Tag Archives: Hockey

Flames need new facility in order to stay in Calgary, says King

Build it and they will stay.

The Calgary Flames need a new arena in order to remain in Alberta, team president Ken King told Sportsnet Fan 590 on Wednesday.

The Flames have skated at Scotiabank Saddledome since 1983, but desire a new home. In August 2015, the Flames unveiled CalgaryNEXT, a proposed $890-million development that includes new facilities for the Flames and the CFL's Stampeders.

However, the proposal does not have the support of Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi, who on Tuesday deemed the project "dead."

King believes the project "answers a myriad of questions," telling Fan 590, "Our ownership wants to leave a legacy here. They want to do something special, something valuable, and something important. They don't want to just build another building."

Earlier this month, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman met with Nenshi for discussions he characterized as "cordial and open," although he wasn't as complimentary to the Saddledome, describing the arena as "historic, but an old, antiquated building."

The rival Edmonton Oilers moved into new digs this year after 35 seasons at the team's old arena. Construction costs of the Oilers' new home, Rogers Place, were largely publicly funded, approved after Oilers owner Daryl Katz floated the possibility of the team relocating to Seattle.

According to King, similar tactics will not be used in Calgary.

"There would be no threat to move. We would just move and it would be over," King said. "If people smarter than us, in more powerful positions than ours, don't feel that we're a critical piece of the social, economic, and cultural part of our city, than who are we to argue with that?"

King later clarified to Kristen Odland of the Calgary Herald: "The truth of the matter is, we would just move. Which is not to be confused as a threat. We don't think it's fair to threaten. We think it's fair for people to decide whether or not if they want a facility … and whether or not they think it's appropriate. If they do, great. We'll participate. If they decide not to, well then we've obviously got to make some decisions about the future."

With the Detroit Red Wings moving into a new home next season, Calgary's arena will be the league's second-oldest, ahead of only Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Rangers, which underwent a $1-billion renovation in 2013.

The Flames have called Calgary home since 1980, when the franchise originally arrived in the city from Atlanta.

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Flames’ Giordano to see playoff action for 1st time in 10 years

With an impressive 5-2 drubbing of last year's Stanley Cup runner-up Friday, the Calgary Flames booked their ticket to the 2017 playoffs.

For the organization, the return to postseason play provides some much-needed stabilization for a rebuild that looked in danger of going off the rails. But for captain Mark Giordano, it's fair to assume it meant much more.

When the Flames take the ice for Round 1 of the playoffs in just under two weeks, the 33-year-old defenseman will get his first taste of playoff action in 10 years.

Related: Flames clinch playoff spot with win over Sharks

That's assuming no more misfortune comes his way, of course, and Giordano's had his fair share, having missed out on Calgary's past three playoff runs.

When the Flames went on their Cinderella run through the postseason in 2015, the captain was forced to sit, stymied by a torn biceps tendon.

Prior to that, the Flames hadn't claimed a postseason berth since 2009. Giordano missed that stretch as well, watching from the press box while recovering from shoulder surgery.

And one year prior, when the Flames headed into the playoffs with then-captain Jarome Iginla in peak form - a career-best 98 points in the bag - Giordano was half the world away, playing out a one-year deal in the KHL.

The last time Giordano actually did suit up for NHL postseason action was way back in 2007 - and it wasn't the most spectacular of runs.

Calgary was ousted in six games by the Detroit Red Wings. Giordano played in only four of those tilts, registering one goal and seeing just over 12 minutes of ice per night.

In the decade that has followed, he's emerged as one of the most dynamic rearguards in the game, anchoring one of the league's most offensively potent blue lines. However, that dominance has unfortunately been confined to the regular season, as team-wide mediocrity and untimely injuries have sunk Giordano's playoff hopes time and time again.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

But after 10 long years, the captain will finally get to prove the full weight of his worth during the grind of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's safe to say he's ready for the chance.

