Bill Foley is extending a welcoming hand to the NFL's Oakland Raiders.
The owner of the NHL's Golden Knights offered congratulations to Mark Davis and the Oakland Raiders after it was confirmed the team would be relocating to Las Vegas for the 2019 season.
More from Foley:
It truly is an exciting time to be from Las Vegas. There is only a select group of cities in North America that are home to both an NHL and an NFL franchise and Vegas is now one of them.
This alone should be a great source of pride for our community and our fans. Las Vegas has always been one of the most popular destination cities in the world and it is now emerging as a premier location for major league professional sports.
The Raiders are set to build a new stadium in Las Vegas, while the Golden Knights are set to take to the ice at T-Mobile Arena beginning next season.
WASHINGTON - Fourteen U.S. senators wrote a letter to USA Hockey's executive director Monday over their concerns about the treatment of the women's national team.
Players have threatened to boycott the upcoming world championships over a wage dispute. The senators, all Democrats, urged David Ogrean to resolve the matter and ensure the team receives ''equitable resources.'' They cited the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.
USA Hockey's board of directors meets Monday, and players said Sunday night they hope there's a deal.
The senators joined a chorus of support that also includes unions representing players from the NHL, NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball. Those organizations said over the weekend they stood with the women's team and criticized USA Hockey for attempting to find replacement players.
The U.S. is the defending champion at the International Ice Hockey Women's World Championship, which begins Friday in Plymouth, Michigan.
In negotiations over the past 15 months, players have asked for a four-year contract that pays them outside the six-month Olympic period. The senators' letter notes the $6,000 that players earn around the Olympics and USA Hockey's $3.5 million annual spending on the men's national team development program and other discrepancies.
''These elite athletes indeed deserve fairness and respect, and we hope you will be a leader on this issue as women continue to push for equality in athletics,'' the senators wrote.
In a statement Sunday night, players said they hoped USA Hockey would approve terms discussed last week. They said the agreement has the ''potential to be a game changer for everyone.''
The letter was signed by: Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey of Massachusetts, Patty Murray of Washington, Dianne Feinstein of California, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Thomas Carper of Delaware, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Robert Menendez and Cory Booker of New Jersey, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.
The Carolina Hurricanes are set to host the Detroit Red Wings on both Monday and Tuesday, with the first contest being a make-up date after it was originally postponed in December due to ice cooling issues at PNC Arena.
This prompted the Hurricanes to offer fans a frosty treat prior to puck drop on Monday.
Kucherov has crept back into the Hart Trophy conversation lately, notching seven goals and nine points over his last four contests. He also scored the overtime winner Friday night against the Detroit Red Wings.
The 23-year-old winger ranks second in the NHL with 38 goals - four behind Sidney Crosby - and sixth with 78 points.
Dallas Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen was named the league's second star of the week after going 3-0-1 with a 0.98 GAA and .959 save percentage.
Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf was deemed the third star for posting seven assists in three victories.
The Boston Bruins goaltender was forced to miss Saturday's game against the New York Islanders with a lower-body injury, but after Monday's practice, in which he was a full participant, Rask said it felt good to get back on the ice, and he expects to remain in the lineup for the balance of the regular season in an attempt to help secure a playoff spot.
Rask confident he's good moving forward. When he was asked if he was worried that it will crop up again: "No I don't think so."
Backup Anton Khudobin came up big in the win over the Islanders, but expect Rask to get the majority - if not all - of the remaining seven starts as the Bruins look to nail down their first playoff appearance in three years.
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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Monday, March 27 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockeyand apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
LW Kevin Fiala (31K) & RW James Neal (54K), Predators (at Islanders): The Predators have a lot more depth then Islanders at both forward and defense. The second line of Fiala, C Calle Jarnkrok and Neal was one of two to play more than 20 percent of the 5v5 minutes last time out, as the team does away with juggling trios. The trio has a Corsi For rating of 59.32 percent in over 43 minutes together at 5v5.
LW Jeff Skinner (55K) & RW Lee Stempniak (44K), Hurricanes (vs. Red Wings): The Red Wings play their second of a nearly unprecedented three games in a row. They're coming off a 3-2 victory Sunday, and now make the long journey from Minnesota to Carolina. The Skinner line was used for 25.82 percent of the 5v5 lines in the Hurricanes most recent game, and the trio averages 10.57 scoring chances per 60 minutes.
