Category Archives: Hockey News

Report: Sabres receiving calls on goalies Lehner, Johnson

Inquiring minds want to know.

Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill has been a popular man in recent days, fielding calls of interest on goaltenders Robin Lehner and Chad Johnson, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

It's been another poor season in Buffalo, as the Sabres have scored just one goal in their past four outings and now sit dead last with 16 points in 27 games.

Between the pipes, the performances have not been much better:

Goalie GP Record SV% GAA
Lehner 20 5-12-2 .903 2.98
Johnson 11 1-5-2 .883 3.64

Lehner, in particular, has had a disappointing season after last year's .920 save rate was a strong point on a bad Buffalo team. Acquired in 2015 by former Sabres GM Tim Murray, Lehner received a one-year extension from Botterill this offseason, seen as his opportunity to earn the starter's role.

As for Johnson, the 31-year-old returned to Buffalo after a one-year stint with with the Calgary Flames. Johnson previously suited up for the Sabres during the 2015-16 campaign, in which he won 22 of 45 games.

Both goaltenders come with high cap hits, with Lehner earning $4 million and Johnson taking home $2.5 million. Johnson is unrestricted at season's end, while Lehner will become a restricted free agent.

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Innovative Design: Incredible passing key to Jets’ lethal power play

There are plenty of reasons why the Winnipeg Jets are flying high these days, but perhaps none more important than their success on the power play.

With a win over Ottawa on Sunday, Winnipeg moved into a tie with Tampa Bay for the most points in the NHL (38), and the two teams are rolling at an almost level clip with the man advantage - the Lightning enjoy a 27.8 percent success rate, while the Jets barely trail at 27.4.

Winnipeg's opening goal Sunday against the Senators came on a power play less than three minutes into the first period, and served as the game-winner. It also demonstrated lethal passing and a finish that's becoming commonplace.

Here's how it went down.

The play began just inside the offensive zone, with Dustin Byfuglien (33) making a short pass to Mark Scheifele (55), who - with Ottawa's Cody Ceci (5) in his face - sent a cross-ice pass to Blake Wheeler (26).

Wheeler and Byfuglien then went to work at the top of the zone, spurred by a short chip pass from the former to the latter with Tom Pyatt (10) aggressively tracking both players.

Byfuglien actually had to take the pass off his skate as Pyatt turned his focus from Wheeler to the blue line.

Able to gather the puck off his skate and maintain possession, Byfuglien held off Pyatt's dogged forecheck, kept the puck in the zone and got it back to Wheeler along the boards. Meanwhile, with all the Senators' defenders tuned in to that back-and-forth, Scheifele was sneaking toward the net.

Wheeler quickly saw added pressure from Johnny Oduya (29), but neither he nor Pyatt could stop the winger from making a quick cross-ice pass to Scheifele, who still had not drawn Ottawa's attention.

Here we note Scheifele was playing on his off wing, and received Wheeler's pass on his backhand rather than attempt a one-timer, giving goalie Mike Condon more time to get across the crease in an attempt to thwart a scoring opportunity.

Still, Scheifele was able to get the puck to his forehand and fire it past Condon short-side.

It should also be noted that Patrik Laine (29) was set up more in the middle of the ice throughout this play, thereby demanding a healthy measure of coverage due to his lethal shot and allowing Scheifele to remain largely unchecked.

The full play can be seen here.

The goal was Scheifele's 14th of the season, six of which have come on the power play. Wheeler added another assist later in the game to give him 13 power-play helpers, while eight of Byfuglien's 13 have also come on the man advantage.

Interestingly, Scheifele's previous PPG came on a similar play against Minnesota on Nov. 27, but that time he was able to convert a Wheeler cross-ice pass with a one-timer past Alex Stalock.

Having Scheifele set up in the left circle as a right-hand shot is clearly by design, and head coach Paul Maurice is being rewarded with regular production thanks to this type of deployment.

(Images courtesy: NHL.com)

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Sabres to place Moulson on waivers

The NHL's last-place team is making a move.

Buffalo Sabres forward Matt Moulson will be placed on waivers at noon Monday for the purpose of assignment, the club announced. Should he clear waivers, he'll be sent to the AHL's Rochester Americans.

The veteran winger carries a $5-million cap hit and has yet to record a single point through 14 appearances this season. Signed to a five-year contract by previous general manager Tim Murray, Moulson remains under contract through the end of 2018-19.

His deal includes a modified no-trade clause, meaning he can submit a list of 12 teams he'd agree to be sent to if there happened to be any interest.

TSN's Darren Dreger reports there were efforts to make a trade:

Last season, Moulson scored 14 goals and added 18 assists in 81 games.

