Tag Archives: Hockey

Penguins’ Sestito to have hearing for boarding Jets’ Enstrom

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Tom Sestito will have a hearing Thursday for boarding Winnipeg Jets defenseman Toby Enstrom, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.

The incident in question occurred late in the first period Wednesday, and saw Sestito catch Enstrom with an apparent hit from behind.

Following the game, Jets head coach Paul Maurice said Enstrom was in hospital to be checked for facial fractures.

Related: Enstrom in hospital being examined for facial fractures after Sestito hit

Sestito was assessed a five-minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct.

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

Canucks’ Dahlen explodes offensively in Swedish playoff game

Alex Burrows has offered the Ottawa Senators - winners of four in a row - a sizable jolt since coming over from the Vancouver Canucks, helping defend Pierre Dorion's decision to part with a quality prospect for an ostensibly diminishing veteran.

But over in Sweden, Jonathan Dahlen appears hellbent on proving his decision was misguided.

Dahlen put up five points, his offensive explosion complete with a hat trick, in a second league playoff game back home Wednesday.

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

Canucks’ Dahlen explodes offensively in Swedish playoff game

Alex Burrows has offered the Ottawa Senators - winners of four in a row - a sizable jolt since coming over from the Vancouver Canucks, helping defend Pierre Dorion's decision to part with a quality prospect for an ostensibly diminishing veteran.

But over in Sweden, Jonathan Dahlen appears hellbent on proving his decision was misguided.

Dahlen put up five points, his offensive explosion complete with a hat trick, in a second league playoff game back home Wednesday.

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

Canadiens sign 2015 draftee Bourque to entry-level deal

The Montreal Canadiens signed defenseman Simon Bourque to a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced Thursday.

Bourque - who was plucked in the sixth round in 2015 - has split this season between the Rimouski Oceanic and Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. He's posted a combined 15 goals and 51 points - second and fifth, respectively, among defensemen in those categories.

In 245 career games, he has 40 goals and 144 points.

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

Trending ▲, Trending ▼: Canadiens making noise, GMs drop the ball in meetings

Mobile app users - expand the banner below to view more on the race to the playoffs.

Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.

▲ Brad Marchand

The most hated Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner in NHL history?

Just maybe.

With seven goals in his last seven games Boston Bruins pest Brad Marchand has thrust himself into "Rocket" Richard territory, now boasting 32 goals through 67 games.

The 28-year-old's most recent stretch has propelled him into a tie for second in goals alongside Winnipeg Jets rookie Patrik Laine and just two back of league-leader Sidney Crosby.

Marchand has been by far the most lethal member of the Bruins with a 13-point cushion on the team scoring lead. He has already eclipsed his previous high of 61 points - set last year - by nine in 10 fewer games.

The chippy forward is also set to post nearly 20 fewer penalty minutes than last season, which has given Marchand more time to spend on the ice scoring goals.

A continued scoring streak by Marchand could make him the first Bruins player to pace the league in goals since Phil Esposito did so during the 1974-75 season.

▼ General managers

Heading into this week's general managers meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., many speculated that the league's 31 GMs would finally solve the issues plaguing the offside review.

Since its inception, some glaring issues have become quite evident.

Calls are being made not over dramatic misses by linesmen, but by teams debating the accuracy of calls to the exact millimeter. Additionally, coaches have found a way to delay and watch highlights on their bench before making their decision to challenge a play, and the headache of whether players' skates remain on the ice when crossing the blue line.

These issues among others have in turn caused the review process to become more time consuming, and above all else an annoyance to fans, players, coaches, and more.

The 31 GMs had the opportunity to make some changes, even if just slightly. Rumors of limiting the time coaches have before challenging were just a one of the many rumored fixes that could be considered. Instead, the same rules will remain for at least another season and with it more frustration is likely to ensue.

▲ Montreal Canadiens

Once appearing to be falling from the sky, the Montreal Canadiens have caught an updraft.

After a dismal beginning to February that saw the club go the first 18 days with a 1-6-1 record, the team - now under the guidance of Claude Julien - has posted seven wins in its last eight games including a current six-game winning streak.

That being said, the Canadiens have still managed to score just 2.25 goals per game over the last eight contests, further highlighting the bounce-back of Carey Price.