C Vincent Trocheck (50K) & RW Reilly Smith (38K), Panthers (at Sabres): The Trocheck line led the Panthers with 19.88 percent of the 5v5 minutes last time out and averages 54.57 percent of the on-ice shot attempts. Trocheck, Smith and LW Jussi Jokinen average just 6.76 scoring chances per 60 minutes, but the Sabres have allowed 10.93 chances per 60 since Feb. 27.
(Photo courtesy Action Images)
Goalie Breakdown
TARGET - James Reimer (104K), Panthers (at Sabres): The Sabres have averaged over 32 SOG per 60 minutes over the past month, but they've resulted in just 8.76 scoring chances and 2.46 expected goals per 60 minutes. Sabres C Jack Eichel has been among the league's best in 2017, but he has been the only consistent contributor to the offense.
BARGAIN - Pekka Rinne (90K), Predators (at Islanders): The Islanders have averaged just 7.94 scoring chances and 2.34 expected goals for per 60 minutes since Feb. 27. They do manage 29.11 shots on goal per 60 minutes, providing Rinne the opportunity for a reasonably high saves total with low-risk shots.
FADE - Jake Allen (129K), Blues (vs. Coyotes): Allen and the Blues are heavy favorites against the lowly Coyotes but the win bonus may not be enough for him to return value at a position-leading salary. Arizona has averaged 8.59 scoring chances per 60 minutes on just 29.53 SOG since Feb. 27. One or two goals allowed and it will be a lackluster fantasy performance by Allen.
CONTRARIAN - Brian Elliott (126K), Flames (vs. Avalanche): Much of the same applies to Elliott, as he'll face an Avalanche team averaging a league-low 25.42 SOG per 60 minutes over the last month. Elliott's recent form allows for a likely shutout bonus, as he owns a .943 save percentage with two shutouts over his past nine starts.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Bargain Plays
LW Zach Sanford (25K), Blues (vs. Coyotes): Sanford has topped 12:30 of ice time in each of his past three games, after two games below 10 minutes. He's expected to skate on the second with C Patrik Berglund and LW David Perron. A second-line opportunity will serve fantasy owners in such a favorable matchup.
RW Joshua Ho-Sang (27K), Islanders (vs. Predators): Ho-Sang has logged a total of 36 minutes in his past two games, playing at least 17:21 in each outing. He is being used on the second line at 5v5 with LW Andrew Ladd and C Anthony Beauvillier, while also seeing work on the point for the second power-play unit.
D Erik Johnson (29K), Avalanche (at Flames): Johnson logged 23:43 in his most recent game, marking his highest TOI total since returning from injury in late February. He's seeing work on only the second power play but his salary won't remain this low for long if his ice time continues to climb.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)
Top Fades
C Ryan Johansen (56K), Predators (at Islanders): Johansen is locked into the enviable position of the Predators' fist-line center, but he hasn't factored into the offense generated by LWs Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson with enough frequency to be worthy of this salary. He had two assists last time out, but he has no SOG over his past two games and no goals in his past five.
RW Vladimir Tarasenko (111K), Blues (vs. Coyotes): It's extremely difficult for a forward to return value on this high of a salary, even in such a nice matchup. Tarasenko, particularly, does not block enough shots or make enough hits to help compensate for any diminished offense performance. Fantasy owners are better off take a couple of his teammates at more reasonable salaries.
D Duncan Keith (47K), Blackhawks (at Lightning): The Lightning rank fourth in the league since Feb. 27 with just 2.19 expected goals allowed per 60 minutes of 5v5 play. Keith has just one goal in March and none over his past five games. He does have two assists during the goal-less drought and seven this month, but he has topped two SOG in just four games.
(Photo courtesy Action Images)
Contrarian Options
D Alex Pietrangelo (51K), Blues (vs. Coyotes): While teammate Colton Parayko starts a higher percentage of his shifts in the offensive zone, Pietrangelo still finishes his shifts in the opponents' send more frequently. He already has a five-year high in goals on the season, including two in his past four games.
LW Jonathan Drouin (62K), Lightning (vs. Blackhawks): Drouin went without a point in his most recent game, but he was previously on a streak with five points in three games. He has topped 18 minutes in each of his past three games. The Blackhawks are commonly avoided, but G Corey Crawford has a goals against average of 2.88 when on the road this season.
