Tag Archives: Hockey

Watch: Nylander snipes with pinpoint wrister

William Nylander doesn't need much time or space to score goals like this.

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward flicked a perfect wrist shot past Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth from the faceoff circle on the power play Thursday night.

It was the 20-year-old's 18th goal of the season and his first in seven games.

Half of Nylander's goals this season have come with the man advantage, and this one put him into a tie for the Leafs' rookie record for power-play goals in a single campaign.

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

Watch: Kreider’s early tally ends Rangers’ woeful power-play skid

It's been a long time coming for the New York Rangers' power play.

Entering Thursday's contest versus Carolina, the Blueshirts' man advantage hadn't converted in any of its last 10 games, and just once in its last 40 attempts overall.

That all changed early in the first period, however, as the quietly productive Chris Kreider banged in his 26th goal of the season during a 5-on-3 opportunity.

The power-play futility was a bit of an anomaly for the Rangers, who've scored the second-most goals of any team this season.

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

NHL considering making protected lists public, broadcasting expansion draft

The NHL's general managers are taking heat for their apparent reluctance to release protected and unprotected lists ahead of the upcoming expansion draft, but one of the league's top decision-makers says there's a chance they'll go public.

"The official answer was it looks like we're going to keep them private, (but) the unofficial answer was nothing's private and it's going to get out," Colin Campbell told Sportsnet 590 The FAN on Thursday.

The NHL's executive vice-president and director of hockey operations reiterated his acknowledgement that any information the GMs attempt to keep from fans and the media will be reported anyway, citing that as a reason they're now considering sharing the lists.

"They may (ultimately) be (public), they may be because of that, it's going to get out there, you know it'll get out there," Campbell said.

Another consideration was whether or not to televise the expansion draft itself, which will take place from June 18-20, with the selections scheduled to be revealed June 21.

It isn't yet being billed as a made-for-TV event, but Campbell told "Prime Time Sports" co-host John Shannon that's also on the table.

"They talked about that a lot too, John," he said. "It's possible, yes."

The GMs initially decided they did not want to share the lists, as ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday, and the executives' sentiment was criticized by multiple media outlets.

Considering the flack some NHL teams take for not disclosing contract details, providing vague injury updates, and now hoping to keep these expansion-draft lists secret, it's refreshing to hear a top league official admit he's aware that there's little point to hiding the info if it's just going to emerge regardless.

Campbell's comments might be seen as reactionary due to the backlash, but they should still be viewed as progress.

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

Blues’ goaltending has drastically improved under Yeo, Brodeur

When Ken Hitchcock was let go as head coach of the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 1, much of the team's failures to that point in the season were pinned on poor goaltending, and for good reason.

Both starter Jake Allen and backup Carter Hutton struggled mightily to start the season, and goalie coach Jim Corsi was fired along with Hitchcock.

It's been a different story in St. Louis since Mike Yeo stepped in as bench boss, and assistant general manager Martin Brodeur took over as goalie coach.

In fact, it's been a complete 180.

Allen - who had essentially been put on leave at one point in order to clear his head - has drawn the lion's share of the starts, and while his record stands at 7-5-0 under Yeo, his .941 save percentage since Feb. 1 ranks second among all goalies with at least 10 starts over that span, behind only Ottawa's Craig Anderson (.944).

Hutton has been near perfect in the three starts he's made, recording two shutout wins and allowing a single goal in his only loss, good for a save percentage of .989 after stopping 88 of 89 shots.

With 17 games remaining on the schedule, the Blues hold the second wild-card spot, three points up on Los Angeles. Advancing to the postseason is anything but guaranteed at this point, meaning Allen and Hutton will need to bring more of the same in order to fully salvage an almost disastrous start.

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

Look: Which NHL fan base is the most loyal?

In addition to being one of the hottest teams in the NHL at the moment, the Chicago Blackhawks also boast the most loyal fan base.

Fanatics analyzed arena occupancy, social media following, and jersey sales, and discovered that Blackhawks fans have the rest of the league beat when it comes to loyalty. Rounding out the top five are the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, and Detroit Red Wings.

The study also looked at the correlation between a winning record and sold-out arenas:

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

Blind fan has incredible experience watching 1st Flames game

Last weekend, Olivia Lettich, an 11-year-old cancer survivor, was given the amazing opportunity to watch her beloved Calgary Flames for the first time.

Olivia was left with only peripheral vision due to the treatment she received following her diagnosis of a rare form of eye cancer. But thanks to an incredible new technology developed by eSight, and the Flames' generosity, she was able to watch the team she loves like few have before.