The 2015 Vezina Trophy winner has gone 6-1-0 in the seven games he has started during the recent streak and has amassed a ridiculous .953 save percentage, a 1.26 GAA, and a shutout over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

With their current up-swing, the Canadiens have once again pushed their lead in the Atlantic Division to four points over the Ottawa Senators and have - in the meantime - proved that missing out on a top-six forward at the deadline might not have been the end of the world.

Mobile app users - expand the banner below to view more on the race to the playoffs.

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

Craig Cunningham’s encouraging progress shared on Twitter

Former NHL forward and current TSN analyst Ray Ferraro shared a recent clip of Craig Cunningham's encouraging progress in his recovery from his medical emergency in mid-November.

The Tucson Road Runners captain required a partial amputation of his left foot and leg due to complications during his life-saving surgery after he fell into cardiac arrest.

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

Hansen likely to debut on Sharks’ top line vs. Capitals

When the San Jose Sharks looked to add some grit to their lineup, they swung a deal for Jannik Hansen just ahead of the NHL's trade deadline.

After nine days, they finally will get to see what their newest acquisition can do.

With immigration issues cleared up, Hansen is expected to debut with his new team and the Sharks will try to continue their domination of the league-leading Washington Capitals on Thursday night when San Jose opens a season-high six-game homestand.

Pacific Division-leading San Jose (39-19-7) picked up the Danish-born right winger from the Vancouver Canucks for Nikolay Goldobin and a 2017 draft pick on Feb. 28. Instead of suiting up for a team that is fading out of the playoff picture, Hansen reportedly will be on the Sharks' top line with Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton to go against a Capitals team that leads the league with 95 points.

"It could be an easier opponent for sure, but these are the teams you've got to play," Hansen told the San Jose Mercury News after practice on Wednesday.

Hansen clearly is not aware of the Sharks' history against Washington (44-14-7).

San Jose has not lost at home in regulation to the Capitals since Oct. 20, 1993, going 12-0-2 with one tie. The Sharks also improved to 10-1-2 in their past 13 matchups overall with Washington following a 3-0 victory on Nov. 8.

Injuries have limited Hansen to just six goals and seven assists in 28 games this season. That doesn't seem to matter to Sharks coach Peter DeBoer, who just wants Hansen to keep doing what has kept him in the league for 10 seasons.

"Come in and play your game," DeBoer told the Mercury News. "No expectations. We don't need him to fix our scoring woes or anything else. Just work hard, play your game and enjoy the situation. We've got a great group. We're winning a lot of games, and we want him to be a part of that."

San Jose opens its longest run of 2016-17 at SAP Center after defeating the Jets 3-2 in Winnipeg on Monday, the Sharks' fourth win in five games. Just over a month after Patrick Marleau posted his 500th goal, Joe Thornton drew his 1,000th career assist on Pavelski's empty-net goal in the final minute.

Thornton has multi point games in four of his past five appearances against Washington, including goals in four consecutive contests. Overall, "Jumbo Joe" has notched four goals and five helpers in the series dating back to 2014-15.

The Capitals will play 10 of their final 17 games on the road starting with this contest. Despite a 17-8-6 record in opposing rinks this season, Washington is 4-4-1 in its past nine on the road.

While 27 goals in a season for many players would be a success, it is not for Washington winger Alex Ovechkin, who recorded at least 50 in each of the previous three campaigns. He has just three goals in his past 15 games -- none at even strength.

"Early in that streak, I don't think he was getting very many chances," Washington coach Barry Trotz said Monday. "I think he's working better for those chances. Like I say, the hockey gods sort of are making him pay and making have to work for it for a little bit. ... It's tightening up now. You have to work for your goals, work for your space, all those things."

One of Ovechkin's two career goals in San Jose came at even strength.

The expected goaltending matchup should be a good one.

Washington's Braden Holtby leads the league with a 1.93 goals-against average and eight shutouts. He ranks third with 34 wins and fifth in save percentage at .929.

Holtby, who could be in line for his second straight Vezina Trophy later this year, is 7-0-1 and has allowed just 17 goals in his past nine road games.

San Jose's Martin Jones, meanwhile, is tied for fifth with 30 wins, and he blanked Washington in November with a 24-save effort.

If he starts, Holtby would try to help the Caps bounce back after their franchise-record, 15-game home winning streak was snapped Monday in a 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The Capitals haven't lost back-to-back games in regulation since Nov. 26 and Dec. 1.

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