players to go up against veterans players who are desperate and taste that kind of desperation.”

Outside of the five goals the Flyers scored Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres, the Flyers have struggled to get goals period during three of their last five games.

“You can’t put much stock into that,” Horacheck said. “They’re a veteran team full of good players. [Claude] Giroux has 80 points and he’s one of the most dangerous guys on the ice. They’ve got a power play with [Scott] Hartnell and [Wayne] Simmonds, who has 26 goals. He’s made a career in front of the net now down there.

“They got players like [Kimmo] Timonen who are world class players … who have been there before. Every single team in the league goes through slumps. Every team go through periods of time where they’re not scoring. And it’s hard to score in this league.”

The Panthers get two players back in the lineup tonight off the injury list in Brad Boyes (back spasms) and Jonathan Huberdeau (concussion).



Is Flyers' balance a double-edged sword?

Staff

When the Flyers started the season 1-7, it was mostly because of lack of scoring.

Fast-forward 70 games later and the Flyers are now being led by their balanced scoring (see story).

On Comcast SportsNet's Monday edition of "Philly Sports Talk," CSNPhilly.com's Sarah Baicker spoke about that balance and whether it's a good or bad thing.

“No other team in the Eastern Conference has six guys with 20-plus goals,” Baicker said.



Flyers cap turnaround with playoff-clinching win

April 8, 2014, 11:30 pm

SUNRISE, Fla. -- They had been beaten up 4-1 by the Penguins a few days earlier. A few days later, on Oct. 21 at its practice site in Voorhees, N.J., team captain Claude Giroux boldly predicted the Flyers would make the playoffs.

They were 1-7 at the time, having fired coach Peter Laviolette and replaced him with Craig Berube just three games into the season.

“Eighty-two games is a lot of games, and it was only eight games and we had to believe in ourselves,” Giroux said Tuesday after his improbable prediction came true.


“When we started believing how good we were, we started winning games. [Someone] looked at me with crazy eyes when I said that, but it’s good to be in the playoffs. I just believed in our team. We had a good team.”

Berube’s Flyers clinched a playoff spot Tuesday with a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center (see Instant Replay).

A four-goal outburst in the second period made it 4-0 as Giroux scored twice.

“Last year, not making the playoffs, it’s Philadelphia and it’s unacceptable and we were aware of that,” he said. “For us to make the playoffs this year after the start we had, we got to be proud of ourselves and make sure we keep playing like that.”

Truth be told, the Flyers had a poor start to this game after a scoreless opening period, a great second period and then, in the words of goalie Steve Mason, a “terrible” third period when the Flyers -- knowing they had it clinched -- let up and allowed the Panthers back into the game at 4-2.

“Our third period was terrible and we all know it and we addressed it after the game,” Mason said. “Come playoff time, we’re going to have to be better with it.”

Several individual heroes besides Giroux contributed. Vinny Lecavalier scored a goal and had a nifty assist on Tye McGinn’s marker. Adam Hall had two assists.

And lastly, Mason had 38 saves, including 14 in the third period when the Flyers were a defensive wreck for long stretches.

“The last seven or eight minutes we played some pretty good hockey, but there might have a little bit of a letdown,” Lecavalier said.

“Overall, we played a good game. First period, both sides weren't all that great but we came out in the second and scored four goals and had a lot of good chances offensively and it paid off.”

Lecavalier, who turns 34 this month, has been on five previous playoffs teams, including with Tampa Bay where he won a Stanley Cup in 2004.

The Flyers could have clinched a spot last weekend, but a four-game losing skid ended that chance. Lecavalier admitted there was a sense of relief in the dressing room tonight.

“It’s nice. You always want to finish strong and the right way, but we accomplished a lot from the start of the year, the first 10 games,” Lecavalier said. “We have to be proud of what we’ve done. We have to finish strong and make sure we’re ready and confident for that first round.”

The Flyers remain likely to face the Rangers and open in New York next week. The Rangers (93 points) won, 4-1, over Carolina to stay two points ahead of the Flyers (91) in the Metro Division. Columbus won, 4-3, in overtime against Phoenix to remain two behind the Flyers.

Berube’s team almost has to win out to overtake the Rangers. The Flyers have a game in hand.

“I told the guys you should be proud of yourselves,” Berube said. “They went through a lot. They battled hard all year. They’re a good group of guys. Good character and they deserve a lot of credit for making the playoffs.”

Berube’s focal point of what was the turning point in the season wasn’t back in October, but after Christmas when the Flyers went on a 5-1 road trip through Western Canada -- sweeping Edmonton, Vancouver and Calgary for the first time since 1996 -- then finishing up in the Western U.S. against Colorado and Phoenix and finally, New Jersey.

“That trip after Christmas was a very important road trip,” Berube said. “I believe we went there with a purpose on that trip and came back with five wins out of six. That made believers out of our team more than anything. It put us in a good situation.”

The Flyers were 4-1 in February, then 9-3-2 in March to solidly position themselves as a playoff contender. However, they recently lost four games

in succession mostly because they couldn’t score a goal even though they weren’t giving up any, either.

They can’t relax if they want to catch New York.

“It’s a great accomplishment, but within this organization, it’s something that is expected,” Mason said. “It’s one goal achieved and now we have an even bigger one.”



Berube points to roadtrip as turnaround to Flyers season

Dave Isaac, Courier-Post 11:28 p.m. EDT April 8, 2014

SUNRISE, Fla. — Coach Craig Berube isn't one to let things slide.

Only a few minutes after his team clinched a playoff spot, thanks to a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers, he was griping about the third period where the Flyers almost let the Panthers back into the game.

Even he had to admit, though, that his team accomplished something pretty impressive.

"I told the guys, 'You should be proud of yourselves.' We went through a lot," Berube said. "They battled hard all year. They're a good group of guys, good character and they deserve a lot of credit in making the playoffs."

The obvious question is: where was the turning point? How did the Flyers go from a 1-7 team that Claude Giroux guaranteed would make the playoffs to the team that actually followed through Tuesday?

"I think that roadtrip after Christmas was a very important roadtrip," Berube said. "I believe that. We went there with a purpose on that roadtrip. We got five wins out of six. That's pretty good. That made believers out of our team more than anything and put us in a good situation."

The Flyers beat the Edmonton Oilers in a shootout back on Dec. 28 to start that trip. Then it was the Vancouver Canucks. And the Calgary Flames. The only slip-up was a 2-1 defeat at the Colorado Avalanche. The Flyers finished the trip beating Phoenix and New Jersey before beating Montreal at home.

Since that trip ended, the Flyers are 19-12-5. There have been ups and downs through all that and Tuesday the Flyers had something to celebrate.

"It's nice," Vinny Lecavalier said. "You always say you want to finish the season strong and we do. We want to finish the right way, but I think we've accomplished from the start we got at the beginning of the year – the first 10 games – I think we've got to be proud of what we've done. Obviously we have to finish strong and make sure we're ready and confident for that first round."

Right now, they might not be. They nearly gave the Panthers an avenue to get back into the game in the third period.

"It was the turnovers and just sloppy play," Berube said. "It was sloppy hockey (more) than anything. We just didn't execute very well. I know the ice wasn't great, but to me it was too soft and we didn't do what we talked about doing in the game plan."

The Flyers survived thanks to a four-goal outburst in the second period. They know they probably got away with one because the Panthers are second worst in the Eastern Conference only to the Buffalo Sabres, whom the Flyers beat Sunday.

For now, they'll celebrate making the playoffs and work on building back the confidence they gained on that late-December roadtrip.

"Last year, not making the playoffs in Philadelphia is unacceptable," Giroux said. "We're aware of that. For us to be in the playoffs this year, especially after the start we had, we should be proud of ourselves."

Courier-Post LOADED: 04.09.2014



Giroux makes good on promise, carries Flyers to playoff berth


SUNRISE, Fla. — Claude Giroux has proven to be pretty darn good at putting the puck in the net. Apparently he's got some Nostradamus tendencies, also.

When the Flyers lost seven of their first eight games, the captain made a prediction that seemed pretty unlikely at the time.

"We've never thought that we're not going to make the playoffs," Giroux said a few days before the Flyers' second win of the year.

"We'll take it here game-by-game and we will make the playoffs."

He came through, scoring two goals in the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers to clinch a playoff berth with three games to go in the season.

When the game opened, the Flyers didn't look like a team that wanted to clinch a playoff spot. They were lifeless, allowing the Panthers to take the first five shots of the game.

It wasn't until a Sean Couturier wraparound more than 6 minutes in that the Flyers first tested Dan Ellis.

After that, it was one missed opportunity after another. The Flyers had 1:40 of two-man advantage and three power plays in the first period. They mustered seven shots, but few were high quality.

In the second period, the Flyers finally took advantage of a Panthers mistake. For the second time in the early going of the middle stanza, Florida coughed up the puck on the right side of Ellis' net.

This time it was Colby Robak who turned it over and Adam Hall tried to stuff it through the goalie and the rebound found its way to Vinny Lecavalier whose shot dribbled through Ellis' 5-hole.