Olivia sat on the bench during warmups, stood with the anthem singer, caught the 5-2 win over the New York Islanders from the seats, and then met with Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and the rest of her favorite players in the dressing room afterward.

(Video courtesy: Flames TV)

Here's what she told the Calgary Herald's Eric Francis about walking into her backyard after putting the eSight glasses on for the first time:

"I could see every little detail in the leaves, and I could read signs - it was so cool.

"I cried in my bed I was so happy. I was just so happy. It changed my life."

Outstanding.

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

Flyers’ Filppula confirms shutting down potential deal to Maple Leafs

Philadelphia Flyers forward Valtteri Filppula confirmed Thursday in Toronto that he snuffed out a potential trade to the Maple Leafs by exercising the no-trade clause included in his contract signed with his former club, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"Nothing against Toronto," he said, according to James Mirtle of The Athletic. "Obviously they have a great team and coach."

Filppula was later dealt to the Flyers, a team included on his list of acceptable destinations, for defenseman Mark Streit. He was immediately flipped to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a fourth-round draft pick.

There was talk Filppula was uninterested in a reunion with Mike Babcock, who instructed him while he was a member of the Detroit Red Wings.

Filppula dismissed that theory Thursday.

"I heard the stories, but that's not the case," he told Sami Hoffren. "I don't have anything against Toronto"

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

Penguins looking for Stanley Cup repeat with more seasoned Murray

Matt Murray unexpectedly backstopped the Pittsburgh Penguins to their fourth Stanley Cup last season - the team's first championship since 2008-09.

The rookie took over between the pipes for Marc-Andre Fleury, and went 15-6-2 with a 2.08 GAA and a .923 save percentage in his first real taste of consistent starts in the league.

Still considered a rookie, Murray has gotten his first real opportunity to prove himself as a starter in the league this season and the results have been nothing short of fantastic.

In 39 games, Murray continues to roll with a 2.39 GAA and a .923 save percentage. However, his biggest accomplishment this season has been his 25 wins.

The 22-year-old hit the quarter-century mark on Wednesday night in a wild 7-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets, setting a new best for Penguins rookie netminders.

While the milestone isn't something to marvel at from an all-time stand point, but with some continued success he could join some elite company.

Murray's 25 wins currently puts him in a tie for the 32nd most wins by a rookie netminder in NHL history. With 17 games remaining on the Penguins schedule and just three sets of games on back-to-back nights, one can expect Murray to earn the majority of the starts down the stretch.

If he were to start 12 of the remaining 17 games, at his current winning percent, Murray would pick up seven more wins. Those wins would give him a share of the 12th-most wins by a rookie goalie.

Murray is quickly proving himself to be the goalie of the Penguins' present and future. He proved he can tangle with the best in the postseason last year, and with a full season now under his belt, there is no reason why he couldn't replicate his stellar play once again in just over a month's time.

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

Squad Up Daily NHL Fantasy Dose: Load up on Leafs at home

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, Mar. 9 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

  • C Mitchell Marner (52K) and LW James van Riemsdyk (58K), Maple Leafs (vs. Flyers): Toronto is back in business, ending a five-game losing skid last time out with a 3-2 triumph over Detroit. Look for the Maple Leafs to get back to their high-scoring ways in the comfortable confines of the Air Canada Centre against a Flyers team that ranks among the worst in the Eastern Conference in goals against.
  • C Jonathan Toews (68K) and RW Patrick Kane (93K), Blackhawks (vs. Ducks): Toews and Kane don't play on the same line at 5v5, but that doesn't make them any less valuable as a combo play. Both players have been red-hot; Toews has 27 points in his last 18 games, while Kane has put up 21 points - including 14 goals - in his previous 13 contests. This is a high-end pairing, but one with the highest ceiling of the night.
  • RW Mark Stone (54K) and D Erik Karlsson (59K), Senators (at Coyotes): Never underestimate the ability of a team already playing for next year to boost the fantasy stats of its opponents. Stone and Karlsson are a reasonably-priced duo with a high ceiling in Arizona; Stone has points in three straight games, and both players had a goal and an assist apiece in their previous meeting with the Coyotes.