C Mikael Backlund (63K), Flames (vs. Avalanche): Backlund has racked up 32 SOG through 11 games this month, tallying three or more in all but four games. He has been operating at a low 6.3 shooting percentage, regression from his 17.9 rate last month. He topped 20 minutes of ice time in each of his past two games, providing plenty of opportunity against the lowly Avalanche.
Since NYR fans likely need something to cheer themselves up this a.m. here's Cam Fowler falling on his ass after being harpooned in the neck pic.twitter.com/e0UDj8BGTr
Cam Fowler is literally sticking his neck out for his team.
The Anaheim Ducks defenseman ran into the butt end of a teammate's stick during an attempted group hug following a goal scored on the New York Rangers on Sunday.
Brad Marchand's immense talent has always come with a caveat.
Marchand is energetic, but crosses the line into playing dirty. Marchand is an important player for Boston, but not a guy to carry the Bruins. Marchand is a good scorer, but that's really all he contributes.
Not anymore.
"He's improving every year," said defenseman Zdeno Chara, who has been teammates with Marchand throughout the 28-year-old's NHL career. "He's working hard and he's taking on some tough tasks and obviously he proved that he belongs to the top players in this league. He takes a lot of pride in his game and he's got a lot of emotions in his game and drive to be always kind of noticed on the ice, whether it's playing with the puck or without the puck.
"That's what makes him a really great competitor. He just loves to be out there and always competing and doing things for his team. He's had just an unbelievable year for us. Without his play, I think we'd be a different team. For sure, he's grown."
Marchand has 37 goals this season, tying the career high he set a year ago, and is five behind Sidney Crosby for the NHL lead. But while he also set a new career high in 2015-16 with 61 points, Marchand now is at 80 with seven games remaining - fourth in the league behind Connor McDavid (88), Crosby (82), and Patrick Kane (81) in the race for the Art Ross Trophy.
Between all the scoring and the importance Marchand has had to the Bruins, he's also in the Hart Trophy conversation. He would be the first Boston player to win the award since Phil Esposito in 1973-74.
Meanwhile, Marchand has pared down his penalty minutes from 95 and 90 the past two seasons to 64. He's still plenty capable of playing the agitator, but has turned a corner when it comes to responsibility.
"A lot of those were from frustration," Marchand said. "I've gotten away from that - tried to get away from it, and just play the game. That's where you help your team, is trying to be a better player than being in the box all the time."
The Bruins can't afford to have Marchand be a regular visitor to the penalty box. He's too important to what they do on the ice as a more than a point-a-game player - and with Boston clinging to an Eastern Conference wild-card spot entering the week, Marchand's ability to stay out of the box could mean the difference between a playoff berth and a spot in the draft lottery.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
As much as Marchand's discipline has improved, where he has really taken a step forward is on the power play, with eight goals and 13 assists. His previous bests in those categories were six and two.
"Brad's always had it in him and always wanted to do it," said Bruins interim coach Bruce Cassidy. "I think, having more reps in there, in front of the net on the power play, I think that's helped his confidence, helped him in those situations.
"Now he has a little more comfort in that area, where before it was more of an attacking mentality from the half-wall, now he's more on the goal line facing more of the players, so that's become an area where he's gotten comfortable. And sometimes you just have years where it clicks. Hopefully ... it continues and becomes a consistent part of his game. I don't see why it can't be."
With such performance comes responsibility, and Marchand has come to recognize that. He has embraced growing into a leadership role and that's important for the Bruins given that the 40-year-old Chara has only one season left on his contract. Marchand, David Backes, Patrice Bergeron, and David Krejci are the Bruins' core going forward, all signed through at least 2021 - with Marchand having the longest deal of the group, through 2025.
"It goes by quick," Marchand said. "I think I kind of woke up the last year or two, and realized that I'm getting up there, but when you see guys like Z and Bergy, and in the past like (Chris Kelly) and (Mark) Recchi, (Andrew) Ference, guys like that who have been really great leaders and did the job at showing the young guys how to play the right way, how to be a pro, you kind of learn that.
"I've been playing with Bergy so long, I like to watch him and what he does, and you see guys off the ice, how they train, how they prepare for each and every day - not just games, but practices - and all the mental state, and the way they're a pro. You learn that, and I've been fortunate to be around a lot of great leaders. They wear off on you. It's that time where I have to learn how to do that and be more like those guys."