Lecavalier's goal made him the seventh Flyer to reach 20 goals this season, the most to hit that mark in the NHL. It's the first time the Flyers were able to make the claim of seven 20-goal scorers since the 1989-90 season.

"I was just coming off the bench and I saw Hallsy and (Tye McGinn) going to the net," Lecavalier said. "Hallsy made the defenseman cough up the puck and he attacked the net. I went in for the rebound, but it was all Hallsy."

At the other end of the ice, Steve Mason was seriously tested for the first time just after the Flyers took the lead. He made an incredible left pad save on Tomas Fleischmann after going down in the splits. The painful-looking save the best of his 38 on the night.

The Flyers still didn't appear to be inspired until the captain instilled some life. Nick Grossmann fed Giroux with a stretch pass and the center came flying in from the right wing and fired a wrister that beat Ellis cleanly at 6:29 of the second period. It was Giroux's 26th goal of the season and his first in the last six games.

His goal seemed to give the Flyers life. They appeared more aggressive offensively and Giroux struck again 2:21 later. Defenseman Mark Streit pinched into the zone and flung a pass to the slot that Giroux one-timed past Ellis.

The assault on the Panthers' goalie continued when Couturier rifled a puck past Ellis with 4:57 left in the second period. Couturier's first tally in 18 games capped off a second period that the Flyers absolutely dominated.

"(Matt Read) made a nice play at the blueline putting in a soft chip and I picked it up," Couturier said. "Sometimes they seem to over back check. Up top was open and (Braydon Coburn) took a good shot and I just jumped on the rebound."

Erik Gudbranson broke Mason's shutout 1:14 in the third period with a weak shot that made its way through traffic.

Then things got interesting.

Jonathan Huberdeau cut the lead in half at 5:38 of the final period. He got around the check of Streit and let off a shot that the Flyers defenseman redirected. It beat Mason 5-hole. To make matters worse, the Flyers spent the next few minutes frantically trying to get the puck out of the slot in front of their goalie.

Coach Craig Berube called his timeout and the Flyers buckled down and McGinn tipped home a fifth goal with 4:54 left on an awesome feed from Lecavalier.

The New York Rangers, the Flyers' likely first-round opponent, also won Tuesday. They're up two points on the Flyers and have two games left in their season. The Flyers will have three games left to try and catch them for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

That's the next goal.

"Anytime you get home-ice advantage, especially when you're the Flyers, when you play at home the fans are pretty nuts," Giroux said. "It gives us a little more motivation."



With chance to clinch, Flyers more concerned with level of play


SUNRISE, Fla. — Coach Craig Berube gave a rare smile when he was asked if he had to say anything to his team on the day where the Flyers had their first chance to clinch a playoff berth.

"We all know what's at stake and what we've got to do here," Berube said. "Just trust your system and play hard and get competitive."

That last part, that's been the Flyers' biggest problem lately that resulted in four losses. They got points in two of them, thanks to dragging the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues to shootouts.

"There's a lot of things we need to work on. We're aware of that," captain Claude Giroux said. "The last month, our game is not as good as we want it to be. The good part of it is we have four more games to work on it and some practices and it's gonna be a good couple weeks here."

Although the Flyers would love the chance to clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win over the Florida Panthers, they won't be breathing any sighs of relief if they do indeed get the two points.

"We're gonna keep playing for wins," defenseman Nick Grossmann said. "That's what it comes down to. Right now, we don't want to look too far ahead. We have tonight's game to focus on and that's been the focus for these last few days."

If the Flyers want to totally bypass clinching a playoff spot and let it roll off their backs, the next goal would be to see if they can still catch the New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

"I think we want to finish as high as possible," Scott Hartnell said. "Obviously home ice would be nice in that first round. I don't think it really matters where you finish. You've got to be playing some of your best hockey going into the playoffs."

That's something they think they've been doing despite the rough patch where they lost four in a row and six of seven.

"We didn't get the points we wanted, but the way we played the games, I think it was solid defense," Grossmann said. "Guys did what they're supposed to out there and we had good goaltending. That's what we've got to bring with us."

Downie to make his return

Steve Downie missed eight games after he turned right into Blues center Patrik Berglund and took himself out of the game with a head injury. He had other issues, too, and for the last week he said he felt healthy.

Berube didn't want to take any chances.


"A lot of players just want to come back. They want to play," Berube said. "For me, is it gonna be beneficial to the team or to himself? At that time, I didn't think so. I made a decision that I wanted to keep getting him some extra work and extra time."

When Zac Rinaldo was suspended Monday for the remainder of the regular season, Berube had an opening to fill and Downie seemed to be a fit. He'll go back to where he was playing, on the team's shutdown line with Sean Couturier and Matt Read.

"I'm ready to go. I feel good," said Downie, who has four goals and 20 assists in 60 games this season. "It might take a couple shifts to get the legs going, but hopefully the timing's there."

For Rinaldo, the timing was not so good.

"It sucks. It's the last thing I wanted to happen," he said. "I was in a good groove. I felt really good out there. I was playing some of my best hockey. It sucks that I can't be part of the last four-game push here. I'll learn from it."

McGinn is back in

Tye McGinn will also return to the lineup after sitting two games as a healthy scratch. He replaces Jay Rosehill in the Flyers' plans and needs to do more in limited ice time to impress his coach.

"I think a lot of times, coming from the minors where he might have played 18 minutes down there, he's not gonna get that here," Berube said. "He needs to do what we need him to do in the amount of ice time he gets. It's a change for him. Sometimes it takes a little time to get used to."



Rinaldo's suspension puts damper on his progress

Dave Isaac, Courier-Post 9:36 a.m. EDT April 8, 2014

PHILADELPHIA — Things were going so well for Zac Rinaldo. After Sunday's morning skate he found himself the center of attention, newest winger on the Flyers' shutdown line with Matt Read and Sean Couturier. For a player with a history of heading to the penalty box, he was showing newfound discipline.

"All my penalties came off roughing or a hard hit and they're all clean," Rinaldo said after the morning skate. "I think the league's taken exception to all my hits. Well not all of them, but I think 95 percent of my hits are clean."

A few hours later, the other five percent reared its ugly head. Rinaldo launched himself into Buffalo defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, concussing the Sabre, and was ejected for an intent-to-injure match penalty.

Monday, he landed himself a four-game suspension, his second suspension in his NHL career. He was suspended two games in 2012 for charging Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson. Now, he'll miss the rest of the regular season and forfeit $15,384.60.

"Rinaldo makes a poor approach and does not make full body contact," said the NHL's narrated video explaining the suspension. "Instead, he launches into Ruhwedel with force, picking his head and making it the main point of contact. It is important that although Ruhwedel is bent over to shoot the puck, his posture does not make head contact unavoidable on what otherwise would have been a legal full-body check."

Rinaldo admitted fault Sunday after his hit, which drew his fourth penalty of the game.

"That last one, the proof is in the pudding right there," Rinaldo said. "I shouldn't have done it. There was no need for it. We were up 4-0. There was no need for that hit, but it is what it is."

He regressed to his old ways be playing reckless, hurting his team with penalties. His second goal of the season wasn't enough to mask that. For a while there he was showing smarts, drawing more penalties than he committed. Sunday morning, he was proud of how far he'd come since his

NHL debut in the 2011 playoffs, when he was a heat-seeking missile disguised as a crazy man.

"I know when to do it, when my team needs me to do it," Rinaldo said before the game. "Sometimes guys tell me to just play and, 'We don't need that craziness right now.' Sometimes guys say, 'Zac, we need a hit. Go get a hit.' I go out and get a hit and there's no penalty drawn, no penalty or nothing. I'm still a crazy person. I'm just distributing it in different ways."

Before Sunday's game he also said that the NHL had something to do with his taking fewer trips to the sin bin, that he thought he was getting fewer reputation calls.

"Even the refs are talking to me like a normal person," Rinaldo said. "They used to talk to me like I was basically just a piece of (garbage), like I was there for one purpose: to cause (issues) on the ice and cause trouble and take penalties. I told everybody if the refs would talk to me normally, they would see I'm not that (expletive) on the ice and stuff like that. I think me going out of my way to talk to the refs normally, it kind of put a different perspective in their eyes what kind of person I am."

Rinaldo pointed to assistant coach Ian Laperriere as one of the biggest voices of reason in his improvement. Laperriere has taken on the project of making Rinaldo responsible enough that he can kill penalties. The suspension will put a dent in the progress he made.

"In the '90s, you could have guys just run around and fight and do stuff like that," Laperriere said before Sunday's game. "Now you've got to be able to play hockey. Zac's been really good offensively and defensively. That's why he played on the penalty killing and he's gonna get back there."

It will be at least four games before he even sees the ice. His suspension opens the door for Steve Downie, who has missed the last eight games, to make his return to the lineup. Downie played most of the season on the wing with Read and Couturier.

When Rinaldo does return, there's no guarantee he's given the same responsibilities that he had when he was ejected Sunday.

Up until the hit on Ruhwedel, Rinaldo impressed his coaches on the shutdown line. Coach Craig Berube put him back in that role for a second game in a row. His second goal of the season was certainly the bright spot.