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NHL Power Rankings: Jets soar past Lightning for top spot

theScore's NHL Power Rankings are published every other Monday. Our fifth installment is put together by editors Josh Wegman, Josh Gold-Smith, Flip Livingstone, and Cory Wilkins.

1. Winnipeg Jets (17-6-4) ▲

Previously 3rd

With a decisive 5-0 win over the Senators Sunday night, the Jets tied the Lightning for the most points in the league, but became the first team to surpass them in theScore's power rankings. They've received stellar goaltending, the defense has stayed healthy, and the offense is firing on all cylinders. It has all come together for the Jets. - Wegman

2. Tampa Bay Lightning (18-6-2) ▼

Previously 1st

A 3-4 record in their last seven games saw the Lightning fall out of the top spot in the NHL standings, and more importantly, theScore's power rankings. No need to worry, Bolts fans, as the club has seemingly already guaranteed themselves home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs in a weak Atlantic Division. - Wegman

3. Nashville Predators (16-7-3) ▲

Previously 4th

The Predators are 9-2-1 since the Kyle Turris-Matt Duchene three-way trade. Their new center has racked up eight points in the 11 games he's played. - Wegman

4. Los Angeles Kings (17-8-3) ▲

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Previously 10th

The Kings are proving to be one of the league's streakiest teams. After a blazing hot start, they lost seven of eight games, but have since bounced back by winning five in a row, including four straight on their most recent road trip. - Wegman

5. Toronto Maple Leafs (17-10-1) ▼

Previously 2nd

The Maple Leafs's potent offense is usually what drives the team, but Frederik Andersen with his 2.14 goals-against average and .938 save percentage in the month of November has helped the Buds remain in the top five. - Wegman

6. New York Islanders (15-8-2)

Previously 6th

At 3.72 goals per game, the Islanders boast the league's best offense. However, they'll need to find consistency in the crease if they're ever to be considered a true contender. - Wegman

7. Columbus Blue Jackets (17-9-1)

Previously 7th

The Blue Jackets sit atop the Metro Division, but it's worth noting that eight of their 17 wins have come in overtime or shootout. While grabbing the additional point in the extra frame is crucial, they'll have to start closing teams out in regulation to move up. - Wegman

8. St. Louis Blues (17-8-2) ▼

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Previously 5th

The Blues are losers of three straight, moving them slightly down this list. With Jay Bouwmeester and Patrik Berglund both making their season debuts in the last six games, they should be trending upwards in no time. - Wegman

9. San Jose Sharks (14-9-2) ▲

Previously 15th

The Sharks shut out the Jets a couple of Saturdays ago, and lost narrowly to the Ducks and Golden Knights. Throw in an overtime win over the Coyotes on Sunday, and perhaps reports of their demise were premature. - Gold-Smith

10. Washington Capitals (15-11-1) ▲

Previously 18th

Back-to-back victories over the high-flying Lightning and Leafs earned the Capitals some major credit, as did a win over the Blue Jackets Saturday. Washington could be on the verge of hitting its stride. - Gold-Smith

11. Pittsburgh Penguins (15-10-3) ▲

Previously 13th

Tristan Jarry has played well in relief of the injured Matt Murray, but he's only faced the struggling Sabres and the floundering Flyers since the Penguins' unquestioned starter got hurt. Let's see how he does against the Rangers, Islanders, and Leafs this week. - Gold-Smith

12. Dallas Stars (16-10-1) ▲

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Previously 19th

Sweeping a home-and-home with the Blackhawks was a big statement for the Stars, who are beginning to look like the team many thought they'd be after making several significant offseason additions. - Gold-Smith

13. Boston Bruins (12-8-4) ▲

Previously 22nd

Tuukka Rask is back, and not a moment too soon for the Bruins, despite Anton Khudobin's strong play in his absence.

Rask has won two of three contests since returning, including a shutout of the Flyers Saturday afternoon, and while he hasn't been this good all season, he does make Boston better when he's healthy. - Gold-Smith

14. New York Rangers (14-10-2) ▲

Previously 20th

The Blueshirts have reeled off four wins in the five games since our last edition of the rankings, and five victories in their last six contests overall. Are they turning the corner? - Gold-Smith

15. Vegas Golden Knights (16-9-1) ▼

Previously 8th

Three straight losses before Sunday's 3-2 overtime win over Arizona suggest reality might be starting to set in for the Golden Knights. - Gold-Smith

