Category Archives: Hockey News

Charges against Evander Kane officially dismissed

A Buffalo judge has officially dismissed charges against Sabres winger Evander Kane stemming from alleged incidents at a local bar last June.

The dismissal Tuesday was based on a plea agreement reached in late October that required Kane to avoid legal issues for six months.

"The time period expired and so the charges were dismissed and the record sealed," Kane's lawyer, Paul Cambria, told The Buffalo News' Harold McNeil.

Kane was charged with misdemeanor trespass and separate noncriminal violations of disorderly conduct and harassment after two female patrons and a bouncer at the bar alleged he had grabbed the women, pulled their hair, and then refused the bouncer's orders to leave.

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5 players still looking for their 1st goal of the playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are where names are made.

On the big stage, with the hockey world watching - that's when players want to come though for their teams.

But as the second round continues, a few notable names have yet to hit the back of the net.

Here are five that stand out.

Not striking Oil

The Oilers are winning, but so far, they're doing it without any goals off the sticks of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle.

While Nugent-Hopkins has been lauded by head coach Todd McLellan as an effective two-way player, Eberle - who's perceived primarily as an offensive weapon - was recently called out for not doing enough to help the team win.

Out of all the players remaining in the postseason yet to record a goal, Nugent-Hopkins' 24 shots lead the way. In fact, he ranks first on the Oilers in this category. Eberle, however, is well behind with 17 in nine games, which he admits is cause for concern.

"I want to score, put the puck in the net," he said, according to Mark Spector of Sportsnet. "The thing that sucks is, the last two games I haven't had too many chances, and that's when you start to worry. ...

"I'm an offensive guy, and my own worst critic. You can be great defensively, do good board work and all that. But I'm a goal-scorer. I've got to put the puck in the net."

Eberle scored 20 goals during the regular season, and Nugent-Hopkins chipped in with 18. It's time to dig deep and strike while there's still a chance to do so.

Alex Pietrangel-0

Coming off a regular season in which he scored a career-high 14 goals, St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has yet to hit the back of the net, despite 23 shots on goal through nine games.

Six of those strikes came on the power play, which is not clicking for the Blues at the moment. St. Louis has recorded two goals on 24 opportunities, ranking seventh among the remaining eight teams with a success rate of 8.3 percent. That can't all be pinned on Pietrangelo, but his lack of production isn't helping the cause.

The weird thing is that fellow Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson has scored three playoff goals, matching his regular-season total.

If the captain can't start scoring from the back end, the Blues' season could be done as soon as the end of Game 5.

No red lights for these Blueshirts

The New York Rangers received high marks when college standouts Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Vesey decided to take their acts to Broadway as free agents. But in six games against the Montreal Canadiens and three against the Ottawa Senators, the Blueshirts have yet to benefit on the scoresheet from either player.

Hayes has registered 16 shots without hitting the back of the net, while Vesey's 12 shots have proven equally as ineffective.

Hayes (17 goals) and Vesey (16 goals) ranked sixth and seventh among Rangers scorers during the regular season, and provided a healthy measure of depth that's necessary to succeed in the playoffs.

One or both needs to get it going in order to help erase the Senators' 2-1 series lead.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

5 players still looking for their 1st goal of the playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are where names are made.

On the big stage, with the hockey world watching - that's when players want to come though for their teams.

But as the second round continues, a few notable names have yet to hit the back of the net.

Here are five that stand out.

Not striking Oil

The Oilers are winning, but so far, they're doing it without any goals off the sticks of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle.

While Nugent-Hopkins has been lauded by head coach Todd McLellan as an effective two-way player, Eberle - who's perceived primarily as an offensive weapon - was recently called out for not doing enough to help the team win.

Out of all the players remaining in the postseason yet to record a goal, Nugent-Hopkins' 24 shots lead the way. In fact, he ranks first on the Oilers in this category. Eberle, however, is well behind with 17 in nine games, which he admits is cause for concern.

"I want to score, put the puck in the net," he said, according to Mark Spector of Sportsnet. "The thing that sucks is, the last two games I haven't had too many chances, and that's when you start to worry. ...

"I'm an offensive guy, and my own worst critic. You can be great defensively, do good board work and all that. But I'm a goal-scorer. I've got to put the puck in the net."

Eberle scored 20 goals during the regular season, and Nugent-Hopkins chipped in with 18. It's time to dig deep and strike while there's still a chance to do so.

Alex Pietrangel-0

Coming off a regular season in which he scored a career-high 14 goals, St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has yet to hit the back of the net, despite 23 shots on goal through nine games.