"You can't continually take penalties because you put the team in tough spots and he understands that," Berube said before Sunday's game. "He's smarter now about it, smarter about his hitting and picking his spots. He's playing more with the puck and doing things. He's becoming a more complete player."



Win in Florida clinches playoff berth

Dave Isaac, CHL 12:50 a.m. EDT April 9, 2014

SUNRISE, Fla. – For five games there, Claude Giroux wasn't heard from very much. The Flyers captain was held goalless, and the team was gliding through the stretch run to make the playoffs.

Giroux had just about enough of that.

He carried his team to a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers Tuesday, a victory that clinched a playoff berth for his team. They're going to the postseason just like said they would way back in October.

The Flyers were 1-7 when Giroux guaranteed his team would be playing more than 82 games.

"It was only eight games," Giroux said. "We had to believe in ourselves, and when we started believing how good we were, we started winning games.

"I just believed in our team that we had a good team. We have four lines rolling. We have eight (defensemen) that can play a lot of minutes, and we have two good goaltenders. Just the way we're playing, we need to still get


better before the playoffs and we only have three games left so we have to make sure we get better."

That's because Tuesday's win wasn't quite good enough. The Flyers were outshot in the game 40-27 and, thanks to a 10-minute stretch in the second period, they were able to beat the lowly Panthers, who are 29th in the league in scoring.

"It was the turnovers and just sloppy play," coach Craig Berube said. "It was sloppy hockey (more) than anything. We just didn't execute very well. I know the ice wasn't great, but to me it was too soft and we didn't do what we talked about doing in the game plan."

In the first period, the Flyers were blanked on three power plays. It wasn't until the second period that they finally capitalized on a Florida mistake.

Panthers defenseman Colby Robak turned the puck over and Adam Hall tried to stuff it through goalie Dan Ellis. The rebound found its way to Vinny Lecavalier, whose shot dribbled through Ellis' five-hole at 2:02.

Lecavalier's goal made him the seventh Flyer to reach 20 goals this season, the most to hit that mark in the NHL. It's the first time the Flyers have seven 20-goal scorers in a season since 1989-90.

"We came out in the second and we scored four goals," Lecavalier said. "We had a lot of chances offensively and played in their zone a lot."

It wasn't until Giroux's first goal, a wrister from the right wing at 6:29, that the Flyers really began to start playing aggressive. The captain tallied again on a one-timer from Mark Streit at 8:50 to make it 3-0.

Sean Couturier added his first goal in 18 games as time wound down in the second.

Whether the Flyers knew what was about to happen or Florida played better, things got real interesting in the third period when the Flyers' lead was cut in half by the 5:38 mark.

Steve Mason was under siege and made 14 of his 38 saves in the final stanza.

"I don't know what to tell you," Mason said of the third period. "Nobody should be happy with the way that it went. Everybody realized what was at stake today, and we're lucky that we didn't let it slip away."

Although it wasn't the Flyers' best effort, they had to admit they took a little time to celebrate after the game on making the postseason.

"Last year, not making the playoffs in Philadelphia is unacceptable," Giroux said. "For us to be in the playoffs this year, especially after the start we had, we should be proud of ourselves."

Since the New York Rangers — the Flyers' likely first-round opponent — also won, the Flyers may have to win out if they want to catch up and get home ice in the Metropolitan Division semifinals.



Downie returns to shutdown line

Dave Isaac, CHL 12:18 a.m. EDT April 9, 2014

SUNRISE, Fla. — For more than a week, Steve Downie claimed to be healthy. He missed eight games with a head injury and also fought off "other issues."

Coach Craig Berube wasn't buying it. He wanted some extra time for Downie and Tuesday his hand was forced. A suspension to Zac Rinaldo created an opening and Berube put Downie in the role.

"A lot of players just want to come back. They want to play," Berube said. "For me, is it gonna be beneficial to the team or to himself? At that time, I didn't think so. I made a decision that I wanted to keep getting him some extra work and extra time."

Downie knocked himself out of the game back on March 22 when he turned into St. Louis Blues center Patrik Berglund and his night ended 45 seconds into the game.

Tuesday night, he picked up on the same line he left – the Flyers' shutdown unit with Sean Couturier and Matt Read.

"I'm ready to go. I feel good," said Downie, who has four goals and 20 assists in 60 games this season. "It might take a couple shifts to get the legs going, but hopefully the timing's there."

Timing wasn't one of the things that got Downie in Berube's doghouse earlier this season. For a while, it was the fact that Downie didn't look like he was in the game.

"For me, I'm looking for competitiveness and intensity and his feet," Berube said. "We'll see how he looks."

Rinaldo performed admirably in his brief, two-game audition in that spot until he got suspended for his hit that concussed Buffalo's Chad Ruhwedel.

"It sucks. It's the last thing I wanted to happen," Rinaldo said. "I was in a good groove. I felt really good out there. I was playing some of my best hockey. It sucks that I can't be part of the last four-game push here. I'll learn from it."

In the hearing for his second career NHL suspension, Rinaldo wanted the league to know that the penalty for intent to injure wasn't indicative of what he wanted.

"That was the first thing I wanted to make clear," Rinaldo said. "I'm not playing hockey to hurt anybody. I'm not that type of player off the ice or on the ice. I just wanted the league to know that."

For at least four games, it looks like it's Downie's role to lose.

"They've played together a lot," Berube said. "I expect them to be good."

• Last scouting rankings revealed: Central scouting has released the last scouting report before the draft June 27-28 in Philadelphia. There are a few interesting ties.

The top European skater is Kasperi Kapanen, son of former Flyer Sami. The 6-foot Kapanen played with his father this season for Kalpa of the SM-Liiga.

Coming in 14th among North American skaters is a local product. Anthony DeAngelo, a Sewell native, had 15 goals and 56 assists in 51 games with the Ontario Hockey League's Sarnia Sting. The 5-foot-11, 168-pound defenseman is expected to go in the first round.

Other notable names in the final rankings are No. 2 European skater William Nylander, son of former NHLer Michael, and 28th-ranked North American skater Brendan Lemieux, son of former NHLer Claude.

The top three North American skaters were center Samuel Bennett, defenseman Aaron Ekblad and center Sam Reinhart.

The Flyers will likely have a mid-round pick in the first round.


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ESPN / Canucks fire GM Gillis to save brand

By Pierre LeBrun

One of the reasons there were so many reports hinting at John Tortorella's demise as Vancouver head coach over the past couple of weeks, including one from me, is that it was clear that's exactly what the Canucks front office wanted.

General manager Mike Gillis made that abundantly clear last week in a radio interview on the Team 1040 in Vancouver when he essentially threw Tortorella under the bus when speaking of the team's style of play.

It was as much a message to ownership as it was to anyone else: The GM wasn't going to move along with the same coach in place.


It was akin to an ultimatum to his owner: Pick me or the coach.

Moving Parts

Notable trades Mike Gillis made as GM of the Canucks:

Aug. 28, 2009

Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich from San Jose for Daniel Rahimi and Patrick White.

June 25, 2010

Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich from Florida for the 25th pick in the 2010 draft, Michael Grabner and Steve Bernier.

Oct. 22, 2011

David Booth, Steve Reinprecht and a third round draft pick in 2013 from Florida for Mikael Samuelsson and Marco Sturm.

Feb. 27, 2012

Zack Kassian and Marc-Andre Gragnani from Buffalo for Cody Hodgson and Alexander Sulzer.

Derek Roy from Dallas for Kevin Connauton and a 2013 second round draft selection.

Acquire Jacob Markstrom, Shawn Matthias from Florida for Roberto Luongo, Steven Anthony.

I suspect that radio interview did not sit well with Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini, and it might have been the last straw. But it certainly wasn't the main reason for Gillis' firing Tuesday.

To me, Gillis had become a lightning rod in the Vancouver market for angry fans who have turned their backs on that franchise, highlighted by the "Fire Gillis" chants during Monday night's loss to Anaheim.

I view this mostly as a business decision by the Aquilini family, needing to hand Canucks fans a scalp to stop the downward plunge of the Canucks brand.

While the future of Tortorella remains murky as well -- one assumes the new GM will have a say in whether he wants to keep Torts -- the Canucks owner spoke loud and clear Tuesday: It was time for new leadership on the good (sinking) ship Canucks.

Will part of that new leadership come in the form of former Canucks hero Trevor Linden? My TSN colleague Darren Dreger speculated Tuesday morning that Linden could be a fit as team president, much like the Colorado Avalanche had Joe Sakic return in that capacity.

Linden on local TV in Vancouver on Tuesday morning denied having spoken to the Canucks about any such opportunity, but then again, what's he going to say until there's any such news. He would have to stay quiet if indeed those talks were underway.

I know this: Hiring Linden would be a smart PR move at the very least, helping to heal what appears to be a fractured marketplace that's become disillusioned with the franchise. There needs to be trust again between the fans and their team. Right now, there isn't, as underlined by all those empty seats at Rogers Arena on Monday night.

This is an aging roster that's gone stale. It needs a facelift, of that there is no doubt.