"In Calgary, it’s just such a great atmosphere," Giordano told the Calgary Herald earlier this month. "I’ve been around a few times hurt, and the atmosphere is the same, if not better now. I just remember being on the ice (in 2007) and you almost get the jitters at the start of games because of the atmosphere."

With his lengthy wait nearing an end, Giordano said he and the rest of the club's veterans aren't taking the opportunity for granted.

"As you get older, you realize how hard it is to get in, and you only have so many cracks left,” he said. "Guys like me and (Matt Stajan), I think we get it more. As a young guy, you’re coming in and just trying to prove yourself. But you play now to get into the playoffs and win.

"That’s the goal. That’s where our mindset is as a team and me as an individual."

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Watch: Predators score twice in 10 seconds vs. Wild

Just 10 seconds and the damage was done.

The Nashville Predators capitalized twice in 10 seconds Saturday against the Minnesota Wild, as Filip Forsberg and Kevin Fiala put the Predators up two, en route to a 3-0 victory.

After Forsberg tipped home the first tally, Fiala followed up shortly after, deking out Wild netminder Alex Stalock.

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Tavares injury likely the death knell for tumultuous Islanders season

The New York Islanders aren't eliminated yet, but John Tavares' diagnosis might be the final nail in the coffin in what's been a wild season in Brooklyn.

Losing the captain to an injury with a week to week recovery timetable is obviously a major blow to the Islanders' postseason hopes, and it comes at the most important juncture of what's been a roller-coaster campaign.

From a midseason coaching change to persistent arena rumors, the club has endured numerous distractions while experiencing both highs and lows in 2016-17.

The Islanders were among the NHL's worst clubs when Jack Capuano was fired on Jan. 17, sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference with 17 wins in 42 games.

They initially looked an entirely new team under interim head coach Doug Weight, going 12-4-2 over his first 18 games, but they fell back down to Earth and have now all but dropped out of the playoff picture with only four wins in their last 10.

They've also dealt with constant uncertainty about their future home.

It all started with a report in October claiming the Barclays Center piping system didn't meet NHL requirements.

Then, less than two weeks after Weight took over in January, another report indicated arena officials were looking to terminate their agreement with the club in the near future.

That set off a slew of reports about where the Islanders would eventually play and even saw them garner an offer from a former NHL city. Weight and Tavares were forced to deal with frequent questions about it, downplaying the effect it was having on the club.

The captain didn't miss a beat through it all, playing in every game before Friday's injury and racking up a team-leading 66 points to go along with 28 goals.

But New York now has to fend without him for the foreseeable future, and all three of its rivals in the wild-card race are riding hot streaks.

Entering Saturday night's action, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who occupy the second wild-card spot, are 7-2-1 in their last 10. The Tampa Bay Lightning, who sit four points behind them, are 7-3-0, while the Carolina Hurricanes are 7-0-3 in that span.

The Islanders had a 2.9 percent chance of making the playoffs before Saturday's games, according to Sports Club Stats.

New York's up-and-down season was already looking like a lost cause, but Tavares' injury and subsequent diagnosis all but puts it to bed.

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Marchand scores 39th as Bruins defeat Panthers

BOSTON - David Krejci scored after a poor clearing attempt by Florida goaltender Reto Berra, lifting the Boston Bruins over the Panthers 5-2 Saturday and helping them maintain an edge for a playoff spot heading into the regular season's final week.

Patrice Bergeron scored twice, Brad Marchand got his team-leading 39th goal and Noel Acciari also scored for the Bruins, who moved one point ahead of Toronto for third in the Atlantic Division. The Maple Leafs play later Saturday.

Boston entered the day with a three-point lead over Tampa Bay for the Eastern Conference's last wild-card spot.

Jaromir Jagr recorded his 765th career goal and Thomas Vanek also scored for the Panthers, who lost for the 11th time in 15 games and were eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week.

Krejci capitalized on the gaffe by Berra, moving Boston ahead 3-2 with 5:30 left in the second period. The goalie came far out of the crease, but his clearing pass from the right circle caromed off the boards directly to Krejci, who fired the puck into the empty net.