Six of those strikes came on the power play, which is not clicking for the Blues at the moment. St. Louis has recorded two goals on 24 opportunities, ranking seventh among the remaining eight teams with a success rate of 8.3 percent. That can't all be pinned on Pietrangelo, but his lack of production isn't helping the cause.

The weird thing is that fellow Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson has scored three playoff goals, matching his regular-season total.

If the captain can't start scoring from the back end, the Blues' season could be done as soon as the end of Game 5.

No red lights for these Blueshirts

The New York Rangers received high marks when college standouts Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Vesey decided to take their acts to Broadway as free agents. But in six games against the Montreal Canadiens and three against the Ottawa Senators, the Blueshirts have yet to benefit on the scoresheet from either player.

Hayes has registered 16 shots without hitting the back of the net, while Vesey's 12 shots have proven equally as ineffective.

Hayes (17 goals) and Vesey (16 goals) ranked sixth and seventh among Rangers scorers during the regular season, and provided a healthy measure of depth that's necessary to succeed in the playoffs.

One or both needs to get it going in order to help erase the Senators' 2-1 series lead.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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Horton, Clarkson among players exempt from expansion draft

The National Hockey League and the Players' Association have come to an agreement on a list of players that will be exempt from being selected by the Vegas Golden Knights at the upcoming expansion draft.

Here's the list, per Craig Custance of ESPN:

  • Dave Bolland (Arizona)
  • Craig Cunningham (Arizona)
  • Chris Pronger (Arizona)
  • Cody McCormick (Buffalo)
  • David Clarkson (Columbus)
  • Johan Franzen (Detroit)
  • Joe Vitale (Detroit)
  • Ryane Clowe (New Jersey)
  • Mikhail Grabovski (Islanders)
  • Pascal Dupuis (Penguins)
  • Nathan Horton (Toronto)
  • Stephane Robidas (Toronto)

These players have all been off the ice for a considerable amount of time due to injuries that have put their careers in jeopardy or effectively ended them altogether, but who are still under contract with their respective teams.

The expansion draft will take place on June 21 in conjunction with the NHL Awards.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Horton, Clarkson among players exempt from expansion draft

The National Hockey League and the Players' Association have come to an agreement on a list of players that will be exempt from being selected by the Vegas Golden Knights at the upcoming expansion draft.

Here's the list, per Craig Custance of ESPN:

  • Dave Bolland (Coyotes)
  • Craig Cunningham (Coyotes)
  • Chris Pronger (Coyotes)
  • Cody McCormick (Sabres)
  • David Clarkson (Blue Jackets)
  • Johan Franzen (Red Wings)
  • Joe Vitale (Red Wings)
  • Ryane Clowe (Devils)
  • Mikhail Grabovski (Islanders)
  • Pascal Dupuis (Penguins)
  • Nathan Horton (Maple Leafs)
  • Stephane Robidas (Maple Leafs)

These players have all been off the ice for a considerable amount of time due to injuries that have put their careers in jeopardy or effectively ended them altogether, but who are still under contract with their respective teams.

The expansion draft will take place on June 21 in conjunction with the NHL Awards.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pietrangelo baffled by refs’ reluctance to provide Game 4 penalty explanation

One penalty during Game 4 between the St. Louis Blues and the Nashville Predators changed the complexion of the entire series.

A scrum between multiple Blues and Predators players led to offsetting minors for Joel Edmundson and Cody McLeod, but Blues tough guy Ryan Reaves - who joined the scrum as the odd man in - received an extra two minutes for roughing.

A penalty such as this - especially in the playoffs - usually requires the referee to provide an explanation to the coach or one of the players with a letter on his jersey. However, Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo received no such explanation.

"It's the first time I've ever seen a ref not even let the captain talk to him," Pietrangelo told Lou Korac of NHL.com. "I'm sure that's what the C's for."

It's highly unlikely Pietrangelo could have convinced the referee to send an even amount of Blues and Preds to the box for the scrum, but he has every right to plead his case.

There may be no evidence to prove such theory, but the more a well-respected captain such as Pietrangelo questions each call, the more likely his team is to get the benefit of the doubt on a future call.

The Predators, of course, would go on to score on the ensuing power play, giving them a 1-0 lead. It didn't wind up being the game-winner in the 2-1 contest, but it was no doubt a series-altering goal.

Reaves himself, was not pleased with the call.

"I completely disagree with that call. I think it's garbage in a playoff game like that," Reaves said in a postgame interview with Fox Sports Midwest. "You got a 10-man scrum and all of a sudden you're just picking one guy. You can't do that in a playoff game."

The difference between regular-season officiating and playoff officiating has been well documented. The refs are far more lenient in the postseason, not wanting a single penalty call to decide the game.