Assistant GM Laurence Gilman was spared the ax Tuesday, ownership indicating to him that it wanted him to stay on. For how long, who knows, but he's a guy who is well-respected in the NHL community, and given that he has three more years on his deal, if I were Canucks ownership I would give Gilman a serious shot at the vacant GM job. He deserves it. He's paid his dues.

Not Delivering

Mike Gillis was promoted to general manager on April 23, 2008, becoming the 10th GM in Canucks history.

Year Playoff results

2009 Lost second round

2010 Lost second round

2011 Lost Stanley Cup finals

2012 Lost first round

2013 Lost first round

2014 Missed playoffs

Regardless, firing Gillis was a tough financial pill to swallow for Canucks ownership, who still owe the GM four more years on his contract.

Tortorella also has four more years on his deal at $8 million in total, which makes you wonder if that alone, now that Gillis must be paid out, won't be enough to keep the coach on at least another year.

As for the next GM, he inherits a roster that, while aging and devoid of true depth in terms of high-end prospects, does have core players signed to reasonable, cap-friendly contracts (especially Ryan Kesler's six-year deal at $5 million a season), which was Gillis' best talent as a former agent. That should help the new GM in moving bodies out, although many of those players have no-trade clauses so it will take some stickhandling.

It was just three years ago, meanwhile, that Gillis was on top of his reign as Canucks GM, his team in the Stanley Cup finals and a Vancouver market electrified by the run of its team.

But from the moment of that Game 7 loss at home to Boston in 2011, a gradual downward spiral began for Gillis, his team unable to get out of the first round in 2012 and 2013 and this year missing the postseason outright for the first time in six seasons.

There were trades that backfired, to be sure, such as picking up David Booth and Keith Ballard in separate deals with the Florida Panthers.

But the dramatic playing out of Roberto Luongo's exit from Vancouver likely will be viewed as Gillis' greatest error in judgment, waiting too long to pull the trigger, trading Cory Schneider in between and finally sending Luongo packing early last month for not a whole lot.

That Luongo saga cast a giant shadow on Gillis and the franchise.

No doubt we'll hear whispers and anecdotes that will paint Aquilini as a meddlesome owner who didn't make the Luongo/Schneider situation any easier to deal with.

But at the end of the day, it's Aquilini's team, he can do what he wants with it, and on Tuesday he did just that.

For better or for worse.

ESPN LOADED: 04.09.2014

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ESPN / Stars, Coyotes watching the scoreboard

By Pierre LeBrun

The Dallas Stars will hit the ice about 90 minutes after the Phoenix Coyotes get going in Columbus on Tuesday night, meaning the Stars will already know what’s going on in that game.

Stars captain Jamie Benn isn’t going to lie: There’s some scoreboard watching going on these days with his team beginning the last week of the regular season one point ahead of the Coyotes for the final wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference.

"It’s kind of hard not to look at the scoreboard," Benn told ESPN.com Monday afternoon. "We’ve been saying it around the room, though, we don’t want to rely on other teams to win games for us or lose games for us. It’s up to us. We definitely have a chance to get into the playoffs ourselves, and we don’t want to be relying on other teams to do our work for us."


No question, meanwhile, the Coyotes will also want to check out how the Stars are faring at home against Nashville on Tuesday night.

"We’ll definitely take the odd glimpse at the scoreboard," Coyotes captain Shane Doan said after his team arrived in Columbus Monday afternoon. "Each team controls their own destiny this week, but at the same time, it’s not like you wouldn’t rather ... get in more comfortably."

As Doan pointed out, both the Stars and Coyotes indeed control their own fate. Dallas is one point ahead and owns the ROW (regulation and overtime wins) tiebreaker, but the Stars and Coyotes finish the regular season against each other Sunday night in Glendale. Therefore, a perfect 4-0-0 record this week clinches the final playoff spot for that team.

"We’d much rather be in Dallas’ position right now than ours, but at the same time, we’re happy we at least control our own destiny," Doan said. "If we find a way to win our games, we’re OK. If we don’t, we’ll have only ourselves to blame."

Quite frankly, with three home games on tap before Sunday’s finale, the Stars sure hope that game in Glendale is meaningless, which would be the case if the Coyotes have one more loss in regulation this week while the Stars win those three home games versus Nashville, Columbus and St. Louis.

"It’s definitely three big games that you have to take advantage of, especially when you’re this close to the playoffs," Benn said. "We’ve got a pretty good home record [21-10-7]. We’re not looking too far ahead to that game against Phoenix. Hopefully it won’t mean anything and we’ll already be in the playoffs by then."

West Wild-Card Race

Team W L OTL Pts.

Minnesota 41 26 12 94

Dallas 38 29 11 87

Phoenix 36 28 14 86

Nashville 35 32 11 81

(Entering games April 8)

The Coyotes have road games in Columbus and Nashville, followed by back-to-back home games with San Jose and Dallas to close out the regular season.

Neither club has set the world on fire of late, with the Stars missing a golden chance to pad their lead by losing at 29th-place Florida on Sunday and the Coyotes going winless their last four games (0-2-2).

We asked a Western Conference team scout to give us his breakdown of this race. "I'll tell you, it is splitting hairs with these two teams," he wrote via email. "This time of the year, you like a more veteran team to withstand the pressure of making/missing the playoffs, so that goes in favor of Phoenix. Dallas has a much better winning percentage against the remaining teams they play. Phoenix has gotten a lot of mileage out [of] their power play this year and they haven't been as stingy defensively but have improved lately. Dallas is at home three of their last four games and should be hungry to get into the playoffs.

"Analytical people might suggest Phoenix has the upper hand, but I think Dallas gets in. Might be having been on the outside looking in for so long or the extra motivation of the [Rich] Peverley situation. I also think [Kari] Lehtonen can be a wall back there."

The Coyotes haven’t had starting goalie Mike Smith since he injured his knee March 24, but backup Thomas Greiss can’t be blamed for the recent struggles, Doan said.

"He’s been amazing, he’s been really good, it’s got nothing to do with him," said the Coyotes captain. "We’re just not scoring right now."

As in scoring four goals in their last four games. That’s not going to cut it, regardless of who’s in net.

The Stars, meanwhile, are trying to shed a half-decade of misery, as Dallas has missed the playoffs five straight seasons. Finally making the playoffs would matter a ton to that franchise.

"It would mean a lot," said Benn, who is having an outstanding season. "Especially for the players, and the fans as well. They deserve playoff hockey and we want to give it to them."

There’s some leadership coming through over the phone line, loud and clear.

Benn hasn’t yet played an NHL playoff game. But he returned from Sochi, Russia, with an Olympic gold medal hanging around his neck, and the experience he gained playing in those pressure-packed games could come in handy this week.

"You know, I learned a lot over there," Benn said. "We had such a great group of leaders and guys on that team. It’s definitely a different feeling playing those winner-take-all, one-game playoffs. It’s an experience I can bring back in terms of playing in those high-pressure situations in the games that mean the most. It’s going to feel the same this week; you definitely have to win or else you feel like you haven’t done anything."

The reality is that more people picked the Coyotes to make the playoffs this season -- not so much the rebuilding Stars. But the disappointment would be felt equally in both dressing rooms, regardless of differing preseason expectations.

For the Coyotes, Western Conference finalists just two years ago, there’s the added incentive of having new owners who finally stabilized the franchise last summer. Throwing them the odd playoff date would be a nice gesture.

"Yeah, without a doubt, that’s something you think about and you’re aware of," Doan said. "You appreciate what they’ve done for us and you know the playoffs are big for any team, especially for us trying to build in our market going forward."

From that perspective, both of these markets could use that playoff buzz, both needing to build up their respective fan bases.

Lots on the line, indeed, this week for both franchises.

"It’s a time where you have to enjoy it and have fun with it; just enjoy the challenge that’s ahead of us," Benn said.

"It’s going to be a fun week," Doan echoed.

Well, for one team anyway.

ESPN LOADED: 04.09.2014

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CNN/Sports Illustrated / Vancouver Canucks fire GM Mike Gillis

By Allan Muir

You knew someone, and probably multiple someones, would pay the price for Vancouver’s dismal season after the team was officially eliminated from the playoffs on Monday night.

The team’s fans made it clear whose head they wanted with chants of “Fire Gillis” during that listless 3-0 loss to the Ducks.

Today, they got their wish. The team announced the dismissal of Gillis on Tuesday afternoon.

“On behalf of my entire family, I would like to sincerely thank Mike Gillis for his hard work and the many contributions he made on and off the ice during his tenure,” owner Francesco Aquilini said in a statement. “The Vancouver Canucks had success under Mike’s leadership, and we nearly reached our ultimate goal; but I believe we have reached a point where a change in leadership and new voice is needed.”

“I also want to thank our fans for their support for the Vancouver Canucks through a difficult and frustrating season,” Aquilini continued. “We haven’t met their expectations or ours. We are committed to bringing the Stanley


Cup to Vancouver for our fans and we will continue to do everything possible to reach that goal.”

