NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 23, 2018
Do or die as Lightning host Capitals in Game 7
TAMPA, Fla. -- The up-and-down, roller-coaster ride of the Eastern Conference finals comes to its final crescendo on Wednesday.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Washington Capitals at Amalie Arena in Game 7 with the winner advancing to face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final, which starts on Monday.
A Lightning victory sees the Cup Final start in Tampa while a Washington win means Vegas will host the first game.
But the way in which the series between Tampa Bay and the Capitals has played out to date, determining the outcome of Game 7 might prove to be a futile effort.
"Lots of people say we're going to lose to Columbus," Washington captain Alex Ovechkin said. "Lots of people say we're going to lose to Pittsburgh. Lots of people said we're going to lose to Tampa. Tomorrow is the biggest probably game in my life."
It's been that sort of a playoff season for the Capitals, who fell behind 0-2 to Columbus in the opening round, finally defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round and jumped on top of Tampa Bay 2-0 to start the conference finals. But the Lightning won the next three games before Washington won Game 6 on home ice to force the decisive game.
"I don't think anybody thought we're going to be fighting against (the) Tampa Bay Lightning for the Stanley Cup final in Game 7," Ovechkin said. "I don't think you guys (reporters) felt like you were going to be here. Probably thought you're going to be on vacation somewhere."
Whichever team does fall short on Wednesday will be starting their vacation one stop short of playing for the ultimate prize.
For Tampa Bay, this is familiar territory.
For the third time in the past four years, the Lightning will play Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, and the script has pretty much played out the same way.
In 2015, Tampa Bay had a 3-2 series lead against the New York Rangers but fell in Game 6. In 2016, the Lightning were up 3-2 in the series to Pittsburgh but failed to close out the series in six games.
Against the Rangers, the Lightning won Game 7. Against the Penguins, Tampa Bay lost the decisive game.
But both of those Game 7s took place on the road. This time around, home-ice advantage belongs to the Lightning as they seek a third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.
"I do like the fact that there will be 19,000 people helping us, willing us to victory," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. "I want our guys to enjoy the game. It's a phenomenal experience. This will be my third one in four years. You just have to remember, don't let the game become really much bigger than it is. Go out, execute, leave everything out there, see what happens."
That's where some experience can come in to play.
For many of the Lightning players, they have been in this situation before as the core of Tampa Bay has been pretty much intact for the past four years. Many have been through the experience, this deep in to the playoffs, together.
"I think Game 7 is something that everybody looks forward to, at least I do. I take pleasure in playing a Game 7. I think it's one of the most exciting moments in sports," said Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman, who has a 7-1 career record playing in Game 7. "I think you just have to embrace it, really just have fun with it. I think what it's all about. Usually if you have an open mindset, follow the game plan you set up, you are going to enjoy it. You will most of the time also have a good result."
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Report: Sharks, Kane working toward 7-year extension
The San Jose Sharks and pending unrestricted free agent Evander Kane are working toward a seven-year contract extension, sources indicated to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
The deal is expected to carry an annual cap hit of $7 million, adds TSN's Bob McKenzie.
The Sharks acquired Kane from the Buffalo Sabres at this year's trade deadline, parting with forward prospect Danny O'Regan and two conditional draft choices, including a conditional second-round pick in 2019. Should Kane re-sign with the Sharks, that selection will be upgraded to San Jose's first-rounder.
Kane tallied 14 points in 17 regular-season contests with the Sharks before adding another five points in nine playoff appearances.
The potential seven-year, $49-million pact is in line with several other wingers league-wide, including Buffalo's Kyle Okposo (seven years, $42 million) and Bobby Ryan (seven years, $50.75 million) of the Ottawa Senators.
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Jets don’t anticipate buyout of backup netminder Mason
Steve Mason shouldn't be worried about another offseason move.
The Winnipeg Jets backup goaltender, who agreed a two-year, $8.2-million deal with the club last summer, enters the offseason following an injury-riddled campaign in which he lost the top job to young netminder Connor Hellebuyck.
Still, there appears to be a spot for Mason in the Manitoba capital.
"I don't sit here and anticipate that a buyout is a course of action I would take with Steve Mason," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters during Tuesday's season-ending press conference. "Steve Mason is a capable No. 1 goaltender in the NHL. He signed with us knowing - and we were very up front with him - that this was going to be about winning, whether it was him, or whether there was going to be competition to win."
In all, Mason appeared in just 13 games this season, as he battled two concussions before later suffering a knee injury. He finished the year with just five wins and a .906 save percentage.
Given Mason's heavy salary - particularly expensive given he spent the majority of the season on the bench - his future with the team was a little unclear. Adding to the uncertainty, the cap-challenged Jets have a handful of Mason's teammates up for extensions, including Hellebuyck, defensemen Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey, plus forwards Joel Armia and Paul Stastny.