Tuukka Rask, coming off a career-tying seventh shutout this season in his last start, stopped 24 shots.

Marchand sealed it with a power-play score in the final two minutes. Bergeron added an empty-netter.

The Bruins had moved ahead 2-1 on Bergeron's reviewed goal midway into the second. The center scored off the rebound of Zdeno Chara's one-timer while Marchand was inside the crease. The goal stood even though it appeared Berra couldn't get across the crease on the shot with Marchand there.

Florida tied it 2-all on Jagr's goal. The 45-year-old forward beat Rask over his glove with a wrist shot from the slot.

Acciari stole the puck from defenseman Jakub Kindl, broke in while he was being hooked by Kindl for a delayed penalty and took a wrister that slipped into the net off Berra to make it 1-0.

Florida tied it early in the second when Nick Bjugstad's shot from the point caromed in off the leg of Vanek.

NOTES: Florida defenseman Keith Yandle played his 629th consecutive game, moving one behind Andy Hebenton for eighth on the NHL's all-time list... Boston forward Frank Vatrano missed his second straight with an undisclosed upper body injury... Panthers forward Jussi Jokinen turned 34-years old on Saturday, and teammate Reilly Smith 26... Interesting hit: Forty-year-old Chara kocked down Jagr... Panthers forward Shawn Thornton, a member of Boston's 2011 Cup winning team, played his last game in TD Garden. He's retiring after the season and has a job waiting for him in Florida's front office.

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Senators don’t expect Methot back before playoffs

The Ottawa Senators believe Marc Methot's shattered finger will keep him out of action until the postseason.

"Don't expect (Methot) to play during the (remaining regular-)season games," Senators head coach Guy Boucher told reporters Saturday.

The defenseman has been out since Sidney Crosby's controversial slash last month forced him out of the lineup for "weeks."

Methot ranks fourth on the Senators in ice time, averaging 19:49.

Ottawa has six games left in its regular-season schedule, including Saturday night's road date with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Senators sit second in the Atlantic Division, six points behind the Montreal Canadiens and two points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Watch: Devils mascot pranks staffers with elevator ambush

New Jersey Devils employees aren't having the best April Fool's Day.

The Devils mascot pulled off a cruel and unusual prank Saturday morning, setting up a net in the office elevator and then peppering unsuspecting co-workers with slap shots when they reached their destination.

We just hope those weren't real pucks.

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Leafs’ Nylander named NHL’s rookie of the month again

William Nylander is once again the NHL's rookie of the month.

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward was named March's top rookie, the league announced Saturday.

It's the second time this season he's earned the honor after winning it for his work in October.

Nylander led all members of the class with 14 points in 14 games last month, notching four goals in that span.

All of those points came during a 12-game streak that was the longest by a rookie in the club's 100-year history. It also tied for the longest point streak by anyone in the NHL in 2016-17.

The 20-year-old ranks second on the Leafs and third among rookies with 58 points. His 21 goals rank fourth both in the rookie class and on his team.

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Kucherov, Bobrovsky, Kane named NHL’s 3 stars for March

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, and Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane are the NHL's three stars for the month of March, the league announced Saturday.

Kucherov earned first-star honors for leading the NHL with 22 points in 14 games.

Bobrovsky was named second star after going 9-1-1 with a 1.09 GAA, a .967 save percentage, and four shutouts in March, while Kane racked up 10 goals and 22 points of his own to secure the third star.

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Islanders’ Tavares week to week with lower-body injury

The New York Islanders' playoff hopes have been dealt a serious blow.

John Tavares is week to week with what the Islanders are calling a lower-body injury, the club announced Saturday.

He suffered the apparent leg injury in Friday's win over the New Jersey Devils when he went down behind the Devils' net and had to be helped off the ice late in the third period.

The Islanders captain played in every game this season before leaving Friday's contest, ranking second on the team with 28 goals and leading the squad with 66 points.

New York sits four points back of the Boston Bruins for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot, but both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes are ahead of New York by virtue of points and games in hand.

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