Removing Gillis was probably only the first of several moves under that “everything possible” banner. The rumors continue to swirl that Trevor Linden will be brought in as team president. It was probably a favor to him that Aqulini dropped the axe on Gillis himself, rather than putting that responsibility directly on a potential new president’s plate.

MUIR: Trevor Linden poo-poohs rumor that he’ll be next Canucks president

Whoever steps in for Gillis — keep an eye on former Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson — has his work cut out for him. Gillis’ legacy is a team in disarray. A star player (Ryan Kesler) is waiting for a trade, creating another hole to a team that already has too many, and the farm system is one of the least promising in hockey.

NHL Fan Misery Rankings: Canucks come in at No. 7

He’ll also probably be asked to work at least one year with head coach John Tortorella, who appears to have Aquilini’s ear. That’s not the sort of situation that will appeal to top candidates, which could make this a tough job to properly fill.

More to come.

CNN/Sports Illustrated LOADED: 04.09.2014

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CNN/Sports Illustrated / Sam Bennett tops Central Scouting’s final rankings for 2014 NHL Draft

By Allan Muir

Central Scouting raised a few eyebrows when it named Kingston Frontenacs center Sam Bennett as the top prospect for this year’s draft in their midseason rankings.

No one is surprised to see him there again.

That’s not to say that the Toronto native, who scored 36 goals and 91 points for the Fronts, is universally regarded as the best choice, but the 6′-1″ pivot did nothing to sway his staunch supporters away from their position.

“There are guys who elevate their game when it matters most, and you’re looking to project which players will do that consistently at the next level,” NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr said. “The guys we have at the top all are in that mold, but when we look at Sam Bennett we see a guy who could potentially have a Jonathan Toews type of career.”

Bennett’s effectiveness was apparent when the votes were tallied in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference Coaches Poll. He came in first overall in the smartest player, best playmaker and best stick-handler categories. He also finished third in the best defensive forward category.

“There’s a lot of bite in his game,” a scout told SI.com. “He’s a fierce competitor in all three zones, absolutely miserable to play against. Great hands, great head. Best case, maybe [Central Scouting is] right and he matures into an elite No. 1 [center]. Worst case, he’s a really solid No. 2. He’s really a no-risk pick.”

Barrie Colts defenseman Aaron Ekblad was ranked second, while center Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice was third.

“I would describe Ekblad as one of the most solid NHL prospects you will find in this year’s draft class,” Marr told nhl.com. “He is the best defenseman available and would be projected to vie for an NHL job a lot sooner than most.”

“He looks like a man out there already,” our scout said of the 6′-3″, 210-pound blueliner. “He’s a guy who will play 25 steady minutes a night against the opposition’s top line. He’s the one you want protecting a lead, killing penalties, doing all the little things that help a team win.”

Reinhart is the most explosive offensive weapon in the draft, but that might not be enough to convince the Buffalo Sabres to take him ahead of the feisty Bennett. Or maybe it will.

“I would compare Reinhart to Adam Oates,” Central Scouting’s B.J. MacDonald told nhl.com. “He’s a very cerebral player who takes what’s given to him. He probably has the highest hockey IQ of any player in this draft, and he knows where to go with the puck even before he even gets it.”

“Just send him over the boards and watch him go,” our scout said. “He’s so smart. He has that gift of anticipation … he makes his linemates better.”

Rounding out the top-10 North American skaters were German center Leon Draisaitl (Prince Albert); left wing Michael Dal Colle (Oshawa Generals); right wing Jake Virtanen (Calgary Hitmen); left wing Nick Ritchie (Peterborough Petes); left wing Brendan Perlini (Niagara Ice Dogs): defenseman Haydn Fleury (Red Deer Rebels); and center Jared McCann (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds).

Thatcher Demko of Boston College is the top-ranked goalie available, while the premier European skater was winger Kasperi Kapanen, the son of former NHLer Sami Kapanen.


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CNN/Sports Illustrated / Trevor Linden to be new president of Vancouver Canucks? Not so fast…

By Allan Muir

TSN’s Bob McKenzie has cultivated a reputation for being one of the hockey world’s best-connected insiders. So when he tweeted this morning that Trevor Linden was about to be named the new president of the Vancouver Canucks, well, the story quickly gained traction.

Except with Linden.

The franchise legend was previously scheduled for an appearance on Vancouver’s Global TV to talk about a new gym he’s opening in the area, but McKenzie’s tweet quickly changed the focus of the interview.

But Linden, speaking with host Steve Darling, decided to play killjoy.

Steve Darling: And we’ll get to that … but first, news this morning, starting back east, that you were about to be named president of the Vancouver Canucks. Have you ever talked to the Vancouver Canucks about that job?

Trevor Linden: I haven’t and I think it’s interesting … when teams struggle, there’s lots of speculation. I’ve been rumoured to do lots of things … I’ve been rumoured to go into politics.

Darling: So to be clear, the Aquilinis haven’t approached you in any way to act as president or …

Linden: No. Look I’ve spoken to, I know them from when I played, I know the brothers and such.

Darling: So where do these rumors come from?

Linden: I think perhaps … it just gets traction, whatever people say. With the advent of Twitter, and Facebook, and stuff, people talk, that sort of thing. It goes rampant.

Darling: If the Aquilinis were to come to you and offer you something, would you be interested?

Linden: You know, Steve, I’ve always said that if the right opportunity, the right time came up, people have been asking me that for six years, “Hey, you should come back or you should do this” … I’ve really enjoyed my time in the fitness business. Club 16 Trevor Linden Fitness has been very successful and we’re going to grow that brand and we’re launching Orange Theory fitness. But look, I’ve always said to people, if the opportunity is right and the time was right, I’d have to seriously consider it

Darling: Would you feel confident you could step in right now to a role as president? That you’d have the skill set to do that?

Linden: I’ve never really thought of it, to be honest, there’s many jobs in hockey — I’ve often thought I’d be a good coach though, I love the tactical … You know the tactical aspect of the game is something I’ve always loved,


some of the coaches I’ve played for, why they chose the strategies they did – there’s lots of different jobs out there. I don’t know.

So maybe there’s nothing to the rumor after all. Or maybe there is. That’s not to say that McKenzie’s omniscient, but he doesn’t get many wrong. And Linden’s a smart guy. He’s not going to spill the beans on a chat show when there’s an orchestrated splash to be made by the team if/when such an arrangement is pending.

We’ll know one way or the other soon. Just not now.


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CNN/Sports Illustrated / Allan Muir>NHL POWER RANKINGS

Allan Muir

On Tuesday's SI Now, Sports Illustrated reporter Sarah Kwak discusses the Capitals potentially missing the post-season for the first time in seven years and the tight race for the last remaining playoff spots in this week's NHL Power Rankings

Here we are, after 25 weeks of the 26-week NHL season, and what do we really know?

The Bruins look like the Beasts of the East. They may not survive their own conference, but they're the only team with the depth, goaltending and structure to knock off whoever comes out of the West.

The Canadiens, playing with a confidence they haven't displayed in more than a decade, look like they'll tear through Tampa Bay, while the Penguins find themselves in the odd position of rooting for the Flyers ... so the two archrivals don't meet in the first round.

The Kings vs. the Ducks or Sharks sets up as the greatest first-round series ever, and one of those western powerhouses will go down, but not before exacting a physical price on the winner. The Avalanche are likely to have home ice advantage in their meeting with the Blackhawks ... and they fully deserve it as a reward for their consistency. The Blues are holding down the top spot in the conference, but no longer garner the respect they did a month ago.

Beyond that, there are more questions than answers. Who makes the wild card cut in the East and West? Whose job is on the line? And what will I do with my Mondays now that they'll no longer be devoted to these rankings? (This is our final regular season installment. Next week, look for our special playoffs version.)

Here's how the NHL stacks up after Week 25:

NHL Power Rankings

1Boston Bruins

Last Week: 1

Boston Bruins (53-18-7)

So that's the Loui Eriksson the Bruins traded for last summer! Given a chance to skate in a top-six role, he showed how effectively he can play the puck possession game with a dynamite performance in Boston's 5-2 win over Philadelphia on Saturday. Eriksson collected a career-best four assists and played a stout defensive game while filling in for Jarome Iginla on the top line. He'll likely slide back to the second line when Iggy returns, but his versatility could be the X factor for a Boston side that harbors ambitions of a deep postseason run. (Last week: 1-1-1)

2St. Louis Blues

Last Week: 2

St. Louis Blues (52-19-7)

Remember what I wrote last week about the Blues being vulnerable? Their offense has gone into a deep funk, scoring just seven goals during the Blues' past five games while they've been shut out twice in their past four.