Goalie Breakdown

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

  • TARGET - Thomas Greiss (109K), Islanders (at Canucks): Greiss has been a bit shaky of late, allowing three or more goals in three of his last five games. But none of the teams he faced were as deficient as the Canucks, who rank second from the bottom in shots per game (27.5). The danger here is that Greiss allows three goals on 20 shots, but the more likely scenario is him returning value in all formats.
  • BARGAIN - Mike Condon (79K), Senators (at Coyotes): Vegas has the Senators as a comfortable fave in this one, and even with a total of 5 1/2, you should expect Condon to assert himself well in Craig Anderson's absence. His road numbers (9-7-0, 2.79 GAA, .903 SV%) don't inspire a lot of confidence, but a game against Arizona can work wonders for a goaltender's numbers. Fire him up in cash games.
  • FADE - Mike Smith (114K), Coyotes (vs. Senators): Condon's Thursday counterpart has a sub-.500 record at home (10-11-3) and has been mostly dreadful of late, surrendering 16 goals over his last four games. He'll likely face a good number of shots, which would, on its own, make him an intriguing contrarian play should he stand on his head. But at this salary, Smith is completely unplayable.
  • CONTRARIAN - Calvin Pickard, Avalanche (vs. Devils): A Colorado netminder? What am I thinking? Well, I'm thinking that the Devils have one of the worst offenses in hockey, and are playing on the road two time zones separated from their home arena. Pickard is by no means a sure thing to post 25+ Squad Up points, but if you're looking to zig while others zag, this is the way to do it.

Bargain Plays

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

  • C Mikko Koivu (36K), Wild (at Lightning): It's hard to believe that Koivu finds himself as one of the lowest-priced centers of the night, but here we are. Having recorded one point in his last three games is certainly a factor, but he had racked up 10 points in seven games before that. He had a goal on five shots last time out against St. Louis, and is terrific value against an underwhelming Lightning defense.
  • RW Patrick Eaves (36K), Ducks (at Blackhawks): Eaves hasn't missed a beat since being traded from the Stars to the Ducks, scoring twice and adding a pair of assists in four games with Anaheim. It's unfathomable for him to be priced so low, even with a difficult matchup with the red-hot Blackhawks up next. Take a shot on Eaves if you're playing in a big-money contest and looking for some reliable salary relief.
  • D Ryan Suter (35K), Wild (at Lightning): Suter is another player who should probably carry a higher price tag, if only because the sheer volume of ice time he sees often leads to production no matter how well Minnesota plays. Suter has increased his viability with assists in consecutive games, and should see upwards of 28+ minutes Thursday in Tampa Bay. He's a terrific option in all formats.

Top Fades

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

  • LW Alex Ovechkin (75K), Capitals (at Sharks): This might seem like a great price for a perennial 50-goal stud, but Ovechkin hasn't been that guy for a while now. He has just two goals in his previous 14 games, and has found the back of the net only 10 times in his 31 road games this season. Go ahead and spend away if you think he's due, but that's a dangerous way to use 25% of your cap space.
  • RW Kyle Palmieri (77K), Devils (at Avalanche): Palmieri might be one of New Jersey's top scoring threats, but is he really worth a higher salary than all but two forwards on Thursday's slate? Probably not, even with a nice matchup against Colorado. The Devils have been shutout in three of their last four games, and are a threat to post a goose egg on any given night. Fade Palmieri in every format.
  • D Brent Burns (68K), Sharks (vs. Capitals): You can't doubt Burns' ability to put up boatloads of Squad Up points no matter the opponent - but with the Capitals boasting the best goal prevention in the league, Burns' whopping price tag is a little too rich for a successful cash game lineup. Burns has just one assist in three games so far this month, and has been held without a goal in six straight.

Contrarian Options

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

  • C Matt Duchene (52K), Avalanche (vs. Devils): Duchene is ice-cold, having gone eight games without a point while registering a collective minus-6 rating over that span. So at the very least, selecting him is about as contrarian as it gets. And while the Devils get a reputation as a defensive power, they're only middle of the pack in goals per game allowed away from New Jersey (2.76). Try Duchene in a coins-only game.
  • LW Taylor Hall (73K), Devils (at Avalanche): If you're going to roster a Devils skater Thursday, make it Hall. He's far and away the most dangerous player on the roster, and has been a bit unlucky of late, going seven games without a goal despite recording three or more shots three times in that span. Colorado is susceptible to the kind of breakdowns that Hall takes full advantage of; he's high risk, but high reward.
  • RW Radim Vrbata (67K), Coyotes (vs. Senators): Of all the Arizona players to suit up Thursday, Vrbata is easily the most motivated, as he'll appear in his 1,000th career NHL game. While that alone isn't enough to make him worth rostering, consider that he recently put together a 10-game point streak and sees enough high-leverage ice time to be a threat each and every game.

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