Category Archives: Hockey News

NHL podcast: Making sense of coaching carousel with Chris Johnston

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play.

On this episode, John is joined by Chris Johnston of Sportsnet and ESPN Insider's Matthew Coller to break down the latest headlines and trends.

Topics include:

  • Clock now ticking on Blues GM Doug Armstrong?
  • Ken Hitchcock could be the answer in Edmonton
  • Handing out quarter-way NHL awards
  • Something special seems to be brewing in Buffalo
  • What to make of the Minnesota Wild's hot start

... and more

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Stars’ Bishop likely out a week with muscle strain

Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop will likely miss a week after suffering a muscle strain during Monday's game against the New York Rangers, general manager Jim Nill said Tuesday, according to Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News.

The 31-year-old was replaced to begin the third period after allowing one goal on 13 shots in the 2-1 defeat.

Bishop is off to a strong start this season with an 8-5-1 record, a 2.33 goals-against average, and a .923 save percentage. Luckily for the Stars, if Bishop misses any significant time, the team can rely on backup Anton Khudobin, who has been strong in relief this season. Khudobin is currently 3-3-1 with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.

The Stars occupy the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

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5 takeaways at the quarter mark of the 2018-19 NHL season

Here are five of the most intriguing trends, storylines, and surprises from the first quarter of the 2018-19 campaign:

Smaller goalie equipment making a difference

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The NHL made a noticeable reduction in the size of goalie equipment this season - so much so that goaltenders around the league have voiced complaints about increased susceptibility to bruises and more serious injuries. Regardless, the smaller equipment has accomplished what the league clearly intended: more goals.

Teams have combined to score an average of 6.12 goals per game so far this season. Excluding the inflated post-lockout 2005-06 season, that mark would stand to be the highest the NHL has seen since it averaged 6.25 goals per game in 1995-96. The league's current average save percentage of .909 would also be the lowest since 2008-09's mark of .908.

There seems to be a drastic increase in short-side goals this season. Is the smaller equipment preventing goalies from effectively hugging the post? Is the reduced size punishing goalies who cheat towards the middle of the net in anticipation of centering passes? Or have shooters simply been more accurate when aiming for tight short-side windows?

4 coaches already fired, who's next?

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The Chicago Blackhawks' Joel Quenneville, Los Angeles Kings' John Stevens, St. Louis Blues' Mike Yeo, and Edmonton Oilers' Todd McLellan have all been fired in the first quarter of the campaign after no coaches were canned last year. The question is: how many more, if any, will be out of a job by the midway point of this season?

Randy Carlyle, whose Anaheim Ducks get outshot by an average of 10 shots per game, may be starting to feel the pressure. The Ducks are only a point out of a playoff spot but have just one regulation win in their last 15 games.

Philadelphia Flyers fans called for Dave Hakstol's job last year before the team turned a corner, and it wouldn't be surprising if the Flyers' faithful got their wish a year later. Hakstol is the fourth-longest tenured coach in the league but hasn't made it past the first round of the playoffs. Philly has been very streaky under Hakstol, due in no small part to the team's goaltending.

Defensemen scoring is way up

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Seven defensemen are on-pace for 70-plus points this season.

Defenseman Current points On-pace points
Morgan Rielly (TOR) 26 102
Thomas Chabot (OTT) 24 94
John Carlson (WSH) 21 86
Brent Burns (SJ) 22 86
Mark Giordano (CGY) 20 78
Keith Yandle (FLA) 17 77
Tyson Barrie (COL) 17 70

The last time seven or more defensemen reached the 70-point mark in the same campaign was 1993-94. There were 6.48 goals per game that season and the league save percentage was .895.

It's unlikely all these blue-liners reach their on-pace totals, but it's still quite remarkable considering no rearguard had 70 points a year ago.

Defensemen are seemingly faster and more skilled with the puck than ever before. They're also encouraged to join the rush and contribute offensively, which wasn't always the case.

The best example of this may be the Ottawa Senators, who lead the NHL in goals for but also allow the most. The Sens previously played a defensive trap system but head coach Guy Boucher has activated his defense this season and it's showing - for better or worse.

Stacked lines are back

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Coaches around the league no longer seem afraid of stacking their top line. Some bench bosses appeared wary of this in past years, electing to put their best players on different lines to create a balanced lineup, but that doesn't look to be a concern anymore - at least not for most coaches.

The Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche have arguably the two best top lines in the NHL - when healthy - and they've kept them together despite suspect bottom-nine forward groups. But these two clubs were stacking their first lines before this season began; in a copycat league, other teams have taken notice.

The Oilers recently reunited Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the top line - though who knows if newly-minted head coach Ken Hitchcock will keep it that way. Jeremy Colliton is using Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane on the same unit in Chicago; the Dallas Stars have Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Alexander Radulov together; and Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson are flanking Pierre-Luc Dubois for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Even Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock has John Tavares and Mitch Marner together - after a very brief separation following Auston Matthews' injury.

It's difficult to quantify exactly how much offense line-stacking generates compared to a balanced attack; every team is different. But having the league's most dynamic stars playing together undoubtedly makes for great entertainment.