Coach Ken Hitchcock cited his team's lack of offensive energy. Perhaps a game against the defensively inept Capitals on Tuesday will get the Blues going again. (Last week: 2-2-0)

3San Jose Sharks

Last Week: 5

San Jose Sharks (49-21-9)

They finish the season against the Ducks, Avs and Coyotes, which might be the best-case scenario as the Sharks try to capture the Pacific Division. San Jose has been lousy this season against bad teams, getting swept by the Sabres, Hurricanes and, after Saturday's distracted effort, the Predators. But the Sharks have been able to ramp up their intensity against top teams. They proved that again last week with a 2-1 win over the Kings that should give them some confidence if they end up with that match-up in the first round. (Last week: 2-1-0)

4Los Angeles Kings

Last Week: 3

Los Angeles Kings (45-28-6)

West Coast fans who are tired of seeing their teams or favorite players get the short end of the attention stick from the pointy-headed Eastern media elite have to be amazed to by all the Anze Kopitar buzz lately. He's not just the center of Selke Trophy talk, he's actually getting some MVP props as well. He won't win that one, but the Selke would be a nice validation of the all-around excellence he's displayed for anyone who has been watching him during the past few years. (Last week: 1-2-0)

5Colorado Avalanche

Last Week: 6

Colorado Avalanche (50-21-7)

It's hard to find anyone who believes the Avs will survive their impending first round series with the Blackhawks. The naysayers point to inexperience or lousy advanced stats or a defense that puts too much pressure on Vezina Trophy candidate Semyon Varlamov. And maybe out of all those pressure points, one will prove to be the Avs' downfall ... but I can't figure out why everyone is in such a hurry to bury a team that's on a 6-0-1 roll heading into the season's final week. I've had doubts over the course of the season, but when a team has a chance to capture the Presidents' Trophy, maybe it deserves a little more respect. (Last week: 3-0-1)

6Chicago Blackhawks

Last Week: 10

Chicago Blackhawks (45-19-15)

Just when everyone started asking questions about them, the Hawks are showing that they can still get it done. Tough wins over Minnesota, Columbus and St. Louis impressively came without Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane in the lineup. Coach Joel Quenneville praised a "workmanlike" effort that saw Chicago tighten up in its own zone while playing a harder, north/south-style game -- basically the style that's earned them two Stanley Cups in the past four years. (Last week: 3-0-0)

7Anaheim Ducks

Last Week: 4

Anaheim Ducks (51-20-8)

Jonas Hiller isn't making things easy for coach Bruce Boudreau. The veteran stopper should be the go-to guy down the stretch as the Ducks try to firm up their grasp on top spot in the Pacific, but he's won just six of his past 18 decisions, leading Boudreau to say Hiller is "really lacking in confidence." Ouch. Fortunately, John Gibson gives him an interesting option. Arguably the best prospect outside the NHL until he made his debut Monday night, Gibson lived up to the hype with an 18-save shutout of the Canucks. (Last week: 2-2-0)


8Montreal Canadiens

Last Week: 7

Montreal Canadiens (45-27-7)

It's hard to complain when a team has earned 10 wins in its past 12 games, but there are two sides to those high-scoring victories over Detroit and Ottawa. The Habs went down 3-0 early in the first period against the Senators before ripping off seven straight tallies on the way to a 7-4 win. Then they managed to blow a 3-0 third period lead against the Red Wings before rallying late for the win. You have to admire the Habs' resilience, but, man, that inconsistency will be fatal if it continues beyond this week. (Last week: 2-1-0)

9Pittsburgh Penguins

Last Week: 9

Pittsburgh Penguins (50-24-5)

The ticket buyers in Denver probably weren't too thrilled, but the decision to rest what seemed like half the team for Sunday's game against the Avs was a savvy call by coach Dan Bylsma. His squad looked tired in its 4-0 loss to the Wild on Saturday, so mixing in an extra day of rest for Crosby, Kunitz and company made good sense. The fact that the remaining troops pulled off one of their best wins (3-2 in a shootout) of the season made Bylsma look even better. (Last week: 2-2-0)

10Minnesota Wild

Last Week: 11

Minnesota Wild (41-26-12)

A fourth-round pick. That's it. That's all the Wild had to give up to acquire Ilya Bryzgalov, the goalie who is on the verge of not just salvaging their season but making some postseason noise for perennially disappointing Minnesota. While Zach Parise deserves plenty of love for his remarkable effort during the past few weeks, Bryz is giving the Wild a chance to win every night. He's thriving behind their defensive system, putting up a pair of shutouts over Pittsburgh and Winnipeg last week to run his mark with the Wild to 6-0-3 with a 1.67 GAA and 9.29 save percentage. With numbers like those, bears in the woods will be scared of him. (Last week: 2-0-1)

11New York Rangers

Last Week: 14

New York Rangers (43-31-5)

Now that they have a playoff spot locked up, the last week of the season is all about securing home ice -- which is critical since their presumed first round opponents (the Flyers) haven't won at MSG since 2011. Then again, the Blueshirts have been pretty good on the road, too, winning a league-high/franchise-record 25 games. (Last week: 1-1-1)

12Detroit Red Wings

Last Week: 15

Detroit Red Wings (37-27-14)

Pavel's back, Gustav's red-hot and the Wings have been (almost) universally anointed as the team no one wants to face in the first round. It's not a good idea to look beyond that, but considering that they're healthier than they've been in ages and they're showing signs of playing the kind of detail-oriented hockey that coach Mike Babcock likes, they might just have an upset in them. (Last week: 2-1-0)

13Tampa Bay Lightning

Last Week: 12

Tampa Bay Lightning (42-27-9)

Maybe they were due for a letdown after clinching a playoff berth early last week, but they sure looked lifeless while losing their two games since by a combined score of 9-3. Slow starts are really killing the Bolts -- they were

down 3-0 to Dallas almost before everyone was seated on Saturday -- and goalie Ben Bishop has been less than sharp. He's lost three of his last four outings and needs to get his game on track this week if the Bolts are to have a chance against the red-hot Canadiens when the playoffs start next week. (Last week: 1-2-0)

14Philadelphia Flyers

Last Week: 8

Philadelphia Flyers (40-29-9)

That four-game losing streak probably put an end to Craig Berube's slight Adams Award hopes while allowing the Blue Jackets to creep to within two points of Philly's third place standing in the Metro Division. The Flyers' offense went silent, shut out for seven periods before showing signs of life against the Bruins, but their defense continues to be the biggest concern. They keep revealing themselves as too slow to get to the puck, or an open man in front of their opponent's net. That's going to catch up with up with them in the postseason. (Last week: 1-2-1)

15Columbus Blue Jackets

Last Week: 16

Columbus Blue Jackets (40-31-7)

The stats nerds will tell you that hits are bad because they indicate a team that is chasing possession, but being physical seems to be working for the Jackets. According to a team release, they've delivered a franchise-record 2,486 hits this season (through Sunday's action) while winning 40 games, just one shy of the team mark. They're also only six goals shy of the franchise best (220) and are challenging Philly for third spot in the Metro. Guess hitting isn't so bad after all. (Last week: 2-1-1)

16Dallas Stars

Last Week: 17

Dallas Stars (38-29-11)

Forget their 5-0 thrashing of the Capitals or impressive 5-2 dismantling of a very good Tampa team. The Stars dropped two very winnable games last week to non-playoff teams, including a devastating 3-2 defeat in Florida on Sunday that featured a blown 2-0 lead. At any other time of the year, a 2-2 road trip would be perfectly acceptable, but with a playoff spot on the line, and with the opponents they have coming up (Jackets, Blue, Coyotes), their inconsistency could come back to haunt them. (Last week: 2-2-0)

17Phoenix Coyotes

Last Week: 13

Phoenix Coyotes (36-28-14)

Recall the momentum they had after taking five of six points on an East Coast road swing in late March? Yeah, it's gone. Four straight losses have Phoenix in free fall, and while the Yotes have managed to pick up two loser points, they were scant consolation considering that they came in games against non-playoff teams (Winnipeg and Edmonton). If this squad is going to snap out of it, it needs something from the big guns. Mike Ribiero has one goal in his past 21 games. Shane Doan has two in 16 and Radim Vrbata has one in 13. Could those three guys have gone cold at a worse time? (Last week: 0-1-2)

18New Jersey Devils

Last Week: 20

New Jersey Devils (34-29-16)

A seven-game point streak had Devils fans likening their long shot to Lloyd Christmas's hopes of landing Mary Swanson in Dumb and Dumber, but any real chance the team had of making the playoffs ended with Monday night's 1-0 loss to the Flames. Much will (and should) be made of the Devils' failure to steal the second point in shootouts all season long, but it was their inability to score during the 65 minutes of real hockey that submarined their


hopes. When you average just 2.42 goals per game (25th in the league), you're not doing enough to win on a consistent basis. (Last week: 2-1-1)

19Winnipeg Jets

Last Week: 19

Winnipeg Jets (33-35-10)

Evander Kane should be part of the future solution in Winnipeg. Instead, it looks like he'll be part of the trash that gets moved to the curb after the Jets' regular season finale. Kane was benched on Saturday for breaking team rules, then spent Monday appearing entirely unhumbled by the experience. If it wasn't before, it is clear now that he's pulling in his own direction, and that's a situation this team would be better off without. (Last week: 2-2-0)

20Washington Capitals

Last Week: 18

Washington Capitals (35-30-13)

Their five-game losing streak finally came to an end on Long Island during the weekend, but not before it smothered the life from Washington's playoff dreams. Fans with any affinity for this group had better get a good look before the end of this week. Chances are the organization will sport a considerably different appearance next season, and if the goal is to detoxify this mix, those changes need to start in the front office. (Last week: 2-2-0)