16. New Jersey Devils (15-7-4) ▼

Previously 9th

The Devils are 4-2-1 since our last edition, and six of those seven games were decided by one-goal margins, but New Jersey was dismantled 5-0 by the lowly Coyotes Saturday night, and that just can't be ignored. - Gold-Smith

17. Calgary Flames (14-11-1) ▼

Previously 11th

Just when you thought the Flames were starting to figure it out, they allow the offensively challenged Oilers to hang a seven-spot on them. Calgary needs to win with more consistency to be considered a real Cup threat. - Livingstone

18. Montreal Canadiens (13-12-3) ▲

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Previously 29th

Don't look now, but the Canadiens are racking up Ws. Carey Price is up to his usual tricks, the team is scoring goals in bunches, and general manager Marc Bergevin is temporarily fending off calls for his job. - Livingstone

19. Chicago Blackhawks (12-10-5) ▼

Previously 12th

Corey Crawford going down with injury is the salt in the wound for a Blackhawks team looking like a shell of its former self. Patty Kane and Captain Serious can only carry a team so far on their own. - Livingstone

20. Minnesota Wild (13-10-3) ▼

Previously 17th

Two ugly losses followed by two big wins seems fitting for a Wild club struggling to string victories together. Allowing 26 goals over their last seven contests is also not a good look. - Livingstone

21. Vancouver Canucks (13-10-4) ▲

Previously 26th

We admit it, the Canucks are a lot better than we expected, as young guns Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat are making Vancouver a tough team to play against up front. A big home win Saturday over the Maple Leafs sees the Canucks on the come up. - Livingstone

22. Edmonton Oilers (11-14-2) ▲

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Previously 28th

A lot of Stanley Cup predictions have already been thrown out the window thanks to a shockingly bad start by the Oilers. Victories in three of their last four contests finally have Edmonton trending in the right direction, though. - Livingstone

23. Anaheim Ducks (11-11-5) ▼

Previously 16th

The Ducks have lost six of their last 10 games and continue to be plagued by injuries to key players. Thursday's band-aid acquisition of Adam Henrique should help in the short term, but Anaheim will need to get healthy, and quickly, if they want to hang with the big boys in the West. - Livingstone

24. Colorado Avalanche (12-11-2) ▼

Previously 23rd

Huge props due if you were one of the (very) few who expected the Avalanche to take a step forward this year, as Colorado finds itself a .500 club. But, after last year's dumpster fire of a season, there really was no way but up. - Livingstone

25. Ottawa Senators (9-10-6) ▼

Previously 21st

It's still early, but the Senators don't look like the same team since the big trade to bring in center Matt Duchene from the Avalanche, having won just three of nine games. - Wilkins

26. Arizona Coyotes (7-18-5) ▲

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Previously 30th

The Coyotes continue to find positives after a slow start to the season. The recent stretch saw new netminder Scott Wedgewood post a shutout against his former club, the Devils. - Wilkins

27. Carolina Hurricanes (11-9-5) ▼

Previously 24th

More was expected from the Hurricanes this season, but the team hasn't made much progress in recent weeks, winning just two of their last five. - Wilkins

28. Florida Panthers (10-13-3) ▼

Previously 25th

While goaltender Roberto Luongo has been impressive - he owns a .928 save percentage on the season - the Panthers have been limited by their inability to find offense. - Wilkins

29. Detroit Red Wings (10-12-5) ▼

Previously 14th

The Red Wings were on the wrong side of an ugly 10-1 score against the Canadiens, marking the team's seventh-straight game without a win. - Wilkins

30. Philadelphia Flyers (8-11-7) ▼

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Previously 27th

The temperature continues to be turned up on coach Dave Hakstol, as the Flyers are winless in 10, picking up just five loser points in the process. - Wilkins

31. Buffalo Sabres (6-17-4)

Previously 31st

Shut out three straight times and then mustering just one goal in their fourth outing, the Sabres are a better team on paper than they are on the ice. - Wilkins

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Wheeler takes over NHL assist lead with 4-point night

No one has more helpers in the NHL than Blake Wheeler this season.

The Winnipeg Jets forward scored a goal and assisted on three others as his club manhandled the Ottawa Senators 5-0 on Sunday.

Wheeler moved past Steven Stamkos for the league assists lead with 28, compared to the Lightning star's 26, although Stamkos has played one fewer game.

The Jets captain also moved into fourth among the NHL's points leaders, with 35 of those in 27 contests.

Sunday's eruption was Wheeler's second straight game with at least three points, and the third time in the last four contests that he's done that.

He collected three assists in a 7-4 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, and had a goal and two assists in a 7-2 win shellacking of the Minnesota Wild last Monday.