But as Cheveldayoff alluded to, the Jets can benefit from added insurance between the pipes.
"Steve was a real pro. I've seen a shell of our scheduled next year; you're going to need some goaltending and need some people to back things up," Cheveldayoff added. "There's a lot left for (Mason) with respect to being a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL."
For those curious, a buyout of Mason would carry a $1.37-million cap penalty for each of the next two seasons, according to CapFriendly.
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Lamoriello declines to say whether he met with Tavares before joining Isles
Lou Lamoriello clearly wasn't interested in revealing whether he did, in fact, speak to John Tavares before officially taking on his new role.
"When it comes to talking with players ... I will never comment about it," the New York Islanders president of hockey operations told reporters on a conference call Tuesday, according to MSG's Shannon Hogan. "(I) never have in the past and (I) won’t (now).”
He did have some praise to heap on the captain, though.
Lou Lamoriello: “Everyone in the National Hockey League knows about John Tavares. He’s one of the elite players, a gentleman both on and off the ice. He’s a quality individual as well as a quality player. I don’t know any better way of describing him.”
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) May 22, 2018
Lamoriello was named to the post Tuesday, the day after The Athletic's Arthur Staple reported that the former Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils general manager would be getting the job.
In that same report, Staple confirmed with two sources that Lamoriello met with Tavares last week, "clearly in anticipation of assuming control of the Islanders."
The Islanders superstar is a pending unrestricted free agent who will be the most sought-after player in the class if he hits July 1 without a new contract.
Lamoriello departed the Leafs at the end of April after three seasons with Toronto, in a move that preceded Kyle Dubas' promotion to the GM position. Lamoriello's son, Chris, is the Islanders' assistant GM.
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Solo effort: How Stephenson’s hustle, vision led to key Caps goal in Game 6
The Washington Capitals shut out the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final on Monday to force a winner-take-all seventh game. Theoretically, only one goal was necessary thanks to Braden Holtby's efforts between the pipes, but Devante Smith-Pelly's third-period insurance marker gave the Caps a crucial two-goal lead they wouldn't look back on.
While Smith-Pelly was credited with the goal, Chandler Stephenson did all the work to make it happen. Below, we'll break down the play, and how his hustle also prevented the Lightning from having a great scoring chance at the other end.
For a full video of the goal, click here.
It all started with Smith-Pelly - the eventual goal-scorer - firing the puck all the way down the ice from his own end. At this point, Braydon Coburn (left, No. 55) had a full step and a half on Stephenson (right), so beating him out for the icing call seemed like a forgone conclusion.
However, thanks to his outstanding speed and will, Stephenson ended up step for step with Coburn and got his stick on the puck first to negate the icing call. Had he not done so, Washington's fourth line would've been stuck on the ice while Tampa's top unit would've presumably hopped over the boards for the offensive-zone faceoff - a huge chance to tie the game.
While Stephenson was charging down the ice, Jay Beagle (No. 83) followed up the play and was first to the loose puck that Stephenson chipped into the corner. As Beagle picked up the puck, Stephenson stayed behind the net to give him an outlet down low.
After receiving a pass from Beagle, Stephenson sensed pressure from Victor Hedman (No. 77), and instantly turned his body to shield the puck. It's worth noting that Smith-Pelly isn't even visible in the frame yet, although you can just barely see the tip of his stick on the right of the screen.
In one motion, Stephenson spun and fired a no-look pass from his backhand into the slot where the trail guy (Smith-Pelly) was flying in. It all happened so fast that even though the puck was nearly at Smith-Pelly's stick already, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was still hugging the left post and peaking into the corner behind him. Meanwhile, Nikita Kucherov (No. 86), was roaming in the high slot, but failed to pick up his man.
As Vasilevskiy pushed across the crease to get back into position, Smith-Pelly one-timed the pass from Stephenson and beat the goaltender five-hole.
Not only was this a sensational display of speed and hustle from Stephenson to beat out the icing and prevent a defensive-zone faceoff, but he also showed intelligence, poise, and vision by finding Smith-Pelly for the clutch goal.
(Photos courtesy: NHL.com)
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Canadiens ink Niemi to 1-year deal
The Montreal Canadiens re-signed goaltender Antti Niemi to a one-year contract worth $950,000, the team announced Tuesday. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Niemi's 2017-18 season got off to a turbulent start, but he really settled in after joining the Canadiens.
| Team | GP | Rec. | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIT | 3 | 0-3-0 | 7.49 | .797 | 0 |
| FLA | 2 | 0-1-0 | 5.11 | .872 | 0 |
| MTL | 19 | 7-5-4 | 2.46 | .929 | 1 |
| Total | 24 | 7-9-4 | 3.12 | .911 | 1 |
The 34-year-old is expected to serve as the backup netminder behind Carey Price, while Charlie Lindgren - who is waivers exempt - will likely begin the season in the AHL.