21Calgary Flames

Last Week: 23

Calgary Flames (34-38-7)

Amazing how poorly this season went and yet how few complaints you'll hear from Calgary's fans. There wasn't a lot of talent on this team, but there weren't many nights off, either. This group gave a good account of itself under coach Bob Hartley, who just has to be hoping for a few more horses to ride next season. (Last week: 3-1-0)

22Ottawa Senators

Last Week: 21

Ottawa Senators (33-31-14)

Ottawa's playoff hopes will likely be officially put to rest on Tuesday night, and Clarke MacArthur knows why. "There's 10 games where we had two- and three-goal leads and we just weren't able to handle it and finish games," he told The Ottawa Sun. The Sens blew another one of them on Saturday, allowing Montreal to score seven straight after jumping to a 3-0 lead early in the first period. It takes an especially fragile team to collapse so completely so frequently, but word is that coach Paul MacLean won't be held accountable for that frailty. If that's the case, expect a significant player move (or two) over the summer to alter the chemistry. (Last week: 1-2-0)

23Nashville Predators

Last Week: 25

Nashville Predators (35-32-11)

While everyone is focusing on the Stars and Coyotes, the Preds are quietly playing some of their best hockey of the season. They knocked off the Ducks and Sharks on the road to run their winning streak to three games and keep their slim playoff hopes alive, but now face two must-win games in Dallas and Phoenix to close out the road trip. Ah, who are we kiddin'? They're toast and if anyone in the organization is smart, they'll make the decision to move on without GM David Poile and coach Barry Trotz first thing Monday morning. Both are good hockey men who'd quickly find work elsewhere, but they've had enough time to try to make Nashville more successful than it has been. It's time to let someone else try to steer this ship away from the rocks. (Last week: 2-0-0)

24Carolina Hurricanes

Last Week: 22

Carolina Hurricanes (34-33-11)

Nice spoiler win over the Stars on Thursday, but that's small consolation for another season that went off the tracks way too soon. Reports are circulating that coach Kirk Muller is likely to lose his job as a result. That's a tough break, but probably the right move. If Ron Francis is going to take over as GM as rumored, he deserves the chance to choose his own man behind the bench. (Last week: 2-1-0)

25Vancouver Canucks

Last Week: 24

Vancouver Canucks (35-33-11)

Vancouver's dreams of a playoff berth ended on Monday night in fitting fashion, with the team unable to generate many serious chances in a 3-0 loss to Anaheim. With their season on the line, the Canucks managed six shots in the first period and three in the second, illustrating clearly how little fight they had in them. Now they have three games left to score at least 10 goals if they hope to avoid setting a new franchise mark for fewest tallies in a non-lockout season ... and then they'll have to wait to see who in the room or up in the front office survives this debacle. (Last week: 1-2-0)

26New York Islanders

Last Week: 26

New York Islanders (31-36-11)

So where were these Isles all year? Oh yeah, in the minors. With seemingly half the roster nursing injuries of some kind, New York is 6-2-2 in its past 10 games, now having iced a grand total of 12 rookies this season. The Isles are getting good miles out of their AHL Bridgeport kids, many of whom are getting their one-and-only shot at The Show. Nice to see winger Brett Gallant, 25, get the call. He's a tough one who punches way above his weight. (Last week: 2-1-1)

27Edmonton Oilers

Last Week: 27

Edmonton Oilers (28-42-9)

Nice week for Taylor Hall, who racked up two goals and seven assists in four games on the way to being named the NHL's First Star of the Week. The outburst gave him a career-best 77 points this season and moved him into the top spot among all left wingers. Smart move by Dallas Eakins to reunite him with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle on the top line. That's something whoever calls the shots next season might want to remember. (Last week: 2-2-0)

28Toronto Maple Leafs

Last Week: 30

Toronto Maple Leafs (38-33-8)

It was March 13 -- less than one month ago -- that the Leafs were second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. Since then, they've abandoned all pretense of defensive awareness, lost any ability to control play along the boards, and, as a result, find themselves looking at a massive summer overhaul rather than a playoff berth. Hard to believe that coach Randy Carlyle will survive the inevitable purge, but GM Dave Nonis is likely safe. Not sure that's fair, given that he's the one who bought the groceries, but such is the grim reality facing Toronto fans. (Last week: 2-1-0)

29Florida Panthers

Last Week: 28

Florida Panthers (28-43-8)

Their come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Stars on Sunday was a nice treat for the home fans who witnessed a lot of bad hockey this season, but it was a last gasp effort from a team that has lost 11 of its last 15 and looks on most nights like it can't wait for the season to be over. (Last week: 1-2-0)


30Buffalo Sabres

Last Week: 29

Buffalo Sabres (21-48-9)

As bad as this team is -- and it truly is awful -- the Sabres would probably have more to show for themselves than just two wins in their past 16 games if not for a catastrophic string of injuries. At last check there were 13 (!) players on the sidelines, with defensemen Tyler Myers, Chad Ruhwedel and Christian Ehrhoff, and goaltender Nathan Lieuwen the latest to seek high-quality medical care. Probably just as well. You don't want to do anything to jeopardize Buffalo's odds of winning the first-overall pick. (Last week: 1-3-0)


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CNN/Sports Illustrated / Top Line: Is home ice a disadvantage?; trouble with P.K. Subban; more links

By Allan Muir

An annotated guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• A nice bit of outside-the-box thinking here from veteran reporter Dave Hodge who offers a fresh take on home ice advantage for the Stanley Cup playoffs. I wonder how many organizations, if given this option, would take it?

• Ted Bird says Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien has every right to come down hard on P.K. Subban.

• Elliotte Friedman says Evander Kane is too valuable for the Winnipeg Jets to give up on but after the winger copped an attitude about his benching on Saturday night, it’s fair to ask if their bridge is worth repairing.

• Barry Petchesky says the failures of the Maple Leafs prove the genius of advanced stats. I still take issue with the unshakable faith placed by some people in proxy numbers like Corsi, but until the NHL decides to track actual possession time, we’re not going to hear the end of it.

• GM Steve Yzerman’s tenure in Tampa Bay has seen its share of problems — the Martin St. Louis situation and last season’s playoff DNQ come to mind — but there’s no denying that he has the Lightning on the right path. The four-year extension he was awarded on Monday is proof of their faith in his approach.

• What was Vancouver’s problem this year? Jason Botchford has John Tortorella’s answer in this outstanding edition of The Van Provies.

• Tough day today at the CBC where heavy job cuts are expected in the wake of losing Hockey Night In Canada.

• The best prospect outside of the NHL (prior to last night, anyway) made a smashing impression in his debut for the Anaheim Ducks.

• Jason Gregor has an in-depth interview with Edmonton’s Taylor Hall in which the outstanding young forward talks about continuity behind the Oilers’ bench, what went wrong this season, and what must be done to get the organization back on track.

• The Nashville Predators have to leap over two teams, Dallas and Phoenix, to slide into the final wild-card slot in the West. Fortunately, those teams are their next two opponents.

• The Carolina Hurricanes have some big decisions to make about their smallest player.

• Minnesota Wild goalie Ilya Bryzgalov got a bit distracted during last night’s game in Winnipeg.

• As if four games in five nights wasn’t going to be tough enough on the playoff-contending Columbus Blue Jackets. Now they have to survive that gauntlet without one of their top-six forwards.

• There’s a new culture in Colorado, and it’s all about clutch.

• Who is going to play for the Buffalo Sabres tonight? Who knows?

• I brought up the potential for this ignominious NHL record in a column a week or so ago. Amazingly, it just might happen.

• It’s time for OHL Commissioner Dave Branch to recuse himself from any future dealings with the Windsor Spitfires if he thinks this play by 2014 first-round prospect Josh Ho-Sang was worthy of the 15-game suspension it drew. That’s not to say it wasn’t a dangerous play, and the broken leg suffered by Zach Bell can’t be ignored, but a quarter of the season? This is an absolute joke of a call:

• The great Bob Duff disagrees with my assessment, arguing that Branch is doing his part to legislate needless stupidity out of the game.

• Brian Costello says great numbers should supersede a very good career in determining the Hall of Fame worthiness of Dave Andreychuk.

• Gotta be a little more careful with that fist bump, kid.


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USA TODAY / The top Americans in June's NHL draft

Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports 4:16 p.m. EDT April 8, 2014

When sizing up how early dynamic Anthony DeAngelo should go in June's NHL draft, scouts' homework might be as important as the work the defenseman has done on the ice this season.

"Teams will have to do some work to understand where he is in the development cycle with respect to off-ice maturity," ex-NHL general manager Craig Button said. "But on the ice he is just a brilliant player."

DeAngelo, of Sewell, N.J., was ranked 10th overall in the NHL's Central Scouting midseason evaluation, but caution flags went up when he was suspended for eight games by the Ontario Hockey League for violating its harassment and diversity policy. He was judged to have made an inappropriate comment to a Sarnia (Ontario) teammate.