Wheeler's potent production could continue Tuesday, when the Jets battle the Detroit Red Wings, who are coming off an embarrassing 10-1 destruction at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens.

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Watch: Seguin buries breakaway beauty, gets tackled by Radulov

We're not sure what was better - Tyler Seguin's goal, or Alexander Radulov's reaction.

Seguin opened the scoring in style for the Dallas Stars against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night, grabbing the puck at his own blue line, cruising into the attacking zone, making a nice move to evade Matt Nieto, and beating Jonathan Bernier on the backhand.

Radulov was the first to celebrate with Seguin, taking his teammate down to the ice with a bear hug.

Seguin appeared no worse for wear afterward, as he scored again with 50 seconds left in the opening period.

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How Henrique trade makes Ducks a dark-horse Stanley Cup contender

The Anaheim Ducks may be flying under the radar right now, but come playoff time, they'll be a team absolutely nobody wants to face. If they can get there, that is.

At this point, the Ducks sit three points back of a playoff spot after stumbling out of the gate with an 11-11-5 record. It's largely because their top two centers, and arguably their two best players - Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler - have played just six combined games due to injury.

Furthermore, defensemen Hampus Lindholm, Cam Fowler, and Sami Vatanen have missed a combined 35 contests due to various ailments. The latter, of course, was traded to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in exchange for center Adam Henrique in order to help replenish Anaheim's lost depth up the middle.

While there's a strong argument to be made that Vatanen is the better player with a higher ceiling, Henrique makes a healthy Ducks roster one of the deepest in the entire NHL - and perhaps the best Anaheim roster since the days when Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger roamed the blue line.

Here's a look at a projected healthy Ducks lineup, with asterisks attached to the players sidelined due to injury in the team's most recent game:

LW C RW
Nick Ritchie Ryan Getzlaf* Corey Perry
Andrew Cogliano Ryan Kesler* Jakob Silfverberg*
Ondrej Kase Adam Henrique Rickard Rakell*
Joseph Blandisi Antoine Vermette Patrick Eaves**

**Eaves has Guillain-Barre Syndrome and there is no timetable for his return.

LD RD
Hampus Lindholm Josh Manson
Cam Fowler Brandon Montour
Francois Beauchemin Kevin Bieksa
G
John Gibson
Ryan Miller

On paper, the Ducks have all the ingredients of a team that would be favored to win the Stanley Cup. They're strong down the middle, have scoring depth, feature a blend of mobility and physicality on the blue line, and employ a goaltender who's capable of stealing a series. Without the Henrique-for-Vatanen deal, however, they wouldn't check off all of these boxes.

Henrique - who already has a goal and an assist in two games with the Ducks - now provides the same element that Nick Bonino gave the Penguins over the last two years: a third-line center who's good enough to exploit soft matchups.

That's because Getzlaf will always draw opponents' top checking lines and D pairings, while Kesler will always play against top lines, which leaves Henrique - previously a top-two center - with the easiest matchups of his career. With Rickard Rakell (or Corey Perry) likely playing alongside him to offer balance, it could be one of the league's most productive third units.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

The trade-off is that Anaheim must now rely more heavily on Brandon Montour to fill Vatanen's shoes. But in many ways, Montour is a younger, better version of Vatanen. While he's not the biggest defender, he's a puck-moving, right-handed-shooting offensive blue-liner who can quarterback a power play.

Montour already has 14 points in 26 games - good for third on the Ducks - while Vatanen has gotten off to a slow start with just four points in 17 contests. It's possible Montour could flourish even further with an increased role.

Given the hole the Ducks have dug themselves, it's unlikely they'll finish as one of the top seeds in the Western Conference this season. Instead, they'll most likely have to make the playoffs as a wild-card team - something that would give them an underdog mentality that could catapult them all the way to the Stanley Cup title.

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Oilers owner Daryl Katz bought the most expensive house in L.A. history

Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz purchased the most expensive house sold in the history of Los Angeles real estate, according to TMZ Sports.

The billionaire reportedly spent $120 million on the 20,000 square foot, six-acre Malibu estate. Katz had previously been leasing the house for $750,000 per month.

Here's a look at the unreal mansion:

The aerial view of the property.

Nothing like doing laps in a 168-foot swimming pool (the longest in California) to get your day started.

A pretty decent view to wake up to.

The only TV in the world where you can actually see Connor McDavid's facial hair, probably.

There's a good chance this room smells of rich mahogany.

(Photos courtesy Kurt Rappaport, via TMZ Sports)

Largely due to his success in the pharmacy business, Katz has a net worth of $2.9 billion, per Forbes, so forking out $120 million for a home all of a sudden doesn't seem so crazy.

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