Category Archives: Hockey News

Breaking down the 5 keys to Game 5

The winner of Game 5 will have two opportunities to win the Stanley Cup, so yeah, Thursday's contest is a big deal.

The Penguins jumped out to an early 2-0 series advantage, but behind the rocking crowds in Nashville, the Predators knotted things up heading back to Pittsburgh.

Momentum has swung in the Predators' favor, but still, the home team has won each of the first four games. With that in mind, here are five keys to Thursday's Game 5.

That damned Pens power play

It's a dead horse that deserves beating once again - the Penguins' power play is struggling.

Those struggles are baffling, considering the firepower at their disposal and how potent the unit was early in the postseason.

The Penguins still have the fifth-ranked power play in these playoffs (20.8 percent success rate), but it's been awful in this series.

They have one power-play goal in 16 opportunities, which came in Game 1 on a two-man advantage. Taking things even further, Pittsburgh has only seven shots with the man advantage all series.

Goals don't come easy in the postseason, so the Penguins need to start taking advantage of their opportunities.

Rinne needs road improvement

Pekka Rinne remains in the thick of the Conn Smythe race, and if he can just tighten up his game on the road, he'll be on his way to guaranteeing himself the award ... and a Stanley Cup.

Overall, Rinne has been spectacular all postseason, but a quick look at the numbers shows he's been less sharp away from Bridgestone Arena.

Home Stat Away
9 Wins 5
1 Losses 5
1.44 GAA 2.36
.949 SV% .913

In fact, Rinne's numbers in Games 1 and 2 in Pittsburgh were even worse. The 34-year-old posted a .778 save percentage and a 4.69 goals-against average across the first two road games, allowing eight goals on 36 shots.

Rinne must be better in Game 5 if the Predators want to avoid falling behind in the series again.

Can Crosby, Malkin dominate the same game?

They're the two most talented players in this series - that's a fact.

But for whatever reason, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have had trouble finding the back of the net on the same night.

The Penguins have played 23 games this postseason - Crosby missed one - and while the duo has combined for 17 goals in those games, only once have they both scored in the same contest - in Game 2 of the opening round against Columbus.

Crosby and Malkin are arguably the most dangerous duo in the game today, and both of them breaking through Nashville's defense on the same night could be the key to the Cup.

Murray's glove hand

The word is out on Matt Murray's weakness.

Through four games, the Predators have seemingly found Murray's kryptonite - his glove hand. Over the course of the series, the goalie has allowed 12 goals with seven of those coming on shots to his mitt.

You can give him a pass on Pontus Aberg's beauty in Game 2, James Neal's tally in Game 3, and even Calle Jarnkrok's opening goal in Game 4, but that still leaves five others.

The Predators have caught on, and if Murray doesn't tighten that up, Nashville should continue to exploit it.

Nashville's balanced attack

What often makes the Predators' offense so hard to shut down - besides the fact that a ton of their offense begins with their defense - is that there isn't one dangerous superstar to focus on.

Ryan Johansen was forced from the playoffs last round, and while Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson remain the club's deadliest options up front, the Predators are winning games by committee.

Through four games this series, rookie sensation Frederick Gaudreau is the only Predator to have found the back of the net more than once. In fact, the Predators have goals from 11 different players in the final.

To put that into perspective, the Penguins have goals from just six different skaters.

It's hard to game plan against such a balanced attack, so if the Predators continue to get contributions from everyone, they might have a chance to win the Cup on Bridgestone ice in Game 6.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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Burke: If you don’t want a concussion, be a swimmer

Concussions are simply part of the game.

That's the stance of Brian Burke, the president of hockey operations of the Calgary Flames, who spoke Wednesday at the Canadian Club of Calgary.

While the discussion largely focused on the team's efforts to build a new arena in the city, the longtime executive also voiced his opinion on hockey head trauma.

"The notion that we're going to get rid of concussions in hockey, I say to people give your head a shake," Burke said, according to the Canadian Press. "It's a full-contact sport. If you choose a full-contact sport, there is a good chance you'll have a serious injury ... If you don't want to get a concussion, you can be a swimmer."

The NHL has implemented various measures in recent seasons to reduce concussion counts and impact. In 2011, the league mandated that players showing concussion-like symptoms would need to temporarily leave the game and undergo a medical examination. This season, concussion spotters were added to detect players showing concussion-like symptoms and to recommend that player's removal from the game.

The protocol has proven to have early success, according to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. At a press conference held prior to the opening of the Stanley Cup Final, Bettman told reporters, "We take player safety very seriously. In a meaningful double-digit percentage number concussions are down this season."

In 2013, a group of former players launched a class action lawsuit against the NHL, alleging the league failed to warn players of the effects of concussions and head trauma. The case remains ongoing.

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Bettman: NHL to Seattle isn’t imminent

Seattle hockey fans shouldn't hold their breath.

Despite the city beginning negotiations for a possible renovation of KeyArena, there is no guarantee the NHL will soon set up shop in Seattle.

"We haven't made any commitments to Seattle," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL Network Radio on Wednesday. "We're not making any commitments to expand. We're not planning on moving anybody."

Seattle has long been rumored as a future destination for the NHL. However, due in part to no NHL-ready arena in the city, Seattle did not submit a bid during the 2015 expansion process. The NHL received proposals from Las Vegas and Quebec City, with Las Vegas chosen to begin play next season.