MORE: The race for lottery picks

Central Scouting had him 14th in its final rankings, released Tuesday, for the June 27-28 draft in Philadelphia.

Given his status as one of the best puck-moving defensemen available, DeAngelo still has a good chance of being the first American selected in this year's draft. He has 15 goals and 56 assists for 71 points in 51 games. "I think he's a top-end guy," Button said.

Other Americans with a chance to go in the first round:

Center Dylan Larkin (U.S. national team development program): Scouts will be watching him closely at this month's under-18 world championships to determine where he falls in the first round. The best guess now would be 15th to 20th, although he is higher on a couple of teams' lists. Central Scouting had him at No. 17.

Larkin, of Waterford, Mich., has committed to the University of Michigan, and his skating sets him apart.

"Centermen who are quick and fast and competitive and can score are not common," Button said.

Left wing Sonny Milano (U.S. program): Think of him as a poor man's Patrick Kane. He is 5-11 and has 24 goals and 48 assists for 72 points in 50 games for the U.S. under-18 team.

Scouts say he has improved his overall game this season. He has added 3 or 4 four pounds of muscle, and he's stronger. Milano, ranked 16th by Central Scouting, is going to Boston College.

MORE: The latest Red Line Report draft preview

"I'm definitely more committed in the defensive zone," said Milano, who is from Massapequa, N.Y. "I did a lot of video with my coach, and I'm playing penalty kill now."


Right wing Alex Tuch (U.S. program): The 6-4 power forward from Baldwinsville, N.Y., is a lock to land in the first round. Central Scouting has him 12th. He has 28 goals in 53 games for the U.S. team.

"He can move up and down the boards and be hard on you and can fill in with some goals," Button said.

Center Nick Schmaltz (Green Bay, Wis., United States Hockey League): He seems to have a sixth sense that allows him to know where he needs to be to be a dangerous offensive player.

"He has some uncanny abilities," Button said. "He just has the ability to put himself in the spots one or two steps ahead of everyone else."

The Wisconsin native, ranked 19th, seems to be more of a playmaker than a scorer. He has 18 goals and 45 assists for 63 points in 55 games. He just needs consistency, like most of the players in the draft.

Other U.S.-born players with first-round potential: defensemen Jack Glover, Jack Dougherty and Ryan Collins, all from the U.S. development program; plus goalies Thatcher Demko of Boston College and Alex Nedeljkovic of Plymouth (Mich.) of the OHL.

USA TODAY LOADED: 04.09.2014

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USA TODAY / The other NHL race: Determining the lottery picks

By Kevin Allen

Fans of the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers have a right to scoreboard watch tonight, even though their teams are long removed from playoff consideration.

But there is intrigue going on at the bottom of standings.

The Oilers could use a quality young defenseman to mix with the talent they have up front, and the NHL Central Scouting final draft list, announced today, has defenseman Aaron Ekblad ranked as the No. 2 North American prospect available for the June draft.

The Oilers currently have the third-worst record, but the Florida Panthers are only one point behind them in the standings.

The two games that have an impact on that race: Philadelphia at Florida, and Colorado at Edmonton.

Both teams have three games left.

The Ottawa Senators-New York Islanders game has a bearing on the Sabres’ future because the Sabres could end up with the Islanders’ first-round pick. The Islanders have the option of giving up their first-round pick this season or next season as part of their compensation for acquiring Thomas Vanek earlier in the season.

If you are a Buffalo fan, you are rooting for every team that plays the Islanders. The Islanders have the NHL’s fourth-worst record, but they have been playing well of late. At 73 points, the Islanders are two points behind the Calgary Flames, who have the fifth-worst record. Both teams will have three games left after tonight.

Picking in the top four could be important because there are three blue chip centers in the draft, and all will be gone after the fourth pick.

Of course, even if the Islanders finish with the fourth-worst record, they could end up with the No. 5 pick because of the draft lottery. The best scenario for the Sabres would be for the Islanders to finish 27th overall and then for the Sabres or Islanders to win the draft lottery.

All of this presumes that the Islanders will give up this year’s pick, which they might or might not do. The consensus is that they will because next season’s draft lottery would give a non-playoff team a chance of landing franchise prospects Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel.

According to NHL’s Central Scouting, center Sam Bennett is the top-ranked player in the June draft. He is a playmaking center, a smart savvy player who seems to rise up in big games.

Ekblad, shown above, is considered a two-way defenseman who could step in and play early like Seth Jones did this season in Nashville. That could be enticing for the Oilers because he could then grow with their young talent.

The No. 3 prospect is center Sam Reinhart, the son of former NHL players Paul Reinhart. Central Scouting compared him to Adam Oates.

The No. 4-ranked player is German center Leon Draisaitl, playing in the Western Hockey Hockey League. He had 105 pints in 64 games this season. Ranked No. 5 is scoring winger Michael Dal Colle who played in the Ontario Hockey League.

Who can clinch

- The Philadelphia Flyers, if they defeat the Panthers in any fashion

-The Minnesota Wild, if they get at least one point against the Boston Bruins. They’d also clinch if the Dallas Stars lose to the Nashville Predators or if the Phoenix Coyotes lose to the Columbus Blue Jackets or defeat them in a shootout.


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USA TODAY / USA's Jack Eichel has eyes on 2015 top prize

Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports 12:58 a.m. EDT April 9, 2014

Jack Eichel's NHL draft hype has skyrocketed to the point that scouting reports on him truly are out of this world.

"Even if you were an alien from a spaceship who had never seen hockey, and you watched this kid, you would say, 'Good Lord, that's a talented athlete,'" said Brian Burke, the Calgary Flames' president of hockey operations.

The Massachusetts native won't be eligible to be drafted until June2015, but he already is considered the best U.S.-born center prospect since Mike Modano was taken No.1 overall in 1988. Modano retired in 2011 as the highest-scoring American in NHL history.

The 2015 draft also will include Erie (Pa.) Otters forward Connor McDavid, the most talked-about Canadian forward prospect since Sidney Crosby.

"This could be like (Alex) Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin going one and two," said former Flames general manager Craig Button, now a paid draft analyst.

McDavid and Eichel are such strong prospects that only the Tampa Bay Lightning and St.Louis Blues dealt away their 2015 first-round picks before the trade deadline.

MORE: Top U.S. prospects in 2014 draft

Eichel, 17, has netted 33 goals and 42 assists for 75 points in 45 games for the U.S. National Team Development Program. He will be playing for the USA at the world under-18 championships next week in Finland.

"It's like having a five-tool player in baseball," U.S. coach Danton Cole said. "There's not much missing."

He is 6-2, ripped, and seemingly breathes fire when he drives the net.

"He has great hockey IQ, and he plays at a high pace," Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill said.

"He's the total package."

Eichel has committed to Boston University for next season, although any team that drafts him would want him to be a one-and-done in college. The expectation is he'll play in the NHL during the 2015-16 season.

"When he wants to take over, he just takes over," said USA forward Sonny Milano, who is projected to be taken in the first round of the 2014 draft.

Milano said Eichel's hockey sense is born out of self-confidence.


"He will try things that other kids are afraid to try," Milano said. "He has a confidence that I've never seen before."

MORE: The race for a draft lottery pick

Today, Eichel is viewed as a can't-miss prospect, but he says he didn't truly grasp his potential until last year when he played in the under-17 challenge.

"After that tournament, I thought to myself, maybe I am a pretty good player," Eichel said. "It was like a measurement for me, a chance to compare myself to other top players. Canada has some great players, and Sweden, and Finland."

Button and most NHL scouts remember that tournament, particularly when Eichel and McDavid were in the same game.

"There were 36 other players in the game, and a couple of goaltenders were playing, but I was fixated on McDavid and Eichel," Button said. "They went back and forth. It was like punch. Jab. Upper cut."

The Americans trailed 4-1, and Button said he thought Eichel single-handedly spearheaded the USA to a come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win.

"When you left that building, you said to yourself, 'I've just seen something rare, and I will be able to talk about it for years to come,'" Button said.

McDavid and Eichel are different styles of players. McDavid is a cunning, stylish scorer.

MORE: McDavid a can't-miss prospect

"He pounces on his prey," Button said. "He's there and you don't even know it."

Eichel is always a visible, powerful force. He spends 21/2 hours every day in the gym. He has added 15 pounds since he joined the U.S. team. His body fat is 4.8%.

"It's like he says, 'I'm coming at you, and you had better be ready to defend against me,'" Button said.

Added USA center Dylan Larkin, a projected first-rounder in 2014: "It is just natural for (Eichel) to make the right play."

Hanging out with his father, Bob, is what gave him his love of the game, Eichel said.

"As much as I've wanted out of hockey, he has given it me," he said. "We used to always watch games. Two years ago, when I was living at home, we would watch six NHL games a night. You can just call me a hockey junkie."

The McDavid vs. Eichel rivalry already is creating a buzz, and Eichel clearly doesn't mind the comparison.

"I look at it like it is a competition," Eichel said. "I do want to go first overall. If he goes first overall, so be it. But I want to go first overall. He is my competition."


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