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Islanders name Lamoriello president of hockey operations
Lou Lamoriello is officially heading back to the Tri-State Area.
The former Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils general manager was named the New York Islanders' president of hockey operations Tuesday.
Lamoriello will have full authority over all hockey matters with the organization.
The Leafs revealed back on April 30 that the 75-year-old was leaving the club after serving as its GM for the last three seasons. Kyle Dubas was promoted to that role less than two weeks later.
Tuesday's move was first reported by The Athletic's Arthur Staple on Monday. Staple also reported that Lamoriello met with Islanders captain and pending unrestricted free agent John Tavares before officially assuming his new position.
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NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Noah Dobson
In the weeks leading up to the 2018 NHL Draft, theScore NHL prospect writer Hannah Stuart breaks down 10 of the most notable draft-eligible prospects. The ninth edition focuses on Noah Dobson.
After Noah Dobson’s breakout second season in the QMJHL, he’s continuing that level of performance at the 2018 Memorial Cup. He set up the game-winner in the Acadie-Bathurst Titan’s tournament opener and ended Sunday’s game against the Regina Pats of the WHL with four points, including a pair of goals.
En route to the Titan’s QMJHL championship, Dobson was matched up against top players every night, including 2016-17 QMJHL top scorer and league MVP Vitalii Abramov. That’s a fitting follow-up to last year’s playoffs when, as a rookie, Dobson was entrusted with shutting down current Columbus Blue Jackets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Dobson is a coveted right-shot defender. His teammates marvel at his maturity, and he has thoroughly impressed scouts. In fact, the only North American defenseman that NHL Central Scouting ranks ahead of Dobson in the 2018 final rankings is Evan Bouchard, who sits fourth - one spot ahead.
Year in review
Coming off a fairly solid rookie campaign, Dobson's offensive production significantly improved this season. He finished second among QMJHL blue-liners with 69 points, including 17 goals, up from only 26 points last season. Dobson often logs more than 30 minutes a night, and does so with the poise of a much more experienced player.
He won a QMJHL championship with the Titan and is currently playing in the Memorial Cup, where his team earned a berth in the semifinal with an ugly, hard-fought win over the Pats. After a 13-point performance in the QMJHL playoffs (including three goals), Dobson has five points in two games of Memorial Cup play. No matter how this tournament ends for the Titan, his performance should solidify his status as a top-10 pick.
Areas of strength
Labeling Dobson an offensive-zone threat is an understatement. He’s a solid playmaker, even in tight traffic, and has a terrific outlet pass. He often feels like he’s just a step ahead of the rest. His hockey smarts allow him to weigh the risk in a given situation and decide if it’s appropriate, and he can dictate the pace of a game. He loves to jump into the play and create opportunities off the rush.
He does all this without sacrificing defense or becoming a liability in his own end. Dobson is a strong, agile skater with a first step that gets him to an excellent top speed fairly quickly, and his balance and edgework are excellent. He’s described the important elements of defense as good footwork and a good stick. Dobson uses his stick actively, cutting down shooting and passing lanes, and has high-end gap control and positioning.
Areas of improvement
Finding clear areas of weakness in Dobson’s game requires looking ahead and determining what might be a problem at the NHL level. He could stand to add muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame, as it would help put more power behind his shot and give him a stronger physical game overall. These things aren’t issues with his play currently, but rather areas in which you can expect him to improve over time.
Scouting reports
“A talented two-way defenseman that can play in all situations and stay productive. Uses his edges well and is, for the most part, a very smooth skater; however, as he gets stronger and adjusts to a more up-tempo style of hockey, he will need to work on his speed in gap-closing. Offensively, he utilizes his keen sense of awareness to be in the right spot at the right time, every time. Soft hands and a deadly shot accentuate his ability to get creative, on occasion. Rock-solid defensively, his strong positioning severely limits time and space for the opposition. All in all, a well-rounded, reliable, and consistent defenseman that can log a lot of ice time and provide his team with a stable presence on the back end.” - Curtis Joe, EliteProspects.com
“Very effective two-way defenseman with good puck distribution and a strong shot from the point on the power play. He is a point producer with size who defends well and utilizes strong positioning and a good stick in the defensive zone.” - NHL Central Scouting
Did You Know?
- Dobson won a gold medal with Canada in last summer’s Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament (now called the Hlinka Gretzky Cup).
- During his QMJHL draft season, he played with the Red Bull Hockey Academy in Salzburg, Austria.
- He was named to this season’s QMJHL First All-Star Team.
Other entries in this series:
- Rasmus Dahlin
- Andrei Svechnikov
- Filip Zadina
- Quinn Hughes
- Adam Boqvist
- Brady Tkachuk
- Evan Bouchard
- Oliver Wahlstrom
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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