Unfortunately for the Blues, Reaves' penalty was a deciding factor in Game 4. They will begin their quest to win three straight games on Friday in St. Louis.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pietrangelo baffled by refs’ reluctance to provide Game 4 penalty explanation

One penalty during Game 4 between the St. Louis Blues and the Nashville Predators changed the complexion of the entire series.

A scrum between multiple Blues and Predators players led to offsetting minors for Joel Edmundson and Cody McLeod, but Blues tough guy Ryan Reaves - who joined the scrum as the odd man in - received an extra two minutes for roughing.

A penalty such as this - especially in the playoffs - usually requires the referee to provide an explanation to the coach or one of the players with a letter on his jersey. However, Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo received no such explanation.

"It's the first time I've ever seen a ref not even let the captain talk to him," Pietrangelo told Lou Korac of NHL.com. "I'm sure that's what the C's for."

It's highly unlikely Pietrangelo could have convinced the referee to send an even amount of Blues and Preds to the box for the scrum, but he has every right to plead his case.

There may be no evidence to prove such theory, but the more a well-respected captain such as Pietrangelo questions each call, the more likely his team is to get the benefit of the doubt on a future call.

The Predators, of course, would go on to score on the ensuing power play, giving them a 1-0 lead. It didn't wind up being the game-winner in the 2-1 contest, but it was no doubt a series-altering goal.

Reaves himself, was not pleased with the call.

"I completely disagree with that call. I think it's garbage in a playoff game like that," Reaves said in a postgame interview with Fox Sports Midwest. "You got a 10-man scrum and all of a sudden you're just picking one guy. You can't do that in a playoff game."

The difference between regular-season officiating and playoff officiating has been well documented. The refs are far more lenient in the postseason, not wanting a single penalty call to decide the game.

Unfortunately for the Blues, Reaves' penalty was a deciding factor in Game 4. They will begin their quest to win three straight games on Friday in St. Louis.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fired Bills, Sabres GMs spotted at downtown Buffalo bar

An epic photo taken at a bar in downtown Buffalo is making the rounds after it was shared to Deadspin on Tuesday.

An observer caught former Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley and former Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray sharing a conversation at a bar. Whaley was fired on Sunday and Murray was dismissed 10 days prior to that.

Considering ESPN sports talk show "First Take" is shown on the television behind the former sports executives, the meeting likely took part in the morning or early afternoon. Regardless, both Murray and Whaley have decided to remain in Buffalo for the time being.

And they're eating (drinking?) out in style on owner Terry Pegula's dime.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fired Bills, Sabres GMs spotted at downtown Buffalo bar

An epic photo taken at a bar in downtown Buffalo is making the rounds after it was shared to Deadspin on Tuesday.

An observer caught former Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley and former Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray sharing a conversation at a bar. Whaley was fired on Sunday and Murray was dismissed 10 days prior to that.

Considering ESPN sports talk show "First Take" is shown on the television behind the former sports executives, the meeting likely took part in the morning or early afternoon. Regardless, both Murray and Whaley have decided to remain in Buffalo for the time being.

And they're eating (drinking?) out in style on owner Terry Pegula's dime.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Blues’ Yeo: Predators doing a good job lobbying for penalty calls

The St. Louis Blues were clearly unhappy with the officiating following a pivotal Game 4 loss to the Nashville Predators.

The contest was scoreless in the third period when the Blues were tagged with an extra penalty following a post-whistle scrum. Cue Ryan Ellis, who scored on the ensuing power play, leaving Blues head coach Mike Yeo to backhandedly compliment the Predators in the wake of an eventual 2-1 loss.

"I'll be the first to admit I know that we could have killed the penalty, but I thought that they did a really good job lobbying for that," Yeo said, per Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"Every stoppage, they're yelling at the refs, talking to the refs and it worked there. It's worked all series, let's be honest. We had one game where we've had more power plays than them and the other three, they're winning that category, clearly."

The Predators have indeed been awarded more power plays than the Blues in three of the four games so far, with the final results falling in line with that advantage.

Game NSH PP STL PP Final Score
1 2-3 0-1 NSH 4 - STL 3
2 0-0 1-5 STL 3 - NSH 2
3 0-3 0-1 NSH 3 - STL 1
4 1-4 0-2 NSH 2 - STL 1

The Blues did get a power-play opportunity later in the third period Tuesday, but it was nullified by a call for too many men on the ice shortly thereafter, much to Yeo's frustration.

"That was not good on our part," Yeo conceded. "We get down and it was obviously frustrating to be down the way we were competing ... the way that we went down with the penalty call and it took us a while to regroup after that."

The Blues, now down 3-1 in the series, will have an extra day to regroup in an attempt to salvage their season, with Game 5 set for Friday back in St. Louis.

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