Parity at an all-time high

Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty

One of the best aspects of tuning into an NHL game this season is the uncertainty - it seems any team can beat any other team on any given night. The salary cap is mostly responsible but it also feels like the league's bottom half is stronger than it's ever been.

The Metro Division is arguably the best example of this parity. The first-place Blue Jackets and last-place Pittsburgh Penguins are separated by just eight points and the latter has played two fewer games. In two weeks the standings could be completely flipped - and would anyone be that stunned?

The only team in the league that seems truly hard-pressed for a turnaround is the 7-12-1 Kings, who are down to their fourth-string goalie. Every other club is seemingly still in the mix for the postseason.

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McDavid: ‘We’re all to blame’ for McLellan firing

Connor McDavid doesn't believe former Edmonton Oilers head coach Todd McLellan was the sole reason for the team's poor play to begin this season.

The Oilers fired McLellan on Tuesday after losing six of their last seven games and replaced him with veteran bench boss Ken Hitchcock. But McDavid says the entire team is responsible for those results, not just McLellan.

"We're all to blame here," McDavid told reporters. "This obviously isn't on Todd at all, it's on us as players and that's just how the business works sometimes. We got to wake up here."

McDavid did admit, however, it was a change that needed to be made.

"Todd was a guy that everyone liked," he said. "Ultimately, we're a team that's underachieving right now and no one likes where we're at, so the change is necessary."

Hitchcock, an Edmonton native, joins the club as the third-winningest coach in NHL history, and McDavid is excited to have him aboard.

"Obviously he's got a tremendous record, both in the NHL and in international play," McDavid said. "He's a guy that's got lots of experience and we're looking forward to it."

The Oilers enter Tuesday night sitting five points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, but just three back of the Vancouver Canucks for third place in the Pacific Division.

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Canadiens’ Juulsen out indefinitely with facial fracture

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Juulsen will be sidelined indefinitely due to a facial fracture, the team announced on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old suffered the injury when he took a puck to the face during the Canadiens' 5-4 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday night.

Juulsen has played in 17 of Montreal's 21 games this season, recording one goal and five points.

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Report: Trocheck having surgery to repair ‘significant’ leg damage

Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck is undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair "significant damage" to his leg and will be out long term, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Trocheck was stretchered off the ice during Monday's game against the Ottawa Senators after his right leg bent awkwardly in a battle for a loose puck along the boards.

Warning: Video contains graphic content

Trocheck is coming off a career-high 31-goal, 75-point season, and had followed that up with 14 points in 18 contests this year.

The Panthers could slide Nick Bjugstad back to his natural position of center or bump Jared McCann to the No. 2 center role in Trocheck's absence.

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Capitals’ Orpik out 4-6 weeks after knee surgery

Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik will miss the next four-to-six weeks after undergoing successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, the team announced Tuesday.

Orpik was placed on long-term injured reserve on Nov. 9 and hasn't played since Oct. 27. He was originally considered day to day.

The 38-year-old has two points in 10 games this season while averaging slightly over 16 minutes of ice time per contest.

The Capitals have gone 5-4-1 during Orpik's 10-game absence to date.

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Blues won’t commit to Berube, will conduct detailed coaching search

The St. Louis Blues plan to conduct a "detailed search" for their next head coach after firing Mike Yeo on Monday, general manager Doug Armstrong said at a press conference Tuesday, according to NHL.com's Lou Korac.

Craig Berube, who was on Yeo's staff as an associate, was named interim head coach. But Armstrong said he won't commit to Berube as the full-time bench boss.

Armstrong said it's possible a permanent replacement is hired midseason, Korac adds.

Berube coached the Philadelphia Flyers for two seasons from 2013-2015, making one playoff appearance.

Hall of Fame defenseman and Stanley Cup-winning coach Larry Robinson will join Berube's staff for around one month, Armstrong said, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Robinson won a ring as the head coach of the New Jersey Devils in 2000. He last served as an associate coach with the San Jose Sharks in 2014-15.

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Oilers hire Ken Hitchcock to replace Todd McLellan

The Edmonton Oilers have named Ken Hitchcock as the replacement for fired head coach Todd McLellan, the team announced on Tuesday.

Hitchock will stay on for the rest of the season after which his status and future as head coach of the Oilers will be re-evaluated, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

The move comes after the Oilers lost six of their last seven games. They sit five points back of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference and three points behind the Vancouver Canucks for third place in the Pacific Division.

McLellan concludes his Oilers tenure with a record of 123-119-24 in 266 games. The Oilers have struggled since reaching the second round of the playoffs during the 2016-17 campaign, posting a 45-50-7 record since then.

Hitchcock joins the team following a one-year stint with Dallas Stars last season that saw the veteran bench boss relieved of his duties after finishing three points out of a playoff spot with a 42-32-8 record.

The 66-year-old ranks third all-time in coaching wins with 823 victories during his 21-year career.

The Oilers are back in action on Tuesday when they take on the San Jose Sharks.

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