Still, the commissioner didn't rule out of the possibility of the NHL looking at Seattle in the years to come.

"If (Seattle) sorts out the building arrangement and somebody actually puts a shovel in the ground, my guess is there will be people knocking on our door saying, 'We'd like to have a team play in that building,'" Bettman said. "If and when all that happens, then we'll focus on it, and decide if we have any interest in expanding and if we have any interest in expanding to Seattle.

"Beyond that, there is no reason for anyone to think a team is imminent right now in Seattle."

In February, the Arizona Coyotes denied a report the team explored the possibility of relocation to Seattle. The NHL, which held ownership of the Coyotes for a four-year period beginning in 2009, has remained steadfast about the market and franchise, much as it did with the Nashville Predators.

In 2007, former Research In Motion CEO Jim Balsillie attempted to gain control of the Predators and relocate the team to Hamilton, Ontario before a group of local business owners stepped forward to keep the team in Tennessee. Now, 10 years later and the Predators are two wins away from capturing the Stanley Cup, marking both of their victories in the Finals before packed and enthusiastic crowds at Bridgestone Arena.

"Sometimes, the commentary around our franchises is a little too frenetic when it comes to the state of a franchise," Bettman added. "If you think about Tampa before (owner) Jeff Vinik purchased it, Pittsburgh before Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux stepped ... the fact is, our teams are in great markets, but as franchises, as businesses, as hockey teams, you sometimes go through difficult periods.

"It doesn't mean the market isn't a good hockey market or won't support the team. There are sometimes other factors at play, and our goal is always to work through those issues and give the great, loyal fans that have supported our team in a particular place an opportunity to make it work for them."

Should the NHL add its 32nd team to Seattle, local hockey fans will have a little hockey history on their side. While the city has never iced an NHL team, it is home to the WHL's Thunderbirds. Furthermore, the Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association were the first American team to win the Stanley Cup, doing so in 1917.

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Kings sign Toffoli to 3-year, $13.8M extension

The Los Angeles Kings signed forward Tyler Toffoli to a three-year, $13.8-million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.

The 25-year-old - who will make $4.6 million annually - was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

Toffoli is coming off a down year that saw him post just 16 goals and 34 points in 63 games, his lowest marks since the 2013-14 campaign. His goal count was still good enough for third among all Kings players in 2016-17.

He's also just one year removed from a career-high season that saw him post 31 goals and 58 points in 82 games.

The new contract means Los Angeles has locked up its two future stars (Toffoli and Tanner Pearson) for at least the next three seasons at a combined $8.35 million per year - not bad value.

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Report: Coyotes’ Smith submits list of 8 teams he doesn’t want to be traded to

If Mike Smith is going to be traded this summer, the Arizona Coyotes now know from whom to take inquiries.

Smith, who has two years remaining on a deal that carries a cap hit of $5,666,667, has submitted a list of eight teams he is against being dealt to in accordance with his modified no-trade clause, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.

Related: Is Mike Smith a fit for the Flames' crease?

Meanwhile, LeBrun adds, John Chayka is in "listening mode" only, which falls in line with the general manager's recent assertion that while Smith is the team's rock, his standing isn't so firm as to render him untradeable.

"His value is extremely high but if someone wants to pay an even higher value for him, that's the industry," Chayka said.

Smith, 35, posted a record of 19-26-9 with a .914 save percentage in 55 appearances with the Coyotes this past season.

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Flames president: Brian Burke not team spokesperson regarding new arena

The Calgary Flames are trying to extinguish a bit of a public relations fire.

Hours after Brian Burke - the team's head of hockey operations - brought up the possibility of relocation should a new arena not be built, team president Ken King released the following statement on the Flames' website:

Brian Burke runs Hockey Operations for the Calgary Flames and he and many Calgarians have strong views about this topic. However, he is not our spokesperson regarding a new events centre for our city. We remain committed to our dialogue with the City and very optimistic we will get to a positive conclusion. We admire everyone's enthusiasm on this subject.

An $890-million proposal for a new multi-sport arena complex has been put on hold, with little hope of ground breaking anytime soon.

Built in 1983, Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome is the second-oldest building in the NHL, next to the recently renovated Madison Square Garden in New York.

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Report: Oilers, Russell’s agent ‘get ball rolling’ on contract talks

The Edmonton Oilers appear intent on ensuring Kris Russell remains in the fold.

The team and the pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman's agent spoke briefly Tuesday to "get the ball rolling" on a new contract, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN.

Back in May, general manager Peter Chiarelli said, "I want to have Kris back. I thought he was really good for our team."

Russell played 2016-17 on a one-year, $3.1-million deal with the Oilers, and registered one goal, 12 assists, and 213 blocked shots in 68 games.

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Poll: Which team will win Game 5?

The Stanley Cup Final will resume Thursday as a best-of-three affair.

Game 5 is set for 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins won the first two contests of the series. At the other end of the ice will be the Nashville Predators, who quickly evened things up with a pair of home wins of their own.

So who will come out on top in this pivotal contest and take a 3-2 advantage in the championship series?

Before making a selection, here are game odds courtesy of Bodog.

Team Spread Moneyline Total
NAS +1½ (-235) +135 5½ (+110)o
PIT -1½ (+195) -155 5½ (-130)u

Cast your vote below:

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